Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper
News Obasanjo working against Oyo PDP, says Senator Sport Hodgson craves Eagles star Osaze’s goal rain Business Jonathan, IMF chief to discuss Nigeria’s economy
P10 P24 P11
www.thenationonlineng.net
TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH
VOL. 7, NO. 1979 MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2011
•From right: Co-ordinating Minister of the Economic Team and Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala discussing with former President of Poland Mr. Aleksander Kwasniewski, President/CEO of Nestoil plc, Dr. Ernest Azudialu and Chairman of KULCZYK Investments Holdings, Dr. Jan Kulczyk, during a Nestoil-led visit to Ministry of Finance in Abuja.
N150.00
•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola receiving his ticket after paying the toll fee at the Admiralty Circle Toll Plaza on the Lekki-Epe Expressway ... yesterday. INSET: The Lekki-Epe toll gate.
Fuel subsidy: Employers warn govt to avert crisis NECA: protest will weaken economy CNPP to back planned action
E
MPLOYERS have warned of the implication of protests over the planned removal of fuel subsidy. “Any crisis will worsen the economic situation. You know that salaries are paid from the daily income of the companies – the manufacturers – and it will be difficult for the employers to honour their salary obligations, if businesses are put
By Emmanuel Oladesu, Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu, Adegunle Olugbamila (Lagos), Bisi Olaniyi (Port Harcourt) and Gbenga Omokhunu (Abuja)
on hold due to labour protests,” Director General of the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) Mr. Olusegun Osinowo said yesterday. Osinowo accused the government of failing to carry along workers’ unions over its plan to remove fuel subsidy.
He said: “The government has been crude in giving information on what would happen to the subsidy money. Also, discussions with stakeholders have not been well handled. The government is behaving like a king, sitting on a throne, talking down on his subjects.” He urged the government
to address the issue, “before the bubble bursts.” The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) met in Abuja at the weekend and resolved to resist the plan to remove fuel subsidy. The government has said about N1.3trillion has been spent this year on the subsidy. The cash, it says, will go into rebuilding infrastruc-
ture. But, opponents of subsidy removal insists it will lead to high fuel prices and impoverish Nigerians. “All we are saying: don’t push us to the street; for we went to the street to make you President and would not like to go to the street to remove you as president!,” CNPP and CSOs told President Jonathan. According to a statement
signed by CNPP National Publicity Secretary Osita Okechukwu, they added: “All we are saying: build new refineries; for if you don’t have confidence that Nigerians can manage refineries, we don’t have confidence that you can manage the withdrawal proceeds! “All we are saying: stop Continued on page 2
Fashola pleads with residents on toll T •Fashola
OLL collectors at the redeveloped 49-kilometre EtiOsa/Lekki-Epe highway attended to their first customers yesterday. Governor Babatunde Fashola led the way, stopping at the toll gate to pay. He was driving his official Land Rover Sport Utility Vehicle at 1.35p.m. The stretch was redeveloped by the concessionaire, Messrs Lekki Concessioning Company (LCC).
By Emmanuel Oladesu and Miriam Ndikanwu
With the governor were the Director-General, Office of Public Private Partnership (PPP), Mr Ayo Gbeleyi and LCC officials. The tolling began after 11 months of consultations with stakeholders, who registered their opposition, forcing the government to stop toll payment, originally billed for takeoff on January 3. Fashola had told a Town Hall
meeting that his administration paid N4billion to the concessionaire for as long as his directive to suspend tolling lasted. Lekki residents complained that there was no alternative route for those without the financial wherewithal to pay the toll. Some of the aggrieved residents who protested at the weekend were arrested by the police. The governor directed they should be released. An excited Fashola expressed satis-
faction with the take-off of the tolling and urged motorists to embrace the positive change introduced to road redevelopment by the initiative. The governor urged residents to always give peace a chance. He denied reports that there was a dead body on the highway on the eve of the inauguration of the toll, pointing out that the photograph published in a newspaper was a figment of imagination. Continued on page 2
•SPORT P23 •POLITICS P25 •CITYBEATS P31 •JOBS P47 •CEO P49