The Nation August 09, 2011

Nigeria’s truly national newspaper

News President, governors may operate foreign accounts P3 Sport Major test for Siasia as Eagles battle Black Stars P49 Business 3million jobs coming in three years, says Aganga P11 http://www.thenationonlineng.net

VOL. 7, NO. 1847 TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

CBN appoints consultants for new banks •AMCON issues N679b bonds

By Ayodele Aminu, Nduka Chiejina and Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu

T

HREE former bank chiefs got new jobs yesterday.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) appointed the Group Managing Directors of the defunct Afribank Nigeria Plc (Nebolisa Arah); BankPHB Plc (Cyril Chukwuma) and Spring Bank Plc (Sola Ayodele) as Transition Consultants for the newly created banks – Mainstreet, Keystone and Enterprise.

The appointments, The Nation learnt, were announced to the trio in Abuja at a meeting presided over by CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido; Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) Managing Director Mustapha Chike-Obi and CBN deputy governors.

At the three-hour meeting, the GMDs of the defunct banks and their executives, according to sources, were told to assist the in-coming GMDs. Their duties and responsibilities, it was learnt, will be in accordance with the laws applicable to the position of the MD of a duly licensed bank, but acting as Transition Consultant to each of the banks.

The trio, who were said to have been commended by both Sanusi and Chike-Obi, are expected to act in this capacity till September 4.

These developments came after AMCON made good its promise to issue N679billion worth of bonds to the newly formed banks (Mainstreet Bank, Enterprise Bank and Keystone Bank) via bonds that have a tenor of 10 years.

Chike-Obi confirmed to The Nation last Continued on page 2

URNING: A masked man walks past a burning car outside a Carhartt store in Hackney, London ... yesterday. The violence in •LONDON IS B BURNING the city has spread from Peckham and Lewisham to other places, including Birmingham. SEE ALSO PAGE 10.

PHOTO: DAILY MAIL

Why we formed Strike Force, by al-Mustapha Ex-CSO: I ordered Ogboru’s torture Denies role in Kudirat’s murder

E

X-Security chief Hamza al-Mustapha told a Lagos High Court yesterday why the Strike Force – the Sani Abacha regime’s killing machine – was established.

The Strike Force and its sister squad, the Body Guard, were created to sustain the late Gen. Abacha in

By Eric Ikhilae

power, his former Chief Security Officer (CSO) said.

Every regime that seeks to survive, he said, requires an expanded version of the Strike Force.

It was at the resumption of al-Mustapha’s trial for conspiracy in the murder of the

late Chief Abiola’s wife, Kudirat, who was killed on a Lagos street on June 4, 1996.

She was at the vanguard of the battle to revalidate the annulled June 12, 1993 election, which the late Abiola won. The election, Nigeria’s freest and fairest ever, was cancelled by the Gen. Ibrahim Babangida regime. Abiola

died in a bid to reclaim his mandate. al-Mustapha explained that the Strike Force, constituted of locally trained 75 personnel drawn from the various arms of the military, was a small mobile outfit responsible for repelling any threat to the seat of power.

He admitted that members

of the Body Guard, to which Sergeant Barnabas Jabila (aka Rogers) belonged, were trained in Libya and Korea, adding that they functioned as guards to important personalities.

Jabila, who initially confessed to killing Kudirat, also told the court how he led the attack on pro-democracy ac-

tivists, including the late Chief Abraham Adesanya, on al-Mustapha’s orders. He later recanted, saying he was coached by the prosecution. al-Mustapha denied that the outfits were special squads created for eliminatContinued on page 2

•SPORTS P15 •POLITICS P17 •PROPERTY P25 •ENERGY P37 •AVIATION P51

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THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

NEWS

•Improving Nigeria’s Competitiveness: Professor of The Harvard Business School and Founding Patron of The Tony Elumelu Foundation, Professor Michael Porter; Vice-President Namadi Sambo; Chairman, Heirs Holdings, Mr. Tony Elumelu; and GMD/ CEO, UBA Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza a meeting at the Presidential Villa on ways of improving Nigeria’s competitiveness in Abuja ... yesterday.

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola signing the Law to Amend the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Law to Provide Rules on Criminal Conduct, Regulate Public Order and for Connected Purposes and Law on Criminal Justice Administration in the High Courts and Magistrates Courts of Lagos State and for Other Connected Purposes at the Conference Hall, Lagos House Ikeja ... yesterday. With him is Deputy Governor Adejoke Orelope–Adefulire.

CBN appoints transition consultants for three banks Continued from page 1

night that the bonds were issued yesterday.

The treasurer of Mainstreet Bank is to receive N285 billion worth of bonds, which will bring the institution to over 15 per cent capital adequacy and a minimum of N25 billion capital base. Keystone Bank’s treasurer will get N283 billion worth of bonds. Enterprise Bank’s treasurer will be given N111 billion.

They are expected to tender their bonds to the CBN, which will rediscount (buy at today’s value) them and credit their account in the first instance, with 25 per cent of

the total value. This is tantamount to creating (printing) additional money which fuels inflation.

The injection of these funds came hours before the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) promised that the three banks would not be run by the Federal Government.

And contrary to the expectation that there was going to be a massive run on the new banks that had assets transferred from the defunct Spring Bank Plc, Bank PHB Plc and Afribank Nigeria Plc, the developments in these institutions were mixed as it was business as usual in some of the banks and a subtle run on the branches of others.

Also yesterday, the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE) threw its weight behind the actions of the CBN, other regulatory bodies and the Federal Government in respect of the takeover of the three institutions.

NDIC Managing Director Umaru Ibrahim told reporters in Abuja yesterday that the “Federal Government will not and will never run these banks”.

He said the new banks now have boards and management teams, stressing that the staff of the defunct banks are all working together as a team. AMCON, he said, is

just a shareholder and will “directly or indirectly not interfere into the business of running of these banks, which will be run as profitable entities.”

The NDIC boss spoke at a training programme (“Meeting the demands of the International Financial Reporting Standards”) organised for the staff of the corporation in Abuja.

Ibrahim dismissed allegations that the decision to nationalise the three banks was premeditated. He said: “There is no question of us and the action being premeditated.

You must plan and you must plan to execute things very well and that is what we did in the interest of the nation’s

economy and stability of the financial system, the banking system and depositors in particular.”

He went on: “All depositors are well protected. So, if you have money in those banks, go and try to withdraw your money, you will get your money. Those working in the banks are assured of their jobs; they are all there working in the banks now.”

Ibrahim emphasised that “the banks have been capitalised by AMCON, a new management and board have just been announced and business continues.”

The NDIC boss said “for Nigeria to achieve its vision to be one of the top 20 economies by

2020, one of the key requirements is for the country’s financial reporting system to be in tandem with global best practices”.

Ibrahim told his audience: “As at August 2008, more than 113 countries around the world, including the entire Europe, either require or permit IFRS reporting. Approximately, 85 of these countries require IFRS reporting for all domestic, listed companies.

The US is also gearing towards IFRS. The Securities and Exchange Commission in the US is progressively shifting from requiring only US GAAP to accepting IFRS.” Continued on page 62

Why we formed Strike Force, by Abacha’s CSO al-Mustapha Continued from page 1

ing members of the opposition.

He said of all those detained during his time in the Presidency, he ordered only Turner Ogboru, Great Ogboru’s younger brother, to be tortured.

“I said at the Oputa Panel that it was only Turner Ogboru that I ordered to be kobokoed (beaten with horse whip) because he was bringing heroine for soldiers who were killing people,” alMustapha said.

He denied being a party to Kudirat’s murder, saying he was only informed about the incident.

The former CSO said he learnt about the murder of Alhaja Suliat Adedeji in Ibadan, Oyo State and the then chieftain of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Pa Alfred Rewane, in the media. al-Mustapha, who was being cross-examined, said he also learnt of the arrest and detention of some pro-democracy activists in the media.

The former CSO, who is standing trial with Kudirat’s former aide, Lateef Sofolahan, was cross-examined before a Lagos High Court by the state’s Solicitor General Lawal Pedro (SAN). al-Mustapha, who claimed to have known the late Kudirat before her murder in 1996, said he, on several occasions, assisted her to see her husband while he (the late Abiola) was in custody.

Adesanya, Ige, Opadokun got no cash, says ex-Security chief

M

ORE facts emerged yesterday on National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) leaders’ visit to former Head of State Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

It was learnt that the NADECO team, led by the late Chief Abraham Adesanya, were smiling because Abdulsalami had accepted their conditions for peace after the death of Chief M.K.O. Abiola.

The conditions are: *a short transition period; *the formation of a Government of National Unity (GNU); and *the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference (SNC).

Also, The Nation learnt that a former National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj.Gen. Abdullahi Mohammed, ran into trouble with Major Hamza alMustapha, a former Chief Security Officer to the late Gen. Sani Abacha, for refusing to be NSA to the former Head of State because he was not prepared to take instructions from a Major.

But, Nigerians may have to wait for a while before hearing from a former Head On how he reacted to the news of her death, he said: “As a Muslim, I met Chief M. K. O. Abiola and condoled with him and I prayed.”

On why the state did not produce a report on the Kudirat murder two years before the then Head of State died in 2008, al-Mustapha said it was not his responsibility to do so because he was neither in the police nor the Inspector-General of Police.

He also denied knowing that any court declared the Interim National Govern-

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation, Abuja

of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, as he is under pressure not to talk.

A top security officer, who was central to all negotiations with NADECO, made these revelations in a two-hour exclusive chat with our correspondent in Abuja.

The officer, who was armed with documents, said at the appropriate time, records will be revealed about alMustapha’s roles in Abacha’s regime.

The officer said: “I repeat, nobody gave Pa Adesanya, Chief Bola Ige, Ayo Opadokun and other NADECO leaders any money at all.

“We offered to give them aircraft to bring them to Abuja, but they refused the pleasure of a presidential aircraft. Instead, they paid their way to Abuja as if they knew that a day like this would come.

“It was true that that the NADECO leaders frowned their faces when they came for negotiation because they had a charter of demands that they were not ready to compromise.

“Their demands were a short transition period; the formation of a Govern-

ment (ING), headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan, illegal. al-Mustapha argued that the late Gen. Abacha did not sack the ING before becoming the Head of State, saying the Abacha regime was the offspring of a consensus between the military and some civilians who felt the need to change the course of history, then.

“A consensus of the military and civilian came together to take the decision that the course of history be changed at that particular time.

ment of National Unity (GNU); and the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference (SNC).

“But they laughed after their meeting with Abdulsalami because they felt they won the arguments with the former Head of State.

“After presenting their demands, Gen. Abdulsalami merely told them: ‘I will think about it; we need to move forward.’

“So, they were all excited by Gen. Abdulasalmi’s commitment. They felt fulfilled without taking one Naira from the government.”

On the issue between the ex-NSA, Gen. Mohammed and al-Mustapha, the source said it bordered on the refusal of Mohammed to serve Abacha’s administration.

The source said: “When Abacha became Head of State, he sent a former Military Governor of Kwara State, Gen. Alwali Jauji Kazir, to Gen. Abdullahi Mohammed to be his National Security Adviser, but Mohammed declined because the operating environment was not conducive.

“No military government has ever come to power on its own. It is always a combination of the military and the civilian. That is the marriage of convenience. It is when there is a conflict between them that there is always a problem,” he said.

The former CSO justified the detention of the late General Shehu Yar’Adua in 1995, arguing that though he was the late Gen. Abacha’s friend, he had to be subjected to the law for alleged involvement in coup planning.

Continued on page 62

“Gen. Abacha and Gen.Yar’Adua were friends.

But he was detained because he found himself in a coup. If a friend finds himself in a coup, the law will take its course,” he said. al-Mustapha, who urged the court to direct Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar to release all the documents and video evidence he has about how the late Abiola died. He told the court how he took care of the late Abiola in custody and how he ensured the release of N800, 000 monthly

for his upkeep. al-Mustapha told the court that the then Inspector General of Police ordered the late Abiola’s arrest. When asked why the government failed to investigate Kudirat’s murder, he said the question should be directed to the police because that was not his responsibility.

He said NADECO and its members were not the strongest opposition to the late Gen. Abacha’s regime, adding that the military was the strongest opposition because the regime stopped three coup attempts. al-Mustapha, who said the late Gen. Abacha remained the most hated Head of State in the country, noted that, like everyone, his late boss had his shortcomings.

“By my understanding, Gen Abacha was the most hated Head of State. Everyone probably has his shortcomings and Gen Abacha has his, but he is gone,” he said.

On the attack on “The Guardian” publisher, Alex Ibru and Chief Abraham Adesanya as well as the arrest and detention of Pa Anthony Enahoro, Ayo Opadokun and Chief Olu Falae, among others, the accused said he only got informed about the incidents through the media.

He told the court: “Those who stood against the late Chief Abiola and those who stood against him when he was in detention are people who can never be brought before the court to answer for their deeds.”

Continued on page 62

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3

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

NEWS

•Some of the 14 priests ordained by the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity Field, Onitsha, Anambra State…at the weekend

President, Governors, others may now operate foreign accounts

B

ARRING last minute change of mind by the National Assembly, the President, governors and Ministers will soon be allowed to operate foreign accounts.

Others that could own foreign accounts are members of the National Assembly, House of Assembly members, commissioners and other public officers.

The proposal is part of the amendments to the 1999 Constitution by the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

With this proposal, such appointees like the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, his Trade and Investment counterpart, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji and other Nigerians from the Diaspora coming home to serve can maintain their foreign accounts.

But anti-graft agencies through the Financial Intelligence Unit will be able to monitor such accounts to prevent public officers from engaging in money laundering.

The Presidency may have decided to amend Part 1, Section 3 of the Fifth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution which bans public officers from operating foreign accounts, it was learnt.

The Section reads: “The President, Vice-President, Governor, Deputy Governor, Ministers of the Government of the Federation and Commissioners of the governments of states, members of

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

the National Assembly and of the Houses of Assembly of the states, and such other public officers or persons as the National Assembly may by law prescribe shall not maintain or operate a bank account in any country outside Nigeria.”

A source, who is central to the coordination of the proposed amendments, said: “This is one of the issues we are throwing up for debate as part of the new constitution amendment process.

“The Presidency has decided to amend the Constitution to own foreign accounts in line with global best practices.

“All over the world, public officers are now allowed to operate foreign accounts. Since we live in a global village, Nigeria cannot be an exception.

“Also, many Nigerians in the Diaspora are willing to return home to assist the nation in its development but this Section in the Fifth Schedule has been an hindrance.

“When they come home to serve, they always leave their families abroad and it is always difficult for them because they used to close their accounts and run from pillar to post to remit upkeep allowances and school fees of their wards.

“You do not need to invite professionals abroad home and allow them to suffer.”

Replying a question, the source also added: “By allowing operation of foreign accounts, the presi-

dency is also trying to liberalise the environment to prevent money laundering by public officers.

“With the present law in place, many public officers have been operating foreign accounts secretly using pseudonym or some agents.

“That is why you see our public officers stashing funds in coded accounts abroad. Many of these ex-governors, ex-Ministers, Senators and public officers have died without any access to such foreign accounts by even their immediate family not to talk of the Federal Government.

“There is a case of a former governor with $6million in a coded account in Cayman Island but nobody in his family knew about it.

With time, the money will be forfeited to the host country.

“Once public officers are now allowed to operate foreign accounts, all the host countries of looted funds will no longer allow coded accounts and the government thorough anti-corruption agencies will be able to monitor all these accounts of public officers, their relatives and associates from time to time.

“The essence is to lift the veil off these public officers with secret accounts abroad.”

The source added that the government will however “strengthen Financial Intelligence Unit of anti-corruption agencies to monitor all these accounts in collaboration.

“This proposal is a way of

Jonathan, Oshiomhole, Uduaghan mourn Sam Loco From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

I

•Mrs Okonjo-Iweala

checking corruption if endorsed

by Nigerians. The list of all public officers will be released to international security agencies and finacial institutions Some of the proposed amendments by the presidency are seven-year single tenure, fixed tenure for the 774 local government areas; abolition of Joint State- Local Government Account as applicable in most states and constructive true federalism.

Others are abolition of indigenship; right to vote and be voted for after being resident in any part of Nigeria for six months; and removal of prison management from exclusive list to concurrent list.

Although the review of revenue allocation formula might be part of the constitution amendment, a source in the presidency said the proposal will be after the governors have endorsed the Local Government Reform.

Contractors march on National Assembly over N500m debt ITH a threat to stall the sale of the Nigerian Telecommunication (NITEL) and its Mobile Telecommunication (M-Tel) arm by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), a group of contractors yesterday protested at the National Assembly over alleged N500 million debts owed them by the moribund national carrier.

But the protesters, numbering about 100, were prevented by security men from gaining access into the complex.

Their mission was to submit a protest letter to the Senate Ad-Hoc committee probing the nation’s privatisation from 1999 till date.

Spokesmen for the group, Kabiru Musa and Sylvanus Onwuna, accused the BPE of deliberately frustrating their efforts to recover their money for contracts they executed for NITEL/MTEL between 2004 and 2006.

According to them, the Federal

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From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

Government had provided over N85 billion in February, to pay debts owed the contractors and all entitlements of its disengaged workers.

They alleged that the BPE, which paid the workers their entitlements since March had been evasive on their demands after verification.

In a statement jointly signed by Musa and Onwuna, the contractors said: “Upon the last verification exercise, the BPE agreed to release the contractors’ money on Thursday, August 4, 2011. But on getting to the BPE on the appointed date, we were told to wait for the outcome of a scheduled meeting between Vice President Namadi Sambo and some prospective buyers of NITEL/M-TEL. “After the meeting, the BPE informed the contractors that Vice President Namadi Sambo had or-

dered that the payment to contractors be put on hold. According to the BPE, the vice president had directed that his office would be forwarding a different list of contractors” to whom the money should be paid.

“We wonder when the vice president or the Presidency suddenly became contractors to NITEL/M-TEL? Nigerians recall a certain former vice president who was alleged to have bought virtually every government company offered for sale by the BPE during his tenure.

“Now what do we make of a situation where another incumbent vice president is said to have directed that NITEL/M-TEL contractors, some of whom were being owed for upward of five years, should not be paid” But in a swift reaction, the BPE admitted indebtedness to the contractors, but stated that the Federal Government did not make

money available to offset debts owed the contractors by NITEL/ M-TEL. The Head, Public Communications of the BPE, Mr. Chukwuma Nwokoh told reporters yesterday that the only money made available by the Federal Government was meant to offset the entitlements of the firm’s disengaged staff.

He said: “The Federal Government did not provide any money to settle the contractors, but we are only trying to see if we can pay them from proceeds after the sale of NITEL/M-TEL. When the company is sold, we will use some of the proceeds to settle the contractors’ debt”.

Warning investors to stay off negotiation on the sale of NITEL/ M-TEL until the debts are fully paid up, the contractors appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to prevail on the BPE to pay them their money.

T was a rain of tributes yesterday for the popular artiste, Mr Sam Loco-Efe, who died Sunday morning.

President Goodluck Jonathan, Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole and his Delta counterpart Emmanuel Uduaghan extended condolences to the family of the late seasoned actor.

The President who expressed his condolence in a statement by his spokesman, Reuben Abati, described the late popular screen actor as an accomplished and gifted artiste, saying that he received the news of his death with a heavy heart.

The President described the late Sam Loco as a natural and gifted entertainer who will always be remembered with respect and admiration.

He also said the late actor has helped to raise the profile of the Nigerian actor on the contemporary stage.

The President, therefore, urged members of his family, his fans across the country, members of the Actors Guild of Nigeria and the entire Nollywood family, many of whom he influenced and inspired, to pursue careers as actors and actresses, to take solace in the knowledge that he was a most accomplished artiste.

Oshiomhole described the death of the actor as a great loss to the state and the nation’s movie industry.

In a condolence message by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Peter Okhiria, Oshiomhole said: “I remember his role as Chief Ukabribri in the television series Hotel de Jordan in the 70s and his rise to stardom as the best actor for his role in Langbodo, Nigeria’s drama entry for FESTAC 77.

“He was an ace actor who brought smiles to the faces of Nigerians with his witty roles in almost all his movies.

“We, in Edo have lost a citizen of outstanding worth. He will be sorely missed as he was one of the state’s brightest gifts to the Nollywood industry.”

The governor prayed God to grant the departed Sam Loco-Efe eternal rest and his family the fortitude to bear the loss.

Condoling with the family, the government and people of Edo State over the death of the famous actor, Uduaghan said it was shocking and saddening because Nigerians and the entertainment industry worldwide still looked forward to more and better performance from the actor.

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THE NATION TUSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

NEWS Bank customer shot

By Jude Isiguzo

THERE was pandemonium yesterday afternoon at Cele/Okota Road, Lagos when a man was shot by armed robbers operating on a motorcycle.

The robbers had trailed the man who had gone to a nearby bank to withdraw money.

It was gathered that when the bandits got close to him, they shot at his two legs, and he fell down with the bag containing the money.

However, as the robbers made to snatch the bag, some mobile policemen on duty at nearby banks opened fire at them, forcing the hoodlums to flee.

The victim was rescued by the police and his bag recovered. He was also taken to a nearby hospital.

According to an eyewitness, the robbers had laid ambush for the man.

Police spokesman Mr Samuel Jinadu, who confirmed the incident, said the command is on the trail of the suspects and promised that they would be arrested and prosecuted.

It was only two years ago that Emeka Ohazurike went out of his way to secure from the bank where he worked, an N11million loan for a man he perceived as a friend. The obligation turned fatal last Saturday after he was killed for asking that the loan be repaid, reports JUDE ISIGUZO

‘I didn’t know I had stabbed him until I saw blood...’

T

HE suspected killer of Mr Emeka Ohazuruike, a manager in Spring Bank (now Enterprise Bank) Kenneth Udeh claimed yesterday that the murder was unintentional.

Udeh and his brother inlaw, Onyeka were paraded in Ikeja by policemen 48hours after the murder at the deceased’s Agboju home in Lagos.

He was said to have put pressure on Onyeka to pay the N11million unsecured loan he obtained for him from the bank about two years ago.

The bank was nationalised on Friday by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC)and renamed Enterprise Bank.

Udeh, who allegedly stabbed the victim five times in the stomach, chest and lungs claimed that he was not aware that he had stabbed him until he saw blood gushing out.

“He called me on phone and I went to meet him in his house. We went out together to buy newspapers. When we came back to his house, he was asking me of the money.

He even accused me of sharing the money with my brother-inlaw and that was why I was not encouraging him to pay the money,” Udeh told policemen.

“I tried explaining to him but he started to push me and that was how we started fighting. When he was trying to overpower me, I rushed to the

By Emmanuel Oladesu, kitchen and picked a knife. I Deputy Political Editor did not know that I had PLANS are underway to stabbed him until I started relocate the victims of oil seeing blood. At this point, I spill in Alimoso, an outran out of his flat in fear”. skirts of Lagos by the He told the police that nobody sent him to kill Pipelines and Products Ohazuruike over any loan and Marketing Company that it was a mistake. He said Limited (NNPC/PPMC), its Managing Director Mr he could never have thought Haruna Momoh, has said. of a thing like that because the deceased, a manager in Ebute He also said the company would provide NNPC maps to the Lagos State government to assist it in road building in the HE Action Congress area.Besides, Momoh of Nigeria (ACN) assured the victims that yesterday asked PPMC would provide President Goodluck potable boreholes and Jonathan to withdraw the other palliatives to cushnomination of eight of the ion their suffering.

13 Resident Electoral ComThe areas affected by missioners (RECs) sent as rethe oil spill, which caused placements for those whose water pollution, include tenure expired.

Ijedodo, Ijegun-Ikotun, It said the eight nominees Idimu, Baruwa/ Ipaja, are card-carrying members of the ruling Peoples DemoAbule Egba and cratic Party (PDP).

Alagbole/ Akute, Ogun Reacting to the President’s State.In Diamond Estate, recommendations in a stateon Isheri/LASU Road, ment in Lagos by its NaAlimoso. tional Publicity The spillage contamiSecretaryAlhaji Lai Mohamnated wells, prompting a med, the ACN advised that protest to President the slots be filled through a Goodluck Jonathan and transparent process.

National Assembly by a Besides lending credence member of the House of to Jonathan’s transformaRepresentatives from the tion agenda, the ACN said constituency, Hon. it will also allow the PresiOlamilekan Adeola, over dent to adopt at least part of the plight of the residents. the recommendations of the The legislator, who also Justice Mohammed Uwaisheld a meeting with led Electoral Reform Panel.

Momoh and his manageThe party expressed total disappointment at the sysment team in Abuja, said tem adopted by the Presithe oil spill constitutes a dent to replace the RECs risk to the inhabitants of the environment, warning whose tenure has expired, saying Nigerians expected that Alimoso is sitting on him to seize the opportua keg of gunpowder.

Fuel leakage: PPMC to relocate affected residents

•Idemili (left) and Udeh ...yesterday

•The knife Udeh was said to have used to kill Uwazurike PHOTOS:DAVID ADEJOH

Metta, Lagos branch of the bank, was like a brother to him.

However, police investigation showed that Udeh went

to the house with the intention of killing the bank manager.

The Police Command spokesman, Mr Samuel Jinadu

said Ohazuruike was killed after having breakfast with Udeh.

Jinadu explained that the caretaker of the house where Ohazuruike lived witnessed the incident.

He said the caretaker told the police that Ohazuruike was taking his bath when he was attacked with a kitchen knife.

It was gathered that Udeh went to the house with four kitchen knives on him. Investigation revealed that the sus-

pect waited until the younger brother of the deceased who was staying in the house went out before he carried out his mission.

Jinadu said: “Emeka gave a loan of N11million to Onyeka and because he has refused to pay, the matter was now turning into a problem between them. Families and friends waded into the crisis and the whole thing was solved amicably. On August 6, Kenneth went to the house of the deceased and they had breakfast together and when he discovered that there was nobody with them in that apartment he rushed to the bathroom where Emeka was having his bath and stabbed him severally. It was the shout of the deceased that attracted the caretaker and other people in the compound. The deceased was rushed to a hospital within the neighbourhood where he later died.

“Kenneth escaped through the kitchen door, jumped through the fence of the house into the compound housing Microfinance bank. He was not wearing any cloth because he had to remove his cloth because of blood stain.

The owner of the Microfinance bank saw him and suspected foul play. He called the police but before the police could get there, he had gone. Kenneth and Onyeka were arrested at a motor park at Maza-Maza, Lagos motor park when they were trying to board a bus to the East ”, Jinadu said.

He said investigation is ongoing and the suspects will be charged to court for conspiracy and murder.

Idemili said he was supposed to travel that Saturday but changed his mind because he had some things he needed to do in the market.

He said it was one of his boys that called to inform him of what happened.

ACN to President: withdraw nominations of eight RECs

T

By Nneka Nweneri

nity offered by the expiration of the tenure to demonstrate his commitment to transparency and probity in the country’s electoral process.

The statement reads: ‘’Nigerians had expected that in line with some of the recommendations of the Justice Uwais panel, the President would have caused the vacant posts of the RECs to be advertised and the names of those shortlisted published so that Nigerians can scrutinise them before they are interviewed and the successful ones among

them appointed. ‘’Rather, the President opted to stick to the old, discredited way of doing things by handpicking known members and sympathisers of the PDP. This is wrong and calls to question the President’s commitment to his socalled transformation agenda.’’.

The party particularly described as irksome and insensitive on the part of the President, his decision to reappoint Dr. George Ada, one of the RECs whose tenure has expired.

It said: ‘’Dr. Ada was a

speaker in Cross River House of Assembly during the tenure of Governor Donald Duke; If that is not partisanship, then we need another definition for the word. The same Dr. Ada presided over the 2007 election (as REC) in Benue state, which threw up David Mark, and it is common knowledge that the state’s election tribunal annulled that election. ‘’The same Dr. Ada presided over the controversial Jan. 2011 governorship rerun in Delta, as well as the state’s governorship election last April. Therefore it doesn’t

take rocket science to know why this same person is being recycled.”

The ACN alleged that Ada is not the only REC with an expired tenure who is scheming to be reappointed, saying that Mr. Austin Okogie, an alleged protege of PDP chieftain Tony Anenih, has been doing same.

It called on Nigerians to monitor closely the President’s plan to replace the 13 RECs as a way of ensuring transparency, saying this is not the first time the President will attempt or indeed smuggle in party members as RECs.

Jonathan ‘ll go in 2015, says Niger governor

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HOSE entertaining fear that President Goodluck Jonathan might not quit office in 2015 got an assurance yesterday from the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum and Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu.

He said the President will not stay in office beyond May 29, 2015.

Speaking at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

Northcentral zonal executive meeting in Minna, Aliyu, described the President as a man of integrity ‘’who will keep his words’’. ‘’Let us have confidence in Mr. President as a man of honour and integrity, who has repeatedly told the nation and the world that he would not contest in 2015 and we believe Nigerians shall hold him to that

commitment,’’ Aliyu maintained.

Besides, the governor said that Jonathan had assured the governors before the April general elections ‘’and I see no reason why we should doubt him. We have to see him as a honest leader, no matter the pressure on him”.

He called for support for the President in realising his economic transformation agenda for the country.

His words: ‘’Nigerians should help Mr. President to realise his aspirations for the transformation of the economy in power, agriculture, infrastructure, education and health among others.’’

Opening the meeting, the Acting National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje said his leadership was set to re-position the party by ensuring strict adherence to party constitution by members.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

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NEWS Police arrest man, 45, for ‘planting charms’ in church From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

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HE Taraba State Police Command has arrested a 45year-old man, Adamu Useni, for allegedly attempting to plant charms in the premises of St. Anne’s Catholic Church, Agwam Kassa, Jalingo, the state capital.

The police were said to have received a tip-off on Sunday on the activities of the suspect.

“He was apprehended and the charms have been confiscated,” Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Ibiang Mbaseki, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), told The Nation. He said Useni has been arrested and the charms confiscated.

Useni was rumoured to be a Boko Haram member attempting to detonate a bomb in the church when a mass was going on.

Mbaseki dispelled the rumour yesterday.

When our correspondent visited the police command, the suspect was undergoing interrogation.

Useni said he was burying the charm, which he claimed his late father taught him to use to attract customers to his blockmaking business.

The suspect said he was found near the church because it was close to his house.

“All I wanted to do was bury the charms. It would then start working,” he said.

Truck crushes man in Ilorin

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VOLVO truck, with number plate (Lagos (XW 795 AGL), has crushed a man, believed to be a technician in his early 30s, to death in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

Eyewitness said the deceased was on a commercial motorcycle when the motorcyclist allegedly collided with the truck.

It was gathered that the truck sliced the victim into

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

two halves, killing him instantly.

The deceased was said to be on his way for an appointment with one of his customers.

The accident occurred near Romiechs International School on Offa-Garage Road at about 1.30pm on Saturday.

It was gathered that before he died, the man shouted for help and struggled to free

himself from where the truck had entangled him until he was cut into two halves.

An eyewitness, Abdulganiy Sodiq, told The Nation that the deceased managed to say he lived in Opo-Malu area of Ilorin.

He reportedly pointed at a handset in his pocket for, perhaps, calls to his relatives.

The man died as he was

being rushed to the hospital, a source said.

The driver of the truck was said to have escaped from being mobbed.

The Kwara Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Yusuf Salami confirmed the incident.

He said the deceased’s body had been deposited at the morgue of an undisclosed hospital in the metropolis.

Yuguda signs chiefdom bill

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AUCHI State Governor Isa Yuguda yesterday assented to a bill passed by the House of Assembly for the creation of the Seyawa Chiefdom.

Peace is expected to return to the crisis-torn Zar Kingdom of Bogoro and Tafawa Balewa local governments following the signing of the bill.

The governor also signed into law the bill for the creation of more districts in Bauchi Emirate Council to fulfill his electioneering campaign promise.

With Yuguda at the ceremony were his deputy, Sagir Saleh; Speaker Yahaya Mohammed Miya; Bauchi State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Ibrahim Yaro Yaro and top government officials and politicians.

The governor lamented the loss of lives and property during the struggle for the creation of the Seyawa

From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

Chiefdom.

He expressed optimism that with the creation of the chiefdom would end further crises.

Yuguda urged the residents to reciprocate government’s gesture.

He said: “It is hoped that there will be lasting peace in Bogoro and Tafawa Balewa. We have done our best and we may not have 100 per cent success, but we are glad that our people have accepted our efforts 80 or 90 per cent.”

The governor noted that the temporary headquarters, formerly at Marte Giji Tafawa Balewa Local Government, was recommended by the Assembly.

Yuguda said the adjustment was because Marte Giji lacked the infrastructure for the new chiefdom’s headquarters.

Nigerian wins youth award in UK

•Former Secretary for Health, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi (right); Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega; Second Republic minister, Senator Wahab Dosumu; and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof.

Bolaji Akinyemi at a lecture on Nigeria’s 2011 General Elections: The International Dimensions and Challenges at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN

Two shot dead in Maiduguri

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UNMEN suspected to be members of Boko Haram shot dead two friends, Mallam Nurudeen Umar and Sulaiman Bangini, at Gwange, in Maiduguri, the Borno State

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capital, on Sunday night.

The victims were on their way to the mosque for the night prayer when the gun-

men killed them.

The incident created panic in the area.

The Ward Head of Gwange West described the killings as unfortunate. He urged the state and Federal

governments to ensure security of lives and property.

Contacted, the Joint Task Force Chairman, Lt.-Col. Hassan Mohammed said he had not been briefed on the incident.

Gunmen attack patrol vehicle in Bauchi

From Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

NIGERIAN, Miss May Ikeora, has won this year’s Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP) at the House of Lords, United Kingdom (UK).

The event was organised in partnership with the Universal Peace Federation (UPF).

It was aimed at celebrating the achievements of youths in humanitarian service.

Ikeora, an indigene of Anambra State and doctoral student at the University of Hull, was nominated and given the award for her community development efforts.

She was said to have positively impacted the lives of women of African community in the UK. In a statement at the awards ceremony, winners of the award were said to be youths who are mostly between 18 to 30 years.

Minister for Women and International Development, Baroness Verma, presented the award to the Nigerian and former Miss ECOWAS while a number of parliamentarians, with Lord Tarsem King, presented the other young people theirs.

“This award was held to honour youths who have in some ways impacted the lives of people around them and beyond,” the organisers said.

From Abiodun Joseph, Maiduguri

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OME gunmen have injured a policeman and a civilian in an attack on a joint security patrol vehicle between Dutsen Tanshi and Anguwar Kur in Railway area of Bauchi metropolis.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Mohammed Barau, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), confirmed the incident.

He said: “The incident occurred last Saturday at about 10: 30pm when unknown gunmen ambushed and attacked a combined team of soldiers and policemen on routine patrol in a densely populated civilian area.

“They shot one of our po-

•Injure policeman, civilian From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

licemen on the leg and a civilian was injured in the exchange of fire. They ran away because they were not able to overpower our men.’’

He said the injured policeman and the civilian were rushed to the hospital and are responding to treatment.

The Police spokesman said: “The casualties would have been more because the place is a dense civilian populated area, but the casualties were minimal.”

Barau said no arrest has

been made, adding that security had been intensified with stop-and-search and other security measures being applied across the state.

He expressed optimistic that the hoodlums would be arrested.

The police spokesman urged the public to assist security agencies with information that could lead to the arrest of criminals in and around the state.

He advised the residents to go about their businesses without fear, saying: “Security personnel are up to the task of protecting

the lives and property of the citizenry.’’

A resident of Anguwan Kur, Alhaji Aminu Sani narrated his experience.

He said: “We were about going back home after closing our shops at the Railway Market when we heard gun shots.

“The sporadic gunshots, which confused us and other people around, forced us to run helter-skelter for our dear lives. In fact, some of the traders left their shops open while others lay on the ground until midnight, when the area became calm.’’

The residents urged the government to addressing the high rate of insecurity in the state.

Benue: Tribunal to rule on certificate forgery allegation August 11

HE Benue State Governorship Election Tribunal yesterday adjourned sitting till August 11 for ruling on the allegation of certificate forgery filed by the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) candidate, Prof Daniel Saror, against Gabriel Suswam of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The tribunal had on July 25 adjourned sitting, after alleging security challenges.

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

Its members had relocated to Abuja to consult with the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, on the next line of action.

Tribunal Chairman, Justice Munir Ladan, with other two members, yesterday held a sitting amidst heavy security.

In his argument, counsel to Suswam, D.C. Denwigwe re-

lied on the case between Andy Uba versus Etiaba in 2008.

It held that the tribunal has limitations to hear matter, noting that an election tribunal is not an open court that entertains all matters as it is specifically created to deal with election cases.

On the issue of forged certificate, he maintained that the tribunal too does not have the mandate to try anybody for certificate

forgery since its jurisdiction is limited to determine what happens during the election upntil the declaration of results.

“The tribunal does not answer political questions but is set up to look into issues on whether the election is conducted substantially in compliance with the Electoral Act or else it will be veering in political matters. Before any court can hear a case of qualification, it must be

constituted under section 36 of the Constitution.

Tribunals are constituted under section 285. Only a high court either Federal or State constituted under section 87 can hear case of certificate forgery. The petitioner has approached the court wrongly”, Denwigwe said.

According to him, there is no room or bridge leading to anything in Saror’s petition and urged the tri-

bunal to decide and pronounce that the petition is incompetent and subsequently be dismissed.

The second respondent’s (PDP) counsel Barr. G.E. Ukegbu adopted the submissions of Suswam’s counsel while Emeka Nwosu, INEC counsel said the petition is incompetent since it is heading for the Appeal court.

He said Saror did not pay all the necessary fees before the tribunal.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

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NEWS Ondo begins direct sale of kerosene GOVERNOR Olusegun Mimiko yesterday flagged off the direct sale of kerosene in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

The Kero-Direct Scheme is a collaborative effort of the state government, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Capital Oil. It made 110,000 litres of kerosene available for the use of 40,000 homes in the pilot programme.

Mimiko thanked President Goodluck Jonathan and the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Maduekwe, for bringing relief to the masses.

He promised to build fuel dumps for kerosene storage before the next supply is made.

Ondo and Lagos states are the two centres approved by the Federal Government for direct kerosene sale in the Southwest, until the scarcity of the product is addressed.

Mimiko said: “Kerosene has posed a great challenge to the people. We appreciate the President and the Minister of Petroleum Resources for their concern.

“We have put in place strategy to ensure that the exercise is successful. I appeal to our people not to adulterate this product; there is no middleman; it is exclusively for household use. Please don’t mix it with anything in an attempt to increase it.

“I also appreciate the Chief Executive Officer of Capital Oil for this effort. We take you by your words that this process will be sustained.

“This product will be of direct benefit to our people because they have suffered a lot as a result of its scarcity.”

The Managing Director of Capital Oil, Mr. Ifeanyi Uba, praised the government for the modalities put in place to ensure the success of the scheme.

NIPOST retirees protest N4b pension arrears

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ETIREES of the Nigeria Postal Services (NIPOST) have shut down post offices nationwide.

They are protesting the failure of the authorities to pay their six years pension arrears of about N4, 071,398,252.47 for 9,433 pensioners.

As early as 7am yesterday, the pensioners besieged the various NIPOST offices, lamenting the inability of the Federal Government to pay their entitlements after years of service to the nation.

“Until they pay us our money, we will not allow them to operate,” the pensioners chorused as they turned back customers.

Chairman of the National Union of NIPOST retirees Chief Braimah Oboirien told our reporter in Lagos yesterday that they could no longer bear the “hide and seek game” NIPOST officials and the Ministry of Finance were allegedly playing with their pension.

Oboirien said NIPOST had reneged on its promise to pay the six years arrears on three different occasions.

He said: “We were here on July 4 to 11, 2011. They appealed to us to suspend the

•The protesters in Lagos...yesterday

By Miriam Ndikanwu

protest, which lasted nationwide for 8 days, until July 15 and we accepted.

“But on the 15th, they still did not pay. We called again and they promised to pay on 28 or 29 of July. We were urged to bear till then and we did.

But on July 27, I called and they said the director was yet to sign the Authority to Incur Expenditure (A). I was very angry.

“Again, they promised to pay on August 5; today is eight and they have not paid. We will not call off the protest until we are paid.”

Oborien said the Account-

PHOTO: NAN

ant-General of the Federation explained that the Minister of State for Finance, who is vested with the responsibility of signing approval of the money, was yet to sign.

“Right now, NIPOST offices in Marina, Lafiaji, Ikoyi, Shomolu as well as Ikeja are locked. We’re moving to the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to complain, because we heard they have already earmarked N4 billion for the payment, he added.

Oborien urged President Goodluck Jonathan to direct the Minister of State for Finance to

sign, saying: “until he signs, the protest will be indefinite, there’s no going back.”

He called for the resignation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, for the reason that the Pension Commission was under his purview.

“The Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity should also resign because our issue has been in the media for long, but the president is not aware,” Oborien said.

He lamented that pensioners were facing hard times with the harsh economic situ-

Ogun PDP Chair escapes death

Minimum Wage: Osun ACN appeals to striking workers

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HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has appealed to civil servants in Osun State to call off the indefinite strike, which began yesterday, over the implementation of the new minimum wage.

In a statement by its Acting Chairman, Elder Adebiyi Adelowo, the party urged workers to see themselves as stakeholders, who should supFrom Damisi Ojo, Akure port the government to achieve A PAN-Yoruba Group, Atayese, rapid development. led by former Bishop of the It said: “Governor Rauf ArAkure Anglican Diocese Bolan- egbesola called union leaders le Gbonigi, has given Southto a meeting and explained the west governors a 46-day position of the state’s finances ultimatum to conduct a referto them. Nothing was hidden endum on the need to restructure the country.

In a statement by its Chairman, Mr. Tokunbo Ajasin; Secretary Wole Aina; and HE Lagos State GovernBishop Gbonigi; the group ment has added five said: “As things are today, all new ambulances to its states in Nigeria are squirming fleet of Mobile Intensive Care in confusion, impotence and Units (MICU), increasing it to uncertainty.

27.

The federal establishments Commissioner for Health grab more and more power, Jide Idris said this would enmore resources, more control sure rapid response to emerand reigns supreme over a gencies. putrid mess of incompetence, He said: “These ambulancdisorder and corruption.” es, just like the other MICUs, It said without correspondhave improved capacity over ing political autonomy, the the old mobile clinics. They federal power would someday have enhanced features includdestroy everything. ing Twin Cross main stretchThe group praised Southwest governors for working towards regional economic integration and urged them to MIDST tight security, direct their state’s Independent Governor Abiola Electoral Commissions to Ajimobi yesterday conduct a referendum on swore in 25 of the 33 Chaircrucial issues. men of the Caretaker ComIt said such issues should mittees of local government include restructuring to make councils in Oyo State. each ethnic nationality a He warned that anyone infederating unit of the federavolved in corrupt practices tion. would be handed over to the

‘Restructure the nation’

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

and the Labour leaders have seen that 100 per cent application across board would mop up the entire resources of the state.

“It is our belief that as stakeholders, Labour leaders have the duty to properly convey this state of finance to their members in order to ensure progress in the state.

“Workers would soon discover that the best lies ahead of them, if they dedicate themselves to service to the people.

The issue of minimum wage should not cause any disaffection between workers and the

government.”

Leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Joint Negotiating Councils (JNC) have been meeting since Friday over the new wage.

Aregbesola agreed to pay the N18,000 minimum wage to all workers from grade levels 1 to 7 with immediate effect, but said workers on levels 8 to 17 would be paid on pro-rata basis.

The Labour leaders disagreed with this arrangement and ordered their members to down tools indefinitely.

House of Assembly Speaker Najeem Salaam also ap-

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

•Aregbesola

pealed to Labour unions to resume work and dialogue with the governor.

Salaam said: “An industrial action is not necessary because it has never been a positive instrument to the development of any society. The result has always been a lose-lose situation.

“I urge Labour unions and their affiliates to please calloff the strike before appearing before the Assembly tomorrow (Wednesday) to tell us their side of the story.”

Lagos increases mobile care units

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ers with matter, belts and floor fastener; two Oxygen Cylinders of 100 litres each; Scoop Stretcher; Twice foldable reserve stretchers; Extrication device; Collar Cerviflex; Ventilator Spencer 170; Emergency Case Circulation; Accu Vacu Suction Pump; Sphygmomanometer; and Defibrillator.

“The government is also carrying out a robust training of both government health workers and private doctors and nurses. We’re training Paramedics in emergency services

as well; and all these efforts are targeted at improving our preparedness level on one hand and the efficiency and effectiveness level of our staff on the other hand; with the overall objective of improving the emergency response team.”

The commissioner said an effective emergency response team would reduce the number of accident-related deaths, adding that this informed the establishment of the Accident and Emergency Centre at the old toll gate end of the Lagos-

ation in the country, adding that about 358 NIPOST retirees have died across the nation while awaiting their pension.

Oborien appealed to the President to fulfill his electioneering promise of national transformation, saying pensioners also voted for him.

“Part of the problem of insecurity is non-payment of pension. How can we take care of our families? Some of our children cannot return to school because we do not have money,” he added.

NIPOST Post Master General Mallam Ibrahim Baba could not be reached at press time.

Ibadan expressway.

Idris said the government also has Mobile Field Hospitals with six inbuilt components, which include a standard theatre, coupled with six inflatable tents that serve as Emergency and Examination Section; Pre-operation Section; Recovery and Intensive Care Unit equipped with 3 beds; Registration and Laboratory Section; Medical Supplies; and an In-patient Ward that can accommodate 20 patients.

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HAIRMAN of the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Dayo Soremi, escaped unhurt, when a four-man gang ambushed him and his driver along the AbeokutaIbadan road on Sunday evening.

But his driver, Mr. Kunle Onigbinde was not lucky. He was shot dead by the gunmen while attempting to escape.

The gold-coloured Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) in which they were riding, their handsets, unspecified amount of money and other valuables were taken away by the gang members.

The attack occurred at about 8:14pm between Olodo community and Odeda on their way to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. Dayo Soremi is from Odeda, Ogun State.

The Nation gathered that Soremi hurried to the Odeda Divisional Police Station, where he got policemen, who evacuated the remains of the driver to an undisclosed morgue in Abeokuta.

State PDP Secretary Semiu Sodipo and Police Commissioner Nicholas Nkemdeme confirmed the incident.

Ajimobi swears in council bosses From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).

Everyone entering the venue of the occasion, the Executive Chambers of the Gover-

nor’s Office Complex, was thoroughly searched.

Ajimobi said: “Pace setting is about quality service to the people and not fraudulent leadership. We don’t want local government chairman that will be invited by EFCC in our own time.

“We will not have cause to

visit EFCC because we will not be corrupt; we will not defraud the masses.”

“Transition period is not the time to quickly take what you can take. Don’t allow your personal interest to override the collective interest of the people you are being

called to serve. If you do well, you will be given opportunity in another area.”

Mr. Wasiu Olatubosun (Ibadan Northwest); Akeem Adeyemi (Atiba) and Abass Aleshinloye (Ibadan Southwest), who spoke on behalf of the new chairmen, promised to render selfless service.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

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NEWS Tribunal dismisses Ebebi’s suit

Labour suspends strike in Edo •’Oshiomhole disappointed us’ O T

•Upholds ACN victory in Delta

RGANISED Labour in Edo State has called off the indefinite strike it embarked upon last Wednesday.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) had ordered its members to begin an indefinite strike in solidarity with teachers.

The teachers embarked on strike over non-inclusion in the minimum wage package, three weeks ago.

Workers yesterday expressed disappointment over the outcome of the meeting between Governor Adams Oshiomhole and labour leaders.

Last Friday, Oshiomhole ordered the workers to resume work on Monday (yes-

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

terday). He said: “By Monday, if workers have not resumed, I will begin to implement the counter actions I have.”

Some of the workers converged on the Museum Ground at Kings Square in Benin as early as 7am while others were seen at their offices.

Many offices, schools and local councils were closed and it was gathered that Labour leaders and the government held a meeting between 10pm Sunday and 3am yesterday.

Some workers, who spoke to The Nation, said they were surprised at the utterances of the governor during the meeting.

According to one of them who pleaded anonymity, “the Governor’s words were too harsh.

“We did not expect that from a former NLC President.

We said the minimum wage was defective.”

A statement by the Chairmen of NLC, TUC and JNC, Emma Ademokun, Joe Aligbe and Shaka Otoide, directed the workers to resume immediately.

They said labour suspended the strikeon the strength of the intervention of “wellmeaning people and the interaction between labour and government.

It said:”Government reiterated its commitment to im-

plement the minimum wage for teachers, non-teaching staff of PPEB, SUBEB, VTEB and judiciary workers.”

Labour said the government would meet with the leadership of local government and Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) to proffer solution to problems raised in its communiqué.

Aligbe blamed the incident on communication gap between the government and organised labour.

Ademokun said Oshiomhole agreed to include teachers in the minimum wage.

He said the governor also promised to ask the Board of Internal Revenue on how workers taxes were deducted as well as casual workers in government services.

From Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa and Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

HE Election Petitions Tribunal in Bayelsa State yesterday dismissed the petition by Labour Party (LP) Senatorial candidate for Bayelsa West, Permobowei Ebebi.

Ebebi had alleged that the April 9 National Assembly election was marred by irregularities and fraud. He urged the tribunal to annual the elections.

The tribunal chairman, Justice Christopher Auta, said since there was no declaration of result of the election by the Independent National Election Commission (INEC), Ebebi’s prayers had no force of action.

LP’s counsel Preye Agedah said his client will appeal the case on the grounds that the Tribunal did not address the irregularities recorded during the election.

Even though INEC did not declare a winner in the election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, is representing the district in the Senate.

He filed a suit at the Yenagoa High Court, stopping INEC and others from annulling the election.

Lokpobiri also displayed a form allegedly filed by INEC to show that election was conducted in the area.

The tribunal in Delta State has upheld the victory of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate, Preyor Oboro.

Oboro represents Bomadi Constituency in the State House of Assembly.

Reginald Dombraye of the PDP challenged Oboro‘s election.

Justice Yakubu Dakwak dismissed Dombraye’s petition for failing to apply for prehearing notice.

Dombraye‘s counsel Efe Akpofure (SAN) argued that the election was fraught with irregularities and urged the tribunal to do justice to the petition.

But Oboro’s counsel Albert Akpomudje (SAN) urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition because it was incompetent and abandoned.

He argued that the petitioner’s failure to apply for pre-hearing notice was fatal to the petition.

But Akpofure said the prehearing notice was duly applied for and that the issues raised by the respondents should be refused.

NDDC director stops projects

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•Ondo State commissioners taking the oath of office before Governor Olusegun Mimiko (right) in Akure....yesterday

HE Edo State representative on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Donald Omorodion, has directed contractors handling NDDC projects in the state to be disciplined.

He stopped work on three road projects citing poor standard of work.

The NDDC Director, while inspecting road projects, said contractors must maintain a high standard.

Omorodion warned the contractors whose works were stopped that they risk

PDP, govt trade words over supplementary budget

Rivers jail break: Five prisoners still missing

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HE whereabouts of five inmates of the Port Harcourt prisons, who escaped after a jail break on Sunday, remain unknown.

The escapees comprise three awaiting trial inmates and two convicts.

The prison’s spokesman, Alphious Ottah, yesterday said the command and security agencies were on the trail of the fleeing prisoners.

Ottah said the incident was surprising since there was no earlier protest or complaint by the inmates.

He said there was no casualty.

Police spokesman Ben Ugwuegbulam, in a telephone interview, also said there was no trace of the escaped prisoners, but expressed optimism that they would soon be apprehended.

Security has been strengthened in and around the prisons, located in the old Port Harcourt Township, popularly referred to as Town.

The Comptroller of the Rivers State Command, Ogundana Jerome Babalola, said the five fleeing prisoners are from neighbouring Bayelsa State.

He said the five persons

•ACN urges Fed Govt to set up panel From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

were brought to the Port Harcourt prisons, since Bayelsa has no prison.

Babalola, in an interview in Port Harcourt yesterday, also said the 25 ‘arrested’ inmates would soon be charged to court.

He said any culpable warder would face disciplinary action or be charged to court.

He lamented overcrowding at the prisons, saying the facility meant for 804 inmates, now has over 2,000, with over 80 per cent awaiting trial.

Shortly after the incident, security agents arrested two of the escapees, while 23 others, who attempted to escape, were held inside the prisons.

He urged the Federal Government to provide more funds for the prisons.

The comptroller said the location of the prisons was not good enough, stressing that it is too close to the waterfront (Bundu and Abuja).

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday called on the Federal Government to set up a judicial

panel of inquiry into Sunday’s jail break at Port Harcourt Prisons.

Its Publicity Secretary, Jerry Needam, said the jail break came as an unpleasant surprise.

Needam recalled that in 2005, there was a jail break at the Port Harcourt prisons with many “hardened criminals and enemies of the civilised world,” escaping and yet to be arrested.

He noted that the effect of the 2005 jail break was the untold havoc the criminals and their gangs unleashed on the state, especially the residents of Port Harcourt.

“We urge the authorities to ensure proper investigations

of the menacing occurrence, by constituting a judicial panel to examine its immediate and remote causes.

“The enquires should also seek to unearth possible complicity on the part of prison authorities and any group, official or individual.

“It is our conviction that the state, before long, will count huge losses, if the rising trend is not curbed, as the ugly incident is already affecting the image of the state negatively.

“ACN also urges the relevant authorities to take a review the general conditions of the prisons in Port Harcourt and other places within the state.”

being arrested, if they disobey the order.

According to him, the substandard roads are Ewabogun road in Ikpoba Okha Local Government; Iyi–Eweka off Dawson road in Oredo Local Government and AgbedeJagbe road in Etsako West Local Government.

“If the contractors go back to site without correcting the defects on the roads, I will order their arrest. All NDDC contractors working in Edo State must maintain the high standard in the State,” he said.

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

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HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has called on the people to be prepared for difficult times because “the state is broke”.

PDP said it was uncomfortable with the burden of loan taken by the Governor Adams Oshiomhole administration.

It alleged that the state’s debt profile has risen to N60 billion.

It said the proposal to spend N7.2 billion of the supplementary budget to service the debt for the remaining months of the year showed that the state is broke.

PDP Chairman Dan Orbih said this at a briefing yesterday.

He said it was part of the conclusion of a meeting of party stakeholders at the weekend in Benin.

Special Adviser to the governor on Media Tony Iyare said the PDP Chairman was sounding like a broken record.

“Where he got his figures is a figment of his imagination.

We are open about our going to the bond market to borrow N25 billion. Some other states have done so. Even Rivers State is planning to go the bond market to borrow N150 billion.

“The important thing is what you use the money for and you know our high investment in infrastructure development.

“We have about 193 on-going projects. We have put development high on the table. Our funding of projects is from different sources. This government does not want to be distracted,” Iyare said.

Tension over ban on union activities

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HERE is tension in Akamkpa Local Government of Cross River State where the legislative assembly has banned the activities of the Nigeria Union of Mine Workers.

The union is an affiliate of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) .

It has been at daggers drawn with the council chairman, Dennis Nkiri, who declared the leadership of the union as non indigenes and could not operate in the state. The union has since dismissed the insinuation as untrue.

Last Thursday, councillors passed the resolution banning the activities of the union.

A statement by the union’s general secretary, A.O. Laniyan, lamented that the ban was “a direct invitation to anarchy, chaos and labour unrest in a state that has been widely known for its peaceful disposition.

“It is unfortunate, but we will not be misguided. We believe that the government and the law enforcement agents can handle the situation. They are aware of the truth and have shown the readiness to restore peace and normalcy.”

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THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

NEWS Abia to audit workers

Anambra election petition panel dissolved

From Ugochukwu Eke, Umuahia

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

HE Abia state government is to begin the audit of its employees to ensure that ghost workers are flushed out of the system.

Governor Theodore Orji said yesterday that an audit panel which will be constituted soon will verify the staff strength of the workforce and work towards the usage of Information Communication Technology (ICT) as a backup to detect fraud.

He said the state is determined to pay the minimum wage according to a statement last night by his Special Adviser on Communication Ben Onyechere.

Onyechere said: “The governor is fortifying revenue collection agencies to boost internally generated revenue.

It also wants to reclaim and take possession of its oil wells and other oil related revenues to boost its revenue.

The governor solicited the support of its employees to facilitate the implementation of the new wage.

Meanwhile, permanent secretaries and head of nonministerial departments are now to serve for a fixed tenure of four years in office.

A statement by the Head of Service, Chief Godson Adiele, reads: “As part of the continuing reforms in the country and in consonance with Federal Circular of August 26, 20009, Abia state government has found it necessary to develop a policy that will review and reinvigorate the service, restore morale of officers and unlock the creative potentials of hard working officers.

THE first election petition panel in Anambra State headed by Justice Usman Bwala has been dissolved by the President of the Appeal Court, Justice Ayo Salami.

The dissolution was communicated to the lawyers and parties yesterday by the tribunal,s Assistant Secretary Yahaya Haruna.

The Nation gathered that the dissolution of the panel followed allegations of corruption and inconsistency in the tribunal’s rulings.

T

•Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi(second left), Minister of Mines and Steel, Musa Mohammed Sada (second right), Permanent Secretary,Mrs Elizabeth Muren and Ekiti Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Otunba Remi Bodunrin during the governor’s visit to the minister in Abuja...yesterday.

Visafone opens new retail outlets S part of its continuous expansion drive, Visafone has opened two new retail outlets in Ogbomoso,(Oyo State) and Ado Ekiti (Ekiti State).

The opening ceremony took place yesterday at Zenith Bank PLC, 1 Onigare GRA, Bank road, Ado-Ekiti and Zenith Bank 137, Ogbomoso/Ilorin road, Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

Managing Director of the company, Sailesh Iyer, said: “Our new retail outlets are equipped with facilities targeting both new and existing subscribers. Other highend facilities are offerings of a bouquet of services including data activation, sales of handsets, SIM registration and modems.”

With highly trained and efficient customer care personnel to man the outlets, Visafone says it is bringing to the residents of benefiting communities first class telecommunications experience and top- of- the range service in a friendly and cozy environment.

Iyer said: “The decision to establish these retail outlets further expresses the company’s determination to bring fast and easy communication access to all Nigerians irrespective of where they live.

“This is another move to facilitate bond with family, friends and loved ones.”

A

•Senator Tinubu (left)andPastor Folu Adeboye, wife of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) after the ordination...yesterday.

Tinubu’s wife ordained deaconess as RCCG’s 59th Convention opens W

ITH the ordinations of 6,500 deacons and deaconess, the 59th annual convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) began at the Redemption Camp on Kilometre 460-48, LagosIbadan Expressway.

Among those ordained was the senator representing the Lagos Central District, Mrs.

Oluremi Tinubu. She was ordained a deaconess.

The ordination opened a week-long programme entitled: “With wings…. Like an Eagle.”

Pastor Charles Achonwa, who ministered at the early morning ordination service,

took his sermon from the Old Testament of Prophet Ezekiel.

He spoke on the spiritual potency of the winds of change, articulating the possibility of harnessing the prophetic pronouncement therein to create changes in human endeavours.

The General Overseer of the Church, Pastor Enoch Adejarie Adeboye, reminded the newly ordained ministers that there was room at the top for diligent workers.

He said: “It cannot be overemphasised that genuine success and true progress come only to those who have put their trust in God.”

Lawmaker accused of locking up ex-commissioner

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HE member representing Osisioma North in Abia State House of Assembly, Ikechukwu Nwabeke , has been accused of locking up a former Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation,Israel Amanze, for attempting to take possession of a property he bought from a former lawmaker ,Ngozi Ulunwa, at Ehimiri Housing Estate.

Amanze,who lives in the house, said the lawmaker locked him and his family inside the house and stopped him from going out, while his sick child could not be taken

From Ugochukwu Eke, Umuahia

to the hospital.

But addressing newsmen in Umuahia, Nwabeke said he bought the house last June.

Nwabeke said the former owner had told him that there was nobody living in that building, “because the former person living there should have packed out since his tenancy expired by June this year.”

He said: “On getting there to take possession, I found out that somebody I know lives there. He told me to

give him sometime to look for another place, but I gave him the keys to another place where I had paid for before buying the new property.

“I did not only give him the keys to the house, but also gave him a loan of N500,000 through a First Bank cheque, with security number 91908289 and cheque number 0027739 which he promised to repay within three months,” he said.

Nwabeke said he was surprised when his caretaker told him that the former occupant was still living there, “when he had told me that he would

be leaving last Saturday, while I intend to renovate the place immediately for use.”

He said: “When I went there, I was surprised to see 18 policemen, who asked me to accompany them to World Bank Housing Estate to explain why I should not be locked up, even after the man poured some chemicals on me which had a burning sensation on my skin.”

Amanze said the lawmaker had locked him and his family members up, without any prior notice to pack out.

He said the matter had been reported to the police.

Traders write Fed Govt over extortion THROUGH its President, Tochukwu Ezeani, the United Traders Association’s, Lagos, has sent a save- our- soul to the Federal Government over the activities of some officials of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS),who have formed the habit of impounding their goods.

He appealed to the Federal Government to call the erring officials to order.

He said: “It is on record that government had lifted the ban on importation of finished textile products.

The importers now import without any hitch at the border and the customs do clear it. But when these local traders come to buy from Lagos importers, the custom officials along Benin- Ore and Onitsha road impound their products, claiming that the goods are contraband.

“This has made the traders from the Southeast to stop patronising them.

Some of them have resorted to other means of making money since the source of their income has been destroyed. We are asking for government’s intervention because our business is suffering. We also call on the erring officers to stop harassing innocent citizens who are doing businesses.”

SBS to present product THE Strategic Business School (SBS), Lekki, Lagos, will tomorrow launch its latest product called The Elevators: Africa’s Mass Empowerment Network, at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Kofo Abayomi, Victoria Island, Lagos.

According to a statement

by Prof. Joseph Mba, its CEO and Apostle Hayford Alile, the programme will “help Nigeria in her pursuit of poverty eradication, human capital development, global wealth creation, entrepreneurial development through open information sources, integrated learning, success oriented networking, project incubation, educational scholarships, entrepreneurial grants and linkages to external sources of funds, other empowerment agencies and strategic partners.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

9

NEWS

‘Money spent on security can develop state’

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HE Kaduna State Government yesterday lamented that millions of naira spent on security could have been spent on development.

It gave a calalogue of expenses that go into regular security, saying the money could have been channelled into development programmes.

The government spoke against the backdrop of the security challenges caused by the Boko Haram sect and the April post-election violence in the North.

The Commissioner for Information and Home Affairs, Alhaji Saidu Adamu, was speaking in Kaduna when he received newly elected officials of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

He said the government would welcome the Boko Haram sect if its members renounce violence.

Adamu attributed the development to the peace initiatives of Governor Patrick Yakowa.

He described Kaduna as a liberal state, saying the government would welcome Boko Haram members if they embrace the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and abandon the violence associated with its activities.

Adamu said: “Kaduna is the most cosmopolitan place to live in northern Nigeria. The people are easy going, accommodating and liberal. That is why anybody is free to claim Kaduna State after living here

cost to the state. I will not be able to tell you how much we spend every month in maintaining the military, police and security personnel. But it is in hundreds of millions of naira.

“This money could have been used to provide some basic infrastructure. Government has to pay allowances to all the soldiers and policemen on duty here. We have to fuel vehicles and maintain them. These are the things we want our people to understand.

“But we thank God that peace has returned. The governor has been up and doing on this. He has made several peace initiatives at the state, local government, ward levels and at smaller settings.

“He has charged every traditional ruler and their sub-

ordinates that he would hold them responsible for any breakdown of law and order in their domains. They are constantly feeding the State Security Council on the security situation in their domains. The Bureau of Religious Affairs for Christians and Muslims are also part of our Security Council.

“Besides, the governor has been in touch with religious leaders, from the high to the lowly. He invites them for talks where they learn about the genuine intention of his administration to develop.

“Confidence is being rebuilt and the state is attaining peace. We intend to consolidate and sustain it. We call on the media here to help in stopping inciting news. The media has a cardinal role to play here.” Adamu said.

ANPP candidate urges tribunal to dismiss Suswam’s objection

Yuguda approves N30m counterpart funding for agric From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

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THE Bauchi State Government has approved the release of N30million to Sassakawa Global 2000 (SG-2000) as its counterpart fund for agricultural development.

Governor Isa Yuguda told the Executive Director of Sassakawa Africa Association, Mr. Christopher Dowswell, at the Government House that the partnership had provided a launch pad for Bauchi State Agricultural Development Programme and Sassakawa Global2000.

The governor’s deputy, Sagir Aminu Saleh, who spoke on his behalf, said efforts by his administration to ensure higher productivity for crops had led to improved averaging from 1.2 tonnes per hectare to five tonnes per hectare annually.

Praising the SG-2000 for pre-season training of farmers, Yuguda said over 10 farm extension workers have obtained the Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degree forms from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) and Bayero University Kano (BUK) to read Agriculture through Sassakawa’s assistance.

He assured the SG-2000 and other development partners of their resolve to strengthen the institutional effectiveness of the BSADP for high level involvement of over 30,000 farmers comprising women and youths.

Dowswell said the organisation had been in Africa for 15years and operates in 40 countries.

He said: “So far, SG2000 has expanded $20millon in the 40 countries, out of which N300 million has been spent in Bauchi State.”

Dowswell said Sassakawa planned to be active in crop processing, provision of machinery to move the country from an importer to exporter of foods and other cash crops.

for some years. But some people have abused this privilege.

“We do not care what your faith is. The spiritual leader of the Eckankar, Harold Klemp, chose to come to Kaduna when he last visited Nigeria. We also have other non-Muslim, non-Christian faith too. Many Islamic sects also exist here; same with Christians. As long as they don’t go outside the law, they are welcome.

“In fact, if Boko Haram renounces its un-Islamic preaching that fuels hate and violence; if its members realise that what they are propagating has no roots in the Holy Qur’an and decide to change, we can give them a base in Kaduna.

“I am happy that peace has returned. But it is at a great

•Suswam

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HE Benue State All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) governorship candidate, Prof Daniel Saror, has prayed the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal to dismiss the preliminary objections filed against his petition by Governor Gabriel Suswam, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Police, for lack of merit.

Saror, through his counsel, Chris Orpin, yesterday urged the tribunal not to strike out the name of the West African Examination Council (WAEC)

and the Police from the petition.

He said grave allegations had been made against them, adding that it is fair they appear before the tribunal to defend themselves.

But Suswam urged the tribunal to dismiss the petitions by Saraor on the grounds that the issue of certificate forgery raised by the petition was a pre-election matter.

Orpin argued that the petitioner was not asking the tribunal to imprison or fine Suswam for alleged certificate forgery, but raising the issue as an election matter to be determined in line with the relevant statutes in the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

He said the Supreme Court, in the case between Senator Julius Ucha versus Emmanuel Onwe, in its judgment in January, this year,

Kano tribunal refuses ANPP request to scan poll materials From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

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HE Kano State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal yesterday refused the request of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) governorship candidate, Alhaji Salihu Sagir Takai, to scan election materials used in the April 26 poll.

But in line with its earlier ruling, the tribunal granted the ANPP candidate’s leave to duplicate the ballot papers, result sheets and voters’ register.

The counsel to Takai, A. J. Owonikoko, had complained the refusal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow his client to scan the election materials.

Nasiru Sanusi (SAN), the counsel to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor Musa Kwankwaso, countered the motion of the ANPP, saying the scanning of the materials was not part of ANPP’s prayers.

Sanusi also reminded the tribunal of its earlier ruling, which only allowed ANPP access to, but not the scanning of election materials.

Tribunal Chairman Justice Iyabo Oladunni Kasali refused to grant the prayers of the ANPP candidate.

She said scanning the election materials was not contained in ANPP’s earlier prayers.

The tribunal maintained that its earlier order, which allowed ANPP to duplicate the election materials, such as the ballot papers, the result sheets and the voters’ register, was still subsisting.

Justice Kasali urged Owonikoko to hasten the analysis of the election materials because the tribunal was time-bound to conclude all petitions within six months.

Twenty-four witnesses assembled by the ANPP are testifying before the tribunal. Forty-nine witnesses are expected to testify.

The ANPP is praying the tribunal to nullify the election of Kwankwaso on the grounds that the April 26 poll was allegedly marred by irregularities in at least 23 local governments.

held that presentation of a forged certificate to the INEC was enough grounds to challenge any election.

Orpin argued that the tribunal should hear the matter in the interest of justice, saying the petitioner must prove his allegation beyond reasonable doubt.

Also, the PDP, the INEC, and the Police urged the tribunal to dismiss Saror’s petition.

Their positions were contained in separate objections

moved at the resumed hearing of the petition on Monday.

Counsel to Suswam, D.C. Denwigwe (SAN) said the tribunal was established by law to entertain election matters and not to veer into criminal and civil matters reserved for the High Court.

He said the petitioner had approached the wrong court; hence the matter should be dismissed in order not to waste the time and resources of the tribunal.

Police seize firearms in Kano From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

THE Kano State Police Command has impounded a suspected stolen vehicle with two AK 47 rifles, three magazines and 94 rounds of live ammunition.

The command’s spokesman, Magaji Musa, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), told reporters yesterday in Kano that the police intercepted the vehicle at 11pm with three occupants during a stop-and-search last Friday.

He said the police team suspected the vehicle and flagged it down for search.

“But the suspected criminals abandoned the vehicle and ran away,” Musa said.

According to him, the Police searched the vehicle and discovered the AK47 riffle, an LAR rifle, 94 rounds of live ammunition and three magazines.

He said the police were making efforts to apprehend the hoodlums.

A special police team working with the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) have started checking motor vehicle and motorcycle particulars.

The command, however, warned motorists to desist from illegal use of sirens.

He said they should also stop using cars without number plates and revolving lights.

It said anyone who fails to comply with the directive would be prosecuted.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

10

NEWS

London protests spread V

IOLENCE spread across London yesterday as rioters surrounded police vans, looted lorries and targeted shops in a series of attacks across the capital.

The violence began in Hackney when a mob of hooded youths began hurling missiles at officers and setting fire to bins and cars. Minutes later similar scenes started in Lewisham, spreading to Peckham, Deptford, Croydon in South London last night.

A furniture store torched in Croydon as fire-fighters battle to bring it under control.

Disturbances have also been reported in Harrow, in the Northwest of the city and in Clapham in the South, where shops were being looted.

In the evening, Downing Street announced Prime Minister David Cameron was returning home from his holiday in Italy to chair a Cobra meeting billed for this morning.

Meanwhile, police in Birmingham said several shops have been attacked, around the Bullring shopping centre, and property stolen as youths went on the rampage around the city centre.

Sources said another 300 police officers have been drafted to help bring the violence under control in London.

Other areas of the capital were braced for violence this afternoon with workers barricading their shops in Stratford and Islington.

Barriers were erected outside Westfield Shopping Centre and Kilburn High Street was closed. Police were also on the streets in Harlesden.

In Hackney, youths set cars and refuse ablaze. They were spotted looting shops and setting off fireworks in the direction of the police. At least 30 riot vans were spotted in the area with three helicopters.

In Lewisham, cars were set alight and several bins near the Town Hall, while in Peckham a bus was set alight by arsonists. Buses were re-routed away from Peckham and Lewisham whilst the violence was brought under control.

Similar scenes emerged in Deptford, with one building set alight.

Commenters in Hackney earlier in the afternoon said the thugs had looted Ladbrokes and JD Sports shop and other eye-witnesses suggested that the police were trying to prevent rioters from trashing Hackney’s Town Hall.

Meanwhile, a man was seen on a tube train dressed in black and carrying a copper rod as he headed into the riots.

An eyewitness said: “One man on the tube was dressed all in black – he even had gloves on – and he had a big copper rod tucked inside his jumper. At Bethnal Green it dropped onto the floor and lots of people looked quite alarmed and got off at the stop.”

Josefinehedlund tweeted: “Kids smashing up police cars outside Tesco in Hackney Central Getting closer to my neighbour, scary.”

Another user, Matthew Paul Balman tweeted: “Just seen

some live pics (photographs) of London and the riots, wtf is going on. Thugs throwing chairs and facing off with the police.”

Twitter user antoinette213 wrote: “This is a madness. I’m seeing these youths live just opening up some truck and emptying it.”

Many warned their friends and family to stay inside and pleaded with people not to incite violence on the website.

Much of the violence seems to be centred around Mare Street, a main road that runs near London Fields.

User Vicky Simister described how youths were arming themselves: ‘big truck being unloaded by hoodies on Mare St - taking wood sticks out and throwing at police.’

In Stratford, workers were told to barricade their shops and offices and go home early as the Met feared the most violent confrontations yet in the wake of the shooting of suspected gangster Mark Duggan.

Twitter was ablaze with rallying calls for further looting and clashes with police, following two nights in which businesses were destroyed by rampaging gangs of masked youths.

As hundreds of extra officers were drafted into the capital, shop owners closed their doors early and staff were sent home amid fears of further damage.

Stratford Shopping Centre in East London was closed after police warned managers that the area could turn into a potential flashpoint.

Centre manager Andrew Norton said: “People’s safety is absolutely paramount, which is why we’ve closed early. The whole situation’s really quite bizarre.”

Nearby, the Stratford Picturehouse cinema told audiences to go home and closed its doors hours early.

The sprawling Westfield shopping centre in west London also added to the list of businesses fearing attacks tonight and built barriers around its entrance.

Police said 215 people had been arrested since the violence began in Tottenham on Saturday night, and 25 people charged.

Haringey Council also said the damage to roads and pavements in Tottenham on Saturday night was in the region of £227,000.

Chief Superintendent Nick Ephgrave, Lambeth Police Borough Commander, confirmed that three non-fatal stabbings took place in the Borough during yesterday’s riots.

He said he had visited an injured police office in hospital and added that ‘his face was covered in stitches’.

A Scotland Yard homicide team was brought in to investigate the riots, according to Mr Ephgrave, speaking at a meeting with Lambeth Council and community leaders at Lambeth Town Hall.

He said the police have ‘more than 30 prisoners’ following the disturbances.

A Section 60 order was in

• Former glory: The Union Point building before the riots

• The building on fire... yesterday

place in the area yesterday, allowing police to stop anyone they suspected may commit violent acts.

Mr Ephgrave said much of the violence was ‘pre-planned’ using ‘PIN-protected messaging serviced’ such as Blackberry messenger that are ‘difficult to access’ by police.

He said police are also looking at Facebook and Twitter for evidence of any criminal planning.

Council leader Steve Reed and many community leaders present at the meeting expressed concerns over police resources.

Lee Jasper, chair of Brixton Splash, a community event which took place yesterday, said he knew police had extra

resources in the area and that either ‘they weren’t enough or they weren’t deployed properly’.

He said he was at the Currys store where looting took place for an hour from 10.45pm on Sunday before the police arrived.

Mr Ephgrave said the outbreaks of rioting across London meant a lot of the reserves at his disposal were deployed to other areas at the time.

The alert came as plans for the Notting Hill Carnival were thrown into jeopardy amid fears that the festival could be a focal point to violence, The carnival, which attracts up to two million people each

• The store after the inferno... yesterday

year, could see the kind of violent clashes with police that erupted in Tottenham Saturday evening.

There are concerns that the West Indian event over the August bank holiday could even be cancelled in an attempt to prevent more riots.

Police leaders have been meeting community leaders in a desperate bid to calm tensions over the clashes which were sparked by the shooting of ‘gangster’ Mark Duggan last week.

The developments came as Home Secretary Theresa May cut short her summer holiday to fly home and deal with the crisis.

Scotland Yard has also

promised more officers on the streets of London last night as the Met prepares for a third night of violence.

In a bid to quell the unrest, police have warned that Twitter users could face arrest for inciting violence.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stephen Kavanagh confirmed officers were looking at the website as part of investigations into widespread looting and rioting.

Clashes between masked rioters and police, vandalism and looting continued into the early hours of yesterday as questions were raised about the shooting of suspected gangster Mark Duggan last Thursday.

UN aid arrives in Somalia

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HE UN refugee agency has flown aid to famine victims in Somalia’s capital - its first airlift to war-torn Mogadishu for five years.

Some 100,000 people have arrived in the city in the last two months in search of food.

Insecurity makes it difficult for aid agencies to distribute materials.

The Islamist al-Shabab group was reported to have pulled out of the city on Saturday but its fighters can still be seen patrolling some areas.

While the government has been celebrating what it called its “victory” over alShabab, BBC East Africa correspondent Will Ross says

few people expect Mogadishu to be peaceful.

For the aid agencies, the city remains an environment full of challenges, he says.

Last week, one of the large camps for displaced people was attacked by pro-government militiamen who stole all the food.

Many people are still too scared to return to that camp and remain scattered across Mogadishu.

The 31-tonne UNHCR consignment - including plastic sheeting for shelters, blankets and sleeping mats - landed at Mogadishu airport on Monday afternoon.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

NEITI to monitor disbursements by govt agencies From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

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IGERIA Extractive In dustry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) will soon enlarge its activities to include monitoring of how government agencies disburse and apply funds.

Its Executive Secretary, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, said this yesterday while receiving the Assistant Secretary, US Department of Energy, David Sandalow, in Abuja.

She said NEITI plans to automate its audits, make it more regular and move its operations to the solid mineral industry.

Her words: “We hold the view that it is not just enough for us to ascertain what companies have paid and what government has received, we need also to confirm if companies have paid what they ought to pay and if government has received what it ought to receive.

NEITI is also required by law to follow up the funds and find out how the revenues have been applied for national development. Wide dissemination of this information is key for civil society advocacy, public education and dialogue for good governance.” ”Beyond the core Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) criteria requires resources including capacity development and technology to accomplish. This is one of the areas where NEITI seeks support of international development partners.”

She said the recently established Nigeria-US Bi-national Commission is coming on stream, adding that when Nigeria attains the EITI Compliant status, it will be leveraged upon by NEITI to canvass for enthronement of corporate governance and accountability in the management of revenues from Nigeria’s abundant extractive resources.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$109.7/barrel Cocoa - $2,856/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢78.07.pound Gold -$1,161/troy ounce Rubber - ¢146.37/pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE JSE NYSE LSE

-N7.3 billion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -10.2% Treasury Bills -2.64% Normal lending -24% Prime lending -18% Savings rate -3% 91-day NTB -6.99% Time Deposit - 6% MPR -8% Foreign Reserve -$34.7bn FOREX CFA 0.281 • 213 £ 241.00 $ 150.7 ¥ 1.5652 SDR 240.3 RIYAL 39.3

An inclusive and robust economic growth will only be achieved if the youth are adequately empowered. This is the only path to sustainable economic development for the country.

-Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, CBN Governor

Three million jobs coming M

ORE than three mil lion jobs would be created in the next three years by agencies, parastatals and departments under the Ministry of Trade and Investment.

In a communiqué after a three-day retreat, the ministry said additional 3,100,850 jobs would be created in the next three years.

The retreat, chaired by the Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga and the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Dr. Sam Ortom, saddled the Bank of Industry with the creation of one million jobs, the Department of Trade, two million, while the balance will be made good by others.

A statement signed by the Special Adviser, Communication to the Minister, Yemi Kolapo, explained that as part of strategies to achieve the

From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

job creation goal, “the departments and parastatals will develop a comprehensive backward integration programme aimed at improving innovation and productivity for rice, sugar, wheat, yam, potatoes, starch and palm produce, among others.”

It stated that the ministry will establish model industrial clusters in each geo-political zone across the country, adding, “in line with the mandate to lead the nation’s investment, job creation and economic growth and aggressive investment drive, the ministry must be refocused and repositioned to effectively serve as the flag and hub of industrial revolution that will help Nigeria take its rightful place in global affairs.”

On export promotion, participants agreed on the need for increased efforts towards streamlining the nation’s export produce and documentation to facilitate trade through stronger collaboration with relevant trade facilitation, the statement added.

Speaking during the retreat, Aganga, said the Federal Government would provide the enabling environment for job creation, wealth generation, economic growth and development.

He said: “In other parts of the world, the Ministry of Trade and Investment is the most powerful and strategic in terms of driving economic growth and development. But in Nigeria, we have not played our roles the way we should and that is why we have not been able to harness the abundant human and natural re-

sources for job creation and wealth generation.

“If Nigeria is going to make significant progress in economic growth and development, the Ministry of Trade and Investment has to play a major role,” he stated, adding, “we are working out pro-job, pro-growth policies, which will be recommended to the Economic Management Team.

“Our objective within the next three years is to significantly increase the manufacturing of local content and linkages with other sectors of the economy and ensure global competiveness with manufactured goods by making made-in-Nigeria goods a major foreign exchange earner. Going forward, we intend to achieve rapid and sustained economic growth by broadening the nation’s productive base.

Sanusi, Elumelu advocate competitiveness in economy From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

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HE Governor of the Central Bank of Nige ria, Lamido Sanusi and former Chief Executive Officer, United Bank for Africa, Tony Elumelu, yesterday urged the use of the nation’s natural resources in improving productivity and competitiveness as part of the solutions to move the economy forward.

The duo, who spoke to journalists on the sidelines during a workshop organised by the Tony Elumelu Foundation in Abuja, said the country could not continue to rely on oil and other natural resources.

The guest lecturer, Prof.

Michael Porter, who addressed members of the business community and representatives of the government, spoke on the need to create an atmosphere for competitiveness in order for the private sector to thrive. Sanusi said: “Just like companies compete for businesses, countries too now compete for investment and membership of international organisations like the G20.

We cannot continue to rely on oil, we cannot continue to rely solely on natural resources. We have to use those natural resources to improve our productivity.”

Fed Govt willing to partner on economy From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

T •Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Mr Mustapha Chike Obi, opening an account with Enterprise Bank Limited (formerly Spring Bank Plc) as the first customer of the newly recapitalised bank. He is flanked by Mrs. Sola Ayodele, former Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Springbank Plc (right) and Mr Gbenga Fakile, former Executive Director of Springbank Plc in Lagos …yesterday.

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

BPE makes N146b from public firms’ sales

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HE Director-General of the Bureau of Public En terprises (BPE), Ms Bolanle Onogoruwa, has said about N146 billion has been realised from the sale of public companies under the privatisation and commercialisation of the Federal Government.

But she informed the public hearing organised by the Senator Ahmed Lawan-led Ad-Hoc committee on Investigation of privatisation and commercialisation activities of the Federal Government that the N146 billion realised was after deducting expenditure incurred in the exercise.

She said 122 companies have so far been privatised and commercialised, but was

From Augustine Ehikioya, Asst. Editor, Abuja

not able to give the gross total amount got as proceeds from the exercise.

She said: “From the 122 enterprises that have been privatised so far, N146 billion has been realised from the sales. 33.6 per cent of them are doing poorly while 66.3 percent are doing well.”

“The privatisation and labour expenses are deducted before the balance is remitted for effectiveness. It is the net sum that is remitted and that is in line with the guideline approved by the National Council on Privatisation (NCP),“ she stated “What we are trying to do is

to nurture the companies to growth. It is not that the investors have not made efforts, but there are constraints. We try to look at policy issues to see where we can help them. If we are disciplined on the policy issue, we will make progress.”

She admitted that some of the sales proceeds were lodged in some commercial banks including Bank PHB and Union Bank PLC, insisting that the BPE has not contravened the Privatisation and Commercialisation Act. Citing Section 19 (1) of the Privatisation and Commercialisation Act, the Chairman of the panel, Senator Lawan yesterday declared that the lodgments of the sales proceeds in commercials

banks are illegal, saying all the sales proceeds should only be paid into the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) account of the proceeds of sale of privatisation and commercialisation exercise.

He also pointed out that Section 80 (2) and (3) of the 1999 Constitution allows the BPE to only carry out expenses based on appropriation of the National Assembly.

Lawan insisted that the BPE ought to have started monitoring the investors right from the outset when the directorgeneral told the committee that the BPE was mainly concerned with the transactions from 1999 to 2006 and that monitoring was intensified in 2007.

HE Vice President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo, has expressed the willingness of the Federal Government to partner with any individual, group or government to further the cause of its transformation agenda.

Sambo spoke yesterday when he received the renowned professor of Economics from the Harvard University and Patron of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Prof. Michael Porter, who was at the State House, Abuja on a courtesy visit. He was in the company of Mr Tony Elumelu.

The Vice President said the administration is eager to boost the economy through its transformation agenda.

The vice -president said he was happy that the professor has shown “interest in supporting Nigeria” noting that this was enough to set the ball rolling”.

He also stated that as chairman of the National Economic Council, he would look at the possibility of drawing up a line of action that would enable him to deploy his expertise in helping Nigeria.

The Vice-President intimated Prof. Porter of the country’s vision to be one of the most developed countries by 2020.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

BUSINESS NEWS Fish production declining, says expert

Flight Schedule

By Daniel Essiet

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

MONDAY - FRIDAY

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HE national fish productivity is on the decline, a professor of fisheries, Lagos State University (LASU), Prof Antetekhai Martins, has said.

In an interview with The Nation, Martins said fresh seafood and fish production across the nation’s waters has declined.

Most of this fall is attributed to decline in wild-catch fisheries, falling at least at an average annual rate of five per cent.

Capture fish production dominated marine fisheries, accounting for 80 percent of fish harvested.

He said capture fish production is on the decline affected by over fishing , fuel prices and labour constraints.

He stressed that illegal poaching by foreign nationals also affects the fish production Overall, growth in the real value of aquaculture has moderated the overall decline in the real value of fisheries production.

Even with the fall in capture fisheries, Martins said about 70 per cent of all seafood products are sold to foreign markets.

This follows the rising price of shrimp, tilapia, crabs and other species that have gone up in the international market - a trend expected to influence and redirect world fishery trade.

He said many Nigerians export shrimps and crabs, mostly for reprocessing.

The industry, Martins said, is looking up to aquaculture as an essential source of nutrition. In fact, a substantial per cent of fish and seafood is now farmed.

According to him, aquaculture production has increased by 40 percent and that its growth has been a major trend.

Martins however identified the lack of market as the major factor militating against viable fish farming business in the state.

He urged the government to keep the economy strong by supporting these promising entrepreneurs in aquaculture.

The immediate past Minister of Agriculture, Prof Sheihk Abdulah, said Nigeria has the capacity of becoming a vital supplier of fresh seafood for the booming reprocessing industries in Africa and Asean markets.

Speaking with The Nation, Abubakar said government should be committed to enhancing the global competitiveness, productivity and environmental performance of the nation’s fishing industry.

ADB to partner Ekiti on water provision From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado Ekiti

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FRICAN Development Bank (AfDB) has promised to assist Ekiti State in the next three years in the provision of social amenities with focus on provision of water.

The Country Resident Representative, Mr Ousmane Dore, gave the assurance in Ado Ekiti after an inspection of Ero Dam in Moba Local Government Area of the state.

Dore, who lamented the state of dilapidation at the dam, especially its generator, attributed the decay to lack of proper maintenance of the dam despite that it was a major source of water for the state.

While commending the state Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, for the conception of the eightpoint agenda for the transformation of the state, the Bank Representative said this would enable interested partners to know the government’s priority and attract attention to the state.

• Chairman, Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Investigation of the Privatisation and Comercialisation of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Senator Ahmed Lawal (left) and members of the Committee, Senators Philip Aduda and Femi Ojodu, during the public hearing at National Assembly Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTOS ABAYOMI FAYESE

Fed Govt plans census of power consumption

T

HE Federal Govern ment is planning a census of the power consumption of Ni gerians. The exercise will last about six months.

The Minister of Power, Prof Barth Nnaji, who disclosed this to journalists in Abuja yesterday after receiving a United States delegation , added that the study would be more rigorous than the National Population Census.

Nnaji said the country has never embarked on the exercise. He explained it would determine the power capacity of each household and industry require.

He, however, noted that the study would be done yearly, adding that it would lead to the employment of graduates. But he did not state the number of those to be employed.

“Nigeria has not done power load study at all. Through power load study on the power we use, we need to capture houses and industries. A study of such nature is more rigorous than the population study. It has to be thorough and done year after year,” said Nnaji.

He noted that Nigeria needs a viable power sector to grow the economy.

The minister revealed to the delegation that President Goodluck

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

Jonathan has identified power as his first priority area.

Besides, he said in view of the way the government has intensified efforts at the provision of power “three to four years down the line, the world should applaud the resolution he (Jonathan) has made through the industry.”

He noted that the ministry studies the predicaments and their solutions to deliver power to the people, adding that it is all a social-economic problem but with political problem embedded.

Nnaji noted: “We can say let’s build power plants for the people, but we have to look at the tariff, value chain and how the consumers feel.”

He also said the government needs to address commodity production and that it is already discussing infrastructural development to produce gas and deliver it to the power plants that are being built.

He said since there has to be a price paid for gas, the government would ensure that the price would enable the investors to make profit.

According to him, the government will make the sector attrac-

tive to both the investors and consumers and, as such, it has guarantee the gas and power production level in the sector.

He said the government has the capacity to generate 6,000mega watts, but it is currently generating 2,100mega watts.

On the visit of the American delegation, who, the Nigeria Ambassador, Prof. Adefoye led, the minister said Americans understand the problems of the power sector and that for this, the country wants to work with them.

He specifically pointed out that the government was seeking the US assistance in the provision of technical assistance in the power sector.

Earlier, Nnaji urged the Americans to do more than the United Kingdom in the provision of assistance to Nigeria by giving technical assistance, which the nation’s statutory funding capacity would not allow.

Responding, the Assistant US Department of Energy, David Sandalow, assured the minister of technical support.

Adefoye noted that anything that can be done to ensure adequate power supply in the country will be provided.

Stocks plummet after downgrade of US debt

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HE United States stock mar ket joined a sell-off around the world yesterday in the first trading since Standard & Poor’s downgraded American debt and gave investors another reason to be anxious.

The Dow Jones industrial average, according to Bloomberg news, fell more than 250 points minutes after the opening bell on Wall Street. It recovered some of those losses, then fell again and was down as many as 375 points in midmorning trading. At 11:30, the Dow was down 284 points.

It was the first chance for global investors to respond to S&P’s announcement late Friday that it was reducing its credit rating for longterm US government debt by one notch, from AAA, the highest rating, to AA+.

The move wasn’t a total surprise but came when investors were already feeling nervous about a weak U.S. economy, European debt problems and Japan’s recovery from its March earthquake.

Stock markets in Asia began the global rout. The main stock index fell almost 4 percent in South Korea and more than 2 per cent in Japan. European markets opened later and fell, too, with Germany down 4.4 per cent and France 4 per

• S&P lowers Fannie, Freddie, others cent.

In other midday trading on Wall Street, the S&P 500 index fell 35 points, or 2.9 per cent, to 1,165. The Nasdaq composite index fell 78 points, or 3.1 percent, to 2,454. The Dow was at 11,169, down 2.4 per cent. The S&P 500 is already down 10 per cent so far in August. If it stays down just that much, it would be the worst month for the index since February 2009.

Fresh memories of the financial crisis three years ago are also driving investors away from risky investments and into what’s considered safer.

“Fear of a repeat of 2008 is what’s really driving investments,” said Gary Schlossberg, senior economist with Wells Capital Management.

Roben Farzad, a senior writer for Bloomberg Businessweek, said on “The Early Show” that investors should approach recent financial events by considering their longterm approach before panicking and pulling out of the market.

“Truth be told, if they need that money to keep the lights on, to pay the rent, they shouldn’t be in the market, but if they are in this for

the long haul ... then they should just stick to their plan,” Farzad said.

“We saw the last time a panic like this was felt in the spring of 2009, which was a generational low for stocks, a lot of people sold out and were kicking themselves a year later.”

Gold, which investors traditionally buy when they want a safe investment, rose above $1,700 per ounce for the first time Monday.

Its price remains below its 1980 record after adjusting for inflation.

Gold began the year at $1,421.40.

It has climbed steadily as worries rose about high debt levels in both Europe and the United States. It went above $1,500 per ounce in late May. Prices for US government debt rose - even after S&P essentially said they were a riskier investment than the debt of some other major world economies - because Treasurys are still seen as one of the world’s few safe havens. Prices rise as demand increases.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell much of the morning, to 2.38 per cent from 2.57 percent late Friday. A bond’s yield drops when its price rises.

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LAGOS – KADUNA Aero 08.00 Chanchangi 10.00 Arik 10.00 Arik 15.10

08.30 09.10 11.50 12.45 13.40 15.20 16.30 16.40 08.50 12.40 14.10 17.20 12.15 12.45 09.10 11.00 11.10 16.20

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

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08.50 09.45 09.40 14.00 15.45 19.55

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08.30 15.10 17.40

LAGOS – UYO 10.35

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1. Arik 2. Arik 3. Arik 1. Dana 1. IRS 2. Arik

LAGOS – MAIDUGURI 11.15 13.15 15.50 18.00

LAGOS – ILORIN 1. Overland 07.15 2. Arik (M/T/TH/F) 17.30

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

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

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THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

Chelsea, Eagles doctors NFF’s N.5bn trapped in troubled bank to examine Mikel Pg. 49

Pg. 16

Nation Tuesday, August 9, 2011

PAGE 15

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY

Nigeria, Ghana light up London Pg. 50

TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

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NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT

FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP

Venezuela join Nigeria in Group C

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ENEZUELA have emerged as Nigeria’s last Group C opponents for the 2011 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup holding in Ravenna, Italy, from September 111th after coming third in this year’s South American Qualifier (CONMEBOL qualifier) which was concluded over the weekend at the Arena Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro.

Russia and Tahiti are the remaining two teams in the group.

For the fourth consecutive tournament, Brazil won the championship after beating Argentina in the final 6-2. Since both of these nations reached the final, they both qualify for the fourth year in a row.

The surprise of the tournament saw Uruguay crash out at the group stage of the tournament, meaning for the first time since the World Cup’s inception in 1995, Uruguay will not be competing, leaving Brazil as the sole nation to have competed in every World Cup to date.

By Akeem Lawal Uruguay’s absence from the knockout stage allowed Venezuela to claim a 5-2 victory over surprise semifinalists, Colombia to qualify for their third World Cup after their last appearance in 2001.

Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela now join 13 other countries that had already won places in the World Cup. They are: Italy (host country), Russia, Ukraine, Switzerland, Portugal, Mexico, El Salvador, Tahiti, Oman, Japan, Iran, Nigeria and Senegal.

GROUPS A : Italy, Iran, Senegal, Switzerland B: Argentina, El Salvador, Oman, Portugal C: Venezuela, Nigeria, Russia, Tahiti D: Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Ukraine The winners and runners-up in each group will qualify for the knockout stages, with all games played on the beautiful beach of Ravenna.

NFF’s N.5bn trapped in troubled bank •Nigeria’s 2010 World Cup grant too

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ORE cash problems have befallen the Nigeria FA following the liquidation of top sponsor Afribank with whom they have no less than 500 million naira.

Last week, Afribank was one of three Nigeria banks which were liquidated by the country’s apex bank, the Central Bank. The others were Spring Bank and Bank PHB. Top officials have now exclusively

revealed to MTNFootball.com that the distressed bank is yet to pay up the sponsorship rights fee for two years running amounting to 500 million naira.

Also trapped in the coffers of Afribank is a substantial amount of US dollars from the FIFA participation grant paid to the NFF after the Eagles booked their flight to South Africa 2010.

“We have a contract with Afribank as our official bankers. They still owe us

IKEDI TO FLYING EAGLES

Focus on teamwork, not scouts

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X-INTERNATIONAL, Sam Ikedi has charged the Flying Eagles to play as a team in the ongoing Colombia 2011 World Youth Championship (WYC) rather than concentrating on their respective personal interests.

Ikedi, a former Green Eagle, opined that the need to impress the various foreign scouts that are monitoring the players’

•Kayode

Head scan for Kayode

O

N-FORM Flying Eagles striker, Olanrewaju Kayode has undergone an x-ray on his skull in a hospital in Armenia following a horrific tackle against Saudi Arabia that caused him to fall head first.

Team officials said the Asec Mimosas of Abidjan star complained of severe headache a day after the match against Saudi Arabia in Pereira .

The vicious tackle on Kayode saw him land first on his head and pass out for a few seconds.

“I did not know anything at the time,” revealed the striker on his passing out.

In the meantime, top Nigerian TV sports presenter, Toyin Ibitoye, has promised to pay Kayode $100 (about N15,000) on his arrival in Colombia to cover the U20 World Cup. “Kayode gives 150% to the cause any time he plays. This is my own token appreciation to the player,” Ibitoye said.

Flying Eagles skip fasting

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LYING EAGLES stars led by skipper Ramon Azeez who are observing the Muslim Ramadan fasting will now skip it on match days at Colombia 2011.

The Muslim players in the Nigeria U20 team are Azeez, Ganiu Ogungbe, Abduljaleel Ajagun and Ahmed Musa are observing the obligatory Muslim fasting month of the Ramadan when they go without food or water for most of the day.

However, it seems the fasting has caused them to struggle and they have accepted to “buy out” the fasting on match days.

Islam allows for a faithful to “buy out” his fasting by paying to feed 60 people any day he is unable to observe this religious obligation.

The Saudis, for one, are doing so in Colombia as their football federation have “bought out” the fasting on their behalf.

It was almost the same situation for the Flying Eagles at the 2009 U-20 World Cup in Egypt , but in the end only Kano Pillars midfielder Mohammed Shagari insisted on fasting during the competition.

500 million being sponsorship fees for two years,” a worried NFF official disclosed to MTNFootball.com.

“FIFA also paid into the coffers the $1 million grant given to each of the 24 countries who qualified for last year’s World Cup. “We have been drawing from that account, but we still have some money left there. The exact amount I would not know though.”

The cash woes of the NFF first worsened when Coca-Cola pulled out of a long-term sponsorship contract and opted to invest their resources on a grassroots competition for the next three years.

However, some respite came when the football federation signed another longterm deal with a major telecommunications company in Nigeria to cover the various national teams as well as the Federation Cup.

Can Siasia break Ghana jinx?

S

•Maigari

Hodgson optimistic of Osaze’s fitness

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EST BROM manager Roy Hodgson remains hopeful over the fitness of Peter Odemwingie who is suffering from an ankle injury The striker, who scored fifteen goals in thirty two appearances for West Brom last term, missed his side’s final pre-season match against Parma, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Hodgson is hoping the Nigeria international will be fit for his side’s season opener against Manchester United next Sunday and is optimistic over the 30-year-old’s chances of making the match.

“Peter has a sore ankle, which came about after the Bristol City game,” Hodgson explained to the club’s official website.

“We were hoping it would recover in time for today’s game but it didn’t.

Now we’re hoping it won’t go beyond next week.

“Ankle injuries can take time and I wouldn’t want to put a timescale on it.

“All I want to say is the medical staff

By Stella Bamawo performance might be calamitous after all hence the need for a full concentration by the team.

He said: “They should stop the idea of monopolising the ball on the pitch. The sky would be the team's limit if they can fully concentrate and avoid distractions from football agents and scouts who are bent on recruiting good players for their respective clubs.”

Ikedi also cautioned that individualism will not help the players as well as the team as a whole.

“They should learn to encourage one another while playing especially when a player loses the ball to an opponent; these boys should not be selfish with the ball by trying to play to the gallery.

“They should knock the ball to others at the minimum opportunity instead of making attempts to dribble past opponents before passing; so, they should play tip tap soccer in order to have absolute control of the game.”

The John Obuh-led team beat Guatemala 5-0 and Saudi Arabia-52 in the first round of games and will now lock horns with the England U-20s on Wednesday.

SUPER EAGLES V BLACK STARS

are very optimistic he’ll recover, so I’ve got to be optimistic.

“I’m sure he’ll be desperate to play against United and we’ll be happy to put him in the team if he’s fit.”

Odemwingie was set to be called up for international duty with Nigeria this week but Hodgson has ruled the forward out of contention.

“We’ll be monitoring it during the course of the week,” said Hodgson.

“There’s no chance of him playing for Nigeria, though.

“You can’t be injured for ten days and then shoot off and play for the international team.

“He won’t be fit by Tuesday, anyway.”

Hodgson did reveal that midfielder Jerome Thomas and defender Steven Reid, who also missed the friendly against Parma, should be available for selection for the start of the season.

“We’ll be monitoring Steven and Jerome as well.

“I’m a little bit more optimistic about those two.”

Chelsea, Eagles doctors to examine Mikel •Danny Shittu

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HELSEA manager Andre Villas-Boas has spoken on the injury blow suffered by Super Eagles midfielder, John Mikel Obi on Sunday.

Mikel hobbled off with a suspected ankle injury in the 42nd minute of Chelsea’s 3-1 pre-season friendly victory against Celtic at Ibrox on Sunday.

Fears have been raised over the severity of the injury but the Chelsea chief has quickly moved to allay fears over the midfielder’s condition.

“Mikel had a knock that he suffered a couple of days ago in training. He had an injection to avoid the pain but it was getting pretty nasty for him and we decided

to take him out of the game.

Villas-Boas also hinted that Mikel might play a part in Nigeria’s friendly international against Ghana in Watford today.

“We will evaluate the situation and then make a decision because Mikel is one player who is involved in international duty. For sure, the national team doctors will also take a look at him,” the Portuguese trainer said.

Mikel joins a growing list of possible absentees for the Ghana game which includes Osaze Odemwingie, Brown Ideye and Nnamdi Oduamadi.

Nigeria’s game against Ghana will be played at Watford’s Vicarage Stadium today.

IASIA leads his Super Eagles against their biggest rivals in the Black Stars, as he attempts to go against the odds with his star players facing injuries and visa hitches This article would have been much easier to write if the news that Chelsea’s John Mikel Obi had joined West Brom’s Peter Odemwingie on Nigeria’s injury list ahead was not true.

Ahead of today’s friendly against Ghana at Watford’s Vicarage Road Stadium, Samson Siasia’s troubles continue to mount when one considers the fact that his No. 1 goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, was unable to secure a visa to enter England for this most important of games. Striker Ekigho Ehiosun, midfielder Fegor Ogude and defender Efe Ambrose have also been denied entry.

Siasia will have to look at other options if he is going to avenge the Super Eagles’ painful 4-1 friendly loss to their arch-rivals on a cold winter night four years ago, a result that was the beginning of a three-match losing streak.

Much has changed in the setup of both teams since that friendly. There have been changes in coaching personnel - Nigeria have had seven different managers while Goran Stevanovic is Ghana’s fifth since 2007.

Siasia has overseen a change in the attitude of his team and they are playing with more commitment than in the past. The coach has been famed for developing a way of winning the loyalty and respect of his squad and this has translated into success on the

field - they literally play for him.

Since he took over last December, the Super Eagles have scored 15 goals in five matches and let in just four. If there’s anything that they will fear against the Black Stars, it will be conceding as many as they did last time in London. Nevertheless, their two meetings at the African Cup of Nations in 2008 and 2010 ended in narrow victories for the Ghanaians, 2-1 and 1-0 respectively.

Siasia has said that his worry is how to stop the Ghanaians, led up front by Sunderland’s Asamoah Gyan, from scoring. He is left with only Joseph Yobo in the central defensive position thanks to the absence of Ambrose.

There are reports, though, that he will be calling up Queens Park Rangers’ Danny Shittu to fill in the gap, which might be a tricky situation since the two have not played together since Siasia took charge.

In the full back position, Siasia should start with Milan’s Taye Taiwo and Heartland’s Chibuzor Okonkwo to add cover to his defence and launch attacks from the wings. Dele Ayenugba is expected to be in goal in the absence of first choice Enyeama.

The central midfield is where Siasia’s tinkering will be most needed in this game against the Black Stars.

Kwadwo Asamoah, Andre Ayew and Anthony Annan will need to be stopped by Inter’s Joel Obi, who will be without enforcer Mikel as his partner.

Yusuf Ayila will likely provide cover for Joel to fend off the Ghanaian attack, in Mikel’s absence, while Kalu Uche will play in a forward position.

It is in the forward line that Siasia

•Siasia

will have the most confidence, as Ike Uche, Victor Anichebe and Victor Obinna will lead the attack against the Black Stars. The trio have scored nine goals between them in the Super Eagles’ last four games.

Seeing how important this match is for Nigeria psychologically, Siasia is not expected to make many changes to his winning squad from the last couple of matches. This game will be won first in the mind before it is played on the pitch, so the edge lies within the squad that believes they are able to win on the night.

Culled from goal.com

Dickson Etuhu snubs Siasia in London

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ULHAM midfielder Dickson Etuhu has turned his back on the Super Eagles, saying he will not feature for the team under coach Samson Siasia.

It has been exclusively gathered

by MTNFootball.com that Etuhu has turned down a chance to join the Eagles as a late replacement for several players who will miss today’s friendly against the Black Stars of Ghana in London because they do not have entry visas to the United Kingdom.

The Ghana game will be played at Vicarage Road next door to Craven Cottage in London, where Etuhu stars for English Premier League outfit Fulham.

But rather than come to the rescue of Samson Siasia, who may now be forced to line up a weakened team

because of the visa palaver that is likely to keep out the likes of goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, Etuhu has refused, while another England-based player like Danny Shittu has promptly agreed to do so on Monday.

“Etuhu has refused to join the squad for the Ghana game as a late replacement for some of the players who will now not be there because of visa issues,” a top team official informed.

“No one really knows why he has refused but he said he will not play for Nigeria under Siasia.”

Etuhu featured for Nigeria at last year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Angola as well as the World Cup in South Africa under coaches Shuaibu Amodu and Lars Lagerback.

However, after the defensive midfielder missed out on a first callup by Siasia earlier this year as a result of injury, he has been overlooked despite playing regularly for his EPL side.

Siasia though has insisted he will invite players like Etuhu and Shittu when the younger players he is now working with are unavailable.

“We are building towards 2014 and so we will not be looking at too many old players. We are looking at players who could actually stay and grow with the team,” said Siasia.

“I will try and give every player a chance. If a player gets injured, I will draft one of the old players in to see how well they can cope in the new group.

“If he understands, we keep him. If he doesn’t, we let him go.”

Opare out of Nigeria friendly

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HANA defender Daniel Opare has been ruled out of Tuesday’s international friendly against rivals Nigeria, MTNFootball.com can exclusively reveal.

The 20-year-old has been asked by his Belgian side Standard Liege to stay for doctors to help him fully recover from an ankle problem.

The versatile full-back picked up the injury during their UEFA Champions League third qualifying defeat to FC Zurich last Wednesday.

He missed Liege’s Jupiler League

3-1 win over Lokeren on Sunday at home.

“I had inflammation on the ankle and the club want me to fully regain my fitness for a busy schedule next week,” Opare told MTNFootball.com.

“We have a crucial game in the Europa League and so the club even rested me for our league match against Lokeren. It’s just painful I can’t play for the Black Stars,” he added.

Opare has become a regular in the Ghana team after he impressed as a second half substitute against England in March.

•L-R: Mr idorenyen Enang, Managing Director, Samsung Nigeria; Barr. Musa Amadu, Ag. Secretary General, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Mr Nichola Shin, Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa at the Samsung/NFF Contract Signing Ceremony held in Lagos Yesterday

17

TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

The atmosphere in Adamawa State is tense, leading to political intrigues and horse-trading as we gradually move towards elections early next year.

BARNABAS MANYAM examines the various factors at play.

2012: Intrigues rule Adamawa T

HE political parties in Adamawa State are already busy. They are making frantic grassroots sensitisation based on their spread and catchments areas. But the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), however, seems to remain the dominant political party in the state with three senators, five members of the House of Representatives and 19 members in the Adamawa State House of Assembly.

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) is the opposition party coming behind with one member of the House of Representatives and five members of the state House of Assembly. The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has only one seat in the state Assembly.

The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) has no elective seat in Adamawa State, including National Transformation Party (NTP) which has a strong gubernatorial candidate. However, its impact has not been felt across the state.

In the 2007 general elections the PDP won a slim majority in the governorship contest that neces-

sitated the then AC to go to court and the Vice Admiral Murtala Nyako ticket was annulled by the tribunal.

Rerun governorship election was held in May 2008 with Nyako returned as governor. Alhaji Ibrahim Bapetel has since rejoined the PDP and battle line is drawn.

The 2012 election has brought a new dimension to the political equation of the state with Marcus Natina Gundiri and General Buba Mohammed Marwa as major gladiators contesting on the platforms of ACN and CPC respectively.

Former Governor Boni Haruna brought the retired Federal Director of Dams Gundiri to contest on the platform of ACN and Marwa came on the stand of the PDP until alleged discrepancies during the conduct of the party ward congresses in the state forced him out of the ruling party..

The retired General who had served as military ruler in Lagos and Borno State chose to explore all internal mechanism within the PDP, but, when the party chose to back the incumbent despite the protest, Marwa moved to the CPC.

•Nyako

Marwa teamed up with Gen Muhammadu Buhari to wrest power from the PDP, the CPC’s poor performance in the April polls has shown that the General would have to do much more campaign to upturn the status quo in the state. The PDP recorded more than 90 per cent performance in the elections in terms of seats won.

However, a keen study of the votes shows that the CAN was a worthy challenger, especially in constituencies in Adamawa North.

The elections in critical sections of the state are subject of electoral petition before the tribunal set up for the purpose.

Who are the gladiators? Murtala Nyako retired as the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff in 1993 and launched his multimillion Naira farms across Nigeria including BARC Farms in Kaduna, Sebore Farms, and another large farm in Germany. Nyako is a man of the

• Marwa

people because of his simplicity and respect even to his juniors.

His closest contender Engineer Marcus Gundiri has been a ground breaking civil servant whose acceptability is posing a threat to the Governor Murtala Nyako, Gundiri retired as the Director of Federal Dams and was a consultant on power supply at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Abuja. Gundiri is a gentleman with a quiet mien and soft spoken, but a ferocious strategist who cannot be ignored, many people say he a strategic thinker, too.

Gen Marwa’s reputation is based on his good performance in Lagos and Borno states he has the ability to create a network and win people over to himself. The test of his political standing came just before the last election as he succeeded in drawing three commissioners from the Nyako government.

The NTP candidate Mr. Maurice Vuno Bolki came to form his own party but he has since realised that a single man cannot run a party successfully. This reality, sources close to his party say, may compel him to join forces with Marcus Gundiri to work for the ACN ticket in Adamawa. Maurice a successful business man, but he may have discovered that success in business does not automatically lead to good performance at the polls. He is yet to learn the ABC of politics, especially in a place as complex as Adamawa.

The major political leaders in the PDP are: Alhaji. Bamanga Tukur, Senator Jibril Aminu, Senator Jonathan Zwingina, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Senator Paul Wampana, Senator Bello Tukur, Dr. Dahiru Bobbo, Dr. Hassan Adamu and Senator Grace Bent. For the party to repeat its performance in previous elections, these people have roles to play. But, things have fallen apart in the state branch of the PDP. Interests have pitched these forces against each other. They are all pulling in different directions with their structures functioning as independent platforms.

The situation was not much better in the run up to the 2008 rerun poll, but they were able to close ranks then. Can the feat be repeated today? Memories of the contest for ministerial slot and the battle for senatorial seats in April opened the flanks to grim battles.

It is an opportunity for those who lost out to take their pounds of flesh.

There are, however, moves by the national secretariat of the PDP to reconcile the warring parties in order to secure the state for the party. Atiku Abubakar is said to be spoiling for battle and has reportedly sworn to ensure that Nyako is unseated, even if it means working against the interest of the party.

The election is five months away.

The dynamics are yet to fully manifest.

‘Uduaghan should be allowed to complete tenure’ Ex-militants’ leader General Augustine Ogedegbe is a member of the Board of Delta Waterways Security Committee and President, Ethiope East Youth PDP Faithful Network. In this interview with POLYCARP OROSEVWOTU, he speaks about the Uduaghan administration, among other issues.

• Ogedegbe

H

OW would you describe the Amnesty programme so far; is it worth the struggle?

The amnesty programme is not bad; the truth is that there is nothing like freedom. The amnesty has really helped, if you were in the creek before now and today, you are in the system, you will know that the amnesty is God’s designed intervention to free his

children and I must tell you that the amnesty has helped me and my boys. And the youths are taking advantage of it and it is a welcome development.

As ex-militants’ leader, what are your perception on the Boko Haram and the incessant bombing on innocent persons in the recent time?

There is no basis for Boko Haram actions if not that they are sponsored to destabilize Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. What are the Northerners offering to this country that one will say they are being neglected and for that Boko Haram has to come and fight for? When late Yar’Adua was alive, there was a meeting we held when he said that if he were from NigerDelta, he would have acted same, describing our struggle as a just cause and promised he would answer our request but Boko Haram don’t have any justification for their actions and I feel there are other ways they

could register their anger apart from being violent and taking to killings as a solution.

Can you tell us something about your militancy?

Before we embraced the federal government amnesty, I was a militant General in the NigerDelta with 26 boys under my control. I came out during the administration of late President Musa Yar’Adua when Mr. Mike Okiro was the Inspector General of Police who met with in March 17, 2009 on my desire to drop my arms and he agreed with me that if I could, he will ensure the President took care of me and my boys. I was investigated and found to be sincere; here we are today.

What is your view on the administration of Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan?

He has performed creditably in the past years if we are going by his three-point agenda. Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan should be left alone to concentrate on the

last part of his tenure instead of these litigations every now and then. The litigations have taken the state aback from development. He has transformed Delta State if we must look at the area of road constructions, street lights across the state, the Asaba Airport, his free maternal health care and payment of enrolment fees to SSS 3 students.

On micro-credit scheme, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has made a lot of our mothers who thought hope were lost to be engaged in one business or the other and this was through the help of the state government. One of the mega-projects being undertaken by the administration is the Sapele Abigborodo road project, the dualisation of UghelliAsaba, Koko Ugbenu roads, and Warri industrial park among others will be completed and commissioned soon. Recently, he said he would renovate 55 schools in few weeks across the state; that is to tell you that the

man is working and should not be discouraged by Deltans with cases. Deltans should give Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan a chance to work instead of trying to destabilise his administration with court cases and other issues that will divert his view from attending to important things that will directly affect Deltans positively.

Are you implying that Chief Great Ogboru should withdraw his case against Uduaghan?

That is exactly what l’m saying. It is not Chief Great Ogboru alone. The entire Urhobo should allow the governor concentrate on his governance and complete his tenure; then we will know that Delta South has run their eight years. We should not be seeing ourselves as enemies because of tribal difference, we should be working together and have an understanding that when it leaves one senatorial district it will go to another, it must not be Urhobo always.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

18

POLITICS Contrary to claims in some quarters, Port Harcourt, Rivers State lawyer Mr. Uche Okwukwu has maintained that he remains the Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state. In this interview with reporters, he speaks about politics in the state. BISI OLANIYI was there. Excerpts:

‘I remain Rivers ACN chair’ Y

OU were allegedly expelled by the State Executive Committee of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Rivers State. What actually happened?

I was never bribed by Amaechi. I never met with him. To the best of my knowledge and under the law, I am the Rivers State Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). I am a lawyer by training.

The matter is at the High Court in Port Harcourt, with further hearing coming up next month. Two fundamental issues were raised during the July 22, 2011 news conference of my Oga, Dr. Abiye Sekibo: That I am a man without integrity as well as the issue that some party agents betrayed him by concealing or selling cameras that were given to them to record the elections. We never procured cameras to record the elections. We never procured pens, we never procured handsets, and we never procured umbrellas. The National Assembly election was held and repeated, because the first one was cancelled across the nation. We went into that election and came out and we never went into that election with recording materials.

In the first election (the National Assembly election), I was the only officer of the party in the entire state, that delivered his ward Ward 4, Elele in Ikwerre LGA of Rivers State. National Assembly election candidates who had gone to court, none of them presented facts before the tribunal in evidence about recording materials.

Assuming that this evidence exists, one had expected that the first place this evidence would come from was Ward 4, Okrika where Dr. Abiye Sekibo comes from. None came from that place. He lost his polling unit in Okrika and he lost his ward (Ward 4) in Okrika.

Why did you urge your supporters to vote for the incumbent governor?

We went into the National Assembly election with what we called: “Operation Deliver Your Ward”. The outcome showed clearly that he did not deliver his place and it became clear that his people never wanted him. Prior to that time, he had claimed that he was very popular. I found myself morally licenced to urge the Riv-

ers people to vote for Governor Amaechi. Secondly, in our posthumous analysis of the National Assembly elections, a journalist who contested the election for the Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru federal seat. Mr. Opunabo Inko-Tariah, told Sekibo in a meeting that the Kalabari people would not vote for him. I, as the party chairman, I offered my opinion privately and in the open, that there was the urgent need to appeal to the Amanyanaboin-Council. That was rebuffed. It became clear that superior ideas were not wanted.

What other factor can you adduce for the development?

From the outset, very unserious characters that had no understanding of elections surrounded Sekibo. The day we opened Dr. Sekibo’s campaign office, there was a slip of tongue. His media consultant, Jerry Needam, a journalist, would have understood immediately, the implication of “Rivers people will now be sleeping with their two eyes open.” said by Sekibo. It took him three weeks to issue a statement correcting that and stating the circumstances under which it happened. But it had overwhelmed the Sekibo campaign organisation and had implied that Sekibo has a background of violence.

Do you think those things would have been enough to work against him?

I will want to use something I would call ‘X’. There exists a political godfather called ‘X’. Sekibo had repeatedly said if he asked him not to run, he would not. He (X) asked Sekibo not to run, that Amaechi was preferable. Sekibo disobeyed him. So, where did I go wrong? And I did predict correctly, that he would discontinue his matter (petition) in less than two or three months. My prediction was predicated on the fact that they lacked the required depth. When a man says that he withdrew his matter, because what he needed was frustrated, the question was: “who frustrated you?” Three weeks after you withdrew the matter, you came to give reasons. In fact, notice of discontinuance should have gone with reasons.

So, are you saying in essence that right from the outset, you did not

‘Opposition is nurtured. It is not an ad hoc thing. We are doing too much ad hoc in the South-South and the South-East. Those who desire to contest elections in 2015 should start early to build structures. It is not something that is done in a hurry. The transition from AD to ACN has taken the Yoruba 13 to 14 years planning.

So, the opposition here is so much in a hurry’ • Okwukwu

believe in Sekibo’s candidacy?

I have said time without number that he (Sekibo) is a man of honour. His integrity is not in question. He was not given any money to withdraw his petition at the tribunal. I believe that because Amaechi will not give anybody money to withdraw his matter. Of course, it was very clear that he had no petition in the first place.

I learnt you said that under the law, you are still the Rivers Chairman of the ACN, how do you react to this?

I am still the Chairman of the ACN in Rivers State.

From the standpoint of an ACN Chairman, do you believe that the elections in Rivers State were free and fair?

The truth is that, if he (Sekibo) participated in that election, I doubt if he had the guts of voting for himself. The election was free and fair.

The truth is that the 60,241 votes he got were by mistake, because I had said, ‘we do not have a candidate.

By my pronouncement, what was he doing? If he said he got 60,241 votes, that is all right, he should clap for himself for getting 60,241 votes out of more than two million votes. But beyond that, he had opportunity of presenting his case

•National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Kawu Baraje; (left), Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta and Niger State Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu after a meeting of North Central stakeholders in Minna, Niger State... yesterday.

in the Tribunal. The ACN’s governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State has gone on appeal. His matter was dismissed technically at the tribunal and he has gone on appeal. He (Sekibo) had opportunity of presenting his case, he failed. It was after he had withdrawn his case, it took him three weeks to come and tell his story. Why didn’t he tell you the reasons why he withdrew the matter before now? He withdrew his matter, switched off his lines, left the country (for England), returned because people had spoken.

Did Dr. Odili influence you?

No, Dr. Odili did not influence me. Nobody influenced me. He is a very respected senior citizen of Rivers state; I respect him.

Your comment was not just on Dr. Sekibo alone. You also spoke on Rivers House of Assembly. Is it that the candidate for that election too was really not prepared for the election?

I will never take you to war and abandon you.. To a large extent, Chilam Dimkpa, ACN’s Rivers House of Assembly candidate for Ikwerre constituency believed in me to run the House of Assembly election in my local government, Ikwerre. I was the chairman of the party and of course, I consulted with him, that I was going to speak and he endorsed all I did. Chilam Dimkpa is a Knight.

It was alleged that you were bribed by Amaechi to make the April 24 pronouncement and you used the money to immediately buy a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).

How do you react to this?

I never saw Amaechi. I bought a car for myself from my personal money and the car, a Belgium (Tokunbo) 1998 model, Toyota Landcruiser, was bought in Cotonou by the yellow boy that was with me here, at the cost of N2.2million. I opted for Landcruiser because of the terrain we are running. In spite of what I am doing as a politician, my practice still goes on as a lawyer. I never closed down my chambers.

Dr. Sekibo and I are alive. The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) should put up a debate. He talks his own and I talk my own, and to be moderated. The earning can be shown, how I get my money.

What of the allegation of diverting funds released to the Rivers chapter, by the national leadership of the ACN, during the elections?

About 11.30 p.m on Friday preceding the Saturday of the presidential election, K.K Kobani, National Treasurer of ACN, came in from Abuja with N8.8 million for the purpose of the presidential election. We were in Sekibo’s parlour. He said that the money was for anybody who returns Form EC8A (the unit result sheet); that he should be given N2,000. There was curfew and everybody for the purpose of the election had returned to his village and his ward and there was no way you can reach anybody till Monday or Tuesday, when people would start coming back. They said I should keep the N8.8 million. That was Friday night. I took the money to my friend’s house in Orazi, Port Harcourt. I called the Chairman of Chairmen’s Forum, ACN chapter, Timothy Amadi, and told him to see me immediately after the election to collect the money. So that he could distribute to those who returned the unit result sheets, through his office as chairman of the chairmen’s forum. By Monday, everybody had started saying he had result sheets and I said “No,” the specific instruction was that it must be given out to only those it was meant for. We drove down to where the money was and he took N4.4 million and it remained N4.4 million. We said, ‘pay, keep record’.

What happened to the balance?

I said ‘once you finish paying the N4.4 million, you take the remaining N4.4 million’. He went. On Saturday preceding Sunday, Sekibo said he needed the N4.4 million that remained. Luckily, Emma Okah , who ran for House of Representatives for Ikwerre/Emohua constituency is alive. Henry Amadi is alive. Sekibo’s in-law, Uche Onyeagucha, who went to the House of Representatives on the platform of APGA in 2003-2007, from Obinze in Imo State, told me that he had known me for long, even before he got married to Sekibo’s sister. He told me that I should wash off my hands and send the money. I said you want to take the money to him, he said okay.

Henry (the man with the money) was there. He went to his house and brought N2.3 million cash, remaining N2.1 million. He wrote a cheque in the name of Uche Onyeagucha, gave him the N2.3 million and the N2.1 million cheque, to take to Sekibo.

Why did the ACN and Sekibo perform poorly in the elections?

Opposition is nurtured. It is not an ad hoc thing. We are doing too much ad hoc in the South-South and the South-East. Those who desire to contest elections in 2015 should start early to build structures. It is not something that is done in a hurry. The transition from AD to ACN has taken the Yoruba 13 to 14 years planning. So, the opposition here is so much in a hurry. Anybody who wants to run an election should be part of the people, feel their pulse, participate in activities and then indicate to serve. You do not come and just ask people who do not know you, to vote for you.

That is the biggest problem facing opposition in the South-East and the South-South.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

19

EDITORIAL/OPINION COMMENT

EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

Owing responsibly

B

•Other states should emulate Lagos in making law to guide borrowing

Y signing into law the Lagos State Financial Regulations Bill, the Governor Babatunde Fashola Administration has demonstrated a commendable commitment to enthroning greater transparency, discipline and responsibility in the management of public finances by officials of the state, local governments and local council development areas.

The import of the bill is to check the spending power of government and hold public officers more accountable for funds placed in their trust. It limits the power of the state government, the 20 local government councils and 37 local council development areas to borrow money for capital expenditure.

The resultant tighter check on public revenue is expected to enhance probity and accountability as well as help improve service delivery through judicious

‘The Lagos initiative will help check such abuses by imposing greater restraints and responsibilities in the exercise of government’s power to borrow and spend. But the state government must itself comply strictly with the provisions of the law. It is a law that all governments in the country need’

use of resources for the public good. Another positive feature of this legislation is its bid to strengthen fiscal discipline in grassroots governance by stipulating firstly that council chairmen must seek approval from the state legislature before borrowing and, secondly, that they can borrow only to finance infrastructure development within their jurisdiction.

The initiative by the Lagos State government no doubt addresses a major impediment to cost-effective and resultoriented governance at all levels in Nigeria. This is the prevalent tendency to recklessly abuse the borrowing power of government with hardly anything to show for the indebtedness. It is of course natural for governments to borrow, particularly for investment in public infrastructure that expands the productive capacity of the economy in such a way that not only can the debt be sustainably repaid, the basis for greater future wealth creation is laid. This is why issues of fiscal discipline and responsibility are on the front burner in diverse jurisdictions, a good example being the recent rigorous debate in the United States over the country’s debt ceiling.

Unfortunately in Nigeria, there is an evident mismatch between the unrestrained exercise of the power to borrow without the requisite sense of responsibility and accountability in the management of public expenditure. The country thus accumulates debts that add little significant value to the productive capacity of the economy.

When we paid a whooping $12 billion to exit the Paris Club debt, for instance, during the Obasanjo Presidency, it was assumed that Nigeria was at last free from

debt peonage. But the country’s total indebtedness as at June 30 is estimated by the Debt Management Office (DMO) at $37 billion, which is 19 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Yet, the state of infrastructure across sectors remains appalling.

Statistics from the DMO indicate that between January 2008 and May 29, 2011, state governments accumulated external debts worth over N102 billion. The nine states where leadership batons changed hands on May 29 obtained external loans valued at N20.85 billion over three and a half years. These states are Zamfara, Oyo, Ogun, Imo, Nassarawa, Kwara, Kano, Borno and Gombe. The external loans incurred within this period increased the indebtedness of the states from N232.7 billion in December 2007 to N335.27 billion as at June 30, 2011, an increase of 44 percent. These figures exclude debts obtained from domestic sources, which the DMO is yet to ascertain.

We will recall how the Otunba Gbenga Daniel Administration’s abortive bid to obtain a N100 billion loan created a crisis that virtually paralysed governance in Ogun State while the Olagunsoye Oyinlola government in Osun State obtained an N18.3 billion loan for largely unviable projects that are now liabilities to the state.

The Lagos initiative will help check such abuses by imposing greater restraints and responsibilities in the exercise of government’s power to borrow and spend. But the state government must itself comply strictly with the provisions of the law. It is a law that all governments in the country need.

Acting tough •Is the sack of four PHCN chiefs by the Power minister welcome relief or media show?

HE news sure made sensational headlines: Barth Nnaji, Nigeria’s minister of Power, fires four Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) chiefs. Now, is this gallery play or a dent at last on the country’s intractable electricity problems?

According to news reports, Prof. Nnaji just sacked a quad of PHCN power distribution companies’ chief executives: Justus Obilomo (Eko), Oladele Adeola (Ibadan), George Chiatula (Benin) and Kosiso Nawakoro (Jos), for what appears to be incompetence. The news claimed the quad was sacked because of alleged consistent failure to perform and meet their targets.

Now, this must be something to cheer: allegedly sacking the power chiefs for “holding on to”, rather than giving out electricity for consumption, as their term of engagement indicated; and not for some opaque political manoeuvring of purging good hands and giving the jobs to another set of political “boys”.

Perhaps to show the minister’s determination to ensure whoever heads the PHCN distribution companies performed or shaped out, he announced another four to replace the fallen quad: Oladele Amoda (Eko), Bolaji Mofoluso (Ibadan), Dr. Effiong Umoren (Benin) and Mrs. Vera Ngozi Osuhor (Jos).

According to Ogbuagu Anikwe, the minister’s media adviser, “Government needs to see actual performance from us, both in terms of network operations and revenue collection,” he said in a release, on behalf of the minister, regarding the new appointees. “I trust you will justify the confidence that we have in you with

T

your appointments.” To underscore the credo of perform or get fired, the minister said he would hold the new chief executives responsible for “meeting the service level agreements already subsisting in their various companies.”

To start with, Nigerians must support Prof. Nnaji in whatever steps he takes to sanitise the perennially sickly Nigerian energy situation. It is even more heartwarming that very early in the day, the minister is declaring no honeymoon for the new chief executives. They would bite the dust, just as their predecessors, if they did not perform. Even more satisfying is the fact that the criteria for performance had already been laid down (routine, you might say, in other climes, but not to be taken as given in Nigeria); and that what was needed was to enforce the rules.

But inasmuch as the minister is making good sound bites, are the fundamentals of power generation and electricity distribution good? Does Nigeria generate enough electricity for the bleak power situation to improve? If it does, does it have enough distribution infrastructure and logistics in place to ensure that the power distribution chiefs meet their targets, according to the terms of their engagements?

That, it must be noted, is the challenge.

But is the minister himself up to it? Now, the lethargy in Nigeria’s public service space is legendary. Given the slothfulness and corruption that had crippled the Electricity Corporation of Nigeria (ECN) and National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), two predecessors that gave birth to the now “privatised” PHCN, any shock

therapy that the minister feels appropriate to jar the operatives into life should be welcome.

Still, Prof. Nnaji’s action is reminiscent of the early days of the late Bola Ige’s tenure as Power minister: his tight and good sounding timelines; and his perform-or-be-sacked war cry. But 12 years later, and between US $10 and US $15 billion investment in “power reforms”, the electricity situation is as murky as ever.

The minister therefore needs to do more than sensational sacks of apparently erring PHCN distribution company chiefs. He must do much more to fix the fundamentals. Otherwise, he would only engage in fruitless relay of sacks. But even that would be climaxed by his own sack – if he does not grind out the needed result!

‘The minister therefore needs to do more than sensational sacks of apparently erring PHCN distribution company chiefs. He must do much more to fix the fundamentals. Otherwise, he would only engage in fruitless relay of sacks. But even that would be climaxed by his own sack – if he does not grind out the needed result!’

How safe are Medical Devices?

A

PRESTIGIOUS medical group is concerned that most medical devices are cleared for sale without evidence that they are safe and effective. That should give everyone pause. A panel of experts assembled by the Institute of Medicine found the current regulatory approach so flawed that it called for it to be scrapped and replaced with a system better designed to protect the public’s health.

The committee found no reason to believe that any devices on the market are unsafe or ineffective; it said their use in clinical practice provides at least some level of confidence.

But it threw up its hands and said it had no way to determine which, if any, devices might be risky because there is virtually no data to rely on.

That’s because only the highest-risk devices, such as implantable defibrillators and replacement heart valves, undergo clinical trials in patients to show that they are safe and effective. Devices deemed only a “moderate risk” are cleared if the manufacturer can show that they are “substantially equivalent” to devices previously cleared. Those devices in turn may have been cleared because they were “substantially equivalent” to earlier devices that may no longer be in use.

Problems can arise when the devices are not all that similar or when none of the devices in a chain of supposed equivalents have ever been shown safe and effective. In recent years there have been reports of device failures and injuries involving metalon-metal artificial hips, a synthetic mesh “vaginal sling” to control urinary leaks, and an internal patch for injured knees, among others.

The Food and Drug Administration was taken aback when the institute’s panel concluded, unanimously, that the current system could not be fixed because “substantial equivalence” is based on comparisons reaching back more than 35 years to devices that were never systematically assessed for safety or effectiveness.

The F.D.A. promptly rejected the notion of junking the system but said it would hold hearings on the report. Industry leaders, who had been making scurrilous attacks on the panel’s objectivity even before the report was issued, voiced opposition to such a radical change.

The hearings will provide an opportunity to identify proposals — such as more rigorous surveillance of devices after they are on the market — that can be adopted comparatively quickly. The more radical notion of building a wholly new system needs more thorough airing but may be the way to go.

– The New York Timees

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THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

20

EDITORIAL/OPINION

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IR: As solely a youth-oriented programme, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Scheme was established to promote national integration and youth leadership skills in the course of nationbuilding.

Although the programme arguably, has not totally failed to achieve these over the decades, nonetheless, these are definitely not the best of times for the current management and staff of the 38year-old NYSC, introduced by the Gen. Yakubu Gowon Military Administration in the aftermath of the unfortunate civil war that raged between 1966 and 1970.

The current pressure on the scheme is informed by the increasing insecurity of lives of corps members due to killings, bomb attacks and kidnapping in certain volatile states, including Borno, Jigawa, Taraba, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Plateau and Bauchi to which graduate youths are being posted to participate in the one-year mandatory National Service.

For the umpteenth time in recent times, there have been discordant tunes on appropriate governmental authorities and other prominent stakeholders, to either phase out or restructure the programme, vis-àvis the guidelines for posting, welfare packages, issues of security of lives as well as the deployment of corps members to places of primary assignment after mobilisation at the orientation camps, among others.

Granted, that the Federal Government consequently has set up an investigative panel on post-election violence, headed by Sheikh Ahmed Lemu to probe series of violent attacks that dotted the landscape at the time, and make recommendations for possible implementation, conflicting pronouncements, emanating from the leadership at NYSC National Headquarters, in Abuja, over guidelines on re-deployment of corps members to preferred states are not helping matters in respect of re-assuring them and their parents/guardians that the nation has their interests at

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NYSC and national unity heart.

On realising that scores of serving and prospective corps members have kept seeking re-deployment to other states, the National Directorate made a U-Turn on the previous directive through various memos, saying it “appeared to have encouraged corps members from all states of the Federation, including the FCT, to besiege the national headquarters seeking relocation for the flimsiest reasons.”

To further impress it on the government that things are really fall-

ing apart with the scheme of recent, at least security-wise, the apparent lack of confidence in the capability of the state security apparati has compelled the authorities of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), in Borno State, following alleged threat letters from Boko Haram sect, to shut down the institution indefinitely, while many non-natives are leaving the troubled state in droves for dear lives.

The leaderships of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), led by Gen.

Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd), and Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, among others differently urged the NYSC authorities not to deploy graduate Yoruba sons and daughters, and the University’s graduates respectively to the North for the national service. Can anyone blame the leaderships of these institutions for taking such a precautionary measure on their people?

The Federal Government, Ministries of Defence and Youth Development and NYSC leadership,

through moral suasion should appeal to and enlist the support of traditional institutions, community leaders and youth organisations, to warn and call these troublemakers to order, so as to allow the current administration to prove its mettle regarding the implementation of its avowed ‘Transformation Agenda’.

The NYSC national headquarters, for now, should give express approval to requests of many corps members seeking re-posting to other states considered “much safer”. These officials should stop playing chess with the lives of the nation’s youth by tossing them around between Abuja and their states of service in an attempt to effect redeployment. Continuing to do this will only encourage the generality of Nigerians to lose interest in the scheme completely.

• Gbenga Kayode wrote in from Lagos.

Good leadership, not single tenure IR: ‘’In my early days in school, I had no shoes, no school bag… Fellow Nigerians, if I could make it, you can make it.’’ This was President Goodluck Jonathan make his declaration and appeal to Nigerians to support his then presidential ambition on September 18th 2010 at Eagle Square.

Some people like this writer who felt a message of hope and comfort were moved to tears while many believed that the era of grandiose and loquacious grammar was over.

Even after the wanton destruction of lives and property that heralded his victory in some parts of Northern Nigeria, these people still held unto this hope and felt he needed our support to perform and a chance to transform Nigeria.

Less than One hundred days in office, President Jonathan has proved that Nigerian politicians are one and the same. They abandon their campaign promises and manifestoes immediately they mount the saddle of leadership and manufacture some self serving agenda to

S

sooth their whims and caprices. The refusal of government at all levels to pay the new Minimum Wage; already signed into law in March, 2011 will continue to be a bad reminder of the kind of leaders we have. We had thought that considering the circumstance that brought President Jonathan to power, there should have been a remarkable departure from the old tradition by rolling out life changing programmes that will fast-track national development.

Today, it is certain that the National Assembly will receive from President Goodluck Jonathan a Bill seeking the amendment of the 2011 Constitution with the major aim of limiting the tenure of the executive arm of government at the state and federal levels to a single term of six years beginning from 2015. Some brand it tenure elongation while others question whose interest it is meant to serve. Whichever way Nigerians look at it; the self-serving programmes of our leaders must be viewed with utmost suspi-

cion.

It beats ones imagination why tenure limitation should take the front burner barely, two months after the inauguration of this government. I do not think this is part of President Jonathan’s promises.

There are many more important challenges begging for government attention. What are the immediate benefits accruable from this amendment to Nigerians? How will this amendment transform the lives of an average Almajiri in Kano, the area boy in Lagos and the hawker in Onitsha? What has this tenure limitation got to do with resolving the ravaging effect of Boko Haram, Unemployment, Insecurity of lives and property to mention but a few?

Will this throw away tribal sentiments stifling our national life?

From benefit of hindsight, constitution review is financially, time and energy consuming. The federal legislature has gotten an excuse for non-performance because this must disrupt legislative business.

People are of the view that single

term will provide a check on desperate political ambitions and put the government of the day on its toes by making sure it leaves a mark on the sands of time. Be that as it may, Nigeria has immediate enormous developmental challenges which a serious government should face head-on. Conversely, here we are again waking up from another bad side of our sleep. In fact, no matter the ‘good intention’ of government, the timing of this agenda is suspicious considering the fact that out of myriads of problems facing critical sectors of the economy like power, education, health, water, roads, it was only tenure limitation that caught the fancy of our government.

What Nigerians urgently need is a good leader who will work towards raising the standard of living of our people and the capacity for self - sustaining growth not constitutional amendment.

• Sunday Onyemaechi Eze Public Affairs Department PHCN, Kawo Business Unit, Kaduna.

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THE NATION TUESDAY,AUGUST 9, 2011

EDITORIAL/OPINION

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R

AMZA el-Mustapha, former chief security officer to late ace thief, Sani Abacha, is on trial for the alleged murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, is he? Of course not!

He is on a show, and he is on a roll for his latest soap opera, elMustafa. His central motif is: the Olakunle dead stay dumb; the living, libel Abimbola the dead to your heart’s content! lordbeek@yahoo.com, 08054504169 (Sms only, please) The thunderous applause that comes with the gallery play, the in-plant of doubt and suspicion and the trigger of recriminations come with the territory of such grim, high octane, cynical drama.

At the end of the day comes the grand prize: infernal diversion from the issue at hand. That way, everyone comworship has become a den of thieves! As Max Romeo, a pletely forgets it is a trial for the gruesome murder of an famed reggae artist once crooned, it is really stealing in innocent citizen, whose husband, MKO Abiola, won Nigerthe name of the Lord, pardon, the Law! ia’s freest and fairest elections on 12 June 1993, but served So, the el-Mustapha drama is not about the dead or even the out his four-year term in jail, before a suspicious death. docked getting justice. It is all about bragging rights against The paranoid Abacha and his goons, allegedly marshalled Law the Ass; and springing free to go back and wreak more

by Major el-Mustapha, would find no rest until the Amahavoc. That has been the motive since the trial opened in zon Kudirat was silenced. But the question is: who did it?

1999; and the odyssey of the justices, who had been heckled That is what the court is trying to find out; and thereafter, and blackmailed to quit the case, in the fond hope that the meting out appropriate time – or worse – that suits the trial would be subverted, and the accused technically reheinous crime. leased, is evidence of that diabolic motive.

But that is no motif of Soap el-Mustapha. Not for it the Still, the crescendo is here, the final act of desperation, remorse that comes with, for devilish political motives, after all else seems to have failed – the privileged, courtmaking the MKO kids emergency orphans; and the Kudirat room libelling of late but revered citizens and patriots, rechildren complete ones: their loving father and mother, making them in the thieving image of Sani Abacha, who elpicked off like some luckless game by conscienceless agents Mustapha brutally served. It is all so diabolically convenof the Nigerian state. ient!

Not for Soap el-Mustapha the sobriety that comes with the The Yoruba say the consummate liar claims his witness is courts: the severe beauty of blind-folded justice matching in London! That was way back, when the world had not crime with punishment after a clinical weighing of evibecome a global village, and London was a hideously far dence; where, like in the Biblical Law of Moses, an eye place. could go for an eye; and a life for a life; only that the crowd But for Soap el-Mustapha, the witness of the lead actor is in is not baying for blood; and there is no vengeance in the heaven – so diabolically convenient, for the dead stay dumb! air – only justice done and evidentially seen to have been Both Pa Abraham Adesanya and the late Bola Ige are possidone. ble rogues, having allegedly taken blood money to betray For Soap el-Mustapha, it is making the law into the protheir own people – Adesanya, the ascetic late leader of verbial ass; and turning the temple of justice into a circus Afenifere and the Yoruba; and plague of the Abacha despotshow; provoking societal angst, not unlike the ire of Jesus ism; and Ige, the charismatic wordsmith, whose killer wit Christ, screaming with flaming eyes: my father’s house of of “five fingers of the same leprous hand” dismissed the Abacha phoney political transition for the racket that it was; and sent the Abacha machine hopping mad, before the disgraceful transition of the evil Goggled One himself, from the reported laps of Indian prostitutes!

But of course, only a crackpot would believe such claptrap, though it makes it not any easier for the libelled loved ones, now pained beyond measure, on the attempt to stain the names of their paterfamilias, who wore their cherished integrity while alive, as one would show off his best Sun-

epublican ipples

Soap el-Mustapha

‘Let Major el-Mustapha vigorously defend himself! It is his constitutional right. But this running Soap el-Mustapha would just not do!’

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OREIGN policy is basically the summation of a state’s aspirations, objectives, anticipations, and interests as they concern its relationship with other states and international organizations operating in the international system. The fulcrum of any state’s foreign policy heavily depends on what has come to be known in diplomatic terminology as national interest(s), that is, what a state stands to gain in its interactions with other international subjects in an increasingly interdependent international circle, as necessitated by globalization.

Simply put, national interest(s) is the motivating factor behind any foreign policy. There is therefore a common saying in the academic constituency that the international status of a state cannot but be traced to prudent formation and logical execution of its national interests as represented in its foreign policy.

It is in view of the importance of foreign policy as stated above that the recently held Presidential summit on charting new foreign policy direction for Nigeria caught my attention.

The brainstorming session of foremost Nigeria diplomats (past and present) at the ECOWAS headquarters in Abuja could not have come at any better time, considering the imperativeness of re-launching a positive international image for the country as a means of limiting the damaging impacts of violent campaigns of insurgent groups like Boko Haram in recent times amidst other social problems. Perhaps, the presence of President Goodluck Jonathan, Ambassador Gbenga Ashiru, Minister of Foreign Affairs and that of Chief Emeka Anyaoku (former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations) and Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee on Foreign Relations, explains the seriousness attached to the need for a new course in our international engagements.

However, one must not be parochial minded regarding the imperativeness for a new foreign policy at this particular stage of our country’s history, especially, in the face of the ever dynamic global village, of which Nigeria is a member.

With the benefit of hindsight, one will come to the conclusion that Nigeria has benefited very little when juxtaposing her past commitments and sacrifices to the gains accrued to her diplomatic crusades over the decades. This is due not to the dearth of qualified personalities in our diplomatic machinery, but the lack of a clearly defined and rigorously pursued citizen-centred diplomacy.

In the days after her independence in the 1960s, Africa’s liberation and emancipation was made the centrepiece of Nigeria’s foreign policy. This catapulted the young country, helped by her buoyant economy into the pinnacle of the continent’s political importance- especially as this was in the hay era of African opposition to the racial segregation policy of apartheid in South Africa. This was encouraged by the need to pursue attainment of independence for many Africa countries that remained colonies of western powers

Still on Nigeria’s new foreign policy

By Ajala Funmilola like Britain, France, and Portugal. This motivated the country into actively supporting the formation of the Organization of African Unity O.A.U. (now African Union A.U.), and Economic Community of West Africa States ECOWAS in 1963 and 1975 respectively.

Furthermore, Nigeria’s commitment to the advancement of the African continent continued, even long after many of the colonies attained political independence, mostly in the 1960s and 1970s. This is demonstrated in the so called “Father Christmas” policy of granting economic aids and grants to fellow African countries indiscriminately. Intervention and peacekeeping operations in troubled spots in and out of the continent almost became synonymous with Nigeria over the years; she perhaps single-handedly provided financial and human cost of the launch and operations of ECOMOG in Liberia and Sierra-Leone in the 1990s. But sadly, these sacrifices were not adequately appreciated as most of our military personnel came back in body bags, while Nigerian immigrants in the concerned countries were turned against and persecuted by warring locals.

Therefore, considering the afore-enumerated scenarios, it is definitely not out of order to initiate new set of policies, but the question begging for an answer lies in “how do we go about it?”

Firstly, the focus of the government should be on domestic political and economic emancipation as this is the only bedrock through which the country’s national capability and wherewithal can be embedded in the minds of political actors in other countries; especially in the African continent. It is tantamount to self-delusion for any country to think she can be seen as a peace-broker by others when she suffers from seemingly unending internal security threats.

Also, the continuing exit of multi-national corporations from the country, complaining of epileptic power induced high cost of production, among other social problems should be expediently tackled if we are to establish a solid economy which will not only retain old foreign businesses, but attract potential investors the world over.

Secondly, Nigeria needs her best brains in the course of executing the new foreign policy principles with a view to

day dress.

For the surviving Adesanyas, this is cynical new business; for nobody had ever questioned the integrity of the famed Triple A: Abraham Aderibigbe Adesanya, the tiny David who stood before and, with bare arms, bested Abacha and his goons at the height of Abacha’s evil reign. If he was such a moral vermin, how come the Abacha establishment trembled before Triple A’s tiny frame?

But for the surviving Iges, it is a question of when it rains, it pours! The other day, Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Ige’s supposed loyal friend, ridiculed his memory to explain away his government’s power racket. Ige, he insisted, never knew his left from his right before he was mercifully yanked off the Power ministry. Now, elMustapha is suggesting Ige compromised himself, though he might not have known it, and his prize was a ministerial appointment that ruptured his relationship with Afenifere, his political movement; and set off steps that led to his tragic assassination. When it rains, it pours!

But again, if Bola Ige was such a moral cesspit that would take money to betray his people, why was he such pest to Abacha, so much so that once, with Lam Adesina, later governor of Oyo State, he was “captured” as prisoner of war (POW)?

Major el-Mustapha’s tale by the moonlight is the stuff which crackpots lap up. Still, he seems to have struck a chord with a senior citizen, Dr. Fredrick Fasehun, the founder of the Odu’a People’s Congress (OPC), another Abacha era aberration.

Dr. Fasehun has jumped into virtual judgement claiming, on account of el-Mustapha’s vituperations, that the leaders the Yoruba trusted could in fact had been posturing something and doing the other. From that, he has moved on to pleading that el-Mustapha be released, since his revelations could impair national security! Some classic scarecrow tactics to spring an accused person in a high-profile assassination!

May the respected Pa Fasehun live long. But let him know that by rushing to judgment over former anti-Abacha comrades, whose integrity people hardly questioned, he has left himself, he whose integrity nobody has had cause to doubt, open to similar cranky assault on his sweet memory, when he is gone and he is not here to defend himself!

As for Major el-Mustapha, let him vigorously defend himself! It is his constitutional right. But this running Soap elMustapha would just not do! If it has not aborted his trial since 1999, it is doubtful if it could spring him from the dock.

Most importantly, let Kudirat get justice. Nigeria has done MKO too grievous harm for that injustice to stand and for something not to give. Let those who can still hear, hear! put the country back on the path of international greatness.

It is a known fact that the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo during his first term (between 1999 and 2003) was immensely helped by the services of seasoned career personalities like Ambassador Olu Adeniji, Prof.

Okonjo Iweala, Dr. Oby Ezekwesile, just to mention but few.

However, the reversal in trend during Obasanjo’s second term (2003-2007) was to the detriment of Nigeria, as appointment of High Commissioners and Ambassadors became subject of politics and party affiliation- thus opening floodgates for mediocrity. The country should put square pegs in square holes; hence the best of our diplomats should be given the chance to actively lead this latest challenge.

Thirdly and most importantly, the welfare of Nigerians should be the first priority in such considerations which concern the country. We should borrow a leaf from the United States whose citizens’ security and wellbeing supersedes any other interests or calculations. The citizen diplomacy of late President Yar’adua should be enlivened to cater for Nigerians abroad as the situations under which many of them hang on to life outside the shores of the country are very pathetic to say the least. This is why the declaration by the Senate President, David Mark that over 16,000 Nigerians are languishing in United Kingdom prisons came as a complete unacceptable surprise to Nigerians back home.

• Ajala is a Lead City University graduate of Politics and International Relations

‘It is in view of the importance of foreign policy as stated above that the recently held Presidential summit on charting new foreign policy direction for Nigeria caught my attention. The brainstorming session of foremost Nigeria diplomats (past and present) at the ECOWAS headquarters in Abuja could not have come at any better time, considering the imperativeness of relaunching a positive international image for the country as a means of limiting the damaging impacts of violent campaigns of insurgent groups like Boko Haram in recent times amidst other social problems’

THE NATION TUESDAY,AUGUST 9, 2011

22

EDITORIAL/OPINION OR a reporter, there is nothing more exciting than hearing from or interviewing the main actor in a great event or an eye witness to a momentous occasion. It is even better when you are a participant observer in that great event that you are reporting or writing about. It gives your story that extra aura of believability, after all your main source or subject was part of the event or witnessed it. But you get disappointed when you suspect or discovered that the source of your story was making up the story. But in the absence of any fact to support your suspicion, it becomes your personal opinion and there is no room for personal view/opinion in news reporting; report the facts as they are.

I guess my colleagues at the Lagos High Court last week when Major Hamza alMustapha, the former Chief Security Officer to late Head of State General Sani Abacha was giving evidence in a murder trial must have felt like this. They must have been excited and thanked their luck for being the reporter in the court room when the dreaded ex CSO/spy chief was telling the nation what happened during that tense period in the history of our nation when the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election Bashorun MKO Abiola died, or as most Nigerians believe, was murdered in government detention.

They must have been excited at first but later disappointed at what arguably the most powerful and dreaded Major Nigeria Army has ever produced has got to say. They were not alone. Most Nigerians were. Why? The reasons were not far fetched. alMustapha’s ‘evidence’ was in sharp contrast to widely held belief about events leading to and after the death of Chief Abiola. He was also speaking at a wrong event as he was in court for his alleged role in the killing Chief Abiola’s wife, Kudirat, by government goons while he was Abacha’s CSO. He also spoke few days after the man who annulled Abiola’s election General Ibrahim Babangida had openly spoke in his favour regarding his trial, a position, in retrospect, many believe was part of a grand plot to curry public sympathy for al-Mustapha who had been in detention since 1998 for various crimes he allegedly committed or sanctioned while he held sway at the presidential villa as the man behind Abacha.

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Why now al-Mustapha? al-Mustapha accused the government of General Abdulsalami Abubakar that succeeded Abacha’s of being responsible for Abiola’s death is spite of his admonition that the late politician be released and allowed to claim his mandate after a short transition. He equally accused that regime of knowing more than it was ready to admit on the death of Abacha who died in office in 1998. He alleged that he too was killed.

The army Major also alluded to some form of complicity on the part of some revered Yoruba leaders in the continued detention of Chief Abiola then and his subsequent death in government custody. He mentioned in particular, late Yoruba leaders Pa Abraham Adesanya and Chief Bola Ige as visiting General Abubakar during that period, going in in long faces but smiling when they were leaving, implying that they must have been finically compromised to sell out on Abiola and June 12.

He also made other sundry allegations against some other top government officials in the Abdulsalami regime; had some words for former president, Olusegun Obasanjo; claimed he was being detained ‘indefinitely’ by some powerful interests, and some other irrelevances.

Expectedly, his accusation against some Yoruba leaders on the Abiola issue has attracted the most comments across the spectrum especially in Yoruba land with some of the region’s leaders dismissing it as an attempt by a drowning man to hold on to even a straw to save himself. One even said he was not surprised because al-Mustapha is a known hater of the Yoruba race and has no respect for the people and their leaders.

This is a very serious allegation one which

though can not be proven, tallies with wide held belief in the region, considering what notable Yoruba went through in the hands of the Abacha regime of which al-Mustapha was a principal player. Ironically, a prominent Yoruba son and leader/founder of Oodua Peoples Congress Dr. Frederick Faseun has been calling for the release of alMustafa and was even in court last week to listen to the dreaded former Chief Security Officer.

Though whether al-Mustapha was or is a Yoruba hater or not is besides the point, his character trait could throw some light on his kind person and why he had to say what he was saying in court. Though one is not a psychologist or an expert in character reading, my personal encounter with him during his time with Abacha as the late Head of State CSO when the man was still Chief of Army Staff showed that al-Mustafa is full of himself and a no respecter of others with different views and outside his clique.

As Airport Correspondent then, I was at the press centre of the Presidential Lounge at the Ikeja Airport one late morning when al-Mustapha drove in accompanied by aides.

On his way in there were two army Generals, Major General Abdullahi Bagudu Mamman and one other I can’t recollect now, discussing and the ‘bloody’ Major just walked in pass them without giving complements to his superior officers. Those self respecting officers just ignored him and pretended as if nothing had happened. Of course they were wise to have done that for to challenge Major al-Mustapha was to be courting trouble. Ask Lt.General Oladipo Diya and go and read what late Major General Abdulkarim Adisa said about prostrating for your junior

officer with such enormous powers like alMustapha had and you’ll understand why General Mamman and his colleague wisely ignored him.

So, this is the man that wants us to believe he was such a nice and patriotic person, and was acting in our best interest and doing us a favour with all those atrocities committed under his watch while in ‘power’?

When my colleagues and I later drew the attention of some of al-Mustapha’s mates and seniors to what we observed that day at the airport and wondered where discipline has gone to in the Army, we were advised to pretend as if we didn’t see anything and mention it no more anywhere. Of course we took the advice.

Now tell me, can somebody with this kind of attitude and mind set suddenly become such a nice person or could have such a meek heart, unknown to any other person, such that he could be championing a call within government for the release of Abiola by General Abdulsalami? Why did he have to wait for Abdusalami to get to power before calling for Abiola’s release? Why did he not convince Abacha to let go of Abiola when the brute was still in power, as he claimed to have advised Abdusalami?

His accusation against Pa Adesanya, Chief Ige and some other unnamed Yoruba leaders are mere distractions and the Yoruba nation and indeed the rest of Nigerians are no fools. If al-Mustapha has any serious prove of this allegation of sell out, let him bring forth. He should not deceive us and waste our time with his video show. We are tired of that. We have not forgotten how he and others turned the villa into a huge cinema for the premiere of the so called Diya coup story. So no more video show. He claim to have evidence that borders on state security to prove his case, let him give to the court and allow their lordship to determine how best to use it.

While I don’t have faith in whatever he has got to say, he has the right to say whatever he thinks will save his neck and the court is in a better position to decide. Why he is saying all these things now when Ige and Adesanya are no more alive, I don’t know. Have they brought us closer to the truth about Abiola’s death? I don’t think so.

Can they advance the course of justice? Time will tell. Can they get him out of his problems? Time also will tell.

VIEW FROM THE FOREIGN PRESS

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North Korea’s carrot-and-stick strategy

ULY is typically the time of year when North Korea makes peace overtures toward the United States. This is when it tries to rekindle expectations, reset deadlines and heal the previous year’s wounds. Last week, Pyongyang’s chief nuclear negotiator arrived in New York for talks with Stephen Bosworth, the U.S. special representative for North Korea policy, calling for “reconciliation.” As if on cue, one day later, the Korean Central News Agency — the Kim Jong Il regime’s official news agency — called for a “peace agreement” with the U.S. Just one year earlier, in July 2010, North Korea stated that it would “make consistent efforts for the conclusion of a peace treaty and the denuclearization through the sixparty talks conducted on equal footing.” This announcement came the day after a U.N. Security Council statement that fell just short of directly blaming North Korea for the sinking of a South Korean naval ship that March. Four months later, when neither the U.S. nor South Korea took the bait to restart talks, Pyongyang ratcheted up the pressure by revealing a new uranium enrichment plant and shelling an inhabited South Korean island, its previous peace pledge notwithstanding.

So what to make of Pyongyang’s midyear peace ploy, consistently waged in one form or another since 2002 (save for 2006, when the Kim regime test-fired several rockets on July 4)?

In making these periodic propositions, Pyongyang is essentially asking U.S. policymakers to believe that its rhetorical peace trumps U.S. military deterrence, even in a volatile political arena like the Korean peninsula, where two starkly different systems have clashed over the last six decades in an existential contest for panKorean legitimacy.

North Korea’s latest peace offensive started

Sung-Yoon Lee July 27, the 58th anniversary of the signing of the Korean War armistice. Although this date is largely forgotten elsewhere, it is celebrated each year in North Korea as “Victory Day in the Fatherland Liberation War.” The Korean Central News Agency, or KCNA, called for the replacement of the cease-fire agreement with a “peace agreement” with the U.S., “in order to put an end to the confrontation and conflicts and ensure durable peace and security on the Korean Peninsula.”

The annual “Victory Day” is a reminder of the unfinished business of the North Korean revolution, Pyongyang’s ultimate goal in starting the Korean War. In another article last week, the KCNA reported: “July 27 … was the day … when the army and the people of the DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] under the distinguished guidance of President Kim Il Sung defeated the U.S.led imperialist aggressors to win the historic victory.”

History, of course, shows that Kim Il Sung, father of the current North Korean leader, recorded no such “historic victory” over the U.S. Yet North Korea still claims victory, and insists on a “peace agreement” with its “vanquished” foe. Why? The answer is given in the July 27 KCNA commentary, if you read between the histrionic lines.

“The U.S. has so far interfered in the internal affairs of Korea as the direct party concerned of the AA [Armistice Agreement] and exercised the right to military control over south [sic] Korea.”

By characterizing the U.S. troop presence in South Korea as “military control” over “south” Korea, Pyongyang is implying that the U.S., despite “defeat” in war, is still unjustly occupying the southern part of

North Korean territory. Moreover, Pyongyang is not-so-subtly blaming Washington for all contentious issues in inter-Korean relations as well as its bilateral relations with the U.S., while arguing that a peace treaty is the panacea that can cure all security problems on the Korean peninsula.

A peace treaty with Washington would dramatically advance Pyongyang’s longheld goal of irreversibly evicting U.S. troops from South Korea. Amid euphoria and political spin celebrating the dawn of a new era on the Korean peninsula, such a treaty would call into question the very raison d’etre of the U.S. forces in South Korea, leading to calls for their total withdrawal. In the short term, such developments would tilt the balance of power on the peninsula in North Korea’s favor, as Pyongyang would be far better positioned to maximize its leverage on political, military and economic issues vis-à-vis Washington, Seoul and Tokyo. In the long term, North Korea probably would be emboldened to carry out limited war against the South.

In the coming months, Pyongyang will continue to press for peace and aid by dangling the prospect of denuclearization.

If history is any guide, Pyongyang is likely to resort to both “goodwill” theatrics and/ or serious provocations to advance its longterm goals. The response by the U.S. and its allies should be to treat each dramatic “concession” by Pyongyang, such as cultural exchanges and family reunions between North and South Koreans, for what they are, theatrics, and to meet each provocation with tougher economic penalties. Above all, Washington, Seoul and Tokyo must stand firm in targeting and sanctioning Pyongyang on its multifaceted illicit activities — like money-laundering and counterfeiting — not to mention its egregious human rights violations.

By now, 20 years into the North Korean nuclear saga, it should be apparent that Pyongyang has persistently sought to gain the upper hand over its adversaries through periodic military provocations and peace ploys. It’s a strategy that North Korea will not abandon for short-term rewards such as aid or relaxed sanctions, and certainly not for the gift of a peace treaty.

Pyongyang’s idiosyncratic official statements, as incredible as they usually are, merit a close reading. For beneath the many false and outlandish claims often lie the Kim regime’s true intentions.

• Sung-Yoon Lee teaches Korean foreign relations at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University..

‘Amid euphoria and political spin celebrating the dawn of a new era on the Korean peninsula, such a treaty would call into question the very raison d’etre of the U.S. forces in South Korea, leading to calls for their total withdrawal. In the short term, such developments would tilt the balance of power on the peninsula in North Korea’s favor, as Pyongyang would be far better positioned to maximize its leverage on political, military and economic issues vis-à-vis Washington, Seoul and Tokyo’

23

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

MARITIME Customs condemns illegal toll collection

O

• Umar (left), Akpobolokemi and NPA MD Omar Suleiman at the event.

PHOTO: OLUWAKEMI DAUDA

Govt will help NIMASA to clear ship wrecks, says Minister

T

HE Federal Government will support the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to implement the Cabotage Act, Transport Minister Idris Umar, has said.

Umar said the government would back NIMASA in removing wrecks from the sea to enhance navigation.

NIMASA, he said, needed such help to ensure the protection of local ship owners and safety at sea.

Speaking at the NIMASA Resource Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos, after a tour of facilities at the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) and NIMASA, Umar said the country could be the number one maritime nation in Africa if human capacity building is taken seriously by the heads of each parastatal under his ministry.

Director-General of NIMASA Patrick Akpobolokemi said the

By Oluwakemi Dauda, Maritime Correspondent

agency would tackle piracy and associated crimes on the nation’s territorial waters.

Akpobolokemi described the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act 2003, as a law protecting indigenous operators.

He said: “Indigenous ship owners have complained that the waiver clause has helped make implementation of the law difficult.”

The law, he said, could be easily implemented if the government supports NIMASA. Stakeholders, however, identified three issues as the bane of Cabotage law implementation.

One of them and a maritime lawyer, Mr Dolapo Balogun, alleged that some people in government

were frustrating the implementation of the law.

His words: “There is no doubt that some powerful individuals in government are trying to frustrate the implementation of the law. But with the assurance given by the minister, maybe there is hope for the implementation of the law.”

Another operator, Mr Solomon Ajayi said the implementation should not be a problem, adding: “NIMASA does not even need to get to the jetty to arrest a vessel.

The agency can ask a vessel to disclose its point of loading. So, if it is offshore Lagos or offshore Cotonou, the agency can then verify if it is on the list of Cabotage registered vessels.

Chairman, Olive Venture, Mr Samson Ojikutu, said the Cabotage regime covers ship building, ownership, manning and registration.

‘Importers decry unfriendly import duty’

I

MPORTERS are not happy that goods destined for the ports are diverted to neighbouring countries. They have urged the Federal Government to address what they called “unfriendly port charges.”

Over 80 per cent of containerised goods that arrive at neighbouring countries, mostly Cotonou port, the importers said, are ment for Nigeria.

They said government agencies at the ports should be alive to their responsibilities to curb cargo diversion.

Speaking at a workshop organised by the importers at Badagry, the Executive Director, Holas Import and Export Group, Mr Sunday Gabriel, said un-

By Oluwakemi Dauda, Maritime Correspondent

friendly port charges have been the major factor contributing to the diversion of cargo to neighbouring countries over the years and urged the new Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar to address the issue.

He said as long as the government, terminal operators and other service providers continue to impose more charges on the importers, it would continue to distort the revenue generation of the Nigeria Customs Service because some genuine importers would prefer to divert their goods to the ports of neighbouring countries where they would pay lesser duty.

Some unscrupulous importers, Gabriel, said would take the risk by smuggling their goods into the country in order to evade what he called ‘outrageous duty.’

Contributing, a clearing agent and Chairman, Sunlight Freight Enterprise, Mr Sunday Badmus said most Nigerian importers now import their goods through Cotonu port.

Eighty per cent of imports in Contou, he said, are Nigerian cargoes.

The country, he said, does not have friendly port operations and the charges are very high. ‘‘The reason for having these ports is to see that the cost of doing business is cheap and efficient. But that is not the case today,” he said.

Security agents lament porous borders

T

HE nation’s porous borders have become a source of serious concern to Customs officers assigned to man the nation’s land borders along Idiroko area of Ogun State.

Speaking with The Nation in Abeokuta on the challenges facing Customs in checkmating illegal importation of vehicles and other goods into the country, a senior Customs Officer who does not want his name in print, said they are not finding it easy to stem the cycle of criminalities along the border towns.

He admitted that the porosity of Idiroko border with Benin Repub-

By Oluwakemi Dauda, Maritime Correspondent

lic, which accounts for the numerous illegal routes (1,000 illegal routes as estimated), posed a serious security and economic threat to the country and called for eternal vigilance on the part of Customs official and other security operatives at the border.

While comparing Seme border with Idiroko border, a senior official of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agents (NDLEA) who does not want his name in print said the Idiroko border faces a greater problem because, while Seme bor-

der is bounded by sea and long stretch of swamp, with one access route, which makes tracking down transnational crime easier. Idiroko border, he said, is dry land and has numerous illegal routes which make smuggling and drug trafficking easy for their perpetrators.

Other factors, he said, included proximity of residential houses, markets and motor parks to the border‘s main gate, and illegal activities of touts in the area.

He said many security agents have been killed in the process of apprehending smugglers and drug merchants.

FFICIALS of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), and the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) have condemned the collection of what they call illegal tolls at the ports by government agencies.

Speaking with The Nation in Lagos, a senior official of NPA, who works at Apapa port but craved anonymity, said there was an urgent need for the Federal Government to adopt measures to curb the excesses of the agencies at the port.

The NPA official, however, urged Customs to set up a dynamic database of all imported goods.

He said: “This is the only country where importers make declarations to ensure a large profit goes to him after taking delivery of their consignments. This is where Customs will have to come in to save consumers by setting up a dynamic database of all imported commodities, just as it has developed a database for cars/vehicles imports.

If this is done, then anyone who imports already knows what he is paying as customs duty and there would be no need to beg

By Oluwakemi Dauda, Maritime Correspondent

or bribe security agents before taking delivery of their goods.”

A senior official of Customs who works at Tin-Can port, who does not want his name in print, urged the government to put in place a control measure on its numerous security agencies at the port.

He said there was need for the management of NCS to do everything within its powers to minimise the excesses of those who operate at the nation’s gateway.

The Customs officer refuted the allegations that Customs is responsible for the high cost of goods in the market. He, however, contended that prices of goods in the market would reduce drastically if security agencies at the port perform their role without extorting monies from importers and their clearing agents.

The officer pointed out that many importers are also part of the problems leading to delay in cargo clearance at the port because of their inability to make correct declaration.

NPA, LASTMA decongest port

T

HE Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Lagos State Transport Management (LASTMA) Authority have decongested the Lagos Tin-Can port.

They removed over 300 vehicles on the access roads within the port. Majority of the vehicles had been abandoned for over three months.

When The Nation visited the port, officials of NPA and LASTMA were seen clearing trucks and vehicles parked indiscriminately.

From the first gate to the second gate of the Tin-Can port, port users now move freely.

By Oluwakemi Dauda, Maritime Correspondent

Speaking with The Nation, the leader of the LASTMA, Olajuwon Olaniyi, said they were contacted

by NPA officials to assist in decongesting the Port.

Majority of port users, who spoke with The Nation, said they were happy with the development.

The Chairman, Maritime Logistics, Mr Sunday Adebari, said he was happy because of the collaboration between NPA and LASTMA to free the port from the shackles of the lawless truck drivers.

‘Drop plan for new academy’

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ROMOTER of the nation’s first private maritime academy Dr Hugh Nwaneri has called on the Federal Government to drop the plan to establish additional maritime academies. He said heavy spending on such projects have not been justified.

Speaking with The Nation in Lagos, Nwaneri, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Elkins Marine Training International (EMTI), said such a step was illadvised and would be a drain pipe for siphoning public funds.

He said the government has a poor record in managing such es-

By Uyoatta Eshiet

tablishments.

Chairman, Council for Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) Mr Hakeem Olanrewaju has expressed support for private maritime training institutions to boost manpower development.

Olanrewaju said the establishment of private academies was a good way to support the Academy of Nigeria, in Oron, Akwa Ibom State, which cannot meet the manpower demands of the maritime and oil sectors.

Minister urged to hasten Port Act enactment

T

HE Ministry of Transport has been advised to assist in quickening the enactment of a Port and Harbour law.

The Federal Government started the port reform programme and concession of the infrastructure to private sector operators since 2001.

So far, 24 out of the 26 port terminals have been concessioned.

Speaking with The Nation in Lagos, the Managing Director of Global Industry Limited, Mr Adeola Adesanya, said fast-tracking the process would ensure that the interest of Nigerians was not sacrificed as a result of incomplete implementation of the port reform.

He was worried that the Port and Harbour Bill still remained in the cooler four years after agreements had been signed with the terminal operators and the terminals

By Oluwakemi Dauda, Maritime Correspondent

handed over to them.

He observed that the National Transport Commission that was conceived as an economic regulator for the sub-sector was yet to see the light of the day.

Adesanya said the port reform and restructuring was aimed at increasing efficient operation, decrease the cost of service rendered and to make Nigeria the hub for international freight and trade in West and Central Africa.

A stakeholder in the industry, Mr Wale Aladejobi, called on the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) to monitor compliance and start the regulation of port operations and services in the country.

24

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

MARITIME Maritime Watch Support for NPA Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda, Maritime Correspondent

THE President, Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), Prof Michael Filani, has pledged the support of the logistics institute to the realisation of Nigerian Ports Authority’s (NPA) statutory objectives.

Filani made the pledge when he led the institute’s council members on a courtesy visit to the NPA Managing Director, Mr Omar Suleiman.

Filani said the Nigerian Chapter of the CILT, which was established in 1958 had been in the forefront of pursuing national issues, and particularly those that could make the nation become more focused and cost effective.

The NPA boss expressed joy that the CILT was consistent in its pursuit of national issues and assured that his organisation would do everything possible to reciprocate this, particularly through a seamless partnership in all areas of logistics.

Benin Navy confronts pirates

By Uyoatta Eshiet • Lagos port

ANLCA challenges govt on port facilities, agencies T

HE Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), has urged the Federal Government to invest in port facilities and reduce the number of its agencies.

More cargoes, ANLCA said, are diverted to the ports of neighbouring countries because of poor port facilities.

ANLCA, therefore, advised the government to fix the ports and curb irregularities of its agencies at the port to boost trade facilitation.

Speaking at a forum organised by the group in Lagos last week, the National President of the association, Alhaji Olayiwola Shittu, bemoaned government’s insensitivity to the pains and agonies bedeviling port users as a result of the bad roads leading to the ports.

Shittu said only an irresponsive government would close its eyes and al-

By Oluwakemi Dauda, Maritime Correspondent

low things to go bad before taking the necessary action and urged the Federal Government to fix the roads so that port users would stop suffering needlessly and endlessly.

He said the Federal Government does not live by the rules guiding the profession, which he said, has resulted in a number of problems in the sector.

He said a situation where many security agencies at the ports are performing overlapping functions, is not good for a port aspiring to become the hub in the sub-region.

The nation’s seaports, Shittu alleged, have been left in the hands of highest bidders to milk in the name of security control and in spite of realities on ground that multiplicity of security agencies at the ports is an impedi-

•Shittu

ment to trade facilitation.

Another stakeholder, Mr Samuel Adams, said the maritime industry is endowed with enormous natural resources which can provide great potential and opportunities necessary to achieve rapid and sustainable growth and development if the gov-

ernment carries out its responsibilities of developing port infrastructure.

“Based on this development and strategic position we occupy in the industry and sub-region for the development of human capital for an enhanced economy, it is expected of us to train our youths to develop interest in maritime education.”

To meet the manpower requirement for the industry, Adams canvassed robust, consistent, versatile and dynamic maritime policies which are in tandem with global issues to achieve the desired level of efficiency in the sector.

He lamented that the country, despite its huge population has no maritime university compared to countries like the Philippines which he said has over 40 maritime academies with half of the nation’s population.

NGO urges govt to cancel temporary import licence

T

HE Federal Government has been urged to cancel Temporary Import Licence (TIL) for ships.

The call was made in Lagos last week by the Agenda for Good Governance (AGOG), a non-governmental organisation, at seminar organised by the group on seafarers training.

Speaking at the occasion, the Executive Secretary of the group, Mr Rotimi Onakoya said TIL deprives the country of substantial revenue from duty sources.

Under the temporary im-

By Oluwakemi Dauda, Maritime Correspondent

portation laws, Onakoya said foreign ship owners are allowed to bring vessels into the country with a temporary import permit, which comes with negligible levy yearly, as against 13 per cent duty on vessels imported into the country by indigenous ship owners.

Onakoya, however, urged indigenous ship owners to form a united front in their push for involvement in inland and coastal shipping

business, if they expect success in their agitation.

A member of the group, Mr Kolapo Balogun, also urged indigenous ship owners to come together under one umbrella for them to be taken as a serious group of business people.

According to him, there are too many groups fighting for a common purpose without the needed coordination in the sector.

Balogun said the sector is now dominated by foreigners, who are now being

granted “indiscriminate waiver,” by the Federal Ministry of Transport, through the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) at the detriment of local ship owners.

Nigerian ship owners had recently asked the Federal Government to abrogate the Temporary Import Licence on vessels for a flat rate of two per cent for indigenous and foreign operators to help create a level playing field for all operators in the nation’s maritime sector.

How bad infrastructure hampers logistics

B

AD infrastructure has been identified as the major cause of logistics problem experienced at the ports.

The Director-General of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr Jide Mike, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ meeting held to find ways out of the gridlock faced by businesses in Nigeria.

Logistics in ancient times, he explained, applied to

By Uyoatta Eshiet

military science that dealt with the procurement, maintenance and transportation of military materials, facilities and personnel. In general application, it relates to the organisation of supplies of services for any complex operation.

Speaking at the seminar, Mike, stated that the role of logistics in the import

and export sector of the economy as well as the domestic segment cannot be overemphasised.

Nigeria, he said, has an open economy with exports and imports activities carried out yearly with other countries but regrettably has decaying and inadequate logistics infrastructure.

The level of imports (FOB) as at December 2009, according to the director-

general, stood at N4,194.50 billion while exports (FOB) were N6,771.60 billion.

Jide said capital goods constituted 58.8 per cent of imports, consumer goods constituted 40.5 per cent while unclassified was 0.7 per cent. The manufacturing sector of the economy imports 60 per cent of its raw material requirements while plant and machinery and spare parts accounted for over 90 per cent.

PIRATES attacked two Panamanian-flagged tankers off the coast of Benin last week.

The vessels were undergoing a ship-to-ship transfer, but were driven off by the Benin Navy, local authorities said. ”The ships Golden Sifia and Aidin Panama – alerted Benin‘s naval security forces of an armed attack,” Navy Commander Maxime Ahoyo told Reuters. “When we arrived on the scene we succeeded in chasing off 10 pirates, all Nigerians, who managed to break in but hurt no one,” he said.

He also said the 54 crew aboard the two ships, were able to hide after the pirates boarded and fired.

Some 26 pirate attacks have been recorded off Benin since the start of the year, including an attack on an Italian tanker last week, Reuters said.

In another attack last Sunday, Wisby Ship Management’s Gotland Sofia was boarded by about 10 pirates, while she was undergoing an STS about 70 kilometres from the Benin capital Cotonou . The crew, consisting of four Swedes, 18 Filipinos and a Ukrainian, proceeded to lock themselves in. The pirates tried to gain access to the area in which the crew had blockaded themselves, but fled when units from Benin’s Navy fleet approached.

Holding bay for truck drivers STAKEHOLDERS operating in the nation’s maritime industry have sent an appeal to the Federal Government as well as the Lagos State Government to ensure they find a lasting solution to the traffic gridlock on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway by establishing a modern truck terminal for all container laden trucks to be evacuated to.

The appeal was sent last week at a one-day workshop organised by the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) in collaboration with the Ports Consultative Council (PCC) with the theme: Logistics and supply chain management in Apapa and Tin Can ports: Challenges and opportunities of a modern truck terminal/ holding bay in Lagos.

The stakeholders observed that since the volume of cargoes coming into the Lagos ports have increased compared to when the port was first created, albeit as a transit port, there is need for the infrastructure provided around the port vis-à-vis the access roads and parking areas to also be expanded and checked continually.

Chairman of the Port Consultative Council (PCC), Otunba Kunle Folarin, called on the Federal Government urgency; identify the challenges of a good port access road and create a holding bay for all the container trucks that patronise the port, because according to him, the situation is already assuming an alarming dimension.

Customs sacks four officials THE Comptroller-General of Customs, Dikko Abdullahi, has approved the dismissal of four Customs official for gross misconduct.

According to a statement by Deputy Public Relations Officer, NCS, Joseph Atta, the officials were arrested by a military patrol team at a beer parlour in Abuja drinking alcohol, displaying fire arms and conducting themselves in a manner that clearly contradict their calling as trained security personnels.

Dikko said their dismissal shows his administration’s zero tolerance for indiscipline, abuse of office and intimidation of Nigerians, who officers are paid to protect.

Training on RAR DESTINATION Inspection (DI) service provider, SGS Scanning Nigeria Limited has been given kudos for its innovative and value, adding training of officers of the Nigeria Customs on Risk Assessment Reports and price verification.

Speaking at the closing ceremony for the Ninth batch of its Officers trained by the company, Comptroller Rudyand Ponfa Bahal, said the Service is impressed with the quality of training being provided to customs personnel posted to the company which if sustained would soon transform NCS into a leading Customs administration in the world.

The on-the-job training covered price verification, classification and risk management. Participants were also acquainted with the requirements and process leading to the issuance of Risk Assessment Reports (RARs), a vital document required by traders to clear their imports from the nation’s ports and border posts.

25

PROPERTY

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com

* The Environment * Mortgage * Apartments * Security * Homes *Real Estate

email:- property@thenationonlineng.net

Mainland Park Estate: Subscribers, developer feud over allocation papers

•Main entrance to Mainland Estate, Mowe, Ogun State.

PHOTO: OKWY IROEGBU

When Pentagon Real Estate Investment Limited, owners of Mainland Park Estate, Mowe, Ogun State, advertised the sale of plots of land in its 117 hectares expanse of land in 2006, response was overwhelming. Over 3,000 subscribers bought into the scheme with much enthusiasm but all that seems to be waning as the subscribers allege that after five years, they are yet to receive allocation papers but rather inundated with requests to make additional payments for various services.

But the developer said the agitation is malicious,claiming that over 2,000 subscribers have received their allocations reports OKWY IROEGBU •Continued on page 26

•FOTE seeks access to cooking gas - PAGE 26

•United Nigeria Textile: Lagos insists on compliance - PAGE 27

•FMBN introduces e-collection for NHF contributions - PAGE 28

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

26

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

FOTE seeks access to cooking gas F

OLLOWINGby the devastat ing effects of man’s activities on the environment, experts have warned that if care is not taken, mankind will stand the risk of experiencing hunger and starvation.

Efforts are, therefore, being made by experts including non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to find ways of mitigating or preventing actions that would have negative impact on the environment and the well-being of mankind.

One of such NGOs is Friends of the Environment (FOTE), which has been playing key roles in ensuring that the environment is safe. This it does through seminars and workshops through which it creates awareness on the dangers of human actions that are harmful to the environment and, invariably, affect the well-being of mankind.

Mindful of its goals, which include saving the environment and ensuring that Nigerians, in particular, live in surroundings that guarantee health, FOTE organised a national workshop on Climate Change: Popularising the Use of Cooking Gas in Nigeria on Thursday last week at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Conference and Exhibition Centre, Alausa, Lagos.

Welcoming participants to the workshop, Chairperson of FOTE, Mrs J. O. Maduka, an engineer, said her organisation believes that clean and efficient energy is the key to mitigating the effects of climate change in the country.

She added: “The overall goal of the campaign was to deliver cleaner, modern fuel in the form of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and create sustainable markets for its consumption and use in all households in urban and rural communities, institutions and enterprises/ businesses for improved living conditions and enhance environmental sustainability.”

•Mr J. A. Ajose of Lagos State Fire Service; Felix Nyado,Director Monitoring and Evaluation, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, Mrs Risikat Akiyode and Mr Tijani, at the event.

By Chinaka Okoro

Mrs Maduka said that the objectives of the group include averting Climate Change through gender-responsive mitigation measures and environment-friendly energy service (LPG) to eliminate indoor air pollution, which is responsible for about 79, 000 deaths in Nigeria yearly; encouraging private sector operators in the LPG industry to invest in the creation of economically-viable LPG services; increasing public and consumer awareness of the cost and practical benefits of LPG relative to traditional energy sources; enhancing sustainable rural energy services to reduce pressure on fuel wood consumption for domestic cooking purposes; and improving quality of

life among low income men and women in urban and rural areas, among others.

Noting that it requires rigorous sensitisation for people to key into the campaign on clean environment, Mrs Maduka said: “Educating Nigerians on the need to switch to this clean and abundant energy service, FOTE identified the LPG Group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Lagos Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) as partners with similar objectives on the need for Nigerians, especially women to adopt LPG as their energy service for all their domestic energy needs.”

She hinted that her organisation would urge the government to enact a law for domestic use of cooking gas to

enable it to tap into the use of the country’s abundant gas resources.

In her keynote address, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, expressed her happiness with FOTE for organising the workshop.

Represented by Mrs Risikat Akiyode Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, the deputy governor noted that FOTE has been committed, over the years, to ensuring that there is safer and secure environment for all to live in.

She revealed that the use of cooking gas will reduce the heat emitted by kerosine stoves, even as she added that it will also ensure healthy living condition as our kitchens where meals are

prepared will be clean enough; it will reduce soot and carbon emissions and general air pollution.

She further said: “Scientists have also indicated that LPG has no adverse impact on the environment compared with the traditional energy sources such as fuel wood and coal. With the use of kerosine, women and children are directly exposed to pollution.

“Though there are some challenges associated with the use of LPG in terms of the cost which is somewhat exorbitant for the poor. Apart from its high cost, there is the challenge of fire accidents which result from carelessness and improper installation. Fire outbreaks resulting from the use of cooking gas have led to countless loss of lives and properties, a situation which made some landlords to prevent their tenants from using cooking gas.

“Fears on the part of some landlords concerning the use of cooking gas are unfounded as most often, fire outbreaks are as a result of improper installation.”

She was optimistic that the workshop would educate the masses on the proper use of cooking gas, adding that the aim of the workshop would have been achieved when people start to embrace the use of cooking gas.

Mrs Orelope-Adefulire advised organisers of the workshop not to rest on their oars as “there is need to create awareness on the benefits of the use of cooking gas’’.

Contributing, Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr Taofiq Tijani, an engineer, also commended FOTE for organising the workshop, which aimed at protection and safety of every Nigerian, especially women and children and, by extension, giving a road map on how best to avert the impact of Climate Change.

Mainland Park Estate: Subscribers, developer feud over allocation papers •Continued from page 25

M

OWE/Ofada axis on the La gos- Ibadan Expressway is home to a plethora of housing estates.

The real estate boom on the axis is as a result of people who are desirous of owning houses of their own. While it is good news to some people, others have got their fingers burnt.

Some subscribers to the Mainland Park Estate owned by Pentagon Real Estate Investment Ltd have accused the developer of delay-tactics and intention to deprive them of taking possession of the plots of land they fully paid for.

But the developer has denied the allegation and said his accusers were blackmailing him. He claimed to have given allocation papers to over 2,000 applicants with plans in place to conclude allocation by October.

In a chat with The Nation, Chairman, Mainland Park Subscribers, Mr Bamidele Alabi, said the association represents over 3,000 subscribers, who responded to an advertisement by the company between 2006 and 2008.

He said Pentagon Real Estate Investment Ltd promised to deliver duly to all subscribers upon completion of their payment. He regretted that after several years, and despite collecting different huge sums of money ranging from between N350, 000 and N1, 000,000 per plot. The developer began to ask for further payments ranging from N200, 000 to N1.2million development levy.

He said: “The company insisted on collecting the money on the same plots, which have been paid for when no single subscriber among those who have finished paying their installations (in some cases well over three years now) has been physically allocated their land.

“Majority of us rejected this and went ahead to demonstrate this by making calls on live programmes on radio and television,” he said.

Alabi alleged that after several peace meetings with the management of the

•Members of Mainland Estate Subscribers Association.

company, the subscribers came to the conclusion that they have been shortchanged as they were allocated plots of lands in Ofada, a neighbouring town, which was further than the Mowe their prefered destination.

Another subscriber, Kehinde Oginni, regretted the way the developer was treating them after paying all the prescribed fees in the last three to five years without physical allocation. He said on every occasion, they were asked to pay more money in the guise of infrastructure development levy, deed of assignment or survey plan.

He appealed to well-meaning members of the public to intervene to ensure that justice is done to over the 3,000 subscribers, who were propelled by the desire to own houses, saved and borrowed money to

achieve a life ambition.

Oginni said he even committed his company into buying an acre of land in the controversial estate just like some other people, but has nothing to show for it after years of waiting.

He said the pitiable part of it is that the estate they were led to believe they subscribed to has been changed from Mainland Park Estate to Mainland Regal Estate leaving them with no option, but to either continue being cajoled into making unending payments under one guise or the other or let the public know their travails.

But in a swift reaction, the Managing Director of the company, Mr Kennedy Okoruwa, said the company has given allocation to over 60 per cent of the subscribers.

He debunked the claim of spurious charges, stating that the addi-

PHOTO: OKWY IROEGBU

tional N700, 000 demanded as development levy is to provide access road from the expressway to the estate, which is about three kilometres.

He said: “We have been giving allocation since 2008 to those who completed payments. Currently, we have allocated plots to over 2,000 allottees and we have pleaded with them for time to liquidate the outstanding list by October.

“It is cheap blackmail for anybody to accuse us of any wrong doing. On our own, we are bearing huge cost in providing infrastructure, which ideally should have been provided by the government.”

On the change of name and location of the estate, Okoruwa said it is a case of clear misrepresentation by his traducers.

He said: “We didn’t actually change the name as they understood it. We suspected that people will just collect allocation papers and sit down, waiting for others to start building before they start thereby discouraging development in the estate.

“We decided to start building an estate in front while we were allocating plots of land from the back. It was not like we changed the name.

All was in a bid to encourage subscribers to start developing,”he said.

He accused some people, whom he said are bent on discrediting his company for their selfish reasons, but pledged to fulfill his promise of discharging all allocation papers by October and encouraged serious subscribers not to hesitate to start with the development of their plots.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

27

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

United Nigeria Textile: Lagos insists on compliance

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O ensure strict compliance with environment standards, the Lagos State Government has said it will not reopen the United Nigeria Textile Plc unless it adheres to environmental laws of the state.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Dr Taofeek Folami, stated this while reviewing the level of pollution by some companies recently sanctioned by the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency(LASEPA).

United Nigeria Textile was shut after several visits to the textile manufacturing company to enforce environmental laws, especially regarding the company’s contamination of Ibeshe river which has adversely affected the health of the community.

Folami stated that the Fashola led “administration has mandated that we do all we can to ensure that the environment is improved. The main job is to ensure that pollution in Lagos State is significantly reduced. We do not have excuses to act otherwise. The health of our people is paramount” He said the visit to United Nigeria Textiles PLC was to assess the environmental challenges faced by the company and to offer effective

By Okwy Iroegbu, Asst Editor

solution framework to correct the unhealthy impact on the environment.

He added: “The guidelines and solutions we will offer will be strictly monitored to ensure complete compliance. We have a standard in Lagos and this government will do everything possible to enforce those standards.”

The General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Mr. Adebola Shabi, faulted the company’s indecent storage of its chemicals which, he said, could harm the company’s workforce, as well as members of the host community.

He observed that the chemical storage in the company is in disarray and can cause disaster.

The LASEPA boss noted that his team would be visiting the company to ensure that all recommendations are adequately carried out to meet the State’s environmental guidelines. He added that his team would not notify the textile company of its visits.

The Assistant General Manager of the Company, Mr Bello, while reacting to comments from the

•L-R: Dr Folami; Mr Bello; Shabi and other officials of the Lagos Ministry of Environment and NICHEMTEX, during the inspection.

Lagos Inspection team, said the management of the company would take effective measures to ensure that the recommendations

are implemented.

The community leaders led by a Baale in Ibeshe, Chief Abiodun Safari, thanked the state govern-

ment for its concern and promised to co-operate with the government to see that the problem is nipped in the bud.

Fed Govt to clean up Ogoni land •Activates eight-year-old oil spill contingency plan

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LEAN up of oil spills in Ogoni land would start soon, it was learnt.

Besides, oil companies whose exploration and exploitation activities cause oil spill would soon be sanctioned.

The Federal Government has also activated the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCP) that would enable the country and oil industry stakeholders to respond swiftly and effectively to oil spill caused by oil exploration and exploitation as well as pollution from ship-related activities.

Director-General, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Sir Peter Idabor, spoke in Abuja last week during the activation of the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCP).

He said the evaluation exercise in the impacted Ogoni land has been concluded. “What has been done so far in Ogoni land was evaluating the spill and we have reached the stage where we move to next level of trying to do the clean up and that would be very soon,” he said.

He said the agency was not looking at spills caused by the upstream sector, but downstream as well, adding. “We are not looking at Ogoni land alone. Rather, the whole of the Niger Delta region and tank farms in other parts of the country where incidents of oil spill occurred would be cleaned up as well.”

Idabor said though the country has recorded few oil spills in the last couple of years, the agency is set to enforce sanctions against oil companies involved in spills.

He said: “The Amnesty programme of the Federal Government has led to a drastic reduction in oil spill, but what we are doing now is to see how we can tackle and discourage pockets of people that derive revenue by setting up small refineries along the coast.

“We are also looking at creating alternative means of livelihood for those set of people to

From Dele Anofi, Abuja

discourage them from engaging in the illicit act.”

In her remarks, Minister of Environment, Mrs. Hadiza Mailafia, said the contingency plan prescribes the necessary procedures and practices for prevention, control and response to Tier-three level oil spill in the country as well as ascertain the institutional capability of relevant stakeholders involved in response to oil spill disaster.

Represented by the Director, Human resources, Alhaji Gambo Jakarda, the Minister noted that the activation of the eight-year old document couldn’t have come at a better time.

“Considering the fact that most times disasters are neither predictable nor give notice, the recent BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was very alarming and devastating and that has placed a big burden globally on the need to build and strengthen capacities of relevant institution to effectively combat oil spill incidents of such magnitude,” he said.

‘We are not looking at Ogoni land alone.

Rather, the whole of the Niger Delta region and tank farms in other parts of the country where incidents of oil spill occurred would be cleaned up as well’

• The proposed Crown Towers

Saudi firm steps up plans for world's tallest tower

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HE investment firm headed

by Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has signed a $1.2-billion deal with the Saudi Binladen Group to build the world's tallest tower.

Kingdom Holding Co. said the more than 1,000-metre-high Kingdom Tower, to be built north of the Red Sea city of Jiddah, is part of the first phase of the planned Kingdom City. The sprawling mega project, announced in 2008, is slated to cover a two-square mile area.

Kingdom Tower will include a hotel, serviced apartments, luxury condominiums and offices occupying roughly 5.4 million square feet, KHC said.

The project is but one of several ambitious mega-ventures in the kingdom, OPEC's top exporter, as it seeks to diversify its economic base from the crude oil that has fueled its

growth for years.

It also reflects a continuation of the unstated race between the oil rich Gulf nations that are also pumping tens of billions of dollars into job creation and housing for their lower income residents.

In June 2009, KHC signed a deal with Dubai-based Emaar Properties to develop and oversee the construction of Kingdom City and Kingdom Tower.

Emaar, which is partly owned by Dubai's government, is the developer of the Burj Khalifa, currently the tallest building in the world.

Mr. Alwaleed's proposed skyscraper would shatter the record for Burj Khalifa, which opened in January 2010. That tower has 160 livable floors and rises 828 meters, making

it not only the tallest building but also the tallest freestanding structure in the world.

By comparison, the tallest building in the United States, the Willis Tower in Chicago, stands at 442 meters, although counting its antenna towers it rises to 527 meters.

The One World Trade Center tower being built in New York will measure 541 meters with its antenna spire. It's due for completion in 2013.

Dubai developer Nakheel had itself planned to build a tower more than 1 kilometer high in the citystate, but it shelved those plans in early 2009 as the global economic crisis soured demand for real estate in the emirate.

The Kingdom Tower deal was signed between Jeddah Economic Co., a KHC affiliate, and the Binladen Group, a construction giant. Binladen will hold 16.6 per cent stake in JEC.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

28

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT Building Issues

How to make quick cash in college towns

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• Lekki Phase 1, Housing Estate

FMBN introduces e-collection for NHF contributions •Platinum to build 10,000 low income houses

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HE Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria has said contributions to the National Housing Fund will be collected via a system of “e-collection” where deductions from contributors’ accounts nationwide are done automated henceforth.

Also, Platinum Savings and Loans Ltd, a primary mortgage institution, has concluded arrangement to build 10,000 low income houses spread across the country.

The Managing Director of Platinum Savings and Loans Limited, Emmanuel Mbaka, who disclosed this during the official opening of the new corporate headquarters of the mortgage bank in Abuja, stated that the mortgage firm has completed the provision of over 5,000 housing units in nine housing estates across the federation.

He said: “We have concluded arrangements with our relevant partners to embark on 10,000 low income houses for the masses which will be accessible through the National Housing Fund scheme of the FMBN and to be completed within a five-year project time-line.

Part of the reason we have gone this far is because we are able to re-create the middle class where a graduate is able to own a house.

“We decided to have a corporate

From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

head office in Abuja to enable us to cater for the huge projects we are handling, especially in the FCT. We currently support more than nine estates, including Trade More estate in Lugbe, Co-operative City Garden estate in Pyakasa, 500 housing estate Doma, Platinun Mega mall Mabushi, Platinum Model Haven Katampe, Trade More estates in Apo, among others.”

Managing Director of FMBN, Gimba Ya’U Kumo, described the inauguration of the apex mortgage bank as a platform that will revolutionise the NHF collection system, and said the e-collection platform became necessary so as to ensure payment compliance by employers and allow for transparent transaction as well as build an interactive customer base.

“The FMBN has commenced a pilot scheme for the e-collections system with the MDAs in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). In this system, contributions will now be deducted at source.

“Within the brief period, the board of FMBN has disbursed N10.3 billion to deliver 2,440 housing units as at the end of June 2011.

“To place in proper perspective,

this implies that under the NHF scheme, the board has approved loans of N137.1 billion and 15 per cent of approximately N70 billion disbursed from inception to date.

“For the sake of emphasis, cumulative loan approvals comprise NHF Mortgage Loan of N56 billion to 17,666 contributors and Estate Developers Loan of N81 billion financing the construction of 30, 116 housing units. As we speak, 16, 600 housing units have been delivered to NHF contributors nationwide.”

“FMBN has also commenced an internal Records Office to mitigate the severe legal challenges encountered in the documentation of security for loans advanced by FMBN. “The IRO domiciles original documents, including letters of allocation/letter of offer for properties in housing estates financed by the Bank for NHF contributors to purchase.”

With this arrangement, FMBN retains custody of documents as interim security pending issuance of title documents by the Abuja Geographical Information System (AGIS) or grant of consent to mortgage by the Minister of the FCT required to secure legal mortgage over the proper.

Sixth Real Estate fair coming

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HE annual Nigerian Real Estate Fair seeks to highlight current trends in the real estate indus-

try.

The fair, arguably one of the biggest in the industry, will also serve as a platform to provide opportunities for real estate and construction-related companies, financial institutions, mortgage providers, underwriting agencies, architectural firms, and other stakeholders to participate, discuss, showcase and sell their products, services and learn current trends in the industry.

According to officials of Soe Properties, the organisers of the fair, this year’s expo/conference is slated for October 11-13.

They said the fair has been endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development (FMLHUD), the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) and other industry-related bodies.

Soe Properties’s Chief Executive Officer, Olisa Ebigwei, stated that the fair

By Okwy Iroegbu, Asst Editor

is a yearly convergence of the best brains involved in real estate development and construction world at large, adding that “the mission is to discuss, participate, showcase, sell, and learn the current trends in the real estate industry.”

Soe Properties has successfully organised five editions of the Nigeria Real Estate Fair. At its debut in 2006, the fair took a look at Real Estate

‘The mission is to discuss, participate, showcase, sell, and learn the current trends in the real estate industry’

Products and brought together the forces of demand and supply into play so as to eliminate the usual fears inherent in taking purchasing decisions on properties.

The second edition in 2007 with the theme “Housing Cooperatives: Challenges, Growth and Prospects” served as a platform to help prospective homeowners build their own homes. In 2008, the fair had as theme “Unknotting the Knotty Knots in Homeownership Finance” through which it proffered solutions to the problems faced by individuals and organisations planning to acquire properties.

The fourth edition of the fair had a wider scope with the theme “Bridging the Housing Gap Through Public Private Partnership (PPP) Programme,” which addressed the import of partnerships, especially between the public and private sectors as a possible solution to the widening gap between housing demand and supply in Nigeria.

OLLEGE towns are in de mand by students and rent is often higher than the average rent in the city. In some towns, off-campus rent is equally as high.

While the global economic recession is bad news for the realestate industry, it's a boom for prospective college-town landlords.

While university and other tertiary institution enrolment surge, some people go back to school in the wake of job losses or many years of job search.

The scenario has led to a dearth of student housing, which means that investment by prospective landlords in such areas will generate huge income for them.

By Okwy Iroegbu, Asst Editor

little more for its maintenance, but definitely gives you a better return in the long run."

He cautioned that to avoid altercation with students or their parents a serious developer should endeavour to have the necessary facilities such as regular and potable water source, good security and a solid structure with high grade materials to avoid vandalism.

He recalled the sad story of a colleague of his, who built flats for student hostels without thinking of providing water.

He also built with inferior materials, which made him to continuously incur expenses on maintenance whenever a student leaves.

He advised He cautioned that since the rethat to avoid alturn on investment is high on tercation with business students or their this segment, parents a serious therefore be-it developer should hooves on those who want to tap endeavour to from its high have the necesrental value and sary facilities profit to adopt the highest such as regular standards so and potable wathat the houses ter source, good will remain a cash cow. security and a Lukman mainsolid structure tained that those with high grade who always want to cut cormaterials to in their avoid vandalism ners business dealings should not delve into the

Though some upscale properties may have been around without prospective buyers, it cannot be said to be the same for student hostels.

An investor is certainly more likely to profit from a rental property than what was possible two to three years ago.

Supply and demand are in the landlord's favour. Freshmen enrolment adds up every year for those who have been on the queue. Either way, the landlord is positioned in the rental market to gain as it is a seller’s market.

He fixes and increases his rent at will as he enjoys a monopoly.

For a prospective landlord, it makes sense to seek college towns where the price of land is low.

The price of land in college towns are usually low at the beginning before it starts appreciating. A wise investor can just take advantage of that to buy large expanse of land and build either hostels or flats that are functional for students.

A developer, Mr Ismail Lukman, said: "For the most part, rent per square foot for a college student is higher than the market value.

To a developer, it may cost a

business as students can prove difficult if the house lacks facilities.

Besides, he urged prospective landlords to work hard to probe the identities of the students that want to secure a flat in his aprtment before giving it out.

He noted that if a house is tagged as an abode for cultists or rascals it may have a negative effect on the property as nobody- no matter how pressed for accommodation will want to have anything to do with the house.

The idea of off-campus accommodation, he said, is that students are reluctant to leave and are quick to recommend to their friends or younger ones who are coming into the university as fresh students to come take a space in the house.

‘The idea of off-campus accommodation, he said, is that students are reluctant to leave and are quick to recommend to their friends or younger ones who are coming into the university as fresh students to come take a space in the house’ •Contributions, questions? e-mail: quichi3cities@yahoo.com

29

TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

E-mail:- law@thenationonlineng.net

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, will bow out of office on August 28 when he clocks the mandatory retirement age of 70.

The practice is for the next in rank to step in.

Will this tradition be followed, in view of the clamour for a merit-based succession plan rather than the non-competitive practice under which CJNs hardly settle in office before their tenure expires? The argument is that the position should be thrown open, allowing any qualified person, even outside the apex court, to be considered. This option enjoys wide support now that the judiciary is facing a crisis of confidence and urgently requires a breath of fresh air.

JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU, ERIC IKHILAE and JOSEPH JIBUEZE write.

•Justice Katsina-Alu

•Judicial integrity atas stakeKatsinaover investigation Battle for succession begins N Alu quits on Aug 28 INETEEN days to the exit of Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, the legal circle is abuzz with who succeeds him. In the past, his impending retirement would not have elicited interest. But recent developments in the judiciary, especially at the Supreme Court, have made many, both lawyers and non-lawyers, to show more than a passing interest in who becomes the next CJN. By tradition, Katsina-Alu should be succeeded by the next in line to him – Justice Dahiru Musdapher. But many lawyers appear to prefer a clean break with tradition in pick-

ing the CJN. Will the authorities oblige them?

They are not likely to have their way, despite the polarisation of the judiciary by the faceoff between Justice Katsina-Alu and the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami.

The crisis prompted the clamour for a neutral person rather than the next in line to

Justice Katsina-Alu to succeed him.

Some lawyers have demanded a modification of the succession process to allow for the injection of new blood into the nation’s highest court.

They are of the view that the extant succession plan is a product of the long years under military rule.

To them, appointing a CJN from outside the Supreme Court is not without precedent.

They cite the late Justice Olawale Elias, who was appointed from academics straight to the Supreme Court. He was CJN between 1972 and 1975. Danley Arthur Alexander, who was appointed from the Bench of Southeastern Nigeria ,was CJN between 1975 and 1979.

Legal analysts are of the view that although Justice Musdapher would, by the present arrangement, succeed Justice Katsina-Alu, the linking of his name with that of the incum•Cont’d on page 31

•‘We can’t be local champions in a global world’ - P.30 •‘ADR had its origins in Africa’ - P.34

30

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

LAW PERSONALITY Ekene Odum is a lecturer in the Faculty of Law, Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo. He is a notary public and solicitor of England and Wales. A member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Nigeria, Odum, in this interview with JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU, speaks on law practice in Nigeria and Europe, Alternative Disputes Resolution Mechanisms (ADR) and low standard of education.

‘We can’t be local champions in a global world’ Y OU were made a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Nigeria.

Congratulations.

The fellowship was conferred on us by the council of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Nigeria, after we met the requirements. They felt we contributed to the development of arbitration in Nigeria as a whole and the institute in particular. They believe I paid my dues in the profession. That is why in their wisdom, the eminent members of the council considered and deemed me fit to be elected a fellow among other eminent jurists and distinguished legal practitioners, I thank them for that.

Some lawyers still see arbitration as usurping their jobs and depriving them of briefs. How do you respond to this and what are the advantages of ADR over litigation?

Arbitration or ADR does not deprive any lawyer of his job. Infact ADR enhances the lawyers’ job because one of the major advantages of ADR is that it is faster than litigation. Another advantage of arbitration is that it is equivalent to the decision of the Supreme Court, because it cannot be appealed against, it is final. So, for a lawyer in Arbitration, you have a definite conclusion period unlike litigation, which is inclusive and drags on for years. For instance, look at the Court of Appeal decision nullifying the candidature of a legislator when he had long served out his tenure. That is ridiculous, if it was ADR, it would not happen; it would have been resolved long ago, immediately the dispute arose. So, for lawyers, it is better, it is a quick and faster disputes resolution mechanism contrasted with litigation.

What are the advantages of arbitration?

Commercial practice, arbitration is a sine qua non, it is just that in Nigeria, we are still substantially backward in terms of modern day disputes resolution mechanisms. Globally, as lawyers are being trained, they are trained for both litigation and Alternative Disputes Resolution. But in Nigeria, we still have this litigation mentality but I thank God that with the efforts of the Chartered Institute of Arbitration Nigeria, it is coming up.

That is why in Nigeria, most of our lawyers are local champions because their practices are still based on municipal practice and local laws. But today, for you to be global and operate in other jurisdictions, because the world has become a global village, you must have a good knowledge of the law and practice of International commercial disputes resolution and basically that is ADR, especially arbitration.

How do we achieve this?

Basically, I think it should be inculcated into our legal education and curricula, otherwise, the truth is that we are being left behind. If you observe most commercial agreements with foreign countries or with foreign companies, you will see a provision there saying that disputes shall be resolve in London or in Paris, in Dubai, Hong Kong and so on. Why not Lagos? This is because we have not yet established or substantially invested on alternative disputes resolution institutions. Anyway, it is just coming up and I believe in a couple of years, ADR will be

established in Nigeria and everybody will be better off for it.

As a Commercial Law practitioner, do you think our Taxation Laws are adequate? How do we resolve the problem of double taxation from our system?

We have always had good laws, but the problem really is with the implementation of the laws, the will to implement. Taxation is a two way traffic flowing from the government who impose the tax to the payers who pay the tax. The problem we have in Nigeria is most tax payers do not see the need to pay tax because the facilities, which the government should have provided with tax payers funds are provided by the tax payers themselves.

For example, a man wants to set up a factory in Nigeria, you buy a land, employ security, pay for water, generate your own water, generate your own electricity. These are things, which should be provided by the government. The general hospitals are in shambles.

They are just consulting clinics, people go there to die, not to get cured. So, people ask why do I pay tax when we don’t see the effects? And sadly enough, what you see and hear about in Nigeria is public officials stealing money, no more in millions, but in billions of Naira. So, the people have this lack of will to pay tax that is why we have the problem of taxation.

It is only in Lagos State that we are seeing some effect of taxation, but in other states, there is nothing, you are absolutely on your own, that is why there is this problem of taxation. Otherwise, the laws are ok, just subject to little amendments here and there and pass the law.

What about the laws?

The Companies Income Tax (CITA), Personal Income Tax (PITA), Stamp Duties Tax (SDT) are major means of revenue generation for the country but as this tax is being paid, let the payee see the effect of the tax and he will be encouraged to pay more It is widely believed that the quality of lawyers graduating from the law schools is low, some have even called for law to be a second degree course. What is your reaction to this?

The Law School is the final training ground for would be lawyers, but the law school is fed by the universities. The universities are fed by secondary schools, and the secondary schools are fed by the primary schools. So, it is what you garbage in that you garbage out.

If the standard is low at the primary school, it will definitely affect the secondary schools, the universities, the law schools and, ultimately, the quality of graduates and professionals, which we produce.

If we begin to discuss education in Nigeria, we will definitely spend a whole day because many factors are involved. The government is not really investing in education, teachers are poorly paid, they are told that their reward is in heaven while in places such as the United Kingdom (UK) educationists are highly paid. It is attractive but here, those who study education are normally the rejected, frustrated and they go into education as a second profession. It is not their dream job, they remain there because they don’t

•Odum have an alternative. The government should really revisit education and give education trainers their pride of place. In the past, teachers were well respected and you could see the quality of modern day school graduates, even their command of English.

Today you see a graduate of first class division who cannot write a simple application letter without numerous errors because of course, the teachers are frustrated, the students are misfits.

The value system in the society has also affected education seriously. We don’t appreciate hard work, integrity; we don’t appreciate the need to be patient and steady growth. The get rich quick syndrome has permeated every strata of the society and nobody wants to start slow and grow. Everybody wants to make it immediately and as a result, people see no need for hard work anymore. They look for short cuts, cut corners, connections e.t.c. and the society has to pay for it with low quality human resource personnel, which is a shame really.

As a lawyer, a solicitor of England and Wales, how would you compare and contrast law practice in Nigeria and England?

I am a lawyer in the UK as a solicitor of England and Wales, and also a lawyer in

Nigeria. I practice law in both jurisdictions because the world is a global village. Now I can’t afford to be a local champion, being a solicitor of England and Wales gives me the licence to practice law across the European Union, so, I can appear in all courts across Europe. That’s the beauty of it really. You cannot really compare Law practice in both jurisdictions you can only contrast because it is a world of difference really. You have an advanced system of practice there, mainly IT based while here we are still very manual and slow. We are just trying to catch up, but its really a world of difference. For instance, in the UK, I don’t have to leave my bedroom to prepare and file documents in court and pay for it and for service to be done, but here, you have to physically take your documents to the court and pay for service and tip the bailiffs to go and serve it, follow up and make sure that it is done. You go to court, after waiting for hours, they will send a message that the court is not sitting, no prior notice, you waste your day and so on.

It is quite frustrating here comparatively, but I know we will get there. People like us have to contribute our quota to develop this country, it is our country and we have to make it work.

Lawyers urged to work hard

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•Olanipekun

ORMER President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), has restated his earlier call for hard work among young legal practitioners as a major way of reestablishing the dignity of the profession.

The legal luminary made the call while explaining to The Nation why he announced N15million endowment funs for young lawyers in Lagos and Kwara states while celebrating the anniversary of his 20th year at the Inner Bar in Lagos on July 22.

Giving the breakdown (as Lago, N10 million and Kwara, N5million), Olanipekun said the gesture was part of his ‘modest’ contribution to the profession to encourage hard work and diligence among younger practitioners.

He said: “To me, there is no short-cut to

By Dada Aladelokun, Assistant Editor

excellence in law practice, especially and indeed, in any other noble profession that demands intellectual exertion. I have taken my time to ruminate over the situation with our cherished profession and I could not but conclude within me that a lot needed to be done urgently to re-inculcate in our younger colleagues, the habit of hard work deeply rooted in keen reading habit.

“If you believe in integrity and your dignity as a lawyer, you won’t believe in doing making any untoward move to get favourable judgment at all costs. Your only way out will be jurisprudence excellence with the instrumentality of patent facts through only one route: hard

work!”

Reinforcing his call, he challenged the NBA at the central and branch levels, including other senior members of the Bar who share in his belief in unalloyed hard work to do more to spread the virtue of hard work and integrity among all practitioners in the profession.

“Both in our various chambers, at conferences, conventions as usual and at others wherever the opportunity for us to talk arises, we must take it upon ourselves to harp on the overriding need to retain the nobility of the prized profession.

“Once we can achieve that, we will be in a better position to do more at contributing to ensuring law and order in our society,” Olanipekun said.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

31

LAW COVER CONT’D

Battle for succession begins as Katsina-Alu quits on Aug 28 •Continued from page 29

bent CJN in the dispute with Salami has touched on his neutrality.

They wonder how Justice Musdapher would be able to restore confidence in the judiciary, if appointed.

They also argued that the choice of Musdapher would further sustain the growing tradition of rapid change in the court’s leadership, promoted by the current succession pattern. They noted that since the Justice Muhammadu Uwais left office, no CJN has occupied that office beyond a year and half, a period, they say, is hardly enough for one to make a meaningful impact.

The next in rank after Musdapher is Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar who, if allowed to succeed Musdapher, would spend about two years and four months and quit on November 20, 2014 when she would be 70.

A lawyer, Mohammed Kazeem, who went to court to stop the National Judicial Council (NJC) from constituting the planned Justice Ibrahim Auta panel to review the outcome of an earlier panel headed by former President of the Appeal Court, Justice Umaru Abdullahi, has queried Musdapher’s role in the KatsinaAlu/Salami crisis.

Some others also believe that Justice Musdapher should not have sat on the council that considered the report of Justice Abdullahi’s panel and later constituted the Auta panel.

He earlier presided over the Supreme Court’s panel that sat on the Sokoto governorship legal tussle and delivered the interlocutory ruling that arrested the judgment before its eventual dismissal by another panel.

He also gave evidence during the fact-finding carried out by the Justice Abdullahi panel.

It was learnt that when the Abdullahi panel’s report was to be presented, some NJC members challenged the propriety of Justice Musdapher presiding over the council’s meeting when he also appeared before the panel.

Arguments by advocates of a modified succession process have received support of some law experts; others called for caution. They believe change is inevitable when it becomes desirable.

They noted that the existing succession pattern allowed for orderliness, noting that despite its shortcomings, the legal profession thrives in orthodoxy.

Former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Mr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) said President Goodluck Jonathan must restore public confidence in the judiciary by making it more efficient, responsive and accountable.

He decried a situation where the CJN chairs all the major judicial bodies, saying there is a need to democratise the judiciary in terms of appointment of judicial officers, discipline, training, and ensuring efficiency.

His words: “We must have an Attahiru Jegatype of CJN. I am very clear on that. So, we have to look at the Supreme Court to see whether there is any Jega-type of person there.

If there is none, then we go and look for him elsewhere; I mean elsewhere.

“The qualification in the Constitution is 15 years post-call. It does not say that is the person next to the CJN. So, that has to stop and when it stops, it will open the chances of the judiciary improving.

“But what is going on now is that, if the CJN retires, or the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court (FHC) retires, or the Chief Judge of a state retires, the next person in line of seniority comes in. No, no, that has to stop because it has taken out quality.

“We need to go and look for the Jega type of person as CJN. Once a Jega-type of CJN comes in, then everything will be transformed, because as you can see, Jega worked with the old Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff. They were all there. Many of the commissioners under Prof Maurice Iwu are still there, but how come that they are now different? It is because of Attahiru Jega.

“So, a Jega-type of CJN will shake up the institutions and that is the essence of having a good person.”

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Babatunde Ajibade (SAN), also believes that having a person from outside the Supreme Court as the next CJN would be ideal.

“I think I would support the idea for the simple reason that the system we have now does not promote merit. It’s effectively just a queuing system – the next person in line will become the CJN, just as the next person in line typically will become the Chief Judge of

•Daudu

•Agbakoba

•Akeredolu

•Ajibade

the state or of the Federal High Court, irrespective of merit.

“I am not sure that is good for our judiciary or for our system. Having said that, so we don’t end up jumping from the frying pan into the fire, where you move away from the system of automatic promotion, you also need to be wary about the selection process by which people could be brought in from outside.

“If the appointing authority is not positively oriented, and it’s not doing what we’re seeking to empower it to do out of altruistic reasons, you may find that someone is brought in from outside who is even

worse than what we would have had if we had just followed the old system of automatic promotion,” Ajibade said.

A member of the NJC, who spoke in confidence, praised the call for a change in the process of appointing the CJN wondering whether there is harm in changing a system that appears to be failing in its responsibilities.

He advocated the devolution and democratisation of the judiciary and the creation of two bodies, which would be saddled with the responsibility of considering the appointment, promotion and discipline of judges, while the judges concentrate on the

‘The qualification in the Constitution is 15 years post-call. It does not say that is the person next to the CJN. So, that has to stop and when it stops, it will open the chances of the judiciary improving.

But what is going on now is that, if the CJN retires, or the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court (FHC) retires, or the Chief Judge of a state retires, the next person in line of seniority comes in. No, no, that has to stop because it has taken out quality’

adjudication of cases before them.

“Must the number two succeed number one? Or can’t we make the whole thing competitive?”The law is that any lawyer above 18 years call is qualified to be the Chief Justice of the country. Must the CJN come from the Supreme Court Bench?

“It has almost reached a point where the NBA participation inNJC is becoming meaningless because it don’t make any impact there at all. The judiciary is in need of a massive reform,” he said, noting that the small cabal controlling the judiciary now has not allowed reforms that will transform the system.

“What stops the Chief Judge of Sokoto or Lagos State from becoming the CJN? This cab rank rule or chain rank approach to the appointment of Supreme Court Justices leads to incompetence,” he said.

The lawyer observed that Justice KatsinaAlu has not shown any sign that he is vacating the office. He added that it is not clear to anyone for now whether he (the CJN) is planning to elongate his tenure.

“The CJN ought to have called a meeting of the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) by now, where he would properly brief members about his retirement. They would receive retirement notice and consider those or the person who is coming in to succeed him.

“They will then, make recommendation to NJC, which now recommends to the president. The president will then forward the name to the Senate for confirmation.”

He noted that Katsina-Alu’s alleged failure to act as required of him is worrisome because the CJN is the Chairman of the FJSC and NJC. But President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Joseph Daudu (SAN) said the seeming rapidity in the change of leadership of the judiciary notwithstanding, the current process of succession was still tolerable.

Daudu said: “Eight months is enough for a man to make his own impact in the system. A man who has stayed in a system should naturally aspire to reach the peak. It is just like a man who had stayed long in the army.

“Can you say you cannot make him a Major-General because he has three months to go? He can well achieve a lot depending on his philosophy and approach. After all, Justice S.M.A. Belgore spent six months there and made his own impact.”

Another former NBA President, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), said a modification of the process now may be difficult.

“It will be difficult to convince anybody who feels that he has waited long enough to have his turn at the apex judicial seat to change his mind.

“We must make conscious efforts to appoint people who, when they get to those positions, will have the courage to make policies that can move the country forward.”

He admitted that there were instances in the past where people were appointed to the Supreme Court from other benches.

He cited the late Justices Taslim Elias (who was appointed from academia) and Danley Alexander (who was appointed from the Bench of the Southeastern part of the country). He noted that “it takes a president with courage to do this.”

Mr Joseph Nwobike (SAN) said: “In the first place, I do not believe that the judiciary has suffered any scandal in the true sense of it. What happened is that allegations were made and investigated by the appropriate authority.

“I also believe that the Judiciary should not introduce any form of competitive assessment or method of appointing the CJN outside the elevation of the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court.

“The judiciary cannot afford the negative consequences of such selection process. The successive Chief Justices have done very well and there are no compelling reasons to abandon the method. Those making these demands for change are either ignorant of the earlier consequences or have refused to consider them.”

A Lagos-based lawyer, Nojim Tairu, said although change is desirable in the judiciary, it must be effected with caution.

“The idea of a competitive succession to the CJN seat may expose the institution to all manners of evil. It will be antithetical to the more stable hierarchical or seniority order, which makes for some forms of orderliness in the scheme of things in the law profession.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

32

LAW & SOCIETY AT THE STATE OF THE FEDERATION LECTURE ORGANISED BY THE NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED LEGAL STUDIES (NIALS) AT MUSA YAR’ADUA CENTRE, ABUJA

•From Left: Chairman Council of Legal Education, Justice Morenikeji Omotayo Onalaja (rtd), Director-General NIALS, Prof Epiphany Azinge (SAN) and former Senate President, Ken Nnamani

•From left: NIALS Secretary, James Bathnna and Director of Research, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye

•Ambassador Afiz Garuba; Prof D. Ameze Goubadia, and Acting NIALS Librarian, Ufuoma Lamikara

•From left: Prof Nnamdi Aduba, Chief Solomon Awomolo (SAN) and Senator John Damboyi

•Prof Paul Idornigie, Col. Bello Fadile (rtd) and Hon. Olivia Agbajoh

•Prof Bambo Adewopo and Lukman Alawaye

•Senator Khairat Abdul-Rasaq Gwadabe and John Danboyi

•From left: Mohammed Maksurn, Augustine Odokuma and T.A. Salman

•Asiko Dan Ayika and Nany Captain L.N. Ugwu

•Onyia Cynthia and Uduak Ekpo

PHOTOS: JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

33

LAW

Report of NBA Committee on crisis in the Judiciary •Continued from last Friday

A

LTHOUGH members have variously heard of the activities of Legal Practitioners with respect to corruption of Judges and Justices, the Committee cannot take a stand on a matter so serious as corruption on the basis of either the personal knowledge of members or on speculation or hearsay evidence. It will therefore direct its attention to the terms of reference which authorized it to do other things that are necessarily incidental to the work of the Committee.

Legal Practitioners and the Sokoto State Governorship Election Petition In the various papers and documents available to the Committee on the crisis in the judiciary as manifested in the faceoff between the CJN and PCA, the names of three Legal Practitioners surfaced at different stages and different levels. They are: i. Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN ii. Alfred N. Agu, Esq. iii.Yahaya Mahmood, Esq. No one made any allegation of corruption against any of these three Practitioners. They were each mentioned in connection with their professional duties as Legal Practitioners in relation to the gubernatorial election appeal in Sokoto. They will be separately treated in this report.

Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN – a former President of the NBA By letter Ref. No. WOC/ABJ/Vol.2/026/ 09 dated 22/04/2009 written as Counsel to Governor Wamakko of Sokoto and addressed to Honourable Justice Umaru Abdullahi – President, Court of Appeal, Abuja, Senior Counsel applied for stay/ suspension of the Sokoto Gubernatorial appeal Panel. Reference has been made to this letter in Part II of this report where at paragraph 2.03.14, Counsel was quoted thus: “The point being made is that in view of the pendency of the appeal at the Abuja Judicial Division [which was first in time]. decorum, logic and the practice of the Court demand that the appeal at the Sokoto Judicial Division be stayed until the determination of the one at Abuja, whether by the Court of Appeal itself or the Supreme Court.

May we further draw your Lordship’s attention to the fact that whatever judgment the Sokoto Judicial Division delivers before the Abuja Judicial Division might be unenforceable because of the pendency of the Abuja appeal, which will eventually terminate at the Supreme Court.

Arising from the foregoing, we most humbly, soberly and with utmost sense of responsibility call for your Lordship’s urgent intervention, particularly by directing a stay or suspension of proceedings of the appeal at the Court of Appeal, Sokoto, because the contemporaneous pursuit of the two appeals might eventually lead not only to the two divisions conflicting themselves, but also open the Court to further and unnecessary biting criticism by the public. This is apart from the abusive nature of the processes employed.

In addition to the foregoing and considering the decision of the Supreme Court in AMAECHI vs. INEC (2008) 5 NWLR (PT.1080) 227 at 314 para H where the Supreme Court declared Amaechi as the Governor of Rivers State despite the fact that he did not personally contest an election, it stands to reason that all other proceedings in this matter should be stayed till and/or abide the eventual decision, either by the Court of Appeal, Abuja or the Supreme Court in appeal No. CA/ ABJ/276/08. This is moreso and/or compelling in view of the fact that if either the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court accedes to the prayer of the Appellants to declare Alhaji Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi as Governor (after excluding our client from participation in the election or annulling his participation and victory), it becomes unreasonable to still pursue the same relief before another Judicial Division of the same Court. The Appellants will lose nothing if the Sokoto appeal is stayed, since they are also the appellants in the Abuja

•Justice Katsina-Alu

•Justice Salami

appeal.”

In paragraph 2.03.15 of this report, the Committee stated that it was not to question the propriety of the application by Senior Counsel. However, important questions arise from the said letter: i. Were the reasons advanced by Senior Counsel, to wit – that conflicting decision may be given by Abuja and Sokoto Panels or that the decision of the Sokoto Court of Appeal will not be enforceable or his application to the PCA valid legal basis for disbanding the Sokoto Panel or to stay/ suspend the Sokoto Election appeal as demanded in Senior Counsel’s letter? ii. If the purpose of Senior Counsel’s letter is to persuade the PCA not to constitute the Panel to hear the Sokoto Election appeal, is this a right step for Senior Counsel to take as a professional matter? iii. Having made his application by letter, did Senior Counsel adopt a procedure in which the other party can be heard?

Having considered the whole application by Senior Counsel, the Committee concludes that: (a) The letter dated 22nd April, 2009, by Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, Counsel for Alhaji M. Wamakko in Appeal No. CA// SEP/GOV./10/09 is not a complaint against a judicial officer. It is an appeal to the President of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Umaru Abdullahi, to interfere administratively to stay proceedings in Appeal No. CA//SEP/GOV./10/09 pending before the Court of Appeal, Sokoto Division. (b) The letter appears ex facie to have been copied to other Counsel in the matter and no rule of professional conduct appears to have been breached. However, If there is valid basis in law for stay or suspension of proceedings of a Court of law, the proper application ought to be by motion on notice so that both sides can be heard in open court and an appealable decision reached by the Court.

power to set up a panel for the hearing and determination of the Governorship Election Appeal. The two documents also contain admission by counsel of his visits to the President Court of Appeal at home and in chambers whereat matters relating to the pending appeal were discussed.

Mr. Mahmood’s petition was considered in detail in Part III of this report. It is one of the petitions relied on in the affidavit of denial sworn to by the CJN at the Supreme Court on 7/3/11.

Alfred N. Agu, Esq.

Mr. Agu of Renaissance Practitioners wrote a petition dated 15/2/2010 to the CJN on behalf of Governor Wamakko of Sokoto State. The contents of the petition has been carefully analyzed in Part III of this report.

The Committee did not find in the said petition, any serious or substantial complaint of misconduct or wrong doing against either the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Salami or any member of the Panel of the Court of Appeal, Sokoto to hear the Sokoto Governorship election appeal. The CJN relied on Mr. Agu’s said petition in his affidavit in denial of the allegation made against him by the PCA.

Yahaya Mahmood, Esq.

The Petition dated 15th February, 2010 and affidavit dated 1st March, 2010 is by Yahaya Mahmood, Esq., counsel for INEC in the said Sokoto Governorship Election Appeal. It is addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and it contains complaints by the lawyer against the President, Court of Appeal for exercising his constitutional

PART VI Petitions from Minna/Suleja branch

The committee received various petitions from the Minna/Suleja branches of the NBA alleging various wrong doings in the judiciary of Niger state. It considered the said petitions and noted that the petitions had earlier been sent to the NJC for necessary action. The NJC had dismissed the petitions without proper investigation and noted the various petitions.

The Committee is of the view that: i. The petitions by the Minna/Suleja branches of the NBA should be repackaged by the branch with the help of the National Secretariat of the NBA. ii. It should then be represented by the National NBA to the NJC. iii. If it receives the type of treatment, it received earlier, the National NBA should consider Court Action on the Issues raised.

PART VII Conclusions

It is clear from the foregoing letters, petitions of the Lawyers and affidavits that: Suleja branches of the NBA should be repackaged by the branch with the help of the National Secretariat of the NBA. ii. It should then be represented by the National NBA to the NJC. iii. If it receives the type of treatment, it received earlier, the National NBA should consider Court Action on the Issues raised. iv The former President of the Court of Appeal, Hon Justice Umaru Abdullahi apparently acted upon the petition of Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN and refrained from performing his constitutional duty to set up a panel to hear and determine the Sokoto Governorship Election Appeal No. CA/S/EP/GOV/10/09. The failure to constitute the Panel to hear the said appeal probably laid the foundation for the on-going judiciary crisis in that Yahaya Mahmood and his Senator friend went to see the new PCA – Justice I. A. Salami to question why he constituted the Panel which his predecessor did not constitute. v. No serious complaint of misconduct was made against the President, Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Isa Ayo Salami in any of the petitions by Alfred N. Agu and Yahaya Mahmood and there is no basis in the petitions to warrant the PCA to dis-

band and or interfere with the proceedings of the Panel of the Court of Appeal on the Sokoto Governorship Election appeal. vi. The Petition of Yahaya Mahmood led the CJN into writing letters dated 18th and 19th February, 2010 to the President and Justices of the Court of Appeal respectively directing that judgment in the appeal be put on hold to which the President Court of Appeal reacted in very strong terms as reflected in his letter of 22nd February, 2010. vii. In obedience to the CJN’s letter of 19th February, 2010, the Court of Appeal Sokoto Division on 24th February, 2010 put on hold the judgment in Appeal No. CA/S/ EP/GOV/10/09. viii. The failure of Alfred N. Agu, Esq. and Yahaya Mahmood, Esq. to deliver copies of their petitions and affidavits to other counsel in the Appeal constitutes a breach of Rule 31(5) of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners. ix. The visits by Yahaya Mahmood, Esq. to the President, Court of Appeal with a view to influencing him to disband the Sokoto Governorship Election panel set up by him on the basis of personal relationship when other counsel in the appeal were not present constitutes breach of Rule 31(4) of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners; and x. The petition addressed by Yahaya Mahmood, Esq. to the Chief Justice of Nigeria with intent that the Chief Justice might influence the President Court of Appeal in the performance of his judicial duties constitutes breach of Rule 30 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners.

Other Legal Practitioners

(i) Among documents which came into the possession of the Committee is letter Ref. JEO/031/2010 dated 13/03/2010 from J. E. Ochidi & Co. and signed by Jacob Ochidi, Esq. who signed for Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN. The letter is an application to the Deputy Chief Registrar for a certified true copy of the proceedings of the Election Petition of the 24/1/2010. (ii) Another letter before the Committee is that written by Dr. Alex A. Iziyon, SAN on behalf of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Attached to it is a Notice of Appeal to the Supreme Court dated 17th May, 2010. The letter is dated 30/5/2010. The appeal is said to be against a judgment or order of the Court of Appeal dated 10/3/2010 in Suit No. CA/S/EP/GOV./10/09.

In spite of searches made, the Committee did not find any proceeding showing a judgment of the Court of Appeal, Sokoto in which such judgment/ order was made. If what is referred to as ‘decision sub silentio’ arose from the word hearing notice dated 10/3/10 slating the judgment for 16/3/2010, that would appear to be an administrative matter which admits of no right of appeal.

In the final analysis, the Committee affirms that: ( a) The petitions of – i. Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN ii. Alfred N. Agu, Esq. iii. Yahaya Mahmood, Esq. Were all tailored to achieve one purpose.

That purpose was to delay the hearing and determination of the election petition appeal filed by Alhaji. Dingyadi and his party,the DPP. b) When Justice Salami who came into office and set up the Panel to hear the appeal refused to interfere with the proceedings of the Sokoto Election Appeal Panel, Messrs Alfred N. Agu and Yahaya Mahmood took the matter to the CJN who readily acceded to their request and without considering what petitioners were alleging as misconduct, promptly directed that further proceedings on the appeal be put on hold. By these petitions, both Counsel played material part in the action taken by the CJN which brought about the crisis in the judiciary which resulted in the CJN/ PCA stand-off.

All the foregoing, in the considered view of the Committee, are a disservice to the cause of justice and are clearly contributory factors to the event which culminated in the disgraceful face-off between the CJN and the PCA. Dated at Abuja, this …………. day of July, 2011.

• Concluded

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

34

LAW & SOCIETY LAW AND PUBLIC POWER

with gabriel AMALU email:gabrielamalu1@yahoo.com

Nigeria: One week, one trouble

T

•Madu and Fagbohun

‘ADR had its origins in Africa’ Speakers at a course on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), organised by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) in Lagos, have explained why ADR should not be seen as alien to Africa.

JOSEPH JIBUEZE reports.

W

HAT is known today as Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) had its origins in Africa, according to a former director, Academics, Nigerian Law School, Mr Kevin Nwosu.

Nwosu argued that the Western world copied the mode of dispute settlement of traditional African societies, ‘rebranded’ and refined it by expanding the skills, and re-introduced it to Africa as ADR. Nwosu, a dispute resolution consultant, was one of the speakers at an Intensive Course in Alternative Dispute Resolution, organised by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) in Lagos.

“ADR has always been part of our culture, tradition, religion, and laws. The only thing that is lacking is the necessary knowledge and skill by the major stakeholders in actually mainstreaming them in the administration of justice.

“So, what you see happening now is a sort of reawakening of the consciousness of all stakeholders in appreciating the value of the so-called ADR processes. I say ‘so-called’ because there is a misconception about what the name ADR connotes,” Nwosu said.

He said contrary to widely held impression, ADR is not a secondary or an inferior mode of resolving disputes. To him, it is just a name that is attached to the processes from the Western countries where the modern repackaging originated.

“They (the West) got to know about the way Africans and Asians settle their disputes and to them those were alternatives to litigation.

And because we had fully mainstreamed litigation, we had to welcome those processes back as alternatives. But in reality they are the primary processes of resolving disputes.

“Litigation is secondary. It comes after a failure or inability of the parties to resolve the dispute themselves. Even when the dispute is in court, the parties can still resolve it by out-of-court settlement.”

He said what is needed is to build the consciousness and necessary skills of judges, lawyers and stakeholders in justice delivery to mainstream ADR processes. “So, the name ADR is more like a mark of identification, and not a descriptive name,” he noted.

He said people thought litigation

was the only option for dispute resolution because lawyers had always offered it, but it is important that court users begin to see things from the ADR perspective. According to him, the awareness and use of ADR are growing and will continue to grow.

On whether the existing legal framework is adequate to sustain effective ADR practice, Nwosu said: “In fact, we have excess legal framework for ADR. Every court in Nigeria has jurisdiction to promote settlement.

“If you look at the High Court laws, not the rules; if you look at Magistrate Court laws, Sharia Court laws, Customary Court laws, they all have provisions that encourage the court to promote out-of-court settlement.

“That is why if you file a case in court today, and you go back and inform the court that the parties have settled, the court will abide by that settlement. So, there is adequate legal framework.

“Lawyers are now mandated to advise their clients on ADR. Many organisations and groups have in their enabling laws provisions that enjoin them to use ADR mechanisms. We have too many laws even to contend with.

“I disagree with anyone who thinks we need any new law to mainstream ADR in justice delivery.

You may have laws just to increase the consciousness and awareness, but I don’t think any institution needs to be constrained by lack of laws. There are too many laws in existence to promote the use of ADR in any sector.”

A lecturer at the Nigerian Law School, Mr Nelson Ogbuanya, said the formal aspect of ADR practice is evolving in Nigeria. He agreed with Nwosu that ADR is a product of Africa.

“ADR is being refined and brought back to us. In traditional African societies, disputes are resolved by community heads, family members, societies and groups. What we have now is a refined process that formalised.

“Now we have documented most of the rules and perfected them in terms of application, and it’s working in terms of arbitration, mediation, conciliation, early neutral evaluation, and different methods.

ADR is more effective than litiga-

tion.

On the rather high cost of ADR, and relative low cost of regular courts, he said: “I pose this question: If you are to spend N10million over unknown number of years and N500,000 today for what you are certain of, which would you prefer?

“I think you would choose the one that is precise, and you’re sure that if you spend higher, you’ll still get the result quicker. So, what is cost in arbitration is not necessarily the fee. Payment is higher in arbitration than in litigation in the first instance, that’s the truth.

“You pay for services rendered, but in litigation you have the court there for you. You’re not paying the registrar, and you’re not paying for the courtroom. In ADR, the truth is that you are using your money to purchase convenience and time, which means money. It is wastage management. It results in psychological satisfaction and efficiency.”

On possibility of resolving political disputes using ADR, he said: “I think ADR could be the best means of resolving political disputes. Mediation will be suitable for it, because it enables third party neutral to facilitate the process because communication has broken down.

“Politics is about interest. If a mediator comes in, the disputants will see that they still need each other in the game. Mediation deals with psychology, so egos can be well managed. A third party comes in a triangular form and intervenes,” he said.

The keynote speaker, Mr Pascal Madu, noted that disputants are not supposed to have any form of communication with the arbitrator once mediation process begins.

“Arbitration will have no meaning if you cannot enforce an award (an ADR judgment). Every arbitral award is to be recognised as binding. A party can apply for an enforcement of an award as in a judgment,” he told the participants.

NIALS Director-General, Prof Epiphany Azinge (SAN), represented by Prof Lanre Fagbohun, said the course was organised for organisations, government agencies and legal departments, and lawyers interested in ADR. He said ADR needs to be promoted and skills developed in view of the time and cost (in the long run) of litigation in regular courts.

HE democratic tenure is just about 72 days old, though it already looks like eternity. But for the fact that President Goodluck Jonathan had to act and later became President following the ill-health and eventual death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, he would have just been going through the elementary rudiments of power. But the past 72 days has been as hellish as a full term in the Nigerian purgatory. The legion of assaults on the national psyche reminds me of primary school days, when one of the pupils then, had the nick name: one week, one trouble.

Nigeria’s past has had its fair share of centrifugal forces competing to undermine the national edifice, including a civil war; but it looked like President Jonathan’s new presidency has inspired a boom in the industry. Part of the impetus is the president’s meekness, which many have called indecisiveness. But nobody should forget, arguably Mr President’s most enduring byline during the elections: ‘I have no enemies to fight’. Now if you ask me, l could not understand how a man, who has lived to become an adult, and a politician in the beleaguered Niger Delta to boot, could not have many enemies, not to talk of even one.

I guess many would have been more comfortable if the President had rather said: ‘I have enemies, but l will not fight them, like former President Olusegun Obasanjo’, or that ‘l have enemies, but l bear no malice against them, as a Christian’. But with the avalanche of troubles buffeting his Presidency, and the President smiling instead of frowning at them, it does appear truly that Mr President never had any enemies, or that he refused to see any enemy, even when it stares him in the face. Some commentators even believe that the President would give an arm and a leg just to have no enemy, and that is why his enemies, well if you prefer, the enemies of the state are mutating daily.

Currently, the most threatening enemy of Mr President is of course those he said would bomb him if they had the chance, the Boko Haram.

But in the manner of a man determined to have no enemies, he has sent a white flag with a basket of flowers to them, and we are all waiting for their acceptance of the peace offer. While the pros and cons of his reaction to the number one enemy were playing out, the labour union threatened to bring down the country unless they get their just wage. Again, after initially pretending that he was ready to fight them, Mr President agreed to bury the hatchet.

While Nigerians were hoping the saber rattling of the enemy lines are the few and scattered; religious leaders left their tunics in the mosques and churches and turned bank experts. Just to test a man determined to have no enemy, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor declared like an imperial majesty, that Nigeria will never allow Islamic banking, while the Sultan of Sokoto, thundered in a presidential reply that it is either Islamic banking or nothing. I look forward to a favourable disposition of the matter, in a manner of no victor, no vanquished. But before then, like many wondered, what is the business of the clerics with taking over the executive functions of the President, with the kind of mean finality in their choices.

As if in competition with the ordinary mortals to test the will of Mr President, there was the ecclesiastical impetus to the impetuous elements seeking to rubbish the lamb without blemish. The heavens open in Lagos and other parts of the country and on a Sunday of all days; and sorrow and tears were the lot of many. While scores were carried unprepared to their dreadful end, many lost their entire worth in life. In Enugu, it was a trailer driver and his merchandise that turned a sleepy roundabout near Ogbete market, into a human bakery. As those who lost their loved ones and their life earnings mourned, life in Nigeria is becoming increasingly worthless, short and brutish.

Yet the human element is proving more fiendish than the natural element, in the Nigerian conundrum. If in doubt, ask the survivors of the Abuja road robbery incident. Not satisfied with robbing the victims of their wares, the robbers organised a mass murder for the night travellers. With the road as their death beds, about 14 of them were guillotined by the speeding trucks, while the robbers kept watch. Of course when murders committed in our high streets remain unsolved, it would be a miracle to find those who not only rob Nigerians of what they have, but of their lives with reckless abandon.

Of course, these troubles would pale into insignificance if the economic managers are turning the country around. Many Nigerians would be lost in reverie, if governance was the top priority of the men and women in Abuja. Unfortunately, a new spin has been added to the mix. It is already tagged tenure elongation drama, or as Mr President rather insists, a single tenure scheme. My take, if Nigerians want rotational presidency, it should be made constitutional, but if it is an attempt to secure an extension or a longer term for the incumbents, then it can only be more trouble for Nigeria.

While we grapple with the daily drudgery of a troubled Nigeria, we can do with meaningful governance. Yes, Nigerians do not need a war monger as President, but Mr President may have to release bile sometimes, and he should know that the enemies of the state are automatically his enemies.

35

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

LAW REPORT

A contract can be discharged by breach IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NIGERIA ON FRIDAY, THE 24TH DAY OF JUNE, 2011 SUIT NO: SC.211/2003 BEFORE THEIR LORDSHIPS DAHIRU MUSDAPHER ....... Justice of the Supreme Court CHRISTOPHER MITCHELL CHUKWUMA-ENEH ....... Justice of the Supreme Court OLUFUNLOLA OYELOLA ADEKEYE ....... Justice of the Supreme Court SULEIMAN GALADIMA ....... Justice of the Supreme Court BODE RHODES-VIVOUR ....... Justice of the Supreme Court BETWEEN G.N. NWAOLISAH (trading under the name and style of G.B. VITTALIS CO. (NIG.)

...APPELLANTS

AND PASCHAL NWABUFOH (trading under the name and style of PASKODI MARITIME AGENCIES.

....RESPONDENTS

OLUFUNLOLA OYELOLA ADEKEYE, J.S.C (Delivering the Leading Judgment):

I

N the High court of Anambra state sitting at Onitsha, G.N. Nwaolisah, a businessman trading under the name and style of G.B. VITTALIS CO. (NIG.) as plaintiff, in paragraph 25 of his amended statement of claim sued the defendant now appellant before this court, paschal Nwabufoh, a clearing agent operating under the name and style of Paskodi Maritime Agencies claiming as follows:(i) The sum of N57,000.00 (fifty seven thousand Naira) as special damages being money had and received by the defendant from the plaintiff for a consideration that has wholly failed. (ii) The sum of $172,200 U.S. dollars as special damages C.I.F. value of the goods shipped from Italy. (iii) Interest on the above sum of money at the rate of 25% (twenty five percent) from 17th April 1996 up till date of judgment (iv) General Damages as may be assessed by the court.

The facts of the case in brief are that in August 1983 G.N. Nwaolisah, a businessman traveled to Mezzago, a town in Italy and placed order for 730 cartons of neoprene glue mastic 66, which is a variety of adhesive gum.

The goods were shipped in a 20 feet container to Nigeria on board the vessel “SS Irmas Dilmas. As the time the appellant placed order for the items and shipped them to Nigeria Neoprene was not affected by any import prohibition. In July 1984 when the goods arrived in Nigeria via Port Harcourt wharf, Neoprene glue has come under import license by operation of Law. The items could not be cleared without obtaining import license to that effect. The goods arrived in Nigeria in July 1984. The appellant engaged the services of Mr. John Okorie operating under the name and style of Jomo Agencies (Nig) to clear the goods. His services included securing an import license for the purpose. The agreement between the parties was that clearing of the items would be done within one month. The clearing agent failed to keep to his promise, and the appellant terminated the agreement and sued him at Onitsha High Court for breach of contract.

The goods were thereafter placed under seizure by the Department of customs and excercise in Port Harcourt. He was introduced to and engaged the service of the respondent in October 1984. He demanded for a sum of 25,000 naira and gave an oral undertaking to clear the container within one month from August 1984 the understanding then was that these fees included the cost of procuring a license for clearing the goods. He not only failed to keep to his promise but he demanded for more money while the appellant gave him the necessary documents for clearing the goods. The respondent not only failed to clear the container he also refused to repay the sum of money he collected for his aborted promise.

The respondent did not deny the contract between the parties or that his charges did not include the contractual obligation to procure the import licence. The Respondent claimed to have procured a licence for N10, 000 but failed to use it to clear the container.

The appellant placed the value of the goods at $172,200.00 (us Dollars) and the Respondent

quoted the value as $4,860.84, both amounts are supported by certificate of value issued by the vendor of the adhesive gum in Italy.

In the judgment of the trial court delivered on the 26th of September 1977 the learned trial Judge dismissed the suit with costs of N5,000 assessed in favour of the respondent. Being aggrieved by the outcome of the suit, in the High court Anambra state the appellant filed an appeal in the Court of Appeal, Enugu.

Three issues were formulated for determination in the appeal at the lower court. In the judgment of that court delivered on the 13th of May 2003, resolved two issues in favour of the appellant but on the third issue which the lower court rated as touching upon a substantive matter, the court found same against the appellant.

I have carefully considered the evidence of the parties predicated on the pleadings, oral evidence, documents tendered; and the briefs filed in support of the appeal. The single issue raised for determination is straight forward and within narrow limit. The reasoning and findings of the lower court, affirming the judgment of the trial court had seventy-five percent settled the germane issue in this appeal.

For the sake of emphasis I will repeat this crucial single issue which reads“Whether the learned justice of the court below were right in affirming the decision of the trial court that the parties are in pari delicto with regard to who breached the contract.”

This court tries to rely on the evidence before the trial court which had that exclusive advantage of seeing and hearing the witnesses and watch their demeanour in the witness box.

I find it convenient at this stage to unveil that Latin phrase “IN PARI DELICTO”. This is a Latin phrase for “in equal fault”. It is a legal term used to indicate that two persons or entities are equally at fault, whether the malfeasance in question is a crime or tort. The phrase is most commonly used by courts when relief

is being denied to both parties in a civil action because of wrong doing by both parties.

Comparative fault and contributory negligence are not the same as in pari delicto though all of these doctrines have similar policy rationals. The same principle can be applied when neither party is at fault if they have equal right to the disputed property in which case the maxim of law becomes in equal Jure (melior est condition possidentis). .

Where the correspondence exchanged between the parties are read together, it can be assumed that the parties have come to an agreement.

Finally the law is that time is of essence where the parties have expressly made it so, or where circumstances show that it is intended to be of essence or where a definite time is fixed for execution of a mercantile and the contract even though time is not expressly made of the essence, Thus failure to perform the contract within the limit will constitute a breach. Performance must be rendered within a reasonable in the absence of any specification as to time in the contract itself.Of course, the container of adhesive gum was sold by the Nigerian Ports Authority, Port congestion Tasks force as an overtime cargo/ Lot 119 in the 1985/1986 overtime cargo sales. It is no gain saying that both courts proceeded from a wrong platform to find that the parties were in pari delicto as to who breached the contract.

I conclude that the respondent is blameworthy for the breach of this contract for reasons that (1) He resorted to antics which made clearance of the container of adhesive gum impossible.

(2) As a clearing agent of many years standing he knew the documents to collect from the appellant to facilitate the procurement of the import licence right from the inception of the contract (3) It is apparent from his activities that he was not used to clearing through the transparent and legal means.

(4) He did not enjoy the co-operation of the appellant in his device to extort him by incessantly asking for money.

(5) Even the licence he purchased with N10,000 belonged to a shoe-company and not for clearance of adhesive gum.

(6) He waited for two years into the contract on 7th April 1986 to ask for basic documents like (a) Tax Clearance Certificate (b) Certificate of Incorporation.

I set aside the judgments of the two lower courts as being perverse. The next issue to be determined is the claim of the appellant for damages.

A contract can be discharged by breach. A breach of contract means that the party in breach has acted contrary to the terms of the contract either by non-performance or by performing the contract not in accordance with its terms or by a wrongful repudiation of the contract. A party who has paid money to another person for a consideration that has totally failed under a contract is entitled to claim the money back from the other.Pan Bisbilder (Nigeria) Ltd. v. First Bank Nig. Limited (2000) 1 SC 71 at pg 86;Haido v.

Usman (2004) 3 NWLR (pt. 859) pg.65.

As I mentioned earlier in this judgment the respondent is not disputing the appellants claim for N52, 000.00 (Fifty two thousand Naira) as special damages being money had and received by the respondent from the appellant for a consideration which totally failed.

The appellant claimed the sum of $172,200.00 US Dollars as special damages.

The respondent disputed the amount and testified that Exhibit X put the amount as 94,860.94 (Four thousand, Eight Hundred and sixty Dollars, Eighty four cents). The appellant tendered Exhibits A and Exhibit F (Exh.4) which put the amount as $172,200.00 (one Hundred and seventy two Thousand, Two Hundred Dollars). The trial court dismissed this amount as the appellant failed to give evidence of how he settled this amount with his creditor in Italy.

I have carefully scrutinized exhibits A, F, and X tendered by the parties, I discovered that Exhibits A and the photocopy which is Exhibits F or 4 contains the authentic amount paid by the appellant to Bassi Marchini & CO. S. P. A Mazzago Italy being the selling price for the consignment of Neoprene glue Mastic 66. This amount is confirmed by the letter Exhibits T dated 1/7/86 from Bassi Marchini & CO. S.P.A captioned. Re settlement of debt of U.S $172,200.00 (one Hundred and seventy two Thousand, Two Hundred Dollars) to the appellant while Exhibit X from the same Company covering the same consignment is the Freight prepaid amount from Mazzago Italy to Onitsha via Port Harcourt. According to Exhibits X the amount is described as “Amount for North Italian Port Sea Freight Expenses total amount C & F Port Harcourt U.S $4,860.84 (Four thousand, Eight Hundred and Sixty Dollars, Eighty four Cents).

On Exhibits G - a Bill of lading- the consignment is described as pre-paid under Haulage Charge. I find, based on these documents that the value of the goods in the container is $172,200.00 (One Hundred and Seventy two Thousand, Two Hundred Dollars). Coupled with this fact, I agree with the observation in the lead judgment of the lower court that it is not possible to clear goods worth N6000, according to the price posted by the respondent, with N57,000.00 charged by respondent the Clearing Agent. The appellant is therefore entitled to the sum $172,200.00 (One Hundred and Seventy two Thousand, Two Hundred Dollars) claimed as special damages, I am not inclined to grant the relief for interest at the rate of 25% from 17th April, 1986 for the simple reason that the rate of exchange between Naira and U. S Dollar in 1986 was 1 to 1.5 but now swings between N153 to N155 to one dollar.

In sum, this appeal has merit and it is hereby allowed. The concurrent judgments of the trial court and lower court are hereby set aside. I assess the costs of this appeal as N50, 000.00.objection incompetent. See Menakaya v. Menakaya 1994 5NWLR pt.345 pg.51 Appearances: Mr. A. C. Anamugwu V. I. P. Ozumba For the Appelants Chief Ikenna Egbuwa P. Nwachukwu For the Respondents

ALL FOR OLANIPEKUN’S 20 YEARS OF SAN-SHIP

•From left: Prince Julius Adelusi, Mrs Omolara Olanipekun, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Speaker, House of Reps, Aminu Tambuwal and Prince Bola Ajibola at a book presentation in Olanipekun’s honour

36

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

NATIONAL BAR

NBA conference: Are we ready?

W ITH 10 days to the commencement of what, undeniably, is the largest gathering of lawyers anywhere in the world, the question that naturally engage the minds of regular NBA conference attendees would be “is the NBA ready for the conference?” Put in another way, “what arrangements have been put in place by the NBA Technical Committee on Conference Planning to improve on previous Annual General Conferences?”

This question, as innocuous as it seems, would provide an insight into the expectations of conferees from the NBA conference and may eventually serve as the yardstick for measuring the success or otherwise of the conference.

Traditionally, the success or otherwise of the NBA conference is measured by quality of conference materials, availability of conference bags, ease of registration, suitability of venues, relevance of topics, subject matter depth of resource persons, accommodation availability and affordability, security, transportation and logistics, quality of deliberations, AGM, Annual Bar Dinner, information dissemination, social packages, etc.

The 2011 Technical Committee on Conference Planning (NBA-TCCP) with the NBA President, Joseph Bodunrin Daudu (SAN) as Chair and Okey Wali (SAN) as Alternate Chair has for the past eight months worked assiduously to deliver what is expected to be a bumper conference package that will signpost the desired improvement from the past in so many different indices for assessment as this piece will strive to show.

Registration In an unprecedented move, the NBA secretariat has taken delivery of all the conference bags over six weeks ago and plans are underway to stuff the bags with all the materials needed for participation during the conference.

The registration and secretariat staff are already in PortHarcourt and finalising arrangements to ensure a seamless registration process for individuals and groups. The TCCP has

By Emeka Obegolu

designated the Township school directly opposite the main conference centre as the registration centre with enough rooms for different categories of registration. The registration centre also boasts of internet and DSTV for the use and entertainment of members as they arrive.

Conference Materials All the papers for the conference will be burnt into CD roms that will be in the conference bags as a reference material. The TCCP also plans to provide conferees with hard copies during sessions to encourage active participation.

Topics and Resource Persons The Theme of the conference is “Sustaining an enduring democracy in Nigeria” and the Keynote speaker is Prof. Wole Soyinka during the opening ceremony. As usual, we expect the Nobel Laureate to set the tone for the conference with an insightful keynote speech.

The Showcase session following after the opening ceremony will feature the topic “Towards a new Nigeria; The quest for good governance and the Rule of Law”. This topic will be presented by Governors Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi; Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN); Alhaji Sule Lamido; Comrade Adams Oshiomole; and Alhaji Shehu Shema.

The various sections, Fora and Groups of the NBA have also planned a cocktail of topics and resource persons designed to stimulate discussions and and proffer solutions to various problems and issues facing the nation and the legal profession.

Surely, conferees will find the resource persons knowledgeable and the sessions interactive and engaging.

Venues Accommodation and Transport The TCCP has designated venues for different sessions and other activities close to the main conference venue (Civic Centre) for ease of movement of Conferees from one programme venue to another. The accommodation brochure compiled by the LOC has been distributed to members through branch chair-

men in June 2011 and it shows discounted rates negotiated for the benefit of conferees.

Members are already reserving their accommodation directly with the hotels or through the LOC. Again for the first time in NBA, numbered and branded buses will be designated to each conference hotel with established time schedules for movement to different conference venues and an LOC guide to provide local knowledge of the city and attractions.

Annual bar dinner and Annual General Meeting These traditional and statutory Bar events have been planned to give effect to the intendment of the event. Tickets for the Bar dinner is already on sale and will end days before the conference. This is to enable the TCCP plan a Bar Dinner, properly so called, that will meet the expectation of Diners.

Security, crowd Management and Session Scheduling The Government of Rivers state has assured the NBA conferees through the TCCP of adequacy of security of conferees, conference hotels and venues. The security sub-committee of the TCCP is also working round the clock to give effect to the assurances. To this end the NBA TCCP has resolved that access to conference venues can only be granted upon proper identification with conference tags after due registration, while access to the registration centre will be upon show of bank teller evidencing payment for the conference. Loitering around the conference venue is not permitted as a security measure in view of the recent events in the country. Every conferee is expected to identify session of interest and enter the venue.

The TCCP has also resolved that cash payment for any conference event is prohibited and members are encouraged to pay to the designated banks. Session managers have been appointed for each scheduled session with mandate to ensure readiness of venue and strict observance of time schedule.

Socials, Tourism, etc The LOC has packaged interesting conference socials ranging from welcome cocktail, gala night, cultural nights, sight seeing, tourism etc for the delight of the conferees.

PorthHarcourt city hosts best standard restaurants, bars, night clubs and other enter-

•Obegolu

tainment centres that have been recommended by the LOC for the enjoyment of the conferees. The city tour of PortHarcourt has been planned as an everyday event with airconditioned buses taking off from the Civic Centre.

Information Dissemination The publicity sub-committee of the TCCP will provide conferees with a panoramic uptodate news and events of the conference by the publication and distribution of the daily hard copy news bulletin ( THE BAR NEWS).

Bulk sms will also be sent to conferees as event unfolds with relevant information about the conference.

Helplines will also be provided for security, medical, transport, fire, accomodation, etc.

For the first time, again, conferees will enjoy the benefit of online news update through our electronic news bulletin designed for lawyers with access to their email on the go.

Conclusion To answer the question “Are we ready?”

Yes we are!!!

INTENSIVE COURSE IN ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ADR) ORGANISED BY THE NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED LEGAL STUDIES (NIALS) IN LAGOS

•Former Director, Academics, Nigerian Law School Mr Kevin Nwosu and Mr Nelson Ogbuanya of the Law School

•Participants: Okafor Ndubisi and Sandra Sham

PHOTOS: DAVID ADEJO

37

TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

ENERGY THE NATION

E-mail:- energy@thenationonlineng.net

Shell admits Bodo oil spill

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

• Sunmonu

T

HE Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Develop ment Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) and Country Chairman, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mutiu Sunmonu has admitted that the Bodo oil spill was caused by operational failure and said the company would pay compensation and restore the environment.

Sunmonu, however, insisted that the larger part of the spills in the Niger Delta area including Bodo community is caused by sabotage and he urged the Federal Government who is a senior partner in the joint venture to apply all possible measures to stop oil theft and illegal refining in the area.

The implication is that the Federal Government through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) owns 55 percent shares in the Shell/NNPC Joint Venture and whatever fine given

INSIDE • ‘Nigeria is second worst gas flaring country’ •••Page 38

to Shell, should be shared according to equity holdings of the shareholders.

A British High Court in London had last week ordered Shell to pay compensation of more than £250 million ($410 million) to Bodo community after the company admitted liability for two spills in Bodo Community in the Niger Delta.

Responding to reports on the British court verdict, Mutiu in an open letter said: “Oil spills in the Niger Delta are a tragedy, and the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) takes them very seriously. That is why we have always accepted responsibility for paying compensation when they occur as a result of operational failure.

“SPDC has always acknowledged that the two spills in the Bodo area in 2008, which are the focus of extensive media reports today, were caused by such operational failure. Even when, as is true in the great majority of cases, spills are caused by illegal activity such as sabotage or theft, we are also committed to cleaning up spilt oil and restoring the surrounding land.

“It is unfortunate that inaccurate reporting has created the impression that SPDC in particular and oil companies in general are responsible for all oil spills in Nigeria. The two spills at issue here resulted in around 4,000 barrels of oil being spilt.

“It is regrettable that any oil is spilt anywhere, but it is wildly inaccurate to suggest that those two spills represent anything like the scale which some reports refer to.

Equally, speculation by the plaintiffs’ lawyers as to the level of compensation which may be payable is misguided and massively in excess of the true position.

“Concerted effort is needed on the part of the Nigerian govern-

• Total’s FPSO to produce $8b Usan field •••Page 39

• Operator seeks states, Fed Govt partnership on waste-to-energy •••Page 41

T

• Urges govt to end illegal refining, oil theft ment (which itself owns a majority interest in the assets operated

by SPDC under a joint operating agreement with the NNPC), working with oil companies and others, to end the blight of illegal refining and oil theft in the Niger Delta, both of which perpetuate poverty.

This is the major cause of the environmental damage which media reports have so graphically illustrated.”

Leigh Day & Co, the lawyers representing the Bodo communities, said the case was the first of its kind because it would be handled under British jurisdiction. “SPDC has agreed to formally accept liability

• From left: Abbiye Membere, Managing Director, National Petroleum Development Company; Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke and Group Managing Director, NNPC, Austen Oniwon, at the SPE conference and exhibition in Abuja

Board endorses Point Engineering’s capacity building initiatives

HE Nigerian Content Devel opment and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has given approval to support capacity building initiatives of Point Engineering Limited, an indigenous engineering design company.

This, according to the Board, is to encourage the company in making additional investment in projects that would enhance domestication of activities in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

The Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Ernest Nwapa, an engineer, gave the assurance during an inspection of the company’s facilities at Port Harcourt. He said the board would continue to support genuine indigenous firms committed to investment in facilities.

This, he said, would assist in the enforcement of the directive that

OIL PRICES JULY 29 -AUG 5

Light Crude

Source: Rigzone.com

and concede to the jurisdiction of the UK,” a statement on the law firm’s website said.

“This is one of the most devastating oil spills the world has ever seen and yet it had gone almost unnoticed until we received instructions to bring about a claim against Shell in this country.”

“This report makes a valuable contribution towards improving understanding of the issue of oil spills in Ogoniland,” Sunmonu said adding “all oil spills are bad - bad for local communities, bad for the environment, bad for Nigeria and bad for SPDC.” Shell’s spokesman Tony Okonedo,

said the company had on Wednesday shut one of its onshore flow- stations in southern Bayelsa State following several oil leaks on the pipeline. “A number of incidents that involved oil leaks happened yesterday (Tuesday) last week at the Adibawa flow-station. We had to shut it down to allow for repairs to take place. Repair teams are being mobilised to the site,” Okonedo told the AFP news agency.

“The cause of the leaks is yet unknown. An investigation is going on to determine what really happened,” he added.

The report noted that Okonedo declined to comment on the allegation that the leaks happened after some youths employed to protect pipelines around the area were sacked.

Brent Crude

10 per cent components of materials for a project in the industry must be manufacture in-country.

The support of the board would also enable Point Engineering to be committed to investment in capacity building to engage unemployed youths and create more jobs in the region. “It is commendable that the company refused to bow to hostility of multinationals when there was no law to implement Nigerian Content and instead concentrated in acquiring modern facilities that would enhance effective competition with foreign subcontractor companies. It is therefore, not a surprise that the company has moved up to this level and should be given necessary support needed to remain steadfast,” he noted.

Nwapa said Point Engineering acquired an office in Lagos in compliance with the directive of an operator during a bid process. “It will be wrong for NCDMB to abandon such a company doing the right thing so that Nigerians will take charge of operations in the oil and gas industry in line with the goal of Nigerian Content Act signed by President Goodluck Jonathan on

April 22, 2010.

The Chief Executive Officer of Point Engineering Limited, George Okoyo, an engineer, during the visit of the NCDMB gave awards to members of staff who have distinguished themselves, served meritoriously and contributed to the growth of the company.

The beneficiaries of the award include a cleaner in the Administration Department Tina Maduka and Bridget Kpakol who received long service award; the head of ICT Department, Aransiola Jethro, was honoured for his meritorious and committed service to the company for over four years.

Others include Samuel Eguvere drawing office coordinator and head of department CAD Office as well as Obianyor Samson Obiajulu, head of Mechanical/ Piping Department.

Okoyo listed challenges of local content as lack of sustainable work and high turnover of staff which made the company to reduce the staff strength from 169 in 2009 to 100 in 2011. This, he noted has continued to distort growth plans as well as low rates fixed for Nigerian engineers compared to the expatriate counterparts.

38

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

ENERGY

‘Nigeria is second worst gas flaring country’

D

ESPITE efforts of the gov ernment to drastically curb the volume of gas flared in the country, Nigeria still ranks the world’s second gas flaring nation after Russia.

The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Austen Oniwon said this in his paper entitled “Gas utilisation for long term clean energy and economic growth,” presented at the just concluded Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) annual conference and exhibition held in Abuja.

Oniwon, who was stressing the need for increased efforts by the government and oil companies operating in the country to embark on aggressive gas-utilisation projects to eliminate gas flaring, said the Industry must take up the challenge and monetise the gas for the benefit of us all.

Oniwon said Nigeria’s gas potential is enormous occupying world’s seventh largest proven gas reserves put at 187 trillion cubic feet (Tcf ) as at January 1, 2007, which creates a solid platform for environmentally sustainable economic growth. Besides, he noted that Nigeria’s gas is of high grade quality with zero sulphur content.

Explaining further on the need for enhanced gas utilisation, Oniwon said: “Nigeria is said to be one of the fastest growing emerging economies with an expanding middle class and expected growth in the energy and power sectors.

Existing energy supply and demand imbalance widening as a lack of past investment in infrastructure has hindered development of Nigeria’s natural gas resources.

Government’s objective is to increase power generation capacity to 10,000MW from the current 6000MW of which less than 50 percent is utilised due to gas supply constraints. Lack of domestic infrastructure has led to diesel, fuel oil being the main source of fuel supply for electricity generation in Nigeria.”

The NNPC chief said realising the full potential of natural gas in Nigeria will require enormous effort and collaboration and that Mr. President has clear vision for gas by 2014, for instance the gas industrialisation project.

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

The gas industrialisation project, which gas gas-based industrialisation strategic initiative is anchored on a few planned investment initiatives including petrochemical, fertiliser and methanol would substantially shoot up gas utilisation and monetization.

He said: “We have assembled a robust set of investor projects – creating a platform to position Nigeria truly as the regional hub for gas based industries. Work is commencing on realising these projects in phases. We have just concluded and commissioned the 36” x 136km line from Oben to Geregu – sup-

OPEC extends nominations for Journalism Award

expected to be completed by end of March 2012, among others.

He said: “Realising the full potential of natural gas in Nigeria will require enormous effort and collaboration. Through the Gas Master-Plan, and Mr. President’s Gas Revolution, we have a clear roadmap, and steady progress is being made.

“Success will depend on the collaboration of stakeholders – timely development of supply, infrastructure, and bankable contractual arrangements. When delivered, the economic impact will be unprecedented in Nigeria – including an estimated multi-million employment creation directly and indirectly.

“On delivering the agenda, the implementation framework is focused on a two pronged approach – strategic initiatives to stimulate demand, and enabling policy framework. Grow gas supply to power sector from 600 mmscfd to three billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) by 2015 with specific short to medium term focus on Power Holding Company (PHCN), National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), Joint Venture Independent Power Project (JV IPP) and third party IPP.” Nigeria’s gas utilization and demand forecast, the NNPC chief said, is expected to rise to 7.5 billion standard cubic feet per day by 2015 from 1.4 bcf/d in 1999.

Suspected PHCN vandal electrocuted

N

T

HE Organisation of Petro leum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said the deadline for nominations for the Second OPEC Award for Journalism has been extended until October 3, 2011.

A statement issued by the organisation said the extension is in a bid to give more journalists, analysts and media organisations the opportunity to participate in the competition.

The OPEC Award for Journalism is given to an experienced journalist, team of journalists or media organisation that has delivered objective and balanced reporting on, and analysis of, the oil market for a minimum of 10 years. The Award is open to both print and broadcast journalists.

The Award consists of a plaque, a certificate and 5,000 euros, which will be donated to any charity or institution of the winner’s choice.

OPEC established the Award to encourage objective reporting and to honour the work of journalists who have over the past 10 years devoted their careers to contributing to the public’s understanding of the petroleum industry.

porting Geregu power plant and about to complete the expansion of the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS A) Escravos-Warri 24"/ 36" x 104Km expanding the capacity from 300 million standard cubic feet per day (mmcf/d) of gas to 600mmcf/d, which is expected to be completed by end of August 2011 and the ongoing expansion of ELPS C from Warri-Lagos 36" x 324km, doubling capacity from 1bcf/d to 2bcf/d, which also is expected to be completed by August 2012.

He said ongoing also is the NOPL line from Obite to Obigbo node and has just awarded Imo-River – Alaoji 24" x 26km line to support Alaoji power plant and Aba area,

• Abdullah Al-Badri, OPEC President

The Award will be presented by the President of the OPEC Conference on the occasion of the fifth OPEC International Seminar, scheduled to take place at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria, on 13-14 June 13-14 2012. The inaugural Award was conferred on eminent journalist, analyst and academic, Dr. Walid Khadduri, in 2009.

Nomination forms can be downloaded from the OPEC website (www.opec.org) and must be accompanied by five samples of work previously published or broadcast during the last decade.

These may be submitted on CDs or DVDs. Eligible candidates may also nominate themselves.

EMESIS has caught up with an unidentified middleaged man suspected to be a member of a gang, which specialises in the vandalism of electricity installations belonging to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

According to an eye witness account, the incident, which happened at Jibowu, Yaba in Lagos State saw the vandal trying to steal some electricity cable, however, the suspected vandal met his untimely, The Nation gathered.

Investigations further revealed that the suspected vandal had thought there was no current as he was trying to cut-off the cables, but

By Adesola Adetiba

the victim was unlucky when a live wire suddenly sparked, ignited fire burnt his tummy and threw him off the pole. He landed on his back and died instantly.

This made the other suspected members of the gang to run for their lives leaving behind some of their belongings, such as footwear.

A plier was recovered from the pocket of the dead man.

A resident of the area, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the death of the man would relieve the area of the activities of the gang that been on the prowl for a long time adding that their

nefarious acts have always thrown the area into darkness.

He said: “As much as we are saddened by the death of a member of the notorious gang, we are equally happy that we can now heave a sigh of relief from a gang who has made us suffer persistent blackout for long. Anytime this gang strikes, the result is blackout. When these cables are mutilated and vandalised, it becomes pretty difficult to have a regular supply of power.

“I think this sad event would send the right signal to other members of the gang to either desist from this act or prepare to face the consequence of their actions.”

Oil price falls to $85/bbl as outlook for demand dims

O

IL prices extended sharp losses, falling to near $85 a barrel on Friday in Asia amid expectations a slowing global economy will weaken demand for crude.

Benchmark oil for September delivery was down $1.31 to $85.32 a barrel at late afternoon Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Crude tumbled $5.30 to settle at $86.63 on Thursday.

In London, Brent crude was down $1.56 at $105.69 per barrel on the

ICE Futures exchange.

According to Associated Press, oil and other commodities were dragged down by a plunge in global stock markets as traders lost confidence in U.S. economic growth. The Dow Jones industrial average sank 4.3 per cent on Thursday and stock markets in Asia opened sharply lower Friday.

Investors fled to lower-risk assets, such as the U.S. dollar, which exacerbated oil’s decline. Crude usually falls when the dollar gains since a stronger U.S. currency

makes commodities more expensive for investors with other currencies.

Investors looked out for July’s jobs report for evidence about the strength of the US economy. Economists expect that 90,000 jobs were created in the U.S. last month, which is not enough to lower the unemployment rate, currently at 9.2 percent.

“Economic worries in the U.S. led to fears that oil demand will soften dramatically,” energy consultant Cameron Hanover said in a report.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

39

ENERGY

Total’s FPSO to produce $8 billion Usan field

T

HE floating production, stor age and offloading (FPSO) vessel of the French oil giant – Total–has arrived Nigeria in preparation for the production of first oil from its oil field – Usan in January next year.

The FPSO arrived on site on the July 31, 2011 after three months of being towed from Ulsan, South Korea. The FPSO is currently undergoing Customs clearance and mooring would start immediately after preliminary check-up procedures are concluded, the company said.

Awarded Best Project at the 2011 Nigerian Oil and Gas (NOG) conference, the Usan project is a showpiece of Nigerian Content development with more than 11 million man-hours of engineering, fabri-

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

cation, assembly and offshore integration of equipment being performed in Nigeria.

Oil production flowlines are already installed as well as water injection lines. The first two oil production manifolds are installed and the next three will be installed by end of August.

The Managing Director of Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Guy Maurice had said barring unforeseen circumstances, Total and its partners will in January 2012, pump the first oil from the Usan field located in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 138 in water depth of between 750 and 800 metres, and about 100 km off Nigerian coast, south-south east of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The field according to the company, will be producing 180,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) and will produce for 25 years.

Usan project is designed to attain first oil within four years from the date drilling began on the field and is planned to take a $2 billion investment annually, which will be a total of $8 billion.

Although the field was discovered in February 2002, actual drilling began in June 2009 from where the company set a period of four years to achieve first oil.

The project, according to the company, would have numerous economic gains including increased revenues and reserves base for the shareholders and the government when it finally comes on stream.

Maurice said Usan is Total’s sec-

ond deepwater development in Nigeria after Akpo, which began production in March, 2009.

He said: “The Usan project is a production sharing contract (PSC) with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as concessionaire, Total as operator, Chevron, ExxonMobil and Nexen working together.

“The field will come on stream in 2012, and will produce 180,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day at peak production and expected to produce for 25 years.

“Very much like Akpo, which was delivered on schedule and within budget, Usan currently at 75 per cent realization, is within budget and on schedule.

“In addition to significantly boosting Nigeria’s oil production, Usan

places very strong emphasis on Nigerian Content, with nearly 11 million man-hours of work in-country, including engineering, fabrication, assembling and offshore integration of equipment.

“Much of the project packages are being produced in yards in the Niger Delta locations of Port Harcourt, Onne and Rumuolumeni in Rivers State, Warri in Delta State as well as Snake Island in Lagos by Nigerian based suppliers and employees.”

Maurice also said that Usan would be the company’s fourth deepwater project in Africa coming after Girassol and Dalia fields in Angola and Akpo in Nigeria. The Akpo and Usan projects’ success, he noted highlights the continued commitment of Total to development of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

... gets recognition for emergency preparedness, training

T

• Usan FPSO

How private sector doubled LPG consumption

I

N the last three and half years, private investors, doubled the volumes of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) otherwise called cooking gas consumed in the country.

The volume, which was put at 66000 tonnes in 2007, rose to 123,000 by 2010 thanks to the strategies adopted by the Nigeria Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association (NLPGA),the umbrella body of these private investors.

According to Prince Adebambo Ademiluyi,Managing Director, Quaint Agency, the association was motivated to take this bold initiative for the government to feel obliged to give its support so that LPG can be popularised in the country.

One of the strategies the association deployed, he said, was to ensure that there is a steady flow of the product in the market.

“In the last three and half years the flow of LPG has been stable in the market. We have not recorded any shortage whatsoever. Even when there was an imminent shortage in supply of the product, it was

Bidemi Bakare

immediately addressed.During this period the price of the product went up slightly for about two weeks, but crashed again immediately the vessel landed. What caused the shortage was n’t a supply issue, but rather a logistic issue at the jetty which made the vessel not to berth.

So, I can say without any fear of contradiction that the private sector cum the association has been ensuring that there is a steady flow of the product in the last three and half years for consumption too to increase,he said.”

He said,other strategy the association has utilised to increase consumption is to ensure the stability of the price of the product at the retail end.

He noted that the adequate supply of the product has really contributed to this stability in price.

He said: ”NLPGA as a responsive and responsible association has been able to ensure that the price of LPG becomes stable since the supply too has also been

stable. At the retail end,the price sometime ago after the stability in supply came from about N3,500 per 12.5kg to about N2,300 per 12.5kg.

But at present, the price hovers around 2,600 and 2,900.As a matter of fact, rarely does the price gets to N3,000 per 12.5kg these days.It has become more stable.And it is this stability in price that has prompted increased consumption of the product.”

Besides, he said the asociation has been firing up other stakeholders on the promotion of LPG. He said this action is meant to improve awareness and subsequently jerk up the consumption of the product in the country.

“We have been doing our best as an association to carry other stakeholders along in the LPG campaign. We want to make sure we further improve the consumption of the product in the various states of the federation.

That explains why, for instance, we are partnering the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) to start a

programmewith the Lagos State government, its Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and Lagos state Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) on distribution of cylinders to residents through the Community Development Committees (CDC).

We hope that by the time this programme takes off, there would be further increase in volumes of LPG consumption. So, we have such programmes that were not there before coming up. In fact everybody is coming up with ideas on how to develop LPG. So, in a way, one can conveniently say the association has been trying its best with the numerous ingenious initiatives designed to boost LPG consumption,he said.”

Ademuluyi, who is the Chairman of the association’s Planning Committee on its proposed assembly plant, said what the private sector would have wished for is more support from the government to complement its effort at boosting LPG consumption in the country.

Oil demand growth forecasts cut as economies slow

A

sharp slowdown in eco nomic growth, particu larly in the United States, is hitting consumers and companies and forcing economic forecasters and analysts to slash estimates for global oil demand.

According to Reuters, in a report to be published in the next few days, Barclays Capital has cut its estimates of world oil demand growth for this year and 2012 to reflect the dramatic slowdown in the United States and

elsewhere.

The investment bank, which has been one of the most bullish forecasters of oil prices this year, now sees global oil demand increasing by 1.1 million barrels per day (bpd) this year to 88.68 million bpd.

Barclays Capital previously forecast a rise in oil demand this year of 1.56 million bpd and two months ago expected the increase to be as much as 1.7 million.

Analysts say they expect other

investment banks to follow Barclays Capital and cut their own estimates further.

Barclays Capital has also cut its forecast for oil demand growth next year, expecting an increase of 1.34 million bpd in 2012, compared with its previous forecast of 1.4 million bpd.

“Given the general state of the macro-economy, the state of oil demand does not seem particularly healthy,” Barclays Capital oil analyst Amrita Sen said.

“Moreover, U.S. GDP is two percent lower than what everyone expected or knew of due to the revisions issued last week and our economists have reduced a cumulative 1.8 percent of U.S. growth over this year and next, hence the revision.”

Washington has cut sharply its estimates of growth this year and now says the U.S. economy stumbled badly in the first half, coming dangerously close to contracting at one point.

OTAL Upstream received an award of excellence jointly conferred by Emergency Response International (ERI), Advanced Life Support Providers Association of Nigeria (ALSPAN) and the American Heart Association (AHA) for emergency preparedness and training.

The award was given during the international conference of the three bodies and the roll out of the 2010 New International Resuscitation Guidelines of the American Heart Association.

The award was received during a ceremony at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), IdiAraba, Lagos on behalf of the company by the Deputy General Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility/Public Administration, Deepwater District, Lagos, Dr. Nkoyo Attah.

Other officials of the company present were the Senior Medical Officer, Deepwater District, Lagos, Dr. Force-Berge; Senior Medical Officer, Port Harcourt District, Dr Charles Ngeribara and the Manager, Medical Administration, Deepwater District, Lagos, Mrs. Uche Ojomo.

At the event, the Advanced Life Support Providers Association, Emergency Response International and the American Heart Association, commended Total Upstream for promoting resuscitation science in Nigeria.

Total was the first organisation that keyed into using an organized international training programme for the training of its entire workforce. The company compels its contractors to be trained in emergency care, a policy that has created huge potential emergency responders within the immediate surroundings.

In a related development, the Company’s Akpo Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel again showed a high sense of commitment towards bio-diversity preservation in today’s world where the crisis of extinction of marine life has reached such daunting dimensions as a water turtle was rescued by a team of marine personnel.

The marine team was on a routine inspection of the crude oil offloading floating hose when they saw a water turtle of more than 50 years of age entrapped in a drifting fishing net. The team quickly suspended the inspection of the hose and attended to the water turtle by removing her from the entrapped net into the boat to the FPSO for examination. After close examination, it was discovered that she only sustained slight injury from the net. The turtle was then taken back to the sea.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

40

ENERGY

Operator seeks states, Fed Govt partnership on waste-to-energy • Says initiative can generate 20MW The management and conversion of munincipal wastes is a great concern to both the states and Federal governments.

But if the political will is there, the government can collaborate and exploit modern technology to convert the wastes to electricity, says an operator. BIDEMI BAKARE reports

W

ITH its huge potential in waste, Nigeria stands a great chance of turning solid and medical wastes into such productive use, such as electricity generation.

An operator,Coomi Trade Sarl, which specialises in the technology of converting wastes to energy stated that for a country with a population of 150 million people it won’t be out of place to say that Nigeria needs the technology badly now than ever considering the amount of wastes produced daily and the consequence on the environment.

It said what is required is for the states and Federal Government to show the political will and commitment so that the technology and experise can be exported into the country in earnest for the production of clean electricity and creation of clean environment.

The company’s country representative Mauruzo Bedei said it is auspicious for the government to take advantage of the technology not only to compliment effort at im-

proving the power situation in the country but also to realise the mega cities status like the rest of the developed countries.

He said in most developed countries in Europe with lesser population, they see waste as an essential commodity and that is why these countries exploit technology to utilise the waste to generate electricity and create environments that are safe and habitable for living wondering why Nigeria with such huge population has not seen waste in this perpective.

“Waste to most European countries is gold. Italy, for instance, is a small country that produces waste though not as much as Nigeria but utilises technology to convert the waste to power. There are 100 of such factories converting waste to energy. Germany, on the other hand, produces less waste but has had to buy waste from Italy. It is not unusual to see train full of wastes moving from Italy to Germany who does not have enough waste to generate electricity.

So, Nigeria should look at waste

as gold too and make sure she embraces this technology to solve part of her power problems,he said.

He said the technology has the capacity of generating at least 20MW of power equivalent to 87,410,870KWh per year from 26,0000 tonnes of waste and so thinks with the huge mound of wastes in Lagos alone, it is possible to get more power from wastes to contribute to the national grid.

Describing the process of the technology as thermal exploitation,he said it is based on high temperature combustion of waste as the

waste is very complicated.

He said the system goes through 30 process movements so that dangerous elements, such as dioxine in the waste can be destroyed at high temperature of 1,000 c before electricity can be generated.

“The whole technology is a very complicated one.As a matter of fact, the material put into the combustion chamber must be strong to withstand the 1000c temperature.Waste such as plastics, cloth,paper and bags and other medical wastes require this high temperature to destroy dan-

gerous elements in them. After the burning of the waste and the destruction of these elements, the high temperature is used to heat water and transformed it to a high pressure steam. The steam then turns the turbine and the turbine subsequently turns the generator which generates the electricity.After that cycle is completed,the steam is again transformed to water which returns to the boiler that transforms the water again to steam and this continues through these cycles for many years, he said.”

• From left: Ernest Nwapa, Executive Secretary NCDMB, George Okoyo, CEO Point Engineering Limited and Obianyor Samson Obiajulu, Head of Department (Mechanical and Piping of Point engineering Limited, receiving key of a Picanto car presented to him by Point engineering Limited for his meritorious and dedicated service to the company during an inspection of the company engineering design facilities and Long Service award ceremony in Port Harcourt recently.

IEA’s release of strategic oil saved consumers $110b

T

HOUGH the release of 60 mil lion barrels of oil from the US and other IEA member countries’ strategic reserves in July, worth $7 billion at current prices, caught the world by surprise, and the move saved consumer countries $110 billion, Badr Jafar, president of Crescent Petroleum, said.

There is a strong economic logic for such releases, he noted. “Based on the oil price spikes of the 1970s and 2008, oil could easily head toward $200 per barrel in the event of a similar crisis today. That equates to an extra $110 billion in monthly oil costs for IEA member states at a time when their economies still remain fragile. Such a price spike would likely precipitate another global recession and even greater economic losses as a result.

Quoting him, Saudi Gazette said releasing $7 billion worth of oil from strategic reserves each month while supplies remain constrained would appear very worthwhile,” Jafar said.

Since the oil crises of the 1970s, oil consumer governments have systematically kept stockpiles of crude oil and oil products aside in strategic reserves only to be used in the event of another supply crisis, he pointed out.

Since then, emergency releases have only been made two times, in 1990 and 2005, both in direct response to huge market interruptions, the First Iraq War and Hurricane Katrina respectively. The latest release marks the third time that strategic reserves have been tapped, this time officially in response to loss of output from the Libyan civil war. “However, such strategic oil releases only work if the market believes the interruption will be temporary, that supplies will quickly return to normal, and that stockpiles can be rebuilt later. IEA member states’ strategic and industrial oil stockpiles total around 4,200 million barrels, in comparison the 60 million barrels released in July is small, but never-

Domestic prices of petroleum products Companies

PMS

AGO

theless it does not provide a longterm alternative to increasing oil production from major oil exporters, Jafar said.

The IEA have made it clear that they hope the supply disruption caused by Libya will be brief, and that global oil markets will be back

in balance by the later part of 2011.

He noted though that “oil supplies appear to be responding slowly to a shock to the system while demand is proving resilient suggesting further market tightening”, as global oil demand has continued its rapid rebound.

Oil price may go as high as $200/bbl

B

ASED on the oil price spikes of the 1970s and 2008, oil could easily head toward $200 per barrel in the event of a similar crisis today, according to Badr Jafar, president of Crescent Petroleum, According Arab News: “Such an adverse increase in oil prices will translate into an extra $110 billion monthly oil costs for IEA member states at a time when their economies still remain fragile. Such a price spike would likely precipitate another global recession and even greater economic losses as a

result. So releasing $7 billion worth of oil from strategic reserves each month while supplies remain constrained would appear very worthwhile,” Jafar said.

However, he added that such strategic oil releases only work if the market believes the interruption will be temporary, that supplies will quickly return to normal, and that stockpiles can be rebuilt later.

Crude oil prices are already indicating that market participants remain nervous about supply shortages and that the IEA’s inter-

Energy prices Energy & Oil Prices OIL ($/bbl)

DPK Nymex Crude Future Dated Brent Spot WTI Cushing Spot OIL (¢/gal)

PRICE*

CHANGE

% CHANGE

TIME

86.88 109.76 86.88

0.25 2.39 0.25

0.29% 2.23% 0.29%

08/05 08/05 08/05

Conoil

65.00

160.00

140.00

AP

65.00

160.00

140.00

Total

65.00

160.00

140.00

Oando

65.00

160.00

140.00

Mobil

65.00

160.00

140.00

Texaco

65.00

160.00

140.00

Nymex Henry Hub Future 3.94 Henry Hub Spot 4.00 New York City Gate Spot 4.21 ELECTRICITY ($/megawatt hour)

Mid-Columbia, firm on-peak, spot 34.14 1.24 3.77% 08/05 Palo Verde, firm on-peak, spot 40.90 -4.61 -10.13% 08/05 BLOOMBERG, FIRM ON-PEAK, DAY AHEAD SPOT/ERCOT HOUSTON 590.00 5.00 0.85% 08/05 Source: Bloomberg.com

INDIGENOUS

PRICE* Nymex Heating Oil Future 294.17 Nymex RBOB Gasoline Future 280.52 NATURAL GAS ($/MMBtu) PRICE*

PRICE*

Energy

65.00

160.00

140.00

Fagbems

65.00

160.00

140.00

Nipco

65.00

160.00

140.00

Crude oil prices are already indicating that market participants remain nervous about supply shortages and that the IEA’s intervention may not be working. This may be a sign that markets are as tight now as they were before the IEA intervened, he observed.

CHANGE

% CHANGE

TIME

4.78

1.65%

08/05

6.80

2.48%

08/05

CHANGE

% CHANGE

TIME

0.00 -0.21 -0.25

0.00% -4.99% -5.61%

08/05 08/05 08/05

CHANGE

% CHANGE

TIME

vention may not be working.

Brent crude prices may have fallen sharply on the initial news of the IEA’s plans but since then have rebounded and are near their highs of around $120 per barrel during the earlier part of this year when the Libyan crisis was unfolding and before the IEA or other oil suppliers had time to react. This may be a sign that markets are as tight now as they were before the IEA intervened.

“Only action by oil suppliers can provide a long term solution to the current oil market squeeze,” he said.

On the other hand, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) ministers said it would hold consultations if the price of crude oil continues to fall but it is too soon to call for an extraordinary meeting, Iran’s representative to the Organisation said.

“If the oil price fall continues, the OPEC ministers will consult.

But whether there is a need for an extraordinary meeting, it is too early to say, since fluctuation of oil prices is normal in the market,” Mohammad Ali Khatibi was quoted by the oil ministry’s news agency SHANA as saying.

“Experience gained in recent years has shown that economic problems can have an impact on world oil demand and so we should see if the crisis continues in coming weeks, then come to a comprehensive conclusion,” he added.

MOTORING

41

THE NATION

TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

0803-4693-984 tajudeen1423@yahoo.co.uk

email:- motoring@thenationonlineng.net

The new Kia Optima was introduced to journalists by Dana Motors, Kia’s representatives in Nigeria. The car was test-driven along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos, writes TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO.

•Kia Optima

New Kia Optima cares T

HE new KIA Optima is expected to be a formidable force within its segment. Its innovations are intimidating.

Driving the third generation of the Optima was a memorable experience as journalists, who took part in the test drive, praised the man behind Kia’s design-language, Peter Schreyer.

In a chat with journalists before the test drive, Dana Motors Marketing Manager, Mrs Melisa Lewis, said the targeted audience are young and urban trendy executives, single or married.

Styling The Optima features the strongest interpretation of Kia’s trademark bowtie grille, bookended by large HID headlamp clusters.

Built atop an all-new platform, the Optima’s sheet metal is new and stretches over a wheelbase that is 75mm longer than the outgoing Magnetis. It is also wider and lower than the Magentis, by 25mm in each dimension.

LED daytime running lamps are mounted above the front foglights, and give the car a distinctive appearance. 18inch alloys are standard on the Optima Platinum, as is a panoramic glass sunroof.

A bootlip spoiler is standard, and the exhaust terminates into two chromefinished tips.

Interior The car’s driver-focused interior blends a sporty feel with a dash of luxury. There are steel-faced sports

pedals, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters, leather upholstery and faux woodgrain trim are standard.

The front seats are power adjustable and heated, and the central tunnel has been dramatically lowered to improve rear legroom.

Equipment Standard on the Optima Platinum is dual-zone climate control, dusk-sensing HID headlamps, cruise control, heated and power adjustable front seats, reverse parking sensors, a reversing camera, a seven-speaker premium audio system with USB input and iPod compatibility and a panoramic sunroof.

Keyless entry and a push-button starter are also standard for the Optima.

Passive safety equipment consists of front pretensioning seatbelts, active front headrests and six airbags (front, front side and curtain).

ABS, EBD, brake assist, traction control and stability control make up the Optima’s active safety suite.

Mechanical Only one mechanical specification is offered in the 2011 Optima, a 2.0 litre direct-injected petrol four paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.

The engine produces 148kW at 6300rpm and 250Nm of torque at 4250rpm. Kia claims the 0-100km/h sprint is done away with in 9.0 seconds, while average fuel economy is a claimed 7.9 l/100km.

A six speed automatic takes drive to the front wheels, and features a tiptronic shifter and wheel-mounted paddles to enable manual selection of gears.

Developed by parent company Hyundai, the Kia Optima’s automatic is more efficient and lighter than older-tech fivespeed autos.

The suspension is a Macpherson strut front and multi-link rear setup, which has been tuned specifically for Australian roads, with the direct involvement of Australian suspension and chassis engineers.

Steering is hydraulically assisted, and disc brakes are fitted to each wheel.

42

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

43

HEALTH THE NATION

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

The Bridge Clinic, Nigeria’s first assisted conception centre, which pioneered IVF service in Nigeria in 1999, has opened the Institute of Fertility Medicine (IFM) at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, (LASUTH), Ikeja. The institute is to provide quality IVF to couples who have difficulties accessing treatment due to economic reasons. OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA reports.

Ray of hope for infertile couples A

FTER posting a record of more than 1,252 successes (babies) since its inception in 1999, The Bridge Clinic has opened the Institute of Fertility Medicine (IFM) at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, at the Lagos State Univeristy Teaching Hospital, Ikeja (LASUTH) for fertility challenged couples.

Many have benefited from InVitro Fertilisation (IVF) and related assisted reproductive technologies (ART) that offer a great hope to infertile couples.

But because these techniques are expensive, they are out of reach of the majority of couples, especially those in the developing world.

IVF programmes are technologyintensive and anything which is complicated is bound to be expensive.

To allow fertility challenged couples who cannot readily afford such services, The Bridge Clinic thought out the plan in conjunction with LASUTH. According to the brain behind the effort, Dr Richardson Ajayi, the vision behind the institute is to provide quality IVF to couples who require it but cannot access treatment for economic reasons.

“Infertility is a common problem in Nigeria and estimates suggest that one out of every six couples will experience some difficulty with conception and most

•Dr Ajayi; Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT), The Bridge Clinic; Dr Yomi Finnih; CMD, LASUTH, Prof Oke; Dr Idris and Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Public Health, Dr Yewande Adesina.

of the couples that have been trying for over three years will require IVF treatment. These statistics define a real need for IVF services in Nigeria and we have been trying to meet that need.

“IFM is a clinic subsidised by The Bridge Clinic to provide quality IVF to couples who require IVF but have difficulties accessing treatment for economic reasons.

The infrastructure has been financed and staffed by The Bridge Clinic as part of our corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative and the facility is not for profit,” said Ajayi.

He quoted Genesis 12:2, saying: “We are blessed to be a blessing and it is our desire to enlist the support of all our patients in providing this subsidised service. We will need to test the clients that attend this facility to be sure they need the subsidy. We see IFM in partnership with the Department

of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.”

Recalling how the partnership developed, Ajayi said the discussion started with Dr Fabanwo, when he was the director of Clinical Services, adding that Dr Femi Olugbile, the former Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof Osinusi and Sobande were pillars of support. “The CMD, Prof Wale Oke and the Board and Management of LASUTH have also been very instrumental in recording the success”, he said.

On standards and regulations in the Clinic, Ajayi stated that the IVF process of The Bridge Clinic is the benchmark in assisted conception services in Nigeria with an annual certification audit carried out by the accreditation body; TUV Austria most recently led by Prof.

Bruno Imthurn of the IVF department in Zurich.

Ajayi said: “We have a duty and responsibility to provide our cli-

ents, with the same standard of health care that is acceptable in the United Kingdom and other European countries because there is and should be only one standard for health care delivery. Our quality assurance and control processes are put to the scrutiny of our scientific director.”

Acknowledging the partnership, the Commissioner of Health, Dr Jide Idris, said the institute will serve dual purposes: Through this avenue, courses will be drawn up and integrated into Medical students’ curriculum to afford them the first-hand basis to learn more about reproductive health. Likewise, conception challenged couples who are financially incapacitated to access IVF can do so because, the purpose of IVF is to allow the sperm and egg to meet as this is a challenge with the causes of infertility and IVF is the hallmark of treatment for Infertility.

The clinic has state-of-the-art equipment and is manned by well- groomed staff.

Meanwhile, some conception challenged clients at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, LASUTH have welcomed the development. They described it as considerate and timely.

In the view of one of them, the IFM will assist people like her to access IVF treatment. She said she had failed to conceive naturally for over four years of marriage and recorded two miscarriages and a still birth once. “But with a facility like this, I hope to encourage my husband, more so, that it promises to reduce costs”, she said.

Another patient, who spoke on condition of anonymity, commended the private sector which introduced the novel idea and said it was part of turningLagos to the centre of excellence.

Firm to launch ‘access to medicine’

A

•L–R: Dr. Otamiele Perpetual, Optometrist; Alhaji S. A. Mojeed; Dr. Oghogho Richards and Dr. Eke Sarah, both Optometrists at the Free Eye Care, organised by Future Health Foundation, sponsored by MTN Nigeria for the people of Isheri Osun Community, Igando/Ikotun Local Government Area, Lagos State.

PPARENTLY worried over the inability of health facilities in rural areas to access appropriate and adequate medicines to meet their community health needs, a Josbased private medicine supplier, CHAN Medi-Pharm Ltd/Gte, is set to launch a programme tagged, ‘Access to Medicine’ at the Chelsea Hotel, Abuja, on Thursday.

The event will be chaired by the former President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Senator Eme Ufot Ekaette. She will speak on key access to medicine, rational selection and use of medicines, affordable prices, sustainable financing, reliable health and supply systems.

Other dignitaries expected at the one-day event include renowned health economist and former Minister of Health, Prof. Eyitayo Lambo; the Archbishop of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Okogie; Minister of Health, Prof.

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

Onyebuchi Chukwu; NAFDAC Director-General, Dr Paul Orhii; WHO Representative in Nigeria; Director-Geneal, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mr Odumodu; Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), President Pharm Okwor, Executive Director, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, among others.

Access to medicine is most critical in rural Nigeria where there are few medicine and health facilities, and those that exist are largely not adequately stocked with appropriate and adequate medicines to meet the health needs of these communities.

According to Abimbola Oshin, a pharmacist and Marketing and Strategy Manager of the company, while access to medicine is a basic social and cultural right, each year millions of people die due to preventable and treatable diseases such as HIV/ AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

HEALTH

How immunotherapy can treat prostate enlargement

A

N expert, Dr Lawrence Olagunju, has prescribed the use of immunotherapy as the best option in the treatment of prostate enlargement.

Olagunju said prostate enlargement could be shrunk and taken care of permanently. According to him, the use of surgery in prostate treatment has physiological and psychological traumatic effect, a fear which makes many prefer to die in silence.

Basically, there are many who cannot afford the cost of surgery for prostate enlargement. Therefore, such resort to self-help or in a worst case scenario, abandon themselves to fate. With immunotherapy, all that is required is a re-activation of the body cells through natural means and the prostate shrinks permanently.

According to him, the major problem in the treatment is ignorance

By Wale Adepoju

of the sufferers. “Unfortunately, many people do not know the symptoms of prostate enlargement thereby making it difficult for them to seek medical help in good time.”

Olagunju, who is based in Canada, stressed that every man that is up to 40 years should look out for the following signs: urinating twice or more at night, having start-stop urine stream, hurrying to the rest room to urinate, having weak stream urine, having dribbling or leaking urine or high PSA. He said not seeking medical help in time, may lead to bladder or kidney damage, a sickness which is life-threatening. But with immunotherapy, the body cells are reenergised to shrink the enlarged prostate without the need for surgery with its high cost implications

and psychological stress. Immunotherapy as a method of treatment focuses on making the body cells active to respond to its natural duties of protecting the body, Olagunju added.

He said: “The body is built in such a way that it is meant to take care of itself. When the body cells are weakened, it begins to fail in its responsibilities and sickness creeps in. When any form of ailment is noticed, the ideal thing, therefore, is to find which of the cells that are mal-functioning or dead and reactivate them. To that extent, most of the ailments threatening mankind today have been discovered to be easily curable with healthy body cells. In a nutshell, immunotherapy emphasises on strong and healthy immunity.

Currently, nearly 60 per cent of men above 40 years have symptoms of prostate .”

‘Why politicians were unconscious’

A

CONSULTANT Nephrologist, Dr Dolamu Sokunbi, has said some old men recently found unconscious in a minibus at Bariga, Lagos, accidentally inhailed carbon monoxide, which rendered them so.

Sokunbi, based in the Texas, United States said events such as this occur regularly all over the world and have been reported in medical and scientific literature and in the records of police, firefighting, accident investigating and forensic agencies worldwide.

Shokunbi, chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) of Kidney Consult-

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha ant International (KCI), said: “There is one medical scenario that would explain the event and that would be carbon monoxide poisoning that was probably accidental in nature, and related to malfunctioning or improper operation of their vehicle. A malfunction and/or leak in the engine exhaust system allowed excessive amounts of carbon monoxide to be produced and to enter the passenger compartment and build up to toxic levels which caused loss of consciousness in

the passengers.

“The driver was also affected and was said to have developed neurologic symptoms which caused his reckless driving. In parts of the world where road accidents are always fully investigated, carbon monoxide intoxication is well known to be a factor in a significant number of otherwise unexplained accidents. It has even been implicated in several private jet plane crashes where the pilot and crew became incapacitated by carbon monoxide and unable to control the plane.”

Free cancer screening at West African Health conference P ARTICIPANTS and visitors to the Sixth West African Health Conference and Exhibition (WAH) will enjoy free cancer and cardiology screening from Medicity, an Indian hospital-based in Medanta.

This was disclosed by WAH’s Executive Director, Mr Solomon Sobade in Lagos.

According to Sobade, the company is working closely with other health care provider exhibitors to look at other areas to provide health care services.

Sobade said there are high incidences of cancer and cardiovascular diseases in Nigeria due to peo-

By Wale Adepoju

ple’s lifestyle.

Quoting the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BCAN), he said, available data from Ibadan Cancer Registry says that breast cancer is responsible for six per cent of the commonest cancers recorded between 1960 and 1980 and rose to 14 per cent between five years later.

He said among cancers affecting the female, breast cancer rose from 11.2 per cent to 25.7 per cent between

1960 and 1985.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and the number of cases globally is increasing. WHO added that cancer is responsible for more deaths in the country than HIV/ AIDS, TB, and malaria combined, between 7,000 and 10,000 new cases are resorted yearly.

It said further breast cancer affects a younger and more productive age group from 25 to 45 years in the country.

•From left: Managing Director, The Sun Newspaper, Mr Tony Onyima; Director-General, National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and former Chairman, Economic Summit Group, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa; at the The Sun Breastfeeding Awareness Lecture in commemoration of World Breastfeeding week at Event Centre Limited, Ikeja.

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

Health Tourism With Dr Dheeraj Bojwani

Hi flex knee replacement surgery in India

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OVEMENT is life and life is movement. It’s everybody’s wish to keep pace with life, but everyone is not that fortunate. As you grow older, joints get worn out in some people due to many reasons and we call this wearing out of joints as osteoarthritis. It is also called degenerative joint disease where in the smooth cushion layer (cartilage) which is 3-5 mm thick on the ends of bones forming the joint wears away leading to damage of the joint.

Osteoarthritis of knees predominantly affects people in their fifties or 60 s. Total knee replacement (TKR) is a permanent solution to alleviate pain and improve quality of life.

However, there have been shortcomings in the widespread acceptance of the procedure in the African Subcontinent. Many patients have experienced that the implants available in the market do not allow more than 100 degrees of knee bending. Patients usually complain that they are unable to squat on the floor or climb stairs with standard implants. The High flex knee (High Flexion Knee) is a boon to patients seeking increased function after a TKR. It allows activities which require deep knee bend like stair climbing, squatting, kneeling, gardening that are not possible with conventional knee replacements. High flexion is achieved through a combination of prosthetic design, patient selection, surgery technique and physiotherapy.

High flex knee replacement Flexion refers to the movement, which occurs when the leg bends back at the knee. Activities that require flexion of the knee are stair climbing, kneeling, squatting, and getting up from a low chair. Normal knees provide about 125 degrees of flexion, which is sufficient for routine activities. The High flexion increases this angle by more than 30 per cent. It provides 155 degrees of bending, thus allowing activities which require more flexibility usually not possible with convenient implants.

A number of factors determine whether a patient is qualified to receive the Hi Flex Knee Replacement. These factors will also help determine how successful the overall outcome will be. The ideal candidate will be one who is capable of fairly high flexion before the surgery and who is willing and able to undergo the rehabilitation (physical therapy) necessary to regain flexion after surgery. Other factors such as weight and activity level are considered in determining if the Hi flex knee

replacement is the most appropriate implant solution. You should discuss this question with your orthopedic surgeon to assess whether the Hi flex knee replacement is the best option for you.”

Every normal person should be able to bend his knee from 0 to 155 degrees (calf touching the back of thigh) conventional standard knee replacements could bend the knee up to approximately 110°and only very few patients can bend beyond 120°. But, many individuals who are involved in deep knee bending activities are scared of further limitations in their daily activities with these old designs.

The high flex knee takes care of all these issues.

The surgery for Hi flex knee replacement is the same as for other total knee replacements.

An incision is made that typically extends from just above the knee to just below the knee. The incision is gradually made deeper through muscle and other tissue until the bone surfaces are exposed. The damaged bone surfaces and cartilage are then removed by the surgeon. Precision instruments and guides are used to help make sure the cuts are made at the correct angles so the bones will align properly after the new surfaces (implants) are attached. Small amounts of the bone surface are removed from the front, end, and back of the femur. An implant is attached to each of the bones. These implants are designed so that the knee joint will move in a way that is similar to the way the joint moved when it was healthy. The implants are attached using a special kind of cement for bones.

When all of the implants are in place and the ligaments are properly adjusted, the surgeon sews the layers of tissue back into their proper position.

Benefits of Hi flex knee replacement Hi flex knee replacement is specifically designed to safely accommodate up to 155 degrees of flexion in patients who had this ability before surgery. This means that with appropriate rehabilitation a patient can resume an active lifestyle after total knee replacement – deeply bending the knee for recreational, religious and other day-to-day activities. Patients today want to continue their previous lifestyles – even after total knee replacement. The Hi Flex Knee Replacement may be an option for many patients to help them achieve this goal. Muslims would particularly be benefitted because this joint allows them to achieve the “prayer posture” in which they are supposed to sit with knees flexed.

Dr. Bojwani is the Chief Executive of Forerunners Healthcare Consultants Pvt Ltd, India’s Pioneer Medical tourism organisation.

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MEET ROMELU LUKAKU

The The Chelsea-bound Chelsea-bound Belgian Belgian starlet starlet who who idolises idolises Didier Didier Drogba Drogba A

FTER Chelsea agreed a fee with Anderlecht for Romelu Lukaku, the 18-year-old prodigy who has attracted interest from Europe’s elite clubs gave his first extended interview with a British journalist back in January.

The forward explains his upbringing, how he stormed Belgium from an early age and his potential progress under Didier Drogba’s wing at Stamford Bridge.

When did you start playing football seriously?

Romelu Lukaku: I started playing at six. I was at a school always playing football with my friends. But I was always bored at home. I asked my father if he could start me in a football team. He took me to a team called Rupel Boom, who were playing in the fourth division in Belgium, and I stayed there for four years. We had to move and I went to an amateur team called Wintam. When I didn’t train with Wintam, I trained with Lierse because I wanted to train every day.

What position did you play in?

I was always a striker ever since I was a little boy. I always wanted to put the ball in the net and have the feeling of scoring a goal.

Who was your football hero when you were growing up?

My father played for Congo (formerly the Zaire national team) and he was my hero when I was still a boy. I looked up to Cristiano Ronaldo and then it was always Didier Drogba.

As I understand more and more about football I see the qualities I have and I can see myself in him. I have almost the same qualities and I want to follow in his footsteps.

Why did you move to Anderlecht?

I moved at 13 because it was the biggest team in Belgium and the team was very good. The youth team was also very good and I could train more.

Instead of four times a week, I could train six times a week. I could also play with the older age groups. Ever since I was 10, I always played with guys who were one or two years older.

I was playing regularly with the reserves at 15 and might have played for the first team but in Belgium you cannot play professional football until you have signed a professional contract at 16.

What is the most number of goals you have ever scored in a season?

Seventy-six goals in 34 games when I was 12 years old. I remember how many [competitive] goals I have scored every season. When I was 11, I scored 54 in 34 games. When I was 13, 59 in 34 games. When I was 14, 34 goals in 25 games although I had a hip injury and missed the last three months of the season. When I was 15, I scored 25 in 17 games for the Under-19s and 13 in 17 for the reserves. For the first team, I scored 15 goals in 30 [league] games when I was 16 and this season, now I am 17, I have scored 10 in 20 [league] games.

What kind of upbringing did you have?

Very strict. My father told me, ‘You must always have a goal and do everything to reach it’. Ever since I was six or seven, I wanted to be a professional footballer. When you see your father playing in the first division and you see players like Ronaldo with the crowd singing their names, you want that. Now I can fulfil my dream and I’m very happy with it. I’m a professional footballer and a student who does normal things as well.

How do you combine your studies with full-time professional football?

I go to school three or four days a week. The rest I do at home. I’m doing a two-year High School diploma in tourism and public relations and hope to graduate in the summer. I want to prove to other people that I have something in my mind and intellectual qualities, not just the ability to play football. In football anything can happen. You can have an injury and then you won’t play at the highest level any more. If you don’t have a diploma, what then?

You seem extraordinarily powerful for someone of your age. Do you lift a lot of weights?

I never lift weights. My physique? It is a gift from God. Or, as you say in France, it is in the water. When I was 14, I went one time a week to the gym but I didn’t know what I was doing then. Now, I only ever do stabilisation exercises for the back, abdominals and legs. Nothing else.

Who has been the biggest influence on your career?

My father, Roger, and my personal assistant Peter Smeets. Peter works for the club and before that we worked individually. He helps me organise my school work in with my schedule.

I can always call him and say what is on my mind. He can help me with making choices.

It has been reported that you have spoken to Drogba and he has advised you to join Chelsea. Is this correct?

I spoke to Drogba the day after my 17th birthday. I was with Vincent Kompany and the Belgium national team. He was speaking to Drogba and gave me the telephone. It was a very emotional moment. I asked him a thousand questions; ‘How did you score that goal?’ ‘What did you do in training?’ ‘What is it like to play at Stamford Bridge?’ We spoke for about

• Romelu Lukaku

20 minutes, half-an-hour. These opportunities don’t come along very often in a lifetime and you have to make the most of these moments.

What do you believe the future holds?

It is in the hands of my father, agent and Anderlecht. I focus myself on training and games. I don’t think I have to focus on anything else. If I do, I cannot concentrate properly.

You have been photographed in a Chelsea shirt and been given a tour of Stamford Bridge during a school trip.

Do you want to play for Chelsea?

It is my favourite team. I have always said it and I have never hidden it. But it is not because Chelsea is my favourite team that I have to go there.

There is also Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City. These big five are very interesting. Tottenham are also a good club. As a young kid you dream of playing in every big team. It is not because Chelsea is my favourite team

that I have to specifically go there.

Where do you think you will move to when you leave Anderlecht?

I will see. It is something for my father and agent. There are so many clubs and big teams. For a young player sometimes you have to relax for a while and focus on your own team. I’m very happy with the situation at Anderlecht. I have the support of the club and other players.

It is my environment and I’ve grown up here. It is best to focus on my goals.

Do you think your style of play is best suited to the Premier League?

Yes. If I see the games and some action in the Premier League, with my qualities I think I can play there. I’m very fast, I’m very strong and I work a lot. If I train with players with more quality I can be better than I am here.

I want to improve. As a young kid you have to improve every single day.

You have to work, you have to be ready. You have to take care of yourself and not get injured. You have

to train a lot and get better, not by resting and watching the other players play.

Jose Mourinho says he has spoken to your father. Would you like to play for him at Real Madrid?

My father never talks to me about rumours. Of course, I admire Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid is a great club. But I see England as more likely than Spain.

How does it feel to be coveted by so many big clubs?

A few years ago it was a similar situation. There were a few other clubs interested in me after my first year at Anderlecht. Chelsea and Arsenal tried to sign me when I was 13, 14. If you play well clubs will always follow you. You know that but you don’t let it affect your mind.

If you know scouts are watching every move you make and you are stressed when the ball comes to you, that is something you don’t want. You don’t want to read rumours or hear them. I train and play my game for my team. That is the only way the scouts will see you.

What does it feel like to be the subject of so much media attention?

If I compare my situation over the last year with this year it becomes bigger and bigger. My father and my personal assistant, they help me a lot through this. They say, ‘You are Romelu Lukaku and you are wanted by the biggest teams in Europe. You have a great contract and everything you want’. They help me to keep both feet on the ground. At the beginning of the season, I didn’t score for eight games. People were saying, ‘You are not the Romelu of last season’. In football you have ups and downs. You cannot control everything.

Even at such a tender age you are already one of the most famous and recognisable sporting figures in Belgium. Are you fighting off the ladies?

Yes (laughing). But you must keep your private life separate. I don’t have a girlfriend at the moment but I talked about it one time and then I saw a big newspaper article with my exgirlfriend talking about our relationship. I don’t want to be recognised as Romelu the romantic.

I’m not like that.

What are your ambitions in football?

To reach the highest level and win prizes. I want to win the Champions League, the Europa League also. I want to play in the Premier League and win some [league] titles or the Spanish league and win those titles.

That is also a dream. Why not?

What improvements can you make specifically to your own game?

I am left-footed and I need to improve my right foot and my heading and when I protect the ball with my back to the goal. I can improve everything. I’m 17, only a kid.

Do you still live at home?

Yes. I cannot live away from my parents. If I leave Belgium, my parents will come with me although if my brother stays, then my mother will probably remain. My brother Jordan is 16 and plays on the left wing or left-back for Anderlecht reserves.

I have been told you are multilingual. How many languages do you speak?

I speak English, Dutch, French and Congolese. And I am learning Spanish as part of my High School diploma.

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Christine Ohuruogu still targeting World Championships O

LYMPIC 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu insists she will go to the World Championships despite coming last in her final major event before Daegu.

Ohuruogu, who has just recovered from a cold, was left trailing in the London Diamond League meeting, finishing over two seconds behind Sanya Richards-Ross.

But she has already qualified for a place in the GB squad, which will be announced today.

“I don’t believe it will take me long to get fit. I’m still going,” she said.

Continue reading the main story It’s hard to be a world and Olympic champion looking like a shadow of yourself, and it’s a question of whether she should be going to Daegu Denise Lewis Former Olympic

heptathlon champion and BBC Sport analyst “You need to be fit, you need to be fast and need to be strong. I’m lacking in a few areas. I just haven’t done enough work to challenge these girls.

“I did enjoy it (the race), I’ve missed running with these girls. I gave them all a big hug before we started.”

Ohuruogu has missed 10 weeks of trainign this year because of the quadriceps injury that ruled her out for much of last season.

Amir Khan: I’m faster with better punch than Mayweather

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BA light-welterweight champion Amir Khan expects to be campaigning at 147lbs by this time next year and wants to be pencilled in to meet five-weight world champion by the end of next year.

The 24 year-old from Bolton, England sees his future at the higher weight, but still hopes to unify 140lbs this year.

“King” Khan has been linked with a fight with now WBO champion Timothy Bradley after the pair’s original fight fell through and the Brit knows he will have to face the best fighters out there if he wants to gain the experience needed to mix it with one of the best welterweights of all-time in Mayweather Jr. “If you are going to be the best, you have to fight the best,” Khan told UK tabloid The Daily Mirror.

“I want to fight at the elite level to show people how good I am and I have the tools to beat Mayweather.

“I’m faster than him and I have a better punch, but he is technically brilliant and very smart.

“Those qualities will come to me in time, especially as I have the best trainer in the world in Freddie Roach. I think Mayweather will happen in 2012.

“But there will never be a fight between Manny and me. We respect each other too much. It just wouldn’t feel right.”

• Khan

• Ohuruogu

She has not broken 50 seconds for the 400m since the Olympic final in 2008. And her best time this year of 51.49 seconds leaves her ranked only fourth in Britain after Lee McConnell finished fifth in 51.01sec on Saturday.

But she secured a place in the British squad with her performance at UK trials, despite finishing third in Birmingham, because second-place finisher Shana Cox is not yet eligible to compete for Great Britain after moving from the United States.

American Richards-Ross backed her old rival and friend Ohuruogu, saying: “Christine has shown that she is excellent at championship meets.

“Like me she has great experience so I think she’ll definitely be one of my top competitors.”

But BBC Sport analysts Denise Lewis and Colin Jackson questioned whether Ohuruogu should forget about her World Championships ambitions this year and try to get in shape instead to defend her Olympic title next summer.

“That was a terrible race for her,” said Lewis, Olympic heptathlon gold medallist in 2000.

“It’s soul-destroying watching her race just fall apart. It’s hard to be a world and Olympic champion looking like a shadow of yourself, and it’s a question of whether she should be going to Daegu.”

Jackson, twice world champion in 110m hurdles, added: “The team will say, ‘We’re not in the shape we want to be, so we may leave the World Championships this time - try to concentrate on getting well and keeping fit so you can work day in, day out.”

OHURUOGU CAREER HIGHLIGHTS 2007: world champion 2008: Olympic champion 2009: missed World Championships through injury 2010: missed European Championships and Commonwealth Games through injury Personal-best in 400m: 49.61 sec

‘The Ghost’ wants to fight Pacquiao FEATHERWEIGHT boxer Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero recently added his name to the long list of fighters who want to battle poundfor-pound king Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao.

In an interview with boxing website The Sweet Science, Guerrero said that he is aiming for a fight with the Filipino boxing icon.

“He (Pacquiao) is pound for pound the best fighter in boxing,” Guerrero said.

The American boxer insisted, however, that he has what it takes to fight Pacquiao.

“I am one of those throwback fighters. I want to be the best,” he said. “And if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best.”

“I know Pacquiao does not run or duck from anybody,” he added.

He is set to fight ferocious power puncher Marcos Maidana on August 27.

“Maidana is a huge puncher... A lot of people duck Maidana. But it was my choice to fight him. I picked Marcos Maidana because he is one of the hardest hitting guys in boxing,” he said.

Guerrero holds a record of 29 wins, with 1 loss and 1 draw.

Eighteen of his victories have come by knockout.

• Pacquiao

Adlington hopes more records fall

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EBECCA Adlington is hoping more world records will fall soon after Ryan Lochte and Sun Yang “got the ball rolling” in the posthigh-tech swimsuit era in Shanghai.

The double Olympic champion returned home last week following a successful World Championships meet in China where she won gold in the 800 metres freestyle and silver in the 400m.

While Adlington is still on a high from her own achievements as well as the overall performance of the British team, the 22-year-old was relieved to finally see some recordbreaking exploits in the pool for the first time in 20 months.

Not since the world governing body FINA banned the use of the performance-enhancing polyurethane suits at the start of 2010 had a swimmer managed to set a new long-course mark, but American sensation Lochte ended the wait when lowering his own best in the 200m individual medley to win one of his five golds in Shanghai.

And on the final night of competition at the Oriental Sports Centre, Sun delighted the home crowd with a stunning finish to break Grant Hackett’s 10-year-old 1500m freestyle record with a time of 14 minutes 34.14 seconds, just 0.42s inside the Australian legend’s mark.

Two world records doesn’t seem many in comparison to the 43 that were broken at the 2009 World Championships in Rome when swimmers made the most of the

controversial bodysuits, but Adlington feels the sport’s elite performers will now be filled with renewed belief.

“Obviously swimming is getting faster and the first world record was set since the suits in Shanghai by Ryan Lochte, which will hopefully get the ball rolling and people will start breaking more of them,” said Adlington, who still holds the 800m freestyle world record she set at the Beijing Olympics.

“If my record was to be broken again I’d love it to be by me rather than someone else, but in general it would be nice to see any world record fall.

“After the suits were banned everybody feared there would be no new world records for years and I never believed it either to be honest. Swimming has moved on so much and I don’t think the suits changed that.

“Swimmers are getting faster and faster and Sun Yang also proved that with his world record as well.

His was an amazing swim last week and everyone was just in awe of him.”

Liam Tancock, who also won gold for Great Britain in Shanghai by retaining his 50m backstroke title, always had faith that world records would fall again.

He said: “It was really nice to see people raising their game and pushing through those barriers.

“People said it wouldn’t happen for years and years but its now been proved it can happen and it will happen.

“I was a firm believer that these world records will be going, it was just a matter of time.

“The first proper worlds since the ban and a couple have gone already.

It’s nice to see people really swimming fast.

• Adlington

Ferrari: Alonso is the sport’s best FERRARI team principal Stefano Domenicali believes that Fernando Alonso is not only the best driver in Formula 1, but that in some ways he is better than Michael Schumacher who won five world titles with the Italian outfit.

Domenicali, speaking at the Wrooom Summer 2011 event at Madonna di Campiglio, said that Alonso has bonded with Ferrari much faster than Schumacher did when he joined in the winter of 1995 “For me, Fernando is the number one driver in F1 at the moment,” said Domenicali. “I see a lot of similarities with Michael Schumacher, a driver who made his mark on our history. In fact, in some areas Fernando is even better, for example when I think of the speed with which he integrated himself into the team and the way he became its leader.

“In this he was much quicker than Michael who took a while to do that.”

When told of this Alonso responded: “I don’t know what to say, except that I immediately felt comfortable at Ferrari.

“But it would be very difficult to repeat what Michael did, because things are very different now to what they were a decade ago. Having said that, I am currently experiencing the best years of my career and that makes me very optimistic for the future.”

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NATION SPORT

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ENGLISH PREMIER TRANSFER

Woodgate admits quit thoughts Bruce admits Bellamy interest

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ONATHAN Woodgate has admitted that he thought his career was over before he agreed a contract with Stoke City.

A succession of injuries have disrupted the former Leeds United and Newcastle United defender’s career, and the 31year-old appeared to be heading for retirement when he was released by Tottenham at the end of last term.

However, Tony Pulis decided to take a chance on the defender and Woodgate came through the midweek Europa League victory against Hajduk Split unscathed - his first 90 minutes of football in two years.

He is now looking forward to playing a big part in the Potters’ Premier League campaign, saying: “There were times when I thought that was it, of course.

“But I’ve got family, friends and my fiancee who support me. Without them it would have been hard. Maybe I’d have called it a day if it wasn’t

S •Woodgate

UNDERLAND boss Steve Bruce has admitted he is considering a swoop for Manchester City outcast Craig Bellamy.

Following Steed Malbranque’s move to St Etienne, Bruce is eager to bolster his options in midfield and the Sunderland boss admits he would welcome a move for Bellamy.

Bruce said: “I haven’t got a wide left player, not a natural one, although we’ve got people who can play there, so we’ll see.

“We’re all looking at Manchester City because

they’ve got some great players who can’t even get in the squad.

“Craig Bellamy is a possibility. He can play wide left and up front so we’ll see.

I’d think every manager’s looking at City. Steed leaving frees up a wage for us.”

Bellamy has no future at Eastlands and spent last season on loan at Cardiff, it is thought a fee of around £3million may be enough to secure the Welshman’s services.

Bruce has also been linked with City’s Shaun WrightPhillips, although it is unlikely the Sunderland chief will move for both.

for them.

“It was a bad time, but now that I can look forward to a new season, it feels great. I wanted the opportunity to play and I’m very grateful to Stoke for giving me that. I’m looking forward to that first game, Chelsea next Sunday.”

A

•Chamberlain

Chamberlain this week.

The future of the 17-year-old - who will turn 18 in just over a week - has been the subject of speculation in recent months, with the Gunners having long had an interest in signing the starlet.

For his part, the young winger recently revealed that he feels ready to play in the Premier League. And now The Sunday Mirror reports that the north London club are set to wrap up a £12 million deal for their target this week.

It is believed that a sum of £7 million would be paid to Southampton, with the price increasing based on appearances.

Baggies swoop for Fulop

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ARTON Fulop has completed his move from Ipswich Town to West Brom, the goalkeeper’s ninth English club.

The 28-year-old, who has agreed a one-year deal at The Hawthorns, will provide competition to Ben Foster, who recently joined the Baggies on loan from Birmingham City.

As part of the Foster deal, Boaz Myhill moved on loan to St Andrew’s, leaving Roy Hodgson short of goalkeeping cover.

The experienced former Liverpool and Fulham boss said: “I’m delighted that we’ve signed a player of Marton’s quality and experience.

“Like last year, we’ve now got two goalkeepers with lots

•Fulop

of Premier League experience who are both very capable of playing in the top flight and helping us to win matches.”

Hungary international Fulop initially arrived in England seven years ago when he joined Tottenham.

After loan spells at Chesterfield and Coventry City he moved to Sunderland in 2007.

He enjoyed further loan spells at Leicester City, Stoke City and Manchester City before moving to Portman Road 12 months ago and he went on to feature in 38 matches for Town last term.

Hodgson, who allowed Scott Carson to join Turkish side Bursaspor earlier in the summer, has now signed five new players this summer.

Swans eye Ayala swoop

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WANSEA City are being linked with a swoop for Liverpool defender Daniel Ayala, who has been told he can leave Anfield.

The 20-year-old Spain Under21 international, who has made five appearances for the Merseysiders since joining from Seville in 2007, looked all set to make the move to Championship side Hull City after a bid was accepted on Saturday.

However, while Ayala was poised to go to the KC Stadium to discuss personal terms, it now seems that Swans boss Brendan Rodgers will offer him the chance to stay in the Premier

Arsenal to sign Oxlade-Chamberlain

RSENAL are believed to be set to sign Southampton youngster Alex Oxlade-

•Ayala

•Bellamy

League at the Liberty Stadium.

Ayala has first-team experience at Championship level having enjoyed a 12-game spell with Hull before finishing last season with Derby County.

But it appears that Rodgers will be happy to give him a chance in the top-flight after seeing him at first hand when the Rams defeated his Swansea side 2-1 late last term.

Rodgers has already snapped up Stephen Caulker on a season-long loan from Tottenham Hotspur, but he is looking to strengthen his central defensive options due to fitness fears surrounding Garry Monk.

Liverpoolagrees £8mEnriquedeal

Madrid confirms Spurs in Diarra talks

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PURS are in negotiations with Real Madrid over a move for ex-Arsenal and Portsmouth midfielder Lassana Diarra.

Spanish newspaper Marca reports that Harry Redknapp wants to take Diarra back to England but his initial bid is well below Real’s 20m euro asking price.

•Diarra

Diarra, 26, has seen his first team chances diminish after Real Madrid signed Sami Khedira and now Nuri Sahin from German clubs.

His relationship with Redknapp is understood to be good after the then Portsmouth manager signed him from Arsenal in January 2008.

They won the FA Cup together at the end of that season before Diarra left almost a year after he joined, two months after Redknapp took over at White Hart Lane.

Diarra, who began his career in England with Chelsea under Jose Mourinho, remained in Spain while the rest of Mourinho’s first-team squad flew to America on their pre-season tour.

He has been told he is free to leave the Bernabeu this summer but interested parties are finding it hard to match Real’s asking price and the Frenchman’s wage expectations.

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IVERPOOL have agreed an £8 million deal to sign full-back Jose Enrique from Newcastle United and hope to wrap up the move by the end of the week.

Executives from both clubs are tying up details today on a move that will see Newcastle receive an initial £6m with an agreement for a further £2m to be paid in add-ons depending on performance-related targets.

Once a deal is formally struck, Enrique will be given permission to discuss personal terms with Liverpool and undergo a medical on Merseyside. The 25-year-old has

indicated his desire to move to Anfield.

Reds manager Kenny Dalglish and director of football Damien Comolli hope to have Enrique in place by the end of the week as they prepare for their Premier League opener against Sunderland on August 13.

Enrique has many admirers on Merseyside and has long been pencilled in as the leading candidate to fill the club’s problem left-back position. His arrival will take their summer spending over the £50m mark as he joins new recruits Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing.

•Enrique

Obertan to make Newcastle switch

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ANCHESTER United forward Gabriel Obertan is reportedly set to join Newcastle United in a £3 million switch next week, according to the Daily Mail.

The Frenchman is believed to have asked for a move away from Old Trafford in January and will be granted his wish next week when he signs a deal to move to St James’ Park.

Should the move go ahead, Obertan, 22, would become the fourth French player signed by Alan Pardew this summer with midfielders Sylvain Marveaux, Yohan Cabaye and Mehdi Abeid having already completed transfers.

Pardew has been looking to add a wide player after the departure of Wayne

Routledge to Swansea, and has also been linked with a move for Bayer Leverkusen’s Swiss midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta.

Coyle cools Wright-Phillips talk

O

•Obertan

WEN Coyle admits he has not been given permission by Manchester City to discuss bringing Shaun WrightPhillips to Bolton Wanderers.

Coyle has been a long-time admirer of the 29-year-old England international who he hopes to sign for £4million.

However, he told the Bolton News: “He’s a player I like and have always liked, but then you know that from last year.

“In an ideal world, I’d be interested if he was available, and I have to say ‘if’ because there have been stories

hanging around that we’ve been granted permission to speak to him.

“I don’t know about the other clubs but I haven’t been granted permission by anyone at Manchester City.

Until such time as something is agreed between the two clubs, that wouldn’t be the case anyway.”

Wright-Phillips has also been linked with Wigan Athletic and Sunderland but had been expected to move to the Reebok Stadium on loan in January until Adam Johnson picked up an injury.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

48

NATION SPORT

EUROPEAN TRANSFER...EUROPEAN TRANSFER...EUROPEAN TRANSFER...

Juventus to meet Hamburg over Elia

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UVENTUS have planned to discuss the potential transfer of winger Eljero Elia with his club

•Elia

Hamburg on Monday.

According to a report in Sunday’s edition of Tuttosport, a meeting has been scheduled for next week between the leaders of both clubs, with the topic of conversation set to involve the possible sale of the ex-Twente midfielder.

It is speculated that the German outfit are demanding a fee in the region of •8 million (£7m) for their prized asset, who has been linked with various clubs including Chelsea and Wolfsburg in recent times.

However, it seems that the Turin giants are set to steal a march on their rivals.

The news comes after it was revealed by the player’s agent on Saturday that Juve are interested in his client’s services.

Rangers hope to sign McKay

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ANGERS have revealed they hope to sign Australia midfielder Matt McKay this week.

Manager Ally McCoist is eager to recruit the 28-yearold Brisbane Roar captain and could do the deal this week, with McKay in Britain for Australia’s friendly against Wales on Wednesday.

A report on Ranger’s official website said the club “can reveal the 28-year-old

midfield star is firmly in McCoist’s sights and a deal could be done this week.

“McKay is in the UK as Australia have a friendly international with Wales on Wednesday night and Rangers would love to do a deal before the Europa League play-off deadline on Thursday.”

The club added: “There are work permit issues but Rangers hope to overcome them and get McKay on board.”

Real Madrid interested in Casemiro - agent

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HE agent of Sao Paulo midfielder Casemiro has singled out Real Madrid, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain as interested suitors for his client.

The Brazil Under-20 international, who helped his country win the South American Youth Championship earlier this year, was originally tipped to move to Italian giants Inter, but other clubs have since joined the queue to land the starlet it seems.

The Giuseppe Meazza outfit have long been linked with the 19-year-old, but the admission

•Aquilani

Gattuso: ‘Milan needs an Aquilani’

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ENNARO Gattuso warns Milan they need to bring in “Alberto Aquilani or Riccardo Montolivo, someone with quality.”

The Rossoneri fought back to beat Inter 2-1 in the Italian Super Cup on Saturday, but their sluggish first half performance raised questions.

“The way I see it, Milan need a new man in midfield,” Gattuso told the Gazzetta dello Sport.

“We more or less all have

the same characteristics in that area. We need a player who can get the team moving a bit more.”

Following Andrea Pirlo’s move to Juventus, they have been linked primarily with Liverpool outcast Aquilani and Fiorentina’s want-away former captain Montolivo.

“Perhaps Aquilani pushes up more, while we all know Montolivo, as he has been an Italian international for years.

“Aquilani and Montolivo are both players of great quality.”

Chievo fights Samp for Romero

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•McKay

Helmes uncertain over future

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OLFSBURG striker Patrick Helmes remains in the dark about his future, despite firing his club to victory over Cologne on Saturday in their Bundesliga opener.

The former Germany international has been linked with a move away from the 2009 league champions as they attempt to bring in Freiburg’s Papiss Demba Cisse.

And Helmes is aware not

•Helmes

even Saturday’s double may be enough to convince coach Felix Magath to change his mind.

“We have won 3-0, I have scored two goals and the rest is up to the coach,” he said.

“Normally for this I would have a guaranteed starting berth, but what is normal?

“I was being written off before the season started and every other day, I am supposed to be sold.

“For as long as it is only gossip and nobody comes to tell me it, then it doesn’t interest me much.”

However, Wolfsburg’s bid for Cisse, who scored in Freiburg’s 2-2 draw against Augsburg yesterday, appears to be taking shape.

“I have not yet spoken to Mr Magath, but my agent is doing that at the moment,” the Senegal international told ZDF television.

“People are working on it and we will just have to wait and see.”

Cisse, who was the Bundesliga’s second-highest scorer last season behind Bayern Munich’s Mario Gomez, is Magath’s prime target to complete his attack this summer.

AMPDORIA and Chievo are battling it out on the transfer market for AZ Alkmaar and Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero.

The reports on Saturday suggested Romero had practically agreed a transfer to Serie B side Sampdoria.

However, according to Sky Sport Italia, Chievo have joined the race and could well pip them to the post.

The Flying Donkeys would be able to provide a Serie A platform, something the recently-relegated Blucerchiati could not.

In turn, Chievo need a new goalkeeper because Stefano Sorrentino has been in talks with Palermo for several weeks.

•Romero

from Jose Alberti, the player’s agent, has hinted that they cannot afford the reported •18 million demanded by the Brazilian club.

“Inter were the original favourites, but there is talk of offers of around •18 million, a value that the Italians can not reach,” Alberti told Calciomercatoweb. “There is also interest from other teams like Manchester United, Real Madrid and PSG.” The news comes after it emerged that the Italians were closing in on Slovakian midfielder Juraj Kucka from Genoa.

McCoist thrilled to loan Arsenal’s Bartley

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ANGERS boss Ally McCoist was full of praise for on-loan Arsenal defender Kyle Bartley after securing the starlet’s return to the club.

Bartley, who has just penned a new long-term contract at the Emirates, spent a good spell on loan at Ibrox last season and made his first appearance since returning for his second temporary stint in the 3-1 pre-season defeat to Chelsea.

The powerful stopper impressed during the first 45 minutes, after which he came off as he still chases full match fitness.

McCoist said: “Obviously, when you get somebody of the quality of Kyle Bartley coming in, that’s a great thing as you can see.

“He hasn’t played a lot of football, but he looks comfortable and a top defender.

“He has been a very good and accomplished player for Rangers and proved that again in this match.”

The Gers boss, who has endured a tough start in

•Bartley

charge of the club since taking over from Walter Smith, said everyone at the club was still trying extremely hard to bring in new players.

“We are working very hard to get players in,” insisted McCoist.

Still only 24, Romero is first choice in the Argentina goal and it would be a big step down to play in Serie B.

Lazio director unsure of Zarate’s fate

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AZIO sporting director Igli Tare has admitted that the future of Argentine striker Mauro Zarate is uncertain at the club.

The 24-year-old has been linked with a move away from the Stadio Olimpico this summer after the signings of Miroslav Klose and Djibril Cisse have seemingly left him without a starting place in Edy Reja’s side, but the transfer guru remained coy on the prospect of his departure.

“The future of Zarate? We’ll see what happens,” Tare told

Sky Sport 24.

Despite Zarate being the victim of a probable tactical change this season at the club, Tare still underlined the striker’s qualities and praised his efforts in recent weeks.

“For Lazio, he is still an important player. He is working hard and even during pre-season, he has put in some excellent performances.”

Lazio convincingly beat Romanian outfit CFR Cluj 4-1 on Saturday in their latest preseason friendly, with Zarate operating on the flanks.

•Lamela

Roma confirms L amela deal •Zarate

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IVER Plate president Daniel Passarella confirmed Lamela’s exit last month, with the highlyrated teenager thought to have moved for around •20m (£17.7m).

The Giallorossi have now announced the signing, with the Serie A outfit due to pay •12m

in three instalments by July 15, 2012, with another •5.06m in add-ons if various targets and number of games are met.

The 19-year-old midfielder, who reportedly attracted interest from Liverpool, Tottenham and Barcelona, has penned a five-year deal with the Serie A side.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

50

•Ghana coach Goran Stevanovic

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY

Nigeria, Ghana set to light up London Ending a winning streak Any game between Nigeria and Ghana at any level is full of fireworks. The two west African political brothers and football foes are renewing their rivalry today in an international friendly for the first time in four years.

The pressure is on the Nigerians, rather than their Ghanaian counterparts, having suffered a 4-1 defeat the last time the two tangoed at the same location in 2007.

The Black Stars are hunting for pride as the Super Eagles look set to end a four-year winning streak at the hands of their fiercest rivals on the continent That was the widest margin in their last three meetings of which the fourtime African champions have maintained total dominance.

A new Super Eagles chapter under former international Samson Siasia is looking fairly bright and g

promising. They are coming into this game with a great deal of confidence.

They have won four of their last five games, drawing the other one. A 4-1 victory against Argentina gives the West Africans a high sense of hope that they are still a powerhouse in the sub-

region, despite the fact that the South Americans presented a side below their usual standards.

Siasia knows he needs to triumph in this west African derby to break the winning streak of Ghana in order to consolidate the confidence Nigerians have built in him

•Gyan •Uche

•Nigeria coach Samson Siasia

to revive the national side.

A battle for pride The Ghanaians have nothing to lose in this derby, however, a win over their fiercest rivals will not only add to their rankings, but give them a boost of confidence and pride.

Currently ranked second on the continent and hailed throughout the world as one of the best teams in Africa, the Black Stars must not spoil the fun back home on their trip to London.

It has been a rosy tenure for coach Goran Stevanovic, at least for now, with only a defeat out of five games. The highlight of his job with the World Cup quarter-finalists was a 1-1 drawn friendly game with England.

Although he then guided the Black Stars to win convincingly in that 3-1 win over Congo in the 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifiers, he is yet to make up for that disturbing 2-1 defeat against South Korea.

Maintaining total dominance over the Super Eagles will certainly appease local fans.

TEAM NEWS Nigeria The Super Eagles have suffered many injury blows ahead of the encounter.

Chelsea's Mikel Obi has picked up an ankle injury, comeback kid Peter Odemwingie is also a doubt for the game having also suffered an ankle knock. To make things worse for Siasia, Dickson Etuhu is ed

reported to have turned down Nigeria's last minute call up against Ghana.

Several other key players will not show up due to visa denials, including goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, striker Ekigho Ehiosun, midfielder Fegor Ogude and defender Efe Ambrose.

Probable Line-up: Bamidele Aiyenugba; Efe Ambrose, Joseph Yobo, Chibuzor Okonkwo, Taye Taiwo; Joel Obi, Kalu Uche, Yusuf Ayila; Obinna Nsofor, Victor Anichebe, Ikechukwu Uche.

Ghana Play maker Kwadwo Asamoah of Udinese will not make it after picking up an injury over the weekend.

New call-up, goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey, is already in camp and hopes to receive his debut cap in the game.

Unconfirmed news also suggests that defender Daniel Opare might miss the game.

Captain John Mensah is also a major doubt after picking up an injury.

Probable Line-up: Richard Kingson; John Paintsil, Jonathan Mensah, Isaac Vorsah, Samuel Inkoom; Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Anthony Annan, Sulley Muntari, Prince Buaben, Prince Tagoe, Asamoah Gyan PREDICTION This match will be too difficult to call, but a winner has to eventually emerge in what is expected to be an entertaining but competitive friendly. Both teams have what it takes to come out on top and a draw looks likely.

FORM GUIDE Nigeria 9 February: Nigeria 2-1 Sierra Leone (Friendly) 27 March: Nigeria 4-0 Ethiopia (Afcon qualifier) 29 March: Nigeria 3-0 Kenya (Friendly) 1 June: Nigeria 4-1 Argentina (Friendly) 5 June: Ethiopia 2-2 Nigeria (Afcon qualifier) Ghana 8 February: Togo 1-4 Ghana (Friendly) 27 March: Congo 0-3 Ghana (Afcon qualifier) 29 March: England 1-1 Ghana (Friendly) 3 June: Ghana 3-1 Congo (Afcon qualifier) 7 June: Ghana 1-2 South Korea (Friendly)

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THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2011

AVIATION

Asaba Airport costs N17.5b T

HE Delta State Government has invested N17.5 billion on the Asaba Airport, The Nation has learnt.

Confirming the figures in Lagos, the Commissioner for Information, Chike Ogeah, said the state government has spent about N17.5 billion so far, adding that the airport would reach its 100 per cent completion by December “ I can tell you authoritatively that so far, the project has cost the state government N17.5 billion.

That is the amount that has been committed to that project and I know that there have been a lot of things that have been bought within that amount of money “So by the time the airport will be completed in the next two months, then we will be able to tell you, this is what we spent.

But contrary to what out detractors have been saying, the amount spent is far lower than the N40 billion they are claiming.”

It was revealed that the amount increased with the procurement

• Governor Uduaghan Stories by Kelvin Osa-Okunbor Aviation Correspondent

of state - of - the art fire tenders put in place to guarantee safety at the airport. It is part of the requirement of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

A source close to one of the agencies in the aviation industry said the state government plans to have at least six fire tenders.

Each fire tenders, The Nation learnt, cost the state about $1million. The fire and safety house and the terminal building are about 85 per cent completed with a target date of 100 per cent completion by December this year.

Besides, the 3.4km length and 60 metres wide runway is already completed and could conveniently accommodate a B747 aircraft, while its terminal building that would serve as administrative block for operators, departure and arrival lounges are nearing completion.

It is only Overland Airways that operates visual daily operations to the airport, while other indigenous airlines too have indicated interest to fly to the airport once they are given approval.

The airport, which is about 65 per cent complete, was awarded to U.L.O. Consultants in February, 2008 by the Emmanuel Uduaghan led administration.

IATA forecasts $4b profit INTERNATIONAL Air Transport Association (IATA) has forecast an industry profit of $4 billion for 2011, indicating a 78 per cent fall from the $18 billion earned in 2010.

On anticipated revenues of $598 billion, this translates to a net industry margin of 0.7 per cent. Based on a forecast average oil price of $110/ barrel for 2011 and a jet fuel price of $126.5/barrel, the industry fuel bill is expected to be $176 billion which accounts for 30 per cent of costs.

IATA has also announced traffic results for June which showed a slight softening in demand for both air travel and freight markets. Compared to June 2010, passenger demand was up 4.4 per cent while freight demand was three per cent lower.

The trend for passenger travel remains upwards, but at a slower pace than the post recession rebound which was at an annual rate close to 10 per cent.

The slowdown reflects slower economic growth and increased costs resulting from higher jet fuel prices, and increased taxation in some countries.

Freight volumes have not grown since July-August 2010. May 2010 was the post-recession re-stocking peak, compared to which the June 2011 international freight market was six per cent smaller. While world trade is expanding at seven per cent a year, the benefit is being realiSed more by modes of transport other than air.

“Compared to May both passenger and cargo markets contracted by about one per cent. For passenger traffic, this is a speed-bump in a gradual post recession improvement. But air cargo continues in the doldrums at six per cent below the post-recession peak,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director-General/Chief Executive Officer.

FAA revamps cockpit programme THE Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that air traffic controllers will once again be able to ride in aircraft cockpits with commercial pilots as part of a voluntary education programme.

The Flight Deck Training programme is designed to improve safety by giving air traffic controllers a greater understanding of the pilots’ experience and workload in the cockpit.

“We’ve worked together to create a credible and secure flight training programme that will enhance safety through increased education,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

“This program gives our new generation of air traffic controllers a chance to see and hear what the pilot is experiencing so they know exactly what is happening on the other end of the microphone,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. “As a pilot, I think this important training will give controllers a richer picture of the airspace system.”

The Flight Deck Training programme replaces a previous program called Familiarisation Training, or FAM trip, which was suspended in 2001. The FAA worked closely with the Transportation Security Administration and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) to develop the new programme.

Firm announces first-half results

• Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Alhaji Muhammad Sidi (left), answering questions from journalists after an aviation and maritime stakeholders meeting in Lagos. Right is his Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority(NCAA) counterpart, Dr Harold Demuren.

‘Develop infrastructure at airports’

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TAKEHOLDERS in the aviation industry rose last week from a one-day aviation infrastructure summit with a call on the government to collaborate with private investors and address the challenges posed by the existence of maintenance, acquisition and replacement backlog in airports and airspace infrastructure across the industry.

The summit, held at the Training Hall of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Annex, Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road, Lagos, provided a platform where key players in the aviation industry took a critical appraisal of issues affecting aviation infrastructure development with a view to identifying the existing challenges and exchanging ideas on how to achieve improvements in the state of the nation’s aviation infrastructure. The theme of the summit was Airports Infrastructure Development in Nigeria: Challenges and Solutions.

Assistant Zonal Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), South West Zone, who was represented by Mr Tunde Adebiyi, identified the various in-

frastructure related challenges at the airports and stated that there was no magic wand to achieving sustainable infrastructural development in the industry other than stakeholders’ collaboration.

“We must come together as one to push the government’s focus on priority areas of infrastructural development for the industry. NEMA will always be ready to respond and support in terms of logistics, capacity building, training and making necessary rescue equipment available when the needs arise” he stated.

The Chairman, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Dr. Steve Mahonwu made a case for improvement of the nation’s aviation infrastructure as a measure towards reducing operating cost for local airlines.

Delivering a paper entitled How To Improve Airspace Infrastructure Maintenance & Development, the Director, Airspace & Engineering Services, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Mr. Nnamdi Udoh identified power outage as a major challenge that affects CNS facilities and leads to downtime and high cost of main-

tenance.

“The successful completion of the various projects highlighted that continuous maintenance would not only significantly contribute towards the expeditious and efficient control of aircraft within Nigerian airspace, but will further enhance safety and increase efficiency. Furthermore, the conditions highlighted, if adhered to and met, will enhance service delivery and improve efficiency in the industry” said Udoh.

George Uriesi, Director of Operations, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) recommended a three-prong approach to infrastrcuture development in the industry namely; infrastrcutrue ugrades and replacement, smart investment in people and establishment of a proper management and organisational structure.

Capt. Dele Ore, President, Aviation Round Table prescribed the Egypt Air module for cargo infrastrcuture development involving long term proper planning and commitment by all players.

His paper was entitled Improving Air Cargo Operations In Nigeria.

THE single cargo business unit of International Airlines Group (IAG Cargo) comprised of British Airways World Cargo and Iberia Cargo, has announced its first half results from January 1 to June 30, 2011.

IAG Cargo reported commercial revenue (flown revenue plus fuel surcharges) of •592 million in the half. This represents an increase of 16.3 per cent against the same period last year.

Volumes of 3,066 million freight tonne kilometres (FTKs) for the half represent an increase of 8.3 per cent versus the same period last year.

Cargo capacity for the same period was up 8.6 per cent.

Steve Gunning, Managing Director of IAG Cargo said: “The results for the first half of 2011 provide us with a strong foundation from which to build the IAG Cargo offering. We continue to integrate customer sales and work towards a seamless customer-facing network. The next six months will also see considerable progress as we merge our products and offer customers improved flexibility and quality services.

“Our first half yields improved, however yield development slowed in the second quarter. Market conditions became more sluggish and were set against a background of significant increases in market capacity. “

‘How to reduce operation costs’ AS global airlines and airport groups strategise to recover from the global economic meltdown, a survey conducted and co-sponsored by the Airport Council International and Airline Business has revealed that significant investment in information technology infrastructure can reduce operational costs.

According to the survey, investment in Information Technology infrastructure by airports during the downturn has continued as airports prepare for rising passenger numbers, according to a new global survey just launched by Airport Council International and Airline Business.

Investment as a percentage of revenue rose to 3.6 per cent in 2009 and 78 per cent of airports expect budgets to remain the same or increase in 2011.

In return for this investment, technology is being challenged to deliver even greater efficiencies and cost reductions. The seventh annual SITA Airport Informational Technology Trends Survey, co-sponsored

by Airports Council International (ACI) and Airline Business, is based on responses from 128 airport operators, representing the views of 220 airports worldwide, the highest number since the survey started in 2003.

Turkish Airlines gets award TURKISH Airlines has been named the ‘Best Premium Economy Seats’ and ‘Best Airline Southern Europe’ by Skytrax, world’s largest airline ranking organisation.

According to the results of the evaluation 2011, Turkish Airlines has been chosen as the winner of the three categories by Skytrax which is a world recognised brand associated with air travel excellence in the 21st century, providing unique expertise to the world airline and airport industry through the most professional Audit and Service Benchmarking programmes of Product and Service Quality.

Turkish Airlines wins “Best Airline Europe”, “Best Premium Economy Seats” for its Comfort Class seats and “Best Airline Southern Europe” at the World Airline Awards.

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NEWS Why INEC can’t prosecute offenders, by Jega

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ACK of adequate evidence and last minute withdrawal of statements by witnesses have prevented the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from presenting electoral offenders in the April elections.

INEC Chairman Prof Attahiru Jega said yesterday that out of the 870,000 suspects arrested for electoral malpractices, the number of those prosecuted is insignificant.

Jaga cited the case of a senator who was accused of diverting electoral materials.

“On receiving the report, we drafted security agents to investigate the matter and they came with the report that the senator committed the offence. But we could not prosecute him because of lack of evidence,” he said.

The dearth of evidence and withdrawal of statements, he said, had frustrated the commission from bringing electoral offenders to justice.

The INEC chair spoke at a lecture he delivered at the Nigerian Institute of

By Leke Salaudeen

International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos, with the theme: Nigeria’s 2011 General Election: International Dimension and Challenges.

He said INEC’s Legal Department was overwhelmed by the number of cases to be prosecuted.

Jega said: “We have entered into a working relationship with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to assist in the prosecution of electoral offenders.”

The INEC chair said the solution to electoral malpractices rests with going back to the recommendations of the Justice Muhammadu Uwais panel on Electoral Reform, which recommended the establishment of special court for electoral offenders.

This, he noted, would ensure prompt justice and save INEC from committing its resources to prosecuting electoral offenders.

Jega attributed the success of the April polls to the support the commission got from the international community and agencies.

Obi promises to pay workers N18,000

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OVERNOR Peter Obi of Anambra State has agreed to pay the N18,000 national minimum wage amid protest by workers.

The state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had declared a one- week warning strike, contending that the chart presented to them was evil.

The decision was the outcome of their protest in Awka yesterday.

The over 1,000 workers, led by the NLC chairman in the state, Patrick Obianyo, had gathered at Alex Ekwueme Boulevard by 9.30am to deliberate on the way forward with the government.

But an unscheduled visit by the governor Obi doused the

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

tension. He told them that the state would pay the minimum wage without further delay.

He said: “What you are doing is normal,all we are looking for is how to make peace.

And you equally know that as the governor of this state, I am the leader of the workers.

F

“Anambra State will pay the N18,000 across board. We are committed to paying the money as required by law and I will be the last person to disobey the law.”

Obi said there was an agreement between Federal Government, Governors and Labour leaders to pay the minimum wage.

Four dead in Lokoja accident

OUR people died yesterday in an accident on the LokojaAbuja road when a tipper skidded off a bridge into a river.

The tipper was said to have run into a pothole when the driver lost control. Local swimmers recovered the bodies.

An officer of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr Sunday Maku, said he noticed the bridge vibrated as he stood on it.

He urged the Federal and Kogi State governments to effect repairs on the bad spots on the road and the bridge to prevent such fatal accidents in the future.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

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MONEY LINK

New banks in position to repay N620b lifeline, says CBN

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said the three new banks (Enterprise Bank, Keystone Bank and MainStreet Bank) that have just been established are in a position to refund their own share of the N620 billion lifelines.

CBN Deputy Governor, Financial Systems Stability, Kingsley Moghalu, said the banks, after receiving the N679 billion fresh funds from the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), have the financial muscles to repay the loans.

The funds are expected to take the beneficiary banks to capital adequacy level required for their operations.

Speaking in Lagos, at a media briefing on recapitalisation of the new banks, Moghalu, said the banks have to carry out their transactions applying sound risk management processes.

The three banks were acquired by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) and subsequently sold to AMCON. Moghalu, said the apex bank hopes there would be no legal challenges against recapitalisation of the banks, but if that happens, it would be addressed appropriately.

“We hope there will be no legal challenges against recapitalisation of the banks.

“However, if they occur, they will be dealt with appropriately,” he said.

AMCON CEO, Mustafa ChikeObi, said the capital provided by AMCON will strengthen beneficiary banks’ liquidity positions, to enable them meet their obligations to depositors.

Consequently, he said the banks are in the position to repay the loans obtained from the CBN in the first bailout carried out in August 2009.

The CBN and NDIC had in July 2009, carried out a special exami-

By Collins Nweze

nation of all the 24 banks with the aim of assessing their health, with particular focus on liquidity, capital adequacy, risk management and corporate governance practices. Ten banks were adjudged to

The 10 banks that benefitted from the N620 billion were Intercontinental Bank, Oceanic Bank, Enterprise Bank, (former Spring Bank); Keystone Bank, (former Bank PHB); MainStreet Bank, (former Afribank); Equitorial Trust Bank and Unity Bank. Others were

be in grave state with deficiencies in capital adequacy. Of these, eight also had significant deficiencies in liquidity, risk management practices and corporate governance policies. The 10 banks got a lifeline of N620 billion in the form of Tier 2 Capital.

IT expert advocates more awareness on cash limit

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N Information Technology (IT) consultant, Mrs Ify Chukwuma has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to create more awareness on how the cashless economy policy will work in Nigeria.

She said the policy would work well with time, but that a lot people still do not know how it would be deployed or how their lives and businesses will be affected.

Chukwuma, who is the Manag-

By Nneka Nwaneri

card, but look at what is happening now.

“So the only thing is that government needs to create a lot of awareness because people still don’t know much about how it will work, and they need to make sure that the infrastructure is in place,” she said.

She said Hacktics is the professional services arm of Ernst and Young and provides groundbreaking approach to identifying and addressing cyber offences in response to the escala-

ing Director of Performance Frontiers, an IT firm, spoke in Lagos at a media briefing on her firm’s partnership with Hacktics Advanced Security Center and Ernst and Young. Her firm represents them in Nigeria.

“Cashless economy will work, but it is with time. When we first had the ATM, people were averse to it.

It took them time to go get an ATM

T

HE Government of Tanzania has secured a $250 million sevenyear loan facility from a consortium of local and global financiers led

by Stanbic Bank Tanzania and its parent bank, Standard Bank Group.

The fund is to be used in funding development projects, such as roads and rural electrification.

A statement from the bank said the loan also signals that African

G

ROUP of Seven nations plans to reduce collapse of investor confidence after the United States sovereign- rating cut and a slump in Italian and Spanish debt intensified threats to the global economy.

G-7 Finance Ministers and central bank governors pledged in a statement to “take all necessary measures to support financial stability

governments are serious about commercial banks as alternative sources for much-needed capital.

The signing ceremony was held in Dar-es-Salaam yesterday.

Speaking on behalf of the United Republic of Tanzania, Minister for Finance Mustafa Mkulo said that the Tanzanian government chose to raise the funding from the loan market as a first step

in its diversification of funding sources for its long term needs.

“This transaction arranged by Stanbic Bank Tanzania is a testament of how a good partnership between the government and the private sector can benefit the nation. With this loan we aim to invest in infrastructure development especially in the areas of power

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

G-7 to stabilise economies, nations July 26, driven investors to Treasuries and gold and rattled consumer confidence already hurt by European fiscal tightening and elevated American unemployment. The European Central Bank signaled it will buy Italian and Spanish bonds, and Japan warned it may intervene again to stem gains in the yen.

and growth.” Officials will inject liquidity and act against disorderly currency moves as needed, they said. The G-20, which includes emerging markets, issued a similar communique.

Bloomberg report said stocks extended declines that have wiped $5.4 trillion off equity markets since

Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($)

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 08-8-11 SYMBOL OKOMUOIL

O/PRICE 17.00

C/PRICE 17.85

CHANGE 0.85

CONTINSURE ETERNAOIL

1.00 4.88

1.05 5.10

0.05 0.22

ETI

13.96

14.49

0.53

TRANSCORP

1.00

1.03

0.03

UNILEVER

27.52

28.00

2.48

GLAXOSMITH

24.01

24.40

0.39

UAC-PROP

19.00

19.10

0.10

LOSER AS AT 08-8-11 SYMBOL SKYEBANK

O/PRICE 9.20

C/PRICE 5.89

CHANGE 0.31

HONYFLOUR

4.00

3.80

0.20

ACCESS

6.60

6.27

0.33

GUINNESS

240.00

228.00

12.00

JBERGER

50.00

47.50

2.50

UBA

5.00

4.75

0.25

VITAFORM

6.00

5.70

0.30

CONOIL

36.01

“Actions speak louder than words,” said Richard Barwell, an economist at Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc in London. “In the short run, it might be better they say something rather than nothing, but we’re probably at the stage now more where people want to see decisive action.”

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

and roads,” continued the Minister.

Helmut Engelbrecht, Standard Bank’s Head of Investment Banking in Africa, said the deal is syndicated in three ways which collectively amount to $250-million.

Standard Bank acted as the global coordinator of the components of the funding.

DATA BANK

Tenor

OBB Rate Call Rate

tion in corporate cyber attacks.

Chukwuma said: “We offer a wide range of threats and vulnerability services that help companies understand the risk they face and enable them to take appropriate actions to enhance their own overall security.

“The Nigerian market is fast growing and implementing the right security practices in an early stage can substantially reduce the potential risks emerging on a daily basis.

Standard Bank facilitates $250m loan

FGN BONDS

NIDF NESF

FinBank, Union Bank and Wema Bank.

The CBN said the global financial meltdown affected the financial services sector, real trade remittance and aids channel. The oil and gas sector as well as capital market were affected.

24.21

1.80

Amount Sold ($)

Exchange Rate (N)

Date

450m

452.7m

450m

150.8

08-8-11

250m

313.5m

250m

150.8

03-8-11

400m

443m

400m

150.7

01-8-11

EXHANGE RATE 30-05-11 CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Currency

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD NGN GBP

147.6000 239.4810

149.7100 244.0123

150.7100 245.6422

-2.11 -2.57

NGN EUR

212.4997

207.9023

209.2910

-1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

Bureau de Change 152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

(S/N) Parallel Market

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

NSE CAP Index

NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N)

05-08-11 N7.484tr 23,399.44

08-08-11 N7.345tr 22,963.11

% Change +1.86% +1.86%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

(S/N)

153.0000

DISCOUNT WINDOW January ’11

February ’11

July ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

8.75%

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% 10.2%

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 117.62 1,586.00 0.80 1.00 0.00 1,586.00 9.61 1.39 1.87 8,827.74 193.00

9.08 1.00 117.16 1,576.75 0.78 1.00 0.00 1,576.75 9.14 1.33 1.80 8,557.73 191.08

ARM AGGRESSIVE KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND THE LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL BGL SAPPHIRE FUND BGL NUBIAN FUND NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY THE DISCOVERY FUND • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

Rate (Previous) 04 MAR, 2011 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 24, MAY, 2011 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK Previous

Current

04 MAR, 2011

07, MAR, 2011

Bank

8.5000

8.5000

P/Court

8.0833

8.0833

Movement

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

57

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 08-08-11 2ND-TIER SECURITIES Company Name SMART PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC. Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1

Quotation(N) 1.04

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 100 109.00 100 109.00

AGRICULTURE/AGRO-ALLIED Company Name LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC PRESCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 8 10

Quotation(N) 0.50 7.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 30,400 15,200.00 1,071,750 8,039,134.00 1,102,150 8,054,334.00

Quotation(N) 2.23 6.91

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 800 1,696.00 2,024,699 13,917,339.52 2,025,499 13,919,035.52

Quotation(N) 1.53

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 265,564 406,312.92 265,564 406,312.92

Quotation(N) 6.27 4.17 3.00 5.95 1.84 11.13 0.50 12.59 9.00 0.70 1.15 5.89 1.44 4.75 2.09 0.65 0.76 12.92

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 38,901,890 243,920,690.30 766,170 3,255,328.90 1,359,818 3,986,483.67 2,574,234 15,269,463.77 8,740,315 16,082,179.60 32,950,242 357,091,502.09 5,658,600 2,829,300.00 5,076,672 63,968,418.68 1,231,980 11,184,407.50 4,314,500 3,020,150.00 18,296,875 21,041,406.25 229,030 1,348,986.70 10,125,000 14,580,000.00 20,381,765 96,814,763.75 2,644,027 5,526,016.43 300,000 195,000.00 500,000 381,500.00 3,028,377 39,127,822.44 157,079,495 899,623,420.08

Quotation(N) 228.00 6.10 90.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,681,973 383,514,844.00 3,200 19,200.00 1,727,273 156,362,056.55 3,412,446 539,896,100.55

Quotation(N) 20.54 8.00 120.00 42.01

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,004,354 20,636,686.95 18,500 140,600.00 33,206 3,893,739.10 1,890,808 79,464,486.75 2,946,868 104,135,512.80

Quotation(N) 9.34 28.00 10.53 5.11

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 73,500 653,715.00 155,597 4,367,327.40 100 1,001.00 1,000 4,860.00 230,197 5,026,903.40

AIR SERVICES Company Name No of Deals AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC 3 NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC 70 Sector Totals 73 AUTOMOBILE & TYRE Company Name R. T. BRISCOE (NIGERIA) PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 12 12

Company Name ACCESS BANK PLC DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK NIGERIA PLC FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC FIDELITY BANK PLC FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC FINBANK PLC GTBANK PLC STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC INTERCONTINENTAL BANK PLC. OCEANIC BANK INTERNATIONAL PLC SKYE BANK PLC. STERLING BANK PLC UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC. UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC UNITYBANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC ZENITH BANK PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 79 16 21 41 65 467 69 204 49 23 141 14 19 128 59 18 6 69 1,488

Company Name GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 50 3 136 189

Company Name ASHAKA CEMENT PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTHERN NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 66 5 16 63 150

BANKING

BREWERIES

BUILDING MATERIALS

NSE to delist Afribank, Bank PHB, Spring Bank

T

HE Nigerian Stock Ex change (NSE) yester day said the placement of full suspension on defunct Afribank Plc, Bank PHB and Spring Bank was one of the steps geared towards delisting their shares.

NSE yesterday said the placement of the socks on full suspension was “the first step towards their delisting from the Daily Official List.”

In a release signed by the NSE, spokesman, Wole Tokede, the Exchange noted that the three new bridge banks, Enterprise Bank Limited, Keystone Bank Limited and Mainstreet Bank Limited established to take over the assets and liabilities of the acquired banks, were privately owned by AMCON and are not listed on the Exchange.

NSE, said with the full suspension, there would not be any trading on the shares of these banks, “as these banks no longer exist following the revocation of their licenses by the Central Bank of Nigeria.”

But the Exchange, said transactions in the shares of the three banks up to and including Friday, August 5,

CHEMICAL & PAINTS Company Name No of Deals BERGER PAINTS NIGERIA PLC 9 CHEMICAL AND ALLIED PRODUCTS PLC 23 NIGERIAN-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC 1 PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC 1 Sector Totals 34

COMMERCIAL/SERVICES Company Name Secure Electronic Technology PLC RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 15 16

Quotation(N) 0.88 3.18

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,000 880.00 153,100 468,093.00 154,100 468,973.00

COMPUTER & OFFICE EQUIPMENT Company Name THOMAS WYATT PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1

Quotation(N) 1.38

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 500 660.00 500 660.00

Quotation(N) 1.99 7.22 41.50 1.03 39.02 28.00

Quantity Traded Value 100 200 192,807 19,883,981 252,121 1,325,004 21,654,213

CONGLOMERATES Company Name No of Deals A. G. LEVENTIS (NIGERIA) PLC 1 CHELLARAMS PLC 1 PZ CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC 58 TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC 65 UAC OF NIGERIA PLC 40 UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC 60 Sector Totals 225

of Shares (N) 190.00 1,372.00 7,741,009.71 19,194,322.80 9,554,347.50 35,966,226.54 72,457,468.55

CONSTRUCTION Company Name COSTAIN (WA) PLC JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA PLC MULTIVERSE PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 14 2 18

Quotation(N) 2.66 47.50 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 4,500 11,970.00 311,056 14,897,079.50 1,002,000 501,000.00 1,317,556 15,410,049.50

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY Company Name CUTIX PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 2

Quotation(N) 2.30

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 10,100 22,119.00 10,100 22,119.00

FOOD/BEVERAGES & TOBACCO Company Name 7-UP BOTTLING CO. PLC CADBURY NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIGERIA PLC HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT COMPANY NIGERIA PLC NIGERIAN BOTTLING COMPANY PLC NESTLE NIGERIA PLC TANTALIZERS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 15 38 82 31 9 34 20 49 6 284

Company Name EVANS MEDICALPLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 12 29 11 55

Quotation(N) 45.00 17.80 10.06 84.00 3.80 4.52 43.25 402.00 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 11,489 492,824.75 247,047 4,356,590.93 3,676,775 37,021,106.90 388,681 32,649,204.00 515,160 1,957,690.00 691,351 3,125,034.52 67,042 2,785,880.76 106,877 42,710,727.50 184,000 92,000.00 5,888,422 125,191,059.36

HEALTHCARE Quotation(N) 0.95 1.76 24.40 3.85

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 4,000 3,640.00 241,220 424,779.88 1,798,800 42,354,613.50 97,260 356,571.60 2,141,280 43,139,604.98

HOTEL & TOURISM Company Name CAPITAL HOTEL PLC TOURIST COMPANY OF NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 2 3

Quotation(N) 6.51 4.31

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 10,000 65,100.00 600 2,460.00 10,600 67,560.00

INDUSTRIAL/DOMESTIC PRODUCTS Company Name B. O. C. GASES NIGERIA PLC FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC VITAFOAM NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 1 23 27

Quotation(N) 7.45 0.50 5.70

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,100 7,788.00 1,000 500.00 1,028,994 5,959,298.00 1,031,094 5,967,586.00

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Company Name STARCOMMS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 17 17

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 4,150,589 2,075,590.00 4,150,589 2,075,590.00

INSURANCE Company Name AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE CO. PLC. CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INSURANCE PLC GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC GUARANTY TRUST ASSURANCE PLC GUINEA INSURANCE PLC.

No of Deals 16 3 1 7 3 10 1

Quotation(N) 0.65 1.05 0.50 2.74 0.50 1.25 0.50

Quantity Traded Value 1,697,860 47,874,954 2,000 500,000 1,023,000 521,323 100

of Shares (N) 1,103,609.00 50,258,701.70 1,000.00 1,370,030.00 511,500.00 651,653.75 50.00

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

2011, will be allowed to settle.

Also, the Exchange has placed the shares of four intervened banks: Intercontinental Bank, Oceanic Bank, Union Bank and FinBank that have signed Transaction Implementation Agreements on technical suspension, until the completion of their recapitalisation transactions, which the Exchange said must not linger beyond September 30, 2011.

The CBN had announced that the intervened banks are required to complete their

‘NSE, said with the full suspension, there would not be any trading on the shares of these banks, “as these banks no longer exist following the revocation of their licenses by the Central Bank of Nigeria’

recapitalisation by the September 30.

Meanwhile, on the floor of the NSE, investor confidence waned as the key indicators dipped further with 1.9 per cent each. Market capitalisation reduced by N139 billion to close at N7.345 trillion while the All-Share-Index dropped 434.33 points to close at 22,963.11 points.

The banking stocks, as usual, contributed the largest chunk with 157.079 million shares worth N899.623 million done in 189 deals.

This was followed by insurance with 89.559 million shares worth N73.370 million in 151 deals.

Other actively traded equities were Conglomerates, Food beverages, Information & Communication and Breweries with 21.654 million shares, 5.888 million shares, 4.151 million share and 3.412 million shares.

On the price movement table, the market recorded more sell pressure with just 45 companies reflecting price change.

Only eight appreciated while the remaining 37 equities reduced in value.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 08-08-11 CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC 2 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC 1 LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. 1 LAW UNION AND ROCK INSURANCE PLC. 4 LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC 1 MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC 4 N.E.M. INSURANCE CO. (NIG.) PLC. 74 NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. 7 OASIS INSURANCE PLC 1 PRESTIGE ASSURANCE PLC. 9 SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC 1 STACO INSURANCE PLC 1 UNIC INSURANCE PLC. 1 UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC 1 INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INSURANCE PLC 2 Sector Totals 151

0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.67 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.51

46,345 10,000 3,000 523,220 2,000 16,600 36,773,575 122,450 1,000 425,300 5,094 500 5,000 1,000 5,000 89,559,321

23,172.50 5,000.00 1,500.00 261,610.00 1,000.00 8,300.00 18,393,937.50 61,225.00 500.00 708,995.00 2,547.00 250.00 2,500.00 500.00 2,500.00 73,370,081.45

Quotation(N) 0.95

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 226,100 214,795.00 226,100 214,795.00

Quotation(N) 0.95

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,937,923 1,841,751.85 1,937,923 1,841,751.85

LEASING Company Name C&I LEASING PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 6 6

Company Name JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 25 25

Company Name ABBEY BUILDING SOCIETY PLC UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 2 4

MARITIME

MORTGAGE COMPANIES Quotation(N) 1.38 0.52

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 7,500 10,125.00 12,000 6,240.00 19,500 16,365.00

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Company Name CRUSADER NIGERIA PLC. NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 7 9 17

Quotation(N) 0.50 1.15 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,000 500.00 811,847 933,624.05 697,877 348,938.50 1,510,724 1,283,062.55

Quotation(N) 2.20 2.92

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 249,790 549,538.00 100 278.00 249,890 549,816.00

PACKAGING Company Name No of Deals NIGERIAN BAG MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC 21 STUDIO PRESS (NIGERIA) PLC. 1 Sector Totals 22

PETROLEUM(MARKETING) Company Name MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA OIL & GAS PLC. FORTE OIL PLC MOBIL OIL NIGERIA PLC. OANDO PLC TOTAL NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 10 29 8 15 93 9 166

Company Name LONGMAN NIGERIA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 8 9

Company Name UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 18 18

Company Name ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 2

Company Name UNITED NIGERIA TEXTILES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 2

Quotation(N) 67.22 34.21 5.10 18.32 156.50 35.51 203.32

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,050 67,053.00 101,115 3,459,144.15 939,250 4,533,841.47 8,131 141,560.71 38,347 5,902,884.76 1,889,405 67,092,771.55 5,046 975,390.96 2,982,344 82,172,646.60

PRINTING & PUBLISHING Quotation(N) 5.35 4.39

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,300 6,617.00 47,799 200,957.82 49,099 207,574.82

Quotation(N) 19.10

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 401,672 7,541,569.84 401,672 7,541,569.84

REAL ESTATE

ROAD TRANSPORTATION Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 13,000 6,500.00 13,000 6,500.00

Quotation(N) 0.59

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 5,366 3,058.62 5,366 3,058.62

TEXTILES

THE FOREIGN LISTINGS Company Name No of Deals ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED 14 Sector Totals 14

Quotation(N) 14.49

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,454,336 19,398,578.64 1,454,336 19,398,578.64

Overall Totals

3,041

301,830,048

2,022,468,199.03

58

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

59

60

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

61

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

62

NEWS

Adesanya, Ige, Opadokun got no cash, says ex-Security chief •Continued from page 2 “Also, Mohammed said he was not prepared to be an NSA who will not have access to Abacha; who will be unable to pass a memo to the ex-Head of State and wait for a week to respond to urgent matters.

“The ex-NSA also said as a retired Major-General, he was not ready to take directives from Major Hamza alMustapha.

“Although the ex-NSA has never met al-Mustapha, his comments got to the ex-CSO and the battle line was drawn.”

Responding to a question, the source added that the exNSA courted trouble again when he “uncovered” a secret security meeting in Kaduna between al-Mustapha and two others, including a former Director-General of the Nigeria Intelligence Agency.”

On the leakage of a letter to the CBN by the ex-NSA for withdrawal of cash, the source said: “Contrary to al-

Mustapha’s claim that he got the document from a photocopier, security agencies were able to discover that a former top official of the CBN gave it to him.

“The document had earlier been published in Abuja Mirror and another magazine in 1998. That made us to investigate the source and we discovered that a CBN official leaked the document because he was very close to al-Mustapha. “al-Mustapha could not have had access to the office of the ex-NSA because immediately Abdulsalami came on board, he was removed as the CSO and redeployed to Enugu .”

Asked to speak on the alleged poisoning of a former publisher of Abuja Mirror, Alhaji Abidina Coomasie, the source simply said: “Nobody poisoned Abidina; he died of a terminal disease; ask his family.”

Ex-Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami is said to be under pressure not to talk on

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the issues raised by alMustapha from some highlyplaced Nigerians.

Another source said: “There is pressure on the ex-Head of State not to talk because he is a statesman who should not join issues with al-Mustapha.

“As Nigeria’s former Head of State, Abdulsalami has a lot of security information while in charge, such that any revelation from him could disrupt the ongoing consolidation of the democratic process.

“Even at a point, the ex-NSA to Abdulsalami wanted to address a briefing in Abuja, but it was called off at the last minute in the interest of the nation’s unity and future.

“But after the cross-examination of al-Mustapha in court, if it is necessary, Abdulsalami will open up because his image is being battered for no just cause.”

•From left: District Head of Ungwar Sanusi, Alhaji Idris Ahmed; FRCN zonal Director, Ladan Salihu, and Justice Shehu Ibrahim of Sharia Court of Appeal, at the Ummulkhair Foundation Ramadan lecture in Kaduna… yesterday PHOTO: NAN

Why we formed Strike Force, by Abacha’s CSO al-Mustapha •Continued from page 2

al-Mustapha, who listed 10 panels which he faced between 1998 and 1999 before his arraignment in court, said he was being persecuted because he knew how the late Abiola was murdered and that his video evidence to that effect was confiscated by Gen. Abubakar.

He denied the prosecution lawyer’s claim that the video he presented before the court

was procured from a television station, insisting that he made it because he became suspicious after Abacha’s death and decided to record all events thereafter.

The video, which was shown in court on Thursday, did not show Yoruba leaders taking money from the government – against all expectations, following al-

Mustapha’s testimony. al-Mustapha, who admitted sending the former head of the Anti-Riot Police unit in Presidential Villa, Rabo Lawal (a Chief Superintendent of Police) to Lagos on two occasions, said his mission was to protect Abacha’s house on Victoria Island which, he claimed NADECO members were

plotting to burn.

He said the responsibility of taking care of Abacha’s property in Lagos was later taken over by the Lagos Garrison, headed then by Gen Patrick Aziza.

The ex-CSO said his major responsibility, as the CSO was to secure the Presidency, the seat of power, the President and his family and to make the Presidential Villa Peaceful and safe for the President to operate.

CBN appoints transition consultants for three banks

AUCTION AUCTION AUCTION

•Continued from page 2

Mushin Local Government Authority has appointed Auctioneer J. F Obitunde for the auction of their unserviceable vehicles as indicated in the letter of appointment of 8th may 2011 and auction schedule of 25th July 2011 at 10:00am promptly.

Publication is made for official purpose.

J. F. Obitunde Government Licensed Auctioneer 08033466559.

The banking watchdog revoked the licences of Afribank, Spring Bank and Bank PHB last Friday because it said they did not show the capacity to recapitalise, following a N620billion bailout of nine lenders in 2009.

The apex bank set up “bridge banks” to acquire the assets and liabilities of the trio, which were then sold to AMCON.

It also appointed board members with experience in managing other banks for the newly created banks.

Meanwhile, at the Spring Bank Plc office in Oshodi now Enterprise Bank Limited –more customers were making withdrawals than deposits yesterday. Some of the customers came to make enquiries on the state of the bank and what the new status means.

An official explained that

it was just a change of leadership at the helms of affairs of the banks and had nothing do with the bank’s liquidity position.

The atmosphere at the Spring Bank, Ogui Road, Enugu was serene as workers went about their work with anxiety over their fate.

The logo and sign post of the bank had been removed.

The situation was also the same at Afribank branch on Oparah Avenue, Enugu

where the withdrawal and deposit slips still bear Spring Bank.

Depositors in Afribank Plc (Fatai Atere, Lagos); Bank PHB Plc (Akowonjo, Lagos); and Spring Bank Plc (Oshodi, Lagos) yesterday came out in large numbers to withdraw from their money.

There was a long queue in each of the branches of the banks.

At Bank PHB on Ogba Road, Lagos, there were no panic withdrawals. Customers were assured that their accounts are safe, that it was just name change and ownership and that they are free to withdraw their money.

At the defunct PHB at Palm grove bus stop, Lagos, it was business as usual. There was no surge of customers. An official told The Nation there was no cause for panic as it was only a change of ownership and management. A notice was pasted on the wall of the bank informing customers of the development.

The National President, Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI), Comrade Sunday Olusoji Salako, said he backed the takeover of the three banks.

He urged its members in Afribank, Spring Bank and Bank PHB not to fret over the takeover of the banks by the Federal Government.

The Association will speak more on the issue on Friday.

General Secretary of NUBIFIE Mr Segun Ola said the takeover of the banks did not translate into the sacking of workers.

Ola said that there were no indications that the workers would lose their jobs because of the development.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

63

SPORT EXTRA

Early preparation gave F/Eagles edge— Dike T

HE performance of the Nigeria U-20 team, otherwise called the Flying Eagles at the ongoing Colombia 2011 World Cup, has been attributed to the impressive build up the team enjoyed ahead of the competition.

According to the Technical Adviser of Rangers international of Enugu, Alphonsus Dike, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) gave the team all the attention needed to succeed at the biennial event.

Speaking with NationSport on telephone, the former Under 17 chief coach disclosed that the adequate exposure the

•Wants same for other teams From Tunde Liadi, Owerri team received before the competition was the key to their wonderful display which has seen them win three matches.

Dike clamoured for the extension of same treatment to the other national teams if the country wants to continue to excel at major competitions the way the Flying Eagles’ experience has been thus far.

Dike faulted the ‘fire brigade’ approach synonymous with the country

before now pointing out that the free fall of the country’s contingents to competitions prior to Colombia 2011 occurred because of the lackadaisical attitude of the Nigeria football officials, who he reckoned handle national teams’ assignments with kids glove.

“The Flying Eagles have been winning in Colombia and Nigerians are happy.

Their three first round victories did not surprise me and even I am tipping them

to go as far as possible in the competition.

“Watching them will make you happy that truly this is the hallmark of adequate preparation. They have played three matches and scored 12 goals what else do we need?” Dike wondered.

He however cautioned the John Obuh-led team not to get carried away by their wins but to try and get their three wins off their minds as they prepare to slug it out with England on Wednesday.

Saraki joins bid to take over Bukola Babes •As management insists on highest bidder

T

HE Grand patron of Bukola Babes, Senator Bukola Saraki has signified interest in buying the Premier League club.

Team Manager of the Ilorinbased outfit, Alloy Chukwuemeka, who informed NationSport about the development, said Saraki’s entrance brings the number of bidders to nine, even as he disclosed that the former governor is favoured amongst other bidders.

The former Yobe Desert

By Akeem Lawal media chief restated that the club is more of an asset than liability, insisting that Bukola Babes is worth over 250m naira.

Chukwuemeka added that although Saraki is in the race, it is the highest bidder that would finally win the right to become the new owners.

The SWAN Head of Information and Strategy said further that the new owners, who would be announced soon, would determine the future of the Premier League giant killers.

•Nigeria players and coach Jonh Obuh (L) celebrate a goal against Guatemala during their FIFA World Cup U-20 Group D

Kwara Utd’s Arokoyo on trials at FC Twente K WARA United of Ilorin defender and Nigeria Junior International, Gbenga Arokoyo, NationSport can authoritatively report, is in Holland having trials with Dutch Eredivisie top side FC Twente.

Arokoyo, who was with John Obuh’s Flying Eagles to the Africa Youth Championship (AYC), which the Nigeria Under 20 won at the expense of the Junior Indomitable Lions of Cameroun, was sensationally dropped by the Sharks of Port Harcourt Technical Adviser from the 21man list to the Colombia 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup. On hearing about his omission from the Nigeria contigent to the ongoing World Cup, Arokoyo returned to the country and barely days later embarked on a mission to Holland to try out his luck with FC Twente which won the Dutch league in 2010/2011 season under the tutelage of former England Manager, Steve MCclaren.

According to report got from a close source of the Kogi State-born hard tackling defender, Arokoyo is expected to get a contract from the Dutch side having been fantastic thus far in the training sessions and the warm up matches he has played for the team.

It was further disclosed that not only did Arokoyo impress in the friendly he played for FC Twente, he was also on the scoresheet from his rear guard position in a match he played on Sunday.

“Gbenga (Arokoyo) is in Holland and he has been doing fine with FC Twente, a club he teamed up with on

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri

trials few days ago. He has impressed a great deal and should be able to wrap up a contract before the end of the transfer windows.

“He was used in a friendly match played yesterday (Sunday), and not only that, he justified his profile as a fine defender in the match, he also got a goal through his head.

“He is settling down fine and

within a few weeks I should be able to get to the root of the whole set up. There are other clubs vying to have him in Belgium if the deal with FC Twente does not materialise.

But I don’t see that in the offing because he has largely impressed since day one here in Twente,” the source told NationSport exclusively.

OFFICIAL ELECTRONICS PARTNER

NFF, Samsung seal deal

S

AMSUNG Electronics West Africa Limited, a major world in electronics company on Monday sealed a partnership deal with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) at an elaborate ceremony in Lagos, thus assuming the status of the official Electronics of the National Teams.

At the contract signing ceremony, Mr. Idorenyen Enang, Managing Director, Samsung Nigeria, said the sponsorship deal was borne out the company’s desire to inspire the country and its football and also create a good future for enthusiasts of the game.

“Samsung is an inspirational brand and so we want to inspire our national teams to win laurels and bring glory to this country. Nigeria is a great country and Samsung is proud to associate with the country. As the number one fan of Nigerian football, Samsung wants to enhance the quality of football in Nigeria and keep the passion point of Nigerians alive,” Enang said.

He further said the partnership

will give Nigerians the opportunity to understand what Samsung represents, promising that all stakeholders in the Nigerian football circle – the national teams, the fans and the entire country - will benefit immensely from the partnership.

Mr. Mike Itemuagbor, Chairman, Pamodzi Nigeria, marketing consultants to the NFF, applauded Samsung for identifying with Nigerian football wholeheartedly.

“Today is a great day in the history of this country as it marks the beginning of a lot of sponsorships. The ultimate beneficiary is the Nigerian football,” Itemuagbor declared.

Barrister Musa Amadu, NFF Acting Secretary General, eulogised Samsung for being part of the country’s football in a big way.

“The emergence of Samsung as a partner of Nigerian Football Federation portends a great future for the country’s game. Its coming on board is very much appreciated,” Amadu said.

LONDON 2012 OLYMPICS

Chukwumerije sets target in Taekwondo

B

EIJING 2008 Olympic bronze medallist, Chika Chukwumerije has hinted at a desire to surpass his achievment at the quadrannial event, adding that the London Olympics will provide the needed platform to fulfill his dreams.

Speaking exclusively to NationSport recently in Lagos, the Imo State-born fighter said he is doing everything humanly possible to ensure the actualisation of the targets he has set for himself, in terms of training ahead of the event.

“I know it is not going to be a run over. There are other top fighters in Africa and the World in general, so I am not taking it with levity at all. Just hoping that I will be 100 per cent fit for the competition and we’ll see what happens from there.

“The Olympics is a different ball game. You have to be on top of the your game to make the difference. For me I will just keep working hard and ensure that I am ready for every opposition at the competition,” he explained.

Meanwhile at the weekend, as part of his plans to give back to society and empower younger athletes, Chukwumerije organised a three-day Taekwondo Training Workshop hosted by the Korea Cultural Centre in Abuja.A total of 17 young athletes participated in the second edition of the training.

The athletes, who were

By Innocent Amomoh drawn from schools, states and clubs, were tutored by the Olympian on what it takes to be among the best in the world in their chosen sport.

He had said: “I have done Taekwondo for most of my life – this is what I enjoy doing, this is my life! I am fully Nigerian – no! I was not trained in Korea or Germany, France or China, nor did I start kicking in Brazil or acquire my skills in the USA. It all started here in Lagos, Nigeria; it was just that my talent was nurtured, groomed and eventually blossomed.”

Chukwumerije had also stated a desire to teach them the latest competition rules of the sport, and more importantly, fighting techniques that would allow them exploit these new rules to the fullest.

He also revealed that he would educate them on how to combine sports with other pursuits in life, for some of them interested in another career.

•Chukwumerije

http://www.thenationonlineng.net

TUESDAY,AUGUST 9, 2011 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

TOMORROW IN THE NATION

‘If it does not, then, we know we are doomed as a nation, uncaring and unworthy of children. Educational ‘expert’ meetings in exclusive Sheraton contrast with the squalor of our classrooms’ VOL. 6

NO.1,847

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

C

YNICS, all.

Frustrated by the maximum angst that the minimum wage law has created, bereft of a future without the obscene fuel subsidies they have enjoyed for decades, and nonplussed at the prospect of having to pay more for the cheap electricity they have always taken for granted, Nigerians have cultivated the habit of seeing things only in terms of the cost and never in terms of the value.

Put forward a thoughtful proposal to raise the cultural and aesthetic sensibilities of an important segment of the population and they would reflexively strip it down to its Naira cost. They would declare querulously that the price tag is way too high, even if it is a mere two or three billion Naira. No thought of the intrinsic value or long-term benefit of the proposal ever enters into this rush to judgment.

The latest manifestation of this crude calculus is the ruckus that has been worked up over the retreat organised by First Lady Dame (Dr) Patience Jonathan for wives of governors and other better women, the laudable goal of which was to school them in etiquette and equip them with the best grooming their high offices require.

The project, it has to be said, is not entirely unprecedented. Back in 2001, Governor Ayo Fayose sent 16 women, all of them wives of the chairmen of the local government councils in Ekiti State, on a two-week all expenses paid trip to England to acquire the “necessary exposure” so vital to their effective functioning, as his Women Affairs Commissioner and the party’s chaperone, Mrs Ronke Okusanya, phrased it.

But this is the first time such a venture is being launched at the national level. And already, the usual nay-sayers have been criticising, even denouncing the initiative, saying that it is a waste of time and resources, and that it is yet another example of what the Nobelist, Wole Soyinka, once called the curse of first ladyism, Nigeria-style.

Those too far gone in their cynicism to see any merit in Dame (Dr) Jonathan’s laudable initiative should consider, for a start, its vast foreign investment potential. No investor is going to bring his hard-earned dollars, euro, pound sterling, yen or yuan to Nigeria without first making sure that Nigeria is safe for capital.

During exploratory visits, potential foreign investors will expect to be received and fêted by the leading government officials and local entrepreneurs.

Suppose, for example, that the chairman of the leading manufacturing conglomerate in Adelaide, Australia, wants to explore the possibility of setting up a plant for making

OLATUNJI DARE

AT HOME ABROAD olatunji.dare@thenationonlineng.net

From Obudu with etiquette

•Mrs. Jonathan

toothpicks in, say, X State, taking advantage of the abundant hard wood in the area as raw material.

The prospective investor will most likely pay a courtesy call on the state governor who, if he is alive to his responsibilities, will certainly host a dinner in his honour. The decision to invest or not could rest ultimately on the comportment and deportment of the hostess for the day – the governor’s wife, Her Excellency the first lady of X State.

If she is clumsy, if she cannot get the sitting arrangement right, if the beef or poultry is a shade too brown, if the crockery is not of the finest china, if the cutlery falls short of sterling silver quality and the stemware is not of the finest crystal, if the wine does not match the fare, if the hostess cannot discuss with insight Australia’s relations with China

RIPPLES Abiola’s death: ADESANYA, IGE GOT NO BRIBE, CBN papers reveal

Mustapha needs help...MEMORY LOSS has set in

and cannot analyse the on-going Cricket Test between Australia and the WIndies, the visitor will most likely take his capital elsewhere.

On the other hand, the governor of State X may decide that the official residence and the staff are not equipped to stage that kind of event, and that it would be best to host the visitor to dinner in a hotel that can be counted upon to take care of the imponderables of catering for the most discriminating guests.

Still, the comportment and deportment of the governor’s wife could spell the difference between investment and no investment. What if she wolfed down the desert before tucking into the piéece de resistance? What if she downed the wine in huge, noisy gulps? What if she kept her mouth wide open as she chewed on the food? What if she spat bits and pieces she could not swallow on her plate?

What if she soaked the bread in the tea for quicker digestion? What if she took one cup of tea and another and another and yet another until it added up to what she is accustomed to draining from her favourite basin? What if she slurped the soup?

What if she piled everything on offer in one mountainous heap on her plate as if there might never be another chance for that kind of thing, and then proceeded to gorge herself? What if she crushed the chicken or turkey bones, the better to suck in the marrow, and then smacked her lips in rapturous delight? What if she wielded the cutlery as they were assault weapons?

What if she could not engage in animated titter? What if she laughed at the wrong time, did not laugh when she should have laughed, or laughed too loudly? What if she talked out of turn?

A single false step could spell doom for the projected toothpick factory.

A combination of false steps may actually

HARDBALL

B

UT for the riveting soap opera specially written for Major Hamza al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the late Gen Sani Abacha, the most dominant issue in town would still have been the single term boondoggle. Not only was it supplanted by Mustapha’s eloquent legal contrivances, just when it was about to sweep all of us our dainty feet, it seems destined to take the back seat in perpetuity. But not if President Goodluck Jonathan can help it. According to this newspaper, the president appears to be shaken by the hugeness of the opposition to the single term idea that he is now considering shelving it temporarily. Rather than push it as part of his “transformative agenda” or constitutional amendment, he is reported by this newspaper to be considering pushing the tenure matter into the public domain to be discussed and debated.

It is only after he sees the weight of argument favouring the bill and making it to shine like a thousand stars that he would present it to the National Assembly, he is reported to have said.

Forget about whether the president lacks the spunk to push an agendum or back it with all his reputation. Forget that, as this column recently concluded of the president, he loathes taking risks, let alone one that would see him staking his presidency. As far as Jonathan is concerned, nothing is worth risking his secured four-year tenure. Forget everything about Mustapha, and forget everything about single

Rethinking the single term bill term. What is most interesting about the tenure debate is not whether it should be single or double, or whether he should benefit from it or not. He has sworn he has no intention of benefiting from it, and we believe him, for in spite of all his faults he does not have the unconscionable habit of lying like some of his recent predecessors in office. What is interesting is that, according to this newspaper, the president actually had in mind the French model of seven years single term in preparing his tenure bill.

If you are still not flabbergasted, then you must be inured to politics. Have you forgotten that we started with the British parliamentary model only to abandon it when we could not give it the amount of discipline it needed to thrive? Then we happily gravitated to the American presidential model, as if the mere fact of adopting the much-loved and celebrated system was enough in itself to work some magic of stabilising our misshapen polity. Of course it has proved ponderous and expensive, like anything else we love to adopt and modify, and just like the mixed economy

TONY MARINHO

move the visitor to urge fellow prospective investors to write Nigeria off completely as a place to do business.

These were the considerations that led Dame (Dr) Patience Jonathan to organise the retreat on etiquette and grooming for governors’ wives and better women.

In keeping with the frugality that these times demand, Dame Jonathan chose to stage the retreat in the serene and Spartan ambience of the Obudu Mountain Resort This location also guaranteed that the event would not be turned into shopping jamboree, as the wives of local government council chairmen in Ekiti had done during their UK trip.

And to underscore its seriousness, Dame Jonathan took a leading part in designing the curriculum and personally supervised the proceedings from start to finish. In keeping with protocol, she was the right person to give the keynote address at the opening session. And what a rousing speech it was!

But she did much more. Weeks after the event, people are still talking about her seminal paper titled “Public Speaking and General Comportment for Governors’ Wives’ and Better Women,” which drew on her wellknown expertise in such matters.

Due to popular demand, the paper will soon be issued as a monograph, with translations into the major Nigerian languages. It is even being bruited that it may be entrenched in the elongated Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Constitution they are furiously confecting so that the grooming scheme does not suffer the fate of the late Maryam Babangida’s Bettter Life Programme, remembered today only for its excesses, if at all.

The Obudu Retreat, I should add, is only the first step in what insiders tell me Dame Jonathan regards as an integral part of the Jonathan Administration’s agenda for national transformation. It is her unshakable belief, born of deep reflection and patriotic fervor, they say, that before you can transform the nation, you must first transform governors’ wives and the Better Women. *

Correction Alluding to an oft-quoted epigram on patriotism in this space last week, I credited the epigram to Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Wrong, says my correspondent Wole who, fleshing out the allusion and crediting it to the proper source, wrote: “I thought it was Dr Samuel Johnson who said that patriotism is the refuge of scoundrels . . .”

Quite so, sir. * •For comments, send SMS to 08057634061

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above system we claim to have adapted from capitalism. A few months ago, our leading statesmen were making such a happy din of going back to the parliamentary system that some of us began to wonder what we had learnt between the First and Second Republics to give us the confidence of returning to our vomit.

And so now, if The Nation report of yesterday accurately reflects the mood of the presidency on the political system coming out of the fertile imagination of our leaders, the country could yet be subjected to the French model. Would we adopt that system wholesale, or would we simply borrow the tenure part of their constitution to graft it into our own, whatever that is? What if that also fails to address our political problems? Would we next investigate the German and Spanish models to see how far we can torment them? Well, after we have circumnavigated the globe borrowing and debasing political systems, we must hope that one of these days, some bright political leader would realise that the real problem is structural.

The British parliamentary system, without a written constitution, still serves Britain well.

The presidential system is adored by the Americans. And the French will always love their own system. Let us, therefore, take refuge in Shakespeare (Julius Caesar): “The fault, dear Brutus (Jonathan), is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings (compulsive borrowers of systems).”

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