December 20, 2011

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

Explosions rock Kaduna, Damaturu

Jonathan: Nigerians suspicious of IMF

NEWS – Page 6

NEWS – Page 2

•One dead, six injured, buildings destroyed

•MD Lagarde pledges support

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TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

VOL. 7, NO. 1980 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

Woman gives birth to five babies at LUTH

E

VEN the doctors thought they were dealing with four.

But the woman was delivered of a set of five ba-

N150.00

•The quintuplets ... yesterday

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha, Health Correspondent

bies at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba, Lagos Mainland.

The woman, who is said to be a mother of one, is married to a lawyer.

Born last Friday, three of the quintuplets – two boys

and three girls – weighed 1.5kg, 1.55kg and 1.7kg. The others weighed 1.8kg. All five are said to be very stable in the neo- natal unit of the

hospital. Their mother has been transferred to the ward.

The “lucky” father was yet to be identified yesterday.

During the pregnancy, the

scan had picked four of the babies. The doctors were shocked to find the fifth during the caesarean operation.

NNPC boss: subsidy gone Doctors, lawyers warn of protests

IN THE SPIRIT OF THE SEASON

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

A

NTI-FUEL subsidy campaigners got a piece of bad news yesterday.

The subsidy will be removed when the Federal Government begins the implementation of next year’s budget, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Group Managing Director Austen Oniwon told reporters after the 2008/2009 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) in Abuja.

He said: “I think what people should really look at is that in 2012 budget proposal there is no provision for subsidy. And if there is no provision for subsidy, then it will become illegal for government to pay subsidy. I believe when the implementation of that budget takes off, deregulation would have taken off.”

Asked if the government will remove fuel subsidy, Oniwon replied: “It is not if, but when? It means you are still thinking that will not take And if there is itplace.”

President no provision for oodluck subsidy, then it G Jonathan has will become ille- presented a N4.2trillion gal for governbudget to the ment to pay sub- National Assembly. The sidy. I believe package exwhen the imple- cludes the fuel mentation of that subsidy in officials budget takes off, which claim about N1.3trillion deregulation has been spent

‘

would have taken off.

’

Continued on page 2

S N EA R M KO KI IL THURN G- E R N G NO MO JO PA 59 •Members of the Apostolic Faith Orchestra during their Christmas Concert at Anthony Village, Lagos ... yesterday.

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

•CATHOLICS MOURN AS 18 DIE IN EDO STATE ROAD ACCIDENT P10

2

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

NEWS ‘Nigeria not implementing IMF programme’

M

•Vice President Namadi Sambo (fourth right), assisted by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim (fifth right), Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGS, Dr Precious Gbeneol (second right), Minister of Defence Dr Haliru Mohammed (left) and others cutting the tape to inaugurate the MDGs Conditional Grants Scheme to local governments in Abuja ... yesterday PHOTO: NAN

INISTER of Finance Ngozi OkonjoIweala yesterday said contrary to the belief in many quarters, Nigeria is not implementing any programme initiated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala spoke at the House of Representatives when IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde visited Speaker Aminu Tambuwal.

“IMF of today is different from the IMF of yesteryears,” she said.

The minister said Nigeria is now partnering with an understanding institution that is willing to listen and help.

She said:”We set the policies,

Doctors, lawyers warn of protests

L

AWYERS and doctors have warned the Federal Government to drop the planned subsidy removal.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) yesterday said the action will lead to mass revolt.

NBA President Joseph Daudu (SAN) told reporters in Kaduna: “The Nigerian people are equally resolved in their opposition to the removal of subsidy. Nigeria is up for rough times ahead.

The time has come for a final determination whether those in government derive their power from the people or whether they are independent and owe their stay to other entities other than the people.

“We foresee a victory and liberation for the people of Nigeria while those pushing for deregulation in the present form will depart with more than a bloody nose.”

Daudu questioned how the supposed subsidy rose to N1.3 trillion without a corresponding increase in the supply of fuel, saying: “Throughout the Obasanjo administration and up to the close of the Yar’Adua administration, subsidy did not exceed N300 billion. How it has now shot up to N1.3 trillion or thereabout remains a matter for serious enquiry,” he said.

He noted that the Bar will not support the removal of subsidy. According to him, raising the issue at this stage is suspect and the government is aware that the policy

NNPC boss: subsidy to go when budget takes off Continued from page 1

this year.

If subsidy is withdrawn, says the President, the cash will go into rebuilding infrastructure. But, opponents of subsidy removal insist that the policy will force prices to rise and deepen poverty among Nigerians.

Finance Minister Ngozi OkonjoIweala has said the mere fact that subsidy was not included in the budget is not enough to conclude that it has been removed. The President is still consulting on the issue, she said.

Oniwon disclosed that PPMC recorded an after-tax loss of N19.29billion in 2009, but explained that after the removal of subsidy, the company will reFrom Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja and Tony Akowe, Kaduna

is anti-people.

Daudu said: “This is not an argument they will win or a policy that can be implemented without imposing considerable long-term hardship on Nigerians.

“Removing what is considered as subsidy will cripple the economy and lives of Nigerians. In between, Nigerians will suffer. Unmanageable socio-political upheaval will erupt, the magnitude not seen anywhere in the world in recent times.

“It, therefore, appears as if the government has raised the issue of subsidy removal, knowing that it will be resisted by the people and the status quo will continue, thereby further enriching the monopoly to stupendous

cover its cost, contrary to the present situation.

He said if PPMC is able to recover its cost, it will not pass any inefficiency to Nigerians to pay for.

He added that since PPMC will compete with others, it will become more efficient.

On the loss recorded in 2009, the GMD, who is also the Chairman, Board of Directors of the PPMC, said: “It was the period when we had the highest level of militancy in this country. And that was when most of our pipelines were cut. And one thing that is there is that you pay for this crude at the source when you are taking it. And you transport the crude to your refineries. So, any loss you incur is carried to your books

riches enjoyed by a few Nigerian oil moguls.

“If the government is sincere about tackling the mess in the economy on this issue, government must evolve or design a seven-year staggered phase of removal of petroleum subsidy. Government must, as part of the phased measures of subsidy removal, repeal the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) Act.” Daudu also urged the government to implement the deregulation of the downstream sector as conceptualised by the Obasanjo administration.

The government, he said, must license and ensure the commencement of production by private refineries.

Speaking at a news conference in Abuja yesterday, NMA President Dr. Omede Idris said the planned re-

because you have already paid at source.

But the amnesty programme has considerably improved our situation.”

He said pipeline destruction continues but at a reduced rate.

Besides, Oniwon attributed the reduction of pipeline destruction to the company’s effort at curbing the menace.

On oil movement, the NNPC boss said 3,074,444 million tonnes of crude was moved through the pipelines as against 6,936,374metric tonnes in 2008.

A total of 3,105,684million tonnes of white products were moved as against 5,082,698 metric tonnes in 2008.

According to Oniwon, this resulted in lower revenue for the company as it is also linked to the quantity of crude oil moved to the refineries.

moval of fuel subsidy cannot address the problem it intends to tackle.

He said: “The NMA joins millions of Nigerians to reject this poison ivy, until freedom from economic slavery is achieved. Selective advocacy and propaganda will not solve this problem as the removal of fuel subsidy will further impoverish the already poor majority of Nigerians through multiplier effects on the cost of services in all areas.

“The NMA is worried that this will again reduce the gains made in the health sector, especially for the majority of the poor population across the land at state and local government levels where there are no safety nets, such as social health insurance both for formal and informal sector.

“It is sad to note that the government’s main reason for proposing the removal of subsidy is the existence of a cartel to which all benefits go to. It sounds like an admission of failure that government is aware of the cartel and cannot break it with all its might and power.”

“The whole subsidy matter is encapsulated and shrouded in fraud, which government is shying away from addressing, but would rather withdraw from funding the fraud by the untouchables in the society, and passing the responsibility to the already impoverished and traumatised Nigerians”, Idris said.

Fuel subsidy removal, he said, should be preceded by the rehabilitation of all existing refineries to operate at full capacity.

Nigerians suspicious of IMF, says Jonathan

T

HE International Monetary Fund (IMF) came under fire in Abuja yesterday.

Senate President David Mark lamented that its policies are not geared towards the benefit of Africa’s poor.

President Goodluck Jonathan said Nigerians are skeptical of the IMF in the aftermath of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) introduced by the military government in the 1980s.

They spoke during separate visits of IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde.

Ms Lagarde is in Nigeria, on her first visit to Africa since her appointment as the IMF managing director.

She visited the President, the

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Sanni Onogu and Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal.

Lagarde was accompanied

by Finance Minister Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Central Bank Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

President Jonathan said he believes the IMF will contribute positively to the economies of Nigeria and other developing nations.

“I believe the present IMF is different and that the team established to oversee the implementation of the administration’s economic agenda will receive all the political support it requires to en-

sure that the objective of significantly improving the national economy is attained.”

The President said: “We are totally committed to changing things in Nigeria. Our vision is that by the year 2020, Nigeria will have become a much bigger player in the global economy. We have established a good team and we will give them the full political backing they need to succeed.”

Jonathan also stressed that the emphasis of the administration is on poverty alleviation and job creation.

“We are also looking at ways of improving education and health-care delivery. I believe we can work together constructively,” he said.

Jonathan, who reviewed in-

ternational developments with Ms. Lagarde, says he believes that the IMF has a key role to play in resolving the crises in the global economy.

Ms. Lagarde praised Jonathan’s Agenda for National Transformation and the actions taken so far by his administration.

She said the feedback she received from the IMF team which recently undertook a review of the Federal Government’s economic programme is “very positive”.

The IMF Managing Director said the Fund is impressed with the government’s prioritisation of job creation, agriculture, power supply, education and health-care.

Ms. Lagarde said the team is

•Dr Jonathan

also impressed with Jonathan Administration’s fiscal and monetary policies – the steps taken on the banking and financial services sector and the establishment of a Sovereign Wealth Fund.

Continued on page 60

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

we set the pace, and they support us to do what it takes for the Nigerian economy. The idea of the IMF coming to tell people what to do no longer happens and so we are happy to partner with this institution.

“The IMF does an article focus consultation in every country. It has over 187 members, including United States, France and all the developed countries.

They have the consultation and look at the direction of the economy and see whether we are doing well or we are doing poorly, and what we need to make it better. It is very different from having a programme, and Nigeria does not have an IMF programme. We are working on our own but, like every country, they review us.”

The minister said Ms Lagarde played a pivotal role in getting the country’s debts forgiven by the Paris Club in 2005.

Continued on page 62

Group backs Jonathan From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

A

CIVIL society group, the Coalition of Patriotic Democrats (CPD), yesterday declared support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s proposed removal of fuel subsidy.

Its National Co-ordinator, Chief Ako Atulomah, urged Jonathan not to be swayed by dissenting voices.

He said: “We believe that the dissenting voices of few individuals and vested interests cannot submerge a positive policy that is poised to move the nation to a preferred higher level.

“Who is sponsoring these dissenting voices? This is because we know that this policy is not anti-people, it is not anti-democracy, it is not repressive; rather, it is pro-people, it is democratic and it is conceived to free the masses from the grips of the cabal of few individuals bleeding the nation dry.

Perhaps it is this same cabal that is sponsoring these dissenting voices because it is in their interest that this fiscal drain-pipe called fuel subsidy continues to flow.

“We believe that it is in the best interest of this nation for government to reinvest the over N1 trillion to be saved annually from the subsidy fund into creation of jobs, generation of more megawatts of electricity power supply, provision of free basic education with primary school feeding programme, improvement of the national health insurance scheme by making it accessible, rehabilitation of our rail and road transport infrastructure, provision of potable water, development of sustainable agriculture and provision of affordable housing through an effective national housing mortgage scheme.”

This no doubt shall push us forward in order to achieve our vision of becoming one of the 20 best economics by 2020.”

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

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

3

NEWS

•President Goodluck Jonathan, with visiting Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Ms. Christine Lagarde. With them are: Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Finance Minister Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Central Bank Governor Lamido Sanusi Lamido and some members of the Economic Team at the State House, Abuja…yesterday.

Jonathan’s aide defends N921b security vote From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

A GOVERNMENT official has defended the N921 billion proposed

by President Goodluck Jonathan for security in the 2012 Budget.

The Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Ahmed Ali Gulak, yesterday said the huge budget is in the best interest of Nigeria.

Ali spoke at a news conference in Abuja. He said the great security challenges before the nation demand huge resources to tackle.

According to him, development and attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) depend on peace.

Ali said: “Even our development will largely depend on peaceful existence of this country. The Foreign Direct Investment we expect will largely depend on security within the country and, as such, the government should tackle security issues headlong, with all the resources at its disposal so that we have a peaceful country, we have development, we have direct foreign investment.

“I believe the National Assembly will have a rethink. I am sure when it begins to consider the budget bit by bit, issue by issue, sector by sector, they will agree with Mr. President that security is on the front burner, that should be given the logistics and support it deserves to keep Nigeria peaceful.”

On alleged imposition of candidates by Jonathan, he said: “President Jonathan has not and will never interfere in any primary election in any state within the PDP.

Why NBA didn't sign report, by Daudu •'Bar’s views were not reflected' L

AWYERS have stated their case against the Judiciary Reforms Committee's report.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) yesterday said it refused to sign the final report because its views on how to address the rot in the Judiciary was not reflected in it.

NBA President Joseph Daudu (SAN), who spoke at a news conference in Kaduna, said since tax payers pay judges salaries, there is the need to appoint qualified persons into the position.

Daudu said the process of appointing judges "is fraught with all manner of irregularities,” adding: "Siblings and favoured ones have been known to be appointed as judges when more qualified persons are available. In the long run, the Judiciary has become loaded with persons who ordinarily would not become judges, if a level playing field was created by the powers that be…

"Against this backdrop, the Bar suggested a more pragmatic model, which is that every Nigerian lawyer who meets the constitutional requirement should not be subjected to this present model of appointment of judges…, but a transparent and open mechanism of self-assessment of previous judgments, briefs and academic papers of applicants."

He noted that the NBA was of the view that since the Chief Justice of Nigeria wants a reform of

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

the Judiciary in the country, the reform must be total, pointing out that the body also suggested that serving judicial officers should no longer be members of the National Judicial Council while the Chief Justice of Nigeria should no longer be the Chairman of the council.

Daudu said: "The Bar is firmly of the view that any person who is amenable to disciplinary power of the NJC ought not to be a member.

This includes the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

"During the last dispensation, the NJC was faced with the embarrassing scenario where both the CJN and the PCA were facing disciplinary procedures before the same council where they were members. Naturally, the effect of the appointing process of members would play a role in the ultimate resolution of whatever crisis the council is facing.

"In any case, serving members in the judiciary still have their career progression in the judiciary to consider hence some of us argued that it was in the overall interest of fairness and propriety that the Chief Justice of Nigeria should no longer constitutionally be the Chairman of the NJC and serving members of the judiciary should no longer be on the NJC.

"It was suggested that retired Chief Justices, President of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judges etc and experienced lawyers be appointed to the NJC by an appointing committee. This proposal was strongly resisted by other members besides those members of the Bar that proposed it in the first instance.

"At a time when no compromise was in sight, it was suggested that both views (those in favour of maintaining the status and the NBA view) be reflected in the report to the CJN, but the majority refused.

"This refusal has grave implication for the Bar in that should the matter be revisited at another forum, that is, the National Assembly and the Bar presents a position different from that in the above mentioned report, it would be guilty of dishonourable conduct.

"That is why we cannot in good conscience sign a report in which a fundamental view of the Bar is not reflected. This situation could easily have been averted had both positions on this and other matters be properly reflected in the report for the acceptance by the CJN who set up the committee one way or the other.

"It was also suggested that the present mode of appointment (of Judges) is damaged by criticisms that there is no room for competi-

tion and only nominees of senior judges/justices ever get appointed as judges. An objective procedure will guarantee a level playing field for all appointments.

"This is why the NBA could not subscribe to the position of the majority of the committee which simply window-dressed and validated the existing system of patronage. If the CJN wants reforms, then he must have real reforms, not reforms from the judiciary oligarchy; these are not reforms at all.

"On discipline, it is clear that the machinery of discipline is afflicted by the same vice of patronage.

There is a great reluctance to engage in the discipline of judges.

Technicalities are sought to dismiss petitions from Nigerians.

"With this knowledge at the back of our mind, we suggested to the stakeholders another strategy which is to go through the evaluation report of judicial officers' performance for the past four years and weed out the non-performing judicial officers. This suggestion from the Bar was rejected.

"It ought to be noted that despite the rejection of these obviously valid suggestions, the committee declined to even reflect these views for the consideration of the Chief Justice of Nigeria. On that note, Chief Akeredolu (SAN) and my humble self, acting for the Nigeria Bar Association, refused to sign the final report that was submitted to the CJN on the December 14, 2011."

It won’t be business as usual at NDDC, says Jonathan

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has promised to ensure that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is better focused.

Jonathan spoke yesterday when he received Bishop Hyacinth Egbebo of the Catholic Vicarage of Bomadi in Delta State.The President said action would also be taken to ensure greater cooperation, collaboration and co-ordination between the Ministry of Niger Delta and the NDDC in the

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

interest of the people.

The President said the NDDC Board was dissolved and reconstituted because of institutional paralysis caused by internal strife among members of the dissolved board. He said he expected the new leadership to be more committed to the implementation of developmental

projects that would benefit the people.

“Our approach will be different next year. We will make sure that the NDDC is better focused and does what is right for the people of the Niger Delta,” Jonathan said.

He promised better monitoring of the Federal Government’s developmental agencies in the Niger Delta to ensure that they fulfil their objectives.

Egbebo recounted the depriva-

tions being suffered by the people of Bomadi Vicarage and asked for intervention by the Federal Government to improve transportation, water supply, power supply, education and other social services in the area.

The Papal Nuncio conveyed greetings from Pope Benedict XVI to the President and presented him with a Christmas card.

Egbebo was accompanied by the Papal Nuncio to Nigeria, Dr. Augustine Kasujja.

•NDDC chief Christian Oboh

4

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

NEWS Chad lobbies Nigeria for ECOWAS membership From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

CHAD Republic is lobbying the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for membership, it was learnt yesterday.

The issue took the centre stage during a meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan and his Chadian counterpart, Idriss Deby.

Security was also discussed.

Addressing reporters at the State House, Deby said: “The other aspect, which was discussed, is that Chad wants to be part of ECOWAS. “I asked him (Dr Jonathan) for support so that Chad can be fully part of ECOWAS.” On other issues, Deby said: “We took the opportunity of the meeting to review the different aspects of our bi-lateral cooperations.

“We focused on the theme of economy, security, trade and international issues.”

On security, the Chadian President said both countries discussed in a bilateral way, on “how to tackle the different issues of cross-border security all around the region of Lake Chad Commission nations”.

He added: “We stressed the need for bringing on board our brothers from Niger and Cameroon so that alltogether Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria and Niger can join efforts in tackling security issues in the region.

“As regards the bi-lateral cooperation, we are of the view that there is need for linkage through the development of roads, other infrastructure and railway, to connect Nigeria to Chad.

“We also discussed the need for large stock trade and Chad will hold a summit on this in months to come. Nigeria is welcome to come with private investors to see how they can develop trade between the two countries.

“So far, we need to formalise it. This will also be achieved through the creation of bank linkages between the two countries.

This is regarding the bilateral cooperation.”

•Adeyemi Gomes, one of the beneficiaries

•Senator Tinubu, Chief Ajomale and Hon. Folami...yesterday

Why Tinubu’s wife was elected senator, by ACN leaders

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T was cheery news for 26 indigent students of tertiary institutions in Lagos yesterday. They were offered scholarship by Senator Oluremi Tinubu (ACN, Lagos Central District).

It was at a ceremony marking the kick-off of the senator’s constituency project – the Post Secondary School Scholarship Scheme (PSSC).

The university students who received N100,000 each would enjoy the gesture for four years.

Also, students who applied for the scholarship, and were not selected by the Screening Panel headed by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftain and former Finance Commissioner, Mr. Wale Edun, would receive a oneoff N100,000 bursary each for books.

The founder of New Era Foundation (NEF), who rendered her stewardship at a Town Hall meeting, also gave N20,000 to 50 petty traders from each of the 13 local governments in the Lagos Central District under her ‘Petty Traders Empowerment Capital Scheme (PETECS). She promised to sustain the culture of social responsibility in her district in appreciation of the mandate given to her by the constituents.

The ceremony, which was held at the Agip Recital Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, was witnessed by ACN leaders, including Lagos Central leader, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, party chairman, Otunba Oladele Ajomale, Hon. Olawale Oshun, vice

•Lagos Central senator renders account •26 students get scholarship •N20,000 each for 50 traders

By Emmanuel Oladesu Deputy Political Editor

chairman of the party, Abiodun Adeseye, former Defence Minister Demola Seriki, Governor Babatunde Fashola’s Political Adviser Musiliu Folami, former Welfare Officer Mrs. Folake Vaughan, Women Leader Hon. Toun Adediran and Alhaji Mutiu Are. Others were Hon. Yakubu Balogun, Alhaji Moshood Tijani, Akeem Apatira, Mrs. Abba Folawiyo, . Council chairmen Jide Jimoh (Yaba), Ayodeji Joseph (Apapa), Dr Samuel Adedayo (Apapa-Iganmu), and Anofi Elegushi (Eti-Osa); Hon. Jide Sanwoolu, Col. Ade Adedeji (rtd), Hon. Tunde Balogun, Chief Tayo Oyemade and Apostle John Ojo were there.

Olusi and Ajomale, who described the town hall meeting as historic, paid glowing tributes to Mrs. Tinubu, saying she is a senator with a difference.

Olusi, a Second Republic House of Representatives member, said: “We have had senators in this district before.

The first was Senator Musendiku Adeniji-Adele, the Oba of Lagos. Then, we had Chief Agoro, Ojon of Lagos, Adebayo Doherty, Chief S.A.R Anifowose, Sikiru Shitta-Bey, Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, Musiliu Obanikoro and Muniru Muse.

This is the first town hall meeting to be summoned by any senator. It underscores the

‘She said she would not vie, if her husband would not allow her’ respect Senator Oluremi Tinubu has for us and she is willing to be accountable at all times.”

He urged the people to continue to support her, the party and the Fashola administration for the betterment of Lagos State.

Adeseye Amingo, another Lagos Central ACN leader, asked other parliamentarians to emulate Mrs Tinubu, adding: “She is well brought up. The party has not made any mistake by making her a senator”.

Ajomale told the story of the senator’s emergence as a candidate in the last election, recalling that her husband and national party leader initially kicked against her ambition. He said as a submissive woman, she did not forge ahead in his aspiration, until she got the former governor’s nod to contest after much pressure by the people who believed in her worth.

The party chairman stressed: “We made a right decision by electing Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu as a senator.

She is a modest woman.

When the nomination form was out, three people picked

the form for her when she had not even aspired. She said she would not vie, if her husband would not allow her.

“The husband refused, saying that he has been senator and governor himself. We insisted that she should be senator. She is a graduate of long years. She was a teacher, a first lady who assisted her husband to achieve success while in office.

Through her, a lot of students became graduates, engineers, lawyers, doctors. Senator Muse also stepped down for her gracefully. She is a senator with a difference, a Trojan horse, a woman of energy”.

Senator Tinubu thanked the people who elected her and called for more cooperation and unity of purpose critical to the realisation of lofty political objectives. She reiterated her commitment to the cherished goals of ACN, including fiscal federalism, building of a compassionate society, social change and focused development.

The senator said, although lawmakers lacked budgetary resources to award contracts, she decided to fill the gap by focusing on constituency initiatives in aid of women and youths in Lagos Central District.

Mrs. Tinubu said as a member of the Senate Committees, including Trade and Investment, Marine Transport, Women Affairs, Education, Millennium Development Goals, Labour,

Employment and Productivity, and Constitution Review, she had been involved in efforts to articulate positive changes in the society.

She added: “Six months is such a short time to effect changes, but be assured that indeed, efforts have begun and critical steps are being taken”.

Senator Tinubu listed the challenges confronting the country, including poverty, mass unemployment, insecurity, and lack of access to education, poor health and other preventable difficulties, uging the Federal Government to rise to the occasion.

She reiterated her belief in the educational ideals of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, assuring that the committee would wade into ASUU/Federal Government dispute. She also said the Senate’s Education Committee has waded into the face-off among the students, JAMB and vice chancellors over the postJAMB tests.

Senator Tinubu also spoke on constitution review, saying that the exercise should restore true federalism and state and community police.

She added: “I am presently seeking the cooperation of the Senate for the passage and subsequent implementation of a bill on social security. I am also working with others on a bill towards ensuring that pragmatic measures are put in place to address the plight of widows, dependent children and orphans in our society. Work on these and other bills are on course.”

End in sight for Fed Govt, ASUU face-off, says Chukwumerije

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F the words of the Senate Committee Chairman on Education, Uche Chukwumerije, are anything to go by, the lingering dispute between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will soon be over.

Chukwumerije spoke in Abuja after a closed-door meeting with Federal Government officials, led by the Minister of Education Prof.

Ruqayyatu Rufia and the national executives of ASUU, led by its President, Prof Ukachukwu Awuzie.

According to the senator, the warring parties want an enduring solution to the perennial strikes in the nation’s universities.

He said: “We held very cordial discussions and I think

From Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

we are making positive progress. There were very positive suggestions. The body language of everybody suggested that there will soon be a solution to the crisis.”

Asked whether the committee won the confidence of ASUU to call off the strike, Chukwumerije said there was no commitment from the striking lecturers.

He, however, said there were indications that the strike would soon end.

“I hope so. I do not know quite frankly when, but I hope it will be soon,” he said.

It was learnt that the committee, during the closed door session, assured ASUU of putting in place the legal

framework to end industrial disputes in universities.

The committee promised to pass the new bill on retirement age for lecturers and professors in tertiary institutions, noting that this would raise their retirement age from 65 years to 70.

It also urged ASUU to improve on the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of universities to reduce varsities’ relaince on Federal Government’s subvention.

But prior to the parley, the senator had asked the government and ASUU to end the face-off.

He said: “Nigerians are already disenchanted with ASUU and the federal government’s handling of the education sector.

“It is the concern of every-

body to find solution to the problem in the education sector.

“There is a mistrust against the government and ASUU has lost public sympathy.

Strike action is a drag on our already collapsed education sector.

“Government must learn not to play with people’s intelligence and never to enter into agreement that it cannot fulfill.

“ASUU must come down from its high academic height for the interest of our education sector.”

Also yesterday, ASUU called on the Federal Government to reinstate the Governing Council of federal universities to facilitate quicker implementation of the 2009 ASUU-Federal Government

Agreement.

The union implored state governments to commence the implementation of the said agreement with their respective state universities.

The body specifically called on Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos to make the Lagos State University (LASU) pull the break on controversial hike in fees.

Chairman of the LASU chapter of ASUU, Dr Oghenekaro Ogbinaka, who read from a six-page document at the union secretariat in University of Lagos (UNILAG) yesterday, said the briefing was put together to draw attention of the public to the fact that its members were not agitating salary increment.

According to him, what the

union is agiating for is to compel the government to honour certain aspects of the agreement germane to improving university standard.

The 56-page ASUU-Federal Government Agreement contains six chapters split into – ‘Preamble/Terms of Reference; ‘Modus Operandi and Benchmark’; ‘Condition of Service’; ‘Funding, University Autonomy’, while the last chapter comprises sundry matter such as Priority Area of Implementation I setting up of an implementation committee to monitor the implementation of the agreement ; commencement of the processes of amendment laws in respect of those aspect of the agreement requiring legislation by relevant agencies and institutions among others.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

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NEWS Okonjo-Iweala, Falana for NPAN summit on fuel subsidy THE Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) will on Thursday, hold a Town Hall Meeting on fuel subsidy at the MUSON Centre, Lagos.

A statement by its spokesman, Mr Feyi Smith, reads: “The Town Hall meeting which will be broadcast live on national television, and slated for the Muson Centre in Lagos, will feature as discussants, human rights activist, Mr Femi Falana, Constitutional Lawyer, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN and the Nigeria Labour Congress Vice President, Mr. Isa Aremu.

“Other discussants will include the Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala , the Governor of Central Bank, Mal. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, and the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani AlisonMadueke.

“The panel from the media is currently being put together. Also invited are members of the Nigeria Guild of Editors, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, and Civil Society Groups, members of government, public, and private sectors at all levels and the academia.”

The NPAN, he said, wants the issue thrashed out in the public domain.

Mark condemns secret burial for fallen heroes From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

SENATE President David Mark yesterday condemned secret burials for Nigerian soldiers who died in peacekeeping operations.

Mark spoke after he was decorated with this year’s emblem of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Abuja. He said: “If not for anything else, they deserve national honours.” “Those who die in wars or peacekeeping missions are heroes that must be celebrated,” he declared.

Mark, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Paul Mumeh, said: “Those who stake their lives that we may have peace and live in harmony needs to be appreciated and given national honours.

“They should be properly treated to show that we value them and their contributions. They deserve national honours. While they were engaged in the peace keeping missions, they were our ambassadors.

We must therefore reward them adequately.”

Mark praised the nation’s Armed Forces for always rising to the challenge of national unity and keeping Nigeria as one indivisible entity.

He said the Armed Forces Remembrance Day “shows we value our fallen heroes and doing everything possible to keep their dreams of a united Nigeria a life.”

Alleged contract inflation: Bankole loses bid to stop trial From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

•Bankole

F

ORMER House of Representatives Speaker Dimeji Bankole yesterday lost the bid to quash the charge against him.

Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja dismissed Bankole’s preliminary objections to the 16-count charge of contract inflation and fraudulent embezzlement of public fund.

He held that there is sufficient evidence linking Bankole to the alleged offences as disclosed in the proof of evidence against him.

Bankole had lost similar applications at the High Court.

He is facing a 16-count charge of contract inflation and fraudulent embezzlement of public fund.

Bankole urged the court to quash the case against him.

His lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), also asked the court to disqualify Mr. Festus Keyamo from prosecuting him.

He alleged that Keyamo is biased, having written a petition against Bankole in the past.

Besides, he said there was no Attorney-General when the charges were filed.

But in his ruling, the judge said under the Public Procurement Act (PPA), the National Assembly can be charged and it is on record that there is a body of principal officers responsible for awarding contracts.

Justice Okorowo said there is enough evidence by the prosecution linking the accused and the offences charged against him.

According to the judge, the allegations of bias against Keyamo is irrelevant as it is the court that will determine the culpability of an accused, based on evidence adduced.

On the claims that the charge was signed by a private prosecutor and not the AGF, the court said, whether or not there is a substantive Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, the EFCC is empowered under the Constitution to initiate a case.

“The office of the AttorneyGeneral is a legal creation, and can perform even if a substantive AG is not appointed,” Justice Okorowo said.

The judge said the constitution does not question the subjectivity of a prosecutor but it questions the subjectivity of the tribunal or the court.

“A prosecutor can be biased in the cause of prosecuting his case; but the biasness of the prosecutor cannot influence the court as it is the evidence before the court that influences the decision of the court”.

EFCC counsel, Festus Keyamo, urged the court to dismiss the two motions.

He argued that Section 57 (2), (4) and (7) of the Public Procurement Act and Section 58 (5) and (9) of the same Act states that all persons who are entrusted with public funds for other purposes can be charged.

Citing Section 7 of the Criminal Penal Code (CPC), the Lagos lawyer maintained that those in the position to prevent the commission of an offence and failed to do so could be charged for aiding and abetting.

Besides, the Prosecution

counsel submitted that he had provided the accused person with the evidence against him so as not to be seen as a persecutor.

“The counts had shown that the prosecution gave the accused person the idea of the actual prices of the items and how they allegedly inflated the prices, thereby giving the accused the idea of what they are going to face.

“Those counts are not defective as submitted by the defence counsel. I urge the Court to dismiss the application and proceed with the trial”, he said.

Keyamo asked the court to discountenance the argument that he has personal grudges against Bankole because of the letter he wrote to him when he was Speaker on certain questionable spending of the House.

He recalled that he did similar thing in the year 2000 when Ghali Na’abah was the Speaker.

Keyamo said: “The constitution does not question in explicit language, the impartiality of a prosecutor, but the impartiality of the Court. Just like the accused believe in his innocence of the charges against him, the prosecutor also believes in the guilt of

the accused and the Court is there to balance the scale”.

Keyamo further argued that the accused cannot raise objection to his competency to prosecute at this stage of the matter when he had taken his plea.

Awomolo said: “The last AGF was Mohammed Adoke (SAN), who vacated officially on the dissolution of the Federal Executive Council on 28th May, 2011.

The AGF is the only officer that the Constitution empowered to issue fiat to private legal practitioner to institute or continue criminal proceedings in the High Court”,he said.

Awomolo noted that the charge was filed on June 7, 2011 when no AGF was in office.

He argued that the office of speaker of the House Representatives which Bankole occupied between 2007 and 2011 is not answerable criminally responsible or liable within the scope and intendment of the Public Procurement Act, 2007.

Besides, he argued that the proof of evidence did not connect Bankole with the items allegedly procured in contravention of the Public Procurement Act.

Senator gets bail

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WENTY-NINE days after his arrest, respite came the way of Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume yesterday.

An Abuja Federal High Court Judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, granted him a bail.

The Senator, representing Borno South Senatorial District, is facing a four-count charge of hoarding information on planned terror attacks and providing logistics to the convicted spokesman of the Boko Haram sect, Ali Sanda Umar Konduga (alias Usman AI- Zawahiri).

He is also charged with allegedly giving telephone numbers of certain public officers to Boko Haram for the purpose of communicating terrorist messages.

The alleged offences are contrary to and punishable under sections 3(b), 4(1) (a) and 7(1) (b) of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011 Justice Kolawole said an accused person can be admitted to bail if the alleged offence is not punishable by death, depending on the circumstances.

He described as “speculative ”claims by the prosecution that Ndume will jump bail or the likelihood of him committing a similar offence.

Counsel to Ndume Mr. Rickey Tarfa (SAN) urged the court to grant the accused bail on self-recognition as a senator.

But the judge, who considered the weighty nature of the alleged offences, said: “I do not see how his political status should earn him the

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

privilege to admit him on bail on self-recognition”.

He said: “It will make a mockery of the Judiciary and criminal jurisprudence.”

Justice Kolawole admitted Ndume to N25 million bail with two sureties in like sum who must be residing within the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

One of the sureties, the Judge said, must be a national officer of the political party on which platform the accused contested and won the election.

Ndume is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Alternatively, the surety must be a former or serving member of the House of Representatives or the Senate that either served or is serving with Ndume.

Ndume has served two terms in the House of Representatives before becoming a senator.

Justice Kolawole said the second surety must be a reasonable Nigerian, with landed property- either commercial or residential with value not below N50 million. The property must be evaluated by a registered Estate Valuer and the report submitted to the registry of the court.

The surety will also depose to an affidavit of means, with evidence of tax payment for three years. His two photographs and titled document of the property should be deposited to the Chief Registrar of the Court.

Ndume is to submit his in-

• Ndume being led into the court by a prison warder... yesterday.

ternational passport and diplomatic passport to the Deputy Chief Registrar (DCR), Litigation.

Ndume is to sign an undertaking that he will not interfere with the witness directly

or by proxy.

The Judge gave him 14 days to apply for a variation of the bail conditions if he finds them “onerous” or “difficult” to perfect.

Justice Kolawole said the

certificate of due compliance of the DCR Litigation is enough to get his release from Kuje prison.

The case was adjourned till February 2, 7 and 14 for trial.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

NEWS Fed Govt hands off fertiliser procurement From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

THE perennial problems associated with fertiliser distribution may have spurred the Federal Government to hands off the procurement and distribution of the commodity from next farming season.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Ayodele Adesina, spoke in Minna on the government’s decision at the opening of a ministerial retreat for top ministry officials and other stakeholders.

He noted that the annual procurement and distribution of the commodity is riddled with corruption.

Adesina said: “It has been established that the government procurement system is insufficient and a waste of resources while the distribution channels encourage corruption.”

Explosion destroys seven buildings in Kaduna

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EVEN buildings were destroyed yesterday in Kaduna in an explosion on Ibrahim Rintiyi Street, Unguwan Magaji, in the outskirts of the city.

The explosion, which occurred at 1.30pm near the National Eye Centre, caused pandemonium among the residents.

Police sources told The Nation that though there was no casualty, three persons, believed to be occupants of the building where the explosion occurred, were apprehended by locals and handed over to the police.

When reporters visited the scene at 3pm, security operatives were seen combing the place, marked House AR 33, while the Police Bomb Disposal Unit was searching the rubble for clues.

Highly placed security sources said the house might have been used as a depot for storing illegal arms as three

•Three injured suspects arrested •Another blast in Yobe From Tony Akowe, Kaduna and Duku Joel, Damaturu

military rifles were reportedly recovered from the rubble. The police said more arms could be buried under the rubble.

The police Bomb Disposal Unit was said to have recovered a sack of what is believed to be bomb-making devices, complete with a car battery and a generating set.

A resident, Mallam Muba Namando (60), told The Nation that he just finished his afternoon prayers when he heard a loud explosion, which shook the ground.

“As we were looking for ways to get to the police, more explosions took place. But no one was hurt because we were outside.

By then, the police arrived and took away the suspects.

I have been here for about a year. This is the first time I am seeing this kind of thing.”

Aminu Yusuf, 42, said to be the owner of the building, was brought to the scene by the police. He told reporters that he rented the building out through an agent in July, this year.

Police spokesman, Aminu Lawan, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the blast.

He said three suspects were arrested in connection with the blast, adding that they were believed to have been assembling Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

He said the suspects have been taken to the hospital for treatment, adding that the

police were waiting for them to recover before interrogating them.

An explosion occurred yesterday afternoon at Gidan Gwaba in Pompomari area of Damaturu, the Yobe State capital. It injured three suspected Boko Haram sect members, the police have said.

Police Commissioner Lawal Tamko said: “Today’s (yesterday’s) bomb blast went off while three suspected Boko Haram bombers were assembling their Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) to attack and bomb unspecified police and military formations in the state.

“The injured suspected bomber was arrested, after we received a distress call from a member of the public, as soon as the explosion blasted. Our officers and men

were despatched to cordon off the area for a house-tohouse search and prevent further attacks by the sect.”

The police chief said one of the suspects was injured and taken to the hospital for treatment.

According to him, two others that sustained burns were at large. Tamko said the police were trailing the suspects, adding that they would be arrested and prosecuted.

According to him, the police recovered three units of AK47 rifles, ammunition, weapons and bomb-making materials from the house.

A source at the Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital in Damaturu told The Nation that the suspect was admitted at the hospital but later died.

The source added that the suspect’s body has been deposited at the morgue.

NUJ urges govt to shelve fuel subsidy removal •Group to Jonathan: prepare for mass resistance

By Musa Odoshimokhe and Jide Orintunsin, Minna

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HE National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has urged the Federal Government to rescind its decision on the planned removal of fuel subsidy next year.

Arising from an extensive deliberation in Awka, the Anambra State capital, the NEC concluded that the proposed removal of fuel subsidy would cause untold hardship on Nigerians.

It urged the government to listen to the voice of reason.

In a communiqué by its National Secretary, Shu’aibu Leman, the NUJ urged the government to tackle pressing problems, ranging from insecurity of life and property to other sundry issues that are enshrined in the Constitution.

Govt urged to support physically challenged HE Federal Govern-

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ment has been urged to include physically challenged persons in policy formulation.

The founder/President of Asabe Shehu Yar’Ádua Foundation (ASYARF), Dr. Asabe Shehu Yar’Ádua, noted that the challenges facing persons with disabilities are not peculiar to Nigeria. She said: “It is a global phenomenon. My greatest worry, however, is that many of us still carry on defiantly as if there was no way we could assist such

persons in overcoming their challenges.”

She said Nigerians must accept that physically challenged persons are part of the society, adding that the development, civilisation and progress of any society is a collective responsibility.

The foundation chief said physically challenged persons need education but “a qualitative one that can prepare them for the greater challenges of life”.

Pedestrian crushed

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N unidentified man was yesterday killed as he attempted to across Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos, at IyanaIsolo bus stop.

The driver of the trailer, with registration number (Lagos) YF821KJA, was arrested and detained at the Daleko Police Station, Mushin.

He was allegedly attempting to overtake a Julius Berger vehicle with registration number (Abuja) XR213ABC when he killed the pedestrian.

An eyewitness said: “I was right here when it happened.

By Osas Robert, Hameeed Yekini and Shehu Bello

The Julius Berger vehicle, the trailer carrying a container, and a Camry car were struggling for a space. The trailer was trying to overtake the Julius Berger vehicle. But the man was already on the roadside trying to cross. He was knocked down by the trailer.”

A Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) official Jonathan Ojo said the absence of a pedestrian bridge in the area was responsible for the accident.

Sminar for labour unions

By Innocent Amomoh

HE Centre for Labour Advocacy (CLA) will in Januray organise a three-day West African sub-regional seminar for unions in federal ministries.

CLA Coordinator, Luqman Bello said the seminar, entitled: Unionisation, Collective Bargaining, and Work Place Environment, will be held in Lagos between January 17 and 19 January.

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•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) flanked by his deputy, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, at the inauguration of members of the task force on polio eradication at the Lagos State House, Alausa, Ikeja...yesterday PHOTO:OMOSEHIN MOSES

Suswam appeals tribunal’s verdict

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ENUE State Governor Gabriel Suswam has appealed the decision of the Governorship Election Tribunal, sitting in Makurdi, which threw out his motion.

The governor had sought an order of the tribunal to strike out the petition of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate, Prof Steven Ugba, over time frame.

In a notice of appeal, the governor said the tribunal erred by dismissing his motion because the period stipulated for the determination of an election petition had elapsed.

No date has been fixed for hearing.

The tribunal yesterday adjourned till January 11 and 14 hearing in Ugba’s petition.

At yesterday’s plenary, counsel to Ugba, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), appearing with Femi Falana, Jeo Abaagu, Simon Orkuma and Joey Agor, cited Paragraph 50 of the Electoral Act, which gives the tribunal the concession to consolidate the petitions, where it is necessary to save time.

But counsel to Suswam, D.C. Dewingwe (SAN); the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Solomon Akuma (SAN); and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr Jubrin Okutepa (SAN),

•Tribunal adjourns till Jan 11 From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

opposed the move. They noted that Paragraph 47 of First Schedule of the Electoral Act specifies that a formal application is necessary for consolidation of petitions.

Dewingwe said: “The issue of consolidation is not to be presumed. The court needs to look at other ap-

T

plication. So, we oppose it.”

All the parties to the petition filed their form TL 008 (reply) to the pre-hearing notice filed by Akerdolu on December 12, for the commencement of pre-hearing.

There was, however, an argument by both counsel on the practice direction of the tribunal in the petition.

While Akeredolu said the order of the Supreme Court

was for the petition to start afresh (denovou), Dewingwe insisted that the apex court only restored the petition and that it should continue where it was terminated.

The tribunal ruled that the petition be adjourned till Januray 11 and 14 for motions to be taken and ordered that both parties be served all pending motions before the next adjournment.

Saraki denies bribery allegation against National Assembly HE Chairman, Senate

Committee on Environment and Ecology, Dr Bukola Saraki, yesterday described as baseless the allegation that National Assembly lawmakers have received monetary inducement from the executive to support the deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.

The former Kwara State governor is representing Kwara Central Senatorial District.

He addressed reporters in Ilorin, the state capital, after a prayer marking his 49th birthday.

Saraki said: “There is nothing like bribing the National Assembly to support the withdrawal of fuel subsidy. The President cannot

•Celebrates 49th birthday From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

do that. It is a baseless allegation. The Senate and the House of Representatives have spoken.”

On a proposed bill to probe fuel subsidy, the senator said: “The motion is to ensure the welfare of the people of Nigeria. It is meant to ensure efficient and better management of resources. As far as I am concerned, the management of fuel subsidy was affecting the entire economy because of the amount that was involved and also the quantum of it. It was affecting the stability of naira and other sectors.”

He described the existing political stability in the state as his greatest joy, after his tenure.

Saraki, at the celebration of his 49th birthday in Ilorin, noted that the best legacy of democracy is political stability.

He said the ability of those in power to give hope and the readiness of the politicians to churn out democracy dividends to the people also props up democracy.

The senator thanked God for sparing his life to witness the event just as he applauded the people of the state for their support for his successor Alhaji Abdulfattah Ahmed.

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

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NEWS Bola Ige’s 10th memorial celebration begins in Lagos From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

A

CTIVITIES marking the 10th memorial anniversary of the slain Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, begins today with a symposium at the MUSON Centre in Onikan, Lagos.

The late Ige was assassinated at his Bodija home in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on December 23, 2001.

The symposium, entitled: “The International Criminal Court (ICC) and Impunity: Perspectives for Africa,” will be attended by eminent personalities like ICC VicePresident Justice Akua Kuenyehia and Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka. Kuenyehia is expected to speak on the theme of the symposium, while Soyinka will chair the event.

Discussants at the symposium are Professor Anya Anya; former Military Administrator of Kaduna State Col. Abubakar Umar; Mrs. Mariam Uwais and activist lawyer Femi Falana.

National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), are special guests of honour.

The symposium will be followed by a dance drama, entitled: ‘Nigeria, the beautiful,’ by Odia Ofeimun. The drama will be chaired by former Ogun State Governor Segun Osoba.

Both events are being hosted by Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola.

A public lecture with the theme: “Political Violence and Assassinations: Implications for the Future of Democracy in Nigeria,” will hold at the Premier Hotel in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Wednesday.

The lecture will be delivered by Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

Governors Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo); Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and former Governor Alhaji Lam Adesina will be at the event.

Tanker explodes in Lagos

By Jude Isiguzo

A

TANKER loaded with 33,000 litres of fuel exploded at Mile II in Lagos yesterday afternoon.

Although no one died, the incident caused serious traffic gridlock.

It was gathered that the truck loaded at Apapa and headed towards Ojo, but developed a fault around Maza Maza.

Sources said the driver and conductor were trying to fix the problem, when the truck exploded. They however escaped unhurt.

Policemen in FESTAC and some passers-by put out the fire with soapy water.

Police spokesman Mr. Samuel Jinadu confirmed the incident.

•Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi (fourth left) and government officials singing during the Service of Carols and Lessons at the Government House in AdoEkiti... at the weekend

Why we want to reposition EFCC, A

by Lamorde

CTING Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde has said the agency is being repositioned to discharge its work more efficiently.

He urged European Union (EU) countries, particularly Germany, to renew the support the agency enjoyed from them at its inception.

Lamorde spoke in Abuja, while hosting the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs. Dorothee JanetzkeWenzel.

He said: “We are trying to reposition the commission to discharge its work efficiently. We need the support of everyone to be able to discharge our du-

By Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

ties responsibly.

“Our relationship with the EU and Germany has nose-dived; I want to renew it. Germany is a leading member of the EU. In the early days of the EFCC, the 32 million Euros support it got from the EU was due to the support received from Germany.

“We want such support to be renewed, so that the capacity of the commission will be enhanced.

“In 2003, when I was the Director of Operations in Lagos, I received a repre-

sentative of the German Police, who said he was impressed with the work of the commission and immediately contacted the home country. Thereafter, an Octavia car was handed over to us.”

Lamorde pledged to sustain the excellent bilateral relationship between the commission and Germany, concerning the anti-graft campaign.

He said the relationship has resulted in the repatriation of stolen goods brought into the country.

“Last year, we returned three Mercedes Benz cars

and a couple of dollars to victims of fraud (419) in Germany,” Lamorde said.

He called for the relocation of the BK office (which used to be in Nigeria) from Ghana back to Nigeria.

Mrs. Janetzke-Wenzel, who was accompanied by the First Secretary (Political), German Embassy, Mr. Jens Wagner, said she has worked closely with Transparency International and understands the enormity of the task ahead of the EFCC. She said: “I see the task of preventing and fighting financial crimes and corruption in Nigeria as enormous and very important.

I am looking into areas of partnership, so as to work closely with your organisation.”

Balogun faults Oyo Govt over Ibadan floods

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ENATOR Lekan Balogun has faulted the handling of the August 26 floods that ravaged Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, by the state government.

Balogun, who is a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, accused the state government of being insensitive to the plight of the victims.

He spoke yesterday while laying the foundation of the Ali Iwo Community Central Mosque in Ibadan. He said the 148year-old mosque was affected by the floods.

Balogun said the government did not do a proper audit of the infrastructure affected by the flood.

He said: “Government should have sent out a team of experts to assess the damage. They should have talked to victims of the disaster.”

But the Governor’s Media aide, Dr. Festus Adedayo, said Balogun must have been misquoted, given the unhindered access he has to the government.

Adedayo said: “We believe the senator must have been misquoted. Not only does the Oyo State Government have very high regards for Balogun, he is also a very good

•PDP group cautions senator over comments From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

friend of this government.

In fact, he has a direct line of communication with this government.”

Explaining the steps taken by the government to address the plight of victims of the floods, Adedayo said: “A few weeks after the floods, the government set up a committee to assess its impact and proffer solutions to it.

“The committee recently submitted its report and confirmed that 2,105 houses were destroyed by the floods. Has the revered senator gone through the list of the affected houses and found

out that the mosque in question was not listed?

“Balogun is too knowledgeable to gloss over these glaring facts. We are left with no option than to conclude that he was misquoted.”

A PDP group, Frontliners, has called on Balogun to stop making remarks capable of truncating the ongoing reconciliation process in the party.

In a statement by its Secretary, Yinka Olaniyan, the group said last weekend’s verbal attack on former President Olusegun Obasanjo by Balogun was contrary to the attainment of unity in the PDP. It noted that former Governor Rashidi Ladoja

has raised the issue of lopsidedness in the appointment of Oyo State indigenes to federal positions with the Presidency and the national leadership of the party, making it known to them that giving the ambassador-designate, Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja, a juicy posting and upgrading Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mrs. Jumoke Akinjide to a substantive minister would convince him to return to PDP. The Frontliners advised Balogun to allow the diplomacy and dialogue employed by other party leaders yield positive results, instead of engaging in a verbal war.

Lagos to inspect buildings under construction

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HE Lagos State Government has said, henceforth, it would inspect buildings under construction .

Director-General of the State Safety Commission Mrs. Odebunmi Dominga said this is necessary to check building collapse.

Speaking with reporters yesterday in Alausa, Mrs. Dominga said defective

By Miriam Ndikanwu

structures would be demolished by the State Physical Planning and Urban Development Authority.

She said construction sites would be inspected unannounced for safety compliance and protective equipment, such as hats, safety boots, gloves and

protective goggles are to be worn by workers at construction sites always.

Mrs. Dominga urged builders to train their staff on risk assessment and management, and put safety policies in place.

She also stressed the need to put up appropriate warning and hazard signs at visible places, when necessary.

Aregbesola advocates regular exercise From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

OSUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said regular exercise is necessary to ensure good health.

He spoke in Osogbo, the state capital, at the weekend, during the ‘Walk to Live’ programme organised by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Special Needs.

Regretting incidences of sudden death, the governor said it can be attributed to stress and changes in lifestyle.

He said: “Many people, by the nature of their jobs, have a sedentary lifestyle. They sit for long hours without exercising, thereby doing great damage to themselves and inviting, albeit, inadvertently, sudden death.”

Aregbesola said the state organised the five-kilometre walk to encourage residents to imbibe the exercise culture.

He said ill-health and death affect productivity adversely and sound health must be encouraged.

Head of Public Sector Sales Unit, Globacom Mr. Tunde Amunikoro said the telecommunications company participated in the walk as an observer because of the importance it attaches to the wellbeing of Nigerians.

Amunikoro said Globacom would support any programme that would positively affect the common man.

NYSC gets four more depts From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

THE Office of the Head of Service of the Federation (HOSF) has approved the creation of four more departments and one unit at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme headquarters.

The new departments are Certification, Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship, NYSC Ventures and ICT. The new unit is Reforms.

Also, the NYSC has established a “Distress Call Centre.”

Twenty nine workers have been trained to man the centre, which will begin operation next month.

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

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NEWS Mimiko says Mare festival’ll attract investors ONDO State Governor Olusegun Mimiko has said the annual Mare festival, which showcases Idanre Hills to international tourists, would attract investments to the state.

Mimiko spoke on Saturday night at the grand finale of the three-day fiesta, which attracted 11 foreign mountain climbers and Nigerian music stars.

He said his administration is working hard to ensure that Idanre Hills is listed as one of the world’s heritage sites by the United Nations Education Student and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

Mimiko said the organisation has approved the Idanre Hills nomination dossier and sent inspectors to assess facilities at the site.

He said he would ensure that Idanre Hills becomes one of the best tourist centres in the country, so that it would attract foreign and local investors in the hospitality industry.

Mimiko thanked the people of Idanre for their hospitality.

The festival featured various activities, including a marathon race, cultural displays and mountain climbing competitions, both by professional and amateur climbers.

Cash prizes and laptops were presented to the winners of the mountain climbing competitions.

In the professional category, a South African, Jammy Jimbo Smith, who came first, was given $6,000.

Brian Weaver and Morijus Smigeshis, who came second and third, were given $4,000 and $2,000.

In the amateur category, Akinseye Temidayo came first. Oluwashina Stephen was second and a female climber, Akingboye Cynthia, came third.

Lagos tricycle operators protest ‘extortion’

By Oziegbe Okoeki

TRICYCLE operators in Lagos State yesterday stormed the House of Assembly to protest the alleged extortion by officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASMA).

Chairman of the BergerOjodu Unit of the Three Wheelers Beneficiaries Association Mr. Emmanuel Asukwo said LASTMA officials at Ogba have been extorting and arresting the union members unnecessarily.

Asukwo said: “They always extort money from us and sometimes accuse us of committing different types of concocted crimes.

“This morning (yesterday), LASTMA officials arrested four operators, seized their tricycles and issued a ticket of N25,000 to them without committing any offence. And we are operating in a park authorised by the state government at Ogba Aguda.”

He said 15 tricycles were arrested last week and N2,500 was demanded from each of the operators. Asukwo said seven of the 15 arrested operators were able to pay, while the others were taken to LASTMA office and asked to pay N20,000.

Asukwo identified the LASTMA officials as Asade Bakare and Gadaffi.

Toll: CNPP, others back govt as drivers raise fare on Lekki-Epe road C OMMERCIAL bus drivers on the LekkiEpe axis yesterday increased their fare, following the commencement of toll collection on the road.

The heavy traffic on the road on Sunday, when the toll collection began, seemed to be easing off.

Commercial bus drivers, who used to charge N100 from Obalende and CMS to Lekki, yesterday charged N150.

One of them, Subair Muftau, said they increased the fare to pay the N80 toll.

He said: “I commend the government for the road, but I still believe we can work out other arrangements that will not allow our passengers to feel the impact.

“We ply this route many times. I pass through here at least eight times every day.

Very soon, I will have no choice but to increase the fare.”

Motorists urged the government to reduce the toll for

•Falana condemns disruption of protest

By Emmanuel Oladesu and Miriam Ndikanwu

saloon cars from N120 to N100 to ease the challenge of issuing change.

Motorcyclists also called for a reduction of their toll from N50 to N20.

Governor Babatunde Fashola, on Sunday, urged residents to be patient and keep to their lanes. He said the concessionaire will monitor the situation and devise the best approach to solving arising problems.

On alternative routes, Fashola said: “Of course, there is an alternative road and we are going to create more. The story out there before was that there was no alternative road, but you have seen for yourselves that there is an alternative road. We will make it better and increase it as we

go on.”

Also yesterday, the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Lagos chapter, threw its weight behind the toll system.

It urged Lagosians to bear with the government, adding that toll collection is “a prevalent phenomenon across the world.”

CNPP Chairman Akinola Obadia and the chairmen of 25 political parties in Lagos said the governor has good plans for the state.

Obadia said: “The government is so sensitive to the feelings of the people that it provided an alternative route for those who find it difficult to pay.

“If there is any suggestion that can make the alternative route more convenient for residents, please present it to

the government in a civilised manner devoid of rancour.”

Addressing a rally at the tollgate at the weekend, the National Secretary of the Coalition of Yoruba Self Determination Group (COSEG), Razaq Oloko-Oba, said: “Tolling for road improvement is a welcome idea world wide. If we discover that Fashola is out to shortchange the public, we will be the first organisation to fight his administration.

“Fashola means well for us; it will be well with all of us at the end of the day.”

Activist lawyer Femi Falana condemned what he called the “violent disruption” of Saturday’s peaceful protest by Lekki residents.

In a statement yesterday, Falana said: “The violent disruption of the peaceful protest by Lekki residents by the

combined teams of armed mobile policemen and thugs deserves condemnation, as it cannot be justified in a democratic society.

“It is particularly unacceptable in Lagos State, where some of those in the current government in Lagos State used to take part in the protests organised by the prodemocracy movement against the defunct military junta.

“I am compelled to remind the Police and the state government that the fundamental right of Nigerians to stage peaceful protests for and against the government was upheld by the Court of Appeal in the celebrated case of the Inspector-General of Police vs All Nigerian Peoples’ Party (ANPP), 2008, 8 W.R.N 65, decided on December 12, 2007, wherein police permit for protests was declared unconstitutional.

“Instead of resorting to the diversionary ploy of blackmailing the protesters, the issues being raised by them should be addressed without further delay.”

Ekiti to return mission schools From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

E

•Oyo State House of Assembly Speaker Mrs. Monsurat Sumonu (left); Ajimobi (middle); his wife, Florence; and wife of the deputy Governor, Mrs. Janet Adeyemo; at the carol...at the weekend

Oyo governor preaches forgiveness at ‘Xmas Carol

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YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has urged the people to support the restoration agenda of his administration.

He spoke at the weekend during the state’s “2011 Christmas Carol Service and Nine Lessons” at the Remembrance Arcade at the Government House, Ibadan, the state capital.

Ajimobi said his vision of improving the state can only be realised with the support of the people.

He urged religious lead-

ers to pray for the progress of the state and advised public office holders to use their positions to glorify God and help the people.

The governor said: “The lessons of this carol establish the transient nature of life.

It tells us that we are here temporarily and whatever position we find ourselves, we must always remember God. We got to this position by the grace of God and we will do well and leave Oyo State better than we met it.”

To enjoy the blessings of

God, he urged the people to always exhibit the spirit of love, sacrifice, service to humanity and forgiveness.

Ajimobi said: “Many of you prayed for me before I became the governor. Some of you prayed against me, but I have forgiven you all.

So we must forgive.

“To make a change, you may have to step on toes, but whatever we do, if there are mistakes, just know that they are mistakes of the head and not of the heart. I mean well. So forgive me anytime

I step on your toes.”

Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Oyo State chapter, Pastor Ayo Olabisi urged Christians to emulate Jesus Christ by showing love, discipline, perseverance and forgiveness.

He urged governments at all levels to always seek the opinion of the people before implementing policies.

The cleric urged the government to intensify efforts in the areas of power generation, job creation and poverty alleviation.

Forum slams Alao-Akala, PDP over attack on Ajimobi

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HE Forum of Local Government Caretaker Committees in Oyo State has warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala to stop spreading falsehood about the administration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

It warned that any attempt to assassinate Ajimobi’s character would be resisted by the people.

The forum urged the AlaoAkala administration to seek the people’s forgiveness for impoverishing the state.

Speaking with reporters in Oyo town yesterday after the forum’s monthly meeting, its Chairman, Mr. Kayode Oke-

From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo

dokun, said but for democracy, which allows for the rule of law, the likes of Alao-Akala and his cohorts should not be seen or heard.

Okedokun said: “The magnitude of the atrocities committed by the Alao-Akala administration is enormous.

That the present administration is gradually solving the problems caused by the past PDP government through divine intervention.

“It was during the last administration that Directors of Personnel Management (DPM) in the local governments became political king makers and tin-gods.

“Contracts were awarded without regard to due process and corruption thrived, coupled with myriads of failed contracts.

“But in one year, the Ajimobi administration provided free healthcare services to over 20,000 persons, ensured prompt payment of salary, provided jobs for 20,000 youths under the Youth Employment Scheme, improved infrastructure and recently approved the payment of 13th month salary to workers and pensioners.

“To improve public health at the grassroots, the governor directed each local government to build toilets and

boreholes, which are being funded by the state government.

“Unlike in the past, the present administration’s strict adherence to due process is an open testimony, as every project is being thoroughly scrutinised before public funds are expended on them.

“The on-going reformation in the education sector is a clear indication that the era of business as usual is gone for good.”

The forum urged the governor not to be distracted by the “ranting of some disgruntled politicians,” but to concentrate on delivering meaningful governance.

KITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi has said he would return mission schools to their owners.

He said this is one of the recommendations of the State Education Summit held early in the year to reposition the education sector.

Fayemi spoke in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, while receiving delegates of Ekiti Parapo College Old Students’ Association.

He said the old students’ associations of some of the mission schools, such as Christ School, have expressed willingness to take charge of the schools.

But Fayemi said the schools would not be returned until the owners show evidence that they would be run according to the standards set by the state government.

He said the government would give the owners takeoff grants to ensure the smooth running of the schools.

The governor said: “We cannot afford to pretend that things are okay. There is a lot of rot in the education sector.

That is why we are doing what we are doing in the stateowned university and college of education.

“Gone are the days when a governor would appoint a vice-chancellor or provost without recourse to their CV or experience in their field.

The new VC of the Ekiti State University (EKSU) is one of the best professors in this sate and the new provost of the College of Education, Ikere, is a professional in the field of education.”

Lamenting the poor performance of students in external examinations, Fayemi decried the existence of “miracle exam.”

He said head teachers have been made to sign a code of conduct that they would not allow their schools to be used as “miracle exam centres.”

Fayemi said the government would soon begin the renovation of old schools.

9

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

NEWS Students vow to sue UNIJOS, Medical Council

Ahmed presents N91.7b budget

From Yusuf Aminu Idegu, Jos

S

TUDENTS of the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the University of Jos (UNIJOS) have threatened to sue the Vice-Chancellor and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria for allegedly withdrawing them from the Medical Department of the institution.

The 13 affected students have given the university’s authority and the council till December ending to rescind their decision or be taken to court for redress.

The aggrieved 200–Level students of the Medical Science Faculty, who reportedly failed a “trimming examinations”, were denied registration for the next level. The students noted that the action means they have been withdrawn from the course.

The Deputy Register of Information and Publication, Stephen Otowo said he was not aware of the development.

It was learnt that the UNIJOS authority had allegedly admitted students beyond its capacity in the 2008/2009 session and is currently under pressure from the regulating agency to trim down or face outright closure of the faculty.

The management, in an attempt to reduce the students’ population, organised a “trimming examination” and set a benchmark for qualification.

Pastor arraigned over alleged N1.6m fraud

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37-YEAR-OLD pastor, Joseph Olukaiyeja, has been arraigned in Lagos for allegedly obtaining N1.6 million from two brothers under false pretence.

Olukaiyeja was docked at an Ejigbo Magistrate’s Court on a five-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and stealing.

He, however, pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Insp.

Olakunle Shonibare, told the court that the accused and one other person, still at large, committed the offence on January 16, at 1pm at 33, Ladega Street, Ipaja, Lagos.

Shonibare said Olukaiyeja obtained the amount from two brothers, Akintunde and Akindele Akinloye.

“The accused unlawfully obtained the sum of N750, 000 from one Akintunde Akinloye under the pretence of securing for him a Canadian Resident Visa.

“He also obtained another N816, 800 from the brother of the first complainant, Akindele Akinloye, under the pretence of securing him a Canadian resident visa,” Shonibare said.

• From left: Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Mr Jonhkenedy Opara; Papal Representative in Nigeria (Papal Nuncio) Augustine Kasuja; and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Prof Viola Onwuliri, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja...yesterday.

Bafarawa urges Buhari to return to ANPP

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ORMER Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa has urged the former Head of State and the first presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), General Muhammadu Buhari, to return to the party.

Buhari left ANPP and formed the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), where he contested last April election.

The former governor noted that Buhari’s return to ANPP would widen the party’s supporters’ base and enhance its re-launch for better spread.

Addressing reporters at his home in Sokoto, Bafarawa said: “We want to make a stronger stand for the party such that it will pilot the journey for change, not only in Sokoto but also in Nigeria as a whole.”

He said ANPP in Sokoto State would win the next election in March next year, adding: “We have the political principles and machinery to

•‘PDP is an industry for quick money’ From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

convince the electorate for the actualisation of change in the state, currently hanging at the mercy of bad governance.

“The party won in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states in 1999 and was the second largest party, by popularity and support, nationwide. That is why this time around, we want to redeem its political glory by reclaiming Sokoto from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”

The former governor said it is not difficult to unseat an incumbent governor, adding that the ANPP would reclaim the state from the ruling PDP. He described the PDP as a small political industry where lazy politicians rush to make quick money and acquire power without working for it.

Bafarawa noted that a good

leader would always think of the majority and not himself, saying politics is about ability, competence, exposure, experience and manifesto.

He said: “I am sure we have built ourselves and the journey on that. We will not have any hitch in the course of our campaigns. I have made much research and came out with a candidate to beat in Sokoto Yusha’u Muhammad Ahmed - Insha Allah.”

The former governor noted that many politicians confuse agenda with manifesto, saying: “Political agenda is selfcentred and individualistic in the long run. But a manifesto seeks to approach challenges with a view to tackling them headlong through articulated policies and programmes with direct impact on the majority.

“Very soon, some of the members in the opposition parties will join the ANPP. We will also work out a mecha-

Driver kills 10-year-old boy in Kogi •Community blocks Abuja-Lokoja road

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ROTESTING residents of Felele in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State yesterday blocked the AbujaLokoja-Okene highway following the killing of a 10year-old boy by a hit-andrun driver.

The protesters were said to have attacked most vehicles travelling on the highway in anger.

The boy was reportedly crossing the highway when a vehicle, heading to the

From Mohammed Bashir, Lokoja

North at high speed, crushed him. The driver was said to have run away.

This infuriated the residents, who set up bonfires on the highway.

Vehicles entering the town either stopped or made a Uturn to avoid delay the protesters put them through.

The police later dispersed the protesters from the road and restored calm.

Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) have removed the body of the boy to a mortuary.

Police spokesman Ajayi Okasomi, an Assistant Superintendent of police (ASP), confirmed the incident.

He said the killing of the boy by a hit-and-run driver angered the community.

Okasomi said the police are looking for the driver, assuring that peace has been restored in the area.

Robbers bomb police station, bank in Kogi

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RMED robbers early yesterday bombed a police station and a bank at Aiyetoro-Gbedde in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

They allegedly stole ammunition from the police station.

The attack is a replica of last month’s when some hoodlums bombed a police divisional station and a bank at Kabba in Kabba-Bunu Local

From Mohammed Bashir, Lokoja

Government Area. They stole ammunition from the station.

The Nation learnt that the hoodlums stormed the town at 4am yesterday and unleashed terror on the police and the bank.

The robbers were said to have opened fire, which scared away the policemen.

It was learnt that the rob-

bers, possessed superior fire power.

The hoodlums invaded the armoury at the police station and stole ammunition before bombing the building.

The first generation bank, located close to the bombed police station, was attacked and later bombed.

But it was learnt that the robbers could not access the strong room. This angered the hoodlums, who bombarded the

bank.

The quick response of the Police Anti-Robbery Squad saved the day.

Police spokesman Ajayi Okasomi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), confirmed the incident.

He said property worth millions of naira were destroyed in the attacks.

Okasomi added that nobody was killed or injured in the attacks.

nism to reach out to our old members who left the party.

We are not going to make any alliance but we will encourage our party to strengthen its campaign strategies that will afford us the opportunity to reach out to as many people as possible at individual, inter-personal and collective levels across the state.

“As a founding member of ANPP, I left it for the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) from where I joined the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Now, I’m back to my root. It’s not that I wished so but for obvious political reasons. The incumbent governor (Wamakko) was one of the reasons I left the party because the national headquarters dissolved the executives in the state and handed everything to Wamakko and his people.”

KWARA State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed yesterday presented his maiden budget proposal of N91.7billion to the House of Assembly for consideration.

Tagged, The Budget of Consolidation and Development, the proposal, according to the governor, reflects an increase of about 42 per cent over this year’s budget of N64.1 billion.

A breakdown of the budget reveals that N60.9 billion is for recurrent revenue; N47.9 billion for recurrent expenditure; and N13.49 billion is for recurrent surplus, to be transferred into the Capital Development Fund.

The proposed capital receipts and capital expenditure are allotted N43.9 billion each.

Kano records fresh polio cases From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

THE Kano State Government has said it has recorded some fresh cases of the wild polio virus (WPV) in Gezawa Local Government Area.

These bring to 23 the number of reported cases of the disease in the state.

Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso spoke on the outbreak yesterday in Kano at the flag-off of the ninth round of the Immunisation Plus Days (IPDs), which the government is using to prevent the spread of the disease.

Represented by his deputy, Dr. Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, the governor said his administration was disturbed by the increasing cases of fresh outbreaks of the virus.

According to him, one of the ways to achieve the goal is to intensify immunisation, particularly in the six local government areas Kumbotso, Dawakin-Kudu, Nassarawa, Albasu, Gezawa, and Tarauni - where the new cases were recorded.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

NEWS NCC hosts consumer forum THE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will today host the Industry-Wide Consumer Advisory Fora entitled: “First Open Forum of the Industry Consumer Advisory Forum (ICAF)”.

The event will start by 9am at the Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel, Lagos.

Its theme is “Service Delivery in the Telecoms Industry: Milestones, Problems and Prospects”.

A statement by NCC’s Director Consumer Affairs, Mrs. Mary Uduma, said ICAF’s objective is to recommend to the commission interests and concerns of consumers of ICT products and services.

Part of the objectives of the forum, she said, is to protect Telecoms Consumers and sundry stakeholders from unfair practices, as well as submit memoranda and facilitate the review of the Consumer Code of Practice Regulations.

Ordination tragedy: 18 Catholic faithful die in Edo

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HE Catholic Community in Edo State is mourning the death of 18 members of the St Mary’s Catholic Church, Uvbe, near Benin City.

They died in a motor accident on Saturday.

The victims were on their way to an ordination service for the priest of the Benin Diocese when their Toyota Hiace bus was crushed by a truck at Okhuahe community on the Benin – Asaba Expressway.

A source close to the parish priest, Rev Fr James Ike-

From Shola O’Neil, Port Harcourt and Osagie Otabor, Benin chukwu Chima, said the members had barely left their base when a trailer, which obviously lost control, ran over them.

Sources said it took over 10 hours for officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to remove the mangled remains of the bus and the passengers.

Grief-stricken family members and church leaders had difficulty identify-

ing the victims.

Attempts to reach Rev. Chima proved abortive, but his elder brother, Linus, who is a media aide to Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, confirmed the accident.

He said: “Since Saturday, we have all been dazed.

“My younger brother, Rev. Chima, is confused.

“How would he conduct the funeral mass for 18 of those who daily called him ‘Father’?

“They were his family and friends too.

“They were on a short journey of 15 minutes, from Uvbe to Benin for the ordination of new priests.

“They were excited, their expectations for Chirstmas & New Year were high.

Hardly did they know that death lurked.

“They did not have a fighting chance; a truck crushed them all,” he added.

State Sector Commander of the FRSC Henry Olatunji said a Volkswagen Commercial bus marked EDO XB 326 SGD and a truck

9,999 choristers for Akwa Ibom Carol NINE thousand, nine hundred and ninety nine choristers are expected to perform at the Christmas carol service organised by the Akwa Ibom State Government.

Commissioner for Information Aniekan Umanah made this known in Uyo, the state capital, at the weekend.

Umanah said the event, which holds on Friday, will be attended by top government officials.

He said the choristers would be accompanied by a 200-piece brass band.

According to the commissioner, 150 guest singers are participating in the musical fiesta.

The Overseer of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor W.F Kumuyi and the leader of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state, Bishop Cletus Bassey will also attend.

200 ghost workers in Delta Assembly From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

TWO hundred ghost workers have been discovered on the payroll of the Delta State House of Assembly.

Speaker Victor Ochei made this known yesterday in Asaba during an interactive session with reporters.

According to him, he met over 500 workers when he was sworn in on June 7 but since the introduction of Finger Biometrics, the workers have reduced to 300.

He said before now a lot of these people do not come to work only for them to go to their banks at the end of the month to get their salaries.

Ochei said the decision by the House to embark on the finger biometrics was a collective decision.

He said the House would sanction any principal officer or lawmaker who is implicated in the employment racket.

•Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Lamorde flanked by the commission's Secretary, Emmanuel Akomaye and German Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs.Dorathee Janetzke Wenzel, when Mrs. Wenzel visited the commission...yesterday PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

Panic in Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers over robberies

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ESIDENTS of Port Harcourt and the twin cities of Warri and Effurun in Rivers and Delta states are afraid of incessant robberies.

Their findings seem not misplaced with 30 persons murdered across the states in the last one week.

Armed men in military uniform on Saturday killed six persons in Warri.

Their counterparts in Rivers murdered two persons, including a local guard and a young woman.

At the popular Warri Main Market, robbers dressed in military uniform attacked a couple.

Mr and Mrs Ogbodu were killed by the robbers, who also gunned down two others, including a final year student.

Eyewitnesses said Mrs Ejaita Ogbodu was the first

From Shola O’Neil, Port Harcourt victim. She and her husband were killed because they allegedly refused to hand over wares in their jewellery shop.

Mrs. Ogbodu was reportedly expecting.

She also had four children, including a one-year old , from an ex-husband, sources said.

Two other victims were shot on Okere Road and Okumagba Avenue.

Eyewitnesses said they were warders at the Warri Central Prison.

They were reportedly killed when they tried to block the prison section of Okere Road to prevent the robbers from escaping.

A few hours before the robbery , scores of persons were feared killed in Bayel-

sa State axis of the WarriPort Harcourt highway by armed robbers, who seized the road for several hours.

Among the victims were members of the Christian community in Port Harcourt, who were returning home from a funeral in Ozoro, Delta State.

Earlier, a local security guard at Wenaco Nigeria Limited, Rukukpoku and a woman shopper at a bakery in Port Harcourt were killed by robbers, who stormed the area last Wednesday.

On December 5, four persons, including an expectant mother and a policeman were killed by a woman-led gang.

Expectedly, the spate of robberies has led to fears among residents, who now plan to have subdued celebration to discourage un-

warranted attention from men of the underworld.

The Rivers State Government has strengthened security in Port Harcourt and other major cities, with the deployment of military men.

The Delta State Police Command said it has recovered one of the vehicles snatched by the hoodlums in the Saturday’s operation.

Police spokesperson Charles Muka said two guns were recovered, adding: “We are on top the situation.”

Muka said two members of the gang who carried out the attack at Main Market were killed Sunday morning during a raid of their hideout in Ugborikoko, Effurun.

Arms were recovered during the raid, Muka added.

marked ENUGU YF 303 ENU were involved in the accident.

Olatunji attributed the cause of the accident to route violation, saying the truck drove against traffic.

He said those dead included nine men and nine women, whose bodies have been deposited at Our Clinic Hospital in Benin City.

Groups vow to stop Dickson

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HE Coalition of Nigerian Civil Right Groups (CONRIGs) yesterday launched a campaign against what it called “the imposition of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Bayelsa State, Serake Dickson.”

The coalition said if the desperation of the Presidency to impose Dickson succeeds, a new wave of armed conflict may emerge in Bayelsa State and the Niger Delta.

CONRIGs Assistant General Secretary Kehinde Adegbuyi said the group would launch a web campaign this week to reach out to Nigerians at home and abroad.

At a briefing yesterday in Lagos, the group, made up of 65 civil right groups, said the stoppage of the imposition of the candidate by the Presidency was necessary to safeguard future elections and democracy in Nigeria.

The coalition said it has enlisted the support of international civil right groups to scuttle the imposition of the PDP candidate on the people.

N10m for victims of police brutality From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

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ESPITE came yesterday for the families of the late Emmanuel Akpan Unamso and Ita Livinus Ekpo of Okon community, in Eket Local Government of Akwa Ibom State as the Commissioner of Police, Solomon Arase, gave N5million each to their next of kin.

This was on the orders of Governor Godswill Akpabio. The deceased were victims of police brutality.

They were members of a vigilance group but were mistaken for robbers by the police.

The deceased were killed in Eket, a situation, which sparked off protest by the youths in the community.

Presenting the cheques to the families, Arase urged them to see the incident as a regrettable act of destiny.

PDP candidates win as Appeal Court sacks two Delta lawmakers

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HE Court of Appeal sitting in Benin, Edo State, has sacked Olisaemeka Imeagu of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) representing Ndokwa/Ukwani Federal Constituency of Delta State in the House of Representatives.

It declared Ossai Nichola Ossai of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the April 16 National Assembly election, having scored majority of lawful votes cast during the election.

The court held that there was no merit in the appeal filed by Imegwu, saying the tribunal

•Accord candidate’s election upheld From Osagie Otabor, Benin and Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

should have declared Ossai winner.

Also, the appellate court headed by Justice R. C Agbo declared Taleb Okpako Tebitie of the PDP winner of the Ughelli South constituency of the Delta State House of Assembly.

It said the DPP had no candidate who contested for the election for Ughelli South constituency and that a per-

son who did not participate in all stages of election should not have been declared winner.

According to the judgment, “The first appellant is declared winner of Ughelli South.

INEC should issue a Certificate of Return to the first appellant.”

The appellate court also set aside the judgment of the lower tribunal in the case between Kennedy Daubry of the DPP and Kennedy Orubebe of the PDP. It allowed the appeal filed

by Orubebe.

In the appeal filed by Joseph Emeka of the PDP against the election of Azuka Aszaka, the appellant court dismissed the appeal saying the appellant went “on a fishing expedition.”

In Uvwie constituency of the Delta Assembly, the appellate court dismissed the appeal brought by Solomon Ighakpata (PDP) against the election of Efe Ofobruku (DPP).

The appellate court dismissed the appeal filed by Ochor Christopher Ochor (PDP) against the election of Alphonsus Ojo (DPP).

In Esan North East II, the appeal filed by Christopher Ebosele of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) against the election of Emma Okoduwa of the PDP was adjourned sine die.

The Court of Appeal upheld the victory of Mrs. Pat Ajudua of Accord (AP) representing Oshimili North Constituency of Delta State.

Justice Agbo ordered INEC to return the Certificate of Return earlier issued to PDP candidate Patrick Mozea to Mrs. Ajudua.

The judge said further reasons for the judgment will be given later.

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

11

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

We must continue to benchmark to international best practises in the compliance to regulatory standards and principles.

-Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, CBN Gov

‘No going back on e-payment start date’

Naira falls on strong forex demand

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HE Central Bank of Ni geria (CBN) has fore closed a shift in the January 2, 2012 commencement date for the implementation of electronic payment system in the public and private sectors of the economy.

Also, financial services providers including banks are to be punished under the New Approved Guidelines for Electronic Payments for any infractions while rendering services to beneficiaries.

Speaking in Abuja at the last lap of the CBN/Public Stakeholders’ Forum on the implementation of approved guidelines on e-payments of government suppliers, taxes, salaries and pension in the country, Deputy Governor, Operations, CBN, Mr Tunde Lemo, urged stakeholders to quicken the adoption of epayment solutions, which have been certified by the apex bank.

He said the apex bank would continue to take necessary actions to restore and sustain public confidence in the Payments System through relevant policy measures.

Lemo stated that the overall destination of the drive for an efficient payment system, is where transactions are initiated and concluded without recurs to manual intervention. Some of the expected benefits include of epayments includes improved operationalefficiency through reduction in manual processes and associated errors; ability to make payments at anytime from anywhere, safety of funds and lives; monitoring of transactions every step of the way, improved transparency and accountability and increase in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$107/barrel Cocoa -$2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,800/troy ounce Rubber -¢159.21pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE JSE NYSE LSE

-N6.503 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -10.5% Treasury Bills -7.08% Maximum lending-22.42% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -2% 91-day NTB -15% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $33.01b FOREX CFA EUR £ $ ¥ SDR RIYAL

-

0.2958 206.9 242.1 156 1.9179 238 40.472

• From left: Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director, Christine Lagarde; Senate President David Mark, and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, during the visit of Largade to the Senate in Abuja...yesterday

Nigeria to save N158b from new satellite, says Jonathan P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has said the launch of the new Nigerian Communications Satellite yesterday in Xichang, China would save the country $1billion (N155bilion) yearly.

He said the savings will derive from the use of foreign bandwidth for GSM Communications, cable television, e-commerce and egovernment by both public and private users.

He described the launch as another great step forward for the country towards the development of a modern, knowledge- driven society.

The president, in a congratulatory message after the launch, said the new satellite will substantially reduce the yearly expenditure by over $1billion arising from the use of foreign band-

From Vincent Ikuomola, Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja and Adline Atili Lagos

width for GSM Communications, cable television, ecommerce and e-government by both public and private users in the country.

He said:“Investment in these high technology resources are part of our overall national strategy of developing an integrated critical national infrastructure capable of fast-tracking the transformation of our national economy, generating gainful employment for our youths and creating wealth for our dear country.

“Our primary goal remains the accelerated improvement in the overall welfare of our country and people.”

Jonathan said with the successful launch of the new satellite, Nigeria has kept up

with the time-frame of activities contained in the country’s 25-year National Space Development Road-map, pointing out that the new satellite, which was paid for by the insurance policy on NigComSat-1, which de-orbited in 2009, will have a positive impact on national development in various sectors, such as communications, internet services, health, agriculture, environmental protection and national security.

“It will enhance our communications system as well as facilitate cheaper access to the internet with a view to bridging the existing digital divide between our urban and predominantly rural communities and, thereby, bringing government nearer to the grass roots.”

The satellite, which was launched at 5.40pm yesterday, is Nigeria’s replacement of

communications satellite Nigcomsat 1R. The Communication satellite, a baby of NIGCOMSAT LIMITED was launched on a Long March 3B (LM-3B) launch vehicle from Xichang Satellite Launch Centre, located in South West China.

China Satellite Launch Tracking and Control General (CLTC) are providing tracking, control and ground segment support for the programme.

NigComSat-1R is the eighth satellite built on the DFH-4 bus for in-orbit delivery and the NigComSat-1R launch is the 18th flight of LM-3B launch vehicle and the 154th flight in the series of the Long March launchers.

The project was carried out in conjunction with over 50 Nigcomsat engineers who spent the last 31 months in China .

Senate threatens oil firms over NDDC debt

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HE Senate yesterday threatened to deal with oil firms that have defaulted in the payment of their statutory contributions to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Chairman, Senate Committee on NDDC, Senator James Manager, declared this after a report by the new Managing Director of NDDC, Christian Oboh, that some oil firms defaulted in their contributions.

Manager, after receiving a presentation by the NDDC chief, noted that the contributions by oil companies to the NDDC are statutory.

He noted that any breach of the provision of the law would attract sanctions.

• ‘Only six have paid’ From Onyedi Ojiabor, Asst. Editor and Sanni Onogu (Abuja)

Manager said the National Assembly would look into the issue to determine the level of indebtedness and ensure that its debts were recovered before the next budget.

He said: “We are going to ask questions. It is an Act of parliament and any breach attracts punishment.We must insist that the provisions of the law are adhered to. There must be a legal consequence.”

The committee also observed that besides the oil firms, the Federal Govern-

ment is also in default of its financial commitment to the commission.

As a result, the committee resolved to approach the issue holistically by conducting a public hearing on the issue early next year.

In his presentation to the committee, the NDDC chief noted that the commission was yet to assess its share of the excess crude allocation with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Obo also expressed concern over contributions from oil companies to the commission.

The committee said 17 oil firms were expected to remit

three per cent of their yearly budgets to NDDC as part of their contributions to the commission.

The companies include ADDAX Oil, Agip Energy Nigeria, Agip Exploring Company, AMNI International company, Chevron Oil company, Dubri Oil, Esso Exploration Producing, Exxon Mobil, Moniputo Oil Company and Nigeria Agip Oil. Others are Nigerian Petroleum Development company, Pan Ocean, Shell Petroleum Development Company, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Producing, Star Deep Water Petroleum Limited, Star Oil Nigerian Limited,, Taxaco Nigeria , Total Petroleum and Total UpStream.

HE naira weakened against the United States dollar yesterday as demand for foreign exchange remains unabated as the sale of $350 million by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to some lenders on Friday failed to strengthen the market further.

The currency , according to Reuter News,closed at N162.30 to the dollar on the interbank market, weaker than the 161.70 to the dollar on Friday.

Traders said the unexpected sales of $350 million

by NNPC last Friday to some lenders help provided immediate support for the local currency but strong demand for the dollar has taken out the forex supply and pushed the naira back to its weak position.

“The naira opened the market weaker yesterday after the effect of the dollar sales by the NNPC wears out as demand remain strong in the market,”one dealer said.

Traders said the inability of the banking watchdog to meet all demands at its auction also impacted the naira negatively in the market.

On the bi-weekly auction, the CBN sold $200 million at N156.70 to the dollar, less than the $217.77 million demanded, but same figure and rate at the previous auction last Wednesday.

“The naira will likely remain unchanged this week as the CBN is yet to announce the closure of its window for the year, while some oil firms are still expected in the market before the end of the year,” another dealer said.

Nigeria to cut Feb. crude exports

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IGERIA, Africa’s largest oil producer, plans to reduce Qua Iboe crude exports in February to 11 cargoes, one less than next month, according to a loading programme obtained by Bloomberg News.

It said the country will also ship five consignments of Bonny Light blend totalling 4.75 million barrels, down from 4.9 million barrels in January, the plan showed.

Exports of Bonga grade will be unchanged at five cargoes, while Yoho loadings will be three shipments, one more than January, according to the plan.

Nigeria will cut its exports of Forcados to six cargoes from seven in January, a separate schedule showed.

Bonga crude shipments are one million barrels each, while the rest are for 950,000 barrels.

Loading programmes are monthly schedules of crude shipments compiled by field operators to allow buyers and sellers to plan their supply and trading activities.

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

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

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

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Arik Aero Arik Aero

1. Arik 2. Aero 1.

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

LAGOS – KADUNA Aero 08.00 Chanchangi 10.00 Arik 10.00 Arik 15.10

Abuja

cess and ownership of internet service, national internet access rates stood at 3.6 per cent in 2011 but with only 0.5 per cent claimed to own a connection device.

It stated: “Compared to total PC access among persons, a fair number of states performed better than the national rate. Led by Lagos (27 per cent), two other states (Rivers and FCT) recorded above 10 per cent total access, although a considerable proportion does not claim ownership. For states with the least access, Sokoto emerges with only 0.3 per cent access to the internet. Kebbi, Zamfara, Kano, Bauchi, Kaduna and Ebonyi states also turn out to have low internet access rates, each with less than one per cent.

Expectedly, urban dwellers had

more access and ownership of internet service (11.6 per cent) compared to the rural dwellers (1.5 per cent).”

Anambra State , it also revealed has the highest percentage of people with access to mobile phones, at 95.1 per cent and nearly 60 per cent of these own the device. “At least, nine in every 10 persons who reside in the state are likely to have access to a mobile phone. Osun State with 91.9 per cent is next in ranking. Other states with high access records include Kogi, Ogun, Niger and Lagos each with more than 85 per cent total access levels.”

The most widely used devices in the country, according to the document, are radios and mobile phones while less than half of the population (44.7 per cent) had access to Television (TV).

12.15 12.45 09.10 11.00 11.10 16.20

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

08.40 08.40 14.55 15.10 17.40

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

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LAGOS – OWERRI 07.20 14.00 16.30

08.30 15.10 17.40

LAGOS – UYO 10.35

11.35

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

From Gbenga Omokhunu,

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ORE than 95 per cent of the population do not have access to either the Personal Computer (PC) or the internet, it was learnt yesterday.

At the state level, survey shows that Kogi State has the highest percentage total access to PCs in Nigeria , with 17.4 per cent, although nearly all them are not owned.

According to this year’s Annual Socio-Economic Report entitled: Access to Information Communication Technology (ICT) obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Lagos State have total access rates at 15.9 per cent and 15.8 per cent of which only about five per cent are owned.

All other states have lower than 10 per cent total access rates.

The report further stated that for the distribution of persons by ac-

08.30 09.10 11.50 12.45 13.40 15.20 16.30 16.40

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

1. Arik 2. Arik 3. Arik

‘Over 95% of Nigerians have no access to PCs, internet’

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

• Cross Rivers State Governor Liyel Imoke flanked by Director, Flight Operations, Dana Airline, Capt. Oscar Eldliard Wason (left) and Communications Manager, Dana Group, Mr Tony Usidaimen, during the Airline Inaugural flight Lagos-Calabar at the weekend.

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

Minister: National Assembly to okay PIB

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HE Federal Government has assured that the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) will be passed into law in the first quarter of next year after a long delay in the legislative chamber.

The Minister of Petroleum Resources,Mrs. Deziani AllisonMadueke, disclosed this while fielding questions from reporters at the just-concluded meeting of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Vienna, Austria.

Alison-Madueke also said the contentious provisions in the bill, especially the fiscal terms and issues concerning acreage leases, which had kept investment in the exploration and production on hold over the years had been addressed.

According to Reuters report, the

• ‘Contentious terms now equitable’ Minister said changes had been made to the bill’s fiscal terms and other aspects. She also noted that with changes made in the bill, it is equitable and adequately favours the operators as well as the country.

The PIB, a piece of legislation, is expected to address most of the anomalies in upstream and downstream sector of the oil industry but was delayed by the National Assembly over the years.

She said: “We have ensured that area, such as the fiscal regimes, which have been the most contentious, have been looked at again.

And we have ensured that certain modifications were made there.

“I think in general the fiscal regimes are quite equitable at this point in time.”

The changes include making the bill focused on Nigeria’s domestic natural gas, and its deep offshore petroleum resources particularly the ultra-deep water, which was not included in the original bill, she said.

“There were other issues of course - the commercialisation of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), where the revenues go, administrative issues as well to do with the ministerial position and other issues. But all of them have been looked at and have been refined.

“The hope is that by the end of the first quarter next year, the National Assembly will have moved that bill forward,” he added.

Inflation unchanged at 10.5% in November

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FFORTS by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to bring in flation below 10 per cent failed again last month as the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said yesterday’s headline inflation remained unchanged from the previous month at 10.5 per cent yearon-year in November.

The NBS said the relatively good harvest during the period moderated growth in the food prices.

The apex bank had left interest rates on hold at 12 per cent at its last rate meeting of the year last month, after raising lending levels at six

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

meetings running in an effort to curb high inflation and support the naira.

The Composite Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Inflation Report released yesterday indicated that there was a sharp increase in the prices of some imported food items but growth in locally produced food prices, the largest contributor to the consumer index, fell slightly to 9.6 per cent year-on-year in November from 9.7 per cent the previous month.

The report attributed high prices

of food and non-alcoholic beverages, clothing, footwear, kerosene, diesel and transport as the biggest contributors to the month’s increase in year-on-year CPI and inflation rate.

Besides, it noted that prices of some food commodities across the country also stabilised relative to the preceding month’s price trend and that the ‘All Items’ composite index and the inflation rate were similarly moderated given the high computation weight the overall food items account for relative to imported commodities.

NPA workers protest non-payment of entitlements

By Oluwakemi Dauda

A

DMINISTRATIVE work was almost brought to a halt at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) headquarters in Lagos yesterday when the aggrieved 1991 retrenched staff of the authority protested the non-payment of their entitlements by the management.

The protesters, numbering about 200 men and women, gathered as early as 8.am in front of the NPA ‘s office at Marina, Lagos to demand the payment of their pensions and gratuities with placards and chanting war songs to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere of the area.

It took the quick intervention of the Managing Director of the authority, Omar Suleiman; the General Manager Public Affairs, Chief Michael Ajayi and other top management team to calm the protesting staff - accusing NPA of violating their fundamental human right to pensions and gratuities, having served the authority in their various capacities while in active service.

Over 2,900 affected staff were sacked in 1991, during the military regime of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida.

Addressing reporters during the protest, the Chairman of the group, Mr Andrew Okon, said they wanted to tell the public about their plight and to draw the attention of the Federal Government and the National Assembly to the injustice and inhuman treatment meted out to them by the management of NPA since they left service.

Okon said they were forced to take the action because the management of the authority has failed in the last 20 years to effect the payment of their entitlements.

The chairman told reporters that on May 7, 2007, the Supreme Court ruled in their favour that those below 10 years in service among them should be paid their gratuities by NPA, while those who have served the authority for more than 10 years among the retrenched staff be paid pensions and redundancy fees by the authority.

He said they became worried and annoyed when they discovered that some of their members died without collecting a kobo as their entitlements after the Supreme Court judgement that they should be paid.

Addressing the protesting workers, the Managing Director of NPA, appealed to them not to take law into their hands and urged them to exercise patience with him to address the issue.

CMD chief urges sanction for errant institutes From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

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HE Director-General of the Centre for Management De velopment (CMD), Alhaji Kabir Usman, has called on the National Assembly to, as a matter of urgency, pass the Centre for Management Development Act Amendment bill to provide stiffer penalty for errant management training institutions in the country.

Usman, who disclosed this in Kano at the opening of a threeday retreat and staff development workshop of the agency, said institutions, which disguise as capacity training institutions, have defrauded unsuspecting members of the public in several ways, adding that some of the institutions are either not licensed or do not have the capacity to conduct management and manpower development trainings.

Usman warned that any institution caught conducting training without approval from the agency would be adequately dealt with.

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AVIATION END OF THE YEAR REVIEW

Facilities’ upgrade, bilateral air adjustments shape activities Events ranging from reorganisation, facility upgrade and bickering over bi-lateral services agreement gave the aviation sector a busy schedule in the course of the year, writes, KELVIN OSA- OKUNBOR.

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S the year winds up, the aviation sector has been upbeat, as the Minister of Aviation, Mrs Stella Oduah - Ogiemwonyi unfolded the transformation agenda of the government.

It involves the upgrade of major airport facilities, including rebuilding of 12 airports across the country.

Re-organisation One major event in the course of the year, was the reorganisation carried out by the Federal Government in three agencies and the eventual replacement of their chief executives.

In FAAN, Gearge Uriesi replaced Richard Aisuebeogun; NAMA’s new helmsman is Nnamdi Udoh, in place of Ibrahim Auyo, while at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Captain Chinyere, succeeded Captain Adebayo Araba as Rector.

Transformation agenda On assumption of duty, the minister spoke of the transformation agenda of the Federal Government, which is to result in a turnaround of the aviation sector. This is to be achieved through massive upgrade of airport facilities.

She unfolded plans to implement the airport remodelling programme, which has since manifested in the rebuilding of the old domestic terminal at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport(MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, as well as the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja.

In the course of the year, work began at a section of the old domestic terminal at the Lagos Airport which is still under construction, to give way to a brand new terminal that could be compared to other airports across the globe.

The Abuja Airport domestic terminal is not left out, as flight operations in the domestic wing have been moved to the international wing, to give way for the construction of a new terminal.

In the year under review, the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency ( NAMA), embarked on massive upgrade of air navigation equipment

to promote air safety in the nation’s airspace.

Airport concessions Activities of concessionaires came under focus, as the Federal Government spoke of plans to restructure airport concessions that were either fraudulently packaged, or on terms incompatible with government’s agenda and against consumers’ interest.

Mrs Oduah- Ogiemwonyi said most of the airport concessions were not packaged in line with global best practices, a development that will force the government to review some of them, or possibly revoke, if the need arises.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN) has consistently raised concerns over the terms of its concession agreement with some of the firms which include, BiCourtney Aviation Services Limited, Maevis Limited, I- Cube West Africa and Pan Express Limited. The disagreements had centred on the ways and means they either collect or remit revenue to the authority.

National carrier In the course of the year, there has been repeated clamour for the setting of a national carrier. This has come to the fore in view of the liquidation of Nigeria Airways and the collapse of Virgin Nigeria, which was to serve as the nation’s national carier.

Matters came to head a few months ago, when members of the House of Representatives Committee on aviation urged the minister to consider putting in place a framework that could fast track the setting up of a national carrier.

Their optimism for setting up a national carrier was predicated on the failure of the existing local carriers to optimally enhance capacity on either domestic, regional or intercontinental routes.

Their agitation seem to have received a boost as a fall out of the lopsidedness in the bilateral services agreement between Nigeria and many countries, which continued to

be to the detriment of the aviation industry and its consumers.

In support of the clamour, the minister has affirmed that next year, the Federal Government will fast track the establishment of a national carrier, on which it would not invest any capital.

However, opinions differ on the necessity for the move, as the issues that led to the failure of previous establishments remain, not only fresh, but unresolved.

Federal Government versus British Airways As the year winds up, what stakeholders and watchers of the aviation industry will not forget in a hurry is the altercation between the Federal Government and British authorities over issues bordering on bilateral air services agreement.

This has forced the government to reduce the flight frequency of British Airways into the Lagos Airport from seven flights a week to three.

The reduction came on the heels of the maltreatment of Arik Air by British authorities, which denied the Nigerian carrier a slot into the London Heathrow Airport.

After two weeks of intense bilateral discussions, the government restored the reduced flight frequency of British Airways into the Lagos Airport, just as the three weekly flight frequency of Arik Air were not only restored but increased to five slots a week.

In the course of the negotiations, which irked many Nigerians over the discriminatory air fare pricing policy of British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and other European carriers, BA conceded a 20 per cent reduction in air fares on the business class and economy seats.

Arik Air and bilateral services agreement The travails of the biggest Nigerian carrier, Arik Air was at the front burner, as the maltreatment of the airline by British authorities took a turn for the worst when the carrier was denied a slot from Abuja Air-

port into London Heathrow, provoking reactions from the Federal Government. It led to the reduction of British Airways flight frequency into the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

With experts including Mr Chris Aligbe, an aviation consultant and the Managing Director of FAAN, Mr George Uriesi, propounding theories about slot allocation and frequencies into airports, it became obvious that slots are the most powerful instruments by either a country or its airport authority.

In the year under review, issues like slot and frequency allocation for airlines remained , amid arguments and counter arguments whether the Federal Government should interfere in how airlines access flight into airports in other countries.

It was on the heels of this that the Chairman of Arik Air, Sir Arumemi Ikhide called on the Federal Government to initiate protectionist policies for domestic airlines to enable them compete favourably with their foreign counterpart.

His position, was a re-echo of the position of Mr Aligbe, who reasoned that the government should engage foriegn carriers flying into Nigeria, such that they could stop unfair practices and discriminatory practices to Nigerian passengers.

President of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agency( NANTA) Adetayo Adeola affirmed that the government has to assist domestic carriers by considering areas of assistance to checkmate the dominance of foriegn carriers.

New airlines In the period under review, a few airlines began operations on the domestic and international routes, with First Nation Airways leading the pack, with its array of relatively new Airbus 320 aircraft, with which it is serving the Lagos - Abuja routes.

The airlines unique selling point is its early flights on the Lagos Abuja route, which has since become the toast of many passengers.

On the international scene a new regional carrier, ASKY Airlines also began operations.

Also, in the period under review another African carrier, RwanAir , began operations on the Lagos, Abuja - Kigali routes, linking other destinations across the globe.

Continental Airlines, which will link flights between Lagos and Houston, where over 500,000 Nigerians live as America’s fourth largest city.

With arrangement, Nigerians can now fly direct without the usual hurdles of connecting flights through Europe.

Airlines route expansion In the period under review many domestic airlines have expanded their flight operations, with Overland Airways and Arik Air leading the pack among operators on the Lagos - Asaba- Abuja - Asaba route, which was a fall out of the opening of the new Asaba International Airport.

According to the Director-General of the NCAA, Dr Harold Demuren, the opening of the Asaba International Airport is one of the strides recorded in the aviation sector in the year, as the airport will serve many states in the South eastern and southern parts of the country.

Also, in the period under review, DANA Air, also expanded flights into Calabar Airport, which is one of the gateways into the South south.

Personnel restructuring in aviation agencies What will not be isolated among issues that shaped activities of the aviation industry in the year, is the restructuring of personnel leading to the sack of four heads of aviation agencies as well as some directors in some of the agencies.

Among those sacked were the Managing Director of FAAN, Mr Richard Aisuebeogun; Managing Director of Nigeria Airspace Management Agency ( NAMA), Alhaji Ibrahim Auyo; Rector of the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology ( NCAT), Zaria, Captain Adebayo Araba, and the Commissioner of Accident Investigation Bureau( AIB), Sam Oduselu.

SAA introduces non-stop flights to Beijing, China

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OUTH African Airways (SAA) will start flying non-stop to Beijing, China, for the first time from January next year.

The inaugural flight is scheduled to leave Johannesburg on January 31, 2012, and is set to arrive Beijing, China on February 1, 2012.

In a statement, the airline, said: “SAA is pleased to introduce non-stop flights to Beijing, China. This new route is in line with SAA’s strategy to expand its network to Asia, the fastest growing market in the world,” says SAA’s CEO Siza Mzimela.

China and South Africa established a comprehensive strategic partnership in August last year. The countries subsequently entered into bilateral agreements for cooperation on infrastructure construction, transportation, water resources utilisation, housing, health and education. The introduction of non-stop flights between the two destinations promises to facilitate business and leisure travel between the two countries.

“Introducing direct flights between China and South Africa will promote tourism and trade, not only to South Africa, but also to all the

Southern African Development Community (SADC) and other African countries. South Africa and neighbouring destinations such as Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe are already popular destinations for Chinese tourists.

“Similarly, for South Africans and other African countries, the flight will open up China as a new tourist destination and create a bridge between South America and China, connecting three very important BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries and promoting trade amongst these countries,” says Mzimela.

Beijing Capital International Airport (BJS) is the main international airport serving Beijing, China and one of the busiest airports in the world. It is located 32 kilometre northeast of Beijing’s city centre, owned and operated by the Beijing Capital International Airport Company Limited, a state-controlled company. There are three terminals at the airport and SAA will operate in and out of terminal three, which is also the designated terminal for Star Alliance partners.

•From left: Secretary-General, African Airlines Association (AFRAA) Dr. Elija Chigosho; Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Demuren; Director-General, International Air Transport Association (IATA) Tony Tyler and CEO, Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) Chris Zweigenthal, during a special recognition award for Demuren, at Marakech, Morroco.

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

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EDITORIAL/OPINION EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

COMMENT

Sanusi’s fear of injunctions •We appreciate his concern; but the courts remain the final arbiter

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OVERNOR of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has observed that the unrestrained granting of interlocutory and ex-parte injunctions by the courts is hampering the country’s economic reforms. Mallam Sanusi spoke at the 11th National Seminar on Banks and Allied Matters for Judges. He also canvassed for operational and financial independence for the Central Bank; arguing that the bank should be granted the necessary autonomy as lender of last resort, to deal with emergencies in the financial sector, without recourse to parliamentary debate.

Mallam Sanusi further argued that unless when absolutely necessary to preserve or save assets from being dissipated, judges should not grant ex-parte injunctions.

We agree with Mr. Sanusi’s demand for restraint in granting of injunctions with respect to financial matters as we also think it is important in all cases. We also believe that such seminars as the one at which the CBN governor spoke are necessary to share peculiar challenges of the financial sector with the judges. But that is the much Mallam Sanusi or even any public commentator like us can proffer.

The ultimate decision of appropriate cases for the grant or refusal of injunctions lies with the courts.

This right in the courts is important as a guide in the exercise of public power con-

ferred by the relevant statutes. As such, the Central Bank, like other public institutions, must exercise restraint in exercising extant powers granted them since such laws are still answerable to the country’s constitution on the citizen’s access to the courts. The implication of this fact is that even when the legislature, as Mallam Sanusi is urging, makes laws to grant the bank the exclusive rights to determine when to act in emergencies without a parliamentary debate as he pontificated at the seminar, such laws and actions are still subject to the overriding power of the court to determine any questions or disputes between persons and institutions like the Central Bank.

This right of access to the courts should not be appropriated by any authority as provided by the constitution, because there is the natural demand for an arbiter, in human affairs. Mallam Sanusi himself would realise this were he to become a victim; so while the autonomy of the apex bank is necessary for economic development, such rights should never envisage an opportunity to exclude the intervention of the courts. What we must also do as a country is to keep the judges abreast of modern developments in all facets of national life; that way, their interpretation of the laws would also be advancing national development.

It is also necessary to note the observa-

tion of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Musdapher that the developments in the financial sector reforms have been such as to necessitate the intervention of the courts. As the supreme authority in this area, his observations cannot be taken lightly. We figure that observation may support the cynicism in some quarters that Mallam Sanusi should concentrate his knowledge and wisdom in his professional area of competence.

While we may not entirely agree with the CBN governor’s demands, we appreciate his concerns.

In the final analysis, it is the ultimate good of Nigeria and the well- being of her people that should be the guiding principle, and a healthy economy is surely one such key area to watch out for.

‘We agree with Mr. Sanusi’s demand for restraint in granting of injunctions with respect to financial matters as we also think it is important in all cases ... But that is the much Mallam Sanusi or even any public commentator like us can proffer. The ultimate decision of appropriate cases for the grant or refusal of injunctions lies with the courts’

Footprints in space •Nigeria must maximise the benefits of its growing satellite network

T

HE launch of Nigeria’s second communications satellite, NigComSat-1R, is a crystallisation of the ambitions, hopes and dreams that have spurred the country into becoming a more active member in the exclusive club of satellite-owning nations.

NigComSat-1R was built and launched

by China Great Wall Industries Corporation at no cost to NigComSat Limited, the agency in charge of Nigeria’s satellite business. This is because it replaces the ill-fated NigComSat-1 which de-orbited 18 months after its launch. It will provide communications on the Ku-Band, KaBand and C-Band, as well as navigational services, and is expected to have a lifespan of 15 years.

If all goes well, Nigeria stands to reap considerable gains. The country is expected to save up to U.S. $1 billion in capital flight over the next two years. The information highway will be expanded greatly, with increased bandwidth for domestic, commercial, security and other

‘All the bandwidth in the world will count for nothing if there is insufficient public power supply. Enhanced communication capabilities are meaningless to students who are compelled to receive lessons under trees. Nor will costly satellite launches be sustainable if they cannot be leveraged into profitable private-sector enterprises’

uses. The growing pool of highly-trained personnel will continue to enhance its capabilities and knowledge to the benefit of the nation.

Given the deep-seated misgivings and widespread cynicism which attended Nigeria’s initial forays into space, the apparent success of successive satellite launches is welcome. For once, it seems that the country has got it right by embarking on a project whose outcomes are clear and measurable, and which has provided relatively little opportunity for the national pastime of contract inflation, financial misappropriation and wastage.

In spite of the unambiguous advantages to be derived from the country’s enhanced satellite profile, there still remains the question of how to ensure that maximal benefit is derived from what is, after all, an extremely expensive undertaking. All the bandwidth in the world will count for nothing if there is insufficient public power supply. Enhanced communication capabilities are meaningless to students who are compelled to receive lessons under trees. Nor will costly satellite launches be sustainable if they cannot be leveraged into profitable private-sector enterprises.

This is where the Federal Government needs to be much more explicit about how satellite technology is linked to its development objectives. It is surprising that very little has been said about exactly how the country’s increased satellite presence will play into national educational, medical, agricultural, aviation and other policies. Such silence is mystifying when it is compared to the publicity that traditionally attends the nation’s satellite launches.

This seems to be an indication that nei-

ther government nor NigComSat itself has clear plans on how to put the benefits of satellite technology to widespread use. Apart from the presence of an Earth Station in Abuja, for example, how many tertiary institutions are involved in the skills-acquisition bonanza of Nigeria’s satellite launches? Are Nigerian manufacturing enterprises and research organisations being prepared to take a greater part in the fabrication of satellite components? When will the country begin to reap the abundant harvest in elearning, e-commerce, telemedicine, weather forecasting and other applications that other developing nations have already begun to enjoy?

Now that Nigeria appears to have resolved many of the teething problems involved in financing, designing, constructing and launching satellites, the country must ensure that it fully parlays the perceived benefits into its development process. This cannot be done without ensuring that more individuals and institutions are able to take advantage of their nation’s enhanced presence in space.

Federal ministries should be encouraged to come up with position papers detailing the ways in which they can take advantage of increased access to satellite technology. NigComSat must strengthen ties to educational institutions, research bodies and non-governmental organisations with the intention of increasing public awareness of its activities and obtaining valuable feedback about the country’s satellite programme.

It should never be forgotten that satellite launches are celestial strategies for solving terrestrial problems.

Egypt’s wary Christians

C

OPTIC Christians participated in the ‘Arab Spring’ protests that brought down the government of Egypt, but the ascendance of Islamist parties and some calls for a strict Islamic state are making them uncertain about their future in their homeland.

Muslims and Christians in Egypt made common cause in agitating for the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak, but the alliance is fraying. A report by The Times’ Jeffrey Fleishman about the country’s Coptic Christians — 10% of the population — suggests that they are developing painful second thoughts about the “Arab Spring” now that Islamist parties are in the ascendance.

Like other Egyptians, Copts believe that the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which took control after Mubarak was deposed, has overstayed its welcome. But even the military is viewed as more welcoming of Christians than the Islamic parties that have dominated the first phase of parliamentary elections. In recent days, some strident voices have called openly for a strict Islamic state. A popular preacher was dismissive of protection for minorities.

“The Crusader Christians are a minority and we can never equate a minority’s rights with the majority’s,” said Wagdi Ghoneim. “How can they ask for the same rights as ours?”

It is unclear how influential such voices are.

The Muslim Brotherhood, whose party led in the first round of the elections, has been conciliatory toward Christians. A government in which it played the leading role could emphasize its Islamic roots without oppressing or marginalizing Christians. Or perhaps it wouldn’t. There is no guarantee that, once in power, the Brotherhood would abide by its assurances.

Clearly Egypt will have to resolve the tension that is already evident between electoral democracy and pluralism. Its international credibility will depend to some extent on the degree to which it abides by international norms of religious freedom. But it is also in Egypt’s domestic interest to protect Christians. Although many Egyptian Christians are impoverished, others — former United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali is an example — are highly educated and affluent and have played leading roles in Egypt’s political and commercial life. Egypt would be poorer without them.

Laws that further institutionalized Islam also would speed the departure from Egypt of those Copts who have the means to relocate. The exodus of Christians from the Middle East, the cradle of their religion, is a sadly familiar story.

From the West Bank to Lebanon to Iraq, they have left because of political instability, violence or discrimination. Sometimes they are refugees within their own countries. In 2008 more than 1,300 Iraqi Christians fled the city of Mosul after 14 were killed. Even when Christians stay — as the vast majority of Copts most likely would — their influence and well-being can suffer under an intolerant regime. That shouldn’t happen in post-revolutionary Egypt.

-Los Angeles Times

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Kunle Fagbemi •Editor, Online Lekan Otufodunrin •Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli •Managing Editor Waheed Odusile

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THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

20

EDITORIAL/OPINION

S

IR: Recall when our respected president Goodluck Jonathan was soliciting for the votes of Nigerians, he was extremely condescending and willing to consent to the demands of Nigerians.

Barely has he spent a year as the president of our beloved country that he wants to excercebate the already dire poverty situation in the country by removing fuel subsidy.

Since the current democratic dispensation, the government has been technically dysfunctional.

Electricity situation was offered a death kiss by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and it never woke up. The transport network makes me sad. I just arrived from Taraba state a few days ago and I really saw the dearth of a working government. The road was in a pitiable condition. Communication is

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Fuel subsidy: Beware Goodluck nothing to whisper about. The telecommunication outfits are ineffective in most parts of the country aside Lagos and few other states.

Imagine one this 21st century climbing a hill just to make a call!

With ominous signs in the air coupled with the menance of Boko Haram,the government is hell bent on removing fuel subsidy.

What is subsidy? Subsidy according to my understanding is the reduction of burden on Nigerians in

monetary terms. A basic question is whether an ordinary Nigerian could be able to afford 150 or 200 naira per litre for fuel after meeting other needs.

Nigerians appreciate what government over the years have achieved especially this regime.

However, if this attempt to sack fuel subsidy succeeds, then Jonathan should be ready to answer to Nigerians in 2015.

Furthermore, the lame excuse

offered by President Jonathan that money from fuel subsidy will be pumped into infrastructural development is like washing your clothes in a basket. First, the government should audit the Nigerian National Petroleum Commission (NNPC). The opinion of Nigerians on subsidy must be determined through a yes or no vote. After all this, the outcome must determine whether the President should even table anything like the removal of

Anambra LG poll: waiting for Godot?

S

IR: The non conduct of local government election in Anambra State since 1999 has continued to attract wide condemnations not only in the statebut all over the country.

Governor Babaginda Aliyu of Niger State has urged Nigerians to exercise their constitutional rights by forcing out state governors subverting the nation’s constitution by using caretaker committee chairmen to run LG councils areas. He made a particular reference to Anambra state when he stated, “I am made to understand that only nine states have elected councils in the country and about 27 states are yet to conduct election for their local government councils in fact, there is a state that since 1999 has never had election.

Why has Anambra State chosen to work at cross purposes with other state governments when it comes to local government development in the country? No matter their claim over rural development, the essence of creating local government which is to bring governance closer to the people, to preserve heritage and common interests of the communities is already defeated in the state.

The Anambra State government led by Governor Peter Obi has per-

fected the art of postponing LG poll every year. On December 4 2010, LG election was postponed after nomination fees were collected from aspirants. This year again, the November/December date has become untenable after the chairmanship aspirants paid a whooping N1 million to pick nomination forms. Governor Peter Obi will be advancing all sorts of excuses why council elec-

tion will not hold in the state ranging from lack of fund, insecurity, new voters card but forgetting that the same challenges were faced by other state governments that conduct LG polls in their states.

According to Professor Titus Eze, the former Anambra state Independent Electoral Commission, ANSIEC chairman, “this atmosphere is intentionally created to enable them not to hold

the council election ad-infinitum.

Perhaps, the crux of the matter is huge monthly allocation meant to local government’.

Let Gov. Obi take a cue from Gov. Sullivan Chime of neighbouring Enugu State who has been consistently conducting LG poll without even appointing caretaker committee chairmen.

• Jeff Nkwocha, Warri, Delta State.

fuel subsidy.

There are infinite sources of revenue for this country. Instead of talking about how to reduce our reliance on oil through economic diversification, we are further enhancing our dependence on oil!

Ironic? We have billions of dollars stashed away (God knows where) as foreign reserve. What is the money for? The government has nailed us on the cross of poverty.

The thing is, can we Nigerians bear the pain like Jesus did when he said forgive them for they know not what they are doing? I don’t think so!

Need I remind Presi dent Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and his vice that revolution is rife all over the world. Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and others are countries whose powerful and previously infallable leaders have fallen. Our dear President beware!

The people in a democracy is very powerful. They can never be initimidated. Therefore, the President shouldn’t be in a haste to remove this subsidy. It affects everyone and it is essential for maintaining the daily livelihood of Nigerians. I’m just a single Nigerian speaking on behalf of many. The subsidy removal should be suspended.

• Ogunfowoke, Adeniyi Ayuba Badagry, Lagos adeniyiogunfowoke@yahoo.com

Let reason prevail on deregulation

S

IR: Eminent Nigerians have advised President Jonathan not to remove the subsidy at this period of economic depression, when average Nigerians lived in penury. He was implored to make the withdrawal piece meal and put palliative measures before the eventual withdrawal.

From the disposition of the President, all the advise are inconsequential and not enough to stop the removal of the subsidy, which in his views obstructs Nigeria’s economic growth.

Among those who advised President Jonathan were former Heads of State, elder statesmen, the intelligentsia, former political office holders etc. There is no doubt that

these are patriotic Nigerians who wish President Jonathan well. Unlike his lieutenants who love their political offices than well being of Nigerians and could not give the president honest advice on the true situation about the plight of Nigerians.

From what we read from the dailies, particularly interviews of the eminent Nigerians including governors, former ministers etc. there are some cabals who are above the laws that are shortchanging the nation as far as importation of petroleum products are concerned.

We equally realised that there is no accountability in the affairs of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation.

Why can’t the President order probe into the above questions instead of rushing to remove the subsidy which will only aggravate the agony of Nigerians? The President should remember that Nigerian government had taken this same path in the past as dictated by Breton Wood Institutions with no solution to our economic problems. If there were solutions, we would not be talking of fuel subsidy removal now.

President Jonathan was voted as President because people believe he would lessen their sufferings.

His gentle mien and humble background were considered by the people. With his recalcitrant attitude on fuel subsidy removal, shall

we believe that the President’s disposition was deceptive? There is no doubt that the President has genuine interest of this nation at heart. And as such, he wants to lead the nation out of economic doldrums. However, he needs to give his policies a human face and listen to advice. Any economic policy that would bring hardship on Nigerians is obnoxious and should be discarded. Crises at hand are enough which include menace of Boko Haram, violent armed robberies, insecurity, collapsed infrastructures, poverty etc. He should seek the way to ease tension in the land and not escalate it.

•Adewuyi Adegbite, Apake Ogbomoso

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

21

EDITORIAL/OPINION

T

HERE is a sense in which the 2012 Budget presented

by President Goodluck Jonathan could be said to have responded to at least one national imperative: security. The N900 billion set aside for security, a sum nearly equal to two-thirds of the entire capital estimates, representing some 20 percent of the entire outlay for the coming year, should ordinarily leave no doubts as to what the government considers as topmost priority.

Although not particularly surprising given the nation’s experiences with the Boko Haram and the spectre of internecine conflicts that is far from abating particularly in the North-east and North-central, the provision has all the trappings of the fledgling security-industrial complex. Those at the topmost echelon of government appears to have settled on the option of throwing money around –deploying the latest and perhaps the most sophisticated security gadgets that money can buy – to buy the nation’s peace as against the more enduring alternative of engagement.

Given the mystery in which security issues are shrouded in these parts, including how something as routine as how monies appropriated for internal security operations are spent, it seems high-impossibility to even begin to talk in some meaningful sense of what the current costs of the low-intensity warfare is costing the nation in naira and kobo terms. And this comes nowhere close to the human costs – the lives of service personnel lost in the line of duty and the scores of innocent lives wasted in the cross-fire.

Now it seems unlikely that any consideration of alternative policy choices would come into sharp focus anytime soon – not with oil flowing freely and the price of the commodity doing good in the international market.

With government expecting to pump some 2.4 million barrels of crude daily in the coming year, which at the

‘It seems the sorry picture of the dual character of our economy isn’t about to change anytime soon – now or even in the future. It is the perfect picture of an economy whose one half – running on oil – seems perpetually pressed in the service of the bureaucracy and Nigeria’s Rent Incorporated; the other half left to run on the blood and sweat of its industrious citizens’

E

VERYBODY wants to comment about the prevailing insecurity in Nigeria, especially the Boko Haram insurgency; but most people are uninformed about the origin, nature, manifestations or even the metamorphosis of a hitherto peaceful ideological sect into a violent insurgency.

One of the problems being faced in understanding the issues and persons involved is the pervasive misinformation about it, to the effect that opinions are permeated by lies and half-truths. Many of those who report or comment about the situation are either ignorant of many things or are just being mischievous. There is no doubt also that most of the reports and comments are being spiced with sentiments and even politics, while others are ostensibly sponsored.

It is heartwarming that security operatives seem to be getting to the roots of the matter, and have closed in on the real perpetrators. There is no doubt that the security agencies have at their disposals many details about the situation, especially on the alleged involvement of some individuals in sustaining the violence, more than anybody else. They are in the best position to determine who is involved or not. While analysts, some of them highly respected for their views appear judgmental and tend to target specific individuals, others seem to jettison basic principles of truth, fairness and justice in drawing erroneous conclusions.

Many of our comments, especially from people outside security circles are often shallow and lack any investigative profundity. It is disturbing that some people are trying to divert attention from the real issues at stake.

I am particularly disturbed about the orchestrated calls

‘Any attempts by people, especially those who influence media comments and analysis to sway public opinion, nay the attention of security operatives from the real issues and culprits, will be tantamount to a great disservice to Nigerians who are desirous of an end to the imbroglio, and the prosecution of actual offenders’

Policy Sanya Oni sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk 08051101841

Budget 2012 moment looks as good as guaranteed going by the relative peace in the Niger Delta, government can expect to coast home with its revenue haul on its conservative projection of $70 per barrel of crude going by current indications in the global market for crude.

Government can rest easy –assured that its growth target of 7.2 percent will be met – with or without the Boko Haram terror machine or other similar disturbances.

Sounds familiar, isn’t – the prospect of oil-price induced growth without jobs? It seems the sorry picture of the dual character of our economy isn’t about to change anytime soon – now or even in the future. It is the perfect picture of an economy whose one half – running on oil – seems perpetually pressed in the service of the bureaucracy and Nigeria’s Rent Incorporated; the other half left to run on the blood and sweat of its industrious citizens. Picture why for instance, the government plans to spend 72 percent to run its operations leaving a mere 28 percent for capital expenditure in 2012 – an improvement, no doubt on Budget 2011 which devoted 76 percent for recurrent leaving 24 percent for capital expenditure.

But then, as with previous budgets, the key test is what is delivered in value. While government’s poor record of poor budget implementation is already well established, it is the appalling arrangement of priorities and the outrageous lack of the understanding of the issues underlying the security challenges that stands budget 2012 out.

The 2012 budget of course comes across as disappointing in a lot of ways. In the first place, it sticks to the traditional approach of bandying figures that says nothing about the reality of the Nigerian situation. Just as citizens have seen enough of the dizzying trillions to worry about whether this particular one will make any difference in their lives, it offers nothing new outside of the typical conservative, gradualist approach to solving the nation’s multifarious problems. Oil of course remains the main driver of the growth target. As far as curbing

Boko Haram and pen judges

By Bashir Ahmed Kana by some people, especially in the media, for the arrest and prosecution of former Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, for alleged complicity in the Boko Haram saga.

The irony is that, Sheriff is perhaps the number one enemy of Boko Haram, being the one that curtailed their activities as governor of Borno State, when he outlawed the group.

Available security reports indicate that Boko Haram started about 14 years ago, six clear years before Sheriff became governor. It is also on record that the initial grouse of the group was the then governor’s insistence that the group shed their militant approach to issues. It sounds unrealistic for the same person whom the world knows as tenaciously hated by Boko Haram to be fingered as the brain behind it.

Any attempts by people, especially those who influence media comments and analysis to sway public opinion, nay the attention of security operatives from the real issues and culprits, will be tantamount to a great disservice to Nigerians who are desirous of an end to the imbroglio, and the prosecution of actual offenders. Sheriff may have his many political enemies, but even his enemies can testify to the fact that, he was resistant to the Boko Haram sect, consequent upon which the whole crisis snowballed into violence. These political enemies have their friends in the media, and in the security circles, hence the recent attempt to portray Sheriff as a villain, while attempts are being made to absolve those evidently involved.

Recent events indicate that the worst of the situation, especially in Borno state may be over. Not only are faces behind some of the incidents being unmasked, there seems to be some level of reasoning even amongst adherents of the philosophy of Boko Haram to the effect that there is no justification in taking up arms against fellow citizens under the guise of vengeance against a perceived unjust system. That there are limited cases of targeted killings and even the bombings are indicative of the fact that those fingered or arrested may actually be involved. What Nigerians are no longer in doubt about, is the fact that so many people have tended to use Boko Haram as an alibi to commit other forms of crime or even settle political

wastes in government goes, no radical provisions are contained in Budget 2012.

But its greatest flaw lies in its awful misstatement of the priorities. Obviously deliberate, this sums up to the failure to recognise the connection between national security and the ravages of poverty and unemployment both of which are at the heart of the current mass alienation by the citizens against the Nigerian state. That failure is what renders it a less than efficacious instrument of public finance.

No one of course denies that the security challenges are real. While there can be no question about the need for fresh thinking and strategies by the security establishment given the dimensions of the threats by the Boko Haram and other criminal groups, it is a different matter to endorse the open license to militarise the civil space in the guise of providing security – as President Jonathan has done with his 2012 Budget.

Clearly, the option of trading-off the provision of vital basic infrastructure for sophisticated security gadgets may have its attraction to some policy wonks, the myopia in the quest would reveal itself in a short while when citizens, increasingly denied basic infrastructure, sink deeper and deeper into poverty and hence create more problems for the security agencies to manage. The endgame to the logic is better imagined.

How about President Goodluck Jonathan’s pet baby, You-Win, as an strategy to deal with the job crisis? It seems a measure of the extent to which this presidency is yet to grasp the enormity of the unemployment problem. A Presidential initiative to deliver 100,000 jobs sounds good, only that it isn’t near the tip of the iceberg which the President only a while admitted to as nearing the tipping point. Currently at record levels of 24.9 percent, it isn’t only the absolute numbers of the unemployed that is frightening, the decomposition of the figures makes it doubly so. Youth unemployment in particular is acknowledged to be in the region of 50 percent while the menace of under-employment or the phenomenon of disguised employment is indeterminate.

What should citizens make of the whopping N900 billion security vote at this time? That the threats would increase rather than abate in the coming year? Does the development not negate what we are being daily told that the security threats are being contained? It is easy enough to imagine the winners: security contractors and sundry suppliers of high-tech security equipment.

Our security-industrial complex moment may have arrived sooner than expected. Unfortunately, not even the firing pin for the grenade is produced locally to guarantee us a piece of the action. For us, it is lose-lose situation.

Has anyone yet seen how the business promises to recreate itself?

scores.

I am aware that, in 2009, in the heat of the Boko Haram insurgency in Borno, Bauchi, Yobe and Gombe states, security reports had absolved the government and then Governor of Borno State from any blames whatsoever in the Boko Haram palaver. A committee mandated to trace the origin of the sect, its manifestations, involvement of groups or individuals and to recommend ways of containing it and curtailing its spread, had given Sheriff a clean bill of health. Where some of the analysts and commentators got their facts to the effect that Sheriff had a hand in it is amusing. Far beyond that, there is the need to allow security operatives who seem to be on top of the matter to do their jobs without any attempt to cajole them into implicating people who may not have anything to do with Boko Haram.

In a very delicate matter like the Boko Haram insurgency, it is very dangerous for media men to allow their pens be used to pull down people for perceived reasons, or engage their hands in a vendetta war. The whole noise about Ali Modu Sheriff smacks of vain political battle that will not tend to do anybody any good.

Since he left office, many tactics have been employed to rope him into one form of scandal or the other, just to possibly diminish his political profile. Security operatives have remained resolute not to play to the whims and caprices of people who want to undo others in order to gain political ascendency. The public has also remained reluctant to be dragged along in the seeming war of blames. Gone are the days it seems, when analysts and columnists form opinions and sell same to the hapless public without questions. The court of public opinion is growing in sophistication, and getting out of the vile control by a few people who enjoy access to airtimes or newspaper columns to vilify people for no just causes.

The pens that liberate must not judge.

• Kana wrote from Kakuri, Kaduna.

‘There is no doubt that the security agencies have at their disposals many details about the situation, especially on the alleged involvement of some individuals in sustaining the violence, more than anybody else’

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

21

EDITORIAL/OPINION

T

HERE is a sense in which the 2012 Budget as presented by President Goodluck Jonathan could be said to have responded to at least one national imperative: security. The N900 billion set aside for security, a sum nearly equal to two-thirds of the entire capital estimates, some 20 percent of the entire outlay for the coming year, should ordinarily leave no doubts as to what the government considers as topmost priority.

Although not particularly surprising given the nation’s experiences with the Boko Haram and the spectre of internecine conflicts that is far from abating particularly in the North-east and North-central parts of the country, the provision has all the trappings of the fledgling security-industrial complex. Those at the topmost echelon of government appears to have settled on the option of throwing money around –deploying the latest and perhaps the most sophisticated security gadgets that money can purchase– to buy the nation’s peace as against the more enduring alternative of engagement.

Given the mystery in which security issues are shrouded in these parts, including how something as routine as how monies appropriated for internal security operations are spent, it seems high-impossibility to even begin to talk in some meaningful sense of what the current costs of the low-intensity warfare is costing the nation in naira and kobo terms. And this comes nowhere close to the human costs – the lives of service personnel lost in the line of duty and the scores of innocent lives wasted in the cross-fire.

Now it seems unlikely that any consideration of alternative policy choices would come into sharp focus anytime soon – not with oil flowing freely and the price of the commodity doing good in the international market.

With government expecting to pump some 2.4 million barrels of crude daily in the coming year, which at the

‘It seems the sorry picture of the dual character of our economy isn’t about to change anytime soon – now or even in the future. It is the perfect picture of an economy whose one half – running on oil – seems perpetually pressed in the service of the bureaucracy and Nigeria’s Rent Incorporated; the other half left to run on the blood and sweat of its industrious citizens’

E

VERYBODY wants to comment about the prevailing insecurity in Nigeria, especially the Boko Haram insurgency; but most people are uninformed about the origin, nature, manifestations or even the metamorphosis of a hitherto peaceful ideological sect into a violent insurgency.

One of the problems being faced in understanding the issues and persons involved is the pervasive misinformation about it, to the effect that opinions are permeated by lies and half-truths. Many of those who report or comment about the situation are either ignorant of many things or are just being mischievous. There is no doubt also that most of the reports and comments are being spiced with sentiments and even politics, while others are ostensibly sponsored.

It is heartwarming that security operatives seem to be getting to the roots of the matter, and have closed in on the real perpetrators. There is no doubt that the security agencies have at their disposals many details about the situation, especially on the alleged involvement of some individuals in sustaining the violence, more than anybody else. They are in the best position to determine who is involved or not. While analysts, some of them highly respected for their views appear judgmental and tend to target specific individuals, others seem to jettison basic principles of truth, fairness and justice in drawing erroneous conclusions.

Many of our comments, especially from people outside security circles are often shallow and lack any investigative profundity. It is disturbing that some people are trying to divert attention from the real issues at stake.

I am particularly disturbed about the orchestrated calls

‘Any attempts by people, especially those who influence media comments and analysis to sway public opinion, nay the attention of security operatives from the real issues and culprits, will be tantamount to a great disservice to Nigerians who are desirous of an end to the imbroglio, and the prosecution of actual offenders’

Policy Sanya Oni sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk 08051101841

Budget 2012 moment looks as good as guaranteed going by the relative peace in the Niger Delta, government can expect to coast home with its revenue haul on its conservative projection of $70 per barrel of crude going by current indications in the global market for crude.

Government can rest easy –assured that its growth target of 7.2 percent will be met – with or without the Boko Haram terror machine or other similar disturbances.

Sounds familiar, isn’t – the prospect of oil-price induced growth without jobs? It seems the sorry picture of the dual character of our economy isn’t about to change anytime soon – now or even in the future. It is the perfect picture of an economy whose one half – running on oil – seems perpetually pressed in the service of the bureaucracy and Nigeria’s Rent Incorporated; the other half left to run on the blood and sweat of its industrious citizens. Picture why for instance, the government plans to spend 72 percent of the budget to run its operations leaving a mere 28 percent for capital expenditure in 2012 – an improvement, no doubt on Budget 2011 which devoted 76 percent for recurrent leaving 24 percent for capital expenditure.

But then, as with previous budgets, the key test is what is delivered in value. While government’s poor record of budget implementation is already well established, it is the appalling juggling of priorities which betrays an outrageous lack of the understanding of the issues underlying the security challenges that stands budget 2012 out.

The 2012 budget also comes across as disappointing in other ways. It sticks to the traditional approach of bandying figures that says nothing about the reality of the Nigerian situation. Just as citizens can claim to have seen enough of the dizzying trillions to worry about whether this particular one will make any difference to their lives, it offers nothing new outside of the typical conservative, gradualist approach to solving the nation’s multifarious problems. Oil of course remains the main driver of the growth target. As far as curbing wastes in

Boko Haram and pen judges

By Bashir Ahmed Kana by some people, especially in the media, for the arrest and prosecution of former Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, for alleged complicity in the Boko Haram saga.

The irony is that, Sheriff is perhaps the number one enemy of Boko Haram, being the one that curtailed their activities as governor of Borno State, when he outlawed the group.

Available security reports indicate that Boko Haram started about 14 years ago, six clear years before Sheriff became governor. It is also on record that the initial grouse of the group was the then governor’s insistence that the group shed their militant approach to issues. It sounds unrealistic for the same person whom the world knows as tenaciously hated by Boko Haram to be fingered as the brain behind it.

Any attempts by people, especially those who influence media comments and analysis to sway public opinion, nay the attention of security operatives from the real issues and culprits, will be tantamount to a great disservice to Nigerians who are desirous of an end to the imbroglio, and the prosecution of actual offenders. Sheriff may have his many political enemies, but even his enemies can testify to the fact that, he was resistant to the Boko Haram sect, consequent upon which the whole crisis snowballed into violence. These political enemies have their friends in the media, and in the security circles, hence the recent attempt to portray Sheriff as a villain, while attempts are being made to absolve those evidently involved.

Recent events indicate that the worst of the situation, especially in Borno state may be over. Not only are faces behind some of the incidents being unmasked, there seems to be some level of reasoning even amongst adherents of the philosophy of Boko Haram to the effect that there is no justification in taking up arms against fellow citizens under the guise of vengeance against a perceived unjust system. That there are limited cases of targeted killings and even the bombings are indicative of the fact that those fingered or arrested may actually be involved. What Nigerians are no longer in doubt about, is the fact that so many people have tended to use Boko Haram as an alibi to commit other forms of crime or even settle political

government goes, no radical provisions are contained in Budget 2012.

But its greatest flaw lies in its awful misstatement of the priorities. Obviously deliberate - this sums up to the failure to recognise the connection between security and the ravages of poverty and unemployment plaguing the nation. The two are at the heart of the current mass alienation by the citizens against the Nigerian state. That failure is what renders it a less than efficacious instrument of public finance.

No one of course denies that the security challenges are real. While there can be no question about the need for fresh thinking and strategies by the security establishment given the dimensions of the threats by the Boko Haram and other criminal groups, it is a different matter to endorse the open license to militarise the civil space in the guise of providing security – as President Jonathan seems bent on doing with his 2012 Budget.

Clearly, the option of trading-off the provision of vital basic infrastructure for some gadgets may have its attraction to some policy wonks, the myopia in the quest would reveal itself in a short while when citizens, increasingly denied basic infrastructure, sink deeper and deeper into poverty and hence create more problems for the security agencies to manage. The end-game to the logic is better imagined.

How about President Goodluck Jonathan’s pet baby, You-Win, as a strategy to deal with the job crisis? It seems a measure of the extent to which this presidency is yet to grasp the enormity of the unemployment problem. A Presidential initiative to deliver 100,000 jobs sounds good, only that it isn’t near the tip of the iceberg which the President only a while admitted to as nearing the tipping point. Currently at record levels of 24.9 percent, it isn’t only the absolute numbers of the unemployed that is frightening, the decomposition of the figures makes it doubly so. Youth unemployment in particular is acknowledged to be in the region of 50 percent while the menace of under-employment or the phenomenon of disguised employment is indeterminate.

What should citizens make of the whopping N900 billion security vote at this time? That the threats would increase rather than abate in the coming year? Does the development not negate what we are being daily told that the security threats are being contained? It is easy enough to imagine the winners: security contractors and sundry suppliers of high-tech security equipment.

Our security-industrial complex moment may have arrived sooner than expected. Unfortunately, not even the firing pin for the grenade is produced locally to guarantee us a piece of the action. For us, it is lose-lose situation.

Has anyone yet seen how the business promises to recreate itself?

scores.

I am aware that, in 2009, in the heat of the Boko Haram insurgency in Borno, Bauchi, Yobe and Gombe states, security reports had absolved the government and then Governor of Borno State from any blames whatsoever in the Boko Haram palaver. A committee mandated to trace the origin of the sect, its manifestations, involvement of groups or individuals and to recommend ways of containing it and curtailing its spread, had given Sheriff a clean bill of health. Where some of the analysts and commentators got their facts to the effect that Sheriff had a hand in it is amusing. Far beyond that, there is the need to allow security operatives who seem to be on top of the matter to do their jobs without any attempt to cajole them into implicating people who may not have anything to do with Boko Haram.

In a very delicate matter like the Boko Haram insurgency, it is very dangerous for media men to allow their pens be used to pull down people for perceived reasons, or engage their hands in a vendetta war. The whole noise about Ali Modu Sheriff smacks of vain political battle that will not tend to do anybody any good.

Since he left office, many tactics have been employed to rope him into one form of scandal or the other, just to possibly diminish his political profile. Security operatives have remained resolute not to play to the whims and caprices of people who want to undo others in order to gain political ascendency. The public has also remained reluctant to be dragged along in the seeming war of blames. Gone are the days it seems, when analysts and columnists form opinions and sell same to the hapless public without questions. The court of public opinion is growing in sophistication, and getting out of the vile control by a few people who enjoy access to airtimes or newspaper columns to vilify people for no just causes.

The pens that liberate must not judge.

• Kana wrote from Kakuri, Kaduna.

‘There is no doubt that the security agencies have at their disposals many details about the situation, especially on the alleged involvement of some individuals in sustaining the violence, more than anybody else’

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

22

EDITORIAL/OPINION

T

HAT living is daily becoming hellish in Nigeria is fast becoming a fact of life itself and whatever can take us, even if temporarily, out of this hard times is often welcome, or so I thought. Since the debate on same sex relationship/marriage was pushed to the front burner by the Senate recently, Nigerians have suddenly latched on to it as if there are no other problems confronting us as a people. I guess you could blame the media for this and yours sincerely cannot be exonerated.

But the way sympathizers of this devilish act called homosexuality have taken every criticism of this affront on God tends to suggest that their life depends on it. I think it does. But I think it would take almost, if not an eternity, for them to rewrite the law of nature. May be the world has to end first and another that would put homosexuals in the majority has to evolve before they could have their way. As for their say, the floor is open.

Their chief spokes person on this forum is a certain Nigerian with telephone number 0703 507 8881 who chose to remain anonymous until after last Tuesday’s edition of this column. He sent in another text message to complain among other things about my position on the issue and most importantly, to lament that a lot of you people out there have been calling his number to lambast him for his own position on homosexuality. This is unfair to him. Please leave him to his view and whatever he chooses as his sexual orientation, but be rest assured that the majority all over the world, particularly in Nigeria is against homosexuality. That should be enough for now and I think the president is listening.

Though he sent in a name as his, I’ve decided not to publish it to protect him against further sms attack. But then I can’t but publish the views, sent to me, of those opposed to this thing called homosexuality, just as I’ve published our friend with the now increasingly popular phone number mentioned earlier. It is their right to be heard. I hope he understands. And after this, I think we should put an end to this comic relief and face the more serious problems awaiting us in the year 2012. You know them all. But before we go ahead, check your dictionary for this word: paedophile. We’ll come back to that

No comment later.

If homosexuals are free to marry each other and lesbians too, based on human rights view point, then I sincerely submit that drug traffickers and users should be recognized and those already in jail be freed unconditionally with unreserved apology and financial compensation. So NASS honourable members, Nigerians are behind you. Please do not tremble over any form of threat and the President should not delay to sign the decision of the NASS into law. From Neveolise S.U, FCT Abuja. 0806 972 9917 Salamu alaikum ya Abdulwaheed.

I pray to almighty ALLAH to increase your knowledge and imaginative brains. I always enjoy your write up. From Attahiru Ilorin, in Kano, 0806 365 8984 Well done Waheed. The law should include single cell for culprits. Those who cannot abide by our laws can remain in America and UK. We can live without them. This is Nigeria not Sodom and Gomorrah.

Anonymous 0805 796 7625 Correct Man! Tell them more. Even the so called lower animals have not stooped that low to mate same sex!! May God deliver them but bless your likes. Well done.

Anonymous. 0807 423 5536 What has God done to His creatures that we have decided to treat Him with such disrespect? The practitioners of same sex marriage deserve death sentence in accordance with God’s injunction. They are waging war against God and His people.

Anonymous. 0806 321 1927 Same sex attraction is an aberration and a serious loss of both mental and psychologi-

cal sanity. We all must rise up against western intimidation and not allow our government to be bribed and cajoled into accepting same sex marriage or relationship. Very soon it may be legal to have sex with sharks and crocodile in the United States.

From Banabo, Bayelsa 0706 698 0905 Good afternoon sir. I am reading your article now and find it interesting. But I will like to say this same sex marriage is insanity, perversion and shows God wrath on such persons. Reading through Romans 1 vs. 1832 and Levy 18 in the Holy Bible will give one a better understanding of this issue. That nameless guy needs help. (Referring to our friend identified by his phone number earlier). From Tosin, 0805 403 8324 Waheed my brother, I want to thank you for your response to the letter published in today’s (last Tuesday’s) Nation. The retard that wrote it is apparently out of synch with what obtains in Nigeria, the trumped up “facts” he manufactured to press home his case for his co-deviants holds no water. There’s a paucity of evidence to prove that the gay (how did we even get to leave that term to them? When I was growing up “gay” meant “happy”) lifestyle is normal: the act is so despicable that even rats do not engage in it. Some people say it is a condition of birth, I don’t agree, but if this were true would it make it justifiable? We consider people born with physical disorders like tumors, sickle cell anaemia etc needful of help regardless of the fact that they had little to do with their condition. The day we adopt the pro-homosexual arguments the West want us to is the day we seal our demise. God help us.

From Ugonna Emechebe, 0803 675 2018 Odusile, Words have failed me to praise you on your write up”Oh my god, he’s gay”.

The owner of that phone number has shamefully switched off. More grease to your elbows. Anonymous, 0806 487 2017 Sir, Your article has become a weekly food for thought in my family. One would be more concerned about the European ideology on gay and lesbianism. Well all are signs of the last world. Anonymous, 0805 738 6235 Homosexual act should not be given any technical or democratic recognition in Nigeria. If we fail to outlaw it now, we will be calling more converts into the fold. ART. 0805 886 9341 I guess with this sample opinion of Nigerians including our friend’s view published last week, and what others have been saying elsewhere so far, President Goodluck Jonathan is in a better position to know what his fellow compatriots think and what to do when the bill lands on his table. Anonymous.

I am sure you have checked your dictionary for the word paedophile? Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English defines it as someone who is sexually attracted to children. Some paedophiles say they can’t help their situation because it is innate. Shall we then because of this approve of sex with children? Or even condone rape because some people have incurable appetite for rape? Since most of us lay claim to one religion or another and we believe in prayer and miracle, let’s pray to God to miraculously change homosexuals to become normal humans in their sexual orientation, so that they don’t spoil our society further. They need prayer.

May GOD help them. Did I hear a big AMEN there? Anonymous.

I said no comment. Let’s adjourn this issue on this page indefinitely. Anonymous.

‘The day we adopt the pro-homosexual arguments the West want us to is the day we seal our demise. God help us’

VIEW FROM THE FOREIGN PRESS

F

OR any economy to function optimally and efficiently, and for businesses to thrive and flourish – in addition to adequate and functional infrastructural facilities – policies, laws and regulations have to be clear, transparent, precise, unambiguous, consistent, durable and reasonably stable. These must be effectively, explicitly and clearly communicated to business operators, entrepreneurs and investors, so that they will not only play by the rules, but also have clear expectations as to the performance of their investments by being able to know, evaluate and measure approximately the relationship between the potential risks vis-à-vis the potential returns on their investments (input/output analysis).

It will be counter-productive and inimical to business operations if, after making an investment, an investor wakes up the next day and suddenly finds out that the rules (i.e. the relevant investment laws, policies and guidelines) of the game have abruptly changed. Imagine a football match in which the referee suddenly announced in the middle of the game that it was not the number of goals scored that makes you the winner but the number of goals that you conceded!

An example of such a policy mistrust and inconsistency is the proposed bill by the House of Representatives to make it mandatory for major telecommunications companies in the country to be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) According to the House Committee on capital market and other institutions pushing the bill, the proposal is informed by the need to give Nigerians the opportunity to become part owners in such telecos as MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom and Etisalat. The chairman of the committee was quoted as saying that “Nigerians have to benefit from the millions of dollars of profit these companies make annually from them; they have to become part owners through the listing of the companies on the NSE. The companies can give up a percentage of their ownership, it can be five percent, 10 percent or 15 percent; let there be something for Nigerians to own” (The Punch, November 29). The proposed bill, according to the committee, will be tabled on the floor of the

The proposed mandatory listing of telecoms companies

By Kayode Oluwa House in January 2012.

My immediate reaction to the proposed bill is that, it is a wrong move which is not only misdirected, diversionary, self-serving but an unnecessary distraction. The House should rather be more concerned about how to address the perennial low level quality customer-service delivery and what can be done to improve on the poor services being provided by these companies (including the often high, excessive, inexplicable and frivolous bills/charges, incessant poor network service/network congestion, among others). They should, focus more attention on how the telecoms operators can provide efficient, effective and value-added services to their teeming users, rather than compelling them to sell their shares to the public. The House should open discussions with the companies to ensure that they put in place viable, functional, efficient and adequate structures and platforms to enhance their service-delivery capacity. This, I believe, is the most significant and ideal way that Nigerians can effectively and meaningfully benefit from their services.

Even if the shares are publicly listed and offered for sale, as being espoused, there is every possibility – considering the present economic adversities and steep level of poverty in the country – that the exercise will be manipulated, hijacked and cornered by the few rich and privileged Nigerians (and their cronies), mostly the elites, while the ordinary / average Nigerians for whom the proposal is being made may end up not benefitting.

While I do appreciate the fact that it is the duty of the House to make laws in the overall best interest and good governance of the country, it should not be so conceited as to unduly arrogate to itself the role of a business or investment regulatory body.

Moreover, while the House is making laws

purportedly to serve the interests of the people, it should be circumspect not to infringe on the rights and privileges of others. When it comes to issues and policies pertaining to the capital market, the appropriate relevant government agencies are the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the NSE which are vested with the regulatory and supervisory powers to ensure compliance with relevant extant laws and guidelines on the public listing of shares of companies in the stock market.

It is my considered view that since, at the material time these companies were investing in the economy, there was no such law or policy requiring them to publicly list their shares, the enactment of any such law 10 years after– no matter how noble, is not only retroactive and obnoxious, but totally misguided; it is tantamount to changing the rule in the middle of the game. Considering that the decision by any company to go public and be listed on the stock exchange is a selfdirected effort which is usually guided by business and economic considerations (including the business/financial model or structure the company wants to pursue), and not mere emotional sentiments or other irrelevant, extraneous and primordial criteria, a better and more pragmatic approach by the House of Representatives – rather than the force of law – will be by way of moral suasion to engage and dialogue with the companies to voluntarily relinquish and give up a percentage of their ownership structure through the public listing of their shares on the bourse. By the way, it must be said that not all companies want to go public.

Depending on its goal, vision objectives and resources at its disposal, a company may prefer either private listing or public offer; it is the prerogative of the company and not one that should be externally imposed without considering the strategic intent, as well as the organizational values and structure of the company. A situation where

the government is seen to be dabbling into the internal operations of a business organisation, especially as to ownership structure, not only has inherent legal implications, but, more importantly, will not augur well for the efforts aimed at stimulating investments in the country.

It must be affirmed that a business is not a charity or social service organisation, but a profit – making venture. A business is set up precisely to provide a service and make profit; no businessman will invest in any project that would not yield profitable returns. While the House committee is quick to make reference to the “huge” profits being recorded by the telecoms companies, it fails to look at the other side of the equation. It seems to be exaggerating and over - blowing the issue of profit, while whittling down the contributions of these companies to economic growth and national development. What about the humongous job creation opportunities by these companies, many of which employ thousands of Nigerians? What about the indirect employment opportunities generated in supportive companies supplying various forms of inputs, equipments and other materials to these telecoms companies; the outsourcing companies, recharge cards production companies, merchandising/recharge cards distributors and vendors, including the street/ roadside recharge card sellers etc?

The aggregate consumer expenditures of workers employed by these companies, directly and indirectly, as a result of income earned also have significant impact on the economy. What about the corporate social responsibility initiatives of these companies in various sectors of the economy; education, health, infrastructures, sports, entertainment, etc?

In the light of the foregoing, I call on the House to rescind the move and kill the proposed bill which, if passed into law, is capable of denting the image of the nation’s business environment/investment climate, eroding the confidence of investors – both local and foreign – and jeopardising efforts at stimulating investments in the economy.

Oluwa wrote from the Executive Business School, Lagos.

GOLDEN EAGLETS JOB

Amuneke, others reject N350k monthly pay Pg. 41

Osaze: Rift with Hodgson over

Pg. 24

Nation Tuesday, December 20, 2011

PAGE 23

•Devlin Hainsworth, Managing Director, Guinness Nigeria, Aminu Maigari, NFF President and Deji Tinubu, NFF board Member at the Guinness/NFF contract signing ceremony on Monday

Pg. 24

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

24

41

NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT

Osaze: Rift with Hodgson over N IGERIAN striker, Peter Osaze Odemwingie has struggled to live up to a fine first season with Albion and was recently embroiled in a public row with his boss over his injury record.

But all was forgiven as Odemwingie’s excellent lastminute goal gave Hodgson’s side victory at Blackburn on Saturday.

The 30-year-old told the Express and Star: “We didn’t have much of

a problem. He put out his frustrations about my absence but I took the positives out of it and was hoping to get over the injuries and be back.

“It wasn’t easy but it’s over now and I know I’m important to the team. It was a tough period.

“Sometimes, critics are justified and not justified but if you give up then it means you are not strong you are too weak to be a Premier League player.”

G

•Osaze

EAGLES VS RWANDA CLASH

Corp member to get first test

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URPRISE inclusion for the Super Eagles’ camping ahead of the Rwanda game, Stephen Morah will train for the first time with the team under the supervision of head coach, Stephen Keshi.

Keshi, 49, told SuperSport.com that he will watch the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) member train for the first time with the Super Eagles.

“I will watch him (Morah) in training on Wednesday hopefully and then we will know what to expect from him,” Keshi said to SuperSport.com.

The 22-year-old Industrial Chemistry graduate from the University of Jos is one of 30 players expected to hit the Super Eagles’ camp at the Bolton White

Apartments Hotel in Abuja on Tuesday.

Morah caught the attention of Keshi during a recent NYSC game.

The Super Eagles’ head coach also disclosed that the 30 players have a Wednesday deadline to arrive at the team’s lodgings in Abuja.

“The players have till Wednesday to arrive at the camp. I’m allowing this because some of the players are still trying to tie down new contracts for the coming season (in the Nigeria Premier League),” Keshi said.

The Super Eagles will confront their Rwandan counterparts, the Amavubi, in the first leg of a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Kigali on February 29, 2012.

PORTUGUESE TABLE TENNIS LEAGUE

Quadri lifts team to top spot •Extends contract with Joola

N

IGERIA’s table tennis star, Aruna Quadri’s impressive show in the Portuguese table tennis league continued as the 23-year-old aided his team’s dominance of the league.

Also, two years after his engagement

by Germany-based sports manufacturing firm, Joola, the company has agreed to extend the player’s contract by another two years.

Aside helping his team to dominate the league, Quadri has remained unbeaten this season after 13 matches.

To reach the pinnacle of the Portuguese league, Quadri’s team, GDSR Os Toledos won all their matches both home and away with 27 points from nine matches.

In finishing the first half of the league recently, Quadri led his team’s rout of Grupo Desportivo Juncal 4-0. Juncal are another top team, with a Nigerian, Bode Abiodun in their squad.

It was Quadri that began the onslaught when he overcame Francisco Santos 3-0.

His teammate, Diogo Silver continued

•Quadri

By Innocent Amomoh where Quadri began with a 3-1 win over Abiodun to increase their tally to 2-0.

What would have been a setback for Quadri’s team was however averted by Sas Lasan, who came from 2-0 down to beat Juncal’s Chinese player 3-2.

To complete the 4-0 win, Quadri partnered Diogo in the doubles to beat Abiodun and his Chinese teammate 3-0.

When the league resumes in January, Quadri will lead his team against Sporting Club of Lisbon.

In readiness for the 2012 London Olympic Games, Quadri is hoping to take part in the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)-sanctioned Pro Tour tagged Hungary Open in January.

“We have a tough match against Sporting in January when the second half of the league resumes, and I am also commencing my build-up to the London 2012 Olympics by taking part in the Hungary Open Pro Tour. I hope and pray that the preparation will be better than the Maputo All Africa Games preparation.

I also hope that Nigeria will feature in the coming World Championship in Germany in March because this kind of event will determine how prepared we are for the Olympics,” Quadri said.

The Nigeria Civil Defence Corps officer however targets better sponsorship, which he said would help Nigeria to do well in London.

He said: “I pray to get more support from different bodies in order to feature in more Pro Tours before the month of the Olympic Games. I am also hoping that the Sports Ministry will organise training tour for the team so as to have access to latest facilities. I believe if all these can be put in good condition there will be a better outing (at)London Olympics.”

Uchechi quits Sheffield Wednesday

N

IGERIA Under-23 international, Daniel Uchechi has revealed he cannot wait to return to parent club Leicester City after his loan deal to Sheffield Wednesday expires this winter.

Uchechi, who netted two goals at the recent CAF U-23 Championship in Morocco with Nigeria’s Dream Team V, joined English Nationwide team Wednesday at the beginning of the season.

However, the former Flying Eagles star said he has been most frustrated by the long ball tactics at the Nationwide League side.

“I can’t wait to return to Leicester City. I just cannot adapt to the style of play here. It’s the typical English football,” the skilful forward told MTNFootball.com He also admitted that life in the Nationwide League has been difficulty.

“Life here has not been very easy.

Adapting to the style of play have been very challenging but so far I has been able to cope.”

•Uchechi

T

HE River State Commissioner for Sports, Fred Mbombo Igwe is optimistic that Dolphins will defend the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) trophy in their possession come next season.

Speaking with NationSport, the sports boss argued that the expectation of the state for the club is that of back-to-back victory, saying the state is prepared to go all the way to ensure a repetition of the feat achieved last season andto also prepare strongly for the continent.

“Our target is back-to-back victory.

Team Rivers to share N293m

T

From Florence Nkem Israel, Port Harcourt festival rewards from the government.

He said: “We have two hundred and ninety three million naira (N293M) ready in the account, waiting to be paid to the athletes. The only thing we are waiting for now is time. The LOC chairman, his excellency, Tele Ikuru

UINNESS Nigeria plc continues over a decade of investment in Nigerian football by confirming its sponsorship of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) for at least the next two years.

Commenting on the renewal, Secretary General of the NFF, Musa Amadu said: “The NFF is proud to continue working alongside Guinness on this journey to greatness over the next 24 months. We have some audacious goals, with CAN 2013 and the FIFA World Cup 2014 on the horizon.

“This is such an important time, not only for the NFF and the Super Eagles, but for each and every Nigerian football fan out there who dreams of greatness for their national side, and we are so happy to have Guinness at our side.”

At the meeting that signified the formal signing of the contract between the two parties, Mr Devlin Hainsworth, Managing Director Guinness Nigeria plc said: “In keeping with our stature as the first choice beer of football fans, Guinness has been an ardent supporter of and significant investor in the NFF, the Super Eagles and the nation’s millions of football fans for over a decade.

On behalf of those fans, we are delighted to continue our partnership with the NFF and show our support for the Super Eagles as they strive for greatness and embark on a new chapter in their journey to reclaim their status among the elite teams in the World.

“We are excited about this announcement and call on all Nigerians to stand for building our team and restoring the Super Eagles to their rightful place in world football.”

The announcement comes just as Keshi is seen to be stepping up as the new coach for the Super Eagles and as all eyes are on the Super Eagles as they fight to regain their

Dolphins will defend league title –Igwe

17TH NATIONAL SPORT FESTIVAL FALLOUT HE representatives of Rivers state at the 17th National Sports Festival held in Port Harcourt and tagged Garden City Games 2011, Team Rivers, would be hosted this week by the state government.

In a chat with NationSport, Rivers State Commissional for Sports, Fred Igwe revealed that the athletes would celebrate this christmas with their

Guinness, NFF sign 2-year sponsorship deal

has asked us to suggest time and we have suggested between Wednesday and Thursday this week for the event where all the athletes will be invited for the awards.

“As I am talking to you now, the money is ready in the account,” Igwe assured.

Rivers had hosted and won the 17th National Sports Festival in July 2011.

From Florence Nkem Israel, Port Harcourt There is no rule or law that says having won this year 2011, we cannot win in 2012. Our expectation as a state is a repetition of the feat.

“We know that in 2011 we did not pick the trophy from the street. It was keenly contested for. We know we were on the second position for the four remaining matches and on the last day we came tops. So we can repeat a backto-back. If we plan well and execute our plans well, we will defend the trophy.

“Planning well especially in team selection, some will go and some will come. Also, besides planning for the league, we are equally planning seriously for the continental action,” he said.

On the challenge posed by other the clubs’ reluctance to sell players, Igwe said good negotiation will do the magic.

“We’ve already started negotiating for players. It’s a market and if you bid well, they will sell. So it’s not a question of clubs not willing to release players, if the price is right they will sell,” he stated.

status amongst the world’s elite teams.

Stephen Keshi himself commented on the renewal: “Every team needs great fans, and support. This deal shows that Guinness is one of the biggest supporters of Nigerian football today. It cannot be underestimated the effect this kind of partnership can have on the beautiful game. Last year, alongside millions of other Nigerians, I watched Guinness the Match with baited breath as the Super Eagles beat Argentina four goals to one. It is this kind of opportunity that gives a team a taste of greatness and it is this kind of opportunity that will give our team the best chances of success in future tournaments.”

Guinness has vowed to carry on providing the millions of football fans across the country with even more great football

experiences and has confirmed that this will be the first of many announcements planned over the course of the year which will include investment in further ‘An Evening With’ events, giving members of Guiness VIP, Africa’s largest mobile social network, the opportunity to get up close and personal with even more worldclass football icons.

Speaking about the renewed sponsorship, ex Super Eagles captain, Jay Jay Okocha, said, “Through the renewal of its sponsorship of the NFF, Guinness is demonstrating tangible evidence of its belief in the national team, our country and support for the players, the coaches and of course the all-important fans.

As a former player, I know the value of this type of support, and with two important years ahead of us, this is the perfect time to have backing from Guinness so that the Super Eagles can work together to achieve greatness.”

GOLDEN EAGLETS JOB

MATCH-FIXING

Amuneke, others reject N350k monthly pay

Green warns referees, clubs

A

SSISTANT coaches for Nigeria’s national Under-17 team, the Golden Eaglets have rejected a N350,000-monthly pay.

The Eaglets chief coach is Manu Garba, while his assistants are Emmanuel Amuneke, Nduka Ugbade and Emeka Amadi.

According to MTNFootball.com: “The head coach for the Eaglets is on 750,000 Naira, while his assistants are to be on 350,000 Naira each, but they have turned down the offer.”

Both John Obuh and his immediate successor, Monday Odigie, received 150,000 Naira a month as salary. And their assistants were on 40,000 Naira allowances

each.

This rejection is believed to have stalled the start of a training camp for the country’s schoolboys as the assistant coaches are insisting on at least 500,000 naira a month.

Three-time world champions Nigeria have failed to qualify for the last two African Junior Championships. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are therefore hard pressed that this trend is reversed and that the country’s flag is hoisted at the next edition of the tournament slated for Morocco.

In the meantime, former Ethiopia coach, Tom Saintfiet has received the blessing of the NFF technical committee

Yusuf not sure of Al-Hilal stay •Expresses happiness at Keshi’s home stars invitation •Wants football stakeholders to be united

R

ECUPERATING Super Eagles and Al-Hilal of Sudan defender, Yusuf Mohammed has revealed he is not sure yet of a continuous stay at the Sudanese club.

Speaking in an interview with Brilafm, the former Enyimba of Aba player said though he is now up and training but that the decision to stay or leave his present base will depend on the eventual state of his leg.

He said: “For now I just want to (know) how far the injury (would

By Olusoji Olukayode allow) may be I can continue with Hilal or not because the management are threatening. Within my mind, I have not taken a decision. I will take a decision may be in a few days. But I thank God; my leg is a bit better now. I started training. I train morning and evening now”.

On the present state of the game in his homeland, Nigeria, Mohammed advocates unity among stakeholders. “Really we need to put everything in order. We need to put everything in order. We need to be as a family together because there are still problems in Nigerian football”.

Baring his mind on the invitation of 30 home-based Eagles to the Super Eagles by the new handler, Stephen Keshi ahead of the 2013 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda, Mohammed said: “Really I am very happy (to learn) that Keshi invited 30 home-based.”

Reacting to former Enyimba star and fellow Nigerian, Valentine Uwabili’s stay at the Sudanese outfit, Mohammed said: “I’m so happy to have Valentine coming to Al Ilal, you know. Valentine is a very good player, everybody knows him, he’s doing well, I’m so happy for him.”

Yusuf Mohammed sustained a serious injury at the 2010 African Cup of Nations in Angola and has since found it difficult to return to full fitness and international duties.

to become Nigeria’s new technical director.

The appointment of the 38-year-old Belgian is expected to be endorsed by the NFF executive committee during the federation’s AGM in Kaduna before the end of the year.

City want N1bn for Onuoha

W

OLVES and West Brom were Monday handed a boost in their pursuit of Manchester City defender, Nedum Onuoha after Roberto Mancini said the Nigeria-born can leave next month.

The centre-back, aged 25, is on the list for both Black Country rivals as they bid to strengthen their squads when the January transfer window opens.

Neither Wolves nor the Baggies will pay the estimated £4m (about N1bn) City want for the former England Under-21 international, with both understood to be willing to do business at around £3m about N750m.

And they could face interest from Premier League basement boys Bolton to fill the void when former Villa centre-back, Gary Cahill leaves.

And theCity boss Mancini is happy to allow Onuoha the chance of regular football elsewhere permanently rather than allow him out on loan, along with the similarly out-of-favour Wayne Bridge.

“Onuoha and Bridge are good players and I hope we can find a good solution for them in January,” said Mancini.

H ewent on: “I hope for them that they can find good clubs who will pay their value and they can continue to play football.

“If we take a player from another club (on loan) we pay a lot of money, yet other clubs want to take players from us on loan. It is not correct.”

Onuoha and Wigan midfielder Mohamed Diame are Woves coach, McCarthy’s leading targets.

He is also weighing up a move for one of Arsenal’s young midfield men Emmanuel Frimpong or Francis Coquelin while he remains keen on Sunderland’s Craig Gardner.

N

IGERIA Football Federation (NFF) technical committee chairman, Barrister Chris Green has charged referees to stay off controversies in the 2011/2012 Nigeria Premier League (NPL) season.

Green told SuperSport.com that the football body will not spare any referee who by his/her deed brings the league to disrepute.

He said: “We won’t tolerate any wrong-doing from the referees. Any referee found to have misbehaved will be de-listed. Clubs, too, found indulging in match-fixing will be summarily sanctioned. Match commissioners will not be spared as any of them found wanting will be immediately fired. We’ll monitor the league from start to finish.”

The NFF executive board member who spoke during the recent NPL congress in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state opined that peace has returned to the league body and that all hands must be on deck to sustain it. he stated: “Peace has come to the NPL, let’s try to nurture it. 2011 is not okay for us except Enyimba and Sunshine Stars that got to the semifinals of the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup respectively. I believe starting from 2012 good results will follow us. Let’s strive to be the best in Africa, it’s achievable. Let’s us put hands together to help Nigeria football grow.”

•Green

Eguavoen lined up for Enyimba return •Onuoha

C

OACH Austin Eguavoen is in line for a sensational return to two-time African champions, Enyimba, MTNFootball.com has again scooped.

The immediate past Nigeria Olympic team coach alongside Niger Tornadoes coach, Justin Tenger are the main candidates to be named technical adviser by the six-time NPL champions. Enyimba have already elevated assistant coach, Audu Maikaba to chief coach of the Aba club.

Last season fell far below Enyimba’s high standards as they failed to win any major trophy. They crashed out in the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League, were beaten in the final of the Nigeria Federation Cup by regional rivals, Heartland and only finished Seventh in the Nigeria Premier League (NPL).

Tenger is a highly experienced, head-strong coach who has again ensured modest Tornadoes stay put in the Nigerian top flight after a poor start to the season. They placed 14th with 50 points from 38 matches.

Eguavoen, who has left the country to rejoin his family in Belgium for the holidays, informed MTNFootball.com that he has already got offers from clubs in the NPL but would wish to take his time before considering his next move.

“I am already getting offers, which

I would not want to discuss on the pages of newspapers. I want to go see my family in Belgium after which you would get to find out where I would be going,” he said.

Eguavoen, who has had a brief coaching stint in South Africa also told MTNFootball.com that he would not rely completely on foreignbased players if he had another chance at handling the country’s

Olympic team.

“If I had another chance at the Dream Team, I would not rely completely on foreign-based players. However if we must use home-based players we need to camp these players for a minimum of six months,” he stated.

Eguavoen has coached all Nigeria national sides with bronze medal at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt his highest achievement.

Keshi calls up Kingsley Udoh

S

UPER Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has extended a special invitation to Olympic international defender, Kingsley Udoh even though he was not picked

•Keshi

a squad of 30 players from the NPL. Udoh revealed to MTNFootball.com that he has been handed a call-up to the Eagles by Keshi.

“Eagles chief coach, Stephen Keshi has invited me to the Abuja camp of the Eagles,” Udoh disclosed.

“I am looking forward to impressing the Eagles gaffer who has kept tabs on me and my recovery since our return from Morocco.”

Keshi also confirmed his special callup to the former U-17 central defender.

“I have told Kingsley to report to camp on Monday even though he was not among the 30 players I invited,” the Eagles’ coach said.

Thirty players from the domestic league began training in Abuja, Monday ahead of February’s 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda in Kigali.

25

PROPERTY

Tuesday, December 20, 2011 Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com

* The Environment * Mortgage * Apartments * Security * Homes *Real Estate

email:- property@thenationonlineng.net

Harvest of malls •N350m shopping centre opens in Lagos

•Artist impression of Trinity Mall

Shopping malls are sprouting all over the place, thanks to the model city plan by the Lagos State government. The latest is Trinity Mall on Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja.

With its opening, shoppers no longer need to travel far to get what they need. OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE reports.

•CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

•Housing: many options, few solutions

- PAGE 26

•Lagos Trade Fair concession: ‘Crisis’ll soon be resolved’

- PAGE 40

•ATOPCON offers solution to national development - PAGE 40

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

26

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT END OF YEAR 2011 REVIEW

Housing: many options, few solutions T

HE effects of the banking crisis took its toll on the housing sector as houses in the upscale market remained vacant with reluctant buyers who refused to be swayed by the bargain prices that would have been taken up.

In the advanced clime, housing provision is used as an indicator to measure the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the nation. Its growth translates to the growth of the economy but in Nigeria the housing sector contributes an abysmal 0.8 per cent to the economy.

Stakeholders made representations to the government to liberalise the sector by asking that the Land Use Act be either amended or abrogated to make land easily accessible to developers who may want to engage in mass housing to accommodate the un-housed urban majority.

The year also witnessed may innovative products and housing models from hydro-form, form technology, row houses and other models from Malaysia, Singapore and South Africa - all claiming 25 per cent reduction in relation to the cost of conventional homes.

Green houses were also canvassed at different fora where houses can be built with a lot of ventilation that will reduce energy consumption making it almost impossible to accommodate air conditioners as it is today where provision for air conditioner is paramount in designing of almost every house.

New tenancy law In Lagos, for instance, the government signed into law a Tenancy law to discourage advance rent. The Commissioner said the government decided to come up with the law as it became the norm for landlords to charge between two to three years advance rent, which was injurious to the existence of tenants as over 90 per cent of the tenants could not afford it and those who rallied

The housing sector this year was never lacking in ideas both from the government and the private sector. The ministry was lumped with lands, urban development and housing, which made it burdensome and, of course, did not miss the scathing remarks of professionals in the sector that scored the Federal Government low. OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE reports that this year will go down in history as one with many workshops and communiqué on affordable housing without actual delivery.

•Amal Pepple, Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development

round to get the fund defaulted after the expiration of the initial advance rent, he said.

The state government also launched a mortgage scheme that is specially targeted, at first time, at home buyers to encourage them to own houses of their own while reducing the time and fund spent on title acquisition.

The year in review also witnessed altercation between government and some developers leading to demolition. A case in mind is that of 172 houses demolished in Lugbe, a suburb on the Abuja Airport road where over N10billion was allegedly lost by developers due to non compliance with approval plans of the Federal Capital Development Authority.

Land use Act

Harvest of malls •Continued from Page 25

I

N the last one year in Ikeja, the Lagos State seat of power, there has been a harvest of such malls and the latest is Trinity Mall in the heart of Ikeja. The unique factor that distinguishes it from the rest of the pack is that while other malls are letting and leasing spaces, Trinity Mall offers outright ownership.

Ikeja is fast turning to an exciting city and shoppers delight with the avalanche of modern eateries, hotels and malls, Trinity Mall strategically located on Obafemi Awolowo way, Ikeja is positioned to provide shoppers and shop-owners fresh and ultimate novel experience in shopping with the added benefit of outright ownership of the

shops.

Unlike other malls or market arrangements, Trinity Mall is not for lease but built to be owned by those interested in being part of a new experience in the provision of topquality service and products for sale to discerning members of the public in a relaxed environment for 50 years, which is renewable.

Major attraction of the mall The Nation learnt, is the opportunity it offers to subscribers to own a part of it under very flexible payment plans spread over a comfortable period. In a chat, Managing Director, OMAIS Investment Limited, promoters of the mall, Mr Omochiere Aisagbonhi, said at the launch of the project in Ikeja that the aim is to make shopping and

•Mike Onolememen, Minister of Works

•Ukpong

Stakeholders also kicked against the Land Use Act, which they said have more than anything stalled the growth of the sector.

A former National Secretary, Nigeria Institution of Estate Surveyors & Valuers (NIESV), Mr Sam Ukpong, had, in an earlier interview with The Nation, made a case for the abrogation of the obnoxious Land Use Act to make land accessible to developers.

He criticised a situation where developers are forced to provide the needed infrastructure at their sites and wondered how there can ever be affordable housing for the majority of the people who are desirous of having homes of their own.

The near elimination of the middle class due to the economic woes of the nation also affected rental ac-

commodation in that segment to the extent that some developers in this category branched out to concentrate on office accommodation leaving a deluge of unoccupied houses in high end markets of Lekki, Victoria Island and Banana island in Lagos.

Roads The road sector didn’t fare well at all as the highways remained death traps for road users. Daily, there were reports of ghastly accidents on the highways; the worse hit remained the Sagamu-Ore-Benin Expressway.

Lokoja-Abuja, Onitsha-Owerri, Port Harcourt and Enugu highways are still dotted with craters that claim lives daily. The government serially has awarded contracts on

other business transactions a pleasant experience.

On the design of the mall, he said: “The design is a mix of rugged Nigerian and fine-honed international structural details. The shops are of various shapes with provision for lock-ups, open plans and seethrough styles and other categories.

There is ample parking space for over 400 vehicles, 24-hour power and water supply. Others are security coverage including CCTV surveillance round-the-clock and un-

interrupted water supply to ensure peace of mind for shoppers and shop owners.

He said they decided not to go up to eight to nine floors, though they are legally permitted to do so but decided on four floors for that exquisite touch though the mall incorporates a lift, which people can use as an alternative to the stairs to move round.

On the cost of the shops, Aisagbonhi said the over 70 shops cost N515, 000 per square metre with

‘The design is a mix of rugged Nigerian and finehoned international structural details. The shop types are various shapes and sizes, with provision for lock-ups, open plans and see-through styles and other categories’

those highways to incompetent contractors who seem clueless on the right technology to use to build the roads, which has kept failing at the slightest sign of rain.

The Federal Government also toyed with the idea of road concessioning by using the LagosIbadan Expressway as a pilot programme but up until now the project is at best on the drawing board.

The concessionaire Bicourtney Highways Ltd has had to delay the road construction in their search for a foreign technical partner and financier. Luckily, they announced recently the arrival of their South African partners who will handle the job.

Meanwhile, the public is left with palliative measures on the road, which has proved insufficient due to the number of vehicle plying the road and the level of deterioration which has been part of the road’s history.

It is hoped that the Federal Ministry of Works will ensure that the general public are not exposed to the same harrowing experience they had this year in the in-coming year on our roads since the contracts have allegedly been awarded.

Environment Most Nigerians are yet to key into issues relating to the environment.

Issues that have to do with climate change though in the front burner globally, has not received the needed attention in the country. Most parts of the country witnessed devastating floods culminating in loss of lives as a result of the effects of climate change, drought, and deforestation - especially in the Northern part of the country.

It is hoped that the government will embark on more advocacy campaign to educate the people on how to mitigate the effects of climate change and also campaign vigorously on the need to reduce green house emission by breaking down the myth relating to climate change. the minimum size as 20 square metre.

On payment options, he said the promoters have come up with flexible payment options that are inclusive of 20 per cent down payment with the balance spread equally over of six months to one year.

A prospective shop owner Mr Godfrey Ndudim commended the promoters on the strategic location of the mall and the planned facilities that will be incorporated. He said he subscribed to the mall because of the flexible payment plan announced by the promoters and the manageable size of the shops, which according to him will maintain the sanity of the mall.

For Mrs Bunmi Oyewole, another potential owner, the flexible payment option is a plus and the fact that she can eventually become the owner of the shop after a period of time remains a huge incentive.

Firm secures $160m for 5,000 low-income houses in six states

T

O increase the country’s housing stock in-line with the government’s Social Housing initiative, AIS Integrated Company Nigeria Limited said it is set to provide 5,000 housing units for low and medium income earners in the country.

AIS Integrated Company Nigeria Ltd, an Abuja-based company, disclosed that it has earmarked N24.8 billion for the project, which will be located in Abuja and six other states.The first phase of the project has already

From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

kicked off in different parts of Kogi State.

In a statement, the Managing Director of AIS Integrated Company Nigeria Ltd, Mr Sunday Idachaba, who unveiled the project at the weekend in Abuja, explained that the project, which is the firm is doing in partnership with the Nigerian Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, Kogi State councils, Iron and Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ISSAN, is in

line with the Federal Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development Social Housing Scheme and Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board Housing Scheme.

Idachaba said: “ Two thousand housing units are targeted at Kogi State civil servants and other lowincome earners while additional 1,000 units will be built specifically for staff of the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited to afford them decent accommodation during retirement lives.”

He disclosed that excavation have begun in some of the designated sites with a completion period of 36 months beginning from November. This is in addition to similar projects in Bauchi, Nasarawa, Niger, Adamawa and Jigawa states.

He said: “The company has secured a $160 million consolidated funds from foreign financiers besides affording low-income earners opportunity of owning their homes, the project will provide about 10,000 jobs in Kogi State alone.”

On how to subscribe, he said pro-

spective applicants can obtain forms from designated banks and are expected to make 10 per cent equity contribution while the rest 90 percent will be financed through an already secured mortgage arrangement.

He said the concept for each estate has been designed to afford prospective occupants the choice of choosing locations closest to their native homes just as he noted that the houses will be on owner-occupier basis and inconformity with the government’s social housing concept.

27

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

E-mail:- law@thenationonlineng.net

For years, Nigeria has been faced with poor budget implementation, with the National Assembly accusing the executive of not living up to its promise. Every year, the executive promises faithful implementation of the budget only to give excuses for not doing so at the end of the year. With the President’s presentation of next year’s budget, fears are rife that Budget 2012 may go the way of others in terms of implementation.

How can the National Assembly compel faithful implementation of the budget? ERIC IKHILAE and JOSEPH JIBUEZE seek answers to this question from lawyers

•President Goodluck Jonathan

•Senate President David Mark

Way out of poor budget implementation O

N paper, Nigeria produces a budget which some have described as the “best” in sub-Saharan Africa. But the problem is with implementation. A question then arises: Should there be a problem with implementation of a budget said to be wellformulated and packaged? Naturally, the answer should be no. Unfortunately, that is not the case.

•Lawyers advocate enforcement of Appropriation Act With an array of top class experts in the ministries of Finance, Planning, Budget and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the country cannot but produce a sound budget.

The existence of these economic eggs shows that the government understands

the importance of budgeting for the realisation of national development.

In democracy, budgeting is an integral component of governance, which explains why the Appropriation Bill is often subjected to rigorous examination by the Legislaure.

Budget, aside from promoting transparency and accountability in public fund management, is an instrument for self assessment by government. Postbudget reviews are used to assess overall performance, the outcome of which •See page 29

•Eso: Waging corruption war in retirement - P.32 • ‘Lawyers create wealth’ - P.35

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

28

LAW REPORT

Candidate who wins case on court judgment steps into shoes of invalidly nominated opponent IN THE COURT OF APPEAL ( Judicial Division) On Wednesday, the 2nd day of July, 2008 Suit No: CA/PH/EPT/8/08 BEFORE THEIR LORDSHIPS SAKA ADEYEMI IBIYEYE ....... Justice, Court of Appeal CLARA BATA OGUNBIYI ....... Justice, Court of Appeal PAUL ADAMU GALINJE ....... Justice, Court of Appeal OLUKAYODDE ARIWOOLA ....... Justice, Court of Appeal GEORGE OLADEHINDE SHOREMI ....... Justice, Court of Appeal BETWEEN CHIEF SERGEANT CHIDI AWUSE

...APPELLANTS

AND CELESTINE NGOZICHIM OMEHIA INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC) & 2 ORS. ...RESPONDENTS CLARA BATA OGUNBIYI, J.C.A. (Delivered the Leading Judgment):

T

HE judgment here is in respect of the two appeals’ which were brought by notices of appeal filed on December 14, 2007 and March 15, 2008. The two notices of appeal, which are at pages 586 - 589 of the record of appeal and pages 2-04-210 of the supplementary record of appeal respectively, are not assigned different numbers. They were, therefore, treated under one appeal number’ and argued together even though there was no application for the consolidation of the two appeals. Because this is an election matter which ought to be treated expeditiously, the error or otherwise in this appeal will be overlooked.

The two rulings dated November 29, 2007 and February 27, 2008 against which the two appeals were filed arose from the same set of facts which I will set out here under briefly as follows:On April 14, 2007, Governorship elections were held throughout the 36 States of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In Rivers State, the appellant in both appeals herein was a candidate sponsored by Democratic Peoples Party in that election, while the respondent was sponsored by the People Democratic Party.

After the election aforesaid the respondent was declared the winner and was accordingly returned as the duly elected Governor of Rivers State by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the second respondent.

In reaction to the declaration by INEC, the appellant herein filed a petition dated 14th May 2907 against the respondent and others at the Governorship and Legislative Election Tribunal sitting at Port Harcourt.

The respondent war; subsequently sworn in as the Governor of Rivers State on May 29, 2007. Paragraphs 45-50 of the petition reproduced read: “45. Your petitioners aver that the 1st respondent was at the time of the election, not qualified to contest the election based on the Federal High Court judgment dated 15th day of March, 2007 in suit No. FHC/ABT/C5/29/ 2007 between Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi vs Independent National Electoral/ Commission & 2 Ors. 48. Your petitioners aver that the return of the 1st respondent was invalid because he wasnot qualified at the time of the election to contest the election.

49. Your petitioners aver that the 1st respondent was not duly elected by a majority of lawful and/or valid votes cast at the election.

50. Your petitioners aver that the 1st respondent did not poll the highest number of lawful votes cast at the gubematorial election of April 14, 2007 in Rivers State.”

The appellant eventually claimed the following reliefs at page 94 paragraph 52 of the record and said:“Whereof your petitioners pray that the election be declared null and void and nullified on the grounds that it was not conducted sub-

stantially in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2006, as amended, 1999 Constitution, or as the case may be.”

During the pendency of the Appellant’s petition, the Supreme Court in a unanimous judgment which was delivered on the October 15, 2C07 in an appeal between RT. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi v (1) Independent National Electoral Commission (2) Celestine Omehia, (3) Peoples Democratic Party and Ors. (2008) 5 NWLR (Pt.1080) 227 held that Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi was the PDP’s candidate at April, 14th, 2007 Governorship election in Rivers State and not Celestine Omehia. The Supreme Court, therefore, ordered Celestine Ngozichim Omehia to vacate the Government House with immediate effect for Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi. The order was complied with and Amaechi was sworn in as the Governor of Rivers State after Celestine Omehia vacated the Government House. The effectual post mortem of the judgment of the apex court therefore heralded that Celestine Ngozichim Omehia was never either the PDP candidate nor did he ever contest and talk less of winning the said questioned governorship election held on the April 14, 2007. Consequent to the foregoing therefore Celestine Omehia brought an application to have his name struck out from the appellant’s petition. The affidavit in support at para..6 (b) in a nutshell states: “6. That I am informed by Dike Udenna Esq. one of the counsel for the 1st respondent and

I verily believe him as follows:(b) That the 1st respondent is no longer “the person whose election is complained of and is also no longer a necessary or desirable party to the petition.”

The tribunal after hearing both sides granted the application and struck out the Respondent’s name. The decision in which the Respondent’s name was struck out is therefore the subject matter of the first appeal.

As a result of the striking out of the name of Celestine Omehia, the remaining respondents to wit INEC and its staff brought a motion dated and filed on the 10th December 2007 before the tribunal praying for the striking out of the entire petition on the ground that tire tribunal lacked jurisdiction to further entertain the case. The application was predicated on the premise that the candidate declared elected at the gubematorial election in Rivers State held on the 14th April, 2007 whose election was rightly to have been challenged under section 285(2) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 was neither made a party ‘nor was he disclosed in the petition.

This application was contentiously heard, and in a reserved and considered ruling, which was delivered on the February 27, 2008 the tribunal granted the prayers sought. At page 203 the learned tribunal had this to say amongst others: “In the circumstance thereof, we do hereby grant the respondents/applicants prayers; that is to say the tribunal lacks the jurisdiction to continue the hearing of this petition because the person whose election or return is being challenged is not before it.”

The petition was accordingly dismissed.

The said decision therefore forms the nucleus of the second appeal.

The two appeals were argued serially, and same consideration will now also be given in the order in which they were argued.

The notice of appeal, which was filed on the December 14, 2007, (which I will now refer to as the 1st notice of appeal) contains three grounds of appeal and same are hereunder reproduced without their particulars as follows:“1. Error in law The Election Tribunal erred in law in striking out the name of the 1st respondent, other than nullifying the election having rightly found in the passage of its judgment as follows:“It is our view that this tribunal being of subordinate jurisdiction to the Supreme Court is bound no only to obey but to enforce the decision of the Supreme Court. It follows therefore that this tribunal could and will not close its eyes to the judgment of the Supreme Court in Amaechi’s case.”

• Error in law The election tribunal erred in law in granting the order striking out the name of the

1st respondent from the petition.

• Error in law The election tribunal erred in law and was without jurisdiction to strike out the 1st respondent’s name from the petition.”

In reaction to the notice of appeal, the second fourth respondents on the January 28, 2008 filed a notice of preliminary objection challenging the competence of the notice of appeal. The grounds of the objection as set out in the notice are as follows:• That this appeal is incompetent for gross mis-constitution of parties.

• That section 246(1)(b)(ii) of the 1999 Constitution regulates the right of appeal to the Court of Appeal in all election petitions arising from the decision of the National Assembly Election Tribunal and Governorship and Legislative Houses of Assembly.

• That the instant appeal arose from the interlocutory decision of the Governorship Legislative Houses of Assembly dated November 29, 2007 which struck out the name of the 1stt Respondent from the petition filed by the petitioners.

• That the said interlocutory decision in the petition did not determine the petition on the merit in that it did not decide one way or the other whether the petitioners or the 1st respondent was duly elected.

• That section 246(1)(b)(ii) of the Constitution only provides for a right of appeal as of right when a decision finally disposes of the petition on the merits.

Parties filed and exchanged briefs of argument. The second - fourth respondents incorporated their argument on the preliminary objection in their brief of argument, while the appellant equally responded thereto in his reply brief.

When the appeal came up for hearing on the day of May 27, 2008.

Learned counsel for the parties identified their respective briefs of arguments and proceeded to adopt and relied on the arguments contained therein. Mr. O. B. James, learned counsel for the 1st respondent identified the 1st respondent’s brief of argument, dated and filed the January 21, 2008 and applied to withdraw same. Needless to restate that this application became necessary in view of the 1st respondent’s application to have his name struck out from the petition that resulted in the ruling’ which is the nucleus or subject matter of this appeal. Having withdrawn the brief, the 1st respondent was therefore precluded from participating in this appeal.

The relevant briefs of arguments considered for the hearing of this appeal therefore are that of the appellant’s dated 14th and filed on the January 15, 2008, and also the second fourth respondents’ dated and January but deemed filed on March 3, 2008.

•To be continued

•Cross Section of participants at the last National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Eket, Akwa Ibom State.

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

29

LAW COVER CONT’D

Way out of poor budget implementation •Continued from page 27

informs the need for improvements in subsequent exercises.

Budgets are also used by the electorate to measure the campaign promises made by politicians. In developed societies, the organised private sector and other members of the soceity eagerly await the release of the annual budget.

The reason for this is obvious: the budget outlines government’s current fiscal policies and programmes. It shapes the socio-economic outlook for the year and helps direct investment options.

The annual budget is seen as a vehicle not only for driving development, but a critical catalyst for growth.

Thus, if a country’s budget preparation and implementation are bungled, the economy is destroyed and its development efforts stifled. This, perhaps, informs why developed nations handle their budgeting matters with seriousness.

Such seriousness seems to be lacking in Nigeria. Over the years, budget presentations have become an annual ritual where the government reels out promises of mouth-watering projects it hopes to execute during the year.

Heavy sums of money are announced in relation to the said proposed projects. The ritual often ends there, because at the end of the year, citizens can hardly marry the budget proposition with implementation.

Government resorts to blaming such poor budget implementation on paucity of funds.

Since independence over 51 years ago, no government has achieved 70 per cent budget implementation. It is also not known that sincere effort has been made by any government to ensure budgetary discipline among public officers.

Why has it become increasingly impossible for every government to achieve an appreciable execution of the Appropriation Act? How can this practice be reversed?

Law experts blamed poor budget implementation on pervasive corruption and the executive’s failure to ensure proper planning regarding how budgets are to be implemented before their presentation to the Legislature.

They also identified the legislature’s failure to carry out its oversight function as a contributing factor. They noted that the oversight functions of the legislature have always been halfheartedly done.

Other identified factors include late passage of the Appropriation Act, resulting mostly from delay by the Executive, the non-release of funds for projects execution and the lack of political will by the government to do the right thing.

They also identified widespread political apathy and high illiteracy level among the populace, which most politicians capitalise on in deceiving the citizenry about their achievements.

They noted that it is a practice among most public officers to boast about the number of projects they have executed without relating their achievements to the overall budget proposals for the period under review.

Experts said the way to check poor budget implementation is to address these inadequacies. They suggested enhanced application of the law and the enactment of new or amendment of existing ones as deterrent.

They argued that the strict application of the existing laws, such as the Fiscal Responsibility Act, the Public Procurement Act and others would compel public officers to ensure strict execution of the Appropriation Act. Dr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN) said the inability of succeeding governments to execute the Appropriation Act as passed has partly contributed the nation’s underdevelopment. He said the people, under the law,

possess the right to compel the government to implement the budget as passed.

“The budget, as passed, is an Act of either the national or state Assembly. So, to that extent, it is a law that should be obeyed.

“When the citizens have observed that the law is not obeyed with the failure of the government to execute a project that was budgeted for, those affected could go to court to compel the government to obey the law.

“But one must be convinced that funds were available and were indeed allocated for such projects that had been budgeted, but left unexecuted. If funds are budgeted for projects and there is not enough revenue available to the government, then there is nothing to be compelled,” he said.

Activist-lawyer Mr Ike Ofuokwu said the solution to effective budget performance is the political will to see the proposal through and not laws to compel “full implementation.”

There should also be effective monitoring, he said, adding that enforcing any law against incomplete implementation may be difficult.

His words: “Irrespective of the volume of laws that may be enacted to compel full implementation by the executive, it will remain the same old story due to lack of will.

The law would rather be observed in the breach.

“The only panacea is willingness on the part of the executive to resolve to be selfless for once, and do what is just and proper by displaying fiscal responsibility towards the budget.

“A Budget Implementation Committee properly so called should be set up with men and women of unquestionable integrity, not a job for the boys.

“Criminalising it will just be tantamount to elevating criminality as with other laws that were enacted in the past to fight those at the helm of affairs of this country.”

Executive Director, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, a lawyer and notary public, said failure to “fully implement” a budget violates the Constitution.

To him, that should be enough reason to begin impeachment proceedings against a President or a governor. There is no need for new laws to compel budget implementation, he said.

“It is already implied that once the National Assembly approves the budget, it becomes an Act. That the budget must be placed before them and be approved is a legal and constitutional requirement.

“Failure to implement the budget strictly and conscientiously without any obvious or reasonable and justifiable ground would amount to a flagrant violation of the Constitution.

“This is capable of being used as a basis for commencing impeachment proceedings against the President if the members of the National Assembly are to be alive to their responsibility to the people.

“My sincere opinion is that no special law is needed to criminalise non-faithful and non-conscientious implementation of the budget. It will be a situation of one legislation too many.”

For Lagos lawyer Mr Jonathan Iyieke,

•Speaker House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal

• Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Joseph Daudu (SAN)

•Nwobike (SAN)

•Ofuokwu

even if a law is passed criminalising incomplete budget implementation, the immunity clause will make it impossible to hold a President or governor to account for not seeing a budget through.

He said: “Whether or not a law exists to criminalise or otherwise deal with nonimplementation of budget by the executive is not an issue, but the realisation of the spirit and intendment of that law when enacted.

“The Criminalisation Act or Law as the case may be cannot work save there is spontaneous amendment or abrogation of the immunity clause in Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution.

“Unfortunatel, the periphera meaning of implementation of budgets in Nigeria runs contrary to its contextual meaning of ex-

‘It is already implied that once the National Assembly approves the budget, it becomes an Act. That the budget must be placed before them and be approved is a legal and constitutional requirement. “Failure to implement the budget strictly and conscientiously without any obvious or reasonable and justifiable ground would amount to a flagrant violation of the Constitution’

ecuting it to a logical conclusion. An example of non-implementation of budget is the Lagos-Benin expressway where every year, contractors pitch tent there, causing traffic.

“An incorruptible parliament is desirable to ensure proper enactment of law and full implementation, or else we may be searching for the beautiful ones not yet born.”

Constitutional lawyer and activist Mr Theophilus Akanwa said any move to compel “full budget execution” could lead to treasury looting.

His words: “I don’t subscribe to the idea of promulgating a law to enforce ministries to implement their budgets and if not fully implemented, sanctioned.

“My reason is that it will encourage massive looting of the treasury. It will be an avenue to create fictitious contracts in order to avoid punishment. It is likely to encourage corruption than curb it.

“I will rather suggest that all unspent budgetary allocation be returned to the treasury. The ministries’ activities, contracts and their execution should be probed after unspent funds had been returned, in order to ascertain how they spent their budget.

“Appropriate recommendation should be made by the probe panel for possible prosecution if need be.

“I find it, however, very difficult to believe and pained that some ministries are unable to judiciously spend their budgets.

They have virtually failed to deliver to the Nigerian people despite the huge resources availed them.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

30

FROM THE COURT

‘Why PDP appealed Borno guber poll verdict’

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•From left: Former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Rivers State Okey Wali (SAN); Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, Chairman ABUCCIMA, Otunba Dele Oye and former General Secretary NBA, Ibrahim Eddy Mark, at the Annual Law week of NBA Abuja, Branch at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja

Be apolitical, minister tells NBA

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HE Minister of State for Education, Mr Nyesom Wike has urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to try as much as possible to dissociate itself from partisan politics.

Fielding questions from journalists after the NBA Abuja Law Week dinner at Sheraton Hotel Abuja, Wike said: “The Nigerian Bar Association should be apolitical. If you want to play politics, you should go out as an individual and play politics but not as a Bar. “As a Bar, we should be apolitical; we should be able to look at the government, see what the government is doing, whether the government is doing well or not and tell government when it is not doing well.

“Now, if we as a Bar begin to adopt candidates for elections into political offices, obviously we cannot be the watchdog any longer. But as individuals, we are free to play politics, support candidates of our choice and so on. It is not our tradition to be political at the Bar. “Frankly speaking, I have al-

ways said that the duty of pressure groups like the NBA is to see things that the government is doing. If the government does well, they will say, government we think you are doing well in this area, we think you’re not doing well here and we think that you should go this way.”

The minister added: “We must not politicise everything, but we must live up to that standard where we criticise everybody both government, institutions and individuals constructively without taking sides.”

He called on lawyers to always support the Bar wherever they are because it is a noble profession gentlemen and one body, though many branches.

In a chat with The Nation, Chairman of the Law Week Committee, Ibrahim Eddy Mark said: “I feel fulfilled because when we were mandated to do this job, I was a little bit apprehensive, not because we didn’t want to do it, but because we didn’t want to fail, we didn’t want to fail below the expectations of the branch’ . Mark

said: ‘ My members were with me, we had done this type of thing before and with the benefit of hindsight, we were able to do our best to give the branch a well improved law week and dinner that was entirely successful.

“We appreciate the assistance and co-operation of the FCT High Court in making the event a success.

On the challenges faced by the Committee, Mark said: “The challenges were more of monetary than any other thing. Our members did not see the branch as their baby, which they need to nurture to growth.

“Few of the branch elders were very supportive. As you heard, the Chief Judge of Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta was asking during his dinner speech: Where are the Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANS) in this branch?

“Some of them are really supportive, anyway. We shall not be discouraged. We are working for the Bar. Maybe one day, the spirit of the Bar will enter them and they will have a change of heart.”

HE People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Borno State and its governorship candidate in the April 26 gubernatorial election, Mohammed Goni, have gone to the Court of Appeal sitting in Jos to challenge the election of Governor Kashim Shettima.

The state Election Petition Tribunal had upheld Shettima’s victory.

Joined in the appeal is the governor’s party, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

PDP’s counsel, Chief Joe-Gadzama (SAN), said the appellant complained about the whole decision contained in the tribunal ruling.

The appellants said the tribunal erred in law and violated the appellants’ right to fair hearing when it failed to proceed with the hearing of the petition based on the application for pre-hearing conference filed on June 29, 2011 by the appellants, thereby causing gross miscarriage of justice.

They are praying the court for an order for the petition to be heard on its merits before a different panel, to be constituted by the President of the Court of the merits in Maiduguri, Borno State.

They are also seeking for a declaration that the 180 days period of hearing the petition to begin to run afresh from the date the President of the Court of Appeal constitutes a new panel to hear the petition.

It would be recalled that on November 10 the acting President of the Federal Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice Dalhatu Adamu, had prior to the delivery of the judgment directed that the Borno State Election Petitions Tribunal be dissolved.

The tribunal had been sitting in Abuja for security reasons.

Goni claimed that the election that brought Shettima to office was fraught with fraud and violence. He had requested the replacement of the tribunal but was, however, overruled by the Supreme Court.

There was a controversy over where the tribunal was to seat. JoeGadzama had argued that the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal did not move to Abuja because of Boko Haram. He argued that if other courts could continue to sit in Maiduguri, the tribunal had no justifiable reason to relocate. Apart from that, he said many of the petitioners’ witnesses were in Borno State and that it would be difficult for him to move them to Abuja to come and give evidence.

The tribunal was relocated to Abuja on the orders of the then Appeal Court President, Justice Ayo Salami.

Book on Alor for launch

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BOOK on the origin, history, culture, tradition, religion, politics, government and educational development of Alor town in Idemmili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, will be presented to the public on December 30.

The book was written by a select group of Alor intellectuals under the auspices of Alor Development Initiative (ADI) in collaboration with Alor Peoples Convention.

The event will be chaired by the first civilian Governor of Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, with the immediate past Governor of Anambra State and the Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Dr Chris Nwabueze Ngige, as the special guest of honour.

A press statement by the Chairman of ADI, Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN), stated that the Chairman of Chikason Group, Dr Chika Okafor is expected to perform the public presentation of the book entitled: Alor: An Anthropological Source Book,

•Ngige (SAN)

with the foreword written by the former Commonwealth Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku.

Dignitaries expected at the the book launch include the DirectorGeneral of Bureau of Public Procurement, Dr Emeka Ezeh and the member representing Idemmili Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. C.C Odedo.

‘Go to court over subsidy’

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•Prince Obi Orizu (left) recieving the Award of Excellence by NBA Abuja branch, on behalf of Chief Ifeanyi Uba from the Chairman, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Otunba Dele Oye

ONSTITUTIONAL lawyer and human rights activist, Abiodun Onidare has urged Nigerians to seek redress in the courts if President Goodluck Jonathan goes ahead with the proposed removal of fuel subsidy next year.

Onidare, who is also the Special Adviser (Legal) to the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, told The Nation at the premises of Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos that it was unthinkable for the government to increase the suffering of the people because they had invested much hope in this administration.

He said: “Nigerians can go to court to challenge the removal of fuel subsidies; it is their rights to decide. The likes of the late Gani Fawehinmi and others had chal-

By Musa Odoshimokhe

lenged the government in the past for anti-people policies; others can do the same because it is their rights to have access to decent living standards.”

He urged the government not to allow the spill-over of what happened in the Arab world repeat itself in the country because the people were already overstretched through various economic challenges, a similar situation that ignited series of protests in other climes.

According to the lawyer, during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, toll gates were removed, now government is agitating to bring them back. He stressed that the People Democratic Party (PDP) administration in the country was merely engaged in the laundering of the same ideas and principle.

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

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LAW & DEVELOPMENT

Need to prioritise economic, social rights in Nigeria P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan’s speech announcing a committee to review “outstanding Constitutional issues”

may have sounded rhetorical to some Nigerians, who probably are saying: “Here we go again!”

They may be justified in complaining about the trickery and manipulation that have tended to characterise previous patchwork constitutional reforms. It is, therefore, not surprising that any attempt at constitutional reform is not always taken on trust.

Nonetheless, whenever we can, we should welcome offers of reform from those in power. The president’s speech presents an important opportunity for transforming and renewing the Nigerian constitution in a way that has not been done before. Such opportunity should not be missed.

At the heart of the president’s speech was a request to the committee to review the human rights provisions and the often-neglected chapter two provisions of the constitution.

Specifically, the president requested the Justice Mohammed Belgore-led committee to review the “human rights and social security, peoples’ charter and social obligations”, contained in the 1999 Nigerian constitution, with the primary objective of generating “recommendations that would be translated into draft bills for the National Assembly to turn into amendments in the Constitution.”

Put differently, President Jonathan wanted a fresh look at the chapter two provisions of the 1999 Constitution dealing with fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy, what human rights lawyers would characterise as economic, social and cultural rights issues.

This is unusual as Nigerian leaders rarely talk about the chapter. President Jonathan’s pronouncement is especially revolutionary given that recent attempts at constitutional review have been limited only to political issues, and have excluded any mention or public debate on the nature of a Bill of Rights in a future Nigerian Constitution.

Yet, in the absence of a radical and progressive bill of rights, political structure and institutions, however robust, cannot fulfil their objectives.

Chapter two elaborates some social, environmental, educational, economic and political objectives of government, and imposes some obligations on the states to meet those objectives. But these are not justiciable in the sense that the citizens cannot challenge the government for non-compliance the way

By Kolawole Olaniyan

they can with legally enforceable civil and political rights, enshrined in chapter four of the Constitution.

It is precisely because chapter two provisions are not legally enforceable that they are largely violated by successive governments. As a result, Nigeria continues to be characterised by lack of development in all spheres of economic, social and cultural life.

Reversing years of extreme poverty, corruption and inequality in the country will require transforming these laudable but unenforceable provisions into justiciable and legally enforceable economic, social and cultural rights such as the right to quality education, to adequate housing, to health care, to clean water, to social security; and the right of every child to basic nutrition, shelter, basic health care services and social services.

Constitutional recognition of legally enforceable economic, social and cultural rights would improve the status of protection for these rights and be entirely consistent with the trend demonstrated through the passage of legislation like the Child Rights Act, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Act, the Pension Reform Act and the Fiscal Responsibility Act. Public debates on the constitutionalisation of economic, social and cultural rights are taking place in countries such as Zambia and Zimbabwe, while other countries such as South Africa have already included a varying range of justiciable economic, social and cultural rights in their constitutions.

It is not asking too much for the constitution, which is the supreme law of the land— setting out the fundamental values and normative commitments of the country— to pro-

tect citizens’ shelters from being arbitrarily demolished; and to protect Nigerian children from being chased out of school or hospital queues.

Including these human rights in the constitution can also act as a catalyst for deepening democracy and enhancing social and economic development, which is responsive to the needs and views of the populace.

However, there will be those who may see the country to be too poor to be able to provide for legally enforceable economic, social and cultural rights. But practices from other jurisdictions have shown that these rights are no more expensive obligations than the right to vote or the right to a fair trial.

There is no question that every human right comes with its pecuniary element.

Nonetheless, the argument that economic, social and cultural rights entail greater fiscal commitments than other human rights included in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is to say the least, exaggerated.

President Jonathan was right to recognise in his speech that “Nigerians want inclusiveness, justice, equity….” He was also right to underscore the primary duty of his government to “realize that promise of good life for our people….”, and to guarantee to “devote more resources, time and energy to the pressing issues of development…”

The optimistic interpretation of the president’s speech is that he has really got it about the importance of genuine constitutional reform and revival in a way that previous governments did not. But the proof of that will be in the leadership President Jonathan actually brings forward. He has to

‘Constitutional recognition of legally enforceable economic, social and cultural rights would improve the status of protection for these rights and be entirely consistent with the trend demonstrated through the passage of legislation like the Child Rights Act, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Act, the Pension Reform Act and the Fiscal Responsibility Act’

•Justice Belgore

persuade Nigerians that he really means what he says.

If the president is, indeed, committed to making the welfare of the people the supreme law, the project to review the constitution must prioritise and encourage other political leaders to transform chapter two provisions of the constitution into chapter four as legally enforceable economic, social and cultural rights.

The National Assembly and all political leaders must also publicly support the prioritisation of human rights, especially the marginalised economic, social and cultural rights throughout the constitutional reform process.

What is needed in Nigeria is a radical and progressive constitutional Bill of Rights that can serve the needs of the most vulnerable and marginalised sectors of the population, and not an exercise to satisfy some limited political objectives.

But it is unlikely that this will happen without demanding citizens and vigilant civil society. It is absolutely important for the citizens to take charge of the ongoing constitutional reform agenda. Otherwise, the prospects for constitutional engineering and revival will remain bleak.

•Olaniyan, PhD, is legal adviser at the International Secretariat of Amnesty International in London

Court withholds decision in N45.5m judgment against MTN

•Ahmed Farouk CEO, MTN

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LAGOS High Court has withheld further decisions till January 9, in a case in which it entered a N45.5 million judgment against mobile telecommunication giant, MTN Nigeria Limited.

Justice K. A. Jose took the step last week

after entertaining arguments from lawyers to MTN and the judgment creditor, Procomtel Limited on whether or not the judgment sum should be paid into the court or to Procomtel.

The argument by Dr. Muiz Banire (for MTN) and Sina Sofola, SAN (for Procomtel) was on an application by the telecoms company, seeking a stay of execution of the judgment given on May 31, this year.

MTN is, in the application, praying the court to stay execution pending the determination of its appeal against the trial court’s decision.

Banire, while arguing the application on Tueasday, stressed the need for the court to stay execution of the decision. He contended that the granting of his client’s prayer would help preserve the res (subject of dispute) in the suit pending appeal.

He told the court about his client’s willingness to pay the judgment sum into the court rather than paying same to Procomtel. He argued that it would be easy to retrieve the money from the court than the judgment creditor if MTN’s appeal succeeds.

Sofola countered and urged the court to direct the judgment debtor to pay the judgment sum to his client in the interest of equity and fairness. He argued that it was unjust for MTN to deny his client the benefit of the judgment.

He told the court that his client was prepared to furnish the court with bank guarantee should there be need to refund the money at the determination of MTN’s appeal.

Sofola reminded the court it had earlier

By Eric Ikhilae

thrown out two similar applications brought

by MTN, on the ground that they were unmeritorious.

He urged the court to refuse the current application on the ground that MTN has failed to provide adequate evidence to support its claim that it has a competent appeal.

The court consequently fixed ruling for January 9, next year.

The judgment was upon an application by Procomtel, for an order entering judgment against MTN upon its (MNT’s) admission in its pleadings that it owed Procomtel N85,463,577.64.

MTN had sued Procomtel, alleging among others, breach of contract, a suit against which Procomtel counter-claimed and prayed the court to enter judgment in its favour.

At the pre-trial conference stage, Procomtel, relying on Order 19 Rule 4 of the court’s rules, applied that judgment be given against MTN on the ground that it (MTN) admitted in paragraphs 12 and 13 of its statement of claim that its owed the contractor N85,463,577.64.

MTN opposed the application, arguing that Procomtel owed it N48, 486,953.73 which, if set-off against the N45, 592,425.20 it owed Procomtel, the company would still

need to pay it a balance of N2, 849,528.53.

Justice Jose, while ruling on May 31 upheld Procomtel’s argument that by virtue of Order 17 Rule 6 of the court’s rule, it was only a defendant who could raise a right of set-off in his defence and not a claimant.

“The claimant’s (MTN’s) averment in its statement of claim, that it is setting off its liability to the defendant against the defendant’s (Procomtel’s) liability does not have any basis in law,” the court held.

In awarding N45, 592,425.20 against MTN, the court held that though Procomtel asked for judgment of N85,463,577.64 “on the premise that by simple arithmetic of addition and subtraction, this is the amount admitted,” it could only enter judgment in the amount that was “clearly and unequivocally admitted.”

Following the ruling and upon an application by Procomtel, the court attached MTN’s account in Diamond Bank Plc and ordered the bank to among others, show cause why it should not be compelled to pay Procomtel the judgment sum from the said MTN’s account numbered: 0006065936.

The bank complied and filed a return, indicating that it could conveniently pay the judgment sum from the said MTN’s account should the court ordered it to so act.

This development prompted MTN to apply for stay of proceedings, arguing that the May ruling was wrongly made as it was delivered outside the time slated for the pretrial conference.

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20 , 2011

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LAW & SOCIETY

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Eso: Waging anti-corruption war in retirement

WENTY-ONE years after retirement as a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Kayode Eso has remained a vociferous anti-corruption crusader. At 86, he has delivered many lectures, chaired many panels of enquiry, and written a lot more than he did in 36 years in service. His diligence remains in high demand.

Last week, five human rights groups selected him for the 2011 Civil Society AntiCorruption Defender Award.

Recently, Eso raised the alarm over alleged corruption in the judiciary, especially involving some judges sitting on Election Petition Tribunals. He said such judges had become questionably very rich.

In a joint statement by the award jury, Eso was chosen “for consistently standing up against corruption as a judge, and for his leadership, courage and commitment to the cause of the vulnerable sectors of the population.”

The award jury comprises the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism; the SocioEconomic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP); the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC); Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), and the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR).

The statement, signed by SERAP’s Executive Director, Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, said: “As a legal practitioner, Eso defended black miners in Jos who were protesting against the discriminatory practices of the British colonial authorities. As a judge, he was brilliant, fair and principled.

“He has been aptly described as ‘the Activist of the Supreme Court’; ‘the Lord Denning of Nigeria’ and ‘one of the greatest analytical minds to have ever sat on the Supreme Court Bench’, because of his courageous and bold judgments, and his unquestionable integrity and intellectual ability,” the groups added.

“In 1989, he headed an anti-corruption panel, whose report provided the foundational documents for the establishment of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Offences Commission (ICPC),” the groups also said.

“At the Supreme Court, Justice Eso delivered 463 judgments, 390 of which were concurring judgments, 69 lead judgments and four dissenting judgements.

“One of the noticeable cases where Eso demonstrated his judicial activism philosophy is known as Mystery Gunman case, a case involving the trial of Wole Soyinka over his role in a broadcast which the government of the defunct Western Region of Nigeria considered offensive.

“Justice Eso fearlessly returned a verdict of ‘not guilty,’ despite the political environment at that time.

“In the case of Ojukwu V Military Governor of Lagos State reported in 1986, Justice Eso condemned the forced eviction of Ojukwu from his residence by the Lagos State government as ‘executive lawlessness.’”

Justice Eso was born in Ilesa, Osun State on September 18, 1925. He attended Holy Trinity School, Omofe, Ilesa and Ilesa Grammar School, before proceeding to Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, where he obtained the Bachelor of Laws (LLB).

In 1956, he was awarded a Master of Arts degree. He was called to the English Bar, Lincoln’s Inn in 1954 and to the Nigerian Bar in December of the same year.

The award was previously won in 2009 and 2010 by former Economic and Financial

By Joseph Jibueze

Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and the late legal luminary and anticorruption activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, (SAN).

Eso has expressed confidence in the ability of Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Dahiru Musdapher to curb corruption in the judiciary.

He said: “Let me say at this stage that the Chief Justice has identified the issue of corruption as one of the things he must deal with.

“He sets up a committee to look into the issue. I happen to be a member of that committee, therefore, I cannot talk more about it. I won’t say anything that would prejudice the noble attempt of the Chief Justice of the country.

“First of all, he wants us to advise him on how to tackle corruption on the bench and to find a way of stamping it out. I’m ready to support him on that.”

On which he considers the most difficult case he ever handled, the jurist said: “No case is difficult at all once it is in pursuit of justice.

That is the truth about it. In justice, one case is as good as the other. I cannot really think of anyone that gave me a kick after. The only one I can say gave me a kick is the case of Awolowo versus Shagari.

“I stood firmly to say that you cannot break up a state to have a unit of that state and that when you have 19 states and you are looking for the two-thirds of that, you cannot really get the two-third of that state.

“It is simple: How do you get the twothirds of a state? I thought it was silly for anybody to conjecture that. How it gave me a kick was that as soon as I delivered the judgment, which, of course, was in the minority, the constitution was amended. That gave satisfaction.”

On how to achieve judiciary independence, he said: “The judiciary should not only be independent but it should also be economically-independent of the executive.

It should not rely on the executive for money to flow through the system. No. It is not good enough.

“When you have the admixture of the judiciary with the executive, you are only putting the judiciary as an appendage of the executive; that cannot be right.”

Eso is opposed to plea bargain, saying it could encourage looting. “The problem with Nigeria is about the type of punishment meted out. This notion of coming out and talking about plea bargain is something else.

“They bargain with the judge, and the accused person, he returns half of the money, and then they give him some hairy-fairy punishment – go and serve three months in prison and the three months, will, of course, be in the hospital.

“This is an encouragement for other governors to steal when they come into office.

There is no plea bargain in our law. The importation is wrong. To me, it is corruption to bring plea bargain into the law of Nigeria.

“Look at the issue of Igbinedion in Edo State who was alleged to have stolen billions of naira. They said they had this system of plea bargain. They asked him to plea bargain, there and then he was fined three million naira which, he picked out of his purse and paid there.

“It sent a notion that it had been prearranged that it would not be more than three million. Now, after that they started to gloat

and shed crocodile tears and said the punishment was not adequate.

“Of course, the punishment can never be adequate when they import this issue of plea bargain. But, let us say the issue of plea bargain was not introduced and he was punished as he deserved, others would learn.

“Years back, I was saddled with the case of Oba Akran and Ademiluyi – Oba Akran was the Oba in Badagry, and Ademiluyi was the chairman of the biggest corporation in the country, they were alleged to have stolen 500 pounds.

“They appeared before me and I gave them seven years after I had found them guilty.

They wrote to the Supreme Court because there was no Court of Appeal then, their appeal was dismissed. That was justice not this way of palliating people, rubbing them with oil in the name of plea bargain. Plea bargain is actually not our law.

“And they come around and say it is done in other countries, Nigeria is not any other country. Nigeria is Nigeria not just any other country. In other countries, it may be right for them to have plea bargain. We never had plea bargain. It is corruption for anybody who imports plea bargain into our law.”

As much as he detests corruption, Eso does not believe in capital punishment. “No, I do not believe in capital punishment. It is better to punish somebody and make the person live to get the pains of that punishment.

“For instance, somebody who has stolen billions of naira, let them give him proper punishment and let him forfeit all his property.

Let him live in penury and let him see the difference between his stolen affluence and what actually he should be.”

He said the 1999 Constitution lied about itself when it says: ‘We Nigerians’. “We Nigerians never did it but soldiers and halfbaked lawyers among them sat down and wrote the constitution for us.

“1999 Constitution is not a constitution of this country; we should have a real constitution of this country. When you start to patch the constitution like we are patching now, we can never be there. Why are we shying away from a Constituent Assembly? Things should not be done half-way. Go all the hog.

On the threat posed by boko haram, he said: “You dialogue with people you know. Do they know who Boko Haram people are? If they know, they should arrest them. Give them amnesty for what. People are killing and you want to give them amnesty even without trying them. I do not believe in what is going on at all.

“These people are a menace not only to this country but to the whole world. They have given the picture of Nigeria as a failed nation that cannot even deal with security within its borders.

“If we have that system, we are only creating problems for ourselves and our children because once the investors believe that there is no security, they would not come with their money. And if we don’t have investors in this country, we cannot exist. Coming round and say we want to dialogue with them, dialogue with who?

“Why don’t we arrest them? Why don’t we deal with them? Who are they? Why are they being palliated? These are the issues we should find out. Who is Boko Haram or who are Boko Haram? Who are behind them?

“They went to the UN building and destroyed it, killed people. UN would not be happy with that at all and I believe they are removing their stand in Nigeria and taking it to Senegal. If that is the case, then we are big

•Justice Eso

losers in this country.

“It is a failure if we don’t stamp out Boko Haram the correct way. The correct way is to arrest them and take them to court. It is laughable that we are giving amnesty to those who are killing us. I don’t understand what is going on. May be it is because I’m not a politician. May be they would understand.”

Eso said President Goodluck Jonathan should be given time. “The president has just mounted the throne. Let us see, let us give him a chance to see how he is going to do it.

The state of the nation is muddled. Let us see how he intends to pull the nation out of the muddle. That is all I can say.

“There is no doubt that we got it wrong, but we have a president there now. Let us give him time. Let us not judge him. I do not want to judge him before he performs. And I’m prepared to give him some time.”

He also spoke on federalism. “To me, we are not practising federalism in this country at all and this is what we should practise. The old west was governed by Chief Obafemi Awolowo for the federal system status. There was no question of being unitary which is what we are patching up now and calling it federal system. This country will only succeed if we practise true federalism.

“The way we are being ruled, the states go cap in hand begging the Federal Government for money to develop the state and majority of those states stay poor. It is because we are not practicing federalism at all.

“The states should not go cap in hand to the Federal G o v e r n m e n t . I f w e h a v e t r u e federal system, there should be enough for all the states to spend. The issue that would be decided by the government would be so minimal. I would advocate six provincial system.

“That would be better because if you have a federal system and you have 36 states, that would be very difficult. Already, we have six geo-political zones; have each zone as a federal unit. Then, we can have a true federal system and until we do that, we are just deceiving ourselves.”

On the award, he said: “I felt happy and fulfilled when I received the letter telling me about the award. And I thought that all my labour has not been in vain. That whatever, I have been doing in the judiciary has not been in vain. That is the way I felt.”

Court orders police to pay pastor N10m

J

•Ringim

USTICE James Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has ordered the InspectorGeneral of Police, Hafiz Ringim and others to pay N10million to a pastor for his alleged illegal arrest and detention by the police.

In his judgment in a suit by Pastor Jennifer Douglas of Heavenly Dream Reality Ministry, Lagos, against Ringim, Commissioner of Police, Special Fraud Unit; Deacon Sunday and Ikechukwu Howell, the judge held that the police breached the applicant’s rights.

According to the judge, the dispute between Douglas and the fourth respondent over which he was arrested was purely a civil matter.

He held that the detention of the pastor by the police was not justified.

Douglas and Howell had a dispute over a property, but the judge said the fourth respondent did not present incontrovertible documentary evidence of ownership.

He said Howell was claiming what did not belong to him, nor did he have credible evidence of possession.

The court had heard that a Magistrate Court advised the fourth respondent to go to the High Court, being the appropriate court to handle the dispute when it struck out the case when before it, but that Howell allegedly did not heed the advice.

Justice Tsoho said an allegation of forgery made against Douglas which led to the ar-

rest was dated August 20, 2010, preceding the judgment of the magistrate court.

The court held since the fourth respondent did not obtain a court declaration of the title over the land, he lacked any basis at all to take action against the applicant.

“There are no criminal ingredients that existed to convince the respondents that the applicant committed a criminal offence,” the judge said.

He added: “It is settled law that once a party establishes the infringement of his fundamental rights, the infringement automatically entitles him to remedy by way exemplary or compensatory damages.”

To the judge, the respondents violated the applicant’s fundamental rights with impunity and showed no remorse whatsoever.

33

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

LAW & SOCIETY ALUMNI DINNER OF THE NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED LEGAL STUDIES (NIALS) IN LAGOS

•Chairman, NIALS Alumni Association, Abdul Lateef Hakeem (left) and Director-General, NIALS, Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN) at the dinner at the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos.

•Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lasgos State, Ade Ipaye representing Governor Babatunde Fashola (left) and Justice George Adesola Oguntade

•Former Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Muiz Banire and former Deputy Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Funmi Tejuosho.

•Ehi Braimah and Bambo Adesanya (SAN)

•Institute Acting Librarian, Ufuoma Lamikara and Dr. Emmanuel Okon

•Gbenga Oyebode

•Prof Lanre Fagbohun and Abdullateef Hakeem

•Mrs Sena Jerry-Imayagbe and Dr Animi Awah

•Mr Gbenga Ojo and Ugochi Madueke

•David Oluwagbami and his wife Bolajoko

•Institute Bursar, Augustine Odukoma

PHOTOS: JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

34

LAW & SOCIETY ANNUAL LAW WEEK OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION (NBA), ABUJA BRANCH (UNITY BAR) AT LADI KWALI HALL, SHERATON HOTEL, ABUJA

•Chairman NBA, Abuja Branch, Afam Osigwe and Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission(NERC) Dr Sam Amadi.

•National Publicity Secretary, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Emeka Obegolu and Chairman, Abuja Law Week Committee, Ibrahim Eddy Mark

•Prof Deji Adekunle and Joe Kyari Gadzama (SAN)

•Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN) and Chief Economist, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Dr Peter Ezehoso (left)

•Chairman, House Committee on Justice, Dr Ali Ahmed representing Speaker Waziri Aminu Tambuwal and Chief Judge, Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta

•Justice Jude Okeke (left) and General Secretary, NBA, Olumuyiwa Akinboro

•Ben Anachebe (SAN) and his wife Frances

•Sola Ephraim Oluwanuga (left) and Paul Agbo

•Col. Bello Fadile (rtd) and Chairman, FIDA Abuja, Iyabode Ogunseye

•Stanley Ibe and his wife Okeoma PHOTOS: JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

35

LAW PERSONALITY Mazi Afam Osigwe is the Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abuja branch, known as the Unity Bar. The branch has just had its Law Week Lecture, entitled: “Revamping the economic potential of Nigeria”. Some distinguished Nigerians were honoured at the event. In this interview with JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU, Osigwe explains the choice of the theme, the role of lawyers in national development, why the branch decided to honour some Nigerians and other sundry national issues: Excerpts:

‘Lawyers create wealth’ H OW do you feel about the Law week?

Well, I am very happy that our law week successfully ended. I am much more impressed with the outcome of our lecture series, which centred more on revamping the potential of the economy.

What is the theme of your lecture series?

The theme was about revamping the Nigerian economy, instruments to regulate investments in our economy and some of the thoughts that came out from it. I hope that if these thoughts are made available to those in government, they will go a long way in revamping our economy and creating jobs for the teeming number of youths as well as de-emphasise oil as the major source and sustainance of our national economy.

Why did you choose this theme ?

We deliberately choose this theme instead of one that focuses on the rule of law or any area of law. We diverted to economics because we believe that lawyers should use law as an instrument of creating wealth, advancing the economy and making the society a better place for all to live in.

What do you mean by this?

If the economy is in bad shape, it will definitely have a spiral effect on all sectors, including the practice of law. So, if we get it right, if the economy is revamped, so many things will go on well. There is that possibility that because of the correlations between education and crime, the current crime wave in the country, the level of terrorism, militancy and allied crimeswill definitely reduce and abate with a stronger economy.

So, we felt that if we get the economy right, the fear of social upheaval equivalence of the Arab Spring as is being speculated and rumoured in the country and mass media, may be averted here.

It will also improve the standards of living, increase the life span and life expectancy of every Nigerian and impact heavily on our collective socio-economic life. That is why we chose that theme rather than dwelling on theories that most of the time do not help us much.

Why did you honour some Nigerians?

We honoured the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Justice Lawal Gumi, because has done a lot to improve and foster a harmonious relationship between the Bar and the Bench in Abuja.

He really did a lot towards advancing legal education among lawyers in Abuja.

All his activities are geared towards revamping the economy because when we are better lawyers, when we have better understanding of the law, we will contribute heavily in revamping our economy.

For the Comptroller-General Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi, we honoured him because of his contributions to the revenue generation efforts of the country. Nigeria is an import dependent economy. A lot of revenues that should accrue to the Federal Government, which had been lost, or wasted either through import duty waivers or allowing goods importation without or with low duty tariff corruption etc are recovered.

He has done a lot to increase the revenue profile of the Custom; he has almost doubled the revenue expectation of the government from his department and greatly improved the morale of Nigerian Customs men. So, we felt that he should be honoured and encouraged to contribute his best to our national development.

We honoured him as a shining example of how positive and dynamic action could help in revamping our economy.

We also decided to honour the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, because of our belief in his stand in upholding the tenets of democracy, rule of law and good governance. He also is a reflection of the peoples’ will to choose their leaders without any form of interference. And in our understanding, democracy and good governance will deepen the ability of people to generate wealth. We decided to honour him, moreso, on account of his emergence and the steps he has taken so far as the Speaker of the House of Repre-

‘If the economy is in a bad shape, it will definitely have a spiral effect on all sectors, including the practice of law. So, if we get it right, if the economy is revamped, so many things will go on well. There is that possibility that because of the correlations between education and crime, the current crime wave in the country, the level of terrorism, militancy and allied crimeswill definitely reduce and abate with a stronger economy’ •Osigwe

sentatives.

We honoured Ifeanyi Uba as a shining example of what the private sector can do to create wealth, create employment and open up investment opportunities. To show

how determination and vision could make for a better society.

You can now see how all the persons we honoured with awardshave contributed one way or the other to our theme, which is revamping the economy.

FIDA takes love to old people’s home

T

HIS season was the perfect time for giving and reaching out to the downtrodden. As a token of their love this Yuletide season, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) last week paid visits to the old people’s home in Yaba, Lagos and the FIDA ward, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

The day-long visit was to felicitate with the patients, care for the aged parents and the old.

The Lagos State President of FIDA, Olufunmi Oluyode, gave the reason for the event. She said:“It is to reach out to our neighbour. We are trying to touch and accept lives with a lot of joy, the reason for the season.

“FIDA is an association of women lawyers who provide advocacy for women, children and the less privileged.

“It is time to love, time to care, time to share, time to give, and in the spirit of the season. We are reaching out to the society.

As expected, we see children in need of medical treatment, and we are ready to cater for them.”

There was a special two-year-old child, who was abandoned in the ward. The matron said her parents left the hospital earlier in the year in search of money for her treatment and never returned. Mrs Oluyode promised that the association will keep an

•Mrs Oluyode (third left) with other FIDA officers during the visit

By Nneka Nwaneri

eye on the girl, individually and collectively.

Addressing the ward, she prayed that by the time they return next year, none of them

will be there.

At the children’s ward, the group presented materials, such as toys, biscuits, children’s drinks, plastic chairs, sterilisers, soaps, diapers and a 42 inches LCD

television set.

At the old people’s home, toiletries, crates of eggs, tubers of yam, rice, beans, oil, detergent and textile materials were presented to the inmates.

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

36

LAW & SOCIETY ON THE ROAD TO DURBAN:

Cultural legitimacy and climate change crisis

•Fagbohun

C

LIMATE change poses fundamental and varied challenges to all communities across the globe. Regrettably, addressing the problem of climate change has created and continues to create so much challenge. Political leaders, policy makers and stakeholders have for more than two decades continued to struggle to build a strong, integrated and comprehensive international regulatory system for managing climate change. Other efforts have been geared towards technology policies and pricing of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in ways that would hasten the development and commercialisation of low and no-carbon energy technologies, as well as technologies that improve end-use energy efficiency.

The disappointment in Copenhagen and the inability to achieve much in the subsequent climate change negotiation in Bonn, Germany, have posed a serious challenge to the optimism for an international climate agreement to order and direct behaviour worldwide. In the same vein, for reasons of vested interests, the various rationales and motivations for implementing technology deployment and emission pricing policies will continue to make such policies impracticable despite the fact that they are conceptually sound. As we approach the Durban Climate Change Conference (COP17) scheduled for November 28, 2011 to December 9, 2011, this contribution addressed one of the critical things that can achieve the desired transformation.

There is a clear need to evolve complimentary approaches that can make the current strategies more effective. The policy debate on climate change, as now entrenched in different geopolitical systems distinguished two generic response strategies. The most prominent of these strategies is mitigation, and its goal is to address the causes of climate change by reducing the emission of harmful GHG. The second response is adaptation which

deals with the consequence of climate change and seeks to reduce the vulnerability of human and natural systems to a shift in climate regime. In the light of the need to reform the current approach to the climate change challenge, it is here argued that appropriate focus must be given to developing a conceptual and analytical framework that links the structural issue of cultural legitimacy to the two generic response strategies aimed at tackling the impact of climate change.

If indeed we are to solve the climate change cooperation problem and be in a position to achieve collective action for mutual interests despite the difference in capacity and in means, then, we must understand and be able to meet not only the immediate causes of the current challenges but also the underlying factors that contribute to it.

For instance, climate change is viewed politically as a difficult problem for three fundamental reasons. First, it is regarded as a global problem whose solution cannot be achieved through the efforts of any single state or small group of states. Second, the negative effects of climate change are not observable now, but are only expected to occur some years in the future. It is therefore an intergenerational problem. Political leaders thus have to persuade their publics that their own actions can make a significant difference. Third, changing practices with respect to climate change require changes in the habits of billions of people, as well as organizations, but practical policies to generate incentives for these behavioural changes require action by governments that, in many cases, may not have the interest or ability to exert much influence on their subject.

The above explanations beg the question – namely, whether we can continue to address the above critical issues without putting at the core the interpretative framework through which individuals make sense of their own behaviour, as well as the behaviour of collectivities in their society (culture). For as long as we ignore the need to actively cultivate the strategies for meeting the challenges of climate change in the context of historical, political, legal, economic and administrative features of the cultural legitimacy of respective countries and in ways that resonate with their broader societal beliefs, we risk problems associated with the lack of legitimacy.

The evidence is indisputable that the problems involved in regulating climate change are so varied that a single institutional response, particularly that seeking to use persuasion, will be difficult to organize. This is further complicated by the diversity of problems as tinctured by diversity of complexes of interests, power, information, and beliefs.

As emphasised by Keohane and Victor, the diversity of plausible approaches will attract a variety of supporters, each attracted to approaches that are aligned with their own interests and beliefs. Powerful interests will skew the chosen approach in their own directions – and there is every reason to believe that these directions will be varied in different countries or sectors.

Since legitimacy flows from cultural alignment or cultural support, legitimation can

By Prof Olanrewaju Fagbohun

enable the mobilisation of the historical, political, legal, economic and administrative forces within a community, and encourage political leaders to accept accountability for the implementation of agreed strategies.

With internal cultural legitimacy, it will become difficult for political leaders to contend that national sovereignty is put at risk through compliance with strategies and standards set for particular response option as an external value. Working in tandem with laid down strategies and standards would also not be viewed as an erosion of national sovereignty, but, more as a legitimate exercise of national jurisdiction.

The term ‘culture’ as used here is in the holistic sense of the totality of values, institutions and forms of behaviour transmitted within a society. In this respect, it covers not only ideologies, but, also cognitive behavior. Contemporary developments in the sociology of culture and cultural studies have conceptualised culture not as a normative imperative that forces conformity to societal expectations, but as a flexible set of tools that can be actively and strategically created and deployed as actors struggle to make sense of the world. Consequently, if within an identified cultural community a particular mitigation or adaptation strategy is believed to be fundamental, that particular strategy will be legitimate within that cultural community.

An important criteria underlying legitimacy is the acceptance of the strategy or standard by the peoples’ of the community in question. It is this individual recognition and acceptance that trickles into collective acceptance, and ultimately into whatever is reflected as the response of institutional actors and social forces. Such an expression of individual interest invariably merges into group and collective interests. The difficulties in coming to term with how to pursue mitigation and adaptation strategies stem from the insufficiency of cultural support for these strategies. The solution does not lie in merely detailing these strategies in formal national documents (laws and regulations).

Neither does it lie in continuous rhetoric or assertion of commitment by political leaders. It must be reflected in individual convictions and this can substantially be motivated through the teachings of respective cultural traditions of the world.

•The notion of cultural legitimacy and its relevance to pathology of behaviour Culture is an enigma and contains both concrete and abstract components. In the context of this paper it encompasses components such as traditional cultural expressions, traditional ecological knowledge and such similar terms. Consequently, it is almost impossible to attempt to provide one acceptable definition of what culture is. Dating back to the 1950s, Kroeber and Kluckhohn identified more than 160 different definitions of cul-

ture. One definition has it that culture is a shared organisation of ideas that includes the intellectual, moral and aesthetic standards prevalent in a community and the meanings of communicative actions. Another definition distinguished between subjective culture (the world view or the way a cultural group perceives its environment, including stereotypes, roles perceptions, norms, attitudes, values, ideal and perceived relationships between events and behaviours) and material or concrete culture which includes the objects and artefacts of a culture.

Culture has also been defined as comprising of inherited artifacts, goods, technical processes, ideas, habits and values of society, which endow human beings with an additional extension of their anatomical apparatus, with a protective armor of defenses and safeguards, and with mobility and speed.

It is the cumulative creation of human beings, which transforms individuals into organized groups and gives these groups an almost indefinite continuity. In some other ways, culture has been defined as an historically transmitted pattern of meanings embodied in symbols, a system of inherited conceptions expressed in symbolic forms by means of which men and women communicate, perpetuate, and develop their knowledge about attitudes toward life.

Culture clearly forms a person’s values, norms and styles, and does have a major influence on the in-group and out-group relationships of every individual. The process of enculturation, or growing up within a cultural system, is a foundation for shaping one’s mind frame and defining what is appropriate, what is inappropriate, what is good, what is bad, what is rude or polite, what is right or wrong. Cultural values can narrow or broaden a person’s perceptions of an event, focus or diffuse his sense of logic, or discard certain information as irrelevant.

Take pre-colonial African system of laws for instance, in most traditional African societies, the law existed outside the framework of a state in the modern sense. Obedience to the law was maintained through customs or religion as well as established patterns of sanction. These societies have a high level of organisation in which political, economic and social control was effectively maintained.

Even in post-colonial African system where there has been so much of diffusion with other world views, the common feature of the average African is one of duality and hybridity – he is ever ready to get back to his roots not just for the chieftaincy title, but, to also be a part of the celebration of his culture. Further, his everyday analysis of social and physical events and emotional reactions to happenings around him, and even within himself is never devoid of his socio cultural perceptions. The implications of this is that notwithstanding a person’s adaptation of some of the behaviours, and the characteristics of the group to which he may belong at any time, they continue to strongly maintain the trace of their original cultural environment. Any change in taste eclecticism should therefore be interpreted primarily as a secondary effect of the structural component of social mobility.

•To be continued

Firm in court for alleged breach of contract OREMOST construction company, Roche Construction Nigeria (RCC) Limited has been dragged before an Imo State High Court for breach of contract regarding the construction of 305 units of block of classrooms.

Two Irish business men, Patrick Mcdermott and Cormac Harten had gone to court to compel Roche to pay them N44 million being their agreed facilitating fee for the construction of the 305 units of modern schools blocks from the state government.

Joined as co-defendants in the suit were the state commissioner for education, the education ministry and the state AttorneyGeneral.

The Irish businessmen asked the court to grant summary judgment against RCC for allegedly severing relationship with them

F

By Adebisi Onanuga

and failing to enter into defence in the matter.

In the writ of summons, filed by their counsel, Mr Olumide Oniyire before Justice J. Ukoha, the claimants were asking for an order directing the government to compel the company to comply with the terms of agreement dated August 22, 2011 which required the firm to pay all persons involved with the contract for the construction of the classrooms valued at N9.2 billion.

They also prayed the court for an order directing the company to pay interest on the said N44 million from November 11, 2011 at the rate of 21 per cent, seven days after the company drew the sum up till the date of judgment and thereafter at 10 per cent till final liquidation of the sum.

In their statement of claim, the claimants argued they facilitated the executed contracts and that they used “their best endeavour and vast contacts within Imo State to source and procure in the name of the first defendant (Roche Construction) , the award of a contract for the construction of 305 units of 12 classrooms modern school blocks in Imo State in favour of the company for the mutual benefit of the 1st defendant and themselves.”

They averred that parties after several meetings on trust reduced their discussions to writing, “under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the first defendant and the claimants sometimes in October 2011.”

They submitted that after the full payment of the contract sum of N9.2 billion was

made by the Imo State government, the contractor refused to pay them the facilitation fee, wages and other charges due to all persons, including the claimants, that were involved with the award of the contract in reference.

The claimant alleged that they were to be paid N44 million only based on the terms of the duly signed MoU reached between the first defendant and themselves, as facilitation fee on the signed contract from the Imo State government and payable in two installments and not subject to any exchange rate fluctuation and that all payments were agreed to be made within seven days of first defendant draw down on the contract sum paid to her by the Imo State government.

The matter has been adjourned till January 17, 2012 for further hearing.

37

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

He does not cut the picture of a politician. As Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai was nicknamed “Mr Demolition” because of his commitment to returning the city to its original master plan. Now, he is a politician. Last week, he was made the leader of a 100-member Renewal Committee of t he Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). The committee is saddled with resolving the crises in the party. Correspondent GBENGA OMOKHUNU chronicles what transpired at the event and how former Head of State and presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), expressed displeasure over party indiscipline.

Buhari moves to restructure CPC T

HE Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) is a political party founded in 2009 in preparation for the April 2011 elections. The political party on the list of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), CPC originated from The Buhari Organisation (TBO) formed in 2006 by General Muhammadu Buhari, (Rtd) a former military ruler and his associates. After the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) nominated Buhari as its 2007 presidential candidate, TBO worked with the ANPP in the election campaign, but there was friction between the two groups. Following the April 2007 elections, won by late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Buhari challenged the results at the Appeal Court against the result. The ANPP decided to join Yar’Adua’s Government of National Unity (GNU), and attempted to persuade Buhari to withdraw the suit.

Buhari decided that he needed a new platform to support his political ambitions. The CPC was progressive like the name of the party until during and after the April 2011 general elections when if crisis hit by crisis.

At that time, party faithful had expected Buhari to intervene and resolve issues where candidates felt cheated at and accused Buhari of neglecting their complaints and faced his presidential battle at the court.

Many even publicly called Buhari names and regretted joining CPC. Buhari did not utter a word concerning the internal crisis. However, last week Buhari, who is the leader of the party and Chairman CPC Board Of Trustees (BOT), inaugurated the CPC renewal committee led by former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.

He explained why he has been silent over the internal crisis and what is expected of the committee. He expressed disappointment over how members of the party took each other and even the party to court.

Buhari said: “You know what happened in your constituencies? You are supposed to know better than my self what happened. Those congresses and other issues where suppose to be conducted ones and for all but how many times have you done it in our respective states? You are either the beneficiaries or the victims of the election process. I do not know why members of the CPC in the same constituency took each other to court. Members of the CPC took the party to court.

The CPC itself is in court from House of Assembly to the presidency. You know the position of judiciary constitutionally.

“People said that I haven’t been talking. The reason why I have kept quiet is that the judiciary would not allow me to speak. Which side should I take?

What ever is before the judiciary you dare not say anything about it for good or for evil unless you want to be permanently in trouble with the judiciary. I do not think I am permanently in trouble with the judiciary.

With this renewal committee we want to look into what the party went through in the last one year.

“This event, which our party considers very important, might not be so viewed by observers and indeed a sizeable followership and membership of our party. I trust it would appear so strange for a political party

•Buhari

to expend the time and resources of its members to review itself when the next elections are three and a half years away. Perhaps even I would have agreed with this view in the post mortem of the general elections of 1999, 2003 and 2007.

But one critical consideration has compelled us to initiate the renewal of the party 30 weeks after the general election. While the elections of 1999, 2003 and 2007 have inspired hopes that were later dashed, the general elections in 2011 have demonstrated one reality that we Nigerians as a people must not accept. It has shown that millions of people could stay away from voting yet the state and its umpire agencies would generate pre-determined electoral outcomes. Nigerians must not accept this evolving reality Buhari explained the motivation for repositioning CPC. He said: “Political parties are lifelines of democracies. The Congress For Progressive Change (CPC) can do more to grow Nigeria democracy as a leading opposition party. As we renew and reposition our party, we will strive to reach the grassroots and change their mindsets so that they can use their votes to bring about change and prosperity in Nigeria through the enthronement of a dynamic, truthful and efficient government. As a political party that hopes to give Nigerians the best democratic, political and cultural values, it is necessary for us to showcase to Nigerians how to do things by the rules through a well organize party management processes and to serve as a clearing house for the emergence of the best leaders in Nigeria.

He lamented that, 10 years after the start of democratic rule in the country, political parties are seen as platforms for selling or trading public office nomination tickets, rather than being the fulcrum for which effective public service can be provided for our people. He added: “As someone who has always advocate for good governance in Nigeria, I believe that it is important for us to know and embrace that, as a political party, that seeks to manage the affairs of Nigeria on behalf of its people, we are obligated to show the people that we will conduct our

• el-Rufai

affairs truly do things the way things should be done and according to the dictates of rule of law. In the past, the real issue that keep coming up from the lips of our followers and sympathizers is not whether they trust us. It is whether they can afford to put their hopes on us, given the uphill task that they think have to be accomplished in order to bring about the change that they strive for. This renewal effort will address this issue very well and will be a big opportunity to prompt conviction among Nigerian voters nationally – across age, gender, ethnicity and religion.”

Accepting to work hard to renew the party no matter what it takes, the Committee chairman, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai also condemned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and described members as ‘criminal’ and that PDP has been trying to destroy CPC urging members not to rest on their oars. El-Rufai described the removal of fuel subsidy by government as criminal.

“As we renew to emerge as a stronger political party, the ruling party and government will have

great incentives to clamp down on our members and organization. The first reaction will obviously be to try to infiltrate our ranks. We must avoid being caught napping, as the criminals in the PDP never go the sleep.

General Muhammadu Buhari, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Mr. Chairman, the task of renewing the CPC cannot succeed without your top-level support. The decisions and recommendations we arrive at will have far-reaching consequences not just for the party, but for Nigeria as a whole as we reposition to robustly engage the political process and wrestle the destiny of Nigerians from a ruling party that is inept, corrupt and visionless.”

“I want to say that I am truly honoured and humbled to be considered worthy to chair and steer the efforts of the 100 plus strong members of the CPC Renewal Committee. I know that every fellow committee member is no less qualified for the role of coordinating and motivating the entire renewal exercise. I believe I speak for myself and the entire membership of the Committee that we are both challenged and gratified by the opportunity and confidence reposed in us. Our Committee knows how difficult it is to bring about renewal and change. People and institutions everywhere tend to resist change once they discover their comfort zones however difficult. Some resist change even in times of progress talk less of adversity – obviously, our party and its teeming members must admit that the past few months have been ones of adversity - of raised expectations, dashed hopes and blatant theft of our national hopes and aspirations. Yet, history has shown that it is often out of adversity that the foundations of greatness are found, formed and developed. Political and economic events in Nigeria indicate clearly that our great party must reform or face even more inordinate challenges – if not terminal decline.

“Nigerians look up to our Party as that of social justice, public service and integrity in governance. Only our Party has the leadership and membership committed to unlocking Nigeria ‘s potentials and providing equal opportunity for all. There-

fore, we must rise up; reorganize to fix the dysfunctional political economy of Nigeria . If we are to have any chance of fixing Nigeria , we must first of all fix our party internally. At this critical time in the life of our country and our party, running away from challenging tasks would amount to a disservice to our aspirations to provide equal opportunities, security and employment to Nigerians. Mr. Chairman, members of the National Executive Committee of our great party, it is with a deep sense of responsibility that we accept to deliver on the mandate of the CPC Renewal Committee.

And I want to say to you Mr. Chairman and to all Nigerians, particularly the over 12 million people that voted for the Buhari-Bakare ticket in the April elections that we have never felt more challenged in lives to stand up for a cause. On behalf of the members of the Committee, I therefore pledge to the Almighty Allah, to our party leaders, members and supporters, and indeed all Nigerians, that the task at hand shall be discharged to the best of our collective capacity and ability.

“In the course of implementing the renewal of our esteemed party to a dynamic opposition political organisation we intend to have two primary outcomes. Firstly, the CPC will be renewed in ways and manners that will ensure purposeful discipline and commitment that are the defining attributes of successful political parties worldwide. Secondly, the CPC will remain organically linked to its teeming membership in their mundane day-to-day struggles for economic survival and political participation more after and before, than just during elections. If our party organs at all levels are organically linked to each other, and all made to be parts of one system and truly functioning for the well being of the parts and the whole, then we do indeed have a renewed party.

“There is a sense of expectation as more Nigerians look towards the full emergence of CPC as a national political party. So, the question is what lies ahead of the party in terms of strategy and organisation? The CPC hit the political stage as a new movement and immediately secured the attention of those who deeply yearn for change.

• Members of the Ogun East Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at a rally in Sagamu..... at the weekend.

38

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

POLITICS

Abia tackles insecurity, ghost workers

By Emmanuel Oladesu

A

• Complex of Lagos State House of Assembly.

Lagos Assembly: Budgeting for a Mega City The Lagos State House of Assembly has held a five-day retreat on the 2012 budget.

OZIEGBE OKOEKI reports on the retreat and the challenge of passing the Appropriation Bill into law.

B

UDGET retreat is an annual event of the Lagos State House of Assembly. Usually, it comes up after the state governor has presented the Appropriation Bill to the House. But the retreat for the 2012 budget however, was sort of enlarged one involving the legislators, management and staff of the Assembly, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Lawmakers from other states were also part of this year’s retreat. 20 lawmakers came from Adamawa, AkwaIbom, Anambra, Benue, Kwara and Taraba states. The Deputy National Chairman of ACN, Boss Mustapha, was also a participant. According to the Acting Clerk of the House, Olusegun Abiru, the ACN lawmakers from other states were invited “to share experiences, values and also benefit from this retreat”.

The retreat was put together by the Lagos state House of Assembly in collaboration with the firm of Messr FM&T Consulting, a capacity building outfit.

The five-day retreat, which took place at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Festac, lasted from Sunday, November 27 to Thursday, December 1. The theme was : “Good governance through legislative performance-in formation budgeting”. Abiru said the theme was specially chosen to improve the skill of legislators in budgetary matters and assist in discharging their oversight functions. He said: “The retreat is also part of the Houses’ drive for capacity building efforts of the leadership of the House so as to bridge the yearning gap between the legislature on one hand and the executive and judiciary on the other.”

The objectives of the retreat also include: “familiarizing members with the linkage between the executive and legislative arms of government on budget process; enhancing the understanding of participants on the budget process; identifying vital programmes and projects which promote good governance, economic growth and strengthen the institutionalization of democracy and democratic practice in Lagos state; facilitating easy comprehension and speedy passage of year 2012 Appropriation bill; and strengthening the capacity of the legislature.”

Welcoming participants at the opening ceremony, Speaker of the House, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, said: “The retreat was put in place to equip us with the required skill to effectively carry out our constitutional role of oversight in the dayday budget implementation and performance by the executive arm.

As the true representatives of our people across the 40 constituencies of our state, I urge you, my distin-

guished honourable colleagues to be more determined to record even greater achievements far above what all past legislative Assemblies in Lagos state have had to their credit to date.

“As lawmakers, the time has come for us to gird our loins in our determination to successfully battle the cankerworm of increasing poverty, unemployment and misery that have been confronting our people due to the worsening global economic woes, and liberate our people once and for all. Apart from the fact that we must not leave any stone unturned in our efforts to perform our oversight functions on the Executive, we should equally wear our thinking caps in order to make this Seventh Assembly the most propeople and pro-development legislative House, not just in Lagos here but indeed across our great country”, Ikuforiji said.

He enjoined his colleagues to ensure that as they commence work on the 2012 budget it is properly scrutinized and promptly approved “in order that our people start enjoying the dividends of democracy”. Adding that attention must be paid to the local governments in order to enable the people to regain confidence in the local governments.

In his welcome address , the Acting Clerk said, the annual retreats, from benefit of hindsight, has continued to enrich the knowledge of members in addressing various issues that may crop up during bilateral discussions with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) on the budget. He commended the cordial relationship between the Executive and Legislative arms which he said has led to laudable achievements by both arms. While stressing on the prime of place of the legislature in a democracy, Abiru admonished the Lagos Assembly to remain relevant

‘We have a governor who has been described as an actualiser working with a legislative body that is adjudged as efficiently functional. I have no doubt therefore, that the oversight functions in year 2012 would be transformative and better discharged to the benefit of the citizenry of Lagos State’

and catalyze other arms of government to efficient performance by making good laws that would enhance good governance.

“To this end therefore, let me use this opportunity to assure honourable members and staffers that the leadership of the House would not relent in its effort to expose them to training and retraining which would enhance their legislative duties and by extension impact positively on the other arms of government”, Abiru said.

According to him, the various challenges confronting the state government “places on the legislature huge responsibilities not only by ensuring quick consideration and passage of the 2012 Appropriation bill but also the need to do an objective critique of the budget estimates and accelerate the development of the state”, Abiru said.

He advised members to apprise themselves of the principles of Medium Term Sector Strategy Module (MTSS) which is to be applied in the 2013 budget, so as to be able to analyse the budget estimates presented to them. Abiru also informed members that the Lagos state House of Assembly Budget and Research office would become operational in the first quarter of year 2012.

“With Lagos state House of Assembly Budget and Research office in place, the House would have succeeded in perfecting the art of critical budget analysis, monitoring and implementation “ which would further enhance the realization of the policy thrust of the state government.

He further advised the House not to rest on its oars even though it is an “irrefutable fact that Lagos state House of Assembly is a pace setter and has indeed carved a niche for itself in legislative matters, but should instead strive to churn out people oriented and life changing laws.

“However, I am glad that we have a governor who has been described as an actualiser working with a legislative body that is adjudged as efficiently functional. I have no doubt therefore, that the oversight functions in year 2012 would be transformative and better discharged to the benefit of the citizenry of Lagos state,” Abiru said.

Those who delivered lecture at the event were Hon. Chris Asoluka, Head, FM&T Consulting, Col. H.O. Olutoye (rtd), Prof. Alex Gboyega, Dr. Remi Aiyede, Dr. S.A. Danwaka and Mr. Ben Akabueze, Lagos State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget who shed light on the budget estimates.

BIA State Governor Theodore Orji has unfolded plans to weed out ghost workers from the state’s public service by introducing biometric measures.

He solicited the understanding of labour unions to sanitise the state and local government services.

Orji said there are many ghost workers in the local governments drawing salaries without working every month. They are being shielded by certain vested interests, he said.

The governor assured the people of maximum security during the Christmas and new year festivities, urging indigenes of the state to return home for the celebrations.

He told a gathering of Abians in Lagos that his administration would combat kidnapping and other forms of violence during the period, announcing that additional 42 patrol vehicles would be distributed to security agencies to tackle crime during the Yuletide.

The governor also said that, in many towns and villages, there would be no power outage because the Independent Power Project (IPP) has filled the gap.

Orji was guest of the Abia Think Tank, a group of intellectuals, technocrats, politicians and businessmen in Lagos, which held an annual lecture delivered by the former university don and media guru, Dr Chidi Amuta. The lecture was entitled; “State of the state: Abia on my mind”.

Amuta decried the high cost of governance across the three tiers, advising those at the helm of affairs to cut the political bureaucracy at the state and federal levels.

He said: “The number of ministries and parastatals must be cut down to reduce redundancy. Job for the boys to compensate political followers must end”.

Governor Orji who tendered his stewardship said security, infrastructural development, social services and housing would remain the priorities of his administration.

He charged the elite in the state to participate in politics and governance, assuring that the state has been liberated from political, economic and social bondage of the past.

The governor enjoined indigenes wishing to celebrate Christmas at home never to hesitate to do so, adding that government would guarantee security of life and property during and after the period.

He regretted that the image of the state had been dented by kidnapping, stressing that the bad media report has continued, despite the improved security in the state.

Orji unfolded plans to build a new secretariat, Government House, more health centres, and houses for the poor. He said, following down-sizing, N20,100 is being paid monthly as the minimum wage for workers.

• Orji

‘Southeast hungry for growth’

By Dada Aladelokun

T

O the Concerned Igbo Citizens for Stable Democracy and Better Government, a group of some Igbo elite, accelerated development of the region is long overdue. And to ensure that, it is rooting for Igbo presidency to aid good governance in the South East zone of the country in the next election.

At its recent end-of-the-year parley held in Ikeja, Lagos, the group’s national chairman, Chief Chike Ubanah, said categorically that the Igbo must produce the country’s president in 2015 in the interest of balance and fairness.

The chairman also hinted on their preparedness to sacrifice their time, money and other resources in efforts to fight corruption and bad leadership in the zone, nay the country. He hinted that to actualise the group’s dream in that regard, over 100 lawyers had volunteered to give free legal services in case of any litigation.

The group’s director of publicity, Hon. Paul Eze, also in his statement, condemned the leadership style of some of the eastern governors, where for several years, there was nothing like local government election; thus questioning the possibility of development in the state where according to him, grassroots development means nothing.

Eze who hails from Anambra State flawed at the leadership style of Governor Peter Obi who, according to him, had not invested enough in human development. He therefore advised Obi to immediately conduct local government election or meet the group in the law court.

The general secretary of the group, Chief Ugo Onugu, in his statement, suggested that the eastern governors should work as a team by forming strong economic ties.

According to him, as a people known for commerce before now, the zone is supposed to have a world-class international market.

He further showed regrets over the non-commitment of the eastern governors, thus pleading with the Igbo people to join the revolution.

• Obi

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

39

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

40

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

Lagos Trade Fair concession: ‘Crisis’ll soon be resolved’

V

ICE-PresidentNamadi Sambo has given indication that the crisis rocking the concession of the Lagos Trade Fair complex will so be over. The complex has not been used for a long time due to a protracted altercation.

Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, who toured the complex with his committee members set up by the Vice-President to review the crisis trailing the controversial concession, revealed the time for the crisis resolution.

During the tour, some of the stakeholders were represented.

They include the concessionaire, Aulic Nigeria Limited, represented by Chief Okey Ezeibe, former President of Balogun Business Association (BBA), Chief Tony Ughagwu, President of Auto

Stories by Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie Asst Editor

Spare Parts & Machinery Dealers Association (ASPMDA), and Mr Kayode Adeoti, managing director, Call Park Venutres.

Addressing the stakeholders at Hall One of the complex, Ortom decried the state of the arena and assured that his committee’s report would reach the Vice-President in less than two weeks.

He stressed that the Vice-President has demonstrated passion for the immediate revival of the complex to a world class status and assured that Sambo would make a pronouncement on the way forward for the complex soon.

The Minister said: “First and foremost, am overwhelmed by the fantastic initiative of our forefathers on the Lagos Trade Fair complex. No doubt, this is a wonder-

ful edifice that is yearning for exploitation: “Unfortunately, we have allowed it to decay to this level.

“I have gone round the complex and have observed total decay and underdevelopment in areas that are said to be concessioned but areas under the traders are well-developed and highly encouraging, I must say.

“Truly, I have gone to many international countries where trade fair complexes are built. They are not left to decay like this.

“I think that we just need the will to arise to our responsibility to take this Lagos Trade fair to the level it was planned for by the initiators.

“In the first place, the initiative of the government to partner with the private sector to redevelop ailing sectors and enterprises was a

every good, but, unfortunately, this particular one has been characterised by crisis upon crisis in the last four years it was concessioned.

“This was what motivated the Vice-President, who doubles as the Chairman of National Council on Privatisation (NCP), to set up a committee with me as the chairman to look at the issues arising from the concession and chart a way forward.

“Am very happy that I have dedicated members in my committee and we pledge to Nigerians that we must do a good job in the interest of the economy and the country.

“We have seen it and we are going to do justice because we must ensure that this place bounces back by being fully utilised by Nigerians and the investing interna-

tional community.

“By design, we are supposed to be hosting international trade fairs and exhibitions in this complex but that is not happening as far as am concerned for now and we will do everything possible to return this place to its lost glory.

“We are going to revive this place with the stakeholders and genuine business men and investors.

“Again, we are happy with what the Senate Committee has just done and we are going to improve on that by looking into critical issues the Senate skipped in the signed MoU by the stakeholders in the interest of returning the complex back to glory.

“The Senate MoU was not been really specific on major critical issues but we are going to deal with the specifics skipped by the Senate.”

QMB Builders’ Mart displays 2012 designs

R

EAL estate sector will move a notch higher in 2012 with innovative designs in terms of finishing building materials products.

Against this background, QMB Builders has opened its show room to players in the construction industry to have a peep into what it has in stock for next year.

Managing Director of the QMB Builders’ Mart, Mrs Toro Biobaku, said at the event that the company has a new collection of tiles. “They are all 2012 designs and new introductions and unique to us. The finishes are also unique. Some are like wall papers, marble finish, classic in design, rough face, and others plain.

“We have some tiles that can be used for floor and external cladding in locations like hotels, airports, and high traffic areas and they come with 20 years guarantee against all form of defects, such as acid, wear and tear, discoloration, fire, among others,”she said.

She said these tiles are made in Spain and that they are high quality first choice. “Not second choice or rejects, but first choice and we are guarantee that all times.

In addition to all of these, she said are wood finish, branded as laminate. “We have the regular teak even for kitchen cabinet, fitted fridge, fitted wine chiller, fitted dish washer, washing machine, including fitted deep fryer and all these can be incorporated into a kitchen comprehensively.”

On sanitary wares, Biobaku revealed that there are three new designs of sanitary ware; economy, medium and high-end that come with regular and soft seat covers which are unique to them.

On the complaint that some water taps currently in the market are sub-standard, she said: “All our water taps and mixers come with two years guarantee against all forms of defects and algae formation that give people infections. Leaks in taps, she said are caused by poor

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie Asst Editor

quality membrane sealant used in inferior quality taps. “What we have are high quality ones and they are guaranteed.

“For domestic use we give five years guarantee, and 10 for commercial. We have never had anyone come to complain about our taps. To safeguard against leakage, kitchen sinks are supplied with factory fitted drains and waste pipes.

We sell them with complete kits, including the chopping board, knives, and scissors, among others.

It is a complete kitchen accessory and package”.

She said the firm is able to match quality with competitive pricing because “we are relatively new in the market and it is only reasonable for us to position ourselves in the market with better quality than what is available and better prices. We are not making as much profit margin as our competition but we are only investing in our future. We insist on quality products, excellent prices and good before and after sales service.”

She said products, such as sanitary wares should last a lifetime. “We don’t even sell flow master because ours does not give problem. If you say yours is bad then we give you one for free. They are supposed to last a lifetime,” he said.

According to her, a major challenge in the industry, remains installation. She said her company does not engage installers for customers but could recommend them.

“They are quite busy and we don’t take responsibility for their work or for the fees they charge,”she said.

She further disclosed that they have added another range to their core product which office furniture of different colours. “They come as glass and wood, stainless steel, pure leather and work stations. We have solar street lights, which are the authentic ones in the market. You can enjoy them for about 10 years before the batteries are changed.”

•From right: Managing Director/CEO, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Mr Gimba Ya’u Kumo; Enugu State Commissioner for Housing,Victor Okolo and Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Amal Pepple, at the inauguration of Goshen and Jubilee Estates by FMBN for COPEN Services Limited in Enugu ... at the weekend.

Nigerite rewards stakeholders with cars

T

O fulfil its promise, Nigerite Limited, roofing sheet manu facturers, has rewarded its customers in Lagos and Ogun states at this year’s raffle draw at the company’s headquarters in Lagos.

Welcoming artisans to the draw, which has become a yearly event, the Managing Director, Mr Jean-Luc Viatour, said Nigerite rewarded loyal customers who patronised the company’s products in the year.

He said: “Without you, there is no Nigerite. Nigerite has really improved on its products to help you in your profession. We want to be loyal to you as you are loyal to us.

In spite of the competition you keep promoting our products via your support.”

Prizes won at the event include roofing sheets, tools belt bags, standing fans, and other roofing items.

The event also saw the presentation of two new cars to the Professional

Carpenters and Furniture-makers Association (PCFA) of Lagos and Ogun states in recognition of their support and loyalty to the brand and in appreciation for their contribution and patronage to Nigerite Plc. Deputy President, PCFA in Ogun State Chief Lawal Toyin, expressed happiness with Nigerite for the recognition of their support to the company.

‘Nigerite has really improved on its products to help you in your profession. We want to be loyal to you as you are loyal to us. In spite of the competition you keep promoting our products via your support’

President of PCFA in Lagos State, Comrade Anthony Aluko, ,commended the company for people friendly products and attitude.

He promised that only Nigerite products will be patronised by members of his association, adding that Nigerite will soon witness a marketing explosion as a result of the increased patronage.

Aluko assured that the car will be used for the smooth running of the association and for that reason people will know that Nigerite has done great things for the association and continue to patronise them the more as end users.

He called on other roofing sheet manufacturers to learn from Nigerite and also commended the Marketing Director, Mr Toyin Gbede, for putting them first in all their activities.

ATOPCON offers solution to national development

N

IGERIA’S development plans will continue to be deficient in tackling her problems until the components of such plan documents as the Vision 20:2020 and National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS)are integrated into physical development planning.

The President, Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON), Mr Toyin Ayinde, said this during the inauguration of the Lagos State Branch of the association in Ikeja.

He said it was the marriage of economic and physical development plans that could guarantee the required growth in physical, social and economic development of the nation.

Ayinde, who is also the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Lagos State, urged policy makers at all tiers of government to take matters of physical planning and development as of utmost importance.

He said: “It is disheartening to note that at present, only very few of Nigerian cities and towns have

development plans that guide their growth. It is even more worrisome to observe that some of the towns in the Southwestern part of the country do not any form of recent or reliable development plan.

“I, therefore, use this occasion to call on all state governments to commence immediately the process of preparing development plans for their cities/towns. Thus, it is advised that indigenous firms of consultants should be engaged for the assignment.”

According to him, ATOPCON has some of the best hands and consul-

tancy firms that can offer their services in that regard, noting that Lagos has been awarding consultancy services for the preparation of master plans for its major settlements.

Ayinde described the Lagos State branch of the association as the biggest in the country with 34 member-firms or 44 per cent of the membership, noting that the national leadership of ATOPCON would continue to count on the branch for positive actions that would drive the practice of the profession.

He said: “While the national

council will continue to look for ways of enhancing the skill, knowledge and ability of practitioners in our member-firms through workshops and other training programmes, state branches are also being encouraged to do same at their branch level.

“Such efforts should focus on local challenges within their areas of practice. We should continue to sharpen our skills, especially now that factors influencing the structure and system of human settlements are continuously changing.”

SLIDING TACKLE

Tuesday, Decemmber 20, 2011

42

• Toure

Guardiola still hungry for more trophies

B

ARCELONA coach Pep Guardiola has Spanish title rivals Real Madrid and European glory firmly back in his sights after a trip to the Far East that yielded another world crown.

Guardiola sealed the 13th title of his glittering threeand-a-half-year reign Catala on Sunday when the ns overpowered South American champions Santos 4-0, with Lionel Messi bagging a classy double.

It was the perfect launchpad for 2012, Guardiola said, after a weekend on which Real Madrid went three points clear of Barcelona at the top of La Liga with a thumping 6-2 win at Sevilla.

European champions Barca arrived in Japan last week after an impressive 3-1 win away at Real took them back to the top of the league in Spain.

“It will be a surprise for me if the team gives up,” Guardiola said of his side, countering suggestions that after so much success his players could struggle for motivation.

His men strive to “keep going forward”, he said.

“For us, our target is to play great football for the crowd, fight for the Spanish league and travel around Europe to show people our level.”

“The success is all about the great players and their effort,” he said.

But the 40-year-old admitted that his star-studded side's latest triumph had come at a cost after striker David Villa, linked with a move away from the Nou Camp before his injury, fractured his shin in the semifinal against Al Sadd.

•Guardiola

Kolo Toure thrilled to be back K

OLO Toure says he relished being back in action for Manchester City against former club Arsenal in what was only his second Premier League start since serving his six-month drugs ban.

The City defender was hit with the suspension earlier this year after failing a drugs test and is only just finding his way back into Roberto Mancini's firstteam plans.

Toure helped the Blues to an entertaining 1-0 victory over his old club on Sunday, having also started the 5-1 thrashing of Norwich earlier this month.

And the 30-year-old Ivorian is enjoying being back in the side, saying: "I am happy. I feel very fine in terms of form.

"I was desperate to play for Man City.

"We had a difficult game against an inform Arsenal team, but we scored one goal and kept a clean sheet."

Sunday's clash was a tightly-contested encounter, with both sides producing plenty of chances, and Toure feels the win says a lot for City's title hopes.

He added: "We want to fight for the championship and we are showing our credentials."

Ribery ordered to pay $3.46m

F

RANCE and Bayern Munich forward Franck Ribery has been ordered to pay his former agent $3.46 million in unpaid commission, a Luxembourg prosecutor said on Friday.

A spokesman for the prosecutor said the sum concerned a contract with agent Bruno Heiderscheid dating back to 2005 when Ribery was playing for Olympique Marseille.

Ribery joined Bayern from Marseille in 2007.

“For us, our target is to play great football for the crowd, fight for the Spanish league and travel around Europe to show people our level.”

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola, responding to submissions that his side’s enthusiasm for more honours could wane, after winning their fifth title of 2012.

15-MATCH BAN Eto’o won’t S appeal — lawyer AMUEL Eto'o says he will not appeal the fifteen-match ban slammed on him by the Cameroon football federation, FECAFOOT. Eto'o's lawyer, Gabriel Parfait Kaldjob, who also represented Eyong Enoh at the disciplinary committee of FECAFOOT, spoke to SuperSport.com on behalf of his client, Eto'o. He said he has received instructions from the Anzhi striker not to appeal the heavy verdict.

“FECAFOOT officials should have first assumed their responsibilities before sanctioning the players. It is absurd that they slammed such heavy sentence on a player who

•Eto’o

was speaking on behalf of the team. My client has instructed me not to file any appeal,” Kaldjob said.

The FECAFOOT verdict stipulated that the sanctioned players have ten days to appeal before the committee. However, it was unlikely that the decision would have been reversed even if the players appeared before the committee. It has often been a rough ride between the Indomitable Lions captain and officials of the federation.

It has however surprised many that Eto'o has yet to make any public declarations following the ruling. This is contrary to popular expectations that he will appear in the media and make declarations revealing hidden aspects of the Marrakech saga.

Ex-Italy player, Doni arrested over match-fixing ITALIAN police have arrested 17 people in connection with a match-fixing and betting investigation.

Those arrested include former Atalanta and Italy midfielder Cristiano Doni.

The arrests were carried out in several cities in Italy after an initial investigation by magistrates in the northern city of Cremona.

Those arrested and accused of match-fixing had contacts with criminal groups in Singapore and Eastern Europe, according to police.

The investigation was a follow-up to a previous one earlier this year by the football authorities, which led to suspensions and bans for several players, including Doni.

According to police, several other players and former players from the second division (Serie B) were also arrested, as well as the manager of a seaside club and a former trainer of fourth division Ravenna.

•Doni

OTHER SPORT...OTHER SPORT...OTHER SPORT...OTHER SPORT...

C

ELEBRATED Racers Track Club head coach, Glen Mills, believes that his key charge, Usain Bolt, can have his best showing at a major championship at next year's Olympic Games in London.

Bolt set 100m (9.69) and 200m (19.30) world records at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, before bettering that performance a year later at the IAAF World Championships in Berlin, lowering his own marks in both events with a 9.59 run in the 100m and a 19.19 run in his 200m pet event.

The powerful sprinter had less of an impact at the recent IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, false starting in the final of the

'Bolt can better Beijing, Berlin' 100m, before recovering to successfully defend his 200m title with a 19.40 clocking.

Mills, who has been conditioning the 25-yearold since 2005, told the London Evening Standard that Bolt can do better than he did in Beijing and Berlin at next year's Olympic Games, but only if

the weather proves favourable.

"He can do better than Beijing and Berlin, but I'm not certain of the weather in London," Mills was quoted. "It's very tricky, but if the weather is right and the climate is warm, he can do it."

Mills also spoke to Bolt's ambition of running in the 4x400m relays at the highly anticipated Games, an ambition he first mentioned in November at the IAAF Grand Gala, where he received for the third time - the Male Athlete of the Year award.

The coach accepts that it is a desire of his athlete but that a lot would depend on the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association's selection preferences going into the Olympics.

MOTORING

43

THE NATION

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

0803-4693-984 tajudeen1423@yahoo.co.uk

email:- motoring@thenationonlineng.net

Equipped with ABS brakes, interior chrome finish, dual zone A/C (front and rear), folding electric mirrors, parking sensors, remote power door locks, audio steering controls, and Ipod AUX, Toyota has strengthened its top position with the new Fortuner SUV, writes TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO.

Toyota redefines luxury with Camry •Fortuner

T

Find fun with fortified Fortuner

HE Fortuner owns the moment with a muscular yet stylish presence. Its newly-designed bumpers, radiator grille, headlamps and rear combination lamps create a striking new look that is further complemented by 17" alloy wheels, colour-coded exterior mirrors (electrically adjustable with integrated indicators), a chrome rear door garnish and a rear spoile with a high-mount stop lamp. HID (High Intensity Discharge) headlamps optimise visibility and keep riders safe on the road.

Additionally, the car is equipped with two airbags for driver and passenger, as well as many other advanced features.

Fortified with 2.7litre engine, four-speed automatic transmission, Fortuner, according to Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL) was introduced due to increasing demands from customers across the country.

Though there are other Sports Utility Vehicles under the umbrella of TNL, the new Fortuner, is expected to win more loyalists because of its “bold, stylish and stable disposition.”

Unveiling the SUV in Lagos last week, TNL Managing Director Mr Chandra Thampy said the car is designed and reinforced for the Ni-

gerian terrain.

Thampy boasted that the company would not leave anything stone unturned in its quest to meet customers taste and demand.

“We are happy to launch this new product for our customers, who have continually asked for quality products from us. The new Toyota Fortuner is specifically built for Nigerian roads and our terrain. You will recall that we recently launched 2012 Toyota Camry into the market,” he said.

Stating that the car is from the Middle East, Thampy said, it is in line with the Toyota concept of durability, quality, performance and safety.

TNL General Manager (Marketing) Mr Bayo Olawoyin said the Fortuner was developed from the Hilux.

Emphasising that the Fortuner is designed to deliver optimal performance, Olawoyin said the engines are built with the consideration of fuel economy and the environment.

“The suspension and aerodynamics have been optimised to assume excellent stability and steering feel. The exterior is rugged and aesthetically appealing and the vehicle length is 4705mm, width, 1840mm and height is 1795mm,” he said.

According to him, the Fortuner like every other Toyota product has been designed to ensure low engine noise.

“It comes in a 2.7 litre engine, which operates silently without noise with four speed automatic transmissions, four cylinders in line with twin Cam 16valve,” he said.

The Fortuner delivers a rich lineup of features that guarantee passenger comfort. It is equipped with ABS brakes, interior chrome finish, dual zone A/C (front and rear), folding electric mirrors, parking sensors, remote power door locks, audio steering controls, and Ipod AUX. A high-class look is presented by using a three-dimensional design of substantial volume that matches the form of the license plate. The vehicle’s name logo is placed in the center of the garnish, fostering a clear rearview impression.

The design is changed to create an intergrated look by smoothing the transition between body and bumper. The bottom edge of the bumper is streched out to both edge, and the central section, which is inward-slanting on both sides, is given a three-dimensional form, to emphasize a look that expresses the powerfulness of an

SUV Newly adopted body-colored outer mirrrors with side turns signal lamps accentuate the high-class look.

The redesigned aluminium side step is equipped with a black plastic cover, emphasizing the intrepid look. The cover surface is grooved to precent slipping, in consideration of running the vehicle in heavy weather and on muddy groud.

By combining alternate spokes if different shape, a novel and refined design has been created.

In addition to the straight-line-themed sharp form, the use of a lamp configuration giving a sense of depth, and the cylindricalshaped projector lamp located centrally on the vehicle, convey a high-class, advanced look. HID headlamps with auto-leveling function are also available.

While assimilating the boldly carved- out, inverted trapezoid theme, the design is modified to bring out prestige and refinement.

The distinctive rear combination lamps sport two sets of round graphics. The complete lamp is changed to a clear lens configuration, giving a more clear-cut impression and advanced look.

44

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

NEWS

•Assistant Comptroller of Prisons in Bauchi State, Alhaji Abdul Umar (left) receiving gifts on behalf of inmates from the Bishop of Bauchi Catholic Dioceses, Most Rev. Malachy Goltok, during the Bishop’s visit to Bauchi main prison ...on Sunday

•Niger State Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu administering oral polio vaccine to a child during the flag off of the seventh round of Immunisation Plus Days at the Emirs palace in Minna...at the weekend

•Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila (middle) presenting “Who Is Who in Nigeria Democracy Outstanding Governor 2011 Award” to Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam in London...at the weekend. With them is Mr Deji Adeyanju, member, Association of British Nigerian Councillors in London organisers of the award.

•Deputy Governor Ekiti State Mrs. Funmi Olayinka (middle) leading a tour of the Ikogosi, Ekit warm spring. With her are Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Ms Arunma Oteh (left) and Finance Commissioner Mr. Dapo Kolawole...at the weekend

Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor Nsima Ekere (middle) being received by the Methodist Bishop of Uyo, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Udofia (right) on his arrival at the Immanuel Methodist Cathedral, Uyo for the thanksgiving service to mark the end of the 2011 Annual Convention of the Methodist Diocese of Uyo...on Sunday. With them his Deputy Speaker, House of Assembly, Sir Udo Kierian Akpan

•Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole with security operatives at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos ... at the weekend. The governor was on his overseas.

•Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mrs Oluremi Oyo; Chairman, Federal Character Commission, Prof. Shuaibu Abdulraheem (middle) and the commission’s Director representing Gombe State, Alhaji Haruna Gadam, during their visit to NAN Headquarters, Abuja…on Sunday

•Enugu State Governor Sullivan Chime receiving a souvenir from the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Chris Cooter at the Governor’s Lodge, Enugu...at the weekend. With them are Commissioner for Commerce Dr. Jude Akubilo (middle) and other officials.

PHOTOS: NAN, ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE AND OBI CLETUS

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

45

HEALTH THE NATION

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

Whether in public or private hospitals, nurses seem to share something in common: they shout at patients and in some cases leave them unattended to. Many patients are complaining about this attitude, which some nurses have described as a misconception. WALE ADEPOJU reports

Is nursing losing steam?

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URSES are supposed to to be caring, patient and understanding with pa-

tients.

But in many hospitals nationwide, there are complaints about the attitude of nurses.

Some say they are harsh; othersdescribe them as witches.

Are nurses that bad?

“We are not”, says the Apex Chief Nursing Officer, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Mrs Modupe Shode.

But the perception persists that nurses are inhuman because of the way some of them treat patients.

Many wonder why they are not following the footsteps of Florence Nightingale, who is considered as the mother of the profession. Nightingale took care of soldiers wounded in wars.

Baby Kate was taken to the Paediatric Ward of a specialist hospital when she had malaria and cholera. She was stooling uncontrollably and she was admitted. The nurses claimed they could not attend to her immediately because of other duties.

Baby Kate smeared with excreta. When her mother herself walked in, she was livid when she saw her daughter in that state. She asked the nurses to clean her daughter up since she was going to pay for the service.

A nurse appealed to her to be calm and promised to move over as soon as she finishes with another baby.

Another patient, Mr Seyi Balogun, a travel agent, said

•From left: Chief Nursing Officer, Mrs Tope Sekaye; Deputy Director of Hospital Administration, Mrs Jumoke Akinlawon, Mrs Shode; Assistant Director, Accounts, Mrs Kuburat Lawal and Assistant Apex Chief Nursing Officer, Mrs Foluke Adesope, at the event.

nurses treat patients shabbily.

He alleged that nurses in a teaching hospital in Lagos shouted at him, when he demanded help during his trying times. “I called them. They pretended as if they didn’t hear me.

I was frustrated. My friend also told me a similar experience. It was really bad. I don’t wish to go back there, but I don’t like self-medication,” he added.

Many others have similar story to tell.

Like Mrs Shode, other nurses believe that they are doing their best , but some patients are insatiable.

They look at this issue at LASUTH nurses’ yearly conference with the theme: Nursing practice: harnessing opportunities for sustainable development. It provided the platform for nurses to clear the air on how the public perceived them.

Shode said the nurses are hu-

man and as such, are susceptible to errors though she didn’t rule out the need for attitudinal change.

According to her, nurses are often misunderstood by patients during emergencies because they want immediate attention.

“But sometimes, as professionals we take care of the most critical case. Not the usually, first come first service,” she added.

She said nurses are not saints stressing that some are well-behaved while some have attitude problem.

“Nonetheless, majority of us are zealous but that is not to say that some nurses may not be doing the right thing,” she added.

She attributed negative behaviour among nurses to individual upbringing. She said some people are bad, adding that there was nothing anybody could do about that. “That is their person.”

She urged nurses to shrug off personal problems and put up selfless attitude which nursing was known for.

Mrs Shode said most hospitals lack adequate capacity in nursing to care for the sick.

“The World Health Organisation (WHO) requirement is one nurse to four patients. In the ward, it is supposed to be one nurse to 20 patients. In most hospitals across the country, it is one nurse to 20 in the ward while it is one nurse to 1000 patients in the clinic,” she said.

Mrs Shode said nurses were not motivated and as such depressed to carry out their duties with warmness. “All of them have been on the same level for 15 years without promotion. No thanks to the insensitivity of officials the Federal Ministry of Establishment who are geared looking into such matters,” she added.

Head of Department, Nursing Army School, Yaba, Lagos, Col. Agatha Onovo, said nursing started when it switched from medical theories to nursing theories.

She said: “Sustainable development should be embraced because it is a pattern that ensures a steady development and general well-being of patients over time.”

She said social, economic and environmental balance is part of sustainable development that nurses need.

Col. Onovo, represented by Mrs Anthonia Igbo, said the time was rife to sub-specialisation and continuous educational development of nurses.

Col. Onovo said nursing specialties, such as orthopaedic, cadio-thoracic among others, are necessary for the development of the profession.

5.8 million die of injuries yearly, says WHO

N

O fewer than 5.8 million people die yearly from injuries suffered in accidents, the World Health Organisation has said.

According to the President, Association of Resident Doctors (ARD),National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos (NOHIL), Dr Shopekhai Itakpe, 90 per cent of the casualty figure is from Nigeria and other low and medium income countries.

He added: “The Centre for Disease Control (CDC) also identified injuries as the main cause of death that people from one to 44 years, in its last report. Of the figures, it said, road traffic injuries kill an estimated 1.3 million people yearly, stressing that it would become the fifth leading cause

By Wale Adepoju

of death by 2030.”

For these reasons, the ARD, focused its yearly scientific conference on emergency trauma care, to gain insight into its challenges and proffer way forward.

It advocated prevention rather than cure to address the problem which has orphaned many children and cut many lives of bread winners short.

The experts drew their conclusion at the yearly scientific

conference of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos (NOHIL).

Their resolve was borne out of the urgency to reduce the number of admissions in hospital due to recurring incidences of accidents in Nigeria, particularly on the roads.

Although, accidents happen every day, the majority of them were due to the carelessness of the people, experts said at yearly

scientific conference of the ARD, NOHIL. It is with the theme Emergency trauma care in Nigeria.

According to Head, Accident and Emergency Surgery, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Dr Olakunle Badmus, it is a wake-up call for professionals in the trauma care system to help reduce accidents and improve the trauma care system. This, he said, would be achieved by suggesting accident prevention and prompt emergency response.

‘No fewer than 5.8 million people die yearly from injuries suffered in accidents........90 per cent of the casualty figure is from Nigeria and other low and medium income countries’

He charged trauma care system experts, police, Lagos State Transport Management Agency (LASTMA), and traffic wardens whose job is to redirect and control traffic, call ambulances for victims and ensure compliance to road safety rules, to do more.

Drawing comparison of emergency trauma care in Nigeria with other developed countries, he said, the latter were far beyond the former, which he noted, was below par.

Hope, however, he said, was not lost if professionals in trauma care system could advocate accident prevention, because “prevention is better than cure”. He said measures, such as enlightenment, enforcement and engineering should be employed to reduce it.

46

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

HEALTH

Ministries collaborate on health care T T

LUTH gets e-pharmacy

HE Federal Ministry of Health is partnering with the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology to ensure health sector Information Communication Technology (ICT) compliant.

According to the Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, the traditional health

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

care delivery system is affected by increasing costs.

Chukwu, who spoke at a conference in Abuja, said the introduction of ICT in the health sector would reduce costs of health care and paving way for new and better ways of patient treatment and welfare.

He said: “Our traditional ways of doing things can no longer be accepted. There is the need to find innovations to bring down costs in the health care delivery.

The traditional health care delivery has been known over the years to be tainted with increasing costs.

“ICT has the potential if properly deployed to lower costs

of health care, while opening up new modalities for patient treatment and welfare. We will need to deploy it to increase accessibility to health care, especially for those that are vulnerable or in the remote areas in need of health care. The time is ripe to have Electronic Medical Record system in all Federal Health institutions.”

•From left: Chief Dental Surgeon of Nigeria, Dr. Bimpe Adebiyi; President, Nigerian Dental Association, Dr. Olufemi Orebanjo and Managing Director, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Mr Thabo Mabe at the event.

Unilever launches campaign on oral health

N

IGERIANS have been urged to embrace good oral habits to prevent some diseases.

In response to the Federal Government’s call for awareness for good oral health and behaviour, Unilever launched the Live, Learn and Laugh Oral Care project in partnership with the Federation Dental Internation (World Dental Federation) and the Nigerian Dental Association in Lagos.

President,Nigerian Dental Association, Dr Olufemi Orebanjo,

who delivered a paper entitled: Global Oral Health Situation - The Nigerian Perspective, stated this at the launch of the campaign by Unilever Nigeria.

According to him, “Economic loss to nations resulting from missed hours at school and work due to periodontal diseases or associated with oral infections, culminating into premature low birth weight babies, heart diseases and stroke is alarming.

The Live, Learn, Laugh is timely as it’s the second phase, building on the gains of the first

phase.

“The Live, Learn, Laugh in the Nigerian context is oral health awareness and assessment campaign among targeted population in Nigeria Phase I was between 2005 and 2009 and now Phase II will run from 20112013,” he said.

The Chief Dental Surgeon of Nigeria, Dr. Bimpe Adebiyi, said awareness creation for oral health is a multi-stakeholder project that calls for collaboration from stakeholders and decision makers effective dissemina-

tion of appropriate information and co-operation. A must for everyone who eats, drinks (responsibly) speaks, laughs and kisses.

Shedding more light on the Live, Learn, Laugh project, the Brand Building Director, Unilever Nigeria Plc, David Okeme said, “Unilever has partnered with the wider dentistry community through joint activities with International Association for Dental Research, dental students through the committees on Dental Education and Health and other dental bodies.

Nigeria increases effort on malaria control The Federal Government and some international agencies have implemented programmes to reduce the scourge of malaria. WALE ADEPOJU writes on the progress made so far.

T

HE slogan that malaria is worse than HIV/AIDS is not an aberration. The disease, is no doubt, a public health concern gnawing at its captors. It is responsible for 60 per cent of out-patient visits and 30 per cent of hospitalisations of children below five years.

However, Nigeria is on the path of reducing the disease burden. The Federal Government’s National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) and its Roll Back Malaria (RBM) partners’ collaboration is one of such steps to ensure that. It is aimed at improving health care and ensuring the reduction of malaria burden.

Four years of action plan on malaria by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is an indication that it can be realised. USAID has increased its

funding to support of the objectives of the NMCP in the fight against the disease.

President’s Malaria initiative (PMI) funded by the United States has planned to work with partners to reduce by half the burden of malaria in 70 per cent of worse-hit zones in sub-Saharan Africa. This means an estimated 450 million residents would benefit from the gesture.

The PMI has been working with national malaria control programmes. It also harmonises its activities with national and international partners, such as the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Bank, Malaria No More, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, nongovernmental organisations, in-

cluding faith-based and community groups; and the private sector.

The MPI has supported the Malaria Action Programme for States Project (MAPS), a USAID-funded, integrated malaria project in the country. Still in its first year of implementation, Nigeria is already counting its gains as a PMI focused country as malaria control interventions are being carried out and vital commodities are being distributed to vulnerable populations.

Among such donations was USAID $18 million in 2010 to support malaria prevention and treatment although USAID has funded malaria in Nigeria over the past 10 years, this largesse ensure the provision of necessary control materials. To date, over 1.3 million ITNs have been purchased and distributed. More people now ITNs in Cross River and Kano states. The

prepackaged, socially marketed Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACT) treatments for children under five were developed and distributed in 18 states.

USAID/MAPS have over the years supported the use ITNs, indoor residual spraying (IRS), intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant women (IPTp) and diagnosis and treatment. It is believed these four key interventions would help to prevent and treat malaria.

However, there are complaints that some of these materials cannot reach the remote areas, particularly villages and islands.

Some of the community leaders of those remote areas have been calling on the government to ensure safe passage of ITNs and ACT. They said it would speed up the process of ridding the country of the disease.

By Paul Oluwakoya

O build capacity in health information management, Pfizer Pharmaceutical has inaugurated the first e-pharmacy project at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

LUTH’s Deputy Director of Pharmacy, Mrs Oluranti Adedeji, said the project, which was the first of its kind in the country would improve efficiency and effectiveness in pharmacy operations in the hospital.

She said the first phase of the project had 18 inter-connected computers all sharing information in the Accident and Emergency, Out-patients and staff clinic pharmacies.

Adedeji said the application would allow specialists to check patient medication history, drugdrug interaction, medication counselling tips and out of stock reports with ease.

She said the project would also help the hospital to gather historical data about patients and improve efficiency of operations, adding that pharmacists now have more time to spend with the patient due to the innovation.

“For instance, the process of computing daily drug consumption, which previously takes a pharmacist some hours to compute will now take a few minutes,” she added.

She said the pharmacy department could now publish research works in international journals as there would now be availability of credible and reliable clinical data fit for research.

Pfizer, Medical Director, Dr Kodjo Soro said the Health Information System (HIS) installed would ensure collation of pharmacy-based data, such as, stock checks, patient/pharmacy transactions, drug interactions, patient history checks and prescription costs.

GSK, community pharmacists collaborate on vaccine

P

HARMACEUTICAL and health care company, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is collaborating with the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) to create access to affordable vaccines. It has launched its scheme called Neighbourhood Vaccine.

The partnership would ensure that the provision of vaccines for prevention of diseases, such as cervical cancer, chicken pox, hepatitis B, typhoid fever, meningitis, measles mumps and rubella, and hepatitis A. These vaccines would be available at several neighbourhood pharmacies and clinics across the country for easy purchased.

Managing Director, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceutical, Anglophone West Africa, Mr Lekan Asuni, said the scheme is aimed at improving the quality of life by facilitating a quick access to drugs.

“GSK has always sought for ways of improving the quality of life of people and through this scheme, people could have first and fast access to high quality health care.

Community pharmacy practice is a key success factor and essential component in the health of the country, so deepening their skill base, in our view is a very worthy investment,” Asuni said.

According to him, it is better to prevent diseases rather than allow people to contract them, which then leads to unnecessary sufferings and attendant high costs of caring for preventable diseases.

47

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

ENERGY THE NATION

E-mail:- energy@thenationonlineng.net

NEXIM grants $695m loans for renewable energy A

S part of contribution to de veloping and using renew able energy as against the current dependence on fossil fuels, the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) said it has given out $695 million as loans to five companies that are investing in renewable energy projects in the country.

NEXIM’s Chief Risk Officer, Dr Emmanuel Moore Abolo, disclosed in Lagos during an interactive session for financial institutions and investors on Access to Renewable Energy (AtRE). The jointly organised by the Bank of Industry(BOI) and United Nation Development Programme (UNDP).

Abolo said the beneficiaries of the loans include Intol JPI. The firm is embarking on a project that will provide regional waste planning and landfill, transfer station, resource recovery design and engi-

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

neering, which would produce renewable energy through waste management. NEXIM gave it a loan of $15 million Confluence Sugar Limited got a loan of $510 million from the bank.

The company is embarking on agriculture/clean development mechanism project. The project involves sugarcane cultivation for the purpose of producing sugar and the sugarcane by-product (bagasse) would be used as biofuel for energy co-generation Threshold Biofuel Energy Limited is carrying out service/clean development mechanism project.

The project involves the production of biodiesel from Jatropha curcas and food crops through intercropping on the plantations. It got a loan of $12 million.

Highland Limited is doing a waste-to-energy project, which in-

volves the production of electricity from waste. It secured a $102 million loan while Global Biofuel Limited has proposed project, which involves a farming solution for the cultivation of Sorghum feedstock for a 90,000 litre per day fuel grade ethanol refinery, a 100,000 litre per day biodiesel refinery and a 7.5 megawatt power plant utilising farm waste.

The project is already approved by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) under the new National Biofuel Policy and has been endorsed by the country’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), Designated National Authority (DNA), a unit of the Federal Ministry of Environment for execution as a CDM project that would earn Certified Emission Reduction (CER). NEXIM gave it a loan of $56 million According to the NEXIM chief, renewable energies are energy

forms which are essentially inexhaustible, unlike fossil fuel sources, which are finite. Renewable energy sources include wind (onshore and offshore), hydro, wave, tidal, biomass, solar, and geothermal. Renewable energy can be used for heating and transport as well as electricity generation.

Renewable energy involves the provision of energy that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs and It usually also includes technologies designed to improve energy efficiency.

He said: “The earth’s fossil fuel supplies (oil, gas, coal) are limited and will be depleted over time. As this process continues, remaining reserves will become increasingly difficult to access. It is also widely held that the gases released when fossil fuels are burned to produce energy are contributing towards

changes in our climate and rises in global temperatures. By using increasing amounts of renewable energy (as well as by conserving as much energy as possible), we are acting sustainably and helping to protect our environment.

Renewable energy can also create opportunities for economic growth.”

He noted that the deployment of renewable energy sources and the realisation of energy efficiency projects often require substantial amounts of money, in order to plan the project, purchase and install the equipment, as well as to train staff for the operation and maintenance of the system installed.

Renewable energy projects have so far had a rather poor reputation with the financing community as they are still viewed as higher risk investments, resulting in stiffer requirements for investors and developers alike, he added.

US seeks oil supply cushion as Iran sanctions loom

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• From left: General Manager, Nigerian Content, Chevron, Mr Raymond Wilcox; Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives, Local Content Committee, Hon Nasir Ahmed; Committee Chairman, Hon Asita; Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Ernest Nwapa; Council Member, Chamber of Shipping, Mr Mina Oforiokuma and Bayo Adaralegbe of B.O. Babalakin & Co Chambers, at the capacity building workshop, organised by NCDMB for the House of Reps Committee on Local Content in Abuja.

Atlantic Energy institutes N1.13b infrastructure fund

I

NDIGENOUS oil and gas firm, Atlantic Energy Drilling Con cepts Limited (Atlantic Energy) and African visionary and international designer, Ozwald Boateng, have agreed to establish a multimillion dollar charitable organisation, Made in Africa Foundation, to focus on first-stage funding of infrastructure projects in Africa.

The Foundation according to a statement, will start off with a grant of $7 million (about N1.13 billion) and will provide first mile finance to Africans and African businesses involved in the development of major infrastructure projects in the region. Finance will be awarded for the drafting of feasibility studies and business plans ahead of seeking project finance from sources such as private equity, development finance institutions and commercial banks.

Commenting on the fund, General Counsel and Executive Director of Atlantic Energy, Dayo Okusami, said: “Atlantic Energy’s

philosophy is based on the pillar of enduring Commitment “ an abiding promise towards corporate responsibility for the sustainable development of infrastructure projects in Nigeria and others parts of Africa. Atlantic Energy is pleased to be a founding donor and supporter of this exceptional charity and we look forward to fostering a continent-wide push for sustainable infrastructure development. In this regard, Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited has committed to underwrite US$7 million for the independent power project feasibility studies, a renewal master plan in the eastern Africa, as well as the Foundation’s running costs for the first three years.”

“We believe the feasibility study will contribute to the acceleration of the much needed power infrastructure in countries such as Nigeria” he added.

Infrastructure development is the key factor in the transformation of sovereign economies from devel-

oping to emerging market status.

According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the estimated financing requirement to close Africa’s infrastructure deficit amounts to US$93 billion annually until 2020. Much of this money is available, but it cannot be applied until the requisite business plans and feasibility studies have been developed to enable capable sponsors and funding to come together.

A lack of capital to get to this stage has meant that many opportunities have not been pursued and few projects have been undertaken by Africans or African businesses.

Boateng commented: “It’s a wellknown statistic that US$400 million of funding for feasibility studies and master plans across subSaharan Africa would develop over US$100 billion of infrastructure projects, which in turn would create a trillion dollars of value across Africa. The first step is often the hardest and we have created this foundation with Atlantic Energy to make that step easier for Africans.”

Atlantic Energy is a private upstream oil and gas group founded

by Nigerian and international exploration and production (E&P) executives with an extensive track record and experience in the Nigerian E&P sector. The company currently operates in Nigeria and is dedicated to its partners and communities where it operates through its enduring commitment to sustainability programme.

Made In Africa Limited was founded in 2006 by Boateng, Chris Cleverly and Hassan Kimbugwe. It is a Mauritius-based company dedicated to bringing innovative ideas and capital to Africa. Made in Africa with former Ghanaian President Kufor co-hosted the State Banquet for Ghana’s African Union conference, and the UK’s Department for International Development 2010 Whitehall conference on Growth Corridors. Made in Africa continues advise governments, including that of the UK Prime Minister David Cameron, on infrastructure, innovation and development finance.

HE United States is building ties with a range of oil pro ducing countries in an effort to ensure a steady supply of crude to global markets as the West ratchets up the threat of increased sanctions against Iranian exports.

According to a State Department official, the groundwork is being laid with exporters including Ghana, Angola, and Iraq, where the oil industry is recovering from war and years of neglect, to boost global spare oil capacity in case of outages that can lead to price spikes that threaten the fragile economy.

As Iran, the world’s fifth biggest oil exporter, faces calls for fresh sanctions based on concerns it is developing a nuclear bomb, the United States is working with countries beyond its old ally Saudi Arabia to ensure spare capacity in global oil markets, Reuters reported.

“It’s no longer just going to one or two places and saying, ‘Hey can you pump an additional million barrels per day and we will all be fine,’ it’s become a much more complicated market to be able to work with,” Carlos Pascual, the State Department’s special envoy and coordinator for international affairs told a meeting at the Council on Foreign Relations last week.

Pascual was in charge of creating the State Department’s new Bureau of Energy Resources, which takes the lead on issues from market stabilization to lowering environmental risks of energy production.

Tighter sanctions on Iran could result in its output falling by about a quarter to below 3 million bpd by 2016, the International Energy Agency, the West’s energy watchdog, said.

Some groups in Washington also hope to make U.S. sanctions on Iran smarter by pushing China and other countries in the East to buy more of Iran’s oil. The idea is China has a better bargaining position than Europe because its state oil companies buy crude as a monolithic block and can force Iran to sell its crude for a lower price and deprive it of billions of dollars in petroleum revenues.

Saudi Arabia remains the swing producer of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, a major factor in the world’s spare ca• Continued on page 48

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

48

ENERGY Chevron appoints new communication manager

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• From left: Deji Adeniyi, Group Executive Director, Business Development Group; Adekunle Odeyimka, Group Managing Director, both of Toptech Engineering Limited; Stanley Caza, Managing Director, Energy Process and Systems Integrated Limited; Mathew Ogunyeye, Deputy Managing Director and Moses Alabi, Group Executive Director,Customer Fulfilment Group of Toptech at the end of the year seminar organised by Toptech.

HEVRON Nigeria Limited (CNL), operator of the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture, has announced the appointment of a new Communications Manager in its Policy, Government and Public Affairs (PGPA) Department.

He is Mr. Adesola Adebawo.

According to a statement signed by the General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Femi Odumabo, Adebawo joined Chevron in 1996 as a Public Affairs Field Representative, and has held various positions of increasing responsibilities in all the core functions of PGPA, including communications, government relations, corporate responsibility and community engagement with a good knowledge in strategy planning.

Adebawo holds a Bachelors degree in Mass Communication (major in Journalism) from the University of Lagos and a Certificate in Reputation Management from the Reputation Institute of New York.

He replaces Temitope Idowu who passed on recently.

Islands customers owe PHCN N683m

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USTOMERS of the Islands Business District of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) are owing the company well over N683 million.

The Business Manager of the District, Demian Okorie, disclosed this at the company’s Customers’ Consultative Council (CCC) meeting in Lagos.

A breakdown of the debt showed that the Nigerian Armed Forces and Police owe over N241 million while the federal ministries accounted for N40 million.

Others on the debtors’ list include the federal parastatals, which accounted for over N29 million and other customers who owe over

Stories by Bidemi Bakare

N371 million.

Okorie noted that the debt was an accumulation of electricity bills unpaid up till the end of October 2011.

He said it was inconceivable that despite the huge investment made by the government to improve the power sector most customers are not reciprocating the gesture by paying up their electricity bills on time.

Okorie hinted that it is only when consumers pay for the electricity consumed that the utility company would be able to provide better, quality and improved services.

He urged the customers to assist the district by paying up their debts so that all ongoing projects can be completed in quick time.

On the challenges of power distribution faced by the district, Okorie said such challenges are caused partly by the inadequate power allocation from the grid.

He said: “The issue of power distribution in Island district is a serious one. Power distribution if we must know is dependent on the power allocation from the grid. As for us in Islands district the average load allocation from the grid is 55MW which we share with Ajele Business District.

“The reason for the inadequate

allocation is because of the limitation of the transformer capacity at Ajah transmission station and the existence of aged and weak power cables with multiple joints in the distribution network.”

He requested that swift action be taken to improve the transformer capacity and overhaul of the power cables for the district to get an allocation that can meet up with the ever increasing load demand.

On achievements recorded so far within the district, he said about 24 projects have been executed within the district in the last one year while six other projects are currently ongoing.

Govt initiates 67 power projects in Lagos to boost supply

T

HE Federal Government has embarked on about 67 power projects in Lagos to deliver the expected regular power supply to electricity consumers in the country. The projects are under the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) scheme.

The projects, which are being managed by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC), are at various stages of completion, while four of them are slated for inauguration between this month and February next year.

The Managing Director of the NDPHC, James Olotu, stated this during the oversight inspection of NIPP projects by the Senate Committee on Power in Lagos.

He said: “The NIPP has 67 electricity projects in Lagos. And every month, starting from this month (December), we will be delivering at least two or three of them, until we finish all of them.

We already have four transmission

projects that will be delivered between this month (December) and February next year. They are big and lofty projects.”

Among the expected projects are Oworonshoki Transmission station, Agbara, Ikeja West and Ojo Transmission Stations. “All of them are in the minimum capacity of 60 MWA, and we are delivering them for Lagos. Henceforth, Lagos will not be the same again in terms of power supply,” he said.

On the electricity equipment that was confiscated by the Nigerian Ports Authority, he said the Senate has intervened and those involved are under investigation. “ Every effort has been made by various intergovernmental agencies to ensure that all the containers move out of ports and go to sites and we are getting very good result from them so far. When we stop getting that support, we will take them to the National Assembly, which is ready to bring those

who are responsible for the act to book,” Olotu added.

The National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) was conceived in 2004 as a fast- track government funded initiative to stabili se Nigeria’s electricity supply system. The Federal Government, therefore, incorporated Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC) as a limited liability company to serve as the legal vehicle to hold the NIPP assets using private sector-oriented best business practices.

The Chairman Senate Committee on Power, Philip Tanimu Aduda, who led the team on the inspection, said work is in progress at all the power facilities, adding that the contractors are doing their best to ensure that they beat time limit.

“We are here to go round the various power distribution stations to ensure that they live up to expecta-

tions towards providing power for Nigerians. And we will ensure that they come alive and working,” he said.

On the problem of gas shortage to power plants, Aduda said: “We are trying to handle the gas shortage problems, we have discussed with the minister of petroleum resources and she has promised me that they will talk about it and call the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) to discuss the modalities of ensuring gas supply.

“The problems are really numerous and we have to sit down on a round table and solve them, because you will find out that some of these power stations owe the gas companies. You will find out that we Nigerians also owe PHCN, so how do they reconcile that, we need to pay our bills so that they too can pay for their gas and they can have steady supply,” he said.

MEA, Interstate jostle for Abuja, Enugu Distribution companies

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HE Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) of Thai land, one of the world’s energy distribution companies in partnership with the Interstate Electrics Limited has joined the race for acquisition of some electricity distribution companies.

As a show of commitment to this goal, a nine-man team of technical experts drawn from the partnership, was led by its Director of Investment Mr. Ruj Herabat, and Dr. Samnieng Muangnil of Precise International (a foremost manufac-

turer of electricity distribution equipment and materials including transformers, ring main units, among others), visited the country to bid for the acquisition of Abuja and Enugu Distribution Companies under the power sector privatisation programme of the Federal Government being overseen by the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE).

The team, according to a statement, proposed to offer the company’s expertise in energy distribution to Nigeria and assured it

would be able to fix the extant problems in the distribution segment of the power sector.

MEA is the technical partner of Interstate Electrics Limited one of the companies bidding for the acquisition of Abuja and Enugu Electricity Distribution Companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

MEA distributes electricity in the Thai capital city of Bangkok and environs and is reputed to be one of the most efficient third world power distribution companies with

a record technical and commercial loss of below five percent over the past 10 years.

Prior to the privatisation programme, the chief executive officers of select distribution companies of PHCN visited MEA and their sister company Provisional Electricity Authority of Thailand (PEA) which distributes power in the rest of the regions in Thailand, as model state utilities that are efficiently run making major contribution to state revenue, with a US$6 billion annual turnover by MEA.

• Adebawo

US seeks oil supply cushion as Iran sanctions loom • Continued from page 47 pacity cushion, now estimated about 2.5 million bpd to 5 million bpd.

But as the kingdom’s domestic demand for crude rises and as the world’s thirst for oil grows to nearly 90 million bpd, new sources of oil are also coming into focus for Washington.

Angola’s oil production, which is currently about 1.7 million bpd is expected to rise to nearly 2 million bpd by 2013 and keep rising.

Iraq’s output has risen about 500,000 bpd this year to about 2.95 million bpd, the highest level in two decades, and could easily rise by the same amount next year, Pascual said.

Ghana joined the club of oil producers in late 2010 when the offshore Jubilee field operated by Tullow Oil started up producing light sweet crude. The company is hoping to soon hit a target of 120,000 barrels per day from the field, while Ghana’s total oil reserves are estimated to be at least 1.25 billion barrels.

Production in offshore East Africa could also take off in coming years, Pascual added.

“What seemed in the past to people as maybe not that significant, 200,000 barrels here and 400,000 barrels there, is part of what actually makes up that whole texture, that whole fabric, of what can become a stable market,” Pascual said.

Rising oil output in the Western Hemisphere also has big potential to add to the global supply cushion.

Offshore drilling in Brazil could make it Latin America’s biggest oil producer in coming years, while Canadian and U.S. oil production is also rising from unconventional sources such as shale oil and oil sands.

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

49

ENERGY

Power projects: need for competent firms As the Federal Government restates its commitment to fixing the power through increased allocation to the Ministry of Power in 2012 budget, it is imperative to engage the services of competent and original builders in repairs of existing power facilities, EMEKA UGWUANYI, Assistant Editor (Energy) reports.

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HE industrialisation and attainment of technological height in any economy is driven by several factors but chief among them is access to steady electricity supply. In fact, experts in industrialised countries said power is a key and major catalyst to achieving sustainable development and economic growth of any nation.

Nigeria is not an exception to this paradigm. However, lack of this essential infrastructure has kept the country stagnant over the years in terms of real development.

Therefore, President Goodluck Jonathan’s desire to place priority on power sector reform is apt as the cardinal aim is to make electricity supply stable to kickstart sustainable industrial development and building of a robust economy.

Funding The current state of power needs real attention, which necessitated the increase of the 2012 power budget by over 70 per cent over this year’s budget. Current scenario, according to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN’s) statistics of daily power delivery and status showed that all the existing power stations under the utility company have a combined installed capacity of about 6,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity but available capacity hovers around 3,200 to 3,800MW. For a country of over 150 million population desirous to be one of the 20 most industrialised countries of the world by the year 2020, more is actually required to push the sector to its rightful position in the economy because the output is undoubtedly grossly inadequate to meet the national aspiration.

Besides, a cumulative average of about 3,000MW are lost annually through grid loss, poor maintenance/overhauling, lack of spare parts and other vices. Therefore a more realistic maintenance and overhauling mechanism is required by the government to put the machines in good shape. It is evident that poor maintenance culture has contributed immensely towards the low capacity utilisation/output of most power stations in the country.

However, as part of effort to

realise its noble objective of sustainable power generation, the governments of Nigeria and Japan have entered into a bilateral relationship to further boost technological ties. Through this bilateral relation, the power sector has received another boost as the Japanese Government through its development programme has given a fast track grant of JPY2 billion, equivalent of N3.5 billion to the Nigerian Government for the rehabilitation of one of the units at Jebba Hydro Electric Power Station.

In response to the VicePresident’s directive to the Federal Ministry of Power to urgently address the critical situation of the power sector, an application for the grant was made in November 2010.

Indeed, as one of the top priority projects and in the spirit of international cooperation and support for Nigerians, government of Japan despite its domestic difficulties and huge losses caused by the recent catastrophic earth quakes and tsunami, the grant was fast tracked and JICA (Japan International Corporation Agency) investigation team came to Nigeria in January this year, inspected the Jebba Power Plant and Japanese Government Cabinet approved it in March 2011.

Pact with Japanese

Currently, the Nigerian Government has already signed grant agreement with the Japanese Government for this grant which, is targeted at restoring to full operation one of the units that was affected during the April, 2009 accident.

In addition to the above grant, and in accordance with the directive of the Vice-President, Federal Ministry of Power in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, has applied for loan from Japan’s Government Soft Loan Programme to access necessary finance to pursue rehabilitation and major overhaul works for Jebba Hydro Power station.

Discussion with the relevant Japanese Government agencies is also in top gear for a favourable concessional loan of about US$ 50 million to US$ 100 million, which will also help to achieve more reliable and sustainable power sup-

ply for the country from Jebba Hydro Power Station.

It is imperative to note that Jebba Hydro Power Station is one of the hydro power stations located in Niger State and is the most reliable hydro power stations in Nigeria today. This power station with installed capacity of 540 MW was completed in 1985.

Stakeholders including the Nigeria Labour Congress and Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, among others, have repeatedly pointed out that power sector reform is the panacea for the problems in the sector and urged government to pursue the policy to a logical conclusion.

Sambo while on a working visit to Sapele NIPP power station being constructed by the international conglomerate-Marubeni Corporation of Japan, through its subsidiary - Marubeni Engineering West Africa Limited (MEWAL), expressed satisfaction with the level of work at the site, adding that with the inauguration of the power station before the last quarter of this year, more electricity would be available to Nigerians on the grid.

This kind of partnership, which could be in form of equity holding, operate and management contract (O&M), build, operate and transfer (BOT), among other private sector involvement strategy, is important and profitable. Many international engineering firms such as Marubeni/Hitachi, GE, Rockson Engineering and Chinese companies, ABB are key players today in the power sector among many others.

Competency Now that government has signed grant agreement with the Japanese Government, and the grant is targeted at restoring to full operation one of the units that were affected during the April, 2009 accident, the award of the contract should not be politicised. The contract should not be awarded to an incompetent company owned by one the power brokers, otherwise, the power problems of this country would be compounded.

Preferably, hiring the company that originally built the facility or company from the country that built the facility, would be a better

Libya names 10 winners for its 2012 oil supplies

L

IBYA’s National Oil Corpora tion (NOC) has named 10 companies that will get priority access to term supplies of its crude oil in 2012, including traditional buyers among European refiners that stood by the country’s new leaders in its civil war.

According to Reuters, a senior source at the NOC said the following companies would definitely receive crude oil volumes next year: Repsol , Total, Eni, Royal Dutch Shell , OMV, ConocoPhillips, Saras, BP, Galp and Exxon Mobil.

“We will give priority to all these companies,” said the source, adding that the full list will be published on the NOC’s website in the next few days.

Oil traders at two firms on the list confirmed that they had been contacted by the NOC, but did not disclose exact volumes. An industry source also said that Italian refiners ERG and Api also received some supplies.

Libya was Africa’s third larg-

est producer before the war, pumping around 1.6 million barrels per day and exporting about 1.3 million bpd, mostly to European clients.

The country’s oil output has hit one million barrels per day, its oil minister said earlier this week after an OPEC meeting, in a further sign of its more rapid than expected recovery after an eight-month long conflict.

The 2012 allocations may come as an initial disappointment to oil trading companies who were among the roughly 50 companies that attended talks last month in Istanbul on future supplies.

Libya’s powerful oil body the NOC traditionally only signed term contracts with end-users but its post-revolution leaders have invited trading firms to compete for volumes.

The NOC source said it might make further allocations to other firms, such as trading companies Vitol and Glencore.

• Oshogbo power facility

• Sambo

• Nnaji

choice and government should unnecessarily interfere in the rehabilitation.

For example, Marubeni started commercial operations in Nigeria about 42 years ago and has within the period constructed many power stations in the country. Such power stations include Jebba Hydro Power station with 540MW, Egbin Thermal power station with 1,320MW, Delta II and III power station in Ughelli, Delta State with 300MW and Delta IV power station with installed capacity of 600MW. Marubeni has offered to rehabilitate Jebba 2G6 unit with a capacity for additional 96.4MW .Its important to note that all technical and commercial evaluations of this job were completed and from all indications Marubeni emerged the preferred bidder because Alstom’s bid had major technical deviations, exclusions and far longer delivery period.

Consequently, and in line with Government’s Procurement Act, Jebba Hydro Electricity company and Ministry of Power applied to Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) for Due Process certificate for award of the contract for rehabilitation of the Unit six in favour of Marubeni who emerged as the preferred bidder to Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) who after thorough examination of the process issued their Non-Objection Certificate for the contract for N6.1billion.

It is also important to note that the problem with 2G6 and an attempt to put things right started in 2009. Between 2009 and 2011, is enough time for BPP to have reasonably concluded the issuance of the certificate of No objection.

The commitment of the Minister of Power Professor Barth Nnaji, is not in doubt considering the efforts at driving the reform process and actualising the road map in the power sector by President Jonathan.

The Minister’s Adviser on Communication, Mr. Don Adinuba, was recently quoted as saying that the Minister would soon take a decision on the matter and the promptness of the Minister in arresting this delaying tactics in the execution of the project is a welcome and great service to Nigerians. The earlier the issue of issuance of the certificate of no objection is concluded, the better for the sector, which would mean additional capacity to the national grid in another 25 months from now.

Being the original contractor, Marubeni has (more than any other company) the appropriate engineering know-how for the various components of the plant. Government should begin to look at credentials in terms of accomplishment and service delivery before engaging contractors for construction of new projects if truly Nigerians are committed to salvaging the power sector.

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

50

ENERGY

Firm to build N39b mooring facility at Lekki Free Zone

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NIGERIAN firm, Pinnacle Oil and Gas Limited, has undertaken to build a $250 million Single Point Mooring (SPM) facility at the Lekki Free Zone.

According to a joint memorandum of understanding (MoU) entered into by Pinnacle Oil and Gas, Lekki Free Trade Zone Company (LFTZC) Limited and the China Petroleum Technology and Development Corporation (CPTDC), Pinnacle is expected to complete the $250 million SPM facility with over 11 kilometres of subsea and on shore pipeline network by December 2013 when many of the tank farms proposed for the Zone would have also been completed.

Speaking at the signing ceremony of the MoU in Lagos, Managing Director, Pinnacle Oil and Gas Limited, Mr. Peter Mbah said the $250 million Single Point Mooring (SPM) facility demonstrates the technical knowledge and financial strengths of the indigenous company.

He said the partnership with the China Petroleum Technology Development Corporation (CPTDC) and Lekki Free Trade Zone Company (LFTZC) Limited would lead to the development of the Nigerian downstream sector as the free zone provided a more convenient alternative to loading of oil products.

He noted that the Single Point Mooring facility at Lekki Free Zone would enable petroleum cargo vessels of various capacities to anchor and discharge products via the network of undersea and onshore pipelines to respective tank farms.

“The Lekki Free Zone SPM couldn’t have come at a better time than now that government is withdrawing subsidy on petrol. Considering that factors which impact on the product price like demurrage and littering of cargo-using small vessels to take products from bigger vessels that cannot dock at the jetty due to the shallow draught, would be eliminated

By Taofik Salako

therefore reducing the landed cost of petroleum products quite considerably,” Mbah said.

In his remarks, Managing Director, Lekki Free Trade Zone Company Limited, Mr Chen Xiaoxing, noted the strategic importance and location of the free zone as the new economic hub for Nigeria.

According to him, following the congestion and the environmental hazards posed by the proliferation of petroleum products tank farms at the Apapa/Kirikiri axis, industry operators have found the Lekki Free Zone the most suitable alternative especially considering its location at the outskirts of Lagos and with proximity to the Ijebu Ode axis from where most trucks come to load petroleum products in Lagos.

He said the absence of mooring and discharge facilities at the Zone has denied oil and gas operators opportunity to tap the benefits of Lekki Free Zone adding that the SPM would address this challenge and enhance the position of the zone as major economic catalyst.

Managing Director, China Petroleum Technology and Development Corporation Nigeria Limited (CPTDC), Mr John Cooper, said the MoU was in furtherance of the commitment of the company to development of Nigerian downstream oil sector, especially working with credible indigenous oil and gas firms like Pinnacle.

He added that Nigerian and Chinese firms should continue to explore opportunities to foster mutually beneficial interests expressing the readiness of his company to support the realization of the local content policy and full participation of Nigerian firms in the oil sector.

Lekki Free Zone (LFZ) is a joint venture between a China Corporation, which holds 60 percent stake, Lagos State Government and Federal Government of Nigeria, which hold 20 per cent stake each.

• From left: President-elect, Mr. George Osahon; President, Lawrence Mayowa Afe, Vice-President, Mr. Seye Faduhunsi, all executive members of National Association of Petroleum Explorationist (NAPE), during a meeting of the association’s new executives and journalists at NAPE Secretariat in Lekki.

Explorationists flay delay in passage of PIB T

HE Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) has described the non-passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) by the National Assembly as an embarrassment to the country.

NAPE President, Mr Lawrence Mayowa Afe, while fielding questions from reporters at a briefing in Lagos at the weekend, said the undue delay of the PIB in the National Assembly is a big problem and embarrassment to the country noting that the bill needs to be urgently passed into law to fast track development in the oil and gas sector.

He said if the bill is not passed urgently, it would become a serious credibility problem as most planned projects in the upstream by exploration and production companies (E&P), have been on hold.

He said the quick passage of the bill would encourage inflow of investments in the petroleum industry. “The passage of the bill will certainly move Nigeria forward

O

In London, Brent crude was up 61 cents at $104.21 on the ICE futures exchange.

Crude has dropped from $100 last week because of expectations Europe’s debt crisis will trigger a recession next year and undermine global oil consumption. However, the U.S. economy has shown evidence of growth the last few months.

The government said that applications for unemployment benefits fell last week to the lowest level since May 2008. While manufactur-

and attract more investors to our country,” he said.

The NAPE chief said there was need for the Federal Government to embark on aggressive policy of hydrocarbon oil reserves replacement in the country. He said the depletion of existing reserves without replacement was not good for the country He said Nigeria had an estimated oil reserve of about 37.2 billion barrels which could be depleted. “Nigeria currently depletes about one billion barrels of crude oil annually from its 37.2 billion barrels of hydrocarbon reserves.

“If we take a critical look at perspectives for growing reserves in the next decade, the answer is exploration, exploration and more exploration to run parallel to development projects.

“This is, however, becoming more and more expensive to ex-

Average crude oil price for 2011 poised to set man and Author of The Quest, HE annual average oil price Daniel Yergin said. “Quite simply, of global benchmark Brent 150-year high we are looking at the highest avercrude for 2011 is poised to be

T

the highest (in both real and nominal terms) since 1860, the year after the birth of the modern oil industry in Titusville, Pennsylvania, according to a new IHS Cambridge

Oil price above $94 on signs of improving US economy IL prices rose above $94 a barrel on Friday in Asia amid signs the United States economy is slowly improving, which could boost demand for crude.

According to Associated Press, benchmark crude for January delivery was up 24 cents to $94.11 a barrel at late afternoon Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell by $1.08 to settle at $93.87 on Thursday.

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

ing output fell last month after six straight months of steady gains, a regional report on Thursday showed manufacturing activity is rising this month in the Philadelphia area.

“We look for the oil market to move into a choppy, consolidation phase into the holiday period now that the euro appears to have stabilized for now amid a fresh flow of supportive U.S. economic guidance,” energy consultant Ritterbusch and Associates said in a report.

Energy Research Associates (IHS CERA) analysis. Growing demand amidst supply concerns and rising production costs are sustaining prices at record levels.

The annual average price of Brent crude so far this year is well above its previous high of about $97 (and constant dollar terms of about $99) in 2008. IHS CERA expects Brent to average about $111 for the year at the end of 2011, Oil Online reported.

“Brent crude prices are approaching their highest annual average, a level higher than the peaks recorded by other widely accepted benchmarks going back to Colonel Drake and the origins of the modern petroleum industry in Pennsylvania more than a century and a half ago,” IHS CERA Chair-

Energy prices

Domestic prices of petroleum products PMS

AGO

DPK

Conoil

65.00

160.00

140.00

AP

65.00

160.00

140.00

Total

65.00

160.00

140.00

PRICE* CHANGE % CHANGE TIME Nymex Crude Future Dated Brent Spot WTI Cushing Spot OIL (¢/gal)

87.40 110.78 87.22

1.33 -0.10 1.92

1.55% -0.09% 2.25%

12/18 12/18 12/18

PRICE* CHANGE % CHANGE TIME Nymex Heating Oil Future Nymex RBOB Gasoline Future NATURAL GAS ($/MMBtu)

301.75 268.46

-1.26 0.91

-0.42% 0.34%

12/18 12/18

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 3.63 Henry Hub Spot 3.55 New York City Gate Spot 3.69 ELECTRICITY ($/megawatt hour)

Mid-Columbia, firm on-peak, spot 3.18 12.60% 12/18 Palo Verde, firm on-peak, spot 33.46 0.26 0.78% 12/18 BLOOMBERG, FIRM ON-PEAK, DAY AHEAD SPOT/ERCOT HOUSTON 36.75 3.00 8.89% 12/18

PRICE* CHANGE % CHANGE TIME

INDIGENOUS

0.00 -0.05 -0.12

-0.03% -1.39% -3.15%

12/18 12/18 12/18

PRICE* CHANGE % CHANGE TIME

Energy

65.00

160.00

140.00

Fagbems

65.00

160.00

140.00

Nipco

65.00

160.00

140.00

• Bloomberg Oil Buyers Guide

age price since the age of oil began.”

The high prices have been buoyed by record high oil demand of 89 million barrels per day (bpd) at a time of anxiety about supply from the Middle East and North Africa, where civil war disrupted Libyan supply for much of 2011 and the standoff between the West and Iran continues to increase tension. The report also cites rising oil production costs, such as rising labor and material costs, and the shift to increasingly challenging operating areas, such as the ultra deepwater, as a factor in the record price levels.

“These record prices are being driven by the fundamentals of supply, demand and costs,” Yergin said.

“With rising tensions over Iran, geopolitics are coming back into the oil price again.”

China oil demand to grow

Energy & Oil Prices OIL ($/bbl)

Companies

ecute, due to slippage in complex contractual environment, coupled with security challenges,” he said.

The NAPE president said an all encompassing and enabling environment would be required to ginger renewed exploration activities in major hydrocarbon heartlands and frontier basins.

‘This is why we commend the Federal Government initiative in granting amnesty to youths of the Niger Delta and plead that government make it all encompassing. He noted that some of the militants who laid down arms but have not been given th benefits of amnesty, should be given that.

He said: “Amnesty should be all encompassing because it was learnt that some were left out of the programme.”

Speaking on the 2012 budget, he said government could have been more modest in its production projections. He said basing the budget on production of 2.4 million per day is an ambitious projection. Government he said, could have put it at 2.2 million barrels per day at most.

C

HINA’s oil demand is expected to reach 535 million tonnes in 2015, or about 10.7 million barrels per day (bpd), an increase of 19 percent from 449 million tonnes in 2010, according to a research report issued on Friday by the country’s top oil firm CNPC. Demand in the world’s secondlargest oil consumer is estimated at 603 million tonnes in 2020, or about 12 million bpd, which would be a third higher than the 2010 level.

China’s demand for oil products is expected to reach 299 million tonnes in 2015 and rise to 354 million tonnes in 2020, the report said.

The forecast was released by CNPC’s Research Institute of Economics and Technology, a research arm of CNPC. Source: Reuters

51

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

MARITIME END OF THE YEAR REVIEW

Pace of things still slow Although some achievements were recorded in the maritime, this year, more is required to harness the sector’s potential. OLUWAKEMI DAUDA reports.

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HE Fedral Government has been urged by maritime

stakeholders to convey a maritime stakeholders’ summit next year to keep abreast with the problems in the industry and harness its potential. They made the call while reviewing the performance of the nation’s seaport in the last one year.

One of the critical challenges confronting the sector is the cumbersome documentation process associated with clearance of goods, which has hindered service delivery.

Multiple agencies Port users have decried the chaotic situation in the nation’s seaports, arising from the high number of government agencies doing business in the ports. Before the government announced the reduction in their number, about 14 agencies were represented at the seaports.

These include the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), State Security Services (SSS), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Plant Quarantine, and Port Health.

Others are the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Nigerian Foods Administration, Drugs and Control (NAFDAC), Nigerian Quarantine Services (NQS), Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) and Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Animal Quarantine.

Before the government reduced their numbers to seven, import-

ers and clearing agents said goods could not be cleared from the ports in record time.

While it takes four days to clear goods at Senegal ports and two days in Ghana and Cotonuo, in Nigeria, it takes importers and exporters 24 and 39 days to do business.

The delay in cargo clearance, one of the importers, Mr Folagbade Ayeni said, was a huge dent on the government’s initiative.

Job creation programme To curb the rising rate of youth unemployment, the Managing Director, Sunlight Logistics, Mr James Adepegba, urged the government to expand seafarering training options as part of measures to cut down on unempolyment of youths and reduce the state of insecurity.

High price of rice Consumers and retailers said the price of rice is high because of the high duty placed on the commodity. One of the traders at Alaba Rago market in Ojo Area of Lagos State, Yahya Ibrahim, urged the Federal Government to lift the ban on its importation through the land borders next year in the interest of the masses.

Appointment of NPA as regulator The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) did a lot during the year to attract bigger vessels to the country through dredging and

•Lagos port

constant wrecks removal Stakeholders said the maritime sector performed below expectation in the last one year, citing the absence of a technical and commercial regulator that would put checks and balances in the activities of shipping companies and terminal operators, as the reason. The National Prsident, Association of Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and member, Presidential Port Monitoring Committee, Alhaji Olayiwola Shittu, said NPA should be appointed to regulate the ports.

Transformation agenda The Federal Government has used part of the last one year to turn the sorry situation within the sector around in line with the President Jonathan’s transformation agenda. Operators called on the President to develop new ports in some major cities like Lagos, Calabar, and Port Harcourt to enable the country enjoy deep seaport operation.

A don and maritime lawyer, Mr Dipo Alaka, said NPA did creditably well during the year in terms of channel management, wrecks’ removal, liquid and solid ship waste disposal, and marine craft maintenance, Its Managing Director, Omar Suleiman, operators said, has justified his appointment.

Mr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) said President Goodluck Jonathan needs to give the necessary support to the DirectorGeneral, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi, in his war against pirasy and his efforts to promote safety at sea.

NIMASA, the senior maritime lawyer said, needs to be supported with modern equipment to fight the menace and other sea related crimes.

Apart from the court case instituted aginst the agency, the performance of NIMASA under its Director-General, Patrick Akpobolokemi, based on safety at sea, protection of the marine environment and enhancement, maritime law and security, other stakeholders said, was excellent during the last quarter of the year under review.

Customs service The 100 per cent physical examination of about 80 per cent of goods coming into the country by the Nigerian Customs Service delayed cargo clearance from the port during the year. Improvement in the working condition of its officers and men this

year, however, cut down the high rate of smuggling, most in Lagos area.

Its Comptroller General was given a pass mark for the building of a Customs college in Abuja and his efforts with the National Inland Water Ways Authority to have importers tax number on imported good.

Dearth of human capacity Stakeholders lamented the challenges of human capacity in the sector, saying the industry is sufferred from dearth of human capacity during the year.

Local ship owners The Federal Governmen is yet to involve local ship owners in oil lifting business.

The Federal Government, they said, needs to enforce the Cabotage Act. to enable local ship owners participate in crude lifting.

Terminals Most of the terminals were busy throughout the year but many stakeholders can not actually say the amount they invested in the port this year and the amount repatriated to their country.

Govt moves to decongest ports

NIMASA appeals N6.3b verdict

T

T

HE Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has appealed the verdict of a Lagos Federal High Court, directing it to pay Hensmor Nigeria Limited N6.346 billion for unlawful detention of the firm’s vessel, MT Aigbomien.

In its notice of appeal, NIMASA claimed that Justice Okon Abang erred in law when he held that it acted illegally by detaining the vessel for over five years.

NIMASA’s Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Hajia Lami Tumaka, told The Nation that the agency is seeking to quash the verdict.

On December 2, while delivering the judgment, Justice Abang said it was a warning to agencies that take pleasure in taking laws into their hands.

NIMASA detained the ship for allegedly being unseaworthy and expiration of her statutory and mandatory certificates.

It alleged that the vessel constituted a danger not only to itself, but also to other vessels and users of the Sea Lanes and the Marine Eco-system. This, NIMASA said, prompted the vessel’s detention in accordance with the law.

Hensmor denied the allegations and took NIMASA to court, claiming that when the vessel was arrested on March 14, 2006, it was carrying 63 metric tonnes of kerosene.

In this verdict, Justice Abang wondered

NIMASA and war against piracy

•Akpobolokemi Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda, Maritime Correspondent

how NIMASA and its district surveyor, Dominic Alim, were able to determine the seaworthiness of a ship NIMASA admitted never examining its engine and other vital parts.

Justice Abang held that the detention was unlawful, adding that the steps taken by NIMASA amounted to an abuse of office.

The court held that the arrest was fraudulent as it prepared ground for the theft and unlawful sale of the ship’s content.

HE Federal Government has started removing 4,400 overtime cargoes from Apapa and Tin-can Island ports to Ikorodu terminal in Lagos State.

Some stakeholders while hailing the move said the government requires more than the stipulated two weeks to complete the exercise, expected to cost millions of naira.

Investigation by The Nation revealed that to move a 30-tonne container with a truck from Apapa to Ikorodu Bonded Terminal cost between N80,000 and N100,000 depending on the state of vehicle to be used.

Speaking during the take-off of the exercise last weekend, the Special Adviser to the President on Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation and Chairman, Presidential Committee to Monitor the Ports, Prof.

Sylvester Monye, said the exercise is part of President Jonathan’s agenda to decongest the ports and make them attractive for business.

The sorry state of the ports and high port charges, Prof Monye insisted, are unacceptable to President Goodluck Jonathan, that is why he ordered the decongestion to curb cargo diversion and make the ports attractive for business.

The ports, he insisted, are the second

largest income earner for the country, which is why there is the need to reposition them for efficiency.

At the APM Terminal at the Apapa Port, some of the cargoes, included power generating equipment belonging to the Federal Government and raw materials that were imported since early 2009.

A senior government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed that there are over 1,500 overtime cargoes, 3,000 empty containers and 1, 000 damaged containers occupying about 10 per cent of the land within the Terminal.

The huge number of overtime cargoes, empty and damaged containers, the official said, are part of the key issues affecting business at the ports, as they occupy a lot of space that would have been converted for better use.

Also, a senior Customs official, who does not want his name in print, also claimed that some of the empty and damaged containers have been in the terminal for over two years. He blamed the shipping company and the management of the APMT for keeping the affected containers at the terminal despite saying that it was due to lack of space at the terminal.

52

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

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THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

56

MONEY LINK

No cause for alarm on Cash-lite implementation, says CBN

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has assured that concrete steps are being taken to address all issues that are likely to impede the implementation of the cash-lite payment ststem These assurances were given by the Head of the apex Bank’s Shared Services Department, Mrs. Eyitope St. Matthew-Daniel, at a breakfast meeting organised by the Committee of Chief Inspectors of Banks in Lagos, yesterday.

Mrs St Matthew Daniel,said the transformation of the payments system is a major plank of the shared services programme, which target is to significantly reduce costs in the banking industry- by a minimum of 30 per cent.

Other elements of the programme, she indicated, include centralised back office operations and the alignment of information technology standards across the industry. The successful implementation of these initiatives will impact positively on industry cost structure, which banks are expected to ultimately pass on to their customers by way of lower charges.

By Collins Nweze

To demonstrate the gains expected from the payments transformation project, she recalled that in 2009 alone, the direct cost of cash management borne by the banking industry was in excess of N114.5billion, and is projected to reach N192 billion in 2012.

This burden is imposed on the indus-

try only because transactions in the economy are largely cash-based. Unlike what obtains in the developed economies, Nigerians rely heavily on cash to make payments for their purchases.

To buttress this, she acknowledged that cash related transactions currently represent about 99 per cent of customer activities in banks, adding that only

about 10 per cent of these transactions are in excess in N150,000, which explains the daily withdrawal and lodgment limit placed on individuals under the “Cash-lite Lagos Project”.

Under the project, which commences from January 2012 with Lagos as a pilot, individuals making daily withdrawals/lodgments exceeding N150,000 will have to pay N100 for

Savannah Bank prepares for comeback

A

S part of the strategic plan to re-launch the Savannah Bank brand into the competitive banking market in Nigeria, the top management of the bank recently held a three-day strategy session facilitated by the bank’s Financial Advisers. Leading the re-entry packaging session, is PriceWaterHouse Coopers (PwC) Global network at their Abuja head office annex.

A statement from the bank’s consultant, Remark Consulting Limited said the bank will on its relaunch, bridge the customer serv-

efforts and available information, will excel in the core service area being planned.

The statement added that as part of Central Bank of Nigeria’s commitment to ensuring that Savannah Bank returns to operations soon, a special tripartite joint task

ice gap in the banking industry. “ We will offer a culture, resources and service delivery that will support and grow a new buoyant middle class through a deliberate policy designed to empower the customers,” the statement signed

by Managing Partner, Remark Consulting Limited, Ernie Onwumere.

Leading the strategy session, Mr. Steve Burke of PWC South Africa and Mr Ken Igbokwe of Nigeria office, were assertively confident in their presentations that Savannah Bank’s re-entry, given all the

S

TANDARD Chartered was recog nised for its leadership in im proving access to finance, receiving the Financial Inclusion Award at The Banker’s 2011 ‘Bank of the Year’ Awards. The Financial Times owned magazine’s annual awards are regarded as the industry standard for banking excellence.

The bank received the award in light of its strong international presence, and the breadth of projects that it has undertaken to broaden access to finance.

The projects noted included the bank’s innovative financing structure for African farmers, enabling them to borrow against non-traditional collateral, such as cattle, rather than fixed assets. This structure empowers farmers to make

more effective use of their capital, for example to access storage and mechanisation.

Another project noted was Standard Chartered’s unique microfinance model introduced in Thailand. The Bank worked with Thailand’s Population and Community Development Association (PDA) to create the Village Development Bank (VDG) in Ban Nong Pruek Village to help villagers, who do not own land or any other collateral, to access credit.

The village bank has gained 70 individual members whose savings have grown to almost $2,850.

The village bank, owned by village members, provides loans from $200-1000 with repayment terms from up to two years. The majority of loans are for agri-

F

IRSTBank of Nigeria has re warded customers of its HiFi Young Savers Account with tuition fees. The FirstBank HiFi Young Savers Account is designed for children under 18 years and packaged to sensitize and cultivate the savings culture within this age bracket and to help parents plan towards the future of their children and wards.

Several customers who maintained an average balance of N750,000 in their accounts for over a one-year period, were rewarded with N1 million at the 2011 edition of the “HiFi N1m Raffle Draw” that attracted hundreds of children.

Head, Consumer Banking, Olufunke Smith, said the bank is committed to deploying its widely acknowledged innovative approach to banking in its quest to prepare children for a brighter future through a consistent savings culture, adding that the bank as part of the HiFi Young Savers Account package, offers finan-

culture, including planting of key crops for resale.

As a result of the new village bank, average income levels have grown almost 11 per cent from 2010, while average debt levels have decreased by 12 per cent.

Peter Sands, Group Chief Executive of Standard Chartered, said, “We’re very proud that Standard Chartered has been recognised by The Banker for our efforts to improve access to finance. Innovative products, such as microfinance for farmers in Thailand or our Talking ATMs in Indonesia, illustrate how we can use our expertise to make a positive difference in the countries where we operate.”

FGN BONDS Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

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 19-12-11 SYMBOL SKYEBANK FIDELITYBK JAPAULOIL UNITYBNK LIVESTOCK GOLDINSURE 7UP CADBURY IBTC STERLNBANK

O/PRICE 3.90 1.32 0.71 0.50 0.54 0.57 47.90 10.17 8.02 0.96

C/PRICE 4.09 1.38 0.74 0.52 0.56 0.59 49.49 10.50 8.23 0.98

CHANGE 0.19 0.06 0.03 0.02 0.02 0.02 1.59 0.33 0.21 0.02

LOSER AS AT 19-12-11 SYMBOL NASCON CUTIX NAHCO HONYFLOUR CCNN DANGFLOUR IKEJAHOTEL REDSTAREX ACCESS RTBRISCOE

O/PRICE 4.00 1.80 5.00 2.43 4.50 4.53 2.28 2.10 4.65 1.29

C/PRICE 3.80 1.71 4.75 2.31 4.28 4.31 2.17 2.00 4.43 1.23

Amount

Offered ($) Demanded ($)

MANAGED FUNDS

Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

cial advisory services and counsel parents on viable ways of teaching their children and wards money management skills as well as the rudiments of financial planning.

“The FirstBank HiFi Young Savers Account is designed to inculcate a savings culture among Nigerian youths and allows the young to become financially savvy early in life. This ensures a solid foundation for the nation to produce prudent and financially independent future leaders who will in turn pass on this laudable practice to their children. In other words, HiFi is the beginning of a rewarding future for our children and the nation,” she said.

Smith, said the FirstBank HiFi Young Savers Account can be opened and operated for a child right from childbirth till the age of 18 by a parent/guardian, adding that it can be converted to a regular current or savings account when the child attains the age of 18. Savannah Bank prepares for comeback

DATA BANK

Tenor

OBB Rate Call Rate

force comprising Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation and Savannah Bank has been constituted with the mandate to harmonise the bank’s records as a prelude to galvanizing the roadmap for the re-entry in 2012.

FirstBank rewards young savers

StanChart wins Financial Inclusion award

NIDF NESF

any additional N1,000, while companies withdrawing/depositing more than N1million will be required to pay a penal fee of N200 for any additional N1,000.

It is envisaged that these penal rates will serve as an incentive for Nigerians to migrate to alternative channels of payment such as Point of Sales (POS), Internet and electronic funds transfer.

Amount

Exchange

Sold ($)

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 26-08-11 CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Currency

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD

147.6000

149.7100

150.7100

-2.11

NGN GBP

239.4810

244.0123

245.6422

-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 (S/N)

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

Parallel Market

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

NSE CAP Index

NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N)

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

(S/N)

153.0000

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

Aug ’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% 9.4%

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 118.85 98.43 0.76 1.04 0.88 1,642.73 8.24 1.39 1.87 7,351.90 193.00

9.08 1.00 118.69 97.65 0.73 1.04 0.87 1,635.25 7.84 1.33 1.80 7,149.37 191.08

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

CHANGE 0.20 0.09 0.25 0.12 0.22 0.22 0.11 0.10 0.22 0.06

• STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

Rate (Previous) 24 Aug, 2011 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 26, Aug, 2011 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK Previous

Current

04 July, 2011

07, Aug, 2011

Bank

8.5000

8.5000

P/Court

8.0833

8.0833

Movement

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

57

58

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

NEWS

APGA delegation visits Ojukwu’s widow

A

NATIONAL delegation of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) yesterday visited Bianca, the widow of the late national leader of the party, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu.

It promised to take the party to greater heights from where their leader stopped as well as ensure that the vacuum created by his demise was filled.

The delegation also restated the party’s resolve to play an active role in the funeral of the party’s former presidential candidate.

APGA’s National Chairman Victor Umeh and National Secretary Alhaji Shinkafi, who briefed reporters after signing the condolence register, said the party would ensure a smooth succession to the position of its national leader .

•Promises to take party to greater heights

From Chris Oji, Enugu

Both men agreed that it would be a difficult task to get Ojukwu’s replacement.

“A party has a life span in its succession; it is a continuous process. It is a difficult task to fill the vacancy created by the death of our national leader but we will try our best to see how the party will move forward not only in the Southeast, but also in the nation,” Shinkafi said.

Umeh recalled that APGA had last week proposed to send a national delegation to visit the deceased’s family but bad weather stopped the visit.

His words: “Because of flight problem, we rescheduled it for today and because of the same problem, only

few people were able to come today.

“But we have been able to come with the National Secretary, Deputy National Chairman (North) Sadic Masalla, National Vice Chairman (Southsouth) Jolly Mgbor, National Treasurer, Deputy National Secretary, National Welfare Secretary Chinyere Okeke, General Secretary, (Europe and U.K), Onyeka Mbaso .

“These are the people who are around to encourage the widow.

“We also want to reassure the family that APGA will play a very major role in the funeral.

“We are going to play a leading role to ensure that he is happy where he is.”

According to Umeh, APGA

meant everything to Ojukwu, hence he used it to mould his own ideals of true democracy.

“So his funeral will be very great. The party will do so much to make sure that it is a great one in collaboration with the governments that APGA has produced in Imo and Anambra states.

“Only these two states can bury Ikemba in flying colours but we are going to do that with other groups and other states in the Southeast and in the old Eastern Region and with the Federal Government.

“And we keep praying that God in His infinite mercy will accept the soul of our leader in heaven. This is the most important thing,” he added.

• Enugu State Governor Sullivan Chime (left) greeting the Udenu Council Chairman, Dr. Godwin Abonyi, while his wife, Clara (middle) and the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Ozo Joe Mmamel (left) look on, during an exhibition of local foods, at the opening of the 2011 Enugu State cultural fiesta.

Anambra ANPP suspends chairman as crisis deepens

A

NOTHER crisis is brewing in the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in Anambra State, following the alleged suspension of its chairman, Patrick Orjiako.

An acting chairman has been chosen, pending the election of a new chairman. He is Bogzy Uzochi.

In a communiqué yesterday in Awka signed by the party’s secretary, Paul Ejimofor Okoye, the party directed Orjiako to hand over all the party property in his possession

•Chair: I’m still in charge From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

to Uzochi.

ANPP called on its National Working committee (NWC) to conduct a congress for the substantive chairman.

The party alleged that Orjiako’s lack of leadership qualities culminated in the abysmal performance of the party during the last electing in the state where it came second to the last position.

According to the communiqué, “members are hereby advised to steer clear of Patrick Orjiako, who has been relieved of all authorities and powers to transact business with anybody or group in the name of the party.”

However, Orjiako said he hasn’t been suspended. “I am still in charge.”

He said: “There is no such thing in ANPP; I’m still the chairman in the state.

“We held a meeting yesterday (Monday) at the party secretariat with the committee members on renting of local government offices which will be inagurated in January,” Orjiako said.

He told The Nation yesterday that plans had been concluded by the party to receive over 1, 000 members from All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Peoples Democratic party (PDP) and Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) from four local governments.

Fire razes Enugu NUJ chairman’s house

A

N early morning fire yesterday gutted the home of the Chairman of the Enugu State council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rockefeller Ogboso.

A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, who visited the scene, reports that the first floor of the two-storey building at No. 15, Kenyatta St, Uwani, was razed by the inferno, which started about midnight.

Narrating his experience, the NUJ chairman said he was woken by an explosion, adding that by the time he rose from bed, the house was covered with smoke.

His words: “I was asleep. I suddenly heard a very strange sound in the par-

From Chris Oji, Enugu

lour. It was the sound that woke me up. As I was moving into the parlour, I saw hell in my parlour because the entire place was filled with smoke.

“So I turned back and started calling all the members of my family and everybody woke up. There was no way we could pass through the main door, and the two doors that led to the balcony and the staircase were completely blocked.

So, now we had to look for alternatives.”

He said with the help and encouragement of neighbours who provided foams, they jumped to the ground.

Ogboso said men of the fire service came after an

hour and succeeded in preventing the fire from spreading to other flats. The two flats on the second floor were badly affected.

“I lost everything I had.

My certificates and my property are destroyed. I cannot communicate with anybody as my phones were

also affected.’’

The NUJ chairman said he suspected power surge when electricity was restored to the house as there was no light when they went to bed.

He thanked neighbours and the state fire service for helping to save lives.

Anambra to get court of appeal

B

ARRING any unforeseen development, Anambra State will soon get a Federal High Court.

Governor Peter Obi said this at the inauguration of the ultra modern new Customary Court of Appeal ,Awka, yesterday.

Obi said siting of offices and other things, even markets were controlled by forces of demand and nearness to source of raw materials as well as market in the case of industry.

Therefore, he said that since most cases at the Federal Court of Appeal were Anambra State cases and that going by the philosophy of need, Anambra needs it more than any other state.

Doctors protest colleague‘s death From Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

D

OCTORS in Owerri, the Imo State capital, yesterday protested the death of their colleague, Dr. Moses Amako, who was the former Medical Director of Umuguma General Hospital.

He was said to have died shortly after being released by his captors as a result of injuries sustained during his ordeal.

The doctors carried placards with inscription such as “Who killed Dr. Amako”; “Doctors are mourning”; “We need job security”; “Rochas don’t be silent”.

The Doctors also marched on the Government House .

Addressing reporters, the Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Dr. Bartholomew Okorochukwu decried the spate of insecurity in the state.

Okorochukwu described Amako’s death as a threat to medical practice in the state and regretted that the culprits have not been arrested.

Vote of confidence for Kuku

S

TAKEHOLDERS in the Niger Delta have passed a vote of confidence on the Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta and Chairman of the Amnesty Programme, Kingsley Kuku.

The Niger Delta leaders met to review the situation and concluded that the Amnesty Office had performed well.

The stakeholders called on the Federal Government to ensure regular funding to enhance the development of the oil-producing states.

Meeting on the platform of Niger Delta Grassroots Stakeholders Forum (NDGSF), the stakeholders gave Kuku a pass mark and urged him to continue his good work.

Some ex-militants joined in the meeting, which was also attended by representatives of youth bodies, communitybased organisations, cultural and traditional societies, community development associations, women groups, town unions, and student union governments.

In the communiqué signed

by Obong Uyio Udosin from Akwa Ibom; John Duke from Cross-River; Preye BobManuel from Rivers; Henry Sylva from Bayelsa; Ajuwa Timinimi from Delta;

•Kuku

Ehenede Omoruki from Edo and Stephen Jegbeye from Ondo, the group said the programme was being executed in line with the prescribed global standards and international best practices, adding that some critics of Kuku, were driven by selfish motives.

The communiqué reads: “The Niger Delta people have confidence in Kingsley Kuku in the way and manner he is running the amnesty programme and thus passed a vote of confidence on him without reservation.

“The Niger Delta stakeholders should support the amnesty programme so as to create the enabling environment for the actualisation of scheduled development projects meant for the Niger Delta.”

Orji presents N123b budget From Ugochukwu Eke, Umuahia

A

BIA State Governor Theodore Orji has presented a budget of N122,390,433,920 for the 2012 fiscal year.

The budget is tagged: ‘The budget of Transformation’.

This represents an increase of 16.4 per cent over that of 2011, which was N105,106,188,110.

Orji saidgovernment expects an increase following an expected rise in revenue sharing.

The governor said the revenue is expected to increase partly due to the expected improvement in the collection of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and measures introduced by the reforms in the finances of the state.

He said: “Our revenue projection for this year from Internal Sources is N22, 202,318,470”. Nine billion will be received from Derivation Fund; N10 billion from Value Added Tax (VAT) and other sources.”

Recurrent Expenditure is N56, 997,215,700. The details of the total recurrent expenditures showed that the Personnel Costs amount to N22, 896,150,040, while the Overhead Cost is N25, 887,939,140.

Also, N8 billion is for Consolidated Revenue Fund Charges.

Chime decries quality of work on federal roads

E

NUGU State Governor Sullivan Chime has decried the slow pace and poor quality of work being carried out by some contractors handling the reconstruction of federal roads in the state.

Chime expressed his disappointment when members of the House of Representatives Committee on Works visited him.

The governor described the quality of work on the Enu-

From Chris Oji, Enugu

gu/Onitsha; Enugu/Port Harcourt and Enugu/Markurdi roads as unacceptable and appealed to the committee to ensure that better work was done on the roads.

He pledged that the state government will collaborate with the Federal Government and the committee.

The committee chair, Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi, told the governor that they were in the state to inspect federal roads.

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

59

FOREIGN NEWS

North Koreans mourn Kim Jong-il

Tunisian revolution: One year on

N

HE man who lit the touch-paper of revolt in Tunisia exactly a year ago was no fiery revolutionary. Mohamed Bouazizi was a young fruit and vegetable seller, supporting eight people with an income of less than $150 a month.

His ambition was to trade up from a wheelbarrow to a pick-up truck.

“On that day Mohamed left home to go and sell his goods as usual,” said his sister Samya.

“But when he put them on sale, three inspectors from the council asked him for bribes. Mohamed refused to pay.”

“They seized his goods and put them in their car. They tried to grab his scales but Mohamed refused to give them up, so they beat him,” she said.

Whether he was also insulted and spat at by a female official is disputed, but something snapped inside the 26-year old grocer.

He went to the governor’s office to ask for the return of his goods; the governor would not see him.

Out of sheer frustration he acquired a can of petrol, poured it over himself and lit a match.

Mohamed Bouazizi was rushed to hospital in a coma with 90% burns, but his act of desperation brought angry crowds onto the streets.

There was something about his helplessness in the face of corrupt officialdom, rising prices and lack of opportunities that triggered a wave of sympathy. Thousands of Tunisians poured into the streets to protest the injustice meted out to the martyr of the revolution and the economic hardship in the country.

Faced with brutal security forces, the protesters did not back down, they grew bolder.

As Tunisian President Ben Ali came under growing pressure he visited Mohamed Bouazizi in hospital When Bouazizi died of his wounds on January 5, the rioting intensified. Hundreds were killed, hundreds more arrested.

Ben Ali, a military autocrat in power for 23 years, went on television to appeal for calm.

“Unemployment was a global problem,” he said.

He blamed the violence on masked gangs, calling them “terrorists”.

Like so many rulers in the Arab world, Tunisia’s president saw himself as a bulwark against Islamic extremism.

He believed that alone gave him carte blanche to crush anything approaching democracy.

But he under-estimated the depth of resentment his people felt at the cronyism, the corruption, economic hardship and bad governance.

The death of Mohammed Bouazizi triggered constitutional reforms that forced Ben Ali to abdicate office.

Just nine days after the death of the street vendor, Tunisians heard the prime minister announce that the president was “unable to carry out his duties”.

Mohamed Bouazizi’s mother says she is happy that her son’s death has helped Tunisia move on.

In fact Ben Ali had fled abruptly with his family, trying first to escape to France, which refused to let his plane land, then to Saudi Arabia, which granted him asylum if he gave up all political activities.

The rule of President Ben Ali was over, triggered on the face of it, by the suicidal actions of a frustrated grocer.

If Mohamed Bouazizi had never lived then something else would almost certainly have set off the so-called “Arab Spring” - this eruption had been building for decades.

But across the Arab world and beyond, his name and that of his country, is now eulogised in poems, in speeches, in songs.

The mould of unquestioned dictatorship had been broken forever in Tunisia.

The situation in Nigeria is similar to what led to Tunisian revolution. The unemployment profile in Nigeria today is alarming. Many graduates have taken to menial jobs and crime to survive. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had premonition that youth unemployment is capable of igniting Arab Spring-type of revolution against the country’s leader.

President Goodluck Jonathan has also admitted that the unemployment rate calls for concern. He said if nothing was done to correct it soon, the country could be sitting on a keg of gunpowder. Obasanjo’s and Jonathan’s worries may make sense when juxtaposed with the ordeal of teeming unemployed youth.

ORTH Koreans are in mourning after the death of their leader, Kim Jong-il.

People wept openly on the streets of the capital, Pyongyang.

State media said he had suffered a heart attack on Saturday, aged 69. He had been unwell.

The official news agency KCNA described one of his sons, Kim Jong-un, as the “great successor” whom North Koreans should unite behind.

Pyongyang’s neighbours are on alert fearing instability in the poor and isolated nuclear-armed nation.

Fears were compounded by unconfirmed reports from South Korean news agency Yonhap that the North had test-fired a missile off its eastern coast before the announcement of Kim Jong-il’s death.

Following news of Mr Kim’s death, South Korea put its armed forces on high alert and said the country was on a crisis footing. Japan’s government convened a special security meeting.

China - North Korea’s closest ally and biggest trading partner - expressed shock at the news of his death and pledged to continue making “active contributions to peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and in this region”.

North and South Korea are still technically at war, and the US has nearly 30,000 troops stationed in South Korea. Last year the North was accused of sinking a South Korean patrol boat and the two countries exchanged fire across the disputed maritime border.

Asian stock markets fell after news of Mr Kim’s death was announced.

KCNA later reported that he had died of a “severe myocardial infarction along with a heart attack” at 08:30 local time on Sat-

T

By Leke Salaudeen

T

•Mourners in Pyongyang...yesterday urday (23:30 GMT Friday).

He had been on a train at the time, for one of his “field guidance” tours, KCNA said.

The state news agency said a funeral would be held in Pyongyang on 28 December and Kim Jong-un would head the funeral committee. A period of national mourning has been declared from 17 to 29 December.

Images from inside the secretive state showed people in the streets of Pyongyang weeping at the news of his death.

Ruling party members in one North Korean county were shown by state TV banging tables and crying out loud, the AFP news agency reports.

“I can’t believe it,” a party member named as Kang Tae-Ho was quoted as saying. “How can he go like this? What are we supposed to do?”

Another, Hong Sun-Ok, said: “He tried so hard to make our lives much better and he just left like this.”

KCNA said people were “convulsing with pain and despair” at their loss, but would unite behind his successor Kim Jong-un.

It said millions of North Koreans were “engulfed in indescribable sadness”.

“All party members, military men and the public should faithfully follow the leadership of comrade Kim Jong-un and protect and further strengthen the unified front of the party, military and the public,” the news agency said.

Little is known about Kim Jongun. He was educated in Switzerland, is aged in his late 20s and is believed to be Kim Jong-il’s third son - born to Mr Kim’s reportedly favourite wife, the late Ko Yong-

• The late Kim Jong-il

hui.

Kim Jong-un was unveiled as his father’s likely successor just over a year ago. Many had expected to see this process further consolidated in 2012.

What’s next for North Korea?

HE death of Kim Jong Il likely puts the leadership of North Korea into the hands of an even more mysterious man, his son, Kim Jong Un, fueling speculation about a struggle for power in the reclusive nation, and with that control of a nuclear arsenal and the world’s fourth-largest military.

Former United States Ambassador to South Korea Donald Gregg says he is more optimistic about the future of North

Korea with the death of its “dear leader,” because Kim Jong Un may be able to move the country more in line with the west.

“There has been a generational change in the top leadership.

Some of the 70- and 80-year-olds, really hard-line people, have faded away,” said Gregg.

Gregg says the change in leadership does not mean the country will flex its nuclear muscles, because Kim Jong Un will “need

to provide stability in a changing time and that could mean no rash moves.”

“This is potentially a very positive development because the upcoming year is a year of transition,” Gregg said.

Mike Chinoy, a senior fellow at the US China Institute at the University of Southern California who has been to North Korea 15 times, agrees that chaos is not imminent.

“It is important not to rush to

the conclusion that the death of Kim Jong-Il means the North Korean system is heading toward collapse. A succession has been in process. it is acknowledged and accepted by key players in the North Korea system,” Chinoy said. “Moreover it’s equally clear that China, for its own reasons, is not going to let North Korea go down and will do everything in its power to help North Korea and prop them up.”

Syria signs Arab League deal to allow in observers

S

YRIA has signed an agreement to allow observers to monitor its implementation of an Arab League initiative to end the crackdown on anti-government protests.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said the Arab League had accepted amendments demanded by Damascus.

The Arab League said an advance team of observers would go to Syria this week.

Syria’s opposition coalition said the government’s move was a “ploy” to avoid UN Security Council action over the crackdown, which has left 5,000 dead.

The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said security forces had killed at least nine civilians on Monday - five in the southern province of Deraa, four in the Jabal al-Zawiya area

of Idlib province, three near the city of Deir al-Zour, and one in the Damascus district of Midan.

The Local Co-ordination Committees, a group that organises and documents protests, put the death toll at 25, including six in Damascus and its suburbs, five in Deraa, and four each in Idlib and Homs.

After the protocol was signed by his deputy at the Arab League’s headquarters in Cairo, Mr Muallem said the Syrian government had agreed because it wanted help to find a “political solution”.

“We want to emerge from this crisis and build a safe, modern Syria - a Syria that will be a model of democracy,” he said.

“The signing of the protocol is the beginning of co-operation between us and the Arab League and we will welcome monitors.”

He said Syria’s sovereignty

would be protected because the Arab League had agreed to amendments to the deal, which also calls for all violence to be halted, for the withdrawal of troops from the streets and the release of detainees.

The observers would be “free” in their movements and “under the protection of the Syrian government”, he added, but would not be allowed to visit sensitive military sites.

Activists say more than 900 people have died while Syria wavered on whether to agree to the plan Mr Muallem said he was confident that the observers would support the government’s assertion that “armed terrorist groups” were stirring up trouble, and targeting security personnel and civilians.

The Arab League’s Secretary

General, Nabil al-Arabi, told reporters in Cairo that an advance party led by one of his assistants would travel to Syria in the next two or three days to prepare for the arrival of monitors.

“We now have about 100 names including representatives of non-governmental organisations and governments,” he said, adding that media representatives and members of security forces would be included.

The observers will have a onemonth mandate that can be extended by another month if both sides agree.

Mr Arabi also announced that the Arab League would organise a meeting with all factions of the Syrian opposition and prepare the ground for dialogue with President Bashar al-Assad’s government.

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

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NEWS

Nigerians suspicious of IMF, says Jonathan •Continued from page 2 She advised the government to take further steps to protect Nigeria from the adverse effects of the crises in the global economy.

She told reporters after meeting with President Jonathan that she was ready to provide technical assistance concerning the banks restructuring in the country.

“I just had a visit with President Jonathan and we took quite a bit of time to review the transformation agenda, the proposed changes that will really improve the economy of Nigeria.

“And I have to say that as the managing director of the IMF, I’m extremely impressed with the work that he is leading, the energy and pace at which he wants to transform the economy, create jobs, focus on agriculture and that is extremely impressive.

“The IMF has been a partner of Nigeria for many years. We have also transformed our institution and we are here to listen, understand and support. If it is needed, we will provide technical assistance concerning the banks, restructuring initiative concerning

some of those measures but we are very impressed.”

Finance Minister and also co-ordinating Minister of the Economy Dr. OkonjoIweala described the visit as good for the country, adding that unlike the popular thinking, IMF allows the country to do its policies and will only intervene when invited.

She said the country is looking in the direction of capacity building, adding: “Lingarde was one of those who helped Nigeria to get debt relief. She was minister of Finance in France when we were negotiating debt relief and she personally pushed that the Paris Club should give us the debt relief.

“So because of her, we got $30 billion wiped off. This is her first visit as managing director to Africa and she chose to visit Nigeria as a powerful country for Africa.

“IMF is changed completely from what people know. IMF allows us to do our own policies and if we ask them to help with capacity building, they can help and if we don’t ask them, then, they are just there to support.”

Mark urged Lagarde to make IMF economic and fi-

nancial policies friendly to Africa because a “policy that does not work for a supposed beneficiary is unnecessary.”

Mark said: “The impression people have about IMF is that of an organisation that prescribes an economic solution that hardly works or practicable in any country.

“It is a challenge for the IMF to disabuse our minds by making its economic policies practicable.

“The policies could be laudable but it sometimes does not fit into local arrangements.

“You must take cognisance of local situations in your prescriptions, because a uniform policy may not work for all nations.”

He urged European countries to make their markets accessible to Africans.

“Our markets are accessible to you, but yours (Europe) are not accessible to us. This imbalance of trade is not good; you should make effort to give us some level of accessibility to your markets,” Mark said.

He also requested the IMF to put measures in place to ameliorate the shock on the nation’s economy resulting from the crisis in the European economy.

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

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THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

62

NEWS ‘Nigeria not implementing IMF programme’ Continued from Page 2

Lagarde accepted that the world body made mistakes in the past by designing conditionalities for countries receiving loans.

“I have to say IMF is a different institution from what I knew many, many years ago.

It is a different institution because it was known for lending money and designing conditionality ... and imposing programmes. In doing so in the past, it made mistakes.”

Lagarde showered encomiums on Mrs Okonko-Iweala for her role during the negotiation for debt relief from the Paris Club in 2005. “I pay tribute to her resilience and sense of public interest,” she said.

The IMF boss said the body

also provides an annual surveillance to member states and meets with representatives of countries to review their performance.

With particular reference to Nigeria, she said such a review will allow the Fund to ascertain the spill-over effect of various policies being implemented in Nigeria, on countries like Niger, Benin, Mali.

“In the same vein, we look at the banking and financial sectors. We are doing that because we realise that there is massive connection between countries. As we’ve seen at the moment, the European crisis is affecting other countries across the globe and no country is actually immune from what is happening there.”

She said many European countries are canvassing for the policy support instrument (PSI), which was implemented in Nigeria many years ago.

Tambuwal urged Lagarde to ensure that the financing instruments of the Fund are more responsive to the needs of African countries.

He said this could be done by “increasing the concessions in the Fund’s lending to lowincome countries, in addition to extending the zero-interest rate policy on Fund concessional resources beyond 2012".

He called for the enhancement of the funding of Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT) “through the transfer of a significant portion of the gold

sale windfall of SDR 1.7 billion to the Concessional Trust”.

Tambuwal pledged Nigeria’s support for ongoing reforms being undertaken by the Board of Governors of the IMF, including the increased representation of developing countries on the Board of IMF. He requested that Nigeria should be considered for one of the two chairs of the body, “based on our cordial relationship with IMF”.

The Speaker, who described Lagarde’s appointment, as IMF managing director as well-deserved, urged her to support the creation of an additional constituency for Africa at the IMF under the voice and representation reforms.

You can’t oversee parties, Musa tells NASS

T

HE Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) yesterday told the National Assembly that it does not have the constitutional right to oversee political parties.

The CNPP advised the parliament to perish the idea and concentrate on its constitutional duty of lawmaking.

House Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and the Presiden-

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

tial Adviser on Inter-Party Relations, Senator Ben Obi agreed.

But Tambuwal and Obi pointed out that though the National Assembly may not have the constitutional right to oversee parties, it is the responsibility of the parliament

to provide enabling laws that would govern smooth operation of political parties.

Former Governor of Kaduna State and Chairman of CNPP, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, cautioned the National Assembly at a sensitisation workshop with the theme: “Strengthening capacities for political parties leadership and parliamentary relationship.”

•Musa

EFCC, Atuche disagree over ‘blunders’ in documents

L

AWYERS to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and former Managing Director of Bank PHB Plc (now Keystone Bank Ltd) Mr Francis Atuche yesterday disagreed over Atuche’s bid to tender more evidence.

The agency charged Atuche separately with two former directors of Bank PHB, Mr Lekan Kasali and Mr Fumi Ademosun before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, on three counts each of conspiracy and stealing of over N11.4 billion from the bank.

The former bank chief, through his lawyer, Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN) had sought the court’s leave to file a further affidavit in support of his Notice of Preliminary

By Joseph Jibueze

Objection seeking to quash the theft charge against him.

Atuche’s objection is based on the fact that he is allegedly facing similar charges at the Federal High Court, Lagos, and that it would amount to double jeopardy and an abuse of court process to try him on the same set of facts at the Lagos High Court.

The court had heard the objection after the parties argued it. But Idigbe said yesterday that he wanted to bring in the charge at the Federal High Court to further convince the judge.

EFCC lawyer Deacon Dele Adesina (SAN) opposed the bid, saying Atuche could not bring in the evidence when argument on the preliminary

objection had been taken. He described the omission as a “blunder,” urging the court to dismiss the application.

But Idigbe capitalised on a mistake made by EFCC in its counter affidavit. A paragraph read: “It will be in the interest of justice to grant this application.” The word “Not” was omitted.

He said: “I insist that Paragraph 3 (i) of the prosecution’s counter affidavit is an admission against interest, and I urge the court to hold it as such.

Since they said we made a blunder, we are also holding their blunder against them.”

Idigbe urged the court to consider the reason for the omission and the importance of the evidence. According to him, EFCC would not be prejudiced if the application is

granted.

“We should be allowed to file this evidence as part of our defence to achieve substantial justice. The argument has not been concluded, and the court must not tie its future exercise of discretion,” Idigbe said.

Adesina said the application will only confuse the court. “The application is an attempt to outsmart the court, not just the prosecution. Our position would have been different if we had not taken the argument.

“Are we going to reopen our argument and file a fresh reply to it? The application will only bring confusion into this proceeding. The defence can no longer make submissions on issues of fact.”

Justice Onigbanjo adjourned ruling till January 16.

Police identify woman DSP in DIG’s company •Security chief buried

T

HE Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), who was with the late Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) in charge of Investigations (‘D’ Department), Mr Ganiyu Dawodu, in his hotel room in Ikorodu, Lagos, where he was found dead last Friday was yesterday identified as Mrs Esther Akanbi.

She was moved from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Lagos where she was detained since the incident occurred, to Abuja for investigation.

Mrs Akanbi serves with one of the Police Mobile Force )PMF) Squadrons in Rivers State.

It was gathered that she was permitted to travel to Lagos to visit her family.

The late DIG was said to be hale and healthy as the time he left Abuja for an official assignment in Lagos where he represented Inspector General of Police (IGP) Hafiz Ringim.

Mrs Akanbi’s husband, a Chief Superintendent of Po-

Jude Isiguzo

lice (CSP) is serving in one of the PMF Squadrons in Lagos.

DSP Akanbi was arrested on Friday following the death of Daudu in the Ikorodu hotel Her cry for help was said to have alerted the DIG’s ordelies whose attempted to rush their boss to the hospital. The DIG reportedly died before reaching the hospital.

Although Daodu is believed to be suffering from a heartrelated disease, there has been no official statement from the police on the cause of death.

The remains of the late DIG was buried without an autopsy being carried out.

A family source said the decision to bury him, which though contradicted the directive of IGP Ringim, was informed by the family’s resolve to respect the deceased’s religious obligation as a Muslim.

It was learnt that Dawodu was buried on Saturday at the Ikoyi cemetery, after an Islamic prayer at his Ikorodu home.

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011

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www.thenationonlineng.net

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

TOMORROW IN THE NATION

VOL. 7

NO.1,980

‘The Chief Servant has identified the major problems confronting the North. It is, therefore, left to the leaders and elders to put heads together and devise ways to end the crises’

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

“A

H, the refuseniks, he chuckled as we were ushered, Sully Abu and I, into his office at the old NIDB headquarters building, on Broad Street, Lagos, in late 1995.

Not without reason, he had chosen to call us by the term usually reserved for dissidents in the Soviet Union before the coming of Mikhail Gorbachev and his gospel of glasnost and perestroika.

Silas Daniyan was alluding to our decision to resign from The Guardian rather than join a team of senior executives led by the publisher Alex Ibru in July 1995, with former Guardian consultant and one-time permanent secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Oba Festus Ibidapo Adesanoye, the Osemawe of Ondo, in tow, to apologise to General Sani Abacha for any offence the paper might have committed, and to plead with him to lift the ban that had been clamped on it since August 1994.

This was the same Abacha government in which Ibru held the major cabinet post of Minister of Internal Affairs and member of the military-dominated Provisional Ruling Council. Ibru did not even know of the closure until a senior executive of the newspaper informed him by telephone.

Oba Adesanoye’s stint in the Ministry of Defence had brought him into close contact with the top brass of the military, with whom he had developed close personal ties. Ibru had pressed the Ondo monarch into the delegation, hoping that his ties to Abacha and his status as a paramount ruler and father-figure would touch Abacha’s heart.

Abu and I had gone to solicit Daniyan’s support for a publication we were planning to set up following our resignation from The Guardian, where I was editorial page editor and chair of the Editorial Board and Abu doubled as Senior Member of the Editorial Board and managing director of Guardian Magazines Limited, publishers of the weekly newsmagazine African Guardian.

“That was an act of courage,” Daniyan said of our decision to resign rather than join in begging Abacha to unban The Guardian. “How did you pull it off?”

We told him that we had acted more from self-preservation than from courage. The Guardian had always insisted on the primacy of the rule of law. If the paper had broken any law, make it answer before the courts. If we joined in apologising for committing an offence, the nature of which was not specified, and in promising to act more prudently in future, we would never be able to insist on the primacy of the rule of law without sounding hypocritical. For us, the choice was clear, and the decision was easy.

Daniyan was not a card-carrying member of any political party, and the farthest thing from his mind at the time was a cabi-

OLATUNJI DARE

AT HOME ABROAD olatunji.dare@thenationonlineng.net

Daniyan: A witness departs

‘

Daniyan was urbane but unpretentious, and he never lost the common touch. He was equally at home in Lagos and Kaduna and in his native Mopa, in Kogi State.

Although he ran for office mostly on the platform of conservative political parties, I suspect that he did so more from a realistic assessment of his chances than from conviction •The late Daniyan

net appointment. He had substantial interests in a textile manufacturing plant in Kaduna, and although the industry was going through hard times, the plant had, by concentrating on quality fabrics, increased its profitability. The future looked promising. He was contented.

Then Moshood Abiola came calling, urging him to accept to serve in Abacha’s cabinet and thus help prepare the ground for the actualisation of the June 12 mandate.

Daniyan accepted.

But sooner rather than later, he said, he began to nurse some disquiet. At Executive Council meetings and in the conduct of government business, the June 12 issue receded with each passing day, until it van-

RIPPLES Presidency yet to convince us on subsidy removal– CAN

CONVINCED ke? Pray you don’t end up being CONFUSED

‘

ished altogether.

In the broadcast announcing his coup, Abacha had dissolved all the institutions that could have provided a basis for re-validating the presidential election – such as the National Assembly, the state assemblies, and even the two official political parties. In February 1995, he set up a National Constitution Conference, whose members were nominated in part and elected in part to work out a new political blueprint.

As one measure followed upon another that seemed designed to bury the mandate rather than actualise it, Daniyan said he contemplated resigning, and that Alex Ibru,

HARDBALL

H

ISTORY is replete with stupid wars.

A few examples are the Fourth Crusade (1202-1204), Russo-Finish

War (1939-1940), Chaco War (1932-1935), War of the Pacific (1879), and American invasion of Siberia (1918). The list should naturally include the Vietnam War (19591975) and the recently ended Iraq campaign, which was launched by former President George W. Bush in 2003. It was the humiliating and depressing duty of his successor, President Barack Obama, to end that unwinnable war a few days ago with no concrete achievements. Like the ongoing war of attrition in Afghanistan, where American troops are still bogged down, the United States won virtually all the battles fought in Iraq due to technological superiority and military expertise and discipline, but its army was unable to sustain its battlefield successes.

(Going by the predictions of US generals and other military analysts, the Afghanistan War is expected to also end dubiously, with the US unilaterally declaring victory).

While the Afghan War, which led to

‘Victory’ in Iraq’s unwinnable war regime change, might have helped the US to cope with the trauma of being attacked on her own soil, it was, nonetheless a tactical blunder. It wasn’t many years before that the Soviet Union came to grief in those inhospitable and mountainous terrains of Afghanistan, so, what was the US doing invading a country it could never hope to pacify?

On the scale of stupidity, the Iraq campaign should rank very high, no thanks to the shoddy thinking of the Bush (Junior) administration, and the starry-eyed theorists who cobbled together the conceptually naïve New American Century idea. Unlike Afghanistan, where the presence of Osama bin Laden provided a casus belli for war, there was no strong reason to invade Iraq. There were no weapons of mass destruction found there, and that fact was known even before the

DELE AGEKAMEH

whom he had told of his intent, asked to be informed when the time came so that he too could resign.But Daniyan was warned by friends that he would be made to pay a fearsome price if he resigned.

All in all, he said his time in the cabinet was a miserable one, and he prayed everyday that Abacha would dissolve the cabinet. The only redeeming grace, he said, was that he enjoyed his work, having specialised in development planning while studying at the University in Hull, England.

His prayers were eventually answered when Abacha dissolved his cabinet – effectively sacking his ministers, including Alex Ibru. That day, Daniyan said, was the happiest of his life.

There is no question, then, that there was a pact between Abiola and Abacha. Chief Lateef Jakande, Second Republic governor of Lagos State and Minister of Housing in the Abacha cabinet, confirmed this in an interview on his 80th birthday anniversary (The Nation, July 22, 2009).

The foregoing, slightly edited, was excerpted from my book, “Diary of a Debacle”.

Silas Daniyan, industrialist, boardroom guru, pioneer indigenous chief executive of the Nigeria Industrial Development Bank, Minister of National Planning in the Abacha regime, former secretary to the Executive Council of Northern Nigeria, Ojomu of Mopa and reputedly the first Northern indigene to take a degree in Economics, died two weeks ago, aged 81.

He had reached the highest rungs of the civil service of Northern Nigeria as young man, and had transferred to the federal establishment in Lagos where he showed that his ascendancy in the North was the product of merit.

Daniyan was urbane but unpretentious, and he never lost the common touch. He was equally at home in Lagos and Kaduna and in his native Mopa, in Kogi State. Although he ran for office mostly on the platform of conservative political parties, I suspect that he did so more from a realistic assessment of his chances than from conviction.

He was at heart a progressive. In a political sense, he was not averse to pursuing new interests and cultivating new ties that might help achieve goals he held dear.

That was why Abu and I had gone to seek his help with the publication we were planning.

Although he showed interest, nothing came out of that encounter.

But the memory lingers, the memory of Silas Daniyan as raconteur, a witness to many an iconic moment in Nigeria’s troubled history.

•For comments, send SMS to 08057634061

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above war began, and the trusting but bluffing Saddam Hussein was less hostile to the West than he was distrustful of Russia and Iran. In addition, Iraq was a largely secular and regional bastion against religious extremism. So, why did the US invade Iraq even when Saddam also loathed bin Laden? The answer was provided by Barack Obama when, as an Illinois senator running for the White House, he described the invasion as a dumb war.

The Iraq War has now ended, with the same Obama proudly but disbelievingly claiming victory. He had no choice but to posture ludicrously. If Obama is reelected, he may also find the courage to end the Afghan War. If not, his successor will do it, for that war is also unwinnable.

The dynamics of history, however, ensure that either because of hubris or incompetence, leaders will always embark on stupid military adventures for various, largely untenable reasons. We should expect that someday, wars, and the stupidities that spawn them, will end with the end of history. But can history ever end?

Published and printed by Vintage Press Limited. Corporate Office: 27B Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos. P.M.B. 1025,Oshodi, Lagos.

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