EFCC arrests Bayelsa ex-governor, Sylva From Abosede Musari, Abuja ORMER Governor Timipre FbeenSylva of Bayelsa State has arrested again by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The commission said that the
home. On arrival at the facility at about 10.00 a.m., the commission’s operatives were told that the ex-governor was not in town but they insisted on conducting a search on the house having obtained a warrant from the
• ‘Fresh evidence links him to fraudulent estate acquisitions’ arrest was necessitated by Sylva’s refusal to appear before it as required. The ex-governor, who was still under interrogation at the
EFCC headquarters at press time, was said to have hidden himself in a ‘dingy’ corner in his expansive mansion in Abuja yesterday while falsely in-
forming the commission that he was on hospital admission in Lagos. “He was picked up at his No. 3, Niger Street, Maitama, Abuja
court. “During the search, vital documents were obtained. Ironically, the ex-governor who was said to be out of town was later found hiding in a dingy corner in the upper chamber of his exCONTINUED ON PAGE 2
TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Vol. 29, No. 12,551
www.ngrguardiannews.com
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Stakeholders list ways for viable PIB • N’Assembly to enforce functional domestic refineries From Collins Olayinka and Roseline Okere, Houston, Texas RESH proposals on how to Ftrymake the Petroleum IndusBill (PIB) work and tap its benefits for the country have been offered by stakeholders. For the Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on PIB, Samson Osagie, the bill would be packaged in a manner that would limit official interference and promote the collective interest of the Nigerian people. According to the lawmaker, the new PIB would be aimed at removing abuse of procedures, arbitrariness and patronage. This comes as the National Assembly plans to insert a clause that would ensure domestic refineries are in working condition at all times towards a massive reduction in the CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
President Goodluck Jonathan (left); a 12-year-old Nigerian author with eye impairment, Miss Adeiye Adeniran and South African President Jacob Zuma, during a State Banquet in honour of Jonathan in Cape Town, South Africa… yesterday.
Man United FC shares fall as manager, Ferguson, retires – Pages 74 & 75
How Boko Haram attacked Bama, by Army From Madu Onuorah (Abuja), Saxone Akhaine (Kaduna), Iyabo Lawal (Ibadan) and Chukwuma Muanya (Lagos) GRAPHIC account of how A suspected Boko Haram gunmen attacked Bama in Borno State and killed about 55 people was given by the Nigerian Army yesterday. And bracing to the rising insecurity in the country, the army has initiated fresh moves to contain the activities of the members of Boko Haram and other terror groups. Central to these initiatives is the establishment of Quick Response Groups (QRGs). The army also disclosed in Ibadan
• Lists recovered arms, victims, steps up fight against terrorism • Jonathan, ACN, ACF condemn attack , NSCIA seeks trial • Space agency, rights body differ on Baga violence that it had devised balloons which would be used in information and intelligence gathering to tackle the various acts of terrorism in the country. Brig.-Gen. Nwokoro Ijioma, who was a guest speaker in Ibadan, told officers of the Two Division who were participants at the lecture that the balloons would be de-
ployed to the hotbeds of terrorism attacks in the country. Ijioma, who is also the Director, Lesson Learnt Army Transformation and Innovation Centre (ATIC), Army Headquarters, Abuja, added that the growing wave of terrorism had necessitated the mounting of roadblocks in some parts of the country. The balloons, which were un-
veiled in 2012, according to the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division, Maj.-Gen. Ahmed Tijani, at a lecture on “Transforming the army into a force better able to meet contemporary challenges”, have been upgraded and have a 84-kilometre launch into space. The ORGs now patrol major highways nationwide and are
also on standby to provide quick reinforcement of troops to trouble spots. According to the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, the patrol teams operate along designated routes to check armed robbery, arms trafficking and kidnapping as well as other act of terrorism. Attahiru said in Abuja that “since its inception, the QRGs have reduced banditry along major highways while denying BHTs freedom of action. They have denied BHTs (Boko Haram Terrorists) and other
My opponents after Rivers’ resources, says Amaechi – Page 3
criminals freedom to convey Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and its precursor materials. Additionally, the QRGs have equally supported Operation MESA troops to deal with immediate threats in their respective areas of responsibilities. “Also, it has assisted in ensuring military presence along major highways nationwide. The QRGs have equally improved the Nigerian Army deterrence capability by its constant patrols on designated routes. “These have helped in no small measure in repelling several attacks from BHTs and reCONTINUED ON PAGE 2
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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 9, 2013
NEWS
Jonathan, ACN, ACF condemn Bama attack CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 ducing the severity of these attacks when they occur. The activities of the QRGs have been highly successful in the north western part of the country. While in the central and southern Nigeria, it has assisted in checkmating other criminal vices and kidnapping. This has further reassured the civil populace of the military’s readiness to protect them so that they could go about their day-to-day socio-
EFCC arrests Sylva
economic activities without fear or hindrance.” The army spokesman gave details of the Boko Haram’s raid on government and security facilities in Bama. According to Attahiru, “at about 0510hrs on May 7, 2013, suspected BHTs (Boko Haram terrorists) dressed in military fatigue attacked 202 Battalion Barracks in Bama with rockets-propelled grenades, general purpose machine guns, bombs, 18-seater bus and six Hilux vehicles fitted with anti-aircraft guns. The attack was aimed at overrun-
ning the barracks and creating mayhem. It was, however, successfully repelled and the barracks was not in anyway breached. The Bama Police Station, Police Barracks, Local Government Secretariat, INEC office, Local Magistrate’s Court and a primary school were burnt by the BHTs. “About 105 inmates were equally set free from Bama Prisons. The items recovered include four vehicles, 14 weapons, 12 IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices), assorted ammunition, several RPG tubes and bombs. Those killed
in action include 21 BHTs, six police officers, 14 prison officials, two soldiers and four civilians, including three children and a woman who were burnt to death by the insurgents.” Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday deplored the attack on Bama. According to Jonathan, the continuation of such callous attacks on innocent Nigerians, government facilities and security formations flies in the face of ongoing efforts to establish a workable frame-work for dialogue and
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 pansive mansion”, EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said. After his discovery, he was said to have been whisked away immediately by officials of the anti-graft agency. He is being grilled in connection with fresh evidence linking him with fraudulent financial transactions. “Part of the new evidence includes a number of eye-popping real estate acquisitions in Abuja”, Uwujaren added. According to him, the arrest of the former governor is necessitated by his refusal to honour invitations by the commission. Rather than appear before the EFCC, he was said to have got his lawyers to inform the commission that he was unable to appear because he was sick, and hospitalised in Lagos. The lawyer had promised to appear with his client on May 7, 2013 but failed to do so.
Former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, during his arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Abuja… yesterday.
the peaceful resolution of security challenges in northern Nigeria. The President warned that the Federal Government’s consideration of dialogue as an option for the elimination of some threats to security should not be seen as a weakening of its resolve to use all the forces at its disposal to crush all brazen affronts to the powers and sovereignty of the Nigerian nation. Jonathan extended condolences to the families and colleagues of the soldiers, policemen and prison officials who lost their lives in the dastardly attack. Also, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has strongly condemned the attack on Bama, saying the barbaric attack was another reason for all stakeholders to work tirelessly to end the daily carnage in some parts of the North. In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said while every human life is sacrosanct, it was particularly saddened by the mindless killing of security personnel in the course of carrying out their duties of ensuring the protection of life and property. It also described as barbaric and callous the killing of defenceless citizens, especially women and children, saying the perpetrators of the senseless killings have lost their sense of decency and humanity.
46 branches of Redeemed Church destroyed in North, says Adeboye From Isa Abdulsalami-Ahovi, Jos ENERAL Overseer of the G Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has said that over 46 branches of the church in northern Nigeria were destroyed during the 2011 sectarian election violence. Speaking in Jos yesterday during the dedication of the Maranatha Covenant Churches International Headquarters Cathedral and the consecration of the Senior Pastor of Maranatha Church, Bishop Jonas Katung, Adeboye said that Christians in the North, especially the pastors, are under fire and as such should stay closer to God at all times. He charged Christians to depend on God, and that if God be for them, no one could be against them. He further called on Christians to seek first the face of God, who always keeps His covenant. Meanwhile, Bishop Katung described Adeboye as the most humble man of God, as a result of which God has used him to expand the RCCG.
Nnamani, Okiro, Saro-Wiwa’s widow make Jonathan’s board list From Bridget Chiedu Onochie, Abuja
N’Assembly to enforce functional domestic refineries CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 quantity of imported refined petroleum products. Speaking on the fringe of the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas, United States (U.S.) on Tuesday, Osagie said that processes had been jettisoned in favour of political patronage, which had in turn denied the country the resources to meet the needs of Nigerians. He stressed that the National
Assembly would strive to strike a balance between the need for government to harness the maximum benefits from resources and ensuring investors reap bountifully from their investments. The lawmaker also highlighted the readiness of the National Assembly to listen to the concerns expressed by the International Oil Companies (IOCs), which have expressed their opposition to the fiscal regime as contained in the proposed oil and gas law.
His words: “We are aware of the importance of gas to the country’s economic development and most especially to the manufacturing sector. No leading economy in the world is dependent on generators for the manufacturing sector to thrive. We will ensure that the content of the PIB favours investment in the gas sector so as to boost the capacity of the manufacturing sector.” Osagie added that the new oil law, akin to the one regulating the communications sector, would be carefully packaged to ensure minimal official interference, saying: “We want a PIB regime where authorities that are supposed to regulate the system are not compromised. We do not want PIB where oil acreages are used as political patronage, we want a bill where all local participation is increased.” The lawmaker also hinted that the committee on PIB would insert a clause in the PIB, which would compel the government to ensure that the refineries work and encourage diversification of investment in the downstream sector. In his own comment, Paulker Emmanuel, Chairman, Senate Committee Upstream, said that the bill would definitely take care of all the concerns expressed by the stakeholders. He added: “I agreed with what my colleagues in the House said because we are working towards the same goal for the benefit of Nigerians. We would scrutinise the bill.”
While assuring of the passage of the bill before the end of the year, Paulker blamed the Sixth National Assembly for failing to pass the bill. In his contribution at the event, the Chairman and Managing Director of ExxonMobil, Mr. Mark Ward, who represented the Oil Producing Trade Group (OPTS), described the bill as ambitious, complex, laden with uncertainties and time- consuming in implementation. Ward explained that the proposed PIB, as composed, lacked clarity of a specific transition plan. “There is enormous investor’s uncertainty with apparent divergent interests. Nigeria’s joint venture oil fiscal terms are already among the highest in the world, not considering the high risks and cost due to security and bunkering,” he said. He noted that the PIB would create one of the harshest Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) regimes in the world, adding that the challenges with the content of the PIB would lead to decline in the production of oil and gas resources. “The PIB outcome is highly uncertain for the industry. It applies to only existing projects and does not preserve contractual basis on which investments were made,” he said. According to him, a good PIB should have fiscal terms that create value for the economy
The Arewa elders also said yes-
ORMER President of the SenFInspector-General ate, Ken Nnamani, former of Police,
and attract investment. “We want the PIB that streamlines regulatory environment that separates regulation and commercial functions and solves funding issues. A stable, globally competitive climate that enables all key stakeholders to meet their objectives,” said. he For his part, Chairman of Niger Delta Petroleum Resources, Dr. Layi Fatona, cauagainst tioned over-regulating the most important sector in the country. He said that the PIB should be made to encourage indigenous operators towards achieving about 50 per cent oil production of the country, which currently stands at cent. per 12 about The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Corporation Petroleum (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu, said when passed, the PIB would increase participation of new players in the Nigerian oil and gas industry through the proposed new acreage management system involving the release of acreages that have been held without activity. He explained: “Contrary to some widely held views that dismal regime is the cause of low exploration activity, it is exploration activity. The proposed new acreage management system would release new acreage for exploration. Throughout the world, new successful exploration plays are being developed not by the majors but smaller inde-
Mike Okiro, as well as Mrs. Comfort Saro-Wiwa, widow of the slain Ogoni environmental activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa, were some of the names sent in by President Goodluck Jonathan to the Senate for confirmation into various commissions. While Senator Nnamani was nominated for appointment as Chairman, Governing Board of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Okiro is to head the Police Service Commission. Also to be on the board of Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission is Mrs. Saro-Wiwa, who will be representing the South-South geo-political zone in the commission. Other members of the board include Aminu Dikko (NorthWest), Janet Febisola Adeyemi (South-West), Yabawa Wabi (North-East), Musa Elayo (North-Central), as well as A.U, Kanu (South-East). Other members of the Police Service Commission include Deputy Inspector-General of Police (rtd), Yakubu Mohammed (North-West), Justice Olufunke Adekeye (JSC, rtd, South-West), Aisha Larai Tukur (North-East), Comfort Obi (South-East), Chief Torngee G. Toranyiin (North-Central) and Otive Igbuzor (South-South). Jonathan also requested the confirmation of Adolphus Joe Ekpe as Director-General, National Lottery Commission, as well as Justice K.M.O KekereEkun as Justice of Supreme
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 9, 2013
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News Nigeria loses 89,700 day-old babies yearly, says report
EFCC arraigns oil thieves today From Abosede Musari, Abuja
By Wole Oyebade HE huge efforts to reduce high maternal and infant mortality rate in the country notwithstanding, no fewer than 89,700 day-old babies still die in Nigeria yearly, according to The State of the World’s Mothers 2013 report released on Tuesday. The report by Save the Children International, which was launched around the world, ranked Nigeria 169th out of the 176 countries in the report, and among the 10 worst countries where to be a pregnant woman and a child. At a similar presentation in Lagos, the report put the rate of death on the first day at 14 per 1,000 live births, which is higher than the sub-Saharan average of 12 per 1,000. It stated: “Nigeria has the 12th highest rate of first-day deaths in the world, making it one of the riskiest places to be born, as well as one of the countries with the most first-day deaths.
BOUT 14 suspected oil A thieves will be arraigned by the Economic and Finan-
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Court insists on hearing Ibori’s $15m bribe money suit From Lemmy Ughegbe, Abuja HE Court of Appeal, Abuja Division yesterday dismissed an application brought by a Lagos-based refrigerator repairer, Olalekan Bayode seeking to stop the ongoing hearing of a suit brought by the Federal Government seeking an order of forfeiture of $15 million allegedly offered by former Delta State, James Ibori. The money was meant as bribe to compromise an investigation by the then Mallam Nuhu Ribadu-led anti-graft agency. The Federal High Court, Abuja Division had on Friday, November 23, 2012 dismissed an application filed by Bayode, to be joined as a party in the $15 million forfeiture suit by Government. Bayode, who lives in Alagbado, Lagos had in the said ill-fated application, prayed the court to appoint him as the sole agent to be in custody of the money indefinitely. But ruling on the application, Justice Gabriel Kolawole dismissed it on the grounds of “gross abuse of court processes.” Vexed by the decision, he immediately filed a notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal, seeking to upturn the trial court’s verdict. Determined to also halt proceedings at the trial court, he filed an application for stay at the Appeal Court. But when the matter came up yesterday at the appellate court, the three man panel headed by Justice Amiru Sanusi described the application filed by John Aina on behalf of Bayode as being “incompetent and incurably defective having fallen short of the mandatory provisions of the Rules of Court.
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Works Minister of State, Bashir Yuguda (left); Works Minister, Mike Onolemenme; Youth Development Minister, Inuwa Abdukadir at the FEC meeting at the State House, Abuja yesterday. PHOTO: PHILIP OJISUA
cial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today at a Federal High Court, sitting in Maitama, Abuja. The suspects, Joseph Amaechi, Israel Friday, Ubadia Francis, Abayomi Adebisi, Abdullahi Idris, Samuel Job, Onah Peter Ode, Sabo Tasha Hassan, Abdullahi Moh’d, Abubakar Abdulkadir, Ehiogu Paul, Ibrahim Saidu, Garba Mohammed and Bartholomew Onyema are to be docked on charges bordering on conspiracy and illegal oil bunkering. Information from the EFCC indicated that they were arrested at a military checkpoint at Toto, Nasarawa State by officers of the 177 Guards Battalion of the Nigerian Army, while attempting to transport 14 trailer loads of crude oil to the Northern states.
My opponents after Rivers’ resources, says Amaechi From Kelvin Ebiri, Port-Harcourt MID the lingering crisis A within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in his State, Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State yesterday attributed the imbroglio to the quest by his opponents to control the state’s resources. Amaechi, who has barely spoken on the crisis since an Abuja High Court sacked the Godspower Ake -led state executive of the PDP and installed Felix Obuah as chairman, said the state could not afford to retrogress to the era where governors shared state resources to his cronies. The governor stated this when the Archbishop of the Niger
Patience Jonathan, gov’s aides trade words Delta Province of the Anglican Communion and Diocese of Niger Delta North, Bishop Ignatius Kattey and a delegation from the Church visited him at the Government House, Port Harcourt. Amaechi told the delegation that the current political upheaval was really not about him but about the inordinate desire of his political opponents to plunder the state’s resources. “I will speak to the state, not now. When I speak to the state you will not respect any of these people because I am determined to open up. I am not running for another position. They
say to me, you must manage information so that people can trust you. I am not running for any position, so people don’t need to trust me. I need to open up and tell you what the issues are which most people don’t know,” he said. He continued: “I need to tell you that now you must become your own soldiers. You must become your own policemen. Nobody realises how much effort we have put in place to allow people to walk the street. All they are interested in is how to bring down those efforts”. The governor explained that
his entire political career had been riddled with challenges and obstacles but that through God’s benevolent interventions he had emerged victorious at the end. For this reason, he said his political history has become a bit frightening to him now. Amaechi said his prayer is for God not to abandon him even as he is not afraid of the centripetal forces against him. He declared that never again would the state return to the era where governors stay in office and share state funds through the award of contracts that are eventually abandoned. He insisted that there is no way the state would grow economically if the old retro-
Airtel decries APCON’s refusal to vet its adverts IRTEL Nigeria has expressed A displeasure over a recent decision purportedly by the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP), the vetting arm of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), to suspend the vetting of materials presented by its advertising agency, STB McCann. Citing a recent ruling by the ASP, a news report said: “APCON has informed Airtel that it cannot adjudicate in the matter or vet the materials presented on its behalf by the Advertising Standards Panel because of the court order to maintain the quo in its matter with Prima Garnet.” A source close to Airtel was said to have confirmed that the telecommunications company had written to APCON protesting the refusal to vet its adverts submitted for approval. APCON, in a letter dated April 26th, 2013,
acknowledged receipt of the letter and stated that it had forwarded it to the ASP, adding that the company would be advised should it be required to appear before the panel. “We’re shocked that these media reports have gone on unchallenged or denied by the regulatory body, which is cause for concern,” said the source. The source hinted of the possibility of an unseen hand in the matter, describing the development as shocking, given that the Telco Operator had, on two occasions, written to the regulator on the need to approve its advertising materials. “I am quite convinced that there is an unseen hand in the matter. Someone in an influential position must have played some part because we are yet to get any formal
response from APCON even after we had written them twice on the matter,” the source said. STB McCann’s Chairman, Sir Steve Omojafor, had earlier been quoted as saying that there was no ethical issue in the matter Prima Garnet has brought against STB McCann and Airtel as the agency was presented with facts from the contract between Ogilvy Mather Africa and Prima Garnet Ogilvy. According to Omojafor, the contract stated that Airtel was at liberty to engage the services of an Ogilvy non-affiliate agency. He added the agency was presented with a validation of the expiry of contract between Airtel and Prima Garnet with effect from April 1, 2013 and Ogilvy with effect from April 10. He described Airtel Networks Limited as a law-abiding com-
pany, saying it would not do anything that is tantamount to a breach of the laws of the land. Recently, Prima Garnet’s estranged relationship with its erstwhile African affiliate, Ogilvy Africa, has continued to feature prominently in the public domain. Some commentators have even argued that information gathered on the issue indicates that whereas Airtel Nigeria as principal has featured prominently, there is actually no direct relationship between Airtel Nigeria and Prima Garnet as the Telco Operator does not have a contract with Prima Garnet but with Ogilvy Africa, Prima Garnet’s principal in Africa. Hence, some analysts have concluded that it has been convenient however for Prima Garnet to drag in Airtel as the big fish in the pond while also playing up xenophobic
gressive system was sustained. He explained that his primary focus was on how to complete the numerous projects that his administration has put in place. Bishop Kattey said the church was grieved when it heard of the crisis, division and infighting among the political class particularly those in government. He noted that the political history of mankind was replete with disagreements but the current crisis in the state gave cause for serious concern because it was not a good omen. He appealed to all contending political interest groups to be tolerant, understanding and have respect for each others point of view. And amid allegations that the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan over the weekend summoned security chiefs in Rivers State to a meeting in Yenagoa to “intensify the plot on how to dislodge and ‘finish off’ Governor Amaechi, her office, in a statement, said: “This is to alert the general public that insinuations are rife in a section of the public towards drawing the First Lady into the political crisis in Rivers State. According to the insinuations, the First Lady is being alleged to have summoned and held a meeting with security chiefs in Rivers state last weekend where she instructed them to take firmer action on the political crisis in the state. “We assure all well-meaning Nigerians that this is the handwork of mischief makers who are hell bent to drag the person of the First Lady into disrepute. “We, therefore, advise members of the public to discountenance such impressions, as the First Lady remains committed to peace and good governance in the country.”
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 9 , 2013
4 NEWS
Issues in the news
Commonwealth Secretary General Haram’s insurgency to ‘challenges The history of The Commonwealth, an association of 54 countries, with the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II as the symbolic head, is a mixed grill of some sort. Many ordinary Nigerians are ignorant of its activities or what it stands for. What some remember about the association was its involvement in the June 12, 1993 election controversy, when Chief Emeka Anyaoku, its Secretary General at that time and former United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan visited Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, the acclaimed winner of that election in prison in June 1997, shortly before he passed on. However, the association currently undertakes many activities in several spheres, in conjunction with its member countries under two core goals: Peace and Democracy; Pro Poor Growth and Sustainable Development. Last week, Mr. Kamalesh Sharma, who was appointed Secretary General in 2008, sat with ROTIMI LAWRENCE OYEKANMI at the association’s secretariat in London, and spoke extensively on the various ways by which the Commonwealth assists Nigeria and other member nations and why the association would remain relevant for a long time. Sharma, who was at various times, India’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, was educated at Cambridge University where he read Literature. He is also a fellow of Harvard University. Excerpts:
ow is the Commonwealth helping Nigeria and other H African member countries entrench democracy? Through institution building that has a lasting impact, whether at the human level or at the level of nations. What the Commonwealth does is to become a partner in what the member states want to do themselves. Here, we concentrate a lot on institutions, like the electoral commission, human rights commission, the judicial services commission, independent media commission. Where is it, that we can assist in developing them; creating good working methods, best practices, to ensure sustainability? The society’s resilience is increased when all of these institutions that should be serving the citizens are improving at all times. And also, depending on the need at any particular point in time, whether in the field of judiciary, where we are also happy to meet that need as part of institutional strengthening, what is it that we can do for you in this particular case? Where do you want to do more? All of the African countries can become beneficiaries of this. Corruption is a serious problem threatening democracy in Nigeria and many other African member countries. I know that the association may not be well disposed to interfering in the internal affairs of its member countries, yet, it is expected that as an important institution, it is capable of influencing governments, even if discreetly. What is the organisation doing to check corruption? If you can regulate, organise and make transparent your finances, then you’re taking a big step forward. But more than that, if there is any legislative or any other effort that is needed, we are ready, immediately, to make a contribution. We have now opened an Anti-corruption Centre for Africa in Botswana. The idea of this centre is that, on a continuous basis, the best practices, which are visible all over, should be exchanged between all the member states. What causes corruption has common features. So, what the solutions can be, for everybody together, something which is collective and which could be brought to the secretariat, we shall be very happy to work on it. We are doing a lot of remarkable work in many fields, as far as corruption is concerned. One other area in which we are particularly active is the extractive industry. Big money is involved and we are prepared to help to have modern laws developed in those areas, which are designed to make sure that all that is done in the extractive industry is done in a way that is transparent and has public accountability. We also have a facility, which is available to all the member states and public administrators, who are active in the field of countering and defeating corruption in their societies. Trade is another issue. Commonwealth members tend to engage in international trade with countries outside of the association than they do among themselves. What is the organisation doing to encourage trade among its members? Right now, we are working on a facility, which will enable export finance to be released for traders, through existing banking channels. This is being explored and it’s one dimension we’re working on. The second one is, what is it we can do, in the next CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting), by way of encouraging results in the 10th ministerial conference of the World Trade Organisation, which will take place in Bali (Indonesia) in December? We’ve done it before, we’ve done it in Malta. This is one dimension we’re working on. And for the small states, we will try and build their capacities and negotiating abilities, to enable them find their feet, supporting them at the critical points, through advocacy in multilateral negotiations. We have, also, a desk at the secretariat, which issues regular releases on hot topics on trade, where developing countries need to be particularly watchful and where we can give information. And lastly, we are also in-
Sharma
volved with the group of 20, the G20, together with the francophone. So, we’re working hard on many fronts for developing countries, in advancing their economies. Conflict resolution is another important tenet of the Commonwealth. In Nigeria, we have the Boko Haram insurgency in the north, threatening the country’s democracy and crippling economic activities in that region. In what ways does Commonwealth help its members in this kind of situation? We have countries that are so diverse that I often said that we used to talk about two Ds, which are Democracy and Development. We can now add the third one, which is Diversity. Respect for diversity is a huge challenge in contemporary societies, not just in Nigeria, but everywhere. What we are doing is to help look at what the principal elements are, socially, that have to be integrated. There is a commission on Respect and Understanding (set up in 2005 at the request of Commonwealth Heads of Government, with the mandate to explore initiatives to promote mutual understanding and respect among all faiths and communities in the association), which has produced a report: ‘Civil Paths to Peace.’ I think it is one of the most significant contributions globally, which has recently come out of the Commonwealth. We are also trying to create applications of this great idea in education curriculum. The other area is reconciliation. We are going to have a workshop on reconciliation (the workshop was held on May 2). What is the experience of various member states that have had to overcome social disharmony and how did they manage to do it? I am sure that the distillation of this workshop will be very helpful. It is for each member state to see, from what we are able to offer, by way of historical practices; successful, social, political, and economical approaches which member states have been able to make, and to pick
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 9, 2013
NEWS | 5
Issues in the news
attributes Boko of diversity’ ‘
We have countries that are so diverse that I often said that we used to talk about two Ds, which are Democracy and Development. We can now add the third one, which is Diversity. Respect for diversity is a huge challenge in contemporary societies, not just in Nigeria, but everywhere. What we are doing is to help look at what the principal elements are, socially, that have to be integrated.
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from that, which is applicable in their circumstances. F reedom of movement of Commonwealth citizens is another issue. To come to the United Kingdom for instance, I had to get a visa. If I want to go to Uganda or South Africa, I must also obtain a visa. Why can’t Commonwealth countries allow freedom of movement like some European countries did under the Schengen Agreement? In the early years of the Commonwealth, there was a lot of Commonwealth identity, in terms of visas, work permits, educational exchanges and so on. Progressively, through the decades, this has changed. We are doing an exercise right now, to promote the movement of people. What can we do to facilitate free movement of people, taking into cognizance that the world is now much more complex than it was 50 years ago? The fact that you are members of an organisation, yet, there are immigrant concerns, there are concerns about the ratio of the people from outside, vis a vis the locals, and so on. Taking all these concerns into account, what is it that we can propose to our leaders, that will facilitate the movement of the people more than is the case now? We are working on that. Is the Commonwealth scholarship scheme still subsisting? Are member nations sharing educational resources? The Commonwealth scholarship and fellowship programme is one of our flagships, together with the Commonwealth games and both are youth related. It is our endeavour, always, to increase the scope and even have a directory of everyone who’s been a beneficiary of these programmes. It is also our constant endeavour to increase the opportunities. And this can be done by mem-
bers contributing finances. It can also be done by member countries offering commonwealth scholarships and fellowships to others. For instance, I have one country right now that has donated 30 scholarships. So, we can keep on increasing the number all the time. That’s an important thing to do. You were appointed in 2008 as Secretary General. How has the journey been like from that point till now? I have been very ambitious about this organisation and making it a very contemporary organisation. The world is moving so swiftly around you, that you’re either moving backwards or you’re moving forward. There is no such thing as staying still anymore. So, as an organisation, you always have to ask yourself, how are you moving forward? And this is in value setting that you’re doing for yourselves, because we’re a great value-based organisation. How are you actually advancing your values in practical terms? Not only that, how are you helping the marginalised, the small, the vulnerable, in real economic terms in every possible way, given your strengths? Politically, economically and socially, how are you making those contemporary contributions in terms of outcomes? Secondly, what are the means that you’re using? I mentioned one – platforms; another one is what we call strategic partnerships. How can you advise member countries on how to achieve what they have set out to achieve? We all have the capacity. We’re an evolving organisation and there are so many statistics now that show the enormous growth rates within the Commonwealth and the wealth that is being generated. So, how are we sharing it? We’re working on a software that will enable any member state, depending on what they want, to very easily find out, where in the Commonwealth they can get their kind of help and their kind of support. This is what I have been trying to do since 2008. Lastly, what are the challenges of having to cope with 54 diverse member countries in the Commonwealth? Institutional change is the toughest thing in the world. How to move a ship around, quickly in another new direction is not easy. But I have had a lot of encouragement from member states, the Eminent Persons Group, has also been very helpful. We now have a Charter, which incorporates all of the ideals we have had as an organisation. So, it is the support of the people, the citizens that has enabled us to keep moving forward, so that we can continue to serve them, the young people, and governments.
COMMONWEALTH MEMBER STATES ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA AUSTRALIA THE BAHAMAS BANGLADESH BARBADOS BELIZE BOTSWANA BRUNEI DARUSSALAM CAMEROON CANADA CYPRUS DOMINICA FIJI THE GAMBIA GHANA GRENADA GUYANA INDIA JAMAICA
KENYA KIRIBATI LESOTHO MALAWI MALAYSIA MALDIVES MALTA MAURITIUS MOZAMBIQUE NAMIBIA NAURU NEW ZEALAND NIGERIA PAKISTAN PAPUA NEW GUINEA RWANDA ST KITTS AND NEVIS ST LUCIA ST VINCENT AND THE
GRENADINES SAMOA SEYCHELLES SIERRA LEONE SINGAPORE SOLOMON ISLANDS SOUTH AFRICA SRI LANKA SWAZILAND TONGA TINIDAD AND TOBAGO TUVALU UGANDA UNITED KINGDOM TANZANIA VANUATU ZAMBIA
Commonwealth Secretary General, Kamalesh Sharma
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 9, 2013
6 | NEWS
TUC, maritime workers task govt over NLNG, NIMASA face-off By Yetunde Ebosele and Wole Oyebade RADE Union Congress T (TUC) yesterday urged the Federal Government to prevail on Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) to pay all outstanding dues allegedly owed Nigerian Maritime and Administration Safety Agency (NIMASA). Maritime workers yesterday also petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan over alleged violation of laws by NLNG Limited and its refusal to pay statutory levies. In fact, they, under the aegis of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), may embark on industrial action, closing all ports nationwide in the next three weeks. According to TUC, there is also a need for the government to bring to book all those directly or indirectly involved in the face-off. A statement by TUC’s President-General, Peter Esele and General Secretary, Musa Lawal, said: “The Congress will like to use this opportunity to charge the Federal Government to call NLNG to order by ensuring that every dime is paid to NIMASA. We also want government to take advantage of the meeting slated for tomorrow (today) in Abuja to address the saga and bring accomplices to book. We do not want to envisage any iota of compromise against the interest of the country.” It explained that no individual or corporate organisation is above the law. “The institution of the state must be allowed to carry out its function without interference and in accordance with the act establishing it. It is our hope that the Abuja meeting respects that,” TUC said. According to TUC, at the inception of the LNG project in 1988/1989, the Federal Government did not only “recognise the company’s pioneer status within the provisions of the Industrial Development (Income Tax Relief) Act 1971, but also magnanimously granted it a package of investment incentives including a 10-year tax holiday under the Nigeria LNG (Fiscal Incentives Guarantees and Assurances) Act Cap. N87 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 (“NLNG Act”) on certain conditions”. It added: “In 1997, the office of the Commander-in-Chief of
the Nigerian Armed Forces (Gen. Sani Abacha) had by a letter dated August 20, 1997, conveyed through the Federal Ministry of Transport, directed that NLNG should comply with the extant law at the time, being the National Shipping Policy Act of 1987, which mandated it to pay the then two per cent statutory levy on international inbound and outbound cargo, as well as submit to routine inspection by the relevant government agencies.” In an open letter read in
Lagos yesterday, the MWUN drew the attention of President Jonathan to the lingering face-off. Addressing the workers at Apapa Port, President General of the union, Emmanuel Nted, alleged that NLNG has violated the law that established maritime agency (NIMASA Act 2007) and its Section 15, which stipulates that it shall be funded by “three per cent of gross freight on all international inbound and outbound cargoes from ships or shipping
companies operating in Nigeria.” He observed that NIMASA is the only agency of government saddled with maritime labour issues in Nigeria, particularly as regards the training of seafarers and dockworkers. “It is, therefore, in this respect that we are particularly surprised to learn of the flagrant refusal of the NLNG to pay the statutory levies due to the government on its shipping activities, as well as the two per cent on its cabotage activities
OLLOWING Nigeria’s politiFeconomic cal, ethno-religious and realities relative to media capabilities and the aptitude of the practitioners, journalists in the country have been tasked to adhere to the code of ethics of the profession. The call was made in Abuja yesterday at the two-day stakeholders’ meeting on the Review of the Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists, organised by Democratic Gover-
HE Federal Ministry of T Works has alerted the public on the existence of two Facebook accounts created and operated by unknown persons using the name of the Minister of Works, Mike Oziegbe Onolememen. A statement by Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister, Mr. Tony Ikpasaja, added: “The two Facebook accounts also display several pictures of the Honourable Minister of Works. The intention of those operating them is, however, doubtful and suspicious. “The general public is hereby advised not to have anything to do with these Facebook accounts, on account of dealing with the Honourable Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, as he does not have nor operate any Facebook account with his names in the social media.”
C & S flays SURE-P’s job creation policy From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin
HE Head, Cherubim and T Seraphim (C&S) Movement Church Worldwide,
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State (middle); his deputy, Moses Adeyemo (right) and the Chief of Staff, Adeolu Akande (left) at a three-day performance review retreat for the state political appointees held at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan… yesterday PHOTO: OYO STATE HOUSE
We’ve changed Oyo in two years, says Ajimobi ACN accuses ex-gov of causing disharmony OVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi G of Oyo State has said the policies of his government in the last two years were geared towards achieving a paradigm shift from governance and officials of government who dwelt more on what they could derive from government, rather than what they could offer the state. He made this known at the end of a three-day mid-term performance retreat for commissioners, special advisers and senior special assistants of the government held at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan. While addressing the political appointees, the governor said
that gone were the days when the quality of political office holders contributed to the typecast of the state as backward, maintaining that in the last two years, the government had succeeded in attracting quality and dedicated appointees. Governor Ajimobi, who said the purpose of the retreat was to do a self-assessment of his government before communicating same to the people, maintained that the qualitative and quantitative assessments done during the retreat had shown that no government, in the history of the state, had done so much in so short a time.
“The purpose of this retreat was to do a self-appraisal as it is done in all forward-looking human endeavours. And we needed to be scientific so that we could have a statistical appraisal of what previous governments had done in all sectors of the state’s economy and what we have done in the last two years. The comparative analyses we have done in the last three days have shown that we are on the right course and our people have not made a mistake in putting us here,” the governor said. While urging the appointees not to rest on their oars, the governor said his resolve was for the administration to make a monumental difference in the administration of the state,
UNDP, stakeholders task journalists on ethics From Tunde Akinola, Abuja
in Nigeria’s coastal waters. “The said refusal by the NLNG to pay the accumulated three per cent gross freight on its business activities from its inception in 1989 to date, has drastically reduced the revenue available to NIMASA and in turn undermined its ability to carry out its operations, perform its statutory responsibilities and in particular, compromised its ability to meet its core functions with respect to maritime Labour issues in Nigeria,” Nted said.
Fake Facebook accounts of minister in circulation
nance for Development (DGD) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). These codes were described as effective tools for regulating journalism practice and ensuring professionalism to ensure its development in line with international best practices. Addressing participants, the UNDP/DGD Project Director, Dr. Mourtada Deme, said the media play a crucial role in keeping citizens engaged in
the business of governance and that healthy political process requires media pluralism and open communication, which cannot be achieved without an ethical media. According to Deme, who was represented by a democratic governance specialist, Mintwab Zelelew, “all over the world, the practice of journalism is guided by a code of ethics that guides the role of the media as the fourth estate of the realm, as an institution that holds government ac-
countable and as the voice of citizens.” He encouraged journalists to ensure that the media present and clarify the goals and values of the society, stating that the media should provide full access to the day’s intelligence. In a similar vein, the NUJ President, Mohammed Garba, stressed the imperatives of enhancing the journalism profession to bring about strategies needed to strengthen the career.
expressing his happiness that in the last two years, his government had established a concrete foundation that is unprecedented in the state. Meanwhile, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Oyo State chapter, has accused a former governor of setting people of the state against the government for the ulterior aim of profiting from the situation. It made this known in a release issued by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dauda Kolawole, in response to a news report credited to the former governor blaming the ACN-led government for the impasse in the rotational chairmanship of the State Council of Obas and Chiefs. According to the ACN, what the former governor was doing in the state could be likened to a “rehash of the politics of hatred and falsehood he is known for, targeted at gaining undue advantage in the hearts of a section of the people” and counselled him to accept that Oyo State had since left that era. The party said being a chief of the Olubadan, the former governor could not claim ignorance of the fact that the issue of the rotation of the council was already in court. He blamed the Accord Party chief’s statement on his penchant for promoting disharmony among peace-loving people.
Most Rev. Samuel Abidoye, yesterday criticised the Federal Government’s policy on job creation for the youth under its Subsidy Re-investment Programme (SURE-P). Abidoye, in a press briefing in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, during the 44th Ascension of Mount Horeb of the church, said the SURE-P is allegedly being employed to cater for the employment needs of the children of the privileged Nigerians. He canvassed instead for a holistic system that would embrace the youth across the social classes, just as he urged the government at all levels to invest more in large-scale farming as a vehicle to job creation. Abidoye charged government to give the nation an all-embracing employment scheme for the youth, especially at the grassroots.
Knowledge economy takes centre stage at Lagos book fair By Kenechukwu Ezeonyejiaku ACK of sustainable Lin growth and development many African countries has been blamed on insufficient investment in the knowledge economy. This was disclosed at the International Conference held on Tuesday to kick off the 12th edition of Nigerian International Book Fair holding at the Multi-Purpose Hall of University of Lagos, with over 53 exhibitors from around the world in attendance. Present at the conference were the Chairman of Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P), Dr. Christopher Kolade, who chaired the conference; former Anambra State governor, Dame Virgy Etiaba; an author and the traditional ruler of Ndi Ikelionwu, His Royal Majesty, Prof. Chukwuemeka Ike, among others.
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 9, 2013
News 7
Ashaka communities threaten to sue Lafarge over planned merger
Akwa Ibom indigenes begin recall of Senator
From Ali Garba, Gombe OMMUNITIES hosting C Ashaka Cement Plc are threatening to take Lafarge Group of Companies to court if it insists on merging Ashaka Cement Plc with West African Cement Company (WAPCO). Chairman of Funakaye Development Forum, Dr. Garba Mohammed Bajoga, who stated this at a press briefing in Gombe yesterday, said they are ready to go to the International Court of Justice in The Hague to press for their demands if Lafarge insists on its action. According to him, they held a meeting with management of Lafarge, including its country representative in Nigeria, where he said the meeting ended in a stalemate because Lafarge is insisting on the merger. Bajoga said all the reasons given by Lafarge for the merger were not strong enough for the communities to allow what they describe as “allowing the only living star in the North to be economically subjugated by the South”.
Delta plans grazing areas for Fulani herdsmen From Hendrix Oliomogbe, Asaba OLLOWING the recent deFOgume, struction of farmlands in Ndokwa-West Council of Delta State, by cattle belonging to Fulani herdsmen, the state government yesterday assured the people of Ogume and other neighbouring communities that measures have been taken to ensure that the herdsmen are confined to the designated grazing area. A group, Ogume Clan Development Association, had drawn the attention of the public to the security challenge in the area over the destruction of their farmlands by Fulani cattle but a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chike Ogeah, said the government had waded into the issue, held meetings with leaders of the Ogume clan and the herdsmen with a view to restoring order and harmony.
Okorocha, others to attend S’East education summit today From Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri O address problems associated with education, particularly in the South-East geo-political zone of the country, an education summit would hold in Owerri, Imo State capital, between today and tomorrow at the Imo Concorde Hotel, Owerri. Briefing journalists on Tuesday at Star Arrival Hotel, Owerri, the Programme Director of Applied Scholastics International, the organisers, Iroha Kalu, said a former Minister of Information, Prof. Dora Akunyili, would chair the two-day event, while erstwhile World Bank Vice President for Africa, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili; Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, among others will attend.
T
From Inemesit Akpan-Nsoh, Uyo OLLOWING the alleged reFEtokfusal by Senator Aloysius representing Ikot Ekpene
Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Prof. Modupe Adelabu (right), taking her oath of office administered by the state Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, in Ado-Ekiti…yesterday
Constitution to undergo changes after ongoing National Assembly review By Yetunde Ayobami-Ojo HE National Assembly may T push items on the Exclusive List to the Concurrent List or Residual List in the on-going Constitution review. This revelation was made known in Lagos by the Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, at the 11th year Anniversary and Annual Lecture of Crusade for Justice held at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos. Speaking on the theme: “Oil and Gas, Human Rights and the Nigerian State: An Overview”, Tambuwal, who was represented by Adekunle Adeyemi, stated that “If the Senate goes along with members of the Federal House of Representatives, some of the items listed under the Exclusive List of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria may be pushed to Concurrent List in the on-going review of the Constitution by the National Assembly. According to him, “On this issue of the on-going review of the constitution, we are working to ensure that all items on the Exclusive List are pushed to the Concurrent List and if possible, to the Residual List”. He further stated that the House of Representatives has always been on the side of the
people on matters of importance to them and would continue to be on the side of the people and what the Crusade for Justice stands for. Also speaking at the event, Dr. Yemi Oke of the Post Graduate School, University of Lagos, in his paper titled: “Oil and Gas, Human Rights and the Nigerian State: Right-Based Approach to Energy Governance in Nigeria”, stated that the controversies generated by the 10 per cent share proposed for the resource-bearing communities in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), further reveal a lack of congruent framework to ensure fairness in the distribution of gains derived from the exploitation of oil and gas and other natural resources in the country. Oke further explained that the nature of Nigerian state is such that a development strategy anchored on exploitation or utilisation of natural resources may hardly produce a win-win situation between local owners of the resources and other stakeholders due to the current political economy of impunity in resource utilisation, which results in inequitable and socially unjust distribution of the resources. According to him, unless there is a clear departure from
the existing political order, the violation of human and environmental rights may continually pitch the oil-producing communities against operators, especially the multinational corporations. “Abject poverty, violent clashes, kidnappings, extortions, over-invoicing, subsidy fraud and other despicable ills characterised the oil and gas sector of Nigeria”. He added: “These social ills manifest vividly not only in the oil- bearing communities, which produced virtually all of Nigeria’s crude oil but also on the generality of Nigerians”. Oke suggested that there is need for re-thinking of resource rights in the country for a functional approach to effectuating the provisions of the law to be adopted to ensure that resource right provisions in the constitution, statutes and other international instruments ratified and adapted by Nigeria form the basis for legally enforceable resource based human rights by seeking judicial and other administrative remedies in the country as practised in other nations. He noted that Nigerian statutes are replete with abuse and inactive rights provisions in terms of natural resources ownership management.
Witness fails to substantiate alleged subsidy infractions against oil marketers By Bertram Nwannekanma and Yetunde Ayobami-Ojo PROSECUTION witness, A Damon Yelma, in the ongoing trial of some oil marketers at an Ikeja High Court, Lagos, over an alleged fuel subsidy infraction on Wednesday failed to substantiate his claims. The witness claimed that his investigation was based mainly on information provided by Integrated Oil Services and Obat Oil Services tanks where the products were discharged. The marketers, arraigned on a nine-count infraction, were Walter Wagbatsoma, Adaoha Ugo-Ngadi, Fakuade Babafemi Ebenezer, Ezekiel Olaleye Ejidele and Ontario Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited.
They were in February implicated in an alleged N1.9 billion fuel subsidy scam by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The witness, an inspector of police, attached to EFCC, had in his evidence-in-chief told the court, presided by Justice Lateefa Okunnu, that the defendants allegedly received payment for 19 million litres of fuel from the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) against about 12 million litres of the product discharged at the Integrated Oil Services tank. Yelma, who was led in evidence by EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), also alleged that the first (Wagbatsoma), second (Ugo- Ngadi) and third (Ontario Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited) defendants received
payment from PPPRA sometime in 2010 for 18 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit against 12 million litres. Yelma, who was cross-examined by the first to third defendants, E. D. Onyeke, failed to substantiate his claims when he was confronted with Shore-Tank quantity certificates issued by the Integrated Oil Services Ltd and Obat Petroleum and Oil facilities in Lagos. The investigator rather confirmed that the oil marketers actually imported and discharged the volume of product in which they received payment. Yelma confirmed the existence of two separate shoretank quantity certificates with different volumes of products.
Senatorial District to apologise to Governor Godswill Akpabio and with the expiration of the seven days’ ultimatum given him, the consequent recall process is scheduled to begin on Friday, May 10, with collection of signatures from people of the district. This was revealed by the state Commissioner for Housing and Urban Renewal, Mr. Emmanuel Enoidem, in Uyo, the state capital, yesterday. According to him, the people of Annang extraction have never looked down on the Ibibios in the district or in the state as a whole, saying that it was in the spirit of such brotherliness that Senator Etok was elected into the senatorial seat for two consecutive times, a feat that has never happened before. Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District is made up of 10 council areas. Out of these, the Ibibio have two council areas while the Annang have eight. He noted that the statement the governor made, which is causing the senator to make inflammatory statements, is unfortunate because if the senator had felt insulted, it would have been more appropriate for him to consult with the elders of the district and ask for the governor’s apology; rather than calling him names. Enoidem wondered why the electorate would have supported the senator for his second term bid if he was what he was being called today, despite the fact that the people did not feel the senator’s impact in the first term. “We will not support Senator
Etok in 2015, what we are doing has no ethnic coloration or sentiment. It has to do with a failed and insulting representation and a man who does not recognise the people”, he said. The commissioner said he was surprised to hear a distinguished senator living on falsehood, stressing that the signatures being canvassed for do not attract any financial benefit to those that would sign as was being circulated by the senator. Fielding questions, he said: “We don’t have any tension in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, what we are doing is lawful and within the contemplation of the constitution; we cannot send Senator Aloysius Etok back to the Senate in 2015. He has failed us woefully; he has disappointed us deeply and has insulted us gravely. “In short, what we are doing now is to recall him because we gave him seven days to apologise and he refused; we are going to recall him from the Senate and the time we gave expired on Wednesday last week. “So as we talk now, we are initiating a procedure to recall him from the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It has nothing to do with Annang or Ibibio; it has to with our representative that we loved and sent to the Senate for two times. “Nobody needs kobo to sign for his recall, everybody is waiting for Friday. It is not a matter of money but to teach people that when you represent anybody, you must do well responsibly; it is time to teach those who are representing us that there is need for accountability”, he stressed.
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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 9, 2013
AfricanNews Tunisia hunts for ex-Jihadists from Mali UNISIAN forces are now T pursuing jihadists, who are veterans from fighting in Mali, on its border with Algeria, Interior Minister, Lotfi Ben Jeddou, told parliament yesterday. “They came from Mali,” the minister said during an open session in the Tunisian National Assembly, without giving more details on the militants for whom the military has stepped its search over the past week. “I would have liked this to be a closed session to be able to say more,” he told MPs, who were grilling him about the hunt for two groups hiding in the border region that the interior ministry has said are linked to Al-Qaeda. Ben Jeddou had said earlier that one group located around Mount Chaambi consisted of around 20 people, “half of them Tunisian
and half Algerian,” while the second group, based in the Kef region further north, was made up of a dozen armed militants. He stressed that the Chaambi group had been pursued since December, when it allegedly carried out an attack on a border post that left a policeman dead. But he said the hunt had been stepped up since the end of April, when homemade bombs planted by the militants began causing injuries to the armed forces combing the area. So far 16 soldiers and members of the National Guard have been wounded, some of them seriously. Ben Jeddou said that in the past three days two alleged accomplices of the jihadists had been arrested, bringing to 37 the number of suspects detained in the region since December.
Rebels sack S’ Sudan’s forces from base, town what is being seen as an IhasNescalation of violence that already uprooted thousands of people and hampered plans to explore for oil, South Sudanese rebels have reportedly seized a military base and town after clashing with the army in the east of the country. A report by Reuters quoted the rebels, led by David Yau Yau and known as the South Sudan Democratic Army (SSDA), that they want to end corruption and the one-party system led by the Sudan Liberation People’s Movement. In March, the army launched an offensive against Yau Yau in the eastern state of Jonglei, the country’s largest, where the government wants to search for
Since winning independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan has been struggling to impose its authority across vast swathes of territory teeming with weapons after decades of civil war with Khartoum. oil with the help of French firm, Total. The recent fighting has uprooted tens of thousands of people, according to the United Nations. In an e-mailed statement, Peter Konyi Kubrin, an SSDA spokesman, said rebels found more than 50 dead bodies in the town after the army fled. The figure could not be independently verified. Army spokesman Philip Aguer said there had been fighting and that the army
withdrew from their base in Boma to the top of a mountain, known as Upper Boma, around two hours’ walk from the main town. “It’s (Boma) divided with the army on the top of the mountain and the rebels at the bottom. It’s just a matter of time before we chase them away,” Aguer said, but did not give any casualty figures. Since winning independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan has been struggling to impose its authority across vast swathes of territo-
ry teeming with weapons after decades of civil war with Khartoum. Yau Yau, a former theology student, first rebelled in 2010 after failing to win a seat in state parliament. He accepted an amnesty in 2011 only to take up arms again a year later. Despite a recent thaw in relations between Sudan and South Sudan, Aguer said the rebels were receiving assistance from Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services in the form of airdrops of weapons, ammunition and supplies. “We are convinced beyond reasonable doubt that Khartoum has been supplying them up to now,” Aguer said.
UN peacekeeper killed in DR Congo’s ambush HE United Nations (UN) T has announced that attackers in strife-torn eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have killed a Pakistani peacekeeper in an ambush. Following the incident the UN leader, Ban Ki-moon, was “appalled” by the latest attack on peacekeepers and an investigation has been started, said spokesman Martin Nesirky. Nesirky saidthe attack was staged in South Kivu province on a UN mission military convoy “by unidentified assailants.” Various armed groups operate in South Kivu but it is not a stronghold of the M23 group, which launched an offensive against DR Congo government forces and UN peacekeepers in North Kivu province late last year. Ban “condemns in the strongest terms the killing of a Pakistani peacekeeper in
this attack. He recalls that the killing of peacekeepers is a war crime that falls under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC).” The UN leader “offers his sincerest condolences and sympathy to the family of the victim, and to the government of Pakistan.” Ban called on the DR Congo government to “bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice,” Nesirky added. Pakistan is a key contributor to the UN force in DR Congo, officially known as MONUSCO, which is one of the biggest in the world with more than 17,750 troops and military observers and 1,400 police. The UN Security Council voted in March to create an additional intervention brigade of more than 2,500 troops in eastern DR Congo to take on armed groups such as M23.
Guinea indicts gendarme for rape in 2009 stadium massacre UTHORITIES in Guinea A have indicted a gendarme officer on rape charges related to a stadium massacre of pro-democracy protesters by forces linked to the military junta in September 2009, Reuters reported yesterday. Rights groups have criticised President Alpha Conde, elected in 2010 in Guinea’s first democratic handover of power since independence from France in 1958, for not moving fast enough to bring those responsible to justice. About six people have so far been charged in relation to the attack, though none have been tried. The officer is the first in the case to be indicted for rape. “A gendarme officer has been formally indicted on rape charges after he was identified by one of his victims,” said Thierno Maadjou Sow, head of the Guinea
chapter of the International Federation for Human Rights. “The rape took place during the September 28 massacre,” he said. “The indictment is a first in Guinea. It will certainly allow us to move forward on this issue,” he added. A Guinean official confirmed the charges but declined to identify the officer. More than 150 people were shot, stabbed, bludgeoned or trampled to death after pro-democracy demonstrators gathered at a stadium in the minerals-rich nation’s capital for a rally. A UN-led probe concluded the abuses likely constituted crimes against humanity. Corinne Dufka, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch who interviewed over 20 rape victims after the incident, said the indictment offered a glimmer of hope.
President Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso (right) and General David M. Rodriguez commander of U.S. Africa (AFRICOM) after their meeting at the presidential PHOTO: AFP palace in Ouagaogougou…on Tuesday.
Indicted Kenyatta meets Cameron, Hague in London RESIDENT Uhuru Kenyatta P of Kenya, who is facing an international trial for crimes against humanity, met Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron and Foreign Secretary William Hague in London on Tuesday, according to Downing Street. Kenyatta, making his first trip outside Africa as leader, had
brief talks with Cameron on the sidelines of an international conference on Somalia to which he had been invited by Britain. A spokeswoman for Cameron said the talks were informal and took place at the conference venue and not at the prime minister’s Downing Street residence.
“They discussed Somalia, the importance of improving security in Somalia and the importance of maintaining good relations between Britain and Kenya,” the spokeswoman said. Kenyatta also met Hague for longer discussions. The Foreign Office said Hague “acknowledged President Kenyatta’s commitment to the
judicial process with regards to the International Criminal Court”. Kenyatta, voted into power in elections on March 4, has promised to cooperate with the ICC. He is to go on trial in July at the court in The Hague for crimes against humanity relating to post-election violence in 2007-08.
South Africa-based fly factory wins continental innovation prize The initiative signals a way a fly factory ers to recycle industry’s cast- flakes and sent to a feed manSguts,TELLENBOSCH, that transforms blood, offs into reusable protein by ufacturer. to use discarded waste while manure and discarded mimicking nature and har“Our factory looks like a very finding a new source of profood into animal feed, has won a $100,000 United Nations (UN)-backed innovation prize. The factory won the Innovation Prize for Africa, a joint initiative of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the African Innovation Foundation. The prize was awarded in Cape Town late Tuesday from more than 900 applications received from 45 countries. The South Africa-based factory uses the prolific egg lay-
nessing the winged insects, usually regarded as pests. “We’ve created the first industrial farming operation for flies,” said Jason Drew of AgriProtein Technologies, which devised the concept. The flies, which are fed human grade food, lay eggs, which are collected and added to the waste where they hatch into larvae. The larvae munch through the waste and are then harvested, dried and ground up into the consistency of corn-
big cage full of flies,” Drew told AFP after the award was presented on Tuesday. The flies are trained to lay eggs in one place by creating their ideal conditions. “We take their eggs out, we put the eggs onto that waste and at the end of 72 hours, one kilo of eggs turns into about 380 kilos of larvae,” said Drew. The dried larvae have the same composition as fishmeal, commonly used in feeds and drawn from the sea.
tein, said Drew. “We take food from food factories, we take blood and guts from slaughter house, we take animal poo from concentrated farming operations and we use different species of fly to eat and combine those wastes,” said Drew. “We might not think those are attractive things but flies love that sort of stuff. It’s what nature invented the fly for – to recycle that protein,” he
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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 9, 2013
WorldReport Police probe suspected bomb at Canada’s military headquarters
‘Three women rescued from Cleveland home were held with ropes, chains’ ICHAEL McGrath, M Cleveland’s police chief in Ohio, United States (U.S.), has said the three women held captive in a house for about a decade were restrained with ropes and chains by their abductors, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported yesterday. McGrath told U.S. broadcaster, NBC, that investigators believe the victims were allowed out in the backyard occasionally. He said Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight were in good condition “considering the circumstances” they found themselves, revealing that a charging decision would be released later yesterday. Former school bus driver, Ariel Castro, 52, who owns the house where the women were found, is under arrest along with his two brothers, Pedro, 54, and Onil, 50. Ariel Castro is accused of kidnapping and sexually abusing the three women; his brothers are accused of complicity in the same offences, according to arrest documents. Castro – who played bass guitar in Latin music bands in the area – was reportedly sacked as a school bus driver in November last year for “lack of judgment”. His son, Anthony Castro, told London’s Daily Mail newspaper that his father would not let him inside on his last visit to Seymour Avenue. “The house was always locked,” he said. “There were places we could never go. There were locks on the basement. Locks on the attic. Locks on the garage,” he added. Also yesterday, Cleveland public safety director, Martin Flask, said in a statement that no human remains had been found at the home, after “a thorough search”.
Police have said they are also investigating other properties. Standing near the scene, McGrath told NBC’s Today Show: “Currently, today, we are interviewing the suspects that were arrested here the night before last. They are talking.” He said the women had been allowed out of the house “very rarely”. “They were released out in the backyard once in a while I believe,” he said. McGrath disputed claims by neighbours that police did not fully investigate reports of suspicious activity at 2207 Seymour Avenue, which is in a
working-class, mostly Puerto Rican district. He said he was “absolutely” sure police did not miss any opportunities to find the women over the years. McGrath said he could not confirm reports that the captives had had multiple pregnancies. Police have confirmed a sixyear-old girl, Jocelyn, who was discovered along with the women, is Berry’s daughter. The girl was apparently conceived and born during her mother’s captivity. Berry, 27, arrived at her sister’s home shortly before midday yesterday. The sister, Beth Serrano, read a statement ask-
ANADIAN investigators C have found components consistent with a bomb in a
The house was always locked… There were places we could never go. There were locks on the basement. Locks on the attic. Locks on the garage. ing for her family’s privacy to be respected. Berry, who disappeared in 2003 aged 16, escaped with the help of a neighbour who heard her screaming and kicking a door while her alleged captor was out of the house. When police arrived, they also found DeJesus, 23, and Knight, 32, in the house. DeJesus had gone missing aged 14 in 2004, while Knight
had disappeared in 2002, aged 20. Ariel Castro reportedly fled the neighbourhood, and was arrested at a nearby McDonald’s restaurant, according to local media. It is unclear when his brothers were detained. Neighbours have told journalists they had made calls to police about the house in the past.
White House accuses Republicans of politicising Benghazi attack HE United States (U.S.) T White House has accused Republicans of politicising
FBI forensic personnel remove evidence from the house where three women were held captive for a decade in Cleveland, Ohio…on Tuesday.
PHOTO: AFP
Italian court upholds Silvio Berlusconi’s tax fraud verdict TAX fraud conviction A against former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was yesterday upheld by an Italian court, confirming his sentence of one year in prison and a five-year ban from public office. “The court confirms the sentence against Silvio Berlusconi,” Agence France Presse (AFP) quoted a judge in Milan as saying in a live audio feed broadcast by news channel Sky TG 24. Berlusconi is now expected to appeal the ruling in Italy’s highest court, which would suspend the punishment pending a final ruling in the case, which revolves around his Mediaset business empire.
suspicious package that forced an evacuation of the country’s defence ministry headquarters The package was found on Tuesday on the Mackenzie King Bridge near the defence ministry, prompting authorities to close the bridge and adjacent downtown streets just before the start of the evening rush hour traffic. “The suspicious package was removed by a robot and detonated,” Defence Minister Peter MacKay said in a statement. Ottawa Police Inspector Michael Maloney, meanwhile, told Agence France Presse (AFP) the package contained materials consistent with an improvised explosive device. “Our bomb technicians Xrayed the package and found components that were consistent with what you would expect in an improved explosive device: a power source like a battery or a cell phone, material dense enough that it could be explosives and wires connecting to a possible detonator,” Maloney said. “It did pose a threat because it contained materials that could be explosives,” he said, but added that the public was never in any danger.
The media tycoon is also a defendant in a trial for having sex with an underage 17-year-old prostitute while he was still prime minister, and then abusing the powers of his office by putting pressure on police to release her from custody. “We knew it would go like this,” Berlusconi’s defence lawyer, Niccolo Ghedini, told reporters. “I do not think there is a connection between this verdict and political stability,” said Ghedini, who is also a lawmaker from Berlusconi’s People of Freedom party. Berlusconi’s party is now an
influential member of a grand coalition government led by leftist moderate Enrico Letta and could bring down the cabinet if it wanted to. The appeal verdict was the latest twist in a 20-year legal saga that began when the flamboyant billionaire first burst onto the political scene. The case revolves around the
prices of film distribution rights bought by Mediaset that were artificially inflated in order to avoid taxes. The media tycoon is also a defendant in a trial for having sex with an underage 17-yearold prostitute while he was still prime minister, and then abusing the powers of his office by putting pressure on police to release her from custody. A verdict in that case is expected imminently. The 76-year-old Berlusconi was also convicted in March over the publication of police wiretap transcripts in a newspaper he owns, which were leaked in order to discredit a
political rival. Berlusconi has been convicted before but all his convictions have either been overturned on appeal or have expired under the statute of limitations. Supporters and Berlusconi himself said he is unfairly victimised by left-wing judges who are out to get him, but critics said he has used his influence and wealth to dodge the law. Even if his convictions are upheld throughout the appeals process, Berlusconi is unlikely ever to see the inside of a prison cell as sentencing guidelines for over-70s in Italy are lenient.
the attack on the American diplomatic post in Benghazi last year, as a high profile hearing into the episode went ahead in Congress. Career diplomats told a House of Representatives committee that the U.S. mission in Libya failed to meet crucial safety standards, possibly contributing the deaths of four Americans on September 11, 2012. But the White House argued that all the circumstances of the attack had been probed by a State Department Accountability Review Board and recommendations rising from identified shortcomings had been acted upon. “This is a subject that has, from its beginning, been subject to attempts to politicise it by Republicans, when in fact what happened in Benghazi was a tragedy,” White House spokesman, Jay Carney, said. “The president has been committed from day one to two things: Making sure that those who are responsible for the deaths of four Americans are found and brought to justice and that we do everything we need to do to ensure that this kind of attack cannot happen again.”
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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 9, 2013
Politics
Jega
Tukur
Mohammed
Momoh
Interests against APC merger plan By Abiodun Fanoro, Seye Olumide, Joe Adiorho and Tunde Akinola O the impartial observer, arrangements for T the fusing of opposition political parties into the All Progressives Congress (APC) may be going on smoothly after the initial spanners in its works by two other associations wanting to use the same acronym — ‘APC’. But to the promoters of the alliance — the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and a faction of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) — their major huddle is the alleged intrigues from the registering body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the meddlesomeness of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Their worries stem from recent media reports, precisely on April 23, 2013, quoting a letter by the secretary of the commission, Mr. Abdullahi Kaugama, intimating the merging parties that the APC would not be registered unless there was a name change. This is similar to the argument advanced by the meddling African Peoples Congress (APC) and the All Patriotic Citizens (APC), both of which claimed to have applied to the INEC, to be registered as political parties with ellipsis ‘APC’. And this was at a time the ‘original’ APC had not even written a letter of intent to the commission for registration. Pronto, the controversial APC arranged for a public display of its headquarters in Abuja, along with its logo, flag, manifesto, and all, and that it submitted its application for registration on March 1, 2013. However, public scrutiny of the obviously untidy affair soon revealed that the date reflected on the form the association displayed showed the document was signed on March 12, 2013. Besides, being computer-generated, one of such forged documents, tagged INEC FORM PA 1, the African Peoples Congress presented was “green in colour” instead of the sea green colour. Although the All Patriotic Citizens eventually dropped out of the fray, the African Peoples Congress, appearing to be dancing to drumbeats from somewhere, even urged the All Progressives Congress promoters to assume another name for registration. The only retort then from the merging parties was that they owned the “intellectual property of APC,” being the first to announce the same on February 6, 2013, with the proposed merging of three parties. But a few months down the line, INEC
appeared to be toeing the same line, as the African Peoples Congress, and this had raised the decibel in the watchers of the polity and in particular, the merging parties — that INEC was hand in gloves with the African Peoples Congress and to boot, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has not hidden its distaste for the formation of the APC. It is timeous that INEC has unequivocally denied the statement credited to its secretary. Mr. Kayode Idowu, spokesman for the commission’s Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said, “the commission has not written to stop the merger bid as APC.” Idowu explained that the commission, in a letter by its secretary dated April 23, 2013, only declined an application by another association seeking to register as the All Progressives Congress of Nigeria (APCN). He said the acronym proposed by the association “is similar to that of another already seeking registration.” Hence, the commission suggested a name change for the APCN. Still, onlookers are not in a hurry to forget the antics of those opposed to the arrival of the APC, fearing that they might go beyond the statutory requirements to deny APC’s registration. Part of the stringent conditions stipulated in the amended Electoral Act 2010 for parties to merge are stated in Section 84 of the Act as follows: “… Any two or more registered political parties may merge on approval by the Commission following a formal request presented to it by the political parties for that purpose. Political Parties intending to merge shall each give to the Commission 90 days notice of their intention to do so before a general election.” The Act also states that a written request for
merger shall be sent to the Chairman of the Commission and shall be signed jointly by the National Chairmen, Secretaries and Treasurers, for the time being, of the different Political Parties proposing the merger and shall be accompanied by a special resolution passed by the National Convention of each of the political parties proposing to merge. To be attached, among others, are the documents approving the merger; the proposed full name and acronym, constitution, manifesto, symbol or logo of the party, together with the addresses of the national offices of the political parties seeking merger. But barely 90 days after the opposing political parties disclosed the name, logo, and manifesto of the proposed merger party — and not 90 days to the 2015 elections — controversies and scheming have continued to dog the process. For instance, a few days after the parties announced their intention to merge, former presidential candidate of the CPC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd) raised the alarm that the PDP was plotting to hold on to power at the centre at all costs, despite its poor performance since the return of democracy in 1999. Buhari alleged that the ruling party was also perfecting plans to enter into alliance with some federal institutions, with a view to realising its desperation to win future elections. He listed the institutions as the Judiciary, the Nigeria Police, INEC, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Pension Funds. Although the PDP denied the allegation, unfolding events may have suggested otherwise, including the emergence of African Peoples Congress wanting to be registered as
Although Mohammed could not really place why PDP has been jittery, he said two things must have been responsible, which are whether the ruling party is suspecting that the APC would become too strong for it to crush, and so it would be better to kill it in the bud or that the APC is taking the shine off the ruling party and has become very popular. He said the APC was not going to overlook the publications based on the fact that Buhari has formerly raised alarm over the possibility of the PDP collaborating with INEC to manipulate other parties
‘APC’. “Add to this the now rebutted INEC inclination not to register the APC for the merging parties and the picture would be completed,” an opposition figure told The Guardian last week. Highly sceptical of the INEC denial, the source refrained, “where there’s smoke, there must be fire,” adding that the commission “was speaking from both sides of the mouth.” Reacting to some of these issues, the National Publicity Secretary of the ACN, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said he was curious as to why the merger attempt had attracted intrigues, controversies. “I want Nigerians to understand, why I have also been curious about the nature of controversies, interest and fear that the merger plan has generated within the camp of the opposition, particularly PDP,” he said. “Not long after we started the merger plan, we heard about another party, which bear the same acronym with us.” Although Mohammed could not really place why PDP has been jittery, he said two things must have been responsible, which are whether the ruling party is suspecting that the APC would become too strong for it to crush, and so it would be better to kill it in the bud or that the APC is taking the shine off the ruling party and has become very popular. He said the APC was not going to overlook the publications based on the fact that Buhari has formerly raised alarm over the possibility of the PDP collaborating with INEC to manipulate other parties. “It is not wise to regard such publications as rumour, but whatever it is, there are rules and regulations guiding merger and registration of parties. We would ensure we follow the laws to the letter.” On the allegation that the government was planning to distabilise the Southwest ahead of the 2015 elections, Mohammed said it was part of the grand plan of the PDP-led administration to scuttle the merger arrangement because the region is regarded as one of the strongest bases of the rival party. On his part, the National Chairman of CPC, Prince Tony Momoh, said that INEC had no right to say it would not register any party “as far as the party meets the necessary requirements.” “I wonder whose script that the commission is trying to play in the matter since we commenced the process to register,” he added. According to him, “The ruling party has been jittery since the move to register APC started some few weeks ago. The speed at which we agreed and forged ahead to get a name, over-
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 9, 2013
POLITICS 11
ACN asks Yero to resign over foreign loans Governor has not committed any offence, says Commissioner From Saxone Akhaine (Northern Bureau Chief) and Bashir Bello, Kaduna protests against excessive proFects,OLLOWING curement of foreign loans to fund state projofficials of Kaduna State Chapter of the
Onu
The merging of opposition parties on a platform to wrest power from the ruling PDP is an impossible task, “because in the history on Nigeria, no merger had succeeded. Babatope stressed that the PDP could never be afraid of any elections, because it is a party rooted in the people of the country. come some perceived impossibilities have become a serious concern to PDP.” Momoh, a former Minister of Information, urged INEC to steer clear of the APC path, which, he described, as “a moving train that is ready to crush any hindrance.” Regarding the insinuation that the CPC may back out of the merger arrangement because some cabal within the party are opposed to it, Momoh said it was part of PDP’s propaganda aimed at discrediting the merger “but it will fail.” He said: “There is no cabal in CPC that is opposed to the merger and no body is nursing fears that ACN or the former governor of Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, would usurp the party. “CPC is ready to merge and we are not going to fail Nigerians. We are making this big sacrifice to salvage the country from the bad and corrupt ruling party. PDP has been jittery and is doing everything to scuttle the arrangement, but they will fail.” Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye said the actors behind the APC are not afraid of whatever INEC may be up to. “What we need is the support from Nigerians. We are not merging for the sake of it, but to save Nigerians from destruction,” he stressed. Although he did not support INEC’s alleged refusal to register the party with the acronym, APC, Durojaiye said, “there is nothing special in a name but what is important is the ideology behind the party, which nobody can kill or destroy.” “I don’t know why PDP has become suddenly jittery since we started the arrangement to merge,” he added. The ANPP also condemned the said report linked to INEC, stating that it would not register the proposed party. A statement by the party National Chairman, Dr. Ogbonaya Onu, vowed that the party and others in the merger would not be deterred by all the subtle moves by the PDP and its agents, “including those that may be within INEC to frustrate the registration of APC.” Onu said the APC was formed not for the self-
Babatope ish interest of the leaders, but out of their patriotic commitment to the survival of Nigeria and the well being of the people. “The merger we seek with other opposition parties is for the good of our country,” he emphasised. The ANPP leader said the task of rescuing the country “from the present path of destruction and hopelessness” the PDP has foisted on it, makes it a national duty for the party to join other patriotic parties in the merger to give a new platform to Nigerians to usher in a new dawn. In his view, the task of rescuing the country is that of everybody, including those in INEC, admonishing the commission not to allow itself to be used “to abort the rescue operation.” “I believe the ANPP should be part of efforts made by committed democrats and resolute patriots to provide Nigerians with a broad, strong and united alternative political party that can return power to our people and redefine the role of politics in our development process,” he said. Meanwhile, the ANPP has fixed Saturday, May 11, for its convention where it is expected to ratify the merger and announce its dissolution into APC. It had removed the main clog on its way to fusing into APC following its expulsion of a member, Mallam Isah Bala, who had led a dissent group that wrote a letter to the INEC, seeking the withdrawal of the ANPP from the merger. However, a member of the PDP, Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Ebenezer Babatope, said the opposition parties and the ACN in particular, were only trying to make a mountain out of a molehill. To him, the merging of opposition parties on a platform to wrest power from the ruling PDP is an impossible task, “because in the history on Nigeria, no merger had succeeded.” Babatope stressed that the PDP could never be afraid of any elections, because it is a party rooted in the people of the country. “PDP does not have any business trying to frustrate any merger because we see all they are doing as a child’s play,” he said. Talking from the point of view of party organisation, he said that, “merger is a dream that can never come to pass. There can only be alliances; we have had history of successful alliances, not merger.” In a declaration the opposition will not miss, the PDP chieftain said the merging parties should forfeit their identities and dissolve themselves into one platform and choose a new name to be presented to the INEC “because a political party has already been contending with INEC in court over the refusal of INEC to register it.” According to him, it would not be fair of INEC to go ahead with the registration of APC since all political parties have the same right to register.
Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) have called for the resignation of Governor Mukhtar Yero if he is unable to run the state without resorting to securing foreign loans. The party expressed concerns that the penchant for foreign loans has continued to breed corruption by successive administrations in the state. The state Chairman of the ACN, Alhaji Mohammed Soba, called on the State Assembly to probe all the foreign loans obtained by Governor Yero since he assumed office with a view to ascertaining the economic viability of such loans. But the government has described the allegations as spurious, saying that the governor would not resign since he had not committed any crime against the state. The Commissioner for Information and Home Affairs, Alhaji Saidu Adamu, stated the government position. Meanwhile, chairmen at the 23 local government areas of the state yesterday kicked off a five-day seminar to transform governance at the grassroots level. Areas the chairmen are to ensure transformation include resource maximisation, promotion of investment and business opportunities, project financing, budgeting, and job creation. The seminar is organised by the Kaduna Business School in collaboration with Sterling Bank Plc. According to Alhaji Soba, the governor’s urge for foreign loans within the short period of his ascension to power clearly shows the policy direction of the administration for “naked abuse of public trust and the enslavement of the present and future generation of the people of Kaduna State.” He explained that it was unimaginable that a government that had failed to upgrade facilities in the existing Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital and the Barau Dikko Specialists Hospital, both in the state, would contemplate taking foreign loans to the tune of N7 billion in an elitist hospital that is “neither necessary nor desirable in view of its location and the suspicious manner its contract was conceived and executed.” Soba alleged that the said, “hospital has remained an elephant project of the (former Governor, now Vice President) Namadi (Sambo) administration that was conceived mainly to enrich some few individuals and drain the scarce resources of the state.” The ACN boss argued: “Recently, the Kaduna State Governor, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, made a startling disclosure that his administration has secured a loan of $43 million (about N7 billion) from the Islamic Development Bank for the procurement of beds and other facilities for the yet to be completed Kaduna Specialist Hospital situated at the yet to materialise Millennium City. “We still cannot understand how a project that was supposed to be a private partnership initiative has suddenly become a burden to the government and good people of Kaduna State. “We urge the Kaduna State House of Assembly to probe all the foreign loans obtained by the Yero administration with a view to ascertaining the facilitators and exposing the undercover beneficiaries of crazy economic policy that is a clear recipe for slavery and insecurity. “We also call on Governor Yero to resign his governorship position if he cannot run the state by making judicious use of the state’s resources through prudent management without taking fraudulent foreign loans that are detrimental to our development and collective survival.” However, the Commissioner for Information and Home Affairs, Alhaji Saidu Adamu, has described the allegations as spurious, saying that the governor would not resign since he had not committed any crime against the state. According to the commissioner, the hospital
Yero project in question was important to the people of the state in view of the fact that since the ABU Teaching Hospital was moved to its permanent site in Shika, Zaria, there had been a vacuum. Adamu stressed that when completed, the specialist hospital in the Kaduna metropolis would also serve the students of the State University for their clinical practices. He said that both the National and the State Assemblies had given the nod to the government to go ahead and secure the loans “in view of the positive impact of the project on the people of the state.” He wondered why the ACN in the state would want to play to public gallery over such a viable project “that is of immense value to the people of the state.” Speaking while flagging off the seminar for the first batch of the local government chairmen with the theme, ‘Making Local Governments Work,” Governor Yero said the seminar was to make the chairmen be acquainted with the latest tool-kit of specific working practices. The governor, represented by the Deputy Governor, Ambassador Nuhu Bajoga, said the programme was adapted from World Bank’s Local Economic Development Research (L.E.D). He said there was no doubt the seminar would consider the key performance indicators, which could be used to assess the overall health of the local economy on a year by year basis through effective monitoring feedback and evaluation mechanisms. “The underpinning policy of my government is to achieve a faster pace of overall social and economic transformation throughout the state,” the governor said. “The best way of achieving this goal is through well articulated capacity building programmes such as this. “As important development partners of the state government, we must synergise and seek convergence in developmental policies and methodologies in a manner that will have positive impacts on the living standards of our local and rural communities.” The Managing-Director of Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Razak Adeyemi Adeola, gave the assurance of the bank’s commitment to partner with the state in the area of human capacity that would reduce poverty and create more jobs in the state. The bank’s Head of Strategy, Mr. Shina Atilola, represented him at the opening ceremony.
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 9, 2013
12
TheMetroSection Briefs CAC begins crusade
‘Find my son’s killers’
HRIST Apostolic Church C (CAC) (Ori Oke So Egan Mi Dogo) will from Monday,
• Father of 17-year-old murdered schoolboy alleges foul play by police By Odita Sunday VERYBODY who saw the remains of 17-year-old Samuel Obu wondered at the extent of brutality with which his killers must have applied before beheading him. Narrating the family’s ordeal, his father, Mr. Obuh Sunday, who hails from Ojuh Local Council of Benue State, alleged that detectives at the State Criminal Investigation Department, (SCID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos were turning the dice against them and working for the suspects simply because “they are poor.” Obuh, a clergyman in a small church in Agege area, urged the government and the Inspector General of Police to intervene in the case and prevail on detectives at SCID to do the needful. He specifically alleged that the said officers at SCID insisted him to assure them he would pay for the autopsy before they could perform autopsy on the young school leaver who died under mysterious circumstances in December 2012. He recalled: “My son was 17 years old. On December 31, 2012, my wife and 1 were not at home. We were told that a girl and two boys came to call my son and took him out. It was at about 8.30p.m. they called to say they could not see my son. I asked what happened and called my son’s telephone line immediately. It rang and no one picked the call. I called the lady who called me and she told me that my son’s telephone was with her. She told me she was calling me from Lekki Beach. I did not know anything about their journey to the beach.” “They returned from the beach and were still hoping that my son would eventually return. But we waited for four days and he did not return. On the fourth day, we concluded that if he had been drown in the Atlantic Ocean, his body would have been recovered by then,” Obu said. It was after the long wait that the father of the victim decided to involve the police who arrested the suspects that went to the beach with the young boy. According to Obu: “ It was then I insisted that they should produce my son. We had to take them to Isokoko Police Station. It was the day we reported the matter that Police in the area called to say they have found
May 13- Sunday, May 19, 2013 begin its seven -day powerful crusade from 6.00p.m.8.30p.m. daily, at 11, Aiyetoro Street, Odi-Olowo, Fadeyi in Odi-Olowo Local Council Development Area of Lagos State. Theme is “God Supply All My Needs. Host is Prophet Sam A. Adeogo.
E
AMORC holds seminar S part of activities lined A up for its yearly public seminar geared towards
Mr. Obuh Sunday and his wife
my son’s head. The police who saw the boy’s head acknowledged that it was a murder case. The police asked us to call a photographer to snap the picture and assured us that the photograph was enough to prosecute the matter. They, therefore, urged us to bury the head. The herbalist at the beach insisted we must bury the boy’s head near the river since that was where we found it. He also insisted that we should pay N20,000 before his head could be buried. We pleaded and he accepted N16, 000.” “The police in Lekki area urged us to continue the matter at Isokoko and not Lekki. When we got back to Isokoko, the Police referred us back to Lekki. That was how the two police divisions continued to play on our intelligence until we managed to engage a lawyer out of our lean purse. The matter was transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). One of the suspects was boasting that they would hire a good lawyer.” He added: “At SCID, police continued to assure us that the suspects were still in the cell whereas they
had been released. It was neighbours who informed us that the suspects were walking the streets free. We confronted the police at SCID and queried why they told us that the suspects were in the cell when they had been released. It was then the Investigative Police Officer (IPO) opened up and said they could not continue to hold the suspects since they were not caught in the act.” Obu continued: “They advised that we should write a letter so that the body could be exhumed. It was then we started suspecting the police. We wrote the letter, but each time we got to the SCID, they would always say that the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) had not written back to them. The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of SCID advised us to forget about the matter and leave it to God but we refused. I told him we wanted justice and nothing less.” “Why we have resorted to the media is that the police is asking us to settle the autopsy bill in a state matter. They told me to forget about the matter if we cannot afford the autopsy bill. They must find the
killers of my son. My wife has not recovered from the shock of losing a son we laboured to give education.” But police sources at the SCID told The Guardian that it was the responsibility of the deceased family to sponsor an autopsy. “Where would police get the money to sponsor an autopsy? The family of the victim insisted on autopsy, we took them to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) where the experts gave them the requirements for exhumation of the body and autopsy. LASUTH will not agree to sponsor an autopsy,” the source said. Speaking on why the police released the suspects, the source that wanted to remain anonymous said it was due to pressure from the human rights community. According to him: “There was no evidence to continue to hold the suspects in the cell. The suspects were here for sometime. We had over five cases of people missing at the beach during the period this particular incident took place.”
contributing to national development and world peace, the Lagos zone of the Rosicrucian Order AMORC will on Saturday, May 11, 2013 at Golden Gate Restaurant, Ikoyi, Lagos, between 9a.m and 3p.m hold a seminar with the theme Rethinking National Peace, Stability and Progress. A statement by the Media Co-ordinator, Monday Evawomaha, said seminar would be anchored by four key speakers such as Dr. Hussaini Abdu, Prof. John Idiodi, Otunba Francis Meshioye and Mr Johnson Ikube. The Special Guest of Honour is Dr. Kenneth U Idiodi, President of AMORC, Nigeria and Director, Supreme Board of the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC.
Nigerian Law School Class of 2003 meets preparation for the celeIitsNbration of the 10th year of Call to the Nigerian Bar, the Lagos branch of the Nigerian Law School Class of 2003 will host a special luncheon on May 29, 2013 at the SS Lounge, 7, Sapara Williams Close, Victoria Island, Lagos at 2.00p.m.
Entrance examination N entrance examination A into the Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1) of Lagooz College, Orile-Agege, Lagos for the 2013/2014 academic session holds on Saturday, May 25 and Saturday, July 20 respectively at the school's hall, 11-12, Omotoye Estate Rd, Mulero-Agege at 10.00 a.m.
Gunmen assassinate PDP chieftain in Eket, Akwa Ibom Jigawa monarch, four on a good mission, only to PEOPLES’ Democratic chapter, might have been pour out several bullets others missing A Party (PDP) chieftain, killed because of the wranKojo Unuafomakpo, 82, into his chest and head as From John Akubo, Dutse Chief Eshiet Usung-Ingling that ensued last in his official Hilux Toyota soon as he asked them to HE Jigawa traditional wang, was on Tuesday week after a heated debate for burial May 11 vehicle with his son, sit down and present their HE final burial rites of Pa T title holder of Dutse killed by two unknown over the zoning of the Akwa brother, driver and a case,’’ the source said. T Kojo Unuafomakpo, who Emirate Council, Alhaji gunmen in his house, in Ibom State gubernatorial friend on a condolence died on November 10, 2012, The Eket Divisional Police Idris Kachi (Ganuwar Dutse) along with four others who were abducted by unknown gunmen on their way to Maiduguri three weeks ago, are still missing. Members of the immediate families of the victims and the entire people of Dutse have been overwhelmed by apprehension, anxiety and confusion. Reports from the state reveal that the monarch was
visit to one his close associates who lost his father. Many residents of Dutse, the state capital, have sympathised with the family of the monarch, describing him as a generous and peace- loving man. Kachi, a seasoned administrator, works with the Jigawa State Independent Electoral Commission (JISEC) as Director of Administration and Finance and also a peasant farmer in his village, Kachi.
Ikot Uso Ekong, Eket of Akwa Ibom State. A family source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the gun men, who were seen hanging around the vicinity with a motorcycle suddenly accompanied him into his parlour as soon as he returned home from work around 6.30 p.m. and shot him dead. “The men followed him into his parlor as visitors who were waiting for him
Officer, Mr. Dike Uchechi, was immediately intimated of the tragic development and he launched a police search team, which combed the surrounding of Eket with road blocks on some major streets. The deceased was later taken by a police team to a morgue at Immanuel General Hospital, Eket. Another source alleged that Usung-Inwang, who was a PDP leader in Eket
position to the Eket Senatorial District, which had created a wide gorge among PDP faithful and other stakeholders immediately after the swearing-in of Chief Godswill Akpabio as governor of Akwa Ibom State. Meanwhile, in the last four weeks, there have been rival cult clashes between cult groups in Eket, which have claimed more than 11 lives, with some maimed and crippled for life over politi-
at the age of 82, begin on Friday, May 10, 2013 with a service of Songs at 4.00p.m., followed by a funeral service/interment on Saturday, May 11 at 10.00am. Guests will be entertained at St. Vincent College, Okwagbe, Delta State. A thanksgiving service holds on Sunday, May 12, 2013 at 10.00 a.m. at Central Baptist Church, Okwagbe. He is survived by wives and 27 children among whom is Henry Kojo.
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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 9, 2013
Photonews
President Goodluck Jonathan (third right), Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi (left), Bayelsa State Governor, Serake Dickson (second right), Senator Smart Adeyemi; Amb. Olusegun Ashiru and Nigeria High Commissioner to South Africa, Amb. Sani Yusuf at the meeting with the Nigerian community in Cape Town...in Monday
NDLEA destroys biggest haul of cannabis ever in Edo From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City DO State yesterday E made a first, though in the wrong way, as it witnessed the seizure and destruction of the largest tonnes of cannabis sativa popularly called marijuana in one year ever by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) anywhere in the country. The total quantity destroyed at the NDLEA state command destruction site in Idogbo, Ikhobha Okha was 102 tonnes estimated at over N1 billion. Executive Director of the Agency, Ahmadu Giade, said the seizure was a culmination of hard work by
officers and men of the command and support from members of the public just as he said 81,541.71 kilogrammes of illicit drugs were also seized and 231 suspected drug traffickers arrested within the same period. Represented by the Director General, Femi Ajayi, Giade said the agency was into strategic partnership with both local and international partners. “As a result, when we get information on Nigerians involved in drug trafficking abroad, we investigate their illicit drug proceeds back home with a view to forfeiting same to the Federal Government. We are winning on all sides.”
He said: “We are about to witness the largest single destruction of narcotics in our country’s history of drug control. We have a total of 102 tonnes of cannabis for destruction, which is a result of daily raid operations carried out by the Edo State command. “We have substantially incapacitated drug trafficking syndicates in our country. The value of drugs seized from them in recent times is mind-boggling.” NDLEA State Commander, Alhaji Sani Sani acknowledged assistance from men of the Nigeria Police, the Nigerian Army, Department of State Security Service and members of the Security Council.
Collapsed building, which injured two children, at No. 6, Adenaike Alagbe Street, Ejina, Ikorodu, Lagos...yesterday. PHOTO: NAN
Chairman, Amuwo Odofin Local Council of Lagos State, Ayodele Adewale, (left) delivering a lecture at a capacity building workshop for Ogun State Councillors in Abeokuta … at the weekend
Council boss advises residents to embrace dialogue HE Chairman of Enugu T South Local Council of Enugu State, Ozo Nwabueze Okafor, has enjoined communities in the council to always explore the option of dialogue and consultation to resolve any contentious matters that might arise within their fold. Dialogue, he argued, ensured peaceful and speedy resolution of issues, while accommodating all shades of opinions and varied interests to the satisfactions of greater majority, if not all, concerned.
The Council boss, who is also the National President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), was speaking on Monday while receiving the people of AmechiUwani, an Enugu Satellite Town, at the formal presentation of their Igweelect, Ozo Joseph Aniebonam Ogbodo. Chief Ogbodo had emerged from a keenly contested election at the weekend, to ascend the traditional stool vacated following the transition of the previous holder, Igwe V. V. Chukwuegbo.
Okafor commended the community for organizing a free and fair election to choose their Igwe (traditional ruler), and urged other communities to learn from the AmechiUwani example. Highlights of the event included formal signing of documents to ratify the election of the Igwe, performances by sacred traditional music groups, and presentation of a gift of white ram from the Igweelect to the council boss. The official coronation of the Igwe will come at a later date.
Adesina, Yaro, others advise asthmatic patients on World Asthma Day
By Debo Oladimeji HE Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, Dr. Yewande Adesina, has urged asthmatic patients to be sensitive to those things that trigger the attack. Speaking on Tuesday in Lagos during a rally organised by Gabasawa Women and Children Empowerment Initiative (GWCI) to mark the World Asthma with the theme: ‘You Can Control Your Asthma,’ she said: “Let everybody know you are asthmatic. Always carry your inhaler with you, and make sure that your inhaler is functioning. “Anybody who is asthmatic must learn to know
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what triggers the attack. Dust, bleaching of oil, fumes from generating sets can trigger asthma. Get your doctor’s phone number in case of an attack.” An Assistant Director, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Abdul Ramman, said those who are asthmatic should make proper use of the hospital including the primary health centres. “All the health care centres in the state are working. The problem that cannot be handled at the health centre would be referred to the General Hospital,” he said. The Director of Finance and Administration, Lagos State Ministry of Health,
Mrs. Kemi Adeoye, said: “Asthma is a medical condition just like the high blood pressure. The environment that we live today does not help. The pollution is really high”. “One thing about asthma is that you can see it coming. Don’t try to manage it. When your chest starts to congest, and you cannot breathe, know that something is wrong. That is the time you need to let your parents or your doctor to know. Asthma is not something you take lightly. And if you have asthma, don’t smoke,” advised. The organiser, Mrs. Doris Yaro, said that the “World Asthma Day is a day set aside to raise awareness, care and support for those
Publicity Secretary of Igbo Socio-Cultural group, Aka Ikenga, Mr. Okey Onyemobi (left), President of the group, Chief Goddy Uwazurike, President Emeritus, Chief Chibeze Ikokwu and the Vice President Emeritus, Ogbuefi Tony Nnachetta during a press briefing ahead of Achebe’s Day of Tributes tagged “Chinua Achebe: There was a Man, in Lagos. PHOTO: ODITA SUNDAY
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Habiba Lawal (middle)celebrating with orphans in commemoration of this year’s World Orphans’ Day...on Tuesday PHOTO: LADIDI LUCY ELUKPO
14 | THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 9, 2013
TheGuardian Conscience Nurtured by Truth
FOUNDER: ALEX U. IBRU (1945 – 2011)
Conscience is an open wound; only truth can heal it. Uthman dan Fodio 1754-1816
Editorial The Lagos register of residents AGOS State Government’s plan to commence the registration of all resiLshould dents in the state has prospects for socio-economic benefits, but this be embarked upon with some caution. Tagged the Lagos State Residents Registration Programme, the move is capable of being misunderstood if proper enlightenment is not thoroughly carried out. Though established in 2011 by an enactment of the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency Law of 2011, the proposed registration became a public issue once again when Lagos State governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, recently intimated Lagosians of the impending take-off of the compulsory registration of all residents in the state. According to the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA), besides the provision of a database that would serve as a register containing “all the demographic information of all residents of Lagos State”, the exercise would ensure that “every resident will possess a highly secured unique identification number and card,” and by so doing “remove the veil of anonymity from every resident of Lagos”. Consistent with this official position is the claim that the residents’ registration is a reaction to the agreement reached last October between Mr. Fashola and his Ogun State counterpart, Mr. Ibikunle Amosun to apply the residency rule to resolve the lingering boundary disputes and cases of multiple taxation affecting workers and residents in 15 border areas of both states. However, beyond this official position, there seems to be other motivations. There is the claim that the exercise has a questionable political dimension, whereby demographic data would be used to separate the rich from the poor, or to distinguish between indigenous Lagosians and residents from other ethnic groups. For those whose line of thought is tilted towards the latter, the Residents’ Registration Programme re-echoes the residents’ census before the Nigerian Civil War in 1967. Although, if any form of discrimination is being contemplated citizens may take refuge in Sections 41 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which guarantee their right to freedom of movement and freedom from discrimination respectively. As the second fastest growing city in Africa and the seventh fastest growing in the world, the state of insecurity in the country, and the glaring absence of any form of database management for proper national planning, the necessity for a genuine residents’ registration programme in Lagos State is hardly debatable. If, as elsewhere, the Lagos State residents’ registration is essential for government to accurately determine needs assessment for the formulation and implementation of policies, programmes and projects, and for residents to gain access to government services, then the quest for better planning and governance should be supported. There is need, however, for adequate enlightenment to allay the fears of skeptics. Lagos is host to an estimated 21 million people of various demographic classifications. Crammed in and bursting at its seams, Lagos is also a commercial battlefield to many who see it as ‘no man’s land’; and for these, the only allegiance is mercantile with the finer intentions of government seldom understood. This calls for aggressive enlightenment and proper articulation of the genuine motives of the residents’ registration. While the peculiar status of Lagos justifies the exercise, other areas of the country where residency has become problematic for better planning and effective management of taxation should also look at ways of dealing with such. To this end, there is need for communication between and amongst governors of contingent states in order to collaborate and harness the benefits accruable from mutual exchange of information on common interests. But the bandwagon effect of its proliferation may not necessarily translate into the desired success in some other states. Residents’ registration may be deemed unnecessary in some states; in some others it would be counterproductive. In the hands of many governors, the exercise could have the propensity for fraud and translate into mismanagement of funds. The Lagos State Residents’ Registration Programme is a bold and commendable action. If all the rough edges of poor enlightenment and uncertainty are smoothened, the successful outcome of the programme would have the good fortune of being replicated in other states of the federation where it is needed. By then Lagos would have become a veritable pacesetter where the Federal Government has failed woefully.
LETTER
Misplaced sentiment for phone thief IR: I AM appalled by the scribed a minimum of eight tim. The man actually wresSsentiments, avalanche of misplaced years and maximum of 20 tled him to the floor in a in the media years for each of the first banking hall. He was again and especially on the Internet, being directed at the convicted thief, Kelvin Ighodalo, who was jailed 10 years for stealing Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s phone. A particular newspaper has led its readers on this false path and the false echo has since been picked up by the Osun State PDP and its wannabe aspirants. The allegation is made, in the fashion of what Herbert London called ‘avatars of moral equivalence’ in which a crime, no matter how heinous, becomes insignificant and irrelevant, considering other circumstances of the convict. In this case, the victim of the robbery, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, happens to be a big man, a state governor. So when has it become that a big man should not get justice because of his status? The mischief actually began with headlines that sensationally amplified the sentence – ‘Man bags 45 years for stealing Aregbesola’s phone’. However, the truth is that he was convicted on a six-count charge totalling 45 years but which will run concurrently, meaning that he would actually spend a maximum of 10 years in jail. Indeed, the law had pre-
three counts and he was lucky to get just 10 years – slightly above the minimum. Secondly, a detailed look at the thief’s antecedent will reveal that the sentiment showered on him is highly misplaced. Ighodalo was a police officer dismissed from service for armed robbery and was cooling his heels at Kirikiri maximum prison when Governor Aregbesola’s phone was snatched. However, the phone got to him from his associates who were the pickpockets and he started calling the governor’s friends, including traditional rulers, soliciting for money. At the last count, he had fraudulently collected more than N20 million from different people. When the governor heard, he informed the service provider and the SIM card was locked. When Ighodalo was released from prison on bail, he penetrated the service provider through corruption and retrieved the SIM card again and started calling the governor’s friends and associates. He was however arrested in a bank in Benin while trying to cash his booty from a vic-
detained in a police station in Lagos where in connivance with the DPO, he escaped to continue to dupe people in the governor’s name. Now, this man operates a syndicate involving several police officers, a prison warden and his brother, many of whom are either on the run or facing criminal charges. It is interesting that when he was charged, he pleaded guilty and was given slightly above minimum punishment in light of his uproarious antecedent. The people complaining about the harshness of this sentence are moral cowards who would wish that a criminal is released to freely ply his evil trade on innocent people. This misplaced sentiment has unwittingly turned the villain into victim and the victim, this time, Aregbesola, into villain. There is a way still in which the judgement is incomplete. What happens to all the money he had collected? How will the victims collect their money back? The judgement is silent on this. Will he return from prison to start enjoying the gains of crime? Should he and must he? • Mike Adeyinka, Osogbo, Osun State.
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Business Tackling unemployment in Nigeria through mobile application P. 27 NCC slams N54m fines on GSM firms By Adeyemi Adepetun (Lagos) and Nkechi Onyedika, Abuja Or the umpteenth time, FMobile the Global System for Communications (GSM) service providers in the country, have been sanctioned again by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The offence of these operators, which include MTN Nigeria; Airtel; Globacom and Etisalat was their refusal to stop their agents from engaging in the sales of pre-registered Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards contrary to the regulator’s directive. Pre-registered SIMs can be defined as SIMS already activated before sales to subscribers, which is contrary to NCC’s regulation and directive. As such, the regulator imposed a fine of N54.8 million on MTN, Globacom, Airtel and Etisalat Nigeria for contravening the provisions on pre-registration of SIM Cards in the country, which is in furtherance of the NCC’s ongoing enforcement of the provisions of the Telephone Subscribers registration regulations 2011. The fines imposed are based on the number of fully activated new SIM Cards that were either reported to the Commission or purchased in compliance monitoring and enforcement exercises conducted by the Commission, and validated by the offending network. Each of such pre-registered SIMs found attracts a penalty of N200, 000. Accordingly, Airtel Nigeria Networks Limited is liable to payment of a fine in the sum of N8.6 million for the availability of 43 pre-registered SIM Card during the exercise. Etisalat is liable to pay a fine in the sum N5 million for contravening on 25 pre-registered SIM Cards while Globacom Limited is liable to a fine in the sum of N11 million on 55 pre-registered SIM Cards. MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd is liable to pay the sum of N29.2 million for contravening on 146 pre-registered SIM Cards. The service providers were given up to seven days within which to pay the fine, failure of which attracts N500, 000 for any additional day that the contravention persists. The Commission in the notice of sanction to the service providers jointly signed by the Director, Legal and regulatory Services, Ms. Josephine Amuwa, and Director, Compliance Monitoring and CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
Minister of Trade, Segun Aganga, Governor Godswill Akpabio and CEO, Bombardier AeroSpace , Pierre Beaudoin during a facility tour of the Aircraft manufacturing plant in Toronto
‘Why N8.1trillion Greenfield refineries suffer set back’ From Collins Olayinka and Roseline Okere, Houston, Texas HE Federal Government T has attributed the delay in the take off of Greenfields refineries to the non-deregulation of the country’s downstream sector. The Minister of Petroleum resources, Diezani AlisonMadueke, who made this disclosure at the opening ceremony of the Offshore Technology conference in Houston, Texas, assured that the government was working hard to ensure that it establishes investors’ confidence to achieve self-sufficiency in crude oil refining in the country. The Federal Government had
signed a N51.8 billion (N8.1 trillion) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with various local and international investors between 2011 and 2012 to build 10 refineries across the country, which is expected to save the country from fuel importation. But the Federal Government has not been able to achieve much progress, as some investors have not been able to meet deadlines and progress to the next level of negotiation. The minister who was represented by the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu, said that while the
government is making effort to ensure that the four refineries in the country are producing up to full capacity, it is also working hard to ensure that the proposed Greenfield refineries are up and running. She stated: “We must get the business model right. There are quite a number of issues that are wrong. No investors will want to invest in a regulated environment. Today, the petroleum product market is regulated and there are quite a number of things that are needed to be done to ensure that the business environment is conducive enough for investors to invest. The business models
must be right. We are working hard to establish investors’ confidence in the Greenfield refineries. “There are four refineries with a combined nameplate capacity of 445,000 barrels per day built in Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Warri. We have LNG plant with installed capacity of 22 million tonnes per annum. The country is currently implementing two additional LNG projects, which will give a total in-country capacity of over 40 million tonnes per annum when completed. The long-term plan is for Nigeria to become the gas hub of the sub-region”, she said. According to her, The history of oil and gas exploration is
replete with how new paradigms have successfully created new opportunities which hitherto were thought to be non-existent. The West African Transform margin plays an excellent example of this. Prior to its emergence as a hotbed of exploration activities, the West Africa oil province was dominated by onshore and shallow water production from Nigeria, Gabon, Angola and to some extent Equatorial Guinea”. She said that Nigeria has over 35 billion barrels of proven oil reserves and 187 trillion Cubic Feet (TCF) of proven gas reserves with plans to increase it in the next few years. CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
Banks shun investment in aviation over high risks, says Agbaje By Wole Shadare HErE are indications that T Banks in Nigeria are shying away from investment in the country’s aviation industry as a result of fragile nature and high risks associated with the industry. Specifically, the banks are r channeling their resources towards business aviation,
which has seen growth in the past five years, while scheduled passenger airline businesses are going under. Business aviation is a specialised form of aviation catering for business travel, charter services and private jets ownership. Meanwhile, the total private jets in Nigeria has been valued at $3.75 billion, just as stake-
holders put the total private jets in the country at 150. On the average, each jet costs $25 million, which carries both local and international registrations. The total number of private jets in the country has made Nigeria the continent’s largest market of private jets. This was disclosed yesterday by the Managing Director,
GTBank Plc, Mr. Segun Agbaje at a one day Nigerian business aviation conference 2013 with the theme: ‘The Emerging Market in Business Aviation organised by the Evergreen Apple Nigeria in Lagos. In attendance were representatives of Falcon, Bombardier, Embraer, top aviation chiefs from Nigeria, Europe, United States, Middle East and South
America. Agbaje noted that the most popular jets common among Nigerians billionaires in the country today are Gulfstream, Bombardier, Global Express, Hawker Legacy and Dassault Falcon among others. Most of the jets according to Agbaje are imported from the CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 9, 2013
16 BUSINESS
Nebo promises more power generation, woos investors from South Africa From Emeka Anuforo and Karls Tsokar, Abuja
HE Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, has promised that power generation would double before the end of the year, even as the Federal Government harps on hydropower generation for environmental considerations. Nebo while addressing some Nigerians in Cape Town South Africa on recently said the current process of privatisation in the power sector will produce tremendous benefits to investors. He said “power generation has doubled under President Jonathan’s administration, and
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Government prefers Hydrobeing for power generation environmental friendly,
will double again within one year”. According a statement issued by Timothy Oyodeji, Deputy Director/Head of Press, the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali, said that because of environmental degradation associated with fossils power generation, the Federal Government is going to make hydro the focus of the new energy mix for the country. While receiving the European Union delegation in his office, led by Ambassador David Macrae in Abuja, Igali said that apart from
small hydropower generation can be transmitted off grid for use by small rural communities around the dams. Stating that with about 200 Dams across the country that were hitherto constructed for purely irrigation purposes, but can now be adaptable for electricity, the concomitant multiplier effect in agricultural value chain is unimaginable, employment generation and empowerment would naturally follow. While commending the European
Union for its continued assistance in critical areas of the nation’s economy, the Permanent Secretary, assured the delegation that the waste associated with gas flaring would soon be over, as the country’s Independent Power Projects (IPP) are designed to take advantage of Nigeria’s gas potentials. The EU leader David Macrae, has described Nigeria’s energy sector as priority to the EU, saying that the EU will help Nigeria meet the gap in financing of some key capital projects in the sector. Ambassador Macrae promised EU support for capacity building, saying he is allying with the planned
arrangement to bring to Nigeria trainers, rather than Nigerians going abroad for such training. This he reasoned is not only cost effective but would afford more Nigerians to be so trained. He also said that EU programme would touch on bringing up stream renewable energy potentials, adding that the EU is interested in ensuring effective power transmission to the rural areas through Rural Electrification programme. The Minister noted that among other things, rural electrification has become a priority of the Jonathan administration, beginning with the full re-activation of the Rural Electrification Agency.
Banks shun investment in aviation over high risks CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 United States of America, Canada, Europe, Brazil and South Africa. He however noted that banks in the country are yet to invest in aviation industry because of attendant risks involved with commercial aviation, but explained that with the involvement of financial institutions, the sector would record a boost. His words, “Aircraft financing is a way to deepening banking relationship with top private banking customers and corporate organisations, but there are some challenges in the financial institutions as most of us don’t realise yet the importance of support for the industry. Nigeria provides a huge opportunity for development in aircraft manufactur-
ing industry”. “Risks and problems associated with commercial aviation is one of the problems confronting the sector. However, most financial institution will prefer to support business aviation at the expense of commercial aviation. Business aviation has less risks when compared to commercial aviation” The GTB boss who could not readily give the investment portfolio of his bank to airlines and the aviation industry, admitted that the risk for airlines and the industry are very high with huge debts incurred by airlines in the past. The description of aviation in Nigeria as high risk industry has negatively hampered financing of aircraft by local banks.
Greenfield refineries suffer set back CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 Diezani disclosed that the current crude oil and condensate production runs at over 2.4 million barrels per day and gas of over eight billion cubic feet per day day. “It is projected that based on current industry trend crude oil and gas production would rise to over three million barrels per day and 10 billion cubic feet per day by 2015. Diezani said that governments within the West African region including Nigeria have embarked on both developmental and economic projects aimed at realizing the
benefits of hydrocarbons discovery. She said: “In Nigeria, for instance, on-going initiatives of government in the sector are primarily geared at ensuring positive impact on the economy. There is plan for growth in crude oil reserves and expansion in production capacity; we are repositioning gas for re-industrialisation and stimulation of the economy, regional and export penetration; revitalization of existing downstream capacities and additional capacity to support energy needs and reform of key institutions to anchor the growth aspira-
NCC slams N54m fines on GSM firms CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 Enforcement, Mr. Ubale Maska, yesterday, said the fine was in exercise of its discretionary powers following prior warnings in April 2012 that Network Service Providers will be liable for breaches by their Registration Centres carrying out pre-registration of the New SIM Cards for sales, since it is the providers that activate these new SIM Cards. “Based on the report of enforcement exercises against hawkers, agents and backend suppliers of fully activated pre-registered New SIM Cards in the year 2012, and first quarter of 2013, it
has been established that there is an urgent need to sanction all Network operators who have not complied with the Direction” the Commission said. The Commission noted that the service providers that it had at the commencement of the SIM Registration exercise project instructed that all New SIM Cards going into the distribution and sales channels must only be activated as “receive only” with a proviso that all such cards can only call emergency numbers and operators’ call centres for a period of 30 days, failure to register such SIM Cards thereafter will render such SIM Cards inactive.
Director, Social Statistics and Demographic Department, Mr. Louis Gambo (left); World Bank Country Director, Mrs. Marye Nelly, and Statistician-General, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Dr. Yemi Kale, at a Stakeholder’s Consultative Forum on the Production and Management of MDAs Sector Statistics in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: LADIDI LUCY ELUKPO
NEITI recovers N30 billion from erring oil firms . Lauds global development on revenue transperency By Sulaimon Salau HE anti-graft war in the oil T and gas sector may be yielding results, as the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) is said to have recovered about $2 billion (N30 billion) from the outstanding funds uncovered in the oil and gas audit report. However, the transparency watchdog said efforts are being intensified to recoup the outstanding sum of $9.6 billion from the erring oil companies. The agency made this known in a statement yesterday, while giving credence to the unfolding positive developments around the world on extractive industry transparency and good governance. NEITI, according to its Director Communications, Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, is delighted that this unethical business practices is beginning to attract the global attention it rightly deserves. “For instance, from NEITI independent audit reports that focused on public disclo-
sure, Nigeria government has so far recovered about $2 billion (N30 billion) while inter agency efforts led by NEITI to recover another outstanding sum of $9.6 billion from companies is being intensified. “These colossal sums were revealed by NEITI reports from under-assessment, under-payment of levies, taxes, bonuses, royalties and other sharp practices over what companies claimed they paid and what government declared it received. But for public disclosure being championed by NEITI under a similar law in Nigeria (NEITI Act, 2007), these recoveries and information on potential debt would not have been possible. “It is the view of NEITI that addressing problems associated with poor management of natural resources, wealth remained the fundamental basis for tackling the increasing trends of global inequality, poverty, social conflicts and insecurity which are common in resource-rich countries,” it stated. NEITI cited the global transparency developments as the
recent courageous decision of the United State Court of Appeal to dismiss a lawsuit instituted by organizations in oil industry to challenge the Dodd-Frank Act, a U.S law, which requires all U.S. and foreign companies to mandatorily disclose publicly all payments made to U.S and foreign governments where they operate. “NEITI finds the courageous decision of the U.S Court of Appeal as a major test of the Dodd-Frank legislation enacted by the U.S Congress in 2010. “The decision to dismiss that suit in favor of this major anti-corruption legislation (Dodd-Frank Act) is worthy of emulation by all countries that subscribe to the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) including Nigeria. “NEITI believes that this positive development over DoddFrank legislation is consistent with another major declaration by the European Union (EU) to adopt an agreement among all EU countries to compel all EU-listed companies operating in the oil,
gas, mining industry to make similar public disclosures on payments made to governments at home and their host countries on project-by-project basis,” it stated. It added: “These developments are coming at the heels of a similar new initiative being championed by former United Nations’ Secretary General, Kofi Annan. The Annan Initiative focuses on prudent management of natural resource wealth and good governance in the extractive sector, especially in the Sub-Sahara Africa. “NEITI is excited about these developments especially at this time when public demands and agitation for reforms in Nigeria’s extractive sector is on the increase especially through the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). “The PIB now before the National Assembly for passage into law is another great opportunity for Nigeria to align its extractive industry governance to international best practices and ensure that revenues from its oil, gas and mining sector support national development.” It stated.
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BUSINESS
Executive Secretary, Equipment Leasing Association of Nigeria (ELAN), Andrew Efurhievwe, presenting an award of honour to Charles N. Akpabio, Lagos Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps during the Fleet Management Conference organized by ELAN in Lagos.
Nigercem, Ebonyi in Court over cement factory From Lemmy Ughegbe HE Federal High Court, T Abuja Division yesterday fixed May 17, 2013 for the hearing of an action filed by the Nigerian Cement Company Plc (Nigercem), seeking to restrain the Ebonyi State Government from stopping Ibeto Cement from taking over Nigercem at Nkalagu, Ebonyi state. The company is also contending that the state government is bereft of powers to revoke its mining lease on the premise that it is “the exclusive preserve” of the appropriate officer, being the minister responsible for regulating matters relating to mineral resources, acting within the purview of section 151 of the Mining and Mineral Act, 2007. Other defendants in the suit include the Attorney-General of the Federation (first Defendant), the Inspector General Police (second Defendant) and the Ebonyi State Government (the third Defendant). When the matter came up, Counsel for the Plaintiff, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, (SAN) told the court he was ready to proceed with the Originating
Summons, but counsel to the third defendant, Peter Eze, said that his client had filed a preliminary objection and had not filed a counter affidavit to the Originating Summons. He prayed the court not to hear the Originating Summons as applied for by the counsel to the plaintiff. But Ikpeazu again informed the court that the rules allowed the court to hear the Originating Summons in the absence of the counter affidavit. But the court adjourned to May 17, 2013, for hearing of the originating summons and the preliminary objection and asked the defendants to file their counter affidavit before the next adjourned date. At the last hearing on April 12, 2013, plaintiff’s counsel vigorously moved the court to hear the plaintiff’s application for interlocutory injunction to restrain the third defendant from taking further steps on the subject matter, but the court refused to hear the application and adjourned the matter to Tuesday for definite hearing of the originating summons. Nigerian Cement Company
Plc had been shut down since 2001.
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BUSINESS
Host communities defend NPDC, Atlantic Energy oil block deal From Mathias Okwe (Abuja) OST communities in Delta State where the controversial oil blocks sale
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to Energy Atlantic are located have thrown their weight behind the transaction and have advised the Federal Government to maintain sta-
tus quo because the operator was a responsible investor who has the interest of the host communities at heart. The host Communities rep-
resented by their Chiefs on Tuesday at a press briefing in Abuja also warned against any attempt to cancel the transaction, saying this will spell serious unrest in the area and would also influence the Communities’ vote in the 2015 general elections. At the briefing where they read a statement which has also been sent to the relevant Committees of the National Assembly, as well as the States Security Services ( SSS) were : Chief Timi Ebimene (Ijaw) Chief Ezekiel Egwubiare (Urhobo), Luke Acholonu (Ndokwa) and Chief Onajega Michael (Isoko. The prepared statement read in parts: “ The NPDC, a Subsidiary of NNPC did the right thing by transferring the operatorship of the Oil Blocks above to Atlantic Energy Concept Limited. If not for anything, the deal supports the local content policy, which we, the oil producing communities, have agitated for over the years. The local content which a key provision in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is one major reason why the oil producing communities have consistently urged the National Assembly to pass that piece of legislation which we believe will mark an unprecedented participation of Nigerians in the petro-
They are fomenting unnecessary tension and in a way, causing fresh uprising in our region and should be charged with treason. How many traditional leaders did they consult? leum sector. “We are of the opinion that as long as an Ijaw man can live in Lagos, an Uhrobo or Itsheiheri can own a house or business in Lagos or Jos, we wonder why a Yoruba man or whosever, as the case may be, wouldn’t be able to do business in our area, in as much as the interests of the host communities are protected. “Those at the forefront of the call for the cancellation of the above oil blocks are fighting for their selfish interests. It is a habit of blackmail and capable of causing disintegration. “We have closely monitored the position of those calling for the revocation of the Licences of the affected blocks, and have come to a conclusion that these paid agitators within and outside the House of Representatives are working against the interests of host communities. They are trying to blackmail the top management of the NNPC and the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. “They are fomenting unnecessary tension and in a way, causing fresh uprising in our region and should be charged with treason. How
many traditional leaders did they consult? “We are of the opinion that in the spirit of fairness and true federalism, we should give the above mentioned company the chance to prove what it can do as an indigenous company even though it is not from the Niger Delta host communities but as a Nigerian company, it should be encouraged. “We also applause the Minister of Petroleum Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke and those at the helm of affairs of the NPDC when the operatorship was transferred, for their transformational strides and boldness in supporting local content. Rear germs like these should be encouraged, not vilified. “We also call on our sons and daughters at the National Assembly to do us proud by enacting laws that will promote the development of our region, not joining bandits to blackmail innocent public servants of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. “This will, to a large extent determine our voting pattern as electorate, come 2015.
ICAN boss advocates comprehensive policy to tackle insecurity From Saxone Akhaine ORRIED about the negaW tive implication of the current state of insecurity in Nigeria, the President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Adedoyin Idowu Owolabi has advised the Federal Government to roll out a cohesive and comprehensive security policy for the nation may endanger the polity and economy in the near future Owolabi who spoke at the Northern District Accountant Conference 2013, in Kaduna recently, also pointed out that the inability of Government to solve the security challenges in the country to an end was not healthy to the economic growth and development of the country, as the lack of a proper security policy “has expectedly raised anxiety among Nigerians, even as the problems continue to spiral out of control”. In his keynote address, titled “The Impact of Insecurity on S o c i o - E c o n o m i c Development of Northern Nigeria”, Owolabi explained that “the state of insecurity in the country which has reached an embarrassing level with terrorist attacks on a military formation in Jaji and special anti-robbery headquarters of the police are embarrassing to the leadership and people of this nation” stressing that the Government must put its mechanism in place for securing the economy of the country.
He said: “One of the greatest problems confronting the country today is the issue of insecurity. The occasional assurances that the government has the capacity to secure the nation, and is already putting adequate measures in place to stem the state of insecurity in the country have become trite in view of the series of violence that defines the daily life of Nigerians “. “From the rising cases of suspected political assassinations, through constatnt attacks by Boko Haram militants, to the unabated bloodshed in Jos, the country is enveloped in palpable insecurity while security agents look increasingly incapacitated. The situation is alarming as the security agencies appear to have been overwhelmed”. The ICAN chief, however, blamed the “Government on the lack of attention placed on the education of the teaming youths in the country and the high rate of unemployment and poverty which the various policies of government have not seriously addressed, Owolabi said: “What is worrisome to me in this circumstance is the low level of literacy among the youth in the Northern part of Nigeria. This should be of serious concern to the political elites and 19 Northern governors because the political elites are able to exploit this situation among the youth in the Northern Nigeria to engage them in unscrupulous activities for their political benefits”.
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Stakeholders kick against new aviation policy From Joke Falaju, Abuja in the aviation sector have SingTAKEHOLDERS blamed the Federal Government for launchthe new National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) without considering input from the private sectors. The stakeholders accused the government of creating a policy that cannot be backed by the law and such which sanctions cannot be given to offenders. The respondents spoke during an interactive meeting with owners of foreign and Nigeria registered business aircraft organised by the Federal Ministry of Aviation recently in Abuja. The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Secretary-General, Captain Mohammed Joji described the policy as such that is subservient to that designed by the military in 1988. Joji said the global trend is to reduce functions of aviation ministries but the new policy had enlarged responsibilities of the Federal Ministry of Aviation. According to him, creating the general aviation under the mandate of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority NCAA was wrong adding that importation of aircraft into the country should be among duties of the NCAA.
President, Topbrass Aviation, Mr. Roland Iyayi said the new policy was void of inclusive approach in design, adding that stakeholders were not carried along. Identifying the need to review the policy, he said many things were wrong such as process of getting license to import aircraft which the Federal Government should have considered. He added that he spent 13 months before he could get the license to import aircraft into the country with further intervention of highly placed individuals. However, Iyayi called for a forum to invite all stakeholders in order to address loopholes in the policy and design all inclusive conclusions. Both foreign and Nigeria registered business aircraft operators made their grievances known during the meeting with the Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah and head of agencies under the ministry. Speaking on rate of unemployment in the industry, at an interactive meeting with the owners and operators of foreign and Nigeria registered business aircraft yesterday in Abuja, the chief Executive Officer of Jedidah Air, Mr Nogie Meggison pointed out that there are over 150 fully registered unemployed pilot ploughing the street. He said “it is disheartening to know that
presently Nigeria have about 150 fully registered pilot without reasonable job, and at the end of the year, their will be about 400 pilot without job, Nigerian air operators and foreign airlines would prefer the service of foreign licenced pilot, while Nigerian pilot are turned down on the basis that they don’t have enough experience”. The Aviation Minister who was represented by the Special Advicer of the President on Aviation reform, Ms Anne Ene-Ita pointed out that the federal government is not resting on its oars in ensuring that the guiding principles of nation’s aviation is in line with the guidelines of the International Civil Aviation Organization.
She mentioned that the essence of the interactive session with players in the industry is to factor in their opinion into the new Aviation policy. She said “New frameworks are being developed for growing our domestic airlines and plans are almost concluded for the effective take-off of the national carrier which will be driven by the private sector”. Ene-Ita noted that the development in the industry now rank Nigeria after China and Japan in terms of passenger volume which is expected to keep growing at the rate of 9-10 percent annually reaching the level of 15-20million by 2020.
You don’t have jurisdiction, Anosike brothers tell court By Joseph Onyekwere HE Ànosike brothers - Noel T and Fidelis on Tuesday told a Federal High Court, Lagos that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain a criminal charge against them. The brothers made the submission through their coun-
sel, Norrison Quakers (SAN) before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, at the resumed hearing of a fraud charge levelled against them by the Federal Government. When the case was mentioned, Quakers, appearing with his lead counsel Babajide Koku (SAN) informed the court of two applications dated
November 19, 2012 and February 13, 2013 respectively. He said that these applications were in the form of preliminary objections, challenging the court’s power to entertain the suit. He said: “My lord, our first application is an objection to the service of the charge on the accused, while the second seeks to quash same”. Citing section 215 of the criminal procedure act and a plethora of authorities, Quakers told the court that it is an anomaly for an accused to be arraigned on a charge that is not properly served. He also argued that despite early service of their preliminary objection on the prosecution, they had failed to serve the defence with their counter affidavit, in response to the objection. “My lord, we have filed and served on the prosecution our notice of preliminary objection, contesting service of the charge on the accused. “The prosecution only responded to the application dated February 13, 2013, but have failed to serve us with their counter affidavit with respect to the first application dated November 19. It is trite law that where there is an application challenging service of a charge on an accused, the court has a duty to rule on it one way or the other. “The baliffs of this court have not followed due process of law, in effecting service of the charge on the accused, and this is the basis of our first objection. “Service of process goes to the jurisdiction of the court, and since the prosecution has failed to respond to same, it is deemed admitted. “I hereby submit that the jurisdiction of this court has not been properly invoked to bring the accused under its jurisdiction”, Quakers argued. But, the prosecutor, Ernest Ezebilo argued that the charge had been duly served on the accused. He maintained that the proof of service of the charge was clearly exhibited in the court’s file, and it did not matter the manner in which the accused were served. Ezebilo also told the court that he had equally responded to the objection raised by the defence, and urged the court to proceed with the case. However, Justice Aneke reserved ruling on the issue of service till June 27. According to the charge, the accused were alleged to have obtained N25 million from the Education Trust Fund under the pretence of setting up Electronic Library for Daily Times. The alleged offence is said to contravene the provisions of Sections 1 (3) and 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act, 2004. The accused have not been arraigned on the charge.
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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 9, 2013
IOCs to relinquish assets to indigenous operators From Roseline Okere, Houston,Texas
ETTER hopes lies ahead for indigenous oil companies as the Federal Government maintained that all the divested that are yet to be carried out or are in the pipeline would be handed over local companies. According to the government all the assets that have been slated for divestment would be awarded to indigenous companies, adding that Nigerians should not be wary over the exercise as their interest would be given priority in the exercise. “There is no cause for alarm over on-going divestment of petroleum assets by multinational oil companies operating in the country, since those assets are readily taken up by indigenous operators. Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu, who stated this at the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference, OTC, taking place in Houston, Texas,stated the government would anytime from now start the bidding process for some of the aban doned assets by the oil majors and once it completes a review on them He said the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, has itemized quite a number of these assets which had been neglected by the IOC, and they are receiving presidential attention. As soon as they properly compiled the bid rounds will commence and the assets will be made available. The NNPC boss observed that a lot of the oil assets that have been divested by the oil majors have mostly been abandoned and it was only a good thing that they were being taken over by local participants for onward exploitation and production of crude. Particularly, he noted, Shell divested about five assets which were taken up by indigenous operators. We also have other assets that are being listed for farming in by indigenous participants because they have not received adequate attention by the IOCs. He stated that there have been more divestments by the IOCs, including Conoco Phillips, Total and Exxon Mobil, adding that those assets are expected to end up in indigenous hands. “There is a conscious
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There is no cause for alarm over on-going divestment of petroleum assets by multinational oil companies operating in the country, since those assets are readily taken up by indigenous operators. Shell divested about five assets which were taken up by indigenous operators. We also have other assets that are being listed for farming in by indigenous participants because they have not received adequate attention by the IOCs. effort to build the capability and capacity of indigenous operators in the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry. That is the good news,” he added. He said Nigeria is very central and strategic in contributing to the energy mix of the world. “As at today, the country has over 36 billion barrels of crude reserve and 187tcf of gas reserves and that makes us about the 12th highest reserves in the world. Nigeria he stated, no doubt have a very huge asset base and a very robust reserve to production ratio. Nigeria, for a long time to come, will continue to remain central and strategic and will continue to dominate our sub-region, even as we remain key and prominent in the global sphere,” he noted. “These reserves are spread across mainly the Niger Delta basin. There is of course additional potential which has not been exploited, and we believe when we go into that it is estimated that we are going to strike almost 600tcf of gas.
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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 9, 2013
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Appointments Tackling unemployment in Nigeria through mobile application
Johnson By Dele Fanimo are like seeds. A virile ItheDEAS seed might appear tiny at outset but can grow into a mighty tree, if upon planting and germination it is nurtured properly. So is an idea. It starts like an imagination, flashing through a virile mind, then snowballing into something concrete and upon proper nurture becomes something of a spectacle. Seed and idea require fertile grounds to come to fruition. Every big business was once an idea, a mere thought in the mind of someone. Many, particularly young Nigerians are wont to believe that good ideas are not in short supply in the country’s entrepreneurial sphere. What is hard to come by is the fertile ground or conducive atmosphere for the ideas to germinate, be nurtured and
bear fruits. With the support of fertile ground or conducive atmosphere the seed or idea could grow into a big tree or mega enterprise providing food and shelter for several beings, human, animal and even plants in the ecosystem. This probably tells the story of JobsInNigeria, an online portal that allows job seekers search for jobs and apply directly from their mobile phones. “You can also upload your resume and access lots of career related information on the application,” according to Olufuwa Tayo and Dele Bakare, developers of the apps that could ameliorate one of Nigeria most menacing problems – unemployment. Tayo and Bakare say that the idea of creating the apps came to them because “Nigeria’s unemployment rate is spiraling upwards, growing at 16 percent per year. Issues of employability
and job creation have been in the news lately and the most affected by the plague of unemployment in Nigeria today are young,” the idea driven duo point out. Driven by the passion to solve one of Nigeria’s plagues, they observed that “as at early 2011 there are approximately 49 million internet users in Nigeria, 125 millions have mobile phone but 67 percent of Nigerian youths do not know where to find a job, so we had to resort to technology to tackle unemployment which led to the development of JobsInNigeria,” Tayo and Bakare disclosed. Today, with the backing of Nokia West Africa that provided training and other technical support, JobsInNigeria has become a resource for unemployed and employed professionals in Nigeria. Today JobsInNigeria has grown to
Gana makes case for women empowerment From Adamu Abuh, Abuja O ensure the socio-ecoT nomic development of the country, women need to play pivotal role in the economic agenda of the government, the former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, has said. Gana who spoke during the opening ceremony of a twoday business women summit and inauguration of Nigerian Quintessential Business Women Association at the recently in Abuja, described the contributions of women as critical to the growth and development of the nation’s economy. Applauding what he called the resilience and commitment exhibited by women in whatever they do, Gana stated that it behooves on those
Juwah
Wogu
entrusted with leadership responsibilities to carry along women and youth to make positive impact on the citizenry. Extolling the virtues of women in the society, he said that any society that did not put women who facilitate peace, nurture the children and grow the economy through their exceptional commitment in the front burner is doomed. Gana who enjoined participants at the summit to come up with initiatives that would make Nigerians products marketable all over the world, noted that there are myriad of opportunities available for business women to explore in the country. Convener of the summit, Shimiite Katung, justified the
essence of the summit, saying it was aimed at encouraging women to take the bulls by the horns and own businesses in order to fend for themselves. Citing examples with some successful business women, Katung lamented that the dependency culture and cultural inhibition has remained the bane of women in the country over the years. She explained that there were resources and experiences to be tapped from women that have made it to the top who are now models for running businesses by aspiring business women as adding that what was needed to achieve such feats was for the women to be resolute and trust their capacities to attain success in business,
over 100 thousand users and counting. JobsInNigeria is a good example that as each tree is source of comfort to many others in the ecosystem, so does the successful idea
attract and protect many to itself in the ecosystem. This idea conceived by Tayo and Bakare and nurtured by Nokia’s corporate social investment, which seems to have specialty in fishing out
virile ideas, which it plants and nurtures at the Growth Academy at the Co-Creation Hub (CCHub) located in the heart of Lagos, Nigeria’s business capital. It is evident that Nokia has
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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 9, 2013
Polytechnic teachers allege funding discrimination From Collins Olayinka, Abuja
• Seek state of emergency in education in Plateau
HE polytechnics lecturers T have vowed to sustain the current industrial action if
steps are taken to address them, we shall continue to live several years behind the windows of technological civilisation.” He added that the union has therefore resolved to embark on an indefinite strike action as a mark of protests. “That in view of government’s failure to address all the issues listed on the union’s demand, the ongoing indefinite strike shall be sustained until they have all been addressed. All polytechnics shall remain closed, and no form of services shall be rendered by our members throughout the period of the strike.” Asomugha decried the abysmal funding of state of polytechnics saying, “in state owned polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of technologies, the picture is much more dismal, with minimal prospects for improvement as most authorities at that level have continued to gamble with the future of the youths of this country who have chosen to pursue careers in the technical sector.” The issues in contention, he said, include the need for constitution of the Governing Councils of Federal Polytechnics; the Migration of the lower cadres on the CONTISS 15 salary scale; the release of the White Paper on the Visitations to Federal Polytechnics; the need for
urgent steps are not taken by the government to address their demands. Speaking on the current face-off between polytechnic teachers and government in Abuja, the National President of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Chibuzor Asomugha, accused government of promoting disaffection in the education sub-sector by allocating more financial resources to the universities to the detriment of other tertiary institutions. According to him, out of N400.1 billion allocated to the sector in 2013 budget, federal polytechnics got N63.7 billion (15.92 per cent) allocation; Federal Colleges of Education got N42.5 billion allocation; federal universities were allocated N188.4 billion (47.1 per cent). Therefore, he posited that the import of the lopsided allocation only reflects the thinking of government, which is injurious to the education sub-sector. He added: “Regrettably, no sustained plan has been put in place to upgrade facilities in the existing polytechnics even when the need for setting up of new ones has not been considered as necessary for the technological development of Nigeria. This is the defining irony of this country, and unless urgent
the commencement of the Needs Assessment of Nigerian polytechnics; the worrisome state of state owned polytechnics in the country; the continued appointment of unqualified persons as rectors and provosts of polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of technologies by some state governments; the refusal of most state governments to implement the approved salary packages
(CONPCASS) for their polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of technologies and the 65 year retirement age; the insistence of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to include Federal polytechnics in the IPPIS module as against the union’s protestations while other arms of the tertiary education subsector are allowed to maintain the status quo; the continued recognition of the National
Board for Technical Education as the regulatory body of Nigerian Polytechnics as against the union’s repeated call for the establishment of a National Polytechnics Commission (NPC). He went ahead to mention the snail speed pace of the review of the Federal Polytechnics Act at the National Assembly; the reluctance of the Office of the Head of Service to approve the Revised Scheme of Service for Polytechnics and
the non-commencement of the re-negotiation of the FGN/ASUP agreement as contained in the signed agreement that government must address substantially to warrant a change of the union’s stand. The ASUP boss stressed that the thrust of the demands are instructive and conceived in good faith and are geared towards the creation of broadened and balanced options that would ensure proper development of polytechnic education in Nigeria.
Country Director, RLG Communications Nigeria Ltd, Tosin Ilesanmi (left) with the best graduating student, RLG/OYESTECH Training Academy, Musbau Akinola, being presented with his certificate by Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola while the deputy Governor, Titi-laoye Tomori looks on.
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ASUP’s indefinite strike inevitable, says union leader By Bertram Nwannekanma HE Chairman of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, (ASUP), Dr. Onyeka Uwakwe, has described the ongoing indefinite strike embarked by the union as inevitable. According to Uwakwe, the action of the polytechnic lecturers was predicated on the failure of the Federal and state governments to practi-
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cally and positively deal with the grievances of ASUP. He maintained that the strike was a last effort at saving the polytechnic sector from failure as ASUP is set to reshape the polytechnic system. While applauding Comrade Asomugha’s led ASUP National Executive Council (NEC) for it relentless and focused struggles aimed at uplifting the polytechnic sector, Uwakwe
pleaded with parents to bear the situation and lend positive voice to ASUP position and pleaded with the government to address. The union leader reassured members of his chapter that the welfare and rights of members as well as progress of the polytechnic sector will continue to be the bedrock of its activities. He further commended the rector Federal Polytechnic,
Oko, Prof. Godwin Onu, for the prompt release of 2012 promotions and urged management of the institution to pay arrears as promised. Before the strike embarked by the union, the Governing Councils of Federal Polytechnics led by its National president, Mr. Chibuzor Asomugha, had descried the migration of the lower cadres on the CONTISS 15 salary scale,
Govt registers tipper employers’ union • To tackle illegal mining, use of explosives From Collins Olayinka, Abuja
HE Federal Government T has awarded certificate of registration to Union of Tipper and Quarry Employers of Nigeria. The certificate of registration was granted the new union in Abuja recently by the Registrar of Trade Union, Mrs. Nwanyeize Mbogu. Receiving the certificate, the President of the new union, Joseph Adodo, commended the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chukwuemeka Wogu, for his untiring efforts at democratising the industrial space through granting of certificates of registration to more unions in the country. He added that the registration will not only guaranty the union a legal right to operate in the country, but will equip it to organise the activities of tipper and quar-
Sifax boss, Afolabi, appointed honourary Consul of Djibouti IFAX’s boss, Dr. Taiwo Sappointed the Afolabi, has been honourary Consul of the Republic of Djibouti in Nigeria by President of the Republic of the Djibouti, Ismail Omah Guelleh. Also recently, Afolabi was conferred with the national honour of Member of the Order of Niger (MON). A press statement explained that at the meeting of the Board of the World Federation of Consuls (FICAC) held in Kingston, Jamaica between January, Wednesday 23rd and Monday, 28th, 2013, Afolabi was elected regional chairman of Honourary Consuls of West Africa made up of 17 countries and member of the FICAC Legal Committee being a Barrister-at-Law. Also, at the African Achievers award held in Kenya on Saturday, 23rd February, 2013, Afolabi according to the statement was honoured with the African Industrialist of the year Award “in recognition of his exploits in the business world”. The statement added: “It is a thing of interest to note that this silent and unassuming business mogul is also a member of the presidential Business Support Group (BSG)”, among others.
ry operators for greater efficiency, industrial peace and discipline. Adodo noted that the task confronting the new union is to strive to make it one of the most efficiently run union in the country, which members of the executive are ready to deliver. He added: “The role of this union is to continue to support the effort of the Federal Government and other stakeholders in the development of our country and actualisation of housing for all Nigeria and at the same time we contribute to the development of Nigeria through our participation in environmental sanitation exercise (disposal) every month freely in all our various local governments.” Adodo pointed out that activities of tipper and quarry employers have contributed immensely to the development of Nigeria,
claiming, “our activities have contributed over 70 per cent in construction industries and over six per cent in refuse collection and disposal thereby making our numerous member major stakeholders in the construction industry.” He appealed to the Federal Government to allocate land to the union in Abuja to enable it build its national secretariat and granting of soft loan to members of the union. He stated: “If government cannot buy tippers and give our members money to pay in installment, we want government to offer or give contracts directly to our members to supply instead of passing through third parties. We are in a better position to execute supply of quarries, gravels and sand.” For his part, the National Secretary of the Union, Anthony Ijeh, said the award of certificate of registration
would empower the union to organise the sector and generate revenue for government. His words: “Through the recognition of this union, we are now positioned to help the Federal Government in revenue generation. We will now compel our members who are into illegal activities to go and have their titles in the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel and pay their royalties to the Federal Government. We can equally help the Federal Government to check the usage of explosives. Some people make use of explosive without the blasting licence. We can equally help the government in monitoring the use of explosive and we are equally telling the security agents of the Federal Government to cooperate with our union to facilitate the growth of the country.”
ASUP also called for the release of the White Paper on the Visitations to Federal Polytechnics; The need for the commencement of the Needs assessment of Nigerian polytechnics. The union had also lamented the worrisome state of state owned polytechnics in the country and the continued appointment of unqualified persons as Rectors and Provosts of Polytechnics,
Monotechnics and Colleges of Technologies by some by state governments among other issues. ASUP further expressed the reluctance of the Office of the Head of Service to approve the Revised Scheme of Service for Polytechnics and the non-commencement of the re-negotiation of the FGN/ASUP agreement as contained in the signed agreement.
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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 9, 2013
Akinjide empowers farmers in Oyo From: Terhemba Daka, Abuja HE Minister of State for T Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Olajumoke Akinjide, has empowered farmers, women and youths in Oyo State in the area of agriculture. The minister through her pet programme known as Olajumoke Akinjide Foundation Agricultural Youth Empowerment Initiative recently distributed tractors, fertilisers, herbicides, seedlings and bundles of cas-
sava stem to the farmers and women. A Statement by her Special Assistant on Media & Publicity, Oluyinka Akintunde, in Abuja quoted the minister as explaining that the initiative was aimed at assisting the farmers, women and youths in their agricultural businesses. “These fertilisers are to be given directly to farmers in every local government area of this state free of charge. It is not to be sold or given to
politicians who will sell them. The empowerment programme is for all farmers in all the 33 local government areas and not based on party inclination. “The country cannot continue to depend on the oil and gas sector only. The government is supporting other sectors of the economy, including agriculture and rural development. We need to empower our farmers to enable them support the economy,” Akinjide said.
She disclosed that the empowerment programme would also support women and farmers in Oyo State through capacity building in modern farming techniques and agric-businesses to address the twin problems of poverty and unemployment. She assured the farmers that the Oyo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was collaborating with microfinance banks to provide lowcost fund for the farmers in the state.
The minister praised President Goodluck Jonathan for institutionalizing reforms in the agricultural sector and other sectors of the economy, thereby providing jobs and opportunities for the citizens. “The Federal Government has initiated the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES), one of the key initiatives under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) aimed at revamping the agriculture sector, ensuring food security,
Guest Lecturer, Prof Ayodele Ogunye, Chairman of the occasion, Ajalorun of Ijebu-Ife, Oba Adesesan Oguntayo; and Chairman Independence Petroleum Marketer’s Association Of Nigeria (IPMAN), Western Zone, Olumide Ogunmade, during IPMAN’s seminar in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Minister tasks female students on career development in ICT sector From Abosede Musari, Abuja INISTER of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, has charged female students willing to take up careers in the male-dominated Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector to be hardworking, diligent and confident as Nigeria joins the rest of the world to celebrate Girls in ICT Day, an event set aside by I n t e r n a t i o n a l Telecommunication Union (ITU). To mark the day, the minister held a brief event with some 30 female students from six
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secondary schools across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). She told the girls that in a male dominated sector such as ICT, girls should be confident and not be afraid to take risks, as they may not have many women they can look up to as role models. “These are what have worked for me. Be confident and speak up based on the knowledge that you have acquired. You must also be committed”, she said. The minister also encouraged the girls never to do anything based on the monetary gains but to do things for the passion they have for them; adding that when this is ful-
filled, rewards will surely follow. She used the opportunity to present to each of the girls, a Vantium tablet computer and to their teachers, HP laptops. The girls expressed excitement about the exposure and the willingness to take up careers in telecommunication and engineering. The schools that attended the programme are Junior Secondary School Lifecamp, Capital Science Academy Kuje, Regina Pacis Garki, Community Staff School Asokoro, Senior Secondary School Jabi and the Federal Government Girls College, Bwari.
Army trains officers on operational planning From Isa Abdulsalami-Ahovi, Jos HE 3-Armoured Division of the Nigerian Army, Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, Jos, has organised special training for its officers on operational planning. Declaring the two-day workshop open at the division’s headquarters Jos, General Officer Commanding Division, Maj.-Gen. Eboibowei Awala, said the training is in line with the vision of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS). Awala said: “The vision of the Chief of Army Staff is to transform the Nigerian Army into a force better able to meet contemporary challenges.” Papers lined up for the work-
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shop include, “Level of warfare and modern operating environment,” “operation planning procedure in single service and joint”, among others. According to him: “The training is aimed at enhancing proficiency of three division staff based on contemporary security challenges. It is therefore expected that the operational and administrative competence of the participants will be enhanced at the end of the workshop. “As you are aware, our divisional areas of responsibility are covering the whole of the North East geo-political zone of the country where insurgency is posing serious chal-
lenges to government and citizens of the zone. “The zone is also hosting several ongoing internal security operations directed at restoring normalcy in the zone. The operation deserves careful and purposeful planning consistent with current operating environment in order to achieve desired end result.” The GOC added: “To this end, the COAS is desirous of ensuring the operational skills of the officers to be sharpened through training of this nature.” Awala assured the COAS that everything possible would be done to ensure protection of lives and property in the zone.
diversifying the economy, and enhancing foreign exchange earnings. “Under the GES, good quality agro-inputs will be made available through the certified private agro-dealers. The era of diversion of subsidized fertilizers by middlemen has gone for good. All the needs of our farmers are being addressed through the value-chain approach in the ATA of President Goodluck Jonathan “The ultimate goal is to ensure that agriculture is practiced as lucrative commercial enterprise that is not only sustainable but also attractive to our youths, women and farmers,” she noted. Akinjide also eulogized the president for appointing the highest number of women in his cabinet. The minister stated: “President Jonathan’s cabinet has thirteen women as ministers, the United Nations representative, and the Chief Justice of Nigeria are also women. He has been very religious in the allocation of 35 per cent share to women in all ways, and he has promised to make it 50/50 by 2015.” The Nigerian Ambassador to Jordan, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, commended the FCT Minister of State for her contributions in the empowerment of women, youths and farmers. “Oloye Akinjide is not only a minister, but a woman of virtue, a mother and a grassroots’ mobiliser, who should be supported by all members of the party in her onerous task of stabilising the party in Nigeria in general, and in Oyo State in particular,” Arapaja stated.
Court decides jurisdiction in Aribisala’s suit June 26 By Joseph Onyekwere USTICE Oludotun AdefopeOkojie of the Lagos High Court, Igbosere on Tuesday said she will on June 26, 2013 rule on whether she has jurisdiction to hear a suit filed by Chief Ajibola Aribisala who was recently suspended from using the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) by the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC). The court is also expected to deliver ruling on Aribisala’s preliminary application dated March 7, 2013 asking for a Mandatory Injunction restraining the LPPC from stripping him of the rank of SAN. Justice Adefope-Okojie adjourned the matter for ruling having heard arguments on the two contending applications. On the preliminary objection dated March 7, 2013 raised by Fidelity Bank (1st defendant) challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit, its counsel, Chief Seyi Sowemimo (SAN) urged the court to decline jurisdiction on three grounds. Sowemimo submitted that the 2nd defendant (LPPC) being a federal government establishment, the claimant ought to have instituted the matter at the Federal High Court and not at Lagos High Court. He argued that the LPPC was not a private organisation that can be sued at a State High
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Court hence the court should strike out the suit with substantial cost against the claimant. Beside, Sowemimo argued that the claimant’s suit was fundamentally defective in the sense that there was no indication that claimant sought leave of court to serve LPPC out of jurisdiction. He told the court that there was nothing in the claimant’s affidavit to show that he had served the 2nd defendant out of jurisdiction as required by law. In his response, claimant’s counsel, Chief Tunji Ayanlaja SAN observed that the Fidelity bank (1st defendant) failed to raise the issue of jurisdiction in its statement of defence in compliance with the Rules hence the court should discountenance it. Ayanlaja who described first defendant as ‘a busybody meddling in an issue that did not concern it’ stressed that the issue of jurisdiction ought to have been raised by LPPC. On whether LPPC is a Federal Government agency, Ayanlaja submitted that in line with Supreme Court decision the LPPC cannot be said to be an agency of the Federal Government. He urged the court to refuse the application and assume jurisdiction to hear the suit. On the preliminary application for a Mandatory Injunction, the claimant’s counsel urged the court to restrain the LPPC from stripping the claimant of the rank of SAN.
He submitted that the 2nd defendant (LPPC) failed and or ignored to file counter affidavit and written address in opposition to the Claimant’s application for interlocutory injunction. Ayanlaja contended that while the suit is pending and in particular while the application for injunction is pending in court, LPPC on February 26, 2013 sat in Abuja to consider the 1st defendant’s petition which is the subject matter of this suit. He submitted that the LPPC after a two hour sitting announced the indefinite suspension of the Claimant herein from the inner bar as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. He prayed the court for an order of injunction restraining the 2nd defendant, its officers, servants, agents, privies or any persons from giving any effect to or implementing or continuing to implement, or carrying out any act or making any form of publicity relating to the alleged suspension of the claimant from the use of the rank of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria pending the hearing and determination of this suit. In his reply, 1st defendant counsel, Sowemimo argued that the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria is a privilege and not a right hence the rights of the claimant have not been infringed upon. He urged the court to refuse the application.
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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 9, 2013
ScienceGuardian ASTRONOMY
Wind, not water, formed mound on Mars, new analysis suggests roughly 3.5-mile high Martian mound that scientists susA pect preserves evidence of a massive lake might actually have formed as a result of the Red Planet’s famously dusty
Turning heat energy into electricity...the Calnetix, waste-heat-to-power machine at a lumber facility in Italy, which uses heat from a biomass boiler to generate electricity
Scientists advance in quest for alternative energy source • Heat from toxic waste sites in developing countries linked to rising cases of disease, disability, early death By Chukwuma Muanya research team from the University of Michigan (UM), United States (U.S.), has found a way to nearly double the efficiency of a particular class of thermoelectric material that is made with organic semiconductors. It has been demonstrated that thermoelectric materials can be used to turn waste heat into electricity or to provide refrigeration without any liquid coolants. According to the study published recently in Nature Materials, the U-M researchers improved upon the state-of-the-art in organic semiconductors by nearly 70 per cent, achieving a figureof-merit of 0.42 in a compound known as PEDOT:PSS. Also, a solar-powered airplane that developers hope eventually to pilot around the world landed safely in Phoenix on the first leg of an attempt to fly across the U.S. using only the sun’s energy, project organisers said. The plane, dubbed the Solar Impulse, took 18 hours and 18 minutes to reach Phoenix on the slow-speed flight, completing the first of five legs with planned stops in Dallas, St. Louis and Washington on the way to a final stop in New York. According to a report by Reuters, the spindly-looking plane barely hummed as it took off Friday morning from Moffett Field, a joint civil-military airport near San Francisco. The report reads: “It landed in predawn darkness at Sky
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Scientists have recorded two major advances in the quest to alternative energy source for electricity, and powering automobiles and airplanes with the discovery on how to double the efficiency of thermoelectric material that is made with organic semiconductors; and flying airplane for over 18 hours with solar energy. On the negative side, scientists have associated the rising cases of degenerative disease, disability and early death in developing countries with the heat generated from toxic Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, according to a statement on the Solar Impulse’s website. The flight crew plans pauses at each stop to wait for favorable weather. It hopes to reach John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York in about two months. “Swiss pilots and cofounders of the project, Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg, will take turns flying the plane, built with a single-seat cockpit. Piccard was at the controls for the first flight to Arizona. “The lightweight carbon fiber Solar Impulse has a wingspan of a jumbo jet and the weight of a small car and from a distance resembles a giant floating insect. “The plane was designed for flights of up to 24 hours at a time and is a test model for a more advanced aircraft the team plans to build to circumnavigate the globe in 2015. It made its first intercontinental flight, from Spain to Morocco, last June.
“The aircraft is propelled by energy collected from 12,000 solar cells built into the wings that simultaneously recharge four large batteries with a storage capacity equivalent to a Tesla electric car that allow it to fly after dark. “The lightweight design and wingspan allow the plane to conserve energy, but make it vulnerable. It cannot fly in strong wind, fog, rain or clouds. The plane can climb to 28,000 feet and flies at an average of 43 miles per hour (69 km per hour). “The project began in 2003 with a 10-year budget of €90 million ($112 million) and has involved engineers from Swiss escalator maker Schindler and research aid from Belgian chemicals group Solvay.” Meanwhile, a study in three developing countries has found that living near a toxic waste site may represent as much of a health threat as some infectious diseases. According to the study pub-
lished in Environmental Health Perspectives, researchers analysed 373 toxic waste sites in India, Indonesia and the Philippines, where an estimated 8.6 million people are at risk of exposure to lead, asbestos, hexavalent chromium and other hazardous materials. Among those people at risk, the exposures could cause a loss of around 829,000 years of good health as a result of disease, disability or early death, the team reports May 4 in In comparison, malaria in these countries, whose combined population is nearly 1.6 billion, causes the loss of 725,000 healthy years while outdoor air pollution claims almost 1.5 million healthy years, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Organic semiconductors are carbon-rich compounds that are relatively cheap, abundant, lightweight and tough. But they have not traditionally been considered candidate thermoelectric materials because they have been inefficient in carrying out the essential heat-to-electricity conversion process. Today’s most efficient thermoelectric materials are made of relatively rare inorganic semiconductors such as bismuth, tellurium and selenium that are expensive, brittle and often toxic. Still, they manage to convert heat into electricity more than four times as efficiently as the organic semiconductors created to date. CONTINUED ON PAGE 39
atmosphere, an analysis of the mound’s features suggests. If correct, the research could dilute expectations that the mound holds evidence of a large body of water, which would have important implications for understanding Mars’ past habitability. Researchers based at Princeton University and the California Institute of Technology, United States, suggest that the mound, known as Mount Sharp, most likely emerged as strong winds carried dust and sand into the 96-mile-wide crater in which the mound sits. They report in the journal Geology that air likely rises out of the massive Gale Crater when the Martian surface warms during the day, then sweeps back down its steep walls at night. Though strong along the Gale Crater walls, these “slope winds” would have died down at the crater’s center where the fine dust in the air settled and accumulated to eventually form Mount Sharp, which is close in size to Alaska’s Mt. McKinley. This dynamic counters the prevailing theory that Mount Sharp formed from layers of lakebed silt- and could mean that the mound contains less evidence of a past, Earth-like Martian climate than most scientists currently expect. Evidence that Gale Crater once contained a lake in part determined the landing site for the United States National Aeronautic Space Administration (NASA) Mars rover Curiosity. The rover touched down near Mount Sharp in August with the purpose of uncovering evidence of a habitable environment, and in December Curiosity found traces of clay, water molecules and organic compounds. Determining the origin of these elements and how they relate to Mount Sharp will be a focus for Curiosity in the coming months. But the mound itself was likely never under water, though a body of water could have existed in the moat around the base of Mount Sharp, said study co-author Kevin Lewis, a Princeton associate research scholar in geosciences and a participating scientist on the Curiosity rover mission, Mars Science Laboratory. The quest to determine whether Mars could have at one time supported life might be better directed elsewhere, he said. “Our work doesn’t preclude the existence of lakes in Gale Crater, but suggests that the bulk of the material in Mount Sharp was deposited largely by the wind,” said Lewis, who worked with first author Edwin Kite, a planetary science postdoctoral scholar at Caltech; Michael Lamb, an assistant professor of geology at Caltech; and Claire Newman and Mark Richardson of California-based research company Ashima Research. “Every day and night you have these strong winds that flow up and down the steep topographic slopes. It turns out that a mound like this would be a natural thing to form in a crater like Gale,” Lewis said. “Contrary to our expectations, Mount Sharp could have essentially formed as a free-standing pile of sediment that never filled the crater.” Even if Mount Sharp were born of wind, it and similar mounds likely overflow with a valuable geological — if not biological — history of Mars that can help unravel the climate history of Mars and guide future missions, Lewis said. “These sedimentary mounds could still record millions of years of Martian climate history,” Lewis said. “This is how we learn about Earth’s history, by finding the most complete sedimentary records we can and going through layer by layer. One way or another, we’re going to get an incredible history book of all the events going on while that sediment was being deposited. I think Mount Sharp will still provide an incredible story to read. It just might not have been a lake.” Dawn Sumner, a geology professor at the University of California-Davis and a Mars Science Laboratory team member, said that the specificity of the researchers’ model makes it a valuable attempt to explain Mount Sharp’s origin. While the work alone is not yet enough to rethink the distribution of water on Mars, it does propose a unique wind dynamic for Gale Crater then models it in enough detail for the hypothesis to actually be tested as more samples are analyzed on Mars, Sumner said. “To my knowledge, their model is novel both in terms of invoking katabatic [cool, downward-moving] winds to form Mount Sharp and in quantitatively modeling how the winds would do this,” said Sumner, who is familiar with the work but had no role in it. “The big contribution here is that they provide new ideas that are specific enough that we can start to test them,” she said. “This paper provides a new model for Mount Sharp that makes specific predictions about the characteristics of the rocks within the mountain. Observations by Curiosity at the base of Mount Sharp can test the model by looking for evidence of wind deposition of sediment.”
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 9, 2013
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Vaccination is most effective way to prevent pneumonia, says Ladapo Dr. Taiwo Ladapo is a consultant paediatrician at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Idi-Araba, Lagos with special interest in nephrology (kidney disease) and immunisation. Ladapo in this interview with The Guardian’s CHUKWUMA MUANYA said pneumonia could be prevented by avoiding over crowding, improving the standard of living of people, and boosting nutrition. She, however, said the most effective way to prevent pneumococcal diseases is via vaccination. Excerpts: HERE are plans for the fedT eral government to introduce new vaccines. How relevant will these vaccines be? Why the new vaccines? One of the new vaccines have already been introduced in June last year that is the pentavalent it is only about 14 states so far that have introduced the vaccine. I want to commend the federal government on this gesture I believe that these vaccines are very good. The pentavalent contains some vaccines that we already have in our routine immunization schedule, which is diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis and they now included haemophilus influenza, which was not part of our routine schedule. Talking about the usefulness of the pentavalent vaccine, talking about its relevance, I will say it is very relevant. Theses vaccines for example diphtheria, we are still having outbreaks, for example there was an outbreak somewhere in the north two years ago. So it is very important that this pentavalent vaccine was introduced. The pentavalent vaccine is recommended by the WHO. Another advantage is that the haemophilus influenza, which was not part of our schedule is now there. Haemophilus influenza is also associated with severe diseases in children; severe meningitis, pneumonia. Meningitis is a very deadly disease and the strain we have in Nigeria is particularly deadly. Even when the children don’t die they are left with significant disability like blindness, speech delay, seizure disorder and all that.
Ladapo So I think it is very important. Another reason is that it is only one vaccine. Instead of a child getting three jabs that the usual DPT, hepatitis, H flu, the child is getting one vaccine. So I think the vaccine is very relevant to our situation in Nigeria. Acute respiratory illnesses are still a problem in Nigeria. Most of the diseases prevented by this vaccine are associated with acute respiratory illness. So I think they are very relevant and I encourage that they should be embraced by Nigerians. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that Nigeria has the highest number of pneumococcal disease and deaths. What are the pneumococcal diseases and how can these be controlled? Pneumococcal diseases are a group of diseases caused by a particular bacterium known as Streptococcus pneumonia. It can cause very deadly and some milder diseases. The more deadly ones are pneumonia, meningitis, and then infection of the blood stream bacteremia. They can also cause otitis media and sinusitis that are not as severe as pneumonia. Currently the leading cause of death in children under five worldwide is pneumonia. Apart from that pneumonia kills more children in the world than any other disease. If you add the number of children that die from malaria and Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV), pneumonia kills more children than HIV and malaria combined globally as of
today. So generally control of pneumococcal disease is a major priority. Nigeria has a very high burden. It is said that about three quarters of all the episodes of pneumonia in the world occur in just about 15 countries, this is data from about two years ago. And Nigeria is one of the countries top on that list, so pneumococcal diseases are very significant. So how can they be controlled? Children are very prone to pneumococcal diseases. Most of the advocacy was mostly for children initially. They are particularly prone because these organisms have a particular coat that prevents very young children from fighting against it. So they are very prone to it. So because it is spread by coughing and sneezing children can easily contact it, unlike adults if one sneezes besides you, you can dock but a child is there smiling. So children are prone, they attend Day Care, overcrowding, poverty, malnutrition, so they are very prone. So those are the usual factors that predispose people to pneumonia. How can they be prevented? First of all there are general measures, there are thing that should be done. You should prevent over crowding, improve the standard of living of people, if people are well nourished. You know malnutrition is a predisposing factor. Also involves promoting exclusive breastfeeding, reducing house-hold pollution such as by indoor cooking and use of appropri-
ate antibiotics for treatment. But the most effective way to prevent pneumococcal diseases is via vaccination. In 1998 in the United States (U.S.), the pneumococcal vaccine was introduced. At that time they were recording about 90 cases per 100,000 of severe pneumococcal disease. By the year 2004 they were recording 20 to 30 cases per 100,000. So the most effective way to control pneumococcal disease is via vaccination. I was opportune to attend the launching of one of the pneumococcal vaccines in United Arab Emirate (UAE) about two years ago and there were presenters from countries all over the Middle East and it was interesting to hear people bring out data about their high rate of morbidity and mortality from pneumococcal disease and they showed data prior to introduction of the vaccine and after the introduction of the vaccine. And after the introduction of the vaccine, the graph goes down, there has been drastic decline of pneumococcal disease worldwide where the vaccine is well in place and it is already being recommended by the WHO. In fact Ghana, our neighbor, has already introduced pneumococcal vaccine into their routine immunisation schedule. Is the pneumococcal vaccine available on our national schedule? immunisation No. It is available in the country, people are giving it privately, even here we give it to some of our patients who we feel that must have it, for example, our nephrotics who are on steroids. You know I said children whose immunity is not that competent you may want to boost their immunity. It is available in the country but it is not yet in our routine system. But I am aware the federal government is making plans. I am aware it is one of the top priorities of government in reducing child mortality to introduce the vaccine into our routine immunisation schedule soon. Are the pneumococcal vaccines meant for only children? No. They are not meant for children only. Vaccines are meant for both children and adults. This pneumocococcal vaccine, usually in children and then in adults over 65 years old because their immunity become weaker and they become prone to infections. So vaccinations are certainly for both adults and children.
NMA, Dettol endorse e-health to boost services in Nigeria By Tony Nwanne CALL has been made to the A federal government to explore the e-health initiative to drive the health sector forward in bringing good and quality health care facilities closer to Nigerians. The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), who made this call, said that there is the need for the government in all tiers to urgently develop and establish an effective strategy for the implementation of e-health in Nigeria. This was the high point deliberation at the just concluded 53rd Annual General Conference and delegates meeting of the NMA tagged “Eko2013”, which was organised in collaboration with Reckitt Benckiser through its antiseptic brand, Dettol at the University of Lagos, Lagos. The theme of the Conference was: “e-Health and its potentials for Improving Healthcare Delivery in Nigeria.” President NMA, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, said the concept of e-health is safe, secure, ethical and cost-effective transmission, exchange, sharing and dissemination of health data and information, through the utilization of applications such as mobile health (mhealth), telemedicine and electronic health records. The NMA President, however, said that the implementation of a strategic e-health agenda and policy by the Nigerian government will greatly help to advance healthcare delivery in Nigeria, particularly in the face of the chronic shortage of health care professionals and limited resources with its consequent negative impact on the management of Nigeria’s disease burden. Enabulele said the NMA in recognition of the benefits of e-health is willing and prepared to collaborate and cooperate with the federal government and other stakeholders to urgently put in place an effective strategy for the implementation of ehealth in Nigeria, particularly one that includes a formidable governance and information architecture, as well as adequate resources and finances for its implementation in order to realize its immense benefits. Enabulele said that Nigeria is yet to explore the many benefits of e-Health, which he described as a safe, secure, ethical and cost effective transmission and exchange of health data and information. Enabulele, called for implementation of the strategy through the Federal Ministries of Health,
Communications and Technology. He noted that even though some medical institutions in Nigeria are currently embracing e-Health, absence of a National e-Health Policy was making it hard to facilitate a systematic, coherent and sustainable implementation of eHealth in the country. “Whereas there is overwhelming evidence that developing countries such as India, Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda have explored the potentials of e-Health in transforming their health systems and economies, Nigeria is yet enthrone a strategic policy for sustained utilisation of e-Health in a way to maximise its alluring and undeniable benefits in the strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system, improving access of Nigerians to healthcare services in the face of limited resources and acute -onchronic shortage of medical /health manpower, improving medical education and research, improving the quality and efficiency of healthcare services and therefore improving the health and development indices of Nigeria,” he remarked. The doctors expressed their dismay over the poor support given to the development of forensic pathology in Nigeria following the problems encountered during the identification of bodies recovered during the unfortunate Dana Airplane crash and called on government to invest in all areas of forensic pathology including the establishment of standard forensic pathology laboratories in the six geopolitical zones of the country. The NMA delegates also observed with dismay the recent setback suffered by the National Health Bill (NHB) during the recent Senate’s consideration and called on the National Assembly to quickly put the controversy on provisions of Clause 11 to sleep and pass the Bill in order to put a stop to the several avoidable deaths of children, women, the elderly and other Nigerians as a result of inequitable access to healthcare services since no amount was too much to devote to health. Meanwhile, the Chairman, Lagos branch of NMA, Dr. Francis Faduyile who commended Reckitt Benckiser, makers of Dettol for its unwavering partnership with NMA, said the NMA had chosen eHealth as part of efforts to making healthcare accessible and better for the common man.
Pharmacists fault constitution of new boards of federal health institutions By Chukwuma Muanya ESPITE expressing obviD ous inadequacy in quality and depth of membership of the Boards of Federal Health Institutions in Nigeria (BFHI), pharmacists under the aegis of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) have set an agenda for the Boards especially in the areas of: rational medicine dispensing in Federal Health Institutions
(FHI); and implementation of the scheme of service for pharmacists and health workers. President PSN, Olumide Akintayo, said the Society received with mixed feelings the recently published membership list of the BFHI. Akintayo in a press statement said that despite the provisions of the Act on reconstitution of boards of teaching hospitals, the Society’s observation from the published list
of the Health Ministry on Sunday May 5, 2013 is that not one representative of pharmacists or other professions in the health field was listed as a member of any of the core teaching/specialist hospitals in Nigeria. He, however, said the structuring of these boards ironically had more than the statutory representative of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to cater for the interest
of the medical profession because it is the constituency of the leading bureaucrats at the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH). “This situation smacks of favouritism and is certainly of bad taste. It is also important to submit that it would further exacerbate the entropy, which has become common place in the health sector in Nigeria,” Akintayo said. Akintayo said the Poison
and Pharmacy Act (PPA) places an onus on pharmacists in Part III Section 7 to be the only legitimate dispenser of medicines in Nigeria and the National Drug Policy 2005 corroborates this lawful position as it validates the reflections in the Poison and Pharmacy Act by positing that only registered pharmacists can dispense medicines in registered pharmacy departments/outlets.
He said the Society in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has commenced a process of championing the use of safe medicine as a human right for Nigerians. “It is just logical that this philosophy can only be entrenched if the concept is endorsed in public health facilities especially the Federal Health Institutions,” Akintayo said. The PSN President said this
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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 9, 2013
NaturalHealth ‘Prayers boost mental health’
How does pregnancy reduce breast cancer risk? EING pregnant while young is known to protect women B against breast cancer. But why? Research in BioMed Central’s open access journal Breast Cancer Research finds that Wnt/Notch signalling ratio is decreased in the breast tissue of mice, which have given birth, compared to virgin mice of the same age. Early pregnancy is protective against breast cancer in humans and in rodents. In humans having a child before the age of 20 decreases risk of breast cancer by half. Using microarray analysis researchers from Basel discovered that genes involved in the immune system and differentiation were up-regulated after pregnancy while the activity of genes coding for growth factors was reduced. The activity of one particular gene Wnt4 was also down-regulated after pregnancy. The protein from this gene (Wnt4) is a feminising protein- absence of this protein propels a fetus towards developing as a boy. Wnt and Notch are opposing components of a system which controls cellular fate within an organism and when the team looked at Notch they found that genes regulated by notch were up-regulated, Notch-stimulating proteins up-regulated and Notch-inhibiting proteins down-regulated.
Vitamin D may lower uterine fibroids risk OMEN who had sufficient amounts of vitamin D were 32 W per cent less likely to develop fibroids than women with insufficient vitamin D, according to a study from researchers at
Praying hands...direct contact person-to-person prayer may be useful as an adjunct to standard medical care for patients with depression and anxiety.
The verdict is out: Believing in God can help treat depression. New research has found that people who believe in a higher power respond better to psychiatric treatment, and benefit is not confined to a specific religion. CHUKWUMA MUANYA writes
you? Have you lost your peace and can no longer sleep? Pray. Prayer as defined by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) in the United States (U.S.) is an active process of communicating with and appealing to a higher spiritual power. “In every culture and tradition there appears to be a spiritual practice that focuses on some form of deeper interaction with a higher entity.” Proponents have argued that prayer is perhaps the most deeply human response to disease, and that it may relieve suffering by some mechanism that is not yet understood. Skeptics have contended that studying prayer is a waste of money and that it presupposes supernatural intervention, putting it by definition beyond the reach of science. However, scientists have explored four possible mechanisms by which prayer may lead to improved health. The mechanisms include: as a relaxation response; as a placebo; as an expression of positive emotions; and as a channel for supernatural intervention. Scientists said although they acknowledge the efficacy of prayer and recognise the needs of patients, prayer, being a personal spiritual practice, cannot be prescribed, nor should it be used in place of medical care. A new study published last week in Journal of Affective Disorders concluded that belief in God might improve treatment for those suffering with depression. According to the research carried out by McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts, U.S., faith in a higher being has been found to significantly
improve treatment for people suffering with a psychiatric illness. Researchers followed 159 patients over the course of a year at the Behavioral Health Partial Hospital program at McLean to investigate the relationship between a patient’s level of belief in God, expectations for treatment and actual treatment outcomes. Each participant was asked to gauge their belief in God as well as their expectations for treatment outcome on a fivepoint scale. Levels of depression, wellbeing, and self-harm were assessed at the beginning and end of their treatment programme. The researchers found that patients with ‘no’ or only ‘slight’ belief in God were twice as likely not to respond to treatment than patients with higher levels of belief. And more than 30 per cent of patients claiming no specific religious affiliation still saw the same benefits in treatment if their belief in God was rated as moderately or very high.
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At the completion of the trial, participants receiving the prayer intervention showed significant improvement of depression and anxiety, as well as increases of daily spiritual experiences and optimism compared to controls. Subjects in the prayer group maintained these significant improvements for a duration of at least one month after the final prayer session
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RE you depressed? Are you anxious A about what tomorrow will bring? Has the stress of everyday life overtaken
The researchers concluded that a belief in God is associated with improved treatment outcomes in psychiatric care. Supporting the current study is another work published in 2009 in International Journal of Psychiatry and Medicine concluded: “Direct contact person-to-person prayer may be useful as an adjunct to standard medical care for patients with depression and anxiety. Further research in this area is indicated.” The study is titled “A randomised trial of the effect of prayer on depression and anxiety.” The researchers from the University of Mississippi, U.S. investigated the effect of direct contact person-to-person prayer on depression, anxiety, positive emotions, and salivary cortisol levels. According to the study, cross-over clinical trial with depression or anxiety conducted in an office setting. Following randomisation to the prayer intervention or control groups, subjects (95 per cent women) completed Hamilton Rating Scales for Depression and Anxiety, Life Orientation Test, Daily Spiritual Experiences Scale, and underwent measurement of cortisol levels. Individuals in the direct person-to-person prayer contact intervention group received six weekly one-hour prayer sessions while those in the control group received none. Rating scales and cortisol levels were repeated for both groups after completion of the prayer sessions, and a month later. Analysis of Variance (ANOVAs) were used to compare pre- and post-prayer measures for each group. The researchers wrote: “At the completion of the trial, participants receiving the prayer intervention showed significant improvement of depression and anxiety, as well as increases of daily spiritual experiences and optimism compared to conCONTINUED ON PAGE 43
the United States (U.S.) National Institutes of Health (NIH). Fibroids, also known as uterine leiomyomata, are noncancerous tumors of the uterus. Fibroids often result in pain and bleeding in premenopausal women, and are the leading cause of hysterectomy in the U.S.. The study of 1,036 women, aged 35-49, living in the Washington, D.C., area from 1996 to 1999, was led by Dr. Donna Baird, a researcher at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of NIH. Baird and her collaborators at The George Washington University and the Medical University of South Carolina screened participants for fibroids using ultrasound. They used blood samples to measure the primary circulating form of vitamin D, known as 25-hydroxy D. Those with more than 20 nanograms per milliliter of 25hydroxy D were categorised as sufficient, though some experts think even higher levels may be required for good health. The body can make vitamin D when the skin is exposed to the sun, or vitamin D can come from food and supplements.
Malaria drug made by baker’s yeast SING genetically engineered baker’s yeast, researchers have U come up with a shortcut to making artemisinin, a frontline drug against malaria. Christopher Paddon of Amyris Incorporated of Emeryville, California, United States, and his colleagues describe their process April 10 in Nature. Last year the team reported that they could ferment the bioengineered yeast to make amorphadiene, a precursor of artemisinic acid. In the new study, they improve the yield of the precursor and then spell out a process for converting artemisinic acid to artemisinin itself. The researchers say the overall strategy could streamline artemisinin manufacturing. Artemisinin, which the sweet wormwood plant produces in its leaves, is an ancient malaria remedy. In recent years, artemisinin-based drugs have become mainstays against the parasite when combined with another drug. Current artemisinin production requires growing the plants for months, removing and drying the leaves and extracting the artemisinin. But a combination of problems that include fluctuations in raw material prices and too few manufacturers has led to supply uncertainties and price volatility, according to a 2012 report in Malaria Journal.
Why circumcision protects against HIV, study explains IRCUMCISION drastically alters the microbiome of the C penis, changes that could explain why circumcision offers protection against Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) and other viral infections. In a study to be published on April 16 in mBio®, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology, researchers studied the effects of adult male circumcision on the types of bacteria that live under the foreskin before and after circumcision. By one year post-procedure, the total bacterial load in that area had dropped significantly and the prevalence of anaerobic bacteria, which thrive in locations with limited oxygen, declined while the numbers of some aerobic bacteria increased slightly. Also, according the results of a new report published by the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, antiretroviral therapy (ART) does not affect resting energy expenditure among women with Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
34 NATURAL HEALTH
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 9, 2013
Doctors pledge to support NIMR on health research By Wole Oyebade IGERIAN Medical N Association (NMA) has pledged to support the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) in producing high-impact health researches. President of the association, Osahon Enabulele said this while calling for improved partnership between the research institute and medical practitioners in the country. Enabulele, on a recent courtesy visit to the research institute in Lagos recently, said partnership between researchers and field practitioners was key to improving service delivery in the health sector. The president said notwithstanding numerous challenges facing the health sector, there is wealth of knowledge in the research institute that health practitioners could tap to improve the health status of Nigerians. According to him, “It is in the light of this that we believe that NMA has to partner very progressively with NIMR, as a very profound research institute in Nigeria and Africa, hav-
ing what it takes to pioneer innovative researches in Nigeria.” Enabulele noted that since the coming of NIMR Director General (DG), Prof. Innocent Ujah to the research institute, “everyone has become aware of NIMR and the immense potentials that abound in the institute.” Continuing, he said: “I’m aware that beyond the statutory responsibility of NIMR, the institute has gone beyond its boundary to interlink with other sectors to drive development of personnel and students, to maximize potentials inherent in NIMR.” Enabulele, who led the eightman NMA officers to NIMR, congratulated the DG for doing the medical profession proud, showing excellence and leadership, while keeping to the mandate of the institute. The NMA president assured management of NIMR of NMA’s support, adding that the body was ready to partner with NIMR in whatever area and from “this day onward, we are committed to that partnership.” Continuing, he said: “The health sector of Nigeria is hav-
ing very immense challenges. Not only as a result of cumulative insults brought on the system from past era, years of misgovernance, issues of inconsistency in policies, but now more fundamentally by the fact that some persons in the health sector feel that there is no need to key into international best practices. “Everybody now believes that whoever can access the corridors of power, make the loudest noise would be the leader in the health sector. NMA remains on the side of international best practices, professionalism, best practices and clinical governance in the health sector,” he said. Apparently elated by the visit, Ujah said collaboration was a key strategy and important factor in achievements that had been recorded by NIMR since he came on board three years ago. He said NIMR had intensified collaborative effort with both national and international partners and organisations, all of which had added value to the health sector in the country. Ujah noted that the TB laboratory was being upgraded to Biological Safety Level 3 (BSL3),
courtesy of Family Health International for MDR-TB research and for National MDR-TB surveillance. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with PARTEC (Germany) to establish a ‘Centre of excellence for training laboratory technicians’. He added that the institute had introduced annual scientific conference and a threeyearly international conference, which provide a platform to disseminate research findings, as well as share information and experiences with other scientists for improved health outcomes. Ujah said further, “We want to work with all researchers, specialists, hospitals, though quite difficult with challenges that we have. Nevertheless, we will work with some centres for better health of Nigerians. “Unfortunately, we have not reached a position where Nigerian government will appreciate national research. We are too comfortable to cite studies by World Health Organisation (WHO), when we have hands that can do the same here. But I believe that all of that will change soon,” he said.
NAFDAC, GHAIN step up food fortification programme in Nigeria From: Emeka Anuforo HE National Agency for T Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC) and Geneva based Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) at the weekend agreed to step up work in the area of Vitamin A fortification in the country. Both organizations are also leveraging on a newly established Food and Nutrition Directorate at NAFDAC to commence an intense social marketing on fortification, which would aim at taking the message to underserved communities across the country. NAFDAC and GAIN are looking towards a Nigeria where malnutrition, which according to a Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) Report, is partly responsible for 53 per cent of child mortalities in Nigeria, is almost nonexistent. Country Director of GHAIN in Nigeria, Dr. Larry Ummuna, who lead a delegation of his organization’s Geneva team to the NAFDAC headquarters in Abuja, painted a picture of the malnutrition in the country and called for greater effort in this direction. He said: “The issue of malnutrition in Nigeria is quite a challenging one. The picture is not good. We need to get the private sector to self regulate when it comes to food fortification.” Speaking, visiting Chief Executive Officer of GHAIN, Mr. Marc Van Ameringen, called attention to the need for the renewed partnership with both organizations to ensure that industries comply with the fortification Programme of the country.
“GAIN’s mission is to reduce malnutrition through sustainable strategies aimed at improving the health and nutrition of populations at risk. We will need a long-term partnership. We need to look to the future,” he said. NAFDAC’s Director of Drug Evaluation and Research, Hauwa Keri, stressed that the Agency had created a new directorate of food and nutrition to strengthen its work in the area of food fortification nutrition. She said: “We hold food fortification very highly in this government and we will do everything possible to push. The new directorate of food
and nutrition was just created and would need support in terms of training, among others. Malnutrition continues to plaque our children.” She said the agency had developed a social marketing strategy to enable it reach more grassroots people with the fortification message. “Social marketing is the number one tool to reaching the grassroots deeper. Social marketing requires reaching out to people down the ladder to educate them. We need to take the message to the people,” she added. Keri said the new directorate at NAFDAC would step up monitoring, noting that ille-
gal importation of unfortified food was still a big problem. A new strategic plan of action for the new directorate, she stressed, is underway to position it for the task ahead. It may be recalled that GHAIN late last year donated 15 special facilities to aid Nigeria’s quest to enforce her fortification programme. The facility, known as iCheck, would make the quantitative analysis of fortified foods easier to handle on the field instead of waiting to take such samples to laboratories. The equipment valued at $150, 000 is easy to use and portable for inspectors to carry about.
Fashola tasks parents primary healthcare facilities utilisation By Oluwakemi Ajani N a bid to reduce maternal Iamong and child mortality rate the pregnant woman in the state, the first lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola has advised all the pregnant women to make use of the facilities in Primary Health Care Centre to preserve the lives of the children and the mother during child delivery. Speaking last weekend at the town hall meeting on Maternal and Child Mortality Reduction meeting held at Iberekodo Primary School, Ibeju Lekki local government, Fashola noted that it is very important for the state government to encourage women within the communities to imbibe the habit of patronizing government health facilities for all our health care needs. Fashola said that no woman should lose her life in the process of giving birth. She said: “Government has upgraded all the primary
health care centre with needed service delivery equipment and basic amenities in the state. Health workers have also been trained so as to do their job effectively and efficiently. Sensitization campaign is not the responsibility of government alone, every body has a role to play by spreading the message and encourage women within our households and communities to imbibe the habit of patronizing government health facilities for all our health care needs. Commissioner for health, Dr. Jide Idris noted that the purpose of the town hall meetings is to educate and enlighten women at the grass root to always patronise government own health centre and stop patronising quacks. He noted that government has created help lines for pregnant women in the grassroots that can be called when emergency situation arise and these are: 08074574109, 0807457108 and 08074574110, which are operational for 24hours.
Lagos pledges safe environment at World Asthma Day By Aderonke Alabi and Toyosi Ajayi O some, it is just one of the T ailments known to man, but for a medical condition that affects over 10 million Nigerians, it is more than just a passing mention. This is what worries Dr. Abieyuwa Emokpae, Medical Director of Massey Children’s Hospital, Lagos, who attends to over 400 sufferers daily. The plight of asthma patients was brought to the fore on Tuesday when Nigeria joined the rest of the world in marking the World Asthma Day as stakeholders charted plans on how to control deaths arising from the ailment. The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who was represented at the event held in Ilupeju by Dr. Longe, said government is passionate about an effective asthma control programme, one of which is making the environment safe and conducive for asthma patients. Asthma is a condition that
affects the airways – the small tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. These airways can react badly for people with asthma to cold and other viral infection. Symptoms of asthma include coughing, wheezing, tightness in the chest and shortness of breath. “Government is interested in making life easier for asthma sufferers and measures that can be taken to control asthma attack, including reducing environmental pollution and making the relievers (inhalers) available at reduced cost in our hospitals,” Idris said. President of Elias Nelson Oyedokun Foundation (ENOF), organizers of the awareness event, Mrs. Lola Ilaka, said there is urgent need to reduce and prevent premature loss of life by training healthcare providers in schools, clinics and hospitals on how to better deal with asthma patients and creating a resource centre and information hub for sufferers to reduce needless hospital admission.
Heineken foundation, ADHF partner on jaundice awareness project By Wole Oyebade O scale up the Jaundice in T Babies Awareness (JIBA) campaign in Lagos, the
Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Prof. Innocent Ujah (left) and President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Osahon Enabulele during the latter’s courtesy visit to NIMR Lagos office recently
Heineken African Foundation (HAF) has partner with Anu Dosekun Healthcare Foundation (ADHF). With the new support, the JIBA pilot project would extend for another 12-month to improve awareness on newborn jaundice in Ojo Local Government Area (LGA), of Lagos. ADHF Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Outreach Children Hospital, Lagos, Dr Efunbo Dosekun said the scale up would confer a greater benefit of improved awareness in a new area where there
was zero awareness about jaundice, adding that “it will eventually lead us on the path to the eradication of deaths resulting from neonatal jaundice, which will have a direct bearing on the reduction of the mortality rate in Nigeria.” Signing the agreement, Medical Adviser Nigerian Breweries (NB), Dr Richard Ajayi, said NB through its foundation (NAF) was proud to partner with ADHF in the laudable intervention programme. Ajayi noted that the JIBA campaign, which focuses on babies, had ensured that the interest of babies was protected in Lagos. “It is a selfless service for humanity and we are happy to be part of it,” he said.
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 9, 2013
SCIENCE & HEALTH
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Dangote, Otedola, others to boost malaria eradication with private sector funding From Emeka Anuforo, Abuja IGERIA’s efforts towards N ensuring malaria free country has received a major boost as key captains of industries in Nigeria threw their weight behind the programme. Leading the team is Alhaji Aliyu Dangote. Others on the list are Mr. Atedo Peterside, Founder and pioneering Director/Chief Managing Executive Officer of IBTC Chartered Bank Plc; Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede, Aigboje Group Managing Director of Access Bank; and Femi Otedola, Chief Executive Officer of African Petroleum Plc, among others. At a roundtable on attracting private sector funding to the roll back malaria programme held in Abuja, the business gurus pledged to rally other successful business concerns and individuals in the country to the end malaria programme. Dangote said: “What we have been suffering from is funding for the roll back malaria programme. The private sector needs to close the commodity gap through local pro-
duction. We need to close the gap in malaria control and information. Let’s find how to produce drugs locally. It will be more available and prices will be cheaper if we are able to support local production.” In the meantime, to close the health education gap and assist with logistics and other issues that would help Nigeria achieve its goal, we will convene a dinner in Lagos latest June. The meeting will be between development partners, big players in the private sector, and government to agree on areas of immediate intervention in our quest to end malaria in Nigeria.” Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Fatima Bamidele, stressed that as the country works towards a revised national malaria strategic plan 2014-2020, the private sector is critical to closing the funding gap. She said government and its partners also need a lot of assistance in stepping up its health education campaign and ensuring that more Nigerians have access to simple health information and relevant commodes.
LG Electronics joins fight against malaria with anti-mosquito air conditioners G Electronics, a global leader in consumer electronics and heating, ventilation and air conditioning as part of its Corporate Social responsibility (CSR) drive and to mark the world malaria day celebration visited IdiAyunre community Health Centre in Oluyole Local Government Area near Ibadan, where it donated some units of the recently introduced LG Anti-mosquito ACs and treated mosquito nets. According to a statement by LG Electronics, this gesture was embarked on by the company to mark the world malaria day as well as to enhance health care and fight the scourge of malaria which has been recognized to be the biggest killer of pregnant women as well as children under the age of five. At the event representatives of LG Electronics took time out to interact with members of the communities. The donated items are expected to meet the health care needs of the community by combating mosquitoes, which are the carrier of the malaria parasite. General Manager, Air conditioning and Energy Solutions, LG Electronics, Mr. Junhwa Jeong, at the occasion, said: “Overtime, combating the menace of malaria has proven to be extremely difficult. LG Electronics is committed to this fight; in 2012, we introduced the LG AntiMosquito Air Conditioner that is uniquely designed to knock down and repel mosquitoes using our unique ultra-sonic wave device, which emits sound at a frequency that is harmful to mosquitoes yet totally inaudible and harmless to humans. Speaking further, he said: “We
L
strongly believe that as we come together to rub minds in order to proffer solutions to the malaria scourge that has long ravaged the African continent, we can create a better world for the generations to come.” Managing Director, Fouani Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mohammed Fouani who was also present at the event said: “I strongly believe that the LG Anti-mosquito ACs and Treated mosquito nets we are donating will go a long way to ameliorate the health challenges people in this community face. It is my firm belief that the items will empower individuals and households in this community in their quest to enjoy good health.” Receiving the LG Anti-mosquito ACs and Treated mosquito nets on behalf of the health Centre, the Medical Officer of Health, Oluyole local government, Dr. Muyideen Babatunde Olatunji said: “We are highly appreciative of this gesture from the people at LG Electronics who found us worthy be the beneficiaries of these items.. I can tell you that this donation will go a long way in ameliorating the distress of the people in our community.” Olatunji said that the community will always be grateful for the gesture which will improve the well-being of the people. He called on other corporate bodies to take a cue from LG Electronics in meeting the needs of rural communities affirming that there are many communities that are in dire need of support. The statement reads: “LG through this event showed itself to be a brand that identifies with the plight of Nigerians by donating its innovative consumer electronic products.
Chief Consultant Haematologist at the National Hospital Abuja, Dr. Oche Patrick Ogbe (left); Managing Director Novartis, Vera Nwanze and a director at the National Hospital Abuja, Dr. Obasi Ekunmankama, at the presentation of a N2 million worth of laboratory equipment to the haematology department of the Hospital… recently
Novartis boosts maternal, child health with N20bn yearly investment From Emeka Anuforo and Itunu Ajayi, Abuja S part of its partnership A with the Nigerian government to achieve the 2015 millennium development goal in the health sector by reducing maternal and child mortality, Novartis Pharmaceuticals said it invests conservatively an average of N20 billion yearly in health delivery in Nigeria. The Managing Director of Novartis, Mrs. Vera Nwanze, gave this hint in Abuja at the presentation of a N2 million worth of laboratory equipment to the haematology department of the national hospital Abuja. She said the equipment, which is meant for iron overload diagnosis would strengthen diagnostic capacity in health care institutions across the country. According to Nwanze, the organisation in the next few days would set up Serum Ferritin Testing equipment in four health institutions across the country as well as training of healthcare professionals to man the equipment. This, she said, is to replicate the national hospital module. She said: “Our aim is to discover, develop and successfully market innovative products to prevent and cure diseases and to ease the suffering of people and enhance their quality of life. As at 2011, over one billion patients around the world benefited or got protected from one form of Novartis product or the other, and this had earned us a lot of awards globally”. She said what informed the partnership in the healthcare delivery is the staggering figure of patients with blood related challenges like sickle cell anaemia, chronic myeloid leukaemia among others. These diseases, she posited, have been a major cause in the increased mobility and
mortality in these groups of patients. “We recognise the interest and objective of the national hospital Abuja and its medical experts in fostering healthcare access to Nigerians, hence this partnership between Novartis and key Nigerian health institutions to improve patients’ access to standard medical care in area of Iron overload. We are providing the National Hospital Abuja with laboratory equipment for iron profiling, a Serum Ferritin analyser. We have also followed up in the training of healthcare practitioners and laboratory technicians to make sure they have a proper knowledge of the use of the equipment.” As part of the decision of Novartis to ensure proper usage of the equipment, Nwanze said the company would also set up a consortium to follow up the progress and provide support to facilitate the implementation of standard care for patients with iron overload. She charged the national hospital to ensure necessary action and activities for sustainability of the equipment to achieve its aim especially in the area of maintenance, good record keeping of patients’ care and the laboratory data collection which in essence would guarantee evaluation that would foster evidence based medical care in the hospital. Nwanze lamented that lack of patients’ data has always been the challenge of having adequate information of on the statistics of patients treated for a particular ailment as it operates in other part of the world. Her words: “This is a wake-up call for us all to ensure that we start using data that would be useful for our economy and other for the general wellbeing of Nigerians.” While reeling out the achievements and area of concentra-
tion of the company, Nwanze explained: “In Novartis, we have a broad healthcare portfolio, we are have pharmaceutical ethical products, health providers must have at one point or the other prescribed our range of products including Diovan, Brinerdin, Cataflam or Coartem. We are also present in the eye care world, we have bought Alcon, which is a world class company on eye care, and this has made us a global leader in Ophthalmology, surgical and eye care. In this regard, our products include Nyolol and Nyolol Gel. “We are also into affordable high quality generic medicines and biosimilars which embraces Amoksiclav and Nifecardand in general consumer health, we have strong, trust worthy brands for knowledgeable consumers who can pick the needful over the counter couple with animal health care. These are products like CaC 1000, Otrivin, Voltaren and emulgel. In the area of vaccination and diagnostic, we have the vaccines and diagnostic tools like Menveo and polioral to protect against life-threatening diseases. “We share in the Nigeria’s vision to improve capacity and capability of the healthcare professionals in Nigeria in diagnosing and being up to date on innovative treatment options. We are also poised to reduce the mother and child mortality according to the MDG on health, we also improve vaccination of children from child killer diseases, improve patients’ journey from diagnosis to treatment of any of the non-communicable diseases and make therapy accessible to a wider number of patients”. Nwanze said with the introduction of GIPAP (Glivec International Patient Access Programme) in the country in 2003, Novartis has been able
to intervene and gave free of charge treatment to over 450 patients suffering from chronic Myeloid Leukaemia, 40 of which were treated at the National hospital Abuja. This intervention alone she said cost the organisation an average of N3.2 billion yearly a minimum cost of N600.000 per patient every month. She added that in the area of breast cancer, Novartis has been able to strengthen the capacity of healthcare practitioners in the area of training on IHC with the subsequent provision of grants to five centres across the country for the setting up of IHC laboratories. In his remark, Dr. Obasi Ekumankama who took delivery of the equipment on behalf of the chief medical director of the hospital, noted that apart from just having data for reference in the hospital, such data should be used as pivot on which medical researches are based. He said apart from the maintenance support being given by Novartis, the hospital on its own would sign a maintenance agreement with a company, which would see to its proper maintenance. “We would not allow the machine to get mal-function before we call for help, we would be doing preventive maintenance on the machine. This machine is a strong one, it can be used for almost a million tests before you begin to talk of maintenance, but every arrangement is on the ground for its proper use.” Dr. Oche Patrick Ogbe chief consultant Haematologist said the hospital comes across on daily basis scores of patients who are iron overloaded. He said with the donation of the equipment by Novartis, treatment of such patients would be made cheaper, accessible and more convenient.
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 9, 2013
36 SCIENCE HEALTH
Polio vaccines are verified by NAFDAC when imported to Nigeria, says Sani-Gwarzo and Kaita/his team under the facilitation a neutral entity and in the presence of some observers.
Water Cress- The ‘weed’ with tremendous healing power ATER Cress, a semi-aquatW ic, fast growing vegetable, is the most ancient
vegetable known to, and consumed by man. It is nature’s answer to our needs of vitamins, minerals, nutrients and fibre, all in one, for it contains carbohydrates, proteins, fats, micronutrients, antioxidants. Water Cress is said to be the most nutritious and medicinally powerful vegetable. Some others have described it as both a vegetable multivitamin and multi-mineral. The botanical name is Nasturtium officinale and it belongs to the family, Brassicaceae. It has been consumed regularly in salads and other recipes in Europe and the Americas but knowledge of it in this part of the world is very scanty. Indeed it is considered to be a weed here and it is not uncommon to see Water Cress being cleared from where they have grown wildly. Unlike other parts of the world water cress is not cultivated on a commercial scale here and the little that is found in very few markets are wild ones that individuals have protected from those that will clear them on Environmental Sanitation days in Lagos. As I write this piece I remember the brother of one of my patients who rejoiced exceedingly when he found water cress growing just outside their home because he considered that it would cut down his sister’s medical bill. He thought he was dreaming when he could not find one plant of Water Cress on the day after Environmental Sanitation. He discovered later that somebody had weeded all the vegetables saying they did so monthly as they considered them to be weeds. Such is the level of ignorance in this part of the world. Elsewhere, it is commercially cultivated and consumed for its life-giving and healing properties. Water Cress can also be bought from some big supermarkets in the cities. Water Cress is one vegetable that is known to be high in calories and this is derived from its content of carbohydrates, protein and fats. The following minerals are found in Water Cress: calcium, potassium. sodium, and magnesium. Others are manganese, iron, copper, phosphorus and selenium. Water cress is also a rich source of the following vitamins, Vitamins C, A, E (Alpha Tocopherol) and K. Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12, Panthotenic acid and choline are also richly found in this wonderful, super vegetable. Comparatively, Water Cress contains more calcium than milk, more vitamin C than orange and more absorbable iron than spinach. Also, there are more Vitamins C, K, E, calcium, magnesium, potassi-
um, manganese, iron and zinc in Water Cress than tomatoes, apple and broccoli. Health Benefits of Water Cress Because of the abundance of vitamins and minerals in Water Cress, it functions generally to maintain the wellbeing of the body. Specifically, the Vitamin A content of Water Cress helps to improve normal vision and night vision. Together with the other vitamins in Water Cress, Vitamin A enhances the immune system. Vitamin C is necessary for the normal structure and function of connective tissues anywhere in the body. It improves the elasticity of the skin and blood vessels and the strength of the gums. Water Cress plays an important role in the body because of the Vitamin C content. Also as an antioxidant Vitamin C in this vegetable protects the body against free radical damage. Calcium is involved in the structure and function of bones, teeth, muscles and nerves. Consumption of Water Cress regularly will improve the function of these structures. Calcium, also involved in the release of insulin, will help to maintain a normal blood level of insulin and glucose by extension. Iron is needed for the production of the haem component of haemoglobin, which is the structure that carries and transports oxygen in the blood. This transport function is supported by the iron in Water Cress. Potassium helps to regulate the blood pressure and improves the function of nerves and muscles. Water Cress as a vegetable is one of the highest sources of potassium, which do enhance these functions. So far we have looked at the role of Water Cress in the physiological functions of organs and structures of the body. Next week we shall be looking at the role of Water Cress in disease healing in the
Oral polio vaccine (OPV)...administering three drops of OPV prevents paralysis from the wild polio virus and stops its transmission
Controversies over the safety of polio vaccines are still raging and waging tongues in the country. Polio vaccines are generally rejected by some parents across the northern states of Nigeria, where the disease bites hard on children. The recent utterances of professor Isah Kaita of the Pharmaceutical Department of Ahmadu University, Zaria, that throws doubt to the whole process, adds another round of suspicion by more parents in the north. There is a current debate going on in the Nigerian press about the whole programme of polio eradication by the federal government. An interesting question and answer session is sighted by our Kano correspondent, Abba Anwar, between a social commentator, Ibrahim Sanyi Sanyi and one Consultant Special Grade 1 (CSG-1) Dr Nasir Sani-Gwarzo mni, of the Federal Ministry of Health, on the dandali yahoogroups forum, an online discussion forum very popular in with northerners. The Consultant bares his mind on the safety of the vaccines, how they are processed and what Professor Kaita’s submission means to the whole debate in Nigeria. ABBA ANWAR writes. Excerpts: there any Federal Ministry IonofS the Health (FMoH) standard chemical? Yes, there is, and it is based on international standards, prequalified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and evaluated/verified by the National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) whenever the vaccines are imported into Nigeria. What is the composition of a
dose of the Oral Poilio Vaccine (OPV)? The composition of the OPV dose is described in details on each vial, pack and information leaflet. The information also includes the type of OPV, method of production, mode of Administration, Immunization schedule, side effects, contra-indications storage. You can obtain this information in any Vaccine Cold Store across the country.
General Manager, Air Conditioning and Energy Solutions, LG Electronics West Africa operations, Mr. Junhwa Jeong (left); Managing Director, Fouani Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mohammed Fouani; Professor of Therapeutics and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Professor Catherine Falade; Corporate Marketing Manager, LG Electronics West Africa operations, Mr. Rajesh Agnihotri; Lecturer/Researcher, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Ibadan, Dr Oladapo Okareh; and Medical Officer of Health, Oluyole Local Government, Dr Muyideen Babatunde Olatunji, during the presentation of Anti-Mosquito Air Conditioners and treated mosquito nets to Idi- Ayunre Community Health Centre in Oluyole Local Government Area, Oyo State… recently
Is this Nigerian standard any different from the one set by WHO? No, it is not different If the answer is no, then how acceptable are WHO standard variations to FMoH’s? The WHO Standards are internationally acceptable, Nigeria inclusive. Are these chemical composition clearly indicated on each unit of OPV? Yes, the composition is clearly indicated on each vial and on the Package, as well as in the inserted product information leaflet. All these are compulsory NAFDAC requirements before importation and release to end-users. Does relevant agencies of FMoH test samples, from consignments of OPVs - produced by different manufacturers for WHO - which are supplied to Nigeria, in our laboratories for compliance to FMoH standard for chemical composition? Yes, NAFDAC, the regulatory agency for drugs, food, vaccines and biologicals has a dedicated unit that carries out mandatory pre-release batchtesting of each consignment and subsequent pharmacovigilance surveillance on all products (including OPV, other Vaccines and injection devices) imported into Nigeria. The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) does not administer any product unless NAFDAC has issued a LOT-Release Certificate certifying that the vaccines or products are Satisfactory. I have copies of such certificates with me in case you want to come and see them in person. Did FMoH in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Education (FMoE) and National Universities Commission (NUC) ever invite people like Prof Kaita to verify their claims about the existence of substances in the OPV that could have future harmful effect on children who were administered with the polio vaccines? Yes, this has been done in the past, and even at the moment, there is an ongoing dialogue between the FMOH/NPHCDA
Was there any pr of ess iona l/a ca demic engagement between the Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and those researchers who arrived at findings that threw up the likely overlooked side effects of OPVs? As mentioned earlier, the then National Programme on Immunisation (NPI), subsequently NPHCDA and the FMOH had in the past engaged Kaita and other colleagues of his for dialogue. I am confident that the ongoing dialogue will resolve most of the earlier concerns. Was there any attempt by the MDAs to make people like Kaita to publish their research methods, procedures and findings in medical sciences journals for peer review? I don’t think it is the responsibility of MDAs to compel Researchers to engage in publications. However, Kaita is a senior scientist from a reputable University; thus, this question is better answered by the professor and other people with similar views. Is there any sanction for people like Kaita in the event they refused to publish their research, and instead, choose to continue discussing their finding in the public domain? The FMOH does not sanction researchers who don’t publish their works in scientific journals, but the universities or institutions where such researchers work have their rules and regulations guiding academic activities and performance. However, in the case that research fellow refuse to subject their findings to peer review and continue divulging such findings in the public domain such researchers could be sanctioned by their universities or respective professional regulatory agencies. What is the acceptable dose of OPV required for a child to achieve a lifelong immunity against polio infection? Before answering this question I want to us understand that dose should not be confused with immunization schedule as dose (in this parlance) refers to the quantity of vaccine given at any one time –‘T’, while schedule refers to number of vaccination rounds and the time period in-between them. The doses for both OPV and injectible polio vaccine (IPV) are specific and standard. Each vial of the vaccine contains specific information of the quantity of vaccine per unit dose. Also this question requires a very clear understanding of the environment in which we operate in Nigeria. For vaccines to be effective in achieving lifelong immunity, several factors have to be considered including, timing of the vaccination, scheduling (including number of rounds) of the doses, the prevalence and strains of the wild virus in circulation, and the presence of other competing microbes in the environment that may hamper vaccine efficacy, etc.
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Search for alternative energy source makes progress CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31 This greater efficiency is reflected in a metric known by researchers as the thermoelectric “figure of merit.” This metric is approximately one near room temperature for state-ofthe-art inorganic thermoelectric materials, but only 0.25 for organic semiconductors. Project leader of the thermoelectric study and an associate professor of mechanical engineering as well as electrical engineering and computer science, Kevin Pipe, said: “That is about half as efficient as current inorganic semiconductors.” Pipe is a co-author of a paper on the research published in Nature Materials on May 5, 2013. PEDOT:PSS is a mixture of two polymers: the conjugated polymer PEDOT and the polyelectrolyte PSS. It has previously been used as a transparent electrode for devices such as organic LEDs and solar cells, as well as an antistatic agent for materials such as photographic films. One of the ways scientists and engineers increase a material’s capacity for conducting electricity is to add impurities to it in a process known as doping. When these added ingredients, called dopants, bond to the host material, they give it an electrical carrier. Each of these additional carriers enhances the material’s electrical conductivity. In PEDOT doped by PSS, however, only small fraction of the PSS molecules actually bond
to the host PEDOT; the rest of the PSS molecules do not become ionised and are inactive. The researchers found that these excess PSS molecules dramatically inhibit both the electrical conductivity and thermoelectric performance of the material. Pipe said: “The trouble is that the inactive PSS molecules push the PEDOT molecules further apart, making it harder for electrons to jump
between PEDOT molecules. While ionized PSS molecules improve electrical conductivity, non-ionized PSS molecules reduce it.” To improve its thermoelectric efficiency, the researchers restructured the material at the nanoscale. Pipe and his team figured out how to use certain solvents to remove some of these nonionised PSS dopant molecules from the mixture, lead-
ing to large increases in both the electrical conductivity and the thermoelectric energy conversion efficiency. This particular organic thermoelectric material would be effective at temperatures up to about 250 degrees Fahrenheit. “Eventually this technology could allow us to create a flexible sheet - think of Saran Wrap - that can be rolled out or wrapped around a hot
object to generate electricity or provide cooling,” Pipe said. The coauthor of the toxic waste study and a pediatrician at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, U.S., Kevin Chatham-Stephens, said: “Although scientists have known for years about the risks of pollutants at toxic waste dumps, no one had quantified the health effects
in this way.” In 2010, researchers with the Blacksmith Institute, a nonprofit environmental health organisation, identified the toxic waste sites, such as lead battery recycling centers and former tanneries. For each site, the investigators determined the main pollutant; whether the pollutant is in the water, soil or air; and how many people might regularly come into contact with the polluted area.
Researchers cure epilepsy in mice using brain cells PILEPSY that does not E respond to drugs can be halted in adult mice by transplanting a specific type of cell into the brain, University of California UC San Francisco (UCSF), United States, researchers have discovered, raising hope that a similar treatment might work in severe forms of human epilepsy. UCSF scientists controlled seizures in epileptic mice with a one-time transplantation of medial ganglionic eminence (MGE) cells, which inhibit signaling in overactive nerve circuits, into the hippocampus, a brain region associated with seizures, as well as with learning and memory. Other researchers had previously used different cell types in rodent cell transplantation experiments and failed to stop seizures. The findings, which are the
first ever to report stopping seizures in mouse models of adult human epilepsy, was published online May 5 in the journal Nature Neuroscience. Cell therapy has become an active focus of epilepsy research, in part because current medications, even when effective, only control symptoms and not underlying causes of the disease, according to Dr. Scott C. Baraban, who holds the William K. Bowes Jr. Endowed Chair in Neuroscience Research at UCSF and led the new study. In many types of epilepsy, he said, current drugs have no therapeutic value at all. “Our results are an encouraging step toward using inhibitory neurons for cell transplantation in adults with severe forms of epilepsy,” Baraban said. “This procedure offers the possibility
of controlling seizures and rescuing cognitive deficits in these patients.” During epileptic seizures, extreme muscle contractions
and, often, a loss of consciousness can cause seizure sufferers to lose control, fall and sometimes be seriously injured. The unseen malfunc-
tion behind these effects is the abnormal firing of many excitatory nerve cells in the brain at the same time.
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How prayers beat depression, study finds CONTINUED ON PAGE 43 trols. Subjects in the prayer group maintained these significant improvements for a duration of at least one month after the final prayer session. “Participants in the control group did not show significant changes during the study. Cortisol levels did not differ significantly between intervention and control groups, or between pre- and post-prayer conditions.” The researchers of the study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, noted: “Our work suggests that people with a moderate to high level of belief in a higher power do significantly better in short-term psychiatric treatment than those without, regardless of their religious affiliation.” David Rosmarin, McLean Hospital clinician and instructor in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical said that belief was associated with not only improved psychological wellbeing, but a decrease in depression and intention to self-harm. He explained: “I hope that this work will lead to larger studies and increased funding in order to help as many people as possible.” However, a study published in American Heart Journal in 2006 found that prayers offered by strangers had no effect on the recovery of people who were undergoing heart surgery.
The researchers suggested that patients who knew they were being prayed for had a higher rate of post-operative complications like abnormal heart rhythms, perhaps because of the expectations the prayers created. Because it is the most scientifically rigorous investigation of whether prayer can heal illness, the study, begun almost a decade ago and involving more than 1,800 patients, has for years been the subject of speculation. Previous studies have highlighted the power of prayer on a person’s health. Research at San Francisco General Hospital monitored
the effects of prayer on 393 cardiac patients. Patients were asked if they wanted to take part in the trial but were not told whether they would be the subject of prayers. Half were prayed for by a group of strangers who only had the patients’ names. Those who were prayed for had fewer complications, fewer cases of pneumonia and needed less drug treatment. They also improved more quickly and were able to leave hospital earlier. A separate study, at Columbia University in New York, asked people in
Australia, the U.S. and Canada to pray for named people undergoing In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) treatment in Korea. Of the group in Korea, half had prayers said about them by the foreign strangers. Among this half, the success rate for implantation of the embryo in the womb went up from eight per cent to 16 per cent. Cases of successful conception - where the foetus started developing - went up from 25 to 50 per cent. According to a study published in the Medical Journal of Australia, the spiritual search for meaning and hope in life is integral to human
existence. The study reads: “This is particularly evident during times of personal stress and crisis. Recent census findings indicate that 74 per cent of Australians and 96 per cent of Americans believe in a higher power, and similar percentages claim some form of religious affiliation. “Evidence also suggests that certain spiritual beliefs and the practice of prayer are associated with improved coping and better health outcomes. Although North Americans have been the predominant participants in most of the research available, the findings are rele-
vant to the Australian experience, as they reflect a basic human desire for supernatural involvement in matters of health and wellbeing.” The researchers concluded: “Throughout history, people have used prayer in relation to their own health and the health of others. While prayer continues to be a prevalent practice, scientific research on the health benefits of prayer is still in its infancy. To gain a clearer understanding of why people derive health benefits from prayer, future studies need to identify the unique markers that differentiate prayer from other nonspiritual practices.
Scientists alarmed by rapid spread of disease in cassava By Chinedum Uwaegbulam ASSAVA experts are reporting new outbreaks and the increased spread of Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD), warning that the rapidly proliferating plant virus could cause a 50 per cent drop in production of a crop that provides a significant source of food and income for 300 million Africans. The “pandemic” of CBSD now underway is particularly worrisome because agriculture experts have been looking to the otherwise resilient cassava plant—which is also used to produce starch, flour, biofuel and even beer—as the perfect crop for helping to
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feed a continent where growing conditions in many regions are deteriorating in the face of climate change. “Cassava is already incredibly important for Africa and is poised to play an even bigger role in the future, which is why we need to move quickly to contain and eliminate this plague,” said Claude Fauquet, a scientist at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) who heads the Global Cassava Partnership for the 21st Century (GCP21). He said: “We are particularly concerned that the disease could spread to West Africa and particularly Nigeria—the world’s largest producer and consumer of cassava—
because Nigeria would provide a gateway for an invasion of West Africa where about 150 million people depend on the crop.” Fauquet and his colleagues in the GCP21—an alliance of scientists, developers, donors and industry representatives—are gathering at the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center in Italy this week for a conference dedicated to “declaring war on cassava viruses in Africa.” At the Italy meeting, experts will discuss a variety of tactics for combating virus diseases, such as developing more disease-resistant varieties like those recently released in Tanzania. Efforts to breed high-yielding, dis-
ease-resistant plants suitable for Africa’s various growing regions will involve going to South America, where cassava originated, and working with scientists to mine the cassava gene bank at CIAT in Colombia—the biggest repository of cassava cultivars in the world. The expert team will also discuss a more ambitious plan: how to eradicate cassava viruses altogether. The aim will be to develop a bold regional strategy that will gradually, step-by-step, village-by-village, replace farmers’ existing infested cassava plants with virus-free planting material of the best and most resistant available cultivars. Approaches will include
new molecular breeding and genetic engineering technologies to speed up the selection and production of Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD) and CBSD resistant cassava cultivars more appealing to farmers. There also will be discussions about cost-effective and environmentally sustainable ways to control whiteflies, as well as proposals for new surveillance systems that can better track and stop the disease from spreading. Scientists will also discuss new research into the potential threat African cassava producers face from the introduction of new diseases currently found outside the continent.
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Education Five academic, nine non-teaching staff implicated in admission scam From John Ogiji, Minna SYNDICATE, which specializes in admission racketeering, and had been making a lot of money from the illegal activities at the Niger State owned College of Education (COE) in Minna, has been smashed. But the fraudulent activities of this syndicate are not entirely new. According to the college’s Provost , Prof. Farouk Haruna, admission racketeering had been going on in the college for well over 10 years. The bubble burst only when the college’s management finally decided to introduce a quality control mechanism to address the issue. Haruna explained that the introduction of an entrance examination, abolition of the sale of hand-out, training and re-training of the teaching staff and general improvement in the teaching and learning facilities at the institution, had put the college in a better position. Shortly after the new measures, especially during the last year’s admission process, the college’s management was said to have got some information about some admission racketeering going on in the institution. But it was difficult to identify those behind it and their level of involvement, according to the Provost, which informed the management’s decision to change tactics. All candidates seeking admission were then requested to go to the bank and get their admission letters. The idea, Haruna explained, was to take the admission process away completely from the college, in order to track down those who were in the business of admission racketeering. A few weeks after the normal admission process was concluded, the institution decided to grant a one-week extension. Suddenly, fake admission letters and bank tellers began to emerge. The discovery was made at the point of exchanging the bank tellers for the school receipt at the institution’s bursary department. One particular case that blew the whole scam open involved a candidate called Salamatu, who was given a fake bank teller by one of the alleged culprits, Mohammed Shabako, after he allegedly collected N46, 000 from the candidate. The matter was reported to the Deputy Provost, Administration and the suspect was handed over to the college’s security outfit. It was
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discovered, during investigation, that the suspect was a member of a syndicate and then, many more cases began to unfold. Other victims started coming out to complain to the authority that they, too, were issued with fake bank tellers. This prompted the college’s management to immediately set-up a 10-man investigation committee, headed by the Deputy Provost, Administration, Dr. Ruth B. Galadima to, among other things, determine the number of admission letters for the 2012/2013 exercise, identify who were behind it and recommend any disciplinary action or measure that would prevent future occurrence. Some of the committee’s findings were alarming. For instance, it was discovered that admission letters were sold for between N25, 000 and N80, 000, depending on the candidate’s purse and bargaining power. Despite paying the required sum to the syndicate, one of the victims, a female, was still denied admission because she refused to sleep with one member of the syndicate. Another shocking finding was that some of the candidates that got the fake admission letters did not even attend any secondary school. They were unable to write their names when asked to so by the committee. The committee noticed that some of the fake admission letters issued by the syndicate had six digit numbers, instead of five contained in the original version. Besides, the secret code in the fake letters was longer than the one in the original. It was also discovered that while some candidates had the authentic admission letters, when the college’s computer system was checked, other names were found. The syndicate members are scattered across all departments in the college and included both teaching and non- teaching staff. For example, a member of the syndicate abandoned his primary duty at the college’s clinic and paraded himself as one of the Lecturers in the institution. In the course of investigation, it was discovered that he issued fake admission letters to candidates and also scanned fake certificates purportedly issued by both the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examination Council (NECO). He col-
Prof. Farouk
lects between N25, 000 and N40, 000 from each candidate. Another culprit, who abandoned his primary assignment to join the booming business is a staff at the college’s identity card department. He charges between N6, 000 and N10, 000 and was also involved in issuing fake admission letters. Yet another person in this category is a staff of the school of education. He issued fake admission letters and equally scanned fake NECO and WAEC results, to enable his clients meet the admission requirements and in the process, collects between N30, 000 and N80, 000. The third suspect is a staff the school of vocational education. He was said to have joined the services of the college in 1993 as an office assistant and rose to the rank of and executive officer in 2010. He allegedly issued admission letters, scanned fake WAEC and NECO results and collects between N6, 000 and N60, 000 from his clients. The last suspect allegedly connived with one Aminu Usman, an outsider, who used his computer to scan both admission letters and fake WAEC and NECO results, and they both collected between N40, 000 and N60, 000 from their clients. One of their candidates, who had distinction in Mathematics was put to the test by a committee member and could not provide the answer when asked: ‘What is half plus half?’
One of suspects, a computer operator at the directorate of the Assisted Programme of the school, charges his clients between N50, 000 and N80, 000. In addition, he was said to have collected N45, 000 each from 12 candidates and could not give them the admission. He also collected tuition fees from them and issued them with fake bank tellers. Surprisingly, an academic staff, a head of department, was also entangled in the admission scam. In addition to allegedly issuing fake admission letters, he also allegedly scans fake WAEC and NECO results, collects tuition fees and issues candidates with fake bank tellers. He charges between N22, 000 and N50, 000. In the course of investigation, the lecturer was said to have gone round to threaten his victims not to appear before the investigation committee. Another Lecturer, with the Social Studies department, was also implicated. But in his own case, he did not produce fake admission letters and results, but obtained three fake admission letters from another senior officer of the college at the rate of N7, 000. The disciplinary action ranges from dismissal, termination of appointment and suspension from the college. Out of the 14 staff members of the college indicted by the committee, five were academic, nine were non-academic. Five others, who were not staff members and one student, were also indicted.
NUC debunks reports on ranking of varsities, bribery allegation HE National Universities T Commission (NUC) has dissociated itself from the lists making the rounds on the Internet, on the top 100 and Top 50 universities in Nigeria. According to a statement by the commission’s Chief Information Officer, Mrs. Bukola Olatunji, the allegation that the lists were the outcome of the commission’s annual rankings is untrue. Describing the so-called “annual university rankings as non-existing, the statement affirmed: “It has to be stated, unequivocally, that the lists did not emanate from the NUC. For the avoidance of the NUC mandate includes, but is not limited to: approval of courses and programmes;
determination and maintenance of Minimum Academic Standards; monitoring of universities; accreditation of academic programmes and institutions; as well as the provision of guidelines and processing of applications for the establishment of private universities.” It continued: “The first ranking of Nigerian Universities by the NUC in 2002 was based on performance of the universities’ academic programmes in the 1999 and 2000 accreditation exercises. The 2004 ranking was based on data on the following: Percentage of academic programmes of the university with full accreditation status; compliance
with carrying capacity (measure of the degree of deviation from carrying capacity); proportion of academic staff of the university at professorial level; foreign content (staff); foreign content (students); staff with outstanding academic achievements; research output; student completion rate; PhD graduate output for the year; stability of the university calendar; student to PC ratio. “The results were duly published by the commission and the same will be done for future exercises. For the purpose of clarity, NUC has been conducting the accreditation of programmes offered by Nigerian universities since 1990. In May 2006, it considered introducing institutional
accreditation to complement programmes accreditation. Institutional accreditation is a process of evaluating the activities of an institution against the criteria established by the accrediting agency. These include governance and administration, financial stability, admissions, personnel services, institutional resources, student academic achievement, institutional effectiveness and relationships with constituencies inside and outside the institution. “Following wide consultations, the instruments for this exercise were designed and pilot-tested in six universities (Three federal, one state and two private) in 2010. The instruments were fine-tuned, based on the find-
ings of the pilot exercise and NUC was ready for the full-blown institutional accreditation, which took off on 27 November, 2011. A total of 26 universities, selected, based on the fact that at least 70 percent of all their programmes had full accreditation, were involved in the exercise. The above is the build-up to the next ranking exercise by the NUC, which outcome will be made public, appropriately. “Stakeholders in the university education sub-sector and the general public are therefore advised to ignore the spurious lists of ‘Top 100’ and ‘Top 50’ universities, being peddled by those, who appear bent on causing CONTINUED ON PAGE 53
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Education
Some parents issue dud cheques to pay school fees, says Iyayi On proliferation of private schools CHOOLS are allowed to spring up but how many would survive? That is why we need the Ministry of Education to come in and ensure that only approved schools are given a chance to operate. Parents have a responsibility to make choices, as regards where they take their children. Are they looking for quantity where the fees are cheap? If that is what they want, they will get it in the market. If you want quality that may be expensive, it is also available. That is what the school system is all about. School proprietors need to know that a school affects life. They must be careful about what they are offering to that life. Definitely, there would always be different types of schools, but this is why parents need to be cautious when making choices for their children. Is there any hope for students who are not academically brilliant? There is hope. At Cayley, we are more interested in affecting lives positively. I would love everybody to do very well academically, because in Cayley, the first entrance examination gives opportunity for deserving students to win scholarships. But it is wrong to write off any student and there must be another opportunity or a second chance. If a child fails an examination, for instance, that child should be given a second chance. Setbacks and other challenges A school cannot exist outside the society. What is happening in the society affects the school, for example, the economic situation. We now have this latest trend, of parents, more than ever before not willing to pay fees. We now have a situation where, sadly, parents are issuing giving dud cheques. This is a very big issue. There are various categories of schools. There are schools that are expensive and there are also schools that are less expensive, so parents should be truthful to themselves, go for what they can afford and be responsible about it, because at this level of education you are dealing with teenagers. For teenagers, selfesteem is key, so why would you want to affect their selfesteem by not paying their fees as at when due. This is one issue that I find very upsetting. When you know the number of children you have, the amount you are expecting, you just have to plan around it. Parents not meeting their financial
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The challenges of running a private school are immense and could be discouraging. But to Dr Mary Iyayi, the Executive Director of Cayley College, Lagos, who worked as a Principal and Education Officer in 1977, this is not an excuse for any private education provider to compromise on quality. However, in an interview with MARY OGAR, Iyayi revealed that some parents, on the excuse of the poor economic situation, issue dud cheques and making it difficult for private schools to meet their obligations. Excerpts: responsibility can be really frustrating. Some parents would ask for a period of grace to pay and after the time lapses, they would then give you a post-dated cheque and when you get to the bank, the cheque would bounce. I pray the economy improves so that people can really demonstrate financial integrity. It can be so frustrating that some parents don’t even want you to ask them for fees even when they know they are owing. Parents should be responsible and have the number of children they can cater for. While the school would like to improve its services to the students, pay government levies and taxes, pay teachers’ salaries and others, this is all a function of money, yet, there is still so much being owed. Some of us get loans from the bank for buildings and the bank doesn’t want to know whether parents have not paid you. There are students who are very academi-
This is one issue that I find very upsetting. When you know the number of children you have, the amount you are expecting, you just have to plan around it. Parents not meeting their financial responsibility can be really frustrating. Some parents would ask for a period of grace to pay and after the time lapses, they would then give you a post-dated cheque and when you get to the bank, the cheque would bounce
cally strong but have financial challenges, that is why, at Cayley, there is an opportunity to get a scholarship if you work hard. One of our values is integrity and I would not employ you if I cannot afford you and integrity demands that if I employ you, I should pay you as at when due. On examination malpractice Our students are aware that what you deserve is what you get. So, by the time they are writing the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), they are already used to it. I have had parents who took their children from here because they know that the school would not help them to be involved in any form of malpractice. For me, I want to be able to look at the results of my students and say confidently that yes, this is what they deserve, than just doing some weird packaging just because you want to splash a hundred per cent pass rate, whereas you know that it is not genuine. Again this is one advantage of a private school: Who I am would reflect on what I offer, so the parents know that I would not doctor anything for anybody, because we are not helping that child, by doing that. It will be irresponsible and selfish for any school to do otherwise because that is the same child that would get into the university and never get used to doing things on his own. knowing that they are role models.
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Babcock varsity denies increase in tuition fees By Ujunwa Atueyi he management of Babcock University (BU), Ilishan Remo, Ogun state has debunked the series of reports posted on some internet blogs, alleging that it has increased its tuition fees by 70 per cent. The institution’s vice chancellor has also described the report as “misleading and mischievous” insisting that at no time did the institution’s management concived tha idea of increasing tuition fees. Speaking at a briefing recently, Makinde insisted that the university has deliberately not increased its fees in the last three years. According to him, the average fee at BU, even for the 2013/2014 session, remains N630,500, except for students studying Law, Accounting and Nursing, who pay N763,000, and a consolidated fee of N2 million per session for Medicine. The fee, he said, covers accommodation, feeding, tuition and medical insurance. he advised all concerned to visit the institution’s website. he said the only slight variance in the fee is for students whose parents’ desire premium or classic lifestyle, adding
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that it was an optional service being provided by the institution. The online report had alleged that the institution increased its fees for the 2013/2014 session to as much as N3million. It also insinuated that the students were not protesting for the fear of being expelled. The report further alleged that students in the Accounting department would pay N1.5 million per session; Nursing, N1 million per session; Law, N2 million per session, Medicine, N3 million per session; while others are left at N860, 000 per session. Makinde said: “In Babcock University, we believe that what can be done outside the country is achievable here in Nigeria. The Benjamin Carson School of Medicine is gradually transforming the face of Medicare and educational service delivery in West African sub-region. Our teaching hospital, which has been opened to the general public, is rapidly enhancing the local capacity to swiftly attend to the increasing health challenges in the country as well as reverse the drain of the nation’s fiscal resources to medical tourism abroad.”
Gregory varsity, American institution sign partnership pact From Lillian Chukwu, Abuja AUCITy of funds, unattracp tive learning environment and employment of incompetent dons have been cited as some of the challenges to facing private universities in the country. Chancellor, Gregory University, Uturu (GUU) Abia state, Dr. Gregory Ibe told journalists in Abuja that government’s collaboration with private universities would go a long way in improving tertiary education. Ibe said: “The government needs to give us money in form of loans because we are training Nigerians and equip-
ping them with the best qualities.” Ibe also announced the commencement of a partnership, between between GUU and the Tuskegee university, Alabama, United States. he said that the international exchange programme would ential aviation, agriculture, business and engineering courses. he noted that the Memorandum of Understanding would include aspects to develop human and material capacity needed to establish centers of research and education excellence in any academic discipline or specialty that could be of mutual interest to the two institutions.
Federal varsity, Wukari assures students, parents of safety eSpITe the security chalD lenges in Wukari, Taraba state, the Management of the Federal University Wukari, has assured the institution’s staff, students and the general public that normal academic and administrative activities are continuing. The University management also reassured parents, guardians, friends and other stakeholders of the university that the crisis in Wukari did not adversely affect academic activities at the institution.
According to a statement by the university’s Director Marketing and Communications, Mr Jerry Amah, measures have been put in place to ameliorate hardship and other forms of challenges that members of the University community were likely to encounter on campus. “The security agencies are working diligently to address the security challenges in our host community” he affirmed
Marie Balavenne’s Catholic school holds entrance exam May 11 he Marie Balavenne’s T Catholic School has announce a new date, May 11, for the entrance examination into its secondary school located in Ilogbo Ashowo area of Ota, Ogun state. According to the principal, Rev Sr. Anthonia Falope, the examination will also hold in six other locations in both Lagos and Ogun states. She advised parents to ensure that their wards adhere strictly to the rules governing the conduct of the examination, just as she charged them to be active-
ly involved in the upbringing of their children. She said: “finding a good school for your child is only the initial step, reaping the benefits of any school requires the constant participation of parents. When a child enters a school, it represents a commitment on the part of both the parents’ and the child and this gives a vote of confidence to the school that you believe it will do its best. It is a collaborative effort that involves the school, the teacher, parents’ and the community.”
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Rivers adopts vocational training to solve unemployment problems From Ann Godwin (Port Harcourt) ITh a strong belief that W v o c a t i o n a l education could tackle unemployment, increase job opportunities and put Nigeria among the top 20 competitive countries in the world, the Rivers State Government recently signed a pact with Zentralstelle Fur Die Weiterbildung (ZWh), a German Company to offer vocational education to its people. The signing, which took place at the Ministry of Justice and was coordinated by the state’s Attorney General, Wogu Boms, also involved the German team, led by holgas puchalla, the Commissioner for education, Dame Alice Lawrence Nemi, and the permanent Secretary, Ministry of education, Dr. Richard Ofuru.
Areas to be covered include; Fashion Design, hair Dressing and Cosmetics; Construction (bricklaying, sanitary/plumber, electrical, tilling, stucco plasterer); Metal Work (including Welding, Marine Welding, Woodwork, Cabinet making and Carpentry) and Mechatronics, that is heavy-duty mechanic knowledge. The education Commissioner, who represented Governor Chibuike Amaechi, explained that the training curriculum would be patterned after German standards, with a provision to accommodate local conditions. The ZWh is the brainchild of the German Chamber of Crafts and the Assembly of German Regional Chambers of Crafts. It offers vocational training nationally and internationally, having its corporate office
at the Sternwartstrabe, Dusseldorf Germany. The programme is divided into phases A, B, C, and D. phases A and B have been agreed upon, and kicked off on May 1. According to an offcial statement by the state government, the parties agreed to conclude phase A in 12 months. The parties further agreed that phases C and D of the project would be further adjusted to cover unforeseen events, before becoming enforceable. The ZWh shall be responsible for the day to day running of the program, while the state government would be responsible for the general supervision. The ZhW would also be the sole contracting partner for the government, with respect to foreign personnel and training machines, while all other non-
foreign contractors would be provided by the government. The quality and specification would be approved by ZhW to ensure compliance with its overall quality and standard. The program will be executed through the approved training providers: The Chamber of Crafts Cologne and its associated training centre, which shall cover metal and woodwork; the Central Construction Training Centre B2B, which shall cover construction; the Chamber of Crafts Munster and its associates Academy for Designs, which shall cover hair Dressing among others. The leader of the German team, holgas punchalla told The Guardian that they were spurred to partner with the state following the commitment of the state government to improving education.
NUC debunks report on ranking of varsities CONTINUED FROM PAGE 49 disaffection in the Nigerian University System (NUS).” On the allegation by Mr. pius Nwachukwu, who told a court in Abuja that he gave a bribe of N20,000 to the commission’s executive Secretary, prof. Julius Okojie in exchange for a temporary approval to run a private University, Olatunji said nothing could be farther from the truth. She declared: “Ordinarily, the National Universities Commission (NUC) would not want to comment on a case that is in court, but it is left with no other choice, going by the way the story of an alleged bribery of the executive Secretary, NUC, professor Julius A. Okojie OON has gone viral. “The Commission took one pius Nwachukwu and his wife Chika to court for operating an illegal university in Orozo, a border town between the Federal Capital Territory and Nasarawa State. But in his defence, Nwachukwu claimed that he was issued a ‘temporary approval’ (a term that does not exist in NUC’s licensing regime) after giving professor Okojie N20, 000 to fuel his car. Infra dignitatem! “According to online reports, Nwachukwu said: ‘I have a phD certificate in Theology from Temple University International, my alma mata, and I am the representative of the school in Nigeria.’ This man, who the executive Secretary has never met, told the court: ‘Mr Okojie, who is the Director General (sic) of the National Universities Commission gave me the approval based on the existing relationship we had for long.’ ” Olatunji queried: “Where is Temple University International? It is a story that all right-thinking individuals should dismiss with the wave of the hand as a sick joke, because that is exactly what it is. The painstaking requirements for establishing a private university are available on the NUC website. To imag-
ine that anyone would claim that all these were waived for N20, 000 and such a story would receive the kind of attention it has been given is as regrettable as it is laughable. Where are the core principles of Journalism? There are nine of them, but the third, ‘A Discipline of Verification,’ should suffice here.” Olatunji listed the requirements for establishing a private university as: Application in writing, addressed to the executive Secretary, stating
the intent for the establishment of the university; N1, 000,000.00 bank draft, in favour of the NUC for 10 copies of the application form; N5, 000,000.00 bank draft in favour of the NUC, for processing of the application and Academic Brief. Others are: physical Master plan; Counterpart of Deed of Assignment; Certificate of Incorporation/Registration of proprietors; Deed of Assignment/Certificate of
Occupancy; University Law; Letter of available liquid cash; and Bank Guarantee of Funds to the tune of N200 Million from reputable banks. The last two items could be submitted to the Committee at the time of its second verification visit to the proposed university. Olatunji also affirmed that there are 14 other rigorous steps that the commission adopts in processing the applications.
Winner of The Ultimate Mathematics Ambassadors (TUMA) competition, organized by The Ambassadors School, Master Stephen Aguwa (right) with his mother, Mrs F.Aguwa at the award ceremony held in Lagos recently.
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ESSO holds workshop on geoscience education By Mary Ogar O help improve the quality T of geoscience education in Nigerian Universities, Esso
Members of the governing council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) during their visit to Elizade University, Ilara Mokin, Ondo state recently
Delay in conversion of Kaduna poly to varsity worries ASUP From Saxone Akhaine, Northern Bureau Chief ECTURERS of Kaduna Lunder Polytechnic (KadPoly), the aegis of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) have urged the Federal Government to expedite action on the proposed conversion of the tertiary institution into a University, as they condemned the delay in pronouncing official parity of National Diploma to Degree certificates. The officials of ASUP Kaduna Polytechnic branch, at a press conference at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat yesterday, advised President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately look into the conversion of kadPoly into a University as proposed by the Government many years ago, saying that those working against the conversion were not promoting the growth of the nation’s educational system. Besides, the Chairman of
ASUP, Kaduna Polytechnic branch, Mallam Mustapha Yahaya Bida while addressing Journalists, said that with the long history of the institution and the quality of infrastructure, equipments and manpower of the Polytechnic the Government should not exercise delay on the upgrading. The Polytechnic lecturers said with about 200 Doctor of philosophy (PhD) holders currently under the employment of the Kadpoly, they believed that not even the already established, not to mention the new universities could boast of such human resources at take off. They distanced themselves from recent remarks ascribed to the National President of ASUP calling on Federal Government to cancel it intention to convert Kadpoly into university, saying “it brought to question whose mandate and interest he spoke for”. “His stand is completely at variance and disagreement with national interest, and the
desire of Kaduna Polytechnic and indeed any academic common sense. We the local chapter of ASUP, Kaduna Polytechnic, wish to make it abundantly clear that the position of the National President ,ASUP, on the conversion is not only unreasonable but most be seen as his personal opinion and has no bearing with the position of Kaduna Polytechnic, ASUP Kaduna Polytechnic Chapter.” “As far as Kaduna Polytechnic is concerned, we pray, fast and beg on our kneels that Mr. Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, through our amiable mentor the Honorable Minister of Education, Professor Ruqqayatu Rufa’i midwife the conversion of Kaduna Polytechnic to university so that government’s huge investment on this institution could be fully utilized for providing more admission to our teeming youth to acquire university education, make use of the available infrastructural resources for
high level researches and community development.” Bida further argued that Kadpoly had a long standing history of being one of the foremost higher technical institutions in sub Saharan Africa and therefore, history of higher education in Nigeria would not be complete without deep analysis of the contribution of Kadpoly with regard to middle manpower for both public service and private sector, particularly in the industries. Meanwhile, speaking on the refusal by Government to act on the problem of parity between Polytechnic Diplomas and University Degree Certificates, the Union Leader, Malam Bida said that it was high time the Federal Authorities resolved the problem for equity and justice, as the Polytechnic graduates were contributing to the nation’s technological and economic growth on equal basis with their University counterparts
Temple school urges parents’ involvement in Open Day activities By Mary Ogar ARENTS who ignore or do P not pay adequate attention to Open Day activities in schools may have been missing out. According to the Principal of Temple School, Lagos. Mrs. Adeola Arofin, parents’ active involvement in their children’s Open Day activities would give them the opportunity of assessing the school, its curriculum and how it operates. With over 20 years experience as a teacher, she observed that experience has shown that the successful students are the ones parents are very much involved with their academics. She said: “One of our guiding principle is to work very closely with the parents. It is very important for the parents to understand what the school has to offer. If they
don’t understand what the school has to offer, they would not really know how they can assist. The Open Day presents an opportunity for parents to come in, see what we are doing, get a good idea of how we are doing it and how they can support the efforts of the school at home”. Reiterating the benefits of the Open day, she explained that any school that is very confident of what it offers would throw open its doors for parents to come in and inspect not just their children’s academic work but the facilities that is also being offered. “Our intention is to give the general public a snapshot of the activities at Temple school. We have merged our Open Day with Science Fair, because we have a very strong science department. This is an opportunity for prospective parents and the general
public to come inside and have a look at everything we do including our vision and mission and how we actualize it,” she added. She continued: “The first and most important thing for parents is to know what they want for their child because every child is different. So, they must recognize the child’s specific needs and having recognize those needs, tailor the kind of questions that they ask the school. If there is a parent who has a child with challenges, then the parent should find out what the school has for such challenges. And if the parent has a child that is very high achieving, they should find out the kind of strategies that the school has to deal with those level of skills”. On the Science fair activities and objectives, she charged all stakeholders to pay adequate attention to the devel-
opment of science and technology education in Nigeria to provide Nigerian students with a variety of opportunities in the modern 21st century. Identifying extremely enthusiastic teachers as critical in motivating students to go into the sciences, she advised that schools must also make effort to put the right resources in place to enable Nigerian students compete favourably. While announcing that the school as a member of the Association of International School Educators in Nigeria (AISEN) intends to kick off the annual science quiz for all international schools in Nigeria on June 8, she also noted that Temple school would play host to schools drawn from all parts of the country as part of its dedication to the advancement of science in the country.
Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (EEPNL) recently commenced the third edition of its “Train-theTrainer” workshop. The initiative aims at enhancing the quality of geoscience students in Nigerian Universities by retraining their university lecturers with the latest in geoscience analysis technology. In his address at the opening ceremony of the workshop, held at the Conference Centre of the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, the Manager, Deepwater Production Geoscience, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, Mr. Goodluck Adagbasa spoke on the need for Geoscience lecturers to constantly update their knowledge in the field to be in tune with the current reality in the oil and gas Industry. According to him, the decision of Esso to participate in the training and the retraining of lecturers, through the University Assistance
Programme (UAP) is part of measure to ensure that Nigeria consistently produced quality man-power for the oil and gas sector of the economy. He further explained that this action would reduce capital flight, which would also ensure that more homegrown Nigerians with requisite skills are employed. His words: “the world is fast becoming a global village and the use of technology in the quest for oil and gas exploration cannot be over emphasized. It is therefore necessary to empower graduates coming out of our educational system to compete with their counterparts from other parts of the world in the market place. It is our sincere hope and believe that the better the output from our universities, the better impact on societal growth,” To ensure that the company’s investment in the sector is justified, Dagbasa enjoined the participating-lecturers to take full advantage of the workshop to not only refresh their knowledge, but to also effectively utilize the knowledge gained in improving the quality of their students.
EVA urges govt to improve health education By Emmanuel Amolo MIDST a crowd of celebriA ties, a non-governmental organisation, the Education as a Vaccine (EVA), which focuses on improving the health and development of children and young people, has called on federal government to play its part in educating Nigeria’s next generation on sexual and reproductive health issues. At the organisation’s gala night with the theme: “A Night to Laugh and Lean,” held recently in Lagos, EVA’s Executive Director, Fadekemi Akinfaderin-Agarau said: “At EVA, we believe that every young person in Nigeria has potential. We work with young people who have been left behind by the system, equip them to make the right
choices for their own health and education. Through a variety of engaging approaches and activities including peer education, life skills training, counselling and advocacy, EVA implements innovative and sustainable systems to strengthen the livelihoods of Nigeria’s most important asset, its future generation”. Funds raised over the next year, he stated, would be expended on support programmes such as toll-free hotlines for at-risk youths, peer-health education; HIV/AIDS prevention work and testing clinics; microfinance empowerment initiatives and advocacy for free basic education, including eliminating barriers hindering orphaned and vulnerable children.
Anti-plagiarism seminar holds in South Africa May 20 CADEMICS from across A Africa will gather in South Africa on May 20 to discuss plagiarism prevention and detection at the first ever African Academic Integrity seminars The event is being hosted by Turnitin, the originality checking and plagiarism prevention tool, used by several students and institutions internationally. According to a statement by Caroline Smith, IParadigms Europe Limited’s Communications Officer, there will be an additional seminar on May 23 for university heads. Vice President of Turnitin International, Will Murray said: “Plagiarism is a growing problem, not just in Africa,
but globally. These seminars are a unique opportunity to share best practice and experience on plagiarism. The meeting for university Vice Chancellors and Deputy Vice Chancellors will bring together some of the most influential figures in African academia and provide a forum for discussion about how Africa is addressing plagiarism. Sharing research, experiences and international perspectives is key to creating a culture of honesty in academia.” Guest speakers will include Dr Cath Ellis from the University of Huddersfield, who will talk about her institution’s use of Turnitin as part of its e-assessment strategy; and Stella Orim from the University of Coventry.
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European telecoms revenues drop as price wars heat up WO of Europe’s biggest telecom operators reported lower T revenues yesterday, blaming the weak European economy and stiff regulation while seeing some bright spots in markets abroad. The figures from Spain’s Telefonica SA (TEF.MC) and Deutsche Telekom AG (DTEGn.DE) chimed with recent statements from peers such as France Telecom (FTE.PA), Swisscom (SCMN.VX) and KPN (KPN.AS) as European operators struggle with an overcrowded market, tough regulations and recession. They complain such pressures are hampering their ability to invest in faster networks, important for future growth. Telefonica, Europe’s biggest telecom group by revenue, reported a 11.7 percent drop to 6.7 billion euros ($8.8 billion) for its European operations in the first quarter, with total revenue down 9 percent at 14.1 billion. Deutsche Telekom said revenue in Europe shrank 6.9 percent to 3.33 billion euros, while overall revenue fell 4.5 percent to 13.8 billion. Reflecting the pressures the sector is under, European telecom stocks are much lower valued than U.S. peers and trade at roughly 11 times prospective earnings against 19 times for U.S. peers, according to Reuters data. Telefonica shares were down 1.4 percent by 0925 GMT, the biggest decliner in a flat European telecom sector .SXKP, dragged down by an increase in its debt despite being on a debt-cutting drive, as well as a weaker-than-expected perform-
ance in Spain. Telefonica aims to cut debt to less than 47 billion euros by year end but reported net debt of 51.8 billion at end-March, against 51.3 billion three months earlier. The company has sold all its treasury stock and 40 percent of its central American businesses to slash debt this year. A 701 million payout for spectrum, the devaluation of the Venezuelan bolivar and seasonally more payments due in the first quarter set back progress on debt reduction, though Moody’s analyst Carlos Winzer said the company was still on track to reach its debt target of 2.35 times EBITDA by year-end. Deutsche Telekom shares were up 2.5 percent, top of the sector gainers after reporting slightly better-than-expected core earnings and the first net addition of customers in the United States since early 2009. While Telefonica generated cash in some Latin American countries, it depleted its cash reserves in Europe, with operational cashflow decreasing particularly in Britain, the Czech Republic and Ireland. Operational cashflow was 22 percent down on a year ago at 2.6 billion euros, with cashflow in Europe falling 40 percent to 1 billion. European telecom operators face particular challenges at their home markets. In Telefonica’s recession-hit domestic patch, revenue fell 16 percent to 3.3 billion euros, though margins continued to improve, reaching 47 percent following Telefonica’s decision
U.K. house prices hit all-time high .K. house prices rose to the growth are likely to remain current quarter as the impact U highest in almost three significant constraints on of the FLS is felt. In addition to years in April as low mortgage housing demand during the the credit-boosting program, repayments helped support demand, Halifax said. Home values increased 1.1 percent from the previous month to an average 166,094 pounds ($257,200), the mortgage unit of Lloyds Banking Group Plc said in a statement in London yesterday. That’s the highest since 2010. From a year earlier, values rose 3.6 percent. The property market is showing signs of recovery after officials started the Funding for Lending Scheme in August, designed to improve mortgage availability. The Bank of England will probably keep its stimulus program on hold tomorrow as policy makers assess signs growth gained momentum last month after the economy expanded in the first quarter. “House prices continue to pick up gradually,” said Martin Ellis, housing economist at Halifax. Still, “weak income growth and continuing below-trend economic
remainder of 2013.” The pound was unchanged against the dollar from yesterday, trading at $1.5484 as of 10:03 a.m. London time. Halifax said the “relatively low” level of mortgage payments in relation to income is supporting prices. Typical mortgage payments at the long-term average loan-tovalue ratio have fallen to 28 percent of disposable earnings from a peak of 48 percent in 2007, it said. This is below the average recorded since 1984 of 36 percent. In the three months through April, house prices were 1.3 percent higher than in the previous three months, according to Halifax. This was the fifth consecutive increase in this measure. From a year earlier, values were up 2 percent in the three-month period. Mortgage approvals rose in March, and the central bank said the availability of home loans may increase in the
Euro rises as market eyes German data HE euro rose against the T dollar on Wednesday and could gain further if German data due later is strong, while the Australian dollar firmed after forecast-beating Chinese trade figures. But the New Zealand dollar fell after the country’s central bank said it had intervened to try to restrain the strength of the currency. The euro was up 0.1 percent at $1.3092, holding firm after data on Tuesday showed German industrial orders unexpectedly rose. Traders reported strong bids at $1.3050. Traders said the euro could head closer to its $1.3243 May 1 peak if German industrial output data at 1000 GMT was similarly strong as this could temper the risk of more euro zone interest rate cuts. But gains were expected to be limited given the fragility of the euro zone economy, which has prompted the European Central Bank to hint its deposit rate could be
cut to negative. However, the euro has held up well recently, helped by falling borrowing costs in peripheral euro zone countries. One-month implied volatilities in euro/dollar remain near their lowest since January, suggesting investors are reluctant to bet on sharp falls in the euro. “Euro/dollar is likely to trade sideways for now, with a risk to the downside,” said Niels Christensen, currency strategist at Nordea in Copenhagen. He said firmer equity markets after strong Chinese trade data weighed on the safe-haven U.S. dollar and helped the euro. But he expected rallies in the euro to trigger selling because of the prospect of negative deposit rates. The Australian dollar, which tends to gain on good news from China given Australia’s strong trade links there, rose 0.6 percent to $1.0200, recovering from a two-month low of $1.0155 hit after Tuesday’s rate cut in Australia.
Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne has pledged 3.5 billion pounds to help home buyers. Hometrack Ltd. said last month that improving sentiment and a shortage of properties for sale are supporting values. Average house prices in England and Wales increased 0.3 percent in April, the same as in March, which was the largest gain in three years, the London-based property researcher said.
to scrap costly handset subsidies last year. “It’s a tough year ... because the domestic market continues to suffer as a result of contraction in consumer spending,” said Moody’s Winzer. Telefonica is the biggest shareholder in Telecom Italia (TLIT.MI), which was holding a board meeting on Wednesday on merger talks with Hutchison Whampoa (0013.HK), a deal Telefonica is strongly opposed to, according to sources. Deutsche Telekom meanwhile is facing a turf war at its home mobile market, the European Union’s largest, where consumers are catching up with the rest of the continent by switching to smartphones from basic mobiles. In response, Deutsche Telekom as well as Vodafone (VOD.L), Telefonica Deutschland (O2Dn.DE) and KPN’s E-Plus are revamping tariffs to focus more on mobile internet and are hiking spending on advertising campaigns. Deutsche Telekom said mobile service revenue declined 0.1 percent during the quarter. “This was the best figure since the fourth quarter of 2011 and underlines the progress Deutsche Telekom has made compared with the competition,” the company said in a statement. The decline is excluding the effect of lower so-called mobile termination fees (MTRs), that operators charge each other each time a customer ends a call on their network. German regulators have ordered MTRs need to be nearly halved by the end of this year from last year.
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NigeriaCapitalMarket NSE Daily Summary (Equities) PRICE LIST OF SYMBOLS TRADED FOR 08/05/2013
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Man United shares fall amid Ferguson’s exit By Bukky Olajide with agency report
ANCHESTER United M shares fell in New York amid concerns over the impact Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement will have. The news was announced while US markets were closed. When trading began the club’s shares fell as much as 4.5 percent. By midday in New York, the shares were down 1.5 percent. Ferguson, 71, will step down as United manager at the end of the season after 26 years in charge in which he won the Premier League title 13 times. The club said in its prospectus ahead of its stock market flotation last year that its business was dependent on its ability to attract and retain players. “Any successor to our current manager may not be as successful as our current manager,” it warned. A financial analyst who spoke to The Guardian said that the shares fell because of the fear of the unknown of the person who will succeed Ferguson. ‘’People should know that there are people who can even perform better,’’he said. Speculation is already mounting as to who will succeed Sir Alex, who won 38 trophies during his 26-year reign at Old Trafford, with Everton’s David Moyes and Real Madrid’s Jose Mourinho both being tipped. Whoever gets the job will join a club laden with almost £370m of debt, and tightly controlled by the Glazer fam-
ily. The Glazers bought the club for £790m in 2005 in a controversial deal that loaded the club with debt. The flotation in New York saw the Glazers sell 16.7 million shares, equal to a 10 percent stake in the club. Since the flotation in August
2012, Manchester United shares have risen 34 percent. Manchester United gets about a third of its revenues from match day ticket sales, a third from broadcasting deals, and a third from commercial business. “This stock probably has a lot of speculation built into it,”
said Mr Perkins. “It may not trade a lot on fundamentals, but may trade on things like who’s the new manager, how the team performs. “It’s hard to say how other investors will feel. That’s why in our view stock like Manchester United is risky.”
Meanwhile, Stocks rose yesterday in New York , bolstered by the financial and technology sectors, and were set to scale fresh highs as a rally kept going for a fifth consecutive session. The S&P 500 financial sector index .SPSY rose 0.6 percent, with JPMorgan Chase & Co
(JPM.N) up 1.4 percent at $49.83. It was among the Dow’s top percentage gainers. Technology stocks also outperformed the broader market, lifting the Nasdaq index. Apple (AAPL.O) shares rose more than 1 percent after falling in the previous session.
NB promises to retain high dividend payment policy By Helen Oji IGERIAN Breweries Plc, N yesterday explained that its policy on payment of high returns on its shares would remain due to the recent acquisition made by the company which impacted on its 2012 operations. The company said the dilution in its bottom line was specifically occasioned by its position not to raise additional fund from shareholders, but to rely solely on existing operational fund in its operations. The Finance Director of the company, Jasper Hamaker, while fielding questions from investors at the company’s maiden investors forum and Pre AGM in Lagos yesterday said, “we acquired some companies and we did not require fund from shareholders to pay for our acquisitions.We acquired Sona/Life without issuing any offer in the market and we need some of the net profit to reinvest into the company for future growth. That is why we pay only 60 per cent of our
earnings. But looking forward we will up the dividend payout. “But looking forward, we would continue to embark on investments that would enhance our profitability and increase shareholders’ value and continue to invest on our brands and local market”.
Hamaker, why responding on the dip in dividend compared to the unit of its shares on the stock market, also noted that 80 per cent of the company’s profit after tax would have been paid as against the present 60 per cent payout. Some shareholders in the
company are against the dividend payout of N3.00 per share, when compared to the unit cost of the company’s shares on the floor of the Exchange which presently is been transacted on at a cost of N165.00. The Managing Director, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde who said
the company has combined market share of 70 per cent, said the demand of the company’s product has been on average rate of 10 per cent when reflected on both in the middle and the long term, even as this is owned to the positive strategy put in place by the management.
ASHON set to inaugurate new executive committee By Helen Oji he Association of Stock T broking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON) has concluded arrangement to inaugurate new executive committee, as well as recognize stakeholders that has contributed to the growth of the market in its forthcoming capital market stakeholders forum. The Association had earlier announced plans to organize a capital market stakeholders forum to brainstorm on how to chart a way forward for the Nigerian Capital Market.
The programme, which is slated for 23rd May, 2013, according to the President of the Association, Mr Emeka Madubuike would serve an avenue for stakeholders to review market performance in the last few years , as well as address relevant issues that would help attract retail investors’ confidence in the market. “Because we are an ASHON, stock brokers have direct and initial contact with investors. The forum will be used to interface with investors and educate them in order to improve their confidence in the market.
“We have been working hard to bring back investors confidence in the market and in this forum, we would re-focus to ensure. The percentage of foreign investors is continuously dropping and this is a result of all efforts put in place to enhance investors confidence in a continued basis. With the theme “Investment Opportunities in a Frontier Market; The African Perspective, Madubuike said the various stakeholders would examine market performance in the developed countries and how they riggled out of the
global recession. “We would look at what has happened in other global markets, what they did to bounce back as well as what we can learn from so doing. We would also use the forum to launch a development fund to ensure that we reposition our Association and secretariat to be able to deliver. “We have interaction from all stakeholders and it is an opportunity to share our experiences with other practitioners in the market to see how we can enhance market recovery.”
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Opinion Syria: The final siege and consequences By Charles Onunaiju BOUT a month ago, when U.S President, Mr. A Barack Obama visited Israel and made the rapprochement of Turkey and Israel a priority, it was obvious to any discerning observer, that something dramatic is about to happen in the nearly three-year conflict in the neighbouring Syria. In spite of several political concessions and reforms of the President Assad regime, including internationally supervised elections, the Syrian armed opposition has maintained a bigoted position of militarily defeating the regime. It has been generously supplied with weapons and money by Arab conservative regimes, with the West doing the same, in addition to political pressure and media disinformation against the government in Damascus. Turkey got soaked into the conflict, when its mildly Islamic regime jettisoned its own policy of “zero problems with neighbours” to prop up the armed insurgents in Syria. The trio of Turkish prime minister, Tayyip Recep Erdogan, President Abdullah Gul and foreign minister Ahmet Davotuglo were originally considered independents whose moderating influence could douse most conflicts in the volatile region. Turkey could have helped to broker political solution to the Syrian conflict but early in the conflict, Ankara took an obstinate stance of regime change in Damascus along with the other largely unelected Arab monarchies in the region. Since then, the Turkish government has used everything at its disposal, including its NATO membership to advance regime change in Damascus. Israel also has reason to see off, the Baath party regime in Damascus. Apart from being the only reliable ally of its mortal enemy, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Syria sheltered, provided and supported the militant Palestinian and Lebanese resistant movement of Hamas and Hezbollah. Denying these resistant groups, regional support, which comes mostly from Damascus, in Israel’s view would expose their vulnerability and tame their ideological bellicosity. So, when President Obama got Israel and Turkey talking again, after they have cut their direct line, following the lethal attack of Israeli defence forces on the mostly Turkish flotilla ship, attempting to deliver humanitarian supplies to Gaza strip, a Palestinian enclave run by the militant Hamas movement, some few years ago, it was clear that Washington was losing patience with the slow pace of its proxy war in Syria and want more robust engagement. Some few days ago, Washington and other western capitals, including London have
been screaming of the use of chemical weapons in Syrian second city, Aleppo, devastated by the hit and run operations of the armed insurgents. Israeli intelligence is said to have corroborated the use of chemical weapons, including the nerve gas. Mr. Chuck Hagel, U.S defence secretary has claimed almost immediately that the use of such weapon in the conflict would obviously have originated from the ‘Assad regime’. Two years ago, the U.S President Barack Obama has said the ‘red line ‘that would warrant the U.S direct military intervention would be the use of chemical weapons, even though the U.S has earlier acknowledged that Syrian unconventional weapon are well secured. The Syrian government has earlier clear that it would never use any unconventional weapons against Syrians, including the armed insurgents, but however, added that it could not maintain similar stance if it comes under foreign aggression. And when a chlorine chemical plant fell to the insurgent in Aleppo, the Syrian government made that they might try to use the deadly weapon and blame it on the government. The Syrian armed opposition, comprising alQaeda jihadists said to be the most fervent fighters, and their Arab and western backers, which have exaggerated their military strength while undermining the will of the Syrian government to hold out and defend itself, is currently bogged down in a military stalemate with Damascus, notwithstanding its generous supplies of money and weapons. In its desperation, the armed insurgents have carried out plain terrorist acts, including suicide bomb attacks of mosques, churches and even shopping malls and recreational centres. None of these outrages have attracted condemnations from universe human rights defenders in Washington, London and Brussels. Wave of massacres upon massacres perpetrated by the armed insurgents with the sole aim of undermining any of government several political reforms and concessions have either been blamed on the government or not mentioned at all in the western press. After the attack last year, that killed several key figures of the regime at a meeting in a supposed well secured compound, the regime was said to be tottering and would collapse in a matter of weeks. It turned out that it was the fractious armed insurgents and their political platform currently called the Syrian national coalition that keeps mutating and re-constituting. Admittedly, the Syrian carnage has gone too far but who stokes the fire and who benefits from the disorder and instability. Definitely, the government as any other government would want to re-
turn to normalcy but for the insurgents and their backers, any return to order and normalcy would deprive them, their argument and reason for the armed insurgence. To his extent, any reasonable justification of the armed insurgency must depend on the continuous carnage in the country. However, given the current military stalemate and the seeming disarray of the insurgent’s political front recently renamed Syrian National Coalition from its former name, Syrian National Council, something more dramatic must happen to make way for direct military intervention of the Syrian government traducers both in the region and the west. The hint of the use of chemical weapons purportedly by the Syrian government will let in the military game changer. Since the Arab conservative regimes, mostly Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the West and Turkey have sought regime change in Damascus through proxy, and it does not seem to bear quick results, a pretence would have to be contrived to establish a no-fly zone to be ostensibly policed by NATO, that would then provide the air-cover for the insurgents to smoke out President Bashar Assad in a typical fashion of NATO’s invasion of Libya, two years ago. However, Syria is not Libya and the cost of any such invasion would be very high for the prospective invaders. NATO military planners are obviously pondering the costs of invading Syria, while their political masters claim to be investigating the use of chemical weapons. If the military strategist and planners conclude that the cost would be high and with a likelihood of political backlash at home, the mission would be abandoned under any pretext, including that investigation did not clearly implicate the Assad regime. And should military assessment show a safe ride to Damascus, all pretences would be thrown over-board while the main item of regime change would be vigorously implemented. However, though Syria has lost battle and even territory with its Israeli neighbour, the country has one of the strongest armies in the region with heavy and modern weaponry. Less of a show man like Libya’s Gaddafi or Iraq’s Saddam Hussein, President Bashar Al-Assad has demonstrated a clear political will to engage the political opposition in the framework of genuine national dialogue, and also a steely resolve to face down the armed insurgents and their foreign backers. Not for him, the grandstanding of adorning military camouflage to ramp-up rhetoric about roasting his traducers in a military show-down; as Saddam and Gaddafi, both smoked out from rat holes did, with lots of theatrics. President Assad may still not survive the thickening plot, as his tra-
ducers are among the most dangerously armed in the world, but his dignified carriage and thorough comportment will deprive his enemies of the dubious honour of having hunted down a thug in Damascus. The Baath party did enjoy monopoly of power in Syria but have since the start of genuine call for reforms in 2011, recanted on its monopoly of power and accepted pluralism with its key political component of competitive electoral process. The regional and western conspiracy bearing the poisonous fruit of the bigoted armed insurgence did not even give any chance to test the regime’s sincerity on its political conversion to pluralism. Syria is a pivotal Arab country whose several arteries and strands run down through most of Arab states. A military defeat of the Damascus regime will most likely set off political and social implosions in the region whose consequences cannot be predicted. Western political and military leaders who thought that after escorting the quarrelsome Syrian insurgents to Damascus, they would only be signing huge contracts to rebuild the country and letting in western oil majors, may just be unrealistic, if one is to recall the gruesome murder of U.S ambassador and his staff in the embassy premises in Benghazi, Libya, following successful regime change in the north African country. Even defeating and toppling the reclusive and far less urbane Taliban regime in Afghanistan did not bring any quiet to the country, let alone making it a dependable ally of the West. Syria has absolutely no prospect of been a quiet colony when once, President Assad and his government succumbs to the superior fire power of his antagonist. However, far from the scenario of quick defeat as in Libya or Iraq, the invading forces are likely to be bogged down, in a similar fashion of the armed insurgents, with a cost of more sufferings to the Syrian people, in whose behalf, foreign sympathizers are currently weeping more than the bereaved. Already Syria’s core values of religious and ethnic tolerance in which the Christian and other religious minorities have wide latitude of freedom to practice their faith is under intense assault as the rampaging armed insurgents, most of them brandishing the al-Qaeda franchise to demolish any such symbol of tolerance. For the West, the battle against President Assad may not be the last as it would likely return to fight its current armed proxies for which Damascus is just but one stop, in a global campaign to establish a virulent and intolerant theocracy. • Onunaiju is a journalist based in Abuja.
Restore the Midwest geopolitical zone (2) By Onoho’Omhen Ebhohimhen Continued from yesterday OR purposes of historical clarification, the Central province, also known as the Niger province was an amalgam of disparate peoples spread over Aboh, Agbor, Asaba, Awka, Benin, Forcados, Idah, Ifon, Ishan, Kwale, Onitsha, Sapele, Udi and Warri districts. Consequent upon the creation of the Benin and Delta provinces, Awka, Idah, Ifon, Onitsha, Udi districts were relocated respectively, in the Eastern, Western and Northern provinces, as suitable. The Ibie and Ukpilla districts, previously in Kabba province, were returned to their kith and kin in Benin province and the administration of the entire Midwest area relocated out of Enugu to Ibadan. It is in further search of the definitive resolution of the age long cri de coeur for self-determination that Midwest region was created out of the Western region 50 years ago. It is obvious that by the current southsouth structuration the labours invested in the quest for the Midwest region and COR zone have been lost and neither the Midwest nor COR people is better for it. It is worth emphasising that the struggle of the people of the Midwest for a region of their own was although, Manichean but also unifying. As has been reported, of the 654,130 voters participating in the plebiscite for the creation of the Midwest, over eighty-nine per cent voted in the affirmative. We can safely deduct that despite the crisis in the Action Group at the time, members of the Midwest Movement positively embraced almost all active political parties and actors of the time. However, since the 1966 military coup d’état, Nigeria has been run badly on military logic. The civil rule between 1979 and 1983 did not return our country to democratic roots. The civilian experience since 1999 has fared worse in that the economic structures of our country, rather than federalised, are maintained on praetorian foundations. The centralisation of the revenue resources of our country has not only engendered the unspeakable corruption but
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is also chiefly responsible for the ‘feeding bottle federal structures.’ Hence, every tier of government – federal, state and local governments – is mortally dependent on revenue from the Federation Account. The principles of self-determination clearly articulate the foundations of cultural autonomy, development according to one’s pace and the path to enhance the dispersal of centres of economic activities. For example, until the military regime of 1966, the Midwest government envisioned major development plans, which she hoped to fund largely from internal resources. The vision was animated by agricultural production as the Midwest enjoyed substantial income from rubber, palm oil and kernels, cocoa, etc. In fact, section 141 of the 1963 Constitution only conceded six ninetyfifth per cent of federally collected revenue to the Midwest region compared with forty ninety-fifths; thirty-one ninety-fifths; and eighteen ninety-fifths to the northern, eastern the western regions, respectively. Yet, from her independent financial resources, the Midwest government, among others, established or funded the Asaba textile mill, Ughelli glass factory, Midwest Technical College now Auchi Polytechnic. It is no longer contestable that the eventual University of Benin was conceptualised in the early days of the Midwest region. This healthy visioning permeated the governments of all the other regions. Since the militarisation of economic thoughts in Nigeria, regional blocs or even individual states now feast on the sole nipple of the Federation Account and arguably, dissipate the resources in non-physically measurable developmental milestones. This feeding bottle federalism promotes the disconcerting amnesia that Nigeria was founded as a product of the economic ambitions of Britain. The pre-military national component units were organised along similar reasoning with each area structured around its strength and location in the autarkic logic of meeting local needs with excess production for the nation. If in the relations of the much criticised economic policy of autarky of the pre-1966
Nigeria, the Midwest region stood tall, then, it is reasonable to deduce that the viable route out of dependency of the federating units – the putatively geopolitical zones – is to return to what served our country best. Of course, there are plausible arguments about size, consanguinity and component units of the future geopolitical zones. The simplest response to the reservations is that federating units are not of equal sizes in any federation whether in the American, Canadian or Indian models. It is even more beneficial to learn the lessons of the Australian model of federalism that was adopted in our country at independence. Second, the ensuing constitutional zonal structures do not envisage the collapse, abolition or merger of existing states and governments. Thus, while more states could be created in each zone, it is not necessarily logical that all zones must have equal number of states; it may not be with the Midwest. In our view, the important constitutional point of interest should be in the relation within each zone and then, of the zones to the central institutions established to manage the common sovereign interests of all. Moreover, the strident argument over revenue allocation from the central fund need not be as contentious as our country had copious experience in negotiating revenue allocation formulae, for example, as incorporated in the 1960 and 1963 constitutions. A more deliberately planned constitution making is seemingly unfeasible in the frenetic pace and surreptitious – obsequious – negotiations of our nationhood. Therefore, this intervention for the restoration of the Midwest zone is intended as an aide memoir to nudge the patriotic obligations of Midwesterners and to bring some issues, hitherto neglected in the ongoing constitution amendment exercise to the fore. We hope the National Assembly delegation from the Midwest will skilfully negotiate with their colleagues from other zones to correct a fundamental historical injustice and redeem the labours of our heroes past. • Concluded. • Ebhohimhen lives in Benin City.
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Opinion Sweden sees new opportunities in Nigeria By Anders Borg and Gunilla Carlsson ITH one billion people living in 54 counW tries, Africa is facing widely differing opportunities and challenges. The pace and direction of the transformation taking place on the continent differ between the countries. However, the general trend is clear: a new Africa is now emerging that is increasingly characterised by high economic growth, stronger democratic values, fewer interstate conflicts, sounder macroeconomic policies and increased trade. The growth rate in sub-Saharan Africa has remained at an average of five per cent over the past 15 years, with the exception of the global financial crisis years of 2008 and 2009. Over the next five years, Africa’s economy is expected to grow faster than that of any other continent. Increased political and macroeconomic stability and lower levels of conflict in many African countries offer the potential for sustained economic growth. In recent years, one factor contributing to the strong growth rate has been the development of information and communications technology (ICT), and particularly the explosive growth in mobile telephony. This has made it easier for people to obtain information about everything from health care to agricultural prices. Recent steps by the Nigerian Communications Commission allowing customers to retain their mobile telephone numbers when switching service providers indicates how important it has become to have access to a reliable service, not least since mobile telephones also are the main vehicle for reaching the internet. The middle class is continuing to grow. Many people have greater purchasing power than ever before and have adopted modern information technology. Today, millions of Africans use their mobile telephones to do their bank-
ing. This growing African middle class is displaying new political and cultural self-assuredness, and has resulted in substantially increased domestic consumption. This in itself promotes economic growth, creates aspirations and raises the expectations of millions of people and stimulates further development. Reforms have been implemented in many countries to promote trade and investment. Inflows of private capital have increased and now vastly exceed total development assistance. More and more countries have been classified as middle-income countries. Africa’s future is largely in the hands of its young and growing population. According to UN estimates, Africa’s population will double by 2050, when almost one in five people on Earth will be living on the African continent. Creating education and employment opportunities for this large, young population will be a challenge. If this is not possible, there is a risk that the demographic imbalance will create political and social unrest. At the same time, the potential and the opportunities are enormous. A new self-confidence is evident among African governments and individuals, companies and organisations. This is expressed in various international forums where African influence is increasing in a number of different fields. Africa is a continent of opportunities – one of the last emerging investment markets. Improvements can be seen in regional trade and integration. But more efficiency is required in the shape of improved institutional capacity and infrastructure, with fewer intraAfrican barriers. Despite increased financial flows, Africa is facing a huge investment gap. Lack of investment in infrastructure is one of the main obstacles to Africa’s development. Huge investments will be needed in the coming
years, which will require considerable sums of private and public capital. We need to explore how governments and international financial institutions can collaborate further to attract more investment to African countries. Macroeconomic stability is a key prerequisite for boosting investment. Many African countries have made significant progress in this regard. Prudent fiscal and monetary policies are now reflected in low debt levels, moderate deficits and manageable inflation. The institutional framework that supports macroeconomic stability could be strengthened further. The business climate is a key driver of economic growth and another area where many African countries have made important advances. It is crucial to keep up the pace of structural reforms that improve the functioning of the economy, in order to further stimulate entrepreneurship and productive investment. Global trade is one driving force for the realisation of Africa’s potential. However, boosting regional exchange is equally important. Regional cooperation can act as a stepping stone towards successful integration with the wider global economy. Regional cooperation and integration are also very high on the ECOWAS agenda. Nigeria has experienced impressive growth in recent years and there is every reason to believe that this will continue. The government’s vision of making Nigeria one of the world’s 20 strongest economies by 2020 is within reach. If handled wisely, this growth will improve the living conditions of millions of Nigerians and inspire hope for its young and growing population. The government’s stated commitment to good governance and fighting corruption could help bring about real progress towards these ends.
However, Nigeria’s position in the region is not only based on its economic weight. Nigeria also plays an instrumental role in supporting ECOWAS’s efforts to promote constitutional order and peace and security in the region. Trade between Nigeria and Sweden has increased steadily over the past five years, and Nigeria is now our second-largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa. We have common interests in telecom and renewable energy, two sectors with great importance for the future. Positive developments in Nigeria motivate the renewal and expansion of our bilateral ties in order to capitalise on the new opportunities for cooperation that are now emerging. For instance, Nigeria’s innovative use of mobile services paired with Swedish experience and young entrepreneurs in this field may be a recipe for strong partnership. Our joint trip to Nigeria and other countries in Africa is an expression of the Swedish Government’s desire for stronger political and economic relations with the new Africa. Africa is clearly changing and there is renewed optimism about its future. The progress made over the past decade inspires hope for more sustainable and inclusive development, with lasting improvements in living conditions for the continent’s large and growing young population. Coming from Sweden, with our history of peace, democracy, pluralism and respect for human rights, we have a strong belief that these core values will also benefit the people and countries of Africa. Africa’s challenges and opportunities are shared by Sweden and the rest of the world. Africa is part of our own reality. We are engaged in Africa’s future, not only because it is our moral obligation but also because it is in Sweden’s own interest. • Borg and Carlsson are the Swedish Minister for Finance and Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation.
N80b loan: Is Akwa Ibom mortgaged? By Etim Etim XPECTEDLY the prospect of a new $500 million (about N80 E billion) loan for Akwa Ibom State government, coming two years after N50 billion was borrowed, has startled many Akwa Ibomites and elicited varied comments, particularly from those in the Diaspora community. While many of the commentaries are frank and reflective, and are borne out of genuine concern for good governance in the state, some are ill-informed and arise from prevalence of financial illiteracy. Bankers regularly face this problem even among the educated class and the challenge is often striking a balance between professionalism and social service. Although I do not work for the government, I have a little understanding of the rationale behind the facility and why it will not become a huge burden to the state and future generations as some analysts have proposed. Driven by an urge to change the landscape of Akwa Ibom State and leave a legacy of distinctive infrastructural development, the administration of Governor Godswill Akpabio had right from inception set out to invest heavily in big capital projects: flyovers, bridges, roads, entertainment complex, stadium, airport, hospitals, library, etc. A new and modern Governor’s Office and residence, banquet hall have been built, in addition to thousands of rural development projects like water, electricity supply and health centres. Over 90 per cent of schools in the state have been renovated, with some provided with new school blocks. The roads are many and extensive and have opened up many villages and connected them to the capital city. With the airport comes an MRO, the first in the country, a new terminal building and a second runway. A terminal building being built, fashioned after Terminal 5 in London, will be the best in sub-Saharan Africa. In the 72 months that the administration has been in office, I should estimate that it had probably earned about N1.2 trillion from both federal allocation and IGR. Clearly, this could not have been enough to fund these projects, social amenities like the free education and health care, in addition to the recurrent expenses of government.
Some of us in the financial services industry had early on reckoned that the huge budget deficit would have to be funded with capital market borrowings, which are usually cheaper and longterm; and so we proposed in 2011 a bond offering of between N120 billion to N200 billion. The government was by then expecting a reimbursement of over N100 billion from the Federal Government for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of federal roads in the state. Such inflows would have made the bond unnecessary. By the time it was clear to state officials that the refunds were not coming (the Jonathan administration has been talking of designing guidelines on making those refunds, yet nothing has been done), the government had to resort to bank borrowings, as the remaining tenure of the administration was too short to proceed with the bond. Capital market regulators would typically require a four-year tenor for bonds and such offerings must end with the tenure of the borrowing administration, among other stringent requirements. In Imo State, the Ohakim administration left bond proceeds of about N14 billion meant for Oguta Lake Resort project. Soon after Rochas Okorocha became governor, he changed the law and rechanneled the proceeds into something else. Imo people are still wondering where the proceeds have gone. This is what might have influenced Akpabio’s decision to abandon the bond idea. You can never be sure of who will succeed you and what his agenda would be. Besides, it is important to leave behind a clean slate for the new governor. There is usually a controversy over the size of the treasury when a new man comes into the office. In addition to this, it takes a lot of time to conclude a bond deal. Even preliminary paper works and approvals from the Securities and Exchange Commission will take a minimum of nine months. And so in late 2011, the government borrowed N50 billion from the United Bank for Africa (UBA) (it was actually a club lending arrangement as a few other banks pooled in the money) at 18.5 per cent. It was too expensive and that is where the $500 million from Standard Chartered comes in. At 14 per cent, it is fairly cheap, just about a bond rate, but with far less stringent regulatory requirements and drawdown conditions and would be
used to refinance the outstanding UBA. But because it is dollar denominated, there may be some foreign exchange risks during repayments. The government should take steps to hedge against that. One way to do this is to buy a forward product from the lending institution. Now, a few people have asked some interesting questions like why does the government need to borrow even though it can fund its projects with own funds? Does this not amount to mortgaging the future of the state? Is the government broke? How much is the total obligations of the state government? These are questions that the commissioners for finance and information should address in details. But I will make my contributions. Just consider the reasons why an individual who has a good job and earns a decent income takes a mortgage loan in order to build or buy a home. Why can’t he just save part of his salary every month to buy a house? The reason is that it would take a very long time to make such savings. Similarly, it would have been impossible for the state government to build all these projects in six years without borrowing. And this is clearly why many other governments, including all the oil-producing states, have borrowed, with Rivers and Lagos leading the pack. These borrowings provide the governments with a large sum of money within a short period of time so that they can provide huge capital projects before their tenures run out. A debt does not amount to mortgaging the future if its purpose is to catalyse economic development and the terms are good. In addition, the borrower and indeed the lender should ensure that the five Cs of credit are in place: capacity (sufficient cash flow to service the obligation); collateral (assets to secure the debt); condition (of the borrower and the overall economy); character (integrity) and capital (net worth). Is Akwa Ibom government broke? No, far from it. It is actually one of the nation’s richest and most solvent states. With a monthly average earnings of about N12 billion, the expected income for the remaining 24 months is about N300 billion. The government should liquidate this facility before a new administration takes over. • Etim is a journalist and banker.
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For The Record Communicating an implosion: Signs and wander, popular culture and the crumbling of Empire Being continuation of the text of the maiden inaugural lecture delivered by Prof. Nosa Owens-Ibie, Ph.D, professor of Communication, Media and Development, at Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, on April 9, 2013. (The first part was published on Thursday, April 18, 2013. HILE more effects and impact studies would W illuminate the obvious assumptions deducible from these developments, it is apparent that the mass media are major instruments of socialization. Their significance is accentuated by the level of consumption of media messages by Nigerians which Nwuneli et al (1993: 35, 48) state is higher than those of all developing Black African countries. This would appear logical based on the population of the country, but such media messages have the capacity to blur the perceptions of the people more likely along the lines they are exposed to. When the capacity of the media is juxtaposed with the incapacities of its gatekeepers and those who moderate content, there arises a dilemma which subordinates such media to extraneous influences and contending forces in the macro environment. A study by Owens-Ibie (2009: 338), notes, for instance, that poverty is one factor which has conditioned the response of journalists in Nigeria to the demands of their professional mandate and capacity to promote the principles of democracy (Owens-Ibie, 2009) Theories as Context There is a rich theoretical text illuminating the ramifications of the communication traditions being interrogated in this discourse starting with the mass society theory dating back to the 18th century which anticipated a scary future substituting man with machines (Baran, 2009: 27). Moemeka (1988: 5-9) examined the work of the critical theorists whose focus is on the culture industry as producers of mass culture with the mass media increasingly providing the basis for the construction of images about others through all kinds of representation. Conflict theory explores the power structure and how those in the commanding heights of the levers of power maintain dominance with the media as instruments for the promotion of uniformity and conformity. Neo-Marxism explored this theme further as a social theory, a position shared by Abdullahi (1991: 3). The Functionalists examine communication effect from the three models of Action/Motivation where the audience play dominant roles in the course of receiving and assigning meaning to the messages, the Structural/Cultural which emphasizes the context of a communication as a limiting factor despite the dominant role of the source, and the Functional which sees communication as “systematic interaction”. While the Functionalists see the mass media as instruments of enlightenment and education, the Conflict and Critical theorists see the mass media as instruments of domination and manipulation. Media Hegemony is about how the ideas that dominate in society are those of the ruling class. The Limited Effects Model while acknowledging the capacity of mass communication and media to achieve some effects is inclined to locating them within a nexus of factors and thus a contributory agent in any analysis of causes of audience effects (Severin and Tankard, 1992: 248-254). Baran (2009: 29-30) corroborates this view citing findings from studies by Paul Lazarsfeld, pointing out that people have different approaches to resisting influences from the media. He however notes that the Limited Effects Model is criticised for being reductionist and generalizing from a limited number of studies. The Cultivation Theory developed by George Gerbner and his colleagues offers additional helpful insights. The theory posits that heavy television viewing leads to cultivation and the development of common perspectives and values. McLuhan’s Media Determinism is based on the premise that the media shape perceptions and thinking. British Cultural Studies started with deterministic assumptions on direct effects of mass media and how they promote hegemony. Cultural studies investigate how the struggle between ideologies produces culture. It is identified with postmodernism which deals with how language and other symbolic forms produce, reproduce or change social reality. Articulation is the reinforcement of such social reality from many sources. The Frankfurt School – the best of the
Prof. Owens-Ibie Marxist tradition whose light bearer is Jurgen Habermas also highlights the universal principles in language use in what he calls universal pragmatics. Communication, he notes, is key to emancipation with language which requires competence on the proper use of speech to achieve results - as the tool for such communication. He posits that society is defined by a mix of the elements of interaction, work and power (Littlejohn and Foss, 2007: 333-337) The Effects of Synthetic Experience, whose proponents were Funkhouser and Shaw, deals with how perceptual reality is manipulated and rearranged by exposure to computers, films and television through the content and processes of communication. The Spiral of Silence seeks to prove that the mass media impact public opinion through what Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann its source called the three characteristics consonance, cumulation and ubiquity. Since the mass media often are a source of information on the distribution of public opinion on any issue, there is the tendency for minority voices to become silent voices. Noelle-Neumann also presented the Powerful-Effects Model under which the Spiral of Silence theory can be subsumed. It attributes powerful effects to the mass media as corroborated by three studies. One of them was The Great American Values Test of BallRokeach, Rokeach and Grube who found that the attitude of viewers, their ranking of basic values and willingness to put up a particular political behaviour could be changed. This finding was the result of watching a very well promoted 30-minute television programme of the same title on all three American TV networks at the same time, one evening in a real world setting. (Severin and Tankard, 1992: 249253; 258-260). Lazarsfeld and Merton (1977: 565, 575) focus on two concepts, namely Narcotizing Dysfunction which despite evidence of increased attention to mass media products, posits that the connection of such products with reality is weak and this superficiality of content tends to mask mass apathy. Monopolization focuses on the unchallenged diffusion of images and values within the media. Murphy (1977: 350353) classifies social regularity, status conferral, agenda-setting (according to Walter Lipmann, the media only offer people what to think about, rather than tell people what to think [Baran and Davis, 2009: 279]), narcotizing dysfunction and surveillance as five theories of the social effects engendered by the media which are less obvious. As Baran and Davis (2009: 280-281) further note, what the
media does by drawing attention to some issues rather than others is Priming, while the reciprocal influence in the arena of public policy by government, media and citizens is Agenda-Building. The media may trigger organized social action to enforce social norms through focusing on action which are inconsistent with public morality. However and as McLuhan (1977: 105) quoting David Hume noted that causality is not easy to determine. One of such is the attempts to link media portrayal of violence to real life violence. Gerbner (1988: 27) believes the link is difficult to establish. In his testimony before the Senator Pastore’s Committee, former Surgeon-General Steinfeld was however categorical about the causative relationship between both types of violence (see Murphy, 1977: 365). Differences exist in what audience know and how they respond to cues in the communication environment. There is always Knowledge Gap between segments of the population. What Joseph Klapper (see Owens-Ibie, 2011: 40) explains in his Selective Processes show that individuals encode and decode communication based on certain parameters with consequences for media effect. In this regard, Klapper identifies the four processes of Selective Exposure, Selective Attention, Selective Perception and Selective Retention to messages. Symbolic Interactionism explains how meaning is assigned to symbols by people and how such interpretations now control them. There is often a social environment for learning which is referred to as social behaviourism. In semiotics, meaning is seen as socially produced with the media structuring reality (Branston and Stafford, 2007: 11). The participation process in the transformation of communication to action is the focus of Pragmatist Theory. The theory was developed by Karl Jensen who through his Social Semiotic Theory sought a middle ground between the arguments in Cultural Studies and research on media effects (Baran and Davis, 2009: 301, 331-333). These theories, models and concepts show the rich field from which the communication of trends and the implications of such communication can best be assessed. The perspectives offered by a communication process increasingly fit into moulds with individuals, institutions and power structures not just involved but functioning as interested parties. Sociologist Erving Goffman developed the Frame Analysis Theory which explains how individuals make meaning of their social environment. The frames used in the public sphere, paraphrasing William Gamson, emerge from the deliberate activities of individuals and interests keen on promoting particular world views. Through Framing Theory, the tenet
of objectivity in journalism is challenged and journalism as rather seen as a platform through which ideas is debated after being presented. This platform could be said to be under the control of those who structure the news in particular directions and promote frames which suit their agendas. What W. Lance Bennett calls News Reality Frames involves those in the elite class and how they use journalism and journalists to construct news. Public relations is an institutionalization of the control over frames, news frames (Baran and Davis, 2009: 319-321). In their summary of the evolution of mass communication theory, Steven Chaffee and Miriam Metzger surveyed the emerging landscape with new media fundamentally re-ordering the course of the way media are conceptualized, structured and used in this millennium. Their conclusion is that what is mass communication theory is being brought to an end and that it is better understood now as media theory (also see Baran and Davies, 2009: 347). Communication as the Known Stranger Communication has become the familiar stranger to a world often unable to fully come to terms with its dynamics. Giffin and Patton (1976: 3-6) define communication as generation and attribution of meaning. Through it meaning is exchanged. Lasswell (1977: 84) summarizes communication as “Who says what, In which channel, To whom and With wh at effect?” It is capable of defining, informing, disinforming and persuading (Watson, 2003: 13). The communication process actually allows man to function as a normal part of society (Oloyede, 2008: 39) and language is a basic means of forming, expressing and reinforcing values, norms and what is acceptable in a society (Watson. 2003: 12) . The various types of communication require interaction at different levels and by different participants but the more the people involved, the more complicated. But man is not a passive receptor, notes Barnlund (1976: 9). As a definer of new trends the internet, for instance, represents speed, scale and diversity in communication through verbal, pictorial, sound, codified and numerical communication (Mazrui, 2009: 99). Communication technology is defining new vistas strengthening on the one hand those who have access and control and making those on the receiving side open to influence (Varis, 1985: 54). The way these products of modern science are used, says David Sarnoff (McLuhan, 1977: 104) therefore determine their value. But as Uche (1988: 98-101) alerts, the way these technologies are being deployed may have further devalued the culture and other values of the less privileged countries. The MacBride Commission (1980: 253) pointed to the power of communication as simultaneously capable of liberation and oppression. The history of communication, states Fisher (1982: 9) is also the history of society – from speech to writing, printing, telegraph, radio and television and the current but still unfolding communication revolution. The control of the means of communication often determines who controls the society. Mortensen (1972: 357-358) declared that every act of communication implies some form of influence. Moemeka (1988: 11) quoting Katz, Blumler and Gurevitch, restate that while the social environment impact media images, audience response is determined by “psychological dispositions, sociological factors and environmental conditions” The findings of Edeani (1988: 82-83) proves that mass media are important channels of message transmission in Nigeria. Mass communication on its part, according to Silvey (1974: 312) is more effective in reinforcing attitudes, ideas and values. One way to understand mass communication is to analyse it from a perspective of what Murdock and Janus (1984: 7, 57) refer to as the “flow of money” between the advertising industry and the mass media. Advertising and the influence of advertisers are known to impact information flow and images in the media. As Okwuke (2004: 25) has noted, “adverts sell more than products. They sell images, values, goals, and concepts of who we are and who we should be.
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For The Record Communicating an implosion: Signs and wander, popular culture and the crumbling of Empire (2) CONTINUED FROM PAGE 69 They shape our lives”. The other types of what the media project through what they disseminate appear as potent as regular advertising with corporate interests at work. Bosompra (1993: 58-59) found that the likelihood of risk behaviour has a positive correlation with increased viewing of television. Okoye (1993: 71) asserts that heavy viewers of home video are more likely to become victims of mainstreaming. A study of the research community in Nigeria by Owens-Ibie (2011: 164) found that researchers accept the appropriateness of mass media for influencing policy. This finding is corroborated by another in India which found that official press coverage is known to have precipitated official action. The Indian Express published a “Kamla story” by Ashwini Sarin on forced prostitution which got so much publicity that it eventually led to the enactment of an anti-devadasis law to address the problem (Grjebine, undated: 17, 23). Within a context which talks about the individual’s right to communicate as a fundamental need and process (Fisher, 1982: 38) with implications for communities and nations, it is clear that individuals, societies and nations are supposed not only to receive or gain access at a superficial level, but to be able to receive, seek and impart information (MacBride, 1980: 253, 259). Where this is not happening, it only signals a generation living in denial of the very fundamentals that should define its co-existence. It means that messages (Schramm, 1977: 15, 20) are supposed to evoke meaning within cultural contexts while response to messages is supposed to have the imprint of distinct cultural experiences. But as McLuhan (1977: 100) noted the medium becomes the message from an operational point of view. It therefore is an issue when such medium rely on factors and forces in the macro-environment which all have a stake in manipulating the public sphere and converting same to orbits of influence. That is why Guback and Varis (1982: 49-50) assert that communication “should be particularly protected against foreign penetration because it is essential to national and cultural identity and to the improvement of the quality of life”. This may not quite suggest exclusivity since that may amount to unfeasible cultural purity in an interdependent world. It probably is a way of cultural preservation within the context which threatens the major Nigerian Igbo language with extinction within the next half century. News Determinants The content of mass media such as news is determined by realities rooted in structures and processes in society. M’Bayo (2009, 76-77) asserts that media content is a product of society in which the media is a sub-system. Media are themselves open to the influence they wield in society with the sources of such influence coming from the “socialization and attitudes” of those who work in the media, organizational routines, concentration of ownership which breeds hegemonic tendencies, forces such as audiences, advertising and culture and social institution. Da Costa et al (1980: 6) maintain that media are a reflection of civilization though they do this through a distorted prism. In media studies it is acknowledged that news is biased and not transparent and is a complex process of framing and evaluation serving the interests of dominant forces in society (Branston and Stafford, 2007: 196). These forces could be said to include what Ndlela 2009: 58) identified as the pervasive inclination by African media, especially newspapers and television, to be purveyors of Western culture. Owens-Ibie (2003: 374) draws attention to various extra-professional criteria which shape editorial decisions with the commercialization of the media being one key determinant (Owens-Ibie, 1993: 61, 66-67; also see Oso, 1991: 50-51). Culture influences the encoding and decoding of media messages. Herbert Gans identified eight “enduring values” or ideologies common in the news. These include “ethnocentrism, altruistic democracy, responsible capitalism, small-town pastoralism, individualism, moderatism, order and leadership” (Hallahan, 2011: 69, 60-61). Dominick (1986: 356-357) identifies tradition, organizational policy, technology and economics as responsible for the formation of news values. The common elements which determine newsworthiness are timeliness, prominence, proximity,
consequence and human interest. Bittner (1989: 252-255) identifies personal and professional ethics, deadlines, economics, legal restrictions, competition, news value and news hole as determinants of news selection. But some assumptions exist. Schiller (1973: 8) identifies five such assumptions in the structuring of content and consciousness which he regards as myths. These are – neutrality, unchanging human nature, absence of social conflict, media pluralism (since real choice cannot exist without diversity) and the myth of individualism and personal choice. Various perspectives to what constitutes news make the journalistic output open to diverse interpretations. Owens-Ibie (1988: 62-63) highlights some. While John Lopiccolo notes that whatever is reported is news, Paul Dallas believes whatever happens is news. Ace Young says it is life and what is happening around us. Sam Zelman distinguishes news as what is important and what people have to know and want to know. Robert Hudson states that whatever the boss says news is qualifies as news. News is also seen as the projection of the negative or extraordinary (Owens-Ibie, 2002: 32-33). This fluidity in the interpretation of a product which is fundamental to the daily chronicle of the development process may have informed some assessment of journalists. Stephen Crane in 1895 described a newspaper as a “collection of half injustices…a court where everyone is kindly and unfairly tried…a market where wisdom sells its freedom” (see DeFleur, 1977: 66-67). The battle for audience ratings translated to a share of the market accentuates the dilemma (Owens-Ibie, 1999: 94), culminating in, for instance, the era of the wrap-around as the symbol of the decline in news value (Dare, 2012). Beam (2003: 368-380) backgrounds this trend with a focus on market-oriented journalism which has been on the rise since the year 2000. This journalistic form implies an aggressive recourse by a medium to offering to their audience whatever they want or need. This is a logic which understands only the language of the bottom-line and the factors and forces which align with this imperative. Signs and Wander While the trajectory plotted in this discussion appears to present Nigeria as conquered territory daily further sucked into the whirlpool of globalization, Americanization and related forces, they also point to an entirely different direction on what should be a growing consciousness. It is about empires and the shape of a future out of control of the dynamics of science and technology. It is about the evolution of a trend spiralling out of control of those in the vanguard of the levers of global power. It is about communication as history with an apocalyptic tinge. The signs are convoluted but they are not quite accompanied by wonders. Rather these signs appear to reveal a wander, a drift. In an article signposting the scenario of the crumbling of the American empire, Osagie (2009), reported his discussion with the late Secretary to the Federal Government of Nigeria, Mr S. O. Wey who noted that Afghanistan has been linked to the crumbling of empires, stated that with the demise of the Soviet Union, America would not be able to dominate the world. He foresaw a United States, which would lose its hegemonic superiority due to incapacitating internal factors and policies. Holland (2012) has drawn a parallel between what is happening in the West and developments which resulted in the loss of empire by the Romans and Britain. Goldsmith (1975) chronicled the reasons why the Roman Empire (described as a “true empire” (blindkingofbohemia, 2012) fell noting that the Barbarian invasion was not the major reason. He drew attention to the three factors which Ennius said were responsible for the greatness of the empire, namely, divine favour, steadfastness and discipline and moral character of the Romans. The ruination of the Roman Empire was due to the powerful foreign influences which led in the quoted words of Lecky to the corrosion of Roman virtues and the embrace of various customs, language and nationality. With the British Empire now not as powerful as it was in the colony and with its most formidable representations in this century being probably the English Premiership, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the Monarchy and the English Language, it is fairly apparent
Prof. Owens-Ibie as Winston Churchill once noted that the “empires of the future are the empires of the mind” (Media Facts…, 2009). The battle for the mind waged through globalizations’ overarching impact, unrelenting gains for Americanization, including in the domain of popular culture, shows that physical empires still retain a dynamic which daily make countries of the world even weaker or to further mainstream as survival strategy in a world of All-Share Index, Growth Rate, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) whiz kids. The spread of the English Language may suggest the consolidation of empire having emerged as the principal language in the world. But other languages such as Latin, Greek, Arabic, French, Chinese are known to have held such position. The concern of Noss is that English Language is also likely to be supplanted over time (see Contreras et al, 1976: 20). The description of America as the “Romans of the modern world” (Matthiessen, 1998: 14) could be one way of raising issues on the shape of an unfolding future which point in a direction with a remarkably Roman coloration. Owens (2013) after tracing the progression of what used to be a powerful British Empire, is worried about patterns in America noting that like Rome the empire rather than fall would just collapse. He also alludes to a situation where like Britain, America may continue to pretend that there is an empire despite knowing that the emperor’s clothes are no more on. Imploding in Bits Commentators like D’Souza (2006) have highlighted the qualities that make America great. These include its good life for the ordinary person, equality, opportunities for the pursuit of happiness, its ethics of work which shift attention from “heavenly aspirations to earthly progress”, religious liberty, ideals and interests, and its promotion of freedom. These qualities have also been the source of concern even by some Americans and other commentators. The rise of secularism and strident efforts to promote human rights and civil liberty has meant official de-emphasis for what is now generally termed the far-right or conservative principles rooted in Judeo-Christianity. Niose (2012) for instance argues against the retention of America’s motto “In God we Trust”, stating that it was adopted in 1956 in the heat of the Cold War after “under God” was added to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954. According to him, the motto affirms the endorsement of religion and should be expunged and replaced with the former motto E Pluribus Unum, which translated from Latin means “Out of Many, One” which speaks of the country as a federation - Out of many states, one nation. In an August 20, 1983 crusade in Atlanta, Geor-
gia, Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart dwelt extensively on the ascendance of what he called “secular humanism” noting that it was threatening the fabric of American life. Faith in man and the control of man over his affairs, he noted has replaced faith in God as the omnipotent creator and determinant of the affairs of men. The debate has continued and for some, the September 11, 2001 attacks on the Twin Towers and other key monuments in America may have been less a failure of intelligence and more of a wake-up call that the best in technology and expertise may not address some vulnerabilities. The rise in church attendance immediately after the devastation tended to point to the natural recourse to the Almighty God when human calculations fail or don’t work the way they are programmed. Before and since then, that country has witnessed attacks which defy explanations. A chronicle of the worst school shootings (Evon, 2012) has often portrayed a nation shocked beyond description after each episode. There was the The Bath School bombing which claimed 45 victims on May 18, 1927; University of Texas killings with 16 Victims on August 1, 1966; shooting at California State University At Fullerton on July 12, 1976 with seven deaths; the April 20, 1999 Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado incidence with 15 victims; March 21, 2005 Red Lake Senior High Massacre where eighth died; October 2, 2006 Amish School shooting with six victims including five girls aged between seven and 13 at West Nickel Mines School; Virginia Tech April 16, 2007 disaster which claimed 33 victims; Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois where a Sociology student wearing a shirt labelled “terrorist” killed five students, injured 21 others before killing himself in 2008; April 2, 2012 Oikos University, Oakland, California shooting with seven fatalities; and Sandy Hook Elementary School, Newtown, Connecticut where a gunman killed 28 people including 20 children under the age of seven on December 14, 2012. Sandy Hook has triggered a fresh round of debate on gun control. Other unflattering statistics suggest an estimated 800,000 attempted suicides annually in America with demographic contributors to suicide risk identified by Reiss and Dombeck (accessed 2013) as including increased firearms availability, substance and alcohol use. Suicide is identified as the third leading cause of death among those aged between 15 and 24 years. Research suggests that “marriage rates are at their lowest ever” while “committed couples” are not getting married because of the fear of divorce. Only about half of American adults are currently married (Welsh, 2011). Pat Robertson, founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) and coanchor of The 700 Club during the programme on March 12, 2013 affirmed that a marriage ends in divorce in America every 13 seconds. Owens (2013) believes that there is a need to get rid of the Empire to save the Republic and is convinced that there is a need for restoration at the family level to the era of the work ethic and moral sanity. It is either, he states that Americans “individually spark a revival of what made us great or we sink into the hole dug by moral rot and the decay of ambition”. The logic of globalization and orientations, the communication process and media has meant a localization of these American realities in Nigeria with the simultaneity in content dissemination and reception. The pursuit of freedom and official positions on rights issues has meant a fairly open contest in the public domain of social processes which has not yet achieved a national consensus even in America. Even as the media was reporting Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe confronting the British Prime-Minister David Cameron over calls to respect gay rights (To Hell…2012), Nigeria through Information Minister, Labaran Maku, challenged the US President, Barack Obama over his advocacy for gay rights. The minister re-echoed the plans of the Senate to outlaw same-sex marriage affirming the right of the country to cultural preservation which should not be sacrificed on the altar of human rights.
TO BE CONTINUED.
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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 9, 2013
Sports Ahead Brazil 2013 World Cup
Super Eagles may get three free points, as funds threaten Kenya’s bid UST a month before Kenya Jqualifier plays Nigeria in a World Cup match in Nairobi, the country’s football governing body, FKF, has raised a red flag, saying its coffers are empty. FKF has put the government and well wishers on notice that unless they get a $2.5 million (about N320 million) windfall, then the chances of Harambee Stars honouring their qualifiers were nil. The Stars have their returnleg fixtures against Super Eagles, Malawi’s Flames and Namibia between June 5 and September 6. “The federation needs at least $125,000 (about N197, 000) for the match against Nigeria. The bulk of the funds will be for the purchase of air tickets for foreign-based players and accommodating the visiting team. “The funds will also cover players’ allowances and payments to match officials,” FKF Chairman, Sam Nyamweya said in a statement yesterday. Kenya plays Nigeria on June 5 in a World Cup qualifier and then travels to Malawi one week later for the same competition. There is also another World Cup qualifier against Namibia in Nairobi on September 6. Should Kenya fail in its obligation to host or honour any of the away matches, then they stand to be fined and banned by World Football Governing body, FIFA. Meanwhile, former Super Eagles coach, Paul Hamilton, has urged Nigerians to support Coach Stephen Keshi to overcome the Harambee Stars in the return leg of the World
VERTON Manager, David E Moyes is set to be appointed as the new Manchester United manager, following Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, reports BBC, which said an announcement could be made today. Ferguson, 71, revealed his decision to step down after nearly 27 years at Old Trafford on Wednesday. Fellow Scot Moyes, 50, who has been in charge at Goodison Park since 2002, held talks with Toffees chairman, Bill Kenwright, yesterday evening. The former Preston boss was installed as bookmakers’ favourite to become the next United boss following a rush of bets over the weekend, even
Cup qualifiers scheduled for June 5. Hamilton told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday that Nigerians have a lot to do for the players to come out victoriously. “We know Keshi is the coach and he tutors the players, but remember he is not a super man and we all need to support him in order for us all to be happy. “All hands must be on deck and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should support him and respect his wishes because I think he knows what the best is. “Remember, as an ex-international, who had passed through the stage of being a player, he knows how to get the best performance from the players,’’ Hamilton said. He added that the players should ensure that they take possession of the ball right from the beginning to the end and avoid last minute mistakes. “Our players usually get carried away at the late minutes of a match, thereby giving room to the last minute mistakes of conceding goals. This is so because they relax, such occurrences should be prevented in this match and in subsequent ones,’’ he said. Meanwhile, the Chairman, NFF Technical Committee, Chris Green has said that the federation was prepared for a showdown match in Kenya and that Nigeria would be victorious. Green, who however, declined to disclose how the team intends to overcome the Harambee Stars, assured that the Eagles would maintain its top position in the group.
before speculation mounted about Ferguson’s retirement. “He’s cut from the same cloth,” said former United captain Steve Bruce. “It wouldn’t surprise me if he got the job and I’m sure he would be very successful. “He’s not had huge finances but he has still managed to put an Everton team together that comfortably finishes in the top 10.” Former United Assistant Manager, Steve McClaren also believes Moyes is the right man for the job. “He’s a winner and has a work ethic similar to Sir Alex,” the ex-England manager told BBC Radio 5 live. “He’s also
Super Eagles celebrating their victory at the South Africa 2013 CAF Nations Cup. Nigeria is billed to face Kenya in a World Cup qualifier on June 5 in Nairobi. PHOTO: AFP
Guardiola takes over Bayern Munich on June 26 EP Guardiola will begin his P tenure as Bayern Munich’s head coach on June 26, officials of the German club have said. Guardiola, 42, was announced as the Bundesliga giants’ new boss in January on a three-year contract. He takes over from Jupp Heynckes, who has guided the club to the German league title plus the domestic cup and Champions League finals this season. Guardiola has been on a season-long sabbatical since leaving Barcelona in May 2012 after winning 14 tro-
built a dynasty and legacy at Everton. He’s waited many years for this opportunity and I hope he gets it.” Former England striker, Gary Lineker, who presents the BBC’s Match of the Day programme, said Moyes would be a “sensible” appointment. “It is a great choice for United, but not a great choice for Everton because he will be a great loss to them. It makes the transition easier to get another British and Scottish manager in,” said the ex-Toffees forward. “He (Moyes) is hugely respected within the game and he will instantly get the respect of the players but it’s
phies in a successful four-year spell. A release by the club shows that the Spaniard will take his Bayern squad to Trentino, Italy for a training camp from July 4 60 12. They will then play a number of friendlies against lower league sides, before a rematch of the forthcoming Champions League final when they face Borussia Dortmund in the Telekom Cup. The highlight of Bayern’s pre-season programme is a friendly against Guardiola’s former club, Barcelona, in Munich on July 24. Guardiola retired from play-
the biggest pair of shoes you can follow. It’s intensely difficult and I think the best job at Manchester United is the one after the one after Sir Alex Ferguson because expectations will be so tough. “It is going to be extraordinarily difficult for the next boss of Manchester United because if it goes wrong the fans will let him know they are missing Sir Alex. “It is interesting that it appears Manchester United are going for another British manager because a lot of big clubs, such as Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City have hired foreign coaches with big names.
ing in November 2006 and was named Barcelona B coach in 2007, but spent only a year in charge of that team before being promoted to replace Frank Rijkaard as boss of the senior side. Under Guardiola, Barcelona
established themselves as the dominant force in club football, with two Champions League crowns and three La Liga titles among the trophies won by a side including Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta.
NFF pledges support for Keshi, ratifies Amodu’s appointment as national technical Also ratifies Nigeria’s participation in CHAN director By Christian Okpara HE Nigeria Football T Federation (NFF) yesterday said it is working in harmony with Coach Stephen Keshi to ensure “Nigeria’s qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals, and also to guarantee a credible outing at the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013.” Rising from its meeting yesterday in Abuja, the Federation also approved the recommendation of the technical sub-committee for the appointment of Amodu Shaibu as national technical director and the appointments of Dr. Kashimawo Laloko and James Peters as assistant national technical directors. But it did not say anything about Keshi’s plea for the restoration of his assistants, Silvanus Okpalla and Valerie Houndounou.
But it approved the programmes and preparation plans for the Super Eagles, the Flying Eagles and the Beach Soccer national team ahead of upcoming matches and championships. According to a communiqué released to the press after the meeting, “the Committee resolved that Nigeria will now participate in the qualifying series for the 2014 African Nations Championship, in order to encourage and give opportunity to home-based professional players, who have been part of Keshi’s rebuilding process all along.” It praised the role of the Minister of Sports/Chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC), Bolaji Abdullahi, in fostering peace in Nigeria sports “without which recent successes would not have been possible.”
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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 9, 2013
Boxing South Africa plans partnership with Nigeria
Criticism trails AFN’s list for Africa/World Junior Championship
HE Chief Operating Officer T of Boxing South Africa, Loyiso Mtya, says the body is excited by Nigeria’s plans to re-position boxing in the country and has expressed its readiness to partner with the country in training boxers, trainers and managers. Speaking during a visit to his Johannesburg office on Monday by a group of Nigerians, led by former Minister of Defence, Adetokunbo Kayode, Mtya said the impending South Africa Boxing Conference, scheduled to hold from taking place from July 6 to 13, would look at issues relating to the development of boxing in Africa. He promised that Nigeria would be invited to play a key role at the conference, adding that his office was happy that a new lease of life was coming into boxing administration in Nigeria. This, he said, is a positive sign not only for Nigeria, but also for Africa as a whole. Earlier, Kayode had explained to his hosts President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda as it relates to sports development in Nigeria, saying that the country is poised to reposition boxing by putting in place a boxing pro-
• Ebewele not the best as camp commandant, says official By Gowon Akpodonor HE Athletics Federation of T Nigeria (AFN) has 55 athletes made up of 27 boys and 28 girls to camp in preparation for the World Youth and African Junior Championships. The camp will be officially opened on Sunday May 13, 2013 at the UNIPORT Sports Complex in Port Harcourt. However, there were criticisms from some quarters yesterday, as an official of the AFN (name withheld) alleged that the list was laced with athletes, who are ‘suppose to be competing at senior level.’ The official also questioned the rationale behind the choice of former Edo State Sports Commissioner, Brown Ebewele as the camp commandant. In the list made available to The Guardian yesterday by the Technical Director of AFN, Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, the likes of Efe Favour and Ese Brume made the list in the ‘girls’ category, while Divine Oduduru was listed in the boys’ category. Nesiama said yesterday that the athletes would remain in camp until the period of the National trials. He, however, added that they would be permitted to participate in any of the AFN meets that accommodates their age categories. “The athletes and officials have been advised to maintain strict camp discipline and abide by AFN Code of Conduct accordingly. Several trials would be conducted in the camp and those athletes not measuring up to expected standards would be decamped. This is to ensure
that only the best athletes are entered for the International competitions ahead of us,” Nesiama said. Some of the coaches picked by the AFN for the camping exercise include Endurance Ojokolo, Tobias Igwe, Ayodele Solaja, Raymond Agboro, Abraham Odiah and Maria Usifo. While former Delta State Director of Sports, Seigha Porbeni is the coaches’ Co-ordinator, Ebewele is the camp commandant. Speaking with The Guardian yesterday, an official of the AFN carpeted behind the choice of the athletes and officials saying, “if an athlete like Efe Favour who has been in the circuit for so long can make the junior list, then we don’t know what we are talking about. Continuing, the angry official said, “Efe Favour has been a student at UNIPORT for about three years now studying Physical and Health Education. She competed at the Garden City Games in 2011 and the Eko 2012 festival. I think the idea of going to the Africa/World junior championships is to discover fresh legs and not parade athletes who are suppose to be competing at the senior level. I am sure they want to win at all cost. “An athlete like Divine Oduduru is a secondary school student, so I have no problem with that. But Ese Brume is in her second or third year at UNIBEN. How do you explain that? I am not also comfortable with the choice of Ebewele as the camp commandant for these junior athletes. The AFN board has to do something urgent about it.”
Ufomba explains Malta Guinness’ role at Okpekpe Road Race UINNESS Nigeria Plc’s G Marketing and Innovation Manager, Austin Ufomba says the company decided to sponsor the just concluded Okpekpe International Road Race using Malta Guinness Low Sugar to ensure that athletes and spectators were adequately refreshed as they participated in the first edition competition held at the weekend. Congratulating the organisers and the participating athletes, Ufomba said, “our partnership on the mini marathon is a demonstration of Malta Guinness Low Sugar’s commitment to inspire active, healthy lifestyle among all Nigerians. “The event was a great success and Malta Guinness Low Sugar is proud to be the official malt drink for the race. The turnout by the athletes and spectators was massive and Malta Guinness Low Sugar was there to refresh them at every point while they felt the great taste.” Further explaining the idea behind the sponsorship,
Ufomba said, “regular exercise keeps you fit and healthy. Malta Guinness Low Sugar is a great tasting malt drink for individuals who care about their health but still want the refreshment and top of the world goodness. So, it is all about active and healthy lifestyle.” Winner of the marathon in the male category, Moses Masai, who won the race in 29.39 minutes, could not hide his joy at winning, saying, “I was really refreshed with the Malta Guinness Low Sugar after the race. I appreciate the organisers of this race in Nigeria. I look forward to coming back to Nigeria to compete again.” It would be recalled that recently, Malta Guinness Low Sugar launched the Malta Guinness Low Sugar Workout in Lagos. At the launch, the trio of Bacary Sagna, Per Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski all of Arsenal FC, England, thrilled the fans as they practiced the workout routine with dance instructor, Kaffy.
Divine Oduduru, who won the 100 and 200 metres boys’ race at the African Youth Championship (AYAC) in Warri, is among the athletes invited for Africa/World Junior Championship.
gramme driven policy, which would emphasise training, retraining of old and new boxers in the different weight categories, as well as, the training of managers, trainers and entire boxing value chain. Kayode further said boxing promoters would be encouraged to organise more programmes at local governments, states, geo-zonal and national level, while bi-national, just as international boxing tournaments would also be driven, using the leverage being currently provided by the implementation of the Goodluck Jonathan Transformation Agenda by the Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi. Kayode was in South Africa as part of the official delegation to the Nigeria/ South Africa Business and Investment Forum taking Place in South Africa. He is also part of the Delegation to the Nigeria/Namibian Business Forum fixed for later in the week. President Jonathan, who is on a two-day official visit to South Africa, is expected to take a very active part in these events in the new drive to strengthen trade and investment with the Southern Africa Region.
Former Minister of Defence, Adetokunbo Kayode, was on a private visit to the headquarters of Boxing South Africa in Johannesburg… on Monday.
Team Nigeria confident of promotion as training begins for Davis Cup tourney By Olalekan Okusan EAM Nigeria yesterday began its build up to the Group III of Africa Zone of Davis Cup Championship holding next week in Cairo, Egypt. The five-man team, made up
T
of Abdulmumini Babalola, Shehu Lawal, Clifford Enosoregbe, Henry Atseye and non-playing Captain, Benson Ishicheli, will tackle 13 other nations for the two slots in the group. According to Ishicheli, the
team is in top shape to get back to the elite division. “We resumed training yesterday and from the responses of the players, it is clear that they mean business. “They are all in good form to pick one of the two slots at
Winners at the just concluded Okpekpe 10km Road Race displaying their prizes after the race.
stake in the Davis Cup. We are ready to return the country to its rightful place after missing out from the competition last year. All what I can say is that we are ready for the other teams in the group,” he said. Also speaking on the competition, winner of the just-concluded 35th Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Open, Atseye, told The Guardian that he is optimistic that the team would do well in Egypt. “All the players invited for the tournament are in top form and I am sure we will achieve our aim, which is to gain promotion to Group II and we are hoping to do that in Egypt,” Atseye said. The team is shaping up at Ibadan Recreation Club for the tournament scheduled to serve off on May 13 to 18 at Smash Tennis Academy, in Cairo, Egypt. Other nations expected to compete for the two slots alongside Nigeria are host, Egypt, Algeria, Botswana, Cameroun, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, Namibia, Rwanda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
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THE GUArDiAN, Thursday, May 9, 2013
Zenith Bank Women Basketball League
Sunshine Angels battle First Deepwater, as Day Five games take centre stage By Adeyinka Adedipe HE game most Nigerian T basketball enthusiasts have been waiting for is finally here. it is the Women Basketball League clash between Group A leaders and defending champions, First Deepwater of Lagos and Sunshine Angels of Akure, which holds today in Asaba. Both sides are yet to drop a game after four group games. Pundits have predicted a tough and exciting game giving the fact that the Oil and Gas ladies, tutored by former Nigeria internationals, Lateef Erinfolami and Shola
Ogunade-Shomala have a slight edge over the Akurebased Angels, who lost the first phase to the champions by 56 to 44 points earlier this year in Abuja. Erinfolami hinted yesterday that nothing would stop his team from retaining the title they have won in three consecutive seasons. “We have to compensate our hardworking Chairman, Babatunde Babalola, who has always supported the team’s quest for glory. “i want to state categorically that we are on the right path to stardom and we will remain focused in the quest to do our parent company proud for all its support,”
Coach Erinfolami concluded. Yesterday was the official rest day for all the teams, but other games billed for today include the ties between Nigeria Customs and GT 2000 of Kaduna; FCT Queens against AHiP Queens of Kano and Taraba Hurricanes of Jalingo against fellow debutants, Coal City Queens of Enugu. These games are all Group A matches. Three games will be decided in Group B with Plateau rocks of Jos taking on iGP Queens of Lagos; hosts, Delta Force of Asaba, against Oluyole Babes of ibadan; with Benue Princess battling with former champions, First Bank of Lagos. Dolphins are drawn bye.
Handball needs a new lease of life, says Thompson EWLY-ELECTED board we would work to bring to youth and see them graduN member of the Handball handball. Government on ate into the senior team. Federation of Nigeria (HFN) her part needs to provide us
El Kanemi taking on Kano Pillars in a recent encounter…Stakeholders believe the league will thrive only when the Club Owners and the LMC resolve to work together. PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI.
LMC, Club owners’ discord dangerous to football growth, say stakeholders OOTBALL stakeholders in Frecent Lagos believe that the face-off between the League Management Company (LMC) and the club owners portends danger to football development in the c o u n t r y . The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that club owners had disputed the legality of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), the LMC, and its failure to convene a congress. The stakeholders told NAN in separate interviews in Lagos that the crisis was unnecessary, adding that it
would only give the country a negative image. They said both parties should shift ground on the issue and resolve the crisis amicably for the good of the game in the c o u n t r y . A former Assistant Coach of the Super Eagles, Fatai Amao said the league did not need any crisis that had the tendency of giving the country a bad image now. “The crisis poses a great danger to football development in the country, especially at the grassroots, except it is settled amicably. “We do not need this crisis.
Both parties should exhibit maturity and settle the discord amicably, for our football to move forward,” Amao s a i d . A former Super Eagles Coach, Christian Chukwu blames the crisis on communication gap between the club owners and the LMC, adding that they needed to co-operate, so as to be able to move the league forward. Chukwu urged both parties to focus on ways of building a new course for the revival of the league, rather than involving themselves in an unnecessary crisis.
LMC lauds League Clubs’ sponsors OLLOWiNG on the heels of Fnaming the official signing of the rights of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) with Globacom Limited, the League Management Company (LMC) has expressed appreciation to other corporate bodies that have been supporting the league through sponsorship of clubs. in a statement yesterday, the LMC acknowledged the contributions of companies such as Guinness, ULO Consultants, a construction company founded by Uche Okpunor and isiaku rabiu’s BUA Group through shirt endorsement deals with NPFL clubs. Guinness Nigeria, through two of its brands, Dubic Beer and Harp Beer, has endorsement deals with Enyimba, 3SC, Lobi Stars, Sunshine Stars, rangers, Heartland
and Dolphins. Enyimba and 3SC are endorsed by Dubic Beer, while the other five are endorsed by Harp. BUA Group is the shirt sponsor of Kano Pillars, while ULO Consultants sponsors Sunshine Stars. Chairman of the LMC, Nduka irabor has urged other corporate organisations to adopt the League as part of their Corporate Social responsibility (CSr) project by sponsoring the clubs within their communities of operation. in addition to promoting their commercial interests, he said the companies would be creating opportunities for youths to exploit their talents beneficially for their families and country, as well as, reduce youth restiveness. He disclosed that the LMC
has opened the league for other telecommunication operators to sponsor league clubs in strict compliance to regulations that will not permit such engagement to dilute the rights of the title sponsor, Globacom. irabor said the LMC has created conditions for the enforcement of clubs’ obligations to sponsors through the organisational framework of transparent corporate governance that has been designed to run the league. The LMC boss then appealed to persons, who are not properly informed on the workings of the league reforms and sponsorship engagements to refrain from making unguarded statements that are capable of eroding the confidence of the business community in the league.
from the South-South zone, Kwashi Thompson says the sport deserves a new lease of life if the game is to reclaim her lost glory. Thompson, who has been involved with the development of the handball in the zone, has promised to bring his wealth of experience to bear on the sport just the way he has been doing in the Niger-Delta before he got on the board. He recollects there used to be sponsorships from Malta Guinness and other corporate bodies in the past and regrets that many of them have take flight. “There is a need to revive them, as well as, others that
the enabling environment to make things work because we intend to ensure that we bring the sport back to the minds of Nigerians and get back to the continent as champions as used to be the case back in the days of Grasshoopers of imo,” he said. Thompson pointed out that with the coming of the new board, the time has come for all stakeholders to help re-strategise and come up with a programme that would see the revival of the s p o r t . “if you recall, there was a time i called for the national team to go on sabbatical to enable us work on the
The future of this game begins with the youths and that’s the advantage that countries like Egypt have over us. “Our players need a minimum of 30 games to be in the same frame with their counterparts around the world. The first thing we need to do is to identify sponsors, who are interested in our sport and convince them that we can form a union that would be beneficial to both parties. When your sponsor sees the mileage they are getting from sponsoring your event and you’re transparent, they want to remain with you because you’re straight,” he said.
NFF boss confirmed for Lagos Junior League awards
rESiDENT, Nigeria Football P Federation (NFF), Aminu Maigari has been confirmed
for the 2012/2013 Lagos Junior League award scheduled for this Saturday at Teslim Balogun Stadium.
Maigari, a keen supporter of grassroots football development, will be the special guest of honour at the occasion organised by the management of the league to reward outstanding teams
Apapa’s Fatai Sodiq (right); in action against Ikorodu West, during a match in this season’s Lagos Junior League
and players for the 2012/2013 season. The NFF president will also be honored at the event. Being the second awards ceremony in the three-year history of league, the Lagos State Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Waidi Oshodi, chairmen of local councils and top dignitaries in Lagos are expected to join the NFF boss at the colourful event. The Lagos Junior league is made up of school age teams from all 53 local councils and LCDA’s in Lagos State. According to the Technical Director of the league, Tunde Disu, the presence of the NFF boss confirmed the federation’s support to the league, while it affirmed Maigari’s interest in the youth. “The Lagos junior league has been successful, we have been able to discover and nurture talents with some of them playing in the national teams specifically, two of our players are in the CAN U-17 silver-winning Golden Eaglets team. We are also lucky to have him in our midst and we are looking forward to receiving him come Saturday,” Disu said.
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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 9, 2013
Sports
Alex Ferguso
Ferguson By Eno-Abasi Sunday with agency reports
HE sports world was yesterday regaled when Manchester T United Football Club of England announced that its manager, 71-year-old, Alexander Chapman Ferguson, would retire from his post at the end of the season. The legendary manager, better known as Sir Alex, has won 13 Premier League titles during his United reign, will become a director and ambassador of the club after May 18, by which time he would have taken charge of United’s game with West Brom, his 1, 500th in charge. It will also be his last. Interestingly, Ferguson, in his parting shot in the sojourn, which has also seen him harvest five FA Cup, four League Cups and two European Champions League trophies for the Old Trafford club, insists that it was important to leave the club in “strongest possible shape.” He added: “The decision to retire is one that I have thought a great deal about and one that I have not taken lightly. It is the right time. “It was important to me to leave an organisation in the strongest possible shape and I believe I have done so. The quality of this league winning squad, and the balance of ages within it, bodes well for continued success at the highest level whilst the structure of the youth set-up will ensure that the long-term future of the club remains a bright one. Ferguson, who also thanked his wife and family for the support showed him, added: “as for my players and staff, past and present, I would like to thank them all for a staggering level of professional conduct and dedication that has helped to deliver so many memorable triumphs.”
“But I want to put on record that the effort Ferguson has put in place for nearly 27 years at the helm is simply great and a testimony to consistency and continuity,” Hamilton stated. Ex-Nigerian international, Segun Odegbami, who won 46 caps and scored 23 goals for the Green Eagles as well as guided the country to its first Africa Cup of Nations title in 1980, when asked why Nigeria was yet to produce an internationally acclaimed manager like Ferguson, preferred to keep his response brief. According to him, “The Nigerian domestic league is still very young for us to produce a manager of the calibre of Sir Alex Ferguson.” Clearly, the announcement of Ferguson’s retirement came as a surprise to the world of football and as fans’ tears were flowing, some had already started questioning the timing of the announcement. In fact, some are alleging that the legendary Scot had his hand forced early in order to get in either Real Madrid’s Jose Mourinho or Everton’s David Moyes as his successor because as long as anyone can remember, Ferguson has referred to it as being two or three years away. The fact is that there are just two prime candidates for the job-Mourinho and Moyes- both of whom are looking for new jobs at the moment, lends credence to this argument. The third in this group, who many believe stands an outside chance, is veteran player, Ryan Giggs. Mourinho has had a turbulent season at Real Madrid, enduring a tough time with club chiefs, his players-including iconic club skipper Iker Casillas as well as club fans. Real have reportedly agreed to release him from his contract a year early this summer, leading many to assume that the Portuguese boss will return to manager-less Chelsea. Yet Times of London, yesterday reported that Mourinho’s contract negotiations with the Blues had hit the skids. Mourinho would be the only possible replacement, who would boost United’s share price, and he and Ferguson have always had a warm relationship, built mainly on their habit of sharing a decent bottle of claret in the manager’s office after their sides have clashed. Having managed a club at similar level, United’s shareholders may just fall in love with the idea of having him replace Ferguson. Media reports, which emanated from Old Trafford yesterday suggested that Moyes is in pole position to take over since he is “cut from the same cloth” as Ferguson, and would be a man who could respect the club’s traditions and take it forward in the correct manner. Moyes is out of contract at Everton in the summer, and with a stellar reputation after years of superb work at Everton he will have his pick of jobs in the game. Like many of his football’s elite colleagues, Ferguson emerged from humble beginnings. Born in Govan, the shipbuilding district of Glasgow, his working-class roots played a role in his becoming the most successful manager in Premier League history and, after a near 27-year reign at Manchester United, he has won the respect of everyone in the game. The gum-chewing Ferguson took the plunge into management with East Stirling in July
All these happened on a day former Green Eagles coach, Paul Hamilton described the departing manager as an icon of the game, who has displayed that consistency and continuity pays in a setup that allows creativity and intense managerial acumen to be brought to bear. Even though Hamilton, himself a veteran manager said our own coach Shaibu Amodu also qualifies to be celebrated as an iconic football manager having qualified the country for two World Cups, he lamented that Nigerian was yet to cultivate a domestic league that would make the emergence of such world-class managers emerge. “If we succeed in changing our teams to proper football clubs, with attendant structure and infrastructures in place, then we can begin to talk about producing managers that would also go ahead to become directors and ambassadors of the footies ball clubs when they retire ier League troph ague and Prem Le s on from coaching. pi am Ch e Ferguson with th
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 9, 2013
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on: An illustrious career ends 1974 then moved to First Division side St Mirren in October of the same year. He promptly guided the Paisley club to the championship in 1976/77 and, despite doing so on limited resources, he was sacked three years into his tenure after a disagreement with the club’s chairman. He joined Aberdeen in August 1978 and transformed an average side into the form team of the 1980s, breaking Rangers and Celtic’s stranglehold on Scottish football, and led the Granite City club to three league titles, four Scottish Cups and a League Cup in eight seasons. His greatest achievement , though, came in 1983, when he led Aberdeen to a 2-1 victory over the mighty Real Madrid in the European Cup Winners’ Cup. Ferguson rejected lucrative offers from Barcelona, Arsenal, Rangers and Tottenham to take control of Manchester United in November 1986, and his initial years, when he had to contend with a drinking culture at the club, were a struggle. However, the club showed patience as Ferguson rebuilt it in minute detail and revamped the youth system, shipping out many crowd favourites. It has often been contended, although just as often denied, that his job was on the line early in 1990, when - despite heavy investment the previous summer - a dismal run of form saw United plummet down the table. It was suggested that a poor result against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup third round would have been the final straw, but Mark Robins scored the goal said to have saved his job. The club kept faith and were rewarded with FA Cup glory that summer, and their first trophy of the Ferguson era. A year later, United lifted the European Cup Winners’ Cup. In the newly founded “Premier League”, Ferguson found more success; the arrival of enigmatic Frenchman Eric Cantona proved to be the final piece of the jigsaw and United finally won the league title in 1992-93, ending a 26-year drought. Then the 1993-94 season saw United stamp their authority on English football as Ferguson claimed his first Double - beating Blackburn Rovers to the league title and crushing Chelsea 4-0 in the FA Cup final. Another Double came two years later, and with “Fergie’s Fledglings” -David Beckham, the Neville Brothers, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Ryan Giggs - in full flight, they went one better in 1998-99 by claiming an historic Treble with a 2-1 win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League. The manager was subsequently knighted - becoming Sir Alex Ferguson- in the Queen’s birthday honours list as a reward for his services to British football. The 2000-01 season saw United cruise to another title, this time wrapping it up in mid-April, as the man whose winning mentality took Manchester United to new heights became the first manager to win three English League titles in a row to become the most successful manager in the history of English football. In 2001-02, Ferguson announced his retirement, hoping for a glorious farewell with the Champions League final due to take place at Hampden Park, Glasgow, but United ended the season empty-handed, and the Scot reversed his decision, vowing that he would never again foreshadow his retirement. The following season brought another league title, but with
Ferguson, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt, David Beckham, Gary Neville, Phil Neville and Paul Scholes of Manchester United recreate the famous Class of ‘92 photo from 1992 ahead of Gary Neville’s testimonial match in 2011 the challenge of Arsenal and then Chelsea came a fallow period. In 2005-06, there were serious questions raised as to Ferguson’s future, with many believing that the below-par United side, which exited the Champions League at the group stage, was evidence of a manager whose time had passed. Yet he defied the doubters, building his third team at Old Trafford, this time around the youthful brilliance of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. United won three back-to-back titles from 2007 to 2009, and also claimed a further Champions League title, beating Chelsea on penalties in Moscow in 2008. In 2009, United equalled Liverpool’s record 18 league titles, and overtook that haul in 2011. The following year saw United denied as they lost the title to rivals Manchester City on goal difference in the cruellest of circumstances but this year, the Red Devils ruled again, with Robin van Persie, signed from Arsenal leading the charge. Yesterday, with the title sealed, Ferguson, a hard taskmaster, who brook no indiscipline announced his retirement at the age of 71, after spending over a quarter of a century in charge of one of the world’s biggest clubs.
It was important to me to leave an organisation in the strongest possible shape and I believe I have done so. The quality of this league winning squad, and the balance of ages within it, bodes well for continued success at the highest level whilst the structure of the youth set-up will ensure that the long-term future of the club remains a bright one. Ferguson lifts the Champions League trophy in Moscow in 2008 surrounded by his wards
Though a fine gentle man, Ferguson’s temper was notorious, with his eagerness to blame others notably match officials for his sides’ defeats a recurring theme over the years. His eruptive tempers also found expression when, in a feat of annoyance, kicked a booth that almost blinded David Beckham. A close run thing between winning the Treble in 1999 and finally usurping Liverpool as the most successful team in English football by claiming a record 19th league title in 2011 remains the highest point of his managerial career. Conversely, the middle period of the 1989-90 season, when Manchester United endured a slump in form saw them drop to 17th in January. Had Mark Robins not secured United’s passage in the FA Cup earlier that month, it was widely speculated that he would have been sacked. Ferguson called this his “darkest period”. However, having spent so long at the helm, Ferguson experimented with a wide range of tactics. He loved his players to be passionate and work hard around the pitch, but he developed a taste for a quick counter-attacking approach. Manchester United Chief Executive, David Gill described his time working with the manager as the “greatest experience” of his working life. He said that the club have been planning for Ferguson’s retirement on and off the pitch. His words, “I’ve had the tremendous pleasure of working very closely with Alex (Ferguson) for 16 unforgettable years through the treble, the double, countless trophy wins and numerous signings. “We knew that his retirement would come one day and we both have been planning for it by ensuring the quality of the squad and club structures are in first-class condition. “Alex’s vision, energy and ability have built teams, both on and off the pitch, that his successor can count on as among the best and most loyal in world sport.” Joint chairman of the Manchester United Board, Joel Glazer, with brother, Avie, pinpointed the 2008 Champions League final penalty shootout success over Chelsea as a highlight among the many memories. He said: “Alex (Ferguson) has proven time and time again what a fantastic manager he is but he’s also a wonderful person. “His determination to succeed and dedication to the club have been truly remarkable. I will always cherish the wonderful memories he has given us, like that magical night in Moscow.’ Politicians including Prime Minister David Cameron and Labour leader Ed Miliband paid tribute to Sir Alex’s achievements yesterday. Mr. Cameron said on Twitter: “Sir Alex Ferguson’s achievement at #MUFC has been exceptional. Hopefully his retirement will make life a little easier for my team #AVFC.”
THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 9, 2013
76 SPORTS
Dimitrov shocks Djokovic at Madrid Open RIGOR Dimitrov beat a G wounded Novak Djokovic in three sets in the second round of the Madrid Open. Dimitrov, the world number 28, received a standing ovation from the crowd after defying cramp problems to prevail 7-6 6-7 6-3 in three hours and four minutes. World number one, Djokovic dropped the opening set 8-6 in a tie-break and needed a medical timeout when trailing 4-2 in the second after tweaking his right ankle. The Serb injured the same joint while on Davis Cup duty in April but, after the trainer added some extra taping, he opted to carry on and broke back straight away. Djokovic saved a match point in the subsequent tiebreak before taking it 10-8 on his third set point to level things up as his opponent struggled with cramp. But Dimitrov, 21, regrouped to dominate the decider, breaking in the opening game and again to seal the biggest victory of his career. The Bulgarian will play either 15th-seeded Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka or Colombia’s Santiago Giraldo in the last 16. An inspired Dimitrov battled through cramp and milked the raucous support of the fans at the clay Masters event in the Spanish capital, produc-
ing some breathtaking shots to oust the top-seeded Serbian in the second round and claim by far the biggest win of his career. The youngest of the six players aged 23 or under in the top 50, he appeared close to tears as he embraced his coaching team after the three-hour slugfest at the Magic Box arena before seeming oddly underwhelmed at his post-match news conference. “I mean, of course it’s always great to win a match like that,” he told reporters. “Of course he’s the number one, of course it’s a great feeling,” he added. “But it’s just the beginning of the tournament. It was just second round if you think about it, so you just got to get ready for the next matches and make sure that you can do that again.” The offspring of a volleyballplaying mother and a tennis coach father, Dimitrov began playing aged five and his hero growing up was Pete Sampras. He attracted the attention of Federer’s former Coach, Peter Lundgren after winning junior titles at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 2008 and it was Lundgren who famously made the comparison with the Swiss maestro. His current coach is Mikael Tillstrom and his work with the Swede and his team seems
to be paying off. He reached the final in Brisbane in January, losing to world number three Andy Murray, and made his first Masters quarter-final in Monte Carlo last month, where he took a set off clay king Rafa Nadal. Asked if beating Djokovic was confirmation that he had the talent to be a top player, he said,”first of all, I think that talent doesn’t really win matches. It helps you win matches, but doesn’t win the match itself. “Of course this has been what I’ve been working for, to play matches like that, and why not win them? “Today was one of those days that I felt good on court. I felt I had enough hours of practice in the weeks before. I felt that I could actually hang with Novak the whole match.”
Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov returns the ball to Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, during their match at the Madrid Masters at the Magic Box (Caja Magica) sports complex in Madrid on Tuesday. PHOTO: AFP
Puyol refutes AC Milan links
...As Makarova upsets Azarenka KATERINA Makarova of E Russia upset top-ranked Victoria Azarenka 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 yesterday to reach the third round of the Madrid Open. Azarenka, a runner-up in Madrid the past two years, lost her temper, broke her racket and argued with chair umpire Mariana Alves. The Belarusian double-faulted five times and got in just over half of her first serves. The 24th-ranked Makarova had 60 percent first-serve accuracy. Azarenka berated Alves after picking up a second code violation for smashing her racket in the third set.
‘’After all you’ve done, how are you still in the game?’’ Azarenka shouted at the official while on court. Azarenka said she felt confused by some refereeing decisions. ‘’I didn’t understand what happened, what I did,’’ she said. ‘’I was very sure that I didn’t have a code violation, that’s why I broke my racket.’’ Azarenka tried to explain the loss. ‘’I played more against myself, trying to prove to myself certain things, more than I was focusing on my opponent,’’ she said. Azarenka, who missed
Indian Wells and the Miami Open in March because of an ankle injury, said she still felt rusty. She’s looking forward to another clay tournament Rome - before heading to Roland Garros. ‘’I have been making mistakes,’’ she said. ‘’But that’s what comes after not playing for a long time. I still have another tournament before the French Open to compete in.’’ In men’s play, sixth-seeded Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic beat Jerzy Janowicz of Poland 6-7 (3) 6-3, 6-2, and Kei Nishikori of Japan downed Viktor Troicki of Serbia 7-5, 6-2.
Singh sues PGA over proposed suspension IJAY Singh sued the PGA V Tour yesterday, a week after his doping case was dropped,
Benitez
It will be sad to leave Chelsea, Benitez admits AFA Benitez has admitted R that he will be sad to leave Chelsea at the end of the season but aims to go out in a blaze of glory. Benitez will exit Stamford Bridge in the summer when his short-term deal expires after being selected by Russian owner Roman Abramovic to take over following the dismissal of Roberto Di Matteo in November. Despite his appointment triggering a fierce backlash from sections of the Blues support, the 53-year-old Spaniard revealed he is crestfallen that his positive spell with the Blues is coming to an end. “It’s always a little bit sad when you have to go, but it’s part of our job now,” Benitez told FIFA.com. “I can see the experience at Chelsea as a pos-
itive experience. They are a topside and a very good group of players. It’s been a great experience.” Benitez sternly rejected the notion that his imminent departure would impact Chelsea’s end-of-season objectives, instead reaffirming his desire to secure Champions League football, via a top-four finish, and Europa League success in next week’s final against Benfica. “My job is to do what I have to do this year,” he added. “My target is to finish in the top four, top three. Now we’re in the (Europa League) final and trying to win the final. That’s it. “That is the situation and we have to deal with that. We will try to keep doing a professional job with integrity until the end.”
claiming it damaged his reputation by not doing a thorough job of researching his use of deer antler spray. ‘’I am proud of my achievement, my work ethic and the way I live my life,’’ Singh said in a statement. ‘’The PGA Tour not only treated me unfairly, but displayed a lack of professionalism that should concern every professional golfer and fan of the game.’’ Singh filed the lawsuit in New York, where he had a home and the tour has an
Singh
office. The 50-year-old Fijian admitted in a Sports Illustrated article in January that used deer antler spray, which was said to include an insulin-like growth hormone that was on the tour’s list of banned substances. The tour sent a sample from Singh to be tested, and it returned small amounts of the IGF-1 chemical. The lawsuit said the tour notified Singh on February 19 that he was to be suspended for 90 days. Singh appealed. Last week, commissioner Tim Finchem said the tour was dropping its case based on
new information from the World Anti-Doping Agency. He said WADA informed the tour that using deer antler spray was no longer prohibited because it contains such minimal amounts of IGF-1. The lawsuit said the tour relied on WADA’s list of banned substances and methods without doing any of its own research, including whether such substances even provide any performance-enhancing benefits. ‘’We have not seen the lawsuit, just the statement,’’ PGA Tour spokesman Ty Votaw said. ‘’We have no comment.’’
ARLES Puyol has dismissed C claims that he could leave Barcelona for AC Milan at the end of the 2012-13 campaign. A report from Spain on Tuesday suggested that the experienced defender has held talks with the San Siro side over a summer move, but Puyol has stressed there is no truth in suggestions that he could be on his way out of Camp Nou. “All the information that has come out is false,” Puyol stated via his official Twitter account. “I am solely focused on recovering from my injury and to be in top form at the start of next season.” Puyol has not featured for Barcelona since its 4-0 Champions League win over Milan on March 12 due to a knee injury. The 35-year-old, who has made over 500 official appearances for Barcelona, has a contract with the Catalans until June 2016.
Kroos sets sights on cup final comeback AYERN Munich midfielder, B Toni Kroos says he is dreaming of making his comeback from injury in the DFB Pokal final against Stuttgart on June 1. The Germany international has been out of action due to a hip injury ever since the 2-0 Champions League win at home over Juventus on April 2, but he’s hopeful of returning to match action this season. “I want to be back as soon as possible. The healing process is going well. We’re making progress step-by-step,” Kroos told reporters. “I’m dreaming of the cup final, but it would be ridiculous to assume anything. “When you look at what we’ve invested in the competition, we really, really want to win the DFB Pokal.” Bayern last won the German cup in 2010 when it beat Werder Bremen 4-0 in the final. The club was beaten 5-2 by rival Borussia Dortmund last season.
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Stakeholders, board disagree over state of Nigerian table tennis By Olalekan Okusan OLADE Okoya-Thomas is M the only individual in Nigeria that has sponsored a competition uninterrupted for 44 years. The Asoju-Oba Table Tennis Championship has produced most of Nigeria’s table tennis stars since its inception in 1968. Among such table tennis artistes are Babatunde Obisanya, who won the inaugural Asoju-Oba competition, Atanda Musa, Yomi Bankole, Olawunmi Majekodunmi, Sunday Eboh, Fatai Adeyemo, Titus Omotara, Sule Ladipo, Ethel Jack, Cecilia Arinye and Bose Kafo. Okoya-Thomas spends his money and time yearly ensuring that the competition lives up to its role as Nigeria’s talent factory because of his desire to see the country among the best in the comity of table tennisplaying nations. But the Lagos high chief is saddened that in recent times the game has been on a downward spiral with the administrators seemingly incapable of stopping the slide. With elections into the boards of the Sports Federations around the corner, Okoya-Thomas is looking for a new lease of life for the game he loves. He told The Guardian during the week, “in the last four years, I have not seen the success that I will appreciate because I think the efforts of those in charge are not likely to better the standard of the game. What I will say truthfully is that those, who run the table tennis federation should be those, who have taken part either administratively or as players to be able to cater for the players of today. I wish everybody luck.” From the continued slide o f
Nigerian players in the world rankings to the new dominance of the continent by North Africans, especially, Egypt, the country, formerly the first table tennis playing nation in Africa, is now the laughing stock among nations in the continent. But where lies the solutions to Nigerian table tennis’ sorry state? Some stakeholders see it as a result of poor leadership, which has not been able to lift the game to the expected height. If such players as Kunle Jariogbe, Aruna Quadri and Funke Oshonaike have their way, the president’s position in the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) should not and never be occupied by anybody, who has no knowledge of the game and nothing to offer to the progress of the game. Jariogbe, who is the chief coach of Taraba State Table Tennis Association, told The Guardian on Monday that the present board of the NTTF has not helped in developing the game. According to Jariogbe, “in the last four years, table tennis has really gone bad because the present board has no inkling of how to run the game. They have failed and why should they be thinking of coming back? “I am surprised that people are still eyeing a place in the new board when it is obvious that they had failed in all ramifications. “In Africa, Nigeria used to be number one in table tennis, but now Egypt has gone ahead of us. This was reflected in what happened at the last All Africa Games in Mozambique. How can you be running a board and no major competition has been staged to discover talents. We don’t need somebody that will solely depend on National Sports Commission
NTTF boss, tion’s scribeKayode Abdulwahab-Om Yefremov , Segun Oguntade (right otose (left); with the fe de ) and ITTF in structor, Ale raksey
(NSC). “What we need are people that have the capacity to run the federation and ensure that competitions are organised on regular basis. “Globally, sports is funded by the private sector, so it will be difficult to elect somebody, who cannot attract sponsors to table tennis to run the game. The likes of Wahid Oshodi, Orok Duke and Ishaku Pikkom, who have done a lot in their various zones, are the type of people that should run the federation. In the last four years, there has not been any meaningful improvement in the game. So what are they still looking for again?” he queried. For Portugal-based Quadri, the present board of NTTF has tried its best in the last four years, but he believes it is time for fresh hands to take charge of the game. “I want to believe that the present board tried its best to improve the game in the country, but we need fresh ideas. I think we are only deceiving ourselves if we say we don’t know who should run the federation. “The players within and outside the country know some people, who have the ability to run the federation. They have done it at the state level. Some of these people have brought corporate bodies to bankroll some competitions, including the Procold tournament, where players won huge prize money. So I Top female player, Edem Offiong in action at the last World Championship in Dortmund, Germany believe these are the type of the opportunity of officiatpeople that can change the they need to have ideas that there are several occasions ing at the All Africa Games face of the game in Nigeria,” will ensure that sponsors that we were not given and this was made possible Quadri said. show interest in the game,” allowances even when we by the efforts of the federaFour-time Olympian, spent our money to attend Oshonaike said. tion. I want to say that we Funke Oshonaike believes The former African cham- the tournament from our have tried our best and we the poor state of the sport pion feels that the leader- base in Europe.” hope to do more to lift the can only be changed if pasBut to NTTF President, ship of the board has a lot to game in the country,” he sionate and innovative peoAbdulwahabdo to change the fortune of Kayode said. ple come on board. the sport. “I want to say that Omotose, it has not been all Abdulwahab-Omotose dis“I want to sincerely say that any leader that will take gloom. The picture painted closed that Nigeria attended table tennis has really gone charge of table tennis must by those looking for change all the “championships that down because we don’t have be ready to work for the ‘is not exactly the accurate was possible for our principeople that love the game on state of the game in Nigeria. interest of the game. pal, the NSC, to sponsor us board. During Cosmas “I am using this medium But it could be better.” while we also used our indiMaduka’s tenure, we took He said the board has to appeal to those in the vidual and collective part in various compeNational Sports done a lot to improve the strength to get sponsors to titions. Commission (NSC) not to game in the country, saying, travel abroad. “Maduka really loved allow people without ideas that since he took charge of “This board brought in the the game and he never to be part of the board. We the board, more national third best rated ITTF instruchid his passion for the competitions have been are disturbed that the game tor, Alexei Yefromov of game. Even when the that has brought most of us staged across the country. Belarus, to train our coaches government was not “When we came on board to limelight and also put and update their knowledge forthcoming with fund the only functional national food on our table is allowed at Obafemi Awolowo whenever we were to go to die. We don’t need peo- competition was the annual Stadium, Ibadan, where 28 of for competitions, Maduka ple, whose interest is only in Asoju Oba Cup, which holds them were successful and would provide the funds getting estacode or travel- in Lagos State. As at today, now possess professional and ensure that the playling all over the world. We we have over eight national certificates to teach table ers were satisfied. But what need people that will be competitions and we are tennis.” do we have these days? We willing to sacrifice for the still hoping for more. Abdulwahab-Omotose have people that are not “The knock up hall at the game and the players. If the picked scarcity of funds as ready to sacrifice anything National Stadium is now players are well taken care one of the problems his for the sport. off they will always give befitting to stage series of board has faced, but “we “The present board has tournaments, while our their best. have been able to achieve tried its best but I don’t “During the Maduka coaches now receive tutori- much even with the scarce think they moved the game tenure, there was no compe- als from some of the best resources.” forward. What the sport tition that we attended instructors in the world. He believes that Nigeria needs are people that are “Two of our referees, John without getting allowances. would regain its glory in ready to fund it with their But in this present tenure, Peters and Ranti Olajide had sports if all the federations resources and goodwill. Also, got equal attention with In Africa, Nigeria used to be number one in table tennis, but now Egypt has football. “Football has always been gone ahead of us. This was reflected in what happened at the last All Africa number one, but all the sports should get Games in Mozambique. How can you be running a board and no major compe- other some attention. There is the tition has been staged to discover talents. We don’t need somebody that will need to make support for sports an all round thing solely depend on National Sports Commission (NSC). and not just focusing on football,” he said.
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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, May 9, 2013
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Thursday, May 9, 2013
Conscience, Nurtured by Truth
By Uche Nwachukwu fundamental issues must crop up in Stion.OME contemporary global economic dispensaAt a time when International Monetary Fund (IMF) and kindred organisations are howling that Africans live at less than a dollar a day, the East Asians have seen African businessmen trooping to Asia to do business and thus they don’t take the IMF and World Bank serious. While the West was in slumber the East Asians have invested massively in Africa to displace them. Even the distinction between developed and developing nations is no longer valid. The so-called developing nations now account for over 80 per cent of global growth and they lend billions of dollars to Western treasuries in Europe and the United States. So, who then is underdeveloped? Who has more debts? Any nation can claim to be developing so as to attract some preferential treatment by Breton Woods’s institutions. Therefore, the question lingers as to whether Africa should partner with the West as equals or play an underdog aid-seeking role that jeopardizes its posterity? I prefer the former. Then, what is to be done? Africans themselves should be asking these questions because they have to mould their destiny with their hands and not just hope on an African summit in London today, another in Tokyo tomorrow. Those people, though, technologically more advanced, are still struggling with their own mammoth cyclopean problems of another octave. There have been lots of presentations, recipes, recommendations, lots of good recipes shoddily implemented and lots of baggage rigorously executed with zeal and preposterous arguments shallow as the Baltic. So many reckless recipes have looked like the predicament of the sick child of a doctor suffering more from excessive dosage than disease. I see it this way: You have a big chasm in front of you. You must thus move back, then race forwards with speed, gain momentum and leap frog over the obstacle but the local and western economic oracles say: no, take small steps and cross the chasm. Does one then wonder where the hopeless candidate will land? The bottom of the chasm is strewn with remnants of failed policies. And so Africa lands perpetually at the bottom of the chasm by choice and by external influence and ‘’eats’’ reports perpetually while self–battered post-war Europe got her great leverages, her great leaps and Marshal Plans couples of decades ago. But is the average African planner leader, or public administrator a product of common sense deficiency syndrome (CDS) or public sector complacency syndrome (PSCS)? Does he possess the knowledge, skills, competence and attitudinal value systems catalytic to economic sustainability? I think the answer is in the affirmative. For everyone our common sense comes to the forefront when we are stressed. For instance, when sick and fatigued, we appreciate the value of mobility and other divine gifts which we had hitherto taken for granted and so begin to thank Providence for everyday mercies we ignored. Therefore, the African planner does not lack common sense, he is copious with it but he is a victim of forces, psychological, historical, geopolitical and economical that suppress his common sense instinct. The African planner needs to break through these vicious cycle and rings of encirclement like a deft general to navigate out of his economic entanglements and its moral turpitude. He needs all the wits at his disposal and must call everything to question like Platonic or Socratic self-evaluation to move forward the knowledge hierarchy with vision onto practical consummation of talents for the good of all and posterity. For, somewhere among the nations on the continent, Providence has placed an exemplary model of what the future of the continent will be if they responsibly play their cards well. There is such a nation in Africa. Inside every nation elsewhere, too, there is a state or province with that potential promise if you, look carefully. You don’t need the IMF to tell you. Equally, there are worst-case scenario nations or states inside continents and nations that warn us of dire generalised consequences of irresponsibility reigning unchecked. Therefore, every state or continent can premonitively learn by examining itself properly. There is one state in America that holds its potentials and manifest promise despite the terror scare that is stealing the American golden age of creative freedoms. There is also a worst-case scenario state over there, whether they notice it or no. The aid hypothesis is good idealistically and theoretically beautiful and practically easy to maneuver while in the air like an airplane (as any pilot knows) but harder in, down to earth
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Urgent African developmental imperatives
Donald Kaberuka, President, African Development Bank
reality, landing. The aid drought is proving this, too. The continent easily feels the impact of turbulent changes in global economic cycles more than other continents and these cycles are like intricate synchronised clock wheels with major and minor cycles in cycles down. It can ill-afford reckless theorising from all the conceptual dreamlands of utopia. If these nations can exercise some degree of control over their psychological, cultural, historical, political and economic predicaments and problems as previously stated they can consider some of these homespun African economic leapfrog or jumpstart strategies, and policy clusters from new perspectives. They have toyed with these words before but they can re-examine them closely just as some common words of sacred scriptures can begin to semantically suddenly appear quite new to you when you gain a fresh or deeper interpretation. Until they can think like this, at least a bit, they need not bother but the breeze hears it all the same. I randomly suggest these at rel-
evant national and continental levels as they may appropriately apply. They include; among other things: the development and consolidating of a framework for the realisation of food security and self-sufficiency as well as necessary infrastructural and capacitybuilding implications there-of, the re-engineering of economic packages that engender, at least, an annual 15 per cent growth rate average for longer term economic sustainability, the stabilisation of macro-economic policies in a result –oriented approach. Others are, to integrate sustainable development and capacity building into policy making, attract five-fold increase in foreign direct investments through appropriate and pragmatic policy thrust frameworks, elevate G.D.P per capital three-fold within seven years, elevate and consolidate e-governance, institutionalise transparency in policy making frameworks, factor in environmental sustainability and climate change implications into development plans, and experiment boldly with rolling plans and recreate and make dynamic the intellectual middle class as fundamental catalysts for development. The strategy should include efforts to replace poverty reduction with wealth-creation, boldly engender and consolidate on export oriented economies less dependent on fossil fuel, strengthen and consolidate the processing of continental economic integration for greater economy of scale in the light of geopolitical and macroeconomic realities and involve the NEPAD fully in economic reconstruction and peer review strategies. The plan should also drastically checkmate graft through multimodal strategies, grow the organised private sector as the major engine of development anywhere and fasttrack the processes of efficient privatisation, de-regulation and commercialisation that help put the economy into the hands of the people, engender efficiency and help control runaway official graft, develop uniform regional legal frameworks in the transport, energy and maritime sectors, develop policies that strengthen greater South-South economic cooperation, leapfrog massively into the ICT age, create investment friendly business environments, raise at least 35 per cent of their population onto upper middle class. It should equalise educational opportunities and narrow the educational gender disparity in formal, informal and vocational education, achieve universal basic primary, secondary and ICT education. The strategy should seek to set up special economic zones, drastically reduce the under five years infant and maternal maternity rate through appropriate measures, reduce the heavy expenditures on sports and foreign missions and channel same to sectors such as tourism, undertake heavy reduction in military expenditures even if they think they are threatened from outer space, undertake special image laundering designed to attract serious investors by countering to deconstruct the problems of image
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demonisation by western media. It should begin fundamental reforms in the power, banking, educational and industrial sectors, initiate value-added manufacturing strategies, initiate macro planning of development plans through inter-sectoral linkages, initiate five-fold increase in research and development budgets and establish new research institutes and centres of excellence, seriously mull the reversal of brain drain and capital flight. The plan should explore possibility for greater integration and partnership with the West and quest for greater globalisation dividends and justice in world trade talks. It should seek to effect relevant debt management strategies, re-engineer effective strategies for sustainable attitudinal change, create African multinationals to compete effectively in a globalised world and begin to tell the West that it is tired of the old game just as a tired child tells playmates frankly: “I play no more”. The African leader planners also need to institute inter-ministerial economic policy as well as private sector reforms and development commissions. So much for big words. They have heard all this music before, but only a few have committed themselves to its experimentation and implementation to sustainable levels. Not everything is economics but they have to begin with those sectors that would help carry others along inter sectorally. Such sectors include power, ICT, industries, health, education and capacity building, agriculture, perhaps in that order. They can with proper planning and historical hindsight avoid many problems that emanated in the wake of Western civilisation. Nations often fast track development by manufacturing technology by mining etc. only to be later ruined by financial speculations. Ask Holland and the “Dutch disease;” ask England and you may soon begin to be asking America if they don’t play their economic cards well. As for financial services sector, the strategies should be such that the African leader-planner must, in embracing the services, beware of booby traps. But how do you translate some of these broad policy frameworks to yield short and long term results with economic thrust? They must identify the immediate short-term needs and long-term goals, should differentiate needs from wants, should not make their wants their desire, must prioritise the developmental chains, not leap in the dark for many well planned business fail due to inadequate background checks, due diligence. Again, I suggest a few initiatives such as setting up of technology adaptation centres, heavy industrial triangles, I.T corridors, silicon valleys, science and energy cities, university cum research, and commercialisation business linkages technological/ industrial parks, industrial cluster strategies, popularisation of production technologies by websites, handbooks and seminars. The strategies will also include mounting development economic workshops for senators and legislators in general; creation of 10 million outsourced jobs in a decade; declaration of industrial cum ICT, open universities for a knowledge-based economy, and to develop a critical mass skills capacity including the use of mass media to educate and economically empower; creation of more industrial and technology development banks, a micro-finance banking revolution to help power integrated rural development; massive afforestation programmes, soil and water conservation and management programmes, systematic anti-desertification strategies to buffer the effects of climatic change, intensified productivity campaigns as well as import substitution and export-oriented programme campaigns, stock market and forex mass education initiatives, and so on. I should mention here that youths as the future knowledge capital need formidable investments in entrepreneurial skills, software development skills (the next revolution), environmental and health skills, leadership skills, volunteering skills and massively educated by web, TV, and social networks. The African leader/planner must identify and prioritise the most fundamental ones. Of course, time constrains the inclusion of targets, strategies, financing and implementation modalities. They know these things alright but overlook the fact that timing, preferential hierarchy chain and monitoring mean much instead of haphazard riot of policies often with inevitable policy somersault. They should halt the near rhetorical conference hall approach to socio-economic problems solving. The propensity towards public sector administrative laxity and apathy—all are a formidable drawback in the process of rejuvenating and revamping the continents economic landscape, because the tendency has often been to manage anyhow. Nwachukwu, a Public Affairs commentator, lives in Lagos.