April 7, 2014

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Govt: Nigeria’s economy biggest in Africa

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IGERIA has “rebased” its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data, which has pushed it above South Africa as the continent’s biggest economy.

Now the world’s number 26 economy, the Nigerian GDP, which was last rebased in 1990, has added previously uncounted sectors, such as telecoms, in-

From Nduka Chiejina, Abuja

formation technology, music, online sales, airlines, and film production.

The GDP for 2013 is now estimated at N80.3 trillion (£307.6bn: $509.9bn), the Minister of Finance and Cocoordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, said yesterday.

That compares with South

Africa’s GDP of $370.3bn at the end of 2013.

Nigeria’s Statistician-General, Dr. Yemi Kale, said with the repot, Nigeria is close to being in the league of the top 20 economies by 2020.

He said it took the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) two years to complete it. The release date was changed three times so as to get the numbers right.

The minister said: “Nigeria has moved to be the largest economy by GDP size in Africa and has moved to be the 26th largest economy in the world, it notched 10 points up. On a per capita basis, Nigeria is number 121 in the world so we have the total GDP size of $2,688 per capita now and moved up from 135.”

Continued on page 2

Emir: we lost 105 in attack Residents flee community

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ORE people may have died in weekend’s attack on Yargaladima village in Dansadau Emirate of Zamfara State.

No fewer than 200 –not 70 as earlier thought- died, it was learnt yesterday.

The Emir put the figure at 105.

The village was invaded by suspected Fulani herdsmen who shot at everybody in sight during a four-hour operation.

The attack on Yargaladima in Maru Local Govern-

‘

The attack occurred at about 2pm when the hoodlums, riding on over 100 motorcycles and carrying various guns, including AK 47 rifles, stormed a meeting of a vigilance group and professionals planning how to confront insurgents From Duku Joel, Damaturu

ment on Saturday followed a similar one on Burni-Tsaba and Manitsaba communities in Zumi Local Government, last week.

The attack occurred at about 2pm when the hoodlums, riding on over 100 mo-

Gunmen kill Ogun vigilance leader in church

I

DHQ probes alleged complicity by commanders

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

T was bloody yesterday at a church in Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State where unknown gunmen killed a 69-year-old man.

Chief Tola Okuneye, a.k.a Ajagajigi, was seated during the service at St. John Anglican Church, Oke-Sopen, in the accient town when five gunmen, who rode in vehicles painted in Lagos commercial yellow colour, stormed the church and shot him. At about 11a.m.

The gunmen pretended to be worshippers.When they saw Okuneye, Chairman of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee, they shot him in the head and chest. He died on the spot.

There was confusion within and outside the church. Gunshots rang out repeatedly. “Many were injured in the ensuing stampede,” a witness said.

The assailants fled the scene without taking

torcycles and carrying various guns, including AK 47 rifles, stormed a meeting of a vigilance group and professionals planning how to confront insurgents.

Police spokesman Lawal Abdullahi said the organisers of such a meeting ought to have informed him to pro-

vide security.

A survivor of the attack, Mallam Muhamadu Yargaladima, said: “Between yesterday (Saturday) and today, we counted no fewer than 215 bodies.”

He added: “Using AK 47 and other rifles, they began to shoot at children, traders,

’

vigilante, community leaders, clerics, thereby killing 215 people at the end of the fourhour operation.”

But the Emir of Dansadao, Alhaji Hussein Adamu, said his emirate counted 105 bodies.

He told Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari, who

visited the community yesterday to access the situation, that the killings were the worst in the emirate since 2010.

Yari vowed to fish out the killers.

He said the government would find out why the meeting that was not permitted by the authorities was held.

“We will find out who insisted that the meeting must hold,” he declared.

Assistant Inspector General of police (AIG) (Zone 10)Mamman sule said the Continued on page 4

•From left: Globacoms’ No1 Trade Partner, Nationwide, Alhaji Anthony Mohammed of Easy & Quiet, flanked by Globacom’s Group Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Mohamed Jameel (left), Globacom’s Divisional Director, Enugu, Mr. Mike Ehumadu (second left), Globacom’s Divisional Director, Abuja (second right) and Globacom’s National Sales Coordinator, Mr. David Maji (right) after Mohammed’s emergence as the No 1 Partner at the Glo Partners’ Awards in Lagos…at the weekend.

Continued on page 4

•SPORTS P24 •CEO P27 •MOTORING P35 •JOBS P37 •POLITICS P45

THE NATION MONDAY APRIL 7, 2014

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NEWS

Nigeria’s Continued from page 1

Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala, however, cautioned that “even though our GDP size is large in Africa and even to the world where we are number 26, if you divide it by the total number of our popula-

tion we should not get carried away by the whole exercise”.

Some economists point out that Nigeria’s economic output is underperforming because at 170 million people, its population is three times larger than South Africa’s.

GDP rebasing may lead

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (third left); his deputy Mrs Grace Laoye-Tomori (second left); Aregbesola’s wife Sherifat; Primate, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Rev Nicholas Okoh (left) and Bishop, Ilesa Anglican Communion, Rev Samuel Sowale, when Rev Okoh visited the governor in Osogbo... at the weekend.

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State (second right) with World Health Organisation (WHO) representative in Nigeria, Dr. Rui Gama Vaz (second left) and United Nations Team Leader, Dr. Dauda Toure (right) when they visited the governor...at the weekend. With them is the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Ismael Olalekan Alli (left).

•Acting Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr Sarah Alade; Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Mr Benjamin Dikki and Director-General, Debt Management Office, Dr Abraham Nwankwo, at a news conference on re-basing of Nigeria’s GDP in Abuja ...yesterday.

•Regional Sales Manager - Isolo/Ikeja, Diamond Bank Plc, Ibechukwu Charles (third left) with N50, 000 prize winner, Ekomadu Ignatius (left); (N50, 000) Okunola Janet (second left); (N100, 000), Justin Kelechi (fourth left); (N50, 000), Laoye Ajoke (fifth left) and (N100, 000), Ojabowale Folasayo, at the March DiamondXtra Draws held at Iyana Ipaja market, Lagos.

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HIEF Economist, Renaissance Capital (RenCap), Charles Robertson has said that Federal Government’s rebasing of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) could raise this year’s budget deficit by N400 billion to N1.9 trillion. The economist said the GDP revision may affect the 2014 budget too. “It does nothing to improve budget revenues or expenditure. It does mean, however, that a nominal federal government budget deficit of N912 billion could be raised by about N400 billion to N1.3 trillion and still remain at 1.9 per cent of GDP, using the new 2014 GDP estimate we have.

This may be very tempting to politicians in pre-election mode,” he said.

Robertson said the wider budget deficit would then require additional borrowing, via either Eurobonds which Nigeria’s debt office is trying to move towards, or domestic debt. Higher supply might offset the benefit to debt holders of the improved debt ratios and a possible rating upgrade.

Robertson said the GDP re-basing could cut the public debt ratio from 20 per cent of GDP to 13 per cent, and cut public external debt below two per cent of GDP, while the current account surplus may still be five per cent of GDP. “We suspect the rebasing is supportive of a possible upgrade in Nigeria’s

THE NATION MONDAY APRIL 7, 2014

3

NEWS

economy now biggest in Africa Financial analyst Bismarck Rewane told the BBC that the revision is “a vanity”.

“The Nigerian population is not better off tomorrow because of that announcement. It doesn’t put more money in the bank, more food in their stom-

to more borrowing

By Collins Nweze

Ba3/BB- ratings over 2014 to 15,” he said.

Analysts said banks’ chief economists, strategists and business development officers will in the coming weeks be reviewing lenders’ operational directions to align with the new growth areas in the rebased GDP. Former Director, Keystone Bank, Richard Obire said the new GDP will challenge banks to identify which sectors of the economy needs more credit.

He said: “Credits will flow to areas of strength. The rebasing has brought out the components of each sector of the economy, including their strengths, weaknesses threats and opportunities and banks have to explore them”. Head of Africa Research at Standard Chartered Bank, London, Razia Khan said in a report that the impact of dramatic growth in telecoms, banking and entertainment, especially music and the Nollywood film industry might have been downplayed in the previous GDP figure. She said rebasing will reposition the economy and bring out the full potential of each sector.

ach. It changes nothing.”

Rebasing is carried out so that a nation’s GDP statistics give the most upto-date picture of an economy as possible.

Most countries do it at least every three years or so, but Nigeria had not updated the components in its GDP base since 1990.

Then, the country had one telecoms operator with around 300,000 phone lines. Now it has a whole mobile phone industry with tens of millions of subscribers.

Likewise, 24 years ago, there was only one airline, and now there are many.

International aid donors are keen for more African countries to undertake this process regularly because it enables them to make better decisions when it comes to aid.

The finance minister noted that “the shares of GDP of some sectors are now quite important. Manufacturing moved from 2 per cent to 7 per cent which is significant and telecommunications moved from a very low one per cent to three per cent. Nollywood moved from zero per cent to 1.2 per cent.

“A whole lot of services in the formal and informal sectors were excluded from our GDP and these have now been brought in terms of measurement.”

This rise in services, she said, is not unusual for any economy and the fact that agriculture is now 22 per cent does not make it less important. Agriculture “still has a strong share of GDP and that is why we will maintain our focus”.

What this means, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala added, “is that what Nigerians have been wishing for, that is a more diversified economy is showing up in these numbers, with better information we can see that the economy is more diversified than before.

She lamented that the share of oil and gas has dropped to about 15.9 per cent, “but it is still an important sector of the economy as any sector with 10 per cent or more of the GDP is considered important to the economy but services is making a bigger mark.”

The minister said the government “will need to continue to support diversification of the economy and push harder and we need to continue to support agriculture and manufacturing because we have seen how it has grown with policies.”

However, within manufacturing, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala noted, “there are some sectors that are quite low that we need to focus on like electrical and electronics, we can do much more there to assemble, we are a country of big consumers of electrical and electronics products but yet we add very little value, plastics is very big and we have the base to be bigger in plastics, basic metal (iron and steel) we have the primary raw materials but we need to do more and better, paper and paper products I was surprised that we are so low in this area, we need to look at it, a country like ours with our size that finds that printing and publishing books is very important and we have to import even paper and other things, this is not appropriate, these areas have been exposed with these GDP numbers. We knew it before, but now it is even more stark and we should pay attention to that.”

She described pharmaceuticals as another area where we need to pay attention. She added: “We will continue our support for SMEs, it has shown up in this data that Small and Medium Enterprises, even Micro-Enterprises are very important in the Nigerian economy, so organising to support that is very important. This has been a mantra of this government in its transformation agenda, but we need to do more in the area of entrepreneurship training, we need to support our SMEs with better infrastructure and access to finance.”

She mentioned also housing. “This is a big creator of jobs and there is a lot of

,,

On a per-capita basis, South Africa’s GDP numbers are three times larger than Nigeria’s.

Economies are dynamic things; they grow, they shrink, they add new sectors and technologies and people’s behaviours change”

... is a vanity. The Nigerian population is not better off tomorrow because of that announcement. It doesn’t put more money in the bank, more food in their stomach. It changes nothing

,,

activity in housing and construction we need to grab; insurance, financing and banking sector is open, but we have much more opportunity to focus on insurance. These are areas that policy has better information now than it did before and we will continue with what we are doing and do it better and those sectors we’ve not touched we will do that.”

Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala warned that while “our debt to GDP ration has improved from 19 to 11 per cent; this does not change our debt policy”. This is not an opening for us to go and borrow more. No! We will remain prudent, we are not going to borrow more, we still have to look at things like debt service to revenue and when you look at debt service to revenue, the picture is not quite as rosy. We have to be very prudent so we don’t spend more and more of our income servicing debt I just want to mention that because the number looks better does not mean that we will change policy. We will remain with the present policy of prudent spending and debt management.”

For the private sector, these numbers, she said, “are very significant for both domestic and foreign private sectors as it validates Nigeria’s increased purchasing power and people seeing it will make the country much more attractive for investors because it has a large and significant consumer and producer needs and lots of opportunities that have now come up in this statistics”.

Shedding more light on the rebased GDP, Mrs. OkonjoIweala maintained that “not all of our ratios look good”. “Our tax to GDP or revenue to GDP doesn’t look that good, even with a larger GDP. You know we had a revenue to GDP ratio or tax to GDP ratio of about 20 per cent, which is just about in the range for emerging market economies but our non-oil tax to GDP ratio was quite low at 7 per cent, with these new GDP numbers, we are not going to look so good, our tax to revenue to GDP ration will fall to about 12 per cent and 4 per cent

for tax to non-oil revenue so this is not very pleasing.”

To check this slide, the minister said the government has “started moves to improve our tax to non-oil revenue to GDP by working with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to improve their approach to tax administration and I think this is working. With the aide of consultants, we are closing the loopholes, strengthening tax administration and I think we are on our way to improved tax collection, which will improve our tax revenue to GDP ratio.”

Other areas that the government will work hard at improving include governance, fighting corruption, providing infrastructure and building a social safety net to take care of those at the bottom of the ladder “because we have been growing in a manner that is unequal so that has to be taken care of, we need better quality growth, meaning that all those sectors mentioned we can get growth in them and get better quality growth. The president has raised a task force to put this together.”

Nigeria’s social spending, the minister said looks smaller but “we have to work harder to improve all these. Government is happy with the GDP numbers that have been validated internally and externally and certain aspects are clearer for us to make policy and we pledge that we will use this information responsibly to run the kind of policies that will make for jobs and social protection to Nigerians.”

The Statistician General, she said, subjected the numbers to checks with the aid of multilateral institutions like the African Development Bank (AfDB), the IMF and the World Bank.

Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said: “The idea was not to rush before releasing the numbers so that accurate numbers are released and quality checked, we had Nigerian experts to look at the numbers to ensure that they were internally consistent with our situation.”

•Bismarck-Rewane

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

NEWS

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (fifth right), Deputy Governor Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (seventh right) with the winners from the Second Draw of the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (Lagos HOMS). With them are: Commissioner for Housing Bosun Jeje (fourth left), Finance Commissioner and Chairman, Lagos Mortgage Board Ayo Gbeleyi (fifth left), Chairman, House Committee on Housing Bayo Osinowo (second left) at the Blue Roof, LTV 8 Complex, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos… at the weekend.

PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI

Emir: we lost 105 in attack Continued from page 1

meeting was not permitted by the police.

He said 79 people were killed.

No fewer than 25 people including politicians on their way to Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, to attend the APC stakeholders meeting/ congresses, were at the weekend killed by suspected Boko Haram terrorists along the Maiduguri- Biu road.

“Eighteen delegates on their way to attend a second stakeholders meeting slated on Sunday were ambushed in the bus they were travelling and killed.

No fewer than seven motorists and passengers were shot dead a few metres from Gwargube village.

A member of Civilian JTF

DHQ: we’re probing soldier’s claim on military commanders’ link with Boko Haram

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HE Defence Headquarters (DHQ) denied yesterday that some commanders in the Northeast and Boko Haram insurgents were working together – as alleged by a “soldier”.

The DHQ said impersonation could not be ruled out to create wrong impressions for the public.

The Director of Defence Information, MajGen. Chris Olukolade, who spoke with our correspondent in Abuja, said the military was probing the purported confession of “a soldier” in an interview with the Voice of America said: “Some terrorists yesterday laid ambush to some motorists and passengers along the Maiduguri- Biu road and killed many people, before they invaded Gwargube village and solicited support

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

(Hausa Service).

Gen. Olukolade said: “Ordinarily, the Nigerian soldier is too disciplined to be involved in that kind of utterances on radio.

“Let no terrorist propagandists hide under the guise of not wanting to disclose their source to present impostors as representing Nigerian soldiers.

“We do not agree that he is our soldier; we believe very strongly that he is not our soldier.

We are still studying the interview to confirm the motive.

Continued on page 59

from the villagers or risk deadly attacks. When they invaded the village after the road ambush, they did not attack or kill anybody. They warned them to cooperate with them or risk their lives”.

He stated.

Police commissioner Lawal Tanko said he was not aware of the attack.

Residents are leaving Buni Gari, the Yobe State town Continued on page 59

Gunmen kill Ogun vigilance leader in church Continued from page 1

anything away. Okuneye’s body was deposited at a mortuary in Ijebu-Igbo.

“The killers struck at the time Rev. Oke was about to mount the pulpit. The young men walked into the church hall and headed straight for where the late Okuneye sat, brought their guns and fired him at close range, a witness recalled.

One of the church leaders,

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Mr Kole Okunaiya, tried to challenge the gunmen, demanding what they were looking for, but the attempt was rebuffed.

“There was confusion when gunshots began to sound. We were shocked and everybody was jittery. The service came to an end abruptly. Some people, especially the elder are still in shock as I am talking to you now,” said a witness.

“Okuneye was well known in the town and neighbouring

towns. He was among the earliest artisans in the business of furniture making in Ijebu,” the witness added.

Police Commissioner Ikemefuna Okoye said police were aware of the killing. “No arrest has been made yet but we are investigating.”

Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun assured that government would do its best to get Okuneye’s killers.

Amosun spoke during a condolence visit to the family of

the deceased and the scene of the killing in Ijebu-Igbo. ‘’The heinous manner with which the life of a good citizen who had invested in security was terminated is uncalled for. ‘’I don’t know why men of the underworld will terminate the life of a man who will not hurt a fly. They even went as far as carrying out the dastardly act in the sacred house of God. ‘’This was a man who did his Continued on page 59

NJC member’s ‘bid to make sister Rivers CJ behind crisis’

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MEMBER of the National Judicial Council (NJC), O.C.J Okocha (SAN) has been accused of being behind the leadership crisis in the Rivers State judiciary.

Okocha, a former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, is said to have been plotting relentlessly to ensure that his immediate elder sister, Justice Daisy W. Okocha, emerges as the Chief Judge of the state.

According to sources, Okocha is using his position as a member of NJC to tailor the selection and appointment process to produce his sister.

The Chief Judge, Justice Peter Agumagu, has been suspended by the NJC after his choice by the Governor Rotimi

By Joseph Jibueze

Amaechi.

The popular thinking is that Okocha influenced the NJC to recommend his sister to Amaechi for appointment as the Chief Judge, contrary to the recommendation of Justice Agumagu by the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission to the NJC. But Okocha told The Nation on telephone last night that he lacked the power to make his sister the Chief Judge, adding that he was not even at the meeting where NJC recommended her to Governor Amaechi for appointment after the government sent her name to the council.

A source said last nigt: “The Continued on page 59

Conference: Niger Delta to demand reparation

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HE Niger Delta will demand reparation from the Federal Government at the ongoing National Conference, a delegate, Prof. Godini Darah, said yesterday.

According to him, the region that provides the oil, which is the mainstay of the country’s economy, is the worst victim of inequality, corruption and bad governance.

Darah, however, did not specify the amount the region will be requesting.

He spoke in an interview with

the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

“Niger Delta states are the worst victims of inequality, bad laws, plunder, corruption and bad governance that have happened in Nigeria.

“This is because we are the ones whose resources have been stolen for 45 years since 1969, when the petroleum Decree No 51 was enacted by the military regime of Gen. Yakubu Gowon.

“By that degree, the Federal Government has monopoly over Continued on page 59

Confusion in PDP over Oyinlola’s fate

ARELY five months after the reinstatement of its sacked National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, there is still confusion in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the judgment of the Court of Appeal.

President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, are said to be in favour of the party obeying the court order.

But some leaders of the party and the Ogun State Executive Committee of PDP are opposed to it.

The dilemma forced the PDP National Chairman to meet with Oyinlola behind closed doors last Thursday.

It was, however, gathered that the leadership of the party sees the solution in prevailing on the Ogun State Executive Committee of PDP to withdraw its pending appeal at the Supreme Court to address the Oyinlola challenge facing the party.

The Court of Appeal in

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

Abuja in November, last year, reinstated Oyinlola as the National Secretary of the PDP. The three-man panel, chaired

by Justice Amiru Sanusi, upturned the January 11 judgment of Justice Abdul Kafarati of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which sacked Oyinlola.

Justice Kafarati said Oyinlola’s nomination and election as the National Secretary were invalid.

Sources told The Nation that attempts by the party to comply with the judgment of the Court of Appeal were resisted by former National Chairman Bamanga Tukur who wanted the case to run its full course.

There are fears that the stalemate might affect the party’s preparations for the 2015 poll if it is not addressed.

It was learnt that if the Supreme Court does not consider the appeal of some leaders of Ogun State Executive Committee of PDP, the party might run into trouble as all actions taken

by the incumbent National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, would be illegal.

Some of the critical issues, which may be affected, are: •All decisions taken by the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the National Working Committee (NWC) since Oyinlola was removed from office; •Emergence of Muazu at a NEC meeting might be invalid because Oladipo summoned the meeting. Unless a mini-national conference is held to rectify the constitutional breach, Muazu may be a victim of this power play; •Nomination forms of all PDP candidates for 2014 and 2015 elections signed by the incumbent National Secretary would be invalid since he is no longer the substantive occupant of the office; and •PDP may be seen as disrespectful of the Judiciary.

A top source said: “We are worried about the overall implications of not respecting the judgment of the Court of Ap-

peal because anything done by the present National Secretary is so far illegal.

“There is confusion on Oyinlola’s fate. Some leaders have alleged that since he was one of those who formed the shortlived New PDP, we should not reinstate him.

“The fact is that some of those who formed the nPDP, including governors, have returned to the party. A court had also declared the nPDP as illegal because there was no crisis in PDP to warrant such factionlisation.

“Our concern is about the importance of the National Secretary to our preparations for 2015. We cannot build something on nothing. This is why we are pleading with our leaders to allow wise counsel to guide our decision.

“Some of our leaders are saying that we should rectify any constitutional lapse on Muazu’s emergence at a mini-National Convention in May. The biggest problem is the Office of the National Secretary. Legal-

ly, Oyinlola is the National Secretary but in terms of political expediency, it is Prof. Oladipo.”

A source in the NWC said: “The last time we discussed Oyinlola’s matter was during the tenure of Bamanga Tukur.

We could not go far because he had a particular disposition to it.

“The new PDP National Chairman is addressing this challenge, but he has not tabled it before the NWC. “I knew Oyinlola was around last Thursday and Muazu had some discussions with the reinstated National Secretary.

“Everyone in the NWC is hoping that Muazu would find a solution to this issue.”

Another source in the party said: “From the look of things, President Goodluck Jonathan and Muazu are disposed to deference to the order of the Court of Appeal to reinstate Oyinlola.

“The party leadership is only trying to manage the situation

•Oyinlola

on how to prevail on PDP leaders from Ogun State, who went to the Supreme Court, to withdraw their case.

“As it is now, Oyinlola has no case before the apex court, it is those PDP leaders who should be magnanimous to put the past behind them since the Court of Appeal had given a verdict.”

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

5

NEWS ‘Don’t tie Nigeria to President’s apron strings’

Nigeria, Belgium trade volume hits •300m

HE Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has cautioned against the move empowering the President to call for a new constitution.

The group said it would be dangerous to tie the office of the President to changes in the constitution.

In a statement yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Kunle Famoriyo, ARG noted that though the country needed a new constitution, the National Assembly should not vest the power to make the change on the President “without explicitly stating when and how this power can be exercised”.

The statement said: “ARG notes that the 1999 Constitution already reeks of many undesirable lacunae that are being exploited to the detriment of good governance.

While ARG will always support constitutional provisions for initiating a new constitution, we do not wish for such to be left to the Exclusive interpretation of the office of the President.

“We wish to impress it on our Federal legislators that the quest for a new Constitution of which the ARG is a notable vanguard, is premised upon the over centrality of power to the President in the 1999 Constitution.

“Therefore, giving the President the power to call for a new constitution without stating unambiguously how and when such power could be activated will tie the country to the President’s apron strings.”

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

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PDP decries APC’s criticism of Judiciary From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

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HE ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has decried the criticism by the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the ruling by a Federal High Court on some defecting members of the House of Representatives.

The APC had objected to what it called a misinterpretation of the court’s ruling, to the effect that the defected lawmakers were asked to resign their membership of the House.

The leadership of the House also went to court to appeal the “miscarriage of justice”.

It said the judge granted a relief the plaintiff never sought in the matter.

But in a statement yesterday in Abuja by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the ruling party said the APC’s alleged battle would have “tragic consequences” on institutions of democracy.

It said: “Wherever the APC is drawing this inspiration or motivation is surely far from the continent of democracy and right within the conclave of dictatorship. The APC is doing everything to scuttle democracy.”

The PDP expressed worry that the APC tended to blackmail judicial officers, when the opposition failed to secure its bidding, but defended them when the reverse happened.

•The Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Oladunni Oyewunmi (middle) with former Abia State governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu (left) and Chief Bayo Fatusin, during Kalu’s visit to the monarch in Ogbomoso, Oyo State...at the weekend.

APC seeks probe of firms in NNPC’s swap programme

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the National Assembly committees probing alleged revenue losses and sleaze at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), especially through the crude-oil-for-refinedproduct barter, to beam their searchlight on the activities of the two companies involved in the programme.

In a statement yesterday in Washington, DC, the United States, by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, APC said the call was necessitated by the fact that the two firms involved in the swap programme, Taleveras and Aiteo, submitted the highest and unmatched bid of $2.85 billion for the largest of Shell Nigeria’s four oil blocks slated for sale, the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29, which Shell is selling with its 97-kilometre Nembe Creek oil pipeline.

The party described as incredulous the fact that the two firms, which were oil marketers – and not explorers - of less than five years, could make such a huge bid.

By Olamilekan Andu

APC noted that this has put into a glaring context what may be the opacity of the barter programme under which the NNPC exchanges a huge chunk of the 445,000 barrels per day which the government allocates for domestic refining - for refined petroleum products.

The statement added: “This bid, by the two upstart firms, must attract the attention of the various National Assembly committees, including the House (of Representatives) Committees on Downstream, Upstream and Justice, and the Senate Committee on Finance.

“How is it possible that these two companies, which were nowhere prior to now, have metamorphosed, in just five years, to become companies that can buy assets of $2.85 billion? Is there a link between this sudden leap in fortunes and the possible underhand dealings in the swap programme, considering that they are the two firms involved in the programme? Is it a coincidence that while Nigeria continues to get less and

less from the programme, those who service the programme are feeding fat on it?

“Is there any link between the stupendous wealth of these firms and the ever-expanding huge revenue losses going on at the NNPC? How did it happen that Taleveras and Aiteo have, in less than five years, grown from obscurity into the oil sector hegemony by simply exchanging crude oil for an equivalent refund of petroleum product? And is there a link between the activities of these firms and the alleged missing $20 billion oil funds?

“Nigerians will also like to know: why is it that the highest bidders on the OML 29 are not big industry players but some deal-making firms?

How did swap become the most lucrative sub-sector of the oil and gas market in Nigeria?

“These and other questions are begging for answers, and we do hope the committees will provide the answers.”

The party said it would also be necessary for the committees to examine the five-year audited report of the two companies to know the source of

THE volume of trade between Nigeria and Belgium is about •300 million, it has been learnt.

The Nigerian Ambassador to Belgium, Felix Awanbor, addressed reporters on the sidelines of the just-concluded fourth European Union-Africa Summit in Belgium.

The ambassador said efforts were being made to boost the volume of trade because the Federal Government was interested in Belgian businessmen investing in Nigeria.

He said: “On the average, going by the last figure we gathered from the department of their own statistics here, our trade volume is close to about •300 million. That is insignificant. It is a kind of a reversed situation that we are trying to encourage.

“The trading is important,

NIM to hold centenary lecture

By Nneka Nwaneri

•Mohammed their record-breaking earnings and achievement, within such a short time of their active participation in the industry.

“For the avoidance of doubt and lest we are misunderstood, we are not accusing these companies of engaging in any misdeed. What we are saying is that those who are saddled with investigating the alleged revenue losses and possible sleaze at the NNPC must not leave any stone unturned in their attempt to unearth the truth.

“Since the two firms are the main players in the NNPC’s swap programme, and in view of their recent (planned) expenditure profile, they must also come under the scrutiny of the committees,” APC said.

THE Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) will tomorrow hold its centenary Management Day lecture at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NNIA), Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, at 11am.

A statement by its President and Chairman of Council, Dr Nelson Uwaga, said the theme of the lecture is: Defining Nigeria’s Nationhood at 100 Years: The Viewpoint of Management.

The lecture will address integrity, accountability, probity, honesty and dedication to duty, which are the bane of the nation’s workplace and the economy.

The keynote address will be delivered by a former Nigerian Ambassador to Belgium, Luxemburg and the European Union (EU), Prof.

Cornelius Alaba Ogunsanwo, The event coincides with the annual lecture which holds yearly on the second Tuesday in April, celebrates the ideals and tenets of management as a profession in Nigeria.

ASUU leaders fault sharing formula for N200b fund

The Nation man to present book

EADERS of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have faulted the sharing formula for the Federal Government’s N200 billion intervention fund for public universities.

The union, last year, went on a prolonged strike protesting Federal Government’s inability to implement agreements it reached with the union years back.

Among the agreements was the government’s yearly provision of funds to upgrade infrastructure in public universities beginning with the release of N200 billion.

But months after ending the strike, it was learnt that the union’s leaders disagreed on the sharing formula for the fund.

The Ministry of Education and the Nigerian Universities Commission (NCC) were said to have agreed that the fund be shared 80 per cent to federal universities and 20 per

A book, titled: Effective Media Relations for Churches and Pastors, will be launched on Easter Sunday.

The author, Mr Sunday Oguntola, is of the Worship Desk of The Nation on Sunday.

The book, the author said, is based on his experiences in covering churches and ministries within and outside Nigeria for over 15 years.

It is his humble contribution to how the Christian community can spread the gospel faster and better, using media tools, Oguntola said.

The book presentation will hold at the Ikeja Business Club, in the Central Business District of Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

A keynote address would be delivered by the President of The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mr Femi Adesina, on the theme: Winning the Media War.

L

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

cent to state universities.

The 80:20 sharing ratio, it was learnt, has pitted the state chapters of ASUU against their federal counterparts.

Inquiries in some state universities showed that the chapters of ASUU were angry with the ministry and NCC and were prepared to resist the formula.

The Chairman of ASUU at the Bayelsa State-owned Niger Delta University (NDU), Dr Bekee Sese, said the 80:20 sharing formula in favour of federal universities was unfair.

The union leader said no university had accessed the funds, adding that the Federal Government was reluctant to allow state universities benefit from the cash.

He noted that since the money was “an intervention fund”, there was no basis for the discrimination.

Dr Sese said most governors were not serious about funding state universities.

The union leader said ASUU’s state chapters relied on the intervention fund to ensure that infrastructural development in their institutions was at par with their federal counterparts.

He alleged that the 80:20 per cent sharing formula was Federal Government’s deliberate attempt to divide the body.

Dr Sese recalled that during the negotiations with the government, such a sharing ratio was not mentioned.

He said: “The initial objective was to use this money to bring state universities at par with Federal universities. It is a deliberate attempt by Federal authorities to divide ASUU along state and Federal universities’ lines.

“This money is not a budget; it is a special intervention fund. We should stop dis-

criminating against universities. In most of the congresses, the members are not happy about it. But nothing can divide ASUU. “This matter is coming after we have concluded the struggle. We will continue to dialogue and discuss.”

Also, the ASUU Chairman of Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, Prof. Esumen, said the sharing formula was the handiwork of the NUC and the Ministry of Education.

The union leader alleged that it was a ploy to divide the union.

He added that such a sharing formula was alien to the agreement with the government.

Prof Esumen said: “Nobody can hide that sharing formula any more. It is true and it was those implementing the agreement that came up with it, particularly those from the Federal Ministry of Education and the NUC. They are the architects of this.

By Nneka Nwaneri

6

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

NEWS UK’s Lincoln varsity in Nigeria From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

REPRESENTATIVES of the University of Lincoln, from the United Kingdom (UK), were in Abuja at the weekend to introduce the university’s Work-Based Distance Learning (WBDL) programme in Nigeria.

The officials, who were at the Protea Hotel, Asokoro, conducted counseling sessions for potential applicants comprising individuals and organisations.

Potential students and representatives of Nigerian organisations made enquiries from the school officials.

The Student Enrollment Advisor for Work-Based Learning of the university, Mr. Shane Moses said the delegation was in Nigeria to help organisations and individuals progress in their workplaces.

Moses explained that the programme would enable the university’s potential students, mostly workers, to progress in their careers while they would still keep their jobs.

Iyayi’sdeath:FRSCblamesconstructionfirm

T

HE Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has said the failure of a construction company handling the Abuja-Lokoja highway to provide adequate traffic guidance to the road users and channelisation of the road caused the accident in which former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Festus Iyayi, died on November 12, last year.

The commission stated this in its report on the death of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) academic at Banda, about seven kilometres to Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.

A copy of the report was sent to the chamber of Lagos lawyer Mr Femi Falana (SAN).

The report, dated March 21, 2013, was signed by FRSC’s Corps Commander Chukwuma Njoku.

Falana had requested for the report in line with the Freedom of Information Act, 2003.

The FRSC investigative team reported that the prob-

By Bisi Onanuga

able cause of the road crash was “the deliberate failure of the driver in the convoy of (Kogi State) Governor Idris Wada to return fully or stick to his lane of travel. Contributing to the injury severity was speed, the direction of impact and a body reinforcement material of the Toyota Hiace bus belonging to the union (the Academic Staff Union of Universities), which pierced through the heart area of the fatally injured”.

The commission said it discovered that at time of the crash, the weather was fine, the road surface was dry and the condition of Prof Iyayi’s vehicle did not contribute to the crash.

The FRSC explained that a “major safety issue identified in the investigation was the failure of the driver in the convoy of the governor to completely move to his lane of travel, despite the fact that vehicles were confined to a two-lane roadway”.

The report, which captures

how the accident occurred, stressed that on Tuesday, November 12, 2013, at 11 am, a white Toyota Hiace bus driven by Mr Bright Osifo, with three officials of ASUU’s UNIBEN chapter, including Prof Iyayi and Dr Ngozi Iloh, was travelling within the outer traffic lane on the Lokoja-Koton Karfe road in company of two other ASUU chapters’ vehicles en route Kano for ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on the nationwide strike by its members.

“At the same time, a black Toyota Hilux pick-up van, occupied by seven police detail and driven by Danladi Baba, was travelling South-bound on the inner side of the same North-bound traffic roadway as one of the vehicles in the convoy of Kogi State governor, which departed Abuja en route Lokoja same day.

“The Toyota Hilux vehicle, while on a high but determined speed, was reported to have partially occupied the North-bound lane, thereby reducing the traffic space for

oncoming vehicles and in the process sideswiped the left side of the ASUU bus.

“The crash killed one of the occupants of the bus (Prof.

Iyayi) and injured three others, including the driver; the occupants of the Toyota Hilux sustained minor injuries,” the report said.

It explained that the bus in which Prof. Iyayi was travelling had contact and induced damage because of the collision with the Toyiota Hilux in the convoy of the Kogi State governor.

The report said: “The entire right side of the vehicle was untouched in the crash, unlike the left side where the collision damage started at left end of the front bumper reinforcement, running through the whole length of the side from the left to front door.

“The left side view of the bus showed compressed vehicular parts with rugged tears, shattered windscreen, bent doors, displaced fuel filler cap cover, bent left rear rim with widely punctured tyre and sheltered side glasses.”

‘We’ll resolve Confab issues through consensus’ From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

A FORMER SecretaryGeneral of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) and Secretary of the Yoruba Agenda Committee to the National Conference, Dr Kunle Olajide, has said many issues being canvassed by various ethnic nationalities will be resolved by consensus.

He debunked insinuations that the National Conference would not bring out anything tangible to solve the myriad of problems confronting the nation.

The YCE’s spokesman said many people at the conference, through their contributions, realised that “all of us must be our brothers’ keepers to salvage the nation from the precipice”.

Addressing reporters at the weekend in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Olajide insisted that there was no going back on the conference’s moves to arrive at a people’s constitution which would replace the 1999 military-backed constitution.

The spokesman said the revelations so far from delegates showed that despite the prejudices of the past, Nigerians appeared to be moving in the same direction.

S

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

M

EMBERS of the organised private sector (OPS) at the weekend decried the decline in electricity supply and the failure of the National Assembly to pass into law the Electricity Bill.

The concerned members, under the aegis of the Ibadan Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA), also faulted Federal Government’s alleged insincerity and lack of commitment to generate sufficient and efficient electricity across the land.

The failure, ICCIMA said, was responsible for the economic downturn and high rate of unemployment among Nigerian youths.

They spoke in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, at the induction of ICCIMA’s new executive council members.

ICCIMA’s outgoing president Elder Mike Dimeji Fowowe said: “In November, 2013, the Federal Government sold the last of Power sector and promised that within six months we would have stable power. We are more than halfway into six months. All we have are excuses. And we are paying money for services not provided.”

ICCIMA’s new President, Prince Abimbola Makanjuola, promised to protect the private sector from government’s harsh fiscal policies at state and local government levels.

Immigration job deaths: Moro begs families From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

T •From left: Timothy Okwu, Public Relations Executive, MultiChoice Nigeria; Mallam Timothy Adamu, Director Post-Primary Education, Adamawa State (representing the Commissioner of Education); Mrs. Aderonke Bello, Chief Executive Officer, Innovative Technology Literacy Service Limited, at the commissioning of 10 MultiChoice Resource Centres in Yola, Adamawa State.

Jonathan intervenes in ASUP 10-month strike

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has begun the direct intervention to reconcile the grey areas in the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) demands.

This followed the rejection of the two payments by instalment to resolve the union’s prolonged strike.

ASUP’s President Chibuzor Asomugha told our reporter that the Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, had briefed President Jonathan on the remaining area of dispute - the

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

payment of arrears of allowances.

Asomugha said Dr Jonathan, last Monday, met some top Presidency officials, Wike and officials of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) and the Federal Ministry of Education to conclude the payment of the arrears.

ASUP and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) had insisted that

the Federal Government pay the entire N40 billion at once.

It was learnt that at the last meeting with Wike, in a bid to convince the ASUP officials, explained that the payment schedule for the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) earned allowances was settled by instalments, the first being N30 billion.

The universities were said to have more workers and spread than the polytechnics and the colleges of education.

Another meeting was later called with the governing

councils in attendance. The same issue on the mode of payment dominated the agenda, it was learnt.

The other key issues that have been resolved are on the establishment of NEEDS Assessment committees and the setting up of governing councils.

The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), our reporter learnt, has concluded work on the White Paper for visitation panels. The White Paper will be released in the next few weeks.

Tinubu’s wife donates $20,000 to Nigerian students in UK

ENATOR Oluremi Tinubu, wife of former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has donated $20,000 (about N3.2 million) as take-off fund to assist Nigerian students in various universities in the United Kingdom (UK).

Mrs Tinubu made the donation on Saturday in London when she received an award from the Association of Nigerian Academics UK (ANAUK).

OPS decries unstable power supply, others

The lawmaker, who was recognised for her “Outstanding Contribution to Education in Nigeria,” stressed the need for the association to set up a fund to assist students with the payment of tuition and other challenges.

She said her donation was a take-off fund.

The senator called for more support for the association and other bodies.

“This award being bestowed

on me today will help to renew my commitment in youth empowerment and will inspire others to do more for the improvement of the society.

“I have no doubt that members of ANAUK and other Nigerians in Diaspora are in a vantage position to realise the nature of challenges that we need to surmount to catch up with the best global practice of development,” Mrs Tinubu said.

Mr Adedamola Aminu, Presi-

dent ANAUK, noted that Mrs Tinubuembarkedonvariousyouth development programmes which impacted on the lives of many.

Aminu listed the girl-child education project, scholarship scheme and the “One Day a Governor” programme, among the senator’s legacies.

He also recalled Mrs Tinubu’s various interventions through the Senate Committee on Education.

Aminu urged the Federal

Government to engage Nigerian experts abroad in the Education sector.

“A lot of us benefited from home and we are committed to give back to the society,” he said.

According to him, such engagement will further strengthen the country’s education system.

The event was attended by members of the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK and associates of the awardee.

HE Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, has asked for forgiveness from Nigerians, especially the families affected by the ill-fated recruitment in which 19 people died.

He said the incident could not have been deliberate.

The minister promised to take responsibility about what happened.

Moro stressed that the tragic deaths of Nigerians during the recruitment was “a personal loss” to him.

Despite calls from various quarters for President Goodluck Jonathan to sack him, Moro told reporters at the weekend in Abuja that his intention was genuine, but “unfortunately, the exercise turned tragic”.

He added: “I think that I will ordinarily ask Nigerians for understanding in this matter.

The intention, understanding, the motive behind the whole thing is an open. The transparent recruitment exercise ...was intended primarily to give employment to Nigerians, irrespective of their backgrounds, connections, contacts in government or the business circle.”

Moro said the March 15 exercise was meant to correct the ills of the past and give everybody an opportunity to get jobs in the Immigration Service.

He said: “For me, like I said, it is a personal loss, because the exercise, in the first place, took place within the Ministry of Interior, organised by the ministry and its services...”

7

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

CITYBEATS

By Paul Oluwakoya

FRACAS broke out early last Friday in the Ikorodu area of Lagos, where scores of commuters and passers-by sustained injuries.

The victims were caught up in a fight between some members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and tricycle operators (Keke Marwa) at the Agric bus stop along the Lagos-Ikorodu Road.

The six passengers inside two tricycles conveying them to Agric bus stop from Asolo axis were attacked with machetes and guns.

A survivor, who was simply identified as Mrs Ajomole, said there were sporadic of gun shots which caused stampede in the whole area.

She recalled: “We all ran for our lives. I jumped out of the tricycle conveying me when I saw touts with guns assaulting tricycle operators. Though I was injured while trying to escape, there are others that were attacked in the head, hand and leg while trying to escape. Most of them were traders heading for their various markets.”

The tricycle operators alleged that the attack was sponsored by the NURTW over membership tussle between both unions, adding: “The bus drivers want the tricycle operators to register under their union.”

When The Nation got to the scene around 9am, policemen fired canisters, but didn’t arrest anybody. None of the NURTW officials was ready to speak on the matter.

Robbery suspects arrested

By Jude Isiguzo

TWELVE suspected armed robbers and rapist who have been terrorising Orile Iganmu and its environs in Lagos State have been arrested by the police with the cooperation of some youths.

It was gathered that following the heinous activities of the hoodlums who had been raping women and looting shops, residents volunteered to assist the police in identifying them.

The Nation gathered that the suspects were picked up during a two-day raid of the suspects’ hideout in Adeleye, Zion, Mosolashi, Sari Igammu and Amosu areas of the community.

It was gathered that police team was led by Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Dickson Onyeka, a Chief Superintendent (CSP).

The arrested suspects are: Tope Tinuoye (Bullet), Emekwe Emeka, Yusufu Wahab (Baba Luku), Abraham Azeez, Wasiu Adewale Ajelere, (Walington), Riliwan Bamidele, Saheed Lawal, Ahmed Suleman (Master2), Sunday Chukwu, Yusufu Ogunleke, Sharif Aliu and Abdul-Ganiyu Abdulahi.

Police operatives also recovered machetes, three generators, four television stands, clothes and other items which they allegedly stole from residents.

The suspects, it was gathered, are being investigated by the State Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja.

Murder suspect arrested, two years after

T

HE police have arrested a man two years after he allegedly killed a 27-year-old final-year student of the Kwara State Polytechnic, Kazeem Bamijoyi.

Bamijoyi was killed on August 22, 2012 on his way to the Doyin area of Orile Iganmu, a Lagos suburb, to collect feeding allowance from his elder brother, Taiye Bamijoyi, before returning to school. He was said to have been caught up in a fight between two rival cult groups.

The suspect, Sekiru Yusufu (32), a father of two, was arrested last week by the police. He is said to be a Junior Secondary School (JSS2) drop-out of Iganmu High School, Orile Iganmu.

Sources at Orile Police Station said the incident occurred during a clash between the Adeleye and

By Jude Isiguzo

Alhaji Jimoh cult groups.

The suspect, who is a member of the Adeleye group, was said to have relocated to Iyana-Iba, abandoning his wife and two kids.

A source said he was arrested at Chemist bus stop around Sari Iganmu when he went for another operation.

It was gathered that in his statement, the suspect said he hit the deceased with iron but never knew he died.

“After I hit him with the iron, some small boys came and started beating him. I had to leave the place. I was working as a motor park tout at Iyana-Iba, while living in Orile, but after the incident, I relocated to Iyana-Iba, pending the settlement of the matter,” the suspect said.

,

Drivers’ union, tricycle operators clash

CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

He was the hope of our family. We invested in him and hoped that one day, he would lift the family. As a tricycle operator, I suffered to take him to school. It is unfortunate he died that way’

,

The deceased’s elder brother, who witnessed the incident, said: “I saw when Yusufu hit his head with a big iron. That was when I ran towards where he was

lying helplessly. The injury was so deep that I knew he would not survive it. Yusufu ran away after the incident and did not return to Orile until he was arrested by the police”.

He said their mother was yet to recover from the shock of the incident, adding: “He was the hope of our family. We invested in him and hoped that one day, he would lift the family. As a tricycle operator, I suffered to take him to school. It is unfortunate he died that way.

“My brother was gentle, responsible and a devout Muslim. He was not a cult member. He was supposed to start his Industrial Training (IT) programme with the Nigerian Breweries, Iganmu, in the week he was killed.”

Expressing joy over Yusufu’s arrest, the be-

• The late Kazeem

reaved family urged Commissioner of Police Umar Manko not to allow him go unpunished.

The suspect has been transferred to the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Panti, Yaba Lagos Mainland.

Agony as fire kills woman, sister

T • The late Mrs Akpan

WO weeks after a mother of seven and her younger sister lost their lives in a fire incident at Iyana-Ejigbo, a Lagos suburb, their family is yet to recover from the trauma.

The fire was allegedly ignited following the activities of “black market” fuel dealers in their bid to make quick money during the recent fuel crisis in the country. The tragedy took place on March 19.

By Jude Isiguzo

It was gathered that the deceased, Mrs Evelyn Akpan and her younger sister, who was simply identified as Comfort, were doing their frying and selling bean cake at the junction a fortnight ago, when death came calling.

Eyewitness told The Nation that the mother of seven and her sister met their untimely death when a tricycle, popu-

‘My son’s killers are after me’

•Bereaved father urges police IG to ensure justice

O

VER two years after the killing of his son by hoodlums allegedly working for a land owner, a driver with the Lagos State transportation outfit, BRT, Wasiu Afolabi, has urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, to ensure that justice is done.

Afolabi, 58, said the killers of his 21-year-old son, Sikiru, who framed him up by accusing him wrongfully of stealing bags of cement, are also after his life.

“I have been in hiding for some time now because the killers of my son want to kill me. Four attempts have been made on my life for demanding justice over the murder of my son. This is why I’m begging the police IG to step in to ensure justice and protect me,” Afolabi told The Nation in Lagos yesterday.

Recalling the event that led to the “murder” of Sikiru on October 29, 2011, allegedly by a traditional ruler (Baale) in Igbosoro Opaara village, Ogijo area of Ogun State, he said: “I was at work when my wife suddenly called me, telling me to come and see my son lying on the ground. I demanded to know what happened, but she insisted that I must come home and see it for myself.

“I got home to meet him paralysed. My mother told

By Basirat Braimah

me that he was brought home by my elder brother, Akanbi Ali, who found him in a state of coma at Odo Kekere village area of Ogun State, where he was dumped. We took him to the General Hospital, Ikorodu, where it was discovered that he had broken his spinal cord.” In the presence of a policeman attached to the Ogoji Police Station, where the case was reported, Sikiru, before he eventually gave up the ghost, reportedly said the Baale and his men attacked him, adding: “They said I stole three bags of cement, which is a lie.”

However, the Baale insisted that the late Sikiru stole the cement and confessed to him, prompting him to order the members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) who caught him to take him to the police for proper investigations and action.

Ali disagreed, saying that he met the victim was held captive by the ruler and the hoodlums for hours after which he was assaulted and fell into a drain where he broke his spinal cord in the process.

On December 13, 2011, Sikiru died. Since then, his father has been running from pillar to post in a bid to bring the alleged perpetrators to book. “We have taken the case to the State Criminal Investigations De-

•The late Sikiru

partment (SCID), Eleweran in Abeokuta; Force CID, Alagbon in Ikoyi and the Force CID XQUAD, Area 10 Garki, Abuja,” Afolabi said.

He expressed dissatisfaction with the way some police officers have been handling the case, saying it was why he sought the intervention of the police IG. “My son is still in the morgue at General Hospital; he is yet to be buried.

There is no extent that we have not gone to get justice through various police formations. My main concern now is for the InspectorGeneral of Police to come to my aid and use his good offices to arrest my son’s killers,” Afolabi said.

Spokesman to the aggrieved family, Adewale Adetayo, yesterday said the killing of Sikiru had thrown the entire family into indefinite grief, adding that only the genuine intervention of the IGP would bring relief to it.

Representatives of the family, The Nation gathered last weekend, are billed to meet with the police chief in Abuja anytime in the week.

larly known as Keke Marwa, loaded with gallons of fuel, ran into a nearby pot=hole and lost control.

The Nation learnt that one of the gallons containing the fuel fell on the road and was smashed by an oncoming vehicle. The fuel spilled and attracted fire from the local stove that Madam Akpan was using to fry her bean cake.

The late Madam Akpan and Comfort sustained first-degree burns from the ensuing inferno, but they later died a few days later in the hospital.

Her husband, Anthony Akpan, said his wife and her sister would have survived if there was money to procure the best of medical treatment for them.

Akpan, who hails from Ebonyi State, also said: “On March 19, my wife was hale and hearty while leaving for her shop at Iyana-Ejigbo.

There was no premonition that death was lurking around.

Before I got to the scene of the incident, some Good Samaritans had rushed my wife and her sister to a private hospital. When I got to the hospital, seeing the level of the burns, I wept.”

“I noticed that the treatment they were given was not okay; I took them to the Gen-

eral Hospital, Isolo, from where we were referred to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Yaba. They were treated but unfortunately, as in the first hospital, I was asked to also deposit N500,000 on each of them. When I could not raise the money, I was referred to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Mushin, where my wife gave up the ghost.

“As I speak, my wife is lying at a mortuary in Ebonyi State, where we took her body.

Since her death, things have not been easy for me and my children because she would take care of our home, even when I did not give her money for the upkeep of our children - two boys and five girls,” he said.

Urging fellow Nigerians to come to his aid on the children, he added: “My wife’s death is a big loss for me and my children because the burden she left behind for me is too much to bear. I love my wife so much that I would still marry again if given a second chance.”

One of his daughters, Nneka, said her mother’s death came to her and her siblings as a surprise. “We never expected her to die in that manner,” she said.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

8

NEWS Ijan monarch, elders disown Fayose

T

HE Onijan of IjanEkiti, Oba Oyewole Fadahunsi, has disowned claims by Ijan-Ekiti Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) youths that the town has endorsed former Governor Ayo Fayose as its candidate for the June 21 governorship election.

At an emergency meeting of prominent indigenes at the palace yesterday, the youths were warned not to misrepresent Ijan-Ekiti for political gain.

The meeting followed a statement in the media by Mr. Akin Pereao and Mr.Wale Aladesiun that the town was backing Fayose’s candidacy.

Oba Fadahunsi warned PDP youths not to drag the town into the “sham endorsement of Fayose”.

The town said there was no way Ijan people could support Fayose, considering the unresolved murder of Dr. Ayo Daramola and the humiliation of the Onijan “through a schemed but unsuccessful dethronement”.

Noting that the Nigerian constitution allows free asso-

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

ciation and membership of political parties, the elders said: “We have advised the PDP to choose another candidate for the election, rather than Fayose, if it wants the support of this town.”

Sources at the meeting said the monarch recalled how Fayose allegedly plotted his arrest in Ode-Ekiti and planed to remove him as the Onijan, saying: “I can’t forget how Fayose humiliated me many times at Obas Council meetings when he was governor.”

The source said: “What the youths have said is almost a sacrilege. It is unthinkable that Ijan-Ekiti will turn out to be a backer of Fayose, suggesting that we have forgotten all that he did to us.

“It is not wrong to look for money, but our youths must find honourable means of making money, rather than dragging the name of their town in the mud.”

The elders urged youths not to engage in violence during election.

‘Omisore’s emergence good for APC’

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From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has said the emergence of Senator Iyiola Omisore as the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) candidate will make wining the August 9 governorship poll easier for the APC. In a statement by its Publicity Director, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, APC said: “The choice before Osun people is whether they prefer a desperate politician to the one they know, who has put Osun State on the world map and changed their environment and lives in the last 40 months.

“We should remember that this character of a PDP candidate has openly boasted that he would reverse all the good work Governor Rauf Aregbesola has done. He has also boasted that he would stop the feeding of children in primary schools and the O’YES programme. He said ‘Agba Osun’ makes no meaning to him. Omisore is on record as saying that Osun does not need the kind of good schools Aregbesola is building.

“He has boasted that he will stop all the road construction going on in the state because the people are comfortable with the no commerce, no industry, no business status the PDP put it before Aregbesola’s emergence. So he would put bulldozers to work to destroy what the APC government has done; for that is what it takes to reverse what the governor has done.

“Osun people know who they want to lead them. The quintessence of Omisore’s engagement in Osun and national politics is degraded, indeed, and Osun people are too intelligent to prefer a destroyer to a builder.”

LAUTECH hospital workers get arrears

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YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has approved the payment of outstanding salaries and allowances to workers at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital.

This was contained in a statement issued yesterday by Commissioner for Health Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin.

Workers at the hospital began an indefinite strike on March 31 over the non payment of outstanding salaries and allowances.

The governor also approved the upgrade of structures and equipment at the hospital.

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‘APC relies on mercenaries’

KITI State Labour Party (LP) candidate Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele has alleged plans by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to use mercenaries to win the June 21 governorship poll.

Bamidele alleged that members of the party who had been boasting that Fayemi’s victory is sealed “are voicing their over-reliance on the people the APC imported into the state during the voter registration.”

In a statement by his campaign organisation, Bamidele said Fayemi’s relevance had waned due to “bad governance and the suffering he inflicted on the populace by his policies”.

He urged the electorate to be vigilant during the election and ensure that “foreigners are not allowed to vote”.

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

Bamidele cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against indiscriminate transfer of the voting units of some Nigerians, who have been applying for it for the election, alleging that some were using the opportunity to engage in electoral fraud.

He said the conduct of a free, fair and credible election begins with a standard voter register, urging INEC to sanitise the register.

Bamidele said: “We urge security agencies to be proactive in border towns because the Ekiti election is going to be a special one. We learnt the mercenaries will be moved in a week to the election.”

Ekiti marks ex-deputy governor’s first memorial anniversary

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HE Ekiti State government marked yesterday the First Memorial Anniversary of former Governor Mrs. Funmilayo Adunni Olayinka with a service at the Cathedral Church of Emmanuel, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Okesa in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

Mrs. Olayinka died on April 6, last year, at St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos, after battling breast cancer. She was 52.

The church service is the first of a series of events lined up for the anniversary.

It will be followed today and tomorrow with a rally, cancer awareness walk and health talk at Ido, Ikere and Ado-Ekiti.

The service, which started at 10am, was attended by Governor Kayode Fayemi; his wife, Bisi; the Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; the widower, Mr. Lanre Olayinka, an architect; their first child, Yeside; the deceased’s former Personal Assistant, Princess Teju Okuyiga and Senator Tony

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

Adeniyi.

Also present were Secretary to the State Government AbdulGaniyu Owolabi; Chief of Staff to the Governor Yemi Adaramodu; Director-General, Ekiti State Broadcasting Service, Mojeed Jamiu; Head of Service Olubunmi Famosaya and Commissioner for Integration and Inter-Governmental Affairs Funminiyi Afuye.

The Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe; his wife, Eyesorun Bosede; and the Sasere (High Chief) of AdoEkiti, Chief Segun Famuagun, were also at the service.

Speaking briefly at the service, Fayemi urged Nigerians to live a life of integrity and righteousness, adding: “These are qualities for which we all remember my late deputy.”

He described the deceased as a selfless woman, who lived a life of service and thanked the people for showing her love.

Urging civil servants and political office holders to dedicate themselves to the service of the people, Fayemi said: “We have a lot to emulate in her life of service to the people. For those of us in the public service, this is a remarkable moment to serve our state with integrity and dedication.

“She was a remarkable woman who served our people selflessly with commitment, integrity and exemplary character. We have a lot to emulate from her gentleness, compassion, competence and service to the people.”

In his sermon, Rev. Olanrewaju Bankole lamented the “scarcity of integrity in our society today”, and extolled the virtues of the late Mrs. Olayinka.

Rev. Bankole said the deceased was “being remembered for having lived and served Ekiti State with integrity and purpose”, adding: “We often urge Christians who go into politics not to lose their integrity. Our late deputy governor maintained

hers to the last. Politics should not be synonymous with telling lies. It should be synonymous with integrity. As a deputy governor no one heard of any scandal concerning her. This should be an example to us.

“The people condemn those who do good and praise those who do bad. We must stop this sycophancy because our future is dependent on what we do now. We cannot afford to sell our consciences because some people throw money at us.”

The late Mrs. Olayinka’s elder brother, Chief Famuagun, said the family had no cause to brood over her demise, noting: “It is only God who gives that can take. One way our people can appreciate and preserve her legacy is to vote for Fayemi.

It was Fayemi who chose her as a running mate and brought the best out of her.

After the service, the guests moved to the cenotaph at the Hero’s park, where Mrs. Olayonka was buried, for a brief prayer and laid wreaths on her grave.

•From left: Fayemi; Bisi; Prof. Adelabu and Olayinka…yesterday.

Govt forced us to shift Jonathan’s visit, says Ekiti PDP P RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to Ekiti State has been postponed indefinitely.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it was postponed owing to the state government’s alleged refusal to grant it (PDP) permission to use the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

Addressing reporters yesterday through the Fayose Campaign Organisation, PDP said it wrote to the government on March 28, requesting to use the stadium for the kick-off of former Governor Ayo Fayose’s campaigns, but

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•APC: stadium booked for league match From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

was turned down in a letter dated April 2, signed by Mr. P.O. Dada.

Director-General of the Ayo Fayose Campaign Organisation Chief Dipo Anisulowo berated the government for refusing the request, saying: “Such move is not excusable, as the facility was built with tax payers’ money.”

He said the party had pe-

titioned the President on the development and was considering another venue and date for the event.

Anisulowo said the party may use the Federal Highway for the campaign, if left with no choice, adding: “Governor Kayode Fayemi kicked off his campaign at that stadium on March 27.

The stadium belongs to Ekiti people and is being funded with the people’s money. It is, therefore, surprising that the people,

who are members of the opposition party, are being denied the use of the public utility.”

Commissioner for Youth and Sports Kayode Olaosebikan said the request was turned down because the stadium was booked for a league match.

He said: “If it was on another day, there would have been no problem.

Anybody, irrespective of party or religion, can ask for the use of the stadium and it would be released, if available. However, we should realise that public property like the stadium is primarily meant for sporting activities.”

Olanipekun heads Ajayi Crowther varsity council

ENOWNED lawyer Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) has been appointed Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo. Proprietor of the university, Supra Diocesan Board West of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), informed Olanipekun of the appointment

in a letter signed by the Secretary, Supra Diocesan Board West, Rt. Rev. Humphrey B. Olumakaiye.

The diocese said Olanipekun’s appointment was as a result of his “invaluable contribution” to Nigeria’s education sector and “enviable record as a man of integrity and excellence.

In his acceptance letter, Olanipekun

thanked the diocese for the honour, pledging to put in his best.

Other members of the Governing Council are: Mr. Toyin Okeowo; Prof.

Mopelola Omoigun; Rev. M. A. Osunade; Chief M.A Aderiye; Rev. G. Lasebikan; Prof. J.B. Osemeikhan; Mr. Niyi Oguntoye; Prof. Susan Ajibade; Rev. Dapo Asaju; Mr. M.O. Abikoye and Justice B.O. Oguntade.

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NEWS

Why we can’t declare winner in Ondo by-election, by INEC

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•LP kicks •PDP backs commission

HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the Ilaje/Ese-Odo byelection inconclusive.

Prof. Babatunde Adeyemi, the returning officer, announced this yesterday at Igbokoda, Ese-Odo Local Government Area.

The results compiled by INEC showed that Mr. Kolade Akinjo of the Labour Party (LP) polled 23,926 votes.

Mr. Adewale Kukute of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came second with 22,628.

Adeyemi said the election was declared inconclusive because the difference of 1, 298 votes between Akinjo and Kukute is lower than the number of cancelled votes.

He said over 7,000 voters could not participate in the election, adding: “This has violated the Electoral Law, hence the need for INEC to conduct supplementary elec-

tions in areas where elections could not hold. I cannot return the LP candidate despite polling the highest number of votes, as the Electoral Law empowers INEC to declare such election inconclusive.” Adeyemi said INEC would announce the date for supplementary elections in places where elections could not hold.

However, the LP said the returning officer had no reason to declare the election inconclusive.

In a statement by its Acting Chairman, Chief Dele Akinyele, LP said: “It is instructive to note that the election took place and returns were made in 21 of the 22 wards that make up the federal constituency. The returning officer’s duty is to collate the lawful votes from vari-

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From Damisi Ojo, Akure

ous units and wards and declare the candidate with the majority of lawful votes as winner.

“The election tribunal constituted by the president of the Court of Appeal has the sole responsibility of determining any complaint of irregularity or non-compliance with the law.

“The use of the word ‘inconclusive’ by the returning officer to abort the will of the people will not be applicable in this case because the only condition for declaring a winner is that the candidate must score the majority of lawful votes, which has been satisfied in this case.

“The introduction of the word ‘inconclusive’ could only be applicable where there are additional requirements of spread before a winner can be declared, as is required in the presidential

Call Adesiyan, Obanikoro to order, group urges Jonathan

PAN-YORUBA organisation, the Coalition of Oodua Self-Determination Groups (COSEG), has urged the Presidency to call Minister of Police Affairs Jelili Adesiyan and Minister of State for Defence Musiliu Obanikoro to order.

It said the conduct of the ministers was capable of threatening the peace in the Southwest.

COSEG said Adesiyan, who is from Osun, and Obanikoro, who is from Lagos, were using their offices to cause repression and endanger the peace in the zone.

In a statement yesterday, titled: Threat to Peace of Southwest by Police Affairs and Defence ministers, signed by COESG Chairman Dayo Ogunlana and Secretary Rasak Olookooba, the group said the use of policemen by Adesiyan to attack an Osun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, former Governor Isiaka Adeleke, and Obanikoro’s use of soldiers to halt a housing project of the Lagos State government were strong indications that Adesiyan and Obanikoro were on a sinister mission in the Southwest.

COSEG said: “Our attention has been drawn to an ugly unfolding drama in Osun State. As a concerned group and stakeholder in the Southwest’s politics, welfare and socio-economic growth, we deem it feet to promptly respond to any untoward behaviour by those whose action or inaction constitutes threat to this region.

“We gathered that at a venue slated for the meeting of Osun PDP aspirants, a section of its leaders, led-by Adesiyan, unleashed violence on Adeleke and his supporters.

“Adeleke narrated how he and his men were molested and assaulted by security agents; Adesiyan; another aspirant, Senator Iyiola Omisore and Mr. Sogo Agboola at an Osogbo hotel, venue of the meeting.

The drama that is unfolding in the Southwest with the shameful conducts of Adesiyan and Obanikoro is a vindication of COSEG’s earlier position and alarm that the appointment of the two was targeted at some sinister moves by the PDP to repress the people of the Southwest.

•Jonathan

“Adeleke said he went to the venue to meet the fiveman committee sent from Abuja to conduct the party’s primary, which held last Saturday. He first noticed the harassment of his supporters by security agents and he went into the hall to lay a formal complaint, having been told by the security agents that they were acting on Adesiyan’s instruction.

“Inside the hall, he said he saw Omisore, Adesiyan and Agboola sitting together and he approached them to complain. Adeleke said: ‘I went to Adesiyan to complain that police officers and DSS operatives were holding party men outside. Instead of listening to me, he jumped over a table before him and hit me on the chest. Agboola also attacked me. Before I knew what was happening, Omisore hit me from the back. About seven corked guns were pointed at me.’

“First, as a minister, one expects a man of Adesiyan’s calibre to observe and act with decorum. Second, as an indigene of the state, we think what should be uppermost in Adesiyan’s mind should be the peace and security of the state.

“Third, we are completely miffed that an ordinary familiarisation meeting among aspirants in his party

could snowball into violence, the news of which has sent panic down the minds of the citizens over the possible violence about to be unleashed on the state in the PDP’s bid to capture Osun.”

The group said the appointment of Adesiyan, one of those suspected, arrested and prosecuted for the murder of former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Chief Ajibola Ige, is an insult to the Yoruba.

It said with Adesiyan presiding over the Police Affairs Ministry, the powers that be in Abuja have told Nigerians that Ige’s killer cannot be found.

On Obanikoro, the group said: “In the same vein, we view with concern the alleged show of power by Obanikoro, with his occupation of a Lagos State project site at Ilubinrin in Lagos by men of the Nigerian Army.

“The drama that is unfolding in the Southwest with the shameful conduct of Adesiyan and Obanikoro is a vindication of COSEG’s earlier position and alarm that the appointment of the two was targeted at some sinister moves by the PDP to repress the people of the Southwest.”

COSEG urged opinion leaders in the Southwest and the Presidency to call Obanikoro and Adesiyan to order.

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and governorship elections.

“The refusal of the returning officer to declare the obvious winner of the election constitutes grave danger to our democracy. The LP hereby calls on the returning officer and INEC leadership to declare Akinjo, who scored the majority of lawful votes, winner.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has hailed INEC for declaring the poll inconclusive.

In a statement by its Publicity Director, Ayo Fadaka, PDP said: “The by-election had to be declared inconclusive because of the many indecorous acts of Governor Olusegun Mimik, who erected several blocks on the path of attaining a free and fair election.

“The past four weeks leading to the election saw Mimiko relocating the seat of governance to a hotel in Okitipupa, where he planned his onslaught on how to compromise the election.”

PDP hailed INEC for organising a credible election. It also praised security agents for their professionalism and vigilance during the poll.

The party urged the people of areas where supplementary election would be conducted to vote for a credible candidate.

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FE Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) founder Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) has urged the government to appoint individuals with passion to chair the councils of polytechnics, rather than politicians who only desire to make money.

Babalola said individuals who want to make money should look elsewhere to fulfill their ambition and not in schools, “which require a lot of commitment and funding”.

He lamented the dichotomy between polytechnic and university degrees, describing it as “unacceptable”.

Babalola spoke at ABUAD at the weekend while hosting the leadership of the Committee of Librarians of Monotechnics and Polytechnics of Nigeria (COMPLIN), who sought his intervention towards ending the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (NASUP).

COMPLIN’s President Tope Alogun said government and its agencies do not seem to care when polytechnics were on strike.

ASUP had been on a nationwide strike since May last year.

It is demanding that the government sets up a regulatory body for polytechnic affairs as is the case with universities.

ASUP is seeking an abrogation of the dichotomy between polytechnic and university graduates.

NASUP joined ASUP in the strike in November for the same reasons.

Babalola berated the councils of polytechnics and their members for the strike.

He said COMPLIN mem-

Bridge poly/ varsity gap, Afe Babalola urges govt

By Adegunle Olugbamila

bers must understand they were there to serve and lend their experience to the growth of their institutions.

The legal icon said as chairman of the Council of the Federal Polytechnic, Akure and Ado-Ekiti, and a Pro-Chancellor and chairman of Council at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), he declined allowances and salaries, and used his resources, goodwill and connections to develop the schools.

Babalola said if the country desires to grow, the government must accord education a pride of place in its yearly budget, train teachers, pay them handsomely and ensure their welfare.

He said: “This way, teachers will be committed and do what they are paid for” The frontline lawyer advised the managements of polytechnics to send a memorandum to the national conference stating their positions.

He urged Nigeria to learn from the Mr. John Major-led government of England, which abolished polytechnics and upgraded them to universities, adding: “If our polytechnics are upgraded to universities of technology, their products, who would have imbibed functional and all-round education, would, upon graduation, be employers of labour, instead of pounding the streets looking for white-collar jobs which are scarce to come by today.”

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NEWS PRESENTATION OF AWARD TO SENATOR OLUREMI TINUBU IN LONDON

•Deputy Mayor of London Borough of Lambeth, Councillor Adedamola Aminu (left) presenting an award of Outstanding contribution to Education and Empowerment in Nigeria to Senator Oluremi Tinubu, at Monarch Suite, Hilton, London Metropole, London... at the weekend. With them is Labour Councillor Lib Peck.

• Senator Tinubu (middle); Senators Mudashiru Hussein (left); Ajayi Boroffice; Babafemi Ojude and Gbenga Ashafa

•Members of the Lagos House of Assembly –– (front row) Segun Ogundimu (left); Moshood Oshin; Yisahu Gbolahan (fourth left); Concillor Aminu; Senator Tinubu; Hon Lola Akande; Mufutau Egberongbe (right); Bimpe Akinsola (second right) Back row: Alawiye King (second right); Omowunmi Edet; (behind Senator Akande) Segun Olulade; (behind Senator Tinubu) Bisi Yusuf and Lanre Ogunyemi and others.

•Senator Tinubu (second left); Alhaja Tinubu (left); Hon Lola Akande and Mrs Mayowa Ikuforiji

•Mrs Anike Adekanye (left); Hon Bola Akinyemi-Obe and a council official

• Mrs Ronke Ganiyu Solomon (left) and Hon Omolola Essien

•Hon Muslim Folami (left); Senator Tinubu; Hon Abiodun Balogun (right) and guest

•Alh Mutiu Aare (left) and Mr Demola Seriki

•Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs Hon Oyinlomo Danmole (left); Senator Tinubu; Hon Aliu Kazeem and others.

•Councillor Aminu (fifth left); Senator Tinubu (middle) and well-wishers

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014 PETROLEUM PRODCTS FOR SALE. 33,000 LITRES OF AGO{TRUCK NO-RIVERS XB 269 KPR}.....1.5 Million.

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NSCDC STATE SECRETARIAT. OPOLO ROAD, YENAGOA, BAYELSA STATE. TEL/FAX: 234-089-490-326, 08035004681, 09096008711.

13 PUBLIC NOTICE OLATUNJI I formerly known and addressed as Miss Olatunji Florence Bolajoko now wish to be known and address as Mrs Ojomo Florence Bolajoko. All former documents remains valid. Lagos state Government, Ministry of Environment and general public please take note.

SPACE FOR SALE

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COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

FROM OTHER LANDS

Questionable MOU

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• FG/Namibia refinery joint venture is not in Nigeria’s interest

T a time that fuel scarcity is biting harder on the home front because of graft in fuel importation chain: Also at a period that the nation’s four refineries’ moribund state is accorded tepid official efforts; it is sad that President Goodluck Jonathan has gone abroad to arrange the construction of jointly-owned petroleum products’ refinery with Namibia. That was the hallmark decision reached through a joint communiqué issued in Windhoek, Namibia at the end of his visit purportedly made at the instance of President Hifikepunye Pohamba. This arrangement, in our view, is economically unsound.

The visit produced 11 Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) reportedly assented to by the two leaders, which among others, include: training of Namibian diplomats at the Nigerian Foreign Service Academy, provision of vol-

‘The questions now are; what could then be the motivation for Nigerian investors going as far as Namibia to seek partnership before building a refinery? Is it not possible for them to emulate Aliko Dangote whose Greenfield refinery, a private idea, will soon become functional?’

unteer health professionals to Namibia under the Technical Aid Corps Scheme, initiative on youth development, bilateral air service agreement and waiver of visa requirements for citizens holding diplomatic and official passports. Others are extradition treaty, cooperation in the legal field, treaty on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, understanding in the field of geology, mining, mineral processing and metallurgy, trade, investment and economic cooperation and cooperation in the field of tourism.

However, the crux of the agreement is the refinery that is scheduled to be wholly private sector driven. Notwithstanding the fact that the two presidents have urged members of the Organised Private Sector in their respective countries to take advantage of the opportunities arising from the joint venture by making the project a reality, its un-strategic location in the Namibian area of Walvis Bay is of concern.

We know that no nation is an island, especially in contemporary situation where the world has become a global village. Nonetheless, we believe that a nation, while dealing with other countries must consider that vital principle of comparative advantage. For instance, Nigeria is an oil producing giant and we thought that this reality would have been of paramount consideration whenever the country is reaching an understanding with Namibia or any other country.

Why would President Jonathan not convince stakeholders in Namibia to consider setting up the refinery in Nigeria?

Was the important economic point of proximity to raw materials not of any issue in the two presidents’ deliberations?

After all, we are aware that there is no oil in Namibia. The questions now are; what could then be the motivation for Nigerian investors going as far as Namibia to seek partnership before building a refinery? Is it not possible for them to emulate Aliko Dangote whose Greenfield refinery, a private idea, will soon become functional?

In our view, it makes more economic sense to have the refinery established in the country and the end-products exported to Namibia and other countries that might be in need of them. Being a private sector -driven initiative, the choice of site of such refinery would go a long way in reducing production cost, bring down petroleum products prices, provide readymade market for the country’s high domestic fuel consumption and cushion the effect of current intractable fuel scarcity. Above all, such adroit economic move will also generate more profits for investors from both countries.

That this obviously rational economic choice was not made has left us wondering about the genuine identities of the powerful forces behind these so-called investors from both countries. Are these ‘investors’ truly out to follow rational economic sense or they are just disguised persons that are merely desirous of protecting the interests of their unseen promoters? The Nigerian public deserves to know.

Curious judgment •What informed the judge’s decision in the PDP’s suit on its defectors?

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HE great jurist, Lord Denning (MR), as far back as 1969 declared: ‘Justice must be rooted in confidence and confidence is destroyed when right minded people go away thinking; the judge is biased.’ This statement formed the bulwark of our scrutiny of the Justice Adeniyi Ademola’s judgment of the Abuja high court that is inflaming passion in the National Assembly and the entire polity. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on January 7 instituted a suit seeking to restrain the House of Representatives from altering the composition of its leadership. The action was a consequence of mass defection of its members to the new All Progressives Congress (APC) which nearly made it lose its majority status.

The court granted PDP’s prayer for perpetual injunction restraining the 37 defecting lawmakers that moved from PDP to APC from effecting any leadership change in the lower house. But rather than limit the court’s scope to the relief sought by the plaintiff, the judge went overboard by declaring that the 37 defectors should resign their positions from the National Assembly.

To us, the entire hullabaloo would have been averted if the judge had shown sufficient circumspection in his judgment most especially in his interpretation of section 68 of the 1999 constitution (as amended). Obviously, the court adduced some reasons for arriving at this contentious judgment which included the fact that the expiry date under which the defected lawmakers were elected under the PDP had not been extinguished as provided for by the constitution before

they moved to the APC. However, the judge’s overreliance on Justice Elvon Chukwu’s ruling of October 8 last year is suspect. Justice Chukwu, contrary to the impression being given by the new judgment merely said the defectors could not have acted under the then name of ‘New PDP’ that they adopted; he never said there was no division in the PDP. The fact is that the plaintiff (PDP) in this matter merely instituted the action as a pre-emptive one. The party was scared stiff that with the high level of defection going on at that period when the opposition APC was about having the majority, the ruling party’s leadership days of the National Assembly were numbered. To forestall that, it approached the court that has now awarded it a bonus by pronouncing that the defected legislators have no moral or legal basis to retain their seats.

Yet, we know that the court is not Father Christmas and should not give judgment on what was not canvassed before it. The thrust of the matter before it was to determine whether the APC legislators, with their numerical strength at that period, had the right to change the House leadership in such areas as that of Chief Whip, Majority Leader and their deputies. The judge seemed to have lost focus of this salient point before arriving at his highly litigious judgment.

We are happy that the defendants in the case have gone on appeal to challenge the validity of that judgment. We have implicit confident that the appellate court will do justice by determining whether the judge in this case sincerely adverted his mind to the provisions of the constitution and if indeed he applied them to his

actions. In our view, a lawmaker who has crossed over to another political party could not legally be compelled to resign his seat, if his action was a consequence of division within his party. It is incontestable that PDP was enmeshed in serious crisis that led to the emergence of another faction within the fold which led to the defections that followed.

As we said earlier, Justice Chikwu actually stopped the breakaway faction from using the name ‘new PDP’ because, at that point, the defection saga was unstoppable. In our view, the court erred by saying that those lawmakers have no right to leave the party. The move is constitutional. Justice Ademola’s observation that the lawmakers should vacate their seats should be taken as an obiter dictum (just an aside) and not the ratio decidendi (thrust) of the judgment. It was his opinion and therefore cannot stand.

‘The thrust of the matter before it was to determine whether the APC legislators, with their numerical strength at that period, had the right to change the House leadership in such areas as that of Chief Whip, Majority Leader and their deputies. The judge seemed to have lost focus of this salient point before arriving at his highly litigious judgment’

On Syria, U.S. and U.N. are all talk and no action

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IVE MONTHS have passed since Secretary of State John F. Kerry declared that “the world must act quickly” to stop a “war of starvation” being waged by the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad against “huge proportions of the population.” It’s been nearly six weeks since the U.N. Security Council passed Resolution 2139, which ordered the regime and rebels to “promptly allow unhindered humanitarian access” and threatened “further steps” in the case of noncompliance.

Since then, according to U.N. humanitarian coordinator Valerie Amos, the war of starvation has worsened. The number of Syrians cut off from international aid has grown since January by 1 million, to 3.5 million. At least 180,000 people are in areas directly blockaded by government troops, which refuse to allow in supplies of food or medicine. In direct contravention of the U.N. resolution, the Assad regime has authorized aid convoys to cross only one of eight border posts identified by U.N. relief coordinators.

Ms. Amos reported to the Security Council on Friday that only 6 percent of the population living in besieged areas had received relief since the resolution passed. Meanwhile, she said, crimes against the population had escalated: Since Feb, 22, there had been 300 instances of sexual assault in and around Damascus. “The humanitarian situation,” she said, “remains bleak.”

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, called Ms. Amos’s report “harrowing.” She said the Assad government “is the sole reason for the lack of progress in crossborder assistance” that “would allow the U.N. and its partners access to almost 4 million people.” She said: “The Assad regime’s murderous appetite for deploying artillery, ‘barrel bombs’ and airstrikes against civilians . . . is the No. 1 factor driving displacement and the broader humanitarian -crisis.”

Naturally, reporters asked Ms. Power what she was proposing for the “next steps” cited in the resolution. That’s when the ambassador’s robust rhetoric suddenly went limp. “There’s nothing I can do and that we can do unilaterally to make the council do what we want,” she said.

“So I can’t make any commitments.”

No, the United States can’t force action by the Security Council, where Russia, Assad’s ally, has a veto. But the Obama administration is not lacking in options to stop the ongoing, horrific crimes against humanity in Syria. What it lacks is the will to act. It could order the Assad regime to authorize border crossings by aid convoys — something Ms. Power said would require only “a stroke of the pen” — or face the same airstrikes Mr. Obama threatened last summer. It could target blockade points with drone or missile strikes. It could provide rebels with the air defense weapons they need to stop helicopters from dropping barrel bombs on civilian housing, hospitals and schools. It could disable the bases used by regime aircraft.

Ms. Power and her administration colleagues instead appear content to listen to “harrowing” reports from U.N. monitors, deliver angry statements and then throw up their hands because of their inability to win the cooperation of Vladi-mir Putin. It’s not a performance that will be judged well when historians consider why the world’s foremost power failed to stop this mass slaughter.

-Washington Post

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: The sun shines in Nigeria to bring out the glistening beauty of the people, one will think. The sheer energy of youths that exudes scintillating sexuality puts a smile across a face tired from life’s trivialities. The potpourri of cultures throws a spicy element in the mix of happiness the people share. The fashion, the arts, the music, the food and the long list of other wonderful things that elevate life flourish like a bouquet of exotic flowers. The amazing magic of nature turns everything around for the pleasure of the people.

Nothing unites Nigerians like a party. This is one function where cultural distinctiveness collapses into a joyful extravaganza. Colorful attires represent the sensibility of the various regions. Creativity in style and fashion remains steps ahead of the imagination. Music flows with the heartbeat of the nation leading dancers to sensational moves that electrifies the universe.

Assorted indigenous dishes that have crossed the boundaries and blend into the national banquet table will make an ascetic salivate.

Nigerians go to a party dressed as

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Nigerians: A sweet people

if it is a fashion parade. And the best prize is a first class entertainment.

Social media recently had the news flash that Nigerians consume the most champagne, and costly ones for that matter. It is a common expression in some circles for folks to talk about drinks flowing like water in a party that guests were washing their hands with it. Make what you want of this extravagance.

However, whether it is with champagne or palm wine, every Nigerian practically owes it to society to throw, at least, a party in his or her lifetime. The line-up of ceremonies and celebrations that appropriates one’s social legitimacy is long and winding. If one elects not to participate in the Western

ones, one is bound by the traditional. This underscores the tendency for Nigerians to have many titles before their name such as chief, doctor, mister, missus, reverend and many others.

The most glaring example of Nigerians’ sweetness is their kindness. Be it as a result of culture or religion, Nigerians have a very generous heart. They are always ready to embrace strangers for example. Notwithstanding the complexities of modern living, they still have the good nature to welcome others that desire their acquaintance. They also have the willingness to show tremendous assistance to all. Especially in the case of an accident, everybody rallies to lend their support selflessly. This seems

a rare attribute in this era of selfcenteredness and everybody rushing to mind their business.

The negativities about Nigeria, unfortunately, bubble so broad on the surface that the immense spread of her goodness is overshadowed by the surf. One needs to see the joy of the people. Young and old dancing energetically in a state of abandonment at various occasions taking place all the time. If America is the land of opportunity, Nigeria must be paradise on earth.

The people love life and like to flaunt it. One prays the sun will shine all over the country and brighten the dark places. The swagger must never die.

• Pius Okaneme, Umuoji, Anambra State.

Apapa, despite the trillions of naira accruing to the Federal Government from its ports, further reinforces the sad culture of neglect and rot in the country.

The issues involved with regards to the current situation in Apapa are many-sided. First, the whole axis, being a busy industrial outlay with constant economic activities, is in need of pressing infrastructure development. Also, the haphazard parking of trailers and articulated tankers on the road constitute a major nuisance on the axis. Although the Lagos State Government built a tanker terminal with a capacity to take between 500 and 2000 trucks along the axis, tanker drivers don’t patronize the park.

Furthermore, the continuous importation of locally consumed fuel in the country, arising from the inability of the federal government to fix local refineries, places serious burden on the Apapa axis. With more than 50 depots in Lagos, at least over 3,000 trucks travel to

Apapa on a daily basis with the intention of lifting petroleum products.

The chaotic situation at Apapa, undoubtedly, has grave implication for the country’s economy. The traumatic experience in accessing the ports leads to avoidable delay in the clearance of goods from the ports. It is exactly this situation that makes the Apapa port one of the costliest in the world.

It takes about two to five days for empty containers to be returned to the port and yet the importers and their agents are made to pay demurrage and levies for a fault that is not theirs.

To redress the current trend, therefore, the Federal Government would need to urgently resolve the issues of the failed refineries. Continuous importation of fuel, no doubt, will undoubtedly exacerbate the pressure on Lagos and its infrastructure. Patently, what is happening at Apapa mirrors the systemic failure in the country.

Various stakeholders in the oil sector need to ingeniously look into the petroleum distributive arrangement to evolve a more scientific and less cumbersome order of distribution.

More appreciably, the federal government needs to invest massively in the infrastructure development of Apapa. The dearth of needed infrastructure places serious limitation on human capital development. It is in view of this that the Lagos State Government is planning a regeneration of the Apapa Central Business District, CBD, after several years of neglect by federal authorities. The mainstay of this plan is to restore business activities in the area as well as address environmental degradation caused by illegal activities of oil companies and trailer drivers.

• Tayo Ogunbiyi Ministry of Information & Strategy Alausa-Ikeja

Return of notorious Apapa gridlock

IR: Once again, pandemonium has returned to the roads in Apapa. Currently, gaining access to Apapa is fasting turning into a horrendous experience. The recent return of fuel scarcity in various parts of the country is not helping maters as major roads leading to Apapa have become inaccessible largely due to queues of petroleum tankers and articulated trucks making their way to Apapa to lift petroleum products.

The situation has been further aggravated by the construction work

by Julius Berger Plc as well as the early rain being witnessed across the metropolis this year.

Apapa is a very strategic gateway to the country’s sea ports. The major share of government’s revenues comes from both the Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports. More than 75 per cent of the goods that are imported into the country come through the ports in Lagos and the major ports in the country are based in Apapa. Neglecting

Esele spoke the truth

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IR: When we revolt it’s not for a particular culture. We revolt simply because, for many reasons, we can no longer breathe” ¯ Frantz Fanon Peter Esele was in order, when he lambasted the generation of elders who had the rare privilege to remedy the Nigerian state when they held sway to power but did nothing. The young man took on a former governor and ex-minister for education in the on-going national conference. The former minister forgot his legacies in office and took to the path of sanctimonious hypocrisy in a bit to bamboozle his audience. Unknown to him the man who knew him more than he knew himself was there.

After his sheer display of grandstanding, Esele, the former Trade Union Congress leaders armed with fearless audacity and courage took him back memory lane. While he was yet done, a few gang of yesterday’s men chorused in acerbic tone “point of order”. I do not know the rules of the conference but I do know that the rules cannot obviate the power of truth.

Like Esele, I want to remind the former education minister that my brother was in school when the school went on strike while he was wasting away in limitless pleasure abroad. The resultant effect was that my brother could not graduate at the stipulated time. You think if my brother was there, he would not have toed the path of Esele?

Sincerely, I believe in the conference but it hurts to see some of the very people who are indeed our problem seated there to discuss the future. I think the likes of Esele who represent the silent majority needs our prayer and support. As a Christian, I will never cease to ask God to continue to grant him more wisdom, power and courage to speak truth to power.

I urge delegates of the on-going conference to make good use of this presidential opportunity to right the wrongs of our nation. We cannot afford to waste this rare project.

It is in our hands to make or break.

• Ehimare G. Benin-City

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

I

COMMENTS

T is a thought-provoking testimony to mischievously partisan inventiveness that the otherwise appealing political catchphrase popularised by Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola has been corrupted in certain quarters.

During the 6th Herbert Macaulay Memorial Lecture and Merit Award held on March 22 at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) , Lagos, now and again the voice of spoilers could be heard subverting Fashola’s slogan, Eko o ni baje, meaning, Lagos will not go to ruin, which is a declaration of intention to sustain excellence.

Oddly enough, at the event organised by the Association of Lagos State Indigenes (ALSI) and focused on the theme, “The Place of Lagos State Indigenes – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”, the undisguised refrain all around was a parody of Fashola’s saying. The re-invented phrase became, Eko o ni baje ju bayi lo, meaning, Lagos will not be messed up beyond this point. It was both a statement of dissatisfaction and a call for change, presumably for the better, suggesting strongly that the association had succumbed to divisive politics.

Paradoxically, Prof. John Obafunwa, the guest speaker and Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University (LASU), in the course of the difficult clarification of the identity and identification of the Lagos State indigene, or Lagosian, listed Fashola among 12 exemplary indigenes that, he argued, represented the essence of Lagos. Although he described the “list of indigenes” as “not exhaustive”, he left no one in doubt about his high rating of these individuals. Fashola’s inclusion apparently belied the groupthink, and must have caused quite a few heartaches in the hall.

But the truth is that if gubernatorial grading is informed by fair-minded measurement of results, devoid of the narrow-mindedness that comes with oppositionist ideology,

‘But the truth is that if gubernatorial grading is informed by fairminded measurement of results, devoid of the narrow-mindedness that comes with oppositionist ideology, Fashola cannot by any stretch of the imagination be qualified as a failure. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that the new sloganeers surely miss the point, which is understandable because they are actually not looking for any point, but are rather engaged in a pointless exercise’

I

RREDENTISM derives from the Italian word irredento which means ‘’unredeemed’’. The term gained currency in the late 19th century and early 20thcentury among Italians agitating for the reunification of the Italian speaking parts of the Austro-Hungarian empire. Since then irredentist claims have occurred all over the world usually between contiguous states with common ethnic affinities. Such claims have been the cause of wars between countries. For instance, India and Pakistan have fought many wars over Kashmir.

In Europe, irredentism was a driving force that led Nazi Germany to embark on an expansionist trajectory. In the run up to the Second World War, Hitler annexed his native Austria in what is called Anschluss and also the German speaking Sudetenland in the former Czechoslovakia in 1938, sending alarm bells ringing across the continent. Russia’s recent annexation of Crimea was partly based on the fact that it is populated mostly by Russian speaking people.

Not long after independence, the OAU saw the danger in allowing countries to revise colonial boundaries with the potential for instability on the continent. It is no surprise that respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each African country is one of the cardinal principles of the OAU and its successor, African Union.

The Lamido of Adamawa, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Muhammadu Barkindo Mustapha’s irredentist bombshell at the national conference came as a shock to many. He said if push came to shove, he would vote with his feet, carrying his people along to join their kith and kin, the Fulani, in northern Cameroon. He was quoted as saying that: “There is a state in Cameroon called Adamawa and if I run to that place, I can easily be assimilated…The larger part of my kingdom is in Cameroun” Those ethnic champions who had dominated the airwaves for so long threatening brimstone and fire if they weren’t allowed to go their separate ways, now know that they don’t have a monopoly over ‘’jingoism’’ as the Lamido put it.

I believe that the Lamido’s outburst was not premeditated but was made on the spur of the moment in a fit of pique. Not surprisingly critics have accused him of having a hidden agenda. In a country obsessed with hidden agendas, wherever those agendas are hidden must be bursting at the seams by now.

I don’t intend to join issues with the Lamido, I am more interested in the historical import of the monarch’ statement.

As a member of a royal family myself, I cannot commit lese majeste against an exalted traditional ruler of the Lamido’s standing. For me, the Lamido’s statement provided a rare but timely glimpse into Nigeria’s history, a subject that is tragically no longer on the curriculum of our schools.

This year Nigeria celebrated the centenary of the amalgamation of the north and south in 1914. At a time when a national conference is underway with a view to charting a brighter future for the country, it is necessary to remind ourselves of

Fashola and fallacy of failure Fashola cannot by any stretch of the imagination be qualified as a failure. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that the new sloganeers surely miss the point, which is understandable because they are actually not looking for any point, but are rather engaged in a pointless exercise.

It was perhaps timely that Fashola’s performance in governance came under focus barely two weeks after the ALSI event as the governor celebrated his administration’s 2,500 days in office at the Blue Roof, Lagos State Television in Agindigbi, Ikeja. His words at the ceremony were revelatory as well as enlightening, particularly in the context of the undercurrent of denigration. Fashola said: “This morning, on my way to this event, I observed at Ilubirin Housing Estate that somebody has put a sign there that the Federal Republic of Nigeria owns the land. That land has been there for five years. The contract for reclaiming it was issued by Lagos to Julius Berger during my predecessor’s tenure.” He went on, “About a month ago, we awarded the contract for the construction of 1,188 flats there, but suddenly, the Federal Government is claiming ownership of the land. I was told Obanikoro was there on Saturday with soldiers.”

He added that soldiers acting on the orders of agents of the central administration also hindered work on the state government’s housing project at Oyingbo, where it plans to build 48 flats under the Lagos HOMS initiative. According to him, “The contractor at Oyingbo has stopped work because some Federal Government agents moved soldiers there, claiming that they own the land. That land is the land next to Mainland Hotel. It is good that Brigadier Mobolaji Johnson is here because it is part of the land he acquired during his tenure when Alhaji Femi Okunnu was the Federal Commissioner for Works. Documents handed over to the state government indicate that the land belongs to Lagos State.”

The mention of Musiliu Obanikoro, Minister of State for Defence, is fascinating, for he was the same official who gave a keynote address as the special guest of honour at the ALSI forum, where he bemoaned alleged “marginalisation of Lagos indigenes”, and suggested “state empowerment schemes for indigenous Lagosians”, among other amelioratory proposals. It is ironic that his name came up as an alleged supporter, if not promoter, of land grabbing tendencies that are unquestionably against the interest of Lagos and Lagosians, which he would want to be perceived as protecting. It is predictable that Lagos residents in particular would be scandalised by his reported involvement in the unprogressive use of bullying tactics by the federal government, given the fact that by arresting the state government’s laudable housing projects, Obanikoro and his ilk have demonstrated condemnable insensitivity to a consequential area of social development. This news represents a clear contradiction because Obanikoro, on the ALSI platform, sermonised about “oneness despite our political differences”.

Indeed, it is noteworthy that the recent launch of the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (HOMS) illustrates how well the Fashola administration understands the place of decent shelter in the hierarchy of needs. More importantly, it is commendable that the first set of 11 allottees received keys to their homes at a ceremony that was not only expressively emotional but also encouraging and promising for many who desire homes of their own. These 11 who had met mortgage requirements were among 31 successful applicants for the 200 homes available at the first draw. Publicised estates under the programme are Chois Gardens, Abijo- Lekki; Oba Lateef Adams Estate, Ilora-Agege; Igbogbo Phase II A Ikorodu Scheme; Micheal Otedola Estate, Odoragunshin- Epe; Alhaja Adetoun Mustapha Scheme, Ojokoro; Hon. Olaitan Mustapha Scheme, Ojokoro; Shitta Estate, Surulere and Hon Sotonwa Estate, Igbogbo.

Perhaps a significant aspect of the beauty of this programme is the fact that the home owners are supposed to emerge from public draws. The testimony of Mr. Amos Omodunni, one of those who had paid 30 per cent of the cost of their homes and got keys on March 31, was eloquently promotional. According to this proud new owner of a threebedroom flat, “I and the other allottees are advocates of the transparency and fairness that we know is the bedrock of this particular scheme. We sing it high and loud everywhere we go, to our friends, neighbours and colleagues. Go and apply, it is real. You do not need to know anybody; just send in your application and you can become a home owner.”

Regrettably, actions like the unlawful occupation of Lagos State land by federal government agents could prove detrimental to the people-friendly scheme. If the move was possibly intended to disrupt the housing programme, and thereby dent the image of the Fashola administration, it betrayed the vacuity and reckless desperation of the opposition. As in the various other sectors where the state government has undeniably pursued “the greatest happiness of the greatest number”, Fashola doesn’t appear to be messing things up.

Lamido’s irredentist threat

By Aderemi Oyewumi what was there before the advent of colonial rule. It is a welcome reminder of the history of the ancient kingdoms, found mainly in the north and south western parts of Nigeria.

Of particular interest is the impact of colonial boundaries in partitioning various ethnic groups especially the ubiquitous Fulani who are all over west and central Africa.

Two of Nigeria’s eminent historians, Professor Anthony Asiwaju and Professor Bawuro Barkindo have carried out studies and published widely on the impact of colonial boundaries.

Nigeria’s boundaries were delimited and demarcated between the late 19th century and early 20th century.

Cameroon is unique among Nigeria’s immediate neighbours as having a triple colonial heritage. Initially colonized by Germany, it was later split into two administered by Britain and France as a League of Nations mandate territories after the First World War and later under UN trusteeship after the Second World War. Southern Cameroon was a province of the former Eastern Region of Nigeria while northern Cameroon was a province of the former Northern Region until the plebiscite of February 1961 when northern Cameroon voted to remain in Nigeria while southern Cameroon voted to join the republic of Cameroon.

In demarcating Nigeria’s northern boundary with Niger, Cameroon and Chad, Adamawa and Borno kingdoms and the Sokoto Caliphate lost some of their territories to the neighbouring countries.

In the case of Adamawa, the Lamido at the time the boundary was demarcated in 1904 lamented that the ‘’Europeans had cut off the body of his kingdom and left him with only the head’’ a fact which the reigning Lamido alluded to in his statement.

Today Fulani rulers of Cameroonian towns such as Ngaoundere, capital of Adamawa region, are also known as Lamido.

The colonial powers imposed and deposed traditional rulers of the ancient kingdoms at will. One bizarre situation occurred in Borno where two colonial powers Germany and Britain installed two rulers. Shehu Garbai was installed by the British in the part of Borno under their control while his cousin Shehu Sanda was installed in the German controlled part of Borno.

This anomaly was later rectified during a boundary revision of 1919 after Germany was knocked out of the colonial race. Today parts of the ancient kingdom of Borno can be found in Chad, Cameroon and Niger with the Kanuri among their citizens.

An example of how the colonial powers played fast and loose

with the African territories under their control was shown in the revision of the boundary between Nigeria and Niger in 1904. Britain ceded parts of Sokoto to France in return for concessions on fishing in Newfoundland, a province in Canada which was then under French rule. Border towns in Niger such as Birnin Nkonni and Maradi were formerly parts of Sokoto.

Hausa is the dominant language spoken in Niger.

In the South-west, the Oyo empire was the preeminent entity holding sway over most of the kingdoms in Yorubaland.

Oyo lost some of its territory to the kingdom of Dahomey as Benin was then called, following the Anglo-French demarcation of the boundary and the partition of the Yoruba. Ketu and Sabe were two Yoruba kingdoms that ended up in Benin Republic. Today their traditional rulers Alaketu of Ketu and Onisabe of Sabe are known to make occasional visits across the border to commune with their kith and kin in Nigeria.

In other parts of Africa other groups were similarly partitioned. For instance the Ewe people of Togo have their kith and kin across the border in the Volta region of Ghana. The case of Somalia is even more significant in this regard especially given the fact that it refused to acknowledge the sanctity of its colonial boundaries and sought to redraw them. The Somali are to be found in neighbouring Kenya and Ethiopia.

Somalia’s territorial claims against its neighbours on behalf of Somali speaking populations have complicated interstate relations between them since independence. Kenya and Somalia have had border clashes over the years. Ethiopia and Somalia have fought wars over the Somali populated Ogaden region in Ethiopia.

As an official policy, Nigeria has never made territorial or irredentist claims against anyone of its immediate neighbours.

Instead of being a source of conflict, the common ethnic affinities have helped in fostering good neighbourly relations between them since independence. Moreover, given their porous nature, the boundaries have proved to be no serious barriers to freedom of movement of persons and goods. The advent of the insurgency in the north east has however complicated matters necessitating the need for tighter control of our borders with Cameroon, Niger and Chad.

The Lamido’s words would have been music to the ears of the Cameroonian authorities. The irony of his threat to be ‘’assimilated’’ back into the Adamawa region of northern Cameroon would not have been lost on those who remember the UN-sponsored plebiscite of February 1961 in which northern Cameroon voted to remain part of Nigeria while southern Cameroon opted to join the republic of Cameroon.

• Dr Oyewumi lives in Abuja.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

22

COMMENTS

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T is of immense interest that some governors from the north-east have been making spirited efforts to exculpate themselves from the raging insurgency in that part of the country. President Jonathan had at the North-east zonal rally of the PDP said, more than anyone else the governors should take responsibility for the reign of terror imposed

by Boko Haram in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

For him, it is shameful for a governor who has stayed in office for six years or more to talk of bad leadership when in his state more than 60 per cent of the youths have not even attended primary schools and they are doing nothing about it. In Jonathan’s words, “state governors should be ashamed when our children do not go to primary and secondary schools and they decide to carry arms”.

Governors’ Murtala Nyako and Kashim Shettima of Adamawa and Borno states respectively have risen to defend themselves of culpability, even remotely, for the raging insurgency.

Shettima anchored his case on the grounds that he has only stayed in office for barely three years and that Boko Haram insurgency was at its full swing in Borno before he assumed office.

He argued that the short duration of his regime and the fact that insurgency was thriving before he assumed office were enough reasons why he did not qualify for the blanket blame by Jonathan. This is even the more as he recounted the efforts made by both his administration and the federal government to make Maiduguri safer since he assumed office.

Shettima may have a point here. And that point is that he has not stayed in office for a long time while insurgency was already thriv-

‘The northern leadership must identify and redress those social conditions that force the illiterate, the unemployed and innocent but brainwashed youths to take quick resort to violence. This is imperative given the ambivalence or suspected tacit support of sections of the elite for the insurgents’

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Emeka OMEIHE 08112662675 email: EmekaOmeihe@yahoo.com

Jonathan, Nyako and Shettima ing in the state before he took over. Therefore, he could neither be largely responsible for the abysmal primary and secondary school enrolment nor the insurgency he met on ground when he assumed office.

Yet, that is not all there is to the issue. As germane as the issues canvassed by Shettma are, they only succeeded in shifting the blame to his predecessors. Inadvertently, he admitted that governors in states where insurgency has been the order of the day have some blame to share. That is the logical inference from his argument.

If Shettima’s alibi can be excused, Nyako’s reaction was rather brash and puerile. He would want the blame for the insurgency in the north to be heaped at the doorsteps of the Jonathan regime for what he called poor leadership. According to him, governors cannot be held responsible for the security challenges because they have no control over the security apparatus. He missed the point because he sees the phenomenon only from the prism of curative response rather than prevention.

Fighting insurgency through the force of arms is not the matter under reference here. Even then, governors being the chief security officers of their states share vicarious responsibility in it.

It is obvious from Nyako’s responses that the heuristic value of the issues raised by Jonathan is completely lost on him. By arguing the way he did, he failed to appreciate the role of development in stemming crimes of various hues, including terrorism.

Yet, he has been in the vanguard of those who have stridently sought to construct a positive correlation between the insurgency in the north and the high level of poverty, unem-

VENTS in Nigeria have shown that Nigeria is a land full of milk and honey. But in the past 15 years, Nigeria has been a nation where evil triumphs to the extent that a land full of milk and honey is full of abject poverty, cries, neglect and misery. Just get a copy of any newspaper any day; it is all bad news – of corruption, graft, embezzlement, kidnapping, killings of all descriptions – ritual and non-ritual, Boko Haram, rape, gangsterism, armed robbery, lies, sophistry, extreme love of money, impunity, miscarriage and perversion of justice, adultery and everything that is bad under the sun!

The sins in Nigeria are committed out of indescribable love for money and power. The love for money and power which is the root of corruption, is jealously guarded by politics which, in Nigeria today, is the sure road to unclean wealth and corrupted power. Every Tom and Harry wants to go into politics because it is a lazy way of making easy money out of the common wealth of Nigerians. The road to political power as money spinning machine is extremely dirty, full of sins, lies, deceit, ungodly, unclean and unrighteous behaviors. Because of love for money and power, politicians can go to any length, including killing of political opponents, blackmailing and outright rigging. This is why politics in Nigeria is simply a do or die affair, and not for service but for personal self aggrandizement.

Now, between the APC and the PDP is the presidency.

While the PDP would like to hold on to power at all costs, the APC would like to do everything at its disposal to upstage the PDP at the 2015 elections. However, there is already a general feeling in the country that after more than 14 years of PDP’s reign, there is need for a change.

The reason for this is that when the masses of Nigerians look back to many years of general poverty, want, neglect, woes, general hardship and unspeakable agony caused by corruption, they clamour for a change of government.

The question now is: Should all these be allowed to continue for another four years of extreme grief and gnashing of teeth? The people have to decide their own destiny by saying enough is enough!

The 2015 elections would be the most keenly contested in the history of Nigeria, with the two big parties – APC and PDP – making it a fight to finish. Nobody on earth knows precisely what would happen, whether or not there would indeed be election, or what would happen after the election.

But winning elections may not be easy for the ruling party, as the opposition party is poised to give them a fight. But in order to do that, the APC must get its acts right. The APC’s successes in the 2015 polls depend on many factors. The most important is unity, selflessness

ployment and illiteracy there. It was for the same reasons that agitations for amnesty and the application of the carrot and stick strategy as therapeutic responses to the phenomenon have been severally canvassed by the northern elite.

Having recognized that poverty is at the root of the quick resort to violence in the north, Nyako could not have convinced anyone when he strove to exculpate his regime from the failure to significantly reduce the phenomenon in Adamawa after nearly eight years in office. If he could not take the blame for not developing his state, it remains a puzzle at what level of governance the blame will be heaped.

Take the case of primary and secondary school enrolment which Jonathan cited, it will be difficult to imagine how the federal government will take the blame for the inability of the affected states to guarantee access to their indigenes to education at those levels.

The folly in stretching this argument any further is easily exposed by the disparities in school enrolment between states. By the logic of Nyako, Jonathan should then take the credit for the high school enrolment in some other states of the country. That is the incongruity in pushing the argument any further.

It is true the policies of the federal authority bear great influence on what happens in the states. Yet, these policies ought to be adopted by other levels of government to suit local peculiarities. But the overall responsibility for the development of the states rests squarely on the shoulders of their respective governors. Neither Nyako, nor

Shettima can shy away from that responsibility.

Ironically, the two were part of the 13 northern governors who met with US officials a couple of weeks back on how to stem Boko Haram insurgency by addressing the socioeconomic factors underlying underdevelopment in the north. The import of that engagement is that northern governors must focus more on exploiting local resources to uplift their people from ignorance, disease, hunger and illiteracy which combine to accentuate the quick resort to violence. It is therefore confounding that so soon after that visionary engagement in the US, Nyako still wants to hold the federal government responsible for all there is to insurgency in that part of the country.

With such a jaundiced mindset, it would appear that not much progress can be made in the fight until his likes come to terms with the high demands of their mandate vis-à-vis the fundamental issues of development raised by Jonathan.

The central message in Jonathan’s speech is that governors have vital roles in uplifting the standard of living of their constituents.

And when this point is internalized and realistically addressed, the objective conditions that accentuate violence will be considerably reduced. That point is unassailable as it has direct links with the massive corruption in public places that has stultified all efforts at development.

The other value deriving from Jonathan’s contention is to raise the consciousness of the affected states against the culture of heaping blames on the federal government without doing their own part to stem violence through development. Boko Haram rose as a protest against all those directly linked with western education. Ironically, these are people directly or indirectly linked with leadership roles. The original philosophy which was displaced along the line was to stigmatize and overthrow this class of people for the unmitigated liability they had become to society. It is akin to the proletarian revolution as aptly captured

by Marx and Engels.

The northern leadership must identify and redress those social conditions that force the illiterate, the unemployed and innocent but brainwashed youths to take quick resort to violence. This is imperative given the ambivalence or suspected tacit support of sections of the elite for the insurgents. That appears to be Jonathan’s message and it tallies with that which the 13 governors got from their US trip.

Between APC and PDP

By Moses Makinde and strong resolve to succeed. If the party wins, everybody wins; if it loses, everybody loses as a result of greed, selfishness and ambitions of some individuals. This, of course, depends on the party’s ability to appreciate the importance of winning. To do this, the APC should go for the best candidate that can sell, like hot cake, against President Jonathan who, although is rated low on popularity rating as a result of the catalogue of woes his administration has unleashed on the people of Nigeria, enjoys the power of incumbency and a huge war chest to prosecute the election to a horrible conclusion. In this connection, we can only pray that it is not all Nigerians who take money from a political party that would vote for that party as a matter of necessity. Voting is a matter of conscience, not of bribe. It has happened before, and there is no reason why it should not happen again.

Perhaps one of the greatest factors that would determine the success or failure of APC at the national and presidential elections is its choice of presidential and vicepresidential candidates. Already, the North has been given the presidential slot. Obasanjo from the South West had occupied the seat of president from 1999 - 2007. At present, Jonathan, from the South-south, is occupying the position of president. The South-east may justly claim that now, the presidency belongs to their zone as that position had previously been occupied by Obasanjo from the Southwest (1999 - 2007). But already the presidency has been zoned to the North. If APC thinks of getting support from the South-east, it must choose its vice-presidential candidate from that zone. Apart from giving this zone a sense of belonging, it would boost their chance of producing the next president in the near future. Also, if it wants to enjoy popular support in all zones of the federation, it must avoid Christian/Christian or Muslim/ Muslim ticket, as the issue of religion in 1993 may not be the same or volatile as it would be in 2015.

On this matter, I had made a suggestion before, that a candidate from the South-east like Imo State, an APC state, stands the best chance of producing the vice-presidential candidate. A candidate from Rivers State in the South-east is also a good candidate, but notice that his zone has produced the incumbent president. Therefore, if it is agreed that the president must come from the North, the logical choice is a candidate from the South-east. Party and national interest must be placed above personal interest

and ambition. APC must not throw away this divine chance to rule Nigeria. So, be careful and be wise!

What is going on in the judiciary is something to be carefully watched by all Nigerians. Nigerians as well as the international community know very well that there was not only a division but a commotion and earthquake in the PDP. It was a crisis that went on for a long time, from which a faction sprang up and which eventually led to a full blown division when members who saw themselves as pushed to the wall broke away as a faction, thus leading to a full blown division in the PDP. Even the President and the chairman of the PDP ran from pillar to post to prevent the materialization of the faction and eventual division in the PDP, all leading to a smoke.

Eventually, a faction of five of the governors who were members of the PDP left for, and merged with, the APC as the last resort. If this was not a serious crisis, faction and division that led to a point of no return, one does not know what it is. Newspapers were awash with the news of the crisis which was even known to the international community. Yet somebody came out as if he was from another planet, to say there was no crisis, faction or division in the PDP. When some governors and legislators defected from other parties to PDP, the defectors were received with pomp and pageantry. That precedent was soon forgotten.

•Prof Makinde, FNAL is DG/CEO, Awolowo Centre for Philosophy, Ideology and Good Governance, Osogbo, Osun State

‘When the masses of Nigerians look back to many years of general poverty, want, neglect, woes, general hardship and unspeakable agony caused by corruption, they clamour for a change of government. The question now is: Should all these be allowed to continue for another four years of extreme grief and gnashing of teeth?’

FROM

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

23

BUSINESS

25

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

JOBS

THE CEO

Clearing the route for job seekers - P. 32 News Briefing Foreign investors eye healthcare SEVERAL global pharmaceutical and healthcare companies are scouting for possible acquisitions and partnerships with Nigerian companies as part of global investment focus on the Nigerian healthcare sector.

–Page 26

Ogidigben gas park data ready THE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said it has completed key pre-construction data for the $20 billion Ogidigben gas industrial park that is being constructed in Ogidigben, Delta State.

–Page 26

NAICOM releases guidelines on commissions, others THE National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has released new guidelines to monitor charges on rebates, commissions, return and refund premiums.

We want a SONCAP programme that would serve its purpose; a programme that would be dynamic, where all the identified loopholes would be effectively plugged thereby making it difficult for the plaque of substandard products to continue to dominate the Nigerian business space.

-Dr Joseph Odumodu, DG, SON

‘Budget delay inimical to private sector’s interest’ - P. 27

New revenue formula awaits Confab outcome T

HE components of the new revenue formula will depend on the deliberations and decisions reached at the on-going National Conference.

Four months after the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has concluded its work on a new revenue formula, the Presidency is yet to receive it from the Commission.

A Presidency source told The Nation that “it has become politically expedient for the President to wait for the out come of the deliberations and decisions of the Confab with regards to the revenue formula”.

The source said this reason and the fact that the “President has a very tight schedule is what is delaying his receipt of the RMAFC’s new revenue for-

From Nduka Chiejina (Asst. Editor), Abuja

mula”.

A source (Commissioner) at the RMAFC also said: “It is up to the President to fix a time and date when to receive the RMAFC’s new revenue formula.’’

The Commissioner said it was not within the powers of the commission to determine when to submit the formula to the President only that “the constitution charges the RMAFC to come up with new revenue formula from time to time”.

He admitted that members of the commission were still waiting for President Goodluck Jonathan to receive the revenue formula.

However, it is not quite clear

what the fall-out will be if the Confab members tinker with the revenue formula.

When asked how this problem will be addressed in the future, a Presidency source said: “A common ground would have to be found to accommodate both the decision of the confab and the revenue formula drawn up by the RMAFC.” He, however, admitted that that may pose a serious constitutional debate, but he suggested that since the Confab was a temporary arrangement and the RMAFC a permanent constitutional structure, the commission may have to work with what delegates at the Confab decide.

On December 19, last year, the RMAFC said the report on the new revenue formula was ready

and waiting to be submitted to the president because the Presidency was yet to schedule an appointment for the submission.

A sources at the commission then said “given the volume of work that went into completing the draft report, the commission would want the world to know when the report is submitted as it was waiting for words from the presidency for the report to be submitted”.

During the preparation of the report, the Federal Government had given a tacit endorsement to the exercise to adjust the old revenue sharing formula but government’s enthusiasm waned over time ”in view of the monumental fiscal challenges it has been contending with in its efforts to match its distributions from the Federation Accounts and a few other revenue sources with growing expenditure needs”.

–Page 34

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil

-$117.4/barrel

Cocoa

-$2,686.35/metric ton

Coffee

- ¢132.70/pound

Cotton

- ¢95.17pound

Gold

-$1,396.9/troy

Sugar

-$163/lb

CAPITALISATIONS -N11.4 trillion

JSE

-Z5.112trillion

NYSE

-$10.84 trillion

LSE

-£61.67 trillion RATES

Inflation

-8%

Prime lending

-15.87%

Savings rate

-1%

91-day NTB

-15%

Time Deposit

-5.49%

MPR

-12%

Foreign Reserve

$45b

FOREX CFA

-0.2958

EUR

-206.9

£

-242.1

$

-156

¥

-1.9179

SDR

-238

RIYAL

-40.472

HERE is increasing focus of private equity on agricultural projects in Nigeria, the Director, Africa region, Cassava Adding Value to Africa, Dr Kola Adebayo has said.

He said interest is growing in the food and agriculture sector following an impressive investment backdrop with a population of 160million.

According to him, capturing the nation’s agricultural potential could lead to the application of improved inputs to develop profitable agribusinesses.

To this end, he said the private sector is responding to the challenge by re-allocating its resources towards identifying agribusiness opportunities and building teams capable of executing them to generate returns.

According to him, agriculture will remain a key growth driver, adding that the private sector would keep playing major roles in Africa’s green revolution.

He cited currency risk and market-distorting policies, and micro-level hurdles such as a lack of financing and management expertise, rural location, and lack of political connection as some of the challenges besetting the sector.

By Toba Agboola

T • From left: Vice President/Chief Operating Officer Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), World Bank Group, Michel Wormser and Group Managing Director/CEO, UBA Plc, Phillips Oduoza, during the working visit of Wormser to UBA Head Office in Lagos.

Treasury Bills -10.58%(91d) Maximum lending -30%

T

By Daniel Essiet

NECA seeks speedy privatisation of refineries

MARKET NSE

Private equity targets agric projects

T

Banks’ assets, liabilities hit N24t

HE total assets and li abilities of Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) stood at N24.3 trillion at the end of the fourth quarter ended December 31, last year, a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Quarterly Economic Report has shown.

According to the report, the figure represents an increase of 4.4 per cent over the level at the end of the preceding quarter.The funds, it said, were sourced, largely, from increased mobilisation of demand deposit and Federal Government’s deposit.

The CBN said banks’ credit to the domestic economy rose by 8.6 per cent to N12.2

By Collins Nweze

trillion, when compared with date from the preceding quarter. The development, it said, was attributed, largely, to the 346.9 per cent increase in claims on the Federal Government. However, apex bank’s credit to the banks fell by 1.6 per cent to N229.8 billion, reflecting the decline in overdrafts to banks, while total specified liquid assets of the DMBs stood at N6.6 trillion, representing 39.5 per cent of their total current liabilities.

Also, the liquidity ratio rose by 1.8 percentage points above the level in the preceding quarter, and was 9.5 percentage points above the stipu-

lated minimum ratio of 30 per cent.

The report further showed that loans-to-deposit ratio stood at 36.3 per cent, and was 2.9 percentage points above the level at the end of the preceding quarter, but was 43.7 percentage points below the prescribed maximum ratio of 80 per cent. The quarterly report also showed that the gross domestic product (GDP) was estimated to have grown by 7.7 per cent, compared with 6.8 per cent in the preceding quarter. The development, it said, was driven, largely, by the growth in the non-oil sector.

Broad money supply (M2), grew by 9.1 per cent, in con-

trast to the 7.9 per cent decline recorded at the end of the preceding quarter. The CBN said the development reflected, largely, the 14.9 per cent increase in domestic credit (net) of banking.

Similarly, narrow money supply (M1), rose by 11.4 per cent, in contrast to the 9.3 per cent decline at the end of the preceding quarter.

Over the level at end-December 2012, broad money supply (M2) grew by 1.2 per cent, owing largely to the 18.5 per cent increase in net domestic credit, which more than offset the 26.0 and 5.9 per cent decline in other assets (net) and foreign assets (net) of the banking system.

HE Nigerian Employ ers Consultative Asso ciation (NECA) has urged the Federal Government to muster the political will and privatise the nation’s four ailing refineries.

It argued that the government’s continued involvement in the running of the refineries amounts to waste.

Its Director-General, Mr Olusegun Oshinowo, said the country runs four poorly maintained and inefficiently managed state-owned refineries sited in Warri, Port Harcourt and Kaduna, which operate at far below their installed capacities, thus failing to deliver refined products but keep large employees drawing heavy emoluments from public coffers.

Oshinowo said it makes no sense for the government to continue to run the refineries, which can be better managed by the private sector, wondering why the Federal Government is dragging its foot in taking this all-important decision for the good of the economy.

26

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 – BENIN Arik 07.30 Associated 08.30 Aero 10.50 Arik 11.45 Associated 13.00 Aero 14.25 Arik 15.30 Associated 16.00

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Arik Aero Arik Aero

1. Arik 2. Aero 1.

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

LAGOS – CALABAR 07.30 11.20 12.50 16.00 LAGOS – JOS 10.55 11.15

LAGOS – KADUNA Aero 08.00 Chanchangi 10.00 Arik 10.00 Arik 15.10

08.50 12.40 14.10 17.20

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 – WARRI 08.15 11.50 11.55 14.55

09.1 12.50 12.55 15.55

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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

08.50 09.45 09.40 14.00 15.45 19.55

LAGOS – OWERRI 07.20 14.00 16.30

08.30 15.10 17.40

LAGOS – UYO 10.35

11.35

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

By Taofik Salako

The sources hinted that the foreign investors were being attracted by the improving outlook of the healthcare industry, which many still described as a growth market.

The renewed interests in the sector has also triggered competition among the firms, which are jostling to build World Health Organisation (WHO)-standard facilities to position themselves for foreign partner-

ships.

A management source in a quoted healthcare company said there is possibility of franchise arrangements with some global pharmaceutical companies, under which the indegenous company will be the sole local manufacturer of some globally renowned drugs and healthcare products.

Sources said the foreign investors were talking to both quoted and private healthcare companies, but

• From left: ZTE Chief Finance Officer, Mr Philip Qin; Deputy Managing Director, Brielle Gao; Director, Education, Nigeria Police, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Ibrahim Kabiru and representative of the Chinese Embassy in Lagos, Mr. XU Yuansheng, during the inuaguration of an Information Technology Centre (ICT) Centre donated by ZTE Nigeria Limited to Police Children School, Ikeja, Lagos.

12.15 12.45

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EVERAL global pharmaceuti cal and healthcare firms are scouting for acquisitions and partnerships with Nigerian companies as part of global investment focus on the healthcare sector.

Top management sources in the healthcare sector told The Nation that they have received several enquiries from global pharmaceutical firms and investors on the matter.

According to the sources, investment opportunities and partnerships include contract manufacturing and investment in new facilities by some companies.

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

Foreign investors eye opportunities in healthcare S

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

T

$20b Ogidigben gas park pre-construction data ready

HE Nigerian National Petro leum Corporation (NNPC) has completed the key preconstruction data gathering for the $20 billion Ogidigben gas industrial park being constructed in Delta State.

With the completion and site clearing, among others, investors who intend to invest in the project, can come in access the data and move to site.

NNPC’s Group Executive Director, Gas and Power, Dr. David Ige, who made this known, said construction giants, Julius Berger, has moved in and has started work on Phase 1 of the project.

Ige said: “We have completed key pre-construction data gathering on site. Fugro activities in Ogidigben are ongoing and study reports will be available shortly. NNPC has conducted the following surveys and investi-

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

gations at site; soil investigation, hydrology study, hydrogeology study, sand search, bathymetry survey and environmental impact assessment (EIA), onshore and offshore.

“Investors can access at no cost, significant technical data in respect of the site in order to fast track technical evaluation and design of their projects.”

He said NNPC and its partner, the state government, secured 2800 hectares of land for the park at a desirable location by the ocean and the Escravos River, for inland access adding that the Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) has been issued. The dedicated gas based industrial park, also has free trade zone (FTZ) and port status, he said, adding that the project’s proxim-

ity to existing Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) gas infrastructure enables relatively easy gas access with less pipeline infrastructure development cost.

He said the industrial park has a dedicated power plant of about 350 megawatts capacity, central processing facility, petrochemical, fertiliser and methanol plants, centralised utilities provision, world class integrated fibre optic network (broadband and telecoms) The industrial park, he noted, is served by an existing breakwater at Escravos and said the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) may need to upgrade it.

Ige said the challenge the corporation faces is the swampy terrain of the site, typical of Niger Delta and that implies high initial construction costs, hence the need for Federal Government’s support.

Nigeria’ll be Africa's devt hub, says Oracle chief

U

NITED States (US) multinational computer technology giant, Oracle Corporation, has said Nigeria will be the cornerstone of its developmental focus on Africa, assuring that it will continue to help grow the human capital element of the country.

Speaking on the sideline of an event organised by The Economist in Lagos, its Sales Consulting Senior Director, Europe Middle East and Africa, Presales Centre, Martin Peck, said the firm is committed to using technology to develop the requisite manpower skill that will help move the economy to the next level through its internship programme.

He said: "We are determined to partner with the relevant organisations, government agencies to help develop the human

By Lucas Ajanaku

capacity requirements. Now we are focusing so much on Africa and Nigeria will become a hub for all the activities that we are doing. We are going to do more on our internship programme through which we try to bring graduates on board, take them through some technical trainings and make them ready for jobs in Oracle. So, this is a very good opportunity for us to hire young people but of course in some cases, they complete the training and get fixed up in other companies. We are doing this not just for us as an organisation but to also give back to the society."

According to the firm, more businesses and governments today see information technology

(IT) as a key component of growth, stressing that IT skills development is vital if they are to take advantage of the new IT new trends, such as big data, cloud computing, mobile and social media. Organisations that can do these successfully will be more competitive and more productive, it added.

Oracle works with established educational institutions to help young people develop the vital skills needed in their local marketplace and provide them with a competitive edge.

Through the Oracle Academy, which supports 268,000 students in 1,800 education institutions across Africa. The software, curriculum and other resources provided about two years ago to education institutions in Africa were valued at $557million.

they were more disposed to quoted companies, which are seen to have better corporate governance and disclosures.

Market analysts said the acquisition bids might not be unconnected with the huge potential of the industry. With population of more than 160 million, Nigeria’s growing population and huge gap between healthcare needs and actual provisions present huge opportunities for multinationals with extensive capacity for research and capital for investments.

Besides, the industry has witnessed many landmark changes in recent years, including a law that mandates compulsory health scheme for employees and a stepup in the anti-counterfeit and substandard campaign.

Stakeholders in the healthcare sector and the capital market have agreed that there are immense opportunities in the healthcare.

At the quarterly sectoral dinner of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) for the healthcare sector, the Federal Government, NSE, capital market operators and chief executives of healthcare firms brainstormed on the ways the capital market can foster the development of the sector.

Minister of Health, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu, noted that there are various opportunities in the healthcare that capital market operators and investors can collaborate on that will contribute to national development and yield good returns for investors.

‘Why air transport sector is ill’

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

U

NTIL African governments address the chal lenge of inadequate skilled manpower, the growth of the air transport would remain stunted, the president of Nigerian Aviation Safety Initiative (NASI), Captain Dung Pam has said.

Pam said African governments have not paid adequate attention to key professionals’ training as political leaders in other continents have done The aircraft pilot explained that one way of addressing the myriads of challenges in the affected countries is the design of a deliberate policy that would define the respective strategies , timelines and the sustainability of identified gaps in manpower needs.

Such policy, he said, should also address infrastructural development and other critical areas.

Pam explained that in the past nine years, Africa’s major obstacle has been the inability of the affected countries to meet its safety oversight functions, due to lack of requisite competent manpower.

He said: “For the past nine years, a major obstacle in Africa’s inability to meet its safety oversight functions is the lack of requisite competent manpower.

“If the air transport industry in Africa must correct deficiency in its growth, governments in the continent and players in the industry must address the challenge of inadequate skilled and experienced manpower, occasioned by neglect of training and manpower development.”

He continued: “It is obvious that for the past few years a lot of training has taken place within both the administration and professional cadre of aviation agencies.

“However, it is hoped that the NCAA will strive to retain these personnel by offering realistic prospects for secure and rewarding professional careers in Nigeria.

“It is evident that Africa will find it challenging to produce the number of development professionals needed to sustain economic growth in the aviation sector without a serious change in educational and labour policies.”

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

27

THE CEO

• Abubakar

‘Budget delay inimical to private sector’s interest’ For the Organised Private Sector (OPS), these are not the best of times. Faced with a stifling environment, the sector is operating below its optimum.

In this interview with OKWY IROEGBUCHIKEZIE, President, Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar speaks on the challenges facing the sector and calls on the government to create a conducive environment for businesses to thrive.

Profile Institutions attended

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria; National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS).

Qualification

B.Sc (Accounting)

Previous position

President, Jigawa Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Present position

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Talamiz Group.

Experience

Over 20 years.

H

OW can members of NACCIMA benefit from the National Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP) just launched by the Federal Government?

Our members who are business operators would benefit from the programme, designed to create at least 3.5 million jobs across the country through the development of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector, which is the engine of economic growth. We expect that NEDEP, spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (MITI), in collaboration with major drivers, such as Bank of Industry (BoI), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and Industrial Training Fund (ITF), would harness the vast opportunities in the MSME sector to drive inclusive economic growth through skills acquisition, entrepreneurship training, business financing, employment generation as well as wealth creation.

How favourable is the interest rate to members of your association?

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and its

monetary policy committee have done a good job of maintaining stability in the economy. However, we are still worried that the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR), which, at 12 per cent, is high and keeps the interest rate high and expensive to borrowers. No bank lends to customers at single digit, which is below its cost of 12 per cent. With the current interest rate hovering between 17 per cent and 28 per cent, for a growing economy like ours, it will be difficult to achieve the desired economic growth and motivate indigenous entrepreneurs to establish businesses since they will not be competitive with their foreign counterparts who obtain funds from their countries at single digits and invest in the Nigerian economy.

How best can the mystery of the alleged missing $20billion Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) fund be unravelled?

We believe the best way to unravel the $20billion NNPC missing fund is to adopt •Continued on page 28

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

28

THE CEO

‘Budget delay inimical to private sector’s interest’ •Continued from page 27

the two proposed options of forensic audit and the use of international experts to see if the two options will give the same result.

Do you think the suspension of the CBN Governor Lamido Sanusi would cause a change in the monetary and fiscal policy?

What will be the effect of his suspension on the real sector?

The monetary and fiscal policy is institutional and not tied to an individual. though one can safely say that Sanusi did well, the government should ensure that the monetary and fiscal policy guidelines are more stable and business-friendly and in a manner that would positively impact the real sector.

How can Nigeria diversify its economy?

Any hope for the solid mineral sector?

The need to promote non-oil exports in an economy such as ours cannot cannot be taken lightly given the global trend to boost trading relations among nations. Given the focus of the government to diversify the economy from mono economy (i.e. oil) by promoting non-oil exports, with numerous incentives put in place to attract investors in the non-oil sector of the economy (agric, manufacturing, solid minerals, etc), the impact so far recorded is still below expectation. With the recently launched NEDEP and the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP), if the government, in collaboration with members of the private sector implement both programmes, we believe that in a very short period of time, Nigeria will move from a mono-economy to a diversified economy via other sectors such as solid minerals, which is yet to be fully exploited. We can see what is going on with cement, orange juice, and at present, mining activities in Zamfara State by the Chinese, as well as the announcement by the government that four foreign companies would soon begin the mining of gold and iron ore in Kebbi, Osun and Kogi states while more than 20 foreign firms from Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Italy, China, Republic of Niger, India, South Africa and Ukraine have obtained exploration licenses to carry out solid minerals exploration across the country. There is need for government to demonstrate the political will and transparency to ensure the realisation of the objectives of the two programmes.

What are the challenges facing NACCIMA members?

Despite being proactive in the pursuit of our advocacy drive, members of NACCIMA are faced with challenges such as poor infrastructural facilities (especially roads, power and energy supply), resulting in high operational cost due to huge investments in private electricity generation and transportation. We are aware that government is working very hard to solve the power problem. Again, the worsening state of insecurity in Nigeria, especially the sectarian violence in the North and kidnapping in the Southsouth and Southeastern, resulting in serious threat to lives and property, as well as resurgence of armed banditry and robberies, have hampered the operations of our members in these zones.

Other challenges encountered by our members are late release of budgets, a highly politicised environment in which business and economic activities are carried out, resulting in some conflicting polices/goals that affect optimal efficiency in service delivery and advocacy. The timing of our budgets such as crafting, submission to the legislators for discussion and subsequent signing into law by Mr. President, and presentation to the nation require serious attention. A neat budget should reach the President by November while every ministry, department, and agency should receive their release in December to enable them start implementation in the coming year.

How can the government meet the expectations of your members?

Government can meet our expectations through the provision of adequate infrastructure, especially in power supply and transportation. There is, therefore, the need to accelerate the completion of the on-going power sector reforms to improve the generating power capacity of below 4000 Megawatts (MW ) to at least 10,000 MW by the end of the year. There is need to put in place an effective transport system management by providing adequate and reliable infrastructure for road, rail, air and waterways transportation in order to achieve supply chain efficiencies. All

• Abubakar

‘The timing of our budgets, such as crafting, submission to the legislators for discussion and subsequent signing into law by Mr. President, and presentation to the nation require serious attention. A neat budget should reach the President by November while every Ministry, Department, and Agency should receive their release in December to enable them start implementation in the coming year’

• Abubakar

these we canvass should be done through effective PPP (Public-Private Partnership) synergy for optimal result to be achieved.

There is also the need to ensure efficient and effective security system that promotes business and investment climate, as well as guarantees lives and property of the citizens. The PPP model could be adopted by collaborating with NACCIMA

and private security agencies to achieve a lasting solution to the war against crime, terrorism and other vices currently besetting our nation. Government should give serious consideration to dealing with institutions such as NACCIMA, Manufactures Association of Nigeria ( MAN), Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), and the Nigerian Economic Sum-

mit Group (NESG) rather than individuals on all government committees critical to the growth and development of the industrial/business sector in the country. This can be achieved by making membership of Chambers of Commerce compulsory to all business operators, which would also serve a dual purpose of reducing or even eliminating fraudsters in the economy.

How much employment has NACCIMA generated in recent times?

Let me state clearly that membership of NACCIMA is made up of operators in the Small, Medium and Large Enterprises meant to create wealth, which in turn create jobs.

So, we only motivate them to create the jobs.

The co-ordinating Minister of the Economy reportedly said the government was working hard to strengthen the income drive of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

What is the implication of this to local industries, especially given the competition from imported goods?

While we are not against strengthening NCS and FIRS, we, however, wish to state that Customs should not be seen as a revenue-generating agency of government, rather a trade facilitating agency. If this is done, it will enhance the competitiveness of local industries from imported goods. For FIRS, we support the strengthening by government as long as the enabling environment and additional incentives are provided for businesses to thrive and be better positioned to pay their taxes as and when due.

How can export trade be encouraged for local manufacturers?

The government should continue to identify and promote those products, which we believe Nigeria has competitive and comparative advantage of producing and exporting. Create additional incentives and with all the incentives made to work more transparently.

What is the success level of the government’s port reforms?

We are aware that considerable efforts have been made by the government on port reforms. However, the success level recorded is still low compared with the expected result, as the 24-hour target for cargo clearance process is not yet achieved. But we believe the government and her agencies could still do better.

Has the government delivered on its backward integration programme in sugar, cement and cassava, among others?

We can say with all sense of responsibility that some level of success has been achieved especially for cement. With regard to sugar, progress is being made and it will take some time, but we believe it will be another success story since N3 billion has been invested into the sector. On cassava, progress is still slow with rudimentary techniques still being adopted by most peasant farmers.

What is the Chamber’s position on the fiscal policies and plans for the real sector?

Our position is that they are good policies, but government should continue to have the political will to implement them transparently.

The mortality rate of small businesses is rising by the day. How can this be curbed?

Various factors account for the rising mortality rate of SMEs in the country, such as poor an enabling environment (lack of infrastructure, incentives, funding provided by government for businesses, financial mismanagement, lack of basic business capacity in terms of knowledge, skills & attitude).

Others are non-recruitment of qualified personnel resulting in poor record keeping, especially accounting books, low capacity to invest in research and development (R&D), ICT (information and communications technology) and e-commerce, including lack of standardisation of products and limited access to markets. We believe the mortality rate of SMEs will reduce drastically if the NEDEP and the NIRP are implemented effectively.

How has insecurity affected businesses in the northern part of the country?

As a matter of fact, it is clear that the Agricultural Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government cannot be sustained or realised in a tensed atmosphere occasioned by insecurity in the North. No doubt, the insecurity in the North has had serious negative consequence on businesses operating in the region, as most of them have either shut operations or are relocating from the high-risk areas in the North. Business can only thrive in a conducive and peaceful environment, which would guarantee return on investment.

29

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

MONEYLINK

‘$10b ‘hot money’ in foreign exchange reserves’

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Stories by Collins Nweze

HE foreign exchange reserves which stood at $37.87 billion as at April 3, has about $10 billion of it as hot money, Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismarck Rewane has said.

Rewane, who spoke at the Lagos Business School breakfast meeting, explained that ‘Hot money’ is the flow of funds or capital from one country to another in order to earn a short-term profit on interest rate differences and/or anticipated exchange rate shifts.

He said these speculative capital flows are called “hot money” because they can move very quickly in and out of markets, potentially leading to market instability.

Access Bank supports national identity scheme

A

CCESS BANK Plc has provided project office for the National Identity Management System (NIMC) card scheme.

A statement from the bank said the Federal Government approved the implementation of a unified identity Management System for Nigerians.

The new integrated data system which will capture all Nigerians from the ages of 18 and above will also bring down the cost of data processing and storage by the different agencies in the country.

Managed by the NIMC and executed in conjunction with different agencies of government which keep their own separate identity data, the National Identity Management System (NIMS) also has the National Identity Smart Card (NISC) component.

The bank said this will be the largest roll-out of an electronic payment solution in the country and the broadest financial inclusion initiative of its kind in Africa.

He said reversal of capital flows will intensify, further depleting external reserves.

Rewane said there would be further external sector imbalances in a run-up to 2015 elections even as equity market imbalance is likely to increase with stock market correction continuing.

He said spill over from Russia-Ukraine crisis poses downside risks for neighbouring countries and Europe with 20 per cent of European Union’s energy consumption is from Russia with 32.5 per cent of Nigeria’s imports coming from the Eurpean Union (EU).

He said countries that have tried to prop up their currencies stand the risk of

depleting their foreign exchange reserves adding that Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth is estimated to spike to 7.22 per cent during the past quarter as against 7.72 per cent recorded last December.

GDP rebasing is expected to boost Nigeria’s estimated size by about 70 per cent and is almost certain to push it ahead of South Africa to become Africa’s biggest economy.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) changed the base year for calculating Nigeria’s GDP to 2010 from 1990 to reflect changes in the economy of Africa’s most populous nation, and more accurately assess the size of its current output.

Most governments overhaul GDP cal-

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HE Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has called for International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) specialists in the financial sector.

Its President, Kabir Mohammed made this known during the induction for the corporate finance management faculty IFRS certification programme held at the weekend in Lagos.

During the induction, 52 accountants were awarded the proficiency in IFRS certificate brings the total awardees to 204.

Mohammed said prior to IFRS, what obtained all over the world were country-specific versions of the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), which were based on cultural, legal, economic and regulatory peculiarities of individual countries.

Mohammed explained that in most cases, these standards differed extensively, thereby causing confusion for

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year

35m 35m

11.039 12.23

19-05-2014 18-05-2016

investors and creating problems for multi-national companies that needed to prepare varying sets of financial statements for the different countries where they operate.

He said the need for IFRS specialists in the financial sector to increase and also the need to enhance capacity building in that field.

The ICAN boss said following Nigeria’s adoption of IFRS, the corporate finance management has been in the forefront of building capacity.

He said ICAN awards certificate of proficiency in IFRS to desiring members to achieve this objective.

According to the ICAN boss, the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC) Act 2011 has replaced the repealed Nigeria Accounting Standards Board Act No 22 of 2003.

The new Act has also given the Council the responsibility for developing and publishing accounting and financial reporting standards to be observed in the preparation of financial statements of public entities

• Mohammed

in Nigerian and related matters.

He said the Act has expanded the scope of activities of the FRC by creating additional departments in such areas as corporate governance, audit standards, valuation and actuarial services.

DATA BANK WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 400m 400m 400m 400m 400m 400m

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33

Price Loss 2754.67

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10%

Amount 30m 46.7m

Rate % 10.96 9.62

Date 28-04-2012 “

CAP MAYBAKER LEARNAFRCA ETERNA STANBIC HONYFLOUR EVANSMED ABCTRANS NPFMCRFBK NASCON

O/PRICE 38.62 2.00 2.04 3.99 21.01 3.67 2.22 0.97 0.97 11.86

C/PRICE 35.96 1.90 1.94 3.80 20.03 3.50 2.12 0.93 0.93 11.38

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change

Year Start Offer

Current Before

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

CHANGE -2.66 -0.10 -0.10 -0.19 -0.98 -0.17 -0.10 -0.04 -0.04 -0.48

DISCOUNT WINDOWx Feb. ’11

July ’11

July ’12

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00%

LOSERS AS AT 6-3-14

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

CCNN DANGSUGAR WAPIC COSTAIN INTENEGINS NAHCO DNMEYER UPL VITAFOAM INTBREW

9.70 10.45 0.88 1.60 0.60 5.41 1.41 4.08 4.50 27.01

C/PRICE 8.76 9.44 0.80 1.52 0.57 5.14 1.34 3.88 4.28 25.71

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96%

Exchange Rate (N) 155.75 155.8 155.7

Date 2-5-14 2-3-14 1-29-14

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX

NSE

6-2-14

28-10-11

% Change

CAP Index

N13.07tr 40,766.16

N6.617tr 20,903.16

-1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Offer Price

AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 158.93 ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH 9.17 BGL NUBIAN FUND 1.07 BGL SAPPHIRE FUND 1.17 CANARY GROWTH FUND 0.68 CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST 1.39 CORAL INCOME FUND 1,628.00 FBN FIXED INCOME FUND 1,090.40 FBN HERITAGE FUND 114.02 FBN MONEY MARKET FUND 1,087.30 FIDELITY NIGFUND 1.67 INTERCONTINENTAL INTEGRITY FUND 1.05 KAKAWA GUARANTE ED INCOME FUND 143.11 LEGACY FUND 0.78 NIGERIA INTER DEBIT FUND 1,894.68 • • • •

CHANGE -0.69 -1.01 -0.08 -0.08 -0.03 -0.0.27 -0.07 -0.020 -0.22 -1.30

Amount Sold ($) 399.9m 399.9m 399.9m

Name

(S/N)

GAINERS AS AT 6-3-14

SYMBOL

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day

NTERPRISE Bank Limited has launched a new product called Enterprise Boost Account to boost the growth of Small and Medium Scale Businesses (SMSBs).

In a statement, the bank said the product is fulfillment of its desire to continually satisfy the aspirations of her customers.

The product, it said, was designed to immensely reduce the cost of doing business given the great environmental challenges that SMSBs face both in their operations, such as unstable power supply, poor transportation systems, paucity of skilled manpower, among others.

It said the Enterprise Boost Account is in two major categories, namely, Classic Boost Account and Premium Boost Account with opening balances of N20,000 and N50,000. While the Classic account is targeted at SMSBs with annual turn-over of N240million the Premium boost account is for businesses with yearly turnover of N480million.

Other high point benefits of the new product are access to a MasterCard debit card, free monthly e-statement of accounts, flexible account management, own company’s website at a discounted rate, access to short/long term loans, internet and mobile banking facilities as well as wide network of branches nationwide.

According to the statement, the latest development is part of the efforts of the bank to support small scale businesses and build them up to solid enterprises so as to contribute their quota as the engine of economic growth in our society.

ICAN seeks IFRS specialists in financial sector

Tenor

OBB Rate

E

culations every few years to reflect changes in output and consumption, but Nigeria has not done so since 1990, meaning sectors such as the Internet, telephones and even the “Nollywood” film industry have had to be newly factored in to give a truer picture.

He said Nigeria’s GDP growth is accelerating but hampered by insecurity, which currently has five to eight per cent negative impact on nominal GDP. Rewane also said contraction in money supply growth would continue with CBN’s tight monetary policy stance.

He said Nigeria’s trade balance declined to $9.86 billion in third quarter of 2013 from $10.6 billion in second quarter of last year.

FGN BONDS

NIDF

Enterprise Bank inaugurates boost account

UBA BALANCED FUND UBA BOND FUND UBA EQUITY FUND UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

Movement

1.2655 1.3132 0.9270 1.1597

Bid Price 158.40 9.08 1.05 1.17 0.67 1.33 2,540.20 1,090.11 113.22 1,087.00 1.62 1.03 142.62 0.76 1,890.77 1.2543 1.3132 0.9098 1.1597

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank

Previous 04 July, 2012

Current 07, Aug, 2012

8.5000

8.5000

Movement

30

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 4-4-14

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 4-4-14

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

31

EQUITIES

Analysts say Seplat’s $500m IPO expensive, risky

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NALYSTS at Morgan Capital Group have expressed concerns over what they described as possible risks and overvaluation of the $500 million initial public offering (IPO) of SEPLAT Petroleum Development Company Plc. An equity research made available by Morgan Capital at the weekend indicated that Seplat’s IPO pricing range might be overvalued by more than 200 per cent and there are many inherent risks. The report however noted that Seplat is a good company.

SEPLAT had commenced the book building for its IPO with indicative price range of N535 and N700.

However, the final price will be determined by the bid prices. The minimum order for individual in-

Stories by Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

vestors is set at 25,000 shares, implying minimum investment of N13.375 million and N17.500 million at the indicative price range of N535 and N700. Also, the minimum order for institutional investors is set at 85,000 shares, which implies minimum application size of N45.475 million and N59.50 million at the bottom and ceiling prices.

The initial offer size is expected to raise gross proceeds of approximately $500 million, equivalent to £300.9 million and N82.5 billion.

SEPLAT plans to list its ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) after the IPO. With this, and based on the mid-point of

West African capital markets adopt integration protocols

N

ATIONAL authorities, capital market regulators and stock exchanges in the West African region have approved the guidelines, processes and procedures for the first phase of the integration of the region's capital markets.

The adoption of many resolutions on the capital market integration paved ways for the take-off of the first phase of the integration. At the 4th ordinary meeting of the West African Capital Markets Integration Council (WACMIC) in Abidjan, Cote D'Ivoire, chief executives of capital market regulators and stock exchanges in Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo agreed on the framework for the first phase of the capital market integration. Also at the meeting were the central banks of Guinea and Liberia, ECOWAS Commission and West African Monetary Institute (WAMI).

The meeting reviewed the recommendations that would enable dealing firms in member states to trade securities and settle in markets other than theirs through local dealing firms in those markets by means of Sponsored Access.

Members subsequently passed a resolution for the adoption of the sponsored access framework and related agreements to be approved by all member regulators, signaling the commencement of the integration of capital markets in West Africa.

The sponsored access phase is the first phase of the region's capital market integration and it is expected to take off in April, this year.

Under this phase, brokers within the member countries can trade securities and settle in markets other than theirs, through local brokers in the other member jurisdictions.

The interrelationship between the brokers will be guided by memoranda of understanding (MOU), which is duly recognised by each regulator in each WACMI member jurisdiction.

All national authorities and stock exchanges at the meeting also agreed to ensure that the appropriate processes and systems are put in place in the respective jurisdictions to facilitate the implementation of the sponsored access, thus enabling jurisdictions to launch as they complete their processes and obtain all the requisite approvals.

The meeting also agreed on the guidelines and procedures for approving applications under the sponsored access framework.

Besides, the meeting deliberated on the importance of harmonised listing requirements and minimum standards of corporate governance within the region to facilitate the second and third phases of the integration.

In a communiqué issued after the

meeting, members recognized the importance of not only harmonizing minimum listing requirements to ensure that they are at par with international best practices, but also aligning corporate governance standards of listed entities with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) principles. To this end, jurisdictions will set minimum requirements which will be enforceable by the regulators.

The meeting also adopted the guidelines for the issuance of common passports for capital market operators to trade across the region while urging countries without training and certification institutes to immediately come up with some form of acceptable regime for qualifying and admitting brokers in the short term with a view to developing a curriculum for training their operators.

The "Common passport" is the legal and regulatory framework approved and adopted by WACMIC to allow capital market operators to operate outside their jurisdictions. A "Common Passport" empowers market regulators to mutually recognise an operator registered outside their market and extend them the same rights, privileges and obligations as one of their own.

The meeting also the need to have a body responsible for ensuring that all training and certifying institutes within the region maintain a harmonized curricula and standardized examination.

F

the price range, SEPLAT’s implied market capitalisation upon listing would be about £1,200.9 million, equivalent to $ 1,995.5 million and N329.5 billion.

Morgan Capital stated that it undertook a fundamental valuation of SEPLAT and got a target price of N173.25, after the investment banking firm has factored tax and earnings risks.

According to the report, while SEPLAT made 65 per cent tax provision in 2011 and 63 per cent tax provision in 2012, it reported a tax credit of $93 million in 2013. The exclusion of tax provision consequently boosted the profit recorded in 2013.

SEPLAT in the prospectus indicated that with effect from January 1, 2013, the company was granted the pioneer tax status incentive by the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) for a fiveyear period. For the period the incentive applies, the company is exempt from petroleum profits tax on crude oil profits, corporate income tax on natural gas profits and education tax of two per cent.

“We do not see the justification for the NIPC to grant pioneer tax status incentive to SEPLAT for acquiring already existing assets that the previous owners were already paying the Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) on,

before the sale to Seplat, except there is a newly developed ingenious technology for mining crude oil that is yet to be disclosed to the public,” Morgan Group stated.

Analysts noted that if NIPC sets this precedence, it will give rise to similar claims from other companies who have acquired similar assets and the already fast depleting Federation account will bear the brunt of the largesse. The list of potential litigants includes other upstream players who will see this as unfair advantage and even state governments whose allocation will suffer as a result of this leakage.

The report underlined a caveat in the IPO Prospectus which notes that “there can be no assurances that current or future governments will not revoke these tax incentives prior to the end of the five-year period or seek to recover taxes waived under the scheme from the company and or Newton Energy in the future”.

Morgan Capital also cautioned that there is a strong likelihood for potential litigation, considering that SEPLAT was granted a tax waiver which puts them at an advantage among their peers citing the 400 per cent increase in profit after tax rise in 2013.

According to the report, the likelihood that other players who have invested in assets similar to that of

SEPLAT and even stakeholders, like state governments whose allocations are dwindling and Nigerian citizens, may contest this waiver is very high.

Analysts said any litigation or possible revocation of the waiver will lead to massive sell down on the shares as most investors will seek to exit their positions even before any ruling is made.

The equity report also noted that while the absence of cash flow and profit forecasts in the SEPLAT prospectus may be within the ambit of waivers by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and NSE, it may diminish the ability of analysts to project future earnings of the company.

“We have placed a sell rating on the shares of SEPLAT because we consider it over priced, given the inherent tax waiver issue and the uncertainty of the cash flow. We think this is a play on tax which may not be sustainable, since government can always revoke and or recover any previously waived taxes, even as already disclosed in the Prospectus. We however see SEPLAT as a good company and a fair price of N173.25 is in our opinion, achievable on the floor of the NSE in the coming months,” Morgan Capital added.

FBN Holdings, others seal $170m financing deal for gas assets

BN Holdings and Ecobank Nigeria Limited have provided $170 million to Seven Energy International Limited towards the energy group's acquisition of the gas assets and entire issued share capital of the East Horizon Gas Company (EHGC) Limited.

The multi-party financing deal will provide Seven Energy's wholly-owned subsidiary-Accugas Limited, with part of the funds to complete its $250 million acquisition of the entire issued share capital of the East Horizon Gas Company.

FBN Holdings participated in the financing deal through its subsidiaries-FBN Bank (UK) Limited and FBN Capital Limited. The $170 million medium-term acquisition finance facility were being financed by FBN Bank (UK) Limited and Ecobank Nigeria Limited.

FBN Capital Limited acted as structuring bank, sole initial mandated lead arranger, financial modelling bank and global facility coordinator. Aluko& Oyebode acted as lenders legal counsel, Royal

HaskoningDHV Nederland BV represented the lenders on environmental and technical due diligence matters while UUBO and Addleshaw Goddard acted as the borrower's local and international legal counsels respectively.

EHGC was established by Oando Plc with the intention of constructing and operating an 18-inch, 128 km gas pipeline that connects with the Obigbo-Alscon pipeline at Ukanafun to supply gas to an industrial offtaker located in Mfamosing, Cross River State, and to meet the needs of other industrial users in the Calabar region.

Seven Energy stated that its acquisition of EHGC is in line with its strategic plans to expand its gas infrastructure assets in the south east Niger Delta. Through its assets and subsidiary, Accugas, Seven Energy has a number of infrastructure projects in the region, including a gas processing facility at the Uquo Field and a gas pipeline network, which will have the capability to supply gas in the Port Harcourt, Aba and Calabar areas.

Managing director, FBN Capital Limited, Kayode Akinkugbe, said the deal demonstrated FBN Holdings commitment to financing growth and development of the Nigerian oil and gas sector.

"FBN Holdings Group feels a strong sense of responsibility towards fostering growth in the power; gas pipeline and oil and gas sectors and we will continue to deploy our extensive debt arranging experience and structuring expertise in executing robust transactions in record time," Akinkugbe said.

Director and Head Debt Solutions, FBN Capital Limited, Patrick Mgbenwelu, added that FBN Capital remained committed to further strengthening and supporting Seven Energy in realising its various financing goals and objectives.

Commenting on the transaction, Chief Executive Officer, Seven Energy International Limited, Phillip Ihenacho, said the financing deal was a landmark transaction as it will enable the company to expand its midstream operations in Nigeria.

"It is a perfect fit to our strategy of investing in core midstream infrastructure assets in the south east region of the country. I would also like to thank the entire team for their achievement in bringing this important financing transaction to a close," Ihenacho said.

According to the him, in consolidating the gas infrastructure assets of Accugas and EHGC, Accugas aims to strengthen its distribution platform, increase efficiency and broaden its geographical reach, furthering Seven Energy's intention to create a leading gas distribution business in Nigeria.

Chief Financial Officer, Seven Energy International, Bruce Burrows commended the lenders-FBN Bank (UK) Limited and Ecobank Nigeria Limited, for their support and dedication to ensure that the completion of the EHGC acquisition process was in line with the sponsors' timetable.

He also noted FBN Capital's role, particularly in working closely with Seven Energy, the lenders and the various independent consultants in concluding the transaction.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

32

ISSUES The divestment of foreign companies from the oil industry is raising question about the capacity of indigenous operators to take their place. Asst. Editor CHIKODI OKEREOCHA examines the implication of the International Oil Companies (IOCs) divestment

•Oil platform

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Can indigenous operators cope after foreigners’ exit?

HE Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Andrew Yakubu, came across as an incurable optimist when he addressed participants at the Nigeria Oil & Gas Conference tagged “NOG 2014.” Waxing patriotic, he spoke of an oil & gas industry where indigenous operators, having acquired enough capacity, are in the position to run things following the divestment of some International Oil Companies (IOCs).

Yakubu said when the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) takes off, the level of participation and investments by local oil firms would increase.

He told participants at the premier annual oil and gas gathering in sub-Saharan Africa, held in Abuja, that with the Local Content Law, Nigeria would become the most viable investment destination, galvanised by indigenous capacity.

While Yakubu’s optimism sounds good to local firms, which have been operating in their foreign counterparts’ shadow, many experts and stakeholders are not convinced.

Some of them say Yakubu and others may be putting up a bold face to the fact that local operators don’t have the capacity, expertise and financial muscle to drive the industry.

An oil and gas expert, Oliver Mordi, insisted that lack of capacity remains the bane of local content development in the industry. He argued that though the divestments of the IOCs should be a shot in the arm for indigenous operators, they are yet to acquire the capacity to stand on their own. He noted that local operators do not have the competence to handle highly technical

‘

aspects of oil & gas operations, saying that at the moment, most of the technical aspects are handled by expatriates. Only a few Nigerians, he said, are into oil & gas exploration.

IOCs have since been reviewing and reducing their commitment to onshore and shallow assets in the country. The development, which is gradually changing the oil & gas landscape, started around 2010 when Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) divested some of its assets from Nigeria. The Anglo-Dutch oil company and its partners, French oil group

An oil and gas expert, Oliver Mordi, insisted that lack of capacity remains the bane of local content development in the industry. He argued that though the divestments of the IOCs should be a shot in the arm for indigenous operators, they are yet to acquire the capacity to stand on their own

’

Total and Agip Oil, sold 45 per cent interest in the onshore block, oil mining lease (OML) 40 to Elcrest Nigeria Limited. The company also sold its 30 per cent interest in OML 30 with share production of 11,000 barrels per day (bpd) to Shoreline Natural Resources Limited.

After operating in Nigeria for 46 years, United States (U.S.) oil giant, Conoco Phillips, offered its entire business interest in Nigeria to Oando Plc, an indigenous oil producing company in a deal valued at about $1.75 billion.

Brazilian oil company Petrobras has also indicated plans to auction eight per cent stake of its Agbami oil block and 20 per cent of its offshore Akpo project for about N175 billion.

In November 2012, Total divested its 20 per cent offshore stake in the Usan Field to Sinopec, a Chinese petroleum and chemical company, for $2.5 billion. Chevron is also in the process of selling three onshore oil blocks.

An estimated $6.5 billion worth of assets have so far been sold by IOCs. The figure is projected to rise in the coming months, as more assets are said to have been lined up for • Continued on page 33

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

33

ISSUES

Can indigenous operators cope after foreigners’ exit?

• Continued from page 32

auction, a development, sources linked to the operational and security difficulties in the Niger Delta and the uncertainties caused by the nonpassage of the PIB. For instance, the incessant crises between the host communities and the oil companies are said to have prompted the divestment for deep water prospect where there are fewer crises and less financial expenses on conflict resolution.

But the companies are offering a different explanation. Mutiu Sunmonu, Managing Director of SPDC, said the divestment of his company’s assets was a deliberate measure to encourage indigenous participation in the upstream oil and gas industry.

His words: “We want to create a new set of indigenous players in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry within the next 10 to 20 years from now, while the IOCs concentrate on more difficult issues and also allow us focus on material oil and gas fields.”

The divestments are seen by some industry watchers as representing the single largest opportunity for Nigerian operators with the requisite expertise and capital to emerge as major upstream players. Already, local oil companies own more than 100 blocks across Nigeria’s oil-producing regions, and the figures are expected to double over the next few years, indicating perhaps, that the future is bright for indigenous operators.

But Mordi thinks otherwise. He said lack of capacity by local operators might throw spanner in the works. Although he aligned with the position that divestment by IOCs is capable of encouraging indigenous participation, he noted that at the moment Nigerians lack the capacity and expertise to leverage the opportunity created by the exit of the IOCs. He however, attributed the development to "the political economy of the operating environment, which is no longer conducive for IOCs." Mr Obiora Akabogu, a Lagos based lawyer, describes oil business as "capital intensive," saying: “Nigerian operators do not have the resources and the manpower to run it efficiently considering the fact that local banks are not in the position to advance long-term loans without going into alliance with foreign banks.

Besides, the prevailing high interest rate by banks poses serious hurdle for local operators particularly those without access to offshore fund."

Akabogu added: “Local content in the oil industry is supposed to be a long term thing; it is supposed to be implemented in a gradual manner because the enabling environment is not there. The ideal thing would have been to retain the IOCs by addressing the issues that necessitated their divestment." He said the IOCs were merely shifting their risks to the local operators who would now deal with issues of oil bunkering and theft.

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Ernest Nwapa, drove the point home when he disclosed that Nigeria has lost an estimated $380 billion to foreign companies and contractors because of lack of capacity in manufacturing, fabrication and engineering design of production platforms, marine vessels, drilling rigs and other equipment used in the oil and gas industry.

Mr. Nwapa said virtually all categories of contracts in the oil and gas sector were executed by foreign firms before the coming of the Nigerian Content Act in 2010. He said for instance, Nigeria is still chasing the original builders of the four refineries to come and assist in rehabilitating them because the country lacks capacity to do the job. He said before the Nigerian Content Act was enacted the engineering designs of production platforms were neither done in Nigeria nor manufactured locally.

Between 2010 when the law came into being and now, experts say that it is doubtful if local operators have acquired enough capacity to run the industry. For instance, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), called to question the capacity of local operators by raising the alarm that the take over of the industry by local operators would lead to massive job losses. According to the National Public Relations Officer (PRO) of PENGASSAN, Mr. Seyi Gambo, over 20, 000 local jobs in the oil and gas industry are under threat following the rapid divestments of upstream assets by IOCs. He said since the IOCs began the exercise, many of its members have

been laid off.

Akabogu says there is sufficient reason for PENGASSAN and indeed, other labour unions in the industry to fret. He said: "Their fears are justified because in a capitalist system, he who pays the piper dictates the tune. The driving principle in capitalism is profit maximisation, and one of the strategies to achieve that is downsizing or rightsizing of workers." The legal practitioner wondered why countries like Ghana and Sao Tome & Principe could provide enabling environment for their oil industry to thrive whereas Nigeria could not.

To renowned environmental expert and coordinator of Oil Watch International, Mr. Nnimmo Bassey, the development is hardly surprising. According to him, divestment is a business strategy by the IOCs to cut losses and maximize profits. “You will notice that they are divesting mostly from onshore and swamp fields that intersect with communities that they have massively polluted and abused. Their aged facilities in those locations will certainly bring on more resource ownership and social conflicts. So, if local companies are happy to step in and take the flak that means ‘good’ business for the IOCs," he observed incomplete sentence.

Bassey also said that on the other hand, the IOCs mostly divested to the extent of their equity holdings in such fields and production also activities. "They still own the pipelines and related facilities. What that means is that they are renovating their image, collecting rents from their facilities and generally smiling to the bank while the local companies will eventually take the beating for the pollutions, conflicts and other social disruptions. We see the divestment as a business strategy that benefits the IOCs and leaves the oil field communities and the environment at risk," he told The Nation.

Dismissing the divestment as a veiled threat to the Federal Government against erection of policies that dig into the incredible profits the IOCs have been making in the country, the environmental expert alleged that: "The IOCs do not want Nigeria to have a properly regulated oil and gas sector. They do not want a strong PIB. The spate of divestment can be seen as a statement in this direction."

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, thinks so, too. Its President, Comrade Igwe Achese accused the IOCs of stalling the passage of the PIB. "We call for the quick passage of the PIB that is before the National Assembly, as it would go a long way to reforming and ensuring transparency in the oil and gas sector. The multinationals are running helter-skelter to halt the passage but this must be rebuffed by the National Assembly because the multinationals are doing it for their selfish interests," Achese said.

The National Assembly, through the Chairman, Senate Committee on Gas Resources, Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Upstream, Hon. Muriana Ajibola, raised hopes when they announced at 'NOG 2014' that the PIB would be passed later this year.

Senator Nwaogu said the bill, which consists of 16 legislations, was brought together to promote efficiency. She said the bill, which establishes the legal and regulatory framework, institutions and regulatory authorities for the Nigerian petroleum industry while also stipulating guidelines for operations in the upstream and downstream sectors, has just passed the second reading and at present, is at the technical stage.

But some stakeholders including Bassey are not impressed. Bassey noted, for instance, that although the PIB is a good first step, the document as packaged, is not as strong as it ought to be. According to him, the PIB does not have stringent pro-people and proenvironment provisions, as the country, despite the PIB, will still be having illegal routine gas flaring. He blamed the delay in passing the bill on what he described as ‘toxic politics’ and

‘

• Yakubu

• Sunmonu

• Akabogu

• Mordi

pressure from the IOCs who have openly said they would not accept laws that curb their excessive profits as well as wrong perception by some legislators that provision of funds for communities mean more money to the oilbearing states.

Indeed, the 10 per cent additional revenue sought for the oil-producing communities is one of the contentious provisions in the PIB that divided legislators in both chambers of the National Assembly. While legislators from the South support the provision, those from the North argue that the Niger Delta already has enough money coming to it from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Niger Delta Ministry, and the 13 per cent derivation.

Nnimmo argued that although, the PIB makes the offer of money to oil-bearing communities on one hand, it takes it away on the other. "The PIB criminalises communities when it says that if oil facilities are tampered with then the communities, local government areas, and states would pay. Communities are not the policemen of oil facilities. The PIB speaks the old language of subsisting laws that free IOCs of responsibility where facilities are interfered with by third parties. That has made the claim of sabotage the favourite refrain of the oil companies even before incidents are investigated. The PIB fell into the same antipeople trap," he explained.

The non-passage of the PIB is blamed for creating an air of uncertainty in the industry, forcing IOCs to either divest or hold back on their investments. Because of the high-wire politicking that has characterised the PIB in the past 10 years, investors are said to be wary of putting their money in the industry. Senator Nworgu acknowledged this much at the conference when she said “Nigeria is currently on a standstill because investment in oil and gas has been delayed due to the delay in the passage of the bill.” She added that when passed into law by the seventh Senate, the bill would

open up doors for investments and improve Nigeria's revenue generation.

Indeed, many IOCs in Nigeria are holding back on investment. For instance, a whopping $109 billion, about N16.8 trillion proposed investments are said to have been put on hold by oil majors who said planned projects were no longer economical due to the fiscal terms of the PIB. Some of the IOCs are also reportedly diverting their investments to other countries where oil has been found and where a transparent system is in place for the benefit of all stakeholders.

The Nation reliably gathered that Shell alone had planned an investment of $30 billion in two offshore deepwater projects, but because of the current investment climate in the country, "SPDC would rather wait for stable and right conditions before committing finances," Sunmonu said. The situation, which is not peculiar to Shell, but applies to all the IOCs perhaps, explains why there has been widespread apprehension and fear by stakeholders over the implications of the exit of the IOCs on investment especially at a time the Federal Government said it is encouraging more investment inflow into the industry.

However, Bassey does not see the need for fresh investment in the oil industry. “When government seeks more investment in the sector, the expectation is that this would bring in more revenue and positively impact the economy, but up to 90 per cent of the expenditure in oil and gas production efforts are made abroad and not in Nigeria. The equipment is manufactured abroad and is merely assembled here. The sector is not a massive employer of labour and many locals working in the sector are mere contract staff," he explained.

Bassey insisted that what Nigeria needs to do right now is to “massively increase oil revenues by halting oil theft. We are not talking about poor villagers scooping crude oil in buckets and jerry cans. Those also need to be stopped.

We are talking about the industrial-scale oil theft going on in the oil sector. The official figure bandied by the Ministry of Finance as well as the National Assembly is that 400,000 barrels of crude oil are stolen everyday," he said As for local operators, Bassey and other experts and stakeholders said the ability of local operators to hold their own would depend, to a very large extent, on better collaboration, better host community management, proper valuation and raising smart financing. They also require huge investment in knowledge, research and development (R&D).

The IOCs do not want Nigeria to have a properly regulated oil and gas sector.

They do not want a strong PIB. The spate of divestment can be seen as a statement in this direction

’

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THE NATION APRIL 7, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS INSURANCE

NAICOM releases guidelines on commissions, rebates, refund premiums T

HE National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has released new guidelines to monitor charges on rebates, commissions, return and refund premiums.

NAICOM’s new Deputy Commissioner, Technical, Mohammed Kari, who made this known in a circular to all insurance institutions in the country, said the guidelines are in line with the statutory powers of the Commission.

On rebates and brokerage commissions, the circular, stated it shall be illegal for any insurance institutions to solicit, offer, or allow commissions and/or rebates in the transaction of insurance businesses except as provided by the extant insurance laws and guidelines.

It said: “For the avoidance of

Stories by OmobolaTolu-Kusimo

doubt, Over-Riding Commission, Business Acquisition fees and other similar fees not provided for by the Nigerian Insurance Laws shall not be solicited, deducted, offered or paid in respect of any insurance transaction in Nigeria, warning that “an Insurer, who grants or receives a rebate, offers, demands, pays or receives commission contrary to Section 53(1)(3) of the Insurance Act 2003, may in addition to the penalty prescribed by Sections 53(4) and 76 of the Insurance Act, 2003, shall be liable to other penalties as prescribed.”

According to the guidelines, “each Insurer shall submit a quar-

terly return on the rebates, brokerage commission and other fees paid out, or payable on all its production during the preceding quarter to the Commission, not later than 14 days from the end of the quarter. The return shall be in accordance with the format prescribed in form ICR2.3a.

“In addition to the provision of Section 41(1) of the Insurance Act,

2003, a Broker shall submit to the Commission a copy of his dedicated client account, duly stamped and signed by the bank and a quarterly return of the brokerage commission received, receivable or deducted at source, taxes paid and rebates received during the preceding quarter on all businesses not later than 14 days from the end of the quarter.

On return or refund premium,

NAICOM said: “For the avoidance of doubt and in line with Article 3(9) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/ CFT) Regulation, 2013, no insurer, broker or its agents shall charge or receive premiums in excess of the actual premium on an insurance policy that may result in refunding the excess amount paid or with the intent of returning the excess in any form, by cash or otherwise to the insured, its agents or any party.”

STI promotes media excellence • Partners DAME

S

OVEREIGN Trust Insurance (STI) Plc has collaborated with Diamond Publications Limited, organisers of the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME), to further promote professionalism among journalists with special focus on insurance reporting.

Managing Director, STI, Mr Wale Onaolapo, represented by the Head, Corporate Communication and Brand Management, Mr. Segun Bankole, at a one-day media workshop organised for journalists, said there is need to learn and improve in any profession.

The theme of the one-day workshop was ‘Widening the pools of excellence.’

It held at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Lagos.

Onaolapo said the importance of the media cannot be undermined, hence the need to improve on the pratitioners’ skills. He noted that it is critical for journalists to maintain their role as watchdogs of the society.

He said the public will only get the best from journalists when the reporting is of good standard premised on proper research and objectivity.

He enjoined the participants to

take advantage of the new insights they have been exposed to and let it reflect in their work in the years ahead.

He noted that STI would continue to support knowledge acquisition initiatives in promoting the advancement of the insurance industry.

He said: “The media in any society act as the barometer for social conscience and they must be encouraged to continue to play this very critical role. The company signed on with Diamond Awards for Media Excellence DAME, since 2008, to sponsor in perpetuity, the Insurance Award for Journalists at the yearly event.”

The Chief Organiser and Administrator of DAME, Mr. Lanre Idowu, said the initiative was borne out of the need to enhance journalists’ professionalism and equip them with modern methods of news gathering for better reporting.

He said further: “If the goals of impacting positively on the Nigerian Media development landscape are to be realised, reporting standard must be urgently improved upon.”

He said the support from the firm had been strong, hoping that other corporate organisations would emulate the initiative.

Idowu is CIIN’s Staff of the Year

T

O reward excellence, the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) has introduced the Staff of the Year Award.

It announced that Idowu Owa won the award for last year.

In a statement by its Director, Corporate Affairs, Joseph Obah, the decision was reached through a stringent selection involving nominations by the staff.

He said it also came as a result of CIIN’s Director-General, Mr. Kola Ahmed’s resolve to reward excellence and to encourage greater diligence amongst the secretariat staff.

Owa, who hails from Kogi State holds an Ordinary National Di-

ploma in Tourism from the Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Kogi State.

A staff member, who combines efficiency with effectiveness, Owa’s emergence is well deserved as the institute’s staff paid glowing tributes to him.

The awardee joined the institute in 2007.

The Director-General of the CIIN, Mr Kola Ahmed, while presenting a commemorative plaque to Mr. Owa, enjoined him not to rest on his oars, but endeavour to achieve more successes in any given task.

Ahmed also encouraged all other staff to see this year’s awards as a motivation to strive to do better in their duties.

• From left: Vice President, Association of Registered Insurance Agent of Nigeria (ARIAN), Ndubuisi Ogbata; Treasurer, Jegede Kehinde; Director-General, Chartered Institute of Insurance of Nigeria (CIIN) Kola Ahmed; National President, Gbadebo Olamerun and Mr Sekoini of CIIN during ARIAN executives’ courtesy visit to CIIN.

‘Africa’s untapped market offers prospects’

I

NSURANCE groups based in Europe, the United States and South Africa are looking to emerging markets on the African continent in a hunt for better growth prospects because of the maturity of their own markets, where growth is more limited.

This was made known in a report titled, “Africa’s Insurance markets: Gearing up for sustained growth,”

by A.M Best.

The report showed that the over 160 million population of Nigeria offers a huge opportunity to the foreign investors.

According to A. M Best, Sub-Saharan Africa offers very strong growth potential but accounts for only 0.2 per cent of total global premiums written, adding that “as a result, insurance groups in Europe, the United States and South Africa have increasingly started looking to emerging markets on the continent in a hunt for better growth prospects because of the maturity of their own markets, where growth is more limited,” the report said.

“There are a number of attractive markets for insurers in Africa to consider, including Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana. Kenya’s insurance sector has proved robust and resilient, despite there being many poor households. Premiums have been growing by double digits, fueled mainly by the non-life sector, which makes up 66.2 per cent of total premium written.

“Nigeria has the continent’s largest population at 174 million, and premiums are expected to nearly quadruple in the next five years to N1 trillion (about $6.3 billion) from N260 billion in 2012, according to the National Insurance Commission of Nigeria (NAICOM), while in

• ‘Nigeria gets more attractive’ Ghana, the life market is estimated to be growing by 40 per cent annually.

The report said economic growth is supported by oil and gas exploration, political stability and a regulatory system that makes it attractive for businesses, adding that many large international insurance groups from developed countries have historically had a presence on the continent.

It listed Zurich, with key hub operations in Morocco and South Africa; AXA Group, with a strong presence in Francophone Africa (including Algeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, Mauritius and Senegal); Allianz Group, with a growing presence in 10 African countries, including Ghana, and American International Group, with well-established units in Kenya and Uganda and local partners in most African countries, as some of the firms.

However, they have become more aggressive in their strategies for expansion on the continent.

“The report said that the strong foreign interest in Africa’s insurance markets began toward the end of the 20th century, when Munich Re, the world’s largest reinsurer, established regional offices in West and Central Africa to service its clients. Since then, some companies from mature economies have entered the market, by either following their clients to Africa, or through partnerships’ joint ventures, the acquisition of a stake in an existing insurer on the continent, or by acquiring a new business license directly.

“A few of such interests include the the 2005 Sanlam Financial Serv-

ices Group, owner of Santam, South Africa’s largest general insurer, acquisition of African Life Assurance Co. Limited.

“The group owns significant stakes in insurers in Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Kenya. It was also stated in February 2014, that Sanlam acquired a stake in the Nigerian stockexchange, and listed Oasis Insurance to penetrate the country’s growing general insurance sector.

“In 2009, Germany’s Allianz Group, was approved for a license

by Ghana’s National Insurance Commission (NIC) to operate in the non-life and life sectors, as well as in commenced operations. The company is taking advantage of the very strong growth and positive fundamentals in the country and has actively expanded its network in Africa.

“In December 2013, the United Kingdom’s largest life insurer by market value, Prudential plc, acquired a majority stake in Accrabased Ghanaian insurer, Express Life from LeapFrog Investments, a venture capital firm and specialist investor in financial services in Africa and Asia. Despite Express Life’s relatively small size, the deal is considered significant given Prudential’s entry to the market and its vast resources.

“In February this year, Londonheadquartered specialty insurer Catlin Group, said it was considering expanding into territories, including Indonesia, Thailand, and Africa. The firm currently has six underwriting hubs in the US, London, Canada, Bermuda, Europe and Asia Pacific,” the report added.

35

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

BUSINESS MOTORING

•Audi A4

The 2014 Audi A4's turbocharged four-cylinder may not be the most thrilling engine in the world, but it can still pin you to your seat when you put the gas pedal to the floor. For those who desire more, the sporty S4 should be a delight. TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO writes with agency reports.

Audi A4 comes with elegant designs F

OR the year, the Audi A4 produces 220 horsepower, up from 211 a year ago. A few more features, including Bluetooth and an iPod interface, are standard.

The Audi A4 has been so good for so long that it is easy to take this entry-level luxury sedan’s excellence for granted. Its styling is familiar but still attractive, while its cabin is what auto lovers come to expect from Audi in terms of elegant design and superior quality.

The features list is generous, yet the A4 typically undercuts the prices on its German rivals. And while certain competitors are more memorable to drive, the A4 still finds a nice middle ground between the sport and comfort sides of the spectrum.

For 2014, the Audi A4 is even better. For beginners, the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine has been given a 9-hp bump up to 220. People used to scoff at the idea of a luxury sedan with only four cylinders, but it is actually pretty commonplace now, as the fuel economy benefits of a four-cylinder generally outweigh whatever social stigma you might feel for not getting a six-cylinder. Plus, with 258 pound-feet of torque on tap, the A4 will never be seriously described as slow. And, if demand is something quicker, the superb 2014 Audi S4 performance model is just a heftier car payment away.

While the 2014 A4’s performance has been improved, the high-quality interior is still the car’s main draw. While perhaps not as visually interesting as some of its competitors, the A4’s typically German cabin nevertheless has a rich ambience. Add to it a decent-sized backseat and trunk and the Audi’s cabin is suitably practical as well.

The car though does compete against some awfully impressive small luxury sedans. The BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class are chief among them, offering similar refinement and driving experiences. The Cadillac ATS, Lexus IS and Volvo S60 are also solid choices, while the new Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class could be a more stylish, cost-effective alterna-

tive. Many of those competing models may be newer, better-looking or offer more value for money, but only the BMW could claim to be as well-rounded as the 2014 Audi A4.

Body styles The A4 is offered only as a sedan, though the Audi Allroad is effectively the wagon version. There is also a higher-performance version of the sedan known as the S4. Both are reviewed separately.

Trim levels are broken into three tiers: Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige. Standard features for the Premium include 17-inch wheels; automatic headlights; front and rear foglights; automatic wipers; a sunroof; cruise control; automatic climate control; a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel; eightway power front seats with four-way driver lumbar adjustment; leather upholstery; a dash-mounted Multi Media Interface, or MMI; Bluetooth phone connectivity; and a 10-speaker sound system with a CD player, an auxiliary audio jack, an iPod interface and satellite radio. Options include a navigation system (with voice controls and console-mounted MMI), a Cold Weather package (heated front seats and a 60/40-split folding rear seat) and an S line style package, which adds 18-inch wheels, xenon headlights and sportier exterior trim.

The Premium Plus comes standard with the cold weather and S line packages and further adds keyless ignition/entry, autodimming exterior mirrors, tri-zone automatic climate control and driver seat memory functions. The MMI Navigation plus package has the Premium’s navigation system, but further adds front and rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, Bluetooth audio connectivity and Audi connect (enhanced Web-based navigation, information and WiFi access). Also optional are a blind-spot monitoring system and a 14-speaker Bang and Olufsen sound system.

The Prestige includes all of the above as standard plus adaptive xenon headlights. Exclusive to the Prestige is the optional Driver Select package, which adds adaptive cruise control, adaptive steering and adjustable vehicle settings known as Audi Drive Select. A power rear sunshade is also available.

Optional on both the Premium Plus and Prestige is the Sport package, which adds a sporttuned suspension and front sport seats. Also available is the Audi Exclusive Line Interior package that adds upgraded leather upholstery and special interior trim. The Black Optic package features 19-inch wheels and gloss black exterior trim.

Performance The car is powered by a two-litre turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 220 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) are standard, while all-wheel drive is available with either a six-speed manual or an eightspeed automatic transmission. Audi estimates that any of these powertrain variations will bring the A4 from zero to 60 in 6.2-6.6 seconds, which would be an average time for this class.

EPA-estimated fuel economy is 24 mpg city/ 32 mpg highway and 27 mpg combined with FWD and the CVT. It drops slightly to 22/32/ 26 with AWD and the manual transmission, and then further to 20/29/24 with AWD and the automatic.

Safety The Audi A4 comes standard with antilock brakes, stability and traction control, front side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags. A blind-spot warning system is optional on the Premium Plus and standard on the Prestige.

Rear seat airbags are optional on all trims, while the Prestige can be equipped with an adaptive cruise control system that warns the driver and

primes the brakes should it detect an impending collision. Front and rear parking sensors and a rearview camera are optional as well.

In Edmunds brake testing, an A4 with summer tires came to a stop from 60 mph in 108 feet. This is excellent, though typical of a premium-brand car with summer tires.

In government crash tests, the A4 received a perfect five stars in every category, while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave last year’s A4 the best possible score of “Good” in the moderate-overlap frontal offset, side and roof-strength tests. It did receive the worst rating of “Poor” in the IIHS’s new small-overlap frontal offset crash test, but few cars have been subjected to this test, and a majority received similarly low ratings.

Interior Design The 2014 Audi A4 features one of the best cabins in its class. The interior’s austere design lends an air of adult seriousness, while the topnotch materials send a message of sophisticated refinement. The use of real leather as standard equipment also gives the Audi an advantage over its competitors from BMW and Mercedes, which use premium vinyl.

Even though the A4 is considered a small entry-level luxury car, the interior space is more akin to a midsize sedan. Rear outboard seats provide enough head- and legroom to comfortably accommodate a typical adult. The 12.4-cubic-foot trunk is only average in size.

Infotainment functions are controlled by Audi’s MMI. This consists of a small knob surrounded by buttons that together control menu on a central screen. Overall, it is an effective interface, though some audio functions are buried in menus and, in practice, one found BMW’s iDrive and Mercedes’ COMAND systems a bit more intuitive to use.

Also, A4s without navigation have the MMI controller located on the dash instead of the center console, which isn’t as convenient to operate.

36

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

MOTORING

T

Kia Soul receives ‘red dot’ design award

HE new Kia Soul has been awarded a prestigious ‘red dot’ design award, following the footsteps of its stylish first-generation predecessor.

With its upright, confident posture, broad shoulders, iconic window shape and SUV ground clearance, the second-generation Soul was crowned winner in the 2014 ‘Product Design’ category by the red dot jury, the same award earned by the original Soul in 2009.

This is the second major design

award for the new Soul, following its success in the highly respected ‘iF design awards’ only few weeks ago.

Kia Soul was created by the Kia design team under the supervision of Peter Schreyer, President and Chief Design Officer of Kia Motors Corporation and Hyundai Motor Group.

Schreyer was also responsible for the design of the original model, which was the first Korean car to receive a red dot design award in

2009. This first accolade was followed by numerous other red dot awards, and the new Kia Soul is the 11th Kia model to receive the prestigious prize.

Reacting to the award, Schreyer said: “I am particularly pleased with this second red dot design award for the Kia Soul. When the first-generation model launched, the award played a key role in bringing the Kia Soul and Kia’s distinctive design language to the attention of a wider audience.

“The great challenge we faced when designing the second-generation model was to preserve the strong, individual character of the Kia Soul and, at the same time, give the design new impulses. Our design team has performed this task impressively. The new Kia Soul is a lot more matured and ‘adult’ in appearance, and the bold, distinctive personality of this model is highlighted even more.”

The design of Kia’s second-generation Soul is inspired by the Kia

Track’ster concept shown at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show. Similar to the concept, the production model features a large trapezoidal lower air intake, low fog lights pushed to the edges of the front bumper, Kia’s signature ‘tiger-nose’ grille and the avant-garde design of the rear with the unique ‘floating’ body-coloured panel on the tailgate.

The high quality comfort of the interior significantly enhances the appeal of the second-generation model.

HE Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Sector Commander, Lagos State, Mr Chidiebere Nkwonta, has implored women drivers in the state to be careful.

Speaking at the kick-off of the maiden edition of Women on Wheels (WOW), in Lagos, Nkwonta, urged women drivers to pay attention to safety on the roads, considering their roles as mothers.

Nkwonta, who kicked off the event with Publisher of On Wheels magazine, Mr Jabez AinaScott, noted that this role confers on them the important duty of being the eyes and ears of the

family at home and outside, a role that engenders the need to impact in the members their family the knowledge of safety on the roads.

Congratulating the drivers, Aina-Scott, said: “This is the first ever edition of road safety initiative specifically targeted at the family as a unit through mothers, sisters, aunts ... in collaboration with an officially approved safety centred institution.”

According to the publisher, the event is a campaign designed to

inform, educate and sensitise female road users to the rules and regulations that guide the art of driving for safety.

“This event is a corporate social responsibility(CSR) initiative designed by the magazine t o r ai s e aw ar e n e s s am o n g

women on the subject of ‘Defensive Driving’ (DD) as it produces a near perfect outcome of safety on the road and it is in the light of this that we took the initiative of partnering the (FRSC) in propagating the ideals”.

Mrs Julie Chi-Nwaoha said:

“The WOW Auto Rally was an experience that created an immense opportunity of safety awareness among this female target group of road users and also opened windows of marketing opportunities for the automotive brand owners through product association.”

T

T

FRSC chief cautions women on wheels

Katsina orders 34 Peugeot ambulances

HE Katsina State government has ordered for 34 units Peugeot Partner long Ambulances to enhance medical service delivery in the 34 local government areas of the state.

This was made known when Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema received the Executive Management team of PAN Nigeria Limited, when they paid him a visit in his new office in Katsina.

The governor said the state government would soon go into partnership with PAN in auto capacity building for youths in the state who are undergoing training in auto-related fields at the Katsina Youth Craft Village.

The training, he said, would further broaden their scope and expose them to modern industrial development in auto engineering.

Governor Shema noted that the youth would have the opportunity of being accredited by a world standard automotive firm.

The governor also praised the efforts of PAN in marketing the product nationwide saying, “for one to survive in this competitive marketing world, he has to fashion a strategy for wining”.

He pledged his support and patronage for the firm.

Earlier, PAN Managing Director, Alhaji Ibrahim Boyi, said they

were in the state to commiserate with the people of Katsina over the recent tragedy that befell the state which resulted in the loss of lives and properties, and also introduce the new Board to the governor whose state owns shares in the company.

Boyi told the governor that the company has been repositioned to offer value to its customers in the areas of provision of affordable cars, and training in auto mechanic trade.

He added that the company has also developed a concept called “Shade Tree Initiative” that is aimed at empowering the youth to own their workshop after undergoing training in modern auto mecha-tronics in the firm.

He further solicited patronage from all tiers of government, urging them to key into the firm’s programme of youth empowerment.

Boyi assured Peugeot customers of superior value for their patronage, saying that Peugeot brands are cost effective in maintenance apart from the quality guaranteed in the brand.

The highpoint of the visit was a visit to the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Dr. Abdulmumini Kabir Usman and inspection of Katsina Youth Craft Village.

•From left: President/Managing Director, General Motors, Africa, Mr Mario Spangenberg; Deputy Managing Director,Kewalram Chanrai Group, Mr Victor Eburajolo and General Manager Koncept Autocentre Ltd Gaurav Kaul during the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the firms and General Motors on marketing of Isuzu brands.

A

BC Cargo Express, a division of ABC Transport Plc, has opened an office in Ikorodu, Lagos. It brings to 11 ABC Cargo Express outlets in Lagos.

The firm will soon take delivery of additional new trucks before the third quarter runs out.

In addition to strengthening ABC Cargo Express capacity, manpower training and enhancement workshops was organised for cargo staff, su-

ABC opens office in Ikorodu pervisors, drivers and attendants.

The workshops, aimed at imbuing them with the necessary skills to manage modern-day quality service delivery and customer relationship, held in Abuja, Lagos and Owerri.

Meanwhile, ABC Sprinter Service has begun operations on the Lekki (Lagos) – Owerri

and Port Harcourt routes. Designed for passengers who like to travel light, with little or no luggage, ABC Sprinter runs as a direct passenger service daily.

The firm has announced that National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members are to enjoy N500 discount when they travel with any ABC Coach or Sprinter bus.

SAFE DRIVING

I

GIVE kudos to the Lagos State government and other stakeholders for promoting pedestrian safety well ahead of this year’s declaration of “safe walking” (pedestrian safety) by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Without doubt, a lot of lives have been lost due to the non-use of pedestrian bridges or its absence.

I also use this forum to commend the state government and other governments for constructing more pedestrian bridges to ensure the safety of human lives.

There is, however, a serious issue I want to mention here for the attention of the state government and other government concerned.

To generate income, the state government, through her agencies, has sealed up all the sides of the pedestrian bridges thereby

Pedestrian bridges and security

making it difficult to see the people walking on the bridges. This situation has been capitalised upon by hoodlums to attack law-abiding citizens that are using the bridges.

The security personnel on the bridges are not always on duty 24/ 7, they are not armed and there is little or nothing they can do to assist the pedestrian being attacked.

My candid advice is that the governments should not allow the construction or attachment of any object or advert on any part of the pedestrian bridges. This will make all the pedestrians walking on the bridges visible to everyone in the environment. Whenever there is any suspicious movements or activities on the pedestrian bridges, the people down can make distress call to the police or even go up to

rescue the victims.

In addition, the government must provide good lighting system on the pedestrian bridges to make it safe for pedestrians in the night.

With the two issues mentioned above, properly addressed, pedestrians will be gladly and safely use the pedestrian bridges during the day and night. Beggars, traders, loitering, and waiting should not be allowed on the pedestrian bridges.

Lastly, I want to mention here that there should be an additional construction attached to every pedestrian bridge for the physically challenged just like the one at Five Star bustop on Apapa Oshodi expressway.

If the government wants people to obey the laws by using the pedestrian bridges, the same govern-

ment must take extra steps to guarantee the safety and security of the pedestrians on the bridges. I want to add here that governments and their agencies should always have a feedback mechanism to enhance their success in policy formulation and implementation. For example, to know the effectiveness of the European “Certificate of Professional Competence”, a questionnaire was designed and widely circulated to know “how effective it is, its contribution to road safety, what specific actions and measures could improve it’s effectiveness and the initial qualification and periodic training”. The results from such questionnaires will go a long way in guiding the actions of governments. Please let us take a cue from this strategy in Nigeria for

Jide Owatunmise Registrar / Chief Executive, Professional Driving and Safety Academy

better performance and accountability

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS JOBS

• Corps members.

Clearing the route for job seekers For many graduates, getting a job after school is an uphill task. But Sterling Bank is doing something to help them. Through its Get Ready for Work (GRFW) concert, it is grooming graduates to get good jobs or become job creators. COLLINS NWEZE writes.

T

HE transition from school to work is difficult for many graduates. To address this gap, a bank is grooming graduates to become self-employed, or get the right skills to secure their dream jobs.

Sterling Bank is changing the mindset of graduates towards entrepreneurship.

It is equipping them with skills to bridge the gap between employee expectations and employer requirements. The bank’s ‘Get Ready for Work’(GRFW) Concert, which holds yearly, is one of its initiatives to achieve this objective.

At the event, held last week in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, over 2,500 gradu-

ates listened to life and career coaches on what it takes to either become entrepreneurs or get hired by reputable firms.

Its Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Abubakar Suleiman, said the concert was conceived to help the bank actualise its corporate social responsibility drive in the education sector.

It addressed undergraduates, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and fresh graduates on getting their careers built on a solid foundation.

Suleiman said the bank discovered that many youngsters, who secured employment after school cannot relate with their colleagues, through emails or make presentations when the need arises.

He said the exercise is a way of bridging the skills gap in the employment market, adding that the concert has changed the mindset of graduates towards entrepreneurship by encouraging them to start their business rather than seeking employment.

Suleiman said the concert would be held quarterly to project Sterling Bank as a brand that believes in youth entrepreneurs, and willing to catch them young and project them to the next level in their businesses.

“The concert will be moved round states across the country to increase participation and reduce a common place factor,” he said.

Leadership, Effectiveness, Accountability and Professionalism (LEAP) Africa Executive

Director Iyadunni Olubode said the nongovernmental organisation was excited to be part of the concert. She said the exercise was a sustainability programme, which the lender should continue to promote.

She advised job seekers to pursue areas of passion and competence rather than high salary. She said the exercise would also enable participants change their mindset towards their contribution in the workplace rather than what they will benefit.

Olubode said the programme would •Continued on page 38

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

JOBS

Clearing the route for job seekers •Continued from page 37

prepare the minds of “our youths on challenges in the workplace and help instill in them the confidence to communicate and relate with their colleagues.”

Managing Director, Frontiers, Muyiwa Afolabi said the programme would transform the lives of the youth and change their mindset about their future.

He said: “The mindset of an average youth when going to school to acquire degrees is to finish his programme and join an institution that will give him the best pay that would guarantee his future.

Sterling Bank through this programme is bound to change this mindset to that of being entrepreneurs. Those employed will also begin to think of what they can give back to their companies and not

what they stand to gain.”

He said Nigeria’s vibrant youths present an enormous opportunity, particularly now that populations across the world are aging rapidly.

“Youths not only need jobs, but also need to create them. Nigeria’s growing labour force can be an asset in the global market place. Realising this brighter vision for Nigeria’s future would require a clearer understanding of how to benefit from this asset,” he said.

Sterling Bank’s Group Head, Strategy and Communication, Shina Atilola said the high unemployment rate was the primary reason for the concert.

Co-founder of Jobberman Olalekan Olude told the story of how he and two other friends founded the firm five years ago while still in school.

“We were in school. It was dur-

• Suleiman

• Olubode

• Afolabi

ing an industrial strike just like this. We decided to maximise the strike. Facebook had just come out then. We decided to do something online. We selected from movies, music and jobs but we settled for jobs.”

Olude challenged the par-

ticipants to become job creators, saying: “What if there are no jobs. What I have realised is that what it takes to get a job is what it takes to set up a successful company, what you need is to have a dream; be yourselves and learn to ex-

ecute your every plan,” he said.

Jobberman Managing Director, Awoyemi Opeyemi taught t h e p a r t icipants how to write a good curriculum vitae (CV) and develop right skills for securing their dream jobs.

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Microsoft Nigeria appoints Makwane country manager

M

ICROSOFT has announced the appointment of Kabelo Makwane as its new country manager for Nigeria.

A seasoned technology professional and long-standing member of the Microsoft family, South African born Makwane will lead the company’s global shift to a devices and services offering in one of the most dynamic, innovative and fast growing countries on the continent.

He said: “I am extremely excited to be appointed to lead the Nigerian subsidiary during this dynamic time on the continent.

“Microsoft is focused on unlocking the economic opportunities of Africa and it’s a time when the company can have real economic impact in the country. I believe technology is an enabler at every level of society and is excited at being able to have an impact on this vibrant and unique country.”

With Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rates sustained at

over six per cent, Nigeria has shown continual expansion, including diversification within the oil sector and considerable infrastructure investment in the information communication technology (ICT) sector. Microsoft firmly embraces this tremendous economic and social progression, with Makwane at the helm.

“The renewed emphasis by the Nigerian government on the ICT sector holds considerable promise for what technology can bring to consumers and businesses. It gives us an opportunity to use our technology, talent, time and money to help create sustainable growth in the country and across the African continent,” Makwane said.

Microsoft has been operating in Nigeria for 13 years and currently has a local partner ecosystem of 1,750 members. In addition, through its partner ecosystem, it has created 45,000 jobs, supported 300 startups, reached three million

T

• Makwane

students through the Partners in Learning programme, and seen 65,000 downloads of free DreamSpark developer tools.

Makwane added: “I’m excited to be spearheading this continued investment in Nigeria, and certainly look forward to working with government, industry, academia and the general public to enable Nigeria to realise its potential through innovation.”

Foluso Phillips is Director Flour Mills

HE Board of Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc (FMN) has appointed Mr. Foluso Phillips as a non–Executive Director with effect from March 12.

Foluso is the Executive Chairman and Founder of Phillips Consulting Limited, a firm engaged in business and management consulting, with offices in Nigeria and South Africa.

He is a qualified Industrial Economist, a Chartered Management Accountant of the United Kingdom, and a Fellow, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).

He brings with him experience and expertise in finance, business management, enterprise development and macro-economic policy management.

Phillips, who is very active in the corporate scene, sits on many boards as a Director, Trustee or shareholder of commercial organisation, nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and charities.

He is Chairman, Nigeria Economic Summit Group; Chairman, Nigeria/ South Africa Chamber of Commerce;

Chairman, Interbrand Sampson West Africa, and Chairman, Web Liquid West Africa.

Phillips also serves as Director, Special Olympics of Nigeria; Director, Vigeo Holdings (a Power & Energy company in Nigeria); advisory board member, Africa Leadership Academy (an African Leadership Senior School- based in Johannesburg).

Phillips demonstrates a special interest and a keen commitment to the African Renaissance, and he is very active in supporting Pan-African initiatives in his different spheres of endeavour. He is a prolific speaker, who has addressed many international business seminars and conferences, including Wharton Business School and Harvard Business School, both in the United States, Business in Africa’s Leadership Summit in South Africa and several other leadership conferences, business and trade summits across Africa, Europe, and the US. He is also the publisher of the West Africa edition of the “Business in Africa” Magazine.

CAREER MANAGEMENT

Fishing-out your dream job: You need a game plan (II)

N

ETWORKING in a nutshell, is nothing more than asking the people you already know to help you find out about the job market and meet the people who are actually doing the hiring. That was the issue that we were discussing last week before we had to take a break.

Following are the don’ts of Networking: Don’t • be too pushy or abrasive by insisting on meeting with someone who just isn’t interested or able to speak with you.

• ask personal questions or questions about their salary.

• ask for a job.

• overstep your time limits, • come unprepared, either about the company, the career path, or yourself.

• interrupt the speaker.

• focus entirely on your own needs. You’re there to learn.

• ask the person to circulate your resume for you (unless he or she offers).

• forget to say “thank you.

By Olu Oyeniran

• become a pest, continually calling the contact for advice and referral after your initial meeting.

Ask the ‘right’ questions Ask the type of questions that will assist you in your networking efforts. In networking, you are trying to identify certain individuals who can assist you in finding your next job. With that thought in mind, you will need to prepare questions that call help you do just that.

Everyone has one favorite subject: himself or herself! We all like to talk about what we do and who we are. Knowing this, as you begin to talk to people ask them about their line of work or industry. If what they say has relevance to your job search, inquire further about their organisation.

At some point, express an interest in their industry and ask them whom they would recommend you talk to regarding a possible employment opportunity. This is known as getting a referral in your networking efforts, you should al-

ways try to get a referral. You may want to ask the person you are speaking with, how they feel about using their name when contacting the individual they suggested.

Networking resources Identifying whom to network with is a challenge for most job seekers. However, the average person knows at least 250 people. Networking means connecting, and there are a number of ways to connect, including in person, by telephone, email or through a card or letter. Let’s look at where you can find your network so you can get started on your search!

The first one we will identify is our Personal Network. The personal network would be those individuals such as family, friends, acquaintances, work peers. vendors, customers, teachers or professors, our children’s friends, parents, our parent’s friends, our child’s baseball, soccer, or basketball coach; in other words, people we see or have seen oil a regular basis. Make a list of 25 people from

your personal network that you can contact within the next seven to 10 days.

Another networking resource would be your Service Providers.

These are individuals that you have developed a rapport with that may have provided a business service, or you may have come in contact with among the local population.

Consider your community leaders, teacher, small business people, local chamber of commerce, social/ religious groups and associations.

This include your teacher, barber, salespeople, doctor, pharmacist, lawyer, insurance personnel, banker, estate agent, hairdresser(?!, yes?) etc.

Now make a list of 15 people to contact from your service provider list.

Professional organisations you are involved with provide a great way to network while staying updated on your industry or occupation’s latest trends. If you currently don’t belong to any professional organisations you may want to consider joining an appropriate one for you.

Professional organisations post job opportunities from other members on their web sites. Besides the networking opportunity, professional associations offer professional growth and development through their many educational programs and services.

Networking situations can occur when you least expected. Networking opportunities can occur in any social situation: at a party, standing in line, sitting next to someone. Many times, we find ourselves in an unplanned or opportunity networking situation.

The conversation can begin as ‘small talk’, and move to a more personal topic such as our line of work. This is a tremendous opportunity to network by applying what you learned about listening and asking the right •Oyeniran is Lead Consultant, EkiniConsult & Associates. He can be reached on Jobsearchhow.com.ng Tel 08083843230 (SMS Only).

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

39

TAXATION

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Tax relief for pioneer firms

HE government has over the years put in place different and overlapping incentive schemes to attract both local and foreign investment. Tax exemption is regarded as an industrial investment device; developing countries, such as Nigeria offer it as one of their major incentives.

Basically, tax incentives are designed to encourage investments in certain preferred sectors of the economy and sometimes geared towards attracting inflow of foreign exchange to complement domestic supplies for rapid economic development.

Tax exemption otherwise known as tax holiday is one of the most widespread tax incentive. Tax exemption simply means a period of exemption from payment of taxes imposed by the government and this may be complete or partial. The grant of pioneer status, therefore, gives a company a preferred position in getting established, usually through exemption from income tax.

A pioneer company is a firm that is engaged manufacturing, processing, mining, servicing and agricultural industries whose products have been declared pioneer products on satisfying certain conditions in as determined by Industrial Development Coordinating Committee (IDCC) of the Government under the Industrial Development (Income Tax Relief) Act Cap 179 LFN 1990. The pioneer Tax holiday is for an initial period of three years or subject to further extension of two years or five years (ones and for all without further extension).

Enabling Act Act Chapter 179 laws of the federation of Nigeria (LFN) 1990 but first enacted by Decree No22 of 1971 and commenced on 1/4/1970.

Commencement date April 1, 1970 •“An Act to repeal and re-enact, with major changes, the industries Development (Income Tax Relief) Act and to make provision for Tax relief for certain industries that may be issued with pioneer certificates by the minister and other matters ancilatory there to”.

Conditions •Industry is not being carried out on a suitable scale as required and there are prospects for further development in the country or its product.

•If it is in the public interest to encourage the industry or its product.

•Application may be made for the inclusion of a product on the pioneer list Mode of application •All application to be addressed to the Minister •State the status of the company •Give details of qualifying capital expenditure to be incurred •Give sources of qualifying capital expenditure and estimated cost •Specify location of Assets •Date of production of pioneer products •Any by product not being a pioneer product Terms of pioneer certificate •Must be in terms of the application to which it relates.

•Specify permissible by-products to be produced.

•Specify period within which company must be incorporated and conditions to be endorsed •Pioneer status will only be issued from a date when company was incorporated and shall be effective from a date not earlier than the date on which the application was submitted to the minister or date of incorporation, whichever is the later.

•Any other condition will be specified by the minister •The minimum Tax relief period not exceeding five years to be stated 3(6)(a-b) Amending of pioneer certificate to add new product Section 4 (1) – (3) allowed a company during its pioneer period to make application in writing to the Minister to add a new product.

Retrospective pioneer operation •Where a pioneer certificate is to be operative from a retrospective date, all Acts shall be treated as not having been closed or not having happened and all taxes paid (if any shall be repaid as soon as may after the expiration of three months from the production day.

Production date •No later than one month when the company is going into commercial production (marketable quantity), the company shall apply in writing for the certification of its production date.

•Not later than one month after the production date or any extended period granted by the Board, the company shall make application in writing to the Board for the certification of the amount incurred as qualifying capital expenditure prior to the production date.

Cancellation of pioneer certificate i) Company may apply for cancellation. ii) If company contravened any provision of the Act or failed to meet conditions set.

Tax relief period i) Commencing from the production date, it shall continue for three years (but can be extended): ii) for another one period of two years (if the standard and rate of expansion are satisfactory), local raw material utilisation expansion, training and development of Nigerians, government policy priority). iii) Five years (once and for all).

Transition from pioneer status Conditions of old trade or business of a pioneer company •The old trade shall be deemed to ceased permanently at the end of the tax relief period.

•The pioneer company deemed to have set up a new trade on the day next following the end of its relief period •All capital expenditures incurred and used by a pioneer company shall be deemed have been incurred on that day next following the end of its tax relief period.

•Where it incurs a Net loss, that loss shall be deemed to have been incurred on the date on which its new trade commences i.e. it will be allowed to deduct all the losses brought forward from the pioneer period.

•The company must submit to the Board a list of its assets for certification.

•At the end; the Board will issue a certificate of qualifying expenditure.

•The Board is expected to issue the company for each year, the amount of income as ascertained and loss as arrived at (if applicable).

Treatment of capital allowances and losses • A capital expenditure incurred shall be deemed to have been incurred on that day next following the end of the pioneer period. i.e. regardless of the number of years granted a pioneer company, all capital expenditures incurred in line with the provision of the second schedule within the periods shall be deemed to have been incurred after the Tax relief period.

• For losses incurred within the pioneer period, the cumulative amount will be deemed for computing total profits to have been incurred on the day, next following the pioneer period i.e. it will be allowed as a deduction in the new business.

Documentation required by FIRS •Memorandum and Article of Association •Certificate of Incorporation •Answer to standard questionnaire •Pioneer Certificate issued •The period approved •Production date •Products and by-products •For a going concern, the Audited account ended before the production date to be furnished (regardless of the number of months).

Rendition of returns •The conditions governing the submission of tax returns in CITA are applicable to a pioneer company.

•One year from commencement of production date •Period of one year successively •Last year of the relief period.

•Example: Kano Money Lender Ltd was granted a pioneer status commencing from July 1, 1999. The firm has 31/ 12 as it’s accounting date. The period granted was for five years.

•At expiration of the pioneer period, it submitted Accounts for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2005 you are

• Acting Executive Chairman, FIRS, Alhaji Kabir Mohammed Mashi given these additional data The data:

2004 (N) 2005 (N) Net Profits 16,980,155 9,758,273 i) Depreciation 32,157,000 46,102,328 ii) iii) Capital Allowance b/f 172,314,886 — Investment Allowance 10,378,700 8,033,243 iv) Initial Allowance 75,414,556 58,020,388 v) vi) Annual allowance 37,975,662 60,659,786 You are required to compute basis period and the relevant taxes payable by this company.

Solution: • The account is for twelve months and therefore are prorate for six months for the first year 2004 N 1st Year 1/7/2004 – 31/12/2004 Net Profit 16,980,655 Add Depreciation 32,157,000 Assessable Profits 49,137,155 = 24,568,577.50 49,137,155 x 6/12 Less Investment allowance 10,378,700 14,189,877.50 Less Capital allowance 285,705,104 Unrelieved Capital Allowance 271,515,226.50 c/f Income Tax Nil EDT N24,568,577.5 @ 2% = 491,371.55 2005 • 1/7/2004 – 30/6/2005 • First twelve months: 6/12 x 49,137,155 + 6/12 x 55,860,601 (24,568,577.50) + (27,930,300.50) = 52,498,878 Assessable profit 52,498,878 8,033,243 Less Investment allowance 44,465,635 Less Capital allowance b/f 271,515,226.50 for the year 118,680,174.00 390,195,400.50 Unrelieved Capital Allowance c/f 345,729,765.50 Income Tax NIL EDT N52,498,878 @ 2%

=

1,049,978.56

2006 •

1/1/2005 – 31/12/2005 Net Profits Add. Depreciation Assessable profit Less: C. A. b/f 345,729,765.50 For the year 60,659,786 Unrelieved Capital Allowance c/f Income Tax NIL EDT N55,860,601 @ 2%

N 9,758,273 46,102,328 55,860,601.00 406,389,551.50 350,528,950.50 1,117,212.02

BUSINESS ‘NIMC’s identity registration ‘ll curb image problem’

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HE on-going national registration by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) under the National Identity Management System (NIMS) project will address Nigeria’s image problem, its Director-General, Chris Onyemenam, has said.

Speaking in Abuja, he said some criminals usually claimed to be citizens of the country after being apprehended in other parts of the world, adding that when all the residents of the country are

• Commission launches call centre number

By Lucas Ajanaku

registered and given a unique national identity number (NIN), this will be checked.

"This is one way by which we can address the image problem of the country, because it takes more than the usual conditions to meet the registration requirements," he said Meanwhile, the NIMC has launched a call centre num-

ber (0700 CALLNIMC) for NIMS project.

The Deputy Director Information Technology /Identity Database (IT/IDD), Mr. Emmanuel Ogungbe, said the event was part of the Commission's efforts to successfully treat complaints and queries usually channelled to the commission about the NIMS Project from potential enrolees.

According to Mr. Ogungbe, "NIMC has introduced the NIMC Call Centre Number typically for individuals who have problems, concerns and complaints about the NIMS project.

He said: "The Call Centre Number, 0700CALLNIMC, is available to everyone who wishes to request for information about the NIMC, the NIMS project, the National Identification Number (NIN) or the new National ID Card.

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AIWANESE original equipment manufacturer (OEM), ASUS, has unveiled its web storage application in the country, stressing that the product allows users to back up, sync and share files using the cloud.

According to a statement, Asus Chairman Jonney ShihIn said in so many ways and rightly, ASUS has revolutionised the mobile PC industry and contributed to changing the way people interact with technology.

“Asus Web Storage is a cloud application service that enables users to back up, sync and share files. All ASUS

ASUS unveils web storage app devices come bundled with some space for the consumer to enjoy. By default, you have 32GB on regular notebooks for 3 years and 5GB on tablets for life. With Asus Web Storage, no worry for information loss due to damages like failures, virus or theft. You can also share files with friends and colleagues that are over 10Mb. In February 2011, it reached four million users and attained ISO/IEC 27001 certification,” he said.

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

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UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS, NIGERIA INTERN AL & EXTERN AL AD VER TISEMENT INTERNAL EXTERNAL ADVER VERTISEMENT Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates into the following positions: A. 1.

2.

3.

4.

REGISTRY Deputy Registrar Senior Assistant Registrar(Legal Unit) Assistant Registrar, Litigation(Legal Unit) Assistant Registrar, Solicitor(Legal Unit)

B.

BURSARY

1. Deputy Bursar (CONTISS 14): Prospective candidates should have a first degree in Accounting or Finance from a recognized Institution with a minimum 2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L credits in 5 subjects including English and Mathematics is compulsory. He/she must have at least 17 years relevant post NYSC Accounting experience. Candidates must not be below the level of a Chief Accountant in a Federal University or comparable institution. He/she must be Computer literate and must demonstrate proficiency in the deployment of Information Technology in Payroll, Budgeting, Financial Planning and Management. In addition, must be a duly registered member of ICAN, ANAN or other equivalent professional bodies.

1.

Deputy Bursar

C. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

CENTRE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND SYSTEMS Systems Analyst II/Programmer II System Analyst I/Programmer I Senior Systems Analyst/Senior Programmer Software Engineer/Developer IT Equipment Maintenance Engineer

C. CENTRE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND SYSTEMS 1. Systems Analyst II/Programmer II (CONTISS 7): Prospective candidates should have B.Sc. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering (or equivalent professional qualification) from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory.

D. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

WORKS AND PHYSICAL PLANNING Deputy Director of Works (Construction & Project Management) Deputy Director of Works (Operations &Maintenance) Principal Engineer (Mechanical, Civil and Electrical) Senior Quantity Surveyor Engineer I (Mechanical, Civil & Electrical) Architect I Land Surveyor II

2. System Analyst I/Programmer I (CONTISS 8): Prospective candidates should have B.Sc. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering (or equivalent professional qualification) from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory. Minimum of 3 years Computer experience.

E. PRINCIPAL TECHNOLOGIST 1. Marine Science Department F. TECHNOLOGISTS II IN THE FOLLOWING DEPARTMENTS i.

Mechanical Engineering ii.

Elect/Elect Engineering iii. Systems Engineering iv.

Chemical Engineering v.

Civil & Environ. Engineering vi.

Botany vii. Metallurgy & Materials Engineering viii. Biochemistry ix.

Surveying & Geoinformatics x.

Chemistry xi.

Science and Technical Education xii. Computer Sciences xiii. Cell Biology & Genetics xiv. Geosciences xv. Marine Sciences xvi. Mathematics xvii. Microbiology xviii. Physics xix. Zoology xx. Pharmaceutics xxi. Clinical Pharmacy xxii. Pharmacognosy xxiii. Pharmaceutical Chemistry G. TECHNICAL OFFICERS IN THE FOLLOWING DEPARTMENTS i.

Mechanical Engineering ii.

Elect/Elect Engineering iii. Systems Engineering iv.

Chemical Engineering v.

Civil & Environ. Engineering vi.

Botany vii. Metallurgy & Materials Engineering viii. Biochemistry ix.

Surveying & Geoinformatics x.

Chemistry xi.

Science and Technical Education xii. Computer Sciences xiii. Cell Biology & Genetics xiv. Geosciences xv. Marine Sciences xvi. Mathematics xvii. Microbiology xviii. Physics xix. Zoology xx. Pharmaceutics xxi. Clinical Pharmacy xxii. Pharmacognosy xxiii. Pharmaceutical Chemistry H. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

MEDICAL CENTRE Medical Officer Higher Medical Laboratory Technician Medical Record Officer Nursing Officer Radiographer II Radiographer I

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE A. REGISTRY 1. Deputy Registrar (CONTISS 14): Prospective candidates should have a first degree from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/ NECO/WASC/GCE O/L credits in 5 subjects including English and Mathematics is compulsory. The candidate must have at least 17 years relevant post NYSC working experience.Candidate must not be below the level of Principal Assistant Registrar in a Federal University or comparable institution.He/she must be Computer literate and must demonstrate proficiency in the deployment of Information Technology in Database Management, e-Registration, eAdministrationand General Management. Higher qualification will be an added advantage. In addition, he/she must be a duly registered member of NIM, CIPM or other equivalent professional bodies.

2. Senior Assistant Registrar(Legal) (CONTISS 11): Prospective candidates should have a first degree in Law from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division and BLplus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L credits in 5 subjects including English and Mathematics is compulsory. In addition, the candidate must have 10 years experience in litigation and practical solicitor experience.

3. Assistant Registrar, Litigation (Legal)(CONTISS 9): Prospective candidates should have a first degree in Law from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division and BLplus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L credits in 5 subjects including English and Mathematics is compulsory. In addition, the candidate must have 6years experience in litigation.

4. Assistant Registrar, Solicitor (Legal)(CONTISS 9): Prospective candidates should have a first degree in Law from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division and BLplus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L credits in 5 subjects including English and Mathematics is compulsory. In addition, the candidate must have 6years practical experience as solicitor.

B.

BURSARY

3. Senior Systems Analyst/Senior Programmer (CONTISS 9) Prospective candidates should have B.Sc. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering (or equivalent professional qualification) from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory. Minimum of 6 years Computer experience.

4. Software Engineer/Developer (CONTISS 7): Prospective candidates should have B.Sc. in Computer Science, Electrical/Electronics/Computer Engineering; Systems Engineering, and Software Engineering in addition to professional certifications from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption.

SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory.

5. IT Equipment Maintenance Engineer (CONTISS 7): Prospective candidates should have B.Sc. in Electrical/Electronics/Computer Engineering; Systems Engineering, and Software Engineering in addition to professional certifications from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/WASC/ GCE O/L credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory.

D. WORKS AND PHYSICAL PLANNING 1. Deputy Director of Works (Construction & Project Management) (CONTISS 14): Prospective candidates should have a first degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture, Building or Quantity Surveying from a recognized institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O//L or equivalent with credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory. He/she must have at least 17 years relevant post qualification experience on the job with at least 6 years practical experience in Construction and Project Management.

Candidates must be Computer literate and must demonstrate proficiency in the deployment of Information Technology in Project Planning, Management and Administration. Candidates must also be well versed in the Procurement Act 2007. In addition, candidates must be corporate members of relevant professional bodies such as NSE, NIA, NIOB or NIQS and must be duly registered by the relevant professional regulating bodies like COREN, QSRBN, ARCON or CORBON. Candidates must be duly certified by PMI or equivalent. Fellowship of the professional institution and higher degrees will be added advantage.

2. Deputy Director of Works (Operations &Maintenance) (CONTISS 14): Prospective candidates should have a first degree in Civil, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption.

SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O//L or equivalent with credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory. He/she must have at least 17 years relevant post qualification experience on the job with at least 6 years practical experience in Maintenance of Infrastructures. Candidates must be Computer literate and must demonstrate proficiency in the deployment of Information Technology in Management of Operations and Maintenance. In addition, candidates must be corporate members of the NSE and must be duly registered

by COREN. Fellowship of the professional institution and higher degrees will be added advantage.

3. Principal Engineer (Mechanical, Civil and Electrical) (CONTISS 11): Prospective candidates should have B.Sc. in Mechanical, Civil or Electrical Engineering from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/ NECO/WASC/GCE O/L credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory. In addition, must be duly registered with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) with a minimum of 10 years engineering experience.

4. Senior Quantity Surveyor (CONTISS 9): Prospective candidates should have B.Sc. in Quantity Surveying from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory. He/she must have at least 10 years engineering experience. In addition, must be registerable with the Quantity Surveying Regulation Board of Nigeria (QSRBN) 5. Engineer I (Mechanical, Civil and Electrical) (CONTISS 8): Prospective candidates should have B.Sc. in Mechanical, Civil or Electrical Engineering from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/ L credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory. He/she must have at least 3 years engineering experience. In addition, must be registerable with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).

6. Architect I (CONTISS 8): Prospective candidates should have B.Sc. in Architecture from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/ NECO/WASC/GCE O/L Credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory. He/she must have minimum of 6 years architecture experience. In addition, must be registerable with the Architecture Regulation Council of Nigeria (ARCON).

OR M.Sc. in Architecture from a recognized Institution plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L Credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory. He/she must have minimum of 3 years architecture experience. In addition, must be registerable with the Architecture Regulation Council of Nigeria (ARCON).

7. Land Surveyor II (CONTISS 7):Prospective candidates should have HND/ Advanced Diploma in Land Survey from a recognized Institution with a minimum of Lower Credit plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L Credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory. In addition, must be registerable with the Surveyors Registration Council of Nigeria (SURCON).

OR

B.Sc. in Surveying & Geo-informatics from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L Credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory. In addition, must be registerable with the Surveyors Registration Council of Nigeria (SURCON).

E. Principal Technologist (Marine Science Department) (CONTISS 11): Prospective candidates should haveHND/B.Tech/B.Sc. in relevant Technology from a recognized Institution with a minimum of Lower Credit/ 2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption.

SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L Credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory. He/she must have at least 10 years relevant post qualification experience on the job. Candidates must be Computer literate and must demonstrate proficiency in the deployment of Information and Communication Technology, Project Planningand Laboratory Administration.In addition, must be duly registered with the relevant Professional Institutes.

F. Technologists II (CONTISS 7): Prospective candidates should haveHND/ B.Tech/B.Sc. in relevant Technology from a recognized Institution with a minimum of Lower Credit/ 2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L Credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory. In addition, must be duly registered with the relevant Professional Institutes.

G. Technical Officers (CONTISS 6): Prospective candidates should have Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Science Laboratory Technology, Town & Regional Planning, Estate Management, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or Electrical/Electronics Engineering from a recognized Institution plus SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L Credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory.

H. MEDICAL CENTRE 1. Medical Officer (CONMESS 10): Prospective candidates should have M.B.B.S., BDS, or equivalent plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L credits in 5 subjects including English and Mathematics is compulsory. In addition, candidate must be duly registered with the Medical & Dental Council of Nigeria.

2. Higher Medical Laboratory Technician (CONHESS 8): Prospective candidates should have OND in Science Laboratory Technology from a recognized Institution with a minimum of Lower Credit. SSCE/NECO/WASC/ GCE O/L credits in 5 subjects including English and Mathematics is compulsory with a minimum of nine (9) years post qualification experience.

OR HND/B.Sc. in Science Laboratory Technology from a recognized Institution with a minimum of Lower Credit/2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L credits in 5 subjects including English and Mathematics is compulsory.Candidates must have a minimum of three (3) years post qualification experience. In addition, must be duly registered with the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN).

3. Medical Records Officer (CONHESS 7): Prospective candidates should have HND/B.Sc. in Medical Records from a recognized Institution with a minimum of Lower Credit/2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L credits in 5 subjects including English and Mathematics is compulsory. In addition, he/she must be registerable with the Health Records Officers Registration Board of Nigeria.

4. Nursing Officer II (CONHESS 7): Prospective candidates should haveNRN and NRM Certificate plus SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L credits in 5 subjects including Mathematics, Biology and English. In addition, must be duly registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria with a minimum of four (4) years post qualification experience.

5. Radiographer II (CONTISS 8): Prospective candidates should have B..Rad. from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division with NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption, DCR or DIR Pre NYSC (Internship) plus SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L Credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory.

6. Radiographer I (CONTISS 9): Prospective candidates should have B..Rad. from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division with NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption, DCR or DIR Pre NYSC (Internship) plus SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L Credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory. In addition, must be duly registered with the Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria (RRBN) with a minimum of three (3) years post-qualification experience.

1. GENERAL REQUIREMENT All applicants must be ICT compliant. In addition, there will be IT proficiency test for all applicants.

2. CONDITIONS OF SERVICE As contained in the University of Lagos Revised Conditions of Service.

3.

METHOD OF APPLICATION

Applications, which must be in fifteen (15) hard copies, should be accompanied by relevant certificates and credentials. Such applications must be accompanied with detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) showing the following: (i) Names in full (ii) Place and Date of Birth (iii) State of Origin/Local Government Area (iv) Home Address (v) Present Postal Address (vi) Sex (vii) Phone Number (Mobile) (viii) E-mail (ix) Nationality at Birth (x) Marital Status (xi) Number and Ages of Children (xii) Secondary and Post-secondary Education (including dates and institutions) (xiii) Aademic and Professional Qualifications (including Distinctions with dates) (xiv) Statements of experience including full details of former and present posts (xv) Names and addresses of three referees. (xvi) Post applied for In addition to stating names and addresses of three Referees, applicants should request their referees to forward references on their behalf to:

The Deputy Registrar (Human Resources Management Department) 2nd Floor, Senate Building University of Lagos.

4.

CLOSING DATE

Applications are to be addressed to the Deputy Registrar (HRMD), 2nd Floor, Senate Building, University of Lagos, Akoka indicating the post for which application is made at the top left corner of the envelope, while soft copies should be sent to:

hrmdapplication@unilag.edu.ng

The application should reach the Deputy Registrar (HRMD) not later than forty two (42) days from the date of this publication.

Dr. (Mrs.) Taiwo F. Ipaye, MNIM Registrar & Secretary to Council

44

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

POLITICS

45

MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Speaker of the House of Representatives Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal has become a beautiful bride to both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), even as pressure mounts on him to make a statement on his future ambition, writes Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN.

Tambuwal’s 2015 calculations

I

F politics is about exploring all possibilities and seizing opportunities to achieve one’s political goal, then the Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal is, indeed, a politician. This is because he has utilised everything at his disposal to achieve his political goals.

Tambuwal has turned a beautiful bride to both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Party (APC). He exploits the affection both parties have for him by attending meetings and functions organised by both of them. He is often criticised by fellow PDP members for attending political events organised by the opposition. The Sokoto-born politician has always defended his action by saying that he is the Speaker of the House of Representatives and not Speaker of one particular political party.

Following this development, Tambuwal was widely expected to formalise his move to the APC early this year by defecting to the opposition party from the PDP. But, he did not. Since then, the lawyer-turned politician has kept everyone guessing. This may however, be temporary as some insist that the Speaker’s days in the PDP are numbered.

It was learnt that he had a last-minute change of mind, following a Federal High Court’s order restraining any change in the House leadership. In his ruling on the matter brought by the PDP against the House of Representatives and some of its principal officers, Justice Adeniyi Ademola ordered parties in the suit to maintain the status quo, pending the determination of the suit.

The ruling, no doubt, is a temporary setback for Tambuwal and his colleagues in the House, who are determined to further their political ambition under the platform of the opposition.

The Speaker has been linked with the presidential ticket of the APC for a very long time. He has neither confirmed nor refuted the claim. Others insist that he has been offered the Sokoto governorship ticket for 2015, for his loyalty to the party, even when it had little propects of playing a bigger role at the centre. Whatever the situation may be, Tambuwal’s body language suggests that he must have entered into some sort of secret pact with the opposition.

Nevertheless, the PDP has not relented. It has mounted pressure on the Speaker in recent times to rethink his decision to dump

A

• Hanzat

the party, which has already lost 37 members of the House to the APC. Indeed, the opposition party was poised at a time to take over the control of the House on the grounds that it has a simple majority in the House.

Against this background, the PDP has been making frantic efforts to keep the Speaker within the fold. The leadership of the party had in the past few months renewed its efforts to convince Tambuwal not to defect.

For instance, Akwa Ibom Governor Godswill Akpabio, who enjoys a chummy relationship with the President, pleaded with him to remain in the party when he paid the governor a visit. Sources disclosed that Tambuwal’s visit followed a meeting the former Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, had with President Jonathan where it was reportedly agreed that the Speaker could be offered Sokoto governorship ticket, if he is interested.

Apart from asking Tabuwal to remain in the PDP, Akpabio also appealed to him to use his office to stop the defection to the APC. According to a reliable source privy to some of the closed door meetings the Speaker had with the top echelon of the PDP, the party presented the Speaker with some offers, including the retention of speakership and Sokoto State governorship ticket for the 2015 election.

According to sources, he is weighing these options to know where he would finally pitch his tent. Although he is considering the PDP option, observers insist that the Speaker is also unaware of the dangers posed by the APC if remains with the PDP. Analysts believe that accepting the PDP offer would automatically set him against Governor Aliyu Wamakko, who is among the five former PDP governors who defected to the APC last December, following protracted crises in the party. Close associates of the Speaker disclosed that he has an unwritten agreement with Wamakko that he would defect to the APC at the right time.

A senior aide to Wamakko recalled that all members of the House of Assembly have

• Tambuwal joined the APC. All members of the House of Representatives from Sokoto State have also defected, except the Speaker, Therefore, indications are that Tambuwal would follow his colleagues to the APC. He added that nearly all top political office holders in Sokoto State, including executive council members, local government chairmen and councillors have followed the governor to APC. Many have suggested that the Speaker’s may have, by his actions, suggested to the leadership of the PDP that he is Speaker of the House, not of the party. For instance, when the party leaders from the Northwest visited President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa in January, Tambuwal and Wamakko shunned the meeting. The party leaders from the zone were in Aso Villa subsequently to assure the President of their support for his 2015 Presidential ambition. Tambuwal was not there.

Tambuwal has also turned down his party’s directive to stop further defection in the House. He foreclosed the possibility of declaring the seats of defecting lawmakers vacant. The Speaker, at a function in Abuja, had in a veil manner conferred status on the decision on any lawmaker to defect. He contended that any attempt to stop defections was an encouragement of impunity, adding that, as the custodian of the House, he cannot promote illegality.

He said: “All of us know that no fewer than four governors have defected from

‘Many have suggested that the Speaker’s may have, by his actions, suggested to the leadership of the PDP that he is Speaker of the House, not of the party. For instance, when the party leaders from the Northwest visited President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa in January, Tambuwal and Wamakko shunned the meeting’

their political constituencies and issues were not made out of it. If some members representing different federal constituencies decide to defect, I don’t think it is right for anybody to expect Mr Speaker not to read any correspondence that comes to his table”.

Analysts contend that Tambuwal would soon take a position on his neutrality. He must have to decide where his loyalty lies. He can no longer sit on the fence now that his friend and associate Wamakko has asked the Speaker to formally declare his stand. The Sokoto chapter of the APC has mandated its Tambuwal Local Government chapter to present a membership card to the Speaker.

If Tambwal defects to the APC, as he is rumoured to be planning to do any moment from now, he would cause a major upset in the leadership structure of the House of Representatives. His defection would be the last nail on the coffin of the PDP leadership of the House. Speculations are rife that some other members of the House are also planning to defect to the APC along with the Speaker when he finally makes the move. Political observers insist that the Speaker would defect, even as they affirm that he is going to retain his seat as the Speaker.

Public Affairs analyst Bernard Briggs is of the opinion that Tambuwal has no choice, but to move in the direction of his political associate, Wamakko. He said all the political structures in Sokoto State had been taken over by the APC. “Tambuwal is bidding for time. PDP is not a party for a progressive mind like Tambuwal,” he said.

Briggs added: “In the case of Tambuwal, what he sees lifted before him is the lamp of his political future and not the lamp of love. He must, therefore, choose wisely because his next move could determine his political future.”

The social critic noted that what worked in Tambuwal’s favour was his ability to carry every member of the House along in piloting the affairs of the Green Chamber. His charisma and popularity made his impeachment instigated by external forces impossible, he added.

Tambuwal’s romance with the opposition predates his assumption of office as the Speaker. Against the zoning arrangement of the PDP, which had reserved the slot for party members from the Southwest, Tambuwal emerged as the Speaker with the support of the opposition. He reached out to the opposition leaders, who rallied support for him and eventually defeated his opponent, who was backed by the Presidency and the ruling party.

Tambuwal started learning the legislative ropes at the inception of the Fourth Republic in 1999 while working as a Personal Assistant on Legislative Affairs to Senator Abdullahi Wali, the former Senate Leader. He acquired the experience that would see him through in his political endeavour under Senator Wali. In 2003, he dumped the PDP, the party of his principal, to run for a legislative seat as a representative of the Kebbi/Tambuwal Federal Constituency on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and won.

Few months to the 2007 general elections, he defected to the Democratic Peoples’ Party (DPP), alongside the former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa. But, when the DPP denied to former ANPP legislators, return tickets, he went back to the ANPP, where he eventually succeeded in picking the ticket for the election.

In 2007, when the ANPP governorship candidate for Sokoto State in the 2007 election, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, dumped the party for the PDP, Tambuwal also went to the PDP.

Group seeks empowerment of youths, women

GROUP in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has called for the repositioning of party politics, to give vulnerable groups, including youths and women more opportunities to participate in the political process. Speaking at a media briefing in Ikeja, recently, coordinators of the New Justice Forum (NJF), Olatunji Folami and Taiwo Ayedun, said it is sad that there is no succession plan in the Southwest, because political leaders in the region have failed to groom future successors.

Folami, who read from a prepared

By Raymond Mordi

text, said the group is determined to bring back robust competition and fair play, level playing field and justice, adding “political movements should not be built around individuals, but around organisational structures.” He said the late Nelson Mandela was one of those who started a movement in South Africa.

“Today, he is no more, but the movement continues,” he added.

Folami said although members of the New Justice Forum have respect for the old Justice Forum led by the renowned grassroot mobiliser and

colossus in Lagos politics, Alhaji Olatunji Hamzat, the old order has not built organisational structures that would promote competition and groom future leaders that would step into the shoes of credible leaders Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and a host of others, who have demonstrated political vision and shown commitment to good governance.

His words: “The philosophy underpinning the coming into being of the New Justice Forum (NJF) therefore, is the determination to bring back robust competition and fair play, level playing field and justice and

reposition it on the path of equity and justice for all members. This would be attained through the harnessing of the abundant energies of all members, particularly youths and women who are most vulnerable.

“Our agenda is to identify persons with progressive orientation and great potentials who are ready to serve and lead democratically. They must be from our generation and we will work to put them forward for positions. Enough of old hands and old ideas. We want new blood, new ideas and new ways of doing things.”

46

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

POLITICS Former Deputy Senate Minority Leader Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora bares his mind on the National Conference, 2015 elections, national security and other issues. He spoke with Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN.

A

‘Don’t expect much from conference’

RE you satisfied with the National Conference set up the Jonathan Administration?

I am not satisfied with the National Conference. What I envisaged, like other compatriots in this country, is a conference that would seek to address fundamental issues that confront us as a nation. There is need for restructuring of the country along socio-political and economic lines. To achieve that kind of restructuring we would need to put in place an enabling Act to back up the conference.

The conference put in place by the Jonathan administration lacks the backing of an enabling Act. Coming into being by mere pronouncement of Mr President does not and cannot amount to law itself. What we are being told is that the outcome of the conference would be forwarded to the National Assembly to form part of the constitution amendments. Remember that the National Assembly had embarked on constitution amendment exercise. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have taken decisions on certain issues. The two chambers have to harmonise their positions. Against this background, certain decisions that are not in tandem with the National Assembly position are bound to be jettisoned. Again, the clauses amended in the Constitution by the National Assembly must get approval of the two-thirds of 36 States House of Assembly, who are under the influence of their state governors.

Are there other reasons why you are not comfortable with the National Conference?

First, lack of legal backing for the National Conference is number one basis for my dissatisfaction with the way the Federal Government is handling the issue of the National Conference.

Second, we were told the delegates would sit for three months which I consider inadequate if they must do a thorough job. Three months is not enough to discuss thoroughly the problems of this country. To discuss the problems exhaustively will require 9-12 months.

Third, it seems to me that what Nigerians really want is a brand new Constitution and not an amendment to the existing one. The way we have set out is to amend the constitution is contrary to the yearnings of the people. A brand new Constitution can only be put in place by a Constituent Assembly established by an Act of the National Assembly.

Third, the National Assembly has put in place a Constitution Amendment process now at the final stage. What is now due to be done is harmonisation of clauses passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives which would thereafter be sent to the States Assembly.

The new process (the National Conference) would end up amending the constitution. The entire process is flawed.

Fourth, the manner by which the delegates were nominated. If we are serious as a nation, the delegates ought to emerge through election not by selection. If delegates must be selected, they should be very few, not large number or the entire number of delegates being selected by government. It appears to me that those selected are those that are sympathetic to Jonathan’s re-election bid. Quite a number of ethnic groups have been excluded from the process. You can’t solve the problems through a process that is flawed.

Fifth, large percentage of the delegates is made up of senior citizens. It is rather unfortunate that some of the actors that brought the country to its knees are being gathered to proffer solutions to the problems of the country. It is impossible for those characters to establish a new order for this

‘PDP’s plan to reclaim the Southwest in 2015 is a mirage.

It is a wishful thinking. The party never had a foothold in the Southwest. The so-called foothold it had in the past was through rigging. That was why it didn’t last. PDP ought to know that it was living on a borrowed time. When the time was up, it had to relinquish what it stole. PDP enjoyed the stolen mandate in the Southwest. Of course, it enjoyed it till when it lasted. But, the real owners of the Southwest are back in the saddle’

• Senator Mamora country.

The monthly allowance of N4 million per delegate has been described as outrageous. Is the allowance commensurate with the demands of the job?

I am not in a position to determine the appropriate allowance for the delegates. But considering the state of Nigeria’s economy, the amount (N7 billion) being committed to the exercise is definitely misplaced. In a country where you have a very high level of youth unemployment as clearly demonstrated by the recent unfortunate loss of souls we had during the recruitment exercise of Nigeria Immigration Service to now commit N7 billion to National Conference is a demonstration of misplaced priority.

What are your expectations about the National Conference?

Essentially, I would expect that the issues of economic, socio-political restructuring would be addressed. I expect that fiscal federalism, devolution of powers, state police, revenue derivation, high cost of running government would take the front burner at the conference.

You were the arrowhead of the campaign against Obasanjo’s tenure elongation. Did he actually make moves to extend his tenure?

If it wasn’t real, I won’t be campaigning for an unfathomable issue. The truth is that Obasanjo wanted a tenure elongation which my colleagues and I with the glory of God succeeded in aborting. I was a prime actor in the entire episode of an attempt in the tenure elongation debacle. For you to be convinced that the tenure elongation bid was real, you need to read Mallam Nasir ElRufai’s book titled “The accidental Public Servant”. El-Rufai was one of the closest aides of Obasanjo. He was part and parcel of the Obasanjo regime. He was a member of the Obasanjo’s cabinet. There are copious evidence in that book that Obasanjo really schemed for a third term in office.

Are you satisfied with the Federal Government’s handling of security challenges in the country?

I am not satisfied with the handling of the security challenges, particularly at the initial stage. But now, the Federal Government is doing too little too late. If it had responded much earlier the way it is doing now, the situation

would not have deteriorated to this level. The Federal Government underrated the capacity and capability of Boko Haram, until it grew into a monster.

Hitherto, the Federal Government believed that it had the capacity to handle Boko Haram internally. But, it has been established that the terrorist group has cross-border components. What is now happening is a joint effort; a multi-national force tackling the Boko Haram menace. Like all other terrorist groups in the world, you need multi-national co-operation to tackle the menace. It is after the multi-national force came in that we are now having results in terms of arms cache and arrest of members of the deadly sect. It is now that the Federal Government is seeking the support and co-operation from international bodies that it is making headway in tackling the menace.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has boasted that it would reclaim the Southwest states from All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015.

What is your reaction?

PDP’s plan to reclaim the Southwest in 2015 is a mirage. It is a wishful thinking. The party never had a foothold in the Southwest. The so-called foothold it had in the past was through rigging.

That was why it didn’t last. PDP ought to know that it was living on a borrowed time. When the time was up, it had to relinquish what it stole.

PDP enjoyed the stolen mandate in the Southwest. Of course, it enjoyed it till when it lasted.

But, the real owners of the Southwest are back in the saddle.

What is your assessment of the seventh National Assembly? Are the legislators living up to expectations?

The National Assembly appears to be doing what it might consider as best. Whether that best is good enough for Nigerians is another thing in the face of the economic down turn, despite the good figures being paraded without improvement on the living condition of the people. The issue of corruption is still worrisome. In spite of the efforts of the National Assembly through various investigative hearings, we don’t seem to be getting good results. The National Assembly has to do more, particularly in the course of its oversight functions. Much as I appreciate the limitations of the National Assembly, particularly its

inability to implement decisions and policies, the National Assembly ought to be considering other avenues by which it can stamp its authority.

The National Assembly should engage more in legislative activism. In the areas of confirmation of appointments, the Senate should do more in terms of their confirmation hearing. In this regard, one of the things I look forward to is that when the President present the names of the ministerial nominees, the Senate should insist that the portfolios of the nominees should be indicated in order to determine the suitability of the prospective ministers for their respective portfolios. The National Assembly is empowered to determine its procedure. This is what the National Assembly should have put in place. This is the way it is being done in the United States that we intend to copy. When the US President nominates ministers, he sends the list with the portfolios of each nominee to the Senate. The competence of that nominee is the focus of screening by the Senate.

Why not here?

The National Assembly has to do more in budget scrutiny. Year in year out, the implementation of the budget is slow. Yet huge budgetary votes are approved for the Ministries, Departments and Agencies. Budget proposals are repeated on yearly basis. What happens to the previous budgets? In spite of the reservations in terms of performance of the National Assembly as an institution, I still want to commend the leadership of both Houses under Senator David Mark and Hon Aminu Tambuwal. They have done fairly well in piloting the affairs of both Houses.

As a medical practitioner what do you think is responsible for the poor healthcare delivery in the country?

The healthcare delivery system is disorganised and disjointed. It is poorly funded. These are the main challenges facing healthcare delivery. The best way to fund healthcare is through Health Insurance Scheme which is still at infant stage.

The last Senate passed National Health Bill which seeks to correct the disjointed and disorganised health sector but Mr President did not sign the Bill. However, the Bill has been re-introduced, I hope when passed Mr President will not hesitate to sign it in order to bring order into our healthcare delivery system.

I must not fail to mention poor remuneration for health workers at all levels: doctors, nurses, paramedics, pharmacists and health technicians.

Healthcare is a team work. Everybody is important in that team. It is also important for me to stress the need to create conducive atmosphere for health workers. In hospitals and clinics, facilities should not only be available, but must be functional.

What is the true position of the Bill on Tobacco control?

I had a singular honour of sponsoring the bill on tobacco control. It was passed by the Senate, but Mr President refused to sign it into law. The bill has been resuscitated at the House of Representatives. I hope it will be passed and Mr President will sign it into law. The Bill on Tobacco Control when signed into law will elevate our status at the international level because we are signatory to the framework on Tobacco control.

We should not shy away from our responsibility as a nation. Lagos State House of Assembly did something recently by passing a bill that banned smoking in public places. This has been signed into law by Governor Babatunde Fashola. Commendable as it is, it is not far reaching enough. I hope when that of the National Assembly is passed into law, it will be more comprehensive and deal with more issues on tobacco control.

Yobe 2015: Gaidam is APC consensus candidate

Y

•Gaidam

OBE State All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Alhaji Sidi Yakubu Karasuwa has said the party has resolved to adopt Governor Ibrahim Gaidam as the consensus governorship candidate for the next year’s election.

The politician described the governor as a performer, adding that there is no need to change a winning team.

He also said that the APC presidential candidate will defeat President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan at the next year’s election.

The politician said that the President has destroyed his political goodwill by his lack of performance, adding that the ineptitude will be to the advantage of the APC during elections.

From Duku Joel, Damaturu

Describing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a failed platform, Karasuwa, who is the Commissioner for Water Resources, said that the poor performance of the administration has compounded its woes.

He added: “Actually, I will prefer Jonathan to contest. Why? Because, he is the one we can easily beat because he is not marketable. There are a lot of things under this administration that one can tell Nigerians and it is not something hidden. See the corruption in the NNPC and all over the place.

“Today, hundreds of billions of dollars cannot be accounted for. Look at

his Petroleum Minister, who is spending over N10 billion just for hiring aircraft. What about the tragedy recently at the Immigration recruitment? The list is endless.

“So, politically speaking, politics is about presenting the score card of the present administration for you to criticise or support. So, we in the APC have so many things now that we can present to Nigerians and tell them that Jonathan is not competent to rule this country.

Karasuwa also said that the plan by the PDP to hijack power in Yobe State will fail, stressing that the state is the stronghold of the progressive bloc.

He said the APC will triumph over the PDP, in spite of its leaders’ plan to

anoint him as the consensus candidate.

The politician added: “I heard some time that the PDP wants to make the President a consensus candidate and, if that happens, we will have an upper hand as far as the APC is concerned and the contest will be a walkover for us”.

He also said that the APC has a better plan for the country, noting that its road map represents a better approach and holistic strategy of dislodging the PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan from power.

Karasuwa, who applauded the APC family for adopting the governor as its candidate, said that other positions would be contested at the primaries.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

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50 USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS ON ANY EMERGENCY Council endorsed the useful phone numbers submitted by the security agents for easy access in case of any emergency on the metropolitan Roads. The public may easily contact KAROTA for breakdown of vehicle(s), traffic congestion, accidents, and illegal/wrong parking on – 08091626747. Similarly, the State Police Command could be contacted on – 08032419754, and 08123821575. In addition, the State Fire Service can also be contacted on – 07051246833, and 08191778888.

143RD KANO STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING PREPARED BY COUNCIL AFFAIRS DIRECTORATE, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT HOUSE, KANO. Illegal handling/sales of drugs was among the negative activities identified for dissolution by the present administration in Kano State, under the leadership of the second (2nd) incumbency of Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE. Positive measures were put in place by the execution of policies/ programmes/ projects toward stoppage of the menace associated with the wrongful handling of drugs which translate/ lead to their misuse and outright abuse by the youths and general citizenry in the State.

Sales of fake and/or expired drugs across the State was among the issues targeted for stoppage for which a Taskforce Committee was enacted whose activities resulted in the official confiscation of enormous quantities of the fake/expired drugs amounting to the tune of over N300,000,000.00. This amount of fake/expired drugs was set on fire by Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE on Friday 28th March, 2014. In fact, since the inception of this administration more than N1 billion worth of fake/expired drugs was destroyed by the Government and efforts are being intensified to curtail and stop such businesses within the State.

Further, initiating the “Lafiya Jari” Empowerment Scheme had its genesis in the resolve to rid Kano State of the illegal handling/ sales of fake/expired drugs and provide self – employment opportunities to relevantly trained but unemployed youths.

Beneficiaries of this program cut across Kano State and beyond.

Likewise, the establishment of the Reformatory Institute at Kiru was aimed at salvaging the already affected youths suffering from the ultimate menace of drug abuse.

Concertedly and cognizant of the commendable level of success achieved in the war against illegal handling/sales of drugs in Kano State, the Kano State Executive Council held its one hundred and forty-third (143rd) sitting today Wednesday 2nd April, 2014 (2nd Jumada Akhir, 1435 A H) under the Chairmanship of Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE. Ten (10) MDAs submitted thirty-nine (39) memoranda for deliberation by Council of which twenty-five(25) were approved for execution with an expenditure of Two Billion, One Hundred and Fifty Six Million, Two Hundred and Fifty One Thousand, Five Hundred and Five Naira, Twenty Eight Kobo (N2,156,251,505.28) covering twenty-two (22) projects as follows: 1.

OFFICE OF THE HEAD OF CIVIL SERVICE One (1) of the two (2) memoranda submitted for deliberation by Council from the Office of the Head of Civil Service was approved for execution. Thus: Request for Financial Assistance to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Kano State Council:Thursday 1st May, 2014 marks the public holiday tag – named as Workers’ Day usually celebrated with pump and pageantry throughout Nigeria and the World at large.

Full celebrations are earmarked by the NLC, Kano State Chapter estimated at the cost of N8,650,000.00. Details were endorsed by the Kano State Head of Civil Service and presented to Council for consideration along with the recommendation for approval for the release of the sum of N3,000,000.00 as financial assistance from the State Government.

In partnership with the NLC and effort towards successful conduct of the Workers’ Day Celebrations for the year 2014, Council approved the release of the recommended sum of N3,000,000.00 to the NLC, Kano State Council.

2.

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT This Office submitted eight (8) memoranda for deliberation by Council of which three (3) were approved for execution as follows: a) Request for Funds to Enable the Extension of the Assignment Period of Three (3) (Steering, Inspection and Publicity) Islamiyya Committees by Three (3) Months (March – May, 2014):The contents of this memorandum adequately alerted Council of the activities of the three (3) Islamiyya Committees cited, which were slated to last for nine (9) months but were reportedly undertaken with a financial shortfall of N810,000.00 and still remain uncompleted.

As such, for the Committees to complete their assignment, Council was reminded of an approval granted for the extension of their activities, which attracts a commitment of the sum of N504,000.00.

In this vein, the Secretary to the State Government forwarded the following two (2) prayers for consideration and approval by Council so as to ensure the extension to completion (in three (3) months) of the activities of the three (3) Islamiyya Committees cited. Viz; i.

Release of the sum of N810,000.00 to enable payment of the shortfall incurred in the expenditure for the activities of the three (3) Islamiyya Committees in the approved nine (9) months. ii.

Release of the sum of N504,000.00 to cater for the

Committees’ requirements in the three (3) months extension period (March – May, 2014).

Council noted, considered and approved the execution of the two (2) prayers forwarded for the release of the aggregate sum of N1,314,000.00 to the Secretary to the State Government for the stated purpose(s). b) Request for Funds to Enable the Payment of Three (3) Months (March, April and May, 2014) Salaries and Transport Allowances to Nine Nursing Education Teachers Recruited from Egypt:The Secretary to the State Government reminded Council of its approval granted for the recruitment of nine (9) Nursing Education Teachers from Egypt to be paid the sum of $2,500.00 each per month as salary and transport allowance. The State Ministry of Health requested, for the release of the sum of $67,500.00 in respect of the nine (9) Teachers recruited from Egypt for the months of March, April, and May, 2014. The teachers will be posted to the Schools of Nursing at Madobi and Gezawa. Council approved the request. c) Request for Funds for the Opening/Closing Ceremony of the Youth Empowerment Training on Gemstone Cutting and Polishing:In line with the Empowerment Policy of the present administration in Kano State, the Special Adviser, Solid Minerals Development submitted the cited request.

Council was notified/reminded of its approval granted for the sponsorship of forty -four (44) selected candidates from the 44 LGCAs of the State to undergo the cited training in Kano organized by the Nigerian Institute of Mining and Geosciences Jos, Plateau State. Office of the Deputy Governor/Honourable Commissioner, Ministry for Local Governments willcoordinate the training in liaison with the Special Adviser on Solid Minerals Development scheduled to hold at the premises of the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel, Kano Office.

The sum of N5,120,000.00 wasrequested for the opening and closing ceremonies of the training. However, Office of the Secretary to the State Government appraised and scaled down the request to the tune of N3,615,000.00 which was approved by Council.

3.

MINISTRY OF WOMEN AFFAIRS AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT The three (3) memoranda submitted for deliberation by Council from this Ministry were approved for execution as follows: a) Request for Funds to Enable the Conduct of the Third (3rd) Batch Training/Empowerment of Less-Privileged Women:The Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development alerted Council, through the contents of this memorandum, of the existence of a special poverty alleviation programme in her Ministry, which targets women considered worst hit in terms of poverty and deprivation.

The programme has so far trained 1,000 women with special needs which consisted widows, divorcees, deserted, physically challenged, VVF patients, women living with HIV, etc.

Extension of the benefits derivable from the programme was earmarked to other categories of women in addition to the regular ones. Thus: • Widows from other communities (non – indigenous but residing in Kano State); • Askarawan Kwankwasiyya Women dropped by the Kano Corporate Security Institute due to old age or otherwise; and • Physically challenged women screened by the Hisbah Board.

Details on the requirements were presented to Council for consideration along with the request for the release of the sum of N23,436,000.00 for the purpose.

The request was in agreement with the empowerment policy of the present administration. Council approved the request. b) Request for Funds to Enable the Conduct of Second (2nd) Batch Empowerment Training for 4400 Women under Special Family Orientation Programme:The cited Special Family Orientation Programme is popularly tag – named as “Tsarabar Ma’aurata” and the first (1st) batch training was successfully conducted as approved by the Kano State Executive Council. The training was conducted to completion in twenty-two (22) sessions conclusion of which was heralded by Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE on 19th December, 2013. Each beneficiary was given a non–refundable take–off grant of N10,000.00.

In the same vein, Council was requested to approve the release of the sum of N31,932,000.00 to cater for the conduct of the same training for the second (2nd) batch of women beneficiaries across the 44 LGCAs of the State. Council approved the request.

Again, each of the 44 Local Councils in Kano State was directed to release N1,000,000.00 for disbursement to the 100 beneficiaries selected from their respective domains at the rate of N10,000.00 each as non- refundable take – off grant. c) Presentation of Report on the Conduct of the Second (2nd) Batch Training and Empowerment of 500 Less Privileged Women:The Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development presented major highlights of the cited

Rabi’u Musa Kwankawaso training.

Twelve (12) items were presented to Council for consideration culminating on the fact that seventeen (17) beneficiaries did not turn up for the training, which translated to an excess fund to the tune of N510,000.00 at the rate of N30,000.00 per beneficiary.

Arrangements are underway to return the excess sum of N510,000.00 to the State Government Treasury.

Council appreciatively acknowledged the presentation.

4.

MINISTRY OF WORKS, HOUSING AND TRANSPORT Eleven (11) memoranda were submitted for deliberation by Council from the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport.

Eight (8) of them were approved for execution as follows: a) Request for Funds to Enable the Construction of Ring Drainage along Tarauni Road in Tarauni LGCA:The cited project was identified due to the immense significance of the road as among those leading to the Government House.

Details of the requirements were presented to Council for consideration along with the request for the release of the sum of N71,669,210.54 to enable the execution of the project.

Council noted, appraised the request and approved the release of the sum of N68,085,750.00 fortheproject. b) Request for Funds for the Repairs of Nineteen (19) Electricity Generators under Government Owned Hospitals:The incessant outages and general epileptic supply of electric power from PHCN compel most of the day – by – day activities in Government establishments to rely on standby electricity generating sets of various makes and capacity. Hospitals are among the most affected.

Nineteen (19) such electricity generators were identified in thirteen (13) Hospitals requiring necessary repairs to function effectively.

Details were presented to Council for consideration along with the request for the release of the aggregate sum of N10,335,201.75 for the purpose.

Relevance of the request to the policy of the present administration to provide for the Health Sector in all ramifications prompted Council to approve the release of the requested sum of N10,335,201.75 to the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport to enable the repairs of the nineteen (19) electricity generators as per the details presented. b) Request for Funds for the Enforcement of Bio – Metric Registration on Commercial Tricycles:The contents of this memorandum adequately presented to Council the problems encountered with the current execution of the registration of commercial tricycles that operate in Kano State. Appropriate solutions were proffered to Council for consideration. The details translated to the request for the release of the aggregate sum of N3,783,840.00 to cover for the three (3) requirements as follows: • Allowances for 290 Officers • Fuelling sixteen (16) Operational Vehicles • Sundry maintenance Council noted, considered and approved the release of 50% or N1,891,920.00 of the requested sum to the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport to enable execution of the stated purpose. c) Request for Funds to Enable the Continuation of Enforcement of Street Decongestion/Operations of Illegal Motor Parks in Metropolitan Kano:The Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport reminded Council, through the contents of this memorandum, of its approval granted for the ban on the operations of illegal motor parks in Kano metropolis.

Achievements recorded in the enforcement of the ban in fifteen (15) months were comprehensively presented to Council for consideration. The success level was impressive as to warrant for the submission of the cited request. Details were presented to Council for consideration along with the request for the release of the sum of N11,298,120.00 for the stated purpose.

Relevance of the project prompted Council to approve the release of the trimmed down sum of N10,000,000.00 to enable the continuation of the enforcement of the street decongestion/ operations of illegal motor parks in metropolitan Kano. This is to facilitate easy movement of vehicular traffic on the roads. d) Request for Funds to Enable the Provision of Uniform and Kits/Training for Road Traffic Assistants:The contents of this memorandum amply notified Council of the achievements recorded in the performance of Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA) towards the envisaged goals of the establishment of the Agency. Compliance to traffic rules and regulations, rapid responses to traffic mishaps, reduction of congestion and increase in revenue generation are the positive

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014 achievements recorded from inception of KAROTA to date.

The Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport submitted the cited request on behalf of KAROTA for the release of the aggregate sum of N958,640.00 for the purchase of eleven (11) items as uniforms and kits and facilities for the training of eightyfour (84) KAROTA Road Traffic Assistants (RTAs). Details were presented to Council for consideration. The eighty-four (84) new RTAs will comprise forty-five (45) youths that recently graduated from the Reformatory Institute Kiru and thirty-nine (39) others recruited to replace dropped RTAs found wanting.

Council approved the request. e) Presentation on the Need and Request for Funds for the Renovation of Stands at the Kano Pillars Stadium Sabon Gari Kano:The Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport alerted Council, through the contents of this memorandum, of the deplorable/dilapidated condition of the stands at the Kano Pillars Stadium Sabon Gari due to old age and frequent usage. In fact, a general face lift is required so as to uplift the aesthetic value/status of the stadium in recognition of its premier status.

Details of the requirements were presented to Council for consideration along with the request for the release of the sum of N7,039,480.14 for the purpose. Council approved the request. f) Request for Funds to Enable the Provision of Sporting Facilities at the Northwest University Permanent Site:The contents of this memorandum tacitly reminded Council that, approval was granted for the execution of the cited project at the cost of N29,691,613.40 via Council Extract No. SSCA/CA/ EX/10/I/320 dated 8th May, 2013.

Somehow, the Contractor did not mobilize to site, which necessitated the revocation of the Contract for another Contractor to take over. Messrs. Sisa International Sporting Ltd. was presented as the new Contractor for the project, which Council considered and approved for the execution of the project at the same cost. g) Request for Funds to Enable the Continuation of Road Maintenance Works by Kano Road Maintenance Agency (KARMA):The Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport reminded Council, through the contents of this memorandum that, an approval was granted on the 10th January, 2014 for the release of the sum of N90,000,000.00 to KARMA for routine maintenance of roads and drainage within Kano Metropolis and surroundings.

Reportedly, KARMA judiciously utilized the funds in executing the repairs and maintenance of fifteen (15) roads within Kano Metropolis and surrounding areas. The works were completed to 100% level on nine (9) of the roads while work is still in progress on the remaining six (6). Thus: • Roads completed to 100% level of repairs; Bello Road, Beirut Road, Abdu Sambo Road, overlay of Zoo Road service lane, Sani Marshal Road, Ibo/Hausa Road, Lawan Dambazau Road, Kofar Dan’agundi Junction, Zoo Road/Court Road Junction.

• Maintenance work in progress; laterite fill at new Kano Line Motor Park, Na’ibawa, Drainage Clearing and provision/ repairs of concrete cover along Murtala Muhammad Way, Drainage Cleaning and provision/repairs of concrete cover along Iyaka Road, Drainage cleaning and provision/repairs of concrete cover around the Government House, Kano, site clearing at Bajallabe High Density Layout, provision of Lay – by at Rumfa College and Kofar Dan’agundi Bus Stop.

Details of the scope of works executed in each case was presented to Council for information and records along with the request for the release of the aggregate sum of N250,000,000.00 for the continuation of the routine maintenance of metropolitan roads.

Council noted, considered and approved the release of the sum of N90,000,000.00 to enable KARMA continue the routine maintenance works on metropolitan roads and surrounding areas.

5.

MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION The Three (3) memoranda submitted for deliberation by Council from the Ministry of Higher Education were approved for execution as follows: a) Request for Funds to Enable the Provision of Financial Assistance to Fatima Sunusi Karaye to undergo Master’s Degree in International Security and Diplomacy at Buckingham University, United Kingdom (UK):The contents of this memorandum presented Fatima Sunusi Karaye indigenous to Kano State as a physically challenged employee/journalist with NTA Kano. She secured the admission fully aware of the fact that NTA does not sponsor its staff for studies as a policy but can only allow her to go on study leave without pay.

She sought for financial assistance from the State Government cognizant of its magnanimity towards such issues. The study will cost her the sum ofN4,297,883.00.

In any case, Fatima notified Council of her ability to afford paying for 20% or N859,576.60 of the total cost and humbly solicited for financial assistance to the tune N3,438,306.40 or 80% of the total cost from the State Government.

Council noted, considered and approved the release of the sum of N1,719,153.20 as financial assistance from the State Government to enable her pursue her goal as presented. b) Presentation of Information Memorandum (IM) on the Sponsorship of Higher National Diploma (HND) Holders for Postgraduate Studies Abroad:Cognizant of the commendable empowerment policy of the present administration, the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Higher Education conducted a survey/screening exercise of HND holders with distinction and upper credit for sponsorship to undergo Postgraduate studies abroad.

Two hundred and fifty (250) HND holders appeared for the screening and forwarded applications for consideration. One hundred and sixteen (116) were assessed as qualified. Securing admissions for the qualified applicants is in earnest progress, Council was informed. Council appreciatively acknowledged the presentation. c) Request for Funds to Enable the Payment for Variations/

51 Additional Works in Respect of Two (2) Faculty Buildings at the Northwest University Permanent Site:The contents of this memorandum reminded Council that Contracts for the construction of the cited Faculty Buildings were awarded to two (2) different Companies at the same initial Contract sum of N2,004,225,180.60. Works were respectively executed by the two (2) Contractors in the course of which variations were encountered. Thus: • 1st Contractor – variations cost at N211,103,205.24.

• 2nd Contractor – variations cost at N171,728,614.28.

Total variations cost = N382,823,819.52.

Council appraised the request for the variation and approved the release of the aggregate sum of N382,823,819.52 as upward variation of the original Contract sum of N2,004,225,180.60 awarded for the construction of the two (2) Faculty Buildings at the permanent site of the Northwest University, Kano. The project now stands at the aggregate sum of N2,387,049,000.12 as reviewed.

6.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION Three (3) of the four (4) memoranda submitted for deliberations

by Council from the Ministry of Education were approved for execution as follows: a) Memorandum on the Need to Retrain Unqualified Teachers Serving in Basic Education Schools in Kano State: Submission of Report:An appreciable number of unqualified teachers are still engaged to serve as teachers in our Basic Education Schools under the auspices of SUBEB. Many are holders of the National Diploma (ND) Certificates in various trades/skills, etc. not relevant to teaching but are engaged to serve as ad – hoc solutions to the unavailability of trained teachers.

The possibility of the already engaged ND Certificate holders to register and undergo Degree courses/programmes rather than NCE was assigned to SUBEB to study and report findings for consideration by Council.

The assignment was efficiently carried out. Findings were summarized in nine (9) points and concisely presented to Council for consideration. Main salient aspect is the fact that retraining of the already engaged ND holders for the NCE programme provides the solution to the problem. Negotiations are underway between the relevant NCE training Institutions and the NCCE to obtain approval to allow ND holders to commence their retraining from NCE II on part time (only during vacation periods). Details on the financial and otherwise implications were presented to Council for consideration.

Council appreciatively acknowledged the presentation and approved as follows; i.

Execution of the retraining programme for the already engaged unqualified teachers who are ND holders to undergo NCE training (on part time) in four (4) years as explained. ii.

The Local Government Councils concerned to fund the retraining programme at the total cost of N1,268,645,000.00 spread over the four (4) years duration for the course. iii.

Those nearing retirement to be exempted. b) Presentation of Request for Funds to Enable the Take – Off and Sustenance of Mallam Shehu Minjibir Senior Boarding Primary School, Minjibir:The recently established Mallam Shehu Minjibir Senior Boarding Primary School had taken – off and commenced operations since its opening ceremony conducted on Tuesday 28th January, 2014 presided over by Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE. Nevertheless, the School had to necessarily incur some expenditure on the procurement of certain identified basic materials prior to the commencement of smooth academic operations. The identified basic materials cost the aggregate sum of N3,715,460.00, which was requested for release by Council to enable the payment for stationeries supplied to the School on loan.

Again, the release of N200,000.00 monthly as running cost to the School was requested totaling the sum of N1,800,000.00 per School Session at N600,000.00 per term.

Council noted, considered and approved as follows: i.

Release of the sum of N3,715,460.00 to the authorities at the School to enable the payment of the incurred expenditure on loan. ii.

Release of N600,000.00 per School Term as running cost for the School. c) Request for Funds to Enable the Execution of the Third (3rd) Phase of the Establishment of Mallam Shehu Minjibir Senior Boarding Primary School Minjibir:The third (3rd) Phase of the establishment of the cited School involves the provision of eleven (11) items at the sum of N40,368,467.07. Details were presented to Council for consideration. Council noted, appraised the details presented and approved the release of the sum of N38,501,105.07 for ten (10) items excluding item © (supply of thirty one (31) 150 Watts streetlights) at the cost of N1,867,362.00.

7.

MINISTRY FOR SPECIAL DUTIES Presentation of Report from the Committee Enacted to Prevent Vandalization of Government Owned Electrical Appliances and Water Supply equipment in Kano State:The seven (7) – Member Committee under the chairmanship of the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry for Special Duties presented the cited report for consideration by Council. The Committee identified the major outlets/markets at which vandalized/stolen/ pilfered Government owned electrical appliances and water supply equipment are sold/handled. The outlets are mainly situated at the following locations: France Road, Sabon Gari, Kofar Ruwa Market, Sharada Market, Yan’ gwan – gwan Market.

Reportedly, the Committee visited thirteen (13) shops at the targeted locations. Items discovered on display for sales at six (6) of the shops had no problems as majority were backed with receipts of original purchase. Items found on display for sales at seven (7) of the shops inspected had one (1) problem or the other making their ownership suspicious.

Again, the Committee visited two (2) Security Outfits. Thus:

i.

Filin Hockey Police Station, Zoo Road :- five (5) youth arrested red handed vandalizing/stealing 150MM AC Water Pipes and 225MM PVC Water Pipes at Hospital Road were met. ii.

The State CID Bompai: - one (1) youth (person) who specializes in the Vandalization/pilfering of electrical appliances was visited under the custody of the State CID. In a nutshell, six (6) comprehensive prayers presented to Council for consideration concluded the report. Council acknowledged contents of the report and approved as follows: i.

The State Rural Electrification Board to provide the required crane for the operations of the Committee. ii.

The Civil Defence Command and the Hisbah Board were directed to deploy their personnel to monitor, patrol and guard all water and electricity supply installations across the 44 LGCAs of the State.

8.

MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES Both memoranda submitted for deliberation by Council from the Ministry of Water Resources were approved for execution.

Thus: a) Presentation of Request for Funds to Effect Erosion Control at the New Tamburawa Raw – Water Intake Station:The Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Water Resources alerted Council, through the contents of this memorandum, of the received report on erosion problem that affect the new Tamburawa Raw – Water Intake Station. Details were presented to Council for consideration along with the request for the release of the sum of N38,030,000.00 to address the problem. The request was approved. b) Presentation of Request for Funds to Enable the Construction of a Lagoon at Challawa Water Works for No 11 Raw – Water Intake Station:Technically, the existing lagoon that provides water for treatment at the Challawa Water Treatment Plant (WTP) was presented to Council as insufficient for the provision of the quantity of Raw – Water required at the Challawa WTP considering the increase in demand at Greater Kano.

Provision of an additional lagoon was presented as the practicable solution to the problem. Details of the requirements were presented to Council for consideration along with the request for the release of the sum of N122,640,000.00 for the stated purpose.

Congruence of the request with the laudable policy of the present administration to provide potable water for the citizenry in Kano State, prompted Council to approve the request.

9.

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES One (1) of the two (2) memoranda submitted for deliberation

by Council from this Ministry was approved for execution. Thus: Presentation of Request for Funds to Enable the Engagement of an Estate Valuer to Assess the “Asset Base” of KASCO:The contents of this memorandum forwarded Odudu E. and Co. as most competent among the three (3) companies appraised for the cited purpose. The Company quoted for a total of N12,000,000.00 for the required exercise commencing with the initial release of 45% or N5,450,000.00. Details were presented for consideration by Council. Council noted, considered and approved the exercise to expedite action on the take – over of KASCO under Public Private Partnership (PPP) by interested investors.

UPDATE ON ACTIVITIES OF THE 143RD EXCO-SITTING GRADUATION OF 250 WOMEN FROM JAKARA SKILL ACQUISITION CENTRE On its effort to provide and promote self – reliance especially for women in the society, Government witnessed the successful graduation ceremony of 250 women trained on numerous skills.

Government approved the gift of a brand new sewing machine to each of the beneficiaries.

FLAG – OFF OF SECOND (2ND) PHASE OF MASS LITERACY CAMPAIGN Council witnessed the flag – off of the second phase of Mass Literacy Campaign under the able leadership of Governor Engr.

Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE. 2014 DISTRIBUTION OF SCHOOL UNIFORM Council witnessed the successful flag-off of the distribution of the year 2014 free uniforms to new intakes into Public Basic Education Schools by Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE at the Government House on 1stApril, 2014. The Governor commissioned the provision of 300 laboratory furniture & equipment imported from China worth millions of Naira for Physics, Biology and Chemistry in 100 selected Public Secondary Schools across the State.

412 KANO STATE INDIGENOUS STUDENTS SPONSORED TO STUDY AT ARABIC UNIVERSITY KATSINA Council witnessed the send – off ceremony of 412 state sponsored indigenous students screened and selected across the 44 Local Government Areas to study at the Arabic University Katsina at the Government House on Tuesday 1st April, 2014. Government directed the payment of their tuition fee, accommodation and other sundry charges amounting to N59,000,000.00.

PRESENTATION OF AWARDS TO THE GOVERNOR Council witnessed the presentation of two different ‘Awards” to the Governor by: i) Law Officers Association of Nigeria for his outstanding performance towards the provision of amenities, security and support to Judicial Officers in the State. ii) Metro-Tiles Company merit award for his urban development program and the use of modern roofing sheets in the three cities of Amana, Kwankwasiyya and Bandirawo.

Signed: Hon. Commissioner, Information, Internal Affairs, Youth, Sports & Culture, Kano State

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

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NEWS

‘Zlatan has the right ingredients’ Chelsea last crossed paths with Paris Saint-Germain in 2004, when a star-studded Blues line-up took on a PSG team operating with far more meagre resources. The sides drew 0-0 at Stamford Bridge, but it was the comfortable 3-0 success for the English outfit in France a few months previously that really caught the eye.

Claude Makelele reigned supreme in midfield for Chelsea that night, yet the former French international will be desperate for a different outcome when the two clubs lock horns again in this evening's UEFA Champions League quarter-final opener. Makelele now serves as an assistant to PSG coach Laurent Blanc, having ended his playing days while at the Parc des Princes in 2011, just as Les Rouge et Bleu were about to become a genuine European force.

In his pomp, Makelele was the archetypal holding player, a model held up for his positioning, ballwinning skills and reliability as a conveyor belt between defence and attack. FIFA.com met up with the man capped 71 times by France at the Annual Match against Poverty last month, where he was more than willing to discuss the finer points of his old midfield role and his modern successors, plus his switch to coaching, PSG's exciting new era, Les Bleus and his involvement in charity activities.

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SG have an exceptional player in their ranks in Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

You yourself played with various world-class talents, but have you been surprised by the quality of his performances?

No, I'm not surprised by what Zlatan is doing at the moment. He's a competitor and a great player who wants to win titles. He always wants to improve; he wants to surpass what he achieved at other great clubs and he's doing everything to make that happen.

You don't need to say anything to a player like that – he's the one who carries the others along with him, leading them to new heights.

Sometimes you have to speak to certain players to inject a little confidence, but Ibrahimovic doesn't need that.

He has all the right ingredients already.

How are you finding life in the dugout, so soon after being involved in games like this as a player?

From the bench, I can see what's happening quicker.

I'm able to predict what will happen – I know in advance. I went through it all as a player thousands of times, and that's given me an acute sense of how a situation will turn out.

I can feel what's about to happen on the pitch. When I was a player, I couldn't really explain it; I just 'lived' the moment. Now, it's my role to explain, analyse and, above all, communicate.

You had a vital and often underrated role in your teams as a holding midfielder. Who in this PSG team is closest to the kind of player you were?

The example I know well, because I coach him at PSG, is Blaise Matuidi. In that position, you have to put your personal ambitions to one side because it's a very special role. In the France team, there is a huge amount of talent in that position: Yohan Cabaye is improving all the time, and I've already mentioned Matuidi. They're lads who don't have a huge amount of experience yet but who've already understood what it takes to play in their position on the pitch. They need to communicate that to the others very calmly. It's a thankless post, where a lot gets asked of you and you mustn't expect anything back.

Still, it must be a little frustrating to have your efforts often go unrecognised.

In a team, everyone has their role. Everyone needs to know what they have to do to make the team function better and make the balance perfect.

Once you accept that, you can commit yourself a hundredfold with huge enthusiasm.

You have to love that position to play there because, otherwise, it won't work out.

But if you do, you can really enjoy it – it's a role that gives you a lot of satisfaction. I think Blaise has all those qualities, that tenacity, even if he can still improve. I want to push him even more to improve because I think he can become one of the best midfielders in the world, full stop.

What are your thoughts on the state of the France team in the run-up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil?

It looks to me like Les Bleus are in good shape. It's as if they've been 'cured'. They're aware now of the qualities they have. I'm not talking about individuals but the team as a whole – they've realised their strength, and in a big tournament that's the most important thing. You need a core to the squad and solidarity between the players. That's the basis, and they've understood that. I have no doubts about the quality of this squad and I even think they could surprise people.

France will not be among the favourites in Brazil, just as little was expected of them at Germany 2006.

Will that give them an advantage?

I don't know if you can compare the two. In 2006, three of us had just come back into the team at the last minute: Zinedine Zidane, Lilian Thuram and myself.

Those late returns didn't cause tension or anything like that because what mattered for all of us in the squad was the idea of the France team itself, which was a special feeling. I think this generation has got that as well. If they've grasped that, it'll give them incredible strength in Brazil. Reaching the final in 2006 was thanks to that little extra spirit we had.

That's what made it possible for each individual to shine.

If you want to go all the way in this kind of tournament, that's absolutely necessary.

When someone mentions Brazil to you, what does it bring to mind?

Brazil is football. I think about samba, great technique, stepovers. I see goals, joy, spectacle, fun. For Brazilians, playing is above all a pleasure. It's something you hear a lot when you speak to them and that's great.

You took part in the Annual Match against Poverty organised by Ronaldo and Zidane to help the Philippines.

Is participating in events like this important to you?

It's important for every player. You get to see each other again, and for a good

“It looks to me like Les Bleus are in good shape. It's as if they've been 'cured'. They're aware now of the qualities they have.”

cause. I've always given a lot.

What Ronaldo and Zidane are doing is exceptional: it opens people's eyes to a specific issue, in this case the Philippines, and that allows people to see footballers in a different light. It's not always easy for us players to explain ourselves. This match is quite simply the best way to get things done.

Do you think it is essential for players and ex-players to get involved in broader issues?

We have an important role with regards to the world of football in general, and towards youngsters in particular. Because of the media scrutiny our sport comes under sometimes, people forget that we are human beings, that we have feelings and that we do things for the people close to us and also for different causes. Football players often get involved to help people in difficult situations. It doesn't get talked about much and that's a shame. In my own case, I take part in several charity activities, especially in Africa because that's where my roots are.

When did you realise it was time to retire as a footballer?

I realised when I started acting like a coach on the pitch.

I was giving instructions and trying to reposition everyone. I'd tell one player to calm down and another one to defend in order to hold onto a result, and as a result I was no longer fulfilling my role as a player who gave everything. That's when I understood it was time to pass on the baton. You can't do everything, and actually I don't really miss being on the pitch. It's a bit crazy because I thought it'd be very difficult, but as I found myself in the dugout very soon afterwards I guess the change wasn't too extreme.

What did you do immediately after deciding to hang up your boots?

The day afterwards, I went on holiday. It was a good way of marking the end but, even so, I remember that I was still thinking about football. I was wondering what I'd do; if I'd start coaching immediately or if I'd take a year off. I couldn't do that, though, because football is my whole life.

Zlatan

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

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NEWS Okorocha revokes rural road contracts From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

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MO State Governor Rochas Okorocha yesterday suspended rural road contracts, following the failure of contractors handling the jobs to keep to the contract terms.

Okorocha noted that “it is criminal to collect money for contract and abandon the work after receiving over 80 per cent of the money.”

The governor, who spoke at a meeting with his executive council, transition committee chairmen, rulers and ministerial heads at the Government House, said he was shocked most contractors either did a skeletal work or abandoned the jobs after being paid.

The governor, who announced the dissolution of committees set up to supervise road projects, said: “I don’t want to leave any of my projects uncompleted.”

He said: “No more awards of contracts, we shall now do roads through direct labour to get the work done so new roads can be embarked upon; I am in a hurry to make roads in the state motorable.”

The governor called on well-meaning citizens to work in synergy with the government to discourage and discipline those who squander public funds meant for projects.

“If we don’t fix Imo State now, it will be difficult to do so later; we must sacrifice to better the lives of our people and the state.”

Obiano hails arrest of 20 kidnap, robbery suspects

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NAMBRA State Governor Willie Obiano yesterday hailed the arrest of 20 kidnap and robbery suspects by the state Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

Obiano praised the Commisisoner of Police, Gwary Usman and other security agencies for the arrest.

The governor said: “The Joint task force is doing a marvellous job. They’ve shown that Anambra State can be rid of criminals. I warn criminals in the state to clean up their act because this offensive will be sustained until the state is rid of undesirable elements.”

Obiano warned that kidnapping would get the death penalty, adding: “security of life and property is dear to my administration.

Continuing, he said ‘’We must create a crime-free environment to implement the four pillars of development to turn around the state.

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Four ‘criminals’ held in Anambra

HE joint military team set up by Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano yesterday arrested four suspected criminals.

It also recovered bags of substance suspected to be Cannabis Sativa (Indian Hemp), estimated at 100 kilogrammes.

The operation is part of Governor Obiano’s initiative to rid the state of criminals.

The team comprises the Army, Navy, Police, Department of Security Services and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Onitsha

‘’I urge the citizens to be vigilant and conscious of what is happening around them and provide information to security agencies.”

The governor explained that his administration was em-

•Joint military team recovers hemp in Onitsha

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Onitsha

They stormed a hideout near the Old Motor Car Spare Parts (Mgbuka) Market, Obosi, near Onitsha about noon.

But the suspects, on sighting the team, ran away. Five of them were tracked down, while others escaped into a nearby bush.

One of the suspects turned out to be a passerby. He was

later released.

A principal suspect, who identified himself as Chibuzor Echendu, from Imo State, told reporters he was a major distributor of Indian hemp, adding that Samuel Nonso, another suspect, was once his apprentice.

Some of the residents of Mgbuka Obosi market hailed Governor Obiano for setting up the team and urged him to sustain the tempo.

They regretted that some

hoodlums attacked residents on that same spot and urged the team not to harass and intimidate law-abiding citizens.

Grand commander of the team and Deputy Commissioner of Police Agyole Abeh told reporters the operation started about 10 days ago.

Leader of Army team Captain Tukuru and his NDLEA counterpart, Ameh Inalegwu, said the operation would continue until criminals in the state were flushed out.

powering security outfits with equipment, training and money.

The suspects were rounded up from flashpoints across the state.

A cache of arms, including five AK 47 , one English Baretta pistol, six pump ac-

tion, one local pistol, 10 magazines, 9,000 live cartridges, and bags of hemp were recovered.

Gwary, speaking at SARS headquarters in Awkuzu confirmed the arrest, saying some were apprehended in neighbouring states.

He said the suspects in-

cluded those who kidnapped former Director of Finance, Chief Robinson Ezeife and Mr Felix Obiefuna, from Agulu.

The commissioner hailed Governor Obiano’s zeal to fight crime.

He praised the Joint Task Force for collaborating with other security agencies.

Obiano hosts Israeli security experts From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

Ihedioha vows to unseat Okorocha in 2015 From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

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EPUTY Speaker of the House of Representatives Emeka Ihedioha, who is aspiring to contest the governorship next year in Imo State, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has said he will defeat Governor Rochas Okorocha.

Ihedioha spoke at a visit with PDP leaders in Okwelle, Onuimo Local Government Area, at the weekend.

He said the state had lost its pride of place under the Okorocha administration.

Addressing party faithful, the deputy speaker said: “I have come to meet with you and deliberate on the way forward for our party and our state. I seek the support of our party for nomination as governorship candidate because I have a record of service delivery, including empowerment programmes, infrastructural development and experience.”

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• Mrs. Sereba Agiobu-Kemmer Pearse speaking after receiving the yearly Educationist Award at Ituah Ighodalo Foundation at Trinity House, Zion Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos… yesterday. With her are Pastor Ituah Ighodalo of Trinity House (left); Lagos State Governor’s wife Mrs. Abimbola Fashola and Chief Sunny Kuku.

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

Court adjourns to May 14 alleged attempt to defraud Federal High Court, also accused of transacting finanCross-Country boss Lagos presided over by cial institution without valid li- ‘Ajimobi not Justice Okon Abang has cense from the CBN.

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adjourned till May 14, a case involving a Lagos businessman and Chief Executive Officer of A.G Moeller Limited, Olukemi Adeloye for an alleged attempt to defraud the Chief Executive Officer of Cross-Country Transport Limited, Bube Okorodudu.

The Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) of the Nigeria Police has arraigned Adeloye on a fivecount charge before Justice Okon Abang, had however, pleaded not guilty to the

charge.

When the case came up April 2, prosecution witness 1, Okorodudu was cross-examined and the payment analysis made by his company, Carlink was admitted as exhibit.

During the beginning of his trial on March 6, the complainant, Okorodudu, testified as the first prosecution witness and was cross-examined by Adeloye’s lawyer, Kunle Ogunba (SAN).

Other allegations against

Adeloye included allegedly transacting financial business without a valid license by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), contrary to Section 57 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The offence was said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 59 (6) (b) of Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA), Cap B3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Adeloye’s company was

In count four of the charge, Adeloye was said to have: “With intent to defraud, you did obtain the sum of N80 million from Okorodudu in excess of the capital sum of N140 million advanced to him through the medium of a contract of finance lease facility induced by false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (a-c) and Section 1 (2) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.”

priests, what runs through my mind is the greatness of God, because it is in His awesome greatness that there are differences in faiths.

“Behind and beyond those differences is one truth. What is the truth? God is love! God is truth and it is only those who serve God in truth and in love that would have His grace.

“The message I want to pass on today is that love is the cardinal principle of faith. When Jesus Christ was asked, which of the laws was the most im-

portant and sacred, he did not think twice before telling the disciples and all around Him that first is faith in the oneness and supremacy of the Almighty God and that closely following that is the golden rule which says you must ‘love your neighbour as thy self’.

“Were it to be that that neighbour must be a Catholic, Jesus Christ would have defined it; were it to be that that your neighbour would have to be a Christian, Jesus Christ would have described it.

Return to basis of faith, Aregbesola urges Christians

sun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola yesterday urged Christians to obey the commandment that says “love thy neighbour as thy self”.

Aregbesola spoke at St. Benedict’s Catholic Cathedral in Osogbo, during a mass presided over by Bishop Paul Awowole.

It was a weekend of visits to churches and receptions for Christian leaders.

Aregbesola, who was accompanied by former Abia

ANAMBRA State Governor Willie Obianowill,nextThursdayholdatwoday security summit.

Israeli security expert Moshe Keinan is beingexpected.

Keinan is the founder and owner of MKGroup Consultancy, Security & Instruction Ltd, a Tel-Aviv based outfit, specialising in intelligence, police, prisons, ports and airports security.

A director in the National Security Studies at Galilee College, Keinan’s interestsareinsecurityknowledge,planning and execution, operations and intelligence,nationaldefence,strategyand human simulations and instruction.

Governor Obiano said he would confront the security challenges in the state by paving the way for the pursuit ofhiseconomicblueprint.

Inspector General of Police Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar will be a special guest of honour.

GovernorObiano,willsetthetonefor thetwo-dayevent,followedbyremarks bytheinspector-generalandapresentationonSecurityasPanaceaforDevelopment,byKeinan.

State Governor Uzor Orji Kalu, said love is common to all religions from Babism, Christianity, Gnosticism, Islam, Sufi and Shia, Druze, Mandaeans and Sabians, Shabakism, Ayyavazhi, Buddhism, Din-iIlahi, Hinduism, Jainism, Meivazhi, Sikhi, Manichaeism, Mazdakism, Mithraism, Yazdânism, Zoroastrianism / Parsi, Confucianism, Shinto, Taoism, Indigenous traditional religions, Hellenistic, Uralic, Esotericism, Neopaganism, Syncretic to Shinshukyo.

Quoting Matthew, Chapter 22: 39, the governor said Jesus Christ answered his Disciples and those around Him thus: “Love thy neighbour as thy self”, when he was asked, which was the greatest commandment.

He said Jesus Christ would have distinguished between who to love, if He meant Christians loving themselves alone.

Aregbesola said: “Any time I have the opportunity of listening to the sermons of your priests and other Christian

afraid of his predecessors’ From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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ONTRARY to speculations that the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi may be jittery over the governorship ambition of former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala and Raheed Ladoja in 2015, the Special Assistant’s Forum from the 33 Local Governments in the state has debunked such insinuations. They stated that Governor Ajimobi is very prepared to break the second term jinx in the next general election.

The Publicity Secretary of the forum, Mr Olusola Kolawole stated this at the palace of Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odugbade Odulana yesterday in Ibadan, when the forum took the support rally for governor Ajimobi’s second term to the monarch’s palace.

“Governor Ajimobi’s unprecedented achievements will speak for him in 2015 and the masses and electorates of this state are now wiser on whom to vote for, and I believe the electorates will chose him” Kolawole said. According to him, if a person like Ajimobi have been governing this state, it would have developed beyond this level.

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

NEWS Minister inaugurates road From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

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INISTER of Works Mike Onolememen inaugurated the N3.2 billion Benin-Adumagbae-Egba-Akure Road to be completed in two years.

Onolememen said the 22.22 km road was awarded to Enerco Nigeria Limited.

The road, which will connect Edo and Ondo states, is significant to the Federal Government as it passes through many communities with abundant raw materials and farm produce.

The minister said: “The communities on this road are known for mass production of raw materials and other farm produce.

“But the deplorable state of the only road linking them to major cities hampered their development.

“The N3.2 billion project will serve as an alternative route for travellers from the western part to the Southsouth and the southeastern zones.’’

Aero begins flight to Asaba

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ERO Contractors, one of Nigeria’s leading airlines, will begin today flights toAsaba Airport with Lagos and Abuja as the initial routes. This brings to three the number of airlines operating from Asaba.

Overland and Arik had been on the route since the airport opened for commercial services on July 13, 2011.

Daily operations into Asaba begin from Abuja at 10.10 am and depart for Lagos at 11.45am. The return flight from Lagos departs for Asaba at 14.45 pm while the Abuja flight leaves at 16.20pm.

After commencing commercial flights on July 13, 2011, Asaba Airport has handled 6,331 flights and 192,651 passengers at the end of October.

This is aside from the 18 flights and 63 passengers handled before commercial flights began, bringing its operational results to 6,349 flights and 192,714 passengers.

Assembly clears nominees From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

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HE Bayelsa State House of Assembly has cleared five commissioner-nominees.

The nominees’ names were sent to the lawmakers

by Governor Seriake Dickson.

They were given a clean bill of health by the lawmakers.

The nominees are the former governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Kamela Okara and a lawyer, Kemasuode Wodu.

Others are former Commissioner for Information and Special Adviser to Dickson on Environment, Inuiro Wills; Ayibatonye Owei and Martin Agbede.

At the end of the screening, the lawmakers were said to have taken turns to admonish the nominees.

They told the nominees they would not tolerate excuses of failures in the course of their oversight functions.

Clark’s son relives ‘unpleasant’ kidnap experience

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BIKEME Clark, son of Ijaw national leader Chief Edwin Clark, who was kidnapped last Wednesday, has been released.

Ebi, as he is fondly called, was reportedly freed at midnight yesterday.

Narrating his experience, Ebi told The Nation in Warri yesterday it took the intervention of ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) and Boro Opudu, for the kidnappers to release him.

He said: “They were ordered by their leader, Tompolo, to free me.

“I was freed at midnight yesterday. No ransom was paid. They have people they listen to or they lose their lives. I can’t give you full details now.

“It couldn’t have been pleasant. All I know is that they have people in the community aiding them to keep their victims. You eat anything you are given and you don’t expect it to be good enough. I was taken to a community somewhere near Bayelsa State,” Ebi said.

From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri, Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba and Shola O’Neil, Port Harcourt

The victim added: “It wasn’t a very pleasant experience, but I will say that I thank God for sparing my life because if not for God there’s no way I’ll be granting this interview.

“I don’t know why I was kidnapped. My abductors are the ones who can really tell why I was kidnapped. But I know ransom was one of the reasons, but whether they have other reasons, I may not be certain.

“They knew who I was because some few minutes after they kidnapped me they asked me, ‘are you not Ebikeme Clark?’ I said ‘yes’.

They knew exactly who they came for.

“I don’t know if my abduction has a political undertone.

It wasn’t political in anyway.

I saw my kidnappers’ faces; we lived together for four days.

“When they were talking, some talked about being excluded from the amnesty programme.

“Again, some believe that the political class has failed them and they have to get money by force from the politicians. They are actually against politicians; they hate politicians.

“When I had the opportunity, I started advising them that they ought to look at life more differently.

“Before I left them I told them that I forgave them for everything they did to me.

We know the situation in this country is not very good, but we are hoping that our youths can be a little more patient with the government.

“I want to thank Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for his help. I also want to thank the chairman of the Delta Waterways Security; they played a major role in ensuring I came out alive.

“All those who showed concern for me in my ordeal; Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), Boro Opudu, Fumughe Solomon, Tunde Smooth and other Ijaw leaders.

“I was impressed that they actually called these boys to order and no ransom was

•Ebikeme...yesterday.

paid.

“My abductors apologised for keeping me. They gave me N5,000 for transportation when I was released.”

Police spokesman Tina Kalu confirmed the incident.

Also the spokesman of the Ijaw Youth Council, Eric Omare, confirmed the report.

He said: “Yes, Ebikeme Clark has been released. I spoke with him and I can confirm that no ransom was paid to secure his freedom.”

PHOTO:BOLAJI OGUNDELE

The elder Clark’s lawyer, Dickson Bekederemo, also confirmed the development.

Bekederemo said he went with officials of the Delta Waterways Security to pick Ebikeme.

“He was released at midnight and they gave him N5,000 for transport.

“He was released unconditionally and he is in good health,” Bekederemo said.

Dep. Governor flays environmental abuse

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•From left: Director-General, Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), Sir Emeka Okereke; Vice President Works, ECCIMA, Mr Nonye Osakwe, and Ebonyi State Commissioner for Commerce, Dr Ifeanyi Ikeh, at a PHOTO: NAN reception for Ebonyi State for participating in the ongoing 25th Enugu International Trade Fair...yesterday.

‘Why we shut down Bayelsa for Jonathan’s daughter’s wedding’ B AYELSA State Governor Seriake Dickson said yesterday the traditional marriage of President Goodluck Jonathan’s foster daughter, Faith Sakwe, did not affect the state’s economy nor hindered residents’ activities.

The government, in a statement by Dickson’s Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said the reports that Yenagoa was shut down because of the wedding were not true.

“We wish to state that, contrary to such unfounded stories in the media, the state’s economy is not affected, as people have been going about their activities without hindrance.

“It is not true that the state and in particular, Yenagoa, was shut down because of the event,” the statement said.

Dickson, however, said Kpansia market, a traditional Saturday market, was closed because it was situated at the

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

heart of the venue of the ceremony.

“It is only reasonable to close the market in the best interest of all concerned. It does not make any sense to have both the market and the

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ceremony go on at the same time. This would be chaotic, with inherent inconveniences.

“Also, the decision to stop construction work on major roads in Yenagoa was mainly for security reasons and to allow better flow of traffic

along the routes leading to the venue of the marriage, because of the large turnout of dignitaries and this should be understandable.

“The frenzied reports with various slants to the wedding ceremony are exaggerated.

“It is obviously not true that the economy of the state was shut down, because of the ceremony as widely reported.”

Utomi: I want to be Delta governor

N economist, Prof Pat Utomi, has declared his intention to contest the 2015 Delta State governorship election.

Utomi, who spoke in Ibusa, Oshimili North Local Government, said he was moved to join the governorship race to contribute his quota to good governance.

The economist told the gathering of Anioma Leaders Forum that a change for good governance, which, he said, can only come through the All Progressives Congress (APC), is what Deltans need.

The Chairman of Anioma Leaders Forum,

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba Hyacinth Enuha, described the Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan-led administration, as “a monumental failure”.

Enuha said everything about the administration was cosmetics.

"When you have good governance a lot of things will happen. As I always say, seek ye first the kingdom of results and every other thing will be added unto you.

“Go to Rivers, Oyo, Edo, Lagos, Osun and Ogun states; you will see how these governors have been able to turn around all these states in every facets of life."

ELTA State Deputy Governor Prof Amos Utuama (SAN) has said the government will end environmental abuse.

Utuama spoke at the weekend when he led members of the Special Ad-hoc Committee on Sanitation to the monarchs of Uvwie and Udu. The 21-member committee made up of members of the state executive council will start work today in Uvwie, Udu and Warri South local governments.

Speaking at the palace of the Ovie of Uvwie, Emmanuel Sideso, Abe 1, Utuama, who is the chairman of the committee, decried the filth in the three local governments.

At the palace of the Ovie of Udu, Ohworhu 1, the deputy governor emphasised the same message.

NDDC chalet for corps members

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N ultra-modern lodge built by the Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) for corps members, in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, has been completed.

NDDC’s Managing Director Bassey Dan-Abia said it would be inaugurated next month.

He was accompanied by Executive Director Projects, Tuoyo Omatsuli and the Executive Director Finance and Administration, Henry Ogiri.

The Director, Bayelsa State office of the commission, Princewill Ekanem, told the team that the facility was customised to meet the needs of corps members.

Eighty eight corps members will be accommodated in the complex fitted with air-conditioners, water heaters and other conveniences. The chalets are complemented with one large conference room and an Information Communication Centre (ICT).

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

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NEWS (SHOWBIZ)

Why we chose South Africa for nominees’ party, says founder •…As Nollywood stars storm Jo’burg

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GALAXY of Nollywood stars last Wednesday converged on the Emperor Place Hotel, Johannesburg, South Africa for the 2014 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) nominees’ party.

In her welcome address, the CEO of AMAA, Ms. Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, described AMAA, which is now in its 10th year, as a dream that had metamorphosed into a legacy. “I grew with seven elder brothers who endured my creative energy, a father who sometimes tolerated my ingenuity and a mother who made sure she checked me. My brothers stood by me as I grew up, fighting to find support for this industry. My best friend happened to be a girl called Linda. However, while I studied Law to please my mother, Linda studied Art. Today, she is one of the best set designers in the world and I am also here doing one of the African awards. I say I am an African because I don’t know about being just a Nigerian.”

She further disclosed that the AMAA dream would not have become a reality if not for the support of Bayelsa State.

According to her, “We started out in 2005. Why I talk about my brothers and the Board of Osigwe Anyiam Osigwe Foundation is that one morning, when they wanted to have a meeting with the then governor of Bayelsa, one of them said: “Peace, let’s go for that proposal that you have been disturbing us for. So, we went and I eventually met with

By Mercy Michael

ex-governor Dipreye Alamieyeseigha, who was the then governor of Balyesa. He just looked at me and said: “Will this thing bring people to the Niger Delta?” and I said yes. He then said, “Oronto, go and talk with Peace.” So, that was how AMAA was a dream that Bayelsa helped to become a reality.

“Today, AMAA is an international brand, but it didn’t come by just me. I am just the person that goes around looking for finance. But there is a great team that makes up the AMAA. This includes: Mr. Steve Ayorinde, head of the jury for the 10th anniversary, Shaibu Husseini, head of the screeners of AMAA, Ayoko Babu, Berni Golbath, June Giveni, Madu Chikwendu and Tony Anih, among others.

“There are also actors and actresses who have helped AMAA to become what it is today. For two different reasons, Kunle Afolayan broke into the mainstream cinema with Irapada, which turned out to be the first Nollywood film to enter an international festival. This is not to mention that Kunle’s film, October 1, might just be our entry into the Cannes in 2014. I would not go down memory lane without remembering one gentleman who gave us one of the biggest sponsorships, Mr. Tony Elumelu of UBA. I would also want to say thank you to the president of Malawi, Joyce Banda.

“The major reason AMAA is returning to South Africa for the nomination for the 10th anniversary is to remind

• Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, Special Adviser to Bayelsa State Governor on Investments, Mr. Cyril Akika and Nollywood actor and chairman, Governing Board of Nigerian Institute of Hospitality and Tourism, Mr. Kana

South Africans that we are brothers. Until we work together, we cannot become an economy to be compared to Hollywood and Bollywood, because we have failed to see ourselves as one. Also, until we stop that, there will never be a creative economy for the African cinema.

“This year, the CEO will step aside and be the founder and executive chairman, while the dream will move forward with other faces and other voices. This is AMAA. We do not want to be the BAFTA or the Oscar.”

Ayorinde, who disclosed that AMAA received 671 entries this year, said: “Various African filmmakers have refined their works and have tried to produce exceptional movies that could compete on the biggest movie platforms in the world.”

Speaking on the award slated for April 26 , in

Moses Inwang weds Emem Udonquak in style

By Ovwe Medeme

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HE traditional wedding of Nollywood film director and producer, Moses Inwang and actress Emem Udonquak took place on Saturday in Uyo, AkwaIbom State.

After the ceremony, a number of celebrities threw an after-event party for the groom and bride at a hotel within the state. Some of the stars in attendance were Annie Idibia, Bishop Imoh Umeh Tonto Dikeh, Ebube Nwagbo, Ini EdoEhiagwina, Monalisa Chinda, Mbong Amata, Julius Agwu, AY, Emem Isong, Jeremiah Ogbodo and Empress Njamah, among others.

Moses has directed a number of Nollywood movies, including Uche Jombo’s Damage. Emem, on the other hand, was the Calabar Carnival Queen in 2011/2012.

The wedding came a week after another Nollywood director, Tchidi Chikere, got

• Moses Inwang

married to Nuella Njubigbo, a few years after divorcing his wife of 10 years, Sophia.

The wedding, however, caused some ripples in the

entertainment when Tchidi accused his ex-wife of engaging in extra-marital affair while they were still legally married.

Bayelsa, the Director-General, Bayelsa Tourism and Development Agency, Mrs. Ediu Brown, said: “We believe in the brand AMAA and that is why Bayelsa continues to give it support. It is a brand that recognizes talents and that is one of the visions for this present administration.”

It is obvious that the AMAA brand is gaining more popularity, as it received a total of 458 films from different parts of the world as opposed to last year’s 328. There were 24 animations, 174 short films, 20 Diaspora features, 10

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Diaspora documentaries, 50 African documentaries and 180 feature films. Of Good Report topped with 14 nominations; Potomanto had eight nominations; Apaye, Forgotten Kingdom, Felix and Accident all had seven nominations each, while Omo Elemosho got six nominations.

The glamorous event attracted top government officials, including Special Adviser to Bayelsa State Governor on Investments, Mr. Cyril Akika, President Joyce Banda’s daughter, Edith Akridge, Editor of The Guardian Newspaper, Mr.

Martins Oloja, Mr. Martins Ayankola, Mr. Shaibu Hussein, Mr. Ayoku Babu, Mr. Berni Golbath, Mr. Steve Ayorinde and Mr. Michael Anyiam-Osigwe.

Top Nollywood stars who represented Nigeria at the event were Fathia Balogun, Funsho Adeolu, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Segun Arinze, Chinedu Ikedieze, Charles Awurum, Kunle Afolayan, Fred Amata, Fidelis Duker, Paul Obazele and Madu Chikwendu, among others.

Keyshia Cole, Asa for Calabar Jazz Festival

OPULAR R and B singer, Keyshia Cole and Nigerian singer, Asa, are among the artistes billed to perform at the forthcoming Calabar Jazz Festival between Wednesday, April 18 and Saturday, April 21.

Cole, a Grammy nominee, is well-known in Nigeria for her hits, I Should Have Cheated and Heaven Sent. She is also popular for her two BET reality TV series: Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is and Keyshia and Daniel: Family First.

Asa returns after a performance at the last festival, where she wowed the crowd as switched effortlessly between vocals, guitar, trumpet and footwork.

According to the organisers, the lineup of performers includes Hugh Masekela, Liquideep, Jimmy Dludlu, Micasa Music, Timotha Lanae, Gwyn Jay Allen, Dare Art Alade, Yinka Davies and Kunle Ayo. Dludlu, according to the organisers, is being brought back following a superlative performance in 2013.

Masekela, who considers Calabar his second home, will anchor a special peace concert, which is a private event hosted

by Cross River State Governor, Sen. Liyel Imoke, to highlight the killings in some parts of the country.

“Having endured the horrors of apartheid, we feel it is fitting to have Hugh Masekela help us to highlight this disturbing new trend in some parts of our beloved country,

By Babatunde Sulaiman

even as we search for solutions.

We must never forget the victims,” said Imoke.

The Calabar Jazz Festival offers a great Easter weekend break for Nigerians who are looking for an opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of the cities.

The organisers further revealed that there would be fun

• Keyshia-Cole

day-time activities and tours for all families and VIP afterparty, among others.

Govt urged to support Yoruba Movie Academy Awards

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ROSSOVER actor, Kelvin Ikeduba, has urged the government to support the Yoruba Movie Academy Awards (YMAA), describing it as a strong platform for the promotion of Nigerian culture.

In an interview with The Nation, Ikeduba, who won the Best Crossover Act award at the last YMAA, said: “The YMAA is coming up strong. It projects the African culture, particularly the Nigerian culture. So, I urge the organisers of other movie awards to emulate it.

Government should also pay attention to this awards ceremony. Everything about the award is culture-related. I have never experienced a thing like this before. Most of the awards I had attended were foreign in nature, but this is the first cultural awards ceremony.”

He, however, countered the insinuation that he is more accepted in the Yoruba movie

By Babatunde Sulaiman

industry than in its counterpart, where he started from.

“I am accepted both in the English and Yoruba movie sectors because I am an actor. I have fans in the English movie industry who understand Yoruba as I do and vice-versa.

In fact, I have acted more in English movies than Yoruba movies in recent times.”

• Kelvin Ikeduba

THE NATION MONDAY APRIL 7, 2014

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FOREIGN MUSINGS

Rwanda Genocide: 20 years after

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E are glad to be back again in the saddle after having dutifully signed out on February 11 for our annual vacation and a time for a sort of a refreshing soul-searching in the unending quest for exploring and focusing on this your wonderful globe.

While your column was away we had the opportunity of monitoring what could have well been a redux of the cold war between the West and Russia; what with the latter’s’ overtaking of the Crimean Peninsular to the chagrin of the West; the European Union inclusive.

On the positive side, Afghanistan had a presidential election to appoint a leader to succeed President Kazai who is ineligible to re-contest after 8 years in office. Dr Abdullah Abdullah , the former Foreign Minister for the Taliban’s is most favoured out of the 8 presidential candidates out of the estimated 7million voters and of course the world’s largest democracy as in India has begun its long process of electing a new national leadership which always end in coalitions of like and unlike minds to form its government.

Afghanistan election is a policy paradox for the United States of America who had earlier on adamantly refused leaving troops behind a post war Afghanistan unless it is ready to sign a security pact that will give some lee-way to American troops after the end of the so-called occupation against prosecution for war crimes.

But our main trust today is re-visiting Rwanda after 20 years of the historic genocide.

April 6, 1994 was an extraordinary day in the affairs of men, women and children of all manners in the East African country of Rwanda.

This marked the beginning of what Williams Shakespeare would call a ‘tide in the affairs of men or what Thomas Paine will refer to as a time that tries men’s soul. 100 days and after the orgy of mass murder, grotesque killings, rapes and general inhumanity of man to man had produced a horrendous macabre of eliminations, amputations and unimaginable mayhem on the psyche of a mass of humans in its wake.

Appalled by this, the international community promised that cataclysmic pogrom will never again happen under its watch.

Global Focus DAYO FAKUADE, Foreign Editor sms 08134230367

daborgu@gmail.com

‘The Central African Republic is now also engraved in the same militaristic, ethnic and mostly religious infraticidal cleansing even when we jointly promised 20 years ago that never will these kind of things happen under our collective watch.’

Yesterday marked 20 years of this madness which turned brothers and sisters against each other leaving almost a million dead.

That day was only a beginning of the exemplar bestiality of how otherwise simple reasoning could be turned on its head and gives way to untowardly insipid stupidity.

The airplane carrying Rwandan President Habyarimana and Burundian

president Cyprien Ntaryamira was shot down on its descent into Kigali, killing all on board. Genocidal killings began the following day: soldiers, police and militia quickly executed key Tutsi and moderate Hutu leaders, then erected checkpoints and barricades and used Rwandans’ national identity cards to systematically verify their ethnicity and kill Tutsi.

The ethnic Tutsies had been largely upstaged from the position of power four years earlir on to the Tutus minority population; setting the stage for this seething rage of political retribution and eventual assassination of the president.

Things have happened and a lot of revelations had came out of the failure of policies which catapulted these schematic show of horrendous shame; part of which blamed the international community not only for their complicity but now as we know that the French will be withdrawing from this week’s commemo-

ration ceremonies out of their fall out with the Rwandan government; which had categorically accused the former of aiding the rebels in attacking the majority Tutsi population in the course of her destiny with her impoverished people.

The Central African Republic is now also engraved in the same militaristic, ethnic and mostly religious infraticidal cleansing even when we jointly promised 20 years ago that never will these kind of things happen under our collective watch.

Our hearts and hopes still go out to about 239 mostly Chinese passengers whose MH 370 airplane disappeared almost one month ago in the Australian ocean.

About a dozen aircrafts and 13 ships are combing an area of about 2,000kilometers North West of Australian City of Perth where signals were lastly indicated.

Ukraine and Syria remain on our monitoring radar because as noted earlier time is of the essence. The peo-

ples of the former Eastern Europe are edgy ; not knowing what President Putin can plunge in its unpredictable wrench to destabilize their economic welfare. Syria is now most forgotten and abandoned to an ever increasing ferocious and deadly military machine that is assaulting and killing its civilian population and driving them in droves to the refugee camps in Lebanon and Turkey with no articulated and united opposition.

The situation in Egypt is increasingly alarming; not only because military strongman now newly promoted Field Marshal Sissi will be contesting the June Presidential elections which he has been calibrated and designated to win, but the clamp down now on civil societies activists, students and supposed opponents of the present regime is stupendously disastrous. Only last week more than 500 so called terrorists and enemies of state were sentenced to death in one single day. This is mind-bugling and makes a charade of the judicial system in a country that is crying out for fairness and egalitarianism.

Meanwhile, we will remain focused on all these and others and will keep you continually informed. As our refrain, it is your globe keep thinking and acting green to keep it better and livable. See you next week.

FOREIGN NEWS

Ukraine: Pro-Russians storm offices in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv

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RO-Russian protesters have stormed government buildings in three eastern Ukrainian cities.

In Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv they clashed with police, hung Russian flags from the buildings and called for a referendum on independence.

Ukraine’s acting president called an emergency security meeting in response.

The unrest comes amid tensions between Russia and Ukraine over the removal of pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych and Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Moscow has the right to protect the Russian-speaking population there. Ukraine’s leaders deny the country’s Russian speakers are under threat and have said they will resist any intervention in their

country.

Ukrainian Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov cancelled a planned visit to Lithuania and called a meeting of the country’s security chiefs to deal with the unrest.

In Donetsk, in what was reportedly the day’s most violent protest, a large group of activists broke away from a crowd rallying in the main city square to attack and occupy the regional government

seat.

After clashing with riot police and breaking through their lines to enter the building, they raised the Russian flag and hung a banner from the building. Protesters outside cheered and chanted: “Russia, Russia.”

Ihor Dyomin, a spokesman for Donetsk local police, said about 1,000 people had taken part in the storming of the building.

“Around 100 people are now inside the building and are barricading the building,” he added.

In Luhansk, police fired tear gas at dozens of protesters who broke into the local security service building in an attempt to force the release of 15 pro-Russian activists who were arrested earlier in the week and accused of plotting violent unrest.

LENTEN MESSAGE

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Theme: Your race is in his grace

T such a time in our national life when there are many aspirants jostling openly or nocturnally for political offices using every form of antics and tactics, at times conventional and often times diabolical, it is pertinent to declare that except the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain that strive to embark on such a venture (Psalm 127:1). It is grace that gives meaning to aspirations. When grace is at work, official structure, political zoning, work experience, stature, looks and past etc. are suspended.

It is impossible to run a successful race without His Grace; anything out of His grace will make life and living a burden. In 1 Corinthians 15:10, Paul said, “But by the grace of God, I am what I am: and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not l, but the grace of God which was with me.”

From the passage picked as text, Apostle Paul revealed that the height he attained in the ministry was not by his efforts, electioneering campaigns, degree or exposure

but he was made by the sufficiency of the grace of God. It was the grace of God that added ‘extra’ to his ‘ordinary’ and made him extraordinary. It was grace that elevated him and grafted him on a mountain where he could see what mere mortals could not see.

The grace of God is a lifter; while it is good to make efforts, it is imperative to note that His grace is the needed catalyst that speeds up life reaction. Paul told the Romans in 11:5,6 that, “And if by grace, then it is no more grace: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise, work is no more work”.

It was grace that spared Moses from death when he was given birth to, afforded him the rare privilege of being brought up by his mother within the confines and pleasures of the enemy, spared him when he was sentenced to death ( Exodus 2:1-15) and at his re-appearance before the King was like a god (Exodus 7:1a).

It was Grace that set apart Esther, a lady that was unskilled in the art of modelling, and placed her above more qualified contestants and made her the Queen of Babylon (Esther 2:17). Joseph too experienced that

grace from when he was born as a special son to his parents to when he was a special housekeeper in Potiphar’s house to a special prisoner in prison until he rode to become the Prime Minister in Egypt without any degree or election.

Grace is the podium that raises a person’s head above those of his peers. David attested to this in Psalm 94:17-19 that, “Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence. When I said, my foot slippeth; thy mercy, O Lord, held me up. In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul”. No wonder, he was lifted from an ordinary shepherd boy to be the King of Israel.

Grace is the direct opposite of disgrace - it abolishes and terminates sufferings as attested to in 1 Peter 5:10 that, “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

Brethren, there is nothing you can do in the absence of His grace; it is His grace that will determine your race and not your efforts because

your race is a subset of His grace.

Even if you are a nuisance to the society and unwanted in the polity, you are a star in grace. Smith Wigglesworth was a nuisance as a plumber but grace found him out at age 48, he was called home many years past but his star is still shinning not because of educational pedigree but grace of God. It doesn’t matter the obstacles you are facing now at home, work or family, the grace of God has the capacity to lift you above every mountain, pick you up from where you are, give value to your life and revive your lost hope. Paul told the Romans in 9:15-16,” I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So, it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy”.

There is greatness inside you.

Your greatness is in your race and your race is hidden in His grace.

Peter was a fisheman but grace lifted him (Luke 5:1-11). Jesus was the son of a Carpenter but the grace upon His life lifted Him up. Jephtah was forsaken by his people because of the circumstances of his birth but

•Revd Adelegan

grace found him out (Judges 11).

To enable you obtain grace that will navigate your life to greatness and testimonies during this season, you must accept Him as your Lord and Saviour (Colossians 1:27b; John 10:14), develop increased knowledge about Him (2 Peter 1:2-3; Joshua 1:8), humble yourself. 1 Peter 5:5b) and be a kingdom investor. (2 Corinthians 9:8).

Prayer: Father, I release my life race unto you, let your grace avail for me, in Jesus’ name.

THE NATION MONDAY APRIL 7, 2014

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FOREIGN NEWS

Obama praises Afghans on election •As vote counts start

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RESIDENT Barack Obama said Saturday that Afghanistan’s presidential election marks another milestone in the effort by the Afghan people to take full responsibility for their country as the United States and its allies gradually withdraw their forces.

Millions of Afghans went to the polls Saturday to choose a successor to President Hamid Karzai in spite of threats by the Taliban to disrupt the process with violence.

Dozens of polling centers did not open because of rocket and gunfire attacks. At least 20 people died as scores of attacks or attempted attacks took place over 24 hours. Suicide bombings and other attacks had been on the rise in the weeks ahead of the election.

Still, more than 6,000 polling centers were operating and more than 7 million ballots were cast,

•People waiting to cast their vote at the polling unit

officials said. Final results may not be known for a week or longer.

“We commend the Afghan people, security forces and elections officials on the turnout for today’s vote, which is in keeping with the spirited and positive debate

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ple secured this election. They ran this election, and most importantly, they voted in this election.”

U.S. plans call for combat operations to end on Dec. 31. The coalition of NATO and allied nations plans to leave 8,000 to

12,000 troops in Afghanistan to advise and assist Afghan forces as long as its leaders sign a security agreement. The U.S. expects to leave some troops, most of them special operations forces, to continue to conduct counterterrorism operations.

CAR crisis: Chad rejects UN claims of shootings

France pulls out of Rwanda genocide commemorations HE French government has announced that it is pulling out of the 20th anniversary commemorations on Monday for the Rwandan genocide.

The decision follows an accusation by the Rwandan President, Paul Kagame, that France participated in the mass killings in 1994.

Mr Kagame has previously made similar allegations, which France has denied.

The French foreign ministry said the remarks went against reconciliation efforts between the two countries.

French Justice Minister Christiane Taubira has cancelled her plans to attend the events in Kigali on Monday, foreign ministry spokesman Romain Nadal says.

Dressed in traditional gowns, women line up before marching to commemorate the genocide of 1994 at the Kicukiro College of Technology football pitch on 5 April 2014 in Kigali, Rwanda. Rwanda is holding a series of events to commemorate the 1994 genocide Speaking to the Frenchlanguage weekly news magazine Jeune Afrique, Mr

among candidates and their supporters in the run-up to the election,” Obama said in a statement.

Secretary of State John Kerry said Afghans went to the polls “with courage and commitment” and added in a statement: “This is their moment. The Afghan peo-

•Kagame

Kagame denounced the “direct role of Belgium and France in the political preparation for the genocide”.

Rwanda was a Belgian colony until 1962.

BBC Africa’s Kassim Kayira explains the events that shook Rwanda in 1994 In the interview, due to be published on Sunday but carried out on 27 March, Mr Kagame is quoted as saying that, 20 years on, “the only plausible reproach in [France’s] eyes is in not having done enough to save lives during the genocide”.

It comes as Rwanda prepares to mark the 20th anniversary of the atrocities that claimed at least 800,000 lives - mostly ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus - over a period of about 100 days.

Nationalist-linked Ukraine reporter found murdered

UTHORITIES in Ukraine say the body of a kidnapped journalist who played an active role in protests that led to President Viktor Yanukovych’s ouster in February has been found in a forest some 150 kilometers (60 miles) outside the capital, Kiev.

Cherkassk province prosecutors said Sunday that Vasily Sergiyenko was abducted in his home city of Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi on Friday evening and later murdered.

The nationalist Svoboda party, of which Sergiyenko was a member, said the reporter was found with stab wounds and signs of beatings to his head and knees.

Svoboda said the killing bears the hallmarks of a politically motivated hit.

The party, whose leader Oleh Tyahnybok is running in the May 25 presidential election, said Sergiyenko and other Svoboda representatives had received threats over the past week.

HAD has rejected UN accusations that its troops killed 30 people and injured many more in an unprovoked attack in a market in the Central African Republic.

In a statement, Chad’s government expressed its indignation and said the allegation was “defamatory”.

It came as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon made a surprise visit to CAR in a show of support for efforts to end the sectarian conflict there.

Thousands of African and French troops are trying to restore order.

Chad has said it will pull its peacekeepers out of CAR in

protest at the UN’s claims.

On Friday the UN said an investigation had found Chadian troops “opened fire on the population without any provocation” inside a busy market in Bangui on 29 March.

Thirty people were killed and another 300 people were injured in the shooting, it said.

The troops, who were reportedly on a mission to evacuate some of the city’s remaining Muslim inhabitants, said they were attacked first by militias.

In the year since the Muslim Seleka rebels ousted the CAR government last March, the country has been en-

gulfed by a wave of religious violence.

Cannot play media. You do not have the correct version of the flash player. Download the correct version Why are Muslims fleeing their homes in CAR? Under regional pressure, the country’s first Muslim leader, President Michel Djotodia, stepped down in January but attacks have not stopped.

Thousands of Muslims, a minority in CAR, have been fleeing to neighbouring Chad and Cameroon after being targeted by Christian militias, known as anti-balakas.

The UN secretary general said on Saturday those displaced by the violence in CAR

could “count on the international community”, according to AP. Mr Ban was due to have talks with the country’s interim president and address parliament before leaving for Rwanda to mark the 20th anniversary of the genocide there.

Chad has contributed roughly 850 soldiers to a contingent of 6,000 African Union peacekeepers tasked with ending the bloodshed in CAR. Rupert Colville, spokesman for the UN’s human rights office, said initial investigations appeared to show that the troops involved in the incident on 29 March were not part of the AU mission.

ernment team, but also to change old habits in the running of Mali”.

The press in Bamako suggested that tensions between the two men had been exacerbated by the fact that Ly felt undermined by the president’s son, Karim Keita, the deputy leader of the national assembly.

Keita appointed Ly, a leading economist but a surprise choice to many, after his inauguration in September last year, with Mali looking to set up a government that would turn the page on months of political chaos and war.

Married with two chil-

dren, Mara comes from a political family.

His father Joseph Mara was a soldier and justice minister who spent time in jail in the late 1970s under the military dictatorship of Moussa Traore.

Mara, his brother and his sister were brought up by their mother and grandmother, who taught him the value of “a strict adherence to discipline”, according to his website.

An academic high achiever, he studied economics and remains one of the youngest members of Mali’s institute of chartered accountants.

Mali’s new premier in talks to form government

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ALI’s new prime minister was in talks on Sunday to appoint a government to lead the west African nation’s post-war recovery after the surprise resignation of his predecessor and the entire cabinet.

Former planning minister Moussa Mara, 39, was promoted to the premiership on Saturday after Mali’s first post-war prime minister Oumar Tatam Ly quit just six months into office, a statement from the presidency said.

President Ibrahima Boubacar Keita’s office gave

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no reason for the resignation of Ly and his ministers, but it emerged on Sunday that the prime minister had become frustrated over being unable to enact reforms in the administration.

Ly, 50, said in his resignation letter, seen by AFP, that he had been unable to convince Keita to act on “the inefficiencies and inadequacies that I found in the running of government that greatly reduce its ability to meet challenges”.

A source close to Ly said he had “insistently, since early March, brought to Keita’s attention the need not only to restructure the gov-

Morocco’s unions protest govt austerity

HOUSANDS of workers, teachers and civil servants marched through downtown Casablanca on Sunday to protest austerity plans put in place by the Moroccan government to control runaway spending.

During the march, police mounted on motorcycles swooped down and arrested several pro-democracy activists that used the rally as an occasion to denounce the all-powerful monarchy.

Criticism of the elected government in this North African kingdom is tolerated, but not the hereditary monarchy itself, which the activists claimed was corrupt.

An estimated 8,000 people heeded the call from the three main labor unions to dem-

onstrate in the country’s economic capital, as relations between the labor movement and the government worsened.

“We demand the protection of our standard of living,” declared one sign carried by protesters. “No to the raising the age or retirement,” said another, anticipating controversial planned reforms of retirement benefits.

Faced with unrest in 2011 during the Arab Spring inspired protests, the previous government raised salaries and benefits, nearly bankrupting the country. The budget deficit rose to 7 percent of GDP in 2012 as subsidy spending rose to $6 billion a year.

Under pressure from international lending institutions, it fell to the newly elected Islamist-led government of Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane to end subsidies on gasoline and gradually reduce them on diesel.

The unions have opposed these moves, saying it hurts low income groups.

“The government is attacking our standard of living by raising gasoline prices by 25 percent in the last 15 months alone,” Miloudi Moukharek, head of the Union of Moroccan Workers told The Associated Press ahead of the demonstration. “Reform should not be carried out on the back of the poor.”

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

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NEWS DHQ: we’re probing soldier’s claim on military commanders’ link with Boko Haram Continued from page 4

“At the moment, we suspect that the intention is to create wrong impressions and cause disaffection.

“A case of impersonation cannot also be ruled out. We are taking the information seriously despite the fallacies contained in it. We do not believe he is one of our soldiers.”

In the interview, the “soldier” said he had witnessed incidents that suggest some commanders are working with Boko Haram.

He described how his military unit, based in Borno State region, was ambushed by Boko Haram fighters.

The soldier, who did not want to be identified, said the commander of a nearby military unit, based in the town of Bama, recently sought assistance from his unit in carrying

out a raid.

The soldier said when the two military units joined up, they were given different uniforms. The Bama unit commander gave his own troops green uniforms. The soldier said his unit received tan “desert camouflage” uniforms.

When the troops reached the battle area, the soldier said the commander of the betterequipped Bama unit suddenly withdrew his forces, leaving the remaining troops to fend for themselves against Boko Haram fighters.

Speaking in Hausa, he said: “We had only light arms and our men were being picked off one after the other.”

The soldier also said he recognised some of the Boko Haram fighters as his former military trainers in Kontagora, a town near the capital, Abuja.

“We realised that some of them were actually mercenaries from the Nigerian army... hired to fight us,” he said.

This soldier and others have said that too often, commanders have pocketed money that was supposed to be used to help equip units, the VOA claimed.

In a January 2012 speech, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said Boko Haram members have infiltrated his government’s executive, legislative and judicial sectors, as well as the police and armed forces.

Jonathan has declared a state of emergency in three northern regions where Boko Haram is active, and launched operations to destroy the group’s camps. Despite those efforts, though, large-scale attacks have continued.

Atlantic Council Africa Center Director Peter Pham said the soldier’s account could have merit.

“It certainly would not surprise me that it is happening,” said Pham.

Pham said the goal should be to figure out how and why collaboration between military officers and terror groups could happen.

“What’s critical is to understand, if there is this collusion, to understand whether it is a collusion born of corruption, born of desperation simply to avoid combat that would result in casualties for the men under your command, or if it is born of ideological sympathy with the insurgents,” he said.

Apart from some welltrained elite units, Pham said most of Nigeria’s military is

NJC member’s ‘bid to make sister Rivers CJ behind crisis’ Continued from page 4

State Judicial Service Commission clearly recommended Justice Agumagu to the NJC as its first and most qualified choice to be appointed as the Chief Judge of Rivers State.”

The criterion that only the most senior judge must be the Chief Judge, and that a President of the Customary Court of Appeal cannot be a Chief Judge, are creations of the NJC, said the source who pleaded not to be named because he is not permitted to talk to the press.

According to the source, the Constitution prescribes only 10 years’ post-call to the bar as qualification to the office of the Chief Judge.

“Okocha’s partisan and parochial schemes to install his sis-

ter as the Chief Judge of Rivers State led him to write a ‘Confidential’ letter to the PresidentGeneral of Ogbakor Ikwerre Convention (the umbrella body of the Ikwerre ethnic group), Prof. Augustine Onyozu. Governor Amaechi and the two Okochas are from the Ikwerre ethnic group.

“In the letter dated February 3rd, Okocha clearly called for the intervention of the President-General to advise Governor Amaechi to make his sister the Chief Judge of Rivers, principally because she is from the Ikwerre ethnic stock like the governor.”

But Okocha said his sister was being denied her entitlement.

His words: “That is a matter that has been dealt with by the Na-

tional Judicial Council. A recommendation was made to the governor since the 17th of July 2013 and the governor and his advisers with other intentions do not want to make an appointment that has been legitimately recommended to them.

“If they don’t want to make the appointment, as they say, we watch and see the persons and the institutions suffering as a result of their breach of the Constitution. If they think they’re causing any detriment to me, they’re mistaken and misguided.

“What power do I have to make my sister Chief Judge?

They forget that they recommended my sister’s name to the NJC. I didn’t send my sister’s name there. My sister is the

most senior judge in the High Court of Rivers State, and she has been duly recommended for appointment, and those who don’t want to appoint her should please themselves.

“Those who deny other people what is their legitimate right and entitlement will also be denied their own legitimate right and entitlement at the appropriate time. There is the law of karma. There is retributive justice.

“I’m just a member of the NJC, which has 22 members. At the time when the recommendation was made I was not even in the meeting, because I have honour; I have integrity. I excused myself from the meeting and stepped out, and within 10 minutes they had concluded with the matter.”

Conference: Niger Delta to demand reparation

Continued from page 4

income and revenue that come from oil and gas and Niger Delta is floating on oil and gas.

“So, we are the most injured, most exploited and the most dispossessed region in the country.’’

Darah said for this reason, Niger Delta delegates were prepared “morally, philosophically and intellectually’’ not just to set the tone for the conference but also to correct the injustice that had allegedly been meted to the region.

He said that the delegates had conducted an extensive research on all the ramifications of petroleum resources and how it had harmed and injured their people, society and territory.

“We have documented it for over 10 years, so we are loaded with data; we took it to the national conference of 2005 which

was aborted. “ We have now updated the research and we are going to offload them in this conference.’’

The don said that the expectation of the Niger Delta region was that the laws, decrees and policies deliberately enacted to dispossess the region of its oil and gas wealth must be expunged from the constitution.

“The most notorious one of them is section 44, sub-section 3, of the constitution. The section says that all minerals and natural gas found on the earth, below the earth, in the air, under the sea and wherever it is found, belong to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“That is the most precious wealth that we have and it is a wealth that exhausts by constant exploitation. The more voraciously they exploit it, the less will be the reserve left for those

who are alive now, for the children who are coming.

“They are also hollowing the earth and going to cause geological imbalance,’’ he said.

Darah said that the damage these laws had done to the Niger Delta could be not repaired with any amount of money.

However, he said the delegates came to the conference with a request for financial repatriation equivalent to the injury and damage done to the region’s ecology.

He said that these damages ranged from the farm lands to the rivers that no longer produced fish, adding that it also extended to the children who had become vagrant and deviant, rebelling against their parents whom they felt had sold their heritage to foreigners.

“It is a very complicated matter but it can be resolved in in-

Emir: we lost 105 in attack Continued from page 4

where Boko Haram fighters struck on Saturday, in droves.

Eyewitnesses said 17 people were killed in the attack, but the official casualty stands at nine dead and 10 injured.

A resident, Ali Buni, told our correspondent: “If you were here yesterday, you would have seen people moving out of the town as if it’s water. Many people have left and more are leaving for fear of another attack.”

Our correspondent who was in Buni Gari sighted many people moving towards Damaturu, the state capital, with their families.

But, only five people were

killed in the mosque attack contrary to the 20 that was earlier reported in the media.

One of the worshippers who do not want his name mentioned said he had left the mosque less than five minutes when the boys struck.”I left five people in the mosque praying and all of them were killed. The boys came less than five minutes after I left the mosque. I had finished my prayers and I wanted to go and prepare for a journey to Damaturu”, he said.

An official of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) said 52 vehicles and 10 keke NAPEP were burnt by the insurgents.

Some of the shops stocked with grains were still burning

at the time this reporter visited.

The state government has promised to assist victims of the attack.

Deputy Governor Abubakar Aliyu, who cut short his official engagement to Kaduna yesterday, visited Buni Gari to sympathise with the people and do an on-thespot assessment of the situation.

Aliyu, an engineer, extended to the people the concern of Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, who is in the Holy Land, praying for the state and the country.

He directed the State Emergency Relief Agency to take a comprehensive stock of the destruction for the government to assist the victims.

stalments. The first stage is for those laws to go.

“We have a litany of the laws; we have the Land Use Act, and there are also some laws that say all of us living on the bank of rivers are tenants of the Federal Government.

“It is in the law that any distance 100 metres from the bank of the rivers belong to Federal Government.

“And we have 3,000 waterways in the Niger Delta; so all of us are tenants of the Federal Government.’’

According to him, some of these laws can never be found even in developed countries.

Darah praised President Goodluck Jonathan’s moral conviction to convoke the conference, describing it as an opportunity for any part of the country with grievances or feeling that issues affecting them had been buried, to articulate and ventilate them.

Aliyu regretted that the government does not know the insurgents and so it’s difficult to talk with them”.

He, however, prayed that Allah should touch their hearts to repent from their sinful ways, adding that “the trying times of the state and the country would surely be over”.

The executive Secretary of the State Emergency Relief Agency, Musa Idris told reporters that two trucks load of assorted food items and other relief materials have been distributed to the victims.

But some of the victims have complained that only two hilux vans of relief materials were brought and were grossly inadequate.

“woefully underfunded and under-resourced” in terms of equipment and training.

E.J. Hogendoorn is deputy director of the International Crisis Group’s Africa programme. The group recently released a detailed report about the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria.

He said Nigeria’s military disfunction is part of a broader problem of systemic corruption extending through most government sectors.

Hogendoorn says “drivers”, such as bad governance and the inability of state institutions to provide basic services, help create a pool of unemployed youth “ripe for radicalisation”.

“We argue that even were Boko Haram to be defeated, if

•Gen. Olukolade

you don’t deal with those drivers, you are not going to be able to stabilise either northern Nigeria or the entire country,” he said.

Hogendoorn said for change to occur, the Nigerian government needs to address corruption and poor governance in a systematic and sustained way.

Gunmen kill Ogun vigilance leader Continued from page 4

best on security of lives and property as a way of serving humanity. As a government, we will do out best to ensure that the perpetrators of this act are brought to justice’’, Amosun said.

The governor was accompanied by Police Commissioner Okoye, Director of State Security Service, Mr. S. Charanchi, and members of his cabinet.

He condoled with the Okuneye family and grant the son of the deceased, Gbenga Okuneye, and Presiding Bishop, St John’s Anglican Church, Oke-Sopein, Ijebu-Igbo, Rt. Rev. Gbetogo Kuponu, thanked the governor and security chiefs for their concern, praying that the present administration in the state would achieve all its dreams and aspirations.

THE NATION MONDAY APRIL 7, 2014

60

NEWS 250 PDM members join APC

Kano PDP protests election guidelines

From Khadijat Saidu, Birnin Kebbi

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

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WO hundred and fifty members of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) in Kebbi State have joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking at a reception for the new members, the APC Interim Chairman, Abubakar Atiku Bunu, said the coming of the PDM members will help APC win the 2015 elections.

Bunu said: ‘’APC has received prominent people and with the calibre of people now in the party, we have full assurance that they would deliver the state. Our aim is change; let us join hands together and fight for the masses.”

The PDM Zonal Vice Chairman North-West, Sani Haruna Zuru, said: ‘’Let us play politics without bitterness, selfishness, let’s be honest and transparent for the betterment of our party merger and ensure good leadership in the state.’’

‘Probe Nasarawa Assembly’

By Dada Aladelokun

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HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has

been urged to probe the finances of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly.

A statement by the Coordinator, North Central of the Nigerian Human Rights Community (NHRC), Mallam Abu Al-Amin, urged the antigraft agency to investigate the House for scandalous financial commitments at public expense.

It also urged Nigerians to pressurise the political leadership in Nasarawa State to reduce the lawmakers’ perks and privileges.

The statement reads: “The outrageous money being collected by the lawmakers must stop. This huge amount of money should have been used to meet the needs of residents.”

The group claimed that each lawmaker receives an extra N4million monthly, instead of the quarterly N10 million expected to be paid by the state government.

“Extensive surveys conducted by members of the NHRC in Nasarawa State show that contrary to claims by the lawmakers that projects are being implemented in the state, nothing concrete has been seen to justify the huge amount the lawmakers collect every month.”

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•Chairman, African Research and Development Agency Mallam Abubakar Sokoto Muhammed (left) greeting the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, at the third Annual Lecture of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria in Abuja.

With them is theNational President Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, (MHWUN),Ayuba Wabba.

PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN.

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Mass exodus from Taraba

HOUSANDS of Tiv farmers have fled their homes in Taraba State, following continuous attacks

by Fulani herdsmen.

At least 15 Tiv farmers have been massacred and over 100 injured in separate attacks at the weekend.

A deputy inspector-general of police, at the directive of President Goodluck Jonathan, toured the affected areas at the weekend.

His visit did not deter the assailants, who continued their onslaught on Ibi, Wukari, Donga, Takum, Gassol and Bali local government areas.

Six Tiv farmers were reported killed while 14 escaped with injuries when the assailants invaded three villages in Wukari on Friday.

The carnage spilled to Ibi where more than five Tiv villages were torched by over 400 Fulani fighters on Saturday.

The authorities were not certain on the number of casualties in Ibi and Gassol.

Acting Governor Garba Umar has asked the fleeing Tiv to return to their homes as he imposed a 24-hour curfew in Ibi yesterday.

Umar will today meet with senior public servants from the affected areas in Jalingo.

His Senior Special Assistant (SA) on Media and Publicity, Aaron Atimas, told The Nation that a security meeting was also held with a presidential team, where the Fulani, Tiv and Jukun elite signed a peace deal.

•Curfew in local govt

From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

He said: “The acting governor also directed the local government chairmen to ask victims not to leave.

“The council chairmen are to also ensure that no one occupies any land belonging to Tiv people, who have fled their homes.”

Thirteen trucks of relief materials would be distributed to the affected persons, said Atimas, who described the insurgents as “strange fulanis with criminal motive.”

Umar will speak on Radio Benue today.

The acting governor appealed to community leaders

W

‘It is unfortunate that Taraba has inherited what was started in Benue and Nasarawa states’ to talk to their people.

A member of the House of Assembly representing Wukari II, Daniel Ishaya Gani, blamed the Fulani violence on “ government’s laxity”.

Gani said the acting governor had been informed since the crisis started in Benue State.

“The Taraba State government has been “nonchalant” towards the issue. ”We share boundary with Benue so when the crisis started in Benue, we knew it would spill to Taraba someday, so we complained to the government to take a proactive measure, but it did nothing.

“It is unfortunate that Taraba has inherited what was started in Benue and Nasarawa states,” he said.

The lawmaker accused the government of not prudently utilising the monthly security vote that Umar “jacked up” from N80 million to N200 million.

Gani urged the government to act fast to ensure that people’s lives and property were protected

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano State yesterday said it will protest the alleged inconsistency by the State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) in the release of guidelines and timetable for the May 17 local government elections.

At a briefing held at the home of former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, the party insisted that going by the prevailing situation on ground, KANSIEC may not be able to organise free and fair elections, if imminent measures were not taken.

Shekarau, who spoke on behalf of PDP leaders, said they would not be deterred from participating in the elections.

“KANSIEC has deliberately refused to give PDP candidates clearance slips that will enable them pay for the forms in the banks. ‘’Despite all efforts by our candidates to obtain this form, they were told that the date has elapsed.’’

Shekarau said PDP has written a formal protest letter to KANSIEC, stating all the irregularities and injustice, adding that the party will take constitutional actions to ensure that its candidates were protected and given equal opportunities to participate.

Vice Chairman PDP Caretaker Committee Yahaya Bagobiri said: ‘’ On April 5, the party received a notice from KANSIEC that it had extended the sales of forms from the April 3 to April 4. ‘’The PDP candidates were discriminated against by KANSIEC in that they were subjected to a screening process before clearance slips were issued to them to facilitate the purchase of forms.”

Wema Bank records N1.9b profit

EMA Bank Plc has announced a N1.9 billion profit before tax and 35 per cent rise in assets for the financial year, which ended December 31, last year.

Speaking from the bank’s headquarters in Lagos, its Managing Director/CEO, Segun Oloketuyi, said the lender achieved a significant milestone as it returned to full profitability, following its concerted efforts in implementing the first phase of its turnaround project.

That, he said, was done despite the increasingly competitive and highly regulated operating environment.

•Capital Adequacy Ratio hits 27%

By Collins Nweze

“We are particularly encouraged by our Year-onYear growth in our total assets, customer deposits and, loans and advances to customers which grew 35 per cent, 25 per cent and 34 per cent respectively.

“We recorded a strong Capital Adequacy Ratio of 27 per cent and recorded a Profit Before Tax of N1.9 billion compared to a loss position in previous financial years,” he said.

Oloketuyi said the bank continues to reaffirm its po-

sition as one of Nigeria’s brightest prospects in the financial services industry with the successful completion of the first phase of its repositioning programme.

This, he said, followed the successful completion of the bank’s N40 billion Tier 1 capital raising exercise in the third quarter of last year, which was fully subscribed by investors.

The bank CEO said the transformation plan, Project Leap; a short term growth project with a target of rapidly increasing the bank’s market share in its niche segment of Retail and Small and

Medium Enterprise has started to yield positive results.

He said the lender is on the path of sustainable growth.

“We recorded improvements in profitability and an increase in customer deposits on the back of our Retail and Commercial businesses.

The Capital raising exercise we concluded last year has also increased our capacity to do business and ability to withstand economic shocks,” he said.

According to him, the bank remains committed to improving operational efficiency and focused on containing operating expense growth.

Kano APC ward congress postponed Ward congress holds today in Niger Kwara Speaker praises APC congress

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) ward congress in Kano State had been postponed till Wednesday.

The Chairman of the Committee charged with overseeing the conduct of the exercise, Mustapha Inuwa, spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano yesterday.

Inuwa said the decision to postpone the congress was informed by the late arrival of materials and officials for the event.

“It was not possible to con-

duct the congress on Saturday as earlier planned because of logistics problems encountered not only in Kano State but across the country,’’ he said.

He noted that the committee would meet with all stakeholders to ensure the success of the exercise on Wednesday.

The committee chairman added that all required materials for the congress had arrived in the state, and sale of nomination forms will begin today.

A

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

LL is set for today’s ward congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State. It was postponed last Friday due to logistic problems.

The exercise took place nationwide on Saturday but was postponed in Niger State to give level playing ground to all party members.

The party’s state interim deputy leader, Malam Umar Shuaibu, said the decision to postpone the congress was taken after due consultations with stakeholders.

“The officials arrived on Friday from Abuja, with the necessary papers required for the congresses but the logistic involved required more time to allow all interested persons to meet the requirement of the party.

“We are prepared for the congresses, I can assure you that all arrangements are in place to ensure its success today,” he said.

K

WARA State House of Assembly Speaker Razak Atunwa has praised the large turnout of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the ward congress.

Atunwa said this in Efue Barikodo in Asa Local Government Area, explaining that the impressive turnout had demonstrated the love for the party.

Atunwa, in a statement by his media aide, Abdulrahman Sanni, praised party members for conducting

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

themselves peacefully and orderly during the congress.

He called on the people to support the party in the general elections to ensure continuity of good governance and consolidation of remarkable achievements in the state.

The Speaker added that the state government will continue to empower women and youth to further enhance the wellbeing of the people.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

61

SPORT EXTRA

•Actions recorded during the game between West Ham and Liverpool

Liverpool back to top of Premier League

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IVERPOOL returned to the top of the Premier League in controversial

RESULTS PREMIER LEAGUE Man City 4 - 1 Southampton Aston Villa 1 - 2 Fulham Cardiff 0 - 3 C/Palace Hull City 1 - 0 Swansea Newcastle 0 - 4 Man United Norwich 0 - 1 West Brom Chelsea 3 - 0 Stoke Everton 3 - 0 Arsenal West Ham 1 - 2 Liverpool LA LIGA Almería 1 - 2 Osasuna A/Madrid 1 - 0 Villarreal Barcelona 3 - 1 Real Betis Real Sociedad 0 - 4 R/Madrid R/Vallecano 3 - 0 Celta de Vigo Málaga 4 - 1 Granada Elche 1 - 0 Getafe SERIE A Chievo 0 - 1 Hellas Verona Inter 2 - 2 Bologna Lazio 2 - 0 Sampdoria Cagliari 1 - 3 Roma Atalanta 0 - 2 Sassuolo Catania 1 - 2 Torino Fiorentina 2 - 1 Udinese BUNDESLIGA Hamburger 2 - 1 Leverkusen Stuttgart 2 - 0 Freiburg W/Bremen 1 - 1 Schalke 04 Nürnberg 0 - 2 B/M’gladbach Augsburg 1 - 0 Bayern E/Frankfurt 2 - 0 Mainz 05 Dortmund 2 - 1 Wolfsburg E/B’weiger 3 - 0 Hannover 96 Hertha BSC 1 - 1 Hoffenheim LIGUE 1 Marseille 3 - 1 Ajaccio PSG 3 - 0 Reims Bastia 2 - 2 Sochaux Bordeaux 2 - 2 Rennes Guingamp 1 - 2 Montpellier Lorient 1 - 1 Evian TG Toulouse 1 - 2 Lille Saint-Étienne 1 - 1 Nice Valenciennes 1 - 2 Lyon Glo Premier League Crown 1-0 Gombe Taraba 1-0 Enyimba Akwa 2-0 Nembe Wolves 2-0 Giwa Rangers 0-0 Sunshine Lobi 1-0 Kaduna Abia W 0-0 Pillars Bayelsa 2-1 El-kanemi* Heartland 0-0 Nasarawa Utd Nigeria National League DIVISION A Nigerian Prisons 0-1 Might jets FRSC 1-0 DSS Jigawa 2-1 Kogi Utd Niger tornadoes 1-0 Sokoto Utd Wikki Tourist 1-0 Kwara Utd Adamawa Utd 2-0 Ranchers bees Plateau 1-0 TEAP Spotlight 1-0 Supreme Court DIVISION B Go Round 0-1 Akwa Starlet COD 1-0 Remo Stars Bendel Insurance 2-0 ABS Prime 0-0 Gabros Abia Comets 1-0 Ekiti Utd Gateway 2-0 MFM Shooting stars 2-1 First bank

circumstances after a dramatic 2-1 victory over West Ham at Upton Park.

Referee Anthony Taylor took centre stage with key decisions to award Liverpool a second-half penalty after earlier allowing West Ham’s first-half equaliser to stand.

The winning goal came via the boot of captain Steven Gerrard from the spot in the 71st minute after Adrian was penalised for bringing down Jon Flanagan, with replays showing the West Ham goalkeeper touched the ball before the pair collided.

It was Gerrard’s second penalty of the game, the veteran midfielder having broken the deadlock in a closely-fought first-half after James Tomkins handled as Luis Suarez turned him in the box.

But West Ham were back on level terms as Guy Demel poked home in first-half added time when Simon Mignolet failed to gather Mark Noble’s corner, under huge pressure from Andy Carroll.

Referee Taylor gave the goal, only to see his assistant was flagging. Replays of the

incident, which were also inadvertently shown on the big-screen in the ground and seen by the players, showed Carroll’s flailing hand clearly connect with Mignolet’s head, but after a conversation between the officials, the goal was allowed to stand.

Now Liverpool can prepare for an Anfield clash with trophy rivals Manchester City next Sunday knowing another win - that would be their tenth in succession - will bring a first league title for 24 years even closer.

ENGLISH BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE Team P 1 Liverpool 33 2 Chelsea 33 3 ManCity 31 4 Arsenal 33 5 Everton 32 6 Man Utd 33 7 Tottenham 32 8 South’pton 33 9 Newcastle 33 10 Stoke City 33 11 West Ham 33 12 Hull City 33 13 A/Villa 32 14 C/Palace 32 15 Swansea 33 16 West Brom32 17 Norwich 33 18 Fulham 33 19 Cardiff 33 20 Sunderland 30

W 23 22 22 19 18 17 17 13 14 10 10 10 9 10 8 6 8 8 6 6

D 5 6 4 7 9 6 5 9 4 10 7 6 7 4 9 14 8 3 8 7

L 5 5 5 7 5 10 10 11 15 13 16 17 16 18 16 12 17 22 19 17

GF 90 65 84 56 52 56 40 50 38 37 37 34 35 23 45 37 26 33 29 28

GA 40 24 29 40 31 38 44 44 51 48 44 40 48 39 49 48 52 74 64 48

GD 50 41 55 16 21 18 -4 64 -13 -11 -7 -6 -13 -16 -4 -11 -26 -41 -35 -20

Pts 74 72 70 64 63 57 56 8 46 40 37 36 34 34 33 32 32 27 26 25

Olateju emerges Gadzama Golf tourney Warri tennis coaching clinic begins serves several purposes. This APTAIN of IBB winner •Kids scramble for late registration year’s tournament coincides International Golf and

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Country Club Captain Debo Olateju polled 70 netts to emerge the winner of the 7th Edition of J.K Gadzama LLP Annual Golf Tournament decided at the IBB Golf Club, Aso Drive, Abuja on Saturday.

Dipo Sanya polled 77 gross to emerge the best gross winner, while in Men’s category 0-12, Chris Osarumwense had 71 netts win in the category, while the immediate past IBB Golf CLUB Captain Tony Azogu emerged 2nd place net winner with 72 netts and Samuel Galadima came 3rd with 75 netts.

In the Ladies category Amina Wilfred shot 74 netts to emerge winner, while Folasade Olateju polled 76netts to place 2nd and Sandra Suwa won76 netts also to place 3rd.

The winner of the

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja tournament, Debo Olateju however, showered encomiums on the sponsor of the tournament, Joe Kyari Gadzama (SAN) for his continued sponsorship of the competition for the past seven years now.

“Firstly I thank God Almighty and my friends, family and members of the IBB Golf Club for emerging the overall winner of this important and exciting tournament. I am very happy that I emerged the overall winner. But we need to thank the sponsor of this tournament Senior (Advocate of Nigeria) Joe Gadzama for continued sponsorship of this tournament.

“This competition has become an annual ritual and it

with the donor’s birthday and the competition is the grand finale of the week long programme. It is also a part of Gadzama’s contribution to continuous development of golf in Nigeria and especially this great club, IBB International Golf and Country Club. As a former Captain of the Club he laid wonderful foundation that we are now building on”, Olateju disclosed.

The sponsor of the tournament Joe Kyari Gadzama, however disclosed the reasons for sponsoring the competition for the past seven years. “It’s a vision that by God’s grace one had 15 years ago when I began to play golf.

Having serve as committee members in different committees of the IBB Golf Club, I felt it is not about taking and taking but one should also give out”, Gadzama disclosed.

ITTF AFRICAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

Team Nigeria begins campaign in Egypt

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HE Nigerian eightman team to the 2014 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) sanctioned African Junior Championship begin its quest for glory in the team event holding in Cairo, Egypt today.

The team led by national coach, Nosiru Bello and assisted by Dotun Omoniyi, will compete against seeded teams like Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria.

In the team event draw held at the Le Meridien Hotel in Cairo, Nigeria’s male team has been pitched against host – Egypt, Congo Brazzaville,

Djibouti and Congo DRC in Group One while Tunisia, Algeria, Angola Cote d’Ivoire and South Africa are in Group Two. In the female draw, Nigeria will tackle Egypt, South Africa, Angola in Group One while Algeria, Tunisia, Congo Brazzaville and Congo DRC are in group Two. In the cadet team event draw, Nigeria’s male team will battle Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria in Group One, while group Two consists of Congo Brazzaville, Angola, South Africa and Djibouti.

For the girls’ draw, Nigeria

will tackle Tunisia, Angola and Congo DRC in Group Two while Egypt will confront Congo Brazzaville South Africa and Angola in Group one.

The top two teams in each group are expected to qualify for the semifinal stage of the event.

The Nigerian male team is made up of Olasunkanmi Oginni, Babafemi Babatunde, Joseph Osedunkwu and Sunday Akomolafe, while the female team has Tosin Esther Oribamise, Agnes Onoja, Ajoke Ojomu and Halimot Ayinla.

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ORGANISERS of the maiden Warri Tennis Coaching Clinic opportuned to be having hectic time controlling the huge number of school children, following high demand for late registration by some parents who want their kids to be part of the event. It will serve off today (Monday) at the Shell Club, Ogunu, Warri, Delta State.

The clinic, a grassroots tennis talent development programme, will hold in Warri from April 7 to 19. Designed for children between the ages of 616 years.

It was learnt yesterday that some parents, who could not beat the deadline of free registration, have resorted to ‘black market’, offering money to buy late registration form to enable their kids participate.

Leading a team of tennis experts from Lagos to Warri is veteran tennis coach, Robinson Roy Odoko. Coach Peter Osagie will assist him. While Odoko, a former national tennis player will serve as Director of the clinic; Osagie will serve as Head Coach.

Five other coaches drawn from Asaba, Benin City and Port Harcourt are already on ground in Warri for the exercise.

Chief Executive Officer of IsoBlack Concepts Ltd, Igho Okor, said yesterday that the need to teach young tennis players, especially in primary and secondary school, the various techniques and strategies to adopt for winning matches, is the reason for the exercise.

“Most tennis tournaments and coaching clinics are organized in Lagos and as such, people in other urban centers are not opportuned to witness and benefit from these tennis initiatives and this has been

From , OSemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin working against talent hunt and tennis development in some parts of the country,” Okor said.

He further explained that the programme is aimed at introducing the rudiments of tennis to the kids, saying that talents and potential champions in Warri and its environs would benefit greatly from the project.

“They are eagerly waiting to be discovered and nurtured to prominence. The Iso-Black Warri Tennis is structured and targeted at discovering such hidden talents in Warri and its environs.

It will develop the game from grassroots level by teaching the young stars the basics of the game and appropriate strategy to adopt for winning matches,” he added.

The organisers have targeted 500 kids for the clinic, but the number increased to 800 as at yesterday following interest shown by parents who want their kids to benefit from the exercise.

Okor said that equipment for the clinic such as playing racket; tennis balls and kitting have just arrived from London.

“Apart from enthusiasm shown by the kids, various corporate organisations, including SYKES Energiprojekts Ltd, NNPC, Standard Alliance Life Assurance Ltd, Carex, Shell Club, Ogunnu and Promasidor are sponsors for the event. It will run between 9.00 am and 2.00pm daily,” Okor added.

He hinted that at the end of the clinic in Warri, children who perform well would be taken to Lagos for further training and later taken to their partner Tennis Academy in South Africa.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

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SPORT EXTRA

Kogi United TM hails players despite Jigawa defeat

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•Arsenal players react during the 3-0 domination by Everton

Everton crush Arsenal to eye UCL spot

E

VERTON crushed a woeful Arsenal side 30 at Goodison Park on Sunday to boost their chances of a top four finish and a possible place in next season’s Champions League for the first time in nine seasons.

Everton’s sixth successive Premier League win meant that although they stayed in fifth place, one behind Arsenal, they are only a point behind the Gunners with a

match in hand.

Goals from Steven Naismith after 14 minutes, a superb solo effort from Romelu Lukaku after 34minutes and a third after 62nd minute when a Kevin Mirallas shot went in off Arsenal’s former Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta for an own goal, sent Arsenal crashing to another heavy defeat on Merseyside two months after they lost 5-1 at Liverpool.

Arsenal last failed to play in the Champions League in 1997-98 but on this form their record is under serious threat.

Everton took part in the qualifiers in the 2005-06 season but were eliminated and have never played in the Champions League proper.

On this form Arsenal will need a massive improvement in the closing weeks of the season to stop Everton finishing above

them.

They posed little to worry the Everton defence apart from a rasping late shot from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain which Everton keeper Tim Howard tipped on to the bar, and their gloom was completed with Mathieu Flamini’s 10th booking of the season ruling him out of next weekend’s FA Cup semifinal against holders Wigan Athletic at Wembley.

DSTV PREMIER BASKETBALL LEAGUE

Islanders return to Atlantic Conference summit

I

SLANDERS basketball club returned to the summit of the Atlantic conference of the 2013/2014 DStv Premier Basketball League season with a hard fought 68-55 points’ victory over Oluyole Warriors basketball club of Ibadan.

The Week 5 game decided at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos saw both sides sharing the four quarters evenly with Islanders coming from behind twice in the first and third quarters (1013 and 15-17) to upstage their Ibadan rival wining the second and fourth quarters by 21-10 and 22-15 points for a cumulative score-line of 68-55 points to make it a 4-1 record with an overall 316 points from five games.

Union Bank basketball club stole a last quarter rally to go past hard-fighting Dodan Warriors basketball club by 6462 points in their match-up.

The ‘Stallion’ upturned a three points’ third quarter ending deficit (46-49) to remain in fourth place on the conference log.

Nigeria Customs completed the Lagos wing of the Atlantic conference win with a 58-46 points win over two-time champion of the league Royal Hoopers basketball club of Port Harcourt.

The ‘Border Boy’ came off a 07-14 points first quarter deficit to out-play the Hoopers in the second quarter through fourth (16-11, 15-11 and 20-10).

Police Baton also snatched an away win of 62-60 points over Kwara Falcons basketball club of Ilorin.

The big win by the Police Baton was a kind of boost for the Police side which began the season on a shaky note after

•Kano Pillars lead in Savannah

By Akeem Lawal

losing its first three games before handling Customs a 5547 points’ victory during the week-4 local derby in Lagos.

Meanwhile, defending champion Kano Pillars have continue from where it left off last season by remaining the only team in the 16-team league that have kept a clean slate as it holds off star-studded Mark Mentors basketball club of Abuja last weekend in Kano.

The Coach Sani Ahmed tutored Pillars side defeated their closest rival in the Savannah conference by 69-62 points in a pulsating match watched by capacity crowd at the gymnasium of the Sani Abacha stadium to end Mark Mentors unbeaten run.

DStv league new entrant Gombe Bulls basketball club continue with its superb form when it posted a massive 85-45 points victory over neighbor Bauchi Nets basketball club at the National Sports Commission (NSC) gymnasium in Gombe.

The Abdulrahman Mohammed coached Bulls are now third on the log of the Savannah conference Mark Mentors and conference leader Kano Pillars with an eye for the final-8 playoff.

DStv PREMIER BASKETBALL LEAGUE WEEK-5 RESULTS: ATLANTIC Conference UNION BANK 64 – 62 DODAN WARRIORS ISLANDERS 68 – 55 OLUYOLE WARRIORS KWARA FALCONS 60 – 62 POLICE BATON CUSTOMS 58 - 46 ROYAL HOOPERS

S A V A N N A H CONFERENCE IMMIGRATION 47 – 52 NIGER POTTERS

KANO PILLARS 69 – 62 MARK MENTORS KADA STARS 48 – 70 PLATEAU PEAKS GOMBE BULLS 85 – 45 BAUCHI NETS

EAM Manager of Kogi United FC, Ameh Henry has expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance despite their 1-2 loss to Jigawa Golden Stars in the Week Nine encounter of the Nigeria National League, NNL in Hadeija on Saturday.

Henry, who described the match as unfortunate noted that the result did not justify the performance of his team.

He, however, expressed optimism of achieving greatness in the season.

“The match was unfortunate, it didn’t reflect our performance today. But I’m happy with my players’ display today, I’m really proud of them, they didn’t stop fighting until the end. They showed maturity and zeal which gave us the goal and I believe we will get it right soon”, Henry said.

Scorer of the lone goal for the Wada Boys, Rabiu Nura said the match was his best as Kogi United player, but expressed dissatisfaction as his first goal of the season could not salvage a point for the Wada Boys.

“I’m happy to have scored, but its not important as we lost. I’m really encouraged with our display today, despite what happened, we showed we are

ready for any intimidation and pressure in away games. I think this is our best away game this season. This is a step closer to what we want, by God’s grace, we will make it happen soon”, said Rabiu.

Kogi United’s first goal of the match was disallowed in the 23rd minutes when Alao Abdulrasaq headed in a goal from Adam Tikani’s throw-in.

Hamisu Muhammad put Jigawa into lead with a header from a cross in the 44th minutes and substitute Nura Rabiu blasted in a 20-yard shot to level the score for Kogi United with six minutes to end the game.

The game looked to be heading for stalemate when centre referee Aliyu Garba from Kaduna blew for an imaginary infringement in Kogi United’s box. A cross from left was headed wide by Jigawa’s Abawula Dahiru. As the keeper was about to pick the ball, the referee pointed to penalty spot and Ali Aliyu converted the spot kick to end the match 2-1 for Jigawa and make Kogi United continue in their search for their first away point of the season.

Kogi United still locked at 12 points and will next face Niger Tornadoes FC of Minna in their next game in Lokoja.

Goals galore in Lagos FA Cup games

T

HE 2013/2014 Lagos FA Cup kicked off on Saturday with the Rookie Matches at the Agege Stadium.

With strikers on rampage, over 14 goals were scored on the day 1 and 2 of the championship.

Samvic football club opened the day with victory over Kush football club, beating them by 41.

Star of the day was Kelechi Promise who grabbed the first hat-trick of the 2013/2014 championship.

Kelechi Promise scored in the 17th, 55th and 75th minutes of the match while Chigozie Obasi also scored in the 70 minutes to make it 4 for his team, Ejimofe Sunday scored his side’s only goal in the 9th minute.

Obidiaso Chukudi of Ambek football club also got up to a flying start by scoring the second hat-trick of the championship with his side beating their Future Stars Academy counterparts by 5-0. Ikechukwu Oseneka scored the other two goals to make it five.

Kelechi Promise played down his performance of the day, saying their victory was a team victory, but he was lucky to score the goals.

“It a very promising start for us, hopefully we can get better as the championship progresses. On my part, I will keep working harder, with God I will get better”. He said.

Meanwhile the Lagos State Football Association has revealed that both players that scored hattricks will be presented with match balls in the clubs next match days.

Chairman of the Lagos State FA, Seyi Akinwunmi expressed satisfaction with the smooth kickoff of the championship powered by Winners Golden Bet.com.

“To God be the glory the matches started on schedule hence our readiness to make this year’s edition of the FA Cup one of the best organized in recent time, thanks to our sponsors, Winners Golden Bet.com”, he stated.

2014 IBILE GAMES

More schools, local councils register

T Moses Godfrey in jersey No 9 of Royal Hoppers going for a dunk against Customs during the 2014 Nigeria DStv Premier Male Basketball League held at the Indoor Sports Hall of National Stadium, Surulere.

P

HE number of schools and local councils as well as Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) willing to be part of the 2014 Lagos State Sports Festival tagged Ibile Games continued to rise following the number of entries received so far by the organisers.

At the weekend, the organisers observed a huge turnout with schools and councils hoping to beat the deadline for registration.

The games holds from April 30 to May 10 this year.

The premises of the Lagos State

Sports Council (LSSC) at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Complex, Rowe Park, Yaba, has been a beehive of activities with the officers from the schools and the local councils rushing to submit their registration forms in order to beat the deadline.

Director of Sports, LSSC, Dr. Kweku Tandoh said that the IBILE Games would be keenly contested this year in view of the large number of secondary schools and LGs/LCDAs presenting athletes for the Games.

Ekiti state needs N10m for tennis tourney

REPARATION for the maiden edition of All Nigerian Open Tennis Championship billed for Ekiti State tennis centre, Trade fair complex in Ado Ekiti is in top gear just as a whopping sum of ten million naira is required to organize the event. The championship serves-off from April 27 through May 4, The NTF first vice president added that the essence

By Stella Bamawo of making the championship open is to give opportunity to young talents that will be competing alongside older players in the event He said: "We need about ten million naira to organise this championship in Ekiti come April to May, 2014. The State government under the administration of

Dr. Kayode Fayemi has raised the standard of sports across the state, so the government is firmly behind this championship. It has also received backing of NTF because it going to be point ranking championship, this is going to be our own version of Nigerian grand slam," "We have set up various sub-committees that will oversee the affairs in organ-

ising the event. Among the committees are mobilisation, technical, media, welfare and social, finance, marketing and sponsorship committees," "Though, government is contributing on its own part while the marketing and sponsorship committee is in contact with corporate bodies. We are planning to have thirty two men's and sixteen women's draw respectively."

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

63

WHO SAID WHAT

MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL 9 NO 2,811

‘The northern leadership must identify and redress those social conditions that force the illiterate, the unemployed and innocent but brainwashed youths to take quick resort to violence’.

EMEKA OMEIHE

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

W

HEN T.S. Eliot wrote his play, Murder in the Cathedral, quite a few literary neophytes did not grasp his idea. They thought he was writing about murder in the house of God. He was.

But the sort of murder he targeted was not the superficial blood fest of a human killing another in the holy of holies. I have encountered instances of such shallow zeal in Nigerian newspapers. Eliot, like all great artists, was more enthralled with metaphor.

If Eliot were to locate his play in today's Nigeria, he would have crafted murders in many temples. One of them is the National Judicial Council.

He would have recast how that august body murdered justice in its hallowed place: judiciary. It is a cathedral of justice without safety nets. If it is a safe place, why should justice die in its sanctum? Why should the righteous run into its tower and not be safe?

That happened in the story of retired Justice Ayo Salami, where the chicanery between that body and the presidency tossed a man of such heft and legal carriage into a cesspool of judicial miscarriage.

It is one of the sour regions of Nigeria's contemporary legal history. We inflict a wound in the image of justice and allow the comely visage to contort into a cadaverous face. It is ugly like Quasimodo in Victor Hugo's Hunchback of Notre Dame, a satiric swipe at elite lack of grace.

Now in Rivers State, where a measure of calm has returned after the inanity of a presidential busybody and blabbermouth, the NJC has insisted on wielding the power of a king in a democracy.

The matter began last year in an apparently routine way, like one of those irritations one expects to peter out with time. But when Peter Agumagu's nomination met roadblocks, it became the case of the NJC denying justice in the same way Peter the apostle denied Christ.

The issue is simple. A quartet of the governor, State Judicial Service Commission, the NJC and the House of Assembly decide who becomes the chief judge of a state. All three decided in favour of Agumagu except the NJC. The law calls for the most senior member of the bench for the post. By all accounts, Agumagu, who had served as chief judge before becoming president of the state customary court, is the methuselah of the court.

The NJC said no. The governor took the matter to court and the court ruled that the wisdom of Solomon picked methuselah in the person of Justice Agumagu.

But it seems the NJC does not understand the path of justice in this matter. It is not interested in age. It is only interested in "under-age". Hence it chose D.W. Okocha, a junior, to topple Agumagu. It does not subscribe to coups except when the oga at the top is not

RIPPLES MADE-IN-NIGERIA VEHICLES OUT MAY –NEWS

Next month? I just hope this is not a ‘belated April fool’.

SAM OMATSEYE

IN TOUCH

intouchnation@gmail.com 08054501081(sms only) Twitter: @samomatseye

Above the law

• Ameachi

• Justice Aloma Mukhtar

‘

It has no objection to due process unless it suspends Justice Agumagu before issuing a query. 'Obey before complain' is as true with soldiers as with the NJC

their man. It believes in the court system but it must be the court it chooses. It will accept any verdict except that of the Federal High Court.

It has no objection to due process unless it suspends Justice Agumagu before issuing a query. 'Obey before complain' is as true with soldiers as with the NJC. It does not matter when there is a conflict of interest, as some persons have wondered

I

T is the impotent vituperation of the hapless poor: “May the affluent not die well,” the poor fellow would fulminate, tormented by the vast monstrosities of wealth and its unfurled obscenity and awesome power. The above is a Yoruba street-speak that admits that whatever alchemy (situation) money cannot wrought (sort out) either does not exist or there is not enough money to apply to it. Even legendary juju musician, King Sunny Ade (Adegeye) sang about it about 30 years ago, evoking in his rich velvety voice that, “a matter money cannot solve dwells only under the ground; come see the wonders of money on this earth of ours, money indeed does great magic, may Odumare grant me mine too that I may live gay and happy.”

Why is Hardball waxing lyrical, has he been visited by Mammon, the evil spirit of wealth, recently? Not by any chance, it just happens that a certain Chief Dan Etete, a former Minister of Petroleum Resources under the infamous General Sani Abacha junta regime has claimed big, international headlines once again. The last time he flashed on our radar was mid last year when his company, Malabu Oil, and other coconspirators made a killing from an ill-

’

whether a member of the council is a relative of its nominee. The NJC believes in exception as rule, rather than the rule with exception. Is that why it has particularised the case of Rivers State when similar cases have been glossed over in other states? The cathedral body defies persons who have started to perceive the NJC as a presidential poodle. Who does not ape the virtue of

HARDBALL

loyalty? So, like Ruth in the Bible, we can hear them bellow, "Wherever the presidency goes, there you will find us."

Is the NJC not an advocate of federalism, and is that not why it has allowed some other states to have their judges? It only treats Rivers State differently because it has to follow the canon. The canon allows for exception to the rule. Goodwill is important to the NJC, but not like strong will. After all, did Shakespeare not say "lawless are they that make wills their law?"

It believes in institutional integrity, hence the law must serve it rather than the people.

They are cannibals of law, and what is wrong with that? We must build strong institutions.

Did the president not say so?

In spite of uproar about the partiality of the grand body, the NJC kept a venerable silence.

I wonder what happened to the venerable silence of old? It is not fighting shy in a public spat with a governor.

The august body decides that it will not follow its own precedent. In the case of Ayo Salami, it recommended suspension to the president, who signed off with a cynical glad hand.

Again, if the NJC recommended suspension to a president in the case of a federal judge, why did the NJC not do the same to a governor with regards to a state judge? It could have written its own recommendation to the hardcharging Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

It could be so grandly worded. A sampler: "The National Judicial Council hereby recommends that Your Excellency should suspend Justice Peter Agumagu for allowing himself to be sworn in and even allowing you to recommend him as the chief judge of Rivers State.

We also reiterate that the right person for the post is the one you rejected, the honourable D. W. Okocha. Signed."

The NJC could still pen the letter, and I am sure, Governor Amaechi would lustily enjoy such a love letter and reply with the clinical effusion of a tiger. He might reply, with laconic words such as, "I cannot be expected to go back to my vomit. It is against my fate as a Catholic." The public may even hear from Governor Amaechi before the NJC thinks of any response.

The NJC lords may not know it. In their lofty gowns and solemn halls and exalted chairs, they already think of themselves as monarchs of the law. Like the law of the Medes and Persia, what they say cannot be changed. "So let it be written, so let it be done," was their refrain in the ungainly glory of that era.

We often hear of the court of kings. Here we have kings of the court, a misnomer that suits the ego of some judiciary bigwigs enmeshed in the travesty of law and society. Of course, the NJC knows it is above the law; hence it would not respect the decision of a federal court.

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

ETETE: Olowo o ni ku’re! gotten oil block, OPL 245. The highly lucrative block which Etete fraudulently awarded to himself when he was Oil Minister in 1998 eventually came to fruition after a long-drawn legal battle, political subterfuge and capitalist power play.

The block is so dangerously endowed it is said to sit upon about nine billion barrels of crude oil. It is over this well of wealth that all the parties involved have carried out a do-or-die battle for over 15 years. On one side is the international oil consortium led

by Shell Petroleum Development Company (and her proxies), the presidency and the Oil Ministry. It has been a battle royale in and out of courts and international arbitrations. In the end, Shell agreed a payout of over $1 billion (please do not say it’s a bribe) to Etete’s Malabu and his Nigerian co-travelers, including top government officials. They simply shared out Nigeria’s patrimony, the gains of a stolen oil block licence, which ought to have been revoked.

It was a bumper windfall for Chief Etete and all involved and he has become

stupendously rich. His name really ought to be among Forbe’s Africa’s richest persons except that his is ill-gotten lucre. But this is an old story now. Also outdated is the fact that the French court in 2007 sentenced this felon to a three-year imprisonment after finding him guilty of money laundering charges in France. He was also convicted of buying luxury properties worth about 15 million euros in France. But as has been noted, this is now in the past, which is the reason for this piece.

The story today is that our super-rich Etete has been pardoned by the French government.

According to a report last week, the French government cleared the former Petroleum Resources Minister, Chief Dan Etete, of the conviction of money laundering charges preferred against him. In a bulletin reportedly issued by the Ministry of Justice, Criminal Cases and Pardon Division, Etete had been pardoned and cleared of the conviction by the French court.

What else can we add except that whatever situation money cannot sort out must be out of this world. Olowo oni ku’re o!

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