Monday 04 Mar 2013 The Guardian Nigeria

Guardian Newspapers Limited appoints new editors HE management of Guardian Newspapers T Limited has announced the appointment of new editors for its titles.

In the new appointments approved by the Chairman and Publisher, Lady Maiden AlexIbru, last week, and effective from February 1, 2013, Mr. Abraham Ogbodo was named Editor of The Guardian on Sunday. He replaces Mr. Jahman Oladejo Anikulapo who voluntarily re-

tired from the company early this year after 10 years as editor of the Sunday newspaper.

Former Chief Sub-Editor and News Editor, Mr. Julius Omokioja Eto, was named Deputy Editor of The Guardian daily. He replaces Mr. Jewell Dafinone who assumes a new position as General Editor of the newspapers. Mr. Alabi Williams, until now Assistant Political Editor, has been named Deputy Editor of The Guardian

on Sunday while Mr. Taiwo Akerele, former Night Editor of The Guardian, is the new Deputy Editor, Saturday.

In the new deal, Mr. Ehichioya Ezomon is the Group Political Editor. He was until last week Acting Editor, The Guardian on Sunday. Mr. John-Abba Ogbodo of the Abuja Bureau who was promoted as Assistant Political Editor died last Thursday in a car crash.

Mr. Paul Onomuakpokpo, a former Senior Sub-Editor, is the Chief Sub-Editor while Mr. Emmanuel Nwagboniwe, also a former Senior Sub-Editor, is Deputy Chief Sub-Editor.

The newly-appointed News Editor of The Guardianis Mr. Nnamdi Inyama, who was hitherto the Assistant Metro Editor. Mr. Felix Kuye, a Senior Sub-Editor, will also be his deputy.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Monday, March 4, 2013

Vol. 29, No. 12,485

www.ngrguardiannews.com

N150

Why Obasanjo’s reform agenda failed S the earth remains and A globalisation and political forces prevail over the af-

fairs of men, it appears more controversial books will continue to roll out in the press about men of yesteryears in Nigeria. At the Abeokuta Presidential Library tomorrow, yet another book edited by a notable professor will be publicly presented. But the book entitled Olusegun Obasanjo: The Presidential Legacy (1999-2007) on the Obasanjo years that promises to raise more dust about men and women of yesteryears has identified two key arrowheads of the Obasanjo reform agenda whose actions and inactions actually paralysed the reform agenda that would have changed Nigeria’s fortune.

According to the book, edited by Prof.

Oladipo Akinkugbe, Alhaji Ahmed Jo-

MORE ON PAGES 6 & 7 da, Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe and Prof. Friday Okonofua, the Obasanjo administration’s reform agenda suffered huge reverses largely because of the unsavoury attitude of two arrowheads from the political wing of the administration and the bureaucracy.

According to the book in two volumes to be released tomorrow, two of the actors fingered to have been instrumental in the events that shaped the failure of the administration’s reform were the Minister of Finance (2003-2006) Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the then Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (2000-2007), Alhaji

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

A cross-section of cyclists displaying during the opening ceremony of the 10th bi-ennial Nigeria Police games in Port Harcourt … yesterday.

Gunmen kill Kwara police commissioner

Saxone Akhaine Kenyatta, Odinga From (Kaduna), Abiodun Fagbemi (Ilorin), Lawrence Njoku run neck and (Enugu), Njadvara Musa neck as Kenyans (Maiduguri) and Charles Akpeji (Jalingo) vote for new MORE worrisome dimenA sion was added to the napresident tion’s insecurity at the

Page 10

PHOTO: NAN

weekend as the new Kwara State Commissioner of Police

• JTF kills 20 Boko Haram members • Group’s leader threatens more violence Commissioner (CP), Mr. Chinwike Asadu, was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Enugu.

Meanwhile, barely 24 hours after Boko Haram denied any ceasefire or truce with the Fed-

eral Government, men of the Forward Operation Base (FOB) and Joint Task Force (JTF) yes-

Shell may shut in 150,000 barrels per day - Page 9

terday killed 20 members of the group who attacked Monguno Military Barracks in Borno State.

Also, the JTF yesterday arrested two top Boko Haram commanders that were allegedly responsible for the Maiduguri multiple bomb-blasts last Thursday, while some gover-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

2

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

3

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

4 NEWS

JTF kills 20 Boko Haram members, arrests blasts masterminds CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 nors were holding a meeting at Government House.

However, Boko Haram’s supreme leader, Sheikh Abubakar Shekau, yesterday, in a fresh video statement, denied any dialogue with the Federal Government, stressing it had not ceased fire.

He rather threatened that the group would unleash more deadly attacks in some of the northern states to avenge the arrest and killing of its members.

Also, the Taraba State Government has mapped out fresh plans to check rising cases of violence.

Asadu was recently posted to Kwara from Lagos, where he was a Mopol Commander. The Guardian learnt his orderly, Aloha Olaniyi and driver, Oliver Omeh, who were with him at the time of the incident on Saturday night, sustained serious bullet-wounds and are in a critical conditions at National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu.

The incident was said to have occurred at about 10.00 p.m. at Amorji Nike, near Abakpa Nike in Enugu East Local Council of Enugu State. Asadu reportedly visited his home-town, Nsukka, at the weekend and was driving into his residence when the assailants, said to have laid an ambush around his residence, attacked him and his aides.

According to sources, he had seen off a visitor in company of his driver and a police orderly posted to guard his residence from Abakpa Police Division, leaving behind the official escort team that came with him from the Kwara State Police Command.

They were returning to the house after dropping off the

visitor when they suddenly noticed a bus trailing them as they entered his street, only for the gunmen to start firing at the vehicle from the rear, killing the CP and wounding the two policemen. The hoodlums took away the rifle of the orderly, whose body was equally riddled with bullets.

The Kwara State Police Command was yet to officially react to the development. But some of the officers at the Ahmadu Bello Way Police Headquarters, Ilorin, looked forlorn as they expressed sadness over the death of their boss, who The Guardian learnt, would have retired from service next month.

The new Police Commissioner in Enugu, Mr. Tonye Ebitibituwa, was said to have directed his men to conduct a manhunt for the gunmen within and outside the state capital to track down the murderers.

Meanwhile, Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed described Asadu’s death as shocking and a huge loss not only to the Nigeria Police but Kwara State security apparatus in particular as he exhibited high sense of discipline and professionalism in the course of duty.

Dr. Ahmed, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, said: “ CP Chinwe Asadu, in the discharge of his duty in Kwara State, contributed immensely to the sustenance of peace in the state and in the upholding of our values as a state of harmony.”

The governor noted that it was particularly painful that Asadu has become another index in the annals of the growing national insecurity.

He said: “It has become very expedient for us as a nation to rally round in finding enduring solution to the national malaise of insecurity,” and prayed to God to grant the family, the rank and file of the police in the state and the Nigeria Police in its entirety the fortitude to bear the loss.

Also, two federal lawmakers from Kwara State, Dr. Ahmad Ali and Zakari Mohammed, have expressed shock and worry at the murder of their former CP. The terrorists that came in three four-wheel drive vehicles and eight motorcycles attacked the barracks at dawn.

In a statement, the JTF spokesman, Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, said: “Some Boko Haram terrorists attempted to attack a Military Barracks at Monguno, Monguno Local Council of Borno State at about 5.00 a.m. today (yesterday).

“The attack was repelled by the FOB’s and JTF troops at the outskirts of the barracks. The encounter led to the death of 20 Boko Haram terrorists; and three four-wheel vehicles and eight motorcycles used by the terrorists were destroyed.

“Arms and ammunition re-

covered in the clash include seven Kalashnikov rifles, 10 rocked propelled grenades, two RPG tubes, large quantities of assorted ammunition and eight assorted magazines.”

Shekau appeared in the video, standing and surrounded by seven other armed men with their faces covered.

He further claimed responsibility for all the violence, including the ones alleged, by security officials, to have been committed by suspected crim-

inals.

He denied having any relationship with Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Abdulazeez, the man who repeatedly claimed to be his second in command, and who announced the ceasefire.

Taraba State’s Acting Governor, Garba Umar, in a statewide broadcast said owing to the recent violence in Wukari Local Council, traditional rulers and council chairmen would be held accountable for any further out-

break of crisis in their domains.

He added that more jobs would be created for the teeming youths, while efforts would be made to track down those fomenting trouble and prosecute them.

Umar, who visited Wukari, said: “I have just returned from a visit to the area to see things for myself and I must say that I am shocked by the magnitude of destruction and the death toll caused by the crisis.”

Benin Republic foils attempted coup HE authorities in Republic T of Benin have announced that an attempt to oust President Thomas Boni Yayi and install a military regime in the West African nation has been foiled.

In a statement read to journalists yesterday, State Prosecutor, Justin Gbenameto, said a Colonel and a businessman were arrested for plotting “to block the Head of State from returning to Cotonou after his trip and to institute a military regime.”

Yayi, who recently completed a one-year term as chairman of

the African Union (AU), had travelled to Equatorial Guinea last month for a summit with South American leaders. A report by Agence France Presse (AFP) quoted Gbenameto as saying that Col. Pamphile Zomahoun and prominent accountant and businessman, Johannes Dagnon, were in custody and investigations were continuing.

Meanwhile, opposition groups and Talon’s lawyers have dismissed the allegations as an attempt by Yayi to sideline a former ally-turned

rival. But Gbenameto told journalists yesterday that he was informed on February 22 by the security services of an attempted attack against the state.

An inquiry panel was then created “to shine light on the attempted coup d’etat,” with investigations ultimately revealing that Zomahoun and Dagnon were involved in a plot to impose military rule, he said. While serving as the AU chair, Yayi pushed strongly for a West African force to launch an offensive against Islamist rebels in Mali.

Why Obasanjo’s reform agenda failed CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Mahmud Yayale Ahmed.

According to chapter two of the book, which features public service reforms, with a subhead “Managing the political gladiators: The dramatis personae”, (Pages 92-100), although the key actors of the

reform agenda then consisted of political appointee drivers (PAD) within the economic team, namely, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Minister of Finance who was also Chairperson Steering Committee on Reforms, (SCR), Malam, Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai, Minister of the Federal Capi-

tal Territory as Chairman of the Public Service Reform Team (PSRT) under the SRC and Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, initially in charge of Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligence (BMPIU) and later minister of Education; and top bureaucracy drivers (TBDs) comprising Mahmud Yayale

Ahmed, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; Ambassador Ahmed Al-Gazali, the Chairman of the Federal Civil service Commission (FCSC and the Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Okonjo Iweala and Yayale Ahmed should be held responsible for the failure of the reform agenda.

Guardian Newspapers Limited appoints new editors CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Former Assistant Features Editor, Nike Sotade, is the new Metro Editor.

Mr. Madu Onuorah, former Deputy Bureau Chief and a very resourceful Defence and State House Correspondent is Abuja Bureau Chief. Mr. Onuorah replaces Mr. Martins Oloja who was appointed Editor, The Guardian, in October last year when the restructuring began.

Mohammed Abubakar, Senior Political and Education Correspondent, is Abuja Deputy Bureau Chief.

Mr. Oghogho Obayuwana is the Foreign Affairs Editor. Assistant Art Editor, Kabir Alabi Garba, is the Art Editor.

In the same vein, the newspaper has created three more bureaux for operational efficiency as the company begins satellite printing in Abuja soon.

Consequently, Mr. Saxone Akhaine, a veteran Senior Correspondent in Kaduna, has been promoted the Northern Bureau Chief. Similarly, Mr. Kodilinye Obiagwu, a Senior Political Correspondent, is the Eastern Bureau Chief. The South-South Bureau Chief’s position just vacated by the new Editor of The Guardian on Sunday will be filled shortly.

Mr. Marcel Mbamalu is now the News Editor of The Guardian on Sunday and Mr. Godwin Ijediogor is his counterpart at The Guardian on Saturday.

Meanwhile, to cover Lagos, Nigeria’s capital, a complex metropolis, a new department has been created.

Named as Lagos City Desk, the Deputy Editor in charge is Geofrey Okpugie who has been a veteran Correspondent of

Business and Style on Sunday Desk. He will be assisted by Mr. Tope Templar who has been co-ordinating the Sunday Desk’s City File.

Mr. Mathias Okwe is Assistant Business Editor.

Abraham Ogbodo has operated in the media industry for over 20 years, reporting politics, economy, arts, environment, health, energy, education and foreign affairs.

He was born on January 1, 1963 in Ughelli, Delta State. He attended Orogun Grammar School, Orogun (1975-1980) and St. Patrick’s College, Asaba (1982-1983). He graduated with a B.A. (Hons.) in Theatre Arts from University of Calabar (1983-1987).

For the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, he was an English Language teacher at New State High School, Mushin, Lagos (October 1987-July 1988). From a Sub-Editor Trainee and SubEditor (August 1988-August 1990), he became a Staff Writer/AG Head, Special Features Unit (May 1992-July 1994), African Guardian magazine.

A former Head, Special Projects (Supplements Unit), The Guardian (October 1995-June 2002), Ogbodo was Senior Correspondent (Politics) (June 2002 – July 2007) and was promoted Deputy Editor (Politics), The Guardian, in 2007. In November 1, 2012, he was promoted as the Regional Editor in charge of the SouthSouth (South-South Bureau Chief.)

Widely travelled within and outside Nigeria and a recipient of awards, Ogbodo has served in various public capacities.

Eto was born on July 12, 1965

in Ghana but returned home after the Ankrah-Afrifa junta that ousted the Kwame Nkrumah government sent Nigerians away.

Back in Nigeria, he attended primary schools in Sapele and Isokoland as well as Government College, Ughelli and Emore Grammar School, Oleh (1977-82) and Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro (1982). He was at the University of Benin (1983-87) where he earned an Upper Class B.Sc. (Hons.) from the Department of Political Science and Public Administration. He also attended the University of Lagos where he got an M.Sc. degree from the same department (1995). He had received a post-graduate diploma from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (1993). A winner of many awards, he also has a BBC London Journalism Training Certificate (2001).

For his youth service, he was a graduate lecturer at Imo (now Abia) State University (1987-88) after which he worked at The Guardian as a reporter and sub-editor. He later worked at Newbreed magazine as Assistant Editor as well as Head of Foreign Desk (The Punch) and of News (Sunday Punch), 1994-96. He was Asst.

News Editor and later Chief Sub-Editor of THISDAY (1997) and Editor, The Diet (1998).

Eto returned to The Guardian in 1999 as News Editor and was, from 2007, also the Chief Sub-Editor until last week when he was elevated to the position of Deputy Editor.

Williams, who joined The Guardian in 1992 as a reporter, has a Master of Arts (Literature) degree of the University of Lagos, 1998. He has a Bachelor of Arts (English) of the

same university. Before then, he was at Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi (now Federal Polytechnic), where he earned a National Diploma in the Department of Mass Communication (1984).

Dafinone (55) graduated in 1985 from the University of Benin with B.A (Hons.)

French. He joined The African Guardian magazine 1986 as Production Sub-editor and rose to Production Editor. In 1995, he became Production Editor, The Guardian. In 1999, he was appointed Assistant Editor and two years later Deputy Editor, The Guardian.

Akerelewas born in Lagos on October 9, 1959. He attended Yaba Methodist Primary School, Lagos (1965-1966); Alafia Institute, Mokola, Ibadan (1967 – 1969) and Eko Boys’ High School, Mushin, Lagos (1970-1974).

In 1977, he was employed by Royal Exchange Assurance Nigeria (REAN), Marina, Lagos, and left in December 1979 for the College of Journalism, Fleet Street, London.

He graduated in 1982 with HND in Journalism and Mass Communication.

When he returned to Nigeria in 1983, he was posted to Jos, Plateau State, where he served with the Nigerian Standard newspapers.

He joined GNL in 1987, working first with the now rested Guardian Express before he was posted to the defunct Lagos Life in 1993 as Acting Editor.

In 2005, he was made Production Editor of The Guardian on Saturday before he was appointed Night Editor of The Guardian in 2010.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

NEWS 5

News A Pope is chosen by divine guidance, says Vatican

Presidency explains review of power roadmap

• Okoh urges Nigerians to remain steadfast

From Emeka Anuforo, Abuja S the Federal Government continues to falter in matters concerning increased power generation and supply, as well as privatisation of the sector, the Presidential Task Force on Power (PTFP) has provided further insights into the reason it was reviewing the Power Sector Roadmap developed in 2010, noting that the move was not “policy somersault.”

The government also assured Nigerians once again that the President Goodluck

From Charles Coffie-Gyamfi, Abeokuta HE Vatican Ambassador to Nigeria, Most Rev. Augustine Kasujja, said yesterday that the successor to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI could only emerge through divine guidance and not by anybody’s effort.

Benedict XVI resigned from his exalted position on Thursday, giving ill-health as one of his reasons.

Among the contestants to succeed him are two Africans, Peter Cardinal Turkson of Ghana and Francis Cardinal Arinze of Nigeria, fueling speculations that, this time, there might be a dramatic shift by the church to choose the new Pope from the developing world.

However, the cleric, who was on Apostolic visit, told the faithful at a mass he conducted at the Sacred Heart College, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta, that “the emergence of whoever will take over from Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI lies with the Holy Spirit, which cannot be influenced by anybody.”

The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Archbishop Adewale Martins, assisted the cardinal at the mass.

According to Kasujja, by the doctrine of the Catholic Church, whoever occupies certain positions has always been done through the Cannon Law, “and as such,

T

A

• Says consumers partly responsible for outage Jonathan-led administration would surmount “all the daunting obstacles, which had overwhelmed several past governments and shall,

by God’s grace, take Nigerians to the Promised Land,” according to a statement issued yesterday after the fifth board meeting of Task Force on Power.

“Let’s face it, with our population of over 160 million people living in over 25 million households, the current avail-

able peak power of 4500MW is just a tiny drop in the ocean. This is why we are having the blackouts,” Chairman of PTFP, Beks Dagogo-Jack, said.

“The load shedding, which was increasing lately, has its origins in the fact that once consumers witnessed increasing supply and reliability, previously suppressed or migrated demand started returning to the grid.

“People who used to only

switch on one air-conditioning unit at their homes when using their small power-generating sets now use all units at home. Our grid operators and the National Control Centre are doing their best to reduce incidents of system collapse arising from unplanned sudden ramp-up of grid load from returning suppressed or migrated demand.”

According to him, government was not discarding the original roadmap, all the benchmarks of the original

Former Head of Interim Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan (left); Chief Bintan Famutimi; UK Minister for Africa, Mark Simmonds; erstwhile Minister of Industry, Chief Kola Jamodu and British High Commissioner, Dr. Andrew Pocock, during a reception in honour of Simmonds in Lagos…at the weekend PHOTO: OSENI YUSUF

one would be retained, while the on-going review would capture the missed targets, review outstanding ones and re-evaluate scopes, while also addressing issues of fuel diversity, impact of technology on renewables pricing, and develop long-term financing models for transmission investments.

Dagogo-Jack said the new roadmap would outline a workable strategy for closing the gap between the projected sector expansion and the required technical manpower capacity to operate this growth.

He noted: “We have been tasked by President Jonathan with the very tall order of giving Nigeria adequate electricity through the development of a sustainable and properly regulated power market in the life of this administration.

“This is the biggest power sector reform exercise in Africa by a very wide margin and ranks among the top five in the world in terms of the sheer size of the market and process complexity.

Therefore, every step is a learning curve for us.”

A reform roadmap, he added, is more of a sector development strategy and project delivery tool structured as a rolling plan “rather than a mere political or campaign document anyone can tinker with or comment upon.

“Accordingly, it is imperative that the key outstanding targets in the roadmap must be current and not outdated.

14-storey bank structure unlawful, says Braithwaite

By Joseph Onyekwere AGOS lawyer and politician, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, has declared as illegal the 14storey building and five-level car park being constructed close to his residence on Victoria Island by the Standard Chartered Bank of Nigeria Limited.

Braithwaite’s declaration is contained in a 34-paragraph affidavit deposed to on his behalf by Ismaila Shaib Usman and filed before a Lagos High Court, Igbosere.

The affidavit is in support of his amended pleadings, in which he sought the order of court to stop the commercial bank from constructing the building in a residential area.

He averred that the development permit, which the defendant purportedly obtained from the state government authorising a mixed development in the area, was invalid and unlawful.

According to Usman, “the claimant further avers categorically and puts the defendant to the strictest proof otherwise that the building approval/development permit allegedly obtained by it is unlawful, invalid, null and void, having been procured without compliance with the requirements of the law.”

At the trial, he added, he would prove that the underlying processes and relevant procedural preconditions to applying for and obtaining requisite development permit were not met by the de-

L

fendant. He, therefore, insisted that the purported change of user obtained by the defendant for the purpose of erecting the structure was totally unlawful.

Braithwaite said he would rely on the evidence of building experts, who undertook an environmental impact audit of the building and turned in a damning report.

According to him, “the claimant, sometime in December 2012, commissioned a team of renowned international scholars and experienced architects, physical planners, urban designers, landscape architects, to undertake a thorough Environmental Impact Audit (EIA) of the defendant’s building vis a vis its immediate environment, with particular reference to claimant’s residence.

“The report of the EIA, prepared and submitted by Urbach Tropical Designs (Architects, Physical Planners, Urban Designers, Landscape Architects, consultants), represented by Prof. Olaniyi Samuel Okedele, Dr. Adejumo Tunji and Wilkey Oladipupo, is hereby pleaded and shall be relied upon at the trial, and the evidence to be given by these experts shall also include the use of electronic devices i.e. computer video recording and projector, notice of which is hereby given.”

Also, Prof. Okedele, in his witness’ statement on oath, swore that their findings in-

cluded, but were not limited to the adverse impacts of the defendant’s multi-level premises on the claimant’s residential property, particularly in the area of solar rights, air quality, noise vibration, wind and weather.

“There are other serious negative environmental impacts in our report, which we shall demonstrate by electronic videos and projector at the trial of this matter,” the statement read.

The trial judge, Doris Okuwobi, had earlier granted the claimant, who had already opened his testimony, leave to amend his pleadings.

The court will now hear the amended applications on April 8. Then led in examination by the defendant’s counsel, Adeniyi Adegbonmire, Braithwaite informed the court that he filed the suit when the defendant was about to commence the proposed building, adding that the defendant had built the structure, which is the subject matter of the suit, up to the 8th floor at present.

Braithwaite is seeking a declaration that the construction of a 14-storey building at No.142, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, and a fivelevel car park at Plot 141 Elias Close, Victoria Island, by the bank is unlawful and damaging to his rights. He is also seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the bank or its agents from using or causing or permitting to be used

for any purpose other than residential, the said site.

The claimant is demanding N10 billion as general damages for nuisance caused due to the noise and pollution of the bank’s giant electric generating sets, which led to his great discomfort over the period of 10 years. Besides, he asked for interest at the rate of 21 per cent till final judgment.

In his statement of claim, he averred that the proposed building, if erected, would substantially affect the amenities’ value of his residence in terms of availability of air, as well as create constant noise pollution, thereby breaching the general peace and quiet of the neighbourhood.

The claimant also swore that every plan for development of the various sites suitable for building along the said Elias Close was designed and approved for High Class Residential purposes only.

The claimant maintained that the proposed 14-storey building and five-level car park would infringe upon his fundamental right to access to light.

The applicant commenced the action on October 4, 2010, at the Lagos High Court. On November 24, 2010, Justice Adesuyi Olateru-Olagbegi made an order of preservation of status quo until the next date of adjournment, which was December 21, 2010.

But before that date, the de-

fendants appealed the decision at the Court of Appeal.

As a result, the applicant filed for an extension of the order but the court dismissed it on account of the pending appeal. Consequently, the claimant filed his own appeal against the dismissal of the extension application at the Court of Appeal.

In its ruling, a panel of justices of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, led by John Inyang Okoro, ordered the trial court to transmit the application filed by Dr. Braithwaite seeking to extend the period of the interlocutory injunction, which restrained the bank from continuing with construction at the proposed site to Court of Appeal.

In the judgment, which was unanimously adopted by two other justices, Justice Kumai Akaahs (presiding) and Justice Muhammed AmbuUsi Danjuma, the appellate court held that the trial court was wrong when it dismissed the application.

In his lead judgment, Justice Okoro held that the proper order to have been made by the lower court was to either strike out the application for lack of jurisdiction or order it to be transmitted to the Court of Appeal.

The court, however, refused the appellant’s request for a preservative order pending the hearing and determination of the suit at the lower court in order to “prevent a

chaotic occurrence in the process of hearing the defendant’s appeal, which was still pending at the Appeal Court.

That notwithstanding, the defendant also filed notice of appeal to the Supreme Court against the decision of the Court of Appeal ordering the lower court to transmit the claimant’s restraining application to the Appeal Court.

But the claimant, in seeking to stop further construction on the site, is insisting that it will not serve the interest of justice if the res is being tampered with and completed while the substantial suit subsists and yet to be determined.

However, the bank contended in its defence that the trial court lacks jurisdiction on Braithwaite’s claim because the claimant has failed to fulfill the condition precedent to invoking the action. It also denied that it would constitute any nuisance to the claimant.

It further contended that the action and its further prosecution are frivolous, vexatious and an abuse of the solemn process of the court and, therefore, urged the court to dismiss it.

The bank averred that the Lagos State government reserved the power and authority, acting by itself or through its ministries, parastatals or agencies, to designate/zone all areas within the state as residential, commercial and/or mixed uses.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

6 NEWS

Issues in the news Excerpts from Olusegun Obasanjo: The Presidential Legacy (1999- 2000)

Why Obasanjo’s Okonjo-Iweala, Yayale Ahmed: The two arrowheads

Public service reforms: HE dramatis personae of the public service reforms of President Olusegun Obasanjo consisted of the political appointee drivers (PADs) within the Economic Team, namely: Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Finance, who was also chairperson, Steering Committee on Reforms (SCR), Malam Nasir Ahmed el-Rufai, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as Chairman of the Public Service Reform Team (PSRT) under the SRC, and to a much lesser extent, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, initially in charge of the Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligence Unit (BMPIU), later minister of Education; and on the other hand, the top bureaucracy drivers (TBDs) comprising: Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, the head of the Civil Service of the Federation; Ambassador Ahmed Al-Gazali, the chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC); and the Permanent Secretaries.

The two camps had emerged from two divergent backgrounds and their approach and commitment to the reforms were greatly influenced by a combination of their antecedents, professional experience and the imperative of protecting their corporate existence. The two camps were manually suspicious of each other; justifiably so because of their glaringly different approach.

Okonjo-Iweala was a top technocrat from the World Bank, a Bretton-Wood institution, whose track record of public sector reforms is a complicity of right sizing as a major element of bringing down the cost of governance. She, therefore, carried an unenviable baggage of credibility in the reform process.

The private sector experience, tenure at the BPE and emerging success at the Federal Capital Territory had convinced el-Rufai that the civil service must demonstrate competence and adopt global best practice; his nudging that the reforms must be fast-tracked if the administration was to record any success before the expiration of its tenure was seen as an avoidable haste. Yayale Ahmed, the arrowhead of the TBDs, was a high-flyer who rose to the position of permanent secretary in the civil service of his home state barely seven years after graduation. At the time of his transfer to the federal service on GL 16 in 1986, nine years after completing the National Youth Service Corps scheme (NYSC), most of his mates at graduation, who started their career at the federal civil service were under GL 13. He felt a moral responsibility to protect the career of these colleagues, or so it seemed.

For the entire top hierarchy of the bureaucracy, the antecedent of Obasanjo as a military head of state demanded that the bureaucracy led by the head of the civil service should exercise caution in accepting that another reform be foisted on the civil service.

It is a well acknowledged fact that till date the two major actions of government that had the greatest negative impact on the civil service were the arbitrary and sudden purge of 1975 and Decree 43 of 1988. Both were initiated and implemented by military regimes.

The 1975 purge literally decapitated the service by removing the best, most experienced and most promising officers whose career had straddled the colonial administration and the administration of the emerging republic and were seen as the symbol of the effective transfer of power from the colonialists. Decree 43 of 1988, promulgated

by General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida as military president, led to the abolition of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of Federation (OHCSF), whose functions were subsumed under the secretary to the government of the federation, and the incapacitation of the FCSC, which had most of its functions transferred in the main to the ministries, extra-Ministerial Departments and Agencies (MDAs). The aftermath was the unbridled influx of low quality personnel into the civil service at career levels for above their knowledge, experience and capabilities. The cumulative impact of these interventions was the general decay that began to creep into the civil service system in early 1980s and continues to manifest as the loss of civil service vitality, standard of performance and cohesion; the emergence of a culture of side-lining time-tested procedures and processes; and the loss of officers’ self-re-

T

Obasanjo

spect and integrity.

The struggle for supremacy in the driving of the reform had begun even before my appointment as the DG BPSR and President Obasanjo was managing it. I found, for example, that the file that contained briefs relating to the establishment of BPSR showed that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala had questioned the rationale of having a bureau under the OHCSF to coordinate all reforms and having secured the approval of the president to restrict the BPSR to the civil service, she had gone ahead to suspend the release of the N50 million take-off grant earmarked for the Bureau.

As a seasoned administrator, hitherto the right-hand man of SGF, I knew that such an action meant that the civil service reform was dead on arrival! My appointment as someone who was acceptable to the Economic Team, was seem as a smart move by both Yayale Ahmed and President Obasanjo to break the impasse. I too was conscious of the imperative of sustaining the building on the confidence capital of the political appointee drivers (PADs) without betraying the trust of the top bureaucracy drivers (TBDs), my natural constituency as a civil servant. I had to stress to the minister of Finance the need to recognise ab, initio that government reforms are essentially reforms of the workforce of government (i.e. the bureaucracy) and therefore cannot be implemented ex situ; and that the success and sustenance of any reform were contingent upon its internalisation by the bureaucracy service-wide. The minister was not fully convinced that a public service reform under the OHCSF would achieve the success they were expecting but she obliged to release the take-off grant and wished me success! I kept harnessing the positive disposition of the political office holders involved in the reform process and bringing them in alignment with those of the top hierarchy of the civil service.

Political will means no one is made to lose face President Obasanjo, fondly called OBJ, operated in the mould of a master strategist. He maintained special relationships with all the principal actors and drivers of his reform. He ensured that each was not in doubt that he/she had his listening ears and enjoyed his confidence but he was focused on his goal and was determined to achieve it. No one was made to lose face and there were many instances where his strategy played out.

The first case was the political power play that led to the untimely exit of his first head of the civil service of the federation, Mr. Abu Obe, who was appointed on June 10, 1999 and

relieved of his appointment unceremoniously on December 18, 2000. The story was that Abu Obe was seen as an obstacle by some high profile politicians, who were sponsoring some preferential transfers into the mainstream civil service. The Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Turakin Adamawa, was alleged to have played a masterly role in both the untimely exit of Abu Obe and the choice of Yayale Ahmed as his replacement.

Yayale’s entry into the Federal Civil Service in 1986 was as secretary of the Customs, Immigration and Prisons Board (CIPB), where he met Atiku Abubakar, then deputy director Customs. Yayale’s professional contact with Atiku was said to have left such lasting impression that on becoming the vice-president he felt obliged to gladly support Yayale to achieve his long nurtured ambition of becoming the head of the civil service of the federation. OBJ appointed Yayale and soon after, Obe secured an appointment with the United Nations.

A similar case played out in the case of Mr. Akin Arikawe, the pioneer director general of the Debt Management Office, who was relieved of his appointment based on accusations by certain key members of the Economic Management Team. Buoyed by the tactful management of the situation by Yayale Ahmed, OBJ later discovered that Arikawe was wrongly accused and he was subsequently appointed Permanent Secretary.

The Stakeholders’ Workshop of Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and Chief Executives of Federal Government agencies held to consider and adopt “Delivering Service in Nigeria: A Roadmap,” the document of the Wendy Thomson led Team. The document had recommended “the establishment of a dedicated unit, staffed with the right people and resources to work with people across government and the wider community in executing transformational change in a few selected services so as to provide impetus for promoting better service delivery across government.” The consensus among participants, except Mr. Ad’Obe Obe and the SGF, was that with the establishment of the BPSR, there was no need to establish a separate unit for SERVICOM; rather the BPSR should create a department dedicated to Service Delivery.

Obasanjo had taken time off from the workshop after the opening ceremony to attend to other state duties and was not around when discussion on this aspect of the report took place. On his return to the workshop on the second and final day, he made statements to the effect that Ms Wendy Thomson was already very used to Ad’Obe to the extent that Ad’Obe could call her up in the middle

of the night to inquire on how to facilitate the programme; and that such rapport, which was necessary for the success of a new programme, should not be lost. The president’s decision to save SERVICECOM as a separate entity from the BPSR ensured that Ad’Obe was not disenchanted and the president continued to enjoy his support for the reforms.

A Bureaucrat as a Fox If there was one man who knew how to manage and cage the lion/tiger-like spirit of OBJ in driving his reforms, it was Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed. Ahmed was always a step ahead in getting OBJ to believe that he was leading the reforms, whereas underneath his public postures were strong scepticisms, possibly borne out of OBJ’s antecedent and the moral conscience of Yayale, a high-flyer who needed to protect both his less fortunate colleagues and the interest of his geo-political region. When in 2004 OBJ was beginning to exhibit uneasiness about the commitment of civil servants to his reforms, Ahmed promptly organised a three-day retreat for Permanent Secretaries in ASCON Badagry in August 2004.

For any discerning mind, Yayale’s keynote address at the retreat titled: “Self-Realisation and the Process of Change in the Civil Service: The Role of Permanent Secretaries” was a pointer to his strategy of managing the political appointee reform drivers on one hand and OBJ on the other. He said: “There is a need not only to jump into the reforms but dive into them so as to strategically influence what happens beneath the surface and courageously manage the intricacies on the surface… Considering the challenges posed by Mr. President and the global challenges of the 21st Century, which compel the civil service as the foremost surviving institution in any polity to review itself constantly with a view to conforming and remaining relevant, there should not be any doubt about the collective resolve within the system to remain in the vanguard of change that will positively impact on the lives of the citizenry. Any other contrary action will require self-advice or introspection in the context of self-realisation.” (Nigeria Public Service Reform: The Vision and Challenges, pp 9-19; Goke Adegoroye ed.

2005).

On the last day of the retreat, Yayale got OBJ to come to Badagry to chair the closing session and close the retreat. As soon as the president arrived, Yayale took him through the process of the self-assessment, self-realisation and renewed commitment that participants had gone through over the three days and followed it with a joint statement of unalloyed commitment which all permanent secretaries publicly pledged to the president on the reforms. OBJ was convinced that he now had a group of permanent secretaries who were super-charged for reforms. Indeed, so convinced was the President that he publicly apologised at the venue for earlier questioning the integrity of Alhaji Garba Buwai, whom he had directed the head of the civil service to sack, based on wrong accusation of his minister.

It would be wrong to think that OBJ was fooled because five months later, in January 2005, he directed the head of the civil service to carry out an assessment of all permanent secretaries. Unknown to the head of the civil service, the president had gone to work using his own network to carry out a similar exercise. When the two met to compare notes, as many as 17 permanent secretaries out of 40 had their jobs on the line. For the first time, the courage and dexterity of Yayale in defending his colleagues were taxed and stretched to the limits, but he succeeded in reducing the number to five who were eventually dropped for performing below expectation.

This axing of permanent secretaries notwithstanding, Yayale continued to adopt caution as his strategy in the implementation of the reforms. The key political appointee drivers saw through the head of the civil service and believed that he was not ready to move the civil service segment of the reform. But Yayale, as a seasoned administrator, had a perfect excuse. The elaborate institutional arrangement approved by the president to coordinate, manage and drive

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

NEWS | 7

Issues in the news

reform agenda failed being blamed in the book for the failure of reforms the reforms, namely: the National Council on Reforms (NCR) which had the president as chairman and the Steering Committee on Reforms (SCR) chaired by Okonjo-Iweala, in her capacity as chairman of the Economic Team, was good but was only on paper. OkonjoIweala was preoccupied with the international demands for her job and debt relief negotiations. She was neither able to get the president to inaugurate the National Council on Reforms, nor was she herself able to get down to holding an inaugural meeting of the Steering Committee on Reforms of which she was chairman before she resigned from the cabinet suddenly in the first week of August 2006 under curious circumstances.

As it turned out, the Steering Committee on Reforms never met under Obasanjo as president and a late effort to inaugurate the National Council on Reforms towards the end of his tenure did not materialise. But for the effort of el-Rufai, who had to create another organisational layer for the management of the public service reform, the BPSR might have remained in limbo throughout Obasanjo’s tenure.

As a leader, OBJ had enormous perception.

He was always conscious that beneath the public postures of Yayale as the top bureaucrat driver of the public service reforms, his body language often betrayed a cynical mind.

In August 2005, at a presidential retreat on public sector reforms and public-private partnership, the president in his note of thanks to the chairmen of the plenary sessions, said of the head of the civil service of the federation as follows: “As a civil servant, the head of the civil service is often caught between loyalty to the civil service his constituency and national interest; but I am happy to say that more often than not, he has stood on the path of national interest.” (Beyond Yours Faithfully by Goke Adegoroye, 2010).

In his capacity as the head of the civil service of the federation, Yayale was never short of ideas in terms of making Obasanjo believe that he was as committed as the el-Rufai led team in driving the public service reforms. As soon as the wave of restructuring of the MDAs gathered momentum and the el-Rufai led team started discussing the rationalisation of ministries and agencies, Yayale forwarded to the president a proposal for the structural realignment/merger of the ministries from 31 to 21 ministries. As head of the civil service he was not unaware that the proposal would lead to reduced manning levels and consequently redundancy for several officers, particularly at the directorate levels, for which the administration would need another level of political courage to address. To compound the problem, unregulated transfers and regularisation by the Federal Civil Service Commission had produced many directors and deputy directors who had long been waiting in line for their deployment and for whom the head of the civil service must have felt a sense of moral and official responsibility to resolve their case. In other words, the head of the civil service knew that he was going to face pressures from both of these groups; but he had a point to prove.

The proposal, described earlier under restructuring, received accolades of the president who got the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to approve a four-man committee, comprising the SGF, minister of FCT, HCSF and DG BPSR to implement it. The committee immediately went to work and submitted its report, which was adopted, but the HCSF continued to use the old structures of 31 ministries as basis for his deployment of directors. When the situation was brought to the attention of the president, he promptly directed the head of the civil service to withdraw the circular and the HCSF complied.

However, on May 30, 2007, i.e. barely 24 hours after the departure of OBJ, a service-wide circular emerged from the office of the head of the civil service of the federation announcing the posting of directors, “following the approval of the president”! The new cabinet of President Yar’Adua, constituted six weeks later, was on the basis of the realigned/merged structure of 21 ministries but the bureaucracy that was to support it was operating the full complement of per-

Okonjo-Iweala

manent secretaries and directorate officers of the old structure of 31 ministries. The struggle of the individual ministers to have their independence found ready allies in the permanent secretaries and directors on ground and before long were back to the status quo ante.

Peace, security and conflict resolution Conclusion: The assessment of Obasanjo’s performance that emerges from this chapter is that it is a combination of success and failures. His success in securing the cancellation of a substantial amount of the nation’s debt to international creditors, and a reduction of the rest is commendable. So also is his achievement in the field of telecommunications, particularly the introduction of the Global System of Mobile Communication (GSM), which has considerably facilitated and popularised telephone communications in the country. His intensification of the privatisation policy is equally commendable, as it has feed the various sectors of the economy from the stranglehold of inefficiency and corruption characteristic of such sectors under governmental control. It has, in the process, enlarged the private sector, and helped to lessen corruption and waste. It must be observed, though, that this privatisation process has not been as transparent as it ought to be, with the result that it has tended to concentrate wealth in a few hands, creating a new business oligarch, with access to the innermost recesses of governmental power, and widening the gap between the few rich and powerful, and the overwhelming majority of the poor.

Equally commendable is Obasanjo’s fight against corruption, though the establishment of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), and particularly the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which has had some limited success and has helped, to some extent, to redeem the country’s image as a haven of corruption.

However, there remain some concern and problem created by the modus operandi and operations of the EFCC, which sometimes creates the impression of a lack of concern with due process. However, the administration’s seeming penchant for intolerance of opposition and disobedience of court orders and injunctions tended to show a lack of respect for the rule of law and constitutionalism. The posture is contrary to Obasanjo’s statement, expressed at a meeting in Addis Ababa in November 1990, that “African leaders must (show) scrupulous adherence to the rule of law and respect human rights.” His failure to deal effectively with the eradication of poverty and his heating up the polity by some of his utterances and activities have equally not helped to deepen the democratisation process.

Yayale

One must note the failure of Obasanjo’s administration to ensure the security of people and property; for democracy is believed to entail freedom from danger, anxiety or fear. Certainly, Nigeria cannot be said to be free: what with the constant and rising spate of violence, assassinations, arid armed robberies, usually resulting in the killing of innocent Nigerians.

If the country is not secure, in this sense, it cannot be peaceful. A recent survey conducted by the Global Peace Index, taking into account such factors as the level of violence, organised crime, and political instability, described Nigeria as one of the least peaceful nations in the world, with a ranking of 117 out of the 121 countries surveyed. There is, however, a mitigating factor that should be considered in the assessment of his administration with regard to security in the country. This is the consideration that the security situation inherited by the succeeding regimes to the Abacha administration was so bad that it was impossible to deal with it effectively in the eight years of the administration of Obasanjo.

This may, perhaps, be part of the explanation for Obasanjo’s being tempted to seek an extension of his tenure. It must be mentioned, also, that his depoliticisation of the armed forces, a move which has made it much more difficult for groups and individuals, within and outside the armed forces, to use them for the subversion of democracy in the country, is commendable.

On the African regional and international scene, Obasanjo performed beautifully well.

Indeed, this is the high watermark, the forte of his administration, yielding considerable dividends for the country and showing him as a foremost Pan Africanist and advocate of continental unity.

Overall, it cannot be denied that the foundations of democracy, albeit still fragile and shaky, have been laid in the country during Obasanjo’s eight years in office. What remains is for his successors to build on the foundations by deepening and consolidating democratic processes in the country, through the strengthening of the various institutions necessary and vital to the democratisation process. In this respect, particular attention needs to be paid to the Police Force. Other security forces also need to be strengthened, with emphasis on greater and more effective cooperation and collaboration among them.

Fortunately, Obasanjo’s administration had set in motion such a process before its terminal date in office. Prior to the assumption of office by Obasanjo, the security forces were not effectively coordinated. There was a tendency for each organisation to approach the Head of State directly. But that changed during Obasanjo’s tenure. His administration established a forum enabling the highest leadership strata of the security forces and organisations to meet weekly to deliberate on

the security situation and related matters in the country. His administration also established a Joint Security Community Meeting of the Military, Police, Customs, Immigration, Prisons, Federal Road Safety Corps, and the Civil Defence, to look at and advise on national security. These initiatives and institutional innovations constitute a most admirable legacy of Obasanjo to the country. His successors should vigorously pursue, advance and improve on these initiatives and innovations. The Judiciary did well under Obasanjo’s administration, living up to its (the Judiciary’s) legendary reputation as the last hope of the common people, a far cry from its performance under military rule.

The present administration should build on the foundations, avoiding its weaknesses through policy reforms aimed at poverty eradication and more commitment to constitutional government and the rule of law, electoral reform and compassionate governance. With a commitment to fairness, justice and social compassion, his successors will create a national environment conducive to the achievement and consolidation of peace, security, stability and development in the country.

Finance domestic and international Conclusion: Even the most ardent critic would agree that during the eight years of the Obasanjo’s administration, the economy experienced significant growth. The output of the nation increased five-fold, inflation was brought down to single digit; and the rate at which prime businesses borrowed fell to around 10 per cent. Crude oil prices were favourable but the government did not squander the additional revenues. The administration reined in spending and the government built up savings. Part of the savings was used to amortise the country’s indebtedness to the Paris Club of Creditors. On the external side, strong import revenues from favourable crude oil prices were well managed and the country built reserves that were used to stabilise exchange rates. The performance of the real sector was also good and agriculture, telecommunications, trading and financial services were the principal engines of growth. Although substantial investments were made in the power sector, power generation did not increase significantly. This is because most of the gasfired power plants built did not have adequate supply of gas to fire them.

During this period, government passed laws and built institutions that would ensure that the major reforms were sustained.

Some of the institutions built, with relevant legislation to back them, are the National Pensions Commission, the Debt Management Office and the Budget Monitoring Price Intelligence Unit, which later became the Procurement Commission. .

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

8 NEWS

N’Assembly to quiz minister today over lopsided aviation appointments

By Wole Shadare OT satisfied with what many described as lopsidedness in the recent appointments in the aviation sector, the National Assembly will today hold a public hearing in Abuja.

The public hearing, which is at the instance of Committees on Aviation of the two Houses is to allow those who are aggrieved on the development to submit their positions with facts.

The Guardian learnt that various stakeholders in the sector particularly the aviation unions met to put their position together on the issue, which will be presented before the public hearing.

According to one of the union members, the public hearing is to enable the lawmakers to look into the allegations of unfairness to Nigeria’s federal character levelled against the Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella OduahOgiemwonyi.

One of the union members, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that the National Assembly at the end of the findings was expected to come up with a white paper to the Presidency.

According to him, if government failed to effect the recommendations identified by the lawmakers that the aviation unions would use it to fight for the rights of those whose rights were trampled upon the course of the controversial employment.

N

Some of the workers from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) who attributed ‘ethnic cleansing’ to their sacks, last week Wednesday appeared before the Senate Committee on Ethics.

The unions had earlier accused the minister of flouting civil service rules and the federal character policy by bringing people from outside the sector and people allegedly said to be working for her thriving oil and gas company to take over the positions of qualified personnel in the various aviation agencies.

The minister was also accused of conducting employment into the organisations without advertising such positions or making

• Foreign pilots highlight Africa’s air safety record those employed to undergo the required interview.

The minister had defended the various appointments, insisting that she followed due process in carrying out the employments.

Reacting, the minister through her spokesman, Joe Obi said that the lawmakers were carrying out their oversight functions, just as he described his boss as a detribalised person who never thought of a particular tribe before carrying out such employment.

Meanwhile, aircraft pilots operating for foreign, particularly European and American airlines have highlighted the poor safety of Africa’s airspace

occasioned by poor navigational equipment.

They noted that bad navigational facilities among others posed a lot of challenges to the seamless aircraft operation in the continent despite the low passenger traffic recorded compared to Europe with huge traffic and topnotch navigation communication facilities.

Before the remark, there had been calls by stakeholders in the continent, many parts of the world including Nigeria for a declaration of emergency over the region’s parlous communication facilities as a foil against further air disasters.

Speaking to The Guardian in

London at a tour of British Airways’ multi billion pounds aircraft maintenance hangar in Cardiff, Wales and simulators training facility in London at the weekend, British Airways’ Senior First Flight Officer, Martin Hockfield said that aircraft operations in Africa faced a lot of challenges.

The aircraft pilot attributed the challenges to the vastness of the continent which has huge land mass occasioned with huge display of obsolete equipment.

He stated that despite the challenges, airlines could still operate safely, adding that communication equipment between the captain and the air traffic control needed to be efficient at all times.

UNIMAID inaugurates 50 projects From Saxone Akhaine, Northern Bureau Chief HE University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) has inaugurated over 50 projects, including the first ever School of Pharmacy in the Northeast.

They were initiated and completed during the tenure of Dr. Wale Babalakin, as the proChancellor and chairman of the governing council of UNIMAID. On the occasion, he canvassed the commitment and dedication of members of university governing councils to ensure significant success in

T

• Pro-chancellor tasks varsity councils • Arewa leaders urge revival of education spite of scarce resources.

Babalakin, who is also the chairman of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of Federal Universities, congratulated the federal government for what he described as “its vision in implementing the University Act, which enabled the governing council of each university to appoint all the principal officers, thus placing the success of the university squarely in the hands of the council.”

Meanwhile, former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida and other Arewa leaders have lamented the poor state of education in the north, as they unfolded plans to resuscitate the sector through the efforts of prominent northerners in the private sector and the 19 states government in the region.

Besides, the erstwhile Minister of Defence, General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma who was invested with a honourary doctoral award by the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria pledged to take over the re-con-

struction of the Faculty of Science of the institution, and also be part of the general renovation of the university, whose structures have depreciated.

Also at the event were Vice President Namadi Sambo (who represented Jonathan) and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, among others.

Babangida who was the chairman of the special convocation ceremony and the launching of the N50 billion ABU Phase 11 Development Fund at the weekend, urged Nigerians, particularly northerners to ensure that they contributed toward the development of education in the region and save it from collapse.

He stated: “It is hardly an exaggeration to say that the security and developmental challenges Nigeria is confronting today are in many ways attributable to the declining fortunes of the education sector in the country.

“Similarly, no long term solution to these challenges is feasible without redirecting more attention, energy and resources to the sector.

“For Nigeria, therefore, upgrading the investments in education of our children has become an even more urgent imperative. For the individual Nigerians, making contributions to the education sector has become a matter of enlightened self-interest. The security, peace and progress we aspire for ourselves and our families are not attainable if the majority of the citizenry remains locked in the traps of ignorance and poverty.

“The choice before us, therefore, is stark; opt for peace, progress and happiness by contributing to the proper education of the younger generations of Nigerians, or invite anarchy that would end up consuming us all.

“We must, therefore, not only insist that our governments at various levels wake up to the challenges in the education sector, but we must also as individuals find ways of making our own contributions to this great task.”

Security problems threaten polio eradication in Nigeria, Pakistan

By Chukwuma Muanya, Lagos; Ali Garba, Bauchi; Iyabo Lawal, Ibadan; Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin; John Akubo, Dutse ECURITY problems have continued to threaten polio eradication efforts in the three polio-endemic countries of Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan despite efforts by the United Nations and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).

However, notwithstanding this, various state governments in Nigeria have declared their commitment to eradicating the dreaded disease in their various domains.

The Guardian reliably gathered that due to security threats, the Federal Government through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and international partners such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nation Children Fund (UNICEF) have kept the ongoing Nationwide

S

• States declare commitment to end threat Immunisation Plus Days (NIPDs) at low key.

Executive Director NPHCDA, Dr. Ado Gana Mohammed, told The Guardian yesterday: “NIPDs using trivalent Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) scheduled for March 2 to 5, 2013 in all states except Kano, Borno and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is ongoing and is closely coordinated with Niger Republic.

“But we decided to keep a low profile at the pre event to avoid mischief makers taking advantage of the situation. What we did was to mobilise the local areas to make sure that every child is reached with the OPV.” According to the latest edition of the Weekly Polio Update published by the GPEI, “in Pakistan on February 26, a police officer providing security to a polio vaccination team was shot and killed in Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). No vacci-

nators were harmed. The prevailing security situation in this district has been a challenge to polio eradication activities. This is yet another example of the often dangerous circumstances faced by frontline workers, and those who protect them.”

Despite the security threats and the killing of vaccinators during the January NIPDs in northern parts of Nigeria, vaccinators were seen in Lagos going about their duties without any fear or molestation. The vaccinators were seen going from house to house to vaccinate children.

The NPHCDA boss told The Guardian yesterday that the campaign was going on smoothly. “We are making progress. The vaccinators and monitors with technical assistance from WHO and UNICEF are on the field and the reports we are getting are encouraging.”

Jonathan, others hail Adesina, new editors’ guild president From Iyabo Lawal, Ibadan OODWILL messages have continued to pour in to Mr. Femi Adesina on his election as President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) at the weekend.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe has congratulated the Deputy Managing Director of Sun Newspapers, Femi Adesina over his election as the president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors describing it as a major landmark in the annals of the journalism profession.

In a congratulatory message by the presidential spokesman and made available to reporters in Ibadan, Okupe said that the new NGE president represented one of the finest breed, who has demonstrated clarity of vision and high ethical standards in the media.

Okupe said that it was, therefore, not surprising that Adesina had been deemed fit to assume the leadership of the guild at such an auspicious moment in the history of the nation’s socio-political development.

While noting the heroic roles of Nigerian journalists, the presidential aide admonished the new head of the editor’s guilds to work more on enhancing balanced reportage and promotion of national values through the media.

He assured that the federal government would continue to work in harmony with the guild and other bodies in the media industry in the overall interest of the Nigerian people, adding that the president remained committed to fulfilling his social contract with Nigerians and would look forward to greater partnership with the media as well as other sectors in this regard.

Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, described Adesina, as “a consummate journalist who has over the years adhered strictly to the finest tenets of the pen profession.

“His emergence as the president of NGE is therefore welldeserved,” the governor said.

G

ACN, CPC fine-tune merger deal in Jigawa From John Akubo, Dutse CTION Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) caucuses in Jigawa State have held a joint meeting to strategise on the ongoing merger arrangement by the opposition in the country.

The state Chairman of ACN, Yusif Sani Babura who spoke to newsmen after the meeting that held in Birnin Kudu Local Government area of the state, said that the meeting came up sequel to the one taking place between their parties at the national level.

According to him, the state level meeting between caucuses of the political parties on the merger would prepare ground and address major problems that might crop up in the state when the merger would finally be sealed at the national.

“There is need for us to start harmonising our parties and make them ready for the merger so as to avoid any crisis or confusion among followers of the parties.

“During this meeting we chose Honorable Faruk Adamu Aliyu to be the leader that would spearhead interparty discussions,” Babura said.

A

NEWS 9

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

NCC plans special number to check poor telecoms service delivery From Bashir Bello, Kaduna HE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is to introduce what it described as a number portal service before the end of the month to help tackle poor telecommunications service delivery faced by consumers in the country.

This was disclosed by Executive Vice Chairman of the commission, Dr. Eugene Juwah, at the weekend during the NCC’s Special Day at the 34th Kaduna International Trade Fair.

Juwah, who was represented by the Head, Human Capital of the NCC, Hajia Amarya Bayi, explained that “the new number portal service is designed to enable consumers move from one network into another without losing their original numbers.

“If your current provider is not giving you what you want in terms of quality, coverage or price, you can move into another network to get quality services.”

According to Juwah, the portal number is free and will be made available to subscribers across the country. “To enjoy the service, users must visit the offices or shops of the new network provider that they want to use and must possess acceptable identity cards. Only those whose SIM cards are registered would be ported”, he said.

The NCC chief blamed vandalism of telecommunications infrastructure across the country on the poor quality of services being rendered by the telecommunications firms. He urged consumers to ensure proper registration of their SIM cards and avoid buying pre-registered SIM cards.

He said: “We need to use this opportunity to alert consumers on existing illegal act of sales, distribution and use of pre-registered SIM cards. Our enforcement teams are currently moving round the country and making arrests of those involved in this fraudulent act.

Some are already being prosecuted.”

PDP leader urges Jonathan to drop 2015 bid

A

T

Geidam debunks sickness rumour From Njadvara Musa, Damaturu OVERNOR Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe State has debunked the speculation that his travel abroad must have been on account of ill health, saying “I am hale and hearty.

“I travelled to Saudi Arabia for the lesser hajj, before arriving in London to meet the Vice Chancellor of the Bukar Abba Ibrahim University (BAIU), Prof. Musa Alabe, on the planned training of 11 university teachers at the Bradford University, London, UK.” Speaking on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Special Hausa Service programme at the weekend, the governor said that contrary to the speculation that he was sick and had travelled overseas for medical attention, “I don’t even have headache. When I travelled to Saudi Arabia for the lesser hajj, it coincided with the sending of 11 teachers of BAIU for training at the Bradford University, London and the university authorities wanted me to be there (London), among the teachers to be trained.

“And since I have never been to these European countries, I took the opportunity and decided to travel to London on the invitation of the vice chancellor.”

G

From Joseph Wantu, Markurdi PEOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) leader in Benue State, Abu King Shuluwa, has advised President Goodluck Jonathan not to contest 2015 election to save the nation from disintegration.

Shuluwa, who spoke with The Guardian in Makurdi, the state capital, at the weekend, said Nigerians would be proud of Jonathan if he resists the pressure being mounted on him to contest. He noted that such pressure is coming from a cabal for self-aggrandisement.

Shuluwa, who claimed to have received a revelation from God about the 2015 presidential election, alleged that those mounting pressure on Jonathan to contest in 2015 are those who want the country to break up.

“If President Jonathan listens to the advice of a cabal and contests the 2015 presidential race against the popular will of Nigerians, and particularly the PDP, a revolution will set in which will affect every household, not leaving out anybody.

Such people do not have the interest of this country at heart.

Newly recruited cadets of the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (O-YES) from Osogbo, Olorunda, Ede-North, Ede-South and Irepodun local council areas of the state during an endurance trek as part of their training exercise in Osogbo…at the weekend

Shell may shut in 150,000 barrels per day From Azimazi Momoh Jimoh (Abuja) and Kelvin Ebiri (Port Harcourt) THREAT by Shell A Development Company of Nigeria to shut in the Nembe Creek truck line, which produces 150,000 barrels of crude oil per day, has raised the fear about the possibility of the full implementation of the 2013 federal budget.

Besides, the House of Representatives is worried about the rising cases of illegal activities in the Niger Delta.

To this effect, it has advised that the Federal Government should review its strategy against the menace of oil theft through which the country is losing a huge amount of money on daily basis.

Shell’s Managing Director, Mutiu Sunmonu, said that the company might resort to a shut-in because since January this year, some Nigerians, in collaboration with international syndicates, had been

Reps panel seeks review of anti-oil theft strategy stealing an average of 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day from the Nembe Creek truck line, which cost the company $1.1 billion to replace in 2010.

Sunmonu told journalists in Port Harcourt that oil theft in the Niger Delta had reached a very dangerous phenomenon, as the 60,000 barrels being stolen from Shell alone had been the highest in the past three years.

According to him, over time, this crime which is more rampant around the Kakrama and Awoba axis, has got a lot more sophisticated and that the perpetrators are now setting up barge building yards, storage facilities, as well as tank farms for storing the crude, prior to when the stolen crude will be shipped out of the country.

He said that those stealing

Nigeria’s crude were not just desperate individuals trying to make a living, but wellfunded criminals backed by international syndicates.

He lamented that oil theft in the country had reached a crisis point that required concerted efforts nationally, locally and internationally to actually get the menace, which had grave consequence for the national and global economy under control. According to him, he can no longer remain silent while people are ruining the Niger Delta environment and the national economy.

“My worry is not about the economy per se, the economy itself is huge, but I worry more about the devastation, the devastation for the people of Niger Delta, the destruction it will cause to the social and environmental aspect of the

ACN lauds ‘progressive’ govs’ visit to Borno, berates FG ROM the Action Congress of Fcommendation Nigeria (ACN) has come of the “progressive state governors” under the aegis of the All Progressive Congress (APC), who defied the scaremongering tactics of the Federal Government to visit Borno State last week.

According to the ACN, the “pace-setting, courageous and compassionate action” of the governors is a boost to the country’s unity and a blow to anarchists.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said by their action, the governors have reassured the people of Borno and Yobe states, which are the most affected by the Boko Haram crisis, that their fellow Nigerians have not abandoned them to their fate.

It said the visit has also exposed the baseless fears of those at the helm of affairs at the centre, who had failed to show that the Boko Haram crisis is not just a problem of a section of the country but a national challenge.

“There can be no better assurance of solidarity and support for the beleaguered people of the states affected by the Boko Haram crisis than to see leaders from various parts of the country walking - without donning bullet proof vests and helmets - on the open streets of a city that has been described as the epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency.

“It does not mean the crisis does not exist, but it sends a strong signal to the insurgents that they have only succeeded in cowing a very few, not all, Nigerians, and that indeed under a purposeful APC government, the conflict will in no time become history,” ACN said.

The party said that to the Federal Government in general and to President Goodluck Jonathan in particular, the message conveyed most succinctly by the visit is simple: “No part of Nigeria should be a no-go area, especially for the President and the Commander-in-Chief.”

According to ACN, part of the reasons the Boko Haram crisis

has festered is that the President has allegedly failed to show leadership example by staying away from the affected parts of the country since the crisis started in 2009 for fear of his personal safety, “and also by receding behind the safe walls of the Aso Rock fortress to celebrate independence anniversaries, the President has unwittingly emboldened the anarchists who have killed and maimed thousands.”

The party said: “When Presidents in other lands defy terrorists, it is not that they don’t care about their own safety, but that they simply want their compatriots to know that whatever fate befalls them is shared by their leaders. That was why President George W. Bush of the United States flew to Iraq in the heat of the insurgency there, and President Barack Obama also of the United States travelled to Afghanistan even amid threats. By the way, both places are thousands of kilometres from the United States!”

people of the delta and to Nigeria as a whole. This is really getting to the crunch I must say, it is getting to the crunch that rather than allow people to continue to attack my pipeline and devastate the environment, I may actually consider shutting in the pipeline completely. So, it is getting to that crunch point and I hope that every hand will really join us in actually getting this under control,” he said.

Sunmonu said the level of oil theft was far beyond community surveillance teams set up to stem crude oil theft. He pointed out that those engaged in oil theft were wellfunded and heavily armed gangs.

“What type of collaboration with communities will help you against people carrying guns, people who are very well-armed? It is a reality that we have to face. You can’t even put the poor boys in the communities at risk, you can’t,” he added.

He implored the joint task force fighting oil theft to step up their offensive. He explained that between July and December last year, Shell recorded a significant drop in the amount of crude oil theft.

But, he pointed out that in January and February this year, it had gone up again.

“So that is a challenge for the

JTF to also look into. I mean let’s not underestimate the cleverness of the people who are perpetrating this act, and I have always said with 6,000 km network of flow-line and pipeline, even if you throw the entire Nigerian Army into the creeks, it is not going to solve the problem. So, I am sure these guys are monitoring what is going on, they are moving to areas of resistance.

So, it is a combination of things. But certainly we have seen that when the JTF really went after it, we got results,” he said.

After an investigation into oil theft by the House Committee on Petroleum (Upstream sector), the lawmakers recommended that a thorough review of the operations of government’s anti-oil theft agents be reviewed to make it more efficient.

Daniel Reyenieju (PDP, Delta State who is the chairman of the House Sub-committee on Illegal Bunkering, said that it was also canvassed during the probe that oil theft be criminalised.

He said: “The environment has been so bastardised. Yes! Illegal bunkering activities, to me, have to be criminalised because the damage that we do to the environment, we might not understand it right now but at this age, I am beginning to feel it. So put yourself in the position of those that will come after us, think of what they will experience.”

10

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

WorldReport Queen Elizabeth admitted in hospital for gastroenteritis BUCKINGHAM Palace A spokesman has confirmed that Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II is suffering from gastroenteritis and was admitted to hospital yesterday.

The spokesman also added that all the 86-year-old’s engagements for this week, including a visit to Rome, have been called off.

“The Queen is being assessed at King Edward VII’s Hospital in London after experiencing symptoms of gastroenteritis. As a precaution, all official engagements this week will be either postponed or cancelled,” he said.

Britain’s head of state is known for her robust health and devotion to duty, and rarely misses engagements.

The sovereign first felt unwell on Friday and cancelled a visit Saturday to a military celebration in the

city of Swansea to mark St. David’s Day, the national day of Wales.

Instead of that engagement, she had been spending the weekend resting at Windsor Castle, west of London.

That she was taken to the royals’ regular hospital in central London suggests that her condition was not serious enough to warrant going to a hospital close to Windsor.

Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, were due to visit Rome on Wednesday and Thursday, when they were to meet Italian President Giorgio Napolitano.

The monarch celebrated her diamond jubilee in 2012, marking her 60 years on the throne.

This year further ceremonies will be held to mark the six decades since her coronation in 1953.

Anti-poverty, graft protests in Bulgaria, squatters riot in Zurich ULGARIANS, in their thouB sands, rallied across the country yesterday in the latest sign that the government’s resignation last month failed to calm public anger about poverty and corruption.

Metal fences and a heavy police presence prevented protesters in Sofia, the capital, from reaching an official flag-raising ceremony for national liberation day commemorating the end of Ottoman occupation in 1878.

But around 7,000 demonstrators, according to Agence France Presse (AFP) estimates, blocked traffic on several key boulevards for hours, waving white-green-and-red Bulgarian flags and shouting “Mafia!”

Local media said that over 20,000 gathered in the Black Sea city of Varna where the initial protests against high electricity bills started last month, calling for the resignation of mayor Kiril

Yordanov.

Meanwhile, around 1,000 people rioted in Zurich overnight on Saturday, looting stores, burning cars and breaking windows, according to police who responded with rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon.

The riot began with an unauthorised gathering late Saturday of more than 1,000 people near a squat that has been occupied since 2006 and that authorities announced they planned to evacuate, according to a statement from Zurich police yesterday.

The squatters and their supporters, of the far-left, according to police, had begun moving through the city, setting dumpsters and cars on fire and looting stores.

Property worth hundreds of thousands of Swiss francs (dollars/euros) was destroyed and damaged in the clashes, according to the Swiss ATS news agency.

Bomb kills 45, injured others in Karachi BOMB attack in Karachi, A Pakistan’s largest city, has killed about 45 people, including women and children, and wounded 50 others.

A senior police official, Ghulam Shabir Sheikh, told Agence France Presse (AFP) that the blast hit close to an area dominated by minority Shiite Muslims, though he said that the target of the attack was not immediately clear.

“At least 45 people have been killed and more than 50 injured. The bomb also badly damaged two residential buildings. Women and children were among the dead and injured,” Fayaz Lughari, police chief of Sindh province, of which Karachi is the capital, told AFP. He said the initial blast was followed by a second, but it was unclear whether or not this was also a bomb.

Ethnic, sectarian and politically-linked violence in Pakistan’s financial capital killed no fewer than 2,284 people in 2012 in the deadliest

such violence for two decades, according to the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

Salman Ahmed, a spokesman for Edhi foundation rescue service, confirmed the blast and said the wounded had been taken to three different hospitals around the city.

On Monday, a bomb blast at a Sufi shrine in southern Shikarpur district, some 400 kilometres (250 miles) northeast of Karachi, killed two people and wounded 10 others as devotees gathered to pay homage to a saint buried there.

Last month, the Supreme Court ordered the authorities to come up with a strategy to protect Shiites after a wave of bloody attacks in the southwest.

Two major bombings in the space of five weeks targeting Shiite Hazaras in Quetta, capital of the southwestern province of Baluchistan, killed nearly 200 people.

Anxiety as Kenya counts on IT to ensure fair, peaceful polls today S the global community A focuses on Kenya today as it hold its presidential election, feelers yesterday indicated that it has rolled out new information technology in an attempt to ensure the polls is transparent to prove that the East African nation can rebuild its image after a disputed 2007 poll unleashed weeks of ethnic killing.

Agency reports showed that the two top contenders in the presidential poll, Raila Odinga and Uhuru Kenyatta – who have joined the other candidates in calling for a peaceful vote – held final rallies in Nairobi on Saturday before thousands of chanting supporters in a final push before a campaign blackout yesterday.

But indications from analysts are suggesting another close race this time, according to Reuters.

Odinga, from the Luo tribe, and Kenyatta, a Kikuyu, are way ahead of their six rivals but indications were palpable that there might not be an outright winner today, and hence, the election may go to a run-off, provisionally set for April.

Alongside a new president, voters will also choose senators, county governors, members of parliament, women representatives in county assemblies and civic leaders.

The presidential hopefuls made a final bid to woo voters Saturday on the last day of campaigning for the tightly fought elections holding today – the first since deadly postelections unrest five years ago.

Tens of thousands of cheering supporters dancing to music gathered in central Nairobi for giant rallies of the top two frontrunners – Odinga and his neck-and-neck rival – Kenyatta, a report by Agence France Presse (AFP) claimed.

Loyalists of Kenyatta – who with his running mate faces a crimes against humanity trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for violence after the 2007 polls – dressed in his party’s red colours in the sprawling Uhuru park, meaning, like his first name, “freedom” in Swahili.

Backers of Odinga, who in 2007 narrowly lost the contested presidential polls in which over 1,100 people were killed

and more than 600,000 forced from their homes, packed the national sports stadium.

However, neighbours and Western allies said Kenya could not afford a re-run of the mayhem that brought the East Africa’s largest economy to standstill and damaged trade routes to nearby states.

Western donors are worried about the stability of a regional ally in their fight against militant Islam.

This time, once votes are counted, the results from each polling station will be electronically transmitted to the central election commission, as well as being publicly displayed. The new system, similar to the one used in Ghana’s smooth 2012 vote, aims to eliminate errors and prevent accusations of foul play.

Voting will still be on paper ballots, but voter identification will be electronic. Mobile devices at polling stations will not be able to send out any result where total votes exceed registered voters, a common fraud complaint before, the election commission said.

“We have put in a significant number of controls to make sure things that happened previously don’t happen,” said Dismas Ong’ondi, director of information and communication technology at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), which replaced the body that oversaw the last vote.

“People become anxious when you delay releasing results,” he said, after delays were partly blamed for the eruption of violence following the 2007 vote.

This time provisional results could emerge within hours of polls closing, although the IEBC has seven days to announce the official outcome.

Supporters of Odinga, who contested the 2007 vote against outgoing President Mwai Kibaki, were outraged when they were told after a long wait that their candidate had lost, and some alleged voting fraud. Kibaki was sworn in at night away from

• Election to test damaged democratic credentials • Indications show close race, re-run likely • Neighbours, other donors eager for free contest

Odinga

Kenyatta the public eye in another move that angered rivals.

The commission has been widely praised for far greater impartiality and professionalism than its predecessor. But it is the first time such technology is being used across the nation, although they have been used for smaller scale votes. Some observers worry that the commission has been cutting it fine to put all the systems in place in time, while Odinga has criticised the body for registering fewer of his supporters than for his rivals.

Two days before the vote,

Odinga told Reuters the commission had not sent enough biometric voter registration kits to strongholds of his Coalition for Reform and Democracy (CORD), so his voters were under-represented on voter lists.

IEBC chief executive James Oswago denied the charges, saying that all areas received the same treatment although some politicians had been better at drumming up registration. He said the 30-day registration period had not been extended, which Odinga said he had requested, because of a tight schedule.

Hundreds killed in Syrian police academy’s battle, Britain flays Assad MONITORING group, the A Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said yesterday that hundreds of Syrian troops and rebels were killed in a weeklong battle for a police academy in the northern province of Aleppo, with insurgents now seizing control of most of the complex.

The group said: “Rebels have seized most of a police academy in Khan al-Assal in Aleppo province ... after eight days of fighting that left 200 troops and rebels dead.”

According to the Britainbased group, no fewer than 120 army troops were among those killed in the battle for one of the regime’s last remaining bastions in the

Rebels have seized most of a police academy in Khan al-Assal in Aleppo province ... after eight days of fighting that left 200 troops and rebels dead. west of Aleppo province.

Yesterday alone, rebels killed more than 34 troops at the facility.

A police source in Aleppo confirmed that much of the academy had fallen into rebel hands, reporting that 40 security forces were believed dead. As many as 300 rebels were among those killed, Agence France Presse (AFP) cited the source as saying.

But the British Foreign Secretary William Hague yesterday said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was

“delusional” for failing to see that the bloodshed in his country was at his own hands.

Hague said that he would announce this week more assistance to the Syrian opposition in the form of nonlethal equipment and refused to rule out the possibility of arming them in the future.

Britain has been pushing to lift a ban on the sale of arms to Syria’s rebels, but at a meeting last month, European Union foreign min-

isters ruled that only “nonlethal” aid and “technical assistance” could be given to the opposition.

In an interview with British newspaper, The Sunday Times, Assad accused London of wanting to arm terrorists in Syria.

“How can we expect them to make the violence less while they want to send military supplies to the terrorists and don’t try to ease the dialogue between the Syrians?” Assad said in a rare interview with Western media.

Assad, in the interview, added that he did not rule out retaliation for an Israeli air raid near Damascus in January.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

11

Politics Raimi: PDP crisis in Oyo State not intractable Chieftain of the PDP and Vice Chairman of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Dr. Dejo Raimi, fielded questions on issues in Oyo PDP, reports Dele Fanimo.

HY is the crisis within the PDP in Oyo State W so intractable?

No, it is not intractable. When we don’t have problem in Oyo or if election is not near, we don’t come together in Oyo. You know we have a lot of leaders and everybody wants to exercise his rights to leadership. It is not only in Oyo State that we have crisis; PDP controls 26 out of 36 states of the federation.

We (PDP) have set up a crisis management or Crisis Resolving Committee that is going round. The committee will visit Oyo State.

Ibadan is the centre of politics in Nigeria. A former Head of State once said that any time he woke up, the first question he usually asked was, “How is Ibadan and Kano?” And if he was told they were fine, he would say, “Nigeria is okay.” That is the extent of the political importance of Ibadan.

How do you expect us not to be different? We are enlightened people. We can’t just sleep facing the same direction. No. We have different ideas. Politics is all about how much you can grab for yourself — everything to me, nothing to others. That is politics.

As defined by you?

No. As defined by Nigeria! They call you a federating nation. What are the federating units — states? Are they federating? Are they free? They are not free. So, how much can you grab, that is all.

God has given us resources and blessed us.

There is nothing needed in this country that is not available.

How do you intend to resolve the current crisis

Jonathan is going to do two terms in Oyo PDP? We will resolve the problem. We don’t hold congress; from history, we don’t contest in Oyo State. You just tell Alhaji Yekini Adeojo, you bring the vice chairman, and tell Wole Oyelese to produce the assistance secretary.

We have always been using surrogates in our state executive. We are all brothers; we are all interwoven. Tell Folarin to bring the secretary; tell Akala to bring the treasurer; Ladoja to bring the financial secretary.

Of course, Ladoja will soon join us. He is my brother. I brought him into politics.

What makes you think Ladoja is coming back?

Ladoja is coming back. I brought him into politics. Go and ask him. I know what he is going to do. But I advise him not to dissolve his Accord Party; let him keep Accord.

He should contest the local government election with Accord Party. Let him keep it, as a party-in-waiting, so that those who are cheated in the PDP will have a place to go.

But I know Ladoja is coming back. What can Accord do? Accord can only win in Ibadan.

Ibadan people will vote for Accord out of sympathy. They feel that Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu illegally removed Ladoja. But he cannot spread to Oko-Ogun.

Whatever Ladoja wants to be in politics now, he cannot get it in Accord as much as in PDP. All he can get in politics is in the PDP. So, Ladoja is coming back. Jumoke Akinjide has taken Ladoja to the President. They have spoken.

As a PDP leader, can you confirm if President Jonathan actually had a pact with the North over a one-term tenure?

From day one, I have told the president to fix the power (electricity) problem and his second

Dejo Raimi term tenure is assured. I don’t know why he is afraid of the North. You know he agreed and said he was going to spend one term. And those northerners took him seriously.

And I said, these people, who give us 80 per cent of the nation’s resources that we are all spending; they are going to get there for the first time and you are insisting that they (presidential power) will return to the North? No way. Power is not going back to you. Power will remain in the South-South for eight years.

In short, I am telling you, Jonathan is going to do two terms. Let me tell you what they don’t know. With Jonathan, as president produced

by PDP, I want to see who will come out to face Jonathan for PDP primary. Nobody. Jonathan is going to be nominated automatically. Fair is fair.

From what I have given you, it is only reasonable to allow the man spend the maximum period of time permitted by the Constitution, which is two-term tenure. It is only after then that power can return to the North.

The North has ruled this country for 35 years out of 52 years. They have had their share. They should keep their peace.

I have warned this government to be wary of three northerners (names withheld) who came out on a national television (NTA) to say that if a northerner were not at the helm of affairs in this country, they would make it ungovernable.

They are the owners of Boko Haram.

This Boko Haram that has become national problem, were the thugs a former governor in the North was using as governor. Now that he has dropped out of government, he doesn’t know what to do with them.

Now, they are giving the whole country problem. But they have forgotten that Nigeria belongs to all Nigerians and we all have equal rights and stake.

What does the emergence of All Progressive Congress (APC) portend for the PDP? Nigerians should better know that with the rate at which PDP is going, they should forget any other political party coming to rule this country in the next 20 years. That is just three more elections.

I can’t see how you’ll kick PDP out within the next 20 years. We have 26 governors whose structures in their states are very solid. How do you achieve victory over them?

Boko Haram: Let govt meet group, and be ready to dialogue From Saxone Akhaine (Bureau Chief, North)

Mr. Anthony Sani, national publicity secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), spoke to Saxone Akhaine (Bureau Chief, North) on the vexed issue of financial scam in the nation’s Police Pension Fund, the poor handling of insecurity in the country by and alleged general inefficiency of the Federal Government in addressing the socio-economic ills of Nigeria.

HAT is your reaction on the W unwholesome allegation against Alhaji Abdulrasheed Maina on the mis-

ly with the EFCC on ground?

I have said it, and I will not be tired of saying that there has been collapse of appropriation of the Police Pension national ideals; there has been collapse Fund, which has stirred up controver- of moral value, and there has been colsy in the country? lapse of social contract between groups We are not new in Nigeria, and in this and between individuals. To the extent country, we have said our leaders are that our sense of right and what is evil not serious about tackling corruption. has been affected, and to the extent that We have seen all the corrupt cases, and our sense of respect for the sanctity of we have seen the scenario; we really life has been affected. know that it is lack of commitment on So, the totality is that everybody is on the part of the government and the their own. Every aspect of our life has people about fighting corruption. been affected negatively — is it health, Otherwise, you will not come and tell education, security, name it? me that Maina has run away, to the Because of this situation, the youths are extent that the National Assembly angry because they believe that corrupalmost accused the Executive and even tion has stolen their future, it has stolen dared them to say that they should their empowerment, it has stolen their choose between Maina and them- opportunities, and some of them are selves. Does that suggest seriousness taking head-on the society by way of on the part of the entire government? kidnapping, Boko Haram, armed robIf Maina, with all the apparatus of gov- bery and piracy. ernment, can still disappear, do you Today the entire thing is a national think they can catch Boko Haram malaise. It is either the government members who are engaged in guerilla resolves to look at these problems and war? We are not happy, not about him confront them frontally or we wait for alone; there are so many other things another government that would come that are happening that really cast and do it. doubt on the ability of this govern- But the good side is that some of these ment to confront the problems of this things will force Nigerians to think country. twice when they are electing leaders.

People indicted of corruption are still They will not just elect leaders based on walking the streets of Nigeria freely. geography, ethnicity, and religion The courts are delivering technical jus- again, this national malaise affect all tice instead of substantial justice. So, it tribes, religions and all regions. only shows there is no serious com- So, these negative attributes are going mitment on the part of the govern- to bring all Nigerians to their senses, to ment. make judicious use of their democratic Are you saying that the Federal rights and elect good leaders.

Government is not handling issues of Do you subscribe to the belief that the corruption the way it should, especial- northern legislators in the National

Assembly are frustrating the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB)?

It is very easy to ascribe regional, ethnic and religious coloration to everything in this country, to the extent that we don’t address issues rightly again.

Whoever that is talking about the PIB has some issues bothering him. I will give you an example. The legislators are not only from the North; and the North is not the only area that has no oil; so many states in the South have none. But for convenience, they will say it is the North.

We are saying that if we have to be in this one country together, then, we must narrow the gap in income; otherwise, a wide gap normally inspires instability. This is why a former president of the World Bank said that not narrowing the gap in income between groups, and individuals can only lead to the politics of group economics, and it can create problems.

We say our leaders are depriving the poor; the assumed poverty is directed at the heart of freedom, and so the poor will be so powerless. There is this saying that poverty is a powder cake that can explode.

On this (petroleum industry) bill, people are saying if you say it, should be totally privatised. There are some sections of the country that don’t have the means to participate in the petroleum industry, and if you say it should be totally privatised, you just want to use it to shortchange some groups.

Section 117 of the Bill is saying, apart from the 13 per cent derivation, which gives a single state like Rivers or Delta collections (allocation) more than the entire Northeast’s, there should be another Petroleum Host Community Fund into which 10 percent of proceeds from exploration, onshore and offshore should be paid monthly.

And section 118 says out of that, the component of offshore should be removed and paid to affected states.

Do they have environment that are

being destroyed? Do they have environment being degraded?

Meanwhile, we are hearing the oilproducing communities shouting that 13 per cent should be paid to them directly, because the governors are using it to construct flyovers, airports, and hotels. And the places are not still accessible by roads. So, they don’t see this 13 per cent that we are saying that they are accumulating every time.

In the light of that scenario, some of the legislators are saying that these things need to be looked at more seriously. I want to advise Nigerians and the media to concentrate on the issues being raised and where the person raising them is coming from.

People have been talking of both faceless and real Boko Haram operating in the country. How can the government respond to the issue of dialogue to ending insecurity?

I have told you the situation is such that ACF would personally advise the Federal Government to persuade Boko Haram to locate a country of their own choice, that has diplomatic relationship with Nigeria and approach that country to be the mediator. It will be the responsibility of that country’s government to contact the Nigerian authority, so that the process of dialogue can start.

We were in Borno State last week; some members of the Ahmadu Bello Foundation and I had a meeting with the Borno elders. Did you know what they told us? They were pleading with us to help them to plead with the Federal Government, to start the dialogue with the Boko Haram faction that is ready for dialogue.

The understanding is that if they start the dialogue with the faction that is ready, at least, it will reduce the strength of the entire sect, and, perhaps, draw attention, and some of them (the other groups) might decide to embrace dialogue. So, we

Sani should not stay (differ dialogue) until the entire group agrees on dialogue.

The elders were pleading that let them (government) start with those ones that are ready for dialogue, as that will diminish or reduce their (opposing groups’) strength and influence. This is our position about the issue.

Even the faceless ones, they should be able to go to any other country; and we believe that they will not be killed there. That is, if they are afraid that they cannot afford to present themselves here to the government so that they would not be killed.

Let them go to another country that has diplomatic relations with Nigeria and ask them to mediate. But this thing cannot start until the Federal Government is highly committed and has a mechanism and power that can inspire confidence in both the faceless ones and the ones that have face and are prepared for

12

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

TheMetroSection ‘We didn’t know at what point he got flung out of the vehicle’ ‘From Terhemba Daka, Abuja

UCHE AWOM and TAIWO ADISA, both Abuja Political Editors of Leadership and Nigerian Tribune newspapers respectively, were survivors of the ill-fated road accident that killed The Guardian’s Assistant Political Editor, JOHN-ABBA OGBODO, at Anyingba, Kogi State en-route Awka, when they were going for an official assignment last Thursday.

Both of them were at the Abuja Bureau of The Guardian at the weekend to pay their condolences.

In their separate narrations, they explained how the tragic incident happened: WOM: We were part of a team of Political A Editors that were invited to the event at Awka. The Vice Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University specifically wrote us that we should grace the occasion, the yearly Convocation Lecture of the university, and we took off from Abuja in a chartered vehicle belonging to Anambra State, Anambra Express, to be precise. While in the vehicle, we were discussing as colleagues, and somewhere after Ajaokuta, we got to a village called Ituobe and after that we got to another small village. So, somewhere along the journey, one back tyre of the vehicle, a Toyota Sienna, burst.

At that instant, other vehicles were coming from the opposite direction. While trying to avoid a head-on collision, the driver swerved to the other side of the road. He almost jammed a tree, but he swerved again and in the process all we heard was “gbom” and the vehicle started somersaulting. The vehicle somersaulted over four times. In fact, we managed to wriggle out and, at the end of the day, the vehicle turned upside down. I myself came out, Taiwo Adisa of Tribune and the Daily Trust Politics Editor, Andrew Agbese, also came out. Then I started asking “what of Ogbodo, what of Ogbodo?” And we were now attracted by shouts from the villagers who called us to “look at our colleague and the driver oooh!” But we said it was not the driver. And so, we saw Ogbodo in an unconscious state, he couldn’t make it and he died instantly.

All these happened at about 12.50p.m. We tried all we could to get a vehicle that would convey us because, despite the fact that the people that came, help was nowhere because the situation was so bad such that whoever saw the body in that state wouldn’t want to touch it. We could not get anybody to help. No police and men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and so we stayed there until after two hours before we could get help to evacuate the body. By then, it was too late and we evacuated the body to the morgue at Rimad Catholic Hospital, Anyigba.

There wasn’t any premonition because, as a driver, when a tyre bursts, it is anybody’s game. We were just chatting freely, and at a

There wasn’t any premonition. We were chatting freely, and at a point, he showed me the photograph of his daughter. We were discussing politics and journalism practice generally. All of a sudden, we heard the bang

The late Ogbodo

point he showed me the photograph of his daughter. He said, “Look at my daughter who is dressed in Idoma attire.” We were chatting and discussing politics and journalism practice generally. All of a sudden, we heard the bang, within some seconds.

I am heartbroken and I don’t know what to say. But watching your colleague die is not what you would wish your worst enemy.

Adisa: I feel very terrible and I am still looking at it as if it was a dream, because John was very lively on that particular day. He was very lively as usual and was concerned about life, politics and every other thing. So, it’s very painful for you to lose somebody that you were, a few minutes ago, just talking together about this year, 2014, 2015, politics and other issues generally. And it is very painful to lose a friend and somebody who had given so much to the profession, especially somebody who was so hardworking. Whatever subject you had at hand, he delivered. So, it’s painful to lose that kind of a person. Even for you to hear that that kind of person is dead and not to talk of you witnessing the whole show.

But I take solace in the Holy Scriptures, the Bible, which urges us to give thanks in everything. What we can conclude is that his time was up, because the way the whole thing happened at that particular minute is still like a miracle to me. For Ogbodo to have got flung out of the vehicle when he was not sitting at the back seat and the other person sitting at the rear seat was there and still came out of the vehicle, is shocking to me.

It is something that you cannot explain with ordinary eyes, but God knows how it happened. Because we were all in the vehicle and we were all tumbling together, but we didn’t know at what point he got flung out of the vehicle only for us to struggle to come out of the car and hear shouts from some women in Ashigili village, on the way to Anyingba shouting “see driver, see driver!” They thought he (Ogbodo) was the driver because he was lying face up with blood coming out from his nose and mouth.

They thought he was the driver, but we said that wasn’t the driver. We said he is our colleague and we were all terrified and started looking for what to do including looking for water. They brought water, we poured on it him and I ran to the road and started waving all the vehicles and flashing my ID card seeking for help. I was explaining to them that we are journalists and nothing will

Survivors, Awom (left) and Adisa during their visit to The Guardian in Abuja... on Friday instantly that that was a corpse.

He was very lively as usual and Every vehicle that we saw and the driver that came down to check concluded that Ogwas concerned about life, politics bodo was already dead. But we kept on inand every other thing. So, it’s very sisting and telling them iit was not a corpse but a colleague and we needed to get to the painful for you to lose somebody hospital. that you were, a few minutes ago, At this point, he was no longer breathing and it was difficult to convince oneself that just talking together about this one’s colleague had died. So we struggled year, 2014, 2015, politics and other and struggled with assistance eventually from the Road Safety officers calling all the issues generally. And it is very people we could reach in Abuja, who could help us with either police or FRSC. The men painful to lose a friend and somethe road safety came about two hours body who had given so much to the of later. Although we all lost hope almost at that first minute, but then we carried him to profession, especially somebody the place only for them to tell us that it was who was so hardworking only the mortuary that they could take him to.

So, it was at that point that it dawned on us happen to them that we would defend them that we could not continue on that journey if they could help us to any nearby hospital. to Awka. It was a terrible and painful develBut they told us that the only nearby clinic opment. We only pray that God will give his was like 45 minutes away. But when they family, children and wife the energy to carry came out and saw the situation they told us on and continue the dream that he did not

Photonews

Refuse dump near an overgrown canal at Obiajunwa Street, Eso-Odo community, Ilasa in Isolo Local Council, Lagos...

PHOTO: GABRIEL IKHAHON

METRO 13

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

Photonews

Housewife petitions IG over threat to life by former Ogun commissioner

By Tunde Oso LAGOS housewife, Mrs. Aderonke Odupitan, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, alleging threat to her life by a former commissioner in Ogun State and an accomplice.

In a petition she submitted at the Nigeria Police Headquarters Annex, Kam Salem House, Moloney, Lagos, which was obtained

by The Guardian, Odupitan said: “In July 2010, my husband needed an office worker and I recommended to him one Mr. Segun (other names withheld), who I have known for some time.

“He was employed and placed on a salary of N70, 000 per month. He worked with us for eight months, after which he was sacked in March 2011 for gross misconduct and rudeness. Not wanting to go away quietly, he reported his case at FESTAC Police Station, but he was apparently not satisfied with the police resolution of the case.

“Thus, he started issuing all kinds of threats that he would hire thugs to deal with me, my children and also destroy my properties.

On Wednesday, November 9, 2011, between 9.00a.m. and 10.00a.m, I got a call from a foreign number +447733806405, which I

A

Vice President, MTN Nigeria, Col. Sani Bello (left), representative of the Minister of Women Affairs, Mr. Odion Anthony while PHOTO: PHILIP OJISUA presenting a Scholarship Certificate to Person with Disability, Mr. George Ossi in Abuja...

later discovered belonged to the Ogun State former commissioner. The call lasted for an hour, wherein he threatened to deal with me because he had received series of complaints against me, and that my cup was full.

“The former commissioner further threatened to send thugs after me to deal with me on or before Saturday, November 12, 2011. On that Saturday, a strange black car with Lagos registration number US 308 KJA, with shaded windscreen, parked at a junction to our

house. However, we could see four men inside.

“We got to know from neighbours that the black car was led to the place by a white Mercedes Benz sports utility vehicle (SUV), which did a U-turn right in front of our house. The black car was at the junction till 6.00p.m. that day. Till now, we have also continued to see strange cars in our neighbourhood. ” This situation, Odupitan stated, gave rise to her petition to the IG to save her soul and that of her family.

Jigawa increases immunization team to From John Akubo, Dutse ETERMINED to meet with its target of immunizing 1.3 million children in the second round of Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) for 2013, the Jigawa State Gunduma Health System Board has increased the vaccination teams from 767 to 2822 teams.

The Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Mahmud, who is the Chairman, State's Mobilisation Committee on Immunisation, said it was part of the government's commitment to ensure the success of polio eradication in the country and world at large.

He made the disclosure while delivering his speech at the

D

flagging -off of the 2013 second round of polio immunization exercise at Kanyababba in Babura Local Council of the state.

He indicated that the increase in polio vaccination teams would make it easy to reach all the targeted children in the state during all the exercises.

Mahmoud pointed out that there had been no report of polio in the last two years in the state.

"This is the result of policies and programme of the administration in the health sector aimed at the eradication of polio and other preventable diseases."

Magboro community commends Ogun govt over road AGBORO Community, in M the Obafemi Owode Local Council of Ogun State, Former Minister for Health, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi ( left); Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; wife of Chairman, Access Bank, Mrs. Aisha Oyebode; Mrs. Juliana Adelusi-Adeluyi; and Chairman, Access Bank, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode, during the presentation of a portrait to Fayemi at a reception/dinner in his honour by Igbimo Ure-Ekiti, in Lagos...

has commended the government on the 6take-off of the construction of the arterial road that serves the community.

Giving the commendation, the Chairman of the Devyne Peace Community Development Association (CDA), one of the CDAs in Magboro, Mr. Austin Eneanya, said that “the commencement signposts the commitment of the Ibikunle Amosun- led administration to raising the standard of living of the people by providing them basic infrastructure.”

The seven-and-half -kilometre road, which will also partly serve people of Abule Oba, Ajegunle, among others,

has provisions for streetlights, durable drainage systems and very wide road shoulder off the LagosIbadan Expressway, by Magboro junction and the Mountain of Fire Prayer City.

Mr. Eneanya noted that the rainy season had always been a period of severe hardship for the people of the community, given the unpaved nature of the road and lack of drainage facilities, which made it prone to flooding, with the attendant emergence of wide craters on the road.

He said the award of the contract and commencement of work, which is far removed from the centre of activities in Abeokuta, the state capital, also showed the desire of the government to touch every

nook and cranny of the state, a step which he described as very commendable.

“The speed at which the contractors were mobilized to site was commendable, I urged both the government and the contractors to sustain this momentum,” he said.

He also pleaded with the state government to provide the community, particularly Gas-line area, which has been without electricity for nearly six months, with a new transformer.

It would be recalled that the contractors mobilized to site last month and are currently working on the road alignment and removal of structures that come within the road’s right -of -way.

Fashola gives conditions for re-opening Ladipo Market

By Abdulwaheed Usamah Chairman, Board of Trustees, Fountain University, Osogbo,Osun State,Alhaji Abdulwaheed Adeola, Special Guest of honour and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and Vice chancellor of the University, Prof. Bashir Raji at the second convocation ceremony of the University in Osogbo...

Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Special Duties, Dr. Aderemi Desalu (left), Mojisola Giwa-Osagie, Richard Giwa-Osagie and Airtel Chief Executive Officer’s representative, General Manager, Acquisition, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Wole Abu at the grand finale of the Chairman’s Week organized in honour of the outgoing Chairman, Ikoyi Club, Mr. Richard Giwa-Osagie after completing a successful two-year tenure...

AGOS State governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, yesterday said the Ladipo Auto Spare Parts Market that was shut last week would not be re-opened until the environmental situation in and around the market improves and the umbrella union of the traders enters into an agreement with the government.

The governor, who spoke during a visit to the market, told members of Ladipo Auto Centre Executive Committee (LACEC) that the reasons for the closure included gross disregard to the environment, erection of illegal structures and improper business dispositions by the traders, adding that all must be thoroughly addressed before the market could be reopened.

The state government’s role in the market, Fashola said, was to encourage the traders understand the importance of a tidy environment, not just for good health but also a crucial factor for a thriving business.

Fashola noted that the rainy

L

season would soon begin in earnest and that government’s intervention was to ensure there would be no casualties as a result of the unacceptable activities the traders had perpetrated in and around the market.

He said the state government would not want to be responsible for casualties of flood as recorded in previous years in Lagos and other states of the country, adding that shutting the market was only a proactive measure at preventing such casualties.

He said the market would remain closed till “the government is satisfied, after which another fresh agreement between government and the union would have been reached.”

He also assured that government was ready to help traders and anybody doing business in any of the markets to prosper but that a shabby condition lsuch as Ladipo Market, before closure, could not encourage customers.

“No business associates will be courageous enough to visit

such an environment. It will no longer be business as usual.

The old ways cannot continue.

Those responsible have seen where their error lies, and I hope they are ready to adjust so that business can continue.”

Fashola urged the traders to co-operate with the Mushin Local Council in cleaning up and ensuring an environmentally sustainable market environment.

In his response, President, Ladipo Auto Centre Executive Committee (LACEC), Iyke Animalu, assured the governor of the union’s and traders’ readiness to comply with the relevant directives towards immediate evacuation and disposal of refuse and removal of whatever might impede free flow of traffic on the roads, so as to have the market reopened.

“The union will do whatever it takes to ensure that it does not disappoint the governor and make sure the market is made a business-friendly environment for traders and customers”, he assured.

TheGuardian

14

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

FOUNDER: ALEX U. IBRU (1945 – 2011)

Conscience is an open wound; only truth can heal it. Uthman dan Fodio 1754-1816

Editorial The Abuja Medical City HERE is great value in the planned 1,687-bed hospital called Abuja Medical City, if properly executed. $650 million, by all means a remarkable amount of money, is the projected sum to be invested in the project, which, hopefully, would stem the tide of Nigerians seeking medical treatment overseas due to lack of confidence in the country’s existing medical facilities. And with it, Nigeria would be making a bold statement on her seriousness about health care delivery.

More than 5,000 Nigerians travel to India and other countries monthly for medical treatment and the country, according to the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), loses more than $500 million annually with $260 million going to India alone.

But the truth is that Nigerians who seek medical care in public hospitals do so for lack of choice. Had they the means to seek treatment elsewhere, they probably would shun the risk associated with receiving treatment at the public hospitals. It is an established fact that most of the hospitals are ill-equipped and are mere consulting centres. This is what makes the idea of Abuja Medical City at this time worthy of consideration.

More comforting about the proposed project is the involvement of private investors. Their involvement from inception will enhance the quality of the project and ensure that it takes off on a firmer ground with the potentials that it will stand the test of time and fulfil its purpose. It will also afford them the opportunity to bring in expertise and ensure international best practices in the design, construction, management and running of the hospital. The assumption is that the investors behind the project are time-tested, with good pedigree in hospital management and so can be trusted to equip the proposed hospital with state-ofthe-art facilities that will make it compete favourably with any good hospital worldwide.

On the other hand, government’s involvement as a partner in the project should provide a soft landing for the private investors by removing unnecessary impediment and bureaucracy that may otherwise hamper the successful takeoff.

For example, those who are familiar with the fate that befell University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan; once ranked 7th in the Commonwealth but now out of reckoning, even in Africa, will readily admit that government cannot be trusted with such major responsibility of running a hospital because of poor maintenance culture or lack of sincerity of purpose. Institutions owned by government are susceptible to corruption and all manner of abuses.

What this means is that for the Abuja Medical City adventure not to suffer a similar fate, it must exclusively be private sector driven and run with no intervention at all from the government. This, of course, does not detract from the hospital’s responsibility to the people. It must be guided by the principle of corporate social responsibility, which demands that it makes itself relevant to the needs of the people in its locality by making its services affordable. Federal Government’s involvement must therefore ensure adherence to this principle so that the hospital would not be exclusive to the rich.

“We can attract our doctors in the Diaspora back home and there won’t be need for medical tourism abroad because they will provide the same services here and get the same pay they are getting now”. It is hoped that this statement by the promoters of the Abuja Medical City would not be mere rhetoric.

T

Nigerians on death row in Indonesia

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan did his duty of protecting lives and assuring the P safety of all Nigerians when he used the occasion of Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyon’s visit to Nigeria to plead for leniency on 18 Nigerians

now on death row for various offences in Indonesia.

The appeal deserves the kind consideration of the Indonesian authorities.

However, this is not in any way condoning criminal behaviour by Nigerians anywhere in the world.

Indonesia is one of the countries with stiff penalty for drug trafficking. The warning signs are displayed in the arrival hall of the airport in Jakarta. Foreign nationals travelling there are told of the strict laws. It is therefore suicidal for anyone to engage in drug trafficking or any crime whatsoever, much more in territories with maximum punishment for the slightest infraction.

The plight of those on death row in Indonesia, however, brings the debate on the desirability or otherwise of the death penalty to the fore.

Across the world, there is increasing demand for abrogating death as penalty for crimes. In 2007, the United Nations Organisation signed a Convention on Social and Economic Rights, and member-nations are required to ensure compliance. The United States still applies the death penalty in many states, even though there are many civil society groups in the country, notably “Victims Against CP” working hard to ensure the abolishment of the death penalty. The European Union has however banned it in all member-states.

Amnesty International is at the vanguard of the campaign and, last year, it reported a 13 per cent decline in executions across Africa, but noted that Nigeria was yet to abrogate it. Interestingly, there are more than 800 convicts on death row as many Nigerian state governors are reluctant to sign the execution warrant, making the case for abrogation of the death penalty more compelling.

All crimes must be punished. But the Indonesian authorities and those countries yet to repeal the death penalty should follow the tide.

LETTERS

The true story of Imo council chairmen IR: The tenure of local council the state. It was highly criticized process that brought them in, Scilors chairmen and ward coun- and the then Speaker, Goodluck like purchase of nomination in Imo State has been a Opia-led state legislature forms, etc, started before the controversial one. Sometime in 2011, former local government chairmen in the state alleged that they were removed from office. This, they challenged in an Owerri High Court, but the Imo State Chief Judge refused to order them back to office. This was later nullified by the Court of Appeal in Owerri and the sacked council chiefs were returned to office to complete their tenure. However, on August 8, 2012, the chairmen’s tenure ended, based on the Imo State local government administration Law No. 15 (as amended).

The embattled former chairmen filed a fresh suit in an Owerri High Court claiming that their tenure was three years instead of two years. Subsequently, they filed a similar suit at the Federal High Court Abuja.

Last year, the Owerri High Court struck out the matter before alleging that it was an abuse of court process filing the same matter before it while that of the Federal High Court is pending. Recall that during Achike Udenwa’s regime in the state, the Imo State Local Government Administration Law No. 15 provided for a threeyear tenure for elected officers in the state local government councils. Mid-way in Ikedi Ohakim’s tenure, the Bon Nwakanma-led panel on Local Government Reform was set up.

In its final report, the panel recommended parliamentary system and two-year tenure for local government councils in

refused them. However, Ohakim lobbied the legislators and they passed the two-year term for the L.Gs and the law was signed accordingly by Ohakim sometime in June 2012. That is why the law is cited ‘as amended’. It was a one word amendment ‘three years’ is deleted and replaced with two years.

Subsequently, the embattled chairmen and councillors were sworn in on August 9, 2010.

When the tenure issue heightened, some people said that exgovernor Ikedi Ohakim claimed that he did not sign the law. But when a copy of the gazette law was made available, there was a twist in the claim of the former elected council officers that though the law was signed, the

law was signed. This now elicited the suits recently struck out by the High Court in Owerri and the one still pending at the Federal High Court.

There should be no sentiments. The present claim to stay in office beyond August 8, 2012 is absurd, illegal and capable of grinding the state to a halt.

When Ohakim and the PDP selfishly refused to allow the three-year tenure to be, they did not know that they were indirectly shooting themselves in the leg. If Ohakim had come for a second term, this issue of tenure wouldn’t have arisen.

• Kelechi Njoku, Owerri, Imo State.

Thank you Bill Clinton The story in your edition SonIR:ofClinton’s Tuesday, February 26, 2013 visit to Abeokuta,

Nigeria at the 18th ThisDay awards titled: “You haven’t done well with oil money” resonates well and is instructive.

Thank you Mr. Bill Clinton for elucidating the germane issue plaguing the country. I hope Nigerian politicians will wake up to this clarion call.

Nigeria has the intelligentsia scattered around the world contributing positively to the development and advancement of other countries. It is a shame on the part of some vultures in Nigerian polity who continue to decimate the very

existence of the nation through corruption.

But Clinton forgot to tell us and our leaders that security is important and sacrosanct to the homecoming of Nigerians in the Diaspora. Those who tried to come home are killed by armed robbers roaming the streets. Those who are lucky to be alive either join the corrupt system or remain in a complete state of frustration in every sphere. Yes, security first and every other thing will be added unto it. President Clinton, “There was a country”...!

• Yahaya Balogun, Arizona, USA.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

15

Business Business Interview P54 Making subsidy meaningful through impact on the poor

AfDB approves $300m transport sector loan for Nigeria

By Chinedum Uwaegbulam, Lagos and Mathias Okwe, Abuja

HE Board of Directors of T the African Development Bank Group has approved a loan of US $300 million to finance the Transport Sector and Economic Governance Reform Programme in Nigeria.

The loan aims to support the Nigerian Government to accelerate reform implementation in the areas of transport sector governance, and public expenditure management. The government is reforming the road transport sector with the establishment of a Federal Road Authority, National Road Maintenance Fund, RoadTolling Policy, and Axel Load Control Policy.

In the areas of public financial management reform, the programme involves the adoption of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), Internal Audit Modernization Plan, Treasuring Single Account (TSA), Government Integrated Public Financial Management (GIFMIS), and Transparency and Compliance in Procurement and Audit Practices.

The Nigeria programme, which was endorsed at the bank’s recent meeting in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, forms part of the Country Strategy Paper (CSP) for the period between 2013 and

We are at a critical time where, working together, we can bend the arc of history – eliminating absolute poverty, boosting shared prosperity, and defining a pattern of growth that demonstrates that we care for our planet and all its people 2017. The programme will also create fiscal space for increased investment in road infrastructure development. It is an integral part of a broader set of interventions designed to support Nigeria’s Transformation Agenda with emphasis on economic governance and infrastructure development.

The Country Strategy Paper outlines the Bank’s engagement and assistance to Nigeria. It will focus on two strategic pillars, namely supporting the development of a sound policy environment, and investing in critical infrastructure to promote the development of the real sector of the economy. The strategy is aligned with the Government’s long-term development agenda.

Meanwhile, leaders of the African Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, InterAmerican Development Bank, International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group have pledged close collaboration and to support the development.

The leaders emphasized the need for coordinated efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015, which aimed

to end poverty and hunger, increase access to education and health care, improve gender equality, and ensure environmental sustainability.

“Nothing could be more

important than ensuring young people get the right start in life. We aim to make 2015 the year in which children no longer negotiate access to basic education, mothers to the

The leaders pledged strong support for and collaboration with the UN-led process of defining the Post2015 Development Framework. They voiced support for an approach that integrates concepts of economic, social and environmental sustainability.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

Council Member, Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), Engr. Tunde Zedomi; President/Chairman of Council of NIM, Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole; Managing Director/CEO of CRC Credit Bureau, Ahmed Tunde Popoola; and Head of Information Technology and Business Development, NIM, Ademola Adesalu, when council members and management of NIM conducted a visit to CRC Credit Bureau at the weekend.

Government to secure $40 million facility for cassava projects

By Joke Falaju, Abuja

BOA to provide N4.1billiion loan to cassava farmers

HE Federal Government has unfolded plans to secure $40million (N6.3 billion) facility from the African Export and Import Bank in Egypt to finance the export demand of 3million metric tone of Cassava Chips from China.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina who disclosed this in Abuja, few days ago said the Chinese government had placed an export order for three million metric tonne of cassava chips.

He said that the cassava available in the country cannot meet the demand, hence the need to seek external credit facility for the production of Cassava Chips.

“Gone are the days when Cassava are allowed to lie fallow under the ground without it being harvested, we are making sure we create market for our Cassava, to the extent that the produce would not be enough to meet the demand.”

Also the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) has provided N4.1billion credit facility to the Nigerian Cassava Growers Association (NCGA) for 20,000 cassava farmers to cultivate 60,000

hectares of farmland during the 2013 planting season.

At the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the board members of BOA and the members of the NCGA, as witnessed by the Minister and the Minister of State, Bukar Tijani, the minister said the grant could not have come at a better time when the country was in dare need of cassava to meet the export demand.

Lamenting that Nigeria is currently not adding enough value to what is being produced, the Minister maintained that the current administration was determined to make Nigeria not only the largest producer of Cassava, but also the largest Cassava processor in the world.

He said following the delivery of 2million metric tonne of Cassava chips to China in 2012, the chips produced in Nigeria are being adjudged the best in the world, hence the need to produce enough cassava so as to meet both National and International demand.

T

most basic health care, households to water and sanitation, or girls to the most fundamental opportunities for schooling, work, or voice in their communities. And we aim to ensure these gains are permanently sustained in the post-2015 era,” said Donald Kaberuka, President of the African Development Bank.

Adesina also unveiled plans by the Federal Government to set up six Cassava chip processing centers in Enugu, Ibadan, Nassarawa, Taraba, hinting that that the 18 cassava milling machine to mill high quality cassava flour would be available in the country before the end of the year.

While commending BOA for the provision of the finance, he said it was the responsibility of the government to provide finance and create market for the goods produced in the country.

He also unfolded plans by the Federal Government to recapitalize Bank of Agriculture so as to help it meet the status of RABO bank, the largest agricultural bank in Nigeria.

Speaking during the occasion, Managing Director of the BOA, Dr. Mohammed Santuraki disclosed that the gesture was part of the bank's contribution towards the improvement of agricultural productivity in the country.

He said with the laon, the government would make available N205, 000 per hectare of

land for 20,000 farmers nationwide.

"Approximately, each farmer will be getting over N205, 000 multiplied by 20 farmers. This is just the beginning because cassava is a crop which is beneficial and can be grown anywhere in the country," he said.

However, Santuraki who was represented by Executive Director, Wholesale and Finance, Mallam Waziri Ahmadu noted that the benefitting farmers will need to satisfy the requirement beside evidence of payment of outstanding loans.

"We have both agreed on modalities for members of NCGA to access the facilities in the Bank of Agriculture through mutually benefitting partnership and collaborations," he added.

Explaining the process of accessing the loan, Mallam Ahmadu said, "The bank expects NCGA to screen its members and forward to it, list of its members that are eligible to access our loans.

When this happens, the bank will begin processing of all applications endorsed to it by

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

16 BUSINESS

Experts seek review of West Africa’s offer to EU on EPA negotiations

By Bola Olajuwon to break the deadIandNlockorder between West Africa European Union (EU) in the negotiations of an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), experts in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have recommended a comprehensive review of the market access offer to the EU for the creation of a free trade area between the two parties.

The recommendation by the experts is coming after negotiations stalled between ECOWAS and the EU mainly due to disagreements on key issues: On the size of the West African market to be open to the EU and the timetable for dismantling the existing tariff; the EPA Development Programme (EPADP) funding to enable the region cope with the cost of adjustment to the EPA; the non-execution clause and the most favoured nation status.

According to a statement

by ECOWAS Secretariat, while West Africa is requesting for the injection of $9 billion in fresh funds into the EPADP, the EU is offering $6 billion in funds already committed under the European

Development Fund (EDF) as well as existing bilateral and other sources.

However, the sub regional body stated the draft offer, one of the outcomes of a three-day meeting called to consider proposals to reinstate the negotiations, would be forwarded to member states for their comments as part of the process of generating a consensus behind a desired offer.

West Africa, which includes ECOWAS member states and Mauritania, initially made a 60-per cent market offer over 25 years for the dismantling of the existing tax regimes against EU’s 80 per cent over 15 years.

West Africa has since adjusted its position to 70 per cent market offer but over same the transition period as a gesture of flexibility in the negotiations.

In preparation for the resumption of negotiations, the region has also undertaken a series of analyses of the impact of an increased market offer on the economies of its member states based on three scenarios, particularly on customs revenue, external trade, real GDP growth, investments inflows and consump-

tion of households.

In order to mitigate the potential loss of revenue from the EPA based on these simulations, the experts called for the involvement of the private sector and the implementation of a tax reform programme.

The negotiations are being held to establish a World Trade Organisation (WTO) compliant trade regime that will guide trade relations between the EU and the 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries for the next 25 years as a successor arrangement to the previous partnership Conventions.

On the EPADP, the experts urged West African negotiators to obtain a clear indication of the amount of the contribution of the EU to the financing of the first five-year period of the fund prior to the conclusion of EPA negotiations.

Ghana's minister of trade and industry, Honourable Haruna Idrissu closed the meeting which was called by the ECOWAS and UEMOA Commissions to make proposals for resolving the areas of divergence with the EU on the negotiations which were suspended about a year ago.

AfDB approves $300m transport sector loan for Nigeria CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

Noting that even recent gains in social indicators are at risk in the absence of a long-term financing plan, leaders pledged to work together to develop options for long-term investment to strengthen the foundations of growth.

They called for a renewed focus on financing for development, with greater leveraging of official development assistance and private sector investment, as well as better domestic resource mobilization and management and stronger institutions.

“We are at a critical time where, working together, we can bend the arc of history – eliminating absolute

poverty, boosting shared prosperity, and defining a pattern of growth that demonstrates that we care for our planet and all its people,” said Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group.

Continuing, he said “In these tough economic times, we’ll only reach our goals by pulling together.

We will work with a wide variety of partners to reach our goals, thoughtfully and creatively. Civil society, business and government need to think and work together. Our Banks aim to create an atmosphere for open dialogue and imaginative solutions to emerge,” added Luis Alberto Moreno, President of the Inter-American

Development Bank.

Issues of inclusive growth, environmental sustainability, and long-term financing are global in nature.

They affect rich and poor countries alike.

Recognizing this, the leaders of the Banks welcomed the G20 and G8 analysis of related issues, and committed to harnessing their own institutions analytical and convening power to identify solutions to such pressing global issues. Because developing countries are so important to resolving long-term issues such as growth, environment and jobs that concern the G20, leaders of the Banks reaffirmed their commitment to recognise developing countries

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

17

18

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

BUSINESS

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

Leeway to industrial growth, by Odua boss

By Femi Adekoya OR Nigeria to attain the Fgrowth desired level of industrial and development, major bottlenecks in the system must be addressed, while creating an enabling environment for economic growth.

This was the view of the Group Managing Director of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Adebayo Jimoh in his paper, ‘Creating enabling envi-

ronment for sustainable industrial growth’, made available to The Guardian, recently.

According to him, Nigeria’s industrial sector is still in a state of gross underdevelopment despite various reforms being implemented by the Federal Government especially in the manufacturing segment.

“Although infrastructural problems must be acknowledged as a big challenge to

industrial growth, there are more critical issues stifling the sustainable growth and development in the industrial sector. A few of them are paucity of data for decision making, corruption and bureaucracies, policies inconsistency by the government, lack of skilled manpower, weak legal and institutional framework, multiple taxation, cost of fund and access to credit and high level of insecurity.

“The situation in the industrial sector is not altogether gloomy. Nigeria appears to be making modest achievement especially in the manufacturing sector as analysts confirmed that the untiring efforts of the current Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, in paying attention to the plight of manufacturers, might have played a pivotal role in the not-very significant but yet commendable success

Etisalat offers 139m subscribers access to email

By Adeyemi Adepetun ILLIONS of subscribers with basic mobile phones across Africa and Asia are now able to join the online community using a new low-cost USSD messaging service from Etisalat.

Etisalat said this would provide access to email, social networking and messaging services, to basic mobile devices and feature phones at very affordable prices.

This follows an agreement between the Etisalat Group, the leading operator in the Middle-East, Africa and Asia, and Mahindra Comviva, the global leader in providing mobile financial and value added solutions, which was signed at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

The Group-level partnership agreement was signed by Etisalat Group’s Chief Commercial Officer, Rainer Rathgeber and Global Market Unit Head for Mahindra Comviva, Ambar Sur. The contract for Etisalat Nigeria was signed by the Nigerian CEO for Etisalat, Steven Evans and the CEO of Comviva, Manoranjan Mohapatra..

The partnership provides Etisalat’s 139 million subscribers across Middle East, Africa and Asia with consumer email, instant messaging, social networking, phone book backup services as well as popular news/web feeds and other relevant applications over their mobile phone.

Etisalat explained that its subscribers can do this either through downloading an application or via USSD, SMS or MMS messages which eliminates the users’ dependence on smartphones. This effectively provides access to contemporary web services to every mobile handset.

The platform, the telecommunications firm informed that it will be deployed in a single location within the UAE, while the services will be made available to all the 15 affiliates of Etisalat.

The first Etisalat market to deploy the new messaging solution is Etisalat Nigeria, whose 15 million subscribers will soon be able to enjoy the benefit of advanced communications on any handset.

Evans, the Nigerian CEO explained the rationale behind being the first Etisalat operating unit to deploy the new messaging solution.

According to him, “Nigeria has a vast population of young people a majority of which are basic-phone holders with no or minimum data capabilities. As we continue to attract new customers to our network across various segments, it is our desire that we are able to address their needs to enjoy emailing, instant messaging, and social networking amongst other services no matter the type of handset they are using.

Etisalat Nigeria is acclaimed the industry leader in innova-

M

tion and mobile broadband so this latest addition to our portfolio further reinforces our positioning and opens new opportunities to customers to experience firsthand some of the exciting services we have to offer through this partnership”.

Commenting on the partnership, Chief Executive Officer – Africa at the Etisalat

Group, Essa Al Haddad, said, “With the ubiquity of Internet, internet-enabled services such as social networking, email and instant messaging have gained tremendous popularity.

However, with smartphone adoption still low in many countries and multiple clients for each service, the user experiences get very

complicated. These mar the adoption of such web services on mobile handsets.

Comviva has always been a trusted partner for Etisalat and with this new engagement, we will bring such and other more richer and interactive web services for our subscribers without any such limitations.”

story.”

He added that success in any venture now requires metricdriven business decisions where every single data will be measured and analyzed, noting that any investor bringing funds into any country require good data in terms of reliable demography, consumer behavioural pattern and key industry statistics to determine how to appropriately allocate resources.

On the way forward, he said: “Apart from the need to overhaul our infrastructures through direct investment by the government and Public Private Partnership arrangements, government should look into ways of combating the problem of multiple taxation through comprehensive review and harmonisation of various tax laws at all levels of Government – Federal, State and Local; while ensuring that small and medium enterprises and all agro-processing value chain activities get loan at a sin-

19

gle digit and banks should devise means of eliminating delays associated with loan processing in order to lower the cost of doing business and make our local firms more competitive.

“Government needs to get the business climate and the cost of doing business right.

The economic success story of the emerging economies of South East Asia, India, China and Brazil, which were evident in their upscale of global economic ranking, was essentially driven by the low cost of doing business.

“Structural transition from low to high productivity is a necessary pre-requisite for economic development and that industrial sector remains a key engine of growth in the development process. Economic transformation and prosperity will remain a mirage in Nigeria unless we keep our attention focused on creating an enabling environment for sustainable industrial growth,” he added.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

20 BUSINESS

Nigerian, French firms partner on automation system ERRA Synergy Limited, an T engineering and Information Communication and Technology company, has entered into a strategic partnership with a French firm, Somfy International to develop the Nigeria’s building automation industry.

Speaking at an interactive seminar for stakeholders in the building industry in Lagos, recently, Regional Business developer, Emerging Countries, Somfy, Nadim Eid,

said having being to several markets in Africa, the company has found Nigeria’s investment climate friendly, with opportunities to develop and innovate new products in the market.

He said Somfy has developed into the world leader in motors and control systems for the automatic movement of products around the home and workplace.

Somfy is a global manufacturer of specialised motors and

control systems for retractable awnings, rolling shutters, interior shades, blinds, projection screens and other lift-up applications for the home.

Director/Chief Executive Officer, Terra Synergy Limited, Olanrewaju Gboney, said the company is

striving to ensure that Somfy brings its expertise to the country, with the setting up of a manufacturing base in Nigeria.

“Our long term goal is to see Somfy increase its presence in Nigeria, by setting up a manufacturing plant in

Nigeria. Our goal is also not just to deliver home and office automation products, but also the delivery of high quality service to professionals.”

He said the partnership was borne out of the need for high quality products and services

delivery by Somfy in the area of home and building automation.

According to him, Terra Synergy was selected by Somfy due to its knowledge of the Nigerian market and based on similar values shared by both companies.

AMCON appoints receiver/manager over Fiogret’s assets HE Asset Management of AMCON, in an advertorial publication of the advertorial further instructions “in accorT newspapers. dance with the pre-emptive Nigeria (AMCON) has said it dated March 1, 2013 and signed in It urged all banks and other orders of court in suit: has appointed a receiver /man- by Ogunba, urged all debtors ager over Fiogret Limited, saying the receiver manager will henceforth take charge of the company’s fixed and movable assets.

It said its decision to appoint Kunle Ogunba (SAN) as the receiver of Fiogret assets was in line with a deed of mortgage debenture dated February 1, 2008 registered at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

AMCON said the deed of appointment of the receiver dated November 2, 2012 has equally been registered with the CAC. It listed some of the company’s properties now in possession of the receive/manager to include 43, Norman Williams Street, off Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos; Plots 230-234 Ikorodu, Owutu-Ikorodu, Lagos; Plot 15 Layi Ajayi Bembe Street, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos; Etete Road, off Benin-Sapele Road, Benin City and East West Road, Rumuokwurush Obio/Akpo Local Government Area, Rivers State.

to Fiogret to pay directly to the receiver/manager.

The company’s creditors are also to send proof of claims to Ogunba within 14 days of the

financial institutions currently in custody of deposits, cash and other assets of Fiogret to continue to hold them until the receiver/manager issues

FHC/L/CS/63/2013 pending within the bossom of the Federal High Court, Lagos division.

“All holders of such deposits

Shippers’ Council partners USAID, WATH on cross-border trade S part of measures to aid A cross-border trade among ECOWAS countries, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the West African Trade Hub (WATH) has concluded plans to further sensitize stakeholders through a workshop.

In a press statement made available to the Guardian at the weekend, the Council noted that the workshop, with theme “Border Information Centre (BIC) as tool for facilitating Cross Border Trade” is expected to sensitize stakeholders and shippers on the BIC and its potentials for facilitating smooth cross border trade as well as creating an avenue for encouraging the formalisation

of cross border trade, while identifying challenges faced by shippers and proffering solutions.

The statement read in part: “USAID and WATH had assessed the implementation of the ECOWAS trade liberalization scheme (ETLS) and conducted a gap analysis to identify impediments to smooth trade and reduce informal trade and also evaluate the movement of persons, goods and transport between regional borders. The outcome of the research revealed the lack of adequate information dissem-

ination to the traders and the border community as one of the problems of informal trade across the borders.

“As part of discharging its statutory function of protecting the interest of the Nigerian cargo owners, this collaborative effort of the council has culminated to the coming on stream of the Border Information Centre which would effectively serve as points where Shippers would obtain the information they need to transact their business smoothly across the border”, he added.

Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA) empowers winners of Competition with ICT tools S part of its effort towards A youth empowerment, the Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA) has handed over websites developed for the 15 top winners of the 2nd Abuja Business Plan Competition (ABPC).

During the presentation ceremony held at the Abuja Enterprise Agency’s liaison office recently, the Executive Director F&A, HR Hajia Aisha Abubakar advised the beneficiaries to ensure that the websites are used positively towards the growth and expansion of their businesses.

The grand finale of the competition which was held at Riz Continental Hotel, Central Area, Abuja had the winner going home with N1,000,000, with the second and third runners up going home with N500,000 respectively. The rest of the top ten winners

were given N100,000 each as consolation prizes. The top winners presented their business ideas which had venture capitalists and investors present rendering support in bringing these beautiful ideas to reality.

The beneficiaries include: Halima Umar Bagudu, Nwamaka Vivian Ofoma, Yusuf Emmanuel, Chidi Ugbor, Deborah Akpan0James Okoroafor, Abdullahi Umar Farouq, Ngozi Anyikaeme, Babajide Emmanuel, Shamarke Obamoh, Emeka Ugwoeje, Anango-Amanze Ikechukwu, Kafilat Omolara Muse and Anom Chidi Mmaduabuchi The AEA is the FCT’s vehicle for wealth creation, job creation and poverty alleviation.

The 3rd ABPC is scheduled to take place during the 2nd quarter of 2013.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

BUSINESS

21

USAID partners Kwara on agric reforms From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin

HE United States Agency for T International Development (USAID) has indicated its preparedness to partner with the Kwara State Government on the realization of the State’s agricultural development master plan.

The USAID Country Director, Ms Dana Monsuri, said that the partnership in 2013 is expected to lead to the training of 500 sorghum farmers in Kwara state on modern cultivation methods, group dynamics and leadership in order to build their capacities, while cassava farmers would also be trained on cassava production and field management, as well as access to credit facilities.

Ms Dana Mansuri, during a joint courtesy call with Professors of Agriculture from Cornell University, New York on the Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, said the areas of cooperation will include building of institutional capacities of farmers, farmer

organization and agricultural business associations; strengthening of market linkages for small scale processors as well as the development of the capacities of local service providers.

She added that 5,000 farmers would be mobilized and trained on improved production, have access to quality seeds and agro-inputs as well as link farmers to processors while 198 farmers involved in aqua culture would be trained on water quality management, fish health and disease control.

Other areas of aqua culture training that the farmers would enjoy, according to the USAID Country Director, include training on floating case, tank culture system of tilapia and improved hatchery techniques.

The country director recalled that USAID had also worked with 16,000 farmers in Patigi, Edu and Ilorin South local government areas of the State on improved rice yields, adding

that 120 farm groups have been formed.

Leader of the Cornell University team, Ronnie Coffman, who is an International Professor of Plant Breeding and Genetics, in his remarks, said his team was in Kwara State to assist in the implementation of the Kwara State Agricultural Modernisation Master Plan (KAMP), which was jointly developed with the State Government.

He said the Cornell University team will be following up on the essential units of the KAMP such as soil and water analysis, and that it was expected that cooperative groups would be primary means for the implementation of the master plan.

In his remarks, the Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed expressed optimism that the partnership with Cornell University and USAID would revolutionize agricultural practice in the State.

Ahmed, who identified poor planning and lack of access to finance as problems facing agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa, said KAMP will develop the agriculture value chain in the state and pool innovations in farming in order to accelerate commercial agriculture.

He disclosed that ten farmers from each of the 16 local government areas of the State would be used for a model scheme under KAMP with a focus on rice, cassava, soya and

maize cultivation.

“Hopefully, the success of these ten farmers per local government will serve as a learning ground for other farmers and test ground for challenges that will be faced with in the implementation of this programme. One thing which comes out clearly here is that Kwara State is on the path of growth and development in agricultural transformation”, the governor emphasised.

Standard Chartered partners Economist Intelligence Unit on CSR debates O further redefine the conT cept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) especially as it is being practiced among corporations and financial institutions, Standard Chartered in collaboration with the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has concluded plans to hold a debate on the proposition “CSR has nothing to do with charity”.

The debate, which is scheduled to run from today, 4th

March to Friday 15th March was developed by The Economist Intelligence Unit, which conducted a survey on several themes around the role of corporations in society and corporate social responsibility (CSR).

According a statement made available to The Guardian, the debate is open to participants globally, who are encouraged to vote for or against the proposition and contribute

comments during the debate.

Group Head of Brand, Standard Chartered Bank, Claire Fedder, said: “Standard Chartered’s brand promise, Here for good, is a reflection of what we stand for and our commitment to taking a long term view that supports our clients, customers and the communities in which we work. We believe that we have a duty to promote CSR initiatives within the wider commu-

nity. We accept - and indeed encourage - healthy debate that leads to a better understanding of important issues such as this.”

Head Corporate Affairs, Nigeria, Diran Olojo, added: ‘‘As a bank, we aim to have positive impact on people and communities. That means making the Bank a great place to work, minimizing our operational impact on the environment and focusing on investing in community initiatives.

22 BUSINeSS

The GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

Fidelity finances Africa’s largest aluminum can factory IDelITy Bank Plc over the Ffinancing weekend said that it was the multi-million naira aluminum can project in Aba, South east Nigeria. The factory which will be ready in a couple of month’s time will take off with an initial production capacity of 1.2 billion cans per annum. This clearly surpasses the Agbara Can Manufacturing Factory that took off with an initial production capacity of 600 million cans per year, thus making the new plant the largest aluminum can factory in Africa.

Managing Director and Chief executive, Fidelity Bank Plc, Reginald Ihejiahi who made the disclosure at the weekend explained that the financing options adopted by the bank were largely driven by its commitment and faith in the development of the Nigerian economy. “We are a bank operating in an emerging market and we believe that the industrial sector remains the heart of banking in such markets.”

Ihejiahi, whose bank also financed a similar project in Agbara, Ogun State further explained that as an institution in business purely for commercial reasons, the bank is mandated to report to its shareholders. This implies that the bank should have steady streams of income at the end of the year, and therefore, should carefully select the projects it would sponsor at any given time as part of its commitment to the development of the economy. he added that Fidelity Bank was achieving this by putting together capital, business advisory and personnel to drive the process.

“When we opened the Agbara Can manufacturing factory which was commissioned

by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010, it started with 600million cans per annum. however, the Aba Can manufacturing company which is nearing completion will take off from the first day with 1.2billion production capacity and we believe that with this pace Nigeria will soon be self-sufficient in aluminum can production.”

Ihejiahi said that the facility offers enormous opportunity for job creation and other economic benefits to the citizens of the country. The Aba Can facto-

ry is expected to service the breweries and beverage companies in the South east and South South parts of the country, and by extension other parts of Nigeria. “We are also not ruling out export opportunities to West African and other African countries because of the size of the factory.

Meanwhile South African Breweries has just opened a brewery in Onitsha and the market is quite large. They are expected to be a major beneficiary of the aluminum can project.

house commends CBN on prompt remittance of operating surplus

By Chijioke Nelson he house of Representatives has commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for its prompt and consistent remittance of operating surpluses into the government treasury since 2009.

The Chairman of the house of Representatives Committee on Finance, Dr. AbdulMumin Jibrin, who made the commendation, during the public hearing on 2009 to 2012 Federal Government Independent Revenue Generation, at the National Assembly on Monday, stated that plans were underway to bestow award of recognition on the CBN for such consistency.

According to him, the award was in consonance with the promise made by the Committee last December, that from next fiscal year (2013), agencies that performed creditably would be awarded a prize. he reiterated that certificate of

T

commendation to well-deserving government agencies would serve as a lesson to other agencies that have over the years, shown reluctance in complying with this statutory obligation to the nation.

The committee had earlier requested all revenue generating agencies of government to ensure total remittances of all outstanding funds and to show evidence of remittance of 25 per cent of gross earnings, along with receipts from Office of the AccountantGeneral of the Federation.

The Accountant-General of the Federation, Jonah Otunla, had earlier given similar commendation to the CBN in 2012, before the committee for remitting surplus revenue in compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act as and when due, noting that the bank ranked among the highest revenue generating agencies that have complied with the law.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

BUSINESS

23

Delta State Government lauds Guinness Nigeria on CSR initiatives HE Managing Director of T Guinness Nigeria Plc, Seni Adetu has underscored the

e-Business Group, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Adefemi Adewusi (left); Chairman, Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ), Kaduna North, Malam Mohammed Rabiu; Chairman, Dynatech Solutions System Limited, Alhaji Ahmed Abubakar Bello and Group Head, Retail Lending, Mrs. Kikelomo Kuponiyi, at the partnership agreement between Sterling Bank and Dynatech held in Kaduna at the weekend.

need for corporations to align business practices with societal needs and expectations as this will drive sustainable development in the country.

This was made known during a courtesy visit to the Governor of Delta State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, and to the Dein of Agbor, His Royal Highness, Dr. Benjamin Ikechukwu.

Adetu said, “While it is important to make profit and give returns to shareholders, it also a vital part of a company’s operations to give back to the society through sustainable development projects which uplift the fortunes of the society. Guinness Nigeria gives back to the society with the knowledge of stakeholders’ wants and needs to ensure sustainability and long-term value delivery”. He said this philosophy is at the core of development projects implemented by Guinness Nigeria across the country.

The Governor represented by

his Deputy, Professor Amos Utuala described Guinness Nigeria as a committed partner in sustainable development and commended the company for executing projects that meet the needs of the society, especially in Delta State.

Utuala however called on multinational corporations in Nigeria to emulate Guinness Nigeria Plc by ensuring excellence in delivery of corporate social responsibility projects.

He also commended Guinness for its immense contributions to the economy through tax payments, provision of direct and indirect employment to thousands of Nigerians as well as the implementation of developmental projects across the country.

He added that, the government of Delta State is hopeful that the siting of Guinness Brewery in the state in the near future would further strengthen the existing strong and cordial relationship between Guinness and Delta State.

RIMAN urges adoption of new banking principles

By Chijioke Nelson HE Risk Managers Association of Nigeria (RIMAN) said the only way to ensure sustainability in the nation’s banking and remain socially responsible is to embrace the new policy on Sustainable Banking Principles by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

It also said that given the rising profile of environmental risks associated with banking operations, there is an urgent need for greater investments in risks management by various organisations.

The association’s President, Dr. Greg Jobome, who disclosed this during its quarterly roundtable and training workshop for the risk mangers on Sustainable Banking Principles, few days ago said risks management has become far more important now than it used to be five

T

years, especially with emerging environmental and social issues that pose real risks in business and project financing.

CBN had recently, through the Bankers’ Committee, adopted the Nigerian Sustainable Banking Principle and the accompanying threesector guidelines on agriculture, power and oil and gas.

The principle provided directions on banks’ business activities; business operations; human rights; women empowerment; financial inclusion; environmental and social governance; capacity building; collaborative partnerships; and reporting.

According to CBN, “the adoption of the principles means the integration of social and environmental considerations into its operations, policies, processes, procedures and strategies, as well as pro-

vision of structural mechanism to support implementation at the industry level.”

The Director of Risk Management, CBN, Ms Folakemi Fatogbe, represented by Joseph Angaye, noted that there are incentives to compliance with issues concerning the development of the nation’s financial system, while penalties await those who fail to do so, even as the apex bank had fixed September for deadline.

Explaining the rationale for the principle, the facilitator of the workshop and Managing Director of Sustainable Finance Advisory,Carey Bohjanen, explained that it is the right thing to do given the global best practice requirements; risk assessment and management approach; relationship building and sustainability; revenue generation; reputa-

tion; and obedience to the regulatory authority.

But Jobome added: “Knowing that most of the bulk lie with risk managers in various banks and organisations, that is why we RIMAN is at the forefront for the campaign on the adoption of the new principle, while ensuring capacity building of our members through training of this kind today.

“True, the risks associated with some transactions, as identified by the principles are there to be managed and that is why risk managers are keenly following the issues, so that we can deal with them appropriately.

“The principles are what can be readily seen in countries that are ahead of us and that is why we are going to strive to imbibe them for our risks management here. Since the financial crisis in 2008, best

Zinox to commission new plant, strengthens partnership with Intel

By Adeyemi Adepetun O increase its production capacity in the country, Zinox Group will commission its new plant in Lagos, come March.

Beside, the company has also strengthened its partnership with Intel Corporation, the World’s Number one computer chips and hardware manufacturer.

Zinox said the long technical relationship between it and Intel has been sustained through their shared core values of innovation, trust, and grass roots relevance.

At the Zinox Group office in Lagos, where the partnership was strengthened, the two companies informed that the main thrust of this relationship was to continually seek way to address the needs of consumers in different strata ranging from individuals in the education sector and ancillary sectors that bear requirements for advanced technology.

The Global Vice President, Intel Corporation, Mr. Greg Pearson said that Intel was pleased to partner with Zinox, a regional leader with the capacities and high ethical value required to deliver on its promise to use technology to drive development nationally and internationally.

Expressing enthusiasm for

T

the Nigerian hardware industry, Pearson said that as a long-standing member of the Intel Diamond Club, Zinox would continue to enjoy information and technical exchanges to make the company more relevant to the economy.

Welcoming the Intel delegation, the Chairman of Zinox Tech, Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh said that the partnership with Intel is an endorsement of the world-class standards in production and corporate governance that have been put in place by the company.

He said that Zinox shared the Intel passion for adequately empowering the education sector. He informed that Zinox has been responsible for the computerization of over 65 per cent of the tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

Of late, he said, Zinox developed and deployed the largest e-learning suite in Africa solely for the purpose of providing affordable access to content for the education sector. “The Zinox world-class hub, which went live, recently would bring relief to many educational institutions beginning from April 2013 when Zinox streams eContent to educational institutions at half the present cost”, he stated.

The Zinox boss revealed that

the ultra modern factory would begin production before the end of March while explaining that, the delay in bringing up the factory was due to the irregular power supply in the country.

He noted that only the Federal Government could, through mandatory patronage, ensure the sustainability of the digital assembly plants of manufacturers in the country.

Of necessity, the Zinox Boss said, that the government

should immediately commence the subsidy of computer ownership for all students in tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

Ekeh argued that empowering the young ones today with IT equipment is a surer way of ensuring a future Nigeria that can provide for its people, sustain the unity and stability of Nigeria, and lead the rest of Africa. Until this is done democracy dividends cannot be said to have been delivered.

Olive MFB pledges quality service delivery to stakeholders

By Helen Oji LIVE Microfinance Bank said few days ago that it would offer exceptional services to its stakeholders in order to maintain its leadership position in the industry.

The bank, which emerged the 2012 most consistent microfinance institution in Lagos State, also assured its customers of value added services.

The Award recognizes micro financial institutions in Lagos that with significant feats within their operating environments and continuously display innovation and record excellent financial

O

performance year on year.

Speaking during the award ceremony, which was presented recently at the 2012 Ikeja City Awards for Excellence Dinner, in Lagos, the Managing Director of Olive MFB, Mr. Eniola Agbesoyin attributed the success made so far to the Bank’s well defined operating strategy, passion and commitment of the employees and adherence to values that included hardwork, discipline, a passion for excellence and a service focused culture, noting that “the public appreciate what it has done within the last few years it began operations.”

practices are being adopted in banks, some of which are still being improved upon or developing to the next level.

“Compliance is supposed to help everyone concerned to imbibe the principle quickly.

Beside, there is really business sense in the principle and in doing it. Even if CBN is not driving it, either through persuasion or stick, there is good common sense in doing the right thing it.”

24

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013 Published in association with

InvestmentWatch Investing in bonds Introduction MONG the several investment vehicles available to investors in the Nigerian capital market, bonds have in the past couple of months been attracting a larger volume of investible funds from local and foreign investors.

Several factors account for this rise some of which are the volatility in the equities market and higher yields among others. In this edition of INVESTMENT ONE education series, we shall highlight the principal features, types, means, benefits and detriments of investing in bonds as a means of achieving a wholesome asset allocation strategy.

Bonds Bonds are among the asset class commonly referred to as fixed income securities. A bond is a debt security, in which the authorized issuer (corporate or government) owes the holders (investors) a debt and, depending on the terms of the bond, the issuer is obliged to pay interest (the coupon) and to repay the principal at a later date, termed maturity. Thus a bond is like a loan: the holder of the bond is the lender (creditor), the issuer of the bond is the borrower (debtor), and the coupon is the interest.

Bonds provide the borrower with external funds to finance long-term investments, or, in the case of government bonds, to finance current expenditure.

Features of Bonds • Maturity date: Predetermined bonds have set maturity dates that can range from one to 30 years — shortterm bonds (mature in three years or less), intermediate bonds (mature in three to ten years) and long-term bonds (mature in ten years or more). The maturity is the date on which the issuer has to repay the nominal amount. As long as all payments have been made, the issuer has no more obligations to the bond holders after the maturity date.

• Coupon: The coupon is the interest rate that the issuer pays to the bond holders. Usually, this rate is fixed throughout the life of the bond but its terms depend on their structure: "Fixed Rate Bonds" provide fixed interest payments on a regular schedule for the life of the bond; "Floating Rate Bonds" have variable interest rates that are periodically adjusted; and, "Zero Coupon Bonds" do not pay periodic interest at all, but offer an advantage in that they can be bought at a discounted price of the face value and can be redeemed at the face value at maturity.

• Optionality: A bond may contain an embedded option; that is, it grants option like features to the buyer or issuer: - Callability Some bonds give the issuer the right to repay the bond before the maturity date on the call dates(call option). These bonds are referred to as callable bonds. Most callable bonds allow the issuer to repay the bond at par. With some bonds, the issuer has to pay a Premium. This

A

is mainly the case for high-yield bonds. These have very strict covenants, restricting the issuer in its operations. To be free from these covenants, the issuer can repay the bonds early, but only at a high cost.

- Puttability Some bonds give the bond holder the right to force the issuer to repay the bond before the maturity date on the put dates.

- Convertibility After a certain period, bondholder had the right to exchange the bond for stocks of the issuer (this applies to only corporate bonds).

• Minimum Investment Bonds have a minimum amount required for investing. In Nigeria the minimum amount required to invest in bonds is N10,000.(note that this applies to FGN securities specifically).

Corporate bonds may require significantly higher minimum entry value.

• Marketability Marketability which can be interchanged for liquidity implies how easily a particular bond can be bought or sold. In general, for a bond to enjoy high marketability, there must be a large trading volume and a large number of dealers in the security.

• Face Value/Par Value The face value (also known as the par value or principal) is the amount of money a holder will get back once a bond matures. A newly issued bond usually sells at the par value. Government bonds usually have a greater par value than corporate bonds.

• Credit Ratings Credit rating systems help investors make more informed bond purchases from firms, state and local governments. Higher credit rated bonds carry less risk while lower credit rated bonds (e.g., junk bonds or high yield/high return bonds) have more risk. Safer bond issuers such as government have a higher credit rating, while risky companies have a low credit rating.

Types of Bonds • Corporate Bond A debt security issued by a corporation and sold to investors. The backing for the bond is usually the payment ability of the company, which is typically money to be earned from future operations. Corporate bonds are considered higher risk than government bonds.

As a result, interest rates are almost always higher, even for top-flight credit quality companies. Corporate bonds are issued in several forms including registered bonds, bearer bonds and book-entry bonds.

• Government bond A bond issued by a national government, generally promising to pay a certain amount (the face value) on a certain date, as well as periodic interest payments. Government bonds are usually denominated in the country's own currency. Bonds issued by national governments in foreign currencies are normally referred to as sovereign bonds i.e. Nigerian sovereign bonds and other bond issue are managed by

the Debt Management Office (DMO).

• Municipal Bond This is debt security issued by a state (in Nigeria) municipality or local government to finance its capital expenditures. Municipal bonds are usually used to fund expenditures such as the construction of highways, bridges or schools and are popular with people in high income tax brackets.

Zero Coupon Bond A Zero coupon bond carries no coupon and must provide all its return in the form of price appreciation at maturity. They are often bonds that have been stripped of their coupons by a financial institution and then repackaged as zero-coupon bonds. Zerocoupon bonds tend to fluctuate in price much more than coupon bonds.

Coupon Bond Obligates the issuer to make interest payments called coupon payments over the life of the Bond, then to repay the principal (the Bond's par value) at maturity.

Floating rate bond A Bond designed to minimize the holder's interest rate risk. The interest rate that the borrower pays is reset periodically depending on market conditions.

Eurobonds Usually, a Eurobond is issued by an international syndicate and categorized according to the currency in which it is denominated.

Eurobonds are attractive to investors as they have small par values and high liquidity.

Benefits of Bonds • Selling Before Maturity If you decide you need your money back earlier than the date that your bond matures, you are taking “a chance” that you may get more, or less, than you paid. This depends mostly on the interest rates at which new bonds are being issued. This is why individuals who invest in bonds typically plan to hold them till they mature.

• Safe and Secure Investing in debt is safer than investing in stocks or equity. This is so because debt holders have priority over shareholders. In a worstcase scenario such as bankruptcy, the creditors (debt holders) usually get at least some of their money back, while shareholders often lose their entire investment. What’s more, government bonds are zero risk as they are backed by the government.

• Fixed and periodic interest payments Interest payments are paid out at fixed intervals (usually semi-annual or quarterly) with a fixed rate (except for floating rate bonds) which gives you a better ability to match expected future expenses.

• Liquidity Bonds, especially government issued, are traded in the market blue chips stocks; they are actively traded in the market and therefore, can always be converted to cash. If you buy 10-year bonds, it does not mean that you have to hold it for 10 years. You can sell your

bond even before the maturity date, subject to the prevailing market buying price.

• Portfolio Balance & Diversification Bonds can be great financial “buffers”, when the stock market is going through a turbulent period because they are a very safe financial tool to help balance the risk in your overall portfolio.

• Capital appreciation potential Positive events in the economy, industry or issuing company can reward you with increases in your high-yield bond’s price, otherwise known as capital appreciation. These events include ratings upgrades, improved earnings reports, mergers or acquisitions, positive product developments or market-related events. If the market price of the bond you bought suddenly goes up against your purchase price, you can sell it back to them at the current market price and enjoy capital gains, in addition to the interest you already earned.

• Tax relief and ease of maintenance Bonds need less careful attention in management than other alternative investments. Bond interest from municipal bonds can be exempt from federal income taxes and possibly from state and local income taxes.

Detriments of Bonds • Individual bonds do not compound their interest • Bonds over the long term have lower returns than stocks.

• Bonds offer no hedge against inflation because inflation causes interest rates to rise which then cause bond prices to fall.

• Bond prices can be quite volatile because market interest rates vary after a bond is issued.

• Capital gains and losses are taxable with most bonds for those that are cashed out early as well.

• Bond prices may swing 20% or more if you sell bonds before maturity. Speculators might see this as an opportunity but conservative investors will need to ignore price changes if planning to hold to maturity.

• Diversification is hard to achieve (unless investing in bond mutual funds) because many different types of bonds would be needed.

The bond market in Nigeria offers investors opportunity to invest through the primary market where variety of bonds ranging from sovereign, state government and corporate bonds are issued and the secondary market where FGN bonds are actively traded on an Over-the Counter basis and on the floor of the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE).

With the equities currently soft and often mixed market outcomes, the bond market offers investors good returns at the current interest rates. While there is no hard and fast rule on how much an investor should invest in the bond market, it is important to consider the variables itemised above as well as an investor’s investing timeline, risk tolerance, future goals, perception of the market and investible income.

These factors are to an extent beyond the ability of an investor who more often than not is constrained by time and knowledge resource in making informed investment decisions.

To benefit from the opportunities that abound in the bonds market space even without having the requisite knowledge of how it works, your best bet will be to call or visit qualified and professional investment managers to help you plan and invest in the bond market.

When next you seek to invest in any segment of the market, please consult a financial adviser that can partner with you to help you achieve your investment goals.

Join us next week Monday to learn why turning to other fixed income may just be what you need as your seek to achieve your investment goals.

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

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

25

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

26

Insurance Regulators, govt support ‘no premium, no cover’ enforcement

By Josha Nse HE issue of unpaid premiT um in the insurance industry may hopefully come to an end as the government has endorsed the enforcement of ‘no premium no cover’ in the underwriting of insurance contract.

The support of the government is critical, arising from the observed non-compliance by government agencies in the payment of premium on the insurance of government assets.

For instance, the total premium debts owed the insurance companies by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as at January 2012 is estimated at N24 billion.

To demonstrate govern-

ment commitments and support for the policy, the Federal Government has directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to comply with section 50(1) of the Insurance Act 2003 which stipulates premium payment in advance for insurance contracts.

A circular dated 12th February, 2013, reference F.15441/S.11/111/312, signed by the Minister of State Finance, Dr. Yerima Lawan Ngama, titled “Guidelines on insurance premium collection and remittances – Compliance with section 50(1) of the Insurance Act”. enjoined all agencies of government to enforce this law, as any contract of insurance entered into without payment of full premium in advance shall

be legally unenforceable.

The circular said “In furtherance of the Ministry’s resolve to end the menace and era of non-remittance of insurance collections and premiums as well as consolidate the gains of the on-going efforts in sanitizing the insurance industry, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has issued guidelines on insurance premium collection and remittance compliance in accordance with the provision of section 50(1) of the Insurance Act 2003.

“Arising from the observed non-compliance by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and other critical stakeholders in the insurance industry, the ability of insurance companies to meet their various claims

obligations under contracts of insurance to eligible beneficiaries has been grossly undermined. It is on record that the total premium debts owed the insurance companies by MDAs as at January 2012 is N24 billion, in spite of yearly budgetary provisions for insurance.

“Consequently, MDAs and other stakeholders are by this circular directed and advised to comply with the provisions of the above Act, as any MDAs and organization found culpable would be sanctioned accordingly. To this end, all MDAs and other stakeholders are enjoined to render their returns on premium collection and remittances to the National Insurance Commission as enshrined in the guidelines.

“In addition, it is worthwhile to note that henceforth, any contract of insurance entered into without payment of full premium in advance shall be legally unenforceable.

“It is expected that the enforcement of this provision of the law will strengthen insurance companies’ ability to meet claims obligations under contracts of insurance.

“Please ensure that the content of this circular is brought to the attention of all concerned for strict compliance.”

It will be recalled that the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) annulled with effect from January 1, 2013, the underwriting of insurance contracts on credit.

The Commission relied its action on Section 50 of the 2003 Insurance Act which 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 advance.

As a result, the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) –

the market umbrella body for underwriting firms directed its 60 strong corporate members to comply with the directives.

In a public notice on payment of insurance premium signed by the Director General of the association, Olorundare Sunday Thomas, said that the development would further enhance the industry service delivery including prompt payment of all genuine insurance claims.

He said “We urge the industry’s esteemed clients to understand that this is a major regulatory requirement that will attract heavy penalty on the insurance company in the event of non compliance”.

The Pesident of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Laide Osijo, in her remark, said we endorse the directives from the Commission because it is in the long run interest of the entire industry and most importantly, it will clear the conflict on alleged premium withholding in the industry. It will also bring professionalism into the underwriting of insurance business in this country.

Sigma world insurance report VERALL premiums O declined 0.8 per cent (inflation-adjusted) last year

Managing Director/CEO, Union Assurance Company Limited, (right), Godwin Odah, Junior Ngulube ,Chairman, Munich Reinsurance Africa, and Joseph KusiTieku, Country Manager Ghana, Munich Reinsurance Africa, during a business visit of Munich Re to the company recently

NCRIB tasks companies on group life policy IFE Assurance companies Ladvantage have been advised to take of the Group Life

Insurance Scheme as provided for under the Pension Reform Act 2004.

The President of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance, Laide Osijo, gave the advice when the management of Crystalife Assurance Plc, led by the Managing Director, Mrs. ‘Seyi Ifaturoti paid her a courtesy visit in the NCRIB House recently in Lagos.

Osijo said that the 27 existing life companies in the country should continually evolve insurance policies that would meet the needs of the teeming Nigeria population as obtained in other developed countries.

The NCRIB President noted that under the Pension Act, every employer of labour was under obligation to arrange for a life insurance cover for

employees and in order to make it workable, the scheme is arranged on group basis under the Group Life Insurance.

While disclosing that the public sector was already complying with the Act, Osijo said there were rooms for ingenious Life companies to prospect the numerous private sector workers and take advantage of the Act to grow the industry.

She said that all over the world, life specialist companies play catalytic roles to economic development as they possess the required professional competence to conceive life policies or welfare schemes that would ultimately benefit both employers and employees.

Osijo commended the ongoing synergy between the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and the Pension Commission

(PENCOM) on Group Life insurance and annuity, noting that the action would grow the industry and improve the social welfare of Nigerians.

Meanwhile, the February edition of the NCRIB Members Evening is to be hosted by Law Union and Rock Insurance Plc on Tuesday, February 26, 2013.

The event which is a bimonthly programme utilized

to promote professional and social interaction between leading underwriting companies and insurance brokers in the fold of the NCRIB holds at the Insurance Broker House, 58 Moleye Street, Alagomeji Yaba, starting from 3.00 pm.

The management team of Law Union led by the Managing Director, Mrs Toyin Ogunseye will be received by the President of the Council, Barrister Laide Osijo.

according to the latest sigma publication “World insurance in 2011,” the first public assessment of global insurance market performance in 2011. The report is based on the assessment of 147 insurance markets.

Non-life premiums expand 1.9 per cent, capital position sound despite adverse environment Growth for non-life premiums in emerging markets was robust at 8.6 per cent, while growth was marginal in advanced markets at 0.5 per cent “Non-life premium growth in the advanced markets has been supported by gradual rate increases in personal lines of business and in regions affected by large natural catastrophes,” says sigma co-author Daniel Staib.

However, the weakening global economic environment dampened insurance cover demand.

Capital and solvency remained solid despite

extraordinarily costly natural catastrophe events.

Life premiums decreased 2.7 per cent, caused mainly by a few large markets where insurance premiums sharply fell. Many markets continued to show steady growth, including in the US and Japan, the two largest markets.

Tighter regulations on distribution of insurance products in China and India led to an overall decline in emerging life premiums. Other regions, such as Latin America and the Middle East, showed continuing growth.

Moderate overall growth in 2012, Although slower economic growth will affect demand for life and non-life insurance, premium growth is expected to revive in emerging markets.

“Last year was not a great one for premium growth, but 2012 should be a lot better as rates continue to improve in non-life markets and India and China return to robust growth in life markets,” says Swiss Re Chief Economist Kurt Karl.

… Oyo enlists support of brokers HE government of Oyo T State has enlisted the support of insurance brokers in the transformative vision of the government and its efforts at rendering efficient services to the people.

The State’s Commissioner for Finance, Honourable Adedeji Adelabu made the

call during a courtesy visit on him in Ibadan by the management of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers, led by its President, Barrister ‘Laide Osijo.

Honourable Adelabu noted that there was no better time to seek the collaboration of

professionals and their bodies than now when the state government is embarking on massive infrastructural turn-around of the state for the long term benefits of the people.

He specifically noted that the state government had realized the place of risk mit-

igation and management of its numerous human and material assets and was ready to engage the services of qualified insurance professionals whom he conceded had the prerequisite skill to assist the government achieve its goals.

THe GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

INSURANCe 27

Brokers appoint principal officers bid to enhance the proIofN fileaRegistered of the Nigerian Council Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) and position it to play strategic roles in the nation’s insurance sector, the Council has employed the following staff and promoted some existing ones Fatai Adegbenro, has been appointed as the executive Secretary/ CeO of the Council.

Adegbenro who is an alumnus of the Lagos State Polytechnic is a consumate insurance practitioner with more than three decades experience spanning underwriting, risk management, lecturer and insurance broking. A Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute London. A versatile professional, he holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration and he is a

turn around manager. He will bring his vast experience as an astute administrator to bear on the new strategic vision of the Council Lola Ogedengbe, is the Deputy Director, Finance of the Council. A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). Ogedengbe is also an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) and holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Lagos and called to the Bar in 2010.. She has varied experience in auditing, taxation, management and consulting. She has worked with Deloite Adetona eschie & Co (now Akintola Williams, Delloite and Touche Chartered Accountants where she trained and quali-

fied as a chartered accountant. She is currently pursuing her masters degree in Laws from the University of Lagos.

Lukeman Adeleye has been appointed as the Assistant Director, Human Resources and Administration. Adeleye is an alumnus of the Unversity of Ibadan where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geography and later a Masters Degree in Industrial and Labour Relations (MILR). A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management and one time Chairman of the professional body in Oyo State, Adeleye has brought to bear on the Secretariat’s HR his competencies and robust experience spanning about three decades from both the public and private sectors.

ADIC launches family shield cover

By Tunde Eso DIC Insurance Company Limited has introduced a new product in the market called ADIC Life Family Shield, a Mortgage Protection Assurance and life insurance product for individuals unique needs.

Speaking at the official introduction of the product recently in Lagos, Head of Life ADIC Insurance Company, Kehinde Omoregie, said that the product shield dependants from the hassles of mortgage debt and shield the family from unforeseen upheaval.

According to him, everyone wishes to have a home, majority obtain mortgage loans to meet their needs.

When a breadwinner obtains a mortgage loan, he brings home a bounty of happiness.

A

However, if he dies while the mortgage loan is still outstanding, the family faces the problem of repayment and this could lead to the repossession or sale of the house at a critical point when they indeed needed such a home.

Omoregie stated that the product is a unique one for every family, because it comes with good features of payment of outstanding mortgage loan in the event of death within the period of the loan, it also covers outstanding mortgage loans and policy period which is equal to the term of the loan taken.

Other benefits which requires policy holders to pay a single premium (purchase price) or annual premium to ADIC Insurance to secure the guaranteed bene-

fit (sum assured), it also have a guaranteed benefit (sum assured) with the original loan (or balance) taken from the mortgage institution plus interest, with a maximum age at entry of 65 years.

He said that in the event of death or total permanent disability of the Policy holder (life assured) within the policy term, ADIC Insurance will pay the outstanding loan to the lender (mortgage institution). With this, the policy holder’s dependants will be able to retain the house as the lender would be restricted from taking possession or selling the house while on discontinuation or survival of the policy holder till the end of the loan duration, no payment is made.

Company Secretary, Taiwo Ogunbajo (left); Chairman, Dere Otubu and Managing Director/ Chief Executive, Sakiru Oyefeso at Staco Insurance Plc 17th yearly general meeting, held in Ijebu Ode… recently

‘NCAA’s $5m cover for Clowney below value’ He debate about whether T South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney should sit out next season, get $5 million in insurance or fight the NFL’s draft rules all exposes one gigantic flaw in the system.

The NCAA continues to show little regard for athletes’ earning power.

The maximum amount of insurance benefit that any player can get under the NCAA policy is $5 million, according to Chris Radford, an NCAA media relations official. “This insurance program is in place to protect against a career-ending

injury, but should not be confused with a ‘loss of value’ policy, which the NCAA does not offer,” Radford said. As first reported by FOXSports.com, Clowney is currently working on securing that much coverage.

To the credit of the NCAA, it has set up a program where a player can get a low-coast loan for the premium and pay it later. Typically, a $5 million policy will cost anywhere from $45,000 to $65,000, Salgado said. The premium is, like most insurance policies, dependent on a number of factors, includ-

ing what position the player plays.

“The NCAA grades the athletes at anywhere from $1 million, $2 million, $3 million, $4 million, all the way up to $5 million and then lets the player go to a lender for the loan,” said insurance broker Rich Salgado of Coastal Advisors LLC. “The player never actually gets the money, it’s paid straight from the lender to the insurance company, so it’s a very simple, tight system and it’s a very, very good rate for the player. We would all be fortunate to borrow money at those rates.”

28

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

29

Stockwatch In association with Lead Capital

Stock Market Report for the week Friday, 22nd February to Thursday 28th February, 2013 N this week, the total AJOR equity markets around the I10.63% volume depreciated by ANNOUNCEMENT M globe moved downwards as their URING the period under review, thirty one (31) and value traded various indexes lost marginal points. appreciated by 22.22%. A Dstocks recorded price appreciation compared In our universe of sample equity marto thirty three (33) stocks that recorded price kets; the S & P 500 and Dow Jones gained points by 0.27% and 1.06% while NASDAQ lost points by 0.07% at the end of last week. In Europe, The FTSE 100, German Dax and France CAC 40 all lost points by 1.09%, 0.69% and 0.50% respectively. In the Asia/Pacific region, BSE Sensex lost points by 2.40%, while the Nikkei 225 and Hangseng gained points by 2.21% and 0.50% respectively. In Brazil, the Bovespa gained points by 1.95% while Russia’s RTS INDEX lost points by 3.29%. On the local setting, NSE ASI closed at 33,075.14 recording 1.29% depreciation at the end of the week’s trading.

turnover of 2.27 billion units of shares valued at N26.95 billion was recorded, in contrast to a turnover of 2.54 billion units of shares worth N22.05 billion that was recorded in the previous week.

Volume this week was driven by activities in the shares of TRANSCORP, FBNH, ZENITHBANK, UBA, UNITYBNK, GUARANTY, STANBIC, FIDELITYBNK, ACCESS and STERLNBANK.

appreciation in the previous week, JOHNHOLT was first on the top gainers chart to close with 25.66%, followed by MCNICHOLS with 24.69%, DNMEYER with 23.72%, EVANSMED with 19.73%, VITAFOAM with 19.40% and MAYBAKER with 10.55%. Other gainers in the top ten categories were IPWA with 9.41%, AIICO with 8.91%, HONYFLOUR with 7.27% and NPFMCRFBK with 5.56%.

On the flip side, forty six (46) stocks depreciated in price last week compared to sixty (60) that depreciated a week ago. PRESTIGE led on the price losers’ table with 26.80%, followed by ROYALEX by 20.41%, FTNCOCOA by 17.19%, CORNERST by 15.87%, BERGER by 11.63%, CADBURY by 10.51%, UTC by 10.23%, CONTINSURE by 9.09%, IKEJAHOTEL by 9.09% and ASHAKACEM by 8.91%.

30 STOCKWATCH

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

Lead Capital Stock Valuation

COMPANY’S RESULT

CONTINUE ON PAGE 51

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

31

Homes & Property The Enclave lightens up ARM’s Lakowe Lakes Country Page 33 estate

Niger goes tough on land title recertification scheme, plans new roads Page 32

Lagos residential rents will sustain upward growth in 2013, report Page 38

NDIC, Union Bank, others in fresh battle over Fortune Towers Litigation

By Emmanuel Badejo MIDST multiple litigations A over one of the impressive and imposing buildings in Victoria Island, Lagos, popularly known as Fortune Towers, controversy has continued to trail the ownership of the complex, now torn among the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and Cowrie Business Solutions Limited.

The trio are before a Federal High Court, Lagos, where muscles are being flexed over who is in charge of the multi-storey building located at No 27/29 Adeyemo Alakija Street, V.I, Lagos.

While NDIC, the appointed liquidator of Fortune International Bank (FIB) Plc, is the plaintiff, Union Bank and Cowrie Business Solutions are the first and second defendants.

Though the substantive case is yet to take, due to an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court, the cloud of controversy continues to thicken as a party had alleged a secret plan by another to trade off the property to the sitting tenants.

Indeed, The Guardian last week secured a correspondence by the Chambers of Udochi Iheanacho Partnership, which shows that the firm of lawyers are already concluding plans to fully document the sale of Fortune Towers to the occupiers and other prospective buyers.

Messrs. Udochi Iheanacho is representing the interest of the second defendant, Cowries Business Solutions Limited.

Some of the corporate bodies

The storm over the imposing complex has in the recent time been raging, as litigations and power tussle among the parties have been escalating amidst uncertainty of the fate of the tenants occupying the building include E-tranzact International, Berkeley Securities Ltd, Solgas Petroleum Limited, Shield Petroleum Limited and Pendragon Investments Limited.

Others are Chimmons Gas Company, SCP Nominees Limited and Minaj Holdings Limited.

Piqued by the development, NDIC, through its counsel, Messrs. Emeka Ngige, caused a publication in a national daily warning the general public to stay clear from the property.

Part of the publication reads: “NDIC as liquidator is vested with the powers to realize the assets of Fortune Bank International Bank Plc (In liquidation) which includes “Fortune Towers” for the benefit of depositors, creditors and shareholders of the bank.

“By the doctrine of LIS PENDENS, no interest can be transferred or acquired over a disputed property while litigation is pending. The general public including the tenants of Fortune Towers are accordingly warned that any sale, disposition or alienation, lease or mortgage of the said property whilst the litigation is pending is void ab initio against such parties particularly the purchasers, their agents and or privies whosoever.”

The substantive suit could not go on following an application by Union Bank, through its counsel, Mr. Kolade Obafemi of C.O Toyin Pinheiro & Co, challenging the jurisdiction of the court.

Basically, the application is asking the court to dismiss the plaintiff’s suit on the ground that the suit constitutes an abuse of court process.

In a counter affidavit, sworn to by one Augustine Egwuatu, it was argued that the suit does not constitute an abuse of court process to the earlier suits, adding the parties, reliefs and facts are not the same ad therefore, the cause of action was said not to be equally the same. On the contrary, NDIC seeks that Union Bank’s application be dismissed, which if done would not amount to any prejudice.

Ruling on the application has been reserved for March 15, 2013 before Justice Okeke.

Prior its liquidation, the distressed bank, FIB had taken credit facilities from Union Bank and it used the controversial property as collateral.

Following a business transaction between the FCB and Union Bank, the distressed financial institution had used the controversial property as collateral for the credit facility.

After its defunct a dispute had arisen over the indebtedness of FCB and the propriety of deed or legal mortgage over Fortune Toners. Unable to resolve their differences, a litigation was initiated at the Federal High Court, still pending for determination.

While this lasted, Union Bank in January 25 2010, informed all the tenants of Fortune Towers that the property had been sold to Cowrie Business Solutions ltd, soon after, it

PHOTO: EMMANUEL BADEJO

Fortune Towers...recently wrote to all the tenants intimating them of a court order empowering it to take over.

The firm of Udochi Iheanacho representing the second

defendant restated that its client had bought over the property.

NDIC now says the property cannot be disposed or alienat-

ed without its consent or without leave of the Federal High Court, having earlier directed

CONTINUED ON PAGE 39

FCTA begins assessment of properties for compensation in land Swap deal Urban Development From: Terhemba Daka, Abuja ET to launch its new Abuja Stiative Land-Infrastructure Swap iniaimed at facilitating rapid infrastructure development and delivery of affordable housing in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory Administration [FCTA] has announced that it would commence enumeration of all the economic trees, farmlands and household to be affected by the scheme in the Phase IV of the southern part of the territory this week.

The land Swap policy is a development initiative recently intro-

The administration has jump-started a process to compensate natives affected by the land Swap policy. Under the development initiative, land is given to investors in exchange for their commitment to develop infrastructure within the area where they are allocated land. duced by the FCTA that involves the granting of land to competent real estate developers who will in turn provide infrastructure, such as good roads, electricity, portable water, storm water drainage, sewer lines and communication dots to the residents, without any financial or technical demand to the government.

FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed who gave the indication last week in Abuja reiterated that

the action was in fulfillment of the promise that adequate compensation would be paid to the natives by the Land Swap investors for economic trees as well as farmlands before the commencement of infrastructural development.

His words: “In fulfillment of the promise to the Abuja natives, I have already directed that the officials of the Resettlement and Compensation Department

under the Federal Capital development Authority (FCDA) in conjunction with the Land Swap investors to next week commence the enumeration of farmlands, economic trees and members of household to enable us have a full and concise data that will be used for compensation and resettlement of the local inhabitants”.

Mohammed disclosed that he instructed the officials of

the FCT Administration and representatives of the investors participating in the Abuja Land Swap Model Initiative to visit all the villages in the affected districts of the Phase IV of the Federal Capital City, as the Ground Breaking is expected to take place next month.

The Minister further revealed that all the villages visited at the weekend for sensitization and community engagement were Waru, Wasa, Takushara, Burum, Sauka (Chikpowu) Kuje Area Council; Kabusa, Sheratti, Ketti and Gbawukuchi (Kuje Area Council).

Mohammed said he was

pleased with the report he got from the site tours in which all the communities visited pledged to cooperate and support the government.

The Minister reassured that all the rights and privileges of the Abuja natives would be adequately protected in consonance with the global best practices, principles of justice, fairness and equity as well as vision of the government’s transformation agenda.

Meanwhile, indications have emerged that the construction of a dual carriageway that runs from Keffi in Nasarawa State to Aliade in Benue state will gulp

CONTINUED ON PAGE 39

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

32 HOMES&PROPERTY

Niger goes tough on land title recertification scheme, plans new roads Land Matters From John Ogiji, Minna N a renewed effort to Iland ensure the success of its recertification exercise and boost its revenue base, the Niger state Government has ordered all members of the State Executive Council to present titles of their property for verification within two weeks.

The Niger state Government had in January this year began the recertification of all land titles as a way of sanitizing land business in the state and the latest government directive to commissioners and permanent secretaries as well as Special Advisers, according to a senior official is to ensure that they lead by example.

General Manager, Niger

The State authorities have mandated members of the executive council to comply with the new rule that ensure property owners pay their ground rents and undertake recertification of land titles. There are also plans to construct 1,000 kilometers of road in different parts of the state State Geographic Information System, Dr. Abdul Hussain revealed the government position last week during an interactive session with stakeholders on the activities of the geographical system in the state.

According him, since the programme started in January appreciable success had been recorded leading to influential members of the society, including two former Nigerian leaders Generals Abdulsalami Abubakar and Ibrahim Babangida as well as the state Governor, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu paying

their ground rents and also applying for the recertification forms.

The idea of the recertification exercise, the General Manager maintained is to ensure that land acquisition in the state is computerised to the extent that access to information on land titles anywhere in the state will be easy.

He argued that land is the major asset of the state government, stressing that since the exercise started the revenue accruable to the government has been increasing in leaps and bounds, saying that unlike what was recorded in

January 2013 where the state raked in N8million, over N15million has entered the coffers of government in the month of February this year.

The General Manager disclosed that the special task force set up for the collection of ground rents have arrested six people and commenced prosecution of four business concerns for violating the law Commenting on the computerization of the land system in the state, he pointed out that exercise has reached appreciable level as over 40,000 files have been computerized. He said that it is now possible for mem-

Housing pros begin onsite project monitoring exercise Professional Practice

By Tosin Fodeke S a preventive measure against collapse of buildings, the professionals in the construction industry have commenced on site monitory of building projects in Lagos State.

At a parley last week, the professionals grouped themselves, an indication

A

All related professional bodies in the built environment were represented at the event, where coordinators strategized towards monitoring project sites in Lagos State. The objective of the group includes supervising projects, providing advice, reporting problems and relate with other professionals and government on collapse building prevention that they are ready to move into all building projects under construction in the state.

The move led by the chairpersons of the Nigeria

Institute of Town Planners, Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Nigerian

Institution of Surveyors, Nigeria Society of Engineers, Nigerian Institute of Building

CONTINUED ON PAGE 35

Babangida-Aliyu bers of the public to verify any information about land in the state.

Similarly, Dr. Hussaini said the agency is also collaborating with the Niger State Water Board, State’s Environmental Protection Agency and the Rural Electricity Board on the computerization of their activities.

Meanwhile, Niger State Governor Mua’zu Babangida-Aliyu has assured that his administration will construct no fewer than 1000 kilometers of road in different parts of the state before the end of his administration.

Aliyu made the pledge when he received Prof. Jerry Gana led Committee on the Northern States Economic Summit which submitted a report to him on his capacity as the Chairman, Northern Governors’ Forum.

He said that the administration has so far constructed 500 kilometers of roads across the state, adding that State’s infrastructural devel-

opment programme will be pursued with more vigour to deliver dividends of democracy to the people in the urban and rural areas.

He said that roads is one of the most important factors that enhance rapid economic development of any society and therefore lamented the deplorable nature of most Federal roads in the state, and urged President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene to change the situation for better.

Aliyu also expressed dissatisfaction with the work at the Suleja - Minna road dualization project being handled by the Federal Government, saying that while the contractor claimed that only a portion of the road was awarded, the officials of the Ministry of Works in their testimony submitted that the dualization job would terminate in Minna.

Governor Aliyu said he recently met with the president during which serious discussion took place about the neglect of Niger state especially in the road sector and the need for things to change for better.

Earlier, Gana who led another members of the committee and Special Adviser to the Vice President Mr. Isaiah Balat had told the governor that the presidency was determined to transform the economy of the northern region through the construction of three hydroelectric dams that will provide energy for industries in the region.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

33

Prime Estates The Enclave lightens up ARM’s Lakowe Lakes Country estate Projects

By Tosin Fodeke HE move to increase housing stock in Lagos area has been boasted by the launch of a new private residential scheme, The Enclave, located within the confines of an ambitious 308 hectare project.

The estate is part of the Lakowe Lakes Golf Estate, being promoted by ARM Properties Plc, a subsidiary of Asset and Resource Management Company Limited (ARM). The Estate is located at Lakowe Village, in the Ibeju-Lekki area in Lagos, approximately 35 kilometers from Victoria Island. Lakowe Lakes is accessed via a serviced road off the Expressway. It is situated approximately 400metres from the Atlantic coast.

The Enclave blends green living with luxurious houses, safe streets, quality infrastructure and 24-hour security. Witth varying housing unit types, the estate seeks to accommodate lower income earners with detached, loft apartments, flats and terraces units The complete gated community also offers exquisite 18 hole championship golf course built to international standards, flexible payment plan, delivery of homes from 2014 and quali-

T

ty lifestyle with homes available from 25million.

Executed under the Build Operate and Transfer system, the estate offers serviced plots of land that range from about 500square metres (sqm) to over 1,000sqm, as well as terrace styled homes for sale.

Prospective home-owners are expected to build their homes within two years of the final payment for the plot upon purchase of land and in accordance to the design and specification the available house types.

Multinational project team responsible for the roll out of the golf estate include Robert O’Friel Golf Course Design Company South Africa (Golf course Designer), Osmond Lange Architects South Africa (Lead Architects and Urban Planners), FMA Architects Nigeria (Architects), Arup (Pty) Limited South Africa (Infrastructure and Civil Engineers ), Arup (Pty) Limited South Africa (Project Managers), FO.AB Nigeria (Quantity Surveyor) and CA Consultants, Nigeria (Mechanical and Electrical Engineers) From its inception, the Home Owners Association (HOA) will be former as a not for profit, legal entity responsible for the supervision, control and regulation of the management of the

Artist impression of houses at The Enclave estate, with the objective of maintaining its high standards into perpetuity.

Other planned amenities for Lakowe Lakes include

the members only golf clubhouse, a lakeside recreational centre, jogging path, corporate lodges, an events centre to create a comple-

mentary balance.

According to senior officials of the company, attractive plots in the first phase of development are on offer

for a limited period over the next three months. "The plots ranging from lake views to fairway and garden views are selling out fast."

34

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Monday March 4, 2013

HOMES&PROPERTY 35

Govt not sincere with housing policy, says Fortune Ebie Housing

...FMBN gets new board

From Bridget Chiedu Onochie and John Okeke, Abuja ITH housing crisis reaching a feverish end and more than 16 million deficit still unmet by the Federal and State authorities, the former Managing Director of Shelter Afrique, Mr. Samuel Fortune-Ebie, has blamed the problem on leaders’ insincerity towards providing mass housing for low-income earners in the country.

Fortune-Ebie who was irked by the inability of government to provide an intervention fund for the sector as done in other sectors, said the solution lies in providing marching grant for the developers and the mortgage sub sector.

Speaking yesterday at a twoday forum organised by the Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reforms, to fine-tune the draft regulations on Land Use Act, the foremost estate surveyor and the first General Manager of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), said that as significant as housing is in the hierarchy of human needs, it was often omitted in successive government’s Presidential Intervention Fund.

He added that when entertainment industry is some-

The pioneer general Manager, Federal Housing Authority has taken a swipe on the Federal Government for its non-commitment to matters concerning housing, especially, funding of mass housing. In another gathering, the minister is urging new FMBN board to develop of alternative funding mechanisms for mass housing delivery

W

times recognized, housing sector has remained at the back seat of government’s priority.

His words: “There was an intervention fund for the Aviation sector, there was intervention in the Power sector, there was intervention in the Banking sector, there was even intervention even in the Nollywood industry but when it comes to housing, government will say it is not sustainable and that is the end.”

He stated that for the nation’s housing needs to be adequately addressed, government must show commitment by allotting funds to the sector.

The Chairman, Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reforms, Prof. Peter Olufemi Adeniyi, fingered lack of necessary guideline and regulations as one of the major pitfalls of the Land Use Act since it came into existence in 1978.

According to him, none of

the key pieces of regulations envisaged to enhance its implementation has been developed and passed by appropriate authority. He added that absence of information on the spatial extent of most land rights has made it difficult to enforce several of the provisions of the law.

The committee had in November last year, organized a stakeholders’ meeting on legitimizing systematic land titling and registration in the country. A key recommendation of the dialogue was that all land in the country, as a matter of urgency should be duly documented using the systematic land titling and registration model.

“The outcome of the twoday forum, which ends today would be forwarded to the National Council of States after its consideration by the National Economic Council as a critical success factor for the transformation of housing delivery, agricultural

modernization and good governance in the country”, Adeniyi said.

Minister of Land, Housing and Urban Development, Ms Amal Pepple, who declared the forum open, confirmed that the intention of Land Use Act to unify the land tenure system nationwide could not been comprehensively achieved after about 35 years of its enactment due to lack of absence of well articulated regulation.

The development, she stressed, has resulted in poor management of land access in Nigeria. “We cannot allow this situation to linger on perpetually bearing in mind that land allocation end use is a very crucial factor of a socio-economic development of any nation as it affects economic stability and wellbeing of the country.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has tasked the new board members of the

Housing pros begin onsite project monitoring exercise CONTINUED FROM PAGE 32 (NIOB), Nigerian Institute Of Architects (NIA), is meant to further forestall cases of building collapse in the state.

Essentially, the professionals divided themselves into the 57 Local Government Development Areas within the state as the look to begin checking the over 42,000 project sites in Lagos.

President of Building Collapse Preventive Guild (BPCG), Kunle Awobode while speaking at a forum to coordinate the professionals’ activities under the BCPG umbrella, stressed that the objective is to take Lagos state as the pilot stage before embarking on a nationwide campaign.

He said, “Lagos State has become a conurbation, a congeries of towns of megacity status. Such vastness has made the state difficult to monitor in the face of rapid physical development.

“Lagos remains the pulsating heart of the nation’s building industry. As at 2008, the Lagos State Government engaged 200 site inspectors to monitor construction works in over 42,000 sites.

He said that this huge problem could only be solved by a collective and pragmatic approach, pointing out that it requires the working together of various professionals in the built environment, involving the artisans as well as other stakeholders.

Awobodu noted that government alone is unable to tackle the problem, adding that a working relationship should be established between professionals in government service and those in the private sector in order to achieve desired results.

He implored the body to

work towards resolving some of the challenges in the industry with the relevant regulatory agencies for more proactive action in the entire system.

Among the Chairpersons

were, Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, Lagos State Chapter, Mr. Afolabi Solesi; Chairman, NIQS Lagos Chapter Mr Olayemi Shonubi, Chairman, Nigerian Institution of

Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Lagos State Chapter, Mr. Sola Fatoki; and his counterpart in the Nigerian Institute of Building, Mr. Jelili Akinpelu.

Pepple Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) to develop a new mechanism to ensures affordable house delivery in the country The Minister who made the charge at the inauguration of the board members urged them to accord priority attention on the development of alternative funding mechanisms and attraction of investment from local and global capital markets at costs and tenors matching the needs of mass housing delivery.

Chief Bisi Ogunjobi chairs the board. Other members are: Dr. Godwin Duru, Representative of the Federal Ministry of Works, two representatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Managing Director, FMBN and three executive Directors of FMBN. She said: “ Your invaluable professional experience, innovation idea generation,

tested capabilities, combined with good teamwork and corporate synergy, will, under your tenure, catalytically reposition the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria as a respectable institution in the built environment to enable it impact the sector more visible and profoundly” Pepple advised that the members sustain momentum achieved in the institution. “The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria has been instrumental to the implementation of the private sector-driven and foreign fund injection thrusts for the effectuation of the National policy on Housing because of its strategic interface with estate developers and primary mortgage institutions, not to mention local and international banks and development finance institutions. It is our hope that the momentum will be sustained.”

36 HOMES&PROPERTY

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

Ondo lauds architects as NIA inducts new members Professinal Practice OLLOWING the successes of Fgramme, its urban renewal proOndo Government has lauded the efforts of the professional architects in transforming the metropolis, saying that they were deliberately engaged to beautify the state capital because of their eyes for aesthetics and in order to help correct the disorderliness that once characterised the city centre.

Governor Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, who spoke last week in Akure during the Nigeria Institute of Architects (NIA) quarterly dinner and investiture at the Government House Ground, Akure. The governor said the urban renewal strategy of his administration was based on his experience while working with renowned architects at the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development when he was the minister.

He said, “Architects are wonderful and special people. They are the best visionaries, while other professionals just actualise their vision.

Architects conceptualise something, which is hitherto not in existence, and create it in physical form that will be admired by all.

“They are not only scientists, but also artists, whose contributions have made very significant contributions to the modest achievements of our administration in the last four years.”

In statement issued after the induction of new members, Mimiko said his urban renewal programme centred on the mass majority of the people because they desired a cleaner environment to live and to do business in order to avoid any form of disease.

For instance, he explained that street traders were removed and relocated to modern neighbourhood markets across the state, while other old traditional markets were re-designed into beautiful and neat edifices.

He said, “We are determined to touch and add values to the lives of our people with our programmes and policies as we battle all kinds of generational poverty.

“That is why we are making aesthetics of our major towns a priority in order to boost the economy of the people in both formal and informal sec-

Mimiko

NIA President

Ondo Government has praised the efforts of the professional architects in transforming the metropolis, saying that they were deliberately engaged to beautify the state capital because of their eyes for aesthetics and in order to help correct the disorderliness. tors.”

To further simplify access to land and building approval without stress, the governor said his administration had created a bureau comprising professionals, who are major stakeholders in real estate development.

The team, according to him, will carry out one-stop processing of all papers relating to approval for Certificate of Occupancy.

The governor also said residents were pleased with his urban renewal programme even though some of their houses had to be demolished in the process.

Mimiko explained that his administration made it a point to pay adequate compensation to owners and occupants of buildings marked for demolition whether they had approved plans or not, before rolling out the bulldozers.

He said, “This was so because owners of the affected buildings were carried along in the entire project from conception, and they were adequately compensated, while their tenants and shop owners were also paid to relocate.

He said the completion of the project had improved the aesthetics of Akure metropolis and increased the values of buildings in the area.

The governor also said the Dome project, which will be the biggest in-door capacity hall in Nigeria, would be completed by his administration before the end of the year.

Earlier, the National President, NIA, Mr. Ibrahim Haruna, said that the urban

renewal efforts of Mimiko had turned Akure to wonderful scenery that was romantically beautiful and constantly eliciting smiles from happy residents.

Haruna, who said he did an independent assessment of some of the projects executed by the governor within the city, commended him for the re-construction of the Arakale Road and provision of motor parks and bus shelters on major highways.

He said, “Mimiko’s transformational agenda is a product of guts and care, which are the hallmark that typify a core professional. Everyone will notice a glaring difference in Lagos, Ondo and Kano, among others, which are being governed by professionals.

“This is the more reason why more professionals should be encouraged to venture into politics because they bring into governance the ethics of their various professions.”

Haruna commended Mimiko for involving professional architects in the execution of his projects and urged him to establish one-stop building approval desk that would comprise professionals in the construction industry to be a model for development control.

The 1st Vice Chairman, NIA, Mr. Waheed Brimmo, said the issue of quackery was a major challenge and called on all state chapters to tackle the scourge with vigour.

The induction of new members was conducted by the Secretary of the NIA, Mr. Abdullahi Abubakar.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

HOMES&PROPERTY 37

Lagos plans 1,008 estate in Ijora-Badia urban renewal scheme Housing

By Tunde Alao RESH efforts already underFsupport way to establish a broader base for the Lagos Mega city project may have resumed in earnest, with the launch of Ijora-Badia urban renewal drive, an initiative to turn the once slum area to a liveable neighborhood.

Beside the urban renewal push, the State is also pushing for the construction of a 1, 008 housing units of various house types to complement the pursuit of mass housing delivery programme of the state’s Ministry of Housing.

Located in Ijora Alawo area, the new scheme, the 1008 units of different house types is to be developed under the Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (HOMS), a new project put in place by the Housing Ministry.

Although the details of the project is still sketchy, but The Guardian learnt that the project that would be in three phases would have as the first phase, clearing of the site, followed by the commencement of the necessary infrastructure such as road networks, and the building of the homes proper.

It was also gathered that the housing types would comprise of one, two and three bedroom flats, with one and two bedrooms making the larger chunk of the entire units. According to senior government officials, this is to ensure that the low and mid-

Lagos Commissioner for Housing, Mr Bosun Jeje(centre), and his counterpart in the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative Prince Gbolahan Lawal, the Special Adviser to Governor on Housing,Jimoh Ajao, Commissioner for Physical Planning, Mr.Toyin Ayinde, and representatives of Ojora Chieftancy Family and Residents Association during a meeting last week.

Amid health and environmental concerns, the state authorities have set the stage for the conversion of the demolished site in Ijora-Badia to a housing estate. However, to assuage the former occupants, the government will be offering them opportunity to acquire the houses on completion. dle-income earners maximally benefit form the proposed project.

However, because of protests that followed the demolition

of the shanties, it was learnt that government is considering how to assuage the affected residents of the area.

Besides, Governor Babatunde Fashola, last week assured the displaced people that they would be carried along in the

project. He ordered that their representatives to be included in the stakeholders’ committee already put in place by the government.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, told The Guardian that whatever might be the outcome of the committee’s deliberations; the former residents would have the

privilege of receiving the ‘First Offer of Refusal’.

Meanwhile, a meeting was held between the government, land owners and the former residents of the project site at the Ministry of Housing, where the parties agreed that the project should go on as planned while the

CONTINUED ON PAGE 38

38 HOMES&PROPERTY

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

Lagos residential rents will sustain upward growth in 2013, says report Housing

By Chinedum Uwaegbulam

The report says, asking rents on single and multi-family units in the highbrow Lagos Island market have been on a rollercoaster. But over the last three years, yields have been significantly higher on the Mainland market compared to the Island market except in 2010 when yields on the Island surpassed the Mainland just marginally.

FTER a lackluster year in 2011 A which saw rents take a nose dive across the board, a new report released last week show that the Lagos residential market will witness growth in asking rents on single and multifamily units and a better yield for property investors both in the Lagos Island and Mainland area in 2013.

The report - Lagos Residential Rents Report, 2013Outlook, authored by a Lagos-based

Aerial view of Victoria Island, Lagos research group, Residential Auctions Company (RAC), led

by Rotimi Akinlose forecasts a slow growth of about 4.8 per cent and 1.5 per cent on single and multi-family units respectively in asking rents on single

and multi-family units in 2013 for the Lagos Island Market.

RAC also expects to see asking rents on all property types sustain an upward direction, 5.7 per cent on single family units and a modest 16.5 per cent rise on multi- family units this year for the Lagos Mainland Market as demand for accommodation continues to grow across the central locations.

Over the last three years, asking rents on single and multi-family units in the high-brow Lagos Island market have been on a rollercoaster due to some of the following factors that include currency movements (the volatile exchange rate between the Naira and USD), oil prices and the banking crisis.

Another factor that has affect-

ed rents in this market albeit on a positive tone is the insecurity affecting some parts of the country causing several companies to relocate their expatriate staff to Lagos as a measure of s e c u r i t y .

In 2011, asking rents on single family units were down by -25 per cent while rents on multifamily units were also down by 8.8per cent. In 2012, asking rents rose significantly where the average asking rent for a 4/5 bedroom single family unit in the Lagos Island market was N7, 158,333 up 28.4 per cent from the previous year while the average rent for a 3 bedroom multi-family unit was N6, 889,167 up 17.7 per cent also from the previous y e a r .

Akinlose told The Guardian,

“the sharp rise in rents especially on single family units can be attributed to the increased demand for these units by households that desire more space and privacy. Also demand from blue chip companies looking to convert these units into office space due to the high rents in purpose built offices is responsible for driving up rents on single family units especially in Ikoyi and Victoria Island.”

In the Mainland, the report revealed that within the last three years, Omole Phase II has seen the highest growth in asking rents on single-family units.

Between 2009 and 2012 asking rents on this unit type grew by a compounded annual rate of 16.7 per cent and followed by Ilupeju, which has also seen ask-

ing rents rise by 15.9per cent.

Similarly, 2011 was a slow performer with asking rents dropping off where the average asking rent on single-family units fell by -9.9 per cent while the asking rent on multi-family units fell steeply by -2.7per cent. In 2012, asking rents rose sharply as the market rebounded. The average asking rent on a 4/5 bedroom single family unit increased by 29.7 per cent to N2, 510,595 from an average asking rent of N1, 935,205 in 2011.

Also in the same period, the average asking rent on a 3 bedroom multi-family unit increased by 49.9 per cent to N1, 308,750 from an average rent of N873, 241 in 2011. The breaking of the N1million mark for rents on 3 bedroom multi-family units indicates the growing demand for such units amidst low supply in the market.

Maryland has the highest growth rate in asking rents on multi-family units in the same period. Between 2009 and 2012 asking rents on multi-family units grew by a compounded annual rate of 40.6per cent, followed by Ogudu GRA, which has seen asking rents on multi-family units grow by a compounded annual rate of 28.8 per cent over the last three years. Some locations such as Anthony Village, Maryland, Gbagada, Ilupeju, Ogudu GRA and Yaba are gradually witnessing the emergence of serviced apartment units being targeted at young profess i o n a l s .

Likewise, yields have been significantly higher on the Mainland market compared to the Island market within the period, except in 2010 when yields on the Island surpassed the Mainland just marginally.

The average yield on residential property for the Mainland is estimated at 4.30per cent yearly while the average yield on the Island is estimated at 3.64 per cent yearly.

Lagos plans 1,008 estate in Ijora-Badia CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37 host community will cooperate with the contractor to ensure that the project is delivered on schedule.

The representatives of the community had visited the seat of government to pledge support for the laudable project which they acknowledged will change the face of the community and it’s environ for the better.

Speaking Prince Baki-Faro Ojora and Tedunjaiye Raymond representing land owners and the residents respectively, appealed to government to ensure that the displaced landlords in the affected parcel of land are part of the beneficiaries of the housing units, a request that received positive response.

The Commissioners for Housing, Mr. Bosun Jeje; Agriculture, Prince Gbolahan Lawal; Physical Planning and Urban Development, Toyin Ayinde; Information and strategy, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba and Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Mr. Jimoh Ajao took turn to explain the concept of the project and sincerity of government to them.

Having allayed their fear about housing allocation, the residents were also assured of the enormous economic ben-

efits that await them in the course of the construction of the estate.

The government representatives noted that Ijora has a large population of artisans whose services will be required by the contractor. It was stated that it is a standing rule that residents are afforded employment opportunities in all project sites of the Lagos State Government and that this will not be an exception.

The team revealed that the urban renewal of Ijora will not stop with the development of the 1,008 estate at Ijora Alawo but will continue in phases until the entire area is transformed into a neighbourhood of envy.

The light rail under construction, which will also have a major terminus at Ijora, is bound to reduce the transportation burden of the people, increase socio-economic activities in and around the area and expose the people to a new lifestyle.

The proposed estate has provision for a 1, 000 stalls market that will take traders of the road and railway lines. It will have a central sewage treatment plant, and also boast of service plots and play ground that makes a complete modern community.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

Parties in fresh battle over Fortune Towers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31 the police force to remain in or take control for the purpose of safe-keeping the premises until otherwise directed by the court.

Besides, NDIC says that from the investigation conducted at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), it found that the purported buyer of the Tower was incorporated on or about the 27th of December, contending that an unincorporated company like Cowries Business Solutions as at December 29 2007 could not enter into any transaction for the acquisition of Fortune Towers.

According to NDIC, the purportedly illegal sale of the

property took place while winding up process or the distressed bank still on, therefore asking the court to declare the sale deal as ineffectual, illegal, unlawful, null and void. Also, it is seeking an order of the court setting aside the notice to quit the tenants as well as an order restraining the defendants and all their cronies from disturbing it (NDLC) to perform its role and exercise of all possessory rights over the disputed property until the said bank is fully and finally would up by order of the court.

Union Bank on its part says that the court should dismiss NDIC’s application having gotten an order of court to take possession of the property.

FCTA begins assessment of properties for compensation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31 a whooping $245 million.

Minister of State for Works, Alhaji Bashir Yuguda who spoke at an interactive session with members of the House Committee on Loans and Debt Management, said the Chinese Government in collaboration with NEXIM Bank has agreed to borrow Nigeria the amount to construct the road, which covers 470 kilometers.

The loan, which has only two per cent interest, will be repaid in 20 years with five years moratorium. He said the Federal Government would pay a 15 per cent counterpart funding while China/NEXIM Bank provides the remaining

85 per cent.

Yuguda explained that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which is one of the requirements for accessing the loan has been signed and a Chinese contractor engaged to carry out the job.

He said the ministry was still shopping for funds for conversion of 9th Mile, Makurdi Road into a dual carriageway explaining that the request the ministry submitted to the Ministry of Finance has not been honoured.

Earlier, Chairman, House Committee on Loans and Debt Management, Adeyinka Ajayi said the committee needed clarifications on the terms of

HOMES&PROPERTY

39

40

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

41

42

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

43

44

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

HOMES&PROPERTY 45

UPDC’s N1.5b Grandville Estate berths in Lagos Mainland Projects

By Emmanuel Badejo ISTORY of some sorts H was made by Messrs UACN Property Development Company (UPDC) as the frontline estate firm added another impetus in housing delivery with the unveiling of a N1.5b Grandville Estate in the high-flying neighbourhood of Ikeja Government Reserved Area (GRA).

Coming as the first project announcing the presence of the property development and Management Company on the Mainland, Grandville Estate, sitting on 5,999 square metres of land at Ladoke Akintola Street, consists of 18 units of four-bedroom townhouses with oneroom boys quarter each.

The estate parades state-ofthe-art facilities including a swimming pool /pool bar, video door phone, gymnasium, children’s playground, CCTV, and fire fighting and detection systems.

Other facilities are sewage treatment plant, borehole and water treatment plant, burglar alarm system, transformers and standby generators, plus an ample parking space for residents and visitors.

At the commissioning of the project recently, Group Managing Director, UAC Nigeria Plc and Chairman, UPDC, Mr. Larry Ephraim Ettah, said Grandville had come to complement the mega city strategy of Lagos State Government.

“In 2011, our company took the decision to extend our development activities to the Lagos Mainland; in line with our broad objective of complementing the mega city strategy of Lagos State Government. Ikeja GRA was our first choice on the Mainland because of its strategic fit with our portfolio mix and the recognized need to meet the identified yearnings of a growing customer base on the Lagos Mainland.”

Ettah also revealed the company’s collaborative effort with Lagos State

The property development firm has completed its first estate in the Lagos Mainland estate, which parades state-of-the-art facilities such as swimming pool, video door phone, gymnasium, children’s playground, CCTV, and fire fighting and detection systems Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) on a waste recycling bank.

“We have recently collaborated with LAWMA to build recycling banks in selected locations in parts of Lagos, including Grandville Estate.

The facility is available not only for residents of Grandville, but also for all their neighbours who share in our desire to build an environmentally responsible society.

“Our promise at UPDC is that we will continue to complement government’s efforts to brighten the infrastructural landscape of our nation by embarking on real estate projects that conform to international standards.”

He said Grandville Estate was another initiative aimed at deepening the real estate market by offering members of the public the opportunity to invest.

Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Bosun Jeje, commended UPDC for delivering quality projects in the real estate sector. He said the organisation’s partnership with the government in providing solution to housing problems in the state was commendable.

“Housing is a key sector in the present administration’s agenda and UPDC is partnering with the government in coming up with projects like this. I assure you that government will also continue to partner with UPDC,” he said.

UPDC’s Grandville Estate recently...

The company’s Managing Director, Hakeem Oguniran, said his company recognised the growing customer needs and demand from upper segment of the market, which brought about the construction of the estate.

According to him, UPDC has been constructing luxury and premium high-end estates, but recently shifted its focus to mid-income market. “We have introduced new products in the market which we call ‘Comfort Home and Classic Apartment’ and these are meant to serve the midincome market.”

Construction work on the estate, which is estimated to have cost N1.5 billion, including land cost, started in September 2011, accord-

ing to Ettah, the estate is another milestone by UPDC. “We will continue to build for sustainable value by ensuring that our designs comply with the basic tenets of sustainability, environmental friendliness and corporate social responsibility,” he said.

Oguniran affirms that UPDC will continue to deliver housing to the market, explaining that, “real estate development is the only business that we do and it is one that we have done over the years, which we believe we have mastered.”

He added: “We understand the dynamics of the industry and we really take a look at our business model in line with changes in the economy. We try to align our model with what the

Women builders seek new role in construction process Professional Practice

By Tosin Fodeke UOYED by past achieveB ments of female professionals, the Association of Women Builders in Nigeria (APWBN) are clamouring for more roles in the construction process to speed up national development.

In Nigeria, building and construction has traditionally been a predominantly male domain and the world over, there have been increased calls for women to be accorded more roles in the profession.

APWBN President Mrs. Kawu Mohammed while speaking during the association’s second general meeting and lecture stated that the association had begun moves towards ensuring that its services are engaged in construction planning, preparation of building production documents, project manage-

Women involvement in the construction sector remain very low and Association of Women Builders in Nigeria (APWBN) has clamoured to be given greater role in national development stressing that the positive gender role they possess must always be brought to bear in professional roles. ment, facility management, feasibility and training of young builders.

Mohammed while calling on all member of the association to settle their differences, stressed that women builders need to be more involved in nation building.

“Being in a male dominated field means we have to really work hard whether in public or private sector, so that the confidence our male colleagues have shown in us would continue to grow. Women are emerging as a talent resource that brings new perspectives and leadership styles for creating, implementing and managing a changing industry in a chal-

lenging economy.”

Mohammed added.

Also, guest speaker at the event, Alhaja Zainab Bolarinwa, a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Builders (NIOB), explained that since women are fewer than men in the built environment, hence more eyes are focus on them when it comes to service delivery.

Bolarinwa asserted that generally in the industry, women are wrongly judged to be rude, proud, arrogant, or stubborn which is a wrong accession that has a negative impact on out practice.

She however stated that despite the erroneous beliefs, women have over

time proved their leadership qualities and thereby achieve set objectives better and faster than some male counterparts.

“You will agree that where women are heads the success achieved in some government ministries at the Federal and State levels have had distinctive impact on the service delivery” stated Bolarinwa.

NIOB President, Mr. Chucks Omeife, who was a guest at the meeting, pledged the parent body’s support for APWBN. He said the association has added value to NIOB, and acts as a veritable vehicle for creating awareness and changing public perception that the building profession was only for the male folks.

“In tandem with my pronouncement during the association’s inauguration at the last AGM in Enugu, supporting the association is not a choice but the only option,” Omeife said.

customer wants and the direction of the economy.

These are basically what we do in order to stay afloat in this industry.”

Titilayo Ajayi, the company’s general manager, sales

and marketing, said: “When we started, we sold each unit for N110 million but the value has appreciation by as much as N10 million. So, each unit now sells for N120 million.”

Cornerstone Estate slashes prices in Oregun housing project Housing ETERMINED to provide D affordable houses to the teeming population, Cornerstone Real Estate Limited last week offered a price reduction on its housing scheme in Oregun-Ikeja, Lagos.

The development, according to company Chairman, Mr. Lanre Okupe is designed to make it affordable for households and corporate bodies to purchase their homes.

Tagged ‘’Easter Promotional Sales’’, the offer is meant to slash N12.5 million for the first five patrons of their houses in the Phase II of the OregunIkeja Housing Project.

Essentially, the on-going Phase II comprises 14-unit houses; two 3 bedroom detached house with one room Boys’ Quarters at N90 million each; six 4 bedroom semi-detached house with one room Boys’ Quarters at N85 million each, six 3 bedroom terrace house at N75 million.

The duplexes sit on an approximate land area of 350m2-400m2 each with four bedrooms, all en-suite while the ground floor space area includes the entrance lobby, foyer, main living room, dinning, kitchen, visitors’ toilet, guest room en-suite’’.

The first floor space area, include the family lounge with balcony, two bedrooms and the master’s bedroom, all en-suite, spacious living and dining areas with exquisite wood work, well-finished wardrobes and kitchen cabinet, P.O.P ceiling and stainless steel aluminum railings among others.

In a statement signed its Media Affairs Consultant, Mr. Dele Oguntayo, said that an allottee that makes outright payment on any of the units, he said would enjoy the discount while an allottee who pays 30per cent deposit and the balance within 180 days will qualify for N10m savings.

Okupe emphasized that individual allottee or corporate body that buys four units at the advertised price would get the fifth unit free, if they pay 30 per cent deposit and balance within 180 days. ‘’All these offer last between March 4, 2013-April 4, 2013. It is important to mention that this offer is on a first come first served basis’’, the chairman added. ‘’Having completed the Phase 1 of the five -acre housing estate project in Oregun which comprises 26 units duplexes, terraces and detached houses for outright sale for residential purposes; the Phase II of the construction project at the Oregun site in which the promotional offer encompasses has commenced’’, Okupe noted.

According to him, two units of duplexes were still available for either sale or re-allocation in the Phase 1 at N85 million each.

Each, Okupe said has infrastructural facilities like road, drainage, perimeter fence, borehole water, PHCN 500KVA transformer including internal reticulation.

The firm’s proprietors have been delivering, successfully, houses to Nigerians for over 25 years with over ten housing estates and other major projects to their credit.

46

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

HOMES&PROPERTY 47

Work in top gear at Lagos’ Agbowa resettlement project Projects Stories by Tunde Alao ESOLVED to provide R immediate shelter for disaster victims, the Lagos State Government has commenced construction work on a permanent resettlement home at Agbowa, in Agbowa-Ejinrin Local Council Development Authority (LCDA) of the state.

Named “Lagos State Flood Victim Resettlement Scheme”, this is one of the state government’s efforts to stem the tide of displacement and homelessness of victims of one kind of disaster or the other.

The Agbowa resettlement home is designed as a 28 blocks of one-two bedrooms apartments. The project is being handed by Messrs Homes Deal Ventures (HDV) Nigeria Limited, while Ministry of the Environment is the supervising ministry.

Unlike the former camp, also located at the other end of the town, the on-going permanent centre is located inside the community and very close to the Lagoon.

Sources said that the camp was designed to holistically embrace the socio-economic, education and health needs of the people and children for as long as they remain in the camp. Unlike what entails at the temporary camp, where a lot of

The idea of a more expansive resettlement centre came as a result of the experience of the temporary camp that was put in place after the flood disaster that occurred at AjegunleOwode, in Ikorodu area in 2011. The new centre is designed to address the perceived inadequacies inadequacies were experienced, the new centre is designed to adequately take care of the needs of the people.

The building structure is a mixture of steel and concrete materials. The terrain of the area informed the adoption of factory-like structure, according to one of the site engineers.

“The terrain is close to the Lagoon, hence, the choice of steel as reinforcement.

Besides, design also put into consideration, the peculiarity of the would-be occupants, who are transitory residents.”

Transitory in the sense that their tenancy is subject to the nature of the disaster they suffer and the length of time they would stay, the number of occupants at such a given time and other

Ongoing construction work at Agbowa project site...recently factors like that. sons”.

“So, making use of convenAmong the reasons tional building materials advanced included security would mean a consistent and easy transportation of replacement of items, men and goods through the unnecessary of rehabilita- water system, especially, if tion and replacement of the situation is critical. It materials, which may affect was argued that in the event the durability and longevity of emergency, movement of of the building”, said the men and goods by road ususource. ally fraught with delays Besides, the choice of the occasioned by traffic probsite, said official who plead- lems, crowd control and ed anonymity informed similar factors. that it was for “strategic rea- Speaking on the project recently, Governor Babatunde Fashola, said the completion of the project is paramount to his administration. According to him,

Lagos engages contractors in Surulere drainage project Projects IVEN the prediction of Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) that this year will witness heavy rains, the Lagos Government has commenced construction of drainages and canals in the Surulere Local Government Area to reduce the impacts on its citizens.

The State’s Ministry of the Environment is anchoring the project and six contractors have been contracted to undertake work in 13 areas.

The contractors are: Messrs Fortra Services, who is handling rectangular drain along Gbajumothat would de-flood Gbajumo, Curtis, Adamu Orisha streets and part of Jalupon Close and the environs.

Others are Messrs Dredging and Construction Alternative, handling construction exercise in Itolo, Johnson, Abosede Kuboye, Imam Dauda, and Akinsemoyin Strees while the construction of Owolabi/Adetola collection drain is being handled by Messrs Dekam Ventures. The contractor is to construct a 400metres rectangular drain and a 10 metres culvert that would help in deflooding Adetola Owolabi Ashiribo Alimi Streets and the environs.

Messrs Messrs Niran Nigeria Limited work encompasses Akorede Market/Adeshina Street, Agunlejika and Itire/Ikate drainage. The 1,800 rectangular drains under construction will serve Ijesha Road, part of Pako Aguda, Omilani, and Odo Olowu Adeshina Streets, include Agunlejika, Akorede Market and Lord Chosen Church and

G

To ensure that Surulere axis in Lagos mainland is free of flooding, government has mobilized six contractors to handle different sections of the drainage networks and ensure their completion before rain commences its environs.

Already, there is a proposal for the construction of Gbajumo collector drain.

Another drainage channel will be linking Itire Road/Owolewa/Akerele collector drain, meant to deflooding of Ansarudeen High School and Ansarudeen Grammar School up to Falolu.

The areas that would benefit from the ongoing drainage construction comprised of Ojuelegba Randle and Falolu. Besides, there is an ongoing construction of Surulere drainage network channel and another construction of connecting drain between Ilu-Eri and Brewery.

This massive drainage construction in Otumare Village, Ilu-Eri that connects Brewery serves Apapa Road, Olaleye, Iponri, Ojo Oniyun and Western Avenue.

During the visit of ministry officials to the project sites, they discovered an encroachment by BAGCO and Flour Mills on Abosede Kuboye/BAGCO section of Surulere drainage network; a situation that the Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, said must be resolved quickly before rain commences.

The team also visited Adetola /Owolabi area to assess the ongoing AdetolaOwolabi collector drain that commenced in 2012, and the clearing of Adegbola/Adeshina Drain,

Akorede market collector drain and Empire/ Rail Road.

Other condition that Bello described as “environmental aberration”, include the opening of illegal access road by artisans under the descent of Eko Bridge and illegal settlement behind Fountain High School, at the Babas Animashaun/Olatunde Onimole area of Surulere.

The commissioner, while expressed satisfaction on the extent of jobs done so far asked the contractors to ensure that they complete their assignment on schedule.

However, he frowned at the attitude of some factories and residents whose activities he described as worrisome.

“Our mission is to ensure that Lagos is free from flooding this year and subsequent years alike. But in a situation by which some elements in the society would want to do whatever they like, thereby sabotaging government efforts would not be allowed.

Therefore, we are appealing to every body, including the corporate organisations to ensure that they didn’t do anything that would cause a face off between them and government”, Bello said. The Permanent Secretary, Drainage Services, Mr. Muyideen Akinsanya, an engineer, and other directors in the ministry, accompanied him on the tour.

there is need for proactive measure against any occurrence of natural disaster.

“Nobody is praying for evil to happen. But it is part of reality of life that there are unexpected and unsavoury developments beyond man’s control. And as a responsible government, we would not want to be caught unaware, hence the need to put in place a conducive accommodation for resettlement of would-be victims”.

The idea of a more expansive accommodation came as a result of the experience of the temporary camp that

PHOTO: TUNDE ALAO was put in place after the flood disaster that occurred at Ajegunle-Owode, in Ikorodu area of Lagos State in 2011, where hundreds of people were displaced.

The former temporary camp in Agbowa, despite every effort by government to ensure the safety and conveniences of the people, proved difficult. The difficulties experienced included meeting the health needs of the people, the education of their children, conjugal obligations of the families and other sundry needs, the situation which the new centre is designed to effectively addressed.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

48

The Environment

Lagos is providing carbon sink through its tree planting programme

Lagos holds climate talks, targets new options to tackle vulnerability Climate Change

By Chinedum Uwaegbulam ITH the message from W conservation leaders that the battle to save the earth will be won or lost in cities, Lagos authorities have taken the prediction seriously and continued to be a trailblazer on issues of climate change, preempting and promoting environmentally sustainable development.

The reasons are not farfetched. During Last year’s national disaster, numerous communities were overrun by flood as major rivers, swollen from weeks of heavy rainfall and release of water upstream, overflowed their banks.

Thousands were displaced and subsequently accommodated at relief camps established at several locations nationwide.

However, Lagos State did not record any disaster compared to other states, a development attributed to the year–round, state-wide anti-flooding pro-

The State has committed itself to a comprehensive response approach that will include climate change information system, flood risk analysis and operational adaptation strategy, with emphasis on increasing people’s resilience gramme put in place by the state government. This year, government has commenced massive dredging, expansion and cleaning of drainage channels across the state in readiness for this year’s rainy season.

While presenting the agency’s report of this year’s rainfall expectations, DirectorGeneral, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Dr Anthony Anuforom, subsequently commended Lagos as the only state in the country that had a deliberate and concerted anti-flooding programme in place, which might have been responsible for its less flooding incidences.

In fact, he urged other states in the federation to emulate Lagos State. The agency has warned that the rains will be

intensive this year and that communities located along the Niger River basin should brace up for more flood.

NIMET officials put the commencement of the rains from February running through June, with a lull between early October and late December across the country.

However, this and other related issues will soon be put into perspective at an international forum, courtesy of the Lagos State Government. In what appears to have become a tradition, state authorities are once again confronting the climate change challenge.

Specifically, plans are already in top gear for the 5th Lagos Climate Change Summit holding from March 13th to 15th, 2013 in Victoria Island, with the theme: “Vulnerability and Adaptability to Climate

Change in Nigeria: Lagos State Transportation, Housing and Infrastructure in Focus.”

Previous events have recorded a measure of success, attracting local and international experts, while a wide range of recommendations, which, upon their implementation, have helped to advance the state’s adaptation and mitigation capabilities to the impact of climate change.

For instance, participants agreed last year that the State should continue to develop and improve its early warning systems in respect of severe and extreme weather events and ensure that these warnings reach potentially affected populations timely to enable them address climate change impacts in agriculture, health, and water resources.

Similarly, the State should

invest in research and development innovation to enable it to capitalize on a number of new opportunities that climate change offers, particularly for innovative approaches to the diversification of the State’s energy mix, development of alternative energy sources, energy efficiency, cleaner technologies and industries.

They agreed that Installation of proven catalytic converters in cars should be enforced at the ports of entry and encourage car-pooling as well as mass transport system to facilitate the reduction of vehicular emissions.

It was recommended that Lagos State should continue to undertake targeted greenhouse gas emission (GHG) inventory of the industrial, telecommunication and transport sectors to monitor the effectiveness of its strategies and initiatives to curtail GHG e m i s s i o n s .

Consequently, the state declared July 14 of every year as Tree Planting Day in the

state. It came under a programme aimed at planting millions of trees to beautify Lagos and also provide a carbon sink. Five million trees have so far reportedly been planted.

Also, in order to address the problem of flooding arising from the increasingly high rainfall pattern, the state has committed to grow the scope and capacity of existing drainage channels in the city and the construction of new ones. Such channels are also being lined with concrete.

“As a pro-active government, Lagos State Government has devotedly implemented its resolution at these summits in the areas of intensive advocacy, annual massive tree planting exercises, and construction of effective drainage channels to contain flood, improved waste management, recycling programmes, and exploration of renewable energy sources, amongst others,” according to State’s Environment Commissioner, Tunji Bello.

Man-made chemicals cited in health scourges, UN report The Environment AN-made chemicals in M everyday products are likely to be at least the partial cause of a global surge in birth deformities, hormonal cancers and psychiatric diseases, a U.N.-sponsored research team reported last week.

These substances, dubbed EDCs, could also be linked to a decline in the human male sperm count and female fertility, to an increase in once-rare childhood cancers and to the

The report says that many hundreds of thousands chemicals are in use around the world and only a small fraction had been assessed for their potential to spark disease by upsetting the endocrinal, or hormonal, systems of humans and animals. disappearance of some animal species, they said.

“It is clear that some of these chemical pollutants can affect the endocrinal (hormonal) system and ....may also interfere with the development processes of humans and wildlife species,” the report declared.

The international group, academic experts working under the umbrella of the United Nations environmental and health agencies UNEP and WHO, issued their findings in a paper updating a 2002 study on the potential dangers of synthetic chemicals.

Declaring “a global threat that

needs to be resolved,” the team said humans and animals across the planet were probably exposed to hundreds of these often little-studied or understood compounds at any one time.

“We live in a world in which man-made chemicals have become part of everyday life,”

said their 28-page report, “State of the Science of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals, 2012,” issued as a policy guide for governments.

EDCs include phthalates long used in making plastics soft and flexible. Products made from them include toys, children’s dummies, perfumes and pharmaceuticals, as well as cosmetics like deodorants that are absorbed into the body.

Another is Bisphenol A, or BPA, which is used to harden plastics and is found in food

and beverage containers, including some babies’ bottles and the coating of food cans.

A few countries - including the United States, Canada and some European Union members - have already banned the use of some of them in certain products, especially those destined for the use of children.

But, the report said, “many hundreds of thousands” are in use around the world and only a small fraction had been

CONTINUED ON PAGE 49

THE ENVIRONMENT

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

IPCC urges Obama to raise awareness on science behind climate change Climate Change ARACK Obama should B spread awareness of the “scientific realities of climate change“ in the United States, the head of the UN’s climate science panel has told The Guardian, London, last week.

Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Rajendra Pachauri said that one of the president’s priorities should be “awareness creation” on the public’s understanding of the science underpinning manmade global warming.

The IPCC has come under some of the most intense attacks it has faced from heavily funded climate sceptic groups in the US, where industry-funded lobbing groups, Republicans and some Democrat politicians have resisted federal action on energy policy and climate.

Pachauri also welcomed Obama’s pledge to tackle climate change in his second term: “I was particularly encouraged by the president’s state of the union address, where he highlighted what we should really be listening too, in terms of the voice of science,” he said after a speech at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh “I have always believed if you want action in the field of climate change, it has to be driven by an understanding, an application of what science has told us, what the IPCC has been telling us. So from that point of view, I think what President Obama said was particularly heartening.”

In his inaugural address at the Capitol on 21 January, Obama presented his climate strategy partly as a moral, religious obligation as he sought to build

IPCC chief, Rajendra Pachauri says US president should push for improving public’s understanding of man-made global warming, warning that failing to act on climate change would “betray our children and future generations common ground with some of those critics.

Warning that failing to act on climate change would “betray our children and future generations,” he added: “Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires, and crippling drought, and more powerful storms.”

Pachauri said there were three priorities for the US: to spread awareness of the “scientific realities of climate change”; it must make different types of energy, such as coal, properly reflect their impacts on climate and their scarcity by introducing some form of carbon pricing or ‘cap in trade’, and finally, focus quickly on preparing for extreme climate events.

He listed those three issues as “awareness creation; making sure energy prices are rationalised and providing a price on carbon, because that would ensure you’re going to develop policies that are going to be low in terms of emissions and intensity. And finally, I think it’s also important for a country like the US to take in hand climate adaptation measures: there should be a very clear plan.”

A fellow at Yale University’s Climate and Energy Institute,

FRICAN Governments are A failing to keep their funding promises on sanitation, a

UN launches Africa plan to swap kerosene for solar The Environment IGERIA could save US$1.4 N billion a year and avoid using 17.3 million barrels of crude oil if it used modern offgrid lighting solutions.

That’s one finding of a new UN study into lighting in Africa, a continent that relies heavily on kerosene, candles and batteries to light homes.

In West Africa alone, 76per cent of the population lacks access to electricity and spends up to 20per cent of the household budget on kerosene for lighting.

Not only do these practices release huge levels of carbon emissions, they also contribute to lung complaints and are huge polluters across the continent.

The research forms part of an initiative from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to accelerate the deployment of energy efficient light bulbs and LEDs and small-scale solar panels in 50 developing countries.

“Replacing the world’s 670 million kerosene lamps with cleaner, safer solar-powered lighting represents a major opportunity to deliver across multiple fronts,” UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said.

“From cuts in global carbon emissions, health risks from indoor air pollution, support for green technologies and the generation of green jobs.”

Globally, UNEP says over 1.3 billion people live without access to electric light, while 25 bil-

210 million more Africans lack access to sanitation than in 1990 Water

Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Rajendra Kumar Pachauri. Photograph: Martial Trezzini/EPA and chairman of the board of change – the limit set out by the Columbia university’s IPCC’s fourth assessment International Research report in 2007. This required Institute for Climate and immediate urgent action on Society, Pachauri said he nar- emissions – peaking by 2015 rowly avoided superstorm and then falling – and the tranSandy in October 2012, leaving sition away from fossil fuels. the US the day before it hit.

Pachauri said the next IPCC “I know life over there was dev- assessment report, due out in astated by what happened,” he 2014, would lay out a series of said. detailed scenarios for different Pachauri confirmed he still emissions “pathways”: that believed the world had to would include a no action, avoid CO2 levels in the atmos- business as usual prediction phere, currently at 395ppm, but also “negative emissions” hitting 450 parts per million to strategies, which could actualavoid dangerous climate ly cut CO2 levels.

49

new WaterAid report has revealed.

The report warns that unless investment is increased, the challenges of urbanisation, climate change and most critically population growth risk turning the clock back on sanitation access even furt h e r .

From 1990 to 2010, the population of Sub-Saharan Africa grew by 340 million, however only 130 million people secured access to sanitation over the same period. In total nearly 600 million SubSaharan Africans – 70 per cent of the population – are without access to a safe toilet.

The Keeping promises: why African leaders need now to deliver on their past water and sanitation commitments report uses official Government figures from five African Governments – Ghana, Niger, Sierra Leone, Rwanda and Uganda – to show that funding on sanitation is falling short of government commitments across the continent.

In 2008 African Governments signed the eThekwini declaration, which committed them to spend at least 0.5 per cent of their GDP on sanitation and hygiene, and to put in place separate budget lines for water and sanitation spending to improve accountability and track progress. Five years on, only one country, Equatorial Guinea, has been confirmed to have met the 0.5per cent funding commitment.

The report also highlights United Nations Development Programme estimates, that the shortfall in water and sanitation services cost subSaharan African countries up to 5 per cent of gross domes-

tic product (GDP) each year ($55.6 billion in 2010)(6), more than is provided in development aid to the entire continent ($47.9 billion in 2 0 1 0 ) .

WaterAid Pan-Africa Programme Manager, Nelson Gomonda said: “Africans waste over 40 billion hours every year looking for somewhere to go to the toilet, and you can add to this the costs of illness and medical bills of those contracting diseases due to the unhygienic conditions. The total costs to African economies could be as much as US$55.6 billion per year. Now is the time for African governments to meet their financial commitments on sanitation, and end sanitation and water poverty, and its daily toll on human life, health and livelihoods.”

The WaterAid report also calls on African governments to not only reach their 2008 eThekwini spending commitments of 0.5 per cent of GDP, but to go further and meet the one per cent of GDP sanitation spending recommended by a 2011 World Bank r e p o r t .

According to a 2012 study, around 400,000 children under the age of five die every year in Sub-Saharan Africa due to diarrhoea primarily caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation.

The current Millennium Development Goal targets on water and sanitation have had starkly differing levels of progress and political and financial support. While the drinking water target - to halve the proportion of people worldwide without access to safe drinking water - was met five years early in 2010, the sanitation goal is decades off track. Progress in Africa specifically is even worse with sub-Saharan Africa expected to meet this goal a century and a half late.

Man-made chemicals cited in health scourges, UN report CONTINUED FROM PAGE 48

Solar panels...UNEP estimates that five per cent of global energy consumption could be saved if efficient lighting is installed around the world

The yearly savings in electricity of the phase-out would be equivalent to closing over 250 large coal-fired power plants, or the emissions of more than 122 million mid-size cars. lion litres of kerosene are used annually to fuel the world’s kerosene lamps, costing US$23 billion each year.

The agency says this has an even higher price tag if government subsidies are taken into account. According to a UNEP assessment released last June, 5per cent of global electricity consumption could be saved every year through a transition to efficient lighting, resulting in annual worldwide savings of over US$110 billion.

The yearly savings in electricity of the phase-out would be equivalent to closing over 250 large coal-fired power plants, or the emissions of more than 122 million mid-size cars.

Off grid power generation is an issue that is being taken increasingly seriously across Africa – where consumers spend between US$12-17 billion a year on fuel-based lighting.

Small and remote communities often do not have access to national electricity grids,

which can also be unreliable and susceptible to blackouts.

Amina Junaid Sani runs a microfinance project called SME Funds in Nigeria. She told RTCC price fluctuations and pollution levels were two major concerns for householders in the country.

“Thousands of women are dying every year because of the use of firewood and kerosene, and the smoke and hardship they go through,” she said.

assessed for their potential to spark disease by upsetting the endocrinal, or hormonal, systems of humans and animals.

Experts believe that in general, such chemicals can be absorbed into drinks and food from the containers they come in.

The team, created by a 17year-old chemical management body called the IOMC working with a range of U.N. agencies, said a key problem was that manufacturers of consumer products did not identify many of their chemical components.

Consequently, the researchers said, they had only been able to look at “the tip of the iceberg”. Disease risk from the use of EDCs - or what could be even more dangerous a combination of them “may be significantly underestimated.”

Using studies of the effect of the chemicals on humans and animals, the team added, a link to EDCs could be suspected in breast and prostate cancer, diabetes, infertility, asthma, obesity, strokes, and Alzheimer and Parkinson’s

diseases.

Babies exposed to EDCs in the womb or in puberty, these studies suggested, were especially vulnerable to developing these diseases in later life as well as behavioral and learning problems like dyslexia as children.

In many countries, these disorders affected 5-10 percent of babies born, while autism was now recorded at a rate of one percent. Childhood leukemia and brain cancer is also on the rise, according to the report.

“All of these complex noncommunicable diseases have both a genetic and an environmental component,” it said.

“Since the increases in incidence and prevalence cannot be due solely to genetics, it is important to focus on understanding the contribution of the environment to these chronic disease trends in humans.”

The researchers said their report had been based largely on studies in the developed world. But the size of the problem in developing countries had yet to be adequately assessed due to a lack of data from Africa, Asia and Latin

50

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

Weekly Lead Equity Ratings

COMPANY’S RESULT

CONTINUE FROM PAGE 30

STOCKWATCH 51

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

52 STOCKWATCH

How to choose the best stock valuation method INTRODUCTION HEN trying to figure out which valuation method to use to value a stock for the first time, most investors will quickly discover the overwhelming number of valuation techniques available to them today. There are the simple to use ones, such as the comparables method, and there are the more involved methods, such as the discounted cash flow model. Which one should you use?

Unfortunately, there is no one method that is best suited for every situation. Each stock is different, and each industry sector has unique properties that may require varying valuation approaches.

TWO CATEGORIES OF VALUATION MODELS Valuation methods typically fall into two main categories: absolute and relative valuation models. Absolute valuation models attempt to find the intrinsic or "true" value of an investment based only on fundamentals.

Looking at fundamentals simply mean you would only focus on such things as dividends, cash flow and growth rate for a single company, and not worry about any other companies.

Valuation models that fall into this category include the dividend discount model, discounted cash flow model, residual income models and asset-based models.

In contrast to absolute valuation models, relative valuation models operate by comparing the company in question to other similar companies. These methods generally involve calculating multiples or ratios, such as the price-to-earnings multiple, and comparing them to the multiples of other comparable firms. For instance, if the P/E of the firm you are trying to value is lower than the P/E multiple of a comparable firm, that company may be said to be relatively undervalued.

Generally, this type of valuation is a lot easier and quicker to do than the absolute valuation methods, which is why many investors and analysts start their analysis with this method.

Let's take a look at some of the more popular valuation methods available to investors, and see when it is appropriate to use each model.

DIVIDEND DISCOUNT MODEL (DDM) The dividend discount model (DDM) is one of the most basic of the absolute valuation models. The dividend model calculates the "true" value of a firm based on the dividends the company pays its shareholders. The justification for using dividends to value a company is that dividends represent the actual cash flows going to the shareholder, thus valuing the present value of these cash flows should give you a value for how much the shares should be worth. So, the first thing you should check if you want to use this method is if the company actually pays a dividend.

Secondly, it is not enough for the company to just a pay dividend; the dividend should also be stable and predictable. The companies that pay stable and predictable dividends are typically mature blue-chip companies in mature

W

and welldeveloped industries.

These type of companies are often best suited for this type of valuation method. For instance, take a look at the dividends and earnings of company XYZ below and see if you think the DDM model would be appropriate for this company:

In this example, the earnings per share are consistently growing at an average rate of 5%, and the dividends are also growing at the same rate. This means the firm's dividend is consistent with its earnings trend which would make it easy to predict for future periods. In addition, you should check the payout ratio to make sure the ratio is consistent. In this case the ratio is 0.125 for all six years which is good, and makes this company an ideal candidate for the dividend model.

DISCOUNTED CASH FLOW MODEL (DCF) What if the company doesn't pay a dividend or its dividend pattern is irregular? In this case, move on to check if the company fits the criteria to use the discounted cash flow model. Instead of looking at dividends, the DCF model uses a firm's discounted future cash flows to value the business. The big advantage of this approach is that it can be

used with a wide variety of firms that don't pay dividends, and even for companies that do pay dividends, such as company XYZ in the previous example.

The DCF model has several variations, but the most commonly used form is the TwoStage DCF model. In this variation, the free cash flows are generally forecasted for five to ten years, and then a terminal value is calculated to account for all the cash flows beyond the forecast period. So, the first requirement for using this model is for the company to have predictable free cash flows, and for the free cash flows to be positive. Based on this requirement alone, you will quickly find that many small highgrowth firms and non-mature firms will be excluded due to the large capital expenditures these companies generally face.

For example, take a look at the simplified cash flows of the following firm:

In this snapshot, the firm has produced increasing positive operating cash flow, which is good.

But you can see by the high level of capital expenditures that the company is still investing a lot of its cash back into the business in order to grow. This results in negative free cash flows for four of the six years, and would make it extremely difficult or impossible to predict the cash flows for the next five to ten years. So, in order to use the DCF model most effectively, the target company should generally have stable, positive and predictable free cash flows.

Companies that have the ideal cash flows suited for the DCF model are typically the mature firms that are past the growth stages.

COMPARABLES METHOD The last method we'll look at is sort of a catch-all method that can be used if you are unable to value the company using any of the other models, or if you simply don't want to spend the time crunching the numbers. The method doesn't attempt to find an intrinsic value for the stock like the previous two valuation methods do; it simply compares the stock's price multiples to a benchmark to determine if the stock is relatively undervalued or overvalued. The rationale for this is based off of the Law of One Price, which states that two similar assets should sell for similar prices. The intuitive nature of this method is one of the reasons it is so popular.

The reason why it can be used in almost all circumstances is due to the vast number of multiples that can be used, such as the price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-book (P/B), price-to-sales (P/S), price-to-cash flow (P/CF), and many others.

Of these ratios though, the P/E ratio is the most commonly used one because it focuses on the earnings of the company, which is one of the primary drivers of an investments value.

When can you use the P/E multiple for a comparison? You can generally use it if the company is publicly traded because you need the price of the stock and you need to know the earnings of the company. Secondly, the company should be generating positive earnings because a comparison using a negative P/E multiple would be meaningless. And lastly, the earnings quality should be strong. That is, earnings should not be too volatile and the accounting practices used by management should not distort the reported earnings drastically.

These are just some of the main criteria investors should look at when choosing which ratio or multiples to use. If the P/E multiple cannot be used, simply look at using a different ratio such as the price-to-sales multiple.

CONCLUSIONS No one valuation method is perfect for every situation, but by knowing the characteristics of the company, you can select a valuation method that best suits the situation. In addition, investors are not limited to just using one method. Often, investors will perform several valuations to create a range of possible values or average all of the valuations into one.

Differences between stockbrokers, investment advisors and financial planners INTRODUCTION F you are like many people, you may not have the confidence and/or expertise to make certain financial and investing decisions on your own. Enter the multitude of professionals who provide a range of financial and investment services.

Because there are so many different types of professionals, it can be confusing to determine whose services to seek if you need financial and investing advice. Here, we will explain the differences between stockbrokers, investment advisors and financial planners to help you find the right professional.

PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS Before we explain the roles of certain financial professionals, it is important to note that many titles imply a certain level of expertise or education. However, the fact is that individuals can use a number of titles without holding any professional designation. In other words, you can call yourself a financial advisor without having any specialized education, training or expertise.

Stockbrokers Stockbrokers, also called registered representatives, are regulated professionals who make trades on behalf of retail and institutional clients in exchange for a fee and/or commission.

A broker as any person engaged in the business of effecting transactions in securities for the account of others. A brokerdealer is a person or company that is in the business of buying and selling securities - stocks, bonds, mutual funds and certain other investment products - on behalf of its customers (as broker), for its own account (as dealer), or both. Individuals who work for broker-dealers - the sales personnel whom most people call brokers - are technically known as registered representatives

I

A broker-dealer must: • Be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) • Pass qualifying exams: • Be employed by or associated with a broker-dealer firm You will pay a stockbroker a commission on each transaction made on your behalf. Stockbrokers are required to make "suitable" investment suggestions based on each client's income, portfolio, risk tolerance, investment objectives and overall financial situation. Despite this requirement, stockbrokers do not have any fiduciary duty to act in your best interest.

Investment Advisors Investment advisors are individuals (or companies that provide advice about securities to clients. Investment advisors receive compensation for providing advice regarding various investment products including stocks, bonds, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). An investment advisor should not be confused with a financial advisor, a generic title that typically refers to stockbrokers or registered representatives. Investment advisors must be registered with the SEC or a state securities regulator, depending on the value of client assets under management. Investment advisors include the following: • Asset managers • Investment counselors • Investment managers • Portfolio managers • Wealth managers There are several methods by which you might pay an investment advisor:

• An hourly fee • A fixed fee • A commission on the products they sell to you (if he or she is also a broker-dealer) • A percentage of the value of the assets they manage for you • A combination of the above methods Financial Planners Financial planners help individuals and corporations meet their short- and long-term financial goals by evaluating each client's current financial status and developing a program to meet his or her objectives.

Financial planners often have a specialty (or specialties) such as the following: • Asset allocation • Estate planning • Insurance • Retirement • Risk management • Tax planning A person does not need any specialized training or licensing to be called a financial planner. Many financial planners, however, do hold credentials that attest to their experience and education.

CONCLUSIONS Stockbrokers, investment advisors and financial planners come from a variety of educational and professional backgrounds. Before hiring a professional, it is important to inquire about his or her credentials, clarifying both what the designation means and how it was earned. You can also contact that issuing organization to confirm that the professional earned the credential and that he or she is in good standing.

BUSINESS 53

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

Maina fights back, indicts HoS over N195 billion pension fraud From Abosede Musari, Abuja HE embattled former Chairman of the dissolved Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina has attempted to drag the sitting Head of Service, Isa Bello Sali and an Information Technology company, SystemSpecs into the alleged N195 billion fraud over which he was indicted by senate committee.

Maina, in an e-mail message sent through the media consultant to the defunct PRTT, Olajide Fashikun, said he couldn’t have siphoned the said money, without the knowledge of the HoS who approves all monies for the Task Team.

"It is with great trepidation for the future of this nation was the statement of the outgoing Head of Service, Mr Sali, on the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT) received. It is logical that the alleged N195billion missing from the pension

T

fund had his signature. He should be held as an accomplice".

"This position is based on the grounds that, for every need, payments and actions of the PRTT, a creation of the office of the Head of Service, including stationeries receives his approval", Fashikun said, adding that the PRTT had no appropriation from any quarters except through the HoS office.

"If such a large chunk of money is missing, right under his nose, it is clear and obvious that he knows about it", he argued.

He debunked the allegations against him saying the Senator Etuk’s committee alleged that the N195billion was said to be missing from pension offices in Nigeria between 2005 and 2009 adding that his task force came into operation in July 2010 and began pension paper preparation in January 2011 having business only with Head of

Service Pension Office; Police Pension Office; Department of State Services Pension Office and.

Customs, Immigration and Prison Pension Office.

Maina's e-mailed message also noted that the sitting HoS had taken over the paymant of pensioners since November 2012, employing the service of an Information Technology company (SystemSpecs).

"Since the existence of the PRTT till November 2012, is the Office of the Head of Service not saying that the payment of pension has stabilised such that 73,000 names have been weeded out. Is the same office not aware of the duplication of names in the list its former agent, Systems Spec, was using? The same company had taken over the payment since November 2012 and complaints have started to mount. Soon, we may find pensioners littering the streets of Abuja again", he said.

Jaiz Bank grows share capital to N11b, unveils products From Mathias Okwe, Abuja UST one year after it commenced business in Nigeria, Jaiz Bank Plc has grown it's share capital to N11 billion, up from the N5 billion portfolio.

Also, the bank has unveiled its array of value adding products and services at the ongoing 34th Kaduna International Trade Fair with a firm commitment to the provision of ethical banking services.

Key amongst the areas being financed by the Bank are the Agricultural Sector, Small and

J

Medium Scale Industries and Home Finance. Other products being offered are Jaiz Home Finance, Jaiz Auto Finance, Jaiz Home Appliances Finance, Lease Finance as well as Working Capital and Asset Acquisition Finance.

The Bank’s General Manager, Business Development, Malam. Hassan Usman, disclosed this yesterday at the Bank's Special Day at the ongoing Kaduna International Trade Fair. He reiterated that the Bank is built on strong fundamental principles of

high ethics, fairness, objectivity and transparency.

He said: “the Bank is at the fair to enlighten its customers and prospects about its product and services and also, to debunk the notion that these are for Muslims only.

According to him, ‘Jaiz offers financing products and services like other conventional banks except of course, these are devoid of interest. Our services are available to all irrespective of race or religion.

It is about building partnership for mutual interest”. He emphasized.

American firm to establish $12 million plant in Kaduna From Saxone Akhaine, Northern Bureau Chief S foreign investment opportunity vistas widen in the country, with financial obligations and counterpart funding commitments met between June 2012 and February 2013, all is now set for the establishment of a 12 million United States dollars Sodium Hypochlorite Plant in kaduna by Wattccon Group Nigeria limited in partnership with General Electric, USA. The Plant, which would occupy a 2.6 hectare industrial land along the Kaduna airport road, would begin full operation by the first quarter of 2014, according to the Chairman of the group, Alhaji Khadir Abba Dasuki.

Briefing shareholders during the Annual General Meeting and product launch organized by the Group at Hotel 17

A

in Kaduna at the weekend, Alhaji Dasuki said Wattccon met “its counterpart funding commitment for the purchase and installation of a 40,000 liters per day General Electric, USA, Cloromat technology based Sodium Hypochlorite Chemical plant”.

Alhaji Dasuki told the shareholders, among whom were former Minister of State for Defence, Murtala Shehu Yar’Adua, the Group Managing Director, ABG Communications, Mohammed Bawa, the former Chairman Lagos State Sports Council, Yomi Dada and Alhaji Shamsudeen Mohammed Bello, that the plant “is a 12 million United States dollars total investment financed by a US Exim five year medium term guaranteed loan.”

“Obligor guarantee and bridging financing was provided by Fidelity Bank plc, the

project local financing partners,” he added.

Dasuki further told the shareholders that the project was a dream come true after nearly a decade of untiring efforts by the Managing Director of Wattccon, Aliyu Maigari Mamman, the former chairman of the Group, Murtala S Yar’ Adua and other Directors of the Group.

He noted that when fully operational, the plant would create over 50 and 200 direct and indirect jobs respectively for Nigerians.

His words:’’ The GE-Cloromat membrane technology is the world’s most environmentally friendly process of manufacturing chlorine bleach chemical currently the most acceptable alternative to hazardous chlorine gas and chlorine HTH powder used for water disinfection and bleach manufacturing”.

Benue Assembly approves N871.1m supplementary budget

By Joseph Wantu, Makurdi ENUE State House of B Assembly has passed 2012 supplementary budget of N871.1 million into law. This brings the 2012 budget up to a total of N112.7 billion with a total recurrent expenditure of N59 billion and capital expenditure of N53.2 billion.

The house committee chairman on finance and appropriation, Iaana Jato whom led the debate for the passage of the bill pointed out that the Government house adminis-

tration, Deputy Governor’s office and the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission, BSIEC were involved in extra budgetary expenditures out side the 2012 supplementary appropriation, a development which he said was not good enough.

But, the Speaker of the house, Mr. Terhile Ayua, while passing the bill, warned and directed the three government departments involved in the extra budgetary spend-

ing to henceforth operate within the approved budgetary provision.

Ayua further directed the state Ministry of Finance to always liaise with the state planning commission to have a proper budgeting system so as to forestall late submission of supplementary appropriation bill to the house.

The Speaker further commended the members for facilitating quick passage of the supplementary bill into law.

54

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

BusinessInterview Subsidy can impact meaningfully if

Iwayemi

AKIN IWAYEMI, a professor of Economics who, until his retirement in 2011 at the University of Ibadan, had served as Petroleum Industry Financial Analyst in Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, between 1983 and 1988 is the current President of the Nigerian Economic Society and in that capacity serves as Honorary Adviser to the President on the economy and a member of the National Economic Management Team. His research and teaching interests include energy; environmental and development economics, game theory and political economy. In this interview with DELE FANIMO, the don bares his mind on the state of the economy, human capacity development among other issues…Excerpts HE general impression in Nigeria is that all T is not well with the economy and it is almost gravitating into a bankrupt country.

What is your take on this?

I don’t think the state of Nigerian economy is too bad. Though if not checked, it will gravitate into a bad situation. What has happened in the last six to 10 years has left the country with some experience. Relatively, the economy and its management are doing much better than it used to be. When you find some investors still interested in your economy, oftentimes, it is because of microeconomic stability, the current growth of the economy and its prospect. These define the environment in which the investors may want to come in.

Certainly, economic growth and management have been relatively robust, fiscal imbalances have reduced compared to what they used to be before. So, there are some indicators to, at least, show some positive direction in the economy.

Notwithstanding, there are certain adverse developments in the economy like the high level of unemployment and poverty. There is also the educated-unemployed; graduates coming from the universities with no jobs to do because their skills may not match the requirement of industry and employers. Then also, inflation is relatively high and the cost of governance is also high.

There are pluses as well as minuses. But on

the average and given what is happening in other parts of the world, the Nigerian economy is doing relatively well.

Former President Obasanjo recently said that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) records showed that the economy was growing but it had not impacted on the average Nigerian. What is your position on this vis-àvis your submission that the economy is growing?

Yes, the economy is growing and it is important to determine how and the kind of sectors that are growing in the economy. If the sectors that are growing don’t employ too many people, then you would find the kind of situation we are into now. How many people does telecommunication sector employ? That is one of the most rapidly developing sectors.

The same for agriculture, however, they are not generating the kind of employment that is required for a society and nation of 160 million people.

We have the large part of the population as young people and many go to school to get certificate. They study courses that at the end

of the day would not give them the kind of job that they want. So, there are many factors in our environment that have not allowed the growth of the economy to impact fully on the wellbeing of the people.

When certain structural problems in the economy are dealt with, things will get better.

One of the main structural problems around here is electric power supply. If that is sorted out, the small and large scale outfits will remain in business, hospitals and educational sectors are also impacted and there is more job creation.

I think our problem demands a paradigm shift in the way we look at it and how we solve them. It is no longer for us to depend on government employment. The younger ones are even aggressive in setting up their own enterprises. They only need the environment to be more conducive for them. Power supply will not solve all the problems, but it is a critical means of enhancing the capacity of a nation and the people.

So, the former president that has said that the economy is going down and we do not see

*When certain structural problems in the economy are dealt with, things will get better. One of the main structural problems around here is electric power supply. If that is sorted out, the small and large scale outfits will remain in business, hospitals and educational sectors are also impacted and there is more job creation.

the impact on the people, shows the perception of people on the ground, but people are going up to help the nation significantly.

That is why it is also important to have the appropriate economic management team.

All of us also have to make the right choices.

It is not only the government; we have several stakeholders also in the economy. All of them have their roles to play, which they must play effectively. And for a win-win situation in the economy, it is important that there should be collaboration among all these stakeholders.

We as citizens must demand accountability for every kobo that the government spends.

That is why we must keep asking questions on how they spend our resources, because these resources are scarce. It is necessary to use them well to maximize the welfare of our society.

I can tell you that in Nigeria, the storyline is not too good in respect of the productivity of the workers. I’m actually referring to the public service. Some workers in small businesses try to undermine the profitability of that enterprise through their own individual gain. Any economy that grows well, the owners as well as the workers recognise their roles in that organisation. I can tell you that in Asia, the way their people work is amazing.

In many of the countries, they don’t have anything like sick leave. So our work ethics has to change in this country, both in the

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

55

targeted at the poor, says Iwayemi *We as citizens must demand accountability for every kobo that the government spends. That is why we must keep asking questions on how they spend our resources, because these resources are scarce. It is necessary to use them well to maximize the welfare of our society. public and private sector. ‘Yes, I’m working for my pay. If I have to work for eight hours, I’d do it consistently and well. Because if I work well and the company gets money, then I will get better pay and if I don’t work well and the company collapses, then I will lose my job.’ So, we need to realise that we have responsibility too, not just what comes to us. There is no country that has developed without sacrifice of the people, the workers and everybody.

Currently, the lending rate in the banking sector is about 22 per cent. How sustainable can this be for the real sector growth and the economy at large?

Here, the cost of capital is indeed high and there is no way it would not serve as hindrance to investment, especially the longterm investment. You can only make the cost of return only when you are trading. Nigeria is becoming the country of traders. You borrow the money, maybe at 25 or 26 per cent, go to India or China, import finished goods and sell them to pay the loan. This will not sustain long-term investment because the cost of capital is high.

But the question again is, why is the cost of capital so high? I think the reason is because of the higher risk of lending. If I’m going to put my money in a higher risk venture, then I will want a return so high to cover the risk.

It all boils down to the environment that is covered by high risk. When the cost of capital is very high, those who have long- term investment would be driven out of the market and bankrupt before they start to produce anything.

Also, we have other issues like insecurity and a capital market that is not fully developed. Most options for long term development in the capital market have disappeared. That is why they will not give you loan for more than two years. The cost of capital is a hindrance to growth in Nigeria. You see some companies going out but again, you’ll see fluctuation of exchange rate. In Nigeria, we still believe that we can get things cheaply, but development is not cheap.

Another impression is that nothing seems to work in the energy sector and that there is so much pessimism on the side of the masses.

As someone that is close to government, what is the problem with the sector?

The energy issue in Nigeria is a legacy issue and one of the major paradoxes in the Nigerian economy. I will identify state three of such paradoxes. First is that we are poor while we should be rich. Majority of Nigerians are poor whereas they have no business being so poor. With all the resources that we have — natural resources, oil and gas, human resources, hundreds of billions of oil money — Nigerians have no business being poor, but we are.

The next two paradoxes are in fact related with the first. The second is the paradox of scarcity of petroleum product in an economy that exports more than two million barrels of crude oil per day. That is a paradox.

You export crude oil, have four refineries and still import fuel and sometimes there is scarcity. Then the third is electricity. We have all the resources that we need to produce electricity, yet we are still roving around 4,500 megawatts. And we are very happy and celebrating the capacity. South Africa has 40, 000 megawatts of electricity.

But they are not insoluble problems. There are several ways that we need to act to solve the problems. First and foremost is that resources alone will not get you anywhere.

When your focus is just resources and what you can share from it, then you will not grow.

You must be determined that those resources will be used in a way that will generate more output so that when the resources dwindle, you already have in place infrastructure and other things that you require.

There are two major issues. One is that when

you have oil, good government is almost always a problem. When your institutions are weak and that process which equals to corruption diverts attention from using money in an efficient way, to using money in a way that will benefit few people.

You build four refineries, but they don’t work. You built those four refineries inflating the cost. You do turn-around maintenance after one or two weeks, they collapse. So, the monies that you get, you give money to construct express road between Ibadan and Ogbomoso and that road in six weeks collapses because of low quality and nobody is sanctioned.

So, instead of an incentive structure that rewards good works and discourages those that are not, more people are discouraged and there are no standards any more. So, nobody wants to do any productive work. The economy cannot grow like that. Especially in developing countries, that do not have strong institution, strong government (which does not mean dictator but government that is accountable and transparent) like Lagos State government now, will not use your money recklessly. They have not come to make money, rather to make a good name and record. So, if you are not strong, then there is a strong tendency that you could be corrupted.

Oil messes people up when they don’t provide checks and balances which allows what has been spent to be accounted for.

Norway has its own management of oil resources in something like the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) that reserves money for the future generation. That is what we are trying to follow now. It is a process that will be transparent and what the money is used for is not decided by the National Assembly or by any government because they know that oil can easily destroy a good system.

The other damage that oil does is that it makes your economy not to be competitive because everybody is focused on oil; your exchange rate will be high; it will discourage other productive activity. Look at the history of Nigerian agricultural export - minerals and every other things have gone down because oil is about 90 per cent of government’s revenue.

And instead of integrating crude oil to refineries to supply domestic and export market, it is not so here.

I tell people that there is no reason why Nigeria should not have been the African hub of petroleum product and petrochemical because of our oil. Other countries in the Middle East have leveraged on their oil resources to grow the value chain, but here it is all about the crude. It is obvious that government cannot run that sector because of the political economy of Nigeria.

How many Managing Directors (MDs) of the NNPC have you had in the last 10 years? Quite a handful. So, if you are coming to that position and you know that you have a limited time, what will you do? There is no way you can put in all that you have to make that place work.

The people who are benefiting and deciding people that are put in that position have interests different from that of the office holder.

And how many times have we refurbished our refineries, spending billions? But I can tell you that they will not run.

For the past 20 years, they have been doing turn around maintenance. There is no refinery in the world that runs like Nigeria’s refinery with capacity below 30 per cent. So, in the refinery sector, the government has no business there. I think the business of government is to put structure in place that will enforce rule of behavior in the industry and task those who can perform properly in that industry.

And if you want to address the issue of people’s welfare because of the price of petroleum products, I think the issue of subsidy is fundamental. If you are going to give subsidy, it should be targeted subsidy for those who deserve to be supported because of their poverty level. With technology, it is not difficult to target the people that are in need and

Iwayemi

For the past 20 years, they have been doing turn around maintenance. There is no refinery in the world that runs like Nigeria’s refinery with capacity below 30 per cent. So, in the refinery sector, the government has no business there. I think the business of government is to put structure in place that will enforce rule of behavior in the industry and task those who can perform properly in that industry.

Iwayemi help them. Which is better, between cheap fuel or fuel at N97 and well-developed schools, well-developed hospitals, good food

for the children and so on? The latter, to my mind, is better than this era of general fuel subsidy that is free for all and served nobody’s

*Here, the cost of capital is indeed high and there is no way it would not serve as hindrance to investment, especially the long- term investment. You can only make the cost of return only when you are trading. Nigeria is becoming the country of traders. You borrow the money, maybe at 25 or 26 per cent, go to India or China, import finished goods and sell them to pay the loan. This will not sustain long-term investment because the cost of capital is high.

56

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

BondWatch DLM BOND WATCH: MARCH 4, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, June 6, 201157

Published in association with (Regulated by the Securities & Exchange Commission of Nigeria)

58

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY 59

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

Euro leaders demand austerity as Italy goes to polls UROPEAN leaders E demanded that members press on

have euro with budget cuts to end the debt crisis as Italy edged closer to a new election after an antiausterity vote last week caused political deadlock.

Finance ministers from the 17-member single-currency bloc meet in Brussels tomorrow to discuss issues such as a bailout for Cyprus. In Rome, a top aide to Democratic Party leader Pier Luigi Bersani said the country may need to hold another election this year after passing new electoral laws.

“Now in Europe, after the Italian election, it seems to be a case of either austerity and savings programs or growth, but that’s a completely false premise,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said at an event on March 1.

EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn echoed those comments this weekend, telling Der Spiegel magazine that there’s no scope for the bloc to let up on budget discipline.

Italian political instability, after last week’s election resulted in a four-way split, threatens to revive concern about the deepening of the debt crisis. Voters in the bloc’s third- largest economy revolted against Germaninspired austerity measures, handing the party of comedian-turned-politician Beppe Grillo more than 25 percent of the vote with its antispending cut message and a call for a referendum on euro membership.

Italian 10-year bonds

climbed to a three-month high last week, jumping 34 basis points to 4.79 percent.

Still, Spanish bonds rallied along with Greek and Portuguese securities on speculation that the European Central Bank, which cooled a market panic last year with a pledge to buy sovereign debt, will maintain control over the three-yearold debt crisis.

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano told political leaders yesterday to put the public interest and the country’s international reputation first as Grillo reiterated that his party, the 5 Star Movement, won’t back any government.

Bersani, whose faction won the most votes, has resisted cooperation with former premier Silvio Berlusconi, calling into question whether he can find common ground with Grillo’s upstart movement.

Italy may hold new elections this year if Bersani and his Democratic Party fail to find enough backing in parliament to form a government, Stefano Fassina, the group’s economic policy spokesman, told Sky TG24 TV today.

There are no other alternatives than to hold a new vote “in a few months” should Bersani fail to find a majority, he said. “We should name a new president, change the electoral law and then return to polls as soon as possible.”

The election showed voters rejected the austerity policies of Prime Minister Mario Monti and that a new technocratic government isn’t the answer, Fassina said. The euro area isn’t on the right path to end the debt crisis, he said.

European Central Bank Merkel, speaking two days ago at an event in Greifswald on Germany’s Baltic coast held by her Christian Democratic Union, urged Italy not to stray from the path of reform, saying that her stance on deficits is “not about liking to whip people.”

Rehn, the EU’s budget enforcer, said the bloc has no leeway to depart from its course of reining in spending

and debt.

“We’re not going to solve our growth problems by piling new debt on the old,” Rehn told Spiegel in an interview.

Euro ministers navigating the crisis will discuss issues including Cyprus, which has since June been in talks on receiving the bloc’s fifth rescue package. The ministers want to reach an agreement

by next month after voters on the Mediterranean island last week elected Nicos Anastasiades its new president.

Anastasiades has to revive the stalled talks as Cyprus seeks aid that could reach the size of its almost 18 billioneuro ($24 billion) economy.

The negotiations have been hampered by issues such as state asset sales, the presence

of Russian wealth and the prospect of a debt writedown.

Rehn, in comments to Spiegel, said assistance to Cyprus is crucial, since a disorderly default would result in the country’s exit from the euro area. He also reiterated the European Commission’s position against a debt writedown or imposing losses on depositors in the Cypriot banks.

U.S. to release $190 million as economic aid to Egypt .S. Secretary of State John U Kerry, in his first trip to Egypt in the role, said the U.S. government will release $190 million of its pledged $1 billion in economic aid to the country.

The announcement followed a meeting in Cairo today with Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi and is part of “a good-faith effort to spur reform and help the Egyptian people at this difficult time,” Kerry said in a statement.

Enlarge image John Kerry, U.S. Secretary of State, has been hinting at a major shift on Syria policy by the U.S., which to date has directed only medical supplies and non-lethal equipment such as radios to the opposition and humanitarian aid to nongovernmental organizations. Photographer: Sean Gallup/Getty Images During his visit, Kerry urged Egyptians to respect democratic rights, engage with each other and compromise in order to restore the economy. Kerry’s goal is to encourage Egyptians to tackle changes required for a $4.8 billion International Monetary Fund loan.

“Over the past couple of days in Egypt, I have listened to a broad cross-section of political leaders, business leaders and representatives of non-governmental organizations,” Kerry said. “The people I met shared their deep con-

cern about the political course of their country, the need to strengthen human rights protections, justice and the rule of law, and their fundamental anxiety about the economic future of Egypt,” he said.

The $190 million is part of a

$1 billion package of support pledged by President Barack Obama in May of 2011. That aid was broken into two pieces and included $450 million that had been held up by U.S. Congress out of concern over Egypt’s political devel-

opments, according to a U.S. official who was unauthorized to speak on the record.

Kerry came to Egypt with the authority to release the first $190 million of the $450 million in “budget support funds.” The rest would be provided once Egypt quali-

fies for the IMF loan, the official said.

Today, Kerry also announced $60 million toward the start of the Egyptian-American Enterprise Fund, which will fuel “key engines of democratic change in Egypt” by

assisting Egyptian entrepreneurs and “its young people.” The fund will rise to $300 million in coming years “as we work with our Congress on funding this and other programs,” Kerry said before traveling to the next stop on his Middle East

Taxes squeeze households, factories to add to U.S. growth, says report ONSUMER spending was C tepid in January as higher taxes squeezed incomes, but vigor in the manufacturing sector last month suggested economic growth picked up early this quarter.

Other data at the weekend showed strong auto sales and a rise in consumer sentiment in February, which should help support spending.

The reports suggested the economy had enough momentum to withstand the $85 billion in federal budget cuts known as the "sequester" that were set to start taking hold on Friday, but not so much as to convince the Federal Reserve to decrease its monetary support for the recovery.

"The numbers say the economy does have a reasonable amount of momentum that is probably enough to deal with whatever comes from the sequestration," said Bill Cheney, chief economist at John Hancock Financial Services in Boston.

Consumer spending, which accounts for about 70 per-

cent of U.S. economic activity, increased 0.2 percent in January, the Commerce Department said.

The increase was driven by spending on utilities after a cold snap.

After adjusting for inflation, spending was up just 0.1 percent.

In a separate report, the Institute for Supply Management said its index of national factory activity rose to 54.2 in February on strong orders growth. It was the highest level since June 2011 and followed as reading of 53.1 in January.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion in manufacturing and the rise bucked the global trend, where factories in the euro zone were mired in weakness and activity in China slowed.

The report suggested manufacturing will continue to support U.S. growth, a welcome sign as consumer spending is expected to pull back sharply this quarter due to higher taxes.

"We expect a significant decrease in real consumer

spending in the first half of the year," said Yelena Shulyatyeva, a U.S. economist at BNP Paribas in New York.

Shulyatyeva said she expects the economy to advance at a meager 1.2 percent annual rate in the first quarter. In the final three months of last year, it rose at a 0.1 percent pace, even as consumer spending rose at a healthy 2.1 percent rate.

U.S. stocks closed higher on the factory and confidence reports, while the dollar hit a six-month high against a basket of currencies. U.S. Treasury debt prices rose on worries that the automatic government spending cuts would dent growth.

The International Monetary Fund said on Thursday that the cuts, if fully implemented, could shave at least half a percentage point from growth this year.

The pressure on spending from the expiration of a two per cent payroll tax cut and higher tax rates for wealthy Americans is expected to be even larger in February and

possibly extend through the first half of the year.

But there is reason to be cautiously optimistic. U.S. auto sales rose nearly 4 percent in February and were above a 15-million unit annual rate for a fourth straight month, the first time this has happened since early 2008.

In addition, the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index rose to 77.6 in February from 73.8 in January, amid optimism over jobs.

Steady job growth should help support spending, given that income tumbled 3.6 percent in January, the largest drop since January 1993. Part of the decline was payback for a 2.6 percent surge in December as businesses rushed to pay dividends and bonuses before taxes moved higher.

Taking taxes into account, income plunged a record 4.0 percent in January after advancing 2.7 percent in December.

With income dropping sharply, consumers put a

brake on their spending to pay their bills. The saving rate - the percentage of disposable income households are socking away - fell to 2.4 percent, the lowest level since November 2007. The rate had jumped to 6.4 percent in December.

The report showed inflation under wraps with a price index for consumer spending flat for a second straight month and a core reading that strips out food and energy costs up just 0.1 percent.

Over the past 12 months, inflation has risen just 1.2 percent, the smallest gain since October 2009 and a slowdown from the 1.4 percent logged in the period through December.

Core prices are up 1.3 percent, the smallest rise since April 2011 and well below the Fed's 2 percent target.

The lack of inflation should come as welcome relief for American households, but it could cause some nervousness at the U.S. central bank, which may see it as a symptom of the economy's weakness.

60

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

61

62

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

For The Record Comprehensive and sustainable peace and security in a plural society: Challenges to Nigeria’s internal security (2) Being concluding part of the text of a speech delivered by former Chairman of the Oil Minerals Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC, Chief A.K. Horsfall, OFR, at a two-day peace and security summit in Abuja under the auspices of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on January 30and 31, 2013.(The first part was published on Thursday, February 28, 2013.)

THE IMPUNITY AND THREATS FROM PERSONS INVOLVED IN CORRUPTION, ECONOMIC INSURGENCY AND TERRORISM: Pension And Fuel Subsidy Fund Saga!

ENSION funds totaling approximately N120 billion have been blatantly and brazenly stolen.

Many of those who stole these funds have been identified. The notorious theft of fuel subsidy funds had been pretty well documented. But, there may be attempts to distract public attention from some of these issues! FEMI OTEDOLA and Senator FARUK who ought normally to command respect and admiration had had their case (if any?) in the cooler until lawyer KEYEMO threatens to initiate private action! One or two former governors, suspected to have grossly and notoriously abused their office with regard to the mis-use of public funds and corruption are reportedly writing or have written books castigating everybody else and justifying their alleged mis-deeds. Just wait and see what IBORI will ENACT when he is free from prison and returns to the country! And so on and so forth! In the words of Judge AJIBOLA – Are we indeed safe? These acts, reactions and intimidations are what my Ibo friends will refer to as ‘ona wanya’ – meaning in Broken English ‘E DE OPEN EYE!’ Interesting, isn’t it? But these are clear cases of economic insurgency and terrorism!

Those who had boldly looted our treasuries have now turned round to point the gun at us! The anticorruption agencies thankfully appear to be taking some action on the fuel subsidy matters. Let us hope to have results on these and other actions soon. But taken together the actions of these fellow Nigerians must constitute Economic Sabotage and Economic Terrorism! Those who loot the treasury deprive the citizenry of employment, welfare and development opportunities. Many of our citizens suffer from such disappointments and die in their misery. The pension funds and fuel subsidy thieves similarly deprive the citizenry of funds meant for their welfare, employment and development and many die while suffering these deprivations and waiting for their unpaid pensions! What does the terrorist do? They kill people for ideological reasons! What does the economic and corrupt terrorist do? They cause the death of people – indeed thousands of pensioners and ordinary folk who had been deprived by the mindless acts of these alleged fraudsters had died before their time! So it is in the overall national interest that while the Defence, Law and Order and Security Services battle the ideological terrorists the anti graft agencies and government should do their best to battle the economic and corrupt ‘terrorists’.

ARE WE SAFE? A few weeks ago I read my friend Prince AJIBOLA – I think it was in The Nations newspapers; where he said if an ex-convict is the benefactor of our president etc. are we safe? Although I do not share the totality of Prince AJIBOLA’s views, I fear that the moral equilibrium upon which all good governance and laws are founded are collapsing in this country! In days gone bye any one in my community, and I believe in most other communities throughout the country, who goes to prison even for a couple of months, even on flimsy issues like flat rate income tax evasion; flimsy because in this country until recently most people evade tax payment dismissing it as a colonial instrument of oppression! The position was that even such person who may have served merely one or two months, upon release from prison finds himself isolated and so goes into voluntary hibernation. His children, his relatives, etc. cover their heads in shame!

In contrast, these days, those who loot the treas-

P

Horsfall

President Jonathan

Inspector-General of Police Abubakar

ury are the ones confronting and threatening fire and brimstone upon the rest of the population in order to intimidate society.

That society must shut up so that they can freely swagger around in their ill-gotten gain and dominate the rest of us! IBORI could have walked free from most courts in this country! But the British have done us a favour by sending him to jail for money laundering etc. Money from Delta State Public Treasury. Yet IBORI is still being paid huge pension from that same treasury!

Same goes for other similar travelers like IBORI who had been discharged from jail or should have been in jail but for the unwarranted magnanimity of our judiciary and law enforcement agencies who had let them loose to move around, threaten and intimidate the very people they had robbed so ruthlessly.

THE CANCER OF CORRUPTION: It has been suggested by many that this country has not sincerely addressed the issue of corruption. The inactions or deliberate “mis-actions” over the issue of corruption had adversely affected our national security and brought about some of the most embarrassing revelations in our polity. Corruption cannot and should not be treated selectively but holistically! But one can only say here that corruption had actually developed into a serious cancer in our body politic, in spite of the zig zag effort to address the issue! Let me however acknowledge that some good progress is being recorded lately by the anti corruption agencies. We as citizens of this country must acknowledge the recent efforts of these agencies and encourage them.

SOLUTIONS: There is some recent public opinion that in the fight against terrorism we should receive help from the USA. Hillary Clinton the US Secretary of State had infact promised such help. The United States obviously has wide experience in counter insurgency and counter terrorism and of course Nigeria can make good use of her experience and her assistance. What we need from the Americans will be more of technical gadgetry and sophisticated devices and international liaison type of collaboration and intelligence support. We do not need United States Defence and Intelligence presence locally.

Such involvement will very easily internationalise the Boko Haram issue and invite other United States adversaries or terrorists from all over the world, Al-Qaeda, Taliban, etc. to also come to this country to combat the Americans here. That will make Nigeria a fresh theatre for international terrorist and insurgency interplay and promote international religious conflict here. Such will very readily escalate our present situation.

What we further need to do to neutralise the threat of Boko Haram and other violent organizations in the country is justice and good and effective governance at all levels; good international co-operation and collaboration.

Nigerian Defence and Security Services should join genuinely friendly liaison channels, not those who seek to exploit us to swell their intelligence banks, exploit and dominate us.

• We need good external liaison.

• Re-orientation of the home-grown insurgents.

• Map out clear political action plan and policy to stave the threat of violence and ensure close collaboration among the judiciary, police, security, defence forces/services.

• The legislature should enact fresh and stiffer laws to strengthen the hands of the anti terrorist (ideological and economic) forces.

• Expose, denounce and where appropriate prosecute politicians involved or connected with violent extremist groups.

• Enact stiff laws to deal with violence and insecurity.

• Good, open and responsive governance is the best answer to deal with subversion and terrorism.

We need to re-orientate and assure Nigerian born Boko Haramist and reinstate them fully back into society as citizens of this country. Do justice in the case of their slain former leader.

But in the case of external elements what we also need to do is show them instant justice!”

Border Control & Security – The Chinese Example: In modern times all nations seek to ensure a well defined and secure border as their first line of defence against foreign attack or hostile infiltration. We therefore need to secure our borders from hostile infiltration and penetration.

A country without secure and stable well-protected border is calling for easy access by hostile elements to violate its security.

Our fears that these insurgencies will spread to various parts of West Africa including Nigeria is

well founded and backed by clear evidence.

We must therefore do our best to closely restrict the movement of external terrorists through our several illegal border entry points and make it impossible for their gaining any further presence in this country. How can we do that? Strictly control our legal border entry points and practically block the several illegal entry points between us and the terrorists’ enclaves! The Chinese did so effectively and within a fairly short period emerged with the China we see at present with strong political and economic renaissance! I am not saying we should impose a bamboo curtain as the Chinese did but we should firmly restrict entry of subversive and terrorist elements into this country.

Re-orientation and Re-education: Speaker after speaker says Islam does not preach violence and therefore what these chaps in Boko Haram preach is contrary to mainstream Islam. So re-orient and re-educate them that Islam preaches peace and tolerance not violence. We must impress that the extreme Islamists in our country and some other parts of the world are wrong. Here is more work for His Eminence the Sultan and the Ulamas, and Imams in addition to so much that they are already doing. Perhaps more publicity to their effort will be helpful.

CONCLUSION: We started this lecture by saying – Nigeria, nay the world is in turmoil. There is insecurity everywhere! Sadly we are going to conclude by confirming our earlier position. We must conclude that terrorism and violent extremism is now at our door-step. Mali is actually next door. The fall out from Mali is bound to directly affect this country. The economic woes of the western world will of course also impact on our country.

On the world scene we must recall that the two world wars arose soon after western economic depressions. I am tempted to predict that we are perhaps likely to face such global security crisis again. Perhaps the fact that the Americans have returned OBAMA to the White House, a cool-headed realist, may prolong global conflict for a while, however the seeds of major further global conflict cannot be too far away! With the scepter of Israel versus Iran; the emerging development in the China Sea over some new found mineral rich islands that both the Chinese, a new super power and Japan and other western allied countries claim, the flash point between China and Japan in particular are heightened; the unresolved Korean situation; and the continuing Indo Pakistani dispute over Kashmir; all of these continuing developments must remind us that the drums of global war are still beating and can be ignited once more, any time!

On the Nigerian scene we must accept that Boko Haram and violent militancy will stay with us for a while, yet. But we must not loose hope. Timely, appropriate and properly co-ordinated political, defence, security and law and order actions may bring the country back

There is some recent public opinion that in the fight against terrorism we should receive help from the USA. Hillary Clinton the US Secretary of State had infact promised such help. The United States obviously has wide experience in counter insurgency and counter terrorism and of course Nigeria can make good use of her experience and her assistance. What we need from the Americans will be more of technical gadgetry and sophisticated devices and international liaison type of collaboration and intelligence support. We do not need United States Defence and Intelligence presence locally. Such involvement will very easily internationalise the Boko Haram issue and invite other United States adversaries or terrorists from all over the world, Al-Qaeda, Taliban, etc. to also come to this country to combat the Americans here.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

63

For The Record Economy, politics and human rights: Whither Nigeria? (3) Being concluding part of text of the Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Lecture, delivered by Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, Chairman, National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria, Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, January 15, 2013. (The second part was published on Friday, February 22, 2013.)

ROUND our continent and country, these condiA tions have got worse since Independence. For many people around the Africa, including Nigeria, the directed and controlled violence of the colonial enterprise has been succeeded by an increasingly de-regulated and democratized violence of the post-colonial era. The post-colonial African State appears to have lost its claim to any monopoly of violence or function to ensure legal consequences for unlawful violence. In their compelling examination of the Challenges of Security Sector Governance in West Africa, Alan Bryden, Boubacar Ndiaye and Funmi Olonisakin point out that “in many African contexts, Max Weber’s vision of the state holding the monopoly on the legitimacy of coercive violence has never existed and states have historically been unable or unwilling to provide security to their citizens.”

The background to this is a long running story of governance and institutional failure narrated above.

Nigeria provides a riveting illustration of how this has come about. We are presently in the throes of an epidemic of violence and impunity much unlike anything the country has witnessed before. Violence in its multi-faceted forms – intrusive as well as political; wholesale and retail; domestic as well as state implicated; militia violence as well as law enforcement violence – is by most understandings the biggest single law and order, public health and political problem in the country today. For the first time in our collective consciousness, such acts of violence now routinely include indiscriminate mass killings of civilians caused by improvised explosive devices (IEDs), unlawful use of projectiles as well as sundry acts of domestic and sexual violence.

As disparate as these forms of violence seem, one thing unites them: our mechanisms of legal accountability seem inadequate to address them or to apprehend the perpetrators. Clothed with effective impunity, therefore, those who unleash this violence feel able not just to repeat it as often as they wish or expand their fields of operation and victimization at will; they also attract many followers into the enterprise of seeming to make violence worthwhile.

Around the country, groups that wield instruments of mass and indiscriminate violence now seem to attract the ready attention of government at the highest levels. Those who seek to bring about change through civic activism and advocacy now seem endangered to the point of irrelevance. 52 years after Independence, this crisis of violence is the principal measure of the state of evolution and dis repair of our institutions of legal and judicial accountability. The verdict they encapsulate is an unhappy one.

So, what then is the relationship of violence to our subject matter? The answer in one word is everything.

The ultimate measure of the effectiveness of any legal system or political economy is its ability to protect those that live within its territory. Only those who are alive can participate in government or trade. In the conclusion to his book, Defending My Enemy: American Nazis, the Skokie Case, and the Risks of Freedom (1979), Aryeh Neier explains that “the Weimar government perished in the same way that it began its life: unable to act against political violence …..”41 He adds that: the lesson of Germany in the 1920s is that a free society cannot be established or maintained if it will not act vigorously an forcefully to punish political violence….Prosecutions of those who commit political violence are an essential part of the duty government owes its citizens to protect their freedom….

Put differently, an epidemic of violence is the opposite of a state of rule of law. It is at once evidence of an incapable state, of the mass failure of institutions of the rule of law, and of the absence of equal citizenship for all. This incapacity is more than merely speculative. As we meet here, on this Remembrance Day, the Armed Forces are increasingly responsible for policing in the country, with deployments in pretty much every State in Nigeria. The Police is over centralized, over-exposed, grossly under funded and under manned, with about one third of its personnel on private guard duties.43 With the Armed Forces so stretched by internal security operations, their primary mission of protecting the country against external threats is itself endangered. This opens up a huge new threat at a time of growing regional instability. (c) A DANGEROUS NEIGHBOURHOOD The stock Nigerian response to the immense threats we face has been mostly inward looking, in a format characterized by immense inter ethnic suspicion and prejudice. Sadly, this leads us habitually to miss the trans national dimensions of contemporary challenges of national and human survival and violence afflicting Nigeria. These challenges are not just Nigeria’s. In an increasingly inter dependent world, they

Odinkalu

are also our neighbours’ and our neighbours’ challenges have become ours too. In this sense, we live in a very dangerous neighbourhood indeed.

On a cursory look at the continent, it is not difficult to see transnational trends in violence and state incapacities that should compel deeper awareness from a responsible leadership. For instance the States of the Horn of Africa, including Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia which share common ethnicities have seem transnational conflicts over the past half century. Similarly, the Great Lakes Region in Central Africa has been the site of cyclic mass atrocities over the past half century. In West Africa, the Mano River countries of Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone have not been spared. The maritime territories of both the Gulf of Aden and the Gulf of Guinea have become bywords for piracy and sundry violence too. The latter is very much part of Nigeria’s neighbourhood.

An emerging field of existential concern to Nigeria is the Sahel, the largely desert and semi desert region that stretches from the Arab Maghreb in the north to Equatorial Africa, and from the Atlantic in the west to the Blue Nile in Sudan. It embraces Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad as well as territory in southern Algeria and Libya, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sudan. The Sahel now presents what may be Nigeria and Africa’s most daunting challenge yet: how we respond to this will have a defining impact on our future. In adopting the enforcement resolution on Mali on 19 December 2012, the United Nations Security Council called attention to the: Insecurity and the significant ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Sahel region, which is further complicated by the presence of armed groups, including separatist movements, terrorist and criminal networks, and their increased activities, as well as the continued proliferation of weapons from within and outside the region that threaten peace,security, and stability of States in this region.

Much of the recent attention to the Sahel so far has focused on Mali, which was -until the coup d’état of March 2012 - regarded as a model of democratic transition and consolidation in Africa. Mali has now been overtaken by unconstitutional rule and sectarian terror and faces the prospect that it could break up entirely. In the past few days, an international intervention has begun in Mali under the general cloak of a Security Council authorisation. Mali may prove to be only the first country to be felled by the Sahel’s unique combination of challenges. But what is happening is part of a wider regional pattern, and many other countries face serious risk. In its broad outlines, the current pathology of the region is easy to summarize.

To Mali’s south, the shrinking of the Lake Chad correlates with a rise in violence around the Lake Chad Basin. Nigeria’s fragility is assailed by a combination of inter ethnic, sectarian and governance crises. On Nigeria’s northern borders around the Lake Chad, the Jama’atul Ahlus Sunna Lid Da’awatis Jihad (the Group of Al-Sunna for Preaching and Jihad), a.k.a. Boko Haram, stakes murderous claim to parts of north-eastern Nigeria and undertakes operations across the territories of Cameroon and Chad as well.

Chad itself is host to many armed militias active in neighbouring countries, including Cameroon, Nigeria and western Sudan, as well as having a renegade military with a history of unpredictable and shifting allegiance to anyone with enough resources to buy their skills and loyalties. On Chad’s

eastern border and often also organised from around the Lake Chad or on the outskirts of Ndjamena, there is a horde of Sudanese militias in a perpetual state of rapid fire atomization generating an alphabet soup of acronyms. Niger also harbours militias now asserting self determination credentials and the combatants in Côte d’Ivoire’s recent civil war, in which Burkina Faso was actively implicated, are yet to be fully disarmed.

All this takes place in a context of weak governance and competition for money, hardware and ordnance between diverse militias and a desperately disorganized community of migrant fighters from the still confused situation in Libya. These territories are contiguous. Their borders are weak and porous.

Across these borders there are multi-national communities joined by long-standing and historical bonds of ethnicity, faith, and commerce.

To add to a complex picture, there is the on going involvement of international justice institutions, including the International Criminal Court (ICC) seeking accountability for recent mass atrocities in several countries in the region, including Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Libya, and western Sudan. The ICC is also currently in the last stages of weighing up the situation in northern Nigeria for possible intervention and has recently received a referral from Mali.

The international and regional response to all this has until recently been ponderous. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has focused its attention to restoring appearances of constitutional government in Mali. It has also threatened military action against nihilist militias. A regional tri- lateral Force comprising contingents from Nigeria, Chad and Niger active for over 20 years in the Lake Chad Basin is poorly manned with limited footprint. It also suffers from mission creep, does not receive full co operation from all the neighbourhood’s countries and is stretched beyond regional capabilities.

Neither ECOWAS on the southern Sahelian rim nor the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA) in the north can impose their will on the situation. Yet, the African Union (AU) waits for regional actors to take the lead while the Arab League and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), to which some of the countries of the Sahel belong, can participate in a search for solutions but lack convening legitimacy. Distracted by problems in Syria and elsewhere, the United Nations is ponderously slow, unwilling to plunge into the Sahel’s quicksands. In this context, the era in which we could think that what happens across the Confluence is of no concern to us is over.

IN LIEU OF CONCLUSION: WHITHER NIGERIA? Our problems in Nigeria can sometimes seem too daunting. The usual response is lamentation, prayer, fasting, casting, binding, despondency or, these days, social media agonistes too. I cannot under estimate the liberating potentials of new media technologies.

But those are only a means and, we should not “agonize” through them when we can use them to “organize”! I want to mostly stray clear of substantive proposals. There is more than enough supply of those.

What we lack is sufficient commitment to mechanisms and processes to bring those ideas to inclusive realisation.

It is clear that we have over the years been beset by twin problems of a cynical leadership and indifferent civics. It is not only government that is captured; the search for solutions is also captured, both sides by beknighted elite who claim by themselves monopolies of thought, knowledge and opinion that no citizen of a Republic should claim on behalf of any besides themselves. We are only too happy to surrender to such people our individual agency and entitlement to curiousity. Bob Marley sang of such situations: “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; None but ourselves can free our minds.”46This mental slavery must end or there will be no beginning to our search for solutions.

One major reflex that we must address is the tendency to abandon our problems to “eminent citizens” or to return to clichéd mal adapted concepts, such as “National Conference” as the quick fix to our problems.

The latest of such remedies was offered only last week by “The Patriots.”47 Individually, most in this hall would confess to the highest regards and admiration for each of the eminent members of The Patriots.

Speaking for myself, I am prone to regard with suspicion any person or group in government or out of it who espouses a monopoly of patriotism.

In my view, the heart of the Nigerian problem is the replacement of the politics of participation with the politics of capture at both ends of the continuum of political economy from citizen to state. Yet, ideas in a Republic are only as important as the mobilisation and participation we bring behind realising them.

If participation matters in a Republic, deliberative process is the heartbeat of democracy. As appealing as proposals from groups such as The Patriots may be, there is something profoundly unsettling about a group of mostly men with an average age well beyond the Biblical three score and ten, asserting a monopoly of answers for a country with a median age of 23, an average life expectancy not a lot higher than 45 and with a female population at just about 50% of its total. Just as

troubling at this time in the 21st Century is sight of leaders of youth wings of political parties well in their 60s or party leaderships across the spectrum dominated by people who could easily have been conscripted into the armies that fought the 2nd World War. When such people recommend the solution to our problem as “revolution”, I often wonder why any person would wish violent death on the grand or great grand child that they have forgotten to invite into a discussion on the preferred obituary that would follow the violent termination of their youth. What this says is that we do not care about the country and the people who have run our country have – unlike Gani not bothered to replace themselves or mentor worthy successors.

The problem is not just the failure of any sense of inter-generational responsibility in our ideas or domination of our search for solutions by narrow politics of exclusion and capture, which we would wish to overturn; it is also the mal-adaptation of our proposals. Unquestionably, the issue, “whither Nigeria?” will need to be addressed by Nigerians and it is also essential for Nigerians to have some form of dialogue on the values that should underpin our future. The effort to do that in 1977 78 was arrested by the military that subsequently wrote up their own values in chapter II of the Constitution and turned around, in clear violation of both the spirit and letters of the same document, to say these values would be non-binding. Not having participated in formulating them, Nigerians lacked the confidence and memory to controvert them.

The idea that the National Conference holds the solution to all our problems reflects a fundamental mal adaptation of the concept or etymology of the Conférence nationale. To be sure, English language has no translation for Conférence nationale.

Trying to transliterate this into “National Conference” bastardizes the idea and mis-characterizes it because the Conférence nationale is an institution uniquely founded in the egalitarian and syndicalist traditions of the French Revolution. It is a meeting of the country understood as atomized, representative and accountable collectives of working peoples. In a study of the Conférences nationales in Benin Republic and Togo at the end of the last century, Kathryn Nwajiaku who observed them closely concluded: The comparison of the Conférences nationales in Benin and Togo shows that they cannot be interpreted as the new francophone mode par excellence of introducing transition from an ‘authoritarian’ régime to a ‘liberal democratic’ political system, or even as a way of achieving the less grandiose aspiration of just changing the leadership. These goals are dependent on a variety of preconditions, which need to be carefully investigated.

Certainly, the whole question of ‘quick fix’ democracy in Africa will continue to provoke the most impassioned debates…Before a thorough democratization of political life in Africa can stand a chance of survival, elite and ordinary people alike must appreciate the implications of what the process means in terms of more equitable access to socio economic and political power… Given that support for the ‘renouveau democratique’ is directly linked to popular appetites for a share in the national cake, it is little wonder that dissatisfaction continues when a new political dispensation fails to deliver any notable improvements in the quality of everyday life in either the urban and/or rural areas. In fact, it is difficult to imagine that ‘democracy will thrive in a context in which material benefits are so closely associated with access to political power.

Gani always left us with affirmative proposals. So, in ending, I want to put a proposal on the table for consideration. Given the needs for national dialogue and the realities of our politics of entrenched interests, we need some deep thinking on how to navigate locomotion inside our precariously balanced Chinaware. Time is important. The conversations over Nigeria’s future cannot be an event. Rather we need a process. One possibility could be to consider the establishment of a standing, advisory, Constitutional Convention. The Convention will be a forum for dialogue amongst Nigeria’s peoples and communities. Mechanisms of participation, representation, dialogue and distillation will be carefully worked out. The principal mandate of such a Convention will be to distil subjects and issues for political and administrative decision-making.

The appeal of a Constitutional Convention will not lie in its coercive instruments but in the force of political consensus behind its distillations such that politicians will know that failure to address issues that emerge from the Convention effectively could result in the destruction of their personal or political fortunes and careers. It could create at once a mechanism of national dialogue accompanied by incentives for the diminution of predatory politics as well as offer us an opportunity to minimize the appeal of violence as the only substitute for political process.

64

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

NigeriaCapitalMarket NSE Daily Summary (Equities) as at Friday PRICE LIST OF SYMBOLS TRADED FOR 1/3/2013

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

CAPITAL MARKET 65

NSE Daily Summary (Equities) as at 1/3/2013

PRICE GAINERS

LOSERS

Investors stake N24.6b in FGN bonds in one week

By Helen Oji HE Over-the –Counter (OTC) market for FGN bonds, last week recorded a turnover of 2.280 billion shares worth N24.633 billion in 28,170 deal, in contrast to a total of 2.482 billion shares valued at N22.815 billion that exchanged hands in 32,471 deals in the preceding week.

Specifically, the financial services sector was the most active during the week, contributing 67.70per cent, 58.52per cent and 55.59 per cent to the total equity turnover volume, value and

T

number of trades respectively in 1.543 billion shares valued at N14.417 billion exchanged hands by investors in 15,660 deals.

The Conglomerates sector followed with a turnover volume of 275.094 million shares worth N554.361 billion in 1,530 deals.

It contributed 12.07 per cent, 2.25 per cent and 5.43per cent to the total equity turnover volume, value and number of deals respectively.

The Consumer Goods sector ranked third with a

turnover volume of 138.015 million shares worth N7.719 billion in 4,820 deals.

Trading in the shares of the top three equities: Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc, FBN Holdings Plc and Zenith Bank Plc, in volume terms, accounted for 642.568 million shares worth N8.085 billion in 5,325 deals contributing 28.19per cent, 32.82per cent and 18.90 per cent to the total equity turnover volume, value and deals respectively.

Also traded during the

week were 2,681 units of NewGold Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) valued at N6.562 million in eight deals, in contrast to a total of 193 units valued at N471, 970 transacted in the preceding week four deals.

In addition, 1,887 units of FGN bonds valued at N2.314 million were traded during the week in 20 Deals, in contrast to 16,050 units valued at N19.339 million transacted last week in 66 deals.

However, there were no transactions in the State/Local Government

Bonds and Corporate Bonds/Debentures sectors.

Further analysis of last week’s transactions showed that the NSE All-Share Index depreciated by 711.88 basis points or 2.1 per cent, to close on Friday at 33,183.20.

Also, the market capitalization of the listed equities depreciated by 2.1 per cent, to close at N10.618 trillion.

The Bloomberg NSE Banking and Bloomberg NSE Oil/Gas appreciated by 0.63per cent and 1.83per cent Respectively, while Bloomberg NSE 30,

Bloomberg NSE Consumer Goods, Bloomberg NSE Insurance and NSE Lotus II depreciated by 1.89per cent, 1.26per cent, 3.59per cent and 1.97per cent respectively.

A review of the equity price movements indicated that 38 equities gained while 46 equities recorded price declines while 113 equities remained constant.

When compared with the preceding week, 38 equities gained while 55 equities recorded price declines and 104 equities remained constant.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

66

GlobalStocks U.S. stocks gain for week as data offset budget, Italy .S. stocks rose for the U week, sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average to the highest level since 2007, as better-than-estimated economic data overshadowed concern over federal spending cuts and Italian elections.

An index of homebuilders climbed 1.5 percent as home sales increased more than forecast. Home Depot (HD) Inc. jumped 5.3 percent after it raised its dividend and approved a $17 billion share buyback amid better-thanestimated earnings. J.C. Penney Co. tumbled 21 percent and Sears Holdings Corp. sank 6 percent on quarterly losses. Apple Inc. dropped 4.5 percent as Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook failed to assuage investors seeking more clarity on his plans for the company’s growing cash pile.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 0.2 percent to 1,518.20 for the five days, rebounding after its only weekly loss in 2013. The Dow added 89.09 points, or 0.6 percent, to 14,089.66, the highest since October 2007.

Both gauges gained in February, as the S&P 500 climbed 1.1 percent for a fourth straight monthly increase and the Dow advanced 1.4 percent.

“It’s been more of a continuation of the growth story, not deterioration or that the sequestration was going to cause a pullback in consumer spending,” Bill Schultz, chief investment officer who oversees about $1.1 billion at McQueen Ball & Associates in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, said by phone. “This market still has a bias to the upside right now.”

Equities tumbled on the first day of the week, giving the S&P 500 its biggest drop since November, as Italian elections spurred concern about prospects for a stable government and a worsening of Europe’s debt crisis.

Stocks rebounded as economic reports showed purchases of new homes in the U.S. jumped in January to the highest since July 2008.

Consumer spending rose even as incomes fell by the most in 20 years and American factories expanded at the fastest pace in almost two years.

Democrats and Republicans are in a standoff over how to replace spending cuts totaling $1.2 trillion over nine years, $85 billion of which would occur in the remaining seven months of this fiscal year. President Barack Obama said the automatic spending cuts starting March 1 will be a “slow grind” on the economy and that it may take weeks to win over enough lawmakers from both parties to reach a deal on a replacement deficit- cutting plan.

“The market is digesting both strong fundamental data when it comes to the economy and then negative data when it comes to geopolitical background,” Andres Garcia-Amaya, New Yorkbased global market strategist at JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s mutual funds unit, which oversees $400 billion in

assets, said by phone. “As we peel away some of the layers of uncertainty and focus on the fundamentals, we think the The bull market in U.S. equities is entering its fifth year this month after the S&P 500 surged 124 percent from a 12-year low in 2009 amid better-than-expected corporate earnings and three rounds of bond purchases by the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates low and stimulate the economy. The S&P 500 has climbed 6.5 percent this year and is trading at about 3 percent below its record 1,565.15 reached in October 2007. The Dow is 0.5 percent from its high of 14,164.53.

Phone companies and consumer-discretionary stocks rose the most among 10 S&P 500 groups for the week, climbing at least 1.4 percent.

KB Home jumped 4.8 percent to $18.77 and Lennar Corp. advanced 2.5 percent to $38.84 as homebuilders rallied.

Home Depot gained 5.3 percent to $69.03. The largest U.S. home-improvement retailer posted fourth-quarter profit that topped analysts’ estimates as shoppers spent more on projects and Hurricane Sandy repairs. The company raised its quarterly dividend 34 percent to 39 cents a share. It plans to repurchase $17 billion of stock by the end of its fiscal 2015.

Delphi Automotive Plc (DLPH) rose 10 percent to $42.20. The former parts unit of General Motors Co. initiated a dividend, its first since returning to the public markets after bankruptcy.

J.C. Penney tumbled 21 per-

cent to $17.69. The department- store chain lost $4.3 billion in sales in the first year of Chief Executive Officer Ron Johnson’s turnaround plan, with annual revenue sliding 25 percent to $13 billion, the lowest since at least 1987. The company’s net loss for the quarter widened to $552 million from $87 million a year earlier.

Sears slipped six percent to $44.36. The retailer controlled by hedge-fund manager Edward Lampert posted a fourth-quarter loss that was larger than it forecast as sales fell for the sixth consecutive year.

Apple declined 4.5 percent to $430.47, the lowest level since January 2012. While Cook said he’s in “very, very active” talks about what to

do with $137.1 billion in cash and investments that Apple has, he ended the company’s annual shareholder meeting without giving any additional insight.

First Solar Inc. (FSLR) plunged 25 percent, the most in the S&P 500, to $25.35. The world’s biggest maker of thin-film solar panels said first-quarter revenue will fall short of analysts’ expecta-

tions after it shuttering a plant in Germany. The company said its “expected revenue” fell 15 percent last year and its goal for this year is to avoid slipping further.

Cablevision Systems Corp.

(CVC) fell 9.1 percent to $13.76.

The fifth-largest U.S. cable provider by subscribers reported a quarterly operating loss, blaming costs related to Superstorm Sandy.

U.S. 10-Year yields fall most in 6 months on Bernanke assurances REASURY 10-year note T yields slid the most since August as Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said the central bank would support the economy, and haven demand grew amid European turmoil and U.S. spending cuts.

U.S. government securities rose for a second week as Americans’ income fell the most in 20 years and inflation, as gauged by the Fed’s preferred measure, was unchanged in January.

Bernanke signaled the central bank will keep buying bonds under its third round of quantitative easing. The jobless rate held at 7.9 percent last month, data next week may show.

“The market was priced for very little risk, which is very different than where it was last year,” said Michael Pond, head of global inflationlinked research in New York at Barclays Plc, one of 21 primary dealers that trade with the Fed. “Bernanke made it clear that monetary policy is not likely to change any time soon and QE3 will continue until the labor market improves substantially.”

The 10-year note yield dropped 12 basis points, or 0.12 percentage point, to 1.84 percent this week in New

York trading, the biggest decline since the five days ended Aug. 31, according to Bloomberg Bond Trader prices. They sank 11 basis points in February. The 2 percent note due in February 2023 gained 1 3/32, or $10.94 per $1,000 face amount, to 101 14/32. Thirty-year bond yields fell 10 basis points to 3.05 percent.

Ten-year yields climbed 37 basis points in December and January as investors sought higher-yielding assets on speculation the Fed might scale back its bondbuying and Europe’s debt crisis had eased.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 (SPX) Index rose 0.2 percent this week after gaining 5 percent in January and 0.7 percent in December.

The Fed chairman indicated in congressional testimony Feb. 26-27 the central bank is prepared to keep buying bonds at its present pace. He dismissed concern that record easing risks sparking inflation or asset-price bubbles. The Fed purchases $85 billion of Treasury and mortgage debt a month, putting downward pressure on borrowing costs to fuel growth.

“Bernanke’s stay-the-course message set the tone for this week,” said Larry Milstein,

managing director in New York of government-debt trading at R.W. Pressprich & Co. “There was no reluctance from him. He defended the asset purchases, suggesting they are not going to stop any time soon, and that will continue to support the Treasury market.”

U.S. government securities were also supported by elections in Italy this week that failed to give any political party a clear majority. That cast doubt on the stability of the next government and spurred bets the country’s commitment to austerity may be diluted, worsening Europe’s debt crisis.

Hedge-fund managers and other large speculators increased to the highest level this year their net-long position in 10- year note futures in the week ending Feb. 26, according to U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission data.

Speculative long positions, or bets prices will rise, outnumbered short positions by 115,908 contracts on the Chicago Board of Trade, the most since Dec. 11. Net-long positions rose by 62,620 contracts, or 118 percent, from a week earlier, the biggest percentage gain since Jan. 25, the Washington-based commis-

sion said in its Commitments of Traders report.

Automatic reductions in federal spending set to begin yesterday in the U.S. may lower gross domestic product by 0.6 percentage point and cost 750,000 jobs by the end of 2013, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

The cuts total $1.2 trillion over nine years, with $85 billion scheduled to go into effect in the remaining seven months of this fiscal year.

“There’s a lot of paralysis going on in D.C.,” George Goncalves, head of interestrate strategy at the primary dealer Nomura Holdings Inc., said yesterday. “It’s not clear yet on how it’s going to go, so people are buying Treasuries first and asking questions later.”

Bonds initially pared gains yesterday as the Institute for Supply Management’s factory index advanced to 54.2 for February, from 53.1 in January. The Tempe, Arizonabased group’s figures exceeded the most optimistic forecast in a Bloomberg survey in which the median projection was 52.5. A reading greater than 50 signals expansion.

The Commerce Department reported that while consumer spending,

which accounts for about 70 percent of the U.S. economy, rose 0.2 percent in January, incomes slid 3.6 percent.

The Fed’s preferred gauge of prices, called the core personal expenditures index because it excludes food and fuel, rose 0.1 percent in January, less than the 0.2 percent forecast, department data showed. It was little changed in December.

U.S. employers added 160,000 jobs in February, economists in a Bloomberg survey forecast before the Labor Department reports the data on March 8. Payrolls grew by 157,000 positions in January. The unemployment rate stayed at 7.9 percent, economists estimated.

The Treasury sold $99 billion of two-, five- and seven year notes this week. Direct bidders, non-primary-dealer investors that place their bids directly with the Treasury, purchased an above-average amount of securities at each of the auctions.

Treasuries returned 0.6 percent in February, after losing 1 percent in January, according to Bank of American Merrill Lynch bond indexes. The S&P 500 rose 1.4 percent last month and gained 5.2 percent in January, including reinvested dividends

67

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

Opinion Party mergers and constitutional preconditions

By Eugene Uwalaka HE Electoral Acts 2006, section 84 (1) as T amended in the parallel provisions of Electoral Acts 2010 clearly provides for vertical mergers. But the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has so far led the parties intending to merge blindfold by failing to marshal out the modalities for the evolution of ideology-based manifesto-driven mega parties through vertical mergers.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is the first of its kind in the nation. Three parties – ACN, ANPP and CPC indicated their intention to merge. Their type of merger is clearly allowed under section 84(1-6) 2006 Electoral Acts as amended in Electoral Acts 2010. We also heard that another form of merger this time a horizontal merger (better called an alliance) is underway.

Here 20 parties (registered/deregistered) are into political alliance with the All Peoples Grand Alliance (APGA) to field Governor Peter Obi as their presidential candidate in the 2015 presidential election. They call this collaboration the Patriotic Alliance of Nigeria (PAN). Both events are healthy political developments. In fact, if the PAN could go a step further like the APC to seek corporate status, PDP will be in real trouble in 2015!

Nigeria needs at least two ideology-based manifesto-driven mega parties. The APC just flew a kite to see how Nigerians will receive its

petit project. APC’s message was well received.

After all, Nigerians are tired of mis-governance characterized by mass unemployment, pervasive rot in the judiciary, corruption, looting of the national economy, extensive and expansive social insecurity and religious bigotry. Nigerians unequivocally want an alternative party (not even a loyal opposition) they can compare ideologies and manifestos with. When we have two more mega parties, it should be possible for a voter in Nigeria to say, “if democrats are kleptocrats, I would rather be a republican”.

Unfortunately our mega parties are not ideology-based, even when the epithets suggesting so are mere deceitful labels to hide their monstrous visage. For instance, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in spite of the modifying word is anything but democratic. The APC may not live to its promise to be progressive! Ask me why? The APC is a mere collaboration of progressives. It is not yet a corporate body. Whenever it is incorporated and you crack open the corporate shell, you will see that those we call progressives are the same people that championed and drove the arbitrary government of the late Gen. Sani Abacha.

Perhaps their sense of value has over the years changed for the better. So where do we go from here?

Under section 85 (2) 2006 Electoral Act, INEC may with or without notice attend the na-

tional convention of the merging parties. I read from This Day Newspapers of 21st February 2013, that such meeting was held with INEC representative in attendance. So we can say APC is making progress. Yet the APC has many rivers to cross. It is heart-warming to hear that the parties to the merger have drafted and perhaps tendered the APC’S constitution, manifesto and logo to the INEC. Have they tendered their audited financial statements and consolidated balance sheets, as required by section 226, 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN)?

Looking intently at section 85 (1-3) of the 2006 Electoral Act, it will appear that the Act does not provide for horizontal mergers (alliances). But under section 84 (1-6) 2006 Electoral Act, two or more parties may merge by consolidating their assets and liabilities as aforesaid. Notice of the intention to merge must come with a special resolution passed by the national conventions of each of the parties making it clear that the merger is approved by their members.

The INEC must be furnished with their revised register of members and register of symbols.

Again, the APC cannot co-exist with the merging parties – ACN, ANPP, APGA and CPC. It is actually when these parties are liquidated, when they die so to speak, that APC can find life. So far, the life instinct in one of these parties is stronger than the death instinct. One of the merging parties APGA, vehemently refused to

die! It crossed over to the APC but refused to burn its bridges behind it. By and large, the idea of a mega party like the APC is a noble one. The withdrawal of APGA is short-sighted. APGA should have simply renegotiated its membership.

Having said this, let me remark that the only time the APC can become a formidable alternative (not opposition) to PDP, is when the formators stand it on three legs across the rivers Niger and Benue. This will enable the highly disadvantaged areas – north-east, south east and the south-south to participate equally and proactively in the affairs and management of the APC ab-initio. As it is being contrived and conceived by the APC, the project is tactically slanted to the north-central, north-west and south-west. The present scheme is ill-advised because the north-west and south-west are not the home of majority voters, ask any psephologist! The vote-catching areas of the northeast with predominantly malleable and illiterate population, the south-east and the south-south can be captured with little mind bending in the case of the south-east and a little gin mixed with tonic in case of the south-south.

I am afraid time and space constraints compel me to bring this disquisition on party mergers and constitutional preconditions to an abrupt end.

• Uwalaka, an accountant and political systems analyst, lives in Lagos.

The plight of legislative aides

By Nuhu Ogirima careful assessment of man’s often predisposition to issues A of public interest reveals that more often than not, things are taken for granted. This accounts, to a greater degree, for the abysmal failure of public officers to respond as appropriate to the yearnings and aspirations of the people they purport to serve let alone make themselves accountable. Little wonder the seemingly endless pervasive attitude of possessive individualism some public officers manifest in their quest for self-actualisation. This has been observed to be the case, particularly in such climes as the third world. Not that traits such as self-actualization is abominable. No! However, when such is deployed for anything other than the good of the generality, especially in a position designed for the benefit of all, then God help the society for the consequences can only rather be imagined.

By all indications, man, as the highest socio-political animal, has been found to be the most dynamic. By implication, he is unpredictable and as such untrustworthy. Perhaps, I need say, man’s attitude that could be vouched for remains his natural inclination to chameleonic changes, sometimes in degrees quite unimaginable. Although this has been attributed to politicians more specifically, it is obviously noted as man’s attribute, with which he needs contend, and it often impugns on his integrity, I dare say!

Truthful as the foregoing submission may seem, its application is contestable, for it cannot be generalized. Only some category of man could score distinction in such spheres of abhorable traits; for there are men. Yes, real men; people of impeccable character, men of integrity, reputable for honesty, sincerity of purpose in whatever they do. Such are people committed to causes of humanity, however the challenges. People with principles geared towards human capacity development for humanity as opposed to those who exploit human capacity unashamedly for the actualisation of self-only. Those are people who would not dwell conservatively in some morbid, parochially unpatriotic superiority complex in the guise of being principled. In civilized climes, people of such rare qualities of leadership are sought, encouraged and empowered through placement in lines of duties, irrespective of their creed or race, for the benefit of the society in particular and humanity in general.

Sadly, far removed from this is the Nigerian society. Not that we do not have such men but we chose to ignore them, however conspicuous they may appear. In their place, we foist never-do-wells by reasons of naught but sentiments. And this is common-place in practically every nook and cranny of our dear country. As a consequence, we witness daily, perhaps as routine, cases of leadership corruption and ineptitude in matters of state requiring urgent disposition. On issues of welfare,

which is grossly in the doldrums, we are greeted with outright complacency, and, worst of all, exploitation of hapless citizens, through the denial of rights.

In the context of this discussion, considering the several criticisms of the legislators of the National Assembly, ranging from the outcry against the jumbo quarterly allowance vis-àvis the neglect of their constituencies, to what has been witnessed of the investigative hearings conducted by them, and, of course, the scathing criticisms of the former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in his famous observation while delivering a paper on the topic “Integrity is Necessary for Systems and Institutions to be Strong”, on Tuesday, 22nd May, 2012, it is expected that the law makers would seek, at least, to regain public confidence. However, a peep into the goings-on, particularly on the treatment of their aides, leaves much to be desired. This, to me, suggests that quite a lot needs be done by no less a force than a combination of the leadership and the commission to salvage the plight of the aides and the image of this hallmark of democracy called the legislature.

One cannot but recall the disclosures on the fact that legislative aides, in the early days of the enthronement of democratic governance, between 1999 and 2003, had crisis-prone issues with their principals through whom their pay-packs were issued to them. This precipitated tense situations, given the susceptibility of the arrangement to manipulation by those ‘who pay the piper’, and this is Nigeria, where, as a keen public affairs analyst would say, ‘anything goes’ hence, the resolve to subject the legislative aides salaries to the pay system of government.

Laudable as this seems, the system itself makes the aides much more vulnerable. In my opinion, the practice is wrought with inconsistency of sort: according to the National Assembly Service Commission, the appointments are basically short service non-pensionable but the salaries are determined by public service conditions. This, to me is a combination of quasi-political cum civil service job. The implication of this and, indeed, the practice is that the aides are restricted to salary only but such other aspects bordering on the welfare of the aides are left ‘hanging’, at the discretion of the legislators. This is questionable, for it is counter-productive as it gives much room for abuse. Nothing of an employee’s actual emoluments and salary should be left to the discretion of the employer, for obvious reasons, however the mode of acquisition of the job.

In confirmation of this fear, unfortunately, some members of the hallowed chambers, banking on the precarious socioeconomic situation in the country, with the attendant debilitating effects, chose to exploit hapless Nigerians. To this category, nothing but ‘casualisation’ of the legislative aides work is the answer to the challenges of the office. For instance, while some employ and list their aides to benefit from the sys-

tem (by receiving their salary as appropriate albeit without any other benefits, in terms of housing and transport) others, cashing in on the pervading joblessness, employ young Nigerian graduates for the same jobs on ridiculous stipends. Such legislators keep the names of people who, of course, are known only to them in the pay-roll of the Commission, to receive the actual salary of aides, while other hapless Nigerians, cut up in the web of unemployment, are put on stipends to do the jobs, whether as secretaries or aides. In some cases, these ‘ghost’ aides are the ones who attend the periodic workshops meant to train people on the job. How sad!

It is quite unfortunate that this category of legislators do not see the compelling need to make their aides comfortable if nothing but for the sake of humanity. Or is it that the scope of the legislative aides responsibilities, which cover such crucial areas as administration, communication, public relations and research and documentation, as well as other support services all geared towards the success of their principals, is too little to be so ignored? Why could they not have a rethink to emulate some of their colleagues who, in all ramifications, are quite exemplary in their attitude towards and treatment of their aides, and by extension, constituents?

As a critical arm of government saddled with the fundamental responsibility of appropriation and utilisation of funds of government, besides law-making, it should be able to live above board.

The National Assembly, in terms of its position in the structure of government vis-à-vis the strategic responsibilities constitutionally charged with it, has the capacity to address the enormity of the constantly emerging challenges and the rising need to stem such challenges, as well as the recurrent ones. Today, the extent of the realisation of the feat remains to be seen. Without making any sweeping generalisations, I hasten to add that the doctrine of necessity propounded to bail Nigeria out of the political debacle/logjam prior to the disclosure of our late President’s death in 2010 shall, indeed, remain indelible in the annals of our nation.

It would not be preposterous to state that a search for the last category of legislators, discussed in the foregoing, would not but be a sine-qua-non to the realisation of the laudable philosophy for the establishment of the hallmark of democracy, the legislature. This, to me, is a noble duty, which need be accomplished. Irrespective of the relationship we may share, the onus lies on every Nigerian to remain steadfast in making dispassionate opinions about those that may strive to lead us.

The commitment towards getting only the best need compel our search for and entrust leadership positions on competent, experienced, tested and trusted people, capacitated enough to stand the test of time.

• Ogirima, a senior lecturer, unionist and former Senior Legislative Aide (SLA), wrote from Okene, Kogi State.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

68

Opinion Same-sex union like baptising a cat

By Jerry Okwuosa RCHBISHOP Cordileone of San Francisco in A his January 28, 2013 interview cautions against over-using the term ‘gay marriage’, and advised that it should be used “only sparingly” because it is a natural impossibility and that if we keep talking about “gay marriage” we might fool ourselves into thinking it is an authentic reality, which only needs government approval to make it legitimate. He compares it with another impossibility: “Legislating for the right for people of the same sex to marry is like legalising male breastfeeding”, and suggests same-sex pseudo– marriage for frequent usage. The Archbishop continued: “Truth is clear. Wanting children to be connected to a mother and father discriminates against no one. Every child has a father and a mother, and you either support the only institution that connects a child with his father and mother or you don’t. Adoption, by a mother and father, mirrors the natural union of a mother and father and provides a balanced, happy alternative for when a child may not be reared by his biological parents.” These are simple and clear.

In an article on page 39 of The Guardian of February 3, 2013 titled “Same-sex Marriage: How Long Can Our Society Hold Out?”, the Forum for Justice and Human Rights Defence was reported to have cautioned that unless section 37 and 43 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which guarantee the right to private and family life and the right to freedom from discrimination are specifically amended to exclude cases of same-sex marriage, the country would not win the war against same-sex marriage. In response, my lawyer friend remarked that the Forum seems to overlook section 45 of the same Constitution, which states that “nothing in sections 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41 of this Constitution shall invalidate any law that is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society, in the interest of defence of public safety, public order, public morality or public health…”. As the said Constitution is currently under review, section 37 may need attention to make assurance doubly sure. Our position is simple: LGBTs (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual) are free to form whatever unions they fancy and to call such unions whatever they wish but not marriage in order to avoid confusion. The simple reasoning is that the word “marriage”, from the dawn of creation, was given to the union of the first man and woman, our first parents – Adam

and Eve. Our first parents were Adam (man) and Eve (woman); they were not made and named Adam and Steve, Adamma and Eve or Eve and Evelyn.

The title and question “Same-sex Marriage: How Long Can Our Society Hold Out?” calls for a quick review of how same-sex pseudo–marriage legalisation is doing around the world, because the impression created by such question and by those who attack Senate President, David Mark over his unflinching support for the Same-Sex “Marriage” (Prohibition) Bill is that Nigeria is needlessly dragging the whole world in the wrong direction. Though homosexuality has been a burning issue for years, surprisingly only eleven out of nearly 200 countries that make up the world have legalised same-sex pseudo-marriage, which is allowed in Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, and Sweden. Washington, D.C, and nine states in the U.S. have legalized it. As Washington State prepared for same-sex “marriage” implementation on December 6, 2012, lawmakers were making preparations by removing “husband” and “wife” from marriage certificates and replacing these with gender neutral language; replacing the words “bride” and “groom” with “Spouse A” and “Spouse B,” or “Person A” and “Person B.” Actually, this is a sort of symbolic indication of how radical a change in the legalization of same-sex “marriage” will be.

With the British government about to publish its bill to legalise gay “marriage” in England and Wales, there has been a huge increase in opposition to the measure over the past two months.

The British Youth Parliament on January 1, 2013 overwhelmingly rejected campaigning for homosexual “marriage”. At the last count, more than 624,000 people have signed the “Coalition for Marriage” (C4M) petition against the redefinition of marriage, but the “Campaign for Equal Marriage” (C4EM) has attracted only 64,000 signatures or just over 10 per cent of C4M. It does look therefore that the push to legalise gay pseudo-marriage in the UK is turning out to be the concern of a small liberal elite, which does not speak for the majority there.

To legalise same-sex pseudo-marriage is to enshrine in law the moral downfall of society and exacerbate the crisis of the natural model of the family. All along, opponents around the world have pointed out that homosexual pseudomarriage is an absurdity because it could not be ‘consummated’. Now British government lawyers have proven the point by failing to

agree a definition of that other nonsense called ‘homosexual genital acts’, ‘same-sex sex’ or ‘gay sex’. But instead of admitting the absurdity of same-sex pseudo-marriage MPs are now proposing that as homosexuals can’t consummate marriages and can’t commit adultery, because there is no commonly agreed legal definition of ‘gay sex’, that both consummation and adultery as grounds for divorce must be dropped from marriage legislation altogether to avoid discriminating against homosexuals. Can you imagine that to accommodate same-sex pseudo-marriage there will no longer be “consummation” and “adultery” in British law again? Someone called this “the logic of the mad house” and he or she sounds right.

The Sunday, January 13, 2013 Big March In Paris (and in French embassies around the world) against gay “marriage” plans was an incredible success, with even French police headquarters reluctantly reporting estimates of over a million people at the march with entire members of families participating. The proposed French law explicitly allows same-sex pseudo-marriage and adoption by homosexual couples. One very big surprise in this French campaign for natural marriage is that homosexuals have joined profamily leaders and activists in the effort. The catchphrase of protesters like Jean Marc’s, a French mayor who is also homosexual is instructive: “The rights of children trump the right to children.”

Xavier Bongibault, an atheist homosexual is a prominent spokesman against the bill. “In France, marriage is not designed to protect the love between two people. French marriage is specifically designed to provide children with families,” he said in an interview. “The most serious study done so far … demonstrates quite clearly that a child has trouble being raised by gay parents.” Jean Marc, who has lived with a man for 20 years, insists, “The LGBT movement that speaks out in the media ... They don’t speak for me.

As a society we should not encourage this. It is not biologically natural. Those million French marchers have offered proof that same-sex pseudo-marriage is very widely rejected, whatever the polls say, and that they have been seething to make themselves heard since the proposal to legalise it was put forward. When Pope Benedict XVI said that the pressure for “gay marriage” in the West “threatens the future of humanity,” the world’s media went into a screaming frenzy. But here are the homosexuals themselves saying exactly the same thing, and the media is not interested. This makes the

question about who is working for whom redundant.

Yet on January 23, 2013 – 10 days after the Paris march – a letter piece writing in The Guardian was berating David Mark whose comments he claimed: “demonstrate an unwarranted obsession with homophobia… fan the flames of hatred and persecution of sexual minorities whose only ‘crime’ is a ‘sexual relationship among consenting adults’… rather than “protecting and promoting the universal human rights of all people”. Mr. Igwe is thus falsely accusing the French homosexuals and other homosexuals around the world who do not approve of samesex pseudo-marriage and adoption of children by homosexual couples of homophobia. Igwe has also illegally extended the universal human rights list to include same-sex pseudo–marriage and adoption against the wishes of his homosexual friends whose “interests” he is defending.

The social crisis building over the broad acceptance of homosexuality is related to the fact that people with a homosexual orientation (they occupy top positions at the UNO headquarters and UN agencies) want to build a pair bond more and more similar to the family and claiming a right to adopt children. But there is no such right, even for heterosexual couples, because children are not objects or instruments of production, they are people, consequently, the rights of children will always trump the right to children.

There is the Igbo adage, which says that if you shake hands with a leper, he wants you to embrace him, and that unfortunately is what is playing out with LGBTs. If same-sex pseudo-marriage is legalised and gay wedding plans go ahead in many countries, the true nature of marriage will be lost, especially to school children. One such confused child in California asked if her newly engaged female teacher was engaged to a man or to a woman. There will be irredeemable damage to marriage and family if marriage is redefined and there can’t be a national issue more pressing than same-sex “marriage” because it doesn’t require rocket science intelligence to know that if the family is lost, all is lost. Actually, to legalise same-sex pseudo-marriage and force Christian churches to bless such union is similar to forcing churches to baptise cats but worse, since baptism is absolutely of no benefit to the cat, which has no soul. Homosexual pseudo-marriage is not an authentic reality and therefore is not marriage and nothing can change that. It is like calling apples oranges and oranges still oranges. It will achieve nothing but confusion.

• Okwuosa, an engineer lives in Lagos.

Andrew’s double mind on checking out

By Peter Obidike REMEMBER campaigns about “Andrew checking out” some Ifrustrating years back. The term referred to those that felt Nigeria was and believed living abroad will be better. This trend coincided with the brain drain syndrome where a lot of our academics went abroad where their contributions to human development could be appreciated more than the decay in our university system and series of unending industrial actions aimed at getting the government of the day to give education the focus it deserved.

Then, once Andrew made up his mind, there was no looking back! He took his bag and family and went wherever his heart finds rest! Not so for the latter day Andrews. The Andrews of these days would rather check out their families to Canada or USA and stay back in Nigeria to earn the money to support the family abroad. These set of Nigerians cut across sectors; politicians who win elections here while living abroad simply come back without their families (this is a reverse check-out!) with our state governors falling under this category, victims of American lottery or Canadian immigration programmes (21st century or second generation slaves) and diplomats or oil industry personnel who tasted the milk and honey in living abroad while on cross postings and will never want their children to have anything to do with Nigeria again as if themselves that grew up and studied in Nigeria lost out in life. The later is the target of this write up and it can be argued that up to 30 per cent of the younger population in the industry within the ages of 35 to 45 are involved, thus it is a very serious issue that needs a national debate.

The arguments have been oh! it is the women that will not allow the family come back home after their assignment abroad, there are no good schools to cater for the kids after tasting real

education, no electricity and bad infrastructure, etc.

To be fair to this group on infrastructure, Nigeria is really a difficult place to live. I remember the very dirty scenes and traffic that confront me around Orile bus stop in Lagos everyday on my way to and from work. It was enough to unsettle one for the evening. Then check out the heat you will have to contend with when you get home or the noise if you are among the few that run generators. I once wrote my neighbour begging him to turn off his generator by midnight so we could sleep in peace! This contrasts the serenity, beauty and peace you experience working abroad. Roads are all tarred, flowers smile and cheer at you as you cruise home from a hard day’s work! You can be sure to turn on the air conditioner and sleep with all eyes closed or do some further work at home if you have need to.

I do not however buy the excuse that it’s the women that persuade the family to stay behind or the lack of quality education in Nigeria since there are American and British schools in Nigeria. I believe that most of the folks are driven not just by the infrastructure and other excuses but fear of the future of Nigeria and what it holds for their kids. They would rather have the kids study abroad so that they can be competitive and get high paying jobs if they decide to come back to Nigeria or they can be sure to get a good employment abroad when they finish their studies.

Some Andrews have a clear-cut strategy to do the shuttling for a couple of years and then quit. That is having the family repatriated to Nigeria to join their patriarch or have him relocate abroad so the family can be together again. Some others don’t have such a strategy and will wait and see what the future will bring (maybe another cross posting). To this later group, is the possibility that they may have checked out because they saw their colleagues do the same without thinking through the implications of a separated family? I have been privileged to ex-

perience to some degree what such a separation can do to families being the son of a federal civil servant. With my dad visiting so many parts of this country on transfers, the family had to settle in a particular city at a point and my dad continued with his transfers only to come back on retirement. The early days of that retirement witnessed a lot of issues because the couple appeared to have lost touch with each other.

With Andrew working in Nigeria and visiting his family in Canada four times (let me be generous about this one) a year, his is even more difficult. How does he inculcate into his kids the fear and discipline that are supposed to come from a father if he is relying on Skype and Facebook to communicate with his kids?

How does he meet his wife’s conjugal needs and vis-versa? What is the definition and purpose of family? How can you have a family and still come home to an empty house everyday in your prime time in life when you are supposed to bond with those kids. If you don’t enjoy their company now, is it when they enter boarding schools and off to universities and then live on their own that you will enjoy them? Life is too short to hope on that.

And we have not even talked about the financial and travelling risks associated with these movements.

Andrew needs to re-evaluate his strategy. He should simply make up his mind, pack his bag and go abroad if he wants to enjoy the beauty of living abroad. He may only have to compromise a little with respect to his earnings but that is nothing compared to the love of a child running into your arms when you come back from work. He can decide to bring the family home to Nigeria and make do with the quality of private educational institutions that may mimic what he will miss abroad. Whatever option he chooses, he needs to make the call now before it’s too late.

Post script: ‘my friend will rather title this piece absentee husband” •Obidike wrote in via p_obidike@yahoo.com.

69

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

Oil & GasWeekly Remi Aiyela, Editor-in-Chief

editor@NOGintelligence.com www.NOGintelligence.com

REGULATORY AGENCY NEWS

Navy Joins the "Blood Oil" Crusade HE Nigerian Navy has called for the classificaT tion of crude oil theft as an international criminal offence similar to the case of stolen diamond in Sierra-Leone, which is referred to as blood diamond.

The Navy has also resolved to mobilise all its arsenal to combat crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the country's maritime environment.

It made this declaration at a recent two-day retreat organised by the Navy for maritime stakeholders in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Participants at the retreat, with the theme: "Deterring Crude Oil Theft and Pipeline Vandalism in Nigeria: A Panacea for National Economic prosperity," included the Chief of Naval Staff, Chairman of Senate Committee on Navy and her counterpart in the House of Representatives.

Others include, Minister of Defence, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry; the Chief of Defence Staff, who was also represented by Chief of Army Staff, and the Chief of Air staff.

The rest were, Inspector-General of Police (IG), Controller General of Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Head of Companies, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other maritime stakeholders.

At the end of the retreat, participants resolved that steps should be taken to establish campaign strategies to make crude oil theft an international criminal offence.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the retreat, the participants stated that: "Efforts should also concentrate on the strategy of severance of links between crude oil thieves and buyers through greater collaboration and application of the instrument of diplomacy with the international community."

The communiqué described as grossly inadequate, the resources made available for the Nigerian Navy to carry out the task of protecting the nation's territorial domain, which is about 84,000 square nautical miles.

The stakeholders therefore demanded an immediate increase in the financial allocation to the Navy for the purpose of fighting crude oil theft.

They also demanded approval of a dedicated fund for the Navy to effectively police the waterways as well as acquisition of more appropriate equipment to combat crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

"It is imperative and timely that a clearly defined policy of constructive engagement that encapsulates robust socio-economic imperatives that positively impact on the lives of the people in the Niger Delta area should be emplaced by the oil companies," said the communiqué.

NNPC Uses HDD Technology to Combat Pipeline Vandalism HENigerian National Petroleum Corporation T (NNPC) has commenced the process of using Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) technology, to bury crude oil and petroleum products

pipelines across the country.

Commenting on the new technology while on a one day working visit to ascertain the extent of work done by the Nigerian Army Engineering Corps on the clearance of the Pipeline Right of Way (ROW) at Arepo in Ogun State, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu, said the technology, which is the latest in the industry would bury the pipelines very deep below the surface.

He stated that an indigenous engineering firm, ENIKKOM, had been mobilised to redirect the pipeline from the reach of vandals with the modern technology.

"We have changed the configuration of the pipelines and once you change the configuration, it has to be new pipes because the length of the old ones cannot go through the configuration. This HDD is a new technology that keeps the pipelines far away from the surface. That is what the contractors are doing and that is what we mean by bringing a new technology to bear.

Certainly, they are going to bury the pipelines very deep, beyond anybody's access," he said.

He said the new technology would be used to bury the pipelines from the Atlas Cove depot in Lagos, through Mosimi depot in Ogun State, up to Ibadan depot in Oyo State. Yakubu stated that the Port Harcourt-Aba axis had been secured, while the Benin-Warri axis had been inaugurated.

He said that in matching words with actions, the NNPC had also built a watchtower police post, and would ensure that the hot spots would be completely secured.

He noted that the project has a very high cost benefit to the NNPC, saying that the Corporation was recording a loss of N600million every week before the project was started.

The NNPC boss appealed to State Governments, Local Government, Communities and other stakeholders to join hands with the NNPC to stamp out pipeline vandalism for the growth of the economy.

Speaking on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Brig. Gen. Emeka Okonkwo said it wass the duty of the army to support civil authority and that the army is in Arepo to re-establish the right of way of the NNPC pipeline from Mosimi to Ibadan within 90 days, assuring all that the military engineers would deliver on its mandate on time.

Fresh Violence Erupts Over FG's Amnesty Programme HE Federal Government's Amnesty T Programme for repentant militants in the Niger Delta is once again under threat as a fresh crisis looms in the oil-producing region due to the growing disaffection of the ex-fighters over the programme, NOGintelligence has gathered.

The ex-fighters, who were encouraged to surrender their weapons in exchange for amnesty and training programmes, have expressed their dissatisfaction over certain aspects of the implementation of the programme.

Since the amnesty programme was introduced by the administration of the late Umaru Musa Yar'Adua in 2009, the ex-militants had on various occasions taken to the streets in protest over the shortcomings of the programme. However, the protest took a violent turn recently when hundreds of ex-militants engaged men of the Joint Task Force (JTF), code-named Operation Pulo Shield in a gun battle that lasted over an hour on the streets of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Several vehicles were destroyed with some looting also taking place in certain roads in the state capital.

The ex-agitators were protesting against the administration of the third phase of the amnesty programme. The protest followed a disagreement between representatives of the Office of the Coordinator of the Inter-Agency Task Force and the ex-militants over the number of training slots allocated to the ex-militants. The InterAgency Task Force headed by Air Vice Marshal Gbum, which has the responsibility of collecting all the weapons submitted by the ex-militants under the amnesty programme had told them that each of the militant camps would be entitled to one amnesty training slot, for every 15 guns submitted by that particular camp. The ex-militants were said to be infuriated, maintaining that there should be a training slot for every two guns submitted.

The position of the Agency is that the militants were submitting their guns several years after the amnesty period had expired and as such could not expect the government to maintain the same conditions for the amnesty when the amnesty period was over.

Angered by this decision, the ex-militants took

their protest to the streets of Yenagoa, where they engaged the JTF in a gun battle. A spokesman from the Presidential Amnesty Office, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, condemned the violent protest by the ex-militants.

Investment Stimulation Needed in the Petroleum Sector RAustin Avuru, Managing Director/Chief M Executive Officer of Seplat Petroleum Development Company, has called for investment stimulation in the petroleum sector, saying that the need for investment cannot be over-emphasised. Mr Avuru was speaking at the February technical meeting of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) in Lagos. He said that for an emerging economy in which the oil and gas industry contributes 90 per cent of total earnings from export, the significance of the appropriate policies to drive investment could not be overstated. He noted that one obvious reason why there has not been a lot of activity especially at the upstream end of the oil and gas sector in recent years is the lack of consistent and appropriate policy.

He observed that because oil and gas are nonrenewable, rent generating resources, it is expected that a balance would have to be struck between appropriate policy and investment stimulation for the level of activity to be raised.

On the one hand, he said, is the government or host country with a policy that is only interested in the bulk of benefits accruing from the economic rent in form of taxes, royalties and fees while on the other hand is the investor with the fund and technology looking at the profits and return on his investment as the only incentive for participation in the highly risky industry.

He said: "We can't but appreciate the fact that we need a right balance between policy and investment for renewed vigor and activity in the petroleum sector. All along what we have had is the situation where the appropriate policy needed to drive investment particularly at the upstream sub sector has been lacking. One thing we must understand is that more investments would only come when there is a policy to complement it," he said.

Mr Avuru said the issue has always been treated as a zero sum game - one party's loss has always been the gain of the other. He added that this has, in effect, made negotiations for the creation of an enabling investment environment more difficult. But with a compromise of appropriate policy and stimulation of investments and activity in the industry, he said the contending needs of these two parties could be met.

Commenting on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), Avuru restated the need for "a strong, independent regulator" for the Bill to work.

He noted, however, that controversy has dogged the reform process in the oil and gas sector because of a misalignment of priorities and reduction of the whole PIB process to "a debate about fiscal provisions."

The Seplat boss explained that the Bill for instance did not completely address sectoral reforms and that downstream problems will get worse.

He noted that issues bedeviling the nation's refineries were not addressed in the PIB and so uncertainties were likely to trail the Midstream (Gas processing and Distribution) Plan.

Avuru, who is a fellow of NAPE said the PIB which is "the result of an elaborate institutional reform process for the oil & gas sector, initiated in 2000 is a legislative item that is expected to define the future of the oil and gas industry in particular and the country in general."

He cited examples from successful reform efforts in the telecoms, power, aviation and maritime industries where he pointed out that reforms have worked largely due to strong regulators like "the NCC for telecoms and NERC for power as well as a focus on the private sector as a source for new investments."

Police Orders Finance Minister to Pay Capital Oil's Subsidy Claims HE recently beleaguered boss of Capital Oil T and Gas Industries has reason to smile again after the Police at the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) asked the Co-ordinating Minister for the

in association with

Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to process Capital Oil's claims for payment of outstanding subsidies.

Capital Oil's woes began following the indictment of the company for infractions in its oil subsidy claims by a Presidential Committee headed by Managing Director/CEO, Access Bank Plc, Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede set up for the Verification and Reconciliation of fuel subsidy payments. The Federal Government thereafter suspended the payment of Capital Oil's outstanding subsidy claims and referred the matter to the SFU for the investigation.

The police have now revealed that in the course of their investigation they did not uncover any evidence of the wrongdoings that Capital Oil was accused of by the AigImoukhuede-led Committee. The investigation thus laid to rest the 15 complaints made against Capital Oil and Gas by the Presidential Committee.

The report, which was, signed by the Commissioner of Police in charge of the SFU, Mr Tunde Ogunsakin said that the Police had ascertained that the products in question were actually bought and delivered by Capital oil, contrary to widespread accusation against the firm.

The team, the report said embarked on a wide range of verification of documents tendered by marketers and all relevant agencies to check if they were actually issued by the purported agencies.

According to the report, the investigations were extended to bank transactions with a view to determining whether products were actually paid for and received. The investigation, the report added, received reports from the Nigerian Ports Authorities, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and the banks involved, indicating that the products in question were bought and delivered.

According to the detectives, the abuses noted by the Subsidy Committee emanated from the porous nature of the transactions and the failure of the PPPRA failed to insulate the subsidy process from fraud.

To prevent recurrence, the report suggested that the Federal Government should prevail on NNPC, the DPR, the PPPRA and other relevant agencies involved in the process to format appropriate checklists and templates that will protect the process from fraud.

DOWNSTREAM NEWS

OPEC Basket Price Continues Downward Slide The price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood at $108.62 dollars a barrel on Thursday, 28 February 2013 compared with $109.69 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The OPEC basket price has been on a downward trend since Monday 25 February when it stood at $111.20, sliding down to $110.10 on Tuesday 26 February, and sliding further to $109.69 on Wednesday 27 February. The price of the OPEC basket has been under pressure since its year to date peak of $114.94 on the February 13. Analysts expect the price to stabilise over the course of the year at around the $100 mark.

Introduced on 16 June 2005, the new OPEC Reference Basket is currently 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).

70

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

Media Fostering gender-sensitive newsroom, building vibrant NAWOJ Issue

By Kabir Alabi Garba does not require any knowledge of clairvoyIthatTance to discern the gender-imbalance ‘policy’ has continued to dominate the newsroom – print and electronic – across the country.

Although, there is no recent empirical study to support the actual percentage of female journalists in the hierarchy of most newsrooms, the reality is that editorial configuration of most media establishments reflects male chauvinism character.

And in spite of its over two decades of existence, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has not been strategically positioned to seek to change this imbalance.

But there appears to be ray of light at the end of the tunnel as reflected in the outcome of two-day Roundtable on Media and Gender Issues in Nigeria held at the weekend in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The UNDP Democratic Governance for Development (DGD) ll project organized the programme.

The DGD project is an electoral cycle initiative funded by the European Union (EU), the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and UNDP, who also manages the project.

A major component of DGD’s activity in the post - election period includes support for an on-going democratic reforms including strengthening the capacity and voice of the media within the democratic process.

The two-day meeting had in attendance NAWOJ officials led by the President, Asabe Baba Nahaya; representatives of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), the academia and members of media and civil society groups.

Introductory remarks undertook by the Project Director of DGD, Dr. Mourtada Deme and NAWOJ President set the tone for the roundtable. And thereafter, presentations by Communication expert, Kayode Ogunbunmi; Hajia Fatima Abdulkarim who SWOT analysed NAWOJ; TV personality, Ene Ede anchoring What is Gender Responsive Reporting?; Miriam Menkiti’s Promoting Gender Diversity in Newsroom - The role of media owners and managers; as well as My Sisters’ Keeper: Mentoring Female Journalists by Constance Meju put discussion in perspective as lively and constructive debate ensued with sole aim of chatting new pathway for a forward looking and strategically positioned women journalists’ body.

The roundtable was also enriched with interventions by Prof. Kate Omenugha of Nnamdi Azikwe University, Okwa, Anambra State; Dr. Abigail Ogwezzy- Ndisika, Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos; and Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Mr. Edetaen Ojo. Occasionally and powerfully too, DGD media expert, Toyin AdewaleGabriel cut in to ensure that participants stay in line with the objective of the programme.

Explaining what he termed ‘media bias,’ Ogunbunmi attributed this to “bias of journalists and news producers within the mass media in the selection of which events and stories are reported and how they are covered.”

He noted further: “Publishers and editors are biased to think that men produced the best and most important stories, deserving of publication. Most female journalists and writers, socialized to those same beliefs, agree and don’t try hard or often enough to get published.

“An extension of this is the ratio of men and women who gets interviewed/cited in the media. There is a perception that men know what to say and that women – who are the largest consumers of media content according to several studies – would rather read/listen to what men are saying than a woman’s. This means lesser women have the opportunity to build up their public speaking credentials – and less sure of themselves when approached to do so.”

Speaking on gender equality, Ogunbunmi supported his argument with a UNESCO Report entitled: Getting the balance right: gender

Project Director of DGD, Dr. Mourtada Deme (left); NAWOJ President, Asabe Baba Nahaya; VP, Zone D, Veronica Ogbole; and National Auditor of NAWOJ, Dorothy Abellegoh… at the programme last Thursday in Abuja

In spite of the progress made over the last 25 years, media still churns out female stereotypes that limit the power of women in society. In many countries women are strongly represented in newsrooms but media are still very male dominated when the top positions are examined. Women are marginalised in the news both in the content of the jobs they do and in the opportunities they have to make their way in the profession. They are even marginalised in the unions that represent them. equality in journalism. He said, “It is in e-form and we should all read it. But part of the findings is that: In spite of the progress made over the last 25 years media still churns out female stereotypes that limit the power of women in society. In many countries women are strongly represented in newsrooms but media are still very male dominated when the top positions are examined.

“Women are marginalised in the news both in the content of the jobs they do and in the opportunities they have to make their way in the profession. They are even marginalised in the unions that represent them.”

In her presentation, My Sisters’ Keeper: Mentoring Female Journalists, Constance Meju decried how “female voices are drowned because very few women are in decision making positions in the media, offering fewer opportunities for junior female journalists to cover serious beats.”

General perception of women in the media, according to her, is reflected in the assumptions that “female journalists are not really ready for serious media work; women put family needs above work; and they are better on lighter beats like fashion, relationship stuff.”

She however countered: “Women even here

in the country have shown strength and depth in covering media stories or even managing news media. Many have won awards – women are competing favourably in the area of recognition for good reports on national and international levels. The CNN award is now almost a Nigerian affair.”

Given opportunity, Constance insisted, “more women can excel. However, we must not run away from the fact that some NAWOJians have given room for some existing negative perceptions on women,” she admitted, while enumerating certain qualities needed for “good journalism practice” especially by women.

These include ability to communicate effectively, assertiveness, a probing mind, analytical, boldness, confidence, and ability to build contacts and network.

A gender advocate, Constance tasked the female journalist “to help project issues around women for inclusion in nation building,” arguing further that, “the move for gender equity, improved living in the country will be better advanced if female journalists make conscious effort to establish themselves as force to reckon with in the profession.”

Another gender advocate and leading voice in the campaign for community radio, Mariam Menkiti emphasized gender diversity in the newsroom “so that reports emanating from them will not be limited by the socially constructed roles for either men or women.”

She lifted her presentation with probing questions while sensitizing participants to the core issues of the roundtable. “Are media owners and managers driving the process of promoting gender diversity in newsrooms? Will it enhance their profit margin or make any difference for them? Why should they be committed to gender diversity in the newsroom? How will this benefit the society? Will gender diversity in the newsrooms stop stereotyping in the media of men as dominant and powerful and women as objects of men attention? Will gender diversity in the newsroom translate to better representation of women in the media?”

She canvassed “credible recruitment process” as one way by which media owners and managers can ensure gender diversity in the newsroom.

She explained, “there has to be an honest interface between the owners and managers since they are strategic actors in promoting gender diversity, both in the newsroom (in terms of employment and promotion of staff at all levels) and in the representation of women and men in terms of fair gender portrayal and the use of neutral and non-gender specific language. The media owners should recognize the managers as professional whose input into the recruitment process should be respected.”

She listed competitiveness, fair gender portrayal, promotion of human rights and equity, as well as synergy as some of the gains of gender diversity in the newsroom.

Adding, she said, “It could enhance communication skills, increase creativity and diverse minds will come together. Newsrooms will have diverse talents and will result in better story telling.

“Newsrooms employing a gender diverse workforce can supply a greater variety of solutions to problems. Reporters and editors from diverse backgrounds bring individual talents and experiences in suggesting ideas that can make stories rich. Gender diversity in the newsroom will provide an opportunity for communicating varying points of view and provides a larger pool of ideas and experiences. Gender diversity in Newsrooms will result in varying interests and story ideas that will translate to broader spectrum of stories and this will serve the audience better. Gender diversity in newsrooms can create an opportunity for gender balanced reportage of events.”

The SWOT analysis of NAWOJ anchored by its immediate past President, Alhaja Fatimah Abdulkareem was not only stimulating, it became the vital material to begin the process of putting the women journalists’ body on the fast lane.

Apart from facilitating a platform for almost all the national and regional officials of NAWOJ to congregate, the roundtable scored another major point in exposing limitless opportunities abound in building a vibrant NAWOJ as one of the champions of gender issues generally in the country.

71

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

‘How to reward selfless service in broadcasting, performing arts’ Hall of Fame Stories by Gbenga Salau

ANY in the broadcasting and M performing arts spend years serving the society without commensurate reward from their employers. But they stayed on because of the passion. This is why after retiring, many professionals in these fields often find it difficult surviving, as they thereafter live in poverty. It is often not very common for them to get national awards though it is changing now, but the appreciation is still very low.

So coming up with a Hall of Fame where professionals who had served or are serving meritoriously are inducted will be a good boost not only to those inducted but also upcoming ones who will know that professionalism and hard work pay.

And the final list of the first inductees into the Hall of Fame for Broadcasting and Performing Arts has been released by the organisers.

Unveiling the list in Lagos last weekend, the Deputy Chairman of the Organising Committee, Mr. Patrick Doyle, said that the idea behind the Hall of Fame is to sustainably reward and celebrate “selfless services” in a perpetual way arguing that it is not an award ceremony but induction of professionals into the Hall of Fame.

As he rolled out the names of each of the personalities who made the list, he gave a brief of their profile and their contributions to broadcasting and the performing arts.

For the broadcast section, the list has Chief Obafemi Awolowo (post-humous), Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (GCFR), Ambassador Christopher Kolade, Mr. Peter Igho, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Alhaji Bawa Garba, Pa Benson Idonije, Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa, Ambassador Yemi Farounbi, Mr. Lekan Ogunbanwo, Mr. Jimi Odumosu, Chief (Mrs) Anike Agbaje Williams, Ms Julie Coker, Ahmad Isah.

Others who will be inducted post-humously are Ernest Okonkwo, Khalifa Baba Ahmed and Chief Segun Olusola.

In the field of performing arts, the list has Dr. Victor Uwaifo, Moses Adejumo (aka) Baba Sala, Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye, Bongos Ikwue, Chief Victor Olaiya, Onyeka Onwenu, Tony Okoroji, Innocent Idibia. Those listed on the post humous category in the performing arts were Hubert Ogunde, Ambrose Campbell and Fela Anikulapo Kuti.

Two organisations to also be inducted for their contribution to broadcasting and performing arts are BBC-Media action for its outstanding contribution to manpower development in the broadcast industry and Steam Broadcasting as the most dynamic broadcasting outfit.

Giving a background information of how the final list emerged, Doyle said that, at the beginning, the committee came up with a long list of individuals, who, no doubt, were qualified for induction into the Hall of Fame but had to be narrowed down to a manageable list for the first phase of the induction.

According to him, in subsequent editions, some inducted members would form a college to pick and invite people that will be

Kolade

Sunny Ade admitted into the Hall of Fame.

“To be qualified for induction into the Hall of Fame for Broadcasting and Performing Arts, one has to be recognized as having made useful and significant contributions to these important fields of human endeavours. The roles Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Gen. Ibrahim Babangida played to bring broadcasting to what it is in Nigeria today are well known.

Onyeka Onwenu produced a TV documentary titled, the

Baba Sala

Onyeka

Abike Dabiri Squandamenia of Riches, this was in mid-eighties. It was the first attempt by any Nigerian broadcaster to bring into the front burner of national discourse, the issue of corruption. However, nobody or institution follow up on the revelation in that documentary. Onyeka Onwenu has since become a musician, making her mark and significant contributions.

“Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa used broadcasting to positively affect the lives of the down trodden, ame-

Dokpesi liorating the suffering and pains of women and children. She has been given the appellation of Mother Theresa. Ahmad Isah is the president of the Berekete Family, an AM programme in one of the stations in Abuja. That programme is used for citizen right advocacy, fighting injustice wherever it rears its ugly head.

“High Chief Raymon Dokpesi, the Chairman of Daar Communications, has made such tremendous impact on broadcast-

ing by the establishment of Ray Power, AIT that one has no doubt that he merits a place in the Hall of Fame for Broadcasting and Performing Arts.

“Sir Victor Uwaifo, Chief Sunday Aladeniyi, alias Sunny Ade, Bongos Ikwue, and of course the people’s legends, Chief Hubert Ogunde and Fela Anikulapo Kuti, are among the first performing artistes to be inducted into the Hall of Fame for Broadcasting and Performing Arts for their contributions to performing arts.”

NBC’s axe dangles over Adamawa radio for non-compliance HE National Broadcasting Commission T (NBC) has said that it would further sanction the Adamawa Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) if it fails to comply with its earlier order that the broadcast of the programme, Taba Kidi Taba Karatu, on its station should be suspended.

The commission had asked the Adamawa Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Radio Gotel, Yola, to suspend the airing of the programmes Taba Kidi Taba Karatu and Dimokradiyya a you respectively. But while Radio Gotel complied with the order of the broadcast regulator, the ABC did not.

In a release, The Head, Public Affairs, Mr. Awwalu Salih, said, “The National Broadcasting Commissin has ordered the suspension of the broadcast of the programmes, Dimokradiyya a you on Radio Gotel, Yola and Taba Kidi Taba Karatu on Adamawa Broadcasting

Corporation, Yola, with effect from February 14, 2013.

“The suspension order followed monitoring reports which indicated the frequent violation of sections of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code by both stations, including Sections 0.2.1, 3.3.1, 3.3.3, 3.4.3, 3.4.7, 3.9.1, 5.3.7.

“Section 3.9.1, for instance, stipulates that: Language or scene likely to encourage or incite to crime or lead to disorder shall not be broadcast.

“Adamawa Broacasting Corporation was also ordered to pay a fine of One Million Naira only earlier imposed within seven days, to avoid further sanctions.

“Early monitoring reports indicate that Gotel Radio has complied with the programmes suspension order as is expected of a professional broadcaster while Adamawa broadcasting Corporation is yet to comply. The Commission

has therefore warned that further sanctions may follow.”

The Commission also in the release enjoined broadcasters to behave in a professionally responsible manner and avoid being partisan in its news and other programmes, noting that the Code demands that while a broadcaster may interact with politicians in the course of his or her professional duties, it should not be such as to lead to the belief that he or she is either a member or sympathizer of any political party.

The NBC reiterated that broadcast organisations were expected to exercise freedom of expression as agents of society, not for any personal or sectional rights, privileges and needs of their own or of their proprietors, relations, friends or supporters as highlighted in the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

72

Sports

TENNIS CLASSICS BI-WEEKLY An innovative magazine, takes a look at how Tennis can create an intriguing interactive experience...

Debuts in The Guardian from Friday, March 1, 2013... Bi-weekly

Italian Serie A Palacio brace saves Inter, Samp sink Parma

Ahead Brazil 2014 World Cup Qualifier

Eagles list out today, as Keshi shuts door on new players

By Christian Okpara ARRING any last minute change, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will today release the list of players Super Eagles’ Coach, Stephen Keshi has selected for the Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifier against Kenya at the U.J Esuene Stadium later this month.

A source close to Keshi told The Guardian yesterday that the coach has submitted his programme for the World Cup qualifier to the NFF, adding the football federation would make known the list either today or tomorrow.

The home-based players in the list are expected to resume camping at the Bolton White Apartment of the Eagles on March 10, while their foreign-based counterparts will join them a week later.

He revealed that the coach has settled for the players he worked with prior to the 2013 African Nations Cup, adding that new players would be

B

added to the squad only after the Confederations Cup holding in Brazil in June.

According to the source, Keshi and his assistant coaches met to deliberate on the Kenya match shortly before they dispersed for a short break following the victorious outing in South Africa, and “one of the things they decided was that it was of no use inviting new players from the domestic league because the NPL has been on break since last year.”

According to the source, who pleaded anonymity, “we will use the World Cup camping to check the fitness level of the players because they are the ones we will take to Brazil for the Confederations Cup. “Keshi has met with NFF technical committee over the Kenya game and they agreed on the method of preparation to employ for the game. The team will start moving to camp next weekend and I believe by Monday next week we will start proper build up to the match,” he

Oyo splashes N53m on NSF heroes, Adesokan YO State at weekend O rewarded its heroes at the 2012 National Sports Festival, tagged: Eko 2012, and the Paralympics gold medalist, Yakubu Adesokan, with cash gifts totaling N53, 800, 000.

Governor Ajimobi presented the cheques to the victorious Team Oyo at the main bowl of the Lekan Salami Stadium at the weekend in a ceremony graced by members of the state executive council, officials of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the State Sports Council, among others.

While Adesokan, who clinched gold in weightlifting at the 2012 Paralympics in London, was presented with a cheque of N4 million and a hajj slot, his coach went home with the sum of N2 million.

Each of the gold medalists

at the Eko 2012 also got N750,000, while silver and bronze medalists collected N500,000 and N350,000 each respectively.

Speaking at the occasion, Governor Ajimobi congratulated the athletes for putting up brilliant performances at the London Paralympics and the National Sports Festival and for doing the state proud.

He also said that his government would continue to reward excellence as a means of motivating sports men and women, and developing the sports sector in the state.

The state Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Dapo LamAdesina, in his address, thanked Governor Ajimobi for his support to his ministry, which he said, had contributed immensely to the victory so far recorded in sports.

ODRIGO Palacio came R off the bench to score a brace including an injury-

Efe Ambrose and Sunday Mba celebrating after Super Eagles’ cup clinching 1-0 defeat of Burkina Faso in the final of the South Africa 2013 CAF Nations Cup in Johannesburg. Both players are expected to be in the list for PHOTO: AFP. the World Cup qualifier against Kenya.

Lagos International Polo Tournament

Ibah wins Dansa Cup, as Trojan retains Lagos Open Cup ANO Ibah had the better twice following Murtala K of Lagos Ericsson in a Aliyu’s opening goal from a give Ibah a 4-2 lead heading into the third chukka. thrilling final game of the 40-yard penalty.

Dansa Cup with Addo Ismail scoring three of his side’s goals in an 8-5 at the on-going Lagos Polo International Tournament.

Also at the same arena, Lagos Polo Club, the last final of the double-phased tournament, which will resume on Wednesday, saw Tavia Trojan beat Goodfellows/Ark 5-4 to retain the Lagos Open Cup, with Santiago Cernadas producing a man of the match performance for the Trojan.

Defending champion, Ericsson, rallied from a goal deficit to lead 2-1 after Damien Duncan replied

Duncan broke away from the roll-in of the second chukka but could not connect his shot at the vital area thus allowing Aliyu to clear, just as Tade Oyinlola made a last-ditch effort to clear Ismail’s goal-bound shot on goal, but it was given as it has already crossed the line as Ibah drew level at 2-2.

Aliyu followed up with a missed 60-yard penalty and when a similar situation was presented to Ericsson, Jamilu Umar had his shot deflected off the goal by Ismail.

Aliyu and Ismail then scored in quick succession to

Halifa Ibrahim converted a spot hit to give Kano a healthy 5-2 lead and the gap between the sides was widened when Addi Ibrahim tapped in from a Nura Shamaki’s shot for 6-2 at the end of the third chukka.

Abdulmumuni Musa and Duncan scored within a minute midway into the last chukka but Halifa profited from a missed clearance by Umar to score, while the same player’s goal moments later proved to be an icing on the cake. Umar had before the costly error scored his side’s fifth goal.

time winner in a 3-2 win over feisty Catania to push Inter Milan up to fourth in Italy’s Serie A yesterday.

As expected, the visitors were given short shrift by the Sicilians and were left playing catch-up inside 10 minutes when Gonzalo Bergessio smashed the ball past ‘keeper Samir Handanovic after a defensive blunder by Brazilian defender Juan Jesus.

Inter was in disarray and went in for the half-time break two goals down after Giovanni Marchese doubled the lead with a header at the back post from Francesco Lodi’s free kick.

Seven minutes after the break, later Palacio latched onto Ezequiel Schelotto’s through ball, took it to the byline and sent over a cross for Ricky Alvarez to beat Mariano Andujar from close range with a diving header.

Catania was left lamenting that missed opportunity moments later when Palacio, who was unmarked in the box, rose above Alexis Rolin to head home Alvaro Pereira’s cross from close range.

Catania’s defence was found wanting in the second minute of injury time when Palacio was allowed space on the edge of the area and found fellow Argentine, Esteban Cambiasso.

Cambiasso took the ball to the byline and squeezed it to the unmarked Palacio, who beat Andujar with ease from yards out.

Elsewhere yesterday, Fiorentina held onto sixth place, 14 points behind Juventus but only three shy of third-placed AC Milan, with a 2-1 home win over Chievo thanks to Larrondo’s 78th minute header.

Bologna climbed further away from the relegation zone towards mid-table respectability with a 3-0 home rout of Cagliari while Sampdoria had Emanuel Icardi to thank for the 58th minute header, which secured a 1-0 win over Parma.

English Premiership

Tottenham beats Arsenal 2-1, goes seven points clear of rivals WO goals in two first-half T minutes by Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon proved to

Lagos Ironclad/Hurstlers and T-Raiders battling for honours at the on-going Lagos International Polo Tournament.

be crucial as Andre VillasBoas’ side moved up to third in the table after winning its fourth Premier League match in a row.

But it is now looking grim for the Gunners, who are struggling to qualify for next season’s Champions League and are now seven points behind their local rivals.

Arsene Wenger’s side played well at times but, after edging the opening halfhour, they were undone by some dismal defending.

In the 37th minute, Bale was sent clear by Gylfi Sigurdsson’s excellent pass before clipping the ball past

Wojciech Szczesny.

Just two minutes later, the Arsenal defence was split open again by Scott Parker’s throughball, Lennon rounding the hapless Szczesny before slotting the ball into an empty net.

Arsenal was given hope six minutes after the restart though when Per Mertesacker’s header from Theo Walcott’s free-kick deflected off Bale and past Hugo Lloris in the Spurs goal.

Spurs suffered second-half injuries to Emmanuel Adebayor and Mousa Dembele but Bale and Sigurdsson wasted fine chances to restore their twogoal advantage.

Arsenal probed for an

equaliser and Aaron Ramsey wasted its best chance when he scuffed a shot wide after finding space for himself down the right but, as has so often been the case, it was unable to find the killer ball.

In a contest that was slow to catch fire, Gareth Bale almost inevitably lit the fuse with his seventh goal in five league outings on 37 minutes.

Skewering Arsenal’s back line, Gylfi Sigurdsson sent the relentless Welsh international through on goal and he finished unerringly past Wojciech Szcz sny. The Gunners’ concentration flickered again moments later, allowing an unopposed Aaron Lennon to skip around Szcz sny and slide in.

SPORTS 73

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

Meet Iwobi, the young Gunner, who wants to be another Okocha

By Christian Okpara E was born in Nigeria, but his parents took him to England early in his life. And since he was eight-year-old Alex Iwobi has been in the Arsenal youth system graduating from the under- 11s to his current status as a member of the U-18s.

Such has been his phenomenal rise in the game that Manager of the Arsenal youth system, Steve Gatting sees him as the next big thing after Jack Wiltshire.

Iwobi, a versatile forward, has made a promising start to his life with the Under-18s that he has been compared with Bolton’s former Captain, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, who is said to be the young lads uncle.

The boy, who can play either through the middle or from the wings, has a searing pace and an array of skills and has already represented England in the Under16 category. But that does not mean he wouldn’t like to play for Nigeria ‘if they approach the right people.’

The right people include Austin Okocha, who could talk to Iwobi’s parents to persuade him play for Nigeria.

Right now, Iwobi is happy playing for the English youth team, as well as his beloved

H

Arsenal.

“I see myself as the link between the midfield and attack and I think I can pass the ball very well. People have compared me with several players. But I think I am more like the great Jay Jay Okocha,” Iwobi was quoted in a recent publication.

Born on May 3, 1996, Iwobi signed under Arsenal scholarship scheme in the summer of 2012, and is alongside Chuba Akpom, Chuks Aneka and Rinse Uade, among the growing band of Nigerian youngsters (there are some others in the pre-scholarship cadre) that have graduated from the youth system to the fringes of the main team.

A promising winger possessing electric speed and a penchant for dangerous crosses, whilst also being clinical in front of goal himself, Iwobi enters his first season as a scholar off the back of an impressive 2011/12 campaign in which he impressed for both club and England at schoolboy level.

A regular starter for Arsenal at under-16 level last season, he found the net with regularity and forged an impressive understanding with Jordan Brown, who, like Iwobi, earned a call up to the England under-16 squad for

the Victory Shield. Iwobi caught the eye again in front of the cameras and the youngster will seek to continue his development on both fronts this campaign.

So impressed has Arsenal’s youth team Coach, Steve Gatting, been of Iwobi that he sees the young lad succeeding, where such graduates like Sidney Sidwell, Jeremie Aliadere, Jermaine Pennant, Gavin Hoyte, Rhys Murphy, Alban Bunjaku, Jeffrey Monakana and Ben Glasgow, among others, who were tipped for stardom only to fail to raise their game in the senior cadre.

Speaking on his prized jewel, Gatting says, “Alex can play wide on the flank or as a more advanced player in a midfield three. He has a good passing range and good awareness for that ‘number 10’ role, linking up well with the players around him.

“He can score goals, too, as he showed recently with two goals in as many goals- both coming when he got at the end of crosses, which shows another string to his bow.

“I am sure he will continue to play regularly in the under-18s this season, and he will have his eye on a debut for the NextGen Series side too.”

Ondo, Oyo claim titles at Adeboye U-20 National Table Tennis Championship

By Olalekan Okusan HE dominance of South West states in table tennis continues at the maiden Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye National U-20 Table Tennis Championship, as Ondo and Ondo claimed the titles at the one-week tournament held at Redemption Camp, Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.

In the men’s final, Ondo’s Ojo Onaolapo was in fine form against her compatriot, Adewale Fagbamila as he won 4-2 to claim the title, while Oyo’s Funmi Ajala announced her emergence when she defeated Fatimo Kazeem 4-2 also to lift the coveted trophy.

The final match was preceded by a seminar titled: Maximising The Potentials Of Nigerian Youth In Table Tennis Towards The 2016

T

Olympic Games: Roles Of The Private Sector and was delivered by former international, Toyin Okenla-Ojeaga.

According to the Special Assistant to the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (Administration and Personnel, Johnson F. Odesola, the tournament was jointly organised by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) and the Directorate of Sports, RCCG, as part of the activities to celebrate the 71st birthday of Pastor Adeboye.

With plans to expand the events, Odesola, who was represented by Head of Sports in RCCG, Paul Bankole, at the press conference before the kick off said over N6 million will be won by the top eight players at the competition with the winners getting N1.5 million each.

“We view this epoch-making programme as part of RCCG’s contribution to sports development in Nigeria via the strategies that would leverage the rejuvenation of table tennis in line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s), the Sports for Development and Peace Programmes of the United Nations General Assembly.

“This is also one of the core statutory duties of the Sports Directorate of this church, which is to evolve a pyramid that will create a career line for millions of potentials sports persons within and outside RCCG – by giving them assurance of a positive future through sports and education. This programme is therefore only one of the contributions of the RCCG to youth empowerment, in this massively blessed country,

On the move…Iwobi during one of his games for the Arsenal U-18 team.

NBBF introduces play offs for Zenith Bank League

By Adeyinka Adedipe ASKETBALL fans are in for a swell time this season, as the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has introduced a final eight play off, which will take place at the end of the regular season.

By the new format the 16 teams will be divided into two groups with the defending champions and runners up seeded. The third and fourth teams from the previous season will take up the second spots while the other teams will go through a draw process to determine where they play.

The new teams are Benue Queens, Oluyole Babes, Coal City Queens, GT 2000, Taraba Hurricanes and the Adamawa

B

State

teams.

President of the NBBF, Tijjani Umar said that after consultation with their partners Zenith Bank and stakeholders of the competition, the NBBF decided to make the competition more interesting by changing the pattern with which the league had been played in the last nine years.

He said, “in order to match our words to reinvigorate the league, the Federation has put in place a Task Force to make phase one in Abuja different and the beginning of the new lease of life that we are determined to give to the league.”

The Abuja phase is billed to hold from March 21 to 30

CCSF organises elite training camp for sports festival taekwondo medalists

By Olalekan Okusan S part of its efforts to hone A the skills of athletes in readiness for major competitions, Chika Chukwumerije Sports Foundation (CCSF) at the weekend in Abuja concluded a one-week elite training camp for medalists in the

taekwondo event of the last National Sports Festival tagged, Eko 2012.

According to the founder and Chief Executive Officer of CCSF, Chika Chukwumerije, the objectives of the Elite Training Camp was to spark a golden

Premier Lotto Lagos Schools Athletics Championship

District four takes centre stage at Teslim Balogun Stadium

By Olalekan Okusan CHOOLS from district four will be in action today at the Teslim Balogun Stadium as the maiden Premier Lotto Lagos Schools Athletics Championship enters final week.

The participating schools will be drawn from Apapa, Mainland and Surulere with 48 finalists expected to make it to the March 9 grand finale.

According to the organisers, the technical officials have unearthed several talents, while more talents are expected to be discovered this week.

A board member of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Gloria Obajimi, has lauded the organisers and athletes taking part in the championship, saying that the tourney has been organised according to the standard

S

approved by the AFN. “For us to be able to make it right in athletics in this country we need to continue to give our young athletes the opportunity to showcase their talents. I am very happy that Lagos State, through the Ministry of Sports, has been able to partner with Premier Lotto to give our upcoming athletes a chance in this schools championship. And as you can see, the athletes themselves have not been disappointing through their performances and enthusiasms,” Obajimi said.

She tasked athletes to focus on the sport they know they have the edge over the others, while also calling on government and other stakeholders to support young athletes in the country, saying that it would help them remain focused in their chosen careers.

before the teams move to Asaba for the second stage. It is the top eight teams from the cumulative points that will be in Lagos for the final-8 play-offs.

The Zenith Bank representative at the event, Marcel Okereke, who is the AGM, head Research Unit, said that the bank was honoured to remain partners with the NBBF and especially the female teams. He said that it was due to their determination to encourage the young to go into productive life that the bank agreed to increase the sponsorship fee to N20 million.

“In our bank we are gender sensitive and we are so happy to carry the ladies along,” Okereke said.

Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) President, Tijani Umar, Zenith Bank Philantropy’s Eunice Sampsom, Secretary General NBBF, Francis Gbiri, and AGM and Head of Zenith Bank Research Dept., Marcel Okeke, at the press briefing and Cheque presentation to announce the opening of the 2013 edition of the National Women Basketball League, sponsored by the bank, at the media centre of the National Stadium, Lagos … recently

vision in national athletes ahead of the All Africa Games and Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

“We decided to stage the camp to inspire the athletes ahead of 2015 All Africa Games and Rio 2016 Olympics. Also to bolster an unshakable team spirit amongst prospective national team mates ahead of future national camps. We also want them to realise the huge challenges ahead of them,” he said.

He added, “all the athletes had never done most of the exercises and programmes they did during the programme. They were really surprised and shocked by that realisation that there was a wide gulf in the way they trained and the way their counterparts on the global stage train. They have learnt a lot, and we (CCSF) hope they can go back to their respective states, and not only continue to train in the way they have learnt, but also teach others and pass on that knowledge.”

The male athletes that took part in the training were Usman Suleiman of Kano, Gideon Idoko of Kano, Segun Olushola of Rivers, Isaac Ime of Bayelsa, Kabiru Momodu of Edo, George Obeh of Delta, Hussaini Adamu of Borno and Sunday Onofe, a national athlete, as well as, gold medalist at the CCSF International Opens.

74

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

English Premiership

Kroenke has no plans to sell club, say Arsenal TAN Kroenke has no plans SArsenal, to sell his majority stake in a spokesman for the

Liverpool’s Uruguayan striker, Luis Suarez (left); beats Austrian and Wigan midfielder, Paul Scharner to score Liverpool’s fourth goal during the English Premier League match at The DW Stadium in Wigan, northwest England, at the weekend.

PHOTO: AFP

Cech happy to please Blues fans ETR Cech is so focused on P his job as a goalkeeper that the atmosphere is something of an irrelevance, but he was pleased the Chelsea support left Stamford Bridge content following the 1-0 defeat of West Brom on Saturday.

Much of the focus was on Rafael Benitez after the

Spaniard had hit out at his title of ‘interim manager’ and criticised the fans for using their energies to insult him, rather than support the team, in mid-week.

Perhaps the Blues faithful heeded the message of former Liverpool boss Benitez because - although there were messages for him on

Cech

Villa can beat Man City, Lambert boasts STON Villa boss, Paul Lambert insists he is focused on trying to plot an upset against Manchester City on Monday evening rather than forthcoming games with fellow strugglers Reading and QPR. Lambert knows the significance of the Barclays Premier League double-header, which will follow on from the meeting with Roberto Mancini’s side with Villa in the bottom three.

But he has taken enough encouragement from Villa’s performances in recent weeks - including last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Arsenal - to believe they can at least compete against the champions.

He said, “I felt there were signs of encouragement against Arsenal but then I’ve felt that for a few weeks without getting the results. That’s the frustrating thing, when you play well and don’t get results especially the games at Everton, West Brom and Swansea.

“When you have a two-goal lead at Everton and West

A

Brom and you don’t see it through, or concede a late equaliser as was the case at Swansea, it’s frustrating.

“If you had taken maximum points from those games, then you’d be sitting mid-table and, against Arsenal, we should have had at least a point.”

Lambert added, “people are asking about the Reading and QPR games and I say to them, ‘so there’s no point in playing Manchester City then?’

“I don’t view it that way. We may as well just give it to them if we think like that. We want to beat Manchester City. You are there to win, regardless of whether it is City or QPR or whoever. We have to try and win. We are a threat going forward. We are not going into it just to draw or anything like that.”

Villa won 4-2 at City in the Capital One Cup and Lambert felt their opponents were flattered by the 5-0 scoreline in the league meeting after a contentious penalty award.

banners, chants for his predecessors Roberto Di Matteo and Jose Mourinho and vitriol hurled in the Spaniard’s direction - there was plenty of encouragement for the players too.

“I’m so focused on the game that I hardly understand what the people sing or shout or what they do,” Cech told Chelsea TV. “The main point is the people were here, the stadium was full, they were behind us, they supported the team and we won the game. We had a good performance and everyone seemed to leave the stadium happy.”

Demba Ba’s 28th-minute strike was the difference, but Chelsea, and Oscar in particular, spurned a number of other chances to make the game safe before a late rally from the Baggies.

Cech made strong saves from long-range shots by Steven Reid and Peter Odemwingie, but his most instinctive block came when a corner deflected goalwards off Chelsea right-back Cesar Azpilicueta.

Cech added, “their chances came at the end because they

threw everything at us and we hadn’t killed them off. This was the story of the season a little bit. We had so many chances and Ben Foster had a great game.

“They survived until the 80th minute and then they waited patiently for their chances up front, they had to.

But overall our performance was very good. Everybody was focused, everybody was concentrated until the last whistle.”

Former Newcastle striker, Ba scored his fourth Chelsea goal - and first against a side other than Southampton - to end a seven-match scoreless streak.

He praised David Luiz for having the skill and intelligence to head Oscar’s cross back into the six-yard box, rather than go for goal himself.

Ba told Chelsea TV, “he (Luiz) put the ball exactly where he wanted to and I was there.”

Luiz was playing at centre back, rather than the central midfield role in which Benitez has deployed him of late, due to the decision to rotate John Terry and Gary Cahill.

Premier League soccer club said on Sunday, responding to a report that a Middle East consortium planned a 1.5-billion-pound ($2.25-billion) bid.

The Sunday Telegraph said the consortium, backed by funds from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, had already requested a meeting with the American billionaire Kroenke, who owns a twothirds stake in the famous north London club ahead of what would be a record takeover bid for a soccer club.

“Stan Kroenke is committed to Arsenal for the long term and has no intention of selling his stake,” Arsenal Communications Director, Mark Gonnella told Reuters.

“There has been no contact from any potential investors,” he added.

Gonnella noted that Kroenke, who also owns the St Louis Rams in the NFL, had never sold any of his sports investments.

Many Arsenal fans are unhappy with the way Kroenke - nicknamed “Silent Stan” for his low profile - is running the club, arguing he is putting profit before success on the pitch.

Arsenal has not won a trophy since 2005 and is facing another barren season.

Supporters are angry at paying the highest ticket prices in the country at their 60,000-seater Emirates stadium and criticise Kroenke for selling their best players to rival clubs.

Chelsea, owned by Russian oligarch, Roman Abramovich, and Manchester City, supported by cash from Abu Dhabi have spent heavily in recent seasons and outperformed Arsenal.

The report comes on the day Arsenal, struggling to qualify for the lucrative Champions League, face a crucial match against bitter local rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Tottenham are fourth in the Premier League, while Arsenal lie fifth and out of the Champions League places.

The consortium, whose members have not yet been named, would make available transfer funds “to transform the club into a major force in European and world football,” the newspaper

quoted an unnamed source familiar with the plan as saying.

“The bid team regard Arsenal as one of the great clubs of European football but also one that is no longer punching its weight and is in danger of falling behind,” it said.

The newspaper added that the consortium would pledge to reduce ticket prices at the Emirates and aim to recreate there some of the atmosphere of Highbury, Arsenal’s historic former stadium.

However, new financial curbs being introduced in the Premier League and for top European clubs will make it harder for wealthy owners to run up big losses chasing sporting success.

Arsenal say their sound finances will make them more competitive in this era of “Financial Fair Play.”

Kroenke acquired a majority stake in Arsenal two years ago in a deal valuing the club at 731 million pounds.

Arsenal’s other main shareholder is Uzbek-born businessman Alisher Usmanov, who has a stake of almost 30 percent but does not sit on the board and criticised the club for allowing striker Robin van Persie to join Manchester United last year.

Any take-over would raise questions over the future of Arsenal’s long-serving manager, Frenchman Arsene Wenger, although the consortium values his football knowledge and want him to remain at the club, The Telegraph said.

Kroenke

Suarez ‘a hero’ for Liverpool players, Allen insists midfielder Joe LheroIVERPOOL Allen called Luis Suarez “a and an idol” for his teammates

Lambert

after

the

Uruguay international of the Premier League goalscored a hat trick in the scoring chart. club’s 4-0 victory over Wigan The 26-year-old forward is on Saturday to go to the top now two strikes ahead of Manchester United’s Robin van Persie with 21 league goals in an outstanding personal campaign, despite the fact that Brendan Rodgers’ seventh-placed side has struggled to find consistency this season.

Former Swansea player, Allen has heaped praise on Suarez, revealing that the Liverpool squad looks to him for inspiration. Allen even thinks the controversial forward could win the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award.

“There is not much more you can say about (Suarez) he is world class and his hattrick speaks for itself,” Allen told the club’s official website. “His relationship not only with the players he plays

with, but also the fans, doesn’t really happen that often. He really is a hero and an idol for everyone. The way he is performing for this club, he deserves to be.

“With Luis, you know he is going to conjure something up at any given moment in a game. To have that in your team is enormous. He’s always hungry for the ball and to get more goals - you can’t really ask for much more.”

Despite courting controversy in the past with an eightgame ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra and facing continuous accusations of diving, Allen feels Suarez would be a worthy winner of a PFA award given his stunning season.

“Obviously we’re biased as Liverpool players and we’re going to want to see him win it, but we’ll have to wait and see what unfolds,” Allen said.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

75

European Round Off

Rooney ready for the Real deal

AYNE Rooney insists it W has not been tough to block out the glamour of

Tuesday’s “special” date with Real Madrid.

Only after Saturday’s 4-0 win over Norwich did Manchester United’s players allow their minds to drift towards that glamourous Champions League tie at Old Trafford.

For whilst United went into the meeting with Chris Hughton’s men 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League, Sir Alex Ferguson is demanding no loss of focus, or status, which Rooney feels was underlined by his team

selection.

“It hasn’t been hard not thinking about Tuesday,” said Rooney. “Norwich was a massive game for us and we wanted to extend the gap at the top of the league. The manager put a lot of experienced players out and made us aware it was more important.”

Shinji Kagawa’s hat-trick, the first by an Asian player in the Premier League and Rooney’s last-minute piledriver, ensured there were no unexpected slips.

So now United can train their thoughts on Cristiano Ronaldo and company, who

Hamsik

stand in the way of a quarterfinal berth.

“It is going to be a special night,” said Rooney. “It is probably the two biggest clubs in the world and something we are all looking forward to.”

Ferguson certainly is. And judging by his team selection on Saturday had decided to remove Kagawa from his Madrid starting line-up.

Whether the Japan midfielder’s outstanding contribution has changed his mind is open to question.

However, after a difficult few months when he has struggled to regain the form he showed prior to suffering a knee injury in October, Kagawa has underlined why Ferguson bought him from Borussia Dortmund in the summer.

That Kagawa responded to a question of how his hattrick will go down in Japan by saying, “it will probably be huge news in Japan but in Japan they are looking forward to the Real game” merely shows what expectation surrounds that eagerly-anticipated duel between Ferguson and Jose Mourinho.

Real’s use of Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium for their pre-match training session today merely adds another twist in a tie filled with them.

Yet the sense remains that Ferguson is confident. “I felt we looked very comfortable (in the first leg) and gave a good account of ourselves,” he said.

“We could have scored five or six goals. Robin van Persie missed two great opportunities and their goalkeeper made a couple of good saves.

“And although we expected Madrid to have a lot of possession there was nothing that worried me unduly so perhaps we should have won the game.”

Hamsik eyes Serie A title with Napoli AREK Hamsik has insistM ed that Napoli’s hopes of lifting a first Serie A title since 1989 remain alive despite the club’s 1-1 draw with Juventus on Friday.

The Partenopei were unable to close the gap on the Old Lady to three points at the San Paolo, but the Slovakia international has refused to throw in the towel just yet, with a little more than two months of the season left to go.

“The distance between us remains the same, but the end of the season is still a long way off,” Hamsik told the club’s official website.

“We started the game well and then reacted to find the equalizer after their goal. We tried to double our tally, but we were unable to do so.

There is still a long way to go this term.”

Hamsik also spoke of his appreciation for the fans’ show of support prior to first

kick - with thousands of colored squares held up to create a mosaic of the sea and Mount Vesuvius, complete with flares to symbolize the volcano erupting.

“The atmosphere at the San Paolo was wonderful thanks to our fantastic fans who performed that choreography before the match.”

Disappointing Lyon held at Stade Brest LYMPIQUE Lyon missed O out on an opportunity to close the gap with Ligue 1 leaders Paris St Germain when they could manage only a 1-1 draw at Stade Brest at the weekend.

A Tripy Makonda own goal cancelled out Kamel Chafni’s first-half opener but Lyon failed to break the deadlock again on a pitch resembling a Wimbledon tennis court in its second week.

The result left Lyon with 52 points from 27 games, two points adrift of PSG, who lost 1-0 at 10-man Stade Reims on Saturday. Brest are 15th on 29 points.

The home side went ahead

in the eighth minute when Chafni found the back of the net with a low shot from just outside the box.

The midfielder was replaced by Bruno Grougi on the stroke of halftime after he picked up a thigh injury.

Lisandro came close in the 37th minute but Alexis Thebaut parried the Argentine’s powerful, angled shot.

On a sharp counter attack, Steed Malbranque released Lisandro on the right flank with the Argentine dribbling past Thebaut before his cross was deflected into his own net by Makonda.

Beckham

Rooney

Mallorca wins first game in 2013 ALLORCA snatched a late M 2-1 win at Granada to record their first Primera Division victory in 10 matches. The hosts took an early lead through Nolito but Alfaro levelled not long after.

Granada had the greater number of chances throughout the match but a last-gasp headed goal by substitute Tomer Hemed gave the visitors all three points and their first win of 2013.

The hosts began stronger, controlling possession and creating early chances. Diego Buonanotte fired the first warning shot when he tested the Mallorca goalkeeper, Auoate on six minutes and two minutes later Nolito opened the scoring.

Full-back Juanma Ortiz, only in the side due to the absence of suspended Allan Nyom, showed skill to beat his opposite number Luna and then put in a fine cross

which Nolito, unmarked, headed into the back of the net.

However, it was not long until Mallorca pulled themselves level. Giovani dos Santos burst down the left wing, raced into the box and delivered a perfect low cross right into the path of Alfaro, who nudged the ball in from a couple of yards.

Mallorca then came close to taking the lead when Victor Casadesus headed a shot towards the far corner but it was kept out by a fantastic leap by Granada goalkeeper Tono Martinez.

Shortly before half-time, it was the Mallorca goalkeeper, who kept the scores level, Auoate saving an effort from Nolito with his legs.

Aranda missed three chances to score in the second half as Granada pushed on for a winner but then Tono came to his side’s res-

cue again, keeping out a volley by Casadesus.

The Andalusians kept up the pressure, although Mallorca substitute Hemed, who replaced Casadesus on 70 minutes, struck the post late on.

Before the match, Mallorca coach Gregorio Manzano insisted only a win would do for his struggling side, but when Dos Santos failed to prevent a ball going out for a throw in two and a half minutes into added time, it seemed as if they were going to have to settle for a draw.

PSG not suprior to others, Beckham insists AVID Beckham has insistD ed that Paris SaintGermain does not see itself as superior to other sides following the club’s shock 1-0 Ligue 1 loss to Stade de Reims.

A goal from Grzegorz Krychowiak in the 64th minute consigned the French table-toppers to a fifth defeat of the campaign, even with having a man advantage for the final 30 minutes, but Beckham does not believe that arrogance was to blame for Saturday’s adverse result.

“We had two good games against Olympique de Marseille, but in football things change very quickly,” Beckham told reporters after the match, in which he entered as a 64th-minute substitute.

“We never think that we’re superior to any team. It’s always difficult coming to away grounds. I think they played very well but we can play better. They won the game, so they must have done something better than us, but like I said, we move on.”

76 SPORTS

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

Demystifying Barcelona...Jose Mourinho style

By Eno-Abasi Sunday E is an eccentric, whose middle name can H well be “Mr. Controversy,” but Portuguese born Real Madrid gaffer, Jose Mourinho has after all shown that he is more than a bag of controversies.

It is also certain that he would end this term at the Bernabeu without the league diadem, but the loquacious trainer, who may likely head to England or France in the summer will not do so with his tail in between his legs.

Rather, he will stroll away with the swagger of an elephant slayer, having successfully tamed Real Madrid’s greatest rival, Barcelona Football Club.

For many, a new vista has been opened in the annals of Spanish football. Put differently, the Catalans’ era of dominance over their fierce rivals, Real Madrid has well and truly ended.

The 50-year-old former Porto Football boss elected to be addressed as “The Special One” when he was in charge of European champions, Chelsea Football Club in England. This was after addressing himself that way during a press conference he gave following his switch from Porto to the English side in 2004.

But after taking into cognizance, the long list of titles and honours he has won as manager and after becoming the only manager that has won the so-called top-three European Leagues, he christened himself “The Only One.” Speaking to Portuguese television channel SIC last April, the football tactician explained that as his managerial career has progressed, he has become less selfish and less focused on individual goals.

“Things have been going well for me, I thank God...I am focused on others much more these days. The pleasure of winning with Inter Milan was seeing a club, which had not won for 50 years, winning again. That is what entices me more and more, instead of pursuing individual goals.”

For the record, last season, Mourinho won La Liga with Real Madrid, he won Serie A twice with Inter Milan of Italy, the Premier League twice with Chelsea and the Portuguese Liga twice with Porto. To crown it all, he has won the Champions League with both Porto and Inter Milan.

He continued with the television interview, “like me or not, I am the only one who won the world’s three most important leagues. So, maybe instead of the ‘special one’, people should start calling me the ‘only one’.”

Mourinho, an enigmatic and intelligent individual, is adept at playing with the media just as he is adept at playing with people’s minds, especially that of his opposite numbers.

Seen by many as having the qualities of good and evil in equal measures, his powers to motivate his men to cross the Red Sea with him as Moses, are well documented and can, at a glance, be gleaned from the words of John Obi Mikel, who in a past interview said Mourinho was a master motivator and they (Chelsea) were always ready to “die” on the pitch to please him.

It is common knowledge that Mourinho is driven by immense hunger to succeed. His determination to succeed, has found vent in a number of things he does with the different teams he has managed and how he has always constantly challenged the old order with a view to dismantling same and leaving his imprimatur wherever he goes.

The latest in this regards being the painful defeats inflicted on the Catalan kings, Real Madrid’s fiercest rival in the La Liga within the last five days.

Beating a world-class team like Barcelona in front of tens of thousands of supporters in their home is no mean feat. Doing so in quick successions and making them look so ordinary is, to say the least, a momentous feat worthy of celebrations for a man, whose main flaws include constantly pushing people around to get what he wants and bashing his opposite numbers at will just to stir up needless controversies.

Before acquiring the manual on how to beat Barcelona, Mourinho endured a torrid time initially in the famous fixture, losing his first el Clasico 5-0 and winning just one in 10.

He has, however, enjoyed much more success recently.

According to Spanish football writer, Ben Hayward, “in his 17 Clasico clashes since taking charge at the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer of 2010, Jose Mourinho has now won five, drawn six and lost six, much worse than the Portuguese’s percentage against other sides, but far better than the record read this time last year. So after more than 1,000 days in charge and many bitter battles with the Catalan club, Mourinho appears to have final-

Mourinho ly found a formula for success against his fiercest foes.”

Five months before arriving at Camp Nou with a point to prove in his first Clasico, Mourinho had led Inter Milan to a famous aggregate victory over the Blaugrana, which included what many described as a backs-tothe-wall, bus-parking performance in the second leg at Camp Nou. In this encounter, Inter Milan saw Thiago Motta sent off and watched their 10 men hang on for a 1-0 loss, which was just enough to advance to the final.

“This is my most beautiful defeat,” Mourinho told reporters afterwards.

For a greater part of the Clasicos, Madrid had no response to the fireworks Barca put up. This much is confirmed by the results of the said encounters, which have been in favour of the later. Expectedly, Mourinho, a man allergic to defeat always walks away with a lot of pent-up venom.

On a number of occasions, the Portuguese tactician has shown his unsavoury side when frustrated at the outcome of an encounter. These include giving water bottles several kicks on the touchline, breathing down the throats of fourth officials as well as poking Pep Guardiola’s assistant, Tito Vilanova in the eye at the end of a clash in the Spanish Supercopa series in August of 2011.

However, recent Clasico clashes have followed a pattern where Madrid edge out Barca over two legs in the Spanish Supercopa and securing their first Bernabeu win over the Catalans under Mourinho in the process.

Hayward maintained that Tuesday night’s 3-1 win at Camp Nou proved the “pinnacle and again, Madrid’s defence played further forward than usual, in the knowledge that their centre-backs, including the excellent Raphael Varane - have the pace to catch any

of

Barca’s attackers on the break.

“Messi, meanwhile, was a forlorn figure at times as he had a whole half of the pitch to himself, yet nothing to do there. The Argentine’s quick burst of pace can be devastating, yet he is less efficient when running from deep like Ronaldo or Di Maria and with nobody beyond, he was pushed back deep into midfield similar to the game against Milan a week earlier.”

He continued, “Alonso and Khedira pressed tirelessly and released the ball quickly whenever was possible to Di Maria and Ronaldo in the forward positions. One such pass led to the penalty won and converted by Cristiano early on, while the German’s quick thinking set Di Maria free in the move which ended in his side’s second goal. “ And when a longer pass forward was not an option, Real’s midfielder’s were instructed to move the ball around with crisp onetouch passing in order to keep hold of the possession. Madrid now see much more of the ball against Barcelona than before, yet still the mantra remains ‘quality over quantity’.”

From all indications, the pendulum may continue to swing in favour of Madrid for sometimes to come. Xabi Alonso, in a recent interview with UEFA’s Champions Magazine said, “at Madrid we are a team of very quick changes, with deep vertical passing that creates many chances. We don’t want to keep possession for the sake of keeping possession, and we always have a clear objec-

tive, which is reaching the box. That works well with the players we have in attack, who are good at putting opponents off balance and finding the goal.”

Sergio Ramos, who netted the winner in the 82nd minute when he headed Luka Modric’s corner to give Madrid their first home league victory over Barcelona since 2008, in a game that grew testy towards the end and saw Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdes sent off for protesting, also believes they did enough to earn victory.

“We deserved to win. The team has been strengthened by these clasico matches…we are going to Manchester convinced (we will move on) but with respect for our opponent.”

However, Mourinho’s future has been well speculated in the media and the Portuguese trainer when asked whether he would like to take charge of any French club said, “it’s a possibility but I do not know when. I cannot say when. Why not!”

MOURINHO’S 17 CLASICO CLASHES Result Lost Drew Won Lost Drew Drew Lost Lost Lost Drew Won Lost Won Drew Drew Won Won

5-0 1-1 1-0 2-0 1-1 2-2 3-2 3-1 2-1 2-2 2-1 3-2 2-1 2-2 1-1 3-1 2-1

Venue Camp Nou Bernabeu Mestalla Bernabeu Camp Nou Bernabeu Camp Nou Bernabeu Bernabeu CampNou Camp Nou Camp Nou Bernabeu Camp Nou Bernabeu Camp Nou Bernabeu

Competition LaLiga LaLiga Copa Champions Champions Supercopa Supercopa LaLiga Copa Copa La Liga Supercopa Supercopa La Liga Copa Copa La Liga

Date 29/11/10 16/04/11 20/04/11 27/04/11 03/05/11 14/08/11 17/08/11 10/12/11 18/01/12 25/01/12 21/04/12 23/08/12 29/08/12 07/10/12 30/01/13 26/02/13 2/03/13

SPORTS 77

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

2nd Greensprings Sports Forum

Experts dissect challenges, highlight prospects of school sports

By Olalekan Okusan HE underreporting of schools sports activities and the challenges facing the sector were the fulcrum of discussions at the second Greensprings Sports Forum held at the weekend in Lagos.

The speakers were drawn from the media, schools and public sectors with most of them emphasising the need for the media to give quality attention to school sports.

In her opening remarks, Director of Greensprings School, Lai Koiki said the school decided to stage the event as part of its corporate social responsibility cum the ideals of the school, adding that it was aimed at highlighting the role of sports development in the allaround and holistic development of young persons.

The theme of the event was the Role of the Media in School Sports Development, and Koiki said being an initiative of the school, the forum was also designed to solicit the support of the media in emphasising the overall importance of sports as an integral part of holistic education, including character building, healthy life styles, team building and fitness as a natural part of growing up.

In his remarks, Minister of Sports/ Chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC), Bolaji Abdullahi lauded Greensprings for the initiative, saying this is in line with the Federal Government’s vision of developing sports from the grassroots.

He charged other schools to take a cue from Greensprings by encouraging sporting activities

T

Athletes compete in the 800metre event of the Premier Lotto Lagos School Athletics Championship, held at Teslim Balogun Stadium last week.

PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI.

England U-18 side calls up Dominic Iorfa Jnr. OMINIC Iorfa junior has to the experience. “This is my him for a while, and this callD been invited to play for first international call-up at up will provide additional the England U-18 national any level. So, I am looking forteam in a friendly against Belgium in Brussels on Tuesday.

The Wolves Academy centre back is the son of former Nigeria international and Lobi Stars’ boss, Dominic Iorfa.

“I am delighted with the progress my son has made.

The family plans to be at the game to cheer him up,” said Iorfa, who was a striker in his hey days.

Iorfa junior told his club’s website he is looking forward

ward to going along and joining up with the squad,” he said.

“My dad played at full level for Nigeria, so hopefully I’ll be able to follow in his footsteps and play international football.”

Wolves Academy Manager, Gareth Prosser remarked, “I am delighted with the call-up for Dominic. He has played well this season for the U18s, and has recently gained opportunities with the U21s.

“I have been aware that the FA have been monitoring

Jigawa plans for State Football league From John Akubo, Dutse HE Jigawa State Ministry of Information Youth and Sports plans to start the State Football league to boost development of soccer at the grassroots level.

The Commissioner in the ministry, Babandi Ibrahim Gumel, made the disclosure at the weekend at the commencement of the Governors Cup competition at the Yakubo Gawon NYSC Orientation Camp/Sports Complex in Dutse.

According to him, “the government is determined to do more because the state has come of age that we cannot allow a particular sector to suffer neglect, we will give the sports sector the desired attention.”

He disclosed that the Governors Cup competition, which started late last year, would feature over 444 clubs registered for the competition from the local council level.

Gumel explained that each local government is expect-

T

ed to come up with two best clubs for the zonal competition at eight centers of Dutse, Ringim, Gumel, Birninkudu, Kazaure, Hadejia, Kiyawa, adding that 16 clubs will emerge from the zones to compete at the state level.

“The competition is aimed at developing sports at the grassroots. Jigawa is taking the lead to develop sports at the grassroots and it will pave way for clubs in the Nigerian league to come and hunt for talents,” he said.

He pointed out that at the moment sports has gone beyond being a hobby to real business in which the youth can forge their careers.

Gumel traced the problem with Nigerian sports to the lack of political will on the side of government to develop sports generally at the grassroots where talents abound, and commended the Ministry of Local Governments for making the competition a reality.

and valuable experience that will benefit him for the future.”

among their students.

Also speaking at the event, Chairman of Nigeria Academicals Sports Committee (NASCOM), Yemi Idowu said it provided a platform for the body to highlight some of its plans, which emphasised regular competitions in schools.

Idowu, who also represented the Minister of Sports/ Chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC), assured that the body was ready to work with all stakeholders to develop sports at grassroots level in the country.

In his paper entitled: Role of Media in School Sports Development, Deputy Editorin-Chief, Complete Communication Limited, Mumini Alao emphasised the significant of the media, adding that aside from the traditional role of the media – inform, educate and entertain, the media can also help in talent discovery, attracting sponsorship as well as performing advocacy role.

He, however admitted, “I

will be the first to admit that the Nigerian media is not doing enough to encourage and promote school sports.

We pay a lot of lip service to catch-them-young programmes and grassroots sports, which fall in the same category as schools sports because they also involve discovering, nurturing and promoting young talents. But when it comes to actual support, the media have relatively little to show.”

Explaining the rationale behind the little attention paid to school sports by the media, Alao said, “one explanation for the media ambivalence towards school sports is the increasing commercialisation of the media whereby even general news items on radio and television are paid for, while newspaper coverage are sponsored. There also is massive dominance of media content by international sports since the arrival of cable and satellite television channels in Nigeria.

Ahead Brazil 2014 World Cup

FIFA picks Bondo to officiate Nigeria, Kenya match has picked Botswana FtakeIFA Referee, Joshua Bondo, to charge of this month’s 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Harambee Stars of Kenya, slated for the U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar on Saturday, March 23.

Bondo, 35, has been an international referee since 2007. He will be assisted by compatriots Meshack Medupi (assistant ref. 1), Moemedi Monakwane (assistant ref. 2) and Kutlwano

Leso (fourth official).

Medupi, 37, has been an international assistant referee since 2005 while Monakwane, 36, has served in the same position for three years. Leso, who is also 36, has been an international referee since 2010.

FIFA also appointed Richard Mbaku-Fonjah, Cameroonian, as the referee assessor while the renown Alhaji Omar Sey of The Gambia, a former FIFA referee, will serve as Match commissioner.

Golden Eaglets’ Kelechi Iheanacho in action against Guinea in the qualifying series of the Morocco U-17 African Championship.

Ahead Morocco 213 African U-17 Championship

Golden Eaglets take on Botswana again HE national under-17 team, T Golden Eaglets, will this evening in Calabar meet their counterparts from Botswana in the second of a two-match international friendly arranged by the Nigeria Football Federation ( N F F ) .

In the first encounter at the same venue on Saturday, the

Events and Sponsorship Manager, MTN, Dola Bamgboye (left); member, Lagos Polo Club, Femi Akande and Senior Manager, Master Brand, Emamoke Ogoro at the Black Tie Nite, part of the activities of 2013 MTN Lagos Polo Tournament held at the Civic Centre at the weekend.

rampaging Eaglets thrashed the visitors 3-0, despite Coach Manu Garba resting five regulars.

Taiwo Awoniyi, a fresh graduate from the U-15 National Team, hit two goals with the other a delightful free-kick by Ifeanyi Mathew, at a match attended by Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross State, his first official outing since returning from a two-month leave in U.S.A. Prior to the start of their 2013 African U-17 Championship qualifying campaign, the NFF arranged a similar two-match friendly for the Eaglets, against their Rwandan counterparts, whom the Nigerians pounded 8-0 on aggregate.

The NFF has also concluded arrangements for the threetime world champions to spend four weeks at the world-renown Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence, Doha to perfect final training programme before flying into Morocco for the African U-17 C h a m p i o n s h i p .

In Morocco, the Eaglets, winners of the African Championship the last time they were at the finals in 2007, will play Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and CongoBrazzaville in the group phase.

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, March 4, 2013

78 SPORTS

Bulls beat Nets 96-85 OMING off one of the best C performances of his career, Joakim Noah did all he could to match it. He came up short, but not by much.

Noah finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds, Carlos Boozer scored 20 and the Chicago Bulls beat the Brooklyn Nets 96-85 on Saturday night.

The Bulls went on a 19-0 run that started in the second quarter and stretched into third, giving them an 18point lead. And they opened March on a winning note after going 5-8 in February, just their second losing month in 2 1/2 seasons under coach Tom Thibodeau. ‘’It’s been an up-and-down year,’’ Noah said. ‘’But I really feel like when we’re playing our best, we can really beat a lot of people. So the potential is definitely there.’’

Their superstar point guard is not playing, and to many, the Bulls can forget about contending for a championship until Derrick Rose is back and dominating.

Noah understands the perception. ‘’It doesn’t matter,’’ he added. ‘’I know the building’s always packed and they’re showing a lot of love.’’ How could they not like this?

Noah followed up the third triple-double of his career with another terrific performance that also included four blocks. He committed five turnovers, but even so, it sure was impressive after Thursday’s game, when he had 23 points, 21 rebounds and a career-high 11 blocks in a win over Philadelphia.

Boozer added eight rebounds and tied a career high with five steals. Jimmy Butler had 13 points, Nate Robinson and Kirk Hinrich scored 12 apiece, and the Bulls won their second straight after dropping seven of 10.

Brook Lopez led Brooklyn with 22 points - 14 in the first quarter - but the Nets fell for the fourth time in five games. Deron Williams cooled off, finishing with 14 after averaging 27 over the previous three games.

Joe Johnson scored 11 in his second game back after missing three with a foot injury and committed five of Brooklyn’s 21 turnovers. ‘’Our energy, effort isn’t there,’’ Johnson said. ‘’We don’t get stops and we make it hard on ourselves offensively.’’

On the other side, Noah was all energy, hustling for points and rebounds and dominating in every way.

And there was Butler afterward, just smiling and shaking his head in awe. ‘’It’s crazy to see a guy like him dominate in every aspect of the game,’’ Butler said. ‘’The way he scores the ball, passes the ball, defends.

He always has at least two or three in every category, not to mention 20 points, 20 rebounds. It’s amazing to see the energy that he brings and how it transfers from the offensive end all the way back to the defensive end.’’

Noah had 15 points in the first half, and the Bulls led 5339 at the break after trailing by 11 in the early going.

They scored the final 15 points of the second quarter and got a pull-up jumper and driving layup from Boozer to start the third, turning a one-point deficit into a 57-39 lead.

Brook Lopez (11) of the Brooklyn Nets sinks a basket against the Dallas Mavericks at the Barclays Center on March 1, 2013 in New York City. The Mavericks defeated the Nets 98-90.

PHOTO: AFP

Turner, Holiday lead 76ers over Warriors VAN Turner had 22 points, E 10 rebounds and nine assists, Jrue Holiday scored 27, and the Philadelphia 76ers snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 104-97 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night.

Thad Young had 14 points and 16 rebounds and Royal Ivey chipped in with 17 points for the Sixers, who are 5 1/2 games behind Milwaukee for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with 25 games left.

Stephen Curry scored 30 and Klay Thompson added 29 for the Warriors, who’ve lost four in a row. Despite losing 10 of 13, Golden State remains sixth in the West.

The Warriors are one game up on eighth-place Houston

and 3 1/2 ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers, who are fighting for the last spot.

The Sixers overcame deficits of 16 in the first half and 11 in the third quarter and took an 82-81 lead into the fourth.

The teams went back-andforth until Young’s layup put Philadelphia up 96-94 with 3:15 left. Turner followed consecutive misses by the Warriors with a jumper from the corner. He nailed another one for a 100-94 lead.

But Thompson answered with a 3-pointer. After two failed possessions, Holiday hit a jumper to give the Sixers a 102-97 cushion and ice it.

Holiday and Turner combined for 18 of Philadelphia’s

22 points in the final quarter.

Sixers Coach Doug Collins ripped his team’s effort following a home loss to Orlando earlier in the week.

They played better in a loss at Chicago the next time out and followed up with their best performance in weeks against the Warriors.

Thompson came out firing in the third quarter, scoring 12 straight points for the Warriors to turn a threepoint lead into a 66-56 margin. Thompson started off with two mid-range jumpers, then nailed two 3-pointers and finished with a long jumper that was later changed to a 3.

A 3-pointer by Ivey - his fourth without a miss - got the Sixers within 66-61.

Consecutive layups by Turner capped a 6-0 run and momentarily gave Philadelphia its first lead, 73-72. Then a review of Thompson’s jumper from a few minutes earlier was ruled a 3-pointer so the score went back to a tie.

The Sixers then went up for real, 77-75, on Arnett Moultrie’s alley-oop slam off Turner’s pass.

The injury-plagued Sixers played without guard Nick Young, who was sidelined by a left ankle sprain. They haven’t had center Andrew Bynum all season and lost guard Jason Richardson for the year last month.

Down 49-33 in the second quarter, the Sixers climbed back in it with an 11-0 run featuring three straight 3-point-

ers by Turner, Holiday and Wright. Turner’s 3 was his first in more than a month, snapping an 0-for-14 slump from beyond the arc.

He hit another a few minutes later, helping the Sixers close out the first half on an 18-5 run to get within 54-41 going into the third quarter.

Curry, who scored 54 in a loss to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night, appeared on pace for another big night early. He had 13 in the first quarter to help Golden State build a 13-point lead. The Sixers forced him away from the arc, so he got four of his first five baskets on driving layups.

Thompson took five 3-pointers in the first quarter, miss-

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, February 4, 2013

SPORTS 79

Nadal crushes Ferrer in Mexican Open final

Shakes-Drayton wins gold at European Championship RITAIN won four more B medals at the European Indoor Championships in Gothenburg on Saturday, with Perri Shakes-Drayton leading the way by storming to gold in the 400 metres ahead of team-mate Eilidh Child.

Shakes-Drayton led from the front and powered to victory in 50.85 seconds, a second personal best in two days and the fastest time in the world this year.

The 24-year-old finished more than half a second ahead of fellow hurdles specialist Child, who still lowered her own Scottish record to 51.45secs.

Shana Cox briefly threatened to make it a British clean sweep when she occupied third place after the first lap, but faded in the closing stages and finished sixth as Sweden’s Moa Hjelmer delighted the home crowd by taking bronze.

Britain also made up half the field in the men’s event, but had to settle for a silver from Nigel Levine, which could be the subject of a protest from the Russian bronze medallist Pavel Trenikhin, with Mukhtar Mohammed added a bronze in the 800m.

Defending champion, Jenny Meadows was fourth in the women’s 800m, while world indoor champion Yamile Aldama, 40, was sixth in the triple jump final and Lauren Howarth also sixth in the

3,000m final - which featured a rare false start.

Shakes-Drayton, who should claim a second gold in the 4x400m relay later today with Olympic silver medalist, Christine Ohuruogu to complete the team, said, “I’m really happy with that.

“Everyone had expectations of me getting gold and in my heart of hearts I wanted gold.

To be able to deliver and run a world lead, I didn’t expect that. It gives me confidence and hopefully I can transfer it over the hurdles.

“I still want to achieve over the 400m hurdles and I haven’t fulfilled my potential so to me I’m still a 400m hurdler and I think that gave me an advantage today, because I’m used to running over 10 hurdles in a 400m so I’m a lot stronger.”

Shakes-Drayton missed out on the Olympic final by just one place last year and admitted, “it kind of made me think I am going to show people what I am about, I am not giving up. With every disappointment I think you get stronger and that’s the case with me.

“I was knocked down after things had been going my way and I think you need a setback to come back stronger. I proved that today.”

Child added, “I’m over the moon. Once I saw Perri ahead of me, I just thought ‘sit on her shoulder and try and work with her the whole way round’. I’m delighted that I got a medal.

AFAEL Nadal dominated R David Ferrer in a one-sided final to win his second

Britain’s Perri Shakes-Drayton celebrates winning the women’s 400m final at the European Indoor Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden, yesterday.

PHOTO: AFP

Golf: Van der Walt claims victory at Tshwane Open OUTH African Dawie Van Further birdies at six and Fichardt, looking for his secSunder der Walt fired a closing five- seven saw him reach the turn ond home-soil win in the 67 to win the inaugural with a one-shot lead and, space of three weeks after capTshwane Open by two shots.

The 30-year-old, who had never even won on the local Sunshine Tour, started the day in a four-way tie for the lead with compatriots Darren Fichardt and Charl Coetzee along with Chile’s Mark Tullo.

But, after Fichardt and Coetzee made the early moves with birdies at two and three on the lengthy par 72 Copperleaf Golf & Country Estate in Centurion, Van der Walt came alive with an eagle at the fourth.

CBN Junior tennis championship begins

By Tony Nwanne S the 7th edition of the yearly Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Junior Tennis championship kicks off today at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, organisers of the event, CBN, has reiterated that this edition championship will indeed churn out junior tennis stars, who will represent Nigeria in the nearest future.

Speaking at the press confer-

A

ence to herald the competition, the Corporate Communications Manager, CBN, Ugo Okoroafor reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to grooming and ensuring that young talents, ranging from age 10 to 18, are discovered early and nurtured to limelight while establishing a strong transition platform for the senior category and tennis development in the country.

Sarah Adegoke, former champion of the CBN Junior Open

Mexican Open title and continue his successful comeback from a long injury layoff.

Nadal, ranked fifth in the world, needed just over an hour to claim a 6-0 6-2 victory over top seed and fellow Spaniard Ferrer in Acapulco and later described it as one of the best performances of his career.

It was his second title in three claycourt tournaments since returning from a knee injury, which kept him out for seven months. He now has 38 in his career on clay.

Former world number one Nadal flew out of the blocks and won the first eight games against the three-time defending champion.

Ferrer waited 44 minutes to win his first game of the final, the crowd erupting in applause as he put away a service winner to trail 2-1 in the second set.

According to Okoroafor, “the management of the bank has noted the satisfaction of the steady development and success recorded in the championship as players from the championships have always represented Nigeria in the Africa Junior Tennis Champions and other international competitions.”

Since the inception of the championship, several of the best juniors from the CBN championship have won full sports scholarships to universities in America and academics in Holland and South Africa, who includes Biola Akewula, Kalada, Lolia Kienka, Onyeka Mbanu, Umpru Balami, and Kabiru Malik.

Meanwhile, Sarah Adegoke, who was the junior champion in 2009-2010, got to the finals of the CBN senior event last year, while Onyeka Mbanu, after six years, starred in the tournament as 12 years old, got to the semi-final stage of the senior CBN championship in 2011.

The first ever winner of the CBN senior tennis championship, Kehinde Ajayi, who was present at the event, commended the efforts of the organisers (CBN) and the International Tennis Academy, Lagos, for creating an opportunity young children to display their talents in tennis, adding that this will indeed increase the chances of Nigeria producing good tennis players, who will represent Nigeria in various tennis competitions across the world.

despite a bogey at 10 (his only one of the week), he kept his nerve down the stretch as his rivals stumbled and further birdies at 12 and 15 helped him post victory with 21under.

Tullo blew up with a run of bogey, double bogey, bogey from the 11th to slip right out of contention while Coetzee was handed a one-shot penalty for slow play to end his lingering hopes.

turing the Africa Open, remained Van der Walt’s biggest threat but just couldn’t find birdies on the back nine.

Van der Walt, who shot a final round 60 when runnerup on the Nationwide Tour’s Cox Classic in America last August, increased his lead to two shots with a two-putt birdie on 15 and made safe pars at 16 and 17 to keep his cushion heading up the last.

With Ferrer serving down 31, an extended rally in which both players scrambled back and forth from the net ended with a top-spin lob winner by Nadal, bringing the crowd to its feet and the score to 30-30.

Second seed Nadal, the 2005 Mexican Open champion, won the next two points to go up two breaks in the set and virtually put the match away.

Nadal, who afterwards confirmed he would play on the hardcourts of Indian Wells next week, said, “this was a great week for me and today I played exceptionally well, I dominated the game against the world number four and couldn’t be happier, especially when I think where I am coming from.

“Perhaps the conditions were in my favour but I feel it was maybe one of the best matches of my career.”

The vanquished Ferrer said, “I wish I could have played a better match but I never found my rhythm. You have good days and bad days. Rafa played really well and I couldn’t do much, and never had any chance.”

Nadal

TheGuardian

Monday, March 4, 2013

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

By Osisiye Tafa ‘The only stable state is the one in which all men are equal before the law’— Aristotle HENEVER I am part of a gathering of young people, I observe within 10 minutes of back-and-forth, I can tell you those who schooled within the country and those who schooled outside her shores. I am not psychic. It is quite easy to tell. The ‘been-tos’ in any discussion put themselves out there.

Say it is a discussion, which has a facilitator they would question his theories. They would question assumptions. Not blind questioning for questioning sake; it is an intellectual sort of probing that seeks to foolproof any handed down proof. As for us—the ones with local content—we sit. We stare rapturously. We take notes assiduously. We are not frivolous, but we think learning is a serious process. So serious that you should collect and go. Why question the teacher? It is no wonder that we have brought this attitude into other phases of life, like the political.

Political culture is defined by the International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences as ‘the set of attitudes, beliefs and sentiments which give order and meaning to a political process and which provide the underlying assumptions and rules that govern behaviour in the political system. It encompasses both the political ideals and operating norms of a polity.’

Political culture is thus the manifestation in aggregate forms of the psychological and subjective dimensions of politics. A political culture is the product of both the collective history of a political system and the life histories of the members of the system and thus it is rooted equally in public events and private experience. Political culture could be participatory, subjective or parochial.

Nigeria has a subject political culture. The majority of individuals are aware of politics—its actors and institutions—yet on the downward flow side of the politics. It is an attitudinal disposition of deference, nonchalance and a belief in powerlessness to affect the machinery of government for change. Either by design or default, our present day youths have this culture. It is the ‘siddon’ look attitude when taxpayers’ money and the collective wealth are being misappropriated by the government in power. It is a ‘Chill’ response to perceived wrongs. It is a response to the political, best captured in the lyrics of Afrobeat proponent, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, ‘I no wan die/ I no wan quench/ Mama dey for house/ Papa dey for house’. It is self-preservation that borders on the inane.

How did we get here? A welter of factors might be thrown up as plausible reasons for this. The family, as in all sociological situations, lays a foundation. The hushed responses to questions, the parent figure that demands unquestioning obedience and no explanations creates a suppressive imagery of authority in the child’s mind.

The growing child starts to perceive authority as overarching—a behemoth, unshaken in its ways. The religious institutions closely follow this. You go in and the cleric stands tall on the proscenium, dispensing spiritual truths without an avenue for dialogue. They speak; you take notes. In our culture, respect is upheld and traditional rulers are worshipped for their divine right to rule.

Obsequious actions and fawning is demanding by traditional leadership. And so it continues, that by a matrix of institutions that require unquestioning obedience of authority, natural curiosity is snuffed out.

By an educational system that frowns on heuristic knowledge, a culture of diffidence is perpetuated. Where lies the growing Nigerian child’s salvation? The university, that citadel of learning where an eclectic mix of ideals simmer. The Ivory Tower, the renowned open system of deep intellectualism.

Well, that is not so. Recent events show that the university, the much-vaunted arena for freedom and rational thought is not transferring such values of liberty, open-mindedness, curiosity and heuristic learning to the youths. Over time, there has been a dismantling of the openness of this system. It started from the crushing of student voices by the jackboots of the military era, proscription of student unionism to recent unilateral action by (some) private universities against the general student body.

Getting expelled from the university is worse than a sack in today’s corporate world. You see your world flash before your eyes. You see the end. A few weeks ago, we woke up to the news that 200 students of Covenant University had been expelled. Of this number, 126 of them, some of them in

W

Please send reactions and feedback for YOUTH SPEAK to:

editorial@risenetworks.org and 07067976667- SMS ONLY

A culture of diffidence: Why we may remain the way we are

their final year, were expelled for not attending the departure service, meant to sign off from the school at the end of the semester on November 30, 2012. At first glance, one reasons that by their voluntary conscription into the institution, they signed up for total compliance to its rules and thus deserve whatever punishment is meted out for defaulting.

I carried out an analysis of the institution’s action and found a few gaping holes. A cursory look into the institution’s handbook shows that this was an extemporaneous action. Covenant University’s handbook contains the following: “(i) The assembly is mandatory for all students. (ii) No student is allowed to remain in the rooms whenever there is a University General Assembly. (iii) Any student caught in the hall of residence during the assembly shall be issued a letter of warning and may be expelled IF THE ACT BECOMES HABITUAL (emphasis is mine).”

The institution’s handbook makes no provision for instant expulsion of students for a one-off incident of missing the assembly.

Considering the fact that the assembly is a religious gathering, it contradicts certain enshrined rules pro rata religious freedom in institutions of higher learning and the nation at large. The regulatory body, NUC’s guidelines for establishing institutions of higher education in Nigeria states: (i) A proposed institution shall have an adequate environmental base and shall be open to all Nigerians irrespective of ethnic derivation, social status, religious or political affiliations. (ii) Accordingly, its laws and status shall not conflict with the conventional

responsibilities in academia or interfere with avowed traditional institutional autonomy. The action of the university also contradicts the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Section 38 subsection 2 states: “No person attending any place of education shall be required to receive religious instruction or to take part in or attend any religious ceremony or observance if such instruction ceremony or observance relates to a religion other than his own, or religion not approved by his parent or guardian.” The Covenant’s action thus contradicts the regulations of the Nigerian Universities Commission and 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides a right to fair hearing. None of these students was given that right to defend himself in a student disciplinary panel (or any other panel). The rights of these students were truncated, their views of authority skewed. The Covenant University was registered with the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) as a private university and not a seminary or mission school. The manner in which the action was carried out leaves a lot to be desired. There was no recourse for fair hearing. The students were expelled at the express order of the chancellor of the university who was angry at the poor attendance at the church service. None of the students was given a chance to defend himself as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In the light of massive public uproar (from

The YOUTHSPEAK Column which is published daily is an initiative of THE GUARDIAN, and powered by RISE NETWORKS, Nigeria’s Leading Youth Development Centre, as a substantial advocacy platform available for ALL Nigerian Youth to engage Leadership at all levels, engage Society and contribute to National Discourse on diverse issues especially those that are peculiar to Nigeria. Regarding submission of articles, we welcome writers‘ contributions by way of well crafted, analytical and thought provoking opinion pieces that are concise, topical and non-defamatory! All articles (which are not expected to be more than 2000 words) should be sent to editorial@risenetworks.org To read the online Version of this same article plus past publications and to find out more about Youth Speak, please visit www.risenetworks.org/youthspeak and join the ongoing National Conversations’’.

Also join our on-line conversation

RISE GROUP

@risenetworks

21676F3E

Published by Guardian Newspapers Limited, Rutam House, Isolo, Lagos Tel: 4489600, 2798269, 2798270, 07098147948, 07098147951 Fax: 4489712; Advert Hotlines: Lagos 7736351, Abuja 07098513445; Circulation Hotline: 01 4489656 All correspondence to Guardian Newspapers Limited, P.M.B. 1217, Oshodi, Lagos, Nigeria.

E-mail letters@ngrguardiannews.com; www.ngrguardiannews.com

Editor: MARTINS

OLOJA

.

ABC (ISSN NO 0189-5125)

parents and the Human Rights Commission) at her action, the institution commuted the expulsion to suspension. This does not in any way solve the issue. Perceptions have been formed. I am asked, ‘Why didn’t the students protest or pass these arguments across to the authorities?’ The thing is a people who have stayed in a system that denounces ‘speaking up’, over a period, lose the knowledge that they have rights. The educative process in such an institution has inadvertently encouraged a culture of diffidence. That is just one of many exemplars in the Nigerian state.

In the build-up to the 2015 elections, there have been calls from leaders of thought such as Ohimai Godwin Amaize (special adviser to the Minister, Sports and Youth Development) and Lai Labode (chairman, PDP Youth Circuit) for a Political Participation Revolution. This is good. Elie Wiesel reminds us that, ‘There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest’.

I fear this will not happen if these systems of suppression continue to flourish.

This is why I pity the Nigerian youth, who though well armed with the strategic weapon of numbers, remains an abused pawn owing to this culture. To understand the depth of this malaise, observe the (lack of) political attitudes and opinion of Nigeria’s present day youth. It is very troubling to see young people trivialise the magnitude of the problems Nigeria faces. It may appear impossible now to rectify, because we have allowed the culture to fester. It has been growing steadily worse. The general knowledge that a person (youth) has the right to fair hearing is simply something advanced societies take for granted, because they have fostered working systems now for some time.

Nigeria’s culture of diffidence affects us all.

This lack of a protest culture will shortchange us all. The resultant inequality will disenfranchise us all, because we all share the future. I have no doubt in my heart that Nigerian youths will eventually rise to the occasion. Social media is helping to build political consciousness and expression as never seen before in our nation’s history. It has become the gasoline of change waiting for a fire to start.

A lot still needs to be done in our educational institutions and general society. The family is the fulcrum of society. We could take a leaf from the openness of the western family, without losing our ideals. An accessible parent would do much to shape a child’s view of authority. Such perceptions are carried into adulthood, and remain long after the waves of societal suppression smash against our persona.

Consumer rights should be further entrenched. The phrase ‘Consumer is King’ is constantly stamped on by large essential service providers. Employees should be better treated in their workplace—physical, emotional and sexual harassment should be flayed. The government needs to be more accessible. The bulletproof metal and reinforced glasses that shield us from our elected government officials is a cruel joke. Bags of rice are not all constituencies need, town hall meetings and other avenues for engagement should be the rote. From time immemorial, religion has been a means of social control; the institution can be improved upon. With a rise in the literate population, there have been calls for greater accountability in religious bodies.

Traditional leadership should join the wave of democratisation. Traditional institutions and practices that suppress the personality of followers should be scrapped. More checks and balances should be instituted. The use of military men to solve internal disturbances should be stamped out. The army should carry out their manifest destiny: protection of the territorial integrity of the state. The continuous use of soldiers to guard the venue of celebrity weddings against gatecrashers is an anomaly. It is an abuse of that institution, and it does no good to the civil rights of others. Finally, the civic rights of the citizens must be upheld.

The recent request by the National Pension Commission (PenCom) to institute criminal proceedings against employers who default in remitting pension contributions of their employees to their Retirement Savings Account, RSA is commendable. The Human Rights Commission employed swift action in protesting the case of the ‘suspended’ students. The affected students now know that systems were created for the social good, but can also be challenged.

I see some hope.

• Tafa is a content specialist for Terragon and the Creative Nigeria Project (CNP). He stays in Lagos.