Mon 27 May 2013 The Guardian Nigeria

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Monday, May 27, 2013

Vol. 29, No. 12,569

N150

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Presidential panel visits Boko Haram suspects, blasts’ survivors From Saxone Akhaine, Northern Bureau Chief S part of efforts to check A insecurity, the Presidential Committee on Dialogue

Chief of Defence Staff, Rear Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim (left); Chief of Staff to the President, Mike Oghiadomhe; National Security Adviser to the President, Col. Sambo Dasuki; Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Luka Damachi; Director-General, State Security Service (SSS), Ita Ekpeyong and Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, during the candle light procession in honour of the 10 SSS personnel that died during the attack on Alakya Village in Nasarawa State in Abuja … at the weekend.

PHOTO: LADIDI LUCY ELUKPO

and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in northern Nigeria yesterday visited Boko Haram suspects and some survivors of bomb explosions in Kaduna.

The Chairman of the committee who is also the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Alhaji Tanimu Turaki (SAN), at the weekend led other members of the panel to Armed Forces and Staff College (AFSC), Jaji, St. Andrew’s Protestant Church, located at Jaji Military Cantonment and St. Rita’s Catholic Church, Ungwan Yero, Kaduna.

The committee later met with Boko Haram suspects where they had a closed-door CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Outrage as crisis of govs’ forum deepens From Saxone Akhaine (Kaduna), Muyiwa Adeyemi (Ado- Ekiti), Leo Sobechi (Abakaliki), Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu (Benin City) and Isa Abdulsalami Ahovi (Jos) are who IGERIANS N shocked at the unresolved crisis in the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) over the election of a new chairman yesterday warned that the dispute could threaten the 2015 general elections.

This warning came as Governor of Plateau State, Jonah

David Jang, sought the support of Rivers State Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi for his leadership of the NGF. Both Jang and Amaechi are claiming to have won the

• ACN, others decry controversy over group’s election • ‘Probe anti-Amaechi governors’ signatures’ • Jang seeks Rivers helmsman’s support election for a new chairman of the NGF at the weekend.

Jang yesterday attributed

his ‘emergence’ as the NGF chair to “divine grace”. In an interview with reporters in

Jos at the Yakubu Gowon Airport, he only responded to questions. three

U.S. finally removes Nigeria from Obama’s itinerary - Page 4

The governor, whose chartered jet marked 5N-BMR landed at the airport at 9.15 a.m., was prevented by the Director of Press Affairs to the Governor, Mr. James Mannok, from answering more questions.

In response to a question whether he really bargained for what he got, he said: “I did not bargain for what I have got. But that is God’s will.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27, 2013

2 NEWS

Presidential panel visits Boko Haram suspects, others CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 meeting with them. But journalists were barred from the meeting.

While at the AFSC Jaji, a mild drama ensued when an officer told the committee members that the Commandant, Air Vice Marshal Effiong Osim, was not going to see them because he was attending to a permanent secretary from the Ministry of Defence.

Although the visit was unscheduled, the chairman of the committee became furious at the information and ordered that the commandant must see them as they were on a presidential assignment.

Turaki said: “This is rubbish, how can he not see us because he is attending to a permanent secretary? I am a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and we are on a presidential assignment. I have left my office and have not attended the Federal Executive Council meetings for five weeks now because of this assignment.”

The commandant later apologised for the earlier information from one of his officers, and immediately went into a closed-door meeting with the committee before visiting the sight of the bombed church, which is under construction.

At the bomb site, the chairman assured the victims that the President was particularly worried about the general insecurity across the country, and that he was committed to providing succour to the victims and families of dead persons in the bombings, just as he requested the commandant to quantify all the damage in the church in monetary terms and forward it to the committee.

“We are here to ascertain the

volume of damage in terms of monetary value and recommend appropriate support programme to Mr. President,” he said.

At St. Rita’s Catholic Church, Ungwa Yero in the Kaduna metropolis, prayers were offered at the graves of the four victims on the church premises. They died following the blast that rocked the church in October last year.

The committee chairman said that the affected persons would be adequately compensated by the government.

President Goodluck Jonathan (third left) and other members of Heads of State and Government of African Union (AU), during the 21st ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of AU in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia… yesterday.

ACN, others decry controversy over govs’ forum election CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 On his ‘emergence’ as the NGF chairman, Jang said: “Well, as far as I am concerned, I have been given an assignment and by the grace of God, I will do my best to unite the forum to make sure that the Governors’ Forum has the right leadership for the people of Nigeria because we are governors that govern the states.

“We are bound to work together with one another. The NGF leadership election or selection or whatever you want to call it, should not divide the governors. We have one purpose. We are elected by the people and we have to work for the people. We have worked with Governor Rotimi Amaechi very successfully and Amaechi should just come down and work with me so that we can continue to give Nigerians the right leadership for electing us as their governors.”

The governor said that as he had once worked with Amaechi as chairman of the NGF, he expected him also to work with him so that they would collectively give the na-

tion the right leadership.

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday described as a bad omen for the 2015 general elections the rejection of the result of the NGF by some governors.

In a statement in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said: “The message that the Presidency, through the puppet governors, is sending to the nation is that the outcome of the 2015 elections will only be valid if a certain candidate emerges the winner.”

The party said: ‘’If an election involving only 35 governors can generate so much controversy and threaten to overheat the polity, what will happen when millions of Nigerians vote in 2015? Is this how President Goodluck Jonathan, who is the godfather of the losing governors, has been sanitising the electoral process as he has been enthusing? ‘’The show of shame by the bad losers supporting Governor Jonah Jang, of course at the behest of the Presidency, is an extension of the threat that has been issued by some rabble rousers that it is either Jonathan for 2015 or there will be no Nigeria as we know it. This is the Gbagbo Option that plunged Cote d’Ivoire into a crisis in which it is yet to fully emerge. This is what the puppet governors are pushing for, hence they must be called to order urgently!”

The ACN continued: ‘’Governors who participated willingly and fully in the NGF election have suddenly turned around and called the election a fraud after their candidate has lost. What were they thinking when they voted? Could it be that they were so sure that their arm-twisting tactics had worked and hence were sure of victory, only to be drubbed?

Did they deviate from the Presidency’s script that they should only use the consensus they extracted from unwilling governors instead of an election to determine the NGF chairmanship? ‘’If they realised the ballot papers were not serialised, as the bad losers later claimed, why did they participate in the election? Couldn’t they have raised an objection and refused to participate? Were they dragged to the venue of the polls screaming and kick-

ing? If so, where is the evidence that they were forced to act against their will?’’ it queried.

The ACN condemned what it described as the meddlesomeness of the Presidency in the election of “what is not - in reality - more than a social club”, and particularly criticised “President Jonathan, as the leader of his party and of the country, for expending so much of the little goodwill he has on the NGF elections.”

The party added: ‘’Irrespective of the tepid denial by the Presidency, Nigerians are aware that the arrowhead of the puppet governors, Governor Godswill Akpabio, is acting at the behest of the Presidency. What President Jonathan did by his meddlesomeness is to stake his Presidency on the NGF elections, thereby making the elections a referendum on his leadership of his party and country. In both instances, he got the outcome he deserved: A leader who cannot hold his party together cannot hold a nation together. ‘’And here are some of the lessons that the Presidency should learn, if it so wishes, from the outcome of the NGF elections - There is always a limit to hubris and the use of naked power against perceived opponents. Needless to say that latent power is more potent than naked power. A leader should never do things just because he can.

The Presidency and the ruling party have lost control of themselves. They are bound to also lose control of the nation - democratically - in 2015.

Make no mistake about it!’’

The ACN also called for a probe of the “apparently forged document being circulated by the losing governors to show they had harvested the signatures of 18 governors pushing for a consensus candidate just before the elections.”

The party said the fact that the signature of a governor, who neither attended the meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chapter of the NGF nor send a representative, was included in the consensus list was an indication that the signatures were harvested long before the meeting and the day of the election.

“Of course, it is also clear that the dates on the typed document were cancelled and new dates handwritten.

‘’If the losing governors are insisting that the list is genuine and that the signatures were obtained at the NGF-PDP meeting shortly before the voting, then they owe Nigerians an explanation on how a man who did not attend the meeting or send a representative could have signed the document in question,’’ it said.

The ACN advised Akpabio and his group to accept the result of the NGF elections instead of threatening to break the NGF - and overheat the polity - just to satisfy their masters, saying national interest should supersede parochial interest.

On his part, Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, described the ‘re-election’ of Amaechi as Chairman of the NGF as victory for democracy, adding that the decision of the forum to opt for election instead of consensus was as a result of democratic growth.

Fayemi, who spoke with journalists at his Ishan-Ekiti country home at the weekend, however, urged Nigerians to see the ‘emergence’ of Amaechi as NGF’s chairman as strictly a demonstration of his colleagues’ confidence in his leadership of the forum and not a victory over the Presidency.

Fayemi said: “It is a contest among governors for the chairmanship position and it would be wrong for anyone to consider it a contest between President Goodluck Jonathan and Amaechi as the President was not a contestant.

“This country belongs to all of us and we are committed to working closely with the President of Nigeria. He is our leader. We have respect for him and his office. So, let no one think it is a defeat to the President. It was a race between Governors Jang and Amaechi.”

The governor recalled that the leadership of the forum since 1999 was based on consensus but took a different direction because of the growth of democracy. He said there should be no controversy since the election was credible.

Fayemi described as ‘sad’ comments by the antiAmaechi governors that the NGF election was rigged. According to him, the idea that the election was rigged tainted the integrity of its proponent. He added that the

election which was recorded on tape was one of the most credible he had witnessed.

He said: “Governors routinely decide who becomes their chairman and they have done so consistently since 1999. The only difference is that as democracy grows, competition also grows with it. What was usually done on the basis of consensus before now went in the direction of outright election and a winner emerged.”

Fayemi added that the outcome of such a credible election ought not generate the type of reaction from the opposing camps except some people were pursuing some agenda that were never made known to others.

“There should not be any reason for hidden agenda among the governors since the NGF is a voluntary body which lacks recognition by the Nigerian constitution,” he added.

The governor maintained that it was expected that there would be a winner and a loser in any contest and that the result of the NGF election should not cause a division among the governors.

Also, a group of former legislators within Ebonyi State chapter of All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), known as the New Frontiers (ANPP-NF), commended the Governors of Rivers and Yobe states, Rotimi Amaechi and Ibrahim Gaidam respectively, for the “boundless democratic sprit and sense of brotherhood” exemplified in their recent public actions.

In an interaction with journalists in Abakaliki at the weekend, leader of the ANPPNF, Mr. Patrick Mgbebu, praised the Yobe State governor “for finding time to come and commiserate with us over the death of our former state chairman, Chief Livinus Nwambe.”

Mgbebu, a former member of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, said Gaidam’s visit to Ebonyi ANPP at such a critical period of the unexpected demise of Nwambe had bolstered their resolve to take the party to new heights, adding that the ANPP-NF, which he leads, would remain eternally grateful to the Yobe State chief executive for his fraternal visit.

The ANPP-NF leader congratulated the Rivers State goverCONTINUED ON PAGE 4

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27, 2013

3

News Enugu demands N16b spent on federal roads

AU leaders begin deliberations, chart path to continent’s growth

From Lawarence Njoku, Enugu

From Oghogho Obayuwana (Addis Ababa) and Abubakar Mohammed (Abuja)

HE Enugu State government T has asked the Federal Government to reimburse it with N16 billion it claims to have spent rehabilitating federal roads in the state.

The amount, the government, said was spent in rehabilitating federal roads in the state since 2007 when the Governor Sullivan Chime administration came on board.

It was learnt that already, the state government had sent its bill to the Federal Ministry of Works, demanding the payment. Enugu said that two committees of the Federal Ministry of Works had carried out investigations and confirmed the amount being claimed by the state government.

The Commissioner for Works, Godwin Madueke, who disclosed this at the weekend, gave the roads already completed as the 52-kilometre old Enugu-Port Harcourt road, the 45-kilometre Enugu-Onitsha road and the 10-kilometre UdiOzalla road.

Others include the AbakalikiGarden Avenue road, AgbaniAkwuke-Gariki road and the Agbani road, Enugu the dualisation of which had been completed by the state government.

HE Assembly of Heads of T State and government of the African Union (AU) began yesterday their main deliberations for the 21st Ordinary Session in Addis- Ababa, considering a major report on unleashing Africa’s potential.

Meanwhile, an explanation has come why President Goodluck Jonathan did not address a special summit of the AU leaders, as he was in another meeting at the time it was Nigeria’s slot to address the meeting.

In a related development, leveraging on the AU Commission’s new project Arise Africa, the continent’s citizens are demanding good governance from their leaders as the heads of state and government began their 21st ordinary session of the AU Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The look on how the continent can become stronger is coming just as another report-

• Why Jonathan did not speak at opening ceremony the Africa Progress Panel under the guidance of former United Nations (UN) SecretaryGeneral Kofi Annan is causing ripples at the AU Commission because it detailed how Africa is being deprived of revenues from its natural resources by extraneous forces.

Under the charge of Nigeria’s former leader Olusegun Obasanjo, the AU had established a panel tasked with finding alternative sources of funding for its activities in tandem with the continental body’s new focus of unleashing Africa’s potential in the next 50 years (2063) and attain stable development.

Also being considered yesterday by the leaders, is the AU’s Executive Council’s earlier adopted Strategic Plan 20142017 alongside the year 2014 budget amounting to $380 million. The strategic plan is constituted of eight priorities.

It addresses challenges such as peace, stability and governance, growth and transformation, regional integration

through the achievement of the Continental Free Trade Area by 2017, innovation, harnessing human and natural resources, mainstreaming women and youth etc On the margins of the summit, Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan met yesterday with UN scribe Bank KiMoon to discuss the way forward for HIV/AIDS among other issues. There was a similar meeting with the Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller. The president had earlier on Saturday night met with the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to iron out emerging issues of human rights and security sustainability in the bilateral relations of both countries.

Building on that, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru also parleyed with the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Donald Yamamoto who said in the opening segment of the talks that “Our meeting was to un-

derscore the importance of our relations” Nigeria urged the U.S. to stop the practice of basing their comments on Nigeria, on third hand information.

Ashiru and the President’s Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Reuben Abati took turns in Addis yesterday to offer explanations on why Jonathan missed out of Nigeria’s speaking slut at the opening of the special session of the AU. Ashiru said: “President Jonathan did not miss any speaking slot at the summit as has been reported. When any issue is up for general debate any country may indicate its wish to contribute to the debate. Any delegate can intervene from a particular country. I as Foreign minister indicated interest to speak and I took the floor at the time President Jonathan was attending a side meeting of ECOWAS heads of state contact group on Lagos-Abidjan highway.”

According to Abati: “The President was attending a consultations meeting with

Aviation workers threaten fresh strike

By Wole Shadare ARELY a week after the B Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) workers shut down the airspace over labour-related issues, their colleagues at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) have given a 21-day ultimatum to the Authority to meet their demands or they down tools.

Meanwhile, to ensure transparent procurement process in line with the Public Procurement Act (PPA) of 2007, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has said that any organisation that does not send in its Expression of Interest would not be evaluated.

The workers through their union, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association (ATSSSAN) yesterday gave the FAAN’s management a 21-day deadline to address all welfare issues, failure of which will lead to a strike.

In a petition to the Managing Director of FAAN, George Ureisi with copies sent to Ministers of Labour and Productivity and Aviation signed by Mr. Olayinka Abioye secretary of ATSSSAN, alleged that the FAAN management had failed to meet up its obligations in the issue of workers’ welfare.

However, FAAN’s spokesman, Yakubu Dati said: “We are working to resolve the problem.

FAAN is a responsible organisation and we want to assure you that the matter will be resolved.

We are partners in progress.

Both FAAN and ATSSSAN will meet to reach an amicable resolution of this matter”.

Prof. Ayo Banjo (left); Prof. Bolanle Awe, Emeritus Prof. Ade Ajayi, his wife, Christie and Michael Omolewa at a meeting of contributing authors planned in honour of Ajayi in Ibadan ....yesterday PHOTO: NAJEEM RAHEEM

the presidents of Cote D’Ivoire and Ghana on the proposed Abidjan-Lagos Corridor on the sidelines of the AU event, at the time Nigeria was called. It was a meeting on infrastructure in West Africa. It is perfectly normal for Presidents to meet on the sidelines of any international meeting, and as the AU plenary went on yesterday, many Presidents stepped out to hold bilateral meetings, and return to the hall. Where they are listed to make a statement in a plenary session and as happened in our case, the President had gone to attend a meeting on the sidelines, the minister sitting in for the President can ask for a different slot to enable his Principal return to the hall to make the statement.”

The grand debate on pan Africanism and African renaissance put the leaders who gathered on Saturday resplendently in the main hall of the AU Commission (AUC)’s office on the hot seat as a special panel made up of the continent’s activists and respected Statesmen spoke truth to power, demanding from their leaders, sensible action to reclaim the continent’s economic sovereignty.

The business of marking the 50th anniversary of the AU’s progenitor, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) saw a departure from the usual format where speaker after speaker would make speeches echoing the African wound and thereafter ride on such lamentations to offer some sterile hopes after a usually lengthy closed door session.

Now, instead, the Heads of state, prime ministers and heads and representatives of government of the 54 member body and guests from around the world were confronted by presentations detailing the stark reality of a perennial lack of positive action by a specially raised panel who were given high seats on the main hall looking eyeball to eyeball to the continental leaders.

The panellists demanded from their leaders a remodelled governance structure, inclusion of Africans in the development process as well as the compelling need to change what they have called

Caverton Helicopters faults Reps’ report, denies links with Rivers on aircraft HERE may no end yet to the that there was an agency rela- veiling evidence other than Caverton Helicopters on the The company maintained T controversy trailing the tionship between Rivers State the mere say-so of a party to a said aircraft; evidence of pay- that the only relationship it Rivers State owned aircraft and the company, they went dispute.”

N565RS as Caverton Helicopters yesterday faulted the House of Representatives’ Committees on Justice and Aviation report that an “agency relationship” exists between it and the state government on the aircraft.

The aviation company denied the existence of such a relationship and demanded concrete evidence from those who claim otherwise.

In their report laid before the House last Thursday, the committees not only submitted

on to call for the prosecution of Caverton Helicopters “for providing information that led the authorities to wrongly believe that Rivers State Government falsified documents leading to grounding of its aircraft.”

However, in a reaction yesterday, Caverton Helicopters said it was surprising how the committees arrived at such weighty position and recommendation “without an independent, forensic investigation and without any counter-

“We expected more rigour, more nuance, more balance, and greater restraint from such an august body,” added the statement signed by communication consultant to Caverton Helicopters, Mr. Waziri Adio.

“We challenge those who insist on manufacturing an ‘agency relationship’ where none exists to show concrete evidence,” the statement said.

“Such concrete evidence should include mandate from Rivers State Government to

ment(s) to Caverton Helicopters with corresponding invoice(s) for the purported services provided by us to the State Government in the last eight months on this aircraft; executed management or agency contract between the State Government and Caverton Helicopters; and any correspondences (whether through letter or email) on the issue during the past eight-month period we were purportedly involved with the aircraft.”

had on the aircraft was an “unconsummated” one. “We were instructed by ACASS, a Canadian firm, to help apply for importation permit for the aircraft in August 2012,” the company said. “We sent a letter to the Minister of Aviation on August 27, 2012.

But the same ACASS told us to stop because it was no longer in charge of the aircraft. So that relationship was not consummated. And that was the last dealing we had on the aircraft.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27, 2013

4 NEWS

Residents revert to traditional communication mode in emergency states

Jang seeks Amaechi’s support CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

From Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri WELVE days after the shutT down of the Global System of Mobile Communication by the Military Special Operations (MISOP) against the Boko Haram insurgency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, residents and farmers in Borno State have resorted to traditional means of communication to reach their relations, friends and business associates.

The traditional means include the use of markets, schools, mosques and hilltops bordering Chad and Cameroun Republics at Gwoza and Pulka in Borno State, and Madagali and Michika in Adamawa State, which are under emergency rule recently declared by President Goodluck Jonathan.

As the cell phones of over 2.5 million subscribers were rendered useless since the shutdown of the four telecom firms’ services by the military troops on May 16, 2013, some of the residents have resorted to market places to pass their information to relations and friends.

A housewife and mother of three at the Maiduguri Monday Market, Hajiya Jumai Yakubu, told The Guardian on Sunday: “Oga, as I cannot now communicate with any of my relations to pass information with my handset, I met one of my friends in this market and have already relayed the important information to her so that she can tell exactly the message.”

Asked what the message was, Jumai said: “This information that I could have sent through my cell phone is very important and confidential and would not be publicly disclosed to you newsmen.”

Residents that could not go to markets pass or relay information through their relations or business associates, employ their children in primary and secondary schools to orally pass or deliver written letters to recipients living in other areas of Maiduguri.

Besides schools and market places, some residents use the churches and mosques.

At the Gomari Central Mosque in Maiduguri, which accommodates over 1,500 worshippers, about 250 parents exchanged confidential information through reliable relations or friends. The Guardian also learnt that such orally passed information include naming ceremonies, funerals and weddings billed to take place in other parts of the metropolis.

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (right); Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu; National Leader, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Bola Tinubu; Chairman of Phototech, Bola Adegunwa and former governor of Lagos State, Lateef Jakande, during a special prayer to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Oba Akiolu at the Iga Iduganran Palace, Lagos… yesterday.

U.S. finally removes Nigeria from Obama’s itinerary From Laolu Akande, New York DIRECTIVE from the White A House has cancelled outright the visit of United States’ (U.S.) President, Barack Obama, to Nigeria on his second trip to the continent, informed U.S. sources have confirmed.

While some middle level State Department officials had already intimated some U.S.-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on plans to include Nigeria on the U.S. President’s stops in Africa starting from next month, senior officials of the same department have hinted the Nigerian Government of the possibility of the nation’s exclusion due to some pressing, immediate and distant concerns of their government.

Apart from the Baga incident, which is seen as the immediate cause of the snub, it was disclosed that White House officials were also inundated with facts on how the President Goodluck Jonathan administration has abandoned the anti-corruption fight, especially by pardoning the former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

Other instances the White House officials are said to be concerned about on matters of corruption include the con-

troversial reports it had received regarding two important Federal Government ministries, the Petroleum Resources and Aviation.

The U.S. sources added that before last Monday’s announcement on the issue, the Nigerian Ambassador to the U.S., Prof. Ade Adefuye, was invited to the State Department to be formally updated on the situation at a meeting with several U.S. officials, led by the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Donald Yamamoto.

At the meeting, the American officials presented the Nigerian envoy with satellite photographs of the alleged Baga massacre, noting among other things that it made Nigeria’s inclusion in Obama’s visit very difficult.

Indeed, satellite pictures revealing damage to households in Baga had been made public by the Human Rights Watch earlier, but it was not immediately clear if the same pictures were the ones presented to the Nigerian envoy at the May 17 meeting the officials held with him.

However, it was learnt that Adefuye disputed the credibility of the photos since it claimed to be depicting more houses in Baga than actually existed. Also, there were persistent questions on the fact that the satellite-captured

photos could not have revealed who was responsible for the damage in Baga.

Meanwhile, a U.S.-based Nigerian group, the Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans (CANAN) had also made a statement earlier in the week that “President Obama’s visit would have benefitted the Nigerian people more than the Nigerian Government.”

CANAN noted that Obama went to Cairo “at a time dictators were all over the Middle East, and his critical speech provoked a major and productive societal revival, which democratic fervour is still very much in play in the Middle-East.”

It added: “A visit by President Obama, based on the widespread admiration he enjoys in Nigeria, would have served to mobilise the Nigerian people and push the country forward towards fulfilling its potential, the same fact for which the U.S. Government itself had described the country as its African anchor.”

However, State Department officials insisted that Nigeria’s exclusion from the presidential and high-level contact at this time had already been taken by the White House. In fact, after the meeting with Adefuye on May 17, the Secretary of State, John Kerry, is-

sued a public statement that for the first time, the U.S. had in its custody “credible allegations” against the Nigerian security forces in the implementation of the emergency rule ordered by President Jonathan.

It noted: “We are also deeply concerned by credible allegations that Nigerian security forces are committing gross human rights violations, which, in turn, only escalate the violence and fuel extremism.

“The United States condemns Boko Haram’s campaign of terror in the strongest terms. We urge Nigeria’s security forces to apply disciplined use of force in all operations, protect civilians in any security response, and respect human rights and the rule of law.”

According to sources, the groundwork to exclude Nigeria from the presidential visit to Africa, which was announced by the White House on May 20, was perfected after that announcement.

Nevertheless, it is believed that Adefuye was still making last ditch effort to convince the White House on the need for a rethink. Last year, the Secretary of State had left out Nigeria on his stops on an African tour, until Adefuye’s efforts caused a change of plans to include a stop in Abuja.

Uduaghan, cleric, at democracy day service, urge positive attitude From Nkechi Onyedika, Abuja S the nation braces up to A mark the yearly Democracy Day on May 29 with an inter-denominational church service at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, a cleric, G.O. Olutola, has warned that citizens need to work for righteousness as the only condition for permanent

peace, unity, security and development of the country.

Speaking on the theme, “Righteousness Exalts a Nation,” Olutola observed that righteousness is to do justice and protect the lives of the people, and that the absence of justice leads to insecurity.

And at Enerhen in Delta State, during an inter-denominational thanksgiving service to mark the 2013 Democracy Day and the second anniversary of his second term held at the Flock of Christ Mission, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan sued for unity among Deltans, imploring them to shun destructive rumours.

Speaking about the rumour of his death, he said he had a health challenge recently and rather than pray for his quick recovery, some persons were wishing him dead and planning to buy a casket

for his burial.

At the Abuja service, which had the wife of the President, Dame Patience Jonathan, and Senate President David Mark, among others, in attendance, Olutola pointed out that any nation that does not practise righteousness will face disgrace, just as Nigeria is rated as one of the most corrupt nations in the world.

He tasked Nigerians to show love, concern and compassion, especially to the poor of the society. The event, which recorded large turnout of worshipers, largely women in uniforms, included intercessory prayers for the nation and its people.

However, President Goodluck Jonathan was absent, as he was said to be attending the ongoing African Union conference in Ethiopia.

Meanwhile, Uduaghan urged Deltans to do away

with “ethnic hatred,” which he said leads nowhere but destruction, adding: “There is too much hatred for one another in the state and too much rumour mongering.

Recalling his “stormy election,” Uduaghan thanked all those who prayed for his victory. In a statement from the Government House Press Unit, he urged all Nigerians to pray for President Jonathan as he tackles Boko Haram and other national problems, noting, “we are all potential victims of Boko Haram and this is why we must support the President to win this war.”

Meanwhile, Rev. Simeon Okah said that man was created in the image of God, and for that alone, man should be thankful to God. He stressed “We must love one another and be united as a state, and together we shall make it as a state.”

nor on his ‘re-election’ as chairman of NGF. “Governor Rotimi Amaechi has become a pillar of hope in Nigeria’s democracy; his reelection has shown that the sanctity of the ballot could upstage the tyranny of potentates. It is our ardent hope that Governor Amaechi would discharge those double responsibilities by fighting for the oppressed people of this country who yearn that their voices and votes would count,” Mgbebu added.

The former legislator regretted that the dispute over the governors’ election would lead to intense politicking and concerns for the 2015 election thereby slowing down governance both at the federal and state levels, stressing that the governors were short-changing the masses that gave them the mandate to serve them.

Besides, the Coalition to Save Nigeria (CSN) yesterday described the crisis over the NGF’s election as a shame.

A statement by the national president of the group, Philip Ugbodaga, yesterday urged the governors to go back to their respective states and entrench development there.

The statement said the crisis could be linked to the 2015 general elections.

“What happened at the NGF election is quite disheartening and speaks volumes about what to expect in 2015.

It is not surprising that a body consisting of only 36 Nigerian governors is unable to conduct an election to change their leadership. The show of shame that played out is symptomatic of the general electoral immaturity that has characterised our electoral history since independence,” it said.

The statement wondered: “Where was the NGF when prices of petroleum products were criminally raised in 2012 in a country that is an oil-producing nation? What is the NGF position on the mass unemployment, abject poverty, and the unprecedented misery and hopelessness enveloping our country and what is their position on the massive corruption that is threatening the existence of our dear nation and the lack of affordable and efficient healthcare delivery in our country? When some people describe the re-election of Governor Rotimi Amaechi as a victory for democracy, rule of law, good governance, due process, courage, vision and transparency, we ask: what vision and what courage? Apart from perhaps Lagos, Edo, Akwa Ibom and a few other states, we challenge anyone to show us the evidence of the courage and good governance in the rest of the states!

We challenge anyone to show us the transparency in the application or misapplication, the use or misuse and the appropriation or misappropriation of the billions of naira entrusted to them since they mounted the mantle of leadership in their respective states.”

According to the group, neither Amaechi nor Jang nor the NGF holds the key to the socio-economic and political rejuvenation of the country.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27, 2013

Government okays commercialisation of FHA From Mathias Okwe, Abuja N a bid to confront the huge housing deficit in the country, the Federal Government has finally approved the commercialisation of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) to allow the establishment deliver on its mandate. Already, the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Ama Pepple has been appointed to chair the steering committee constituted to work out the details of the exercise.

The approval by the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) for the commercialisation of the FHA was one of the decisions taken at the third meeting of the Council in 2013 which held on Thursday, May 9, 2013 in the Presidential Villa Abuja, according to a statement yesterday in Abuja by the Bureau of Public Enterprises ( BPE), the Secretariat of the NCP. The statement was signed by the BPE Head of Public Communications, Mr. Ochigo Anichebe.

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NEWS 5

Tears, as SSS, families, pay last respects to victims of Nasarawa killings From Terhemba Daka, Abuja T was a sombre moment at the headquarters of the State Security Service (SSS) in Abuja at the weekend when authorities led family members and other friends of the Service to pay their last respect to fallen colleagues who lost their lives in mysterious circumstances in Assakio, near Lafia in Nasarawa state on Tuesday, May 7, 2013.

Wearing black attires, many of the personnel, including the Director-General, Ita Ekpenyong Ita, as well as some of the past DGs of the Service including the Minister of State for the FCT,

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Olajumoke Akinjide and well wishers last Friday night fought hard to control tears during the candlelight procession in honour of their 10 operatives who were brutally murdered during an official operation along with some policemen in the area.

The operatives who were allegedly murdered by the Ombatse militia group were Ninsel Ponfa, Benjamin Abughul, Mohammed Isah Gobir, Durfa Nandu Timman, Paul Samuel, Alliu Shehu, Thomas Nomsule Terzungwe, Daniel John, Julius Ber and Salihu Suhununu.

Pioneer Director General of

the Service, Gen. Abdulahi Mohammed, who also spoke during the occasion, decried the interference by the human rights community and other civil society organisations in the operations of security agencies in the country.

Mohammed used the opportunity to call on the National Assembly to come up with legislations that will provide protection for the security services assigned on operations to crisis areas in the country.

“The anger is that if a soldier is killed in these operations it is just a number, if a policeman is killed it is just a

number and if a member of the SSS is killed it is just a number. But if any member of the terrorist groups is killed you see the human rights people crying to the high heavens as if members of the security agencies have no human rights and families.

“All these frivolous accusations must be ignored completely,” he said, adding that security agencies should be supported and allowed to take action when necessary and not condemned.

But the SSS authorities have assured that the Service would not be deterred in carrying out its task of ensuring

Contractors get deadline on Imo hospital projects

SETRACO to complete Enugu-Abakaliki highway March 2014

From Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri NNOYED by incessant delays, Governor Rochas Okorocha at the weekend gave all the contractors handling the 27 general hospital projects in the local councils of Imo State six months to complete the jobs and hand them over to the government or face revocation of the contracts.

Okorocha, who gave the directive while inspecting one of the projects in Agbala, Owerri-North Local Council Area, expressed regret over the slow pace of work.

He reminded the contractors that the state government’s plan is to turn Imo into a healthcare destination where sick people from other geo-political zones would come and get their health needs, wondering why the projects were delayed after funds had been made available accordingly.

The governor said he would strictly monitor the projects and the deadline given to the contractors.

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From Leo Sobechi, Abakaliki HE contractors handling T the rehabilitation of the Enugu-Abakaliki interstate high way, SETRACO Nigeria Limited, has given March 2014 as the completion time for the road just as Ebonyi State government says it has commenced discussion with the company to dualise a portion of the road to compensate for work it has already done on the road.

Fielding questions from The Guardian in his office, the State Commissioner for Works and Transport, Mr. Chukwuma Nwandugo, disclosed that the state government decided to approach SETRACO with a view to reaching an understanding over the close to 12.5 kilometres it has dualised out of the trans-African highway.

Nwandugo, an engineer, explained that instead of waiting for the Federal Government to reimburse the state government for the work done on the road, it saw wisdom in discussing with SETRACO since the company was awarded the rehabilitation of the road.

that security of lives and property of Nigerians anywhere in the country is safe.

In an address at the occasion, the SSS DG, Ita Ekpenyong Ita said that the death of the 10 operatives would further embolden the service in carrying out its responsibility, adding that in spite of the losses, it will never be cowed.

“In the face of the tragedy, the enemy has only succeeded in making the Service stronger as it seeks to save our nation from the hands of evil.”

Speakers at the occasion were the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Saad Ibrahim, National Security Adviser, Ibrahim Dasuki and others.

Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha (left); Senate President David Mark, First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan and Secretary to the Government, Anyim Pius Anyim at the 2013 Democracy Day Interdenominational Church Service in Abuja… yesterday.

PHOTO: PHILIP OJISUA

Medical workers may begin strike Thursday Nigeria lost N2.6trn to 2012 flood, says NEMA From Joke Falaju, Abuja FINAL comprehensive assessment of total losses resulting from the 2012 flooding which ravaged many states of the federation has shown that Nigeria lost a total of N2.6 trillion. Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Muhammed Sani Sidi disclosed this while addressing the 4th Global Forum on Disaster Risk Reduction in Geneva, Switzerland at the weekend.

Sani Sidi said: “The comprehensive Post Disaster Needs Assessment conducted from November 2012 – March 2013 with the support of the World Bank and Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), United Nations, development partners and relevant ministries, departments and agencies put the estimated total value of infrastructure, physical and durable assets destroyed at US$9.6 billion.

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From Collins Olayinka, Abuja ROM Thursday, all the federal medical facilities in the country may be shut down as crisis between the workers and Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu may take a new turn. The health workers, under the auspices of Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA), have continuously called on President Goodluck Jonathan to relieve the Minister of the burden of administering health matters in the country, saying the university don has demonstrated the lowest level of inefficiency ever seen in Nigeria’s history of health delivery.

Indeed, The Guardian learnt that their exclusion from boards might be seen by the unionists as a slight on them and in equal measure, they have resolved to use

F

the strike action to force President Jonathan to remove Prof. Chukwu from office.

A document obtained by The Guardian and signed by the chairperson of JOHESU, Wabba Ayuba; secretary, W.G. Yusuf-Bamus; chairperson of AHPA, Godswill Okara, was unequivocal, saying, “we reiterate our call on Mr. President to relieve Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu of his appointment as the Minister of Health as he has failed in all ramifications to bring about industrial peace and harmony in the health ministry.”

Before now, most presidents and general secretaries of unions in the health profession got nominated into the boards of federal medical institutions.

Investigations by The Guardian at the weekend indicated that no union leader has so far been nominated into the recently announced

board members.

Indeed, the Chief Medical Director of Bida Federal Medical Centre had to call a union member last week to help trace a board member that was supposedly nominated to represent the interests of unions. As it turned out, this ‘member’ was unknown to the union she was supposed to be representing.

The Guardian also gathered that but for a meeting that was called at the instance of House of Representatives Committee on Health, which has been fixed for Thursday, the strike action would have been declared earlier than the Thursday date.

A source said in Abuja at the weekend: “It is unthinkable that a minister of health will put together lists of board members for federal medical institutions and no member is appointed from the union.

How then would the interests of workers be protected?

We in the movement know

that the minister did this to spite us. But that will only strengthen our resolve to demand his removal. Out of all the issues in dispute, not one has been resolved. We had attended a meeting at the instance of Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chukwuemeka Wogu, at which we agreed on a number of issues but weeks after that meeting, nothing concrete has been achieved. The minister did nothing to address all the issues at stake.”

The unions had on March 13, 2013, issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Ministry of Health to implement the May 10, 2012 collective agreement but had to shelve going on industrial action after the Minister of Labour and Productivity intervened.

Afterwards, at a meeting at the instance of Wogu, a memorandum of understanding was reached between the warring parties.

The memorandum provided

a six-week timeframe effective March 21, 2013 within which all outstanding issues in dispute would be addressed.

The issues in dispute are: implementation of the Justice Bello Abdullahi Presidential Committee report on harmony in the health sector; promotion of health professionals from CONHESS 14 to 15 in line with their respective schemes of service; implementation of the 2008 Job Evaluation Committee report; review of retirement age of healthcare professionals in teaching and research institutes to be at par with their counterparts in the university system; recomposition of the boards of management of tertiary health institutions to ensure equitable representation of health professional associations and registered trade unions.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27, 2013

6 NEWS

S’South states get N337.9m Sure-P fund

Group urges rebuilding of Nigeria

From Hendrix Oliomogbe, Asaba

From Nkechi Onyedika, Abuja

YEAR after the commencement of the Federal Government’s Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) about N337.9 million have been disbursed to the six South-South states of Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa.

Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu disclosed this yesterday during a town hall meeting with traditional rulers on the sensitisation and appraisal of the Community Service, Women and Youth Empowerment Project (CSWYE) of the programme in Asaba.

He further explained that each state has employed 3,000 persons in various SURE-P programmes and another 2,000 people per state will be added to the scheme this year.

Wogu said that about 3426 Deltans made up of 1610 males, 1816 females and 256 disabled persons were presently deployed to 256 SURE-P project sites in the state.

The minister disclosed about N83 million have been utilised so far from the oil subsidy saving as monthly stipends, basic hand tools and management requirement for these beneficiaries in state.

S Nigeria prepares for its A centenary celebration, a faith-based organisation,

A

Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu disclosed this yesterday during a town hall meeting with traditional rulers on the sensitisation and appraisal of the Community Service, Women and Youth Empowerment Project (CSWYE) of the programme in Asaba

Chairman, Government College Ibadan Old Boys’ Association (GCIOBA), Lagos branch, Wale Babalakin (left); Emeritus Professor of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Oladipo Akinkugbe; former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke and National President of the association, Biodun Jolaoso, at the annual luncheon merit award ceremony of GCIOBA, Lagos branch…yesterday PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

JTF impounds vessel, arrests 21 suspected oil thieves From Willie Etim, Yenagoa VESSEL, christened ERISHNA A DOLPHIN, suspected to be used for oil theft, has been impounded by troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, during anti-illegal oil bunkering water patrols along Southern Ijaw Creeks of Bayelsa State.

The vessel, which was intercepted by troops of 343 Regiment of Sector 2 JTF along Obi Creek in Southern Ijaw Local Council Area, has been secured by the security agents pending recovery to Brass terminal.

Also, 11 persons suspected to be oil thieves operating two barges laden with 7,500 and 500,000

litres of adulterated Automated Gas Oil illegally distilled from stolen crude, have been arrested at the Benteke Creek and Abonema Water Front in Rivers State by troops of 146 Battalion of JTF, Sector 2 for allegedly engaging in oil theft activities.

The Joint Media Coordinator of the JTF, Lt.-Col. Oyema Nwachukwu, in a statement in Yenagoa, said the barges, which are now secured at Abonema Wharf, were intercepted during one of the anti-oil theft patrols carried out by gun-boat troops of the battalion.

He said the suspects have been taken into custody by Headquarters Sector 2 to help in preliminary investigations, after which they will be handed

over to an appropriate agency for prosecution.

According to him, the Command’s anti-illegal oil bunkering and anti-pipeline vandalism operations have truncated the operations of a total of 21 illegal oil distillers and 41 pumping machines in Ondo, Edo and Delta states.

Fifteen of the illegal oil distilleries were discovered along Takula Creek and Itakpe at the boundary between Ondo and Delta states where 40 steel surface tanks and 25 pumping machines used in the illegal trade were scuttled. Other items recovered include 426 plastic tanks and 10,645 drums

used to store adulterated Automated Gas Oil distilled from stolen crude oil.

“Three other camps used for illegal distillation of crude oil were also scuttled in Gbelebu Village in Ovia South-West Local Council Area of Edo State, while three of the illegal oil distillation camps, which had 138 plastic tanks of 7500 litres capacity each, 23 steel surface tanks, 16 pumping machines, three power-generating set and one welding machine were discovered by JTF Patrol Team of 3 Battalion, Sector 1 at Otumara, Obe/Jesse communities of Delta state,” Nwachukwu said.

Nigeria Centenary Restoration Group, has stressed the need to build a new prosperous, strong and united country that would be a key player in the comity of nations.

Addressing journalists at the weekend in Abuja, Coordinator of the group, Rev. Chuks Alozie, noted that the alleged faulty foundation of Nigeria has affected governance, national growth, integration and the overall development of the country.

Alozie, who called on the church to use the opportunity of the centenary to review the foundation of Nigeria as a nation, said: “We agree with Nigerians that are disenchanted with the affairs in our nation, having been endowed, yet people are impoverished. There is a high rate of unemployment, poverty, hardship, crime and corruption which are challenging our corporate existence”.

The cleric observed that the amalgamation of Northern and Southern Protectorates to form Nigeria in 1914 was by divine providence, noting that the beauty of the country lies in its unity in diversity.

“If God has chosen us to live together in this geographical entity called Nigeria, the sovereignty and corporate existence of the country are not contestable and cannot be negotiated under any guise.”

Alozie, who faulted the prediction from some quarters that Nigeria would disintegrate by 2015, said the country would not break, stressing that the unity is sacred and sacrosanct.

NAFDAC, others laud verdict on My Pikin baby mixture From Emeka Anuforo, Abuja major stakeholders in Stry,OME the pharmaceutical indusincluding the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NFADAC) are celebrating the judgment against Barewa Pharmaceutical Ltd, producer of the controversial My Pikin baby mixture that was said to have caused the death of about 84 children.

A Federal High Court in Lagos last week wound up the pharmaceutical company. The Production Manager, Abiodun Adeyemo and the Quality Assurance Manager of the firm, Ebele Austine Eromosele, were sentenced to 14 years jail term on two separate counts.

Director General of NAFDAC, Paul Orhii, described the 14year jail term and confiscation of assets of Barewa Pharmaceuticals as a landmark in NAFDAC’s bid to deal with counterfeiters.

He told The Guardian that “It is the first time we have ever secured that kind of conviction. My Pikin was concluded to have been contaminated.

The manufacturer used Diethylene Glycol in place of Propylene Glycol in the prod-

uct.”

Diethylene Glycol is an ingredient in anti-freeze and brake fluid, which is also used as industrial solvent. Propylene glycol is harmless and sweet, used in a wide range of medicines and foods, but more expensive than Diethylene Glycol. Counterfeiters and chemical dealers push up their profits by selling the cheaper Diethylene Glycol as Propylene Glycol.

Meanwhile, Orhii and his management team have been commended for the milestone victory of the agency in the court.

The Country Manager of Sproxil Nigeria Limited, Mr. Lawrence Nwosu, commended Orhii’s courage and forthrightness in opening the case immediately he assumed office in 2009 and following through till the end to secure a conviction that would act as a deterrent to others.

Nwosu also hailed Justice Okechukwu Okeke of the Federal High Court, Lagos for sentencing the accused persons to 14 years’ jail term, saying it is a reflection of his doggedness and determination to join the fight to end the incidence of fake drugs in

Nigeria.

He said the judge’s action will serve as an inspiration to other judges in the world who are keen about eradicating the incidence of fake drugs by handing out severe punishments to offenders and not just a mere slap on the wrist.

According to Nwosu, the judgment will not only serve as a big deterrent but an affirmation of the support of the judiciary to the zero-tolerance for fake drugs declared by President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said: “A judgment of this magnitude has never happened before. This is the first time in the last 20 years since NAFDAC was established. This is a reflection of Orhii’s determination to end the incidence of fake drugs in Nigeria and I would like to urge him to do more.”

He said the forfeiture of the assets of Barewa Pharmaceutical Ltd by the court would send a strong warning to companies which are negligent about the likely implication their products will have on the health of Nigerians, urging drug manufacturers to take safety issues seriously in the manufacture of their products.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27, 2013

NEWS

Police arraign four over pipeline vandalism

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CD urges action against criminal activities in Onitsha

By Joseph Onyekwere

T

NON-GOVERNMENTAL A organisation, Campaign for Democracy (CD), has

Canada scores Nigeria’s democracy high, votes $5m for 2015 polls

lamented the rising criminal activities in Onitsha and urged Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State to move against the situation.

“There is a renewed wave of criminal activities by hoodlums and gangsters in Onitsha and its environs,” the CD said in a statement signed by its Chairman in South-East, Mr. Uzor Uzor.

According to him, three policemen were attacked recently while on duty at Niger Street, Fegge, near Onitsha Main Market, leading to the death of two of the three policemen.

“On May 3, a lady was ganged- raped opposite 15 Orlu Street, Fegge, near the former Onitsha-South Council Secretariat by hoodlums. A journalist, names withheld, was also shot on the left leg three days ago along Awka Road, Onitsha, by a gunman on a bike. Also, a school girl, 17, was robbed of her phone and N15,000 at Scout-White Street, Fegge,” it said.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NANS), CD said recently, some motorcycle riders, who specialised in robbing people at night in Onitsha and its environs, especially at major bus stops, had been operating in the area.

“Likewise, there have been increased thug and hoodlum activities in most parks in Upper Iweka axis, Onitsha, where three lives were lost recently. Guns and other dangerous weapons were freely used in the clashes, thus making bloodletting a common scenario,” it stated.

HE police have arraigned before a Federal High Court, Lagos four persons accused of pipeline vandalism and illegal possession of petroleum products.

They are Rasaq Sofiu, 32, Ahmed Bashorun, 40, Nofiu Banjo, 33 and Okonlawon Ojuleti, 32.

They are standing trial on a three-count charge of conspiracy, vandalism and unlawful possession of petroleum products and appeared before the court at the weekend. They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The trial judge, Mohammed Idris, however ordered that the accused be remanded at the Ikoyi Prison, and adjourned the case to June 28 for trial.

The prosecutor, Mr. Justin Enang, had told the court that the accused, all resident at the Ikorodu area of Lagos, committed the alleged offence on April 15.

He told the court that the accused were apprehended by the police on the said day at Arepo at about 8a.m., with several gallons of petrol, allegedly obtained from a vandalised pipeline.

Enang told the court that since the accused could not provide a satisfactory explanation of their unlawful possession of the products, they were arrested and detained.

He said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 7(a) and (b) of the miscellaneous offence Act, 2004, and Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, 2004.

From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City ANADA has expressed satC isfaction with the level of Nigeria’s democratic governance and pledged to spend $5 million to help conduct the 2015 general elections.

The Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Chris Cooter, who spoke at an interactive session with media and civil society groups yesterday in Benin, Edo State capital, said the Canadian government was essentially impressed with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC’s) conduct of the 2011 general elections and other subsequent polls in some states of the federation.

“We hope it will get better in 2015, and we have dedicated about $5 million to that project. We will be working with Prof. Attahiru Jega and INEC very closely to promote democracy in Nigeria,” he said.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NANS), the High Commissioner acknowledged that since his arrival in the country three years ago, “Canada has seen great improvement in governance in your country. It does not mean we have to have a revolution. But it just means that there has to be a little more of transparency in gov-

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Associate Discount House, Abubakar Jimoh (left), Chairman, Aigboje Aig-Imoukuede and Director, Larry Ettah, during the 19th annual general meeting of the Associate Discount House in Lagos.

PHOTO OSENI YUSUF

‘Forcing people to become Muslims is illegal, un-Islamic’

By Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin PROFESSOR of Islamic A Studies at the University of Ilorin, Yasir Quadri has described as heresy any attempt by any group or individual to coerce anyone into Islam.

According to Quadri, the Qur’an and Haddith (sayings of prophet Mohammed) and the Nigerian Constitution do not make the issue of religion

ernance and a bit more of good governance to make a difference in most peoples’ lives.

“It is never a straight path.

But a path that requires a lot of people working together.

But I am confident that Nigeria will make lots of progress because we have had a great year with Nigeria.”

The ambassador called for a vibrant presence of civil society groups as “a guarantor of good governance.” “I think you are getting it right now. I have travelled to 29 of the 36 states and we can see the improved difference in governance,” he said.

Cooter said his country was building a foundation that would work with Nigeria “in a way that has never been done before”, noting that “It is brand new. We are going to stand together and will also share our challenges together’’.

Cooter, who spoke on various relationships between the two countries with new trade relationships and exchange programmes that would boost socio-economic development in the country, however, called on the Federal Government to ensure that there were no cases of human rights abuses in the on-going state of emergency declared in some northern parts of the country.

Earlier, the Executive Director of Africa Network for

a compulsory one. He nevertheless did not condemn evangelism through the peaceful spread of one’s religion.

Therefore, in his views, members of the Boko Haram group who seemed to have taken religion to the point of extremism leading to intolerance are doing what offends both the Qur’an and Constitution of the country.

The don, who spoke at the

Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Rev. David Ugolor, had commended Cooter and his home government’s interest in the democratic growth of Nigeria.

weekend in Ilorin while delivering his inaugural lecture entitled “All In The Name Of God” said the provision of the constitution of the country on religion is in line with that of the Qur’an, noting that demands and mode of operation of the Boko Haram group are not Islamic.

He stated: “The stand of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution agrees totally to the view of the Qur’an on multi-religious community. Qur’an 10:99100 makes it clear that it is the wish of Allah not to make everybody a Muslim. He has given everybody the choice to choose which religion he/she wants to adopt.

“Qur’an 2:256 is emphatic on the issue of freedom of religion. It reads: “There is no compulsion in religion.

Verily, the right path has become distinct from the wrong path.”

Quadri stated that “from

these Quranic verses, it is clear that Boko Haram cannot claim to be an Islamic organisation.

Neither can it claim to be guided by the Tradition (sunnah) of Prophet Muhammad.”

He added that Qur’an forbids waging of war in the name of religion to coerce others to accept a particular faith or ideology, saying “it is live and let live.”

Quadri who disclosed that evidences from the tradition of Prophet Muhammad do not support the affiliation of Boko Haram to Islam said suicide bombing which is the major weapon of attack of the group against its target is condemned in Islam.

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THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27, 2013

AfricanNews After 50th anniversary, AU leaders tackle conflicts, others DAY after the African A Union’s (AU) leaders threw a lavish birthday party celebrating everything positive in the organisation’s 50 years of existence, they met yesterday to tackle ongoing conflicts on the continent among other issues.

The long-running unrest in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to Agence France Presse (AFP), dominated the start of the two-day AU meeting, as leaders from the Great Lakes region met for the first time since signing an agreement in February aimed at restoring peace in the region.

“A lot of progress has been made... I think we will be able to fix it, the Congo is going to be fixed,” Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete said after the meeting, on the sidelines of the main summit at AU headquarters in the Ethiopian capital.

Tanzania is sending 1,280 troops to join a new United Nations brigade with a mandate to conduct “targetted offensive operations” against rebels in DR Congo’s mineralrich east.

However, UN chief Ban Kimoon was more hesitant, saying that while progress was being made, promises on paper must be enacted on the ground.

“We will need the test of implementation,” said Ban, who visited the flashpoint Congolese town of Goma last week as part of a regional tour.

Mali is also expected to be discussed at the summit: it is about to receive a UN peacekeeping force to support French soldiers who have been fighting Islamist rebels in the country’s desert north

since January.

War-torn Somalia, where an AU force is battling Islamist insurgents, is also being discussed, including the thorny issue of a breakaway southern region, which threatens to create rifts between the central government in Mogadishu and neighbouring Kenya and Ethiopia, both with troops inside the country.

Leaders were also discussing a proposal to urge the International Criminal Court to back off the trial of Kenya’s leaders on charges of crimes against humanity.

The proposal, agreed by AU foreign ministers on Thursday, would ask the ICC to refer the trials of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and Vice President William

Ruto back to their home country.

The proposal would have no legal impact on ICC proceedings if passed, but would significantly boost Kenyatta’s standing on the continent.

Kenyatta and Ruto, elected in March, both face trial in The Hague for their alleged roles in orchestrating deadly violence after previous elections in 2007.

However, after hours of talking, diplomats said members were divided on the proposal.

If passed, it would be second time the pan-African body has moved formally against the ICC, even though Kenyatta is the second African leader to face trial after genocide charges were brought against Sudanese

Africa remains the world’s poorest continent and its most war-prone, but development indicators – including health, education, infant mortality, economic growth and democracy – have improved steadily in the past 50 years.

President Omar al-Bashir.

Amnesty International has urged leaders to throw out the proposal it said was a “worrying attempt by the Kenyan authorities to avoid justice”.

The rights group called on the 34 AU members who have signed the ICC’s founding Rome Statute – including Kenya – to “protect the international justice mechanism they have committed to”.

However, despite optimistic rhetoric at Saturday’s anniversary celebrations

praising the spirit of panAfricanism, the continent and the 54-member bloc is faced with divisions.

Splits revealed by the 2011 conflict in Libya – when members squabbled between those wanting to recognise rebels and those backing leader Muammar Gaddafi – showed its disunity and lack of global clout.

Gaddafi’s death also stripped the AU of a major source of funding. Leaders will discuss finding backers for the cash-strapped body at

the summit meeting opening yesterday.

Africa remains the world’s poorest continent and its most war-prone, but development indicators – including health, education, infant mortality, economic growth and democracy – have improved steadily in the past 50 years.

The continent is also home to some of the fastest-growing economies in the world, according to the International Monetary Fund, and has attracted huge amounts of foreign investment in recent years.

Brazil announced on Saturday it was cancelling $900 million (700 million euros’) worth of debt in 12 African countries as part of a broader strategy to boost ties.

Mugabe, in intimate documentary, claims Mandela too soft on whites

RESIDENT Robert Mugabe P of Zimbabwe, in a documentary giving a rare and inti-

mate look into his family life, has criticised South Africa’s former President Nelson Mandela for being too soft on whites, according to agency reports.

The 89-year old and one of Africa’s longest serving and most vilified leaders, in a cosy lunch setting with his wife and children, reportedly speaks on a wide range of issues from his controversial hold on power, to his relationships with former British premiers – Tony Blair and Margaret Thatcher.

In the two-and-a-half hour interview described in detail

by British and South African media ahead of its airing,

Mandela has gone a bit too far in doing good to the non-black communities, really in some cases at the expense of (blacks)… That’s being too saintly, too good, too much of a saint. shows the usually bellicose and sharp-tongued Mugabe as a loving family man.

A report by Agence France Presse (AFP) indicated that Dali Tambo – the son of South African anti-apartheid hero, Oliver Tambo – produced the documentary, which will be broadcast on South African public television next Sunday.

In the programme, Tambo dines with Mugabe’s family at his wife, Grace’s dairy farm.

The interview is coming just months before crucial general

elections in the country which in recent decades has gone from being the breadbasket of southern Africa to its biggest problem.

One of Africa’s most popular liberation leaders, Mugabe has clashed with the West over controversial policies, which saw white-owned farms violently seized over a decade ago.

In neighbouring South Africa, where white land ownership is still a flashpoint, Mugabe says former president Nelson Mandela was not hard

enough.

He said former colonial masters Britain – with whom he has had a fraught relationship over the land grabs –”will praise you only if you are doing things that please them”.

“Mandela has gone a bit too far in doing good to the nonblack communities, really in some cases at the expense of (blacks),” Mugabe said of his former South African counterpart.

“That’s being too saintly, too good, too much of a saint,” he is quoted as saying in the documentary in South Africa’s Sunday Independent.

Despite Mugabe’s disagreements with former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who died in April, he

says he preferred the Iron Lady to her later successor, Tony Blair.

“Mrs. Thatcher, you could trust her. But of course what happened later was a different story with the Labour Party and Blair, who you could never trust,” said Mugabe.

“Who can ever believe what Mr. Blair says? Here we call him Blair.”

But despite having governed for 32 years, Africa’s oldest ruler also insists on staying in power.

According to The Guardian in Britain, the topic of the upcoming vote unleashes Mugabe’s fiery rhetoric as he bangs his fist on an armrest and insists: “There is a fight to fight.”

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27, 2013

9

WorldReport Syrian war spills into Lebanon as rockets hit Hezbollah’s heartland SHI’ITE Muslim district of Beirut was yesterday hit by two rockets, driving home the risk of spillover from Syria’s civil war just after the head of Lebanese Shi’ite militant Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, said the group would keep fighting on the Syrian government’s side until victory.

A report by Reuters indicated that it was the first attack to apparently target Hezbollah’s stronghold in the south of the Lebanese capital since the outbreak of the two-year conflict in neighbouring Syria.

However, another report

by Agence France Presse (AFP) stated yesterday that Syrian regime forces backed by fighters of Hezbollah control 80 per cent of the strategic town of Qusayr, quoting a source close to the Lebanese Shiite movement.

“We still have to take another 20 per cent of Qusayr, since we took 10 per cent yesterday and the rest was already in our hands,” the source said, declining to be named.

In addition, “the main road between Baalbek and Homs has been secured,” he said, referring to a vital artery through which the powerful Shiite movement sends men

A

Bahrain wants Nasrallah stopped, pro-Assad forces now control Qusayr and equipment to Syria.

In another development, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister, Sheikh Khaled al-Khalifa, said yesterday that the leader of Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah is a “terrorist” who must be stopped.

“Terrorist Nasrallah has declared war on his nation,” said Sheikh Khaled alKhalifa on his Twitter

account.

“Stopping him and rescuing Lebanon from his grip is a national and religious duty for all of us,” he said.

Meanwhile, Twenty-two Hezbollah fighters were killed in the Qusayr battle on Saturday alone, a source close to the Lebanese group said.

“There were 22 killed on Saturday. Nine bodies were

repatriated the same day and the rest yesterday,” the source said.

The United States and Russia have proposed an international peace conference to douse a civil war that has killed more than 80,000 people, driven 1.5 million Syrians as refugees abroad and raised the spectre of sectarian bloodshed in the wider region.

which lay a mannequin dressed as Marianne, the emblem of France.

Some 4,500 security forces have been mobilised for this last-ditch show-of-force, which has seen opponents of the law travel to Paris from across France in specially chartered trains and buses.

In Poland some 10,000 protesters marched in solidarity with the French, to defend the traditional family structure.

Interior Minister Manuel Valls has warned that socalled “ultras” – many of them far-right nationalists – are expected to infiltrate the protest and cause unrest, and advised parents not to bring their children with them.

Many in the protest had however ignored the warn-

ing, bringing their children as others had in previous demonstrations.

“We keep hearing about a farright movement, I can see only families here,” said one man called Raoul, who came from the city of Dijon, some 300 kilometres (186 miles) away.

By mid-afternoon, no incidents had been reported despite the presence of farright activists, some of whom left the protest and briefly unfurled a banner urging Hollande to resign on the Socialist party’s headquarters.

Supporters and opponents of the bill began protesting last autumn when it was adopted by the cabinet, and continued to do so at regular intervals throughout the country during the legislative process.

Israeli-Palestinian peace possible, says Peres RESIDENT Shimon Peres of P Israel has declared that time should not be wasted in the search for peace between his country and the Palestinians, calling it “a real possibility”.

“Two points are urgent: We shouldn’t lose the opportunity because it will he replaced by great disappointment,” Peres told reporters on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on the banks of the Dead Sea in Jordan.

“We have to come over scepticism and doubts. Second, I feel it is a real possibility,” he said, speaking in English.

He said the two sides already have a “functioning” solution.

“As far as the Palestinians are

300 Maoist rebels on a convoy of local Congress party leaders and supporters in central India.

The land mine and gun attack on Saturday was the deadliest in three years, and the latest in a long-simmering conflict that pits the insurgents against authorities in the forests of mainly central and eastern India.

Congress chief, Sonia Gandhi, who rushed to the Chhattisgarh state capital Raipur along with Prime

IGNITARIES yesterday D joined hundreds of royalists in Serbia as Yugoslavia’s

Thousands rally against gay marriage in Paris marriage law, with police on high alert amid warnings hardliners could infiltrate the demonstration and cause trouble.

One of President Francois Hollande’s campaign pledges, the bill allowing same-sex marriage and adoption was voted into law on May 18 following months of protests across a country that has been bitterly divided over the issue.

“Yes to human dignity”, one banner read as protesters blowing whistles and horns marched. One man dressed in black, holding a scythe and wearing a mask of Hollande stood behind a coffin in

BOUT 24 people were A killed in an attack by a heavily-armed gang of nearly

Minister Manmohan Singh after the ambush, condemned what she called a “cowardly act” by the Maoists.

“It is not an attack on Congress or its leaders, but an attack on democratic values,” she told Congress party workers after visiting the injured, according to the Press Trust of India news agency.

State Congress chief Nand Kumar Patel, his son Dinesh, and former state home minister Mahendra Karma, who had set up a controversial anti-Maoist group in 2005, were among those killed in the assault in a remote tribal belt of the state.

Serbia reburies last Yugoslav king

Supporters of the anti-gay marriage movement, “La Manif Pour Tous” (Demonstration for all), take part in a march in Paris during a mass protest against a gay marriage law…yesterday.

PHOTO: AFP

HOUSANDS of people yesT terday marched through Paris to protest a new gay

Maoist rebels kill 24 in central India’s ambush

concerned, we have a functioning beginning and an agreed solution. The solution is the two-state solution – living in peace and dignity,” Peres said.

“I am aware of the missing links residing between the two ends. From my experience, I believe it is possible to overcome them, it doesn’t require too much time. It is the real interest of all parties concerned.”

Peres said time should not be wasted.

“This is an important opportunity to reiterate our will, not to waste time and to return to negotiations and complete the peace process with the Palestinians based on two states for two peoples — an Israeli state and a

Palestinian state living as good neighbours and cooperating economically for the good of future generations,” he said.

His remarks came a day after Palestinian president told the WEF that peace between Israelis and Palestinians is “still possible”.

Abbas called on Israel to “end the occupation of our lands”, evacuate settlements and free Palestinian prisoners.

“This is what will make peace and ensure security for you and for us,” he said.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday urged Israeli and Palestinian leaders to take “hard decisions” to restart talks, at the end of his fourth visit to the region since he took office in February.

last king Petar II Karadjordjevic, who fled the Nazi occupation of his country just days after being proclaimed monarch at the age of 17, was reburied with state honours.

The event took place in the central town of Oplenac, 43 years after King Petar’s death in the United States.

“Our king was forced to leave, he was forced never to set his foot back to his homeland, but now, finally, he is here where he belongs,” Milka

Radojicic, a 78-year old from the nearby town of Topola, said with tears in her eyes.

Petar was laid to rest alongside his mother Marija – a great-granddaughter of Britain’s Queen Victoria – as well as his wife, Alexandra, the daughter of King Alexander I of Greece, and his brother, Andrej.

Their coffins, draped in Serbian state flags, were laid out in the Orthodox church of Saint George during the liturgy performed by Serbian Patriarch Irinej before being taken to the royal family crypt in Oplenac.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27, 2013

10

Politics Governors’ Forum poll: Dangerous

By Ehichioya Ezomon (Group Political Editor) to this analysis on the election IitsNTRODUCTION of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and aftermaths last Friday is premised on the fol-

• If no, what did they do to remedy the situation before the election?

• If nothing was done to that effect, why did they participate in an otherwise flawed and not transparent process?

• Were they hopeful that their preferred candidate, Jang, would win in the balloting?

• Or they knew he would not win, and merely participated, to fulfill all righteousness and protest the outcome thereafter, to discredit the process, and achieve a preplanned goal?

More questions, and which bring us to the issue of “picture does not lie.” But that’s before the coming of the computer, which adepts can manipulate to produce images that do not represent or tell the actual story but intended to be taken as such by the gullible public.

Yet, that is not what the photograph on this page depicts. In it are identified real snapshots of some members of the Nigerian Governors Forum at the election. They are, front row: Dr. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State; Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Amaechi (Rivers); Murtala Nyako (Adamawa); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); and back row: Chief Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo) and Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State.

The photograph was taken on Friday during the announcement of the outcome of the election into the vacant seats of chairman and vice chairman of the NGF. Thus, the focus of attention of the governors and newsmen in the photograph was the Director-General of the NGF, Mr. Asishana Bayo Okauru (speaking into the microphone), the returning officer for the election, who declared Governors Amaechi and Ibrahim Yari of Zamfara State duly elected as chairman and vice chairman, respectively.

Announcing the result of the chairmanship, Okauru said: “The governor of Yobe was not present. We counted all the votes, and the chairman, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State emerged winner with a total of 19 votes against the governor of Plateau State (Jonah Jang), who secured a total of 16 votes.”

He gave the background to how Governors Yuguda (Bauchi) and Shema (Katsina) yielded the slot to Jang when the two could not agree to step down for one another.

He also said that Governor Mimiko (Ondo) withdrew from the race and yielded the vice chairmanship position to Governor

Abdul-Aziz Yari of Zamfara State, “who, as from today, is the vice chairman of the NGF.” Interestingly, none of the complaining governors is seen in the photograph, which might raise the poser: Was the picture taken after they had left the place?

Still, the issue remains that they were there while the voting was going on, they voted in the process and waited for the results to be counted, collated and being announced without as much as raising objection to the declared results at the venue of the election.

But amid the reported high-fives given by members of the Amaechi camp over their candidate’s triumph, the saddened governors made out of the venue and regrouped at the Akwa Ibom Lodge to denounce the election, and pick their own men — Jang and Mimiko — as chairman and vice chairman accordingly.

If the governors actually participated in the election, why wouldn’t they accept the results?

Commenting on the development, a respondent wondered if the governors have no honour, stressing, “Even among thieves, there’s honour.”

The source queried: “Why won’t these governors, who claim to be gentlemen, accept the results of the election, which they participated in? I’m surprised they turned around to denounce the outcome of the poll in which they voted without compulsion.”

Except that that outcome did not meet their expectations, as vividly illustrated by the press statement they distributed to journalists.

Entitled, Resolution of Nigerian Governors, it reads: “We, the undersigned governors of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, having taken cognisance of the state of the nation, and the perception of the Nigerian people, do hereby resolve as follows: “That we thank the outgoing chairman, His Excellency, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, Governor of Rivers State for his leadership and achievements.

“That we strongly agree for a change of leadership of the forum from May 2013 to May 2015.

“We hereby elect His Excellency, Jonah Jang of Plateau State as the new chairman.”

But as one media report noted,

lowing assumptions and axioms: • There was an election called, and conducted for the governors.

• Thirty-five governors were present and they voted according to their conscience in a secret balloting.

• At the end of the voting, Rivers State Governor and incumbent chair of the forum, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, was declared winner.

• There are photographs from the venue showing the results of the election being declared.

• Some governors, dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, convened in another location to choose their preferred candidate, as the new chairman of the forum.

• That a simple election, designed to choose the NGF chairman has been made to engulf, and, indeed, heat up the entire polity.

After several postponements, and the interplay of intrigues on both sides to the election, it was finally held at the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.

As expected in any contest, a winner emerged in Governor Amaechi, who sought a second term in office till 2015.

But, as it has become the norm rather than the exception in the Nigerian bruised electoral system, whether for public or private offices, some of the governors; in fact, majority of the state executives that took part in the exercise, protested its outcome.

Some of their complaints, which would seem an after-thought, are that: • Governor Amaechi should have resigned his position before seeking re-election • He ought not to preside at the election in which he was a candidate. • The governor used hundreds of armed policemen to barricade the entrance to the venue of the election so as to prevent them from staging a walkout before the polling.

So, for these reasons, according to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State and Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF), Chief Godswill Akpabio, Amaechi breached the rules and regulations of the NGF. Consequently, the aggrieved governors, numbering 19 on paper, announced the choice of the Plateau State governor, Jonah Jang, who stood at the election against Amaechi, as the new NGF chairman.

The governors include: Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Jang (Plateau), Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo (Gombe), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Garba Umar (Deputy Governor of Taraba), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Peter Obi (Anambra), Idris Wada (Kogi), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Mukhtar Yero (Kaduna), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Martin Elechi (Ebonyi), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Theodore Orji (Abia), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), and AbdulFatah Ahmed (Kwara).

The questions to ask are numerous, among them: • Did the distressed governors participate in the election?

• If so, were they forced to do so?

• Did they point out the complaints they now leveled against Amaechi before the election?

• If yes, what was the Results of the election being announced by the Director-General of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum... on Friday. response?

“the entire statement was typed,” but Jang’s name “was written with pen, which indicated that his coming into the race was not predetermined.”

Undeniably, a close scrutiny of the statement showed that it was prepared well in advance of the election; or that many of the names and signatures of the 19 governors were forged.

Either of the scenarios is tenable in this circumstance.

First, paragraph 2 of the original statement reads: “That we strongly agree for a change of leadership of the forum from April 2013 to April 2015.”

Does that ring a bell? Well, the dates were crossed out with pen and replaced with: “from May 2013 to May 2015.”

Second, the 19 governors purportedly signed the statement after the election was rejected.

But when the statement was being read to journalists at the Akwa Ibom Lodge, only 10 governors were present. They were: Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Idris Wada (Kogi), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Martin Elechi (Ebonyi), Jonah Jang (Plateau), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Peter Obi (Anambra) and Theodore Orji (Abia).

The logical question: Where were the other nine governors who signed the statement?

Third, when actually was the statement made and signed? Was it before or after the election, and at what grounds — at the poll venue or elsewhere?

It would have been plausible to assume that the statement was prepared after a meeting of the aggrieved governors at the behest of Governor Akpabio.

“But a close examination of the statement would reveal otherwise,” according to a source. “Note that Governor Ibrahim Geidam (of Yobe State) and Governor Dankwambo (Gombe) were reportedly not at the meeting(s), including, maybe, the one at the Akwa Ibom Lodge, and the election, although the Director-General of the NGF only mentioned Geidam as being absent from the voting.

Yet, they signed the statement personally — and not that some persons signed for them.

So, where did

POLITICS 11

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27, 2013

‘

dress rehearsal

NGF’s crisis portends danger to democracy, say Falana, Musa, Osoba, Agbaje, Adeeko

By Abiodun Fanoro and Seye Olumide

Interestingly, none of the complaining governors is seen in the photograph, which might raise the poser: Was the picture taken after they had left the place? Still, the issue remains that they were there while the voting was going on, they voted in the process and waited for the results to be counted, collated and being announced without as much as raising objection to the declared results at the venue of the election.

’

they get them to append their signatures to a document that was prepared immediately after the election?

Except, of course, the signatures were forged.

“And that’s something the governors wouldn’t do or like to be associated with,” a source said, stressing, “the statement was prepared well in advance of the election.”

“And I can tell you that the statement was taken to the election venue, but its release was shelved, perhaps to save themselves (governors) the embarrassment of reading it there and face questioning from journalists.”

Which leads to the next line of reasoning: The statement was prepared ahead of the election.

Recall media reports in the run-up to the election that the pro-presidency governors, in league with the PDP secretariat and its affiliate PDP Governors Forum, headed by Akpabio, were collecting signatures of anti-Amaechi governors.

This would explain the appearance of the names and signatures of Governors Geidam and Dankwambo on the statement read to the press by the anti-Amaechi governors on Friday.

Governor Jonah Jang, who claimed to be the chosen new chair of the NGF, partially answered this puzzle when he addressed his new group and the press.

According to him: “The northern governors met in the morning (of Friday) and both Shema and Yuguda (who had obtained the form to contest the chairmanship of the NGF) agreed to step down and I was asked to take their place.

“The PDP governors also agreed and endorsed the action.

“Any further discussion about the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, I should be addressed as the chairman of the forum as from today.”

Jang’s declaration that he stood by the pre-election arrangement of the PDP governors endorsing him as their candidate is amusing, and a further proof that the statement to the press was prepared in advance of the election.

Besides, as a respondent argued, the anti-Amaechi group’s claim that they “elected” Jang outside the purvey of the NGF’s constitution, and without the participation of the 36 states’ governors “amounts to a coup against the leadership, and, indeed, the entire membership of the NGF.” This sits well with the alleged issue of a ‘Plan B’ by the anti-Amaechi governors, which, beyond doubt, they displayed on Friday. From the foregoing analysis, it is definite that the governors’ statement read to the press was prepared in advance, as the signatures thereto signify.

And why would they prepare a statement in advance of the election? The only explanation being that they saw the handwriting on the wall, even as they were marching into the venue of the poll.

Indeed, on the eve of the election, a source close to one of the arrowheads of an antiAmaechi group disclosed that, “the situation (getting majority votes for the pro-presidency candidate at the election) is very dicey. We are not sure of the outcome.”

Pressed for details, the source said: “We fear he (Amaechi) will win. Everything we have tried, but the outcome is still cloudy. We hope things will change as we move along.”

And in the event of failure of their candidate, the source said: “We wait and see. But I know there’s an option. We may have to use that.”

Is that option or ‘Plan B’ the same as the statement the disaffected governors read to journalists, discounting the election the Returning Officer, Mr. Okauru, described as transparent?

If it were, it has served one purpose: to discredit the election, and further polarise the tottering forum. But the bigger purpose is to weaken the body and take out bite from its bark, as that had reportedly been the presidency’s grouse with the group, and especially its chair, Governor Amaechi.

Amaechi is accused of standing up to the presidency in matters concerning the Federal and State Governments, which the governor pursued and defended in the interests of the states.

While he has had brushes with presidential aides, and also allegedly tangled with the wife of the president over the demolition of the waterfronts in Port Harcourt; Amaechi crossed the Rubicon when he dared to aspire to the presidency as a possible running mate to Sule Lamido of Jigawa in 2015.

This ambition directly challenged President Jonathan’s reported, but obvious bid for a second term in office in the same 2015.

“An Amaechi from the same South-South would put that ambition in jeopardy,” a source said last night.

“This is the crux of the crusade to stop Amaechi from even re-contesting not to talk of winning the chair of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum,” the source added.

But that plot, if there was one in reality, appeared to have failed last Friday, giving Amaechi a somewhat temporary reprieve.

Like his Nemesis, certainly, the under fire governor could have had a Plan B in the event that he lost at the election, which was not a farfetched possibility, considering the forces that were ranged against him: the presidency; the national leadership of the PDP; a faction of the Rivers State chapter of the party; the individual governors opposed to his aspiration; the PDP Governors Forum; and a motley of former militant leaders in the Niger Delta, who protested in Port Harcourt for days and demanded his resignation.

But the supposed Amaechi Plan B is of no use at the moment; it has to be reserved for future eventualities, as the forces against him may not relent unless wise counsel prevails in the realisation that power belongs to God. It’s noteworthy that while hailing his election as a sign of matured democracy, the governor pledged to work with the president, who’s away in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia when the election held, to achieve his government’s agenda for the country.

But whether this assurance encompasses his backing for Jonathan’s 2015 push will be discernible in no distant time. And the earlier he defines that position, the better for his political career.

Until then, the public keenly is watching Abuja, Port Harcourt, Jos, Gusau, Akure, and Uyo — the operational bases of the Presidency and the PDP national secretariat; Governor Amaechi and the local chapter of the PDP; Governor Jang, Governor Yari, Governor Mimiko, and Governor Akpabio, correspondingly — for the latest scheming on the road to 2015!

EACTIONS have continued to trail weekR end election of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the aggregate view is that of bewilderment, disappointment, fear and condemnation.

Among those who spoke to The Guardian are: Lagos lawyers Femi Falana (SAN), Sunday Adeeko and Fred Agbaje; and former Governors Balarabe Musa and Segun Osoba.

Falana, a former President of the West African Bar Association (WABA, deplored the action of those governors loyal to the Plateau State Governor, David Jang, who refused to accept the outcome of the Forum’s election.

Falana noted that the wrong message their action has sent to Nigerians and the international community is that the governors could not conduct a valid and acceptable election.

“The inability of the 35 state governors to conduct the election of their officers has exposed Nigeria to ridicule before the international community,” he said.

“I have confirmed that Nigeria was a butt of jokes at the venue of the just-concluded Conference of the African Union when it was reported that governors in Nigeria could not successfully conduct election of their club members.”

He feared that if state executives could reject the results of a club election, the dangerous practice might be extended to the 2015 general elections.

“More so, that some official thugs have threatened that Nigeria would break up if a particular candidate is not re-elected by Nigerians,” he said.

Falana said it is disturbing and distasteful to hear self-confession by the pro-Jang governors that the name of those who would vote for Jang had been compiled before the election.

“What this clearly means is that the election had been concluded even before voting started,” he said, adding, “this is not only unacceptable, but it also gave a glimpse into how rigging is carried out in the country’s various elections.

He criticised the governors for saying that Amaechi did not resign before the election, and challenged them to tell the public if they resigned before they re-contested their elections as governors.

“In any case, having not complained before the NGF election for the candidates of their choice, all the 35 governors, who took part in the election, are deemed to have waived any right to challenge the procedure collectively adopted and agreed upon by them at the voting centre,” he said.

Mr. Adeeko, who is also a political commentator, described as a show of shame the proJang governors’ rejection of the results of the Forum’s election.

He blamed the crisis on the presidency, which, he said, was bent on hijacking all institutions to satisfy the political interest of just one person in 2015.

“Although I am not particularly impressed with the achievement of NGF since its inception, the controversy generated by the past election shows that it has become a major stakeholder in Nigeria’s polity,” he said.

“The reactionary forces are bent on decimating the NGF, as they have done to other like institutions. It is such a shame.”

Alhaji Balarabe Musa, who heads the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to tread carefully over the controversies surrounding the election of the NGF. Musa blamed the president for unnecessary meddling in the governors’ affairs, as a result of his 2015 ambition.

He said nobody should try to deceive Nigerians again, as the president is personally involved in the Governors’ Forum election because of his desperation to contest in 2015.

“He wanted to manoeuvre every institution in the country ahead of 2015 and the NGF are not willing to concede to such; that was the reason such controversy is coming up this time,” he said.

“I don’t see why Mr. President should be interested in who becomes the chairman of

the forum, as long as the body is a mere association of state executives where they regularly meet to discuss and thinker on the development and happenings in their states.

“The bond of unity, nationality and focus of the NGF is becoming a threat to the 2015 ambition of Jonathan and he is ready to do whatever is in his power to dislodge them or impose a surrogate chairman on the forum.”

Interpreting what he claimed Jonathan was trying to do by imposing his choice chairman on the NGF, Musa said, “Jonathan is gradually tilting towards dictatorial tendencies to achieve his aim. He should allow the governors to do what they want, choose their chairman without interference.”

He added that what the Governors’ Forum is doing is better than what the governors in the Second Republic did.

“I personally salute the courage of the present governors and I can boldly say that they are doing better in terms of cooperation and progressiveness than what we did during the Second Republic,” he said.

“They are more progressive in nature and irrespective of their different political backgrounds, states and parties, they were able to form a common front, discuss the progress and development in their states, rally round their members whenever there is the need and also extend developmental ideas across to one another.

“The forum has brought development to the politics in the country; it is about the only existing institution in Nigeria today that represents oneness.”

He also condemned the purported move to impose Governor Jang as chairman of the forum, saying: “I wonder where this country is heading. Someone like Jang, who has not been able to bring about peace in his state in the last eight years, cannot be imposed as chairman of the forum.

“My advice to Mr. President is to desist from anything that would plunged Nigeria into more crisis.”

To constitutional lawyer, Mr. Agbaje, the president has no right to interfere in the NGF election, “if we are practicing a true and fair federalism.”

Calling for caution on both sides, he urged that the presidency and the governors must maintain the principle of integrity on the matter.

“What happened has revealed that the president has always been in control of what goes on in the various states and that was what the governors tried to avoid by voting their choice chairman,” he said.

“Principle of intimidation, headmaster and school boy or master servants must stop in this country.”

Explaining that Jonathan could not claim not to be involved in the NGF election, Agbaje said if Governor Amaechi had lost, Jonathan would have been the first to congratulate whoever was the winner.

“But with the development, the two parallel sides that emerged would be very good for the coming 2015 election,” he said.

“The governors can now strategise and work according to their conscience in the coming elections instead of the usual bandwagon effect of the past.”

Still, Agbaje expressed worry that if the governors could not organise their election free from rigging, “how can we then thrust them to conduct free and fair elections in the various councils.”

“The NGF election has revealed a lot of issues that would make the 2015 elections very interesting,” he said.

However, Chief Osoba, a chieftain of the ACN and former governor of Ogun State, said President Jonathan has every right to meddle in anything, as long as it has to do with politics and interest.

“It is, however, the governors, who should stand up and defend their right,” he said, adding, “as long as it remains a game of interest and politics, you cannot rule that out.”

METRO 13

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27, 2013

Photonews

Head, Legal Services, Stanbic IBTC,Angela Omo-Dare (left), Headmistress, Corona School, Victoria Island (VI), Ifueko Thomas, Head Girl of the school,Adi Shnayder, Head Boy, Kero Ogufere, and Special Duties, Seun Osiyemi, during an interactive forum on financial literacy with pupils of Corona School, VI, as part of the 2013 Children’s Day activities ...on Saturday PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

Senior Programme Manager, Africa, Vital Voices Global Partnership, Celena Green (left); President/Chief Executive Officer, Vital Voices Global Partnership,, Alyse Nelson; Chairperson, Women in Management, Business and Public Service(WIMBIZ), Mrs. Adeola Azeez, Management and Strategy Consultant, Mr. Adedotun Sulaimon and Senior Advisor, Africa Economic Development Policy, Open Policy Foundations, Obiageli Ezekwesili at the Supporting Public Advocacy for Regional Competitiveness (SPARC) Programme and Forum organised by Vital Voices Global Partnership and WIMBIZ in Lagos.

WAPA trains women in Lagos

By Banji-Idowu Bolanle AGOS State Ministry of LPoverty Women Affairs and Alleviation (WAPA)

Former Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Mbang (middle), organizer of Mbang’s Spelling Prodigy for Primary and Secondary Schools in Akwa Ibom, Mr. Ini Mbang (aka Brandiny) with the winners of the Spelling Prodigy: Bright Future Secondary School, Uyo and Pegasus Primary School, Eket after the competition in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State…

has commenced its regular Skill Acquired Training Programme at the instance of the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, The training programme, which runs simultaneously in different locations across the state, is designed to train grassroots women and youth to make them self-dependent.

Ikorodu Constituency 1, Mosan Okunola Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Secretariat, Apapa, Coker Aguda and Mainland Local Government are expected to benefit from the first phase of the programme, while other local

councils will benefit from the second phase.

Ikorodu Constituency 1 and Mosan Okunola LCDA were among the constituency that started the programme penultimate Monday and about 1,000 people participated in the programme.

Various vocations such as balloon decoration, cake baking, pomade/soap making, beads stringing, weaving, hair dressing, insecticide production, stove thread making and event decoration, tie and dye are being taught at the centres.

Honourable S.O.B. Agunbiade from Ikorodu Constituency 1 said WAPA is about women, even though some men also participated in the programme. He said that among the things they benefited from the pro-

gramme was the Ministry of Health that came to do the test for breast cancer, hypertension and others. He said the programme is not for fun, is to make people to be self-employed. He said they would try and empower the best 50 participants to give them stipend to start on their own as soon as they finish.

He said almost 100 people are enjoying interest-free loan from Skye Bank.

One of the participants, Mr. Ogunfeyibo Adeolu, a retiree that came to the programme, said that he learnt a lot of things about soap making. He said that after the programme, if the government can empower them by supporting them financially, he would be able to make the soap.

President of Sierra Leone, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, his wife, Lady Sia Nyama and Wife of Nigeria’s President, Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan receiving a flower from a girl during the launch of Teenage Pregnancy Strategy and the Second National Conference of Traditional and Religious Leaders in Sierra Leone PHOTO STATE HOUSE

Fayemi to deliver eighth Ransome Kuti Memorial Lecture KITI State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi will speak on how to E “tackle the challenge of health and social inequity” at the eighth yearly Professor Olikoye Ransome Kuti Memorial Lec-

Chairman, Grand Oak Nigeria Limited, Mr. Anil Ahhiwelia (left), outgoing Managing Director, Grand Oak Limited, Mr. Babatunde Bajulaiye, new Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Grand Oak Limited, Mr. Askay Kumar and Commercial Director of the company, Aare Fatai Odesile, at the sendforth ceremony in honour of the retiring Bajulaiye, in Oregun Lagos...at the weekend.

ture, on Saturday, June 1, 2013 at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos at 11.00a.m.

Organized by the Women’s Health and Action Research Centre (WHARC) and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), it is named after Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, who epitomized ethical standards and principles in health care throughout his career.

The Chairperson of WHARC Board of Trustees, Lady Winifred Onyeonwu, said the lecture would demonstrate an example of good health governance by a state in Nigeria and point the way forward for others to follow.

Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka will chair the session, while Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, Ogun State Governor’s wife, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun and Dr. Ado Muhammad, Executive Director of the NPHCDA will be special guests.

Ransome Kuti

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27, 2013

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14 | THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27, 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 Amnesty Committee and the task ahead HE activities of the recently inaugurated Amnesty Committee seem to have become a media fanfare in ways that could detract from its salient task of producing a blueprint for finding peace and weaning the Islamic militants currently attacking Nigeria from the path of violence.

While the media is awash with news of persons it has met, locations it has visited, speculations about the psychological state of its members and its inability to establish contact with the leader of Boko Haram, Alhaji Imam Abubakar Shekau, the committee further raised the media hype with an interim report. In the controversial report, it advised the government on the need to release women and children of Boko Haram members to facilitate dialogue with the sect it has yet to meet. Its position was based on the absence of concrete evidence to establish their culpability in terrorist activities. Also, the committee sought to convince the cynical members of the sect and the general public of its commitment to fairness and justice without any discrimination.

Given the weight of its assignment, there ought to be no basis for these avoidable diversions and publication of an interim report, which has further stirred victims’ sensibilities. Achieving its objective is more important than the distracting media hype and attention. It is common knowledge that Nigeria is in the throes of a national security crisis with the persistent and continuing attacks on innocent Nigerians, churches and security personnel in northern parts of the country, especially the North-East for four years on by the Islamic militant group – Boko Haram.

In the light of the state of affairs, managers of the country have been challenged to find lasting solutions to the lingering insurgency. Indeed, the need for an all-round strategy to rein in the Islamic insurgents has been canvassed by well-meaning Nigerians. Amnesty for the insurgents lately gained currency and the Jonathan administration after an initial hesitation moved to embrace the suggestion and concretise the effort by the constitution of The Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, otherwise known as the Amnesty Committee. Made up of eminent Nigerians, its task is to dialogue with the Boko Haram Islamic sect at the centre of the simmering crisis.

The Amnesty Committee is expected to squeeze water from stone or in the words of President Jonathan ‘perform magic’ to end the problem that has ruptured the peace in the country and hampered development. The Committee headed by Special Duties Minister, Kabiru Turaki, has a threemonth mandate to establish link and open up dialogue with the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunnah Lid Da’awati Wal Jihad, otherwise known as Boko Haram, to develop a structure for disarmament, work out an enduring preference that could form the basis for granting amnesty, including a comprehensive victims’ support programme. Besides, the committee is expected to come up with suggestions on how to deal with the root causes of the crisis to avert future security breaches in the country. Truly, this is an enormous task.

The activities of the Islamic militants have remained a cause of concern to many Nigerians and the international community. Perception and reality underscore the country as anarchical, fragile, and failed following the activities of the insurgents who have bombed targets in several places, including the country’s capital city of Abuja with heavy toll on lives and property. Websites of many embassies in the country are replete with travel warnings about safety in many parts of the country. This has obvious implication for Foreign Direct Investment flow and ultimately development in the country.

Today, the questions in search of answers are: Are there genuine political reasons behind the activities of terror organisation such as the Boko Haram and how could they be addressed? This is the urgent and sensitive task before the political authorities in our country and in particular the Amnesty Committee.

It is important that the committee should remain faithful, stay the course and come out with results and avoid diversionary reports. The task before it is more than a media affair and events seemed to be moving faster than the pace of its work with the recent declaration of a state of emergency in three states of the federation, namely, Adamawa, Borno and Yobe by the president. The state of emergency underscores the sheer size of the problem at hand and a further prod for the committee to produce results. It is an arduous task, the success of which would be an immense contribution to the peace and development of the country.

Given the integrity of its members, there is no doubt that the committee will justify the confidence reposed in it by all Nigerians.

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LETTERS

Opon Imo yet to be launched Having read through SAyoIR: the article written by one Aluko-Olokun in The Punch of Thursday 16th of May, 2013 titled ‘Osun: Why Launch Opon Imo in Lagos?’, I came to the sad conclusion that the writer does not have the slightest clue of what `Opon Imo’ is all about. I got more disappointed that the writer is a journalist and a public affairs analyst. With this kind of writing, the writer has succeeded in misinforming the public about the computer learning tablet called Opon Imo. For your information, Mr. Aluko-Olokun, the Opon Imo has never been launched anywhere under the sun, not in Lagos and not even in Osogbo. What has been held so far has been series of press briefings, including the one

in Lagos, on the conception and progress on the project.

There has been a pilot study last year when the device was given to a few students in Osogbo for test running and collected from them after a few weeks. To date Opon Imo is yet to be launched, but it will be launched on June 3rd, 2013 at Ilesa.

The Opon Imo is the best thing that could happen to any student anywhere in the world. The advantages this learning tablet has over physical textbooks are immense.

Which textbook in the world can ever have up to 63 subjects in it? Perhaps the writer needs to come down to Osun to see for himself. You cannot sit in Lagos and be passing judgement on the government of Osun. This precious gem in the hands of these stu-

The reality about national integration There are many forces threaten the existence Sof IR:that National Integration in our society. One of them is the strong feeling we harbour about our tribes or religion, which often clash as a result of manipulation by some politicians. This diversion hinders the contribution by the individual to the development of the country.

Political instability is also another factor that makes integration look like a myth.

Again, our children tend to grow up with the least orientation about how important it is for them to dwell together in peace and harmony. It

means more resources, peaceful co-existence, sharing and caring, development and most of all living life to the fullest. I have learnt that a good name is better than riches. Nigeria can be that excellent example in the future if we strive towards this great achievement.

Nigerians should join hands to be their brother’s keepers.

Addressing the root of conflict could change so many things.

We all need social orientation.

But then, a visionary leadership is needed to initiate the concept.

• RahilaMatagi John, The University of Maiduguri.

dents is equipped with solar chargers and does not rely only on electricity to function.

It contained a lot more than textbooks. It is compact. The students cannot visit any other site on it apart from the purpose for which it was made for.

It is loaded with all the learning aid the students need on the senior secondary school level to make good grades in senior secondary school examinations.

In this generation of ours that even JAMB is trying to make students write examinations on the computer, how will they learn to use computers if they are not introduced to it while in school? All over the world people now gather information on the internet. In developed world, big bookshops are folding up by the day.

I also wish to correct your claim that there are demonstrations and strikes everywhere in Osun. The government of the state of Osun is a responsive government that does not joke with the well being of its citizens and workforce. The lecturers that are on strike have already called it off.

Other workers in the state are at work and doing well.

Mr. Aluko-Olokun’s write up was characterized by biases and condemnation throughout. He refused to acknowledge the good work the present administration is doing in Osun. My advice to him is to always get his facts right before heading to the press.

• Mrs. Titi Ajayi, Ilesa, Osun State.

ThE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27, 2013

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Business How multiple levies, insecurity, unfavourable clime harmstring port operations Page 54 BOA,ministry seal N3.5b pact fortractor procurement From Mathias Okwe and Joke Falaju, Abuja hE Minister T Agriculture and Development,

of Rural Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has said that the era when farmers in Nigeria toy endlessly with babies strap on their backs under the sun and rain using toes and knives for cultivation of their farmlands are fast coming to an end. he made the declaration at the weekend in Abuja, during the signing of a

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between his ministry and the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) for the procurement of 400 tractors for farmers under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

Under the deal worth N3.5 billion, tractors are to be supplied to some 60 centres across the country, where farmers who have been registered and identified can hire from a pool for the cultivation of farmlands aimed at reducing the stress associ-

The MoU will form the basis for establishing Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprises to be equipped with 400 units of tractors ated with manual farming methods so as to attract the youth back agriculture and upscale food production in the country.

The new strategy replaces the former system, which the minister said was fraught with corruption as tractors procured were

refurbished and always collapse after few usage.

Adeshina said: “The MoU will form the basis for establishing Agricultural Equipment hiring Enterprises to be equipped with 400 units of tractors that all help to put up an additional 152,000 hectares

President Goodluck Jonathan (right); in a warm handshake with Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Jibril Aku; and Group Chief Executive Officer of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, Thierry Tanoh, during a courtesy visit to the President.

CBN explains stakeholding in N5.7 trillion AMCON bond

By Chijioke Nelson hE Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, said that out of the N5.7 trillion bonds, the apex bank is holding N3.6 trillion, under the Special Class bond, which it used as a risk mitigation strategy.

Sanusi made the disclosure in Lagos, at the first National Risk Management conference, with the theme: “Our Ever-Changing Risk Context: New Channels, New Risks.”

Sanusi explained that AMCON, as an agency under the regulation of CBN, did not just purchase non-performing loans, but that it was a measure to fill in the hole that existed because of theft and recklessness in the financial system, leaving a negative networth in many financial institutions.

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“The unique thing we did, in recognition of the hole that was created was to have a structure that prevented the loan taken by AMCON from being borne by government and taxpayers and agreed with the banking industry that they will put in the money over 10 years.

“Today, AMCON has bonds with a face value of N5.7 trillion, with CBN holding N3.6 trillion value. This was not the original intent, but also part of the risk management.

“Many banks that got early bonds, did so when interest rate was seven per cent and by the time we completed the capitalization of the other banks, interest rate has moved up with about 500 to 600 basis points.

This would have been huge erosion of the capital of those banks and that would have just thrown these banks back to where they

were.

“So, CBN swapped the AMCOM bonds for Open Market Operations bills and other instruments that will not carry those market risks and we had N3.6 trillion out of N5.7 trillion. AMCON is expected to pay back N1.7 trillion by December this year or at least refinance it and N4 trillion next year,” he said.

CBN governor said the option of the apex bank’s bond holding was weighed against raising fund through European bonds and domestic capital market, noting that it would have compounded the risks with the economic issues in Europe and the prevailing interest rate of 13 or 14 per cent in the country.

“There was no way AMCON would have paid back in 10 years, unless we doubled or tripled the levy on the banks, which would have

been reactionary too. It would have been a situation where banks had to pay one or 1.5 per cent of their balance sheet every year to service an extensive debt.

“We also worked out how much AMCON can pay by December this year. The idea was that if it can stretch itself, it can build up its current N800 billion to about N1.1 trillion, which is enough to pay every holder of AMCON bond maturing in December 2013, except CBN. “Now, CBN will refinance and restructure the N3.6 trillion bond it invested with a coupon of six per cent. By October 2014, AMCON’s N980 billion bond under series five will mature, which AMCON will pay with sinking fund and recoveries.

Actually, after December this year, AMCON will be left with the Special Class bond with CBN only,” he said.

of land under cultivation, expected to add 760,000 tons of food to our national output per annum. The financing will be done through public private Partnership (PPP) as BOA has undertaken to finance the interested Service provider operators “The Ministry will provide adequate fund towards facilitating the financing of the enterprise, in partnership with the BOA and the private sector. In the refinancing window for the service providers operators, the Government is providing 35 per cent of the loans; BOA, 35 per cent; tractors vendors. 10 per cent; Service providers operators 20 per cent as equity for the takeoff of the scheme ‘s hiring Centres.”

Also at the occasion, the Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory, Mrs. Akinjide, was excited over the scheme and announced FCT’s contribution of 10 per cent to the deal to defray the cost of hiring to the farmers and encourage their patronage of the machineries.

On how farmers are to access the machineries, the Minister explained that his Ministry has already under-

taken a registration of farmers in the country with 14 million of them already captured between last year and now while another estimated four million are to be captured next year and would be contacted via phone and issued with coupons with which they would go to the Centres and get a tractors as has been the case with the fertilizer and seed distribution under the Growth Enhancement Scheme.

Commenting on the partnership, the Managing Director of BOA, Dr. Mohammed Santuraki said the partnership waste outcome of the rejuvenated BOA which capital base has been raised to N15 billion and declared that the bank was now poised to play its role of providing access to agro allied activities financing, particularly in such a way as to diversify labour to other areas that could facilitate the country’s earnings and growth. he said the Bank was also finalizing plans for another sum of N2 billion financing the youth and women in agriculture programme aimed at attracting them back to agriculture.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27, 2013

16 BUSINESS

EITI compliance countries raise N157 trillion revenue

By Roseline Okere XTRACTIVE Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) has put the total worth of revenue from taxes, royalties disclosed by 21 EITI compliant countries at $1 trillion (N157 trillion) as at May 2013.

EITI in its Fact Sheet released recently listed the complying countries to include Nigeria, Albania, Azerbaijan, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Ghana, Iraq, Kyrgyz Republic, Liberia, Mauritania, Mali, Mongolia, Mozambique, Peru, Niger, Norway, Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Yemen and Zambia.

Another 16 countries have achieved EITI Candidate status: Afghanistan, Cameroon, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guatemala, Guinea, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Sierra Leone, Sao Tome and Principe, Solomon Islands, Tajikistan, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago.

The Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency (NEITI) financial audits for 2009, 2010 and 2011 had disclosed that the Nigerian government received $143 billion over these three years.

It however noted that despite similar oil production over the past years, government revenues have fluctuated significantly. “In 2009 they went down 50 per cent to $30 billion, then climbing 50 per cent in each of the following years, to $45 billion in 2010 and a record $68 billion in 2011.

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“While following world oil price volatility, these government revenues fluctuated more than the spot crude price, despite relatively stable production and sales”, it added.

The EITI Fact Sheet disclosed that it has won the support of over 80 global investment institutions that collectively manage over $19 trillion.

It disclosed that several other countries, including the United States of America, have signalled their intent to implement

Several other countries, including the United States of America, have signalled their intent to implement the EITI and were working towards meeting the signup indicator requirements. the EITI and were working towards meeting the signup indicator requirements.

“Almost 80 of the largest oil, gas and mining companies are committed to supporting the EITI”, it added.

In a media statement made

available to The Guardian by EITI’s Communications Manager, Anders Tunold Krakenes, the global agency disclosed that UK Prime Minister David Cameron and President of France Francois Hollande were

ready to implement the EITI in the ir countries Krakenes said that the two countries would join other countries in implementing the EITI Standard, which requires full disclosure of taxes, royalties and other fees from the country’s oil, gas and mining sectors.

Chair of the EITI, Clare Short said: “I am delighted that the French and UK Governments have committed to implement the EITI. This demonstrates a commitment to getting their own houses in order on

extractive industries best practice. It is only through transparency of the production of oil, gas and mining across the world that we can limit corruption, make sure that the sector is well governed, and that the income from it leads to development. In France and the UK, the EITI will hopefully provide a focus for informed debates about the sector.

Globally, it will signal that transparent management of the extractive industries is not an aspiration for countries, it is an expectation.”

Caverton Group’s profit rises, pays N313.4m dividend ESPITE challenges facing D the domestic aviation sector, Caverton Offshore Support Group (COSG) posted a turnover of 47.6 per cent turnover and 1,625 per cent in profit for the 2012 financial year ended December 31st, 2013.

Shareholders also at the company’s fourth yearly general meeting (AGM) held at Southern Sun Hotel Ikoyi, Lagos, approved 9.5 kobo as dividend for every N1.00 share. This amounting to a total of N318.3 million, representing 18.6 per cent increase on the N286 million dividends paid for the 2011 financial year.

The group, made up of Caverton Marine Limited, Caverton Helicopters Limited and other subsidiaries, is a wholly indigenous conglomerate and one of the leading provider of marine, aviation and logistics support services to the

Nigerian oil and gas sector.

According to its yearly reports audited by Ernst & Young and ECN & Co., the company recorded impressive growth in all indicators.

The group’s turnover increased from N10.928 billion in 2011 to N16.132 billion in 2012 (an increase of 7.6per cent); while its profit after tax and exceptional item rose from N60.373 million to N1.035 billion (a rise of 1,625 per cent). Also, earning per share increased from 0.02kobo in to 31kobo in 2012, an increase of over 150, 000 per cent.

“The recorded increase was due to the positive impact of the revenues generated on our new fleet of aircraft deployed in our existing contracts,” said Mr. Aderemi Makanjuola, the Chairman of the group. “Growth would have even been more impressive if not that we decided to buy helicopters

instead of leasing them.”

Despite its buoyant outlook, the group decided to pay 9 kobo as dividend in order to plough most of the profit back into the business, Makanjuola added.

“The adoption of this cautious approach of low dividend payout is in view of the belief to conserve funds for future growth and expansion, which will translate to greater advantages for the company in the not so distant future,” he explained. The company paid 5kobo per share in 2009; 7.5kobo per share in 2010; and 8kobo per share in 2011.

Incorporated in June 2008, Caverton Offshore Support Group was formed in response to the Local Content Policy of the Nigerian Government, which is aimed at increasing indigenous participation in the oil and gas sec-

tor. Caverton Helicopters and Caverton Marine, which initially made up the group, together have provided services to clients working within the Nigerian oil and gas industry for a combination of 15 years and currently have a global workforce of over 600 employees.

Caverton Helicopters, which started operations with an intra-city helicopter shuttle services in Lagos in 2004, has grown steadily to become a dominant player in the oil-and-gas aviation sub-sector within and outside the country. It will be recalled that in March 2012, it started a five-year contract to provide surveillance and passenger transfer services to the Cameroon Oil Transportation Company (COTCO), its first international operations. That same month, it received an $85 million facility from Shell for the provision of six

AW139 helicopters in the five-year contract, which it won alongside its partner Dancopter of Denmark in 2010. It was also appointed the Authorised Service Centre for AgustaWestland, the Anglo-Italian manufacturer of military and commercial aircraft.

On its part Caverton Marine Limited, which was incorporated in 1999, has, among others, provided premium marine services to the Nigerian Ports Authority, Oando Plc, Total Fina Elf, African Petroleum, Shell Trading and Shipping Company and Shell Petroleum Development Company. Since 2007, it (in conjunction with BW Gas ASA of Norway) has provided a mother vessel to the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) to transport and store LPG from its Bonny Export Facility to coastal LPG depots in the country.

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Published in association with

InvestmentWatch Understanding Mutual Funds Investing (II) UTUAL funds are a veritable investment vehicle that accommodates a wide variety M ofinvestorsnomatteryourinvestmentstyleand financial goals because they offer the advantages of diversification and professional management. Last week on mutual fund investing, we explained extensively what mutual funds are, the advantages of investing in mutual funds and some disadvantages too. In today’s edition on mutual fund investing, we will look at the various types of mutual funds vis-a-vis their investment style and mix in terms of their asset classification and investment objectives as well as some valuable guidelines for mutual fund investing.

Types of Mutual Funds Mutual funds are designed to suit different investors’ risk appetite. No matter your investment preference there is bound to be a mutual fund that fits your risk appetite. It is important to understand that each mutual fund has different risks and rewards. In general, the higher the potential return, the higher the risk of loss.

Although some funds are less risky than others, all funds have some level of risk. It is never possible to diversify away all risk.

There are three varieties of mutual funds at the fundamental level: 1) Money market funds 2) Fixed-income funds (bonds) 3) Equity funds (stocks) Money Market Funds: The money market funds are the safest place to invest your money. Returns on this fund may not be so attractive but you do not have to worry about losing your principal. The money market consists of short-term debt instruments which include treasury bills, commercial paper, banker's acceptances, repurchase agreements, government securities, certificates of deposit, and other highly liquid securities.

Bond Funds: When referring to mutual funds, the terms ‘income’ ‘fixed-income’, and ‘bond’ are interchangeable. These terms denote funds that invest primarily in government and corporate debt for the purpose of providing current income on a steady basis. Bond funds differ from actual bonds in that funds have no stated maturity date and no promise of principal payment on a certain date. The investment objective is almost always high current income and preservation of capital. While fund holdings may appreciate in value, the primary objective of these funds is to provide a steady cash flow to investors. As such, the audience for these funds consists of conservative investors and retirees.

Equity Funds: In this type of Mutual funds, funds are invested almostentirelyinordinarysharesofcompanies.

Funds that invest in stocks represent the largest category of mutual funds although their objectives vary considerably. Generally, the investment objective of this class of funds is long-term capital growth with some income.

All mutual funds are variations of these three

asset classes. The fund manager strives to get a perfect mix of the asset classes that will minimise risk and maximise returns. Every mutual fund has an investment objective, which it describes in its prospectus. The fund’s name often reflects its investment objective; for example, a fund that seeks a balance of growth and income might be called Growth and Income Fund. Most fund objectives are designed to provide a particular type of return. As a result, the fund objective has a major impact on the types of securities that dominate the fund’s portfolio.

Mutual funds come in many different flavors, each offering something different to help meet the investor's objectives. Below is a list of Mutual fundsfurthersubcategorisedaccordingtotheir investment objectives.

Growth funds: Growth funds seek capital appreciation by selecting companies that should grow more rapidly than the general economy. The primary objective of these funds is capital appreciation rather than current dividend income. Growth funds hold shares of more established large growth-type companies and could include some blue chips companies. Normally, these established companies will grow at a moderate pace, and will pay regular dividends to owners of its shares. Mutual fund collects these dividends and passes them to the unit holders of the fund once or more per year. While capital appreciation is the major objective of this type of fund, income derived from dividends is a secondary objective. Investments are typically in long growth stocks, with a lower portfolio turnover than the aggressive growth funds.

Aggressive Growth Funds: This fund has an investment objective of maximum capital gains, with minimal or no concern for dividends or income. It is also called Capital Appreciation Funds. Aggressive growth funds purchase shares of smaller companies like startup companies, new industries which have a chance to grow at a faster pace than more "mature" companies. The investment policies tend to be more aggressive and riskier that for growth funds. Aggressive growth funds are usually recommended for the investors who seek long term capital appreciation and will not need access to that money for at least ten years.

These funds tend to be some of the most volatile, with share price rises that can be thrilling and drops that can be unfavourable.

Income funds: Funds whose primary goal is to achieve current income as opposed to capital appreciation for its investors are referred to as income funds. The investment objective of income fund is to produce current income rather than long term growth, typically by investing in securities such as bonds of government, municipal and corporate debt obligations, dividend-paying stocks, preference shares, money market instruments and ordinary shares that pay relatively high current returns. The fund will generate an amount of income proportionate to the related risk

posed by the investments securities. Investors, especially those who have retired or are about to retire, may prefer income funds to potentially more volatile growth funds.

Income Growth Fund: Income growth fund invests in both high growth companies and companies known for paying dividends. It has an investment objective of capital appreciation (growth) and current income generation through dividends or interest payments as a result they have more risk and higher returns than income funds and lower risk and lower returns than growth funds.

Growth and income funds are popular among investors with moderate (but not excessive) appetites for risk.

Balanced funds: Unlike most of mutual funds that make investment exclusively in one asset class, balanced funds invest in a mix of ordinary shares and corporate bonds. It invests a portion of its moneys into each of the major asset classes: cash and cash equivalents, government securities, corporate bonds, and companies’ shares. The main objective behind this is that if one asset class were to fall in value, the rise in value of another would compensate, thus giving investors a balanced rate of return. The weighting of each piece of the mix depends on the fund manager's perceptions of where the markets and economy are going.

Guidelines for Mutual Fund Investing Mutual funds are a veritable investment vehicle that accommodates a wide variety of investors no matter your investment style and financial goals because it can offer the advantages of diversification and professional management. You can buy mutual funds by contacting fund or Asset management companies directly. Other funds are sold through brokers, banks, financial planners, or insurance agents.

If you buy through a third party, you may pay a sales charge. Here are some key points that will be helpful in your choice of investment in a mutual fund.

Define your financial goals/objectives: Before choosing a mutual fund, it is essential to understand your investment needs and goals.

This helps you select funds with objectives that match your own. But to gain this understanding, you need to create a personal investment policy statement – your "blueprint" for investing in mutual funds. Here are three steps to creating your personal investment blueprint: • Identify your investment needs and goals: List the reasons why you are investing. This includes your fundamental financial needs, as well as your personal goals. Do you need safety of principal, income, or growth (through capital gains)? Will you need to access your money in the short term, or can you leave it invested for several years?

• Set your investment time horizons: How long do you have to achieve your investment objectives?Generally,youcandivideyourinvestment time horizons into three periods:

• Short-term objectives, such as saving for a vacation or a new car.

• Medium-term objectives, such as saving for a house or a child's education.

• Long-term objectives, such as saving for retirement.

As a rule, the longer you have to achieve your objectives, the higher the proportion of equity funds you should have in your portfolio.

Conversely, when you have less time to achieve your objectives, you should commit less of your portfolio to equity funds and more to bond and cash-equivalent funds, which have lower risk.

What is the Objective of the Mutual Fund?

You must look beyond the name of the fund and check out the objective or purpose for the creation of the fund to see if it suits your own investment goals and financial objectives. Is the fund an all-out ‘growth fund’ irrespective of risk, total caution, or something between the two? All of this must be clearly defined before an investment decision is made. It is still absolutely vital that you take the time to read a fund's prospectus, which is the document which contains key important information about the fund.

Who is the Fund Manager?

Look at the reputation of the company managing the fund.

The Fund’s Net Asset Value (NAV): This represents the value of a mutual fund. It is the number that is publicly quoted (newspapers, web sites). It is derived by deducting the fund's liabilities from its assets. The NAV fluctuate everyday as fund holdings and units’ outstanding change. NAV per unit is the value of one unit in the mutual fund.

Past Performance of the Fund: Past performance of a mutual fund can help you access a fund’s volatility over time. While past performance does not necessarily predict future returns, it can tell you how volatile (or stable) a fund has been over a period of time. Generally, the more volatile a fund, the higher the investment risk. If you will need your money to meet a financial goal in the near-term, you probably cannot afford the risk of investing in a fund with a volatile history because you will not have enough time to ride out any declines in the stock market.

Risk Tolerance: Determine your comfort level for risk: While your investment time horizons largely determine the best types of funds for your portfolio, your tolerance for risk is also an important factor. If you find it difficult to handle price fluctuations, consider investing a greater percentage of your portfolio in more conservative funds, such as income or balanced funds.

Fees and other charges: All mutual funds have cost that lower your investment returns. As with any business, running a mutual fund involves costs including: fund management fees, transaction costs, marketing and distribution expenses. Funds pass along these costs to investors by charging fees and expenses.

It is important that you understand these charges because they lower your returns.

Your decision to call a professional investment adviser may just be what you need to give you a broad and comprehensive feedback on how to invest in Mutual Funds to help you achieve your investment goals and financial objectives.

Please join us next week Monday to learn more on how you can successfully navigate the investment waters.

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

BUSINESS 25

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27, 2013

Renaissance Capital rates GTBank high on value creation ENAISSANCE Capital, an R investment advisory firm, adjudged Guaranty Trust

Finance Director, Lafarge Cement Wapco Nig Plc, Alfred Amobi (left); Managing Director/CEO, Joseph Hudson and Company Secretary, Uzoma Uja, at the company shareholders forum in Lagos… at the weekend.

PHOTO: SUNDAY AKINLOLU

Seven states control 90 per cent cash transactions in Nigeria

By Chijioke Nelson HE Central Bank of T Nigeria (CBN) said that Lagos and the six other states control about 90 per cent of cash transactions in the country.

The Deputy Governor, Operations, CBN, Tunde Lemo, who disclosed this, listed the other states as Rivers, Anambra, Abia, Kano, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), adding that it was the reason for their selection in the second phase of the cash-less project billed to kick off in July.

Lemo, who acknowledged that there were challenges for the cashless project, with some still overhanging, said most of them are being resolved now.

He said that besides the use of alternative channels of transactions such as Point of Sales (PoS), the cash-less project would be driven through

the telephone now.

According to him, one of the major challenges included interconnectivity in some of the clusters, which he said is being addressed, adding that Nigeria is second in number of mobile phone users in subSaharan Africa, after South Africa.

“We still have a few challenges, but if I look back, I really would say that we have done a lot to transform the payment system in Lagos through PoS,” he said.

Recently, the Chief Executive Officer, Electronic Payment Providers Association of Nigeria (E-PPAN), Mrs. Onajite Regha, said the coming on board on the next phase of the cash-less policy in July may up the game of electronic funds transfer in the country.

Regha said: “By the time we do six months into the new phase, the figure is likely going to rise by over 100 per cent.

MTN begins data verification for 48m subscribers on network

By Adeyemi Adepetun N culmination of its 18th IIdentification month long Subscriber Module (SIM) registration campaign, MTN Nigeria has kicked off a subscriber data verification exercise for all subscribers on its network put at about 48 million in the country.

According to the Corporate Service Executive at MTN Nigeria, Wale, Goodluck, “even though the vast majority of MTN subscribers have since complied with the NCC’s directive to register their SIMs, we feel an obligation to crosscheck all subscriber information. This is because the NCC

has made it clear that all unregistered SIMs or those with incomplete information will be disconnected by June 30th.”

Goodluck advised subscribers to check their registration status by texting ‘REG’ to a verification short code, 746, which has been set up specifically for that purpose.

“In ensuring that customers meet the NCC deadline, and to forestall any inadvertent disconnection, our call centre agents will also call subscribers to verify information.

If need be, customers will be referred to the nearest MTN centre to complete their registration,” he said.

Bank (GTBank) Plc as the bank that created the highest value for investors in 2012 out of three Tier One banks in the context.

The other banks evaluated in the analysis include First Bank of Nigeria and Zenith Bank.

After a review of the 2012 financial results of these banks, the analysts said that GTBank outperformed its peers, with a Return on Equity (RoE) of 34 per cent against Zenith Bank’s 24 per cent and First Bank’s 18 per cent.

GTBank’s returns were said to have been driven by better gross yield, lower-than-peers impairment charge and a lower cost base.

The Economic Value Added analysis of the 2012 results of the banks to estimate the

absolute Naira value creation by each bank revealed that GTBank had the highest excess return at 16 per cent, with Zenith Bank and First Bank’s figure put at six per cent and 0.3 per cent respectively.

The report further considered the value created by the three banks since 2004, noting that GTBank only had a negative value creation in 2009, when its RoE fell to 13 per cent, with the peers still worse off.

The report concluded by putting a “BUY” rating for GTBank, based on the tangible value created over a period of time.

The analysts believe GTBank is still the best entry point into the Nigerian market for longterm investors seeking the best-in-class in terms of delivery, which further justifies its premium rating.

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THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27, 2013

Insurance Regulators move to reposition underwriting business for greater efficiency

By Joshua Nse HERE is no doubt that the T insurance industry regulator - National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), has fought a long battle against market indiscipline in the industry, and from all indications the commission is having an upper hand in the struggle.

Gone are the days when insurance practitioners caught in unethical practices by industry regulators are kept secret , thereby shielding the practitioners and companies from the public eye. But the stage has changed.

To drive home the point that it meant business, a statement from the commission

said. “It is time to put a halt to criminal breaches of insurance law. The commission will henceforth wield the stick and publicly too. Gone are the days of keeping sanctions of criminal breachers within the family. Laws are made to be obeyed and sanctions are available for anyone who violates the law. We will be decisive, short and sharp.

No long lasting prosperity will be built in an atmosphere of indiscipline and disorder.”

Therefore, to enforce discipline, transparence and accountability, the commission, the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) - the market umbrella body for the underwriters, the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance

Broker (NCRIB), all took stringent measures to enforce regulatory responsibilities on bleaches of insurance regulations in the industry.

The commission immediately after the consolidation exercise, underwent some structural changes that had assisted the regulatory agency to meet challenges in the new setting in the area of enhanced personnel, skilled manpower and IT driven platform. The commission having strengthens its structures went into action. The Commissioner for Insurance, Fola Daniel, said “it is time to put a halt to all the indiscipline in the market. The commission will henceforth wield the stick and publicly too.

Laws are made to be obeyed and sanctions are available for anyone who violates the law. We will be decisive short and sharp. No long lasting prosperity will be built in all atmosphere of indiscipline and disorder.”

The commission came out strong to enforce section 50 of the 2003 Insurance Act, which had remained dormant in the statue book to the admiration of all stakeholders in the industry.

Section 50 of the act states that the receipt of an insurance premium shall be a condition precedent to a valid contract of insurance and there shall be no cover in respect of an insurance risk, unless premium is paid in

full.”

The council of NIA, however, admitted the breach in the market agreements endorsed by member companies targeted at checking against price war in the industry otherwise known as rate cutting, but set up the Customers Complaint Bureau to deal with the issue.

The council of NCRIB in a statement said “In furtherance of the desire of the council, to uphold ethics and professionalism amongst its members as well as increase public confidence in the insurance industry, particularly the insurance broking profession, NCRIB is using this medium to advise insurance companies to forward names of insurance brokers that are withholding insurance premium due to them, as well as any insurance company that is withholding brokerage commission and claims settlement cheques due to them and their clients.”

Industry chieftains commended the commissioner

for Insurance for the strategies he has introduced for the industry to play its role of risk bearer.

The Managing Director/CEO, Risk guard Africa, Remi Sholadoye, said the biggest achievements of the regulatory strategy particularly on MDRI was the fact that the Nigerian insurance industry had a united focus. “ You are very clear of where we are going, you are clear about the milestones you want to achieve.

Before the MDRI initiative, it was the operators that were leading the regulators. Now unlike before the operators were blaming the regulators, at public forum you will hear operators complaining that if there had been serious regulator in the insurance industry, things would not be like this.

However, he said, you would not hear that again. Now, the fear of the regulator is the beginning of understanding wishing in the business underwriting.

Nonprofit health plans to have edge on price NEW analysis from A HealthPocket, Inc. has compared health insurance

An inductee, Badru Olaogun (left); Professional Excellence Foundation of Nigeria and Chairman, Board of Trustees, Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi; and Founder, Dr. Dipo Bailey, during the maiden edition of the induction ceremony in Lagos… recently.

Bailey floats foundation to promote professionalism HE former Commissioner T for Insurance, Dipo Bailey, and other Nigerians who believe in professionalism, came together to promote the Professional Excellence Foundation of Nigeria (PEFON) and inducted 40 new members into the foundation.

During the maiden edition of the induction ceremony held in Lagos recently, the Founder, Bailey, said that professional people in governance will create a better Nigeria and create better future for the younger generation.”

He said, “PENFON plans to increase its members across the country. It aims to identify the Nigerian professionals at home and abroad who wish to be part of the foundation.”

From his observation, he said, there were not enough professionals in different fields in the country.

Bailey said that part of the objectives of PEFON was to recognise those who have excelled in their chosen professions and also to raise a scholarship fund to assist the young ones to study and become professionally qualified.

He said that PEFON plans to assist professionally qualified ones to be employed as much as possible, and also to organise fora to seek ways of developing Nigeria further.

“The foundation plans to recognize those who, even though are not professionals, have established conglomerates that have employed a large number of professionals, such as the builders of profes-

sionals,” he said.

Chairman, Board of Trustee, PEFON, Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, said the foundation has set a task in promoting high ethical standard in the country, adding that it would grow and be useful in mentoring the younger generation.

He said that professionalism was not only about smiling to the bank every time but a professional will never bend or turn away from ethics no matter the competition in the market.

According to him, “True professionals will have these eight characteristics which include accountability, respectability, honesty, integrity, transparency, confidentiality, objectivity, and obedience to the law.”

He worried that in the country today, it was not all those

who claimed to be professionals that posses these qualities.

The professional urged the true professionals to stick to what they can defend and not do what is wrong because they feel they were not being watched.

According to him, there were the code of ethics and constitutions of the land, which specified what should be done and what not to do.

While urging professionals in the country to always do what is right, he said that ignorance under the law was never an excuse at anything.

“I urge you to be professional and advocates of true professionals in the country for the pursuit of high ethical standards in your professionals and Nigeria will be a better place,” he said.

plans offered by nonprofit and for-profit insurers operating in the same region. It stated that on average, nonprofit plans are more likely to have lower premiums and better protections against out-of-pocket costs.

The study included health plans in a cross-section of major United States cities: Pittsburgh, Miami, Kansas City (Missouri), Dallas, Los Angeles, and Portland (Oregon).

In 47 per cent of the comparisons, HealthPocket found that non-profit plans had the lowest average premium. For-profit health plans had the lowest premium in 39 percent of comparisons, with the remaining 14 per cent classified as ties.

In 56 per cent of the comparisons of limits on out-ofpocket costs, nonprofit plans had less expensive limits for the consumer, while for-profits had the lowest limits in only 28 per cent of the cases. The two types of plans were statistically tied in the remaining 17 percent of the comparisons.

For decades, analysts have debated whether profit is an impediment to affordable healthcare or whether the elimination of commercial insurers would translate into lower-cost insurance for consumers.

HealthPocket’s research demonstrates that while profits are a relevant factor to plan affordability they do not preclude competitive

premiums.

“Nonprofit health plans are more likely to have lower premiums, but the notion that nonprofit health insurers will always provide less expensive plans is not defensible. It wasn’t the case for half of the premium comparisons we performed.

Consumers need to look at all options when shopping for health insurance,” said Kev Coleman, head of Research & Data at HealthPocket. “When plan offerings become more standardised under the Affordable Care Act in 2014, it will be crucial for consumers to examine all types of plans to get the best deal.”

The results of the study were based on analysis of 2,372 premium quotes collected on May 6, 2013, from 593 health plans in Pittsburgh, Miami, Kansas City (Missouri), Dallas, Los Angeles, and Portland (Oregon). Nonprofit and forprofit health plan premiums were compared in each city for individual female and male nonsmokers ages 25 and 50.

This HealthPocket InfoStat is part of a series using health plan data to produce unbiased market analysis and guidance for consumers navigating America’s changing health insurance environment. To compare how nonprofit and for-profit health plans are currently priced, visit HealthPocket’s Plan Comparison Tool, which also designates which plans are non-profit by the “NP” icon.

INSURANCE

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27, 2012

Swiss Re European insurance report WISS Re sees huge private SEuropean protection gap among consumers, life insurance products should become more attractive, more affordable and easier to understand.

Swiss Re’s European Insurance Report 2012 highlights potential gaps between the insurance industry’s product offerings and current consumer demand.

The report includes the results of a survey commissioned by Swiss Re among 15,000 consumers in 14 European countries and presents the following key findings: The main reason for the insufficient market penetration of life insurance is that consumers consider it to be too expensive.

The industry should look to develop products to fill the gaps taking into account the consumers’ price sensitivity.

The insurance industry and governments should work together and build awareness to the benefit of consumers.

Europe’s consumers underinsured by EUR 10,000 bil-

The financial crisis and related savings programmes have had a serious impact on public trust in state pensions and benefits and consumers have grown aware of the necessity for private provision. Even so, they are reluctant to buy insurance products for the following main reason: Cost – insurance cover is considered too expensive lion Swiss Re has calculated a mortality protection gap amounting to sums assured of more than EUR 10,000 billion across all 14 European countries featured in the report. The gap is the difference between the money needed by dependents in the event of the untimely death of a breadwinner and the financial provisions put in place should the unexpected occur.

The financial crisis and related savings programmes have had a serious impact on public trust in state pensions and benefits and consumers have grown aware of the necessity for private provision. Even so, they are reluctant to buy insurance

products for the following main reason: Cost – insurance cover is considered too expensive The Swiss Re European Insurance Report 2012 (PDF, 989 KB) reveals a huge need for protection, and the Life & Health insurance industry is in a unique position to close this gap at affordable prices for consumers.

The main reason for the insufficient market penetration of life insurance is that many consumers cannot afford it. But the survey also shows that for countries in the eurozone, where level term life insurance is a relatively well-known product, consumers are willing to pay between 22 and 30 euros a

New York Life donates $100,000 to relief efforts in Oklahoma EW York Life announced N today it would donate $100,000 to the relief efforts in Oklahoma with a $50,000 donation to the American Red Cross and a $50,000 donation to one or more local nonprofit organisations to be determined in the months ahead.

The Chairman/CEO of New York Life, Ted Mathas, said: “On behalf of the entire New York Life family, we extend our heartfelt sympathy to all those touched by the tornado that struck the suburbs of Oklahoma City. Our thoughts are with the families, the rescue workers and the volunteers who, in the midst of catastrophic destruction, are working tirelessly to recover from this tragedy. Accordingly, the company will be making a contribution to help the people of Moore and the surrounding areas begin the recovery process.”

New York Life customers are eligible for crisis relief.

For those who are in immediate financial need, New York Life can quickly provide emergency loans against the cash value of a current policy to help in recovery and rebuilding.

New York Life can also assist if a policyholder needs a payment extension for a short time, or if a policy has been lost or destroyed.

Policyholders should visit New York Life’s website at www.newyorklife.com or call the toll-free line, 800695-4331, for assistance.

New York Life Insurance Company, a Fortune 100 company founded in 1845, is the largest mutual life insurance company in the United States and one of the largest life insurers in the world.

New York Life has the highest possible financial strength ratings currently awarded to any life insurer from all four of the major credit rating agencies:

Headquartered in New York City, New York Life’s family of companies offers life insurance, retirement income, investments and long-term care insurance.

New York Life Investments provides institutional asset management and retire-

ment plan services. Other New York Life affiliates provide an array of securities products and services, as well as retail mutual funds.

Please visit New York Life’s website at www.newyorklife.com for more information.

month for life insurance cover of EUR 100,000.

The industry should highlight that even a low level of cover is better than none.

Consumers are often willing to put aside small amounts to provide for difficult situations in the future.

There are two main items for insurers to consider regarding complexity. The first is the formulation of insurance terms and conditions and product details, the second one concerns the actual application process.

Both aspects provide a touch point at which consumers can withdraw from a potential sale.

Simple and transparent products, and a smooth buying process, are essential for successful distribution.

The way in which a product is distributed has a strong bearing both on how comfortable consumers are when taking out life insurance and on their confidence in the actual product.

Surprisingly, the Internet is the most trusted source of advice, followed by the insurance company itself. Banks are ranked fifth, indicating a relative lack of trust which is likely to be a consequence of the financial crisis.

Most consumers would be very or fairly comfortable taking out cover through comparison websites on the Internet or through their employer, followed by traditional sales channels such as independent advisors and insurance sales staff.

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THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27 , 2013

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Stockwatch In association with Lead Capital

Stock Market Report for the week Friday, 17th May to Thursday 23rd May, 2013 N the week, the total vol- ANNOUNCEMENT AJOR equity markets around the I5.19% ume appreciated by M globe moved upwards as their URING the period under review, forty five and value traded various indexes gained marginal appreciated by 6.13%. A D(45) stocks recorded price appreciation points. In our universe of sample compared to fifty four (54) that depreciated in equity markets; the S & P 500 and NASDAQ lost points by 0.21% and 0.24% respectively, while the Dow Jones gained point by 0.21% at the end of last week. In Europe, The German Dax, FTSE 100 and France CAC 40 gained points by 2.01%, 2.19% and 1.73% respectively. In the Asia/Pacific region, Nikkei 225, Hangseng and BSE Sensex lost points by 3.68%, 1.79% and 2.83% respectively. In Brazil, the Bovespa gained point by 2.72% while Russia’s RTS INDEX gained points by 5.10%. On the local setting, NSE ASI closed at 36,472.43 recording a 0.20% appreciation at the end of the week’s

turnover of 2.23 billion units of shares valued at N25.95 billion was recorded, in contrast to a turnover of 2.12 billion units of shares worth N24.45 billion that was recorded in the previous week.

Volume this week was driven by activities in the shares of SKYEBANK, FIDELITYBK, ABBEYBDS, ZENITHBANK, UBA, COSTAIN, ACCESS, CUSTODYINS, FBNH and DIAMONDBNK.

the previous week, COSTAIN was first on the top gainers chart to close with 58.14%, followed by CADBURY with 33.36%, EVANSMED with 32.40%, MAYBAKER with 24.31%, PZ with 22.22% and NNFM with 20.96%. Other gainers in the top ten categories were CCNN with 16.30%, NPFMCRFBK with 16.16%, NAHCO with 15.79% and CONTINSURE with 14.55%.

On the flip side, thirty five (35) stocks depreciated in price last week compared to twenty four (24) that depreciated a week ago. MRS led on the price losers’ table with 18.18%, followed by LEARNAFRICA by 17.50%, CUTIX by 16.09%, JOSBREW by 15.04%, COURTVILLE by 14.77%, UTC by 14.29%, IPWA by 14.29%, WEMABANK by 9.45%, CUSTODYINS by 8.57% and OKOMUOIL by 8.23%.

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THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27 , 2013

STOCKWATCH

Lead Capital Stock Valuation

COMPANY’S RESULT

CONTINUE ON PAGE 51

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 127, 2013

31

Homes & Property Mansard, Capital Alliance end N5b iconic office project

Rivers in onestop-shop building approval process

Practical Habitat unfolds N1.9b Praiseville Garden Estate project Page 33

Page 32

Page 36

Two firms in race for BOI site redevelopment contract Urban Development

By Tunde Alao WO developers have emerged as the preferred bidders in the process initiated by the Lagos authorities to redevelop the land formerly belonging to the Bank of Industry (BOI), on Broad Street in the Central Business District (CBD).

The Guardian learnt that Lagos authorities are also considering a multi-use facility, which will house luxury apartments, offices and shops of different categories as well as parking space for up to 100 vehicles, and capable of meeting the needs and taste of modern business environment.

The race for the redevelopment of choice site began in 2012, when the umbrella body of consulting architects -Association of Consulting Architects of Nigeria (ACEN) received proposal from different architects for the proposed ultra- modern commercial complex, envisioned not only to add value to the CBD, but also restore the glory of the burnt BOI building.

On March 22, 2006, the 22storey Nigerian Industrial Development Bank building (NIDB), now BOI collapsed.

This happened after a fire had gutted two stories in the building and heavy winds during a thunderstorm caused the building to cave in from the structural weakness after the fire. Before it’s demolition, the government had acquired the property in

T

Having set the stage for the construction of an ultra- modern commercial complex at the grounds of the 21storey Nigerian Industrial Development Bank (NIDB) building that collapsed in 2006, the State government is reviewing documents submitted by two private developers, who are in fierce contention to grab the PPP contract public interest.

Initially, seven investors had indicated interest in the tenders for public- private partnership (PPP) project towards the construction of ultramodern edifice, but out of the pack, two private developers have submitted their proposals and currently being studied by the appropriate officials in the Lagos State government.

Coming as part of regeneration programme embarked upon by the Lagos government in Lagos Island, the site of the demolished Bank of Industry (BOI) is expected to accommodate a mixed-use development with all the state of art facility. State officials told The Guardian that the proposed building would be 100 per cent private investor’s driven with government providing land as its equity and the necessary documentation.

The State’s Commissioner

Lagos central business district, recently for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Toyin Ayinde, who confirmed the development last week, said that the project is part of the regeneration programme in the Lagos Central Business District (LCBD).

According to Ayinde, government has received proposal from different architects who are members of Association of Consulting Architects of Nigeria (ACEN),

who shared the same vision on the project. He said the state will appoint a consultant to study the proposals and make recommendation to government. Any of the prequalified architects that emerge as bid winner will act as the developer for the project.

His said: “ Completion of Tinubu square and Balogun market few years ago was part of the global develop-

mental project of the CBD, including the proposed project and others that are in pipeline. Therefore, what we are waiting for is to see their design and financial models, this would convince government of their level of seriousness, competence and financial capability. Government would not want a situation where investors commence a project and abandons it”.

The Commissioner who held the annual ministerial press

briefing on his ministry’s activities last week, also hinted that government has embarked on the regeneration of burnt properties in Ojo-Giwa/Okoya, in the same Lagos Island.

He said the approach adopted in that location is similar to the one in Isalegangan/Aroloya, which involves pooling of small plots for meaningful development to meet basic planning standards.

FG wades into Festac’s infrastructure decay, raises committee Housing

By Tosin Fodeke RESSED to seek an enduring solution to the unending disputes and deterioration of Festac Town in Lagos, the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms Ama Pepple has raised committees to restore the estate to its former glory.

The two committees are to look into the long-standing issues of Land Use Charge and the physical planning which have for long thwarted development in arguably Africa’s largest residential estate.

The minister while speaking at a stakeholders meeting which had representatives of the Federal, State and Local Government as well as the residents association, stressed

P

Festac, recently

Sequel to a directive by the Presidency, the minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has began moves to resolve infrastructural challenges facing Festac Town. Committees have been set up to thrash the issues that she was acting on the directive of the President Goodluck Jonathan who is disturbed by reports of the decay of the estate.

Appointing the Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Toyin Ayinde and Special Adviser on Tax Matters, Lagos State, Mr. Bola Sodipo as heads of the two committees, Pepple emphasized that the meeting was to enable all stakeholders’ resolve pending matters and come up with a joint implementation plans.

She said: “I am giving the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) a seven-day ultimatum to give the master plan of Festac town to the Lagos ministry of Planning and Infrastructure. This meeting is to come up with a joint implementation plans. I can tell you no one is happy with what has happened in the estate and how it has degenerated into a parlous state”.

The minister further expressed concern over the collapse of the central sewage system in the estate, the total

CONTINUED ON PAGE 45

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HOMES & PROPERTY

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27, 2013

Mansard, Capital Alliance end N5b iconic office project Projects

By Chinedum Uwaegbulam TEAM of private investors have draw the curtain on a five-storey, twin-tower office building, which incorporates cutting edge technology and environment-friendly spaces in the heart of Victoria Island, Lagos.

Christened Mansard Place, the N5billion project, developed through a joint venture between Mansard Insurance Plc and African Capital Alliance, is built to an international standard and it comprises 7,000 square meters of lettable space, premium finishes and high quality building services.

The project incorporates multiple elevator banks, ample parking bays, security systems and CCTV and 24hour utilities.

The iconic building formally opened at the weekend by the Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Tokunbo Abiru, brought together corporate bigwigs from both from the public and private sectors.

The complex is located on Bishop Aboyade Cole Street Victoria Island, close to Exxon Mobil headquarters, the KPMG Building and the LekkiEpe Expressway.

In his speech, the Chief Client Officer, Mansard Insurance Plc, Tosin Runsewe described the new edifice as “Lagos commercial office development of choice, boasting of a simple, yet functional iconic design with an equally keen focus on aesthetics and practicality of the building’s high quality interior. “ For a Principal at ACA’s Real Estate Fund, Mr. Obi

A

The newly completed Mansard Place, Victoria Island, Lagos Nwogugu, the development of Mansard Place has raised the bar on grade-A office standards in this market.

“The layout of the building’s floor plate enabled us achieve great flexibility for users of various sizes. There has been a strong response from multinational tenants which has

led to us achieve a high occupancy of the building,” he said.

Mansard Insurance plc is quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange with a market capitalization in excess of N20 billion. The company has evolved from being a subsidiary of GTBank plc into a wholly inde-

pendent insurance company with major shareholding by Assur Africa Holding, a consortium of three European Development Finance Institutions and two Private Equity firms.

ACA is a leading Lagos-based private equity firm that invests in West Africa, princi-

pally in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea. The firm’s mission is to mobilize capital, managerial expertise and technology to create a modern economy in Africa; reshaping the continent’s economic agenda by unlocking it’s private sector potential.

With over $750 million in

funds under management, ACA is a dominant player in its markets and has a significant track record of successfully exiting investments. ACA’s real estate fund continues to make investments in the West African region focusing primarily on the hospitality, retail, office, industrial and residential sectors.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27, 2013

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Prime Estates Practical Habitat unfolds N1.9b Praiseville Garden Estate project Projects

By Chinedum Uwaegbulam EW grounds have been broken in the real estate market, with the launch of Praiseville Garden estate project, targeted at meeting the yearnings of medium income earners who crave for homeownership.

Praiseville, a residential development promoted by Praiseville estate in collaboration with Practical Habitat and E. B. International Nigeria Limited is located on 1.7 hectares of land in Ogudu Phase II extension in Kosofe Local Government Area.

About two minutes drive to the third mainland bridge.

The firm plans to adopt new building technology called Open Web Steel Joist in the construction of the estate.

The estate consists of fourbedroom townhouses, which are in blocks (four blocks of five units and eight blocks of four units). The development offers elegant architecture and rich amenities. According to the promoters, Praiseville Gardens Estate “forms part of the exciting new concept of lifestyle living inspired by the freedom of open spaces.

The environment is dynamic with the perfect balance of nature and activities which makes it the ideal location for a family.”

Coming under four phases.

N

The first phase consists of 52 units and the entire estate will gulp N1.9 billion. All rooms en-suite, and have steward / guest room, and family play room Amenities include swimming pool and gym, clubhouse, children playground, central sewage system, paved walkway, drains, water treatment plant, borehole, dedicated transformer, ample car space and mini mart.

The owner of Praiseville Estate, Rev. Benson Edward said at the open house conducted at the project site that the development will start in earnest. He said there is a plan for fulldetached and semi-detached houses in subsequent developments within this area.

According to the Chief Technical Officer, Practical Habitat, Mr. Robert Paulson, disclosed that the building system “allows us not to have walls. With this we can afford to have the entire ground floor wide open. You can easily make a change if you want to make a change in your home. We do to use the straight flow block and we incorporate the beams and columns in the straight flow block. Bringing down the cost of construction depends on the type of technology that we are applying.

You can’t get the exact number but you get the cost through the materials and the time saved.”

Aerial view of the proposed terrace houses at Praiseville Garden, Lagos

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Borno adopts land reform, introduces new land title documents Projects From Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri O align on-going urban development plans in Borno with growing concerns for insecurity in land ownership, the state authority has moved to control the circulations of fake land titles through the adoption of land reform and introduction of new title documents.

The State’s Commissioner of Land and Survey, Alhaji Babagana Buhari made the disclosure at a press conference to mark Democracy Day and second year in office of Governor Kashim Shettima’s administration in Maiduguri, the state capital, said the Governor has delegated the powers of approving consent to the Commissioner.

He said since the inception of Shettima’s administration, the state has embarked on land reforms toward making land ‘accessible and affordable’ to the general public.

In his words: “it is amazing to note that most citizens use to quote that this Ministry had lost her glory, because of low level of land titling, which had accumulated the activities of the ministry to an unprecedented level over the years. In the current dispensation, the Borno state government had placed greater emphasis on the issues of land reform, particularly land titling and had delegated some of its powers of approving consent to the commissioner to facilitate p r o p e r functioning of land titling.”

The adopted strategies, according to Buhari, include the introduction of new title documents printed for the first time by the Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC), introduction of passport photographs on application forms for proper identification; and evidence of three years tax clearance certificate by applicants to determine the responsibility status of applicants. He added that the measures would also help in boosting the states

Plycon pleads for contract extension on Ipaja-Ayobo road project Projects

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Member, Board of Trustees, REDAN,Mr. Ugo O. Chime(left)FIG Head of Task Force on Housing and Property; Dr. Chryssy Potsiou, President, Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Mr. Agele Alufohai,and Immediate Past Executive Secretary, REDAN, Mr. Anthony A. Okwa, at F.I.G Working Week 2013 in Abuja recently.

The State authorities have embarked upon land reform and adopted new strategies to ensure the land ministry takes full control landed properties and increase its internal generated revenue. The Ministry also plans to establish its Land Management Information System Internal Generated Revenue (IGR), which has currently shot up to N45.942 million.

Speaking on the proposed modernization and computerization of the ministry to fully implement the adopted strategies, the commissioner said the government plans to re-validate all the title and non-title documents to ensure the land ministry takes full control landed properties in the state.

He disclosed that the Ministry will also establish its Land Management Information System (LAMIS), along with the upgrading of Borno Geographical Information System (BOGIS) in the near future for effective control of landed properties in this state.

He also added that the state government had embarked

on the assessment of layouts with a view of ascertaining the level of development and map out strategies to encourage land developers.

Buhari said that it was in realization of this move that the state government discovered illegal developers in some of its layout and swiftly applied the rule of law by the demolition of illegal structures to protect the “interests and rights” of genuine title holde r s .

“This had in turn opened an opportunity on the part of the title holder; and further strengthened the position of land and importance of this Ministry live up to its responsibility,” explained the commiss i o n e r .

On the achievements of the Ministry in the last two years, he said that three layouts had

been acquired and designed at three locations in Maiduguri metropolis on Dikwa road, Baga road bye pass, adding that arrangements had been concluded for the allocation of third layout BOSA/179 at Njimtilo vill a g e .

He also added that during the last one year in office, Governor Shettima approved the compensation to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat complex, amounting to N18.5 million.

The secretariat will sited and rebuild on Biu road to improve the welfare of working journalists in the state.

Buhari said that the ministry has approved ten land development sites located in various parts of Maiduguri metropolis for the 2, 500 housing units projects. The projects include the office complex of National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Borno State Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA), Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Agoro Industrial Estate, and Renewable Energy Farmland of 560 hectares.

By Tunde Alao THIS is not the best of times for the contractor handling Moshalashi Ipaja-Ayobo, as the July completion date fixed by the Lagos State government for the completion of the project may not be feasible.

The contractor, Messrs Plycon Limited has heaped the blame on it’s non -performance on the relocation of infrastructures and demolition of some physical buildings, and called for the extension of his contract to November “to ensure that the needed amenities and facilities connected with the project are put in place”.

Awarded in May, 2011, the Road Survey and Design Stage took place between June, 2011 to September, 2011, while construction work commenced in October 20, 2011, with a duration of 18 months Reacting to the delay in the completion of the 7.4-kilometre road last week, while conducting Journalists around the area, the Senior Project Manager, Mr. Leke Adeniyi, an engineer, said challenges encountered included the lack of natural outfalls for discharge of water that led to extended design period to find solutions.

The significant encroachments on the right- of -way (ROA) led to protracted negotiations over demolition of structures and compensation, while obstructions to carriageway path made design for the area difficult and that design choices forced by impossibility of relocating the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), pylons at Abesan.

“This situation made it necessary to encroach onto FederalGovernment-Constructed service lane for Gowon Estate, with permission for this encroachment took several months to obtain from Federal Housing Authority

Interior designers mark WID, seek waiver on imported materials Professional Practice

By Chinedum Uwaegbulam ETERMINED to improve the standard of interior designs, practitioners have urged the Federal Government to give waiver to indigenous furniture and accessories dealers to enable them maintain the highest professional and ethical standards.

The designers under the auspices of the Interiors Design Association of Nigeria (IDAN) said the high import duties placed on materials have made some products expensive and encouraged sub-standard products in the industry.

They said their members have been the forefront of promoting the relevance of professional interior design in building the economic and cultural wealth of the Nigerian society as well as providing networking support and forge strategic partnerships within the interior design community in Nigeria and internationally.

In chat with The Guardian on the annual home and design exhibition tagged GUIDE 2013 to celebrate World Interior Day (WID) 2013, the General Secretary, Mrs. Titi Ogufere

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IDAN President, Anselm Tabansi

Ogufere

Adeyeye

explained that the WID is an annual worldwide event initiated by the international federation of interior architect, designers (IFI) to bring interior architecture/ design to the attention of the public, enhance knowledge and understanding about the profession. IDAN also encourages cooperation between professionals with a focus on the range of work of interior designers and their contributions to society. IDAN is a member of New York-based IFI. She noted that the organisation provides the platform from which all interior designers may lend a collective voice to government and industry

initiatives and the first of the annual exhibition series this year will hold this week in Lagos. About 38 exhibitors will be showcasing their products in the two-day event, and there will also be design clinic for free consultation, private viewing and a design lounge.

According to Ogufere, IDAN will plays host to events highlighting the merits of the Interiors profession and the impact on the quality of life and the built environment. Events are planned by individuals and hosted all over the world, linked by a common theme chosen each year to reflect the values of not only IFI but the industry as a whole. This year’s

theme “Celebrating 50 Years of Design Around the Globe” recognizes the rich history of global communication and consensus within the Interiors profession over the past 50 years.

She disclosed that the organization is working with Lagos State to establish interior design training institute to deliver high-value business tools and address issues that affect practitioners and University of Lagos to set up a department on interior design.

We are presently putting together the curriculum to give the very best in the industry.

Ogufere further hinted that the association has begun discussing with the Lagos State

Government Agency - Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board - to deepen and expand the training in their vocational centres to effectively train students in arts and craft.

Mrs. Bukky Adeyeye of House to Home Interior Designs said the government ban of imported furniture brought about creativity and made the practitioners to look inwards. “It did has an effect, but it was positive.” She listed challenges facing local furniture makers to include lack of good raw materials such upholstery fabrics and getting waiver from the government on imported fabrics. Adeyeye said there is big market for furniture in Nigeria.

On standards, Ogufere said that the organisation is currently working with the Nigerian Standard Organisation (SON) to have a benchmark for the industry.

“We are making sure that our members comply with our constitution and impose sanctions members’ standard of production does to comply with standards. Its an on-going process, but we have done well,” Adeyeye said.

After over coming its earlier challenges, such as demolition of structures and compensation, and obstructions to carriageway path from immovable infrastructure, such as PHCN, NNPC equipments and others, the contractor is asking for six months extension (FHA)”, said the engineer.

He also said that location of Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) pipelines passing through Abesan gate area further compounded design challenges of that section.

“But most dauntingly, incessant and extended rainfall slows progress of earthworks has frequently destroyed work already done”, he said, adding that the Alimosho’s topography in general is prone to heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding.

However, status report provided last week by the officials from Lagos State Ministry for Works and Infrastructure, indicated that as opposed to the condition of the road prior to beginning of construction, all portions of the road are now motor-able without major challenges, save for the portion after Abewenla to Megida.

“To expedite earthworks in this section even during this period of heavy rainfall and eliminate the inconvenience to road users, the contractor has switched from using laterite to fill the remaining portions of the road by using sharp sand and stone base aggregate. These are significantly more expensive than laterite but are more stable in water and will enable fast completion of the section even during this rainy period”, said a supervising engineer, who attested to the improved work pace at the site.

It was also observed that completion of culvert at Abewenla would facilitate dispersal of water currently pouring at Oluwaga and environs.

Culvert will be completed over the next three weeks. It would be recalled that . that would have expired next July.

“But based on reality on ground, expected total project time overrun is additional six months that would elapse in November 2013”.

Among the initial challenges that were eventually overcame were the demolition and relocation of 50 fences/buildings along the right of way, relocation of utilities (PHCN poles and cables, Telecom cables, Water pipes) along both sides of entire 5.5km of drain alignment”.

He said: “Once earthworks and the remaining drains are completed, the most challenging phases of the construction are done, with paving work on the road is expected to begin from Baruwa by the end of May and asphalt portion from Moshalashi to Federal Housing Estate will start in September, when rains should have subsided and finish in October 2013. The expected project and handover is November 2013”, the Project Manager said.

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Lagos architects urge review of planning approval levies Professional Practice

By Emmanuel Badejo XCEPT planning approval processes are reviewed to sooth the prevailing city growth, the work of urban designers, predominantly, architects, and all stakeholders in the building industry, whose efforts are geared towards seeing the Nigeria space transformed into urban settlement will continue to be a mirage, the Nigerian

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The marriage between architecture and urban design can not be separated and Nigerian cities can rise above unplanned growth, but urbanisation will continue to be a mirage in the nation’s space, if planning approval processes are not reviewed to sooth the world best practices Institute of Architects (NIA), Lagos Chapter, has said.

In a communique issued after the Lagos Architects Forum 2013 (LAF 2013), NIA said the time to ensure total review of the planning approval process is now.

According to them, the build-

ing approval process needed to be simplified to ensure speedy project delivery, which impacts positively on the overall economy of the city.

Under the theme of the Conference “LAGOS 4.0, Architecture and Urban Design’’ the architects said that planning laws must be

reviewed to make them compliant with global best practices.

Still on planning, NIA said that the inability of professionals to have access to requisite planning documents that may guide and specify building regulation requirements,

Ogun, firm plan Agbara industrial estate Projects GUN authorities have O kick-started two schemes, which will boost residential accommodation and industrial development in the state.

The State’s Ministry of Housing has undertaken preliminary works on a 50 hectare of land at Kobape on which a residential housing scheme will spring up.

The Ministry has also sealed deal with a private investor, ROTH Incorporation to

embark on a 650hectare industrial estate in Agbara. A memorandum of Understanding for the project was signed recently.

The commissioner for Housing, Mr. Daniel Adejobi made these known while briefing newsmen on the activities of the ministry in the last two years.

Adejobi disclosed that in similar vein, design work had commenced on the proposed 50-hectare residential development at Agbara, adding

that preparatory work had equally commenced on the construction of a 549 housing unit estate at Idi-Aba in Abeokuta.

According to him, the ministry which also engages in consultancy services and maintenance work had already completed the construction of some housing estates in Ijebu Ode, Sagamu and Ikenne, saying that the ministry had also completed and handed over keys to owners of the media village estate,

a project inherited from the immediate past administration in the state.

The commissioner also revealed that government under its mass housing programme had opened talks with some experts from Malaysia which had been found to process designs that could be afforded by the common man, adding that the group would be involved in designing and executing the Abeokuta City Centre project.

FHA gets interim management committee Housing From Nkechi Onyedika, Abuja N a renewed effort to bridge IGovernment the housing gap, the Federal has set up a seven-member Interim Management Team to commence the process of commercializing and repositioning the Federal Housing

Authority (FHA) for efficient service delivery.

Speaking at the inauguration of the committee yesterday in Abuja, Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms Amma Pepple urged the committee to develop a new corporate plan for FHA and work closely with the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) to commer-

cialize the operations of the agency.

The minister explained that the on-going restructuring programme in the FHA is aimed at enhancing the capacity of the organization. She noted that government would not tolerate the cases of missing files and other sharp practices, urged the commit-

tee to computerize the operations of the authority for easy issuance of titles and record keeping.

Pepple explained that the committee is transitional and would last only through the period of restructuring and commercialization of FHA adding that the positions would be re-advertized early next year.

under their efforts on city planning and urban design, as the various levies made to government for approval process is enormous and hinders development in Lagos State.

The 5th edition of LAF conference, which had about 1000 participants, had attendees from the public service, private practice, academia, allied professionals in the built environment, manufacturers and suppliers of building materials.

The theme focused on evolving an efficient urban space via the art of creating and shaping of cities in three dimensional form and character to make them livable and sustainable through the application of planned multiple buildings, public spaces, transport systems and infrastructure in the public sphere.

Scientific sessions with seasoned professionals on topics ranging from planning in urban centres, international standards in planning and development processes, introduction to urban design, urban spaces and social conflict, urban projects with case study in Dubai, real estate development and mass housing, made some observations on militating against urbanisation including absence of collective ownership gives rise to urban social conflict and private developments of iconic standards are not surrounded contextually by supportive facilities that may enhance their urban value.

Also, they observed that bureaucratic bottlenecks created at the approval authority with the time line for obtaining approval is unduly long,

which impacts negatively on the life of the project and overall economy of the city.

They recommended that there must be integrated, planning which takes into cognizance the way of life and culture of the people so that it reflects on the urbanization of the city as well as involvement local participation to meet the challenge of attaining a fluid Urbanization process.

“There is need to foster collaboration amongst professionals to create sustainable and prosperous urbanization and review the historical development of public housing concepts which have thus far created social conflicts of isolation.

“Cities should be planned appropriately for economic growth as they affect the productivity of the people; Involvement of local content participation to meet the challenges presently faced by conventional construction, by exploring alternative construction systems, which aid speed and efficiency.

“A checklist of building approval requirements should be made available to architects’ firms to enable them comply with requisite building regulation requirements from the conceptual stage, which will cut down on time required to secure building approval.”

They also demanded the inclusion of pre-screening sessions with the local planning officers prior to submission of documents for planning permit / planning approval process and access to master plan as well as planning information and regulations.

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Rivers in one-stop-shop building approval process Professional Practice ByTunde Alao and Emmanuel Badejo O encourage investment and to sanitise the build-

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ing industry, Rivers State Government, has brought together professionals in private practice and some government officials to vet drawings of any sort, and recommend same for approval.

The new initiative, known as a “one-stop-shop,” began recently and is brain child of the Rivers State Chapter of Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA). The partnership is among other things, aimed at eliminating time wasting, corrupt practices, touting and also to enhance the state’s revenue.

Unfolding this last week when the officials of the chapter paid a visit to The Guardian, the Chairman of the chapter, Mr. Emmanuel Dike, said the initiative has brought sanity into building approval process in Rivers State.

According to him, the onestop-shop has reduced time limit of approval period to “at most, one month”. The partnership involves architects, engineers, town planners and the Special Adviser to the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development.

Explaining the workings of the body, Dike said upon receiving an application, these professionals would vet it to ensure that the architectural drawing is in conformity with the best international practice, meet the structural requirements, including the planning and environmental regulations.

“The initiative has changed the face of building plans in Rivers State, by eliminating bottlenecks hitherto associated with approval process, eliminating quackery, touting and other anomalies. In Rivers State today, approval is being processed without tears”, said Dike.

Chairman, NIA Rivers State chapter, Mr. Emmanuel Dike (left), Vice Chairman, Mrs. Chioma Ogbonna, treasure, Mr. Greg Umanah during their visit to The Guardian, last week PHOTO: OSENI YUSUF ronment, businessmen The initiative has changed the face of building plans from various sectors, the properin Rivers State, by eliminating bottlenecks, quack- environmentalists, ty developers, among othery, touting and other anomalies hitherto associat- ers.

Dike noted: “With the ed with approval process growing complexity in the building and construction On how to achieve mass other ethnic groups tradi- industry and the impact on tionally building their housing delivery, the NIA homes. This is the area we oil and gas vis-à-vis agriculChairman hinted that the tural activities, the proinstitute is working need to look into and cer- gramme is to equip architainly, we will get solution towards how to make altertects and other professionnative building materials to produce affordable hous- als with current skills and attractive to the develop- ing to the generality of our business competencies necpeople”. ers.

He also spoke on the forth- essary to compete in According to him, coming programme, today’s professional and research is ongoing on business environment”, how to exploit abundant tagged Architecture Week adding that international local materials that are in planned by the Rivers NIA, experts in the related fields consonance with Nigeria’s slated for July 9-12, 2013, at have been invited to deliver divers culture in building the Civic Centre, Port lecture at the occasion. houses, looking at the Harcourt. The event has as Similarly, topics on activipeculiarity of the different its Theme: “Oil and Gas ties that may cause environIndustry-Impact on ethnic groups. and mental impacts including “We need to look at the Architecture drilling, exploration, waste different ways the north- Environment in Nigeria”.

The four-day programme management, noise polluerners, the Ijaws, the tion, destruction of cultural Urhobos, the Yorubas and would bring together pro- resources and solutions fessionals in the built enviwill be discussed. Others are Architectural design and new techniques- building information modeling, Business Management for Building Professionals, advanced Land Planning, Site and Infrastructure Systems Development’, he concluded.

Companies who have business interests in Rivers State and Nigeria have thrown their weight behind the event to ensure a successful outing including Total Nigeria PLC, Delta Airlines and Kon –X Ltd. Expected to grace the occasion are the Rivers State Governor, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, who will host the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, who is the Special Guest of Honour, Governors from SouthSouth, Ministerial of Petroleum Resources Mrs. Deziani Allison Madueke, among others.

Niche PR, the event coordinators confirmed that there have been over 1,000 hits on the newly launched NIA, Rivers website, exhibition and participation registrations, which are encouraging indications that the target expectation for, and outcomes from the event will be met.

On the entourage of the Chairman are the Vice Chairman, Mrs. Chioma Ogbonna, the treasure of the institute, Mr. Greg Umanah and a team from Niche PR firm, led by Mrs.

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NIQS canvasses long term mortgage financing Professional Practice OLLOWING the increasing Fcommercial population in Nigeria’s capital city of Lagos, the President of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), Mr. Agele Alufohai, and other renowned professionals in the industry have renewed the call for a long term mortgage financing and its acceptance by the masses.

The NIQS boss made this call during the FIG Working Week 2013 – Environment for Sustainability, held in Abuja Nigeria while speaking on the paper; “The Lagos State 2010 Mortgage Law and the Supply of Housing. Mr. Alufohai decried that the growth of the population in the metropolitan Lagos has assumed a geometrical proportion; the provision of urban infrastructure and housing to meet this demand is, not at commensurate level.

He stated that Lagos is the second most populous city in Africa after Cairo in Egypt and estimated to be the fastest growing city in Africa and the seventh fastest growing in the world with a population increase of about 600,000 persons per annum. Lagos population is growing ten times faster than New York and Los Angeles with grave implication for housing delivery. At its present growth rate, the United Nations had estimated that, Lagos state will be the third largest mega city in the world by the Year 2015 after Tokyo in Japan and Bombay in India.

Mr. Alufohai remarked that in view of the foregoing, the Federal government has set up the

National Housing Fund (NHF) to provide mortgage finance to Nigerians through the Primary Mortgage Institutions set up across the country. Also the Lagos State government has also set a machinery in place to ensure sustainable housing delivery This scheme is designed to ensure that residents of the state irrespective of their level of income, be it low or medium, are able to buy houses, at affordable term. The objective of the state government is to show the way for private sector by investing in delivering the houses. The state government invested in building the structure and recovers the cost by spreading the pay-

ment over a period of 10 to 15 years.

The houses, he continued are built in categories of one, two and three bedrooms so that income earners of every category would benefit, taking the opportunity according to their capability. The payment system is also made easy in such a way that applicants only pay about 30 per cent of the cost to own the house and the remaining is paid over a period of 10 – 15 years. He urged stakeholders; the federal government other tiers of government, and private building developers to pursue and sustain the model to ease housing scarcity in the state.

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Lagos, property owners tango over demolished houses

One of the demolished property in Ejigbo, Lagos

Land Matters

By Emmanuel Badejo weeks after some SmenEVERAL heavily armed uniformed moved in to bring down some choice properties located within Bucknor area of Jakande Estate, Ejigbo, Lagos, owners of the affected homes have alleged foul play, and now considering the option of court action against what they described as executive lawlessness.

But the Lagos State Government had risen to defend the exercise, saying the occupants do not have the legal title over the parcel of land, and therefore they do not have right to remain there.

And the issue now is who the rightful owner of the landed property? Supposing another person, as being claimed by the state had gotten a Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) over the land, from whom did the yet to be known person get the land? Is it possible for an individual to get C of O on a landed property he/she did not buy from legitimate owner? Why did the government notify the occupants of the land of its intention to demolish? These are some of the questions begging for answers, as the occupants continue to wonder on the whole scenario.

Five different properties were affected by the demolition, which was carried out on April 6, 2013. The affected landlords and tenants said

While the property owners said the landed property belongs to them having bought it from the rightful land-owning family, and taken possession for several years, the Lagos State Government said someone else has certificate of occupancy on the land and government is protecting his interest the manner by which the exercise was done, made them to doubt whether they were agents of the government as claimed or not.

“They condoned off the access roads to street, Edith Bendel, Oke-Afa, Isolo, Lagos”, one of the affected landlords said.

Mr. Kene Ochije, a distributor with Dangote Cement and owner of a block making firm, whose two-storey building of six flats, was demolished, told The Guardian, that the whole thing still looks like a dream to him, said he had bought the land from late Chief Osuji, left it for four years before erecting his building valued at N60million.

“I have been residing in Lagos for the past 15 years. I bought this land seven years from late Chief Martins Osuji. After concluding all processes, leading to the purchase of land, I took possession. I left the land for four years before I came to build on it.”

Ochije, who witnessed the demolition exercise said: “At about 9.00am on 6th of April, I was brushing my mouth when I heard a bang on my gate. I quickly rushed downstairs and I saw heavily armed policemen and a bull-

dozer. I asked them what the problem was and they told me that they had directive from the top to effect demolition and while I tried to further question them, the bulldozer was at work, pulling down my life investment. In fact, the exercise was done without allowing me to salvage any of my belongings.”

Asked if there was any controversy on the land and if he had any inkling of the exercise, Ochije said, “They said another persons owns the land and that he has gone to court and won the case against us”, wondering how a court action could be instituted against him without his knowledge.

Another victim, Chief Uche Francis, whose storey building of three flats, claimed he got his root title to the land from Ashamu family of Ejigbo in 2008.

He said he started noticing hanky-panky over the land sometime last year when some officials from Lagos State Government came to seal the gate leading to his apartment, adding that when he lodged complaint at their office, he was shocked when they told him that the land does not belong to him and that his document were not genuine.

Another house pulled down by the bulldozer According to him, he was still in the process of sorting the said anomaly when the bulldozer came on his property valued at N15 million.

To Mrs. Ethel Osuji, who bungalow worth N15 million, said she had to a vigil in her church, the Friday before the exercise and she was called to hurriedly return when the demolition team arrived, saying all appeal to rescue some of her properties from her apartment and her shop, which was filled to the brim with foodstuff, fell on deaf ears, as two policemen forcibly dragged her out of the premises, while she was trying to recover some of her wares.”

Osuji, a widow, said having lost her husband, now she has lost everything, asking how will she survive the situation of homelessness?

Another property owner, Mr. Abiola Lawal, said he acquired the property from the Ashamu land owing family through an agent Messrs.

Adeola Almaroof without any problem and he had since taken possession of his space.

Lawal, an engineer, said he had heard that somebody, who did not buy the land from the rightful owner has been claiming ownership of land, questioning how anyone could be claiming ownership of what he did not owns in the first place?

According to Lawal, his vendor, had since gotten a Supreme Court judgment over the disputed land. In case between Saka Atuyeye and others and Emmanuel O. Ashamu, the court had said: “after careful consideration of the matter, the appeal lacks merit and it is accordingly dismissed with N300.00 cost to the respondent, the Ashamu family.

The judgment was delivered in 1987.

But the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Toyin Ayinde, said Governor

Babatunde Fashola ordered the demolition, because another person had gotten a C’ of ‘O on the property, calling the occupants to advance any title and government’s recognition they have to the land.

Ayinde, who said the demolition had been signed before he joined the government, added that he only implemented Governor’s directive.

According him, it is an offence in the first place for anybody in the state to build without approval from the government, adding: “In any case the land is the bone of contention and somebody has government’s C’ of ‘O on the land.”

When he was asked he was aware of the Supreme Court judgment conferring ownership on Ashamu family, from whom the occupiers bought, Ayinde simply: “Was Lagos State Government a party to that suit?”, adding “Let them come up with any document they have to the land.”

Minister sets up committee on Festac town refurbishment CONTINUED ON PAGE 31 takeover by squatters of the buffer zone meant to shield the estate from the busy Lagos-Badagry Expressway and the unresolved issue of payment of ground rents.

FHA Managing Director, Mr. Terver Gemade while responding to the minster’s concerns said the authority was determined to rehabilitate the ageing infrastructure in the estate but lamented that the money involved in conducting a total overhaul was beyond the resources

available to the Authority.

Gemade who stressed that most residents no longer observe the original terms of occupants agreement, bemoaned residents’ response to the new public water supply, as well as conversion of residential to commercial buildings and use of heavy-duty trucks in the estate.

He said more roads would be fixed in the coming months and thanked the Federal Government for its renewed interest in the estate.

However, President of Festac

Town Residents Association, Jola Ogunlusi, while reacting to the FHA GM’s statement, debunked the allegations and stressed that some of the claims were over exaggerated.

According to him, residents have been the ones fighting the battle to restore the estate by kicking against the sale of gardens and parks for building and removal of illegal shops.

He said, “We are the one who fought where three of our members lost thier lives against the sale of the park at 206. Some few years ago it was

also our members that removed about 200 illegal container shops.”

Ogunlusi further called on govt to help provide an alternative route for Abule Ado residents who are also part of Festac town.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development explained that for Festac Town to be fully restored, a review of its master plan was necessary even as all stakeholders in the area need to work on the same page to improve the situation.

He also urged the Federal government to come to the aid of the estate by resuscitating the entire dilapidated infrastructure.

Similarly Special Adviser on Tax Matters, Lagos State, Mr. Bola Sodipo, who spoke on the part of the government called for all stakeholders to come up with suggestions and amicable ways of resolving disagreements.

He assured that the issue of property tax would be harmoniously settled adding that the best way forward can only be through negotiations.

On his part Amuwo Odofin’s Local Government’s Chairman, Ayodele Adewale lamented the deplorable state of some basic facilities in Festac Town due to abuse by residents On the state of the sewage system in Festac Town, Adewale regretted the actions of some residents who diverted their sewage pipes into open drainage stressing that the unsanitary act poses great danger to the environment, which will manifest either now or in the future.

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WEMABOD unveils Golden Court, plans housing scheme Housing

By Tosin Fodeke OVES toward easing M housing and accommodation challenges may be

Wemabod plans to provide more housing units to curtail the surge of inadequate housing as well expand its list of growing estates to other southwestern states. boosted soon, following moves to increase the hous-

ing stock in the Southwest of the country.

Under the ambitious project, renowned property firm, Messrs WEMABOD Estates Limited, owned by Odu’a investment group, plans to collaborate with state governments in the construction of about 5,000 housing units.

Former Governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo who dropped the hint

recently at a seminar to mark WEMABOD’s bicentenary, explained that the firm is in talks with government for the actualization of the project.

He stressed that housing provision is a priority of the company even as the measure is planned by the company to ease housing and accommodation challenges in the Southwest.

Similarly Director of Director Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Ola Bello revealed that the firm would soon be unveiling the largest shopping mall in the county adding that it is out to build 500 housing units in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, and 5,000 shops tagged ‘Neighbourhood Market’ across the state.

Prof Babatunde Agbola, from the Department Of Urban And Regional Planning Faculty Of The Social Sciences, University Of Ibadan, while taking participants through the rudiments of housing delivery in

the country explained that despite government’s intervention and huge investments in housing provision since the colonial times, Nigeria’s housing problems still remained intractable.

He stressed:“In fact, before the emergence of the transformation agenda in 2011, access to decent housing has worsened for increasing segments of the Nigerian population. A cursory look at the state of the housing sector tells a tale of a huge paradox - a paradox of achieving so little with so much. Inspite of the activities of past government in Nigeria, housing sector is in a state of coma, neither dying nor living.

After more than six decades of independence, the housing sector still remains highly undeveloped.

Agbola while extoling Wemabod for its rich history and its continuing good performances, called on the firm to set housing production goals that would benefit a cross section of Nigerians especially in its mandates states of operation.

“Indeed, one of the reasons why the country is yet to maximize the development impact of housing industry on the national economy is the high foreign content of her housing components.

Therefore, a major focus of the future housing sector in Nigeria is the one with high local content. This will rely heavily on reform in our industrial and manufacturing policy, particularly to ensure availability of local/indigenous building materials of the right quality for mass housing.” Agbola added As to the challenge for Wemabod, Agbola stressed that the firm must play an active part in regard for the general populace stressing that it must spread its long list of estates in Lagos alone to other states.

Chairman, WEMABOD Estates Dr. Adebayo Adewusi at the event also revealed that government alone cannot solve the problem of housing which points to the fact that the private sector is key to addressing the challenge.

Also President of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Mr. Emeka Eleh called on government to tackle three strategic areas which are land titling, mortgage finance, and infrastructure decay in other to solve the problem of housing.

He stressed that the sector like other sectors which have receieved government support need a form of subsidy boost.

“If the government has assisted other sector why not the housing. I truly commend the management of WEMABOD which is still one of the few property firms set up by the government that is still thriving” he added.

Wemabod also recently commissioned 12-unit apartment block at Adeniyi Jones area of Ikeja Lagos state tagged Golden Court estate.

The estate consists of three bedroom flats with facilities such as security, borehole, standby generator, intercom in each flat and Jaccuzi bath areas.

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TheEnvironment Reps, stakeholders seek new blueprint for environmental sustainability The Environment From Terhemba Daka, Abuja government LersAWMAKERS, officials and other stakeholdlast week at the National Conference on Environment, lamented the absence of holistic approach in safeguarding the Nigerian environment from further deterioration.

The stakeholders sought for solution to environment challenges like desertification and drought, ocean surge and coastal erosion, oil and gas pollution, flooding as well as the provision of waste management infrastructures. They also agreed that the review of some environmental and policies will improve human health, promote economic growth and engender sustainable development.

Chairman of House Committee on Environment, Uche Ekwunife who set the tune of the Conference held in Abuja, recently organized by the Committee said, members recently concluded a public hearing on the Bill which, when passed into law, will bring back sanitary inspectors in the country.

Ekwunife pointed out that protecting the environment was the responsibility of all stakeholders including industries, indigenous groups, environmental groups and the general population, adding: “when the environment is abused and neglected, poverty and instability follow. When it is nurtured, well being and prosperity flourish.”

While expressing the commitment of the National Assembly to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Ministry of environment and its agencies, the lawmaker explained that the parliament has taken pragmatic steps to create the awareness and sensitization that put environmental issues on the front burner .

She disclosed that the Committee was also in the process of amending the NOSDRA Act, adding that the pro-

Minister of Environment, Hajiya Hadizah Mailaifia (left), House Committee Chairman on Environment, Uche Ekwunife and Wife of the Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun during the conference South, desertification and crip- Environmental Policies into With the growing nuisance of air and water pollution, associated with continpling drought in the North, practical initiative that can ued urbanization and industrialization in the country, stakeholders have began and heavy rainfalls in 2012 demonstrate the value of suswhich resulted in the floods tainable management of the a process to overhaul policies that will put in place veritable environmental that affected over 27 of the 36 environment. safe- guards that improve human health, promote economic growth and engen- states of the Federation”, the Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Speaker said the country can- Ogun State who was representder sustainable development not afford anymore wrong ed by the First Lady of Ogun posed amendment seeks to causes, effects as well as solu- ed by the House Minority turns.

State, Mrs. Olufunsho Amosun The Minister for Environment, said said environment-related strengthen NOSDRA with the tions. According to her, the pur- Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila statutory power to charge ade- pose of the conference was to tasked the stakeholders to take Mrs. Hadiza Mailafia urged the issues have become one of the quate fines, introduce criminal “bring together major public actions aimed at reducing pol- stakeholders to earnestly work most topical matters in the offenses and penalties in order and private sector organiza- lution among other degrada- together to achieve the feat of world agenda today. to ensure strict compliance tions involved in environmen- tion and save energy. national development and She said that evidence has with all existing environmen- tal activities to deliberate and “The overwhelming evidence equally secure the future shown that the impacts of envital legislation in the petroleum agree on a common agenda for posed by the devastating through the prudent utiliza- ronmental crisis have become sector among others. environmental sustainability. impact of gully erosions in the tion of limited human and major threats to the survival Ekwunife noted that every Speaker, Aminu Waziri South East, coastal erosions material resources, and ensure and sustainable development environmental problem has Tambuwal who was represent- and ocean surge in the South- the effective translation of of humanity.

Planners call for national disaster management action plan Disaster Management

By Tosin Fodeke N the wake of looming rainy reason and multiple cases of collapse structures, town planning professionals have tasked government and emergency response groups on the need to adopt more proactive national strategies in disaster management.

The professional drawn from the Nigeria Institute of Town Planners (NITP) and Town Planners Registration Council (TOPREC) while speaking at the 2013 Lagos edition of the Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (MCPD) programme, observed that natural disasters have dominated news coverage in the past several years, noting a distressing rise in the frequen-

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With their focus centered on rural and urban settlements, planners recently sounded a clarion call for governmental agencies and emergency response groups to improve disaster management strategies. cy and scale of disasters as well as rising costs.

Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, represented by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Toyin Ayinde, urged town planners to initiate decisions and ideas that could prevent risks and disasters in rural and urban settlements.

He emphasised that town planners possessed the professional skills to evolve mitigation strategies to combat natural disaster and risks in the country.

President of TOPREC, Mr. Anthony Chukwuma, said that

the MCPD would educate participants on disaster mitigation measures and control initiatives as it affected the Nigerian environment.

According to him, the programme will enable participants to appreciate and understand the causes, nature and processes of human and naturally induced disasters.

“The training was designed to enhance our knowledge of basic issues in disaster risk management in reducing human suffering and economic loss caused by natural and man-made disasters,’’ he said.

NITP President, Steve Onu, in his submission at the event

called on the Lagos state government to effectively collaborate and give the proposals of planners the teeth needed to bite and function better.

He urged the need for commissioning of indigenous or local planning consultants registered with our professional body to prepare plans at various levels of details to guide the physical development of our living environments in line with current best practices.

“We also seek effectively support the officials in public service for implement the plans and schemes designed for our towns and villages, political

support needed to implement the plans, assistance for planners by funding urban planning and development projects to ensure that proposals are not left as paper works and employment of planners into the public sector to enable them effectively implement planning proposals made by government.”

Similarly, Chairman of the event, Dr. Bolanle Wahab, noted that experiences have indicated insufficient information and preparation in Nigerian rural and urban communities to combat disasters, thereby making Nigerian stakeholders responses to be reactionary in the form of providing relief-materials to affected population.

He stressed that Urban and regional planning is a key tool to assist city managers as com-

munities build resilience to risks and natural disasters through effective adaptation measures.

“However, due to insufficient information and inadequate preparations, some disasters, especially floods, drought, erosion, fire and oil spillage, still strike Nigerian communities with devastating impacts. This trend needs to be reversed by providing required knowledge to professionals in urban and regional planning and allied fields to minimize vulnerabilities and disaster risks and their impacts in rural and urban communities.

He highlighted that in most of the Nigerian coastal and inland cities, there are hazardprone areas: encroached flood plains, edge of ravine (deep narrow valley), and floodprone embankments.

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THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27, 2013

Weekly Lead Equity Ratings

COMPANY’S RESULT

CONTINUE FROM PAGE 30

STOCKWATCH

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THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27, 2013

STOCKWATCH

Introduction to dividends INTRODUCTION DIVIDEND is a distribution of a portion of a company's earnings to a class of its shareholders. Dividends can be in the form of cash, stock, and less commonly, property. Most stable companies offer dividends to shareholders. Often the stock prices of these financially secure companies do not move much, and dividends are offered as a way to entice, reward and retain investors. Investing in dividend-paying stocks can be an effective method of building long-term wealth.

This guide with introduce dividend terminology and explore the basics of dividends - from how dividends work, to researching, reinvestment and taxes.

TERMS TO KNOW AND OTHER BASICS Cash Dividend Cash payments made to stockholders, paid on a per share basis, quoted as a dollar amount or as a percentage of the current market value.

Cash dividends are typically paid out of the company's current earnings or accumulated profits.

Date of Record The date the company uses to determine its shareholders or "holders of record."

Declaration Date The date a company's Board of Directors announces an upcoming dividend.

Dividend A distribution of a portion of a company's earnings paid to its eligible shareholders. Dividends can be in the form of cash, stock and property.

Dividend Coverage Ratio The ratio between a company's earnings and its net dividend to shareholders. This ratio helps investors measure if a company's earnings are sufficient to cover its dividend obligations. Dividend coverage is calculated by dividing earnings per share by the dividend per share.

Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRIP) A plan offered by certain dividend-paying corporations that allows you to automatically reinvest cash dividends by purchasing additional shares of stock on the dividend payment date.

Dividend Yield A financial ratio that illustrates how much a company pays out in dividends each year relative to its share price. It is calculated by dividing the annual dividend per share by the current price of the stock.

Ex-Dividend Date The date on or after which a stock is traded without a previously declared dividend.

One-time Dividend A special dividend paid in addition to regular cash dividends.

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Payment Date The date a declared dividend is scheduled to be paid. .

Shareholder Any person, company or institution that owns at least one share in a company. Also called stockholder.

Stock Dividend Stock dividends are dividends in the form of additional shares of stock instead of cash.

Dividend Basics Companies that earn a profit can: • Reinvest the profits through expansion, debt reduction and/or share repurchases; or • Pay a portion of the profits to shareholders; or • Both reinvest and payout to shareholders.

When a company pays a portion of its profits to shareholders, it does so through the payment of dividends. A dividend is a payment made to eligible shareholders, paid on a quarterly or yearly basis that represents a portion of the company's profits. Companies in the United States typically pay quarterly dividends, while non-U.S. companies generally pay annual or semi-annual dividends. In Nigeria, companies typically pay interim dividend semi annually or annually at full year. Not all companies pay dividends to shareholders, and companies that do pay may increase, decrease or eliminate future dividend payments, depending on the performance of the business. For example, a company may decrease its dividend to free up cash to acquire another company. Most companies, however, try to maintain or increase dividends to keep shareholders happy and avoid drawing negative publicity.

Dividends are normally quoted on a per share basis, meaning that the dividend each shareholder receives is based on the number of shares that he or she owns. For example, if you own 100 shares of stock in company XYZ and the company decides to pay an annual dividend of N5 per share, your dividend would be N500 (100 shares x N5 per share). Dividends can also be quoted in terms of a percent of the current market price; for example, the company may announce a 2.5% dividend. The dividend will be equal to 2.5% of the current stock price.

Each eligible shareholder's dividend will be that figure multiplied by the number of shares currently held by the shareholder. For example, assume stock XYZ is currently trading at N50 per share and the company offers a 5% dividend. The dividend would be N2.50 per share (.05 dividend x N50 share price).

A stock's dividend yield is the expected yearly dividend divided by the current stock price:

For example, assume stock XYZ is trading at N50 per share and the company offers an annual dividend of N5 per share. The dividend yield would be 10% (N5 dividend ÷ N50 share price). Note that if the stock is trading at a higher price, say N100, the dividend yield decreases (N5 dividend ÷ N100 share price = 5% dividend yield). Conversely, if the stock is trading at a lower price, such as N25, the dividend yield increases (N5 dividend ÷ N25 share price = 20% dividend yield).

It is easy to become enamored with companies offering high dividends; however, keep in mind that these impressive figures might not represent a stable investment. High dividend yields are frequent-

ly indicators of low future growth prospects. A very high dividend yield might be a flag that the company is facing financial difficulty and that the market expects it to be accompanied by cuts to future dividends. Stocks with a low dividend yield, on the other hand, often indicate an expectation of high future growth.

Cash Dividends, Stock Dividends and One-Time Dividends Cash Dividends Cash dividends are what we normally think about when referring to dividends. These are cash payments made to stockholders, paid on a per share basis, quoted as a Naira amount (such as N5 per share) or as a percentage of the current market value (for example, a 2.5% dividend). Cash dividends are typically paid out of the company's current earnings or accumulated profits. Often, investors are able to reinvest the dividends to purchase additional shares of stock.

Stock Dividends Stock dividends are in the form of additional shares of stock instead of cash. The number of additional shares you receive depends on the number of shares you currently own. For example, a company may issue a stock dividend equal to five shares of stock for every 100 owned by each shareholder. If you have 500 shares, you would receive 25 shares. The price of the stock will likely respond to the dividend so that shareholders' post-dividend wealth remains the same. The stock dividend increases the number of shares each stockholder owns but does not necessarily have an immediate effect on the overall value of each stockholder's shares.

One-Time Dividends A company may also pay a special one-time dividend in addition to its regular cash dividends. A company may pay a one-time dividend for a variety of reasons, such as a sudden increase in cash resulting from the sale of a business or substantial litigation winnings. During the last quarter of 2012, with the "fiscal cliff" approaching in the U.S., many companies issued one-time dividends in anticipation of the higher dividend tax rates presumed to go into effect starting Jan. 1, 2013.

DIVIDEND DATES A corporation's Board of Directors must declare all dividends. Four dividend-related dates are important to this process: Declaration Date The declaration date is the date that the dividend is announced by the Board of Directors. The declaration statement includes the size of the dividend, the date of record and the payment date (see below). Once the dividend has been declared, the company has a legal responsibility to pay it.

Date of Record (or Closure Date) Once a company announces a dividend, it sets a date of record on or before which you must be on the company's books in order to receive the declared dividend. On the date of record, the company will determine its shareholders, or "holders of record," and the company will use this date to establish to whom it will send financial reports, proxy statements and other information.

Ex-Dividend Date (or Ex-Div. Date) After the company sets the date of record, the ex-dividend date is set by the stock exchange. If an investor purchases a stock on or after its exdividend date, he or she will not receive the declared cash dividend; instead, the seller of the stock will be entitled to that dividend.

Investors who purchase the stock before the ex-dividend date will receive the dividend.

For example, stock ABC recently announced a cash dividend with an ex-dividend date of December 7. If you purchase 100 shares of ABC stock on December 7 (on or after the ex-dividend date) you will not receive the dividend; the person from whom you bought the shares will receive the dividend. If, however, you purchase the shares on December 5 (before the ex-dividend date) you will be entitled to receive the next dividend. The ex-dividend date for stocks is typically set two business days before the date of record. A stock's price may increase by the dollar amount of the dividend as the ex-date approaches. On the ex-dividend date, the exchange may reduce the price per share by the dollar amount of the dividend.

Note: Procedures for non-cash dividends are a bit different. For example, if a company pays a stock dividend, the ex-dividend date is set the first business day after the stock dividend is paid.

Payment Date (Payable Date) The payment date is the scheduled date on which a declared dividend will be paid. Only shareholders who owned the stock before the ex-dividend date are entitled to the dividend.

The following table illustrates an example of the relationship between these important dividend-related dates:

INVESTING IN DIVIDEND STOCKS Many people invest in dividend-paying stocks to take advantage of the steady payments and the opportunity to reinvest the dividends to purchase additional shares of stock. Since many dividend-paying stocks represent companies that are considered financially stable and mature, the stock prices of these companies may steadily increase over time while shareholders enjoy periodic dividend payments. In addition, these well-established companies often raise dividends over time. For example, a company may offer a 2.5% dividend one year, and the next year pay a 3% dividend. It's certainly not guaranteed; however, once a company has the reputation of delivering reliable dividends that increase over time, it is going to work hard not to disappoint its investors.

A company that pays consistent, rising dividends is likely a financially healthy firm that generates consistent cash flow (this cash, after all, is where the dividends come from). These companies are often stable, and their stock prices tend to be less volatile than the market in general. As such, they may be lower risk than companies that do not pay dividends and that have more volatile price movements.

Because many dividend-paying stocks are lower risk, the stocks are an

appealing investment for both younger people looking for a way to generate income over the long haul, and for people approaching retirement - or who are in retirement - who desire a source of retirement income.

Contributing further to investor confidence is the relationship between share price and dividend yield. If share prices drop, the yield will rise correspondingly.

The Power of Compounding Dividends often provide investors with the opportunity to take advantage of the power of compounding. Compounding happens when we generate earnings and reinvest the earnings, eventually generating earnings from the earnings. Dividend compounding occurs when dividends are reinvested to purchase additional shares of stock, thereby resulting in greater dividends.

With dividend investing, the more often you receive and reinvest your dividends, the higher your eventual rate of return. To illustrate a more realistic example of compounding, assume you purchase 100 shares of stock XYZ at N50 per share, for a total investment of N5,000.

The first year that you own the stock, the company pays one 2.5% dividend, earning you N125 in dividend income. If the dividend increases by 5% each year (5% of the previous dividend; not 5% of the stock's value), your N5,000 investment would be valued at N11,226 dollars after 20 years (assuming there's no change in the stock price and that you reinvested all of the dividends).

To take advantage of the power of compounding, you need: • An initial investment • Earnings (dividends, interest, etc.)

• Reinvestment of earnings • Time DRIPs A dividend reinvestment plan, commonly called a DRIP, is a plan offered by a company that allows investors to automatically reinvest cash dividends by purchasing additional shares or fractional shares on the dividend payment date. This can be an excellent way for investors to take advantage of the compounding potential. Instead of receiving your quarterly dividend check, the entity managing the DRIP (which could be the company, a transfer agent or a brokerage firm) puts the money, on your behalf, directly towards the purchase of addition shares.

In some environments, many DRIPs allow you to purchase the additional shares commission-free and even at a discount for the current share price. DRIPs that are operated by the company itself, for example, are commission-free since no broker is involved. Certain DRIPs extend the offer to shareholders to purchase additional shares in cash, directly from the company, at a discount that can be anywhere from 1 to 10%. Because of the discount and commission-free structure, the cost basis of shares acquired in this manner can be significantly lower that if bought outside of the DRIP. From the company's standpoint, DRIPs may be attractive because the DRIP shares can be sold directly by the company - and not through an exchange. This means that the proceeds from the stock sale can be reinvested into the company. DRIPs can also allow companies to raise new equity capital over time while reducing the cash outflows that would otherwise be required by dividend payments. Additionally, DRIPs tend to attract shareholders with long-term investment strategies; as such, these investors may be more willing to "ride out" any rough periods.

From the investor's perspective, DRIPs offer a convenient method of reinvesting. The primary disadvantage to shareholders is that they must pay taxes on the cash dividends reinvested in the company even though they never receive any cash.

DIVIDEND PAYMENTS IN THE NIGERIAN CAPITAL MARKET For many investors, dividend-paying stocks have come to make a lot of sense in Nigeria given the almost cultural belief that making returns on investment is the essence of engaging in any investment or business plan. Many investors think of dividend-paying companies as having low-return investment opportunities compared to high-flying small cap companies whose volatility can be pretty exciting; thus representing dividend-paying stocks as more mature and predictable. In the last few years, activities in this regard appear to be dull; the practice nonetheless provides a combination of consistent dividend with an increasing stock price – which offers earnings potential powerful enough to get excited about.

Dividends paid by corporate firms are therefore viewed positively by the investors, firms and the general public – without question. The firms which do not pay dividends are conversely rated by these groups without consequential impact on share prices. The people who support the relevance of dividends payment clearly state that regular dividends reduce uncertainty of the shareholders i.e. the earnings of the firm is discounted at a lower rate, thereby increasing the market value. However, it is exactly the opposite in the case of increased uncertainty due to non-payment of dividends.

The dividend policy of a firm traditionally helps the decision to pay cash dividend in the present or paying an increased dividend at a later stage – building a perception of growth, strength and viability.

The firm could also pay in the form of stock dividends which unlike cash dividends do not provide liquidity to the investors; however, it ensures capital gains to the stockholders and as such determines the form of payment.

In the year 2010, out of the 199 First Tier Equities listed on the main board of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Eighty-Four (84) firms representing 42.21% of the entire listed first tier equities, paid dividends to its investors. The number of companies that paid dividend in the year 2011 witnessed a slight drop in total figure – Seventy Six (76) out of 186 First Tier Equities listed on the main board in the year under review (a drop of 8 or 10% from 2010 figures).

As at Q1 2012, Twenty (20) quoted firms out of the 187 First Tier Equities listed on the main board have proposed dividends to its investors representing 10.70% of the listed First Tier Equities. 3 Large CAP companies are characterized in the figure while Medium and Small CAPs firms have 7 and 10 correspondingly.

CONCLUSION Many investors seek dividend-paying stocks as a means of generating income and growing wealth. As with any investment, it is important to do your homework and find investments that are suitable to your investing style, time horizon, financial situation and financial objectives.

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THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27, 2013

BusinessInterview Multiple duties, insecurity and unfavourable

Usifo Val Usifoh is the chairman, Shipping Association of Nigeria (SAN), a body of multinational shipping companies in Nigeria. In a chat with DAVID OGAH, he bemoaned the multiplicity of agencies at ports and the high cost of doing business at the nation’s gateways despite reforms. Excerpts.

What would you say are the operational challenges facing multinational shipping companies operating in the country?

HE multinational shipping companies that are operating in Nigeria, first, they are incorporated to do business in Nigeria. They came here to set up a legal local company and get registered with all authorities concerned: the CAC, Port Authority, NIMASA and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). They set up business here because Nigeria is a huge market. But the major challenges, which I think they are facing are not different from the challenges which others serious operators are facing. In the ports, these challenges, I will start with the security challenge, which has increased recently, are not only for the ships waiting to berth, but also lately the personnel. There are security threats and alerts everywhere, so that is one. Challenge is the multiplicity of government agencies. Sometimes you have so many agencies asking for the same information, and you tend to repeat yourself all the time.

The authorities in the port sector don’t seem to be working in a synchronised way that enables you to get on with your business of serving your customers. Take something like providing documentation for the cargoes the ship carries, you deal electronically with customs through the ASYCUDA system that goes to your control line in Abuja, at the same time, you have various agencies asking for

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hard copies of ships’ manifest, including NIMASA, even NPA, NAFDAC, SON, the security agencies and so on. Those of us who have been in the port system quite a while would understand this to be taking us even beyond a century, because when we started, as young graduates in the shipping companies, we developed interaction with the authority that once you lodge your document with Customs, any government agencies that want this document can go to Customs to get a copy. But now you are confronted with the challenge of multiplicity of agencies. The other challenge to the shipping companies has to do with the port services. Why are shipping services expensive in Nigeria? It is because you pay for a service and you don’t get the service.

Sometimes you are forced to spend more money to get the services done, and in some cases, you have to get third party to render the service at extra cost. This should not be. Most of the challenges have to do with the environment, which is not very friendly to business.

And it is a harsh economic reality, which many multinational, even small-scale businesses, are facing in this country. So we are part and parcel of the victims of a hostile economic environment.

Can you tell us what the Shipping Association of Nigeria (SAN) is all about? How is it different from any other trade unions like Indigenous Ship Owners Association of

Nigeria (ISAN)?

Well, originally, the shipping companies were part of the Lagos Chambers of Commerce. Many of them had and still have their headquarters in Lagos here. So Lagos Chambers of Commerce was a veritable platform through which the challenges could be heard. But over time, members felt that the chamber was not sufficiently or adequately addressing the critical issues that concerned them, especially in their interaction with government, through the budget proposals.

So in early 2000 or thereabout, the association was formed specifically to deal with government directly, and through its agencies on those critical issues that affect the businesses of various members. The association is not a trade union. It is registered as a trust and it interfaces with government agencies to discuss issues whenever they arise, particularly, I will say the Federal Ministry of Transport and its agencies, Federal Ministry of Finance and its agencies, which include Customs, Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs.

It has direct access to these bodies and gets a lot of mileage in these dealings. We hold meetings, we sent representations and they listen to us and it gives them a better perspective of the challenges that serious and big time operators in the maritime industry are facing. Our members also appreciate the difficulties in getting some of these issues

addressed. For instance, if you look at the infrastructural deficit, which affect the throughput of vessel in the various ports and in the waters within and around the ports, you will see that these were left for too long and so you don’t expect miracles to occur overnight.

But as we sympathise with government, the Customs which our members serves are not all that patience, because all these things cost money, and they tend to believe that our members are making money at their expense, which is not case. So in the summary, the association caters for the interest of members, but by the terms of our articles of association, the association as a body, because of its international connection, do not fix rate or discuss the commercial interest of members for two reasons. One: Most of the developing worlds have outlawed all these trade association and conferences. It is almost internationally unacceptable for group of companies to fix rate.

The penalty is very stiff and it can also give you a bad name. Secondly, because international shipping, like airfreight, is open skies, a Custom tries to get the best deal, and I am not surprised that each of our members is in competition with each other. What good client normally do is to look around and get the best deal. So you don’t have a uniform freight rate or uniform charge for a particular service. The profiles are different as I said. Each of them are in competition and, globally too, you will

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clime still albatross at ports, says Usifoh notice that because of long run economic recession, some of these big shipping companies are contracting. Some are going out of business, others are being swallowed up.

Who is qualified to become SAN member?

Any big shipping operator in Nigeria can join the association. The acceptance of membership is very democratic. Early this year, we have a new member, a company that started newly. So if you apply to the association, the application goes round the membership and if there is a majority decision to accept the company, it will be accepted into the association.

How is SAN different from Indigenous Ship owners Association of Nigerian (ISAN)?

ISAN is purely an indigenous organisation and their mandate is slightly different. I am a Nigerian, I have a lot of sympathy, a lot of affiliation and plan for the growth and development of ISAN. They are actually in the cabotage. The days of African Ocean Line, NNSL and Green Line are gone forever. Although they are trying to come back into the nation’s shipping sector, the emphasis now is for them to maximise the natural priviledges that comes with the Cabotage Act. Also we have the oil and gas related field. You can not be a big oil producing nation and you don’t have any flag vessel carrying the oil. No member of ISAN is in position to favourably compete with the big merchant shipping companies or international ones operating round the world. SAN is made up of multinational shipping companies that operates round the world. Those of them operating in Nigeria are Nigerian registered companies. But policies are directed from their head office which coordinate all the activities of members round the world and that is why it tries to maintain own profile, have its own financial and operational standard within commercial standard. That is the difference between us and ISAN. The Nigerian import prohibition list is getting elongated by the day. How has this affected shipping business?

I will like to answer your question by making a comment on import prohibition list. For reasons best known to the government, the list is getting longer.

The intention is to protect the local production and indigenous manufacturers.

Tariff and barriers are not enough to stop these things from coming. You find that most of these items that are prohibited still enter the country one way or the other. If you want industry to grow, first, we have to provide a healthy operational environment, there have to be incentives for local capacity building.

And there are certain things that needs protection. However, the import prohibition do not seem to address the need of the private sector. What is happening is that most of our local businesses are being driven out of business. But the answer is not in prohibition because Nigeria is basically an import dependence economy. So prohibition is not the answer from my point of view. Except for security items like our currency, arms and ammunition, anything that is traded in the world, that has a huge market here, should be allowed to come in. If you want to import Rolls Royce as local Taxi here, why not. It is better you raise the tariff benchmark than to ban it. If you ban it, and there is a market for it, it will still find its way into the country, especially if you don’t have the capacity to produce these things locally. It does not mean that our economy is structured in such a way that these things cannot be produced. It is just that there is no support for local manufacturing,

You find that most of these items that are prohibited still enter the country one way or the other. If you want industry to grow, first, we have to provide a healthy operational environment, there have to be incentives for local capacity building. And there are certain things that need protection.

However, the import prohibition does not seem to address the need of the private sector. What is happening is that most of our local businesses are being driven out of business be it small, medium scale, even the big industries. I have a friend in MAN whose outfit is heavily burdened by some of the things you can take for granted, but for which they pay tax. They have to provide their own bore hole, they don’t depend on public power supply. This building where we are today, 90 per cent of the power it uses is provided by the company to keep software and others going. Many companies have to run their own hospitals and clinics for their staff. These shouldn’t be so. The company that pays its tax, both to the state and federal level, is entitled to some basic things, plus some local protection to grow. That is why our textile industry went away. A long import prohibition list is not the solution.

Is the policy of 48-hour goods clearance working? How has it affected turnaround time for vessels?

This is very impressive. It is a current issue. You said it started three years ago, and it is on-going. We are migrating from a regime where we have 30-40 days of clearance time to currently 20-21 days. The volumes are down because of the current global recession. But 48 hours clearance is a destination. Steps are gradually being taken to get there.

There are so many things to be done. If you compare the way we do things in our ports here with the way it is done in smaller neighbouring countries that are in competition with our ports, you will see that there are too many actors in our scheme. There are so many agencies interfering in the port processes.

There are lots of infrastructural deficit.

Our cargo documentation process is very cumbersome. For security and other reasons, our cargo examination,

Except for security items like our currency, arms and ammunition, anything that is traded in the world, that has a huge market here, should be allowed to come in. If you want to import Rolls Royce as local Taxi here, why not. It is better you raise the tariff benchmark than to ban it. If you ban it, and there is a market for it, it will still find its way into the country, especially if you don’t hav e the capacity to produce these things locally

there is too much of physical examination. Port reforms have helped somehow, but there are still issues in the port reform that we know government is addressing. So 48 hours is a destination. We want to get there, and we are not there and we are happy and fully committed to be part of these measure’s including single window, reduction of processes. So with all these complexities, business is bound to be expensive, and it is well known that our ports are relatively very expensive.

The other issue you should know is that our port business is concentrated in few places. We have no deep-sea port in this country, unlike other countries in West Africa. So they have a huge advantage. When all these things are put in place, the Inland Container Depots are not functional, our railway network is still undergoing major overhaul. If all these things are working and the ports work as a transit area, which they are, we will be talking of 28 hours clearance, and not 48 hours.

The ports were concession majorly to reduce cost, seven years on; the cost of doing business is still very high. What do you think is responsible for this?

Using cost as a major parameter to make comparism is inappropriate.

Take a simple reason for inflation, cost has never gone down. We are talking of comparative cost. People have invested money to make the concession work.

The concession, port reforms, have worked very well. The critical element to be discussed are two. One: relative to the concession agreement, which each concessionaire signed, is he keeping to the spirit and intention of that concession? More fundamentally, the monitoring agencies, it is playing its role well so that government is able to compare milestones? You started from A, what we expected you to achieve. We have now moved to B, C, D. You have not gotten there, what are the reasons?

It should be easy for government to see, and even for the public to see that things have not got to where they should be for so, so reasons. As much as this concession agreements are secrete, government hasn’t come out to say terminal A, B, C, D, this is how they have performed, this is where they are lacking, this is the information that is missing. But in terms of capacity and productivity, they are doing a good job. Nearly all the terminals have invested massively in capacity upgrading. Mark you, the templates were different. Here for instance was a housing estate. They started from the scratch. In some other older areas like Apapa Port and some part of Tin-Can, there was so much dilapidation, a lot of investment has been put in to bring things to the standard they are now and investment continues in terms of manpower, infrastructure, hardware, and upgrading of the system to make them customer responsive and to yield the dividend which their government expect from them. They are here to make money. Each space that was concession is money. If cargo cease in that space and it is not moving, they will be losing money, government will also be losing money. These are issues. Take Lagos ports, for instance, they have become cosmopolitan ports in the sense that the city has eventually grown round the ports and there is little room for expansion, infrastructural deficit is massive. So what it is you have gained from the port, you lose outside the port. We said before, the challenges which these terminal face can also be measured by the throughput of cargo from their areas.

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NCDMB canvasses for revival of manufacturing sector for local content

By Roseline Okere HE Nigerian Content T Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has said that the development of the country’s manufacturing sector would assist oil and gas companies in implementing local content policy.

Executive Secretary of the

board, Ernest Nwapa, stated in a media statement made available to The Guardian recently that local manufacturing holds the key to creating jobs in the oil and gas industry.

According to him, the board was planning using the Nigerian Content Fund to create industrial parks close to the oil fields and get

original equipment manufacturers to mentor small and medium scale enterprises to manufacture components of their equipment used in the industry.

He added: “The responsibility of the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board is to work with the industry to drive the establishment of

Jonathan to kick off construction of Zungeru hydroelectric dam project From John Ogiji, Minna RESIDENT Goodluck P Ebele Jonathan is to officially kick off the construction of the multi-billion naira Zungeru hydroelectric dam project in the Wushishi local government area of Niger State on Tuesday.

The flag-off of the construction work of the project is part of activities lined up for the one-day visit of the President to Niger State.

Though details of the visits are still sketchy the Niger State Commissioner for Information Professor Mohammed Kuta Yahaya told newsmen in Minna on Thursday that the state government would give the president a befitting reception during the visit to the state.

According to Professor Yahaya the state government and its people appreciated the gesture of the president for approving the execution of the project and other projects in the state, which he said had been on the drawing board for over 15 years.

NNPC succumbs to Reps’ move to probe revenue From Terhemba Daka, Abuja IGERIA National N Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has yielded to the demands of the House of Representatives committee on Finance to open its book as the parliament moved to improve the revenue generation of the federal government.

The corporation had following previous invitations extended to it snubbed the Abdulmumin Jibrin-led House Committee on Finance, but NNPC official showed up recently with apologies for snubbing the House panel.

But NNPC Group Executive Director of Finance, Benard Otti who appeared yesterday further pleaded for more time to put the corporation’s records together.

The GED had earlier apologised to the Committee that the delay in coming up with the presentation was as a result of the absence of the officer in charge, whom he said had been out of the country for about a week.

He told the panel that the absence of the GMD at the meeting due to another official engagement elsewhere, just as he appealed for two weeks to make the presentation available.

“Niger state is appreciative of what the president has done for 15 years the project has been on the drawing board. With the project Niger State will take its pride of place as the power house of the country.”

Professor Kuta said that

government believed that very soon the federal government would commence the damming of the Gurara falls even as he expressed gratitude to the federal government for the ongoing dualisation of the Suleja to Minna road.

these manufacturing facilities and that is why the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani AlisonMadueke, is pushing for the launching of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industrial Park Scheme.

“The big manufacturers would come to the park and select a local partner that would manufacture their components.”

Nwapa warned that failure to sufficiently domicile the service and manufacturing ends of industry operations would mean that investments would flow into the country, but take flight in the form of overseas procurement of equipment used for operations and remuneration of expatriate personnel working on the projects.

He explained: “It is expected that when the Petroleum

Industry Bill (PIB) is passed, it would result in massive investment flow and those investments will yield revenue for Nigeria. But what we are looking for is a kind of impact that can give us employment on top of the revenue.

“That type of impact would only come from the investments that result in domiciliation. It is a good thing we have had a three-years head-start in the implementation of the Local Content Act which has enabled us create some capacities in Nigeria such that as the PIB is being passed and investments are coming, we would then have jobs arising from the investments being executed locally.”

The executive secretary also canvassed for industry support for the Board’s ini-

tiatives especially the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industrial Park Scheme and the establishment of a new pipe mill to support the existing SCC Mill in Abuja.

He explained that when the initiatives were successful, Nigerians would reap immense benefits from the PIB, as more industry activities would be domiciled.

He added: “It is a good thing to get the investments in, because we need to increase our revenue intake from oil production, but the real endgame for us is to ensure that when as we are getting revenues, we are getting our people to work.

“Government agencies can only employ a few thousands, but the real employment can come from commercial activities that would arise from our preparedness to expand operations.”

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Oil & GasWeekly Remi Aiyela, Editor-in-Chief

editor@NOGintelligence.com www.NOGintelligence.com

UPSTREAM NEWS

Economic interest: Optimum: 30 per cent; Afren: 40 per cent; Lekoil: 30 per cent.

Commenting on the new acquisition, the Chairman of Afren, Mr. Egbert Imomoh, said: “We are delighted to have successfully concluded a farm-out on OPL 310, offshore Nigeria and welcome Lekoil as a Partner in exploring the significant potential of this underexplored region of the West African Transform Margin.”

The exploration well being drilled at the Ogo prospect includes a side-track well and the drilling programme using Transocean’s drilling rig, Monitor, which began in April the drilling is expected to last 90 days.

OPL 310 extends from the shallow water continental shelf to deep water, in close proximity to the Tano Basin. Detailed evaluation of the block has identified several prospects lying in the same Turonian, Cenomanian and Albian sandstone intervals that have yielded significant discoveries in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.

Shell, NLNG Declare Force Majeure On Gas Supplies

Marginal Fields Licensing Round To Be Announced Within Two Months

HE Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani T Allison-Madueke has confirmed that the next marginal fields round will be announced within two months. She confirmed this while speaking at a special lecture at Oxford University hosted by St Anthony’s College in conjunction with the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies and the African Studies Centre at Oxford University. The lecture was entitled “The Future of African Energy in a Changing Global Market.”

During the lecture she spoke about Africa’s rich resource and its prodigious reserves, stressing the fact that, as the largest producer and exporter and the second largest economy in Africa, “Nigeria has been at the heart of every conversation on African energy for the last five decades.” During the question and answer session of the lecture, Remi Aiyela, the editor of NOGintelligence asked the Minister for a specific timescale for the announcement of the next marginal fields licensing round. Remi pointed out that the Director of the Department of Petroleum Resources had stated at the official launch of NOGintelligence that the Department had completed the work necessary for the commencement of the next licensing round, including mapping out the fields and preparing accompanying the data packages.

Responding to Remi’s question, the Minister explained that the delay in announcing the licensing round was because the government was keen to ensure that the mistakes of the last round were not repeated this time. She then went on to confirm that an announcement would be made within two months.

The Marginal Fields Programme was devised to bring meaningful indigenous participation into the upstream landscape particularly given the large number of reported oil and gas discoveries in the Niger Delta, which over time had remained undeveloped, unproduced and, in some cases, only partially appraised by the international oil companies (IOC’s) which deemed them uneconomic.

The first marginal fields licensing round, which was held in February 2003 and in which 24 licences were awarded, brought smaller indigenous players into the upstream sector of the industry. Unfortunately, out of those 24 licences only 9 are producing.

The government is keen to ensure a higher level of success with this licensing round, which the Minister explained, was the reason why the announcement had been continuously delayed.

Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has declared force majeure on its Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) supplies following a leak in its Eastern Gas Gathering System (EGGS-1) right-of-way (RoW) pipeline near Awoba in Rivers State. As a result of the leak, Shell shut down its gas production at Gbaran Ubie as plant in Bayelsa State and reduced production at its Soku gas plant in Rivers State.

SPDC, said the pipeline, which carries some 1.5 billion standard cubic feet per day (SCF/D) of gas, would necessitate the shutdown of the Gbarain Ubie plant, “until the source of the leak is identified and necessary remedial actions are completed by SPDC, to ensure safe operation.”

SPDC supplies LNG to the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) company through the pipeline and as a result of the disruption in supplies, the 22.5 million tonnes per annum capacity NLNG plant has also had to declare force majeure on its exports of LNG. The Soku plant provides up to 40 per cent of the company’s gas supplies and with the disruption in supplies its overall exports are now down by up to 50 per cent.

NLNG’s General Manager in charge of External Relations, Kudo Eresia-Eke said in a statement: “NLNG not being able to meet its contractual commitments fully, declared Force Majeure to its customers on the 15th of May 2013.”

Eresia-Eke said in the statement that NLNG was working with SPDC and its other gas suppliers to mitigate the effect of the disruption, having delivered over 3000 LNG and natural gas liquids (NGL) cargoes to its customers in Asia, the US and Europe.

NLNG is a joint venture company whose shareholders are the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (49per cent), Shell Gas BV (25.6per cent), Total LNG Nigeria Limited (15per cent) and ENI International (N.A) NY (10.4per cent).

The force majeure declaration has compounded the problems of NLNG. Only two weeks ago, its faced a blockade of its vessels at Bonny Channel after a face off with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) which was trying to collect a 3 per cent statutory levy on freight leaving or entering the channel. NLNG had argued that it was exempted from paying the levy by the NLNG Act. The dispute has now been resolved in NIMASA’s favour with the Government directing NLNG to pay the statutory levies, possibly going back to 2009, that are determined to be owed to the agency. Both parties have been directed to meet to work out the outstanding fees and modalities for payment.

The pipeline leak comes barely a couple of weeks after SPDC released a progress report on its GbaranUbie project, saying it was testing the potentials of five gas wells as it progresses implementation of the project in Bayelsa State. The Imiringi Power Plant in Ogbia Local Government Area in Bayelsa State was expecting the Gbaran-Ubie project to provide a boost in its gas supplies once tests were successfully completed. It is not known whether the pipeline leak was

MIDSTREAM NEWS

Afren Completes OPL 310 Farm Out

ONDON Stock Exchange (LSE) listed Afren Plc has Lagreement announced the completion of its OPL 310 farm out with Lekoil Limited. At the same time, the company also announced the commencement of exploratory drilling at the Ogo prospect. Lekoil, recently listed on the LSE’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM) will acquire a 17.14 per cent participating interest in the block, subject to Ministerial consent.

The agreement will enable Afren to obtain a total carry of up to $50 million in respect of the exploration well. Indigenous company, Optimum Petroleum Development’s 60 per cent interest remains unchanged. Optimum, which acquired the block in 2008, is the “Operator” of the block and the company will continue to receive technical assistance from Afren under a Technical Assistance Agreement between the two companies.

Following the farm in by Lekoil, the companies’ interest in the block will be as follows: Participating interest: Optimum: 60 per cent; Afren: 22.86 per cent; Lekoil: 17.14 per cent.

Gas Infrastructure To Attract N2.4 Trillion In Four Years

IGERIA’S gas infrastructure development programme will attract an investment of over N2.4tn ($16bn) within the next four years, in line with the three-point strategic focus of the Gas Master Plan (GMP).

The Group Executive Director, Gas and Power, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Dr. David Ige, stated this at the 4th annual Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone conference in Lagos recently. Ige who was represented by the General Manager, Pipelines,

N

NNPC, Mr. Sam Ndukwe also disclosed that NNPC was set to build on the achievements of the free trade zone with the establishment of the Ogidigben Gas City, the largest of its kind in Africa.

He stated that the GMP will deliver gas to power for at least a threefold increase in generation capacity by 2015; achieve a reasonable level of gas-based industrialisation by positioning Nigeria as the undisputed regional hub for gas-based industries such as fertiliser, petrochemical and methanol plants by 2014; and achieve high value export via Liquefied Natural Gas and regional export drives.

Ige said the ongoing work to consolidate the agenda had thrown up investment opportunities in the gas sector to the tune of $16 billion.

“Opportunities for investments exist in the areas of financial services, gas transmission pipelines, pipe milling and fabrication yards, upstream gas development, LNG and LPG plants and gas processing facility/gas-based manufacturing industries,” he said.

On the proposed Ogidigben gas-based industrial park, the NNPC GED said investment opportunities were available in the areas of Free Trade Zone infrastructure, port infrastructure and real estate devel-

in association with

sold through term contracts while the rest of its oil is sold through its IOC production sharing partners.

Last year many of the large oil traders such as Vitol, Glencore and Trafigura lost out as their usual allocations were cut in half. Asian traders, mainly Chinese and Indian, are expected to fare well this year as they did last year when Unipec (China’s Sinopec Corporation’s trading arm) and Indian Oil Corporation saw their allocations increased.

The 20 successful Nigerian companies last year included the usual suspects, Oando, Masters and Sahara.

FINANCIAL NEWS

DOWNSTREAM NEWS Lekoil Lists On London Stock Exchange’s AIM Market

EKOIL has been admitted to the London Stock LInvestment Exchange after listing on its Alternative Market (AIM). The company raised

OPEC Daily Basket Price Stood At $100.36 A Barrel Wednesday, 22 May 2013

HE price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood T at $100.36 a barrel on Wednesday, compared with $101.39 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The OPEC daily basket remains under pressure and has been falling since the 20th before which it had been rising for a few days.

The new OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

NNPC Invites Applications For Crude Oil Term Contracts

HE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation T (NNPC) has announced the beginning of the application process for its annual round of term contracts for lifting Nigerian crude oil for the period starting 1st August 2013 to 31st July 2014.

The Nigerian government has very stringent rules about who can be awarded a contract. It is generally intended that only end users are awarded term contracts and so only refinery owners or retail outlets and large volume traders are to apply. The applicant has to show details of its facilities, markets and volume of crude processed over the previous 3 years or, in the case of traders, evidence of its global network, activities and volume of crude oil handled over the previous 3 years.

Indigenous companies are excepted however from these stringent entry requirments, and only need to show that they are engaged in Nigerian oil and gas business. The low entry bar will make it easier for indigenous companies to qualify.

The financial requirements are quite steep and are likely to take all but the most serious players out of the running. Applicants must have not less than $500 million annual turnover and a net worth of not less than $100 million. Many indigenous companies will not be able to scale this hurdle and will probably fall out at his stage.

Successful applicants also have to make an immediate payment of $2.5 million, which will be treated as a deposit against the first cargo.

Other criteria are that applicants must comply with the Nigerian Content Act including demonstrating a strategy to grow Nigerian equity in the tankers to be used to lift the allocated crude oil. Applicants must also submit commitments for sub-contracting insurance and legal services, banking and financial services as well as training and capacity building.

In addition, applicants are to include investment plans for investing in any of a number of areas of the Nigerian economy including upstream, downstream, gas utilisation, independent power plants, agriculture, railway construction, solid mineral development, healthcare sector development and real estate development.

The deadline for applications is 4pm on the 18th of June.

Last year, to the surprise of many industry observers, and in spite of the $600 million annual turnover requirement, Nigerian firms won a large share of the contracts. Almost half of the $60 billion worth of oil contracts went to Nigerian companies.

Nigeria normally allocates about 75% of its daily production for sale through term contracts that last for a year. About 580 million barrels of oil a day will be

approximately $50 million giving it a market capitalisation of $112.1 million at admission. The Lekoil listing is remarkable, as it is the largest capital raising on AIM so far in 2013. It follows the recent admission by another exploration and production company, Eland Oil & Gas. Lekoil was welcomed to market by Alderman Roger Gifford, Lord Mayor of the City of London, who presented a commemorative plaque to the company to mark the occasion.

Ibukun Adebayo, Head of Primary Markets for Africa, London Stock Exchange Group, said: “We are delighted to welcome Lekoil to AIM. This is the third Nigerian company in eight months to raise money and issue shares on our markets, highlighting London’s role as the leading international equity finance centre for the economic development of Nigeria.”

AIM is the London Stock Exchange’s international market for smaller growing companies. A wide range of businesses including early stage, venture capital backed as well as more established companies join AIM seeking access to growth capital.

Lekoil was founded in 2010 as an indigenous Nigerian company focusing on Africa. It currently has assets in Nigeria and also offshore Namibia.

Commenting on its successful listing, Lekan Akinyanmi, Chief Executive of Lekoil, said: “This is an important step for Lekoil on our journey towards becoming a leading E&P company with an aim of shaping the future of oil exploration and production in Africa.”

Lekoil is the fourth oil & gas explorer with significant operations in Nigeria on London’s markets.

Since 2007 oil and gas companies have raised over US $21.6 billion on London’s markets.

The company is now in a position to fund the exploratory well being drilled at the Ogo prospect on offshore block OPL 310, in which it has acquired a 17.14 per cent equity interest and a 30 per cent economic interest.

Nigeria’s $1 billion Sovereign Wealth Fund To Start Investing In June

IGERIA’S Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) is preparN ing to begin investing as from June. The Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) said this in a statement this week. The Authority said it would allocate 32.5 per cent of the fund to infrastructure investment, and the same for a future generations savings pot. Two per cent, it said would be used to protect against commodity price shocks, while 15 per cent would remain unallocated.

“This formula aims to balance the infrastructure need of the current generation and the need for savings for the future generation of Nigerians,” said the statement.

Investment in the infrastructure fund will be delayed while further details are worked out.

However, investment in both the future generation and the stabilization fund will proceed in June, according to the statement.

NNPC, MPN Considering Bond Market Alternative Funding

HE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation T (NNPC) and its Joint Venture partner, Mobil Producing Nigeria Limited (MPN) are considering going into the bond market as an alternative source of funding by the year 2016.

This was disclosed by the NNPC’s Group Executive Director, Finance and Account, Mr Bennard Otti at the opening ceremony of a 3-day workshop titled: “NNPC/MPN JV Project Bond Workshop” held in Abuja.

In his opening remarks, the GED stated that: “NNPC is meeting with her JV partner to brainstorm on alternative sources of funding such as bond market in order to enhance the revenue and also create employment opportunities.”

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Opinion Between the consumer and NCC’s regulation

By Nosa Omorodion VER the last decade or so, the Nigerian ComO munications Commission (NCC) has earned a reputation for itself as one of the foremost regulatory agencies in Africa.

Though the Commission was established in 1992, its affairs took a remarkable turn during the tenure of the former Executive Vice Chairman, Engr. Ernest Ndukwe, who, buoyed by the liberalization efforts of the day, successfully charted the course of the Nigerian telecoms landscape today.

It is no longer news that under his charge, the Commission pushed the telephone subscriber base from 400,000 lines to over 78 million in less than a decade, attracting $18 billion investment into the telecoms sector. His era freed Nigerians from the throes of NITEL’s inept services and demystified telephone services, hitherto regarded as the sole preserve of the wealthy, making it accessible to all Nigerians.

Within a short period, the sector that used to be subsidized from the Federation Account had added over N300 billion in fees from licensed operators to the same account and the telecom sector began to contribute significantly to the country’s GDP. Typical of sustainability issues that have plagued the public sector in Nigeria, by the time, Mr. Ndukwe’s stewardship was over in year 2010, through the transition period, the industry made little or no effort to consolidate the achievement recorded in the voice telephony services to deploy Broadband services. To public dismay, even the gains made in the voice services segment were gradually being replaced with glaring services ineptitudes by some of the largest operators. Although subscriber numbers continued to grow, quality of services plunged so low that many consumers subscribed to two or more mobile telephony services providers to assure uninterrupted access to services.

Notably, the level of competition in the sector started to decline, with most of the smaller networks, particularly the CDMA and a host of fixed line providers, gradually eased out of the market by seemingly unchecked anti-competitive practices of the large mobile networks. Clearly, the in-

dustry was ready for a new phase of regulation.

Without doubt, it has taken a few years for Mr. Ndukwe’s successor, Dr. Eugene Juwah to settle in, but recent regulatory trends in the sector lends credence to the notion that the NCC appears yet again on the right path to bringing succour to consumers’ demand for efficient and affordable telecommunications services, this time around including broadband services. In what most keen industry watchers are beginning to regard as the next phase of ICT revolution in Nigeria, the Dr. Juwah led NCC began by taking a cautious approach in the first two years of his administration to appraise and understand the industry dynamics and its players. The administration has since gone to work with reforms that are beginning to reshape the Nigerian telecommunications markets in favour of consumers.

Signs that the Commission would reform the sector began to emerge when the NCC started to turn-on the heat on operators to improve the quality of their services or face sanctions. Latching on well-defined KPIs, the regulator made good its threat when it took an unprecedented step and slammed errant operators with N1.17 billion penalty for failure to achieve target network KPIs in 2012. Even as these operators cried foul and engaged in a PR showdown, the regulator held firmly to its position and the fines were paid. The impact of the fine and the service accountability it is driving in the industry is becoming visible from the series of network investments currently being driven by the major operators and receiving ample prominence in the media. It is unlikely that these investments would have been made but for the NCC’s intervention, even as it is certain that it was an essential requirement for improving the networks and the quality of their services.

With the fine came a clampdown on frivolous promotions, which had become the order of the day in a bid by the mobile operators to increase market share despite their network facilities’ inability to meet the requirement of existing customers. The Commission swung into action by barring operators from further promotion and lotteries until their KPIs, which appeared to have

reached an all-time low, recovered to acceptable levels, to ensure that existing consumers receive value for their money. Not stopping at quality of service, the Commission swiftly sought to address SMS pricing in January 2013 by fixing new rates for domestic Off-Net Short Messaging Service (SMS) at N4, and a few months thereafter slashed interconnect termination rates between operators from N4.90k to N4.40k, with asymmetry in favour of the smaller operators. As with previous interconnection rate determinations, industry experts agree that this would further reduce prices of telephone services for the consumers.

April 2013 birthed the long-awaited Mobile Number Portability, a system that offers mobile telecom subscribers the opportunity to move from one network to another without changing their phone numbers. The portability scheme has been lauded as exemplary, and as it is already being reported, would make operators more accountable to individual consumers in a bid to ensure retention on their networks.

Most recently, the NCC released its study on the Determination of Dominance in selected communications markets in Nigeria. The release followed a series of well-coordinated engagements between the NCC and industry stakeholders, with the involvement of experts as consultants. It unearthed series of market imbalances in the telecommunications sector and determined some of the large mobile operators dominant in certain segments of the market, affirming that they also use their dominance to negatively influence the level of competition in the market to the detriment of consumers.

Much as it was already common knowledge that MTN has been dominant in the voice segment of the market by all accounts and regulatory prescriptions, having held reign over more than 40 per cent of the market, either by revenue share or subscriber number, for a long time, it took the NCC’s bold leadership to embark on the study and publish its findings to the industry and the general public. The determination of MTN as dominant in the voice segment underscores the overwhelming influence that the mobile operator has maintained in the voice segment, which it

has continued to exploit to its advantage to cripple competition. MTN had used its critical mass and promotional activities, such as the airplane give-away, to increase its market share by discriminating against off-network calls and callers, even as the quality of its services suffered gradual decline.

In addition, the NCC announced study equally declared MTN and Globacom are dominant in the leased line transmission market, through their vast ownership of majority of the fiber optic and microwave transmission networks in Nigeria today. Operators, industry experts, and in fact government, have blamed the near extinction of CDMA operators and the current low level of broadband penetration in the country on the limited access to last mile infrastructure even though three new submarine cables have landed in Nigeria.

The study uncovered high incidence of failure to share infrastructure by these dominant operators, as well as sharing at exorbitant prices in a few cases where they do, as a key limiting factor to the more effective distribution of broadband services in Nigeria. Once the proposed price cap and price floor that the NCC determination seek to impose are implemented, and the infrastructure is made available on an open access basis, it should unleash expansion of Internet services to address the current lows in the Broadband segment in Nigeria and make such services more affordable for every consumer.

Evidently, the NCC EVC is gradually reviving hope in the Nigerian telecoms sector with its focus on resolving some of the market issues that have for long held the industry back from consolidating the gains made in the early days. At its current pace, it is not only ensuring the sustainability of the existing structure, but it is creating a competitive environment capable of promoting additional investment in the sector that will leave consumers with more options for improved services. Above all, it would help rescue Nigerians from the clutches of operators that have for long focused on increasing their profits at the expense of consumers who they have held hostage with expensive inefficient services.

• Omorodion is a telecoms analyst.

Image issue in Nigeria’s foreign policy (1)

By Akin Oyebode NE of the axioms of international relations is that the foreign O policy of a state is, more often than not, contingent on its domestic policies. If foreign policy hinges on the domestic situation of a country, it should be asserted with equal timbre that as far as policies go, perception can actually be more critical than reality.

The way a country is perceived by others can be most critical and impactful on the effectiveness of its postures at the international plane, hence the effort exerted by many countries to look good, win friends and influence people generally within the international community.

Nigeria is, undoubtedly, an important actor within the family of nations. With the largest concentration of black people in the world as well as humongous natural resources, unbelievable human capital and abundant military hardware, it is somewhat paradoxical that its scorecard in the foreign domain has been far less than expected. Even its nominees for posts in many international organisations in the recent past have generally not met great success.

The doomsday forecasts about Nigeria, especially on account of the prevailing security challenges in the country at the present time had not helped either. Widespread terrorist activities coupled with innumerable incidents of kidnapping, armed robbery, drug and human trafficking, internet fraud and other unsavoury acts have pushed the country to the unhappy company of failing states which might, much sooner than later, go under if drastic actions are not immediately taken.

Admittedly there is a body of opinion within the country that continues to trumpet the shibboleth about the non-negotiability of Nigeria’s unity, but the sad reality is that foreign observers of the Nigerian scene seem to have a better grasp of the situation than local self-opinionated voices that have decided to bury their heads in the sand. The friends of the country have continued to wonder why Nigeria has consistently failed to actualize its potentialities and instead, always manage to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

It is against this background that it is intended to approach the theme of today’s lecture. Accordingly, we would begin by examining the issue of perception and reality in relation to domestic and foreign policies generally before revisiting the linkages of domestic and foreign policies with a view to establishing the broad outlines of Nigeria’s foreign policy. Finally, an attempt would be made to interrogate the scenarios unfolding before our very eyes in order to postulate actions that need to be taken urgently in order to refurbish Nigeria’s image and re-position the country within the

international system.

Nigeria’s foreign policy in historical perspective As I have observed in different fora, the foreign policy of our country since political independence has generally remained lacklustre, docile and unimaginative, characterized as it has been, by moderation, caution, indecision and timidity.

The emergence of Nigeria as an independent actor on the world stage was heralded with tremendous hope and optimism that the lion had finally awakened and was poised to fulfil its manifest destiny by discharging its leadership role and potential as leader of Africa if not the entire black race. Regrettably, that was not to be.

On the very night before independence, Balewa, Nigeria’s incoming Prime Minister had entered into an engagement with Her Majesty’s Government, promising to uphold all the treaties and agreements which the latter had concluded for and on behalf of its erstwhile colony without even sighting any of them! No further evidence of neo-colonialism was needed as Nigeria assumed the role of lackey of British imperialism within the international political space.

As Balewa’s maiden speech at the UN General Assembly on October 7, 1960 revealed, Nigeria was not about to embark on a radical or militant foreign policy. The major thrusts of the country’s foreign policy were allegiance to the UN, Africa as centrepiece of the country’s policies, decolonization, adherence to non-alignment, respect for international peace and security, etc. However, the first test-case for the stated stance –the Congo crisis – revealed the conservative, pro-western bias of the country by its opting for the western stooge – Kasavubu – as against Lumumba, the patriotic, nationalist leader of the Congolese.

And if there was any doubt on the gradualist, conservative stance of Nigeria, this was to be removed during the negotiations that led to the creation of the OAU in 1963 when Nigeria found itself in the company of the generally right-wing Monrovia Group as against the left-leaning, progressive and militant Casablanca Group, such that Africa ended up with a tame, slow moving coach rather than a full steam locomotive towards unification of the African continent.

Of course, this was not altogether unexpected since a country that could see nothing wrong in signing a defence pact with its former colonial ruler could not have been in the forefront of those hoisting the anti-imperialist banner. As Chinweizu had reminded us, the middle-class nature of Nigeria’s decolonialization process meant that the British merely pretended to have left while the colonial umbilical cord continued to wax stronger.

Nigeria’s foreign policy during the military interregnum can be considered more or less a mixed-bag. It is generally acknowledged

that the civil war had enabled the emergence of an even keel in Nigeria’s relations with other powers as the duplicity and complicity of the West enabled the Soviet bloc to score cheap, political points by making in-roads through supply of much-needed military materiel and proffering of diplomatic support in the effort to keep Nigeria one by Gowon and his confederates. While Murtala Muhammed was a nationalist leader who was able to call the bluff of the West during the Angola imbroglio, Babangida, it should be recalled, swung the pendulum to the other extreme by imposing IMF conditionalities on the country, much to the chagrin of many people such that, in the end, Nigeria really became a shadow of itself. However, in 1999, great stock was generally placed on the in-coming civilian administration in terms of refurbishing Nigeria’s foreign policy, especially Nigeria’s vaunted image as “Giant of Africa.” Besides, many believed that with yet another bite of the democratic apple, Nigeria was poised to reap the benefits of playing the game as dictated by the West.

Today, it has become clear that a country wracked by insurrection, political instability, religious strife, terrorism and economic downturn can hardly prosecute a dynamic foreign policy. Since 1999, when Gen. Obasanjo became virtually his own Foreign Minister, it is sad but true that Nigeria has endured numerous reversals at the foreign plane despite the humongous peregrinations of the President and his successors in search of non-existent foreign investors.

The euphoria of the present government over its trophies in the foreign domain notwithstanding, one cannot be oblivious of the damning verdict of Adekeye Adebajo recently to the effect that Nigeria’s foreign policy “resembles a battered jalopy with a rookie driver asleep at the wheel on a road to nowhere…” The whitewashing of Nigeria’s forays into the global arena has done little to justify the huge financial outlay in the foreign domain in the face of competing demands for ameliorating the scandalous existential conditions of the preponderant majority of the country’s citizens.

While the jury may still be out regarding the true state of affairs at the foreign front, we can now direct our gaze on the theme of today’s lecture: the image issue in Nigeria’s foreign policy. How is Nigeria perceived by her neighbours, Africa and the world at large?

Does perception bear any semblance with reality? To what extent can the so-called Transformation Agenda have a bearing on foreign policy formulation and implementation? Where do we go from here? Answers to these and related questions form the thrust of the remainder of this presentation.

• To be continued tomorrow.

• Prof. Oyebode is member of the Governing Council, Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA).

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 20, 2013

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Opinion In dispraise of Achebe

By Ayinla Mukaiba NE of the reasons why Africa’s growth is O stunted is what I call – pardon the bombast – the fetishization of the dead. We turn the dead into so great a fetish and canonize them immediately they breathe their last. Evil men a few seconds ago suddenly assume the garb of angels the moment they die, so cloaked because of the age-long aphorism that cautions against speaking ill of the dead. In a great way, this emboldens evil men of today and has made their evil hydra-headed.

This rankles my stomach to no end. What bigoted hypocrisy this is that has become the refrain on the lips of the living! Why can’t we progressively shame evil doers in their lifetimes and even at their departure, so as to serve as a disincentive to potential evil doers that whenever they exit, society will reserve the hottest scurrilous tongue against their acts and misacts while alive?

Chinua Achebe, great author, literary scholar, poet and storyteller of note comes under reference here. His death has depleted the literary firmament of writers whose works breathed life into the inertia of our intellectual environment.

There are seldom as talented writers as Achebe in this part of the world any longer. In the eulogy penned by John Pepper Bekeredemo-Clark and Wole Soyinka, these equally great authors spoke of the near irreplaceability of Chinua in the literary firmament.

When you read Things Fall Apart and its suffusion with African proverbs, culture and language, you will almost mystify Chinua as a gnome who hailed from the spirit world but was loaned to humanity by the spirit world; that he took temporary residency on earth.

How could a man, born of a woman, aggregate the thinking and culture of his people into such an unputdownable book for posterity as this?

How could a man codify the worldviews, thoughts, philosophy and ways of life of his people in such a way that he colonizes other peoples as prisoners of his people’s ways of life? For, before Achebe’s book, many of us were alien to the persona of the Igbo man. But Achebe opened the book of the lives of his people bare, threw the gate open into their historico-societal

lifestyle, their weltanschauung and upturned them into the lives of the rest of the world.

Knowingly or unknowingly, since the 1950s when Chinua emerged as one of the authors of note on the African continent with his Things Fall Apart, the centre has refused to hold for the rest of the world, as we have transferred our centre to the Igbo cosmology; we have become slaves of his Igbo thinking which we drink in intoxicating suffusion.

We can reel into tomes of Achebe’s literary scholarship, a shuttle of which Wole Soyinka recently made in an interview with SaharaReporters. But, after all that and all that about Achebe’s literary scholarship, full stop!

Chinua was an extremely bigoted man who saw the world only from the prism of his Igbo people. For him, humanity ceases to exist outside the locus of Igbo and indeed, the world could go jump inside the Zambesi River once his Igbo people are sequestered inside the safe haven of a decent existence.

For anyone who was alive to witness the 1966 pogrom and the Nigerian civil war, especially if you were Igbo, you already possess in your being cicatrices that will last you through a life time.

The reprehensible massacre of the Igbo in the North, the beheading of Akaluka in Kano and the recent extinguishing of several Igbo in a Southbound bus in Kaduna, are some of the callous vilifications of the Igbo and his unfortunate lot in the Nigerian nation.

The above could anger anyone and it did gnaw at the pancreas of the great storyteller. But Chinua became so paranoid about these ethnic vilifications of the Igbo and refused to forgive any race he presumed had a hand in the suppression of his people. His vituperations were vivid in virtually all the interface he had with the rest of Nigeria in his literary voyage. He amplified most of the character flaws that the Yoruba noticed in Nnamdi Azikiwe and his West African Pilot. Those who were alive during this period would recollect that The Pilot over-celebrated Igbo who travelled overseas for the golden-fleece at their departure and arrival in Nigeria. The converse was the case whenever any other ethnic nationality recorded same achievement. Mbonu Ojike, ace Pilot columnist and Zik, with his Weekend Cathecism, did a great job of trumpeting Igbo achievers and relegating any other nation-

ality with same achievement. It was this perceived media projective inequality that led to the establishment of other newspapers and the upturn of Daily Service, the National Youth Movement (NYM) organ, edited by Ernest Sese Okoli, into a converse of Zik’s Pilot which also began to fan ethnic agenda the moment editors like Samuel Ladoke Akintola and Bisi Onabanjo took over the editing suite.

If the 1966 pogrom bored crevasse of hatred that could never be filled in Chinua’s heart, the civil war even dug a greater cesspit of anger in his subconscious. Everyone who contributed to the failure of the Igbo Biafran agenda became object of literary crucifixion and denigration in the hands of Chinua. Odumegwu Ojukuwu, whom many Igbo hated immediately after the war, especially over alleged voyeuristic liaison with Cuban imports inside his bunker in Umuahia while hunger and kwashiokor killed children of war-front soldiers, Chinua upped the ante of his heroism. Conversely, administrators on the side of Nigeria who sought every means to return Nigeria to normalcy, he scurrilously disparaged. The archetype of his disdain and vilification, till death, was Obafemi Awolowo whom he disdained in death and even while alive.

Achebe had shown his disdain for Awo when this man of uncommon sagacity passed on on May 2, 1987. In the defunct Thisweek magazine of June 15, 1987, while Nigerians and African political maestros poured encomiums on Awo, Achebe chose to insult the dead. In a rather insipid piece he entitled The Apotheosis of Awolowo, Chinua wrote, “Chief Awolowo was a great Nigerian leader in so far as he was a Nigerian and a leader. But his contribution to Nigerian public affairs of the last 40 years did not qualify him as a great national leader… to turn the burial of a tribal leader to a state funeral with invitations to foreign countries is both absurd and unacceptable”.

The novelist and poet was not done yet. His words got more pungent and caustic. “It is in the light of this simple fact that the decision of the federal government to accord the status of a Head of State to him in death should be seen as no less than a national swindle” As a parting shot, the former professor of English at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka summarized the bile in his lacerating

cudgel: “Despite the clowning circus of ex-politicians and would – be politicians in Ikenne in recent weeks, there is no doubt that serious minded Nigerians are highly critical or even contemptuous of the expensive hocus-pocus which is now being staged in their name”.

Where Achebe got it wrong was that, at the war front, you are to fight and not to preach morals.

The moment Ojukwu declared war against Nigeria, he was no longer the Odumegwu that Awolowo and co. visited but an enemy of Nigeria.

All his people (unfortunately) became enemies of Nigeria and they could not be treated as friends.

Biafrans didn’t treat Nigerians as friends as well.

That was why Murtala Muhammed faced his waterloo in Asaba where hundreds of Nigerians were killed by Biafran soldiers and the heavy casualty suffered by Nigeria in the Abaagana disaster, amply romanticized by Achebe in There Was a Country. How then did Achebe expect Nigerians and Awolowo to deal with Igbo as friends when Biafrans were killing Nigerians at every available opportunity? Indeed, only a fool feeds and not starve his enemies!

Soyinka’s recent interview, where he reasoned that Achebe’s There Was A Country was a poor reading of the ethnically-biased person that Achebe was, was too patronizing. Perhaps, the laureate also fell into the African mantra of not speaking ill of the dead. Achebe’s ethnic irredentism did not just start with his last book. It was merely a continuation of the war against Awolowo and his race. If you read the book very well, you would see his profuse eulogies for the Flora Nwapas, the Christopher Okigbos, the Cyprian Ekwensis and none for any other ethnic national. It was as if only the Igbos existed.

As great as Achebe was as a literary icon of note, his global size was terribly diminished by his consuming tribal inclination. What then is the difference between Achebe the tribal warlord and Joseph Conrad whose Heart of Darkness he vilified for his racist inclination? The eulogy penned by John Pepper Clark and Wole Soyinka made a terse reference to how Chinua, an icon the world venerated, was probably killed by the shocking news of the bombing of his Igbo people in a Southbound bus in Kano. Talk of a tumbling down of another Zik of Africa to Zik of Owelle!

• Mukaiba is an Ibadan-based journalist and newspaper columnist.

Salute to our troops

By Etim Etim OR the first time in over 30 years, the Nigerian armed forces Feignare being called upon to defend their fatherland against forinvaders. They are also expected to fight and keep the nation from dismemberment. I salute our men and women in uniform for their patriotism, valour and gallantry. I am really proud of their service and sacrifice to our country. Until the president announced a state of emergency and ordered massive troop deployment to north-eastern corner, a lot of Nigerians, especially those in the southern half of the country, did not have a good sense of the magnitude of the problem. Many Nigerians were shocked to learn from Dr. Jonathan’s announcement that the terrorists had over time occupied some parts of Borno and Yobe states, replaced Nigerian flags with theirs and burnt down several government buildings. The handshake has surely extended beyond the elbow. Clearly, the invaders were becoming more daring by the day, encouraged largely by the pliancy of the population and the manipulative intrigues of the northern elites.

In nearby Nasarawa State, hundreds of policemen and secret service officials were massacred by a cult group. I commend the commander-in-chief for taking extra-ordinary steps to protect lives and property. The nation is now at war against foreign invaders, terrorists and armed bandits. Nigerians have been quite upbeat about the president’s bold respond and reports that the enemy is already on the run.

In 1982, General Muhammadu Buhari led a brigade of troops to repel marauding Chadian troops from that same north-eastern corner. Apparently escaping a raging civil war in their country, the Chadians had invaded Nigerian villages at night, stealing and raping. It was the first major foreign invasion that the country has ever witnessed, so frightening that President Shehu Shagari, who was out of the country, had to cut short his trip to attend to the ensuing diplomatic row as Buhari’s forces had gone far in too much into the Chadian territory. The civil war was however a much bigger crisis to the nation’s young politico-military leaders

and the armed forces. But they prevailed. Since then, our troops have been focusing on participating in many UN peacekeeping operations in the sub region and far-flung places. Again, they have been conducting themselves well and have won laurels. It is the nation’s pride that the Nigerian Army saved Liberia and Sierra Leone from disintegration. Our troops rescued Mali from another set of terrorists and helped out in Sudan, Congo, Burma and many others. But what we are facing now is a different kind of war. It is a lot more difficult to fight against terrorists than to wage a conventional war.

As a nation at war, we have a duty to ensure that our troops succeed. First, the military high commands and their political bosses in Abuja must make certain that the fighting forces are well resourced. Their weapons, protective gears, vehicles, food, allowances and other material comfort should be in good and timely supply. The Chief of Defence Staff must be on top of this and the president must not, for a moment, take his eye off the ball. There would be a major uproar if there is any report that the troops are not well taken care of. He must keep the key segments of the country regularly updated and the nation ought to be briefed on the progress of the war at least once a month. The military leaders should also implement morale-boosting activities for the troops. This includes surprise visits from the c-in-c, other eminent and respected leaders and even our movie stars. I expect the president to make his Democracy Day (May 29) broadcast from the frontline in Yobe, surrounded by our soldiers. At churches and other places of worship, we must remember our men and women in uniform. At family altars, Nigerians should pray for the success of our soldiers. Political leaders should reflect the mood of the nation in their conduct. They cannot be indulging in ostentations, flamboyance and wastages while the citizens face misery.

Also, our political leaders must now comport themselves. There is a particularly large tribe of contumacious and irascible politicians who take delight in inflaming passions. They have to keep their partisanship aside and rally behind the president and our troops to defeat the common enemy. At this moment, we are all Nigerians! General Buhari, Nasir el Rufai, Junaid Mohammed, Lai

Mohammed, Balarabe Musa, Tunde Bakare, Edwin Clark, Asari Dokubo, Bola Tinubu, Ango Abdullahi and all other rambunctious headline grabbers should tone down their rhetoric and support our troops. This is not the time to grandstand for 2015; debate zoning or fight over appointments. In the height of the U.S. presidential election campaigns in 2004, Osama Bin Ladin issued a threat to harm that country. It was just three years after the unprecedented 9/11 attacks, so the country was on the edge when the Al-Qaeda spoke. Immediately, Senator John Kerry, the Democratic challenger (he is now the Secretary of State), momentarily suspended his campaign tour and spoke in a very clear and strong terms against Bin Ladin. “We are all Americans, irrespective of our political differences, and I do hereby condemn any further threat to our homeland”, he said. I expect Buhari, himself a war-tested General, to show statesmanship and leadership and visit our troops in the frontline as a mark of encouragement. By so doing he will endear himself to Nigerians a lot more than trying to score political points by attacking the president now. General Buhari cannot be campaigning for election when his Daura village is bombarded. He cannot afford to throw barbs when Nasarawa, the only state governed by his party, CPC, is a hotbed of dangerous cultists. Does he love Aso Rock more than his kith and kin?

Some insurgents have been killed and captured, while others have run away into the forests, and perhaps across into the neighbouring countries of Cameroun and Chad. They may regroup and resurface in another vulnerable village or town. Whatever the case, I urge the president to soldier on. As a wartime leader, fearlessness, courage and determination will be his major weapons. Americans recovered quickly after 9/11 and wrestled terrorists to the ground. Decapitated, their offspring are still causing problems. The British have trampled upon these criminals and have succeeded in infiltrating their ranks. Israel, a tiny nation in a hostile neighbourhood, has prevailed against all odds. With strength of character and support from our allies and friends, Nigeria will win this war. May the God Almighty bless our nation and protect our troops and leaders.

• Etim is a banker and journalist.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27, 2013

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Media APRA roadmap for Africa’s economic renaissance Conference HE need to exploit Africa’s immense potenT tials for its economic development to give all its citizens a better life formed the fulcrum of the recently held All Africa PR and Strategic Communication Summit. It was held in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital. It had as theme, ‘The Rising Africa: The Imperative of Communication’.

180 participants across Africa took part in the sumit that was organised by Africa Public Relations Association (APRA). It’s aim was to ensure that Africa’s immense potential for development is fully exploited for the benefit of its citizens while barriers that hamper communication such as language, trade and inter-country movement restrictions, rigorous visa processes should be lifted.

After rigosous deliberations, participants resolved that to kick-start the continent’s economic revival, African leaders in politics and business should create a realistic but more positive image of Africa, noting, “African citizens and governments should be the ones creating and telling their stories, which is a key area of engagement for public relations practitioners and communications professionals”.

The three day event, which was formally opened by the Prime Minister of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Mr. John Hailemariam Desalegn, was followed by a keynote address delivered by the President of Ghana, Mr. John Dramani Mahama and entitled: Rising Africa: The Imperative of Communication.

The event also attracted distinguished professional from across Africa and they included Mr. Erastus Mwencha, African Union Commission, Deputy Chairperson, Justin Green, Global Ambassador for APRA, Habiba Mejri-Cheikh, Chairman of Public Relations Association, Gambia, Dr. Remi Aiyede, Department of Political Science University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Chido nwakanma, President, Public Relations Consultants Association of nigeria, Mrs. Tikolo Kentice, Chairperson, Public Relations Society, Kenya amongst several others.

According to the Secretary-General of APRA, Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, over 180 Public Relations and Communication professionals attended the 1st All Africa Public Relations and Strategic Communication Summit convened by the African Public Relations Association (APRA) at the African Union Complex, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

He said participants were from Gambia, Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, nigeria, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Sierra Leone, Mozambique and South Africa. There was also

Promo n Friday, May 17, 2013, seven young nigerians left the shores of nigeria to Dubai, courtesy of Legend Extra Stout, manufactured by nigerian Breweries Plc. When they touched down in Lagos on Monday, May 20, they had in their possessions several gift items, which they had shopped for, courtesy of the beer brand.

These items consisted of television sets, laptops, home theatres and so on. They had participated in the Legend Unique Shopping Experience, in which they had one minute to shop for items worth n1 million.

The ‘Legends’ that embarked on the Dubai unique shopping experience were Uchechukwu Dennis Chukwu from Ebonyi State, nwabuoke Ikechukwu Ambrose from Delta State, Oluwabusuyi Kelvin Olubusuyi from Ekiti State and Solomon Okoro Ike from Owerri, Imo state. The others are John Akoji from Abuja, the Federal Capital City, as well as Temitope Ogunyemi and Austin nwakaife, both from Lagos State.

Temitope Ogunyemi’s ticket was picked at the first raffle draw at the Dems Bar, Egbeda, Lagos. When asked how to describe the Dubai

O

Some senior members of Africa Public Relations Association with its Secretary-General and Nigeria’s Yomi BadejoOkusanya (middle) at the summit in Ethiopia representation from India, United Kingdom and not completely discarding traditional media. northern Ireland.

Beyond recommendations, the summit also Badejo-Okusanya, who spoke on the success of noted the encouraging growth in the economic the summit, said that apart from removal of bar- indices of several African countries that affirmed riers that caused free trade across the continent, the notion of a rising Africa. Six out of the 10 it was also agreed that a communication cam- fastest growing economies in the world are paign be created for Africa applying the key found in Africa steps including research in overall continental The current failure to tell the correct African social and economic development. story in its entirety and the current misrepresenHe said, “We call upon the African Union tation of the African story was equally spotted as Commission particularly in this endeavor to re- a bane. Africans therefore needed firstly to estabbrand Africa and create its own platform for lish mutually binding agreements with identieffective information communication and dis- fied global stakeholders, especially the internasemination. There should be consistent training tional media, and geared towards projecting a to enhance public relations practitioners’ activi- more favorable image of Africa, said Badejoties, and also build relations with media houses, Okusanya. which can in turn reduce differences that deter The summit communique said in part, “The communication. need for greater integration of African countries The summit also resolved that in creating this through the promotion of free movement of desired image, public relations practitioners people, goods and services across the African and communicators should utilize diverse con- continent. This would enhance understanding ventional media such as sports, entertainment, and bonding between and among the peoples export commodities and so forth. of Africa.

Champions of Africa brand were urged to That the rise of Africa will be accelerated if there recognise new media of communication such as was a change in the perception of the continent social media because it was crucial to provide through effective communication and public interactive platforms that enhanced measure- relations and the resolve of the African Union ment and evaluation of communications Commission to ensure that the African Union through feedback from target audiences while moved from being a collection of member states

to a union of the African peoples and one driven by a common vision, consensus and by its citizens” Security concern was also spotted as drawback to the continent’s economic growth. The Secretary-General said that security concerns across Africa were growing and often arose from a disconnect between governments and citizens, and that most of such conflicts could be resolved through effective communication and increased and improved stakeholder engagement.

Strong opportunities to leverage sports and tourism across Africa, both to engage citizens and to develop the economies of African countries, through the enormous revenue potentials and contribution to socio-economic development of these two key areas were also canvassed.

Finally, participants then resolved and declared as follows: “We recognise that for Africa to achieve envisioned peace and economic stability, we seek the formulation of a continental communication strategy that will promote communications between Member States and also promote a positive image internationally.

“We therefore recommend for an urgent establishment of an International Marketing & Communication Council (IMCC), made up of appointed members of the African Union and APRA, to develop an effective communication & marketing strategy document for Africa.

“In pursuit of creating a realistic but more positive image of Africa, African citizens and governments should be the ones creating and telling their stories, which is a key area of engagement for public relations practitioners and communications professionals.

“We recommend therefore that a communication campaign be created for Africa applying the key steps including research in overall continental social economic development.

“We call upon the African Union Commission particularly in this endeavor to re-brand Africa and create its own platform for effective information communication and dissemination.

“There should be consistent training to enhance public relations practitioners’ activities, and also build relations with media houses, which can in turn reduce differences that deter communication.

“To ensure that Africa’s immense potential for development is fully exploited for the benefit of its citizens. Barriers that hamper communication such as language, trade and inter-country movement restrictions, rigorous visa processes should be lifted; “In creating this desired image, public relations practitioners and communicators should utilize diverse conventional media such as sports, entertainment, export commodities and so forth.

How Legend Extra Stout spoilt Dubai Unique Shopping Experience winners experience, he said: “It was a very interesting, wow experience. It’s been wonderful and awesome; the hospitality and shopping; everything about it was exciting. It’s been a wow experience. All thanks to Legend, the Real Deal.

Some of the winners at Dubai

When asked the extent to which Legend Extra Stout has impacted his life, he said: “Sincerely speaking, if I have to go by that, I will say that Legend has really brought in what I will call technology changes into my life. I didn’t believe I was going to own

all these and it’s going to change my life technologically.”

When asked if he shopped for items to resell or for personal use, he said he was going to use the items and not sell any. He, however, targeted high-end smart phones but could

not lay his hands on them.

When nwabuokei Ikechukwu Ambrose, from Delta State was informed that he was a winner, he did not believe. He said: “I thought it was a joke or a scam. But after some days, the Legend people came to Ughelli to visit me. That was when I knew that it was real.”

He described his experience as memorable, saying, “I will never forget it for the rest of my life. I am very grateful to Legend Extra Stout and nigerian Breweries Plc.” One of the items, which Ambrose picked that excited him was a laptop.

He explained: “Well, my employers shared laptops in the office I work, and deductions were to be made monthly from our salary, but I could not get one because at that time, I was involved in the burial of my mother, so I was not around. So, when I returned, they told me that the laptops had been exhausted and that I had lost the opportunity. But I prayed to God that I would have a laptop. But here I am in Dubai and I have gotten a brand new laptop on a platter of gold. For more than three years I’ve been looking forward to having a laptop. I’ve even been looking forward to getting a BlackBerry phone, but I could not afford it. But now, I’ve gotten these items. I also got a new phone for my wife and for my children. I have two boys and two girls.”

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THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27, 2013

By Tunde Akinola HE adherence of journalists to the profesT sional code of ethics has been described as a sine qua non if the embarrassment bedeviling the business of information management in the country is to be addressed.

As a result, the code has been recommended to address the realities in the Nigerian media and democratic landscape and also as an effective tool for regulating journalism practice and ensuring professionalism. This is with a view to ensuring journalism development in line with international best practices.

Last week in Abuja professionals gathered for a two-day Stakeholders Meeting on the Review of the Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists, and organised by the Democratic Governance for Development (DGD) of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).

At the forum, stakeholders in the country’s media industry brainstormed on how to develop a new code of ethics for Nigerian journalists.

The DGD project, which is an electoral cycle, is supported by the European Union (EU), United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), UNDP, which also manages the project.

Present at the workshop were representatives from stakeholders in the Nigerian media industry including Nigerian Press Council (NPC), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and Broadcasters Organisation of Nigeria (BON), Radio, Television and Theatre Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU) among others.

Some of the issues raised at the meeting included how poor remuneration of journalists could be improved upon, noting that corrupt practice exhibited by some journalists was borne out of poor salary being paid journalists.

For instance, it was noted that some media houses have become notorious for not paying their reporters regularly, with some for as long as up to six months’ salary yet to be paid. This, according to the forum, created an avenue for journalists to being amenable for collecting bribe, which hindered the objectivity of their reportage in the long run.

The forum reviewed the requirements needed to assume the post of an editor. It noted that if an incompetent editor managed a media house, it would reduce not only the news judgment of the media house, but also diminish the prestige of journalism profession.

They, therefore, recommended that every journalist be provided with a copy of the code of ethics by the media house they work with in order to equip him with the knowledge of how to operate as a journalist.

Stakeholders advocated for the imposition of sanctions on defaulters so as to entrench fear in them against breaking the code of ethics. The issue of syndicating stories by one reporter to other media houses was also condemned at the meeting. It was observed that a lot of media houses were in the habit of lifting stories from various news agencies without acknowledging the source from which they got the stories.

They described this practice as criminal and highly unethical to the profession of journalism.

While addressing participants, the UNDP/DGD Project Director, Dr. Mourtada Deme noted the important role the media played in keeping cit-

Yemisi Bamgbose; Toyin Adewale-Gabriel; Mohammed Garba; Mudashiru Bayo Atoyebi and Alli Hakeem... at the forum in Abuja

How to foster ethics-driven journalism, by stakeholders izens’ engaged in the business of governance.

To him, a healthy political process required media pluralism and open communication which could not be achieved without an ethical media.

Deme, who was represented by a democratic governance specialist, Mintwab Zelelew, stressed, “All over the world, the practice of journalism is guided by code of ethics that guides the role of the media as the Fourth Estate of the Realm, as an institution that holds government accountable and as the voice of citizens.”

He tasked journalists to ensure that the media presented and clarified the goals and values of society. Deme said the media should provide full access to the day’s intelligence.

Similarly, National President, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mohammed Garba stressed the imperatives of reviewing the existing code of ethics for Nigerian journalists to tally with existing realities. He noted that when the first code of ethics was promulgated there was no Information and Communication Technology, but now that there were social media platforms, they necessitated the need to review the codes.

Garba noted, “We are reviewing the codes because we have received a lot of complaints from quite a number of organisations and individuals about the increasing case of professional misconduct and abuse of privileges by the media”.

Garba, who is also the President, Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), urged every stakeholder to pledge and abide by the provisions of the codes, as the only way ethics could be entrenched in journalism.

He said NPC should be headed by a journalist with at least 20 years’ working experience and that the board should be composed of stakeholders in the media industry, noting that was the only way the provision in the reviewed code of ethics for journalists could be entrenched.

OR the President, Nigerian Association of FNahaya, Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Asabe Baba the importance of the code of ethics could not be overemphasised. She said without the code there would be no journalism practice.

Nahaya said the meeting was aimed at tackling a wide range of issues pertaining to the life, welfare and career of a journalist, adding, “As stakeholders we have a lot of work to do.

We need to make our members have copies of the code and also check why some media houses are really established”.

According to her, the hindrances journalists faced included intimidation, vested interest and the issue of ‘who pays the piper dictates the tune’.

For the Managing Editor, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Alli Hakeem, who represented the NGE president, said the code of ethics was

important to any professional group and must be kept sacrosanct to avoid infringements on the rights of journalists. He noted that the code must be put in place in a manner that its observances were monitored.

He stated, “If you do not have a code of conducts for journalists people will be writing a lot of libelous things against people, particularly in this political dispensation where journalists may become very vulnerable to abuse either by those in power against the opposition or those in opposition against those in power”.

The factors militating against journalists from complying with these codes were mainly political and socio-economic. According to Hakeem, “if a reporter is being paid say, four thousand naira monthly (N400,000), it would be difficult for such a person to be lured with N5,000 to flout the code of ethics”.

The Executive Secretary, NPC, Mudashiru Bayo Atoyebi said the moment any profession abdicated the codes guarding it the profession becomes ordinary and loses public respect, adding, “Any who says he is a journalist and is not aware of the code of the profession is definitely operating in isolation”.

He bemoaned editorial interference in the country’s media houses, saying it was one of the factors undermining the code of ethics of journalism. He urged all stakeholders in the industry to come together to look at the challenges facing journalism in the country and how it could be addressed.

Solid FM hosts advertisers as competition intensifies in South East radio market

By Chido Nwakanma HEN Dr. Obiageli Pat Ndu mounts the rostrum on May 30 to welcome guests to the Sheraton Lagos media launch for Enugu-based Solid FM 100.9FM, she would be making a definitive pitch for a slice of advertising spend meant for the South East radio market.

Guests of the General Manager of Solid FM would be advertisers, media planners, publicists and other professionals in the broad marketing communication industry. The Lagos media launch event of Solid FM 100.9 FM comes against the backdrop of increased competition and vibrancy of the Frequency Modulated radio spectrum in the region.

Many entrances and exits have marked the South East radio market in the last 24 months but particularly so in the last 12 months. FRCN led the push by opening about five FM radio stations to serve the region in addition to the Coal City FM that had existed for years. It established nine FM stations to service South East and South South with the following five in the South East: Coal City 98.2 FM, Enugu, Purity 102.5 FM, Awka, Unity 101.5 FM, Abakaliki, Heartland 100.5

W

FM, Owerri and Pacesetter 103.5 FM, Umuahia. Others are in Port Harcourt, Yenagoa, Uyo and Calabar.

Private players soon joined the fray.

Enugu currently witnessed a threehorse race in a competition that hitherto featured five players from the private sector. In the race were Solid FM, Dream 92.5 FM and the aforesaid Coal City FM. Currently out in the cold are Raypower FM and Cosmos FM, the latter shut by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as it chased funds allegedly looted by its promoter former Governor Chimaraoke Nnamani. Before them all was Minaj Radio from out of Obosi, near Onitsha, which held sway for a long while and then went under. Surprisingly, Cosmo still features in some monitoring reports!

Hot FM, which made its mark in Abuja, has established a foothold in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

Specialty broadcaster Brila FM established a beachhead in Onitsha.

The latest entrant is Magic 102.9 FM, the first station to establish in the commercial city of Aba, Abia State.

That market had long yearned for a medium such as this as advertising

and listenership from Aba featured prominently in the success of the Radio Rivers 2 FM in the 80s and 90s as the premier hip station of the South South and South East. Magic hopes to perform the magic of contributing to the revival of Aba as both a city of commerce, culture and living space.

Magic FM’s vision for its target audience encapsulates the philosophical approach of the new FM stations running on digital technology and streaming on the Internet: “We are targeting the new Nigerian, eager to be informed, entertained, educated and ready to move up the ladder. The increasing population of workers, businessmen and traders, the educated and not-so-educated but ambitious, upwardly mobile adults hungry for information and entertainment are catered for. We also heavily cater for youths and children who easily constitute a huge percentage of population in our coverage area.

More importantly, our support for private sector growth targets corporate bodies intent on increasing their market share. We have a wide range of programmes to cater for every group in relation to our focus of broadcasting in English, Pidgin

and Igbo.”

The South East market for FM is particularly attractive because of the youth demographic. There are about 20 major towns and over 30 institutions of higher learning from Nsukka to Nsugbe through Awka to Oko and Umunze, to Uturu, Ihiala, Owerri, Abakaliki, Afikpo all the way to Umuahia and Aba. FM with its breezy presentation composed mainly of music and chat appeals to the lifestyle and aspirations of the young.

Veteran broadcaster and former Director General of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria Kevin Ejiofor says FM radio is “a good medium for promoting the new hip culture. It appeals to young people.” Ejiofor notes that radio is comparatively cheaper than television both for the promoters and the audience and lends itself well to give expression to popular culture.

Politics features prominently in the calculus as well. Three serving legislators and a former minister own four of the FM stations. Politics 2015 and beyond is clearly in the frame.

Radio also lends itself well to political communication.

There is also the economics and even the politics of broadcasting.

Regulator National Broadcasting Commission no longer has spectrum to grant anybody to open in Lagos, no matter the amount on offer.

Investors interested in playing in the broadcast market for radio have to look outside Lagos or take community broadcast licenses for rural Lagos.

While some speculate whether the economy of the South East can bear the burden of sustaining the stations, indications are that the new Enugu stations are becoming self-sustaining within the first year.

The real challenge ahead seems to lie in content and presentation. The stations suffer from so much similarity that unless their call signal comes on it is difficult to tell one from the other –breezy presentations, audience phone-in programmes, not much depth and plenty of music. Then the occasional Pidgin programme and plenty of foreign sports –UEFA, English Premiership etc- but nary a mention of the local league or the sporting activities around their immediate vicinities.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27, 2013

74

Sports NSC, stakeholders fault NFF bill From Ezeocha Nzeh, Abuja HE National Sports T Commission (NSC) and some stakeholders in Nigerian football during the Senate Committee on Sports’ public hearing at the weekend kicked against the passage of the bill seeking full autonomy for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

If passed into law, the bill would grant the NFF president the power to sack or employ the general secretary of the federation by recommending such to the board.

Minister of Sports/Chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi told the Committee that the bill would reduce the commission to only financial control of the federation and would give absolute power to the federation’s president and board members.

Abdullahi, who received a round ovation from stakeholders, insisted that if the football federation has the status of a parastatal, it must be subjected to the normal ministerial supervisions.

Insisting that only financial control was not enough, the minister advocated for the inclusion of more regulatory powers to the commission.

He said, “I am happy that the NFF Bill that has been pending for a long time is getting to this stage. It is a symbol of your commitment and I want to confidently say that passing the bill would remain one of the major legacies of your tenure in the Senate.

“As you know, we have suffered greatly from the absence of this act and it has remained the fertile grounds for generating all kinds of crisis within the football cycle.

“Every single move the NFF made has been questioned and interrogated on the basis of the absence of the Act. This effort will help us to

make progress and build a more tranquil system that will develop Nigerian football. NSC has reviewed this bill and as I said, we are happy that you provided this opportunity.

“However, one of the major things we noticed was that aside from the provision for financial accountability, there is virtually no role for the NSC in the bill. The challenge that we have therefore is how to reconcile the need for football in Nigeria to be governed virtually autonomously in accordance with the international statute governing the rules of the game and still ensure that this autonomy is embedded within the national authority within which we play the game in the country.

“As the bill is now, if tomorrow the honourable minister invites the president of the NFF to his office, he or any of his board members could respond out of courtesy or respect. This is absolutely nothing that obligates the president or any board member to respond to the minister’s invitation or take any policy directive from the minister.

“As one of the distinguished senators said, laws should be made for all times.

Today, I, as the minister of sports enjoy excellent relationship with the NFF president and the board members. But, even as we do so, we must also bear in mind that Alhaji Aminu Maigari and his board members will not remain there forever.

“I will not also remain minister of sports forever. What if tomorrow, we have the president of NFF, who won’t want to work with anybody or recognise that there is an authority outside him to work with. I look at the provisions for financial regulations that provide for the NSC to have oversight function over the fund given to

Eaglet’s Success set for record Udinese move DINESE have signed U Golden Eaglets striker, Isaac Success on a recordbreaking four-year deal worth 1.4 million Euros, MTNFootball.com has scooped.

A top source, who was part of the deal, told MTNFootball.com, “Udinese have signed Success on a fouryear deal. It’s a great deal for both the club and the player.”

The deal, which was brokered by a France-based FIFA agent, will see the Serie A club splash out a transfer fee of 400,000 Euros to the young striker’s youth club in Benin City, while he would earn 250,000 Euros a year for the next four years.

MTNFootball.com further

gathered that Success will be sent to Spanish La Liga side Granada on loan to gain experience and playing time.

Udinese are believed to have shares in Granada and another Nigeria striker, Odion Ighalo has been playing on loan in Spain from the Italian club.

This is believed to be a massive transfer coup as Udinese have thus beaten bigger clubs like Manchester City, Lille and Benfica to the promising centre forward.

Udinese though are yet to announce the capture of the young striker, who was top scorer at the recently concluded African U17 Championship in Morocco where he scored seven goals as Nigeria reached the final.

Delta, Edo for final of Channels National Kids Cup HE 2013 Channels T National Kids cup title could be heading to the South-South region of the country as Delta and Edo states will be playing in the final of the tournament scheduled to hold today at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.

Delta State’s representative, Ogedegbe Primary School, Warri defeated Local Government Education Authority Primary School, Kaduna 5-2 in the first semifinal match played at the weekend.

In the other semi-final encounter, Uwa Model Primary School, Edo State ran out a 4-2 victory over Local Authority Primary School, Osun State to reach the final.

Host Governor, Babatunde Fashola will join by his counterparts from Akwa-Ibom, Godswill Akpabio; Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun; Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole; Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan and Kaduna State, Mukhtar Yero to grace the grand finale.

Grand finale of MRS U-12 football tourney holds

By Tony Nwanne ODAY at the Campos Mini T Stadium in Lagos Island, four teams will battle in the Nigeria’s Ike Diogu (left) pursues France’s Tony Parker during their Men’s Basketball preliminary round match at the London 2012 Olympic Games. The D’Tigers have started preparation for the 2013 Afrobasketball Championship billed for Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire in August.

Ahead Abidjan 2013 Afrobasket Championship

NBBF opens men’s camp, reappoints Bakare national team coach HEAD the Afrobasketball A Championship scheduled for Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire on August, the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) yesterday opened the men’s training camp, which is expected to run till May 30.

In the camp are 12 players from the home league, who are battling for inclusion in subsequent camps, invitational tournaments and ultimately in the team to Abidjan in August.

The federation has also reappointed Coach, Ayo Bakare to head the team’s coaching staff as it aims to build on the success of the programme started in 2011 and ensure the sustainable growth of the team into a winning unit.

The Olympic team’s Assistant Coach, Sani Ahmed, as well as Union Bank Coach and ex- national Captain, Ayinla Johnson, were also returned to the senior team staff. Johnson left the team after the 2005/2006 season when he assisted Coach Sam Vincent.

Two young coaches, Abdulrahman Mohammed of Abuja team, Mark Mentors and Ogoh Odaudu of Port

Harcourt-based Royal Hoopers were added to the coaching staff as a deliberate succession plan and to ensure that they grow with the program and take over at the appropriate time.

The federation hinted that it is considering an essential addition to the coaching staff with expertise in strength and conditioning and or statistics.

The NBBF also announced the coaching staff for the Afrobasket women’s team, with Scott Nnaji, who was head coach when Nigeria won the Afrobasket in 2005 in Abuja and was an assistant at Mali 2011, as head coach.

He is to be assisted by coaches Lateef Erinfolami of First Deepwater and Adewunmi Aderemi of First Bank. The staff also includes Coach Emmanuel Odah of FCT Angels and a female coach to be determined and announced later. They will form the succession pair for the future survival and success of the team.

The federation explained that the home-based staff was selected in anticipation of the impending FIBA change of calendar and competition

format from 2017, which entails playing home and away for continental, world and Olympic qualifiers and therefore requires a unit that is easily mobilised and can stick together over long periods of time.

final games of the maiden edition of the MRS Under-12 Kids soccer competition.

For the top prize, Damilola Taylor FC of Mainland will slug it out with Lagos Island’s Jokers Star FC, while the third match will feature Success FC of Mushin and B. United FC of Ebute Meta.

To berth in the final, Damilola Tailor FC defeated Success FC with a lone goal, just as Jokers Star FC overcame B. Unit FC with the same margin.

Over 32 teams drawn from local councils in Lagos competed in the tournament.

Weightlifting boss sets agenda for Elegbeleye EIGHTLIFTING W Federation President, Chibudum Nwuche has thrown his weight behind new Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Gbenga Elegbeleye, but he wants the former lawmaker to prove his critics wrong by lifting reposition Nigerian sports.

Some critics have questioned the appointment of the former deputy chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Sports, who they say is more of a lawmaker than a sports technocrat has.

However, Nwuche said, “Nigerians have overflogged the issue of technocracy and they have attached undue mysticism to it. What is a technocrat? Is it that you were a

footballer before or you were an athlete before?

“What is required is the managerial skills and we should understand that most functions in this life first requires common sense.

“You must have common sense in abundance, you must have administrative skills, zeal, passion and integrity.

That is why a lawmaker like Gbenga Elegbeleye would do well even without having seen his performance. I know that he will do well because as a lawmaker you do not underestimate people. Lawmakers interact with the public and lawmakers must be proactive.”

Nwuche advised Elegbeleye to ensure that he lived up to expectations of those, who made him the director general.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27, 2013

SPORTS 75

Serena: A goddess waiting to join the greats

By Christian Okpara S she sat beside her older A sister, Venus, occasionally nodding to the hard-hitting beat of D’Banj’s Oliver Twist, Serena Williams acknowledged cheers from her numerous fans, who had come from across Nigeria, and neighbouring countries to watch their idol live at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club.

While she took in the ‘efforts’ of the special guests, who were falling over themselves to corner her attention, the MC of the day, the Late Ayo Ositelu, was busy reeling out the achievements of the William sisters.

Serena, the younger Williams was, perhaps, also thinking of ways to reclaim the zenith of women tennis from ‘usurpers,’ including Caroline Wosniaki, Victoria Azarenka and the on and off Maria Sharapova.

Though just off her season-ending victory at the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Championship, Serena was already thinking of new conquests, including holding on to the number one slot, which she just regained, and setting new milestones in the game that has made her a “monster” to some and a god to many.

Listening to Deacon Ositelu reel out her conquests, some of which she had even forgotten, Serena told some journalists near the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club’s bar that she had never felt so at home and welcome as she was that afternoon.

“We are excited to be in Nigeria. My first time was a brief stopover when I travelled to an African country a few years back. It was disappointing that I could not interact with Nigerians back then, that’s why I am going to cherish every

minute I have to spend here now.

“It also makes me crazy to know that we have many fans in Nigeria, in fact, I receive thousands of messages everyday on Twitter from Nigerians, who were asking if I would come here.

Well here I am and it will be an honour to play against my sister for Nigerians and we will give you a good show… I hope that our presence and what we do would help to change Nigerian tennis. I hope that these players will be inspired to become the best,” she said.

Serena has come a long way from that starry-eyed girl taken to a tennis club while she was barely out of her diapers by her father in the 1980s.

From learning how to handle the racquet at Vic Braden’s club in California, Serena is now the proud holder of 51 trophies and the oldest ever world number one.

Penultimate week, she beat Sharapova in the final of the Madrid Open to retain her number one ranking and collect her 50th career title.

She added the 51st crown last week at the Italian Open, and with the French Open here with us, the smart money is that she would make it her 52nd title at the Roland Garros.

She won her first and only French Open title 11 years ago, but such is her current dominance, coupled with recent clay court successes, that it is hard to see beyond the powerhouse American.

But Serena is in France with a

touch of caution because she has almost always faltered when it mattered most at Roland Garros.

Based on form, she has no serious opposition in the competition… she is world number one, unbeaten in 24 matches and has won four consecutive tournaments.

But she was in spectacular form last year when she was booted out of the competition in the first round.

Whatever happens at the French Open this year, nothing would subtract from Serena’s new status as the undisputed best woman player ever.

Born Serena Jameka Williams on September 26, 1981, she has been the world number one in singles on six separate occasions since she first held the title on July 8, 2002.

She regained it for the sixth time on February 18, 2013, becoming the oldest world number one player in WTA’s history. And so has the money been coming in. She is the only female player to have won over $40 million in prize money.

Williams, who calls herself “hardest working woman in tennis, is the only player to have achieved a career Golden Slam in both singles and doubles, and is regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.

She is the most recent player, male or female, to have held all four Grand Slam singles titles simultaneously and only the fifth woman ever to do so. Williams has won four Olympic gold medals, one in women’s sin-

United States’ Serena Williams hits a backhand shot to Georgia’s Anna Tatishvili during a French tennis Open first round match at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris at the weekend.

After beating Sharapova to win her 50th title at the Madrid Open two weeks ago, Serena walked in for her news conference wearing a T-shirt proclaiming her the “Bestest Ever.” But analysts say she will not be the ‘Bestest Ever’ until she adds at least one more French Open title to a Hall of Fame list of accomplishments.

Serena celebrates with the Rome Open trophy of the WTA Rome Masters.

PHOTOS: AFP

gles and three in women’s doubles.

After beating Sharapova to win her 50th title at the Madrid Open two weeks, ago, Serena walked in for her news conference wearing a T-shirt proclaiming her the “Bestest Ever.” But analysts says she will not be the ‘Bestest Ever’ until she adds at least one more French Open title to a Hall of Fame list of accomplishments.

While she has won all three clay court tournaments, she has played in 2013, including her latest straight-set triumph over number two-ranked Azarenka in the Italian Open final last week, the next test could be the toughest.

Battling an 11-year wait could be a psychological war too tough for the great Williams, especially since

she has gone no further than the quarterfinals since 2003.

Last year, she lost in the first round to an unseeded and 111th-ranked Virginie Razzano. That was her first loss in the first round of a Grand Slam in her career.

But she rose from the ashes of that defeat to win the Wimbledon, the Olympic gold medal, the U.S. Open and the Masters.

“Every time I play, I really relish it more,” Williams told reporters after the Madrid title. “I feel like, ‘Honestly, Serena, when are you going to get tired?’ I don’t know.”

At 31, Serena has defied all the stereotypes about top level tennis belonging to players between 18 and 26.

ESPN’s tennis analyst and former perennial top-10 player, Pam Shriver, said of Serena’s chances in this French Open: “Usually the pattern with Serena is that if she sets her mind on revenge or reclaiming something; she has been fueled and angered by that loss. “I think she loved that record of having never lost a first-round match in a major before (last year’s French) and the way she lost that match.

“It is her weakest major. Is it possible for her to be upset

two years in a row on this surface? Of course. But all signs point toward her getting even.”

She started her campaign at the French Open yesterday with a commanding display, reeling off the first nine games against Georgia’s Tatishvili, allowing her opponent only seven points in the first set. She clinched the tie with a 6-0 6-1 victory in 51 minutes.

Serena is still a long way from matching the all-time leaders in Grand Slam titles (she has 15, while Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert have 18 and Margaret Court tops the list at 24); match win streak (she is currently riding a career-best 24 in a row, while Navratilova holds the record at 74) and career singles titles (Navratilova has 167 to Williams’ 51).

But she is two titles away from equaling Monica Seles, who is ninth on the all-time list, and Shriver said winning her second French title would be nice for Williams, but is not mandatory in order to take her place among the all-time greats.

Adding to the French Open to her collection of titles this year would be a great preparation for her favourite surface…the Wimbledon.

76

InsideTax

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27, 2013

77

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27, 2013

78 SPORTS

UEFA Champions League Fallout

Bayern Munich’s Dutch midfielder, Arjen Robben celebrates at the final whistle after their victory in the UEFA Champions League final match against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium in London at the weekend.

Bayern Munich won the game 2-1.

PHOTO: AFP

Bayern targets domination after Champions League glory ESPITE the upheaval of a D coaching change and hints at buying another main striker, Bayern Munich believe they can dominate European soccer for years to come after triumphing in the Champions League at the weekend.

Arjen Robben’s 89th minute goal sealed a 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund in the first all-German final in Europe’s top club competition and wiped away bitter Bayern memories of showpiece defeats in 2010 and 2012.

The Bundesliga champions can complete a German treble in the German Cup final against VfB Stuttgart next Saturday and such is the strength of their overall setup, further success is fully expected in the next few seasons.

Bayern Coach, Jupp Heynckes, 68, is retiring at the end of the season having become only the fourth manager to have lifted the European Cup with two different clubs having also won with Real Madrid in 1998.

He gives way to ultra successful former Barcelona

boss, Pep Guardiola and with Dortmund’s Germany midfielder, Mario Goetze already signed up for next term and their striker Robert Lewandowski also eyed, Bayern’s confidence can only skyrocket.

“Bayern will have to prove that they can continue to achieve these things but it is quite possible a new era might have begun for Bayern Munich,” Heynckes told a news conference.

A year ago, the Bavarians were distraught after losing the final to Chelsea from a winning position on their home ground but after weathering an early Dortmund storm at Wembley, their experience shone though.

“We didn’t resign ourselves to our fate (after the Chelsea defeat),” Heynckes said. “We upped the ante and tried even harder. You have seen the result.”

Bayern may not be as youthful as Dortmund, leaving Guardiola and the board with work ahead of them to renew the squad, but generation of top players including Robben, Franck Ribery,

Bastian Schweinsteiger and Philipp Lahm have now finally won the ultimate club prize.

“The team is in the right age group and we’ve got rosy times in front of us. We want to win the treble and as far as I’m concerned this can keep going next year too,” right back Lahm said.

Bayern, winners of five European Cups dating back to their 1970s domination when they won three straight titles, have also achieved renewed success despite changing their main central striker almost every season.

Luca Toni, Ivica Olic and Mario Gomez have all been eased out, although Gomez is still at the club, and incumbent Mario Mandzukic will be nervously looking over his shoulder despite an excellent first season and the 60th minute opener on Saturday.

The Croatian will be well aware of Lewandowski’s attributes and if the Pole does head to Bayern, the competition for places will only make them an even scarier prospect.

Hummels confident about Dortmund’s future ORUSSIA Dortmund B defender, Mats Hummels insists the club can maintain their place among Europe’s elite even with the loss of some star players.

Mario Gotze is heading to Bayern Munich, Saturday’s conquerors of Dortmund in the Champions League final at Wembley, while Polish striker, Robert Lewandowski is also expected to leave.

Hummels said Dortmund would remain true to their values and would be able to recover from the 2-1 defeat and the departures.

“Of course it is going to be hard if we have two of our best players going but others can come in and take their place,” said Hummels.

“We don’t buy stars, we don’t buy big players, we make them in to stars and that’ s the way I really like it.

It’s going to be really hard but

we know we will get some new players and I am really looking forward to that.

“We have showed how well we can play. We want to prove it further in the coming years, and I hope we will achieve that and make it to the final again.”

Dortmund succumbed to Arjen Robben’s 89th-minute goal after a pulsating final and Hummels admitted they paid the price for focusing on the likelihood of extra time.

“We started thinking about extra time,” he added. “I don’t know how we let Bayern play so many long balls, and from one of them they managed to score the second goal.”

His fellow centre-back Neven Subotic, who had been an outstanding leader in the rearguard action as Bayern searched for the late winner, claimed there was more than a touch of fortune about

Robben’s goal.

“It was kind of depressing how they scored that second goal,” he said. “I’m not sure that (Franck) Ribery wanted to backheel it to Robben, but that’s how football is.

“You’ve got to take it for what it is and learn from it.

We are a young team, that’s for sure, and we’re going to take this as a lesson and move forward.

“This would have been the top of the mountain. But we got so far, and it was a great journey up until now. It was anything but a bad performance today, so we can’t really say that we didn’t try and didn’t run.

“We might have set a new running record; that’s what it felt like today. We really gave it our all, but, in the end, in football sometimes luck decides the match and that’s just how it is.”

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, May 27, 2013

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TheGuardian

Monday, May 27, 2013

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

By Odimegwu Onwumere has become obvious that the Abia State IisTGovernment House, Umuahia, no longer conducive to Governor T.A Orji, as he is seemingly bent on spending more time abroad than at home. He just returned from a weeklong trip from Canada that his kowtowing aides dubbed economic trip and as well described it as “a huge success”. Whatever this means!

The “huge success” Orji could not give to Abia people in the cause of governance is what he has always enjoyed abroad where government knew the true meaning of governance and has made sure that success always comes to play, while the governor was mouthing that his trip was investor-friendly.

Addressing Abians who thronged the Umuahia Government House Banquet Hall, shortly after his return, he said he had discussed areas of interest with prospective investors. Always making cymbal out of any journey he made to overseas, Orji would rent his cronies and friends to throng the Government House, Umuahia, to celebrate his return. Hooey!

The same last year, he was travelling like school children on excursion to Abuja and Lagos, luring and lobbying Abia people in the places to believe his speechifying that works were going on in Abia State, when such speech-makings were only but a ruse.

Orji’s fresh trip to Canada will not make a difference from other ineffectual trips he had made and told the world that very soon Abia State would be flooded by investors. The saddening part of the whole nuisance is that his government functionaries who always enjoy

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Gov Orji and foreign trips the trips with him will not call him to order that Abia people are asking questions about the much touted Monorail and Waste management projects that his government spent the Abia people’s hard earned money in the media advertising elusive projects that only existed in the minds of the Orjis than those projects could possibly be drawn on ground in Abia State. But at his back, you hear the same government functionaries bemoaning their unhappiness with the ‘Emperor of Abia State’.

Do we still remember the German company which only came for presentation on the waste management project in the state and the government advertised the visit in the media as if it had a contract signed with the German company? The same thing is about to happen as it was news that Orji had instructed some of his aides to make sure that the apparently Canadian investors visit the state soon.

It can be construed that the government of Abia State-led by Orji is doing everything within its reach to launder its decrepit representation. If not, how could the same government which last year amplified how it gave and shared (N10 billion?) to farmers be talking about imploring the services of a Canadian company in the area of agriculture?

We are not even talking about environmental control in the state on which a lot of money has been spent on contracting the services of indigenous contractors, yet Abia State is changing from bad to worst in waste management.

The issue of oil and gas in Abia State is a story for another day. Can anyone imagine that Orji was quoted as saying that his ‘business’ trip to the Canada would strengthen the twopronged relationship between Nigeria and Canada, as if he is the President of Nigeria. No doubt, Orji lacks the perimeter of governance!

The trip can never be in the overall interest of Abia State as he wanted us to believe, when Orji could not utilise the resources already in the state. He expected that the people-oriented programmes that Abia people have always been tasty of under his government could only see the light of the day when foreign investors come and manage our affairs. Was it not the same Canada that the governor said that would be building monorail in Abia State? Where is the Monorail?

Why is it that anytime Orji returned from any trip overseas, he calls for celebration? When he has nothing to show in Abia State in terms of dividends of democracy and when Abia people in the state wear baked tears with only repose on fate to give them a better governor in the future who would polish the state from the ruins it has come to suffer under Orji.

It should not surprise us if by tomorrow we read from Orji’s ingratiating aides that this writer is not certified to judge their public servant; if they will not even call Yours Truly names and fabricate stories against him because they are experts in such, and tell the world how their Bible said that the masses should pray for their leaders, even in the face of tyranny.

It is annoying that Orji always runs to overseas to contract companies there to come and help develop Abia State, even when he has refused to yield to the purportedly call by the Akwa Ibom State Government to enter into an agreement with it, so that Akwa Ibom would extend its networks of good road projects to Abia State, since Orji has an inadequate approach to good governance.

• Onwumere, poet/author, contributed this piece from Aba,

Deregulation: The gulf between

By Loretta Okafor EREGULATION trends definitely are sweeping D over all the energy industries in the world. The ultimate reason for deregulation globally is economic efficiency. However, while the economic benefits of deregulation are desirable, there could be implications, though surmountable, if there is collective responsibility. Deregulation, as one of the economic reforms of governments becomes rather imperative since it is geared towards reviving the ailing sector.

Deregulation has globally been embraced by several countries, in order to lessen public sector dominance and for developing a liberalised market, while ensuring adequate supply of products.

Such is the story in Peru, Argentina, Pakistan, Chile, Philippines, Thailand, Mexico, Canada, Venezuela, Japan, USA, and all the Asian countries.

In most of these countries, the oil refining industry is dominated by private sector participation and pricing mechanism is market based, subject to a monthly price adjustment to reflect the current international prices. All of which have systematically dismantled their state-owned oil companies, for a significant turning point in the success story of their oil industry reform efforts.

Nigeria has systematically failed to grasp the necessary palliative measures rolled out by the governments of the respective countries aforementioned, towards a collective acceptability of the policy. Every other country that embarked on deregulation, met with stiff opposition from the anti government groups, but they were able to strategically woo them over to the extent that the activists could see no more ground to stifle the efforts of the government towards the introduction of the policy, probably, because of the packaging of the palliatives.

In 2003, Federal Government opted for deregulation with the overall objective of introducing competition, enhancing and improving supply, removing government control on pricing, allowing market forces to determine prices, and opening up of the sector for private participation, which will create more jobs for our teeming youths. It is curiously obvious that over a long period of time, government’s deregulation policy of the downstream petroleum has not been accepted by Nigerians. This is in spite of the persistence and consistence efforts at which preceding governments had pursued deregulation policy of downstream petroleum sector. For instance, when the late President Yar’Adua, announced his commitment to deregulation, he set up a Presidential Committee on Deregulation with the responsibility of dialoguing with the stakeholders and fix the date for commencement of deregulation in the downstream sector. Despite its good intention, the civil society kicked against it, given the deplorable state of the refineries and

Allison-Madueke, Petroluem Minister other socio-economic infrastructures.

In continuation, the Jonathan administration also showed commitment to the policy, by ensuring availability of petroleum products to enable him carry on with deregulation,

but the move was still resisted especially by the organised labour and civil societies, on the condition that there were no palliatives on ground for the commencement of deregulation.

However, the two attempts by President Jonathan to deregulate the sector, was trailed by discordant voices, heating up the airwaves and pages of newspapers. This was to forestall any upward review of pump prices and likely protest that most often than not, snowballed into a national strike. A typical example was the unprecedented protest that happened at the beginning of the incumbent President’s early days in office, when there was a nationwide strike that lasted for complete seven days, paralyzing the nation’s economic activities, until a compromise of N97 per litre was reached to appease strong public oppositions.

Indicatively, it is obvious that the government has consistently and continuously, brandished the notion to revamp the sector to cut down cost. As long as the downstream oil sector is not deregulated, setting up new refineries will not be a profitable because the refineries will not achieve full capacity. Deregulating the downstream sector, will not only save the nation money but could also do to the sector what deregulation did to telecoms in Nigeria.

It is stating the obvious that the amount spent subsidising fuel is absolutely unnecessary. The intent of fuel subsidy has been defeated as its administration is beset by ineffectiveness, leakages and corruption. Again, it’s not as though the Federal Government is not aware of the negative impact of regulated prices on the downstream sector as well as the huge burden it poses on government finances, but it appears that the will to implement deregulation is lacking.

In view of the recent hullabaloo that the President’s speech has generated, and to close up the gulf between the deregulation and pub-

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lic acceptability, and for the purpose of this piece, Public Hearing Committee was inaugurated recently to criss-cross the country in order to sell deregulation to Nigerians. The Committee was saddled essentially, with the responsibility of touring the six geo-political zones in order to further enlighten the people, as well as, give each zone equal hearing on their views on the deregulation, before full implementation. The Public Hearing, to an average Nigerian is an effort in futility based on their past experiences of unfulfilled promises. It is worthy to note that the reason for the unacceptability of the policy does not rest with the “product” but could be with the packaging.

Nevertheless, government can still garner confidence from among Nigerians, if, the Committee members are made up of people of proven integrity, rather than people of questionable personalities, so that the Committee will not be seen as a “wild goose chase”. Hence, the product “deregulation” must be properly repackaged to make it saleable to the generality of Nigerians.

This is because, the acceptability or otherwise of the policy becomes the onus of the government.

No change has been smooth sailing, thus, sacrifice is inevitable between the two parties for concessions to be reached to usher in the desired change. On the contrary, it will be a near impossible attempt for government to initiate any project, if the people the change is meant for are not carried along. The antagonistic antecedences that usually coloured deregulation since its birth should be of great lesson to the government.

As a matter of urgency, Nigerians should have a rethink so that the present scenario that encourages sharp practices and makes Nigeria the only OPEC member that still imports refined petroleum products does not continue. While expecting to see a functioning industry, creating the much needed atmosphere for an industrial boom after best practices, creating favourable investment climate for local and foreign capital in a manner that would ensure optimisation of the nation’s downstream potential, a self financing and self-sustaining sector as well as a downstream sector that promises return on investment, is a necessity.

In the light of the above, we should endeavor to borrow a leave from the success stories of the countries that have arrived at the destination port of deregulation, and their achievements. In addition, Nigeria should not only learn how these countries had forgotten the scares of the initial experiences, but endeavour to accept a little discomfort to achieve results. Nigerian government should not only be cautious with deregulation in terms of selling state-owned enterprises, rather, should also opt to opening up of the sector to private and foreign indirect investment as in other countries of the world.

• Okafor wrote from Abuja.