Aug 05, 2013

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Dangers of ASUU strike

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News Jonathan: no to ethnic politics Sports ‘Emenike to cost a fortune’ Business Nigeria to re-evaluate gas project

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Reps to make MDAs generate N2tr for govt in 2014

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LL 845 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) of the Federal Government will from next year remit part of their internally generated revenue (IGR) to the Federal Governmental as “independent” revenue.

•Tambuwal

From Dele Anofi, Abuja

The House of Representatives has said it will expand the schedule of 31 agencies that remit independent revenue to include all ministries and other agencies that are not captured on the

schedule of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA), 2007 as a result of the financial challenges confronting the country.

The Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Abdlumumin Jibrin, told reporters at the weekend in

Abuja that the House, on resumption from its twomonth recess, would immediately take on the amendment of the FRA that would revolutionise revenue generation capacity of the MDAs. According to him, the

move became necessary as a result of the discovery that the 845 MDAs have the capacity to generate N2 trillion annually from their IGR to government coffers.

He said the Committee Continued on page 4

PDP governors, lawmakers give conditions to join APC Party targets Anambra governorship poll Interim exco meets tomorrow

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ARELY five days after its registration, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is getting offers from some governors and members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and others who want to join the new party.

The Progressive Governors, who are mostly members of the APC, will meet

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

on August 13 in Lafia, Nasarawa State on how to open talks with their colleagues who are interested in coming over to the new party.

The APC governors will also use the Lafia meeting to design plans for the Anambra governorship election, mass registration of new members

Atiku to PDP: restore my rights

and mobilisation of Nigerians for what the party stands for.

But, preparatory to the session of the governors, the Interim National Executive Committee of APC will meet on Tuesday on the registration of the party by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the challenges ahead.

The party has, however, sought INEC’s nod to retain its Interim Committee for six months to enable it stabilise.

According to sources, some PDP governors and members of the National Assembly have approached the APC for some partnership and political collaboration, including joining the new party.

It was gathered that the

governors and National Assembly members believe that APC can offer more to Nigerians.

It was learnt that the potential members of APC have tabled some terms which the Progressive Governors Forum will look into alongside the Interim National Executive Committee.

The terms were not imme-

diately known last night.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Having secured registration, the battle ahead has started in earnest. We have a job to unveil what APC means to the people and how Nigerians can buy into it.

“The Progressive Governors Forum or APC goverContinued on page 4

GOVERNOR SUNTAI IN NEW YORK

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Group Political Editor

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ORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for the restoration of his rights as a senior member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Atiku, a founding member of the PDP, left the party after his disagreement with former President Olusegun Obasanjo as a result of which he was forced out of reckoning.

He left to contest the 2007 presidential election on the ticket of the Action Congress (AC).

Atiku retuned to the PDP in 2010 and got a waiver approved at the PDP National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on September 15, 2010.

He subsequently contested the presidential ticket of the party with President Jonathan. He lost.

But Atiku has not been participating in PDP’s activities. He has not been getting invitations, according to his associates.

“He is being tactfully de-registered, yet again so that he does not realise his full right as a member of the party,” the associates said.

Atiku was not invited to the last National Economic Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja. He is also not invited to meetings of the Continued on page 4

•Taraba State Governor Danbaba Suntai (second left) and his wife Hauwa when they received members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) factfinding team — Senator Hope Uzodinma (second right) and Alhaji Shitu Mohammed (right)— in New York...yesterday. With them is Nigeria’s Consul General in New York, Amb. Habib Habu.

PHOTO: NAN

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THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

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NEWS

Gas...A sector •Deputy Managing Director, United Bank for Africa Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka(centre) flanked from left, Divisional Head, eBanking, UBA Plc, Dr. Yinka Adedeji; Vice President, West Africa, MasterCard, Omokehinde Ojomuyide; Managing Director, Electronic PayPlus Limited, Bayo Adeokun; and Head, Cards, UBA Plc, Mr. Adedeji Olowe during the official launch of UBA All About U Debt Card, held at UBA House, Marina, Lagos...at the weekend.

•Chairman, Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited (MESL) Col. Sani Bello (middle) exchanging documents with the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, GTBank Plc Mr. Segun Agbaje (right) after the signing of $170 million medium term facility for MESL by GT Bank at the bank’s Headquarters inLagos...With them is Director, MESL Col. Ayegbeni Peters (Rtd.).

Companies, such as the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, Total Plc and Oando Plc, are striving to develop the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) sector. But, observers say the government’s support is required to remove bottlenecks and create a conducive business environment to deepen the LPG market, writes OLUKOREDE YISHAU

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PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE.

• Co-founder and CEO, IMPaC Offshore Engineering GmbH Dr. WolfDieter Longrée (left) handing over a document to founder and President, Nestoil PLC Dr. Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi, during the ceremony for the direct acquisition of IMPaC Oil & Gas Engineering Ltd. (Nigeria) by Nestoil PLC at the Nestoil Headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria.

•From left: Lady Grace Banjoko, Senator 'Gbenga Ashafa, Sir Olufemi Banjoko and Mrs Shade Ashafa, during the investiture of the Banjokos as Knight of John Wesley at the Methodist Cathedral Church in Ago Iwoye, Ogun State.

T the compound of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited in Finima, Bonny Island, Rivers State, its Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) units daily churn out cooking gas, which serves domestic customers in places, such as Lagos, Ibadan, Kano, Kaduna, Abuja and elsewhere. Total Gas and Oando Plc are not left out of the LPG (cooking gas) production chain. There are other players also servicing the LPG market.

But, despite their efforts, the LPG market remains largely untapped for varying reasons, the chief being the need for the Federal Government to make the environment more conducive for more players to come in.

The national utilisation of LPG is put at 150,000 metric tons, representing less than 10 per cent of the households in the country where a potential of 1.5 million metric tons exists. Surprisingly, the country is the sixth largest producer of LPG in the world, yet it accounts for the lowest utilisation of the commodity in sub-Saharan Africa.

The stunted growth of the industry is not without effects on the economy, health and the environment. The facts: over 112 million Nigerians still cook with unwholesome cooking fuels; the World Health Organisation (WHO) says about 95,300 deaths occur in Nigeria annually as a result of diseases and complications from inhaling dirty cooking fuels; the use of these unwholesome fuels results in the depletion of the country’s rainforest, making Nigeria carry the trophy as the world’s best in primary forest’s deforestation— between 2000 and 2005, the country lost 55.7 per cent of its primary forest.

Until late 2006, when the NLNG began participating in the market, the country’s LPG per capital consumption was 0.5kg when those of smaller West African neighbours, such as Ghana and Cameroon, were 3kg and 1.9kg. The bulk of the LPG in the market was imported and due to high freight costs, consumers paid as much as N6,500 for a 12.5kg cylinder. There were times the price even rose as high as N7,500, as a result of exploitative pricing from the few importers/ distributors.

The tune began to change when the NLNG intervened through the shipto-ship (STS) model in 2007. Last month, the NLNG increased its LPG supply to 250,000 metric tonnes, up from 150,000 metric tonnes.

•From left: Marketing Manager, NLNG Abdulkadir Ahmed; Betty Ugonna of the LPG Department, Pipelines and Petroleum Marketing Company (PPMC); Olaposi Williams of Oando Downstream; Sales Manager, NLNG Buba Mohammed and Adeshina during the panel discussion at the conference on strategies to develop the LPG Market

NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations Kudo Eresia-Eke said: “This sixty-seven percent (67%) increase will enable ample stock of the alternate fuel and promote the use of cooking gas - necessary for its salutary effects on the environment, including its role in controlling deforestation.

“Nigeria LNG Limited currently provides over 70% of cooking gas used in Nigeria, and the current increase arose from its recent survey of the domestic market which showed that domestic LPG consumption had exceeded 150,000 metric tonnes, a demand which was less than 60,000 metric tonnes when NLNG intervened in 2008 with domestic supply of cooking gas.

“Increased usage of LPG in the domestic market helps reduce environmental despoliation; create employment from new business opportunities; reduce respiratory health problems attributable to wood smoke and reduce poverty: low LPG usage is an index of poverty.”

OWEVER, the gaps in the sector are still glaring.

NLNG Managing Director Mr. Babs Omotowa said the industry needs investments in storage, transportation and cylinders.

Omotowa stated that he was hopeful that the domestic market will grow even beyond cooking gas, to low-cost retrofitting of cars, to use both gasoline and natural gas; as LPG is less expensive than petrol.

The NLNG, in a presentation at an LPG conference in Abuja last week, said the government must remove Value Added Tax (VAT) on LPG, taxes and duties and give concessions for LPG equipment and cylinders, if the industry must grow.

It also urged the government to import cylinders for distribution to Nigerians and support for local production.

It added that it should provide financial incentives, such as single interest digit rate regime on loans, commercial loans backed by government guarantee and encouragement of research into industries that can utilise LPG as alternative fuel.

The Managing Director, Strategic Energy Limited, Dayo Adeshina, in a presentation at the conference, said the “LPG industry has been growing slowly over the years since the intervention of NLNG in terms of regular domestic LPG supply services”.

He added: “The present population could consume about 3.5 million metric tonnes if LPG was the major

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THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

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NEWS

r begging for more govt attention

•Omotowa (right) and NLNG’s General Manager, Commercial Patrick Olinma discussing during the conference.

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The Federal Government should divert a certain percentage of the subsidy funds spent on kerosene annually, on stimulating the LPG usage for geometric growth rate in the sector, while fully diverting kerosene consumed

by Nigerian citizens to the aviation sector.

This would create double sources of income for government

fuel for cooking in Nigeria. The reality today is that Nigerians consumed only about 150,000 metric tonnes in 2012. This is a huge gap from the expected consumption annually.”

He blamed this on the fact that government policies has not changed over the years to promote wide usage of domestic LPG. Adeshina said distribution facilities, such as inland storage terminals and trucks, could help in the equalisation of LPG cost per kilogramme to end users.

Adeshina said: “Fabrication of LPG equipment in Nigeria is very expensive due to the lack of stable power and high cost of raw materials, labour and generating power for production. On the other hand, the duties and tariffs on imported equipment are very high (20 per cent -35 per cent).

“There is VAT on the domestic LPG supplied to the market while imported LPG enjoys zero VAT. This usually creates additional cost on the domestic LPG. “No preference is given to LPG equipment imported, for reduction in duties and tariff. Rather, duties were increased on LPG equipment thereby

discouraging the provision of LPG facilities by willing organisations in the sector. This has created a situation whereby the LPG allocated (150,000MT/annum) by government through NLNG to the domestic market does not fit the quantity of LPG equipment that would facilitate the usage of the allocated LPG, hence the slow growth in the industry “The major product affecting LPG is kerosene which is subsidised by the Federal Government. Preference is given to kerosene at all levels of the value chain (at discharge points in the jetties, subsidised, well distributed to marketers e.t.c.), over LPG, which is cleaner, more efficient and also cheaper. Government should implement the Indonesian project on LPG “There is no major policy that encourages widely promoted green projects (e.g. auto gas, power generation e.t.c.) using Nigeria’s abundant LPG at the Federal Government level would also help to stimulate the rapid growth of the industry. There are no clear cut regulations for segments in the LPG value chain. Funding provided by banks is usually short term fund for

long term projects. No specific fund was set aside to encourage the growth of LPG similar to funds provided by government in various industries (e.g. the Nollywood, textile, agriculture e.t.c.)

“Interest rate for available funds is very high such that it leads to organisations defaulting in repayments of loans and thereby collapsing. There is no major commitment from the CBN to assist SMEs in growing the LPG market, which should be a strategic fuel in the Nigerian energy mix.”

For the LPG market to grow, he said government and the Nigerian LPG Association must meet “to discuss the action plans on improving LPG usage in Nigeria based on various communiqués obtained from several conferences held on Building the Nigerian LPG sector”.

HIS, he said, would really assist in coming up with a blue print document that should be used to create the action plans to grow the LPG sector.

Adeshina added: “Government at all levels in Nigeria must be committed to the growth of LPG through various schemes (e.g. pioneered by the Lagos

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State government), to promote the well being of Nigerian (health-wise, employment- wise, environmentallywise e.t.c) using LPG as a tool for the projects. Direct participation of government in conjunction with reputable organisations in the LPG sector for specific number of years should be encouraged “The Federal Government should divert a certain percentage of the subsidy funds spent on kerosene annually, on stimulating the LPG usage for a geometric growth rate in the sector, while fully diverting kerosene consumed by Nigerian citizens to the aviation sector. This would create double sources of income for government. The Federal Government should create policies that support green projects using LPG. A very strategic area would be auto-gas, if government is willing to reduce pollution from vehicles on Nigerian roads. Going forward, Federal Government’s fleet of vehicles should be converted to auto-gas powered in order to support the growth of LPG usage in Nigeria.”

He said adopting the Indonesian model for the LPG sector would go a

long way to help the country.

The Indonesian government embarked on a scheme aimed at improving the lifestyle of the people through the promotion of LPG over kerosene. The project was started in May 2007. It included drastic reduction on subsidy of kerosene, allocation of kerosene to profitable use such as the aviation industry, gradual withdrawal of kerosene for domestic use, distribution of free package of LPG cylinders, stoves, hoses and regulators and the usage of massive communication medium to promote the project.

The Indonesian government, he said, saved more than $6.9 billion between over 2007 and last year. This, he explained, is money that would have been spent as subsidy on kerosene.

Y August 2012, Adeshina said, 99.6 per cent of the targeted households had embraced LPG, representing 53.8 million of the 54 million households.

While government’s actions are being awaited, NLNG, Oando and other players are introducing one scheme or the other to better the industry. Oando, for instance, is helping low income households to switch to cooking gas. It introduced a 3kg cooking stove to promote clean cooking.

The company plans to inject five million cooking stoves into homes in five years. CEO, Oando Marketing Mr. Abayomi Awobokun said: “This is another important step in our quest to provide innovative and affordable LPG cooking stoves to an estimated five million low income households over the next five years. We are strongly encouraged by the reception and feedback from consumers and other relevant stakeholders since we introduced the 3-in-1 gas cooking stove this year. This partnership with Lift Above Poverty Organisation Microfinance Bank (LAPO) is one of many to boost our effort to switch majority of Nigerians from the use of biomass fuel to deepen LPG utilisation” Oando also has a scheme through which entrepreneurs are empowered to be distributors of the cooking stove as secondary distribution point.

“These entrepreneurs are closer to the low income households and are provided with three-wheeler vehicles to move the products even to the remotest locations whilst the households can refill their gas at the SDP site or any of Oando’s Pay-U-Gas facility, an LPG dispensing unit that allows consumers to buy gas that suits their pockets,” said the company.

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THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

NEWS PDP governors, lawmakers give conditions Continued from page 1

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (fifth right) with the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Ben Akabueze (fourth left behind), PresidentGeneral of Aka Ikenga, Chief Goddy Nwazurike (third right), Chief Ayola Ofodile (left), Mr. Okey Onyemaobi (second left), Barrister Oscar Onwudiwe (fourth left), Chief Arthur Ngwube (fifth left), Mr. Obi Akabueze (second left behind), Sir (Chief) Okaro Ifeanyichukwu (right), Mrs. Chinwe Dike (second right) and others during a visit by the leaders of Aka Ikenga and Lagos Ndigbo members of the Action Congress of Nigeria to the Governor at the Government House, Ikeja, Lagos…on Friday

nors will meet after Sallah on August 13 in Lafia, Nasarawa State on mobilisation and registration of members.

“The Forum will also look at plans by some governors and National Assembly members from PDP and political leaders from other parties, who have opened talks on how to join APC. “The Forum will later pass its recommendations to the party leadership for more input and implementation.

“We will certainly use the meeting to design a roadmap for the party because time is no longer on our side. We need mass registration of members. We have to mobilise Nigerians on our mission to salvage the nation’s democracy and economy.

“We are according the Anambra State governorship Continued on page 56

Let’s end ethnic politics, says Jonathan

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday called for an end to ethnic politics in the country.

He spoke at the reception held at the International Conference Centre (ICC) in honour of Chief Tony Anenih, who marked his 80th birthday.

Faulting inflammatory comments by certain individuals, he said Nigeria needs more nationalistic politicians.

According to him, Anenih,

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

who is the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT), is respected because of his broad-based national politics.

He said: “We can learn from him because he has always been a nationalist.

“From him, let’s learn to sing the song of unity and use our cleavages for good and

not to promote disunity.

Some provocative statements have come from elder statesmen who witnessed civil war.

But Tony Anenih has never made such statements, this explains why the hall is filled to capacity today,” the President said.

Anenih, giving the vote of thanks, urged the past and current leaders to learn to forgive one another.

He said: “The leaders are Continued on page 56

Show respect for Amaechi, Rivers govt tells Obuah

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•Dr. Jonathan

Ex-Vice President Atiku to PDP: restore my rights Continued from page 1

Board of Trustees (BoT), led

by Chief Tony Anenih.

The latest exclusion of the former VP from the party’s activities is the dropping of his name from the delegates’ list to the mini-convention, which will hold later this month.

Atike last month wrote to PDP National Chairman Bamanga Tukur about his exclusion from the list. He is yet to get a reply to the letter. Atiku hails from Adamawa State. Tukur is also from

Adamwa.

In his letter, Atiku described his exclusion as “curious”, saying it amounted to the withdrawal of his privileges as a former number two citizen, founding father of the ruling party and member of the Board of Trustees (BoT).

Atiku, who claimed that his enquiries at the PDP National Secretariat confirmed the omission, urged the PDP National Chairman to make a public statement on the matter as a prelude to the correction of the anomaly and restoration of his right as a par-

ty leader.

The former Vice President recalled that he had been prevented from re-registering at his ward in the past by those who hijacked the party from the legitimate founding fathers.

He said the omission of his name contradicted the PDP Constitution. He recalled that he applied for and obtained a waiver along with other returnees to the party to participate in the last presidential primaries. He alleged that the amended constitution of the party was being implement-

ed proactively to shove him aside from the party.

Atiku said: “Section 8, Subsection 8(b) of the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2012, as amended, states that “a person who desires to rejoin the party after leaving it, unless given a waiver by the National Executive Committee of our party, be placed on probation for a period of less than one year.

“The 53th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of our party, which Continued on page 56

HE Rivers State Government has told the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Felix Obuah, to respect the office of the governor .

In a statement, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. David Iyofor, described as “most disrespectful, ridiculous and laughable,” Obuah’s plan to summon Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike to a reconciliation meeting in his palace next weekend.

Obuah spoke on Saturday at a reception for Wike and the grand finale of the inauguration of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI) in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area at the Rumueme Civic Centre, Port Harcourt. The minister is the grand patron of GDI. The Rivers chairman of the PDP said as the father of the ruling party in the state, he would reconcile Amaechi, Wike and other aggrieved members of the party.

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

Obuah said: “I want to invite the governor (Amaechi), the minister (Wike) and all aggrieved members of Ikwerre community, to be with me in my palace next weekend. Let us sit down and fashion a way forward. I will not sit down and see my children quarrelling and I will not feel concerned.”

Iyofor, however, said: “It’s most disrespectful and ridiculous for Felix Obuah to stand on a podium in the minister’s place and announce that he was summoning Governor Amaechi to a reconciliation meeting. Even for them, this is a new low.

“At this point and with actions like that, it has become pertinent for Rivers people to start asking questions about that young man (Obuah).

“Part of the problem with characters like Obuah and his backers and sponsors is that they have suddenly decided to forget that Governor Amaechi was overwhelmingContinued on page 56

Reps to make MDAs generate N2tr for govt in 2014 Continued from page 1

on Finance came to the conclusion based of the investigation of remittance of 60 agencies to the government that led to the recovery of N108b between December 2012 and May. Jibrin said: “When you look at the IGR of the country, say 10 years back, that sub head always carries a total sum of about N300b to about N450b year after year as projections for that category.

“But at the end of every year, when you go back and look at the performance of that sub head, we never had more than five per cent performance. So even if the projection for a particular year is N100b, we have never had less more than N2.5b, and in most cases, much less than 5 per cent.

“On the other hand, the 80 per cent remittance of operating surplus was also evidently manipulated by these agencies that they are oper-

ating at a loss, which was why the Ministry of Finance came up with the 25 per cent of gross earnings to be remitted.

“The intervention of the Committee from December to May has earned the Federal government N108b from IGR of agencies as independent revenue solely for the Federal government.

“The logical question that should agitate the minds of Nigerians that have been deprived of gainful employment, basic public infrastructure and basic health care service is, where has this money been going to all these years.

“That is worrisome because we came to a conclusion that most of these agencies, if we harness their potentials to generate revenue internally, they can generate not less than N2tr in a year”.

The lawmaker regretted that the country is operating a huge budget deficit, whereas government agencies can on their own generate reve-

‘

That is worrisome because we came to a conclusion that most of these agencies, if we harness their potentials to generate revenue internally, they can generate not less than N2tr in a year

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nues to the tune of N2tf, which is more than the capital expenditure of the country but is being diverted elsewhere, “With capacity to generate about N2tr yearly, which is more than the capital expenditure of the country, these agencies are doing a great disservice to this country because it is even those that take subventions from govern-

ment that are manipulating the remittances.

“This is what prompted the revolutionary approach the Committee is taking with the amendment of the FRA on two fronts because we cannot afford to repeal and re-enact the entire Act in one fell swoop because of time factor.

“The amendments were to ensure that these agencies remit exactly what they are supposed to as well as strengthen them in their revenue generation operations.

“How we hope to address it by amending a clause in the Act to give the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) the power to arrest and prosecute any CEO that raises such reverence and refuses to remit in accordance with the provisions of the Act. “In addition, the Commission is to be given the power to sanction, so that in cases where it is not outright refusal to remit but an infringement on the process, such agencies should be sanctioned.

“The Commission would have power to summon, look into their books and when necessary sanction such erring agency.

“Thirdly, we are adding a clause, at the end of every fiscal year, the Commission will publish all the agencies on the schedule, the total amount projected for them to raise and total amount raised or actual collection for all Nigerians to see.

“The Commission would make it mandatory, not as we have it now as a matter of choice, it will henceforth be mandatory”.

He also revealed that activities of other bodies that affect the job of the FRC and the revenue in question such as the Budget Office, Ministry of Finance, budget supervision among others, would also be affected.

He said: “We discovered that the power of the office of the Director General of Budget Office is too much, the DG is just like a god on his own, so we want to empower the

FRC to be able to ask for the books of the Budget Office open it up for investigation to be sure that everything is being done in line with the provision of the FRA”.

Two major amendments according to him include one that would categorise all MDAs into four groups, based on their capacity to generate revenue and remit to government.

The second amendment would make it a law to ensure that no MDA is left out of remitting part of its IGR to government as currently practiced.

Continued on page 56

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THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

NEWS

‘Deportation’ claim: APC accuses Obi of playing politics with Nigeria’s unity

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HE All Progress Congress (APC) yesterday criticised the decision by Anambra State Governor Peter Obi to sensationalise the recent home return of 14 Anambra indigenes from Lagos. The party said only 14 and not 72 indigenes of the Southeast state were returned as widely claimed.

In a statement in Lagos by its interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said instead of reaching out to his Lagos counterpart, as he has done on less important issues in the past, Obi fired an over-dramatised letter to the Presidency and leaked such to the media, thus setting off an avoidable friction between the Igbo and the Yoruba that will not augur well for the nation’s unity.

It said indications are that Obi’s resort to a media campaign, which has triggered a vicious Lagos State/Yoruba bashing, is aimed at gaining an undue advantage ahead of the forthcoming Anambra governorship election, instead of being borne out of sheer altruism.

The party said: ‘’We are not saying Obi has no right to play politics, but he must fight clean and avoid any action that could hurt not just the enduring harmony between the Igbo and the Yoruba, but also the unity of the country. ‘’Resorting to primordial sentiments anytime election is approaching is Obi’s modus operandi. He did it just before the

By Precious Igbonwelundu

2009 election, when he labelled the ACN under which Dr. Chris Ngige contested as a Yoruba party, and he is going down the same path now. This is all about the November 2013 election. If Governor Obi is sure of his performance, he should allow that to speak for him and stop whipping up tribal sentiments. ‘’It is very dishonourable for a political leader at the level of Obi to show total disregard for the truth and to whip up emotions for personal gains, as he has done on this issue. By his deliberate and blatant distortion of facts, as we will show shortly, Obi has raised a serious doubt about his leadership qualities.

APC went on: ‘’Equally guilty of indiscretion at best and deliberate peddling of falsehood at worst are the various ‘analysts’, ‘commentators’, outof-luck NGOs and organisations that have jumped onto the bandwagon of Lagos bashing over the issue, mischievously tagged ‘deportation’ instead of what it is (home return for proper integration), when they could have sought the truth from the Lagos State Government. ‘’Even some of the respectable Igbo socio-political organisations failed the simple test of fairness by not unearthing the truth before making pronouncements. Even if they do not trust the Lagos State Government, they could have at

least inquired about what happened from their son, who is a ranking member of the executive council of Lagos State,’’ APC said.

The party said Obi and his fellow travellers forgot that those who live in a glass house do not throw stones, hence they resorted to sensationalism and downright lies, first on the process leading to the home return, and then on the number of those involved and finally on the motive behind it. ‘’All those who consider the home return of 14 Anambra indigenes as a reflection of the Lagos State Government’s (and by extension the Yoruba’s) ill will toward the Igbo should consider the following facts: •There was an exchange of correspondence dated 9th, 15th and 29th April 2013 between the Lagos State Government and Anambra State Government, through its Liaison Office in Lagos, about the ‘integration’ not ‘deportation’ of the 14 people.

•Anambra State Government did not respond to requests by Lagos State to come and validate/identify the people who claimed to have come from Anambra. Had it done so, this issue could have been better managed.

•Lagos State itself received notice from the Government of Akwa Ibom to come, identify and pick up two Lagos indigenes whom they picked up in a ‘lunatic clean up’ exercise in Uyo. Lagos responded prompt-

ly without making any noise about it.

•In December 2011, the same Anambra State Government that is now crying foul over the home return of Anambra indigenes arrested and repatriated 29 beggars to their home states in Ebonyi, another Igbo state, and Akwa Ibom.

Then it was conveniently not ‘deportation’ but ‘repatriation’ and no tribal meanings were read to such action. This information can be accessed here: http://leadership.ng/nga/articles/9600/2011/12/04/ anambra_orders_arrest_child_beggars.html •Also in 2011, Abia State Government sacked 3,000 nonindigenes (but fellow Igbo) from her work force and asked them to go back to their respective states, yet not even a whimper was heard from all those who are now raising hell over the ‘’deportation’’ of 14 Anambra indigenes from Lagos. ‘’If Obi’s logic is to be followed, then the government of Akwa Ibom, and the entire people of the state, harbour bad intentions toward Lagos State and the Yoruba by asking Lagos State to come and pick up two ‘vagrant psychotics’ identified as Lagosians who have been rehabilitated. ‘’Suffice it to say that these home returns have been going on for a long time among states, even within the same ethnic groups (as we pointed out above), and has never before elicited the kind of jaundiced interpretation that has been

Sekoni’s 70th birthday lecture

•Alhaji Mohammed

given to the return of 14 Anambra indigenes,’’ it said.

APC said it is also important to point out that this home returns are not limited to Nigeria. The US State of Hawaii has recently offered one-way tickets to homeless persons to return to their home states within the US, as part of the State’s efforts to take the burden off its welfare system. It is estimated that Hawaii’s ‘’return-to-home’’ programme will affect its 17,000 homeless residents. This information can be accessed here: h t t p : / / www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ article-2381732/Hawaii-setsaside-100-000-offer-17-000homeless-people-way-airfarehome-states.html In the light of the above, the party asked Obi to apologise to the people of Nigeria for engaging in a blatant distortion of facts, making himself an agent of destabilization and sensationalizing what is not more than a routine issue, all because he wants to give a certain political party a bad name just to hang it, while at the same time feathering his own nest ahead of his state’s governorship election.

Army chief challenges college on risk assessment studies

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HIEF of Army Staff Gen Azubuike Ihejirika has challenged the College of Logistics to deepen its research.

He is also seeking an updated training of inducting units for logistics support for the military in its battle against insurgents.

Gen Azubuike spoke at the weekend in Lagos during the graduation of logistics support staff Course 10/2013 of the Nigeria Army College of Logistics (NACOL) He was represented by the General Officer Commanding, GOC 81 Division, General Obi Umahi.

“We must be seen to be carrying out our roles as enshrined in the Constitution. Thus, total loyalty and subordination to civil authorities is expected

•President Goodluck Jonathan (third left); his wife Dame Patience, Senate President David Mark (right) Birthday Boy: Chief Tony Anenih (left) and John Cardinal Onaiyekan, after a Mass to mark Chief Anenih’s 80th birthday anniversary at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral Catholic Church, Area 3, Garki, Abuja... yesterday.

PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN.

•18 Logistics Support Staff graduate in Lagos

By Precious Igbonwelundu

from all officers and soldiers.

Commanders at all levels are to continue to provide the required leadership and ensure that their soldiers are continuously educated on their roles in the current setting,” the Army chief said.

In his welcome address, NACOL’s Commandent, Gen. Abubakar Gana said of 19 students that enrolled in the seven months course, 18 of them graduated. One could not complete it as a result of health challenges.

He said the 18 graduants included 15 army officers; a naval officer; a police officer, all from the ranks of Captains and Majors or their equivalent, and a

senior civilian staff from the Ministry of Defence.

Gana said the college has cumulatively graduated nine sets of officers for logistics staff course and 10 other sets for logistics management course, noting the importance of training in order to produce workable blueprints for logistics management today and the future.

“I am confident that with further development, exposure and adequate tasking, the graduants would contribute and enhance the efficiency of military logistics in the armed forces. I urge formations and army headquarters to deploy the graduates in areas of logistics planning with a view to improving the system as well as their abilities in logistical matters.

“The course would also expect feedback on the performance of these officers in the field as it would help improve the quality of succeeding courses,” he said.

Gana disclosed that the college was collaborating with the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, United Kingdom, Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria, CIPSMN, as well as other international institutes on logistics training.

He said: “NACOL, with the COAS directives, has endorsed an MoU to operate as a regional PSO training institution for strengthening of Economic Community for West African States, (ECOWAS), Stanby Force, ESF, in order to create the

modalities for enhancing demand-driven PSO training.”

Gana, who urged that priority be given to the members of staff of NACOL for logistics and management trainings abroad, also stated that the challenges bedeviling the college include “the replacement of the lift; classroom furniture, fire fighting facilities and water supply.”

In his goodwill message, CIPSMN’s President Mohammed Aliyu said there was need for careful procurement, planning, implementation and monitoring of budget.

He said supply chain management strategy and policies are necessary not only to arrest the decline in all sectors but to engineer growth and sustainability, just as he called for enormous public and private collaboration to enhance the economy.

A LECTURE and a book launch to mark Prof Ropo Sekoni’s 70th birthday will hold at Agip Hall of MUSON Centre, Lagos on Wednesday.

The time is 10 am.

The lecture, with the theme: “Make or Break: the Imperative of Cultural Democracy” will be delivered

by Dr. Babafemi Folorunso of Creative Scotland.

Prof. Sekoni, a columnist with The Nation, will present a book: “Federalism and the Yoruba Character: Essays on Democracy of Nationalities in Nigeria” at the occasion. Former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is chief launcher.

The book will be reviewed by Dr. ‘Bola Fasehun, formerly of Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who retired recently from the United Nations’ World Intellectual Property Organisation.

The event, organised by friends, associates and members of Yoruba Insight & Innovation Initiatives, a regional think-tank will be chaired by Gen Alani Akinrinade (rtd). The event is open to the public.

Nestoil acquires oil firm NESTOIL PLC has acquired IMPaC Oil & Gas Engineering (Nigeria) Limited.

Following the acquisition, Dr. Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi has become the Chairman.

The management of IMPaC Nigeria, however, will remain the same, with Denis Bone retaining his position as the Managing Director.

Established over 16 years ago, IMPaC Oil and Gas Engineering Ltd is a foremost engineering services firm formed as the Nigerian arm of the larger 25 year-old IMPaC Offshore Engineering GmbH with head office in Hamburg, Germany. The company’s broad based engineering disciplines include process control and instrumentation, electrical, telecoms, automation, drilling, mechanical, pipeline, piping, civil, structural, naval and procurement. IMPaC Nigeria Limited is now wholly owned by Nestoil but will continue leveraging on the expertise and experience of IMPaC Group worldwide since IMPaC Offshore GmbH will continue to provide technical services support to IMPaC Nigeria.

Although, the price of the transaction was not named, the acquisition is viewed as a strategic move on the part of Nestoil Plc towards consolidating its position as the leading indigenous Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning (EPCC) provider in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

According to a statement

by Nestoil, the deal is consistent with its strategy to concentrate its footprint on the oil and gas sector. “This acquisition will add significant resources to our existing portfolio. With the pedigree of both Nestoil and IMPaC in their respective core areas, this acquisition is a positive development for the Nigerian oil and gas Industry.”

THE NATION MONDAY AUGUST 5, 2013

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NEWS DEATH OF NUJ OFFICIALS

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Tears as NTA reporter is buried

HE remains of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) reporter, Kafaya Odunsi, who died last Friday in an auto crash near Osu, Osun State, have been buried amid tears.

The late Ms Odunsi was among officials of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), who were returning from Abuja after a meeting of the union on members’ welfare, when the accident occurred.

Two other officials of the union were seriously injured.

Ms Odunsi was buried at Okesuna Cemetery, Lagos Island, at 5.05pm.

The late NTA reporter’s body arrived at the television station’s premises at Tejuosho, Surulere, from Osogbo, the Osun State capital, at 3.15pm, in an ambulance with registration number OS 67 A30. It was taken

•NUJ chief seeks insurance for members

By Oziegbe Okoeki

to one of the buildings for dressing and prayers.

At exactly 4.30pm, the ambulance left the NTA premises in a long convoy for the Okesuna Cemetery.

The late Ms Odunsi was buried according to Islamic rites amid tears from relations, colleagues and friends.

The Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Information, Security, Strategy and Publicity, Mr Segun Olulade, led members of Assembly’s press corps for the last respect to the deceased.

Until her death, the late Ms Odunsi was attached to the Assembly. She was also the Treasurer of the Assembly’s Correspondents’ Associa-

tion (LAHACA).

Olulade told reporters that the late NTA reporter was a promising woman, who was “dedicated to her job and was a committed member of LAHACA. She is a peace-loving person and very respectful”.

He added: “I am still in shock. I find it difficult to accept her death. She is somebody we will all miss. Besides, Nigeria has missed someone we can look unto in the future. It is very unfortunate.”

NUJ National President Garba Mohammed, who led other members of the National Exco to the funeral, said Ms Odunsi’s death was a sad moment for the media family.

He said: “It is really shocking and

very unfortunate.

“All we are doing now is to continue to pray for those who are in the hospital to recover quickly, as well as pray for the repose of the souls of our departed colleagues.

He urged journalists to consider taking insurance seriously.

Mohammed said: “As the profession is associated with a lot of hazards, we want to appeal to the management of media houses to ensure that every journalist in their organisation is insured.”

Also present at the ceremony was a former Chairman of the Lagos NUJ Council, now the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Kwara State governor, Abdulwahab Oba.

Fayemi, Chime, others mourn From Chris Oji, Enugu and Oziegbe Okoeki

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KITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi and his Enugu State counterpart, Sullivan Chime, were among the governors who mourned the three officials of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) who died in a road accident in Osu, Osun State, last Friday.

In a condolence message on Saturday, Fayemi described the death of the journalists as a “big tragedy, which cut short the lives of patriots on an active service for their fatherland”.

The governor said the death of the NUJ officials has cast a thick pall of mourning on the media and all lovers of vibrant journalism and free press, whih contributed immensely to the democracy being enjoyed in the country.

He prayed God to grant the families of the deceased the fortitude and courage to bear the loss.

Fayemi regretted that the death of the journalists occurred when the nation was yet to recover from the demise of media icon, Alhaji Alade Odunewu, who passed on few days ago.

He said: “The media profession is very risky and full of hazards, hence the need for solid an insurance package for journalists.

“They work day and night to ensure that we get news as it breaks, and their lives are always at risk when covering events in danger zones.

“On behalf of the Government and People of Ekiti State, I commiserate with the families, friends and associates of the deceased. May we not witness this kind of tragedy again.”

Chime expressed sadness on the death of the three NUJ officials.

In a message to the NUJ by his Chief Press Secretary, Chukwudi Achife, the governor described the death of the officials as tragic, sad and untimely.

He noted that the late journalists were returning from an official assignment for the union when the accident occurred.

Chime prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased and commiserated with their families and organisations.

Also, Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji has said the death of three Lagos journalists in Osun State at the weekend is sad and unfortunate.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Adebayo, the Speaker said: “The sudden death of the three journalists in a motor accident while on their return journey from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, at the weekend, is, to say the least, sad and most unfortunate.

“It becomes even more painful that these three patriotic and selfless journalists were on their way from an official engagement, which they had successfully completed on behalf of their union and colleagues in Abuja, when they lost their precious lives in their prime...”

•The wreckage of the union’s bus at the scene of accident...at the weekend.

Ajimobi to pick medical bills

•LAUTECH discharges injured journalists From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

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YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi will settle the medical bills of the two officials of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) who were injured last Friday in Osun State.

The governor is on Umrah (lesser Hajj) in Saudi Arabia.

Ajimobi said he would settle the bills of the Oyo NUJ Chairman, Mr. Gbenga Opadotun and NUJ National Treasurer, Alhaja Fatimah Abdulkareem.

The two survivors were moved from the Emergency Unit of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, to private suites.

A source said the governor phoned the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Prof. Temitope Alonge, to move the two survivors and give them the best medical treatment.

Top officials of the state government, led by the Chief of Staff, Dr. Adeolu Akande, on Saturday, received the victims to the UCH when they were brought from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital LAUTECHTH, Osogbo.

Others in the team were: the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo and the Special Assistant to the Governor on Information, Mr. Demola Solalu.

Opadotun was injured in the leg and neck; Abdulkareem was injured in the head and two legs. The Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital (LAUTECH), Osogbo, Osun State, has discharged the two journalists injured in the auto crash.

The Chief Medical Director of LAUTECH, Prof. Femi Fadiora, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Osogbo that the nine journalists were now out of danger list.

Mark, Tambuwal, others condole with NUJ

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ENATE President David Mark; House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar III, were among eminent Nigerians who commiserated with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on the death of three of its officials in a road accident in Osun State at the weekend.

In a condolence message in Abuja to the NUJ President, Mallam Garba Mohammed, the Senate President noted that the journalists were cut down in their prime.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, quoted Mark as saying he received the news of the journalists’ death with shock and sadness.

Mark said: “I received with shock and sadness the death of your colleagues in a motor accident in Osun State. This is unfortunate. I share in this pain and earnestly identify with you in this moment of grief. Please, accept my condolence on behalf of the Senate.”

He regretted that the journalists died when their services were most needed to strengthen democracy.

Mark added: “The best way to immortalise your late colleagues is to constantly uphold the sanctity of truth, fairness and objectivity in your trade and contribute towards promoting good governance, rule of law

Tinubu: no justification for massive road deaths

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ORMER Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has said there is no justification for the daily massive deaths of Nigerians due to bad roads.

In a condolence message yesterday in Lagos through his Media Office to the NUJ, the frontline politician said: “This preventable loss of lives saddens me; it is a colossal one.

These journalists were on an official assignment. For them to have died in such a gruesome way is regrettable. Their death brings to the fore the lack of functional transportation system and the terrible state of Nigerian roads.”

One of the leaders of the newly registered All Progressives Congress (APC) said the death of the journalists has robbed the media of some of its brightest minds.

He prayed God to grant the media the fortitude to bear the loss.

The former governor also urged the media to see the accident as a temporary bump in the greater battle to secure for Nigeria a government that would be committed to infrastructural development and good governance.

Extending heart-felt condolences to the families of these journalists, Tinubu prayed that they would find comfort and strength at a time like this.

From Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

and human rights.”

Tambuwal described the late journalists as heroes, who dedicated their professional lives to the nation’s progress.

In a statement in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, the

According to him, the country is the greatest loser, if hard-working professionals and patriots die cheaply on the nation’s roads because those responsible for fixing them and providing Nigerians an alternative mass transportation system were irresponsible.

“The death of these journalists, as those of countless other Nigerians, is preventable. Sadly, what should be an exception has become the norm. Daily reports of deaths on our roads are now commonplace. Yet, there is little effort on the part of those in power to act in a timely fashion.”

He advised the media not to shy away from exposing the rot on our roads and other infrastructural rot across the country.

He said: “Through investigative journalism, the media can expose the fraud going on in the name of transportation. Through journalistic curiosity, the media can also find out why Nigeria, till date, has no single functional transportation system, and where all the billions have gone. The media carries the burden of exposure because the might of its pen can bring the much needed changes.”

Speaker noted that by their sudden death, the nation has lost the services of vibrant and consummate professionals, who gave their best for the unity and development of their union and the country.

He prayed God to give their families the fortitude to bear the loss and quick recovery for those injured in the crash.

Sultan Abubakar, who is the Presi-

North’s governors condole with union, families, others

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ORTHERN States’ Governors’ Forum (NSGF) yesterday condoled with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and employers of the three journalists from the Lagos and Oyo State Councils of the union, who died in a road accident.

The Chairman of the forum and Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu also commiserated with the families of the late journalists. He prayed God to give them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

In a condolence message by his Chief Press Secretary, Malam Danladi Ndayebo, the NSGF chairman said the

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

forum was saddened by the death of such well groomed professionals.

Aliyu said: “The death of the hard-working journalists has created a void in their media organisations and the journalism profession.”

The governor urged authorities charged with fixing roads to live up to their calling.

He also advised road users to always adhere to safety rules and regulations to avoid a recurrence.

dent of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), expressed sadness on the death of the NUJ officials.

In a statement yesterday by Prof.

Ishaq Oloyede, the Secretary-General of the NSCIA, Abubakar said: “We received with deep grief and sorrow, the news of a road accident in Osun State, which claimed the lives of three national officers of the union.

“Coming at this time of our national life, such a disturbing incident only amounts to additional agony for the entire country, especially with daily reports of callous killings in one form or another.”

The Sultan regretted “that such youthful professional men and a woman could lose their lives fortuitously in that manner during their dedicated service to the nation”.

He added: “The irony of life in this case is that destiny cannot be evaded by any human being, despite any level of carefulness.”

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THE NATION MONDAY AUGUST 5, 2013

NEWS

‘Two-party system best for Nigeria’

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PEOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Ondo State, Mr. Saka Lawal, has said the newly- registered All Progressives Congress (APC) will give a solid foundation to the nation’s democracy.

Lawal, the running mate of PDP’s governorship candidate in last year’s poll in the state, Chief Olusola Oke, spoke at the weekend when he celebrated his 50th birth-

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

day with over 120 widows at St. David’s Anglican Cathedral, Akure.

The PDP stalwart said twoparty system should be encouraged, adding that it is the best way to aid development.

Lawal, who was a Special Adviser to Governor Olusegun Mimiko, noted that the merging of key op-

position parties would keep the PDP on its toes.

His words: “This is the best thing that can happen to Nigeria because if you look at the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the National Republican Convention (NRC) era, a solid foundation for democracy was laid, but the military did not allow it to last. Now that we are back to the two-party system, of course, there are other minor parties, but

with time, they will fizzle out. This is the type of democracy we have been yearning for. Now we have political parties that cut across geo-political zones.

PDP cuts across geo-political zones, APC also cuts across geo-political zones.

Now you will see parties that will be selling ideas to the people.

“If PDP is in power now, they have sold transformational ideas, may be in the

next four years, Nigerians find out that they are not living up to expectation, APC will unseat them. Also, if APC is there and they roll out programmes and they are not living up to expectation, at the end of four years, of course PDP will unseat them. It is now two parties based on ideologies. Tell us what you want to do. After four years, Nigerians will come out and assess you based on your performance.

“Two party system is the best for Nigeria. I am a political science student. All over the world, go and look at developed nations, you will see that they practise two-party system, which will make you to be either in the right or left. The middle position may be when you want to form a cabinet, you may need to go into an alliance. But again, if you look at it, two-party system is the best for Nigeria.”

Ashafa urges youths to be computer-literate HE Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, has urged youths to be computer-literate.

The senator, who represents Lagos East, spoke at the 12th Batch graduation of the Senator Gbenga Ashafa Information Communication Technology (ICT) Programme held at the weekend.

Ashafa, an apostle of youth empowerment, walked down memory lane in his opening remark to analyse the impact of the programme.

He said: “We give glory to the Almighty God for giving us another opportunity to witness today’s graduation. The first graduation of our ICT training programme was held in August 2011. The spirit, which has been keeping this programme alive, is one of my cardinal points during the electioneering campaign, which is to empower youths in the senatorial district.

“Today’s event is one of the programmes under our empowerment scheme. Today’s graduation will feature 50 students across the senatorial district in addition to the 475 youths from the past editions. Therefore, by the end of today, we would have graduated 525 youths, with 30 of them going home with new computers and printers for those that perform well in each batch.”

Senator Ashafa said it is rare to secure a job today without a basic knowledge in computer, adding that even if one is into buying and selling, there is need to be computer-literate.

He gave an instance of some marketing gurus that have turned the Internet into their market place.

The lawmaker also advised the graduating youths to make use of the ICT knowledge they have acquired, stressing that “feedback from the past graduates indicates that the effort has not been in vain.”

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•From left: Managing Director, Insight Communications, Mr. Jimi Awosika; Miss Nigeria 2013, Ezinne Anyaoha; Project Coordinator, Miss Nigeria Organisation, Konnie Nnachetan-Agu; and Head Marketing, Insight Communications, Franklin Ozekhone, during a visit by Miss Nigeria to the management of Insight Communications in Lagos... at the weekend.

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Fayemi’s wife: poverty, religious bigotry fuelling crisis

OVERTY, religious bigotry and ignorance are at the root of the crisis threatening peace in the country, Ekiti State Governor’s wife Mrs. Bisi Fayemi has said.

She and a Muslim scholar, Dr. Balqis Abduraheem, expressed this opinion during the annual lecture and breaking of fast (Iftar) hosted by the governor’s wife at the Government House Mosque, Ado-Ekiti, at the weekend.

Deputy Governor Prof.

Modupe Adelabu, wife of the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Modupe Owolabi and other top government officials also participated in the prayer.

This year’s Iftar is the third edition organised by the governor’s wife.

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

The occasion witnessed an interaction between Mrs. Fayemi and Muslim women, during which she distributed gifts and broke fast.

The women converged on the Government House Mosque and Lady Jibowu Hall under the aegis of the Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Ekiti State chapter.

Mrs. Fayemi advised them to be well-versed in the injunctions of the Holy Quran and doctrines of the faith to guard against being brainwashed by religious bigots.

‘Some people are misinterpreting the holy books to satisfy their selfish end. Beware of lopsided interpretation of the holy books’ She identified poverty, ignorance and religious bigotry as the root of the vices facing the country, including child marriage.

Said she: “Some bigots hide under the banner of religion to commit atrocities and cover their unwholesome track.

“Muslims and Christians

are worshipping the same God. We should not allow religion to divide us. Don’t let anybody misinterpret the Holy Quran for you.

“Some people are misinterpreting the holy books to satisfy their selfish end. Beware of lopsided interpretation of the holy books.

“It’s not religion that will take us to heaven but our deeds. The Muslim leaders I know, including those canvassing early marriage, will not give out their daughters at a tender age.

“We watch the weddings of children of these Islamic leaders, senators, governors and others on the television. I’ve never seen them giving out their underage daughters as brides. They are given out when they have become adults and are well educated.”

Oyo rewards outstanding students in competitions HE Oyo State government has rewarded two of its students and a school that won laurels and prizes in national competitions.

One of the students, Motolani Akinpelu of Alayande School of Science, Oke Bola, Ibadan, came first in the Prof. Wole Soyinka National Essay Competition.

Akinpelu’s school was one of the six schools that represented the state at the competition. Others are School of Science, Pade, Queen School, Apata, Kings International School, Moniya and Best Brain College, all in Ibadan, as well as Sharon Rose College in Saki.

Master Agmineha Tochukwu of Baptist Grammar School, Oke-Ado, Ibadan

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won the overall best in the state at the 2012 Basic Education Certificate Examination.

Yejide Girls Grammar School team won bronze medal at the Nestle Milo National Basketball Competition.

An Ibadan non-government organisation (NGO), Elizabeth Jayeola Foundation, also rewarded the overall best student in the JSS III examination in the 2012 state public secondary school examinations.

Governor Abiola Ajimobi, speaking at the recognition/ award presentation ceremony in Ibadan at the weekend, through the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Adetokunbo Fayokun, thanked the students for doing the state proud in the examinations/competitions.

Oyo residents protest lawmaker’s ‘shirking of responsibility’

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HERE was a drama at the weekend in Oyo town when residents of Isale –Oyo protested what they alleged as the shirking of responsibility and disregard of a member of the House of Representatives to the Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111.

They also accused him of conducting himself in a manner likely to breach the peace by inciting the people against the state government and the Alaafin of Oyo. The protesters marched from Isale-Oyo to the Alaafin’s palace where they expressed their grievances.

Their spokesman, Alhaji Jimoh Ikolaba, alleged that since the law-

From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo

maker was elected, he had neither rendered his stewardship when called upon to do so nor listed what the constituents had benefited from him.

He said: “We hear of his colleagues within and outside the state providing social welfare packages for their constituents. Our own lawmaker has done nothing for us in the last six years he has been elected as a lawmaker. He only takes care of a few friends and has never attended any ward or constituency meeting. Even if we go to his house, he will send us away. As a result, we disown and pass a-vote-of-no confidence in him.”

Pa Ikolaba urged the Oyo-Mesi,

•Want Alaafin’s son to succeed him led by the Basorun of Oyo, who were also in attendance, to prevail on the Alaafin to endorse his son, Hakeem Adeniyi Adeyemi, as the lawmaker’s successor in the House of Representatives in 2015.

They described Prince Adeyemi, the Caretaker Chairman of Atiba Local Government, as “kindhearted, focused, committed to the well-being of the downtrodden, charitable and humble.”

The Oyo-Mesi prostrated for the Alaafin, appealing to him to accept the people’s choice and allow his son to contest the 2015 National Assembly election.

Oba Adeyemi said it has never been his character to lord over the people what is against their desire, adding that he has assisted people, who are neither his family nor biological children, and they are making waves in their chosen professions within and outside the country.

He said: “When my daughter was appointed as a commissioner by Governor Abiola Ajimobi, I opposed it. The reason being that an indigene of my town was removed not long before my daughter was considered competent for the position. I felt bad about it because of

the negative impression people created. Consequently, I sent the OyoMesi to the governor demanding an explanation on why the former commissioner was removed and my daughter was appointed. After the explanation and appeal, I reluctantly agreed that my daughter should serve the state.”

The paramount ruler said his institution is committed to the wellbeing of the indigenes, adding: “This is why my support and loyalty to the Ajimobi administration is total. He is a man of conscience, who cares for his people’s welfare.”

He later endorsed the choice of his son as the next candidate for the House of Representatives seat in Oyo Federal Constituency.

THE NATION MONDAY AUGUST 5, 2013

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NEWS Attempted to rape: Barber on the run

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HE Osun State Police Command is looking for a barber, Mr. Lateef Olateju, for allegedly attempting to defile a fouryear-old girl at Yemoja, IdoOsun, in Egbedore Local Government Area.

The Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Dorothy Gimba, has ordered that the suspect, who is on the run, should be arrested.

Mrs. Gimba directed the family unit department of the police command to ensure medical care for the victim, a pupil of Ibiyemi Preprimary School in Ido-Osun.

It was learnt that Olateju attempted to defile the minor in his barbing salon on

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

August 2 before he was caught. The matter was reported at Dada Estate Police Station in Osogbo.

The suspect was said to have allegedly undressed the little girl inside his salon and attempted to forcefully have carnal knowledge of her before neighbours noticed him.

He reportedly escaped from the scene and his whereabouts unknown.

The victim, who was said to have wept, has been taken to hospital for treatment.

The victim’s parents have refused to speak with reporters.

‘Don’t disintegrate our party, senatorial district’

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HE Chairman, Oyo South Senatorial District of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Alhaji Bello Adeleke Oladeji, has warned Senator Femi Lanlehin against being used to destabilise the party.

He said the lawmaker representing the district in the National Assembly should not allow himself to be used to play a spoiler’s role with a view to disintegrating the party.

Oladeji said this in a statement yesterday in response to an interview the senator granted a national newspaper in which he made uncomplimentary remarks about Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

He alleged that the lawmaker was on his way out of the party, heading for the Accord.

According to Oladeji, it was uncharitable for Senator Lanlehin to assume the role of the mouthpiece of the district and the party when no one had given him such a role.

“The senatorial zone Lanlehin hails from has endorsed the second term bid of the governor. We wonder where he was when the party made this endorsement, which was applauded by our members. To allege that the governor induced us to do this is the height of anti-party activity and an attempt to play the spoiler’s role, with the aim of destabilising our party,” he said.

Ogun curbs spread of diarrhoea

O

GUN State Government has announced a drop in the new cases of diarrhoea, following a decline in the cases of the disease.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka, said: “From August 2, the number of new cases averages two daily down from a peak of 10 and no death has been reported. The outbreak was contained early and the disease has not spread because of the efforts of the state government in conjunction with the Federal Government and the World Health Organisation (WHO).”

10 PDP ex- councillors defect to APC

T

EN ex-councillors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo East Local Government Area of Oyo State have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The councillors served when Alhaji Kamaldeeen Shittu was the council chairman.

Speaking at Durbar, Oyo town, the protem Chairman

From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo

of APC in Oyo Central Senatorial District, Mr. Emmanuel Oyewusi, hailed the defectors for their timely and wise decision in joining the progressives.

He said no nation thrived on dishonesty, ineptitude, disregard for the rule of law, bad governance and corruption as typified by the PDPled Federal Government.

500 children get educational materials From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

IVE hundred vulnerable children in Osun State have received free educational and nutritional materials from the government.

Foodstuffs, beverages, school bags, mathematical sets and other educational items were among the materials distributed to the children.

The Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Mrs. Mofolake Adegboyega, during the distribution of the materials in Osogbo, said the gifts were to assist the lessprivileged.

She said the Governor Rauf Aregbesola administration was committed to the programmes and projects to alleviate the problems facing women and children.

Mrs. Adegboyega said government, development partners and individuals should realise that they have responsibilities to the vulnerable children, adding that if they are not supported, it would cause danger to the society.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Mrs. Oluwakemi Kolawole, urged support for the vulnerable children.

F

•From left: President, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Sir Demola Aladekomo; Minister of Communication, Mrs. Omobola Johnson; Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State; Chief Don Etiebet; Prof. Gabriel Obi; and Deacon Ojinta Oji-Alala, during a dinner to mark the 11th International Conference of the NCS, at the Royal Hotel, Iloko-Ijesa, Osun State.

Police arrest three over teenager’s death

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HE Ondo State Police Command at the weekend said three persons have been arrested in connection with the burial of an 18-year-old boy, who was alleged to have killed himself with his father’s gun.

The deceased, simply identified as Sanmi Kehinde, was reported to have shot himself last Wednesday with his father’s dane gun at Oriokuta community in Akoko Southeast Local Government Area.

Confirming this, police spokesman Mr. Wole Ogodo said the deceased’s family did not report the case of suicide to the police before

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

burying him.

He said the police have begun investigation to unravel the circumstance that led to the death of the teenager, adding that “we are still awaiting the autopsy report before continuing investigation.”

He said: “Immediately the incident happened, neither the family nor the neighbours reported the case to the police before they buried the deceased. This is why we arrested some people.

“When the boy died, the police were supposed to be informed so that they would visit the scene. If the boy

‘When the boy died, the police were supposed to be informed so that they would visit the scene’ would be buried, the order would come from the police.

“A post-mortem examination would be carried out because it is one of those things to be done. We should know whether it is true that the boy shot himself or not. If it is true that he shot himself, where is the gun? Why should they hurriedly bury him? This is why

we are suspicious.”

It was learnt that on the fateful day, the deceased allegedly climbed the ceiling, carried his father’s gun, which was said to have been loaded with bullets in company of his friend identified as Bolu.

Immediately Bolu left the scene, it was learnt that the people in the vicinity heard a gunshot and on rushing to the scene, they met Sanmi rolling in the pool of his own blood.

Shortly after the incident, the family buried the deceased without informing any of the security agencies.

NBTE withdraws poly’s accreditation HE National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) said yesterday that it was withdrawing accreditation of the programmes offered by the Crown Polytechnic, AdoEkiti, Ekiti State, for going against the operational guidelines approved for it by the board.

The board’s spokesman, Mr. Jacob Abang, said in a statement made available to The Nation that the institution was found to have gone against the directive of the Federal Executive Council on the operation of outreach centres in parts of the country by offering programmes not approved by the board.

Abang quoted a letter to the proprietor of the polytechnic, dated August 2, 2013 and signed by the NBTE Executive Secretary, Dr. Masa’udu A Kazaure mni, as saying that the withdrawal of accredita-

T

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

tion of programmes in the polytechnic became necessary in view of the petitions received from organisations, government agencies and students on the conduct and operation of the polytechnic.

He said subsequent investigation by the board also showed that the polytechnic was operating in contravention of the Basic Minimum Academic Standards as prescribed by law and has been running National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes in 30 centres across the country, particularly in Yenagoa, Kabba, Akure, Ondo and towns in Ekiti State, which is in contravention of the Federal Executive Council’s directive against operation of satellite/outreach centres by tertiary institutions.

Mr. Abang also said the board discovered that the polytechnic was running unapproved ND programmes in Urban and Regional Planning, Quantity Surveying and Public Administration and had submitted list of students for mobilisation to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in unapproved HND Computer Science and Electrical/Electronics Engineering programmes.

The board, he said, has directed the polytechnic to stop academic activities in its illegal satellite/outreach study centres; close down the illegal campuses/centres; report these centres to the security agencies where appropriate to ensure that they do not propagate or relocate to other addresses.

The board also directed the institution to publish a disclaimer of names and addresses of the illegal /satel-

lite campuses in at least two national dailies for the information of the public, as well as ensure that the institution would not engage in any further collaboration or unapproved affiliation with any person/organisation to run any programme again.

Abang also quoted the Executive Secretary as saying that the board may only allow the institution to resume operation when it is satisfied that the institution has complied with approved standards in line with Part II, Section 15 and 16 of CAP ES LFN 2004.

The board advised the Directorate of NYSC to put mobilisation of graduates of the polytechnic on hold. It advised the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to stop admission into the ND programmes of the institution until further notice.

Ekiti begins contributory pension scheme

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KITI State Government has begun the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) for workers in the civil service and in the 16 councils.

The scheme, which takes effect from August 1, will, according to the Chairman of the Pension Commission, Chief Oluwole Ojo, allow deductions of agreed 7.5 per cent apiece from the workers, who represent the employees and the state government, making a total of 15 per cent.

Chief Ojo, represented by Chief Segun Ajibulu, a commissioner in the commis-

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

sion, said the deduction affected the worker’s basic salary, rent and transport allowances, adding that it would be made on first line charges by the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), “that is the pension deductions are made before any other deductions from the workers’ salaries.”

He said the commencement followed an earlier field work and a thorough assessment and cleaning of the deductions by the PFAs,

who had compiled and finetuned the procedures for a hitch-free commencement of the scheme.

He urged the PFAs allotted to the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to see the task as a challenge to which they must apply diligence and sense of duty.

He added that any lapse on their part would only erode the credibility of the scheme.

Enjoining those who have not made the requisite details about their employment status available to the fund administrators to do so, Ojo appealed to workers not to

see the new scheme as a way of cheating but the best way to eliminate the age- long bottlenecks identified with the old pension process.

Said he: “Any employee with more than five years in service with effect from January 21, 2011 comes under the new scheme, even if he/she wants to leave the service before the date he/she is due.

“The CPS cannot go moribund because it is encoded in a law of the parliament to ensure its continuity. The roles of the actors are spelt out. The scheme has in-built checks and balances.”

9

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

NEWS Why we are mobilising for Jonathan, by Wike

Implement UNEP report, says Kukah M

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ATHOLIC Archbishop of Sokoto Rev Matthew Kukah has reassured Ogoni indigenes of his commitment to push for full implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) report.

The clergy said although he had completed the task given to him by President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure that peace was restored to the land, he would again present the people’s demands to the President.

Kukah spoke when a group, Ogoni Generation Next Project, visited him at the weekend in Abuja.

The group includes Organisation of Ogoni Young Professionals, Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), representatives of

From Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

National Union of Ogoni Students (NUOS) and representatives of youth bodies from four local governments of Ogoniland.

The group demanded the immortalisation of Ken SaroWiwa, compilation comprehensive database of unemployed youths in the region as well as full implementation of the UNEP report.

Today marks two years of the submission of the UNEP assessment report to the Federal Government.

The cleric said: “Not that I am not aware that what we are dealing with is larger than us. Like I said, when we handled the report, I chose every word I said and I knew why I did that. Mr. President, you gave me a

sick child, I have taken the child to the hospital to run some tests, the results are here.

“I am not the one to tell you which pharmacy to go to or where to go and buy drugs because beyond that, I will be going beyond what my brief was. In fairness to my brief, I have done what I believe needed to be done and God has seen us through successfully.”

Kukah, who is also the presidential mediator on Ogoni, praised former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former River State Governor Peter Odili for their gesture.

He said Jonathan and the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani AlisonMadueke, had domesticated the initiative.

“Deep down, I believe and

I’m sure the President himself will know my position.

We are a country that likes to make very simple thing complicated.

“My position is that I hope we can get round the table to see the President because this conversation is not for me but the President himself and the petroleum minister,” he added.

While he urged the group not to misunderstand the President’s silence, Kukah reiterated a commitment to dialogue with Jonathan.

The Chairman, State Council of Traditional Rulers (RSCTR), Gbenemene Tai Kingdom, GNK Gininwa, described the group’s action as timely.

He urged the bishop to prevail on the Federal Government to implement the report.

INISTER of State for Education Nyesom Wike has said prominent Rivers leaders will mobilise sup-

port for President Goodluck Jonathan because of negative plots by a few politicians.

The minister spoke yesterday at Bodo in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State during the Grassroot Development Initiative (GDI).

He said prominent Rivers leaders, politicians, women and youth groups agreed not to sit passively while a few politicians create a negative impression about a performing President.

Wike said: “We are doing this to indicate to our people and the nation that we cannot allow our son who is the President to be harrassed.

“Some people from our state are working to stop the President from completing his constitutionally allowed terms of office, but we are happy that the people have rejected them.

“The wide participation of Rivers people in GDI activities proves that our people cannot be deceived. President Jonathan will serve out his constitutionally allowed terms.”

He noted that the people will not allow a President from the region to suffer political distraction, despite his recognised performance.

“We convinced former Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Secretary, Kenneth Kobani, to leave his party to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to attract development to the Rivers people, which he agreed.

“We are behind the President and we are not going to be intimidated by any spread of falsehood”, he said.

Fire razes two buildings in Auchi From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

P

ROPERTY worth millions of naira was yesterday destroyed when fire gutted a storey building in Auchi Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.

The fire, which was said to have started at 2pm, was reportedly caused by a power surge when the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) restored power supply to the area.

The fire lasted for over three hours and affected another building.

It took the intervention of students and sympathisers to put out the fire.

A resident, Aminu Yusuf, said: “This is one incident too many in Auchi and its environs.

“It is painful that power surge has been largely responsible for these incidents.

“It is in this light that we are calling on the state government to provide a functional fire service station in the area.”

Books for pupils From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Warri

A •United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon greeting Anambra State Governor Peter Obi (left) after a meeting in Abuja.

With them is UN Resident Coordinator and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative to Nigeria, Daouda Toure

Tax payment not punishment, says Uduaghan

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ELTA State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has said tax payment is not a punishment.

Uduaghan, who spoke at the weekend when he inaugurated the reconstituted State Board of Internal Revenue in Asaba, said individuals and organisations should see the collection of taxes as their civic and moral responsibility.

He emphasised that gov-

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

ernment was only enforcing the law as entrenched in the constitution and urged Nigerians to pay their taxes regularly to sustain infrastructural development in all sectors of the economy.

Uduaghan said: “We should all pay our taxes and expect returns on the taxes through sustained tempo of the provision of infrastruc-

ture in all sectors of the economy.

“In all societies, taxes are necessary to prop government’s revenue and shore up its expenditure, especially now that the world is coming to terms with the dire consequences of global economic meltdown”.

The governor praised the Board of Internal Revenue for the increase in the average

monthly internal generated revenue from N1.2 billion to N5.7 billion.

He urged the board to explore all untapped sources of revenue in the state to boost the state finances.

The Chairmanof the board, Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, thanked the governor for re-appointing the Board.

He said the board would pursue the Delta Beyond Oil Initiative.

Lawyers sue police over Amaechi’s safety

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OUR lawyers from Ubima community, the home town of Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi yesterday said they will appear in court today over the abuse of Amaechi’s rights by the police.

The applicants- Collins Dike, Smith Azubuike, Iheanyi Dike and Friday Azubuike- will urge the court to compel the respondents, Inspector General of Police and Commission of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, to respect

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

the governor’s rights.

The applicants are asking the court to compel the Inspector General to redeploy Mbu since his stay no longer guarantees the governor’s safety.

They are also urging the court to compel the IG to restore full security apparatus of the governor, which is part of his rights as the state’s chief security officer.

The leader of applicants,

Dike, said they will tell the court to declare that the respondents have failed in their duty of protecting and ensuring Amaechi’s safety.

Dike said: “We have made our statement clear in the suit we filed. All we are praying is that the court should consider the rights of the governor and order the police to respect that. The governor cannot be crying for safety in the midst of the police.

“Everybody is aware that some of the security details

attached to the governor have been withdrawn, and we are also aware that the governor no longer drives around the state as he always does while supervising numerous projects in the state. And the same governor has discovered that his life is in danger if Mbu continues, why not respect his views.

“This is the more reason why we are heading to court today to ask the court to compel the respondents to respect Amaechi’s right.”

PHILANTHROPIST, Solomon Udele, has donated over 10,000 notebooks to public and private primary and secondary schools in Delta Central Senatorial District.

The books were endorsed with the picture of the late Senator Pius Ewherido, who died on June 30.

Udele said Ewherido was just like King David, who could only gather materials for the temple, but did not build it.

He said the Urhobo nation should rise up and ensure that Urhobo is taught at all levels of education so that the next generation can speak the language fluently.

The Chief Inspector of Education, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Felix Akporugo, praised the donor for his philanthropic gesture and promised that the books will be evenly distributed to schools.

Robbery kingpin shot From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

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ROBBERY suspect was shot yesterday by the police in Delta State. Police spokesman Lucky Uyabeme said officers arrested five more suspects in collaboration with the local vigilance group in Ekakpamre community, Ughelli South Local Government Area.

He named the suspects as Okolo Jerry, Ovoke Ochuko, Ochuko David a.k.a Faka, Gonor Omoverhanvwu and Efe Boyiode.

Uyabeme said the ringleader was shot in the leg when he attempted to escape.

He said the suspected ringleader, Ochuko David, was found to have been involved in a robbery attempt with Ogaga Karo, Kess Omene, Man Alone, Hope Shahel and Kefe.

He said the police recovered from the gang three motorcycles with registration numbers DT 78802JA, DT3362JA. Uyabeme said the third motorcycle was unregistered.

He said some of the accomplices, who took part in the robbery on October 27, last year, have been remanded at the Federal Prison, Okere, Warri.

In a related development, three robbery suspects were apprehended after SARS operatives responded to a distress call in KoloKolo layout, Enerhen, Uvwie Local Government Area.

He identified the suspects as Christian Emmanuel, Blessing Moses and Elias Saturday.

Items recovered from the suspects include three cut-tosize single barrel guns and two live cartridges.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

10

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 07059022999

Fear grips residents as suspected cultists kill man

‘Let’s sustain advocacy for women’s rights’

By Yinka Aderibigbe LAGOS State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, has called on women advocacy groups across the country to sustain gender advocacy campaigns.

She spoke a book launch marking the 60th birthday of Nigeria's advocacy icon, Chief Mrs Olabisi OlateruOlagbegi, at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), in Lagos.

She said events across the world have shown that women groups should not "go to sleep" but respond to wake-up calls in defence of women and the girl-child.

The deputy governor urged women groups to carry the men along in their advocacy as both parties need to understand the need for adequate enlightenment on the child.

"Men should be fair to women knowing that we are the weaker sex; they should give us the enabling environment to perform our divine roles as a wife and mother," she said.

She commended the celebrator for her doggedness and tireless advocacy which had seen more women participate in democracy and holding their own in governance.

She urged her not to be tired in lending her voice to the challenges confronting women, and children, who constitutes about 50 percent of the vulnerable sector of the country.

Prof Patricia Donli, said women group must be at the forefront of agitation for a better deal for womanhood so that issues affecting their health are adequately addressed.

Drawing a nexus between the woman's health and the well being of the nation, Prof Donli, who teaches agriculture at the University of Maiduguri, said without the woman, there wouldn't be any nation.

"The girl child should be given adequate care and her rights preserved. We should all speak out against all practices, law, and ways of life that imprison the women.”

Breast-feeding Summit holds AS part of activities to mark World Breastfeeding Week 2013, the Colostrum International, a non-governmental organisation, will join its counterparts to celebrate the week in Lagos.

The event is scheduled to hold today and tomorow at the Best Western Hotel, Bar Beach Waterfront, Victoria Island.

Expected as guest speakers are: Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Zainab Maina; President, Women Arise for Change Initiative, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin; Prof. Ayo Atsenuwa, Department of Public Law, University of Lagos; Prof.

(Mrs.) Mopelola Omoegun, Dean, Faculty of Education, University of Lagos, and a nutritionist, Dr. Abimbola Ajayi.

In a statement, the Project Coordinator, Colostrum International, Dr (Mrs) Bunmi Ogundimu, said the summit is expected to draw concerned stakeholders to deliberate on the benefits and challenges of breastfeeding, particularly the sharp decline in breastfeeding and child rearing practice in Nigeria.

Dr Ogundimu added: "We join other international agencies such as United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF); the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), to celebrate breastfeeding week to encourage mothers."

Expected to be honoured at the event include: Former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Minister of Finance, Dr (Mrs) Ngozi OkonjoIwella; Ogun State First Lady, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun and Director General, NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhi.

Among others are, Prof. Mopelola Omoegun, Dr Okei-Odumakin and Chief (Mrs.) Opral Benson.

By Jude Isiguzo

•The late Oyefeso

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CULT clash in the Shomolu area of Lagos State has claimed the life of Isiaka Oyefeso, a trader at the Yaba market.

Oyefeso was killed at about 9.45pm on July 30 in front of his Abimbola

Lane, off Okesuna Street, Shomolu home, while relaxing after his return from the market.

The deceased and some others in the neighborhood were attacked by warring cult groups who reportedly came from Bariga area to fight their Shomolu rivals.

It was gathered that the cults, comprising members of Eiye, overwhelmed the policemen attached to Alade Police Station as they shot sporadically at innocent people without any challenge of any form from policemen.

Oyefeso was hit severally by bullets and also got machete cuts on different parts of his body. He was rushed to nearby Oguntolu General Hospital where he died. Some oth-

ers who were also injured are still being treated at an undisclosed hospital.

Neighbours told The Nation that Oyefeso was a peace-loving man killed for no reason. Eyewitnesses said the suspected cultists numbering over 100 wore T-shirts marked 'Axe' at the back. They were allegedly shouting "axe men … axe men!"

Residents alleged that the attacks have been frequent in the last two months and despite the fact that security operatives are in the know, they have done nothing to stop them.

A resident, who spoke under anonymity, told The Nation that the cultists also robbed residents of valuables during every attack, adding: "We are no longer safe here. These hoodlums come here occasionally to steal, rape and kill people at will.

We have reported severally to the police but they are not helping matters. The crisis is between Eiye and Aiye group. We are begging the commissioner of police to step in and help save the situation before these boys kill every one of us in this area.

"These criminals have their hideouts in Idi-Araba, somewhere around Olorunkemi Street and LadiLak in Bariga and operatives at Alade Police Station, Shomolu are aware of this. Why they have refused to arrest them is what we do not understand. Most residents now believe that the police are protecting these criminals and it is not a good thing for the society."

Efforts to reach the police spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), for comments yesterday, failed.

Ladipo market: Peace search begins

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ESPERATE for a lasting solution to the leadership crisis rocking the Ladipo Auto Spare Parts Market, Mushin, Lagos, traders have appealed to Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola to intervene and prevent the market from total disintegration that could arise from the unending crisis.

The crisis had, 10 days ago, seen majority of the traders, mostly Igbo and executive members of the Ladipo Central Executive Auto Dealers Association (LACEC), take to the streets in protest against what they called the "imposition of Alhaji Oladotun Abibu Oki as Babaloja" of the spares market.

"On Thursday last week, a similar situation almost repeated itself but for the matured way it was handled," said LACEC's president, Mr Ikechukwu Animalu.

The traders said Oki controls only one out of the 36 units that make up the entire market and therefore, is not qualified to be their leader.

They said his imposition on the market is against the wish of the majority and the attempt to impose his authority is not acceptable; thus, to avoid crisis, they want Fashola to intervene. The traders are also demanding an election to select their choice leader as opposed to imposi-

By Uyoatta Eshiet and Evelyn Ezidimma tion.

Ikechukwu, who spoke with The Nation last Thursday during the weekly sanitation, alleged that Oki and his group had organised some members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and some state security operatives, hoping that the traders would react for them to capitalise on the ensuing development to make trouble, which would have led to the market's closure.

He said when he got wind of the plot, he prevailed on the traders not to respond to any act of provocation.

Saying that Igbo traders had invested billions of naira in the market, he alleged that Oki and his group were doing everything to ensure that the market is closed down to their detriment.

"If the market is shut, the Igbo traders that will be the greatest losers; that is what I want to avoid," Ikechukwu said.

However, Oki described as untrue, the allegation that he was imposed on the market as the Igbo traders want people to believe. He said he was validly selected as the Babaloja of the market and was given authority to so act "by the government and

for the government."

He showed a copy of the authorisation letter issued to him on December 22, 2011 by the Association of Commodity Market Women and Men of Nigeria to The Nation.

Oki said the major reason the Igbo traders refuse to accept his authority is about money matters, explaining: "The government wants to improve the market and also wants improved revenue and I was made the Babaloja for this purpose. As we collect the revenue and give to government, we can then have the grounds to approach the government for whatever we want for the market. The situation where huge amounts of money are collected and not remitted to government coffers is not good; I am here to stop that".

He said being the Babaloja of the market does not in anyway disturb their trading activities; it is just that they do not want Babaloja. He said he had spent 16 years at the market, adding that his interest is the development of the market for the good of every trader.

His appointment, he said, was ratified by the late Iyaloja General of the Federation, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, last year.

The LACEC President, however, maintained that the Babaloja group

• Fashola violates government instructions by reveling in street trading, thereby causing obstructions.

He said the market is a spares' market and not a commodity market and as such, there is no need for Babaloja. "Such appointments are for commodity markets," he said.

Now, the matter rests in the hands of the X Squad Unit of the state Police Command, mandated by Commissioner of Police Umar Manko to find lasting solution to the crisis.

Both parties, The Nation learnt, had been attending deliberations with the Officer in Charge (OC) and other officers of the squad.

'How foundation helped my career'

“I

had thought my future was bleak, but when Ajoke Ipaye Foundation stepped in, it turned my saving grace - a turning point in my life began."

With these words, Miss Mary Abisola Adenubi, a 300-level law undergraduate at the University of Ibadan, stunned a large gathering at the 2013 Ajoke Ipaye Educational Foundation Scholarship Award ceremony.

Five university students benefitted from its 4th edition held at the Beje High School, Okeagbo, Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State.

The 23-year-old student went down memory lane to 2009 when she passed out in flying colours at both the West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE May/June O/L) and the then Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Examination.

Then, she expected no support from anywhere.

"When an opportunity presented itself through Ajoke Ipaye Educational Foundation by sheer providence, I was among the lucky five indigent but brilliant students that were shortlisted for the award. That was how my story changed. Then it dawned on me that I would be great in my own country, Nigeria," she told a jubilant crowd.

• L-R: Mrs Adenubi, her daughter, Mary; Adebayo, Afosi, Dr Ipaye, Ayoola and Odulana ... at the event

By Dada Aladelokun, Assistant Editor Four beneficiaries at the award's maiden edition, which was held on May 14, 2010 at the Naira International Hotel, Ijebu-Igbo, to commemorate the 40th birthday celebration of its promoter, Babatunde Ipaye, a medical practitioner, were: Miss Mariam Afosi, a Microbiology undergraduate at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ife, Osun State; Mr Sakiru Adebayo, an English Studies undergraduate at the University of Ibadan, Miss Kehinde Odulana, an Animal Production and Health Science undergraduate at Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State and

Miss Ayobami Ayoola, a Microbiology undergraduate at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State Praising Ipaye, Chairperson of the foundation, Prof (Mrs) Mojisola Ogungbe, recalled how, in 1986, Ipaye got help from Prestige Sisters Club and Rotary Club of Ijebu-Igbo, who offered him N1, 000 annual scholarships for his medical course at the then Ogun State University, now Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye.

"Babatunde Ipaye was a poor, but brilliant and intelligent boy then. It was through the intervention both organisations that he sat for the WASCE and made seven distinctions and two credits. The N1, 000 scholar-

ships transformed his life,” she said.

Speaking on "unlocking your potentials," Dr Bola Adekola, Deputy Registrar, Olabisi Onabanjo University urged the students from four secondary schools in Ijebu-Igbo; Molusi College, Abusi Edumare Academy, Kego Grammar School and IjebuIgbo Girls Grammar School, to study very hard.

Besides other promises, Ipaye said: "Next year, I will increase my support to N200, 000 for those reading Law and N250, 000 for those studying medicine and surgery."

He also pledged the donation of a generating set each to both senior and junior classes of the Beje High School, his alma mater.

11

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

C ITYBEATS Bishop condemns child marriage

CITYBEATS LINE: 07059022999

THE Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, His Grace, Most Rev Alfred Adewale Martins, has called on the Senate to rescind their recent passage of a resolution not to amend the provisions of Section 29 (4b) of the1999 Constitution on the vexed issue of child marriage.

"Giving consent to such obnoxious provisions would deprive many a girl-child the right to grow into healthy and productive adults including robbing children of their childhood," he stressed.

He made the call last Saturday while cutting the anniversary cake and blessing of the new Saint Anthony's Police Catholic Chaplaincy at the Highway Patrol Barracks, opposite Area F Police Command, Ikeja, Lagos. The cleric said the church had united people of different ethnic groups.

Rt Rev Msgr K.A. Aniagwu, the Epis-

By Ebele Boniface copal Vicar Ikeja region, commended Rev Fr (ASP) Paul Omotosho for his developmental efforts and spiritual leadership since he became the Priest of the Police Chaplaincy.

Chief Columbus Okaro, who chaired the event, called on senior police officers to see Omotosho, first as a spiritual leader before a police officer. He urged them to give him the respect he deserves to enable him steer the ship of the chaplaincy.

Donations were made towards the growth of the church by High Chief Godwin Okezie Nwabuko, Group Managing Director, KEZBON International Limited; spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, Deputy Superintendent (DSP), Ngozi Braide, and Chief Okaro among other guests.

IGP moves to save cleric's life

• The jet ... being admired by residents

Locally-made amphibian jet causes stir

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ALENTED Durojaiye Obasanjo cut the picture of a hero at the moment. He was the cynosure of all eyes at the spot in Ikeja, the Lagos State capital, where his locally designed and manufactured amphibian jet was on display.

It was around the popular "Ikeja Railway." A large crowd gathered to watch the invention. Most of the observers willingly donated towards the project; they urged the government at all levels to encourage talented youths like Obasanjo.

Obasanjo, who hit the lime-light in 1990, when military President Ibrahim Babaginda visited his first invention, was sighted exhibiting his work and soliciting funds from well-wishers.

According to Obasanjo, he has achieved two out of the three goals he set out to actualise with the jet, which was designed to ply roads, sail and fly.

He said the jet, at the moment, had sailed on water and plied the roads, but could not yet fly.

By Precious Igbonwelundu Obasanjo said he resorted to fund-raising because he did not want his dream to die. To that end, he produced video CDs, which he gave out to donors who supported the project.

On whether he had got government support since he embarked on the project, Obasanjo said: "I only got a commendation letter from the federal government in 1995 and a promise that they would do something, but till date, nothing has been done. It is sad that our government does not encourage local talent. I have spent about N650, 000 in this project alone and I will continue till I complete it.

"What is left now is for the jet to fly. You can see how I have been driving it and it has also been driven on the sea. I drove it from one end of Third Mainland Bridge to the other, as deep as that sea is, and nothing happened.

"Government should encourage

local content. More than 70 percent of the materials used are local materials. There are local talents in this country, which are not developed. As a child, I invented so many things including a remotely controlled car.

"It is just my talent. I did not learn it in school; I had been doing this before I went to school.

The only problem is that I lack the financial capability to pursue my projects to the letter."

Obviously worried, Obasanjo added: "I started this project in 2009; it took me ten weeks to develop its prototype. Now, it can only move on land and sea, which is where my financial capability can take it. The jet uses Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and solar energy. Although solar energy is more economical, PMS is faster."

Saying that he wants Nigeria to be the first nation to built and mass-produce amphibian jets, he said if it is done on a large scale, the prototype would cost as low as N250, 000 per jet.

Robbers attack Deputy Commissioner's home

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HREE armed men yesterday stormed the home of a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in Alakuko area of Lagos.

It was gathered that the men shot a woman simply identified as Mama Samuel, while trying to escape.

Police sources told The Nation that the hoodlums, who came on a motorcycle, allegedly trailed the wife

By Jude Isiguzo of the DCP to the house. She was said to be returning from an outing around 3pm.

Sources said as she was trying to drive into her compound, the robbers followed her and ordered her to lead them into her bedroom from where jewelry and other valuables

carted taken away.

It was learnt that the same group had earlier attacked a church in the area, making away with musical instruments.

However, police spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP) said there was no such incident.

Instal our monarch, community urges govt

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HE Odofin of Igbobi-Sabe, Yaba, Lagos State, Chief Nosiru Shontan, yesterday led the community to appeal to the state governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, to install its Oba-elect, Prince Lateef Salami, to end the lingering crisis in the area.

Chief Shontan, who also chairs the Igbobi-Sabe Council of Traditional Chiefs, said that the appeal become necessary because the community had been without a traditional ruler for years and thus, retarding its development.

He told reporters that Prince Salami was unanimously elected during the 14th general meeting of

By Uyoatta Eshiet Igbobi-Sabe community on March 7, 2010 as people's preferred candidate to fill the vacant throne.

He said Prince Salami's nomination and election were done in line with established customs, traditional and due process, adding that the authorities in charge of the chieftaincy matters at the local and state levels had been duly informed.

Chief Shontan, who stated that Prince Salami's candidature was equally endorsed by the three ruling houses in the town, explained that most of the developmental programmes initiated by members

of the community could not be vigorously pursued in the absence of a recognised traditional ruler who could liaise with local and state government.

He added that the community would be glad if the state government could listen to the people's voice and install Prince Salami as the next Oba of the community.

Also present at the media parley were other prominent members of the community, including: Balogun of Igbobi-Sabe, Chief S.A. Falola; Alhaji Chief Taiwo Bello, the Asalu; Chief Y.A Bashir Fashinu, and the Amona of the community, Chief Oguntoyinbo Fadesuyi.

ALLEGED persistent death threats on a Lagos cleric, Most Senior Evangelist Bola Odupitan and his spouse, Aderonke, by a former Ogun State commissioner within the past two years, have taken a new dimension.

The Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar, The Nation learnt yesterday, had intervened by ordering a thorough investigation into the matter.

A crack team of three special investigators from the IGP Monitoring Unit, Police Headquarters, Abuja, has been dispatched to Lagos for "full scale" investigation of the alleged persistent threats, which started from November 2011 without "ceasing."

In his petition, forwarded to the police chief, dated July 22, 2013, the cleric had alleged that he and his spouse had been under various threats since his contractual relation-

By Uyoatta Eshiet ship with a person introduced to them for employment, who was later found to be a relation of the said excommissioner, got awry.

The investigators, it was learnt, successfully interrogated the petitioner and his spouse, "who have been living in fear and panic" at their Amuwo Odofin, Lagos home since November 2011.

His family's lawyer, the petitioner, further alleged, received a text message on February 25 from a telephone number belonging to the said excommissioner, threatening to "embarrass" his family publicly.

Top police sources at the Monitoring Unit, Kam Salem House, Obalende, Lagos, kept sealed lips when contacted for comments over the matter at the weekend.

Philanthropist donates library IN bid to uplift the reading culture among youths in schools, a philanthropist, Chief Kessington Adebutu, has donated a library to Surulere Primary School, Surulere, Lagos State. It was commissioned by the Executive Chairman, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, Mrs Gbolahan Daodu.

Adebutu, fondly known as 'Baba Ijebu, said: "Over the years, the academic standard of our schools fell enormously due to inadequate funding. To run schools effectively, government requires the support of private sector and public spirited individuals.

"An educated and healthy man can never go hungry. This is the belief that inspires me to always associate with the development of this important sector at all levels, so that we can liberate our people from the shack-

By Jane Chijioke les of illiteracy, poverty, ignorance, hunger and self pity. When you educate people, you set them free for life as you raise them above the line of poverty and ignorance. When you increase their knowledge, you make them truly independent and confident because education is the most valuable asset you can give to somebody which can never be taken away."

The library is equipped with books and furniture. It is meant for all the primary schools within Surulere Local government Area.

The SUBEB chair thanked Adebutu for the gesture and urged the public and corporate organisations to assist government in bringing education to the door-step of all.

A pupil of the school, Akintunde Ojo, thanked Adebutue on behalf of its management team.

LAWMA warns residents THE Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has warned residents to desist from spreading clothes on the highway.

In a statement by the agencies head of Public Relations, Mrs Shade Kadiri, it condemned the indiscriminate spread of clothing materials and other personal effects on the front pieces of houses on the major highways across the state.

According to the statement, it has become a major nuisance to both residents and visitors to the state. It urged residents to support government efforts at cleaning up the state and protecting the environment.

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie Assistant Editor It said: "The spread of such wares in front of houses sends wrong signals to visitors to the state as a place where there is no orderliness and respect for the environment. LAWMA considers these displayed materials and clothing's as dirt which should be evacuated."

The statement urged all residents, especially those living along the major highways, to utilise the back sections of their various homes for spreading their washed clothes and other wares.

Police woman’s dad for burial THE remains of the late father of the spokesperson, Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), Mr Cyprain Uzoma Nwadike, will be buried on September 28.

The man, according to Braide, died after a brief illness. "He was 57. His wake-keep will hold on Septemter 27, while he will be buried the next day in his compound in Okigwe, Imo State," she said, adding: "We will miss him

By Ebele Boniface for being a devout Christian known for his uprightness."

In their condolence messages, the officer in charge, Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS), SP Abba Kyari, and the President, Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN) Christopher Orji, beseeched God to grant Braide and the bereaved family the fortitude to bear the loss..

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

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NEWS Ethiopian Airlines flies to Enugu

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

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THIOPIAN Airlines at the weekend said it will start flying to Enugu State on August 24, thereby becoming the first international carrier to fly to the city.

Enugu Airport, otherwise known as Akanu Ibiam International Airport, is the only international airport terminal in the Southeast, which was remodelled by the Federal Government.

Ethiopian Airlines would also increase its five weekly flights to Abuja.

The airline will operate four times a week to Enugu, its 76th destination.

Ethiopian Airlines, an indigenous and truly Pan African airline, is one of the oldest carriers flying to Nigeria and has been serving the country since 1960, strengthening trade, cultural and tourism ties between Nigeria and the rest of the world.

Now, passengers from Enugu will have direct flight connections to many destinations in Africa, Middle East, Asia, South America and Europe with the youngest and modern fleet on the continent and enjoy the usual Ethiopian hospitality.

Police arrest ‘gay pastor’ in Abia

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40-year-old self styled prophet, Benjamin Ndubuisi, has been arrested in Aba, Abia State, for allegedly having unlawful sex with a 23-year-old male parishioner, Ndukwe Oko. It was gathered that Oko took ill some weeks ago and, worried by his continued deteriorating health condition, confessed to his family about “the secret love affair” between him and the prophet.

Sources said the victim’s

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parents reported to the police and the cleric was arrested.

They said: “When the combined team invaded Prophet Ndubuisi’s church, magical incenses and oil, among other spiritual items, were recovered from a shrine within the premises.”

Police spokesman Geoffrey Ogbonna said the cleric reportedly confessed

that he was gay and that the victim is one of his church workers.

Ogbonna said Ndubuisi told the police that he had slept with the victim 17 times.

The spokesman said the victim was receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital, adding that he would soon be charged to court.

Some residents said: “It is very shameful this is happening in churches nowa-

days. Proliferation of churches is causing more harm than good in our society today.

“Churches are now turning into a hatchery of evil.

He should thank his stars that he is still alive to face trial.

“Parents should always monitor their wards.

“The unfortunate thing is that most crimes such as this are committed by people who are trusted by the parents.”

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

THE National Chairman of the United Progressives Party (UPP), Chekwas Okorie and other members of the National Working Committee will officially launch the party in Owerri, the Imo State capital, today.

Briefing reporters at the party secretariat, the state Chairman, Kenna Njemanze, said the national officers would sensitise the people on the need to embrace the party as a viable platform for Ndigbo.

He said during the visit, the State Working Committee would be sworn in; the state secretariat would be inaugurated.

“We’re looking forward to the visit which we are sure will shore up the membership base in the state and the Southeast.

“We are calling on everyone who has the political interest of Ndigbo at heart to identify with the UPP.”

Anambra distributes cassava From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi •From Delta State Governor, Dr.emmanuel Uduaghan congratulating Mr Joel Onowakpor-thomas as Chairman Board of Internal Revenue.PHOTO BRIPIN ENARUSAI AND.JIBUNOR SAMUEL

Onu is Ebonyi APC leader FORMER National Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Ogbonnaya Onu, has emerged leader of the newlyregistered All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State.

A former member of the House of Representatives, Innocent Ugo-Chima, announced this yesterday in Abakaliki, after the inaugural meeting of the APC. Ugo-Chima said Onu was chosen because of his role in the merger process that saw the former Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), ANPP and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) forming the new party.

“His great contributions to the enhancement of democracy in the country and his fatherly disposition to the opposition in Ebonyi also made us choose him as our leader.

“The party’s Acting Deputy Financial Secretary, Jacob Chukwu, will also serve as our deputy leader, due to his involvement in the party’s affairs at the national level.

“We have credible individuals who will pool their resources to ensure that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) becomes the opposition in 2015,” he said.

A former governorship aspirant, Mrs. Frances Mgbada, said all legal and other contending issues, involving the merging parties, will not be transferred to the APC. "These issues eclipsed after the merger.

"This sort of meeting would be continuous to enable us strategise effectively to emerge victorious in future elections in the state," she said.

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

UPP for launch in Imo

Why I joined APC, by Okorocha •Says APGA’s suspension irrelevant

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MO State Governor Rochas Okorocha has said he joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) to salvage and secure the political future of Ndigbo, which he said has suffered immensely.

Reacting to his suspension by a section of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the governor, who is in Atlanta, United States of America, attending the Imo State Congress, said the political fortunes of Ndigbo are better served in the new mega party.

He said the wellbeing of Ndigbo remains paramount and he would continue to take steps to assist Igbo to regain their rightful place in the nation’s political equation.

“The APC remains the best vehicle to promote the interest of our people.”

Okorocha, who spoke through his deputy, Eze Madumere, said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has

‘Ojukwu would have embraced APC’

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HE Southeast zone of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the late All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, would have been the first Igbo to join the mega party.

“Let’s not forget that our revered leader, Dim Ojukwu, was the first Board of Trustees (BOT) Chairman of the All Peoples Party (APP) and if he was alive, he would have been the first Igbo to join the APC. “It is the considered view of APC Southeast Zone that 14 years down the line Ndigbo gave unalloyed support to the PDP From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

marginalised the Southeast and has nothing to show for all its years in power.

He urged Ndigbo to embrace the APC because it guarantees equity and political opportunities denied the zone by the PDP. Okorocha said the purported action of a faction of

From Chris Oji, Enugu

without commensurate result; hence it will be foolhardy to continue.

“In 1999, PDP promised and repeatedly before 2003, 2007, 2011 elections the dualisation of Abakaliki-Enugu, AbiaAkwa-Ibom, Kogi-Anambra expressways, reconstruction of Port Harcourt-Enugu, Onitsha-Enugu roads, Enugu Coal-FiredPlant, second Niger Bridge, Onitsha Port etc.

“The rest, they say, is history, as we are yet to see any ship berthing at the Onitsha Sea Port or the second Niger Bridge. What we saw was patching of roads.”

APGA is of little political consequence as the party lacks the national spread to ensure that Igbo make significant headway in the nation’s political leadership.

Okorocha urged Ndigbo to channel their energies and resources towards the development of their homeland and suggested a set date for Nigerians in the diaspora to

return home.

“Our people should learn to leave America and return home at a certain date to contribute meaningfully to the development of our dear state.”

He pledged the commitment of his administration towards providing an enabling environment to assist those willing to return home.

Hotelier’s wife seeks restraint on husband’s property

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KIRU, wife of Chief Bonaventure Mokwe, the owners of the demolished Upper Class Hotel, Onitsha, Anambra State, has urged the state government and Police Commissioner to stop tampering with her husband’s property.

Upper Class Hotel was demolished following the alleged discovery of four human heads on the premises.

Speaking at the weekend with The Nation, Mrs Mokwe said: ’’I am passionately appealing to Governor Peter Obi and Police Commissioner Bala

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Onitsha

Nasarawa to hold on for a while and give my husband a fair hearing, as a law-abiding citizen, before taking further actions against his property.

“I heard they would demolish his plaza at OseOkwodu. Although it is still a rumour, I appeal to them to arraign my husband in court. Whatever a court of competent jurisdiction says should be obeyed by every law-abiding citizen.

“It is not a matter that some people, who are

opportune to be in authority, seeing themselves as above the law, even in a democratic society.

“I expect that in a democratic system, we should follow due process in handling a situation like this. We all must be committed to fighting crime. But it should not be at the expense of innocent citizens being framed up without being heard. We should all be advocates of due process and rule of law.

It should not be selective.”

Mrs Mokwe said due process and rule of law should be followed in prosecuting her husband.

She feared for her

husband’s safety in the hands of State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) office.

The hotelier’s wife said her husband is innocent, though he is into real estate.

According to her, Mokwe has followed due process and rule of law in dealing with his clients and business associates.

She stressed that those who wrote the petition against her husband were desperate, because they planted “rusty” human skulls and AK47 rifles in one of the commercial rooms.

ANAMBRA State Governor Peter Obi at the weekend launched the distribution of high pro-vitamin “A” yellow cassava cuttings to farmers.

A statement by Obi’s media aide, Valentine Obienyem, said the exercise was launched in Awka, the state capital.

The governor presented a new utility vehicle and 21 computers to enhance implementation of the programme.

Obi said the vehicles should be used for the execution of the project.

The computers are for monitoring and evaluation of the outcome of the new cassava variety.

We’ll end PDP rule, says lawmaker From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

A member of the House of Representatives representing Ibadan North Federal Constituency, Abiodun Awoleye, has said the final registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is the beginning of the end to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rule in Nigeria.

In a statement by his media aide, Musliudeen Adebayo, the lawmaker said the registration of APC is the conception of the desired change Nigerians have been yearning for.

He described APC as the party to take the mantle of leadership at all levels, which will provide dynamic representation to Nigerians in 2015.

“This is a party that will provide a vibrant opposition to PDP and provide dynamic and responsive government to Nigerians when it finally takes over the mantle of leadership from PDP in 2015.”

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

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THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

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NEWS RAMADAN KAREEM

SOLAT TIME (Oyo) Fajr Zuhr Asr Magrib Ishai

– 5:20 – 12:51 – 4:10 – 7:04 – 8:15

am pm pm pm pm

(Anambra)

(Niger) Fajr Zuhr Asr Magrib Ishai

– 5:06 – 12:42 – 3:59 – 6:58 – 8:10

Fajr Zuhr Asr Magrib Ishai

am pm pm pm pm

– 5:08 – 12:38 – 3:58 – 6:50 – 8:00

Ramadan 27st, 1434AH

am pm pm pm pm (Source: Islamicfinder.org)

Nigerians advised to assist prison inmates

By Rizqah Ramoni

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IGERIANS have been urged to assist the vulnerable, especially the prison inmates.

This call was made by a Kirikiri Maximum Prison warder, Mr Musiliu Adeniran during a visit by members of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Lagos State University (LASU), Anthony Campus branch.

Adeniran said the unavailability of funds to finance the education of inmates, who are in school, has been a major deterrent to their hope for a better future.

He urged the wealthy to come to their aid.

In his address to the inmates, leader of the delegation, Adam Abdul Mumin said Allah does not hate them but was merely keeping them in prison for a purpose.

Abdul Mumin enjoined the inmates to hope and pray for a second chance and sincerely repent from whatever sin committed.

•Vice President Namadi Sambo (right), being received by Saudi Arabia protocol officer, Khaled Al- Abad, at the King Abdul- Aziz International Airport, Jeddah, on Saturday, on his way to Makka for Umrah.

With them is Nigeria’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia Abubakar Shuni.

‘Use Ramadan teaching to spread peace’

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FOREMOST Islamic group Nasrul-Lahi-LFatih Society of Nigeria has appealed to Muslims to use the spiritual benefit acquired in Ramadan to

RAMADAN GUIDE WITH FEMI ABBAS

e-mail: femabbas@yahoo.com Tel: 08122697498

Evidence of Guidance

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•From left: Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) Amirah (President) Ekiti State Chapter Alhaja Fausat Ahmed-Yusuf; Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu and wife of the Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, during the Iftar (breaking of fast) hosted by the governor's wife for FOMWAN members at the Government House Mosque, Ado-Ekiti.

T couldn’t have been in vain for any genuine Muslim who has gone through the sacred month of Ramadan with genuine intention. Allah’s irreversible promise has guaranteed that. One full month of spiritual dedication is not minor in the life of man. Of all the religions of the world, whether in the primordial or contemporary time, Islam is quite distinct both in ethical and spiritual dictum.

To abstain from eating and drinking as well as sexual intercourse throughout the 30 or 29 days of the month of Ramadan and keep waking up in the nights of the month could only have been according to the command of the Almighty Allah.

Ramadan is a heavily pregnant month. Going through it is like going through the process of procreation in which an ordinary spermatozoa turns into a clot and then turns into meat-like substance and then into a foetus before growing into a full-fledged baby waiting to be delivered after maturity.

The process of Tarawih, Sahur and fasting for a whole month through which Muslims obligatorily pass every year in order to gain a spiritual rebirth is a clear evidence of divine guidance for those who follow it scrupulously. The last ten days of Ramadan is particularly typical of that divine guidance in which self-seclusion is involved. And the Night of Power (Laylatul Qadr) which is divinely classified as more profitable than 1000 ordinary nights is quite unique. What other thing can be compared to that in the spiritual realm?

In addition, there is an obligatory alms giving called Zakatul Fitr which caps up the various spiritual activities of the month, the like of which cannot be found in any other religion. This is also followed by a festival that forms an anticlimax of the month of Ramadan through which man’s natural festive mood is renewed.

The real essence of going through this process is to return to the spiritually guided path from which human beings might have deviated in the previous 11 months. And thereafter, Muslims will be made to face challenges of religious provocation and satanic temptation both of which may come to test strength of their renewed faith. As a Muslim, you will be called names and maligned. You will be insulted and deni

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

spread peace in their various communities.

NASFAT President Alhaji Sheriff Yussuf said this during the organisation’s Lailatul-Quadri (night of Majesty) in Abuja at the weekend.

He prayed for unity and prosperity in good health for Nigerians.

Represented by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Zone Chairman, Shewudeen Giwa, a lawyer, Yussuf said: “The message of Ramadan revolves around self-restraint and denial, self discipline and sacrifice for the good of a larger population, mutual compassion and peaceful cohabitation with others in the community.

“Sharing part of our endowments and caring for the less-privileged as well as strengthening our moral values of integrity, honesty and mutual support for progress must be made to radiate around Muslims and then applied to affect general standard of conduct in our local communities.

“This is indeed what our

membership of NASFAT and identity as Muslims behoves on us and we must strive to achieve the standard.”

Yussuf stressed the need for education and spiritual development at all times.

The night, he said, must be used for spiritual attainment, and not for fund-raising or praising of selected individuals and institutions.

OIC urges UN to intervene in Myanmar

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HE world’s largest Muslim organisation, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has called on the United Nations (UN) to wade into the continuous persecution of the people of Rohingya in Myanmar.

A statement by an Islamic group said: “Not a single Mosque since the beginning of Ramadan was allowed to operate in Rohingya (Muslim) areas of Burma. No salat, no Jumat service, no Taraweeh, no Adhan (call to prayer), just nothing like Ramadan. Not even funeral prayers are allowed.”

It urged warring parties in the Muslim world to halt infighting during Ramadan.

OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, appealed to Muslims not to forget the persecuted Muslim minority in Burma.

“I cannot fail to draw attention to the suffering of our brothers from the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar (Burma) and the renewal of their suffering from the continuing widespread atrocities against them,” he said.

“I call upon all Muslims to help alleviate the suffering of these vulnerable people. I

also call upon the neighboring countries to look with compassion and kindness to the displaced people from this minority who have sought refuge with them,” he added.

According to Ihsanoglu, the Rohingya Muslims are described by the UN as one of the world’s most persecuted minorities, facing a catalogue of discrimination in their

homeland.

“The Rohingya are deprived of free movement, education and employment in Burma.

They are not recognised as an ethnic minority by the Burmese authorities and they suffer human rights abuses in the hands of government officials. Thousands of Rohingya Muslims have been displaced from their homes

in Burma after deadly waves of sectarian violence with the Buddhist majority,” he said.

Ihsanoglu called on Muslims to offer charity to the less fortunate in the spirit of Ramadan.

“I renew my call as well for all to help and support the needy in various regions of the Islamic world as is the case of the Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries,”” he said.

‘Fasting should not be seen as ritual’

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AJORITY Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly Ajibayo Adeyeye has said Ramadan period should not be seen as a ritual but rather a way of life.

He enjoined people not go back to the bad behaviour they left when Ramadan began.

Adeyeye spoke at the Ramadan lecture he organised for Muslims in his constituency at Kosofe.

According to him, “you leave some bad behaviour during fasting and I know the holy books preach that you should not go back to them after fasting. That is the most important message any

By Oziegbe Okoeki

Muslim and Christian should take out of the fasting period. Whatever you left during fasting, you should strive not to go back to them after the period of fasting.”

Though a Christian, Adeyeye said as a public officer, he has both Christians and Muslims in his constituency.

Commenting on the lecture, delivered by Imam AbdulQuadri Kilani, Adeyeye said it is all about peace, well being and for the people to behave well.

“I don’t see any reason why any well-meaning Nigerian will not support that.

That was why I decided to

support them and ensure that the lecture went well and you can see it was well attended.

“The most important message in the lecture was that of unity and peaceful co-existence among Christians and Muslims and the fact that we have enjoyed a relative peace in this part of the country than other parts; to encourage our people to continue to live together as we have always done. We have inter-marriages between Christians and Muslims here and we don’t want that to stop because that has gone a long way to help peaceful coexistence,” Adeyeye said.

RAMADAN DIET “The Prophet said: “Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the worst of false tales; and do not look for the others’ faults and do not spy, and do not be jealous of one another, and do not desert (cut your relation with) one another, and do not hate one another; and O Allah’s worshipers! Be brothers (as Allah has ordered you!’)”

- Prophet Muhammad Sponsored by HON. ABDULRASHEED ABIODUN & ALHAJA OYEDOYIN MAFE, Chairman, Mosan-Okunola LCDA, Lagos

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

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NEWS

NEITI’s Report: PPPRA debunks ‘outrageous’ claims

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HE Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has debunked the audit report of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), which said the agency should remit N4.423 billion to the Federal Government.

PPPRA’s Executive Secretary Reginald Stanley told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja yesterday that NEITI’s report “is steeped in inaccuracies and gross misrepresentation of facts”.

He added: “The report has a glaring potential to mislead the public and further cast aspersions on the activities of the PPPRA as a key administrator of the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF),” Stanley said.

On July 29, NEITI released its 2009-2011 audit report on the oil and gas sector. It recommended that the PPPRA should remit N4.423 billion, arising from what it called an “over-recovery” collected to the Federation Account for the period in review.

The report also ordered other establishments to refund some money to the Federal Government.

“The PPPRA wishes to state unequivocally that the statement credited to the NEITI chairman is misleading and a gross misrepresentation of facts.

“We note with dismay NEITI’s admission that it had no absolute control of its sources of data as they were derived information and data provided through its own in-

•‘It’s inaccurate, misleading’ dependent auditors as well as companies doing business in the sector.

“Such over-reliance on secondary data must have accounted for the glaringly flawed computations presented in the report,” the agency said.

Stanley explained that the N4.423 billion “over-recovery” that the PPPRA was asked to remit was not correct.

According to him, only the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has an outstanding payment of about N3.98 billion to be paid into the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) account.

“The total over-recovery advised for the nine marketers in 2008-2009 amounted to N14,073,783,779.74; the total amount paid to the account with CBN was N6,966,185,316.65, with the sum of N3,126,587,419.98 netoff by the Federal Ministry of Finance.”

He explained that “the PPPRA does not disburse or ‘warehouse’ subsidy funds as suggested by the report,” stating that the agency only processed documents submitted by marketers for subsidy payments.

“PPPRA merely verifies and processes import subsidy documents as submitted by marketers, while forwarding same to the Federal Ministry of Finance, which is statutori-

ly charged with the responsibility of approving payments under the PSF scheme.”

The executive secretary said there was need for NEITI to meticulously cross-check its facts and figures with relevant agencies before making such report public.

He said it was instructive to note NEITI’s admission of the fact that it had no absolute control of its sources of data, adding: “such a possibly deficient source must have accounted for the glaringly subjective computations presented in the report’’.

The PPPRA chief said the agency was alarmed to discover that most observations and clarifications earlier made were ignored and not reflected in the final report released to the public.

“We wish to advise that NEITI takes a second look at our initial observations and clarifications, while reconciling its figures with those of both the PSF and Federation Accounts.”

Stanley affirmed that there was no discrepancy in PPPRA’s records and the CBN, where the PSF account was domiciled.

He said the responsibility of payment shifted from PPPRA to the Ministry of Finance, following the introduction of the Sovereign Debt Statement and the Sovereign Debt Note in 2009.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

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Dangers of ASUU strike, by ex-NUC boss

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ORMER Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) Prof. Peter Okebukola yesterday listed the dangers of the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to the university system.

Okebukola, in a telephone interview with our correspondent, said the strike could affect the quality of graduates from the universities, because the time lost due to strike cannot be gained after the strike.

He said strikes usually force lecturers to condense curriculla and rush students to examinations thereafter.

This situation, Okebukola warned, is a recipe for halfbaked products.

The former NUC boss said strike erodes public image of universities.

His words: “Locally, the public is unimpressed with the universities on account of the frequency of strikes.

“Globally, there is the usual sneer when Nigerian universities are mentioned and a quick link with unstable academic calendar due to frequent strikes.

“This image robs graduates of our tertiary institutions of international esteem even when their worth has not been proven through employment.

“Additionally, top-rate universities that are desirous of staff and student exchange will elect to partner with universities with stable academic calendar in other parts of Africa.”

Many potential students, Okebukola said, prefer universities in neighbouring African countries, including Ghana, Benin and Togo, not because of superiority of academic programmes but stability of their academic calendar.

The ex-NUC boss said these countries earn huge revenue from Nigerian students attending their universities.

He said when the university shuts down due to strikes, “staff are paid, even if it is several months after, but they end up

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

being paid”.

He said: “The university runs and pays for services, such as power and water as well as running and maintenance of vehicles.

“An estimate of this internal and external loss to the Nigerian public university system for one month of total strike involving all the unions is in the neighbourhood of N38.2 billion.”

He also listed the psychological effect of strike on students who have to stay idle at home, lamenting their woes and causing irritation to parents.

The ex-NUC boss said idle students engage in social vices, including joining bad gangs and take part in internet fraud, adding “not a few cases of pregnancy of young undergraduates during the period of strike have been reported”.

He added: “It would appear that the major gains of the Nigerian university system in terms of improved conditions of service for staff and improvement in the physical conditions for teaching, learning and re-

search have been attained as “dividends of strikes”.

“In my case, for example, the exponential jump of my salary as a professor from N13,500 in 1996 to N520,000 in 2013 is attributable to nothing else but pressure on government brought about by series of ASUU strikes.

“There is no university system in the world that has no strike history. However, ours in Nigeria is in the extreme with strikes lingering for months.

“In North America, Europe and Asia where the top-ranked universities reside, strikes last for a few hours or maximum one day.

“The unions in Nigerian universities should be entreated to explore dialogue to the fullest before calling out their members on strike. Government, also, should not enter into agreements it knows it cannot honour Okebukola appealed to ASUU to call off the strike and give the Governor Gabriel Suswam-led National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy Assessment Implementation Committee time to ensure a speedy reso-

lution of the funding element of the dispute.

On the insistence of ASUU on full implementation of its agreement with government he said: “An agreement is an agreement. The union is doing the right thing to insist on its full implementation since it was duly signed by both parties.

“However, the missing element is in government not being proactive enough keep the union in the communication loop when certain provisions in the agreement cannot be met within the timeline specified.

“Perhaps, government did and the public is unaware. This is why it is expedient for all parties to lay their cards face up for Nigerians to see so that when strikes are called, we can take informed positions.”

“The ASUU mass communication machinery is clearly more oiled than that of government.

“We should realise that the 2009 agreement will not be the last that ASUU will propose.

“It is typically a 3-5 year cycle and we must learn at least three lessons from the past as we prepare for a possible 2013 or 2014 agreement.”

Ihejirika seeks more cash for security

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HE Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, yesterday called for increased budgetary allocation to security outfits because of the prevailing security challenges.

Lt-Gen. Ihejirika spoke at the graduation ceremony of the Basic Counter-terrorism Course 12 of the Nigerian Army Training Centre in Kontagora, Niger.

He said more officers needed to be trained in counter-terrorism, to meet the level of manpower required to cope with security challenges in the country.The army chief, who was represented by the Commander, Corps of Artillery, Maj.-Gen. A.K. Kwaskebe, praised the Federal Government for funding various security agencies in the country.

“Government is trying its best in terms of resources, that is why the training is going on as expected but it is not easy to train people for such challenges that we face today in our

country. We appreciate support from government as well as the entire citizens of Nigeria. Mr President has been funding the Nigerian Army and we appreciate his efforts.”

He said the army had recorded a lot of improvements as demonstrated by young officers during the internal security operations in Northeast Nigeria, which had led to improved security.

“That is to show you that the training here and the products from this place are imparting positively on our war against terror.

“We need more than the number we have trained so far; the number of officers being trained is insufficient, in order words we need more people for training so as to beef up security the more in our country,” he said.

One hundred and eighty-seven officers, including five officers from the Central African Republic, participated in the two months training programme.

Lincoln University appoints Dickson Visitor

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AYELSA State Governor Seriake Dickson has been appointed into the International Board of Visitors of the prestigious Lincoln University in the United States.

In a letter to the governor, the President of the university’s Board of Visitors, Robert Jennings, said the appointment was based on Dickson’s track record of achievements.

He said the university has closely followed the governor’s achievements since

his assumption of office, adding that the university is proud of the various steps he has taken to reposition the state and make it more relevant in all spheres of national life.

In his acceptance letter, Dickson described Lincoln University as an institution with unbreakable historic ties to Nigeria and Africa, being the university that produced great African leaders, such as the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and the late Kwame Nkrumah.

He said he would commit

himself to strengthening the vital bridge between the university and Africa, especially Nigeria.

The acceptance letter reads: “Being the university that produced Nnamdi Azikiwe, my country’s first President, and other monuments to African progress such as Kwame Nkrumah, Lincoln has unbreakable historic ties to Africa and Nigeria.

“I am eager to join you in advancing this rich tradition.

As you have extended this

•Dickson

honour to me, I reciprocate by committing myself to strengthening the vital bridge between your institution and Africa, particularly Nigeria. You shall find me a reliable friend and emissary in support of efforts to expand the educational, cultural, and social links the university now shares with Africa.

“As the first university to award degrees to AfricanAmericans and because of the many outstanding graduates who have contributed to the progress of our people, Lincoln holds a special place in the history of the black race. As a member of the Board of Visitors, I am morally obligated to honour that history.”

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

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THE NATION MONDAY,AUGUST 5, 2013

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COMMENTARY FROM OTHER LANDS

EDITORIALS

Sorry, no dividend!

• If firms can’t pay dividends for five consecutive years, then check the business environment

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HREE immediate conclusions can be drawn from the report by the Nigeria Stock Exchange, NSE, that 57 quoted firms have not paid dividends to their shareholders in half a decade. The first is that efforts to reposition the capital market since the 2008 crisis– at least as far as returning the balance sheets of the affected companies into profitability is concerned – are yet to yield the desired fruits. The other possible indication is failure of regulation – a major issue which explains why the market came to ruin in the first place. The third of course is that the fundamentals of the economy – as against the rosy picture of growth painted by the Federal Government in the last decade – have not substantially changed.

One clearest indication of this is that 57 companies out of the 197 listed in the NSE document, representing some 28.9 percent of the lot are spread across different sectors of the economy. For instance, out of the seven quoted companies in the beverages-brewers/distillers sub-sector, four have not paid dividends for up to 15 years. In the banking subsector, the two banks affected – Wema Bank and Union Bank – have both not paid dividends in the last five years.

In the pharmaceutical sub-sector, Evans Medical, Nigerian-German Chemicals and Pharma-Deko were said to have last paid any dividends in 2005, 2006 and 2008, respectively. The same applies to the construction/real estate sector where four out of the six listed companies have not paid dividends in the last five years.

Even the petroleum products distribution sub-sector is not left out; two companies Eterna and Afroil, have not paid dividends for 14 and 21 years, respectively.

For whatever its worth, the report should come as no surprise. To start with, nothing of the rather gloomy scorecard can be said to represent anything that Nigerians are not well familiar with. Indeed, it would seem to approximate the reality that has since defined how businesses operate in the country. This reality finds expression in deindustrialisation under which hitherto world-class manufacturing firms operating locally continue to leave in droves for Ghana, our ECOWAS neighbour. The problem flows as it were, from the strictures posed by the inhospitable environment that has endangered the real sector.

The problem is therefore not hard to dissect. Most of the named companies have not been paying dividends simply because they are not doing well. And the chief explanation for this is also not farfetched: the environments under which they operate have remained extremely difficult and highly uncompetitive.

These problems are what reflect in the unreasonably high interest rates, the nightmarish power situation, the dearth of transportation infrastructure, coupled with short-sighted policies of government. They explain why our businesses are uncompetitive. How much can turnaround managers or even the capital market regulators do to affect the impossible situation? We would have been sur-

prised if these realities did not reflect in the performances of the individual companies, or even the capital market where they are players.

But the challenges are not difficult to appreciate, let alone confront. Let the government concentrate on fixing the power sector, the roads and other transportation infrastructure; we consider that one direct way to bring down the cost of doing business. As for the monetary authorities, we haven’t seen enough of thinking outside of the box to ease access and lower the cost of borrowing. All of these represent the true fundamentals for keeping the companies going, just as no amount of regulation can compel an insolvent entity to pay dividends.

‘Three immediate conclusions can be drawn from the report by the Nigeria Stock Exchange, NSE, that 57 quoted firms have not paid dividends to their shareholders in half a decade. The first is that efforts to reposition the capital market since the 2008 crisis ... are yet to yield the desired fruits. The other possible indication is failure of regulation ... The third of course is that the fundamentals of the economy ... have not substantially changed’

Failed FHA •It is regrettable that rather than deliver houses, housing minister is delivering excuses

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T a period that other serious countries are giving utmost priority to the housing needs of their citizens, it is sad that Nigeria is currently bemoaning her housing plight. This is the inference from the lamentations of Ms. Amal Pepple, Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, during the inauguration of the Steering Committee on the Restructuring and Commercialisation of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA).

The minister reportedly confessed that the FHA has failed to fulfill its essence because it has barely managed to build a trifling 37 housing units in 40 years of its establishment. The authority was created in 1973 with a mission of providing for the housing needs of Nigerians.

Ms. Pepple gleefully reeled out prob-

‘If she thinks the public will clap for her for reeling out the problems, then she missed the point. This is because virtually all the problems are avoidable but for the inept handling of the authority’s affairs. It is unimaginable that successive administrations in the country have spent billions of naira on provision of houses over the years only for this appalling housing details to be coming out now’

lems considered to be impeding FHA’s performance which include ‘historical operating losses, huge legacy debts, poor internally generated revenue base, poor corporate governance, high cost of housing units and the lack of internal cohesion.’

If she thinks the public will clap for her for reeling out the problems, then she missed the point. This is because virtually all the problems are avoidable but for the inept handling of the authority’s affairs. It is unimaginable that successive administrations in the country have spent billions of naira on provision of houses over the years only for this appalling housing details to be coming out now.

To have taken the government such a long period before acknowledging this failure is scandalous. What can be further inferred from the failure of the authority is blatant dereliction of duty which has made it difficult for it to deliver on government’s promise to provide houses for all Nigerians by year 2000. Rather than achieve that lofty target, FHA reportedly incurred housing deficits of about 16 million units. What an inefficient body the authority has been over the years!

We cannot agree more that the FHA as presently constituted has failed because of undue bureaucracy. The government spends huge public funds to sustain it but it has not reciprocated this gesture by meeting the housing needs of Nigerians or even efficiently maintain existing houses across the country. We agree that private partnership in housing provision is long overdue but there is hardly much

that the Steering Committee on the Restructuring and Commercialisation of the FHA can do if the government does not display the requisite will-power to succeed in this regard. Without strong official resolve, it might be difficult to achieve the well touted official goal of making “housing delivery more robust and efficient in line with the new housing policy and the Federal Government’s Transformation Agenda”.

The government needs more of internal re-appraisal to discover where things went wrong in the FHA. After all, the shelves in Aso Rock Presidential Villa must be full with several housing policy documents that could enervate the housing sector if effectively implemented. We hope that the commercialisation of FHA will not be hijacked by highly connected moneybags and powerful elements in government that will end up sustaining the ongoing mismanagement of the place and building expensive houses meant only for the wealthy in the society.

Nigeria is ripe for a functional mortgage policy because experience in other climes has shown that government alone cannot fund housing. But the government should realise that without its guaranteeing a level-playing ground for investors, the exercise will be in futility. It is not too late for the government to seize the new initiative to put things right in the housing sector.

Losing leverage in Egypt

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FTER THE weekend’s horrific violence in Egypt, Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel telephoned their counterparts in Cairo to urge the interim government to step back from the brink. Mr. Hagel called again on Tuesday and spoke to Gen. Abdel Fatah al-Sissi, who ousted the Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohamed Morsi from power as Egypt’s elected president. After the call, Mr. Hagel’s spokesman reported they discussed the need for an “inclusive reconciliation process.” On the ground, there’s scant evidence of such a process.

Just the opposite seems to be the trajectory of the military leaders who seized power a month ago in what the Obama administration still refuses to call a coup. On Saturday, street protests in Cairo and elsewhere ended in the deaths of more than 80 Muslim Brotherhood members and injuries to hundreds more. It was the second mass killing of Islamists since the coup on July 3. On Monday, the authorities arrested two moderate Islamist leaders and took actions that could foreshadow a stilldeeper crackdown and declaration of a state of emergency. There was a brief respite Tuesday when the European Union’s senior foreign policy official, Catherine Ashton, was taken to see Mr. Morsi at an undisclosed location in the middle of the night. She reported that he is well, but there was no sign that the interim government intends to back off plans to prosecute him on dubious charges of espionage and murder.

President Obama has been cautious, urging dialogue and delaying the delivery of four F16s to the Egyptian military as a sign of displeasure. The administration appears reluctant to take more decisive action, such as tightening the flow of other aid, preferring instead to warn the interim government of the consequences of further violence and use the threat as leverage. But there’s little sign that Gen. Sissi is listening to the protests from Washington and elsewhere. The leverage doesn’t seem to be having much impact. The administration soon will face starker choices.

Much is uncertain about how the Muslim Brotherhood will react to the crackdown. With Mr. Morsi held incommunicado and the movement’s other leaders imprisoned or staging a sit-in in Cairo, it is not clear if the coup and violence that followed will shake the Brotherhood’s commitment to nonviolence.

But some members will certainly be tempted to retaliate for having political power wrenched from their hands so abruptly.

Erasing the Muslim Brotherhood from Egypt’s political scene — as Gen. Sissi seems intent on doing — is impossible. To attempt it is to play with fire. It could create a schism that would put Egypt on a road toward civil war with dire consequences. Violent uprisings in Syria and Egypt at the same time would be particularly dangerous for Israel, the United States’ strongest ally in the region. Bringing Egypt back from the edge of disaster ought to be one of Mr. Obama’s most urgent priorities, and that may require rethinking his policy.

Forbearance and obfuscation haven’t done the trick.

– Washington Post

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THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: Last week’s IN TOUCH column was indeed an obituary of sorts - on the reputation and standing of Sam Omatseye as a political analyst/ public affairs commentator whose writings can serve as reference material on current developments in the country.

The article under reference oozed bigotry, using the Brigadier Alabi - Isama’s book and a series of interviews with General Akinrinade as props to impugn the reputation of the “others” of Nigerian politics. The Nigerian Civil War has had its fair share of heroes as well as villains and in Omatseye’s reckoning; northern commanders constituted the latter group, commanders and officers from the South who put down their war experience in books and extended press interviews are acclaimed.

Not that they do not deserve it, but the element of self - promotion is clearly at work here. That aside, the performance of northern officers in that war can withstand the scrutiny of military historians.

It is both laughable and insulting to describe General Yakubu Gowon as a bumbling commanderin-chief. The needs of the moment, in times of peace or in war, determine the kind of leadership that emerges. Gowon was the type of personality prescribed by the temper of the time, both in the aftermath of the events of 1966 and the resultant Civil War. The demands

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Re: Omatseye’s Obituary upon leadership in the circumstances of a civil war are markedly different from those in inter-state wars. A civil war has to be managed in such a way as to make reconciliation easier at its end. That was how Gowon directed the war, with maximum restraint but with the necessary firmness to achieve result.

It began with “police action” before it transformed into full military operation after the rebel incursion into the Midwest. There was however no adoption of a scorched - earth policy or terrorising of the civilian population.

Turning a 10,000 - man mainly ceremonial army into a fighting force of over 30,000 in the first six months of the war was no easy task.

The command and control infrastructure of the military was rudimentary then, making micro-management of the war well-nigh impossible. It was therefore more practical to allow field commanders much latitude within the overall strategy adopted to prosecute

the war. No account should be taken of Col Madiebo’s assessment of Gowon and his commanders.

They won by pluck and Madiebo and co lost. What better evidence of bumbling success and brilliant failure?

The criticism of General Mamman Shuwa’s is equally laughable. Wars are won by capturing and holding territory, and 1 Division did that eminently. Fighting in the heart of Igbo territory where resistance would be stiffest, from the onset of the conflict, 1 Division held every territory it liberated from the rebels and provided the needed security and assistance to the inhabitants. Shuwa’s campaign in the northern sector was methodical and clearly effective going by the results. Compare that with the relative chaos in the southern sector where the Third Marine Commando operated and to which the duo of Alabi - Isama and Akinrinade repaired after falling out with General Murtala Muhammed in the western sector.

The Division’s campaign began to stutter when it left the friendly peoples of the Niger Delta and approached Igbo territory. The result was the loss of an under-strength brigade in the first attack on Aba and, more consequential to the war effort, the siege of federal troops in Owerri for six months. Col Utuk’s 16 Brigade was down to less than 200 soldiers when it broke the siege, carrying the body of the slain second in command to his family in Benin.

If there had to be a hero of the Civil War, Shuwa would be it. Pray who is more “tyrannous”, the generals who lost troops in the course of fighting or the one who plotted the ambush and murder of subordinates?

Gowon has no blood on his hands on account of the failure of the operations to cross the River Niger at Asaba to capture Onitsha launched by General Murtala Muhammed. Sadly, there was heavy loss of life but not on the scale being bandied about.

Why governors are against LG autonomy

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IR: It is quite unfortunate but not surprising that our governors are standing firmly against local government autonomy and this reminds me of the popular saying by people that politicians are the same but only have different faces.

Local government is known or regarded as the third tier of the government and the closest to the people. It was established because of the need to facilitate development at grassroots level and its importance is to enable people’s participation and sense of belonging and to engender development in all strata. Now, the question is,

why are our governors speaking vehemently against financial autonomy for the local government?

I could recall vividly sometime in 2012, November to be precise, the two chambers held public sessions and also public hearings with a view to ensure that the populace contribute their quota in the constitutional review and amendment.

Eventually it surfaced that virtually all Nigerians yearned for local government autonomy.

The major problem facing the local government system today is the power which the governors have over them stemming from the governors’ desire to control the

funds accruing to them from which they can thereafter allocate token to them. This is one of the reasons why we must all go against state police. Most of our governors are already exercising more power than those granted by the constitution. I know of a governor who hates people criticising his administration. He throws tantrums at who ever criticises him even when the criticisms are constructive.

In this era of democracy, I see no reason why some governors do not want to conduct election into local governments; rather than give people their constitutional rights, they use their veto powers by choosing

their cronies and loyalists to act as caretakers thereby denying others of the opportunity to vie.

No governor is exonerated because they are all guilty of one offence or the other. No country in this world would be at peace if the rights of the people are trampled upon. Therefore, I am using this avenue to call on all governors to throw their weight in support of local government autonomy especially the ACN governors who are alleged to be the main opponents to the bill.

• Waziri Mohammed Mokola, Ibadan

The tragic event at Asaba where many civilians were killed did not qualify as genocide. There was no premeditation either on the part of the federal government or Murtala.

The position of the Midwest in the run - up to the start of fighting had nothing to do with the loss of lives of the Igbos and “other southerners” in the civil disturbances that took place in the North.

Rather, it was deemed necessary for the Midwest to remain neutral in order not to cause in-fighting among troops repatriated to the region, the majority of whose officers were Ika-Igbo likely to be sympathetic towards their kinsmen across the Niger. The rebel Biafran invasion of the Midwest proved fears of fifth columnists right.

Murtala was not “from the old Midwest, now Edo, by birth.” He was born, bred and raised in Kano, claims of his ancestral links with wheresoever notwithstanding; his northerness had never been in question.

It is a curious subversion of history to dwell on the events of May/ June 1966, the counter-coup and the Civil War without recognising the proximate cause. January 15 was the fulcrum of all the tragic events in that period in Nigeria’s history.

It is intellectual dishonesty to treat it as a foot-note in the rendering of our past.

Since this is a time of reminiscences, here’s one as complement: it was reported that the Iraqi Revolution of 1958 alerted one of the victims of the January coup to the potential of the military in countries approaching independence from colonial rule. He therefore demanded, in the series of constitutional conferences being held preparatoy to independence, adequate representation for his region in the military of an independent Nigeria.

Writings by prominent actors in the drama of Nigeria’s history help to guide in the contemplation of a different trajectory for a better future for the country. No one has the right to use such works for unworthy causes.

• M T Usman aboumahmud@yahoo.com

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THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

COMMENTS

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HERE political expediency collides with democratic yearning, ‘free’ and ‘fair’ are first casualties.

Sustained with obvious help from Abuja, the crisis generated by the Nigeria Governors Forum chairmanship election held in May naturally spawned another, more vicious impasse. The exchange of claims and counterclaims of legitimacy between 19 members who duly elected incumbent chair and Rivers State governor, Chibuike Amaechi, and Jonah Jang of Plateau State with 16 dissenting governors in tow tormented the nation. But subsequent fracas involving five members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to the 2015 gubernatorial hopeful and President Goodluck Jonathan ally, Nyesom Wike, and the 27 others rooting for Amaechi signalled peril for the 2015 general elections.

The disastrous June 9 attempt by the five to impeach Speaker Otelemaba Amachree turned farcical after police opted to investigate Majority Leader Chidi Lloyd while the importers of a fake mace and other ‘weapons’ deployed in the ensuing free-for-all walked free – all except the hospitalised Michael Chinda. More worrisome than mode of conflict, the substance of discord, given officially to be a “conflict of interest on certain resources” by Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka after consultations with Amaechi and the president’s men, appears to combine intolerance of opposition, intemperate ambition, partisan security set-up and the president wife’s unfortunate grouse about the Okrika waterfront demolition of 2010.

Tellingly, Mbu Joseph Mbu, the much-maligned Rivers Police Commissioner on whose watch recent progress in state security seemed to unravel quickly, talked up a storm. Mbu thought the governor played ‘dictator’, and he, the top cop, would not play ball.

Apparently reading a script composed by the hierarchy, he affected ignorance as the ‘infamous five’ ignited combustible atmosphere charged by premature 2015 politicking.

Even if the presidency succeeds in proving disconnection, calls for state police emanating from the Rivers rumble could help discourage presidential meddling in local politics. Yet, with poor funding as metaphor, the police are clearly hob-

‘The lumbering national structure must kick into proactive mode, before petty crime trumps a critical banking system revamped by endless reform.

Automated Teller Machines (ATM) spew counterfeit naira notes of the highest denomination and the best that central bank authorities do is preach redesign of the naira while promising yet another probe’

A

CHILD was born with Spinabifida at a private hospital in Lagos in the early hours of February 15, 2012. An opening at the back of the childexposing some of the nerves needed to be closed within 48 hours of birth to wade off infection.

The Medical Director of the hospital, a gynecologist immediately sent for a specialist, in one of the government hospitals to perform the surgery which will be the first in the series of surgeries to be carried out on the child as she grows.

The neurosurgical consultant made it known to the grieved parents that spinabifida is a condition that cannot be totally cured but could only be managed and as the child is growing there will be need to carry out more surgeries on the baby in order to avoid her being completely dependent on people.

The first of the surgery to close the gap at her back would cost them N250,000, one month after the initial operation, the second surgery would attract the same amount of money, explained the consultant.

All appeals from the parents to have the cost reduced fell on deaf ears but the doctor however told them that they could have the surgery performed by the same consultant at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) for free except they will be required to pay about N60,000 for some of the drugs and medical test. But the actual surgery and hospital accommodation would come completely free.

Due to the various negative stories about government general hospitals, the parents opted to pay N250,000 and have the surgery performed at the private hospital by the consultant.

The surgery was successful, but two weeks after there was need to carry out the second surgery on the child.

The cost again at the private hospital was 250,000 so the parents reluctantly went to LASUTH. But to their surprise, prompt attention was given to them and the surgery carried out without any payment except for the various scans and medical test they paid for.

After the successful operation, the child was wheeled to the BT ward complex LASUTH which was commissioned by the Governor of Lagos State on March 2008.

According to Rachael Idowu, the mother of the child who kept vigil at the baby’s bedside for two weeks “the environment and the food served to the baby and myself could not be faulted”, adding that the food and accommodation was free.

“The ward and other wards I visited while at LASUTH are even beautifully furnished with plasma television sets and the whole environment including the toilets are beautifully maintained”.

Most services at LASUTH are free including the dental section where a patient pays a minimal amount of about

Crime and puny men

By Olubanwo Fagbemi bled by the centralised security arrangement. A system that tasks a Divisional Police Officer with roughly N40, 000 quarterly to cover stationery, communication material and sundry expenses, and generally smoothen the function of patrol vehicles and generating sets for his command beats the imagination. What doesn’t, however, is witnessing a police vehicle run out of fuel in pursuit of night marauders or a constable in tattered gear giving chase to a petty thief in the neighbourhood. Or, ultimately, hapless folks watching policemen pay a million naira ransom for a colleague kidnapped by criminals following the cold-blooded murder of 11 others on escort duty as occurred in the creeks of Bayelsa last April.

Sometimes, by the way, it is difficult to determine the more rewarding ‘occupation’ between lawmaking and kidnapping as jumbo pay meets payday at relatively low risk.

Following a series of high-profile gaffes since the turn of the Fourth Republic, we may tar representatives in the Upper and Lower Houses of the National Assembly (NASS) with the same brush of misrepresentation, but by track record, the senators consistently seem to shed eminence. Led by the adaptable David Mark, they were quicker to embrace the President’s contrived military intervention plan for terror-ravaged Adamawa, Borno and Yobe back in May. By the time both chambers harmonised positions, the House of Reps’ reservations were muted and the affected states’ coffers subjected to war spending.

While the government countered the Boko Haram scourge with partial state of emergency to limited success, the senators voted on recommendations by committees on amendments to the 1999 constitution from their safe NASS abode.

Prodded by Ahmed Sani Yerima of the underage Egyptian bride fame, the Senate incurred nationwide wrath by resisting the temptation to expunge a clause that undercut the legal age of marriage for a woman. On their own, the Reps courted opprobrium, opting, among other deliberations, to ‘simplify’ the process of state creation. A quick submission: ‘Nigeria-refugee State’ for the thousands exiled to Cameroon by the Multinational Joint Task Force versus Boko Haram war or ‘Oil-rich-poor State’ for millions disenfranchised by decades of warped economic policies.

The country grapples with official revelation of 400, 000 barrels of crude oil worth N7.35 billion at the official $117 price multiplied by the official exchange rate of NI57 daily lost to crude oil thieves, or the more technical corollary of shutdown, but the pipelines are protected at exorbitant cost

by Government Ekpemupolo, aka ‘Tompolo’, and ex-militants reformed as security contractors. In the confusion, citizens cited influential individuals and politicians as perpetra-

tors; Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs Kingsley Kuku mentioned oil workers; and a Niger Delta group fingered multinationals that maintain illegal oil wells and exaggerate loss to make more profit and remit less tax.

So, whodunit?

We strain to decipher mutating variables in the volatile Niger Delta mix, but a former petroleum minister battled the son of late despot, Sani Abacha, for proceeds of the sale of controversial Oil Prospecting License (OPL) 245 to a multinational when dispute should relate to culpability in possible shady dealing. But greater worry must be reserved for the United States of America’s revolution of shale oil production, its curbed appetite for Nigeria’s sweet crude and financial implications for the domestic budget, present and future.

Beyond cushioning the expected loss of half of the revenue usually guaranteed by America’s patronage looms the challenge of curtailing corruption and diversifying the economy to plug political meltdown.

To start with, the lumbering national structure must kick into proactive mode, before petty crime trumps a critical banking system revamped by endless reform. Automated Teller Machines (ATM) spew counterfeit naira notes of the highest denomination and the best that central bank authorities do is preach redesign of the naira while promising yet another probe. Nor should it suffice that federal and state governments announce discovery of thousands of ghost workers and how much has been saved. Listing and prosecution of offenders should follow, unless officials uphold the notion that corruption trickles from the top. Even if fantastic judgments prevail, courtesy a compromised judiciary, ghosts do not operate bank accounts.

Hampered, in the meantime, by attack on power plants, constant shortage of gas and a bumpy roadmap, electricity stutters towards the magical 10, 000 megawatts quoted since 2007 by the federal government to the background drone of generating sets across the country. To take imagery further in the season of redesign, how about a new statue for the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN): ‘Sango’ hoisting a generator in front of PHCN’s Lagos office in place of an axe, perhaps?

Want amidst plenty is a truly Nigerian paradox aptly situated by Chairman of JUTH FC of Jos, Ishaya Pam. Establishing a link with current leadership style, Dr Pam, unlike sponsored analysts, hinged national growth on ‘luck’ and not International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank indices.

“Every country that has a good national team has good leagues and very organised academy systems. We don’t have those things and we want to win always.”

Well said. Yesterday’s apathy bred today’s shame. Today’s puny men evoke yesterday’s mimic men.

Wind of change in Lagos health sector

By Joseph Nwachukwu N4,500 for tooth X-rays, cleaning and extraction. And what is more, patients are not made to wait for long before receiving the services of a doctor.

The same story can be told of other general hospitals in the state. A visit to the newly commissioned Igando General hospital on the Isheri- LASU road reveals a magnificent state -of -the art hospital that boast of the latest medical facilities.

Just recently, the governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola officially commissioned the Trauma and Burns Centre at Gbagada General Hospital as he takes the silent revolution in the health sector to a new height.

The governor said his administration is determined to make Lagos State Africa’s Medical tourism destination while commissioning the Trauma and Burns Centre. He said that the Centre was established to save lives currently being lost to trauma and burns sustained from accidents.

No wonder the centre is equipped with the state-of-the art medical facilities that can manage massive burns even when the layers of the skin tissues were lost.

There is equipment to carry patients with serious burns from one point of treatment to the other without touching them. The facility will be able to provide plastic surgery to patients that may require such services.

While commissioning the facility, Governor Fashola also promised that the Cardiac and Kidney Centre, which is under construction, would be commissioned before the end of the year.

The wave of change in the health sector is being felt in virtually all the parts of the state. In order to achieve it’s commitment to the provision of adequate qualitative health care, the state government took a further step by adopting the policy of preventive maintenance of the public health facilities.This entails the execution of maintenance contracts once the health facilities are delivered thereby creating additional employment opportunities for the citizens.

It should be noted that a lot of projects have been executed in the health sector recently. Among them are, the renovation of old Ayinke House at LASUTH, the Lagos State School of Nursing complex located at Alimosho General Hospital Igando, the three-floor L shaped building extension at the Harvey Road Health Center, Yaba.

The 110-Bed Maternal and Child Health complex at Amuwo Odofin, the new Staff Clinic located at the Secre-

tariat, Alausa and the new Mortuary at Badagry General Hospital have all been complete .

In the same vein, on-going projects include the 110-Bed Maternal and Child centre at Alimosho which is at 90% completion stage, the 110-bed Maternal and Child Health complex at Lekki which is at 75% completion stage.

Work is still going on at the sewage treatment plants at Surulere, Ajeromi, Ifako Ijaiye, Somolu, Apapa and Lagos Island General hospitals . Upgrading of the mortuaries at the Epe and Ikorodu General Hospitals are at 55% completion stage.

So far more than 65,587 primary school pupils in the public primary schools have been screened for eye defects and impairment.

As new feats are being recorded in the various government hospitals due to the high-tech medical facilities provided by the Fashola administration, the state commissioner for health announced that a total of 12 Knee-replacement surgeries have been conducted at LASUTH since the commencement of the state’s free total knee replacement surgery and implantation programme over three years ago.

In the latest exercise, two total knee replacement surgeries sponsored by the Lagos State Limb Deformity programme were carried out on April 27 and 28 this year.

The state government is making good its vow to make the state, African’s medical tourism center as it focuses on the continued professional development of its health workforce, upgrading and construction of new health facilities • Nwachukwu writes from Ibadan

‘In order to achieve it’s commitment to the provision of adequate qualitative health care, the state government took a further step by adopting the policy of preventive maintenance of the public health facilities.This entails the execution of maintenance contracts once the health facilities are delivered thereby creating additional employment opportunities for the citizens’

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5 , 2013

22

COMMENTS

T

HOSE truly committed to the survival of democracy in this country must have heaved a heavy sigh of relief at the registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Announcing the registration of the new party which is a coalition of three registered political parties, INEC anchored its decision on the fact that they complied with all the statutory requirements for the merger. It therefore approved the withdrawal of the registration certificates of the three parties and will in turn issue them with a single one for the APC Expectedly, many well-meaning Nigerians have been showering encomiums on both the INEC and the merging parties for what is largely seen as the opening up of the political space for the electorate. This is more so given the dominance of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party PDP and fears of a slide to a one party state. The current acrimony and tension in that party resulting from the ambition of contending interests is largely because of its dominance in the political affairs of the country in the absence of a strong alternative party that could pull a serious challenge at the national level.

On account of this, internal democracy and sovereignty of the electorate have been relegated to backdoor. Though there are many registered parties, some cannot even field candidates during elections and where they manage to do so, the impact is almost zero.

The very relatively strong ones have their

‘The APC must reassure Nigerians that the presidency is not the exclusive preserve of any body or any part of the country as all Nigerians and sections have inalienable right to that office. It must ensure that the sensibilities and interests of all sections are placed on the table and accommodated at this initial stage of its coming into being and learn from the mistakes of the PDP’

P

Emeka OMEIHE 08121971199 email: EmekaOmeihe@yahoo.com

As APC comes on board strengths largely confined to their zones.

Thus, we had been left with the PDP as the only party with the strength to prosecute national elections; deploying the power of incumbency to advantage. The matter was not helped by the continuous registration of all manner of parties seen in some quarters as a deliberate ploy to weaken the emergence of a formidable opposition to confront the ruling PDP. But all that has been substantially altered with the registration of the APC. This should be something to cheer for all those who have had their ambitions shattered by lack of accommodation in the ruling party in the absence of a viable and broad based alternative platform. There is also the higher danger posed to democracy through the dominance of the political horizon by a single party.

Apart from denying the electorate the right to choice both in terms of candidates and programs, a one party state stifles new ideas and innovation. In fact, it is another name for dictatorship. And we have seen these features play out since our return to democracy. That was why the PDP had the temerity to dare Nigerians with the trash that it will rule the country for as long as it pleases them. Such a statement given the performance profile of that party must be a serious insult to the sensibilities of the electorate. But the PDP had its reasons for so doing. Then was the time when some of the parties had no visible structures in many parts of the country. And at elections, the PDP had a field day doing whatever pleases it given the absence of representatives of some parties at the polling booths. This has become a thing of the past.

Given the way APC emerged and the political figures driving it, there is no doubt that

ROFESSOR Ango Abdullahi, former vice chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, is fast acquiring notoriety not just as a northern irredentist, but also as a political irritant. Nothing best captures this assertion than his reported declaration recently that the North would not only withhold support for the South in the 2015 presidential election, but also that once political power returns to that section of the country, it would remain there forever. The statement is supposed to reflect the position of a coalition of some northern groups.

In a country where ethno-religious factors, not merit, determine who holds the office of president in our peculiar brand of democracy, it is quite normal and therefore legitimate for the Abdullahis of the North to insist that come 2015, it should be their ‘turn’ to produce the occupant of Aso Rock.

Other sections with equal right and legitimacy also have a similar argument, especially the South-east, which has never had what, in Nigeria, is considered an opportunity. It, however, becomes a different matter altogether, one that borders on the ridiculous and the absurd, for the former don to even suggest that political power could remain in the North for as long as that section desires, bragging about its so-called voting power.

The problem with those obsessed with the notion of political dominance is that they see it less from the point of view of the uplift of the standard of living of the people, but more from the standpoint of the opportunity it provides them, a tiny few, to perpetually live in the corridors of power, with its attendant benefits. These include opportunity to have their children in the best schools in the world, while the overwhelming majority of kids in that section of the country wallow in ignorance. They can point to mansions that dot the landscape in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto, Yola and other northern cities as benefits of the North’s dominance of political power, while their people live in squalor. A handful of them have oil blocks to show for the many years that the region has held political power.

But it should be to their eternal shame that despite more than three decades of that region’s stranglehold on political power, it accounts for the highest rate of poverty, illiteracy and disease in the country.

A recent study showed that 75 per cent of young men in the North have no skill. Nothing best proves the veracity of this study than the army of able-bodied young men who daily struggle with one another to carry wares with wheelbarrows in markets all over Lagos and, I believe, other parts of the country. Those who do not have the nerves to engage in this kind of struggle are content to hawk sugarcane in wheelbarrows, or become emergency shoe menders, trekking long distances, just to eke out a living. I look at these young men and wonder what future they have in a country where the Abdullahis – their leaders – are ready to go to war to preserve their supposed right to hold political power for life.

Quite a good number of Nigerians must have been amused

we are in for a serious competition between the two parties.

In the days ahead, we expect to see the PDP making frantic efforts to mend its tattered umbrella. At present, the party is deeply embroiled in serious crises with many futile efforts to resolve them. Even the most recent effort at reconciliation, has again run into serious hitch because the issues at stake are largely irreconcilable.

Thus, the APC enjoys a lot of goodwill which must be put to advantage. The sacrifice all its promoters made to see the new party to fruition must be commended even by the most incurable antagonist.

As heart-warming as the development is, there is a lot of work awaiting the new party.

Happily, the merger arose as a protest against the undemocratic tendencies of the PDP and the desire to give the electorate an alternative platform for political action and choice.

Every effort must be made to live up to this bidding. There have been predictions by the opposition that the new party will soon rupture on account of disputations when sharing offices. This must not be allowed to happen. Like in every human organization, there are bound to be those posturing to take advantage of the new party without due regard to all the interests in the coalition. There are some others waiting in the wings to capture its structures for their selfish interests. These must not be allowed to happen as the new party cannot afford to commence this journey with disenchantment and schism in some of its chapters.

Political recruitment must be broad based and all inclusive.

There are also critical issues of our national being that the new party must as a matter of deliberate policy balance. There is the need to reassure the various geo-political zones that their interests and sensibilities will be accommodated and protected in the new arrangement. This is pertinent in view of the raging crisis in the ruling party on which of the geopolitical zones will produce the president come 2015. The APC must come out clearly on the way power has to rotate among the contending blocks in this country.

As at now, that of the PDP has run into mud waters and stuck. The APC must reassure Nigerians that the presidency is not the exclusive preserve of any body or any part of the country as all Nigerians and sections have inalienable right to that office. It must ensure that the sensibilities and interests of all sections are placed on the table and accommodated at this initial stage of its coming into being and learn from the mistakes of the PDP. It must be seen from its actions and programs as the real alternative to the ruling party. Some of the issues that are increasingly playing up in this country and which may shape the unfolding competition are the twin issues of religion and geo-politics.

They must be handled very carefully so as not to injure the feelings of any group or section. Happily, we are in a secular state. That secularity must not only be upheld but must be seen to be so. These are the issues the people will be looking out for and the way they are piloted in the days ahead will make the difference.

It is therefore good a thing that the APC has come on stream despite the efforts of some phony groups to lay claim to its acronym.

Those promoting all manner of groups, inventing acronyms that are similar to that of the APC were obviously at mischief. The target was to frustrate this bold and high-minded effort by three registered parties to coalesce into a single political party. The merger strikes as a landmark event in the annals of this country.

Those who sought to frustrate it were people benefiting from the subsisting but decadent order. They must hide their faces in shame. Why the interest in the acronym APC? If they are that serious, let them pursue their vaulting ambition for national recognition through another name. After all, it is not the acronym that will win election when the time comes. All said, the registration of the APC is a thing whose time has come.

The problem with Ango Abdullahi

By Haniel Ukpaukure when governors in some parts of the North with indices that should qualify Nigeria as a failed state; governors who have proved incapable of rescuing their states from poverty, ignorance, disease and insecurity, teamed up with relatively successful governors in the South-west to form the All Peoples Congress (APC), to rescue the country from the dominance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). I am one of those who wonder if Sule Lamido and Ibrahim Shema, two governors who are said to excel, are not in the North. Or is federal allocation also shared on party basis?

It is the failure of the Ango Abdullahis of the North who have a misconception of the purpose of political power, that has resulted in a bizarre situation in which a boy from Yobe State needs only to score two over 200 in an entrance examination to gain admission into the same school in which another boy from Anambra State has to score a minimum of 139 to qualify for admission. This policy that stands logic on its head is known as federal character, an abnormality that epitomizes everything that is wrong with Nigeria. The policy will ensure that when the boy from Yobe gets literally held by the hand through the different levels of education, he will find himself holding a job for which he is certainly not qualified.

Many years ago, when General Ibrahim Babangida was still playing hide and seek with Nigerians on the issue of democratic rule, General T. Y. Danjuma was reported as saying, with resignation, that he would not witness democracy in his lifetime (I wonder if the revered former general still holds that view today).

I worry about the fact that with our deliberate adoption of mediocrity as a policy for deciding qualification for elective offices, in the name of rotation, this generation of Nigerians may never witness the era when such offices would be for the best hands only. I worry myself sick about the possibility that Nigeria may grope in the dark indefinitely, as long as we ignore what is right and continue to settle for what is convenient.

If America had continued to place emphasis on colour, there is no way a Barack Obama would have dreamt of being in the White House as its occupant. But because the people of that country decided it was time to actualise the dream of Martin Luther King, Jr, of a country where people are judged only by the contents of their character, he ended up achieving two firsts – the first black man to be elected president and the first sitting president to be re-elected against the background of a virtually battered economy.

It is time people like Ango Abdullahi realise the futility of clinging to primordial sentiments that have served the peo-

ple of the region no good. They should ask themselves how it happened that despite the fact that political power remained the birthright of that region during the military era, the worst indices of human existence are found there.

It should matter very little the part of the country a person aspiring to be president comes from. The consideration should be ability to deliver, which should be based on performance in a previous public office.

The erroneous belief that unless a region produces the country’s president, it cannot be guaranteed the benefits of belonging to the commonwealth should be discarded. In a democracy, such that we are labouring to build, a president would be hard-pressed to ignore any section of the country in the spread of development, especially since we seem to perfect the electoral process with each election. It needs not be mentioned here that a Nigerian president of southern origin – Jonathan – is the one that has deemed it necessary to give almajiris, those long forgotten by the Ango Abdullahis, the chance of a life time to receive education.

The Abdullahis should be concerned about building a Nigeria where a George W. Bush would be judged by his own suitability for the same office that his father held, whether or not the latter was a success story, without anybody asking if the office of the president is the birthright of one family; a country where a Hilary Clinton could end up holding the same office that her husband held for eight years.

It serves a better purpose than make statements that smack of arrogance; statements that suggest that holding of the office of president by anybody from the South is an act of benevolence by the North.

• Ukpaukure lives in Lagos

‘The Abdullahis should be concerned about building a Nigeria where a George W. Bush would be judged by his own suitability for the same office that his father held, whether or not the latter was a success story, without anybody asking if the office of the president is the birthright of one family; a country where a Hilary Clinton could end up holding the same office that her husband held for eight years’

25

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

THE CEO

MONEY MARKET REPORT

‘How we lost tyre market to fake products’ -P. 27 News Briefing Committee on Private Equity, Venture Capital inaugurated THE Federal Government has inaugurated a committee for the development of a Private Equity and Venture Capital framework for Nigeria.

- Page 26

Fed Govt okays N400b for PHCN retirees, others THE Federal Government has approved N16 billion for the payment of the entitlements of retirees and pensioners of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in preparation for the privatisation of the power sector.

- Page 37

Chevron earns $5.4b in Q2 UNITED States oil major Chevron Corporation has reported earnings of $5.4 billion for the second quarter of the year, compared with $7.2 billion in the second quarter of last year.

- Page 38 DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$107/barrel Cocoa -$2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,800/troy ounce Rubber -¢159.21pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE JSE NYSE LSE

-N7.560 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion

RATES Inflation 11.9% Treasury Bills 7.08% Maximum lending-22.42% Prime lending - 15.87% Savings rate 2% 91-day NTB 15% Time Deposit 5.49% MPR 12% Foreign Reserve $35.8b FOREX CFA 0.2958 EUR 206.9 £ 242.1 $ 156 ¥ 1.9179 SDR 238 RIYAL 40.472

At the moment there is an average of about 18 hours per day of constant power supply to different parts of the country. This feat was brought about by the implementation of the integrated power sector reform programme anchored on the power roadmap.

- Minister of Information, Labaran Maku

‘We’ll enforce ethical compliance in accounting - Pg 35

Nigeria, others to re-evaluate Trans-Saharan gas project

N

IGERIA and other stakeholders in the multi-billion dollar Trans-Saharan gas pipeline project have decided to reevaluate the commercial viability of the project, Group Executive Director, Gas and Power, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. David Ige, has said.

He said this became necessary considering market changes that have taken place since its conception over a decade ago.

The Trans-Saharan project, estimated at over $12 billion, was conceived in 2002 by the Presidents of Nigeria, Niger and Algeria with the support of former president of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki.

The project was endorsed in furtherance of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). The objective of the project was to take natural gas through pipe from Africa through the Mediterranean to Europe.

Ige, who disclosed this to The Nation, said new developments that had taken place in the oil and gas industry called for re-evaluation of the project to ascertain its commercial viability.

He said in the last 10 years, gas consumption had grown substantially in Nigeria and the emergence of shale gas in many countries, adding that these factors needed to be considered before implementing the project because at the conception, these factors were not in existence.

He said the review became important because Nigeria is the principal shareholder in the project considering the fact that most of the gas supplies will come from the country. He said the NNPC would advertise for expression of interest (EoI) for the Calabar-Kano pipeline, from which the gas would be taken to the Nigerian border.

Ige said: “Trans-Saharan gas project starts from Calabar to Kano and to Algeria and crossed to the Mediterranean. “About 30

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

per cent of the entire segment of the project is in Nigeria, which is the Calabar to Kano. What we have done is to focus right now on that first leg, which is getting the Nigerian side right.

“Two things. Firstly, is that there is no Trans-Saharan without Trans-Nigeria.

Secondly, for Trans- Saharan to be viable, we have to make sure we open access to different gas supply sources within Nigeria.

According to him, it was realised that when the project started, the level of domestic gas demand and usage in the country was not anticipated. He said a lot had changed since the domestic market is growing at an alarming rate. He added that it was also realised that for the country to have flexibility, there has to be different sources of gas supply from where it will get to the Nigerian border to Europe.

He said: “That is what the Ajaokuta-Calabar pipeline will do. At the moment, we are focused on that and we will deliver that. Soon, you will start to see expression of interest adverts for what we are trying to do in Calabar. The Eurobond Mr. President announced, part of it is dedicated to that project.

“At the meantime, we are re-evaluating the other end of the market in Europe to make sure that the market is as it was because a lot has changed in the market since 10 years ago. We have commissioned the studies and we are looking at the European gas market before we move to the next phase.

What we have done is to position the Nigerian segment, which will serve Nigeria but it is tactically positioned to be ready to extend out of Nigeria.”

He said if the market survey issue is positive, implementation of the project could go on, adding that if it turns out the other way round, implementation will be put on hold.

• From left: Director, Business Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Lucas Dada; Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Steven Evans and Director, Consumer Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Oluwole Rawa, at the Etisalat Mobile Assistant Press Conference, at Four Point By Sheraton, Victoria Island, Lagos.

“But basically, the TransSaharan stakeholders have come together to commission that study because in Europe, a lot has changed

and it is so difficult to know whether the market is viable because there is growth and competition. Russia supplies gas and nobody

knows what will happen with shale gas supply in Europe. Besides, the economic growth in Europe has flattened,” he said.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

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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 7. Arik 07.15 08.15 7. Chanchangi 07.15 9. Air Nigeria 08.15 09.35 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. Aero 12.20 13.30 15. Air Nigeria 13.25 14.45 16. Chanchangi 13.30 14.30 17. Arik 13.45 14.45 18. IRS 14.00 15.20 19. Aero 14.10 15.30 20. Air Nigeria 14.50 16.10 21. Chanchangi 15.30 16.30 22. Arik 15.50 16.50 23. Aero 16.00 17.20 24. IRS 16.30 17.50 25. Arik 16.50 17.50 26. Chanchangi 17.30 18.30 27. Air Nigeria 17.35 18.55 29. Air Nigeria (T/TH) 18.30 19.50 20. Arik 18.45 19.45 31. Aero 19.20 20.40

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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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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

catalysing development of the industry to compete with others in Africa in terms legal and regulatory framework and fund administration capacity , and provide recommendations on changes necessary to either funds geared towards start-ups and SMEs or take investments in SMEs more attractive to existing funds, among other things.

Aganga said: ”We want to attract credible venture and equity capital investors into the country so that they can help to provide equity capital and business development support services to our small and growing businesses across the country.

“Our immediate objective is to develop a strategy, including a

targeted and comprehensive legal, taxation and regulatory framework for further development of the domestic and international private equity and venture capital sector in Nigeria in particular, as an effective vehicle for attracting investments into Small and Medium Enterprises in order to create jobs and generate wealth for our country.

“Our long term vision is to a greater level of international investment into Nigerian businesses and entrepreneurs, infrastructure projects and the economy in general and to establish Nigeria as the leading centre for fund formation in Africa.

“This initiative is a new way of

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12.15 12.45 09.10 11.00 11.10 16.20

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

08.40 08.40 14.55 15.10 17.40

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LAGOS – WARRI 08.15 11.50 11.55 14.55

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

08.50 09.45 14.00 15.45 19.55

LAGOS – OWERRI 07.20 14.00 16.30

08.30 15.10 17.40

LAGOS – MAIDUGURI 1. IRS 11.15 13.15 2. Arik 15.50 18.00 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

developing a new fund administration and management sector that will strategically position i Nigeria as the leading destination for fund formation in sub-Sahara Africa in terms of venture and equity capital.We have the people, the experience and the knowledge in this committee to make that happen.”

Also, the Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission, Ms Arunma Oteh, said SEC would partner Trade and Investment Ministry to ensure the success of the programme.

She said: “We are honoured to be associated with the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment.

This initiative is very much in line with President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s desire to create jobs and ensure that we have an economy that can compete with the comity of economies around the world.”

SON sets up taskforce on building collapse

08.50 12.40 14.10 17.20

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LAGOS – ILORIN 1. Overland 07.15 2. Arik (M/T/TH/F) 17.30

HE Federal Government has inaugurated a committee for the development of a Private Equity and Venture Capital framework for Nigeria.

Inaugurating the 19-man committee in Abuja, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga, said the ministry was committed to building a credible and vibrant equity and venture capital sector to boost investment, provide equity capital and business development support services for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.

The terms of reference of the committee include to access the current regulatory environment and legal framework for Private Equity and Venture Capital in Nigeria; provide recommendations regarding changes necessary for

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. Aero 10.50 12.30 5. Arik 11.40 13.00 6. Air Nigeria 12.00 13.10 7. IRS 13.30 15.00 8. Arik 14.00 15.20 9. Air Nigeria 16.00 17.10 10 Arik 16.10 17.30 11. Aero 16.15 17.30 12. Arik 17.10 18.30

1. Arik 2. Arik 3. Arik

Aganga inaugurates committee on Private Equity, Venture Capital T

• From left: Group Head, Strategy & Communication, Sterling Bank PLC, Shina Atilola; Lemo of Ogijo AbdulGaniu Dosumu, and Business Development Manager, Sterling Bank PLC, Fatai Adegbuyi, at the opening of the Bank’s branch in Ogijo Town, Ogun State ... at the weekend.

M

GTBank, firm seal $170m deal

AINSTREAM Energy So lutions Limited has signed a $170 million Medium Term Syndicated Acquisition Facility, for part-financing the concession of Jebba Power Station and Kainji Power Station.

Both power firms are owned by Kainji Hydro Electric Plc. The syndication was underwritten by Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, which acted as Mandated Lead Arranger on the transaction. Africa Finance Corporation acted as CoMandated Lead Arranger.

The concession for Kainji Hydro Electric Plc, which is one of the 18

By Collins Nweze

unbundled successor companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria Plc, was awarded to Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited under the privatisation process and incorporates the right to design, construct, operate and maintain the two power plants.

“This financing represents an important milestone for the company in its bid to play a key role in the power sector reform initiative of the Federal Government,” Sani Bello, Chairman, Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited said.

Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Mr. Segun Agbaje said that the financing underpins the lenders’ belief in, and support for, the ambition and the long term growth of the company, and by extension, the growth of the Nigerian power sector to further catalyse the Nigerian economy.

President/Chief Executive Officer,Africa Finance Corporation, Andrew Alli, also said the lender’s investment in Kanji Hydro Electric Plc would contribute to the reduction of the power deficit, fostering economic growth and creating employment.

Quality of telecoms services poor, says NCC chief

T

HE Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Eugene Juwah, has described the quality of telecoms service across the country as poor.

Juwah, who spoke in Lagos during a visit to Governor Babatunde Fashola, lamented that with the state having the largest number of subscribers in the country, it meant that the subscribers were getting telecoms services that were not good enough, adding that some of the factors responsible for the service quality challenge were beyond its control.

He blamed the development on ignorance among the policy makers, adding that it could only be better if more infrastructure were in place.

He said: “More investments are a critical success factor in improv-

By Lucas Ajanaku

ing the quality of telecoms service in the country.

“Many people do not understand that telecoms can only be better with more infrastructures. For instance, in the UK (United Kingdom), there are more than 65,000 base stations for telecommunications services, in a land mass that is far less than Nigeria’s.

“Nigeria is yet to achieve 25,000 installations across its huge land mass, yet many feel that we have enough and are defacing the environment. In a place like Lagos with very huge population, we have fewer base stations than required.”

According to him, a study carried out by the NCC in 2009 identified a total of 6, 196 masts and towers in Lagos State. He said about 48 per cent of this figure belonged to corporate bodies and individuals

while those belonging to the telecom companies were only 25 per cent of the figure.

“Those belonging to the banks constituted about 18 per cent while those belonging to unidentified owners were eight per cent. The broadcast stations had two per cent of this figure. Even if the number of base stations owned by operators, which is 2, 975 then, had increased by 100 per cent, it would still fall short of what is needed to serve Lagos subscribers,” he said.

He lamented that the nation is not blessed with many high-rise buildings that would have served for location of base stations without a lot of people seeing them.

“Our people are also very resistant to the idea of having more base stations near their offices for reasons that could only be traced to ignorance or misinformation,” he added.

By Seyi Odewale

HE Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has set up a task force on building collapse.

In a letter dated July 22, by SON to the President, Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), Mr Kunle Awobodu, the organisation said its director-general has approved members of Building Collapse Task Force to work with SON to rid building/construction industry of activities that undermine the industry.

The letter reads in part: “The Director-General/Chief Executive has approved the taskforce to work with your team on the collaboration activities as he promised during the meeting held with him on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at SON operational Headquarter, Lagos.”

The letter was signed by the Head of Department, Metereology Directorate, O. F. Manafa, for SON’s Director-General, Dr. Joseph Odumodu.

SON’s Building Collapse Task Force members include: Olagoroye Oke, a Civil Engineer; Chaiya Minyel, an Architect; Abdulrasak Oyewopo, Mechanical Engineer; Francis Onyeji, Chemical Technologist; Maureen Okeke, Lawyer; and Onipede Adeoye, Civil/Building Engineer.

Some of the factors responsible for collapse of building according to BCPG, include use of substandard building materials; faulty foundation; wrong construction methodology; shoddy jobs; poor procurement system; faulty design; poor concrete mix; engagement of quacks by building owners; government’s lack of capacity to monitor and supervise building and construction sites and lack of building approval among others.

BCPG is made up of volunteers, who are professionals and artisans in the building/construction environment, who came together for the purpose of putting an end to the embarrassing incidents of building collapse in Nigeria., especially Lagos.

“BCPG members comprised professionals in the built environment which include land surveyors, architects, engineers, builders, quantity surveyors, town planners and estate surveyors. And we have, since inception about two years ago, embarked on sensitisation and training programmes for bricklayers, concrete workers and other artisans,” said Awobodu.

27

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

THE CEO

• Odumodu

PHOTO: AYODELE AMINU

Since coming to office, Dr Joseph Ikemefuna Odumodu, Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), has been waging war against substandard products. His trips to China, where most of these products come from, he says, have been eye-openers to him because of what some Nigerians do to their compatriots in the name of business. Odumodu told Group Business Editor AYODELE AMINU in Beijing, China, about SON’s efforts to tackle fake products through the introduction of e-products registration.

‘How we lost tyre market to fake products’ W

E are here in China to attract investments into Nigeria. What is SON doing to ensure that goods imported from China are regulated to meet standard?

This is a very loaded question. I can answer it in two hours, but I will be as brief as possible. When I started on this job, the first thing I did was to benchmark, actually to understand the environment. The findings through a survey were very worrying because we found out that over 80 per cent of products then were substandard and that most of them were from here (China). Hence, the first thing I did was to come here (China) and meet with the equivalent of SON, called AQSIQ. We have had several meetings since then. We may not have made much progress in the past, but I must say that on this trip, we have made substantial progress.

Maybe the strategy I adopted was aggressive by laying blames on their doorsteps.

This time around, I noticed that their response was that “your people come here and ask us to make a particular quality, and that is what we make for them and we are busi-

Profile Institutions attended

Lagos Business School, Lagos Nigeria; Enugu State University of Technology (ESUT) and University of Ife, Ile-Ife.

Qualification

Chief Executive Programme (CEP – 8); MBA with specialisation in Marketing and B.Sc. Pharmacy (First Class Honours).

Previous positions

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer May & Baker Nigeria Plc.

Present position

Director-General/Chief Executive, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).

Awards and Honours

Doctor of Business Administration degree (Honours Causa) of the Anambra State University, Uli.

Experience

Over 25 years.

nessmen.” They said our people are at fault because they made bad products for Nigerians. But we have closed ranks and there will be an agreement before the end of this year regarding certain requirement. One is that any Chinese product imported into Nigeria should have a certificate of free sale. It is a

condition that comes with products manufactured and used in country of origin. There are countries that have export only market.

At SON, we are not at the ports. But we have started with e-products registration. What we are doing is that every product that is offered for sale must be registered in Nigeria. The

first deadline has expired. We are going to start enforcement any time from now. The registration will show who the importer and manufacture is. We are capturing the kind of agreement the Nigerian importer has with the manufacturer. And after that, we will start an enforcement regime.

SON will capture data about what that company is doing and data of the Nigerian importer with the manufacturer. After that, we will start enforcement regime. Anytime we see a product that did not comply, all we need to do is to trace it back to who brought, and also find out who made it. We will give the details of who made it to my colleagues, so that they can be blacklisted from exporting to Nigeria. And it does not matter whether I am at the ports, or I am not at the border or they smuggled the goods. Wherever the products come from, there must be a place where they will be sold.

What we are saying is that there will be a visual code, ABC 123. But there will also be a non-visual code subsequently on that product. And that code is only known to a few •Continued on page 28

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THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

THE CEO

‘How we lost tyre market to fake products’ ‘The findings through a survey were very worrying because we found out that over 80 per cent of products then were substandard and that most of them were from here (China). Hence, the first thing I did was to come here (to China) and meet with the equivalent of SON, called AQSIQ. We have had several meetings since then. We may not have made several much progress in the past, but I must say that on this trip, we have made substantial progress’ • Odumodu

• Odumodu •Continued from page 27

people in the company that manufacture it. The idea here is that some people can look at your product and manufacture it, but they will not be able to see the non-visual code.

The other level is that if you register your product, then you are responsible for your brand. You need to protect your brand. So, once you do your registration you will be able to import products. We will use the rest of this year to sort out registration of products. I understand that some of the importers are resisting the registration of their products because they do not want SON to know too much about such products. For me, they are doing that because they know that they are breaking the law and taking consumers for granted.

We will collaborate with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

With the registration, you are talking about collaborating with the CBN. Have you taken into cognisance the Customs because that is where the goods will pass through at the border?

The SON and Customs are all government agencies. By law, we are supposed to work together. The Customs, the Police, even Immigration. We are working with them. But the system is foolproof. It doesn’t matter whether SON, Customs and any other person have done their work.

The point is that every product in the market must have visual and non-visual codes. It does not even matter where the products are coming from. The products have codes, if they don’t have codes, we will impound them and destroy them. What I am seeking, is power to destroy the goods without going to court because that takes some time to be achieved. For us, to show how serious we are, we have to act with a lot of precision.

Which sector has been the major challenge to you?

• Odumodu

What we have done is that we have been able to categorise sectors. If, for example, we see that tyres can lead to death, then we focus on that. We focus on life-endangering index.

We can also focus on iron rods, because buildings can come down. There are lots of other issues involved. Buildings can come down because the contractor did not apply the right concrete mixture. If I walk into a site and see a rod, I will know who made it because there is an identity mark on it.

We are also focusing on roofing sheets. What we do is focus on issues that are life-endangering than those ones that do not endanger life.

When we started, even half of the rods in the market are substandard. Today, I make bold to tell people, go to the market, and tell me which of them is substandard. Every month we do testing and all that. As for cement, we no longer import it. All I do is go to the manufacturers. We are building a new lab to ensure we test cement more regularly. There are challenges, but I don’t want a situation whereby somebody dies an avoidable death.

There are challenges in areas of cables. These cables enter Alaba and we don’t even know how they came in. I tell people, if you want to buy cable, why not go directly to companies that make cables in Nigeria? Because they are making good cables, better than anyone imported into the country. The challenge is in our ability to build infrastructure for testing. We also have accreditation and funding challenges. In the new e-products registration regime, we will need people to move round major markets in Nigeria and funding is important.

How can you quantify the success you have achieved so far?

I have always run away from accessing myself. Nigerians

‘A lot, it cannot be quantified. I can give you an example. Today, there is no company that makes tyres in Nigeria. So, we used to have the capacity but we have thrown it away. We import tooth picks, that is where we have degraded. I have made statements about de-industrialisation. The point is that the value of what we have lost is not quantifiable. For example, you will be amazed, HP products, people go and fake them.

Many of them, especially printer inks, are most affected.

I want to deal with multinationals that want to protect their brands before we go to small players. Some major dealers sell fake products. There are so many wrongs we are doing to consumers in Nigeria’

should say that. We have people who bought generators, cars and when they are substandard, we intervene.

How much is Nigeria losing to substandard goods?

A lot, it cannot be quantified. I can give you an example.

Today, there is no company that makes tyres in Nigeria. So, we used to have the capacity, but we have thrown it away.

We import tooth picks, that is where we have degraded. I have made statements about de-industrialisation. The point is that the value of what we have lost is not quantifiable. For example, you will be amazed, HP products, people go and fake them. Many of them, especially printer inks, are most affected. I want to deal with multinationals that want to protect their brands before we go to small players. Some major dealers sell fake products. There are so many wrongs we are doing to consumers in Nigeria.

What are the challenges facing tyre manufacturing?

In the last one year, we have impounded over five million tyres and we have to destroy them somehow. We realised that we need to ensure that the right infrastructure is in place. Right now, we have had some discussions with some investors from South Korea and Taiwan, and some Indians who are working on bringing in tyre shredding plants. First, they ask how they can make their money. They are asking for tax holiday and a moratorium.

The challenge is in our ability to build infrastructure for testing. Another challenge is in accreditation because if you test a product and you say this product is not good, if you are not accredited, the person who made the product outside of Nigeria can challenge you. But if your lab is not accredited, you cannot win that case anywhere in the world. We will pursue a little tax on tyres. Talking about tyres, I want to say that even if a tyre is new and unused, it can expire.

• Odumodu

PHOTOS: AYODELE AMINU

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

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THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

30

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 2-08-13

Equities rake in N405b capital gain on new earnings

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NCREASED flow of new earnings reports that largely showed improvements in fundamentals of quoted companies spurred investors to take early positions in equities and readjust portfolios in the light of the new earnings reports. The scrambles for equities sustained a day-by-day bullish rally throughout last week, leaving investors with capital gain of N405 billion.

Several companies including United Bank for Africa (UBA), Flour Mills of Nigeria, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria, Diamond Bank, Union Bank of Nigeria, Presco, Total Nigeria, Ashaka Cement, Lafarge Cement Wapco Nigeria, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, FCMB Group, Julius Berger Nigeria, Cadbury Nigeria and Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) released new earnings reports, which altogether stimulated the market momentum.

Riding on the increased enthusiasm, equities recorded a week-on-week average return of 3.44 per cent last week, which pushed market's average yearto-date return to 36.84 per cent.

The All Share Index (ASI), the benchmark value index for the equities' market, closed the week at 38,424.34 points as against its opening index of 37,145.65 points for the week.

•Vitafoam to raise new capital from shareholders

By Taofik Salako

Aggregate market value of all equities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) rose from value-on-board of N11.764 trillion to close at N12.169 trillion, an increase of N405 billion. All tracked indices at the NSE were on the upside, underlining the widespread bullish rally during the week.

The NSE 30 Index, which tracks the 30 most capitalised stocks on the NSE, appreciated by 3.64 per cent. Also, the NSE Consumer Goods Index, NSE Banking Index, NSE Insurance Index, NSE Oil and Gas Index, NSE-Lotus Islamic Index and NSE Industrial Goods Index rose by 3.89 per cent, 4.60 per cent, 0.42 per cent, 0.75 per cent, 3.54 per cent and 5.09 per cent respectively.

Total turnover stood at 1.36 billion shares worth of N16.17 billion in 28,322 deals. The financial services sector was the most active sector with a turnover of 990.48 million shares valued at N7.92 billion in 15,243 deals, representing about 72.6 per cent of total turnover for the week. Banking

stocks accounted for 638.02 million shares valued at N6.09 billion in 10,059 deals.

Meanwhile, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc plans to raise new equity funds from existing shareholders to strengthen the company's balance sheet and deleverage its highly geared financing structure.

Regulatory filing made available at the weekend by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) showed that the board of directors of the foam-manufacturing company has decided to seek for new equity funds from existing shareholders.

According to the board's resolution, the rights issue will be pre-allotted on the basis of one new share for every one share held as at the prequalification date.

Directors of Vitafoam have already scheduled an extra-ordinary general meeting for September 4, 2013 to seek mandatory approval of shareholders of the company for the new issue.

Vitafoam opens today at N4.40, N1.14 below its high of N5.54 per share. Rights issue is traditionally offered at lowerthan-market price.

The board of the company also appointed Meristem Registrars Limited as the new registrar to the company following the acquisition of its erstwhile registrar - UAC Registrars Limited - by Africa Prudential Registrars Limited.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 2-08-13

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

31

MONEY LINK

NIRSAL: CBN guarantees N25b agric loans

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has guaranteed N25 billion agricultural loans under the Nigerian Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) initiative.

Data from the CBN indicates that banks’ total loan to the agric sector increased to four per cent, from the average of 1.5 per cent it stagnated since 2009. The NIRSAL guarantees up to 75 per cent of bank loans to the sector.

Introduced in July last year, NASAL, the brainchild of the CBN, the Bankers’ Committee and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development (FMARD), seeks to create incentives and catalyse processes that will encourage the growth of for-

Stories by Collins Nweze

mal credit, direct and indirect, for the agriculture value chain. This, the CBN said, is key in driving wealth creation among value chain participants.

The apex bank plans to spend an estimated $500 million to create further incentives for the banks to sustain the flow of agric credit. There is also a Risksharing facility of $300 million, planned to address banks’ perception of high-risks in the sector by sharing losses on agricultural loans.

There is an insurance facility of $30 million intended to expand insurance products for agricultural lending from the coverage to new products, such as weather index insurance, new variants of pest and disease insurance.

Cash-less campaign goes to Ogun

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Besides, there is also a Technical Assistance Facility amounting of $60 million meant to equip banks to lend sustainably to agriculture producers to borrow and use loans more effectively and increase output of better quality agricultural products, among others.

The increase in loans to the sub-sector has also been linked to the N200 billion agriculture credit scheme and N600 billion NIRSAL. The current improvement in the sector was also linked to access to credit through the new policy focused on increasing private sector participation, emphasis on the agriculture value chain, and using agriculture to boost employment, wealth creation and food security.

•CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido

Heritage Bank, EDC partner on MSMEs’ devt

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ERITAGE Bank Limited is partnering the Entrepreneurship Development Center (EDC) of the Pan Atlantic University on developing and growing the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) subsector.

The Heritage Bank MSME Clinic, according to a statement from the bank, offers free financial advisory services to address perceived capacity needs of SMEs. The financial advisory services include ICT solutions (e-banking) and entrepreneur training, which is done in collaboration with EDC, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

Deputy Director, EDC, Mrs Nneka Okekearu, disclosed this at the unveiling of the Heritage Bank SME Clinic in Lagos.

She said the lender has shown its commitment to the MSME subsector by exhibiting extra care identifying its needs, especially as it concerns designing appropriate financial solutions to address such issues.

She said it was the determination of the bank to support small businesses that prompted the EDC to partner with it in achieving such objective.

“When Heritage Bank invited us to partner, especially on MSMEs development, we almost said no. But after listening to the bank, we realised they came from a different perspective and are committed to seeing the subsector grow,” she said.

Okekearu said most banks are more concerned about getting deposits from MSMEs than supporting their businesses but Heritage Bank wants to see the business grow by providing financial support to operators in the subsector.

“Being an MSME operator myself,

“However, beyond, the small growing businesses, is the issue of the banks. We need a total shift, in providing funding support to this subsector,” she said.

Okekearu said the small growing businesses are not always able to attract the best employees in the industry, a situation that also affects their businesses.

deputy director at the EDC, and a trainer, I understand MSMEs,” she said.

According to her, the MSME sector in Nigeria is untapped, and unstructured. She said out of a population of 160 million people, there are 17.2 million small growing businesses, which provide employment to 30 million Nigerians.

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Unity Bank deepens retail services Dutse and Port Harcourt.

The bank’s Divisional Head, Retail Banking, Usman Abaji, said the roadshows were part of a plan to deepen the bank’s retail thrust.

He noted critical lessons to be leant from road-shows, especially as it relates to feedback from the people.

He expressed confidence that the lessons would be internalised and harnessed to further fine-tune the bank’s retail banking offerings and its savings promos.

NITY Bank has emphasised its commitment to deepening retail banking services in the country through branch expansion.

In a statement, the bank said the plan is not only in line with its strategic direction, but also a natural progression from its history and antecedents of being close to the people.

It said the bank’s on-going savings promo tagged ‘3-in-1 Savings Advantage’, especially the road-shows, which took place in Lagos, Abuja, Bauchi,

DATA BANK

FGN BONDS Tenor

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 350m 150m 350m 138m 350m 113m

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

NIDF NESF

OBB Rate Call Rate

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2012 “ 14-04-2012

GAINERS AS AT 26-07-13

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

COURTVILL 0.74 UBA 0.01 PORTPAINT 5.42 ZENITH BANK 20.20 OANDO 12.95 ROYALEX 0.55 NASCO 12.00 NB 175.01 NAHCO 6.65 CAP 47.81

C/PRICE

CHANGE

0.80 8.42 5.64 20.93 13.20 0.56 12.20 177.90 6.75 48.50

0.06 0.41 0.22 0.73 0.25 0.01 0.20 2.89 0.10 0.69

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) 149.7450 (S/N) Bureau de Change 152.0000 (S/N) Parallel Market 153.0000

IPWA UPL VONO JOHNHOLT WEMABANK STANBIC WAPIC RTBRISCOE TRANSEXPR CORNERST

O/PRICE 1.21 4.72 1.03 1.35 1.29 20.72 0.90 1.57 1.08 0.54

C/PRICE 1.09 4.26 0.93 1.22 1.77 18.84 0.82 1.45 1.00 0.50

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

July ’12

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

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

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 11.8%

CHANGE 0.12 0.46 0.10 0.13 0.12 1.88 0.08 0.12 0.08 0.04

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m 113m

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Movement

Exchange Rate (N) 155.2 155.8 155.7

Date 2-7-12 27-6-12 22-6-12

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

LOSERS AS AT 12-07-13

SYMBOL

HE Bankers’ Committee has taken the cash-less policy campaign to Ogun State to enlighten the people on the use and benefits of the policy.

The scheme, which was introduced to Lagos State a year ago, was extended to Ogun, Kano, Anambra and Abia states as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on July 1.

The initiative, which has entered its second phase, saw the CBN and bank officials staging road shows in six delineated zones (Ilaro, Mowe/Ibafo, Ota, Abeokuta, Sagamu and IjebuOde) in Ogun, to create awareness on how to use different payment channels such as Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), Point of Sales (PoS), and money transfers.

According to a statement from the Bankers’ Committee, the sixday activities saw market men and women, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) among others, being educated on how to transact business electronically. ”It was, indeed, a very interactive session across boards as bankers were on hand to throw more light on the puzzles in the mind of stakeholders,” the statement added.

The cashless policy, whose implementation began in Lagos in January, last year, is aimed at reducing the dominance of cash in the system. The policy specifies penal charges for individuals and corporate organisations that want to withdraw or lodge cash above prescribed limits.

ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE INVE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL BGL SAPPHIRE FUND BGL NUBIAN FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY • ARM AGGRESSIVE

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 140.00 158.75 0.80 1.17 1.12 100.00 1,000.00 1,832.46 13.66 1.39 1.87 11.299.87

9.08 1.00 140.16 158.54 0.80 1.16 1.17 100.00 1,000.00 1,837.37 14.73 1.39 1.87 11,963.71

• KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUNDARM AGGRESSIVE • OPEN BUY BACK Previous

Current

Movement

04 July, 2012 0 bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

32

International Business

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ECB to complete bank health check-up in February

HE European Central Bank (ECB) will complete an assessment of top banks' assets early next year, which will allow for the next round of so-called "stress tests" to start in May, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The ECB is due to become the

single supervisor for euro zone banks and before it takes up the task it plans to conduct an asset quality review as part of a broader balance sheet review of the region's 130 to 140 largest banks.

German regulator Bafin and the Bundesbank told bank executives at a briefing that the asset quality re-

view would be completed in February, a person who attended the meeting said.

The next round of bank stress tests - when the European Banking Authority (EBA) and the ECB will test banks' ability to cope in a variety of economic scenarios - will then start in May, the person added.

An ECB spokeswoman said the timing still had to be confirmed, as a decision could only be taken once the legal text for the ECB's new supervisory body - the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) - had entered into force and its supervisory board was established.

The legal framework is expected

a target of 124 per cent of gross domestic product by 2020, which they said may require agreeing to relief measures as early as next year.

European finance ministers agreed last year to cut the rates on bailout loans and suspend interest payments for a decade, while giving Greece more time to repay and engineering a Greek bond buyback.

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble last month opened the possibility of building on these measures while discarding a straight write off.

“What channel it will take, what tools will be needed, what methodology will be applied is some-

thing that will have to be discussed by the euro partners, and with the euro partners, but the commitment is in my view what matters most,” Lagarde said. Dell committee and buyout group close to deal.

The IMF’s board last Monday completed the fourth review of Greece's bailout program, and approved a further 1.7 billion euro ($2.3 billion) in funds for the cashstrapped euro zone state.

Greece last week adopted the last piece of legislation its international lenders required to release their next batch of rescue loans, after two months of wrangling over unpopular measures to overhaul the economy.

The total funds from the IMF, the European Commission and the European Central Bank comprise 5.8 billion euros.

Europe’ll meet Greece debt pledge, says Lagarde I NTERNATIONAL Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde said she is confident euro-area nations will deliver on their pledge to help Greece lower its public debt to the level agreed on in a joint bailout package.

“I stand on the three-time repeated commitments by the euro partners to consider further measures and assistance to make sure that the Greek debt is reduced substantially” by 2020 and 2022, Lagarde told reporters in Washington today.

“I have no reason to believe the Europeans would not themselves deliver on their undertaking vis-avis Greece and vis-a-vis third parties.”

The IMF and euro-area nations over the past week have unblocked the latest aid tranche to replenish

Greece’s coffers through the German elections in September.

The Mediterranean country’s financial fate has become entwined with German politics, with Chancellor Angela Merkel campaigning for a third term on the promise Germany won’t write off any of the loans made to Greece since the debt crisis broke out almost four years ago.

IMF staff in a report said there are about 11 billion euro ($14.5 billion) in financing needed for Greece by the end of 2015 that have not yet been indentified under its joint package with Europe.

The report also reminded European officials of their commitment to reduce Greece’s debt burden to

India eases investment rules to woo Walmart, Tesco

I

NDIA relaxed sourcing and investment rules for the retail sector at the weekend in a renewed attempt to attract foreign supermarket chains such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Tesco PLC. Foreign firms have been keen to enter India’s $500billion (U.S.) retail market since the country allowed foreign investment in its supermarket sector in September, 2012, but ambiguity around entry rules has kept them away.

The issue remains politically controversial because of worries that millions of small shopkeepers could go out of business and India has so far not received a single application from any global retailer.

A previously announced rule that foreign chains must source 30 per cent of their products locally when they enter had been a major sticking point.

In the new announcement, the government retained the 30 per cent sourcing requirement but said it can be met over a period of five years initially and after that it has to be met on an annual basis.

It also said global chains will only have to invest 50 per cent of an “initial” mandatory investment of $100million in setting up cold storages and warehouses as against the earlier policy, which said half of the entire investment by foreign chains in india had to be in building back-end infrastructure.

“The new rules have removed some major stumbling blocks and should encourage foreign retailers to enter India,” said Devangshu Dutta, who heads retail consultancy Third Eyesight. Although most retailers are still likely to wait for the outcome of the elections next year before they make a decision.”

National elections in India are due

by May, 2014, and a change in government could result in the controversial retail reform, being reversed and any newly opened supermarkets being shut, according to industry officials. A Wal-Mart spokeswoman said the company was studying the revisions to the foreign direct investment policy.

“We appreciate the government’s willingness to consider our requests for clarity on conditions contained in the new FDI policy,” she said in a statement.

•Skanska USA recruiter, Tony DeStefano (right) of Atlanta Georgia, discussing with Virginia Tech senior, Chris Kervan of Richmond, Virginia, at a Career Fair on employment affecting the United States economy.

L

LinkedIn earnings rise by 33%

INKEDIN’S online professional networking service is still doing a good job of pleasing investors.

Wall Street gave LinkedIn its latest endorsement at the weekend, driving the Mountain View, Calif., company’s shares up by more than seven per cent after it released its second-quarter results.

The performance burnished the impressive résumé that LinkedIn has put together since going public two years ago. The company has delivered earnings and revenue above the analysts’ projections that guide investors in all nine of its quarters as a

publicly traded company.

LinkedIn supplemented that accomplishment by adding 20 million more registered users during the three months ending in June. That’s the service’s biggest membership gain in any quarter since LinkedIn’s initial public stock offering in May, 2011.

The networking service has thrived by establishing itself as the go-to place for employers to find talented workers and for people to get job tips and other advice to manage their careers. It doesn’t cost anything for people to set up a personal profile anchored by their résumé. The company makes most of its money by

charging employers, headhunters and perpetual job seekers fees to gain additional access to its member’s profiles and other data.

Some of those fees were raised in the second quarter, a change that should give a lift to LinkedIn’s revenue.

Subscriptions and fees accounted for three-fourths of LinkedIn’s revenue in the second quarter, with the rest coming from advertising.

The company is also trying to boost its advertising sales by allowing more commercial messages to be displayed within its users’ feeds, much like Facebook does on its social network.

U

At the same time, the jobless rate fell two-10ths of a point to 7.4 per cent, its lowest in over four years.

Gains in employment fuelled some of that decline, but the Labour force also shrank during the month, robbing some of the lustre from the decline in the unemployment rate.

The data reinforces the view that the job market is inching toward recovery, with the broader economy still stuck in low gear.

“The U.S. economy is grinding along for the better, but it’s going to be a long and slow grind,” Tanweer Akram, an economist at ING U.S. Investment Management in Atlanta,

said ahead of the report.

The question is whether the pace of job gains is enough for the Fed to feel the U.S. economy is ready to get by with less support. The U.S. central bank currently buys $85-billion a month in bonds to keep borrowing costs low.

The stimulus program has lowered interest rates, spurring growth in the country’s beleaguered housing market and boosting car sales. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said last month the U.S. central bank would likely reduce the level of monthly purchases by the end of the year, and end them by mid-2014.

to be passed by the European Parliament on September 10 and will enter into force shortly after. Only then can the supervisory board be appointed.

The body is expected to start operating a year after that.

ECB Executive Board member Joerg Asmussen said last month he expected the assessment to start in the first quarter of next year and to be completed before the SSM takes over supervision.

ECB President Mario Draghi has stressed several times that political leaders need to come up with a sufficient backstop before the ECB can embark on its asset quality review in order to cover potential capital shortfalls.

Toyota cautious on outlook

T

OYOTA Motor Corp. took a cautious stance on its profit outlook, worried over currency moves and a slowdown in Thailand and other emerging markets, even as healthy earnings on overseas sales lifted it to a nearrecord quarterly profit.

The world’s biggest car maker trounced its rivals Volkswagen AG and General Motors Co. in earnings for the period as a weaker yen made exports more profitable and allowed Toyota to convert money made overseas at a more profitable rate.

Toyota posted its second best quarterly operating profit at ¥663.4-billion ($6.69-billion U.S.). Currency moves, mostly the yen’s depreciation, accounted for more than 80 per cent of the rise.

And while the company raised its profit forecast for the year to next March, the 8 per cent tweak to ¥1.94trillion was well short of the near record ¥2.27-trillion result analysts are expecting.

“There are some uncertainties in emerging markets,” Toyota Managing Officer Takuo Sasaki told a news conference.

“But we will have the new Corolla going on sale in North America and a new compact car for the emerging markets, so we will aim to boost sales.”

Analysts seemed unconcerned by the company’s cautious stance, even as it also trimmed its U.S. vehicle sales target slightly to reflect a rise in demand for SUVs and pickup trucks where its U.S. rivals are stronger.

“Although the raised full-year operating profit forecast of ¥1.94-trillion is below the market consensus, there’s no need to see this as a negative,” said Toyo Securities auto analyst Takumi Hoshi. Toyota was reaping benefits widely from strong sales, a weak yen and cost reductions, he added.

Toyota’s strong results underscored a trend among Japanese car makers relying heavily on a weak yen to post healthy profits.

The eight combined, including Nissan Motor Co. and Honda Motor Co., posted a year-on-year quarterly operating profit rise of ¥441.3-billion, but the contribution from currency moves exceeded that, at ¥512.8billion.

U.S. jobless rate falls to four-year low

NITED States’employers slowed their pace of hiring last month, but the jobless rate fell anyway, mixed signals that could make the U.S. Federal Reserve more cautious about drawing down its huge economic stimulus program.

The number of jobs outside the farming sector increased by 162,000, the Labour Department said on Friday.

That was below the median forecast in a Reuters poll of 184,000. Compounding that miss, the government also cut its previous estimates for hiring in May and June.

The Fed’s policymaking committee wrapped up a two-day meeting on Wednesday without any change to the program. The panel’s statement, however, referenced new factors that could be seen as risks to growth: a recent rise in mortgage rates and persistently low inflation.

Central bank policymakers next meet in September.

The growth in payrolls left the three-month average gain at 175,000.

Many economists believe even hiring around that level could lead the Fed to trim its bond buying in September.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

33

Africa Business

T

HE week steady at the weekend, underpinned by a liquidity squeeze. Shares edged lower for the third straight session.

By the market close, commercial banks quoted the shilling at 87.30/ 50 per dollar, a level it has hovered around all this week.

"Being the beginning of the month, importers' appetite for dollars is a bit down," said Duncan Kinuthia, head of trading at Commercial Bank of Africa.

"The overnight (lending rate) has

Kenyan shilling ends steady, shares extend slide ticked up, but as the government continues spending, then we could see liquidity come into the market."

Kenyan demand for the U.S. currency normally peaks at the end of the month as importers, especially from the energy sector, rush to meet payments for their supplies.

The weighted average interbank lending rate edged up to 9.5374 percent on Thursday, from 9.3777 per-

cent in the previous session. The rate has risen for 10 straight sessions from 6.6810 per cent on July 17.

The government plans to release up to 24 billion shillings ($275 million) in development funds for its 290 constituencies this month, which will boost liquidity in the market.

In stocks, the benchmark NSE-20

share index dipped 0.1 per cent to 4,777.12 points, held back by banking stocks.

Shares in Equity Bank, the country's largest bank by customers, dropped 0.8 per cent to 33 shillings each, while Standard Chartered Bank was down one per cent to 300 shillings.

"Equity Bank's (half-year) performance was below expectation. In-

vestors are becoming sceptical of what other banks will report," said Moses Waireri, an analyst at Sterling Investment Bank.

On Monday Equity Bank posted a 17 per cent rise in its first-half pretax profit.

In the secondary bonds market, debt worth 1.9 billion shillings was traded, up from 1.2 billion shillings previously.

Big rewards beckon in Angola

H

OT to tap into Angola's booming oil economy for over a decade, foreign investors are finally seeing the country open up new financial avenues.

But will woeful transparency and corruption thwart them?

Five-star hotel lobbies in the capital Luanda bubble with talk of deals to profit from the country's economic success, with the government adding to the lure by announcing plans for a $5 billion sovereign wealth fund, a bourse and a Eurobond.

Buoyed by rising crude production that is already worth $70 billion a year and praise from the world's main lending agencies, President Jose Eduardo dos Santos wants Angola to step on to the international financial stage.

"Angola is definitely trying to develop an international strategy," said Alex Vines, an Angola expert at London-based think tank Chatham House.

"That, however, has an impact in terms of transparency, given the demands of international markets," he said.

Africa's biggest oil producer after Nigeria, Angola has posted rapid growth since the end of a long civil war in 2002 but has been beset by criticism of its opaque finances and pervasive graft. Transparency International ranks Angola as the 19th most corrupt country in its global index of 176 countries.

Campaign groups like Global

• From left: Oluseyi Adeyinka, Chief Compliance Officer (CCO); Standard Chartered Bank and Anogwi Anyanwu, Executive Director Operations & IT, Mainstreet Bank; during the Committee of Chief Compliance Officers of Banks in Nigeria (CCCOBIN) meeting hosted

by Mainstreet Bank in Lagos over the weekend.

Witness have urged the government to report how much oil revenue it receives and spends in a country where an elite has become vastly rich while over a third of around 19 million Angolans live in poverty.

In Luanda, one of the world's most expensive cities, the elite travels to luxury compounds in topof-the-range SUVs while the majority live in sprawling slums, often without electricity.

The ruling MPLA party says there has been much progress on transparency and cites praise from the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. It also points to new rules in a fledgling banking sector.

"The new rules are important, at the level of those in industrialised countries," said Tiago Dionisio, research analyst at sub-Saharan investment bank Eaglestone.

"There's much to be done, but it's progress."

An IMF loan deal, completed last year, received particular praise from analysts and rating agencies for pushing authorities to publish at least some data on the budget and oil revenues.

After warning about $32 billion missing from state funds spent by state oil firm Sonangol in 2011, the IMF says it is now satisfied the expenditure is included in the national budget.

"When we talk about Angola, we have to look at the impact on pov-

erty and development," said Ricardo Soares de Oliveira, Oxford University expert on oil and governance in Africa.

"My answer is that it is neutral these developments (with the IMF) are in no way bad, I suppose they are positive, but there is no direct link with the quality of governance."

Others blame a system where the president's power cannot be effectively checked. Dos Santos has ruled Angola since 1979.

Ghana's deputy Information Minister Felix Kwakye Ofosu said the vessel intercepted by Ghana's navy, the MT Mustard, was believed to have been used to siphon about 3,500 tonnes of fuel from the Cotton.

It later sailed into Ghanaian waters, first docking at the eastern port of Tema before heading for an offshore oil facility off the town of Saltpond.

"The vessel was intercepted off the coast of Saltpond and the crew arrested by the Ghana Navy," Ofosu said in a statement released late on Thursday.

Ghana's Bureau of National Investigations was conducting further investigations into the ship's activi-

ties, he said.

The Gulf of Guinea region is a major source of oil, cocoa and, increasingly, metals for world markets.

International navies are not actively engaged in counter-piracy missions in the region, unlike in the waters off Somalia, the piracy hotspot on the other side of the continent.

However, regional governments have begun stepping up efforts to combat the phenomenon.

In June, they signed a code of conduct under which they would arrest and prosecute suspected pirates, seize vessels believed to have been used in piracy and increase regional cooperation.

Why Ghana's Navy intercepted oil ship

G

HANA'S Navy said at the weekend that it has intercepted a ship and arrested its crew on suspicion of involvement in the hijacking of an oil products tanker off Gabon last month.

Pirate attacks in West Africa's Gulf of Guinea have almost doubled from last year, jacking up insurance costs for shipping companies. Experts say gangs based in the waters off Africa's top oil producer Nigeria are extending their reach.

Pirates seized the Maltese-flagged Cotton tanker with its 24-member crew on July 15 near Gabon's Port Gentil, in the first reported attack in that area for five years. The ship was released the following week.

E

‘Virunga National Park, DRC can support power generation, others’

COSYSTEMS in the Virunga National Park, DRC could support hydropower generation, fishing and ecotourism and play an important role in providing secure water supplies, regulating climate and preventing soil erosion, says a report.

The report by Dalberg Global Development Advisers, said park, Africa's oldest and most diverse, is home to over 3,000 different kinds of animals, but is now heavily populated with desperately poor people, many of whom fled there after the Rwanda massacre in 1994.

"In all, the park could support in the region of 45,000 permanent jobs.

In addition, people around the world could derive an immense value from simply knowing that the park is well managed and is safe for fu-

ture generations," says the report.

"Virunga represents a valuable asset to DR Congo and contributes to Africa's heritage as the oldest and most biodiverse park on the continent," the report says.

"Plans to explore for oil and exploit oil reserves put Virunga's potential value at risk," it says.

"This is where we draw the line.

Oil companies are standing on the doorstep of one of the world's most precious and fragile places, but we will not rest until Virunga is safe from this potential environmental disaster," said Lasse Gustavsson, executive director of WWF International.

"Virunga has snow fields and lava fields, but it should not have oil fields," it added.

Local woman passing a sign for Virunga National Park, DRC

In June, the Uesco world heritage committee called for the cancellation of all Virunga oil permits and appealed to concession holders Total SA and Soco International Plc not to undertake exploration in world heritage sites. Total has committed to respecting Virunga's boundary, leaving UK-based Soco as the only oil company with plans to explore inside the park.

Last year, the UK government expressed concerns about the prospect of oil exploration within the park.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "The UK opposes oil exploration within Virunga national park, a world heritage site listed by Unesco as being 'in danger'.

We urge any company involved, and the government of DR Congo to respect the international conventions to which it is a signatory."

Rand continues to fall SOUTH Africa's rand dropped over 1.4 per cent against a rallying dollar at the weekend to nudge near the psychologically important 10 level, with the greenback boosted by US data showing signs of strength for the world's biggest economy.

The greenback also gained on the euro after the European Central Bank said interest rates in the region would remain low.

The rand fell to 9.9970 to the dollar in late afternoon trade, its weakest level since July 12. At the weekend, the local currency had come back slightly to 9.980.

The rand could weaken further on Friday if US non-farm payrolls data surprise the market to the upside, likely causing a sharp sell-off, traders said. However, dealers said the rand looked heavily oversold and prices could come back.

Government bonds ignored the weaker currency, with dealers cautious ahead of Friday's US jobs data.

The yield on the 2026 issue nudged up 0.5 basis points at 8.175%.

"We've been in this range the whole week. Bonds are kind of ignoring the currency.

The non-farm payrolls figure is going to be the big number for us," said a bond trader in Johannesburg.

South Africa released its purchasing managers' index for July earlier in the session, which showed improvement from last month.

The July Kagiso PMI climbed to 52.2 points, coming in above 50 - the level that distinguishes between contraction and expansion - posting gains for the fourth consecutive month.

Vehicle sales also improved in the month, with sales up 7.5% in a sign that could contribute positively to economic growth.

Uganda awards dam contract to Chinese firm CHINA'S influence in Uganda is growing, with two dam contracts recently awarded to Chinese companies, offers of cheap credit and even a possible deal to buy the debts of Ugandan MPs. But some rights groups worry that it could come at the expense of the country’s independence.

The Ugandan government, lured by the promise of cheap credit and heavy investment, is turning more and more toward China.

Chinese firms have been pouring into the country. According to the Chinese Embassy here, 45 new companies set up shop in Uganda just last year. And state-owned Chinese companies were recently awarded contracts to build Uganda’s two newest hydroelectric dams. The largest is estimated to cost almost one and a half billion dollars.

Chinese investment has been creating jobs in Uganda, and the new dams should help the country meet the energy demands of its fastgrowing population, says Minister of State for Energy Simon D’Ujanga.

Plus, he adds, cheap loans sweeten the deal.

“We have a bilateral arrangement with the Chinese government for cheap capital. It is a concession which is at a very low rate, and therefore we take advantage of that,” said D’Ujanga.

D’Ujanga acknowledges that low interest rates are not the only thing that makes China an attractive business partner. “If anything, the Chinese government is more liberal than the other lenders. When they come, we discuss strictly business, and that’s all. They don’t start asking many questions which are not related to the business,” D’Ujanga noted.

The questions China does not ask are about governance and human rights. Godber Tumushabe is director of the Kampala-based Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment. He said this no-stringsattached approach is one of the main reasons why many African leaders are seeking Chinese investment.

34

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5 , 2013

EQUITIES WATCH

Email: taofad2000@yahoo.co.uk

Nigerian equities have gained more than N3 trillion in the past seven months. With several stocks above market’s average return, the winds of new earnings may still blow equities to higher returns. Taofik Salako highlights market-leading stocks and potential for further upswing

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What gain beyond the 7th month?

IGERIAN equities added N581 billion in new capital gains in July to mitigate the adverse impact of June downtrend and restore the market to its exceedingly bullish mood.

Aggregate year-to-date return improved from six-month value of N2.45 trillion to N3.03 trillion by the end of July. After the downtrend in June, the market was particularly spectacular in July with a month-on-month average return of 5.08 per cent. With this, the market recorded a sevenmonth average return of 35.03 per cent.

Aggregate market value of all equities closed July at N12.007 trillion as against its opening value of N11.426 trillion for the month. The All Share Index (ASI), which doubles as benchmark index for all equities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and country index for Nigeria, also rose from month’s opening index of 36,164.31 points to close at 37,914.33 points.

With approximate monetised gain of N3.03 trillion and indexed average year-to-date return of 35.03 per cent, equities appeared in good stead for another record successive performance. In value terms, the seven-month capital gain of N3.03 trillion has already surpassed total gains of N2.44 trillion recorded for the entire 2012. Also, real benchmark return of 35.03 per cent is only a point below the average full-year return of 35.45 per cent recorded in 2012. The 1.23 percentage-points difference between market value growth of 33.8 per cent and ASI’s 35.03 per cent was due to the time-lag between new listing and price adjustment by market forces.

The stock market had closed the first half with average return of about 28.8 per cent, equivalent to N2.45 trillion in capital gains. Aggregate market value of all equities on the NSE had closed the first half at N11.426 trillion as against its valueon-board of N8.974 trillion that started the year, representing an increase of 27.3 per cent. The ASI had risen from 2013’s opening index of 28,078.81 points to close the first half at 36,164.31 points.

The first half performance was moderated by the downtrend in the latter half of June, which saw the month closing as the most bearish month with a loss of N649 billion. Equities had shown brighter performance in the first five months with whooping capital gains of N3.10 trillion.

Aggregate market capitalisation of all equities had closed May at N12.075 trillion while the ASI had indicated a five-month average return of 34.6 per cent.

The bullish streak that dominated July appeared to have already set the momentum for eighth month. Aggregate market capitalisation of all equities opens today at N12.169 trillion, indicating an increase of N162 billion within the first two trading days in August. The ASI opens at 38,424.34 points, 1.35 per cent return on July’s closing benchmark.

Large returns, small returns

With the exception of intractable insurance stocks and railroaded listings, the market’s gaining momentum has been substantially widespread,

leaving most investors with something to cheer and share. But the skew of the market’s rally has continuously left a trail to underline the rallying point for the market recovery. With some 40 per cent of quoted stocks static and some 16 per cent on the downside, the market has relied largely on the momentum of above-average stocks and sundry gains by several stocks to sustain the exciting positive overall market position. Forte Oil built on its half-year return of 120 per cent to emerge the market’s best performing stock with a seven-month return of 468.56 per cent by July month end. Evans Medical, which had closed the first half as the second best performing stock with a return of 208 per cent, doubled its position to close July with capital gain of 417.2 per cent.

Livestock Feeds, which had led the first half with a return of 278.5 per cent, witnessed a slowdown but sustained impressive return with 231.9 per cent within the seven-month period.

Other stocks with three-digit returns included Presco, 134.7 per cent; Julius Berger Nigeria, 130.9 per cent; Champion Breweries, 220.7 per cent; Wema Bank, 140.4 per cent; Fidson, 111.3 per cent and IPWA, which posted capital gain of 168 per cent.

Several highly capitalised stocks remained above market’s average, providing stronger supports to the overall market outlook than gains by small and mid-cap stocks. Dangote Cement, Nigeria’s most capitalised stock, recorded capital gain of 52.01 per cent. Nestle Nigeria, market’s highest-priced stock, returned 41.5 per cent while United Bank for Africa (UBA) led the banking stocks with a return of 71.5 per cent.

Price and earnings

Market’s rallies have been driven largely by early notes on half-year reports and eventual earnings reports, which showed improved cost efficiency and profitability in most companies.

For instance, Lafarge Cement Wapco Nigeria has rallied to the top of the building materials sector’s return table with 79.4 per cent seven-month return on the back of analysts’ earnings projections.

Lafarge Cement Wapco had closed the first half with 43.5 per cent. But most pundits had projected improved earnings for the cement company by the first half. This triggered early bullish run on the stock, a rally that was further stimulated by the release of the company’s first half results, which largely surpassed analysts’ forecasts.

Lafarge Cement rode on the back of significant reduction in financing expenses to grow its first half profit to N14.59 billion. Key extracts of the six-month report for the period ended June 30, 2013 showed that while sales grew marginally by 7.0 per cent, 37 per cent reduction in interest expenses and additional tax write-backs boosted net profit by 66 per cent. Total sales stood at N49.48 billion by June 2013 as against N46.34 billion recorded in comparable period of 2012. Financial charges however dropped by 37.4 per cent from N3.05 billion to N1.91 billion. This boosted profit before tax to N13.81 billion in 2013 as against

N12.21 billion in 2012. With tax write-back of N779 million, net profit stood at N14.59 billion in 2013 compared with N8.81 billion in comparable period of 2012. Earnings per share stood at N4.86 in 2013 as against N2.93 in 2012.

The first half report showed a reassuring outlook for the company, following a 49 per cent growth in net profit in the first quarter. First quarter report had shown that basic earnings per share, the net earnings that could be distributed to shareholders if the company so decided, increased by 49 per cent to N2.02 as against N1.36 recorded in the comparable period of 2012. The report showed marginal sale growth of 3.1 per cent, but improved cost management leveraged pre and post tax profits by 21 per cent and 49 per cent respectively. Turnover stood at N23.32 billion in first quarter 2013 as against N22.61 billion in comparable period of 2012. Profit before tax rose from N5.96 billion to N7.2 billion. Profit after tax also increased from N4.1 billion to N6.1 billion.

Will the bulls charge on?

With exciting capital gains orchestrating the tendency for profit-taking, the outlook for the market appears cautious. But most analysts still believe the market will ride on expected inflow of more first half earnings reports and interim dividends to remain on the upbeat in the weeks ahead. Managing director, GTI Securities, Mr. Tunde Oyekunle, said August might further add to investors’ returns given the positive trend of earnings reports.

According to him, investors will continue to react positively to improved operational earnings, which will keep inklings of possible year-end positions for several companies.

“We expect the market to be robust because we are seeing some good results which we believe investors will react to. In addition, there are some sectors that are really upcoming, some are moving from loss position to profit, thus widening opportunity to make money from several stocks,” Oyekunle said.

He noted that sectors such as transport, conglomerate, publishing and healthcare sectors have hidden values that could still drive returns.

He however expressed concerns about eh moderating influence of the recent policy changes in the banking sector. Most analysts shared that concerns.

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had two weeks ago increased cash reserve ratio (CRR) for public sector deposits in banks from 12 per cent to 50 per cent citing the need to manage the liquidity in the system in a more cost effective manner. The apex bank stated that the new CRR will be applied on Federal, State and Local Government deposits and all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government. It however retained CRR of 12 per cent for non-public sector deposits. Besides, it retained the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at

12 per cent with the symmetric corridor of +/200 basis points around the MPR. The implementation of the new CRR for the public sector will take effect from the next CRR maintenance period commencing on August 07, 2013. In a letter to all banks dated July 25, 2013, the apex bank stated that it would discontinue the remuneration on “excess” above the CRR of 8.0 per cent.

Many investment analysts said the 50 per cent CRR could undermine banks’ earnings given the large size of public sector funds.

Investment advisers at Analysts at Morgan Capital Group have placed a hold on all banks under their coverage pending further analyses to determine the extent of impact on banks’ returns.

According to analysts, it is expected that the new policy will have material impact on the bank’s earnings since most of the top banks have exposure to public sector funds.

“The reluctance of banks to be more aggressive with loan book growth, which commands higher interest margins and would have been a buffer to mitigate some of the expected revenue losses the new policy would have on the banks income will also be heightened. Also material is the exposure of banks to Government bonds and how much of this public sector funds have been committed to these bonds, particularly as bond yields are going up which means bond prices are crashing and banks are expected to mark their exposure to market as at December 31, this year and any other reporting dates,” Morgan Capital stated.

Investment advisers at FSDH Merchant Bank said it was safe to assume that public sector funds were large enough to determine market direction.

“We think the public sector fund is large, as market liquidity and inter-bank rates swing in line with the injections and withdrawals of public sector funds. We expect inter-bank rates and yields on treasury bills to rise immediately the debit hits the system. Banks may also adjust their lending rates upward in line with the realities, while they intensify their efforts in mobilising non-public sector fund,” FSDH stated.

But analysts agreed that the impact of the increase in CRR could be moderated by the reaction of the management of the banks to the policy change. A more comprehensive strategy that simultaneously drives private sector deposits and loans and minimizes non-performing ratio will enable banks to create headroom to manage the public sector gap. Banks’ internal cost efficiency and productivity will also influence the impact of top-line effect of the CRR change on the bottom-line. For investors, it appears there is still more to cheer and share.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

35

MONEY MARKET REPORT

'We'll enforce ethical compliance in accounting' T

HE President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Kabir Alkali Mohammed, has said his tenure will focus on enforcing ethics in the profession.

In an interview in Lagos, the ICAN boss said the body is structured in a way that ethical abuse complaints brought before the institute are treated and offenders punished.

He said the institute must continue to expose ethical compromises and sanction offenders, whose conduct, if not checked, could demean and bring the hard earned and towering goodwill of the profession to disrepute.

Mohammed explained that the democratic and rancour-free succession process in ICAN makes it a model for power transition, urging the country to borrow a leaf from the body.

He said the yearly change of leadership in the institute was commendable and speaks volumes about the civility of chartered accountants. He advised members of ICAN to be involved and drive the process, for the renaissance of its value systems.

Mohammed canvassed equity and justice, ensuring that premium placed on the integrity of chartered accountants, by stakeholders, would continue to be justified.

"This is our finest hour to impact the cause of national development, and human progress, with our skills and professional expertise," he said.

He explained that the ICAN brand must remain the benchmark of best practices, the nation's lighthouse in ethical conduct and professionalism, and pathfinder to business.

"As the voice of conscience and public interest, we cannot afford to fail, falter or shirk our responsibility, imposed on us, by our attestation franchise. In words and deeds, we must be different and outstanding, irrespective of the decay in the larger society," he said.

He said the Council under his leadership will reinforce its mechanism, for monitoring and enforcing compliance, to professional ethics and practice standards.

"We will continue to lead the drive, for high quality financial reporting, benchmarked on global best practices, and deliver more on our public interest mandate, by meeting and surpassing expectations," he said.

He said he would partner with the government, and regulatory agencies to set a new tone, for corporate governance and public service. He said he would be proactively setting direction of change in the profession and economy, and would be able to sustain the leadership position of the ICAN brand.

As a body, we have the technical capability and professional expertise, to make these initiatives happen, he said.

He explained that previous failures at signing relationship with some International Federation of Accountants member-bodies, has been the subject of serious engagements, between the Institute and the World Bank.

"I am delighted to report that through a World Bank-financed twinning arrangement with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, the very Institute that gave birth to ICAN, this hurdle will soon be surmounted.

To achieve this, the institute's syllabus, training manuals and certification processes, are being comprehensively reviewed," he said.

He said his team is set to implement various policy initiatives, embedded in the institute's 2012 to 2017 Strategy Document, adding that they will not lose sight of the challenge, and that they would face an important segment of the institute's membership, that is, the possibility of obtaining a bachelor's degree as part of the package on the road to qualifying as a chartered accountant.

Cash-less The cost of printing, moving, sorting and destructing of bad currency notes has been put at N114 billion yearly by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the CBN Deputy Governor, Operations, Tunde Lemo, has said. The rising cost of cash management confirms the need for cash-less policy implementation in the country.

•Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

•Mohammed

‘The ICAN Council under his leadership will reinforce its mechanism, for monitoring and enforcing compliance to professional ethics and practice standards’

By Collins Nweze

He spoke in Umuahia, Abia State while sensitising the public on the need to embrace the policy as it would help in developing the economy and attracting foreign investors and that the cash-less policy has been beneficial to the economy.

He said the policy has assisted Lagos and Ogun states in growing their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) are ripping the benefits of the cash-less policy, pointing out that their internally generated revenue has increased tremendously.

He said Lagos State's internally generated revenue is N29 billion yearly with the expectation that it will go up to N50 billion in the next few years. He added that Abia State has the opportunity of achieving the same result when it keys into the policy.

He explained that the policy was introduced to reduce the cash being carried by people in the transaction of their daily business, adding that a society that does business based on cash will attract corruption and also helped to have crimes like kidnapping thrive in their society.

IFRS The implementation of statutes in the International Financial Reporting Standard (FIRS) by Finance Houses will assist them in securing funding from local and foreign investors, Jim Osayande Obazee, the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria has said.

Speaking at the quarterly chief executives business luncheon organised by Finance Houses Association of Nigeria (FHAN) in Lagos, he called for easier regulation of financial information of entities in the country enhancement of investors' confidence in the quality assurance systems of financial reporting in public and private sector entities.

Obazee, who spoke on the theme: IFRS adoption in Nigeria: Issues and challenges for non-bank financial institutions, said the implementation of IFRS requires considerable preparation both at the country and entity levels to ensure

coherence and provide clarity on the authority that IFRS will have in relation to other national laws.

He said there is need for technical partners forum of accounting firms that can identify financial reporting issues requiring clarification to avoid inconsistencies.

He explained that there should be limited number of professional accounting organisations, preparers and users, including regulators that can provide the International Accounting Standard Board (IASB) with useful feedback, not only after standards are finalised and ready for implementation, but early in the drafting process.

FIRS The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and SAP West Africa, a market leader in enterprise application software, has collaborated to host a revenue management summit meant to assist stakeholders boost Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

It said its target is to boost stakeholders' IGRs by 200 per cent year on year with stateof-the-art technology.

At the summit, FIRS Acting Executive Chairman, Kabir Mashi, listed the challenges and opportunities of revenue management in the country. He applauded SAP West Africa for its foresight and commitment in ensuring that firms grow their IGRs by hosting the summit.

"SAP's objective to bring together the key tax and revenue communities in the African continent, debate the status on related topics, and above all, address concerns around tax collection, revenue management and related aspects is valuable," he said.

Mashi said FIRS' partnership with SAP West Africa is an excellent illustration of how technology can be leveraged to improve Public Service effectiveness,' particularly in SAP's innovation on triple digit revenue growth and tax and revenue management solution.

Discount Houses The CBN has linked part of the challenges facing Discount Houses to the subsector's

‘Mohammed canvassed equity and justice, ensuring that premium placed on the integrity of chartered accountants, by stakeholders, would continue to be justified’

poor capital base that makes it difficult for them to compete with commercial banks as Authorised Dealers in money market instruments. The CBN Monetary, Credit, Foreign Trade and Exchange Policy Guidelines for 2012 to 2013 classified commercial banks and discount houses as authorised dealers in the money market instruments.

CBN Director of Communication, Ugochukwu Okoroafor, said the sub-sector has not been able to compete with commercial banks since 2005 after the banking watchdog increased the capital base of banks from N2 billion to N25 billion.

The capital base of Discount Houses has remained around N2 billion since then.

Discount Houses are meant to facilitate the issue and sale of short term government securities and other eligible short-term commercial bills.

Okoroafor explained that the banking consolidation of that era favoured commercial banks against discount houses in their scramble for businesses. He said that since many of the banking needs of people provided by discount houses are now done by commercial banks, the operating environment has steadily risen against discount houses.

But Emmanuel Ebuk, an Executive of Consolidated Discount Limited, said the problem of discount houses had nothing to do with capitalisation and that his firm has a capital base of N27 billion, nothing that many operators in the sector are well capitalised.

Deposits Public sector deposits were N2.5 trillion, about 20 per cent of total deposits in the banking system, at the end first quarter of the year, Currencies Analyst at Ecobank Nigeria Olakunle Ezun has said.

He explained in a report titled: Nigeria: Indirect Monetary Policy tightening, said aside the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) by N650 billion, after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) increased the ratio to 50 per cent, an additional N955 billion will be removed from the economy. The CBN, had last week, raised the CRR from 12 to 50 per cent during the last Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.

This, he said, suggested that the tightening effect will be immediate, which in turn could require CBN repos to rebalance liquidity demand and supply.

He predicted that monetary policy appears set to remain relatively unchanged in the months ahead.

"Assuming no significant change to key indicators, we think the Monetary Policy Rate will be held at 12 per cent in subsequent MPC meetings, although further indirect tightening may occur if liquidity remains above target," he said.

Dud cheque Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) have begun nation-wide sensitisation of customers against issuance of dud cheques.

The lenders are through text messages, emails and letters to serial defaulters, drawing attention of their customers to the recent circular issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) directing banks to advise customers against issuing Dud Cheques to third parties.

According to CBN, the volume of dishonoured cheques in the financial system is rising and has shown no signs of declining. Guaranty Trust Bank in a statement to its customers, said such act breeds low confidence in the acceptance of cheques and adversely affects the cash-less policy aimed at reducing the volume of cash based transactions in the country.

As part of efforts to address the issuance of dud cheques, CBN has directed banks to identify customers who have issued dud cheques on three instances with effect from July 5.

Banks have been directed to send details of customers together with copies of dud cheques to CBN. The Central Bank will in turn forward such details to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation.

"Our esteemed customers are therefore advised to make sure that their accounts are funded before issuing a cheque to a third party and to also confirm all cheques via our internet banking platform or Relationship Managers, as this will ensure the cheque is honoured," the bank said.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5 , 2013

36

DUE DILIGENCE

U

Unilever Nigeria: Still tight

NILEVER Nigeria Plc re mains on the edge, al though larger top-line growth absorbed much midline constraints that have kept the conglomerate’s bottom-line static in recent years. Latest operations report of Unilever Nigeria, for the first half ended June 30, 2013, showed 10.3 per cent growth in turnover and subsequent larger increase of 11.3 per cent in gross profit, but midline costs muffled pre-tax profit growth to 3.7 per cent. With tax provisions, net profit was down by 3.2 per cent.

The underlining point was that in spite of the larger sales, the company made less profit per unit of sales in the first half of 2013 compared with similar period in 2012.

While gross profit margin improved marginally from 36.3 per cent in first half of 2012 to 36.6 per cent in 2013, profit before tax margin closed first half 2013 down at 13.3 per cent as against 14.2 per cent in comparable period of 2012. The latest report appeared to be painting a similar, though may be better, scenario to Unilever Nigeria’s recent fundamentals.

Sluggish top-line had laid the ground for a tight performance for the conglomerate in 2012 with key performance indicators stunted at almost the same level as in previous year. Audited report and accounts of Unilever Nigeria for the year ended December 31, 2012 showed almost a standstill position as the conglomerate struggled with slowdown in sales and rising interest expenses. While it ostensibly leveraged on large-scale global purchasing power to reduce relative cost of sales and create larger topline profit, a double in financing charges sapped the midline, leaving the conglomerate with almost flat bottom-line.

With negligible 1.5 per cent increase in profit after tax and just difference of 8.0 kobo between distributable earnings per share and previous dividend payout, the company was constrained to retain dividend payout at N1.40 per share. The constraints also reflected in underlying returns,

By Taofik Salako

which slipped to lower levels in 2012. When further related to its share price, which has grown significantly since the previous year, the bottom-line indicated declining yields for the conglomerate.

Besides, the balance sheet structure of the multinational weakened considerably during the period. Building up larger negative working capital, a surging gearing ratio complicated the financing and liquidity outlook. Probable immediate assets fell further below relative liabilities, which, when taken with lower equity funds, could induced further financial leverage.

Financing structure

Unilever Nigeria’s total balance sheet size increased by 13 per cent from N32.25 billion to N36.50 billion. Current assets had dropped by 8.4 per cent from N16.13 billion to N14.78 billion. Total longterm assets meanwhile improved significantly from N16.12 billion to N21.72 billion. Total liabilities however grew by 17 per cent to N26.46 billion in 2012 as against N22.62 billion in 2011. Liabilities had grown on the back of 18 per cent increase in current liabilities from N18.9 billion to N22.33 billion and 11 per cent rise in longterm liabilities from N3.72 billion to N4.12 billion. While paid up share capital remained unchanged at N1.89 billion, shareholders’ funds inched up from N9.64 billion to N10.04 billion.

The underlying financing structure weakened in 2012 with debtto-equity ratio of 43 per cent as against a zero immediate bank loans in 2011. The proportion of equity funds to total assets also slipped from about 30 per cent to 28 per cent while current liabilities increased to 61 per cent of total balance sheet size as against about 59 per cent in 2011. Longterm liabilities amounted to 11.3 per cent of total assets in 2012 compared with 11.5 per cent in 2011.

Efficiency

Tight cost management and stable productivity underpinned

Fiscal Year Ended December 31 Nmillion

2012 12 months

% change

Profit and Loss Statement Main Business Segment Total turnover Cost of sales Gross profit Operating expenses Interest and other incomes Finance expenses Pre-tax profit(loss) Post-tax profit (loss) Basic earnings per share(kobo) Gross dividend (Nm) Cash dividend per share (kobo) Net Assets per share (kobo)

NA 55,548 33,902 21,646 12,739 215 935 8,186 5,598 148 5,296 140 265

0.0 1.5 -2.4 8.2 8.3 2.9 118.6 2.1 1.5 1.4 0.0 0.0 3.9

30,835 54,725 34,723 20,002 11,765 209 428 8,018 5,515 146 5,296 140 255

Profitability

Unilever Nigeria’s profitability outlook was coloured by the almost standstill in its market share. The profit and loss accounts showed spirited efforts by the management to cushion the adverse impact of the top-line slowdown on the bottom-line, holding tightly to costs. In the immediate, the cost management strategy helped to stabilize both actual and underlying profitability measures. Turnover stood at N55.55 billion in 2012, a marginal improvement on N54.73 billion recorded in 2011. Cost of sales meanwhile dropped by 2.4 percent from N34.72 billion to N33.90 billion. Lower cost of sales nudged gross profit to N21.65 billion in 2012 compared with N20 billion in 2011, indicating an increase of 8.2 per cent.

Total operating expenses-including administration and distribution expenses; rose by 8.3 per cent to N12.74 billion as against N11.77 billion in previous year.

While non-core business income was steadied between N215 million in 2012 and N209 million in 2011, a 119 per cent increase in finance charges from N428 million to N935 million impacted negatively on the bottom-line.

Profit before tax thereafter closed 2012 at N8.19 billion as against N8.02 billion in 2011. Profit after tax was also almost flat with negligible increase of 1.5 per cent from N5.52 billion to N5.60 billion.

Underlying profit-making indi-

2011 12 months

ces also showed similar top-down stiffness.

While gross profit margin improved from 36.6 per

cent in 2011 to 39 per cent in 2012, average pre-tax profit per unit of sale was stunted at 14.7 per cent.

Return on total assets slipped from about 25 per cent to 22.4 per cent while return on equity dropped slightly from 57 per cent to about 56 per cent.

Further earnings analysis showed earnings per share of N1.48 in 2012 compared with N1.46 in 2011, a difference of 2.0 kobo. The bottom-line obviously provided no headroom for dividend increase, no matter the consideration of the directors. The board of directors thus reasonably decided to retain dividend payout at the same rate. Gross dividend and dividend per share remained unchanged at N5.30 billion and N1.40 respectively. Unless it unlocks new opportunities, there is little room for any future dividend increase with dividend cover at 1.06 times and 1.04 times in 2012 and 2011 respectively.

Liquidity

The liquidity position of the conglomerate weakened further in 2012. Current ratio, which generally relates easily available assets to similar potential liabilities, declined to a low of 0.66 times in 2012 as against 0.85 times and 0.99 times in 2011 and 2010 respectively. The negative working capital further built up to approximately 14 per cent of total sales in 2012 compared with 5.1 per cent and 0.4 per cent in 2011 and 2010.

Debtors/creditors ratio closed 2012 at 38 per cent as against 34 per cent in 2011.

Governance and structures

Unilever Nigeria is the earliest publicly quoted conglomerate.

With some 100,000 shareholders, it has one of the largest diversified shareholders base. Incorporated in 1923, it was listed on the stock exchange in 1973. Individual and institutional Nigerian shareholders currently hold 49.96 percent equity stake in the conglomerate while Unilever Group holds 50.04 per cent majority equity stake through Unilever Overseas Holdings B.V. There were no notable changes on the board of the company during the year. His Majesty Nnaemeka Achebe still chairs the board of directors while Mr Thabo Mabe still leads the executive management team as managing director.

Unilever Nigeria complies with international best practices and

Fiscal Year Ended December 31

•MD, Unilever Nigeria, Thabo Mabe

codes of good corporate governance. It is one of the predictable companies in terms of voluntary compliance with extant rules and regulations.

Analyst’s opinion

Unilever Nigeria recorded a turnover of N29.67 billion in first half 2013 as against N26.92 billion in comparable period of 2012.

Gross profit increased from N9.76 billion to N10.86 billion. Profit before tax inched up from N3.82 billion to N3.96 billion. However, net profit after tax dropped by 3.2 per cent from N2.83 billion to N2.74 billion. With this, earnings per share slipped from 75 kobo in first half 2012 to 72 kobo in 2013.

The performance of Unilever Nigeria further highlights the need for the conglomerate to open up new market opportunities to stimulate the top-line while improving on cost management strategy. While cost management strategy helped to stabilize both actual and underlying profitability measures in the immediate period, the sustainability of such in the absence of top-line breakthrough is doubtful and precarious.

Besides, it had been noted that though its low liquidity position might not pose a serious drawback given its overall credit worthiness and global group, Unilever Nigeria needs to back-up its rapid expansion and ambitious target of doubling its business size with appropriate financial mix, especially equity funds that can provide the much-needed linchpin for long-term growth. The rising gearing ratio and declining liquidity underline the urgency of financial rebalancing. It needs to work on both ends- profit and loss and balance sheet, to create a stable and steady winning mix that can reactivate the bottom-line.

2012 %

2011 %

27.5 11.3 61.2 43.4

29.9 11.5 58.6 0.0

39.0 14.7 22.4 55.7 1.06

36.6 14.7 24.9 57.2 1.04

Efficiency Pre-tax profit per employee (Nm) Staff cost per employee (Nm) Cost of sales, operating exp/Turnover

84.0

7.46 3.50 84.9

Liquidity Current ratio Working capital/Turnover Debtors/Creditors

0.66 -13.6 38.1

0.85 -5.1 33.8

Financing structure Equity funds/Total assets Long-term liabilities/Total assets Current liabilities/Total assets Debt/Equity ratio Profitability

Balance Sheet Assets: Fixed assets Total long term assets Trade debtors Current assets Total assets Liabilities: Trade creditors Bank loans Current liabilities Long-term liabilities Total liabilities Equity Funds Share capital Total Equity Funds

a relative efficiency outlook. Although there were no data to determine actual cost per head relative to output, the overall operating cost showed a somewhat stable performance. Total cost of business, excluding financing charges, was 84 per cent of total sales in 2012 as against 84.9 per cent in 2011. It had in the previous year achieved considerable improvements in employee productivity and cost management with average contribution of each employee to the bottom-line improving appreciably from N6.19 million in 2010 to N7.46 million in 2011.

19,266 21,719 5,638 14,778 36,497

35.0 34.7 3.9 -8.4 13.2

14,267 16,123 5,426 16,127 32,250

14,782 4,359 22,333 4,122 26,455

-8.0 0.0 18.2 10.7 17.0

16,068 0 18,892 3,723 22,615

1,892 10,043

0.0 4.2

1,892 9,635

Gross profit margin Pre-tax profit margin Return on total assets Return on equity Dividend cover (times)

37

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

LABOUR

Fed Govt okays N400b for PHCN retirees, others T HE Federal Government has approved N16 billion for the payment of the entitlements of retirees and pensioners of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in preparation for the privatisation of the power sector.

This is in addition to the N384 billion earlier okayed as severance package for employees of the power firm before it is privatised.

The Minister of Power, Prof.

Chinedu Nebo, who disclosed this in a statement, directed the power distribution firms to resolve the improper billing and

Stories by Toba Agboola

metering of electricity consumers.

He said at the end of the privatisation, Nigerians will heave a sigh of relief as generator importers will soon be pushed out of business.

The statement said: “The minister has directed the commencement of the payment of severance package to PHCN staff, on which about N384 billion is going to be expended with additional N16 billion to pay other retirees and pensioners of the company.

“Nebo directed that all issues

surrounding metering and unfair billing should be resolved immediately without any Nigerian being short-changed.”

Nebo said the neglect of the sector was as a result of the wrong notion that classified power as a social welfare service.

He observed that it was only in 1999, when Nigeria returned to democracy, that the neglect of the sector was addressed.

Citing an instance, the minister said for 17 years, no engineer was hired in the power sector, stressing that this huge gap in human capacity required to run the sector was being bridged

with the ongoing recruitment of young Nigerian engineers.

Nebo said the country generates over 4,000 megawatts of electricity, adding that before this administration, the country was producing just over 2,000MW. “From 2,000MW in 2010 to 4,500MW, is this not an achievement?” he asked.

The minister, however, stated that all hands must be on deck to improve power generation as the 4,000MW was unacceptable considering the nation’s population and potential.

Nebo further explained that the government was committed to

diversifying the energy generation capacity to include renewable sources, such as wind, solar, coal, biomass and hydro.

On the previously moribund Rural Electrification Agency, he said the administration had revived it and made it to be more effective in the provision of electricity off grid to rural dwellers.

He assured that the revolution in the telecoms sector would be a child’s play when compared with what was about to happen in the sector, stressing that huge investments were expected from the privatisation when is completed.

TUC chief seeks skills for youths

A

•From left: Commercial Counsellor, Embassy of the Vietnam in Nigeria, Mr Ta Huu Thinh; Vice President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industr (LCCI), Dr. Wole Ogunpehin and Vice President, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce, Mr Dao Quang Phu, when a Vietnamese trade delegation visited the Chamber ... last week.

Trade ministry workers protest non-payment of salaries, allowances

W

ORKERS in the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment last week protested in Abuja the non-payment of their salaries and allowances, calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to do something.

After many months of bottled up annoyance and frustration, the workers marched and danced to the beating of drums.

The workers under the aegis of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria Association of the Ministry took to the street in protest, singing and also dancing.

Addressing reporters during the protest, the Secretary of the work-

ers’ union, Comrade Alimi Olanrewaju, alleged that the Minister has turned the ministry into a private business.

He said: “The protest may not be unconnected with the affairs of the ministry. Our minister has absconded from the ministry on notice. He is operating from Bank of Industry (BoI) in Abuja. For the past three to four months, he has been operating from an unknown office, which is why we are here to register our displeasure about his attitude and that of the Permanent Secretary of the ministry in relation to our welfare.

“We are here to demand for our

outstanding arrears and other benefits. Nobody has been trained in connection to money allocated to the ministry; there is serious infrastructural decay in the ministry, the ministry building is an eyesore, the minister is spending hundreds of millions to call for foreign investors that have not yielded any benefit to the country. “ Reacting, a source from the ministry, who pleaded anonymity, stated that there was no protest .

He said contrary to what was shown on television and carried by some papers, there was no protest, but mere gang-up.

Sea workers want compensation over oil spills

T

HE Sea Workers and Integrated Fishermen Association of Nigeria in Akwa Ibom State is demanding compensation from Mobil Producing Plc for alleged oil spillage, which affected their businesses.

In a petition signed by the fishermen’s lawyer, Theo Nwaigbo, they insisted that Mobil Oil Producing Unlimited should compensate them ‘for all wrongs/liabilities incurred by members during series of oil spills’ in their area.

He said it was in the best interest of the oil giant to approach the affected fishermen for compensation, rather than allowing the matter to escalate.

He noted that BP Plc had paid $4.5billion in penalties for spilling nearly five million barrels of oil into

the Gulf of Mexico.

He lamented that it is only in Nigeria oil companies could commit such ‘environmental crime’ and still continue with their businesses unpunished.

“We have been approached and our services retained by the fishermen whose place of business is located along the coastal water front of the Atlantic Ocean in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

“Our client, a conglomerate of cooperative bodies with special bias in fishing occupying the fishing settlements along the Atlantic Ocean waterfront from Okposo to Utana Ineh Ukpana and some Esuks fishing settlements along Qua Iboe river from Mkppanak to Esuk Okat and creeks all around Onna, Eket, Ibeno and part of Mbo, all in Akwa Ibom

State from time immemorial have retained our services with instructions to demand and claim from your establishment, adequate loss of income/anticipated profit as a result of incessant and unquantifiable devastation suffered by all members of the association as a result of various oil spills along the coast of the Atlantic as enunciated hereinbefore.

“We were briefed by our client that at each occurrence, they would be put out of business as the aquatic life of the Atlantic coast would be completely wiped out. In such situations, our client lamented that members would be bemused and remain redundant for the period of the effect of devastation. It is our further mandate to put the machinery of justice in motion where their demand are not acceded to,” he added.

CQUISITION of entrepreneurial skills has been identified as one way of curbing youth vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. Towards this end, the Federal Government has been charged to support young men and women to get skills.

Addressing reporters in Lagos, President, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, who advocated the idea, said the government could partner the private sector through funding to train and enhance the business development skills of unemployed youths, many of who are riding commercial motor cycles, driving commercial taxi or roaming the streets in search of jobs to become entrepreneurs.

He said: ”We believe that if young men and women are economically empowered, it will reduce their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS, make them useful to the economic development of Nigeria.”

“There is a need to tackle the underlying factors that lead to risk-taking behaviour of the youth in the country, and to incorporate HIV prevention efforts into a wider approach to curbing the high rate of unemployment,” he said.

According to the TUC’s President , majority of the country’s youths are in the informal sector, where there are few opportunities and are frequently neglected in the national HIV response, partly because they are often hard to reach.

“We call on the three tiers of government, the federal, states and the local government to launch an initiative targeting young people with an approach that looks beyond traditional way of tackling unemployment, but also creating jobs and making the youths self-employed.

“The government training programmes targeting young people would help to give young people skills and opportunities to become more self-reliant, and reduce their HIV vulnerability in the country because an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.

“The government training project would help to realise enormous untapped potentials among the youth in the country, especially with the support of a small loan fund for the youth who have been trained and developed through an acceptable business plan to make them become entrepreneurs,” he said.

NLC urges govt to resolve Rivers crisis

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RESIDENT, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Abdulwahed Omar, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan, to intervene in the political crisis in Rivers State.

Omar, who made the call at the opening ceremony of the 11th NLC Rain School, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, described the recent political crisis in the state where five lawmakers in the state House of Assembly attempted to impeach the Speaker as capable of derailing democracy in the country.

He said: “We urged President Goodluck Jonathan to display uncommon statesmanship by intervening in the political crisis

rocking Rivers State”.

“Of importance to the working class has been the rate and extent of impunity in the country.

“The show of shame in Rivers State where only five legislators in the state House of Assembly attempted to impeach the speaker ,and the protracted travails of the Governor, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, are capable of derailing democracy in our country.

“We reiterate our call on Mr President to demonstrate uncommon statesmanship by ensuring that the political crisis in Rivers State is checked and resolved in the interest of the people of the state and the nation,” he said.

ILO launches project to reduce female trafficking

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HE International Labour Organisation (ILO) has launched a new project called ‘Work in Freedom’ to provide women migrant workers from South Asia with a more secure future.

The project is funded by the United Kingdom (UK) Department for International Development for 9.75 million pounds over five years.

The ILO said the initiative focused on domestic workers and garment workers, while Industrial Global Union is a partner in the project.

“The aim is to provide the women and girls with practical support and advice to enable them to avoid the pitfalls of trafficking and to contribute to a better lifestyle for their families”, said ILO. At the meeting in London, the global body said some success

stories were applauded, such as the Nepali Trade Union Centre, which has set up support committees for Nepali migrant workers in the most important receiving countries, SEWA, the Indian selfemployed women’s association which has successfully organised informal women workers and the Jordanian textile union which also organises migrant workers.

The ILO Better Work programme focuses on garment workers. In Jordan 40,000 people work in the garment sector, 30,000 of whom are migrant workers. 65 per cent of the workers are women.

The ILO stated further: “The issues where the Better Work program has made a difference are in stopping the confiscation of documents, the elimination of the nightly curfew, limiting compulsory overtime and changing the recruitment process.

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THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

NEWS Disposal of Nigeria’s onshore assets not easy, says Eni

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FFSHORE assets in Nigeria are preferable to onshore ones, Eni SpA’s Chief Executive Paolo Scaroni has said.

In a review of its activities in the West African country, Dow Jones reports, it said it was not easy to get its onshore assets disposed at the moment, “We are worried (about Nigeria) ... and we don’t expect improvement in Nigeria in the next months,” said Mr Scaroni at a conference call to comment on the

• From left: Mrs Adedoja Ojelabi of Chevron; Mrs Dennar and Mrs Oluseyi Afolabi of ExxonMobil at the 37th Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition of SPE in Lagos.

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Chevron earns $5.4b in Q2

NITED States oil major Chevron Corporation has reported earnings of $5.4 billion for the second quarter of the year, compared with $7.2 billion in the second quarter of last year.

Sales and other operating revenues in the second quarter of the year were $55 billion, compared to $60 billion in the year-ago period.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Watson of the oil major said: ”Our second quarter earnings were down from the very strong level of a year ago. The decrease was largely due to softer market conditions for crude oil and refined products. Earnings were also reduced as a result of repair

and maintenance activities in our .S refineries.

“We continue to advance our major capital projects. An important milestone was achieved in the second quarter with the loading of the first cargo of liquefied natural gas at the Angola LNG project, one of the largest energy projects on the African continent.” Watson continued, “This marks an important step in the development of our LNG business. Additional LNG growth is expected in the coming years from our Gorgon and Wheatstone projects in Australia.”

“We also reached milestones on important growth investments in our downstream business,” said

Watson. GS Caltex, the company’s 50 per cent-owned joint venture, started commercial operations of its newest heavy oil upgrading unit at the Yeosu Refinery three months ahead of schedule. With this unit onstream, GS Caltex is one of the largest upgraders of heavy oil in South Korea. In addition, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC, the company’s 50 per cent-owned affiliate, announced plans to expand annual ethylene production by 200 million pounds at its Sweeny complex in Old Ocean, Texas.

The company purchased $1.25 billion of its common stock in the second quarter of the year under its share repurchase programme.

By Joseph Eshanokpe

takes is within us women than outside us,” adding that with God on the side of women, it would be possible for them to get their dreams realised.

Also, the General Manager, Planning and Gas Directorate, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mrs Uno Adeniji, who spoke on Corporate glass ceiling: myth or reality, said where a glass exits, it could be broken. While urging women to put in their best, she said discipline, hardwork, belief in oneself, remaining focused are the panacea to a successful career.

Other speakers at the event were Mrs Oluseyi Afolabi of ExxonMobil, Mrs Beatrice Spaine of Shell, Mrs Adedoja Ojelabi of Chevron and Mrs Edith OfiliOkonkwo, the Executive Director, Total. They agreed that more women were needed at the top of the oil and gas ladder.

Specifically, Mrs Ofili-Okonkwo canvassed the idea of catching ladies when they were still in their secondary schools and introducing them to the profession, adding that career talks at the undergraduate levels were too late.

‘How women can make it in oil sector’

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OMEN in the oil sector can make it to the top of their career if they have confidence and knowledge, the Acting Principal/Chief Executive, Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State Mrs Clara Nnenna Dennar has said.

She spoke at the 37th yearly International Conference and Exhibition of Society of Petroluem Enginers (SPE) in Lagos, titled: Gender diversity and empowering women leadership–benefits to the oil and gas industry.

In a paper titled: Making it to the top as a woman professional in the oil and gas world, she said: ‘’Getting to the top as a professional in the oil and gas industry or in any other sector for that matter is a journey which begins from the first day of employment. There has to be the right attitude, the right principles of getting there coupled with the recognition and acceptance of the numerous challenges that exist to a woman working in a male dominated industry.”

She said women should know how to balance work with family life and work; know there are limited senior female role models and limited opportunities for develop-

mental assignments for further growth.

The challenges, she said, could be surmounted with knowledge and skills, good work ethic, motivation, good character, positive attitude, self-confidence, teamwork and collaboration and sacrifice.

Mrs Nnennar added: “Making to the top as a woman in a male dominated sector, such as the oil and gas requires bringing to bear in all we do, the time tested values, knowledge, and skill… These qualities will set you apart as a woman clearly out to be earmarked for managerial roles and eventual position at the top.”

She advised younger women not to compete for top positions with men, but to rather cooperate and collaborate with them. ‘’Remember to hang on to the values that brought you top. Don’t see yourself as a woman but see yourself as a role model for upcoming women professionals and work hard to merit it. Making it to the top as a woman professional in the oil and gas industry may be tough, but it is achievable and more of what it

Platts publishes price assessments for Nigeria, LATTS, a leading global en Angola’s Pazflor and Plutonio others’ oil grades crude ergy, petrochemicals and met oils are now also being as-

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als information provider and top source of benchmark price references, has started publishing daily price assessments for Nigeria and other four West African grades of crude oil.

The new price assessments provide end-of-day values on the open spot market for two Nigerian grades, two Angolan grades and one grade of crude oil produced in the Republic of Congo. With the launch of these new assessments, Platts publishes a total of 17 daily price assessments for crude oil produced in western Africa.

“These new assessments mark a major expansion of Platts’coverage of the West African crude oil market

and bring a new level of transparency to this burgeoning supply source,” said Andrew Bonnington, the Editorial Director, European & African oil, Platts.

The Nigerian assessments are for two sweet crudes - Akpo and Bonga.

Akpo is a light, sweet crude similar in specification to Nigeria’s Agbami.

It is produced at a rate of approximately 160,000 barrels per day (b/ d) from a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) unit offshore Nigeria operated by Total.

Bonga is a medium, sweet crude, with a similar daily volume to Akpo, but produced by a Shell-operated offshore FPSO.

sessed by Platts on a daily basis.

Pazflor is a heavy, sweet crude with a current production rate of around 200,000 b/d. Its FPSO, which is operated by Total, is located offshore Angola and is fed by one of the larger fields in Angola. Plutonio is a medium, sweet crude with a daily production volume similar to that of Pazflor. Its FPSO is operated by BP and also located offshore Angola.

Platts’ fifth new assessment provides a daily value for Djeno crude oil produced in the Republic of Congo. Djeno is a heavy-sweet crude produced onshore at the rate of 160,000 b/d. Operated by Total, the Djeno terminal can accommodate very large crude carrier vessels.

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second-quarter results of Italy’s biggest energy company by market value.

“Disposals of onshore assets isn’t the easiest thing to do now (considering the situation),” he added.

Oil theft, sabotage and adverse natural events, such as flooding have hurt Eni’s Nigeria operations, amounting to a daily loss of 30,000 barrels of oil equivalent in the first six months of the year, the company said.

OPEC excludes Iraq from oil quotas

HE Iraqi Ministry of Oil af firmed that Baghdad’s share in oil production will not be part of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) specified quotas for 2014.

The ministry said it was likely for Iraq to reach the required export rate in the next year, reports Al-monitor.

Iraq is one of the founders of OPEC, an organisation that brings together Nigeria and 11 other oil exporting countries. Iraq’s production quota — which was 3.8 million barrels a day — was suspended during the invasion of Kuwait as part of imposed international sanctions.

Assem Jihad, the spokesman for the Iraqi Ministry of Oil, said: “The exclusion of Iraq from the ministerial decision of OPEC in regard to reducing production came as a result of the fact that Iraq already exports less than its quota requires.”

Jihad explained, “OPEC announced reducing the production of raw crude to 1.5 million barrels a day,” clarifying that Iraq will not be impacted because it “exports the oil outside the framework of specified quotas and it does not have a fixed share.”

Jihad added: “The Iraqi current crude production does not match the official reserve estimated at 115 billion barrels, since Iraq was banned for years after the Gulf War and the UN blockade on Iraq from exporting oil.”

Jihad pointed out that the production rates “have not improved post-2003; therefore, Iraq remained far from achieving its real production capacity, even if the development in the oil sector continued at a normal pace.”

Talking about the production ceiling under normal circumstances,

Jihad noted, “OPEC experts decide on it according to the reserve of each country,” and “even if Iraq was able to produce four million barrels a day by next year, as expected, its share will remain less than what OPEC would have specified if Iraq’s oil industry developed normally.”

Iraq is a leading country in oil production. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) puts Iraq as the second biggest oil producing country in OPEC, the world’s third international oil exporter and the world’s fifth in terms of reserves.

According to the IMF’s annual report on Iraq, the expansion of Iraqi oil production is expected to increase by about 143 billion barrels in the medium term, rendering it one of the main contributors that provide the international market with oil, despite the challenges it went through.

The country is dealing with financial hardships as a result of three decades of blockades and wars, and needs to transform its oil wealth into assets, on which the development and reconstruction processes continue to rely.

The share of OPEC in the international market will be reduced in 2014 as the US oil share will not allow the organisation to benefit from the fastest escalation in international demand in four years.

In a statement to Al-Monitor, oil expert and former Iraqi Oil Minister Ibrahim Bahr al-Ulum ruled out the possibility of Iraq being included in the agreement of reducing the share of OPEC in the international market in 2014.

Ulum said oil techniques are improving and production is increasing; the market is still in need of OPEC oil, especially eastern Asia.

He reiterated: “There are no concerns about reducing the Iraqi share.”

Firms partner on IT solutions

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WO information technology firms, Axel Enterprise Sys tems Limited and Systems, Applications and Products (SAP), said they are collaborating to ease the pains enterprises go through while doing business through the development of new IT solutions.

According to a statement from the firms, the two IT firms said they have developed integrated business systems that enable transactions to be processed and eliminate inconsistencies in data between sub-systems.

Speaking at a stakeholders’forum in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, a director of Axel, Mr Chude Osiegbu, said the firm is focused on developing solutions that will address the various challenges of the business enterprises.

He said: “SAP Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions are fully integrated business real-time systems that enable transactions to be processed end-to-end and eliminate data inconsistencies between subsystems.”

He added that many companies are replacing their old business systems with the latest ERP package developed by SAP.

By Lucas Ajanaku

He stated that SAP delivers systems that are modern and highly efficient, with a support infrastructure that is unparallelled in the software industry.

“SAP has developed industry-specific ERP solutions that address the needs of over 28 industrial sectors and is present in more than 120 countries worldwide. SAP has managed to build up a client base of more than 12 million users worldwide. ‘’Those numbers are estimated to grow as more and more enterprises jump on the SAP ERP bandwagon,” Osiegbu said.

SAP Partner Account Manager, Ayokanmi Ayuba, said using SAP ERP suite in providing business solutions is a step to organisational success.

She said SAP had been tried and trusted, adding that with Axel’s presence in Port Harcourt Nigeria, provision of SAP business solutions becomes easy.

A SAP industry expert in oil & gas sector, Mr Oyisi Okatahi, made a presentation on the values of SAP in the industry.

THE NATION MONDAY AUGUST 5, 2013

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THE NATION MONDAY AUGUST 5, 2013

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MOTORING

ExxonMobil, FRSC take safety campaign to Akwa Ibom

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HE Pan-Nigeria road safety campaign, a partnership between ExxonMobil and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has been launched in Akwa Ibom State. The campaign is part of a series of road safety programmes to tackle accidents.

The year-long campaign, which was launched in Abuja by the Corps Marshall and Chief Executive of FRSC, Osita Chidoka, fo-

Stories by Tajudeen Adebanjo

cuses on three critical areas: seat belt usage, speed reduction and use of phone while driving.

At the flag-off in Eket, the Manager, Logistics, Mobil Producing Nigeria, Capt. Femi Olaiya, said ExxonMobil is partnering with FRSC on the campaign to promote attitudinal change among road users in Nigeria.

Olaiya said the national road safety initiative reflects the level of priority which ExxonMobil accords safety in all its locations of operation.

“This campaign demonstrates our commitment to safety and support for Nigeria’s aspiration for accident-free roads,” he said.

He enjoined drivers to ensure usage of seat belts, avoid over speeding and use of mobile phones while driving.

FRSC Deputy Corps Marshall Mr Yomi Olukoju, said road crashes have been a source of concern not only in Nigeria but most developing countries and in the next few years, road crashes may be the third highest killer of mankind.

Olukoju while narrating various chilling stories of how road accidents affected his loved ones, said road crashes do not just happen but are caused and therefore preventable.

“This campaign is a national reawakening to address the challenge of poor attitude to road usage which has resulted in several avoidable accidents,” he said.

Unit Coordinator of FRSC, Eket, Mr Effiok Udouwem, attributed 85 per cent of causes of road accidents to human factor while environmental and mechanical factors contributed five per cent and 10 per cent respectively.

Lagos Drivers Institute for only professionals

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AGOS State government has refuted the claim that all drivers operating in the state should attend the Lagos State Drivers Institute (LASDRI).

A statement released by the Ministry of Transportation said: “Section 23 of the Lagos State Drivers Institute Law of 2007 made it mandatory for all professional drivers operating in the state, that is, those whose means of livelihood is driving either individual, private or corporate to undergo a re-training and re-certification exercise at the institute yearly and stipulates penalty for both drivers and employers who violate provision of the Law. “Since its establishment in 2007, the state government has been sensitising professional drivers to this important safety measure to curb the menace on our roads, reduce accident and loss of lives of innocent people who could contribute meaningfully to the development of the state and the nation in general.

“It will interest you to know that professional drivers with eye defects, drive without knowing of such eye problem. Through the Lagos State Drivers Institute (LASDRI) re-training and re-certification programme, such drivers are detected and appropriate medical examination and treatment are recommended.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the state government is ready to start enforcing the provisions of this Law and therefore urges all affected persons and corporate organisations to comply so as not to be guilty of contravention.”

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OSCHARIS Motors and a German car rental firm, SIXT, have announced a partnership aimed at improving tourism and the logistic industries in Nigeria through a car rental, vehicle lease and haulage business.

SIXT, founded in 1912 in Munich, Germany, is one of the first car rental and mobility service providers in the world. Today SIXT is present in over 120 countries in all continents.

•Lagos State Deputy Governor Hon Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (third right); Secretary to the Lagos State Government Dr Oluranti Adebule (right); Managing Director LAMATA, Mr Dayo Mobereola (second right); General Manager/ Chief Executive Officer Sky Bank Mr Durosinmi Etti (second left) and Commissioner for Transportation Comrade Kayode Opeifa, displaying their tickets to launch the new Lagos Connect Card during the launching of the Lagos E-ticketing System Card at the LAMATA Bus Terminal, Marina, Lagos.

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Hyundai Nigeria wins ‘Best Corporate Citizen’ award

OREMOST Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) has given the ‘Best Corporate Citizen’ award to Hyundai Motors Nigeria Limited.

The award, in recognition of Hyundai Motors Nigeria’s outstanding performance and corporate social responsibility initiatives, was presented at the just concluded 7th Hyundai bi-annual Global Distributors Convention in France.

No fewer than 250 distributors and top executives from 117 countries joined executives from HMC headquarters and subsidiaries at the

gathering.

Hyundai Motors Nigeria Vice Chairman Mr Haresh Vaswani, received the award on behalf of Hyundai Nigeria team at Monaco.

Hyundai Nigeria was named amongst other international recipients including representatives of Australia, France, India and Russia.

The Korean automaker acknowledged the local agent’s social welfare and corporate responsibility initiatives towards the less privileged with recourse to consecutive donations of relief materials to orphanage homes in Lagos, Abuja, PortHarcourt and Cala-

bar within the last three years.

HMC also acknowledged the company’s anti-malaria campaign initiative which began in Lagos three years ago and was subsequently extended to Enugu and Owerri.

Describing the awardees as “remarkable group of people,” the Executive Vice President Mr Tak UkIm, said “Despite uncertainty in the global economy, I am confident that Hyundai sales will exceed expectations for this year.”

He enjoined the distributors to work together to make Hyundai the most loved brand in the world, saying, “Our future success is guaranteed when we

move forward together to inspire and excite our customers.”

Vaswani expressed delight at the awards and described it as another milestone and opportunity to aspire to even greater height, while growing alongside world renowned Hyundai brand.

“Our team was extremely excited when we heard the news and it felt like we’ve made a breakthrough in the field of marketing and essentially got more than 50 million Nigerians to drive Hyundai cars. We surely will continue our celebration beyond Monaco,” he.

Coscharis Motors partners German firm According to Coscharis Group Managing Director Josiah Samuel, the company has the vision of making SIXT the number one car rental company in Nigeria with a touch of difference in a few years to come.

He said SIXT Nigeria will not only provide service to its clients but also see to the growth of the clients business.

“As SIXT Nigeria drives through this road of success, we will anchor our strength on the unbeatable support and friendships of SIXT headquarter staff,” he said.

SIXT Head of Franchise Detlef Krehahn said: “We are pleased to have acquired such an experienced franchise partner in Nigeria. Business travellers in particu-

lar will profit from the company’s high standards of quality and service as they increasingly visit this country, which has strong potential for economic growth.”

Coscharis chairman Dr Cosmas Maduka said the objective of the partnership is to make Coscharis the leading provider of mobility service and rental cars in the expanding markets of Nigeria and

West Africa.

“As a vertically integrated automobile services group, with services spanning premium car distribution, auto-component sales, emerging interests in autoassembly among others, Coscharis Group seeks to broaden the spectrum and deepen the value derived by the public from auto products.

SAFE DRIVING

Preventing road accidents in Nigeria (2)

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S governments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have been focusing on the campaign against HIV/AIDS, they should focus even more attention on the campaign against road accidents,which is killing more people than HIV/AIDs and at a faster rate.

•There should be no sacred cows or VIPs in the enforcement of road traffic laws and regulations. Leaders or VIPs are expected to lead by example and anything contrary must be resisted vehemently.

I further challenge the Federal and state ministries of Transport, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) state traffic management

agencies and other stakeholders to come together in a result-oriented conference to deliberate on the above and other related issues with the aim of coming up with a common resolution to be implemented at the Federal and state levels to enhance the war against road crashes and fatalities. Otherwise, Nigeria will have little or nothing to show at the end of the United Nations (UN) Decade of Action on Road Safety come 2020 and the Accra Declaration on Road Safety having failed the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of reducing fatality rate through road safety. The goal of all and sundry in Nigeria should be to put the safety of lives far above income generation and stop every form

of masquerading or pretence.

There have been cases of these Federal and state governments Agencies, competing and blackmailing themselves to secure the contracts for the training of the drivers of some bluechip companies. Can we say their interest is in the drivers safety on the road or on financial gain?

There was even a very funny development where one of the government agencies threatened to arrest the drivers of a blue chip company if they fail to give them the contract for the training of their drivers. Is it not obvious now, where their interests are?

The regulations guiding the operation of some of these agencies

recognises the driving schools as the trainers of drivers (fresh and retraining).

I am sure that if this matter is not properly addressed as suggested in this article, Nigeria will continue to move in circles in the war against road crashes and fatalities without making any meaningful impact.

The National and state Assemblies must objectively rise up to this challenge to ensure that the relevant legislations are amended or enacted to address the issues raised in this article because if the right steps are not taken to efficiently and effectively address the road safety and road traffic engineering challenges, the consequences can affect

Jide Owatunmise Registrar / Chief Executive, Professional Driving and Safety

anyone in Nigeria no matter the status because we and our loved ones all use the roads at one time or the other.

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Monday, August 5, 2013

MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

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POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

•From left: Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Mr. Fola Adeola, Founder, Fate Foundation and Chief Bisi Akande, former National Chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun and Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola at the presentation of the DAWN blueprint in Lagos.

The Southwest governors have inaugurated the office for the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission at Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. Assistant Editor AUGUSTINE AVWODE writes on the vehicle designed to fast track the integrated development of the region.

DAWN: Southwest’s journey to self-rediscovery

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HE Southwest is thinking tomorrow to day. The region is in a hurry to re-enact the ‘good old days’ when the Western Region was ahead in both infrastructure and socio-economic development in the country. Those were the golden era of Nigeria’s development in the early 1950s to 1966, otherwise known as the pre-independence and immediate post independence era.

The geo-political zone is working assiduously to achieve this dream through a module aptly christened Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission. DAWN is to serve as the purveyor of the integration drive.

Though, now made up of six states, the region still enjoys the privilege of linguistic homogeneity and geographical contiguity.

All over the world, regional integration has been described as the key to rapid development.

Therefore, many countries are collaborating and cooperating in their bid to form a stronger united front. In the same vein, states within federations are coming together to derive maximum benefits from the idea of cooperating. DAWN is a project packed with lofty dreams.

The governors took another bold step towards the realisation of the project last week. They inaugurated the office of the DAWN Commission at Cocoa House, Ibadan. Present at the commissioning were Governors Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of the State of Osun, Senator Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and Dr Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State. Also present were Hon. Olawale Oshun, the Chairman of Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), the organisation that produced the DAWN document and helped midwife the commission.

Governor Ajimobi said the inauguration of the DAWN Commission office was a way of showing their “commitment to regional integration.”

He further said that: “We have set up regional integration offices in our respective states. We are committed to exploring our strengths for common good in terms of commerce and infrastructural development. In the end, our objective is to turn our region into a place of enviable development and a competitive destination for credible investors,” he said.

The DAWN commission, according to its Director General, Dipo Famakinwa, deserves the support of all Yoruba indigenes because it seeks to restore the Southwest region to global competitiveness witnessed when the late sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo was the region’s Premier.

“This project is not political; it is strictly devel-

opmental. It will remain committed to the development of Yorubaland. DAWN will restore the dignity of the past and connect it with present realities and future opportunities.

“We will embark on projects, not because we want to be seen, but, because it has been well thought out in line with best practices and best interest of the region. This building (Cocoa House) for example is a testimony to the resilience of Yoruba people. Elsewhere, it would have been sold or even converted into residence,” he said.

To drive the point home more forcefully, ARG’s Secretary General Ayo Afolabi said: “We have strayed from our developmental trajectory, for which we were known and it looked like we would never get it again. It looked like the good old days of Chief Awolowo would forever be history but I am happy that today we started on that developmental roadmap. I no longer look into the future with despair but with optimistic assurance,” he said.

Skewed federalism A political scientist and public affairs analyst, Mallam Moyo Jaji, praised the initiative, saying the skewed nature of Nigeria’s federalism has made it imperative for any region that desires growth and development to go the way of the Southwest.

“The DAWN Commission is a very welcomed development. Why did I say so? The momentum of development started by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, was truncated by the emergence of military adventurers in 1966. He made the Western region a reference point in the First Republic. Going by the kind of skewed federalism we are practicing in Nigeria now, if such a programme is not put in place, you will discover that your development will be stagnated. In a situation where other zones don’t want to develop, if you want to develop, then you just have to chart your own programme and that is why the DAWN project is attractive to me”.

He said, even though one out of the six states is being controlled by a different party, the region’s integration will not suffer because it should not be determined by party consideration or affiliation.

“Government is all about development; therefore, party differences should not hinder what is good for your people. I am sure the states in the region are determined to make this a shining example for others to follow. Without sounding immodest, I can tell you that the Southwestern part of the country is still the most developed in

the country and it behoves us to maintain that momentum for others to copy.”

Mallam Jaji said his criticism of the federal arrangement in the country is premised on the fact that the super-structure remains largely faulty.

This, he said, makes the component parts look as if they are unable to optimize their potential and everyone is forced to depend on the centre for handouts. Such a situation, he said, will not augur well for the regions. To stay afloat, he argued, “there must be a programme of this nature, which seeks to fast track the development of regions, that is why we should encourage it.

Comparative advantage The Southwest region is not in the mood to concede its economic leadership in the country to any other zone. If anything, it is to make the region as self sufficient as possible.

Speaking to The Nation, Lagos State Chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Chief Henry Ajomale said DAWN as conceived, is much more than just going back to the good old days. He explained that it is to also ensure that the zone enjoys the comparative economic advantage that it has to the very maximum.

“The DAWN Commission is not just desgined for a return, if you like, to the good old days of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. It is more than that. It is to ensure that we maximize the comparative advantage economically, that we have in the Southwest. What do I mean? If you are producing something, others will come and support you to develop it to the maximum. If for example you are good at Cocoa production for instance, that is a cash crop, we will support you.

If it is animal husbandry like you have in places like Shaki and Isoyin in Oyo State, we will help you to the point that it will expand in scope so that all the others states that are not producing this type of product will have to depend on you for supply of life stock.

“Economically, therefore, that state will become strengthened and develop because there is a lot that will be going for it as other state will be demanding from them. Whether it is rice, tomato or cassava, there wouldn’t be need to go to another region or depend on another state when one of you can produce such a product. All you need is just go there for the supply.

“If you look at what Osun State has done now with the Nigeria Railway Corporation by signing an understating to transport the produce from the state to Lagos, it is a good idea. Once the products get to Iddo, there is a ready market

for them, therefore, nothing will be wasted.

The advantage of Lagos to their farmers is so much. Lagos doesn’t produce much of these things because of its geographical location. It is waterlogged. If you talk of fishery, yes, but for the others, they have to depend on the others.

We have the population to consume most of these things from the other states in the region.

So we encourage them that whatever they are able to produce will be consumed here. And the financial benefit will go to them and they can use it to develop their state. “, he said.

He said the DAWN Commission is also looking at infrastructure development by linking all the states in the region by developing roads both in the urban areas and the hinterland.

“Very sure, of course, the DAWN Commission is looking at that aspect. The plan is to link all the states in the region and even the hinterland. The objective is to enable the farmers to evacuate their produce from the hinterland to the cities. If this is not done, it will affect the farmers. They are planning to interlink all the states in terms of health delivery, education and other infrastructure in the region.”

The 2020 focus The purpose of the DAWN, it was learnt, is to foster regional co-operation and integration apart from being a catalyst for decentralization. It all began at a retreat held on between July 22 – 24, 2011, at the University of Ibadan Conference Centre, Ibadan, Oyo State, and attended by a constellation of the best intellectuals, technocrats and professionals in Yorubaland, at which the DAWN framework for action was developed. The development agenda, principally, seeks to encourage the Southwest states to develop a common set of integrated development strategies that enable the region and its citizens to experience a well-managed process of development, across all spheres of existence.

Chief Ajomale said the initial focus of the DAWN is 2020 and that after that period, it will be reviewed to see how it has performed. “Our initial target is 2020, between now and then, we want to see what we can make or able to do.

After that, then we would evaluate it and then we can now say let us move on to 2030 and go further and talk of another Master Plan for the next 10 years,” he said.

From now till 2020, having inaugurated the office, the governments of the states in the Southwest now owe their people the duty to breathe life into an enviable dream. The nation, nay the people of the Southwest are waiting.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

44

POLITICS A social critic, Phrank Shaibu, spoke with MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE on the crisis in Rivers State and other national issues.

‘Rivers crisis is shameful’ R

IVERS State used to be peaceful state. Why has it become a theatre of war?

The past few months have portrayed Rivers State as being in a season of societal lunacy and political deadlock with very embarrassing actions meted on the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Ameachi, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, political office holders and other officials of government. These actions are considered highly repressive and against the tenets of true democracy.

I condemn the repressive actions and characters behind the Rivers State situation as I believe that the present political deadlock in the state is already having devastating effect on many things including business to social order and unless this deadlock is broken, Rivers State may witness serious breakdown of law and order, with a high probability of being another centre for violent crimes which may be worse than the present Boko Haram terrorist activities in some Northern states of Nigeria.

I feel constrained that all the men of good will should draw the attention of the international community to these despotic acts that are occurring in Rivers State which sadly have been largely associated with the leadership of President Jonathan and his wife. The magnitude of the repression on the people of Rivers State is by itself a message of sorts as they obviously present an accurate picture of militarised democracy. Therefore, constituting serious threats to national security especially in a country like Nigeria that ought to be a just society How do you reconcile the recent behaviour of the members of the House of Assembly with your description of the state?

We are all witnesses to the events preceding the shameful acts at the Rivers State House of Assembly on July 9, 2013 by the five pro- Dame ‘Jesus’ Patience Jonathan legislators led by ‘saint Evans Bipi’. We are witnesses to the power struggle between the Governor of Rivers State, the wife of the President on the one hand and the Minister of State for Education as well as the unvoiced support enjoyed by the duo of Dame Jonathan and Wike from the PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan who abhor the Governor Rotimi Amaechi for his independence, principled posture and outspokenness, characteristics regarded as stumbling blocks to the desperate ambition to win another term of office in 2015 for a government generally regarded as clueless and bankrupt.

In the first instance, how on earth will the number five be greater than 27? How can five men seek to remove a Speaker, who has the backing of 26 of his colleagues? It is indeed appalling that none of the five pro-Dame Patience Jonathan legislators at the Rivers State House of Assembly is legally and culturally sophisticated to know that they acted outside their powers. In fact, they think alike in their subversion of the rule of law and due democratic process, maybe because they are so aggrieved by the purported disrespect for their activities.

Some analysts say the governor shouldn’t have been at the Assembly complex on that day…

So, they expect the state government to wait until those rambunctious group of five legislators wake up one morning to order the sequestration of the governor and his cabinet? They mean,the governor as the chief security officer should have allowed a break down of law and order when it was obvious that a federal agency that is meant to protects the citizens was busy supervising the

• Shaibu

‘Rivers State may witness serious breakdown of law and order, with a high probability of being another centre for violent crimes, which may be worse than the present Boko Haram terrorist activities in some Northern states of Nigeria’ rebellion against the constitution by the renegade five.

Who in your opinion is behind this crises in Rivers State?

The two Presidents of Nigeria.

How do you mean? Nigeria has only one President.

No! We have two Presidents. One is Dame Patience Jonathan of Okrika and the other is Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Though some of you journalists refer to her as the First Lady, but she is not! She is a Co-President of Nigeria. You remember, when the late Umaru Yar’Adua of blessed memory was President, the wife, Turai, only used a cabal to operate.

Nobody heard or saw her. But, instead of Dame to channel her interests through her husband or her other elected ‘sons’, she calls the shots herself, like a Commander-in-Chief.

Did you hear Dame Patience Jonathan when she openly told 16 Bishops from the Southsouth, who visited her in Abuja, that Amaechi defied her request that some structures should not be demolished in her hometown, Okrika? So, if a request from a First Lady should automatically become sacrosanct, isn’t she a ‘President’?

Let me say that, when the First Lady is more visible and vocal than the President, don’t you think she is in charge? Dame Patience Jonathan has thrown herself into the political fray, dominating the polity. In fact, Reuben Abati was right in 2010 when he said, “The Jonathans must be told that Nigeria does not have a co-Presidency. We have only one President and his name is Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan”.

Of a truth, we voted for Goodluck Jonathan, we did not vote for Dame Patience Jonathan. INEC did not have her name on the ballot.

But the Presidency has denied in-

volvement in the Rivers crises.

Reuben Abati and Doyin Okupe cannot be absolving the Presidency of complicity in the Rivers crisis while Dame Patience Jonathan, Nyesom Wike and Ahmed Gulak are spitting fire and brimstone against Governor Amaechi. What do they take Nigerians for? They think we are dumb?

Despite those repeated denials from their lying tongues, it is difficult to disentangle the President and his wife from the in Rivers State crisis. More worrisome is the heresy displayed in the explanation of the leader of the Pro-Dame Patience Jonathan camp of lawmakers in River state, Evans Bipi, on the reasons he led an onslaught against the state’s House of Assembly members and Governor Amaechi recently, where he stated that, he could not stand Governor Amaechi.

It is an affront on our collective sensibilities for anyone to say that the President and his wife are not behind the Rivers crises. How come the police in Rivers State provided security for five members of the 32-member House of Assembly to sit and attempt removing the Speaker illegally and you say the President is not involved?

Why did the same police turn a blind eye when hired thugs attacked four northern governors, who paid a solidarity visit to Amaechi in Port Harcourt? Why has Mr Mbu, the Rivers State Police commissioner been openly confrontational to Governor Amaechi without being called to order? Why did President Jonathan, receive in audience, the Minister of State for Education, Mr Nyeson Wike, and the five minority members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who desecrated the constitution on July 9, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja?

Should Nigerians not see that as an inferred recognition by the President of those who are in search of earthly messiahs and saviours led by one Evan Bapakaye Bipi, who has been ingloriously and shamefully parading himself as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly? Above all, why is Mr. President still waiting to be briefed by the security chiefs on the Rivers situation; even after both the Senate and the House of Representatives have invoked Section 11 of the constitution and effectively took over the responsibilities of the Rivers State legislature? Moreover,is President Jonathan telling Nigerians he is not aware of other personal attacks on the governor, such as with the grounding of his plane; the refusal to allow two helicopters purchased for security operations to enter to country; and the withdrawal of Amaechi’s security detail?

APC Europe mobilises for 2015

N

IGERIANS resident in Europe have expressed their intension to support the push for change in 2015. The Coordinator, All Progressives Congress (APC) in Europe, Mr. Tunde Oyeleke, said that the All Progressive Congress (APC) is the answer.

He explained that the APC would provide quality leadership for the country.

Oyeleke said: “Basically, all Nigerians abroad are part of the political development in the country. No matter how long they live abroad, home is still the best place and, whether we like it or not, government’s policy plays prominent role in our activities.”

Speaking to The Nation, Oyeleke noted that, whatever affect people at home have a cumulative effect on Nigerians outside the shores. “If there is peace at home and things are conducive, we would be able to return home and contribute our quota to the development of the country.

“Most of our people are eager to be home, to contribute to its development. So, when there is no conducive atmosphere at home, people will not want to come back home. That is why politics cannot be left alone to people at home. We must be part of the process,” he said.

He added that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has always orgnised Nigerians abroad, using the country’s embassies as the fora.

Oleleke stressed that the progressives, who live in Europe, and are not satisfied with what the government is doing, have decided to organise a forum where their aspirations would be met.

“Though we started with our support for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and have mobilised the people in Europe effectively. The merger of the four political parties prompted our support for the new platform which fold is populated by

• Oyeleke

By Musa Odoshimokhe

the progressives. We have decided to go further to ensure that we excel in our political campaigns.”

“We chose the APC because it is a progressive party; this is the only alternative party to what is happening in the country. In ensuring success for the APC, we will continue to use our old methods. When we had the ACN; we used to liaise with the ACN governors, particularly, the state of Osun Governor, Rauf Aregbesola. We have been contributing by campaigning for our people from our base in Europe.

We told them what to do; these are taken from the fact that we are exposed and know what happen from the foreign perspectives. We tell them to vote the right people and the right party.”

He maintained that the PDP and ACN have been tested in the Southwest and the people knew which one is better. “And now, with the APC coming into existence, we have been telling them that this party can be replicated at the federal level, all that they achieved at the state level would be the national level.”

He said the APC in Europe has a large support base and could not be ignored. “In Europe, we are talking about 25 countries and I can tell you that there are lots of Nigerians, numbering up to five millions in Europe.”

Oyeleke further said that plans were underway to ensure that those who would be part of the electoral process were not shot out from exercising their franchise.

“Some of our people will come to Nigeria to be part of the campaign, and again some of our people who are registered will fully participate.

“We will come down to Nigeria to be part of all elections that are very vital but the only problem we have now is that we want to organise ourselves through this forum. We equally want to get more people registered and by the time we register them our impact would be much felt.”

“For now, a lot of people are not happy because of the type of government we have in the country, so we want to encourage these people to come down to make their impact in the electoral process. And, if you remember that these people are the ones sending money to their people all the times, they cannot ignore the calls.

Once the situation at home is not okay, it will affect their purses as well.

“If the environment is quite okay, they would be relieved of too much burden. In short, we are sort of a pressure group both within and outside, we want the best for our country and that is our mandate. In European countries, you cannot fight individually for your rights unless you come up as a group. This one will fight and defend our interests overseas and ensure that we have good government in the country,” Oyeleke said.

• Second left: Ekiti State Governor Dr Kayode Fayemi; the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Adetunji Orisalade(left), the Olusi of Usi Kingdom, Oba Adebayo Akande, and his wife, Olori Feyisayo; during the celebration of the 32nd Usi Day in Usi-Ekiti at weekend.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

45

With ekpoita :funtreatsvilla@yahoo.com / 08177298749

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS

Prince

Covers

V

Magazine

DOWN

1.Resort (3) 4.Repair (5) 7. Examine (4) 9. Buttocks (4) 10. Peruse (4) 12. Entreat (4) 14. Trunk (5) 16. Perform (2) 17. Insect (3) 18. Ominous (4) 20. Musical Note (2) 21. Full of Mint (5) 22. Yes (3) 23. Single (2) 24. Nipples (5)

1.Begin (5) 2.For Each (3) 3.Convince (6) 5.Mud (4) 6. Fellow (4) 8. Brief (5) 11. End Prematurely (5) 13. Proceed (2) 15. Carry out order (4) 16. Noise (3) 18. Have Dinner (4) 19. Seeing Organs (4) 20. Beam (3) 21. Rug (3)

MISSING LETTERS All the words in the columns below have lost their first letters as indicated by the blank spaces above them. You are required to find and affix them. When done, all the first letters will form a 9-letter, sexually offensive word or action. Happy Puzzling!‘

SANDS OF TIME Prince

Covers

V

FOOD FOR THOUGHT The Chicken

Magazine

Prince will always be better than the rest of us. The flawless 55-year-old icon rocks a tight fro and some shinny threads for V magazine’s issue 84 and chats about a number of topics including his aversion to technology.“Are you serious?” Hell, no,” he says mimicking a woman when asked if he owns an iPhone.

“Where is my phone? Can you call my phone? Oh, I can’t find it.”Okay. Prince is not a fan of the iPhone or any other kind for that matterHe also chatted about his fans and says they come to his concerts because they know they’ll get their money’s worth.

Once upon a time, there was a large mountainside, where an eagle’s nest rested. The eagle’s nest contained four large eagle eggs. One day an earthquake rocked the mountain causing one of the eggs to roll down the mountain, to a chicken farm, located in the valley below. The chickens knew that they must protect and care for the eagle’s egg, so an old hen volunteered to nurture and raise the large egg.

One day, the egg hatched and a beautiful eagle was born. Sadly, however, the eagle was raised to be a chicken. Soon, the eagle believed he was nothing more than a chicken. The eagle loved his home and family, but his spirit cried out for more. While playing a game on the farm one day, the eagle looked to the skies above and noticed a group of mighty eagles soaring in the skies. “Oh,” the Eagle cried, “I wish I could soar like those birds.”

The chickens roared with laughter, “You cannot soar with those birds. You are a chicken and chickens do not soar.” The eagle continued staring, at his real family up above, dreaming that he could be with them. Each time the eagle would let his dreams be known, he was told it couldn’t be done.

That is what the eagle learned to believe. The eagle, after time, stopped dreaming and continued to live his life like a chicken.

Finally, after a long life as a chicken, the eagle passed away.

The moral of the story: You become what you believe you are; so if you ever dream to become an eagle follow your dreams, not the words of a chicken.

Brain Teaser A man in a restaurant asked a waiter for a juice glass, a dinner plate, water, a match, and a lemon wedge. The man poured enough water onto the plate to cover it.

“If you can get the water on the plate into this glass without touching or moving this plate, I will give you $100,” the man said. “You can use the match andA lemon to do this.”

A few minutes later, the waiter walked away with $100 in his a n pocket. How did the waiter get the water into the glass?

First, the waiter stuck the match into the lemon wedge, so that it would stand straight. Then he lit the match, and put it in the middle of the plate with the lemon. Then, he placed the glass upside-down over the match. As the flame used up the oxygen in the glass, it created a small vacuum, which sucked in the water through the space between the glass and the plate. Thus, the waiter got the water into the glass without touching or moving the plate.

You can try this experiment at home with appropriate supervision.

Pep Talk

True Believers The two thousand member Baptist church was filled to overflowing capacity one Sunday morning. The preacher was ready to start the sermon when two men, dressed in long black coats and black hats entered thru the rear of the church.

One of the two men walked to the middle of the church while the other stayed at the back of the church. They both then reached under their coats and withdrew automatic weapons. The one in the middle announced, “Everyone willing to take a bullet for Jesus stay in your seats!”

Naturally, the pews emptied, followed by the choir. The deacons ran out the door, followed by the choir director and the assistant pastor.

After a few moments, there were about twenty people left sitting in the church. The preacher was holding steady in the pulpit. The men put their weapons away and said, gently, to the preacher, “All right, pastor, the hypocrites are gone now. You may begin the service.”

Getting Into Fights A young couple drove several miles down a country road, not saying a word.

An earlier discussion had led to an argument, and neither wanted to concede their position.

ANSWER

“People come to see us fifty times. Well, that’s not just going to see a concert—that’s some other mess going on.

This music changes you. These people are not being satisfied elsewhere by musicians, you feel what I’m saying? It’s no disrespect to anyone else, because we’re not checking for them. But we don’t lip synch. We ain’t got time for it. Ain’t no tape up there.”

HUMOUR

As they passed a barnyard of mules and pigs, the husband sarcastically asked, “Are they relatives of yours?”

“Yes,” his wife replied. “I married into the family.”

Touch a life today with a smile, a word of encouragement or any kind gesture.

Our ideas like orange plants, spread out in proportion to the size of the box which imprisons the roots.

– Edward Bulwer Lytton

46

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

With ekpoita :funtreatsvilla@yahoo.com / 08177298749

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS

DOWN

1. Finalised (9) 7. Employ (3) 8. Tear (3) 9. Succeeded (3) 10. Consumed (3) 12. per Unit (4) 13. Bird (4) 14. Beer (3) 16. Imitate (3) 18. Bed (3) 19. Resort (3) 21. Justly (9)

1. Correspond (9) 2. Pinch (3) 3. Sexual Desire (4) 4. Ourselves (2) 5. Moisture (3) 6. Discourage (4) 10. Expression of Surprise (3) 11. Get with Difficulty (3) 15. Enumerate (4) 17. Bird (3) 18. Taxi (4) 20. Father (2)

Riddles 1. I am taken from a mine, and shut up in a wooden case, from which I am never released, and yet I am used by almost everybody.

2. What walks all day on its head?

3. What gets wet when drying?

4. What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years?

5. What is round as a dishpan, deep as a tub, and still the oceans couldn’t fill it up?

6. What goes round the house and in the house but never touches the house?

MINI-SUDOKU

Fill in the blank spaces in the grid such that every column, row and 2 by 3 box contains the numbers 1-6.

ShOwBlItZz Ejiofor Stars In 12 Years a Slave

Check out stills from 12 Years a Slave, the upcoming film starring Chiwetel Ejiofor as real-life Solomon Northup, a free black man who was tricked, kidnapped and sold into slavery.

Northup was a married and educated black man, born free and living in New York when he was kidnapped in Washington DC after two men approached him with a job offer.

His kidnappers drugged and sold him into slavery and after 12 long years of being enslaved by different owners he was able to get word to his family and his wife Ann enlisted friends who helped secure his freedom.

12 Years a Slave is based on Northup’s 1853 biography Twelve Years a Slave and co-stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Fassbender, Paul Giamatti, Paul Dano, Sarah Paulson, Alfre Woodard and Brad Pitt who produced the film via his production company Plan B with Steve McQueen serving as director.

12 Years a Slave is scheduled to hit theaters December 27, 2013.

Slave movies aren’t my thing (gets me riled up) but I’m glad this story’s being brought to the big screen.

Pep Pep Talk Talk

SIMPLY WEIRD California woman gets life for chopping off husband’s penis A judge sentenced a Southern California woman who cut off her estranged husband’s penis and tossed it in the garbage disposal to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

Catherine Kieu, 50, was convicted by an Orange County jury of aggravated mayhem and torture following the assault on her ex-husband.

Kieu drugged her former spouse before tying him up and severing his penis with a knife. She then threw it into the garbage disposal unit.

An attorney for Vietnam-born Kieu argued at trial that she had suffered sexual abuse as a child which left her with post-traumatic stress. She was remorseful about the attack, he said.

After the sentencing hearing, the victim - identified only as “Glen” - said he wished Orange County Superior Court Judge Richard Toohey could have given Kieu more time behind bars, City News Service reported.

“Deep down inside I was hoping for a stronger sentence, but given the restraints of the law this is what he had to do,” he said.

“There may be a situation where I can be happy, but whole? Never ... I’ve got a long ways to go.”

Israeli murders parents with tips found online An Israeli who stabbed his mother and father to death was convicted of murder on Monday partly because he searched online for tips including “how to kill your parents and get away with it”.

Daniel Maoz, 29, wanted money from his inheritance in order to pay heavy gambling debts, the Jerusalem District Court found. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murders.

The case presented an unusual challenge to the prosecution: DNA evidence linking Maoz to the killings was found at the murder scene, his parents’ apartment, and he tried to explain that away by accusing his identical twin brother of the crime.

In its decision, the court cited other physical evidence and an examination of the defendant’s computer to refute that.

The incriminating Internet searches also included “can soap clean DNA from a knife?” and “murder for inheritance”, a transcript of the ruling showed.

Maoz said he made the searches out of “academic curiosity”.

HUMOUR Pope & his Chaffeur While the pope was visiting the USA, he told the driver of his limo that he has the sudden urge to drive. The driver was a good Catholic man, and would not ever dream of questioning the pope’s authority. So the pope sat at the wheel, while his driver got in the back.

They were traveling down the road doing between 70 and 80 mph, when a policeman happened to see them. As he pulled them over, he called in to headquarters reporting a speeding limo, with a VIP inside it.

The chief asked: “Who is in the limo, the mayor?”

The policeman told him: “No, someone more important than the mayor.”

Then the chief asked “Is it the governor?”

The policeman answered: “No, someone more important than the governor.”

The chief finally asked: “Is it the President?”

The policeman answered: “No, someone even more important than the President.”

This made the chief very angry and he bellowed: “Now who is more important than the President?!”

The policeman calmly wispered: “I’ll put it to you this way chief. I don’t know who is this guy, but he has the pope as his chauffeur.”

Dentist

Dentist: I have to pull the aching tooth, but don’t worry it will take just five minutes.

Patient: And how much will it cost?

Dentist: It’s N5000.00.

Patient: for just a few minutes work???

Dentist: I can extract it very slowly if you like.

“Enter every activity without giving mental recognition to the possibility of defeat. Concentrate on your strengths, instead of your weaknesses… on your powers, instead of your problems.” – Paul J. Meyer

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

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THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

48

DISCOURSE

‘Yesterday a cancelled cheque’ Text of the speech delivered by Ekiti State Deputy Governor Prof Modupe Adelabu to mark the 10th anniversary and Award/Gala Night of Radio Nigeria –– Paramount FM 94.5 in Abeokuta, Ogun State

I

T is my honour and privilege to be here today as the Guest Lecturer to deliver the text of the anniversary lecture entitled: “The role of the media in grassroots development and democratic sustainability in Nigeria.”

When the invitation was delivered to me, the first question I asked myself was what informed my choice as the Guest Lecturer at this symbolic anniversary in a country where an array of veteran journalists abound.

However, being an educationist and a communicator, I took it as an opportunity to air my views on the theme of this lecture because there is an adage that says that the floor is always smooth for the person willing to dance.

The history of Nigeria’s political development cannot be told without a generous mention of the contributions of the media.

Right from the pre -dependence to the military and post military era as well as the current democratic dispensation, the media has consistently played significant roles as the conscience of the nation, moulder of public opinion and defender of the defenceless. The media has also helped in many ways to educate and enlighten the populace; improve the climate of democratic debate and reduce corruption in public life. Also, media sensitivity to the issue of human rights provide reliable sources of information through which citizens, human rights groups, private organisations and public authorities can work together to promote development and halt arbitrariness.

The media in Nigeria has done well in its role as the watchdog of the society, even though there is still room for improvement. While politics serves as a means of uplifting the society through good governance, protection and advancement of people’s rights and the creation of an enabling environment for democracy to thrive; the media on its part, operate within the prevailing environment to engage in the public sphere thereby expanding the frontiers of freedom and enabling the citizens to have access to quality information that will influence their judgments and decisions for sustainable democracy.

This lecture cannot be apt at any other time than now more so that the media, despite being a formidable force in shaping the society, is often perceived differently.

It is thus no longer news that the primary purpose of the media is for practitioners, popularly known as journalists, to mirror the world to the

world. Media reports are not fiction but developments/realities that are brought to the fore. Hence, the media is the vehicle or channel through which news, views and events are disseminated.

As we know, the media is generally the platform for professional journalists to ply their trade. It comprises of (1) Print – newspapers and periodicals (magazines); (2) Broadcast/ Electronics – Radio and Television. Of lately, the social media (internet) has become the fastest way of disseminating information.

In a nutshell, the four-fold functions of the media are: to inform; to educate; to instruct; and to merchandise.

The purpose for which we are all gathered here today is to look at the media; its contributions to the development at the grassroots and how it helps in sustaining democracy in Nigeria.

Whether print, or electronics, or social media, the aim of the media, as a partner in progress with the government on one hand, and with the society on the other hand, is to create awareness especially on the development required in every segment of the society. Little wonder, it is constitutionally referred to as the Fourth Estate of the Realm, ranking after the Legislative, Judiciary and the Executive.

In an effort to bring governance closer to the people, the media has been collaborating with democrats in the agitation for true federalism. True federalism, when entrenched will reduce the over-concentration of power at the central and empower the states and local governments for rapid development at the grassroots.

A lot of our communities are hundreds of kilometres away from the seat of government. It is the media, not the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that reduces this distance by taking governance to the doorsteps of Nigerians at the grassroots and bringing their needs to the notice of the authorities. These needs and agitations are tabled before decision makers through news reportage and feature articles either in the print or the broadcast media.

In no small measure, the media shapes government policies. Today, it is not only what the government wants to provide that a community takes. The communities, through Community Development Associations (CDAs) and Community Development Committees (CDCs), now have a say in determining what amenities that are provided with the tax

•Prof Adelabu

payers’ money in their domains.

The ever-vibrant and sophisticated Nigerian media has never for once shied away from its responsibility of awakening and reawakening the government to its obligations to the governed through critical and objective appraisal of on-going projects, all in a bid to give the grassroots a sense of belonging in governance and make the policy makers to be more responsive and accountable.

The role being played in bridging the gap between the government and the governed points to one fact – it strengthens and sustains democracy.

The media has not only been critical of government policies but gone further in agitating for best practices as obtained in developed society.

Through news reports, analyses and opinions, the media has exposed the intrigues within the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and has warned of the consequences of the inability of members to amicably resolve their differences.

The media, which played a formidable role in returning Nigeria to a participatory democracy, has not only remained a partner in progress but doing its best to sustain it.

Even electioneering campaigns either through posters, or rallies, or radio, social media (internet) and television announcements, are all media activities.

Soon, the streets would be awash with posters and billboards. All these fall within the merchandise role of the media.

It is a fact that the only channel for consultation by government with the people is the media. To hit the nail on the head, there can be no democracy without the media.

From 1914, when the colonial masters amalgamated the Northern and Southern Protectorate to 1960, when Nigeria gained Independence, the media kept tabs of developments for the production of documentaries. The media simply links the present from the past to the future.

•Chairman of Top Service Limited, Chief Tokunbo Omisore (right) cutting the tape to open Simba Den Green Energy Store at Cocoa Mall, Dugbe, Ibadan, Oyo State. With him is the branch manager of Simba Den Limited, Mr. Joby Mathew.

The vital role played by the media in Nigeria under dictatorial administrations and its contributions towards the enthronement of the burgeoning democracy on May 29, 1999, cannot be glossed over.

It sacrificed a lot with the operations of some organisations crippled by the powers that be for not playing ball and being ‘critical’ of government policies. Some journalists even paid the supreme sacrifice in the process.

I cannot but mention the role played by the ‘invisible’ Radio Kudirat, a broadcast media outfit occasioned by the renowned Prof Wole Soyinka and Dr. Kayode Fayemi, now the Governor of Ekiti State, during the dark days of Gen. Sani Abacha’s era, which prodded the advent of democracy in Nigeria.

Despite the attendant risks associated with the profession, the media never foot-drags on its watchdog’s role.

Since Nigeria returned to participatory democracy more than 13 years ago, the media has not relented in its role of ensuring that government, especially politicians, live up to their promises.

We are now in the era in which the media spices the news’ menu to make it more appealing to the target audience.

Before the advent of television, newspapers and the most recent medium – internet, radio was the only channel through which the government communicated its policies and programmes to the governed.

In the old Western Region, the radiovision was effectively used by the government to communicate with the people. When the station was on, it would be heard clearly within the neighbourhood.

Even today, radio is still at the forefront of information dissemination because of its capacity to reach the grassroots and its acceptability by the rural populace.

One cannot but rate the broadcast higher in this area. News and programmes are now being presented in major languages to serve the audience better. No doubt, Paramount FM 94.

5, has made its mark within a decade of its establishment here in Abeokuta.

FM stations have brought a new dimension into the broadcast medium by attracting more radio listeners with their well-packaged programmes. These are not limited to entertainment but are informative, educative and promotional to their host communities.

Conscious of the operational environment, I learnt that your able organization - Paramount FM 94. 5, runs 80 per cent of its programmes in Yoruba and the other 20 per cent in English Language. Paramount FM 94.5 has made a significant achievement in educating rural illiterate masses in making them aware of all the events in dialect. This is quite commendadle.

By so doing, government policies are better communicated to the audience in the Gateway State, Oyo, Ogun and Lagos states as well as some parts

of Edo, Kogi, Ondo and Benin Republic, Nigeria’s West African neighbour.

Looking back at what the Paramount Hill, Off Kobape Road, looked like when the station was established a decade ago and the volume of traffic the station now attracts to the area, there is every cause to roll out the drums.

With a decade full of achievements down the line, the time to set out for the race of the next decade is now. So far, so good but do not relent on your oars.

Remember, yesterday is a cancelled cheque; tomorrow is a promissory note; today is the only cash at hand. So, use it wisely and do the right thing. If you do this, the sky will not be your limit. Keep the flag flying!

There is no gain saying in the fact that the media is crucial to the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria, it also has a much more crucial role in its sustainability. While the media must be saluted for the dogged fight against the military that led to the return to civilian rule in 1999, the media needs to double the effort in ensuring that the present democratic experience is sustained, with the concomitant development and better life for all.

Holding the government accountable remains one of the fundamental ways the media can ensure the sustainability of the current democratic endeavour. In so doing, it will bring alive the forlorn hope of many Nigerians who have resigned to fate in the midst of the myriads of challenges that daily confront the polity.

This is not the time for the media to agonise; it is the time to organise and provide the required checks within the system; this is the time for the media to promote love and not hate; this is the time to promote those factors that unite us together as a people bound by common heritage; it is not the time to promote those things that threaten our unity. This is the time to name and shame those few powerful elements that take pride in turning the country to a theatre of the absurd and banana republic for selfish reasons.

As periodic election is a major ingredient of democracy, the media thus have a very crucial role in ensuring a credible election in 2015 as a necessary condition for democratic growth.

The governorship elections that will hold in Anambra State (later this year), in Ekiti and Osun States next year, are ample opportunities for the media to put politicians to task on their plans for development and also ensure that the elections meet international standard.

The media should show the light for the others to follow. And this simply calls for a commitment on the part of the media to ensure that good governance is entrenched. Providing the right information, standing on the side of truth and involving in voter education are some of the ways the media can help sanitise the electoral system and by extension the sustainability of our democracy.

•Chairman, Onigbongbo Local Council Development Authority (LCDA), Lagos Francis Babatunde Oke (middle second row), with council officals and pupils who got free GCE forms given by the council

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

49

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

50 USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS ON ANY EMERGENCY Council endorse the useful phone numbers submitted by the security agents for easy access in case of any emergency on the metropolitan Roads. Accordingly, the general public may easily Contact KAROTA for: Breakdown of Vehicle(s), Traffic Congestion, Accidents, and Illegal/Wrong Parking to kindly Call KAROTA through the following numbers on – 08091626747. Similarly, the State Police Command could be contacted on – 08032419754, 08123821575. In addition, the State Fire Service can also be contacted on – 07051246833, 08191778888.

109TH KANO STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING

T

he Kano State Executive Council held its one hundred and ninth (109th) sitting today Wednesday 31st July, 2013 (22nd Ramadan, 1434AH) under the chairmanship of Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE. An appreciable number of forty eight (48) memoranda were submitted from seven (7) MDAs for deliberation among which the majority thirty two (32) were approved for execution with an expenditure of Two Billion, Eighty Four Million, Seven Hundred and Thirty Four Thousand, Two Hundred and Eighty Four Naira, Ninety Nine Kobo (N2,084,734,284.99) covering thirty (30) projects. Thus; 1. OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT Thirteen (13) memoranda were submitted on behalf of some MDAs for deliberation by Council from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government. Nine (9) of them were approved for execution as follows; a. Request for Funds for the Sponsorship of Thirty Seven (37) Kano State Indigenous Students to study Pharmacy in Three (3) Indian Universities/Colleges:Office of the Secretary to the State Government politely reminded Council, through contents of this memorandum, of its decision on the training of one hundred (100) Kano State Indigenous Students to study Pharmacy abroad as part of the incumbent administration’s educational transformation initiative.

Relatedly, thirty (30) Pharmacy Students were granted approval to study in India during the Kano State Executive Council sitting of 8th July, 2013.

Meanwhile, contents of this memorandum further notified Council that thirty seven (37) additional number of Kano State Indigenous Students have gained admission to study Pharmacy at three (3) Universities in India. Details were presented to Council for consideration while the financial implications for their sponsorship covering a period of 4years were summarized as follows; SN. College/ University Kripanidhi College of Pharmacy, India. ii. Bapuji College of Pharmacy, Davangore iii. Sam Higginbottam Institute of Agriculture Technology and Sciences Allahabad TOTAL

Number of Student

Cost (US Dollar)

i.

03

15

486,000.00

11

537,450.00

11

576,850.00

37

$1,600,300.00

So, Council was requested to approve for the release of the aggregate sum of $1,600,300.00 (equivalent to N256,048,000.00) to sponsor the thirty seven (37) Kano State Indigenous Students for the study of Pharmacy in the three India Universities/Colleges cited above.

Significance of the request prompted Council to approve the release of the requested sum of $1,600,300.00 (equivalent to N256,048,000.00) to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government to facilitate for the stated purpose. b. Request for Funds to Execute the Sustainable International Medical Mission U. S. in Collaboration with the Kano Medical Mission:The recommended trimmed down sum of N10,000,000.00 was approved for release by Council to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government for onward payment to the State Ministry of Health to enable conduct of the first phase of the exercise cited above for the year 2013 as was done in 2012 whereby numerous surgical operations were performed on more than five hundred (500) under privileged patients.

Specifically, the exercise targets 6,390 patients suffering from Hernia, Ovarian Cysts and Fibroids to be selected across the three Senatorial Districts of Kano State at which two (2) weeks will be covered for the year 2013. c. Request for Funds to Sponsor Seventy One (71) Officers of the Ministry of Justice to Attend the 2013 Nigerian Bar Association Annual Conference Scheduled (25th – 30th August, 2013) in Calabar, Cross River State:The Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association is a mandatory activity/requirement in Legal Education for all Lawyers in Nigeria targeted towards exposing participants to new trends in the dispensation of Justice.

So, seventy one (71) Officers from the Kano State Ministry of Justice were sponsored for the conference at the aggregate financial cost of N6,500,000.00 which was released to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government for onward payment to the State Ministry of Justice to enable seventy one (71) of its Officers attend the 2013 Nigerian Bar Association Annual Conference in Calabar, Cross River State (25th – 30th August, 2013). d. Request for Funds to Conduct Training on Emergence Preparedness and Update on Contingency Plan for State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Education and Child Protection from Ten (10) DFO States:The Ministry of Planning and Budget informed Council, through the Office of the Secretary to the State Government that, arrangements to conduct an activity on Emergency preparedness and update of contingency plan under the State Government partnership with UNICEF has reached advanced stages.

Importantly, the Kano State Ministry of Planning and Budget requested Council to approve the release of the sum of N1,425,000.00 as the State Counterpart Fund to add to the UNICEF contribution of N2,055,320.00 so as to aggregate to the sum of N3,480,320.00 required for the Stakeholders training tagged “Stakeholders Training on Emergency Preparedness and Update of Contingency Plan for State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Education and Child Protection from ten (10) DFO States.

Council noted, considered and approved release of the sum of N1,425,000.00 to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government for onward payment to the Ministry of Planning and Budget as the State Counterpart Contribution for the purposed activities mentioned above. f. Request for Funds to Enable Payment for the Cost of Placement of Thirty Two (32) Advertorials by Four (4) National Dailies on the 96th – 99th and 100th – 103rd Executive Council Resolutions:The resolve to operate transparently by the present administration in Kano State under the second incumbency of the capable leadership of Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE made Council to approve progressive placement of its resolutions in four (4) widely circulated National Dailies which include the following; • • • •

The The The The

Nation Newspaper Leadership Newspaper People’s Daily Newspaper Blue Print Newspaper

Each of them made eight (8) publications on Kano State Executive Council’s resolutions from the 96th to 103rd sittings to the aggregate sum of N16,618,547.04 which was requested for release

by Council to enable payment for.

The request was considered credible as Council approved release of the sum of N16,618,547.04 to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government to enable payment for the placement of Kano State resolutions in the four (4) National Dailies to be disbursed according to the details presented. h. Request for Funds for the Commencement of Planting Assorted Tree Seedlings Along Thirteen (13) Identified Road Networks at Kwankwasiyya City:Kwankwasiyya city is among the laudable achievements of the present administration in Kano State under the leadership of Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE. The city is being established along with its counterparts – Bandirawo and Amana cities to possess all necessary infrastructure and environmental amenities to enhance their aesthetic value and general serenity.

As such, the Ministry of Environment alerted Council, through the Office of the Secretary to the State Government that, thirteen (13) road networks have been identified in Kwankwasiyya city for the planting of assorted tree seedlings at the cost of N5,854,810.00 which was requested for release by Council as details were presented for consideration.

The request was considered credible as Council approved the release of the sum of N5,854,810.00 to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government for onward payment to the Ministry of Environment to enable planting of the stated tree seedlings at Kwankwasiyya city according to the specifications presented. i. Request for Funds to Ensure Timely Apprehending of Defaulters for Repayment of Loans Granted under the Animal Traction Programme:Contents of the progress report submitted by the Animal Traction Committee, through the Office of the Secretary to the State Government prompted Council to approve the release of the

Rabi’u Musa Kwankawaso trimmed down sum of N650,000.00 to facilitate for the possible litigation/prosecution of the of the defaulters from fifteen (15) LGCAs. 3. MINISTRY OF LAND AND PHYSICAL PALNNING All the eight (8) memoranda submitted for deliberation by Council from the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning were approved for execution as they commonly address the same issue on request for funds to enable payment of compensation for structures affected by construction of 5KM roads at the following eight (8) LGCAs as approved for release by Council to the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning. Thus; a. Bunkure LGCA N127,558,345.00 b. Kura LGCA N413,381,650.00 c. Bichi LGCA N57,108,380.00 d. Ungogo LGCA N129,559,320.00 e. Rano LGCA N39,933,763.00 f. Warawa LGCA N72,601,100.00 g. Dambatta LGCA N31,615,257.00 h. Bebeji LGCA N161,053,653.00 4. MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES Three (3) of the four (4) memoranda submitted for deliberation from the Ministry of Water Resources were approved for execution by Council as follows; a. Request for Funds for the Procurement of One (1) Unit of 15 Tons Mobile Crane and One (1) Unit Low Bed Truck:The Ministry of Water Resources amply substantiated the need for the frequent use of mobile crane to enable movement of heavy items from one point to another and removal/instalment of raw water intake pumps among many other works.

Unfortunately, the only available mobile crane stationed at Kano River Intake was damaged beyond repairs in the year 2012 as a result of flood at the location.

As such, the Ministry of Water Resources requested for Council to approve release of the aggregate sum of N41,816,250.00 to enable procurement of one (1) unit of 15 tons mobile crane (clark model 30 – 50 tons) and one unit of Low Bed Truck (Mercedes Afros Model) for effective operations of the State Water Board at the River Intake Stations.

The request was considered relevant and Council approved release of the sum of N41,816,250.00 to the Ministry of Water Resources to enable procurement of the Machinery cited above for use by the Water Board in its operations at the referred locations. b. Request for Funds for the Construction of Daburau Earth Dam in Madobi LGCA:Harnessing of the Water Resource base in Kano State cannot compare to any other State in the Federation (Nigeria). Fourteen (14) dams exist which are properly managed and utilized for the provision of water for domestic, industrial, agricultural (irrigation), recreational, etc purposes.

Nevertheless, Daburau Village and surroundings whose Communities are dominantly farmers are in dire need of the provision of an Earth Dam in order to make water available for dry season/irrigation farming so as to curtail/check rural urban migration (chi rani).

So, the sum of N92,874,211.50 was requested for release by Council to the Ministry of Water Resources to enable execution of the viable project of constructing a small earth dam across an existing stream in the area. Details were presented for consideration by Council which prompted approval for the release of the requested sum of N92,874,211.50 to the Ministry of Water Resources to enable construction of an earth dam at Daburau Village in Madobi LGCA. c. Request for Funds for the Completion of Garun Malam Water Supply Project:The Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Water Resources politely notified Council that, Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE embarked upon the construction of two (2) Tube well based water supply schemes for Bebeji and Garun Malam Towns during his first tenure. However, the Bebeji water

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013 supply was successfully completed while the Garun Malam water supply is still pending.

As such, the State Water Board conducted a full survey of the situation which resulted in the request for the release of the sum of N135,760,412.34 by Council to the Ministry of Water Resources for the execution of the highly required project.

Council noted, considered and approved for the release of the requested sum of N135,760,412.34 under the Joint Water Project between the State and the Garun Malam Local Government Council to enable the Ministry of Water Resources complete the Garun Malam Tube Well based water supply scheme.

5. MINISTRY OF WORKS, HOUSING AND TRANSPORT This Ministry submitted eleven (11) memoranda for deliberation

by Council. Eight (8) of them were approved for execution. Thus; a. Request for Funds for the Procurement of Two (2) Toyota Hilux Double Cabin Pick Ups for Use by the State Fire Service Department:The Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport notified Council, through contents of this memorandum of the request for the allocation of two (2) Toyota Hilux Double Cabin Pick Ups. The correspondence indicated that one of the vehicles is to be used in remote areas where Ambulance cannot gain access while the other is to be used as back up to fire fighting vehicles and prevention vehicles across the State.

Council noted, considered the plea/request and approved release of the sum of N6,950,000.00 to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government to process the procurement and allocation of one (1) unit of Toyota Hilux Double Cabin Pick Up to the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport for use by the Fire Service Department. b. Request for Funds to Facilitate for the Provision of Reflective Jackets and Traffic Control Sticks for Use by KAROTA Personnel:The Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport notified Council, through contents of this memorandum that, for effective and smooth traffic flow, especially at night by the ever busy junctions in the metropolis there is the need for the provision of traffic and patrol devices for use by KAROTA Personnel. Specifically, the following were requested by authorities at KAROTA; i.

Reflective Jackets 1,200 x N3,000

= N3,600,000.00

ii.

Reflective sticks 100 x N15,000

= N1,500,000.00

TOTAL

= N5,100,000.00

Council favoured the request and approved release of the requested sum of N5,100,000.00 to the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport to enable procurement of reflective jackets and traffic control sticks for use by KAROTA Personnel. c. Request for Funds for the Conversion of Single Arm Street Lights to Double Arms Along Malam Aminu Kano Way for a Distance of 2.4KM:Provision of Street and Traffic Control lights along major Streets in the metropolitan area of Kano State has been among the cardinal preoccupations of the present administration in the State under the Leadership of the second incumbency of Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE. Continuing with the laudable effort, the Task Force Committee on the Repairs and Reactivation of Street and Traffic Control Lights identified the road cited above for the stated project which was assessed and vetted to the sum of N55,946,688.60 as the requested sum to enable execution.

Council noted, considered and approved release of the sum of N55,946,688.60 to the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport to enable the Task Force Committee on the Repairs and Reactivation of Street and Traffic Control lights execute the stated project. d. Request for Funds for the Procurement of Operational and Monitoring Motor Bikes for Use by KAROTA Personnel:The Services rendered by KAROTA personnel in the areas of Traffic Control, Enforcement of Traffic rules and regulations and decongesting of roads in Kano metropolis and those in the 44 LGCAs on periodic Market days have provided succour to road users across the State to the appreciation of all and sundry.

However, some challenges exist in the dispensation of Services rendered. These include flexibility in operations, surveillance and monitoring of operational Staff.

As such, the Management at KAROTA deemed it necessary to address the issue adequately by requesting Council to approve for the release of the aggregate sum of N5,100,000.00 for the following purposes; i.

ii.

Procurement of Six (6) Units of Kawasaki GY – French Operational Patrol Motor bikes for operations and deterrence at N750,000.00 x 6 (bikes) = N4,500,000.00 Procurement of Six (6) units of Jincheng Motor Cycles for surveillance and monitoring operational activities at N100,000.00 x 6 (motor cycles) = N600,000.00 TOTAL N5,100,000.00

The request was considered relevant as Council approved for the release of the sum of N5,100,000.00 to the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport to enable procurement of the operational and monitoring motor bikes for use by KAROTA Personnel.

51 e. Request for Funds for the Procurement of Operational Vans on Domestication of Animals:KAROTA is saddled with the responsibility, among others, of clearing our streets and major roads of roaming animals that unnecessarily cause accidents which can be avoided.

So, a proposal was forwarded to Council for consideration on the possibility of enforcing the Law on domestication of such roaming animals. However, the operation requires dedicated vans/vehicles, collection shed and feeding for the animals. Thus;

Further, GSS Bachirawa which was carved out from GTC Ungogo and shares the same premises requires separate perimeter wall fence and a standard separate gate. The aggregate sum of N56,010,519.70 was requested for release by Council to the Ministry of Education to enable execution of the two (2) projects.

Thus; •

GTC Ungogo construction of perimeter wall fence N52,068,726.29

•

Two (2) Toyota Diana vans at N3,000,000.00 = N6,000,000.00

•

GSS Bachirawa construction perimeter wall fence and provision of a standard gate N3,941,793.41

•

Modification of the two (2) vehicles at N150,000.00 = N300,000.00

•

Collection shed for the animals at N250,000.00 = N250,000.00

•

Feeding of the animals at N100,000.00 = N100,000.00 TOTAL = N6,650,000.00

So, the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport requested Council to approve for the release of the aggregate sum of N6,650,000.00 for the purpose cited above.

Relevance of the request prompted approval by Council. f. Presentation on the Need and Request for Funds to Enable Numbering of Taxis and Town Service Buses in Metropolitan Kano:Side numbering and issuance of proper identification cards for operators of commercial tricycles has yielded the envisaged dividends and KAROTA proposed to Council for the exercise to be extended to Taxis and Town Buses in metropolitan Kano. Apart from the benefits of regulating the commercial transport sector, the exercise will certainly generate revenue to the Government.

Specifically, the exercise has the following cost implications; • Production of registration forms 10,000 at N100 = N1,000,000.00 • Numbering of vehicles/ID Cards 10,000 at N700 = N7,000,000.00 TOTAL

= N8,000,000.00

As such, the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport requested Council to approve for the release of the sum of N8,000,000.00 to enable execution of the exercise cited above.

Approval was granted as requested in view of the viability of the project. g. Request for Funds to Facilitate for Public Sensitization and Awareness on the Activities of KAROTA through the Media and Publications: The aggregate sum of N9,181,530.00 was approved for release by Council as requested through contents of this memorandum from the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport to enable sensitization and public awareness on the achievements of KAROTA through the Media and Publications. Details presented on the issue to Council for consideration prompted the approval. h. Presentation on Revalidation and Request for Funds for the Construction of Jan’guza – Kabo – Karaye Road and Three (3) Bridges Along the Road:Six (6) bridges exist on the road cited above numbered as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 with bridges number 1, 3, 5 being handled by Messrs.

Quadron Nigeria Limited after conceding 10% discount on the remaining fund to complete the project.

The remaining three (3) bridges 2, 4, and 6 and the road are handled

by Messrs. TEC Engineering Limited after conceding 5% discount making the discounted cost for the road to the sum of N3,023,053,107.39 and the cost for the bridges NO. 2, 4 & 6 to be N194,806,190.04 as the revalidated contract sums for the road and remaining bridges.

Nevertheless, the Contractor has the following outstanding payments; a.

Bridge NO 6 CV NO 5

N64,071,136.48

b.

Road CV NO 2

N154,882,202.32

c.

Road CV NO 3

N86,967,509.01

TOTAL

N305,920,847.81

So, the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport requested Council to approve for the release of the sum of N305,920,847.81 as outstanding payments to Messrs TEC Engineering Limited.

Council noted, considered and approved revalidation of the project and directed the Ministry of Finance to settle all the Contractor’s outstanding payments to the tune of N305,920,847.81.

6. MINISTRY OF EDUCATION Presentation on the Need and Request for Funds to Enable Construction of Perimeter Wall Fence at GTC Ungogo and Demarcation of GSS Bachirawa:Fortification and provision of general security to Government owned buildings and facilities/properties is among the cardinal preoccupations of the incumbent administration in Kano State under the leadership of Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE. Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Education politely drew Council’s attention to the fact that GTC Ungogo urgently requires the construction of a perimeter wall fence so as to provide required security for life and property of Students, Teachers, etc. in the College.

TOTAL

= N56,010,519.70

The request was considered significant as approval was granted

by Council for the release of the aggregate sum of N56,010,519.70 to the Ministry of Education to enable execution of the two (2) projects according to the details presented.

7. MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND BUDGET Both memoranda submitted for deliberation by Council from this Ministry were approved for execution as follows; a. presentation on Progress in the Preparation for the Implementation of 2012 MDGs Conditional Grant Scheme (CGS) to the State:The Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Planning and Budget intimated to Council that the total amount of money for CGS to the State comprising Rano, Bichi and Dambatta General Hospitals is N904,618,870.53. Due process was followed which was forwarded to Council for consideration and granting of approval and subsequent award of the Contracts to the successful bidders for CGS to State.

Council acknowledged the presentation in appreciation and upheld the award of the Contracts to the tune of stated CGS amount of money to State comprising Rano, Bichi and Dambatta General Hospitals totaling the sum of N904,618,870.53. b. Presentation on Progress in the Preparation for the Implementation of 2012 MDGs Conditional Grants Scheme (CGS) to Local Government Council Areas in Kano State:Contents of this memorandum substantiated to Council that the six (6) LGCAs considered in the 2012 CGS in Kano State are Bagwai, Bunkure, Minjibir, Kunchi, Sumaila and Warawa and the total amount of money for them is N856,570,913.90. Due process was followed as forwarded to Council for consideration and granting of approval and subsequent award of the Contract to the successful bidders for the CGS to LGCAs in Kano State.

The presentation was acknowledged in appreciation by Council and the Contract awarded to successful bidders were upheld.

UPDATE ON ACTIVITIES OF THE 109TH EXCO SITTING 1. MARRIAGE ORIENTATION PROGRAMME IN THE STATE Council delightfully acknowledged the successful conduct of Marriage Orientation Programme organized by the State Ministry of Women Affairs & Social Development, in collaboration with Hisbah Board and All Families Forum which was flagged-off by the Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE ably represented by the Secretary to the State Government on Saturday 27th July, 2013 for 4400 women selected across the 44 Local Government Areas (100 each) aimed at orienting women on exemplary family life towards curbing social vices such as rampant divorce, drug abuse, adolescent crimes, prostitution, hawking & begging by minors etc.

2. CONDUCT OF MONTHLY SANITATION EXERCISE ACROSS THE MINISTRIES, PARALSTATALS AND AGENCIES IN THE STATE Council witnessed the successful conduct of the monthly sanitation exercise on Friday 26th July, 2013 across the MDAs and Local Government Area Councils in the State. Accordingly, the Government delegation headed by the Hon. Commissioner, State Affairs Comrade Aminu Abdussalam commended the State Civil Servants for their commitments and urged them to put more effort towards ensuring a healthy and conducive working environment.

3. CONDUCT OF MONTHLY SANITATION EXERCISE Council witnessed the successful conduct of the Saturday 27th July, 2013 monthly sanitation exercise where 369 sanitation defaulters were arraigned before a mobile court and fined the sum of N351,020.00. Council called upon the general public to cooperate in subsequent exercises.

4. PRESENTATION OF AWARDS Council delightfully witnessed the presentation of awards by Zaria Education Development Authority (ZEDA) and the Nigerian Military School, Zaria (NMS) to the Governor Engr.

Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE towards his wonderful performance and foresight on the development of Education in the State and Nation at large.

Signed: Hon. Commissioner, Information, Internal Affairs, Youth, Sports & Culture, Kano State

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

52

FOREIGN NEWS Berlusconi says he is innocent

UK, US concerned over Mugabe’s victory

J

OHN Kerry, the US secretary of state, commended Zimbabweans for rejecting violence but added: “Make no mistake: in light of substantial electoral irregularities reported by domestic and regional observers, the United States does not believe that the results announced represent a credible expression of the will of the Zimbabwean people.”

William Hague, the British foreign secretary, also expressed “grave concerns” about the conduct of the vote.

The MDC will boycott government institutions and “pursue peaceful, legal, political, constitutional and diplomatic remedies”, including in court, Tsvangirai said. The MDC called on African and regional bodies to meet urgently to restore le-

gitimacy in Zimbabwe and demanded a fresh election as soon as possible.

Asked about the lack of popular revolt, Tsvangirai replied: “Why should there be? Our people are disciplined. You don’t solve problems by creating violence. In fact, we are at this stage because of the discipline of our people. If it was any other country, they would burn down the building. They have not chosen to do that because they know at the end of the day we don’t want any violent resolution of this crisis.”

He denied that the result raised questions over his leadership. “We did not lose this election. We won. It is the imagination of Zanu-PF that they’ve won it, yet they know the truth. This is not a personal issue, this is a national issue. If

the MDC lost this election, then it is not Tsvangirai who has lost.

“So far I have the full backing of the national council, I have the full backing of the people of Zimbabwe. Until such time that they can express it, then we can talk about it.”

In the short term, there is the question of an appropriate response to an election likely to be ratified by African observers. The MDC and independent watchdogs alike claim it was rigged with brilliant subtlety and sophistication.

Bennett said the MDC leadership faced similar constraints, but called for a campaign of passive resistance. “Unless the MDC acts, and acts decisively, now,” he warned, “Zanu-PF will rule for ever and the MDC will fade into oblivion. The people need strong leadership.

If they don’t get it, new leaders will emerge.”

Asked if Tsvangirai can provide this, Bennett, who wanted the MDC to boycott the elections, hesitated before replying: “The next couple of weeks will prove whether he has the heart.”

Tsvangirai has survived beatings, arrests and assassination attempts, including nearly being thrown from a 10th-floor window. He has tried and failed to dislodge Mugabe three times, although supporters argue that, on a level playing field, he would have won every time.

In 2008, the presidency seemed in his grasp when he beat Mugabe in the first round, only to withdraw from a runoff, citing violence against supporters that left more than 200 people dead.

Tsvangirai became prime minister in a coalition government and believed he could win

F

•John Kerry

outright this time. Instead, the party has lost many parliamentary strongholds. Results so far paint the electoral map ZanuPF green, with only a few pockets of MDC red.Whatever the degree of any rigging, some believe Tsvangirai was a weak leader who let the MDC become tarnished by corruption and made careless choices in his search for a wife.

Bangkok braces for protests

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HAILAND’s capital braced yesterday for possible unrest in the week ahead, with street protests expected over moves in parliament that could eventually lead to a pardon for ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

As many as 2,000 protesters calling themselves the People’s Army Against the Thaksin Regime turned up Sunday for a peaceful rally in a Bangkok park. But bigger and more militant protests are expected when parliament on Wednesday begins debating an amnesty bill that would cover people arrested for political activi-

ties since the 2006 military coup that ousted Thaksin for alleged corruption and disrespect to the monarchy.

Thaksin was later sentenced to two years in jail on a conflict of interest charge, but escaped punishment by living abroad in self-imposed exile. The amnesty bill would not cover Thaksin, but his opponents fear that if it passes, it would set a precedent and pave the way for another measure pardoning him. The bill was proposed by a lawmaker from the ruling Pheu Thai Party, which is headed by Thaksin’s sister, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Israel expands subsidies to settlements

T •Anti-government protesters chant slogans during a rally outside a park in Bangkok, PHOTO: AP Thailand ... yesterday.

WikiLeaks founder proud of Australian support

W •Assange

IKILEAKS founder and Australian Senate candidate Julian Assange says he is proud of the level of support he enjoys in his home country and has pledged to enforce transparency in Parliament if he wins a seat in elections in September.

“When you turn a bright

light on, the cockroaches scuttle away, and that’s what we need to do to Canberra,” the Australian capital, Assange told Nine Network television in an interview filmed in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London and broadcast in Australia on Sunday.

In a separate interview at the embassy, where he has taken refuge for more than a year,

the 42-year-old fugitive told Ten Network that his popularity demonstrated by a recent opinion poll reflected poorly on the ruling Labor Party.

The center-left government staunchly supports the U.S. condemnation of WikiLeaks’ disclosure of hundreds of thousands of classified documents.

A national survey by Sydney-

based UMR Research, a company that Labor relies on for its own internal polling, found in April that 26 percent of Australian voters said they were likely to vote for Assange or other candidates running for his WikiLeaks Party in national elections, which Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced Sunday would be held Sept. 7.

al-Qaeda leader, al-Zawahiri criticises Morsi’s ouster

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MESSAGE thought to be from al Qaeda leader Ayman alZawahiri criticizes the ouster of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy and urges Muslims to stand together to prevent Egypt from being divided.

The 14-minute audio message — which purportedly is al-Zawahiri’s second this week — was posted to jihadist forums on Friday. CNN

could not independently verify its authenticity.

The language used in the last posting resembles that in other messages attributed to al-Zawahiri in which he criticizes the treatment from various parties of Morsy, the former Muslim Brotherhood leader who last year became Egypt’s first democratically elected president.

“The crusaders, the seculars, the Americanized

army, (former President Hosni) Mubarak’s thugs and some members of Islamic parties with the support of Gulf money and American plotting, all agreed to topple Mohamed Morsy’s government,” he says.

Those behind Morsy’s ouster, the message states, wanted a “secular, pro-American president to rule Egypt so they can continue with their plotting — along with the Americans and

Zionists — to divide Egypt, just like what happened in Sudan.”

The 62-year-old AlZawahiri is no stranger to Egypt or its politics.

A member of a distinguished Egyptian family, he is a surgeon who with the Egyptian Islamic Jihad tried to overthrow President Anwar Sadat and establish an Islamic state.

After Sadat’s assassination, alZawahiri was arrested and convicted on weapons charges.

S

HE Israeli Cabinet yesterday expanded its list of West Bank settlements eligible for government subsidies, a decision that came just days after the resumption of longfrozen peace talks and drew quick Palestinian condemnation.

The Cabinet approved a range of housing subsidies and loans for more than 600 Israeli communities deemed “national priority areas,” expanding an earlier list. The list includes poor towns in Israel’s outlying areas, but also dozens of settlements.

The Palestinians want to establish a state in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem - lands Israel captured in 1967 - and renewed talks are to draw Israel’s borders with such a state. Since 1967, Israel has built dozens of settlements on war-won land deemed illegal by most of the international community - that are home to around 560,000 Israelis.

Kuwait forms new Cabinet

A •Zawahiri

Syria: 30 killed in heavy fighting

•Protests across the street of Tunis ... yesterday.

ORMER Premier Silvio Berlusconi pledged his support for Italy’s fragile coalition government to a gathering of thousands of supporters yesterday, but he remained defiant in the face of a supreme court ruling confirming his tax fraud conviction and four-year prison sentence, declaring: “I am innocent.”

The three-time ex-premier and media mogul, who also faces a ban from public office, said he would not resist criticizing the verdict against him, nor the judges who passed it, calling Italian magistrates “irresponsible.”

Berlusconi looked energized and appeared to speaking off the cuff throughout the 15-minute rally in front of his Rome residence, in contrast to his nine-minute video address after last week’s ruling in which he appeared shaken and on the verge of tears as he read a prepared statement.

YRIAN rebels battled forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad in the Jabal Akrad mountains overlooking the Mediterranean yesterday and a monitoring group said at least 30 people were killed.

The mainly Sunni Muslim rebels are battling to overthrow Assad, whose minority Alawite sect is an offshoot of Shi’ite Islam, in a civil war which erupted two years ago when mainly peaceful protests against his rule were put down with force.

Assad, with support from Iran and Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas, has gained ground in recent months from the rebel fighters who are backed by regional Sunni Muslim powers but remain largely outgunned by his army.

The anti-Assad Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 12 rebels and 19 pro-Assad fighters - including soldiers and members of his militia known as the National Defense Army - were killed in Sunday’s fighting in the mountains of east Latakia province.

A source in Latakia said the fighting started at dawn and that the rebels, based in the town of Salma, attacked 10 Alawite villages.

VETERAN former central bank governor was appointed Kuwait’s finance minister yesterday, state news agency KUNA said, after a parliamentary election in the major crude producer last month.

A reshuffled cabinet unveiled by the news agency also included a new oil minister, Mustapha alShamali, who was finance minister in the outgoing cabinet.

Oil policy in the OPEC member state is set by a Supreme Oil Council, so ministerial changes in that portfoilio are less important than in other countries.

The finance ministry will now be headed by Sheikh Salem Abdulaziz al-Sabah.

Early last year Sheikh Salem resigned as central bank governor after 25 years in the post, complaining about a rapid rise in government spending. This suggests he could be something of a budget hawk in his new post.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

53

FOREIGN NEWS

Mali’s run-off: Opposition leader backs T ex-prime minister HE candidate of Mali’s largest political party, who came third in the first round of the country’s presidential election, broke ranks with his own party on Saturday and said he will back former prime minister Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in a run-off.

Dramane Dembele’s move goes against his Adema-PASJ party’s plans and deals a blow to the anti-junta coalition that had formed around former Finance Minister Soumaila

Cisse, who will be Keita’s contender in the August 11 second round.

Keita - seen as close to leaders of the coup last year that triggered Mali’s current crisis - secured 39 percent of the first round votes, well ahead of Cisse’s 19 percent. Dembele, who scored 9.5 percent, and

fourth-placed candidate Modibo Sidibe had been expected to back Cisse.

“I’m making a solemn appeal to all Adema-PASJ supporters and my compatriots who voted for me to vote for Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in the second round of the presidential election,” Dembele told a

news conference in Bamako.

He said that he felt he had been “betrayed” by some in the party by the fact that Adema could not muster more than 10 percent of the firstround vote although it is the biggest bloc in parliament.

His campaign director, Harouna Cisse, told Reuters

earlier that Dembele’s decision had led to a split within the party and acting president Ibrahima N’Diaye was against the decision.

The July 20 first round was the first since the March 2012 coup led to the occupation of Mali’s north by separatist and Islamist rebels.

French forces intervened in January to defeat the al Qaedalinked Islamists, whose threats to disrupt the poll did not materialize.

Explosive goes off at Buddhist temple in Indonesia

A

LOW-powered explosive detonated at a Buddhist temple in Indonesia’s capital as devotees inside were praying, injuring one person while another bomb that was set failed to go off, police said yesterday.

The explosion happened Sunday night at the Ekayana Grha Buddhist temple in West Jakarta, chief of National Police Detective Lt. Gen. Sutarman told reporters. The bombs were apparently placed outside the building, and the blast caused minimal damage.

Police were investigating and continuing to sweep the area, said Sutarman, who uses only one name like many Indonesians.

Militants in Indonesia angered over sectarian violence between Buddhists and Muslims in Myanmar have threatened to attack Buddhist temples here.

•People attend a demonstration organised by the People of Freedom (PDL) party, in support of former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi outside his residence in Rome, yesterday Former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi said Sunday the government “must forge ahead” amid high tension on the political scene after he was handed a prison sentence by the PHOTO: AFP country’s highest court.

Islamist militants attack Somali capital

I

SLAMIST militants set off several explosions in the Somali capital yesterday, their spokesman said, demonstrating the rebels’ ability to attack the heart of government-controlled areas despite security gains.

The guerilla-style attacks were typical of al Shabaab rebels who have waged a sixyear campaign to impose their strict interpretation of Islamic law on the country.

The militants had fired five mortar shells and hurled several grenades, wounding at least two women, senior police officer Abdiqadir Mohamud said.

Somali security forces responded with volleys of gunfire, witnesses said. Casualty numbers were thought to be low.

“We started a massive military operation across Mogadishu at dusk. It will go on until tomorrow morning,” said rebel spokesman Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, promising more attacks over the next few days as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan ends.

Al Shabaab said late last month the rise in coordinated attacks conducted by its fighters pointed to its enduring strength and at the time warned of more attacks in Ramadan.

The African Union peacekeeping force, known as AMISOM, has struggled to control areas won back from al Shabaab. The central government extends little influence beyond the capital where security has improved since peacekeepers flushed the militants out of their bases two

years ago.

Uganda’s Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa told leaders from troop contributing countries - including Uganda, Burundi, Kenya, Djibouti and Sierra Leone - at a summit in Uganda on Sunday that AMISOM had been stretched to its operational limit. But a summit communique stopped short of calling for extra troops.

“I am afraid the remaining nights of Ramadan will be the worst for Mogadishu,” local elder Farah Bulle told Reuters.

“They have managed to indoctrinate many fighters to die in the holy month.”

The blasts came just as people broke the day’s Ramadan fast.

“We heard big crashes while we ate iftar (the evening meal). We ran inside with our plates, taking cover from what sounded like mortar shells,” mother-of-three Fatuma Osman told Reuters by telephone from Mogadishu’s “Kilometre 5” district.

Residents said the coastal capital, which was a battle zone and much of which still lies in ruins after two decades of conflict, was quiet after the initial flurry of blasts.

Syrian coalition urges UN to probe mass abuse

S

YRIA’S National Coalition said yesterday that it was ready to cooperate in any independent investigation into alleged crimes committed by opposition forces.

The Coalition’s call comes two days after UN rights chief Navi Pillay said a reported mass execution of Syrian soldiers taken captive by rebels in the northern town of Khan al-Assal should be investigated.

“Assad has violated international humanitarian and human rights laws. He has committed crimes against humanity by using ballistic missiles, toxic gas, fixed-wing aircraft and chemical weapons,” the opposition said in a statement.

“Assad’s forces have summarily executed civilians, burned them, and targeted towns, villages, schools, hospitals, shelters, and places of worship across Syria,” it added Pillay said on Friday that the events during fighting for control of the town of Khan al-Assal in Aleppo province were “deeply shocking”.

Video footage shot by rebels and reports provided by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights suggest dozens of members of regime forces were executed.

“There needs to be a thorough independent investigation to establish whether war crimes have been committed. And those responsible for such crimes should be brought to justice,” Pillay said.

“Opposition forces should not think they are immune from prosecution. They must adhere to their responsibilities under international law,” she added.

‘Yemeni Nobel Peace Prize winner can’t enter Egypt’

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GYPTIAN authorities barred Yemeni Nobel Peace laureate Tawakul Karman - a supporter of deposed president Mohamed Mursi - from entering the country yesterday and put her on a flight back to Dubai, security sources said.

State news agency MENA said Karman, who had previously announced her solidarity with supporters of Mursi, overthrown by the army a month ago, was on a list of people who were not allowed to enter Egypt.

A spokesman for Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood said Karman had recently joined demonstrations in Cairo demanding the former leader be reinstated.

Karman’s Twitter feed on Sunday said the writer and activist had been held at Cairo Airport and prevented from joining protests. She was sent back on the same plane she flew in on, the security sources said.

The Brotherhood criticized Karman’s deportation and said it was reminiscent of the rule of former autocrat Hosni Mubarak.

“This is an abandonment of the gains of Egypt’s January revolution. The government is reproducing the practices of Mubarak’s state security,” said Yasser Ali, a Brotherhood official and former presidential spokesman.

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54

FOREIGN NEWS Sudan's al-Bashir barred from Saudi airspace

Iran's new president, Rouhani takes oath of office I

RAN'S new president on Sunday called on the West to abandon the "language of sanctions" in dealing with the Islamic Republic over its contentious nuclear program, hoping to ease the economic pressures now grinding its people.

President Hasan Rouhani spoke after being sworn in as president in an open session of parliament, capping a weekend that saw him endorsed by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader.

Rouhani, a moderate cleric who won a landslide victory in

...Promises co-operation with West

the June 14 presidential elections, continued his call for dialogue with the West while asking foreign powers to respect Iran in its negotiations.

"If you seek a suitable answer, speak to Iran through the language of respect, not through the language of sanctions," the president said in a speech broadcast live by Iranian state television. He later added that any

•Rouhani at his swearing in Tehran...yesterday.

negotiations would require "bilateral trust building, mutual respect and the lessening of hostilities."

Iran is under United Nations sanctions as well as unilateral Western oil and banking sanctions over its refusal to halt uranium enrichment, a technology that can be used to power reactors producing electricity or build nuclear weapons.

PHOTO: REUTERS

U.S.closes 22 embassies, consulates.

T

HE weekend closure of nearly two dozen U.S. diplomatic posts in the Muslim world resulted from the gravest terrorist threat seen in years, the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee said yesterday.

Sen. Saxby Chambliss said “the chatter” intercepted by U.S. intelligence agencies led the Obama administration to shutter 22 embassies and consulates and issue a global travel warning to Americans.

•Terror threats cited “Chatter means conversation among terrorists about the planning that’s going on - very reminiscent of what we saw pre-9/11,” Chambliss, R-Ga., told NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

“This is the most serious threat that I’ve seen in the last several years,” he said.

Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger of Maryland, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Commit-

tee, told ABC’s “This Week” that the threat intercepted from “high-level people in al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula” was about a “major attack.”

Yemen is home to al-Qaida’s most dangerous affiliate, blamed for several notable terrorist plots on the United States. They include the foiled Christmas Day 2009 effort to bomb an airliner over Detroit and the explosives-laden parcels intercepted the following year aboard cargo flights.

Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful and geared towards generating electricity and producing radioisotopes to treat cancer patients.

Rouhani replaces President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who struck a hard-line approach when dealing with the West and its sanctions over the nuclear program. The sanctions have hit the country's vital oil exports and blocked transactions on international banking networks.

Inflation is running at more than 35 percent. The Iranian rial has lost more than two-thirds of its value against the U.S. dollar since late 2011.

Many Iranians and foreign diplomats hope that Rouhani, a former top nuclear negotiator, can strike a more conciliatory tone in negotiations. Those hopes could be seen by the attendance at his swearing in, as the audience included leaders and other representatives from more than 50 countries. It was the first time since Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution that foreign dignitaries attended the swearing-in ceremony of an Iranian president.

In Washington, White House spokesman Jay Carney said Rouhani's inauguration represented "an opportunity for Iran to act quickly to resolve the international community's deep concerns over Iran's nuclear program."

"Should this new government choose to engage substantively and seriously to meet its international obligations and find a peaceful solution to this issue, it will find a willing partner in the United States," Carney said in a statement.

During his speech, Rouhani said Iran opposes "any change in political systems through foreign intervention." Iran is a close ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad, whose country remains in the grips of a bloody twoyear civil war. Assad's government has received fighters from the Iranian-backed Hezbollah, helping government forces gain ground in recent weeks.

•al-Bashir

S

UDAN'S official news agency says authorities in Saudi Arabia barred an aircraft carrying longtime President Omar alBashir from entering the kingdom's airspace.

The Sudan News Agency reported that the plane carrying al-Bashir and a number of other high-level Sudanese dignitaries was

heading to Tehran, where the president was to attend the inauguration and swearingin of Iran's new President Hasan Rouhani yesterday.

The Sudan news agency said that Sudanese authorities were waiting for an explanation from their Saudi counterparts as to why alBashir's plane was denied access to cross its airspace.

Al-Bashir was not seen at Rouhani's inauguration.

Sudan media says that alBashir had chartered a Saudi plane for the trip. Saudi officials could not be immediately reached for comment.

Saudi Arabia and Iran are regional foes.

Egypt warns on sit-in standoff

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GYPT'S highest security body warned yesterday that the clock is ticking for a peaceful end to the standoff over sit-ins by supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi, suggesting that authorities will break up the vigils unless mediation efforts produce results soon.

More than a month after the military overthrew Morsi, tens of thousands of the Islamist leader's supporters remain camped out in two main crossroads in Cairo demanding his reinstatement. Egypt's military-backed interim leadership has issued a string of warnings for them to disperse or security forces will move in, setting the stage for a potential bloody showdown.

Also yesterday, authorities announced a court case accusing the spiritual leader of the Muslim Brotherhood and his powerful deputy of inciting murder will start Aug. 25. Morsi hails from the Brotherhood.

The U.S. and EU are trying to find a peaceful resolution to the standoff to avoid a repeat of violence that has killed more than 250 people - at least 130 of whom pro-Morsi protesters shot dead by security forces in two clashes - since the July 3 military coup.

While diplomats raced to find a compromise, the Egyptian interim government signaled that its patience with the pro-Morsi sit-ins was running out.

The National Defense Council, which is led by the interim president and includes top Cabinet ministers, said the search for a peaceful resolution is not open-ended. The council said a negotiated resolution also would not shield from legal proceedings what it called "law-breakers" and others who incite against the state.

With the Islamist-backed constitution adopted last year suspended and the legislature dominated by Morsi's supporters dissolved, the road map provides for a new or an amended constitution to be put to a national referendum later this year and presidential and parliamentary elections early in 2014.

A harvest of elections and deadly protests Global Focus

'Give me liberty or give me death'-Patrick Henry at the Virginia Convention 20th March 1775

T

HAT aptly sums up the past week on our global focus. For a while we were literarily away on blissful Ellis Island, New York USA, restoring Lady Liberty to her full glory Meanwhile democracy was getting boost and with its litmus in Togo, Mali, Cambodia, Kuwait and Zimbabwe, as in parliamentary and presidential elections in those nations' political firmament. And on the flip side, democracy took a tumble in Egypt, where the blood of martyrs was splattered on the walls and streets of Nasr and Cairo. The human abattoir did not spare Alexandria nor forgot to knock its macabre door on other cities in the region.

The quest for liberty, freedom and human dignity has always been a matter of life and death.

Starting in Egypt, ex-President Morsis's Muslim Brotherhood self-destructs, apology to Phil Jackson, the man who brought the best out of the greatest man to ever play the game of basket ball, Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls in the roaring late 80s and early 90s.

Morsi miscalculated the internal dynamics that kept his

Muslim Brotherhood out of power for so long under the dictator Hosni Mubarrak military- backed dispensation. When he eventually came on board partly as a benefactor of the Arab Spring revolution that swept across the region and barreled down to the capitulation of Mubarrak, he did not see through the whole gamut as not necessarily a repudiation of a hard-nosed intolerant and dictatorial Mubarrack, but a society just fed up with more of the same in their daily calculus.

The Muslim Brotherhood's ideological posturing, its religious extremism and intolerance and marginalization of non-Muslims in the country, its arrogance and quest to muzzle the opposition in a secular country backed by America's $1.3billion in annual military support all converge to undo Morsi and its Brotherhood. As we write he, is cooling his heels in a military facility along with two of his fellow Brotherhood operatives while murder charges are hanging around his neck, MB's assets are being confiscated around the country and many of their captains are being hounded into detention on

sundry charges.

In the mean time, protests continue on the streets of Cairo and Nasr City and there is no end in sight to the bloody theatre of pro and anti Morsi protesters. America is once again in the Q business as in Quagmire over whether to declare what happened in Cairo is a 'Coup' as this will mean termination of its military aid to Cairo or just fiddle on the sidelines tinkering with and hoping that an amicable arrangement and settlement will evolve.

Meanwhile in Southern Africa, the old tortoise, 89-year old Robert Mugabe is once again back to his old infamy of perennial election rigging.

Defying all odds and startling all pre-election polls that gave the nods to his co-partner in power, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Mugabe's ZANU-PF party awarded himself a win and was promptly certified by an African Union observer team lead by none other than a past master in the intricate art of election rigging, Nigeria's Olusegun Obasanjo, a man who fought tooth and nail against constitutional provisions to illegally foist him self on Nigerians for

a third-term as president.

News filtering out of Harare from the opposition is that a court case might be imminent.

Of, course all the judges were appointed by Mugabe, so go figure the outcome.

From Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the opposition is crying foul accusing the authoritarian government of Prime Minister Hun Sen of large-scale cheating to achieve a relatively narrow victory in the nations parliamentary election with the slimmest margin ever since the Cambodian Peoples' Party's entrance to national politics: 48.7% to the opposition's 44%. The tradeoffs continue as arrangements are under way for a power sharing arrangement with the opposition.

To the West African coast, Mali managed to conduct a relatively peaceful election after its war with terrorist and warlords to the north of the country. Thank you France and United Nations and African Union troops for salvaging the nation's soul from the deadly jaws of AQIM, the terror group and its local affiliates.

Neighbouring Togo also not to be left behind, went to the polls on July 25, leading a fa-

DAYO FAKUADE, Foreign Editor sms 08134230367

daborgu@gmail.com miliar route with the Eyadema family's Union pour la Republic party (UNIR), once again claiming victory to the presidency their ancestors had held since 1967. Call them the African monarchy. Also the opposition party claimed irregularities but life goes on and the struggle continues.

Libya is restless with thousands of criminals unleashed after a jailbreak masterminded by insurgents same as in Afghanistan. Tunisia is feisty and there is this uneasiness in the Korean Peninsular as they mark the 60th anniversary of armistice, the official end of hostilities in the Korean War which claimed hundreds of thousands of human lives in over a three -year period.

In Iran, as radical and fundamentalist Ahmadinejad bows out, a moderate cleric Hassan Rouhani was sworn in as Iran's new president with an olive branch of cooperating with the West without as much as ready to mellow on the Persian nation's nuclear programme which he says its for peaceful purposes.

The West is watching with keen interest. United States Secretary of State John Kerry, after trips and trips of shuttle diplomacy finally managed to bring the Middle Eastern gladiators in Israel and Palestine to kick start another round of peace talks in Washington with the Israeli release of 104 Palestine prisoners as a teasing prelude. The best is yet to come as settlement issues on Palestinian land were strictly off the table.

Kuwait also held some kind of elections during the week under review while protest galore roam the political landscape of Tunisia and Yemen.

American citizen and National Security Intelligence specialist Edward Snowden managed to leave a Moscow airport and was granted oneyear asylum by Russia to America's "disappointing" annoyance. Russia kept it light saying that it was no biggie to ruffle US-Russia relations. We shall see. Our globe is interesting and we will continue to keep you posted as they unfold. See you next week.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

55

NEWS Experts hail Dangote

Boko Haram: ‘Immigration to monitor nonNigerians’

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From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

T

HE new ComptrollerGeneral of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), David Paradang, at the weekend promised to boost internal control and monitoring of non-Nigerians.

He told State House correspondents after a condolence visit to First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, that he would ensure better management of Nigerian borders.

Paradang, who was appointed in June, also promised to end corruption and racketeering in the recruitment of personnel for the NIS. Such recruitments, he said, would be fair and open to all Nigerians.

His predecessor, Mrs Rose Uzoma, was asked to quit the service, three months to the end of her tenure, due to allegations of corruption and indiscipline in the service.

Paradang said: “The first thing we intend to do is to make sure we have better borders, a better management of our borders. That is the number one issue for now - border patrolling. We intend to do it in a new way, in such a way that we can account for anybody and make sure our borders are tighter.

“The second thing we are looking into is to make sure we have a very good internal control and monitoring of people who are non Nigerians in this country. Those are the two mandates of the Immigration Service that I intend to pursue with all the vigour that I have.”

Mob prevented from burning church in FCT From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

T

HERE was confusion yesterday in Karu and Nyanya, two suburbs of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), when a mob besieged St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Karu, Abuja.

It was learnt that it took the combined teams of the army and police to prevent the mob from burning the church.

An eyewitness said the faceoff began when an Hausaspeaking man in the area was prevented from parking his car close to the church, a measure reportedly put in place following attacks of places of worship by the Boko Haram sect.

The eyewitness said the man resisted the police and soldiers guarding the church, leading to an argument and his detention by the security personnel.

Enraged by his detention, the man allegedly mobilised commercial motorcycle riders, popularly called Okada, to burn the church.

The situation was reportedly compounded by the shooting by security agents in a bid to disperse the mob.

FCT police spokesperson, Ms. Hyelhira Altine Daniel, confirmed the incident.

She told our correspondent that there was no attempt to burn the church.

According to her, the situation was brought under control by the combined team of soldiers and police.

Ms Daniel added that Police Commissioner Femi Olubayode has visited the scene to calm frayed nerves.

•Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed (right) with Head of Training, Ilorin International Aviation College, Capt Abdulmumin Abdulkarim (left); Pilots Sam Gadzama (second left) and Babatunde Bakare during the delivery of two training aircraft bought by the state government to the college in Ilorin...yesterday.

Five dead as ‘civilian JTF’ groups F clash in Borno IVE people were feared following a clash between two groups of Volunteer Vigilance Youths, popularly called “Civilian JTF” in Biu, Borno State.

The Maiduguri-based ‘Civilian JTF’ men were on a manhunt of a suspected Boko Haram insurgent in Biu, about 185 kilometres south of Maiduguri, the state capital.

Biu is reputed to be a major base of the insurgents.

An eyewitness, who spoke in confidence, said two people who sustained gunshot injuries during the incident

From Isma’il Alfa Abdulrahim, Maiduguri

were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Gombe, for treatment.

He said trouble started when the Maiduguri-based “Civilian JTF”, assisted by soldiers, invaded Biu in search of the Boko Haram suspect”.

The eyewitness added: “The Biu-based ‘Civilian JTF’ reportedly asked those from Maiduguri to leave because

their presence would create tension among Biu residents.

“It was in the process that a fight ensued between the two youth groups. It led to the killing of five persons.

“I saw five bodies before we rushed the two injured victims to the FMC in Gombe. It is possible the casualty figure could be more than five, but I cannot tell exactly where the bodies were deposited.”

The identity of those who

died could not be ascertained last night.

Last Tuesday, eight persons, including a lecturer with the College of Education, Waka, Biu, were allegedly killed by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.

The military Joint Task Force (JTF) and the Borno State Police Command could not be reached for confirmation of the incident last night.

GSM services have been epileptic in Borno State since the declaration of state of emergency in May.

PDP panel visits Suntai in New York

M

EMBERS of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) FactFinding Committee on the Taraba State Political Situation yesterday visited ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai in New York, the United States, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The committee, led by its Chairman, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, visited the governor at a rehabilitation centre, where he is receiving treatment.

Suntai has been receiving treatment abroad – first in Gemany and now in the US following the injury he sustained when the aircraft he

piloted crashed in Yola, Adamawa State, in October, last year.

Uzodinma was accompanied by the Special Adviser to the PDP National Chairman on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Inter-Party Affairs, Alhaji Shitu Mohammed; the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak; Sen. Abubakar Gada and the Consul-General of Nigeria in New York, Amb. Habib Habu.

“We are impressed with what we have seen and we thank God for that. We will

take back home what we have seen and we will inform the leadership of the party.

“We are impressed; we are also happy that the governor is recovering. We will still go back home and relate what we have seen.

“We will also visit Taraba State. We will meet all stakeholders in Taraba State; we will also inform them of what we have seen and our party, as a family, will make sure that the party continues to grow from strength to strength,” he told NAN. The panel chairman hailed President Goodluck Jonathan and the party’s National

Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, for setting up the committee.

The Consul-general also said the governor was recovering fast.

He said: “I was really amazed about his quick recovery and we must all thank God for the favour done to Suntai. This is because for anybody to come back from where he had been is not an easy task.

“I know when he was brought here, I met him and continued to visit. Now, he can take care of himself without any support. His progress is most impressive.”

NPAN urges court to restrain APCON thefrom newspaper to comply HE Newspaper Propriwith the provisions of Section harassing newspapers etors’ Association of 21 of the Code.

T

Nigeria (NPAN) has urged the Court of Appeal, Lagos, to restrain the Advertising Practitioners’ Council of Nigeria (APCON) and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar from harassing advert executives of newspapers.

The Motion on Notice followed an appeal filed earlier by the association after it received reports of continued harassment of newspapermen, despite a subsisting appeal.

Justice Musa Kurya of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on January 10, ruled that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain a suit in which the NPAN challenged the constitutionality of Article 21 of the Nigerian Code of Advertising Practice and Sales Promotion, among others.

The appellant/applicant sought an order restraining the respondents from continuing to rely on the article

By Joseph Jibueze

or any other related enactment to threaten, harass, coerce, solicit, persuade or otherwise interfere with the rights of NPAN members to public advertisement.

It sought the restraining order to stay in force, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal in which the constitutionality of the article formed the subject-matter.

NPAN also prayed for an order restraining the respondents from continuing to rely on the article to compel its members to submit their advertisement for vetting and approval by APCON, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.

The association said its application was based on five grounds: the constitutionality of Article 21 of the code; the need to preserve the res of the appeal; to avoid foisting a fait accompli on the appellate

‘

The conduct of the respondents, particularly the first respondent, is a well-calculated attempt to destroy the res of this appeal and thereby render the success of the appeal a nugatory,” NPAN said

’

court; to ensure the court remains the master of proceedings in the appeal and in the interest of justice.

NPAN, in a supporting affidavit, said despite the pending appeal, APCON had written a letter to one of its members – Leadership – directing

The appellant added that APCON further wrote the newspaper’s clients, dissuading them from placing advertisement with the newspaper.

“Unless the respondents, particularly the first respondent, are restrained, they would most certainly compel the members of the applicant to comply with the provision of the article, the constitutionality of which the appellant is challenging in court.

“The conduct of the respondents, particularly the first respondent, is a wellcalculated attempt to destroy the res of this appeal and thereby render the success of the appeal a nugatory,” NPAN said.

It added that APCON ought not to have written the letters designed “to intimidate the members of the applicants into complying with Article 21 of the Code, the constitutionality of which is yet to be determined by the court”.

EXPERTS have hailed Dangote Industries Limited for collaborating with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to sponsor a fellowship for Young Global Leaders from Africa.

Speaking at this year’s Career/Founder’s Day, hosted

by The Bridge Leadership Foundation in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, the experts said Dangote Group has contributed immensely to leadership development through sponsoring young people to attend WEF sessions.

The Bridge Leadership Foundation (TBLF) - a nonprofit leadership and mentoring foundation founded by Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke - focuses on building generations of young people educated to become compassionate, entrepreneurial and engaged citizens.

One of the speakers, Dr. Ola Orekunrin, the Founder/CEO of Fly Doctors Nigeria, said Dangote Group, by sponsoring young people from Africa to the WEF meetings, exposes them to learn the art of leadership from leading global businessmen and statesmen.

According to her, such young people, will be equipped with the necessary skills to provide the right mix of leadership needed to help solve perceived loopholes and challenges in the domestic economy, when they return home.

Over 70 outstanding young African professionals benefitted from this project, which is one of the group’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitments.

Niger revokes nine road contracts From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

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HE Niger State Government has revoked the contracts for the construction of roads under the state/local government joint projects in nine local government areas.

The affected local governments are: Rafi Shiroro, Gbako, Magama Bosso Katcha Agaie and Mariga.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure Development, Mallam Adamu Jagaba, spoke at the weekend after inspecting some road projects under the government’s 10-kilometre per local government area programme in Kontagora.

He said the cost of the contract ranged from N300 to N800 million.

He said the government took the action because of the high degree of incapacity exhibited by the various contractors handling the projects.

Jagaba explained that arrangements had been completed to re-award the contracts to more “serious contractors”.

He hailed the contractors who handled the road projects in Agwara and Kontagora local government areas for doing a good job.

The permanent secretary said the government was satisfied with their job, adding that they could be patronised by the government in future.

The Commissioner for Information, ProfMohammed Kuta Yahaya, who was on the inspection team, said many contractors had fled the state because of the ongoing appraisal.

56

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

NEWS PDP governors, lawmakers give conditions Continued from page 4

election a priority, the Forum will discuss it.”

APC leaders and governors are expected to come up with suggestions the constitution of a full-fledged National Executive Committee. APC has asked INEC to allow its Interim Committee to be in place for six months to stabilise the new party.

“But the party leaders are tinkering with the idea of having APC’s statutory NEC

in place after three months,” the source said.

Meanwhile, there were indications that the Interim NEC will meet on Tuesday.

Another source said: “The officers of the party will meet on Tuesday in Abuja for a post-registration session and the way forward.

“The committee’s session will review the registration of the party by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) and the challenges ahead.”

Atiku to PDP: restore my rights Continued from page 4

•President, Ogoni Generation Next Project, Kadilo Kabari(right) Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese and Presidential Mediator on Ogoni, Dr Hassan Mattew Kukah, Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers,His Majesty King GNK Giniwa, Justice Peter Akere and others during the Ogoni Generation Next Project advocacy visit to the Bishop in Abuja...at the weekend PHOTO ABAYOMI FAYESE

Rivers forum seeks arrest of minister for alleged incitement T HE Rivers Peoples Forum (RPF) has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, on his Saturday’s declaration in Port Harcourt to make life uncomfortable for Governor Rotimi Amaechi, unless he begs him.

It described Wike’s outburst as a threat to the peace and security of Rivers state, which it said could lead to the breakdown of law and order in the Niger Delta state.

RPF, yesterday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, through its President, Charles Bekwele, called on the security agencies to take urgent steps to curtail the excesses of the minister of state for education.

The group said: “Nyesom Wike must be arrested and prosecuted now, for threatening the lives of the Rivers people, for threatening the peace and security of Rivers state.

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

“His Saturday’s comments could easily lead to a breach of the peace in Rivers state.

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the DirectorGeneral State Security Service (SSS) must act now, to arrest and prosecute Wike for threatening the peace and security of the state. Rivers people have had enough of Wike.

“Since the young man (Wike) was appointed minister, he has carried on like a demi-god, acting like he is above the law, abusing the people and governor of Rivers state, the same governor that nominated him to be appointed minister.

“That is his business, if he chooses to fight his benefactor, Governor Amaechi. That is entirely is headache. However, we will not allow him to destroy the peace in Rivers state, because of his petty political fight. He is not above

the law. He is just a minister, a deputy minister at that.

“Wike must be told in clear terms that he cannot threaten the peace and security of Rivers state, because he has political ambition. Wike is very free to pursue whatever ambition he has, but must the state collapse because Wike wants to be governor?

“How can a minister in this country even talk like that? A minister in the ministry of education, at a time when all the universities in this country are shut down, due to a lingering strike action by lecturers.

“This minister is busy roving all over Rivers state, politicking and threatening the peace and security of Rivers state. So, when does Wike have time to find a resolution to the strike by the members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)? This is indeed sad for Nigeria.”

The minister of state for ed-

ucation spoke on Saturday at a reception for him at the grand finale of the inauguration of units of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI) in Obio/Akpor LGA of the state at the Rumueme Civic Centre, Port Harcourt. Wike is the grand patron of GDI. Wike asked Amaechi to come and beg him, in order to ensure peace and for him to tell the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), the secret of successful governance.

He alleged that Amaechi was having sleepless nights, declaring that he would continue to make him and the 27 suspended members of the Rivers House of Assembly, loyal to the governor uncomfortable, for the April 22 suspension of officials of Obio/ Akpor Local Government council.

Wike stated that with the NGF chairman giving President Goodluck Jonathan his removal as minister as condition for peace and if effected, he would continue to fight for what he believed in.

Let’s end ethnic politics, says Jonathan Continued from page 4

gathered here today and this is why we ask ourselves why can’t we forget the past and move forward. I must confess that I was thrilled that President Obasanjo came to the church.

“This is the kind of forgiveness leaders have to show for the country to move forward”. He said and called for support for the Jonathan administration. “(Gen).

Abdulsalami Abubakar and (Gen Ibrahim Babangida), (both former leaders), IBB are here, They can give us peace. I believe that if all of us here put our hands behind him (President Jonathan) and genuinely advise him, even our worst enemy - Boko Haram - will be afraid”.

Many politicians, businessman and highly placed government officials attended the ceremony.

The President, First Lady Dame Patience and Obasanjo were among the dignitaries that attended the thanksgiving Mass.

In a sermon, Catholic Arch Bishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, maintained that human being, irrespective of positions, status, wealth and affluence, must see themselves as mortals.

The successes and achievements on earth, he said, are ephemeral and vanity and that men should gravitate towards holiness and eternity.

Condemning greed, he said it is foolishness for a mortal being to store all treasure to himself.

He advised politicians to see political power and wealth as temporal as he urged them to use wealth to the benefits of the masses.

He extolled the celebrator’s virtues of philantrophy and quality leadership and prayed God to grant him more years in good health.

Archbishop of Benin Diocese, Augustine Akubueze, said Anenih had touched lives of many Nigerians in the Diocese and in Edo State.

Anenih was born in Uzenema-Arue in Uromi, Edo State on August 4, 1933 and attend-

ed the Police College in Ikeja.

He was selected for further training in the Bramshill Police College, Basingstoke, England in 1966 and the International Police Academy, Washington DC in 1970.

He served as a police orderly to the first Governor General of Nigeria, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.

Anenih worked as an instructor in various police colleges, and in 1975 he was assigned to the Administrative Staff College (ASCON), Lagos.

He retired from the police as a Commissioner and joined politics.

Anenih was Edo State Chairman of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) between 1981 and 1983, and National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party from 1992 and 1993.

He was also a member of the Constitutional Conference in 1994 Anenih was one of the founding members of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Deputy National Coordi-

nator of Olusegun Obasanjo’s campaign Organisation in the 1999 and 2003 elections.

He was appointed Minister of Works and Housing in 1999.

Also in attendance at the service held at Our Lady Queen Catholic Cathedral, Garki were the Senate President David Mark, Chief Edwin Clark, Gen. T. Y. Danjuma and his wife, Senator Daisy, former Chief Justice Muhammadu Uwais.

Governors Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Peter Obi (Anambra) and Liyel Imoke (Cross Rivers) also attended.

Also at the service were former Governors Adebayo Alao-Akala and Segun Oni, ministers, traditional rulers and members of Diplomatic Corps.

Christians Association of Nigeria President Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Executive Secretary of the Christians Pilgrims Board, John KennedyOkpara also attended.

held on Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at the PDP Secretariat, approved the application of the Adamawa State Executive Committee for my waiver alongside similar applications from Imo, Abia, Anambra and Kogi states. as a result of that waiver, I proceeded to participate in the presidential primaries of our great party as well as other activities of the party. So, my membership or return to the party predated the 2012 constitution amendment”.

Abubakar maintained that the omission of his name contradicted the Section 32, Subsection 1(a) of the PDP Constitution, which states that

the Board of Trustees members shall consist of “all past and serving Presidents and Vice Presidents, who held or hold the respective posts as the members of the party and who are still members of the party”.

He added: “As a member of our party, I look forward to the respect and privileges conferred on the office of the Vice President and founding fathers of the party by our party constitution. I therefore, request for a correction and restitution of my right to attend the forth-coming special national convention of our great party and also membership of the Board of Trustees”.

Reps to make MDAs generate N2tr for govt in 2014 Continued from page 4

“The first is the provision that stipulates the 80 per cent remittance of operating surplus. We believe that provision is insufficient and has not given the desired result.

“What we are doing doing is to categorise agencies into four broad groups, those to remit 100 per cent of their gross earnings to government, those to pay 25 per cent.

“Category three would be those that will retain their operating surplus while the fourth group are classified as special because of the peculiarity of their operations.

“We are doing this because it was found out that the 25 per cent remittance of IGR as directed by the Ministry of Finance would require a legislation, coupled with the fact that its not all agencies that have the capacity to remit such while there are some agencies that should pay 100 percent of their gross earnings.

“We don’t want a situation whereby we will adopt just one of these categories and others will come up a very genuine argument why they

should be exempted. To avoid that loophole of escape, we have to come up with suitable category for each MDA,” he added.

Jubrin explained that the second amendment would expand the Schedule of 31 agencies to include all MDAs, “Because in the course of our work we discovered that all 845 agencies of government are generating one form of IGR or the other.

“Of serious concern however is the fact that some of these agencies felt that there is no reason to remit what they term ‘paltry revenue’ to government. One CEO, during our investigation, said why should the Committee bother him to remit to governtment part of the N23m his agency generated internally.

“So the believe is that such amount does not matter, whereas even if it N1m, it must be properly accounted for.

“With the amendment, every MDA will now be captured, even if it is just N1,000.00 that was generated as IGR, what they should remit as provided by the law must be remitted, henceforth.

Show respect for Amaechi, Rivers govt tells Obuah Continued from page 4

ly chosen by Rivers people, elected and mandated by the people to lead them until May 29, 2015.

“It is important that they show respect for the office and the man who occupies that office. It does not matter whether they like the face of the governor or not. Once he has been mandated by the people to lead them, they must show some respect for him and the office he occupies, which he holds in trust for the people.

“Obuah and his cohorts have been most disrespectful and have been derisively deriding the governor and the

office of the governor of Rivers state. Enough is enough.

They have to be called to order.”

It will be recalled that an Abuja High Court on April 15, sacked the Chief Godspower Ake-led executive of the PDP in Rivers state, loyal to Amaechi. Obuah was declared the duly-elected chairman of the party, but he is still being challenged in court.

Since the sack of the Akeled executive, Rivers state has not known peace, leading to deepening crisis involving President Goodluck Jonathan; his wife, Dame Patience; Amaechi; Wike; Obuah and their supporters.

THE NATION MONDAY AUGUST 5, 2013

PREMIERSHIP ...PREMIERSHIP ...

NATION SPORT

Drogba: Blues can thrive under Jose D

IDIER Drogba reiterated his belief that the reunion of his former manager Jose Mourinho with his old club Chelsea would be "a good combination" as he made a pre-season return to London.

Speaking after his club Galatasaray's 1-0 win against FC Porto in the Emirates Cup on Saturday, the Ivory Coast striker said Chelsea face a challenge to claw back the ground on Manchester United and Manchester City but added that he expects the Blues to be in the shake-up for the Premier League title.

"Everybody knows what I think about him (Mourinho)," Drogba said, "and especially about him (coming) back to Chelsea. It's good for the club.

It's a big challenge for him and for the club as well, but a great manager with amazing players — normally it's a good combination."

That blend will see Chelsea return to being serious title chal-

lengers, Drogba thinks.

"Of course," he said. "This is Chelsea, and they always try to win titles and are always in the last four or so for winning titles.

It's a good habit."

Drogba was keen to stress that the Blues have more than the returning Mourinho to propel them forwards, however, praising their efforts last season in a campaign that was at times fraught.

"Last season, Chelsea beat Manchester United in a few games, so I think we have to give credit to what they did last year," he said. "They had a long season, with a lot of games. This season is going to be different, but I will follow them from afar."

Having helped Fatih Terim's side to the Champions League quarter-finals — where they played out a thrilling clash with Mourinho's Real Madrid — af-

Aguero in race against time

•Aguero

Wenger mum on Suarez deal

A

RSENE Wenger says Arsenal will continue to pursue Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, but will not get involved in a public bidding war.

Wenger tight lipped on Suarez deal The Gunners are thought to have failed with at least two bids as Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers fights to keep hold of the player, but Wenger is sure to make at least one more before the transfer window closes.

Speculation has suggested Arsenal would have to pay £50million to land Suarez, while Rodgers says his striker's valuation has to be on a par with Gareth Bale, who could be heading to Real Madrid for £87million.

However Wenger says he will not speak publicly about the figures involved and Arsenal will conduct any transfer business in their usual way, behind closed doors.

"I never said we have made a bid to Liverpool, now I can tell you we have made one, so at least that is some information. All the rest, I would like to keep to us," Wenger said.

"If we progress in that situ-

•Luis Suarez

ation, we will inform you. At the moment, that is where we are. We will treat every transfer with the rules we have always done until now, that is in a fair and respectful way.

"That is our club, that other clubs do differently is their problem, but we will be completely faithful to the values we think are important here."

Wenger added he will be doing all he can to strengthen his squad before the window closes and although he would not name names, Suarez is still top of his wanted list.

Carroll hopes to be fit for Cardiff City opener •Drogba

S

ERGIO Aguero is reportedly facing a battle to be fit in time for the start of the new Premier League season in just over a fortnight.

Aguero in race against time The 25-year-old Argentinian international striker has not been involved in any of City's pre-season matches after being diagnosed with muscle and ligament fatigue to his knee.

As a result he was left out of Argentine coach Alejandro Sabella's squad for the country's international friendly against Italy in Rome on August 14.

And, despite being an unused substitute for City's 2-1 Audi Cup final defeat to Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on Thursday, it has been suggested that Aguero could also be missing when the new Premier League campaign gets under way against Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Monday, August 19.

City are keen to ensure the £38million forward recovers properly going into this season and reports claim they are easing him back to fitness gently with the medical staff keeping an eye on his progress daily.

If Aguero fails to make it for the Magpies opener, boss Manuel Pellegrini has the luxury of being able to call on the in-form Edin Dzeko and recent new signings Stevan Jovetic and Alvaro Negredo.

ter arriving in January, Drogba has high hopes the Turkish champions will build on that in the coming season.

"We had a tough pre-season where we worked a lot and I think you can see that the legs are still a bit heavy. But (hopefully) we can do what we did today again tomorrow, because we really want to win this tournament. At the end of the day it's a cup to win."

57

Villas-Boas blasts Ancelotti over Bale

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OTTENHAM manager Andre Villas-Boas has hit out at Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti for going public with his desire to sign Gareth Bale.

Andre Villas-Boas' Tottenham side don't have a good record against the clubs above and around them Andre Villas-Boas said Tottenham are "due some respect" in the ongoing Gareth Bale saga.

Villas-Boas was again forced

to answer questions surrounding Bale's future after his side's 5-2 friendly loss to Monaco.

Bale was not involved in the match after staying behind in London. Madrid are looking to tie up a word-record transfer deal for the 24-year-old, with Ancelotti revealing the La Liga club were in talks to sign the Welshman earlier in the week.

Asked if Ancelotti had acted improperly, Villas-Boas said: "I think so, in my opinion.

"Carlo is a person I appreciate a lot and we have great respect for each other, but bearing in mind this situation they have decided to make it public.

"Normally in situations like this it is scrutinised by the Football Association with lots of care and attention. We have seen lots of people speak about a player that is not theirs and we are due some respect.

"These rumours of an imminent transfer are not true. The only thing we have communicated with Real Madrid is that he is our player and he is

not for sale.

"Gareth is a guy I really like.

We are talking with Real Madrid because there is respect between the two clubs following the transfer last season of Luka Modric.

"We are building a great team for next season. We envisage the future with Gareth.

But we know that in football anything is possible."

W

EST Ham United striker Andy Carroll says he hopes to be fully fit for the club's opener against Cardiff City on 17 August The 24-year-old has been recovering from a heel injury which the England international picked up on the final day of the season.

Carroll has signed a six-year deal with the Hammers in June after the east London side paid Liverpool £16m to make the striker’s switch permanent.

And Carroll, who scored seven goals during his season-long loan last summer, is relishing getting back to Premier League action.

“I’ve been working hard. I’ve been away to Germany with the lads and keeping myself as fit as I can with the work I can do with my heel still being sore,” said Carroll.

“It’s been tough but I’ve been working hard to be back for the beginning of the season.

“I’m doing a lot of cardiovascular work to keep my fitness up without stressing my heel, which means going on the rowing machine and on the bike and doing all the things I don’t like, really! I’ve been working hard, hopefully I’ll be back for the start of the season.

“I couldn’t think of anything worse than being injured during

•Andre Villas-Boas

•Andy Carroll pre-season. It’s painful to watch everyone else going out and having a laugh and me just doing one-on-one physio work in the gym. It’s a nightmare but I’ve just got to get myself fit and ready.

“I don’t like it in the gym, so it makes me push myself that bit harder. I’m dying to get back and kicking a ball again. I can’t wait because the last time I kicked a ball was in the final game of last season.”

No McCarthy offers - Coyle

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IGAN boss Owen Coyle says there have been no offers for James McCarthy amid reported interest from Everton and Newcastle.

No McCarthy offers - Coyle The highly-rated Republic of Ireland star is expected to leave the DW Stadium before the closure of the transfer window and former Latics boss Roberto Martinez wants him at Goodison Park.

Newcastle have also been heavily linked as Alan Pardew looks to bolster his midfield but Coyle says there have not been any enquiries let alone any offers for the player.

"I've not had any inquiries, let alone offers, for any of my players," said Coyle. "But ultimately good players attract attention and there's no getting away from it, James McCarthy is such a hugely talented player.

"And if there is any interest, he'll be the first to know. Then, as a club we decide what happens from there."

THE NATION MONDAY AUGUST 5, 2013

58

NATION SPORT

EUROPEAN FOOTBALL...

Ancelotti: Ronaldo decides where he plays R

EAL Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has admitted Madrid talisman Cristiano Ronaldo plays in the position that the forward “wants to” at Los Blancos.

The decorated Italian manager replaced José Mourinho at the helm of the La Liga runners-up earlier this summer, and one of his biggest challenges is keeping the Portugual captain happy in the Spanish capital.

Ronaldo, who scored 34

goals in 34 La Liga appearances last term, has been linked with a move to Ancelotti’s former club Paris Saint-Germain, as well as Premier League champions Manchester United this summer.

But in a bid to keep his star player happy, Ancelotti admits Ronaldo decides where he wants to play in the Real Madrid starting line-up as the former AC Milan boss looks to wrestle the league title away from Camp Nou.

“Cristiano needs to play in the position that he wants to,” Ancelotti is quoted as saying in AS English.

“I will not change his position because he is comfortable in his usual position. He is the one who has to chose where he plays on the pitch.”

Ronaldo has scored a staggering 201 goals in 199 appearances for Real Madrid after completing a worldrecord £80m move from United in 2009.

Neymar diagnosed with anemia during pre-season tour

B

ARCELONA'S big summer signing will undergo treatment after he was diagnosed with anemia during the team's pre-season tour in Asia Barcelona's •57 million summer buy Neymar has been diagnosed with anemia and will

undergo treatment as the team continues their pre-season tour in Asia.

The club told the Associated Press that the anemia is due to Neymar's tonsil operation from earlier in the summer and that they expect him to continue training normally with

the team as he undergoes treatment.

Anemia is a decrease in number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood which can lead to exhaustion and shortness of breath during physical exertion. While severe anemia can lead to cardiac problems as the body compensates for the blood not carrying enough oxygen to the body.

Neymar's situation is not expected to be serious.

Barcelona are scheduled to play friendlies against Thailand in Bangok on Wednesday and Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday. Neymar's availability for those matches has yet to be announced by the team.

•Cristiano Ronaldo

Bayern set for more success with Guardiola, says Netzer

T

HE former Borussia Monchengladbach star is certain that the Spaniard's arrival in Bavaria will not risk destabilising last season's treble winners but rather another dimension Gunter Netzer has expressed his confidence that Bayern Munich will thrive under coach Pep Guardiola.

Die Roten ended last season with Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and Champions League wins but now face a new era with the former Barcelona boss

•Neymar

Pedro can be Barcelona's surprise catalyst

N

EYMAR'S arrival at Barcelona, the potential contribution of other players has been largely overlooked this summer.

Whilst there is little doubt that the Brazilian's role will need to evolve to become as pivotal as that of Lionel Messi, the sup-

•Pedro Rodriguez

plementary form of a number of other players will dictate much of Barca's success this coming season.

Pedro Rodriguez is a player who, on his day, has much to offer.

Although there have been question marks over his form

and contribution at certain stages in the past, his importance to both the Spanish national team and Barcelona is self-evident when the player is on his game.

If we are to assume that "Tata" Martino will play Neymar in his favoured left-sided position and Messi centrally, then the new manager will have to decide from the luxury of embarrassing riches at his disposal for the right side of a front three.

Both Alexis Sanchez and Cristian Tello will lay claim to a starting berth, but it is Pedro who deserves the chance to make the position his own.

Aside from offering exceptional speed per Tello, his work ethic is akin to that of Sanchez—a hybrid of the two if you will.

If we take a look at the stats, per Squawka.com, it's Pedro who comes out on top.

In possession of the ball, Pedro's score of 275 is comfortably better than the 99 of Tello and the minus-218 score of Sanchez.

having replaced Jupp Heynckes at the club.

Despite losing 4-2 to Borussia Dortmund in the German Super Cup, Netzer believes that it is impossible to look beyond the Bavarians in terms of this season's league title and added that Guardiola will adapt seamlessly into his new role.

"BVB will be the biggest enemy [for Bayern] but I do not see anyone else who can match them," the 68-year-old told Bild.

"Bayern have a bench and a coach as they've never had in the history of the club. This enables them to achieve consistent great success. Therefore, I see Bayern this year in front.

"There is nothing called into question [by Guardiola's appointment]. The players have to deal with their new boss and to meet new requirements, which are not just onesided, but very diverse.

"The Bayern professionals are being called upon in a fashion as they have perhaps never been required to before.

"Guardiola is trying out his ideas and even some of the players are surprised. That's just his way to lead a team: full of surprises.

"But in the end will be a working system.

For Guardiola is not against the will of the players. He will use them according to their abilities and talents."

Netzer also urged Borussia Dortmund to retain an amicable relationship with Robert Lewandowski, himself a Bayern target, seeing it as essential if they are to re-

main competitive.

"Lewandowski has an enormous importance for the club and I appreciate him very much," Netzer continued.

"Dortmund need him to seriously pursue the Bavarians. I therefore expect him to behave professionally and to remember his contractual

commitment that it has entered into when he signed for BVB. "Threats of refusal to work are misplaced. He has to accept the reality and that reality is Borussia Dortmund."

Bayern kick off their Bundesliga campaign against Monchengladbach on August 9.

•Pep Guardiola

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NATION SPORT

I'm becoming a mature fighter, Khan insists A •Djokovic

Montreal treble hopes for Djokovic

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OVAK Djokovic is looking to put his Wimbledon disappointment behind him by securing a third successive Montreal Masters crown.

Montreal treble hopes for Djokovic The Serbian world number one has not been on court since he lost out to Britain's Andy Murray in the final at the All England Club last month.

He will be looking to sharpen up his hardcourt game in readiness for another crack at the US Open crown as the final major starts at Flushing Meadows later this month.

Djokovic will play the winner of the first-round match between Australian Bernard Tomic and Germany's Florian Mayer.

Wimbledon and reigning US Open champion Murray is also back in action for the first time since his victory on home soil and the second seed, who has also received a bye into round two, is awaiting the victor of the Grigor Dimitrov or Marcel Granollers tie.

Murray won in Montreal in 2009 and 2010 but lost in the third round a year ago to Canadian Milos Raonicbefore going on to win the US crown the following month.

World number five and twotime champion Roger Federer will not feature because he has been unable to overcome the back problems which have hampered him in recent.

MIR Khan believes he is discovering a new maturity as a fighter after moving to a new trainer and taking on responsibility for brother Haroon's boxing career.

Khan won his first two fights under San Francisco-based Virgil Hunter after consecutive defeats against Lamont Peterson and Danny Garcia saw him lose his light-welterweight world titles.

The 26-year-old's most recent fight, a points win over Julio Diaz in April, saw him down in the fourth round and Khan has been working on a more disciplined approach as he bids to set up a challenge to IBF welterweight champion Devon Alexander, which is pencilled in for December 7 if a deal can be struck.

"The last few fights I have learnt a lot," Khan said.

"I used to make a lot of mistakes. Virgil is working on my stance and making me a bit more experienced and a bit more careful and cautious in there.

"We are fighting top-class fighters now, so we have to be smart, we can't make mistakes. Virgil is teaching me to be more focused in the ring.

"And even out of the ring, training in between camps, keeping fit and keeping ticking over."

Khan has also found another new perspective by guiding 22-year-old Haroon through the early stages of his professional career. The 2010 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist has won his first two professional fights.

A

•Khan

Rodriguez: World champion will come from Vuelta a España

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OAQUIM Rodriguez (Katusha) has hinted at his credentials to lead the Spanish team at the world championships by predicting that the rainbow jersey will be won by a climber who races the Vuelta a

•Rodriguez

Khan said: "I'm promoting and managing Haroon and I'm trying to get him on in America three more times this year, maybe once on the undercard of my fight and two more times working alongside other promoters.

"I am going to advise him more than anything. The training is up to him.

"Haroon is a talented fighter and I believe he will be world champion."

Super-flyweight Haroon feels his older brother's experience will help him plot his way to the top but he was surprised to see his mentor looking so impassive when he won his latest fight with a first-round stoppage in May. The younger Khan said: "I was watching the video and saw him at ringside and he

España beforehand.

Rodriguez, who finished 3rd at the Tour de France last month, will line up among the favourites for the Vuelta, which gets underway on August 24, but the Catalan admitted that he already has one eye on the demanding world championships circuit in Florence.

“I’m really up for the Worlds, because it’s very hard in Tuscany.

As well as being 270 kilometres long with 5,000 metres of altitude gained, there’s also a very steep climb 3 kilometres from the finish – it’s 800 metres long and it hits a gradient of 15%. It will do a lot of damage,” Rodriguez told Periodic de Andorra. “I think the Worlds will be won by a climber who comes out of the Vuelta.”

Rodriguez took bronze in the world championships road race in Mendrisio four years ago, and will be part of a strong Spanish team in Florence, a line-up that could also include Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi),

Alberto Contador (Saxo-Tinkoff) and Dani Moreno (Katusha).

Before the Worlds, Rodriguez will be hoping to complete some unfinished business at the Vuelta a España. In both 2010 and 2012, the Catalan led the race in the final week only to slip to third overall in Madrid.

Rodriguez is again among the favourites this time around, although he pointed out that the list of potential winners is a long one. “I know I’ll be one of them, but there are others too, like [Vincenzo] Nibali, Valverde, [Ivan] Basso and Samu [Sanchez].

Maybe Nibali is a point ahead of everyone else,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez also decried the revelation of positive EPO tests from the 1998 Tour de France that saw Erik Zabel suspended from his coaching position at Katusha.

“They can’t find anything from this year so they’ve gone back,” he said. “I have the feeling that a part of the cycling world, or a part of the press, is interested only in this stuff and it will never end.”

was just sitting there. I said to him: 'Why were you not happy?'

"He said he was nervous.

Now he knows what we go through when we watch him boxing."

The older Khan responded: "I have seen a lot of knockouts. I'm not going to jump up, I was keeping it cool.

"One of the good things in that fight was that he didn't make the mistake I made in the past, rushing into opponents then you get caught yourself.

"He walked in and boxed. I didn't want to show too much excitement in case he got caught up in it.

"You are probably more nervous watching your brother because you are not in control."

Farah in peak form for a double

S double Olympic champion Mo Farah knows he is there to be shot at. But such is his self-belief that it will take someone and something special to scupper the Briton's bid to repeat the feat at the world championships in Moscow.

His London triumphs last year when the Somali-born runner stormed to 5,000 and 10,000 metres glory put Farah firmly among the sport's superstars — his 'Mobot' now as recognisable as Usain Bolt's 'archer' celebration.

After joining Emil Zatopek, Vladimir Kuts, Lasse Viren, Miruts Yifter and Kenenisa Bekele as the only athletes to complete the 5 and 10k double in the post-war period, Farah is at the peak of his powers.

"The hardest is being at the top because when you are at the top everybody wants to knock you down. So many guys want to get you," Farah said recently.

"They are going to have to come up with something, it's exciting, they are testing me out.

The 10k is more exciting than the 5k... I have to keep my feet on the ground.

Farah credits his coach, former marathon world record holder Alberto Salazar, with turning him into a winner.

"I've definitely improved in terms of winning medals, but it's only been one or two per cent in terms of my times. I've learned to win races and I've learned to be confident when you approach a race," he said.

"Obviously Alberto is a great coach... and the whole team that supports me. Without the team I don't think I could have achieved what I have achieved."

Farah won the world 5,000 title in Daegu, South Korea in 2011 after having to settle for silver over twice the distance earlier in the championships behind unexpected winner Ibrahim Jeilan of Ethiopia.

Farah later remarked he had barely heard of Jeilan but is unlikely there will be a joker in the pack this time.

Depending on how quickly he recovers from the 10,000 — in London he admitted it had taken more out of him than he first thought — his versatility and incisive finishing kick should see him emulate Kenenisa Bekele who achieved the double at the world cham-

pionships in Berlin in 2009.

Farah warmed up for Moscow last month by testing his speed to great effect when dropping down to 1,500 metres in Monaco.

While he never looked likely to catch impressive winner Asbel Kiprop of Kenya, his time of 3:28.81 not only broke the British record of former world champion Steve Cram but also placed him sixth on the world all - time list.

"I couldn't believe how fast I ran. It was crazy. If you had set to me six weeks ago that I would run 3.30 and break Steve Cram's record I would never have believed you. It just shows, when you have that confidence..."

While he focuses on a Moscow double, his track future is uncertain with a first full marathon pencilled in for London next year, having made a much-publicised bow by running half of the race in the capital earlier this year.

Asked before the Diamond League meeting in London last week if he planned to compete on the track in next year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Farah replied: "It depends on how it fits in. Next year is quite a big challenge because I am moving up to the marathon. I don't know what's going to happen."

•Alonso

Briatore: Alonso not leaving

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ERNANDO Alonso will not leave Ferrari for Red Bull next year, according to Flavio Briatore.

Briatore, who acts as Alonso's manager, has played down the Spaniard's comments about want to race in "someone else's car" next year.

Red Bull will have a vacancy in 2014 as Mark Webber is leaving the team, but Briatore insists Alonso's comments have been overplayed by the media.

In an interview in Gazzetta dello Sport, the Italian said: "Fernando has a contract and contracts must be respected.

There is no temptation [to leave Ferrari] whatsoever. It's normal for a racing driver to desire a competitive car and the team must work hard to supply it. End of story.

"Alonso has never said he wants to leave. Ferrari and Alonso remain a winning pairing. He just needs to have a car that allows him to start from the top two rows."

Briatore dismissed suggestions that Alonso would want to be the biggest name in any team he races for, with a lower-profile driver as his team-mate.

Alonso had a difficult time whilst at McLaren in 2007 where Lewis Hamilton was his partner.

"Fernando has never had problems racing with anyone else," Britatore said. "He's like Senna in that respect. Ayrton would say 'put anyone next to me', and that's what Alonso is like. McLaren did everything to create confusion. A top team must be able to manage two strong drivers."

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NATION SPORT

Akide: If you love the game, you can play it M

ERCY Akide-Udoh: Not me, but the players in 1991 [at the inaugural FIFA Women's World Cup] broke the barrier, and then me and others came in '95. And people in my life really supported me. I had two brothers that always encouraged me to play with them and their friends on the street. I did have a couple of friends whose parents did not want them to keep playing or have anything to do with soccer because they felt like it was a men's game. And they were very good players, better than me, but because they didn't get that support, they had to quit. The only problem I had was people would say

One of the first stars of women's football in Africa, Mercy Akide-Udoh was a trailblazer in more ways than one. An exciting attacking player, she starred for Nigeria in three FIFA Women's World Cups, two Olympic Football Tournaments and won three African titles with the Super Falcons.

She was named by CAF as the first African Women's Footballer of the Year in 2002 and was appointed an Ambassador for women's football by FIFA in 2005. She came to the United States to play in the now-defunct WUSA for its inaugural season, was named MVP of the W-League in leading Hampton Roads to the title in 2003, and she remained in the USA to coach young girls since retiring.

She talked with FIFA.com recently about her passion for football and for giving back using the sport. about me 'oh look at her, she looks like a boy, she's not a girl'. I was fit and muscular and like a tomboy, so people would talk about me, but I didn't care.

Do you think the emergence of women's football was part

of a larger social change, and why do you think Nigeria was at the forefront of that in Africa?

Number one: Nigeria is a football country. We love football, and we believe anyone who loves the game can play the game. People saw we could play, so there was encouragement. Then it became women helping women to feel good about themselves, learning that they can do anything they put their minds to.

And so now you have more women in government. Before you didn't have that.

Women now are trying to not just be housewives. They might still care for their home and their children, but they realise they can do more if they want.

And women's football is catching up across the continent.

All of the teams are trying to beat Nigeria, and they are all growing and focusing on the girls. That can only help the World Cup. In Africa, there are many different cultures. We have Muslims and Christians, and they all love the game. There are Muslims who cover their face and still kick the ball. That's the love of the game. More women are putting in energy and time to make football a point for young girls to play.

We have Muslims and Christians [in Africa], and they all love the game. There are Muslims who cover their face and still kick the ball.

That's the love of the game.

What did it mean to you to be one of the first recognised

African women playing football at a high level?

I love the game, and so whenever any games were on I always watched them. They were men's games, but then when the girls started to play I always dreamed and thought I could become a professional player. I'm grateful I achieved that, and then I said to myself 'I can do more'. I am so passionate about the game and wanted to give back with the talent that I had, so that's how I got to coaching.

And you have been coaching in the USA since you stopped playing.

Little kids have looked up to me as a role model, and I can teach them – not just about soccer but about all aspects of life. I'm a mom too, so I understand what a kid needs. I always knew someday I would go back home, but I felt like I had a lot to share here and there was more opportunity for me to get experience. In Nigeria, we have talent but sometimes we don't work to develop it. I would like to help the Federation with ideas on improving the standard of the women's league because right now it's in a bad state.

How else are you thinking about helping Nigerian women's football?

I'll be trying to help young girls earn scholarships to US colleges. That's how I got my big break, and the time is right for me to look to help others to achieve their dreams. Starting this summer when I go back home, I'm starting a program called Play2Learn where

I will run camps for girls in high schools in Nigeria and pick those who can really play, and also have the right educational qualifications for recommendation to coaches. It will help fill a need for both sides as the schools need talented players, and the players get a chance to get an education while playing the game.

Hopefully, with time, I can spread it to the rest of Africa.

You have been mentioned as a possible future coach of the Nigerian national team as well. Is that on your radar?

I hope some day I can coach the national team. That's my passion. There are things we are lacking, and I want to go back and help my country with my experience playing and coaching. I still have that fire in me.

There was controversy a few years ago when disparaging remarks were made about homosexuality. What did you make of that?

For me, I don't know what that was all about. After coaching and as an ex-player, with

friends on my teams, I didn't see that stuff or know anything about it. I don't go into people's business. It's their life. I cannot tell you not to go and get married, or tell you to go with this person or not. I'm not in a place to judge or control anybody. You are there to play soccer, and that's all.

Did you ever suffer any other kind of discrimination?

Not really. The only thing I had a problem with was that back home we're not outspoken, and if you don't relate to your coach sometimes they feel like you're ignorant or not paying attention. It's hard for Africans to come to a different culture and start talking and feel like they have some control. It's how we treat older people: we don't come talk to you unless you come talk to us. But then I started learning that people were just different. I used to take it wrong, but not anymore because I realised that they just don't know my culture or where I'm coming from.

I love the game, and so whenever any games were on I always watched them.

They were men's games, but then when the girls started to play I always dreamed and thought I could become a professional player. I'm grateful I achieved that, and then I said to myself, I can do more.

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THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

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SPORT EXTRA AHEAD OF MANDELA CHALLENGE

The sports media made me—Iroha

NFF expects Keshi in Abuja by weekend

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UPER Eagles’ coach Stephen Keshi is expected to return to Abuja at the weekend to begin preparations for the Mandela international friendly match holding in the former slated for enclave on August 17. The African champions are expected to play against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa.

According to our NationSport’s usual source at the glasshouse secretariat of the NFF, the former international has been in Benin city since returning from the last CHAN qualifers against Cote d’ivore. The Eagles won that match by 4-3 goals aggregate. According to the credible source “ Coach Stephen Keshi is expected back this weekend. He would be delayed because of the sallah holidays of Thursday and Friday, if not he would arrive Abuja on wednesday from Benin city where he is cooling off after a very busy period.

On arrival, he is expected to tidy up all arrangements for the invitational tie in South Africa before the arrival of the home boys the next day.”

Meanwhile, Keshi has expressed shock over the recent publication that he was stranded in Lagos on his arrival from Cote d”Ivoire on Sunday from the African Nations Championship qualifier.

Keshi told NationSport in a telephone chat from Benin at 10.30 p.m on Saturday that he got to Benin the following day he arrived Lagos. “ look my brother there is no way I could be stranded in Lagos. Apart from Benin, Lagos is my second home. I have friends in Lagos if I cannot take flight I can as well charter a taxi that will take me to Benin”. Said the Super Eagles’ coach.

The Chief Coach stated that his six months unpaid salary has nothing to do with his movement to any part of the country. “I know things are tough generally in the country and my employer (NFF) will

Martins scores for Seattle Sounders in home win

N

IGERIA striker Obafemi Martins was on target for Seattle Sounders as they recorded a 3-0 home win over FC Dallas in a Major League Soccer match on Sunday.

The 28-year-old headed in a Mauro Rosales free-kick in the eighth minute, to open the scoring for the Sounders.

Eddie Johnson added a second in the 22nd minute, and a stoppage time penalty from Brad Evans helped secure a club record 10th straight home win for the Sounders.

Martins has so far scored seven goals in 11 starts (and three substitute appearances) for Seattle Sounders in the MLS this season.

•Martin

•’I’m not stranded in Lagos’ From Patrick Ngwaogu and Andrew Abah, Abuja pay as soon as they get the cash.

We have qualify for CHAN and my next target is to deliver the World Cup ticket to Nigerians.

Without the world Cup

ticket, the Nations Cup Trophy and the CHAN qualification will be useless”. Keshi told NationSport.

The Delta born tactician also revealed that he was happy seeing the duo of Victor Moses and Mikel Obi in

action against Inter Milan which ended 2 - 0 in fovour of Chelsea. “I spoke to them immediately after the encounter and they were happy”. said Keshi.

Keshi is expected in Abuja on Thursday to prepare for the international friendly match against South Africa bill for August 14.

F

ORMER Super Eagles’ defender Benedict Iroha has showered encomiums on the media for propelling him to stardom during his playing days and now that he is a professional coach.

The coach was not disturbed with the reports in the media claiming that the media is aiding him to get the Flying Eagles job.

Iroha told NationSport that if not for the media he wouldn’t have even been a successful player talk less of being a successful coach.

He argued that if the media write positively about him that he is capable and qualified to handle the Flying Eagles coaching job then there shouldn’t be any controversy as regards that.

“I am media friendly and I have enjoyed the support of the media since my playing

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja days and I believe we have really enjoyed cordial relationship as far as I am concerned.

“But that doesn’t mean I am using the media to gain advantage to get the job. No not at all. What I sincerely believe is that I have served this nation well both in pains and sweats. I can also confess that I enjoyed when it lasted and I count myself also lucky to have this rare privilege of serving my father land.

“Also I have served the nation too meritorious so if I have the opportunity of coaching the national U-20 national team now I believe I merit it and qualify to handle the job. don’t really see any fuss about it”, Iroha defended.

‘Efe Ambrose not for EPL’

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UDU DAHAN , who represents Celtic midfielder Efe Ambrose , has played down speculation linking his client with a move to English Premier League pair Liverpool and Newcastle United.

The Israeli agent says there has not been contact with the clubs, meaning Efe Ambrose is likely to remain at the Scottish champions

this season. ‘’ For the moment , there are no teams really interested in Efe . None at all (showing concrete interest, ed). ‘’ Liverpool and Newcastle United? No way, ‘’ Dudu Dahan said to allnigeriasoccer.com.

Efe Ambrose has contractual obligations with Glasgow Celtic until June 30, 2015.

Lukman Haruna eyes goals at Kiev

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YNAMO Kiev midfielder Lukman Haruna believes that the current season in Ukraine will be a great one for his career as he looks forward to

By Innocent Amomoh scoring more goals in the colours of Dynamo Kiev.

The 22 year old player started the season with the

Kwara Utd’s Alebiosu hospitalised K

WARA UNITED striker, Segun Alebiosu has been hospitalised following Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Sharks at the Kwara State Stadium.

Alebiosu was introduced as a second half substitute but had to be stretchered off about five minutes after his introduction following a challenge from Sharks’ Gabriel Olalekan.

The player was immediately taken to the General Hospital, Ilorin where he spent the night under supervision of the medics.

Head coach of Kwara United, Samson Unuanel who confirmed the incident to supersport.com expressed unhappiness at the failure of the referee to “deal with the situation” during the feisty encounter.

C

“In my opinion, the referee did not deal with the situation because the Sharks defender deserved a straight red card (for the tackle). Instead, he was allowed to go scot free without receiving even a yellow card,” Unuanel told supersport.com.

Unuanel then took the time to discuss Alebiosu’s condition as he expressed hope the attacker will soon be back on his feet.

“He spent the night in hospital and I want to pray this is not too serious.

“I will speak to the club doctor (on Sunday) to ascertain his present condition and I want to believe all will be well,” he said.

ambition of performing better than he did last season after being nominated as one of the most outstanding players for the club.

Having scored a beautiful goal in Dynamo Kiev’s 2-0 win over Sevastopol at the Valeri Lobanovsky Stadium in the Ukrainian Premier League last week Sunday, the Nigeria international said he hopes to carry on the momentum.

He told NationSport from his base: “It was an amazing goal I scored last weekend indeed but such goals come once in a while, but with hard work one can make it consistent.”

“I will try to score more of such goals again but I need to be 100% ready which I am trying to be at the moment.”

“I am looking beyond scoring goals this season; I just want to improve as well as to have something to show for the hardwork which means winning trophies. Of course we intend to emerge as champions this season and I believe with the supports of everybody in the club, it is achievable.”

•Ambrose

Beach Soccer League gets corporate support

ORPORATE sector in Nigeria appears positively disposed towards the formation of a Beach Soccer League in the country, as a number of top-drawer companies have thrown their weight behind the project being packaged by Nigeria Football Federation and Sports Solutions Limited.

Head of Events, Sports Solutions Limited and

Coordinator of the Nigeria Beach Soccer League, Taye Olajide disclosed at the weekend that top brands such as Gategold (a premier sports fitness equipment dealer), Prixair Hotels and Suites and Dewluk have thrown their weight behind the efforts to kick-start a League for beach soccer.

“We are also in discussions with Globacom, Guinness Nigeria PLC, DSTV Multi-

Choice and a radio station, Coolwazobiainfo FM to come on board and share the brand value of beach soccer, the hottest adaptation of the world’s most popular sport, played on soft sand.

“Beach soccer is a global brand for maximum commercial visibility, perfectly combining soccer with music and outdoor entertainment. This is an irresistible cocktail and we are

confident that more brands will seek to be part of the Beach Soccer League,” said Olajide.

In a related development, the second edition of the CBN Beach Soccer Challenge Cup will hold between 6th – 8th September, 2013 at a purpose-built Beach Soccer Pitch in Zone 5, Abuja.

Eight beach soccer clubs, including teams from Kogi and Anambra States, will take part, while the Beach Soccer National

Team, Supersand Eagles, will make a star appearance.

It can be recalled that the inaugural edition of the CBN Beach Soccer Challenge Cup took place last year with only four clubs. The CBN Challenge Cup is one of the promotional and developmental events lined up ahead of the eventual kickoff of the Nigeria Beach Soccer League in 2014.

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SPORT EXTRA EMIRATES CUP

Drogba spoils Arsenal’s fun again IDIER DROGBA returned to haunt Arsenal as the former Chelsea striker came off the bench to net a late double and win the Emirates Cup for Galatasaray.

The Ivory Coast frontman — who left Chelsea after spearheading their 2012 Champions League final victory before a short stint with Shanghai Shenhua in China — converted a soft penalty on 78 minutes before then producing a crisp finish as the Turks secured their second victory of the weekend tournament, having fallen behind to Theo Walcott’s first-half curling effort.

Arsenal, who are still chasing a deal for wantaway Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, showed good form in patches, but again had no answer to the 35-year-old, who had been on Arsene Wenger’s radar as a youngster at Guingamp.

Arsenal’s only summer signing Yaya Sanogo, a free transfer from Auxerre, was handed a start in attack, while

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•Drogba

Spain midfielder Santi Cazorla was back in action after extra time off following the Confederations Cup. Former Gunner Emmanuel Eboue captained Galatasaray.

There was an early chance for France Under-21 striker Sanogo to become an instant cult hero when he collected a loose pass on the edge of the penalty area, but his angled shot was saved by Fernando Muslera.

Arsenal, who came from 2-0 down to draw with Rafa Benitez’s Napoli on Saturday, continued to press and had a penalty shout turned down after Aaron Ramsey tumbled.

On 18 minutes, Walcott expertly took down a long ball from the Welshman into the Galatasaray box, but could then only flick it over the keeper and wide. Former Bolton forward Johan Elmander caused Arsenal some concern with his linkup play, but Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, making his first appearance of pre-season after injury, was not really tested.

Arsenal took the lead five minutes before half-time when Walcott’s curling cross from the left bounced through the six-yard box and dropped into the far corner.

Drogba was introduced for the second half — to some jeers from the home fans, who remembered him as so often Arsenal’s tormentor during his time with Chelsea. Dutch international Wesley Sneijder also came on.

Drogba was straight into the action, fashioning a chance when he turned Per Mertesacker just outside the Arsenal penalty area, but his shot was straight at Szczesny.

3SC to lift Salami’s sanction

3

SC could this week lift the sanction placed on their striker, Gbolahan Salami.

A club official disclosed that the Ibadan outfit is expected to review the punishment meted out to the player after he was declared absent without leave on July 30.

“The club management is going to review the punishment of Gbolahan Salami this week as the team is expected to return to Ibadan on Tuesday after their league game at Lobi Stars on Sunday,” the 3SC official informed supersport.com.

Supersport.com learned that Salami made a visit to the office of 3SC based in Jericho area of Ibadan last Thursday to explain why he was unavailable for two days.

It turned out that Salami had personal issues to thrash out and informed his coaches about leaving immediately due to its urgency.

However, the coaches were said to have felt it was unnecessary to make his absence formal since he asked for an excuse. But the shock visit of the Oyo State sports commissioner, Dapo Lam Adesina to watch the team’s training last week led to the discovery of Salami’s absence. The development led to the club sanctioning the striker.

Last Wednesday, the 3SC

management issued a statement declaring the former Enyimba man missing from their camp for “two days without official permission.”

Salami could have the punishment of his salary being slashed to half from the month of July reversed after the review. The striker has scored five league goals for the Oluyole Warriors this season.

•Salami

•Emenike

•Emenike

Emenike scores again for Spartak

E

MMANUEL Emenike was on target again for Spartak Moscow as

they were held to a 2-2 draw away to Kuban Krasnodar in a Russian Premier League

AFTERMATH OF RANGERS WIN

Warri Wolves’ players get Pinnick’s N250,000 gift •Etebo nets 10th goal of the season

W

ARRI WOLVES have risen to the second spot on the Glo Premier League table after a hard earned 1-0 win over Enugu Rangers in a matchday 23 tie played at the Warri City Stadium Sunday.

The Seasiders had an early minute penalty converted by Super Eagles’ striker, Oghenekaro Etebo in the 13th minute that settled the game in favour of the home team.

The Flying Antelopes had no reason to contest the spot kick awarded by the centre referee because it was goal bound Etebo that was felled by a Rangers’ defender in the 18 yard box.

Etebo who netted his 10th league goal of the season buried the penalty kick in the bottom left corner of the post and beyond the reach of Rangers’ goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel for the opening and the only goal of the match.

The victory saw Warri Wolves overtake Dolphins and Bayelsa United to the second spot with

From Tunde Liadi,Owerri 37 points from 22 games while Rangers are still on 33 points from 23 matches.

The Chairman, Delta State Sports Commission, Chief Amaju Pinnick who was elated Warri Wolves pipped Dreaded Rangers to the three points at stake promptly redeemed the sum of 250,000 Naira to the players for the only goal scored and also promised that the team’s match bonuses for the win would be paid to them immediately.

Pinnick also said he was not surprised at the club’s impressive performance in the league and the Federation Cup because the players and the coaches have been well motivated to go all the way to bring all recognition and attention to the State in the round leather game.

Etebo’s 10 goals has shot him just a goal behind league top scorer, Sunshine’s Dele Olorundare who has scored 11 goals this season.

match yesterday.

Emenike opened scoring on the half-hour mark to give visiting Spartak a first-half lead, but the hosts fought back in the second half to even the scores.

Ibrahima Balde scored an equaliser for Kuban in the 66th minute, and Ibanez Dealbert scored four minutes later to give the

LOBI STARS 1-0 3SC

Ogenyi praises Imenger UBSTITUTE striker, Barnabas Imenger Jnr came on from the bench to hand all three points to Lobi Stars of Makurdi in a matchday 23 league tie decided at the Emmanuel Akume Atongo Stadium, Katsina Ala Sunday against 3SC. Before the introduction of Imenger, Lobi found it difficult to break the defence of the Oluyole Warriors who had goalkeeper Laide Okanlawon at his best during the match.

He denied all the Makurdi’s sides’ attempts to get a goal until the technical crew led

by Evans Ogenyi made a timely substitution before the goal finally came through Imenger Jnr in the 74th minute.

The head coach of Lobi

S

Ogunjimi lauds Mobil on athletics holiday training

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GUNJIMI Lucas, a Professor of Human Kinetics and Health Education and a specialist in Athletic Training and Health Education has hailed the current plans by Mobil Producing Nigeria to camp and train Secondary schools athletes during the forth coming holiday period. Holder of the Lecturer 1 License of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) since 2007., Professor Ogunjimi sees this as the beginning of a bright future for track and field

in the country. “ Permit me to join a lot of athletics buffs to celebrate what Mobil is about to do with secondary schools athletes in Akwa Ibom. If we do this regularly, through out the country, then we are soon going to be guaranteed a pool of young and talented athletes well brought up to excel” He said.

The first Nigerian to obtain the Area Technical Official (ATO) License of the IAAF and currently a Technical Officials Training Consultant to the

Athletics Federation of Nigeria., Professor Ogunjimi hopes that the best coaches will be engaged and the students handled in such a way that even when they leave camp, they will be monitored continually for optimum results. “ For us to reap from this exercise, we should put together a mechanism that will continually track the athletes especially those that will distinguish themselves during the training period” He said.

The only Anglophone West African on the IAAF 2012 – 2014

hosts the lead for the first time in the game.

Emenike was taken off for Yura Movsisyan in the 71st minute, and the Armenian striker brought Spartak back into the game with an equaliser in the 75th minute.

Emenike has now scored three goals in four matches for Spartak Moscow this season.

Panel of Area Technical Officials for Africa, Professor Ogunjimi said he will be delighted to be involved in seeing the students through their first basic introduction to track and field.

In another development, Coach Gabriel Okon, the current President of the Track and Field Coaches Association of Nigeria has thrown its weight behind the exercise scheduled for August. “ My only regret is that at that period I will be away to Moscow for the Athletics World Cup, if not I would not have missed this land mark event for anything”

From Tunde Liadi,Owerri Stars, Evans Ogenyi said Imenger Jnr did what he was told to do and was thrilled that the team recorded a crucial three point to improve their lot on the league table.

Ogenyi disclosed:”It was tough match and 3SC played very well. They came with a strategy to foil our game plan but we thank God that we were able to carry the day.

“Imenger came on and did what he was told to do. We are happy that we have all points and are no longer at the foot of the premier league table.”

The win lifted Lobi to 16th on the table with 29 points while 3SC are now in the relegation zone with the defeat.

Meanwhile, 3SC have praised the centre referee Bethel Nwanesi from Imo State for his mature and excellent officiating of the game they played with Lobi Stars at Katsina Ala. The club’s media officer, Jubril Arowolo also praised the resilience of the home team whom were not deterred by the brilliance of 3SC goalie, Laide Okanlawon before they got the only goal through a momentary misjudged cross from the right which was forcefully tapped into a gaping net by Imenger Jnr in the 74th minute.

WHO SAID WHAT

MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL 8 NO 2,568

‘Deep down, I believe and I’m sure the President himself will know my position. We are a country that likes to make very simple thing complicated. ’ MATTHEW KUKAH

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

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FEW days earlier in Dakar, the humble capital of Senegal, on the seaside tranquility of one of its tony hotels, I contemplated Camara Laye, the under-song author of Africa’s most realised novel, Radiance of King. The book is a localised rendition of Kafka’s mad work of genius, The Castle. There the German Jew tackles the epic emptiness of search.

I had not resettled here in Nigeria on my return when I picked up the rumble between Lagos State and Anambra State, and I could not but take another journey – mental this time – to Senegal. I recalled another author, Aminata Sow Fall, who wrote an African classic titled, The Beggar’s Strike.

Governor Peter Obi, the feminine-voiced matador of Anambra State, should read that book, if he has not. If he has, he should read it again. It is the story of the revenge of beggars against the patriarchal art of oppression in Africa. In 2011, Gov. Obi did not show much empathy for the mendicant profession. The beggars came from Akwa Ibom State, and Obi did not like them. He ordered, according to the reports, about 29 of them out of the streets of Awka and Onitsha.

Unknown to him, the wraiths and spirits of the beggars would haunt him, just as the beggars stalked the government bullies in Sow Fall’s novella. The alternative title Fall gave her book is Dregs of Society.

Fast forward to 2013. The Lagos State Government of the governor of example, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, ordered the repatriation of 14 destitute persons to Anambra State, and Obi is crying foul. The beggars have come home to roost!

No hoopla attended the Akwa Ibom incident from Godswill Akpabio, the ebullient governor of the state. This author does not know if Obi wrote Akpabio and handed the beggars to a government person. The Anambra State Government has not, as Lagos has shown, demonstrated in public any exchange of correspondence with the other government before the repatriation order.

But as documents have evinced, the Lagos State government rescued the Anambra State citizens from the streets. They were not just lunatics but destitute. They were not child beggars as in the case of Anambra State, but adults. Unlike in Anambra State, the destitute received humane treatment. They enjoyed relocation from the severity of the streets to the serenity and comfort of shelter, food and medical treatment. The Lagos State Government also wrote the Anambra State liaison office to inform them that they had the persons under their care and wanted to relocate them. The State replied asking for details of the persons, and Lagos provided the facts.

According to the state, the care was costing the state. So a plan was put in place with the knowledge of the state to repatriate the per-

SAM OMATSEYE

IN TOUCH

intouchsam@yahoo.com 08054501081(sms only) •NMMA Columnist of the Year

Peter Obi’s opera

•Obi

sons.

Officials of the Anambra State Government were, according to the arrangement, to wait on the Anambra end of the Niger Bridge. But when the Lagos State bearers of the destitute persons arrived, the Anambra State Government representatives did not show up. The persons were then handed to a government office nearby. This negates the claim by Obi and some of the mischief makers that the persons were dumped at the bridge. I would concede that the Lagos State officials should have consulted Lagos and should have returned the fellows to Lagos.

But this does not mean that the Lagos officials erred. Any government office ought to have taken custody of them and reported to the appropriate authority. What this shows is

..yes CASH TO GOVT and PRIVATE POCKETS too

that Obi was probably not duly informed of the proceedings up to that point by his officers in Lagos and Awka, or the whispering, solemn-faced governor was doing havoc with the situation.

The issuance of letters from Fashola’s government to Obi’s liaison office reflected earnestness and respect not only for the government of Anambra State but also for the persons involved.

That explains why some Nigerians have expressed dismay at Obi’s irritability and emotive recklessness in his letter to the President as though Fashola had declared war on the people of Anambra State. It shows that Obi and his government do not operate on Fashola’s due process style. A letter from a government to another is sacrosanct, and a

HARDBALL

RIPPLES ACTIVITIES OF OIL THIEVES REDUCE CASH TO GOVT– Experts

‘Obi’s eyes are also set on the battle for Anambra State governor polls scheduled for November 16. He wants to pour venom into the relationship between former governor Ngige and his people by tagging him with the brush of the friend of the enemy, or the friend of the Yoruba’

governor should not shout hoarse, and Obi cannot shout if he tried. But the virus of accusation has been read in many quarters as opportunistic and defensive.

In the atmosphere of the registration of All Progressives Congress, Obi should be wary not to conflate an innocuous matter into an ethnic virus. This is dangerous and reckless.

The Igbo form a significant population in Lagos, and the record shows that the Igbo have enjoyed warm reception in the state. They do business without let, and have earned rights in the state like any other group. It can be argued that other than Yoruba, the Igbo are the most favoured. They also play roles in government that Obi has not given any outsider in Anambra.

In these days of ethnic rage, we do not expect a man like Obi to be what the Bible calls, “the accuser of our brethren.” In spite of evidence of letters, Obi lied that Lagos State did not communicate with the authorities of Anambra State.

As Fashola has noted, why did Obi not call Fashola before escalating the matter into a potential Igbo versus Yoruba matter. Obi’s eyes are also set on the battle for Anambra State governor polls scheduled for November 16. He wants to pour venom into the relationship between former governor Ngige and his people by tagging him with the brush of the friend of the enemy, or the friend of the Yoruba.

Akwa Ibom recently sent two destitute persons to Lagos, and Lagos did not raise any hubbub over it. The letters between both states also tell the decorum between both states. The use of the word deportation is not only wrong but tendentious. This is a federation, and the relationship between Lagos and Anambra is not between nations but parts of a nation.

It is wrong and wrong-headed to exploit the destitute. The destitute is the worst any human can get materially. If Obi reads the Russian classic Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyvsky, he would accompany the old drunk who distinguished the destitute from the poor. The poor may have a little, and survive. The destitute person is like an empty well.

But Obi should be careful not to fall into what is worse than material destitution. That is moral destitution. That wreaks of dishonor, and that was what I saw in a play titled, Three Penny Opera written by German playwright Bertolt Brecht. It is the story of a leader of a beggar’s colony who wants to take advantage of them for profit. He lost the pride of his daughter to the bargain.

Obi should not prostitute the pride of Anambra State on the platform of political and ethnic opportunism.

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

APC: Of paradigm shift and power shift

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MAJOR political epoch may yet have berthed in Nigeria last week. The registration of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) last Wednesday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) suggests the beginning of a phenomenon that may change Nigeria’s political equation and calculations in the years ahead. For once in the political history of Nigeria, it can be said that a brave new era peeps from the horizon.

Take a bow Professor Attahiru Jega and your team at INEC for overcoming the storm of subterfuge apparently raised by the ‘other’ party to torpedo the APC dream. There was no doubt that INEC came under immense pressure to run members of the new party through the hoops if not entirely scuttle their mission to give birth to a new party. No sooner did the merging parties pronounce their name than a flurry of charlatans and scallywags scurried to the INEC office to file registration papers using the same acronyms, APC. Obviously awash with slush fund, the more active of the miscreants were quick to hire both an elaborate office and a handful of crowd to pose as members. Relishing their brazen forage in political muck, the rabble was also noisome

and litigious in the way of political touts.

When they were not in the press exhibiting their vacuous state of mind, they are in the courts relentlessly bringing their folly to bear on court processes.

Members of the small ‘apc’ are obviously, hirelings reminiscent of the infamous Association for Better Nigeria (ABN) led by Chief Arthur Nzeribe, which was deployed to scuttle the June 12, 1993 election. But INEC on this score exhibited integrity and stood strictly by its rules. It is not the group that is first to declare interest in a name that owns it but that which meets all the stringent conditions precedent. Hardball salutes INEC for showing that it has the capacity to stand firm and unshaken at the critical junctures of the electoral process. The commission must brace itself for more intense buffeting by antiprogressive forces for they will get desperate as they get their comuppance in the days ahead.

The INEC team will only stand and survive by the quality of institution it manages to build and history will return its verdict accordingly.

Beyond the role of INEC, greater laudation will of course go to the arrowheads of this emerging epoch – the leaders of the merging

parties: the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party, (ANPP).

Attempt to merge political parties of this magnitude in the past had failed woefully. Not because the proponents were less tenacious but because ruling parties in Nigeria usually brook no opposition. To put opposition parties on the spin and tear them apart is probably one of the easiest political tasks for any ruling party in Nigeria. The arena is full of political whores who would bend very low at the jingle of a few coins.

Getting registered is the first, albeit important part; now is the time for the real work. APC visioners and leaders must take a few points to heart: one, the opponent will not sleep it will remain hard at work to extirpate the new baby.

Two, APC must work hard and indeed go out of its way to rally true progressives from every corner of the country and as an adjunct it must work at being truly national (it’s a bit skewed now). And finally, it must set and define noble agendas that Nigerians can buy into and which must include restructuring the federation, killing corruption and letting the best minds handle the mantle of leadership. APC must be a paradigm shift and not power shift.

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