The Nation April 11, 2012

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

News Lagos to enforce no-work-no-pay rule against doctors P7 Sports Dubai heat stops Super Eagles training ahead friendly P24 Business Okonjo-Iweala: Job creation my priority at World Bank P5 www.thenationonlineng.net

VOL. 7, NO. 2090 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

By Ayodele Aminu, Group Business Editor

HE money market segment of the financial system was thrown into confusion yesterday as technical hitches in the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) payment system - the Real Time Gross Settlement Systems (RTGS) and T24 – stalled about N300 billion interbank transfers.

The inability of banks to transfer money and securities triggered a spiral effect as some lenders’ accounts with the CBN were thrown into debit. Others could not honour their inter-bank obligations.

Continued on page 4

N150.00

Survivors relive Kaduna Easter Sunday explosion

Technical hitches stall N300b inter-bank deals

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TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

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•Sanusi

URVIVORS of the Easter Sunday suicide car bombing in Kaduna yesterday recounted the grim moment when the explosion, which claimed scores of lives, occurred.

They also spoke of how they survived the terror attack – the one with the big-

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

gest casualty figure in the Northern political capital.

The death toll rose yesterday by eight as hospitals announced more deaths.

Some of the critically injured were transferred to the Ahmadu Bello University

Teaching Hospital, Shika for further treatment.

Kaduna State Deputy Governor Mukhtar Yero renewed the government’s promise to foot the medical bill of the injured. Yero spoke to reporters in his ofContinued on page 4

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (third left), Minister of the Environment Hadiza Mailafia (right), Deputy Governor Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Commissioner for the Environment Mr Tunji Bello (left) and Legislative aide to the chairman, Senate Committee on the Environment and Ecology Senator Bukola Saraki, Mr. Kingsley Amaku, at the 4th Ehingbeti Climate Change Conference in Lagos ... yesterday. Story on page 9 PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

Halliburton: Nigeria to demand return of $130m Fed Govt, US to discuss Obasanjo’s 50-50 deal

N •Adoke

IGERIA and the United States will soon open talks on the recovery of the $130million Halliburton bribe cash traced to the facilitator, Jeffrey Tesler.

But, it is yet unclear whether the government will appeal or not against the March 27 judgment of an Abuja High Court, which struck out the case against six Nigerian suspects arraigned over the scandal.

Of the $180million involved in the

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

Halliburton scandal, $133, 073,750million was remitted to TriStar, a firm managed by Jeffrey Tesler, the alleged mastermind of the bribery, by TSKJ between 15th December, 1995 and 12th June, 2004.

Tesler is believed to have swindled Nigerian officials who were to share in the $180m by diverting $133,073,750million to his account in

Switzerland.

He gave about $22,417,000 and DRM 500,000 to some top government officials.

Upon discovery of the $133,073,750m in Tesler’s account, the Swiss government froze the account and during the trial of the accused person, the looted fund was transferred to the United States.

But the Federal Government, through the Office of the Attorney-

General of the Federation, has initiated moves to recover the $133,073,750m, which was found in Tesler’s account. But the move may yield not more than 50 per cent of the $133.073million.

A government source, who pleaded not to be named, said: “We are determined to recover the money in Tesler’s account. The government, Continued on page 4

•CITYBEATS P6 •MONEY P15 •SPORTS P23 •LIFE P29 •POLITICS P43

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

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Fed Govt should United States’ Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Johnnie Carson, in a remark at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Washington DC, canvassed a ministry or commission for Northern Affairs to deal with economic challenges in the North which are believed to be the root of the Boko Haram menace. Excerpts:

A •Vice President Namadi Sambo (right) with his wife, Hajia Amina, alighting from the aircraft, being received by Nigeria's Ambassador to the united State (U.S.), Prof. Ade Adefuye on arrival at the Andrews Air Force Base, for the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the U.S. EXIM Bank and Investors Forum on Agriculture. With them are Mrs. Adefuye (2nd left) and Consul-General Mr. Habib Habu (left)

•Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor Nsima Ekere (with microphone), member representing Mkpat Enin State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Ekong Sampson (left) and Chairman of the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom, Mr. Paul Ekpo, during the re-run of the Mkpat Enin chairmanship primary of PDP at Uyo Township Stadium...yesterday.

•Deputy Comptroller, Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, Mr. Ilo Ngozi, NCS Area Comptroller at the aiport Mr. Edike Epowei and the Lagos State Council Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Deji Elumoye during the NUJ courtesy call on Nigeria Customs Service at the airport in Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE.

•Ekiti State Commissioner, The Nigerian Girls Guides Association, Mrs. Folake Adebayo; wife of Governor Kayode Fayemi, Erelu Bisi and the State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Chief Folorunso Olabode, during the Founders' Day and investiture of the governor's wife as patron of the association in Ado-Ekiti... yesterday

T about 160 million people, Nigeria is home to over twenty percent of sub-Saharan Africa’s population. It is the largest oil producing state in Africa, it is the fifth largest supplier of crude oil to the United States, and the tenth largest global producer. It is home to the sixth largest Muslim population in the world, and it’s by far the largest country in the world with approximately equal numbers of Christians and Muslims. In the United Nations, Nigeria is the fifth largest peacekeeping contributing country in the world.

And as the most influential and militarily powerful member of the Economic Community of West African States, Nigeria has played a key role in helping to resolve every major political and security dispute in West Africa from the Liberian and Sierra Leone crises in the 1990s to the political problems in Guinea, Niger, Cote d’Ivoire, and I might add, Mali. Nigeria is a dominant economic and financial force across West Africa, and if Lagos State were an independent country it would be the eighteenth largest country in Africa and its economy would be well within the top twenty in Africa.

Nigeria is important and a lot depends on Nigeria’s success. That’s why Secretary Clinton inaugurated the U.S.-Nigeria Binational Commission in 2010, providing the two countries with a high-level vehicle to work together on the most crucial issues we face. We have supported Nigeria’s political and economic reforms, and we have tried to be a useful partner as it addresses its social, economic, and security challenges. We provided technical assistance to support reform in the power sector.

We have taken a high-powered energy trade mission to the country and we have encouraged the swift passage of a strong Petroleum Industry Bill that brings more transparency to that critical sector. We have recognised the importance of Nigeria’s agricultural sector and supported Nigeria’s comprehensive agriculture development plans.

And in the health sector, we have committed over $500 million a year to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, showing how critical we consider Nigeria in the worldwide fight against HIV and AIDS. President Obama and Secretary Clinton both recognise the importance of this relationship and both have met with and engaged with President Jonathan on a number of occasions over the past three years.

Later this week, Nigeria’s vice president will be in Washington and he is expected to meet Vice President Biden in the White House and with senior officials at the State Department.Nigeria’s success is important to us, but we recognized that success cannot be achieved unless Nigeria overcomes the challenges that have frustrated its progress.

Decades of poor governance have seriously degraded the country’s health, education, and transportation infrastructure. Despite hundreds of billions of dollars in oil revenue, Nigeria has virtually no func-

tioning rail system and only half of its population has access to electricity. The 80 million who have electricity share intermittent access to power equivalent to what we use here in the Washington, DC metro area.

Living standards are the same today as they were in 1970, and nearly 100 million Nigerians live on less than one dollar a day.Nigerians are hungry for progress and improvement in their lives, but northern Nigerians feel this need most acutely.

Life in Nigeria for many is tough, but across the North, life is grim.

A UN study shows that poverty in the 12 most northern states is nearly twice that of the rest of the country.

The health indicators reflect this.

Children in the far north are almost four times as likely to be malnourished. Child mortality is over 200 deaths per 1000 live births, leading to lower life expectancy. Educational standards are just as bad. Literacy in the far north is 35 percent as opposed to 77 percent in the rest of the country. Seventy-seven percent of women in the far north have no formal education, compared to only 17 percent in the rest of the country.

In northern Nigeria, primary school attendance is only 41 percent, while youth unemployment is extraordinarily high. All of this contributes to joblessness and a deepening cycle of poverty.The statistics are disturbing, but they are not the whole story. Poverty in northern Nigeria is increasing. Despite a decade in which the Nigerian economy expanded at a spectacular seven percent per year, the Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics estimates that extreme poverty is 10 percent higher than in 2004. It’s even worse in the North. Income inequality is growing. These trends are worrying for economic, political, and security reasons.

While ninety-one percent of Nigerians across the country considered the April 2011 elections to be fair and transparent, most people in the far north backed opposition candidates that did not win. The postelection violence that occurred in several northern cities reflected strong dissatisfaction with elites who protestors thought controlled the election process.

Public opinion polls and news reports suggest that there is a strong sentiment throughout the country, but especially in the North, that government is not on the side of the people; and that their poverty is a result of government neglect, corruption, and abuse. This is the type of popular narrative that is ripe for an insurgent group to hijack for its own purposes, which brings me to Boko Haram.

As you all know, over the last year Boko Haram has created widespread insecurity across northern Nigeria, increased tensions between various ethnic communities, interrupted development activities, frightened off investors, and generated concerns among Nigeria’s northern neighbors. They have been responsible for near-daily attacks in Borno and Yobe states. And they were behind the January 20 attack in Kano that killed nearly 200 people as well as three major attacks in Abuja, including the

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

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create Ministry to tackle Boko Haram, says U.S.

‘

The Nigerian government should consider creating a Ministry of Northern Affairs or a development commission similar to what it did in response to the Niger Delta crisis.Northern populations are currently trapped between violent extremists on one hand and heavyhanded government responses on the other. They need to know that their President is going to extraordinary lengths to fix their problems.

•Dr. Jonathan bombing of the UN headquarters last August.

To underscore this point, there were two more attacks this weekend. Boko Haram’s attacks on churches and mosques are particularly disturbing because they are intended to inflame religious tensions and upset the nation’s social cohesion.Although Boko Haram is reviled throughout Nigeria, and offers no practical solutions to northern problems, a growing minority of certain northern ethnic groups regard them favorably.

Boko Haram capitalises on popular frustrations with the nation’s leaders, poor government service delivery, and the dismal living conditions of many northerners. Boko Haram seeks to humiliate and undermine the government and exploit religious differences in order to create chaos and make Nigeria ungovernable.Boko Haram has grown stronger and increasingly more sophisticated over the past three years, and eliminating the Boko Haram problem will require a comprehensive and broad based strategy that establishes a comprehensive development plan rather than the imposition of martial law.

While more sophisticated and targeted security efforts are necessary to contain Boko Harm’s acts of violence and to capture and prosecute its leaders, the government must also win over the population by addressing the social and economic problems that have created the environment in which Boko Haram can effectively thrive.

The government must improve its tactics, avoid excessive violence and human rights abuses, make better use of its police and intelligence services, de-emphasize the role of the military and use its courts to prosecute those who are found to be responsible for Boko Haram’s kidnappings, killings, and terrorist events.

Nigerian officials should focus on the political environment that makes Boko Haram so dangerous.

By demonstrating the benefits a pluralistic society has to offer, the government can deny Boko Haram and other extremists the ability to exploit ethnic and religious differences. The government should redouble its efforts to resolve ongoing disputes in Jos and other high-violence flashpoints. By becoming more responsive to the people, the government can put distance between itself and the accusations that it is blind to the needs of northern Nigerians.

‘

•Carson

Attacks increasingly target the people

I

N this Nigerian city where soldiers stop cars at sandbagged checkpoints and police officers carrying assault rifles warily guard their fortified headquarters, a local church could only weld together small barriers made of scrap iron to block the road to their sanctuary.

Those barriers, like pat-down searches and car trunk checks, offer little protection from the increasing violence taking place across Nigeria. Those attacks include the recent suicide car bombing Easter Sunday in Kaduna, the capital of Kaduna state, which killed at least 41 people and sent bullet-like shrapnel everywhere.

As violence grows worse in northern Nigeria, those wanting to attack symbols of the country’s weak central government are turning away from increasingly protected government installations. Instead, suicide bombers and gunmen now target softer targets in the nation of more than 160 million people, like modest churches and the informal plastic-table bars that open across the country each night.

As those attacks grow, so do the casualties among the country’s working poor, a group already facing high unemployment and meager wages.

“You don’t know who will be the next target,” said the Rev. Emmanuel Babah, whose Assemblies of God Church in Kaduna sits down the street from the scene of Sunday’s suicide car bombing. “It’s disturbing.”

Nigeria’s north has been under increasing attack by a radical Islamist sect known as Boko Haram, which is blamed for more than 390 killings this year alone, according to an Associated Press count. Boko Haram has killed Christians, Muslims and foreigners in its growing fight against the Nigerian government over the introduction of strict Shariah law across the country and the release of all imprisoned followers.

However, other attacks unclaimed by the group regularly occur across the Muslim north and the country’s restive central belt, the dividing line from the largely Christian south. Gunmen open fire at outdoor beer gardens. Bombs explode near night clubs and other areas.

Assailants attack rural villages in nighttime raids.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s north holds the poorest regions of the country, as farming has waned with the nation’s dependence on crude oil sales and as the population rapidly grows. About 75 percent of the people in Nigeria’s northwest and northeast live in absolute poverty on less than $1 a day, according to the country’s National Bureau of Statistics. Begging children, known as almajiri, roam northern city streets with plastic bowls, sent by their parents from rural villages with hopes they may receive an education at Islamic schools.

“Nigerians are hungry for progress and improvement in their lives, but northern Nigerians feel this need most Numerous northern civil society organizations have come out against Boko Haram – at great personal risk – and they could multiply serious government efforts to address longstanding northern grievances.

I want to stress that religion is not driving extremist violence either in Jos or northern Nigeria. While some seek to inflame Muslim-Christian tensions, Nigeria’s ethnic and reli-

acutely,” Johnnie Carson, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, said in a speech Monday in Washington. “Life in Nigeria may be tough for many, but life in the north is grim for almost all.”

The violence adds a new horror to daily life, as could be seen in the Easter Sunday suicide car bombing in Kaduna.

Instead of striking a government building or military formation, the car detonated at a busy roadside junction where makeshift restaurants sold cheap rice patties and men hawked black-market gasoline. In moments, the gasoline caught fire, burning nearby motorcycle taximen to death.

Though no one has claimed responsibility for the attack, suspicion has fallen on Boko Haram. The sect, which speaks to journalists in telephone conference calls at times of its choosing, has not spoken publicly since the attack.

While offices reopened Tuesday in Kaduna following the government Easter holiday, people still gathered to look at the rubble and watch as a state worker repainted a curb near the blast site. New security checks have become commonplace, like having car trunks searched nearing government buildings.

Most noticeably, Kaduna’s many churches have changed how Sunday morning worship takes place. Metal-detecting wands greet those coming for services. Pastors tell parishioners to leave their bags at home. Those who don’t are searched by poorly trained and paid private security guards or simply the man in charge of opening the church gate.

But there’s a limit to what can be done, pastors acknowledge.

“We cannot fight with guns,” said Pastor Bawa Benedict, who preaches at the ECWA Good News Church in Kaduna.

“We can’t kill anybody. Christianity does not teach us to go and kill anybody.”

Benedict’s church was the one supposedly targeted by the suicide bomber. On Easter Sunday, the suicide bomber stopped his sedan and tried to move the barriers to drive his car closer to the church, which was about to begin its service, said Cpl. Francis Markus of the Nigeria Police Force.

Markus, on duty with a detachment of officers guarding the area, said he pushed the barrier back down and argued with the driver for several minutes. The driver got back into the car and rammed it against the barrier, though Markus said he held on and refused to move away.

The suicide bomber backed away and waited for a few minutes before driving away. Minutes later, Markus heard the explosion, which threw bits of the sedan into the church’s compound a street away. He could only look on in disbelief.

“My body just (kept) shaking,” Markus said Tuesday. “I don’t know. I just don’t know.”

Source: AFP

gious diversity, like in our own country, is a source of strength, not weakness, and there are many examples of communities working across religious lines to protect one another. Containing and eliminating Boko Haram today will be much more difficult than it was four years ago, when it was under the leadership of its now deceased leader, Muhammed Yusuf, who was killed

in police custody. Today, Boko Haram is not a monolithic, homogenous organisation controlled by a single charismatic figure.

Boko Haram is several organisations, a larger organisation focused primarily on discrediting the Nigerian government, and a smaller more dangerous group, increasingly sophisticated and increasingly lethal.

This group has developed links with

AQIM and has a broader, anti-Western jihadist agenda. This group is probably responsible for the kidnapping of westerners and for the attacks on the UN building in Abuja.

Complicating the picture further is the tendency of some officials to blame Boko Haram for all bank robberies and local vendettas occurring in the North when these should be ascribed to common criminals and political thugs.

There are also some who say that Boko Haram is comprised mostly of non-Nigerian foreigners, and that the group is being funded by a handful of resentful politicians nursing their wounds from the last election.

This would be deeply unfortunate if true, but I have not seen any evidence to support either of these theories.To fix the Boko Haram problem, the government will have to develop a new social compact with its northern citizens. It will have to develop an economic recovery strategy that complements its security strategy. It will have to draw on the support of northern governors, traditional Hausa and Fulani leaders and local officials and organisations.

The Nigerian government should consider creating a Ministry of Northern Affairs or a development commission similar to what it did in response to the Niger Delta crisis.Northern populations are currently trapped between violent extremists on one hand and heavyhanded government responses on the other. They need to know that their President is going to extraordinary lengths to fix their problems.Achieving this will not be easy.

Although the problems are not the same, it has taken the central government in Abuja nearly a decade to bring the problems in the Niger Delta under some semblance of control. Resolving the problems in northern Nigeria will require the government to act more swiftly and to make a strategic course correction. It will need to adopt a comprehensive strategy, and remain disciplined and committed to its implementation, especially at the state and local level where accountability is low and corruption high.

Despite the challenges that Nigeria faces with Boko Haram and other issues, Nigeria is simply too important to be defined by its problems. Nigeria must be defined by its promise and its enormous potential, as well as the resourcefulness of its people.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

NEWS Technical hitches stall N300b inter-bank deals Continued from page 1

•From right: Osun State Governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, President, The Apostolic Church of Nigeria, Ketu, Lagos State, Pastor Gabriel Oladele and former Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Muiz Banire when the governor visited the church at Ketu, Lagos State ... yesterday

CBN’s Director, Corporate Communication, Ugochukwu Okoroafor, confirmed to The Nation last night that there was a problem with the RTGS, which he said the apex bank was working round the clock to resolve .

“Yes, we have a problem with the cooling system of the RTGS. Our Crisis Resolution team is just coming out of a meeting now. The RTGS is a very sensitive equipment that has to operate within a certain temperature. We turned it off, repaired it and turned it on but it refused to come on.

“All the banks have been given an update on what to do. We apologise for the inconvenience and we will not penalise any bank for any

Halliburton: Nigeria to demand return of $130m Continued from page 1

through the AGF and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), is expected to open negotiations with the US authorities.

“As a matter of fact, the negotiation may be a 50-50 per cent deal because of issues surrounding the Halliburton scam.

“The administration of exPresident Olusegun Obasanjo, which was desperate to recover the looted cash from Tesler, had offered a 5050 per cent agreement, if the US assisted in retrieving the diverted sum.

“What the Federal Government and the US will do in the next few weeks is to work out the details of the recovery.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “That is

how far the Federal Government can go because Halliburton violated many laws in the US, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. “So, there is no way Halliburton and Tesler will not pay fines to the US for various offences committed.”

“According to the source, the planned negotiation with the US has underscored the commitment of the government to get to the root of the Halliburton scandal.

“Do not forget that some firms implicated in the scam, like Julius Berger, have already paid hefty fines running into over N25billion,” he said, adding: “What is important is that public funds siphoned out of this country should be repatriated. The US is showing much understanding in this respect.”

The $180million scandal involved the former Halliburton’s subsidiary, Kellogg Brown and Root (KBR), in respect of the nation’s Liquefied Natural Gas plant in Bonny.

Albert J. Stanley admitted before a Houston court in the US on September 4, 2008 that he orchestrated more than $180million in bribe to senior government officials.

Stanley alleged that the bribe was channelled through Tesler in four installments of $60million; $32.5million; $51million and $23million.

The bribe was allegedly facilitated between 1995 and 2005 in London.

The countries in which the money was allegedly stashed by some top government officials and their accomplices are France, Britain, Switzerland, Portugal and Seychelles.

Tesler, 63, was in February sentenced to 21 months in prison in the US after pleading guilty in March, last year to bribing Nigerian Government officials with $132 million between 1994 and 2004. He also forfeited $149 million to US authorities under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

It was not clear last night whether government will appeal the March 27 judgment of an Abuja High Court, which struck out the case against six Nigerians arraigned over the Halliburton scandal.

Those set free are a former Permanent Secretary, Ibrahim Aliyu, Mohammed Gidado Bakari and four companies.

The four companies are Urban Shelter Ltd, Intercellular Nigeria Ltd, Sherwood Petroleum Ltd and Tri-Star Investment Ltd.

The six accused persons stood trial for allegedly serving as conduits and receiving bribes in hard currency to facilitate natural gas contracts between 1994 and 2005.

Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar said the prosecution failed to diligently prosecute the case.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “There is no clear signal on whether an appeal will be filed or not. Neither the government nor the EFCC has made any commitment.

“The EFCC has restated that it had nothing to do with the prosecution of the case.

Also, the Ministry of Justice said it did not file the charges against the suspects.

“I think the fact that some of the accused persons were involved in plea bargaining and paid fines had mitigated legal action against them.”

breach. The IT team has been working to restore it and they will work overnight to ensure that the system is restored as soon as possible.

“Besides, we have a contingency plan, in case things go wrong.”

The RTGS are funds transfer systems on whose platforms transfer of money takes place from one bank to another on a real time and on gross basis. Settlement in real time means payment transaction is immediate.

The transactions are settled as soon as they are processed.

The T24 is a funds transfer system where both money and securities take place from one bank to another on a real time and on gross basis.

The daily transfer between banks is about N300 billion.

Commenting on the development, the Head Treasury Department of one of the top banks, said the implication is that customers with transfers above N10million (which cannot be transferred through cheques because of the policy that prohibits it), were stalled yesterday.

He confirmed that the CBN sent mails to the Chief Dealers of banks around 5.pm, intimating them about the problem with the RTGS, adding that the problem may not be resolved until today.

He said what saved the day was the T24, which some of the banks later accessed to consummate some of their transactions.

He said the situation in the money market may become more chaotic, if the RTGS is not restored today.

Survivors relive Kaduna explosion Continued from page 1

fice.

He said the Commissioner for Health had been directed to go round the hospitals to ascertain the number of victims on admission to enable the government pick their bills.

Yero also announced that the government is working out a package for those who lost property and businesses and those who lost their loved ones in the explosion.

He said the government is doing everything possible to put an end to bombings in the state.

A survivor of the blast, who gave his name simply as Mallam Musa, attributed his narrow escape to the plea by his passenger to be patient and allow a commercial bus driver who blocked his way to pick his passenger and leave.

The taxi driver noted that a commercial bus had blocked his way, and as he was about to challenge him, his passenger pleaded with him to be patient. His passenger’s plea, he said, was his saving grace.

“It was while we were still waiting that the bomb exploded a few metres away. I am grateful to Allah and my passenger because I would have been a dead man by now,” Musa said.

To a motorcyclist, Shehu, it

was a miracle that he survived. But he watched his friend burnt to death and his motorcycle burnt beyond recognition while taking breakfast from a tea vendor.

Shehu said he had just gone to drop off a passenger and returned to take his breakfast of noodles from the tea vendor when the blast occurred.

“For the first five minutes, I didn’t even know where I was because I could not hear anything again,” he said.

Another survivor, Abubakar Garba, whose limb was cut off by the blast said he was happy to be alive.

Garba, who spoke on his hospital bed at the St Gerard Catholic Hospital, said: “I sell date palm for a living. I have been in the business for sometime now. On that fateful day, I came to see my uncle who also sells date palm along Junction Road.

Suddenly, I heard a very loud sound and I only saw myself high in the sky with my wheel barrow flying in another direction.

“After that, I saw my hands cut off. I was then taken to this hospital (St. Gerald Catholic Hospital). Since then, people; sympathizers have been coming to commiserate with us. I must say we are earnestly grateful for their visits and support. We are also grateful to the governor

for his kind gesture to us.”

A family member of one of the victims, who refused to be named, pointed out that his brother had just bought a new motorcycle a few weeks ago after struggling to hire one for a long time. “Unfortunately, he was killed by this explosion.”

One of those whose houses were affected by the blast, Hajia Amina Mohammed, said: “The sound of the blast was horrible. I saw a lightening and I thought it was an electricity transformer that sparked fire, only to see our houses shaking, ceilings falling down, walls cracking and my mother, who was in the kitchen, had to be dragged out because she was trapped.

“My younger brother’s friend sustained injuries resulting from the broken glasses that were flying all over. Our house is behind FINA White House Hotel that was seriously damaged.”

The managements of the two hotels that were affected by the blast - Fina White House and Fajeco – said they were still taking stock of the damage done to their property.

Henry Orihomi, manager of Fajeco Hotels said: “As you can see for yourself, the whole building is affected.

Glasses were shattered and all the ceilings fell down.

•Garba on his hospital bed at St. Gerard Catholic Hospital ... yesterday

Shops that are in front of the hotels are badly damaged too.”

Eight more people have been confirmed dead, as hospitals in Kaduna metropolis battle to save the victims.

Five of the victims on admission at the St. Gerard Hospital were confirmed dead by the spokesman of the hospital, Mr Sunday Ali. He said three of the patients had been referred to Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika, leaving only two at the hospital.

He said one of the remaining victims had a successful surgery on Monday night.

Officials of Barau Dikko

Specialist Hospital also confirmed that three of the eight victims on admission at the hospital had died.

The figure raised the death toll to 24, after the 16 confirmed killed on the day of the incident by the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

The Police are however claiming that only 11 people were killed in the explosion.

Ali, whose brother, Mansur Ali, a commercial motorcyclist, was a victim, said he paid for the drugs and other medical charges.

“I found it difficult to pay for the treatment due to the nature of the injury,” Ali said.

Another relation, Ubale Awwal, said his brother, Nura Leko, a student, sustained injuries on his leg and parts of the body.

“I need help for his treatment. I was not happy with government response to the victims’ treatment,” he said.

The Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Media, Mr Reuben Buhari, promised that the government would refund the medical bills incurred by the victims.

He said the government was still compiling the list of the victims and the hospitals in which they were admitted for easy handling of the payments.

ADVERT HOTLINES: 01-280668, 08070591302, 08052592524 NEWSROOM: LAGOS – 01-8962807, ABUJA – 07028105302 COMPLAINTS: 01-8930678

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

NEWS Ex- Kogi governor marries 13th wife

Why corruption thrives, by Onosode

T

HE household of former Governor of Kogi State Ibrahim Idris increased at the weekend when he married his sweetheart Ramotu.

The new wife, who is 27 years old, has become the former governor’s 13th wife.

A report monitored on Channels said Ramotu, a business woman, was trading in Senegalese cloth before she met her husband at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Idris was a two-term governor of the state. He was one of the five governors, whose tenure was determined by the Supreme Court in a landmark judgment which settled the dispute over when the tenure of governors who have faced re-run elections should begin.

Nigeria ‘ll not break up, says Kumuyi

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HE GENERAL Superintendent, Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi has said Nigeria will not break up.

Pastor Kumuyi spoke at the church’s Easter Retreat at the Deeper Life Conference Centre, DLCC, Km 42, LagosIbadan Expressway, Ogun State.

He said he was very hopeful that the nation would remain a single entity.

He said the clamour in some quarters that the nation should disintegrate was uncalled for, adding that there is the need for all to collaborate to tackle the challenges facing the nation at this critical period.

Pastor Kumuyi said: “Some people are calling for disintegration. Nigeria shall not break down or disintegrate.

We don’t need disintegration; we need to stay together.”

He urged other religious leaders to cooperate to tackle religious extremists.

He said: “We should cooperate to bring this down. Will this come to an end? It has happened before. This thing (Boko Haram) will come to an end but if it should, we should cooperate now as a country.”

Pastor Kumuyi urged political leaders in the nation to imbibe the virtue of Christ in order to develop the nation.

Pastor Kumuyi said: “Our leaders should emulate the virtues of Jesus Christ who was crucified for our sins and transgression. They should start with forgiveness and move to providing real servant leadership. They should not think of themselves above others. This will take us there.

“Christian leaders should cooperate with the political leaders to move the nation forward. With the spirit of Christ, I believe they can turn things around. Whatever sacrifice we need to make to move the nation forward, we should make it.”

• Pastor Kumuyi

By Nneka Nwaneri

A

• Ribadu receiving a fellow of NIM certificate from the institute’s president, Chief Michael Olawale-Cole...yesterday. With them is teh institute’s deputy president, Dr. Uno Nwaga.

PHOTO: RAHMAN SANUSI

Ribadu: Govt is ‘complacent’ on Boko Haram

F

ORMER Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Mallam Nuhu Ribadu believes the government is “complacent” in dealing with the Boko Haram sect.

To him, the security agencies are not doing enough about the sect’s activities, which he yesterday described as “a very sad thing.”

“If I were Boko Haram, I would be very happy with the complacency,” Ribadu said during a question and answer session after delivering this year’s Management Day Lecture of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) (Chartered) in Lagos.

“Nobody is doing anything,” Ribadu, a lawyer and retired police chief, added.

He spoke on the topic: National Development and Mismanagement: Forces at Opposite Roles.

Ribadu, chairman of the Petroleum Task Force, said mismanagement at all levels of public administration led to the extinction of insti-

By Joseph Jibueze

tutions of national significance and pride, such as Nigerian Airways, National Shipping Lines, Steel Rolling Mills and Nigerian Telecommunication Services (NITEL), among others.

He called for a new generation of leaders. Ribadu said: “Poor managers that we are, we have mismanaged our natural resources, particularly the oil that is the cash cow of the national economy today, to the extent that most observers and commentators of the industry now believe oil is a curse on Nigeria.

“Development will continue to elude us if we cannot deploy a new generation of managers that will interpret the challenge of our failure as the failure of current management practices.

“Here then is the deal.

People like us, as indeed most citizens, have an idea of the kind of community we want to live in. We know that the community must support the

ennoblement of man and its resources, that it must be an empowering community of equality and justice, where values of collective and individual progress are an abiding faith.

“What we may not know however is how to confront this challenge. I dare say that this is the responsibility of those who elect to be managers among us. We can even take the initial bite by placing the qualifications of the managers we desire before the nation.

“We can say the manager we desire must be one with a national ethos, not a sectional jingoist. He must be a competent, modern, honest, Godfearing, compassionate, benevolent, courageous and firm, confident, articulate, great team builder.”

Ribadu said the EFCC suffered a setback “from those who thought they were God” after he was removed as chairman.

According to him, certain powerful individuals went after the commission’s jugu-

lar “with a vengeance.” He added: “One by one, where are they today? They are nowhere. If you like, I can name names.”

The former Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) presidential candidate said corruption can only be tackled from top to bottom.

Little can be achieved in winning the anti-graft war, if a leader is not determined to fight it, he said.

“It has to start at the highest level. To fight corruption, we need a leader who is not corrupt, who does not allow people around him to be corrupt, and where a Local Government chairman will not be allowed to be corrupt,” Ribadu said.

On whether his principles will not be compromised while serving in government, Ribadu said: “I worked in Nigeria Police Force for 27 years and I can swear that I have never taken a bribe, wallahi-talahi. I can be in any company and survive. I will remain the Ribadu that I have always been.”

FORMER President of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), Deacon Gamaliel Onosode, yesterday said corruption has been institutionalised, making it hard to curb.

He spoke at the Management Day Lecture of the Institute in Lagos.

Onosode said: “There is hope for Nigeria. Do no join the multitude to do evil. Let us be part of the solution than being the problem. Let it start with you and me.”

According to Onosode, there is a thin line between leadership and followership.

“If the country’s problem is due to bad leadership, then everybody would share the blame,” he said, adding: “Someone who is a follower now may be the leader or may exercise leadership at some other platform. We don’t have two classes of people. The same individual plays the same roles from time to time, depending on where he finds himself.”

NIM’s President and Chairman of Council, Chief Michael Olawale-Cole, regretted that several probes into graft in governance have been swept under the carpet.

Olawale-Cole said: “Nigerian leaders engage in sorts of probes with no reports seen or even implemented.

The implication of these probes is that victims do not lose sleep as they go about their normal businesses in their typical manners.

“Perceived representatives of the people, as they claim to speak for the people, are in the eye of these people lacking legitimacy. We cannot afford to resign ourselves to mismanagement and its effect on our socio-economic system; we can no longer stand aloof and watch a few people mismanage the resources with which God in His infinite wisdom has blessed Nigeria with.”

How I’ll run World Bank, by Okonjo-Iweala

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INANCE Minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has given an indication of how she will run the World Bank if she is selected on April 16 as the President.

Job creation will get the top priority, she said after a “marathon” three-and-a-halfhour interview by the World Bank board.

She said the decision on who leads the global development institution should go to the candidate with the best skills for the job.

To her, the United States should take the lead and break the long tradition of an American always heading the World Bank, Finance Minister Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala said.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala did not ask for the support of countries, but pressed them to ensure that the selection process was open and merit based.

Under an informal agreement between the U.S. and Europe, an American has always headed the World Bank and a European has led the International Monetary Fund since their founding after World War Two. Rising economic powers such as China, India and Bra-

Finance Minister for UN campaign

M

INISTER of Finance Ngozi OkonjoIweala was yesterday selected by the United Nations to participate in a worldwide effort to address child malnutrition.

Okonjo-Iweala and 26 other global leaders were picked for the job by the UN Secretary General, Mr. Ban ki-moon.

According to an announcement from the UN’s Department of Public Information on Tuesday, Ki-moon appointed 27 individuals which included some heads of state and other reputable zil have called for an end to the long-standing tradition and are demanding, more influence in global finance institutions.

Okonjo-Iweala is up against former Colombian Finance Minister Jose Antonio Ocampo and U.S. nominee Korean-American health expert Jim Yong Kim. It is the first time that candidates from developing countries have challenged Washington for the top post.

“Somebody has to break this agreement,” OkonjoIweala told an event hosted by the Centre for Global Development and Washington Post.

“Therefore, who is the

individuals to focus on improving nutrition as key to progress in health and development.

The group is to represent the many countries, organisations and sectors working to improve nutrition, and serve as strategic guides for the global movement, Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN), which is committed to advancing the strength and security of nations by improving maternal and child nutrition.

SUN is a global push for action and investment to improve maternal and child nutrition.

leader in this world? The U.S. is looked on for that leadership,” she added.

The board is set to decide through consensus on a new president of the World Bank on April 16.

Okonjo-Iweala dismissed the argument by some U.S. politicians that the U. S. would stop financing the World Bank if a non-American took the reins of the institution.

She said she would use her persuasive powers to convince Congress to keep funds flowing to the World Bank.

“You cannot look at global governance in the same old way and should recognise the changing constellation of

powers,”Okonjo-Iweala said.

“I do not believe that if we ignore this reality we can really have global governance that works because these countries will not feel valued in the global system.”

Okonjo-Iweala said her vision for leading the World Bank was influenced by her own life story of growing up in a village in Nigeria and her experiences as an international economist.

“It is not good enough to say you know about poverty.

You have to live it,” she said.

As head of the World Bank, Okonjo-Iweala said she would focus on job creation, which was a problem facing both rich and poor countries

alike.

“Across the globe, policymakers are grappling with one problem, and that is the problem of job creation,” she said, “I have yet to meet a single poor person who did not want the dignity of a job.”

She said her experience as finance minister and as managing director of the World Bank gave her unique insights into the complex problems facing emerging market and developing countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East .

She said the World Bank should also focus more on helping developing countries build roads, railway systems and power grids to help their economies grow, and it should invest more in education, health and gender issues.

She said complex global problems facing developing countries required a World Bank that could respond quickly and creatively to the needs of the poor.

“We need a Rolodex of experts that we can call on very fast. Middle-income countries are no longer willing to wait when they need a question answered.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

6

CITYBEATS

Lagos NUJ to sue Magistrate, IG

THE Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) will sue Acting Inspector General of Police (IG) M.D. Abubakar and Magistrate Aderonke Oshoniyi, over last Wednesday’s detention of 13 journalists on the magistrate’s orders.

The union’s lawyers will sue them in court for illegal detention and infringment on the rights of the 13 judicial reporters who are members of the NUJ Lagos NUJ Chairman Deji Elumoye and Secretary Sylva Okereke, condemned the act perpetrated by policemen attached to Area F Command of Nigeria Police in Ikeja, Lagos, saying the union is concerned about the continued harassment and detention of journalists nationwide.

The statement said: “Our lawyers will seek legal redress over the reported harassment and detention of 13 of our members which occurred in the course of carrying out their official duties. We won’t allow the ugly incident to go unchallenged.”

The journalists include, Wale Busari, a judiciary correspondent with Silverbird Television, Francis Iwuchukwu of Peoples Daily; Henry Ojeluh of PM News/The News; Yejide GbengaOgundare of the Nigerian Tribune; Solomon Asowata of the News Agency of Nigeria and Akinwale Akintunde of Thisday.

Others include; Yetunde Ayobami-Ojo of The Guardian, Nurudeen Oyewole of Daily Trust, Shola Shoyele, Channels Television; Gbenga Shoyele, Nigerian Compass; Ranti Thomas, Moment Newspapers; Bisi Onanuga, The Nation; and Yemi Adebanjo, News Star newspapers.

They described the action of the Magistrate as undemocratic and unbecoming of a custodian of Nigerian law. The Council further urged the Acting Inspector General of Police and the National Judicial Council (NJC) to call the policemen as well as the Magistrate to order as the Council can no longer tolerate such intimidation.

The NUJ wondered why Mrs Oshoniyi should use security agents to intimidate journalists, who were discharging their statutory duties, noting that the journalists have been harassed, brutalised and maimed by security agents, whose duty is to guide and protect citizens.

08033054340, 08034699757 E-mail:- ynotcitybeats@gmail.com

Okada face-off: Police to enforce ban T

HE Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Umar Manko yesterday pledged to enforce the ban on commercial motorcycle popularly known as Okada.

Manko spoke when government officials handed over to him a motorcycle recovered from robbers at the Adeniji Adele end of the Third Mainland Bridge around 9pm yesterday.

Besides the motorcycle, a locally made pistol, cash and charms were also recovered from the hoodlums.

The three-man gang was riding against traffic when Governor Babatunde Fashola sighted them.

When the robbers sighted the policemen leading the convoy, they abandoned their motorcycle and escaped through the other end of the road.

It was gathered that the governor witnessed the drama from inside his official vehicle.

Fashola’s Chief Security Officer Adeshina Lawal, relived the

•Lagos State Commissioner for Police Manko, (middle), Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba (2 nd left), Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello (right), Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security, Major Tunde Panox (left), and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Tunde Sobulo (2nd right) during the handing over of the locally made pistol and unregistered motorcycle abandoned by three men at Obalende Ijeh area, Lagos PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

By Jude Isiguzo

incident to Manko.

Manko said: “We are all aware of the law on Okada riders in the state. Whether the matter is in court or not, we are going ahead to enforce the law.”

He said the command could not fold its hand and watch robbers wreak havoc in the state.

However, some commercial

motorcyclists deplored what they call the way the police are handling the issue.

According to them there are times when some of their members would inform the police of a robbery and they would not respond.

An Okada man who simply identified himself as Sule, said the law is targeted at the poor because it is only the poor that

More vigilance will curb child abuse, says OPD chief

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ARENTS, especially mothers, have been asked to take proper care of their children and help reduce the worrisome trend of child abuse in Lagos State.

Speaking in her office yesterday, the Director of the Office of Public Defender, (OPD), Mrs Omotola Rotimi decried the increasing rate of child abuse and defilement of children in the society.

She said: “Parents, especially mothers need to be more vigilant about their children and wards, this becomes necessary due to increase in number of cases of child abuse. At the OPD, it is almost on a daily basis that we receive cases of defilement of

Yinka Aderibigbe

children whose age is as low as 18 months by people who sometimes are very close to the child’s family.”

Another major case the agency regularly treats, she added, is that of child abuse either by the parents themselves or sometimes by their supposed aunties or uncles.

Last month, she said, a mother was sentenced to a six months imprisonment for inflicting severe body injury on her son.

“The boy’s offence according to her was that the boy always destroys her property at home. She used razor blade to inflict marks on his body and added pepper on the wounds, after which she beat

him with horse whips, she said.”

Mrs Rotimi said the agency handled 39 cases in the first quarter of the year. Giving a breakdown, she said while rape accounts for 15, defilement of children whose ages ranged from 18 months and above is 17, and child abuse, seven.

Listing the use of abusive language on the child, lack of adequate shelter, inability to provide nutritious food, using children for hawking, lack of adequate clothing, as some of the causes of child abuse Mrs Rotimi said most of the cases went unreported because the children had for long been denied access to justice.

Fed Govt owes Lagos N59b on road maintenance

T

HE Federal Government is owing Lagos State N59 billion for the rehabilitation and maintenance of all federal roads in the metropolis, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure Dr Obafemi hamzat said yesterday.

Hamzat said this at the flagging off of the annual ministerial briefing to herald the first anniversary of the second term of Governor Babatunde Fashola.

He said government plans to construct an eight-storey secre-

•Govt plans secretariat annex

By Miriam Ndikanwu

tariat annex, which would be allocated to ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) not in the main secretariat.

Hamzat who was with his Commissioner for Information and Strategy counterpart, Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba and Special Adviser on Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Ganiyu Johnson, said

the proposed complex would reduce the government’s yearly rent.

He said the new annex project “has been awarded to Palmyra Construction Company. The contractor is expected to move to the site because there was provision for the project in the 2012 budget.

“The building will have three different wings. The middle

wing will have eight floors while the two other wings will have five floors each, all of which have elevators and about 600 car-capacity Park.”

The government he said had awarded the construction of seven pedestrian bridges for the use of commuters.

Hamzat said the Public Works Corporation (LSPWC) has done well in maintaining and rehabilitating over 530 roads across the local government areas in the state.

LAGOS EMERGENCY LINES

STATE AGENCIES 4. KAI Brigade Phone Nos: 080-23036632; 0805-5284914 Head office Phone Nos: 3. LASTMA Emergency Numbers: 01-4703325; 01-7743026 080-75005411; 080-60152462 5. Rapid Response Squad (RRS) 080-23111742; 080-29728371 Phone Nos: 070-55350249; 080-23909364; 080-77551000 070-35068242 01-7904983 080-79279349; 080-63299264

1. Fire and Safety Services Control Room Phone Nos: 01-7944929; 080-33235892; 080-33235890; 080-23321770; 080-56374036.

2. Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Lagos Zonal Command Phone No:080-33706639; 01-7742771 Sector Commander Phone No: 080-34346168; 01-2881304

operate Okada.

“Everybody is associating Okada riders with robbery. Were the police not in the country when ‘one chance’ robbers were operating, what did they do? Did the state government and police ban the use of commercial vehicles or even the private ones that are being used for such operation?

Why ban Okada because of the activities of hoodlums?” he asked.

070-55462708; 080-65154338 767 or email: rapidresponsesquad@yahoo.com 6. Health Services – LASAMBUS Ambulance Services Phone Nos: 01-4979844; 01-4979866; 01-4979899; 01-4979888; 01-2637853-4; 080-33057916; 080-33051918-9; 080-29000003-5.

She said her agency is empowered to appear in court in defence of children and minors who are the defenceless members of the society.

The OPD Director said her agency is collaborating with the Ministries of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), Youth Sports and Social Development and civil based societies, local councils and the media to create the awareness against child abuse especially at the grassroots.

She said the agency now operates a Special Victims Unit (SVU), within its head office to cater for the needs of abused children.

“The unit is designed to put victims particularly children in a relaxed mood before any evidence or statement could be obtained from them as stipulated in the Child Rights Act. “The idea is to take them away from the prying eyes of adults and put them in a comfortable environment and our findings since we started have shown that it is very effective in getting them to be more relaxed when they narrate their stories,” Mrs Rotimi said.

On the yellow card for child abuse, a document released by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, she said her agency would continue to work with the ministry to ensure that the leaflets written in Yoruba, Egun and English, get to the grassroots.

OPD, she added, organises monthly campaigns around all markets, motorparks, schools, churches and mosques in the metropolis.

“Very soon the Ministry will come up with the Red Card, which will spell out the penalties for child’s rights abusers in the society,” Mrs Rotimi said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

CITYBEATS

08033054340, 08034699757 E-mail:- ynotcitybeats@gmail.com

7

Lagos to doctors: we’ll enforce no-work no-pay rule T HE Lagos State Government will enforce the no work no pay rule during the three-day warning strike by doctor which begins today.

The Head of Service Mr Adesegun Ogunlewe gave this warning yesterday during a meeting with the doctors.

Ogunlewe in a circular with Ref No. CIR/HOS/12/037 yesterday said the Act will be invoked against the doctors.

According to Ogunlewe, Section 43(1) of the Act, states: “Nothwistanding anything contained in this Act or in any other law where any worker takes part in a strike, he shall not be entitled to any wages or oth-

By Miriam Ndikanwu

er remuneration for the period of the strike and any such period shall not count for the purpose of reckoning the period of continous employment and all rights dependent of continuity of employment shall be prejudicially affected accordingly”.

He assured staff of government’s commitment to their welfare, particularly those providing essential services, stressing the need for them to respect their contract of employ-

ment, Trade Dispute Act as well as ethics, oaths and code of their professsion while in the employment of the state government.

All appears set for the strike despite appeals to the doctors. The doctors are demanding the implementation of the agreement it reached with the Lagos State Government last year.

Eminent Lagosians and rights activists have appealed to the doctors to shelve the strike and embrace dialogue so that patients in the state’s hospitals will not suffer.

Rights groups condemned the planned industrial action, saying it is in bad faith, unpatriotic and unfortunate.

Humanity Services Project, HSP, led by Comrade Linus Okoroji wondered why the doctors are going on strike over an uncompleted agreement with the government.

He also revisited the on-going debate on true federalism, claiming that it was illogical for to use the condition of service of doctors in the federal service to shut down medical services in the state

Community protests killings, raping by land speculators

S

OME residents of Igbogbo Agunfoye community in Ikorodu yesterday stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly to protest the killing, raping and demolition of their properties by land speculators.

Their leader Mr Olugbeko Olatunbosun, said the speculators, have been demolishing buildings and harassing residents claiming to be owners of the land.

Olatunbosun told reporters that the problem started three years

By Oziegbe Okoeki

ago when one Mr Isiawu Kolawole, a member of Adeyoruwa family attacked the residents, claiming ownership of the land.

“I bought my land from Adeyoruwa’s family seven years ago, but the problem started three years ago, when a faction of the family started claiming to be original owners of the land,” he said.

Mr Adebowale Idowu, a leader in the community said over 20

houses had been demolished, and properties worth N5million were destroyed by Kolawole and his group.

Idowu urged the Assembly to assist the residents before things get out of hand.

“We appeal to the Lagos State Government to come to our aid in Igbogbo Agunfoye, because our people are being killed and our properties are being destroyed, he said.

Speaker, Hon. Adeyemi Ikufor-

iji assured the protesters that the House would handle the case as a matter of urgency.”

He said the House would do what is deemed right to curb the situation.

“We will not allow anybody to take away the liberty of the people, we will investigate it and we assure you that justice will be done,” Ikuforiji said.

He also appealed to the protesters not to take the laws into their hand.

•2face

2face, others fight hunger

By Wale Adepoju and Ahmed Boulur

POPULAR artistes, 2face also known as Innocent Idibia, Sound Sultan and Lami Philips, have joined a humanitarian organisation – Oxfam, to fight hunger in Africa.

They called for policy change by the Federal Government to end hunger in the continent.

According to 2face, and the others the government need to support agriculture and prevent droughts, invasion of pests, flooding among others factors affecting farming in the continent.

2face said: “The government should make farming cool for the youth.”

Sound Sultan said the issue of hunger must involve everybody, adding that the fight against it must be a collective.

Lami Philips said the youth have come to the city to take up jobs such as motorcycle ridding, noting that they cannot go back to farm with hoe and cutlass hence the need to provide them an enabling environment.

She called on public spirited individuals, corporate bodies and government to provide loans and lands for the youth.

2face said a song had been composed by the three of them to drive home the message.

Associate Country Director of Oxfam in Nigeria Mr Tunde Ojei said food prices have doubled in Chad, Mali, Niger and Mauritania. “I don’t think we are aware of the problem yet,” he added.

He said the fight against food shortage should be collective adding: “We should not say the East Africans should solve their problem by themselves alone.

We must end hunger with collective effort.”

Oxfam Campaign Manager, Jamillah Nwanjisi said the biggest challenge was storage of food produce. “There is no inner storage to store food for between two and six months,” she said.

CDA ends rally

By Wale Adepoju

•From left: Chairperson Friends of the Environment, Mrs Olu Maduka; chair, Nest Nigeria Environment Study/Action Team, Prof. David Okoli, Prof.

Jimmy Adegoke and Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Babajide Alo at the Climate Change Summit... yesterday PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

C

OMMISSIONER for Tourism and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr. Dosun Holloway has restated his Ministry’s determination to fully tap Lagos State’s tourism potentials.

He said his Ministry is committed to enhancing the growth of the money spinning sector.

Holloway, who praised the Ministry and all those involved in packaging the just-concluded Lagos Heritage Festival which was rounded off with the Eko For Show carnival on Monday, for a good job, said the carnival is a dress rehearsal for the abounding tourism potential of the state.

He reiterated government’s desire to deepen the tourism sector and turn the state into a destination of choice for tourists. Government he said will continue to pro-

We’ll tap our tourism potentials, says Commissioner

By Yinka Aderibigbe

vide adequate support and an appropriate enabling environment for private stakeholders willing to invest in the sector.

Noting that the economic potentials of tourism if properly harnessed will not only help reduce unemployment, Holloway said the state’s aquatic potential could generate revenue close to what the country makes from oil.

The Ministry he said will also grade hotels and all hospitality centres to ensure sanity in the hos-

pitality sector.

Decrying the low level of patronage of the sector by investors, Holloway assured that soon, tourism will be a major earner for the state.

Holloway said with the carnival culture now imbibed government will develop more parks and gardens to encourage the culture of relaxation among residents, adding that for long attention had been on work, to the detriment of promoting the culture of relaxation which promotes life and wellbeing.

“As part of the holistic approach to promote the health of residents government is determined to provide more greens and relaxation arenas across the state where people can go and enjoy quite time with members of their families,” Holloway added.

He said part of the tourism blueprint for the state includes strengthening dominant cultural festivals of the people and developing tourists attractions along Lekki, Epe, and Badagry.

Holloway said the government would continue to push the frontiers of tourism for the purposes of strengthening the local economy.

THE Iwajowa Community of Sari-Iganmu in Apapa-Iganmu Local Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State last Sunday endedits New Era Rally Carnival tagged: Fanti Festival.

The event drew youth associations from the 12 streets of the area, who appealed to the government to develop their area.

The Chairman, Iwajowa Community Develpoment Asociation (CDA), Pastor Solomon Otuya, said the rally was to encourage youth shun violence.

Head, Planning Committee, Mr Ganiyu Adetunji, said the event was also to ensure peace and brotherliness among youth and to fashion out a way forward.

Adetunji said: “We also want to use the opportunity to draw the attention of the state government to what we are doing in the area,” Earlier, last Friday, the group had a “Captain Night,” where someone was crowned as theleader of the youth.

8

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

NEWS Tinubu pillar of democracy, says Akume From Barnabas Manyam, Yola

SENATE Minority Leader George Akume has said former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu is Nigeria’s pillar of democracy.

The senator, representing Benue Central District, addressed reporters when he visited his country home at Wannune.

He described Tinubu as a political juggernaut and a dynamic person who toils for the development of the nation’s democracy.

Akume said at great personal risks, Tinubu stabilised the polity with like minds, adding that his type was very rare in Nigeria.

The senator said the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Leader deserves a good mention in Nigeria’s history, not a footnote.

He said the frontline politician faced former President Olusegun Obasanjo and overran the rampaging Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southwest.

The former Benue State governor added that when Tinubu celebrated his 60th birthday in Lagos and Abuja, the world was there because here is a man of immense valour.

“I wish we had 10 Asiwajus in Nigeria; the nation would have been different,” Akume said.

Lawmakers criticise Jonathan over Kaduna blast

By Oziegbe Okoeki

MEMBERS of the Lagos State House of Assembly have urged President Goodluck Jonathan to go after members of the Boko Haram sect and improve the capacity of security agencies to end security breaches by the sect.

Reacting to the Easter Sunday bombing in Kaduna, Deputy Whip Rotimi Abiru, and the lawmaker representing EtiOsa 02 Constituency, Gbolahan Yishau, condemned the incident.

They described it as ungodly and wicked.

Abiru said: “This issue is getting out of hands. If care is not taken, it would get to a situation where it would become impossible for the government to handle it.

Since members of the sect have refused to embrace dialogue, the Jonathan-led administration should go after them.

“They are killing the people for no just cause.

Only God knows how many lives we have lost since the sect members started their evil act. The President cannot just sit down and act as if he is not concerned. He should order security to go after these people to curb this menace once and for all.”

Yishawu urged the Federal Government to improve security agents’ capacity to respond more appropriately to similar situations.

•President Jonathan flanked by Wammako (right) and Sultan Abubakar III with the first set of pupils at the presidential inauguration of the model school in Sokoto...yesterday.

Fed Govt committed to child education, says Jonathan

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•President inaugurates first model Almajiri school

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said the Federal Government is committed to providing basic moral opportunities for Nigerian children to access quality education.

He noted that this is a big task that cannot be left to the government alone as it requires the collective participation of communities.

The President spoke at the inauguration and handing over to the state government of the Model Almajiri Boarding Primary School at Gagi in Sokoto South Local Government Area.

Dr Jonathan registered and took photograph with the 50 pioneer pupils of the school.

According to him, the government will integrate the Almajiri system into a more conventional system to reflect the Western system of education.

He added that such system would be technologically

F

From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

driven in line with the current realities.

The President said the government has contracted 35 such schools in the North and Edo State, which has expressed interest in the programme.

Dr Jonathan said: “There are 10 boarding and 25 day schools, which will be handed over to respective state governments for routine maintenance and auxiliary services.

“This is the first model school dedicated to the Almajiri to ensure education for all Nigerian children to sustain access to quality education by generations.”

He handed over the school to Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko in company of 36 first-class chiefs and emirs, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III.

The President extolled the virtues and contributions of the founder of the Sokoto Caliphate, Sheikh Usmanu Bin Fodiyo, and the caliphate as a centre of educational excellence.

Kebii and Zamfara State Governors Usman Dakingari and Abdulaziz Yari, federal lawmakers, ministers, as well as other dignitaries attended the ceremony.

Wamakko described the event as a stepping point for revolutionising the Nigerian child, especially in the North.

He said: “This is a departure for change from the traditional system to a more responsive system in line with the dictates of the time.”

The governor said his administration would ensure that the 23 councils establish similar projects in their domains.

“We will leave no stone

unturned to ensure the success of the scheme by giving all necessary support and assistance to the project,” Wamakko said.

Abubakar noted that the search for knowledge is a requisite in Islam, saying education remains the greatest thing to bequeath to children.

“Education is a collective enterprise, which can only succeed if we have collective participation,” the Sultan said.

The Minister of Education Prof Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i said the model Almajiri system of education would afford enable children to access quality modern education and guarantee their graduation beyond basic education through basic skills acquisition.

The minister said the concept of the system was a collaboration because of the imaginative focus to modify the Almajiri trend.

Sylva: I’m not on the run

ORMER Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva is not on the run, his media aide, Doifie Ola said yesterday.

In a statement, Ola said Sylva is not a fugitive from justice and that his indisposition is in line with his constitutional right to freedom of movement since January 27, when the Supreme Court removed him from office.

The statement reads: “As a private citizen, he has the right to move freely to wherever he wishes. It is surprising how his whereabouts have become a subject of conjecture and controversy.

“Sylva is a firm believer in the law and has been in the forefront of efforts to etch respect for the law, rules and regulations on the national conscience “To set the record straight, Sylva has decided to keep a low profile because he does not want his security to be

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

compromised. The world has been living witness to the brazen disrespect for our laws, which those charged with the maintenance of law and order in the land have exhibited since the outbreak of their riotous governorship adventure in Bayelsa State.

“If those we all should rely on for our security could so blatantly run riot on our laws and liberties, it is not hard to determine the extent they can go against the one they have openly declared the target of all their illicit manoeuvres in the state.”

Ola noted that the charges against Sylva by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were not new.

He said: “The charges brought against Sylva by the EFCC are not new. They are

charges for which some former and serving officials of the Bayelsa State Government have already been standing trial since April 2010.

“What the EFCC has done is to simply add Sylva’s name.

Specifically, the suit brought against Sylva by the EFCC involves N2.45 billion Bayelsa State funds, not N6.450 billion, as a section of the media has reported. This is because charges one, five and six refer to the same money.

“This is government money used for government business. Since 2010, when the matter went to court, no evidence has been produced by the prosecution to support the claim of money laundering and other financial crimes against any of the defendants.

“The last time we checked, no agency of the law has extended any invitation to

‘Fed Govt unserious about power generation’

By Oziegbe Okoeki

T

HE Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Energy and Mineral Resources and Waterfront Infrastructure, Lanre Ogunyemi, has condemned the continuous slide in power generation and the hardship it is causing the people.

Addressing reporters in Lagos, the lawmaker accused the Federal Government of lacking seriousness in tackling power generation problems.

He said: “The continuing slide in power generation, with the attendant outages, causes hardship and other consequences on businesses and the citizenry.” The lawmaker said the situation has aided insecurity.

“It has all-round effect on health, education and the general well-being of the people. It is unfortunate that countries, such as Ghana, Benin Republic, Chad and South Africa, enjoy uninterrupted power supply for years,” Ogunyemi said.

Adeboye urges Nigerians to pray for peace

By Adeola Ogunlade

T

•Sylva

Sylva, which he did not honour. As far as we know, he has not been declared wanted by any authority, local or international.

“Sylva is a believer and advocate of the rule of law. He is, as usual, undaunted and will face the current onslaught squarely. Sylva will take the necessary legal steps to discharge the present charade. We are happy that the Abuja High Court has fixed May 8, for Sylva to have his day in court. Our laws are clear that any accused is innocent until proved guilty.”

HE General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has urged Nigerians to continue praying for peace and remain vigilant against agents of instability.

Adeboye spoke at a special monthly prayer and thanksgiving service at the church headquarters in Ebute-Metta, Lagos.

Represented by his Special Adviser on Administration, Pastor Johnson Odesola, the eminent cleric noted that security is everyone’s business.

He urged Nigerians to support security agencies to clamp down on individuals or groups that cause unrest.

Adeboye noted that despite the Goodluck Jonathan administration’s efforts, “the security of the country is everybody’s business and it requires that we make efforts to report any untoward behaviour by any individual or group to security forces...”

9

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

NEWS

Ekiti PDP condemns moves to discredit exco

Robbers steal N1m in Ogun •Police kill seven suspects From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

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OBBERS yesterday stole over a million naira from an electronics shop in Isabo, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

This is coming barely two days after a Toyota bus belonging to the state chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) was stolen in Abeokuta.

An eyewitness said the robbers, who came in an unmarked Toyota Sports Utility Van (SUV), shot into the air many times before going into the store.

While the hoodlums were trying to escape through the Kobape-Siun Road, they injured a man after dispossessing him of his Toyota Camry car.

The police said they killed seven suspected robbers and arrested 10 others on the Ogun stretch of the Lagos-Ore Expressway in the last one week.

The command’s spokesman, Mr. Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the deceased were caught robbing road users and were killed when they engaged the police in a gun duel.

Adejobi said those arrested were linked with a string of attacks on the road.

Oni urges Oyo PDP factions to unite From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

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HE National ViceChairman (Southwest) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Segun Oni, yesterday urged the three factions of the party in Oyo State to reconcile.

Oni said the only way to recapture the state from the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) is for members to work together and produce a credible candidate in the next election.

Adressing members at the PDP secretariat on Queen Elizabeth Road in Ibadan, the state capital, he said internal wrangling was responsible for the party’s loss at the last general election.

The ousted Ekiti State Governor said: “We allowed the ACN to get to power by our fight and the only way to prevent their interim administration from going beyond 2015 is to come together as a team.”

He lamented that Oyo PDP has broken into three factions, with two factions running parallel executives and the third in the Accord.

He said the party must run an inclusive system that would allow every member to contribute to its growth.

Oni said: “We are going to bring everybody back under the same umbrella, so that we can become one unified family and face future electoral challenges, starting with the local government elections across the Southwest.”

He said the party would soon organise a rally where all the factions would be reconciled.

•Some beneficiaries of the free train service of the Osun State Government at the Nigeria Railway Cooperation (NRC) station in Ijoko, Ogun State...yesterday.

PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI

Fashola, minister, others strategise to check climate change L AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola, Minister of the Environment Hajia Hadiza Mailafia and other stakeholders yesterday pondered on strategies to tackle the devastating impact of climate change in the country.

They spoke at the Fourth Climate Change Summit organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Environment, with the theme: “Vulnerability and adaptability to climate change in Nigeria and Lagos State: Agriculture, Industry and Health sectors in focus.”

Fashola said climate change is a threat to the human race and the solution lies on how people relate with their environment.

He said the country can overcome its threats, if people reduce the level of carbon dioxide emitted into the air and desist from the indiscriminate disposal of refuse.

Fashola said: “Many of us are living witnesses to the 16 hours of rainfall that occurred in Lagos on July 10, 2011, and the deaths and destruction left behind. On August 26, last year, an unusually heavy rainstorm ravaged some parts of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, resulting in floods that destroyed many lives and property.

‘This is not limited to Nigeria. All over the world, we are waking up almost daily to news of devastation by floods that experts seem neither able to predict nor explain’

By Miriam Ndikanwu

“We have been told to expect about 236 days of rainfall this year and the intensity of recent rainstorms are pointers to the fact that the rain may fall with even greater fury this year.

“This is not limited to Nigeria. All over the world, we are waking up almost daily to news of devastation by floods that experts seem neither able to predict nor explain.”

The governor identified knowledge, preparation and adaptation as the solution to the threat of climate change.

He said: “Knowledge, information and our relentless resolve to dominate the

earth are the weapons we need to fight and win this war.”

Hajia Mailafia said climate change has displaced many persons and called for a collaborative effort to tackle the menace.

She said the Federal Government has taken steps to combat its effects, which includes ensuring strict compliance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for projects in the country to guard against activities that will further hamper the environment.

Hajia Mailafia praised Fashola for leading the fight against climate change and urged other governors to emulate him.

She said: “Lagos has shown the way forward and we need every state to sign up to it. When I was growing up in the North, I never knew what flooding was.

But now, it is a trend that has evolved and we must tackle it, because climate change has the capacity to affect our wellbeing.”

The minister said sensitisation programmes are ongoing to educate the public on dangers of engaging in activities that will leave the environment vulnerable to

climate change effects.

Commissioner for the Environment Tunji Bello said the state government is determined to reduce gas emission through the Green Economy Technologies and the creation of alternative energy sources from solid wastes.

Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Environment, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, who was represented by Dr. Michael Umoh, said: “We must move from the realm of mere pronouncement to the desire to ameliorate the ecological changes. Activities such as deforestation, waste management and pollution must be adequately addressed.”

She said the House of Representatives is working towards setting up a climate change commission to step up the fight against the scourge.

Chairman of the Senate’s Committee on the Environment and Ecology Dr. Bukola Saraki, represented by Kingsley Amako, said: “Stakeholders must integrate plans that will form a synergy between the legislative and executive arms of government to check the scourge.”

Osun denies seeking bond to pay salaries

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HE Osun State Government has denied the rumour that it is seeking a bond to pay the salaries of its workers.

The government said the bond, if secured, would be used to execute capital projects.

Commissioner for Finance Wale Bolorunduro spoke with reporters yesterday in Osogbo, the state capital.

Describing the rumour as “wicked”, Bolorunduro said civil servants have always been paid promptly since Governor Rauf Aregbesola assumed office.

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

He said although the state has not received its federal allocation in the last two months, the government has not failed to pay salaries on time.

Bolorunduro said the bond would span seven years. He said the government has the credibility to convince the lenders and secure the bond.

The commissioner said the previous government was not blamed for securing the N18.3 billion loan from

the bank, except for its timing, which he said came at the twilight of the administration.

He said the monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state has been increased by the Aregbesola administration from N325 million to N600 million and the government plans to increase it to N1 billion before December.

Bolorunduro said the bond and IGR would speed up the state’s development.

He said the state is still collecting the same allocation it was collecting during the

ousted administration of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and has achieved a lot in a short time.

The commissioner said the Oyinlola administration got N69.79 billion between 2004 and 2010 from the Excess Crude Oil Account, but has nothing to show for it.

He said: “Any one who criticises this policy of government is a financial illiterate and we are not ready to join issues with any individual or group on the matter.

“The bond will be used for the development of the state.

It is being sought in the interest of the people.”

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-EkitiI THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State yesterday condemned moves by some groups in the party to rubbish the recent state congress, which produced the current state PDP executives.

It was reacting to a publication yesterday in a national daily, not The Nation, in which a purported Appeal Panel Congress led by Mrs. Romoke Ogunlana, set up by the party after the March 18 Congress, recommended the dissolution of the State Working Committee.

Speaking with reporters yesterday at the party’s secretariat in Ado-Ekiti, the party’s Chairman, Mr. Makanjuola Ogundipe, said: “Their plans to form a parallel PDP Exco in the state would not succeed.”

Ogundipe said members trying to destabilise the party would be dealt with.

He accused the Segun Oni Campaign Organisation (SOCO) and an aggrieved PDP chairmanship candidate, Mr. Akin Omole, of spearheading the call.

Loyalists of former Governor Ayodele Fayose and the Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd.), won all the seats during the congress.

Ogundipe said the SWC is making efforts to foster unity in the party.

He said: “Why is SOCO, which was part of our inauguration, now working hard to factionalise the party and cause crisis?

“If anybody is saying that the election that produced the present SWC is not credible, what of the election that produced Oni as the PDP National Vice-Chairman (Southwest)? Was that election better than the congress conducted in Ekiti?

“Omole and other SOCO members, who are the masterminds of the factions within the party, would have to apologise to the PDP, if they still consider themselves committed members.

“We are determined to reposition this party and take over the state in 2014. So we will not hesitate to deal with anyone working to cause crisis in the party.

“We are aware that some of them are working for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and we are investigating them.

When we are through, we will deal decisively with anyone working with the ruling party to destabilise PDP.” Omole said: “Ogundipe lacks the constitutional right to decide for PDP. He was not elected through a free, fair and credible election, so the state party is yet to have an executive.

“We do not have any Exco in Ekiti now. Some of the people who contested the congress were not eligible to contest. The Publicity Secretary, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, was the secretary of the Labour Party (LP) before he defected to PDP with his political boss, Fayose, a few months ago.

“According to the PDP’s constitution, before a member can contest any elective position, he must have spent, at least, one year in the party.

These people have not spent up to that time, which renders the congress null and void.”

Omole told the executive to vacate their offices or risk being disgraced.

10

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

NEWS Ekiti youths to get 1,500 jobs through agric HE Ekiti State Government has said it would create jobs for 1,500 youths under its Youth Commercial Agriculture Development Programme (YCAD).

It said the programme would reduce unemployment and ensure that agriculture contributes 50 per cent to the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

According to the government, YCAD will turn farm settlements into centres of excellence in agriculture and ensure all-round production of cash crops.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources Mr. Babajide Arowosafe spoke in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, during the launch of the programme by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, on April 26.

Arowosafe noted that YCAD is a step by the Kayode Fayemi administration to promote agriculture and enhance youth empowerment.

“The programme is aimed at engaging serious-minded youths with entrepreneur spirit to become successful business players in the future,” he said.

The commissioner added that the selection of beneficiaries would not be partisan, saying interested candidates will be shortlisted for interview after a review of their application forms.

He urged interested youths to obtain application forms at the Agricultural Development Project (ADP) offices, farm settlements and farm centres nearest to them.

Arowosafe said they must complete and submit their forms to be selected for the first phase of the scheme.

ACN warns against plot to destabilise Southwest

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Awo Institute gets first DG

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HE Obafemi Awolowo Institute of Government and Public Policy (OAIPP), Lekki, Lagos State, has appointed its first Director-General. He is Professor Adigun Ajao Bolarinwa Agbaje, a professor of Political Science at the University of Ibadan and former Deputy ViceChancellor of the university.

A statement by the Chairman of its Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Adebisi Akande, said Prof. Agbaje would drive the institute’s multi-disciplinary programmes for researches on democracy and development.

Prof. Agbaje has a First-Class Honours degree in Political Science and a PhD in the same discipline from the University of Ibadan (UI). He obtained an MSc (with Distinction) in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos.

Agbaje became a professor in 1998, after only 14 years’ university teaching experience, having started as an Assistant Lecturer in 1984.

His wealth of experience and global academic connection will enable him perform his job well.

Under his leadership, the institute will continue researches into political issues, such as federalism, electoral integrity, political parties, military intervention, crisis of nationhood and the impact of religion on democracy. It also explores core development issues on health, education and the economy.

A well-travelled academic, Prof. Agbaje is married and has children.

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HE Vice-Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Cardinal James Odunmbaku, yesterday warned against the destabilisation of the Southwest by conservative politicians who were rejected by the people in the 2007 and 2011 polls.

In a statement in Lagos, the ACN chieftain noted that reports about alleged plans to create a crisis in the region by those already rejected by the people, was worrisome.

He urged security agencies to be on the alert.

Odunmbaku said: “We have lost some of our great minds to assassination in the Southwest. Following the murder of Chief Bola Ige, the foremost literary giant, Prof. Wole Soyinka, described the ruling party at the centre as a nest of killers.

“The party had created hullaballoo in Oyo, Ondo,

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Political Editor

Ogun, Ekiti, and Osun states through electoral terrorism.

Political parties are at liberty to engage in clean electoral contests, but what we reject here is the do-or-die politics.”

Odunmbaku said the main opposition party in the zone decided to create tension by upgrading those who lost power to leadership positions so that they could behave like wounded lions.

He warned that “right from the days of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, there was never a time the zone yielded to the antics of conservative cabals, who are fond of securing power through the back door”.

The vice-chairman alluded to the import of power shift in 2007 and 2011 in the zone, noting that for the first time since 2003, the Southwest decided to take its destiny in its hands.

Odunmbaku added: “The first act of political treachery

in this zone was hatched in 1962 by ex-progressive politicians against Chief Awolowo. The enemies of the people held on to power till 1965, but their government was full of tension. The second onslaught was during the Second Republic, when few progressive politicians retraced their steps to collaborate with reactionary elements who later met their political doom. The third episode was in 2003, which provoked a political liberation war.

“The Southwest will never go into slumber again. We will be vigilant, and no amount of intimidation, repression, oppression and threat to use federal force or might will cow the people of Southwest to submission.

We will work for the peace of our region and insist on the rule of law, justice, equity, fair play and honour.

The wish of our people for good governance will always prevail.”

He urged the people to

maintain an abiding interest in the progressive platform, which he said has the courage to chart the course of development for the zone through its people-oriented policies and programmes.

He solicited support for the governors in their bid to foster development and good governance through the regional integration agenda.

Odunmbaku said: “During elections, we will pose the same question to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) again. For 13 years, what did you do about Lagos-Ibadan Expressway? What have you done about electricity? How many refineries have you built? How many jobs have you provided for our teeming youths, especially graduates? What is your score card? Have you not led Nigeria to backwardness?

Has any of your plans worked? What is the fate of your Seven-Point Agenda?

What are your achievements?”

Ekiti awards N110m power contract •To connect communities to national grid

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HE Ekiti State Government has awarded a N110million electricity supply contract to connect five rural communities to the national grid.

The communities are: Aba Osun in Ekiti West Local Government Area; Odo-Uro in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area; Aba Ekiti in Ado Local Government Area; Eda-Ile in Ekiti East; and Aba-Fatunla in Ikole Local Government Area.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Mr. Kayode Jegede, broke the news during a tour of the five communities. He said the communities have been without light for 600 years.

Jegede noted that it was the vision of the Kayode Fayemi administration to ensure basic infrastructure, including electricity, in all communities.

He said five electrification projects were completed in the first 12 months of the administration.

According to him, the government regards the provision of infrastructure as fundamental to the people.

Jegede said the government believed in the people’s right, adding that the administration would not deny them the rights.

The Eleda of Eda-Ile, Oba

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

Omotayo Adeniran, corroborated Jegede’s statement that the communities have not had electricity in 600 years.

The monarch noted that the Federal Government started the electrification project 10 years ago but abandoned it half-way. He hailed the state government for revisiting the project.

A community leader at Aba-Osun, Mr. Adio Jinadu, noted that though the area is among the food baskets of the state, it has suffered neglect from past administrations. He prayed for the quick completion of the project.

The communities have non-Ekiti residents.

•Lagos State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat (second right) answering questions during the kick-off of the 2012 ministerial briefing to mark the first year of the second term in office of the Babatunde Fashola (SAN) administration at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja...yesterday. With him are: Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Aderemi Ibirogba (right); Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Mr Ganiyu Johnson (second left); and Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Paul Bamgbose-Martins.

Baby, five others die in Lagos-Ibadan road crash 14-MONTH-old baby and five unidentified persons yesterday died in an accident at Alapako village on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The Ogere Unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC),

A

Mr Abdulrahman Sadeeq said four other persons were injured in the crash, which occurred about 7.30am.

Sadeeq told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on phone that the victims were travelling in a white Mazda bus, with registration

number (Bayelsa) XC239YEN, and heading to Lagos from Kano.

The bus, according to him, skidded off its lane and fell into a ditch at the village.

Attributing the crash to excessive speeding, Sadeeq said a 12-month-old baby boy and three men were injured.

The FRSC chief said the victims were taken to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) in Sagamu, Ogun State.

He added that the FRSC would ensure that the accident did not cause a gridlock on the highway.

LP members defect to ACN in Ondo community

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•Fayemi

ANY members of the ruling Labour Party (LP) in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State have defected to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

The defectors accused the Olusegun Mimiko administration of discriminating between indigenes and nonindigenes in sharing political positions.

Their spokesman, Isiaka Raji, said they were commit-

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

ted members of the ruling party, who facilitated its emergence in power in February 2009.

They said Saka Lawal, a former Special Adviser to the governor, spurred them into joining the party.

According to them, Lawal, who is now a governorship aspirant on the platform of the ACN, is a political strategist, who worked dili-

gently when LP and Mimiko were in the trenches.

The defectors wondered why Mimiko dumped Lawal, whom they described as “calculating and meticulous”, adding that the governor’s action was an unpardonable mistake.

They promised to pool their resources together with other progressives, to ensure victory for the ACN. Among the defectors were: Oni Olawale, Isiaka Atimowa, Ajisafe Fatai,

Afolabi Yekeen, Alase Jimoh and Adesoye Fatai.

Others were: Adeoye Kolawole, Ibrahim Raji, Paul Friday, Mrs. Bolaji Ogedengbe, Mrs. Akinyele Sikiratu and Olalomi Kabiru.

Lawal urged the defectors to mobilise more people for the ACN in all parts of the state.

According to him, ACN is the only party that can give them dividends of democracy.

BUSINESS

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Spain imports more of Nigerian crude

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PAIN’s crude imports from Iran dropped in January, while its supplies from Nigeria and Iraq rose sharply, just as the European Union imposed sanctions on the Islamic Republic, official data showed yesterday.

In its latest monthly bulletin, strategic hydrocarbons reserve board estimated Spain had imported 279,000 tonnes of crude oil from Iran, a drop of 31 per cent from December.

As a proportion of total imports, Iranian crude according to Reuters news, fell to six per cent in January from 9.5 per cent in December, which compares with around 14 per cent in previous months.

Spain, which needs to import virtually all of its crude, ramped up imports in January from Nigeria, Iraq and Libya, where production has been returning to normal after last year’s civil war.

The European Union imposed sanctions on Iran on January 23 over the Islamic republic’s nuclear programme, although importers have until July 1 to execute previously signed contracts.

Trade sources say they expect Spain’s crude imports from Iran to have dropped further in February.

Spain’s biggest refiner, Repsol, has repeatedly declined to comment on details of its oil purchases, but in February the government said the country’s two biggest oil companies had arranged to switch imports from Iran to Saudi Arabia, Russia and, to a lesser extent, Iraq.

Cepsa, Spain’s number two refiner, has said it plans to source crude from the United Arab Emirates.

Repsol has the capacity to refine 890,000 barrels per day and Cepsa, which is owned

by Abu Dhabi investment vehicle IPIC, 430,000 bpd.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$123.6/barrel Cocoa -$2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,800/troy ounce Rubber -¢159.21pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE -N6.503 trillion JSE -Z5.112trillion NYSE -$10.84 trillion LSE -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -12.6% Treasury Bills -7.08% Maximum lending22.42% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -2% 91-day NTB -14.18% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $34.6b FOREX CFA 0.2958 EUR 206.9 £ 245 $ 156.4 ¥ 1.9179 SDR 241 RIYAL 40.472

11 Many people are under the impression that oil producing companies are playing games with the amount of crude that they produce and export. I want to state here categorically that the oil business is an international business.

-Mutiu Sunmonu, MD, SPDC

FIRS makes N21.7tr in 11 years, says former chair F

ORMER Executive Chairman Federal In land Revenue Service, (FIRS), Mrs Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, has said the agency collected about N21.7 trillion for government in the past 11 years.

Mrs. Omoigui-Okauru, who spoke yesterday in Abuja with her former staff, said the FIRS realised N7.53 trillion from non-oil revenue and another N13.036 trillion from oil sources.

“With respect to our core mandate of tax collection, tax revenue grew astronomically from slightly below N1.2 trillion (about $7.9billion) in 2004, to over N4.6 trillion (over $30billion) in 2011 (over four times the collection figure of 2004). This represents growth in both oil and nonoil revenues,” she stated in a statement.

From Nduka Chiejina, Asst. Editor

According to the statement, the revenue collected rose from N163.3 billion for non-oil taxes and N407.1 billion for oil taxes in 2001 to N1.557.8 trillion non-oil and N3.070.59 trillion oil taxes 11 years after in 2011.

She said within the period, the FIRS consistently surpassed the revenue targets set for the Service.

MrsOmoigui-Okauru urged support for her successor, saying she has done her bit according to her mandate.

Her words: “I have always regarded this journey as a relay in which my goal was to use my best effort to run my segment of the race.

As I hand over the baton, I encourage you to continue the race and surpass all that has previously been achieved. I urge support for the Acting Executive Chairman, Alhaji Kabir Muhammad Mashi,” whom she described as an experienced and distinguished public servant.

“Never forget that this is a team sport and that the strength of the institution is in the strength of the team,” she stated.

The former FIRS boss was appointed on May 3, 2004.

She was re-appointed for a second four-year term on April 10, 2008, which ended on April 9, this year.

Omoigui-Okauru thanked multilateral agen-

cies, members of the Study and Working Groups, her peers at the sub-regional and continental levels with whom the FIRS shared ideas. She said during her tenure, over 1,000 staff enjoyed multi-coated training and that several modernisation projects were embarked upon to position the Service as a 21st Century agency.

Five of the nine bills presented to the National Assembly were also passed, including the Personal Income Tax Amendment Act and the Federal Inland Revenue Establishment Act FIRSEA 2007. Also, one stop-tax shops were created to ease the burden of taxpayers, while the FIRS collaborated with states, agencies and other countries to share data to enhance revenue collection.

• From left: Director, Internal Audit, Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Alhaji Ibrahim Tafida; Director, Human Resources, Mr Nuraddeen Auwal and Executive Director, Corporate Services, Mrs Lola Abiola-Edewor, at a risk-Based auditing training in Abuja ... yesterday.

Nigeria risks long-term fiscal disruption, says StanChat N IGERIA faces me dium to long term fiscal disruptions unless it takes urgent measures to address its over dependence on oil revenues, poor national savings and infrastructural deficits, an economic intelligence report by Standard Chartered (StanChat) has said.

In a special economic intelligence focus on Nigeria, Standard Chartered noted that while Nigeria’s fiscal outlook appeared robust, there were persisting longterm fiscal sustainability problems that could snowball into long-term economic crisis with declining resources amid exploding population.

The report anchored by regional head of research, Africa global research, Standard Chartered, Razia Khan, noted that Nigeria’s everincreasing spending rests on a subterfuge of poor revenue performance for the economy masked by rising

By Taofik Salako

oil revenue, a weakness that makes the country more vulnerable to any oil-related shock.

According to the report, in the absence of high oil prices, current spending levels may be unsustainable, but cutting back may be unfeasible politically.

The report pointed out that the absence of any working long-term national savings framework leaves Nigeria with little buffer in the event of any shock that might impact fiscal revenue citing the frequent disbursals from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) and the inactive Sovereign Wealth Fund.

“The absence of any firm rules governing withdrawals from the ECA makes it more susceptible to political considerations, significantly weakening the framework

for long-term fiscal savings.

Despite the passage of Sovereign Wealth Fund legislation – and the withdrawal of $1 billion from the ECA as seed money for the fund – it is not yet operational. Any progress in this area would be a significant step up for Nigeria’s overall fiscal framework,” the report noted.

The report, made available yesterday, indicated that while Nigeria’s infrastructure needs are vast, a traditionally unfavourable mix of recurrent and capital expenditure has failed to create the necessary fiscal space for scaling up infrastructure development.

According to the report, Nigeria might find it difficult to engage in muchneeded capital expenditure given its dismal performance and difficulty in raising more revenue from non-

oil economy.

Standard Chartered noted with a score of 0.44, Nigeria ranks within the lowest bracket of tax collection in sub-Saharan Africa, pointing out that the proposed rebasing of the economy might further constrain revenue collection and tax effort metrics.

“Oil is not a renewable resource. Unless there is more long-term saving of oil wealth, or more investment in infrastructure able to contribute to future growth, the benefits of oil wealth will be lost forever. Not least, demographics underscore the urgency of reform: Nigeria is expected to be the fourth most populous country globally by 2050,” the report cautioned.

The report indicated that Nigeria needs to step up economic reforms to correct current imbalances and steady the economy for sustainable growth in the future.

Retired police officers claim looted pension From Chris Oji, Enugu

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ETIRED officers of the Nigeria Police from the South east and the Southsouth affected by the civil war claimed they are the owners of the recently uncovered loot from the police pension probe by the Senate Committee on pensions.

The veterans said the recovered money is to be used to settle their pensions and gratuities, which they claimed was stolen from them by the pension managers. They said the managers refused to pay them since they were granted amnesty by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on May 29, 2000.

In a Save –our- Soul letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, an affected retired police officer, Raphael Okpara from Enugu State, stated that the pensioners hinge their claim on the premise that the police joined National Pension Commission(PenCom) in 2004.

He lamented that greater insecurity challenge await Nigeria since policemen are no longer entitled to pension after meritorious service to the nation.

The danger, he stressed, is that the police who are given guns to protect the citizenry and are not paid pensions would eventually turn around to use it against the society.

Okpara, 68, explained that when the over 113 war affected retired police officers from Enugu state came for payment on November 12, 2007, the pay officers from police pension fund turned them back home with the excuse that the cheque leaves they came with were not the right ones.

Fed Govt, banks partner on SMEs funding From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

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HE Federal Govern ment is partnering commercial banks to fashion out a new funding mechanism that would give Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) increased access to cheap funds.

The Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, disclosed this at a meeting with Small Medium Enterprise Development Agency (SMEDAN) Desk Managers of Banks and representatives of commercial banks in Abuja.

He said the initiative is aimed at removing barriers militating against banks’ lending to MSMEs and designed as part of renewed efforts to increase their capacity to create jobs, generate wealth and transform the economy.

He said reviving the MSME’s sub-sector is the surest way to fight unemployment which he said is“ becoming alarming and staring us in the face.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

12

BUSINESS NEWS Flight Schedule MONDAY - FRIDAY LAGOS – ABUJA Departure Arrival 1. Aero 06.50 08.10 2. Associated 07.00 09.30 3. Air Nigeria 07.00 08.20 4. IRS 07.00 08.20 5. Dana 07.02 08.22 6. Arik 07.15 08.15 7. Chanchangi 07.15 8. Air Nigeria 08.15 09.35 9. Dana 08.10 09.20 10. Aero 08.45 10.05 11. Arik 09.15 10.15 12. Chanchangi 10.00 11.00 13. IRS 11.15 12.35 14. Dana 12.06 12.26 15. Aero 12.20 13.30 16. Air Nigeria 13.25 14.45 17. Chanchangi 13.30 14.30 18. Arik 13.45 14.45 19. IRS 14.00 15.20 20. Aero 14.10 15.30 21. Air Nigeria 14.50 16.10 22. Dana 15.30 16.50 23. Chanchangi 15.30 16.30 24. Arik 15.50 16.50 25. Aero 16.00 17.20 26. IRS 16.30 17.50 27. Arik 16.50 17.50 28. Dana 17.10 18.30 29. Chanchangi 17.30 18.30 30. Air Nigeria 17.35 18.55 31. Air Nigeria (T/TH) 18.30 19.50 32. Arik 18.45 19.45 33. Aero 19.20 20.40 1.

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LAGOS – KADUNA Aero 08.00 Chanchangi 10.00 Arik 10.00 Arik 15.10

was liberal and provided conducive environment for profitable operations.

Haeiterman said the zone has freedom from legislative provision as pertains to taxes, levies, duties and foreign exchange regulations.

He said 100 per cent of foreign or local ownership of factory was allowable as well as one stop approvals for all licenses whether or not the business is incorporated in the customs territory or not.

“The zone has unrestricted remittance of profits earned by investors, permission to sell 100 per cent of total production in the domestic market. Rent-free land at construction stage, thereafter rent shall be as determined by the management of the zone. Foreign managers and qualified personnel may be employed by companies operating in the zones,” he noted.

OKFTZ is a state-of-the-art industrial zone of about 10,000 hectares located on the boundary of Ogun and Ondo states.

12.15 12.45 09.10 11.00 11.10 16.20

LAGOS – OWERRI Aero 07.30 Arik 07.30 Air Nigeria 13.40 Arik 14.00 Arik 16.30

08.40 08.40 14.55 15.10 17.40

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LAGOS – KANO Air Nigeria 07.10 IRS 08.00 Dana 08.10 Arik 12.20 IRS 14.00 IRS 18.15

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08.30 15.10 17.40

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LAGOS – MAIDUGURI 1. IRS 11.15 13.15 2. Arik 15.50 18.00 LAGOS – ILORIN 1. Overland 07.15 2. Arik (M/T/TH/F) 17.30

ply to meet up with electricity supply needs to the zone.”

The OKFTZ boss said the zone has a power plant capable of generating between 10 megawatts (MW) and 50MW. He said serious plant needed effective gas supply and “to have the required gas supply, government should provide enabling gas pipelines.”

He said the government needs to come to the help of FTZ operators to compete better in the country. “Nigeria is very reach in terms of raw materials, which attracted most investors to invest in the free trade zone,” he said.

Haelterman listed some of the benefits accruable from doing business in a Nigerian FTZ to include relative proximity to major markets in Africa, Europe and America.

He added that a large domestic market for the 25 per cent of goods from the zones could be sold in the customs territory. He said Nigeria’s FTZ regulatory regime

08.50 12.40 14.10 17.20

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LOKOLA Free Trade Zone (OKFTZ) can attract $30 billion investments in the next three years, its Managing Director, Mr Luk Haelterman, has said.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the zone, when completed, has huge investment potential.

He said the profile of the zone stood at between $20 million and $30 million. “At present, we have about 60 investors at the zone but we are targeting 1000,” he added.

Haelterman said the zone could attract more vital industries, but that this is hindered by lack of gas to generate the required electricity in the zone. He urged the Federal Government to hasten the development of power plants in the country.

He said: “We do not have gas access because no zone within the country, is linked to gas facilities, which every zone needed.

“We need the help of government in area of gas network and gas sup-

08.30 09.10 11.50 12.45 13.40 15.20 16.30 16.40

LAGOS – PORT HARCOURT (CIVIL) 1. Aero 07.15 08.35 2. Arik 07.15 08.35 3. Arik 09.00 10.20 4. Dana 09.27 10.40 5. Aero 10.50 12.30 6. Arik 11.40 13.00 7. Air Nigeria 12.00 13.10 8. IRS 13.30 15.00 9. Arik 14.00 15.20 10. Dana 15.03 16.20 11. Air Nigeria 16.00 17.10 12. Arik 16.10 17.30 13. Aero 16.15 17.30 14. Arik 17.10 18.30

1. Arik 2. Arik 3. Arik

Trade zone to attract N30b investments

08.00 18.00

LAGOS – ABUJA SAT/SUN Arik 7.15; 10.20; 2.20; 5.20pm – 7.30; 9.15; 10.20; 2.20; 4.50; 6.45 Aero 07.30; 09.35; 13.10; 14.50; 20.20 – 07.30; 09.35; 13.10; 14.50; 20.20 Air Nigeria 08.15; 14.30; 17.15; 18.30 – 08.15; 13.30; 14.30; 17.15; 18.30

•From left: Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Osun State, Mr Sunday Akere; his Finance, Economic,Planning and Budget counterpart, Dr.Wale Bolorunduro and Permanent Secretary, Ministry, Mr Abiodun Akintaro, during a press conference, at the Governor’s office, Osogbo ... yesterday.

CBN to acquire fraud prevention system

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is set to acquire a new fraud prevention, payments, oversight and anti-fraud system, to tackle fraud in the electronic payment (e-payment) system.

Head, Shared Services at the CBN, Mr Chidi Umeano, disclosed this in Lagos at the IT Edge Convergence Forum.

He said the goal of the system is to provide the facility to distinguish fraudulent and legitimate transactions based on redefined checks in online payments. This will allow only legitimate transactions to be processed.

The CBN, he said, believes the adoption of the system will boost the cash-less initiative by strengthening the protection against fraudulent payment activities.

Fraud has always been one of the biggest challenges of any online

By Adline Atili

payment system. Increasing fraud rates around the world has dampened the growth of electronic payment by exposing merchants to substantial losses and unnerving security-conscious customers.

“The fraud detection system will help detect potential fraud situations through the generation of online alerts as a result of transaction analyses,”he said.

He said this would help the apex bank in the efficient documentation of potential fraud situations, as well as facilitate identification and capturing of fraudsters.

Aside the payments system oversight and anti-fraud system, Umeano noted that CBN, as part of measures to manage fraud on the e-payment landscape, had in 2010, effected migration from the mag-

netic stripe-based payment tokens, to the Chip and Personal Identity Number (PIN)-compliant channels and tokens, thereby recording over 90 per cent drop in card-related fraud incidents.

He added that the CBN instituted an industry ATM Anti-fraud Committee, which was adjusted to become the E-Payment Fraud Forum, a group that ensures that antifraud mechanisms are kept abreast of new challenges for proactive responses.

Conequently, Umeano called on the National Assembly to expedite action on the Payment System Management Bill and the Financial System Ombudsman Bill, in addition to review of the Evidence Act to give legal backing to regulations and guidelines in the payments sector, and enforcement of same.

NPA: Ban on midstream cargo discharge still on

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HE Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) yesterday said the ban on the discharge of cargo midstream and at private jetties by vessels was still in force.

“All ocean-going vessels operations are henceforth restricted to designated ports and terminals,’’ the NPA announced in a public notice in Lagos.

President Goodluck Jonathan, had in May 2010, while inaugurating facilities at Onne Ports, Rivers, directed government agencies to ensure that imported goods should be discharged at the designated terminals.

“Government will no longer condone security threats and huge loss of revenue through the practise of midstream discharge of import and export of cargoes,’’ Jonathan had said.

The NPA said some shipping companies still engaged in the midstream discharge of cargo and at private jetties in disregard to the Federal Government’s ban on such operations.

The ports authority, however, exempted Baco Liner Vessels that were not designated for operations at the berths and other vessels that were too big to en-

ter the ports.

It advised the shipping companies to ensure compliance with the ban, adding that failure would attract sanctions.

NPA said it had 15 designated ports under the Act that established it.

They include Apapa, Tin-Can, Kirikiri, Port Harcourt, Federal Ocean Terminal and Federal Lighter Terminal, Onne.

Others are: Sapele, Warri, Koko, Calabar, Burutu, Donny, Degema, Forcadoes and Tiko.

NPA said it had also approved 190 private jetties under its jurisdiction.

NDIC trains staff on risk-based auditing From Nduka Chiejina, Asst. Editor

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O review the internal pro cesses of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), the corporation is shifting its internal audit process to riskbased auditing approach.

Managing Director, NDIC, Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, in Abuja disclosed this yesterday at the training for staff of the corporation that will pilot the auditing.

Represented by the newly appointed Executive Director, Corporate Services of the NDIC Mrs Lola Abiola-Edewor, the NDIC boss said the new approach will “sharpen the skills of the selected staff in promptly identifying significant risks facing the corporation.”

At the end of the training, she said the NDIC staff tutored in the new RBA techniques are expected to have enhanced abilities to make recommendations to the corporation on the measures to adopt to mitigate identified risks for the overall attainment of the objectives of the corporation.

The programme, he added, is aimed “at exposing and equipping participants with the international best practices on enterprise risk management, internal control as well as compliance with legal requirements.”

To ensure that the selected staff of the NDIC fully understand and appreciate the import of the programme, some staff, he said, were sent to Malaysia and Kenya to acquaint themselves with how those countries handle their audit the RBA approach, which spurred the NDIC to organise the training for its staff in RBA. According to the NDIC boss, 20 staff of the NDIC will be trained to provide them with the foundation on RBA.

Kerosene now N50/ litre in Ado-Ekiti From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-

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Ekiti

ESIDENTS of Ado-Ekiti, capi tal of Ekiti State, heaved a sigh of relief yesterday as kerosene went down to N50 per litre.

They besieged the Nigerian National PetroleumCorporation (NNPC) Mega Station on AdoIworoko road with diferent containers vying for spaces to buy kerosene At the Mega Station were nearly a thousand residentsforming queues, defying the scorching sun for an opportunity to buy the commodity.

Most other stations in the capital where the product was available were selling for between N150 and N200.

One of the buyers, who identified herself as Mrs. Bamidele, said she “just got wind of the availability of the product here and decided to abandon all I was doing.

Hammed Adetunji, who succeeded in getting his 50-litre container filled with kerosene, said: “I want to commend the NNPC for coming to our aide with this very important commodity.

“At N50, I have been able to save N7,500 because kerosene is sold at N200 at the petrol station in my area,” he said.

The Manager of the Mega Station, Mr Tayo Olayade, spoke with reporters, saying: “The station has no control over how much petroleum products are sold, adding: “It is the duty of the station to comply with directives of the NNPC as to price of the products.

“And as you can see, we are selling kerosene at N50 as directed by the NNPC”.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

13

ISSUES

• Wrecked vessel

In the last few weeks, there have been issues over the security, economic and environmental challenges posed to Lagos and its environs over abandoned vessels and ship wrecks on the coastline and the water front. In this report, maritime correspondent OLUWAKEMI DAUDA looks at the steps to be taken by the Federal and Lagos State governments to address these matters to prevent ocean surge and ensure safety of lives and properties.

Dangers shipwrecks, abandoned A vessels pose to Lagos

PPARENTLY dissatisfied with the degradation and the rate at which the Lagos coastline was being washed away when he visited the Lekki Beach in Lagos last year, President Goodluck Jonathan ordered that all the wrecks and derelict vessels on the coastal waters and those buried underneath be cleared. But almost nine months after this directive, little has been done.

But the instruction was simple: “Clear the shipwrecks and save Lagos from ocean surge.”

Though, a tender was turned in for the job by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), but the contract has not been awarded because of government bureaucracy.

Speaking with The Nation in his office recently, the Director-

General of the agency, Mr Patrick Akpobolokemi said bureaucracy is one of the greatest challenges facing the agency.

A shipwreck is what remains of a ship that has either wrecked, sunk or beached. Causes of shipwrecks include bad weather, poor design, fire, improperly stowed cargo, navigation and other human errors leading to collision with another ship, the shoreline or an iceberg.

The United Nations (UN) estimates that there are more than three million shipwrecks on the ocean floor globally. Nigeria and Lagos State in particular is one of the major cities that ship wrecks are lying un-

der its bed.

But millions of lives, properties and means of livelihood continue to be threatened and put at risk when it can be prevented since the government must stop giving room for procrastination.

Agencies’ overlapping functions Past government’s efforts aimed at addressing the issue and solving the problem have been feeble because of the overlapping functions by the Federal Government agencies involved in the removal of wrecks. For instance, there was

a disagreement between the management of the three key parastatals in the Federal Ministry of Transport –NIMASA, Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) and the National Inland Waterways Authority on how to address the issue.

About two years ago, the Federal Government through the Ministry of Transport had promised Nigerians that the issue would soon be resolved and a joint committee was thereafter set up to identify the owners of all abandoned ships and wrecks. The former Minister of Transport, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman, inaugurated the Committee on

Wrecks Removal from Nigerian Waterways and Channels. The committee had Mr Bola Olowosejeje as secretary and representatives of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigerian Navy, Lagos State government, Federal Ministry of Justice, NPA, NIMASA, Indigenous Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (ISAN) as members.

The committee was to audit the wrecks and abandoned vessels on territorial waters and make the necessary arrangement for their removal and disposal. The committee, which had four weeks to complete its assignment, was also required to organise the disposal of all residual metals in a transparent manner, as well as advise the Federal Government on ways to • Continued on page 14

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

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ISSUES

Dangers shipwrecks, abandoned vessels pose to Lagos • Continued from page 13

minimise the littering of the waterways with wrecks, derelicts, and abandoned vessels.

Areas of jurisdiction were clearly defined as a way of fast-tracking the evacuation.

But the establishment of the committee did not really provide the much needed relief to Lagosians as the Ilado/Ilashe communities in Ojo area of the state protested against the non-removal of the wrecked ships that were washed ashore in their areas since 2009. The Managing Director of NPA, Omar Suleiman said the authority had made significant progress in removing most of the wrecks on the Lagos channels that were assigned to it under the arrangement. According to him, 99 percent of the job has been done by NPA. He listed the evacuation of a big vessel from the Commodore Pool channel as one of NPA’s major achievements. The vessels had been buried in the sea bed for years and was a barrier to navigation, preventing bigger ships from entering the Tin-Can Port.

What the law says Akpobolokemi told The Nation that the agency is ready to partner with Lagos State.

He said since removal of wrecks is not an easy task, a public notice has to be issued by NIMASA before wrecks can be removed.

“We were specific with some abandoned ships because the law requires us to come up with a marine notice. While we have the rights to remove wrecks, the law says we have to give seven days marine notice. When the owners don’t come to claim ownership, then you can go ahead to remove them.

“Ordinarily, the owners should be held responsible for these wrecks but the same Nigerian factor that has allowed these things to accumulate for so many years is still there.

And to solve this problem within one or two years is a very big task,’’ he said.

The Nairobi Convention rests the onus of removing wrecks on the ship owner but the obligation has been neglected, forcing the government to use some of its resources for evacuating the wreaks.

Consequently, stakeholders said it would not be appropriate to blame NIMASA as certain processes are expected to be followed just like in any other country. For example, the Nigerian Environmental Impact Assessment Decree of 1992, and the Federal Environmental Protection Agency Decree of 1992 were amended in 1999 to take care of some of these challenges.

These laws and decrees created agencies such as the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and NIMASA. Besides, the Nigerian Navy is expected to play a complementary role to ensure there is maritime safety and security. There should be collaborative effort among these bodies to ensure proactive measures are taken to stem the cycle of criminalities on the Lagos waterways.

The Managing Director, Shore investment Services, Mr Dayo Balogun, decried the inability to take proactive measures in dealing with the evacuation of wrecks. He said there was nothing bad if the Lagos State government can deal with the issue to save lives, properties, the environment and the eco-system. ”It is unfortunate we don’t adopt a preventive approach to issues in our country.

If nothing is done on time by the Lagos State government, there could be telling consequences on the population and the environment. Governor Fashola should not wait until Lagos is washed off due to tidal pressures, especially now that no Federal Government agency has been able to give us the number of wrecked ships and abandoned vessels on the coastline and the Lagos water,’’ Balogun said.

• Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar

Abandoned vessels In Lagos State, over 150 metres of the coastline has been eroded in the last three years as a result of the impact of abandoned vessels and wrecked ships. Investigation conducted by The Nation revealed that there over are 100 abandoned vessels and ship wrecks on the Lagos water front and the coastline.

Communities affected include Marine, Apapa, Liverpool, Tin-Can, Ilado, Ilashe, Mile2, Ojo, Oko Afa, Alpha Beach, Lekki, Eleko, Badagry and several others along the Lekki coast.

Investigation also revealed that the problem is not peculiar to Lagos but has become a common phenomenon anywhere there is a deep sea port such as Warri, Calabar, Port Harcourt, Bonny, Onne.

Bureaucratic bottlenecks Despite the fact that abandoned vessels and shipwrecks have become a major eyesore along the coastline and the Lagos water front, efforts aimed at finding a lasting solution to the unpleasant phenomenon are being frustrated by bureaucratic bottlenecks because of the amount involved in removing them.

Sources at the NPA and NIMASA told The Nation that there are over 120 abandoned vessels, derelict ships and wrecks lying on the country’s waters or buried right on the seabed. Other vessels awaiting repairs also litter the Lagos waterways and navigation channels, posing economic, environment and security challenges to the state and the country. The fear expressed by many operators and stakeholders, who spoke with The Nation is that the country is gradually becoming a dumping ground for old vessels.

They also said the Federal Government would need about N10.5billion to remove them and clear the waterways.

A senior official of one of the agencies, who craved anonymity, said between N90 million and N100 million is required to remove a wreck because of the exchange rate and that it takes about five months to completely dismantle and remove just one. The official attributed this to why owners abandon their wreck indiscriminately on the Lagos water front. But the menace of shipwrecks and abandoned vessels, he said, has become a matter of great concern to those who know the eco-

• Suleiman

• Akpobolokemi

nomic, environmental and security challenges posed to the country and Lagos State in particular.

the country’s waterways.

It has a lot of implications for maritime investment and trade. It hinders free movement of vessels with the potential to cause ship mishap, thus leading to loss of lives, cargoes and multi-billion investments. If continued, it portends unsafe and unsecured maritime routes against the best practice, and the country will definitely so much incur loss in revenue.

Vulnerability of Lagos Lagos is vulnerable because the state from Epe to Badagry is seating on the lagoon.

The former Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Akwa Ibom State, Mr Olu Akinsoji, in a paper he presented to a special panel on Shipwrecks and Coastal Erosion with a focus on the Lagos coastal community, at the 2010 Lagos State Summit on Climate Change, said over 77 wrecks littered the Lagos coastline alone.

He described the ugly phenomenon as a reflection of the indiscipline, poor administration and lack of commitment to international obligations. He admitted that Lagos is particularly vulnerable to shipwrecks and abandoned vessels because the Lagos coastline is situated west of the entrance of the ports.

According to figures provided by Akinsoji then, about 77 ship wrecks were counted above the water in Lagos in 2002; about 12 vessels were in lay by condition as at August 2004; about 132 vessels were awaiting berth on the West Mole of the coast; while 12 vessels were washed ashore by 2010.

“There is a cumulative effect whereby sand accumulation by one ship adds to the other, resulting in the incursion of water as the wrecked ships are very close to each other. The recurring shipwrecks on the Lagos water has resulted in the erosion of choice beach lands, including coastal plants like coconut trees on the beaches. Lagos loses billions of naira to these erosions, accelerated by the shipwrecks and abandoned vessels, as strong waves can remove over one metre of land within 24 hours,” one of the residents, Mr Seyi Agbato said.

Akinsoji also listed consequences of abandoned shipwrecks to include navigational problems between communities and other states; toxic and other dangerous emissions into waterways; erosion, diversion of water flow and community displacement; recession of coastlines; possible loss/submerging of land between the Atlantic Coast and the Lagoon/Creeks; hide-outs and launch platforms for migrants and pirates; as well as diversion of cargo from

‘The recurring shipwrecks on the Lagos water has resulted in the erosion of choice beach lands, including coastal plants like coconut trees on the beaches. Lagos loses billions of naira to these erosions, accelerated by the shipwrecks and abandoned vessels, as strong waves can remove over one metre of land within 24 hours’

Base for pirates, sea robbers Shipwrecks and abandoned vessels on the nation’s waters provide hideouts for criminals. For instance, abandoned vessels have constituted a base for pirates, sea robbers and miscreants to attack legitimate vessel operators and fishing trawlers. This has threatened vessels, maritime trade and investment worth of several billions of dollars. Fishing trawlers have lost about N25 billion to piracy and sea robberies.

The clog on Nigeria’s maritime routes and waterways is increasing concerns and fears of investment in the maritime sector. Like other maritime actors and stakeholders, the management of Nigerdock Nigeria Plc expressed profound worries about heaps of shipwrecks and abandoned vessels on the maritime routes and waterways because they provide hideouts for pirates and sea robbers.

All vessels plying the nation’s water ways are supposed to be registered with NIMASA so that owners of abandoned and wrecked ships can be contacted in times of need. Investigations however, reveal that most of the vessels neither have legal documents nor are registered with NIMASA hence the reason why the agency cannot trace most of the owners.

There are reports that some vessels come into the waters without the knowledge of NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy. If the allegation is true, it means that such vessel owners do not observe international best practices, and the agencies must find appropriate means of sanctioning them.

The derelict ships that are plying the nation’s waters should not have been registered in the first instance. Most ships that cannot be registered in Ghana or even Togo are brought to the country for registration. According to operators, the nation’s coastal environment has become a dump site for old ships from other parts of the world. They noted that due to lapses in the enforcement of environment protection laws, owners of faulty ships find it convenient to abandon them on Lagos waters. Maritime experts also blamed the government and its agencies for abdicating their responsibilities, saying it is a clear indication that the government is not responsive to the people. They called on Federal and Lagos State governments as well as NIMASA to explore other practical means of responding to timely evacuation of wrecks to avoid erosion on the shorelines, Experts also called on the Federal Government to adopt a policy framework that will discourage vessel owners from abandoning their ships and claiming insurance, which they (vessel owners) believe is more economical to them.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

15

MONEY

Guide to Bank Charges review near completion T

HE Central Bank of Nigerian (CBN) has said the ongoing review of Guide to Bank Charges is near completion.

It is meant to address complaints from bank charges and other miscellaneous fees by banks on customers’accounts.

The regulator said the guideline, which was issued to the industry several years ago, is being reviewed to protect customers’ interests.

It said it was among critical issues discussed at the last Bankers’ Committee meeting in Lagos. The apex bank said the review is at an ‘advanced stage’ and that it is working on harmonising areas to complete the process. It said the exercise is part of efforts to reduce the cost of banking and financial services on customers.

A statement from the apex bank said such complaints arising mainly from high bank charges

By Collins Nweze could threaten confidence in the banking system.

In reviewing the charges, the CBN said it would be guided by, among other factors, those considerations on financial inclusion, with emphasis on consumer protection, unit cost of banks, and contemporary developments in the banking industry.

It lamented the practices in some banks, where products and services are deployed at exorbitant costs to the customers, saying the high costs are discouraging many the people from assessing financial services.

According to the apex bank, commercial and other banks need to be key partners in its drive for financial inclusion, even if for reasons of enlightened self-interest. In this context, there is a need to take a different approach tobank charges and fees to customers.

“Banks should bear financial inclusion considerations in mind in developing business models and products. While it is recognised that their unit costs are high, banks should avoid charges that can be perceived as predatory or extortionist and have the effect of excluding low-income customers or eroding the savings of depositors,” it said.

The CBN said it is working with stakeholders in the financial sector, a foreign and a local consultant to prepare a strategy on how to drive financial inclusion in the country.

Financial inclusion, alternatively characterised as ‘access to finance’ has been defined as ‘universal access at reasonable cost, to a wide range of financial services to everyone needing them, provided by a diversity of sound and sustainable institutions.’

Also, the apex bank said it would

synthesise the schemesand programmes of stakeholders in financial inclusion; establish weaknesses and causes of failure of these programmes and how to address them; define work and action plans of stakeholders to address financial inclusion in Nigeria.

“The CBN will also promote workable models for fostering financial inclusion in Nigeria and, who will own and drive them and set up special funds for promoting and developing a financial inclusion agenda for Nigeria,” it said.

The regulator further noted that it would, in addition to some of its reforms, adopt some specific models to help drive financial inclusion, such as agent banking, mobile banking, financial literacy and

‘Guidelines on interbank loans to boost liquidity’

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• From right: Associate, Restral Limited, Mr Patrick Amajama; Chief Responsibility Officer, Mrs. Uwa Osa Oboh, and Executive Director, Uchenna Nwosu, at the briefing on the launch of Franklin Covey’s 5 Choices to Exraordinary Productivity by Restral Limited, in Lagos.

‘Banks’ll benefit from cash-less banking’

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HE implementation of service charges of the cash-less policy on deposits and withdrawals above N500,000 and N3 million for individual accounts and corporate accounts will boost banks’profits, analysts have said.

The service charges will increase banks’ earnings and add to their profits in the second quarter.

Analysts at Afrinvest West Africa Limited, an investment and research firm, said the market will pay more for the banks’ services, high asset quality and consistently lower than average risk ratios in the medium-to-long term.

Banks are taking full charges of three per cent for cash withdrawals by individuals and five per cent from corporates. A staff member at the GTBank, Ladipo branch, Lagos who spoke anonymously, said the branch has, in the last one week, charged over 20 customers who deposited more than the required cash.

The source said most of the customers are aware of the policy but prefer to pay the fees instead of keeping cash at home, or using epayment models, which they are yet to master.

Also, at the Access Bank, Ladipo, there was full compliance as no customer deposited or withdrew more than the required amount.

A staff member of Access Bank who refused to be named, said there are just few cases where customers withdrew or deposited more that the benchmark amount. The CBN had granted waivers to embassies, diplomatic missions, multilateral and aid donor agencies in the country. The apex bank had earlier granted exemptions to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the federal and state governments on lodgments for accounts operated by them, for revenue collections only.

Some of the customers, the source said, did not believe in the use of alternative channels such as point of sale (PoS) terminals.

He said many of the banks’ customers were conscious of the fees because no one wants to lose money. He said many customers largely complied.

The Managing Director, Blue Wall Bureau De Change, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, said the policy does not in any way, affect his business. He said the company applied and got one PoS terminal where a customers make payment and his account is credited.

He said banks have provided alternatives that will enable customers who want to transact above the limit carry out their transactions seamlessly. He said

like every new policy, there will be hitches, but that people will get used later because of its many benefits.

He explained that the cash-less policy applies to transactions conducted in branches of banks based in Lagos State only for now, but the charges are subject to review every six months.

CBN review of the cash-less policy increased daily cumulative cash withdrawals/lodgments limits of N150, 000 and N1 million now increased to N500,000 and N3 million on free withdrawals and lodgments by individual and corporate customers.

More so, the CBN reviewed downwards, the processing fee for withdrawals above the limit for individual customers from 10 per cent to three per cent. The processing fee for withdrawals above the limit for corporate bodies has also been reviewed downwards from 20 per cent to five per cent.

The processing fee for lodgments above the limit for individual customers has also been reviewed downwards from 10 per cent to two per cent, while the processing fee for lodgments above the limit for corporate bodies has also been reviewed downwards from 20 per cent to three per cent.

consumer protection model, Point of Sales (PoS) servicesand specialised banking, like mortgage banking and non-Interest banking, among others.

It said banks should strive to ensure that the needs and expectations of their customers are satisfied. The failure to meet the needs and expectations of customers creates grounds for complaints, which if not addressed soon, could result in the rejection of products/services and may lead to litigation.

Dissatisfaction of banks’ customers could lead to loss of confidence, in not only the affected banks, but the system, and subsequently, could a trigger run on the affected banks as well as the system, the apex bank stated.

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued guidelines on lending at the interbank market.

The apex bank said in a circular signed by CBN Director, Financial Markets Department, Emmanuel Ukeje, that the rates on facilities are set at margins above expected market rates to provide sufficient incentive for banks to look first to the interbank market before borrowing from the CBN. This new policy, analysts said, will enhance liquidity and create stability in the financial services sector.

Ukeje said the apex bank has offered to enter repurchase transactions under its Standing Lending Facility (SLF) and Term Repurchase Facility, stating that the essence of these facilities is to provide naira liquidity to eligible institutions that are unable to access funds on inter-bank market and set an upper limit on rates.

The guidelines also contain terms for the operation of SLF and TRF and should be read in conjunction with the Nigerian Master Repurchase Agreement (NMRA).

It said the SLF and TRF are available only to banks and discount houses that have executed the NMRA with the CBN. The SLF is

an overnight fund available on all banking days between 2.pm and 3.30 pm, with settlement done on same day value. The TRF is available on all banking days between 9.00am and 3.30 pm. The transactions under these facilities can be conducted in a minimum of N100 million and multiples of N1 million.

The guidelines also stipulate that the purchase price is the rate at which the purchased securities are to be transferred from borrower to lender. The apex bank also addressed issues relating to market values of the purchased securities which include Nigerian Treasury Bills (NTBs), Federal Government of Nigeria Bonds, CBN Bills, and Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) Bonds.

The maturity dates of securities to be used must be, at least, three business days after the repurchase date of transaction.

For AMCON Bonds, the CBN will use the equivalent modified duration FGN Bond yield in the absence of secondary market yields.

The apex bank said the rates on facilities are set at margins above expected market rates to provide sufficient incentive for banks to look first to the interbank market before seeking recourse at the CBN for banks.

CBN backs BoA’s transformation

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said it will continue to back efforts aimed at repositioning the Bank of Agriculture (BoA) for greater performance.

The CBN’s Deputy Governor, Financial Services Surveillance, Dr Kingsley Moghalu, said this while receiving a delegation of the Rabobank of the Netherlands in Abuja.

The team came on the invitation of the Bank of Agriculture (BoA) which has signed a technical agreement with Rabobank.

Moghalu said the apex bank is aware of the changes at BoA aimed at fostering growth, adding that the CBN is in support of the restructuring and transformation of the bank. It is a step in the right direction, he stated.

He said CBN has a “strong role” to play in the transformed BoA and commended the management for transforming the institution. He said the apex bank has been making efforts to promote agriculture, adding that BoA has played an important role in the matter.

Speaking during the visit, the

By Akinola Ajibade

Managing Director, BoA, Dr Mohammed Santuraki, said the partnership between the two banks would produce the desired results. He said Rabobank has similar history with the BoA, and that both institutions are poised for growth.

He said the management of the bank has initiated efforts to create a viable sustainable institution that could stand on its own and not rely on its stakeholders for recapitalisation. He said BoA needs to become a broad-based rural bank.

Similarly, a team of two senior executives of Rabobank, who visited the BoA’s head office in Kaduna, expressed satisfaction with the deal. The officials, Messrs Gerard Van Empel, Director and Founder of Rabo Development and Frank Nagel, Head, Banking Advisory, had talks with the BoA management.

Also, the team also discussed with some BoA field operations staff and clients on the activities of the bank.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

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MONEY

NIMC sets up database to check fraud T HE Director-General, Nigeria Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Chris Onyemenan, has said the agency will do all it can to check frauds and related vices in banks.

He told The Nation that the body has set up a National Identity Management System (NIMS) to resolve issues relating to identities of Nigerians, adding that it comprises the National Identity Database known as Central Identity Repository or Register (CIDR), a chipbased secure identity card and a network of access to ascertain the identity of an individual. He said the database is new and will contain the identities of Nigerians.

He said it will contain valuable information on Nigerians, adding that with it criminals would not be able to escape.

He said: “The most important thing about the NIMS is that it will provide a Universal Identification Infrastructure (UII) for the country. This will make it harder for criminals to use false or multiple or ghost identities.

This will help the government, through the enhanced performance of the law enforcement agencies to protect Nigerians

Stories by Akinola Ajibade

from crimes such as advance fee fraud. Also, it will protect Nigerians from fraud, by providing a simple, reliable, sustainable and universal means of confirming their identities.”

He said the National Identification Number and the National Identity Smart Card will be issued to Nigerians once they are enrolled into the National Identity Database.

“The National Identification Number is a non-intelligent set of numbers assigned to an individual upon successful enrolment. Enrolment consists of the recording of an individual’s demographic data and capture of the 10 fingerprints, head-toshoulder facial picture and digital signatures, which are used to crosscheck existing data in the National Database to confirm that there is no previous entry of the same data.

“Once the national identification number is assigned to a per-

son, it cannot be issued to another person. By this, the activities of people that duplicate identities to commit frauds in banks, among others, financial agencies will be checked,” he said.

The NIMC’s boss said the database can be accessed by banks and other institutions for authenticity, adding that it will be a veritable means of checking sharp practices.

“As much as the banks have Know Your Customers (KYC) programmes in place. As much as we provide identity database. As much as our database are accessed and authenticated. As much as our verification can be duplicated, we would to a large extent help in checking fraudulent practices in banks”, he added.

Onyemenan said all the measures which banks have put in place to ensure customers due diligence are good, arguing that they need to be improved upon.

According to him, all the measures fell short when it comes to the optimal methods of managing data in the country. He said Nigerians will begin to see the difference soon, adding that database would help in correcting various anomalies.

FIRS sues agencies for tax evasion From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

THE Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has dragged the Jos International Breweries (JIB) and the Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) before the North Central zone of the tax tribunal for alleged tax evasion.

While JIB is being sued for its refusal to pay capital gain tax from 1998 to 2005, the state Universal Basic Education is being arraigned for failing to pay withholding tax from January to July 2009. At the opening of hearing of the cases, the agencies admitted receiving briefs, but pleaded for more time to file their replies, noting that the tribunal rules allow for 30 days for the defendants to file their replies.

Mr Gedalia Fwomyon of the Plateau State Ministry of Justice, who appeared for the two respondents, admitted that he was served with the brief a few days earlier and needed more time to file his reply.

Counsel to the Plaintiff, Usman Shameh did not object to the application. The tribunal Chairman Abraham Ndan Yisa adjourned the case to April 16, for further hearing.

FirstInstant enhances financial inclusion THE assertion by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that 46.3 per cent of the nation’s population is financially excluded makes a valid case for the collaboration of concerned stakeholders to chart a course for addressing the situation.

To address this, FirstBank Nigeria Plc has unveiled FirstInstant, a new savings product designed to provide quality, accessible and affordable financial services for the unbanked and under-banked segments of the populace.

In a statement, the bank said FirstInstant was designed to encourage low income savers to utilise alternative banking channels like the ATMs, PoS terminals, mobile money and Internet banking, among others. The product is one of FirstBank’s Cash-less policy initiatives to empower the previously unbanked populace to open accounts and perform e-transactions without having to visit the bank’s branches.

FirstBank’s Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications, Folake Ani-Mumuney, said the product came after research on how to provide tailored financial services to segments of the society that have been excluded from mainstream banking as a result of low income/ literacy level, and remote location, among other factors.

She said the concept of financial inclusion had been globally acclaimed as a panacea for ensuring sustainable economic growth and development, adding that it was also necessary for promoting entrepreneurship and wealth creation.

Ecobank woos funds transfer customers

• From left: Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Mr Jibril Aku; Country Head, Ecobank Capital (Nigeria),

Opeola Deji and Managing Director/CEO, Brittania-U Limited, Uju Ifejika, during a facility tour of BrittaniaU production facility in Lagos.

CBN warns banks on customers’due diligence

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said banks that contravene the guidelines on customers’due diligence will be sanctioned.

The Acting Director,Financial Policy and Regulations Department (CBN), Mr Chris Chukwu, gave the warning during an international symposium organised by the Chief Compliance Officers of banks in Lagos.

The theme of the conference is: The role of customer due diligence in combating financial crimes and terrorism in Nigerian banks: issues, challenges and prospects.

Represented by the Deputy Director, Consumer Finance Protection, CBN, Mr Nwaoh Ifeanyi, Chukwu said any attempt to flout the rules on customers’due diligence would jeopardise the efforts of CBN at ensuring a flawless transaction among banks.

He said: “Financial institutions are required to carry out customers due diligence in line with the regulatory provisions. The institutions are expected to carry out thorough investigation on their cus-

tomers. They must get new information about their customers to replace the expired ones. They must get up-to-date information about their customers, when carrying out transactions that are about regulatory designated threshold.”

He urged banks to carry out diligence on profile customers, such as boards of companies, adding that it would go a long way of saving them from future embarrassments. He said they must get useful information about such customers to ensure growth.

He said: “I think the first place to conduct information is Central Securities Clearing System(CSCS) through which they would know more about the company that is banking with them. They would be able to know whether the company is genuine or fake. Beyond establishing that the company is registered, they should be able to give information about the owners of the company. The bank should go the extra mile after their customers have met the minimum requirements of operating an account,”adding: “I know some

banks have made efforts in customers due diligence about their customers, but they need to do more.

They need to conduct customers’ due diligence on their non-resident customers as well. The apex bank has amended the regulatory provision on customer due diligence to foster growth the industry. Banks must ensure that the policy is adhered to in the interest of their stakeholders and the industry in particular.”

According to him, a safer, reliable, and effective banking industry is known through the measures taken to avert crisis. This, he said, is evident in all the reforms introduced by the management of CBN since 2009.

On CDD, Chukwu said it is imperative for the banks to use standard customers due diligence template if they want to foster growth. He advised banks to keep records of their transactions, adding that the development is key to growth of any financial institution. He called on banks to adequately review their customers due diligence programmes to ensure optimal performance.

ECOBANK is offering a 50 per cent discount on transaction fees to new customers who use the Rapid Transfer service during the Easter period.

Announcing the offer in Lagos, Ecobank Group Head, Domestic Bank, Kingsley Aigbokhaevbo, said all the customer has to do is open an account by completing the opening form and presenting requisite means of identification.

In return, the bank would give the customer a Rapidtransfer Loyalty Card. “Just show your Loyalty Card every time you transfer money up until April 30 and we will refund 50 per cent of your Rapid Transfer commission at the end of the promo.”

According to Aigbokhaevbo, Rapid Transfer is an Ecobank proprietary send and receive money transfer product available in all Ecobank branches across Africa. “Its aim is to facilitate easy transfer and access to funds in Nigeria and across countries where Ecobank is present. It is designed to eliminate the risk of carrying cash as well as facilitate easy payment for goods and services without the hassles of sourcing for foreign exchange as the payments are made in the local currencies of both the transfer and the receiving countries,” he said.

He said customers choose Ecobank Rapidtransfer because it is a fast, convenient and reliable means of sending and receiving money within Nigeria and across Africa. The product is suitable for trans-border traders, schools/students, travellers, parents, foreign nationals residing in Nigeria, churches and missions, embassies and consulates, regional airlines and transporters among others.

Aigbokhaevbo said: “True to our record on compliance, Ecobank ensures that the Foreign Exchange Control Regulations of the various monetary zones are upheld and the Know Your Customer (KYC) Principle is strictly adhered to guard against money laundering”.

‘Cash-less banking’ll boost banks’ profits’ THE Acting Managing Director, Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS), Niyi Ajao, has said cash-less banking will boost banks’profits.

Speaking during the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN) Bi-Monthly Discourse in Lagos, he said it will have positive multiplier effects on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

He said alternatives to cash payment include cheque, bank transfer, Same-Day Inter-Bank Transfer (NEFT), NIBSS Instant Payments (NIP), Standing Orders, Direct Debits, Payment Cards, Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs), Point of Sale (PoS) Payments and Mobile Payments (micro-payments).

The NIBSS boss added that e-payment ensures security and convenience for payers and payees. It reduces the cost of banking and payments, thereby bringing down bank charges, and bringing the benefits of banking services to more people, he added.

Ajao said over N200 billion was spent on cash management last year, adding that embracing the policy would save this cost, which would translate to lower costs in borrowing and lending.

He said NIBSS is about to implement cheque truncation system in the country. It will phase out physical clearing of cheques and reduce the clearing days by at least one day, adding that the CBN’s cheque clearing rule is expected to provide for the regulation and management of cheque truncation to reduce costs and days of clearing instruments.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

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INSURANCE

‘Why corruption thrives in pension depts’ L

ACK of control over disbursement of pension funds by the National Pension

Commission (PENCOM) is responsisble for the corruption in pension funds administration, the commission’s Director-General, Mohammad Ahmad, has said.

Ahmad said the commission has inadequate supervisory control over pension departments, adding that the latter had operated within their parent Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs), with same administrative/operational structure, without referring to the Commission.

In a statement, he said this has resulted in the lack of external and independent review that could serve to authenticate pensioners’ entitlements, thus ensuring that pensioners are not underpaid or that the government liability is not overstated.

This arrangement, he said, “weakened the regulatory and supervisory oversight of the commission over the pension departments due to lack of centralisation of the oversight functions,”adding that this has resulted in a situation where the commission is unable to exert supervisory control over the pension departments as they do not regard the commission’s supervisory role over them.

He stated that this is a violation of Sections 30 to 38 of the Pensions Reform Act (PRA) 2004. He noted that in accordance with the provisions of Section 30(3) of the PRA 2004, the pensions departments are required to render returns to PenCom monthly, stating deceased pensioners and other activities such as verification carried out by them.

He said in spite of several reminder letters, telephone calls and follow-up visits made by the com-

mission to the pensions departments to ensure their compliance with statutory provisions, some pensions departments donot render returns.

He said the military pensions board, which earlier rendered returns consistently, stopped doing so since June, last year, saying that these returns would have assisted the commission in carrying out its supervisory role over the pension departments.

He said: “Yearly, pensioner verification have been institutionalised by the continuous budgetary allocations to the various Pensions Departments towards such exercises.

This appeared to have provided an incentive for each of the pension offices to carry out verification yearly.

“In addition, the exercises were centralised in state capitals or few chosen locations, which made it difficult for the aged pensioners to

travel long distances to be verified.

Indeed, some aged pensioners have lost their lives in attempts to be verified or risked losing their pensions. Inadequate logistics support has been one of the challenges that have rendered pensioners’ verification cumbersome, resulting in a good number of the pensioners being reluctant to turn up for the exercises at scheduled dates.”

He explained that the preliminary assessment of the Pensions Departments carried out by the Commission revealed that some of the Pensions Departments failed to update their databases with the outcome of such exercises.

“Although verification are carried out yearly by most Pension Departments, the incessant complaints of non-payment, shortpayment and non-harmonisation of pensions benefits had continued to inundate the Commission, which is indicative of the ineffectiveness of these exercises.”

“Preliminary assessment of the Pension Departments carried out by the Commission in 2010 showed that some Departments had no proper archiving system in place, especially the Civil Service and Police Pensions Departments. Retrieval of pensioners’ files when needed was an arduous task. Most of the Pensions Departments do not have biometric database of their pensioners.

“The pension payment arrangement for Parastatals pensioners involved payments from the Budget Office (BOF) to insurance firms, which in turn released such funds to the Board of Trustees (BoTs) of the parastatals for onward payment to the pensioners. The scheme, has so far, faced serious implementation challenges, including insufficient funding, diversion of pension funds by the insurance companies, inadequate documentation maintained by the BoTs and consequently, lack of accountability.”

Niger opens account for claims payment

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From left: Treasurer, Mr Rotimi Edu, President; Laide Osijo and Acting Executive Secretary, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Mrs Elizabeth Kolawole, at a press conference in Lagos.

Anxiety as brokers embark on reforms

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ROKERS that do not have the statutory requirements are in for hard times as the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance brokers (NCRIB) has embarked on reforms to sanitise the sector.

Some of the brokers have, over the years, operated without adhering to the provisions of the law. This, the NCRIB said, will no longer be tolerated as it would weed out charlatans.

President, NCRIB, Mrs Laide Osijo, told The Nation that the council has adopted some measures to ensure that only professionals operate in the sub-sector. She noted that the council is working with the National Insurance Commission to ensure that brokers obey the law.

She said: “In view of the need to affirm the provisions of the NCRIB Act on registration of insurance brokers and eliminate the existence of charlatans from insurance broking, NAICOM has continued

to play complementary roles with the NCRIB in this area.

“The commission has forwarded a circular to brokers operating with NAICOM licence, but without NCRIB registration certificates, to normalise their records with the council, immediately,” she said.

She said the council has also sent circulars to all those affected to comply with the directive, adding that it would publish the names of its members in some national dailies, in adherence to the law.

“The position of the law is that enlistment of an insurance broker with the NCRIB is a condition precedent to licensing by NAICOM, but regrettably, some companies have brazenly flouted this provision for quite some time,” she stated.

Mrs Osijo noted that in consonance with the need to affirm and take advantage of Section Five

and Six of the NCRIB Act, the council will be embarking on the re-certification of its associate members, adding that it is also considering the creation of a window of opportunities for members to raise their status.

She said the council has also intensified efforts to resolve the row between brokers and underwriters generated by commission on group life. She noted that the leadership of both bodies are discussing the issue. She said the industry’s regulator is also playing a role in the issue.

“The issue of reduction of commission accruing to brokers on group life policies has for some time generated some unease between the underwriters and brokers. I am delighted to note that the leadership of the NIA and NCRIB are discussing the issue, with a view to arriving at a point of consensus, for the benefit of the entire industry,” she said.

UBA Metropolitan micro-insurance for MSMEs

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HE Executive Director, Business Development, UBA Metropolitan Life, Henry Ationu, has said the company has packaged a micro-insurance product to assist Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

He said this while presenting claims cheque to the Managing

Director Chief Executive Officer of Susu Microfinance Bank, Mr Ayo Adeonipekun in Lagos.

He noted that the company is committed to prompt claims payment and development of customised products for the MSMEs market.

Adeonipekun, who collected the cheque on behalf of the ben-

eficiary, thanked UBA Metropolitan for living up to its traditional obligation of paying genuine claims within 48 hours, saying the practice is unprecedented.

UBA Metropolitan has developed customised insurance services with competitive advantage for micro, small and medium enterprises.

IGER Insurance Plc has opened a special account for claims administration and settlement to curb delays, its Managing Director, Justus Uranta, has said.

Uranta, who spoke at the company’s yearly management conference in Lagos, said the delay in payment of claims has been of great concern to the company, adding that a dedicated account for that purpose has been opened for it.

He said the settlement of claims and commission remain the best strategy for business generation.

He noted that the company hopes to underwrite N20billion premium this year.

He said having reviewed the internal capacities of the company vis-à-vis opportunities in the economy achieving the feat is possible.

He said 10 years ago, the company introduced agency and life, areas which have helped to transform its operations.

However, the company’s retail business has not been successful, adding that efforts have been made to revitalise it as a new model has been put in place to drive it. He said regional and branch managers would be appraised on their abilities to meet the company’s expectations on retail agency business.

He said the firm will abide by regulatory rules, adding that any officer, who incurs penalties for the company will be disciplined.

He said: “Corporate governance has become a global issue because of its effect on operations of firms. It focuses on the adherence to ethical standards and best practices for stakeholders. To this end, the legal environment of our business is fast changing with several regulations coming into force from the financial sector regulatory bodies.

“Which all companies are expected to comply with fully and timely. It would be very unfortunate if Niger Insurance is listed among those companies facing penalties for infractions. Consequently, officers whose act of omission and commission incurs penalties for the company would be held personal liable and made to face disciplinary actions as a result.”

He noted that as part of the company’s on-going re-engineering, it has acquired a new software programme called turnquest to boost service delivery.

“In order for us to effectively benefit from this investment, extra funds have been approved which would, among other things, enable the software’s connection to re-gional and branch offices thereby effectively linking their operations with the head office,” he added.

He said the software would afford real-time responses to request from or to the head office and greatly improve on the quality of the company’s customer service.

Workshop for non-insurers coming

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WORKSHOP for non-insurance professionals will hold from April 25 to 27 in

Lagos.

A statement by the Managing Partner, SOA Communication Bureau, Dr. Sunday Ajai, said effective training is important for insurance to boost individual’s performance, sharpens organisational’ competitive edge and assists with regulatory compliance activity.

He said: “We have reviewed the recent happenings in insurance industry and we came to the conclusion that there is a need to orientate and polish non-insurance professional staff and blend them together with insurance profession-

als for the success of the industry.

The workshop is, therefore, based on the principles of International Public Relations Education, set out in the IPRA Gold paper seven. The core objective of the workshop is to sharpen the understanding of the participants not only of their functions, but, also of others and expectations from one another, based on the realm of strategic management for the whole organisation.”

He said participants are expected from human resources department; corporate affairs/communication or public relations departments, marketing department and finance/account and audit departments.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

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EDITORIAL/OPINION EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

COMMENT

Do you need that test?

The coming floods •238 days of ‘heavy’ rainfall in Lagos in 2012 seem far-fetched; but Lagosians should be prepared

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HE Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has predicted 238 days of heavy rainfall in Lagos this rainy season. Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, and his information and strategy counterpart, Mr. Aderemi Aderogba, advised Lagosians to get ready for 238 days of heavy rainfall as predicted by NIMET. They advised that, although the figures were not from the government directly, people should not ignore such a forecast so as to prevent a recurrence of the July 2011disaster. They added that the figure of 238 was a cumulative total of rainfall that had already occurred between January and March, as well as that expected between now and the end of the year.

Our initial reaction to this meteorological prediction is to query its scientific basis. Scientific predictions are made on the basis of hypothesis, observation, experiment or test followed by deductions from specific experiments. Of course, the experiments must have been repeated many times to minimise anomalies or

‘All said, however, what is important is that people prepare themselves for a heavy downpour this year. While the state government should do its bit to ameliorate the situation when the rains eventually come, residents too must be ready to keep the drainage channels free of encumbrances’

contradictions. All of these require robust scientific minds and methods, flawless equipment and gathering of accurate data from unbiased and untainted observations and experiments, logical insights, good scientific explanation and, above all, deductive connections between the explanation of the meteorologist and his prediction.

Although this may be said to be rigorous a demand for meteorological prediction, but as a scientific enterprise it needs to conform to some necessary aspects of scientific explanation and prediction, otherwise we would not be in a position to know the difference between the prediction of our meteorologist and that of a soothsayer.

What we are saying is that it is difficult to provide any justification for 238 days of heavy rainfall in Lagos for one year of 365 days, leaving only 127 days of no rain or light rainfall. It would appear to us that 238 days of heavy rainfall, some of which must occur on a daily basis, would lead to such a catastrophe that is better imagined. Let us now assume that out of these 238 days, Lagos State had experienced 10 days of heavy rainfall till today, which is unusual before the rainy season begins fully say, in May or June.

By the time we have this kind of unusual heavy rainfall for the remaining 228 days (238-10) in the year, excluding the dry season which begins in December, the entire Lagos would be a sorry sight.

Now, the purpose of prediction – a sound and reliable prediction as opposed to soothsaying – is to provide us with a

guide of life. In this connection, a false or unreliable prediction is dangerous for its misleading value. Lagosians have been asked to take the meteorological prediction of 238 days of heavy rainfall seriously. Already, some are skeptical about this prodigy of prediction while some would take it as coming from scientific experts whose advice is backed by explanation with predictive import and predictive power bordering on high probability of 90-99%.

This prediction is very much unlike the predictions about the weather in Europe and America that are almost always reliable because they have the equipment and scientific intelligence to make such predictions. Here we cannot boast of same. We tried to get a satellite to help us in this area, it was a mission impossible.

We have got another recently, but it has not helped us in weather forecasts such as would have provided us with authentic information about rainfall expectations in Lagos and other major cities in Nigeria.

All said, however, what is important is that people prepare themselves for a heavy downpour this year. While the state government should do its bit to ameliorate the situation when the rains eventually come, residents too must be ready to keep the drainage channels free of encumbrances. Much investment has gone into preparations for a flood-free Lagos, but this would amount to naught if the people do not change their attitude about environmental sanitation and the environment generally.

Rapists or robbers?

•Whether they were raped or robbed, the trauma was too much for the affected pupils

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HE cruelty of armed robbers on humanity was again underscored by the alleged raping of some of the 42 students of the Holy Rosary College, Enugu, Enugu State, around the Oke-Odo end of Sagamu-Benin Expressway, Ijebu-East Local Government Area of Ogun State, by the same bandits who robbed them. The students were travelling to Lagos in a bus belonging to Ekene Dili Chukwu Transport Company to reunite with their parents for the Easter break when the incident occurred.

Their problem began when, midway into the journey, their bus developed a mechanical fault which proved intractable to fix. Another bus sent to take them to Lagos got there late in the evening but still went ahead with the journey. At around 11.40pm, gun-wielding robbers intercepted them, ordering all passengers on board to disembark, lie down or risk losing their lives.

Reports showed that 17 students were being ransacked outside the bus when the robbers drove the other 25 girls far into the bush where they were allegedly raped. The students were also dispossessed of cash, GSM handsets and other valuables.

The initial response of the Nigeria Police Force regarding its denial of rape while confirming robbery is unsatisfactory. We note the latter denial too by the transport company involved concerning the rape angle. What both the police and the company appear not to appreciate is the culture of the people

where they are operating. In this clime, it is usually very rare to see a rape victim come out publicly to report such because of the challenges of stigmatisation that come with such declaration. Our advice on this note is that the parents should take their children to the appropriate hospitals for adequate medical attention. In addition, they need all the counselling they can get to relieve them of the trauma from their ordeal.

This taken, we have to also add that this incident should not be used as excuse to return road blocks that were recently abolished by Mohammed Abubakar, the Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), to our highways. We welcome the decision that state police commands should commence forthwith, robust motorised patrols of federal highways within their jurisdiction, to ensure safety of road users. We agree with the IGP that Nigerians travelling on the highways must have confidence about their safety with evidently effective police patrols.

In addition, there must be provision of effective communication system that should include availability of working dedicated lines and large procurement of walkie-talkies for usage by security personnel monitoring our roads. When these are added to improved police intelligence gathering across the country, effectiveness at police outputs on the highways and other areas across the country will be boosted.

But transport companies in the country must also place high premium on human lives. It is not enough to collect money

from passengers; their safety should also be priority. This is not about any particular transport company. The truth is that most of them do not know that the contract has not been concluded until their passengers are dropped at the destinations for which they paid. Many people prefer established names in the transport business for their travels because of the value-added services they are expected to provide to make their passengers enjoy their trips.

We are happy that some suspects, including Oni Olopari, Innocent Omule, Gbenga Adebayo and Samuel Luca have been arrested. We would be happier though if they are made to face the full wrath of the law. The incident was a dastardly act that should be condemned in its entirety by all decent human beings.

‘But transport companies in the country must also place high premium on human lives. It is not enough to collect money from passengers; their safety should also be priority.

This is not about any particular transport company.

The truth is that most of them do not know that the contract has not been concluded until their passengers are dropped at the destinations for which they paid’

I

F health care costs are ever to be brought under control, the nation’s doctors will have to play a leading role in eliminating unnecessary

treatments. By some estimates, hundreds of billions of dollars are wasted this way every year. So it is highly encouraging that nine major physicians’ groups have identified 45 tests and procedures (five for each specialty) that are commonly used but have no proven benefit for many patients and sometimes cause more harm than good.

Many patients will be surprised at the tests and treatments that these expert groups now question.

They include, for example, annual electrocardiograms for low-risk patients and routine chest X-rays for ambulatory patients in advance of surgery.

The doctors were prodded into action by a conscience-provoking article by Dr. Howard Brody, director of an institute that explores ethical issues in health care, published in The New England Journal of Medicine in early 2010. Dr. Brody criticized the performance of medical groups during the health care debates, saying they were too concerned about protecting doctors’ incomes while refusing to contemplate measures (beyond malpractice reform) to reduce health care costs.

He urged each specialty society, using rigorous scientific approaches, to develop “top five” lists of tests and treatments whose elimination for major categories of patients would save the most money quickly “without depriving any patient of meaningful medical benefit.” A foundation established by the American Board of Internal Medicine financed a successful test of the approach in three primary care specialties and then encouraged a broad range of specialty groups to develop their own lists.

The first nine, including cardiology, oncology, radiology and primary care, issued “top five” lists last Wednesday. Among items on those lists are: cardiac stress tests for annual checkups in asymptomatic patients; brain imaging scans after fainting; antibiotics for uncomplicated sinus infections that are almost always caused by viruses, which are not treatable with antibiotics; imaging of the lower spine within the first six weeks after suffering back pain; and bone scans for early prostate and breast cancer patients at low risk of metastasis.

The societies developed the lists after months of analyses and reviews of the medical literature by expert committees. In some cases, the groups showed admirable statesmanship by proposing cuts that would affect their incomes, as when radiologists proposed limits on various tests they perform and gastroenterologists proposed limits on the frequency of colonoscopies.

Eight additional societies will release their lists next fall, expanding the campaign to cut waste more broadly through the health care system. Ultimately, the societies ought to develop top 10, 20 or 50 lists if there is enough evidence to make that possible.

Patients must take responsibility as well. They must discipline themselves not to request care of little or no value. To help patients make informed decisions, Consumer Reports is developing more-accessible versions of the lists and will join other organizations in disseminating them.

Patients with comprehensive health insurance may not care much if needless tests are performed. But if health care costs continue to soar, patients will be shouldering more of the financial burden. And there can be serious health consequences from unnecessary treatment, including excess radiation, adverse drug effects, exposure to germs in medical institutions and even exploratory surgery or biopsies when scans produce a false positive.

Eliminating needless care is not rationing. It is sound medicine and sound economics.

– New York Times

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Kunle Fagbemi •Editor, Online Lekan Otufodunrin •Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli •Managing Editor Waheed Odusile

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

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EDITORIAL/OPINION

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IR: When a man clears a path of the road leading to honour and recognition with sharpened implements of deliberate and decisive actions that stand as epochs for all to see, history and posterity cannot but pay him his due. In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, there is really no history but the biographies of great men’.

One of the very many virtues the Asiwaju possessed that made his administration of Lagos state one par excellence was his unflinching belief in revenue generation as against revenue allocation. At a time when most of his peers were indolently bootlicking and sycophanting their ways to higher state allocations and most probably downing the same into a few private pockets to the asphyxiation of their states and polity, Bola Tinubu and his team of seasoned technocrats were busy brainstorming on ways and means of bettering the lot of their finances, and succeed they did. It is therefore not surprising that all this was possible even in the days of his heightened local government feud with the then president, Olusegun Obasanjo, which culminated in the withholding of his state allocations for months, and even years on end.

As such, Bola Tinubu and his achievements present an apt lesson in history on this revenue deprivation and deprivation argument, or rather noise.

Detribalized and progressivelyminded as he is, he does not gravitate with the sway of ethnic, religious and class pendulums, as is wont to be the mantra among his cadre and peers in the political and social circles.

Tinubu can only be one of the very few people who could nominate a

EDITOR’S MAIL BAG SEND TYPEWRITTEN, DOUBLE SPACED AND SIGNED CONTRIBUTIONS, LETTERS AND REJOINDERS OF NOT MORE THAN 1000 WORDS TO THE EDITOR, THE NATION, 27B, FATAI ATERE ROAD, MATORI, LAGOS. E-mail: views@thenationonlineng.com

Asiwaju Tinubu: the apostle of true federalism cook who has consistently served to be honoured. Anyone seeking a proof to his detribalized nature should look no further than taking a casual peek at his cabinet structure and portfolio delegation, which perpetuation is also evident in Babatunde Raji Fashola’s current government as well. For those who use ethnic and religious sentiments as a facade for political thuggery, mischief and idiotic manipulations, Asiuwaju should be well studied as

a lesson in development, tolerance and progress.

His sense of judgement and prediction will forever stand as a major power index and strength which Lagosians and indeed Nigerians will be thankful for, for many developmental years yet unfolded. His choice of Babatunde Fashola as his successor alone, which initially drew the ire and angst of many an ambitious person, has proven to be one of the major and

pivotal decisions that has put the state on economic, social and political wheels, and the destination can be nowhere but the terminus of prosperity, development and well being, and will further etch their names in golden engagements.

The political facet of Lagos state and indeed western Nigeria has seen the metamorphosis of the Asiwaju from the perfectionist administrator to the burgeoning elder statesman and major stakeholder. The

The President’s Asian Tiger dream IR: There is no gainsaying that Nigeria’s leadership is fast losing touch with realities. I refer to the just concluded World Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul, South Korea, where President Jonathan told the Nigerian community that his administration would replicate the Asian Tiger economy before his tenure elapsed.

He also promised that his administration would do everything possible to woo investors into the country while investors would be encouraged to do business in Nigeria.

For those who are not in the know, the term Asian Tigers (South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore) refers to the first group of

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developing countries to successfully transform themselves between the early 1960s and 1990s from economic crawlers to cutting-edge global financial and economic powerhouses. Today, the original Asian Tigers (as new Tigers have emerged in the last one decade) have become substantial global economies on their own with South Korea boasting a GDP of $929 billion; Taiwan $699 billion; Hong Kong$215 billion; and Singapore $182 billion. Combined together, the Asian Tigers boast of an economy worth more than $2 trillion.

It took the Asian Tiger countries decades to achieve their economic and socio-political feats, yet our

president went ahead to tell a stunned international community he wished to do same with barely three years left of his term. It is quite unfortunate that all our leaders do is to talk and talk carelessly abroad without weighing the implication on the nation. In a country where life expectancy is 47 years, how does the president intend to raise the mortality bar within three years to 72 years which the Asian Tigers enjoy in abundance? Nigeria is solely dependent on oil and for more than four decades, she has not been able to transform the nation into a developed giant, yet the president wishes to replicate what happened in the Asian Tiger countries.

Coup d’etat is an all-time crime

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IR: Turkey has started the trial of two surviving leaders of the bloody 1980 coup. These are retired General Kenan Evren and former Air Force Commander Tahsin Sahinkaya. Due to poor health, 94-year-old Evren and 86year-old Sahinkaya testified before Ankara’s 12th High Criminal Court in their homes, via videoconferencing.

Why Criminal Court? Criminal Court because it is a crime to terminate a legally constituted government. To hijack power is worse than hijacking material goods that can be restored. Robbery is criminal and robbing people of

spreading of the tentacles of the dominant party, the Action Congress of Nigeria from a one state party to a five-or-more one owes its current status to none other than the ingenuity and doggedness of the Asiwaju, who by the way more that deserves that title reserved strictly for illustrious sons of Western Nigeria. The fact that the party even made an inroad to the Senate to the point of achieving the Minority Leader position is one that should be appreciated and recognized.

That the North Central and North East also domicile the extensions of the ACN is also no less worthy of note and mention.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a man deserving of double honour from all indications, and get it he has, and will continue to.

• Ike Willie Nwobu Lagos

their mandate should not be viewed as a lesser crime.

Over 500 people, including representatives of political parties, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and people from different political groups, have applied to become co-plaintiffs in the coupists’ trial, claiming that they were victimized and traumatized by the coup. Among them are Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). People are still enraged that the coup did more havoc than good to the country.

The coup, which brought to

power Evren, Sahinkaya and three other army generals that are no longer alive, involved the execution of nearly 50 and the arrest of thousands of activists, as well as stripping hundreds of individuals of their citizenship and sending them into exile. Turkish jails at the time were hugely notorious for torturing ‘dissidents’. Like the trademark of all military rules, Turks were intimidated, humiliated and demeaned under their reign of terror.

In January, when the two generals were indicted, Turkey’s Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, acknowledged that coups are a thing

of the past; he nonetheless insisted that the trial is necessary to serve as deterrent to other prospective democracy-terminators in Turkey and in the third-world where corruption is a major deficit of democracy.

Where a security officer’s ambition led him and his partners to hijack the rule of a nation and seize the mandate of the people, the law should not only frown at this, there should be criminal case against the perpetrators, either now or in future.

• Olufemi Oyedele Lagos

A country where one can hardly find state of the art roads and efficient transportation system; where cheap but qualitative education is a rarity; where there is a dearth of efficient work force dedicated to the development of the nation; In a country where corruption is a norm and celebrated even in the house of the Lord is not a country that can go the way of the Asian Tigers within three years. If the Asian Tigers rode on the ‘goodluck’ train, there would be no Asian Tiger miracle to celebrate. A country whose ruling party does nothing but share money at the centre and middle, without any clue on how to make the country one of envy and pride cannot replicate another nation’s economic success story.

We do not need the success stories of some Asian Tigers or Asian Zebras to transform our country.

We know what to do and should do it. Nigeria should begin a process of re-orientation where every citizen puts his loyalty first to the nation before family, friends and political feudal lords. If we all see Nigeria as one without bias or sentiments, then Nigeria would be our priority for greatness. If it is only oil our leaders have to transform Nigeria, let them begin using it to bring about development and social justice, while the big brother status we claim to be would always be the envy of others.

• Raheem Oluwafunminiyi Ibadan, Oyo State

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

EDITORIAL/OPINION

Course failures NOT students fault; MTN scholarships ‘good’, MTN Science Centres ‘better’; FRSC

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EMEMBER to tell all females p l a n n i n g conception to take one table of folic acid/day.

Citizens should consider the news that 75mg of Tony aspirin is recommended Marinho to help prevent some cancers and heart complications. Check the web and ask your doctor first before starting aspirin to prevent stomach ulcers and bleeding.

Our ‘poor’ legislators rejected CBN Governor’s caution that they were spending 25% of the recurrent budget on ‘self’ by taking N111.24 billion and ‘maliciously’ increasing it to N232.74b - plenty while 70% of the people wallow in poverty!

This is at least N27m and N45m per quarter for each HOR and Senate member respectively. Wow!! As self-inflicted ‘Highest Paid Legislators’ worldwide, can they ethically take up the Nigeria-UK route as the most expensive piece of air-estate/ kilometre, worldwide?

Imagine legislators spending N1.5m on a first class ticket when British MPs travel ‘economy’ and the Belgian Prime Minister rides a bicycle. Laughably, these legislators are investigating high fees in private schools set up as an honest rescue plan to the disastrous education system.

Some private school operators deserve National Awards, not castigation, for their care, concern and action in education.

Nigeria’s education would be a complete failure without private education standards. While there are a few greedy ones, most ‘expensive schools’ often have 100 times the facilities and opportunities available even in Federal Government Colleges, the government tarnished ‘gold’ standard which rely totally on PTA and Old Students Associations for any standards through levies and donations.

So government cannot even claim success even in government colleges. Does the NA membership know how much capital investment in school buildings and content is put in as

prerequisite for government recognition? It is far more than government has in its own pigsty schools. Government refuses to give private schools grants from its ETF and UBE schemes.

Nobody is forced to go to expensive schools just as legislators are not forced to travel first class. Of course arbitrary increases should be resisted by the PTA and even the ordinary economy class is too expensive but over 50 percent is government ‘tax’.

Did past government and the airlines conspire to cheat Nigerians? Let us see the outcome of this exercise –cheaper fares or reparations?

However, let the legislators look at their salaries and allowances first. An ACN, HOR, legislator, Yakubu Balogun, accumulates some of his allowances and salary, in an undisclosed number of months –maybe two months, and gives away N14.7m as scholarships of N25-50,000 each to 341 students. This may be good for scholarship winners but legislators salaries are disgraceful riches for simple national service and more insulting than even the bankers’ bonuses.

The calculation that Nigeria spends N848b/annum on cell phone communications is frightening as most of airtime is ‘hi-hi’ and ‘what are you doing now’. My new slogan is ‘Stop Talking. Start Thinking and Reading!’ So any CSR is a joke compared to the money companies rake in. The ‘get communicated’ revolution is an expensive waste of airtime.

However one of the main beneficiaries, MTN as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, has spent N520m including offered N200,000 scholarships to 45 blind undergraduates.

Good! Let this be a guide to government scholarship schemes.

The physically challenged need a lot, not less, to lead a near normal life. The LGA and states need to use N200,000/student as a budget guideline. This ‘generosity’ does not absolve MTN of the need to build MTN Science Centres like the MTN Science Centre in South Africa. Google it. Maybe Glo or Elisalat will build us a Glo or Etisalat Science Centre instead of making 50 instant millionaires?

This ministry of education’s cancellation/suspension of four courses at the University of Abuja on the NTA News is one shock too many. Is the problem technical, political, personnel,

financial or what? The failure is not the students but a national education system failure. No one should keep students hopes up in courses that do not meet standards but remember government negligently keeps millions of children in ‘abandoned’ schools‘ failing every year. Who will investigate the Ministry of Education, ETF and UBE like the Pension fund?

The Minister rightly said the civil service with its fighting agencies is stifling progress. It takes 5-10 years to get urgent curriculum change like introducing ‘Civic education’ because of in-fighting. The students are victims, being forced to relocate and become second class students for the failures of their teachers and administrators to meet accreditation criteria. Why are accreditation funds and personnel not being made available everywhere? Education is not a struggle or a fight.

It is a movement and common goal. Social science institutions like NISER should investigate the economic cost of this decision. Indeed ‘The Students Rights to Complete an Education Contract’ should be tested in court if NUC and the university fail. This is a clear breach of contract like with the luxury bus breaching it contract with the 42 vulnerable girls which will also be tested in court.

FRSC, wake up to Road Safety, not road security! Road safety is cheap, road security is expensive. Too many particulars and licence issues. Please educate and discipline the dangerous NURTW to ‘Reduce speed’, Road tanker/trailers to ‘Keep Right’, Ogere tanker/trailers to ‘Keep Two Lanes Open’ and luxury buses to ‘Behave Responsibly’. Who will save lives by signposting Nigeria’s potholes? The Police, FERMA or FRSC? Do you hear them fighting for the responsibility?

‘The students are victims, being forced to relocate and become second class students for the failures of their teachers and administrators to meet accreditation criteria’

Easter without Rice

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AST weekend was Easter festival celebrated by Christians all over the world. Easter is a period signalling the end of the 40-day fasting and prayers by Christians. The period is known as Lent in Christendom, a time for penitence when Christians humbly supplicate to God, the Creator.

In contrast, the Easter celebration is a time of joy; that Jesus Christ, the progenitor of the Christian faith, suffered and died on the cross at Calvary in order to redeem mankind from sin. His resurrection, the third day after death, symbolises his triumph over death.

The period of Lent is almost the same with the Muslims’ Ramadan.

There are obvious similarities, the common denominator being the marathon fasting period. But while the Christians observe theirs for 40 days, the Muslims’ is 30 days. Also, while the Christians fast from 12 midnight till 7pm, which is a period of about 19 hours, the Muslims fast from 5am till 7pm or whenever the sun sets, and observe the eating of light meals. These are taken by the Muslims who proceed to eat heavier meals between 3am and 5am to fortify themselves for the abstention from food throughout day time.

For me, there is no difference between Ramadan and Lent. Even the timing or time differential does not confirm any superior value on any of the adherents of the two religions. It is just a matter of custom. In both religions, the sick, the weak and the elderly are exempted from the annual ritual.

Both religions identify the need to

share among adherents, that is, the rich could reach out to the poor.

There is also this feeling and demonstration of commonality.

This is a period when everyone is equal before God or Allah, the Creator. Though the law attempts to preach the same thing, that is, equality before the law, we all know that we live in modern-day ‘Animal Farm’, “where all animals are equal but some are more equal than others.”

Easter is a time of joy and a time of celebration - a time to celebrate the successful completion of the period of Lent. The spiritual benefits and even the health benefits of fasting are enormous, and too elaborate to delve into here.

There is also this unwritten or psychological understanding that whatever request made to God or Allah during this period of selfdenial is bound to receive His blessings. So, naturally, people of the different faiths look up to these periods to purge themselves of past iniquities and prepare for a new life.

Therefore, as Christians celebrated this year’s Easter, although eating and drinking was not the main substance of the celebration, they were an integral part of the celebration. That accounts for the headline of this piece: “Easter without Rice”. It is metaphoric in a sense. It could as well be “Easter with Tears”. This is because many families celebrated this year’s Easter without the usual excitement and enjoyment. The reason is simple.

A great number of Nigerians today are in tears. No matter what class you find yourself, there is something to upset you –

That is how bad things have sunk into in the country. Prices of goods and services are on geometric rise on a daily basis with no adequate response from the government.

economically, socially, politically, security-wise, name it.

Since the beginning of this year, it seems that living in Nigeria has become more excruciating than ever before. It is one hell of a place out there. If you are rich, the number of those crawling and genuflecting before you for some crumbs from your table or some ‘wads’ from your pocket may have doubled if not tripled in the last few months. For the poor, life has become “brutish” and tortuous.

And there seems to be no hiding place any longer. Perhaps, no more shoulders to lean on too.

Remember the “anti-subsidy removal” protests that ushered everybody into the New Year.

Everything was paralysed for almost the whole of January when people were just emerging from the usually expensive Christmas and New Year festivities. The tradition is that you start plotting your graphs for the New Year in January. Some savings could have been made against the school fees, which normally fall due during this period. But because of the crippling strike, which was instigated by the sudden removal of subsidy on petrol, many families were stranded in the villages.

Those in the cities could not access their funds in the banks. Even cash in the ATMs in some banks dried up as there was no prompt replenishment from the vaults. In most cases, most families had to fall back on their savings to survive the situation. Those who were lucky to receive credit lines either from food vendors or friends who loan them cash had to pay back or offset such credit lines as soon as normalcy was restored.

The summary of it is that the New Year strikes worsened an already bad economic situation.

Not only did prices of items – household items, furniture, transportation, health care, in some cases, school fees – hit the

roof, basically, the prices of everything simply jumped up. This has left many a hapless family tottering on the brink of poverty or even extinction.

We all know that in Nigeria, once there is a price hike it never comes down to its previous level, government’s intervention notwithstanding. That is why even when the government reduced the price of petrol from N140 to N97, there was only a marginal adjustment downward in the price of items and goods which had initially gone beyond the ceiling. Talk about shylock businessmen and women. They are abundant in Nigeria and the government has no way to moderate prices.

Why is this so? The environment where the manufacturers of goods and providers of services operate in Nigeria is hazardous, and very unfriendly. Most industries and homes, if not all, now operate more or less on 24-hour diesel or petrol generators to provide electricity.

And come to think of it, diesel does not come cheap. Neither is petrol.

Last week, I bought four drums of diesel for house use for well over N150,000 at N162 per litre. I remember that, nine years ago, a litre of diesel was around N47. The same quantity of diesel I bought last week at that time cost a little bit below N45,000. And come to think of it, we are not producing anything with the diesel or generator but only to illuminate the house at night for a few hours, pump water from privately dug water borehole (not governmentowned), and do some domestic chores.

That is how bad things have sunk into in the country. Prices of goods and services are on geometric rise on a daily basis with no adequate response from the government. And as if to worsen everything, the elements are also not friendly. In the last few weeks,

Dele Agekameh heavy rains and thunder storms have rendered many families homeless. And the rains are just starting. The Lagos State government, through my good friend and brother, Tunji Bello, the commissioner for environment, has told Lagosians to expect heavy rains for 230 days this year with likely catastrophic consequences. This is about the first time any responsible and responsive government is doing that in this country. And residents have been warned to clear the drainage channels in their neighbourhood to avert any untoward situation which might be caused by flood. Not only this, everywhere in the metropolis, you will notice that the state government is actively involved in water channelization and drainage clearance with heavy equipment all over the place.

Where do we go from here? Yet, what I have analysed is only a microcosm of the myriad of problems which may have rendered the last Easter celebration a gloomy one. May Almighty God help us, and help the country.

Amen!

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

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EDITORIAL/OPINION ‘I have watched keenly Tinubu’s political activities since IBB’s transition days. I am of the opinion that there has not been anyone with such tenacity. In terms of politics as service he has become a model; living legend. By the time DAWN is implemented no one would remain in doubt that Southwest Nigeria is ahead progressively. He is a great man. I doff my hat for “Asiwaju Yoruba’”. From Opuene David, Yenagoa

• Jonathan

For Olatunji Dare Re: N2N strikes back. N2N is an amorphous organisation that means nothing to majority of Nigerians save for its few shareholders eking out a living from marketing ‘eewo’ on behalf of its paymasters! Sometimes, every problem looks like a nail when the only weapon you have is a hammer! So, just take the scrimmages as an occupational hazard you are trained to outlive and move on. From Kayode A., Abeokuta You have a big heart to publish this story. I expect N2N to fight back. It is now left to you to prove them wrong. Time to tell it all, no holds bared. From Harris Please, ignore the unprofessional ranting of a “Dapo Thomas”, if he really exists. He chose his pen name right to be a “doubting Thomas” to the facts and the authenticity of your source of information. All paid ghost writers do. I dare say that a thousand Thomases of the colour and language of this doubtful Dapo cannot by this his paid writeup on behalf of those in N2N demean your well researched piece on those he claims to have “(un)impeachable reputation and integrity”. We all know better that those media houses who planted the write-up on the internet have neither good reputation nor integrity. Dapo (if you exist), the ball is back in your handler’s court where you have chosen to be a ball-boy. Please, await the frank opinions of discerning Nigerians who can read between the lines. Dare, you are blessed.

From Abayomi Oguntoye, Abeokuta My prof., do not waste your precious time on these unserious disgruntled elements that call themselves N2N. It is a shame for our President to be associated with them. Anonymous Re: N2N strikes back. No matter the defence Thomas had to criticise your opinion, he was wrong to have been crude, uncouth, rude and vulgar in the manner he over-personalised the matter! I do not know who told Dapo Thomas that N2N is “well respected organisation”. Dapo Thomas, a Yoruba man, wrote his reply disappointingly.

Prof, mind him and his co-horts not. You are entitled to your opinion and to protect the principle of journalism-information-source.

From Lanre Oseni, Lagos “Dare’s tissues of lies” (comments): N2N is an amorphous outfit, hence, its representations through the so-named Dapo Thomas are filled with garbage; so, nothing sensible to comment on. From Mr. Bayo Folorunsho Dapo Thomas has no right or reason to disparage Dr. Dare the way he did. Societies that revere excellence would pay anything just to have Dare on its side. To borrow a leaf from Thomas’s crude language: no matter how much you have been paid, you will be stupid not to read the ominuous frustration of the people with this government. No one liked Jeremiah but that did not stop his prophesy from manifesting. From Momoh Suleiman, Okene “N2N strikes back” with impudence, more lies and lack of respect for seniority. Professor, please, kindly disregard this educated illiterate. We will be happy when Dapo Thomas goes to court, or rather calls for the story to be retracted. From ADEYCorsim, Osodi, Lagos It is a horror, and a stinking lie for Dapo Thomas to un-ashamedly say Olatunji Dare lied. It is a blatant lie to say N2N is a nonprofit, non-governmental oganisation when

we know it is goverment funded through her cronies. I am one of the people that worked for N2N on the Plateau, today. I regret so deeply to have worked for it. From Dung Gyang, Jos Sometimes, you journalists write and talk as if it is not painful to be scandalised. So, you can see how it is now. Thanks! From Pastor Osigbemhe I. G. Thomas did Professor Dare a real favour. It is a compliment to state that Dare’s name is not new in the Nigeria media circuit... neither is his collumn...both are household names. If I were Olatunji Dare, I would have edited N2N strikes back to suit my purpose.

The sky is the limit for Dapo Thomas as a literary architect though catatonic for now; he will flow in the future. Thomas is a unique writer, one in a million, his principal has made the right choice. From Prof. Kola Keshinro, UNIOSUN

For Segun Gbadegesin Tinubu is a good man; but like all good members of the bourgeois class they always stop at marginal changes that do not tamper with production relations which are behind inequality. What the masses want is a society that will protect them from poverty, not true federalism under the existing neo-colonial capitalist economy. From Amos Ejimonye, Kaduna I have watched keenly Tinubu’s political activities since IBB’s transition days. I am of the opinion that there has not been anyone with such tenacity. In terms of politics as service he has become a model; living legend. By the time DAWN is implemented no one would remain in doubt that Southwest Nigeria is ahead progressively. He is a great man. I doff my hat for “Asiwaju Yoruba”.

From Opuene David, Yenagoa Re: ABAT: A meaningful life. An informative analysis of a scholarly treatise. No doubt, ABAT has lived a meaningful life worthy of emulation and adulation by men desirous of good character, service to humanity, fairplay and objectivity. These are some of the spartan qualities of the living legend Nigeria and Nigerians are united in celebrating this week, irrespective of religious, political, social or ideological differences. That ABAT could pull different shades of men from different strata of the society to his colourful and well-deserved diamond birthday bash lends heavy weight testimony to the fact that he is a titan to trail. Again, I salute the eminent political technocrat, a truly dependable avant garde of the people, the envy of so many rapacious rulers and an ‘afenifere omoluabi omo-oko’ at 60. Enjoy your week like nothing else matters, Jagaban sans frontiers. From Kayode A., Abeokuta ABATinubu is a beacon of democracy, a doyen, a political gladiator, a courageous fighter, above all, a symbol of hope for the hopeless. Happy birthday, sir... From Owoeye A. G. (National Coordinator, The Jagaban Fans Club) Re: ABAT: A meaningful life. I am an ardent admirer of Mr. Gbadegesin. However, his conclusion today that no human can live a saintly life is not the position of the Scrip-

tures. Indeed, that all have sinned is an incontrovertible truth. Romans 3:23. However, God mercifully sent His Son to reverse the condition of our sinful state - 1 Peter 2:24; Romans 4:25. When a sinner turns his back on sin, through repentance and forsakes them, (Isaiah 55:7) he receives forgiveness and stands before God as if he had never sinned 1 John 1:9-10; Isaiah 1:18; Ezekiel 18:3,21 & 24: Mark 1:15. All that is required to live a saintly life is a change from our old sinful life to a new one ( 1 Conrinthians 5:17) obtained through our trust in Christ’s atonement and enthroning Him as Lord. John 3:3-5. Also, 1 Peter 1:16 and Matt.5:48 command us to be holy and perfect. God will not command it if it is unattainable. From John Jimoh, Ijebu-Ode

For Gbenga Omotoso Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has taught us one thing about politics: that with strategic thinking and tenacity, we can do away with PDP’s mal-administration. From Comrade so2 Asiwaju is a formidable democract and indisputable leader who is genuinely and sincerely committed to the socio economic and political improvement of the downtrodden masses of this great country. The most accomplished political colossus; fearless and a tactician legend. May the Almigthy preserve him for the nation. Anonymous O yes! Alagba Bola Ahmed Tinubu deserves the best money can buy. He is a good leader!

Committed, fearless, generous, wise, sociable and unbowed: Democrats like him are rare! I wish we have such an exposed gentleman but rugged politician, in Igboland. From Sir. Sam Chinasa, BNPP State chairman- Ebonyi.

Kudos to you on the thought-provoking message of Asiwaju Tinubu@60. Let Asiwaju beware of sycophants; those on the other side are also our people. From Adesola, Ado/Odo We workers rejoice with Asiwaju Tinubu, but some of his governors appear to be derailing from welfare of workers, especially in Oyo State where the minimum wage is N10,000. From Victor, Oyo Town.

Thanks for your undiluted piece on Senator Tinubu, the pragmatic achiever. I love him.

Keep it up. Anonymous.

Truly, a postscript of Asiwaju Tinubu at 60.

Who knows? intimidation could have led to resignatiion.

From Emman Bazuaye, Benin City.

You captured the whole essence of Bola Tinubu in Nigeria’s political turf acurately He is a man among men, a strategist, very courageous and highly principled and populist. Many other freedom fighters have abandoned the noble cause but Tinubu still stands. Long may he live. From Julivs kayode Ladoja is not as popular as you people think He only enjoyed sympathy during the last election. Ajimobi is the problem. I contested under ACN during the last election but most of us who lost in the election have not been placed politically. The government is empowering our opponents. Ladoja is PDP and PDP is Ladoja. ACN should put its house in order My only fan is the Aviation minister. As for Ngozi, she is only a Nigerian by name. By training, orientation, structure and operation, she is a product and by-product of the West. If they choose to elect her the head of the World

‘Tunji, I always agree with your point of view because you are our modern day ‘Imodoye’. “Owe lesin oro, oro si lesin owe’. Chopping off their manhood can never serve as a good deterrence because the libido will be under cover; how do we know them? Instead, let us put a capital ‘R’ for rapists in their forefront in addition to the castration. The mere sighting of letter ‘R’ will alert you to be careful and plan for the worst. I think that will put a hold on the habit which is now becoming a fashion’

• Tinubu

Bank, what benefit to fellow Nigerians? From Dan Etokidem, Uyo. Mrs Okonjo-Iweala should be asked to sort out the economy of Nigeria before going for the presidency of the World Bank, if she loves Nigeria. From Fakrogha I agree with you that the female members of the ruling class are as corrupt as their male counterparts. The reason is that they are products of the same neo-colonial capitalist economy that has pauperised the majority.

From Amos Ejimonye, Kaduna

For Tunji Adegboyega ‘Chop off their manhood’ is really a pathetic story of young girls that were sexually corrupted by barbaric rapists. It will be good for their manhood to be chopped off, but the issue of vibrant security must be considered. From Adey Corsim, Oshodi, Lagos.

Cutting of their manhood is too lenient; they should each lose a leg, an arm, an earlobe for good measure and identity. They are simply not human. Anonymous.

My brother, on the issue of those who raped the minors, you have indeed spoken well.

Those who looted public funds, I want you to speak well also on them: let us chop off their toes and fingers so as to teach them (names withheld) all a lesson. Thanks. From BJ. Tunji, thanks a lot for your efforts to reform the society through your write-ups. But you amuse me when you talk of shame.

Those involved and many Nigerians don’t have shame in their dictionary. Haven’t you noticed that politicians and other prominent Nigerians facing corruption charges now turn the court room to amusement park. No soberness, no respect for the laws of the land.

They chat heartily to the point of waking those sleeping in the court so as to shake hands with them. As far as they are concerned, those prosecuting them are wasting their time. Even those prosecuting them deliberately bungle their cases to indirectly set them free. You are aware of Intercontinental case. Fela will be turning in the grave. God bless you and your family. The struggle continues. From Ogwo Agwu, Kaduna.

I very much agree with you. If those sons of the devil have no mercy in treating their victims, why should the law have mercy on them? Capital punishment, I agree! It will give evil geniuses a re-think, when they think of any evil. Yes! Anonymous.

Tunji, you broke my ribs most of the time.

May God visit that criminal gang with His wrath. May those rapists never find mercy.

Congrats on your well-deserved promotion.

You have spoken well. From Olumakinde.

I always agree with your point of view because you are our modern day ‘Imodoye’.

“Owe lesin oro, oro si lesin owe’. Chopping off their manhood can never serve as a good deterrence because the libido will be under cover; how do we know them? Instead, let us put a capital ‘R’ for rapists in their forefront in addition to the castration. The mere sighting of letter ‘R’ will alert you to be careful and plan for the worst. I think that will put a hold on the habit which is now becoming a fashion. From Wole Adediran.

Sir, you have spoken well. We need the types of laws in this country to check corruption and many ills. From Adio, M.T. Briga.

I subscribe to your suggestion. Or anybody who sees the rapist during or after the act should kill him straight. Nigerian law is too soft on them. From Sina.

HEALTH

EDUCATION

DEVELOPMENT

Ahmed partners Indian firm

N5b contract for Almajiri schools

Government rehabilitates desert communities

Kwara

Katsina 37

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

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FTER completing the first four phases of training for 609 jobless youths in Bassa, Jos North, Jos East and Jos South local government areas of Plateau State, the Institute of Governance and Social Research (IGSR), in collaboration with the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), has commenced another round of training.

In the latest effort tagged “Peace in Jos: Arresting the cycle of violence,” 300 youths drawn from four local govern-

Yobe

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Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

NGO trains 300 youths in Plateau From Marie-Therese Nanlong, Jos

ment areas are being trained.

For three months, they learnt hair-dressing, barbing, tailoring, computer applications, photography, bead making, catering, shoe-making, GSM repair, art and sign writing, among others.

They also got soft loans to enable them establish their businesses upon graduation.

Speaking in Jos at an entrepreneurship workshop organised to groom the youths for business,

IGSR Coordinator, Peace in Jos Project, Mr. Celestine Ukatu disclosed that a study undertaken

A study showed that 70-80% of the youths in the state are either unemployed or under-employed, making them ready tools in perpetrating violence, hence the self-employment training

by the organisation showed that 70-80% of the youths in the state are either unemployed or under-employed.

Ukatu added that the situation makes the youths ready tools in perpetrating violence, hence the self-employment training which reduces the burden of unemployment.

His words: “From the base•Continued on Page 26

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HE Kaduna State government has started tackling the causes of maternal mortality in the state.

Health workers believe inadequate medical facilities as well as insufficient personnel are causative factors in the mortality of expectant mothers. But they also add that transportation challenges and bad roads equally play a role.

Mike Egboh, National Programme Manager of the Partnership for Transforming Health Systems Phase 2 otherwise referred to as PATHS 2, said these challenges should be tackled quickly in order to reduce the death profile.

Dr. Gafar Alawode, Team Leader for PATHS 2 in Kaduna, is also bothered about maternal mortality in the state.

But the organisation has taken steps to stem the death tide by launching what it called Emergency Transport Scheme for Pregnant Women. The scheme has specially trained drivers and medical personnel.

The wife of the Kaduna State governor, Mrs. Amina Yakowa is the chief driver of the project, having accepted to head its implementation team.

Speaking at the launch of the scheme in Kaduna, she said that the flag-off of the scheme in the state was an innovative mechanism for reducing maternal death.

Mrs Yakowa said the scheme will improve access of expectant mothers to emergency obstetrics care in the state especially in the rural communities where women and children encounter much difficulties in accessing care due to lack of transportation challenges.

She noted that with the introduction of the scheme, expectant mothers will have easy access to health care within and outside their communities.

The governor’s wife stressed that the scheme will complement the efforts of the state government in ensuring that it achieves the Millennium Development Goals in health-related areas.

She appealled to drivers trained to carry out the scheme

•Mrs Amina Yakowa inaugurates the transport scheme of the programme

Kaduna battles maternal mortality Yakowa’s wife launches emergency scheme From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

to take it very seriously to ensure its success.

She promised to personally drive the project.

PATHS 2 National Programme Manager Mike Egboh said at the flag-off that there was no reason Nigerian women should be dying

of pregnancy-related ailments, pointing out that having identified some basic reasons, the emergency transport scheme is aimed at addressing access to quick and effective transportation for expectant mothers.

He lamented that the country has a very high maternal mortality

rate, adding that while Nigeria contributes only two per cent of the world’s population, it accounts for about 10 per cent of maternal mortality.

“This situation is unacceptable,” Egboh said, disclosing that PATHS 2 is spending about N2.3 billion in Kaduna State alone on the reduc-

tion of maternal mortality.

Out of this amount, he said, N1.4 billion has been expended on the procurement of drugs, equipment and training of health workers in the state. He added that health committees have been established in the state aimed at creating awareness.

The outstanding sum of N900 million, he said, will be used to •Continued on Page 26

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

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Kaduna battles maternal mortality •Continued from Page 25 procure and distribute drugs and equipment, adding that the drugs and equipment are expected to arrive the country within the next three months as well as rehabilitate several health facilities in the state.

He said the Emergency Transport Service is aimed addressing the delay in accessing care during obstetrics emergencies such as delay in reaching health facilities due to distance, poor road condition or lack of transportation.

Interestingly, the drivers in the scheme are volunteers, and so are not paid for their services.

This therefore raised the critical question of the survival of the scheme, considering the fact that Nigerians hardly offer free service. But Egboh was confident that it will succeed, saying “the Emergency Transport Scheme has been successfully rolled out since the time of PATH 1 in Jigawa State in 2003.

And because it has worked there, it is currently being implemented across five states with impressive results in terms of its contribution

•They are all part of the programme to maternal mortality reduction.

“It is our sincere hope that the roll-out of this scheme today will also lead to a significant reduction

It is our sincere hope that the roll-out of this scheme today will also lead to a significant reduction in maternal mortality in the states

in maternal mortality in the states,” Egbo said.

He said further that “ according to the 2003 Nigeria demographic and health survey, 30 per cent of Nigerian women cited the problem of getting money for treatment, while 24 per cent cited the problems of accessibility to health facilities and transportation. These factors contribute to the high maternal mortality in Nigeria which ranks second in maternal mortality in the world, second only to India”.

He noted that since inception, PATHS 2, in collaboration with other DFID funded programmes and development partners, has

Institute honours council chief

pointing out that “causes of these avoidable deaths are known and treatment options known as well.

Kaduna state Commissioner for Health, Turaki Kalik said that the scheme was timely because of the high rate of child and maternal mortality in the country which he said has posed serious challenges to successive governments. He noted that getting expectant mothers to the hospital has been a major challenge in the reducing mortality and assured that the state government was ready to partner with development partners to ensure the success of the scheme.

The Zonal Coordinator for the Millennium Development Goals, Hajia Zainab Mohammed noted that health care delivery was a key component of the MDGs of which reducing maternal mortality is apart.

NGO trains 300 youths in Plateau

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IS efforts in conflict resolution and crisis management have earned the Chairman, Transition Committee, Oluyole Local Government, Prince Ayodeji Abass Aleshinloye a fellowship award by the Institute of Certified Professional Managers of Nigeria (ICPM).

The award presentation attracted several dignitaries from all walks of life, including the academia and the professions.

Setting the tone for the event, the president of the ICPM, Mr David Friday Moses, noted that Prince AbassAleshinloye was conferred with the award based on his robust ideas, personality and versatility instincts in conflict resolution, adding that his legendary and pragmatic approach and administrative prowess in crisis management have been exhibited during the flood disaster that occurred in his local council where he single-handedly mobilised youths to rescue lives.

His words: “Today’s awardees are professionals who were selected based on their achievements in their field of endeavors and they have the view of developing the country for bosom economic growth and adding value to human race.

“I want to admonish all the recipients of the awards to improve more in their professional life and apply what they have learnt at the leadership lecture delivered for the upliftment of mankind and they

worked with state ministries of health to improve health planning and financial management, building capacity of health workers, ensuring availability of pro-poor health services as well as procurement and distribution of drugs and medical commodities.

He noted that the success of the scheme depend largely on the collaboration of stakeholders and their determination to make it work. He advocated an increase in health budget to a minimum of 15 percent as agreed to by the Northern state Governors Forum in response to the Abuja declaration and improve budget release for the implementation of the Health Medium Term Sector Strategy.

Gafar Alawode said that it was unacceptable that about 10 women die daily as a result of pregnancy and delivery related conditions,

•Continued from Page 25

•From left: Chairman of Oluyole Local Government, Prince Abass Aleshinloye posing with the President of the Institute of Certified Professional Managers (ICPM), Mr David Moses while receiving a fellowship award from the institute in Lagos Airport Hotel how to cope with leadership chalFrom Bisi Oladele and lenges and this award serves as a Tayo Johnson, Ibadan motivational factor for me. I urged should be a role model for their sub- all the Nigerian youths who is aimordinates in their place of work” ing on achieving this trend, to be paPrince Aleshinloye, in his accept- tient, rugged, have a set plan and beance speech, said that he was hum- lieve in themselves that they can bled by the honour and eulogised to achieve greatness in life.” be part of the recipient for the award.

Other professionals that were honHe said: “It is with a great sense of oured include, Dr Adetunji Haastrup, honour that I accept this humbling a Wisconsin Associate Professor of but yet prestigious award from one Management, Mr Olutayo Olawale, of the reputable professional institu- Former head of Personnel Manager tions in Nigeria. at Cadbury plc, Mrs Akinrinmoye “There was a clause in the invita- Marbel, the Human Resource Mantion letter that was sent to all the ager for Universal Iron rods, Mr awardees that they must attend a stra- Rotimi Akwemerugbu, Director at tegic leadership seminar and the Lagos State Local Government Servseminar has really prepared me on ice Commission among others.

line survey which shows the idleness of the youths, the skills acquisition activity is designed to economically empower out-ofschool youths and engage them productively.

“It is gratifying to note that as part of the impact from the various trainings, many of the graduands are now managers of their businesses and a high level of unemployment among the youths is reduced”.

However, the chairman of the occasion, Mr. Thomas Gofwen who is also the Special Adviser on Non-Governmental Organisations to Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang appealed to the

youths to put the training to good use so that the efforts of the benefactors would not be in vain.

Mr. Dela Saleh of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) sensitised the youths on business; Dr. Sumaye Hamza of the National Poverty Eradication Programme spoke on important factors to be considered before starting a business; Hajia Fati Ibrahim spoke on qualities of a business person and Dr. Ben Pam spoke on drawing up a repayment schedule.

Certificates were given to the youths who participated in the training.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

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EALTH care delivery in Kwara State is set to improve remarkably following the Abdul-Fatah Ahmed administration’s plan to rehabilitate its general hospitals and build new ones.

Governor Ahmed announced the plan to rehabilitate 16 general hospitals in the state as well as construct 150 primary health centres modelled on the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.

The decision came as the governor expressed his administration’s willingness to partner with the Apollo International Hospital, India to improve access to health care in the state.

Ahmed said the proposed rehabilitation work on the hospitals would include the renovation of buildings and provision of cutting edge equipment for each hospital.

He said the first phase of the project involves the recovery and overhaul of the Ilorin general hospital from the University of Ilorin and renovation of Offa, Kaiama, Omu-Aran and Share General Hospitals at the cost of N1.6 billion, adding that the restoration of the remaining 12 hospitals would be carried out in the next three years.

Ahmed also announced plans to construct 150 primary health care centres to ensure that every ward in the state has a health facility in furtherance of his administration’s target of 500 meter access to health care.

The governor stressed that the proposed construction of the 150 primary health care centres reflects his administration’s emphasis on

•Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed inspecting Omu-Aran General Hospital

Kwara partners Indian firm on health From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

improving access to quality health care which he described as critical human capital development component of his shared prosperity programme.

The objective is that every ward

We are moving the School of Midwifery to the site as well as creating a new maternity ward; we want to relieve the pressure on the teaching hospital which should be used mainly for referral services

N

O fewer than 473 persons have graduated from a skill acquisition training in the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT).

Some 137 of the graduates were ex-sex workers.

in this state would have fullystaffed and equipped primary healthcare centres within the next four years.

These primary health centres would then be served by a cluster of general hospitals. Governor Ahmed has flagged off the rehabilitation of five general hospitals across the state.

In addition, the government strengthened healthcare in the state by supplying equipment to all general and specialist hospitals in the state within its first 100 days in office.

Said he: “We are moving the School of Midwifery to the site as well as creating a new maternity ward; we want to relieve the pressure on the teaching hospital which should be used mainly for referral services. With the rehabilitation of the Ilorin, Offa, OmuAran, Share and Kaiama General

Hospital, quality and affordable healthcare will be brought closer to the people.”

Against this background, the state would expend a sum of N1.6billion to rehabilitate and upgrade five hospitals across the three senatorial zones of the state into general hospitals.

The governor added that the UITH and general hospitals in Share, Omu-Aran, Offa and Kaiama have been earmarked for phase one of the rehabilitation with completion periods of 24 weeks for the UITH and six months for the four general hospitals respectively.

The UITH rehabilitation is expected to cost N900m in view of the mass population of people in Ilorin, the state capital.

Speaking further, Governor Ahmed said “with the relocation of UITH to its permanent site at

Oke-Ose, it became necessary to rehabilitate and convert the hospital back to a first-class status to enhance accessible and qualitative healthcare services in the state.”

According to him, the primary healthcare would be strengthened with additional construction of 20 Comprehensive Health Centres which are expected to be serviced by the secondary health centres such as the general hospitals.

The state Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Kayode Issa gave the governor a pat at the back for giving priority attention to qualitative health care services and commended him for recruiting more medical doctors and health personnel in the state.

The state, he said, is expanding its coverage in the areas of community based health insurance scheme, malaria, HIV/AIDS control.

473 graduate from skill acquisition training From Kehinde Ore, Abuja

They all underwent training at the FCT rehabilitation centre for

•Children at the Amusement Park, Ibadan during Easter celebrations

the three months after the FCT administration announced a clamp-down on the activities of commercial sex workers in the

city.

They were given a sum of N100, 000 each as take-off grant and a start-up kit.

They would however be entitled to another N100,000 after six months following a report of good usage of the initial takeoff grant.

According to the Coordinator of Society Against Prostitution and Child Labour in Nigeria (SAP-CLN), Mrs. Grace Adogo whose non-governmental organisation is in charge of the rehabilitation and training explained that the girls at the centre have proved the FCT administration right that they can be role models if properly trained

and given all the necessary support as well as facilities to be on their own.

Mrs. Adogo noted that the centre would continue to provide necessary atmosphere for the rehabilitation and training of commercial sex workers who are ready to be integrated into the larger society advising members of the public to also assist the girls by accepting them back to the society rather than stigmatising them.

FCT Minister who was represented by the Secretary for Education in the FCDA, Kabir Usman expressed optimism that the trainees will make good use of the opportunity given to them.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

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Govt awards N5b contract for Almajiri schools

Borno to partner Songhai on farming

HE Borno State government has said that it planned to partner with the Songhai farms in Benin Republic to build an integrated farm system in the state.

Governor Kashim Shettima disclosed this shortly after leading a high-powered delegation on a visit to the farm in PortoNovo, Benin Republic.

“Our visit has been quite educative, it has really opened our eyes on the vast potentials in Africa.

“We are going back home with lots of sweet memories about the farm, I want to assure that we will initiate formal arrangements to open channel of communication for a partnership once we get home,” Governor Shettima said.

He said the state would send 500 unemployed youths to train in integrated farming to fight restiveness in the state.

Borno “We intend to send 500 youths for training in integrated farm system in a couple of days.

“We intend to cultivate about 20 hectare of land at the Chad Basin through the programme,” he said.

Shettima said that the object its was to fight endemic poverty in the state.

“We want to use the Songhai platform to create jobs for our teeming youths. We want to train and empower them so we can fight extreme poverty that is ravaging our people” he said.

Shettima added that his deputy, Alhaji Zanna Mustapha would lead another delegation including officials of the Chad Basin Development Authorities (CBDA) to finetune arrangements for the partnership.

“The Deputy Governor will lead another delegation including officials of the CBDA to finetune arrangement for the partnership, we are doing this because the CBDA is a federal government agency in charge of the land at the Chad Basin.

“We are already partnering with the agency on reviving agricultural activities in the area, we want to bring them along so we can address all areas of potential conflicts in the proposed partnership with Songhai farm,” he said.

Shettima said that the government was keen at the partnership arrangement with the Songhai farm because of its immense benefit.

“Our target is to build a Songhai farm model in Borno State, so we can provide employment for our youth and boost the economy through the establishment of industries that are components of the model.

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HE Federal Government has awarded N5 billion contract for the construction of Almajiri schools across the country under the second phase of the Almajiri programme.

Vice President Namadi Sambo disclosed this in Katsina at the closing ceremony of the 26th National Quranic Recitation Competition.

Sambo said the first phase of the programme had been completed and would be commissioned in Sokoto by President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said the Federal Government and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) had signed 98 million dollars loan agreement to promote

•Shettima

Foundation donates N10m to Heat forces Jukun students Bauchi residents D Taraba

to sleep outdoors Bauchi

R •Lagos State Commissioner for Rural Development Pastor Cornelius Oyejolu Ojelabi (left) receiving the Humanitarian Service Award (HUSKWA) in his Alausa office from the General Overser, Pillar of Truth Mission Bishop Udoghoreyon Edema .

Council chair donates transformer

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HE Chairman of Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area, (LCDA), Abdulfatai Ayodele Oyesanya, gave former governor of Lagos, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a befitting birthday gift, by putting smile on the faces of the people in his constituency.

Oyesanya last week inaugurated a 500 KVA transformer on Dairo Street, Isheri, Ketu. The facility is to serve the street and other adjoining ones.

He said the transformer which was originally supplied to the council in 2009, was a fulfillment of his electioneering campaign to ensure that every community in the area has regular electricity.

The council chief said: “This is another confirmation of our promises in the political history of this local council development area, to ensure that we bring development to the doorstep of the people. This transformer which is being presented today, which coincides with the birthday of our political mentor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is in furtherance of what our leader stands for. This coincidence is not by accident; it is the essence of democracy.”

He promised that he will ensure that the development spreads evenly and cut across

•Hon Oyesanya inagurating the transformer

By Nneka Nwaneri

entire seven wards of Isheri-Ikosi LCDA. He encouraged the community to pay their rates and tax as the council cannot make any progress with what comes from the federal purse. “When the people play their part, we can bring better and far reaching development to the people,”Oyesanya added.

ESIDENTS of Bauchi, capital of Bauchi State, now sleep outdoors due to the intense hot weather being experienced in the area.

The weather has been extremely hot in the town with temperature rising to over 30 degrees centigrade.

One of the residents,Alhaji Umar Tanimu told newsmen at Gwallaga that the heat had forced the family to be sleeping in the court yard.

He said the heat was unbearable and there was no electricity to operate fans or air conditioning systems.

“The heat is unbearable and there is no electricity supply therefore we are forced to sleep outdoors.

“We learnt that power generation in the country has fallen drastically, so the only alternative is to operate a power generating set, but then, the cost of petrol has also gone up,” he said.

Hajiya Amina Ibrahim, a housewife, said that because of the cost of petrol and lack of constant power supply, the family had resorted to sleeping outdoors due to the inclement weather.

“It is not healthy for us to be sleeping indoors because of the heat and as you know some diseases can

AVID Sabo Kente Foundation has donated N10 million for the revival of Ajikwen Education Trust Fund to enable it render financial assistance to students of Jukun descent.

The Chairman of the foundation, Chief David Kente, announced the donation in Wukari, Taraba State , during the Jukun Youth Cultural Day celebration.

Kente, who was the chairman of the occasion, said education was the “live wire” of every modern society and needed to be supported by all well-meaning citizens.

He advised other Jukun people to “give up fighting wars” in order to attract foreign investments to enhance economic development in the area.

“The Kwararafa Kingdom cannot continue military campaigns and capturing of kingdoms to pay tribute to it as our forefathers did.

“We have to change our priorities in order to cope with the challenges of the current world which is a global village,” he said.

Earlier, Mr Wunuken Ali, the President of Jukun Youth Cultural and Development Association, said it was time to intensify contact with Jukun descendants “spread across 26 states’’ of the country to ensure unity of purpose.

In his remarks, Alhaji Tanko Yankassai, praised Jukun people for preserving their culture.

Yankassai said that Kwararafa Kingdom was among others in Nigeria with very good values that spread all over the country.

The people were dressed in Jukun traditional attires on the occasion.

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the education of almajiris and the girl-child in Nigeria.

Sambo said there were over 9.5 million almajiris in the country who were not participating in the basic school education system.

He said that such children had the right to education like other Nigerians.

“A country must have well educated population to realise its development potentials.

“Islam is against the exploitation of the weak and does not allow for begging as a means of livelihood.’’

In his remarks, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar III, promised that traditional leaders would support government’s policies aimed at ensuring peace and unity.

He urged traditional and religious leaders to always preach the lesson and importance of peaceful co-existence and unity of the nation.

Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State, urged Muslims to live in peace with one another and respect other people’s faith for peace to reign in the country.

Fourteen cars, 34 Keke NAPEP, 14 motorcycles, computers, digital Qurans and freezers, were among the items distributed to winners of various categories who participated in the competition.

Goni Mujitapha Muhammad from Katsina State was the overall winner, while Badiatu Abubakar from Bauchi, emerged overall winner from the female category.

Some dignitaries who attended the occasion included the Emirs of Kano, Katsina, Daura and Zamfara.

The deputy governor of Zamfara, representatives of the governors of Kano, Kaduna, Gombe and Bauchi were also in attendance.

The 27th National Quranic Recitation Competition will be hosted by Zamfara State government in 2013.

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By Oziegbe Okoeki

don’t have to wait till it happens in our various domains. We need to be pro-active. When we heard that it has spread to other states, what we need to do is to educate our people so that they would know how to prevent and fight it, because it will be difficult to manage in the state due to our population,” he said.

The guest speaker at the occasion, Dr. Olugbenga Akinpelu , told the gathering that the rate at which lassa fever spreads is very rapid, and that it is been transmitted through rat or rodents.

He said that its symptom is related to that of malaria of typhoid fever, adding that if not properly treated, it would degenerate into blood gushing out of the victim’s nose and ear.

“Once this is detected, the victim should be isolated from other members of the household to a secluded area where he/she will be treated in order not to infect others”.

He said that the survival chances of victims of lassa fever is 50 per cent, while the mortality rate in pregnant women is 80 per cent and 100 per cent in the case of the unborn child.

The lawmaker advised the people to fight rats in their various communities in order not to get infected with lassa fever. Present at the event were, Dr. Samuel Adejare, member House of Representatives, representing Agege federal constituency, Muda Obasa, member, State House of Assembly representing Agege 1 Constituency, Commissioner for Transport, Kayode Opeifa, Orile-Agege council chief , Taofeek Adaranijo, traditional rulers, Market Men and Women associations, students, among others.

Katsina

Knocks for Katsina over minimum wage

‘Lassa fever can be prevented through awareness’ HE lawmaker representing Agege 2 Constituency at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon.Oluyinka Ogundimu, has said that the best way to prevent the outbreak of the deadly disease, Lassa fever, is by creating awareness through education of the people on the disease.

Ogundimu said this at an awareness campaign he organised for his constituents at the OrileAgege Local Council Development Area’s secretariat.

He said:” Prevention is better than cure. We

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•Chairman, Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area, Hon Hakeem Bamgbola signing the 2012 budget. With him are Vice-Chairman Alhaja Mulikat Ajala and Leader of the House Shina Mustapha

Free medicare for council residents

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HE House of Representatives member representing Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituency II, Hakeem Abiodun Muniru, has launched an healthcare programme aimed at improving the standard of living of his constituents.

Muniru while launching the programme last weekend, stated that it was meant to improve healthcare delivery to his people.

“Health is wealth and we are doing this not only to improve your health but also to bring healthcare delivery to you at your doorsteps,” he said.

According to him, his health improvement programme under the umbrella of Hakeem Abiodun Muniru Constituency Health Care Initiative has begun free screening and treatment of diseases such as: hypertension, diabetes, malaria and other related ailments for the benefit of his constituency.

“The programme will take place for six weekends and we are not only screening the people we are also treating them, providing them with drugs,” he said Muniru said for full coverage of the constituency and for the people to fully enjoy the benefits, the duration was extended to six weekends while five centres have been

By Emmanuel Oladesu

earmarked to host the events for the various communities in the constituency.

For the people of Isolo and environs, venue is the new Osolo palace; it is School Complex, Ejigbo for those living at Ejigbo and adjoining communities; Health Centre, Ogunbowale Street, Ilasamaja hosts the Ilasa people; School Complex, Jakande Estate, Okeafa is for the people living in the estate and other communities while Aliu Ibiyomi Street, Ago Okota hosts the people living in the area.

HE Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has expressed concern over the failure of Katsina State government to implement the N18,000-minimum wage for its members.

In a statement, signed by the state NULGE Chairman, in the state Alhaji Aliyu Haruna, in Katsina, the union called on the government to promptly implement the wage policy for its members.

“We are appealing to the state government to expedite action on the issue to ensure that the implementation takes effect from this April, along with the payment of arrears,’’ the statement said.

It, nonetheless, urged local government workers to remain committed to their duties, adding that the union was striving to ensure that the new salary package was promptly implemented for them.

The statement also urged the workers not to panic over the list of redundant workers that was compiled by the Local Government Service Commission during the recent workers’ verification exercise.

“The union has met with management of the commission and assurance has been given that no worker will be unjustly retrenched,’’ it added.

• Chairman, Mushin Local Government Area, Hon. Olatunde Adepitan (right) presenting a cash donation to the winner of the Governor’s Cup in the Banterweight Category of the Boxing Competion, Mr. Taiwo Agbaje With them are the Supervisor for Agric, Rural and Social Development Hon. Jide Lukman(left) and the HOD, Alhaji Sakirudeen Omotayo

Sokoto prioritises agric

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HE Sokoto State government has introduced “vibrant policies” to develop the agriculture sector in the state.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr Jabbi Kilgore, said this in Sokoto in an interview with journalists.

He said: “The ministry is working toward tapping available human and mineral resources in the state to move the sector forward”.

Kilgore added that the measure was to ensure massive food production for local consumption and export.

The commissioner said the ministry had

already taken measures to provide modern farming inputs at government-subsidised price for sale to farmers.

He said 150 tractors had been distributed to medium and large-scale farmers on loan basis while fertilisers were provided for both rainy and dry season farming.

“The state government wants to modernise farming methods and attract participation of people in the sector.

“The government will bear the cost of transporting all the essential commodities to the wards level for the benefit of our teeming farmers.”

‘lmbibe enviable values’ IGERIANS have been advised to imbibe values such as hardwork, accountability, honesty, integrity as that remains the panacea to the myriad of problems bedevilling the nation.

This appeal was made by Chief Tombare Krukrubo, a retired Permanent Secretary and a life member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered) when a team from the institute led by the President and Chairman of Council, Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole, paid him a courtesy visit recently under the NIM’s We Care programme.

Chief Krukrubo who said that he was elated and honoured to be visited by the President and Chairman of council, urged Dr. Olawale-Cole to continue preaching the ideals and tenets of professional management as he has always done since assuming office as head of the institute,saying that leadership and governance have been the bane of the nation’s development since independence.

Speaking earlier, Dr. Olawale-Cole told Krukrubo that apart from being the oldest member of the institute in the South South zone, the delegation also decided to visit him at his country home at Port Harcourt during its South South zonal visit due to the previous services he rendered to the institute over the years and to inform him of the recent developments at the institute.

He added that the professional institute with over 150,000 and 300 individual and corporate

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By Nneka Nwaneri

members celebrated its 50th anniversary last year with an elaborate week-long activities.

According to him, the institute launched a new logo; two books (Jubilee Book and Journey So Far) and NIM commemorative postage stamps sponsored by the Nigerian Postal Services during the event Dr. Olawale-Cole, who revealed that the institute has been contributing to nation building through professional management, capacity building, consulting, re-engineering and human capital development, also volunteered that the Institute signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Armed Forces Command and Staff College in the area of professional management training recently.

“More recently, the institute has been actively involved in public policy advocacy by addressing burning and contemporary issues of national importance in its ‘Managing Nigeria Series’ under the auspices of NIM Academy of Corporate Management. In the recent past, we have looked critically and in-depth at the issues of subsidy removal, national security and 2012 national budget”, he said. “We submitted the report on subsidy removal and national security to the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to help it in resolving the knotty issues which have engaged the nation’s attention for some time now.

Church marks fifth anniversary

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HE Redeemed Christian Church of God, King of Glory Parish Olive Area Zone 3, Lagos Provinces 8, will celebrate its fifth anniversary at 470 Ikorodu Road, Ketu Bus Stop, Ketu, Lagos on Sunday, April 22 .The time is at 8am and 5.30pm. It has as its theme: In your presence Oh Lord.

Speaking on the event, the chairman, Planning Committee, Brother Chijioke Ijezie said: We are celebrating our fifth

year of opening and planting the church here in Ketu Church Community in the year 2007 by Olive Area of RCCG Province 8, Ogudu.

Activities lined up include crusade, thanksgiving service and grand finale tagged Supper Anniversary Service by the host, Pastor Uche. Other events of the anniversary include performance by guest artistes and a breakthrough crusade.

•From left: Dr. Nelson Uwaga, Deputy President, Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered); Chief Krukrubo and Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole, President and Chairman of Council when the institute paid Krukrubo a visit .

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

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Text only: 08023058761

Repackaging Owanbe for all

Connecting Africa and the Mediterranean

– Page 30

– Page 32

Former World Boxing Champion Evander Holyfield was among top Africans in Diaspora, who visited Lagos, during this year's Black Heritage Festival. The famous Gberefun Point of No Return on the slave route and the aquatic splendour of Badagry are his favourite attractions, reports Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME.

Holyfield cruises on Badagry water

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IS visit was unexpected. It was an early morning event on March 31, devoid of any form of protocol or security details. On that day, the five-time former World Boxing Champion, Evander Holyfield, breezed into the ancient town of Badagry without fanfare. Yet, it turned into a historic 'home-coming' for the Alabama, United States-born retired pugilist. He was in the country to reconnect with his African roots and the possibility of investing in the country's tourism industry. To have a real feel of Badagry, Holyfield in company of his hosts, went on a boat cruise on the Badagry water ways.

The visit of the boxer was courtesy of the invitation from President of Zomachi Arts, Culture and Tourism, Prince Yomi Ajose.

It was in this private arrangement that the former World Champion, who was in company of Alfred Nixon, President of Trans-Atlantic Group; Yomi Ajose, Managing Director, O2,Hi-Lander, Laide Osoba (an entertainment joint in Badagry), among others, sneaked into the palace of De Wheno Aholu Menu Toyi 1, Akran of Badagry.

Exchanging pleasantries with His Royal Highness, Holyfield expressed his happiness meeting the Akran for the first time ever, saying: "It is a pleasure meeting Your Royal Majesty, sir."

In return, the Monarch, who was also excited playing host to the famous former World Boxing Champion, welcomed him to his kingdom.

"You are welcome to Badagry, the ancestral home of the blacks in Diaspora. You are free to invest in tourism potentials here in the ancient town," he said.

The Black American also sought the royal blessing from Akran before embarking on a boat cruise of the Lagoon.

Speaking on Holyfield's mission to Badagry, Yomi Ajose whose organisation, Zomachi Arts, Culture and Tourism have been at the vanguard of projects like Badagry Slave Route and the $3.8billion Historical Resort, revealed that the former champion was in town to re-connect. Organisers of the visit also disclosed that the retired boxer was in town to see how he could invest in the rich tourism potential of Badagry.

Little wonder the pugilist undertook a tour of Badagry Water Ways with the aid of a speed boat supplied by the management of 02 Hi-Lander. On his return from the boat cruise, Holyfield was said to have expressed surprise about the gift of nature where visitors can breathe in fresh cool breeze.

•Holyfield (in blue life jacket) discussing with Mr Ajose, during a boat cruise on Badagry water ways.

•Holyfield and Osoba refreshing at Hi-Lander during the visit Chief Executive Officer of 02 Hi-Lander, Mr Laide Osoba, recalled that while the boxer was refreshing at the entertainment joint, he was stunned by the conducive environment existing along the water front for tourism development.

"The man sat down looking towards Gbarefun Point of No Return and marvelled at the gift of nature, which God has

given to the people of Badagry," he said.

Holyfield's visit would not be the first and the last of the series of trips made by Blacks in Diaspora to the ancient town of Badagry of recent.

Interestingly, the organisers of the visits, which include the Black Mayors are conscious of the enormous advantages it would offer tourism development in the area.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

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• From left: Lagos State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Mr Ade Ipaye; his Transportation counterpart, Comrade Kayode Opeifa; SSG, Mrs Oluranti Adebule and Mrs Ipaye at a social function in Lagos

Four years after Governor Babatunde Fashola signed into law a bill banning the blocking of roads for social or commercial activities in Lagos State, organisers of the popular Yoruba Owanbe, which often holds on the streets, are exploring alternative modes of celebrating with their loved ones, reports ASSISTANT EDITOR (ARTS) OZOLUA UHAKHEME.

Repackaging Owanbe for all

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N Lagos, it was common place every weekend to find some streets or roads closed. It was also common to find hundreds of plastic chairs, tables and canopies of different shapes and colours as well as heaps of waste from food and drinks littering the streets. Sound pollution from musicians, who performed on the streets to the detriment of other road users, was common too. That was before May 2008, when street parties were banned in the state.

Today, all that has changed.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State on May 12, 2008 signed into law a bill banning the blocking of roads for social or commercial activities in any part of the state.

The law, entitled: Bill on Commercial Activities and Prohibition of Obstruction of Traffic, makes it an offence for any person or group to obstruct traffic on any road in the state as a result of social or commercial activities.

By the provision of the law, anybody who obstructs a law enforcement agent of the state while enforcing compliance to this law will be liable to six-month jail term, with an option of fine of N10, 000 or both.

But, remember the old song 'Satide la ti n patibaba l’Eko/Ojo Sunday la fi n moti aye/ Laroo Monday, Eko o ni gba igbakugba o' by the late Afro-beat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti? Street party culture of Lagos is the subject of that song, which translates to "On Saturday, we erect tents for street parties in Lagos/Sunday is for drinking/Monday is the no nonsense day in Lagos."

Even Fela, when crafting the song never anticipated the open display of opulent affluence occasioned by sudden wealth from the oil boom in Nigeria. The Sowambe party, which is described as a symptom, but not a cause of a moral meltdown in the Southwest region, came with its own performance culture, its music and its aesthetics.

The Sowambe music operates on "bottom power." The term comes from a question, Bebe idi, Sowambe? (Beaded waistband? Is it there?) This is a rhetorical question

LIFESTYLE around which the male and female dancers weaved their body dialogue in street party dances, sometimes with erotic twists.

According to US-based Nigerian scholar, Moyo Okediji, the passing of the anti-Sowanbe law against the throwing of street parties marks the beginning of the end of an era. He said Yoruba people enjoy lavish celebrations and they mark and celebrate the rites of passage along the cycle of life, namely birth, marriage and death.

Okediji noted that the ban on street parties in Lagos has some benefits as it prohibits those hosting parties from blocking the streets with their tents, which range from small canopies for about 20 people, to enormous structures constructed to accommodate hundreds of partiers. "Because streets are not blocked to stage these parties, the ban contributes to a better flow of traffic throughout the nation, from the north to the coast. Motorists no longer have to face the frustration of aggravated traffic chaos that plagued the city resulting from street partying.

"Because the parties are restricted indoor, the ban probably reduces the stress from noise pollution and from blasting music into the open air. The environmental benefits of such reduction of stress are mental and psychological. But they contribute to a decent image for an international city of the calibre of Lagos."

Apart from the environmental nuisance created by street partying, he said the lack of a street venue to openly display ill-gotten wealth may discourage greed and corruption. This, he stressed, might encourage the relocation of the street parties away from Lagos, to hospitable metropolitan centres in the Yoruba provinces. "Were Fela to wake up today from the grave, he would be surprised that the streets of Lagos are no longer clogged with party tents during the

•Adamu

weekends," he added.

Expectedly, since the passage of the law, new event centres have emerged in Lagos. They include Balmoral, Kingsize (both on Oregun Road), Regence on Adeniyi Jones, Expo Hall of Eko Hotel and Suites Victoria Island, Blue Roof, Time Square and The Havens.

Their rates range from N5,000 to N10,000 per hour on weekends depending on the class of centre.

Chief Executive Officer of an Oregun-based event centre, Balmoral, Mr Ezekiel Adamu, said the ban on street parties is not a plus per se, but an added lift for the services offered Nigerians. He recalled that holding parties on the streets did not portray Nigerians in good light because many road users are not only denied free access, but molested by street urchins.

“The use of event centres has made parties convenient and comfortable for all. Things are now done in proper and civilised ways and everybody is enjoying •Continued on page 34

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

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Remembering Jonathan’s promise

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Y ARTICLE in The Guardian Newspaper of March 2012 entitled: Conspiracy and trials in NGA...visual art, artists are greatest losers, talked about the current happenings in the National Gallery of Art (NGA).The article has generated discussions among professional artists, art academics, players in the industry, as well as members of the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA).

As a professional practising artist, an academic and, more importantly, the Vice-President, Society of Nigerian Artists (West), I feel a heavy burden in my heart and downcast to see the current slide in the visual art administration of the country, which I envisaged may continue with its present mediocrity unless President Goodluck Jonathan’s promise for the parastatal is remembered and redeemed.

I consider it very expedient to make more contributions to this debate to salvage the visual art sub-sector from the rot it found itself and in the hope that the slide, which has become the lot of the National Gallery of Art, will receive the attention of the authorities.

•President Jonathan and George Esiri at a photo exhibition in Abuja ... last year

THE EARLY DAYS For some of us who knew how the NGA started, one will say in all fairness that the parastatal had a fairly good beginning from the almost moribund National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) then under the auspice of the National Council for Art and Culture (NCAC). The NGA, which was established under Decree 86 of 1993(now Act of Parliament), took up the gaunt let and went straight into action. The first major assignment was the resuscitation of the gallery where works of art by renowned Nigerian artists were on display in a section of the National Art Theatre complex under a conducive environment. To its credit the Dr. P. C. Dike-led management conceived and executed such programmes as: The independence exhibition–An annual event organised to mark the independence anniversary of Nigeria.

The programme took place between 1994 and 1999. The annual independence exhibition was in the main, a photographic exhibition which chronicled the achievements and giant strides being made by Nigeria and Nigerians in areas such as politics, economy, commerce, agriculture, sports to mention just a few , while the programme lasted it gave good publicity for the government of the day and was worth spending the tax payers money.

The yearly lecture –This is also an yearly event designed for education. It was a programme meant to highlight the trend in modern Nigerian art and its related subjects. This programme also made some impact to some extent.

Saturday Art Club - This is a programme organised for the purpose of discovering the latent talent in young Nigerian children in both primary and secondary schools.

Other programmes include Children’s Day, Art Residency, and K12 International Art exchange programme.

THE DECLINE The years 1994-1999 marked the golden era in the life of the National Gallery of Art during which it ranked among the ‘best three parastatals’ in the Tourism and Culture Ministry in terms of performance. This was, however, short-lived as complacency soon sets in. The management could not manage the success achieved and probably enunciated more programmes because of lack of basic visual art knowledge by the leadership of the parastatal. It was no surprise therefore that the independence art exhibition died a natural death before 2000. The annual lecture lost its glamour and became a programme of rent - a – crowd to fill the lecture hall. This programme also witnessed its gradual demise around 2003. These programmes became unfashionable for the visual art audience. The K12 international train the trainers programme for art teachers came on board during this period. The K12 was designed to be a programme where experts and scholars in the visual arts meet to train the art teachers in the primary and post-primary institutions to go and impact the new knowledge on their pupils/students. It is one of the pre-2006 programme, which was meant to be a joint collaboration between Ohio State University, US and the National Gallery of Art. It was equally designed according to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to be a joint counterpart funding agreement between both institutions. Prof. Okechukwu Odita, the only facilitator was responsible for the Ohio State University end of the understanding/agreement. Unfortunately, in the city of the blind, a one eyed man is king. A study shows that the National Gallery of Art out of foolishness or lack of knowledge bore all the financial responsibilities throughout the existence of the programme under the Dr. Dike-led administration. Also, the only facilitator was using the opportunity of NGA’s (government) sponsorship to embark on his yearly leave to Nigeria. So, it was used all through by the then DirectorGeneral’s kinsman as a mere tool for cross-border visitation and holidaying. So, it was that no programme was given any serious attention at the National Gallery of Art

•Olu Ajayi at an art event organised by GLO in Lagos

By Kunle Adeyemi

CAMPAIGN again. Perhaps the only programme left and worthy of any mention was the Saturday Art Club, which was being done in bits and hiccups. I should also mention here that only very few of the programmes being executed had any hard-core professional content that could engender the promotion of contemporary visual arts practice let alone benefit its practitioners and other lovers of art both locally and on the international scene and by extension generating the much needed revenue for artists and government alike.

From my personal and majority of SNA members’ assessment as a professional body, the NGA lost focus from 2002 and became a shadow of its old self living only in name by virtue of the goodwill it earlier enjoyed. The pioneer Director-General, Dr. P.C. Dike, engaged in in-

From my personal and majority of SNA members’assessment as a professional body, the NGA lost focus from 2002 and became a shadow of its old self living only in name by virtue of the goodwill it earlier enjoyed. The pioneer Director-General, Dr. P.C. Dike, engaged in intensive lobbying and buying time to perpetrate himself in office

tensive lobbying and buying time to perpetrate himself in office. The only thing that could be recorded for the gallery was the massive employment of unqualified personnel in almost every facet of its departments. The NGA was, therefore, in dire straits and needed a change. Unfortunately, the change did not come until August 2006, when Joe Musa, an artist with the right pedigree and vision came into the saddle.

THE PERIOD: AUGUST 2006 TO AUGUST 2009 Joe Musa’s appointment marked a new dawn and a new beginning in the life of the NGA. As the saying goes, a crowded hair of a glorious life is worth an age without a name. Joe Musa‘s three years at the helm of affairs of the NGA before the forces of retrogression who are averse to progress and change struck, was a period loaded with unassailable and incontrovertible monumental achievements. A cursory look at the list of programmes enunciated by him just in three years speaks volume. For the avoidance of doubt, some of these programmes include: The Annual Lagos Art Expo, ARESUVA (African Regional Summit and Exhibition on Visual Art), Nigerian Visual Art World Tour (NIVATOUR), National Visual Arts competition, Art Endowment in tertiary institution, Exhibition partnership with foreign missions, NGA Educational sponsorship, release of grants to Art bodies, Sponsorship of individual artists to international events, International museums and Galleries visit by NGA staff, SNA upgrade as a member of the NGA board, yearly stakeholders’ conference, other art promotion of artists and group exhibitions, emergence of dedicated publications and academic materials.

For us concerned stakeholders of the art, Musa‘s programmes and their mode of execution were perceived by many as too loud thus making them uncomfortable. It was felt in some quarters that the few legacies (if any) •Continued on page 33

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The Midweek Magazine WORKSHOP

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LAGOS BLACK HERITAGE FESTIVAL 2012

US sharing culture workshop holds at Omenka

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N American artist, Brett Cook, will lead other artists at a workshop holding at the Omenka Art Gallery, Ikoyi, Lagos, tomorrow. The visiting artist is expected to carry out his community-based project entitled: Sharing Culture in Nigeria and feature presentations including the collaborative creation of artworks, celebrations, public art installations, and digital documentation to foster new connections and build community. It is the brainchild of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the US Department of State in collaboration with The Bronx Museum of the Arts, New York and The Women and Youth Art Foundation, Nigeria.

The smARTpower initiative is a programme, which builds on US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s vision of “smart power diplomacy,” which embraces the use of a full range of diplomatic tools – in this case the visual arts – to bring people together and foster greater understanding.

Cook has produced installations, exhibitions, curricula, and events widely across the United States, the Caribbean, and Mexico. His prized collections can be found in the Smithsonian Institute’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC, the Studio Museum of Harlem in New York, and at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

While in Nigeria, he will express a variety of cultural and aesthetic positions in several places including the Department of Creative Arts, University of Lagos, the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan and in All Saints’ College, Jericho in Ibadan.

The Women and Youth Art Foundation has been selected as the local organisation anchoring this project in Nigeria.

It was founded in 2004 and is based in both Ibadan and Lagos. Wy Art (as it is popularly known) has been in the forefront of vocational training in Nigeria through its numerous workshops and eLearning materials distributed amongst various populations across Nigeria and beyond.

It also fosters group relations and cultural exchange between peoples. With the smARTpower initiative, WY Art is hosting its first international fellowship and enjoins you to come share in this great experience.

•Foreign guests at the festival

Outfit launches TV programmes

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ELLOWPRINT Media, an integrated media company, has launched a three-in-one programme on air.

YellowPrint Media, which is also involved in public relation, corporate event management, branding media consulting, among others, says with the new programmes, it is set to bring innovation and entertainment into local content in television programming vis-a vis educating Nigerians on three key facets: electronic gadgets, hospitality and mother and child care.

Unveiling the programmes: Gadgets Appliances; Hospitality World and My baby & I, at Best Western plus Hotel Ikeja last week, the outfit Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Yemisi Imasie said the three programmes which hope to start running on air this month, will aside educating Nigerians, also provide entertainment.

Gadget&Appliances, Imasie said, is a programme that is meant to expose how Nigerians underutilise their home appliances and gadgets such as I-pads, home theaters, washing machines, pressing irons handsets, bulbs, microwaves, among others noting that such instruments can be better used for optimal productivity.

He said: “Nigerian love appliances a lot, but we often underutilise them. This programme is to educate Nigerians on how they can get real value for those appliances when they are put into maximum use. The program is to also enlighten Nigerians on how to fix minor problems and also general maintenance of their home appliances.”

Gadget&Appliances, Imasie further added, will also create a platform for wholesalers and retailers of home appliances to meet with their consumers as well as with feedback mechanism.

The hospitality world, Imasie continued, is an exclusive programme, which will also creates a platform for hoteliers, fast food, café, resort centres, special restaurants, and event centers to showcase the stuff they are made of. She said practitioners will also have the opportunity to approach new clients, sustain their clientele while attracting favourable switchers.

“We are playing up the strength of these hospitality centres and putting them on their toes, so Nigerians can go to these places based on their preferences. We are going to look at the wellness and weaknesses of these hotels, their menu, training opportunities, and customer services among others.”

Similarly, My Baby and I, which Imasie said would be anchored by him is a 30-minute programme, which will feature interview segment with experts such as gynaecologists, midwives pediatricians, who would lend their voices toward better baby and mother care development. The programme will also feature tips on traditional ways of taking care of pregnant women before, during and after child birth.

•Writers at the poetry night

LBHF 2012: Connecting This year’s Lagos Black Heritage Festival (LBHF) animated Lagos with colourful and artistic activities. It was all in celebration of the state’s AfroMediterranean connection. EVELYN OSAGIE reports.

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N the past week, the city of Lagos was on the cultural and tourism spotlight courtesy of the Lagos Black Heritage Festival (LBHF).

With the theme: The Black in the Mediterranean Blue, the organisers explored the African presence in the Mediterranean through cultural, colourful, artistic and intellectual activities across the city. And in the spirit of convergence for which Lagos is known, the seven-day cultural fiesta drew visitors from within and outside the country to the Centre of Excellence.

For Alessandra Di Maio, the peculiar nature of the city gives the festival its zest. “Lagos in itself is an interesting place to be in. Having the festival here makes it more interesting. I have enjoyed myself. I love Lagos, Nigeria and the people. And I thank you for having me here,” she said.

According to the organisers, the event sought to “broaden and deepen the minds of Lagosians (and Africans in general) of herself, on Africa’s historically and contemporaneously, within the context of ‘recall’ and ‘celebration’. Hence, this year’s event, which centres on the Italian Connection, is the maiden edition of LBHF’s yearly cultural exploration series radiating from selected Mediterranean countries towards Africa and the Diaspora, and back into the Mediterranean.

“The choice of Italy as a launch-pad for the series is informed by the fact that Nigeria’s connections with Italy are not only vibrant, but increasingly topical, given issues such as ‘Migration’, which has especial resonance, not only for former Italian colonies in the Horn of Africa, but for the West African Coast - from the Cameroons to Senegal. The

FESTIVAL case of Nigeria is, especially intriguing, since it was never a colony of the Italians, yet wherever one traverses in the country – or, indeed, another example, Ghana - the Italian presence is strongly felt – from cultural and performance forms to trading relations and technology,” LBHF organisers said.

These essences were celebrated through music, drama, dance, arts and photo exposition, film and video fiesta, cuisine and fashion. There was also international symposium, with the theme Black Mediterranean - Afro-Italian Narratives, which highlighted issues that bordered on Migration, Repatriations, Sex Slavery and Organised Crime, ItaloNigerian Partnership – Industry and Development, Afro-Italian Theatre and Literature, among others.

Christian Alifarat said the experience will remain fresh on her mind for a long time to come. “I had fun. I liked every bit of it. I enjoyed the food, the music, dance and especially the poetry.”

…and poetry flowed, danced into the Mediterranean Art and culture enthusiasts felt more of the Afro-Italian connection on the night the poets went on the stage.

The LBHF poetry segment, coordinated by Jahman Anikulapo (Culture Advocates Caucus, CAC, Nigeria) and

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LAGOS BLACK HERITAGE FESTIVAL 2012

POETRY

Eleyinju Ege, Abiwapele

By Jumoke Owoola

Some come in one Some go back at infancy Some disappear into the thick forest of poverty But you chose to come in two Thus making you a rare goddess from infancy!

Other chose to be carpenters Some chose to be oil hawkers But you chose be a fisher of “knowledge” Even in a male dominated world You a rare gem A rare goddess for your generation!

Tayelolu Ejire Okin Soboro bonila ninu je Ki lo o fila kila se Yindin-yindi loju orogun Ejiworo loju iya re Tough on field Sweet at heart Beautiful, elegant, cheerful appearance Even with the rare smile like that of Idiagbon Beauty, brain and elegancy are inborn Mo je dodo re o elejire Elejire okin arewa obinrin Teere-yemi mi ibadi-aran Duduyemi Adunni, ojogbon iwe of NISER Yeye Oge of Peace and Conflict Studies Okanlomo of Yoruba women professional elites Iyi ko ni woo mi. Amin ase nit’Odumare Ire ooooo,Ire kabiti.

•Taiwo Ajai-Lycett dancing with a child poet, Oyinkansola Oyelabi

Remembering Jonathan’s promise •Continued from page 31

•Di Maio

•Aluko

PHOTOS: EVELYN OSAGIE

Africa and the Mediterranean

Di Maio, an Italian professor of African Literature, featured Nigerian and Italian poets. It was a night poetical lines flowed freely in the accompaniment of music by Jimi and his band and Tunji Oyelana. It was a thrilling experience for the audience comprising of foreign visitors who listened to the live presentation of the poets.

The stand-up poets were part of the 16 Italians, North of the Mediterranean, and 16 Africans poets featured in the LBHF anthology with Migration as its major preoccupation, written in English and Italian. The theme was the major connecting thread of the evening. Other sub-themes are trade, religion, politics and trafficking, among others.

The presence of activist poet, Odia Ofeimun, on stage added colour to the event. Culture advocate/producer of the yearly poetry programme, P.L.A.Y, Ben Omowafola Tomoloju’s gave a enchanting performance. He presented his poem, which is entitled: The Bridge, in accompaniment of a folksong Aja kugbo kugbo. The poem, written for the festival, higlighted the connection between Africa and countries across the Mediterranean. “It shows that we need each other to make the world a better place,” Tomoloju explained.

Prof. Wole Soyinka was also part of the line up. His poem, entitled: Migrations, was read by award-winning author, Lola Shoneyin. Tolu Ogunlesi’s A Never ending Flood, Deji Toye’s Crosscurrent and Chiedu Ezeanah ‘s Dialing exiles also called attention to the theme with imageries from ancient and contemporary historical happenings.

The winner Prize for Poetry/Painting Competition of the Communion and Liberation Movement, Olufunmi Aluko’s rendition of Wandering Soules was interesting. Combining her poetic rendition with a Yoruba folksong, she gave the visitors a dose of the African oral poetry. The esoteric piece called attention to the mystery of the journey to the unknown (the world beyond), which is comparable to Africans voyage to different continent.

Guests held a moment silence for the late poet-performer Ify Omalicha, who was supposed to be one of the poets. The

guerrilla theatre whiz kid, Segun Adefila’s rendition of Ify’s To him who will never return stirred up emotions. The prognostic poem was highly metaphoric of human transistion to the great beyond.

The winner of the 2009 Carlos Idzia Ahmad Prize for a first book of poetry and author of the collection I Am Memory, Jumoke Verissimo, rendered the poem, Size of the Mediterranean, highlighted aesthetic landscape of the parts.

Guests were also treated to Italian poetry as Di Maio and Alifarat read works of popular Italian poets such as Benni Stefano and Magrelli in English and Italian.

Di Maio commended the efforts of Nigerian writers saying: “Literary works coming out of Nigeria is always number one.”

She said: “They are really refreshing and highly creative.

Jumoke is one of our favourites. In Italy, everyone loves this Nigerian fresh voice.”

Guests also danced along with the poets as Solanke treated them to sonorious tones at the end of their presentations.

Other poets, who featured at the event, included Razinatu T. Mohammed, whose collection of short stories entitled: A Love Like a Woman’s and Other Stories won the Association of Nigerian Authors/Lantern Book Prize 2005; UNESCOAschberg Laureate, Uche Peter Umez; Richard Ali; Gimba Kakanda, Tade Ipadeola, author of The Rain Fardel(2005), among others.

‘Lagos in itself is an interesting place to be in. Having the festival here makes it more interesting. I have enjoyed myself. I love Lagos, Nigeria and the people. And I thank you for having me here’

that Dr Dike left behind have been eroded and the only thing left for detractors who are negative in their thinking and wants power at all cost was to rock the boat.

It was no longer news that the NGA has been returned to pre-August 2006 days with a management that is made up of officers without any professional background in visual art. The only thing the present management under Abdulahi Muku engaged in is to launder its image and hire more consultants and special assistants who are possibly not put into the professional use they are being employed for. As a result it appears nothing tangible is actually going on in the gallery by way of programmes. Now, the new management has moved its office to the Federal Secretariat where it would only be pulsing files as against planning for and carrying out professional work. This macabre dance to the drum beat, which started in September 2009 has brought the gallery back to another all time low after the good works of Joe Musa.

The truth is that while this ugly trend continues, the visual arts sub-sector and its teeming admirers both here in Nigeria and elsewhere will be the losers for it. It is quite unfortunate that some of our members in the SNA who are supposed to stand up and be counted in the struggle to prevent merit being sacrificed on the altar of mediocrity have been recruited for pecuniary gains. Is this how our present visual arts generation will be professionally wasted under directionless administrative trials and errors?

Perhaps one will like to recall that not too long ago, President Jonathan had a meeting with stakeholders and practitioners in the culture sector. This meeting took place in Lagos. The interface was ostensibly organised in order to fashion a way forward for the sector. It would be recalled that at the meeting, a renowned artist and a patriarch in the visual art sub-sector, Dr. Bruce Onobrakpeya raised a poser on why non-professionals were being appointed to head a parastatal such as the NGA. The President responded and made a promise that it would soon be looked into it. That was a little over one year ago and one is at a loss what has become of the promise. Is it still being looked into, despite the present stagnancy in the sub-sector? May be it is pertinent to place the blame at the doorsteps of the parent ministry, which for reasons best known to it has become lethargic on necessary advice to the Presidency on issues such as this. It seems the ministry is satisfied with the current situation in which mediocrity and non-performance hold sway at the NGA. Could there have been any act behind the scene between the NGA and the ministry that is holding sway?

One thing is certain that even without looking into any crystal ball, the current slide and downward trend is likely to continue unless urgent steps are taken to address the situation. How soon that will be is a matter for conjecture.

The question one will ask is: Is there any solution in sight and Is Mr President still in tab of his diary on the critical issue of putting the round pegs in the round holes at the National Gallery of Art? •Adeyemi is an artist, a researcher and the vice-president, Society of Nigerian Artists. He teaches art at the Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos.

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Celebrating icons in leadership

ADVOCACY

Fashola leads Lagos AIDS walk

By Joe Agbro Jr.

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EASONED journalist and author of Profiles in Leadership Mr Folu Koyi has decried the myopic perception of many Nigerians about leadership in the country, saying that leadership should be seen beyond the prism of politics. He said many Nigerians don’t appreciate their leaders because they only look at the negative sides of such individuals. “In other spheres, there are thousands of Nigerians who are leaders. We should look at leadership in holistic manner.

We should not look at the negative side alone because there is no angel anywhere in the world,” he said.

Koyi who prescribed leadership education for youths as a way out of the malaise, said such challenge informed why he undertook the writing of Profiles in Leadership, which was launched last October in Lagos. According to him, children upbringing is increasingly on a faulty start in many homes where ill-gotten wealth is being celebrated at the expense of honour and good name.

He regretted that most Nigerians in leadership positions don’t ma ke information about them available to researchers, noting that information from libraries formed the bulk of data in his book on leadership. He recalled that the book project idea came when the new millennium was being celebrated across the globe. He said after collecting data on people for the project, he decided to have a rethink on the focus-select people from different sectors and do a write-up on their profile.

“That was how it took a wider dimension since I was doing something unique. However, there are thousands of Nigerians who are qualified to be in the book, but because of the symbolic nature of the book, I stuck to 111 personalities,” he said of the choice of persons that made the book. One other challenge, Koyi said, was how to select only 111 among the several thousands of Nigerians whose contributions to national development more than qualify them for inclusion in the book.

Profiles in Leadership, which spotlights Nigeria’s outstanding people and professions since 1900, is a nine-part publication that features icons in religion, education, politics/governance, gender activism, entrepreneurship, arts/literature, sports and international relations. The icons include the late Mrs Funmilayo Kuti, the late Margaret Ekpo, the late Odumegwu Ojukwu, Alhaji Dantata, the late MKO Abiola, the late Alex Ibru and the late Olu Aboderin.

Others are the late Afrobeat legend, Fela AnikulapoKuti, King Sunny Ade, Prof. Wole Soyinka and Chinua

By Ozolua Uhakheme

FESTIVAL Achebe.

In the profession category, selected icons in journalism, survey, engineering, law, banking, accountancy, insurance, broadcasting, marketing, management, nursing, pharmacy, medicine, architecture and labour are all featured in the book.

For instance, in part two, sub-titled ‘Education,’ the author delves into the genesis of Islamic and Christian education in Nigeria, before proceeding to highlight the leading roles assumed by six selected Nigerian teachers and educators, namely Israel Ransome-Kuti, Alvan Ikoku, Kenneth Dike, Chike Obi, Tai Solarin and Babatunde Fafunwa.

The author disclosed that the revised edition of the book would soon be published, noting that he is not too disappointed the way the book is moving in the market. He however noted that he is yet to smile to the bank as there are lots of copies yet unsold.

Given the depth of Profiles in Leadership, it is more than a biographical compendium of uniqueness. It is neither a mere personality profile nor a collection of bio-data of men, but a historical document whose uniqueness is in its style of presentation.

Repackaging Owanbe for all •Continued from page 30

it. At Balmoral, which stands for royalty, we provide for the elites at affordable prices. But Nigerians have not fully utilised the many opportunities in event centres because people tend to link event centres only to parties for merriment. So far, in the scale of 1-10, Nigerians have utilised four opportunities,” Adamu said.

He noted that with healthy competition, clients’ demands are growing and getting higher than before.

This, he said, has kept Balmoral on top of the game having sustained trust, good image and standard.

However, he identified epileptic electricity supply as one big challenge facing the operators. To him, other challenges are opportunities to grow because if there are no challenges, there will be no growth.

Chief Executive Officer, Havillahmd Cakes and Events, Mrs Olasinde Adenike, described the ban as a blessing in disguise for stakeholders in the subsector. She noted that the shift from streets and roads to build event venues has not only brought orderliness and boost to service providers, but has also elevated the image of operators. “The rental and catering services are increasing expandi ng by the day and it is safer to supply food and other items to venues as their safety are guaranteed. Unlike in the past when parties were held on the streets, cutlery and other valuables are exposed to theft. Also, parties held at such venues are restricted to invited guests, thus making planning easier for both the organiser and the providers of services,” she added.

Banning street parties, according to her, has not threatened the Owanbe culture among the Yoruba, instead it has helped to refine the modes of hosting such parties.

She observed that shifting to event centres did not stop holding Owanbe but that people choose primary school

playground as venue to reduce cost.

Yet, she described event centre and catering business as one of the fastest growing business in the country. To succeed, she noted that operator must be well connected as the business is embedded with many opportunities.

She said the ban has brought reduction in noise on the streets, reduced extravagance and wastages, ease traffic flow around the streets, increase in employment opportunities: cleaners, designers, tents builders, security men, food vendors etc, safety of life and vehicles; are among the multiplier effects of the ban.

In the past Okediji recalled that the emergence of the middle class in Lagos caused an explosion in the purchase of new cars driven along the same few streets, with minimal maintenance. He said parties held to "wash" cars only blocked small sections of the street, unless it was jointly organised to celebrate a house-roofing. "But the king of all street parties is the obituary performance. It was the "obituary" owambe parties that attracted the largest and longest street shutdowns.

Lagos street parties no longer started on Saturdays.

Impatient celebrants began to erect tents as early as Thursday evening in some instances. The parties before the big partying rolled in as early as late Thursday. NEPA circuits were more efficient and were not so loaded with electronic gadgets. Few homes had television sets or fridges," he added.

To him, everyone knew the party was not sustainable. But 'nobody wanted to pull the plug and stop the music. The government ban is one of the attempts to pull the plug. It has not stopped the mentality of extravagant partying, but celebrants have to contain their parties indoor now.'

HIRTY years ago when the Human Immuno Virus (HIV) was detected in humans, it seemed as if anyone who caught the virus was sentenced to death. The ignorance and consequent stigma, indeed, resulted to death for many people.

However, while awareness about the HIV is improving, it is not yet to ‘zero’ as is the target of last year’s campaign tagged Getting to Zero.

But to further stimulate awareness, Lagos AIDS Walk, is scheduled to hold on Saturday, April 21. The 10-kilometre walkathon will begin at the Herbert Macaulay end of the Third mainland bridge. From there, participants will walk to the Adeniji-Adele loop to terminate at the Freedom Park on Broad Street, Lagos Island.

Expected to lead the walk is the Governor of Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN). He will be accompanied by former Governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and former president of Zambia, Kenneth Kaunda who lost a son to AIDS. Speaking in Lagos, founder and Executive Director of Biire, Dr. Dare Ajayi, said the objectives of the walk include raising awareness about existing laws against discrimination and stigmatisation of people living with HIV/AIDS, scale up HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT), increasing funds for Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission (PMTCT), and to get political and corporate support for HIV prevention and treatment.

There will also be a benefit concert featuring artistes such as JJC, Chocolate City Crew, Sound Sultan, and 9ice at Freedom Park. Ajayi added that during the concert, there would be “HIV testing and counselling sessions” provided by medical workers from the Lagos State government at the same venue.

LAUNCH

Buhari, Tinubu, others for Onumah’s book launch

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HE cream of Nigeria’s political and business elite, frontline activists, intellectuals and concerned segments of the populace will gather in Lagos on April 14, to discuss the future of Nigeria. The occasion is the public presentation of Time to Reclaim Nigeria, a book of essays written by Chido Onumah, a journalist and human rights activist.

Speakers at the event include Dr. Kayode Fayemi, governor of Ekiti State; Prof. Ben Nwabueze, Prof Pat Utomi, Mr Femi Falana, Mr Fola Adeola, Pastor Tunde Bakare, and Mr Odia Ofeimun, among others.

Babatunde Fashola, governor of Lagos State and his counterpart from Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, will host the historic event, which will be chaired Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, veteran politician and pro-democracy activist.

Notable personalities, who will be at presentation include General Mohammed Buhari, National Leader of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC); Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Leader, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN); Alhaji Sule Lamido, governor of Jigawa State; Alhaji Balarabe Musa and Col. Abubakar Umar (rtd).

The event is billed as a platform for national reflection on the problems confronting the country. The organisers hope it will spearhead the much talked-about national dialogue on the future of Nigeria.

The author says Nigeria needs a national conversation now more than any other time in its history. “Whether this country will survive or disintegrate depends on all Nigerians. Let nobody pretend they have a greater stake in this country than others. So, rather than having a monologue, Nigerians must be prepared to come together and dialogue. That appears to be the only way to avert the looming catastrophe,” notes Onumah.

Time to Reclaim Nigeria is the product of over a decade of journalistic writing by the author. It tells the h e a r t - b r e a k i n g •Onumah story of the hope and promise of Nigeria. It depicts with unfailing tenacity and insight, graphic details of the country’s monumental failure and a call to its people for a programme of redemptive action.

Prof Biodun Jeyifo of the Department of Comparative Literature, Harvard University describes Time to Reclaim Nigeria as “an impassioned and urgent voice that we would do well to listen to”, while Hafsat Abiola-Costello, founder and president, Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND) describes it as “a timely intervention by a deeply concerned patriot”.

Ayo Obe, lawyer, writer, and activist, will review the book.

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BOOK REVIEW Title:

Nuggets of self-development

Author:

Barbara Lawrence

Reviewer:

Ozolua Uhakheme

Publisher:

AuthorHouse

Pagination:

78

A guide to selfdevelopment

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AVE you ever wondered why some men can’t control or master themselves? How zealous are you to develop yourself and do you have the passion and energy to make a positive difference to your life or work? If yes, the probable answers or solution can be found in a 78-page book, Nuggets of self-Development by Barbara Lawrence.

The book, which is divided into 12 chapters provides the reader with how to make painstaking efforts to ‘interiorise his external environment harmoniously and to exteriorise his internal self appropriately’.

The opening chapter offers readers the A-Z of self development, which the author describes as a personal responsibility for one’s own learning through a process of assessment, reflection, and taking action. But in chapter two, the author provides readers with few trusted steps that should be taken in the self development journey for a better you. Like the first chapter, this one identifies love yourself, positively self-talk, don’t lie to yourself, let go of the past make that move as key points towards self development. One step a day, the author says, makes the journey, hence quitters never make the journey and never win.

Chapters Three and Four dwell on how to cope with the wind of change blowing across the globe, be it in work place or home front; as well as the ‘dos and don’ts’ of a new manager who must not among others learn about the new assignment or role, be knowledgeable about office politics, create quick wins and identifies his stakeholders. For the don’ts, a new manager is expected to imbibe the followings: don’t act like you know it all, don’t let your staff intimidate you, don’t lose your cool, don’t fail to communicate and don’t be like rudderless ship.

The critical aspect of attitude in self development is the

thrust of chapter five, which highlights important steps one must take and how to monitor and control it. Clinical as it might appears, Lawrence’s analysis of control of attitude did not lose focus of possible exemptions. “There are lots of things in life that we have no control overhard timers, hurt feelings, physical and emotional pain…You can’t control how people react to your services or performance. You can only control how you react to

their response,” the author explains. As a complement to the above hints, the book offers few strategies to help readers monitor and control attitude, which include listening to one’s inner chat, modifying one’s network, losing the bad memories, having positive expectations and connecting with one’s creator.

Chapter six focuses on motivation, its type, sources of motivation, the loss, the consequences of its lack in people and the solution. Still, the book identifies money, promotion, bigger office, status car and recognition as some of what motivates an individual. However, there is another window to motivate, which is self motivation.

According to the author, ‘motivation happens within each and every one of us. It cannot be taught, because it’s in you already. You just need to nurture and develop it by reaching into yourself and focusing on the choices that depict motivation.’

Although motivation starts from within, leaders still have a key role in creating the environment for motivation to thrive. This and how leaders can motivate subordinates form the thrust of chapter seven. Among tips leaders can use to achieve this are setting targets and standards, providing off and on the job training, structuring tasks and showcasing exceptional skills/expertise. Also, subordinates feel valued when leaders regularly monitor their works, create an atmosphere of approval, show interest in the lives, and ensure each team member knows what they contribute.

Apart from examining reasons individuals are guilty of buck-passing when anything goes wrong, chapter eight which focuses on path to personal accountability talks on what drives personal accountability, why people break laws and why others would rather die than commit an offence. Lawrence sums it up that being personally accountable is a journey that involves a continual pursuit of personal development, improving relationships, and increasing performance.

While chapter nine talks about time management, which is one of the most critical aspects of personal accountability and improved productivity, chapter ten addresses many issues bothering on mentoring and its role in a relationship.

In these days of information technology and social media, networking has become an instant tool for linking up in education, social circuit, marketing among others.

The essence, the dos and don’ts of networking and many more tips are highlighted in chapter 11. Chapter 12 focuses on the need to build and improve customer relation, imbue the culture of providing excellence service as a requirement for success.

Nuggets of Self-Development is a handy book for everyone. The graphic layout and design make the book reader friendly. The book is well edited except for minor error on Page 23, “You need to listen to you team,” which is second to the last sentence on the page.

Effective marketing approach for better electricity distribution BOOK REVIEW Title:

Strategic Electricity Marketing Activities in Distribution of Nigeria

Author: Osideinde

Adegboyega Adekunle

Reviewer:

Evelyn Osagie

Publisher:

Imade Publishing Company

Year of Publication:

2011

Pagination:

51

F

OR years, Nigerians have called for a sustainable Power Sector reform. And the emphasis has been on infrastructural improvement that will lead to effective sustainability of electric energy supply.

Adegboyega Adekunle Osideinde’s book, entitled: Strategic Electricity Marketing Activities in Distribution Companies of Nigeria, centres on an aspect of the Nigerian power sector that is less-emphasised – the revenue collection.

Concurrent debates on how to improve power generation in the country, make the book a must read for policy makers, sector players such as power distribution companies and operators, practitioners, students and consumers.

The 51-page book gives insights on an effective and stressfree revenue management, marketing and distribution approaches.

In the book, the author highlights the basic theories, operating principles of the revenue cycle of the electricity ranging from metering applications and technologies, tariff methodologies and management of consumers debt.

It has nine chapters namely: Power Holding Company of Nigeria; Customer census; Customer metering; The impact of proper tariff classification; Bill production and distribution; Prepaid meters; Recovery of outstanding debt; Effective communication in marketing relations and Some key performance indicators.

Chapter one, entitled: Power Holding Company of Nigeria; Customer Census, takes the reader into the history of electricity development in the country. Here, the author went into the sector’s decay and efforts made towardes its restoration and various reforms that had been implemented by the government which resulted to its privatisation exer-

cise that resulted to unbinding of National Electrical Power Authority (NEPA) into segments, and creation of successor companies. It also talks about the investment the government has made along with the estimated megawatts it generated by last year October.

In spite of all the measures taken to sanitise, yet the challenge is still not evident. Hence, Osideinde writes: “The implementation of an appropriate electricity pricing is expected to sustain the revenue cycle management of the power sector.”

According to him, electricity development in Nigeria started towards the end of the 19th century when the first set of generating plants were installed in Lagos by the then colonial administration. Electricity grew from under the control of the Native and Municipal Authorities to the emergence of NEPA. The demand for power, he says, continued to grow, while investment in the sector was static. He also moves from there into the ‘current challenges’. The author says that the greatest challenge of the electricity industry is the shortage of electricity itself.

“The distribution network had witnessed an era of lack of

development and the congestion has resulted into frequent local power shortage as well as poor quality supply…With the impending conditions such as the ever-rising debts, leakages in the revenue cycle management, vandalism of PHCN installations, high cost of maintenance, inadequate gas supply, low water level at the hydro power stations, high cost of foreign exchange and the low tariff regime, PHCN has always striven to meet its distribution and marketing of stable electricity to its numerous residential, commercial and industrial customers against all odds,” he writes.

Chapters two and three touch on issues pertaining to customer census and metering. The author suggests that the advent of Geographic Information System (GIS) will add value to this arrangement if implemented. The registration of consumers, he says, should take ‘route sequence’ and be linked to each customers to the transformer from which he is fed. He looks at various types of metering, noting that the widely employed meters are fully electronically based. He also suggests that attention should be given to the verification of existing meter integrity, saying maximum demand installation is the cash base of the organisation. The author uses tables and diagrams to expatiate his points.

Chapter four, five and six highlight the impacts of improper tariff classification; bill production and distribution, and pre-paid meters. He talks about the tariff design and pricing, saying the percentage loss is a function of how much error is in the tariff classification. In enhancing revenue collection, one cannot overlook meticulous bill distribution.

He says pre-paid metering is effective machinery for revenue collection. However, he says: “While appreciating the multiple benefits of the pre-paid metering, it is pertinent to mention that its deployment is strictly guided by various factors which include cost effectiveness, environment and customer behaviour.

Chapters seven and eight border on how to recover the outstanding debt and effective communication required in marketing relations. The author suggests ways of recovering the outstanding debt in sectors, which, he said, amounted to N120 billion as at last September.

Communication, the author says, plays a role in every aspect of business. In this chapter, he suggests tips on business/marketing communication’ skills are crucial in dealing with customers’.

The last chapter, headlines some key performance indicators, highlights certain evaluation and monitoring mechanisms that ensure that the theories highlighted by Osideinde work.

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E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Marketing Ekiti to the world Deputy Governor of Ekiti State Mrs Funmi Olayinka (middle),; Speaker of Hackney (in purple), Ms Susan Fajana-Thomas and others during the Ekiti cultural performance at the international night of art and culture hosted by Mrs FajanaThomas in Hackney, London.

‘Our culture is our treasure’

Whenever Nigeria Fashion Show (NFS) goes abroad, there is always a crowd gathered to appreciate Nigeria fashion.

Music and dance are inseparable from our cultural heritage. Every Nigerian society and cultures have their own traditional music and dance, which are central to the way Nigerians remember their past and celebrate their present, Songs are played on flutes, trumpets, stringed, instruments, xylophones, thumb pianos, which are linked to specific places and events such as harvest, burials, marriages, and coronation.

One is happy to see that on various occasions even during white weddings, traditional music and dance dominate the occasion. Even some Christian songs are accompanied by traditional music instruments. Most modern Nigeria musicians emerge from the school of traditional music.

By Victoria Okoloagu

A

T a time Nigerians are fully aware of the need to identify with the different aspects of their rich cultural heritage,seeking its preservation and promotion would not be out of place. In recent past, many Nigerians almost lost hope on the revival of the nation’s cultural values following the threat posed by western culture. Nigeria is a multicultural society with over 250 languages.

The Nigerian society is a reflection of its rich cultural heritage, which dates back to more than 2,000 years. From the Nok, Ife, Esie, Benin, Igbo Ukwu, Tada and Owo to the present day arts of Ben Enwonwu, Bruce Onobrakpaya, Yusuf Grillo, Uche Okeke, the Nigerian art has come of age. Through these arts, especially the early ones, the philosophies, conventions and aesthetic values of the diverse ethnic groups and culture in Nigeria are portrayed.

Interesting to note that these arts both the ancient and contemporary, are making waves across the globe. You hardly enter any major art gallery or museum in the world without finding arts and objects from Nigeria. And this spread and appreciation are due to the awareness created by modern Nigerian society.

Increasingly too, more art exhibitions are being organised both in Nigeria and abroad. Also, many art schools and groups of artists are emerging, thus creating different dimensions, movements and styles of arts.

The consequence of this is that the Nigerian society is now becoming more aware of the beauty in arts. Unlike in the past when parents disowned their children because they wanted to be artists, today, artists are among leading Nigerian ambassadors who have brought honour to the nation through their individual creative efforts.

Literary art is another aspect of our culture that is very rich and has remained a thing of joy to modern Nigeria society. Among this group of artistes (novelists, playwrights), that have brought honour to the country are Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Ola Rotimi, Elechi Amadi.

The literary works of these notable writers reflect the various aspects of the nation’s heritage for the world to appreciate.

Unlike before, many Nigerians have shifted their craze for western fashion to embracing traditional fashion designs. For most in the Diaspora, Nigerians punctuate

Theatre and Drama The contemporary theatre and drama in modern Nigeria society pioneered by Ogunde and grew out of a long tradition of Masquerades, festival and storytellers.

Masquerade which emphasize custom and dance rather than dialogue were key instruments of social culture and political commentary Nigeria has grown so popular in the film industry that we are related third largest market after Hollywood and Bollywood. This should be improve upon and encouraged to boost our identity both within and without the country.

Language

•Ife head

HERITAGE the all-white crowd of fashion with their dress culture.

We have to encourage ourselves to use as much of our fashion as possible when we are abroad. It creates identity, it makes you stand out in the crowd. Most of you who do that must agree with me that each time you wear your Nigeria fabric, beads and accessories to any function abroad, you steal the show.

I deliberately put this aspect of our culture last because it is the one that is suffering most. Language is the most important element in any culture. It is the unifying factor in any society. It is unfortunate that we have not been able to formulate a common language for the Nigeria society. And the most unfortunate is that our individual languages are going into extinct. Parents no longer teach their children indigenous languages.

To ensure that we uphold our cultural heritage, we must take pride in national culture and maintain cultural continuity from generation to generation and between one social class and another.

The modern society like any other society in the world is inseparable from its cultural heritage, for its history is recorded and embedded in its culture.

The clarion call is, let’s speak culture, wear culture, preach culture, preserve culture and above all appreciate our God given culture.

•Okoloagu is of the National Museum, Lagos.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

38

Council mobilises constituents against flooding

T

HE chairman of Oto-Awori Local Government Development Area, Hon. Bolaji Kayode Robert has urged residents of the council to imbibe good sanitation habits as a way of staying healthy and keeping environmental hazards at bay.

Robert advised the council residents to dispose of their waste properly rather than dumping it in drainage channels, a development which could trigger health problems and cause severe flooding.

The council boss, who was speaking during the monthly environmental exercise, said his administration was committed to evolving a healthy environment in the various communities of the council.

He said the council was very disturbed over the nonchalant attitude of some residents who block water channels with domestic waste.

Robert stressed that such poor sanitation habits could jeopardise the people’s health, thereby reducing their productivity.

He was equally worried about the fact that indiscriminate dumping of refuse in water channels could also cause severe flooding with devastating effects on the council and its residents.

The chairman said a committee has been set up to tackle the challenges. To avoid the unpleasant effects, shanties and illegal structures will be demolished in the council.

Robert said the council was working in collaboration with

P

ROVISION of adequate potable water, safe sanitation and good hygiene practices in the rural areas are the key elements of stepping down the high indices of maternal and child mortality and the timely attainment of the Millennium Development Goals in Ni-

•Hon. Kayode Robert (second right) leads his team out on sanitation tour. With him are, from left: Information Officer, Alhaja Mariam Abiodun; Hon. Supervisor for Education, Prince Waliu Ashafa; Vice Chairman, Hon Oluwafemi Musa. Programme Coordinator, Nigeria National Youth Award, Alhaja Aiyepola Bilquees is first right

By Emmanuel Udodinma

the state government to evacuate waste in the canal, adding that his administration will continue to enlighten the people on healthy living and how to avoid environmental disasters.

“Health is wealth,” he stressed, adding that to maintain a clean environment is the responsibility of everyone in the council.

He also appealed to the residents to be security conscious and to cooperate with the council in order to promote good

health. He equally urged them to pay their levies promptly. ‘’I‘m going to give the canal a new look. We are also committed to ensure that the transformation agenda of Mr Governor is brought to bear in this area,” he said.

The Supervisor for Environmental Services and Waste Management, Hon. Bashiru Sanni said owners of shanties marked for demolition have been served a notice. The sanitation tour covered several communities in the council.

Robert is worried about the fact that indiscriminate dumping of refuse in water channels could also cause severe flooding with devastating effects on the council and its residents

‘How Nigeria can attain MDGs’ From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

geria.

Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya

Zainab Maina stated this in Abuja when Nigeria’s Ambassador for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Engr. Ebele Okeke

paid her a visit.

Hajiya Maina said the challenges related to lack of potable water, sanitation and good hygiene practices in Nigeria, especially at the grassroots where the rural dwellers suffer from poverty and ignorance, require greater commitment on the part of all stakeholders.

She therefore called for constructive dialogue with relevant stakeholders at national, state and local government levels to discuss ways of dealing with those challenges, such as establishing institutional and coordinating mechanisms for increased funding for sanitation and hygiene interventions, including building capacity at all levels.

She disclosed that her Ministry will soon embark on grass-

roots advocacy to the states of the federation, with a view to raising national consciousness on issues and concerns associated with the use of clean drinking water, healthy environment and proper hygiene habits by women and children.

“I will also support this important global initiative by leading your committee to relevant MDAs as well as speak to my colleagues, so as to ensure adequate support and funding.

“As we go round the country on our advocacy, we will educate the rural women and the urban poor to learn to boil and purify water they fetch from streams and ponds.

“They should learn to wash their hands, clothes and clean their surroundings”, the Minister said.

As we go round the country on our advocacy, we will educate the rural women and the urban poor to learn to boil and purify the water they fetch from streams and ponds •Wife of chairman, Oriade Local Council Development Area, Mrs Barisi Sanusi with children during the Easter celebrations at the council secretariat, Lagos PHOTO: TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

39

Senator’s wife brings succour to widows

T

HE wife of Senator Smart Adeyemi, Yemisi, has lifted the spirirts of scores of widows in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital. She gave out home appliances and food items to them.

The event which was under the auspices of Manna Dew Charity Foundation, the pet project of Mrs. Adeyemi, empowered the widows with deep freezers, rice and groundnut oil.

In addition, the sum of N6m was shared among the over 30 benefiting widows.

The event, the third of its kind, took place at the Royal Shekinah Grand Suites, in the state capital.

In a remark, Mrs. Adeyemi said that the foundation “is a non-profit making organisation, primarily established to care and promote entrepreneurial skills among widows in our community”.

She added that the organisation started through her personal effort and encouragement from her husband “by supporting the widows with basic family essential products, food and money to keep body and soul together.”

Mrs. Adeyemi said the foundation was functionally established to care and provide entrepreneurial skills for widows.

“As you can see,” she added, “we have in place 40 brand new chillers

•The chairman and founder of Mannah Due Charity Foundation, Mrs. Yemisi Adeyemi, the wife, Senator Smart Adeyemi (extreme left) unveiling sets of deep freezers for the widows, while the Head, Social Welfare Leah Charity Foundation, Mrs Mary Batisen, who stood in for the wife of the Kwara State Governor, Mrs Omolewa Ahmed, and Senator Smart Adeyemi at the presentation of deep freezers to widows in Kwara State at Royal Shekinah Suites, Ilorin From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

or freezers to start a small business for each of the widows. This has a huge multiplying effect in reducing

The program is meant to complement that of the government in alleviating poverty as whatever is given to the widows at the event would ultimately alleviates their sufferings

N

IGERIAN youths have been advised to discover and utilise their potential if they want to be successful in life.

A part-time lecturer at the Lagos Business School, Mr. Babatope Makun, said this at a seminar on Entrepreneurship and Business Development Strategies, held at The Apostolic Faith premises in Mushin, Lagos.

Makun, who is one of the re-

poverty and high unemployment rate in our society. We have distributed grinding machines in the past.”

She added that the organisation had through community networking established an organized widow family-based system which is like a cooperative society.

Justifying her vision, she stated that, it “is in line with the federal and state governments’ plan to reduce poverty, unemployment and to enhance the socio-economic development of the state through Private and Public Partnership Initiative (PPPI).”

Senator Adeyemi had earlier urged the well-heeled in the society to al-

ways lend a helping hand to the widows, saying such assistance is spiritually sanctioned.

He said “the program to me is meant to complement that of the government in alleviating poverty as whatever is given to the widows at the event would ultimately alleviates their sufferings.”

He said assisting the needy is tantamount to promoting good governance, “this is because when the people are happy as they get their means of livelihood, they would be patriotic.”

He urged the beneficiaries not to sell any of the items given to them

but use it to expand their business activities Promising to give all he has to support the foundation, he said that he was initially sceptical when his wife told him about the vision thinking that it would be too challenging for her.

He praised the current administration in the dtate for focusing on youth employment.

He said “Kwara state is lucky because of visionary leadership it has had in the last 10 years. I can see a lot of efforts to industrialise Kwara and put the state on the path of prosperity.”

Youths urged to discover potential

By Tokunbo Ogunsami

source persons, said youths should discover their talents, develop them and deploy the resources to realise their goals, adding that they should stop being desperate to get white-collar

jobs.

He said: “Our youths need to discover their innate strength, aptitude, interest and passion and build on them to achieve success.

“University graduates are now roaming the streets, looking for

jobs, because they are not skilful.

They cannot use their brains. The days are gone when jobs were in abundance. Vacancies are now very few. This is why only the best get paid employment.

“Since all graduates cannot get white-collar jobs, I advise them to discover their potential and utilise them to earn a living.

“Those in paid employment should do the work as if they are the owners of the jobs because they may eventually become employers, and if they are not hard working and efficient as employees, they will be lazy entrepreneurs.

“Youths ought to persevere in whatever they are doing. Even if it takes a long time, once they are consistent, success will surely be theirs. Think positively, use your brain, have vision, embark on planning and execute your plans. If you do all these, you will laugh at last.”

Another speaker, Mr. Young Nwaibo, enjoined youths to match their skills with ideas.

He said they should develop the right attitude and mental framework for appropriate business ideas and entrepreneurial skills.

The third resource person, Juliana Sokenu, spoke about practical ideas and strategies for effective business plan and financing for young entrepreneurs.

Mr. Segun Oladeji of the Resource department of the church said the seminar was organised to empower youths.

“Essentially, the idea of this Entrepreneurship and Business Development seminar is informed by a desire to make our youths employers instead of employees.

This, you will agree with me, can only be achieved in a forum like this, which provides an avenue for knowledge and experience sharing,” he added.

Since all graduates cannot get white-collar jobs, I advise them to discover their potential and utilise them to earn a living •Sugar cane market at Fadaman Mada in Bauchi State

40

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

NEAZDP has constructed two 5,000 Capacity Grain Stores for stocking grains realized from Ox-team Loan Repayment in kind and Grain Revolving Fund, which has also provided 451 sets of Ox-team Loan Packages to farmers

Yobe rehabilitates desert communities

Y

OBE State Government has remained commited to communities threatened by Sahara Desert.

The state government has pledged to pay N9 million monthly to local government areas affected by the menace.

Every season of the year is characterrsed by extreme weather conditions.

Turning around the lives of people in these areas is such a herculean task with the attendant peculiarities. Passion, commitment, endurance, patience and above all huge financial resources and collaborative efforts need to be integrated to overcoming the the problem.

It is in line with this that in 1990, the then European Economic Union, the Federal Government of Nigeria and the then Borno State government decided to pull resources together for the establishment of the North-East Arid Zone Development Programme (NEAZDP) to fight the menace of desertification and other related challenges associated with the desert.

Upon the creation of Yobe State in 1991, the state government became the sole financier of the project after the two partners, EU and the Federal Government withdrew their partnership According to the Programme Manager of NEAZDP Dr. Hussaini K. Hassan at a press briefing at the premises of the programme in Gashua, the Yobe State government under the administration of Governor Ibrahim Gaidam made available N9 million monthly for the nine desert frontline local government areas including, Nguru, Gaidam, Karasuwa, Jakusko, Yunusari, Yusufari, machine, Bursari, Bade.

All the caretaker chairmen of the nine affected local government areas were also in attendance at the briefing.

Dr. Hassan disclosed that the sum of N315 million has been released from February 2009 to December 2011 without hindrance for the execution of various people oriented projects in these desert areas.

He said: “NEAZDP being an Inte-

•The entrance gate of NEAZDP From Duku Joel, Damaturu

grated Rural Development Projects have utilised these funds to complement State Government Efforts in Water Supply, Health, Education, Agriculture/Food Security and Rehabilitation of Programme Headquarters’ Infrastructure and Procurement of Project Monitoring/ Supervision Vehicles/Motorcycles to sustain the programme”.

Dr. Hassan stated that 32 new hand pumps were constructed, while 98 hand pumps and 18 cement wells were rehabilitated in the area of water supply.

He added: “Considering an average inhabitants of 500 persons per community, these projects have impacted positively in the provision of portable drinking water to 71,500 persons including flora and fauna inhabitants of the area”.

In the area of Healthcare delivery, Dr. Hassan informed that the programme has installed Emex Generators and Hospital Equipments to 18 centers across the nine local government for providing light to Female and Theater wards, trained 269 Tra-

•A military checkpoint in Bauchi State

•Dr. Hassan ditional Birth Attendants(TBAs) and Village Health Workers and equip them with practicing kits, establish 18 Health Posts in critical areas. This according to the Programme Manager is all aimed at complementing the free drug policy of Gov. Gaidam to pregnant women and children under 5 to reduce infant and maternal mortality in the state as well as

easy access to Health Services in the desert prone areas.

One area of intervention that NEAZDP has been committed to is Education. Under this sector, the program has renovated 72 Primary/Junior Secondary School, supplied Primary School Furniture to 80 Schools and Instructional Materials to 27 Schools. These have provided an enhanced and conducive learning environment with 3,200 primary school pupils from the frontline desert local government benefiting from the facilities.

In the area of Agriculture and Security, Dr. Hassan disclosed that NEAZDP has constructed two 5,000 Capacity Grain Stores for stocking grains realized from Ox-team Loan Repayment in kind and Grain Revolving Fund, which has also provided 451 sets of Ox-team Loan Pack-

ages to farmers in those areas. He disclosed further that the strategy has increased hectares to 4,510 hectres and added yield return of 225,500 bags per annum in these areas.

The NEZDP Strategic Grain Bank has disbursed a total of 5,126 bags at subsidized rates to farmers during critical times over the years. The Programme Manager however informed that their projection of 8,000 bags from Ox-team Loan Recovery and Revolving Fund was substantially reduced to half due to drought this year.

Another area that NEAZDP has been commended is its concern for vulnerable groups in the desert-prone areas. 300 leppers, the crippled, blind men and women get free food and clothing from the initiative. This has drastically reduced begging on the streets of Yobe.

Court acquits community leaders of fraud charge

A

N Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos has discharged and acquitted three community leaders charged with stealing N2.5million.

The court, in a judgment last month, held that the prosecution failed to prove the charges of conspiracy, obtaining by pretense and stealing made against the accused.

The three, Alhaji Bawalla, Kayode Adelekan and Kanafiu Alabi, who are executive members of the Omologede Community Development Association were arraigned in 2009 on a threecount charge marked D/21/2009.

They were accused of defrauding the Omologede community, Ikorodu, Lagos of N2.5m having allegedly diverted the money contributed by members of the community for the purchase of an electricity transformer.

Bawalla (Chairman of the community’s CDA), Adelekan (General Secretary) and Alabi (Treasurer) were said to collected the said money but failed to account for how it was disbursed even when a transformer was later provided to the community by Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) at no cost.

The accused denied the allegation, following which the court conducted a trial during which the prosecution called three witnesses, including the

By Eric Ikhilae

Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Corporal Olaniyi Oyetunji and the defence called four witnesses.

In her judgment, Mrs A. A. Famobiwo held that the prosecution failed in discharging the onus of proving the charges against the accused beyond reasonable doubt.

The Magistrate further held that the prosecution failed to adduce evidence to sustain the charges against the accused.

“From the evidence before me, the court can safely deduce that the money in question belongs to the Omologede community association’s members and there is no record of the association instituting a charge against the defendants (accuseds).

“The value of the money, according to the charge is N2.5m, whereas the defendants claimed that only N1.2m was realised.

“The court is of the opinion that the prosecution has not discharged the burden of proving the three-count charge against the three defendants beyond reasonable doubt.

“The three defendants are hereby discharged an acquitted in respect of the three-count charge against them,” the court held.

Carroll

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

43

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

The drama lasted about three weeks during which Nigerians were treated to incredible stories of what went wrong with the oil industry. As the House of Representatives is set to resume business next week, the Farouk Lawan ad hoc committee that looked into the administration of the oil subsidy is putting finishing touches to its report. Correspondents VICTOR OLUWASEGUN and DELE ANOFI recall the key issues that came up during the hearing and provide an insight into the report.

Lawmakers poised for tough decisions on oil probe

I

NTERESTING times are ahead again. The House of Representatives will resume for business next Tuesday after the Easter break, and one major item that will dominate legislative action is the report of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Management of Subsidy Regime. During the public hearing, it was discovered that agencies of government saddled with same responsibility found it convenient not to reconcile their records.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Petroleum Product Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources at different points gave conflicting figures on subsidy claims, actual daily consumption of products and even existence or otherwise of certain accounts.

The agency chiefs also confronted one another on figures presented, with each claiming to be correct. The 10-member committee did not hide its disdain over the ineptitude of the heads of the agencies and the treatment they had been subjecting Nigerians to.

For instance, over N220 billion was discovered as overpayment to some oil marketers as against the earlier presented figure. The AGF and PPPRA presented overpayment of N30.43b to Ramalia oil and gas limited; N15.147b to Tipex Energy and N22.548b to Emax Oil and Gas among others. While AGF computed payment of N27.50 billion, N5.953 billion and N4.452 billion to Ramalia oil and gas, Tripex Energy and Emax Oil and Gas in 2011, the representatives of the companies according to PPPRA records, confirmed receipt of N58 billion, N21.1 billion and N27 billion respectively.

Another surprising revelation was the discrepancies between N1.75 trillion subsidy presented by the CBN to the committee, against the N1.9 trillion qouted by the AGF within three weeks of the subsidy probe.

It was so shocking to the panel and the public that at will, government officials that appear so efficient suddenly become forgetful, that is, when it suit them. For instance, great efforts were made by the heads of the aforementioned agencies to remember whether there was subsidy on locally refined products. To the Petroleum Minister, it depended on several things; to the NNPC GMD, it is complicated and the layman is too simplistic to understand how it works.

On the extreme, the Executive Secretary of the PPPRA affirmed an emphatic ‘yes’ while the DPR countered with a ‘no’. The status of the subsidy account was as controversial as ever, the Petroleum Minister owned up that it was a virtual account, though she could not explained it. NNPC was not aware of the existence of the account while the PPPRA claimed it was a technical account. CBN said it does not have such account with it.

The Finance Minister affirmed that it exists but not with a bank, the AGF explained that there was one but without funds. Another instance was when the GMD and heads of the agencies under the NNPC suddenly forgot actual figures and facts required

Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke (middle) with Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Oniwon and Executive Secretary, Petroleum Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) Reginald during a public hearing of the subsidy regime by the House of Representaives in Abuja.

by the committee like how much kerosene is being sold at the open market. “I will have to check the records and get back to you,” became the usual refrain. They even had to correct each other when asked about the number of NNPC mega stations in Lagos.

It was also at the sitting that despite being caught defrauding the NNPC of its product at their storage facilities, the NNPC still found it wise to continue to use the facilities of these indicted companies. For instance, according to the Group Managing Director (GMD) of NNPC, Austine Oniwon, the Kerosene Direct, that would take the product to the door steps of Nigerian would be handled

by Capital oil. It was the same company that sold NNPC product in its tanks without authorization. “We have a commercial issue with them and we have resolved them,” Oniwon told the surprised members.

Another storage facility owner sold NNPC product in his tanks, he was caught and dragged to the EFCC. NNPC said it recovered its money through the use of the facility without paying for 18 months. “The company refunded the money with interest but we are still using his facilities because he has the largest farm tank in Nigeria,” NNPC GMD told the panel.

It was also discovered that anyone can do business with the NNPC without technical or managerial capacity as long as the ‘connection’ is right.

Owners of another briefcase importing company resident in the US got electronic message from NNPC top shots to register a company in Nigeria if they are interested in importing fuel. The owners did and the rest is history. The company that was

originally commissioned for waste management had no problems converting into importing PMS even without experience, expertise and capacity.

The attitude of those at the helm of affairs about the final destination of their products also became an issue as it was discovered that NNPC has a preference for third party deals in the sale of kerosene. NNPC preferred to sell 58 per cent of kerosene import to third party like Depots and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigerian (DAPPMAN) who must incur undue expenses from using shuttle vessels to take its product from the mother vessel. 16 percent of the total import is sold to NNPC mega stations, while the balance of only 26 per cent is sold to Independent Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria (IPMAN) that controls about 80 percent retail outlets in the country. Today, at Oando filling stations, kerosene is sold for N151 despite subsidy paid by government on it and the end user gets it at about N170 per litre.

Reluctance on the part of those in saddled with responsibilities was so apparent that the movement and exact amount of subsidy paid on kerosene by the government was not disclosed. While the NNPC and its agencies cared less about the movement of kerosene, they were reluctant to own up on the question of whether kerosene is deregulated or not.

What the public hearing also exposed is the fact that briefcase importers are trying hard to justify their participation in the subsidy loot. According to them, theirs are trading companies just like in other civilized countries. Chief Executive of Ontario Oil and gas even claimed that multi-

nationals and foreign companies would neither transfer knowledge or technology but a Nigerian international trading company, like hers would do.

The hearing also exposed the other side of aggrieved interest groups coming forth to claim what does not exist.

For instance, Indigenous Shipowners Association of Nigeria (ISAN) came forward to levy allegations of being exempted from participating in importation of PMS and other products.

Their representative claimed that the group has over 250 ships but none was given the opportunity to import PMS and by extension enjoy the subsidy. Ironically, a member of the same group came forward and made nonsense of that allegation. He said his vessel was actually involved in shipping products from off-shore Cotonou. Though he said many of the ISAN ships were technically unqualified to participate. DAPPMAN even came forward to request to upward review of their profit margin from N4.60 despite being accused by the committee for being responsible for inflating price of kerosene in the country.

The CBN was alleged to be involved in a grand conspiracy of sabotaging the Nigerian economy by encouraging massive capital flight from the country. Contrary to the confusing ‘power point’ presentations of the CBN, top shots at every opportunity about the workings of the monetary system, the CBN ensured, through its regulations that the country is massively drained of its foreign exchange on a regular basis. It was learnt that to benefit from subsidy, CBN regulations does not give room for vessels importing petrol to Nigeria to berth on Nigerians waters, be it off-shore

‘It was so shocking to the panel and the public that at will, government officials that appear so efficient suddenly become forgetful, that is, when it suits them. For instance, great efforts were made by the heads of the aforementioned agencies to remember whether there was subsidy on locally refined products’

or inshore. By implication, if a big vessel berths on Nigerian waters, any daughter vessel that goes to lift products from her was at its own risk because that does not constitute import.

So, off they go to Lome and Cotonou.

“If the cargo was discharged off-shore Lagos, then it is no longer an import.

So to meet the CBN regulations, the mother vessel must stay outside the shores of Nigerian, otherwise, we will not qualify for foreign exchange,” says one of the genuine importers with capacity and the expertise. His expose may not be unconnected with the fact that he claimed to be a ‘serious Christian.’

The irony is that while imported PMS does not originate from either Cotonou or Lome, the documents that qualify for import and guarantee foreign exchange, according to CBN regulations must bear off-shore Cotonou or off-shore Lome. The question on the lips of the lawmakers was why was it impossible for the big vessels to berth off-shore Lagos that was secured by Nigerian government that also have deeper ocean depth than that other two countries?

If it is possible, how come such transaction on off-shore Lagos would not qualify for foreign exchange? Unfortunately, as it stands currently, Nigeria incurs unnecessary revenues loss that would have accrued from the mother vessels to the other two countries. Income from security charges, independent inspection and STS operations are lost to governments of those countries.

On the other hand, and of great importance, is the fact that the CBN regulations made it absolutely impossible for the importing mother vessels to berth on Nigerian waters as the financial regulations disqualifies them from receiving their payments in dollar, the only denomination acceptable to the mother vessels. Meanwhile, these mother vessels have no problems at all coming to Nigeria waters or off shore Lagos to lift our crude oil as confirmed by Vitol, a company that imports kerosene for NNPC and lifts crude from Nigerian.

It is the same financial regulations that disallow importers from paying port duties on imported petroleum products. The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) is losing billions of naira to these repressive directives.

Lack of port infrastructure was also thrown up by government officials as a reason why a 30,000 ton vessel cannot berth in-shore Nigeria. They said the facilities are inadequate with shallow ocean depth. With all the facts at its disposal, government pretended that the expansion of port infrastructures was of no interest, since it is serving the interest of a few of their cronies.

The public hearing however made nonsense of that factor because it is possible to berth big vessels on Nigerian waters. The only selfish reason is that it changes the business model for the Nigerian importer.

One of Nigerian importers offered to expose the circle why it was so difficult to do the trading on Nigerian waters. He said: “The international importer would actually open an LC from Nigeria and would have to retire that LC by accepting naira from the Nigerian importer, approach its bankers and bid for foreign exchange to retire the cost of that particular tranche.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

44

POLITICS

‘Northern governors lack understanding of derivation’ Foremost politician and Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Elders Forum in Bayelsa State, Chief Thompson Okorotie, spoke with Correspondent ISAAC OMBE on the revenue allocation battle by states and other contentious national issues.

N

ORTHERN governors have objected to the 13 per cent deri vation fund being enjoyed by oil producing states and called for a review of the formula. What is your reaction?

The 13 percent derivation fund is a creation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and that creation is derivation, not on oil and gas alone, but on all products. In other words, if you are producing bitumen like they have in Ogun State, you are entitled to 13 percent derivation. On the solid minerals they have in the North, they are entitled to it. In fact, they are the least people to complain because, unlike the Southsouth, they are exploring their minerals by themselves and selling them. Nobody was controlling them until recently when the Ministry of Solid minerals was created, and even now I do not believe that there are laws that have formalised the exploration of these minerals. We are not sure that funds are now coming into the coffers of the nation from the that sources. Apart from that, the real problems of the Southsouth, the Niger Delta area, it appears is not being appreciated by some people from the North. The terrain is such that what the North use for ten miles of road, here we spend twenty times of that amount on one kilometre of road .We build from the swamp. In Yenagoa here, if a house is properly built, it must be built on a raft foundation. In some cases, we erect pillars after sand filling .How do you compare a situation like this with a terrain where you have no swampy environment?

Why is the Southsouth demanding for more allocations?

The constitution is very clear. It says, at least, 13 percent. .That is why during Obasanjo’s period, there was this Political Conference and our people agitated for 25 percent. .It was turned down which led to their walking out.

So, that agitation is there. But then, I think that at a particular time you want to make sure that you use what you have until such a time the atmosphere is favourable for demanding more.

That is my view.

Some Northerners are of the view that the huge funds allocated to oil producing states have led to mismanagement and corruption among the governors of these states. What is your reaction?

They are wrong in their view because our developmental problems in terms of terrain is not the same as theirs, and what we are given is constitutionally legal. If we talk about corruption, it is all over the country; it is not limited to our area. There are

• Okorotie

good governors, there are those who have not done well, they are all over the country. So, I do not see any basis for their argument .They should look inward in their respective states. Let them also bring things into the coffers for distribution. Let them also bring the solid minerals revenue into the distributable pull so that every state can benefit from it, and in any case, they need to understand that this 13 percent of the oil and gas money.

The rest is being shared and they are benefiting from it.

We have a new governor in Bayelsa State. Could you give your general over view of the state immediately before he came on board and now that he is on board?

The situation prior to the assumption of office of Governor Seriake Dickson was a gloomy one. The Sylva Administration ended on a very soar note, especially in the last two, three months .At a point, we felt there was even no government in existence. That is why I thank God. It was as bad as that. In any case, what was also terrible was that work completely stopped in almost all fronts .He said it was his battle for his second term that was now important. The atmosphere was really bad. Sylva administration completed previous projects. The two people; Sylva and Dickson; are different. The man we have now is very clear. He tells you exactly where he is going. You cannot misread him, if you are a good reader, and his decisions are straight. He tells you what he can do and what he cannot do. One thing that stands out very clearly is his passion for development. One other thing that he has also done very well which was not there before is uniting the people. I am so pleased to find in him

such a person. Can you imagine, you find Chief Alamieyeseigha, Timi Alaibe, Ebebi, all in one location. If you know the history of this state, these were people that were miles apart, but Seriake Dickson had the capacity to bring all of them together to dine and wine in one location and they are all members of the caucus. As Secretary of the Elders Forum, I knew his plan for reconciliation. He announced that he has saved N1 billion from Government House alone. He is saving this money, not for himself, but he want to put it into projects .He has sent people to inspect the primary schools, general hospitals. He wants to restore boarding system and upgrade the hospitals He also want to maintain transparency in governance.

In talking about education, the governor recently said he would bring back BAYCAS, which was scraped by the previous administration. Do you see the return of BYCAS as a way forward for education in this state?

I was one of those who supported Alamieyeseigha in establishing BYCAS, and the purpose was to prepare our children for the university.

At the time, the Alamieyeseigha Administration started, the first policy he had was establishing a campus of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology because it was jointly owned. But at a later stage, we didn’t like how the government there then was handling matters of assets sharing .So, we decided, when we saw after establishing the Basic Studies School, we discovered that about five thousand Bayelsans were ready for university. So, the question was where we put them. So, we started a university.

How can the local government system be positioned for efficient service delivery?

The governor is doing something about it. But my personal opinion is that, I believe that the local government should use the fund allocated to it judiciously. LGA should have their own budget in a year, submit it to the legislative arm for approval.

How can Dickson forge reconciliation in Bayelsa PDP? I have alluded to that before. I mentioned what the governor is doing about it , bringing people together and I mentioned names. I am very happy about that and that should not be the end of the efforts. There are others.

But I can tell you, if you look at the roads of Yenagoa , the roads are getting busier because I discovered that those who went on self exile have come back because they can now operate in an atmosphere that is free.

• Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, Alhaja Monsurat Sunmonu, (second left), ACN Chairman Chief Akin Oke and other members of the party during the defection of PDP and Accord members to ACN at Apaara Methodist Primary School, Oyo State.

All is set for the June Local Government polls in Akwa Ibom State. However, the primaries held by the ruling party in all the 31 council areas are causing problems that are threatening the peace. Correspondent KAZEEM IBRAHIM writes that those who lost out allege that favourites of party leaders were imposed, contrary to guidelines and the democratic norm.

Rumpus in Akwa Ibom PDP over council elections

A

CRIMONIES have continued to trail the just concluded Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) local government primaries election in Akwa Ibom State even as the government expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the exercise which many believed was fraught with violence in some parts of the state.

Reports from some council areas in the state were not palatable on the ground that the exercise which was meant to be peaceful was marred with fraud, snatching of ballot papers, among other sundry issues.

The exercise which was held across the 31 local government areas in the state saw the emergence of some aspirants as chairmen and councilor flag bearers, while primaries were not concluded in some council areas as a result of violence recorded during the poll.

As expected, the aggrieved parties in the polls are beginning to fault the exercise, which according to them, was no election but only imposition of candidates across the 31 local government areas.

Some of the stakeholders blamed the leadership of the party for not allowing a level playing ground for the aspirants to test their popularity strength during the poll. A situation they say, has been reminiscent of what the PDP hierarchy is known for over the years.

Also, according to them, the exercise was the opposite of what the PDP state Chairman, Paul Ekpo, had preached when he addressed electoral officers prior to the commencement of the primaries at the PDP secretariat along Ikot Ekpene road, in Uyo, the state capital.

Ekpo had said to the electoral officers: “I want to assure you today that the exercise is going to be free and fair. I want to warn the electoral officers that we have great respect and regard for you. Make sure that whatever you bring from the field will represent the choice of the people.

“I want you to be fair and do justice to all. Any of you should not circumvent the legal proceedings. One thing is very paramount, if we have any report of violence from any ward, the candidate will be disqualified. Our women must be given free hand to also represent the party. PDP is gender sensitive.”

The above quotes seem not to concern some of the political associates who employed the services of hoodlums to unleashed terror on unsuspecting citizens in a bid to satisfy their paymasters. Also, contrary to speculations that about six people were feared dead during the primaries, the Police Public Relations Officer, Onyeka Orji, refuted such claims, saying nobody died during the PDP primaries election in the state.

Orji, in a telephone interview, admitted that there were security challenges during the polls. The police spokesman cited the case of a woman who was knocked down by a vehicle in Oruk Anam LGA as the only case the command is presently investigating.

His words: “To be very honest with you. I don’t know where people are getting the figures of those killed during the primaries from? The fact remains that nobody died during the PDP primaries in Akwa Ibom State except for a woman that was knocked down in Oruk Anam LGA and the command is currently investigating it.

“We should be careful of mischief makers that want to disrupt the peace the state is currently enjoying on the ember of tribalism. Any aggrieved persons should seek redress in the law court and desist from fomenting troubles.”

Despite the perceived flaws in the poll in some of the LGAs, the exercise was adjudged as free and fair in Uyo, which produced Ekerette Ekpenyong as the standard bearer. Other PDP flag bearers are Tony Akan, for Uruan, Mark Esset, for Nsit Atai, Victor Antia, for Mbo, Henry Nko, for Ibeno, Sylvester Jobson, for Ukanafum, Mrs. Mfon Etim, for Nsit Ibom and Ekpe James, for Ibesikpo Asutan LGAs. In Essien Udim, the hometown of the governor, a former council chairman, Nse Ntuen, was returned as the party’s candidate, while Joseph Ikpaisong emerged as the standard bearer for Abak LGA after polling 227 out of the 278 votes cast.

Also, a female aspirant, Mrs. Gloria Usen, emerged as flag bearer in Ikot Ekpene. In Etinan, the hometown of the state chairman, Paul Ekpo, the exercise produced Kenneth Okon as the winner while Joseph Ekurikut defeated 15 other aspirants to emerge PDP standard bearer for Oruk Anam LGA seat. In Etim Ekpo, the primaries was said to have been marred with violence where one person was said to have been shot dead. A situation, which led to the postponement of the poll.

For the Itu council seat, unconfirmed reports had it that delegates were allegedly denied entry into the venue to exercise their franchise. There were also reports of use of fake delegate tags by supporters of one of the aspirants.

In Mkpat Enin, a journalist, Ephraim Akpan emerged as the standard bearer.

The emergence of Akpan has drew the ire of the youths of the area who believed no election took place during the primaries, that the journalist was only imposed on the people of Mkpat Enin.

A youth leader from Mkpat Enin, Sunny Ekanem, who is calling for a rerun of the primaries in the interest of justice said that that the rerun election had become necessary as a result of the irregularities that trailed the exercise.

Ekanem, who is the Southsouth zonal coordinator of the PDP National Youth Vanguard, said the rerun is significant in order to satisfy the provisions of Article 17 Section 2 (c) of the party’s constitution which deals with the nomination of candidates for election into public offices.

His words: “Article 17 of PDP Constitution section 2 (c) says: In the conduct of primaries for the party’s candidate for the post of local government council chairman, the primaries shall be held at the local government constituency headquarters. But in the case of Mkpat Enin local government area the primaries did not hold in accordance with the party’s constitution and guidelines that should govern it.”

• Akpabio

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

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With ekpoita :funtreatsvilla@yahoo.com / 08022664898

46

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS

DOWN

1. Finalised (9) 7. Employ (3) 8. Tear (3) 9. Succeeded (3) 10. Consumed (3) 12. per Unit (4) 13. Bird (4) 14. Beer (3) 16. Imitate (3) 18. Bed (3) 19. Resort (3) 21. Justly (9)

1. Correspond (9) 2. Pinch (3) 3. Sexual Desire (4) 4. Ourselves (2) 5. Moisture (3) 6. Discourage (4) 10. Expression of Surprise (3) 11. Get with Difficulty (3) 15. Enumerate (4) 17. Bird (3) 18. Taxi (4) 20. Father (2)

MISSING LETTERS All the words in the columns below have lost their first letters as indicated by the blank spaces above them. You are required to find and affix them. When done, all the first letters will form a 9-letter, sexually offensive word or action. Happy Puzzling!‘

SHOWbLitzz Rihanna’s dad okays Chris Brown

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Eliminate Fuzzy Thinking “Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.”

Alexander Graham Bell

Rihanna’s dad won’t be getting any father of the year awards, judging from a new interview. Not only is Ronald Fenty taking credit for Rihanna’s sleek physique, saying that he prodded her to workout by calling her “fat,” he also revealed that he would be fine if Rihanna were to rekindle her romance with Brown, who plead guilty to assaulting the singer in a lover’s quarrel turned physical in 2009.“Chris is a nice guy and everybody’s entitled to make mistakes in their life. God knows how many I’ve made,” Fenty tells the new issue of Heat magazine, when asked about the singer collaborating with her ex on two songs. “She’s her own woman now.”“I actually thought she was a little fat the last time I saw her,” he said. “When I saw her at this year’s Grammys, I thought she was back to her normal size. I used to joke with her, ‘Robyn,you’re getting too fat.’ But I think she’s fine. I think she looked excellent, as everyone saw, at the Grammys. She’s dieting, she’s working out.”After two years of not speaking, Rihanna and Fenty only started communicating again in 2010. At the time of their reunion, Fenty said, “Maybe we’re not as close as we were when she was growing up here … But we are blood, we do not stay angry.”

Pep Talk

Lacking confidence...

Feeling unsure about what you should do next...

Jumping from one marketing strategy to another...

Being unclear about when you’ll reach your business goals...

All of these issues (and many more) can be traced back to one of the biggest challenges struggling entrepreneurs face: lack of focus.

It is called fuzzy thinking.

Fuzzy Thinking Stems From Neglecting to Acquire Critical Information Too many entrepreneurs are missing critical information. Not having this information inflicts incredible damage on their chances of success.

Because it keeps the path to achieving their dreams out of focus, fuzzy.

And you can’t follow a fuzzy path. So they bounce around, get confused, become overwhelmed and attempt to copy what other people are doing... But the path that’ll lead them to success still remains out of focus.

What’s worse is that most entrepreneurs are not only unaware that this information is absolutely essential... they don’t realize it’s missing. So they never track it down.

In order to go from fuzzy thinking to focused thinking, you need to know the answers to three questions...

1. What, exactly, do you want?

2. What’s the absolute minimum necessary to have it?

3. What’s the fastest and easiest way to get it?

Think about it for a moment...

HUMOUR True Believers The two thousand member Baptist church was filled to overflowing capacity one Sunday morning. The preacher was ready to start the sermon when two men, dressed in long black coats and black hats entered thru the rear of the church.

One of the two men walked to the middle of the church while the other stayed at the back of the church. They both then reached under their coats and withdrew automatic weapons. The one in the middle announced, “Everyone willing to take a bullet for Jesus stay in your seats!”

Naturally, the pews emptied, followed by the choir. The deacons ran out the door, followed by the choir director and the assistant pastor.

After a few moments, there were about twenty people left sitting in the church. The preacher was holding steady in the pulpit. The men put their weapons away and said, gently, to the preacher, “All right, pastor, the hypocrites are gone now. You may begin the service.”

Getting Into Fights A young couple drove several miles down a country road, not saying a word.

An earlier discussion had led to an argument, and neither wanted to concede their position.

As they passed a barnyard of mules and pigs, the husband sarcastically asked, “Are they relatives of yours?”

Now don’t be fooled by the simplicity of this solution. “Yes,” his wife replied. “I married into the family.”

Answering these questions - especially question three - requires some heavy-duty thinking. Nobody can give you the answers.

Our ideas like orange plants, spread out in proportion to the size of the box which imprisons the roots.

– Edward Bulwer Lytton

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

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THE NATION

INVESTORS Investors move funds to sovereign bonds I

NVESTORS are showing more preference for sovereign bonds in spite of the dividend recommendations by quoted equities.

In the past three weeks, Turnover on the Over-the-Counter (OTC) bond market, where the national debt instruments issued by the Federal Government are traded, has increased steadily with average weekly stake of N96 billion.

Average weekly increase in volume and value of activities stood at 22.35 per cent and 25.4 per cent as investors stepped up stakes on sovereign bonds, which offered double-digit fixed returns.

Volume and value of activities increased by 11.75 per cent and 10 per cent last week, building on 27.2 per cent and 35.2 per cent growths in volume and value in the previous week. Earlier, turnover volume had increased by 28.1 per cent while value rose by 31 per cent.

Investors staked N111.73 billion on 129.62 million units in 803 deals last week. The Ninth FGN Bond 2022 Series One, which carries a coupon or interest rate of 16.39 per cent and is due for redemption in January 2022, was the most attractive bond during the week with a turnover of 32.38 million units valued at N34.9 billion in 284 deals.

The Sixth FGN Bond 2019 Series Four, which carries a coupon of seven per cent and due for redemption in October 2019, was the second most active bond with a turnover of 27.10 million units valued at N18.05 billion in 125 deals.

Investors had two weeks ago staked N101.57 billion on 116 million bond units in 1029 deals with the Ninth FGN Bond 2022 Series One leading the activity chart with a turnover of 23.25 million units valued at N24.81 billion in 311 deals. The Eighth FGN Bond 2014 Series One, a 10.5 per cent coupon bond that matures in March 2014,

Stories by Taofik Salako

was the second most active bond with a turnover of 22.56 million units valued at N20.89 billion in 220 deals.

Earlier, investors had three weeks ago increased turnover to 91.23 million units worth N75.1 billion in 875 deals as against a total of 71.20 million units valued at N57.34 billion traded in 525 deals in the preceding week. Then, the Seventh FGN Bond 2030 Series

Three, a long-term bond with coupon of 10.0 per cent and maturity of July 2030, was the most active with a turnover of 22.3 million units valued at N16.56 billion in 186 deals. This was followed by the Eighth FGN Bond 2014 Series One, which recorded a turnover of 19.4 million units valued at N17.87 billion in 176 deals. The Eighth FGN Bond 2014 Series One carries a coupon of 10.5 per cent and it matures in March 2014.

Managing Director, Cowry As-

set Management Limited, Mr Johnson Chukwu, attributed the shift to overeign bonds to the high interest rate environment, which makes investment in fixed income instruments more attractive than equity investments.

He pointed out that given average yield of 16 per cent on some fixed-income securities as against the most optimistic projected average return of 13 per cent on equities, investors would prefer to lock in more funds into fixed in-

come instruments.

He noted that some of the corporate earnings reports unnerved investors and fell below expectations, which triggered a caution on the part of investors.

He added that the attractive double-digit interest rate in the fixed-income segment would continue to moderate the performance of the equity segment, though some equities might record exceedingly better return than debt instruments.

•From left: National Treasurer, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), Mrs. Ijeoma Enekwa; Vice-President, Mr. Sunday Korode; President, Mr Abiola Popoola and Registrary/Chief Executive Officer, Mr Sunday Adeyemi, during the Annual General Meeting of the institute in Lagos.

Q2: Experts see better days ahead

T

HERE are better days ahead in the stock market this quarter, which would put it on a stable but modest recovery after a marginal negative return in the first quarter, experts had said.

Several stockbrokers and investment advisors said they see a positive market situation over the next three months with first quarter corporate earnings reports and possible fiscal incentives supporting a positive yearto-date return by the end of the quarter.

Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Limited, Mr Bis-

marck Rewane, said expected improvements in fundamentals of several companies, especially banks, would boost stock market performance.

According to him, bargain hunters would return to the market in search of low valuations as decline in real return on fixed income yields would enhance the attractiveness of equities and tilt portfolios to equities.

Rewane, who sits on the Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and several quoted companies, said good cor-

porate earnings would prompt a partial recovery of the stock market.

He said the possible increase in equity allocation of pension fund administrators’assets to 50 per cent would boost market liquidity in future.

He added that in spite of significant rally in the global stock market in the first quarter, equities remain inexpensive with a wo rld price-earnings ratio of 11.4 and price to book ratio of 1.8 times.

Managing Director, GTI Securities, Mr Tunde Oyekunle, said there was optimism that improving fundamentals of quoted stocks would drive

stock market recovery in the second quarter.

Managing Director, Cowry Asset Management Limited, Mr Johnson Chukwu, however, noted that the interest rate environment would moderate the performance of the market.

“As a rule, any economic environment with high interest rates will have investors switch their investments from equity to fixed income instruments. As long as other asset classes continue to yield higher returns than equities, the equity market will not record consistent bull run as to engender significant index appreciation,” Chukwu said.

The stock market had closed the first quarter with a negative year-todate return of 0.38 per cent as declines in share prices of highly capitalised stocks overwhelmed the market situation.

The benchmark index at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the All Share Index (ASI) - closed the quarter at 20,652.47 points as against its 2012’s index on board of 20,730.63 points, representing a drop of 0.38 per cent.

Aggregate market capitalisation of all equities stood at N6.550 trillion compared with its year’s opening value of N6.533 trillion, a slight increase of 0.26 per cent, which was attributed to new listings during the period.

Forecasts H1 June 2012 MORISON IND Turnover N141.890m Profit after tax N6.809m AFRICAN PAINTS Turnover N30.015m Profit after tax (N4.535m) LIVESTOCK FEEDS Turnover N1.154b Profit after tax N38.180m PRESTIGE ASSURANCE Turnover N2.112b Profit after tax N307m GSK Turnover N6.249b Profit after tax N590.797m NIGER INSURANCE

Gross Premium N2.73b Profit after tax N212.95m MUTUAL BENEFITS Gross Premium N2b Profit N885.633m REGENCY ALLIANCE Gross Premium N812.596m Profit after tax N256.437m LEARN AFRICA Turnover N1.06b Profit after tax N58.336m TOTAL Nigeria Turnover N46.676 b Profit after tax N942.1m MRS OIL Nigeria Turnover N51.20b

Profit after tax N712 m ETERNA Turnover N27.64b Profit after tax N563.834m OKOMU OIL PALM Turnover N2.667b Profit after tax N1.044b STANBIC IBTC BANK Net Operating Income N16.805b Profit after tax N2.737b ASL Turnover N1.084b Profit after tax N101.355m GT ASSURANCE Gross Premium N3.892b Profit after tax N710.62m

CORNERSTONE INS Gross Premium N1.223b Profit after tax N80.01m OASIS INS Gross Premium N562.500m Profit after tax N79.868m AFRICAN ALLIANCE INS Gross Premium N1.215b Profit after tax N107.213m BERGER PAINTS Turnover N976.303m Profit after tax N88.258m SCOA Nigeria Turnover N835.0m Profit after tax N18.200m DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY

Turnover N38.251b Profit after tax N3.49b STUDIO PRESS NIG Turnover N3.375b Profit after tax N20.422m JULIUS BERGER NIG Turnover N80.125b Profit after tax N2.55b INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INS Gross Premium N1.41b Profit after tax N250.450m EQUITY ASSURANCE Gross Premium N2.45b Profit after tax N287.283m

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

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THE NATION INVESTORS

F

ROM being one of the fastest growing among the capital markets in different parts of the world, the Nigerian capital market shed a cumulative 70 per cent from its peak market capitalisation in March 2008. When measured against comparable markets, this country’s capital market still consistently falls short of the benchmark as shown by several key market performance indicators, such as market depth/ breadth, liquidity, sector concentration and transaction costs.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange’s (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI) started with an index value of 100 in 1984.

With increased listings and financial activity, it attained a value of 57,990 at the end of 2007. It started 2008 at 58,580 (with a market capitalisation of N10.284 trillion).

Between 2007 and 2008, the market capitalisation of equities in the capi-

Market decline and recovery

By Innocent Badmus

tal market grew to about N13 trillion with 212 equities listed on the NSE, and the number of shares traded rose to about N18 billion.

By mid-2008, as a result of the global financial crisis (meltdown),the market capitalisation of equities dropped to about N8.8 trillion, though the number of equities increased to about 216. Since the beginning of the economic meltdown, the market is yet to regain its confidence due to the loss suffered by investors.

Besides the global financial crisis, the capital market crash can also be traced to poor governance, lax market enforcement and infraction penalisation and a regime of

pervasive malpractices such as insider trading, share price manipulations, general regulatory failure amongst other corrupt practices. At the height of the manipulation, investors embraced the stock business such as fast food without any education. Stockbrokers connived with quoted companies to always adjust prices upwardly and paint an impression of well-performing stocks. The trick worked brilliantly for a couple of years, with investors and market statistics the better for it. Stocks that were priced not more than N10 in 2005 had climbed to as high as N50-N60 by 2007. Similarly, the All-Share Index, ASI, which stood at a mere 23.844.45 basis points in December 2004 had gone up to 57,990 by 31

FACTS

TO

December 31, 2007 while market capitalisation, N1.92trillion in December 2004 had jumped up to N13.29trillion by December 2007.

Having established that the cause of the market crash predates Oteh’s assumption of office as the Director-General of SEC, focusing on Oteh is an attempt to divert attention from the major issues. That diversion is not good because it is important to get to the depth of the problem to know what happened in the capital market. That way, lessons can also be learnt.

Now that an Ad-hoc committee is in place, there is the need to critically examine the past and the present so that a better future can be fashioned for the capital market. Past leaderships of both SEC

and NSE should be called up to testify and give account of their stewardship so that the present and future leaders of the market can learn from their experiences. Their testimonies can also assist the National Assembly in making laws that will enhance effectiveness of the finance industry.

Oteh, who assumed office in January 2010, when the market was already in crisis, was charged with reviving the flagging capital market. She, indeed, had met SEC in a shambles.

•Badmus, a market analyst, writes from Ikeja, Lagos (innocentbadmus@yahoo.com)

FACTS

Mobil Oil Nigeria vs Total Nigeria: Mixed performance

M

AJOR oil marketers halted negative top-line performance and resumed sales growth in 2011, but declining margins depressed returns.

Total Nigeria Plc and Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc are the two dominant multinationals in the downstream sector. They are the only oil majors that have so far released their audited reports and accounts, which reinforced their leadership and put them ahead as industry pace setter. A subsidiary of French multinational and Europe-leading oil company-Total S. A, Total Nigeria - is a company of large influence and size in Nigeria and abroad. With more than 500 retail outlets, five Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) bottling plants, three lubricant blending plants, four aviation depots and many other facilities, Total Nigeria is undoubtedly a leading oil-marketing company.

Total Nigeria leads the capitalisation table as the most capitalised petroleum-marketing company in addition to an enviable position as the second highest-priced stock at the stock market.

Also, Mobil Oil Nigeria doubles as the third most capitalised petroleum-marketing company and third highest-priced stock at the stock market. The earliest petroleum-marketing company to be incorporated in Nigeria, Mobil has operated for more than 60 years in Nigeria. Mobil Oil Nigeria is a subsidiary of Mobil Oil Corporation of the United States of America and it runs a network of outlets that make the company a household brand in the country.

Both companies shared many similarities. With nearly six decades of operations in Nigeria, they have etched their brands and stocks as blue chips. Interestingly, both companies were listed in the same year, on the same wek and month.

Audited reports and accounts of both companies for the year ended December 31, 2011 showed a similar pattern, with recovery in sales characterised with decline in profitability and returns. Although Total Nigeria appeared to fare better in terms of size of growth, the performances of the two companies fell below average. Mobil Oil Nigeria also made more profit per every unit of sale and its returns were quite higher than its competitor.

Sales Generation The petroleum-marketing industry appeared to have broken the sluggishness that had pressured downward sales across the industry. Both Total Nigeria and Mobil Oil Nigeria grew the top-lines in 2011 as against general declines in the previous year. Total Nigeria increased sales by 8.3 per cent in 2011 as against a drop of 10.1 per cent in 2010. Mobil

FACTS TO FACTS Turnover growth Gross profit growth Pre-tax profit growth Gross margin Pre-tax profit margin Net profit growth Return on Assets Return on Equity

Total 2011 % 8.3 6.6 1.3 12.9 3.4 -4.0 10.0 38.0

Mobil 2010 % -10.1 -4.5 -6.2 13.1 3.6 0.1 10.1 44.5

Average % -0.9 1.05 -2.45 13 3.5 -1.95 10.05 41.25

Pre-tax profit margin (Total)

By Taofik Salako

grew sales by 6.4 per cent in 2011, a major recovery from the declines in the past two years when sales dropped consecutively by 7.1 per cent and 5.9 per cent in 2009 and 2010.

Profitability The profitability outlooks of the companies were largely negative, though there were strands of growth in the profit mix. Total Nigeria’s gross profit grew by 6.6 per cent in 2011 as against a decline of 4.5 per cent in 2010, showing a two-year average growth of 1.05 per cent. The company also replaced its 6.2 per cent decrease in profit before tax in 2010 with a growth of 1.3 per cent.

But as margins diminished on itemby-item basis, profit after tax caved in with a decline of four per cent in 2011 compared with negligible growth of 0.1 per cent in 2010. Underlying profit-making capacity of the company was, however, generally weak. Gross profit margin dropped below average to 12.9 per cent as against 13.1 per cent in 2010.

Pre-tax profit margin also decreased from 3.6 per cent to 3.4 per cent.

Also, Mobil’s gross profit grew by 4.2 per cent in 2011, but profit before

tax dropped by 3.4 per cent in 2011 as against significant growth of 41 per cent. Net profit after taxes also slipped by 3.4 per cent in 2011 compared with increase of 37 per cent in 2010. Gross profit margin dropped marginally from 16.6 per cent to 16.3 per cent while pre-tax profit margin contracted to 8.9 per cent in 2011 as against 9.8 per cent in 2010.

On the average, Mobil still maintained its lead with higher gross margin and pre-tax profit margin.

Compared with Total Nigeria’s average gross margin of 13 per cent, Mobil made about 16.5 per cent while Mobil’s average pre-tax profit margin of 9.35 per cent more than doubled Total Nigeria’s 3.5 per cent.

Actual Returns

Both companies witnessed declines in returns. Total Nigeria’s return on total assets was almost unchanged at 10 per cent while return on equity dropped from 44.5 per cent to 38 per cent. Average yearly return to shareholders thus stood at 41.25 per cent.

Mobil returned 18 per cent on total assets in 2011 as against 24 per cent posted in 2010 while return on equity slipped from 65 per cent to 55 per cent. Average return on total assets over the past two years stood at 21 per cent while average yearly re-

Turnover growth Gross profit growth Pre-tax profit growth Gross margin Pre-tax profit margin Net profit growth Return on Assets Return on Equity

2011 % 6.4 4.2 -3.4 16.3 8.9 -3.4 18.0 55.0

2010 % -5.9 40.9 16.6 9.8 37 24.0 65.2

Average % 0.25 2.10 18.75 16.45 9.35 16.8 21 60.1

Pre-tax profit margin (Mobil)

•MD, Total Boussago

Nigeria,

Francois

turn on equity stood at 60 per cent.

The Bottom-line The petroleum-marketing business is a precision business that requires high level of appropriate mix of often-difficult variables. With relatively low margin and little product differentiation, the downstream oil business depends largely on management foresight, capacitybuilding investments and proactive understanding of the uncontrollable

•Chairman and MD Mobil Oil Nigeria Mr Adetunji Oyebanji

external factors including the global oil price and resultant import variables.

With the protracted reform in the petroleum sector and continuing controversy that exacerbate global oil variables, the petroleum firms require deeper foresights and cushions to sustain sales and profitability. Oil-marketing companies would need to explore ways to accelerate sales growth and control cost to ensure well-rounded positive performance.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

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SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

• iPad

How to start a business with N300,000 A

RE you searching for a business you can start with N300, 000?

We’ve rounded up some businesses that you can make money from now till end of the year. There are also businesses that can be run from home.

In estimating start-up costs, one will not need to spend money on location, design and construction, professional fees, pre-opening labour and insurance.

However, one needs some time and energy to make the business successful. One must be prepared to take on the competition.

Meal delivery service Meal delivery service: Some Nigerians don’t joke with their stomach. People are pressed for time to prepare their meals. So, they rely on ood sellers. Consumers want food delivered right to their doors.

This makes food business highly profitable. Starting a food delivery business is hard. However, if one likes cooking, this also can be fun. On the average, the business is not expensive to start. One just needs to identify a market, particular offices and schools where there are no canteens within or restaurants nearby.

A good target market to consider is corporate businesses.

There are many businesses where the office workers have to leave the building during lunch because they do not have a canteen. For a start, one can use a bicycle to deliver the food if there is no car.

One has to decide whether to deliver lunch only or dinner. It is cheaper to prepare the meals at home than hiring a restaurant to prepare the meals.

The strategy is always being on time. Build a reputation for being a friendly and an efficient delivery person. Offer foods that customers may not find at their local fast food restaurant.

Start the business off slowly and later as the business grows, add different locations. Move around the neighbourhood and stores and distribute business cards and flyers to drum up awareness and draw up a list. It is possible they

By Daniel Essiet

can recommend one directly to their customers or hire one to do it on their behalf.

Sewing business Many working wives no longer have the time or desire to sew items by hand. However, they may enjoy or need to have something custom- made, altered, fitted, or repaired. This is where expert-sewing skills come in.

In addition to helping people with their clothing repairs and alterations, you can also offer classes, products, and embroidery services. Floating a sewing business that produces quality work will bring additional income to the family. Quality works attract patronage and keep one in business. It will keep clients for years to come. For a start, one needs a sewing machine, sewing supplies and promotional materials. Above all, one must have his or her skills well-honed, practicing on a variety of projects.

Decide what types of services and products to offer. Prepare appropriate promotional materials, including business cards, website and a brochure that features pictures of one’s work.

One can go in either full time or part time to supplement their income. Sewing is the foundation and stepping stone to bigger and better things. Opportunities abound in the button and badge making business. One can create professional looking designs with button and badge making machines.

A major requirement is a button machine that can make photo buttons. One needs a button machine that makes -quality buttons. One needs a computer and laser printer. There is a market for

political campaign buttons. With sports booster buttons, one can personalise each button with the picture of a sports- man.

A basic machine used to produce badges comes with a small supply of materials to create around a hundred or so badges. The smallest ones can produce badges of around 25mm in size, but larger models are available that can produce badges in sizes ranging between 38mm and 58mm.

Badges are often in demand for various types of occasions, including special events, fund raising events, exhibitions and so on. To start with, one will need to create templates for design and print a number of them on a sheet to save time and wastage. The market for badges include churches, schools, movie theaters, retail stores, - political parties, groups, fund raisers, musical groups and auto dealers.

Nanny agency Working families need nannies to raise their small children.

People need babysitting services or full-time nannies. A nanny provides quality child care in the familiar surroundings of the children’s home. The business eliminates the stress involved with finding a qualified person to come into a family’s home to care for their children. The agency screens potential nannies, conducts faceto-face interview with potential candidates. They perform a background check on the candidate’s background. The strategy is to advertise in the newspaper, or post flyers around the neighbourhood. iPad and tablet repair services iPad and tablets are the hottest new gadgets on the market today.

The sales of tablets to consumers and businesses is increasing. Endusers propel the tablet change,

seeking a mobile computing device that would afford them a more enhanced content consumption, productivity, and communications experience than offered by cellular phones.

Tablets, equipped with the power of mobile computing, have emerged as a critical device for managing and enabling remote employees. Tablets are incredibly nifty gadgets that require expert attention when damaged.

Whether damaged Blackberry Tablet, or Apple iPad, there is the need for skilled hands to repair them. Consumer demand for tablets, phones and other mobile devices have created opportunities for well trained hands to carry out repair business.

Cake Business Customised cakes are very popular today. Wedding cakes sell from N30,000 to N250,000, depending on the size, complexity and event.

This is business for bakers who are creative and enjoy baking. The start-up costs are minimal. One needs to add on decorating supplies and few other things. The opportunities are: weddings, birthdays, graduations, baby showers, reunions, grand openings, retirement parties, team events, company celebrations and much more.

Videography Enterprise There is a lot of interest in recording and documenting events.

There are trade show talks and seminars and lectures that take place each week all over the country and sponsors and participants would love to have a video or audio of the event to distribute for publicity, sell on a website or use to book other gigs. The professional equipment to do this can be acquired for N300,000. One needs a camera and a computer. Build a

‘Starting a food delivery business is hard. However, if one likes cooking, this can also be fun as well. On the average, the business is not expensive to start. One just needs to identify a market, particular offices and schools where there are no canteens within or restaurants nearby’

website to show potential clients.

Dogs breeding business Dog breeding is big business in Nigeria. Many families have dogs.

In fact, sales generated from dogs’ sales annually is in millions. Top dog breeders are living comfortably. The business is about developing good breeds. Dog breeders must have knowledge, both about the genetics of the specimens they bring into the world and an indepth understanding of what makes for the over-all health of his dogs.

One can start a dog business from home. The possibilities are endless. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to start it. With N300,000, one can buy two popular breeds.

Pedigree dogs are more valuable to sell as adults and puppies than cross breed or mongrols. The price is a reflection of the dogs features matching the breed type, as well as general health and parentage. If you have a champion dog, its puppies will be much more valuable.

Investments include supply costs, dental costs and vet costs. A large business requires larger kennels, toys, beds, pee pads, and recreation.

There are many costs associated with breeding that novices do not normally forsee. Food constitutes a large cost. Good growth in a puppy once it starts from eating solid food comes from meat, rice tripe, mince, yoghurt/cream etc.

They need meals five-six times a day for eight weeks to grow faster.

Health care for the mother and the puppies, including the course injections needed by every puppy, diagnosis of problems which will occur, and proving the quality of the sire and bitch, extra food, provision of facilities, heating, stud fees and advertising, are all costly and must be paid before the pups can be sold.

As a responsible dog breeder, a dog lover said money is not the prime motivation. He said money flows naturally without actively seeking it. He said dog breeding is a passion. He said one has to be in love with dogs. To succeed, experts said one must business sense and the passion with dogs.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

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EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 10-4-12

Market reopens with N31b loss C

ASH-STRAPPED investors overwhelmed the stock market with sale orders in the first trading day after the fourday break for the Easter celebration, conceding a loss of N31 billion to push their orders through.

With most stocks closing on the downside, aggregate market capitalisation of all quoted equities dropped to N6.611 trillion as against its opening value of N6.642 trillion.

The benchmark indexthe All Share Index (ASI), dropped by 0.46 per cent from 20,941.93 points to 20,845.32 points, pushing the year-to-date return at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) to 0.56 per cent.

Besides the preponderance of losers, losses suffered by several highly capitalised stocks in the banking, consumer goods and building materials sectors largely accounted for the negative overall market position.

The NSE 30 Index, which tracks the 30 most capital-

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

ised companies, dropped to 951.96 points as against its opening index of 956.19 points. The Consumer Goods Index also slipped from 1701.75 points to 1689.13 points while the NSE Banking Index dropped to 291.34 points as against its index on board of 292.97 points.

However, the NSE Insurance Index rode on the back of gains by Guaranty Trust Assurance, Intercontinental Wapic Insurance and Custodian and Allied Insurance to close higher at 127.57 points as against its opening index of 125.92 points. The NSE Oil and Gas Index also harnessed a kobo gain by Oando and inched up to 196.67 points compared with its opening index of 196.64 points.

Flour Mills of Nigeria led the decliners with a loss of N2.90 to close at N55.10.

Okomu Oil Palm followed with a loss of N1.67 to close at N31.83. Nestle Nigeria lost N1 to close at N417.50.

Dangote Cement dropped by 50 kobo to close at N116.

Ashaka Cement lost 49 kobo to close at N9.58. First Bank of Nigeria dropped by 21 kobo to close at N9.51. Eterna lost 14 kobo to close at N3.16 while May and Baker Nigeria dropped by 10 kobo to close at N2.09 per share.

On the upside, Presco led the advancers with a gain of 48 kobo to close at N10.59. GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria gained 28 kobo to close at N19.25.

Nigerian Aviation Handling Company rose by 16 kobo to N8.05 while Union Bank of Nigeria and Ecobank Transnational Incorporated added 12 kobo and 10 kobo to close at N2.57 and N11.98 respectively.

Total turnover stood at N216.71 million shares worth N2.13 billion in 3,560 deals. Banking subsector remained the most active with a turnover of 133.14 million shares worth N1.26 billion in 2,047 deals. Consumer goods subgroup followed with a turnover of 17.32 million shares valued at N511.45 million in 552 deals.

Conglomerates subsector placed third with a turnover of 12.07 million shares worth N27.59 million in 92 deals.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 10-4-12

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

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MONEY LINK

States jostle for N24.5b undisbursed funds

StanChart launches Securities Services

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S

HE 29 states of the federation participating in the Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme (CACS) are jostling to access the N24.5 billion balance in the N200 billion fund, The Nation has learnt.

The scramble intensified after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) held discussions with state governments among other stakeholders, on how to boost the agricultural sector in the country. The fund is expected to help in food production and as a step towards ensuring food security, job creation and development of the country.

Bayelsa, Ogun, Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Enugu, Gombe, Kebbi, Kogi, Imo, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Sokoto, Taraba Zamfara among others states cur-

Stories by Collins Nweze

rently under the scheme are also strategising on how to access the remaining funds.

The state governments requested the CACS funds for on-lending to farmers’ unions and co-operatives and to finance other areas of agricultural interventions in their various states.

The apex bank had last week, said it had disbursed N175.5 billion to the participating states through commercial banks since the programme started in 2009. The states accessed the funds for on-lending to farmers’ unions, co-operatives and financing of other areas of agricultural interventions in their territories.

A circular from the CBN said the funds were disbursed to 222 beneficiaries made up of 193 private promoters and 29 state governments that accessed N33 billion in March alone leaving a balance of N24.475 billion from initial N200 billion mapped out for the project since 2009.

The apex bank said the states accessed the funds for on-lending to farmers’ unions, co-operatives and financing of other areas of agricultural interventions in their various states.

CBN data showed during the period, Abia State Government accessed N1 billion while Rivers and Bauchi State Governments accessed additional N3.0 billion and N1 billion respectively from the CACS fund

among others. The CBN said that the sum of N10.71 billion was released to six out of the 18 banks participating in the scheme to handle 18 projects.

The participating banks include Access Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank, First Bank of Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank, Eco Bank Plc, Skye Bank, Stanbic IBTC and Union Bank of Nigeria among others.

In all, 195 private sector sponsored projects were handled, production accounted for 47 per cent while processing accounted for 39 per cent.

These activities were distantly followed by marketing, storage and input supplies which achieved eight per cent, 5.9 per cent and per cent respectively.

Agric to drive economic growth, says CBN

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said the nation’s economy in the next two years would be driven by agriculture.

The apex bank, in its monetary, credit, foreign trade and exchange policy guidelines for fiscal years 2012/2013 made public on Tuesday, said the agricultural sector is expected to lead growth and remain robust, if recent trends in rainfall across the country and the increased public sector funding of the sector are sustained.

It added that with bumper harvest, food prices would trend downwards, thus moderating inflationary pressures.

It, however, noted that the phased removal of subsidy on petroleum products and full implementation of the national minimum wage across the country could counteract the gains in inflation.

The apex bank, however, admitted that the major challenge for policy in Fiscal 2012/2013 would be how to tame rising inflation.

Another major challenge, the apex bank pointed out is the slow pace of improvement in infrastructure, particularly power, which has impeded growth in manufacturing output, stating that fixing the power infrastructure is imperative to reviving output and growth during

exchange rate of the naira is expected to moderate during the programme period, it stated.

The banking watchdog explained that the primary objective of monetary policy in 2012/2013 is the maintenance of price stability in compliance with the CBN Act, 2007, adding that it was committed to achieving the overall inflation objective of government during the programme period.

the period.

“As the world economy slowly recovers from the lingering impact of the global financial and economic crises, Nigeria’s external sector is expected to grow moderately in 2012/2013, as demand for oil picks cautiously,” it said.

According to the apex bank, oil is expected to continue its dominance in exports, given the sluggish growth in non-oil exports. Also, the

ValuCard transforms to Unified Payments

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ALUCARD Nigeria Limited is now Unified Payment Services Limited. Bisi Onasanya, Chairman, Board of Directors, Unified Payments, in a statement during the formal launch of the new identity in Lagos, said that in 1997 a consortium of Nigerian banks came together to set up a shared infrastructure to enable electronic payments, their com-

ing, mobile money among others.

“I am happy that the transformation process which started with the decommissioning of the domestic card scheme, ValuCard is being concluded today with the unveiling of a new name and corporate identity that reflects the neutrality and global view of the Company’s new business focus,” he said.

ing together brought to life in the Nigerian payments space, the first domestic card scheme and a plastic payment card, the ValuCard e-Purse.

Today and in the very recent past as we have all witnessed globally, electronic payment is no longer defined by plastics or payment cards but now encompasses different payment options such as mobile bank-

FGN BONDS

DATA BANK

Tenor

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 150m 150m 138m 138m

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

NIDF NESF

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 10-4-12 SYMBOL

UBN GTASSURE PRESCO STERLNBANK NAHCO WAPIC GLAXOSMITH NASCON IBTC ETI

O/PRICE

2.45 1.45 10.11 1.12 7.89 0.54 18.97 3.90 6.80 11.88

C/PRICE

2.57 1.52 10.59 1.17 8.05 0.55 19.25 3.95 6.86 11.98

113m

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N) Parallel Market

Current Before

O/PRICE 58.00 33.50 10.07 1.85 1.94 2.19 1.10 3.30 0.95 0.76

C/PRICE 55.10 31.83 9.58 1.76 1.85 2.09 1.05 3.16 0.91 0.73

CHANGE 2.90 1.67 0.49 0.09 0.09 0.10 0.05 0.14 0.04 0.03

29-2-12 27-2-12

113m

155.7

22-2-12

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

Dec ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 12.6%

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

Date

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

LOSERS AS AT 10-4-12

SYMBOL FLOURMILL OKOMUOIL ASHAKACEM BAGCO AIRSERVICE MAYBAKER RTBRISCOE ETERNAOIL LIVESTOCK NEIMETH

Exchange Rate (N) 155.8 155.8

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Year Start Offer

CHANGE

0.12 0.07 0.48 0.05 0.16 0.01 0.28 0.05 0.06 0.10

113m

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

INTERBANK RATES OBB Rate Call Rate

TANDARD Chartered Bank has launched of Securities Services in South Africa, expanding the bank’s existing regional securities services to the largest economy on the continent.

South Africa is the fifth new market in which Standard Chartered has launched securities services since the bank’s acquisition of Barclay’s Africa custody business in 2010. This expansion aligns with its ambition to be the preferred provider for Investors and Intermediaries across Africa.

With South Africa, the bank will now offer securities services in 11 African markets (Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Cote d’Ivoire, South Africa) with indirect capabilities in a further six markets through an integrated network of agent banks (Egypt, Malawi, Morocco, Namibia, Tunisia and Rwanda).

In line with regulatory requirements, the bank’s license to operate as a Central Securities Depository (CSD) Participant was approved by the Controlling Body of Strate Ltd, South Africa’s authorised CSD and the Financial Services Board. Monica Singer, Chief Executive Officer of Strate commented, “We are pleased to add another international bank to our list of approved securities service providers in South Africa, providing investors with a further reputable service provider in the securities arena.”

Derick De Zilva, Head of Transaction Banking for Southern Africa added, “Standard Chartered’s global Securities Services exceeds $800 billion in assets under management, and spans across three continents.

Offer Price

Bid Price

ARM AGGRESSIVE 9.17 KAKAWA GUARANTEED 1.00 STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE 122.59 AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 99.23 THE LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL 0.75 BGL SAPPHIRE FUND 1.08 BGL NUBIAN FUND 0.89 NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. 1,691.82 PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND 8.13 CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST 1.39 CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST 1.87 STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY 7,259.48 THE DISCOVERY FUND 193.00 FIDELITY NIGFUND 1.67 • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

9.08 1.00 122.48 98.79 0.72 1.08 0.88 1,686.98 7.74 1.33 1.80 7,071.36 191.08 1.62

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK Previous 04 July, 2011

Current 07, Aug, 2011

Bank

8.5000

8.5000

P/Court

8.0833

8.0833

Movement

56

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

57

NEWS

Oshiomhole swears-in 18 perm secs

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FORMER Headteacher of Western Boys High School,Benin City, U.X Orhue, was among the 18 permanent secretaries sworn in by Governor Adams Oshiomhole yesterday.

Speaking at the ceremony, Oshiomhole said the permanent secretaries were appointed on merit.

He said: “Our campaign against godfatherism means even in the civil service, appointment should not be based on who you know, but what you know.

“This morning, I have had the honour of swearing in a teacher as permanent secretary. The importance of this is to send a clear message that the fact that you are in the classroom does not make you less important. You represent a constituency that is central to the development of our state.

“The second person I want to mention is our brother who had an accident recently and now he is battling between the wheelchair and crutches. Yes, the accident has affected his physical structure but not his brain and it won’t affect his ability to discharge his duties effectively. And as you can see, the accident has not stopped us from swearing him in.”

•Some permanent secretaries taking their oaths of office during the swearing-in at the Government House... yesterday.

Police foil two bank robberies in Auchi

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HE police in Edo State have foiled two banks robberies in Auchi.

The hoodlums, shortly after 10pm, reportedly launched simultaneous attacks on the banks on Warranke Road.

According to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), though the robbers did not succeed in their mission, they destroyed the banking hall, the manager’s office and the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) at one of the banks.

The robbers, who were said to have come in two groups, attacked the banks after blocking the entrance and exit points of Warranke Road.

It was learnt the robbers held residents hostage as they fired sporadically into the air.

Although there were no casualties during the operation, the robbers destroyed one of the bank’s security doors with explosives.

They also left the building housing the bank in shambles.

Shattered remains of computers, furniture and other office equipment littered the grounds.

The other bank was, however, “luckier” as only a bullet pierced its ATM without causing significant damage.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Auchi police station, Ahmed Umaru, said the robbers did not take any money from the banks.

He said the police responded swiftly to an alert on the robbery and succeeded in “chasing away” the robbers from one of the banks.

Asked to comment on the new approach by bandits to rob banks in the night, the DPO said the police would respond accordingly.

“Since they have decided to change pattern, we will also tell them that we are battle ready for them, anytime, any day.’’

An eye-witness, Abdulahi Mohammed, dismissed police claim that they reacted quickly to the alert.

“The police did not come until about 30 minutes into the operation.

“I informed the Otaru of Auchi, who immediately alerted the police.

“I still had to call the monarch back 20 minutes later and he confirmed to me that he had called the police, who said they were on their way.

“We did not see the police

until about 30 minutes later when we heard the noise of siren from their Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC).’’

An official at one of the banks told NAN that they could not ascertain if the robbers succeeded or not.

“We cannot really tell you anything for now until we carry out some verification.

“All we can tell you is that nobody was killed or injured during the attack.”

Banks in the area say they would remain closed until after the meeting of the Auchi branch of the Bankers Forum.

The branch chairman, Bash Sanusi, refused to comment.

“We will make our position known after our meeting later in the day. But for now, all banks in the area remain closed.

Ogbemudia blasts critics of his Oshiomhole endorsement

•Ogbemudia

F

ORMER Governor of old Mid-west and Bendel states Samuel Ogbemudia has condemned the attacks on him over his endorsment of Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole for a second term in office.

Ogbemudia, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, had incurred the wrath of his party members after he was quoted as saying he favoured the return of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Governor.

“Oshiomhole has acquitted himself quite well to merit a second term in office,” he had said.

But, reacting to the attacks that have since followed the statement, Ogbemudia blasted his critics yesterday, saying: “I have no regret for what I said about Oshiomhole.

“My approval of the governor originates solely from my performance rating of him since he assumed office.

I want to advise my fellow PDP members that being in

the opposition does not make one blind to reality.

“I have heard them accuse me of anti-party activities.

Even though nobody has really mustered the courage to say it to my face, I am tempted to still express my sympathy because I see them as very poor students of contemporary events in the state.

“Let me use this medium to refresh their memories.

Only a few years back, when a PDP governor, Prof.

Oserhiemwen Osunbor, was removed by the order of an appellate court, I had expected naturally that the situation would be devastating for the PDP. But no.

“Ironically, my accusers then organised a welcome visit to Oshomhole and rec-

ommended four names to the governor who magnanimously indulged them by appointing three of them as commissioners.

“One of the appointees was recently nominated for a ministerial position.

“In addition, the PDP presided over a budget meeting between the Speaker and the governor in a private house in Abuja, made some amendments to the budget and directed the Speaker to approve the budget as amended.

“So, I consider their latest vituperations insensitive, if not totally ungrateful, considering the huge sacrifices the Oshiomhole government has made in not only accommodating the opposition but in touching the lives of the average Edo man.”

Kidnapped baby, mum, relative released

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THREE-MONTHOLD baby, who was kidnapped with her mother and three siblings in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, has been released.

The infant, her mother and aunt were dumped in a bush at Agbarho, Ughell North Local Government, by their abductors after an unknown

From Shola O’Neil, Warri

amount of money was paid by their relatives.

The victims, who told their family that they were kept without food during their ordeal, were blindfolded before being driven to the point of their release.

They were snatched near Oru Standard Hotel on Jakpa

Road on Saturday afternoon, in a Honda CRV Sport Utility Vehicle.

Three other children (two, four and 14 years), who were abducted with the trio, were released, following persistent wailing by the two-yearold.

It was gathered that the fate of the victims assumed a dramatic twist on Sunday after

the family reported the incident at the Ekpan Police Station, much to the anger of the kidnappers, who had earlier warned them against going to the police.

Consequently, the ransom earlier pegged at N5 million was raised to N11million to serve as a punishment for their disobedience.

PDP to reconcile members

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From Clarice Azuatalum, Port Harcourt

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has started making efforts to reconcile its aggrieved members in the Southsouth zone.

It was gathered that some members of the party were offended by the outcome of last year’s elections as well as the just concluded congresses across the zone.

The Zonal Chairman, Dr. Steve Oru, who spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt, said the new PDP leadership would promote reconciliation as well as build on internal democracy.

Oru said the focus of his tenure would be on consolidating on the gains President Goodluck Jonathan has made in the region by reducing internal wrangling in the party.

NEMA: 3,605 Fulani in Cross River

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HE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that 3,605 persons, mostly Fulani nomads, are taking refuge in four temporary camps in Utanga, Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River State.

A NEMA team, which visited the camps to provide relief materials last weekend, confirmed that the camps accommodate 905 men, 1499 women and 1201 children.

The Director-General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani-Sidi, hailed the Cross River State Government for accommodating the displaced persons and for providing borehole, tents and water tanks at the camps.

The NEMA boss asked the camp managers to ensure direct distribution of the items and that efforts should be made to ensure their return to their respective settlements in Katsina Ala, Benue State after the resolution of the conflict.

The representatives of displaced persons, Malam Wakili Abdullahi, said they had fled to the camps after a crisis in KatsinaAla Local Government Area of Benue State.

Amaechi advises physically-challenged

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From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

IVERS State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has advised Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) to be more productive.

Amaechi spoke yesterday at the maiden Rivers State Capacity Building Forum for Persons With Disabilities.

The forum was organised by the Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation.

The event was attended by the governor’s wife,Judith; commissioners; Chairman of the State Council of Traditional Rulers, King Theophilus Princewill; and other eminent personalities.

Amaechi urged the public not to be discriminating against PWDs, but to show them love.

The governor, who was represented by Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru, lauded Poroma for the initiative, while assuring that the administration will continue with its transformation agenda.

The governor’s wife, in her remarks, said the PWDs should be treated like other human beings.

Mrs. Amaechi noted that she had been placing emphasis on assisting the less-privileged in the society, whom she said must be encouraged, rather than pitied.

Delta to spend N7.4b on Asaba Airport

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From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

HE Delta State Government yesterday said it has approved the contract for the demolition of hills surrounding the Asaba Airport to allow for bigger aircraft to land.

Commissioner for Economic Planning Kenneth Okpara said the contract was initially awarded to one firm at N7.4 billion.

He said the contract amount was not reviewed but was broken down into three to accommodate the three contracting firms including ULO Consultants, Levante Construction Limited and CCC Construction Nigeria Limited, now handling the project.

Okpara said the demolition of the hills became necessary so that “special and bigger” aircraft can start landing before the commencement of the Southsouth Economic Summit scheduled for month end.

“The President is coming to the summit and we want him to land here in Asaba and not in Benin,”he said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

58

NEWS Anambra donates three vehicles to hospital

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Governor Peter Obi yesterday handed over the vehicles to the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Lawrence Ikeakor, at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia.

An 18-seater bus and an ambulance were donated to the hospital, while the College of Medicine got an 18-seater bus.

Obi said his administration is committed to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, especially in the health care sector.

He said the vehicles would speed up the accreditation of the hospital and the college.

Obi said the government has provided other facilities required for the accreditation, such as the 16 structures housing the college of medicine, laboratory, pathology, accident and emergency ward, paediatrics, female, male and special wards, as well as the consultant clinics, warehouses and hospital equipment.

Commissioner for Health Prof. Amobi Ilika thanked the governor. He said before Obi became governor, the state had no accredited hospitals and health centres, but the reverse is the case now.

Ilika said besides building a teaching hospital, the Obi administration has rebuilt 16 general hospitals and built new ones.

He said the government recently gave N3 billion to health institutions owned by voluntary agencies to improve service delivery in the sector.

•Obi (right) handing over the keys of the vehicles to Ikeakor...yesterday. With them is Ilika.

Okorocha bans open display of beef

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MO State Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha has banned the open display and transportation of meat in the state.

He announced this after an unscheduled inspection of meat vans in Owerri. Okorocha said promoting good health is a priority of his administration all unhealthful practices must be stopped.

He said: “The government will no longer tolerate a situation where meat meant for human consumption is exposed to diseases and will, henceforth, seize and destroy such meats in the interest of the public.”

Okorocha said his adminis-

From Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

tration prefers preventive to curative strategies. He said a healthy state is a wealthy state and urged butchers to always maintain high health standards.

The governor assured the people that his administration would soon complete the building and equipping of 27 general hospitals across the state.

He said: “There is no going back on our resolve to give Imo the best healthcare facilities in the country, through the ‘health at your door step’ initiative.”

PUBLIC NOTICE

OBOKO I, formerly known and addressed as Miss. Oboko Ngozi Abigail, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Archibong Etteh Abigail.

All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Formally Heizekaih Iseoluwa Kayode and Johnson Oluwole Kayode now wish to be known and addressed as Heizekiah Iseoluwa Oliyide and Johnson Oluwole Oliyide respectively. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

HE Anambra State Government has donated three new vehicles to the State Teaching Hospital in Amaku, Awka, and the College of Medicine of the State University.

17 injured in Onitsha motor park clash

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EVENTEEN people were injured yesterday in Onitsha, An-

ambra State, when hoodlums attacked a motor park in Upper Iweka.

Many buses were vandalised.

An eyewitness said over 20 fierce looking hoodlums, armed with locally-made guns, machetes and axes, stormed the motor park and demanded N15,000 each from the luxury buses, which were loading.

The source said the drivers refused to comply and the hoodlums descended on

From Okodili Ndidi, Onitsha

them. He said the hoodlums attacked passengers in the buses and officials of the park, looting and destroying the vehicles.

The Chairman of Uchenna Motors Ltd., Mr. Uchenna Akwuegbu, said he is a legitimate tenant at the park and pays N1.3 million annually to his landlord.

Uchenna said some of his buses were vandalised by the hoodlums and goods worth over N3.7 million looted.

He said two of his motor boys were injured.

Uchenna alleged that the hoodlums are members of the State Task Force on Street Trading, popularly known as Ndi Mpiawazu.

He said the attack has grounded his business and he can no longer move about freely because the hoodlums threatened to kill him.

Uchenna said: “My buses were damaged and it will take over N3 million to put them in order. Even at that, they still threatened to deal with me.

My life is at stake. I have gone into hiding. I do not sleep in my house any more and my business has been grounded

because they have locked up the park.”

Chairman of the Task Force Onuoha Ikonso said the drivers attacked his men when they came to collect revenue at the park.

He said: “The drivers refused to pay the accrued revenue. When our boys went to enforce payment, the drivers engaged touts and attacked them. They were the ones shooting guns, because our men were not armed.”

Police spokesman Emeka Chukwuemeka said he has not been briefed by the Divisional Police Officer.

Rector inaugurates Panel on Oko Poly crisis today

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HE Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, has set up a fresh committee to look into the clash between the students and a masquerade group in the community.

The 12-member committee will be inaugurated today at the polytechnic’s auditorium by the Rector, Prof Godwin Onu. It was gathered that the committee would have been inaugurated yesterday, but it was put off to today because

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

the Rector could not make it.

A source said: “With this popular decision by the school’s management, peace is gradually returning to the community. The reconstituted committee would have been inaugurated today (Tuesday), but it shifted till tomorrow, because the Rector was not around.

“The committee is made up of six members each from the

polytechnic and the community. The polytechnic will produce the chairman, while the community will produce the secretary.

“But let it be on record that the problem is not between the community and the students, but between Oko and the management. The community is already missing the students. Their absence is affecting the community’s economy.”

The President-General of the Community, Mr. Nwan-

muo, said: “The Oko Peoples Union is happy that the polytechnic has disbanded its first committee and set up a new one with equal representation by both parties.

“Peace has started returning to the community and the lives of the students and staff is not at risk.”

The polytechnic’s spokesman Obini Onuchukwu confirmed that the inauguration will hold today.

Students have continued to return to the school.

North insincere about Boko Haram, says Orji PUBLIC NOTICE MAAMI EMILY FOUNDATION This is to inform the general public that the above-named organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act BOARD OF TRUSTEES 1. Dr. Olukoya Adeleke-Adedoyin 2. Mrs. Oladayo Agbeke Oluwole 3. Princess Adetoun Adeleke-Adedoyin 4. Mrs. F.A Labinjo AIMS AND OBJECTIVES a) To provide assistance to indigent women b) To assist grassroots health agencies Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, P.M.B 198, Garki Abuja, Nigeria, within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Tade Ipadeola Chambers

A

BIA State Governor Theodore Orji has described the Boko Haram insurgency as “unacceptable”.

He accused northern leaders of not being sincere about tackling the sect’s activities.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Public Communications, Ben Onyechere, Orji said: “The torrent of terrorism emanating from the

North has escalated. It is not only unacceptable, but questions the veracity and culpability of the northern elite. It is difficult to believe that the northern elite is not aware of the origin of this sect and its acts of violence.

“No one has the exclusive reserve for violence and no one has the right to hold the nation hostage. It is very clear that Christians are hounded

as a cover up for the actual reasons behind the attacks.

“It is important for everybody to encourage the unity of the nation, as was the desire of our founding fathers – the Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello; Chief Obafemi Awolowo; Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and Alhaji Tafawa Balewa. It is disheartening to find that on a daily basis, scores of innocent people are

•Orji

murdered in the name of religion.”

Ebonyi traders protest mismanagement of union funds

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VER 2000 traders at Abakpa Market in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, yesterday took to the streets to protest the alleged mismanagement of the Traders’ Union’s funds, refusal to set up an election com-

•Chairman: It’s false mittee and the highhandedness of the outgoing Chairman of the union, Mr. Peter Obah.

The protest disrupted movement on Waterworks Road, Ogoja Road and other roads

leading to the market. It started about 7am and lasted till 10am.

Speaking with our reporter, the Chief Security Officer of the union, Mr. Joseph Ebi, said: “Our outgoing chairman has been in power for seven years

now. His tenure expired two years ago and an election was supposed to hold last year, but he refused to constitute an election committee.

Obah debunked the allegations as false and said the protesters are trying to tarnish his image.

59

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

NEWS

Easter Sunday bombing: Group asks Jonathan to resign A PRO-DEMOCRACY organisation, the National Democratic Front (NDF), has said Nigerians are tired of condolences by President Goodluck Jonathan whenever the Boko Haram sect strikes.

The group advised the President to resign if he cannot find solution to the gruesome killings of Nigerians by the terrorists.

The National Coordinator of the body, Mr. Jonathan Vatsa, who spoke yesterday in Minna, Niger State, condemned the Easter Sunday suicide bombing in Kaduna which claimed over 40 lives and said the country expected a lasting solution to insecurity and not just condolences by the presidency.

“Whenever the Boko Haram group attacks, all we hear from Mr. President are condolences and promises that are never kept. If President Jonathan has no solution to these unprovoked, unwarranted and senseless killings of innocent citizens, he should resign. We don’t want his condolences any more,” Vatsa added.

The NDF leader said the killings of the people and the damage done to the economy would soon start

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Northern governors lament Easter tragedies

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HE Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) has lamented over the suicide bomb attack that killed 36 persons in Kaduna, Kaduna State on Easter Sunday and the death of 22 people in Makurdi, Benue State, following the collapse of a church building during an Easter vigil mass.

The Chairman of the forum, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, expressed shock on the death of seven worshippers who lost their lives following a rainstorm at the retreat camp of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Eyenkorin, Kwara State.

The forum commiserated with the families of the deceased and said government would ensure that peace returned to the North and Nigeria.

In separate condolence messages to the governors of Kaduna, Benue and Kwara states, Aliyu said the forum was pained that the latest bomb blast in Kaduna occurred

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

having an effect on the country, hence the call for a lasting solution to the activities of the Boko Haram sect.

His words: “We call on President Jonathan to find

•Condole with victims’ families From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

at a time the federal and state governments were putting measures in place to end insecurity.

Aliyu, who is the governor of Niger State, noted that the forum is committed to getting to the root of insecurity and repositioning the North for greatness.

He urged the governors and people of the affected states to take heart and prayed that such disasters would never happen again.

Aliyu said NSGF remains firm and focused and will not be deterred by terrorism.

He called on security agencies to double their efforts in the discharge of their duties.

The governor prayed that God should grant those that died in the tragedies eternal rest and their families the fortitude to bear the irreparable losses.

a lasting solution to the Boko Haram insurgency.”

The group condoled with the government and people of Kaduna State over the Easter Sunday bomb blast where over 40 people died, many injured and property destroyed.

•Places patients on free treatment From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

ernment has reconstituted a task force on immunisation and polio eradication, headed by Deputy Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

He said at the end of the first quarter in 2012, the state had no trace of wild polio, adding that the ministry has put in place mechanisms to strengthen the malaria control booster project.

Labaran listed some of the projects undertaken by the ministry to enhance productivity as the construction of a new students’ hostel; supply of equipment at the School of Basic Midwifery, Dambatta; upgrading of

Kwankwaso Primary Healthcare Cottage hospital; renting of accommodation as hostels for the students of the School of Basic Midwifery; and repair of a water main line and service pipe reticulation at the Murtala Mohammed Specialist hospital.

The commissioner said government has purchased 10 ambulances for special rescue mission. He added that they have been stationed in strategic locations where their services would be assessed.

He urged the public to ensure cross ventilation in their homes, to avoid cerebral spinal meningitis, which is rampant during the dry season,

Commission holds peace meeting for Tiv

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HE Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), in conjunction with other peace stakeholders, will today hold a peace meeting for the Tiv, to address crisis in Agboughul

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

community, a suburb of Makurdi, the Benue State capital, which has claimed many lives and resulted in the dam-

age of property.

The Nation learnt that the meeting, which is by invitation, will take place at the JDPC secretariat, 2, Ibrahim Commassie Road, Demekpe, Makurdi.

Wada signs 2012 Appropriation Bill

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OVERNOR Idris Wada of Kogi State yesterday signed into law the 2012 Appropriation Bill.

The budget, which was presented last November 30 by former Governor Ibrahim Idris to the House of Assembly, has been estimated to be N126.3 billion.

Signing the budget, Wada vowed to fight corruption.

The governor said his administration would block all leakages and wastages of the tax payer’s money.

“Those who have been stealing the state’s resources will soon be caught and punished if they don’t stop the dubious act. Government has put in place, mechanisms to

‘Those who have been stealing the state’s resources will soon be caught and punished if they don’t stop the dubious act’ monitor their activities. I stand on my promises to operate an open and transparent policy. I therefore require the cooperation of the indigenes of the state,” he added.

Wada noted that the budget would be implemented to the letter. He described it as being balanced, having the

same percentage in recurrent and capital expenditures.

He said with the dwindling revenue from crude oil as a result of global politics and the Boko Haram threat, the people should be ready to dedicate their lives to their fatherland.

Wada said the citizens should expect even development as the budget, for the first time in the history of the country, has the same percentage in recurrent and capital expenditures, adding that this will enhance project execution.

He urged the people to suggest ideas on how to generate revenue for the government, to enable the state move forward.

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HE Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Agbor branch, has protested alleged extra-judicial killings by the army in Ika, Delta State.

It further alleged extortion, harassment, intimidation and brutality.

It was learnt that the offic-

From Okungbowa Aiwerie,Asaba

ers were drafted to the streets when the crime situation became unbearable.

They were initially said to have curtailed the situation but only recently allegedly turned against residents.

Oyo ex-Cooperative GM passes on

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FORMER General Manager of the old Oyo State Cooperative Consumers’ Union Society, Ibadan, Pa Michael Oladimeji Babasola, is dead. He was 82.

Pa Babasola died after a brief illness at his hometown, Ile-Ife in Osun State last December 17.

A Christian wake will be held for him in his home, 32, Lokore Street, Moore Quarters, Ile-Ife on Friday at 5pm, while funeral service takes place at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Iremo, Ile-Ife the following day from 11am.

He was a community leader and devout Christian. He was one of the few Nigerians trained in the defunct West Germany in 1968. He is survived by three wives, many children and grandchildren. Among them are Mr. Feyi Babasola-Are, Mr. Sina Babasola, Mr. Tunde Babasola, Mr. Tokunbo Babasola, Mrs. Nike Gbeminiyi, Mrs. Folake Faniyi, Mr. Jide Babasola, Mrs. Ololade Lawal, Mr. Niyi Babasola and Mrs. Tola Adediran.

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Ondo chief dies at 87

HIEF Julius Ugbekuyi Akindehin is dead. He died on March 5. He was 87.

A Christian wake will be held in his honour tomorrow at Broad Street, Iju-Odo, Osooro in Okitipupa Local Government of Ondo State, from 5 pm. Funeral service takes place the following day at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Iju-Odo, Osooro at 10 am. Entertainment of guests follows at Manuwa Memorial Grammar School, Iju-Odo, Osooro.

•Jonathan

Kano records 1,500 tuberculosis cases

NE thousand, five hundred cases of tuberculosis have been recorded in the 44 local governments of Kano State.

Commissioner for Health Dr. Abubakar Labaran told reporters in Kano yesterday that the tuberculosis patients have been placed on free treatment.

He said the tuberculosis and leprosy control programme would not only monitor the treatment of the patients, but would adopt measures to curb the spread of the diseases.

The Health Commissioner said the ministry conducted two rounds of Immunisation Plus Days (IPDs) in February and March, during which it achieved a lot.

According to him, the gov-

Lawyers protest alleged army killings

adding that the Ministry of Health has embarked on a sensitisation programme to tackle the disease.

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Funeral for Oyo chief

HE Agba-Akin of Fiditi, Oyo State, Chief Joseph Oyedele Olugbodi, will be buried on Saturday at First Baptist Church, Fiditi, at 10am. He was 108.

Interment will follow at the family’s compound.

A statement by the family said a Christian wake would hold on Friday at Agba-Akin compound at 5pm and entertainment of guests at the same venue on Saturday afternoon.

60

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

FOREIGN NEWS Egyptian Court halts Constitution panel

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COURT in Egypt has suspended the 100-member assembly appointed last month to draft the country’s new constitution.

Several lawsuits had demanded Cairo’s Administrative Court block the decision to form the panel as it did not reflect the diversity of Egyptian society.

They said women, young people and minorities were underrepresented.

Islamists from the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party and the Salafist Nour party, which dominate parliament, have a near-majority.

Liberals and secularists fear some of them would like to amend the constitution so that it follows the principles of Islamic law more strictly.

The new document will also determine the rights of Egypt’s religious and ethnic minority groups and the balance of power between the president - previously the supreme authority - and parliament.

Once the assembly has produced a draft, it will be put to a referendum. It had been hoped that would take place before May’s presidential election.

The Administrative Court did not give the reasons for the ruling to suspend the constitutional assembly, stating only that it had halted “the implementation of the decision by the speaker of parliament” to form it and had referred the question of its legitimacy to a legal adviser.

Santorum quits US presidential race

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Mali coup leader rejects foreign troops

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ALI’S coup leader has rejected the intervention of foreign troops in the rebel-held north - and hinted at his continuing role in ruling the country.

The comments come just days after a deal was brokered that is supposed to return the West African state to constitutional rule.

The parliamentary speaker is to be sworn tomorrow as interim president and the junta hand over power.

Mali was plunged into crisis after a separatist uprising that led to a coup.

The putsch, led by Capt Amadou Sanogo, took place nearly three weeks ago amid accusations from the army that the government had not done enough to suppress the insurrection in the north that be-

•Interim president to be sworn in tomorrow

gan in January.

Since the coup, key towns in northern Mali have fallen to Tuareg separatist rebels and their Islamist allies.

The West African regional bloc, Ecowas, has said it is preparing a force of up to 3,000 soldiers, which could be deployed to wrest back control of the north.

Last week, Capt Sanogo formally asked for Ecowas’s help in defeating the rebels, but in televised remarks on Monday night he said he was only asking for equipment and logistical support.

Journalist Martin Vogl in the capital Bamako told the BBC West African mediators have told him that they are annoyed at his latest comments - and see Capt Sanogo’s rejection of

boots on the ground as a slap in the face.

The parliamentary speaker, Dioncounda Traore, is due to be sworn in on Wednesday as interim president - and under the constitution he has 40 days in which to organise elections.

But the agreement signed on Friday between Ecowas and Mali’s military rulers said this time limit would be impossible to stick to given that Tuareg rebels now control the northern half of Mali, the AP news agency reports.

Spelling out details of that deal, Capt Sanogo said that he would help decide how the country would be run after the 40 days set out in the country’s constitution for a transition of power.

“It was very clear in the framework agreement that after 40 days we would sit down with Ecowas to decide on another team to lead the transition,” Capt Sanogo said.

Correspondents say it now seems clear that the junta leader will remain a key player as Mali tries to pull itself out of crisis.

Amadou Toumani Toure has formally resigned as president as part of the deal.

Ecowas has also lifted sanctions it imposed after the coup and an amnesty has been agreed for the coup leaders.

Human rights group Amnesty International has warned of a major humanitarian disaster in the wake of the fighting in the north.

EPUBLICAN presidential candidate Rick Santorum has dropped his campaign, leaving former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney as the presumptive nominee.

The former Pennsylvania senator made the announcement at a news conference in Gettysburg in his home state.

“While this presidential race is over for me, we are not done fighting,” he said.

The social conservative had been campaigning for Pennsylvania’s primary on April 24.

But he was far behind Romney in terms of funding and the number of delegates needed to seal the nomination at the Republican convention in Tampa, Florida, in late August.

In a statement, Romney congratulated him on his campaign, calling him an “able and worthy competitor”.

“He has proven himself to be an important voice in our party and in the nation,” the former Massachusetts governor said.

After recent losses in Wisconsin and Maryland, Santorum had 285 delegates compared to Romney’s 661, according to an Associated Press tally.

Former House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Congressman Ron Paul remain in the race, but are even further behind Romney.

Mugabe healthy, say aides

•Mugabe

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IMBABWEAN officials yesterday dismissed reports that President Robert Mugabe was seriously ill in Singapore, saying he was well, on holiday there with his family and expected to return home this week.

Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party Rugare Gumbo told state television the reports were “lies meant to destabilise Zimba-

L

bwe” and the veteran leader would return home this week.

Two other senior officials had also angrily denied reports by some international media that he was undergoing intensive treatment in a Singapore hospital and was fighting for his life.

The 88-year-old president has been the subject of several health scares in recent years, with some reports saying he has prostate cancer, but in February interviews with state media he laughed off suggestions that he was seriously ill.

Mugabe is one of Africa’s longest serving leaders and has ruled the former British colony in southern Africa since 1980.

He is sharing power with political rival Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai in a fragile coalition formed three years ago.

Libya appeals ICC’s orders

IBYA’S government yesterday appealed a request from the International Criminal Court (ICC) to hand over Saif al-Islam Gadhafi, saying it should be given more time to make its own case.

Gadhafi, son of deposed strongman Moammar Gadhafi, was facing an arrest warrant from the ICC for alleged crimes against humanity at the time of his capture, and the court is still seeking to prosecute him.

Officials with the ICC, based at The Hague in the Netherlands, said last Thursday that Libya must make arrangements to hand him over immediately. He has been held in the Libyan city of Zintan since his capture in November.

But the Libyan government said in its appeal filing yesterday that legally, the ICC was wrong to turn down its request for a postponement to surrender Gadhafi.

Libyan authorities intend to file a challenge to the ICC case, which should be considered before it’s decided when he must be handed over, the appeal document says.

The Libyan government wants to prosecute Gadhafi itself, as it “regards the trial of Saif al-Islam and Abdullah al-Senussi as a matter of the highest national importance, not only in bringing justice for the Libyan people but also in demonstrating that the new Libyan justice system is capable of conducting fair trials (that meet all applicable international standards) in complex cases,” it says.

•The team of lawyers, from left, Odd Ivar Groen, Tord Jordet, Vibeke Hein Baera and Geir Lippestad, defending Breivik. Inset: Breivik

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Doctor declares Norway killer sane

SECOND psychiatric evaluation of Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik has found him sane enough to face trial and a jail term.

The findings contradict a previous evaluation, published in November, that found him legally insane.

Breivik is due to stand trial on Monday over a bomb attack and shooting spree last July that killed 77 people.

The 33-year-old, who insists he is mentally stable, was “pleased” with the new assessment, his lawyer said.

Geir Lippestad told reporters his client would defend his actions during his 10-week trial, adding, “he will also regret that he didn’t go further”.

Both reports will be considered by the court when it decides, at the end of the trial, whether he should be sent to a psychiatric ward or jail.

If Breivik is deemed to have been sane at the time of the killings then he could face 21 years in prison with the potential for indefinite extensions to his term as long as he is considered a danger to the public.

The second evaluation was approved by a court in January, following widespread criticism of last year’s assessment that concluded he was psychotic at the time of the attacks and diagnosed him as a paranoid schizophrenic - meaning he would most likely be detained

in psychiatric care.

Many of his surviving victims believed he was sane, and that the only proper punishment would be a prison sentence.

“Our conclusion is that he is not psychotic at the time of the actions of terrorism and he is not psychotic now,” psychiatrist Terje Toerrissen, who carried out the second assessment with fellow psychiatrist Agnar Aspaas, told the Associated Press.

The full report is confidential, and the two psychiatrists will give their reasons for arriving at a different conclusion to the first team of experts when they testify during the trial, AP reports.

Breivik was charged with

terror offences last month.

Prosecutors said at the time they were prepared to accept that he was criminally insane and would therefore seek compulsory psychiatric care, but they reserved the right to alter that view if new elements emerged about his mental health.

Breivik has always admitted carrying out the attacks, saying they were an atrocious but necessary part of a “crusade” against multiculturalism and Islam. He denies charges of terrorism.

In a recent letter to Norwegian tabloid Verdans Gang, he said being sent to a psychiatric ward would be a “fate worse than death”.

Syria peace plan still on, says ex-UN chief Annan

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HE international envoy on Syria, Kofi Annan, says his peace plan is “very much alive”, despite fresh clashes breaking out in several cities.

He appealed to both Damascus and opposition groups to end the violence as a deadline for government troops to pull out of population centres passed.

According to his UN-backed plan, the army was to have completely withdrawn from conflict areas by yesterday.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said some troops had pulled out.

Activist groups said at least 60 people were killed yesterday.

Shelling in the city of Homs, a centre of resistance to President Bashar Assad’s rule, killed at least 28 people, said the Local Coordination Committees (LCC), an activist network.

The LCC said 20 people were killed in

Hama, while there were further deaths in Aleppo and Idlib in the north, Deraa in the south and in a Damascus suburb.

Speaking in Turkey after visiting refugee camps for people who have fled the fighting in Syria, Annan said he had hoped his peace plan “would be further along at this time”.

But he said it was not too late to implement it.

“I believe it’s a bit too early to say that the plan has failed. The plan is still on the table and is a plan we are all fighting to implement,” he said.

“It is a plan the (UN Security) Council has endorsed. It’s a plan the Syrians have endorsed and from the comments made by the opposition, they are also prepared to go along with it if the government meets its commitments to pull the troops out.

So I think the plan is very much alive.”

He said that according to sources, including “our own intelligence”, Syrian troops had moved out of some areas but were moving to “other areas which have not previously been targets”.

He said there was “rolling military action that we believe should stop”.

The unrest in Syria, which began in March last year, had gone on too long, he said.

Reporting later to the UN Security Council, Annan said: “It is essential that the next 48 hours bring visible signs of immediate and indisputable change in the military posture of the government forces throughout the country.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

61

NEWS

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Army to fight Boko Haram with dogs

HE Army is set to unleash its trained dogs on members of the Boko Haram sect. The move is part of its antiterrorism tactics, the Army high command has said.

A special squad has been trained to use the dogs to battle the insurgents.

The Chief of Staff, Lt.Gen. Azubike Ihejirika spoke in Kaduna at the maiden edition of the Commanding Officers’ workshop.

The Army said it would soon inaugurate 14 speed boats to fight militants in the Niger Delta.

Ihejirika said: “On April 19, we will commission about 14 boats that have been recovered and refurbished for the use of troops in the Niger Delta area.”

He said the measures are aimed at ridding the

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

country of terrorism.

The Army chief urged military personnel to be combat ready at all times.

According to him, a situation where the Boko Haram sect engages the Army at a check point without much resistance is unacceptable.

He said there is need for Commanding Officers to be innovative in tackling the worsening state of insecurity, adding that the theme of the workshop was carefully chosen to remind the officers of the importance of military professionalism in dealing with challenges facing the nation and the world at large, especially terrorism, small arms proliferation and other related crimes.

He announced that the sec-

ond batch of special squad trainees on the use of dogs to fight Boko Haram and other terrorism groups in the country had just completed their training and would soon complement the efforts of the existing troops battling terrorism. The Army Chief commended the officers and men of the One Division of the Nigerian Army for their efforts so far in ensuring the security of lives and property of the citizens in the Northwest and Northeast geo-political zones of the country, pointing out that they must not rest on their oars until the war against terrorism is won.

“It is high time for you and your men to be in the war mood to be able to deal with the current challenges. Otherwise, how do you explain that troops

on check point duty would be attacked by these decadence? And they sometimes do that and get away with it. This is an area you must work on.

“As you are out in the field at every point in time, make sure you are either conducting an operation or you are gathering intelligence. You must be doing one of the two at any point in time. If your area is too quiet, you have a reason to get worried.

“We believe that how your troops perform is a direct reflection of the qualities of their Commanding Officers.

That is why you are assembled here for the next four days to brainstorm on matters of service interest in order to improve and sharpen your professional skills.

“We chose One Division to underscore the importance of the current operation of 1 and 3 Division troops. I am happy to note the numerous achievements of the Divisions since the first bomb attack of this headquarters and the attacks on Kano. But you will all agree with me that a lot still needs to be done to make our society secure.

“Let me stress that the challenges confronting the nation and indeed the Army are well known to all of us. The constitutional provision and the directive of Mr. President and Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces for the Nigerian Army to work with other civil authorities to secure every part of this country are also well known.”

Dignitaries grace Family on Fire premiere in Lagos

D

IGNITARIES trooped out on Easter Monday for the Lagos premiere of the movie, Family on Fire, produced by Tade Ogidan.

The event was held at Scorpio Hall of the All Seasons Plaza, Ikeja.

In attendance were top government officials, movie and music stars and Nollywood stakeholders.

They strutted the red carpet in turn.

Wife of Lagos State Governor, Dame Abimbola Fashola, was guest of honour.

Other dignitaries included industrialist Chief Molade Okoya Thomas, Gen. Oladipo Diya, and Senator Anthony Adefuye.

From the entertainment industry were Taiwo AjayiLycett, Bukky Ajayi, Shola Shobowale, Segun Arinze, Kingley Ogoro, Charles Novia, Lilian Ama, Roni Diko, Yemi Sholade, Jide Alabi, Soni Irabor, Uche Macaulay, Ali and Mahmud Balogun.

Stars in the movie include Saidi Balogun, Shola Shobowale, Segun Arinse, Lanre Hassan (Iya Awero), Shola Fosudo, among others.

The story centres on Kunle (Saidi Balogun) who becomes irresponsible as a result of overpampering from his mother.

He becomes a drug peddler, conceales a large quantity of cocaine in his mother’s luggage as she travels to visit his brothers - Femi (Sola Fosudo) and Wale - in London.

A

GGRIEVED members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, led by Victor Ogundele, yesterday threatened to dump the party over alleged injustice.

Ogundele accused the party leadership, led by its Chairman, Ebenezer Alabi, of partiality.

He described the treatment meted out to him at the recent congress in Akure, the

STF evacuates bomb from Jos market From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

T

HE Special Task Force (STF) on Jos crises, code-named Operation Safe Haven, yesterday foiled an attempt to bomb a market in Riyom, Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

A black polythene bag was sighted at 11 am at a section of the market as traders arrived for business.

The market, which comes up every Tuesda,y serves as a centre of attraction for traders from far and near.

It was the second time a bag containing an explosive was discovered in the market.

Suspecting the bag to be containing some lethal items, the traders alerted the soldiers in charge of the area.

STF spokesman, Capt.

Markus Mdahyelya, confirmed the incident.

He said: “Our men in Riyom have taken custody of the device. Our AntiBomb Unit is investigating.

After that, we shall make our findings public.”

No suspect was arrested over the explosive.

The discovery caused panic at the market.

17 millionaires emerge in Coca-Cola Promo

S

•Consumers waiting to buy kerosene sold at N50 per litre at the NNPC mega station in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State...yesterday

Kaunda, Fashola, Tinubu in ‘Lagos AIDS Walk’ awareness campaign F

ORMER Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda, who lost a son to AIDS, is expected to participate in an awareness campaign tagged: Lagos AIDS Walk, on April 21 in Lagos.

The 10-kilometre walk, organised by Biire Child and Maternal Health Foundation, Lagos, will be flagged off by Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola and his predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Executive Director of the foundation, Dr. Dare Ajayi, told reporters in Lagos yesterday that the walk would increase HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention and discourage

stigmatisation.

Ajayi, who said the event is in collaboration with the Lagos State Agency for the Control of AIDS (LSACA) and other stakeholders, decried the high rate of infected persons in Lagos.

He said: “It is necessary to increase awareness in a city such as Lagos where more than 500,000 people are said to be infected with HIV, with an additional three per cent of the population being infected out of ignorance.

“There is still a lot of ignorance about AIDS and this is why the rate of

affected persons in the country is still very high.

“It is important to create adequate awareness for the prevention of the disease to reduce its burden on the state and the nation.’’

According to him, Lagos has the highest number of people living with HIV and there is need to create more awareness.

He, however, noted that the 12 per cent of the population in Benue State living with HIV was less than the five per cent of people living with the virus in Lagos, considering the population difference.

Ajayi said the walk

would raise awareness on ex i st i ng l a w s a g a i nst discrimination and stigmatisation of affected persons.

It is also to advocate for more political will and corporate support toward HIV prevention, treatment, care and support as well as to raise funds for AIDS campaigns.

The walk is opened to the public. It will start at 10am from the Ebute-Meta end of the Third Mainland Bridge and pass through Adeniji Adele and terminate at the Freedom Park on Broad Street, Lagos Island.

Ondo PDP members threaten to quit From Damisi Ojo, Akure

state capital, as daylight robbery.

He said: “I contested and won the post of Assistant Publicity Secretary of the party, which was zoned to Ondo West, but the leaders picked my opponent, Patrick Sekoni, in a very fraudulent manner.

“There were two contestants from Ondo West Local Government Area and my-

self. The party leader, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, directed

that the delegates should select one of us by signing for the candidate of their choice. Out of 21 eligible delegates from my council area, 16 voted for me, three voted for Sekoni and two abstained.

“It was a surprise that, shortly after my name was submitted as winner to the party representatives from Abuja, I learnt

that the name had been replaced with that of my opponent, who scored far less votes.

“I have consulted widely with my immediate family members, friends, associates and supporters and I have resolved to quit the party, since my request appeared not to be getting necessary response.”

Ogundele alleged that Alabi was instrumental

to his problem.

He said the decision by the party’s leadership in the state to turn the table against him in an election he transparently won was aimed at killing his political ambition.

The politician urged the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Agagu and othe r party leaders in

the state to return his mandate.

EVENTEEN lucky Nigerians have become millionaires in the ongoing Coca-Cola Open & Win national consumer promotion, which has entered its second month.

The Marketing Director of Coca-Cola Nigeria, Mr Austin Ufomba apprased the progress the promo had attained.

He said other millionaires would be presented with their cheques as soon as they are contacted and produce their winning crown corks.

Ufomba restated the brand’s commitment to refreshing consumers and inspire moments of optimism and happiness through its beverages and initiatives such as the promo.

“For us at Coca-Cola, it is about putting smiles on the faces of our consumers,” he said.

Ufomba gave the names of winners who have collected their cheques.

They are: Ifeanyi Onedibia, Ifeoma Immaculata Anekwe, Valentine Chinedu Nwafor, Edwin Ikechukwu, Olaiya Dare, Tunbosun Ogunbanjo, Moses Bako, and Mustapha Mohammed. Others include, Olusegun Akinlawon, Mrs. Taiwo, Rasak Aruna, Chiwendu Anielo, Bamikole Bodunde, Kola Akanji, Bola Adebayo, Omolola Kolawole and Ola Adeniji.

A 24-year-old hotel employee from Lagos, Ifeanyi Onedibia, poured encomiums on Coca-Cola for the promotion.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

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www.thenationonlineng.net

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.7 NO.2092

WHO SAID WHAT ‘My approval of the governor originates solely from my performance rating of him since he assumed office. I want to advise my fellow PDP members that being in the opposition does not make one blind to reality’ SAMUEL OGBEMUDIA

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

V

IRTUALLY all the national newspapers and some of the global media, including CNN and Al-Jazeera, reported it as failed suicide bombing. With the suspected suicide bomber blown to bits we will, of course, never know for sure, but it seems last Easter Sunday bombing in Kaduna that has claimed at least 20 lives - and still counting – and maimed many more, was really never meant to be suicidal.

All the newspapers reported that the bombing would have been worse, far worse, but for one, Francis Markus. Except for Daily Trust which described him as a Detective Corporal, all the other newspapers said he was a private guard at the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA). Reading all the newspapers it seems he was the only source of what transpired before the bomb exploded.

All the newspapers, again except Trust, said he said he had a lengthy argument with the suspected bomber because he refused to allow the man, who was not a member of the church, drive past the check-point erected by the church on Sundays which only members of the church were allowed to drive through. Even when the man claimed he was driving to his house nearby, Marcus said, he refused to budge because he knew almost all those in the neighbourhood and the man looked unfamiliar.

Eventually the man, said Marcus, was forced to drive off. It was shortly after that that he heard a huge explosion which turned out to be from the vehicle he had refused passage by ECWA. Trust’s account did not mention the ECWA drama. Instead it talked about a “Detective Corporal Francis Marcus” giving a hot chase to “two suspected vehicles” that were heading towards Kakuri/Sabon Tasha in Kaduna South. It was during the hot pursuit than one of the vehicles rammed into the other and the explosion occurred.

Trust’s account was the official police account of the incident. Clearly, there is a disconnect between the two accounts if only because, according to all the other newspapers, Marcus did not say he left the gates of ECWA; there is a disconnect except, of course, if the ECWA Marcus was a different person from the one the police said had given a hot chase to the apparently bomb-laden vehicle and the one it collided with.

Whatever is the truth of the matter, two things are clear from the bomb explosion.

First, it provides one more evidence of media anti-Muslim bias. Second, it exposes the official claim that government has virtually won the war against domestic terrorism as an empty boast.

No doubt there was an attempt to bomb a church last Sunday. But it was far from clear that it was suicidal, if the ECWA Markus account is to be believed; a suicide bomber would not have wasted time arguing with a security man but would, instead, have rammed his way over him into the church.

The chances, therefore, are that the man probably wanted to park the car by the church and detonate it from a safe distance.

This raises the possibility that the bombing was the work of some rogue elements, in or out of government, intent on manipulating the deep sectarian divide in this country for some material or political gain. The bomber(s), of course, could have been the

RIPPLES YOUTHS URGED TO FIGHT BOKO HARAM –NEWS

bare fisted?

People and Politics By

MOHAMMED HARUNA ndajika@yahoo.com

The Kaduna Easter Sunday bombing and all that

•Mohammed

usual Boko Haram suspects.

But reading most of our newspapers you will find it hard not to conclude that all the evidence required are in as to the identities of the villains of the piece. Reading the newspapers you would be pardoned the conclusion that the bombers still succeeded in their mission in spite of the fact that the bombs exploded accidentally. You would also never know that almost all the fatalities from the explosion – taxi-motorcyclists, popularly known as achapa, tea and bread vendors, women bean cake sellers, etc – were Muslims.

Almost all the newspapers reported Pastor Josua Raji of the All Nations Christian Assembly (ANCA) as claiming that the bomb caused extensive damage to his church. The Daily Sun, for example, quoted him as saying the windows, doors, ceiling

fans and some church equipment were destroyed. “We were in the Holy Communion Service,” Sun reported him as saying, “and I was exhorting my people, all of a sudden, we heard a loud noise that shattered all our windows and doors, and destroyed our fans and some of our equipment in the church...No single person sustained any injury. But all our property was destroyed.”

In the evening of the day of explosion I went drove along the entire length of Junction Road where ANCA’s imposing building is prominently located. I also drove along Gwari Road where the more modest building of ECWA is located, and along adjoining roads.

As far as the eye can see, I can say categorically that there was not the slighted damage to either church for the simple reason that both were at very safe distances away from the spot where the explosion occurred. The properties that suffered extensive damage were two hotels that were a few meters across the road from the spot of the explosion. Not even a branch of First Bank that was next to one of the hotels suffered more than a few shattered window glasses.

Certainly no property that was more than a hundred meters away from the explosion suffered any damage. ANCA is at least three hundred meters away. ECWA, on the other hand, was shielded from the blast by several buildings in front including the two hotels that suffered extensive damage.

Clearly things, thanks to God and the spirit of Easter, did not work out according to the script of the villains of the piece whoever they were. It was therefore unhelpful of the country’s security predicament for anyone to have pretended otherwise and for the press to have

HARDBALL

“T

HERE are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics,” said a quotation attributed to the 19th century British Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, and popularised by Hardball’s literary hero, Mark Twain. It was the lot of Boko Haram and a group of supposedly randy armed robbers to help provide the opportunity to give expression to these differentiated lies. After Boko Haram suicide bombers detonated their bombs on Easter Sunday in Kaduna at the intersection between Junction Road and Sardauna Crescent, reporters, Okada riders and policemen have offered the public different casualty figures. Most newspapers indicated that some 36 or 40 people died in the explosions. This was an exaggeration, moaned the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Mallam Mohammed Abubakar, “Unless the death toll has reached that number (36 or 40) just now, I am telling you that early this morning (Monday) the figure from the hospitals is 11 deaths and 16 injured.”

Those figures are damned lies, say members of the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association angrily, “We lost over 100 riders.” Reporters did not tell us whether they read the faces of the Okada riders to determine whether they were simply being mischievous or they were being arithmetically comical. Surely, between the police’s 11 and reporters’ 36 or 40, and Okada riders’ 100, is a wide gulf as menacing as the Gulf of Guinea and obviously of such enduring and beguiling chasm that it is diffi-

played along.

The bombing, as I said, also exposes claims by senior government officials, including, I am afraid, President Goodluck Jonathan himself, that they have virtually vanquished Boko Haram, as an empty boast. Either that or someone or group with an interest in keeping the threat alive is using it as a bogeyman.

On the very day the bombing occurred, the Minister of Defence, Dr. Bello Halliru Mohammed, was on record telling reporters from Leadership Sunday that the army has contained the Boko Haram insurgents. “I would say, of all the talk of insecurity and violence,” he said in the lengthy interview, “it is happening in only 20 of the 774 local governments in the country. I would say that the armed forces have acquitted themselves in that area.”

Not only did the Kaduna Easter bombing expose the minister’s claim as an empty boast, the words themselves showed the man had a poor grasp of his responsibility, as an agent of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for securing the safety and the welfare of Nigerians where ever they are. Obviously the man does not know, as he should as vet doctor, that if one part of the country, no matter how small, is in pain the rest of it too is in pain.

In claiming that the worst is over with our domestic terrorism, the minister merely echoed his principal. During his recent trip to Seoul, South Korea, President Jonathan told the Nigerian community more or less the same thing, only he sounded even more selfassured.

“I can assure you, that God willing,” Thisday (March 29) quoted him as saying late last month, “before the middle of this year, most of these bombings will be reduced to the barest minimum...Even quite a number of foreign leaders are praising us ; that is the commendations we are getting since Monday.

Most countries that have this kind of experience have not moved as fast as we have moved. We have moved very, very fast.”

When a man who should be talking about eliminating the threat of bombing seems content with only reducing it “to the barest minimum,” and when he seems to cherish foreign flattery more than the feelings of his subjects, is it any wonder that there seems to be no end in sight to the insecurity in the land, the brave claims of government officials notwithstanding?

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•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Lies, damned lies, and statistics cult to confuse one statistics with another. Reporters could not agree with themselves which figure between 36, 38, and 40 was accurate. They are used to quoting disparate figures, and they do it with such indifference and panache that it is of no use anymore censoring them over their unverifiable figures. In fact readers are now so used to the media’s statistical adventures and chutzpah to rely on their drunken and overfed figures.

As Okada riders were busy imbuing Boko Haram’s locally assembled explosive device with the power of blowing 100 people to smithereens in one fell swoop, 42 female students travelling to Lagos from Enugu for the Easter break were held up by armed robbers on the Benin-Shagamu Expressway and robbed of their belongings. They were also raped, wailed some distraught parents whose names were not quoted in the news reports.

In fact, added some of the students, a few of the girls were raped to the point it was difficult to tell how many robbers had each of the girls. Soon it emerged that not all the girls were driven into the bush by the robbers, and the story of massive rape soon began to lose steam until no one among the parents or students could tell whether anyone was raped at all.

At first the robbers were thought not to number more than 12. Then another report said they were eight. And with the police on their

trail that night, and with gun shots rending the air, no one was sure whether the stories were not stretched a little about robbers being so composed under fire as to embark on rape, and to do it over and over again. Perhaps they took some aphrodisiacs along. If no parent reported his child raped, argued some observers whimsically, it was probably to avoid stigmatisation. Really? Yet when doctors examined some of the students, they detected no rape, and certainly nothing as brutal as first rumoured. The victims were doubtless traumatised. But when they met with their principal a few days later in Lagos, they were so full of life and animated chatter it was hard to even think they just had a catastrophic encounter of the unearthly kind.

It seems that having endured stupendous filching by pension administrators, with some of the perpetrators hiding as much as N2 billion in their homes, Nigerians don’t reckon with figures that are not in the knockout range. In our exaggerated minds, robbers do not operate in fives and sixes; they must number in the dozens, nay platoons. And if someone is believed raped, the sickening session probably exceeded two or three, for the ordinary robber is seldom ordinary but bionic. And if bombers strike, we think nothing of announcing the annihilation of a village. After all, in these parts, it’s kind of difficult to tell the difference between statistics, lies, and damned lies.

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