The Nation February 06, 2013

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

Gunmen kill two soldiers in ambush

Pension convict stays in prison till Feb 12 •Judge to rule on bail request

NEWS Page 58

NEWS

•Retired naval officer also victim

Page 5

www.thenationonlineng.net

VOL. 8, NO. 2392 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

CUP OF NATIONS

Chime fit, says Nnamani

•Jonathan promises Eagles surprise package •Keshi predicts tough match against Mali •Keita: Nigerian coach clueless about us •AND MORE ON PAGES 13,14,51&62

Tension in National Assembly over new states T

From Onyedi Ojiabor and John Ofikhenua, Abuja

F

ORMER Senate President Ken Nnamani yesterday added a fresh dimension to the uproar generated by Enugu State Governor Sullivan Chime’s long absence. Chime is in London for medical reasons. He has been away since September 19, last year.

Nnamani said he visited Chime in London on January 17, adding that he met the governor engaging in some physical exercises.

Nnamani spoke at a reception organised in honour of newContinued on page 4

N150.00

•Chime

HERE is tension in the National Assembly over states creation.

The desire for new states has caused a sharp division among the principal officers.

Senate President David Mark and his deputy, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, are for new states; most members of the House of Representatives from the North are not.

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, who wants a new a state in the Southeast, is in a dilemma over how to manage the opposition in the House against state

creation.

Following the tension generated by the House’s poll survey on proposals for constitution amendment, the leadership has decided to give the 360 members a week to make their Continued on page 4

•WE THE GO VERNORS GOVERNORS VERNORS...From left: Fayemi, Alkali, Ajimobi, Shettima, Fashola, Al-Makura, Yari, Amosun, Okorocha and Aregbesola after the meeting at the Lagos House, Marina...yesterday

2015: 12 governors endorse merger ‘to rescue Nigeria’ ACN, CPC, ANPP, APGA join forces to kick out PDP

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WELVE governors have endorsed the merger plan “to rescue Nigeria”, it emerged yesterday.

Ten of them met at the Lagos House, Marina to seal their resolve for a new party, which, according to them, will save Nigeria by kicking out the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN),

‘

As governors, we fully endorse the merger initiatives already commenced by our various political parties and we will put our full weight behind these efforts. Nigeria is greater than all of us...

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro, Staff Reporter

Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) are the major parties in the

merger talks.

The surprise face at the meeting was Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, who was elected on the platform of the All Progressive

’

Grand Alliance (APGA).

Okorocha said the merger would prevent Nigeria from being turned to a one party state.

“The merger has become very nec-

essary in order to save our democracy and the likelihood of turning Nigeria into a one-party state does not augur well for democracy.

Therefore, I personally fully endorse this movement and this new merger, at least to rescue the nation, and we say we are on a rescue mission here and to make sure Nigeria gets better. The essence of Continued on page 4

•CITYBEATS P10 •SPORT P13 •MONEY P30 •INVESTORS P32 •POLITICS P43

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

2

NEWS WAR IN MALI

Nigeria, Cameroon rai From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

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•Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim (second right), Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke (right), Group Managing Director, Suzan General Trading, Mr Afrif Hafiz (left) and Anambra State Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Michael Egbebike at an Investors’ Conference in Abuja ... yesterday.

•Chairman, Plateau Traditional Council of Chiefs, Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Buba (left), Commander, Special Task Force (STF), Maj.-Gen. Henry Ayoola (middle) and Emir of Wase, Alhaji Mohammadu Haruna at a STF Sensitisation Peace Tour in Kuru, near Jos ... yesterday.

IGERIA and Cameroun moved yesterday to prevent the influx of terrorists from troubled Mali and other parts of the sub-region. They set up a joint Trans-border Security Committee.

Inaugurating the committee in Abuja, Foreign Affairs Minister Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru said the agreement had been signed with Cameroonian vice prime minister since February 28, last year.

According to him, the recent reports of terrorist incidents in some border villages with Cameroon have further underscored the urgency to inaugurate the National Committee to pave the way for an early meeting of its members with their Cameroonian counterparts towards an earnest and effective implementation of the agreement.

Ashiru urged the committee members to bring their expertise to achieve the noble aims and objectives of the agreement.

He said: “This event is holding at a crucial period of renewed international fight against trans-border crimes; including the on-going war in Mali; to get rid of the terrorist groups; their networks and heinous activities.

“Your committee has an important role to play in the efforts to curb the wave of trans-border crimes and safeguard lives and properties on our common borders with Cameroon.

“In line with its mandate, the Trans-Border Security Committee is to develop practicable strategies and measures to strengthen cooperation on security between the two countries on their common borders.

“This includes new and additional measures to address the challenges of terrorism, trans-border trafficking in small arms and light weapons and influx of illegal immigrants.”

Urging the Nigeria members of the committee to take the assignment seriously, Ashiru said: “I cannot over-emphasize that as representatives of Nigeria, you must always be guided by our national in-

•Children looking at a wall on which the Malian, Nigerien and French flags and pasted in Gao...yesterday.

PHOTO: AFP

‘

In line with its mandate, the Trans-Border Security Committee is to develop practicable strategies and measures to strengthen cooperation on security between the two countries on their common borders.

’

terests in your deliberations, considering the link with our national peace, security and development.”

Jonathan off to London, France •To hold talks with Cameron, Hollande on terrorism

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•Chairman, Presidential Committee on Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programmed (SURE-P), Chief Christopher Kolade (right), Prof Kunle Ade Wahab (second right), Mr Maxi Ohuanbuwa (second left) and Halima Alfa (left) after the submission of 2012 Report on SUR E-P to President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja ... yesterday.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

•(Front right) Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, FirstBank Plc. Mr. Bisi Onasanya, Chairman/CEO, Global Energy Group, Mr. Joe Obiago, Group Head, Energy IBG, Mr. Olalekan Adelekan and Executive Vice President, Institutional Banking Group, FirstBank, Mrs. Bashirat Odunewu at the FirstBank IBG Customer Forum Dinner in Lagos.

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan left Abuja last night for the United Kingdom (UK) en route France, where he is billed to hold talks with the British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande over terrorism in West Africa.

Presidential media adviser Dr. Reuben Abati said in a statement that his boss, accompanied by the First Lady, Dame Patience and other government officials, will also discuss trade and economic relations with the British Prime Minister.

He said the President will make a stopover in Egypt to attend the opening of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

The statement reads: “President Goodluck Jonathan will leave Abuja tonight for London and Paris to confer with the British Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron and the President of France, Mr. Francois Hollande on matters of vital interest to Nigeria, Britain and France.

“The President’s talks with the British Prime Minister in London are expected to focus on the expansion of trade and economic relations between Nigeria and Britain as well as the enhancement of cooperation between both countries on the war against terrorism.

“In Paris, President Jonathan will confer with President Hollande and

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

French officials on the ongoing deployment of Nigerian and ECOWAS troops to Mali to support the current military action against insurgents and terrorists in Northern Mali.

“On his way to London, President Jonathan will stop over in Cairo, Egypt, to participate in the conference of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) scheduled to open there tomorrow (today).

“He is also scheduled to attend the launching of the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation in London on Friday.”

President Jonathan will return to the country next Monday.

I

NDIA yesterday joined European and African countries in Brussels, Belgium, to commit itself to the stabilisation of Mali, which is being liberated from al-Qaeda attacks.

It is the first time India will be involving itself in the political process as well as reconstruction of a country so far from its immediate sphere of influence.

The move displayed a growing confidence within the Indian foreign policy direction.

India had promised to be part of the Support and Follow-Up Group (SFG) for Mali at last week's conference in Addis Ababa, headquarters for the African Union (AU).

It committed itself to give $1 million for the upgrade of the Malian

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

3

NEWS WAR IN MALI

Brussels meeting rallies support for Mali

on raise security committee G

OVERNMENTS and international organisations met yesterday in Belgium to discuss how to reinforce military gains against Islamist rebels in Northern Mali by supporting democracy, economic development and human rights.

The rapid progress of French and Malian forces in driving the rebels from their strongholds has put the diplomatic focus on how to ensure lasting security and how to tackle poverty and political grievances that contributed to instability.

“When a state falls apart, it takes a while to put it back together again ... Nevertheless, we need to try," said a senior European Union (EU) official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

An international support group for Mali - comprised of the African Union (AU), the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) - met in Brussels to discuss the funding, equipping and training of an 8,000strong African Force, which is expected to eventually take over from the French.

About 45 delegations were expected to attend the meeting.

They include ministers and officials from Mali, Algeria, Libya and international lenders such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Funds for development The EU thinks it can help quickly by releasing some of the 250 million euros of development aid it froze after a military coup in Mali in March last year.

It could also help to fund human rights monitors who would gather evidence of rights abuses committed by the rebels and act as a deterrent against any abuses by the re-occupying Malian troops.

“In the medium term, we need to look at ensuring the North has adequate funds for development so the communities there can build real livelihoods,” the EU official said.

International donors pledged $455 million for the crisis in January and aid pledges were not expected at yesterday’s meeting.

Sixteen EU member-states, as well as Norway, have offered troops for a 250-strong team the bloc plans to send to Mali to train the country's army, diplomats said.

EU sources said EU members were more reluctant to provide a 150-strong force, whose job would be to protect the trainers from any security threat.

The Mali support group, formed last year, will also discuss steps to restore government services and ensure security in areas where government control has been restored.

Support for the political process that would lead to elections promised by interim President Dioncounda Traore on July 31 are will also be debated at the talks.

Gold production unaffected, says Mines Minister

T •Emergency Communications Officer for the International Medical Corps Mat Jacob (far left), at a meeting with local leaders and partners in Konna to assess medical and humanitarian needs.

HE war in the Northern part of Mali has spared the country’s gold mines operated by companies including Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS), Mines Minister Amadou Baba Sy said yesterday.

Ninety-eight per cent of the mine operations are in the South, several kilometres away from the battle fronts.

Gold production grew from 46 to 50 metric tons last year, Sy said in an interview in Cape Town.

A plan to support smaller companies to start producing will push output to 100 tons within two or three years, he said.

The minister said: “The crisis hasn’t affected mining at all. The insecurity which we’re experiencing is mainly in the north of the country.”

French and West African troops have been battling Northern Islamist insurgents for almost a month. The rebels occupied two- thirds of Mali before they were dislodged by French Forces.

Four suspected Islamists held in Paris

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OUR suspected Islamist militants were arrested yesterday by the French police near Paris as part of an investigation into the recruitment of volunteers by al-Qaeda insurgents in Mali, Interior Minister Manuel Valls said.

France's intervention in Mali to rid its former colony of Islamist fighters has prompted the authorities to increase security against possible reprisal attacks on its interests at home in France and abroad.

Anti-terrorism Judge Marc Trevidic, who is in charge of the operation, had told Reuters last month that France needed more robust lo-

cal policing, better intelligence sharing and the ability to infiltrate small radical Islamist groups if it hopes to fight new security threats on its soil.

Analysts say the insurgency that seized the North of Mali is paving the way for attacks on France as more French Muslims of African origin were finding a cause in the conflict.

“France is really being singled out at the moment,” said Anne Giudicelli, consultant with national security specialists - Terrorisc.

“It's being accused of wanting to occupy Muslim territory and that

could clearly push some individuals to take action, or encourage others to build up a network,” she told Reuters.

A police source said three of the arrested men were Franco-Congolese and one was Malian.

Valls said the arrests had come after a long investigation into al-Qaeda recruitment rings led by Trevidic.

“There is an operation ongoing in the Paris region, conducted by the DCRI (domestic security service), which comes after the arrest of an individual a few months ago on the border between Mali and Niger," he told BFM TV.

“That man was a Franco-Congolese social worker named Cedric Lobo, 27, who was arrested in Niamey, the capital of Niger, while trying to reach the historic Malian city of Timbuktu to join al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM),” the source said.

He was subsequently extradited to France, where he was charged with planning attacks and remanded in custody.

Enemy from within French nationals drawn to violent militant groups had a number of points in common, said Valls, who

India pledges $100 million for reconstruction army with a pledge to ramp up contributions for reconstruction to $100 million.

The Malian army, which will remains in the frontlines after the French intervention is over, is ill-equipped and poorly trained as against the fighters of al-Qaida in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).

India's involvement in Mali is interesting, given New Delhi's aversion to external intervention in foreign conflicts, like Syria or Libya, where it abstained on a crucial United Nations (UN) Security Council resolution, authorising the "no-fly" zone. The conflict in Mali has evoked a very differ-

ent reaction from India.

There appear to be three broad reasons. First, India's commitment to a continued fight against extremist terrorism would ring hollow if New Delhi shied away from taking responsibility in emerging conflicts.

In Mali, the al-Qaeda fighters teamed up with the Tuaregs to carve out a territory that could be under the control of Islamist extremists. From the Indian point of view, this would be profoundly dangerous.

Second, the lead role in the Mali intervention has been played by France. Indian officials said they

have been “kept in the loop” by Paris from the beginning. At the UN Security Council meeting in December, India co-sponsored a French resolution UNSCR 2085 that supported an African UnionECOWAS military force in Mali.

The French military intervention in Mali has not prompted the expected negative reaction from New Delhi.

And, the target this time around is al-Qaeda and its affiliated groups in that region, where India, like others, is developing economic interests.

India's reaction to the France-led operation in Libya in 2011 was much more negative. In fact, many

in the Indian government believe that the Mali crisis was a natural blowback of the Libya conflict.

Indian support to the French operation in Mali is predicated on it being a primarily counter-terror operation.

Syed Akbaruddin, MEA's spokesperson, said: “We unequivocally condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

“Wherever and by whosoever committed, regardless of their motivation, we consider it criminal and unjustifiable. We also believe that the fight against the scourge of terrorism must be unrelenting.”

has taken a hardline on law and order and warned France is facing an “enemy from within.”

“The profiles are often that individuals that have had problems with the law, been involved in drug trafficking and have sometimes converted to radical Islam either in prison, through the Internet or by travelling overseas,” Valls told reporters.

French anti-terrorism judges have opened a number of preliminary investigations in the past year into individuals suspected of links to ‘Malian terrorist cells’.

According to Valls, the police had stopped several individuals trying to travel from France to the Sahel a vast swathe of semi-arid territory stretching from Senegal in West Africa to Eritrea in East Africa known as a base for traffickers and Islamist militants.

He said a “handful” of French nationals had already joined alQaeda-linked groups.

“There is no direct threat, but there are threats on the Internet, on social networks, calling on people to wage war, to attack French interests,” Valls said.

France has tightened security in public buildings and on public transport, although it has kept its security alert level at red, signifying “probable threats”, one down from the scarlet level which means “definite threats”.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

NEWS Tension in National Assembly over new states Continued from page 1

•Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio (right), his wife Ekaette Unoma and Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor during a banquet at the Government House, Uyo…yesterday

observations or complaints known.

After the complaints have been addressed, the report of the survey will be tabled at the plenary for consideration.

There are 36 states - 19 in the North and 17 in the South.

A breakdown of states in the North is as follows: NorthWest-7; North-East-6; and North-Central-6.

In the South, the picture of states on geopolitical basis is: South-West -six, South-Eastfive; and South-South-six.

The disagreement over state creation is a major challenge confronting the National Assembly Committee on Constitution Review.

It was gathered that the tension over state creation accounted for the delay in considering the report of the

Jonathan appoints Nebo power minister

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday deployed Prof. Chinedu Nebo to the power ministry as minister.

Nebo, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), was sworn in as minister on Monday. He re-

T

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

places Prof. Barth Nnaji, who resigned from office in August 2012.

Mr. Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), who was sworn in along with Nebo on Monday, was as-

signed to the ministry of special duties.

In a statement yesterday, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, said: “His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has approved the deployment of the two newly appointed ministers

ANALYSIS

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Group Political Editor

of its leaders, the proposed platform will also be a mega party of ideas that will draw strength from its welfarist programmes and ideological superiority.

If there is no sabotage, the country’s political structure may also change, ahead of the critical 2015 polls. The alliance, accord, fusion or merger may restore two-party system in the country and stem the tide of indiscriminate defections. With the success of the on-going merger talks , other mushroom parties which are not in any secret alliance with the PDP may join the fold.

It is a signal that progres-

sives are preparing for a rescue mission. Ordinarily, this threat to the PDP should ginger President Goodluck Jonathan to gird his loins and perform. But, it is doubtful if his administration can make any difference because the party that gave birth to the government lacks a programme of action.

For the leaders driving the merger, it is a challenging period. Indeed, time is running out.The proposal is beautiful on paper, but the implementation may be laced with hurdles. The opposition parties are only united by similarity of ideas, vision and mission, but they are not parties of equal strength.

They need to make extreme sacrifice. The masses they are fighting for also expect them to be less inflexible and more condescending. Moles will defi-

Continued on page 58

Chime fit, says Nnamani

as follows: (i)Prof. Chinedu Osita Nebo Hon. Minister of Power.” “(ii)Mr. Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN Hon. Minister of Special Duties Office of the President.”

“The two Ministers are to resume duties immediately.”

Nigeria on the way to two party system?

HE gathering was historic. The agenda was in the national interest.

There was no hypocritical commitment. How to salvage Nigeria was the uniting factor when 10 governors met in Lagos to give their backing to the proposed merger of likeminded opposition political parties yesterday.

Their resolutions created panic in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which had boasted that it would loom large on the trembling polity for the next 60 years. Observers contend that the shape of the new platform that will challenge the PDP is emerging. It is broad based and representative of the six geo-political zones.

Therefore, it will have a national outlook. Judging by the intellectual and political bent

Poll Survey conducted by the House of Representatives.

A principal officer, who spoke in confidence, said: “Our leaders and members are divided on whether we should create new states or not. For instance, President of the Senate, David Mark, his deputy, Chief Ike Ekweremadu and Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha are in support of new states.

“The supporting principal officers also hold contrasting views on state creation. I could see some selfish motives behind it.

“Most members of the House from the North are not keen because they are suspecting that there is a deliberate plot to limit the new states to the Southeast and minority areas in the North for strategic reasons

nitely be set against them, but they can be easily identifiable.

Statesmen in the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and other groups are expected to jettison personal interests in favour of the lager, collective interest of the group, in particular and Nigeria, in general.

Politicians should realise that, if their personal agenda or interest crumbles, they would still be accommodated within the broader interest.

The key to success is this: the alliance leaders should learn from the lessons of previous failed attempts at evolving a formidable opposition bloc capable of wresting power from their conservative rivals at the centre.

Continued from page 1

ly appointed minister-designate Prof. Chinedu Nebo in Abuja .

Three governors - Godwill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers) and Gabriel Suswam (Benue) - recently visited Chime in London .

The former Senate President told the audience, including senators and other dignitaries, that he visited Chime with Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Talfida.

He said it was interesting that when they met Chime he was having some exercise.

Nnamani noted that contrary to reports, the Enugu State governor told them that he never went to India for treatment.

He said: “I am delighted that I am one of those who had the privilege of going to visit my governor in London on the 17th of January.

“Incidentally, it was the day he went for his final check-up and he was told that he is in good health.

“He told me in the presence of our High Commissioner to United Kingdom , Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Talfida, that he never ap-

plied for visa to go to India , he had not been to India and had no intention of going to India .

“And the fact that he read that he went to India and something happened to him was unfortunate. That this is his passport; he never went to India .

“But the interesting thing was that when we went to see him, he was having some physical exercise and he told me that some governors would be coming to see him on Tuesday 22nd of January.

“January 21st was the inauguration of President Barack Obama. I left London on the 18th of January and I saw Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State in Washington DC on the 21st and he left on the 21st to join his colleagues in London to see him (Chime).

“Why I am telling this story is that one of the things I think our governor has done well is his ability to nominate a first class individual who, regardless of any ministry that he finds himself - even if it is by osmosis I’m sure he will absorb the method of politicking or doing the work.

Nnamani said he had no doubt that Nebo would distinguish Continued on page 58

2015: 12 governors endorse merger ‘to rescue Nigeria’ Continued from page 1

this merger is to make Nigeria a better nation,” Okorocha said.

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola hosted the meeting, AC N governors – Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo) were present at the meeting.

There were also Abdul-Aziz Yari (Zamfara), Kashim Shettima (Borno) and Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe), who was represented by Senator Dejare Alkali – all ANPP governors – and Tanko al Makura (Nasarawa), who is of the CPC. Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole and his Anambra counterpart, Peter Obi, telephone to endorse the talks.

They had urgent state matters to attend to.

Fashola said after the meeting: “Well…scepticism is one thing; the commitment that we bring to the table will certainly override any scepticism. I am convinced that the full weight of 10 of us governors and many more who, unfortunately, could not make it to-

‘Why Oshiomhole, Obi were absent’

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OVERNORS Adams Oshiomhole (Edo) and Peter Obi (Anambra) could not attend yesterday’s meeting in Lagos because of last-minute technical challenges, a source said.

One of the governors, who spoke in confidence, said: “Contrary to insinuations, we have succeded in proving that the merger proposal has national character; it is supported by all Nigerians. We are not playing to the gallery.

“We had a comprehensive discusday, is a much stronger force.

The underlying reason is clearly how to make this country a better place. This is not the best that this country can have and we intend to deliver Nigeria’s best.”

Shettima, who read the communiqué of the meeting, said: “As progressive and patriotic leaders of our people across party, religious and geo-political zones, we are extremely concerned about the state of the nation and we put our heads together in the interest of our people to deliberate on what can be done to rescue our

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

sion on the shape of the merger we are proposing and what is in it for Nigerians as benefit.

“We have been able to build consensus that the merger is necessary to keep Nigeria back on track as a model of sustainable development in Africa .

“Every governor at the session spoke passionately on why we should come up as a formidable group to reverse the status quo. The ultimate aim is to give Nigerians the best in 2015.

country”.

“As governors, we fully endorse the merger initiatives already commenced by our various political parties and we will put our full weight behind these efforts. Nigeria is greater than all of us and we have a duty to make it work for our people and the future of our children yet unborn.”

Amosun said more progressive-minded Nigerians would come on board, once they see the sincerity of the merger plan.

“A lot of other people will come on board once they see

“We have met to make our input, which will be forwarded to the main committee. So, I can say that the four parties are committed to the merger.”

Asked why the governors of Edo and Anambra states were absent, the source said: “The aircraft which was to bring Governor Oshiomhole was faulty at the point of take-off. Governor Obi could not make it due to some reasons.

“But the two governors communicated with us while in session; they sent a message that they are in full support of all issues we discussed.”

our sincerity; that is why we are not taking this lightly. We are very determined and I am sure that with the support of all Nigerians, this merger will work.”

Yari is optimistic that the brains behind the merger will offer a better political option to what the nation has witnessed since the return to democracy.

“The objective is to fix Nigeria in the right perspective. It is a duty for all of us as leaders to drive our people right and we believe the PDP has done less, so we have the idea, the knowledge and we have the

progressive ideas to move the country forward. So, if you say we intend to move the PDP out of power, yes; we are ready to do that.”

Fayemi said the merger is aimed at rescuing Nigeria from bad governance.

He said the representation from the various political parties and geo-political zones is a proof that the merger plan is aimed at nothing but rescuing the future of the country and its citizens.

The ANPP was rallying its members to back the plan yesterday.

•Oshiomhole

Former Presidential candidate Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, Chairman of the party’s National Rebuilding and InterparContinued on page 58

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5

NEWS

Pension fraud: Judge threatens to strike out suit

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FEDERAL High Court judge, Justice Adamu Bello, yesterday threatened to strike out the pension fraud suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for lack of diligent prosecution.

The judge gave the warning when no lawyer came to represent the anti-graft agency in the alleged N4.56 billion fraud suit brought against a former Director, Pension Administration in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Sani Teidi Shuaibu.

At the resumed hearing yesterday, counsel to Shuaibu, Mr. Sunday Ameh (SAN), begged the court to strike out the charge.

According to him, the charge was filed on October 17, 2011 and the accused was arraigned on April 3 last year.

He also told the court that the prosecution could not claim ignorance about the sitting because he was in court when the case was adjourned on July 19 last year.

Ameh said: “The prosecution had been present in court

Judge laments senior lawyers’ conduct

Pension convict: Court hears bail application Feb 12 A Federal High Court, Abuja has fixed February 12 for the hearing of the bail application of a pension convict, Mr. John Yakubu Yusuf, an Assistant Director in Police Pension Office.

Yusufu was sentenced to two years imprisonment last Monday by an Abuja High Court for conspiring to steal about N23.3 billion.

He was, however, re-arrested and re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for false declaration of asset after he was given an option of fine by the court.

Yusufu was re-arraigned for willfully “failing to disclose his interest in a private company known as SY-A Global Services Limited, a company owned by him and his family.

The offence is punishable under Section 27(3) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, CAP E1 2004.

He was also accused of not declaring about N289 million in his fixed deposit accounts.

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

up till July 19, 2012 and the case was adjourned till November 14, 2012 before the court later adjourned till today (yesterday) at the instance of the prosecution.

“In a matter that is not coming up before the court for the first time for which parties have taken part in previous proceedings and particularly, in a

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From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded in Kuje Prison by Justice Adamu Bello pending hearing and determination of his bail application.

At yesterday’s proceedings, the EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), told the court that he had filed his counter affidavit against the motion for bail, which had been served on the accused’s counsel.

Yusufu’s counsel, Theodore Maiyaki, admitted that the counter affidavit had been served on him, but told the court that he needed time to go through •Yusufu it and respond.

“We were just served the counter affidavit and Ile Oil Ltd; (f) MRS Idah stawe are asking the court for a short adjournment to tion, Idah, registered with enable us go through it.

Justice Bello has adjourned the case till February Hammo Oil, Nigeria.

Others are NNPC Mega sta12, for hearing. tion, Idah junction, Ayingba, registered with Hammo Oil, criminal trial, it is the respon- an order of interim forfeiture Nig. Ltd. (h) MRS Filling Stasibility of the prosecution to of the property of Shuaibu. tion at Ganaja, Lokoja; The forfeited property in- (i)Registered with A.Y. Ted know when the case is comclude (a) a building, No 24, Oil Ltd; (j) A mansion at ing up.

“Even if the case was not Ahmadu Musa Crescent, Jabi, Idah, opposite Federal Polyproperly adjourned, it is the Abuja; (b) Brefina Hotel at Plot technic, Idah; (k) SunTrust responsibility of the parties to 1106, (Beside MTN) warehouse, Properties Company Ltd; (l) find out hearing date. The adjacent to Vines Hotel, Plot B59, Dawaki Extension prosecution should have Durumi, Abuja; (c) A house at Layout, Bwari Area Countaken steps to find out about No 1, Shuaibu Close, opposite cil, Abuja; (m) An Estate of the adjourned date of the Governor’s House, Idah; (d) about 10 bungalows, lying Riba-Ile Petroleum Ltd; (e) and being at Dantata Street, case.”

Last year, the court granted MRS Ajaka (registered as Riba- Nyanyan, FCT, Abuja.

By Eric Ikhilae

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USTICE Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Lagos yesterday regretted what he termed the unethical conduct of senior lawyers in the case involving Capital Oil, its promoter – Ifeanyi Ubah, Access Bank and an auto firm, Cosharis Motors Limited.

He accused them of aiding their clients to disparage the court.

The judge, in a ruling, observed that the lawyers, prompted by pecuniary benefit, jettisoned professional responsibility and were aiding outsiders to disparage an industry to which they were members and would always depend on.

“I want to state for posterity, and for the sake of generations yet unborn that any counsel, no matter his standing, that supports a litigant to ridicule and blackmail the court is breaking a bridge which he will cross.

It’s like living in a glass house and throwing stones.

“It is an act of indiscipline bordering on unethical behaviour, which is unbecoming of someone with legal and moral culture. The people concerned know themselves and I leave them to their conscience, “ Abang held while ruling in a suit

by Capital Oil and Ubah against Access Bank and Cosharis.

Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) appeared on Monday with Joseph Nwobike (SAN), his two sons – Oladapo and Bode, and others (for the plaintiffs); Paul Usoro and Oluseyi Opasanya (both Senior Advocates) , for Access Bank, while Osita Mbamalu represented Coscharis.

Justice Abang further regretted that lawyers in the case even went to the extent of scandalising the court on the pages of newspapers “just to satisfy their selfish interest and that of their paymaster.”

NEMA partners Nollywood HE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is partnering the Nigerian film industry popularly called Nollywood, in furtherance of its awareness campaign on disaster risk reduction and mitigation strategies.

The Director-General of NEMA, Muhammad SaniSidi, said this yesterday when he received a delegation from the Nollywood led by the Managing Director of Nollywood Factory and Executive Producer of Last Flight to Abuja, Mr. Obi Emelonye, who visited him in Abuja to present a copy of the film, which has been shown in major cities of the world.

Amnesty seeks action against ‘killer-policemen’

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UNDREDS of fatal police shootings, which each year leave families anguished and bereaved, are not being investigated effectively because of a failure of the Nigerian justice system, Amnesty International said in a report released yesterday.

Amnesty’s new report, ‘Nigeria: No Justice for the Dead’, illustrates the gaps in the investigation of deaths following police action in Rivers State where basic techniques of crime scene protection and investigation are not applied and autopsies and inquests are either not carried out or are inadequate.

Amnesty believes the poor practices in Rivers State may be replicated in other states where violent deaths in the hands of the police are not investigated adequately.

Thisday: Court rebuffs moves to bar reporters From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

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•Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, speaking during a tour of projects at Arigbanla Road, Oko Oba Drainage Channel, as part of the preparation for the rainy season...yesterday. With him are Permanent Secretary, PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES Abayomi Akinsanya (right) and Managing Director/CEO, Sparta Contractors Ltd, Femi Oshoniyi.

SURE-P spent N70b last year, says Kolade

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HE Chairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment Empowerment Projects (SURE-P) Committee, Dr. Christopher Kolade, yesterday said the work of his committee is not duplicating the activities of other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

He said this when he addressed State House correspondents after presenting the 2012 Annual Report of SURE-P to President Goodluck Jonathan.

Said he: “What people need to do is study what is going on and see in what ways SURE-P is adding value to what is already on ground. Nobody is denying that Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are working. That is what government is there for. But the President, when he saw that there was going to be a special fund from the subsidy withdrawal, decided that he

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

would use this fund in a special way to intervene.

“So that if for instance, a road contract was awarded, say in 2006 and it is still not finished, but by injecting some funds from SURE-P, you can accelerate the completion of that road.

These are special funds and they are special intervention funds. They can not be compared with what is ongoing in the ministries because ministries are doing their normal work.

“For example, the railway system, in the past, it was not possible to move from Lagos to Kano by rail because there were gaps on the way, places where bridges had broken down. The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) did its best to get those bad portions repaired, but with these special intervention funds in

2012, SURE-P repaired the bridges, roads and since the end of November 2012, it is possible to ride on a train from Lagos to Kano.

“We were even told by a cement company that because of this possibility to travel by train from Lagos to Kano, they are transporting their cement in bulk by rail from Ewekoro to Minna.

That is adding value and it doesn’t disturb the normal work of the Nigeria Railway Corporation.”

Dr. Kolade said the money for the SURE-P projects goes to the contractors that are working on the projects and not to any political party.

He said: “We are satisfied with our performance in the last one year. Although we were inaugurated in February, we did not get the first release of funds until July. So the first six months of the year had

passed. In the remaining six months, we did work to the tune of over N70 billion.

“If we had N180 billion for the whole year and we spent N70 billon plus in six months, it means we worked at the rate we were supposed to work. You know that the beginning of something new is bound to take off slowly, it cannot suddenly start running. It was a normal start and it was accelerating as we went through the year.”

On the focus of SURE-P for 2013, he said: “If you look at our budget, it is still the same areas such as social safety nets, things that will help the health of women, children, employment to young people, things that will enable these young people express themselves as citizens of this country and in areas of infrastructure such as building of roads, completion of rails.

HE Federal Government yesterday made a failed attempt to bar reporters from covering the trial of Mr. Mustapha Umar, the man charged with allegedly bombing Thisday, The Moment and The Sun offices in Kaduna.

Umar at the last sitting refused to take his plea because he had no lawyer to defend him.

But at the court’s sitting yesterday, he was represented

by Messrs Felix Umai and Mohammed Umar of Manga Chambers in Abuja.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge.

The court was, however, stunned when the prosecution counsel, Mr. Simon Labaran, moved an oral application for a closed door trial.

He brought the application pursuant to Section 31(3) of the Terrorism Prevention Act of 2011, which, according to him, is to protect the interest of the public and the witnesses in the course of trial.

The defence counsel did not object to the application.

But the trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, who expressed reservations over the application, said the media could not be barred from the proceedings because the matter was of public interest.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 6, 2013

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NEWS

Gowon, Obasanjo, Buhari, others support Jonathan on centenary celebrations S

OME former leaders, including Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, were at the State House, Abuja, on Monday night to support President Goodluck Jonathan in beginning the centenary celebration slated for January 1, next year.

The amalgamation of the Southern and Northern Protectorates, which made up the Nigerian nation in 1914 by the British colonial administration, would be 100 years old on January 1, next year.

The event, which began at 8:30 pm and ended about 11 pm at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, had Pa Buhari, a 120-yearold from Zungeru in Niger State, who witnessed the 1914 amalgamation and a boy and a girl, representing the younger generation, lighting the centenary torch.

Noting that the amalgamation was not a mistake but an act of God, Jonathan said it created a unique entity of the globe called Nigeria; a beautiful country richly blessed, which has turned out innovative people across the globe.

Besides the endowed natural resources, he said Nigeria is blessed with a unique collection of people specially created by God. According to him, the “one Nigeria” consciousness, which has kept the nation together, must be guarded.

He said it was a unique act of God that the country had survived a civil

•President: unity of Nigeria non-negotiable •Govt presents concept documents to investors From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

war and other challenges.

Jonathan said: “The unity of Nigeria is indivisible and non-negotiable. We must remain the forward looking people we are.

“I see a united, powerful and prosperous nation that will make the generation yet unborn very proud.

Arise, we shall and prosper we will.”

Gen. Gowon described Nigeria as “a unique nation, a nation of diverse, strong and hard working people.”

According to him, not many nation could survive 100 years of cohesiveness despite the diverse nature of the nation and the challenges it has gone through.

Unveiling the centenary logo, he said: “May the emblem symbolise a rallying point for the unity of the nation.

“May it be a reminder of our entity, unity and oneness, which are not negotiable and serve as a symbol of peace, unity and prosperity.”

Chief Obasanjo recalled his 2003 national broadcast when he asked: “If you cannot love Nigeria and be positive about it and make contributions to its progress, then I should ask you what sort of Nigerian are you?”

He told Nigerians that after 100

years of staying together, they should remain focused on the quest for making Nigeria a “humane, just and progressive” nation.

After his remarks, Obasanjo presented the centenary theme: ‘One Nigeria, Great Promise’.

Gen. Abubakar noted that Nigeria, for surviving 100 years and more of co-existence despite the challenges, is in the league of countries like India, China, Egypt, Ethiopia and Amenia.

He said the nation should use the opportunity of the centenary celebrations to lay the foundation of a new nation.

Abubakar thereafter presented a centenary theme song entitled: ‘This Land, Celebrating 100 years of Nigeria’, which was subsequently performed by a team of notable Nigerian musicians led by Onyeka Onwenu.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, launched the centenary web portal. “www.nigeriacentenary.com.ng” Senate President David Mark launched the centenary lottery.

The lottery saw a State House correspondent with the Peoples Daily, Abdurahaman Abdulraheem, win an I-pad. A female guest won an I-phone.

Secretary to the Government of the

‘I see a united, powerful and prosperous nation that will make the generation yet unborn very proud. Arise, we shall and prosper we will’ Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, said in line with the directive of the President, the celebration would involve all Nigerians and its sponsorship would be private sector driven.

He said he was amazed at the response of Nigerians to support the celebration and make it strong, colourful and fascinating.

Anyim said the centenary celebration would be used to replace pessimism with optimism to make the country rise above its challenges.

He disclosed that the celebration would generate over 15,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Other dignitaries, who attended the event, included the Deputy Senate President Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar.

Some governors, ministers, presi-

dential aides, captains of industries and members of the diplomatic corps were also present.

With the beginning of the centenary celebration on Monday night, the Federal Government yesterday continued its programmes for the event by unveiling one of the endearing legacies of the celebration, the Abuja Centenary City, to investors.

The City, which is planned to promote international, local business and boost economic activities in Nigeria, is also to create a solid example for the future of urban development in Nigeria.

At the Investors Forum held yesterday in Abuja, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim, while presenting the models to likely investors, said: “The new smart City would be built on a stretch of 1,000 hectares in Abuja, making it the second but largest city development in history…”

According to him, the business hub would not only attract a record 500,000 visitors everyday, “by the end of its five-year development cycle, this innovative and vibrant City would have created over 50,000 construction jobs and 5,000 permanent well paying jobs.”

On the occasion, the Minister of Culture and Tourism Edem Duke said: “We must re-orientate our minds to the fact that this City would also house middle income earners, who work within the City, but the principle of this development is to reposition Nigeria as the cultural, commercial and entertainment capital of the continent.”

Fashola, Kanu, Opadokun, others seek better deal for citizens •Black History Month inaugurated in Lagos IGHTS activists and members of civil society groups have inaugurated the 2013 Black History Month in Nigeria, at the Freedom Park, Lagos.

The Chairman of the occasion, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, extolled the virtues of those who sacrificed their lives to give the black man a sense of belonging.

He said the major reason for celebrating the Black History Month was to dedicate February each year to the remembrance of the roles played by blacks at home and in the diaspora in the abolition of slave trade.

Kanu noted that despite the challenges prevalent in the country, people are still moving on, contributing their quota in whatever capacity they could.

He urged the authority to use the inauguration to reflect and serve the people better.

Said he: “We are here at the Freedom Park to celebrate because people are still moving on in the face of the numerous challenges. It is significant because it’s taking place at the Freedom Park, an important venue.”

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By Musa Odoshimokhe

Kanu thanked the Lagos State Government for supporting the inauguration by providing the basic needs to make it a success.

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Mr. Ashamu Fadipe, hailed the inauguration. He described it as a step in the right direction.

He said: “We are here to celebrate activists who have made an impact in the black history worldwide. I also want to point out that Nigeria, which should have led the celebration of this historical development, has taken the backstage, leaving America to lead.”

He said 3.5 million Nigerians were taken “from these shores to the new world during the inglorious days of slave trade.” This, according to him, made Nigeria one of the most affected countries in the world when slave trade lasted.

Added he: “If we are here today to participate in the inauguration of the World Black Month, it is be-

Disability Bill scales second reading From: Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu

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Bill for an Act to ensure full integration of persons with disability into the society scaled the second reading in the Senate yesterday.

The Bill, sponsored by Senator Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman, also has a provision for the establishment of a National Commission for Persons with Disabilities and vests it with the responsibility for their education, health care and the protection of their social, economic, civil rights and other related matters.

Abatemi-Usman said the Bill, if passed, would be a major milestone in the lives of the people living with disabilities, as it seeks to check all forms of discriminations against them, while also putting in place measures that would address their conditions.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central) said the Senate should consider the Bill in its entirety to make it a wholesome legislation that even generations yet unborn would hail the Senate for.

•From left: Chief Opadokun, Chief Agbeyegbe, Mr. Fadipe and Rear Admiral Kanu at the inauguration in Lagos.

PHOTO: MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE

cause of our contribution to it.”

Former Secretary-General of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Chief Ayo Opadokun, urged the government to emulate the United States where a true born of Africa, of Kenya origin, Barack Obama, is the president.

He noted that Nigeria has the capacity to become one of the world’s best, but because the laws are lop-

sided and are not applied, those who have misappropriated the funds meant for development have not been sanctioned. Hence corruption is prevalent in the land.

“Nigerian government needs a total reformation. The fact that after 52 years of independence it has failed to provide basic necessities of life to the citizens is an unfortunate testament that the black man cannot provide the good things he ought to

provide.

“This is a country that has collected over $400 billion in petroleum fund, yet its people are one of the most wretched in the world. This is a contradiction that cannot be explained and government needs to re-order its priority,” Opadokun said.

Others at the event included Chief Fred Agbeyegbe, Baba Omojola and representatives of the musical group, the law profession and students.

el-Rufai’s comment: 13 church groups blast Bakare

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CONGLOMERATION of 13 church groups in the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday faulted the comments by the Pastor and Founder of Latter Rain Assembly, Tunde Bakare, on the tweet by a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai.

They told him to declare whether he is a Christian or Muslim.

Bakare, in his state of the nation address in Lagos, said that from its criticism

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

of el-Rufai’s tweet on Jesus Christ, CAN was only diverting attention from the grave issues affecting the country.

He also alleged that CAN was an extension of the government.

But the Christian groups, which operate under the aegis of Tarayar Ekklisiyar Kristi A Nijeriya (TEKAN), said they were not surprised because Bakare was more of a politician than a pastor.

The President of TEKAN,

Rev. Emmanuel Dzieggau, in an interview with reporters in Abuja, told Bakare that God would fight whoever made derogatory remarks about Him. He said Nigerians should disregard comments from people like Bakare “because, if not in Nigeria, nobody will listen to a man like Bakare who doublespeaks.”

Dzieggau described Bakare as a confused mind, adding that Nigerians should rather not take him

serious because he has not recovered from the shock of the last general election.

He said: “We read the story credited to Tunde Bakare. First of all, he is not a member of CAN and we are not surprised because he is more of a politician than a pastor. One day, he will wake up and speak as a politician and another day, he will speak as a pastor. For him to say that CAN has no right to speak on somebody like el-Rufai, who derogates the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, is a very great offence.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

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NEWS Amosun: we’ll continue to encourage investors

Bi-Courtney: we deserve kudos on Lagos-Ibadan road N EARLY three months after the Federal Government (FG) revoked the concession agreement of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the concessionaire, BiCourtney Limited (BCL), yesterday said it deserves praise for “saving the highway from total collapse”.

It said various groups were working against the success of the project.

Minister of Works Mike Onolememen, who announced the termination of the concession agreement last November, said two firms would fix the road before Christmas, but not much has been done.

Reacting to insinuations that the firm failed on the project, BCL spokesman, Mr. Dipo Kehinde, said the firm left the road in a better condition than it was in 2009, when it won the concession for its reconstruction under a Design, Build, Operate and Transfer (DBOT)

agreement with the Federal Government.

Kehinde said: “The situation must be reassessed because the problem is in the system and not the concessionaire. At some point, our efforts were commended by road users, the minister and top officials of the ministry, who were supervising the project.”

He faulted the claim by the ministry that BCL did not carry out palliative work on the road before the agreement was terminated and cited an interview Onolememen granted Saturday Punch on September 17, 2011, in which he was quoted as follows: “I saw the concessionaire handling the road and he briefed me about some problems, which according to him, are being resolved. I instructed him that in 60 days, I wanted

all potholes on the road fixed so that motorists can use the road without hardship and I am happy to say that to a very large extent, the concessionaire has complied.

“I am saying this because a few days ago, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, called me while driving through that road at about 8pm and said ‘congratulations, your ultimatum is working. For the first time I am seeing a Nigerian contractor working with floodlights in the night, filling potholes and all that’. I think that is a very good development.”

Kehinde said BCL cannot be blamed for accidents on the road because statistics by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) actually show that accidents reduced when the

firm took over the road’s maintenance from the Ministry of Works.

He said some sections of the Ibadan end of the road, especially around ARAMED Hospital, were in deplorable condition before they were reconstructed by BCL. Kehinde said: “The expressway would have become impassable, if we failed to maintain it since 2009. It was for this purpose that we procured a 6.5 million dollars asphalt plant, which was confiscated by the Ogun State government and has not been released till date.

“These clarifications became necessary following the misinformation and misconception being promoted in the public by persons with personal interests in the expressway, other than the overall interest of the citizenry and the nation at large.”

‘ACN’s petition intact at Ondo tribunal’

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HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has said its petition at the Ondo State Governorship Election Tribunal is intact.

It urged the public to ignore posts in the social media that ACN’s petition had been dismissed.

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Agbede, yesterday, ACN said:

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

“Our attention has been drawn to the deluge of lies and propaganda being bandied about and posted on the social media network. LP supporters are lying that ACN’s petition at the tribunal has been struck out with that of Accord. For the avoidance of doubt, our petition at the tribunal is intact

Mimiko signs 2013 Appropriation Bill

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NDO State Governor Olusegun Mimiko yesterday signed the 2013 Appropriation Bill into Law. The N152.5 billion budget is made up of N73.5b recurrent expenditure and N178.9 billion capital expenditure.

The signing took place in the Cocoa Conference Hall at the Governor’s Office in Akure, the state capital.

Mimiko said the budget was approved to start the “re-engineering process for further transformation of the state”.

He said all programmes and projects initiated by the administration would be completed, adding that initiatives, such as the Abiye Safe Motherhood Programme and the Free School Shuttle Scheme would be sustained.

Mimiko said: “Inadequate revenue is a major handicap of government. This year, we have placed revenue generation on the front burner to ensure that we sustain our

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

programmes.

“A revenue summit was held early this year to examine the state’s revenue generation process and all the decisions taken at the summit would be implemented.

“This will block all loopholes in the revenue generation apparatus, expand the revenue base and increase funds available for the execution of projects.

“To fully implement the 2013 budget, I directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to develop their work plans, since they are jointly coordinated by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government and the Office of the Head of Service.

“From the work plans, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) would be developed to measure our performance at regular intervals. It is expected that greater achievements would be recorded.”

Oyo empowers 200 widows From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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HE Oyo State Government yesterday distributed 200 grinding machines, cassava grinders and N20,000 each to 200 indigent widows under the state Widowhood Support Scheme.

Wife of the Oyo State Governor, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, distributed the materials to the widows at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex in Ibadan, the state capital.

Mrs. Ajimobi said the psychological and emotional trauma widows experience at the demise of their husbands and breadwinners are compounded by the responsibility of catering for the welfare of their household with little or no income.

She said that was why the government decided to assist them through the Widowhood Support Scheme.

Commissioner for Women Affairs Mrs. Atinuke Osunkoya said: “The scheme is aimed at making women self-reliant. The beneficiaries were drawn from the 33 local government areas.”

and will be heard in due course.”

The party reiterated its confidence in its legal team and urged its supporters to be optimistic on the outcome of the tribunal.

On Monday, the tribunal

said it has jurisdiction to hear the ACN’s petition challenging the declaration of Governor Olusegun Mimiko as the winner of last October’s governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

•Amosun

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HE Ogun State Government has said it will continue to encourage investors to resuscitate moribund companies.

He said this would fasttrack the state’s growth.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun spoke during the visit of the Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, to Tulip Cocoa Processing Limited’s factory in IjebuMushin and Multi-Trex Integrated Food Plc, Warewa.

Amosun, who was represented by his Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, explained that his administration has taken steps to attract investors.

He said the establishment

of new industries was a testimony to the government’s friendly disposition to investors.

Amosun said: “To accommodate investors, the government has embarked on infrastructural development on a massive scale, with the construction of new roads, maintenance of existing ones and provision of other amenities.” He urged host communities to cooperate with investors, adding that the success of such investments create jobs and enhance social amenities.

Aganga urged Nigerians to change their attitude and transform the country from an import-dependent one.

He said: “I hope investors would take advantage of some of our new policies geared towards encouraging investment to revive and reposition their businesses.”

The Managing Director of Tulip Cocoa Processing Limited, Mr. Simon Conway– Jarret, said the company bought the moribund cocoa factory in Ijebu Mushin and rehabilitated it.

The Chief Executive Officer of Multi-Trex Integrated Food Plc, Mr. Dimeji Owoyemi, urged the government to provide long-term loans for industries and provide stable electricity.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

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NEWS UNILAG holds first Investiture ceremony for 11th VC

By Medinat Kanabe

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OR the first time in its 50 years of existence, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) yesterday held an investiture ceremony for its new Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rahmon Bello.

The VC smiled as he was robed at the university’s main auditorium amid applause from students, workers, family and friends.

The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of UNILAG’s Council, Gamaliel Onosode, said the school decided to hold the ceremony to institutionalise the change in leadership formally.

Bello pledged to manage the institution’s affairs with justice, fairness and equity. He said the institution has started upgrading infrastructure, so that all classrooms will have interactive Internet connectivity, air conditioning and comfortable seats.

The VC said work has started on a 15-floor library to be funded with TETFUND’s N3 billion intervention fund.

He said: “e-administration has commenced in earnest and paper conservation in the university is bound to be down by 50 per cent by the time the first phase is completed. Meetings will be conducted on eplatforms and documents will be stored on virtual data base as well.”

Bello urged stakeholders in the university to improve the institution through “team-work and democratic governance”.

“We are poised to do our best to take the university to an enviable height,” he added.

‘Oyo council polls hold soon’ From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

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HERE are indications that the Oyo State Government is preparing for local government elections.

The lawmaker representing Lagelu Constituency in the House of Assembly, Mr. Olatoye Temitope, gave the indication yesterday while conducting reporters round the new Isabatudeen-General Gas Road, which he built to make life more meaningful for residents of Basorun in Ibadan, the state capital.

The road will be inaugurated on Friday at Everlasting Garden Hotel.

Olatoye said: “The Governor Abiola Ajimobi administration will soon conduct local government elections. As the closest tier of government to the grassroots, the government will do everything humanly possible to ensure credible elections are conducted to elect those who will manage the affairs of the councils.”

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola inaugurating the Ansarudeen Central Mosque in Ede. With him are House of Assembly Speaker Najeem Salam (right);Ansarudeen Chief Imam in Ede Alhaji Ibrahim Adekunle (second left), the timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Lawal (left) and others... at the weekend.

Osun to dissolve caretaker committees

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HIGH Court sitting in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, yesterday dissolved local government caretaker committees set up by the government.

Ruling in a suit instituted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state against the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Justice Babajide Falola said the government acted contrary to the provision of the law as regards the composition of the caretaker committees.

He said the law stipulates a maximum of five committee

members for each local government, as against the 14member committees constituted by the government.

Justice Falola said: “I sanction the ACN-led government for going behind the court to clandestinely amend the local government law in the state to ensure the composition beyond the stipulated five members.”

He directed the state to follow proper procedure in the amendment of the Local Government Law and dissolved the committees.

The Assistant Legal Adviser to Osun PDP, Mr Abolarinwa

‘ The judgment is not in any way a victory for the opposition party. They wanted the court to declare the committees illegal for election to be conducted, which the court objected to.

’

Abidoye, said the party approached the court to seek re-

dress and call the government to order.

He said: “We are challenging the non-conduct of council polls in the state. The court ruled that if not for the pending case at the Supreme Court on the issue, it would have declared the caretaker committees illegal.”

Counsel to the state government Mr. Abiodun Olaide said the amendment to increase the number of committee members was not properly done. He said the government would dissolve the committees pending the proper amendment of the law.

Six killed in Ogun road crashes

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IX persons have been killed in two accidents on Ogun roads.

Two others were injured.

The first accident occurred at the Iyana Itesi-Ota stretch of the Idiroko road around 8:35pm on Monday.

A truck, marked SR 638 KRD, which was conveying tonnes of maize, veered off its lane and fell on six people, who were waiting to board vehicles.

Ota Zonal Commander of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

Corps (TRACE) Mr. Adekunle Ajibade said the victims died on the spot. He said the bodies of four of the victims were deposited at the morgue of the State Hospital, Sango Ota, and the remaining two had been taken away by their families.

Ajibade said the accident was caused by overloading and reckless driving.

The truck, which is believed

Court dismisses suit against Ajimobi

to be on the fleet of a Lagosbased company that specialises in the production of infant formula, reportedly somersaulted at least twice falling on the victims.

The second accident occurred yesterday at Kemta in Abeokuta, the state capital, where two trucks collided.

Two persons were severely injured.

As at 5:26pm, sympathisers and TRACE officials were looking for axes to cut through one of the trucks, marked SE 213 SGY, to rescue trapped victims.

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

Herbalist held with human parts in Ogun

T

HE police in Ogun State yesterday arrested an herbalist, Dandola Owotomo, for alleged possession of fresh human parts.

Owotomo was caught with a human tongue, palm and female private part in his OkeAgbo home in Ijebu-Igbo, following a tip-off, it was learnt.

He is suspected to be a member of a gang of ritualists linked with the disappearance

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

of 70-year-old Kehinde Rabiu at Idode-Imomo in Ijebu-Igbo.

A police source said: “When we got to the suspect’s house, it was an eyesore. We discovered a calabash in one of his rooms, where a fresh human tongue, palm and female private part were kept in a shrine drenched with blood.

“We have transferred him to the Command Headquarters in Eleweran. The Commissioner of Police has promised to get to the root of the matter.”

Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said three persons had been arrested for ritual related offences but he had not being briefed on Owotomo’s arrest.

•Ajimobi

FEDERAL High Court sitting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, yesterday dismissed a suit instituted against Governor Abiola Ajimobi and two others by Prof. Oluwole Akinboade for lack of jurisdiction.

Akinboade, an aspirant in the 2011 governorship election, sued Ajimobi, the Action

A

1,000 bad billboards removed in Ibadan

T

HE Oyo State Signage and Advertising Agency (OYSAA) has demolished over 1,000 dilapidated billboards in Ibadan, the state capital.

The demolition, which began about a week ago, has touched Toll Gate, Government Secretariat-Parliament road, Agbowo Shopping Complex, Bodija and Sango, among others.

OYSAA Director-General

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

Mr. Yinka Adepoju said over 1,000 bad billboards and countless posters had been removed.

Adepoju said they gave the owners of the billboards 21 days ultimatum to remove them but they failed to comply.

He said: “We are determined to give Oyo State a facelift and sanitise outdoor life.

The deplorable state of many billboards in Ibadan is worri-

He debunked the claim by the PDP’s counsel that his client won the case, saying: “The judgment is not in any way a victory for the opposition party. They wanted the court to declare the committees illegal for election to be conducted, which the court objected to.

“Election cannot be conducted in all the local governments until the Supreme Court rules on the case before it, which was filed by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC). Until then, we shall continue to have caretaker committees in councils.”

some.”

Adepoju said the outdoor space would be re-planned for mutual profitability, adding that there would no longer be room for massive display of billboards at road junctions and roundabouts.

He urged advertising agencies to register with OYSAA, warning that any billboard erected by any unregistered agency would be removed and such agency prosecuted.

Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

She alleged that Ajimobi was not duly nominated by the ACN for the election and prayed the court to nullify his nomination.

Justice Abimbola Adejumo-Obaseki said Section 87 Sub-sections 1 and 4 of the Electoral Act, 2010, gives parties the power to pick their candidates for electoral positions, while Section 87 Subsections 9 and 10 outlawed the court to adjudicate on the subject matter.

She said since the plaintiff said the party did not have a primary election, he lacked the jurisdiction to institute the case under the law.

Justice Adejumo-Obaseki said the plaintiff’s position was tantamount to probating and reprobating because in evidence he admitted that all ACN aspirants, including himself, agreed that the party’s candidate would be picked by consensus and filed the litigation after the decision worked against him.

She said the position of the plaintiff, according to Section 87 of the 2010 Electoral Act, lacked merit and dismissed the suit.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

9

NEWS

ACN insists Jonathan administration is incompetent

I

NCOMPETENCE, cluelessness and inconsistency are the hallmarks of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) insisted yesterday.

The party’s damning remark came against the backdrop of an attempt by Presidential aide Dr Doyin Okupe to “pool the wool over the eyes of Nigerians with pedestrian display of semantics” In a statement in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party also slammed Okupe for blaming the opposition for the failure of the Jonathan administration to make a positive impact on the lives of Nigerians.

ACN said the likes of Okupe, rather than the opposition, have contributed in no small measure to the administration’s low esteem in the eyes of Nigerians.

The party said: “There is no point rummaging through the dictionary to define incompetence, as Okupe has done in his rambling statement. All one needs to do to understand the meaning of incompetence is to look at the waffling Jonathan administration.

“Touting President Goodluck Jonathan’s impressive academic qualifications is also very cheap, as they have not proven to be an asset in the way and manner the President has steered the affairs of his administration, especially his articulation of his government’s policies and the projection of its ability. In any case, while a Doctorate Degree in any field is something to be celebrated, it is not a pre-requisite for being a good leader,’’ it said.

ACN said the incompetence and cluelessness of the Jonahan administration have resulted in the country being bogged down by monumental corruption, unprecedented level of insecurity, policy flip-flops, absence of governance and downright lies that have estranged the citizens and erased their trust in government.

It went on: “No administration in our recent history has been more a hotbed of corruption than the Jonathan administration, whether it is the fuel subsidy scam or the police pension scam, just to mention two. Even when a feeble attempt is made to prosecute those behind the scams, the majesty of the law is rubbished by incompetent prosecution that ensures

Police warn vehicle owners

T

HE Lagos State Police Command and Special Fraud Unit (SFU) Milverton Road, Ikoyi, have warned owners of accident and abandoned vehicles parked of Gowon Estate and Sabo Police Station and SFU premises to remove them within 21 days of this publication or lose them to members of the public through auction.

The vehicles are Volkwagen BUS XR259FST Nissan Sunny PB124KJA, Mecedez Benz AG691 SUL, trailer truck XQ98BDG and Mecedez Benz DB197ABJ.

•Party replies presidential aide Okupe

By Precious Igbonwenlundu, Staff Reporter

that convicted persons get only a slap on the wrist.

Under the Jonathan Administration, the more money you steal, the less punishment you receive!

“Profligacy has also been the order of the day. If this government is not building a N2.2 billion banquet hall, it is spending N4 billion on the office building of the African First Ladies Peace Mission. The funds being wasted on these white elephant projects would have been better spent on creating jobs for our youths, millions of whom are roaming the

streets daily in search of what to do to make ends meet,” the party said.

On the road contracts awarded by the Jonathan administration, ACN said the joke is on Okupe who, in saner climes, cannot be speaking for any government that is worth its salt.

“There is nothing new about awarding contracts for road rehabilitation. What the public expect from Okupe is how many of the roads have been completed or are nearing completion.

The contracts for most of the roads which Okupe listed in his statement have been awarded severally by previous PDP administrations,

with nothing to show. Even Okupe has allegedly collected huge funds for road contracts that he later abandoned! How then can such contracts be celebrated, when all they do is put money in the pockets of party cronies?

How can such a man like Okupe speak for any serious government, when he should have been dutifully prosecuted? Little wonder the citizens have no trust in the Jonathan administration?’’ ACN queried.

But Okupe has denied the llegation.

The party said one area in which the Jonathan administration’s incompetence is

most glaring is the provision of security. While a security crisis of the scale perpetrated by Boko Haram may be unprecedented in our country, equally unfathomable is the government’s inability to rise to the occasion, to such an extent that even the President admits that his administration has been infiltrated by Boko Haram members! Of course, there is also unprecedented cases of kidnapping and armed robbery, all of which have overwhelmed the clueless government.

“Overall, a government that lies to its citizens by either saying it had been hailed for its anti-corruption effort by Transparency International when that is not the case, or giving an exag-

gerated amount of electricity that has been generated cannot get much respect from the people. A government that sends conflicting signals to foreign investors, in particular over whether or not the power contract awarded to Canadian firm Manitoba has been cancelled, cannot and should not be trusted.

“The Jonathan administration should address the issue of trust, chase away those among its officials who lack credibility because of their past deeds and begin to take governance very seriously. Then, and only then, will it not have to worry about what label an imaginary opposition is putting on the government,’’ ACN said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

10

CITYBEATS Fasehun builds bridge on Ikotun-Isolo road R

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

ELIEF is on the way for motorists and commuters plying the Ikotun-Isolo road in Lagos where traffic goldlock is a daily challenge.

A bridge is being constructed under a private initiative to address the problem.

Founder of the Oodua People's Congress (OPC) Dr Frederick Fasehun is building the bridge over the Okota Canal to divert vehicles from the Ikotun-Isolo stretch, and link Jakande Estate with Oke-Afa. Users of the bridge, are expected to pay tolls. Motorists believe that whatever toll they pay will be justified, as the bridge is aimed at reducing man-hour often lost in traffic.

Motorists are known to spend hours in traffic jam on that road.

Fasehun’s Media Consultant Adeoye Jolaosho said the OPC leader decided to singlehandedly bankroll the project after his August 2012 proposal for a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement with the Lagos State Government was not attended to.

Jolaosho explained: "Because Dr. Fasehun saw that this project would bring welfare, relief and convenience to the people living in the Ikotun-Jakande-IsheriIgando-Egan-Alimosho-IjegunIdimu-Ejigbo axis, he forged ahead with its implementation single-handedly. But he has been carrying along the chairmen of the two host local government councils. Apart from bringing the dividends of democracy to the grassroots, it will also demonstrate that the regime of Governor Babatunde Fashola is a proactive and people-centred one."

One leg of the bridge lands at the end of Lateef Aregbe Street in Okota; the other lands on Bucknor Street at Isheri-Oshun/ Jakande. The link bridge is to alleviate the traffic snarl on the Ikotun-Ejigbo-Isheri OsunJakande-Alimosho-Isolo-OkotaFestac-Mile 2 axis, by

•The new bridge...yesterday

By Emmanuel Oladesu

channelling traffic directly from Jakande/Isheri/Bucknor en route Okota to Mile 2, Apapa, Badagry, Lagos Island, Isolo and Surulere.

Measuring 135 metres in length and 4.5 metres in width, the bridge is a combination of iron, steel, concrete and wood.

Electrical engineers are on site fixing solar-powered electricity supply. Both ends of the bridge will be equipped with modern tolling facilities, including turnstiles that will record the number of people passing through, and electric-operated barriers for vehicles.

A resident, Alhaja Tayibat Abosede, said the bridge would

bring relief to the people of the area. She wished that other rich Nigerians could be similarly proactive, and come up with projects that will alleviate the people’s suffering. She also wants Ejigbo and Isolo local government councils to complement Fasehun's efforts by grading and tarring streets leading up to the bridge.

Mr. Kayode Adeshina, a resident of Jakande Estate eulogised Fasehun, saying: "We

usually burn fuel, money, time and energy on the endless traffic queue on that route. But this bridge will reduce stress and improve the health of drivers and passengers alike."

Mrs. Nike Oladipupo, Manager of a hotel at Okota, said: "The bridge is an answer to a prayer and may God continue to bless Governor Fashola because it is during his era that someone rose up to answer the prayers of the masses in this area, who have

always wished that they could avoid the 'go-slow' at Jakande Gate, Ejigbo and Oke-Afa and just enter Jakande Estate, and from there to Isheri and Ikotun, without hassles."

Mrs. Oladipupo is thrilled that OPC operatives would serve as security men on the bridge.

The bridge, according to Jolaosho, will provide jobs for no fewer than 30 people. He said there would be a thoroughfare for pedestrians, bicycles, Keke Marwa tricycles, and Okada riders; private cars and lightweight passenger vehicles (not heavier than 22-seater Volkswagen LT 28 buses).

The Nation learnt that the bridge may be opened before the end of March.

•The fake facebook page criminals and fraudsters impersonating the Lagos State PPRO and other prominent citizens".

Four months ago , a facebook account was created by fraudsters under the name of

Lagos State, Governor’s wife, Dame Abimbola Fashola.

Then, Mrs Fashola had no Facebook account.

The fraudsters also posted family pictures of the Fasholas on the account.

’

Conmen open fake police spokesperson's account on facebook

Suspected fraudster arrested at Lagos airport

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

A suspected internet fraudster who specialised in inviting foreigners to Nigeria for clandestine purposes has been arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

He was caught with two Hungarian women by security officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

The suspect said his brother in the United Kingdom (UK) made the travel arrangements for the Hungarians.

On their arrival at the airport, the women were stranded as the suspect was not around to receive them.

FAAN security officials’ investigation showed that the women could not explain their mission to Nigeria because of language barrier.

On interrogation, the suspects confirmed that they were his guests but failed to tell the security men why he invited them.

He said he had been communicating with the women on phone before their arrival from London aboard a Virgin Atlantic flight.

The airport’s spokesman, Mr. Victor Arisa, said there was more to the story, adding FAAN had notified the security agencies for further investigations.

At the time of this report, the hungriarians were still being interrogated by officials of the Foreign Affairs Ministry and State Security Services.

‘

We usually burn fuel, money, time and energy on the endless traffic queue on that route. But this bridge will reduce stress and improve the health of drivers and passengers alike

F

RAUDSTERS have created a fake facebook account under the name of Lagos State Command Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP) of Police.

They are parading themselves as the real police spokesperson, defraud ing some people with the account.

It was gathered that the fraudsters included Braide’s fake birthday date of February 4 on the page, posted her personal and family pictures and the Force Headquarters building and other pictures.

Braide disclosed that it was when people started calling her on Monday to congratulate her on her birthday she knew there was problem. She said when she asked the callers where they got the birthday information from, they told her it was on her facebook page.

She expressed fear that the suspected fraudsters may have cloned her telephone numbers and are receiving calls on her behalf.

By Jude Isiguzo

Braide warned the public to disregard the information that is on the said facebook page as she never at anytime opened such account.

In a statement, Braide said: "The attention of Lagos State Police Command has been drawn to the activities of impostors posing as the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer via facebook account name , DSP Ngozi Conchita Braide.

"For the avoidance of doubt, the PPRO does not currently operate any facebook or twitter account. The perpetrators of this devilish act should desist henceforth, or face the wrath of the law as this is not only an embarrassment to the Nigeria Police Force but a criminal offence punishable by law.

"The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, has already set up a high, powered investigation body to fish out the culprits. He also warns the general public to beware to avoid falling victims of

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

11

CITYBEATS

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

Cynthia’s suspected killers’ trial begins

•Four of the suspects.

Five held for alleged theft of N43m PHCN equipment

T

HE long arm of the law has caught up with five persons involved in the stealing of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) equipment worth millions of naira.

They are being held by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Lagos.

One of them, 29-year-old Desmond Ikpomwosa said it was the huge amount involved that spurred him into the deal.

According to him, his gang leader told him that his share from the operation would run into millions of naira.

Ikpomwosa, who described himself as "a hustler at Apapa Wharf," said: "I live at 83, Alhaji Hassan Street OkeAgbo, Ajangbadi, a suburb of Lagos.

One Noah gave the job to Richard, a fellow hustler, to look for a truck that they would use to transport goods.

When I heard, I called Pato (Bartholomew) to get a truck around Kirikiri Town. Later, we drove to Apapa to do the loading on January 4 this year.

"On January 5, we went to Abuja.

He was carrying pipe worth N18 million and 495 pieces of PHCN equipment worth N25million, making it a total of N43million. I was very happy that after selling the goods, I would smile home with something above N2million."

According to him, he later called Pato to know how far they had gone.

T

By Ebele Boniface

Pato, he further recalled, told him that he had called the driver who claimed that the truck had broken down, unknown to him that his accomplices had diverted the goods.

"When I got worried and called Pato again, he asked me whether I was off my mind, that two trucks were supposed to go Calabar, one to Abakaliki, one to Awka and one to Port Harcourt. The bulk of the NEPA equipment, they said, would be coming from the PHCN office in Ikorodu. All of us were waiting for orders to know how we would go about it. It was then that I knew that up to five trucks were involved and none reached its destination. All were diverted. I later went to Abuja and I was told that the truck was meant to go to Kano. At a point, no one was answering my call until I was arrested by SARS operatives," he added.

The second suspect, Hillary Egbe, 41, said: "I am a hustler. Desmond called me on Jannuary 7 that he loaded four trucks and none reached its destination. He later said only one reached. He said a 40-foot truckload of PVC ceiling followed Mile 2 route and was diverted to where he did not know. When I was called, I did not know that it was SARS men that were calling me. I was arrested."

The third suspect, 30-year-old

Uchechukwu Ossai, a native of Ibuzor, Delta State, said: "I am a truck driver of vehicle number KWL 791 XL, but on the road, we changed the number-plate to XR 713 KWL to avoid identification. Even men of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and some policemen on patrol saw us; we gave them small money to have our way. We gave them N5,000 in almost three places."

The fourth suspect, Kingsley Eke, 31, from Ngor-Okpala Village, Imo State, who did not deny his involvement, said: "I am a businessman and an importer. My brother sends me goods like shoes, pressing irons, freezers, fans, television sets and accessories from Germany. I introduced Uche to Mr. Frank to drive his truck. I coordinated the operation."

The fifth suspect, Ibrahim Kodri, 35, from Ogbomoso, Osun State, said: "I am a trailer driver. One Michael called me and told me that there was a job to do. He told me to follow him to Agbara in Ogun State and I did. I diverted only one truck and the police have seen it. It contains pieces of pipe used by PHCN to construct cable hangers. I was arrested around the Council in Ijaiye area of Alagbado."

The suspects are still in police custody pending the conclusion of investigations into their exploits.

Court remands six murder, kidnap suspects in prison

HE police yesterday arraigned in court, five men and a woman who allegedly shot dead a man and kidnapped six others in Lagos last year.

Calvin Ukoh (31), Uche Igbani (28), Chibuzor Osuagwu (29), Emeka Obasi (33), Oliver Nwabueze (32) and Onowu Ngozi (36) were charged with conspiracy, murder, kidnap and robbery at the Yaba Magistrate’s Court, Lagos.

Prosecuting Superintendent of Police (SP) Chukwu Agwu said the six and others at large on September 4, last year, unlawfully killed Mr Nweze Victor Okwuchi with AK 47 rifle at Fin Niger Junction, Old Ojo Road, Satellite Town, about 9pm.

He said the defendants kidnapped Anthony Ozoanidobi (41) on August 24, last year, blindfolded and kept him in a hideout known as "Warehouse," on Ago Palace Way, Okota for five days. The police said they freed their victim, who suffered visual impairment, after collecting N1.5million ransom from his relative.

Agwu, the Officer-in-Charge of the Legal Section at the state Criminal Investigation Department (SCID),

By Joseph Jibueze

Panti, Yaba, said they also "unlawfully captured and detained" Mbarikatta Uboma (35) on June 16, last year for three days at the same hideout, freeing him after receiving N2million.

Others allegedly kidnapped by the gang are Ogoje Jude (34), who was released after paying N5million ransom; Regina Abah (22); Kingsley Nwokenta (34), freed after N1.5million was paid; and Christopher Okoloigwe (34) on whom they collected N3million.

The members were also accused of robbing Jude of his Honda Pilot Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) laptop, Galaxy tab, phones and N100,000 cash. They were said to have used deadly weapons to dispossess Nwokenta of his SUV Venza car, a phone worth N65,000, a gold chain worth N288,000 and a wrist watch valued at N37,000.

The police said they also robbed Okoloigwe of his Toyota SUV and N200,000 cash. Another victim, Anthony Ozoanidobi was robbed of his SUV, a gold chain worth N200,000, a gold ring worth N100,000, a phone and video camera.

The six were accused of being in

unlawful possession of firearms, including AK 47 assault rifle with serial number 88119; 78 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition and five assault rifle magazines without licence.

The sixth defendant, Ngozi, was accused of collaborating with Onowu (now at large) in concealing the proceeds of the crime. Agwu said she used no fewer than 10 bank accounts to hide the money they made, and acquired choice properties in Lagos and Abuja.

Among the properties are:a plot of land at Eleko Beach, Lagos (valued at N17million), a plot of land at Epe (worth N1.5million), two plots of land at Lugbe Housing Estate, Abuja (worth N18million), and a Toyota Matrix car.

The offences contravene Sections 221, 409, 269 (3), 243 and 269 (3), of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Others contravene Section 6 (b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap R11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 (as amended).

The Magistrate, Mr P. A. Adekomaiya, ordered that they be remanded in prison custody. He adjourned the case till February 14.

FOUR persons were yesterday arraigned before a Lagos High Court in Ikeja.

They are Okwumo Nwabufo, Ezike Olisaeloka, Orji Osita and Ezike Nonso. They were arraigned before Justice Olabisi Akinlade on a six-count charge of stealing and possession of stolen property.

Their trial could not proceed because their counsel told the court that they were not properly served with the processes.

Olu Kayode, the counsel to the second and fourth defendants, also told the court that the statements of his clients were not included in the amended charge.

The prosecution team led by Lagos State Attorney, General, Mr. Ade Ipaye admitted that there was a mix-up in serving the processes on one of the defence counsel, but promised to immediately sort out the issue.

Justice Akinlade subsequently adjourned the matter to February 8 for trial.

The matter came up last month but it was adjourned because one of the defendants, Osita was not in court In a six-count charge filed before the court, the state alleged that two of the defendants, Okwumo and Ezike on or about July 22, last year, at Cosmilla Hotel, Amuwo-Odofin, Festac Town, Lagos, conspired to murder Cynthia.

The state alleged that the defendants murdered Cynthia by adding Rohypnol Flunitrazepan

• Cynthia

By Adebisi Onanuga

tablet into her drink, chaining her hands and legs and strangling her to death.

The duo were also alleged to have stolen three blackberry phones valued at N150,000, jewellery, an international passport and a driver’s licence belonging to the late Cynthia after strangling her to death.

Osita, was charged with negligently selling the Rohypnol Flunitrazepan tablets to Ezike, the second defendant without a doctor's prescription and due care.

Nonso, who allegedly bought the late Cynthia's Blackberry Bold 5 was charged with possession of a stolen phone.

Lai Mohammed’s brother Ganiyu is 70 ALHAJI Ganiyu Mohammed, elder brother of the National Publicity Secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, will play host to relations and well-wishers across the country as he celebrates his 70th birthday on Sunday, February 10.

The event, according to family sources, will hold at his residence on Kewulere Street, Aguda area of Surulere in Lagos State.

The late Mohammed doubles as the Financial Secretary of the Itire Ikate Community Development Committee and the Otun Turaki Adinni of NawarUd-Deen Society of Nigeria, Mushin Chapter.

•Mohammed

Banker charged with N8.8m fraud THE Police in Lagos have charged a 27-year-old banker, Gbenga Olatunji, before an Igbosere Magistrate's Court for allegedly stealing N8.842 million.

Olatunji, an employee of Ecobank, was arraigned before Magistrate F.O. Aigbokaevbo, on a two-count charge of fraud and neglect of duty.

Prosecuting Sergeant Julius Babatope told the court that the defendant, who is resident at 5, Ade Owoade Street, Abaranje, Ikotun, a Lagos suburb, committed the offence on December 19, last year at the Victoria Island branch of the bank.

He said: "The defendant defrauded Ecobank of N8.842 million by not

By Precious Igbonwelundu

properly processing the bank's transaction. He also neglected his duty and did not properly do what was expected of him in the bank, in an attempt to commit felony. The bank’s authorities reported the case to the police when he was suspected to have committed fraud."

Babatope told the court that the offence contravened Sections 355 and 408 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2011.

Olatunji pleaded not guilty and was granted N2million bail with two sureties each in the like sum.

The Magistrate adjourned the case to February 25.

Goldlink Insurance boss’ mum for burial THE burial rites for the late mother of the Managing Director of Goldlink Insurance Limited, Mr Femi Okunniyi, Madam Esther Olayemi Okunniyi, begin today.

Her children, relation and wellwishers will gather for a wakekeep at her Ikotun, Lagos State residence.

The late Madam Okunniyi died on December 29, last year. She was aged 96. Her funeral service will hold on Friday at St Andrew's Anglican Church, Ayesan, Ondo State after which he would be buried.

•The late Madam Okunniyi

12

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

Innocent Amomoh

REPORTING FROM

SOUTH AFRICA

NIGERIANS

in South Africa want Eagles in final Pg. 14

Taofeek Babalola Reporting from South Africa

Sport

Wednesday, February 06, 2013

PAGE 13

EMENIKE:

more goals coming S

PARTAK MOSCOW of Russia forward Emmanuel Emenike has assured Nigerians that more goals abound in his boots for Nigeria at the ongoing Nations Cup, adding that the Super Eagles derserve more than a bronze medal or third place.

Emenike said though the best the Eagles had since winning the trophy nineteen years ago, is the bronze medal, they have resolved to settle for nothing less than the gold medal.

Emenike scored the goal that put Nigeria ahead against Cote D’ Ivoire in the quarter final match, a goal that has been tagged one of the best in the AFCON. "So far we have done well. What most

From Innocent Amomoh, Durban, South Africa people thought was not possible, became possible," said Emenike.

He further said: "We have shown the world that we are true professionals. It's a matter of having confidence in ourselves which we have displayed. Before any game I always say to myself that I can score against any opponent in the world and it has helped me. There are many goals still left in my boots for Nigeria in this competition and I won't stop till the trophy is won" Emenike said the criticisms against the team back home and in diaspora have helped the team, insisting they can't wait to do more against Mali. "Sometimes football

does not go the way you expect. We were written off against Ivory Coast but you saw the way it went. And now we have another chance to do more against Mali," he explained.

When asked if the Eagles stand a chance against the Malians, Emenike said: " I don't think you should still be doubting our capabilities at this point.

We are not writing off Mali because they have worked hard as well to get to this stage, but what I can say is that we are on course for the final.�

Keshi: Mali will be tough

Pg. 51

14

NATION SPORT

AFCON 2013...AFCON 2013...AFCON 2013...AFCON 2013...AFCON 2013...AFCON 2013...AFCON 2013...AFCON 2013...AFCON 2013...AFCON 2013...AFCON 2013...AFCON 2013

NATION SPORT

Innocent Amomoh

REPORTING FROM

SOUTH AFRICA

Oboabona: I'm battle ready for Mali •Says Eagles are focused

H

OME BOY Godfrey Oboabona has declared that he is battle-ready ahead of the semi final cracker against Mali at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, in the Nations Cup ongoing in South Africa.

Nigeria had qualified for this stage of the competition after pulling the biggest shock when they knocked out the pretournament favourites Cote D Ivoire 2-1 in the quarter final on Sunday.

The Super Eagles’ defender, still basking in the euphoria of team's progress in the competition, said they had resolved not to be carried away by the feat but other, to be focused on tonight's match and subsequently win the trophy.

"We've agreed that we are not there yet. We can only be good for the trophy if we continue giving our best in the subsequent games," said Oboabona.

He continued: "We won't be carried away because I believe we

From Innocent Amomoh, Durban, South Africa still have so much to prove in this competition and dumping Cote D’Ivoire out of the tournament could make it easier for us to go back home with the trophy.

"We are relieved now after playing the toughest game of this tournament. For me it was the toughest of my career. My dream came true at the end of 90minutes after being able to stop Drogba.

Asked what informed his confidence, Obaobona said: "I was inspired by coach Stephen Keshi and captain Joseph Yobo. They told me to go out there and prove myself for the world to see that I am a player for the future which I did.

"Now, the focus is on Mali. We just have to raise our game the more than we did against Cote D Ivoire," the Sunshine Stars captain told NationSport in Durban yesterday.

NIGERIANS

in South Africa want Eagles in final T

HE Africa Cup of Nations enters its semi-final phase in Durban today with Nigeria and Mali set for an unexpected meeting in the east coast city. Too many close calls in the last decade have left the two countries with subdued confidence of making the African Cup final from their clash on Wednesday.

Mali is a semi finalist for a second straight tournament, and hoping to advance this time. Nigeria made it to the last four three years ago and also lost.

A two-time champion, Nigeria arrives slightly favored to advance after edging past Ivory Coast's star-studded squad in the quarter final. The Super Eagles are led by Chelsea duo of Victor Moses and John Obi Mikel and will also count on Spartak Moscow striker Emmanuel Emenike.

Mali, which eliminated host South Africa in the quarters, is led by former Barcelona playmaker Seydou Keita.

NationSport crew of INNOCENT AMOMOH, TAOFEEK BABALOLA AND RASAQ OBOREIN went to town to seek the opinion of Nigerians residing in Ranburg, Johannesburg ahead of the tie and they charged Super Eagles not to lose momentum exhibited against the Elephants of Cote D'Ivoire in their last game.

Nigerian union in S'Africa urges Eagles to beat Mali FIFA Agent throws weight behind team

P

51

NATIONSPORT WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

RESIDENT of the Nigerian Community in South Africa, Ikechukwu Anyene, has charged the Super Eagles to beat Mali in tonight's semi-final match of the on-going AFCON match to continue the joyful mood of Nigerians in South Africa and across the globe, since they did the nation proud on Sunday after defeating the highly rated Didier Drogba led Cote D' Ivoire team.

Anyene, who made a surprised visit to some accredited journalists in Johannesburg, expressed joy and happiness over the classy performance of the Eagles in the quarter-finals match against the Ivory Coast. He called for concentration and consistency so that Nigeria would eventually become 2013 AFCON Champions.

“Like everybody is saying we need to maintain the momentum and even work harder not only to beat Mali in tomorrow's match but to play in an impressive manner that the Eagles played against the

From Segun Ogunjimi, Durban Ivorians. Nigerians here in South Africa are very happy and have vowed to turnout in large numbers to support our team against Mali in Durban tonight.

“There are more than a million Nigerians leaving legally in South Africa and are fully behind the team.”

Highlighting the challenges of the union in supporting the Eagles, Anyene said transportation was a major hurdle.

“The venues are wide apart and it required so much money to move many people around them. But we have no other country so we are making huge sacrifice to support Nigeria in the competition.”

FIFA Licensed Agent, Abdul Nura Mohammed also expressed confidence in the team and called for support and prayers for the team to achieve victory over Mali in tomorrow's cracker.

•Innocent

•Rosemary

Lukmon Akindele As a Nigerian resident here in Ranburg, Johannesburg, I want the Super Eagles to win the trophy as its been very long we claimed the title in Tunisia 1994.

The Nigerian game against the Elephants of Ivory Coast was one I didn't expect as they really have not really played well before the quarter-final game.

Against the Malians, I expect the same spirit they displayed against Ivory Coast and if they do, I don't see Seydou Keita-led Eagles stopping us.

Marian (Mozambican Eagles’ fan) I trust them and I know they are going to emerge victorious against Mali today in Durban. The last game was a good one from them as they really made Nigerians and indeed me a Mozambican fan happy. Am sure they will go all the way to win the trophy.

I am praying for them and I want them to display maturity on the field of play as the Malians can be funny.

Prince Adekoya Ajibade (The Adimula of Ranburg) My expectation is for Super Eagles to qualify for the final of the AFCON 2013 championship. We also should not underrate the Malians in today's semi-final game, as all teams

remaining, in the AFCON, came to South Africa to win the trophy. So I wish the Super Eagles the best today, they should play very well and make us proud like they did against Ivory Coast.

My message to coach Stephen Keshi and his players is that, they should make us proud .

Tessy Miss Tessy, a proprietor of a popular Nigerian food restaurant in Johannesburg, tasked the Super Eagles to win as they have all what it takes to make Nigerians proud.

They must be focused just like they did in the quarter-final game against the Elephants of Ivory Coast.

I was scared prior to the game but shocked when I saw the scoreline and the standard of play. So if they can display what they did against Ivory Coast, I expect they win by a good margin.

I also expect them to play as a team, be coordinated and try not to lose chances. So whatever chances they get they have to utilize them or else they could end up regretting their missed chances.

Tosin Ajisafe My expectation is high as they really surprised us here in South Africa after they defeated Ivory Coast in the quarter-final last

Sunday. We didn't believe in them but now am hundred percent sure that the trophy is going to Abuja.

With commitment, determination and Keshi sticking to the team that played against Ivory Coast, I don't see the Malians stopping Nigeria, as I predict a 3-0 scoreline.

Peter Abbey: Computer Analyst My hope is on God. I know that God will give us victory against Mali on Wednesday (today). I hope with the performances of the players and the technical crew led by coach Stephen Keshi Nigeria will win. I know the victory against Cote D’ Ivoire is not by their power but that of God. We pray to God to give us victory today against Mali and I have the believe that we will beat them and the Cup will come to Nigeria. We are ready to pray and fast because of the match. My last advice for Keshi is to use the same players he used against Cote D' Ivoire in tomorrow's game against Mali.

Adeniyi Adekoya: Business man I don't want them to underrate Mali because the Malians are good as well. They should not be too over confidence. I know Nigeria will win the match by God's grace.

Ahmed Salaudeen I was so impressed with the way

the Super Eagles played against Cote D' Ivoire. In their previous matches they played in this tournament, we complained that if Nigeria continued playing like that they would not get anywhere. Our expectations in South Africa before the match was that Cote D'Ivoire will beat us 4-0 but I was surprised that the Super Eagles could beat Cote D'Ivoire 2-1. If they can play the way they played againt the Ivoirians, they will beat the Mali and win the Cup. They should put more effort and determination and I believe they will win.

Bishop Chikwendu: Businessman I am expecting them to go all out and beat Mali in today's game.

People have tagged us underdogs in this tournament and this the time to prove them wrong and go and win the Cup and bring joy to Nigeria again. They should not defend but they should attack and get more goals.

Gbemi Babalola My prayer is that God should give us victory against Mali. I want the Super Eagles to use this tournament to prove to the whole world that we are the best in Africa. I was happy when they beat Cote D'Ivoire despite their boast. Nigeria will win.

Adijat Adeleye: Beautician I don't have much to say because the victory against Cote d'Ivoire is from God and we didn't expect it at all. It was just God's favour. I have faith that God will give us victory against Mali. Everything that will happen in the game is in God's hand because nobody knows tomorrow but I pray that at the end of the day Eagles come out victorious.

Daniel Odigie: We were expecting much from the players in today's game. If they can put up the same form they showed in the game against Cote D'Ivoire and I don't see Mali as a clog in the wheel of our success in this tournament. The motivation is there and we are behind them. We are going to support them until they win the cup.

Innocent Ewaleifoh First and foremost I want to commend their effort for the victory against Cote D’Ivoire. It's being a long time that we've seen Eagles played like that. The last time a Nigerian team played like that was in USA 94 when the like of Rasidi Yekini and co put Nigeria name in the world of football. I am expecting Nigeria to beat Mali today and go all out and win the trophy. I will be in the stadium to support them.

David Definitely Nigeria is going to beat Mali. I have the confidence that we will all celebrate at the end of the match. They did well in their last game against Cote'd Ivoire. I wish them best of luck.

Lizzy Nigeria will win and take the cup to Nigeria. I like the way they played against the Cote d'Ivoire and I want them to continuing in the game

Yobo thinks retirement after World Cup ‘I want to play in finals’

S

•Yobo

UPER EAGLES captain, Joseph Yobo has declared that he will consider retirement after the World Cup slated for Brazil in 2014 if Nigeria qualifies.

In a chat with the media at a preconference in Durban, South Africa yesterday, the Fenerbache of Turkey defence ace said of utmost priority for him is to play in the finals and lead the Eagles to win the Afcon trophy.

Yobo has been nursing an ankle injury he sustained in the match against Burkina -Faso in a group C

From Innocent Amomoh, Durban, South Africa

opener, and has since not been fit for a starting shirt for the team.

On the semi final clash against Mali, Yobo said the Eagles are as motivated as ever, as the game will turn out to be a special one.

"Getting to this stage for any team is enough motivation. We know the Malians and they know us too well. All we are

concerned about is to play in the finals. At this stage there are no favourites.

Every game is important and we will approach it as such.

"Both teams are physical and strong. We won a big game against Ivory Coast and that is enough motivation and confidence for us," Yobo explained.

He said as team captain he tries to bridge the gap between the experienced and the younger players in

the team which he believes have a played a significant role in team's success so far.

On his rivalry with Mali Captain, Seydou Keita, Yobo said football is not about individual but collective efforts.

"You just took me way back to 1999 when I played against Keita in the Junior World Cup in Nigeria. Well this game is not about individual players, but when we meet on the pitch then I can answer that question better," he said.

against Mali.

Nathaniel Umoru: Barbing Salon I am proud of super eagles. I am 100% sure of victory against Mali tomorrow. The super eagles have proven to some of us in the Diasporas that Nigeria is a giant of Africa. There is nothing anything can say about that. This cup is coming to Nigeria. They should relax and be determined in tomorrow's game against Mali and by the special grace of God Nigeria will win.

Taofeek Babalola

•Tosin

Reporting from South Africa

Fegor, Onazi present selection blues •Maigari, NFF Chiefs motivate team

•Nathaniel

S

UPER EAGLES’ coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, admitted on the eve of his side's semi-final clash against the Aiglons of Mali, that he has been having selection headache since he first picked up the job of coaching Nigeria, but it's even at a boiling point now that the team is on the verge of qualifying for the final of AFCON 2013.

The return of Norway based Fegor Ogude, from a match suspension means that he has to battle Ogenyi Onazi, for the holding midfield role, after the Lazio of Italy man put up a yeoman's performance in the quarter final duel against Ivory Coast. “Its been tough and I always have this headache of selection but with Fegor back, its going to be tough picking who to start but by Wednesday we shall see who starts”, Keshi said at the Press Conference preceding the tie.

The Big Boss, as Keshi is fondly called, also took a swipe at mediocre foreign coaches that are often hired by football federations in Africa and reiterated his call for a stop to be put to it. “If we hire a quality coach from Europe that we can learn something from, I won't have issues with that but when they come from the backyard and parade themselves as expatriate coaches when they don't know what ex-internationals like us know then I am against it”, Keshi asid to a question posed to him.

Also on Tuesday, NFF President, Aminu Maigari, along with Technical Committee Chairman, Christopher Green, was at the Eagles last training session before its semi-final game to motivate the team ahead of their semi-final clash against Mali.

A calm looking Maigari refused to address the players ahead of the tie on Wednesday but is expected to return at lunch time Wednesday to give the team all the motivating talk as has become traditional ahead of crucial games of the national team.

•David

•Marian

•Bishop

•Vivian •Tessy

Keshi clueless on the new Mali —Keita

M

ALI captain Seydou Keita on Monday hit back at those who believe his side will face an uphill battle against Nigeria on Wednesday in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations semifinals because the Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has a good knowledge of the team after he managed it for two years.

The former Barcelona midfielder said the outfit had changed since the Nigerian coach left in the wake of their debacle at the Angola 2010, and may have lost all the secrets of the team.

“People keep saying that Nigeria will beat us on Wednesday because their coach Stephen Keshi knows the secrets of Mali team having coached us in the past, but that is not true,” Keita said.

“We've had three coaches after Keshi's departure and that should tell you a lot of transformation has taken place. Keshi, with all the respect I have for him, will meet a different team on Wednesday and not what he left behind. So tell him we have changed.

The Malian Eagles finished third in the previous AFCON edition under French coach Alain Giresse, and brought their peculiarity of knocking out host nations to the ongoing tournament where they defeated South Africa on penalties like they did to Gabon last year.

The 33-year-old, who now plays for Chinese side Dalian Aerbin,believes they could have an edge if Wednesday's clash runs into penalties.

“I'm not saying we are the

best penalty shooters, but we kind of have some luck in the exercise recently and we hope this will follow us, especially at these times when our people back home need joy and relief from the ongoing war,” he said.

•Keita

SEMI FINAL CLASH

Keshi: Mali will be tough C

ONTRARY to insinuations that Nigeria will have an easy ride to the finals of the ongoing Nations Cup in South Africa, Super Eagles’ coach, Stephen Keshi has declared that the semi final clash against Mali will be tough.

Speaking in a pre - match conference yesterday at the Moses Mabhide Stadium, Durban, the former Mali

tactician, said though the situation in camp is good and the players ready to go, the Eagles will approach the encounter with the level of seriousness it deserves.

"The situation in camp is good, I like the progress of the players and we are ready. However, Mali can't be underrated because they are a footballing nation with several talented players. I have been there before and I know most of the players. This is a team I have great regard for and they could be tougher than the Ivorians.

"It is a game we must put in everything if we intend to achieve our

From Innocent Amomoh, Durban, South Africa

aim. I will try to prepare the team tactically like we did against Cote D Ivoire and I will see what happens after that," Keshi said.

On the favouritism tag on the team ahead the clash, Keshi said: "I don't believe in being favourites. We are facing a good side and like I said we will approach the match with the same mentality with which we did with other matches."

When asked what he hopes to make of Fengor Ogude's return to the fold after

his one- match suspension, the Big Boss as he fondly called, kept mum, saying though Onazi Ogenyi had a good game against Ivory Coast, the approach for the match will be determined by the technical crew.

Keshi took time out to express his concern on the crisis in Mali, describing it as worrisome.

"I think the players are getting their strength from the crisis in Mali. It is a shame that such a thing is happening at this time in a wonderful country with wonderful people. The players will want to use this trophy to put smiles on

the faces of their people but I am just going to be a professional on the field of play and after then we can sympathise," Keshi affirmed.

Asked if he intends to continue with Nigeria if he wins the AFCON trophy, Keshi said: "it doesn't matter what people think about me back home. You can't force everybody to love you at the same time. If they don't appreciate what we are doing, so be it. Like I said I am a professional, after the competition, I can decide to leave, or stay. But for now my heart is with Nigeria a team I captained for 14 years."

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

AFCON 2013

NATION SPORT

Mbalula: Bafana need science S

PORTS Minister Fikile Mbalula believes the South African Football Association need to take a more scientific approach to football in order to help the national team's progression.

Bafana Bafana's 17-year wait for a major piece of silverware will have to continue after they were dumped out of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals following their penalty shoot-out defeat to Mali on Saturday.

The side have come under intense criticism in the last few years following failed bids to qualify for the AFCON finals in 2010 and 2012, although they helped polish their tarnished image with some impressive displays at this year's tournament prior to their exit this weekend.

Mbalula believes now is the

time to build on their showing, and has earmarked a forward-thinking approach as key to achieving their goals.

"We will solicit expert and scientific advice from leading thinkers in the field of sports sciences with a view to examine in a holistic sense the size, shape, and strengths of our football players, nutrition,

access to modern technology, sports psychology, early childhood preparations for high performance sports, and so on," he said.

"It's time now for all roleplayers in football to go back to the drawing board. We have started the building blocks on a positive note and can see a ray of hope loom-

I

The all-West African cracker ended 2-1 in favour of the Super Eagles, who are now through to the semifinals of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

“We made serious preparation because we knew playing Nigeria would be tough but once on the pitch, Mikel

• Drogba (l) and Toure

Sangweni: SA can feel proud

S

I Y A B O N G A SANGWENI insists Bafana Bafana have plenty to be proud of, despite their 2013 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final exit on Saturday.

According to the football411.com website, the host nation were dumped out of this year's continental showpiece at the weekend after going down to Mali 3-1 in the penalty shoot-out after 120 minutes had ended 1-1.

Orlando Pirates defender Sangweni, though, believes South Africa showed plenty of determination throughout the tournament, and hopes their showing can prove a catalyst for a new era for the team.

"We obviously wanted to go as far as the final but it was always going to be tough," the centre-back told Pirates' official website.

"We were up against stiff competition but despite that we were able to hold our own.

Losing on penalties can happen to any team, that's why I believe we shouldn't be too hard on ourselves.

"If we focus on the positives, I believe this moment can be the turning point for the national team."

Sangweni was also full of praise for the South African public, which gave their full backing to the side from the very first match of the competition.

"The support we had throughout the competition was amazing. In fact, it (the support) grew with every match we played which only means that the nation was beginning and probably still believing that we are on the

ing large in the horizon.

"We need to draw our lessons from this AFCON tournament as we prepare for the qualifiers of the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil, but we need to urgently work on an overall and comprehensive long-term strategy for a scientific athlete development plan."

'Don't blame Drogba, Toure'

VORY COAST striker Lacina Traore, who played few minutes during the Elephants’ quarterfinal clash with Nigeria on Sunday, told supersport.com his side didn’t lose because they underestimated the Super Eagles but rather because the Nigerians were superior.

right track," he enthused.

Sangweni knows Bafana will now need to put their continental heartbreak behind them and shift their focus to the 2014 World Cup qualifier.

He added: "Now we have to keep things together and

15

work hard to get to Brazil in 2014 - we have a tough outing to Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) and we have to prepare very well for it. Let us just hope that we get a great run in these World Cup qualifiers."

Obi and his mates quickly seized the midfield, cutting off the link to our front men. This happened for much of the first half, which hindered us from getting a foothold as soon as possible in the meeting,” Traore said.

The Anzhi Makhachkala top scorer refused to blame his captain, Didier Drogba, and reigning African Footballer of the Year ,Yaya Toure, both of whom local fans say failed to live up to expectation and caused their unexpected exit from the tournament.

“Drogba and Toure are great players. They did their best but the problem was that Nigeria were too much. They overwhelmed us, not just the two players alone. I can understand their (fans) anger but they have to blame the whole team and not just Drogba and Toure.”

Traore also gave kudos to Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi for his “creative and pragmatic” solution for the quarterfinals.

“Imagine, a number of sports pundits in Ivory Coast were saying this coach would not be able to come up with any solution to surmount the Ivorian hurdle but he did eventually.

He was able to make our team sterile, visionless and stupid.

He was creative and pragmatic.

At a time, on the bench, we were wondering if this was the team that drew 1-1 against Burkina Faso in the group phase.”

Where does the future lie for the country’s best footballer generation after failing once again to crown their long walk with a continental title? Traore says the future remains bright.

“When I hear people say it is all over for this team I feel sad.

Players come and go but the team will be here. Even if Drogba doesn’t win an Afcon title, it doesn’t me Ivory Coast will never be able to win the trophy one day.”

I will always be there for Togo — Adebayor

E

M M A N U E L ADEBAYOR reassures Togo he will remain loyal to the team despite their 2013 AFCON quarterfinal exit.

Adebayor, who made a last minute return to the team after ending his self imposed exile in January, said he was very committed to Togo after inspiring them to their debut Africa Cup quarterfinal appearance in South Africa. "I am still young, I am 29 whenever the country needs me I will be up for it,” Adebayor said.

Adebayor said will take the positives out of their 1-0 elimination at the hands of Burkina Faso on Sunday night at Mbombela Stadium in

Nelspruit.

"We are disappointed but we will talk amongst and organize ourselves and look to the future," Adebayor said.

"We ended in the quarterfinal maybe next time we will be in the final and win it. It’s never too late."

This was Togo's first quarterfinal appearance at the Africa Cup in nine outings.

• Adebayor

Put: Anything is possible against Ghana

B

URKINA FASO beat Togo 1-0 in a gruelling quarterfinal on February 3 that went into extra-time at Mbombela Stadium to book a semifinal rendezvous against four-time champions Ghana to be played at the same venue on February 6.

Put said Burkina Faso still have the advantage of playing hosts to The Black Stars on their ‘sand pit’ home ground of Mbombela Stadium where they are unbeaten in all their last four games since January 21.

“We have nothing to lose; we

are playing on our home pitch.

It is not a very good pitch but it is at least our home stadium and we are happy we can still play here,” Put said.

Put said playing exchampions Zambia and Nigeria in the group stages had helped prepare them for things to come.

“We have to think positively; we will see,” Put said.

“We know Ghana is a very big team but we have played Nigeria, we have played Zambia. In football anything is possible….you never know.”

• Put

Black Stars’ technical crew receives applause

F • Sangweni

ORMER African Coach of the Year Sir Cecil Jones Attuquayefio has commended Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah for his exploits in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.

Appiah, who was a player in 1982 when Ghana last won the trophy, has so far ensured that the team progressed to the semifinal, a step closer in going for the ultimate.

Celebrated Attuquayefio, who won the maiden edition of the CAF Confederations Cup with Accra Hearts of Oak in 2004, has sent a letter of motivation to Appiah as he prepares his charges for the semi-final against Burkina Faso.

“You started your mission to conquer Africa by playing two preparatory games against Egypt and Tunisia. Although, we (Ghanaians) were so much impressed with the result and performance, others did not give you much chance. Many were worried about our first match in

the AFCON competition against Congo for the mere fact that their coach is white and an ex-Black Stars coach for that matter,” the letter copied to Footyghana read in part.

It continued: “Your selection was even criticized because you played Kwadwo Asamoah at left back and the result of that match attracted very unpleasant commentaries about your competence.

“However, in all these, you kept your cool as always and all your responses during the press conferences were highly commendable.”

“Kwesi, you have done it again and you are close to the ultimate which, of course, seems to favour you. After all, one thing we should know about football is that underdogs are always a stubborn and hard nut to crack; hence, the outcome of the match against Cape Verde. The next match is likely to be difficult as well but in all this, I believe God is with us,” the former Ghana

international stated.

Attuquayefio, a one-time Black Stars coach who has been battling throat cancer in the last three and half years is confident Appiah and his assistant Maxwell Konadu will win the 2013 AFCON for Ghana.

“Kwesi, Ghanaians seem to have also noticed some unflinching unity among your playing staff which is one of your cardinal pillars of your success and this has evidently shown in the character and attitude of your team when players are selected and substituted in a game.

“Whilst I wish to congratulate you on your achievement so far, I wish to similarly caution you to hold the unity of your technical team very well and not to compromise on it.

“May the Almighty God answer our prayers so you bring the Cup to Ghana once again after three decades. I wish you all the best and success,” he concluded.

16

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

NEWS •Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola immunising a child at the kickoff of the National Immunisation Plus Days in Osogbo... last weekend. With him are his wife Alhaja Serifat and others •Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi holding a National Orientation Agency Do-the-right thing plaque presented to him when officers of the agency visited him in Ado-Ekiti... last weekend. With him are Director General Mr. Mike Omeri (middle) and Director, Civil and Publicity, Prince Afam Anene.

•R-L: Chief Operating Officer, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Two (MMA2), Lagos, Ms. Adebisi Awoniyi; Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Christophe Penninck; Chief Advertising Officer, Mr. Seun Soyinka and Head, Operations, Mr. Bolaji Salu, at the Appreciation Dinner organised by BASL for stakeholders in the aviation industry at the Protea Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos…last weekend.

•National Chairman, Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, Alhaji Femi Adebayo (left); Chairman, Pharaceutical Society, Kano State, Alhaji Ahmed Gana, Commissioner for Health, Kano State, Dr. Abubakar Labaran and National Chairman, Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria, Dr. Lolu Ojo when the pharmacists visited Kano State Government on the closure of Open Drug Market.

•Left to right: Widow of the late Deacon Ayo Ositelu, Mrs Aribike Ositelu, Lagos State Governor’s wife, Mrs Abimbola Fashola, wife of Lagos State Chairman, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mrs Adetoun Ajomale, her husband, Otunba Henry Ajomale, Mr David Ositelu and Dr Bukky Ositelu, at the funeral of Deacon Ositelu at Ogere-Remo Ogun State... last weekend.

PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN.

•From left: President Men’s Fellowship of St. Matthews Anglican Church, Maitama, Abuja, Mr. Azu Azuikwe; Sir Deniis Agbo, Prince Kanayo Nwajei, Mr. Abiodun Owoeye, Dr. Patterson Ekeocha and Mr. Gad Onyeanwu at the inauguration of elected officers at St. Matthews Anglican Church Maitama in Abuja... last weekend.

•From left: National Coordinator, Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and guest of honour, Otunba Gani Adams (left); Senior Superintendent Gabriel Akinadewo, host, Superintendent James Akinadewo and others at the dedication ceremony of Motailatu Church, Cherubium and Seraphim Worldwide (Restoration Parish) Olayinka Street, off Ijoko Road, Akute, Ogun State... last weekend.

•Parish Priest of St. Philip Anglican Church Trans-Ekulu, Enugu, Ven. Simon Emelumadu (left), Curate Rev. Canon Isaac Ezeaputa and group leader, Dr. Chinyere Emele, at a special spiritual breakthrough service in Enugu... lastweekend.

HEALTH

PROJECT

RECOGNITION

Al-Makura flags off free medical care

Kwankwaso inaugurates polio centre

Honour for neurosurgeon

Nasarawa

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Kano

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

Anambra

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Page 17

Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

‘Niger Delta states, agencies should develop region’

A

•Hon Kuku

FTER the Amnesty programme has contained violence, mopped up arms and trained former combatants in the Niger Delta, state governments there and government agencies should take up the initiative to develop the oil-rich region.

That was the position of Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Hon Kingsley Kuku.

Kuku, who also chairs the Presidential Amnesty Programme, said the federal government initiative has achieved the goal of halting insurgency in the Niger Delta, recovering ex-militants’ arms, in addition to training erstwhile fight-

By Ogochukwu Ikeje

ers in skills. Now, he added, Niger Delta states as well as government agencies and even non-governmental organisations should step in and grow the region and keep it safe for residents.

Kuku spoke in Lagos, explaining that the Amnesty Programme which effectively started in 2010, will be wound down in 2015.

“It is a terminal programme, not an unending one,” he said.

About 30,000 ex-agitators are said to have been engaged in the programme since they laid down

their arms and obtained government pardon. Over 20,000 of them have been orientated and sent to acquire skills in various parts of the world.

Some went to South Africa to train as pipeline welders and crane operators; some to Europe, some to India and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Others were trained locally, but the result was the same. Youths, once dreaded for the scale of violence they caused in the Niger Delta, have been given a new life, a new deal, and have been contributing to the growth of not just the Niger Delta but the entire coun-

try.

About 200 of ex-militants have become pilots, thanks to the Amnesty Programme, a fact that Senate President David Mark celebrated.

Some 14 other products of the programme, trained in diving and underwater welding, reportedly rescued a sunken vessel from the Sapele River in Delta State.

Such a scenario was unthinkable before the Amnesty. In 2009, over N3 trillion was said to be lost in revenue due to pipeline •Continued on Page 45

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NFRASTRUCTURAL growth in his domain has impressed the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III. Once impassable roads in rural parts of Oyo-West Local Government Area of Oyo State are paved, boosting not just human trasportation but also movement of agricultural produce.

Run-down schools are having a new lease of life. Teachers and pupils are loving every minute of it.

Alaafin hailed the efforts of the council’s caretaker chairman, Mr. Richard Adesoji Ojoawo, saying such achievement was rare.

The revered monarch was particularly impressed by the council chairman’s interest in helping the poor, many of who were given various jobs tools.

Oba Adeyemi blamed the high rate of poverty in the country on lack of effective policies and absence of political commitment, in addition to ineffective co-ordination of activities as well as insufficient data.

The monarch was speaking in Ojongbodu at the poverty alleviation programme organised by the Oyo-West Local Government Area.

He said proper understanding of the social cost of poverty is necessary for comprehensive policy formulation and implementation.

His words: “Poverty should be seen as a social problem which reduces patterns of behaviour with important negative repercussions on individuals and society as a whole. There are many young people who are not gainfully employed, some of them being highly educated. For survival, they may resort to crime and will tend to rationalise this act on the grounds of economic survival. Criminal involvement should be relatively high

•Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III (second left) with Oyo-West Council Chairman Mr Richard Ojoawo (right) and other dignitaries at the event

Alaafin hails rural transformation Council chief provides jobs tools, boosts infrastructure From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo

whenever legitimate opportunities to achieve success are closed to the individuals.”

Poverty, Alaafin asserted is a threat to economic and social stability, adding that a situation whereby substantial percentage of the citizenry lives below the poverty line, suggests that human resources are underdevel-

oped and under-utilised.

“There is need for drastic modification of the development strategy, both at the macro- and micro-levels.”

While commending Caretaker Chairman of Oyo-West, Ojoawo, for his concerted efforts in stemming the rural/urban migration, and imparting positively on the lives of the down-trodden through reduction in poverty, the paramount ruler said he was

particularly delighted to be part of such “monumental and unprecedented achievements in the history of the local government.

“Three of the 10 wards in the council area are in the villages with undulating rural feeder roads and lack of social amenities before the present administration came on board. But I’m surprised to see that within a few months in office, these impassable rural feeder roads have been

graded, while primary schools which were dilapidated put into proper shapes, thus providing the enabling environment for the pupils to learn.”

Also speaking, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Political Matters, Princess Adebisi Adegoke, extolled the leadership qualities of the council’s caretaker chair•Continued on Page 45

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

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Lawmaker tackles water scarcity

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•Hon Odukunle Babajide Kuti, and Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Hon. Bosun Jeje at the commissioning of Quantum Suite at Arepo, Ogun State PHOTO: BOLA OMILABU

300 house painters for training

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O fewer than 300 Osun State based house painters are to benefit from the capacity enhancement and training programme organised by the state Schools Infrastructure Development Committee.

Addressing a press conference in Osogbo, the state capital city, the chairman of the committee otherwise known as O’Schools, Alhaji Lai Oyeduntan, said: “We have concluded plans to train and retrain artisans and tradesmen in building construction industry in the near future.”

He said the training workshop for the 300 house painters was designed to upgrade their skill, noting that similar training will be organised soon for other artisans.

He disclosed that the commttee had been mandated by Governor Rauf Aregbesola to superintend the construction and rehabilitation of teaching and learning facilities in the state.

According to him, the committee in the first phase of its mandate to cover 24 months duration will build and equip 100 elementary schools, 50 middle schools and 20 high schools with a preliminary budget of N30 billion.

Osun From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

He said as change agents, members of the O’School Committee have joined the state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in his mission to accellerate the development of the state in all sectors of the economy, particularly the basic education sub-sector.

Oyeduntan said: “Our Project Management philosphy and supervisory strategy was greatly motivated and inspired by the six point integral action plan of the government of the state of Osun under the visionary leadership of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola.

“Our project implementation philosophy seeks to maximise the residual benefits of the proposed huge investments in school infratructures to the economy of Osun. So we plan, as much as possible, to patronise local contractors, labour, material vendors and service providers without compromising quality and standard.”

N a bid to solve the water scarcity in Minna, Niger State capital, member representing Chanchanga Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon Umar Bago, has assured the residents of early completion of the 300 boreholes being sunk in the constituency.

Out of the number, 45 are motorised while 265 others are hand pumps.

Bago disclosed this when he donated 24 wheel chairs to the handicaps, the elderly and general hospital in his constituency.

According to him, the water projects are to complement state government’s effort in solving water problem in Minna metropolis.

The lawmaker elected on the platform of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), explained that the presentation of the wheel chairs was in fulfillment of the promises made to the constituents during the 2011 electioneering campaign.

He explained that work on the projects began in 2012 but was delayed by the difficult terrain of the city and its underground water level.

Bago said that he also embarked on the provision of welfare packages to the constituents particularly in the area of empowering the youth and appreciating the electorate.

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

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dividends”.The council chief promised to continue with the exercise as it remains the surest way to take students away from crime. “Now that the burden of looking for money through undignified ways to obtain these forms are out of the way, the next challenge is for you to face your studies squarely and make Mushin proud,”he said.

The chairman added that he was glad to receive impressive results from successful GCE students after collecting forms from the council last year.

“Some candidates that made their papers sent text messages of their scores to me, it makes me feel that we are making remarkable impacts in the lives of the our children”.

Plans are concludedto train students for this year JAMB examination unlike what obtained before.

Three centres have been designated at St.Judes’ Primary School, Ilasamaja ,Odu-Abore Memorial Primary School,Iyalla and Baruwa Primary School, Ijesha from 3.30 and 6.30pm.

Plateau

ANO State Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso has commissioned a multi- million Naira Poliomyelitis Centre at Nassarawa Hospital in the state capital.

Commissioning the project, Governor Kwankwaso said the move is part of sustained efforts of his administration to fight the scourge of polio in the state.

Lamenting that Nigeria is still counted among Polio endemic countries; he assured that his administration would continue to work with all stakeholders to rid the state of the disease.

He thanked Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Dangote Foundation for their immense support to the Polio eradication drive in the state, urging other well- meaning citizens to emulate the gesture.

The governor also stressed the need for people in the state to pay more attention to personal hygiene and environmental cleanliness to guarantee their well being.

Meanwhile, Governor Kwankwaso has

‘’We would have distributed the materials before now if not for the prolonged workers strike in the state. ‘’The strike made it impossible for SEMA to go to the communities because of the security challenges it posed but now that it is over, we understand the victims’ plight. ‘’We will make sure that they get the materials without any further delay,’’ Longjan said.

The deputy governor said the grains, which translates to 50 trucks in all, would first be taken to the three central stores for the three zones of the state before onward distribution to local government areas. ‘’We have a store here in Jos to take care of the northern zone; we have another one in Pankshin for the central zone while the other one is at Langtang North Local Government.

Longjan also gave a breakdown of how the materials would be distributed.

He said that Jos North Local Government would get four trucks or 2,400 bags, while Kanam, Langtang North, Langtang South, Quan’Pan, Shendam and Wase local governments are to get six trucks or 3,600 bags each.

The breakdown also showed that Kanke, Mikang, Pankshin and Bokos local governments would each get two trucks amounting to 1,200 bags. ‘’We have a strategic reserve of six trucks amounting to 3,600 bags for isolated cases in other areas outside the local governments that were badly affected.

HE Chairman of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos State, Mr. Ayinde Bayewu, has presented N3,089,500 budget for this year to the legislative arm of the council. He said the budget will cater for the social, economic, health, environmental development, urging the Leader of the council, Mr. Abduhlakeem Sulaiman and other councillors to approve it in record time.

The chairman said the budget was prepared in consonance with the 10-point agenda of Fashola Administration, Local Government Economic and Empowerment Development Strategy (LEEDS), Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Vision 20:20.

Reviewing the performance of the 2012 budget, Bayewu said its implementation was successful, adding that the people reaped the dividends of democracy. The chairman said eight roads were constructed during the year, 12 roads were rehabilitated, seven boreholes were provided, three drainages completed, two culvert projects were completed and toilets provided for schools and markets.

Bayewu also tendered his achievements in education, health, and environment. He said school buildings were rehabilitated, street lightings were provided and the council completed distilling projects in 27 streets across the communities.

The chairman said out of the N3.08 b budgeted for this year, N1,340,000, representing

•Governor Aliyu Babangida

Plateau gives grains to flood victims

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HE Plateau State Emergence Management Agency (SEMA) has praised the distribution of 1,500 tonnes of grains to the 2012 flood victims in the state.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Steven Barko, inaugurated the lifting of the grains to various distribution centres.

Barko represented the state Deputy Governor and Chairman of SEMA’s Governing Council Mr Ignatius Longjan.

Longjan said the 1500 tonnes of sorghum and maize which were 30,000 bags, were donated to Plateau Government by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to mitigate the sufferings of the victims of the flood disaster. ‘’We received the materials precisely on November 19, 2012 from the officials of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture led by Alhaji Bukar Tijani, the Minister of State for Agriculture.

Council gives free JAMB forms HE Chairman of Mushin Local Government, Hon Olatunde Adepitan has advised youths in the area to project the good aspects of the council before the general public.He made this call during the distribution of free JAMB forms to over three hundred students in his area.

This is the forth time in the life of the current administration that JAMB forms are being distributed to our youths.

The primary focus of this administration is to ensure that every child that desires to go to school is not denied the opportunity.

Sometimes ago, we distributed free GCE forms to our youths, today, we are glad that those of you that obtained the compulsory five credits are eager to obtain free JAMB forms.

The resultant effects of our drive to encourage youths to be educated is yielding

Kwankwaso inaugurates polio centre K

Niger Commending Bago for the good work he has been doing, the Niger State chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Alhaji Umar Shuaibu while inspecting the projects in the constituency expressed satisfaction over the performances of elected officials under the party platform.

He said Bago who was elected on the platform of CPC, was always taking the lead in providing basic amenities to the people who elected him, adding that CPC has shown that he has the interest of the people at heart.

The CPC chieftain then called on other lawmakers and elected officials to give priority to the welfare of the people.

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Kano From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

promised to sustain efforts aimed at transforming the education sector in Kano State.

He said this while receiving an award by the Joint Consultative Forum of the Kano State Tertiary institutions.

The award was given to the governor because of the state governments’ laudable policies and programmes aimed at improving education, particularly tertiary education in the state.

He was delighted that the tertiary institutions in Kano are appreciative of the government’s efforts, saying the government will continue to do more so that the state can continue to move progressively.

In another development, the governor has

•Kwankwaso donated N500, 000 each to families of seven Vigilante Group members in the state, who lost their lives as a result of combat with armed robbers last year, while N250, 000 each was donated to some of the members that sustained injuries.

Council presents budget 44 percent, would come from the federal purse, the expected state allocation is N50m and internally generated revenue is N160m. Bayewu said recurrent expenditure would cart away N1,749,500, out of which personnel cost will consume N640m. However, overhead cost will be N1,109,500, representing 63 percent of the total recurrent cost.

The chairman said the capital expenditure will gulp N1,340,000, stressing that the imple-

mentation will drive the local economy, promote micro-economic activities, and contribute to the National Gross Domestic product.

The breakdown shows that agriculture will get N14.5m; works, housing and infrastructure N705m, representing 53 percent of the budget; commerce N10m, environment N19m, education N239.2, representing 17 percent, health N36.2m and computerisation of the secretariat N35m.

Group launches foundation

J •Mrs Oyesanya(middle) immunising one of the babies

Local govt immunises kids

S part of efforts to save babies from avoidable death arising from deadly diseases such as measles, smallpox,polio, the wife of the chairman of Ikosi Isheri Local Development Area, Mrs. Omolola Oyesanya, has begun sensitisation and awareness campaign on polio eradication in the council.

The polio eradication programme which is meant for children between the ages of 0 and five was the flag-off of the first round of the 2013 National Immunisation and it is expected to go round the council area.

Mrs. Oyesanya called on mothers and caregivers to co-oporate with the teams which will be visiting homes to immunise the children.

She also called on the parents to ensure that their children are protected against the disease by allowing the eligible children to take the polio vaccination made available.

Mrs Oyesanya maintained the local government had put strategies in place to ensure that the exercise goes round the communities so as to make sure that all the houses are visited.

She said: “It is very important for us to •Hon. Adepitan presenting free JAMB Form to one of the beneficiaries Miss Adijat Motunrayo ensure that our children are immunised against this disease by allowing all eliTiodunmo at the council secretariat

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By Jeremiah Oke

gible children take the polio vaccination made available. Two drops of the vaccine will be given to all our children age 0-5years. There are no side effects of taking the vaccination and there is also no overdose of the vaccine.

“Strategies to be used this time around are household visitation by our house-to-house team, coverage of markets, schools, playground, and other places where we can find the children. There are also fixed post vaccinators and recorders at our various designated posts and health centres within our wards”.

While reacting to the development, the chairman of the council, Hon Abdlfatai Oyesanya, said the present administration would ensure an all-embracing development that will ensure that dividend of democracy is taken to the grassroots.

He said his administration will ensure that no child dies of polio and other related-diseases and also ensure that the first phase of the project goes round communities in the council.

Oyesanya, therefore, reiterated his commitment to invest more in the sectors that will improve the living standard of the residents of the council such as health, education, empowerment, road construction and welfare of the workers.

EGEDE Paul Foundation, a charitable organisation with a mission to lift the poor, launched its activities in Onituere Community of Isale Iwaya in Sabo –Yaba area of Lagos on January 5.Its outreach programme in the area has the residents as the focal point.

Its activities are in three major areas: socioeconomic development, human empowerment and healthcare services. The foundation hopes to carry out its objectives through empowerment programmes with a vision to partner with members of the society to change lives and impact the society. Though quite young as it was established just last year, Jegede Paul Foundation finances an orphanage for children in Lagos State.

The foundation was established by Jegede Abiodun Paul, Group Managing Director of Japaul Oil and Maritime Services Plc, his wife

Church summit THE Redeemed Christian Church of God Province 5, Area 003 offspring of David is to hold a one-day annual Breakthrough Summit. It is billed for Saturday February 9, and the time 8am. The theme is: Economic Empowerment and venue, Faith City Sanctuary: 11/15, Kosoko Street, Ojodu-Berger, Lagos.

Speaking on the programme, the president of Offspring David Men’s Fellowship of Faith City Parish RCCG, Bro. Tunji Oladiran, said: “Our wish is total turnaround of members of the church, others especially leaders of homes”. He said at the end of the day dead businesses will be revived and careers would flourish again Those expected to minister include, Pastor Gabriel Olusola Adeyeye, Pastor Funso Adedayo, Regional Evangelist RCCG among others.

By Kehinde Oluleye

Bisilola Jegede, an accountant by profession and a business woman and Victoria Remi Nkong, a Human Resources consultant, and Business Development Executive for Qtaby Events. Its current partners are Japaul Oil and Maritime Services Plc and Qtaby Events. The official opening of the Life Fountain Orphanage Home will took place on Febuary 2 alongside the kick-off of its Campaign against NOMA disease.

“As part of our socio-economic development programme , the foundation would provide amenities such as boreholes in rural areas, decent markets and renovation of schools, for Human Empowerment: Visits would be made to areas with severe living conditions and individuals that need help would be identified and empowered through skill acquisition projects, seminars, development of small businesses and award of scholarships to exceptional indigent children”.

As its first healthcare project, Jegede Paul Foundation is partnering with an international body of surgeons on a campaign against NOMA disease, an acute and ravaging gangrenous infection affecting the face. The disease can be treated at the early stages through simple antibiotics but unfortunately due to lack of information about 126,000 people die every year from this disease (WHO).

The decision to launch the foundation in a slum settlement is premised on the drive to reach out and bring comfort to the less-privileged, give them a sense of belonging and make them know they are loved and recognised in the society. The highlights of the event include; speeches by the traditional ruler of the community and chairman of the foundation, ,musical performance by Timi Dakolo and Infinity, feeding of 400 destitute children, spelling bee and presentation of gifts to the winners of this competition. The event ended with a joint performance of Michael Jacksons “Heal the World”

by Timi Dakolo and Infinity Music alongside with some children.

•Hon Bayewu (left) presenting the budget to the leader Hon. Abdullakeem Sulaiman

Church holds crusade THE Elect Gospel Assembly Inc. (aka Eagles Arena) will hold a 3-day Divine judgment programme at the church auditorium 7, Solution Lane, Iyalaje Estate, off Pipeline B/Stop, Orilowo-Ejigbo. It is entitled: Altar versus ALTAR. The programme which will unveil the awesome power of God over the powers of darkness will start from tomorrow, February 7 to Saturday February 9, 2013 at 8.00 a.m. daily.

The Senior Pastor-in-charge, Prophet Obi Favour said: “As in the days of Prophet Elijah in I Kings 18:19-40, the prophets of Baal were killed for bowing down to evil gods, every demonic altar in the life of every one that attends the programme will be consumed by the fire of God. Any altar that never represented the limitlessness of God’s authority would be subsumed in His fiery anger.” The programme will feature breakthrough, restoration, healing and prophecies.

•Some beneficiaries of the foudation’s programme at the launch

THE NATION WEDNESDAY,FEBRUAY 6, 2013

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COMMENTARY EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

EDITORIALS

Cardinal sins

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Police retirees •There is no reason why their retirement benefits should be delayed

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HE hard-nosed confirmation by Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade (rtd), Minister of Police Affairs, that 4,000 retired police officers are yet to receive their pension looks like a fairy-tale but is indeed real. More damning was his amplification that the figures could be higher because more files of other deserving retired officers are still being treated. This is a sad reminder of a nation’s ingratitude to police personnel who served the nation in their prime, only to be forsaken upon retirement.

Why should it take months for any serious nation to complete the verification of retirees?

The way the situation stands, the minister was not even sure of the precise date that the backlog of gratuities would be paid because the bio-data capturing is still in progress. This means that the suffering of police retirees would continue for some time.

Over time, data irregularities and inefficient pension administration have been the bane of pension management, compelling the government to initiate verification exercises to correct the anomalies. We recollect that an earlier general exercise for the Federal Civil Service, supervised by Mallam AbdulRasheed Maina, over two years ago succeeded in uncovering a colossal N5billion that could have been stolen through payment to ‘ghost’ pensioners.

While we do not begrudge the Ministry of Police Affairs for toeing the same line, such should not be used as an excuse for delaying pension and gratuities of police retirees. The condition of service in the police force is

presently dehumanising and it would be a collateral damage for police retirees to be further dehumanised by not getting their entitlements promptly.

The minister’s complaint in his 2012 report that the Nigeria Police Force is faced with the challenge of poor funding is suspect. So, what have both the ministry and the police pension office done with previously approved budgets for the police? The question becomes pertinent in view of the Police Pension Office scam of a whopping sum of N32.8billion siphoned by some of its top officials. If such amount can be illegally diverted without the supervisory ministry knowing, the reason why police pensioners’ gratuities and pension are delayed or sometimes denied can easily be deciphered.

No wonder that a police ministry which has not been able to turn police colleges across the country into model training institutions still has the effrontery to be demanding for more funds. It is trite budget principle that the projects that were implemented and how efficiently previous budgets were utilised go a long way in determining the quantum of allocation for succeeding year’s appropriation. So, the issue is not about the ministry suddenly realising that it needs more funds because of an expose by a media organisation, on the sordid state of Police College, Ikeja. What about how budgeted police pension developed wings? An explanation should be given on this too.

The mind-boggling fraud that is ravaging the country’s pension system, of which the

police is an integral part, is patently abominable. Expectedly, this would make retirement from the police and other institutions meaningless because the bulk of benefits to be enjoyed by retirees notoriously ended up in private pockets of serving top civil servants and politicians.

We consider as appalling the mismanagement of police affairs, more importantly, police pensioners’ wellbeing.

Both have been objects of intensely condemnable graft from unscrupulous top government officials. Under the prevailing situation, the guarantee of a people-friendly, efficient and effective police becomes an illusion.

‘Why should it take months for any serious nation to complete the verification of retirees? The way the situation stands, the minister was not even sure of the precise date that the back-log of gratuities would be paid because the bio-data capturing is still in progress.

This means that the suffering of police retirees would continue for some time.’

UNILAG shines at 50 •Accolades won by the university are well deserved, but there is room for improvement

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HIS year’s convocation of the University of Lagos is, in a way, the climax of the celebration of the institution’s 50thanniversary that started last year. Indeed, for the university, there is cause to celebrate its unique place among higher institutions in the country.

It was the first federal university established after independence. The older university established in Ibadan in 1948 was, at the time, a college of the University of London.

The establishment of universities in IleIfe, Zaria, Nsukka and Lagos brightened the hope of Nigerians that the postcolonial years would boost development in the country. Of the four, the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, University of Ife and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, were established by the Northern, Western and Eastern regional governments. Only the University of Lagos was funded from the federal purse,

‘We salute the university for its steady progress and contributions to national development. We identify with its resolve to make its mark among the best centres of academic excellence in the world and urge its management to remain faithful to the goal set by successive leaders of the institution. This has already resulted in UNILAG being the university of first choice for young Nigerians who seek admission every year’

as a symbol of nationhood and meant to cement the unity expected to come with the 1960 independence.

Following the recommendations of the Ashby Commission set up in 1959, it was recommended that a university be established in Lagos “to offer day and evening courses in Commerce, Business Administration, Economics and Higher Management Studies.” The commission equally recommended that the university could be non-residential. However, a UNESCO Advisory Commission set up a year later advised against making the university non-residential. Rather, it called on the Federal Government to make the university complete and allencompassing.

Consequently, the University of Lagos, fully residential and autonomous, came into being on October 22, 1962, with Professor Eni Njoku as the first vicechancellor. It was a dream come true and it provided a rare opportunity of providing quality higher education for all Nigerians.

The late vice-chancellor of the university, Professor Adetokunbo Shofoluwe, at a pre-celebration world press conference on May 8, last year, captured its objectives: “From my vantage point, the future looks beautiful, full of promise and myriads of opportunities. I see a future of outstanding excellence in the quality of staff and of course as a consequence, of students. I see a future of trail-blazing collaboration between the academia of this university and the budding industry in Nigeria ... I see UNILAG joining the league of the best 100 universities in the world.” That represented the resolve of the university community when it turned 50 last year.

In recent times, the university has won laurels and awards. Recently, it topped

the list of the best doctoral theses produced by Nigerian universities. The result of the exercise carried out by the Nigerian Universities Doctoral Theses Awards Scheme ((NUDTAS) adjudged four of the doctoral candidates presented by the university as the best. In 2010, the National Centre for Energy Efficiency and Conservation was established as a testament to its standing as a great centre for science research. In the same year, the last accreditation visit to the university by the National Universities Commission approved all courses run by the departments, faculties, schools, colleges and centres of the institution.

The steady progress made by the university was made possible by the minimal disruption of the academic calendar by industrial disputes and students’ protests. This is an attestation to the maturity of the management and a budding culture of peace on the campus.

The support drawn from firms, wealthy individuals and institutions is second to none in the country. Last year, the university’s Office of Advancement acknowledged 179 such partners.

We salute the university for its steady progress and contributions to national development. We identify with its resolve to make its mark among the best centres of academic excellence in the world and urge its management to remain faithful to the goal set by successive leaders of the institution. This has already resulted in UNILAG being the university of first choice for young Nigerians who seek admission every year.

We hope that, by the time the university would be celebrating its diamond jubilee in 2022, it would have improved upon its ranking, not only in Africa, but globally.

NLY now is the full scope of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ culpability in the sex abuse scandal being confirmed.

Not only did the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles fail to protect children from pedophile priests, but its leaders, including Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, subsequently sought to protect its reputation by covering up cases of sexual abuse and shielding priests from the arrest and prosecution they deserved. The archdiocese then spent more than a decade fighting to keep that coverup from being revealed in court.

What is most horrible about the facts in the paragraph above is that they come as a surprise to almost no one. The archdiocese’s malfeasance has been alleged for a long time, but only now is the full scope of its culpability in the sex abuse scandal being confirmed. On Thursday, Archbishop Jose Gomez, under court order, released tens of thousands of pages of confidential personnel files of 122 priests accused or convicted of molesting children. Calling the behavior described in the records “terribly sad and evil,” Gomez also relieved Mahony of his public duties, which apparently means little more than canceling his confirmation schedule. Mahony will remain a “bishop in good standing in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles,” Gomez said Friday, “with full rights to celebrate the holy sacraments of the church and to minister to the faithful without restriction.”

Gomez’s actions and apologies aren’t enough, not given the fierce legal battle the church has waged over the last decade to protect itself. The release of the files last week with priests’ names unredacted marked the end of an effort that began years earlier when the church advanced a frivolous argument to protect communication between a priest and his bishop as privileged and protected by the 1st Amendment. Fortunately, lower courts rejected that argument and the U.S. Supreme Court refused to entertain it.

Gomez and the Vatican clearly hope to put this scandal behind them and to portray it as a horror from a bygone era, something along the lines of the Spanish Inquisition. But the clergy sex abuse scandal is not, in fact, so very bygone. The church fought until the bitter end to protect pedophile priests rather than the children who were victimized, to protect the institution rather than those who put their faith in it. It defended Mahony and Msgr.

Thomas Curry, his top advisor on sex abuse cases, rather than concede the right of victims to know the truth.

The release of the records and the rebuke of Mahony is only a start. If the church hopes to rebuild trust and seek real forgiveness, it must move beyond apologies and explain the lack of consequences for not only the priests who abused children but also those higherups who helped conceal the truth for so long.

• Los Angeles Times

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

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

•Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina •Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital) Yomi Odunuga •Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu •Group Business Editor Ayodele Aminu •Sport Editor Ade Ojeikere •Editorial Page Editor Sanya Oni

• Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde •Chief Internal Auditor Toke Folorunsho •Senior Manager (sales) Akeem Shoge

•IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness •Press Manager Udensi Chikaodi •Manager, Corporate Marketing Hameed Odejayi • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUAY 6, 2013

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CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: Events that began with the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua in 2010, have come to unveil the historic fraud that was then held as a South-south political platform.

Presently, the flag of the irredentist Ijaw minority has been treacherously substituted as a South-south political platform, even as their ethnic leaders have superimposed themselves as South-south leaders leaving the peoples and nationalities of the zone without any facility for their own true political expression.

Today, it is clear to the people of all nationalities in our geo-political region that the sole aim of what was presented to them as a regional mandate in 2011, was actually the establishment and perpetuation of an Ijaw hegemony that subsumes the political expression of the entire zone to its exclusive agenda.

This hegemonic ambition, verifiable by the pattern of President Goodluck Jonathan’s appointments since his emergence, is characterized by a near-monopoly of significant empowerment and strategic ministries and positions by the Ijaws to the exclusion of other South-south nationalities. For example, of the six ministerial slots given to the SouthSouth zone, three are occupied by the same Ijaw ethnic nationality. A similar analysis of other key appointments in the presidency, federal departments, parastatals and agencies, portray the same lopsidedness and inequity against other nationalities of the South-south.

This dominion and monopoly over the other South-south nationalities like the Urhobo nation, which constitute a major block of zone, is classically illustrated by the fact that the

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Presidency, South-south and Ijaw hegemony entire Bayelsa State which is exercising the so-called South-south Presidency, in addition to a full minister, is made up of the same eight local government areas as the Delta central senatorial district of the Urhobos in Delta State. Yet in the entire South-south, the Urhobos can only boast of chairman of a moribund river basin authority.

Even of the eight LGAs that make up the President’s Bayelsa State, a couple of them such as Sagbama LGA have significant Urhobo popu-

lation. In Delta State, where the Ijaws are a small minority, with Urhobo as the overwhelming majority, the only minister from the state is ironically from the Ijaw minority. What do we call this if not internal colonialism?

Of equal symbolic evidence, is the exclusive appropriation of the amnesty programme and other related patronages by the Ijaws in the aftermath of a struggle that was supposed to be of the Niger-Delta region. Thus, both the Niger-Delta

minister and the head of the NigerDelta amnesty empowerment programme are both of Ijaw extraction. It is also manifested in the sudden spate of territorial expansionist crises involving Ijaw communities in different parts of the Niger-Delta region such as Edo and Ondo states.

Now, the cumulative internal crisis of confidence in our zone, engendered by this surreptitious superimposition has degenerated to such depth of bitterness. On top of all these, is the growing realization that

Open letter to VC, University of Agriculture, Makurdi

S

IR: I would like to congratulate you, Prof E. I. Kucha, on your appointment as the fifth vice chancellor of Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi. Your appointment deserves a special mention and commendation because it is the first time Minda, the host community will be producing the vice chancellor of the great institution.

Professor, you have been entrusted this responsibility at a very crucial time when the University is in deep coma and is gasping for survival. In medical parlance, coma is a state of extreme unresponsiveness, in which an individual exhibits no voluntary movement or behavior. The founding fathers of this university modeled

it after Harvard and Oxford, and dreamt that like Harvard and Oxford,it will also attain glory as one of the best in Nigeria, Africa and the World. But unfortunately, today, the university is not even ranked among the top 10 universities in the country.

Dear Professor, as you are aware that the academic standards of the university are declining day by day and the issue of cultism has assumed alarming proportions. The havoc being caused by violent cult activities has become a source of worry and concern to students, lectures, parents and the government. It is not that the situation is completely out of control; even today a lot can be done only if one has the determination and the

will power to do it.

Sir, the country and the good people of Benue State hopes that as the captain of the ship, you will rise to the occasion and take necessary steps to stem the rot, to restore the old glory of the university. The host community, Minda have high hopes and they believe that you shall not let them down.

As you are well aware, the Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi has produced brilliant graduates in the past. Today, the reverse is the case. I therefore, hope that unlike your predecessor,you will demonstrate greater courage and will to take necessary action to surgically remove the cancer of cultism and academic bas-

Re: Hypocrisy of yesterday’s men

S

IR: I think Kingsley OgbeideIhema spoke the mind of many people when he said “if you offer a fool the liberty of your silence, he would offer to himself the liberty of your consent”. I consider it appropriate to salute Dr. Reuben Abati, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the President for his well articulated rejoinder titled “Hypocrisy of yesterday’s men” in the Sunday edition of The Nation of February 3.

It’s a pity we find ourselves in a

our collective political future as minorities stand the danger of being irretrievably compromised in the politics of Nigeria by the accident of history that precipitated the Jonathan Presidency. Our people have come to realize that the dishonesty and betrayal of trust that trailed the president’s candidature, in relation to the zoning principle of the People’s Democratic Party, after the death of the late President Yar’Adua in 2010, is capable of collectively stigmatizing us as an untrustworthy people in the future politics of this country.

The time has come, to put an end to this national deception, to deconstruct the fraud that is presently assumed to be a South-South political platform and to herald the true political vision of the present day South-south Nigeria.

• Maxwell Okirikpo Effurun Delta State.

nation where those who were once involved in the system now turn themselves into ‘messianic’ political icons and professional fault-finders.

This group of yesterday’s men and women think that without them in government, the ship of leadership will derail.

I was in school when one of those yesterday’s women superintended over the educational sector as minister. During her tenure, we saw the mass production of ‘diseducated, mis-educated and

uneducated’ graduates in Nigeria.

Those who gained admission into the four walls of the university left with only one wall standing. Under her watchful eyes, the menace of examination malpractices reached an unprecedented dimension.

Incessant strike action punctured our academic calendars to the extent that four years courses stretched up to five or six years. The result was that the general public lost confidence in public academic institutions completely.

This woman who should have been banned from public office for life in view of her abysmal failure in the educational sector now claims to see what she could not see few years ago.

Nigerians should not forget that she was a part of the federal executive council that spent over $16 billion on power, yet the only thing we got in return was darkness. Those who think I am wrong should please check their history books.

• Ehi G.O. Benin City.

tardization of the university and save the institution from slipping in to oblivion.

Finally, I appeal to all stakeholders and the senate of the university to take time to learn from the honey bees. At theheart of hive,which house as many as 100,000 is the “Queen”. Each bee has a special duty to perform. Some are ‘Forager Bees’ who encounter the perils of the outside world in order ro collect food. ‘Guard Bees’ protect the hives from intruders. Some bees serve even as ‘Undertakers’; these are responsible for removing dead bodies from the hive. Others are ‘Water Collectors’ who bring in moisture to regulate humidity. In addition the, ‘Plasterers’ make a kind of cement to repair the hive, and ‘Scent Fanners’ station themselves at the entrance and fan the scent outward to signal the location of the colony to lost or disoriented one. The ‘Scout Bees’ keep the hive alert to opportunities and dangers from the outside world.

From the above analysis, it is safe to ask: what is our contribution to the safety, progress, growth and protection of the Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi? As bona-fide sons and daughters of this great institution,we cannot afford to sit and watch. The job of building the university will not be accomplished unless every one cooperates.

• John Akevi, Nitel Qtrs. Bauchi.

21

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUAY 6, 2013

COMMENTS

Rains; NASS’ women; After NASS dollars - ABCD-A Bag of Corruption Diamonds?; N23.5b- Murder charges?

A

N O T H E R $1,000,000,000 or N155,000,000,000 or N1,550/Nigeria from Excess Crude Account.

Yet governments fail to provide water, transport, Tony education and power for business, domestic and Marinho recreation. Will the $1 billion just buy jets or diamonds?

Nigeria’s rainy season must never again stop road maintenance work for 4-6months. Let the 2013 road maintenance motto be ‘Make Nigerian Roads Pothole-Free Year-round!’ It rains for only 50% of rainy season days. There is a quick-dry pothole filler and boots.

The ban on network promos is a victory for citizens who have that money in the pocket estimated at N10+billion/ annum. Hurray!

When you question National Assembly (NASS) and government, you are attacked, sacked, or taken to court as a criminal or rubbished. The malignant pursuit of Oby Ezekwesili over government’s accountability for $67,000,000,000 or N10,050,000,000,000 or $670/Nigerian or N100,500/Nigerian is typical. Government should answer the question, ignoring her record or any perceived First Lady or Madam President political aspirations. Many have suffered imprisonment and execution for daring government.

Remember the malicious entrapment of Professor Nike Grange and her court clearance two years later.

Government and NASS’ ‘NASSty’ antics are like the Roman Emperor and Senate with the Roman Coliseum being both the NASS floor and ‘Public Hearings’ where citizens are torn to pieces by ‘NASS lions’. The NASS herd instinct shows against NASS’ women victims. Was Onagoruwa dismissed for ‘incompetence’ or ‘over-competence’ and stopping thieving politicians? The cases of whistle-blowing Oteh and Ezekwesili are fresh. There is Demuren thrown in for sex balancing. How much of this is ‘bad belle’ in NASS? Nigerians must be sceptical when NASS cries ‘wolf’. Too many wolves are in NASS, in sheep’s clothing and diverting attention from their irresponsibly high Salaries and Perks, ‘SAPing’ Nigeria dry. Serving NASS members give out N35-100,000,000 each as

‘constitutional grants/gifts’ totalling N15billion. Channel this money through government. The NASS investigation of the Sure –Plus also smells of NASS greed. As lawmakers, NASS in 2013 must stop being contractors, directly or by proxy.

We need an arbitrator because the NASS should not be judge and jury and may not represent the people over its own interests and bias. We need judicial panels of enquiry, independent of NASS and government. Nigeria cannot survive many more multi-billion scams. Government since 1999 has failed responsibility for preventing stealing in its highly paid staff. Anti-corruption goes beyond rhetoric, posters, T-shirts and caps, hamstrung anti-corruption organisations and neglected police from pigsty colleges after paying N30,000 for entry form - scams exposed by NASS and Channels TV Award winning documentary. Government must think and introduce ways to prevent more ‘Financial Terrorism’ impoverishing citizens.

Tell your children that Nigeria is wealthy, but abandoned to avaricious, malicious, unloving political, civil service and contractor robbery gangs. We are so mediocre that we overcelebrate a good flyover and most politicians call for Public Private Partnerships to cover up theft. All but a few of our leaders are short on vision, moral and fiscal probity and social responsibility.

What level will corruption reach in 2013? Are EFCC and ICP strategising to proactively counter it? We know about bulky naira, slim dollars and sex as bribes. But as Otedola/ Lawan may know, cash is difficult to conceal even in a hat.

Could we have flamboyant political wives, expensive girlfriends and political WIP, ‘Women In Power’, preferring ‘Naomi Campbell/ Taylor’ ‘love’ diamonds to dollars. They are concealable in eba and play boxes of grandchildren where EFCC may miss an ABCD - ‘A Bag of Cut Diamonds’. While you wait to see some VIP, the secretary may sing ‘Diamonds are madam’s best friend’ or ask the oga’s PA what is her favourite Bond film? You guessed it -‘Diamonds are forever’. Do not rush abroad to order ‘A Bag of Corruption Diamonds’.

In 2013, governments must be pre-emptive and put job creating, money saving, 5-10,000 roving EFCC, ICPC financial ‘follow the money’ book keeping, computer literate audit staff and computerised auditing everywhere as ‘Preventive Anti-Corruption Drives’. Computerisation is resisted by

crooked staff. Is NPA computerised? Ask Pa Anenih. Stop corruption in NPA in 2013! Jail the monitors with the crooks if they take bribes.

‘Catch Corruption Early’ should be the 2013 anticorruption slogan as Nigeria cannot survive such huge losses. Why was the pension fraud not discovered early, at N1m or even N10m?

Find out and correct this on NPA and elsewhere now.

The monitoring auditors and Directors should be tried for ‘dereliction of duty’ and ‘Financial Terrorism’. Nigeria’s financial incompetence has allowed one individual, with accomplices to ‘disappear’ more than N23,500,000,000 or $150,000,000 or N250/Nigerian or N80,000/serving police man and woman. Did past IGPs benefit? Are all involved being persecuted? How much did he retain? Can EFCC remain incorruptible? ‘Class action’ and individual legal cases of ‘negligence’, ‘theft’, murder’ and ‘Grievous Mental and Bodily Harm- GMBH, can be brought by police and surviving family.

Then he can be tried by government for financial terrorism, malignant incompetence and anti-government activities which have done more damage, killed more and caused more misery than Boko Haram and MEND together. He smiles arrogantly having taken N23.5+ billion from police known for extra-judicial killings and accidental discharge for N20.

A country’s financial controls are as important as physical police controls to security. Pre-emptive strike forensic audit vigilance can prevent such scams. Police pensioners say no diversionary ‘Go for Verification or Biometric Data Capture’ in the sun. Pay them quickly. Nigerians must stop needless suffering!

‘We are so mediocre that we overcelebrate a good flyover and most politicians call for Public Private Partnerships to cover up theft. All but a few of our leaders are short on vision, moral and fiscal probity and social responsibility’

Mali, not Afghanistan

S

INCE the campaign by the French Army to free Northern Mali from the iron grip of the Islamic fundamentalists began a few weeks ago, the Nigerian government has been labouring profusely to justify the entry of its troops into the fray. The Malian government was rendered dysfunctional in March, last year, following a military coup which toppled the government of President Amadou Toumani Toure. Amadou Sanogo, a Captain and leader of the coup, had called for external help to enable the war-weary Malian Army to stop the temerity of the rebels who had taken over a number of key towns in the North of Mali.

His pleas were ignored. Instead, the African Union, AU, suspended Mali. The AU later struck a deal with the coup leaders to allow President Toure to resign. Part of it was to restore civilian rule which finally saw Dioncounda Traore, the Speaker of the Parliament, sworn in as the Interim President on April 11, 2012.

The army thereafter retreated from the North of the country, thereby giving a free reign for a plethora of armed groups to fill the void. These are disparate armed groups all of which have different aims and motivations. They were soon joined

by Islamists, many of whom had been displaced from Libya after the fall and eventual death of Muammar Gaddafi in October 2011.

The Islamist insurgents, who were obviously well-equipped with tested fighters, weapons and free cash, soon overwhelmed other militias and took over the whole of Northern Mali. This started the ‘balkanization’ and bastardization of Mali as various World Heritage Sites, which abound in the rebel-held areas,

were systematically desecrated and destroyed. Tied to an Al-Qaeda group in the Maghreb, which in itself, is a franchise of the original Al-Qaeda, the quest of the Islamic fundamentalists was to foist their own brand of stringent Sharia laws on the whole of Mali. Of course, this portends danger for Mali, the entire West African sub-region and the world at large.

All the AU could do was to engage in mere rhetoric while the extremists dug deeper. By January, this year, the rebels started making preparations to launch a final offensive on the south of the country. This would have brought the entire country under the control of the extremists.

This would have also emboldened Al-Qaeda in North Africa to secure a launch pad for the total destruction of the weak governments in Africa, especially West Africa.

While he held sway as Libyan leader, the late Gaddafi never hid his expansionist agenda which was to control the whole of Africa. He had sold the idea of one United Africa with one President to his other African brothers. When he saw that nobody was ready to buy this, he resorted to buying arms and ammunition which he stockpiled in several locations in the vast desert of Libya.

With the whole of Libya now turned into one huge warehouse for weapons of mass destruction, Gaddafi planned and executed many sinister plots across the African continent and beyond. He was involved in the wars in Liberia, Cote D’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Somalia, Chad and other troubled spots in Africa. In other parts of the world, he actively sponsored acts of terrorism. One of it was the terrorist

‘The logic of Nigeria’s involvement in Mali is that it is quite easier and cheaper, in terms of human and material resources, to fight terrorism outside the shores of the country than within’

attack on the Pan-Am Airline Flight 103, which was brought down over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988, killing all the 270 people on board.

Gaddafi’s ignominious death in 2011 opened a new bastion in terrorists’ war in Africa as all the warehouses harbouring his weapons were left at the vagaries of armed groups which plundered them. Some of them looted the armoury and got additional supplies from Gaddafi’s men who were out to make quick money.

However, throughout his reign, Gaddafi could not properly penetrate the countries in the northern part of Africa as their economies and governments were stronger than those of the poor countries in West Africa. Charles Taylor, the disgraced former President of Liberia, was a beneficiary of Gaddafi’s poisoned chalice. Another was Blaise Campaore, the pseudorevolutionary who holds sway in Burkina Faso. Regrettably, both Burkina Faso and Cote D’Ivoire were the routes through which Gaddafi got his weapons across to rebels in Liberia and Sierra Leone during their civil war years. Cote D’Ivoire later paid a price for this by the bloodletting that confronted the country in the recent past.

Now, poor Mali has come under the jackboots of foreign troops fighting to liberate it from the clutches of Islamic fundamentalists.

The French government, its former colonial master, took the lead by dispatching its troops, which stopped the rebels from advancing to the south of the country. Through ceaseless aerial bombardments, they have captured all the rebels’ strongholds. But the French troops will not be available to go all out on any ground assault to totally cleanse the place of the remnants of the rebels who may have taken sanctuary in the desert. Nigeria is at the head of the more than 3,000strong African forces under the auspices of the Economic Community of West African States,

ECOWAS, which have been arriving in Bamako in trickles to undertake the ground offensive.

Currently, Nigeria is bedeviled by deadly exploits of some extremists believed to have a modicum of ties with the insurgents in Mali. Though the attacks are confined to the northern part of the country, its debilitating effects on the entire country and the West African subregion is being felt rather than imagined.

Therefore, the logic of Nigeria’s involvement in Mali is that it is quite easier and cheaper, in terms of human and material resources, to fight terrorism outside the shores of the country than within. In other words, it is far better to confront the growing ‘Al-Qaeda’ influence in Mali and smash it than wait for the insurgency to be exported into the country through the porous borders in the North.

Furthermore, Mauritania, Libya, Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Niger and Algeria are quite vulnerable to attacks by these rebels. Particularly, Niger and Algeria borders are extremely porous, and neither government has had the effrontery to halt the weapon flow into and through their countries to other parts of West Africa, especially Nigeria.

Nigeria shares a vast border with Niger Republic. Besides, the recent terrorists’ attack on a gas plant in Algeria has signaled what to expect in other parts of Africa if preemptive action is not taken to nip the growing insurgency in the continent in the bud.

But one problem remains. The African troops in the Mali campaign will require enormous assistance from external bodies in terms of training, weapons and other logistics of war. It will be recalled that during the war in Liberia, some of the African troops which were brought into the theatre of war were grossly under-equipped. They had neither boots nor weapons to fight because most of the West African leaders prefer to keep their army ill-

Dele Agekameh equipped to stave off coups against their regimes.

Another major thing that is worth attention is: what becomes of the rebels who have abandoned their positions in Northern Mali and took to their heels? They are probably locked up in the vast deserts and mountains of Northern Mali where they could instigate guerilla warfare at their whim to destabilize Mali from time to time. They could have also taken refuge somewhere in the Sahel, where they could regroup and carry out their attacks on any part of the West African sub-region. This is why everything must be done to forestall the rise of another Afghanistan in Africa.

The recent pledge of an initial contribution of $50 million into the estimated $1 billion funds for the war efforts in Mali by AU members in Addis Ababa, underscores the seriousness attached to the Malian crisis by African governments.

Therefore, the adventure in Mali is in Nigeria’s interest, the interest of the West African sub-region, Africa and the whole world to deal extremism a decisive blow in order to achieve sustainable peace and progress.

Send reactions to: 08058354382 (SMS only)

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

22

COMMENTS ‘There are three major ingredients that make any country great. 1. Functioning police system that arrests, investigates, and prosecutes, 2. A credible judicial system with integrity and honesty that dispenses justice accordingly. 3. The energy (e.g. electricity and gas) to power the industry and productivity base. Now, tell me, which area of the three mentioned is working in Nigeria? Why? Corruption ! How can we change it? Certainly not through churches and night vigils; and not by being docile, and not by continually making wrong choices at the polls, either. We have to take our destiny in our hands. For a start, after 16 years of incompetence, it is time for the PDP to go. Time to try something else. Anonymous’

• Jonathan

For Dare Olatunji I read your write-up. If the head is rotten what else. On the stolen police pension, none of them will see peace again in life. They suffered old people who served their nation well. The government should address how to pay the pensioners. If the Finance Minister’s father or Police Minister’s is one of them, the money would have been paid to the pensioners by now. God will judge everybody in this country. Anonymous Going through the last paragraph of your column, it was clear you have not been updated with the bizzare judgment passed on one of those involved in the police pension fund fraud. A travesty of justice! Anonymous The most important lesson from any incident that caused you mental torture is not to allow that kind of incident to occur again.

The government should have begun the repairs of the Police College before looking for scape goats. Sadly, the government and its officials often find themselves trying to dilute bitter truths with sweet talks and illogical points. But, whenever they are through with deceiving themselves, they find the stubborn truth, still staring them in the face. From Adegoke O O, Ikhin, Edo State I sympathise with officers and men of the Nigeria Police. The other day, a neighbour called me on phone at about 9pm to say a police patrol team had arrested him for being in possession of a toy gun. But, if he could contribute 10 litres of fuel he would be released. I rushed there with fuel and secured his release. The story is again told of how the officers in the salary section deduct handsome amounts upfront to settle electricity bills of those living in the barracks but, PHCN does not receive a single kobo. Anonymous You talked only about solicitation. The sorry state of the Police College and the barracks may also be the reason many of them persecute instead of protecting the populace.

Government should please provide accomodation fit for human beings.

Anonymous Well, I have never failed to buy any copy of The Nation I see your write-up in.You mentored me, unknowingly, taking time to polish and publish my pieces in The Guardian since 1991 while a corper. My sixth sense told me then that you were publishing me to encourage me. One day, I came calling, you were so humble and amiable. You made me feel great. Then, you informed that some honoraria were available for some eight pieces. It was the greatest honour of my life then. Those pieces have fetched me two university jobs. The first drew the attention of Prof. Fola Lasisi, who gave me my first major job as the PRO, University of Uyo. Then I followed Bola Ige into politics. By the time the bubble burst, Eghosa Osaghae, enamoured of my affiliation with your OpEd page, lured me into the academia. Today, I

answer Dr.Femi Meyungbe-Olufunmilade, HOD, International Rels.& Strategic Studies, Igbinedion Univ/Prof, EastCarolina Univ.

Dare is great!

The mess in the NPF is not an isolated case; corruption has become a part of our nation. I am sure it is a ‘core course’ in police academy.

God save us. From Onyilo, Abuja.

Dear Dare, it is difficult to beleive that those that stole police pension fund are being covered by our judiciary. Yusuf was merely given two years jail with an option of fine.

God save this country! From Fatukasi Tuyi.

Akure.

Dear Dare, if it was in my part of the country, we would have started your name with ‘I’ and replaced the ‘E’ with ‘A’. That would have been IDARA, meaning joy or jubilation. It was a well-articulated rendition in The Nation of 29/01/13. Please, also ask them to explain why police contractors and consultants are never paid on time, sometimes, for two years and more. What happens to the funds allocated for such projects? Do they develop wings and fly? Is it that Mr. President is not aware that these contractors and consultants are going through pains of unimaginable proportions? From Etokowo Owoh, uyo We do buy the uniform ourselves even salary is not equal; they do not promote according to the law of this country. Please, why? Anonymous Re: The shame of our police barracks. It is quite unfortunate that Mr. President misunderstood the exposure of the rot in the Police College.

If I were the President, I would make Channels Television get the first Corporate Merit award in Nigeria in 2013 for helping institute good governance. The police should be well welfared by the Federal Governmet in the overall interest of security of Nigeria and its citizens. Same for our properties! From Lanre Oseni.

I agree that the police cannot do better than the neo-colonial social system that created it.

The truth is the police will never be the same in a people-oriented order which is a far cry from the existing system based on self-interest.

Thanks. From Amos Ejimonye, Kaduna Please, continue to hit hard on the IGP, Police Service Commission and the Minister of Police Affairs for them to sit up. From Festus, Lagos To me, all these fraudulent practices are guaranteed by the present administration. So, it is our luck. From Abayomi O. E. Sir, on ‘Jonathan’s CNN interview’, your views represent those of the majority! God bless Nigeria! Anonymous Sir, with due respect to his office, the present occupier of the presidency is incompetent.

From Nemodat My worry is even people we thought should know how to present matters with wisdom end up with careless and disrespectful criticisms. Must you criticise the government or Mr. Presidnt in everything. Pray for this man, Jonathan, he needs time and patience for age-long problems he has come to face.

Long live Mr. Presidnt, same the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Anonymous Jonathan needs help; I felt sad watching our President in an interview with Amanpour on CNN on January 23, 2013. As a lecturer at the University of Ilorin, in the early eightie,s I used to tell my students that a good leader must have what I call the three Cs: Character, Charisma and Capacity or Capability.

Jonathan urgently needs fresh hands. From Olu Omoba, Ikeja

For Segun Gbadegesin Sir, I read your column From the summit.

Jonathan’s response to Amanpour is no surprise. A man Channels TV gave an opportunity to write his name in gold for posterity and he blew it. Instead, he asked how on earth Channels got into Police College undetected. Why has Abati and Okupe not come out to defend the blunder?

Anonymous All you said concerning Jonathan’s CNN interview are true, if not, a judge will not slam on a thief that stole over N27b, two years or N750,000 fine. From Tayo My heart skips each time a Nigerian has the microphone on for a white journalist. The white skinned to us are gods that must be adulated with our excessive talks and unrestrained expressions. Next time, CNN comes to town for GEJ, Lord, let me miss the episode! From Olanegan Taiwo, Akure On your article From the summit, this country is in trouble because there is no crime that our government is not mentioned as being part of. We the masses should forget about our leaders and fight for our freedom. Thank you, for saying the truth. Anonymous The need for innovation in various aspects of teacher education in this country is critical and it is the government that has to lead, not only through policies but by ensuring their implementation. As we speak, the core provisions of the National Policy on Education on teacher education are yet to be implemented. And the rot deepens in that critical sector but, write on! From Prof. Kanu With all due respect, I love the way you emphasise teachers, students and government issues. But, you should not stop there; continue hitting the nail on the head so that we can produce good leaders of tomorrow. From Matthew.

The Nigerian teacher is not so far from the brink of illiteracy as the pupils they wish to impart knowledge on. Teaching in primary and secondary schools cannot be better; it is not competitive. The teachers are parboiled from their different colleges and universities of education meant for all comers. In short, faculties of education in universities admit the worst students. What about the NTI and the Sandwich ‘nonsense’ to raise money by most of the universities? They are not to add to knowledge. They subtract from it. These are the harbingers of the poverty of teacher education. You only need to see them on the field. From Ola Akinduro, Idanre, Ondo State.

For Tunji Adegboyega Re:’ Justice Talba and the pension thief;’(The Nation, February 3). The judgment by Talba against Yusuf attests to the local and conservative belief that Law as a course or field rests on lies, or how else do we marry a penalty of N750,000 on an individual theft of five percent of people’s pension or/and collective theft of 71 percent of people’s pension of N38 billion? If the law did not provide for the N750,000, why did the judge not consider the reasonableness and measure-for-measure penalty? That judgment was bad. It does not encourage reading Law. From Lanre Oseni.

Plea bargaining is another way of encouraging corruption in governance. The recent judgment of John Yusuf’s pension funds fraud is an insult on the intelligence of Nigerians; it is a wicked one from the judiciary. The judiciary is an arm of government that encourages corruption; it should desist from this so that Nigeria can move forward. If we don’t fight corruption seriously, Nigeria is going nowhere. From Gordon Chika Nnorom,

•John Yusuf

Umukabia, Abia State.

A Chinese proverb: ‘a man who steals a melon is a thief; a man who steals a kingdom is a king’. And the paradox that Nigeria is; steal billions, get an accolade. Anonymous.

There are three major ingredients that make any country great. 1. Functioning police system that arrests, investigates, and prosecutes, 2. A credible judicial system with integrity and honesty that dispenses justice accordingly. 3. The energy (e.g. electricity and gas) to power the industry and productivity base.

Now, tell me, which area of the three mentioned is working in Nigeria? Why? Corruption ! How can we change it? Certainly not through churches and night vigils; and not by being docile, and not by continually making wrong choices at the polls, either.

We have to take our destiny in our hands.

For a start, after 16 years of incompetence, it is time for the PDP to go. Time to try something else. Anonymous.

The truth is always bitter. Let me tell you this, Nigeria is a nation of ignorant people and thieves. Less than five percent are righteous. That is why everything we do is determined first by personal gains, before we consider the collective well-being. That is why we sell our votes regardless of what the vote buyers have to offer … That we are not massively protesting is an indication that we are comfortable with all the ‘manure’ that we are fed with everyday. Tell me, which aspect of Nigerian life isn’t rotten? We cheat in everything, including sports, where we falsify age.

Simply put, Nigeria is a nation of cheats where falsehood reigns and money and materialism are gods; we have no consideration for ethics and morals. Therefore, we are getting what we deserve and it will be so until we change our ways. For now, keep moaning. Anonymous.

Thank you, Tunji, for your write-up as usual.

I am one of your fans; I am a pensioner with the Federal Ministry of Education. My question is: do we still hope to retrieve Nigeria from thieves and their collaborators? Only God can see us through. Anonymous.

There has been a general understatement or lack of appreciation of the true import of the gravity of what Mr John Yakubu Yusuf did. He did not just steal , he stole the pension! This lack of appreciation of the true gravity of the offence probably influenced the EFCC in charging him under the Penal Code and not the EFCC or ICPC Act, and definitely influenced the way the judge exercised his option in granting Mr Yusuf an option of fine rather than sentence him to two years’ imprisonment . In social and advanced economic policy and practice of modern states, pension occupies a fundamental and very basic and sacred place. Find out the rigours that a Nigerian newspaper owner went through in South Africa and the role that provision for pension for prospective (not even actual and employed workers) plays in that country. See civilised societies and understand what Yusuf did. Anonymous.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

Life

25

The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Text only: 08023058761

Many sides of a scholar and an activist

•Prof Akinyemi

– SEE STORY ON PAGE 28

Drawn to perfection: The pencil portraits – Page 26

‘Orlando Owoh’s legacy will never die’ – Page 27

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

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The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Drawn to perfection: The pencil portraits

By Eric Short

D

O not adjust your screen: the above portraits are not the products of a camera but the steady hand and sharp pencil of a London artist with an astonishing eye for detail.

Kelvin Okafor is one of the leading proponents of a niche but flourishing school of photo-realists.

The Middlesex fine art graduate is winning plaudits and prizes for his pencil drawings, each of which can take 100 hours over a three-week period to produce.

From his home in Tottenham, North London, Okafor, 27, has created portraits of celebrities as diverse as Amy Winehouse, Tinie Tempah and Mother Teresa, shown here, commanding as much as £10,000 for each work.

He has more than 50 commissions to his name and awards including the Catherine Petitgas Visitors' Choice Prize, part of the National Open Art Competition.

Okafor's portraits have also been exhibited at The Mall Galleries in central London as part of the Threadneedle Prize Exhibition.

Before the artist puts the pencil to

• Mama, one of Okafor’s works

•Okafor

paper, he spends days analysing his source photographs, concentrating first on the eyes before using thousands of pencil strokes to build detail showing every pore and hair.

"The attention I'm receiving is surreal and hasn't really sunk in yet," he told his local Tottenham and Wood Green Journal.

"I'm usually sheltered from it in my studio as I continue to build my portfolio, but I'm really humbled and honoured that so many people appreciate my work. I hope to have my own gallery in the future."

•Culled from The Independent

LagosPhoto partners World Press Photo

L

AGOSPHOTO, the first and only international arts festival of photography in Nigeria, has entered into a three-year partnership with World Press Photo, to bring the worldwide competition of photojournalism and documentary photography to Lagos.

The judging process for World Press Photo which began on February 2 will end on February 14. Organisers of the LagosPhoto said they are proud Lagos is on World Press Photo's list of major international cities.

This year's edition of LagosPhoto will open in October, with expansion of its size and scope.

Founded in 1955, World Press Photo is known as the leading international contest of visual journalism internationally.

World Press Photo's aims include supporting professional press photography on a wide international scale, to stimulate developments in photojournalism, encourage the transfer of knowledge, help develop high professional standards in photojournalism and promote free and unrestricted exchange of information.

World Press Photo organises educational projects throughout the world: seminars, workshops and the annual Joop Swart Master class. Each year, distinguished juries of photography professionals announce prizes for winning photographs, which are assembled as an exhibition and travelled to over 45 countries over the course of the year.

As the largest and most prestigious international photography contest, the World Press Photo exhibition reaches an audience of over two million people an-

nually.

Launched in 2010, LagosPhoto is an annual photography festival held in Lagos, with events including exhibitions, workshops, and large-scale outdoor prints throughout the city with the aim of re-

claiming public spaces and engaging the general public with multifaceted stories of Africa. LagosPhoto presents a contemporary and historical visual essay of the continent to both a local and global audience.

In its fourth edition, LagosPhoto 2013 will

open in October, ever-expanding its size and scope.

The 56th World Press Photo Contest will be chaired by Gary Knight, the founder of VII Photo Agency, widely considered a leading photography agency worldwide.

•From left: Analyst, Sponsorship, Etisalat Nigeria, Okanu Ibeano; Nigerian Idol 3 Judge and ace singer, Yinka Davies; Nigerian Idol judge and afrobeat singer, Femi Kuti; Manager, Events and Sponsorship Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Orah Egwu and Nigerian Idol 3 judge and former member of music group Shalamar, Jeffery Daniels, during the Wild Card performances on the Etisalat Nigeria-sponsored TV reality show, Nigerian Idol 3, last Sunday at the Dream Studio in Omole, Lagos.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

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The Midweek Magazine

•The late Owoh

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

•Orimipe

‘Orlando Owoh’s legacy will never die’ Don Orimipe Owoh, son of the late highlife musician, Dr Orlando Owoh, is sustaining his father’s legacy among Nigerians in the Diaspora. He has released an album entitled: Tribute To My Father in the United States, reports Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME.

S

IXTEEN years after relocating to the United States, Donald Orimipe Olatunbosun, first son of the late highlife musician, Stephen Oladipo Olaore Owomoyela, popularly known as Dr Orlando Owoh, has concluded work on his debut due for release in Nigeria during Easter. The album entitled: Tribute To My Father, has been released in the United States (US) and will be marketed in Nigeria.

According to Orimipe, the third of the late musician’s children to go into music, his father motivated him.

He said his father discovered his talent but never trained him as a musician. He was a member of his father’s band. Daisi and Kunle Orlando Owoh, his brothers, are also into music.

"I got into music through the motivation of my late father and moved to the United States about 16 years ago. He actually did not train me, but he discovered my talent. He tried me on some instruments and was convinced of my skill before admitting me into his band. That was how I joined his group; and we later came to the US. Since then I have been into music here," he said.

His father, he said, did not play juju music; but a

LEGACY genre that is more of highlife guitar music, which he described as music that 'gives birth' to all other kinds of music. To him, it is the kind of music that shares knowledge of several music and experiences, noting that: "That's what attracted me to it, and it must not die."

He said: "My father's music was and is still not Juju, but highlife guitar music as he has always described it many times to reporters. This is the kind of music that I grew up with and I was born into it. It's the kind of music that shaped my life and I grew up to understand it the more while I live in it.

"I'm comfortable with it in a way a person who is born into the house of a talking drummer would understand what they use the talking drum to say. Yoruba will say that abinibi yato si ability. I was born into it and grew up with it. So, it is what I call in-built. That legacy will never die because we are keeping it alive," Orimipe said of his interest in his late father's kind of highlife music.

Asked if he lives on music alone in the US, he said: "It's written in the Holy Bible that the son of man shall not live by bread alone. In the US, I live on music, but

not entirely. My father's comment about me in an interview with Opeyemi Fajemilehin, when he was asked what I was doing in US, was that I have a lot of professions, but that music is my heart and soul."

Orimipe had his primary and secondary education at Ifon and Ikaro in Ondo State before joining his father in Lagos. He also studied ticketing/reservation and prepiloting at the School of Aviation. He later learnt draftsmanship with interior decorations which led him to computer school to study auto-card design and architecture. But falling in love with the computer, he changed his course to desktop publishing and maintenance/repair. He later joined his father's band where he turned a musician.

Orimipe's five-track album has songs such as Kennery transformation, Jesus, Oju owagho (dedication) and Omoolode (American Boyz). A sneak preview of the album revealed that Orimipe shares so many similar traits with his late father, in terms of the content of his new album. It is a refreshed kind of highlife made popular by his father. Orimipe's promoter and chief executive officer of Atlanta-based Supreme Mizik, Mr Patrick Tolu Alele, told The Nation on telephone that the album would be released in Nigeria by Easter.

Honour for National Theatre chief Yusuf

F

ANS are in for an exciting season of theatre allyear round. The just-concluded 2013 Festival of Nigerian Plays (FESTINA) by the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) has lit this year's theatrical candle of diverse festival of plays.

The three-day festival began in Lagos with the play, Beyond The Sunset, written by Lekan Balogun at the Cinema Hall II of the National Theatre.

Guests were thrilled last Saturday with a matinee that

By Chinasa Ekekwe

showcased Isiburu, written by Elechi Amadi and directed

by Ebi Pre Bai. There was also a live performance at the Cinema Hall II, tagged: Call For Me My Osheni by The Arojah Theatre under the auspices of the Abuja chapter of NANTAP. What came as “icing on the cake” for the event, as the organisers put it, was the celebration of the General Manager of the National Theatre, Mallam Kabiru Yusuf.

The investiture was on the last day of the festival at the Banquet Hall of the National Theatre.

He was honoured with FESTINA Ambassador for 2013 award for "his impeccable and unflinching support and contribution to the theatre and audience development in Nigeria with the instrument of the National Theatre", according to the organisers.

The closing was marked with a play, Human Cargo, written by Fred Agbeyegbe and directed by Muyiwa Oshinaike.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

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The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Many sides of a scholar and an activist

•Prof. Akinterinwa and Akinyemi

•Babangida and Nwachukwu

At 33, Prof. Akinwande Bolaji Akinyemi was appointed Director-General of the Nigerian Institute for International Affairs (NIIA). It was a rare feat then for a young person to be given such a plum job. Cynics thought he could not stay long in that office, but he ended up spending eight years at the NIIA. He subsequently became External Affairs Minister. Akinyemi has come a long way – from the classroom to governance, politics, diplomacy and activism. Last week in Lagos, he was honoured with two books written by his colleagues, PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU reports.

I

T was an impressive gathering. The movers and shakers were there. They all came to honour a man to whom honour is due; Prof Akinwande Bolaji Akinyemi, former External Affairs Minister. Two books: Perpectives on Nigeria’s National and External Relations: Essays in Honour of Prof.

A.Bolaji Akinyemi and Nigeria and the World: A Bolaji Akinyemi Revisited were presented in his honour at the Bolaji Akinyemi Hall of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos last week.

Akinyemi was Director-General of NIIA before he became Minister under former Military President Gen. Ibrahim Babaginda.

Akinyemi was described as "a man who not only talks the talk but also walks the walk."

Some called him a hero of diplomacy, who left his mark in the academia and socio-political spheres. Others called him an astute scholar; a colossus of knowledge and more.

Babangida described Akinyemi as "an enduring factor in Nigeria’s foreign policy". His presence at the event, he said, was a demonstration of the services Akinyemi rendered to the nation.

“That he was my first External Affairs Minister is an established fact. That before then he was the director-general of this Institute for eight years is also an established fact. The fact that as part of today's programme, there is a symposium on the Technical Aid Corps (TAC) scheme, one of Akinyemi's enduring legacies in government, is ample demonstration of the relevance of Prof Akinyemi to Nigeria’s foreign policy, a relevance that has lasted for over 40 years.

"That it is not just one but two books that are being launched in honour of Bolaji Akinyemi is a testament to him being an enduring factor in Nigeria’s foreign policy. If I say that he is often controversial in his views, I am only stating the obvious. He is controversial because he is years ahead of his time in the ideas he articulates. Some people pass through offices and leave nothing but their portraits on the wall.

Akinyemi passed through this Institute and the ministry and we are witnesses to his achievements. My presence here and I am sure that your presence here is a demonstration of a grateful nation for services well rendered," he said.

Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko described Akinyemi as his hero. He noted that Akinyemi is among the few Nigerians who left academia for governance and exited both with his integrity intact. He said his first encounter with Akinyemi gave him a different view of life entirely, noting that his respect for Prof.

Akinyemi cut across all spheres as he remained

CELEBRATION one of the "true heroes of the country". He said the prof's perspective on issues which he canvassed over 40 years ago were needed in today's Nigeria. Mimiko praised the authors "for honouring a great man in his life time".

Mimiko said: "The first time I ever met Prof.

Akinyemi was when he was DG of NIIA. I came to interview him as an undergraduate and he offered me a stick of cigarette which I rejected.

Talking of dialogue and not revolution like the people from the other blocks we were used to, you made an impression of someone moderate in his thoughts. My encounter with him that day changed my perception of issues.

"Prof Akinyemi is cerebrally engaging. For him, dialogue is a religion. Even at that time when the rest of us thought revolution was the solution, he believed and still believes there is nothing that cannot be achieved with dialogue."

Abia Governor Theodore Orji, who was represented by Secretary to State Government, Mpa Mpa, said he has always admired and respected "Akinyemi's enthusiasm, commitment to public service, keen intellect and never-ending drive for new ideas that made the difference".

Akinyemi's ideas, he said, helped in building the many legacies the prof is known for. He listed these to be Akinyemi’s idea and intellectual thoughts on Nigeria's global and regional policies as a middle power.

He said: "Akinyemi's legacies have also been evident in the number and quality of his scholar disciples and the human capital that he raised in the area of scholarship in our nation and beyond; his ability to build durable and dependable support institutions for the country's foreign policy-making and participant elites; and his giving of vibrant life to such institutions, including this great centre - NIIA, where he once held sway.

“He has proven to be a colossus in more than half a century of Nigeria's academic history as a leading scholar, teacher, technocrat and philosopher in the study and practice of Nigeria's international relations and domestic politics.

These books' presentation is a worthy and eloquent testimony to the world that Akinyemi's legacy will continue to propel our foreign policy elites and scholars-modelling their thoughts and writings and those of the younger generation of scholars. We can through his works, further confirm the creative force of bold and relentless ideas in changing this nation and the world for good."

He described Akinyemi as an inspiration, add-

•Aremo Osoba

ing that the occasion was a celebration of the power of knowledge and investment in human resources. "For me in particular, I have always been inspired by Prof Akinyemi to know that in leadership and public service, there is no greater attainment we can make in life that is worthier than building memorable foundation legacies that make the difference; legacies that

‘If I say that he is often controversial in his views, I am only stating the obvious.

He is controversial because he is years ahead of his time in the ideas he articulates...Akinyemi passed through this institute and the ministry and we are witnesses to his achievements’ - Babangida

seek to introduce meaningful and sustainable changes and legacies that focus on changing lives. It is a celebration of one man's resilience to make a difference and of the value of staying strong to the end in defence of knowledge and excellence in public service," Orji said.

The books were edited by Thomas Imobighe and Warisu Alli; and Akinterinwa.

Perpectives on Nigeria’s National and External Relations: Essays in Honour of Prof. A.Bolaji Akinyemiwas reviewed by Ambassador Mark Egbe, Nigeria and the World: A Bolaji Akinyemi Revisited was reviewed by Sokoto State University Vice-Chancellor, Prof Nuhu Yaqub.

The books were published last year. The former, which is a collection of 22 essays by cerebral Nigerian scholars in honour of Akinyemi, was initially meant to celebrate the prof during his 70th birthday...; the latter comprises 391 pages with 17 chapters, arranged in four parts.

In his review, Egbe said the book gave some insights into Akinyemi’s personality, scholarship, diplomatic exploits and political activism.

He said issues ranging from the role of Nigeria in the United Nations, including its quest for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council to regional matters within the context of the African Union and the Economic Community of •Continued on page 37

‘Akinyemi's legacies have also been evident in the number and quality of his scholar disciples and the human capital that he raised in the area of scholarship in our nation and beyond...He has proven to be a colossus in more than half a century of Nigeria's academic history’ - Orji

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

29

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Forecasts 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 Insurance Gross Premium - N1.223b Profit after tax - N80.01m Oasis Insurance 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 Standard Alliance Insurance 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 Nigeria is still blacklisted for N money laundering IGERIA is still blacklisted for not complying with Anti-Money

Laundering (AML) laws, according to an anti-graft czar, Dr Abdullahi Shehu.

Nigeria has not been delisted because the National Assembly has not passed the Terrorism Prevention Act into law.

Shehu, the Director-General, Inter-Governmental Agency against Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing (GIABA), said the National Assembly only passed the Anti-money Laundering Act last year, leaving the Terrorism Prevention Act. He said the country would remain non-compliant, unless both Acts came into being.

Shehu said: “It is very important that the Acts come into being before one can speak on the time Nigeria would exit the danger zone.

When the necessary laws are passed, it would be easier to

By Akinola Ajibade

access the rate at which the country is curtailing money laundering activities.

“Last year, we said Nigeria needs at least 12 months to get out of the danger zone after considering measures being taken by the government to rid the country of money laundering activities. However, Nigeria is yet to be expunged from the list because the National Assembly has not been able to pass the Terrorism Prevention Act into law.”

He said FATF contains 21 predicate offences, which every member states must tackle to check money laundering. They include human trafficking, drugs trafficking, currency trafficking, proceeds from advance fee fraud, oil bunkering, bribery and embezzlement of

public funds.

Others are investment of ill-gotten wealth on real estates, cybercrimes, kidnapping, smuggling, importation of contrabands, wire transfers to offshore branches, among others.

According to him, the mutual evaluation programmes carried out by the body has shown that Nigeria is yet to tackle the 21 predicate offences outlined in the Financial Action Task Force (FAST) plans.

He said failure to tackle one or two of the predicate offences mean that the country is battling with serious cases of money laundering.

Shehu said the country can only get out of this situation, when it is convince the international community of its intention to fight money laundering.

“When the revised regula-

tion is made on anti-money laundering activities in Nigeria, the international community wants to be sure that concrete steps have been made to

National carrier: ‘Fed Govt’s holding shouldn’t be above 10%’ HE Federal Government has been urged to limit its shareholding in the proposed National Carrier to 10 per cent.

An aviation expert, Mr Chris Aligbe, who made the suggestion, said it is the only way to guarantee the success of such a venture.

Aligbe, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Belujane Konzult Limited, said until previous mistakes by government and private sector players to establish a national carrier were corrected, the pro-

T

•Executive Director, Enterprise Bank Limited, Mrs. Louisa Olaloku addressing participants at a meeting of the Committee of Chief Compliant Officers of Banks in Nigeria (CCCOBN) in Lagos. With her are the committee’s executives Mr Olusiji Adeyinka of Standard Chartered Bank Limited (right) and Mr Pattison Boleigha of Access Bank Plc.

Banks unlikely to cut lending rates in 2013, says RenCap •Rising AMCON levy’ll raise lenders’operating cost

D

EPOSIT Money Banks (DMBs) are unlikely to cut lending rates from 12 per cent within the year, Renaissance Capital (RenCap) has said.

The global research outfit also said the increase in the levy paid to the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) by banks from 0.3 per cent to 0.5 per cent, will raise the lenders’ operating costs by four per cent.

RenCap in an emailed report noted that 2013 has started off on a strong note, in terms of shareprice performance for the banks with the picture looking more positive.

By Collins Nweze

It projected a stronger Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 7.1 per cent this year, from an estimated 6.6 per cent in 2012.

It said inflation would moderate to about 11 per cent this year, which could result in a 100 basis point cut in the monetary policy rate (MPR).

The firm also forecast a relatively stable naira, with an average exchange rate of N158 to a dollar, owing to a stronger external sector.

However, it expects the cash reserve requirement (CRR) for the banks to be maintained at 12 per cent, which could continue to

hold back loan growth.

On loan growth, it said in the absence of developments in the power sector or upstream oil and gas projects, Tier-one banks are likely to see similar levels of loan growth to those they achieved last year. However, it said power projects could propel growth into the 15 to 20 per cent range, and with expectation that the Tier-two banks could grow faster.

RenCap said analysis on Net interest margins (NIM) showed that as yields doubled between 2011 and 2012 and have retreated about half-way, banks are unlikely to give up all their

fight the scourge. They would like to see statistics on efforts the country has made to fight money laundering. They want to see the number of cases that have been investigated, and prosecuted before they can give Nigeria a pass mark in the area of money laundering,” he added.

NIM gains.

It said based on a subdued cut in rates of 100 basis points, banks are expected to significantly revise down their lending rates, especially if the Cash Reserve Ratio is maintained at 12 per cent.

RenCap listed the top stock picks among the Tierone banks to include United Bank for Africa, Access Bank, and Zenith Bank while among the Tier-two banks, Skye Bank, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) are preferable. It, however, upgraded Stanbic IBTC to hold from sell with a target price of N13.8 per share.

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

posed new carrier might not succeed, adding that the 10 per cent equity to be owned by government is necessary for sovereign interest .

He explained that without a national carrier, Nigeria’s share of the bilateral air services agreement would not be actualised, adding that since the liquidation of Nigeria Airways, the country’s share of the bilateral air services agreement remained unutilised.

He said the template for the creation of a domestic carrier

by Virgin Atlantic Airways in Nigeria was fundamentally flawed because no business man would set up another business to rival his own interest, stating that Virgin Nigeria Airways was only established as a feeder airline to get passengers into the network of the parent airline.

He said the proposed national carrier should be supported by the government to promote national interest and the sovereign interest of the country, arguing that Nigeria, with its status, needs a strong carrier to boost its position as a regional leader.

Aligbe said the proposed carrier would only work, if the government is not involved in the running of the airline, a reason he claimed was responsible for the failure of previous efforts.

He said with British Airways and Virgin Atlantic flying into Nigeria, the absence of another carrier other than Arik Air, is a great disservice to nation and it puts the country at a disadvantage.

He said with a national carrier, Nigeria would be able to meet its own side of the dual designation policy, where equal number of carriers are designated on the same route.

He said Nigeria would continue to lose on intercontinental routes, if it does not establish a national carrier to fly its flag across the world.

He added that a national carrier would also provide a pool for the maintenance of aircraft, training of pilots , aircraft engineers and other professional crew involved in the operation.

Banks await CBN’s nod Investors eye dividends ‘I started making body to implement e-clearing cream from my kitchen’ as directors meet at branches - P 31 -P 34 - P32 I

30

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

MONEY

CIBN gets panel to amend law for watchdog role T

HE Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) has raised a committee to amend its Act to enable it to perform certain functions.

The amendment may not be unconnected with the House of Representatives plan to cede the banking supervisory power of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to the Institute. The Committee, The Nation learnt, is considering the inclusion of a section on privileges to empower its members.

The CIBN Act 2007 was enacted by the National Assembly. The law stipulates that no person shall be entitled to be employed as head of any of the technical departments of a bank unless he is duly registered as a member

Stories by Collins Nweze

of the Institute.

The Act also states that the Governing Council shall consist of a Chairman, who shall be the President of the Institute; two Vice-Chairmen; National Treasurer; CBN governor or his representative; managing director of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) or his representative; six managing directors/chief executive of banks to be appointed by the Council and six persons elected by the Institute.

Others are two past presidents

of the institute; a representative each of the Ministries of Finance; Education; and Mortgage/Micro Finance Banking Institutions (alternates) among others. There is also a representative each of the Nationa l U n i v e r s i t i e s C o m mission (NUC) and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

T h e C h a i r m a n , wH o u s e o f Representatives Committee on Banking and Currency, Mr. Jones Onyereri told The Nation on phone that there is need to strengthen the CIBN to play more roles in the financial

services sector.

He said: “With the kind of challenges we have, the time has come that we should separate that function from CBN. Make an independent one; probably the Financial Supervisory Committee, to deal with issues of bank supervision.We need to hear from CIBN and then take it from there.”

The legislator said it would be an integral focus of the House to ensure that it separates banking supervision function from CBN this year.

“The core function of the CBN is really on the monetary policy matter and we would want the bank to intensify its efforts in that area when we separate the banking supervision role from the bank,” Onyereri said.

He urged CIBN to rise to the challenge of contributing to monetary policy issues.

CBN Director of Communication, Ugochukwu Okoroafor, said the apex bank was a waiting details of the members’ plan.

•CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido

Banking Supervision is being ha n dled by a special unit in the CBN headed by a Director.

There is a bill before the House, seeking to amend the CBN Act 2007 by transferring the power of its board to approve its budget to the National Assembly. The bill also proposes to reduce the banks’ membership from 12 to seven and to appoint another person, other than the CBN governor, as the chairman of the board.

World Bank chief to manage $27b

W

ORLD Bank’s Vice-President for Concessional Finance and Global Partnerships (CFP) Joachim von Amsberg has been authorised to oversee a trust fund portfolio of about $27 billion and implementation of the $49.3 billion International Development Association (IDA) replenishment.

The IDA is the World Bank’s fund for the poorest. Mr. von Amsberg brings to the post extensive global and country development experience. As the bank’s head of Operational Policy and Country Services (OPCS) for the past two and half years, he drove a series of institutional innovations, including the introduction of the bank’s first new lending instrument in 30 years.

He also oversaw a major reform programme focused on improving From left: CEO, Resilient Africa Limited,Des De-beer; CEO, Java Capital, South Africa, Andrew Brooking; CEO, Stanbic IBTC Capital, Mrs Yewande Sadiku and Professor of Land Economy, Cambridge University, Andrew Baum PHOTO: JOHN EBHOTA at the Real Estate Investment Trust Roundtable organised by in Lagos.

Nigeria’s, Tanzania’s T-Bills lead

Institute seeks autonomy for Y state revenue services

T

HE Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) has called on the 36 states to grant autonomy to their internal revenue service units.

Reviewing the states implementation of last year’s budget, in line with their internally generated revenue (IGR), CITN Registrar/Chief Executive, Abayomi Jayeoba said it was not good enough that only five states gave such units autonomy.

He said: “As governors get busy with their onerous task of states’ building, it is becoming imperative for them to be mindful of the economic realities and focus more on redefining internal revenue drive by improving the efficiency of revenue collection and administration in their jurisdictions.”

Evidence, he said, abounds that autonomous revenue service for states has fared relatively better than their non-autonomous counterparts.

He cited the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) which has been the major funding arm of the government in

• CITN President, John Jegede

the past 10 years as a reference point in the state’s drive to improve its IGR. LIRS generates over N18 billion monthly, accounting for about 70 per cent of the state’s monthly income receipts, he said.

Since the Federal Inland Revenue Service is autonomous, it is just a matter of time for nonautonomous states to follow suit, he said.

He said CITN had met the states on the merits of granting autonomy to their internal revenue agencies.

He added that unless a revenue agency is independent with powers to carry out its assignments without hindrance but in compliance with dictates of the law, government will continue to lose revenue and will be incapable of performing its socioeconomic functions to her citizenry.

Government policies in increased revenue generation can be best implemented with a state internal revenue service that is autonomous and consisting of professionally competent chartered tax practitioners, he said.

He admonished the states to look inwards for alternative sources of funding if they are serious to diversify their economy and place little reliance on monthly allocation from Abuja.

the flexibility of investment lending and strengthening the institution’s support to fragile and conflict-affected states.

“I am pleased to be joining the concessional finance vice presidency, a unit that plays an important connector role in helping the bank secure and leverage the resources needed to provide support to the world’s poorest countries and in areas of global public concern, such as conflict and other crises,” he said.

“The current replenishments of IDA and the Global Environment Facility, as well as efforts to continue improving our trust fund operations and mobilise financing for other development needs, are hugely important to the well-being of billions of people around the world,” he added.

IELDS are rising on Nigeria’s and Tanzania’s Treasury Bills (TBs), although demand has continued to be strong, according to data posted on the websites of both countries’ Central Bank.

The average yield-to-maturity for Tanzania was 13.43 per cent on the 364-days bills, 12.86 per cent on the 182-days paper, 11.76 per cent on 91-days and 7.25 per cent on 35 days.

For Nigeria, it is 12.5 per cent on the 364-days bills, 11.75 per cent on the 182-days paper, 11.6 per cent on 91-days.

The main investors in govern-

ment securities in both markets are pension Funds and commercial banks who took more than 60 per cent of the market, followed by insurance funds and a few micro-finance institutions. Treasury bills are issued regularly as part of monetary control measures to help lenders manage their liquidity.

T-bill is issued through a competitive bidding process are used by the Central Banks to control liquidity in the financial system. It is a short-term debt obligation backed by the government with a maturity of less than one year.

‘Don’t tax churches, mosques’

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LEADING American cleric, Mr John Fare, has called on the Nigerian government to halt its planned imposition of taxes on churches and other religious organisations.

Fare, who was in the country at the invitation of Our Daily Manner Prayer Ministry, said it was wrong to ask churches and mosques to pay tax to government since they are not manufacturing centres, but exist to care for the well-being of their members.

He said rather than taxing these bodies, the government should integrate them into its poverty alleviation strategies to achieve greater results. According to him, the government should be part of the poverty alleviation and economic em-

powerment scheme being championed by these religious bodies. Such activities he said, are helping in the caring for widows and the aged, as practiced in the United States of America.

The cleric’s reaction came against the backdrop of proposed imposition of taxes on religious organisations for which the Financial Reporting council (FRC) kicked off sensitation with church leaders last year.

He said: “The US Federal government realises that churches are most effective for helping people, especially the widows and orphans and the aged. The government support what they are doing through subsidies and subventions to complement its economic empowerment programme.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

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MONEY

Banks await CBN’s nod to implement e-clearing at branches

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LECTRONIC clearing (eclearing), being implemented only at banks’ headquarters, will soon be extended to their branches nationwide, The Nation has learnt.

It was learnt that the banks are waiting for the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the extension.

The policy, which became effective last August, could not be implemented across board because of poor technical know-how and infrastructure needed for seamless take-off. e-Clearing involves stopping the physical movement of the cheque and replacing the physical instrument with the image of the instrument and the corresponding data contained in Magnetic Character Ink Character Reader (MICR) line.

The cheque details are captured, typically by the bank presenting the cheque or its clearing agent and electronically presented in an agreed format to the clearing house for onward delivery to the

By Collins Nweze

paying bank.

Unlike the more common form of presentment where a cheque is physically presented to the paying bank, a truncated cheque is typically stored by the presenting bank electronically.

The banking watchdog said clearing period under the new rule would allow cheques clear on a T+1 basis such that customers receive value in the morning of T+2 even as the clearing house is also expected to operate three sessions.

Besides, the images of all the instruments in a batch/file shall be duly captured along with MICR data using scanners set up for the purpose. The amount needs to be captured/keyed in to complete the data record.

“The incoming images are subjected to validations. The images which fail validations are rejected with an appropriate response file. The bank may rescan the instrument and present in

line with bank’s internal processes/ control procedures. The member banks have to maintain control over such re-presentments,” it said.

Besides, banks are expected to plan transmission of their outward presentation by taking into account presentation volume, the bandwidth of network with the clearing house, and the session window.

In the event of an exchange file being received at the clearing house within a session time but not passed to the clearing house, the clearing house would unbundle the exchange file, and reattach to a new session.

In case validation of digital signature of presenting bank fails, paying bank may return such items with appropriate return reason codes.

The introduction of the truncation process changes the roles and the responsibilities of the various participants in the clearing system and may lead to introduction of certain risks

‘National ID’ll curb frauds in banks’ THE Director-General, National Identity Management Commission, Mr Chris Onyemenan, has said fraud and related activities in banks would reduce when the country has a national identity database.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum in Lagos, Onyemenan said fraud persisted in the financial system because there was no national identity database in place.

He said: “By the time Nigeria has a centralised identity management system in place, it would be difficult for people to commit fraud and escape. When there is national identity base on ground, people would have all their details in one place. Their names, pictures, signatures, next of kin, among other information are going to be recorded. It would be easier for banks to get an update information on their customers among other stakeholders in the financial chain.”

Onyemenan said the cash-less economy programme would succeed with time, noting that countries that have implemented it experienced difficulties at the initial stage.

“Rome was not built in a day. The Cash-less economic scheme would take some time before it enjoys wide acceptability. Continuous awareness programme is key to the acceptability of the cashless programme in Nigeria,” he said.

CIBN to organise risk management confab THE Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Lagos chapter is organising a risk management conference for regulators and operators in the financial services industry. The conference is billed for Dubai, United Arab Emirates between February 17 and 20.

In a statement, the body said there will be a strategic session for senior management staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Money Deposit Banks, Discount Houses, Mortgage Banks, Microfinance Banks, among others.

The statement reads: “The event would serve as a training and strategic session for evolving best practices for the implementation of BASEL 11 and 111 in Nigeria. Bank of International Settlement (BASEL) had been developing new rules and practices to forestall re-occurrence of the global financial crisis that had put the world economies in prostrate since 2007. We are all living witness of how bad an economy could go, notwithstanding the so-called blessings of oil windfall revenue in the world.”

According to CIBN, participants would leverage on the forum to bring about desired growth to their employers.

Interswitch launches scheme INTERSWITCH has launched a scheme to reward customers who buy goods from major shopping outlets, such as Shoprite, Adeniran Ogunsanya Shopping Complex, among others.

The integrated payment and transaction processing company said the development would not only encourage shopping but the growth of commerce in Nigeria.

Speaking on the issue, the Director of Switching and Processing, Interswitch, Mr Akeem Lawal, said studies had shown that customers who consistently shop for goods improve the profits of a company.

He said when people shop with Verve Card, they would get the percentage of what they spend as a discount.

He said: “As a card owner, you put your card into the Point of Sales (PoS), which would give you the records of your transactions and the percentage of the reward you are entitled to. When you pay for goods and services with your Verve Card, you gets 4.5 per cent monetary reward.”

He said five merchants signed up with Interswitch two weeks ago, adding that the merchants have increased to 12.

Council seeks collaboration •From left: Bauchi State Deputy General Manager, Cooperative Finance Agency (CFA), Alhaji Danladi Adamu, receiving an award from Talban Bauchi, Alhaji Tahir Ibrahim-Tahir, as Vanguard for Peace and Democratic Orientation in Bauchi. With them is Malam Ahmed Musa.

Mobile payment review’ll foster growth, says NeFF T

HE m o b i l e p a y m e n t system will receive a boost, after the ongoing review of its operational guidelines, the Nigerian electronic Fraud Forum (NeFF) has said.

NeFF Chairman, Mr Emmanuel Obaigbona, said activities in mobile payment industry would take a new dimension after the review.

The review, he said , would make the mobile payment system productive, remove certain bottlenecks impeding its growth, and make it competitive.

He said: “The review will help in improving infrastructure, and foster an enduring relationship among telecom companies, licensed mobile payment firms, agents, among other relevant stakeholders in the mobile payment chain. When this happens, the industry is bound to

By Akinola Ajibade

improve in terms of operations and profitability.

Obaigbona said the review is taking place years after its guidelines were released.

“From 2003, many guidelines have been released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to bring about the necessary growth in the industry. These include Electronic banking guidelines, Point of Sales (PoS) guidelines, Switches guidelines, Automated Teller Machine guidelines, the mobile payment guidelines, among others. But what we are doing is the reviewing of mobile payment guidelines. We hope to conclude it soon. We have gone far on it. It is about to be ready.

When it is ready, it would be presented to the CBN and the Bankers’ Committee,” he said.

According to him, increased attention is being given to the development of the nation’s electronic payment system to strengthening the economy.

A Senior Official of Shared Office Department, CBN, Mr Chidi Umeano, had earlier told this newspaper that the apex bank would tackle certain problems affecting the mobile payment sub-sector.

Umeano said infrastructure is one of the major problems facing the mobile payment operators, stressing that there are on-going efforts to address the issue.

In the same view, the Managing Director, Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), Mr Adebisi Shonubi, had in a review of the performance of mobile payment firms, said the value of transactions recorded by the operators has not been too impressive.

THE Chief Executive Officer, Financial Reporting Council (FRC), Mr Jim Obazee, has called for collaboration between operators and regulators in the financial services sector.

At a forum in Lagos, Obazee said the economy would grow when the two major stakeholders work together. He said the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and their operators must have a good working relationship to engender growth.

Besides, he said the absence of a good credit history has affected a lot of things, noting that the issue has made it impossible for companies to get adequate information on their transactions.

He said: “We do not collect adequate information on borrowers.

There is a problem when they default. The reason is because there is no good credit history that would help in checking their activities.

There is no infrastructure to track down credit history of customers.”

He said companies were finding it difficult to implement the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) because of their poor accounting procedures. He said IFRS required that companies have a clean record of transactions, good corporate governance among other variables before they can succeed.

Expert decries agric lending initiative THE Nigerian Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) has failed to achieve improvement in funding in the industry, an expert has said.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) introduced NIRSAL to enable farmers to have a wider accessibility to credit, and further encourage the growth of the industry. The National Vice President, Poultry Association of Nigeria, Mr Olufemi Faniyi, said farmers do not understand what the initiative is about and how to access fund from banks under it.

He said people are more confused about the programme than the period it was launched in Abuja.

“As I’m talking to you, I do not know of anybody that has accessed the fund as it is not clear. It is still at its formative stage. They tell you to go and apply and come back to get discount. However, no meaningful progress has been recorded in this area as farmers are still struggling to get money for their operations,” he added.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

THE NATION INVESTORS

Investors eye dividends as directors meet on 2012 results I NVESTORS appeared to be taking positions in meeting over the quoted equities as directors started to meet on operational results and dividends for the 2012 business year.

Most quoted companies including all banks, major manufacturers, oil and gas companies, breweries and cement companies use the 12-month Gregorian calendar year as their business year. The business year thus terminates on December 31.

Post-listing rules at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) require that quoted firms should submit their reports, not later than three months after the expiration of the period.

Managing Director, GTI Securities, Mr Tunde Oyekunle, said investors were already valuing dividend expectations into their bid and

By Taofik Salako

sale orders, with most bids implying optimistic view of dividend expectations.

According to him, there has been marked improvement in the momentum of activities on stocks perceived to have potential for relatively high dividend yields and headroom for capital appreciation.

Head, Investment Advisory and Research, Sterling Capital Markets Limited, Mr Sewa Wusu, said dividend consideration was part of the dynamics shaping share pricing trend.

The Board of Zenith Bank Plc met last week to deliberate on the audited accounts of the bank for the

‘Market making could create another bubble’

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HE operations of market makers could lead to another bubble and undermine the long-term recovery and stability of the capital market, Mr Adebayo Adeleke, has warned.

Adeleke, the General Secretary, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN) and director in many quoted companies, said the operations of the market making appeared to be unduly influencing the market values of selected stocks.

He said the market making operations could lead to another burst due to what he described as lack of consideration for fundamental strengths of some companies.

He said by allowing some select stockbrokers to be “pushing share prices” of selected companies, the market making function could undermine the price efficiency function of the market forces.

“It’s more of a manipulative process.They should allow market forces to dictate the share prices, not market makers. They are inflating the balloon again, and we must sound the alarm before any burst,” Adeleke said.

Under the rules of the NSE, market values of stocks in the portfolio for market making could witness maximum daily change of 10 per cent as against maximum daily allowable percentage change of 5.0 per cent for the general market.

Market making is a technical term that generally refers to the system of providing liquidity to securities through provision of bid and offer prices in the trading system of a stock exchange. The primary obligation of a market maker is to always make a two-way price in each of the stocks in which it makes market.

The NSE had in April, last year appointed 10 stockbrokers as market makers. These included Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers, Renaissance Capital, Future View Securities, Vetiva Capital, ESS/DunnLoren Merrifield, WSTC Financial Services, Capital Bancorp, FBN Securities, Greenwich Securities and CSL Stockbrokers.

The market making function subsequently kicked off on September 18, 2012 with 16 stocks selected for the take-off phase. The NSE has since continuously been increasing the coverage of market making. It last week added Flour Mills Nigeria Plc, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Royal Exchange Plc, and Wema Bank Plc to the list, bringing the number of stocks that have been rolled into the initiative to 43.

Other market-making stocks in-

cluded Oando, Unity Bank Plc, Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc, Access Bank, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, Nigerian Bag Manufacturing Company Plc, Presco Plc, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), International Breweries, and Lafarge Wapco Cement Nigeria.

Also included are Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Dangote Flour Mills Plc, Academy Press, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Redstar Express Plc, Ashaka Cement Plc, Skye Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Dangote Cement Plc and UAC-Property Development Company.

Others are Custodian & Allied Insurance, Sterling Bank Plc, Prestige Assurance Company Plc, FBN Holdings, DN Meyer, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Diamond Bank, Dangote Sugar Refinery, Fidelity Bank Plc and Union Bank of Nigeria.

National Salt Company of Nigeria (NASCON), Nigerian Breweries Plc, Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc, Airline Services & Logistics Plc, AIICO Insurance Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and UAC of Nigeria Plc were also selected.

year ended December 31, 2012.

Among other things, directors of the bank considered probable dividend for the 2012 business year.

Several companies with predictable result announcement patterns such as Nestle Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank, UAC of Nigeria, UACN Property Development Company and CAP Plc are expected to announce their full-year reports within the next five weeks.

Analysts said investors were particularly keen on banking stocks, many of which may deliver good returns.

Banks are known to be investorsfriendly with generous dividend policy. Average dividend payment policy ranged from 50 to 60 per cent but some banks may do better

given their trimmed, fit and proper shapes, which require relatively lesser capital retention.

Renaissance Capital said most banks were poised to deliver better returns for the year ended December 31, 2012 following aboveaverage performances in the third quarter.

In an industry-wide earnings’ review and projections, analysts at Renaissance Capital said the third quarter earnings for banks provided relatively reliable window to preview possible earnings and returns for the full year.

Banks grossed N1.85 trillion in the third quarter ended September 30, 2012, a hefty 59.6 per cent on N1.16 trillion recorded in the second quarter. However, banks’ topline earnings were still 33.2 per cent short of the industry’s net assets.

Banks’ net earnings improved by 45.4 per cent while industry’s share-

holders’ funds increased slightly by 6.7 per cent. Industry’s average return on equity improved from 10.05 per cent in the second quarter to 13.7 per cent in the third quarter, a double-digit position that underlines the fundamental attractiveness of banks’ shares. Six banks performed above industry’s average return on equity.

Industry’s profit after tax stood at N378.52 billion while shareholders’ funds was N2.76 trillion compared with N260.27 trillion and N2.59 trillion recorded in the second quarter.

Nearly all banks witnessed increase in key performance indices of top-line earnings, net earnings and net assets but the income structure and bottom-line still reflected the overt caution in an industry just recovering from a devastating assets bubbles and balance sheet impairment.

•From left: General Manager, Corporate Communication, Mr Yakubu Dati and General Manager, Fire Service, Federal Airport Authority of Nigerian (FAAN), Mr Onyeri Petter speaking to reporters during an inspection of refurbished fire tenders at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

FSDH predicts 17.17% average return for equities VERAGE return at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) this year could be about 17.17 per cent, analysts at FSDH Securities have said.

FSDH stated that the benchmark index at the NSE, the All-Share-Index (ASI) would close 2013 with positive returns of around 17.17 per cent, building on the momentum recorded in 2012.

According to analysts, there are 15 factors expected to drive the equities market this year.

Three of these factors are nega-

A

By Tonia Osundolire

tive and they include security challenges in some parts of the country, delay in the commencements of the securities lending and short selling activities at the NSE and possible sell-off of the holdings of foreign portfolio investor in the market.

However, analysts said since the positive factors out-weighted the negative factors it is certain that the key indicators of the NSE will appreciate further at the end of the

year.

FSDH stated that for investors willing to have a good return at the end of the year, the rate of their portfolio diversification should be 35 per cent in equities, 10 per cent in fund placement, 20 per cent in treasury bills, 15 per cent in bonds and 20 per cent in collective investment.

FSDH said the portfolio recommendation was based on the opportunities and challenges of the financial market in the next one year.

“An equity portfolio that invests in our carefully selected stocks, following the fund allocation and abiding by both entry and exit prices, should be able to record a return of 22.54 per cent,” it said.

It would be recalled that the Chief Executive of NSE Mr Oscar Onyema assured investors of better return in the current year, even as the market is expected to leverage on key initiatives and policies advocacies that commenced in the past year to deliver outstanding performance.

Flour Mills performs below expectation

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LOUR Mills of Nigeria Plc delivered nine-month performance that was below market expectations as the company reported a marginal growth in profit for the nine months ended December 31, 2012.

The company grew its revenue from N202.259 billion in 2011 to N205.514 billion, showing an increase of 1.6 per cent.

Profit after tax remained almost flat at N8.167 billion in 2012, compared with N8.119 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2011.

By Tonia Osundolire

Flour Mills had in the previous week disclosed plans to merge its operations with that of its subsidiaries, Niger Mills Limited, located in Calabar, Cross River State.

The company has been managed

by Flour Mills since the 1970s and has about 750 metric tonnes of wheat production per day.

Flour Mills notified the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) that the boards of both companies had been discussing and negotiating on how to merge their businesses.

According to the company, the

proposed merger will create a more efficient company, positioned to create potential savings through the optimisation of overhead costs, particularly administrative costs relating to maintaining two distinctive entities.

“The scheme will be achieved by the transfer of all of the assets, liabilities and undertaking of Niger Mills to Flour Mills, in exchange for which ordinary shares of Flour Mills will be issued to the minority shareholders of Niger Mills or alternatively a cash consideration in lieu of the allotment of the said

Flour Mills shares be made to the minority shareholders. Upon the Scheme becoming effective, all shares held in Niger Mills shall be cancelled,” the company explained.

Four Mills added that the enlarged entity will consolidate its leading position in the flour milling industry, accessing positive economies of scale and realising significant synergies through enhanced operational and administrative efficiency and a unified product delivery platform, and thereby providing immense benefits to its shareholders and customers.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

THE NATION INVESTORS

Nigerian shareholders await GSK UK over acquisition bid

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LAXOSMITHKline (GSK), United Kingdom is yet to approach Nigerian

shareholders on its planned bid to acquire existing shareholdings by Nigerian investors to boost the foreign core investor’s majority shareholding in GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria (GSK Nigeria) to 80 per cent.

Major shareholders, who spoke to The Nation, said GSK has not tabled the acquisition bid to the Nigerian shareholders, more than two months after it informed the Nigerian investing public through the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) about its intention to acquire more shares.

GSK UK holds majority equity stake of 46.4 per cent in GSK Nigeria through two whollyowned subsidiaries. With total outstanding shares of 956.70 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each, GSK UK holds 443.91 million shares while Nigerian institutional and individual investors hold the balance of 512.79 million shares.

GSK UK seeks to buy 321.45 million shares out of the shareholdings by Nigerians to increase the foreign core investor’s controlling stake to 80 per cent. In the bid for the 33.6 per cent additional equity stake, GSK UK is offering N48 per share.

Under the terms of the proposal, GSK UK would acquire additional shares of GSK Nigeria on a pro rata basis from existing shareholders through a Scheme of Arrangement. With 80 per cent stake, GSK UK will have more than 75 per cent equities required by extant Nigerian laws for companies to effect profound changes in their share capital structure as well as taking some fundamental decisions including mergers, acquisitions and share reconstruction among others.

While the offer price represented a premium of 28 per cent to the closing price of a GSK Nigeria on November 23, 2012 and a premium of 34 per cent to the volume weighted average closing price of GSK Nigeria for the three months prior to November 23, 2012, it is three per cent below the

By Taofik Salako

current market value of the healthcare company.

Shareholders’ leaders who spoke under conditions of anonymity said they were still expecting to receive formal notifications of intent from GSK UK. However, a shareholders’ leader said GSK Nigeria made informal contact to assure that the foreign core investors would follow due process and make appropriate representations to Nigerian shareholders.

In the wake on the announcement of the acquisition bid, Nigerian shareholders had kicked against the move expressing fears the 80 per cent shareholding may be detrimental to the interests of Nigerian shareholders and the nation’s capital market.

The Board of GSK Nigeria had called on shareholders to support the bid urging that increased GSK ownership underlines GSK’s long

term support of GSK Nigeria’s strategy.

The board said it unanimously believed that the proposal was in the best interest of the continued growth of the GSK Nigeria, the shareholders, employees, customers, the community and Nigeria.

According to directors of the company, by maintaining a 20 per cent free float, the shareholders will also continue to benefit from the company’s performance.

Chairman, Ibadan Zone Shareholders’ Association (IBZA), Chief Sola Abodunrin, said Nigerian shareholders did not share the point of view of the directors of the company and the foreign core investor.

He said he would urge Nigerian minority shareholders not to sell their shares so that the current shareholding structure would be retained.

The Ibadan Zone Shareholders’

Association consists of shareholders from six investmentsavvy states of Ekiti, Kwara, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo. Another shareholders’ leader and activist, Alhaji Gbadebo Olatokunbo, said Nigerian shareholders should not be cajoled into selling their shares noting that if GSK UK is willing to buy at premium, then there must be greater underlying values in the company for Nigerian shareholders.

President, Association for the Advancement of Rights of Nigerian Shareholders (AARNS), Dr. Faruk Umar, said the new share acquisition might not be unconnected with the foreign core investor’s bid for control of the company.

He said GSK might be making pre-emptive move to forestall a situation where other shareholders’ groups could frustrate strategic decisions by the

•From left: Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya; Chairman, Dr. Oba Otudeko and Founder/Group Chairman, BhartiAirtel, Sunil Bharti Mittal, during a dinner hosted in honour of the visiting Group Chairman in Lagos … at the weekend.

Osun to spend N119b on capital projects

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HE Osun State government is to spend N119.07billion on capital expenditure this year, the Osun state Commissioner for Finance, Economic Planning and Budget, Dr. Wale Bolorunduro, has said.

He said at a forum in Lagos that the amount represents 65 per cent of this year’s budget. Last year, 58 per cent was committed to capital expenditure.

Bolorunduro, who spoke alongside his Regional Integration and Special Duties counterpart, Mr Ajibola Basiru, said the prominence being given to capital expenditure at the expense of recurrent expenditure is in line with Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s resolution to make life more meaningful for its citizens by giving them superior social infrastructure.

He said having recorded some successes in its agricultural production programme in the last fiscal year, the government has shifted attention to the provision of infrastructure.

Bolorunduro said the government was not envisaging any deficit in its budget as revenues from different sources had been projected to be at the same level with expenditure to achieve a balanced budget.

Besides, he said the budget is expected to create 81,732 jobs based on a model developed for the Fed-

foreign core investor.

“I think the reason is to make the core investor have controlling shares. It could also be a way of stopping organisations like pension funds administrators from having 25 per cent equity stake, which can give them enough votes to stop the core investor from winning a poll at the general meeting,” Umar said.

National Coordinator, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Sir Sunny Nwosu, said Nigerian shareholders would also want to benefit from any future value creation that might have motivated GSK to bid for Nigerian shareholders’ equities at premium.

“Why do they think Nigerian shareholders will sell? Whatever they saw that’s behind their bid, then Nigerian shareholders want that too. In any case, I’m not selling my own shares,” Nwosu said.

•To create 81,732 jobs

By Akinola Ajibade

eral Government to match its spending with job creation.

He explained that the expected jobs from the 2013 budget did not include the 20,000 temporary jobs that would be created this year under the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme.

The commissioner said with prudent management of resources, the Aregbesola administration had been able to raise the state’s expenditure per head to be at par with Lagos State.

He explained that the budget would be partly financed from the N30billion bond the state government raised from the capital market last year, which would attract an interest rate of 14.75 per cent and repayable over seven years with a moratorium of one year, instead of borrowing money from banks at a minimum interest rate of 18 per cent repayable over maximum of three years.

Bolorunduro said the state had achieved revenue to debt servicing threshold of 20 per cent, and called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to allow banks to support states in the provision of infrastructure with 15- to 20-year loans.

Explaining the state government’s revenue strategy, Basiru said Osun

looked at internally generated revenue ( IGR) as a function of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), adding that the state would soon establish its actual GDP figure instead of relying on the national average.

The state, he said, intends to be at par with Lagos State IGR in 2015.

“Our IGR projection for this year is over N1billion monthly.

The IGR penetration of the state was less than one per cent when the governor came in; the national average is one per cent and the Southwest average is 2.5 per cent,

while Lagos has 4.5 per cent.

“Our five-year plan when we came in was for us to be at par with Lagos by 2015 by generating about N3billion monthly. The Revenue Administration Law has been enacted by the state House of Assembly and will be fully implemented,” he said.

In order to raise the revenue profile of the state, he said the government embarked on the automation of the revenue system and appointed tax auditors on “no liability no cost basis,” a development

that had led to the rise of the demand notice to about N10billion.

Basiru said the enactment of the Revenue Administration Law had given the state Internal Revenue Service autonomy in terms of operation and management, while the government was also aiming to widen the tax net without unnecessarily raising the rates unless where it was inevitable.

“For instance, 53 per cent of Osun household are self-employed and they don’t pay taxes. We will widen the tax breadth and length to increase of IGR,” he said.

Dangote spearheads gas for fuel initiative

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ORKIR International Limited, a subsidiary of the Dangote Group, is leading the drive for increased use of gas as fuel for vehicles in Nigeria.

The company has started a multi-billion project aimed at making vehicles use compressed natural gas (CNG) as preferred fuel as against premium motor spirit (petrol) and automotive gas oil (diesel), which are commonly used by motorists.

The Nation gathered that the company intends to convert 5,000 trucks to use CNG as fuel as against diesel. At present, Nigeria is said to be paying more for diesel than in any

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

other country. A litre of diesel sells for between N150 and N160 per litre. Therefore, with the gas for fuel initiative, most the haulage trucks on conversion to CNG will pay much less than they do now.

The company, it was gathered, has acquired the conversion kits and 1,000 trucks are undergoing conversion in Lagos, where the project would take off.

A source said the company also plans to build CNG filling stations across the country in order to ensure easy accessibility of the product by truck drivers and

other entrepreneurs in haulage business.

The source said that the plan is to first build the CNG stations along the Lagos - Abuja road and from there it will be expanded to other parts of the country. He explained that the first batch of trucks converted to use of CNG will be put into operation within the first half of this year.

At the moment, it is only NIPCO Plc that is into conversion of petrol and diesel using vehicles into CNG and the franchise approved by the government is within Benin in Edo State.

But the company’s Managing Director, Mr Venkataraman Venkatapathy, said plans are underway to extend it to other states.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

THE NATION INVESTORS

NSE guidelines for fixed income market makers I

N line with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) focus to diver sify its product offering and further develop the capital market, the Exchange is working on rolling out a Fixed Income trading platform.

To achieve this, a vibrant a Fixed Income Market Making (FIMM) framework is required. The Fixed Income Market Makers (FIMMs) shall be required to make a two way quote (Bid/Offer) at which it is prepared to deal in all pre-qualified/defined fixed income securities listed on the Exchange in which it is registered as a market maker.

The fixed income two-way quotes on the Exchange is a system where a FIMM gives both binding buy (bid) and sell (offer) prices on the same quote through the Exchange’s Automated Trading Systems (ATS). This implies the dealer is willing to buy on his bid and sell at his offer if the counterparty so desires. The counter party will be a broker representing his clients’ interest in an agency capacity or a dealer trading for his proprietary account.

Benefits of the FIMM Programme: This will attract retail market participants to invest in bonds through the Exchange’s facilities, as the FIMMs will provide liquidity to the retail market, which had hitherto been absent in the Nigerian Bond Market.

Price Discovery/Transparency: Trading of Bonds on the Exchange platform will not only enhance efficient price discovery but will also demonstrate full transparency in Bonds rather than the current trend of subjective pricing seen on the OTC. Deeper Bond Market: This will add to the depth of liquidity available in the Nigerian Bond market, by extending market making beyond FGN bonds to all bonds listed on the NSE. General Bonds are essentially longdated interest-bearing borrowing instruments issued by governments or corporations to raise money for expansion, or capital.

The investor, generally referred to as the Bondholder is loaning money to the issuer in return for the Interest. The bond can be traded off for cash or exchanged for another instrument (as seen in Swaps -a strategy in which an investor sells a bond and at the same time purchases a different bond with the proceeds from the sale) at any time before maturity.

Though the coupon-paying Bond instruments are common and often called Plain Vanilla Bonds, there also exist other types of Bonds like the zeroes, generally called zero-coupon/ deep discount Bonds, which are issued at deep discounts for full face value redemption upon maturity. Effective Date: December 24, 2012 Bond coupon is simply the interest paid on the instrument by the issuer and it typically represents a percentage of the total principal or face value. Coupons are mostly paid semi-annually.

For example, N100,000 worth of the current benchmark 7-Year FGN Bond instrument, 16 per cent FGN June 2019 with a known coupon of 16 per cent will pay a coupon of N8,000 half-yearly throughout the life of the instrument whilst the principal sum of N100,000 is redeemed upon maturity in June 2019.

Background FGN Bonds The Federal Government resumed the issuance programme of FGN Bonds in October 2003 after its initial suspension in 1988.

Since, then the Bonds market has witness significant growth in volume and trading activity. The issuance of bonds helps lengthen the domestic market’s yield curve, encourages long-term sav-

ings and also assists in developing a vibrant Pension Funds sector.The Bond market capitalisation stands at over N7trillion with the yield curve stretched to 20-year length. The market capitalisation of FGN bonds listed on the NSE is N3.878 trillion.

State Bonds The paucity of funds, dwindling allocations from the Federal Government via the Federation Account, coupled with an ineffective internal revenue collection mechanism have led state governments (Sub-nationals) to depend on alternative financing arrangements to fund their yearon-year budget deficit and infrastructure projects. For years, bank loans at high interest rates have played a significant role in funding these activities. However, with the re-emergence of the bond market in 2003, the issuance of same by sub-nationals has offered them a viable option to reducing the said deficit and investing in numerous long term capital projects at comparatively lower cost. Twelve state government bonds are listed on the bourse with their tenor ranging from 5 – 7 years.The market capitalisation of state bonds listed on NSE is N381 billion.

Corporates In the private sector, corporate bonds are not often or have not been considered as an option by many companies in funding expansion and innovation. The total amount of bonds issued in the private sector is less than N200 billion. Considering the size of Nigeria’s economy, this is indeed small and is a reflection on the inability of companies to issue Bonds, secured by their assets or debentures issued on the strength of their balance sheets, to mobilise critical funding outside of the banking system. In addition to regular corporate bonds, the bonds issued by Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) are categorized as corporate Bonds on the NSE. The total market capitalisation of corporate Bonds on the NSE is N1.934 trillion. Effective Date: December 24, 2012.

Characteristics of Bonds - All Bonds listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange use the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) as the Depository. The CBN acts as both the Registrar and Agent Bank to the Issue for FGN and AMCON bonds while ‘Registrars’ acts as registrar for state and corporate bonds such as First Registrars.

- All FGN Bond instruments qualify as liquid assets for the purpose of statutory liquidity ratio compliance purposes for Deposit Money Banks (DMBs).

- The CBN in September 2010 issued the “Guidelines for Granting Liquid Asset Status to State Government Bonds”. The aforesaid Guidelines were issued, inter alia, with a view to boosting investors’ confidence (both domestic and foreign) in the capital market.

- Aside from the tax-exempt status of FGN Bonds state and corporate bond, The Debt Management Office (DMO) ensures continued Bond supply on the FGN Bond space through its monthly primary auctions. This helps sustain an active secondary FGN Bond market.

The following guidelines shall be applicable to the FIMMs on this Exchange.

portant role when it comes to discussion and feedback on upcoming changes, possible improvements etc. and are thereby given a large possibility to influence the market structure.

7. Dissemination of Information and Market Data The Exchange shall disseminate a list of all eligible Bond instruments with their performanceprice and volume of turnover to the public daily via The Exchange’s website and Daily Official List. The Exchange will also disseminate a list of appointed FIMMs to the public via its website.

The Exchange will also make pre and post trade market data available via vendors, and direct real time feeds. This will include best bid, best ask and last trade information.

8. Minimum Capital The minimum capital requirement of N500,000,000, unimpaired by losses or commitment to other activities, would apply for FIMMs. The Exchange might demand additional capital based on the risk profile of the FIMM. 9. Monitoring Fixed Income Market Maker activities The Exchange shall monitor the activities of FIMMs. Any violation of these requirements or rules and regulations of SEC and NSE would be liable for punitive action to be taken by The Exchange. Effective Date: December 24, 2012

• NSE CEO Oscar Onyema

1. Applicability These guidelines are applicable to all registered FIMMs on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

2. Registration The Dealing member-firm desirous of acting as a FIMM shall apply to the Exchange in writing. Any member of the Exchange would be eligible to act as FIMM provided the criteria laid down by the Exchange are met.

Criteria to qualify as a FIMM on the NSE. a. Must be a licensed BrokerDealer. b. Must be registered with SEC and CSCS. c. Must meet the minimum net capital requirement. d. Experience, expertise and past performance Effective Date: December 24, 2012. e. Operational capability in terms of appropriate staffing, technology and risk management tools. f. Disciplinary history g. Applicant and its promoters must be in good standing with SEC, NSE, CSCS and AMCON as well as other regulatory bodies.

3. Eligibility NSE in collaboration with market makers will agree on the listed Bonds that will be considered as liquid and tradable on the Exchange’s Automated Trading System.

4. Obligations and responsibilities of FIMM The FIMM shall fulfill the following conditions to provide depth and continuity on the Exchange Bond trading platform: a. The FIMM shall be required to provide a two-way quote for 90 per cent of the time in a trading day; b. Every quote given by the Fixed Income Market maker must be guaranteed as firm by the market maker; c. The Market Maker will be eligible to change quotes if no transaction has been executed at the

displayed quote; d. The quote shall be provided in such a way that the quotes are not absent from the screen for more than 15 minutes at a time; e. Once a Broker-Dealer application for FIMM status is approved, the company has to start providing quotes within 10 trading days of registration. f. Once registered as a FIMM, the company has to mandatorily act in that capacity for a minimum of three months. g. The FIMM firm is required to designate a qualified and experienced Trader with a minimum of three years bond trading within the firm as its Bond securities market maker. The FIMM firm represents that the designated trader has the necessary skill and expertise to perform such function; h. The FIMM Firm shall provide the Exchange with the names of all designated traders acting as market makers, and forthwith advise the Exchange of any changes to such information within 24 hours of such a change; i. A FIMM shall be allowed to deregister by giving ’90 days’ notice to the Exchange in writing of its intention to resign as a FIMM. Effective Date: December 24, 2012.

5. Compulsory De-registration If a FIMM fails to fulfill its obligations as a Fixed Income Market maker for more than ten (10) consecutive trading days, it will automatically stand de-registered and may not be permitted to act as a FIMM for a minimum period of three month.

6. Benefits of FIMMs The FIMM shall have the following benefits: a. The right to determine the opening price and closing price of the security where they act as FIMM; b. Possibility to influence. Market Makers at NSE have an im-

‘The bond market capitalisation stands at over N7trillion with the yield curve stretched to 20-year length. The market capitalisation of FGN bonds listed on the NSE is N3.878 trillion’

10. Risk Management and Technology Requirement The FIMM shall have a risk management tools that has facilities for measuring risks, reporting trading activities and implementing proper financial controls. The Nigerian Stock Exchange expects the risk management tools/technology to have the following features: a. Computation of Value-at-Risk (VAR) b. Inventory of all borrowed Bond securities (Repo), with appropriate administration data to manage borrowings, associated collaterals, coupon payments etc. c. Stress testing – to look at extreme market conditions. d. The system must be able to carry out mark-to-market at any time. e. Alerts – automatic triggers based on specified risk levels. f. Robust Database with the ability to store and historical prices g. The FIMM shall also have internal technical capabilities for providing market updates and information to the market- the NSE and other regulatory authorities.

Such information shall include, but not limited to; Daily Inventory Position; Daily Profit and Loss; Daily Mark-to-Market valuation; Trading Activity; Customer Activity; and Credit review of current open trades with counterparties Lastly, the NSE shall periodically carry out compliance-Inspection visits to the FIMMs’ offices to ensure that FIMMs are complying with its rules.

12. Trading Technology The Nigerian Stock Exchange will operate Straight-throughprocess (STP) for the End-to-End (E2E) transactions. This may require the Broker-Dealer’s internal systems to be fully integrated with the Exchange’s systems, enabling effective flow of market information that will facilitate and improve the decision making process. The Broker-Dealer’s internal systems should support the following; a. FIX-Enabled Execution Management System b. Real-time Market data c. Secure and capable connectivity Effective Date: December 24, 2012.

35

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENUERSHIP

‘I started making body cream from my kitchen’

T

HE Chief Executive Officer, Real Future Hope Industries Limited, Prince Saviour Iche, went into body care cream business when things were rough.

But with tenacity of purpose, he pulled through.

He started in 2006 by hawking his products at Oyingbo market in Lagos. Initially, his friends mocked him.

But he was adamant and hopeful that things would change with time. Today, he is enjoying the friuts of his labour.There are many outlets selling his cream. There is a growing demand for them. As a result, he plans to open more sales’ outlets.

With a capital of N20,000, which he borrowed from a friend in Onitsha, he started making the

Stories by Daniel Essiet

cream from his kitchen.

Before then, he was involved in soap making.

With more research, he was able to produce a low–cost soap that sold fast. However, he faced the challenge of inadequate capital to expand the business and give it a competitive edge.

He had to quit when he could not cope. Part of the challenge was that he couldn’t pay for the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) licence.

Later, for some reasons he had to close shop, an experience he described as the darkest hour of his life. It was a major blow, he said.

For a long time, he remained jobless. But necessity is the mother of

invention. The light at the end of the tunnel was growing brighter.

He had the idea to produce body cream.

He started small and gradually built the business.

Before long, Iche had established a factory and bought mixing and packaging machines to manufacture the body cream.

Today, he is happy that small entrepreneurs are getting concessions from NAFDAC to do business.

He employs 45 factory workers, with 5,000 marketers assisting him.

He said his customers are warm and receptive to the product. He has learnt quickly that it is all about business, but relationships.

The keys to his success? He has continued to stay focused. More importantly, he said the fear of God and sincerity with his consumers,

have been his strength He tried to make sure the production is reformulated to make it safer and better. He has also re-packaged the product.

Iche has surrounded himself with people who, he believes can be an extension of him as well as people who bring what he doesn’t have to the table in both business and his personal life.

According to him, the economy is too sluggish in enhancing SMEs’ growth, despite the remarkable strides being made in other countries to promote the sector. While there are a growing number of SMEs, he said the environment SMEs are born into and nurtured, leaves much to be desired.

Iche explained that the growth and development of SMEs is im-

An amazon in detergent business

A

GRADUATE of Industrial Biology from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Njideka Nwoga, started small as an entrepreneur.

When she was working, she wanted to be her own boss. She quit her job and founded Linastar Integrated Services.

Nwoga, an holder of MBA from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), had always been interested in a dish washing liquid business.

Though the start-up capital was small, she had to save to raise the

money. She bought the first raw materials for the business with N7,000. Today, the business is worth N1.5 million.

She gathered recipes for cleansers and experimented with them.

She sourced the bottles, designed labels and tested the products on friends and family members. Customers liked the products and bought them.

Things are changing. Though she has not reached the height she dreams of, she has learnt two lessons: what being an entrepreneur

is really like and the secret of success.

The company sells dishwashing liquid, fabric conditioner and other cleaning materials.

She is trying to acquire the right tools to make it a lot easier.

She has many clients. The bestselling products are the basicslaundry and dishwashing cleaners with moisturising property, disinfectants, room sprays and cleaners.

She hopes to develop cleaning products. But cash is a problem.

IGERIAN students studying in the United Kingdom are planning a youth entrepreneurial roundtable for July in Abuja to develop the potential of youth in the country, an official has said .

The President of the Nigerian Students Association in the Diaspora, UK chapter, Mr Olalekan Oshunkoya, made this known during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

He said the essence of the event is to sensitise young people to the ways of developing their potential.

Oshunkoya noted that lack of employment for young people after graduation retarded progress and hampered nation building.

He, however, decried crave by the youth to travel abroad in their quest to make quick money, adding that such attitude was inimical to the ability of the youth to explore their potential.

He expressed optimism that the planned conference would help to promote entrepreneurial skills development and boost the youth participation in nation building process.

“We are actually looking at the potential of young people; we know Nigeria has been dependent on oil for a very long time, but what is the future of Nigeria?

“What are other things we can do? Where are the potential. What are the entrepreneurial opportunities in those areas?

“We are bringing stakeholders in government; in private sector to look at it, everybody visiting

SMEs way out of challenges, says SMEDAN boss

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HE Director-General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Alhaji Mohammed Umar, has said Nigeria’s security and unemployment challenges could be addressed with small businesses.

Umar spoke in Jos, Plateau State, at the presentation of the findings of the Enterprise Baseline Survey (EBS) 2012 Report.

He said the problems were caused by population growth not matched by developemnt in other sectors ofthe economy.

“The gap between population explosion and small medium scale businesses accounts for the crises we are experiencing.

“Check every nation today, the small businesses sub-sector is the most important one. If it develops, the nation develops.’’

The SMEDAN boss expressed worry that much of the country’s developmental efforts were geared toward political development at the expense of the

• Umar

economy.

“The country’s development has been concentrated on political development to the extent that one can say that we have over-devel-

oped politically which has landed us into crises.

“We should have given more attention to the economy, and in particular, small businesses.

“No society can control the effects of population explosion if it has no small businesses to engage the youths.’’

Umar said, however, that all hope was not lost as President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda had reawakened the sub-sector for SMEs to thrive.

He said the EBS, powered by German International Cooperation (GIZ) was aimed at providing a direction towards developing the SMEs. Umar also advised the Plateau government to make the best use of the survey to develop its private sector.”GIZ has conducted a detailed survey on SMEs. Plateau has a reliable data and should use it to plan. We (SMEDAN), are prepared and willing to work with the state for the development of the small businesses.’’

peded by too many regulatory and institutional barrier, adding that this is affecting aspiring entrepreneurs.

Students to hold roundtable

N

• Some of the products.

• Iche

Umar recalled that Jos, the Plateau capital, used to be the commercial hub of the north in 70s and challenged the state government to restore that lost glory.

Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang, who was represented by Prof. Shedrach Best, the Secretary to the state government, said the state would welcome efforts that would make the private sector succeed.

“The focus of this programme is to support the Plateau government in the area governance, gender and the provision of enabling environment for private sector development.”

We are prepared to make the most of it,’’ he said.

He said that the Plateau Government was proud to be part of any initiative that was driven by GIZ as they had been partners for long.

The governor declared that Plateau was safe for business and urged interested investors to come to the state as permanent peace had returned.

Nigeria what they see is just oil, there are other things, that you cannot see.

“We are going to expose those things in a global roundtable and debate it, and expose young people to career opportunities outside the traditional oil industry.

“And then, in technology, in education, in research; the idea is to ensure that young people are aware of the opportunities at home.

“Then they can come back home and be part of the process that brings change; we believe that democracy is about public participation.

“The fact that we are outside the country doesn’t mean we are no longer part of the government anymore.”

Another thing we are doing in July, taking place in Abuja is Nigerian students’ enterprise conference.

“We are going to be having the Nigerian students’ enterprise conference, to let young Nigerians and students know, that there is a potential for Nigeria beyond oil.”

He advised youth interested in pursuing education abroad to garner experience in choice field of study to enable them actualise their aspiration.

Fed Govt urged to support SMEs

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FORMER President of the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, Mr Hyke Ochia, has urged the Federal Government to develop the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) to reduce unemployment in the country.

Speaking in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, he said the government should initiate programmes that would promote private-public partnership for the benefit of Nigerians. ‘’Everything lies on the government, even though the government is not supposed to provide jobs, it is supposed to provide the enabling environment for jobs to be created. ‘’When they do that, they create room for businesses to spring up because in most developed economies, the majority of the employers are the medium and small scale industries. ‘’The large scale industries are limited. They can employ, may be one million people and it stops there, they cannot go beyond that. But when you look at the medium and small scale industries, they could multiply themselves in various fields and when these ones are not thriving, obviously, you will have that gap of unemployment.’’

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

36

BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL

US manufacturing surges, Chinese recovery more modest

U

NITED States manufacturing growth quickened last month and hiring across the economy increased in late 2012.

But Chinese factories only managed a slight rebound as the year began, suggesting that world economic growth remains sluggish.

The euro zone economy, meanwhile, likely contracted again at the end of last year, though surveys on Friday suggested the worst of the region’s downturn may be over.

Surveys conducted by the financial information firm Markit and the Institute for Supply Management both showed US manufacturing grew in January at its fastest clip in nine months, boosted by a surge in domestic demand.

The data “suggests the underlying

health of the industrial sector continues to improve and rising production will help the economy return to growth in the first quarter, providing there are no set-backs in coming months” said Markit chief economist Chris Williamson.

Last Thursday, the US government reported the economy contracted in the fourth quarter for the first time since the recession ended three years ago, though analysts said there was no reason for panic because consumer spending and business investment picked up.

Separate data showed U.S. employers added 157,000 jobs in January and 127,000 more than initially reported in November and December, suggesting the sluggish recovery remained on track.

“This shows that underneath the surface, the fourth-quarter economy was really pretty good despite all the defense cuts. I think the private sector is leading the way,” said Jack Ablin, chief investment officer at BMO Private Bank in Chicago.

US and European stocks moved higher after the data, with the benchmark US S&P 500 stock index coming off its best monthly performance since October of 2011.

Some analysts worried, however, that nearly $100 billion of US government spending cuts set to take effect in March could crimp US economic growth unless Congress acts to delay them.

The nature of the recovery on factory floors across Asia and Europe was more uneven. Surveys showed growth

slowed in India and stalled in South Korea while Britain’s expanded modestly.

Two separate versions of China’s purchasing managers’ index (PMI) pointed to rising factory output in the world’s second-biggest economy but at very different speeds, suggesting a bumpy recovery from China’s worst downturn in 13 years.

China’s official PMI released by the government eased to 50.4 from 50.6 in December, while a similar PMI from banking group HSBC rose to a twoyear high of 52.3.

Both showed export orders either grew marginally or shrank as shoppers in the US and Europe, the two biggest buyers of Chinese goods, reduced spending.

Domestic demand, on the other hand, was the main force behind China’s gentle economic rebound.

“The general sense, if you look at what it is in the pipeline, is that we will be getting a little bit more activity in the months to come,” said Peter Dixon, an economist at Commerzbank.”

“The Chinese economy does appear to be gaining a bit of traction but not a huge amount (and) the euro zone numbers tell us the economy remains stuck in low gear.”

Even so, signs of improvement in Chinese, European and Japanese data suggested the global economy was “gradually” improving, New York Federal Reserve President William Dudley has said.

Euro zone factories did post their best month in nearly a year, thanks to an improved outlook in Germany.

With the euro zone PMI at an 11-month high of 47.9, some economists said the worst of the downturn may be over.

Banks report stronger loan demand, easier credit standards

B

• Ford Motor production workers assemble batteries for Ford electric and hybrid vehicles at the Ford Rawsonville Assembly Plant in Ypsilanti Twsp, Michigan.

Oracle to buy Acme Packet for $2.1b

O

RACLE Corp will buy network equipment maker Acme Packet Inc for $2.1 billion, putting it in a better position to compete with Cisco Systems Inc in moving data securely over internet networks.

Shares of Acme were trading 7 cents above the offer price of $29.25 in early trading on Monday, suggesting that some investors anticipate a counter bid.

The deal is Oracle’s biggest since it bought Sun Microsystems in 2010 for about $7 billion. The company bought nearly a dozen companies in 2012, including Eloqua Inc for $810 million in December.

Telecom carriers have been dumping wireline and other legacy services as people increasingly use a newer breed of devices to access Internet and businesses shift to IP (Internet protocol) networks, an area

where Acme Packet specializes.

“Users are increasingly connected and expect to communicate anytime and anywhere using their application, device, and network of choice,” Oracle said in a statement.

Oracle Chief Executive, Larry Ellison, who has used acquisitions to boost the company’s revenue dramatically over the past decade, had said in October he would not rule out a big deal “down the road”.

“We have been expecting Oracle to make a bigger push into the networking market as convergence across the IT world appears to be inevitable and today’s deal supports this notion,” said Brian White, an analyst at Topeka Capital Markets.

The offer represents a 22 percent premium to Acme Packet’s Friday close on the Nasdaq. The deal, which Acme said is ex-

pected to close in the first half of 2013, is worth about $1.7 billion, net of cash.

Oracle shares were down 1 percent at $35.88 in early trading on the Nasdaq.

Shares of Acme rival Sonus Networks Inc also rose 14 per cent on the news, while those of Juniper Networks Inc were up two per cent.

Acme has been hit by weak telecom spending in the last few quarters as carriers spend less on new projects and delay existing ones. Its shares had fallen 18 percent in the last year as of Friday.

Acme also reported fourthquarter earnings of 9 cents per share, excluding items, on revenue of $70.7 million.

Analysts expected an adjusted profit of 8 cents per share and revenue of $68.9 million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/ S.

ANKS eased lending standards somewhat over the last three months and reported stronger demand for business and auto loans and residential mortgages, according to the Federal Reserve’s latest quarterly Senior Loan Officer survey released on Monday.

The January report, based on responses from 68 domestic banks and 22 U.S. branches of foreign banks, also asked if domestic banks had tightened lending standards to European banks, but found that only a small fraction had done so.

Signs of improved access to lending and stronger demand for debt would chime with more upbeat reports on consumer and business spending, as well as better news on U.S. housing.

But U.S. officials have been frustrated by the difficulty experienced by some households and businesses in obtaining credit, despite ample bank liquidity and overnight interest rates that the

Fed has held near zero since late 2008.

“Modest fractions of domestic banks reported having eased their standards across major loan categories over the past three months on net,” the Fed said. “Domestic respondents indicated that demand for business loans, prime residential mortgages, and auto loans had strengthened.”

In addition to its regular assessment of lending conditions, the Fed also asked survey participants three specific questions.

In addition to the query on lending standards to European banks, it also quizzed the loan officers on their lending policies on commercial real estate (CRE), and the outlook for credit quality.

“Respondents indicated that they had eased selected CRE loan terms over the past 12 months on net,” the Fed said, adding that “moderate to large fractions of banks expect improvements in credit quality in most major loan categories.”

California court clears Apple in credit card privacy suit

A

PPLE Inc and other online retailers did not break California law by requiring consumers to provide their address and phone numbers as a condition of accepting credit card payments, the state’s high court ruled on Monday.

In a split decision, the California Supreme Court said state privacy protections for credit cards do not apply to online purchases that are downloaded electronically.

The ruling comes after the same court in 2011 said those privacy protections do apply to brick and mortar retailers, finding that they could not request a customer’s ZIP code during a credit card transaction.

Apple was the defendant in the

latest lawsuit, brought as a proposed class action by a consumer who purchased downloads from iTunes. Online retailers eBay Inc and Wal-Mart Stores Inc also filed briefs supporting Apple.

Representatives for the plaintiff and Apple could not immediately be reached for comment.

Three dissenting California Supreme Court justices argued that the ruling represents “a major win for these sellers, but a major loss for consumers, who in their online activities already face an ever-increasing encroachment upon their privacy.”

But the four justices in the majority disagreed. “These ominous assertions, though eye-catching, do not withstand scrutiny,” they wrote.

China’s oil giants take a choke-hold on power

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HE search for culprits behind the rancid haze enveloping China’s capital has turned a spotlight on the country’s two largest oil companies and their resistance to tougher fuel standards.

Bureaucratic fighting between the environment ministry on the one hand and China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) and Sinopec Group on the other has thwarted stricter emission standards for diesel trucks and buses — a main cause of air pollution blanketing dozens of China’s cities.

To be sure, many sources contrib-

ute to air pollution levels that hit records in January, but analysts say the oil companies’ foot-dragging and disregard of environmental regulations underscore a critical challenge facing a toothless environment ministry in its mission to curb air pollution.

With widespread and rising public anger changing the political calculus, it also poses a broader question of whether the incoming administration led by Communist Party chief Xi Jinping will stand up to powerful vested interests in a country where state-owned enter-

prises have long trumped certain ministries in the quest for economic growth at all costs.

“I think the Communist Party’s new government should weaken CNPC and Sinopec,” said Wang Yukai, a professor from the National School of Administration.

“These interest groups have too much power.”

Delays in implementing stricter emission standards are rooted in money — chiefly, who should pay for the price of refining cleaner fuels? By some estimates, auto emissions contribute as much as a quar-

ter of the most dangerous particles in Beijing’s air.

To supply cleaner diesel, the oil firms must invest tens of billions of yuan (billions of dollars) to remove the sulfur content, said Xiaoyi Mu, a senior lecturer in energy economics at the University of Dundee in Scotland.

PetroChina, the listed arm of CNPC, said in a statement sent to Reuters that all automotive diesel produced by PetroChina in 2012 met existing Chinese emissions standards.

It added PetroChina would “push

forward upgrading of fuel quality, and supply clean, good quality and diversified products”.

Sinopec did not respond to repeated phone calls from Reuters seeking comment.

Sinopec Chairman Fu Chengyu, quoted in state news agency Xinhua last week, acknowledged that China’s refineries are one of the main parties that should bear responsibility for air pollution.

Even so, he added that was not because fuel failed to meet standards but rather because fuel standards were not sufficient.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

37

The Midweek Magazine Many sides of a scholar and an activist •Continued from page 28 West African States (ECOWAS) were discussed.

Egbe described the "Akinyemi Dream" as that of a greater Nigeria able to deploy its clearly enormous economic, political, socio-cultural and diplomatic resources, to advance its own interest and those of the African nations and the black community globally. He recommended the book to the political class, practitioners of foreign policy and the Nigerian intelligentsia.

In his own review, Yaqub saidAkinterinwa focuses on Akinyemi's many revolutionary ideas on foreign policy making and its implementation which include the concept of the Concert of Medium Power; Balance of Power; Nigeria's Africa Centre-piece Foreign Policy; TAC; the necessity of Reciprocity in the relationship of nation-states; Black Bomb; Consultation Doctrine, among others. "All in all, the book is a very solid contribution to scholarship. There are few errors the authors would have to look at, in case there shall be an opportunity to have a new edition of the work in the years ahead," he said.

Akinyemi said he was humbled by the honour done him by his colleagues. He attributed his success as NIIA’s DG and minister to Babangida's support.

He said: "I feel very humbled at the same time honoured. In a country like this, it is unusual to be honoured by one's colleagues. Usually, what you get is jealousy and envy. So, that my colleagues decided to honour me this way, is something I am proud of and it is a trait in our character we should learn to emulate.

"I am also overwhelmed by the presence of President Ibrahim Babangida who was my boss, whom I served, because it has been over 30 years since I served in his government yet, the bond that bounds us together is still there. It is now stale news that I was appointed in 1975 as DG of this Institute at the age of 33 years after several years of turbulent existence of the Institute.

I was not expected to last in the post. I was supposed to go the way of the previous DGs. Well, I lasted for eight years…Today, I can reveal that one of the people responsible for that survival is President Ibrahim Babangida.

Of course he was not the president then. He was a Lt-Colonel and Commander of the Armoured Corps. More importantly, he was a member of the Supreme Military Council."

On the state of the nation, Akinyemi said the poor have out of hopelessness, declared war on the middle class and the rich. "The poor cannot sleep because they are hungry and the rich cannot sleep because the poor are awake. The poor feel that their own country has declared war against them. I would have thought this is the time for a robust debate about how to build a more just, equi-

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

POEM

Singing Hawks Seye Aluko

I You hawks, in trees hidden.

Hidden, yet singing.

What is your message of good cheer?

Hawks, as you prepare to sing, what schedule of harmony do you propose? What nature of melody do you assay to advance?

•Jigawa State Commissioner for Education, Haruna Wakibe, who represented the governor

•Erelu Abiola Dosumu

Songbirds are small, and lush in throat, regaling the meadows in the dawnchorus, But the call of the hawk is rasping and dry, a grating sound, and a mockery of all music.

Hawk, killing machinery, how will you now assay to sing?

For your call is a dirge, elegy, requiem!

Cacophonous, as the rattle of cutlery.

Banal, as the protest of pipes, Eerie, like the hoot of the owl, in the deep recesses of midnight.

II Hawk, consign yourself to the Symphony of Death!

How will you now assay to sing?

•Mimiko presenting the books.

table and egalitarian society where there will be a safety economic and social net below which no one will be allowed to fall, where the needs of the poor, orphans and widows will command the attention of government; but what I hear, what we all hear, is a raucous debate about whose turn is it to rule Nigeria in 2015. What will it benefit anyone to rule a house whose roof is about to be blown off and whose foundation is in danger of collapse? Zoning, federal character, rotation, marginalisation of the brightest and the best will only make the much prophesied collapse of Nigeria in 2014 a self-fulfilling prophecy.

We cannot build a nation on a system that takes care of the few while condemning the many to penury. A system that cannot take care of the many who are poor cannot save the few who are rich," Akinyemi said.

PHOTOS: DAVID ADEJO

Among those in attendance were Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido; former Ogun State Governor Segun Osoba; former Ekiti State Governor Niyi Adebayo; former Foreign Affairs Minister Gen. Ike Nwachukwu; former Federal High Court Chief Judge Rose Ukeje; former Inspector-General of Police Musilu Smith; Air Vice Marshall Hamza Abdullahi (rtd.); renowned political scientist, Prof. Adele Jinadu; Professors Jide Osintokun, Ben Iwogie and Bolanle Iyinla; late Moshood Abiola's wife, Dr Doyin; former Director-General NIIA, Prof. George Obiozor; Director-General, Technical Aid Corps Directorate, Mamman Daura, Senior Special Assistant to the President on International Relations Daniel Hart and former Edo State Commissioner for Information, Louis Odion.

Hawk, you spy, sentinel, and custodian of Death, what nature of note can from your perilous beak emerge?

As so firmly you clasp the protesting branch with your ironclad talon, or freeze the valleys with your icy cold stare?

III Hawks, in trees hidden.

What nature of song do you assay to advance?

Group set to change face of Nollywood

A

FRICA Entertainment Group (AEG) is set to put Nollywood on the world map.

The leader of the group, a Nigerian actor based in the United States, Mr Pascal Atumah, noted that Nigeria is still not accepted globally despite gains made by its film industry. The need to create a platform that would be global and capable of pushing Nollywood movies onto the world's stage to raise its profile, he said, inspired the decision to come up with the AEG. He said: "Nollywood has done wonderfully well and has put Nigeria's name on the global map but there is one thing that has not been done yet: we don't have any Nollywood actor that is accepted globally.

So, the goal of AEG is to merge Hollywood with Nollywood. We are already doing it; however, we are now set to go all out.

“Our goal is to be placed among the world players by making our films available on the international market as you would have them available here. Currently, we have six movies already completed and released outside Africa such as Only in America; American Nurse 1 and 2 on the international market. What we want to do is that if our movie is coming out today, it is released simultaneously in Asia, Europe

By Okorie Uguru

ADVOCACY and Africa on the same day the way the big studios do their thing. So, that is what we are doing.

"The ones with the big Hollywood stars, we are in the final stages of post-production and we plan for our first premier to be right here in Nigeria. This will happen within the next three to four months. Even though it is going to be spiced with Hollywood stars, it is an African production, so the first time the world should see it, it should be on African soil, and bring in the stars, but the distribution will be global.

We already have offers. It will be sold anywhere mainstream movies are sold. We have done it before, the only thing we have not done is theatre, world theatre, and that is main goal of AEG. China and India, they export their movies the world. Nollywood movies are now just being recognised, it is, therefore, in our hands to take it to the next level."

As part of its marketing strategy, he said, AEG has sealed a deal with OHTV in England in which OHTV will bring the products that it has into Africa.

According to Atumah, AEG would also be

•From left: Music Coordinator of the group Mr. Chika Alakwe; Atumah and Dubem Ikebuego at a briefing in Lagos

branching into music. In this area, AEG would not only work with established stars, but also organise talent hunt competitions to discover talented music artistes to promote and take to the world stage.

"I had the African Entertainment Group, Canada and African Entertainment Group, the United States (US) and then my other partners had the Craigwal Entertainment in Nigeria. What we did was to merge the two and form one company under AEG. We formed this company so that we can produce African

movies that can go globally. This is what we did last year. Immediately after that, we went into production of a film which has cast like Billy D. Williams, Lynn Whitfield because our goal was to break into the world market. We had an all-American cast in addition to African actors like my brother, a Nigerian actor based the US and I. We have already produced Only in America, Hurricane in the Garden, American Nurse 1 and 2 Okoto the Messenger, Who is the Man, which had Jim Iyke in the cast, among others."

38

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Actress, other others to empower women, youth

Lions Club inaugurates projects for children

By Adeola Ogunlade

“I

W

OMEN have roles to play in nation-building. They are key-players in a nation's development, says a non-governmental organisation, the Awesome Treasures.

The group comprises actress Ufuoma Ejenobor, Kemi Adenowo, Tara Durotoye and Ogo Ugha, its deputy coordinator. The theme of its maiden summit in Lagos was: Appointment with Destiny.

The foundation aims at raising transformational leaders and empowering women and youths. It believes leadership should be about solving problems, noting that by their nature women are endowed with qualities that could turn them into better leaders if properly nurtured.

According to its director, Mrs Jumoke Adenowo, women need to be empowered, as "they are the conscience of the nation". The summit, she said, was meant to galvanise the qualities of leadership in them, adding that in this lies the solution to the country’s security problems.

She said: "Women are observant. Even if a child is a terrorist, when the father does not know, the mother must know. Women play a prominent role in society. There is a prayer part and there is a practical part. Women should speak out more by asking common sense questions.

"And they should be given the chance to play a role in the development of the country.

When women are given more of a role in government, there is more peace because it is very difficult for women not to look at life in terms of relationships."

With the mind of raising leaders among women, the Awesome Treasures director said, the organisation has a centre where it is empowering many with vocational training. According to Adenowo, empowering women would help reduce crime. "In Lagos, over 5,000 women have been empowered through skills acquisition. We have a resource centre. At the centre, there is a kitchen where women are taught alternative ways of earning income.

These women teach other women and their

•From left: Ejenobor; Adenowo; Mrs Adenowo; Durotoye and Ugha at the event.

By Nneka Nwaneri

PHILANTHROPY children, causing a ripple effect.

"One of the women, Elizabeth Paul in OlodiApapa gathers the young ones and teaches them to repair mobile phones and groom men's hair. She is not only empowering them, but reducing the rate of armed robbery in the area. She goes from door to door, knocking for parents to give them their teenagers to help them be gainfully employed. She teaches them interior design. The focus is not on funds but women helping other women," Adenowo said.

‘Women are observant.

Even if a child is a terrorist, when the father does not know, the mother must know.

Women play a prominent role in society. Women should speak out more by asking common sense questions.’

In her view, aside women, every citizen has a role in the nation's development. She said: "I believe we all have a role to play in destiny. Everyone has a destiny but we need an appointment with it. We actually have to recognise it like Saul on his way to Damascus.

We have to make them understand that they are humans and have something to offer, not waiting to be all powerful but act on what is within them, to know that they can make a difference."

The foundation also raises young leaders.

It also supports indigent children, especially those who hawk on the streets, placing them in an education camp where they are taught various craft, with the corporation of their parents. And in seeking to raise outstanding leaders that would rule the world in time to come, it will be organising an education camp to empower the young, especially girls, mentally.

According to her, youths were selected from schools to be taught leadership entrepreneurial skills.

She said: "During this education camp, we have a parents' forum. It is very moving and gives me goose bumps. You see women crying, having seen someone help their children.

Some have had no help since their father died.

Only mothers have been the ones sponsoring the children. Through the education camp, we notice some bright children that really need help. We sponsor some of them in school."

T is our civic responsibilty to give hope and succour to children through people-oriented projects, “ the District Governor of Lions Club International, 404B, Mrs Stella Agbogun, said at a two-day tour across Lagos.

According to Mrs Agbogun, the menace of child labour and abuse have continued to permeate the polity. Government’s efforts at eliminating the menace, she noted, has not made much impact.

Thus, she opined that addressing the challenges facing the children would require the establishment of infrastruture and institutions in pubic and private sectors. She added that this would ultimately impact on the lives of children.

She said: "Lions Club has over 1.3 million members across the world and the goals are to encourage people to serve their community without personal financial reward which we strive to achieve."

This, she said, has inspired the projects by the club. During the period, she visited and inaugurated nine developmental projects done by the Region 1 of the club in Lagos. The visit began at the Command Day Secondary School, Ikeja. It also moved to the National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi where it donated first-aid boxes, wheel chairs, food items, books and other writing items to the Special School. Uniforms, sandals, school bags and 1, 000 note books were also distributed to pupils of Immaculate Heart of Mary Secondary School.

The Region Chairperson, Otunba Felecia Koleoso, said the projects were meant to meet the growing needs of children in Lagos. She said: "The club in Region 1 did not execute gigantic projects but simple ones that would touch the lives of the children directly. And this is in line with the District Governor's theme to give hope and succour to the children."

Responding, the Principal of Special School, National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi, Mrs Fadeke, who was elated by the humanitarian gesture done to the school, said: "There are many physically challenged children in the villages without hope and we would continue to make frantic efforts to reach out to them with these benevolent acts."

NOA mobilises Nigerians to test FoI

‘W

AKE UP! Wake up! – The Freedom of Information (FoI) Act is ready. We must not sleep over it”. This is the thrust of the nationwide publicity campaign by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) on why Nigerians must take advantage of the law, to make input into good governance and accountability in the country. The freedom of information Act (FoIA) was passed into law by the National Assembly in 2011 to among other things ensure that: there is public participation in governance, the business of government is open to public scrutiny, laid down procedures in the conduct of public affairs are adhered to, transparency and accountability in governance are institutionalised, corruption is stemmed and scarce resources are judiciously deployed for the well-being of citizens.

However all seem to be quiet after the FOI bill, which had generated so much interest, was passed into law, prompting NOA to mount a nationwide publicity campaign to ginger up citizens; that it is not enough to agitate for the law without operating it. One of such campaigns was a recent two-day train–the-trainer workshop in Lagos on the FoIA Law. Speaking at the workshop held in Oshodi, NOA Director-General Mr Mike Omeri said “like every law, the FoI will remain dormant and would only come to life when its provisions are given effect by citizens and all ministries, departments and agencies who are required by the Act to discharge specific roles.” But for this to happen said Mr Omeri, “the citizens for

By Gboyega Amoboye

CAMPAIGN whom the law is meant must sufficiently be educated on its provision, its ultimate objective(s), that benefits accrued to them for complying with the provisions of the Law, what they stand to lose by their noncompliance and what specific roles are expected of them.”

The special guest of honour, Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola was represented at the opening by his Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Remi Ibirogba; speaker, House of Assembly, Hon Adeyemi Ikuforiji was represented by the House Committee Chairman on Information and Strategy; Hon Segun Olulade. Also present was the Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Wale Ahmed. Others include the Chairman of Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Hon. Idris Bolaji Museh Ariyo, the Olu of Ikeja, the Elewu of Ewu, Oba Shakirudeen Adesina Kuti. The Osolo of Isolo, was represented by his Bashorun.

On reasons for the training, Omeri said: “It is an initiative driven by the strong desire to deepen the roots of democracy, by recognising citizens as critical stakeholders and partners in progress and also, expand the space to guarantee active citizens’ participation in governance”. He praised the Democratic Government project II and the Right to Know, for their partnership with NOA in the publicity of the Act .

He gave five objectives for the publicity of the FOI Act viz:

• To improve citizens awareness and understanding of the provisions of the Act; • To sensitise citizen to exercise their rights under the Act; • To seek information from public institutions at the Local Government level; • To stimulate proactive disclosure by public institutions as required by the Act; • To ensure that public institutions provide access to information applied for under the act; and • To ensure that the NOA spearheads the public sensitisation of the Act. Fashola praised the NOA initiative which he said deserved the support of every citizen because it would benefit all.

Thanking the NOA for the publicity , Hon. Ikuforiji said the law to domesticate the Act in Lagos State, was receiving the attention of the state legislature. He urged Nigerians who he said have long been agitating for the FOI Act to wake up and not sleep over it, now that it has been passed because, all citizens have a role to play in ensuring good governance which the Act is all about.

Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Chairman, Hon. Idris Museh Ariyo who was praised by the Lagos State Director of NOA, Mr Waheed Ishola for his interest in NOA programmes, called on the media to join in the public enlightenment for the FoI Act “because of its importance to all citizens, the press in particular”.

The training was organised by the NOA for state directors of the agency and their Heads of Programmes Division in selected states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The first leg that took place in Abuja last December was targeted at the pilot

•Omeri

states in the North - Borno, Gombe, Plateau, Benue, Kaduna, Kebbi and the FCT, while the Lagos training which is the second leg, targeted the pilot states in the south; Lagos, Oyo, Enugu, Ebonyi, Rivers and Delta. The second phase of the initiative is the grassroots publicity which is expected to take place in each of the local governments in the pilot states and the FCT, using the strategic platforms of Theatre for Development (TFD) and Community Dialogue (CDS).

•Gboyega Amoboye, is a Chief Programme Officer with the NOA, Lagos State.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

39

The Midweek Magazine And love stands the test of time

T

HROUGH the Storm by Oreva Ode-Irri may look like any other romantic story, especially from the beginning, but a careful examination of the book reveals some uniqueness.

The first is the story. It is about two teenagers: a fifteen-year-old girl who admires a seventeen-year-old boy in the same school, in fact, in the same class. She dreams about spending the rest of her life with him. Although the dream ultimately becomes a reality, it does not just happen. Both Stephanie Anderson and Raymond George (or, to use his biological father’s name, Raymond Henderson), could be said to be too young to understand what love is about. But by using the omniscient point of view in presenting the characters, the young author disabuses the minds of adults. Obviously, Oreva is saying the young ones are as vulnerable – if not more vulnerable – about matters of the heart as the adults.

This is one of the lessons Miss Oreva OdeIrri teaches us through this book.

The second uniqueness is about how the two central characters meet at Laura High School in California, United States.

Stephanie just changed school, from St. Cathy’s College to Laura High.

Stephanie has had a relationship with Kevin at St. Cathy’s, but at Laura High School, she falls in love with Raymond even though initially she could not tell him. For an assignment their English teacher, Mrs Dorothy, gives their class, Stephanie and Raymond are paired to write about each other, like other students. But Stephanie won’t talk to him, despite her sister, Susan’s promptings, as its found on pages 35 to 37.

It is after the assignment they talk to each other. This happens through Raymond’s carefree attitude.

He passes by Stephanie’s desk and spots “a sheet designed with pink and purple colours sticking out of her folder. He brought it out to get a better view of it and discovered it was her essay for the week. On top of the page, in bold pink caption was, ‘MY DREAM MAN’. Curious to know who her dream was, he sat at her locker to read it…”

It is at this moment Stephanie walks into

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BOOK REVIEW Title: Through the Storm Author:

Oreva Ode-Irr

Reviewer:

Olamilekan Andu

Paganition:

234

the classroom.

“Why are you reading my essay?”

“Um, you know the person you describe seems like a mini me.”

Though Stephanie smiles, as if she is amused by Raymond’s attitude, we hear her scolding him.

“Maybe when you stop being rude, egocentric, annoying and haughty, then you might fit. But you know what? When you remove those traits from you, it’s no more you but a whole different person.”

The author presents us the opportunity to understand Raymond’s character here.

She writes: “Raymond looked up at her for a moment. It looked like he was going to say something, but he smiled instead.

Stephanie was startled. She expected him to say something. He always had something to say.”

Despite Stephanie’s scornful remarks to his face, Raymond remains placid.

“Nice essay, anyway.”

This is his typical response to a hostile situation. We read more about him in the story displaying this unflappable disposition.

It is obvious Stephanie likes Raymond but the fear of becoming one of his victims makes it difficult for her to allow a relationship to begin early.

However, when it finally begins, Raymond eavesdrops on his “parents” discussing his paternity. He believes he and Stephanie share the same paternity. He confuses Anderson, Stephanie’s surname, with Henderson, his biological father’s surname.

He carries this notion about for some time.

He tells Stephanie that if they are by the same father, they cannot have a relationship.

But after his mother’s explanation – when he breaks the silence – he gets the truth about his paternity and his friendship with Stephanie continues.

After graduation, they both go their different ways: Stephanie to Canada and Raymond attends the university for his degree in Architecture.

Within the seven years they spend apart, Stephanie’s mother dies of cancer. This

changes her faith in God. The author shows that trials do not mean God hates His creature. Stephanie’s younger sister, Susan, reminds her about how she loses track with God and comes to face the challenges in her friendship.

On page 198, Susan says: “You left Kevin and didn’t lose him. You both became best friends. You left your friends and made new ones. Raymond wasn’t lost; you still had him.

Mum may be gone but you know she loved you and God. Well, you left God; He never left. You are just running away from hurt and hurting other people in the process.”

Stephanie returns to God, though not out of her will but through circumstance.

Paradoxically, Stephanie, who starts out preaching to Raymond, becomes weak in faith and receives a religious word of encouragement from Raymond.

On page 175, the author says: “She was crying profusely now. Raymond couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He understood her hurt. He knew God loved her still but He couldn’t give a reason why God let her mother die. He knew God had His reasons.

He just couldn’t believe that Stephanie – of all people – had lost her faith; she made him know who Jesus was. She was part of his salvation…”

We find Raymond saying: “Steph, Jesus still loves you.”

The climax of the story is the accident

Raymond has as he races after Natasha, his girlfriend, when she wants to tell Stephanie about her relationship with Raymond.

The incident seems to bring back Stephanie’s faith in God, after losing her trust in Him. On page 221, she prays: “God, please, let him live.” Perhaps because of Raymond, God answers her prayer: he lives. Stephanie mends her way with God and finds Him the best solution to her challenges.

On page 223, she talks to her Creator, saying: “God, I know You’re up there and you are probably angry with me for leaving You. It’s been long since I did this. I’m a bit nervous about it. But I come to You with one plea: please, let Raymond live. I know his chances are slim and it’s a pretty serious situation. But I know You can still save him. If You love me, like mum says You do, then I need You to heal this wound in my heart.”

Raymond’s recovery and their wedding show that nothing is beyond God, no matter the storms that we may pass through in life.

Such storms often make us stronger as they become our best teachers, our unforgettable experiences.

This is what the young author wants her readers to understand.

But there are a few flaws. We read about Stephanie’s paternal background and her age, for the first time, in Chapter Eleven.

This is where we read that her dad is late and that she is fifteen.

There are two characters having the same name: Natasha. The first is Brian’s assignment partner at Laura High School; the other is Raymond’s girlfriend.

In omniscient narration, an author reveals vital aspects of his/her characters as early as possible, except those that enhance suspense.

This way, the reader becomes familiar with them and gets curious to know what happens to them next. It is characters that enliven stories: the more the reader knows about them, they more familiar he/she becomes with them.

Also, the first hint on the background of the story is in Chapter Sixteen on page 127.

The author writes: “She (Stephanie) had said she was travelling to Canada for her university (education) but might come back to California after a year or two.”

Coming from a tyro and an inexperienced lady in real life romance, Through the Storm is a good job. Oreva wrote the book when she was 13. Most of the circumstances she portrays in the book could be understood to have originated from imagination rather than real people. She would, therefore, be forgiven for some fantastic aspects of the story.

Reforms, partnerships boost investment in copyright firms

T

HE Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has reiterated its commitment to fighting piracy.

Last year, the war against piracy, the commission said, impacted positively on copyright-based industries. It added that Nigeria's rating in the fight against the menace was enhanced.

According to its Director-General, Mr Afam Ezekude, the enhanced protection of local and foreign copyright works attracted increased investment in the copyrightbased industries.

He said Nigeria was the first African country to undertake the comprehensive copyright reform as China, India and Brazil, noting that the commission instituted a mechanism for the reform of the copyright system to address the challenges modern digital technology poses to inadequate copyright frameworks last year. These, the Director-General said, earned Nigeria an improved international rating in the global fight against piracy in 2012.

He said: "There are clear indications of a reduction in the level of domestic piracy which impacted positively in the legitimate copyright businesses as operators have reported over 50 per cent increase in the profit margin for the year under review. There was also an improved international rating of Nigeria in the global fight against piracy. The goals of the reform process include: updating the Copyright Act to meet the challenges of the digital age; to encourage and reward new forms of creativity and provide a platform for the crea-

By Evelyn Osagie

ADVOCACY tion, commercialisation and broad diffusion of new knowledge, while enabling Nigerian businesses to profit from expanding global trade in cultural goods, which is currently heavily skewed in favour of countries with fully developed copyright systems."

Also, Ezekude said NCC intensified antipiracy operations last year, arresting a total of 85 suspected pirates and confiscated 3,621,787 million units of pirated goods worth about N4.38 billion (N4,379,431,000), noting that it also successfully prosecuted 31 copyright cases, 26 of which were criminal convictions of pirates and five civil suits.

"The commission, between July 2011 and December 2012, however, secured 29 convictions of pirates of copyright-protected books, musical and movie works, broadcast signals and software products. The number of convictions shows a phenomenal increase from 10 convictions recorded by the commission in 10 years, between 2000 and 2010.

"This feat which had never been recorded in the 22 years of NCC can be traced to the enhanced surveillance activities of its operatives, support of stakeholders, and more importantly, our synergy with the Nigerian Customs Service under our Inter-Agency collaboration initiative. The commission instituted a total of 44 criminal cases in 2012 while it is currently prosecuting a total of 80 copyright cases nationwide," he said.

The Director-General revealed that NCC also

From left: Ezekude; Director of prosecution Mr Abdul Ter Koho and Director, Administration, Mrs Doris Osahon, at a briefing in Abuja

obtained the approval of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to issue the Copyright Levy on Materials Order 2012.

Observing that the Commission has reviewed some of its regulatory schemes to make them more responsive to stakeholders' needs and facilitate effective protection of rights, Ezekude noted that the Copyright Notification Scheme established in 2007 was computerised for effective service delivery, adding that the database generated under the scheme would be uploaded onto the commission's official website - www.copyright.gov.ng - for easy access by authors and members of the public.

NCC Director-General linked the successes achieved last year could also be ascribed to partnerships that was engendered. The interagency partnership between the commission and the Nigeria Customs, according to him, has engendered the establishment of a protocol which makes it mandatory for any importer

of copyright-protected goods to obtain a letter of clearance from the commission as a condition for clearance and release of such regulated goods by the Customs.

He said: "In collaboration with Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and other stakeholders in the film industry, the commission commenced the process of establishing a CMO for the movie industry last year.

The process has received positive support from the different segments of the film industry."

While reassuring stakeholders in the copyright industries of the commission's commitment to the actualisation of its statutory regulatory, enforcement and copyright promotion and protection mandate, the Director-General called for closer and sustained levels of collaboration between NCC and its national and international development partners.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

40

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

LONG WAIT, SMUGGLERS’ GREED

Two sides of a coin: Consumers waiting in vain to buy kerosene in Jigawa State and some of the seized jerry cans of PMS from pipeline vandals at Ijedodo, Ijegun, Lagos State being ferried through Festac Town Creek by men of the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

AKWA IBOM POLITICS Politics of succession is in the air in Akwa Ibom State. Who succeeds Governor Godswill Akpabio in 2015? Correspondent KAZEEM IBRAHYM writes on the intrigues and underground moves by the governorship aspirants.

Who succeeds Akpabio in 2015?

T

HE political parties are on the track.

But the contest for the governorship is actually between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Will PDP maintain its hold on power? Will the ACN displace the party Akwa Ibom State sin 2015?

Governor Godswill Akpabio will leave the State House, Uyo, on May 29, following the expiration of his second term. Ahead of the general elections, alignments and realignments among the politicians have started.

Akwa Ibom State has three senatorial districts; Uyo, Ikot Ekpene and Eket. The late Chief Akpan Isemin, an Etinan, had ruled the state between 1991-1993. But his tenure was aborted by the military intervention in politics. Preceeding his administration was that of Wing Commander Idongesit Nkanga, an Nsit Ibom man, who ruled between 1990 –1991. Both the late Isemin and Nkanga are from Uyo Senatorial District.

Former Governor Victor Attah, who hails from Ibesikpo Asutan, ruled the state from 1999 to 2003. It was during Attah’s time that it was agreed that power should shift to Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District in the interest of peace, equity and social justice. That was how Akpabio, who hails from Ikot Ekpene, became the governor.

The people of Eket Senatorial District are of the opinion that it is the turn of the zone to produce Akpabio’s successor. But this does not go down well with the people of Uyo Senatorial District, who are of the view that the governorship has never been zoned to any senatorial district in the history of the state. They argued that it has always been an open contest.

Those supporting zoning and those against it are locked in scheming. The Elders Council’ of Uyo Senatorial District led

by Otuekong Sunny Udoh is believed to be promoting the governorship ambition of the Secretary to Government, Mr. Umana Umana. It is not clear, if the ambition of the politician has the blessing of the governor.

The elders are relying on historical facts as they forge ahead in their consultations on behalf of Umana. Udoh argued that Isemin contested against the candidates from the three senatorial districts in the Third Republic. He also recalled that, after his emergence as governor, other positions were zoned to the three senatorial districts.

The elders said in a statement: “Former Governor Attah, who was the governor between 1999 and 2003, contested against the candidates from the three senatorial districts. That there was no zoning for the governorship was underscored by the fact that, even within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), aspirants from the three senatorial districts were screened and cleared to contest the primaries for the position in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011.

“The current governor, His Excellency, Governor Godswill Akpabio, won the primaries in 2006 and 2011 on his merit, after contesting against the aspirants from the three senatorial districts who were duly cleared by the PDP. Governor Akpabio won

•Akpabio

•Umana

•Ekere

the two primaries deservedly and not because the position was zoned to Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District. After the emergence of Chief Godswill Akpabio as governor, other positions; Deputy Governor, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and Party Chairman;` were zoned, in line with the practice in 1993, 1999 and 2003, to the three senatorial districts. Against the above background, the Elders Council takes serious exception to the statements made by some anti-democratic elements that the governorship in Akwa Ibom State in 2015 will be exclusively zoned to a particular senatorial district.”

But former Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Nduese Essien, who is from Eket, disagreed with the elders. He said it is foolhardy for anyone to argue that there are no credible candidates in Eket Senatorial District to run the affairs of the state in 2015.

Essien condemned the anti-zoning elements in the state, stressing that zoning has always characterised PDP’s electoral calculations in the state.

“The zoning arrangement has become a characteristic of PDP. In Akwa Ibom State, the first governor in the democratic dispensation emerged from Uyo Senatorial District. At the end of his second term in office, it was agreed that Uyo Senatorial District was no longer contesting the governorship; that it should go to either Ikot Ekpene or Eket Senatorial District. It was also expected that which ever senatorial district emerged in the 2007 election will stand eliminated from the race in the next round of elections for governor. As it is now, Uyo and Ikot Ekpene senatorial districts in Akwa Ibom have had their two terms in office. It automatically stands to reason that only Eket Senatorial District should present a credible candidate for the next round of elections.

“May be, after the forth-coming elections, the best candidate, the best material and the highest bidder may emerge in the subsequent elections in 2015. But for now, the three senatorial districts have to be allowed to have their turns.” Essien said.

In his letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, the National Chairman of Ibom Mandate Assembly, Mr. Iniobong John, who is from Uyo, disagreed with the Uyo Senatorial District’s Elders Council. He said Eket Senatorial District is the only zone that has not produced a governor, since the creation of the state. He explained that the other two zones have enjoyed the slot for 20 years in 2015.

The letter reads in part: “ Eket Senatorial District is the hub of the oil wealth upon which Akwa Ibom and Nigeria is fed and sustained. In spite of the fact that, with 12 local government areas, the largest among the senatorial districts compared to Ikot Ekpene (10) and Uyo (9), Eket Senatorial Discrict and her diverse ethnic groups of Oro, Ibibio, Ekid, Ijaw and others, the zone is systematically subjected to political marginalisation and economic exploitation.”

John quoted Article 7 Section 2, Sub-Section C of the PDP Constitution to support his claim on why Eket must produce the next governor. The section of the PDP Constitution reads: “In pursuance of the principle of equity, justice and fairness, the party shall adhere to the policy of zoning and rotation of party and public elective offices and it shall be enforced by appropriate Executive Committees of the party at all levels.”

“Mr. President, it may interest you to know that, following the recently concluded public hearing on the constitution review held across the country, the overwhelming vote of the people for zoning and power rotation in Akwa Ibom reverberated in all the 10 federal constituencies, the three senatorial districts and even at the state level, where Governor Godswill Akpabio lent his voice in support of rotation of power, publicly acknowledging that, himself is a product of zoning.” John added.

In Akwa Ibom State, 2013 is a mirror of 2015. The various groups are coming up as campaign platforms drawing attention to the aspirations of their sponsors. Observ-

ers are of the view that the preparation for the 2015 contest led to the resignation of the former deputy governor, Nsima Ekere, who is believed to be a strong contender for the number one seat. Ekere, who hails from Mkpat Enin, the Ibibio axis of Eket Senatorial District, is banking on zoning to succeed Akpabio.

But Governor Akpabio recently told The Nation that the resignation of Ekere has nothing to do with the governorship tussle.

“I don’t think the resignation of the deputy governor has anything to do with 2015. That is my personal opinion. I think it has a lot to do with the personal decision of a public servant who decides to face other things. It really depends on what make you fulfilled as a person. So, I don’t think it has got anything to do with 2015, but there is nothing wrong in reading political connotations into anything that occurs in any political atmosphere. So, I believe strongly that in 2015, Akwa Ibom people are most likely to say let Godswill continue to be done,” he said.

Asked if he is interested in who succeeds him, Akpabio said: “As a citizen of the state, I am definitely interested in ensuring that the tempo of development is not relaxed and I will be very glad, if we can have somebody who will be as passionate and dedicated as the current governor of Akwa Ibom State.”

The governor’s explanation notwithstanding, many people believed that Ekere was almost evicted out of Akpabio’s government before he resigned to avoid any embarrassment.

However, many also believe that the loyalty of Umana to Akpabio would play a key role in deciding who succeeds the governor in 2015. Umana will need to contend with strong forces from Eket Senatorial District, which are shaping the preparations for the battle.

These include Senator Helen Esuene from Eket Senatorial District, Effiong Abia, an Oron man, who is serving as the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Okpolupn Etteh from Ibeno, who is the Majority Leader of the House of Assembly; Ambassador Assam Assam, former Attorney General of the state and the Ambassador of Nigeria to Russia, and Jerome Isangiedighi, a member of the House of Assembly representing Oron/ Orung Uko. Observers believe that urgent steps are required by the PDP to address its zoning arrangement and the controversy it has generated to prevent internal chaos that could result in the break down of law and order in the state.

‘Observers believe that urgent steps are required by the PDP to address its zoning arrangement and the controversy it has generated to prevent internal chaos that could result in the break down of law and order in the state’

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

POLITICS Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed reflects on the danger of over-dependence on the federal government by the states at the monthly interactive session with stakeholders in Ilorin, the state capital. ADEKUNLE JIMOH was there.

‘Why states are financially incapacitated’

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HE 2012 budget was described by your administration as a budget of consolidation and development.

How would you assess its implementation?

When we started the administration in 2011, we promoted the concept of continuity of legacies. What did we refer to as continuity of legacies? What were we expecting the people to see in the continuity of legacies? We looked at it from the angle that we have just come out of an administration that had a proper focus; and administration that was drivesn by clear policies. It would only make sense for people to begin to see the benefits of some of the programmes that were carried on from the last administration to this administration.

We needed to ensure that there were benefits to the people in terms of completion of projects. We wanted to be sure that the legacies that were erected by the last administration were taken to finishing levels.

A typical one was the aviation college.

The structures had just been completed when we came in. We needed to ensure that every other area that was needed to make it a functional school was taken care of and we diligently pursued that by injecting money. I am happy to tell you that our students are already flying. It is one of the very few aviation training institutions in Africa today. Our people might not feel the direct impact yet. We will begin to see the impact of this school, when we attain the economy of scale with additional aircraft. The Federal Government, through the Vice President, is willing to support Kwara State government in this regard. Within the next two or three months, we will be getting additional 10 to 15 aircraft so that the school can expand to the level where we will begin to feel the economic impact directly in the state.

We also have the International Diagnostic Centre. It was almost completed when we came in and we had to complete it. I am happy to let you know that we have since completed that project. It has been commissioned by the Vice President, Alhaji Namadi Sambo, and it will become functional in few weeks. In order words, Kwara State is going to warehouse the first Internationally recognised diagnostic centre. Inaccurate diagnosis has been the bane of healthcare delivery in Nigeria today. A lot of people have lost their lives because the ailments have not been properly diagnosed. So, no matter how perfect or advanced our doctors are in terms of knowledge, without accurate diagnosis, they will not produced the desired results.This is part of what we call shared prosperity.

Can you explain why the recurrent ex-

penditure is higher than the capital expenditure in the 2013 budget?

It is a structural problem in the country.

We have allowed government to grow to the level that it is being run with a substantial part of the budget, which ordinarily should be used for capital projects.

There is no hard and fast rule to it. If you take a typical state like Kwara State that is largely a civil service- driven environment, what we have is a plethora of workers that we inherited in the current civil service.

Go to the federal level, go to local government level, you will see what the government is experiencing. Unless there are deliberate efforts by governments to create a structural change, which will not allow for further growth of the civil service, the situation will remain the same. I saw a lot of criticisms coming out in the papers. I just laughed. If you don’t give it a holistic approach, you will not understand how these things are done. A typical state like Kwara State that is civil service-driven, where the major sources of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) are largely supported by the Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE). Other areas where we need to get revenue from are hugely untapped because we need to inject more money there to bring them to taxable levels. So, the recurrent expenditure that you see that is high is largely because we need to continue to sustain government the way it is. What is the component of recurrent expenditure? It is largely overhead and personnel.

You often emphasise the importance of states being less dependent on the federal allocation. Why can’t you lead by example?

How do you think Kwara State can reduce its dependence on the federal allocation?

Our dependence on the federal allocation is largely borne out of very low capacity to generate your own revenue. Ordinarily, the federal allocation should have mattered to the states, but the reverse is the case. We have been heavily depending on the PayAs-You Earn to augment our recurrent expenditure, to augment our Internally Generated Revenue. Our commercial agriculture is designed to generate what you call

a value chain concept, which will see people making money from agriculture away from the subsistent level we used to know. This in itself would generate and drive taxable environment. Revenue comes from taxes, fees, fines, commissions and royalties. Out of these, apart from taxes which make up of close to eighty per cent of what we earn in internally generated revenue, our fees are very small, our commissions are small and, of course, fines are small because of lack of compliance.

We don’t want to put much pressure on a very low economic environment. To that extent, we have a responsibility as a government to continue to inject some money into driving economic activities that would become taxable. If you want to have an environment where you can raise money, you must first inject money there and convert it into an environment that can generate revenue.

Last year, you promised to construct the Ajasse-Ipo-Erin-Ile Road, which is a federal road. What is the update?

Yes, there were two forms of intervention we had in mind. The last time the Minister of Works came to Kwara, we spoke at length on our federal roads and how we are willing to look for money to execute these road projects on behalf of the federal government, subject to the fact that the federal government would pay us back our money. We wanted to reach that agreement. Unfortunately, the federal government has not given a concrete answer on that. Rather, what they have told us is that there is a policy in place, which would allow states to do federal roads and get paid back. Then, we asked them to give us the guideline. They gave us the guidelines regarding Kaiama-Kisi Road. They gave us some guidelines on how to engage contractors, bidding process and getting to the levels of award. We have other federal roads in the state. If we can get a nod to embark on these roads today, I will access the money and start rehabilitation immediately. But, don’t forget that the money would be borrowed. Unless I get assurance that I would be paid within a specific time frame, it would be dangerous for me to go

‘Other areas where we need to get revenue from are hugely untapped because we need to inject more money there to bring them to taxable levels. So, the recurrent expenditure that you see that is high is largely because we need to continue to sustain government the way it is.

What is the component of recurrent expenditure? It is largely overhead and personnel’

•Ahmed

and borrow money that I don’t have a source of repayment to execute roads.

The second is that, if the federal government is not responding to us as we require, we will on our own embark on the rehabilitation of that road and I think we are taking a combination of the two options. I recall that I went to Offa last year and I emphatically said that, we as a state, will take over the rehabilitation of the road. I meant what I was saying. In order words, we are not going to wait for the federal government. Offa-Erin-Ile road is something that we will try in this year’s budget to rehabilitate. I know it is around N600m to get it to a desired level. Kaiama-Kisi is going to take a minimum of N6 to N8 billion to take it to completion and, of course, OmuAran-Kabba. I don’t think that will take less than N8 to N10b and, of course, Jebba to Eiyenkorin will take less than N4 to N5billion. You see, all these are more than our monthly allocations.

It has been alleged by some people that your administration has been concentrating infrastructural development in Ilorin at the expense of other parts of the state.

What is your reaction to this?

I will completely disagree with that. Let us look at our policies. The reason why we try to drive government business with policies is to be able to isolate the impact that the people should feel. Now, look at our roads. We have spent over N2.7b on rural roads. Not up to 10 per cent is located in Ilorin metropolis. All these roads are located in the three senatorial districts, largely in the villages and other communities. The essence of it is for our people to begin to feel the impact of government.

When we renovated up to like 400 classrooms, not up to 10 per cent are within the metropolis. They are scattered across the three senatorial districts. We are renovating five General Hospitals; only one is located in Ilorin. We have two in Kwara South and one in Kwara North. If you keep going, you will see that more activities are spreading to other parts of the state. What they are seeing as concentration is completion of the on-going projects.

Governors can’t prevent council autonomy, says Abatemi-Usman

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•Abatemi-Usman

HE Vice Chairman of Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman, has said that the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) cannot prevent constitutional autonomy to the local governments in the country.

He lamented that the forum’s position may create a setback to the constitution review.

Abatemi-Usman is sponsoring a bill seeking for financial autonomy for local governments. The bill, which had passed through the second reading, is now with the Senate Committee on Constitution Review.

He said councils can only discharge their duties effectively when they are not hindered by constraints imposed by the states.

The senator was reacting to the remarks of the NGF’s chairman, Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who

By Jeremiah Oke

reportedly said that the governors would lobby the National Assembly to reject council autonomy. The governors have explained that local government are not coordinate units of the federation, stressing that autonomy for them is not contemplated under federalism.

The governors have also said that, since councils are created by the House of Assembly, states should exercise financial control over them.

Abatemi-Usman, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial Distric, declared that local government autonomy is the most important item for consideration, adding that it is desirable.

He explained that autonomy would pave way for rapid development at the grassroots.

The senator objected to the operation of the state/local government joint account,

saying that it is an aberration that must be corrected, despite the governors’ stiff opposition.

Abatemi-Usman said: “I have always been an advocate of autonomy for local governments. This was what prompted me to put up a bill for their financial autonomy when I became a senator in 2011 to free them from the governors.

“I am happy that the entire Nigerian people have seen the need for local governments to be granted autonomy, as reflected by their position during the public hearings held by the House of Representatives members across the 360 constituencies and the ones organised by the senators in the six geo-political zones of the country. Therefore, the people’s desire will definitely prevail over that of the governors. How can the governors stand against the wish of the generality of Nigerians, who elected them into office?”

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

‘Niger Delta states, agencies should develop region’ •Continued from Page 17 vandalism and other acts of violence in the Niger Delta. In fact, after a devastating attack on the Bonga oil field, then President Umaru Yar’Adua reportedly walked into the office of Dr Goodluck Jonathan, then Vice President. Soon after, the Amnesty programme started.

On assumption of presidential duties, Jonathan sustained the programme and ensured its implementation. Following the ex-fighters’ surrender and absorption in the programme, peace has returned to the Niger Delta.

Still, there are concerns on a resurgence of violence, including kidnapping and pipeline vandalism. But Kuku said the Amnesty Programme has done its job and should not be expected to remain in place interminably. Nor should anyone expect operators of the programme to go after perpetrators of violence in the region.

“We have no guns; we don’t even have a catapult,” he said, adding that states in the region and other government organs should help to sustain peace and growth in the region.

•Trainees graduating in India

Ajimobi’s wife fetes 500 needy women

I

N continuation of the ‘Ajumose Food Bank’ programme of the Abiola Ajimobi administration in Oyo State, his wife, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi has distributed food items to 500 market women at Ojoo Market in Akinyele Local Government Area.

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

Mrs. Ajimobi said the ‘Ajumose Food Bank’ programme is being supported every month by the governor and it is aimed at reducing hunger in every family. She also

re-affirmed the commitment of the Ajimobi-led administration towards ensuring that women are well catered for.

Mrs. Ajimobi further explained that this is in fulfilment of the promise made by Governor Abiola Ajimobi during his electioneering

campaign that women throughout the state will enjoy welfare packages that would prevent them from begging for food. She added that the initiative is to ensure that every home that benefits could feed for at least two weeks.

She pledged the commitment of the state government and her office towards ensuring that the restoration, transformation and repositioning agenda of the present administration is fully accomplished with the wind of positive changes blowing around the state.

Mrs. Ajimobi called for the prayers and support of the people for the Ajimobi-led administration to able it to achieved its vision and goal of restoring the pace setter status of the state both within and outside the country.

Earlier in his welcome address, Chairman Caretaker Committee of Akinyele Local Government Area, Hon. Mukaila Ambali commended the unique vision of Mrs. Ajimobi who has been consistent in her social welfare, healthcare and em-

•Mrs Ajimobi powerment of women throughout the state.

While calling on the women drawn from about 17 markets and entire people of the local government to continue in their support for Governor Ajimobi in his effort to take Oyo State to greater heights, adding that he has made a landmark achievement in the state within a short period of time.

This is in fulfilment of the promise made by Governor Abiola Ajimobi during his electioneering campaign that women throughout the state will enjoy welfare packages that would prevent them from begging for food •Some of the items ditributed to residents

Alaafin hails rural transformation •Continued from Page 17

man, saying his “passion for the less privileged is uncommon”.

In his address, Mr. Adesoji Ojoawo disclosed that apart from the sum of N6.5million expended on the provision of poverty alleviation materials, an additional N2million has also been

disbursed to indigenous Oyo students in tertiary institutions across the country as bursary awards.

“Similarly, over 3,000 kilometres of rural feeder roads have so far been graded, while a new and well-equipped maternity centre has been provided for the people of Soku community.”

Poverty alleviation materials distributed to the people included 15 motorcycles, 15 refrigerators, 25 grinding machines, 25 hairdressing equipment, 200 cell phones, and 20 medium generating sets.

Others were agricultural spraying tools with chemicals, cutlasses, hoes, and barbing kits.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

Kwara plans $65m skills centre

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HE Kwara State government has entered into partnership with the City and Guilds of London in the operation of its International Vocational Centre in Ajasse-Ipo, Irepodun Local Government Area of the state. About $65 million will be expended on the project.

The state government said the centre, when fully operational, would help in reducing the high level of youth unemployment in the country.

Courses that will be taught at the college are engineering and automotive, construction, vocational and entrepreneurial development centre.

Others are fashion and textile, agriculture, hospitality and catering, marine engineering and port operations.

General courses that will be offered at the centre include marketing, sales, internet technology (IT), entrepreneurship, business skills and finance.

In addition, the centre will be supported by three incubation centres where graduates will receive practical, real-life training.

The partnership is expected to result in quality training of technical

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

graduates and entrepreneurs for the international market.

Recently, the Regional Head for Africa of City and Guilds, Mr Juan Visser led a team which included Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed of Kwara State on the assessment of the International Vocational Centre.

He said his team was excited by the concept, the background and the delivery of the centre, even as he assured the governor that the courses that would be offered at the centre are “also recognised on many frameworks around the world, including the national framework of the United Kingdom. The training would be equivalent to what you will get in top notch schools in the United Kingdom, in Malaysia and Dubai.”

The City and Guilds team leader noted that although he had seen similar institutions across the world, the structuring of the Ajasse-Ipo centre makes it feasible and sustainable, adding that the vocational centre has the potential of “changing the lives and fortunes of not only Kwara people but also people in the entire West African sub-region.”

He said that the interaction be-

The reason there is a huge number of unemployed people is not unconnected with the fact that the area that is supposed to support them to become entrepreneurs has largely been neglected

•Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed (right) inspects plans for the International Vocational Centre, Ajasse-Ipo with City and Guilds officials and Abayomo Ogundola, Senior Special Adviser on Investment tween his team and the state government showed high level commitment by the state government to make the centre an international institution.

In a remark, Governor Ahmed said the International Vocational Centre was established to address unemployment problem in the country which, he said, resulted from absence of well-trained technical hands to manage critical areas of the national economy.

He said: “The reason why there is a huge group of unemployed people is not unconnected with the fact that the area that is supposed to support them to become entrepreneurs has largely been neglected. Thus, there is a huge gap between the transition from secondary and higher

education with poorly-trained people.”

He said that about 200 students would be trained by the City and Guilds in the first phase of the programme.

He further explained that the curricular of the centre were informed by the needs for assessments in critical sectors such as marine, electrical, construction and oil and gas industries.

Governor Ahmed said his administration chose the City and Guilds, London to offer courses at the centre because it has enviable records in the development of entrepreneurs worldwide with internationally recognised certificates.

The synergy, the governor said, will make graduates of the centre

employable anywhere in the world, adding that it will also develop them into entrepreneurs and potential employers of labour.

Governor Ahmed said in line with the projection of City and Guilds, an incubation centre would be established in each of the three senatorial districts of the state for internship by students of the centre.

The governor assured that the vocational centre would be insulated from possible political interference so that it would be a centre of excellence in technical education and training.

Industries that the centre is expected to service are oil and gas, food and drinks, electrical, general manufacturing, mining and mineral processing, fashion and hotels and restaurants.

Nasarawa flags off free medical care

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HE Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Dameshi Barau Luka has flagged off a one-day free medical care at Ningo in Akwanga Local Government Area. He urged partners in the programme, the Nasarawa State Association of Pharmacy Students (NASAPS), University of Jos, to make the exercise a continuous one.

The Deputy Governor, who said he is partnering with NASAPS in

From Johnny Danjuma, Lafia

providing financial assistance to make the purchase of drugs possible and other logistics, said the idea is to ensure that such medical services spread to other areas in the state, including the grassroots.

Commending the students, Luka further stated that the present government will continue to collaborate with them, adding that it is in

•Governor Al-Makura

recognition of the fact that health is wealth and therefore the need for support to keep the people healthy at all times.

He reiterated government’s commitment in ensuring that the people of the state get good medical attention to enhance their well-being.

Speaking at the flag-off the free medical care, president of NASAPS, Echuku Tessy Ombugadu, said that the programme was in fulfilment of the motto of the association which is “Building a healthy society,” add-

ing that the exercise was their little way of contributing their own quota to the building of the state by addressing the health needs of the less-privileged in the society.

The NASAPS President, who further explained that the medical team consisted of trained doctors, practising nurses and pharmacists, said among the services expected to be provided include de-worming, HIV and Hepatitis screening/ counseling services as well as general diagnosis that would result in the provision of drugs for the patients.

The present government will continue to collaborate with them, adding that it is in recognition of the fact that health is wealth and therefore the need for support to keep the people healthy at all times

•Caretaker Committee Chairman of Musawa Local Government Area, Katsina State, Alhaji Tanimu Kira administering polio vaccine on his son during a campaign against child killer diseases in the council

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

I believe we can succeed and forge ahead. We have the capacity and potential of emerging as a world super power in science and technology and even become the economic hub of Africa

Honour for neurosurgeon

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NUGU was agog as prominent Igbo leaders, captains of industry and the cream of the academia converged on the coal city to celebrate one of their own, who has made meaningful contribution to nation-building and development of modern medicine.

The occasion was a grand reception organised by the member representing Ideato North and South in the National Assembly, Dr. Eddie Mbadiwe, in honour of a renowned neurosurgeon and founder Memfys International Hospital for Neurosurgery, Enugu, Prof. Sam Ohaegbulam, who won the 2012 Nigeria’s highest academic award in medicine.

Overwhelmed by the honour done to him, the chief celebrator, Prof. Ohaegbulam, called on Nigerians to always strive to improve themselves in their chosen professions and leave their recognition to God. He told the audience inside the conference centre of Roban Hotels Enugu, that although he was excited with the national honour, he was not surprised following his many years of outstanding medical practice and contributions to education.

He noted that despite his age, he was committed to continuous learning to keep improving in the profession.

On Nigeria, the celebrated African neurosurgeon said the future of the country would remain bleak unless corruption was tackled at all fronts. He said: “I believe we can succeed and forge ahead. We have the capacity and potential of emerging as a world super power in science and technology and even become the economic hub of Africa.”

Reflecting further on the grand

S

OKOTO State government, operators of the Sokoto-Rima River Basin Development Authority, have sought the Federal Government’s assistance in containing flooding following the release of water from Bakolori Dam. A statement by the Deputy Director Press, Ministry of Water Resources Mrs. Boade Akinola stated

From Chris Oji, Enugu

reception, Prof. Ohaegbulam described the gesture as a practical demonstration of love by a man who neither comes from the same local government area nor belongs to the same profession. According to him, I was moved when he said he was celebrating my award because this is not the practice in Nigeria where only deaths or Ofala festivals are celebrated. I praise him. I thank him with all my heart and just like the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe said when he was swornin-as governor-general “with humility and joy, I welcome all those who have come here to share in my joy today.”

Earlier, Dr. Eddie Mbadiwe had explained that he decided to celebrate the award with a cocktail party because of his love for education and excellence, stressing that the award conferred on Prof. Sam Ohaegbulam by President Good luck Jonathan in December last year, after several years of successful medical practice, had demonstrated that hard work would never go unnoticed.

He recalled that Prof.

Ohaegbulam had shown much patriotism when he abandoned his job in Saudi Arabia where he earned huge dollars and returned to Nigeria, even as he urged other professionals abroad to emulate him.

A former winner of the Nigerian national merit award in medicine, Prof. Peter Ebigbo, described Prof.

Ohaegbulam as an iroko in education and medicine. He disclosed that he would continue to be remembered for pioneering the practice of neurosurgery in the Eastern Nigeria.

Also speaking, the Provost College

•From left: Prof Ekwueme, Prof Ohaegbulam, Dr Mbadiwe and Prof Ebigbo of Medicine the University of Nigeria, Prof. Basden Onwubere, stated that the history of the university would not be complete without recalling the numerous contributions of Prof. Sam Ohaegbulam when he served as Dean Faculty of Medicine and later Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Enugu-Campus of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), adding that despite his retirement from public service several years ago, he still

found time to give lectures to UNN medical students without asking for payment.

The historic event attracted eminent Nigerians who included Rev. Chike Nwizu, Elder Kalu U. Kalu former Chairman of Union Bank, Prof. Anezi Okoro, Prof. Frank Akpuaka Provost College of Medicine Anambra State University, Uli, the zonal director the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN)

Enugu, Chigozie Obialo and a former governor of Rotary International District 9140, Lady Ogugua Nwankwu as well as representatives of the Imo and Enugu state governors.

Prof. Sam Ohaegbulam is the first merit award winner to be so recognised by his people since the inception of the Nigerian National Merit Award Board.

Bakolori dam floods Sokoto farmlands From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

that “the attention of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources has been drawn to a recent incident of flooding of some farmlands in

Sokoto State due to water released from Bakolori Dam. “The ministry takes note that following a request of Government of Sokoto State to the Sokoto-Rima River Basin Development Author-

•From Left: Mrs. Olatundun Oki, representative of Lagos State Governor’s wife, Dame Abimbola Fashola; Kehinde Bamigbetan, Chairman, Ejigbo Local Council Development Area; Hon Mrs. Omowunmi OlatunjiEdet, member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Oshodi-Isolo Constituency 2 and Hon Charles Odugbesi, State Secretary, Action Congress of Nigeria, Lagos chapter, at the inter-denominational service of songs organised

by Ejigbo council in honour of the late Ayo Ositelu, at Ejigbo mini-stadium

ity for additional release of water to satisfy the urban water needs at the water treatment plant in Sokoto, the Basin Authority obliged. Accordingly, additional water releases were systematically made following existing procedures and guidelines which include emphasis on safety of community’s downstream and extant regulations on dam safety.

“However, it was discovered that due to high level of new sedimentation unleashed following the 2012 flooding incidence, several changes have occurred in the water course. Additionally, local farmers have, in some cases, moved to develop farm sites at the newly-emerged sedimentary locations.

“Arising from the above situation, the ministry wishes to assure all community downstream that all measures are being taken to

fully study all areas where such sedimentation occurred. Also the ministry has created funds in Budget 2013 for in-depth study of the areas affected by such new settlements.

“The Sokoto RRBDA will also take additional measures within the resources available to it to undertake basic river training and dredging to make all water courses downstream Bakolori Dam amenable to free flow of water.”

The management of Bakolori Dam maintained that it will continue to maintain highest level of professionalism to forestall any such occurrences, even as it assured that the Federal Government therefore advises all communities downstream to avoid any economic activities on temporary siltation created by flooding and maintain their farming activities in the traditional locations where they had existed.

Arising from the above situation, the ministry wishes to assure all community downstream that all measures are being taken to fully study all areas where such sedimentation occurred.

Also the ministry has created funds in Budget 2013 for in-depth study of the areas affected by such new settlements

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6 2013

49

EUROPEAN

NATION SPORT

Gerrard backs Champions League bid Llorente targets CL

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APTAIN Steven Gerrard believes Liverpool can still qualify for the Champions League this season.

The Merseyside side posted two successive 2-2 draws in tough away fixtures against Arsenal and Manchester City in the past week.

And, with the Reds not facing an away fixture against a top

10 side in their remaining 13 games, the 32-year-old believes a late climb is possible.

“We can take a lot of belief from the way we’ve performed against Arsenal and Manchester City,” he told reporters.

“City are a good side and to go away to the champions and

get a point is a good result, but after the way we played we’re disappointed not to get the win.

“We need to build on this and I’m feeling really confident about our ability to move up the table.

“We might not have got the results we wanted against the top sides but every time we

have certainly matched them if not bettered them in games.

“No disrespect to the sides we’ve got coming up but if we keep playing like that then we can certainly put in a challenge for fourth place.

“If we perform like that we will pick up a lot of points between now and the end of the season.”

Jagielka relishing Brazil challenge

P • Gerrard

Sam uncertain over Carroll

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EST HAM manager Sam Allardyce says he will wait until the end of the season before making a decision on the future of Andy Carroll.

The striker scored just the second goal of his seasonlong loan from Liverpool, which has been badly disrupted by injury, in Saturday’s 1-0 win against Swansea.

Hammers co-owner David Sullivan confirmed on Friday that an agreement had already been reached with Liverpool to sign Carroll on a permanent basis, although they were yet to agree terms with the player.

But despite praising Carroll’s ability, Allardyce admits he is uncertain whether the club will be able to secure the 24-year-old’s signature permanently.

“You always want a top class centre forward,” Allardyce told talkSPORT. “I know he’s been short on goals and he’s had a disrupted season, but he’ll only get better if he’s got a settled future, whether that’s with us or not [I don’t know].

“It would be a long process

though. We will have a conversation at the end of the season with Andy and Liverpool. It all depends on how he feels and what he does between now and the end of the season.

“It’s also about where Andy thinks his future lies. He hasn’t thought about that yet, he just wants to play as much as he can.

“There are not many of Andy Carroll’s type. The sad thing for football is that it now seems unfashionable to have a big centre forward in your team, which really disappoints me.

“It excites people when you see him rise above everybody else to get the ball in the back of the net.

• Caroll

“I’ve known him since he was a youngster. I could see the talent that he had and that talent flourished very quickly into Liverpool paying £35million for him. It didn’t work there for whatever reason but he’s such a young man, who’s desperate to play football and do well.”

HIL JAGIELKA has called for his England team-mates to step up and repeat the heroics on show against Spain in 2011 when the Three Lions host Brazil this evening.

The 30-year-old Everton centre-back was pivotal in shutting out the world and European champions in a friendly meeting in November 2011, and Jagielka is determined to claim another important result when the five-time World Cup winners Brazil travel to Wembley.

“This is a high stakes game,” he told reporters. “That Spain game wasn’t make or break but because we won and kept a clean sheet it turned into a massive positive.

“It’s a similar situation now.

Whether I get to play, or someone else, it is about gaining experience from a great test.”

The likes of both Ronaldinho and Neymar have been named in Luiz Felipe Scolari’s first squad of his second spell as Brazil coach.

Ronaldinho, 32, and Neymar, who turns 21 on Tuesday, both find themselves on the opposite ends of the international experience spectrum, however the latter is rather an enigma for many of the England squad.

“I don’t know a lot about Neymar,” Jagielka said. “We don’t see a lot of footage. He plays in Brazil so it is tough for us.

“But we have video analysis people when we meet up with England and they will have plenty of footage for us to review.

“They will pick out his good points and bad ones. I am sure the good points will be going on for hours.”

success with Juve

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ERNANDO LLORENTE is confident his new club Juventus can mount a serious challenge for the Champions League in the future.

The Athletic Bilbao striker has signed an agreement to join the Serie A champions in the summer when his deal with the La Liga side expires.

He is hopeful of winning a number of trophies with Antonio Conte’s side once he finally completes his protracted move.

“For me Athletic has been everything, my club for life, but I am going to the best team in Italy, to one of the best in Europe and the world.

Triumphing at Juve is a dream, a great challenge for me,” he told AS. “I have had offers from many teams, but it is a very good project. Juve have strongly backed me from the first moment and I have been clear on that.

“I have always liked the competitive spirit of Italian teams; they are the best, and I think that they are the ideal team to try to win the Champions League.

“They’re a winning team, with the aim of winning many titles in the next few years. I see myself there and the future that awaits me excites me so

much, and the method of playing that the team has, although I still don’t think about that because I am concentrating on Athletic.”

Llorente has been left out Vicente del Bosque’s latest Spain squad to face Uruguay today, but is hoping to win back his place in the national team in time for the 2014 World Cup. “It hurts me a lot (not being in the national team),” he added.

“For me it was very important to be there and at the moment I have missed out.

I want to do things very well at Juve so that I can get back in the national squad ahead of the World Cup. That is my biggest challenge.”

• Llorente

Ribery: Deschamps has brought discipline back to France

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AYERN MUNICH forward Franck Ribery has hailed Didier Deschamps’ impact on the France squad and the discipline he has brought back to the team.

The 44-year-old took over as head coach of les Bleus in July last year after Laurent Blanc stepped down following the country’s quarter-final exit at Euro 2012.

“I feel very comfortable at the moment, when I come to France,” the 29-year-old told Kicker. “[Deschamps] has a precise vision and goals, and with him, discipline set in again.

“Deschamps talks a lot to the players, we have a very good relationship with him. For me, it’s important to feel the trust of

the coach. Then I feel good and I’m motivated to give everything for the trainer on the pitch.

“If I notice, however, that the trainer treats me oddly and he’s not being honest, then it becomes difficult. If he misleads me then he shouldn’t count on me.”

The Bayern Munich man then singled out Roten team-mate Bastian Schweinsteiger as the player who he would like to nutmeg during the upcoming international clash versus Germany: “Definitely Schweinsteiger. He would deserve it!”

France meet Joachim Low’s side at Stade de France today. The match is scheduled to kick-off at 21.00CET.

Sissoko delighted with home debut

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E W C A S T L E midfielder Moussa Sissoko has described his two-goal home debut against Chelsea as one of the best moments of his career.

The Frenchman started his first game at St James’ Park on Saturday, leading the Magpies to a 3-2 victory over Rafa Benitez’s men.

He told the Newcastle Chronicle: “It is up there with my best moments of my career. I’m not sure if it is quite the best yet.

“But to score on my home debut and get a brace against the European champions Chelsea and come away with three points is absolutely fantastic.

“Even in my wildest dreams I couldn’t have imagined that!

I’m happy to come away with

the victory. We now have the confidence to go on and win more games.”

The 23-year-old is now targeting an improved Premier League position, with the Tyneside outfit still languishing in 15th following a poor start to the season.

“Since I arrived I said we could really move up the league table,” he continued.

“I signed and knew full well the position Newcastle were in. But I wasn’t too worried; I knew there had been some injuries.

“We can finish in a much better position. Now we’ve had two victories since I’ve been here and that’s fantastic.

But we must not get too complacent. It isn’t going to be easy; it will probably be even harder. It’s something

• Ribery

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

NATION SPORT

Iniesta: the secret is stability

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N the minds of many in the game, Andres Iniesta is nothing short of the perfect player. Cerebral, elegant and decisive, not only does the versatile midfielder make both Barcelona and Spain tick, he also scored the most important goal in the latter’s history – the firmly struck right-foot shot that sank the Netherlands in the Final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.

Ten years on from breaking through on the international stage when Spain finished second at the UAE 2003 edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup, this native of Fuentealbilla in Albacete is showing no signs of letting up. Indeed, one of the stars of La Selección’s triumph at UEFA EURO 2012 could recently be seen sharing the podium at 7 January’s FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Interviewed by FIFA.com at the event in Zurich, Iniesta spoke about what inspires him, his childhood heroes and upcoming challenges for club and country.

Yes, yes... in football you often get Andres, you’re now a regular at the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala. What goes through your mind at events like these?

Nice thoughts, good sensations.

When you think about it in the cold light of day, it makes you really happy to be shortlisted for prizes like these, or to be included in the [FIFA/FIFPro] World XI. It’s lovely when people value what you’re doing. It’s definitely something special.

Plenty of experts have said “Messi might score the goals but it’s Iniesta who makes Barça tick”. What would you say to that?

I think a great team comes about when each person plays to his full potential. Barça are better with Leo in the team and Leo plays better with Barça. Football isn’t an individual sport, it’s a team game in which individuals stand out much more when everyone’s pulling together. I play better when Leo’s there and he’s a better player alongside us and that’s what matters: the fact we all feel we’ve a part to play in doing things right.

Messi, for his part, said you would also have been a worthy winner of the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2012…

Well… (laughs) It’s nice of Leo to say so, particularly since he’s a teammate of mine who I’ve known for a long time and who plays alongside me. It’s very nice of him. Even though we were both on the podium for this award, I didn’t consider him a rival, not for an instant. He’s still my team-mate. I was as happy for Leo to win his fourth Ballon d’Or [as if I’d won it myself].

Looking back over a year in which you were also voted the 2011/12 UEFA Best Player in Europe, what was your most memorable moment?

The EURO, maybe, because of how important that championship was to the team and because no other national side has achieved what we did [in winning the EURO, then the FIFA World Cup then the EURO once more]. And well, it’s like I always say: more than anything else, I most enjoy the good feeling that comes with playing well, feeling happy and improving every day. That for me is what means the most, year after year.

In a recent interview you said your performances on the pitch reflect how you’re feeling off it. Given the way you’re playing, things must be going very well for you outside of football?

The secret lies in the stability I’ve got outside the game, with my wife, my daughter, my family and the people around me. But everybody’s different. There will be players who might not be having the best of times off the field, but once they get on the pitch it’s the ideal place to get everything out their system. But, in my case, I think that the two worlds are very closely linked.

Unusually, going on recent years’ hauls, Barcelona only won one trophy in 2012. Does that feel like scant reward for your performances?

I wouldn’t say that, I’d focus on the fact we won the Copa del Rey and came very close in both La Liga and the Champions League. In sport and

• Iniesta

at Barça, we’re always expected to fight for every title and that’s what we did. And we’ve gone all the way in other years, even though we fell short this time. In 2012 we were right on the verge of where we needed to be to win things, but we just fell a little short. This year we’ll use that as an incentive to fight for every trophy once more.

It was a strange year off the field, what with Pep Guardiola’s departure and the health concerns of Eric Abidal and Tito Vilanova.

How did such issues affect the closeknit Azulgrana squad?

Guardiola leaving is just something that happens: he and the club reached that agreement and so

it’s something normal, natural and which happens a lot at every club.

The other two things you mention were very tough to deal with. They were very tough to live through, particularly for them [Abidal and Vilanova] and their families. The only thing we’ve tried to do is be by their sides, try and find strength from somewhere and give them our support, so that little by little they can get well and rejoin the group again. Part of why the squad’s so vibrant and so determined to do well is down to those difficult blows we’ve had to overcome.

Could you see yourself ever pulling on another club’s shirt?

I’ve always said that my dream and

my ambition would be to hang up my boots at the club I’ve been with since I was 12, a club that’s given me practically everything.

So obviously, leaving doesn’t even cross my mind right now because I’m in the best place I could ever be.

That said, it’ll be my performances that decide how long I carry on. The day that I don’t feel I can give 100 per cent [I’ll stop], because I wouldn’t want to cheat the club.

That’s only logical.

Turning to the national team and the FIFA Confederations Cup 2013: is the squad doubly determined to win the trophy after slipping up at South Africa 2009?

the chance to win something again, or win something that you’d previously lost. So, this year will give us the opportunity to do that and that’ll be our goal when we go over there. But we won’t forget we’ll be up against other national teams that want to win too. There’ll be the host nation, former world champions and on top of that it’ll be in Brazil, which should provide a very special backdrop. It’ll be great.

What’s your verdict on Spain’s hopes of reaching Brazil 2014? The home draw with France made the qualifying group that much tighter, didn’t it?

Yes, it’s true. Even though we always say it, it’s true that nowadays it’s very difficult to win games, whichever national team you’re playing against. And when it comes to France, even more so. When you’re not quite on top of your game, the opposition can beat you or hold you to a draw, and that’s what happened against France. But we’re fully confident that we’re capable of staying top, seeing our games through and, why not, going and winning in France [on 26 March]. The squad’s got what it takes to do that.

You’re currently an idol to many youngsters, but who did you look up to when you were a boy?

When I was little I always used to watch [Pep] Guardiola and [Michael] Laudrup really closely. They were the two players I most wanted to be like, and I’d try to do the things they did. Then, as time goes by and when everything goes well, the lads who are the age you were back then are now watching you. That means that you’re doing the right things.

It’s a lot of responsibility too, particularly given the media interest in every aspect of players’ lives. How do you handle it?

Well, of course, there are two sides to the coin aren’t there? Both the good and bad sides are taken to extremes.

But you have to take it in your stride, as it’s part of the job. You have to remember that we’re not just football players, that we’ve got a lot of people watching us, who want to be like us and try to do what we do.

It’s a big responsibility.

One last question, Andres: when you made a toast with your loved ones on New Year’s Eve, what did you wish for 2013 to bring?

Good health. If I can train and play well, that’s what’s most important.

As for the rest, things will go better or worse, depending on what fate has in store. But, more than anything, I want to stay healthy so I can enjoy what I do on and off the pitch.

“...leaving doesn’t even cross my mind right now because I’m in the best place I could ever be. That said, it’ll be my performances that decide how long I carry on.”

52

Keita plays for peace in Mali

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EST African nation, Mali is currently in the midst of war, with government and French forces battling rebel insurgents in the north.

Keita wore a T-shirt with the words "Peace for Mali" embossed on it when he collected his Man of the Match award after the Eagles' first game of the tournament and he has spoken since about his desire to see peace restored.

The 33-year-old then draped his country's flag over his shoulders when addressing the media following his team's penalty shoot-out win over South Africa on Saturday.

"Our win ensures that Mali can hold their heads high. They will all be celebrating and for us to provide the joy is an honour," the talismanic midfielder said.

"I'm wearing the flag that is flying in the north now as proudly as it is flying in the south," he said in a reference to towns recaptured in recent days.

"It has been as important for us to win for the people as it has been for ourselves."

Put: Mbombela is our home

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Ghana hopes to end 31-year losing streak

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OACH Kwesi Appiah was part of the Ghanaian team that won the 1982 Africa Cup of Nations, and 31 years later on the eve of Wednesday's semi-finals he has told his players now is their time.

"What have I said to them? I've told them I was lucky to be one of the players to come back with the title, now they need to write their names in history.

"Then they can say in the future 'I was part of the team that won in South Africa'."

Appiah, speaking at the team's hotel, believed there was not a great deal to choose between his team and semi-final opponents Burkina Faso.

"We are both from west Africa and that means our style and mentality is almost the same.

"So, at this level, success will depend on the little things.

"Looking at games of Burkina Faso, they do well defensively, in midfield they are very very good, it's not going to be easy.

"They've got some really good

B

URKINA Faso coach Paul Put, feels his side will benefit from playing their Africa Cup of Nations semi-final on the much-maligned Mbombela Stadium pitch.

The Stallions played all their group matches on the sandy surface before also beating Togo in their quarter-final match at the same venue. Despite the pitch having come under fierce criticism, Put says his charges can use the conditions to their advantage.

Burkina Faso face Ghana in Wednesday's last-four tie, with Put admitting: "Even though the pitch is very bad it's our home stadium.

Ghana is also a technical and physical team as well, but it's still an advantage for us as we are playing in a 'home' game.

"We have nothing to lose as no one expected us to play in the semifinals." He added: "So I told the players to be patient and stay well organised because with this pitch you never know. With one error they can kick your head off, so we have to be careful." Put knows they face a tough test in facing the Black Stars, but is adamant they can secure their passage to the final, if they show respect for the tournament favourites.

"I'll keep them with both feet on the ground - I know Africa a little and if you let them fly it never ends," he said. "We respect Ghana.

They are a great team and great players but one thing is sure ... We are playing in Nelspruit for the fifth game - so it's our home stadium now."

players we are automatically going to pay attention to, but I'll keep all that in my head!"

Osasuna midfielder Anthony Annan could make his first start of the competition, the Black Stars boss revealed.

"Anthony got injured at our training camp in Abu Dhabi but is recovering well."

The Spain-based player commented: "It depends on the coach whether I play or not."

"I played with him in 2008, I know what he is capable of. This is his opportunity to show what he's got" Juventus midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah is relishing the prospect of taking on the overachievers from Burkina Faso.

"I'm very happy to be in the semifinals, we're here to achieve something and will fight to the end."

PHOTO PANORAMA

•Emmanuel Adebayor •Emenike celebrates with Nigerian teammates after defeating Cote D'Ivoire in a quarter final game on Sunday

•South Africa's striker Tokelo Rantie celebrates after scoring a goal during the African Cup of Nation 2013 quarter final football match South-Africa vs Mali, on February 2, 2013 in Durban

•Burkinabe and Togolese players in action

•A dejected Didier Drogba walks off the pitch after Cote D'Ivoire's quarter final defeat by Nigeria on Sunday

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

53

NEWS

NLC urges govt to recapitalise FMBN

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• A STRANGE PROTEST: Lagos State Bricklayers Association members protesting alleged neglect by cement companies on the premises of The Nation... yesterday PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN

APM Terminals invests $135m in Lagos project A PM Terminals, Apapa, Lagos, the largest in the country, has embarked on a massive development of its facility to accommodate over 1.2million containers.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony in Lagos yesterday, the visiting Group Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Nils Andersen, said the project will cost $135 million, bringing the total capital investment since the start of the concession in 2006 to $330 million.

He said the expansion showed that the economy is growing, with the potential for increasing growth, adding that the new investment will “make the Apapa Terminal the largest and most modern in West Africa with a capacity for 1.2 million TEU per year.

He said the project will consist of new staff amenities and customer service building, acquisition of container handling equipment,

A

By Oluwakemi Dauda

implementation of new terminal operating systems and a new Customs container inspection facility.

He said the project would involve the development of new container stacking areas, such as the old Sunshine Oil and Dangote Cement areas, which were part of the original Apapa concession but not handed over to APM Terminals until recently.

Andersen said the investment has become necessary in order to ensure that there is sufficient port capacity for container operations in Lagos,” adding that t will benefit the people working in the terminal, who will have better, safer conditions, it will be good for the environment, because pollution will be reduced and it will further enable Nigerian business to import and export goods and products.

“Many efficiency meas-

ures and modernisations have been carried through in recent years, lifting the productivity and developing safety and transparency, so much so that we use it as a best-practice example for terminals in other growth markets. We hope and believe that Apapa will continue to be a terminal we can all be proud of,” Andersen stated.

On the Badagry Megaport project, Andersen said the project is an important one aimed at adding new capacity to cope with increasing volume.

“The growth in volume is solid and new capacity will be needed in the medium term. Badagry is important because the ports in Lagos will be out of capacity by 2016,” he said, adding that the Group’s investments in both the Apapa container terminal and Badagry port project indicate “a vote of confidence in Nigeria’s

Fed Govt, pensioners meeting over mass protest inconclusive

MEETING at the instance of the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu with the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) on its planned mass protest, yesterday, ended in a deadlock.

The union, however, said it would on February 25, 2013 commence the nationwide protest against the Federal Government for neglecting its members.

The NUP National President, Comrade Ali Abatcha, said its effort to avert the planned action, culminating in the meeting with the representatives of the Head of Service of the Federation, Ministry of Justice, has failed to yield any result.

He said the union is seeking the release of the one per cent check-off dues which the members voluntarily contributed and which

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

was seized by the Pension Reform Task Team.

“Our meeting with the representatives of the Head of Service of the Federation, Ministry of Labour, and the Ministry of Justice ended in deadlock because none of our demands was met.

“We are demanding for the release of the one per cent check-off dues like other unions in the country, the 53 per cent increment which Civil Servants have been enjoying for the past three years and the harmonisation of pensioners. None of these was resolved and the meeting was adjoined till Wednesday 13th February 2013. Meanwhile our planned nationwide protest billed for 25th of this month will still hold.

“The Minister told us to

come back by 13th of February, 2013 so that Salaries and Wages commission can explain why the circular is yet to be released. For the checkoff dues, Ministry of Justice said we don’t have the right to levy our members, but we told them it is not levy, but a voluntary contribution and it’s constitutional.

“So we are calling on all our members in the parastatals, like the Nigeria Airways, Nipost, PHCN and Civil Servants to stay awake ahead of that day, because pensioners are like any other serving Civil servants”.

Comrade Abatcha said the union will not accept a situation whereby genuine pensioners are suffering without their entitlement being paid, while the chairman of the task team is claiming to have been saving money for the government.

economy.”

The ceremony was attended by the Executive Director Marine and Operations of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr David Omonibeke, who represented the Managing Director, Mallam Habib Abdullahi.

RESIDENT, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, has urged the Federal Government to recapitalise the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN).

Omar said this is the right time to do so to address the housing need in the country.

The NLC helmsman, who spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Goodluck Legacy Estate in Abuja, yesterday said: “I want to call on the government to recapitalise FMBN. I think we are tired of institutions that are notorious for catching thieves like the EFCC. I think we need the ones that are adding values critically.

“The FMBN is one of them.

I would say we have to recapitalise this bank so that when we come for the next ground breaking which will be millions, we will know that it has been led by the FMBN.” Omar, who was represented by his deputy, Comrade Isa Aremu, commended Ecobank for supporting the project with N10 million. The soft loan is to be paid at an interest rate of 12 per cent, while the project is to be completed within 18 months.

He enjoined them to make the 1,000 housing units affordable so that they can be accessible.

From Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Amal Pepple, said the government is transforming the sector, adding that the recapitalisation of FMBN would start soon.

She said there was an ongoing effort to appeal to the relevant stakeholders on ways unclaimed dividends as well as pension funds could be used to provide affordable housing.

“Recapitalisatin of the FMBN is what we have been working on for a long time now, and I pray that with time, it will come to reality.

“We have also made appeal for the use of pension funds and unclaimed dividends for housing development, and when we had the retreat on housing in November, Mr President also welcomed the idea. I hope it won’t take long before we are able to do it,” she added.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Senator Bala Muhammad, said the FCTA had given the Ministry about 1, 000 plots of land to meet its need.

He described the initiative as being capable of addressing the high demand for housing in the country, especially in the Fedral Capital Territory.

54

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 5-2-13

Oando rights issue extended •Equities’ return hits 17.76 %

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ANDO Plc has extended the application period for its ongoing rights issue to February 20, 2013, giving shareholders opportunity to pick up their rights.

Oando is raising N54.6 billion through a rights issue of 4.55 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo at N12 per share. The rights were pre-allotted on the basis of two new ordinary shares for every ordinary share of 50 kobo each held as at the close of business on October 19, 2012 for Nigeria-registered shareholders and December 28, 2013 for South Africa-registered shareholders.

The rights issue had opened in Nigeria on December 28, 2012 and in South Africa on January 4, 2013. It was scheduled to close in both Nigeria and South Africa today, February 6, 2013.

The rights issue application process has however been encumbered by nationwide industrial action by retirees of the Nigeria Postal Services (Nipost), which closed down post offices for several days and many public holidays within the period.

The extension of the application period was meant to give fair opportunity to share-

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

holders to pick up their rights.

Registrars to Oando, First Registrars Plc stated that it has provided online link through which shareholders can download their pre-allotment rights application documents. Shareholders can also pick up duplicate application forms from First Registrars’ offices nationwide.

The rights issue is strategic to Oando’s long-term growth plan.

Net proceeds from the rights issue would be used to offset part of the company’s N60 billion syndicated loan used to fund the acquisition of upstream assets and swamp drilling rigs, partly finance acquisition of upstream and midstream assets by Oando’s upstream subsidiary, Oando Energy Resources (“OER”) and provide additional working capital.

Group chief executive, Oando Plc, Mr. Wale Tinubu, said the rights issue was in line with the company’s corporate strategy for balance sheet optimisation and the financing of growth initiatives in the upstream sector.

According to him, the successful outcome of the rights

issue would position Oando Plc to increase value for shareholders in the upstream through focused portfolio growth in production, cash margins and improved returns on capital deployed.

Meanwhile, equities at the Nigerian stock market rallied to a new momentum yesterday as upsurge in open buy market orders pushed up the aggregate market value of quoted shares by 1.16 per cent. The upswing nudged the average year-to-date return to 17.76 per cent.

With widespread gains, the benchmark index at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the All Share Index (ASI) improved by 379.34 points to close at 33,064.37 points. Total market capitalization of equities rose by N121.37 billion to close at N10.58 trillion.

The market situation was influenced largely by gains by several highly capitalised stocks including Guinness Nigeria Plc, which added N11.30 to hit a high of N295.51. Other highly capitalised advancers included FBN Holdings, Dangote Cement, Guaranty Trust Bank, Nestle Nigeria, Access Bank, Lafarge Wapco Cement Nigeria , Zenith Bank and United Bank for Africa.

Turnover stood at 725.29 million valued at N6.56 billion in 8,409 deals. Access Bank was the most active stock with 112.64 million shares valued at N1.35 billion in 347 deals

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 5-2-13

55

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

MONEY LINK

Monetary stance: RenCap favours cash reserve adjustment

A

DOWNWARD adjustment of the cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) would be more effective in relaxing the monetary policy stance than a rate cut, analysts at Renaissance Capital (RenCap) have advised.

In a report obtained by The Nation, the firm said that it was evident from the January Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) statement that the committee would prefer to keep monetary policy from becoming overly accommodative, so that it can contain inflation and sustain a firm naira.

It said the apex bank does not

By Collins Nweze

expect a change to the Cash Reserve Ratio from 12 per cent in 2013.

RenCap said the CBN may not reduce the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) within the first quarter.

The CBN had also retained the MPR at 12 per cent with a corridor of plus or minus two per cent, Standing Deposit Facility at 10 per cent and Standing Lending Facility at 14 per cent. It also maintained the Liquidity Ratio (LR) at 30 per cent and Cash Reserve Ratio at 12 per cent.

RenCap explained that the decision means that other forms of monetary policy, such as Open Market Operations (OMO), will continue to be the preferred method for managing liquidity.

It noted that inflation still remains above the CBN’s singledigit target. It said that pressures are expected to ease in upcoming months.

“Monetary easing may prove difficult in the wake of the new oil benchmark approved by the National Assembly, from $75 to $79, which increases the Government’s budget and potentially widening

the budget deficit in 2013. Quests to stabilize exchange rate means aggressive interest rate cuts are unlikely,” it said.

FBN Capital had said that the CBN was concerned that the government spending could offset the benign inflation outlook as two of the 10 members of the MPC in attendance voted for a cut of 25 basis points in the policy rate.

The Committee members argued that the stable exchange rate had helped to contain food price inflation in 2012. It also noted that food shortages rose as a result of the floods in the agricultural belt.

It did not share the CBN’s in-house forecasts and may not wish to encourage some of the more bullish commentary in the market.

FIRS to increase filing compliance by 10%

T

HE Acting Executive Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service, (FIRS), Alhaji Kabir Mashi, yesterday said that the corporate objective of the FIRS for 2013 is to increase filing compliance by 10 per cent .

He disclosed this in Abuja and urged all members of staff to key into the goal aggressively by setting target goals. He also urged them to achieve these goals with tenacity and enthusiasm.

He assured of the revenue agency management’s determination to continue to uphold the vision, mis-

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

sion and core values in current reform drive to fully transform its operations the Service and make the service one of the most disciplined institutions in the country.

Mashi expressed satisfaction with the success being made to boost its revenue generation and remittance capacity.

The tax expert commended the employees for their dedication to duty, which saw the total revenue collected rising to N5.007 trillion in 2012. The collection represented

the highest cumulative tax collected in the history of the FIRS. He recalled that out of this sum, N1.806 trillion (36.07 per cent) came from non-oil taxes while oil taxes contributed N3.201 trillion, representing 63.93 per cent.

He said also, compared with the N715.4billion seen in 2011, Companies Income Tax (CIT) returned N847.5 billion in 2012. Value Added Tax (VAT) was N710.5billion against N659.15billion in 2011, while Education tax (EDT) recorded N188.43 billion against the N130.74 billion in 2011.

Stanbic, CAT Financial partner to fund infrastructure

S

TANBIC IBTC Bank and Caterpillar Financial Services yesterday launched a partnership agreement that is expected to enhance Nigeria’s infrastructure and improve the socioeconomic condition of the country.

The deal will enable Stanbic IBTC Bank and Cat Financial Services provide a range of financial services to the Mantrac Unatrac Group of Caterpillar dealerships in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Sierra Leone.

Specifically, both firms are expected to provide funding to enable Mantrac Unatrac Group to acquire more equipment that will be available to its customers who are into road construction, power generation, distribution and manufacturing.

Yinka Sanni, CEO Stanbic IBTC

EU weighs Basel liquidity rule

E

UROPEAN Union officials are weighing how to adapt the bloc’s laws to international bank- liquidity rules agreed on by regulators earlier this month, Bloomberg report has said.

Diplomats from the EU’s 27 nations met yesterday to discuss the

January 6 deal reached by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. The EU must assess how the accord affects two draft laws that the bloc is working on to apply Basel standards in the 27- nation EU, the people said.

It said the Basel deal concerned a

liquidity coverage ratio that will force banks to hold enough easyto-sell assets to survive a 30-day credit squeeze. Regulators in Basel agreed to water down the measure compared to a draft version published in 2010, and to delay its full entry into force.

FGN BONDS Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 350m 150m 350m 138m 350m 113m

MANAGED FUNDS

NIDF NESF

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2012 “ 14-04-2012

GAINERS AS AT 5-2-13

SYMBOL UBN DANGSUGAR WEMABANK FIDSON FLOURMILL AIICO UNITYBNK TRANSCORP ROYALEX PRESTIGE

O/PRICE 8.70 7.74 1.01 1.32 72.82 0.92 0.72 1.57 0.65 0.78

C/PRICE 9.57 8.15 1.11 1.45 79.99 1.01 0.79 1.72 0.71 0.85

CHANGE 0.87 0.77 0.10 0.13 7.17 0.09 0.07 0.15 0.06 0.07

O/PRICE

ETERNA 4.63 FO 17.54 JOHNHOLT 1.62 LIVESTOCK 2.38 NB 166.65 LEARNAFRCA 2.25 STERNLBANK 3.00 DIAMONDBNK 7.47

C/PRICE 4.40 16.67 1.54 2.27 162.00 2.20 2.94 7.40

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%

Date 2-7-12 27-6-12 22-6-12

7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS

ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL BGL SAPPHIRE FUND BGL NUBIAN FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 136.24 143.99 0.80 1.13 1.02 100.00 1,000.00 1,786.50 14.17 1.39 1.87 10,544.96

9.08 1.00 135.83 143.77 0.78 1.13 1.00 100.00 1,000.00 1,785.11 13.48 1.33 1.80 10,237.62

• STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

NIBOR Tenor

NSE CAP Index

Name

CHANGE 0.23 0.87 0.08 0.11 4.65 0.05 0.06 0.07

Exchange Rate (N) 155.2 155.8 155.7

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Year Start Offer

LOSERS AS AT 5-2-13

SYMBOL

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m 113m

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

OBB Rate Call Rate

Bank welcomed the collaboration saying it is supportive of Cat Financial’s goal to increase its brand presence in Africa and grow business in southern, central and western Africa. “We value our existing relationship with Cat Financial and their growth plans resonate well with our own strategy,” he said.

Kent Adams, president of Cat Financial and vice president of Caterpillar Inc.: said: “The combination of the globally recognised Cat Financial brand with Standard Bank Group, which is a well respected and trusted financial institution within Africa, and its Nigerian operation Stanbic IBTC, creates a powerful competitive advantage for our dealer networks to enable them to obtain financing for their customers and enhance their sale of equipment.”

DATA BANK

Tenor

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

• CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

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, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

57

NEWS Lamido’s son gets bail

Why we suspended councils, by Ahmed

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

Offa/Erin-Ile: Opposition fuelled crisis, says Kwara PDP

A

FEDERAL High Court sitting in Kano yesterday granted bail to Aminu, the eldest son of Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido.

Aminu, who is on trial for money laundering, was arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, on December 11, last year, when he attempted to transport $50,000 out of the country.

He allegedly declared $10,000 to the Nigerian Customs.

After considering the bail application for the accused, Justice Fatu Riman ruled that the opposition to the bail by the prosecuting counsel S. H. Sa’ad would not tamper with investigation because the accused was initially granted administrative bail by EFCC on December 13, 2012.

Justice Riman averred that the accused, despite enjoying administrative bail, did not jump bail.

He said Aminu has been reporting to the EFCC whenever he was requested to do so.

The EFCC did not oppose to the bail application.

After establishing that the accused would not tamper with investigation, Justice Riman granted his bail application.

The judge wondered what type of investigation would warrant the accused to gain access to evidence.

He said Aminu only failed to appear in court on January 19, adding that this was said to have been caused by his illhealth.

ACN: we didn’t cause communal crisis

T •Ahmed

K

WARA State Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed has attributed the suspension of Offa and Oyun local governments to the inability of their chairmen to manage effectively the motor parks over which both communities started their recent clash.

The governor warned the communities that anybody found guilty of sponsoring the violence would face the full wrath of the law.

A statement in Ilorin, the state capital, by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Abdulwahab Oba, quoted

HE Kwara State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the state for allegedly fuelling the crisis between Offa and Erin-Ile communities.

In a statement by its Director of Publicity, Alhaji Mas’ud Adebimpe, the PDP said it “notes with nostalgia the ACN’s and CPC’s unpatriotic comments on the Offa/Erin-Ile communal clash by giving political coloration to the current sad development in the two communities”.

The PDP said the “reckless remarks” of ACN and CPC on the incident are …capable of depicting both as merely interested in political gains and benefits but careless about the peaceful co-existence of the communities”. It accused them of peddling rumours for alleging the culpability of the PDP ruling government in the crisis.

The statement said: “The utterances of ACN and CPC further confirm their shallow knowledge about the state as well as their loss of sense of history about the feud between Offa/ErinIle, which dates back to the military era. The Ahmed as saying: “On the premise of not being able to manage the parks, which are largely guided by bye-laws at the local government levels,

F

ORTY women whose husbands died in Boko Haram attacks in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, and neighbouring Jere, yesterday received N100,000 cash from the governor’s wife, Hajiya Nana Shettima.

Some of the women said they lost as many as six children and their husbands during the attacks.

One of the women, who drew tears from all at the cash

From Joseph Abiodun, Maiduguri

presentation, said her husband, a political appointee, and children, were killed in her presence by suspected members of the sect.

Hajiya Shettima, who has a foundation for widows, orphans and the less privileged, named SWOT, said she is always moved by the plight of vulnerable women and the

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

community development and environment intervention of Alaafia Kwara, an initiative she started as the governor’s wife and still continues to champion.

“This restored the original function of the area, which had hitherto fallen into shocking disrepair and disrepute under pre-2003 administrations as a den for drug addicts, armed robbers, commercial sex workers and others. The then governor’s wife also arranged and paid for the transfer and proper care of wild animals (a large crocodile, several snakes, camels and a baboon) to the University of Ilorin’s Zoological Department and Gardens, retaining only the donkey at the park.

“All these interventions were undertaken with the full knowledge and approval of the relevant state government ministries which expressed their gratitude. The finished product was officially presented to the Kwara State Government through the

Ministry of Women’s Affairs under whose remit the park then fell in 2005.

“At the time of Mrs Saraki’s intervention for improvement, the Ilorin Amusement Park bore a boldly inscribed plaque commemorating its inauguration as an amusement park in 1974 by the then military governor, Gen. Gorge Innih, of blessed memory.

“For any group to attempt to weave the good name or personage of either Senator Abubakr Bukola Saraki or that of Mrs Toyin Saraki into any supposed alienation of ownership or use of any property or lands is simply a mischievous and ill-advised exercise in futility. All the beneficiary sites of philanthropic gestures remained consistently under their ownership and management of the appropriately assigned ministries at all times.

“We would like to use this opportunity to remind Kwarans and Nigerians to be weary of information from individuals and organisations who will come forward with hollow accusations.”

FoI Act: Lawyer sues Energy Commission

A

the councils fell short of the expectations in their responsibilities to maintain law and order and in ensuring the safety of lives and property.”

The governor explained that the suspension of the councils was also a signal to all that laws are meant to be complied with and that those

Boko Haram: 40 widows get cash from Borno governor’s wife

Saraki absolves wife of complicity in alleged land sale F

ORMER Kwara State Governor Bukola Saraki has absolved his wife, Toyin, of any involvement in the purported sale of Ilorin Amusement Park’s land.

Mrs Saraki was reportedly named in a suit by some Ilorin elders.

Senator Saraki, who represents Kwara Central at the National Assembly, said there is no merit in the claim.

In a statement by his media aide, Akintoba Fatigun, the senator said: “Reasons as to why Mrs Toyin Saraki’s name has been included are unclear, but the record is available to anyone willing to know that there was never a transfer or acquisition of the said land by Mrs Saraki or anyone associated with her.”

The statement added: “It should also be noted that in 2004, Mrs Saraki beautified and renovated the existing structures at the Ilorin Amusement Park as part of her personal philanthropic gesture towards the community. She restored and upgraded the landscape and existing facilities and donated a modern playground installation for the use of the town’s children as a

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

PDP government, since inception of the present political dispensation, has done so much to ensure that all communities in the state live with one another in peace and harmony.”

The Kwara State ACN yesterday debunked the PDP claims that it orchestrated last week’s crisis in Offa/Erin-Ile. The party accused the Abdulfatah Ahmed administration of causing the crisis as a ploy to remove the ACN chairman of Offa Local Government, Prince Saheed Popoola.

ACN Kwara Chairman Kayode Olawepo told The Nation on phone that the government suspended the Offa council chair since it could not do so through legal means.

He said the two communities’ monarchs were the greatest culprits, adding that the government used the two councils as canon fodders to achieve its aim.

Olawepo said: “If anybody is to be removed, Governor Ahmed, as the Chief Security Officer of the state, should be the one to go, because of his inability to ensure security of life and property of Kwara residents.”

charged with the responsibility of implementing laws must always be proactive.

The statement said Ahmed spoke yesterday when the management of the Nigeria Navy School of Health Sciences visited him at the Government House to seek the government’s cooperation on how to tighten security across the state.

The governor said his administration would not allow anyone to abuse due process by destroying property and still expect the government to remain passive.

He stressed that the government has zero level tolerance for violence because this does not solve problems but create animosity.

Ahmed said the State Security Committee would be expanded to absolve the Nigeria Navy to strengthen the security of life and property.

The Commandant, Nigeria Navy School of Medical Services, Capt Ima Ansa said the Navy was ready to support the government’s security plans in order to enhance the protection of life and property.

LAWYER, Bob Olukoya, has sued the Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) and its Chairman, Dr. Franklin Osaisai, over unspent 2010 and 2011 budgets.

The plaintiff’s request for information, under the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act, was disregarded by the agency. This prompted him to approach the Federal High Court, Abuja.

In the suit before Justice Adeniyi Ademola, the plaintiff is seeking an order of mandamus com-

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

pelling the defendants to disclose the total amount it returned to the treasury as unspent funds in the 2010 and 2011 budgets.

The motion was brought pursuant to Section 7 and 20 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, and Order 34, Rules 1, 3 (1), (2) and 6 (b) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2009, and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.

poor.

She said the beneficiaries were selected from Maiduguri and Jere, being the most affected parts of the state in Boko Haram attacks.

The governor’s wife said the gesture would be subsequently extended to other parts of the state, adding that she would take away the pains and loss

of the beneficiaries.

Hajiya Shettima urged the women to use the money judiciously to support their families and stop begging on the streets for food.

The governor’s wife assured that the gesture would continue until it reaches other widows across the state.

The Commissioner for

Women’s Affairs Hajiya Inna Galadima said the ministry had set up a committee to go round the two local governments to residents whose homes were burnt or husbands killed.

She said the committee came back with a list, from which 40 women were selected for the first batch.

56

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

58

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

NEWS

Gunmen kill two soldiers, retired naval officer in Bayelsa

G

UNMEN yesterday killed two soldiers and a retired naval man in an ambush on Ekpelebiri-Angiama River in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa state.

Sources in the community told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that there was commotion as sound of gunfire between the gunmen and soldiers filled the air, sending people scampering for safety.

The driver of the motorised barge being used by the soldiers was reportedly taken hostage by the gunmen.

Media Coordinator of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in Yenagoa, Lt. Col Onyema Nwachukwu, said the slain soldiers were escorting an oil

barge belonging to Sterling Global Services Oil Company Ltd. There was no immediate comment from Sterling.

Col. Nwachukwu confirmed the killing of the soldiers in the attack.

He said the gunmen ambushed the soldiers and opened fire on them.

“I can confirm that some of our soldiers on board the barge belonging to Sterling Global Oil Resources Ltd. ran into an ambush along Angiama-Ekpelebiri waterways in Sagbama Local Government Area.

“There was a shoot-out between the soldiers and the gunmen.

“Two of our men lost their lives and two other civilians sustained injures,’’ Col.

Nwachukwu said, adding that three of the unidentified gunmen sustained gunshot injuries.

He said the military outfit had deployed troops in the area and were on the trail of the gunmen.

Another source in the community, who only gave his name as Tari, told NAN on telephone that after the attack, the military deployed gunboats to pursue the gunmen.

He said the gunmen escaped from the area in their speedboat with three of their colleagues who sustained bullet wounds.

NAN gathered that the remains of the slain soldiers and the civilian had been retrieved from the river and deposited in a mortuary.

12 governors endorse merger Continued from page 4

ty Contact Committee, told party members at a meeting in Kaduna that the ANPP would not accept any pre condition for the merger.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that former Kano State Governor Shekarau and other ANPP leaders from the zone were in Kaduna to take a common stand on the merger.

He said the meeting was to aggregate the opinion of all stakeholders in the North west that would guide the party in taking a final stand on the issue, adding that the merger would not be an “Abuja round table

affair”.

Shekarau said that the essence of the interparty contact committee was to receive the endorsement of party stakeholders and generate ideas that would strengthen the party.

“ANPP is presently undergoing transformation; if all opposition parties involved reach a successful conclusion, the ANPP with definitely be transformed.

“We would have had the interparty tour in all the states but because of the April deadline given by opposition parties, we have decided to have it in the four geo political zones, simul-

taneously today.

“After this, conclusion would be drawn on the way forward with all the opposition parties involved.”

Shekarau said that the ANPP would undertake a national survey to determine its strengths in each geo-political zone and on ways to fund its activities.

The former governor of Zamfara Senator Sani Yerima, dispelled the rumour that he had defected to the PDP. He described the rumour as unfounded, saying: “I have been a pioneer member of ANPP since 1999 and I will remain in ANPP without doubt.”

Tension in National Assembly over new states Continued from page 4

for 2015 elections.

“The Northern lawmakers are of the opinion that their zones may be shortchanged because the number of new states may be limited to one or two. They believe that there is an agenda to hide under parity factor to create one or two new states to achieve some political points.

“Going by the report of the poll conducted by the House Committee on Constitution Review, most Nigerians are opposed to state creation.

“We are awaiting the outcome of the survey of the Senate Constitution Review Committee on state creation. If the Senate’s survey favours new states, then a Joint Session of the two constitution review committees will hold to harmonise their positions on the proposal before it becomes a matter for constitution amendment.”

Another senator said: “Unless care is taken, the proposal for state creation might derail the ongoing constitution amendment process. Already, there is a cold war in the House.

“The Senate may not fare better as the issue is assuming North-South divide. No geopolitical zone wants to be left out of state creation. The President of the Senate is standing by his desire for new states.

“We are really set for a major crisis on this state creation palaver.”

A Senator from the NorthWest said: “We suspect that the presidency is driving this agenda on state creation to please the Southeast for Godknows what. And those coordinating it are not civil about it. They are saying willy-nilly the states must be created. This

is causing anger and tension in the National Assembly.

“The state creation is seen as an agenda against the core North, especially HausaFulani. This is a faulty take-off point.

“Do not forget that the agitators of new states require two-thirds consent from the 36 state Houses of Assembly. They can wish it; we can also use our strength to stop it.”

A source in Mark’s camp referred our correspondent to the consistent position of the President of the Senate on state creation.

“I do not think the President of the Senate has changed,” he said.

While receiving the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator Paulinus Igwe, in Oturkpo, Mark said: “The argument of those opposing state creation is based

on whether existing states are viable or not. But they forget that a state might be unviable just because the administrator is not ingenious with internal revenue generation or the people are not united and the administrator has to spend the available resources on achieving peace.

“I am for the creation of Apa state and any other state that may fit the conditions. I have never shied from my agitation for creation of additional states just as I have always called for the creation of roles for traditional rulers in the Constitution. The traditional rulers are the custodians of peaceful coexistence in our various local communities. We must, therefore, confer on them constitutional powers that would enable them to perform the roles of ensuring peace in the communities.”

Chime fit, says Nnamani Continued from page 4

himself.

“Our President will be very delighted. All Nigerians will be very impressed that we are fielding our own Ronaldo. In fact, Ronaldo Messi,” he said, adding: “I am sure he will win honours for us; tremendous one and people will say ‘ah, where have you been all this while’.

“So, the harder the ministry, the better he will perform. Whatever ministry he is assigned to, he is flexible enough and as God will have it, he is intellectually prepared and emotionally stable enough and religiously sound.

“You know I’m blowing my trumpet because I have one. If you have a good product, you can say things about it.

“Not that we have not had ministers from our place; we have always sent some first 11, but this is apt, as of now.

“I will like to congratulate my colleagues in the National Assembly particularly the Senate that has the constitutional role for the confirmation hearing. I’m sure he entertained the Senate in a robust manner.

“I watched the proceeding in Washington on our NTA and he was at home because one of the most difficult things, you may think you’re bright, that you know so much; when you enter that red carpet and questions start coming from left and right; if you recall during my time somebody was going through the same exercise all of a sudden, he collapsed.

59

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

FOREIGN NEWS

Transparency key to development, says Cameron The 2013 World Economic Forum ended in Davos, Switzerland, last week. British Prime Minister David Cameron, in his key note address, spoke on terrorism, tax evasion, Mali, corruption in Nigeria’s oil revenue receipts and otherss.

I

BELIEVE we are in the midst of a long struggle against murderous terrorists and the poisonous ideology that supports them.

As we have successfully put pressure on Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan, so Al Qaeda franchises have been growing for years in Yemen, Somalia and parts of North Africa – places that have suffered hideously through hostage-taking, terrorism and crime.

To defeat this menace, we’ve got to be tough, intelligent and patient – and this is the argument I’ll be making at the G8.

Let me be absolutely clear. There is a place for a tough security approach – including, at times, military action where necessary.

The French are right to act in Mali and I back that action. But we need to combine a tough security response with an intelligent political response.

We need to address the poisonous narrative these terrorists feed on, close down the ungoverned space in which they thrive and deal with the grievances they use to garner support.

This means using everything at our disposal – our diplomatic networks, our aid budget, our political relations, our military and security cooperation and yes: supporting – in those countries and elsewhere – the building blocks of democracy like the rule of law and a free media.

The Arab Spring remains part of the solution, not part of the problem.

Now I want to open up a new debate, too, on how we share the burden of meeting this threat.

The G8 can discuss how we can best divide up some of the work between us – and how we can partner up with the countries worst affected to overcome this threat and like I say, this will be right up there on our agenda.

But today, I want to focus on our economic priorities.

For all the countries in the G8, there is a big, looming, insistent question and that’s: how do we compete in this global race we are in today?

How do we succeed when other nations are growing, changing, innovating so fast?

A lot of the answers are clear.

Deal with your debts. Cut business taxes. Tackle the bloat in welfare. And crucially: make sure your

schools and universities are truly world-class.

In the UK we’ve been doing all these things. Less than three years in and we’ve cut the deficit by a quarter.

Our corporation tax rate is the lowest in the G7. In welfare reform we’ve been radical.

In education – revolutionary, busting open the state monopoly and allowing new schools to start up.

And crucially, to compete in this global race we are making sure that the UK is more outward-looking than ever before.

This is not about turning our backs on Europe – quite the opposite.

It’s about how we make the case for a more competitive, open and flexible Europe –and secure the UK’s place within it.

This is how I see it.Just over half of EU countries are in the single currency.

When you have a single currency you move inexorably towards a banking union and forms of fiscal union and that has huge implications for countries like the UK who are not in the Euro and never will be.

The club we belong to is changing. We can’t ignore this. Change is underway. And the debate about what this means is live. It’s happening now.

As I said yesterday, consent in the UK for the steps that have already been taken is wafer-thin.

Now some say just let those events unfold naturally. I say no – let’s try and shape them in the UK’s national interest.

Let’s negotiate a new settlement for Europe that works for the UK and then let’s get fresh consent for it. It’s not just right for the UK. It’s necessary for Europe.

Europe is being out-competed and out-invested – and it’s time we make it an engine for growth, not a source of cost for business and complaint for our citizens.

So I want the UK to look out – not in.

And that’s why – for the first time in a decade – UK foreign policy is on the advance.

By 2015 we’ll have opened up to 20 new diplomatic posts around the world and employed 300 extra staff in the fastest-growing regions of the world.

We are now one of only three European countries to be represented in every single country in ASEAN and we have the largest diplomatic

Poll: Obama urges Kenya to reject violence

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NITED States President Barack Obama has urged the people of Kenya, where his father was born, to avoid violence and intimidation in next month’s elections.

He posted the message, which begins with a greeting in Swahili, on YouTube.

He said the polls were a chance for Kenyans to come together to show they were not just members of tribes or ethnic groups, but a proud nation.

Kenya’s disputed presidential election in 2007 descended into violence in which more than 1,000 were killed.

Kenyans head to the polls on 4 March to vote for presi-

dent and other offices in the first national election since that violence.

“Kenya must reject intimidation and violence and allow a free and fair vote. Kenyans must resolve disputes in the courts, not in the streets,” Mr Obama said in the video message.

“Above all, the people of Kenya must come together before and after the election to carry on the work of building your country,” he added.

The US president’s father was born in Kenya and his step-grandmother, Sarah Obama, still lives in the village of Kogelo.

Barack Obama senior died in a road accident in Kenya in 1982.

•Cameron network in India of any nation.

We are a global nation, with global interests and global reach.

If you think all this is an unashamed advert for the UK and UK business – you’re absolutely right.

Everything I do is about making sure that we are not just competing in the global race but succeeding in it.

But my argument today – and the idea that drives the G8 this year – is that competing in the global race isn’t just about what we do at home.

It’s about the wider economy we all operate in, the rules that shape it, the fairness and openness that characterize it. We need more free trade. We need fairer tax systems.

We need more transparency on how governments – and yes, companies – operate.

Let me tell you why. It’s the oldest observation of the modern age that we are all inter-connected.

Communication is faster than ever. Finance is more mobile than ever.

And yet the paradox of this open world is that in many ways, it’s still so closed and secretive.

It’s a world where trade is choked off by barriers and bureaucracy.

It’s a world where some companies navigate their way around legitimate tax systems – and even low tax rates – with an army of clever accountants.

It’s a world where – regrettably – corrupt government officials in some countries and some corporations run rings around the letter and spirit of the law to rip off hard-working people and plunder their natural resources.

There’s a long and tragic history of some African countries being stripped of their minerals behind a veil of secrecy.

We can see the results: the government cronies get rich – some be-

yond their wildest dreams of avarice – while the people stay poor.

So it’s clear how this can be devastating for some developing countries.

But actually, all this matters massively to developed countries too.

When trade isn’t free we all suffer.

When some businesses aren’t seen to pay their taxes that is corrosive to public trust.

When shadowy companies don’t play by the rules that drives more box-ticking and regulation and that makes life harder for other businesses to make a profit.

That’s why I want this year’s G8 to bring a new focus on these issues.

First, we’re going to push for more openness on trade.

In late 2008 we saw the steepest fall in global trade ever and the deepest since the Great Depression.

More than four years on, and trade has still not recovered fully.

This should be foremost in the mind of every leader and every diplomat during those long negotiations on trade and there is a huge amount on the table today.

The US is leading efforts on the Trans Pacific Partnership.

In the EU, we are about to embark on our biggest-ever programme of Free Trade Agreement negotiations.

We’ve agreed the parameters for a trade deal with Singapore. Negotiations with Canada are in the final stages.

And we’re about to launch negotiations with Japan. Now there is the beginning of negotiations on an EUUS trade agreement. The EU and US together make up nearly a third of all global trade.

A deal between us could add over £50 billion to the EU economy alone.

Agreeing all the EU deals on the table could increase our GDP by 2 per cent and create over 2 million jobs across the EU. Trade between developing countries, and within Africa, is growing, and we will work to encourage that further.

And we must also continue to support the multilateral system.

That means working through the WTO to agree a deal to sweep away trade bureaucracy at the Ministerial Conference in Bali this December.

That could be worth around $70 billion to the global economy and help trade to flow freely across the world.

This is ambitious – but we must seize this opportunity to give a massive boost to trade across the world.

Second, we want to use the G8 to drive a more serious debate on tax evasion and avoidance.

This is an issue whose time has come. After years of abuse, people across the planet are calling for more action and most importantly, there is gathering political will to actually do something about it.

Again, let me put my cards on the table. I know there is a difference between tax evasion and avoidance.

Evasion is illegal. It can – and should – be subject to the full force of the criminal law.

But what about avoidance?

There’s nothing wrong with sensible tax planning – and there are some things governments want people to do to that reduce tax bills, such as investing in pensions, startup businesses or charities.

But there are some forms of avoidance have become so aggressive that I think it is right to say – these raise ethical issues – and it’s time to call for more responsibility and for governments to act accordingly.

In the UK we’ve already committed hundreds of millions into this effort – but acting alone has its limits.

Clamp down in one country and the travelling caravan of lawyers, accountants and financial gurus just moves on elsewhere.

So we need to act together at the G8.

I want this G8 to lead a big push for transparency across the developing world.

To illustrate why, let me give you one example.

A few years back a transparency initiative exposed a huge black hole in Nigeria’s finances – an $800 million discrepancy between companies’ payments and government’s receipts for oil. This is leading to new regulation of Nigeria’s oil sector – so the richness of the earth can actually enrich the people of that country.

And the potential is staggering.

Last year Nigerian oil exports were worth almost $100 billion, more than total net aid to the whole of sub-Saharan Africa.

Put simply, unleashing the natural resources in these countries dwarfs anything aid can achieve – and transparency is critical to that.

So we’re going to push for more transparency on who owns companies, on who’s buying up land and for what purpose, on how governments spend their money, on how gas, oil and mining companies operate, on who is hiding stolen assets and how we recover and return them.

Like everything else in this G8, the ambitions are big – and I make no apology for that.

Thirty years ago more than half the planet lived on the equivalent of $1.25 a day or less.

Today it is around a fifth. This amazing story of human progress shows what’s possible.

We can be the generation that eradicates absolute poverty in our world.

But we’ll only achieve that if we break the vicious cycle and treat the causes of poverty, not just its symptoms.

Microsoft votes $12b for Africa’s development

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NITED States’ technology giant Microsoft Corporation yesterday unveiled a package of $12 billion for Africa in the next three years to empower youths on the continent.

Emmanuel Onyeje, Country manager of Microsoft Anglophone West Africa, who announced this in Lagos, said the firm has launched Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative, through which it would be involved in Africa’s economic development to improve its global competitiveness.

Onyeje said the firm’s efforts would focus on accelerating the adoption of smart devices, empowering small and medium businesses, and up-levelling skill

By Lucas Ajanaku

development to ignite African innovation in the world.

He said by 2016, Microsoft projects to place millions of smart devices in the hands of African youths, bring one million African Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) online, up-skill 100,000 members of Africa’s existing workforce, and help 100,000 recent graduates develop skills for employability, 75 per cent of which Microsoft will help place in jobs.

Onyeje said: “Microsoft wants to invest in that promise, which recognises Africa’s promise. We want to empower African youths, entrepreneurs, developers and business as well as civic leaders to turn great ideas

into reality that can help community, their country, the continent and beyond.

“The initiative is built on the belief that technology can accelerate growth for Africa and Africa can also accelerate technology for the world.”

He said Microsoft was motivated to embark on the projects as part of its contributions to Africa’s transformational initiatives.

The Country manager also announced that Microsoft has developed a new online hub through which Africa SMEs would have access to free, relevant products and services from Microsoft and other partners.

“The hub will aggregate the available services,

which can help them expand their business locally, find new business opportunities outside their immediate geography and help increase their overall competitiveness,” he said.

As a welcome offer, he said Microsoft would provide free domain registration for the period of one year and free tools for qualifying SMEs interested in creating a professional web presence.

According to him, as a first step towards the adoption of smart devices, Microsoft has partnered with Huawei to introduce the Huawei 4Afrika, a full functionality Windows Phone 8, which will come pre-loaded with select applications for Africa.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

NEWS Edo ACN screens 119 aspirants From Osagie Otabor, Benin

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HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Edo State has screened 119 chairmanship aspirants who bought its forms to contest in the party primaries on Saturday.

The Secretary, Osaro Idah, described the turnout of aspirants as poor owing to the number of people who showed interest in the council elections.

Idah told reporters yesterday that the aspirants would be screened in line with the constitutional requirement for candidates to contest in an election.

He said all qualified aspirants would be cleared to contest in the party primaries.

The ACN scribe reiterated the party’s stand against imposition of candidates and described those protesting against alleged imposition as “lazy aspirants”.

He said: “There will be primaries on Saturday that all party members will be proud of.

“We are working according to the dictates of our party’s constitution.”

The Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Matthew Urhoghide, said many aspirants have bought forms to contest under the party’s banner.

He was, however, silent on the day fixed for the primaries.

Furore over Edo YES working days

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N estimated 200 youths employed under the Edo State Youth Employment Scheme (Edo YES) were not paid their January stipend for failing to meet the approved 22 minimum working days.

The youths are part of the 1,000 workers employed in 2009 on a monthly stipend of N20, 000.

The workers, through their spokesperson, Miss Ethel Uhunamure, said their letters of appointment showed their working days as Monday through Friday.

Ms Uhunamure said: “But the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Environment and Beautification, Ms Gillian Ochugbo, added Saturdays.

“We protested the addition but were ignored only to dis-

Fed Govt begins winding down of Amnesty programme T HE Federal Government is winding down the Amnesty programme in preparation for the 2015 conclusion of the fiveyear youth empowerment scheme, it was learnt yesterday.

The government has accepted the request of Itsekiri youths, who demanded an extension of the deadline for submission of names of exmilitants, who were excluded in 2009.

The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman, Amnesty Programme, Mr Kingsley Kuku, said the Federal Government had no intention of extending the programme beyond 2015.

He said neither would an-

From Dele Anofi, Abuja

other phase be included in the exercise.

Kuku spoke yesterday in Abuja when the executive committee of Itsekiri National Youth Council, led by its National President, David Tomwe, visited him.

According to the presidential aide, the Federal Government was working with a document to execute the programme, which was designed for five years.

He said: “As long as this office is concerned, we have commenced our winding down

programme, in line with the Amnesty Programme document.

“I make bold to say that we have no plan to stay beyond that date.

“It is only the Federal Government with the National Assembly that can change that date.

“Furthermore, there is also no plan to create another phase for this programme.

“What we have going on now is not a third phase of the programme but the inclusion of 2,000 agitators.

“So it is a misnomer to say that there is a third phase, there

is no third phase and there won't be a third phase.”

Tomwe urged the Amnesty Office for an extension of time for the submission of a list of 500 delegates from Itsekiri communities for inclusion in the programme.

Granting the extension, Kuku said the inclusion of the youths was not an issue as they went through due process while surrendering their arms in October 2009.

He, however, urged the people to seize the educational opportunity presented by the programme in the interest of the growth of the region and of self -development.

From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin City

cover that they started calculating Saturday as a working day.

“But many of us work for 16, 18, and even 20 of the working days in January but she says we will not be paid.”

Ms Ochugbo said the protest was baseless as the protesters failed to meet the minimum working days as stipulated in their letters of employment.

“Before now we discovered that over 80 per cent of them were collecting salaries without coming to work. Some would come three days in a month, others nine days.

“So we introduced payment for a minimum 20 working days in a month, yet most fail to come to work.”

EFCC arraigns 20 'Internet fraudsters' From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

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HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned 20 suspected Internet fraudsters before a Federal High Court sitting in Benin, Edo State.

EFCC's spokesman Wilson Uwujaren said the accused were arrested, following a tip-off by men of the Joint Task Force (JTF), who had mounted a surveillance on a deceptive building at 56 Siluko Street, Benin.

Uwujaren said Peter Sunday (alias Richmon), believed to be the leader of the syndicate, was arrested with 19 others.

Forty computers and other hardware were seized.

He said: “The suspects were arrested, following a tip-off from the JTF. The suspects operated from a cyber café, so intricately designed it will never occur to anybody that any criminal activity took place there.”

The suspects, who were slammed with a six-count charge, pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Justice K. M. Elima admitted them to bail on N1million each and a surety with landed property within the jurisdiction.

Hearing was adjourned till March 4.

•Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi administering polio vacine to a baby at the flag-off of the Kick Polio Out Of Nigeria campaign in Degema, Rivers State

Reps to UNEP: monitor Ogoni oil spill report T

HE House of Representatives has urged the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) to monitor the implementation of its report on the Ogoni oil spill.

Speaking yesterday at a meeting with the UNEP delegation, led by Erik Solheim, special envoy of the Executive Director of UNEP, the Chairperson of the House Committee on Environment, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, said there was a need to monitor the impleFrom Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt mentation of the clean up to HE National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) forestall “ a misapplied effort.”

The meeting, which was at has filed an appeal against a Federal High Court judgment in Lagos in favour of a firm, the Secure Elec- the instance of the UNEP, was “to engage key stakeholders tronic Technology (SET) Plc. The court had ruled that the NLRC had no right to issue on the anticipated work in the environmental restoration of licences despite the Lottery Act. The NLRC’s appeal is predicated on the fact that a National Ogoniland.”

Lottery Act 2005 preserves its right to issue lottery licences and the right takes precedent over the licence issued to SET Plc in 2001.

In its appeal, the NLRC said the substantive matter is pendHE body of the ing in the Federal High Court, Abuja and the ruling by the younger brother of a Lagos court was based on a suit by the shareholders of SET. former member of the The commission said it has no dealings with the share- Bayelsa State House of Asholders called the Constance Shareholders Association of sembly, Frank Otele, has Nigeria that filed the suit at the Federal High Court, Lagos. been found, three weeks afThe NLRC said the Act limits the duration of the licence to ter he was declared missing.

SET Plc to a minimum of 10 years and maximum of 15 years.

According to his family, the It is within the discretion of the commission to decide the decomposed body of Donbra duration of the licence based on whether the company has Otele was found in Emohua acted in fairness and without reproach.

Local Government Area of “From the records, the contribution of SET Plc to the Na- Rivers State. tional Lottery Trust Fund is dismal. They have not returned It was buried at the council their statutory returns as required by sections 25, 26 and 27 cemetery by the officials who of the National Lottery Act,” said the commission. discovered it.

National Lottery Commission appeals court ruling

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From: Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

Mrs. Ekwunife noted that in instances whereby the company that compensates gives the job to local contractors for a clean-up, incompetent contractors are used and the problem persists.

She assured that the House would work to ensure the integrity of the clean up, adding that it is concerned about heavy pollution in the Niger Delta.

She said: “The people of Ogoni have suffered tremendously for no crime of their own.

“Their only crime is having

oil on their land and allowing Shell and multinational oil companies to exploit them.

“In return, instead of prosperity, Ogoni, like the rest of Niger Delta, is paid with tears and blood.

“The lands were contaminated, water polluted, economic life destroyed, environment abused and the people brutalised.”

According to the lawmaker, there were certain aspects of the country’s law which have to be amended to ensure that such does not recur.

The committee chair, however, disagreed with the

•Mrs Ekwunife

UNEP recommendation that the Federal Government should pay 20 per cent of the required funds to clean up the affected areas, saying Shell should be fully responsible for the clean up.

Body of ex-Bayelsa lawmaker's brother found

T

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

It was gathered that some relations are doubtful of the identity of the body.

They are insisting on an autopsy but they could not present their case because their eldest brother, Frank, has accepted that his younger brother is dead, based on the information received from the council officials.

The victim's younger sis-

ter, Linda, said Donbra was declared missing on January 20, when he left the family house in Port Harcourt to attend a church service and did not return.

She said: "He was okay when he left the house for church but after the service, we all expected to see him at home but he didn't return and that marked the beginning of the search.

“It was later that we got information from Emohua

council officials who said they discovered a decomposed body.

“Though those who went there confirmed that the body was him but some of us are still saying there is need to investigate because he had been buried before we were contacted.”

Frank refused to pick his calls but he replied a text message sent to him and said: “My brother Donbra is dead.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

61

NEWS ACN candidate appeals tribunal ruling on Agbado Oke-Odo council poll

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HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and its candidate for Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, Dr. Augustine Arogundade, have appealed the judgment of the Election Petition Tribunal (EPT) which nullified their victory in the last council election.

Their lawyer and former Lagos Attorney-General, Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), yesterday urged the Local Government Election Appeal Tribunal to extend the time for compiling and transmitting the records of appeal from the EPT. He also asked for an order deeming the records of the appeal already complied and transmitted as properly done.

Osinbajo, represented by Mr. A. O. Shobayo, said the EPT could not compile the on time as stipulated by the rules because the secretary could not complete typing of proceedings on time due to their busy schedule.

According to him, by the time typing and compilation were completed last December 10, the time had lapsed.

But the Peoples Democratic

By Joseph Jibueze

Party (PDP) and its candidate, Otunba Busari Akande, objected, urging the court to strike out the appeal because it has lapsed by operation of the law.

Their lawyer, Kunle Kalejaye (SAN) argued that going

by Section 14(2) of the Lagos State Local Government Election Tribunal Law, the appeal ought to be heard within 21 days of filing.

The lawyer said the Appeal Tribunal, therefore, has no jurisdiction to hear and determine the appeal as its right to adjudicate on it had expired by law.

The tribunal fixed February 20 for ruling on whether it has jurisdiction the hear appeal.

The Justice Ade Awobiyiled EPT had voided the certificate of return earlier issued Arogundade by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC).

It held that the PDP candidate won the election, which the ACN candidate is now challenging.

2013 UTME: Reps summon minister, JAMB Registrar From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

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HE House of Representatives yesterday summoned the Minister of Education, Prof Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i and Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Profr Dibu Ojerinde, over the computer-based testing policy adopted for this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

They are to explain what the lawmakers described as “policy somersault” over the computer-based training (CBT) adopted

by JAMB as well as the law through which they derived the powers to contract out the conduct of examinations to private firms.

The House also directed the JAMB to suspend its newly introduced CBT for the examination scheduled for Saturday, April 27, and revert to its paper and pencil-based examinations.

The House resolution followed a motion by member, Aliyu Madaki, under matters of Urgent Public Importance.

Madaki said there was no cogent reason for changing the take-off of the policy from 2013 to 2015, adding that the firms to which the exercise was contracted had not been made public.

PDP backs First Ladies’ Mission House

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HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has supported the controversial N4billion African First Ladies’ Mission House and the N7billion new city gate project as proposed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the territory’s 2013 budget.

PDP also justified the N5billion proposed by the FCT for the rehabilitation of prostitutes in the Federal Capital Territory.

A statement yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

Metuh, slammed critics of the proposed projects, including the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

Metuh described opposition to the proposals as a “disparate coalition seeking to wrest power through deceit, lies and deliberate misinformation aimed at discrediting the PDP-led Federal Capital Territory Administration under the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed.”

Jonathan’s wife opens N650m youth centre From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

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IRST Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, yesterday opened a N650 million Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Youth Support Centre at Nyanya.

She urged well-meaning individuals, corporate bodies and other youth development agencies to support the development and smooth operation of such centres.

Mrs. Jonathan said that Abuja as the seat of government was a natural attraction to youths from all parts of the country who besieged it in search of jobs, which were often not available.

“But I am confident that the training programmes and skills to be imparted at this centre will provide a robust platform for youth empowerment, job creation, moral reorientation and acquisition of work based competencies, for self reliance, social security and nation building,” she said.

•Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Dame Oluremi Oyo (left), introducing Minister of Youth Development, Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir (third left), to the agency's Director, Finance and Accounts, Mr Jones Afolabi, and Executive Director of Marketing, Mr Jide Adebayo, during the minister's visit to the agency's headquarters in Abuja...yesterday

Kidnappers demand ransom from church on abducted priest T HERE were fears yesterday among Christians in Onitsha and its environs, following the abduction of a cleric with the Anglican Diocese of the Niger, Anambra State, Rev. James Achigbu.

The Christian residents were worried about the safety of the cleric as the abductors demanded ransom from the church.

The church has begun praying to God to touch the hearts of the kidnappers to release the cleric unconditionally.

Rev. Achigbu, of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Umunachi, Dunukofia Local Government, with his wife, Uju, was driving home last Saturday at 8pm after visiting St. John’s Parish in Eziowelle when a gang of kidnappers blocked their vehicle

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

and took the cleric away.

Addressing reporters yesterday, the Bishop on the Niger, Rev. Owen Nwokolo, decried the incursion of kidnappers into Christendom.

The cleric said the church was praying for those who kidnapped Rev Achigbu to release him unconditionally.

Bishop Nwokolo said the kidnappers ought to have released Achigbu since last Saturday because they should have discovered that he is a clergyman.

The bishop stressed that the church has no money to pay

ransom.

Nwokolo was represented by the Venerable in charge of Ogidi Archdeaconry, Ven. Obi Ubaka.

He said: “Rev Achigbu was with his wife when he was kidnapped between Eziowelle and Umunachi communities by unknown gunmen. Since then, we have not seen the Honda Accord vehicle they rode in. The kidnappers are demanding ransom, but we are not a business organisation to have ransom to pay them.

“His wife was left there where he was kidnapped and one of the kidnappers drove in her husband’s Honda Accord. They drove the cleric in

another vehicle to an unknown destination. They should not have kidnapped him in the first place.

“We are a church group and we are known for prayers. We have been praying for the kidnappers to release our brother reverend as we are praying for them. The church will continue to pray for them.

They should release him to us.”

Police spokesman Emeka Chukwuemeka said security agents are on the trail of the kidnappers.

Chukwuemeka promised to get back to our reporter for an update on the matter. But he did not call back.

Hajj: Sultan, senator, others restate support for govt sponsorship T

HE Sultan of Sokoto and Amiru’l Hajj, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged the Federal Government not to withdraw its sponsorship of pilgrims to holy lands.

The sultan said there is need for Nigerian authorities to take a firm stand on Muharam to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj exercise.

The conveyance of Nigerian pilgrims during last year’s Hajj was temporarily disrupted when some women pilgrims were barred from going to Medina because the need for male relations to accompany

From Dele Anofi, Abuja

female pilgrims under 40 years was being implemented.

Abubakar spoke yesterday in Abuja at the opening of a two-day post-mortem conference on last year’s Hajj.

The sultan hailed the Federal Government for the successful execution of the last holy pilgrimage.

He said the exercise was

successful when viewed against the background of some challenges pilgrims and authorities encountered during the pilgrimage and how they were surmounted.

Drawing from the objective of the conference: To review the 2012 Hajj operation and identify suitable strategies for improvement, the Muslim leader said: “It has become imperative to engage the Nigerian and Saudi authorities on the

issue of Muharam.

“They have to look at the fact that we are predominantly of Maliki school of jurisprudence. We don’t expect someone to order us to follow something else. Even though it is a give-and-take issue, there is still the need for engagement and enlightenment.

“I urge this conference to take a stand, which will be in the best interest of the country and the Muslim Ummah, so that as we prepare for this year’s excessive, we don’t fall into the same trap again.”

Igbo body calls for ‘unrestricted’ probe of Ezu River bodies

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GROUP, Igbo National Council (INC), yesterday called for what it called an unrestricted investigation into the dumping of bodies into Ezu River in Amansea community of Anambra State, by unknown people.

The group said it would not want the investigation to be skewed towards a particular direction but an all-inclusive probe.

In a communiqué by its Chairman, Chilos Godsent and Secretary, Comrade Zulu Ofoelue, INC urged those behind the incident to report to the

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

police.

The communiqué reads: “The INC demands an immediate and thorough investigation into the incident in order to bring the perpetrators of the evil act to book. We also demand the immediate arrest and prosecution of security operatives stationed at the riverside within the period of the incident.

“The INC also demands an autopsy and fingerprint checks on the bodies of the deceased to determine the re-

mote and immediate causes of their death.

“The discovery is regrettable and shows the ineffectiveness, ineptitude and weakness of the security system in Nigeria. It is unfortunate that the bodies were not discovered for about three days, despite the presence of a combined team of Army and the police at a checkpoint a few metres from the river, until they began to stink and attract the interest of journalists.

“The complicity of the police and Army in hurriedly

burying the bodies without investigation and autopsy implicates the heads of the security forces. The INC, therefore, called for the immediate sack of the Commissioners of Police of Enugu and Anambra states; the Deputy Director of the State Security Service (SSS) in Enugu and Anambra states and the commandants of the military base that posted soldiers to the spot.

The INC notes that the dismal political status of Ndigbo in Nigeria is a thing to worry about.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

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SPORT EXTRA

Win trophy and get surprise package, Jonathan tells Eagles

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday promised to adequately reward the Super Eagles if they win all their remaining matches in the ongoing African Cup of Nations in South Africa and bring the Cup back to Nigeria.

Jonathan, in a Skype call to the players and the coaches, said that Nigerians are solidly behind them and they should make Nigerians proud by beating Mali in their semi-final match today.

The President, who first spoke to coach Stephen Keshi and Daniel Amokachi before speaking individually with each member of the team and officials, said that the government would make them “proud young men” if they bring back the Cup. He said: "On behalf of this country I want to tell you that Nigerians are very happy with your performance. We are

•No team can stop Eagles now, says Ekeji From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja looking up to you. Just last night we kicked off our Centenary celebrations. We believe that you will bring the Cup to your fatherland this year.”

“We are very hopeful and proud of you all. We are all happy with what you have done and we want you to do more.

Nigerians are proud of you. We expect that you will bring the Cup this year. The country promises you the best" he added.

Coach Keshi assured the president that the spirit of the boys was high and the President’s call will go a long way to motivate the boys more.

The Team’s captain, Joseph Yobo also assured the President that the team will do its best to bring back the Cup. "We appreciate you and by the grace of God we will bring back the Cup to you." he stated The President of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Aminu Maigari promised President Jonathan, on behalf of the team, to bring back the Cup

so that the Mr. President’s smile, would be broader".

Also speaking with the State House correspondents later, the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr. Patrick Ekeji said that the team is happy with the President's call and it is a big boost to them.

"I can assure you that the boys are really inspired. The watershed of this competition was the match against Ivory Coast. Nobody can stop our team anymore. Our boys now want the Cup. I will call for drinks tomorrow (today) because the boys will maul Mali," he added.

Eagleswill make Nigerians proud again —Olowude

A

HEAD of tonight’s semi-final encounter between Nigeria and Mali, the Official Insurer of Nigeria’s national football teams, Industrial and General Insurance Plc (IGI), has reiterated that the Super Eagles will not disappoint Nigerians in the ongoing tournament in South Africa.

“As a frontline corporate promoter and keen follower of the game of football, IGI is fully persuaded that the Super Eagles will make Nigerians proud in South Africa. We said it at the onset of the competition that notwithstanding the initial faltering start, the Eagles will eventually get their acts together and soar to reckoning. Every match vindicates our position,” the Executive vice Chairman, Mr. Remi Olowude, said.

Keshi targets double S

TEPHEN Keshi is targeting becoming only the second man to win the Africa Cup of Nations as a player and coach.

The only previous coach to achieve the feat is Egyptian Mahmoud El Gohary, who won the title in 1959 as a player and in 1998 as Pharaohs’ boss.

Keshi captained Nigeria to the title in 1994 and steered them to the semi-finals in South Africa with a 2-1 victory over favourites Ivory Coast.

"Records are there to be broken," the Nigeria coach told BBC Sport.

"It will be a great achievement.

[But] I prefer to take it one game at a time, because no one gave

us a chance to be here in the first place.

"Every professional wants to have his name written in gold and I would love that, but we must work hard at every step to achieve that.

"My players are playing for the country, not Stephen Keshi, but if they go one step [further] by fulfilling that record, then I will be very happy to be in such an exclusive club."

Famed for steering Togo to the 2006 World Cup for the first time in their history, Keshi played in five Nations Cup tournaments with the Super Eagles and is now appearing at the tournament for the third time as a coach.

On Wednesday, he comes up

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against a Mali team containing a number of the players he coached at the 2010 finals, when he was Eagles’ boss.

"Things didn't work out in 2010, but that's all in the past now," he said. "[Mali] have turned things around and finished in third place last time out, but this is big for Nigeria and Mali.

"I don't have anything like revenge in mind, that's for little minds. I'm here as coach of Nigeria and a citizen of my country.

"What is important is to put out a great team that will create history for Nigeria. The fans are happy again but we need to go two steps further."

Ikpeazus host Flying Eagles in Onitsha Thursday

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HE family of one of the founding fathers of modern Nigeria football and two time Chairman of the NFA, Late Rt. Hon Justice Chuba Ikpeazu will on Thursday at Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra State, host the Nigeria U-20 team, the Flying Eagles who are currently undergoing a 3-week camping and playing tour in Anambra state at the Neros Sports Stadium, Nanka.

According to the programme of activities released by the Ikpeazu family through one of the children of the Late Jurist, and former Chairman of Anambra United Football Club, Barrister Odi Ikpeazu, on behalf of the Family, said the hosting earlier scheduled for Wednesday was shifted to Thursday due to Super Eagles’ semi final tie against Mali.

"The hosting ceremony will start with a friendly match between the Flying Eagles and our kate father’s club, Ikpeazu Redoubtables which was a foremost football club in Nigeria in the 60s."

The friendly Match will start by 3.pm at the Ikpeazu Mini Stadium in Onitsha.

After the friendly encounter, the Flying Eagles

will retire to the country home of the late NFA Boss where the team will pay respects at the mausoleumof the late Justice Chuba Ikpeazu before the hosting ceremony will commence.

Several dignitaries are expected to attend the ceremony including His Royal Highness, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Dr. Alfred Achebe and Senator Andy Uba. The family of Late Rt. Hon. Ikpeazu, accoding to Barrister Odi, feel it is obligatory for the family to host the Flying Eagles who are camping in Anambra State bearing the football antecedents of late Ikpeazu, who was one of the forerunners of Nigeria Football financing the great Ikpeazu Redoubtables Football Club as far back as in the 60s.

Barrister Ikpeazu continued “We are proud to host the Flying Eagles in Onitsha because the young lads are only working hard to bring glory and honour to the nation. So l call on all well meaning Nigerians to rally round the Flying Eagles and support the team with both prayers and material encouragement for them to achieve glory for the country”.

Laloko calls for regulation of soccer viewing centres

F

ORMER NFF Technical Director, Kashimawo Laloko, has called for the regulation of the activities of football viewing centres in the country to create a conducive atmosphere for viewers.

He made the call during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abeokuta while reacting to the death of a 40year-old man, Moshood Ismail, at a viewing centre.

The man died on Sunday at a viewing centre in Abeokuta while watching the Nigeria/Cote D'Ivoire match at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) taking place in South Africa.

The deceased was said to have died from excessive intake of carbon-dioxide, a condition the doctor referred to as "Anoxia".

Laloko, who said that most of the centres operate under sub-human conditions, added that some of the centres were operating illegally.

The former technical adviser said local governments should supervise the operation of such centres, which would

also serve as a revenue generation for the state government.

He frowned at the inability of the Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) to secure a broadcasting right for the `live' transmission of the match.

He added that ``such deaths could have been avoided if the deceased had watched it in the comfort of his sitting room.

“Most of the viewing centres operate under strict commercial basis and owners care less about the comfort of viewers. They lack proper ventilation and viewers argue a lot, which could lead to rise in adrenaline levels. Such things should not be allowed to continue.''

Laloko counseled soccerloving Nigerians to watch the matches dispassionately and take into consideration their health before going into crowded places to watch the matches.

Nigeria defeated Cote D'Ivoire 2-1 to qualify for the semi-final of the AFCON tournament and would meet Mali on Wednesday.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

63

TODAY IN THE NATION

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL 8 NO.2,392

‘The logic of Nigeria’s involvement in Mali is that it is quite easier and cheaper, in terms of human and material resources, to fight terrorism outside the shores of the country than within’ DELE AGEKAMEH

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

I

WAS a visiting professor in Paris last fall and it was the first day of class. I was making copies for my 10:30 class at the faculty lounge where two female professors were kibitzing by the coffee machine.

“Oh, yeah,” one said. “Soon as I learned he’s Nigerian, I discounted everything he’d said as fraud.”

“Smart move,” agreed the other, nodding, “nothing good’s ever come out of that country. ...”

I cringed, held my breath and skedaddled on to my classroom, where my students wanted to know my nationality. I’m American. “Bot Professa,” an African student’s hand flew up, “ware you from originally? I hear the voice of Africa.”

I inhaled deeply, chuckled but ignored that question.

When I left Nigeria for the United States in 1980, the plan was to earn an M.B.A., a doctorate in economics, and then return. It was my moral obligation to help develop my country, whose oil wealth financed my education.

An M.B.A., a Ph.D. and 32 years later, I’m still here, abroad. In 1992, when I applied for a position at my alma mater, the University of Ibadan, the dean replied, “Why on earth would you want to return when everybody’s trying to escape?” No one’s been paid for over three months, he explained, and universities are on strike half the time.

Twenty years later, Nigeria can still bring the crazy.

In 1980, the naira had a very favorable exchange rate against the dollar. En route to the United States, I stopped over in London. All along King’s Road, the shopkeepers beckoned: “Nigerian? Welcome. Come inside.” I was proud to be from Nigeria and was offended when the country was confused with Niger. But, today, if I can pass for someone from Niger — sadly, I would be glad.

Is there a person on the planet who remains unfamiliar with the Nigerian e-mail scam?

As a Nigerian living abroad, I’ve become embarrassed — indeed scared — after learning that in February 2003 a Czech victim of an Internet fraud murdered an innocent Nigerian in Prague.

That isn’t the scariest narrative — not by a long shot. In recent years, Nigerians abroad have been warned: “Don’t come home. Just send money.” But if one must, say, attend a wedding, a funeral or take a chieftaincy title, it is necessary to hire prearranged police pro-

OPEN FORUM By MAY AKABOGU-COLLINS

A Nigerian Spring Long Overdue

•Some kidnap suspects

tection from the moment you land at the airport until the moment you depart.

Last summer, my ailing 87-year-old mother, worried that her days are numbered, called a family reunion for Christmas. My three U.S.based siblings and I made plans to return home with all our kids. At the last minute, my brother sent an e-mail canceling the reunion. “What?” my daughter said, her glass of iced tea slipping out of her hands and shattering on the tile floor. Uncle Tony can’t guarantee our safety in Nigeria, I explained.

“What about hired armed security like the last time?” she inquired. I showed her the link to the news report my brother had sent head-

RIPPLES

lined, “Gunmen Kill U.S. Returnee in Enugu,” his hometown in Nigeria.

Ogbo Edoga had returned from the United States to attend the meeting of an organisation of Nigerian professionals in the United States to raise funds for an ultramodern medical diagnostic center in his ancestral village.

On his way, he was robbed and shot and killed with an AK-47. He had hired police protection, as had many Nigerians who visited our motherland only to be robbed and murdered. The lucky ones got kidnapped and released after their families paid a huge ransom. And now, Mom’s joined the choir: “Don’t come home.”

HARDBALL

CORRUPTION RESPONSIBLE FOR NONCOMPLETION OF AJAOKUTA STEELNDOMA-EGBA

•This article first appeared in the New York Times on February 1 •May Akabogu-Collins is a visiting professor of economics at the American Business School in Paris •Mohammed Haruna returns next week •For comments, send SMS to 08023211188

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

More controversies for African First Ladies

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You call it Ajaokuta Steel, we call it AJAOKUTA STEAL

‘When corrupt politicians persistently embezzle public funds rather than produce proper policies, the result is a stagnant economy and its attendant human misery — high unemployment and massive poverty’

Here’s what is shameful: This is the Nigeria that has been one of the world’s top 10 oil exporters for decades; the presumed “Giant of Africa” when I was leaving in 1980. But three decades later, despite a half-century of billions of petrodollar inflow, in March 2011, at a World Bank-O.E.C.D. conference in Paris, I found myself sliding down my chair to hide my face behind my laptop as a fellow economist explained why Nigeria was excluded in a comparative study thusly: Since Nigeria (with South Africa) dominates the Sub-Saharan African economy and since Nigeria does so poorly at wealth creation, if included, it would render Sub-Saharan Africa’s genuine savings dwarfish vis-à-vis East Asia and Latin America.

Here’s the thing: One doesn’t need a Ph.D. in economics to understand the correlation between poverty and today’s high crime rate in Nigeria. When corrupt politicians persistently embezzle public funds rather than produce proper policies, the result is a stagnant economy and its attendant human misery — high unemployment and massive poverty.

Marginalised youths resort to Internet scams, kidnapping, or join Boko Haram. When the police go unpaid for months, the citizens become the logical prey.

That’s where Nigeria is today. It will not change until we, the people, join in a mass outrage against corruption, demand transparent accounting of our oil revenues and economic justice. Only then will an honest leadership emerge to invest a fair share of the oil revenues in capital in such a way as to permanently raise the consumption level of the masses. Otherwise we Nigerian expatriates — the most educated immigrant group in the United States — will remain in exile, and Nigeria will remain a breeding ground for terrorism.

Is there an Honest Ernest among Nigerians who is able to galvanise us? Can something that good come out of Nigeria? That’s a palm reader’s guess.

AST year, a mendicant African Union (AU) needed the benevolence of China to get a new and befitting $200m office complex in Addis Ababa. On the other hand, ‘wealthy’ Nigeria is proudly and confidently proposing to shell out N4bn to build the headquarters of African First Ladies’ Peace Mission (AFLPM) in Abuja on a controversial land. Nigeria’s generous spirit is obviously unlimited and undiscriminating. The Senate, which is considering the Federal Capital City’s proposed budget for the project, has so far given the impression it is scandalised by the presidency’s absolute lack of reality check. The country’s economy is in such dire straits, the Senate said, that it is shocking the government could tend to that project at all, not to talk of voting such a huge sum for its execution.

In his reaction to widespread outrage over the AFLPM office project, the FCT minister, Senator Bala Mohammad, knowingly begged the question. He tried to justify the allocation by arguing that according to the law the FCT was charged with the responsibility of building public offices.

As he put it, “The Decree No.6 of 1976 that created Abuja also simultaneously created the FCTA with duty and responsibilities to plan, design, provide the infrastructure and construct public buildings as well as serv-

ices to the entire 8,000 square kilometres of the FCT…As part of its remit to live up to its international obligation, the Federal Government accommodates certain international bodies – just like it is done across the globe; every year, the cost of rent or accommodation for such bodies tends to be above one billion naira…In Abuja, this obligation is transferred to the FCT Administration and as part of its efficiency measure, the FCT Administration saw in the proposed headquarters of the African First Ladies Peace Mission building an opportunity to save cost by using the AFLPM building to serve multiple roles in providing office accommodation as well as housing not just the African First Ladies Peace Mission but to other international bodies as well.” But who is disputing the functions of the FCT? It’s the project and the public money, stupid.

Even if you ignore the obfuscation in the minister’s response, how could you also ignore the tendentious view that the AFLPM had become a part of our international obligations? And who can forget the messy controversy surrounding the land upon which the office complex is to be built? In February 2010, the land was allocated to the Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation (WAYEF), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) run by the immediate past First Lady, Hajiya Turai Yar’Adua. In No-

vember 2011, however, the FCT minister revoked the allocation and transferred ownership of the land to AFLPM, thereby setting in motion a very nasty and embarrassing struggle between the two First Ladies.

The minister of course later explained that the earlier allocation to Hajiya Turai was inappropriate in the first instance.

No matter how much the Senate wants to cooperate with the presidency, it is unlikely it can be persuaded to approve the expenditure for AFLPM as part of the FCT budget.

After all, the sponsors of the project had vehemently clarified in 2011 and in July last year, during a dispute over supply of cars for the AFLPM summit, that it was an NGO. Taken together with its recklessness on the centenary project and other financial imprudence such as the N12bn proposed expenditure for the construction of two city gates for Abuja and rehabilitation of commercial sex workers in the FCT, it is clear that the President Goodluck Jonathan presidency has lost all sense of restraint in spending money and prioritising projects. The legislature must recognise that in spite of being sometimes ineffective in carrying out its oversight responsibilities, the onus for saving this democracy is on its shoulders.

It should do what is right on the AFLPM office project, and put a leash on a presidency that has lost virtually all sense of reality and proportion.

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