The Nation December 05, 2012

Varsity workers begin strike

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

Volleyball gold: Ondo battles Lagos

EK O EKO 2012

NEWS

Page 57

Page 24

•Row over allowances

•‘It’s fight to the finish’

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VOL. 7, NO. 2331 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

CBN: give bank posts to women

B

ANKS have been urged to take steps that will ensure that 40 per cent of women in their employ occupy board and management positions in 2014.

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamiso Sanusi, who spoke at the annual bankers’ conference in Lagos, said banks should take steps to address challenges...

Business Page 29

LIFE

(The midweek magazine)

Honour for the ‘Dustbin Angel’

T •Team Lagos Table Tennis men gold medallists displaying their medals at the 18th National Sports Festival in Lagos…yesterday

PHOTO: NAN

HE impact of our work on the lives of those kids will be felt in the next 20 years. I see in them future presidents, senators, industry leaders. No one is useless; with the right motivation, they will make it.

Outrage over INEC’s bid for more powers J

Page 26

Ekiti chief to remain in prison

Parties: commission shouldn’t be allowed to stop candidates

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F opposition political parties have their way, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will never get powers to disqualify candidates.

INEC is seeking more muscle —full independence, power to bar candidates and timeline for pre-election matter, among others — in a proposal sent to the National Assembly’s Constitution Review Committee.

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Con-

INEC is to provide the enabling environment for elections to be free and fair and not to be seeking to take powers that it does not deserve —ACN From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja and Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

gress of Progressive Change (CPC) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) said yesterday that INEC should not have

As a matter of fact, this is one of the cardinal programmes of the leadership of the party and President Goodluck Jonathan —PDP

the power to disqualify candidates.

The parties were immediately backed by the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and erudite lawyer Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN).

Jega has shown his dictatorship fangs by seeking power to disqualify candidates; rather than working towards transparent election —CNPP

But the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supported the INEC proposal, which its chair Prof. Attahiru Jega is pushing as part of the amendment to the constitution.

ACN spokesman Lai Mo-

hammed said: “INEC wants to usurp the role of the courts and political parties with the request.”

In ACN’s view, the role of INEC “is to provide the en-

Continued on page 2

32 policemen, 270 others murdered in Lagos T HE police released yesterday grim statistics of the crime rate in Lagos in the last one

year.

No fewer than 270 people were murdered and 32 policemen killed in gun battles with armed robbers in the nation’s commercial capital.

Lagos State Police Commissioner

By Miriam Ndikanwu

Umar Manko reeled off the scary figures at the sixth Town Hall meeting on security at the Civic Centre,

Victoria Island.

The Lagos State government has spent N8.7 billion to equip the police through its Security Trust Fund.

Manko spoke before Governor Babatunde Fashola and members of his executive, legislators, traditional rulers and members of the Fund.

Continued on page 2

USTICE Oluwatoyin Bodunde of the Ekiti State High Court 4, sitting in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday ruled that Chief Dayo Orojo should remain in prison custody until January.

Orojo, who is the head of the Ilisa Quarters in Omuo-Ekiti, Ekiti East Local Government Area, and two others have been in prison custody since September 4 for...

News Page 7

Protest at Egypt’s presidential palace

P

OLICE have clashed with protesters in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, where tens of thousands of people gathered outside the Presidential palace.

The police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd, some of whom managed to cut through barbed wire around the palace.

The protesters are angry at what they say is the...

Foreign Page 59

•SPORT P23 •LIFE 25 •MONEY P30 •INVESTORS P32•POLITICS P49

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

NEWS 270 murdered Continued from page 1

•The congregation at the opening of the yearly Shiloh at the 50,000-capacity Faith Tabernacle, Winners Chapel, Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State...last night.

PHOTOS: DAYO ADEWUNMI

Wonders as Shiloh opens

•SEE PAGE 12

•Bishop Oyedepo...last night

Outrage over INEC’s bid for power to stop candidates Continued from page 1

abling environment for elections to be free and fair and not to be seeking to take powers that it does not deserve”.

Mohammed said “eligibility or otherwise of a candidate is a matter for the court, the extant laws and the political parties”.

He said INEC should have no role in it.

According to him, “it is sad to know that progressively, the power of political parties to nominate candidates is being usurped by INEC”.

T

Parties, he said, should be free to choose their candidate the way they deem fit as long as it is within their own laws and such laws are not in conflict with the Constitution.

“Is there primary in the United Kingdom or Israel? Parties are like clubs, guided by rules,” Mohammed said.

ANPP National Secretary Tijjani Tumsah, said INEC should focus on undertaking its responsibility in a way that could not be interfered with by government.

To him, INEC should be an

impartial judge and not be involved in the selection of candidates. ‘’That kind of power the INEC chairman is asking cannot be granted to any independent institution because by so doing, it will result in the pollution of the polity in totality,’’ Tumsah said.

The CPC and the CNPP accused Jega of dancing to President Goodluck Jonathan’s tune.

They warned Jega to be careful by not taking wrong decisions ahead of the 2015 gener-

al elections.

According to a statement in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary Mr. Rotimi Fashakin the CPC said: “The maturity of a political system determines the sophistry of its laws. This, of course must be situated within the socio-economic environment of the clime. So, Prof. Jega believes more powers (even to disqualify candidate) is the immediate need for him to function as an electoral umpire?

“It is utterly not correct, without mincing words, with

the current arrangement, Jega shall only transform into the clobber man for the president being the appointive authority. What is still maintaining some modicum of sanity in our electoral system is that the power to disqualify candidates is vested in the courts. If the truth must be said, Jega has not used his position well as an unbiased umpire. For instance, how many times did the courts overturn the candidates that Jega’s INEC imposed on CPC? Succinctly put, this proposal Continued on page 63

The figure of 32 policemen killed represents an increase of 13 over the 19 killed in gun battles with robbers last year.

But the police have the upper hand in the battles.

The statistics revealed that between November 1 and October 31, policemen killed 140 suspects. This, however, represents a shortfall in the number of suspects killed by the police between November 2010 and October last year, which stood at 164.

Besides, there are more robbery cases - 123 incidents were recorded in the last 11 months as against 61 recorded the previous year.

The police arrested 569 robbery suspects in 11 months.

The figure is higher than the 522 of the previous year. More arms were recovered this year (371 arms) than last year’s 328.

Armed robbers have been using more sophisticated ammunition as 26, 058 of them were recovered in the last 11 months as against 3,553 ammunition recovered the previous year.

The statistics showed that fewer vehicles were recovered from robbers this year (954 vehicles) as against1, 187 recovered the previous year.

Furthermore, 1,263 vehicles were stolen in Lagos this year and 1,448 last year.

The police foiled 418 armed robbery cases this year; 426 cases were foiled last year.

“The new trend in Lagos State is the vandalisation and attack on ATM, car jerking and the menace of commercial motorcycle operators. The command has risen up to the challenge by evolving new strategies to combat the menace but dearth of funds and logistics continue to hamper our efforts,” he said.

Fashola decried the challenge of equipping “and resourcing our security agencies in the face of the insufficient support from the Federal Government which has continued till this day” .

He said his administration through the Security Trust Fund (STF), has provided logistics valued at N8.7 billion for the police and other security agencies to match the increasing wave and technique of crime in the state.

Okorocha promises to expose Ohakim’s activities

HOSE calling for the probe of former Governor Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State have won the first leg of their battle.

Governor Rochas Okorocha has agreed to expose and investigate fraud by the administration of his predecessor.

The governor yesterday bowed to the sustained pressure from groups and some residents who have been demanding the probe of Ohakim administration.

He told a group of tricycle operators, mechanics, transporters and artisans that his government would publicise the activities of the former governor within 14 days.

The group, under the auspices of Joint Action Group (JAG) had earlier issued a 21-day ultimatum for Ohakim’s probe at the House of Assembly Complex, Owerri, the state capital.

Okorocha said: “Let me inform you that the decision of the present administration is to bring justice

Ex-governor’s aide dares incumbent on report

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R. Ethelbert Okere, a media aide to ex-Governor Ikedi Ohakim, challenged Governor Rochas Okorocha to make the report of the Ohakim administration’s activities public immediately.He also alleged that the governor was using the probe threat as blackmail to cover the inadequacies of his administration.

Okere said: “It is unfortunate that Governor Okorocha is still talking about releasing the report of his probe panel in 14 days. Why 14 days? Who is afraid of a probe? The governor and his government should realise that Imo people cannot wait to recover any ill-gotten wealth, if there is any. They cannot wait for an extra day.

“He has been talking about a probe since he came to office 19 months ago, yet, nothing has come out of it. It is clear From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

to bear following your protest over the activities of the past administration.

“Nobody has negotiated to cover the activities of exgovernor Ohakim within the four years he governed the state. Rather, it may in-

to all now that it is sheer blackmail.

Whenever he realises that the people are getting disenchanted with his administration, he comes up with the story of a probe. He is in government now and who is stopping him?

When told that the governor made the promise while receiving some concerned people, Okere asked: “Why did he choose to raise such important state matters at an orchestrated meeting with tricyclists and the disabled? One is not discounting the importance of the people, but there are critical stakeholders.

It would be interesting to know the opinion of stakeholders on the matter.

“It is laughable that the governor is travelling this road. He should face the task at hand. Why should anybody take serious a man who says his predecessor left only three uncompleted projects

terest you to know that the panel set up to look into the activities of the former governor has just presented its report.

“Within the remaining 14 days of your ultimatum, we shall make Ohakim’s activities in Government House known to the public.”

after four years in office? The good thing is that the people know the truth and cannot be led by the nose and fed with such diet.”

Mr Okere, who refused to be drawn into listing the key projects of the Ohakim administration, said: “The governor should rather be asked what he did with the N13.2 billion left in the state coffers by our government. What has he done with the money? All that we know now is that the money is no longer in the bank account. We understand that he has now applied to the Securities and Exchange Commission to vary the projects for which the money was raised. Why? Let Governor Okorocha work and allow the people judge him by his achievements, not by the number and frequency of threats issued.”

To Okorocha it is “worrisome that Ohakim implemented only three projects, which he alleged were uncompleted and 87 kilometer of roads which were also uncompleted in four years.

He assured that his administration would ensure the recovery of the funds al-

legedly misappropriated by the former governor.

His words: “I want to thank you for your patience so far. Honestly, I agree with you that it is worrisome that Ohakim did only three uncompleted projects in four years and 87 kilomeContinued on page 63

•Okorocha

ADVERT HOTLINES: 08023006969, 08052592524 NEWSROOM: LAGOS – 01-8962807, ABUJA – 07028105302 COMPLAINTS: 01-8930678

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

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NEWS

Murdered The police in Lagos yesterday rolled out statistics of horror, saying 270 people were murdered in the past year. Of the lot, many went unreported. Others were sensational and made headlines.

Here are some of them: Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan (middle), Minsiter of State for Education Nysom Ezenwa (left), Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board, Mrs. Pat Ejeteh and Dr Festus Okubor (right), Chief of Staff, Government House cutting the tape during the inauguration of the new class room blocks jointly built by the state government and SUBEB in Asaba...yesterday.

• Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako (left), Chairman, Forte Oil, Mr. Femi Otedola (second left), Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and President, Dangote Group of Companies Alhaji Aliko Dangote (right) at a meeting of the Economic Management Team at the State House Abuja... yesterday.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

•The Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Babayo Garba ,(left, Minister of Aviation Princess Stella Oduah and Chairman of the Committee, Senator Hope Uzodinma discussing during the Minister,s budget defence before the Committee at the National Assembly, Abuja.

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

•Mr Mike Igbokwe (SAN) with his wife Dora (right) during the call to Bar of their daughter, Winifred in Abuja.

Cynthia Osokogu

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HE late Cynthia Osokogu, 24, was on July 22 murdered at a Lagos hotel. The daughter of Major-Gen. Frank Osokogu was killed by friends she met through the social media . The 24year-old was the last child and only daughter of the retired Major-General. Two men, who admitted killing her, are standing trial. The suspects are Echezona Nwabufor, 33, and Ezekiel Nnechuwu Olisa Eloka, 23. Eloka said they killed Cynthia because they thought she had a lot of money in her possession.

But in his confessional statement, Nwabufo said his intention was never to kill her. He admitted however, that Cynthia was not his first victim, disclosing that all he did was to propose to them through blackberry and later invite them to the hotel,where he drugged them and dispossessed them of cash and other valuables.

He said: “It was a mistake. I never meant to kill her. I invited her from Abuja as my friend on July 21. I was trying to dislodge her by tying her hands and I hit her in the process. I tied her because I did not want her to know I was escaping from the hotel. We had a mutual agreement for her to come over. I met her from BB (blackberry) group chat. She came to buy some things for her boutique in Abuja. We had a disagreement. I did not rape her. It was the devil’s handwork.

“I wanted to run because I knew I had committed a serious offence against her. I thought she had money on her that I can collect. So in the process, I tied her with cellotape to make her not to shout.

I was not the only person, it was I and my cousin, Odera that did it.

We tied her together and beat her together.

“Yes, I invited her and in the process we felt like robbing her of all she had. The condom the police saw on me is what I used personally. I used it on her based on the sex toy with her. She came with a vibrator sex toy, so I inserted the condom on the sex toy and later dropped it there. I did not make love to her. If they test the condom forensically, it will prove that I did not use it on her.

“I drugged her with RAFINOL through Ribena drink. I bought three packets of Ribena and when she took it, she became weak. It was my cousin that drugged the drink, he used a syringe and administered ten tablets of it inside the drink.

“This is the first time someone died in the process. I have done this say like, four times before now but none of the girls died. Whenever they take the drink, I will sleep with them and they will just lose memory of all that transpired. Usually, I use hotels in Festac. I have used Opera mini Hotel, Benny, Chelsea and Concilia. I feel bad because I did not bargain for this – to kill her in the first instance. It is just unfortunate and it was an accident.”

His alleged partner in the crime, Odera Ezekiel, said: “ I am also an Accounting student of Nnamdi

‘

By the time we arrived at the scene, there were many policemen there. The Divisional Police Officer said he just received a phone call that someone was shot. I then told the DPO that it was a policeman that shot my friend. The DPO then asked me to explain and I narrated the story to him. He said: ‘Are you sure it wasn’t someone in black that shot your friend?

‘

Azikiwe University, Awka. The morning it happened, my brother called me to come to the hotel to help him bind the girl so that he can dispossess her of her belongings.

“My mission at the hotel was to come and help him bind the girl. In the process of trying to bind the girl, she put up struggle and we assaulted her and in the process, she passed out.

I did not hit her with any hard object and we didn’t have any weapon with us. My brother only told me he wanted to take her money. I have not done it before. He asked me to buy the drink for him.”

Lagos State Commissioner of Police Umar Abubakar Manko said detectives made use of the close circuit television, CCTV, at the hotel where the crime was committed to identify them.

The Area Commander, Area ‘E’ Police Command, ACP Okoro added that the suspects who are undergraduates of Nigerian universities were nabbed through the call logs of the telephone conversations they had with the late Cynthia who was a post graduate student of Nasarawa State University.

ACP Okoro stated that many ATM cards, about 23 SIM cards, different identity cards were recovered from the suspects.

Ugochukwu Ozuah On September 15, Ugochukwu Ozuah married Joan, his girlfriend of nearly two years at The Redeemed Evangelical Mission, Lagos.

The 36-year-old man and Joan retreated to the Whispering Palms, a beach resort in Badagry, for three days for their honeymoon. Their joy was cut short on September 20, when the groom was allegedly shot and killed by policemen attached to the Anthony

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

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NEWS

in the state of aquatic splendour

•The late Cynthia

Division.

Ozuah, an indigene of Anambra State and Mechanical Engineering Graduate of the University of Ado Ekiti, was allegedly killed close to the UPS Bus Stop along OworonsokiOshodi Expressway while dropping his friend off.

The friend, Erikefe Omene, who came from the United Kingdom to attend the wedding, said: “I went to visit Ozuah at his house at Oke Olowo Estate on Thursday. When it was around 10pm, I wanted to leave but he said taxis were not allowed into the estate so he decided to drop me off outside the estate where I would get a taxi. We got into his car, a Honda CRV, and he drove out. As we approached the expressway, there was an ash/blue car that stopped around the same time to drop someone.

“An individual came out of the car which was now parked side by side with ours. Because of the manner with which it was parked, I didn’t know the type of car it was. Policemen approached the said car and I thought it was just a routine check; so we didn’t pay it much attention.

“Ozuah parked the car and we both alighted so we could stop a taxi but before he to shut the door, one of the policemen said, ‘Who’s there? Who goes there?’ And shot Ozuah who then fell flat on the floor. Individuals from the ash/blue car suddenly ran behind Ozuah’s car to where I was and I thought the policemen might come around to shoot. So, I ran back into the estate.

“By the time we arrived at the scene, there were many policemen there. The Divisional Police Officer said he just received a phone call that someone was shot. I then told the DPO that it was a policeman that shot my friend. The DPO then asked me to explain and I narrated the story to him. He said, ‘Are you sure it wasn’t someone in black that shot your friend?’

“At this point, Ozuah’s wife started shouting that we should rush him to a hospital. Although he wasn’t moving, his body was still warm. So, we laid him on the backseat and her brotherin-law drove him down to the hospital.”

The spokesperson for the state police command, Ngozi Braide, said it was

•The late Agbonifo

armed robbers that killed Ozuah and not the police.

Kidnapped and murdered Odidi Nweze, a businessman, was killed after being abducted in front of a pharmacy in Satellite Town, a Lagos suburb, two days after he returned from the United States.

He was said to have been abducted with his companion in front of Oxpharm and killed a few metres away, but the woman reportedly escaped.

It was at the Festac Town branch of the pharmacy that the drugs injected into the drink of the late Cynthia Osokogu were bought.

According to eyewitnesses, the late Nweze and his partner were bundled into the back of the abductors’ vehicle and taken away.

On their way, the abductors ran into a traffic gridlock and resorted to shooting their way out.

Motorists were said to have abandoned their vehicles to avoid being hit by stray bullets.

Sources said Nweze was dragged out of the vehicle and shot dead by his abductors.

A woman, it was learnt, is being held because she witnessed the killing.

“She is alive; she saw it all and the only witness to the murder. She saw how it happened and how he was killed. We want to uncover those who sponsored the murderers, those who are in conflict with the man or his family members so that we can pick all the people involved in the killing,” a source said.

A source at the Area Command said: “The deceased was already home and had even changed into his night wears when a call came through. It was the call that made him leave the house to where he was abducted. We are still trying to find out who called him. We have gone to the service providers to assist us with information that will aid our investigation”.

On why the late Nweze’s friend was arrested, the source said: “From all indications, there are cloudy issues surrounding the man and these are the things we want

•The late Ozuah: separated from his wife

to uncover, and that is why we are holding him. He has a case to answer.”

Okoro accused some hoteliers of conniving with kidnappers, warning that anyone caught would be treated as an accomplice.

He said: “Our investigation so far has shown that some hoteliers are harbouring these criminals.

Any hotelier that a kidnapper is arrested in his or her domain will be charged to court alongside the suspects for complicity. The hotel, which we are suspecting that those who killed Nweze operated from, is already being investigated.

“We suspect that the suspects were living at the hotel and taking off from there to carry out their criminal activities. All hoteliers must comply with the Inspector General’s and Commissioner of Police’s directives on the installation of Close Circuit Television (CCTV) in their premises and also ensure proper identification of guests before checking them in.”

Even foreigners fell Gunmen killed a Chinese businessman at Ogudu , Lagos on November 28. Two other Chinese women sustained head and leg injuries during the incident, said Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide.

Police said four Chinese in a car were coming from a function at Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos,when a red car followed and overtook them as they were about entering Chinatown at Ogudu.

“They shot the man at close range and collected his bag. He was rushed to Gbagada General Hospital where he died,” Braide said.

She said although investigation is ongoing, the police suspect murder.

“We are suspecting murder,” she said.

Braide said the body of the Chinese was deposited at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Ikeja.

The woman who sustained head injury was the deceased’s wife. It was learnt that the incident happened at about 9.30 p.m. The deceased was a businessman and

•The late Nweze

dealt in air travel business. The identities of the victims were not available.

It was the fifth Chinese death in the hands of gunmen in Nigeria in the last two months and the first in the Lagos area.

And retired senior cop too!

A retired Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Pullen Agbonifo, was shot dead by gunmen who invaded his residence in Idimu, Lagos on August 8.

Police said the gunmen trailed the deceased’s driver to the crime scene and shot him before heading to the main house.

The culprits were said to have gone straight to Agbonifo’s bedroom where he was shot repeatedly.

The culprits were said to have fled the scene without stealing anything.

Police spokesman Ngozi Braide said Agbonifo’s son reported the incident to the Divisional Police Officer, Idimu.

She said Agbonifo was rushed to the hospital by policemen along with his driver but died from the gunshot wounds.

Braide said: “Agbonifo was shot on Tuesday around 9pm by unidentified gunmen. His son ran to Idimu Police Station and informed the DPO who then raced down to the scene. He was found in a pool of blood in his bedroom and was rushed to a nearby hospital where he died.

“Investigations revealed that the culprits trailed his driver and entered the compound as he was coming in. The driver was also shot but survived and is responding to treatment.

“The culprits did not steal anything from his home and investigations are ongoing.”

Braide said the incident was most likely an assassination and the police were working hard to apprehend the suspects.

Ex-IGP's nephew down and out The nephew of former Inspector General of Police, Niyi Ehindero,

was shot dead in January in Mushin, a suburb of Lagos.

Eyewitnesses said he was killed by soldiers.

The incident took place at Bada Street, Idi-Oro, Mushin around 4.30 pm when Ehindero came to the area to spend the holiday with his friend.

The deceased was inside a Highlander SUV, with registration number FF 605 ARD when he was gunned down.

The OP-MESSA officers were alleged to have immediately accosted the deceased and shot him dead without a brawl.

Ehindero, 37, who lived at 5, Ogungbade Street, Mende, Maryland was said to be a businessman who distributed in diesel and had been married for five years without a child.

A police source from the Alakara Police Station confirmed that the soldiers shot dead Ehindero and that the culprits escaped before arrest, saying that the deceased was in his SUV with his friend when the OP-MESSA officers stormed the area.

An eye witness said the team leader of the OP-MESSA ordered Ehindero to get out of his SUV but opened fire on him almost immediately and he died on the spot.

It was not clear what led to the shooting. It was also gathered that the soldiers, after killing the deceased, shot three other residents in the area, who sustained serious injuries.

There was pandemonium at Bada Street as people scampered to safety to avoid being shot by the soldiers.

Johnson Akinsajo Johnson Akinsanjo (47) was murder on August 31, by three men armed with guns and cutlasses.

He was abducted by the armed men who demanded a ransom of N2million from his wife.

However, before she could get the money, the suspect allegedly killed and buried her husband in a bush in Ikorodu.

The suspects where later arrested and they took policemen to the bush were the man was killed and buried.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5 2012

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NEWS

No plan to sack workers, says Wogu

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O civil servant will be sacked, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, has said.

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has suggested a 50 per cent cut in the civil service workforce to save the economy – a suggestion that has been greeted with bitter criticisms.

He spoke at the Eighth National Labour Relations Summit and Award Ceremony, with the theme: “Social Policy, Labour Relations & the Transformation Agenda: Extending Social Protection in Nigeria”, held at the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Il-

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

orin, Kwara State.

Wogu said: “In the area of employment; the ministry is following up closely on the recommendations from the past National Job Summit and fresh insights from its independent work. We are working to enhance capacity at our skill development and job centres.

“Earlier this year, the ministry initiated a process for mass recruitment of graduates through the Sure-P programme. We are seeking ways of collaborating with captains of industries and corporate bodies to address youth un-

employment.”

He said the Federal Government has demonstrated its commitment to social protection through the review of labour laws to ensure emergence of the appropriate legal environment, which supports social protection reforms as evident in the Employees Compensation Act of 2010.

“We are encouraging the review of our labour laws to ensure emergence of the appropriate legal environment, which supports social protection reforms. This is precisely what we have done with the Employees Compensation Act of 2010. There are several initiatives we are undertaking on

the basis of the provisions of this statute. These include current efforts in the areas of compensations for injuries, support for medical care and housing loan schemes for workers,” Wogu stressed.

Earlier in their goodwill messages, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Abdulwahhed Omar, represented by Comrade Isa Aremu and his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Comrade Peter Esele, said Nigeria could move forward, if government revives the real sectors of the economy- manufacturing, transportation, textile, food, drinks and beverages and others – add-

NOA DG gets NIPR fellowship

Ex-militant leaders end training in South Africa

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor, Aviation Correspondent

SOME leaders of former Niger Delta militants yesterday returned to the country from South Africa where they were trained in non violent/leadership and business development.

Of the 33 leaders in the first batch, 21 arrived aboard South Africa Airways alongside the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Mr. Kingsley Kuku.

The leader of the team, Reuben Wilson, from Bayelsa State, who spoke to reporters at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, said the training expanded the horizon of the participants.

He said they saw other Niger Delta youths excelling as pilots and instructors at the African Union Aviation Academy in Mafikeng, South Africa.

Wilson applauded Kuku’s leadership role in the Niger Delta and his focused management of the amnesty programme, which he said is a success.

ing that government should enhance the labour force to achieve more for the country with intervention fund.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Tunji Olaopa, in his lead paper entitled: “From Policy to Practice: Linking Social Protection to National Development”, said government has a sacred duty to protect its citizens, particularly the poor.

According to him, financing social protection should be the responsibility of government at all levels and other stakeholders who are in positions to mobilise resources both internal and external.

•President and Chairman of Council, NIPR, Alhaji Mohammed Ahmed Abdullahi (left), presenting a Certificate of Fellowship to the Director-General, NOA, Mr. Omeri... yesterday.

THE Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri, was yesterday conferred with the fellowship of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the institute in Akure, Ondo State.

The professional fellowship is in recognition of Omeri’s contributions to public relations in Nigeria and Africa, having been a member of the NIPR and the Federation of African Public Relations Associations (FRAPA) for several years.

The fellowship also acknowledges his achievements in managing and sustaining a positive image for the nation as the Director-General of the NOA. Mr. Omeri, having scaled through rigorous screening by the NIPR Board of Fellows, was among the three fellows inducted by the institute.

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

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HE Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Olabisi Ibrahim, has said over 16,000 spouses and other dependants of members of the Armed Forces have benefited from a skill acquisition training programme.

Speaking during the 2012 skill acquisition training for spouses and dependants of Armed Forces personnel at the 13 Brigade Headquarters in Calabar, Cross River State, Admiral Ibrahim said the initiative was in line with the United Nations Millennium Development Goal, which is to eradicate poverty and hunger.

The Chief of Defence Staff, who was represented

by Air Commodore Esther Odok of the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, said participants would be given two weeks intensive training on vocational skills such as heat transfer printing, photography/photo processing, information and communication technology/ business centre, catering/fast foods.

Others include tailoring, hair dressing/beauty salon, soap making/cosmetics, beads and hat making, agricultural and allied services and embroidery.

According to him, the choice of the vocations was informed by the need to attain maximum gain in a limited period of time and engender professional and entrepreneurial skills to ease the establishment of businesses.

Basin Authority to reposition economy From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

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‘Why cement price is high’ CEMENT dealers in Enugu State yesterday attributed the increase in the price of the commodity to the hike in transport fare.

A survey conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu showed a five to seven per cent increase in the price.

Mr. Thomas Nnamani, a cement dealer at Kenyatta Market, decried the deplorable condition of roads, particularly in the Southeast, saying it is responsible for the hike in fare.

According to him, it takes vehicles long hours to deliver goods from Benue or Port Harcourt to Enugu due to the bad roads.

Nnamani also said the ban on the importation of the product placed by the Federal Government, stimulated local production of the commodity, whereas the security situation in parts of the country posed a serious problem as many lorry drivers preferred not to go up North for fear of being attacked.

Armed Forces train 16,000 on skill acquisition

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (second right); Commissioner of Police Umar Manko; Chairman, Board of Trustees, Lagos State Security Trust Fund, Chief Remi Makanju (right); Oba of Lagos, Riliwanu Akiolu (second left); and Chief Executive Officer, Zenith Bank, Mr. Emefiele Godwin, at the sixth yearly Town Hall Meeting on Security with the governor at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

Nigeria lost 1,166 people in 131 air accidents, says AON

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HE Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) yesterday said Nigeria lost 1,166 lives in 131 aircraft accidents between 1967 and 2012.

Officials of the group spoke at a news conference in Lagos..

AON’s Secretary-General Alhaji Mohammed Joji, who read the group’s address, said the accidents involved fixed wings aircraft and helicopters.

“None of these accidents is attributed to any mechanical failure of the aircraft except the last DANA crash which lost its two engines,” Joji said.

He hailed the Federal Government and the Minister of

Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, for lifting the suspension placed on Dana Airline following the June 3 crash in Lagos.

Joji recalled that the mistakes of the past, which resulted in the grounding of aircraft, had negative impact on the aviation industry.

He said: “As a result of this unilateral, punitive and incoherent policy deviation and policy contradiction, Albarka and Savannah Airlines were also forced to close down with a loss of hundreds of jobs.

“Chanchangi Airlines also lost millions of dollars as a result of this distorted policy,”

Joji said.

He said the AON was canvassing frequent maintenance of ageing aircraft, adding: “A well maintained old aircraft is better than a poorly maintained new aircraft.”

“New aircraft are often purchased to add capacity to the existing fleet and not to immediately replace the fleet,’’ Joji said.

He said the AON believed that imposing a ban on aircraft above 22 years old was not consistent with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Standard and Recommended Practice and wanted a review.

Joji also said the AON believed it was wrong for the Senate Committee on Aviation to reach a conclusion on the causes of the Dana Air crash before the investigative report was concluded.

“It seems to us in the industry that the committee had already made up its mind before the conclusion of investigation,’’ he said.

Joji said the AON believed such an action could portray the industry in bad light.

At the news conference were AON chairman, Dr Steve Mahonwu, the Assistant SecretaryGeneral, Alhaji Mohammed Tukur and Mr. Paul Ib.

HE Niger Basin Authority is to ensure that Nigeria benefits from the economic activities of the basin.

The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe, who spoke at the end of the meeting of the Council of Ministers of Niger Basin Authority in Abidjan, Cote d’Voire, said the position of Nigeria as a decision maker has helped to protect the interests of Nigerians living in the basin.

She said: “Nigeria is at the downstream of the basin and if we are not involved, activities upstream may hinder the flow of water to the River Niger, which serves as a source of livelihood to many Nigerians.

“The ongoing projects at the basin, when completed, will provide job opportunities for the people through irrigation farming and fishing, thereby increasing the income level and quality of lives of the people, which are results of President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda.”

The Executive Secretary of the Niger Basin Authority, Gen. Collins Ihekire (rtd), urged qualified Nigerians to take advantage of the recruitment exercise at the basin as soon as vacancies are advertised, to enable citizens benefit from such opportunities.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

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News

Ekiti chief to remain in prison till January for alleged murder

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USTICE Oluwatoyin Bodunde of the Ekiti State High Court 4, sitting in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday ruled that Chief Dayo Orojo should remain in prison custody until January.

Orojo, who is the head of the Ilisa Quarters in OmuoEkiti, Ekiti East Local Government Area, and two others have been in prison custody since September 4 for allegedly killing Mrs. Rebecca Adewumi on May 11.

The three suspects and others at large were arraigned on a six-count charge of

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

felony, conspiracy to commit murder, unlawful accusation for witchcraft, unlawful participation in trial by ordeal, unlawful deprivation of liberty and murder.

The late Mrs. Adewunmi, who was 70 years old, was accused of afflicting her stepson, Ola Adewumi, with a strange ailment using witchcraft powers and was beaten to death.

Ola died few weeks after the septuagenarian was killed.

Urging the court to grant the accused bail, defence counsel Oladele Adedeji said Orojo was hypertensive and needed medical attention.

He said the mother of the late Ola, Mrs. Adesola Adewumi, should also be granted bail to enable her mourn her son.

Prosecution counsel Femi Onipede opposed the bail application. He said the prosecution was ready to present its witnesses.

Justice Bodunde denied the accused bail. He said: “I am particularly happy that the defence counsel said prison

officials have always taken Orojo to the hospital. It would have been a different thing, if the accused was deprived of such right. I hereby order that on no account should any of them be denied access to medical care.

“It is pathetic that these people are being incarcerated, despite their conditions, but the court does not adjudicate on matters based on sentiments, or else, we would not get anywhere in the dispensation of justice.”

The ruling on the bail application was adjourned till January 17.

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Oyo PDP warns Oni against subversive antics

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo Federal Constituency has warned the party’s embattled National Vice-Chairman, Southwest, Mr. Segun Oni, to refrain from subversive acts that can jeopardise the PDP’s success in future elections.

It urged Oni to be cautious of his relationship with some failed party big wigs, so as not to turn himself into a “political stooge that could stultify the much-needed peace and reconciliation”.

This was contained in a statement by the PDP leader in the constituency, Basorun Sunday Ogunlade, after a meeting of members from the four local governments, was held in Oyo town.

The party said: “It is senseless and ungrateful of former Governor Adebayo AlaoAkala and Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Ms. Jumoke Akinjide to have colluded with Oni and recommended the dissolution of the state PDP executive to the National Working Committee (NWC), a request that was rejected in Abuja.

“The reason given, which we consider irritating and unfounded, was that Senator Teslim Folarin was pocketing the party, even though godfatherism has gone into ex-

From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo

tinction in the state.

“It is highly surprising because Alao-Akala was a party to the composition of the state exco. One of his boys is the Vice-Chairman and the Zonal Youth Leader is also his man.

“Perhaps one should remind Oni of the contribution of the Oyo State exco to his election as the National ViceChairman, Southwest, in the election held in Osogbo.

“Has Oni forgotten the support he got from these delegates at the venue when members from his state (Ekiti) vehemently opposed his pronouncement after the election?

“We hail the NWC for not allowing the mischief and destructive antics of disgruntled elements, who are bent on destabilising the party ahead of 2015, come to fruition.

“Oni and his cohorts should desist from fanning the embers of discord. He should reciprocate the kind gesture of those who supported him by remaining focused and reconciling factions in the party, instead of turning himself into an errand boy for those who have failed the good people of Oyo State. A word is enough for the wise.”

Jemibewon, governor, Fasehun, Falana, others for honour

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•Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun (right) greeting a member of the State Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy during the panel’s visit to his office in Abeokuta...yesterday.

Aregbesola urges Heads of Service to be productive

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SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola yesterday urged Heads of Service in the Southwest to reposition the civil service.

He said they must make it competitive and attractive to the best brains.

Aregbesola spoke at the Third Summit of Heads of Service in the Southwest. The summit, which was hosted by the Osun State government, was held at the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding in Osogbo, the state capital.

The governor, represented

•’Regional integration is indispensable’ From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

by his deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori, said although the Southwest has the best civil service in the country, it can be improved.

He said: “We will not forget in a hurry the quintessential role played by the civil service, under the leadership of the legendary Chief Simeon Adebo, Mrs. Fola Ighodalo and others in the First Republic, which made the vision of the late

Chief Obafemi Awolowo a reality.

“The invaluable support that these great administrators gave to the great visionary statesman made the Western Region the envy of all. This is a feat that we have to re-enact in our time.”

On regional integration in the Southwest, Aregbesola said collaboration would facilitate rapid growth in the zone.

He said regional integration is an important idea that

the majority of political leaders in the Southwest find not only attractive, but indispensable.

The governor said a lot of resources have been deployed towards making it a reality.

He said: We are unyielding in our conviction that this will produce enduring economic rejuvenation in our region, just as it was during the time of our revered leader, the late Awolowo.”

Mimiko’s policies are lopsided, says ACN

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HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ondo State has criticised Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s call on residents to start producing 30,000 babies yearly.

It described it as “misleading, myopic and an aversion to sustainable development in the face of gross youth unemployment and decayed infrastructure”.

In a statement by its Publicity Director, Mr. Idowu Ajanku, ACN said the call, which was made by Mimiko during the inauguration of the Mother and Child Hospital in Ondo town, was that of a man who has lost touch with reality.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

It said: “Why is Mimiko not thinking of how to create jobs for unemployed youths, who are still being catered for by their tired parents, who are peasant famers, traders or civil servants.

“He is not looking at the infrastructural decay, but is quick to beat his chest that he is providing free maternity services to women, so that they can deliver his targeted 30,000 children annually.

“What does it hold for the people, if not the multiplication of poverty, or is he saying his government

would care for these children from cradle to adulthood?

“The ACN is saying government should provide a holistic health care solution for all members of the society and generate employment through the provision of an enabling environment for private sector investment.

“Mimiko should open up the riverine areas for serious business with global impact, like is happening in Ajah, Lagos State, under Governor Babatunde Fashola’s leadership.

“He should invest the state’s resources in providing sustainable develop-

ment, and not projects that cannot be sustained, which are sectional and of no direct bearing on the majority.

“We are not surprised by the way and manner Mimiko is still running the state, which shows that nothing has been learnt and we should expect nothing new.

After all, all through his electioneering campaign, he kept saying he would continue what he was doing.

“It is clear that this government is only prepared to continue to build market stalls, glorified maternity houses and boreholes, which they will continue to celebrate.”

HE Itapaji-Ekiti Traditional Council will, on Saturday, honour the former Governor of the old Western Region, Gen. David Jemibewon (rtd.), for his role in the building of the first Hydro Power Dam in Ekiti State in 1976.

The community will also honour Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, founder of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Dr. Fredrick Fasehun, Ekiti State Deputy Governor Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka, wife of the Ekiti State Governor Erelu Bisi Fayemi and Ekiti State Chief of Staff Yemi Adaramodu have also pencilled down for honour.

Others include the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Otuoke, Prof. Bolaji Aluko; rights activist Femi Falana (SAN) and the first Chartered Accountant in the town, Mr. Goke Omotosho, who is the Bursar of Bells University, Ota, Ogun State.

According to a statement signed by the traditional ruler of the community, Oba Abdul-Azeez Adebanjo and the Secretary of the Ambassadors Club, Mallam Suleiman Sanusi, Jemibewon, Aregbesola and Faseun will be conferred with traditional titles.

Others will receive distinguished leadership and good governance awards.

Adebanjo said the honour to be bestowed on the selected Yoruba leaders was in appreciation of their contributions to the development of the state and the Yoruba nation.

The award is part of activities marking the 12th Itapaji Day celebration.

Ogun: we didn’t cede land to Lagos HE Ogun State Government yesterday said it did not cede its land in Egua, Yewa Local Government, to the Lagos State Government as is being speculated by “fifth columnists”.

It said it allocated the land to Lagos State for agricultural purposes and to fast-track development in the area.

The government said the allocation was for a period of time and a pilot scheme, which it plans to replicate across the three senatorial districts.

Commissioner for Agriculture Mrs. Ronke Sokefun made the clarification in Abeokuta, the state capital, at a meeting with stakeholders from the area.

She said the decision would ensure even development across the state.

Mrs. Sokefun said: “The land had long been acquired for agricultural purposes by

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From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

past administrations in the state. There was a strategic reasoning behind our allocating part of it to Lagos State for rice planting. We only gave them one-tenth of what they requested for.

“The terms of agreement are unambiguous. We agreed that rent would be paid to the Ogun State Government and the land will only be used for rice cultivation. We also agreed that indigenes of the community must be considered first for engagement on the farmland.

This is a pilot scheme.”

The commissioner lamented the inability of past administrations to take advantage of the state’s proximity to Lagos and assured residents that the Governor Ibikunle Amosun administration would fully exploit that advantage.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

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NEWS Wike blasts states From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

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INISTER of State for Education Nyesom Wike has accused some states of shirking their financial responsibilities under the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Act. Wike traced the dilapidated school buildings in the country to the culture of awarding contracts without monitoring performance and delivery.

The minister spoke at the seventh Quarterly Meeting of UBEC Management with the Executive Chairmen of SUBEBs in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

He said though the Federal Government is ready with its matching grants, most states default by refusing to provide their counterpart funds.

The minister said besides providing grants, the Federal Government provides free textbooks and library resource materials as well as the retraining of basic education teachers.

100m persons’ve no IDs From Chris Oji, Enugu

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HE National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) yesterday said over 100 million Nigerians have no official identity.

It said 75 per cent of the identity documents are fake and self-issued, adding that there was no timely means of authenticating the documents.

NIMC’s Director-General/Chief Executive Officer Chris Onyemenam said this in Enugu during a stakeholders’ forum in Enugu.

Onyemenam said less than 20 per cent of the population had access to financial services but assured that NIMC was working to harmonise and integrate identity databases.

The NIMC boss said the proposed identity card would have a smart card, identification number and other facilities that would make it difficult to fake.

He said one person would have a unique National Identification number for life.

According to him, as part of efforts to actualise its mandate, NIMC was working hard to actualise a secured National Identity that would be easy to replace in the event of a loss.

Okoya, Mamora, others for book launch

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HAIRMAN Eleganza Group, Chief Rasak Okoya will tomorrow attend the launch of the book, A Biography of a Bold and Honest Personality, A Godly Person and a Political Leader, written by Abioye David Oyelowo.

The event will hold at the main auditorium of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, 6, Edmond Crescent, Behind Presbyterian Church, Yaba, Lagos, at 11am.

It will be co-launched by the Executive Director of the Dangote Group, D.V.G Edwin. Basegun of Lagos Chief Abayomi Finnih is the Chairman.

The biography will be reviewed by former Senate Minority Leader Olorunnimbe Mamora. Former Minister of Works Adeseye Ogunlewe is the Chief Host and former Lagos State Deputy Governor Rafi Jafojo is the guest of honour.

NITAD inducts 200 members

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HE Nigerian Institute of Trainings & Development (NITAD) will induct 200 members at its 10th induction ceremony next Wednesday.

An induction lecture, “Learning and Development in a Growing Economy: Challenges and Prospects”, will be delivered by the Learning Manager, Nigeria Breweries PLC, Niyi Alabi.

NITAD President Kayode Ogungbuyi said the lecture is to develop the competence of the inductees and put them on the right track of their profession.

•A cross section of ex-militant leaders at the Murtala Murtala International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, after a leadership training in South Africa .

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

Jonathan Salami: President asks ACN: administration court to strike out suit is profligate From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

•Justice Salami

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to strike out a suit by 11 plaintiffs seeking the reinstatement of the suspended President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice Isa Ayo Salami.

The plaintiffs, who are the Registered Trustees of Centre for the Promotion of Arbitration, are seeking an order of mandamus to compel Jonathan, the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN) and the National Judicial Council (NJC) to reinstate Salami.

Justice Bello ordered the service of the court process on Jonathan through Adoke.

The court also granted an order for the plaintiffs to sue in representative capacity.

In a motion notice by their counsel, Matthew Echo, Jonathan and Adoke listed four grounds for the court to strike out the suit.

They said the activists, who filed the suit for themselves and the Registered Trustees of the Centre for the Promotion of Arbitration, do not have the locus standi to institute the action.

The duo said they do not have sufficient interest in the matter to which the application relates.

They also contended that the plaintiffs have not shown any authority granted them by the Trustees of the Centre for the Promotion of Arbitration to maintain the action on their behalf.

Besides, Jonathan and Adoke stated that the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs are indeterminable as they are merely academic and as such should be expunged.

They added that there is no cause of action against them as they have always acted in accordance with the constitution in relation with the subject matter in the suit.

When the matter came up yesterday, Justice Bello granted the application to strike out Justice Dalhatu Adamu as fifth defendant from the suit having been replaced as the Acting PCA. The court adjourned till January 17, for the adoption of written addresses.

The NJC had, in its response filed earlier, agreed with the plaintiffs that the power to recall the suspended Justice Salami solely and exclusively belongs to it without any recourse to the direction or authority of any other person outside the council, including the President.

Political will needed to end deficiency, says Shonekan •Proposes amendment to ICRC Act

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ORMER Head of Interim Government Chief Ernest Shonekan has said unless the Presidency shows some political will, reducing infrastructure deficiency may be a mirage.

He said the government needs a coherent, consistent and comprehensive medium- long term infrastructural plan.

Shonekan warned against arbitrary withdrawal of projects once the development process is on.

This, he said, would enhance the credibility of the Nigerian Public Private Participation (PPP) programme.

He spoke yesterday after the presentation of last year’s annual report and audited financial statement of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) to President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Shonekan said the challenges confronting the commission include: inability to mobilise longterm funding for project development; inability to commit Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to a stable and coherent pipeline of PPP and poor project preparation by MDAs

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

The former ING Head, who later spoke to reporters, said: “It is not only in this country that we have infrastructural deficit.

“The way forward is what everybody seems to be doing; and that is to see how the deficit can be reduced . So each and every one of us has to put on our thinking caps to see how we can bridge that gap within a short time. “ With all these disasters around the world, even Western countries which started their infrastructural development before us are now thinking of fresh infrastructures.

“We have an opportunity now to be able to do our own infrastructures. I think the best thing is to get people to assist us. “ That is why we said we will need the political will of the Presidency and all the others. Without infrastructures, there will not be much progress.”

The ICRC Chairman said the commission has recorded some achievements since its inauguration in 2008.

“Within its first two years, the commission recuited key staff, developed organisational pro-

cesses and engaged MDAs and other stakeholders.”

Shonekan said it received a little less than N1.1 billion appropriated for it and expended N1.016 billion.

“About N325,811,000 was brought forward from 2010 and the balance in the capital vote of N8.5 million was moved forward to 2012,” Shonekan explained.

He said of this, N325,763,039.45 was spent as the remaining N47,960.55 “was returned to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.”

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HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has decried the reckless extravagance of the Jonathan administration.

It said it could plunge the country into bankruptcy, if left unchecked.

In a statement in Ilorin yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, the party described as unacceptable and shameful that a government that has not made a positive impact on Nigerians would engage in such wastage.

It said the government has beaten its own record for profligacy by its decision to build a N2.2 billion Banquet Hall in the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.

ACN said: “The man who announced the white elephant project, FCT Minister Bala Mohammed justified it by saying ‘’other smaller countries have better banquet halls near their Presidential residences’’. ‘’It is interesting that a minister is comparing the country with ‘smaller countries’ when it comes to justifying a project that will only benefit a few elite.

“Does the minister know that the citizens of the so-called smaller countries enjoy uninterrupted electricity supply?

“Does he know that the citizens of those countries don’t have to queue up endlessly for petrol and kerosine; that they don’t have to depend on Okada for transportation; and that they have no road as terrible as the LagosIbadan Expressway? ‘’In any case, nothing can justify the decision to spend such a huge amount of money on a banquet hall in a country where many go to bed hungry, where youth unemployment is at a high 46.5 per cent and where projects that could make Nigeria to achieve the MDGs, less than three years to the target date, are almost non-existent.”

More knocks for Sanusi

HE Coalition against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has faulted the call by Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi for the sack of 50 per cent of civil servants.

Its Executive Chairman, Debo Adeniran, described the call as irrelevant and misleading.

“There is surely a need to reduce government’s recurrent expenses to give room for the implementation of the capital side.

“But the question to ask the CBN ‘Emir’ is should the common man always be at the receiving end of his many irrelevant policies?

“Why won’t Sanusi think of a more reasonable way to better the lot of the country than rendering more people impoverished?

“With the nation’s majority wallowing in abject poverty, living on less than $1 per day, what should be on the mind of any state actor is how to reduce employment.

“When you push 50 per cent of federal civil servants out, where do you expect them to go?”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

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NEWS IG: heads’ll roll in SARS

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HE Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has said any officer involved in the November 26 attack on the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) headquarters in Abuja would be punished.

Abubakar spoke in Abuja yesterday during his official visit to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command.

He said investigations into the attack were still in progress.

“We are not resting. We are still investigating and once we conclude, we will take the necessary actions but I can tell you, heads will roll in SARS,” the IG said.

Abubakar said the police would treat security seriously.

On his visit, the IG said he wanted to assess the preparedness of the command to ensure safety of lives and property in the territory.

He assured them of the Federal Government’s commitment to address problems associated with police pensions.

Abubakar said the welfare of the police would be regularly reviewed to enable them to focus on the duties of securing the society.

The IG, however, warned that the police authorities would punish erring officers and men.

He said the new police force would not encourage corruption, noting that anyone found wanting would be dismissed.

Shippers seek more powers

By Dada Aladelokun

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HE Nigerian Shippers Council has called on the National Assembly to pass a law that would enable the council to serve as a regulatory body for the maritime industry.

The Council made the request at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) in Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital.

It said the law would further empower the council to checkmate excesses of the industry.

Its President, Olayemi Fadipe, said: “Presently, the council is like a toothless dog as it could not sanction the maritime body, although it oversees its activities.

‘Shippers Council is performing the role of overseeing activities of the maritime industry without power to punish if it errs.

“We are hereby calling on the National Assembly to give Nigerian Shippers Council the required enabling law to become the regulator of maritime industry in Nigeria and sanction where and when necessary.”

JNI kicks against removal of Jaji commanders

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HE Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) yesterday queried the redeployment of the Commandant of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Air ViceMarshall Abdullahi Kure and his counterpart at the Infantry Centre and School (ICS), Major-Gen Muhammad D. Isa. This followed the bombing within the military formation.

•Warns against politicisation From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

In a statement in Kaduna yesterday by its SecretaryGeneral, Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, the JNI said the redeployment of the two officers and their replacement with non-Muslim officers has a religious connotation.

The statement said the fact

that the “two officers who were removed were Muslims and replaced by non-Muslims makes any discerning observer to be suspicious.”

“We make bold to state that any attempt at politicising security in Nigeria will worsen our security situation.

“It will also polarise the military and the security sys-

tem along religious and ethnic divide.”

The statement reads: “The attention of the headquarters of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has been drawn to a report that the Defence Headquarters redeployed the Commandant of the Armed Forces and Staff College, Air Vice Marshal Abdullahi Kure and the Corps Commander, Infantry Jaji, Maj-

Gen, Muhammad D. Isa. “We reiterate our condemnation of the blasts and emphasise the need for thorough investigations.

“We want to state that the removal of the two officers does not speak well of the military.

“We cannot comprehend the use of two different approaches to addressing the same issue.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

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NEWS

Gunmen abduct Ogun lawmaker’s wife

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OUR gunmen yesterday abducted Mrs. Folashade Onademunre, the wife of an Ogun State House of Assembly member, Mr. Samson Onademunre.

Mrs. Onademuren, whose husband represents Ijebu North East on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), was said to have been kidnapped at Ijebu–Ode, about 1:30pm.

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

The Nation learnt that she was kidnapped with a woman described as her friend and taken to an unknown destination in an unmarked white Opel Astra car while inspecting work on her husband’s site.

The suspected kidnappers have not contacted Mrs. On-

ademuren’s family.

It was gathered that her abductors may have been on her trail, and upon sighting her on the site at Lewu Street, Obalende, Ijebu- Ode, they swooped on her and forcibly took her away.

Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the incident, said some hoodlums carried out

the act, adding that the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikemefuna Okoye, had visited the scene to strategise on how to rescue Mrs Onademuren.

He said the police were investigating the matter.

Adejobi urged the public to assist the police with information that could lead to the woman’s rescue.

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HE House of Representatives has said it would issue a bench warrant for the arrest of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, if he fails to appear before its Committee on Finance this morning.

Also threatened with arrest if they fail to turn up for the public hearing on remittances of revenue generating agencies are the Chief

Reps threaten Sanusi, others From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

Executive Officers of the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and nine others.

The lawmakers said gross earnings of agencies of government would be captured in subsequent revenue framework.

At the commencement of the public hearing, the representative of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) Mr. Abatcha Bulama was sent out of the hall because he was mistakenly invited.

Speaker Aminu Tambuwal said for too long, the menace of revenue leakages has dominated the nation’s finances to the detriment of the economy and wellbeing of Nigerians.

Eso for burial Dec 21 From Oseheye Okwuofu , Ibadan

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HE family of the late eminent jurist and former Supreme Court Justice, Kayode Eso, yesterday announced a one-week funeral programme.

Eso died on November 16 at Hammersmith Hospital in London.

The late jurist will be buried in his hometown, Ilesa, Osun State, on December 21 after a funeral service at the Cathedral Church of Holy Trinity, Omofe, Ilesa.

A statement signed on behalf of the family by his daughter, Mrs. Funmilayo Eso-Williams, said a service of songs would be held at the deceased’s Greenacres, Ibadan home on December 17.

It will be followed on Tuesday and Wednesday by another service of songs at the same venue by 5pm.

According to the statement, a “Christian wake will hold at the Anglican Church of the Risen Christ and in his home, Oke Omi Iru, Osogbo Road, Ilesa on Thursday.

“Funeral service will be held on December 21 at the Cathedral Church of Holy Trinity, Omofe, Ilesa, while an outing service takes place at the Anglican Church of the Risen Christ, Oke Omi Iru, Ilesa.”

Eso is survived by his wife, Helen, children, EsoWilliam, Olumide and grandchildren.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

CITYBEATS Police foil kidnap attempt

11 08033054340, 08034699757 E-mail:- ynotcitybeats@gmail.com

Arowolo: Absence of defence witness stalls trial

By Adebisi Onanuga

THE trial of Akolade Arowolo, alleged to have killed his banker wife, Titilayo Omozoje, was stalled yesterday as the second defence witness was said to be sick.

At the resumed trial, counsel to Akolade, Mr. Olanrewaju Ajanaku, told a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, that he was not aware of the witness’ sickness until Monday when he was informed that she was down with malaria.

Ajanaku, told Justice Lateefa Okunnu, that the witness was in court at the last hearing, adding that this showed that she was prepared for the matter.

He asked the court to adjourn the matter and give another date when he would be able to get the witness to give evidence.

The prosecution, Mrs. M.A. Balogun, did not oppose the request for an adjournment.

Justice Okunnu, cautioned the defence counsel not to delay the trial, saying he ought to have got the three other witnesses ready to give their testimonies.

She adjourned further hearing till January 22, 2013.

ACPN condemns illegal medication COORDINATOR of the Etiosa Zone of the Association of Community Pharmacist of Nigeria (ACPN), Mr. NdukweUma-Udukwe has called on pharmaceutical firms to form a joint campaign and action against unwholesome use of medication Udukwe made the appeal at the association’s 2nd luncheon and business summit with the theme: “Strengthening the professional social contract between community pharmacist and the people,” which held at the at Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

“The alarming rate of reckless application of forms of drugs on children, young and the aged has become a great concern to pharmacist in the community,” he said.

According to him, drugs are potent poisons found in untrained hands on the streets. ” Chairman of Etiosa Local Government, Abayomi Daramola, who is also a pharmacist, requested that pharmacists be put in their position as the keepers and dispensers of drugs to protect the citizens.

He cautioned the people on the dangers of self medication without seeking advice from experts. His words:”If we keep engaging in this kind of quack act, the nemesis will always be there and we are endangering the lives of innocent citizens.”

•Arrest nine suspects

A

N attempt by a ninemember syndicate to kidnap, rob and kill the managing director of a Lagos construction firm has been foiled by the Lagos State Police Command, it was learnt yesterday.

The syndicate, with members in Abuja, ran out of luck in Lagos while perfecting its plans.

Among those arrested are the company’s Assistant Human Resources Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Fuere and the MD’s driver, Emmanuel Nathan.

They were paraded at the command’s headquarters yesterday.

They were said to have been fascinated by the offer from a former employee of the company, Omosafe Patrick, who was sacked for alleged malpractices, to ‘rob and kidnap the expatriate MD. The Commander in charge of Area ‘E’ Police Command, Festac Town, Mr. Dan Okoro, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), was said to have used one of his detectives to act as an insider in the company. It was the detective who guided the suspects with all the

•The suspects...yesterday

By Jude Isiguzo

information they required to hatch their plans without the hoodlums knowing his mission.

On the fateful day, the spy, whom they ttook for an accomplice, arrested the hoodlums with the help of armed police officers.

Lagos Command spokesperson, Ngozi Braide said the suspects were arrested based on intelligence and surveillance.

She said crimes could be averted before they are committed.

Braide said: “On 25th November, at 7.30pm, based on intelligence and surveillance that the Managing Director of

a Construction Company located at Ikoyi, Lagos is to be assassinated on November 30, and a bullion van conveying millions of naira belonging to the company was to be intercepted, robbed and the MD kidnapped by hoodlums. Detectives from Area ‘E’ led by the Area Commander, Dan Okor, an Assistant Commissioner of Police embarked on undercover surveillance at their meeting point at Rock View Hotel, Festac, Lagos, and arrested the nine suspects.”

Braide named the suspects as: Omsafe Patrick, an ex-driver to the Managing Director; 34year-old Monday Moris; Mohammed Attai Isah, another exdriver in the company; Oshus-

sein Abel and 28-year-old Musa Salifu.

Other suspects arrested from Abuja are Godwin Onoja and Wisdom Awanrin.

One of the suspects, Patrick, who was to be the brainchild of the criminal plans said: “We were supposed to meet at Falomo where our insider would communicate to us on telephone the time the bullion van carrying the company’s money would be passing, then we will use our own vehicle to hit it so that the vehicle will stop and we will carry out our operation.

But we were surprised when our man in the company turned out to be among those who arrested us.

“About the kidnapping issue, it was three years ago that I discussed it with the managing director’s driver, it was not now, we have dropped the idea.”

Mr. Okoro said it was high time policemen began to avert crimes.

“We are going ahead to ensure that we don’t allow crimes to be committed and people losing their lives before we take actions. We want to live up to the proactive policing creed of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar and see how we can stop these criminals before they perpetrate evil. We are highly alive to our responsibilities,” Okoro said.

Atuche, others seek recall of two witnesses

F

ORMER Managing Director of Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank), Mr. Francis Atuche, yesterday sought leave of a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, to recall two prosecution witnesses, Mr Diamond Uju and Mrs. Elizabeth Ebi, .for re-examination over some new facts and their testimonies admitted as evidence.

In their earlier testimonies before the court presided over by Justice Lateefa Okunnu, they denied requesting for loans from the bank.

Atuche, his wife, Elizabeth and the bank’s former Chief Financial Officer, Ugo Anyanwu, are standing trial for allegedly stealing N27.5 billion, an allegation made by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Counsel to Atuche, Chief Francis Idigbe Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), urged the court to recall the witnesses for further cross examination.

Idigbe argued that recalling them would assist the defence pick holes in the case, adding that what the witnesses did was telling the court half truths.

Chief Idigbe said they are

By Adebisi Onanuga

in possession of new facts and documents which revealed that the witnesses had a relationship with the bank before loans were advanced to them through their companies.

According to him, there is an existing resolution of the bank which showed that the companies did not only have a relationship with the bank but also asked for loans which was granted.

Atuche,s counsel argued that it was in the interest of justice that the witnesses were recalled to answer questions bordering on the documents tendered by the EFCC. Counsel to Anyanwu, the third defendant, Mr. Sylva Oguemoh, urged the court to recall the witnesses as the prosecution has not stated the injury they are likely to suffer by recalling them.

EFCC’s counsel, Mr Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), however, opposed the application.

He urged the court to dismiss the application for being premature, adding that it was an abuse of court’s process.

Gunmen kidnap FAAN employee in Lagos

U

NKWON gunmen have abducted an employee of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Haajara Musa. She was said to be returning home from work.

The kidnappers have demanded N10 million from her family. Information about her abduction was still sketchy as of the time of this report.

Mrs. Musa, who works at the international terminal

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

was said to have attended a meeting with other women on Sunday before she was abducted.

Pinheiro said the defence had the opportunity to cross examine the witnesses on the said documents, but failed to make use of the advantage.

He said counsel had earlier refused to cross-examine Mr Uju during the trial.

Mr. Pinheiro said the power to recall a witness could only be at the instance of the court and should be exercised when the prosecution has closed his case.

He described the arguments as “misplaced” and that they could only come at the close of the prosecution’s case.

In his reply, Idigbe said the resolution signed by the witnesses with the bank is material to the case of the defence.

He argued that the Su-

preme Court had in one of its decisions, warned that the defence should be given the opportunity to defend their case.

He therefore, urged the court to exercise its discretion in favour of the defence by giving an order for the recall of the witnesses for cross-examination.

Justice Okunnu reserved judgement on the matter after taking the submissions of the two counsels.

The court ordered the EFCC to provide the defence with the flash drive of a chart presentation of the prosecution witness, Hamanda Bello, to support his oral testimony on the matter.

Bello, an operative of the EFCC, wanted to show a chart in the court to collaborate his oral testimony before

•Atuche

he was stopped by the defence on the ground that they were not aware of the content of the document.

Justice Okunnu ordered the prosecution to furnish the defence with the flash drive in the interest of fair trial and adjourned till tomorrow.

Alleged N41m theft: EFCC re-arraigns doctor-turned stock broker

A

30-year-old medical doctor-turned stock broker, Mrs. Ibukun Adebayo Adedayo, has been re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), before a Lagos High Court, Ikeja for allegedly stealing N41, 009, 457.85 from a customer’s account.

The money, according to the EFCC, belonged to Mrs. Olajumoke Obafemi, a customer of Structured Financial Group of Ventures and Trust Limit-

By Adebisi Onanuga

ed.

She has however, been granted a N10 million bail with two sureties in the like sum by Justice Lateefa Okunnu, the new trial judge in charge of the case.

The offences were said to have contravened Sections 390, 467, 468 of the Criminal Code Cap 17, Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.

She pleaded not guilty.

Counsel to the EFCC, Mr.

Takiyudeen Arebi, asked the court to remand the defendant in the commission’s custody because she is a nursing mother.

Ruling on the bail application filed by the defendant’s counsel, Mrs. Olukemi Omotoso, Justice Okunnu ordered that one of the sureties must own a property in Lagos State and that it must be verified by the court registrar.

Justice Okunnu adjourned the trial till February 2, 2013.

Woman arrested for burglary

A

WOMAN, in her 40s, has been arrested for allegedly breaking into the apartment of Mr. Oluwafemi Atanda, an employee of The Nation newspapers.

The woman, identified as Iyabo Babatunde broke into Atanda’s house at about noon

By Amidu Arije, Damilare Oshopale and Yetunde Bashiru

and took away items including a flat screen television, a play station, jewelleries and clothing materials among others.

It was while leaving the scene with the stolen items that neighbours, who suspected her movement, raised the alarm.

The neighbours said Mrs Babatunde may not have acted alone but with some informants.

She was taken to the Ifo Po-

lice Station for interrogation.

Atanda said he was away to work when neighbours called him on the telephone to inform him that his apartment had been raided.

There were hints yesterday that Mrs Babatunde will be arraigned today by the police.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

12

NEWS

Wonders as Oyedepo opens Shiloh A

T

HE 50,000-capacity Faith Tabernacle was filled to the brim last night as the yearly gathering of the Living Faith Church (a.k.a) Winners Chapel International opened at Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State.

It is the 14th edition of the gathering, with the theme: “Double Portion”.

There was excitement as Bishop David Oyedepo, the church’s leader told the congregation that testimonies were already pouring in. The cleric told of a lame woman who started walking on arrival into the arena; the delivery of three sets of twins and a set of quadruplets to a couple who had been married for 22

By Nneka Nwaneri

years.

He also said the decision to host the annual event came as a mandate from God on May 10, 1998.

“This is not a church event or programme or gathering.

It didn’t come as a decision or initiative of the council members. This is God’s event, which came as a mandate and a mission.

“A platform for the sons of God to possess their possession. A mountain where those who have been deprived of their possession shall have it back. Welcome everyone to the platform of restoration.

Shiloh 2012 shall be a mountain of divine visitation and

encounter.

“Just like when in 1 Sam 3:21, God encountered Samuel, this shall be a mountain of replication and multiplication of grace and divine settlement.

On this mountain, God will settle you. God has vowed to settle you.

“A mountain of dramatic turnaround , answered prayers, a mountain of undeniable proofs.

The shouts of triumph shall be your portion and the realities thereof. Whatever makes things work here selflessly and sweatless, it shall be yours.”

Dr. Oyedepo went on: “Without a vision, the people perish. So, know why you are here because we serve a God of three-day intervention. On

the second day, he will revive us. On the third day, he will raise us up just like he did Lazarus.

“John 2:19- Jesus commanded that the temple be destroyed and it will be brought back in three days. This will be your encounter three days into Shiloh because everyone must have an encounter with God. “So, I declare this divine event for the transformation of mankind. Let every word find fulfillment. Jesus our Shiloh will show himself. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, its is open for your Double Portion.”

Thousands are attending the event from Nigeria and overseas.

Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, is to appear before a traditional arbitration council of Nnewi elders, if she plans to remarry.

The council, called Agbalor, would spell out the stipulations of the people’s tradition on a second marriage.

A member of Nnewi royal family (Eze Ogune) and member of the apex decision-making body in Nnewi, Nzuko Ora Nnewi, Mr Tempest Udeze, spoke with our reporter.

He explained that Nnewi tradition demands that a woman married to any of the men in three-quarters of Nnewi

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

should not remarry after the death of her husband.

She forfeits her entitlements from her late husband’s family, if she insists on a second marriage, Udeze said.

The former Secretary of Nnewi North Local Government explained the tradition and its implication on Bianca’s future.

He said: “It is in line with the traditional norms of Nnewi.

There is no way a woman would leave her husband when pronounced he dies and be allowed to take all she benefited from him to another man in the name

of re-marrying.

“The property she acquired through the name of Ikemba Nnewi would be forfeited should she think of remarrying.

Until she does so, let us not preempt the matter. Even her bride price will be returned, if she remarries. Once that is done, she loses all the property and wealth she acquired with the name and influence of Ikemba Nnewi, including the children, who will remain in Ojukwu’s custody.”

Asked what happens if the woman refuses to relinquish all she has acquired, Udeze said: “We have a traditional court to deal with such issues.

Ex-Jaji commandant heads Air Force firm has been reassigned.

“He now moves to the Nigerian Air Force Holding Company as the GMD. Handing and taking over ceremony between the former and new Commandant of the college took place this morning.

“Also, Air Vice-Marshall Peter Abel, the former GMD of the Nigerian Air Force Holding Company has been posted to the Defence Headquarters as Director of Production. The appointments are with immediate effect.”

PPPRA saves N671b in 10 months

Ojukwu’s Will: Bianca may appear before MBASSADOR Bianca Ojukwu, the widow of Nnewi elders’ council the late Ikemba Nnewi,

A

FORMER Commandant of the Command and Staff College, Jaji, Air Vice-Marshall Ibrahim Kure has been given a new posting by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Alexander Badeh.

Kure is now the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian Air Force Holding Company.

A statement by the Air Force authorities yesterday said Kure has resumed at his new office.

The statement reads: “Sequel to the recent changes in the leadership of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, following the unfortunate bomb blast, the former Commandant, Air Vice-Marshall Ibrahim Kure,

I

•The late Ojukwu

We call it Agbalor. It is headed

by Okpala Nnewi in Umudim.

If that fails, the conventional way of arbitration comes in handy.”

N line with President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformation Leadership agenda in the oil and gas sub-sector, the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has said it has saved N671 billion in subsidy claims. This was made possible by stringent and proactive reform initiatives put in place in the management of fuel importation.

Speaking with Energy Correspondents in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of PPPRA, Mr. Reginald Stanley, said the figure represents 49.7 per cent when pitched against the October 2011 subsidy payment of N1.3 trillion on PMS. According to him, the figure is likely to rise by the end of the year. He said: “We have also been able to shrink the size of briefcase marketers from 128 to 38. In other words, we successfully cleaned out 90 companies, while setting stringent regulatory conditions which would make it difficult for marketers to short-change the system. Our efforts have not stopped here, as we are determined to refer any matter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), should we notice any infraction.”

Mr. Stanley identified the support of the President and the vision of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, as well as the dedication and hardwork of his workers as being key to the achievements in the regulatory agency.

Luxury bus passengers escape death was, however, not seriously ORTY passengers esdamaged and none of the pasin Kano caped death last night in sengers died or were injured.

Kano when the luxury

F

bus in which they were travelling stepped on a bomb

planted by the roadside.

The Southeast-bound bus

Banking Customers’ Sur vey Survey The nation’s banking sector has evolved over the years.

Customers are pivotal to the sector’s development.

• • •

WHY DO CUSTOMERS CHOOSE THEIR BANKS? WHAT DO THEY WANT IN A BANK? WHY DO THEY STAY WITH THEIR BANKS?

Is it based on the bank’s financial performance, perception, customer’s relationship, use of technology, safety, banking ethics, confidence, accessibility, environment, credit facility?

The Nation Survey on Efficiency and Satisfactory Customers Banking Service on December 17, 2012 will answer these posers.

The report will also showcase the competitive products and services of banks and related institutions.

For enquiries, please call; Simeon on 08023254106 Email: smsebulu@yahoo.com Daniel on 08033010395, 07026272619 Email: danailemen@yahoo.com

The Joint Task Force immediately cordoned off the Zaria Road, near Court Road, where the incident happened.

There was no statement from the police last night.

‘How Toyosi was stabbed’

T

HE Central Criminal Court has heard how a 15 year-old Nigerian boy was stabbed in the heart following a row in West Dublin with ‘racist undertones’.

Twenty-six-year-old Michael Barry from Pigeon House in Ringsend has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Toyosi Shittabey in Tyrrelstown two years ago.

The jury has been told Mr Barry’s brother delivered the fatal knife blow, but Paul Barry has since died, and the accused man is the only person now facing charges

Centre to hold lecture Sat

T

HE Centre for Constitutionalism and Demilitarisation will on Saturday hold its annual democracy lecture at Osun Hall, Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja.

Prof. Tim Shaw will speak on Africa Agency versus dependency: from fragile to development states on the 21st century.

A renowned essayist, Prof.

Adebayo Williams, will chair the occasion.

INITIATIVE

ROADS

SKILLS

Uduaghan hailed over council appointments

Wada to link rural communities

Obi’s wife inspires women to farm

Delta

14

Kogi

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

Anambra

51

52

Page 13

Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

Ekiti mounts sanitary campaign

T

•Governor Fayemi

HE urban renewal initiative of the Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has continued apace with the introduction of a waste collection scheme to keep towns and cities clean.

Refuse trucks have been deployed to collect waste from houses, a development that has been hailed as unprecedented in history of the 16-year-old state.

Heaps of garbage which once took over sections of the capital, Ado-Ekiti, have vanished, replaced with an alluring clean ambience.

The containers now serve the

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

residents who previously reduced the major streets and roadsides to dumpsites.

While the practice constituted a major health hazard to the residents themselves over the years, heaps of assorted garbage at various stages of decay, emitted offensive odour, posing a great challenge both to aesthetics and environmental sanity.

Thankfully, the trend has changed both in Ado and Ikere

which have been receiving prime attention for reasons of their population, spread and being comparatively major centres of governance, commerce and learning.

Branded compactor trucks have been procured and mobilised to join in evacuating the waste. Other trucks have also joined in removing and replacing the ones in containers placed at road junctions and other designated spots.

According to the chairman, Ekiti State Waste Management Authority, Hon. Adebayo

H

ELP has come for rural women in Plateau State who were traumatised by violence.

A non-governmental organisation, Development in Nigeria (DIN), is helping to rehabilitate poor, rural dwellers in the state after the series of violence left them shattered.

The NGO is training them in remote villages, equipping them with skills that will take them out of their trauma, poverty and hopelessness.

The state has more of its population in the rural areas, with its poverty profile put at 70% and mostly among the rural poor.

The Jonah Jang administration has concentrated its development agenda in the rural areas for obvious reasons but even at that, its efforts seem to be a drop in the ocean due to intensity and spread of the poverty scourge.

This poverty profile was accentuated by sectarian, ethnic and religious crises which have lasted over a decade. As the violence lasted, residential houses, business premises, farmlands and farm produce have been destroyed to further impoverish the population.

Plateau people particularly the vulnerable groups like women and children have become virtual refugees in their own land and nation. The common features in these crises-ridden communities are widows, widowers, ophans, people without hands or limbs.

To worsen matters, NGOs which would have helped, stay away fearing for their safety.

DIN is different. The organisation owned by a British woman Caroline Ifeka, moved in to help no minding security realities.

The NGO, established in Nigeria in 1996, opted to help the traumatised women by giving them somethin g to do.

Mrs Ifeka developed interest in uplifting rural women in Nigeria having studied closely the poverty challenges facing them, drawing from her experience of over 50 years marriage to a Nigerian from Enugu State.

Though the NGO is based in Calabar, the impact of its programme is being felt in northern parts of the country particularly in

•Some of the rural women in a session with the NGO (Inset: Caroline Ifeka)

Succour for trauma victims in Plateau

NGO provides skills for rural women

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

Bauchi, Kaduna, Katsina and Plateau states where it has worked with rural women far removed from basic social amenities.

Director of the NGO, Mrs Ifeka who is currently working with women in Rahol Mazat, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Plateau State, said

the mission of the NGO is to change the poverty profile of rural women by offering them a means of livelihood. She said the The NGO is currently working in Cross River, Bauchi, Kaduna, Katsina and Plateau where it is engaging the rural poor in participatory ways.

She said, “We are beginning our programme with women realising the fact that they bear a very heavy

burden in poor societies and are the vulnerable group in conflict situations. So we get women empowered through vocational training, skill acquisition, computer literacy with special focus on e-learning and e-mailing.

“By so doing we try to raise our target from poverty level by helping them to establish small-scale business that is basically subsistence

Morakinyo, house-to-house collection started in February mainly in Ado and Ikere to halt the trend of indiscriminate dumping of rubbish by residents.

He explained that the state has engaged three private sector participants (PSPs) for the exercise which he said is being limited to Ado and Ikere for now, adding that additional three PSPs have also been contracted.

Disclosing that five PSPs, •Continued on Page 52 to families. Since majority of the rural communities here are mostly farmers including men, women and youths, we have a programme on agriculture.

“DIN is unique, participatory and has a low-cost approach to reducing conflict and poverty in a multi-religious and ethnic community. For example, Rahol Mazat village, is highly replicable.

That is, next year women and youth living in Rahol Mazat will go out to neighboring villages, carry out specific trainings of cooperatives while the NGO, working with the LGA Agricultural Extension Services, provides technical and logistical support.

The secret of successful replication is to commence Training of the Trainers (TOTs) at the project’s outset. For example, DIN farmer field school women’s groups (maximum 10 women per group) elect two women per group to be trained by an experienced TOT. Within a year women, youth and elders may be ready to establish a democratically elected, gender balanced Community Development Committee that will plan and implement replication in two-three neighboring villages.

“Another secret of successful replication is that participants make money through the process. Rahol Mazat is developing its own seed bank of locally prized and government approved certified seeds : women and youth groups sell their own quality maize, Irish potato and pepe seed to farmers and in local markets as well as training women in other villages in neighbouring LGAs how to develop their own seed banks.

“Encouraging seed sovereignty helps maintain local bio-diversity, species richness and a range of resources protecting families against total crop failure and destitution in hazardous, often conflicted environments.

“In DIN’s experience the only long term strategy for reducing violence and poverty in rural areas is replicable practical action for job creation and income growth, backed by literacy, gender balanced development planning and small-scale agro-industrial processing.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

14

NDE trains vulnerable groups

T •Governor Nyako

HE National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Adamawa State has begun a special vocational training for the vulnerable groups.

The state Coordinator of NDE, Malam Aliyu Abubakar, made this known in an interview with journalists in Yola.

Abubakar said that the programmes would be for three months and 50 of such groups of persons would benefit from it.

He listed the categories of beneficiaries to include the physically challenged, unskilled and semi-skilled youths, persons living with HIV

Community bemoans lack of health centre T

HE traditional leader of Galadimawa Community in the Federal Capital Territory,Alhaji Musa Barde, has decried the lack of health centre in the area, which had made it difficult for residents to access healthcare.

Barde told journalists in Abuja that the community was feeling neglected as it lacked basic healthcare needs like a health centre.

“Presently, we don’t have health centre here as you can see the village is an ancient village, it has history, very long history like every other village in Abuja.

“But the only problem we are facing is that of healthcare, we have been trying to persuade the authority of FCT on how the community can be integrated into the healthcare system of the territory for people to benefit,’’ he said.

Barde said that people from the area had tried unsuccessfully to convince Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) to assist the community with a health centre.

“If you take a look, the population in the

Abuja

village will require that we have a health centre, because if we don’t, it will affect the community.

“Anytime someone was sick, particularly women that normally go for antenatal or time to deliver babies, residents find it difficult to access healthcare because the hospitals are far from here,” he said.

Barde lamented that the residents had to take their family members all the way from the village to Wuse or Maitama hospitals.

“And if it is possible to have one close to us here, I think it will help us a lot,” he said.

He said that the issue of poverty had also been a factor, adding that someone with small income or small business, with no health support would not be comfortable.

Wada to link rural communities

Adamawa and AIDS, commercial sex workers, widows and orphans.

He said the objective of the training was to empower these set of people with marketable skills that would help them become self-employed, self-reliant and possibly employers of labour.

The coordinator pointed out that the trainees were being trained in five trades comprising shoe making and leather works, beads making, liquid soap production, baking/confectionery and air freshener production.

“The specific thing about this training is that it removes disillusionment among this group of people with special needs and will give them a sense of self-worth and self-confidence through provision of marketable skills.

“It will also reduce their dependency on other people thereby reducing poverty,’’ Abubakar said.

He explained that the trainees were entitled to transport allowance during the training and that NDE would resettle some of them after the training.

Abubakar urged other stakeholders and collaborating partners like the state, and local governments and NGOs to also intervene to complement the directorate’s efforts in combating poverty in the state.

OGI State Governor Idris Wada has approved the construction of 40-kilometre Ejule-Achokpa-Idah road to link rural communities in Ofu and Igalamela/Odolu Local Government Areas of the state.

He gave the approval at Apata in Igalamela/ Odolu Local Government Area while inaugurating two blocks of three classrooms constructed by the state government for Ihiame-ApataAjodawn Community Secondary School.

He also approved the sinking of a borehole at Alla-Ejima to address the perennial water scarcity in the area and promised to build staff quarters and deploy more academic staff to the school.

Wada reiterated the state government’s commitment “to the emancipation of our poor and down trodden people from the doldrums of poverty, ignorance and disease, to the heights of empowerment and well-being.’’

He described the school building project as a

K

• From left: Senior Special Assistant to Lagos State Governor on Christian Religion, Rev Akitoye Braimoh, Lagos Central Senatorial District, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, National and International Coordinator, Christian Pentecostal Mission lnt'l, (CPM), Rev (Mrs.) Mercy Ezekiel and wife of the governor, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola at the National thanksgiving service at CPM headquarters,Ajao Estate, Lagos

Uduaghan hailed over council appointments

T

HE recent appointment of caretaker committees in Local Government Councils of Delta State by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has been described as a step in the right direction.

The observation was made by Isoko Posi-

tive Agenda (IPA), while commending the governor for appointing two of its members, Sam Idise and Mr Isaac Atikueke as Chairman and Secretary respectively of Isoko North Local Government Council.

In a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary, Chief MacCarthy Mukoro, IPA

Council chief praises police

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HE Chairman, Eti-Osa East Local Council Development Area, Alhaji Owolabi Yisa, has praised men and officers of the Nigeria Police Force for their efforts in combating crimes.

Yisa spoke while presenting patrol vans to the Divisional Police Officers within the council.

He said: “Our local council has been privileged to have competent and diligent DPOs who are passionate about their job. Our council area is crime and violent-free because the men of the police force within the area are highly committed to their duties.”

He assured them of his continuous support and partnership to ensure a crime-free society.

Yisa pleaded with the traditional rulers, community development associations, estate residents associations, religious heads and residents, who were present at the occasion, to be security conscious. He urged them to always inform the Police of any suspicious character in their area.

The Divisional Police Officer of Langbasa Police Station, S.P Odutona, thanked the chairman for the donation. He attested to the passion and commitment of the council chairman towards ensuring a crime-free and peaceful society.

The Baale of Badore town, Chief Olatunji Jikoji, was full of praises for the council chairman for his performance. He implored the DPOs to continue with their good and effective policing of the council area.

Briefly Church holds service The Redeemed Christian Church of God Miracle Centre, will hold its December edition of Jacob Service on Wednesday, December 26 at 6pm. It is billed for RCCG Miracle Centre auditorium along 19, Bello Folawiyo Crescent off Ikosi Road, Behind Mr. Biggs in Ikosi/Isheri LCDA of Lagos State. Theme is Ceaseless Praise.

Speaking on the programme, the host, Pastor A.D. Doherty said this last edition of the programme will provide unlimited joy, promotion, divine connection, breakthrough, fulfilment and testimony.

He added that: “Everyone who attends will be empowered spiritually and financially as the year 2013 will be filled with supernatural blessings. Those expected to attend include, Perfected Praise Team, Zonal Mass Choir, among others.

•Alhaji Yisa presenting two patrol vans to DPO Langbasa and Ogombo division

•From left: Alhaja Omowunmi Sanani, Mr. Ogunlolu and Gabriel Orororo former president of the society at the event.

Delta also praised the governor for re-appointing Architect Joseph Ogeh as Commissioner representing the Isoko nation on the board of Delta State Oil Producing and Development Commission (DESOPADEC).

“We are elated that IPA has become a grooming ground for political appointments. It is an index that the members of the group have comported themselves in working to see that only the best is good for Delta State.”

While congratulating the appointees, IPA advised them to see their appointment as a call to service, and they should strive to bring development to the door step of Isoko people, pointing out that they should justify the confidence reposed in them.

The group recalled that the governor in recognition of the important role played

by IPA, humbled it last year with the appointment of one its members, the pioneer Speaker of Delta State, Hon. Emmanuel Okoro as Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Legislative Matters.

Society rewards members at golden jubilee anniversary

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HE president of Lagos Local Governments Co-operative Multipurpose Society Ltd, Mr Wole Ogunlolu, has stressed the need to invest in human development in order to overcome socio-economic challenges.

Addressing reporters in Lagos during the 50th anniversary of the society, Ogunlolu stressed that members’ welfare was central to its activities in the past years till date. This, according to him, had enabled members weather the storm in turbulent moments.

The society which had 32 members at inception now has 12,000 in its subscription. This, he attributed to commitment and dedicated leadership,making sacrifice a principle. To a large extent,this has made the society live above board.

He said: “ Good leadership in the society has ensured transparency. We allow the interest of members to be paramount in whatever we do.”

Ogunlolu further explained that the society ensured prompt payment of their dues because they draw their salaries from the state government.

He remarked that those who were not in government employment also participated in the society through whahe called Target Savings Accounts. “The society is not restricted to local government workers alone, we operate an account for interested members of the public which enables them enjoy some benefits.”

He said: “Through loan facilities granted, members engage in proftable ventures and find the repayment terms very convenient. This is done to complement government’s programme in providing accommodation for its teeming population.”

Reviewing the scorecard of the society, the president said the organisation had put in place

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By Musa Odoshimokhe

Stephen Olurebi Co-operative House, Sir Gabriel Orororo Multipurpose Hall/Event Centre, acquired four plots of land along Association Avenue and procured two storey building on Bolaji Bank Anthony.

The society would honour deserving members who had served the organisation, while those who had died would get posthumous awards. “The high point of the anniversary will be raffle draw which make some members go home with high fabulous prizes.”

Winner gets N2m at arts competition

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HINEYE Emelogun has emerged the winner of the Fifth annual National Art Competition with a cash prize of N2 million on her art work Human Beehive. It was organised by African Art Foundation in collaboration with Nigeria Breweries.The event was held at the Civil Centre, Victoria-Island in Lagos.

Alafuro Sikoki came second and Omoligo Obadimu came third on his works Oil, tears and Blood with the N1 million cash award each.

Speaking on the occasion, Emelogun,a trained ceramist,who said she was inspired by a documentary on beehive and their way of life said: “although, in Nigeria, we have internal and external tension, I believe that we will still come to an ideal society” Emelogun noted that the art work took her time, energy and resources . “I was seeing beyond this competition which spurred me to give my very best with this work which I believe will still win more local and international competition”.

The competition began with a conventional format where artists submitted already completed works for consideration. Artists were asked to submit a proposal for an unrealised work, one where the conceptual threads of their artistic message were emphasised and articulated.

By Adeola Ogunlade

After shortlisting 12 finalists, the artists were invited to partake in an art retreat, where they had the opportunity to flesh out their ideas in workshops facilitated by leading Nigerians artists.

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HE Emir of Kaiama in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State , Alhaji Shehu Bagidi, has urged Nigerians in positions of authority to always contribute their quotas to the development of their communities.

The monarch made the call while speaking at the turbanning of some indigenes of the area in Kaiama.

The royal father noted that no government no matter how benevolent could singlehandedly cater for all the needs of its citizens.

He called on wealthy Nigerians and those occupying political offices to always complement government efforts towards improving the wellbeing of the people.

Bagidi urged the four recipients of the traditional titles not to relent in contributing their quotas to the Kaima community.

The state Commissioner for Local Govern-

Kogi practical step toward actualising the transformation agenda of his administration, saying it was in fulfillment of an earlier promise he made to the community.

Wada praised the state’s Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA) for the efficient handling of the project and called for collective and participatory approach to development issues.

He said that the state government had paid the oustanding N200 million state counterpart contributions to World Bank Community Development Donor Fund to encourage the CSDA. The General Manager of the agency, Mr James Odiba, also commended the governor for what he described as “positive changes to the lives of the poor and neglected in our communities.’’

Earlier, the Liaison Officer 1 for the Local

ment and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Issa Bawa, who spoke on behalf of other recipients, thanked the emir for honouring them.

The awardees are former commissioners, former council chairmen and business mo-

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HE CHAIRMAN of Oto-Awori Local Council Development Area Hon. Kayode Robert, has been praised for his efforts in raising the standard of life and infrastructure in the council.

The Chief Executive Officer, Podium Industries, Lagos, Chief Pascal Duru, said the council chief had accelerated growth in the area especially in education, welfare and

He spoke at a forum jointly organised by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and Administrative College on Nigeria (ASCON), at a workshop held at ASCON, Topo, Badagry, Lagos.

Ajibade, who spoke at the pre-retirement

Group holds workshop THE Lagos State Chapter of the National Community Policing Campaign (NCPC), and the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Renewal Ministry will be holding a sensitisation workshop for communities in Lagos on December 7 at 10 am at the Army Resettlement Centre, Oshodi.

In a statement, the Deputy National, NCPC’s Director of Operations, Fidelis Onyekwelu, said the topic of the seminar: Crime prevention: the eye of the people, your responsibility National community policing campaign.

Among the dignitaries expected are Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and Oba of Lagos Rilwan Akiolu.

National Co-ordinator of the group, Chief Kingsley Ubah and AIG Zone 2 are some of the guest speakers at the event.

guls.

The event attracted eminent sons and daughters of the area from within and outside the state and people from all walks of life.

Local govt chief commended

‘Pension reform ’ll ensure better life’

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Government, Malam Zakari Umar, had said that the governor had addressed the education needs of the people and commended his determination to turn around the education sector.

Emir urges selfless service

• From left: Chairman, Somolu Local Government Area, Gbolahan Bago-Stowe (middle), Hon. Bola Adetona, Leader of the House (left), Divisional Police Officer, Alade Police Station, Mr. Busari Okunlola (second left), Divisional Police Officer, Onipanu Police Station, Mr. Ward Ogbu (second right), and Council Manager, Mrs Kehinde Babatunde at the presentation of patrol vans to the police

HE Director General, Administrative College of Nigeria, Mr. Ajibade Peters has stressed the need for civil servants to take full advantage of the Pension Reform, sa’ying that its provision would guarantee better life in retirement.

• Wada

• Chairman, Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Hon. Bolaji Muse-Ariyoh (second right) assisted Fedex Red Star Managing Director Mr. Sule Bichi to present cheque to one of the beneficiaries of the Red Star Foundation Scholarship Award in Lagos.

infrastructure.

Duru said: “The administration has focused positively on the lives of the people, taking giant strides in areas of granting scholarships, bursary awards to indigent students and distribution of free exercise books, healthcare facilities, security, poverty alleviation and employment. These and many other remarkable projects are instances of Hon Robert’s contribution to the development of Oto-Awori LCDA and its people.”

The industrialist said Robert has raised the council’s health profile, building primary health centres in Imude and Oke IjewuJakande communities.

In education, he said the administration had helped to give pupils better learning environment by rehabilitating and equipping schools. Also, three modern primary schools were built where none previously existed, which inspired more enrolment of children.

“The superlative performance of the man popularly called Bibiire is a perfect example of the kind of leadership we are talking about when it comes to rural and urban development,” Duru said.

“The distribution of poverty alleviation materials including grinding machines, generators and freezers is not a mere public show but an outstanding display of Bolaji Kayode Robert’s economic policy.”

The industrialist also praised Robert for building a four-storey Council Complex which accommodates 56 offices including a banking hall. training workshop for officers of the Federal Civil Service at ASCON, Badagry, said that the 2004 Pension Reform Act was a “landmark” by the Federal Government to reduce drudgery and other challenges associated with the old pension regime. And he urged all federal civil servants to key into the new pension exercise so as to make life more meaningful during retirement.

He said the programme was designed to assist the retiring officers to plan meaningfully for life after retirement saying, “Today’s retirees have redefined retirement and are often found active in variety of areas after leaving a career of many years. Indeed, some are known to have even pursued some other part-time or full-time employment,” he said.

He urged the retirees not to be dreadful of retirement, but to begin to take active interest in their environment, and their physical and mental health. Retirement can be a good means of reducing stress; the period of retirement offers the much-needed free time to serve one’s community, religious bodies and render some philanthropic activities where possible,” he said.

The ASCON DG, however, lauded the vision of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Isa Bello Sali for organising the programme, describing it as worthwhile.

He added that Sali’s office has carefully enunciated the programme to assist participants in preparing a business plan and managing small businesses profitably.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

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COMMENTARY EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

EDITORIALS

Mr. Cuomo’s next big task

Reign of anarchy •Auchi robberies show police still have a long way to catch up with bandits

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OR three hours that seemed interminable, residents of Auchi in Edo State last week had a taste of hell as an army of robbers terrorised the town in a shocking operation carried out with bullets, dynamites and bombs.

Reports said the bandits incredibly numbered over 100 and rode on motorcycles and buses, leaving a trail of death and destruction. In the reign of anarchy, 15 people were killed, four banks robbed, and a police station vandalised. The quarters of soldiers attached to the state’s security outfit, Operation Thunderstorm, also came under attack. The scale of the violence prompted Mr Rasaq Momoh, the lawmaker representing Etsako West II in the state House of Assembly, to describe the incident as a “terrorist attack.”

An unsettling aspect of the Auchi raid is the reported size of the group of bandits involved, which should draw attention to the state of the nation, with high unemployment figures and widespread poverty constituting a huge threat to social security. We recall that a similar crime happened in Lagos recently when a gang of violent robbers seized the streets of the city for several hours in what was tagged “Bloody Sunday.”

From the evidence, despite the use of terror tactics, the Auchi incident was actually an attack by the robbers on some banks, GTB, Access Bank, First Bank and Ecobank, where they left in their wake shattered windows and doors, smashed ATM machines and broken walls, and got away with money. Their greed was evident in an opportunistic move, as they

even stole from a female road-side trader, Iyabo Omon, who said, “They took the chickens and other items I displayed for sale.”

Clearly, the police were caught napping when the bandits struck, which is both unbelievable and inexplicable. It was a massive minus that the robbery attack took the police by surprise, showing that they were ill-prepared for such a raid.

How can the police force explain that within the period the siege lasted, paralysing the entire town, its men failed to come up with any resistance? If anything, the daring bombing of the Auchi Police Station by the brigands showed a helpless force, as reports said many of the policemen fled in the face of superior firepower.

If the police appeared unpardonably weak in the circumstances, the inaction of the state’s special security unit was no less intolerable. It was to be expected that where the police were vulnerable and handicapped, the men of Operation Thunderstorm would be equal to the challenge. Of what function then is this security outfit, if it could not confront the daredevils in what was, to all intents and purposes, an emergency? The fact that the robbers were audacious enough to take their attack to the outfit’s command quarters without serious reprisals defeated its security essence.

One curious but incontestable reality discernible from the security challenge is that criminals are in possession of very sophisticated modern weapons; they, therefore, tend to have an advantage over the police in a shoot-out. It is baffling that

the government has allowed criminals to outclass the law enforcement agency in this crucial area, with the ridiculous result that policemen have been known to take to their heels in encounters with robbers, as was the case in Auchi. It deserves to be noted that the Edo State Deputy Governor, Pius Odubu, highlighted this disturbing deficiency on the part of the police when he visited the scenes of the crime and urged the police to upgrade the quality of their arms.

No doubt, the government is expected to pay more than lip service to this requirement and equip the police with effective weapons to maintain law and order in the society. The police should be given all it takes to combat crime in this day and age.

‘One curious but incontestable reality discernible from the security challenge is that criminals are in possession of very sophisticated modern weapons; they, therefore, tend to have an advantage over the police in a shoot-out. It is baffling that the government has allowed criminals to outclass the law enforcement agency in this crucial area, with the ridiculous result that policemen have been known to take to their heels in encounters with robbers, as was the case in Auchi’

HIV-AIDS alarm

• That one million Nigerians living with HIV cannot access drugs should worry everyone

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HAT 1.5 million Nigerians are medically certified to live with HIV and about one million of this number (two-thirds) do not have access to antiretroviral drugs, should worry the Goodluck Jonathan presidency. It should worry it enough to crank up its HIV-AIDS policy.

Prof. John Idoko, director-general of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), made this disclosure in his 2012 Pre-World AIDS Day media briefing.

The NACA chief said though Nigeria in the past three years had received US $151.6 million under Phase 1 of the Global Fund HIV grant and another US $228 million from the Global Fund Phase 2, for 2013-2015, the result is still a two-third

‘People living with HIV, all over the world, have been known to live normal lives, so long as they keep to good nutrition; and the strict regimen of the prescribed retroviral drugs.

Without access to the drugs, therefore, the Nigerian HIV-AIDS community would appear doomed.

That would be a developmental disaster that should not even be contemplated’

shortfall in the drug need of the patients infected. Aside, from the Global Fund, the Department of International Aid (BFID) of the British government has also made available a grant of N40 million to facilitate the National Call Centre for HIV, beside a four-year World Bank credit of US $225 million, approved for Nigeria in 2011.

The sheer prognosis of this dire situation is that a good number of the affected could develop AIDS (acquired immunedeficiency syndrome, which knocks out the body’s disease-defence system) and, as a result, die avoidable deaths - avoidable deaths because HIV need not lead to AIDS, if well managed. People living with HIV, all over the world, have been known to live normal lives, so long as they keep to good nutrition; and the strict regimen of the prescribed antiretroviral drugs.

Without access to the drugs, therefore, the Nigerian HIV-AIDS community would appear doomed. That would be a developmental disaster that should not even be contemplated.

Despite the drug access shortfall, however, it has not been total bad news. According to the NACA chief, HIV testing facilities are increasing in the country, with a target of testing the HIV status of 20 million to 24 million Nigerians yearly.

But even if patients’ HIV-AIDS status is known, what is the good if there is not enough access to drugs?

From the high points of the Olusegun Obasanjo years, when anti-HIV-AIDS campaign received the highest presidential attention, the campaign appears to be

flagging. That presidential activism on HIV-AIDS cleared the initial misconception that HIV was an automatic death sentence. It also changed the even greater misconception that it was a personal health crisis, instead of a mass developmental problem that it is.

This it did through mass enlightenment, which not only tackled the taboo surrounding the HIV infection, but also attacked the stigma and discrimination that made family members and communities of those living with HIV to shun them out of fear and loathing, so much so that quite a good number of citizens living with HIV were encouraged to go open on their status, and receive treatment to manage their health.

Unfortunately however, things are flagging. The question is why? Is it campaign fatigue? Or corruption as many have alleged, for in truth, some HIVAIDS non-governmental organisations have been accused of misappropriating donor funds?

Whatever it is, an urgent presidential intervention is called for - and President Jonathan must rise to the occasion. But that does not necessarily entail throwing money at the problem. NACA must be further primed to push out more antiHIV/AIDS enlightenment to put the campaign back to the front burner; and effective measures must be put in place to plug loopholes and checkmate corruption.

It is absolutely unacceptable that twothirds of Nigeria’s HIV-AIDS population have no access to antiretroviral drugs. That is tantamount to bating an avoidable developmental disaster.

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ERE’S one way Gov. Andrew Cuomo can match the acclaim he achieved by getting same-sex marriage approved in New York State: persuade the State Legislature to make New York’s system of electing legislators the fairest and most transparent in the country.

Such a system should include a public financing mechanism modeled on New York City’s successful efforts to involve small donors with matching contributions. It would set sensible limits on individual and corporate contributions. It would close loopholes. It would be transparent and strictly enforced. By setting a national standard for public financing, New York State could go from laggard to leader.

The way campaign funds are raised in this state now is scandalous. The restrictions are weak and the enforcement virtually nonexistent. A special interest donor can give any amount — millions of dollars even — to a political party by labeling it for “housekeeping” use. State legislators, especially the leaders of committees, too often get their biggest checks from those who do business with their committees. And they can use their campaign treasuries for almost anything, including country club memberships and personal legal fees —even veterinarian bills for the office cat.

In favoring big contributors, the current system pushes small donors out of the political process. The simplest way to change the system is to emulate New York City. For almost a quarter of a century, the city has succeeded in matching small donations with public funds, now providing $6 for every $1. The matches stop at $175.

The city also exercises rigorous oversight and imposes strict rules, including bans on corporate donations, limits on donations from people with business before the city and debate requirements for citywide candidates. Candidates who abuse the system are subject to fines and other penalties. By encouraging small donations and more political participation from ordinary citizens, the city makes it possible for more candidates to run for office. A recent study by the Campaign Finance Institute found that about 7 percent of contributors to state campaigns gave under $250, compared with 38 percent of city contributors to participating candidates. The city’s Campaign Finance Board also determined that a majority of those contributing to candidates in the city’s 2009 elections were first-time contributors, more than 80 percent of whom gave less than $175.

Powerful business coalitions are signing on to the idea of replicating the city’s system on a statewide basis, using focus groups, preparing advertising campaigns and planning individual pitches to lawmakers. One of these is Protect Our Democracy, led by Sean Eldridge, a venture capitalist and political activist. Traditional public interest organizations like the Brennan Center for Justice and Common Cause are also gearing up for a full-fledged campaign on this issue beginning next year.

Mr. Cuomo and his administration are working right now on his State of the State address to present his goals for 2013. This year’s big proposal turned out to be something of a bust: a hastily concocted plan to create a casino in Queens, an idea that he dropped several months later. He also proposed a commendable campaign-finance reform plan that went nowhere.

This time, he should use his considerable political influence to make it happen, changing the money culture in Albany and providing a model for the rest of the country.

– New York Times

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

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

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CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in his latest blistering public criticism of the Federal Government, said President Goodluck Jonathan’s response to the Boko Haram insurgency was slow. This is, no doubt, arguable. He spoke in Warri as the moderator of a public lecture by former External Affairs Minister, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, in honour of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, who was marking his 40th anniversary as a pastor. He seemed to have chosen theright forum to express his concern over a scourge that has become a national security problem, but his position was defective. The former president reportedly accused his successors of allowing the Boko Haram insurgency to fester. But Obasanjo retains the unenviable record as being the only former Nigerian leader (apart from General Muhammadu Buhari who is understandably an oppositional presidential candidate) who relishes open castigationof the seeming actions or inactions of the government of the day. The impression Obasanjo creates about himself is that he is not happy to see the other man in the leadership saddle. This tends to confirm the views in certain quarters that he has the penchant to destroy people than to build them. At a point, he donned the garb of a conciliator by going to Maiduguri amid the escalating Boko Haram insurgency to seek to broker a truce. He claimed to have obtained the permission of President Goodluck Jonathan before embarking on the enterprise. At the end of the day, the move turned awry when his host in Maiduguri with whom he sought to kick-start the process of reconciliation, was killed about three days after he (Obasanjo) left the town. But today, it is convenient for Obasanjo to wrongly accuse Jonathan of slowness in responding to the Boko Haram insurgency simply because he wants to portray the current administration as weak and incompetent. It is also game for Obasanjo to stomp on the Jonathan presidency just because he was instrumental to the political arrangement that threw up the Umaru Yar’Adua-Jonathan presidential ticket in 2007.

The truth, however, is that Obasanjo cannot approbate and reprobate at the same time on the same

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Obasanjo’s recipe for Boko Haram is inhuman issue as he has tended to do in the Boko Haram case. Here is a man who went to Maiduguri purportedly on a reconciliation mission now turning round to recommend the Odi treatment for the town of Maiduguri and perhaps other towns in the North just to nip the Boko Haram insurgency in the bud.

He would have loved to see Jonathan deploy soldiers to the flashpoints to level the places - annihilate the innocent and the ‘criminals’ in a military action. To Obasanjo, this is pro-activeness.

This is how to show that the Federal Government or the President is not weak. This approach does not accommodate rationality that is grounded on humanity: how can you commit genocide because you want to take out some criminals? While reflecting on the crisis at Odi, Obasanjo had said at the Warri forum: “I attended to a problem that I saw; I sent soldiers. They were killed, 19 of them (were) decapitated. If I had allowed that to continue, I would not have the authority to send security anywhere again. I attended to it….

If you say you do not want a strong leader, who can have all the characteristics of a leader, including the fear of God, then, you have a weak leader and the rest of the problem is yours.”

Obasanjo claims Jonathan’s response is slow. He also claims that his successor, the late Yar’Adua, was soft on corruption; but I ask: when he (Obasanjo) became president and inherited the problem of militancy in the Niger Delta region, what did he do very quickly to end the scourge? Was it not the late

Yar’Adua who ended it with his famous Amnesty deal?

Indeed, on both scores, Boko Haram and corruption, Obasanjo has been unfair to his successors. It is in his character to be so disposed; only that I am surprised that he is behaving as if he has fallen out of favour with the government he helped to enthrone. But then by recommending the Odi recipe for the Boko Haram insurgents, Obasanjo has succeeded in showing to the world the inhumanity and irrationality of his presidency. He cannot in a self-ignited frenzy railroad a cruel recipe on Jonathan; and, as far as I am concerned, the president’s systematic and multi-faceted approach at tackling the Boko Haram insurgency, which factors in the innocent civilian population, is the best in the circumstance and should therefore be sustained.

• Callistus Omoregie, Benin City, Edo State.

We need to embrace humanism in Africa

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IR: it was Ghana’s first President, Kwame Nkrumah, who once said: “Fear created the gods, and fear preserves them, fear in bygone ages of wars, pestilence, earthquakes and nature gone berserk, fear of acts of God, fear today of the equally blind forces of backwardness and rapacious capital.”

Sadly, this saying was true of Africa of Nkrumah days and true of Africaof today. Millions of Africans are suffering and dying due to fear and ignorance. Many people across region are languishing under the tyranny of objects and schemes created by fear-fear of the unknown and of their own mortality. And this underscores the imperative of humanism; the urgent need for an outlook based on reason and compassion. Africaneeds humanism to realize its potentials.

And here are some ways humanists can help Africans fulfill this need.

Humanists can help Africans by providing a place and a space where they can think freely without the fear of god or fear of acts of god.

A freethinking climate is necessary if we must generate ideas we need to recreate and renew our society.

Humanists can help African children and youths by campaigning for the improvement of education and for the inculcation of thinking skills which they need to live meaning-

fully in the contemporary world.

Humanists can help the women and girls, the elderly and disabled persons in the continent by being their voice, and speaking out for them and ensuring that they are treated as human beings; that they are not targeted and abused for who they are, branded as witches and killed. Humanists can also be the voice of gay people in the region by speaking out for their dignity, humanity and equal rights. Humanists need to counteract the wave of homophobia sweeping across the region. Many Africans look up to humanist oriented individuals to help enlighten and liberate the people from faithbased organizations and institutions that terrorize and tyrannize over their lives; fanatical groups that spread unreason, fears and prejudice. Many people across the world are looking up to humanists to help wake Africans up from their dogmatic and superstitious slumber.

The international community is looking up to humanists to work and campaign to end witch hunting and erase this stain on the conscience of our generation.

Humanists need to take action to combat the exploitation by fear mongering god men and women, prophets, pastors and imams, the peddlers of paranormal wares who

make fortune out of popular gullibility and desperation. Africaneeds humanists to help free the people from the bondage of superstition, fanaticism and dogma. People are looking up to humanists to work and campaign for the realization of a secular society and the enthronement of a government based on the will of the people, not the will of god or the earthly instruments.

The African continent is facing real threats from the forces of religious extremism, dogma and superstition.

These forces of Dark Age have hijacked our politics; they corrupt our democracy and hamper social change and respect for universal human rights. Most of Africa’s democracies are de facto theocraciestraditional religious, Christian, Islamic and Chrislamic theocracies.

Today, we know that democracy can sometimes be used to deny the rights of minorities or justify harmful traditional practices. We know that the fears that are crippling Africaare not only the fear of the acts of god but more the fear of those acting in the name of god - the priests, pastors, prophets, imams, sangomas, witch doctors that confuse, manipulate and exploit gullible ignorant folks. The witch hunters, the jihadists and ‘crusaders’, in Mali, Nigeria, Uganda, Sudan,

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Egypt, Kenya, Somalia, Algeria and in other places who kill and maim or incite people to kill, maim and abuse in the name of their god or the supernatural.

In Africa, humanism can be a force for peace, freedom and emancipation.

In many parts of the continent, many societies are at war due to religious bigotry; many people live in a war or slavish situation due to irrationalism and superstition. Tradition often trumps human rights; nonsense trumps common sense in countries across the region. Religion and superstition based violence is ravaging many communities leaving death, darkness and destruction in its wake.

And it is left for humanist and freethinking individuals and groups to promote and deliver the peace dividends - the emancipatory and enlightenment capital of humanism.

To this end, let us heed those wise words of Nkrumah and take action for humanism and rationalism by providing the much needed space where ‘the cluster of humanist principles which underlie the traditional African society’ can be harnessed and nurtured to further the cause of African renaissance and enlightenment.

• Leo Igwe Founder, Nigerian Humanist Movement.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

COMMENTS

Talk without tactics; Judicial Performance Record; Emergency electric power; Split road contracts into 10

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OAD officials nationwide should operate 7am to 9pm even on Sundays at every jammed junction.

Warning about newspaper articles: ‘Agreement without

Tony Marinho

action’, ‘words without work’ and ‘talk without tactics’ are worthless. Those who love Nigeria must take action –like NGOs on the ‘First $12.5b Gulf Oil Windfall’ where their court case was thrown out perhaps for lack of jurisdiction or time lapse or even that the NGOs ‘lack authority to represent the people’. But has the money expired? Has a NGO no right to enquire about the common wealth? More NGOS should follow this lead. Unfortunately the government lawyer relished the moment publically but the moral shoe is on the other foot.

Millions of Nigerians wept watching him boasting as yet another opportunity to expose the truth was thwarted ‘legally’. The war against corruption has not started. Judges know they could die without being remembered for ‘moral judgements’ unlike UK’s Lord Denning and Nigeria’s Justice Kayode Eso. Eventually the judiciary must learn courage or face ridicule and ‘watchdog’ judicial enquiry. In fact a compulsory monthly updated computer-based ‘Magistrates and Judges Performance Record’ for evidence-based keeping track of ‘sick leaves’, injunctions, adjournments, no shows, wrong jurisdiction courts and technicalities, adjournments, case length, judgements and reversals on Appeal should be created by the Judicial Council or NGOS. Such a performance record will paradoxically help protect judges from corruption pressure.

Is it not amazing that from infamous Pol Pot to Pinochet to today, the excuse of ‘sickness’ ridicules the judicial process as an excuse for ‘alternative’ incarceration in VIP hospital or hotel instead of a prison cell? Their dead and murdered victims had no ‘sick-off’ to avoid execution.

Nigeria should be in a hurry to right the wrongs of decades of incompetent rulership. The pain of a pothole is when it is filled and you remember the needless suffering from rubbish

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road works. The pain of electricity powerlessness is when you visit those with 24 hour power and discover they are black like you and do not have two heads or a generator at home, office and everywhere.

Job creation means work in building the 14,000,000 Nigerian homes. Japan replaced all power losses from its shutdown nuclear plant within 3 months using known international emergency electricity companies. Japanese did not starve of power while awaiting a new power station. Nigeria’s multibillion budget for publically funded generators, fuel and maintenance charges could be better spent on cheaper, large scale, emergency power pending ‘the final solution to power problems’ –the IPPs. So let us remove generators, fuel and maintenance items, except for hospitals, from all government budgets, offices and homes from the presidency, politicians and public officials and PHCN staff. If we do this from Jan 1st 2013 power will ‘flow’. Power is an emergency and a right, not a dividend of democracy. To put our 100,000MW pathetic political power failure in perspective, every single Nigerian from barber to baker to banker would be 10-30% better off financially if power was constant. They would be able to invest in and increase non-oil business and employment by 10-30%. Of course the petroleum billionaires would be 4050% poorer if Nigeria’s generators dry up as fuel consumption would go down. Hurray!

A 300 Level undergraduate of Political Science told me today that they have never analysed current affairs in class. It is time for curriculum change to include ‘Application of Today’s Lecture to World and Local Events’. Undergraduates in every discipline need a lecturer guided/ student space to discuss and research Nigeria’s pathetic state every day.

Potholes are filled year round in countries like Thailand with monsoon rainy season. Nigerian roads are mysteriously abandoned during ‘rainy season’ –disgracing Nigerian professionals. Nigeria must fill potholes 365 days a year and work day and night during the dry season.

Teachers should teach NASS and government an old mathematical puzzle - ‘If it takes one farmer 10 days to plough a field, how long would it take 10 farmers to do the same field? Answer ‘One day’. So why does Nigeria not divide all roads into sections of 10-20km for 5 or 10 contractors? Road mega-contracts have failed Nigeria, creating 1 or 2 billionaires

and millions of road sufferers and failed projects nationwide.

A country is not made great by billionaires but by its other classes. Multiple small contracts will produce a quick execution of contracts, healthy rivalry, competitive quotations, more happy contractor families, more spread of wealth, 10 times the employment, fewer exclusive yachts and private jets.

Governments must initiate a ‘Split Contract Policy’ of ‘Prove why the contract should not be split’.

CBN governor Sanusi’s comments about workers reduction require dispassionate thought. The origin of our recent financial problems is the excesses of the NASS ‘Salaries And Perks’ precipitating the ‘Second Nigerian SAP programme’ after Babangida’s First SAP programme. This caused a backlash of supersalary demands among other political appointees, civil servants and states and LGAs. The CBN could deliberately improve the naira at say N1/month over 4 years and bring down the 12% interbank interest rates and the 2125% bank interest rate. This would have reducing the cost of living. Nigeria is eating its own hands. To save the economy, put politicians on a sitting part-time allowance and target strategies for a naira of N120: $1 by 2015. Strengthening the naira will empower salary earners, create jobs, wealth and halve the number of Nigerians living on $1/day.

‘A 300 Level undergraduate of Political Science told me today that they have never analysed current affairs in class. It is time for curriculum change to include ‘Application of Today’s Lecture to World and Local Events’.

Undergraduates in every discipline need a lecturer guided/ student space to discuss and research Nigeria’s pathetic state every day’

This ‘Okada’ Country (2)

N the economic front, as more and more companies, factories and other workplaces go into extinction, a greater percentage of the workforce, who are daily being thrown into the unemployment market, have launched themselves into the okadabusiness a business that guarantees them instant profit and it is an all-comer’s affair. It is so because anybody can venture into the business at any time. They are emboldened because all you need is to get hold of a motorcycle and hit the road at once.

There is little or no government regulations of the business except that both the rider and passenger must wear safety or crash helmet.

There are different types of people engaged in okada business. Majority of them are disengaged labour force who have no other way to fend for themselves and their families than to be lured into the okada business to keep body and soul together.

Then there are many others who are either school dropouts, who don’t want to venture into any other thing than to mount on okada so far it will provide something for the stomach.

Yet there are others who are products of secondary schools or some tertiary institutions who have no other place or thing to do than to settle for okadaas a business. Also, you have businessmen who have ventured into okada business because it is profitable. These are investors who either bring in motorcycles in large quantities from the manufacturers abroad for sale to willing buyers or those who buy them in large quantities from local dealers and go on to assemble able bodied young boys to ride them and make

returns to them.

This last category engaged to ride okada and make returns to the owner are mostly recruited from a section of the country. In the good old days, they are ubiquitous in Ikoyi, Obalende, Victoria Island, Ikeja, Lekki, Ajah, Ogba, Agege, Ajegunle and many Lagos suburbs. Once they stay long with their ‘master’, they could move up to control some of the okada riders too. This is how cells of okada riders have multiplied and grown like mushroom all over the place.

It is true that the business is very risky, considering the fatalities often associated with any accident on okada. It is often said that the National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos, has a large ward devoted to victims of okada accidents. Even if such does not exist, it underscores the severity of injuries from okada accidents. Many able-bodied souls, men and women, children and orphans, who were either riders or their passengers, have been lost to fatal okadaaccidents. Many more have lost their limbs and legs or suffer one form of physical deficits or the other through these bikes.

Of course, the security aspect of it is there as well. For many years, okadahas become a veritable instrument used by hoodlums to perpetrate violent crimes, particularly armed robbery. The ease with which such crimes are committed while the perpetrators vanish from crime scenes without trace using okada has also raised serious security concern. Quite often, bank customers are attacked and dispossessed of their money by armed robbers who lurk around banks and

‘…Lagos deserves a special status. This is against the fact that the state has no compensation whatsoever for its microeconomic input in the country’

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other places waiting for their prey.

The statistics released by the Lagos State Police Command on the involvement of okada riders in violent crimes like robbery, kidnapping and others is staggering. It is only those who have fallen victims that can quite appreciate the enormity of danger okada constitutes to the society.

Having said all these, it is apt to note that the population of okada riders in a state like Lagos is very high.

Some say there are as many as a million okada riders in Lagos State alone. Imagine this number and the danger they pose to traffic management in the state. These are people who do not play by the rules at all.

They operate like a cult group to the extent that any infringement on any okada rider usually incurs the wrath of his colleagues who easily employ violence to settle scores.

This way, they constitute a big nuisance to the wellbeing of the society.

But considering the economic importance of okada to many families, most of who are on the brink of poverty, should we throw away the baby with the bathwater? Should the authorities outlaw the business completely in its entirety? The answer is neither here nor there. There is what could be termed ‘legitimate’ okada. These are motorcycles used for transacting corporate businesses like courier services and protocol services. Some departments of security agencies still make use of motorcycles for movement, reconnaissance, intelligence gathering or for carrying messages from one point to another.

Many private individuals also use motorcycle as their own private vehicles to take them to work and move them around.

All these‘legitimate’ okada riders, as it were, are now vulnerable to harassment and arrest by security agents, especially the police and KAI brigades who seem to have abandoned

every other thing to chase okada riders all over the place. This is why the Lagos State government should devise a way to accommodate this category of okada riders.

Therefore, however good intentioned the ban may be, it surely has adverse effect on the life and existence of those who depend solely on it to feed, clothe and pay school fees of their children and wards. This is why I think, rather than a blanket ban, as it were, the Lagos State government can bring in tricycles for distribution to any willing member of the public on installment payment plan. This can be done through the unions, local governments and other groups without any discrimination either on party, ethnic, tribal or other primordial lines. The welfare and happiness of the people should be the cardinal principle of good governance.

In addition, the state government should try as much as possible to fix the deplorable roads in the state so as to ease vehicular movements.

This will encourage those who can afford it to buy vehicles for mass transportation. No doubt, there is a dearth of commuter vehicles in Lagos State.

Similarly, strategic planners should put heads together and devise alternative means of livelihood for the masses as a way of buying them out of the dangerous okadabusiness. We cannot continue to run an Okadacountry, which we are, at the moment.

A few months ago, this column featured a piece titled: “Lagos, a State and its cross”. In it, I categorically made allusion to the fact that Lagos deserves a special status. This is against the fact that “the state has no compensation whatsoever for its microeconomic input in the country”. This appears to be the only safety valve for the state to wriggle out of the financial burden imposed on it by its status as the commercial capital of Nigeria.

Dele Agekameh In the face of the mounting state expenditure on a variety of programmes such as good transportation, adequate healthcare delivery system, appropriate security system, education and many others, it is obvious that the monthly federal allocation can no longer sustain the state. Not even the state’s internally generated revenue, IGR, can adequately make up for the financial requirement of the State. “The state’s IGR, though higher than what obtains in other states of the federation, cannot meet the demand of its yearly budget.

With a projected growth rate of six percent annually, the financial requirements of the state to sustain its enormous social services to the people, is so huge… Not even the donor agencies’ funding it receives or the multilateral loans it gets can adequately provide for its shortfall.

Moreover, the daily influx of people to the state from every hamlet in the country confers on it, the unenviable status of a state consistently in search of adequate funds to sustain its infrastructural needs.

Send reactions to: 08058354382 (SMS only)

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

22

COMMENTS ‘You can’t fight a terrorist gang without accepting the fact that you have one. Lets face reality, Boko Haram is a terrorist group. Its activities are similar to those of Al-Qaeda and Al-Shabab and others. The Nigerian Government should accept the fact that it is dealing with a terrorist organisation and act accordingly. If our intelligence and the whole security apparatus can’t handle the sect, then let our ‘rulers’ (not leaders because we don’t have any) seek help from the international community. “It’s better to appear weak and save lives than to appear strong and lose a nation.” From Opubere Samuel Apiri, Ogbia, Bayelsa State’ •Aliko Dangote

For Segun Gbadegesin An understatement, sir. We must recognise that we are at war. An unconventional war requires an unconventional approach to win.

The type of war the Israelis fight through assassinations, the Americans through their drones and the Colombians who defeated Escobar with the help of a vigilante group known as Los Pepes (people persecuted by Pablo Escobar). These people weakened his army by using the same terrorist tactics of bombings and assassinations that Escobar used. If we choose to fight any terrorist organisation successfully, we must be as merciless and relentless as they are, if not more. Anonymous You can’t fight a terrorist gang without accepting the fact that you have one. Lets face reality, Boko Haram is a terrorist group. Its activities are similar to those of Al-Qaeda and Al-Shabab and others. The Nigerian Government should accept the fact that it is dealing with a terrorist organisation and act accordingly. If our intelligence and the whole security apparatus can’t handle the sect, then let our ‘rulers’ (not leaders because we don’t have any) seek help from the international community. “It’s better to appear weak and save lives than to appear strong and lose a nation.” From Opubere Samuel Apiri, Ogbia, Bayelsa State.

Re-Security on their minds. Collaboration among the northerm states, Northern states versus Southern states and Federal Government, Northern and Southern state governors. Besides, the ‘people’ need to be motivated in their own way, to expose the criminals and the crimes. Where persuasion fails, the law enforcement agents should employ FORCE! Quite unfortunate all those are happening to Nigeria, my country. From Lanre Oseni.

It is rather unfortunate that this country has found itself in a mess. The elder stateman only expressed his views on the government’s inability to handle the Boko Haram insurgents. He implored the government to use the Udi and Zaki Biam examples to end the menace. While the other elder stateman reacted to it.

For Dare Olatunji Re-Putting those teeming graduates to work. It is the very bad situation of unemployment in Nigeria, that had led to such requests for a First Class in other fields aside transport to apply as drivers. The worst, Ph.Ds! The last place for such should have been classrooms in polytechnics or/and the universities. To me, it is a re-colonisation of educationists. I do not envy those requests; anyone knows what it takes to obtain a FIRST CLASS and a Ph.D. From Lanre Oseni If all we can do to honour hard-earned certificates is to offer them truck driving as a viable employment, why increase the number of universities we have? Can’t we be truthful to ourselves and admit that, given the lack of long-term planning for national sustainability while only distributing ‘monthly allocation’, the only place we are heading for is a doomed tomorrow ? From Olu Balogum, Ilorin.

Can you help the good people of Kogi State inquire from Alhaji Ibrahim Ijala Wada what has happened or what is happening to the

billions of naira donated by the good people of Nigeria. The largest donor, so far, is Alhaji Aliko Dangote, towards alleviatting the sufferings of flood victims in Kogi State. Sir, people are suffering. My brother-in-law Gbade lost hìs 12-year-old son to a hit and run driver in Gadumo Village on Ajaokuta Road. He was crossing the road to submit a form for the distribution of relief materials, all he and hìs family got that day was four cups of rice and some packets of spaghetti!

The story making the rounds is that the donations had gone the way of the state allocations from Federation Account.We have not been privileged to hear or read how much Kogi State government had contributed. The waters are gone and the people are back in their houses, to bear the pains of the flood.

Such monies, if diverted, could invite the wrath and anger of God. From Musa Bakare Nice to read your write-up on Dangote’s attempt to ‘enslave’ educated Nigerians.

Again, it was vintage OLATUNJI DARE. From A.Osakwe Re: Putting those teeming graduates to work. I suggest that those of you in the media should entreat those teeming graduates to think of self-employment rather than truck driving.

Let us not give to others what we cannot contemplate for our children. And, in any case, any graduate that wants to go for truck driving should have his degree re-examined. From Rodsimeon Idaewor Many thanks for all your articles in The Nation newspapers, published by the Vintage Press Limited. From Barrister C.C. Obi, Port Harcourt This is Chris from Edo State. I hope they are not drawing Dangote into Nigerian politics that is already corrupted to distract him from the good work he is doing: employing the masses in his private sector.

For Gbenga Omotoso Obasanjo did not find his size but Jonathan has no focus and vision of governance. From Ken, Ore Ondo State Quite unfortunate, Gowon led us to a war, Obasanjo finished it. Gowon had been sleeping for 35 years not minding the trends but one would understand Obasanjo’s stand.

Gowon should tell us his own solutions. If he does not have a viable option, let him keep quiet. Gowon is not a match for Obasanjo.

Baba is Baba. From Cardinal Wole Arogundade of SRA, Abuja Thanks, for your reminiscences; bringing sweet old memories of Ajuwa flooding to my subconscious. I remember telling someone who had referred to Ajuwa as a local school with derision, to perish the thought, that Ajuwa was only located in a rural area!

We had the best any Ivy League could ever offer then. Thanks, to the visionary, GG. If GG had done what he did at Ajuwa in a traditional African setting, he will be deified in death. I wish the government could name the school after this uncommon legend. This is not likely to be strange as the school, to everybody in the area, is ‘School Garguilo’. It will merely affirm the people’s perception of the school. From Dr. Dare Owolabi (Michael) ’73/78, Dept of English & Literary Studies, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti Mr Omotoso, I assure you that Baba (Obasanjo) will hit back in full measure in the fullness of time. He usually laughs last!

From Barrister Moronkeji.

Obasanjo is a personality whose heroism I celebrate. But I hate him for imposing leaders on us. Gowon remains a true father, the

General to this nation. Anonymous Re: Obasanjo finds his size? Gen. Gowon (rtd) using the word ‘irresponsible’ to describe Obasanjo’s comment could be said to be as ‘diarrhoea of words, constipation in ideas’ as no nation can survive on truths concealed but truths revealed. You cannot prepare omelete without breaking eggs. Dr Jonathan, the President, should join action to his vision of excellence. Afterall, no-nonsense Elijah mentored Elisha, Moses mentored Joshua, Jesus mentored the l2 disciples but Judas who refused mentoring ended up with suicide.

Jonathan should listen to his mentor. From Dr Taiwo Obasanjo finds his size? Many will not agree with Obasanjo’s style but truth is truth which ever way you put it. I voted for Jonathan but he has disappointed me and many others. His ever-smiling face has not solved our numerous problems, especially in the area of security. From Rodsimeon Idaewor Obasanjo lacks the moral right to accuse Jonathan. It is a case of the pot calling the kettle black. What GEJ met on ground is an aggregated misrule of the long years of military experiment and the uncoordinated eight years misrule of Obasonjo’s civilian autocracy. What happened to our roads, power generation, the killing of innocent notables, such as Bola Ige, Dokubo, and his hatred for the Yoruba, the platform he ascended power.

Let him sèek restitution and forgiveness from Nigerians and God. From Femi For God’s sake leave Obasanjo alone as somebody who does not know that he knows nothing. I wish I do not have to say my former Head of State. From Ajaja M. O., Itapa Ekiti, Ekiti State It is rather unfortunate that this country has found itself in a mess. The elder statesman only expressed his views on the government’s inability to handle the Boko Haram insurgents. While the other one reacted to it. I do not believe that they are in a boxing ring.

Therefore, the issue of whether Obasanjo has found his match should not have arisen.

Please, stop creating animosity where there is none. From Butko Salmwang, Jos Jonathan is no match for Obasanjo. The government of today has lost track on everything, most especially security. They must not aggravate it further listening to Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. From Sanwo T. O. Obasanjo was right in his decision on Odi. Who is Gowon beside Obasanjo; who is Jonathan as well. They are without ideas to move the nation forward. Obasanjo is a man.

Anonymous No matter the size of Obasanjo Nigeria still has a few who are even bigger than him Yakubu Gowon is one of them. From Yinka Afolabi, Minna Obasanjo finds his size? The former President may have been wrong in his approach but he did say the TRUTH. Silence isn’t always golden. Jonathan is afraid of stepping on toes.

That’s why the issue has taken a horrible dimension: STAFF COLLEGE et al. Pray, may GOD FORBID their entry into NASS and ASO ROCK VILLA.We hope to see in action the promise of the present leadership to nip the operations of Boko Haram soon. From Femi Ajayi, Ibadan Re: Obasanjo finds his size? Sir, agreed Obasanjo is a man who is very bold to always call a spade a spade, but he does not deserve to be referred to as an ‘irresponsible man’ by someone of Gowon’s stature. It is rather an insult to Obasanjo. Obasanjo has done more good for this country than Gowon; it is very very unfortunate and sad!

• Obasanjo

From Dapo, Okeagbe Your whimsical piece on Obasanjo in The Nation of 29/11/2012 was good to read. It made me laugh. The General appears to have been beaten by Jonathan’s swift response to his handling of Odi in the early days of his administration. Much worse is Gen Gowon’s response: ‘highly irresponsible’. To say the least, this is measure for measure. The former President has met his match in the two individuals. Anonymous.

For Mohammed Haruna There is nothing like “NSUKKA UNIVERSITY” as stated in paragraph three of your (last) column. There has been, there is and there will be UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, Nsukka.

From Josiah Daniel-EBUNE Abuja. ‘’General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, arguably Nigeria’s greatest political engineer...’’ Mohammed Haruna, where did his ‘engineering’ lead us to as a country? You’re shamelessly dressing that perennial political footballer in borrowed robes. This is pure sycophancy.

S-Y-C-O-P-H-A-N-C-Y! From Barrister Samuel Ehis Irabor You got it wrong by informing readers of your well read column of The Nation on Wednesday that Mahmud Jega, (deputy editor in chief and Monday back-page columnist with Daily Trust) went to BUK! No sir.

The highly gifted writer was my classmate at the then University of Sokoto, now Usman Danfodiyo University, between 1977 and 1982. He made a very high second class upper in Botany but has now turned to be a highly successful journalist. From Abdulmajeed Bello, Ilorin.

The man himself wrote in his column, penultimate Monday, that he applied and got admitted into BUK. I assumed from that that he finished there. Apparently I assumed wrongly, as he subsequently left BUK to pursue his degree in Sokoto. I therefore stand corrected. Anonymous I have just read your article on ABU (at 50).

Mobile phones have destroyed grammar.

From Dr Mann Tolofari. Port Harcourt.

I find your article on the great ABU quite interesting. What more can one say about this remarkable citadel of learning? I cannot but agree with all you said in your piece except one particular statement which I think was erroneous. You claimed that ABU “literarily sired BUK”. Check your facts. Abdullahi Bayero College (ABC), as the precursor of BUK, was established before the Nigerian College of Arts and Science, which later became ABU. Anonymous Now it’s true that when ABU was established, ABC became a campus under it. Of course ABC, until it became a fully fledged university, churned out graduates under ABU such that long after that people found it difficult to separate BUK graduates from ABU’s.

It is a burden which most of us, proud alumni of BUK, find hard to swallow especially given that we are equally as good as any ABU graduate as the examples of Mahmud Jega, GarbaDeen (Mohammed), Dr Farouk Kperogi and others within (Daily Trust) attest to. Anonymous I have no intention of stealing ABU’s deserved thunder, but please do give us our deserved due too. From Iliyasu Gadu.

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EKO 2012...EKO 2012...EKO 2012...EKO 2012...EKO 2012

Bayelsa to host 2016 Festival —Hon. Igali

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Ondo battles Lagos for Men’s volleyball final today

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Sport Wednesday, December 5, 2012

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•Ebere Chudume of Anambra state in Javelin action.

Photo: John Ebhota

•C/River, Delta, Lagos in men’s football semi final

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•Rivers rake Taekwondo medals

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NATIONSPORT WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT

Ondo battles Lagos for Men’s Cross River, Delta, volleyball final today Lagos in men’s …Team vow to defend title football semi final

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NDO STATE will today take on Lagos state in the final of the Volleyball event of the 18th National Sport Festival slated for the Volleyball court at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

Team Ondo will be defending the gold medal they won at the 17th National Sports Festival in Port Harcourt in 2011.

While Ondo trashed Team Imo 31 at the semi-final stage of the games yesterday, Team Lagos defeated their opponent from Rivers in a three straight set to get to the final stage of the game. Coaches of the two teams have however been speaking tough ahead of the final games, while Adesoji Balogun, Ondo state’s volleyball coach his confident of victory , Taiwo Adesuru for team

By Paul Oluwakoya Lagos is sure of winning gold for the host state.

“Our winning at “Garden City Games” was not a fluke and we are ready to prove it by defeating Lagos tomorrow (today),” Balogun said.

“We have a compatible team that is driven by a winning spirit and the outcome can’t be anything less than our expectation tomorrow (today),” Adesuru said.

Meanwhile, volleyball enthusiasts have expressed their delight in the games nothing the best two teams will be playing the final match today.

Muyiwa (a volleyball fan) said ‘I’m sure of a keen contest between the two sides,’.

Rivers rake Taekwondo medals •TFN rates event high

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IVERS STATE won 4 gold, 2 silver and 4 bronze medal to emerge the overall winner of the Taekwondo decided at the Sir Molade Okoya Thomas Indoor Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

The event which ended on Monday night saw athletes compete for honours in different categories such as Poomsae, Fin weight, Feather weight, Fly weight, Light weight, Welter weight, Batam weight, Middle weight and Heavy weight.

Edo State place second on the overall medals table with three gold, six silver and two bronze medal, while Kano was third with three gold, one silver and three bronze medal.

Host, Lagos won three gold, and four bronze to finish fourth, just as

•Gov. Rotimi Amaechi

By Akeem Lawal Delta finished in fifth position with 2 gold, 5 silver and 2 bronze medals.

Bauchi State won one gold and two silver to finish on sixth position, while Federal Capital Territory (FCT) finished seventh with one gold and one silver.

Nasarawa, Niger and Bayelsa finished on joint eight position after winning one gold each, while Enugu and Kaduna ended the competition with one silver and one bronze each to also finish jointly on the 9th position. Borno and Osun completed the top ten position after finishing with one silver each.

Meanwhile, the Secretary General of the Taekwondo Federation of Nigeria, Joyce Ezealah-Ogundare has rated the Taekwondo event of this year’s edition of the National Sports Festival high.

In a chat with NationSport, Ogundare noted that with the introduction of Electronic Scoring System, there were minimal issues as regards to officiating.

“This year’s competition is stronger, more competitive and interesting. This is because of the use of the Electronic Scoring System. With this system, there was no room for bias, even where there was, it was minimal. So we are really happy we are able to complete this competition without any hitches.”

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By Innocent Amomoh

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HE football event of the National Sport Festival (NSF), has gone into the semi final stage with matches concluded in Group A yesterday at the Yaba College of Technology venue.

While Delta and Lagos States have qualified from Group B decided at the Onikan Stadium, Cross River State joined in the semi final party with a 3-1 triumph over Gombe to finish tops with 8 points and a plus 3 goals difference.

Meanwhile, the battle for the second spot in the group will be between Osun State and Kwara State that is billed to take on Zamfara State as at press time.

0sun will be waiting on the outcome of the match to determine their fate as they have garnered 8 points with a plus 1 goals difference as against Kwara that may have the opportunity of playing in the semi final if they defeat Zamfara by a two goal margin.

All the semi final matches have been moved to the Agege Stadium, but the draws have not been made public.

•Gov. Uduaghan

medals, respectively.

Also, in the women’s category, Teams Rivers, FCT, Delta/Ogun won gold, silver and bronze, respectively.

Coach of the Rivers team, Anthony Jimoh, expressed delight over his female players’ achievement, saying he was optimistic of claiming more medals in the singles, doubles and mixed doubles events.

"The team events have brought me medals both in the male and female categories and I am happy about it.

"My players put in their best and their best was good enough for the medals they won.

"I am not writing other teams off because they are equally good. When the singles, doubles and mixed doubles start, that is when the competition will be tick,’’ Jimoh said.

His Delta counterpart, Fatai Tokosi, told NAN that the best had yet to come from his team and that they hoped to win more medals as the competition progressed.

"The individual games will prove our ability,’’ Tokosi said.

In his reaction, Bello Oyebanji, coach of Kwara, told NAN that the players in the competition had really

improved the standard of the game.

He praised the Lagos State Government for building a modern Indoor Hall for Badminton.

"Unlike the Games in PortHarcourt in 2011 where we played all games outside, it was very difficult

for players to really express themselves.

"The standard of the game has really improved as players are more committed to show their flexibility and other basic skills. This is what has helped my team," Oyebanji added.

Kano, Delta fined N50,000 each for using ineligible weightlifters

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HE Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF) on Tuesday fined Delta and Kano states N50,000 each for using ineligible weightlifters at the going 18th National Sports Festival in Lagos.

NWF Secretary Uche Onwumeh told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that a female weightlifter, Bilikis Otunla, 69kg, was caught representing Delta after attending two international competitions.

Onwumeh said she was identified by some officials and reported to the judges, leading to her suspension from the Games by the federation’s adjudicators.

"An investigation was carried and

evidences confirmed that Otunla was faulty and Delta was therefore told to pay a fine of N50, 000 before the end of the competition,’’ she said.

The secretary said that failure by Delta to make the payment to the NWF would result to the withholding of the medals won in the event.

According to her, the Delta State Weightlifting Association coach is also warned to desist from acts capable of violating the rules governing the Games from achieving its aims.

Also, a male weightlifter, Aminu Aliyu, 77kg, from Kano was also discovered to have been using three different names to participate at the last three sports festivals after a petition by Delta.

National Assembly queries N156m spent on National Stadium M

EMBERS of the House of Representative Committee of Sports have frowned at the over N156 million expended on the Lagos National stadium in the 2012 fiscal year, with the edifice turning to joint for drunkards and other miscreants.

According to Muniru Akeem representing Mushin Constituency Federal Constituency, there was no evidence to show where and what the money was used for at the stadium "there is no time I don't visit that Stadium all through the outgoing year.

The only development I saw in that dying

From Patrick Ngwaogu, Abuja edifice is that the place has been turned to a place where youths gather to drink and engage in other dangerous societal vices, instead of been discovered in sports, they now discover themselves in the quantity of alcohol they can consume, and number of cigaratte sticks they can smoke in a day. It is very pathetic that this edifice which I know that it would be difficult for the country to build again, is dead and turned to a national disgrace, and money is been appropriated to it on yearly basis, and

there is nothing to show for it, is very annoying and disturbing.

He also emphasised that the aim of constructing the 61 mini sports centres across the country has been defeated, as the money been spent on it is not commensurate with the job done.

He said that most of the proposed sites for the centres, are only existing on paper ' some of these facilities located in our constituencies, are not in existence, but money is expended on them on yearly basis. We were shown pictorial evidences that the one located at Otuoke in

Bayelsa State is an intervention project by a member of the State House of Assembly, but on yearly basis, money is invested i n building the centre ".

He stressed that Nat ional Sports Commission s h o u l d prioritise its act ivities, instead spe nding money on friv olous activities.

NATIONS CUP CLASH

By Innocent Amomoh •Keshi registered with the MOC which is also the same numbers passed to us at the LOC but at a meeting with the MOC and all Directors of sports from each state that any athletes without accreditation and meal ticket should vacate the hostel so that we can concentrate on the genuine athletes", he explained.

The chairman, however, did not hesitate to commend the caterers at Kofo Aina Ademola and other venues for their patience, dedication and tolerance while he appealing to them to be more accommodating and satisfy the guests in order to have a successful and memorable sporting events.

EAMS DELTA and Rivers on Tuesday won the gold medals in the men and women's badminton team events at the ongoing 18th National Sports Festival in Lagos, tagged ``Eko 2012’’.

In the men’s category Team Delta defeated Team Rivers 3-0 to clinch the gold medal, while Team Rivers overpowered Team FCT 2-1 in the women’s category to win the gold.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in the men’s team event, Teams Delta, Rivers, Kwara/Ogun clinched the gold, silver and bronze

•Osun, Kwara wait on Zamfara

No food crisis at EKO 2012 —Dawodu

HE chairman, Eko 2012 Catering Sub-Committee, Segun Dawodu has debunked the claims of alleged food shortage by some state contingents.

Speaking at Kofo Aina Ademola hall, University of Lagos, he said the crises is as a result of some states coming with more than the approved of contingents by the Main Organising Committee (MOC) made available to Eko 2012 Local Organising Committee, which is being used in preparing the meals for guest.

"Every state has a specific number of athletes and officials that are to be taken care of which was approved by MOC but unfortunately, some states came along with more than the numbers

Delta, Rivers clinch gold in men, Bayelsa to host 2016 Festival —Hon. Igali T women's Badminton team events T

S

build the team to excel in South Africa ' i have seen anough players for now, I think my major concern now is to start working on the players that I have now, to ensure that they blend very well before the Nations Cup. I will invite Osaze, he has been part of the family and he is doing well in his club, so we would invite him to be part of it. But remember, we have said it time

without number, that every player would have to justify his inclusion in the team".

He further confirmed that he would arrive the country on Saturday 8th December.

out, Lagos had gold, Imo and three gold for Bayelsa. Now freestyle is going on, and it look like south south affairs. Am happy because there are few athletes I have seem here that can make us proud in the next four to eight years.

The former Olympic gold medalist in Sydney, Australia, 2000 said he was surprised that his state has made a lot of progress in the ongoing National Sports Festival despite the flood that affected their preparation towards the festival.

“Bayelsa is looking ahead to hosting NSF in 2016. I also, encourage states to improve on the standard of their equipment. We don’t know the importance of sports here, that is why we are trying to down play the importance of equipment.

On the open festival, hon. Igali said he has been on the campaign for open festival for the past ten years, he, however, give thanks to God that the people that matter in sports have finally listened to their voices.

“Its something I have been clamouring for in the past ten years.

Thank God we are there now.

Igali, as captain of the Nigerian wrestling team to Canada to compete in the 1994 Commonwealth . He remained in the country while seeking refugee status due to political unrest in the Niger/Delta then . He acquired citizenship in 1998.

•Osaze

•Igali In Canada, Igali won 116 consecutive matches wrestling at Simon Fraser university from 1997 to 1999. He placed fourth at the 1998 world championships.

At the 2000 Olympic games in Sydney, Australia, Igali won a gold medal in the Men's 69 kg freestyle wrestling. He represented Canada at the world stage.

At the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, Igali won a gold medal in the Men's 74 kg freestyle wrestling.

Taekwondo coach applauds Male boxing electronic scoring events produce

I

BRAHIM YAHUZA, Head Coach, Kano State Taekwondo Association (KSTA), on Tuesday applauded the introduction of the electronic devices for scoring at the ongoing 18th National Sports festival in Lagos.

Yahuza told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the introduction had made officiating at the event a hitch-free exercise.

"The use of the electronic devices have made the officiating simple and free of bias, eliciting no protest from athletes and spectators, unlike previous festivals where manual methods were operated,’’ he said.

Yahuza said the devices would upgrade the athletes’ knowledge to international standard, as they would be familiar with the use of the equipment in international tournaments.

"Our athletes are now familiar with the use of these devices, which will also enable them to prepare well and excel in international competitions,’’ he said.

According to him, the presence of

F

confirms Osaze From Andrew Abah, Abuja

By Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia

the Olympians as officials has added an element of international input into the Games.

"The presence of Chika Chukwumerije and Isa Adam, really motivates the participating athletes as they brought in their international experience, to add glamour to the event,’’ he said.

The coach then called on the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF) to include indigenous coaches on its technical crew, saying they should not be neglected.

"Indigenous coaches understand the psychology of the athletes, as well as their backgrounds, so they should always be included in the officiating crew in any national competition,’’ he said.

The coach added that this would also enhance the knowledge of the indigenous coaches for international tournaments.

He, however, urged the technical officials to always make extra efforts to update their knowledge as constant changes to rules and regulations were being unfolded by the international body.

Para-powerlifting coach wants Institute for talent-building

Keshi

UPER EAGLES’ Head Coach Stephen Keshi has confirmed that Osaze Odewingie would be invited for the build up to 2013 Africa Nations Cup holding in South Africa.

The Big Boss who spoke from United States of America where he is holidaying with his family, said that time for experimentation is now over, as his emphasis is now on how to

HE Technical Adviser, Wrestling Federation of Nigeria, Hon. Daniel Igali yesterday said that Bayelsa State is currently putting in place sporting infrastructure that will enable the state host the National sports Festival as from 2016.

Igali who is the House committee chairman on sports, Bayelsa state House of Assembly, while speaking to journalists inside the multi-purpose hall, venue of the wrestling, University of Lagos, said that in the year 2013 budget of the state, sports is fourth after roads, health and education.

“In Bayelsa, the sports budget is the fourth largest in the state budget. We are now working in the upgrading of pitches, wrestling gym that will be of international standard, the construction has been awarded, it will be ready in may, 2013.

“We have equally built a weightlifting gym. We also looking at building a modern multipurpose gymnasium, tartan tracks and building sporting facilities in the three senatorial zones of the state.

For the wrestling events, hon. Daniel Igali said” it has been fantastic, we have so far a good competition, the first day, great number competed, Delta state won a large number of gold medals, four gold medals out of seven, Bayelsa, Rivers states two and one gold each, it was Niger/Delta affairs.

“The female wrestling was spread

EYISETAN ARE, National Head Coach, Nigeria Para-power lifting Federation (NPPF), has called for the establishment of an Institute in the country, for proper building of coaches and athletes in Powerlifting.

Are made the call on Tuesday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Multi –purpose Hall venue of the event at the ongoing 18th National Sports Festival in Lagos.

According to him, the Institute is needed for Para-Powerlifting to maintain and sustain its position as the number one sport in the country.

"As far as sports is concerned in Nigeria, Para-powerlifting is the number one sport which has never failed in recent times to deliver laurels to the country in international tournaments.

"We have all come to know that Powerlifting is the number one sport to reckon with in our country. This is the time for Government to take urgent steps to accord it appropriate recognition.

"This is our area of strength; there is a need to have an Institute where athletes and coaches will be nurtured and groomed properly, under the close watch of seasoned tutors.

"We do not need to wait until major tournaments come before scouting for talents. What we need is to pick from already certified athletes to represent us,`` he said.

Are added that about six distinguished Para- power-lifters had been identified at the ongoing biennial tournament in Lagos, adding that when properly nurtured, they would be future gold medalists in international competitions.

"We have discovered about six exceptional athletes in this competition that we can rely on in the future and more are still coming because the Games have not ended.

"Some of these discovered athletes, in another 2 years, are going to become champions, but we should not wait until the next major tournament before we start preparing them,`` he stressed.

T

knockouts

HE male boxing event of the ongoing 18th National Sports Festival in Lagos has produced knockouts in different weight categories, pruning the boxers for the finals.

In the 91kg category, Borno's Raheem Yaya threw a right hook screamer to knock out Victor Ani of Rivers in round 1 of Day 5 on Monday.

In the event at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Institute for Sports (NISports), Babatunde Yusuf of Oyo beat Ignatius Obe of Osun by 5-0 points also in the 91kg.

Onyekwere Ndubusi, also of Osun, lost 5-0 to Solomon Jegede of Oyo on points, in the same category.

Isiaka Kazeem of Akwa Ibom cruised past Obiora Chike of Ebonyi 7-1 on points, Innocent Ehwareme of Delta sent Olatunji Olajide to the canvas, forcing the referee to stop the contest in round 1.

Tony David of Anambra beat Chedon Ike of Adamawa 9-1 on points, while Gabriel Francis of Lagos defeated Ovie Victor of Ogun, with referee stopping the contest in round 1 to end fights in the category.

In the 81kg category, Jolly Osayande of Edo lost 5-8 to Ambrose Godwin of Benue, while Sango Muritala of Lagos out -classed Alex Agbe of Anambra, forcing the latter to retire in round 2.

In other 81kg bouts, Hope Ekandem of Akwa Ibom beat Otumarcel Alh of Kogi, with the referee stopping contest in round 3, while Uviesherhe Oteg of Delta lost narrowly by 1-2 to Nehikhare Nosa of Oyo. The referee stopped the contest in round 1 as Lawal Rasheed of Osun beat Akinkugbe Akinsende of Borno, while Abdul Mohammed of Plateau lost 0-4 to Ikong Frankline of Rivers.

Azeez Robinson of Abia out-classed Samson Akpan of Cross River 16-4, while in the day's last 81kg bout, Rasheed Fatai of Ogun beat Edeh Chinedu of Imo 3-2.

In the +91kg category, Joseph Aikore of Edo lost 2-5 to Femi Olabode of Oyo. In other bouts of the category, Ajagba Efe of Delta sent Bakare Taoheed of Borno to the canvas, forcing the referee to stop the contest in the first round.

The referee also stopped the contest in the third round as Omorege Osamoede of Abia outclassed David Ikechukwu of Ondo.

However, a walkover was recorded in bout number 154 as Oki Eke of Benue was declared winner after his opponent, Iyalla Joel of Rivers, failed to show up.

The day's bout ended with Adesina Ogundeji of Enugu State squeezing past Orizu Chibuzor of Anambra 3-2 on points.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

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Text only: 08023058761

•Tolu flanked by the organisers

Honour for the ‘Dustbin Angel’ ‘The impact of our work on lives of those kids will be felt in the next 20 years. I see in them future presidents, senators, industry leaders. No one is useless; with the right motivation, they will make it. That is why we are seeking new ways of helping the children to improve, academically...’

•STORY ON PAGE 26

A family history retold

Methodist pupil tops Amila painting challenge

– Page 28

– Page 38

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Honour for the ‘Dustbin Angel’ She is ready to do anything for the needy.

Miss Tolulope Sangosanya’s charity work has earned her several fellowships and awards, including the Laureate Global Fellow. Just back from Turkey where she and other young global innovators bagged awards, Tolulope is more determined than ever to touch more lives, writes EVELYN OSAGIE.

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HEY are known as the big picture thinkers and they focus on possibilities.

They are this year’s Laureate Global Fellows, comprising 20 young social entrepreneurs from 16

countries. Each is a pioneer of innovative solutions which cater for major societal problems in order to put local economies, ‘rice straw’ is transformed into renewable fuel.

Through their efforts, low-income youths also get bicycles to improve their lives with livelihood and skills.

The laureates received awards for their work on economic empowerment, health, social inclusion, civic engagement, education and environment.

Nigeria’s Tolulope Sangosanya is one of the recipients.

She is the popular “Angel of the ‘Dustbin Estate’”, founder of LOTS Charity Foundation. She saw ‘gold dust’ where others saw filth and ash. The odds did not stop her from touching the lives of over 100 children and their families in an underdeveloped part of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos State, which she has since christened “Dustbin Estate”. Such innovative works earned her a place with the stars. She was recognised for her efforts at promoting literacy, among other works in the area.

When news of the award reached her, she was excited. She said: “After the rejection of Fortune Women programme, I was in a melancholic mood when this great news came in my mail box. I did a 360-degree turn on my chair. I was happy beyond measure. Finally, I have received international recognition for a work that started in my room at Olabisi Onabajo University (OOU), Ogun State in 2005. I couldn’t believe that I would be representing my country in a positive light. I called family and friends. I wanted to go to the mountain top and scream, but I couldn’t, at least not yet, I will save my screaming for when and if I make ASHOKA fellow.”

Although Tolu, as she is fondly called, has received several awards such as the prestigious Future Awards for her efforts, the Laureate Global awards, according to her, has helped promote her work on the international scale and boosted her morale.

“The award gives one international exposure: there is no monetary reward attached to it, but it opens doors for international organisations to see our profiles and decide to give to our causes. This year was different as Istanbul Bilgi University, Turkey, and her owners decided to give all 20 of us full scholarship to study any course of our choice at anytime we wished. I scream by the time I heard the news. For three years I have been looking for scholarship to study developmental psychology, focusing on child psychology and social work; but most funders prefer sponsoring science courses, this made it difficult access the available scholarships. Now I have the opportunity to do what I want without stress of financial constraint thanks to the Laureate Global Fellows award,” she said.

She recounted her experience in Turkey with nostalgia. “I won’t forget stay Turkey in a hurry. I didn’t want the experience to end. I have attended lots of conferences and mentoring sessions with Prof. Wale Omole, Fela Durotoye, Daystar Leadership Academy, Youth Action Net’s retreat topped my life changing teachings. We had a week-long intensive retreat that has changed my perception on the job as a professional giver. Being made a fellow of Youth Action Net, organised by International Youth Foundation (IYF), a fellowship that awards/recognises leaders from across the world between ages 18 and 29, gave me an earthly feel of how heaven will be like.

“We were all high fliers - 20 youths from 16 countries – and a bunch of passionate, compassionate, loving and caring people who are selfless in ‘service of humanity’. I was the only Nigerian. I saw life anew from the eyes of people from different creeds, blacks, white, red, multi coloured, atheist, Christians, Muslims, free thinkers etc, but one thing united us - we all belonged to a nation where love reigned supreme, and that nation is called ‘LAND OF GIVING’.”

She looked up with certain childlike sparkle in her eyes as she shared her thoughts on other fellows, saying: “I cannot forget Sambat from Cambodia whose school is the only one in his village which serves over 500 children. Affif, born into war-prone Lebanon, said 12 out of its 16 million population live outside of Lebanon because of the wars. Jane

•Tolu and other awardees

ADVOCACY (Ugandan) who started an organisation to stop people from committing suicide when they learnt of their HIV status.

Rafael (Brazil), an educated person, who began as a refuse dump scavenger just to be able to understand the life of scavengers and to develop programmes to help them develop sustainability in their business. The list goes on. From them all, I have learnt that there are various ways of solving problems while Lucky uses bicycle, Benjamin uses teaching non-cognitive skills, different though in approach, we all seek to solve the world’s problems created by humans. Now, I am more determined to impact more lives.”

The psychological problems that negatively impact children’s learning abilities if done under an empty stomach, inspired LOTS adventurous tour of Lagos and the Cinemas in its ‘Fun Day Kids’ project last year. LOTS also went beyond educating and feeding the children to make last year’s Christmas a memorable one for their families. Through its ‘Christmas for every family in ‘Dustbin Estate’ project, LOTS presented 100 families a bag of rice, half bag of garri, whole chicken and drinks, among others.

“This year, our foundation has added ‘Hampers for every Child’, comprising all sorts of goodies worth between N15, 000 and N25,000 each that would include toys, provisions and beverages, among others. And guess what, we already have the hampers for over 150 children courtesy Sahara Oil. But we still have ‘Christmas for every family’ 2012 edition to take care of. Each family’s package will cost N25,000 and each child’s slot will cost N15,000. With God’s help and the donations from individuals, group of friends and their networks, we succeeded last year with our plans. Let’s do it again. We would like to repeat that experience on the eve of Christmas and bring joy into the home of families this season,” she said.

‘I cannot forget Sambat from Cambodia whose school is the only one in his village...Affif, born into war-prone Lebanon...Rafael (Brazil) who began as a refuse dump scavenger just to be able to understand the life of scavengers and develop programmes to help them develop sustainability in their business...From them all, I have learnt that there are various ways of solving problems...Now, I am more determined to impact more lives’

•Tolu in Turkey

The excitement in her voice any time she is speaking on her charity work with the children is ever so captivating and convincing. “Like I said, I conceived the idea of LOTS in school. I just could not take my mind off the face of a girl I had seen previously leading her blind father to beg at Ikeja, Lagos, as I worried over my exams scores. It lacked spark and that stirred up emotions within me From then on, I was determined and consulted with friends on how I could put •Continued on page 27

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It’s a literary voyage borne out of curiosity. The need to unearth a great colonial African ruler – Okuku Udo Akpabio – soon became a part of the author Offonmbuk Akpabio. It is a unique expedition – a daughter in-law writing about her father in-law in her book: He Dared: The Story of Okuku Udo Akpabio, The Great Colonial African Ruler. The book will be unveiled on December 20. There is a lot to learn from the father of former Premier of the old Eastern Region, Ibanga Akpabio Ibanga and grandfather of Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio, says Offonmbuk, in this interview with EVELYN OSAGIE.

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HY the choice of your subject?

Okuku Udo Akpabio is my husband’s grandfather.

Born in the late 19th century and died in his 90s in the mid 20th century, Okuku was a Warrant Chief for the colonialists and leader of his people in Ukana clan. Before he became a government warrant chief, he was already a Paramount Head, who was able to steer the affairs of his people remarkably well. His story is told in folklore in the communities where he held influence. Though I never met him in person his personae is heavily felt. I just love his ability to dare where others dreaded.

He was a farmer with lots of farmlands who cultivated and traded his produce. And so he was widely-travelled. He was not supposed to be the clan head by lineage but because of his wisdom and owing to his business interests, when it came to choosing a leader, the people, then, felt that a man with such experience in dealing with people should lead the clan. It was during the period of slave trade. Despite his influence, he did not succumb to the greed of the slave traders. With the abolishment of the trade, slave became a hot commodity as any contraband would be. He was not a Christian or moved by Christian beliefs but frowned and preached against it. Slave traders from the hinterland approached him, urging him to use his influence to do the business, but he refused that he would never lay his hands on or sell another fellow human being for money; and made sure that nobody did that around his enclave. He was moved by the traditional beliefs that one must be ones brother’s keeper. He was a Justice of Peace who became the President of the Native Court and the first Paramount Ruler of Ikot Ekpene Area. Indeed, he was a very powerful man who dared by rising beyond the traditional norms. He wasn’t hindered by boundaries and wanted people to move beyond local frontiers. “He dared” because his beliefs and deeds were not so common in his days.

This biography was borne out of curiosity. I wanted to know more about the man.

As I began my research curiosity transformed into an urgency to tell his story. I needed to document his intriguing insight (sometimes it was almost uncanny), he moved past frontiers seen at the time and embraced new horizons that have left a truly compelling legacy. However, the book is not all about his greatness; it’s also about his weakness as a normal human being. He had challenges and many ups and downs. Despite the odds,

•Akpabio

A family history retold INTERVIEW he left an enduring legacy, which you can see today in his offsprings.

What are some of those legacies?

Although he was not educated, he encouraged his sons to gain Western education. He was intrigued by the Whiteman: and in seeing the intelligence of the whites, he saw the sense in his sons learning the Whiteman’s ways. And so, there are several Akpabios who became great professionals.

His Excellency Godswill Akpabio, who is a grandson of Okuku is not the first prominent Akpabio we are having. In fact, Okuku was father to prominent sons, among them was the former Premier of old Eastern Region, Ibanga Akpabio Ibanga, who passed the motion for the setting up of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, when he was the Minister for Education in the Eastern Region.

Hence, Akpabio Hall is named after him in that university.

The governor is actually building on history. Still, there are several connections between Okuku and Governor Akpabio. As a warrant chief and paramount ruler, Okuku in his time was a governor of sorts. And besides sharing physical resemblance and character traits, their sense of justice, fairness, generosity and fearlessness are one and same. This is evidence in his transformational works. Also, like Okuku, education is foremost on the governor’s mind. And through his achievements in Akwa Ibom, he has raised the ante for the Akpabio family and people of the state. Finally, Okuku was a family-oriented man who greatly emphasised family love, unity and integrity; and Governor Akpabio is promoting this bond more, in the family and across the different generations of family and across the state.

You have written on someone long before our time, what do you seek to achieve with this book?

I have told the story of the Okuku as I know it. This is a historical non-fiction where one is afforded the opportunity to learn not only about the colonial African ruler who acted as a bridge for his people in a time of great transition, but savoured his rich culture, traditional institutions, intrigues of governance, values, family life etc. before the advent of the British into the hinterland in present day Akwa Ibom State.

I urge people to start documenting lives of great people so that we can have a rich compendium of history. Our history not only shapes us today and our future, it is a way of enriching our collective journey as a people. I want this book to speak to that consciousness.

Again, it is a window to the rich culture of the people, their bravery in times of adversity, the political maneuverings, and how they coped with the British who came with strange religion, education and trade. The focal point is derring-do. In today’s parlance we say “Yes we can”, in the days of Okuku, the same spirit drove the people through a time of transitions.

I want the public to see this. It shares how Okuku carried his people through a time of great social and economic change, encouraging readers to dare to dream and not be afraid to reach for something bigger.

What were the hurdles you faced writing this book?

The book took me about two years to write. Writing the biography was very challenging. The primary challenge was we hardly have documented history of the way of life of our people before now. I feel sorry that future generation may not be able to glean our rich cultural heritage because of

lack of materials to read from. So, documenting his story and that of his people into a form that can be preserved for us and future generations to benefit from became my utmost goal.

I didn’t have a lot of documented materials to work on. I had to travel a lot trying to corroborate oral accounts that were given.

But each challenge brought a renewed zeal to unravel more about this icon. Fortunately, the Aro people have more books written about them. So, what I had from them and from Rev. Grooves, a white missionary of the Methodist extraction, who came during the time of Okuku and had a detailed account the Africans. I took Rev. Gooves’ book and those of the Aro people; I didn’t make any judgment about what happened. I just wrote the account about what happened. I just want people to look at this book and make their own judgment about it.

Is He Dared your first book?

He Dared is not my first book though it is the first biography I have written. But I am delighted to have worked with the team in Xlibris Corporation, US, a member of the Penguin Group, who caught on my vision early in this process. It will be presented at Uyo on December 20.

What led you into writing?

I am a practicing lawyer and have been in this profession before becoming a published author. Writing is a passion. I have been writing since my teenage years. I caught the bug right from secondary school where I used to represent my school in essay competitions. And I have been writing since then.

I cannot say I have a specialty in any genre, I just love to write. I love to put my imaginations on paper, so I write non-fiction.

However, He Dared is a biography or what is known today as historical non-fiction.

Although this is my second published work, my upcoming work is fiction.

How has the journey been?

Do you mean since I started writing in secondary school? (laughs). For me, once passion drives your efforts every single challenge is seen as a step in the process to getting where your passion leads you. So far I love it.

What part of your growing up influenced the person you have become?

My father was a huge influence in building my aspirations when I was growing up.

The point was always to have a positive mindset. He registered me and my siblings at the library in Calabar and made sure we borrowed at least one book in a week. We also had our family library. Early reading culture nurtured the writer in me.

improve, academically.”

Hence, the charity runs literacy supplementary classes. It also runs a ‘soup kitchen’ where it feeds the children at least twice a week; health outreach where it partner s with other nongovernmental organisation (NGOs) whose

concern is health outreach to the poor and lessprivileged, and to ease the pain of these children especially, as it affects their education during the raining season, it hopes to distribute relief materials to the children, among others.

Honour for the ‘Dustbin Angel’ •Continued from page 26 smiles and spark in the eyes of others in the girl’s status.”

Seven years on, ever so determined to raise “future presidents”, Tolu sees great potentials wasting away where others see wretchedness and poverty in Ajegunle. She said: “The impact of our work on lives of those kids will be felt in the next 20 years to come. I see in them future presidents, senators, industry leaders. And I see them growing up and changing the lots of their parents.”

This faith in the children’s future is not unconnected with her background. Vivaciouslooking and intelligent- speaking Tolu was not an extrovert as a child. She was also not that academically sound which made her repeat a class in primary school. She said: “It was my grandfather that first discovered I lacked the skills of reading and writing; and, thus worked on me. I graduated from not being able to pronounce three letter words to reading novels within two years. That is why whenever I see a 14-year-old in junior secondary school that cannot spell or pronounce six letter words, I smile, thank God

•Tolu and other discussants in Turkey

for bringing me out of a seemingly hopeless situation, while believing He’d do same for kids who are like me in primary school.

No one is useless with the right motivation, they will make it. That is why we are seeking new ways of helping the children to

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HE socio-economic life of Onitsha-South Local Government Area of Anambra State is being renewed. Chairman of the council, Chief Ugochukwu Ezeani is battling to give the council a face lift for this Yuletide in line with the urban renewal policy of the Governor Peter Obiled administration.

The Campaign for Democracy (CD) SouthEast Region praised Governor Obi and Ezeani, for decongesting Ojukwu Gate-Way and the Upper Iweka axis of Onitsha.

A statement signed by Dede Uzor A. Uzor and Dr. Jerry Chukwuokolo, Chairman and Secretary of CD South-East Region , said: “We want to praise Governor Obi and Ezeani for taking the bull by the horn and sanitising the age-long dreaded and nefarious criminals den in Ojukwu Gate-way and Upper Iweka axis of Onitsha.

“The government also removed all illegal structures and shanties within the two axis leaving the area neat and clean for the very first time in about 20 years.

There was conscious effort by Ezeani and his men from the council to clean-up drains littered with sachet water bags and other dirty hangings around that axis of Onitsha. Today, someone would wonder whether it is still the axis or a different place entirely,’’ it said.

The statement, however, urged the state government to extend the sanitisation down to Aba Park in Onitsha-Owerri Road.

The statement however called on Gov. Obi to disband Anambra State Traffic Agency (ASTA) for gross human rights violation and extortion.

“While the leadership of ASTA should be sacked and prosecuted for crime against Ndi-Anambra,’’ the statement concluded.

In an interaction with newsmen, Ezeani vowed to restore the lost glory of Onitsha municipal with his three pronged agenda which included environmental sanitation and opening up of drainages as well as beautification exercise.

Ezeani said he is committed and dedicated in riding Onitsha of touts and hooligans, adding that he has succeeded in decongesting the commercial city.

He said that over 30 fake revenue agents terrorizing Onitsha were arrested at Ochanja Market while extorting money from unsuspecting publics. He said some of the hoodlums are currently been detained at SARS and would be charged to court after investigation to get their sponsors.

He said his local government has executed a lot people oriented projects within his few months in office. He said he has assisted over 500 youths gain employment since his assumption of office. ‘’Our concern is to make Onitsha South the neatest in Anambra State and you can see what we are doing with our recent decongestion of Ojukwu gate way which was initially taking over by hoodlums and thugs in the name of collecting revenue for the state govern-

•Ezeani

Lifting the environment From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

PROJECT ment. ‘’We have done same at Benin park close to the River Niger Bridge, where thugs and hoodlums were parading themselves in broad- day light with Indian hemp and all sorts of dangerous drugs . We want to put an end to unsuspecting traders falling victims to their pranks’’.

Ezeani said that other areas of his administration involvement included empowerment of youths to reduce hooliganism and armed robbery and beautification of Onitsha streets and major monuments as well as constructing of culverts to enable easy flow of flood water.

He informed that the ongoing construction and rehabilitation of 3km Arondizugu Street Fegge near the formal council headquarters and facilitating the relocation of Ogbaru flood victims and providing them with foods and medical supplies. ‘’My administration has facilitated the employment of over 500 youths in Onitsha South as a way to fight crime and truancy as well

Fabrics, furniture expo

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HE Zebra Living exhibition, tagged Dikko chronicles and new mara home exhibition had something for all who attended. According to the organisers, the exhibition is to motivate Nigerians to appreciate African fabrics and culture.

The fashion cum furniture fair, held at White Space, Ikoyi, Lagos featured African fabrics, beads and woodwork. Its selling point was the use of African fabrics for clothing, wall tiles and furniture.

The furniture came in different colours and designs. Wall tiles, made of African fabrics and woods, lined up across a part of the hall added beauty to the event.

According to Mrs Ugoma Adegoke, the Chief Executive Officer, Zebra Living, the wall tiles can be used to beautify every part of the house, “either in the sitting room, bedroom – it gives ones house a certain colourful and beautiful look”.

There also was a display of lightings made from bead and glass.

Mrs Adegoke said: “We believe in our culture and our rich cultural heritage.

By Njirika Ogechi

EXHIBITION Zebra Living is out to promote the rich cultural potentials in our heritage.

Hence, this exhibition is meant to rekindle the love for the African culture in Nigerians. We hope that this would make them embrace and appreciate our culture more than the western ones. And it doesn’t matter where they are based, because our display allows Nigerians to be proud of their culture by wearing our proudly African clothing, and furnish their homes with African furniture and fittings across the world.”

Zebra Living was established by Mrs Adegoke five years ago. She started with furniture making using African fabrics alone. She diversified into fashion and style this year. Her designs are African, according to Zebra Living CEO, from Senegal, Ghana and Benin Republic.

Guests her collections that included short dresses, wrap dresses, gowns, skirt and blouse, among other designs.

Book presentation

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HE public presentation of the much-awaited book, The Way We Are: Ideas for A Better Nigeria written by Sir Jonas Odocha, a former Group General Manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and former

General Manager of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), will hold tomorrow at NICON Luxury Hotel, Tafawa Balewa Way, Area 11, Garki, Abuja. The prolific novelist and poet Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo is the book reviewer.

empower the future leaders. We have executed projects that directly affect the lives of our people. We have also constructed over 50 culverts and we have embarked on monthly fumigation exercise to rid the council area of mosquitoes to be able to reduce the level of malaria and other ailments associated with bites. We plan to install over 300 street lights along Zik Avenue, Port Harcourt Road and Modebe Avenue within the council Area and also procurement of 87 cars that will serve as taxi in a cheaper rate for easy transportation of the citizens.

Ezeani thanked Governor Peter Obi for the opportunity he gave them to serve and assured that his actions and inactions will continue to be in the best interest of Onitsha South residents and guests in the council area and the state at large warning detractors to stop distracting his focus to lead by example like the Governor.

That resolution to better Onitsha attracted commendation the National Mandate Union (NMU) which lauded the Onitsha Council Chairman for his exemplary and purposeful leadership qualities within the council Area.

A press statement by the NMU in Onitsha

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ENOWNED poet JP Clark will be guest at an evening of poetry and jazz at Didi Museum, Victoria Island, Lagos, tomorrow starting from 7pm.

The festival of life will feature multitalented Jimi Solanke. Students of Grange School and Pacelli School of the Blind will perform JP Clark’s poems as a major facet of the evening. The University of Lagos where JP Clark achieved the feat of becoming the firstever African professor of English is backing up the evening of poetry and jazz.

by its President, Dede Uzor A Uzor stated that the Onitsha South Council boss, Chief Ugochukwu Ezeani has executed a lot of people oriented projects within a few months in office.

NMU commended Ezeani for constructing over 20 culverts in different locations in the Council Area, the weekly and monthly fumigation exercise which was previously ravaged by mosquitoes and other insects, employment of over 500 youths and prompt payment of the monthly salaries of his council staffs and also facilitated the relocation of Ogbaru flood victims with foods and medical supplies, the ongoing construction and rehabilitation of 3km Arondizugu Street Fegge near the formal council headquarters.

NMU praised the council’s plan to install over 300 street lights along Zik Avenue, PortHarcourt Road and Modebe Avenue within the council Area and also procurement of 87 cars that will serve as taxi in a cheaper rate for easy transportation of the citizens.

NMU condemned the recent disparaging statement by unknown and faceless individuals alleging that the council Chairman was arrested by Special Fraud Unit (SFU) at Milverton, Ikoyi, Lagos over non execution of N300million contract, NMU see it as a ploy by politicians to discredits his hard earned achievement in the council Area.

He said that the chairman’s sterling leadership qualities was one of the major trust of Gov. Peter Obi’s Anambra State Integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS); adding that he deserved to be given higher governmental post to handle in the future.

A group known as Ndi-Igbo Unity Forum extolled the exemplary leadership qualities of Transition Chairman, Onitsha South Local Government Area, Mr. Ugochukwu Ezeani honouring him with the most performing chairman award. The group noted that the exemplary leadership of the chairman had up-lifted the living standards of the people of the area.

The forum in a statement noted that the council boss had executed a lot of people oriented projects within his five-month in office.

“The chairman has executed a lot of peopleoriented projects, which included 10 converts in Arondizogu by Ojukwu Street, Ofili by Port Harcourt Road, Akunnia by Ochanja Road among others. Five rounabouts beautification projects in Ochanja, Creek Road by Niger Street, Creek Road by Modebe, Ozomagala Road by Modebe among others, a weekly fumigation of the entire area, which was previously ravaged by mosquitoes and other insects, employment of over 500 youths and prompt payment of the monthly salaries of the council staff.

Poetry, jazz with JP Clark at Didi POETRY Described by Encyclopaedia Britannica as “the finest of the African poets”, JP Clark will offer his admirers an evening to remember in this exclusive birthday fest that Didi Museum founder Dr Newton Jibunoh highlights as “an experience of a lifetime.”

Wizkid to light up ‘Legend Nite'

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RE are you a consumer of Legend Extra Stout? Then be ready for a night of fun at the coliseum on Friday with music prodigy, Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun a.k.a Wizkid has promised consumers of consumers of the drink an unforgettable night. Holding at the prestigious Coliseum Nite Club on December 7, consumers of Legend Extra Stout, winner of the Golden Quality Award at the 51st Monde award ceremony in Greece, is poised to make this monthly in-bar brand activation the biggest and most glamorous.

The highly entertaining and rewarding initiative which began in March has provided an enviable platform for top notch musicians and comedians to perform while consumers have won prizes like refrigerators, generators, fans, DVD players and trays of Legend Extra Stout.

It would be recalled that musicians like Mike Okri, Flavour Nabania, Ras Kimono, Terry G, Duncan Mighty, Yinka Davies, Nigga Raw, J Martins and comedians like

Basket Mouth, Gordons, Seyi Law, Buchi, I go die, have entertained fun seekers in different states.

It promises to be a night to remember as Wizkid who is the rave of the moment will churn out his tracks like "Holla at your Boy", "Gidi Girl", "Tease Me", "Ori Mi" and the hit banger ''Azonto''. Rib-cracking compere, De Don, Coliseum Shifters and other side attractions are also expected to add to the glitz and glamour of the event.

Funso Ayeni, Brand Manager, Legend Extra Stout, reiterated that the relevance of the "Real Deal Nite" is to create an atmosphere where the brand bonds with its consumers and to make them understand the brand essence, "we are calling on people to follow the brand, try it and of course become a loyalist."

Ayeni stressed that Legend Extra stout is by far "the best brewed stout brand in Nigeria with distinguishing qualities that sets it apart from other stout brands in the market because of the full brewed process that it undergoes."

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Forecasts Profit after tax N590.797m NIGER INSURANCE Gross Premium N2.73b Profit after tax N212.95m MUTUAL BENEFITS Gross Premium N2b Profit N885.633m REGENCY ALLIANCE Gross Premium N812.596m Profit after tax N256.437m LEARN AFRICA Turnover N1.06b Profit after tax N58.336m TOTAL Nigeria Turnover N46.676 b Profit after tax N942.1m MRS OIL Nigeria Turnover N51.20b Profit after tax N712 m ETERNA Turnover N27.64b Profit after tax N563.834m OKOMU OIL PALM Turnover N2.667b Profit after tax N1.044b STANBIC IBTC BANK Net Operating Income N16.805b Profit after tax N2.737b ASL Turnover N1.084b Profit after tax N101.355m GT ASSURANCE Gross Premium N3.892b Profit after tax N710.62m CORNERSTONE INS Gross Premium N1.223b Profit after tax N80.01m OASIS INS Gross Premium N562.500m Profit after tax N79.868m AFRICAN ALLIANCE INS Gross Premium N1.215b Profit after tax N107.213m BERGER PAINTS Turnover N976.303m Profit after tax N88.258m SCOA Nigeria Turnover N835.0m Profit after tax N18.200m DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY Turnover N38.251b Profit after tax N3.49b STUDIO PRESS NIG Turnover N3.375b Profit after tax N20.422m JULIUS BERGER NIG Turnover N80.125b Profit after tax N2.55b INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INS Gross Premium N1.41b Profit after tax N250.450m EQUITY ASSURANCE Gross Premium N2.45b Profit after tax N287.283m STANDARDALLIANCEINS Gross Premium N2.142b Profit after tax N475.964m CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE Gross Premium N6.917b Profit after tax N805m PRESCO Turnover N2.60b Profit after tax N800.9m RT BRISCOE Turnover N4.553b

NLNG is one of the biggest success stories in our country. From what I am told, the company has invested $13 billion so far since inception, and has become a pacesetter in terms of revenue generation for the government.

-Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga

‘Why solar energy cannot drive A cashless economy’

N energy expert has given reasons whybanksand other financial institutions are yet to consider solar power as alternate source of energy in driving their automated teller machines (ATMs) and carry out other online transactions.

The Chief Executive Officer, Prostar Global Energy Services, Hyacinth Udemba, told The Nation that the cost of accessing solar energy and the space required by the banks to install the solar panels are some reasons the solar energy option does not appear attractive.

“Every bank requires a large quantity of energy to run its operation and solar system may not be an option now because of the cost im-

By Lucas Ajanaku

plication compared to the power demand. But ATMs can always depend on inverter backup depending on the location of the ATM or the branch of the bank. To deploy solar for maximum usage like that of full bank operation will require large space for the panels,” he said, lamenting that the banks were not doing anything to encourage the mass use of the alternative source of emergy in the country.

“What we are saying is that if banks have policies in place to support renewable energy

as we have in other countries of the world, it will be a major boost to the economy.

But unfortunately, Nigeria banks are not looking towards that direction. It may be because they are not aware of the roles they can play in the sector. Operators are therefore left to do the little they can. So, at the moment, operators in the alternative energy sector are not encouraged in the sense that the incentives from government through the banks are not there,” he added.

According to him, the government is not helping matters as it prefers to give in-

stallation contacts to offshore firms thereby depriving the economy of local value addition and job creation.

“The situation is not even been helped by the government. Any time the government wants to give major jobs out, they don’t give them to indigenous experts. It is either they are given to foreign installers or companies or they are done the same way they do other projects in the country,” he said, adding that the story may have started changing now by virtue of the new Procurement Act. “I think they are beginning to give jobs to those who

•From left: Chairman, Marketing and Sponsorship, Sub-Committee, 18th National Sports Festival (Eko 2012), Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas flanked by Vice-Chairman, Mr Tunde Bank-Anthony (right), and Zonal Co-ordinator, Lagos Island Zone 1, Union Bank of Nigeria PLC, Mr Adebanji Jimoh, during a cheque presentation in Lagos.

CBN seeks 40% board, mgt positions for women in banks

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ENTRAL Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has urged banks to take steps that would ensure that 40 per cent of women in their employment occupy board and management positions in 2014.

CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who spoke at the annual bankers’ conference in Lagos, said banks should take steps to address challenges being faced by women in the workplace.

He said men and women are equal and should be treated equally in management institutions.

“I am not one of those who believe that all men are better than women, or that

How to raise funds for foreign operations - P 30

By Collins Nweze

women are better than men. You need both to have diversity on the board. Any board that has a combination of men and women is better than any one that has men only, or women only,” he said.

Sanusi explained that the move to empower more women is aimed at boosting Federal Government’s programme on job creation and poverty alleviation. He said the Bankers’ Committee has declared financial period, “a year of women empowerment,” adding that a sub-committee has been formed to enable Deposit Money Banks achieve

that objective.

“The Bankers’ Committee has made 2012 the year of women empowerment.

A sub-committee on women empowerment has been formed. We are working at establishing a special fund by the end of the year that will provide credit facilities to women at a single digit interest rate,” Sanusi said.

Already, CBN data indicates that women already occupy 27 per cent of senior management positions and 15 per cent of board seats in all the banks, the Bankers’ Committee, has observed.

“We are making serious progress in achieving the

Equities make N1.93t gains in 11 months - P32

set target. Majority of banks are complying and this has led to the positive result we have today,” it said.

The CBN said interests expressed by banks on the policy has been encouraging, adding that there has been sensitisation and gradual implementation of the policy in majority of the banks.

The Nation gathered that some banks have started taking census of gender distribution in their banks to avert CBN’s sanctions.

Many of the banks have set up committees to decide processes and plans that would assist them address the gender imbalance in the industry.

have the competence to do the jobs. But as government is beginning to pick interest in the sector, if things are done properly, I want to believe that in the next five years, we shall be somewhere in the area of energy in the country. It is only then that the roles of the banking industry in the sector may be established,” he said.

Kenya searches for more oil

By Daniel Essiet

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ESPITE the May 7 announcement of a large oil deposit in the remote northern Turkana region, discovered by the British oil and gas firm Tullow Oil PLC, Kenya, Kenya Information Secretary, Ezekiel Mutua, said his country is in search of more oil resources to boost economic growth.

Speaking with reporters, ahead of the African Futures Conference, which has begun in Lagos, Mutua said the government would ensure that the discovery of oil brings prosperity to Kenyans and eschew “resource curse” that has characterised some oil producing nations.

He said the Kenya government would ensure that money gained through oil is used to promote development, adding that the government was supporting increasing exploration and drilling activity According to him , there is still much more exploration work to be done and discovery of oil is important for more than just national pride but for economic development.

Handling expectations,he explained is not easy, especially with Kenya preparing for elections in March 2013.

The discovery of oil was “good news” for Kenya, which spends millions of dollars in oil imports.

Kenya spent US$4.1 billion on oil imports, which is equivalent to 100,000 barrels per day in 2011, according to reports. The government had expressed “cautiously optimistic” over commercial viability of the oil find. Thirty-one wells have been drilled across the country over the past few years, all of them turning up dry, so this caution is reasonable.

Mutua said his government is in support of convening the African Futures roundtable event in Lagos, because of the potential for economic growth the continent.

Customs targets N150b monthly - P 35

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

30

MONEY

B

How to raise funds for foreign operations, by CBN

ANKS with foreign subsidiaries have been advised to utilise resources in their host-countries to boost their operations rather than ship funds from home to do so.

In a statement, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) urged them to raise funds from the offshore capital market through private placements or public offerings.

CBN’s advice followed its earlier directive stopping banks from using local resources to fund their offshore subsidiaries. It also stopped quarantee of deposits for foreign subsidiaries.

CBN Director, Banking Supervisions, Agnes Martins advised that the banks could also pursue a merger or acquisition; or if external capital raisings fail, submit a strategy for exiting the relevant foreign jurisdictions to the regulator.

The directive also bars Nigerian banks from guaranteeing the deposits of their foreign subsidiaries and mandates banks with foreign subsidiaries to submit plans showing that their subsidiaries are fully capitalised in line with Basel II and III accords.

Stories by Collins Nweze

“The increases reflect efforts to strengthen the banking sectors in those countries even as global banks have also been seeking ways to boost capital adequacy ratios in their home countries to meet increased capital requirements under Basel III, and one option they have explored has been the disposal of international subsidiaries,” she in a statement said.

The CBN said these capital demands from foreign subsidiaries are not in tandem with the level of growth in business activities in these lenders. It said it would not allow banks to continue funding their subsidiaries from parent companies but would encourage them to consider mergers and acquisitions with other local or foreign banks in host country.

“The CBN shall not permit any

further capital outlay from parent banks to augment the capital needs of foreign subsidiaries but would rather encourage banks to consider mergers and acquisition arrangements with other local and or foreign banks in the host country. Under no circumstances are parent banks allowed to guarantee the deposit of their foreign subsidiaries,” Martins said.

The banks face the most nearterm pressure in their Zambian operations, where the minimum capital requirement for foreign banks has been raised from $2 million to $100 million and to $20 million for local banks, with a December 31, 2012 deadline for full compliance.

Babatunde Obaniyi, Head, Market Risk, Greenwich Trust Limited, said the CBN directive on offshore funding will reduce operational risks for the lenders and protect

local economy.

He told The Nation that said since the parent banks which have the capital are already incorporated in Nigeria, the apex bank is just being proactive to ensure that the funds that would have been used to develop Nigeria’s economy are not channeled to other economies.

Obaniyi said the apex bank took that decision because for a bank to operate offshore, it has to firstly, raise its capital base to the required N100 billion. And for a bank like United Bank for Africa with 18 offshore subsidiaries and Access Bank with nine subsidiaries, among others, recapitalising all these susbsidiaries where there is sudden increase in capital bases may deplete their funds.

He explained that although there are some African countries, especially The Gambia where investors cannot just bring hot money to fund banks, but polices in many African countries points to the fact that more countries want foreign banks to recapitalise their subsidiaries with funds from home country.

He said some of the banks have leant to share risks with local banks to reduce the economic risks

that come with foray into new markets.

“The level of aggression most Nigerian banks exhibit in venturing into new markets, if not checked, will raise their operational risk level. Besides, I do not see the restriction of these banks into foreign countries as having the capacity to deplete their Group performance because some of these markets are smaller than Nigeria’s,” he said.

Renaissance Capital (RenCap), an investement and research firm, said in an emailed report that CBN’s target is to retain capital in the country, as it seems more focused on the recapitalisation of Nigerian banks’ existing subsidiaries.

However, there is less clarity about the deployment of capital for future or new subsidiaries.

It said the policy could affect FirstBank and GT Bank, given their planned expansions outside Nigeria in the medium term. She said that the policy poses a clear risk to future external growth prospects for Nigerian banks offshore adding that the CBN needs to provide additional clarity about how this directive affects the banks’ offshore expansion plans, which for some banks are core to their mediumterm growth strategies. It added that most of these banks are expected to develop their own products and services to meet the needs of the people.

‘Audit committee key to corporate governance’

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•From left: Chairman Shoreline Natural Resources, Kola Karim; Chief Executive Officer, Heritage Oil Plc, Tony Buckingham, Executive Director Ecobank Nigeria, Foluke Aboderin; Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Jibril Aku and Chief Finance Officer, Heritage Oil PLC, Paul Atherton, during a dinner for the $550 million financing for Shoreline Natural Resource in London.

States’recurrent expenditure hits 58% T HE recurrent expenditure of the 36 states was 58 per cent of last year’s budget, FBN Capital, an investment and research firm, has said.

In a report obtained by The Nation, the firm said on the surface, states have a better mix of expenditure but recurrent items accounted for 58 per cent of their aggregate spending in 2011, capital items 38.9 per cent and extra-budgetary costs 3.1 per cent.

It said personnel consumed 19.2 per cent of the total and overheads a further 13.7 per cent even as Federal Government’s minimum wage legislation, pushed up the cost of salaries this year.

At the Federal Government level, the firm said the rise in recurrent expenditure was affecting real sector funding and growth. It said personnel costs amounted to 36.5 per cent of total spending in 2011, and related overheads an additional 14.3 per cent. Statutory payments to bodies, such as the National Judicial Council and the National Assembly, have accounted for 5.9 per cent of government expenditure

year to date.

“We can grumble at inefficient capital spending by the Federal Government, and cite the thousands of unfinished projects it has sanctioned. That said, we should stress the swollen recurrent budgets, which constrained the development of productive sectors of the economy,” FBN Capital said.

It noted that the recurrent/capital mix in Federal Government spending has been around 65/35 per cent, with the recurrent share increasing to 71 per cent year to date without transfers.The medium term framework assumes a cut in recurrent spending in real terms. Nominal remuneration can be maintained but the core assumption is that the government’s fiscal stance is not undermined by the 2015 elections,” the report said.

FBN Capital said on the surface, state governments have a better mix of expenditure but re-

current items accounted for 58 per cent of their aggregate spending in 2011, capital items 38.9 per cent and extra-budgetary costs 3.1 per cent.

Personnel consumed 19.2 per cent of the total and overheads a further 13.7 per cent even as Federal Government’s minimum wage legislation, will push up the cost of salaries this year.

HE audit committee remains a key pillar of corporate governance in firms, Chairman, Audit Committee Institute of Nigeria, Christian Ekeigwe, has said.

He spoke at the Annual Audit Committee Roundtable in Lagos.

He explained that in advanced economies, recommendations of audit committees are implemented as that is the only way of ensuring that management complies with regulatory guidelines.

He said the Financial Reporting Council Act 2011 recognises the importance of Audit Committees in cooperate governance and there is need to explore the dimensions of audit committee responsibilities to ensure they fulfil their duties diligently.

He advised investors to be careful in choosing firms to invest in, saying they should choose the ones that have developed the right environment. “Good governance is a control against fraudulent financial reporting. Firms with good governance would have enterprise risk management framework that helps deter and detect fraudulent financial reporting,”he said.

He said the Audit Committee Institute is spearheading initiatives to improve the committee effectiveness with the establishment of

its Centre for Audit Quality, which would focus on helping organisations and their internal and external auditors to improve the quality of audit judgments as a means of improving the quality of financial reporting process.

He added that shareholders have a right to expect that Audit Committees are working for their interests because when that happens, shareholder value is protected.

He said when shareholders’ interests are protected; it becomes easier to attract investments that create jobs and wealth for the economy.

He called for reforms in many aspects of corporate governance and audit committees’ regime, financial reporting value chain as well as audit firm governance.

He said Audit Committee Institute is spearheading initiatives to improve audit quality with the establishment of its Centre for Audit Quality (CAQ), which will focus on helping organisations and their internal and external auditors to improve the quality of audits as a means of ensuring shareholder value assurance.

In future, professional bodies and audit firms would be invited to affiliate with the centre, in the quest for reassuring audit quality and preventing audit failure.

‘Financially excluded adults to drop to 20% by 2020

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HE number of adults excluded from the finanacially system would drop to 20 per cent by 2020, Chief Executive Officer, Enhancing Financial Innovation & Access (EFInA), Ms. Modupe Ladipo, has said.

At the moment, no fewer than 34.9million Nigerians, representing 39.7 per cent are excluded from financial services.

Unveiling the results from the EFInA Access to Financial Services in Nigeria’s survey, he said between 2008 and 2012, the number of adults that are financially excluded decreased by 10.5 million.

She explained that the report was

meant to measure trends in access and use of financial services in the country and to establish credible benchmarks and indicators of financial penetration in the country.

According to her, financial inclusion is the provision of high quality financial products, such as savings, credit, insurance, payments and pensions, which are relevant, appropriate and affordable for the entire adult population, especially the low income segment.

“An inclusive financial sector is characterised by the diversity of financial services products and providers, the level of competition between them, and the legal and regu-

latory environment that ensures the integrity of the financial sector and access to financial services for all,” she said.

The absence of relevant and reliable data and analysis on how individuals and households manage their finances was one of the biggest hurdles to improving access to financial services in Nigeria.

CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi in his address entitled: Overview of the national financial inclusion strategy and the role of banks in promoting financial inclusion in Nigeria, said, there has been some improvement in the move to drive financial inclusion in the country.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

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MONEY

CBN may create Collateral Registry to promote lending T O ensure a vibrant lending system, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is planning to create a collateral registry.

The registry will keep all documents relating to the collaterals used by borrowers to obtaind loans.

CBN is collaborating with the World Bank to create the registry.

The Bank of Ghana created a collateral registry and registered 72,703 collaterals from 197 lenders between February 2010 and September 2012.

The Director of Communication, CBN, Mr Ugochukwu Okoroafor, said the bank was working out modalities for creating the registry to improve lending.

CBN, he said, was working with the World Bank to ensure the success of Financial System Strategy (FSS) 2020. He said efforts were on-going to strengthen the capacity of banks to lend.

He said: “We are going to work on collateral registry for the banking industry. We do not have registry for people to access fa-

Stories by Akinola Ajibade

cilities and further protect credits offered them to develop their business.

“By collateral registry, when you buy a land and you want to take loans, that land will be registered. If you want to collect loan, and you use your land to borrow money, that should be referred to as collateral registry.”

He explained that the registry is in form of guarantees provided to secure facilities granted by the banks.

According to him, the structural changes that have taken place in the recent times attest to the fact that the industry has stabilised.

He foresees a more improved and value added industry ahead, as CBN continues its proactive measures.

Industry observers attributed the CBN’s decision to come up with a registry to the needs to reduce the burdens encountered by banks while trying to recover some of their loans. They said the CBN has learnt its lessons, following the huge debts re-

corded by banks after the 2009 stress test.

Former President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Mr Emmanuel Ijewere, said banks recorded huge toxic assets that almost grounded the industry. He said the reforms, which exercise started in 2009, has achieved certain objectives, arguing that the weaker position of some banks would not have been exposed if the CBN and the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) have not conducted an audit test.

He said the banking watchdog is trying the best it could to protect the depositors fund and further re-invigorate the sector. He said the registry is good, and capable of boosting the growth of the industry and the economy, adding that the more lending improves, the better for the critical sector of the economy.

He said the agricultural sector has suffered from bad lending in the past, noting that banks’ lending to the industry has grown from the about two to three per cent.

FIRS urges small firms to keep records of transactions SMALL and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have been advised to cultivate the habit of keeping records of their transactions.

The Deputy Director, Registration, Returns, Filing and Processing Programme (RRFPP) of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Mr Moses Oppanike gave the advice at a workshop organised to educate small businesses on the importance of record keeping.

Oppanike said it was important, “for businesses to keep records as tax authorities and other relevant government agencies are interested in knowing their performance with a view to providing necessary support and advice that would upturn the fortunes of the businesses.”

He said plans are underway to roll out model taxpayer service units (TPSU) nationwide to strengthen the existing relationship between the FIRS and taxpayers.”

These units, he said, “will be equipped with modern facilities that are adequate to ease taxpayers’ compliance with tax obligations. They will also be manned with personnel, specifically trained to provide taxpayers with technical assistance as well as appropriately address their enquiries and complaints in the tax offices.”

To this end, basic business record keeping for micro and small businesses as a means of accessing credit facilities for business growth in SMEs have become educational tools to the FIRS to interact with small businesses.

AfDB plays key roles in Africa PPP conference THE African Development Bank (AfDB) has participated in the Fourth Annual Africa Public-Private Partnership Conference (APPP) which took place in Abuja.

APPP is supported by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, the Federal Government and the AfDB. The event has helped legal advisors, financial advisers, among other parties interested in initiating PPP projects with governments to gain unparalleled understanding, share knowledge and experiences, and to promote future PPP projects.

Through its long-and medium-term strategies and implementing departments, the AfDB is encouraging African countries to create the necessary legal and regulatory framework for PPPs, as well as facilitating networking and sharing of experience among regulatory agencies and other similar organisations.

The Bank’s Private Sector Operations Department is a key player as lender and advisor to African countries in supporting PPPs, particularly in the establishment of basic infrastructure, such as transportation, energy generation and information and communications technologies (ICT) that are essential for Africa’s economic development.

Support is also channelled to enhance the scope and volume of industries and services in projects in agribusiness as an essential means of boosting long-term The AfDB is also supporting capacity building in PPPs through the African Development Institute (EADI), the focal point for the AfDB Group’s capacity development activities. Capacity building activities focus on PPP techniques and processes required for expert management in key infrastructure projects, including railways, roads, energy, telecommunications, water and sewerage.

Diamond Bank launches mobile banking truck

•From left: Group Head, Corporate Services, Unified Payment Services Limited Felix Edionwe receiving award for the Most Consistent Company in Manpower Development in Victoria Island for 2011 from Apapa Area Manager, Industrial Training Fund (ITF), J. K. Ayo, in Lagos.

Banks’ imagemakers urge patience on ATM ANKS are working out ways issue of providing transaction fee removal the for scrapping the N100 convenience is key to the growth

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charged customers for using other banks’Automated Teller Machine, (ATMs), according to the Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks (ACAMB).

ACAMB’s President, Mr Tunde Sofowora, said the banks would strive to remove impediments towards the scrapping of the charge.

Banks’chief executives agreed three weeks ago to scrap the charge to promote e-banking.

Sofowora said: “The rough edges will be smoothened in a few days and customers will enjoy this,” new freedom of using ATM charge.”

He urged customers to be patient to allow banks to work out modalities with third party service providers on implementing the scrapping.

He said the resolution of the Bank-

ers’ Committee is one of the ways that banks would leverage on to give values to their customers.

“It is also one of the ways of promoting neighbourhood banking to encourage the success of the industry,” he added.

He said banks have acquired sufficient capacity in infrastructure and manpower to run a seamless cash-less economy.

According to him, customers among other related parties, must avail themselves of the friendly environment banks have provided to promote their businesses and the economy in particular.

The ACAMB’s chief said banks are making it easier as much as possible for customers for customers to transact their business from any location in the country, adding that

of the economy.

Sofowora said banks have invested billions of naira to acquire thousands of Point of Sales (PoS), among other channels, to service customers better.

“To this end, the association urged merchants, traders, supermarket operators, and filling station owners to go to their banks and collect PoS terminals to facilitate electronic payments nationwide.

“Banks are promoting the growth of electronic payment system, as well as increasing the availability, reliability and security of electronic channels. The use of e-banking will discourage heavy cash usage that attracts deadly robberies and cash related crimes such as kidnapping and money laundering,” he added.

DIAMOND Bank Plc has launched a mobile banking truck in the country to take banking services to the door step of its existing and potential customers.

The new service, tagged Diamond–in–Motion, was launched at its corporate headquarters in Lagos by the Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Alex Otti. With the service, customers can open new accounts, pay bills, save money, use ATM as well as make cash/cheque deposits and withdrawals.

Otti described the mobile truck as “a full-fledged bank in motion”.Mr. Olumide Akindele, Head Proposition and Liabilities of Diamond Bank said Diamond–in–Motion is part of the bank’s strategy to take banking to the customers, adding that it would afford them the convenience and opportunity to do transactions with ease.

He said the bank planned to acquire about 250 additional units of the truck for nationwide rollout as part of strategy to serve the unbanked population Mr Steve Obiago, Head Information Technology Operations, described it as a moving branch fortified with the latest technology.

Obiago, who said the initiative was part of the bank’s strategy to drive the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) cashless policy, added that it could be moved anywhere and customers would be able to utilise it at any location.

Sterling Bank chief seeks support for SMEs SMALL and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) generates 60 per cent of finance in the economy, Mr Yemi Adeopla, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Sterling Bank, has said.

Speaking at the MfB Customer Forum organised by the bank in Lagos, Adeola said banks concentrate on big customers, not understanding that about 60 per cent of finance in the economy usually comes from the SMEs. He said unless banks refocus on SMEs, the economy would not grow.

He said Sterling Bank is positioning its key customers in the MfB subsector to benefit from the MSMEDF when it is launched.

He said the fund seeks to provide wholesale funding for MfBs and microfinance institutions for on-lending to micro and medium enterprises. He listed other funding opportunities that the MfBs can key into to include the N5 billion small business development funds, $4 million renewable energy project, and another $200 million provided by Ford Foundation to enable them increase their market penetration.

Adeola said the plan is part of the apex bank’s strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening the MfB subsector to enable it play its primary role of financial support for the grassroots in the economy.

Noting that massive investment is required to run a bank, Mr Adeola said that Sterling Bank is committed to channeling some of its products and services as well as dedicate knowledgeable staff, towards meeting the business needs of MfBs.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

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THE NATION INVESTORS

Equities make N1.93t gains in 11 months I

NVESTORS in the equity market have in the past 11 months gained more than N1.93 trillion in capital appreciation as market considerations of quoted companies surge towards their best closing in recent years.

Despite substantial profit-taking in November, equities surprised many analysts’ predictions of a slowdown with modest gains in the 11th month, pushing the yearto-date return for the period to N1.933 trillion.

Total market value of quoted equities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) closed November at N8.466 trillion, indicating an increase of N43 billion during the month. The All Share Index (ASI), the benchmark index that tracks changes in prices of quoted companies, underlined the positive pricing trend with a modest increase of 0.24 per cent to close at 26,494.44 points.

Aggregate market capitalisation and ASI had opened November at N8.423 trillion and 26,430.91 points. Both key indices had opened this year at N6.533 trillion and 20,730.63 points respectively.

The modest gain in the 11th months pushed the year-to-date return at the NSE to 27.8 per cent, underlining the attraction of equities as a real-yield instrument. The Monetary Policy Rate, the benchmark interest rate set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), stands at 12 per cent while inflation rate stands at 11.7 per cent.

Fixed-income rates generally showed out equities’ return as substantially attractive. Three-month tenor deposit rate of banks stands at 8.69 per cent, 91-day Nigerian Treasury Bill (NTB) carries 12.4 per cent while average monthly prime lending rate currently stands at 16.48 per cent.

The performance of the stock market was swelled by impressive bullish run in the third quarter,

•Bulls hit homestretch Stories by Taofik Salako

which scooped N1.4 trillion capital gains to investors during the three-month period.

The third quarter posted the biggest rally in recent periods with a quarterly return of 20 per cent during the three-month period ended September 30, 2012. Total average year-to-date return then closed the period at 25.47 per cent.

Aggregate market capitalisation of all equities, which had opened the third quarter at N6.895 trillion, closed the period at N8.282 trillion.

This represented an increase of N1.39 trillion. The ASI jumped from its index on board of 21,599.57 points to 26,011.64 points, an increase of 20.43 per cent.

The market had closed the first half with a marginal gain of 4.19 per cent. ASI closed the first half at 21,599.57 points as against its year opening index of 20,730.63 points.

Aggregate market capitalisation of all quoted equities also showed modest increase of 5.54 per cent at N6.895 trillion by June compared with its value on board of N6.533 trillion for the year.

The market had closed the first quarter with a negative year-todate return of 0.38 per cent as declines in share prices of highly capitalised stocks overwhelmed the market situation. ASI closed first quarter at 20,652.47 while aggregate market capitalisation of all equities closed the first three months at N6.550 trillion.

The bullish rally has re-infused confidence into the stock market and set out the market for its biggest gain in the past five years.

Market value of all quoted companies had dwindled by N1.38 trillion in 2011 as uncertainties in the banking sector and monetary tightening policies of the CBN deflated initial optimism that had seen the market with double-digit gain in the early part of the year.

Aggregate market capitalisation of all quoted equities slumped to N6.533 trillion at the end of last trading session for 2011 as against the year’s opening value of N7.914 trillion. The ASI fell to 20,730.63 points from its 2011’s value-on-board of 24,770.52 points. Altogether, the benchmark index indicated a negative return of 16.31 per cent, which translated to almost N1.4 trillion loss.

The downtrend in 2011 had been

pervasive as all other key group indices showed negative returns.

From the petroleum-marketing sector to banking, insurance and food and beverages sectors while the bears rattled all cadres of stocks from penny stocks to mid-cap and high cap stocks.

The upswing in 2012 has also been pervasive and marketwide with key group indices showing double-digit returns.

The NSE 30 Index, which tracks the 30 most capitalised stocks, showed 11-month year-to-date return of 36.24 per cent; the NSE Consumer Goods Index posted 33.68 per cent while NSE Banking Index returned 11.19 per cent. But the beleaguered oil and gas and insurance sectors remained under sell pressures with negative returns of -29.32 per cent and -20.53 per cent.

‘Investing in agric most effective way to eradicate poverty’

By Daniel Essiet

NCREASING spending on agriculture is the most effective type of investment for halting poverty across the country, a don, Prof. Abel Ogunwale, has said.

In an interview with The Nation, Ogunwale, a lecturer in Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University,Ogbomoso,Oyo State, said investments in agriculture are more effective in lifting people out of poverty than investments in any other sector because they not only drive economic growth but set the stage for long-term sustainable development.

According to him, the key challenge is how to build the capacity of small farmers to invest in arable crops and animal husbandry which could become viable rural businesses, particularly for women and young people who are jobless.

He said revamping agriculture to boost income of farmers involves improving access to and cost of finance, public expenditure in agriculture, research and development, and private sector investment in agriculture.

He said agriculture-related agencies needed to marshal efforts and resources in partnership to accelerate modernisation and achieve sustainable food security outcomes, reduce poverty and end hunger.

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• From Left: Company Secretary, Investment One Financial Services Limited,Mrs Abimbola Afolabi-Ajayi; Chairman, Egbert Imomoh and Managing Director, Mr Nicholas Nyamali, during the media conference to announce the change of brand identity from GTB Asset management Limited to Investment Financial Services Limited.

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Investors lament non-listing of IPOs, private placements

NVESTORS have criticised the lukewarm attitudes of several companies towards listing their shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) many years after luring them to buy into their initial public offerings (IPOs) and private placements with promises of listing on the secondary market.

Retail investors who spoke with The Nation said the non-listing of the shares of the companies which had undertaken IPOs during the 2005-2008 stock market boom have locked down their funds without any verifiable means of accessing such funds.

But the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said it was engaging the issuing houses that fronted for such IPOs and placements to encourage them to quicken listing of the shares.

Several private limited liability companies had converted to public limited liability companies and floated IPOs to raise funds from the capital market with assurances that they would list their shares after the conclusion of the offer.

While some have listed, many companies that floated IPOs have backed down from listing their

• We are engaging them, says SEC shares citing the steeply downtrend at the stock market.

IPO is the first sale of shares by a company to the general investing public.

Shareholders said the non-listing of the shares was a breach of agreement noting that this has not only denied them the opportunity of knowing the true current worth of their investments but they have also been unable to retrieve their funds.

National President,Nigeria Shareholders Solidarity Association (NSSA),Chief Timothy Adesiyan, shareholders expect capital market regulators to have taken up the issue of listing with the companies since they also gave similar promise to the regulatory authorities when they were seeking approvals for their offers.

He noted that several shareholders were lured into buying the IPOs due to the promise of public listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and resultant opportunity to

trade on their investments.

According to him, it was unbecoming of the companies to raise funds from investors and refuse to subject themselves to public scrutiny by listing their shares.

"They have never called any annual general meeting; they have not paid any dividend nor make kind of return whatsoever on our money, no iota of accountability, they just sat on our money. It's highly unbecoming and we want the regulators to do something about this," Adesiyan said.

Citing example of a popular insurance company, Adesiyan said capital market regulators should be decisive by compelling the companies to list their shares if they refuse to heed appeals from the regulators and shareholders.

He said the sense of deception that underlined the non-listing and other revelations of shady deals in the market have adversely affected investors' confidence in the market.

However, a director of one of the companies that had delayed listing of their shares said they took the decision to suspend listing because of the fear that the recession at the stock market might seriously undervalue the shares.

Citing other companies that had listed at IPO or above IPO prices, he noted that most of the listed IPOs have depreciated to their nominal values.

Responding to concerns over the delayed listing of previous issues, Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms Arunma Oteh, said the Commission had interacted with the affected companies to impress it on them the imperatives of listing their shares.

According to her, the apex regulator has been engaging the issuing houses to the issues with a view to finding solutions to the problem.

She however said the Commission would not compel the companies to list noting that the companies would have to be fully prepared in terms of corporate governance and compliance before listing their shares.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

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THE NATION INVESTORS

‘Equities will sustain bullish ride to 2013’ M

ANAGING Director, Investment One Financial Services Limited, formerly GTB Asset Management Limited (GTBAM), Mr Nicholas Nyamali, has predicted that the bullish rally at the stock market would sustain through to the 2013 as investors continue to reflect improving fundamentals of quoted companies.

He projected that average fullyear return for the stock market in 2012 could close between 27 and 30 per cent just as the market would witness additional capital appreciation in 2013, especially in the immediate months after the first quarter reports, which are expected to be largely impressive.

According to him, the year-todate return of the market, which stands slightly above 27 per cent,

Stories by Taofik Salako

is still normal considering the long-drawn declines in share prices of several companies in spite of continuous improvements in fundamentals.

He noted that improvement in the fundamentals of quoted banks would provide further impetus for capital appreciation in 2013 citing the dominance of banks on the capitalisation and activity charts.

“The market has been highly undervalued for several years; we must understand where we are coming from. So, we expect the market to continue to reflect corporate results in the months ahead,” Nyamali said.

He, however, urged investors to learn from the experience of the past and solicit for adequate invest-

ment report and education before making their investment decisions.

According to him, the main problem behind the market recession was fundamentally due to lack of investment knowledge as people were just not looking at the operational results and earnings of stocks in consideration for their share prices.

Nyamali, who led the management buy out (MBO) of GTBAM when Guaranty Trust Bank Plc decided to sell its wealth and investment management subsidiary to comply with new banking regulatory regime, reiterated the commitments of Investment One to investors’ education.

He said while the company would provide investment services and products that it would bill clients for, it will also maintain a par-

• Deputy Governor, Kogi State, Yomi Awoniyi, receiving drugs and food items donated by May & Baker Nigeria Plc to victims of flood in the state from Head, Corporate Communication, May & Baker Nigeria Plc, Mr Eugene Olewuenyi. With them is former Special Adviser on MDGs, Kogi State, Aigbogun El-Shettima.

GTBank sells GTB Registrars

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UARANTY Trust Bank (GTBank) Plc might have concluded the sale of GTB Registrars, its share registration and management subsidiary, as the bank continues with the divestment from its non-core banking subsidiaries.

A source close to the bank said it has concluded the sale of GTB Registrars, bringing to three subsidiaries that have been sold in furtherance of the decision of the bank to remain a commercial bank.

CBN’s Scope of Banking Activities and Ancillary Matters No 3, 2010 requires banks to concentrate on core banking functions.

The new model requires banks to either sell non-core banking businesses or form a holding company to hold such non-core banking businesses, including activities, such as insurance, asset management and capital market operations.

Most banks including GTBank, Access Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, Skye Bank Plc, Sterling Bank, Zenith Bank, Unity Bank and Wema Bank have chosen to divest from non-banking subsidiaries.

GTB Registrars acts as registrar for GTBank Plc, Mansard Insurance Plc, and GTHomes Ltd. It manages over 400,000 shareholder accounts.

The share registration firm prides itself as a customer excellence company.

“Whether providing registration services or handling a specific corporate action project, we work in partnership with our clients and their advisers to understand their requirements and deliver innovative solutions in an effective and efficient manner,” it stated on its corporate information portal.

GTBank had earlier sold its insurance subsidiary- Guaranty Trust Assurance, which changed its name to Mansard Insurance.

GTBank’s former wealth and investment management subsidiary, GTB Asset Management (GTBAM) Limited, at the weekend changed its name to Investment One Financial Services Limited following the sale of the investment firm through a management buy out.

Although the value of disposed GTB Registrars was not available, the source said the bank sold the share registration and management business at a competitive price.

According to the source, GTBank places emphasis on sustainability of reputation of its erstwhile subsidiaries as providers of excellent services in its consideration of potential buyers. It also seeks to extract the best values from the disposal of assets.

GTBank had received N11.91 billion from the sale of its majority equity stake in GTAssur. It sold 67.68 per cent equity stake in GTAssur to Assur Africa Hold-

ing (AAH). The shares were sold at a price of N1.76 per share for a total consideration of N11.910 billion, approximately $76 million.

In confirmation of the completion of the deal, a total of 6.77 billion shares of GTAssur worth N11.91 billion were exchanged in 17 deals on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). GTAssur paid up share capital consists of 10 billion shares of 50 kobo each.

With GTAssur market price then at N1.32, the selling price represented a premium to GTBank and also indicated that the deal recognised that GTAssur was undervalued by the interplay of market forces at the secondary market.

AAH was incorporated in the Republic of Mauritius as a special purpose vehicle incorporated for the GTAssur acquisition.The shareholding structure of AAH is made up of six members comprising three international developmental finance institutions – DEG (Germany), Proparco (France) and FMO (Netherlands) and three private equity funds with substantial investments across Africa – ADP I Holding 7, subsidiary of African Development Partners I, LLC and ADP I L.P. (together “ADP I”), advised by Development Partners International LLP (“DPI”) based in the United Kingdom, AfricInvest II LLC and AfricInvest Financial Sector Limited, both advised by AfricInvest Capital Partners (“ACP”) based in Tunisia.

allel commitment to providing not-for-profit investment services including advisory services aimed at inculcating savings and investment habits in Nigerians and empower the generality of the people.

He pointed out that in spite of the change of name to Investment One Financial Services Limited, the company remains essentially the same good old wealth management firm known for its excellent services and products.

According to him, the company remains the same in terms of hu-

man resources, technologies, vision and values that have been its guiding light since its formation as a subsidiary of GTBank.

“The name ‘Investment One’ mirrors our desire to be a one-stop shop for comprehensive investment services and the first point of call for insightful and innovative financial solutions. The name also reflects the firms’ strategic positioning as a service-oriented firm that is responsive to the investment needs of its customers,”Nyamali said.

NSE looks for first IPO for primary market

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HE Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) is looking for a major initial public offering (IPO) that will signal the beginning of recovery at the primary market.

Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr Oscar Onyema, said the floatation of an IPO by one of the prospective issuers would send a message about the full recovery of the capital market, with the resume of activities at the primary market complementing robust recovery at the secondary market.

He said NSE has engaged several quotable companies for the benefits of listing their shares on the stock market, adding that there were prospects for new listings in the period ahead.

The Nation’s investigation had earlier shown that many companies that had shelved plans to raise new capital from the capital market due to the lingered recession have restarted discussions about prospects of accessing new equity funds from the market.

Investment banking sources said there were indications of renewed interests in the new issue market following sustained recovery in the stock market, which has seen considerable restoration of equities’values and investors’confidence in recent period.

They indicated that ongoing discussions could lead to making a debut of early new issues in the market around the first half of 2013 if the market sustained its ongoing recovery.

Market sources said though the talks were still not definitive, the discussions pointed to imminent rebound of the new issue market.

From a whooping N1.3 trillion in 2007, the recession that started in 2008 had withered enthusiasms for new issues, especially equities, as new issues dropped to about N86 billion in 2009. It has since declined consecutively with the few new equity issues in recent years largely rights issues motivated by large core investors seeking to recapitalise their companies.

Companies were, however, said to be considering that the positive sentiments from the secondary market recovery would impact on new equity issues.

Reports by boards of directors of several companies had indicated that firms were constrained by their inability to source new equity capital due to the melt down at the capital market while recourse to high-interest bank loans depressed probable returns to shareholders.

Reports by quoted companies highlighted the twin-problem of high cost of fund and liquidity squeeze on corporate earnings.

Several companies had earlier indicated plans for supplemen-

tary equity issues and initial public offering (IPO) but suspended the plans due to what they described as unfavourable situation at the primary market.

Not less than 11 companies had earlier indicated interests in raising new equity funds. These included companies such as Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN), May and Baker Nigeria, Fidson Healthcare, RT Briscoe, DN Meyer, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (Nahco), Lafarge Wapco Cement Nigeria Plc and UACN Property Development Company (UPDC) Plc. Two prospective new listings Promasidor Nigeria Limited and Notore Chemical Industries Limited - had also mulled plans to float IPOs. Many banks were said to be considering proactive fund-raising plans to boost their lending capacity and forestall adverse impact from global and domestic regulatory changes.

Many banks have subsisting shareholders’ resolutions to raise new funds through equity and debt issues.

Most of the companies had already intimated shareholders of the necessity of accessing new funds while many have started and completed some key steps in the new issue process.

While some of the companies plan to use net proceeds of their offers for business expansion, most of the companies would use the funds to restructure their balance sheets by reducing bank loans and providing additional working capital to support longterm growth.

Already, CCNN had secured shareholders’approval to raise N45 billion.The company had received approval to raise N15 billion each through rights issue, public offer and a rights-based secured convertible debenture issue.

This implied that the company would be seeking to raise up to N30 billion from existing shareholders while new investors and existing shareholders would contribute N15 billion.A secured convertible debenture would give opportunity to debenture holders to choose to convert their holdings to ordinary shares at a later date.

Notore plans to raise more than N160 billion.The net proceeds from the IPO would be used to finance a brand new fertiliser plant, with a conservative estimated cost of $1 billion. The new fertiliser plant was part of the company’s expansion programme, which aimed to build new capacity to support the current attainable capacity of the existing plant of 750,000 metric tonnes.

CCNN was planning to raise funds to finance expansion while Promasidor plans to use net proceeds of its IPOs to partly finance its new factory.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

34

INSURANCE

Olowude to seek Presidency’s help F on insurance growth OR the insurance industry to move forward, there is need to win the support of s takeholders, the Nigerian Insurance Association (NIA) has said.

To this end, the association would take steps to partner stakeholders, particularly the major arms of government, NIA chairman chief Remi Olowude said.

Olowude who spoke during his inauguration, in Lagos, listed his strategies for doing this. The association, he said, would seek audience with the Presidency to table issues, such as the key role of insurance to the socio-economic growth and development of the nation; how the insurance industry and the government can collaborate in areas, such as poverty alleviation; the need to give the industry the opportunity to contribute to the formulation of

Stories by Uyoatta Eshiet

certain government policies and the insurance industry representation in appropriate government committees, among others”.

Olowude said there was also the need to restructure and strengthen the NIA secretariat for effective public sector liaison and monitoring of the political and legal environment as it affect insurance.

He said as recent events in the Nigerian financial sector have shown, no insurance company was too big to fail or too small not to matter, adding that insurance companies are institutional investors which invests in equities and securities.

When these entities fail, insur-

ance firms are faced with the challenges of honouring their obligations to their customers but observed that, unfortunately, there is nothing in place on the part of the government to bail out the insurers in times of trouble as there is for the banks and other sectors of the economy.

He said NIA would initiate interactive sessions with appropriate committees of the two chambers of the National Assembly to discuss issues, such as restrictive laws on insurance practice, multiple taxation, insurance awareness and penetration, development of oil and gas industry, among others as well as pay greater attention to its partnership with the

Organised Private Sector.

He said the insurers will increase participation and representation in the activities and deliberations of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry Manufacturing and Agriculture as well as the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association.

Present at the investiture were former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon(rtd); Senator Jubril Amin, who was chairman of the occasion; Senator Gbenga Obadara, Prince Bola Ajibola, President, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria(CIIN),Dr Wale Adetimehin; President, Na-

T

•Assistant Director, Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, Mr Iheanyi Anyahara; CEO, Mr Jim Obazee and Chairman, Steering Committee of the Council, Mr Olaseni Ogunsanya, during the presentation of the firm’s statement in Lagos ... yesterday.

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

AIICO pays N8.6m claims

A

IICO Insurance paid claims worth N8.6 billion between January 2010 and December 2011, its Managing Director, Mr David Sobanjo, has said.

In a statement, he said out of the N8.6 billion, over N3.1 billion was paid as claims under general

insurance business while the life insurance business accounted for N5.5 billion claims.

According to him, as its claims ratio grew slightly from 20 percent in 2010 to 21 per cent in 2011, the company said it has continued to conduct adequate pre and post loss survey to minimise claims

leakage.

Despite of the huge claims paid yearly, he assured that the insurance firm would not shirk its responsibilities in claims payment, adding that the firm was determined to ensure that its customers get the benefits of insurance services from the company.

Two indicted in $25m fraud scheme

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HARLES Craig Jordan and Kelly Taylor Gipson, both 33, have been arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in connection with their life settlement insurance business as well as conspiracy to commit money laundering, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today along with Lucy Cruz, special agent in charge of Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and Robert Wemyss, inspector-in-charge of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).

“Illegal activity involving the investment industry has brought financial ruin to many Americans,” said Cruz. “IRS-CI is proud to bring our forensic accounting skills to put a stop to this and other types of financial schemes which prey on honest taxpayers.”

According to the indictment,

Jordan, and Gipson, both from the Dallas area, began acquiring and marketing life settlements to investors around the United States and Canada from their Houston office beginning in early 2007.

They first operated under the name Secure Investment Services and subsequently under the name American Settlement Associates LLC. “When unscrupulous people use the mail to defraud, postal inspectors will not hesitate to ensure they are brought to justice,” said Wemyss.

“Unfortunately, in these challenging economic times, USPIS has no shortage of fraud schemes to investigate.”

The indictment was returned Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012. Both were taken into custody just a short time ago and are expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen Wm. Smith at 2:00 today.

A life settlement is an investment in which a person, who is typically elderly or terminally ill, sells his or her life insurance policy for a cash payment, which is a percentage of the life insurance policy’s face value or death benefit payable by the insurance company upon the insured’s death.

Once the insured sells an insurance policy, the insured is no longer responsible for paying the policy’s premiums. To keep the policy in force, the life settlement company must ensure any premiums are paid. All premiums due prior to the death of the insured must be paid, in full and on a timely basis, to prevent additional cost or lapse. Investors who purchase life settlements only realise a profit if the total amount invested in the policy, including the purchase price and any additional premium costs, is less than the amount of the death benefit.

tional Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Mrs Laide Osijo; President, Nigerian Institute of Management, Dr Olawale Cole. Mr George Onekhena, deputy of Commissioner for Insurance in charge of Finance and Administration in NAICOM represented the Commissioner, Mr Fola Daniel at the event.

The CIIN chief said Olowude’s tenure will be rewarding as he comes with a wealth of experience spanning about 30 years.

Adetimehin said CIIN would continue to partner NIA to move the industry forward.

Osijo said Olowude is one of the leading lights of the industry and that his coming into office was a sign of good things for the industry. She assured him of brokers’ support.

Experts laud MDRI

HE Managing Director of Union Assurance Plc, Mr Godwin Odah, has said the introduction of the Market Development and Restructuring Initiative (MDRI) by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM)in 2009 marked a turning point for the industry.

He told The Nation: “Though we may not reap all the benefits by the end of this year, there is the likelihood that things are going to work better in terms of income, the increase in premium income in the industry”.

He said MDRI is a good project with a lot of potential.

But the Managing Director, Riskguard-Africa Nigeria Limited, Yemi Soladoye, said the inability of the industry to start the implementation of MDRI in 2009 as stated in its strategic document would deny operators from attaining the N1 trillion premium target this year.

He said the projection was to be achieved with a four-year strategic plan, adding that there was no way the target would be achieved, with the commencement of implementation of the initiative a year to the end of the set deadline.

He noted that despite the challenges, the MDRI stands as a turning point for the industry, adding that with the delay in the implementation, there might be need for a shift in the deliverables to make-up for the lost years.

He said: “To access a project effectively, you must look at where you are coming from. The initiative is a turning point because the operators, regulator, support service providers, journalists and the government have realised the fact that there is something going on in the industry.

“MDRI is also a turning point because it is from that stage we

saw the regulator leading the market. There is a united focus for all of us. Whether you adopt it or not, we all know that there is a project on ground and there is a destination to reach and there is a direction as to the way we can go for us to secure increased penetration for insurance business in this country. Every where, implementation has always been the challenge to achieve projects. MDRI is a case of delayed implementation.’’

Soladoye said most people are reading the document and not relating it to when implementation took off. ‘’If there is a projection in year four, we will get N1 trillion and as we could see from the paper, we were to start in 2009, we had what we are to achieve in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. So, N1 trillion is in year four, which is 2012. If implementation started in 2011, it will be a case of shifting the deliverables forward base on the difference on the ground between the strategy crafting and the execution. ‘’The initiative is a watershed in the history of the industry and it is also an evergreen thing.”

He noted that the initiative could not be wished away as it had brought about many developments, adding that efforts by NAICOM to reposition the industry through micro-insurance, takafu and more are strategic plans stated in the MDRI document.

“When you read the strategy document, you would see that micro insurance is part of the area that was recommended as where the industry will get development. Takafu is also an aspect of the initiative. As MDRI is targeted as restructuring, therefore, all the restructuring that are happening in the market are embedded in the programme,” he said.

Former US insurance agent jailed for fake applications

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FORMER Newbury Park insurance agent has been sentenced to a year in county jail and placed on five years of probation after being convicted of creating and submitting false long-term insurance applications, authorities have said.

Vincent Christopher Bellucci, 42, submitted the applications to an insurer, said California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones.

Bellucci also was ordered to pay restitution of $69,003.62 and fines and penalties in excess of $2,000.

"Agents who prey on insurers will be brought to justice," Jones said in a news release. "I commend the investigators and prosecutor for ending the illegal practices of this unscrupulous former agent."

Bellucci created and submitted bogus long-term-care insurance applications to an insurer from December 2009 through July 2010, according to investigators from the California Department of Insurance.

Jones said the applications contained false names, addresses and income information for the applicants.

Investigators said they also found Bellucci impersonated some of the insurance applicants by telephone when the insurer conducted follow-up personal-history interviews.

Upon submission of the phony applications, Bellucci received advance commissions that he was not legally entitled to, Jones said. The insurer suffered losses in excess of $82,000, Jones said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

35

MARITIME Senators laud NPA over facilities

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•From right: Dikko and Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs Julius Nwagwu at the event.

PHOTO: OLUWAKEMI DAUDA

Customs targets N150b monthly

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HE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) monthly revenue is targetting N150 billion next year, its Comptroller of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi, has promised.

He gave the assurance at the justconcluded Comptroller-General’s Annual Conference in Katsina, which was attended by Vice-President Namadi Sambo.

The service currently generates N100 billion monthly.

The service, The Nation learnt, generated N28 billion monthly before Dikko became its helmsman.

He said 2013 would be a trying year for most Customs Area Comptrollers and their senior officers who are unable to meet their target.

Dikko has urged officers and men of the service to boost revenue generation at their stations, a source said, adding that he asked his officers to imbibe the culture of transparency and integrity in the discharge of their responsibilities.

Answering questions from The Nation in Katsina on the allegation

Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda, Maritime Correspondent

that officers were not ready to take over from the service providers after the expiration of their contract this month, to provide scanning and risk management support under the Destination Inspection (DI) regime, Dikko debunked the allegation, saying that the Customs have the technical know how.

Fourteen of his officers, he disclosed, are undergoing training in Canada so that the service would not face any problem after taking over.

Dikko also said the management of the service had embarked on a modernisation programme to develop the Data Base cargo clearance and Nigeria Integrate Customs Information System (NICIS).

Nigeria Customs, Dikko added, is partnering with some Customs administrations in countries, such as South Africa, Turkey and the United States for the promotion of mutual administrative assistance for the

service.

He urged members of the National Assembly to review the Customs and Exercise Management Act (CEMA) Cap 45 based on the challenges facing the service.

He said: “The current level of the Customs Service modernisation requires an enabling legislation in line with present day realities and challenges. It is in this regard that we acknowledge the efforts of the members of the National Assembly to review the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) CAP 45 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

“We salute them for their vision and courage, and appeal to all stakeholders to understand and support the efforts of the management to leave behind for posterity an enduring legacy.”

Dikko said the theme of the conference, Borders divides, Customs connects, was chosen to highlight what the Service aimed to achieve through its Single Window project.

Katsina border under surveillance

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HE Jibia border in Katsina State has been put under surveillance by the Nigeria Customs Service.

It was gathered that the rate of smuggling of goods from Niger Republic into the country through the border has reduced.

Investigation in Katsina revealed that Customs had moved to prevent the importation of rice, illicit drugs, vegetable oil, textile, used clothes, confectionery, juices, used bags and other prohibited items from entering the country.

When The Nation visited the border last week, it found that the warehouse of the command was filled with seized goods and the border post was more organised.

With the porosity of land borders, investigation revealed that the Customs at Jibia has increased surveillance with a monitoring team in place.

The Area Comptroller of the command, Alhaji Yusuf Umar, said the surveillance became possible because of the vehicles given to them by the management of Customs.

Officers of the command, he said, have arrested suspected human traffickers and handed them to the Nigerian Immigration Service.

About two months ago, he said the command apprehended about 85 people ranging from five, six,

seven, 10 and 15 years old.

The command, he also said, has intelligent officers who give him information on criminals’ movements.

“We have officers and men who are happy to carry out their jobs and that is why they have been up and doing. We have re-strategised. Also, our men have received training and we have new arms such as AK47 rifles to carry out our duties. When you see our officers on the road, you will notice that some of them have been trained by the Nigerian Army in Zaria and that is why we are very active and pro-active and that is why we have been able to make the seizure you have seen.

“If your officers are hungry or uncomfortable, they may not be able

to do the job as expected. If the environment is not condusive, you will not be able to get what is expected. The Customs service of today is different from the Customs service of four, five years ago because we have a visionary and focused leadership in Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi.

“His outstanding leadership covers revenue generation, infrastructure and capacity building, among others.

“I am doing the same thing where I was posted to; to make sure I copy my boss. Whatever he does, I always follow his foot step,” he said.

He advised officers and men of the service to be diligent in their duties.

Abdullahi seeks autonomy for NPA

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S the nation awaits the passage of the Ports and Harbour Bill by the National Assembly, the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Mallam Habib Abdullahi, has advocated a measure of autonomy for the authority in the bill.

Abdullahi said if the agency is autonomous, it would perform efficiently.

“No port in the world can exist and prosper without a measure of independence, therefore, autonomy is strategic and required to ensure

efficiency in line with international best practices.”

He said vessels waiting time is now 19 days instead of 28 and that the channels had been dredged to the required draught.

Many foreign investors, he said, have indicated interest in ports development in the country. This, he said, came to light during the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to New York. He explained that this was an indication of the international recognition of the nation’s maritime potential.

HE Senate Committee on Marine Transport has inspected some facilities at the ports.

After a two-day tour, Chairman committee of the committee, Hajia Zainab Kure, said they were happy with the usefulness of the funds they appropriated for the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), and gave kudos to its management.

“The level of work done by NPA between last year and this year is encouraging. We are happy,” she said.

She said the performance of NPA would encourage the lawmakers to ensure that funds were appropriated by the National Assembly for the modernisation of ports’ infrastructure.

The Niger State-born lawmaker said the committee would also visit the Eastern ports to ensure that the level of compliance in projects’ execution shown by the NPA in Western ports is replicated.

She defended the projects, especially the rehabilitation of the Quey Apron and Queue walls of the Tin Can Island port, saying wear and tear had set in and that there was the need to rehabilitate them to bring the port to standard.

She called on the NPA to continue to carry the National Assembly along in all it is doing as it has always done, adding that the issues earlier raised by some members of the committee, particularly the contract sums and the operations of the expatriate firms that NPA is partnership with should be attended to.

She said if the jobs had passed through the procurement law and the jobs awarded by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), NPA had nothing to do with them.

The projects the Senate committee inspected were approved last year by the National Assembly and funds allocated for them in this year’s Budget Act. Their visit was to see the level of work for further appropriation of funds. NPA partnerships in other specialist international firms had been endorsed by the National Assembly.

The projects the senators inspected were the modernisation of the NPA headquarters, the Eastwest Moles, Apapa port common user road and the Tin Can Island Ports Quey Apron and Quey wall rehabilitation.

Group plans N100m secretariat THE Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM) is planning to build N100 million secretariat to solve the problem of manpower shortage.

Speaking with The Nation in Lagos, the Vice President of the group, Capt. Emmanuel Omotayo, said much work needs to be done to address the gap in the rank of professionals in the industry. He opposed the calls for the closure of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron in Akwa Ibom State.

His association, he said, was set up to promote professional ethics and efficiency in maritime practice; encourage, promote and co-ordinate research in the advancement of maritime practice in the country and advise Federal, state and government institutions on matters related to their profession.

He said the fund raising for their new secretariat has been scheduled for this Saturday at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Prominent Nigerians expected at the event include former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; former Minister of Defence, General Theophilus Danjuma (rtd); President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Chairman, Daar Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, and Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III.

Customs to hold monthly briefing THE Comptroller-General (CG) of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko, has directed Area Controllers to hold monthly briefings from January 2013 and send reports to his office.

The Customs boss gave the directive in Katsina following complaints by a reporter that some officers of the service maltreat his colleagues and are not open to media inquiries on the activities of their command, even though the CG answers calls and reply messages sent to him by reporters.

These officers, the Customs boss said, “become tin gods”, as soon as they assume their positions,and treat the media with disdain. “There are some Area Controllers that do not pick my calls, not to talk of journalists,” the CGS said.

The customs boss also expressed concern that the nation was losing more revenue through fraud at the ports than the borders.

He said: “From only one port, the nation lost N4 billion in six months from fraudulent practice, such as concealment, falsification of documents and under-declaration of goods.’’

The CGS directed the area comptrollers to take advantage of a forum such as the conference and the monthly press briefings to present their challenges and share their experiences with the public.

He said in bringing their activities to the public, they could get useful tips on how to improve service delivery.

Dikko stressed that area comptrollers would be helping the service to grow if they created more time to explain activities happening under their watch through the media.

He said that as the chief accounting officer of the service, he replied messages sent to him by reporters and had often assumed responsibility for other crimes and shortcomings committed by other officers.

NGO urges MAN, Oron on standards THE Essu Nlap Oro Development Organisation of Oron, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) and the Supreme Council of Oro Youths have urged the management of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) not to relent in its efforts at improving on the standards of training personnel and facilities at the institute in Oron.

Speaking at a town hall meeting in Lagos to sensitise youths of Oron and prepare them for skills acquisition in the emerging Ibaka Deep Seaport and the oil industry, President of the groups, Apostle Etim Ante, said the Rector of the Academy Mr Joshua Okpo, has embarked on rapid infrastructural development of the academy, urging other stakeholders in the maritime industry to emulate him.

Ante also described the Rector as a committed Nigerian who has resolved to make a mark and improve the fortunes of the country through manpower development for optimum benefits of indigenous professionals and technicians who wish to take advantage of the 2003 Coastal and Inland Shipping Act(Cabotage Law) and the 2010 Nigerian Content Act. Okpo, who was represented by Mr Siddi Mkpandiok, said he had enjoyed a high level of support and cooperation from the host and neighbouring communities. He urged them not to relent in their efforts.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

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AVIATION

Terrorism: Demuren seeks more scrutiny for cargoes

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O stem terrorism in aviation, cargo operations should be given serious surveillance, the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Demuren, has said.

Demuren, who was represented

by NCAA’s Director of Aero-medical Services, Theressa Bassey, spoke at the Air Cargo Security and Safety Breakfast Meeting organised by Aero Consult Limited in Lagos.

He, however, said the government was addressing the problem to ensure safety.

Demuren said since the volume of cargoes on passengers’aircraft has increased, there was the need by the authorities at the airports to adopt counter measures to make it difficult for terrorists to access passengers.

Also, the President, the Association of Foreign Airlines and Representatives in Nigeria (AFARN), Mr Kingsley Nwokoma, has decried inadequate security at the airports, especially in restricted areas.

He explained that the security personnel were inadequate to monitor restricted areas, such as the airsides, adding that most touts break walls to gain access to the

Stories by Kelvin Osa-Okunbor Aviation Correspondent

airports.

Nwokoma challenged the government to increase security at the airports to safeguard goods and cargoes.

The Chairman of Aviation Round Table (ART), Dele Ore, also said to prevent terrorists from putting explosives on the aircraft, there was the need to use the cargo screening technologies aimed at detecting explosives.

He said in addition to a cargo screening technology, a cargo container technology is being considered to mitigate the threat of explosion or fire that finds its way to an aircraft undetected.

Meanwhile, Demuren has identified the dearth of adequate personnel and insufficient training to meet industry’s demand as some of the major challenges affecting the growth and development of the global aviation industry.

Besides, he noted that statistics have shown that in the next 20 years, more than a million pilots, engineers, technicians, cabin crew and air traffic controllers would be required to keep the global

aviation industry running.

The NCAA boss disclosed these at the Women in Aviation annual conference in Lagos.

He explained that if the aviation industry must remain the safest and most desired means of transportation, efforts must be made to fix the gap in manpower need as a large percentage of the available skilled aviation professionals is ageing and would soon retire from service.

Demuren noted that the demand for skilled professionals would exceed supply in the future because of the wholesale retirements in the generation of professionals, as well as unattractive nature of professions to potential candidates.

He listed other factors that may shape developments in the sector to include competition with other industry sectors for skilled employees, and training capacity, which he noted is insufficient to meet demand.

The NCAA boss said statistics reveal that a major percentage of skilled professionals in Nigeria are above 50, raising fresh concerns that if the dearth of professionals was not addressed, it could have negative impact on the industry.

Fed Govt, Brazilian firm partner THE Federal Government and Embraer, Brazil, have agreed to collaborate to facilitate government's effort to assist domestic airlines acquire new aircraft.

This is the outcome of preliminary talks opened in S.J. Dos Campos, the headquarters of Embraer in Brazil, on the subject matter by representatives of the Federal Ministry of Aviation led by the Managing Director of FAAN, Mr George Ureisi and Embraer led by the Senior Vice President Operations/Chief Operating Officer, Mr Luis Carlos Affonso.

Ureisi told the Embraer executives that the Federal Government has altered its strategy for the development of the aviation sector to domestic airlines by its intention to assist them increase their fleet with new aircraft from reputable manufacturers.

He emphasised the need for the use of aircraft by domestic operators, hence the need for the government to intervene in the acquisition of aircraft that are efficient.

"Domestic carriers use wrong equipment for most of their operations.

There is no established record of sustainability for these airlines mainly because of the use of wrong equipment. Intervention fund by the Federal Government in the past to assist them re-fleet has failed because there was no evidence of the money being ploughed back into the airlines leading to them failing in the long run.

"The government wants to change this model entirely by floating a fund for the acquisition of new aircraft for the domestic carriers. In this regard, the government is seeking a partnership with Embraer that would lead to a discussion on how these new aircraft would be procured at very competitive, fair, and concessionary rates," Ureisi told his hosts.

TRACON ready, says NAMA THE multi-billion naira Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) has been completed, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has said.

NAMA officials made this known to members of the Senate Committee on Aviation who were on an inspection of the Lagos Airport site of the new radar, saying that the project had been completed.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Hope Uzodinma, had enquired from the technical staff of the agency at the radar room if the project had been done.

Director, Safety Electronics and Engineering Services, Ifeanyi Nnwakwo, said: "All the deliverables and the scope of the project have been delivered and completed by the foreign contractor Thales ATM of France and the system is working at optimal level."

He told the lawmakers that the system is characterised by some overlays such as ADS-B, which allows the radar to accommodate technology upgrade as new ones evolve.

The Senators who watched live coverage of the airspace on the new radar system ,were impressed by nwhat they saw but would want to know the scope of the maintenance contract with Thales and they were told that the existing contract comes with unlimited spares and to lapse in the next two years having commenced three years ago.

Emirates launches sales promotion

•From left: Director of Finance and Accounts, Mrs. Clara Aliche, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA); General Manager, Planning and Research Statistics, Mr Tunji Iyanda; General Manager, Human Resources, Mrs. Matha Sule; General Manager, Finance, Mr Segun Agbolade; Assistant General Manager, Abuja Liaison Office, Mr Abdul Abubakar; Public Affairs Officer, Mr Gabriel Akinlade-Daniel; PA-GBC, Mr Okey Okeke; Head, Final Accounts, Mr Gbodi Ayorinde Michael and Head, Budget and Vote Control, Mr Nwaobilor Chima, at a staff award ceremony in Abuja.

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‘BA’s investment programme delivering ITH just two years into work, achieve considerable fuel a five-year £5 billion customer benefits’ savings compared to the aircraft

programme of investments, British Airways has already reached some significant milestones, chief executive, Keith Williams, has said.

He told customers in Lagos that the airline has expanded its network, which now includes new African routes.

Besides, he said BA is acquiring new aircraft, enhancing products and introducing innovative technology to better serve its customers.

“As a result of acquiring bmi, British Airways now serves 19 routes in 16 African countries. It flies more often to more places in Africa than it has ever done since it first opened routes to the continent 80 years ago.

“The acquisition also enabled it to grow its overall route network, giving customers access to 20 more destinations. British Airways is now operating the biggest Heathrow schedule in its history.

Together with its franchise,

codeshare and oneworld partners it offers a global network of over 600 destinations,” he added.

Williams said that new aircraft, such as the Boeing 777 ER are comingonto the fleet, embodied with new World Traveller Plus and World Traveller cabins and a sophisticated in-flight entertainment system which offers nearly double the previous choice.

“We are making improvements in every cabin. The rollout of our new First is nearly complete.

Bringing together balanced privacy, comfort, space and contemporary British design, it draws on the airline’s heritage, focusing on quality and attention to detail,’’ he said.

In May 2013, he said BA will take delivery of our first Boeing 787 Dreamliner and two months later, its first A380 superjumbo. “These new aircraft will enable us to further develop and grow our net

they replace, and bring the outstanding 777-300 levels of customer comfort to a wider audience,” he said.

More than a million customers have now downloaded British Airways apps, which make the checkin process faster and more convenient. A feature for iPhone users now also enables them to book their flights from their phone.

The Nigerian market is such an important one for British Airways that we are pleased to offer our new OnBusiness members in Nigeria a welcome gift of 1,000 OnBusiness points if you join before November 30.

“Nigeria was the first market outside of the UK where we launched our new advertising campaign: To Fly.To Serve.

Through our programme of investments and product and service enhancements we’re making that brand promise a reality,” said Williams.

EMIRATES is revving up for a network sales push, inspiring a new waveof travel around the world.

In the slipstream of recently announced half year profits of AED 2.1 billion (US$575 million), Emirates according to a ststement, is driving forward by offering attractive prices on economy fares over a 10-day period.

The special network-wide promotion was launched last week and will run till June 10, 2013. Customers are being encouraged to plan ahead and book early to enjoy the greatest reductions.

“Emirates is already known for providing superb value for money.

This network-wide initiative pushes the value bar a notch higher, making it even more attractive to embark on that trip of a lifetime, visit a relative or friend, or explore a new market for business,” said Thierry Antinori, Emirates’ Executive Vice President, Passenger Sales Worldwide.

“No other airline squeezes as much product and service into the ticket price. We are product and value driven. These are the guiding principles of what we do and passengers who book early will be rewarded with the best discounts through this exciting promotion,” said Mr Antinori.

The raft of savings means that passengers can fly, for example, from Dubai to other Middle East destinations from as little as AED 930.

Prices to the Indian Subcontinent start at AED 960, fares to Africa begin at AED 1400, Europe can be visited from AED 1530, the Americas from AED 4170, while Australasia can now reached from AED 4730.* “We know some countries have not traditionally been early booking markets, but under this ‘Early Bird’ offer, booking early will pay dividends and enable us to give unprecedented fares to our loyal customers,” added Mr Antinori.

Association supports cargo dept creation Chairman, Domestic Airport Cargo Agents Association (DACAA), Emmanuel Odia, has said the creation of a cargo department by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) would enhance cargo business.

Odia said the construction of cargo terminals would not only boost the activities of the cargo agents, but would also ensure sanity in cargo business.

“I think it is one of the best things that can happen to the aviation industry. It means that there is no cargo terminal in Nigeria that will not have a cargo department and it will enhance our business as cargo agents. The moment the directorate picks up and there is a section for cargo spinning, it would boost our business” The group’s chief explained that his association was instrumental to the creation of a cargo section.

Odia expressed displeasure over the reduction in domestic airlines, regretting that the development has negatively affected their business and has forced most cargo owners to transport their goods by road. “A lot of our customers are going by road because there have not been aircraft and it has really affected our business and it has not been easy but we have no option,” he said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

37

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Promasidor donates to flood victims

Gallery holds lecture, symposium

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ROMASIDOR Nigeria Limited, makers of quality food products, has donated relief materials to flood victims in Delta and Anambra states.

The company made the donations, which include dairy, beverage and food enhancement products to ease the effects of the disaster on the victims who have been living at the mercy of donors.

The company’s representatives, led by Divisional Sales Manager, East, Halliday Chimezie supported by the company’s Business Development Manager, Segun Koleosho, visited and made the donations to the victims at a camp in Asaba Delta State.

They gave reasons behind the company’s action as a way of giving back to the society where it operates and as part of its corporate social responsibilities.

Koleosho said the company had received letters from prominent Nigerians urging it to assist the displaced people and the company responded immediately because it is a service to humanity.

The Delta State Commissioner for Special Duties, Hon. (Dr) Tony Nwaka who welcomed the team to the camp and formally received the products on behalf of the victims in their presence expressed his deep gratitude and appreciation to Promasidor for its wonderful humanitarian gesture. He also called on other corporate bodies to emulate the company and do the needful.

“These people really need help as some escaped to the camp with only the clothes on their backs.”

During the visit, one of the victims Mrs. Helen Otobo from Oko – Amakmo area of the state who has been in the camp with her family for more than two months expressed gratitude to the company and the government but still nursing fears on the state of the house they left behind.

She said though her own house is a brick house unlike the mud houses that have been damaged completely she still fears the structure (foundation) could have been

•Elders of Ohita community in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State during the donation to the flood victims.

HUMAN INTEREST weakened and thereby become dangerous to live in.

She implored Promasidor and other corporate bodies not to limit their assistance to them while in camp but should also extend it to them when they go back to their homes, where they will have to start life over again.

Kenneth Odo on his part relived his sad experience from his destroyed mud house to his further ejection from other transit camps because they were over populated. He said his family and himself now live totally at the mercy of the donors and would want Promasidor to do more to relieve them of the effects of the disaster.

As for the camp coordinators and the Red Cross members on ground they are very proud that Promasidor had joined them in the noble but also worthy cause in the service of humanity.

Besides Delta, the Promasidor team also donated relief materials to victims of the flood

in Ohita community in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State. The victims had just returned from relief camps to their homes which were submerged by the flood waters.

Promasidor representatives also visited members of Ohita community in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State. The community had returned from relief camps to their homes after they had been submerged by the flood waters. The products were donated directly to the returnees in their leader’s palace.

Though they all said they needed a whole lot of things for a better living but greatly appreciated Promasidor the only corporate body who has visited them since they returned home. “ We are not actually expecting any form of help after we had left camps and have since accepted our fate” said the President-General of the community Chief Benson S. Nwadukwe.

“So, we are very grateful to your company and hereby donate a bottle of gin (drink) to appreciate you in our own cultural way,” he added.

NANTAP honours Amosun, RMD, others

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HE National Association of Nigeria Threatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) has honoured nine Nigerians for their contributions to the growth and development of theatre practice. They were honoured recently at the 14th convention of the association at the Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The recipients included Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Mahmoud Ali-Balogun, Ben Tomoloju, Peter Tade Adekunle, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Abiodun Abe, Alhaji Teju Kareem, Ms Buki Ajai and Oba Olusanya Dosumnu, the Olowu of Owu. Right inside the newly refurbished Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, the artistes held a three-day event which climaxed with presentation of awards to a number of distinguished practitioners, including past presidents of the association.

The roll call began with Tomoloju, the man who provided the rallying point for the association at inception, before it finally became a fullfledged professional body in the early 1990s.

Tomoloju received the highest NANTAP award of Fellow of Theatre Arts (FTA) along with other respected artistes like Mahmood AliBalogun, Peter Tade Adekunle, Richard MofeDamijo, Abiodun Abe, Alhaji Teju Kareem, Ms Buki Ajai and the royal father, Oba Olusanya Adegboyega Dosunmu (CON)-the Olowu of Owu. Of all these awardees, only Ms Ajai and MofeDamijo were absent, but their citations expectedly bore testimonies of their achievements in the culture/creative sectors.MofeDamijo was represented by Patrick Okonkwo from the Delta State chapter.

Each of the awardees was called to the podium while citation was read amid great applause.

The executives of the association led by Gregory Odutayo informed the house that it deemed it fit to give honour to whom it’s due, noting that this would encourage others to work for the development of theatre profession.

Odutayo called on the Federal Government to reintroduce the subventions which used to be given to active professional bodies in the culture sector and which NANTAP rightly deserves.

Aside the FTA awards, the association equally rewarded the Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun with the special recognition award. The governor was commended for having promoted culture in the state and for renovating the Cultural Centre with the state-of-theart equipment. Other prominent theatre practitioners who received artistic excellence awards were Afis Oyetoro, Akanni Adeniji, the late Ms Toun Oni, Olu Adeniregun, Wole Oguntokun and Dayo Liadi. Also conferred with the NANTAP recognition awards were Remi Okunola, Mrs Sola Momoh, Mrs Tosin Dokpesi, Mr Kola Oyeyemi, Ms Odiamo Ogaga, Tajudeen Adepetu, Chief Yinka Kufiile, Chief Wale Adenuga, Engr Mutiu Adebowale, Alhaji Abdulfatai Odunowo and Mr Stevens Evans.

With a musical interlude by Feyisayo Kolade, better known as Fayooz, the ceremony wore a

more aesthetic look while many of the guests responded warmly.

Among the guests were Chief Olu Odeyemi, Commissioner for Special Duties who represented the Governor, Mrs Yinka Kukoyi; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Also in attendance as executive members were Mrs Toyin Ogundeji (Deputy President), Steve Ogundele (General Secretary), Deji Etiwe(Director, Business) and Ozi Okoli (Director, Publicity).

Speaking on behalf of awardees, Tomoloju commended the association for its steadfastness, noting that the leadership of the association from inception had always been the prerogative of a golden generation of forward looking practitioners.

The former Deputy Editor of The Guardian and Executive Director of BTC called on the Federal Government to build cottage theatres in every local government in the country. According to him, the closer the theatres are to the people, the greater the prospects of theatre artistes in the task of developing Nigerian theatre.

•Amosun

•Mofe-Damijo

Stories by Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

AWARDS

HE National Gallery of Art will hold its annual distinguished lecture and national symposium from December 5 to 8, at the Margaret Ekpo Cultural Centre Complex, Calabar, Cross River State.

The annual lecture, which is the 11th, made its debut in 1995.

The event is organised by the National Gallery of Art as part of its mandate to educate stakeholders in particular and, the public on the various aspects of Nigerian visual arts.

United States-based Nigerian scholar, Prof. Dele Jegede of Miami University, Ohio State, United States of America, will deliver a lecture entitled: Imagination.

The theme for this year is Rebranding Nigeria through art. It will examine and evaluate how visual art can serve as a veritable means of re-branding Nigeria’s economy.

The Director-General of the National Gallery of Art, Abdullahi S. Muku, said ‘the programme is primarily tailored towards the promotion of scholarship on art studies and dialogue with the various art schools and movements, art historians, art critics, studio artists, and museums/galleries owners in the country.’ He noted that as an avenue for exchange of ideas, it is expected that the papers to be presented would be invaluable resource material for art students and teachers, intellectuals, collectors, and lovers of art in Nigeria and beyond. The symposium is being organised by the National Gallery of Art with the Cross River University of Technology.

POEM

I am mosquito (II)

By Seye Aluko

I am mosquito! I am “Air Commodore,” Flight Lieutenant, Air Marshall.

I am adept in guerilla tactics, ambush, subterfuge and cunning! I am insatiable!

I am bomber (and dive-bomber)! I am whip, wasp, wrench…I mosquito, am a buzzing fly (or flying buzz). . I am a flying bite (or a biting fly). I am mosquito (winged with a thousand screams). I fly alone (or I fly en-masse). I launch my forays from the rear, from the flanks, through the midfield.

I am a midfield general. I weaken any defense. I am master of the “set-piece” the penalty, the “corner-kick” and the “banana shot!”

I, mosquito, am fly (and butterfly). Bat (and night-bat)! Owl, snake!

I am nocturnal (and diurnal).I bite at night, I bite during the day!

I compose music. I am mosquito of a thousand notes. Each of my wings is a harp, flute, violin! I sing! Music more adept than Beethoven’s “First Symphony!”

I, mosquito, am beat, and drumbeat!

I, mosquito, am health. I am “ease!”

And “disease!” I, mosquito, am “hit and run” “charge and bail!”I am exiled. I am excommunicado, “persona-non-grata!”

I am front (and battle-front)! Taker and caretaker. I express myself, during the “Hours of Darkness.” Then is my time. I rehearse for night at day, and for day at night. I am vision (and night-vision)! Sight (and eyesight)! Darkness is my screen (and smokescreen). My cover, and my camouflage.

I, mosquito, am a flying spear, dart, arrow. I am assegai (the Zulu throwingspear)! I, mosquito, am harpoon and bayonet (awaiting my “pound of flesh”)! I am cover and undercover, uniformed (and in “mufti”)! In guise (and disguise). By night (and by day)! I am malaria. “Hot!” Cold.

Hot and cold. Lukewarm!

I, mosquito, am wanted (dead or alive)!

But the more you look, the less you see!

I parade. I perambulate. I patrol.

I am cleared (and declared) odium, scum, vermin, scourge, pestilence, plague.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

38

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Access Bank, groups partner on Inside story

Loya Milk unveils brand ambassador

A

CCESS Bank Plc’s commitment towards building a healthier world through its fight against HIV/ AIDS received a boost over the weekend at the premiere of Inside Story: The Science of HIV/AIDS in commemoration of the 2012 World AIDS Day in Lagos.

The movie, captured in compelling story of sports, love and ill fate, has been developed to enlighten audiences about HIV/AIDS and raise the level of awareness about the disease among mankind in partnership with UNAIDS, Discovery Communications, Discovery Channel Global Education Partnership (DCGEP), Chevron, Management Sciences for Health and some other global organisations.

Speaking on the collaboration, Access Bank’s Group Managing Director, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, said: “The Bank’s intervention in the health space is a responsible approach to managing the impact of the triple pandemics of HIV/ AIDS, TB and Malaria through effective workplace programmes, partnerships and community involvement that seek to reduce the effect of the pandemics on employees, their families, supply chain, clients and society in general” He added: The partnerships between organisations are essential, and Inside Story is one of such partnerships. The film will help ensure that awareness and education about HIV/AIDS reaches the grassroots and shapes behaviour.”

Consul-General of the US Consulate in Lagos, Jeffery Hawkins,who attended , said Inside Story would be a valuable tool to inform people across Africa and the world about the science of HIV. With greater understanding of the virus people can seek to know their status, to protect themselves, and to adhere to life-saving

By Chinasa Ekekwe

T

thankful for the generous support of our partners”.

“Understanding HIV/AIDS is central to making healthy decisions, complying with treatment, and ending stigma and discrimination. This is the right time forInside Story, an innovative approach to helping eradicate HIV/AIDS in Africa and beyond”, said Aric.

Following the premiere of the film in Johannesburg and US in January 2012, a comprehensive rollout of the film - including national broadcasts across sub-Saharan Africa and distribution through grassroots efforts of NGOs, schools and governments will start.

Also, DCGEP will provide facilitator guides and DVD and online materials for use by community and public health organisations, as well as schools throughout Africa, to reinforce Inside Story’s messages in both urban and rural communities

O kick off its new promo, Promasidor Nigeria,makers of Loya Milk, has picked Michael Collins Ajereh known as Don Jazzy as the face of Loya Milk brand.

The unveiling ceremony was held in Lagos at De Renaissance Hotel, Ikeja with some top Nigerian artists like Wande Coal in attendance.

Disclosing reasons for choosing Don Jazzy as brand ambassador for Loya Milk, the Commercial Director,Promasidor Nigeria, Mr Kachi Onubogu, said a brand ambassador assists the brand further in reaching its target audience.

“Our choice of Don Jazzy as brand ambassador is driven by the brand essence and its proposition to its target audience.Loya premium milk is a brand with class and taste; it is a brand with distinctinon and excellence that constantly rewards its loyal consumers”, he said.

On the promo mechanics, Onubogu said Loya milk would from December 1 to 30 run a promotion offer which will be online on www.facebook.com/loyamilk and on the promotion site at www.tasteyourdream.com.participants are to enter details which includes :name,phone number and e-mail address as you stand a chance to win a Samsong Galaxy S3 smartphone or one night in a hotel or an opportunity to be in a Loyal TV commercial with Don Jazzy.

It will be recalled that in 2011,Loya milk rewarded its costumers with N50 millon in cash.To this end,It is a brand that is known and well respected by its consumers.

Mr Kachi made it known that Don Jazzy is recognised for his charitable works.He said the new ambassador is a multi award winning Nigerian record producer,singer/ song writer and current CEO of Mavin Records.Don Jazzy was rated recently as the 36th ‘Most powerful celebrity in Africa by Forbes magazine.

grade, according to Dr. Ogundowole one must attain the age of 60. The clothes woven for the Ero festival are Seghosen, Iketa, Opanmeta , Igbero, Ipanmeru and Kirijo.

However, Pa Samuel Olowa described the clothes as special and uncommon clothes attached with so many taboos, for example the weaver of Kirijo clothe must avoid going out of the premises while on duty for seven days. She must not partake in leftover food, that is, she must eat fresh food every day until she finished the weaving. The woman weaving the clothes must have some kolanuts by her side and be shared among well wishers.

“However, Christians among them took their clothes and danced round the town and ended up at the church to offer prayers. The Muslims

not left out as they took their clothes to the Mosque and offered prayers ditto for the African traditional religion worshippers who called on the traditional priests for prayers.

One of the celebrators, Mrs Olakiitan Olowa described the ceremony as a graduation. “You must complete the necessary rites and fulfill all righteousness. One will have to spend seven years at each stage. In Ugbamo alegho and graduate to Ugbakeji Ugbamo where you are to participate in the town’s activities like repairing the road, clearing the bush path and fetching water from the stream for the town’s usage .

Thus, this is the stage of building the town and contributing one’s quota to the development of the town. The third step is Ugbama, where one reaches the ages of 50years plus and the last stage is Ugbama Agba.

•From left: Hawkins, Kendra Efufunwa, Aig-Imoukhuede and Kae-Kazim

MOVIE treatment if needed.” He called on other organisations to forge stronger alliances to put a stop to the AIDS pandemic.

He added that “the global AIDS response is a shared responsibility. With strong leadership from the United States, and continued partnership from the private sector, we are seizing the opportunity the science has presented us to move toward an AIDS-free generation.”

President Discovery Channel Global Education Partnership and the Executive Producer, Aric Noboa, Inside Africa said “Knowledge is power, and with Inside Story we have a powerful tool with which to share the science of HIV, adding that Inside Story is an African film for African audiences that tackles a global pandemic. We’re honored to premiere the film here in South Africa, and

‘ We are now the wisemen ’ The ancient town of Iyere in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State has celebrated the Ero (Age grade festival). The participants were in ‘house arrest’ for seven days, TAIWO ABIODUN reports.

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HEIR ages range between 60 and 65. They were all dressed in different colourful attires while many, especially the men wore embroidered aso- oke (alaaris), a Yoruba traditional dress. Each celebrator was followed by his or her children, family members and well wishers including friends.

To signify their intention to participate in the festival, the celebrators came out for the first three days with sticks decorated with different types of headgears. These special sticks are called opa aja. They danced with their colleagues who are in their age brackets. Local musicians with their drums, gong and beaded gourds (sekere) rendered songs such as A rogbo o koko, ene ro sorire , arogbo o koko, iba wa mee ro , A rogbo o koko Awa panmi panmi, awa yena yena (we rejoice as we have joined the elders age grade. We have toiled day and night and have paid our dues).

It was thrilling as the dancers tried to outdo one another.

As the drumming became more pronounced and shouts of joy rent the air, the celebrators increased their dancing pace, while some held the helms of their garments.

As they approached the palace of the Oliyere, Dr Bolu Ogundowole and his group

•Participants and family

CELEBRATION went into frenzy. They danced and displayed acrobatic skills, despite their ages. They showed love, faithfulness and paid obeisance to the monarch.

In return, the royal father came out to rejoice and danced with them. He prayed for long life and prosperity for them. And a thunderous amen resounded. He later presented them with kolanuts, money and drinks, among other things.

Ero festival is observed every seven years, while women are allowed to participate in some other places it is forbidden. The town was painted red as they received visitors from far and near to celebrate with them and witness the town’s culture. To attain the Ero

39

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

The Midweek Magazine Making Nigeria Work

O

NE has lost count of the number of books published in recent times on the subject of Nigeria and the challenge of building a strong, united and prosperous nation. So when I was asked to review a new book, The Way We Are: Ideas for a Better Nigeria, on the same subject, I was not enthusiastic. However, a close look at the book and its content compelled me to read it and I am glad I did. This 265-page book of 27 chapters held me spell-bound for two days. The book is illuminating and of profound relevance to the present moment.

It is a gripping read and should be made available to every Nigerian and to lovers of Nigeria. Jonas Odocha has a compelling style that draws the reader like magnet. But perhaps what is so amazing about the book is that, though the subject matter – Nigeria and the challenge of nationhood – is a serious one, the reader derives great pleasure going through the book. This is largely a result of the author’s style: a combination of humour and a type of native intelligence that I have encountered only in few writers who have written about the same subject. Some of the issues the author analyzes with remarkable competence are the climate of insecurity, violence and the culture of mediocrity that have beclouded and arrested Nigeria’s development; the failure of leadership at different levels in the country; the acts of injustice inflicted on Nigerians, especially Ndigbo, before the civil war, during the war and since after war; and the bewildering periodic and meticulously planned massacres of people of different religious or ethnic origins.

The book is quite readable and different from others that deal with the same subject because of its structure, content and form.

The twenty seven chapters of the book are essentially essays written at different times which have now been gathered in this precious publication. The essays represent Odocha’s analysis of different issues that are of national and sometimes international import. Having served Nigeria in different capacities and various locations, and having travelled and lived in several parts of the country in the course of rendering this service, Odocha is in a vantage position to perceive, understand and analyze the multiple problems that have plagued the country over the years. Most of the essays focus on Nigeria but a few, like the South-Asian Tsunami and the hurricane that swept across Haiti, take up global issues that made world headlines. It is important to note, also, that

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

BOOK REVIEW Title:

THE WAY WE ARE: Ideas for a Better Nigeria

Author:

Jonas Odocha

Reviewer:

Akachi AdimoraEzeigbo

Publisher:

Eagleman Books

Pages:

265

the actual writing of the essays, before they were collected in a book form, was done between 1998 and 2011, with each essay examining certain issues that affected and still affect the country’s socio-political, economic and moral growth since independence in 1960. The date when each essay was written was stated at the end of the text, helping us to put it in context and appreciate the realities surrounding its conception and articulation. The impression given is that things worked better for Nigeria in the colonial days and that the downward descent into anarchy, violence, indiscipline, corruption and irresponsibility in the nation reached the lowest ebb in recent times. This parlous situation is attributed to the visionless leadership Nigeria has been saddled with over the years. The author makes us understand that other factors responsible for the country’s abject condition are ethnic chauvinism, moral bankruptcy, individual and collective acts of injustice meted out to fellow Nigerians. Apart from the topicality of the essays,

Evolution of Nigerian politics THOUGHT Chinua Achebe has rattled Nigerian sensitivities with his recent book, There was a country until I read Emmanuel Osuchukwu’s ‘1966 Crisis and the Evolution of Nigerian Politics’.

The book is insightful and did not spare any punches in discussing vital aspects of Nigerian history and politics. The book includes an excellent historical reconstruction of the traumatic events of 1966 and how they contributed to the current political malaise in Nigeria. The reader will enjoy the way Chief Osuchukwu traced the origin of Nigeria’s contemporary problems to the unresolved and obfuscated issues that erupted in that crucial era. In the introduction, Osuchukwu maintains that the country bequeathed to us by our founding political fathers in 1960 ended in 1966 and contemporary Nigeria is the construction of a sectional military cabal.

Hence his assertion that 1966 remains the most eventful and traumatic year in Nigeria’s political history. Basically, on January 15th 1966, the Nigerian military fired the first shot that ended the first republic and thus silenced the first attempt in civil democratic governance. 1966 also witnessed the horrific mass pogrom of the Igbos in Northern Nigeria culminating in the almost three years of bitter civil war which ended in January 1970. Since then according to the book, Nigeria has never

especially in relation to the time they were written, the literary quality of each essay is commendable. Odocha is not only bent on informing us about the problems but is also conscious of conveying the ideas in a succinct and effective style. Take for example the first chapter entitled ‘’The Bee, the Butterfly and the Wasp”. The beautiful metaphor of the lower creatures is used to teach human beings to live a life of service and integrity just like bees. This mode of living is considered superior and preferable to the life of selfishness and cruelty exemplified by wasps. This metaphor captures vividly the condition and attitude of human beings on earth – either living a useful life or a life of greed and selfishness. The choice is ours.

Odocha uses another metaphor to teach his readers about the importance of diligence, discipline and commitment. The Anthill Colony graphically illustrates the effectiveness of good organization and industry in the successful development of a nation. By using the analogy of the termite community, he demonstrates how these ants manage an anthill efficiently through effective organization and responsible action by each member of the group – workers, soldiers, male attendants and the queen. Odocha stresses the importance of government building and developing Nigeria by partnering with professional bodies as is done in Western countries.

Constructing his thesis around key subject areas, the distinguished author first identifies, then highlights and examines the various problems facing the country. We can thus classify them under the following headings: corruption; moral failings under which the author groups indiscipline, cultism, greed and loss of cultural orientation and values; security and safety consciousness; social responsibility; effective communication and the use of dialogue to solve problems. The various chapters are hinged on the issues or subjects listed above. We will site a few examples to illustrate the point being made here. On the theme of morality, the author observes that Nigerians see oath of office and swearing-in as mere rituals, for they have no moral obligation to abide by the oath. In addition, probe panels are usually set up to investigate corrupt acts but no one is ever convicted or found culpable; no one is punished. On the subject of corruption, the author has a lot to say. He argues that everyone is implicated. He highlights the various avenues through which corruption manifests and they include: lack of discipline and loss of family values; workers defrauding the government; retirees being defrauded of their pensions; policemen exploiting Nigerian citizens; certificate racketeering; examination malpractices and many more.

Title:

Author:

BOOK REVIEW 1966 Crisis and the Evolution of Nigerian Politics; Emmanuel Chigozie Osuchukwu;

Publisher: Creativepeople Nigeria Ltd

I

Pagination: 201

been the same and presently tottering on the brink of collapse.

The first part of the book deals extensively with the largely unspoken massacre of the Igbos. It concluded that the 1966 massacre of the Igbos was a conscious and deliberate event initiated and perpetrated by highly politically motivated individuals of Northern Nigerian origin. The massacre was deliberately under played by the Federal Government of Nigeria but given its huge sig-

nificance in the evolution of Nigerian politics, the book started with an exhaustive analysis of the phenomenon. Political leaders, policy makers, agents of social control will find this book an invaluable resource and will certainly benefit from the detailed analysis of the remote and immediate causes of the massacre.

The book has done a wonderful work in examining and exposing the insidious role of ethnicity in Nigerian politics and equally the role of the military in exacerbating Nigeria’s political problems as initiators and active participants in the killings of 1966. One interesting revelation is the nature of the emergence of the military on the political scene and how it compromised their position as symbols of national unity and protectors of the citizenry. The military leaders that emerged from the catastrophic events of 1966 were as Chief Osuchukwu put it; ‘neither national patriots nor revolutionaries’. They emerged from the ethnic confrontation of 1966 and again as Chief Osuchukwu put it, they hardly grew above their tribal angst and ‘instead of engendering, they hindered a healthy national growth’.

While discussing the need for social responsibility on the part of government and the individual, he touches on the deprivations and damage suffered by the people of the Niger Delta and the price they have had to pay for the petroleum resources located in their home land which is exploited for the benefit of the whole country. He calls for a people-oriented government keen on setting up adequate development strategy, especially in the Niger Delta. He advocates dialogue as a way of getting the cooperation of the people. On the other hand, he calls on wealthy Nigerians to come to the aid of the poor. He decries the paradox of wealth and poverty in the country. In the midst of stupendous wealth earned from petroleum products, most Nigerians wallow in abject poverty. He suggests that the lapses in the petroleum industry should be tackled by government and everyone concerned by eliminating corruption, privileging maintenance culture to increase the productivity of the existing refineries, thus limiting the massive importation of products which has been the norm.

He castigates the Nigerian government and those in authority for the many acts of injustice and the neglect of various parts of the country which he claims are caused by ‘’our glorification of corruption, our inordinate ambition, our small-mindedness and our ethnic and religious bigotry’’ (p. 34). Odocha dwells at length on the acts of injustice inflicted on Ndigbo, in Nigeria, such as the marginalization and the neglect they and their zone have suffered since after the civil war; the ‘’lack of federal presence’’ in Igbo land; the economic and political emasculation of Ndigbo; the hurriedly executed indigenization policy when Igbo business men and women were economically strangulated after the war; and the ‘abandoned property’ debacle through which Ndigbo lost many choice properties in some parts of the country after the war; the denial of parity to the south-east zone regarding the number of states each of the zones in the country has and the genocide and spate of massacres that Ndigbo have suffered in some parts of the country, especially in northern Nigeria. It is interesting that many of these same issues have been raised in Chinua Achebe’s recent publication, There Was a Country: A Personal History of Biafra, which has generated controversies in many circles in and outside Nigeria. These acts of injustice have left Ndigbo demoralized and disoriented, leading to youth restiveness, kidnapping of people for ransom and some other societal vices. Odocha believes that the suffering of Ndigbo today is caused by two factors: a gang-up against them by the rest of the country and the current rudderless and visionless leadership situation of Ndigbo.

The second part of the book dealt critically with role of the military in Nigerian politics because the military undoubtedly occupies a pre-eminent position in the evolution of Nigerian politics. According to the book, the murderous intrusion of the Army into the Nigerian political space in 1966 ironically benefited the military establishment. From 1966, the Northern geo-political zone of the military won the power game and proceeded to maintain unchallenged political supremacy and consequently the consolidation of sectional political culture. It concluded that given the sectional and tribal nature of their emergence, the victorious Northern military clique were neither National Patriots nor revolutionaries and their presence rather than engender, inhibited Nigeria’s national growth.

Many readers will find the third part of the book very interesting. It takesa novel approach and looked at the future of Nigerian politics. It maintained that since the creation of the country as an independent state in 1960 and particularly since 1966, the people of Nigeria have never been lucky to freely elect a government with a truly nationalistic and people oriented focus. Instead they have been burdened with mostly pathologically selfish and ethnic bigots masquerading as representatives of peoples interests. Today, Nigeria is paying the price for the atrocities and failings of the past leaders and the current state of the nation do not give much cause for joy.

Hence the appropriateness of this book’s advocacy for a new perspective – politics of real issues that transcends ethnic bigotry and place all Nigerians as individuals with rights, privileges, interests and needs. The role of ideology in politics was fully explored and its validity in Nigerian politics was fully explained.

40

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMMBER 5, 2012

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Methodist pupil tops Amila painting challenge

M

ASTER Olumide Emmanuel, a Primary Six pupil of Methodist Primary School, Agege has emerged the first winner in the second stage of the Amila Painting Challenge sponsored by Amila powder soft drink, a brand of Promasidor Nigeria Limited.

The second stage competition for schools under Agege Local Government Area was held at Dairy Farm Primary School, Agege last Tuesday with 10 schools competing to represent the local government.

After a rigorous painting exercise, which lasted 40 minutes, Master Olumide Emmanuel led with 245 points, while Master Adesanya Waris got 235 points and Master Godwin Akpan 233 points, second and third. The contestants were scored based on the neatness of their work, the time they finished, adherence to instructions, and the overall accuracy of their painting of the picture.

Master Olumide who represented, Methodist Primary School at the local government level of the competition walked away with a bicycle, Amila school bags, books and other Promasidor products. He will be representing Agege Local Government Area at the grand finals of the challenge while others got consolation prizes.

Under the second stage, winners in the first stage will compete at their local government level where the final winner will represent the local government at the state level to compete for the grand prize.

The event had in attendance dignitaries such asEducation Secretary, Hon. Asiwaju Olalekan Majiyagbe, Stakeholder School Based Management Committee, Chief Mrs Ogundile FA, Quality Assurance LGEA and Mr. Joseph Bamidele among others.

Manager, Food Enhancement and Bev-

•Emmanuel

erages said the overall winner of the challenge would get N250, 000.

“We visited 200 schools in Lagos in 20 local government areas in Lagos for the first stage of the competition. Today, we have kicked off the second stage of the competition here, Agege Local Government Area, Lagos where 10 schools will compete amongst themselves for the opportunity to represent their local government area at the final stage of the competition. The 20 finalists at the local government level will compete for the overall prize who will walk away with N250,000, 1st runner up N150,000 and the 2nd runner up N100,000 while there will be consolation prizes of N30,000 each for the other 17 contestants,” she said.

Inawo said that the importance of arts cannot be over emphasised as it brings the creativity in pupils to test. “We choose arts because it has been neglected by most companies. Most companies today focus on other subjects and have pushed arts to the background. Arts bring out the creativity in everyone. We have seen that arts help improve the motor skills in children.”

Representing the Chairman Agege Local Government Area, Education Secretary, Hon. Majiyagbe said, Agege Local Government Area is highly honoured to kick off this second stage of the challenge.

“Agege Local Government Area is among the best local government areas in Lagos. We appreciate this gesture especially since our LGA is known to be the leading LGA in the state. For us arts and craft is something we take seriously. I must commend your effort and innovation for starting up a challenge like this and I pray that Promasidor will keep growing from strength to strength and am assuring you that you won’t be disappointed that you came here.”

Nigeria art show holds Dec. 8

T

HE 21st edition of Nigeria Art show will hold on December 8, at Skky Place, 27b, Lugard Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos, from 10am to 3pm for Children’s Creative Camp and art exhibition from 4pm to 10pm. Guest of honour is Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya.

Over 30 artists will be participating in this year’s competition and exhibition entitled Onward Nigeria. Artists is expected to express this year’s theme in various media including oil painting, water colour, pastel, wood carving, fibre glass sculpture, metal foil etc. the best works will be rewarded with trophies and cash prizes.

The Gani Odutokun award for the excellence in art will be presented for the best work. The awards ceremony was established to reward outstanding contributions to the growth of art in Nigeria.

By Udemma Chukwuma

VISUAL ART Award categories include Lifetime Achiever Award, Teacher of the Year Award, Sponsor of the Year Award and the Gani Odotokun Award for excellence in art.

Children between the ages of 5 to 12 are encouraged to use their imagination at the Children Creative Camp, which was established to promote creativity in children. This year, the children will be designing greeting cards and decorating TShirts. The highlight of this year’s event is the Nigerian Jigsaw Puzzle where the children will design cut-out shapes an Nigerian states after which they will fix them together to form one whole map of Nigeria. The children are invited from schools and orphanages including the Little Saints Orphanage.

GLO sponsors Ekimogun festival

G

LOBACOM has reaffirmed its commitment to projecting the Nigerian culture as it consolidates its position as lead sponsor of the 2012 Ekimogun festival in Ondo.

Announcing its support for this year’s Ekimogun festival which began in Ondo town on Monday in a statement, Globacom said its participation is driven by its interest in the promotion of cultural activities that bind the Nigerian people together as one geographic entity.

This anniversary, the statement said, “is one that Globacom is proud to be associated with in the sense that it serves as a reminder of the historical antecedents of the Ondo people,” adding that its involvement would help project the awareness of the cultural values and

FESTIVAL tradition of the Ondo people to wider communities.

The company described the festival as a socio-cultural melting pot where all the sons and daughters of Ondoland, both home and abroad congregate to celebrate their existence as brothers and sisters. They also use the cultural assembly as a platform to discuss the development of the community socially, politically and economically.

The week-long celebration will feature town parade, cultural ceremonies, and exhibition of ancient Ondo artefacts, royal banquet, and the Ekimogun night where King Sunny Ade, a son of Ondoland will perform.

•Dancers on stage.

F

REE dance classes in 10 public schools every week for have been offered

by The Dance Deal Training Foundation tagged ‘LOYD’ Live Out Your Dreams.

It was offered at the one year anniversary and fund raising programme of the Dance Deal Training Foundation held at Terra Kulture in Victoria Island, Lagos, recently.

The Dance Deal Foundation offers free professional dance training in various techniques contemporary African dance, indigenous Nigerian dance and other special areas.

The guest facilitator of the foundation, Mr Segun Lawal highlighted the challenges facing Nigerian dancers which includes; management and lack of funding. He pointed the importance

PHOTO: DAVID ADEJO

Dancing for a purpose

By Joy Thomas

of training, workshops and seminars. He said of his readiness to venture into the institute “I see a bright future for art and dance,” he noted.

Several dances were performed including; Sorry by Katherine, a dance drama on job employment by Terra Steven, the WAZOBIA dance by students of the foundation depicting the African culture, silent in sound, imagination of Mema by Emmanuel.

In attendance was Mrs Folasade Tolulope Ogunsola.

EKO 2012 IN PICTURES

•Team Rivers and Delta locked in battle in wrestling action

Photo: BOLA OMILABU

•Delta gold medal team show off their prizes

Photo: BOLA OMILABU

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

42

•Team Lagos (yellow) and Kwara, in basketball action Photo: BOLA OMILABU

•Chess competition at the Eko 2012 •Okechukwu Alfa of Delta state in action during Special Sports Shot put event Photo: JOHN EBHOTA

•Okoronkwo Precious of Lagos state

•Delta state Fans celebrating gold medal won by Ugoh Kasie on women's javelling Photo: JOHN EBHOTA

Photo: BOLA OMILABU •Williams Gbekemiye of Lagos won gold medal in the backstroke 50m sw2immingh Photo: BOLA OMILABU

•L-R: Marketing Manager Evans Medical Plc, Mr. Richard Okapor; Sales and Marketing Director, Mr. Adeoye Oyewo; Secretary, Local Organizing Committee Sport Festival , Mr.Kweku Thando; and Member LOC , Mr. Deji Tinubu, during the Presentation of Glucose to Photo: BOLA OMILABU LOC member for the ongoing sport festival in Lagos... on Monday Photo: BOLA OMILABU

•Team Abuja in green jersey and team Niger at the basketball tournament Photo: BOLA OMILABU •400 meters Men's Heat 6 Photo: JOHN EBHOTA

Borno defied security challenges to attend festival — BSC secretary

B

ORNO State Sports Council, has said the state contingent defied security challenges to be at the 18th National Sports Festival (NSF) in Lagos.

Umar told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday that the Borno Governor, Kashim Shettima, was determined to ensure that the state participated fully in the festival.

According to the secretary, the

governor had done a lot to motivate the athletes and officials to participate in the festival.

He said owing to the security challenges in the state, the athletes had to be camped in Bauchi, Lagos and Kaduna preparatory to the games.

He said the state was determined to improve on medals table over its previous outing.

Borno had finished in the 28th position at the 17th edition of the games held in Port Harcourt in 2011 with 1 gold, 3 silver and 8 bronze medals.

"We have 219 athletes and about 40 officials, with about 16 state delegates. Always, my goal has been to improve on our Abuja outing.

That was the best ever for Borno,

in 2004. "We had about 8 gold medals, 9 silver and 12 bronze. Our position was 16. So, we want to improve on that outing. So, we do not know what will come. So far, we have 1 silver, 2 bronze medals.

"So far, so good. In sports you can never get two situations, identical situations. Whichever opportunity you have, if you do not get it correctly, then that opportunity is

gone. So, we cannot say this is what will be the outcome.”

Umar, then, urged the people of the state to have hope in the state's contingent and assured them that in spite of the security challenges, they were determined to give a good account of themselves.

He said that the athletes and officials were eager to win more medals as the state had qualified for the semi-final and final.

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NEWS

F

OR the Chief Executive Officer, Jovana Farms, Mr Arinze Onebunne, raising rabbits has become second nature.

He said the production of the animal gives farmers a big chance to increase their income and offers an alternative means of livelihood to urban and rural farmers in addressing poverty.

It is for these that Onebunne launched an initiative to promote rabbit rearing as a suitable occupation that can contribute to food security, wealth and employment creation.

According to him, rabbit production is emerging as a productive enterprise since it is being reared in small units and is very prolific. In terms of value addition, he said rabbit meat can be used in many forms, sold in butcheries and used to prepare different delicacies such as pies and sausages. Its skin is in high demand in garment industry due to its fur and it can also be processed to make leathers.

The domestic rabbits known as orictolagus cunniculus, are prolific breeders. Their rate of production is faster than that of pigs, goats and sheep.

Rabbits have very short gestation period (27 – 33 days) and can rebreed immediately after giving birth.

A breeding doe (female) can produce at least five litters yearly with an average of six kits/litters; that is, 30kits per doe yearly if you will manage under simple conditions with simple 15 per cent mortality at most; about 25 of the kits

Rearing rabbits for sale

By Daniel Essiet

would reach 3kg within six months.

He said a robust and thriving rabbit meat industry would have an enormous impact on and add value to the economy. It would not only offer up opportunities for major investors to start and grow large meat processing companies, and thereby contribute to employment creation, but it also open up avenues for the lucrative trade in fur skins export.

Waht is more, the industry would transform the fortunes of many small producers and leverage assets for the poor.

O t h e r s , w h o would benefit from the spin off in the value chain are the manufacturers of animal

feeds, distributors, stockists, tanneries, veterinary officers, butcheries, restauranteurs etc.

Besides,the consumption of rabbit meat has many benefits; the animal has the highest protein percentage and it is the most nutritious meat known to man.

He is training and helping more farmers to make it.

In addition to rabbit farming, he built a value chain.

He said the success in raising rabbits for profit is determined by three things: a good breeding programmes, proper equipment and good care.

Onebunne said raising rabbits for meat is a good way to make money, but only if one does it on a large scale.

At present, most farmers do it to make supplementary income. He said the initial cost of setting up is small; ‘’rabbits breed quickly and frequently, they have large litters and grow to a marketable size in a short time. However, it is a full time job with rabbit care and good feeding needed.

Like any business, he said if one wants to make profit with rabbits one needs to assess the market.

Once one has established there is a market and have found outlets to sell to, one needs to find the perfect rabbit for the market. Most rabbits will

tolerate cooler weather, others don’t. Some breed four times a year.

One of the most popular rabbits for raising rabbits on a commercial scale is the white rabbit, which has good white fur and a good percentage of flesh.

According to him,rabbits will continue to make money for one as long as one maintains good breeding stock.

A good white doe can be bred at the age of six months and if conditions are ideal, she can breed four times a year.

Breeding does are usually kept for two years before they are slaughtered. On the average, they can give birth to 80 young ones yearly.

The buck may be bred up to seven times weekly.

The young are born within 28–31 days of mating and a normal rabbit litter can contain about eight kittens but it can range from two to 12. The rabbits should be kept until they weigh about 1.8-2 kg each before they are butchered.

This takes about two months. Raising rabbits has an excellent by-product for garden and veggie patch.

Rabbit manure is good for the compost heap.

To establish a dynamic and viable rabbit breeding industry, he said it is critical that a training and development programme is put in place.

Much of the money of the

business goes right back out for food, equipment, cages, medicine, vet bills, showing bills, trips and the things one needs to run a healthy successful rabbitry.

Somebreederswouldallowother breeders to use their bucks for a ‘breedingfee’.Thiscanbeformoney, for a baby exchange, pick of the litter, naming the litter after the buck’s rabbitry rather than the does etc.

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POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Politics is in the air in Sokoto State and politicians are already showing their intentions for various offices. Correspondent ADAMU SULAIMAN writes on the soaring popularity of House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, who is perceived as a major governorship contender in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Tambuwal and Sokoto 2015 calculations H

OUSE of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal was the cynosure of all eyes in Sokoto last week. He was among eminent Nigerians who received honorary doctorate degrees from the Usman Dan Fodio University, in the heart of the Caliphate. He shared the joy of the moment with Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko and his Rivers State counterpart, Rotimi Ameachi.

But it was as if the event was mainly organised for the number four citizen as his supporters stormed the venue, asking him to join the governorship race.

Tambuwal is a household name in the ‘Born to Rule’ state. Since he became Speaker, he has also brought honour to the state. Observers marvel at the cordial relations between him and Wamakko.

It is a wide departure from the tension that usually characterised relations between politicians at the home front and ‘Abuja politicians’.

His supporters want him to join the governorship race early, but mum is still the word from the eminent politician.

His rivals in the race are already on the field. They are the deputy governor, Alhaji Muktar Shagari, Senator Umaru Dahiru, Yusha’u Ahmed from the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Aliyu Yabo,an engineer, Yusuf Attahiru Yabo and Farouk Malami Yabo.

They are all from the South Senatorial District. To analysts, the way the Governor Aliyu Wamakko waved at those hailing Tambuwal at the ceremony confirmed that there is a deal between the duo on succession.

It is an open secret that there are alignments and re-alignments going on. For example, former governorship contenders Senator Abubakar Umar Gada and Yusuf Suleiman are now in the camp of the governor. They have ended the hostilities and refrained from criticising Wamakko. A PDP source also said they may not be averse to Tambuwal’s candidature.

Former NITT Chief Executive Mahe Dange and Ambassador Ladan Abdullahi Shuni, who anchored campaigns for the former governorship aspirants, are also backing the governor.

Also honoured at the occasion were Professor John Paden from the United States, Prof Mahmoud Yakubu and the pro-Chancellor, Alhaji Bilya Sanda.

According to the university’s management, Tambuwal was honoured with a doctorate degree in Law, for his contributions to the economic, social and political development of the country. Students were clapping as his citation was read by the university orator, Dr. Dahiru Argungu.

No fewer than 300 federal lawmakers accompanied the Speaker.

Observers said the huge turnout attested to his popularity in the House and a vote of confidence in his leadership. Tambuwal’s deputy, Emeka Ihedioha, and other associates described him as a man of integrity worthy of the award.

‘It is an open secret that there are alignments and re-alignments going on. For example, former governorship contenders Senator Abubakar Umar Gada and Yusuf Suleiman are now in the camp of the governor.

They have ended the hostilities and refrained from criticising the governor. A PDP source also said they may not be averse to Tambu-wal’s candidature’ • Hon. Tambuwal

Barely three weeks ago, the state was aglow for Tambuwal. He was in the capital to bag an award by the state government. But the university award was more significant because the Speaker is the first alumnus of the institution to occupy the number four seat.

Showering encomiums on Tambuwal, the Minority Leader, in the House of Representatives, Abdulrahman Sumaila from Takai/Sumaila federal constituency, Kano State, said he had justified the confidence reposed in him. “ He has combined the necessary ingredients of leadership in so many dimensions that is why we are proud of him as a tested democrat of repute”, he said.

The three senators from Sokoto State, Ahmed Maccido, Ibrahim Gobir and Umaru Dahiru, had nice things to say about the Speaker.

They were present to spice the event that was also attended by the 11 representatives from the state.

However, the ceremony was not all about political ego. The visitor to the university, President Goodluck Jonathan, enjoined wellmeaning Nigerians to assist the nation’s institutions. He urged the management of universities to judiciously use the N3 billion special intervention fund to intellectual excellence. The funds are to encourage performance, not misapplication.”

The President described universities as the bedrock of societal development, promising never to neglect them. “Federal government will continue to channel and

focus its support on universities for standards both in character and learning”, added the President.

Echoing him, National Universities Commission (NUC) chairman Professor Julius Okojie promised not to let the government down, assuring that the funds would be deployed to academic and developmental projects.

President Jonathan urged stakeholders to demonstrate commitment to supporting universities through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative by funding and generating revenue to sustain their

activities.

He thanked the governments of the catchment areas; Sokoto, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Katsina and Zamfara states; for their unflinching support to the university. He urged the awardees to see the awards as a call to duty, adding that “it is a mark of a new beginning and journey for self actualisation and development of Nigeria” Governor Ameachi, who responded on behalf of the awardees, announced the endowment of a chair in the English Department of the University. He, Wamakko and

Tambawal also announced that they would jointly donate a hostel to ease accommodation problem.

The governor hailed the rapid academic excellence recorded by Usman Danfodiyo University, stressing that it was an endorsement of government efforts and understanding towards tackling challenges in the education sector.

“It is a replication of the scholarly legacies bequeathed to the Sokoto caliphate and institution named after the late Sheikh Usmanu Danfodiyo”, he added.

Amaechi said the two major religions of Islam and Christianity preached and encouraged the seeking of knowledge by its followers, urging Nigerians to tap from these ideas for moral development. He urged the university management to sustain the tempo of academic standard. “We as leaders will not compromise good governance for the advancement of our people”, he assured.

The Vice Chancellor, Professor Riskuwa Shehu, said the second generation university has been fulfilling its mandate of meeting the training needs of sister institutions and the public.

Professor Shehu listed the challenges confronting the institution.

He said the university was devastated by the 2010 flood that damaged its roads, urging the government and public-spirited individuals to assist the institution.

The University Chancellor, Chief Gibson Nwosu, Eze Uzor 11, said the institution had recorded remarkable achievements, adding that it met 68.9 percent criteria for programme accreditation by the NUC. At the ceremony were Emirs of Gwandu, Yauri, Argungu and other numerous title holders. Senator Abdul Ningi, former President Shehu Shagari, Minister for Youth Development, Inuwa Abdulkadir, and Justice Aisha Dahiru also stepped out to be counted. Others included the Vice Chancellors of BUK, FUT Minna, ATBU Bauchi, Modibbo Adama University, Yola, and University of Ilorin.

• From left: Director, Press and Public Relations, Oyo State Ministry of Information, Mr Fatai Ogundairo; Commissioner for Information, Pastor Taiwo Otegbeye, and Chairman, Action Alliance, Oyo State, Mr Tunde KelaniAnifowose, at a briefing by the commissioner in Ibadan yesterday.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

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POLITICS LASEIC begins preparations for 2014 council polls

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Political Editor

L

AGOS State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) Chairman Justice Fatai Adeyinka (rtd) has lamented voters’ apathy to local gov ernment elections in the state, warning that it could erode legitimacy, good governance and democracy.

He clarified that the low turnout in recent times had no connection with the agency’s preparation for the polls across the 20 local governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

Adeyinka, who spoke at the Political Stakeholders’ Forum organised by the commission at Ikeja, recalled that the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commission of Nigeria (FOSIECON) and other independent observers within and outside the country had applauded polls conducted by the commission. He was accompanied by other electoral officials , including Mr. Lekan Mabinuori, Mr. Adeoye Ogundipe, Mrs. Felicia Oriola, Mr. Tokunbo Amele, Mr. Ade Jeje and Mrs. Ronke Famakinwa.

At the meeting attended by representatives of political parties, Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner Dr. Adekunle Ogunmola and former Lagos State National Conscience Party (NCP) chairman Afolabi Gbajumo delivered lectures titled: “Party politics, internal democracy and electoral peace”.

Highlights of legal provisions guiding council polls were read out to the party leaders.

Adeyinka said LASIEC always made proper arrangements for logistics, transportation, security and distribution of electoral materials, adding that ballot boxes were customised and only political parties contesting elections had their logos printed on the customised ballot papers.

Adeyinka alluded to the adoption of the open secret system adopted for the polls, saying that plastic polling booths for voters to thumb print without other voters identifying the political parties being voted for by the electorate.

He however, lamented that post-election analysis showed that voters’ turn out was low in some areas, stressing that apathy marred the exercises in other places.

Adeyinka added: “LASIEC has observed a downward trend in the turnout of voters, particularly in the last three to four years. 781,363 voted out of 6.2 million registered voters in the 2011 local government election, which amounted to 12.78 percent, whereas in 2008, 1,054,971 voted out of 4.2 million registered voters, which amounted to 25.1 percent.

“This is a very dangerous trend which may have negative consequences on legitimacy, good governance and other components of democracy. Although democracy is not totally problem-free, it bequeathed to man his fundamental freedom of choice among political parties. What we see in some countries of the world today makes us to classify them as developed or advanced is mostly achieved through the strengthening of their democracy at the grassroots level, thus making development to evolve from the grassroots and rise up to the state and federal levels”.

Ogunmola spoke on electoral peace, saying that only free and fair elections can guarantee harmony and prevent electoral violence. He lamented that political parties have often abused the Electoral Act 2010, which empowers them to choose candidates for elections, assuring that the provision would be amended.

He added: “The task of delivering free, fair and credible elections is a collective responsibility and all of us must have a role to play in making it a reality. Credible elections are possible in Nigeria, but all of us must work together in ensuring that whatever needs to be done to bring about this objective is done”.

Gbajumo expressed worry about the lack of internal democracy in the political parties, urging stakeholders to moderate the tension between party democracy and internal democracy.

Yobe denies officials’ relocation

T

HE Special Adviser to Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam on Press Affairs and Information, Abdullahi Bego, has said the alleged relocation of government officials to neighbouring states due to insecurity was unfounded.

Bego, who reacted to the statement credited to the Niger State governor, Dr. Babagida Aliyu, that insecurity was taking it toll on the Yobe State government affirmed that the situation was under control in the state.

He said: “We state categorically that no government official has relocated to Kano or Jigawa nor has anyone given up in Yobe State or anywhere in the country. As Muslims and Christians, we believe in the scriptural encouragement that ease will follow every hardship.”

The governor’s aide further remarked that security agencies were working hard to make the state safe with the co-operation of the citizens through vigilance. “This is even more so with the hard work of our security agencies and the vigilance of ordinary citizens.”

He further stated that the on-going fight to ensure peace and security in the state would be achieved because all hands were on deck to mitigate the situation. “The sacrifice that we make as individual and collectives and what we actually do as leaders and people in positions of authority.”

Expressing his concern for the in-

By Musa Odoshimokhe

security in the North and the country that the Governor Ibrahim Gaidam administration remains faithful to its mandate and would continue undaunted to deliver on its mandate.

“It therefore came as a huge sur-

My grouse with 1999 Constitution, by Rep

By Dada Aladelokun, Assistant Editor

PDP elders seek Hembe’s recall From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

I

ORWASE Hembe, the embattled House of Representatives member, rep resenting Konshisha/Vandeikya Federal Constituency in Benue State, is facing another battle of his life as elders of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), want his seat declared vacant.

The elders from his federal constituency also want him recalled as they scheme for another by election. Reason: Hembe’s alleged engagement in anti-party activities.

Hembe, a former chairman, House Committee on Capital Market, recently had a running battle with the Director General of the Capital Market, Ms .Etteh,who accused him of corruption, an allegation wver which he is facing trial before an Abuja High Court on corruption charges.

In a four-page petition against Hembe, jointly signed by Engr. Edward Ujege, Dr. Mathias Byuan, Amb. Awuhe Ikyongo and 47 other PDP elders from Konshisha/Vandeikya federal constituency, addressed to state chairman of PDP in Makurdi, which was obtained exclusively by The Nation, the elders stated: “Hembe has violated the constitution of the PDP, Article 58 (1) (f)2012 as amended, which provides that the part shall have the power s to discipline any member who engages in anti-party activities, and section 68(1)(g) of the constitution as amended .

This section according to the PDP chieftain, provides that a person whose election into the House was sponsored by political party and has become a member of another political party before the expiration of the period, for which he was elected, shall vacate his seat.

They alleged further that Hembe, who was elected into the House of Representatives on the platform of the PDP, worked for Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) as chairmanship and councillorship candidates respectively during the last local government polls in Benue State.

The petition further claimed that Hembe also organised a ACN rally in his Mbatser/Mbagusu council ward in Konshisha Local Government area on November 7, 2012 which was video-taped and attached to the petition against him to the State Working Committee (SWC) of the PDP. The Nation gathered that very soon, the party in the state might raise a panel to investigate Hembe and push for deciplinary actions against him.

However, the state publicity of the PDP, Hon Godwin Ayihe refused to comment on the matter as he did not pick his call nor reply text messages sent to him by this correspondent.

Hembe’s phone lines were also switched off just as the security man at his NUJ Secondary School, Makurdi residence told our correspondent that he had gone to Abuja.

• Governor Gaidam

prise that Governor Babangida Aliyu relying on a speculative reports from one newspaper, would speak of government institution taking flight out of the state.”

“I wasn’t very happy when I read in the papers that in Yobe State, the legislators and commissioners were moving to Jigawa. That means we are already giving up because if the government institution moved, it means those who are after us have defeated us and had taken over.”

The further expressed the belief that the Niger State governor should have contacted his counterpart on the issue before using a newspaper report to make such weighty comments.

“If Governor Aliyu was unable for whatever reason to contact Governor Gaidam, one would expect him to show circumspection using a newspaper report to make such weight comments.”

Governor Aliyu had said during the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation lecture series in Abuja that insecurity had forced top Yobe State government officials to relocate from Damaturu, the state capital to neibouring states.

“As chairman of the Northern Governor’s Forum and leader who continues to make a mark on the lives of the people, we hold Governor Aliyu in highest esteem and hope that this clarification will help inform his comment about Yobe State in the future,” Bego said.

•Faparusi

A

S unhealthy as the 1999 Constitution seems, two of its Sections - 147 and 192 - provide for the confirmation of the nomination of persons ministers of the federation or state commissioners by the respective legislators of the levels of government. However, it is mute over the procedures to be observed before the removal of the ministers or commissioners.

This awry development may cease to be the norm if the dimension being added to the ongoing efforts at rejiging the 1999 Constitution by Hon Bamidele Faparusi who represents Emure/Gbonyin/Ekiti East Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives yields fruits.

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) lawmaker is poised to present a Bill on the floor of the House for an act to amend the controversial Constitution to provide for the consent of the Senate/states’ Houses of Assembly for the removal of a

minister or the commissioner of a state.

Giving a background to the issue in a chat with The Nation, Faparusi explained: “Legislators (Senate and states’ Houses of Assembly), in compliance with the provision of the appropriate sections of the constitution, do expend reasonable time and energy, screening and confirming or otherwise, nominees for the offices of the minister or the commissioner as the case may be, but they are not brought into the picture when it comes to the removal of such persons from the office - minister or commissioner.”

This situation, he contended, tends to leave the ministers and commissioners at the whims of the chief executive to the extent of firing any person whom he wishes to the detriment of the state “because he was appointed to serve the state and not the person or of-

‘The constitution as it stands now, does not provide for the consent of the legislature when it comes to the removal of a person from the office as a minister or commissioner...Can the president or a governor independently appoint a person into office as minister or commissioner without recourse to the legislature? No. If so, it is absurd that the legislator is not resorted to when such a person is to be removed’

fice of the chief executive.”

He spoke further, recalling: “Mr President, through a letter addressed to the Senate President, requested the confirmation of the Senate for the removal of the former acting Chairman of Federal Character Commission (FCC) in compliance with the provision of the FCC Act Cap F7 LFM 2004.

The argument then was that since the legislator confirmed the nomination of the said person into office, it naturally holds that recourse should be had to the said legislature in the issues of his removal from the same office.

“The constitution as it stands now, does not provide for the consent of the legislature when it comes to the removal of a person from the office as a minister or commissioner. This is the thrust of the bill. It is hinged on two questions: Who is the ultimate employer of the minister of the federation or commissioner of the government of a state? Can the president or a governor independently appoint a person into office as minister or commissioner without recourse to the legislature? No. If so, it is absurd that the legislator is not resorted to when such a person is to be removed. This should not be allowed to persist.”

If the bill eventually sails through on its presentation soon, Faparusi argued, “it will be of immense benefit to Nigeria, and has the capacity to restore the confidence of the society in the leadership whereby any person appointed into office as minister of commission would owe his allegiance to the state and not to the person of the chief executive.”

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

Obi’s wife encouraged women in authority to ensure they uplift others to enable them appreciate that their profile has changed for the better

•Mrs Margaret Peter-Obi with Best Couple of the Year in Anambra, Chief Mark C. R. Eriobuna and Mrs Regina Ada Eriobuna flanked left by chairman on the occasion Hon Justice Vero Ngozi Umeh , Administrative Judge Otuocha Division and right by Hon Henrietta Agbata , women Affairs Commissioner Anambra and Hon Rebecca Udorji ,Committee Chairman on women Affairs state House of Assembly, Lady Chigozie Abiakam, SA legal to the Governor as well as the Chairman of Anambra East , Hon Obidigwe

T

HOUSANDS of rural women in Anambra State have got a huge impetus to become economically independent.

Wife of the state governor, Mrs Margaret Peter-Obi inpsired them to raise fish and poultry, telling them it is one sure way to contribute meaningfully to family income. She also distributed thousands of fingerlings and fish-feed as well as day-old chicks to the women.

The event took place as the state marked the International Day of the Rural Women in the state.

The day was conceived by the United Nations to recognise the critical role and contributions of rural women in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating poverty.

The state under Governor Peter Obi through his wife has employed all avenues of empowering rural women to end poverty and hunger.

She coordinates her activities through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

But Mrs. Peter-Obi made it more than a mere anniversary to be celebrated. She lifted the spirits of many residents whose homes and farmlands were seriously affetcted in the recent floods.

This year’s anniversary was cel-

Obi’s wife inspires women to farm From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

ebrated at Anambra East Local Government Area headquarters, Otuocha.

The event, according to Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Lady Henrietta Agbata, featured other programmes of the ministry such as the Family Day and the School Social Work.

Director, Social Welfare, Mrs Rose Udeagabara, said the state’s theme for the event was “Family Unity: Implication for Proper Child Upbringing.”

Mrs Udeagabara and her co-planner of the event, Director Women Affairs, Mrs Maria. N Ezeanuna, said the School Social Work is targeted at enhancing the academic performance of students; boosting emotional and psychological growth of students.

In her speech, Governor Obi’s wife expressed gratitude to the rural women who thronged the venue from over 177 communities in the state to showcase their agricultural products.

She was happy that despite the flood, the women from ravaged areas were able to participate and add

•From left: Chairman, Lagos Island East Local Council Development Area, Comrade Kamal Salau-Bashua; council Coordinator, Neighbourhood Watch, Mr Simeon Fashanu and the Police Area ‘A’ Commander, Imohimi Edgal during the presentation of uniforms to Neighbourhood Watch and patrol vans to the Police by the council boss at the Secretariat, Lagos.

colour to the celebration. She reiterated the state government’s continued efforts to make the state the most gender-friendly in the country.

Obi’s wife encouraged women in authority to ensure they uplift others to enable them appreciate that their profile has changed for the better. She urged parents, especially mothers, to ensure their children are useful to the society, adding that they should spare some time to help their children with their homework.

Mrs Peter-Obi presented awards to the best couple of the year, Chief Mark C. R. Eriobuna from Ihembosi and best family worthy of emulation Sir Philip and Lady Elina Okika from Awka. She appealed to women to be role models in their families.

Mrs Obi inspected food crops, tubers and other species on display by the local government areas before distributing thousands of bags of poultry feed, chicks, fish-feed and fingerlings to the rural women. They were also given water-pumping machines for dry season farming, among others.

The state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Lady Henrietta Agbata, hailed Mrs. Peter-Obi for her motherly love and care for the ministry.

The commissioner noted: “In a bid to ensure that we reduce poverty and maintain a balanced family, His Excellency has undoubtedly empowered the women folk in Anambra

State, through the following: Grants to our 15,000 women, distribution of tools including sewing machines, palm oil, processing machines, welding machines, grinding machines, refrigerators, baking ovens, hair dryers, soap-making machines, water pumping machines, poultry and feeds to empower over 1,500 women and youths.

Chairman, House Committee on Women Affairs, Ms Francisca Chikwendu and Chairperson, Anambra State Association of Town Unions Women Wing, Dr Chinelo Okechukwu, lauded the efforts of Obi’s wife in galvanizing and empowering rural women to fight poverty and hunger.

Ekiti mounts sanitary campaign

rather than six, now operate in the five designated zones in Ado and two in Ikere, the waste management boss stated that one of the three earlier contracted had been derelict in discharging its roles and the contract “has been terminated for gross inefficiency.”

Morakinyo said: “The state has also purchased additional two roll-on-roll-off garbage trucks to strengthen the operations and enable us reach the residents as often as we think is necessary.”

But, what happens to tons of heaps evacuated from streets and homes over time and what precautions are there to ensure collected waste doesn’t constitute another hazard to the people?

Waste taken from various homes, according to the chairman, are disposed of around Fagbohun Estate Ikere-Ekiti and Ilokun area of Ado Ekiti, locations in the capital which are clinically far from human habitation and could therefore not reasonably constitute any form of dange to humans or animals.

But, keeping waste at bay and sanitising the streets have essentially not been the only preoccupation of the Waste Management Authority in the state.

The establishment has equally made efforts to make sense and wealth out of the garbage by con-

verting same into forms in which it could meet other needs of man.

According to Hon Morakinyo, this it does by partnering the National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA) which had piloted projects on the conversion of organic (biodegradable) wastes to fertilizer and the inorganic ones to other useful forms in the state.

Applauding the gesture of the federal government at the commissioning of the NESREA demonstration waste control composting plant, State Governor Kayode Fayemi noted the effort would support infrastructure development drives in the state as shown in the administration’s 8 Point Agenda.

Governor proceeded to commend the Honourable Minister on the integrated waste recycling project the Federal Ministry embarked upon at Fagbohun Estate, Ikere-Ekiti, disclosing that Ekiti has supported the project by making landspace available at Erifun and Ilokun sites and diverting enough waste deposits to the sites for sufficient supplementary organic waste for the compost recycling plant.

The Governor then assured that the state would make judicious use of the plants once handed over to it, adding that efforts would equally be geared at replicating the waste conversion efforts across the local governments.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 5-12-12

NSE set to improve investors’ protection T

HE Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) said it would continue to develop effective process for protecting Nigerian investors by further improving on the transparency of the activities of the market.

Speaking at a workshop yesterday, Mrs Tinu Awe, Head, Legal Division, NSE, said that a lot has been improved upon to make the market as transparent as possible to restore investors’ confidence.

Specifically, she said the NSE will introduce whistleblowing in 2013 to ensure full compliance of operators with its rules and regulations, adding that the aim was to strengthen the NSE regulatory framework to protect market integrity.

She reiterated NSE’s commitment to building a strong regulatory framework that would protect investors and restore their confidence in the nation’s bourse.

Awe said that the NSE recently introduced X-Compliance and Brokers Track reports to ensure that quoted companies and stock broking firms disclosed their transac-

By Tonia Osundolire

tions.

Ms Hauwa Dogonyaro, the Head of Listings Regulation Department of the NSE, said that the X-Compliance report was an initiative designed to maintain market integrity and protect investors.

According to Dogonyaro, the X-compliance report is a snapshot of information to guide investment decision and provide information on the compliance status of listed companies.

She said that quoted companies that failed to comply with post-listing rules would be sanctioned to ensure good corporate governance.

On the Brokers Track Report, Mr Olufemi Shobanjo, Head, Broker/Dealer Regulation, said that it was introduced to ensure full disclosure of activities of dealing firms.

Shobanjo said, “The report will provide investors with adequate data to make informed decisions of the firms they choose to do business

with.”

Meanwhile, trading on the NSE was lukewarm on Tuesday as the market indices appreciated marginally. The All-Share Index grew by 1.86 points or 0.01 per cent to close at 26,382.54 from the opening index of 26,380.68.

The market capitalisation also appreciated by N595 million to close at N8.430 trillion.

NCR led the price gainers chart with a gain of N0.72 to close at N15.12 per share followed by Sterling Bank with N0.07 to close at N1.54. Others were UBA, Wapic Insurance and Livestock among others.

Guinness gained N1.10 to close at N241.10 per share, while NCR rose by 72k to close at N15.12 per share.

On the flip side, Red Star Express led the losers’ chart, dropping N0.21 to close at N2.

82 followed by FCMB with a drop of N0.17 to close at N3.20. Also on the list were Stanbic IBTC, Evans Medical and RT Briscoe among others.

In all, investors traded 239.440 million shares worth N1.884 billion across 4,009 deals. Financial Services sector recorded the largest chunk of shares with 141.598 million shares worth N1.027 billion in 2,399 deals.

Others with significant volume were Services, Natural Resources, Consumer Goods, Conglomerates, Industrial Goods and Agriculture.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 5-12-12

55

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

MONEY LINK

Okumagba backs Sanusi on govt’s spending T

HE call by the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, for restructuring of government’s expenditure profile is a painful but necessary journey that Nigeria must embark on to ensure national growth and development, Group Managing Director, BGL Plc, Mr. Albert Okumagba has said.

Speaking to reporters at the ongoing 18th National Economic Summit in Abuja yesterday, Okumagba said

By Taofik Salako

optimisation of government spending to release more funds for development project is a bitter truth that Nigerians must face.

According to him, the central issue in the debate is how to allocate funds between recurrent and capital expenditures with the governments that have tended to allocate more to capital expenditures with better leverages for growth.

Citing examples of Lagos, Edo and Akwa Ibom States that have scaled up their capital expenditures, he pointed out that the impact of higher capital expenditures is visible on the large infrastructural developments in the states.

“It’s important to tell ourselves some bitter truth, the issue of reducing recurrent expenditure is a journey we must embark on; so that the government will have more money to invest in various

sectors. If we don’t have the money to invest in education, we cannot have the best schools,” Okumagba said.

He noted that as part of efforts to increase capital expenditures, the government should work on improving

Naira climbs to one-month high

N

AIRA strengthened for a second day, headed for its strongest in a month, as the country added to its foreign-exchange reserves, bolstering its ability to defend the cur-

rency.

Bloomberg report said the naira gained as 0.2 per cent to 156.80 a dollar and traded less than 0.1 per cent stronger at 157.05 in Lagos.

The nation’s foreign-ex-

NDIC: Bridged bank option saves N809b deposits, 6,887 jobs T

HE bridged bank option adopted in 2011, enabled the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) to save N809.4 billion total deposits and about 6,887 jobs, the managing director of the corporation, Umaru Ibrahim has said.

He disclosed this yesterday at the International Association of Deposit Insurers (IADI) conference held in Lagos.

The bridged banks - Keystone, Enterprise and Mainstreet – are the defunct BankPHB, Spring Bank and Afribank. They were among the banks rescued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Their shareholders had refused to allow new investors recapitalise them, culminating in their liquidation and injection of funds by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

The NDIC boss also said a total of N2.64 billion out of

ther liquidating the bank or bailing it out.

“So I believe most of the countries in Africa, which do not yet have deposit insurance, have what they call inbuilt mechanism of using the central bank to handle issues that ordinarily deposit insurance will handle. However, most countries are becoming aware of the need to enhance confidence of depositors and do everything possible to ensure the safety and stability of the financial industry,” he said.

Chief Executive Officer, Deposit Protection Corporation, Zimbabwe, John Chikura said the workshop will enable countries that have already set up deposit insurance know and understand what the best practises are.

Also, those that want to expand their mandate will also be getting experiences and skills from other countries on how they expand

Stories by Collins Nweze

the N4.67 billion insured deposits belonging to 73,000 depositors of microfinance banks in liquidation had been settled.

He said that to date, the corporation had, in addition to payout, deployed purchase and assumption and bridge bank option in resolving failures of banks in the country.

Ibrahim said the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) will, going forward, determine the state of a country’s financial stability based on the state of its deposit insurance.

He said a lot of these countries are trying to understand the concept and the purpose of the deposit insurance and need to be properly educated.

“The IMF and the World Bank based on a representation made to them by the International Association of

Deposit Insurance have now acknowledged the importance of deposit insurance and in fact, they will be using the existence of deposit insurance or otherwise in any country as a mark of financial stability,” he said.

According to the NDIC boss, several African countries are not aware of the benefits of the deposit insurance, and therefore lack explicit and structured independent system.

He said that where there are banking crises, the central bank of those countries would normally act in one way or the other to solve the problem.

For instance, prior to the establishment of the NDIC, the CBN normally step in to resolve banking crises by ei-

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

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 350m 150m 350m 138m 350m 113m

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 28-04-2012 “ 14-04-2012

GAINERS AS AT 5-12-12 SYMBOL

NCR STERLNBANK UBA WAPIC LIVESTOCK MAYBAKER NASCON ACCESS DANGFLOUR ETI

O/PRICE

14.40 1.47 4.31 0.54 1.40 1.45 6.20 8.70 7.80 11.00

C/PRICE

15.12 1.54 4.49 0.56 1.45 1.50 6.41 8.96 8.00 11.28

CHANGE

5.00 4.76 4.18 3.70 3.57 3.45 3.39 2.99 2.56 2.55

O/PRICE 3.03 3.37 11.19 1.14 1.41 1.81 0.58 2.02 19.28 142.00

C/PRICE 2.82 3.20 10.64 1.09 1.35 1.75 0.57 1.99 19.00 140.01

CHANGE -6.93 -5.04 -4.92 -4.39 -4.26 -3.31 -1.72 -1.49 -1.45 -1.40

Exchange Rate (N) 155.2 155.8 155.7

Date 2-7-12 27-6-12 22-6-12

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Year Start Offer

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

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

July ’12

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

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

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 11.8%

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

LOSERS AS AT 5-12-12

SYMBOL REDSTAREX FCMB STANBIC EVANSMED RTBRISCOE LEARBAFRCA AIICO HONYFLOUR ASHAKACEM NB

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m 113m

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

•Ibrahim

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM

MANAGED FUNDS

OBB Rate Call Rate

their mandate.

He said there are few countries in Africa that have already set up deposit insurance. According to him, only nine out of 54 countries in Africa have keyed into deposit insurance, adding that the IADA conference was meant to draw those countries that are yet to join the group to do so.

change reserves have increased 34.9 per cent this year to $44.5 billion as at November 30, according to data released yesterday by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Abuja, the capital. The bank sells dollars to lenders to help keep the naira within a three per cent band around 155 per dollar.

“The steady accretion in reserves raises investors’ confidence that the naira will always be supported,” Tunde Ladipo, chief executive officer of Lagos-based Valuechain Investment Ltd., said yesterday.

The CBN held its benchmark interest rate at a record high 12 per cent this year to ease inflation pressures and stabilize the naira. Inflation, which accelerated for the first time in four months to 11.7 per cent in October, remains above the bank’s target of less than 10 per cent.

The yield on 16.39 per cent naira debt due January 2022 rose one basis point to 12.20 per cent, according to yesterday’s prices on the website of the Lagos-based Financial Markets Dealers Association website. Borrowing costs on the nation’s $500 million of Eurobonds due January 2021 fell seven basis points to 4.176 per cent.

DATA BANK

Tenor

NIDF NESF

the efficiency of the civil service and the income generation potential of the national workforce.

Offer Price

Bid Price

ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH 9.17 KAKAWA GUARANTEED 1.00 STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE 129.24 AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 124.61 LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL 0.79 BGL SAPPHIRE FUND 1.11 BGL NUBIAN FUND 0.96 NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. 1,746.93 PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND 11.31 CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST 1.39 CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST 1.87 STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY 8,829.17 THE DISCOVERY FUND 193.00 FIDELITY NIGFUND 1.67 • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

9.08 1.00 128.96 123.81 0.76 1.11 0.94 1,739.08 10.75 1.33 1.80 8,604.30 191.08 1.62

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank P/Court

Previous 04 July, 2012

Current 07, Aug, 2012

8.5000 8.0833

8.5000 8.0833

Movement

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

56

NEWS Yuguda, Aliyu, Wada present budgets

‘Suleja bombing has disabled me’

O

•Bauchi N137.3b, •Niger N83.8b, •Kogi N130.99b

B

AUCHI State Governor Isa Yuguda, his Niger and Kogi counterparts, Babangida Aliyu and Idris Wada, yesterday presented the 2013 budget proposals to the states’ Assemblies.

The governors said the budgets would lead to accelerated development in the states.

Yuguda presented a N137,342,108,137 budget proposal, giving the Ministry of Education N5,566,347,686.

The Commission for Youth and Womens Rehabilitation and Development got N4,432,205,940.

The proposal is tagged: Budget of sustainable development.

Yuguda proposed N63,348,292,151 for recurrent expenditure and N73,993,816,176 for capital expenditure.

Giving details of the budget proposal, the governor told the lawmakers that N94,538,869,048 is for recurrent revenue. From this, N10,038,869,048 is to come from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and N84,500,000,000 from statutory allocation.

A breakdown of the recurrent expenditure showed that N25,992,985,052 is for personnel cost. Overhead takes N23,864,115,893; consolidated revenue fund charges is N13,491,191,206, making a total of N63,348,292,151.

The consolidated revenue fund charges comprise pension

From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi, Jide Orintunsin, Minna and Muhammad Bashir, Lokoja

and gratuity of N2,312,000,000; public debt charges and debt servicing take N8,714,939,436 and public officers’ salary is N2,464,251,770, totalling N13,491,191,206.

The government projected that Bauchi State would receive N73,933,816,176 from an opening balance of N500,000,000.

Transfer from consolidated revenue funds is N31,190,576,897; internal loans, including development bonds, are projected to fetch N7,270,000,000; Federal Government grant is N7,814,961,045, and technical assistance is N524,629,115.

External development is expected to contribute N6,294,457,920; local government joint projects, N15,000,000,000 and miscellaneous N3,509,296,000.

Justifying the expenditure in the outgoing year’s budget, Yuguda explained that his administration touched critical sectors of the state in the last five years.

The governor promised that the government would improve on its achievements.

Aliyu presented the budget to the House of Assembly in Minna, the state capital. It is 9.2 per cent less than the N95billion appropriation for the outgoing fiscal year.

He said N71.7billion would be for recurrent expenditure and N12.06billion for capital

receipts.

The governor told the lawmakers that the budget would be implemented with N53.7billion to be generated from the statutory Federation Account allocation; N8.5billion from the Value Added Tax (VAT); N2.8billion expected from the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) and N6.6billion from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

He said the recurrent expenditure, put at N46.7billion, comprises N25.1billion for personnel cost; N15.04billion for overhead and N6.5billion for consolidated fund charges.

Giving a breakdown, Aliyu said with the allocation of N11.3billion, the economic sector takes the lion’s share of the proposed bill, followed by the social sector with N10.9billion and the regional sector with N4.6 billion.

The governor said N10.08billion goes to the administrative sector. Science and technology gets N50million.

Aliyu reassured the residents that his administration would continue its free education policy to cushion the effect of the global economic meltdown on parents and encourage more children to attend school.

According to him, agricultural mechanisation would be boosted to generate income and create jobs for the people.

Aliyu added that his administration would, next

•Yuguda

year, concentrate on provision, maintenance and improvement of water schemes.

The governor said the Mokwa, Gwada, and Ibeto water schemes would be reactivated, adding that the Kuta water supply scheme would be completed.

Speaker Adamu Usman said the budget would be given speedy attention.

Wada said the N130,996,844,415 proposal, tagged: Budget of transformation, would meet the aspiration of the residents.

The proposal is the governor’s first since he assumed office on January 27.

He said capital expenditure would take N65,595,793,246 and the recurrent expenditure N65,401,510,169.

The budget, Wada said, was increased by N4.7billion or 3.5 per cent over the outgoing year’s budget.

According to him, the increase would enable his administration to meet the rising challenges of the state.

NE of the victims of the April 8, 2011 bombing in Suleja, Niger State, Mr Kayode Olatunji, yesterday told a Federal High Court in Abuja that the blast has disabled him.

The 300-level student of the University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, testified in court with a teacher, Musa Audu.

They said the blast caused “indelible” bodily harm to them.

Six persons, Shuaibu Abubakar, Salisu Ahmed, Umar Babagana-Umar, Mohammed Ali, Musa Adam and Umar Ibrahim, are on trial for alleged multiple bombings and killings in Suleja and Madalla, both in Niger State.

Olatunji said he was checking his name on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ad hoc workers’ list when the explosion occurred.

He said the impact of the blast left him with multiple fractures and deep injuries in the nose, ear and eyes.

The witness added that he underwent bone and flesh grafting on his legs.

Olatunji said the blast went off at 5pm on April 8, 2011 and killed innocent persons.

He said: “I was stucked in the midst of dead bodies. When I recovered, minutes after the explosion, I saw myself enmeshed in the blood of a woman blown open by the blast.

Police, NEMA: no bomb explosion in Abuja

T

HE police and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) yesterday dismissed the rumour of a bomb explosion at a shopping complex in Lokogoma, a settlement in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Force spokesman Frank Mba, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), told reporters in Abuja that the rumour was false.

Mba said no bomb explosion was reported in or around the FCT. According to him, investigation by security operatives revealed that only a fire occurred at the shopping complex.

He added: “It is unfortunate that some people have gone to town to report that it was an explosion; it was a mere fire outbreak at a shopping complex in Lokogoma.

“Reports reaching us showed that the fire, triggered by an electrical fault, started from a laundry shop at the shopping complex.

“It was also said that part of the building was razed and there was a big sound. The sound that caused the false alarm came from the compressor of the air conditioning system at the shop.”

The Force spokesman also said nobody died in the incident, though the property in parts of the building were destroyed.

He urged FCT residents to disregard the rumour and move on with their legitimate businesses without fear.

57

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

NEWS Jonathan’s brother for burial Saturday

Adenuga gives Bayelsa flood victims N500m

C

HAIRMAN of i n d i g e n o u s telecommunications PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan company, Globacom, Dr. Mike will leave Abuja for Bayelsa State tomorrow for the funeral Adenuga Jnr, has donated N500 million to flood victims of his younger brother, Chief in Bayelsa State.

Meni Innocent Jonathan, who Presenting the cheque to died on November 20.

Governor Seriake Dickson in He will be interred after a Abuja yesterday, Adenuga said funeral service on Saturday.

In a statement, the President’s he was touched by the plight of the victims. spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, said: “The late Jonathan will be buried on Saturday at his Otuoke hometown in Ogbia Local Government Area of HE Senior Staff Bayelsa State.

Association of Nigerian “His remains will be Universities (SSANU) conveyed from Abuja to Otuoke will begin a seven-day nation on Friday and would be wide warning strike on received by the Otuoke Council Monday. of Chiefs at the Otuoke SSANU National President Community Hall.

Comrade Samson Ugwoke told “There will be a Service of reporters yesterday in Abuja Songs for him at the Dame that the strike is to protest the Patience Jonathan Square, non-payment of the Earned Otuoke, and a commendation Allowances of non-teaching service will be held at the St. staff in universities as agreed in Stephen’s Anglican Church, the 2009 FGN/SSANU Otuoke, on Saturday.”

Agreement.

The union has written to President Goodluck Jonathan and Minister of Education Prof.

Ruqquatu Rufai, stating that the strike would affect all federal and state universities.

Copies of the letters were forwarded to Minister of Labour Emeka Wogu and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC).

The letter said the strike was triggered by the government’s failure to make provision for the payment of the Earned From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

•Dickson pledges to use fund judiciously He hailed the various steps taken by states and the Federal Government to cushion the effects of the floods, adding that his contribution would make life easier for the victims.

Dickson, who led a highpower delegation from the state to Adenuga’s home praised the businessman.

He thanked Adenuga for “expressing such deep concern and love for Bayelsa people” and assured him that the money would be used judiciously.

The governor said he has set up a post-flood management committee, headed by former National Security Adviser

(NSA) Gen. Andrew Owoye Azazi, with credible and eminent persons as members.

He said the calibre of persons on the committee underscores the government’s resolve to ensure that the donations are expended on the victims.

Union to begin national strike on Monday

T

•The late Jonathan

•AAU SSANU begins warning strike From Osagie Otabor, Benin and John Ofikhenua, Abuja

Allowance in the 2013 Budget.

Ugwoke said: “Another issue that ignited the strike is the report of the committee on NEEDS Assessment of Nigerian Public Universities, most especially the curious manner in which the government raised a White Paper on the report, which impacts directly on the continued existence of SSANU members without any invitation or input from the union.”

Also yesterday, the Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma chapter of the union began a one

E

week warning strike to protest the suspension of the university’s registrar and bursar.

The Bursar, Mr. Pius Ufuah, and Registrar Mrs. Josephine Omole were suspended over a year ago by the Edo State House of Assembly.

SSANU’s AAU Chairman Comrade Dako Etafia told reporters yesterday that the warning strike followed the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the university’s Governing Council to recall the suspended officers.

Dako said: “The normal

practice is that an officer should be disciplined, if found guilty, and recalled, if no case of gross misconduct is established against him or her within six months of being on suspension.

“This is the 14th month of their suspension. They have been on half pay since then and no action has been taken.

“We heard on the radio on October 19, last year, that the House of Assembly had suspended them. Till now we still do not know the reason for their suspension”.

He urged the Governing Council to recall the suspended officers to forestall an indefinate strike.

Oshiomhole to open defence today

DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole will today open his defence at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the July 14 election, Maj. Gen. Charles Airhiavbere, is challenging

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

Oshiomhole’s victory on grounds that the governor lacks the educational qualification to contest the election.

Airhiavbere is also alleging that the election was marred by irregularities.

The petitioner closed his case last Thursday after presenting 22 witnesses.

His application to call two more witnesses is pending before the Court of Appeal.

Oshiomhole and other respondents have 10 days to call their witnesses.

Kidnap victim dies three days after release From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

A

65-year-old kidnap victim, Mr. Paul Odili Chima, has died three days after he was released by kidnapers.

The late Chima, who was the Chairman of the Delta State chapter of the Licensed Electrical Contractors Association of Nigeria (LECAN) and President of Aboh Development Union (ADU), was abducted in Asaba, the Delta State capital, by gunmen.

He was freed one week later, after N1.5 million was reportedly paid as ransom.

It was gathered that the victim complained of pains, following the torture he was subjected to by his captors.

A close family source said: “Elder Chima died three days after his release by the kidnappers. Before his death, he complained of pains all over his body and was nursing a gunshot wound that was inflicted on him by his abductors.”

There has been an upsurge of abductions in Delta State lately, with the kidnap of former Super Eagles’ mid-fielder, Christain Obodo; Commissioner for Higher Education Prof. Hope Eghagha and the Majority Leader of the House of Assembly, Monday Igbuya, among others.

DISCOURSE

‘Time to stop paying lip-service to leadership’ Text of an address delivered by Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar at the convocation of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State.

I

wish, on behalf of my fellow honorees, to extend our profound and deep appreciation to the Board of Regents, Council and Senate and indeed to the entire University Community, for the recognition accorded to us and the honour conferred on us this afternoon. We feel highly delighted. Our special thanks go to the founder and proprietor of this great institution, Chief [Dr.] Gabriel O. Igbinedion, CFR, the Esama of Benin, for his vision and pioneering effort in establishing the first private university in Nigeria. It has been a noble, courageous and strategic undertaking which left a permanent imprint on Nigeria’s educational landscape and contributed immensely to the socioeconomic development of our people. The history of education in Nigeria shall never be complete without the honorable mention of Chief [Dr] Gabriel O. Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin.

It is also fit and appropriate to congratulate the Vice-Chancellor, the University Management, Staff and Students, for their hard work, perseverance, and determination in transforming this pioneer institution into the centre of excellence that it is.

This excellence is evidently manifest in the quality of its graduates, the creativity and relevance of its academic programs and the diversity and inclusiveness of its governance structures. The university has demonstrated, beyond doubt, the universality of knowledge and indeed the unity in diversity of Nigeria. The distinguished list of honorees at this occasion also bears

testimony to this great quality.

Honored here today was the former President of Ghana, His Excellency John Kufuor, a distinguished statesman and an accomplished political leader, who added both value and depth to Ghana’s democracy and socio-political development. We have on the list Alhaji Dikko Inde Abdullahi, the indefatigable Comptroller-General of Customs, and an astute administrator who brought vision, efficiency and purpose to the Customs Service.

On this distinguished list is His Excellency Alhaji Abubakar Audu, the former governor of Kogi State who worked tirelessly for the educational transformation of his state.

From the Organized Private Sector, we have Dr. Anthony Edoghogho, Chairman/Managing Director, Nosak Group of Companies; and from the legal profession, is the Benin based legal luminary, Chief (Sir) Alfred O. Eghobamein SAN, both of whom generously contributed not only to their chosen professions but also to the socio-economic development of our country.

Your Excellencies, members of the university community, our distinguished guests, permit me to state that the quality of our leadership and governance and indeed of our national development, is a direct reflection of the quality of our University System. Our universities provide us not only with the critical manpower we require as a nation but they also bequeath us with the leaders who are expected to manage every stratum of state and society.

This is indeed an onerous

responsibility which must be discharged seriously and conscientiously. We must realize that our universities are our greatest national asset. We can neglect them only at our own peril. It is therefore imperative for us to endow our younger generations with the best knowledge and skills not only to realize their full potential as bona fide citizens of West Africa but also to take their pride of place in a globalized and competitive world and make us all proud. Our success lies not in reminiscing in the good times and great opportunities we had, but in ensuring that succeeding generations are better equipped to face the challenges of the future and to manage change more effectively.

But distinguished ladies and gentlemen, how hopeful are we in achieving these noble objectives when the level of national investment in this critical sector remains inadequate and unsatisfactory? How can we aspire to achieving greatness in Science and Technology when many of our laboratories, especially in public universities, still subsist on outdated and outmoded equipment purchased in the 1960s and 1970s?

How can we extend the frontiers of knowledge when our investment and engagement in research remains a marginal activity in our university system? How can we expect the younger generations to take up the challenges of leadership when we pay lip-service to character building and leadership development and in many instances, serve as the cause of their degeneration?

Your Excellencies, it is a matter

•Alhaji Abubakar

of great importance for us to begin a serious and concerted reform of our higher education sector and refocus it to safeguard the strategic goals of the nation and to protect its future.

States and the Federal Government would need to rise to the challenge and raise the requisite financial resources that would make a real difference to the system. There is also the urgent need to improve organizational effectiveness, build capacity of lecturers and managers and put in place a robust regulatory framework. We can also not relent in calling upon the private sector to play its rightful role in the resuscitation of higher education in Nigeria. We must endeavor to incentivize corporate giving and build effective and meaningful partnership between universities and the private sector. Wealthy individuals and major corporations should also be encouraged to establish specialized colleges and universities where and when it is feasible and beneficial to do so.

Your Excellencies, the time has

also come for us to stop paying lipservice to leadership development in our tertiary institutions. We are a nation of rich cultural and religious values and we must strive to impart these values to our younger generations. We must endeavor to shore up the moral capital of our young such that they could make the critical choices of our national life with courage and confidence and in the firm belief that the choices they make are in the best interest of the country. It is a belief that I have held for many years that what has come to be called the Nigerian Factor could be regenerated to have a positive moral value which could serve as the driving force that could propel us to distinction and greatness.

Finally, may I crave your indulgence to state that no nation can develop, educationally and otherwise, in a state of insecurity and Nigeria cannot be an exception. The current spate of ethno-religious crises, armed banditry as well as terrorist insurgencies can never advance the cause of development in Nigeria. We must put a stop to this wanton destruction and recklessness.

Our developmental goals and community and interfaith relations must never be determined by the extremists amongst us. It is therefore, imperative for all well-meaning Nigerians to come together and work together to address the daunting challenges facing our societies. The pain of anyone of us must be a shared pain that should concern all of us regardless of creed or ethnic origin.

The happiness of anyone of us should be a shared happiness, celebrated by all. Nigeria and Nigerians deserve no less.

With these words, we once again thank you immensely for this great honour. I assure you, on behalf of my fellow honorees that we will strive to live up to expectations as members of the Igbinedion University family and to exert our best to see to the advancement of this great institution.

Wassalam alaikum

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

NEWS

Govt reserves construction projects below N5b for Nigerians

F

ROM 2013, all engineer ing and construction projects below N5 billion will be handled by Nigerian contractors with requisite capability, Minister for Works Mike Onolememen, has said.

He added that contractors handling major projects in his ministry had been directed to employ indigenous engineers.

The minister made these known yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital while declaring open the 45th National Engineering Conference of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).

He described the policy “as a deliberate effort by the Federal Government to help build local capacity and promote local content in the industry.”

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

The theme of this year’s annual general meeting (AGM) of the NSE is: Infrastructure Development and Maintenance in a Technologydriven Economy.

The minister said the policy is aimed at the reversing the domination of the Nigerian engineering and construction industry by expatriates.

Said he: “Let me once again emphasise a wellknown fact that over 80 per cent of the capital budget of all tiers of government in Nigeria is expended in the construction and engineering industry.

“However, in spite of the enormous opportunities that abound in this sector, the construction and engineer-

Oil minister urges majors to accept higher tax

M

INISTER of Petro leum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, yesterday urged foreign majors to accept higher government revenues from crude production outlined in a draft oil bill.

But ExxonMobil said the new terms risked stifling investment.

Speaking at an economic summit in Abuja, she said fiscal reforms in the proposed Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) would be the most comprehensive in four decades.

She described the increased government take from oil revenues in the PIB as small, saying they were fair, given sustained higher oil prices.

“Nigeria is not alone in the tightening of fiscal terms. The goal has always been to find a fair balance between the government and the contractors’ shares,” she said.

President Goodluck Jonathan presented the bill to parliament in August and it is still being discussed.

Oil majors have cried out about proposed tax terms in the bill, with Shell and ExxonMobil saying they would make exploration deep offshore, which is the key to growing Nigeria’s reserves, non-viable.

Nigeria’s tax and royalty

regimes are complex and often highly secretive. Little is known about existing terms on offshore contracts, but oil majors say the PIB has worse terms than existing ones.

“The government is not in the business of oil and gas to make a loss for the country. At the same time, the intent is to remain competitive to attract investment,” Alison-Madueke told delegates at the conference.

She had said after the changes were made in the PIB, Nigeria’s “government take” on offshore projects would be about 73 per cent, lower than in rivals Angola, Norway and Indonesia.

Nigeria is Africa’s biggest oil producer, exporting more than two million barrels per day (bpd), and it also holds the world’s ninth largest gas reserves, but years of uncertainty over the fiscal terms of the PIB have discouraged investment.

“The PIB has been 12 years in the making. If it was such an easy bill, it would have been hashed out a long time ago. I don’t think any position you take on a bill such as this could be perfect ... but I think we did a fairly equitable job,” Alison-Madueke said.

The managing Director of ExxonMobil’s local unit, Mark Ward, said worse terms would discourage investment.

Oduah lists priorities of 2013 budget

M

INISTER of Avia tion, Princess Stella Oduah, said yesterday that the ministry would focus on improving and consolidating ongoing efforts at infrastructure upgrade as well as the certification of airports in the country in accordance with the standards of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

Oduah, who made the promise while presenting the 2013 budget to the Senate Committee on Aviation, said the situation in which some airports in the country are not certified is unacceptable.

To achieve the aim of securing due certification for the na-

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

tion’s airports, the minister said the efforts at reconstruction and remodelling of the airports would be consolidated and improved upon in the 2013 fiscal year, especially on the provision of critical infrastructure.

Areas that would receive priority attention include landing instruments, security and communication infrastructure, water hydrants, fire fighting vehicles, airfield lighting and constant electricity supply.

Others include equipment for the control and prevention of bird strikes, conveyor belts, functional air-conditioning systems for the remodelled terminals, Avio bridges and sufficient apron buses.

ing industry is still being dominated by foreign contractors.

“Substantial part of the major construction and engineering projects in Nigeria is executed by expatriates, thereby creating a huge capital flight. This obviously should not be the case.

No nation can develop solely by relying on the expertise of foreign nationals.

Indigenous technology must therefore be developed, especially in construction and complex engineering projects.”

He said continued reliance on imported technologies and professionals to build most of Nigeria’s infrastructure, such as roads, power, energy, water supply and transportation is not sustainable in the long run.

“Over the years, one of the major problems of infrastructure in our country has been the lack of adequate and timely maintenance. In most cases, huge resources are spent on the construction of infrastructure while no provision is made for maintenance. Our country cannot continue in this way if substantial development is to be achieved,” he said.

According to him, until the recent aggressive intervention by the Federal Government, over 70 per cent of Nigerian roads were in a state of disrepair.

“Our railway infrastructure has experienced the same fate. Many other sectors are experiencing similar state of deterioration,” he added.

Earlier, the President of

NSE, Mustafa Shehu, had urged the National Assembly to give accelerated passage to the Federal Roads Authority and the National Roads Funds bills.

He said those bills, if passed into law, would salvage the nation’s roads infrastructure from collapse.

He expressed doubts over the ongoing privatisation process, adding that engineers were apprehensive of the exercise.

“There is general apprehension on the privatisation process among engineers more so when the procedures are being flouted and officials concerned are not being penalised appropriately,” he lamented, adding that the maximum penalty observed in recent times

is for the official to be given an honourable exit and be told ‘thank you for your services to our fatherland.’ This approach, he said, needs to be changed before the process could succeed.

“We observe that procurement laws in other developing countries do not leave their doors open laissez faire to foreigners.

“The protective measures put in place are what made the Asian Tigers become technological powers. It is worth noting that our open door policy is undermining the engagement of our young engineers and other professionals in their country. There is thus the need to be embedded Nigerian content in our procurement laws,”the NSE chief added.

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FOREIGN NEWS Protest at Egypt’s Presidential palace

Obasanjo confident of free, fair election in Ghana

A

P

OLICE have clashed with protesters in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, where tens of thousands of people had gathered outside the Presidential Palace.

The police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd, some of whom managed to cut through barbed wire around the palace.

The protesters are angry at what they say is the rushed drafting of a new constitution and by President Mohammed Morsi’s recent extension of his powers.

Morsi was in the palace but left as the crowds grew, sources there said.

Many of those gathered outside the palace, in the suburb of Heliopolis, chanted slogans similar to those directed against the regime of former President Hosni Mubarak during the uprising in February 2011.

Tear gas was fired after protesters managed to breach a barbed wire cordon surrounding the palace, correspondents say.

But the police quickly retreated, allowing protesters to get closer to the palace walls.

Eighteen people were injured in the brief burst of vi-

•Morsi

olence but none seriously, the official Mena news agency reported.

Large crowds remained outside as night fell, while thousands of demonstrators also gathered in Cairo’s Tahrir Square.

“We won’t be able to speak - there won’t be a court that we can go talk to,” one protester, Israa Wafid, told Reuters.

“He has made himself a fort and he says it is a temporary fort - this is something we cannot believe.

“We’ve spent 30 years being betrayed - we won’t believe Morsi, he will remain seated in the chair and not leave it.”

In a statement read out on television, Egyptian security forces called for calm among the protesters.

A sizeable crowd has also turned out in Egypt’s second city Alexandria.

HEAD of Ghana’s general elections billed for Friday, the Head of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) 250-member Observation Mission and Nigeria’s former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has expressed confidence that the poll will be free, fair and credible.

He made this remark in a statement issued yesterday by the Communication Unit of the ECOWAS Commission, when he arrived Accra, Ghana to monitor the elections.

Obasanjo said he based his prediction on his satisfaction over the preparations for the elections and Ghana’s proven tradition and reputation in democratic governance.

Stressing that the December 7 presidential and legislative election would not be an exception, he added: “We are here as witnesses to what

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

promises to be peaceful, transparent, credible, free and fair elections.”

Obasanjo hailed Ghanaians in general and the stakeholders, including the National Electoral Commission, and especially the political parties and their leaders for signing up to a peaceful and violence-free electoral process towards strengthening and deepening the democratic culture

in the country and region.

The ECOWAS Director of Political Affairs, Dr. AbdelFatau Musah, who was part of the team that received Chief Obasanjo, said Accra would serve as the headquarters and Situation Room for the ECOWAS Mission, with three sub-stations in Kumasi, Tamale and Bolgatanga, from where the regional observers would be deployed to the 10 administrative regions of Ghana to monitor the conduct of the poll.

“Prior to their deployment, the ECOWAS observers will meet with political party leaders and other stakeholders in the country, with a view to ensuring a peaceful environment for the conduct of the poll,” he said.

Over 13 million Ghanaian biometric registered voters will elect a president out of eight presidential candidates and from the 275 candidates seeking to be elected into the country’s 230member parliament.

Turkish soldiers injured in accident

S

EVEN Turkish soldiers were injured in a military vehicle accident in eastern Turkey on Monday, local newspaper Today’s Zaman reported yesterday.

The military vehicle, en-route to Yuksekova town of Hakkari province along the Iraqi border, rolled over into a ditch in the 95 Km of the Van-Hakkari highway in Baskale town of

Van province, according to the report.

Turkish people passing by the crashed vehicle helped soldiers getting out of the vehicle and rushed them to the nearby hospital, said the report.

Five of THE injured soldiers are in critical condition and were transferred to Van Education and Research Hospital through ambulance helicopter.

Sierra Leone opposition concedes defeat to Koroma

S

IERRA Leone’s main opposition party has conceded defeat to President Ernest Koroma, weeks after an election that the incumbent won but the opposition had complained was marred by fraud.

Koroma secured re-election in the first round of voting last month but his rival Julius Maada Bio’s opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) had announced its boycott of

all levels of government in protest, threatening to undermine an otherwise widely praised vote.

The opposition’s change of tack following the vote that is seen as a test for Sierra Leone’s post-war recovery came after a meeting on Monday between the SLPP and the leadership of Koroma’s All People’s Congress party.

“It is a matter of fact, the

oath of office has been taken and he’s the president of the country,’’ Banja Tejan-Sie, secretary-general of the SLPP said yesterday.

Tejan-Sie said the boycott was likely to be lifted following a meeting of the SLPP’s leadership, due within the next three days.

Koroma won just under 60 per cent of the presidential vote on November 17, avoiding the need for a run-off, and

his APC party gained eight seats to secure a majority with 67 of the 124 seats in parliament. SLPP took 42 seats, losing three.

Sierra Leone has seen a decade of post-conflict reconstruction, and the country, which has resources including gold, diamonds, oil and iron ore, has drawn billions of dollars in state revenues from mining and agriculture deals.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

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SPORT EXTRA NATIONAL SPORTS FESTIVAL’S

COPA LAGOS TITLE

Ekeji confirms receipt of N400m

Sand Eagles confront Lebanon

N

ATIONAL Sports Commission (NSC) Director General, Patrick Ekeji has told the House of Representatives Committee on Sports while presenting a budget of N6.77 billion for the 2013 fiscal year to the House on Monday that N400 million was actually approved and released for the ongoing National Sports Festival but the money was used for the last London 2012 Olympics.

The NSC top official told the House that N399 million was used in bailing out some sport federations, to assist them in overseas camping, preparations and participation for the last Olympic Games in London.

NationSport had exclusively reported last Tuesday that the said amount (N400 million) was released to the National Sports Commission for the funding of the ongoing National Sports Festival which Ekeji denied vehemently while addressing the media that is covering the Festival in Lagos last

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja Wednesday.

House Committee on Sports boss, Honourable Godfrey Gaiya had told NationSport last Monday that his Committee had approved the sum of N400 million for the National Sports Festival.

“The House Committee on Sports has approved the sum of N400 million to the Main Organizing Committee of the National Sports Festival, (NSC) for the hosting of the competition in Lagos. So we expect a well organised a fulfilling competition”, Gaiya disclosed then.

But Ekeji three days later, precisely last Wednesday blasted, “the claim by Honourable Godfrey Gaiya that we had collected N400 million for the festival (NSF) is not only fictitious, but mischievous and misleading. I don’t know where he got this wrong information from. But to the best of my

knowledge, the NSC has not gotten any money for the Festival. I challenge Gaiya to come forward with evidence where any money was released for the NSC for the sports festival”, Ekeji had queried then.

But when he was challenged by some of the members of the House of Representatives Committee on Sports on Monday over the issue Ekeji concurred.

“We allocated funds initially to these activities. For instance for the National Sports Festival, I think about N400

Rivers strike 3 gold in Abula

R

IVERS state won all 3 gold medals at stake in the 3 categories vied for in the Abula event of the ongoing Eko 2012 18th National Sports Festival.

Rivers bouyed by the financial motivation from state government narrowly beat

Bayelsa athlete slumps during swimming

W

HAT would have been a major disaster was avoided yesterday when a Bayelsa athlete, Gabriel Felix slump after finishing the 4x200m Freestyle relay in the Swimming event of the ongoing National Sports Festival at the Swimming pool arena of the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

Though Felix, who was running the last leg of the relay event, was able to finish in the third position, the young athlete had to be rescued out of the water by the medical officials as he was fighting for breath inside the water at the finish line.

There were complaint by coaches and athletes that the water in the swimming pool was still not ideal for athletes to swim because of the chlorine used in treating the water.

It would be recalled that the commencement of the swimming event witnessed three postponements following the treatment of the water as the organisers had feared that high

By Akeem Lawal level of chlorine in the water could have adverse effect on the health of the swimmers, especially the skin, eyes and nose.

Nation Sport, however, gathered that despite the fact that the water was not yet ideal for swimming, the victim had problem with the size of the swimming pool which was too big as the athlete was not used to smaller size.

Speaking with NationSport after Felix was revived; Head Coach of the Bayelsa swimming team, Amuku Andamomei said Felix incident was due to over stressed adding that their athletes were used to training in 15m size swimming pool unlike the 50m standard size they were competing in at the festival.

“It is quite unfortunate that we are witnessing this kind of situation because our female team also had that experience and couldn’t finish the race. The condition of the waters was not the only cause, the athletes have been over stressed. They have

million was foreseen from the total package. But in the course of our implementing the Olympics and Paralympics Games, we overspent. There was nothing we could do, we have to over spend.

“What we wanted for the (2012) Olympics for instance was not N2.2 billion, but (we wanted) a sum in the region of over N3 billion naira. But the provision of the envelope made it impossible for us to get up to that amount. We overspent the N2.2 billion we proposed for the (2012) Olympics. We overspent N399 million”, Ekeji defended.

been used to 15m swimming pool but here they were exposed to 50 meters which is standard size. So what do you expect, they can’t do more than their capacity.

But I thank God that we were still able to win the bronze medal after finishing third”, he said.

Delta State won gold after finishing with the time of 9:03:95 sec, Lagos claim the silver medal after ending the relay with the time of 9:10:30 sec, while Bayelsa won the bronze medal of the event in 9:25:82 sec.

By Tunde Liadi Bayelsa 3-2 in the mixed double's final and thrashed same State 3-1 in the male category to get the first two gold, while the Port Harcourt dwellers also pummelled Delta 3-0 in the female's final to make it a clean sweep.

The head coach of Rivers Abula team, Paul Asaah said they had more than enough preparations for them not to get their projected gold medals and he dedicated the gold medals to sports-loving governor of the state, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi.

"We have said without mincing words that we had one of the best preparations for the competition.

We were camped for three months and with very tested build ups. If we are winning gold medals now, people should not be jealous of us. They should look at what we did right and make projection on what they should do to catch up with us," he said.

•A swimmer being revived after she fainted

T

HE Copa Lagos match day schedule has been unveiled, the 3 day Beach Soccer tournament starts on the 14th December and ends on the 16th December at Eko Atlantic (V/I). Copa Lagos officials have already revealed that Nigeria (defending Champions), 6 times European Champions Portugal, Argentina and Lebanon will all be competing.

Match day 1 (14th December) will see all 4 teams in action, the opening game is being billed as the clash of the titans as Portugal with 5 time FIFA Golden Boot winner, Madjer, take on South American power houses Argentina at 2 PM. Nigeria are next up they take on the Cedars of Lebanon, Nigeria will need to keep Lebanese hot shot Fattal quiet if they are to make a positive start to the tournament.

The second day of the tournament (15th December) will see Portugal take on

Lebanon in the first match, kick off is scheduled for 2 PM, this game will feature two teams who love getting forward, the key battle will be Madjer versus Fattal. The second match is a mouth-watering prospect; Nigeria versus Argentina, this fixture is always entertaining and never fails to deliver. Nigeria has proved they are capable of beating South American opposition.

Nigeria beat Argentina’s bitter rivals Brazil to the Copa Lagos trophy last year.

Argentina will be looking to show that they can do what Brazil couldn’t and beat Nigeria in Lagos.

The grand finale is being built up as super Sunday (16th December), Lebanon will do battle against Argentina in the first match at 2PM. Jay JayOkocha, Victor Ikpeba and Peter Rufai were amongst the big names to grace the match. The super Sunday showdown will see defending Champions Nigeria take on Portugal many pundits believe this game will decide the destination of the trophy.

Victorious Golden Eaglets return ....Depart for Uyo Wednesday ...As Amuneke mourns late father in-law

T

HE victorious Golden Eaglets breezed into the country Tuesday’s evening from Bamako where they secured the ticket to the 2013 African Under-17 Championship to be held in Morocco.

The team contingent led by Alhaji Muazu Suleiman, the chairman of NFF’s Referee Committee, arrived Lagos about 4:00pm aboard ASKY Airlines and was the cynosure of all eyes at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Ikeja where they were received by Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme, the Director Technical of the NFF amongst others.

Ikpeme said the NFF and indeed Nigerians were happy over the manner the players distinguished it throughout the qualifiers where they recorded six wins in as many games to break the country’s duck of not qualifying, adding that the federation would be exposed

to solid preparation before the championship proper in Morocco.

“Nigerians and indeed the NFF Is happy with the Golden Eaglets because they are a model team that we would nurture to greater heights,” Ikpeme said.

“We are delighted that they qualified for the Under-17 Championship in Morocco and the federation would be waiting for the reports and programmes of the coaching crew towards their preparations.”

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RESULTS Group A Zagreb 1-1 Dynamo Kyiv PSG 2-1 Porto Group B Montpellier 1-1 Schalke Olympiakos 2-1 Arsenal Group C AC Milan 0-1 Zenit Malaga 2-2 Anderlecht Group D Dortmund 1-0 Man City Real Madrid 4-1 Ajax

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

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NEWS Outrage over INEC’s bid for more powers Continued from page 2

by Jega’s INEC should be jettisoned unreservedly.”

The CNPP, through it National Publicity Secretary, Osita Okechukwu, said: “Prof. Attahiru Jega has shown his dictatorship fangs by the seeking power to disqualify candidates; rather than working towards conducting free, fair and transparent election. We are yet to forget how Jega in collusion with the PDP, cancelled the National Assembly election in April 2011, an election PDP lost in many constituencies on the flimsy ground that result sheets were not available in some polling units. Then, we asked why didn’t Prof Jega postpone the election when by Thursday the result sheets were not in his custody?

“Prof Jega, by the day, vindicates the Uwais Elections Reform Committee Report which recommended that the appointment of Electoral Commissioners should be open and not by Mr President.”

Akintola (SAN) believes that the commission was asking for too much, in view of rulings by the Supreme Court on disqualification of candidates. He said INEC should not be totally free from check by government institutions.

Pro-democracy campaigner Mashood Erubami said the commission spoke the mind of stakeholders. He called for the approval of Jega’s proposals.

Akintola insisted that the commission should not be given powers to disqualify candidates. He said such power

should be retained by the court.

On full independence for INEC, the legal luminary said there must be a check, adding that absolute power is dangerous. “Not even the judiciary should be left without check.

Every government institution must be checked,” he said.

Akintola also spoke against tribunals, saying there should rather be constitutional courts to handle election cases as proposed by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

But Voters Assembly (VOTAS) chairman Erubami said INEC should be given such powers to disqualify and ban candidates convicted of electoral offences, stressing that they are part of the holistic electoral reforms being agitated for by civil society groups and some other stakeholders.

He said: “The power to disqualify is not an unusual thing.

We have been agitating for it to be part of the electoral reform.

Now that it is coming from INEC, it will help to produce

more credible, transparent and legitimate election.”

National Publicity Secretary of the PDP Chief Olisa Metuh welcomed the request by the electoral body for powers to disqualify candidates and N1 million penalty against political parties of errant candidates.

He urged the National Assembly to back INEC. Metuh said: “We support the position of INEC in respect of having powers to disqualify errant candidates and levy one million naira penalty on the offender’s political party.

“As a matter of fact, this is one of the cardinal programmes of the leadership of the party and President Goodluck Jonathan. We welcome every move that will curb electoral violence and election rigging.

“With his handling of elections since he assumed the presidency, it must have been obvious to the Nigerian people that President Jonathan will never support electoral manip-

ulation.

“We have his own election and the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states where opposition parties won without the PDP making any fuss about it. So, we are comfortable with arrangements aimed at sanitising the electoral process in the interest of democracy and the country in general.”

Metuh, however, declined comments on the requests by INEC for autonomy and the setting up of the Electoral Offences Commission. According to him, as one of the major players in the political space, the PDP will not stick out its neck on the two proposals.

He said: “Being one of the key players in the politics of the country, the PDP would rather leave the issue of autonomy for INEC and the Electoral Offences Commission for the National Assembly to deal with.

“We strongly believe those aspects should be left for the National Assembly to deal with strictly on merit.”

Okorocha set to probe Ohakim Continued from page 2

tres of uncompleted road projects. So, the money must be somewhere and if that money is recovered, it will help to make heathcare services free in addition to free education programme.”

He urged members of the group to be law-abiding as the security agencies and other relevant authorities would not shy away from ensuring that the former governor faces the full wrath of the law.

Speaking for the group, Mrs. Ngozi Amadi, expressed disappointed that the government has not taken a position on the former governor after it issued a 21-day ultimatum last week.

She said: “Your Excellency, instead of arresting and trying Ohakim, we have his men still gallivanting and threatening fire and brimstone. Our leadership have

been receiving threatening calls but never will that derail our call for justice.

“If this is democracy, then we have every right to call our leaders and ask for what is reasonably attainable. It is true that we commend your revolutionary feat in transforming our state; we surely will not rest on our oars until those who looted our treasury are brought to book.”

Mrs. Amadi accused the former governor of squandering public funds on nonexistent Oak Refinery, Midwest Airline, Dredging of Nwaorie River and Oguta Lake Resort.

She described as disturbing that Ohakim has not been arrested for prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) after claiming that he sunk N25.7 billion into the presidential election campaign of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

We are willing to hold peace talks with Boko Haram, says govt

T

HE Federal Government has restated its preparedness to dialogue with members of the Boko Haram sect in a move to put an end to the security challenges facing the country The government, however, explained that no meaningful dialogue could take place as the members of the sect still remain faceless.

Minister of State for Defence, Mrs. Olusola Obada spoke in Abuja yesterday while receiv-

From Faith Yahaya, Abuja

ing the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Chris Cooter and the Defence Attache, Col. J.G. Savard, to her office.

She said the government would do everything within its power to put an end to the spate of violence being experienced in certain parts of the country due mainly to the activities of the sect.

Obada assured the delega-

tion that President Goodluck Jonathan would not hesitate to negotiate with the members of the sect whenever the opportunity presents itself, noting that Nigeria remains one indivisible nation in spite of the insecurity problem.

She also called for assistance of the Canadian government in the fight against terrorism and insecurity in the country.

She said: “Now, for our own local problems here, which we even believe that some of these

elements are over there in Mali also where they are trained, we shall be very happy if you can assist in the area of training our troops, and also some other forms of assistance that you could give which I would talk to you about. We are hoping that all these things would become a thing of the past.

Cooter said that his country recognised the importance of Africa and the strategic role being played by the country in the subregion especially in Mali

where efforts were on to reclaim territories captured by militant groups.

He stated that the establishment of bi-national commission between Canada and Nigeria had resulted in increased cooperation between both countries in security, politics and economic issues.

He said that he was in the office of the Minister to discuss areas of cooperation between his government and Nigerians on the stated issues.

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TODAY IN THE NATION

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

‘‘A 300 Level undergraduate of Political Science told me today that they have never analysed current affairs in class. It is time for curriculum change to include ‘Application of Today’s Lecture to World and Local Events’.’

VOL.7 NO.2,330

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

B

EGINNING August 1, 1977, the New Nigerian ran a series of interviews I conducted for it with a number of candidates for elections into the Constituent Assembly (CA) that eventually authored the 1979 Constitution. The interviewees were 14 in all, among them Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki who went on to win his Ilorin seat.

His interview started the series.

At the time of the interview he was one of the most successful medical doctors in the country, holding retainerships of many blue chip companies and high net-worth individuals. He practiced his medicine out of a modest clinic on the popular Broad Street, Lagos.

However, even though he was doing well in his practice, there were already signs that the man was about to hang his stethoscope for politics.

In the course of the interview which I conducted in his clinic, he expressed strong views on several contentious issues, notably on the heated debate over the military authority’s obvious preference for the American type presidential system against the parliamentary democracy of the failed First Republic.

“I am,” he said unequivocally, “against this provision.” He gave three reasons. First, he said, the country’s level of literacy and the political awareness of its citizens were too low for what he said was the highly sophisticated presidential system to succeed. Second, he said, it would be too expensive and, third, the risk of its being abused was too high because he thought it gave too much power to one man.

Long before he died on November 14 aged 79, it seemed the man’s concern about the viability of the system in the country had been born out on the second and third count, if not the first; few would dispute the fact that the system, at least in its current form, has proved unsustainably costly. Few would also disagree with the argument that we’ve since been saddled with a dangerous presidential monarchy.

However, his strong objection to the system notwithstanding, the man soon became one of its biggest operators as probably the country’s most powerful Senate leader to date.

His journey to Senate leadership during the Second Republic started in earnest with his successful election into the CA. However, the journey would have suffered a setback had his biggest rival in Kwara State politics at the time, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Folorunsho Abdulrasaq, the North’s first Senior Advocate of Nigeria, had his way.

Not long after Saraki’s election into the CA

People and Politics By MOHAMMED H ARUNA ndajika@yahoo.com

The Oloye (1933 - 2012)

•The late Dr Saraki

a huge scandal surrounding the purchase of Leyland buses for the 1977 African Festival of Arts and Culture, FESTAC ‘77, broke out in which himself, Malam Adamu Ciroma, then managing director of the New Nigerian, late Chief Anthony Enahoro and late Alhaji Tatari, as commissioner and permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Information respectively, were implicated. The government White Paper on the report of investigations into the deal found all but Malam Adamu guilty of self-enrichment.

An Ilorin Progressive Youth Organisation with links to Abdulrasaq, then a nominated member of the CA and, like Saraki, known to have had his eyes on the governorship of Kwara State, seized the incident to call on Saraki, along with Alhaji Tatari and Malam Adamu, to either quit the CA or be sacked.

RIPPLES NIGERIA’S SAFE, says Jonathan

Of course, the EVIDENCE IS BLOWING IN THE WIND

Otherwise, the IPYO said, the authorities would be guilty of double standards because they had used an earlier and somewhat similar scandal, the Scania Bus scandal, to stop Chief Adisa Akinloye, one of its chief culprits, from contesting the CA seat for his Ibadan constituency. Akinloye, since deceased, eventually became the first elected chairman of the ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN).

None of the three left the CA or was kicked out. Instead Saraki went on to become one of the most influential voices in the CA and, like a considerable number of its members, notably Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Chief MKO Abiola, Malam Adamu, Dr Chuba Okadigbo and Dr. Joseph Wayas, he became one of movers and shakers of the Second Republic.

By the time the CA ended somewhat abruptly in 1978 because of a serious rift over the status of Sharia in the draft Constitution, Saraki’s ambition had, it seemed, moved on from the governorship of his state to the presidency of his country; he contested the first presidential primaries of the NPN ahead of the elections in 1979, along with Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Alhaji Maitama Sule, Malam Adamu, Chief JS Tarka and Professor Iya Abubakar, coming out a respectable fourth behind Shagari, Alhaji Maitama and Malam Adamu, in that order, but ahead of Chief Tarka, easily the most formidable politician during the First Republic from the Middle region to which Saraki belonged.

In his obituary about the man, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, one of United Nation’s top bureaucrats and himself an Ilorin prince, said Saraki had “single-handedly built a grassroots machine that endured for decades.” In truth the man did no such thing. Rather, what he did was use his considerable wealth to build a huge patronage system that all his

HARDBALL

W

HILE touring the North/South road on Monday, the Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolemenmen, confirmed to newsmen that the federal government planned to reintroduce tolling on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. This was necessary, he said, to “sustain and maintain (the) road so that it would not go back to the sorry state we met it and similar others across the federation.” The tolling would begin as soon as the expressway was reconstructed and expanded by the two firms handling the road work, RCC and Julius Berger, he concluded. But does palliative work lasting eight weeks include expansion work? It is hard to understand the Works minister. In fact, given his garbled statements in the last two weeks on the subject, it is doubtful whether he understands himself.

After terminating the concession awarded Bi-Courtney Highway Construction Services to reconstruct and expand the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the government had immediately engaged RCC and Julius Berger to work on the road. It was not until questions were asked about the haste with which a modified form of the road contract was awarded the two construction giants that the government explained that the twomonth palliative contract was to make the road motorable for the festive period.

Moreover, if the ongoing work by RCC and

TONY MARINHO

contemporaries in the state, singly or combined, could simply not match.

Of course, Saraki was not the only Ilorin plutocrat. But he was almost alone in his willingness to spend money to earn the personal loyalty of the political grassroots and opinion leaders alike in his state – and elsewhere.

Again almost alone among his state’s political elite he held no contempt for ordinary people. On the contrary, he seemed to enjoy mixing with them.

Consequently, Saraki came to dominate the politics of his state so totally that hardly anyone in the state with political ambition – from the local government level to the centre could realise his or her ambition without his patronage. It was not for nothing that the man, who was first the Turaki of Ilorin and subsequently its Waziri, the emir’s prime minister, came to be affectionately called the Oloye the benevolent big chief - by all and sundry.

Like all great men the man made his mistakes, not least of which was his attempt in the twilight of his life to impose his first daughter, Gbemisola, a two-term senator, as governor of his state in succession to her half brother, Bukola, after his second and final term. This lead to a sad falling out between father and son who, in this case, it seemed, was more in tune than the father with the very religious conservatism of Ilorin as the centre of Kwara politics. The predictable failure of the attempt became a sad anticlimax in what was otherwise one of the most illustrious political careers in the country.

Also his generous political patronage system may have been partly responsible for the eventual collapse of his bank which was the Nigerian affiliate of the troubled French bank, the Societie Generale. The bank has since regained its operating licence from the Central Bank. However, it is instructive that over a year on, it is yet to return to business.

Most of all, the man expected absolute loyalty almost bordering on servility from recipients of his political benefaction. The inevitable consequence of this was that he invariably fell out, for example, with each and every one of the five governors he installed between 1979 and 2003, including his own son.

In spite of these political and financial misjudgements, the Oloye will no doubt go down in Nigeria’s history as one of its most accomplished politicians.

May the Beneficient and Mercifrul Lord forgive all his transgressions and reward his good deeds with aljanna firdaus. Amen.

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•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Toll gates: If this is governance…

Julius Berger will last for eight weeks, why would the government begin tolling the road? It will be recalled that part of the agreement with the original concessionaire was to toll the road after reconstructing and expanding it to four lanes to Shagamu and three lanes to Ibadan.

During his Monday interaction with the media, the Works minister also gave the impression that tolling of roads would not be limited to Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. It is clear the government is confused, if not outrightly dishonest. There is obviously more to the expressway contract than the government is telling the public. Why would the government impose tolls simply because palliative work was done on a road? Is the government jettisoning concession policy? If that is not the goal, then why the haste? Why not wait until new concessionaires emerge, who would determine the appropriate toll fees to collect? In fact, it seems, as the injured BiCourtney insinuated after it lost the LagosIbadan Expressway contract, that the concession agreement was intentionally wrapped in multi-layered subterfuge.

In 2010, the federal government had

through an official of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) announced that tolling would be reintroduced on some federal roads. The plan was to impose about five-per cent road user charge on the pump price of petrol and diesel through which the government could raise about N30bn annually to maintain the nation‘s 220,000 kilometres of roads. Nobody knows the current status of that plan. In 2004, the Olusegun Obasanjo government had attempted a fuel tax of N1.50 on every litre of petrol to raise funds for road maintenance, and had contemptuously presented a fait accompli to the public by summarily dismantling all toll gates. He failed to achieve his aims, though the toll gates were already destroyed.

Now, in a clearly muddleheaded plan to repair the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the government has engaged contractors in a deal that is unclear both in scope and objective. If this is not deliberate mischief, it is at least incompetence. At any rate, this is certainly not the way to run a government.

The minister must abandon his plans to toll the roads until concessionaires are secured and proper contracts, not palliative agreements, are signed and the destination clear.

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