The Nation January 03, 2012

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VOL. 7, NO. 1994 TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

Belgore leads peace talks

COMMITTEE FOR TALKS WITH LABOUR

•Justice Alfa Belgore •Babangida Aliyu •Adams Oshiomhole •Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala •Emeka Wogu •Mrs Ngozi Olayemi

•Kolade Panel to re-invest cash From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

T

HE President raised two committees yesterday to push through his policy on subsidy withdrawal.

An 11-member committee headed by retired Chief Justice of the Federation Justice Alfa Belgore is to meet with organised Labour and Civil Society groups. They have kicked against the subsidy removal.

The second committee, described as “high-powered”, will oversee the use of the cash to be saved from the withdrawal of subsidy.

The subsidy reinvestment and empowerment programme board is headed by Dr. Christopher Kolade, Nigeria’s former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

Maj.-Gen. Mamman Kontagora, a former Minister of Works, is deputy chairman.

A statement yesterday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said the board will ensure the effective and timely implementation of the projects that would be funded with savings made from the removal of fuel subsidy.

Other members of the Board are: Continued on page 2

N150.00

COMMITTEE ON SUBSIDY REINVESTMENT AND EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME

•Alfa Belgore

•Christopher Kolade

•Dr Jonathan

•Amaechi

•Rotimi Amaechi •Peter Obi •Sule Lamido •Diezani Alison-Madueke •Senator Ben Obi

•Dr Christopher Kolade (Chair) •Gen. Mamman Kontagora (Deputy Chair) •Two National Assembly representatives •Two representatives of Labour •One NURTW representative •One NUJ representative •One representative of Women groups •One representative of Nigeria Youth •One representative of Civil Society groups •Finance Minister Okonjo-Iweala •National Planning Minister Shamsideen Usman •Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke •Minister of State for Health •Special Adviser to President on Technical Matters •Six reputable individuals from six geo-political zones (three of whom must be women)

Petrol prices go wild Ebonyi tops with N200 per litre It’s N158 in Lagos, Kano N175 Benin N150, Warri N160, Ibadan N140 IBB: decision ill-timed Protests in Ilorin, Kano, Abeokuta Police make arrests in Abuja

P

ETROL prices went wild yesterday, hitting N200 per litre in some cities.

Petrol cost N65 before the New Year Day removal of subsidy by the Federal Government.

Transport fares rose. There was outrage. Many demonstrated in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, Abeokuta, the Oun State capital and in Kano.

Former Military President Gen. Ibrahim Babangida criticised the government’s action, saying it is illtimed and anti-democratic.

Motorists paid between N138 and N200 per litre of petrol yesterday.

In Kano, black market operators

By Our Reporters

sold for N250 per litre.

Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) stations had a uniform price of N138 across the country. But for other marketers, prices were varied.

In Lagos, some filling stations that sold for N158 in the morning adjusted their prices downwards to between N140 and N145.

It was N200 per litre in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital and N160 in Warri, the oil city in Delta State.

In Kano, petrol cost between N140 and N175.

In Abuja and Ilorin, it was N150.

Petrol cost between N140 and N150

PUMP PRICES IN SOME MAJOR CITIES •Benin •Ibadan •Ilorin •Kano •Kaduna •Oyo •Abuja •Osogbo

- N140 - 150 - N140 - N140 - N140 - N175 - N140 - N150 - N150 - N140 - N145

in Benin, the Edo State capital.

In Oyo town, Jos and Umuahia, it sold for N150. Osogbo, the Osun

•Abakaliki - N200 •Lagos - N141 •Umuahia - N150 •Jos - N150 •Warri - N160 •P/Harcourt - N141 •Akure - N150-N170 State capital, motorists paid N145.

Irate youths, motorcyclists and drivers demonstrated in Ilorin, the

Kwara State capital, protesting the removal of fuel subsidy, which the government said cost N1.3 trillion in less than one year.

The protest paralysed traffic and businesses for most part of the day.

It also forced residents to trek because passengers were made to disembark from taxi cabs and buses.

The protesters marched through Jagun/Okelele, Ojagboro, Emir’s Road and Post Office, all in the state capital.

They attempted to burn a filling station owned by a popular politician, but policemen were drafted in Continued on page 4

•SPORT P15 •PROPERTY P25 •POLITICS P37 •AVIATION P40 •ENERGY P51

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

2

NEWS OUTRAGE SUBSIDY REMOVAL NEW YEAROVER MESSAGES

IBB: subsidy withdrawal il ‘

CODER flays Fed Govt

It is my opinion that it is ill-timed.

The issue of subsidy should be seen more as politics and not economics, because the sole purpose of government is for the good of the people and not to create hardship

By Emmanuel Oladesu Deputy Political Editor

C

‘

F

ORMER Military President Gen. Ibrahim Babangida yesterday described the withdrawal of subsidy as ill-timed.

He said the use of Executive Fiat by the Presidency to remove the subsidy is against the tenets of democracy.

Babangida, in a statement by his spokesman, Prince Kassim Afegbua, asked President Goodluck Jonathan to consider fuel subsidy more political than economic.

He said: “On the issue of fuel subsidy removal, it is my opinion that it is ill-timed. The issue of subsidy should be seen more as politics and not economics, because the sole purpose of government is for the good of the people and not to create hardship.

“It is better to seek political solution to the subsidy discourse than invoking the sentiments of economics. Government should have kept its word till April by which time better explanation would have been given before implementation takes effect.

“The National Assembly should have been made to be part of the decision-making process since the 2012 budget is yet to be discussed and passed by the Legislature. Every government should ordinarily take the interest of the people at heart so that the reason for its existence would be justified.

“I will insist that a political solution be sought in resolving the issue so that a mutually agreeable position would be reached between the leaders and the people. This exclusive decision of the Executive arm of government does not speak well of the tenets and principles of participatory and all-inclusive democracy.”

On the Boko Haram insurgency, he pleaded with all leaders in the country to rally round the President to find solutions to it.

He said: Events happening in the country in recent times have once again call for serious concern by all in view of our peculiar history, political orientation, and the dynamics of our federation.

“The spate of bombings and other untoward acts in the country have thrown up the greater need for all of us to be more retrospective, introspective and proactive on issues of our common interest and nationality.

“It is a collective responsibility and all well-meaning people must be in agreement as to the urgent need to arrest this drift in our national psyche to keep our federation streaming.

“We must agree that we do have

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

problems on our hands. We also must be prepared to confront the problems head-on without brewing sentiments and emotions that may tend to becloud the real issues.

“Some of these problems, as disturbing as they appear to be, have lived with us for some time now without going away even when concerted efforts have been made to proffer solutions to them. We must therefore invent new ways to suit the sophistication of crimes and violence.

We have also survived several challenges as a nation under construction and expectedly one should appreciate the delicate balance that we find ourselves as a result of these rebuilding processes.

“As a consequence of this rebuilding process, we should move away from fanning the embers of disunity by the kind of messages we relay for public consumption. Rather, our emphasis should be to proffer solutions to these challenges so that they do not weigh down governments at various levels in delivering their promises to the people.

“We must begin to consciously redirect our collective energies in entrenching a culture of strong and an enduring moral super-structure as a platform for sustaining our once cherished value system. There is a potential breakdown of social contract between the leaders at all levels and the led. Leaders have failed in their responsibilities at meeting the expectations of the people.

“These days, the gap between the rich and poor has further polarized the socio-economic and political dis-

•Babangida

course on the basis of winner-takesall thus making public office unethically attractive. This is why there is so much desperation in the contest for public office.

“The failure of governments and Leaders at various levels; Local Government, State Government and the Federal Government; religious leaders, Judiciary, political leaders, traditional leaders and media at providing the much expected dividends of democracy, has further disconnected the people from their leaders; reason why there has been so much angst in the land.

“In order to arrest this ugly trend and refocus our country on the path of peaceful co-existence in spite of our manifest tribal configurations, we must begin to revisit our value system and provoke platforms where this becomes the central theme of our collective discourse.

“Rather than leaders competing on the basis of who owns the latest house, automobile or jet in town, they should compete in the faculty of ideas to drive good governance and accountability. Any government that is able to deliver the tangibles and intangibles to stimulate a wider audience participation in governance will be on the positive reckoning of the people.

“I have a strong feeling in my mind that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as President is capable of suppressing these challenges if he listens less to newsmakers, attention-seeking public affairs analysts, and bad advisers, and devote his time to deep and reflective thinking in search for solutions.”

OALITION of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER) yesterday decried the removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government, saying that President Goodluck Jonathan was taking Nigerians for a ride.

The group observed that the removal would compound misery and poverty ravaging the country, adding that Nigerians would never trust the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) federal government to serve the masses.

CODER’s Coordinator Mr. Ayo Opadokun said: “Jonathan Administration is a misrepresentation of what a government should be at this time”.

Faulting the timing, he added: “The time is not only unfortunate, •Opadokun it is a gross mis-representation of the feeling of Nigerians. Subsidy removal at this time is a clear manifestation of the willingness of the administration to dance on the corpse of Nigerians”.

Opadokun lamented that the Federal Government proceeded with the measure against the run of public opinion, wondering why the alternative route towards domestic fuel consumption was not explored.

He said: “It is the height of insensitivity of government to the plight of Nigerians. The removal of the fake subsidy is a carry-over of the bankrupt economic policy of the Jonathan Administration. In spite of the makebelief and odious representation of consultation made by the regime, it has now stood out as a government run by people who have no clue about the solution to the problem of economic management”.

Opadokun said : “It is the greatest tragedy that the eight exporter of crude oil has premised its policy on domestic fuel consumption on importation. There are alternative refineries where the crude can be refined for consumption. Government should not punish Nigerians for its criminal neglect and inability to halt the graft and theft associated with the fuel importation process”.

‘National Assembly must intervene’

T

HE Yoruba Ronu leadership Forum (YRLF) has urged the National Assembly to stop the removal of subsidy on petrol.

The group, in a statement by its General Secretary Mr. Akin Malaolu, said this would be in public interest .

The statement reads: “As a matter of urgency, our National Assembly members must forgo their holidays with immediate effect to discuss the removal of subsidy on petrol by the President. Our helpless millions of people cannot understand the action. “The people of Nigeria are saying vehemently that they simply cannot afford the new prices for petrol.

“Today, the petrol available in the country which is kept secretly in many petroleum tank farms across the nation are subsidised products which cannot be sold to the public at any other prices except at N65.

“In this respect, Nigerians should resist this fraud as it is clear to all of us, including the market women, artisans and traders that President Jonathan does not have the interest of the people and democracy at heart. It is unheard of, that with his array of economic experts, the Jonathan Presidency does not have other options or alternatives subsidy removal.”

Environmentalists describe Fed Govt’s action as scandalous

T

HE Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/ FoEN) has flayed the Federal Government’s removal of the so-called subsidy on petroleum products, describing the decision as “complete insensitivity” to the plight of Nigerians.

ERA, in a statement by its Executive Director, Nnimmo Bassey, said what the masses want the Federal Government to fight was corruption.

Bassey said: “The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), in a statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Reginald Stanley, had announced the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) on January 1, 2012, claiming the decision was informed by extensive consulta-

By Olukorede Yishau

tion with stakeholders across the nation.

“It also said that in the coming weeks, it will work with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and engage stakeholders in further consultation to ensure the continuation of the exercise.

“This New Year slap on the faces of Nigerians is totally objectionable and smacks of insensitivity to the genuine needs of the Nigerian masses. It shows a government that would rather punish the poor than confront the cabal they say exists in the petroleum sector.

“This policy is an additional burden on already disillusioned poor Nigerians. It is astonishing the same administration that is yet to

implement recommendations of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) assessment of Ogoniland five months after, or independently verify spills like in the case of Shell’s spill from the Bonga facility, could act so swiftly and cunningly to choke an already gasping people.”

Countering government’s argument that the central purse subsidises the cost of petroleum products import, Bassey insisted that, on the contrary, it is community people living side-by-side the oil fields and the Nigerian environment that actually subsidise the cost of crude and refined products.

Bassey added: “Enough is enough! The poor and the environment have sufficiently subsidised resource corruption and through

environmental impacts and loss of livelihoods. Ninety-nine per cent of the population is again being forced to bear the brunt of corrupt practices enjoyed by the 1 per cent.

“We reiterate our rejection of this wicked New Year’s gift to Nigerians by a government which appears bent on pleasing the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and other international agencies, whose cronies are embedded in the administration. We demand an immediate reversal of the policy.”

ERA said the “sham” which the PPPRA dubbed national consultation on which it based the decision to remove the so-called subsidy was a crude smokescreen to usher in a new era of impoverishment for Nigerians.

•Bassey

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

3

NEWS OUTRAGE OVER SUBSIDY REMOVAL

l ill-timed, undemocratic Lawyers kick

L

•UP: Two men fighting at a filling station in Kaduna over whose turn it was to buy fuel .... yesterday • An NNPC mega station, with minimal queue.... yesterday

AWYERS of Conscience yesterday condemned the withdrawal of fuel subsidy.

The group, in a statement by its National Cordinator, Sadiq Mohammed, said the decision was ill-timed.

The statement reads: “ Will great shock, we wish to express our sadness over the decision of President Goodluck Jonathanled Federal Government to hand over the future of the country to IMF, World Bank and Western Imperialists through this evil New Year gift of unwarranted increment in the prices of petroleum products, goods and service in Nigeria in the name of ‘fuel subsidy removal’ through the unfortunate official announcement on January 1, 2012 by the so-called PPPRA. “The decision of President Jonathan to go on with this unpatriotic and unpopular policy meant to assist the Western countries in reviving their distressed economy at the detriment of the ever-suffering Nigerians and in the face of the current biting poverty, official corruption and overwhelming insecurity in the country is the greatest act of treachery and betrayal by a President who owes his present position only to the struggle, sacrifices, blood and patience of the impoverished and violated Nigerians.

“By this, the Jonathan-led PDP Government has decided to disconnect completely with the people through this antipeople’s policy and has thus openly declared war on the citizenry, thereby deciding to live on borrowed time as such disconnect shall expectedly lead to systemic pathology the result of which no one can predict.

“In view of this disregard of the wise counsel of the civil society organisations, labour and the populace against such oppressive policy, the government has extended an open invitation to people’s resistance/revolution.”

Jonathan is incompetent, says ACN T

HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday queried the capability of President Goodluck Jonathan to lead the country.

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said no one needs a soothsayer to know that the removal of fuel subsidy and the lingering Boko Haram threat are a potent mix that can push the country to the precipice in the New Year.

It called on the National Assembly and the Organised Labour to stop the withdrawal.

The statement reads: ‘’Both the National Assembly and Organised Labour must act to stop the subsidy removal. Our democracy and indeed the very survival of our nation are in peril, perhaps at a level equalling the civil war period. The PDP government at the centre, through

By Wale Ajetunmobi

a combination of incompetence, lack of direction and meaningless headiness, has allowed the Boko Haram crisis to fester instead of moving quickly to nip it in the bud.

“As if that were not enough, President Jonathan has gone ahead to instigate a fresh crisis, by hearkening to the voices of agents of theBretton Woods Institutions instead of the voices of Nigerians who elected him. Removing the non-existent fuel subsidy at a time the majority of the population are barely surviving and the ranks of jobless youths are swelling negates the aphorism that when you are in a hole, you stop digging. The dislocation in social order that the fuel subsidy removal will engender will definitely strengthen the hands of the Boko Haram endgamers and worsen the

country’s plight. “Since President Jonathan has now opted to embark on an anti-people misadventure it is now up to the elder statesmen, our past leaders, to move quickly to prevent him from bringing the house crashing down on all of us. After all, it is said that elders cannot sit back and allow things to go wrong,’’ the party said.

ACN accused the Jonathan administration of testing the will of Nigerians and running a government by deceit, adding that during the recent so-called stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos, Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said the President had not taken a decision on the subsidy removal and would not do so until he had consulted fully with all stakeholders.

“Also, while the government has denied being influenced externally to remove fuel subsidy, it is com-

mon knowledge that IMF has been pushing countries in West and Central Africa, including Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Guinea and Chad, to remove fuel subsidy on the senseless premise that it does not help the poor but promotes corruption and smuggling. Ghana has already taken the bait.

“In any case, when President Jonathan met with the ACN and other political parties, we (ACN) told him clearly what the government had to do before contemplating fuel subsidy removal, if at all there is a subsidy. We said existing refineries must be made to work while new ones must be built, so we can stop exporting expertise, technology and jobs with crude oil. He promised to get back to us before taking any decision.

He never did. Therefore, is anyone still wondering why the citizens

here don’t trust their governments?’’ the party queried.

ACN said it remains convinced that fuel subsidy removal is not in the interest of Nigerians, hence it will not support it, and that - based on informed analysis - the average true price of a litre of fuel is N34.03, which means Nigerians have been overpaying for the product.

“When an informed analyst confronted the government with details that debunked its fuel subsidy claim, we called on the government to refute the analysis with facts and figures. Realising it had none and that the game was up, the government panicked, and the result is the sudden fuel subsidy removal on a day Nigerians were ushering in the New Year, thus turning their wishes and hopes for a better year into hopelessness. What a callous way to govern!’’ the party said.

4

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

NEWS

Petrol prices go wild Continued from page 1

to stop them.

The arrival of the policemen led to a temporary stampede on Niger Road. The motorists had insisted on buying at the old price, ensuring that their colleagues carried no passengers on the popular MuritalaPost-Office/Unity Road.

The fare from Post-Office to Kwarapoly rose from N50 to N100, Ilorin-Abuja ranged between N3,500-N4000, for buses and N5, 000 for cars. The old price was N2000. Ilorin-Lagos cost N5,000, instead of the old N1,600 charged by private operators.

In Abeokuta, students began their protest from the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation’s (NNPC’s) mega station on Abiola Way, in the Ogun State capital, chanting anti–government slogans.

The protesters, who bore placards with inscriptions calling on Nigerians to reject the fuel price hike, was led by the National Public Relations Officer of NANS, Mr. Clement Olusegun, a 400-level student of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ijebu–Ode. Olusegun urged the President to rescind his decision on the fuel subsidy immediately, warning that Nigerian students would make the country ungovernable through sustained mass protests if he does

•Members of Nigerians Unite Against Subsidy Removal signing a register against fuel subsidy removal during a protest, tagged: “OCCUPY ABUJA” in Abuja ... yesterday.

PHOTO ABAYOMI FAYESE

not budge.

He said the Federal Government should first fix the nation's refineries, improve power supply and tackle growing insecurity before withdrawing petrol subsidy.

Olusegun said Nigerians were already over burdened with the expenses of providing for themselves the basic services, which the government was supposed to make available to the people, saying making them to pay heavily for petrol now is "callous, gross insensitivity and wickedness" on the part of the leaders.

In Kano, most filling stations were afraid to sell petrol, following reports of protests in some parts of the city. They envisaged that the

protest might turn violent.

The protesters were shouting: “Jonathan!, this is unfair”; “We the poor masses are the worst hit” ; and “You have further plunged us into untold hardship”.

Petrol sold for between N140 and N175 per litre. NNPC mega filling stations sold at N138.

Black marketers charged between N1,000 and N1,200, as against the old price of N450 per gallon.

Fares went up. A trip from Kano to Lagos cost N8,500 as against the old N5,550. Kano to Ibadan rose from N4,500 to N7,750.

Kano to Bayelsa, which was N8,500, is now N17,000.

The removal of fuel subsidy has equally affected the cost of com-

modities at the various markets in the metropolis. Commercial motorcyclists, commonly called instantly adjusted their fare as soon as the subsidy removal was announced.

Most filling stations in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were deserted.

The long queues that were noticed on Sunday afternoon immediately after the announcement of the removal of subsidy on petrol had disappeared.

Almost all the filling stations visited by our reporter had the petrol, but the price kept motorists grumbling.

Fares rose slightly within Abuja yesterday.

A distance that cost between N200

Belgore leads peace talks over subsidy withdrawal Continued from page 1

two representatives of the National Assembly, two representatives of organized labour, one representative of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), one representative of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, one representative of Nigerian Women Groups, one representative of Nigerian youth, one representative of civil society organizations, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy/ Minister of Finance, the Minister of National Planning, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, the Minister of State for Health, the Special Adviser to the President on Technical Matters, and six other reputable individuals from the six geo-political zones in the country, three of whom will be women.”

On the mandate of the Board, Abati said: “The mandate of the Board shall be to oversee the Fund in the petroleum subsidy savings account, and the programme specifically to improve the quality of life of Nigerians in line with the Transformation agenda of Mr. President.

The Board will have the following responsibilities: •Determine in liaison with the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the subsidy savings estimates for each preceding month and ensure that such funds are transferred to the

and N250 was increased to N400 by taxi cab drivers.

In Lagos, bus fares went up. From Oshodi Motor Park, the fare to IjebuOde and Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, which used to be between N500 and N600, went up to N1200. The Fare to Ibadan was N1300, as against the previous N600. Lagos to Ibadan, which used to be N1350, was N2400.

Within Lagos, fares also went up.

Ikorodu to Ketu went up to N200 (the old fare was N150). Ikorodu to Lagos cost N400; the old fare was N200. Ikorodu to Oshodi rose to N300 from N200.

A litre cost N150 in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.

Fares went up by about 100 per cent from Umuahia to other cities.

For instance, Umuahia to Abuja, which cost about N3,500 as at Sunday, rose to N7,000. Umuahia to Lagos went up from N3,000 to N6,000.

From Umuahia to Enugu and Owerri, passengers paid N1,000 and N600, as against N500 and N600 – a 100 per cent increase while Umuahia to Aba also rose from N200 to between N400 and N500.

In Oyo town, commercial motorcyclist charged N50 per trip as against, while in the adjoining communities, such as Awe, Jobele and Ilora, they charged between N60 and N100.

From Oyo to Ibadan and Ogbomoso, the fare is now N350, up from N300. Oyo to Ilorin costs N700, instead of N600.

But more worrisome is the thriving of black markets at some filling stations, where a litre is sold for between N200 and N250.

Can Belgore, Kolade stem public anger?

A

HEAD of likely protests against the sudden removal of subsidy on the price of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol, the federal government has set up two bodies to douse public anger.

Justice Alfa Belgore, a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, is head of an 11member committee to dialogue with Organised Labour and other key stakeholders.

A Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme Board has also been established to “ensure effective and timely implementation of projects to be funded with the savings accruing to the federal government from subsidy removal”.

It is headed by Nigeria’s immediate past High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. Christopher Kolade. He is to be assisted by a former Minister of Works, Major-General Mamman Kotangora (rtd) and 19 others.

To serve on both bodies are the Finance Minister, Mrs. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, and Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Allison-Madueke.

The Kolade Board is reminiscent of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) headed

by General Muhammadu Buhari during the Abacha Junta. While it is meant to assure Nigerians that the government means well and would deploy resources to fix infrastructure decay, it has also thrown up questions in the qualFunds’ Special Account with the Central Bank of Nigeria •Approve the annual work plans and cash budgets of the various Project Implementation Units (PIUs) within the Ministries, Departments and

ANALYSIS

By Bolade Omonijo, Group Political Editor

ity of people appointed to run the ministries. The Minister of Works is not on the board. Neither is the Minister of Transport. Is this therefore a vote of no confidence on the existing structures and the ministers?

The Board is another bureaucracy introduced in a country where the President has acknowledged the need to shed weight. If roads are to be built, why and how would this be done without the input of the ministry statutorily saddled with the task of providing the service?

If the President believes the public cannot trust the ministers and ministries with the task, why not sack them and appoint those considered more credible?

Kolade is a technocrat, regarded as a man of integrity. He is regular on the lecture circuit where he preaches probity and good morals. He is a man of experience, having served as Director General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC); the private sector as Managing Director (and later chairman) of Cadbury. Shortly after the inauguration of the Obasanjo administration in 1999, Kolade was appointed Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Failed Contracts. However, at 79, he has paid his dues and ought to be allowed to rest.

Agencies (MDAs) and ensure orderly disbursement of funds by the PIUs in order to certify and execute projects; •Monitor and evaluate execution of the funded projects, including periodic

If there is any need for a Board to handle such an important task, a younger man or woman could be picked for the job.

The same applies to Justice Belgore who is 75 years old.

What is expected of the Belgore Committee? President Goodluck Jonathan and Okonjo-Iweala said government had embarked on wide-ranging consultations on the planned action in the past few months. If the consultations could not achieve a consensus, how would that be achieved after government had deceived Nigerians that it would not take any steps until the budget is passed and signed into law?

Members of the committee, including Governors Chibuike Amaechi, Babangida Aliyu, Adams Oshiomhole, Sule Lamido, Peter Obi, are perhaps expected to douse tension in their states. This is a tough assignment for them, especially Oshiomhole, who led previous protests against increase in prices of petroleum products. The somersault may eat into the popularity of the Edo State governor.

The philosophy behind the government action is that the people are not opposed to the scheme as such, but want to be assured that it means well. However, as the effect hit the people, reactions may be more difficult to manage.

The days ahead are expected to be interesting as some public officials stake their well-earned reputation for an unpopular, or even odious assignment.

Poverty and Social Impact Analyses (PSIA) •Update the President regularly on the programme; •Periodically brief the Executive Council of the Federation on the progress of the

programme; •Appoint consulting firms with international reputation to provide technical assistance to the Board in financial and project management; •Appoint external auditors

•Mrs Okonjo-Iweala

for the fund; •Do such other things as are necessary or incidental to the objective of the Fund or as may be assigned by the Federal Government; “Members of the committee to meet with organised labour, civil society groups and other stakeholders are: the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, Governor Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Governor Peter Obi (Anambra), Governor Adams Oshiomhole (Edo) and Governor Sule Lamido (Jigawa).

“The Committee which is expected to begin its work immediately also includes the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu; the Special Adviser to the President on Inter Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi and Mrs. Ngozi Olajemi.”

Deregulation not to punish Nigerians, says Minister

T

HE deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry is not aimed at causing hardship for Nigerians, the federal government said yesterday.

Minister of Information Labaran Maku, in a statement issued by his Press Secretary,

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

Joseph Mutah said the deregulation of the oil sector is intended to open up the sector for growth and investment.

Maku spoke in Akwanga, Nasarawa State, while ad-

dressing the people on the removal of petrol subsidy. He said there might be initial hike in the price of petrol at the take off of the deregulation policy.

He said government is taking measures to check the trend through the active par-

ticipation of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), in the sale of fuel to prevent profiteering.

He explained that the Federal Government had entered into partnership with the original builders of the nation’s existing refineries to

turn them around for production at installed capacity between 18 and 24 months.

The Minister said three new refineries would be built in Lagos, Kogi and Bayelsa States by the private sector with government equity participation to refine 400,000

barrels of crude per day.

He appealed to Nigerians to disregard those calling for mass protest over the action, saying the aim of the policy is to transfer subsidy from consumption to production.

•continued on page 56

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

NEWS OUTRAGE OVER SUBSIDY REMOVAL

Why govt withdrew subsidy on Jan 1, by President’s spokesman

T

HE Federal Government withdrew petroleum subsidy on January 1 because it could not be sustained beyond end of last year, Presidential spokesman Reuben Abati said yesterday.

Abati, who spoke in an interview with State House correspondents said: “Truly you will recall that when the Federal Government submitted its budget proposal for 2012, there was no provision in it for subsidy on PMS which means that in 2012, there will be no such thing, that is point one.

“Point two is that the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency(PPPRA) which issued a statement yesterday (Sunday) is an agency of government and the statement by PPPRA is explicit enough and PPPRA is the agency that is in charge of petroleum pricing and regulation. So, I don’t understand why you still doubt whether this is from government or not from government.

On the safety nets promised by government; Abati said: “No. Government did not say it will put the safety nets before removing the subsidy.

“What government said is that the N1.4 trillion that will be rescued from the budget will reduce borrowing, create revenue and that money when rescued will be used in the areas stated and it is also stated that a committee will be put in place to monitor, a committee that will be made up of stakeholders in civil society to monitor how that money is used and this is to address the issue of trust on the part of many Nigerians who are saying the money will be wasted; the government did not say it will provide before.

The President said we have a stockpile that will last 55 days and obviously imported when subsidy was on, so, why allow it to be sold at unsubsidised prices?

When did the President say so?

During the media chat, he said he asked NNPC and they said they have a stockpile of 55 days and trying to increase it. You may be misinterpreting Mr. President.

The way this subsidy works is that there are marketers who are doing their own private business importing fuel. When they bring in fuel, they then claim the subsidy for the differential they are paid. It is not

The President has spoken again and again, that there will be deregulation of PMS in 2012, we are in 2012. It is consistent From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

the NNPC that is paid.

So, even if the NNPC has a stockpile, it is not the same thing as the price of the marketers. You know NNPC is also bringing fuel and they sell at a cheaper rate in some of the outlets. The NNPC fuel may not necessarily be imported, it may be the ones from local refineries.

So, if you talk about stockpile, it means NNPC has enough fuel to prevent a situation where there will be fuel scarcity. If you check that part of the media chat, he was not making that statement in relation to whether subsidy would be removed or not.

This is not a new issue; you know this removal of fuel subsidy has been in the public domain for more than two months.

But the government said it is still consulting, has it concluded consultations?

You know that consultations have been going on for more than two months. We have held town hall meetings, the President met with students, civil society, media chiefs and even market women and then there has been campaigns even in the newspapers. You are aware of it of course Does it mean that since the 2011 budget is still operational, that 2012 budget implementation has already started?

Well, the thing is that for 2012, there is no provision for it and we are in 2012; that is what is important because if you continue to subsidise fuel; you will be piling up deficit for 2012. Where will the payment come from? Because there is no provision for it because even when you spend money in 2012 and you are

using the 2011 budget, the money you are spending is money meant for 2012 and that money will be taken from the 2012 budget.

It was thought that the 2011 budget would round off by March No. You know by December 31, they would have closed the books, in fact, I think they close the books

by December 15 or so. So, once they have closed the book, the new budget begins to operate, but you can leave the headings for 2011 for just about three months, that is what the Constitution says but it doesn’t mean that money you are bringing in money from 2011 to 2012.

Are you sure the price we are paying is not sexed up because nobody has told us the per litre cost of petroleum products refined in Nigeria and why they will cost the same as those imported The economics of that was addressed in the presentation by the Finance Minister in her presentation and I think most of it has been reported and I think they are still online. She made comparisons of what happens elsewhere in the world. You will find that even with this deregulation, the per litre cost of PMS in Nigeria is still one of the cheapest in the whole of Africa and in the world.

Only last week, Ghana removed subsidy on PMS, there was no debate over it, there was no acrimony, it was just an announcement, just last week.

What is your reaction to the threat

by Labour that they are going to shut down the country?

I hold that Labour will hold on to its promise that it will support whatever government does in the interest of the Nigerian people because Labour was consulted. I attended those meetings with Labour and I know that at that meeting, there were clearly some understandings reached.

Did government consider the ripple effect of the over 120 per cent increase in the price of petroleum because people that travelled will be stranded?

One thing you will know is that leadership is not about populism.

Sometimes leaders have to take some very tough decisions in the interest of the people. Because people are used to a certain kind of reality, it is natural for one to resist it, but we believe that once it is clear

‘It’s a declaration of war on Nigerians’

•Dr. Abati

that this is done in the best interest of the people, even those that are opposing it now either for mischief or partisanship will see the wisdom in the action.

Do you think the timing is right?

Some people traveled for holidays and they will be stranded due to the hike in fares?

I have told people that it is quite unlike government laid ambush for the people. This particular announcement had been foretold. Government had prepared the peoples mind that in 2012, there will be no subsidy on PMS. The thing has been discussed on the radio, in the market and has been a topic in the public place.

So government prepared their mind for this?

Of course, are you not aware of this? There was controversy on its take off time. The Minister of Finance said the government was still consulting and the Minister of Information said so and it brewed a controversy when NNPC said it has started. Well, to the best of my knowledge, the PPPRA is an agency of government and I do not think that the PPPRA will act unilaterally in violation of the enabling Act. So PPPRA has the blessing of the government to announce what it did on Sunday on subsidy removal?

The President has spoken again and again, that there will be deregulation of PMS in 2012, we are in 2012.

It is consistent.

FOR an Akure-based lawyer and rights activist Morakinyo Ogele, removing oil subsidy despite opposition from the people amounted to waging a war against Nigerians by the Federal Government.

According to him, the removal was a wrong way of saying Happy New Year to the citizenry.

Ogele, who spoke through a statement said: “While Nigerians are trying to survive the brunt of bad governance, inflicted on the poor masses, the political class has finally set Nigeria on fire. The only dividend of democracy enjoyed by Nigerians was oil subsidy which has now been stabbed to death.

“The irresponsible government imposed on Nigerians are doing everything possible to liquidate this country on daily basis, presently no good roads, security of lives and properties does not exist again.

“Nigerians should come out for a mass protest. There should be a revolution. Let Nigerians see that the fuel price does not go beyond N65 per litre.

“The NLC, civil society organisations, students, artisans, market women, men and women should resist the burden placed on them. The President should resign within seven days in order to allow peace to reign. Nigerians have not given their mandate to Jonathan for purpose of punishing them. The battle line has been drawn and Nigeria should take notice of this’’.

JAF leads protest today

By Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu

The Joint Action Forum (JAF) will today lead street protests against the withdrawal of subsidy on petrol.

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), which is mobilising for a nationwide action, has pledged its support for JAF. NLC’s Information Officer Chris Uyot said NLC will take part in the mass action.

According to him, the JAF is part of the Labour Civil Society Coalition (LASCO).

Oil workers under the aegis of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) are also mobilising against the removal.

Anarchy looms, says Balarabe Musa From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

•GOOD NIGHT: A Total filling station in Ibadan...yesterday GOOD NIGHT

PHOTO: NAN

FORMER Kaduna State Governor Alhaji Balarabe Musa yesterday said the removal of subsidy on petroleum by the Federal Government was capable of plunging the country into chaos and anarchy.

The former governor’s reaction came just as a litre of fuel is selling for between N140 and N150 in Kaduna metropolis. Transport fare had jumped from N50 a drop to N100 within the metropolis, while Kaduna to Zaria attracts between N200 and N450.

Musa described the President’s action as imperialistic in nature, unilateral and mindless, adding that even if the subsidy exist before now, the government action has opened the floodgate of anachy.

“It is also unfortunate that the President did not have the executive and moral capacity to redirect the outcome associated with the decision.

“As it stands, the National Assembly, civil society and labour should immediately take up the mandate and lead the people back from anachy that is looming.

“Any one of the above that takes up the mantle first should be supported by others. If not what is going to happen in Nigeria will be a child’s play to the Arab Springs”.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

6

NEWS OUTRAGE OVER FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL CD calls for ‘effective paralysis’ HUMAN rights group, the Campaign for Democracy (CD) yesterday called for “total and effective paralysis of activities nationwide”.

In a statement in Lagos by its President, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, the CD urged the nation to prepare for “the mother of struggles against the Goodluck Jonathan regime” over the high increase in the prices of petroleum products.

The statement reads: “The unbearable prices are clear signal to the suffering people of Nigeria that if there is no mass uprising that shakes the Jonathan regime to its foundation, it will continue to inflict pains that will eventually kill them off.

“The time to complain in our bedrooms is over.

Tunisians and Egyptians were not complaining in their bedrooms; they were ready to make sacrifices against their tormentors.

“Nigerians should be ready for a long drawn battle and not a 100 metres dash, because we are dealing with an insensitive regime.

“Let us all rise up as a people and give this regime an overdose of the people’s action so that Jonathan will never again think of riding roughshod over us.

“The CD appeals to Labour not to be deterred and show the impressive leadership it has always given to the people in terrible times like this.”

SSS arrests Melaye, reporter, others over fuel subsidy protest O

PERATIVES of the State Security Service (SSS) yesterday arrested former House of Representatives member Dino Melaye, a reporter and some activists.

Melaye was reportedly taken to the Abuja headquarters of the security agency.

The former lawmaker had led members of the Nigeria Unite Against Subsidy Removal (NUASR) to sign a protest register at the Eagle Square in Abuja. He was arrested with others when the police tear-gassed the group to stop the exercise.

Although it was not clear how many persons were arrested, The Nation learnt that an online reporter with Daily Trust, Mr. Abdulwasiu Hassan, was among those arrested.

Others taken to the Wuse Zone 3 police station included the Coordinator of Transparency Nigeria, Mr. Eze Nwagwu; Mbasekei Martin Mbono, Nasiru Lawal Magaji and Kalid Ismail.

Hassan, Nwagwu and the three others were later taken to the Abuja office of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Garki at 6.13pm.

They were sandwiched between policemen in a black police pick-up van.

Those tear-gassed and arrested were hospitalised at the Wuse General Hospital at the time of filing this report.

The number of those arrested could not be ascertained.

A close aide to Melaye,

•Hospitalise tear gas victims •Over 670 sign register

From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

who spoke in confidence, told The Nation that the SSS took him away, possibly for interrogation.

According to the aide, over 670 people had signed the register before the police struck.

The police earlier held some reporters hostage.

They are: Muyideen Olaniyi (Daily Trust); Olusola Fabiyi (Punch); Inalegwu Shaibu (Vanguard); Moses John (Leadership); Anastasia Oguegbe (Hot FM); and Sanni Onogu (The Nation).

NUASR had opened a register at the Eagle Square, Abuja, for Nigerians to sign against the government action.

It urged Nigerians to show their disapproval against the withdrawal of subsidy on petrol and kerosene by signing the register.

An agency of the Federal Government, the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) had announced on New Year Day that the subsidy has been withdrawn with effect from that day.

Although the opening of the register was billed for

2pm, a detachment of heavily armed soldiers, SSS and the police had barricaded the Eagle Square at 1.30pm.

But Melaye and his group made a detour to the car park of Eagle Square where they set up the register.

Addressing reporters before security agents invaded the arena, Melaye said: “We opened a register to protest the removal of oil subsidy.

We believe it is wicked. It is satanic. It is nefarious and barbaric.

“No amount of intimidation or blackmail will stop us from entering this place. You can see that the Eagle Square is being barricaded by soldiers, police, SSS, as if there is a war. I am sure they have information that I am opening a register to lead the protest. This registration is just for Nigerians to come and register their anger in protest of removal of subsidy.

“It will not stop the mobilisation of people to protest and we are going to protest within the ambit of the law.

No amount of intimidation will stop us from fighting this course. The battle to salvage Nigeria and fight for this removal is a battle of ‘no retreat’ no surrender’. We are ready to sacrifice our lives;

we are ready to do anything to make sure that by the special grace of God, Nigerians are defended.

“The President promised fresh air; we did not know this is the type of fresh air we are going to breathe in. It is very wicked for the Federal Government to have done this on the first day of January.

“It shows that the President and the Federal Government indeed have graduated from being a weak government to a wicked government. We will not allow it; we will fight it. I have information that I am going to be arrested in a matter of minutes, I am waiting for them to come and arrest me.”

The security operatives, led by the Commander of the Brigade of Guards, Brig.-Gen. Emmanuel Atewe, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Director of the SSS, Mr Okojie, drove in a Toyota Hilux jeep with registration number BG 247 BWR to the scene at 2pm.

Atewe directed the security agencies to block the four entrances to the car park with their vehicles and posted armed men preventing others from entering the area to sign the register.

Transport fares rise From Shola O’Neil and Wilson Yafugborhi, Warri

Ondo residents kick against high fuel prices From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

RESIDENTS of Akure, the Ondo State capital, yesterday kicked against the increase in the prices of petroleum products, following the removal of fuel subsidy by the federal Government.

They described the government’s action as undemocratic.

The Nation visited some filling stations in the Akure metropolis where a litre of petrol was being sold for between N150 and N170.

Some filling stations refused to sell fuel to the public.

Due to the long queues in some filling stations, consumers had to wait for about six hours before they could get the products.

A motorist, Mr. Femi Ajimakin, told The Nation that commercial drivers had increased their transport fares.

According to him, a bus trip now costs N50, instead of the former N30 before the removal of oil subsidy.

Ajimakin said: “This policy of the Federal Government on oil subsidy removal will have negative effects on the masses. I think President Goodluck Jonathan has failed to address some important issues rather than embarking on oil subsidy removal.”

Melaye later took the register outside when security agencies prevented people from entering the park.

The security agencies ordered the people to disperse but the signatories resisted the move, saying it was their constitutional right to gather anywhere and sign any document of their choice.

The FCT Police Commissioner Mike Zuokumor joined Atewe and Okojie at 2.40pm.

They tried in vain to prevent people from signing the register.

Armed men of the Police Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and riot policemen later barricaded all the roads around the Eagle Square with their trucks to stop people from signing the register. This led to the diversion of traffic to a lane on the dual carriage Ahmadu Bello Way. Apparently helpless as more people trooped in to sign, Zuokumor told his men that it was time to “contain them” at 2.47pm.

“Let us contain them,” he whispered to his assistant in charge of Operations, Wilson Inalegwu, and two Deputy Superintendents of Police, Mr J.O. Eribo and Haruna Garuba.

“I am sure we have enough men in mufti. Tell them to come and go there and say ‘common, go, no be only una be Nigerians.’

Tell them to come with chemical (suspected to be tear gas),” Zuokumor said and asked reporter to leave the area.

• A queue of vehicles at a filling station in Kaduna...yesterday.

PHOTO:NAN

Action will worsen poverty, says Lagos Speaker

L

AGOS State House of Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji has described the removal of fuel subsidy on New Year’s Day as “very hasty and capable of worsening the poverty that has been confronting many homes in our country for long”.

He said: “Since the Presidency had earlier been assuring Nigerians that the subsidy removal would not take off yet, it is wrong to have carried out the implementation of the policy in a commando way on the very first day of the year, when Nigerians least expected that such an action was about to be

By oziegbe Okoeki

taken.

“It was an unfair ambush on Nigerians, the electorate, who expect us to better their lives and reduce their pains and suffering. Our people do not deserve this pain at this time.

“The subsidy removal was very hasty and capable of worsening the poverty that has been prevalent in many homes across the country.

The fact of the matter is that enough consultations on the issue were not carried out by the Federal Government. As we all know, the two chambers of the National Assem-

bly (the Senate and House of Representatives) are yet to decide on the very sensitive issue.”

The Speaker noted that as an oil producing nation, it is worrisome that Nigeria still imports refined petroleum from other countries.

He said: “The Federal Government under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ought to have ensured that Nigeria becomes self- sufficient in local refinery of all petroleum products since 1999. It is very unfortunate that we have been living on imported fuel all this while.

“What the Federal Gov-

ernment ought to have done since 1999 is to build local refineries to locally refine our crude oil rather than export our crude, only for us to go abroad importing refined petrol from those who buy our crude from us so cheaply. It is very ironic.”

Ikuforiji said the removal of fuel subsidy is not only bad but very unfortunate.

Deputy Whip Rotimi Abiru noted that the action would further impoverish Nigerians, majority of whom he said have been living below the poverty line.

Abiru said the multiplier effect of the policy would be devastating.

THE cost of transportation rose by as much as 200 per cent in Warri and other parts of Delta State yesterday as motorists woke up to a new regime of petrol price triggered by the removal of fuel subsidy.

The Nation findings in Warri, Effurun, Jeremi and Udu, among others, revealed that petrol sold for between N145 and N160 per litre, as petrol dealers adjusted their pump price to reflect the deregulated cost.

But managers of many filling stations adopted a wait-and-see approach as they locked the entrance into their stations against consumers.

Only Avwenayeri and Mobil filling stations attended to customers on the Airport Road in Effurun and Warri. Other filling stations in Ekpan and Jakpa roads did not open for operations.

It was learnt that Mobil sold a litre of petrol for N145; Avwenayeri and Kumoil, on Okumagba Avenue, sold same quantity for between N150 and N160.

The cost of inter- and intrastate transport has risen by as much as 200 per cent.

Transport operators, including the Delta State Government-owned City Transport, popularly called Uduaghan Bus, cashed in on the fuel price increment to milk travellers.

Fares from Warri to Abraka rose from N250 to N700 early yesterday but was later adjusted to N400 in the evening by the government mass transit buses.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

7

NEWS Lagos Chief Imam loses wife

Police arrest 40 ‘illegal aliens’ in Lagos

•Fashola, others mourn

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

By Jude Isiguzo

A

LHAJA Muhibat Agbeke Ibrahim, wife of the Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Garuba Ibrahim, is dead. She died on Sunday evening after a brief illness. She was aged 63.

Alhaja Ibrahim was buried yesterday at Abari Cemetery, Lagos Island, after the Janazah prayer, led by the Chief Imam of Ikorodu, Sheikh Seifudeen Olowooribi at the Central Mosque immediate after Zuhr prayer.

She is survived by her husband and five children.

Early callers at the Chief Imam’s house yesterday were Governor Babatunde Fashola; Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture Alhaji Oyinlomo Danmole; Special Adviser, Central Business District (CBD), Mrs. Derin Disu; former Chief Judge of Lagos Alhaji Abdul Fatai Adeyinka; Chairman, Lagos Island Local Government, Prince Wasiu Eshinlokun; Bashorun of Lagos Alhaji Sikiru AlabiMacfoy; Alhaji Lateef Salako; Architect Nasiru Kekere-Ekun and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Gawat Communications, Alhaji Rasak Gawat.

They were received by Sheikh Ibrahim; Baba Adinni of Lagos Sheikh Abdul Afeez Abou and General Secretary Alhaji Muhammad Adenowo.

Sheikh Ibrahim described the deceased as “a dutiful wife.”

“She was nice to everybody; a virtuous woman and a caring mother to her children and the entire congregation of the central mosque,” he said.

Sheikh Abou said death is inevitable.

He said: “It is only Allah who knows the time man will pass on. Death can come at anytime. I urge our Chief Imam to take solace in Allah.”

He prayed Allah to forgive the deceased and admit her into Al-Jannat Firdaus.

ACN, candidate petition NJC From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

T

HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Oyo State and its House of Representatives candidate in the April 9, 2011, election in Oluyole Constituency, Chief Lawrence Adewale, have petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC), alleging a “miscarriage of justice” in the determination of their appeal challenging the election of Dr. Ibrahim Olaifa of Accord.

The Court of Appeal President and the Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Ibadan, were copied.

The petitioners said the appeal panel did not examine the exhibits, adding that it delivered the judgment to beat the 60 days statutory limit to determine election appeals without studying the records of proceedings, grounds of appeal and briefs of arguments of both parties.

They alleged that Olaifa was not qualified to contest the election and did not score majority of the lawful votes cast. The petitioners urged the NJC to reconstitute a fresh panel to hear the suit.

•Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi (second left); female rapper Yetunde Alabi, a.k.a. Sasha (left); musician Innocent Idibia, a.k.a. Tuface (middle); comedian Patrick Onyekwe, a.k.a. Mr. Patrick (second right); and actress Moji Olaiya; at the inaugural Ekiti Mega Fiesta in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital...at the weekend

Fashola: slain corps members should not die in vain AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola at the weekend said members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who were killed in the postelection violence in parts of the North last year, must not die in vain.

Fashola spoke at the Freedom Park of the Old Prison Ground, Lagos Island, while featuring as a Special Guest on the 10th anniversary of the Change–A-Life January 1 show, hosted by Ms Funmi Iyanda.

He said: “Those young people gave us the most credible elections and we must honour them by being more diligent and honest in everything we do.

“We leaders must ensure that our policies and programmes are for the good of the greatest number of people. We must ensure that the survivors get jobs without agonising.

“The idea of wanting a job means they want to earn a living in a dignified manner in a country where they have put in so much and are ready to contribute more. It is incumbent on us to give something back to them.”

Fashola said peace and stability are crucial to

L

‘We have made scholarship provisions for indigent children who cannot afford the fees.

They can apply to the Ministry of Education and we will give them scholarships.’ building a strong nation.

He said the Nigeria of our dream can only be achieved in an environment of religious tolerance and co-existence.

Fashola said: “It is going to require every hand on deck to transform this country. It is going to require peace and stability, religious and ethnic tolerance and coexistence to build this nation. We will not build it in an environment filled with rancour, violence, pain and fear.”

Urging Nigerians to persevere in things that are right and capable of improving the nation, he said “things do not happen by

magic, but by hard work and commitment.”

The governor said as long as Nigeria continues to depend on grants, it would continue to undermine the opportunities for growth, employment and stability.

Urging Nigerians to focus on agriculture, he said the creation of jobs should be a consequence of the restoration, transformation and revival of the nation’s economy.

Fashola said improved electricity, for example, would create jobs, improve productivity and the economy.

He praised Miss Iyanda for persevering in her profession, adding that it is good that people take their destinies in their hands by setting up small businesses.

The governor assured Lagosians that the government will work harder this year to make their lives better.

On the new fees for new intakes of the Lagos State University (LASU), Fashola said: “We mean well. It does not affect the old students. They will not pay an extra kobo until they graduate.

“We have made scholarship provisions for indigent children who cannot afford the fees. They can apply to the Ministry of Education and we

will give them scholarships.

“The problem our schools face today is the provision of quality university education. We want to attract the best and put in the best.

Those who visit LASU will see the changes that are already going on there, in terms of buildings and general infrastructural development.

“We acted on the report of a Visitation Panel the students asked us to set up, and school fees is only one of the many parts of that report.

There are so many other recommendations to raise the quality of education in that school.”

The governor presented a cheque to support the education of Mr. Samson Teidi, the brother of a corps member, who was killed in the violence.

He also presented, on behalf the show, a plaque of recognition to an innovator, Mr. Tunde Adegbola, founder of the African Languages Technology Initiative (ALT-I).

The show has been supported in the last 10 years by the Lagos State Government. It is dedicated to charity, encouraging and rewarding people doing extraordinary things.

Fire guts Eko Hospital ward

A

WARD at the Eko Hospital on Mobolaji Bank

Anthony Way, Ikeja, Lagos, was yesterday gutted by fire.

No casualty was recorded.

The fire, which occurred at about 3:45pm, was caused by a power surge from an air conditioner in the third floor ward.

Patients were transferred in an ambulance to the hos-

By Miriam Ndikanwu

pital’s branch in Surulere.

The co-founders of the hospital, Prof. Sunny Kuku and Amaechi Obioha, were on the scene of the incident.

They assured patients that the situation was under control.

Kuku said the fire was caused by an upsurge of voltage in one of the private wards.

He said: “We have an effi-

cient fire service and they were able to curtail it within that short period. I commend the efficiency of the Lagos State Fire Service, which arrived immediately.

“We have switched off the power. We are going to isolate the affected area and resume work anytime from now. This is a tertiary hospital and we have patients on dialysis and various cases.

Some were about to have surgeries, but fortunately, we

2012 cryptic year, says MFM overseer

T

HE General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) Worldwide, Dr. Daniel Olukoya, has described this year as a “cryptic year.”

He said there would be mysterious occurrences this year.

Dr. Olukoya spoke on Saturday at the MFM Prayer City on the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway,

during the cross-over service.

Tagging 2012 the “Year of Dominion Celebration and Supernatural Open Heavens,” he predicted the fall of many proud rulers.

He said there would be conflicts all over the world and urged Nigerians to pray against environmental disasters.

have another hospital in Surulere. We have moved the very sick ones there and we should be up-and-doing any moment from now.”

Obioha said operations would resume today. He said: “God is with Eko Hospital, God built it and God protects it. I assure Lagosians that all is well and that I will be in my office tomorrow.”

General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, who led the rescue team, said the fire lasted for about an hour.

He said: “Immediately we were informed, we activated our emergency response team and all stakeholders were on ground. We moved promptly and put out the fire at exactly 4:15pm.”

FORTY suspected illegal aliens have been arrested at Ojodu/Berger, Lagos, and a truck which was conveying them into Lagos was also impounded.

It is feared that they may be members of the Boko Haram sect.

They are being held at the State Criminal Investigation Bureau (SCIB) in Ikeja.

Police spokesman Samuel Jinadu, who confirmed the arrest, said investigation is ongoing.

He said preliminary investigation has shown that they are illegal aliens with no means of livelihood and the police are working hard to unravel the suspects’ mission in Lagos.

Jinadu said if at the end of their investigation it is discovered that the suspects are really illegal immigrants, they would be handed over to the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) for prosecution.

He warned criminals to stay away from the state.

‘Birth defects major cause of infant deaths’ AN obstetrician, Dr. Chris Agboghoroma, has said congenital defects are a major cause of infant deaths in the first year of birth.

Agboghoroma told reporters in Abuja that congenital disorders cause damage to a developing foetus during pregnancy.

He said: “There are more than 4,000 known birth defects, ranging from minor to serious. Although many can be treated or cured, they are major causes of deaths in the first year of birth.”

Agboghoroma said congenital disorders can develop at birth, before birth, or during the first month of life.

He said birth defects are abnormalities of body metabolism present at birth, which can lead to developmental or physical disabilities that require medical or surgical treatment.

Agboghoroma said the abnormalities in babies born with some body parts missing or deformity are in the body chemistry and could be caused by an interaction of a number of genetic and environmental factors.

He said some medical conditions could run in the family of either of the parents.

Agboghoroma said exposure to radiation, x-rays and direct sunlight can also cause congenital disorders.

He said drugs taken without doctors’ prescriptions during pregnancy could result in malformation of the baby.

Agboghoroma said: “Women above 35 years are at a risk of delivering malformed babies, because the older a woman gets, the more likely she could deliver a child with defects.”

He said structural defects, such as heart defect, clubfoot and hidden testicles, among others, can be corrected immediately after birth.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

8

NEWS Belgore urges Nigerians to live in unity From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

HE Kwara State governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the last April election, Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN), has urged Nigerians to live in unity in the New Year.

In a message, Belgore urged “fellow countrymen and women to work together in unity, as brothers and sisters and across faith and ethnic lines, to tackle the challenges facing us as a people in the New Year”.

He added: “Only in unity and peace can we surmount the socio-political and economic challenges confronting our country.”

In a statement by his media aide, Rafiu Ajakaye, the frontline lawyer said the removal of fuel subsidy is not in the interest of Nigerians, wondering how President Goodluck Jonathan could press ahead with such an unpopular policy.

T

Transporter cautions colleagues over fares hike

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F R O N T L I N E transporter in Enugu State, Mr. Maduka Onyishi, yesterday urged his colleagues not to increase transport fares indiscriminately following the subsidy removal.

Onyishi, who is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Peace Mass Transit Limited, was reacting to the over 200 per cent hike in transport fares in the state since the January 1 removal of subsidy by the Federal Government.

From Chris Oji, Enugu

Petrol was sold for between N170 and N200 at filling stations in Enugu yesterday.

Many families who returned home for the holiday were stranded in the villages following fare the hike.

Addressing reporters in his office, Onyishi said as one of the top users of petrol in Nigeria, he was compelled to make the appeal in the interest of poor Nigerian commuters.

Dialogue with Boko Haram will be counter-product, says Jang

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LATEAU State Governor Jonah Jang has said President Goodluck Jonathan should shun the advice of those urging him to dialogue with the Boko Haram sect.

The governor noted that the move would be counterproductive to national interest.

He spoke in Jos, the state capital, at the cross-over night service to herald the New Year at the Evangelical Bible Prayer Outreach Ministry International, the EBOMI Prayer City.

Jang said: “President Jonathan should be wary of bad advisers who may want to give him pieces of advice

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

that are counterproductive.”

The governor challenged the founders and supporters of Boko Haram to show themselves publicly to the government and people of Nigeria.

He said this has become necessary because the government needs to know the people it wants to dialogue with “because the government does not negotiate with ghosts”.

Jang said: “Going by the current ugly events in the country, President Jonathan is going through too much

pressure. But God, who put him there as the leader of this country at this time, will strengthen him to overcome the current security challenges in the country.

“President Jonathan should be as bold as the biblical Joshua, who led the people of Israel from captivity into the promised land. The President should not allow anything to distract him from achieving his vision of bringing Nigerians out of the woods.”

The governor noted that despite the current security challenges facing Plateau State, it would soon come out stronger and peaceful.

He urged the residents to show the commitment and determination to overcome the challenges, saying the residents need to rededicate themselves to God in the New Year so that He would fight their battles for them.

The General Overseer of EBOMI Prayer City, Isa ElBuba, told the congregation that by faith, the Christian community would overcome the fear of the Boko Haram sect.

He said God would vent His anger on those bringing hardship to innocent Nigerians, urging the people to hold on to the promises of God that He would support them in their times of need.

Tiv, Fulani settle conflict in southern Taraba From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

N

ORMALCY has returned to Takum Local Government Area in the southern part of Taraba State after clashes between the Tiv and Fulani herdsmen in the build-up to the Christmas.

Both groups have resolved to sheath their swords and work for the progress of the area.

Peace talks between their opinion leaders were held at the Government Lodge, Takum. The reconciliatory meetings were also attended by Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters Group Capt. Sule Angyu Gani, other top government officials as well as a member of the Sultan of Sokoto Tiv-Fulani Peace Committee, Chief Teghtegh Shaakaa.

Sokoto ACN intact, says chair

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HE Sokoto State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday said the party has not gone into extinction, as being speculated.

It noted that the defection of its former leader in the state and ex-Governor Attahiru Bafarawa has not negatively affected the fortunes of the party.

ACN’s Acting Chairman Alhaji Sidi Aliyu spoke in Sokoto when he presented the governorship

candidate, Abdullahi Ahmad, at the party’s secretariat on Ahmadu Bello Way. Aliyu said ACN remains intact and united for the governorship election that will hold in three months. ‘’As you can see, the ACN is alive in Sokoto State. It is not only in existence but also waxing stronger.

Bafarawa’s defection from it has only strengthened us and bonded all members as one formidable force...” he said.

Fire razes Ibadan tyre market From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

A

N evening fire yesterday razed the tyre section of the Agodi Gate Market in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The fire was said to have started around 6pm.

The Nation learnt that the fire spread to the shops from a nearby refuse dump site, which was set on fire by unknown residents.

An eyewitness said the fire was put out by men of the state Fire Service.

No one died in the incident.

Police spokesman Femi Okanlawon said detailed information on the incident was not available yesterday.

When The Nation visited the scene last night, guards disallowed reporters from entering the area.

‘Boko Haram can’t divide Muslims, Christians’

C

HRISTIAN leaders in northern Nigeria have said they would not allow the Boko Haram sect to create a crisis among Muslims and Christians.

In a joint statement, the President, Christian

Association of Nigeria (CAN) Northern states chapter, Archbishop PY Jatau; Revd Emmanuel Dziggau; Elder Joshua Atureja and Evangelist Mathew Owojaiye promised to resist any attempt by any group to cause secretarian conflict in Nigeria.

•Renowned industralist, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas (middle) with Mr. Victor Ogundimu (left); Mrs Sena Anthony, Yeye Olofin of Lagos (second left); and Prof Tofin Godwin, Asiwaju Iyamofin of Egba land, at the end-of-the-year party of Glover Memorial Hall, Lagos PHOTO:OMOSEHIN MOSES

We must break from our ugly past, says Suswam

B

ENUE State Governor Gabriel Suswam has urged residents of the state and other Nigerians to leave behind the negative attributes which slowed down the country’s march to greatness.

In his New Year’s message, the governor noted that “unfortunate” developments, such as the spectre of bomb blasts, political violence, communal conflicts, kidnapping and other violent crimes are a collective

assault on the psyche of the nation because they are antithetical to the nation’s developmental aspirations.

In a statement in Makurdi, the state capital, by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Dr Cletus Akwaya, the governor said: “As a people, we must enter the New Year with renewed determination to break from the things that tend to retard our progress. This country is destined for greatness and it behoves all of us to do the right things

all the time so that we can translate our great potentials to real opportunities.”

Suswam said his administration has mapped out an economic development programme in this year’s budget, now before the House of Assembly, to change the economic fortunes of the state.

He said: “In 2012, we want to create jobs and expand the economy through the promotion of cottage and micro-enterprises in part-

nership with the private sector.”

The governor praised the residents for their support, understanding and good conduct in the past year, noting that these enabled his administration to record huge successes. The governor called for the sustenance of the support this year.

Suswam said his administration would continue to protect the life and property of the residents, adding that security would be given priority this year.

Subsidy removal sends fares rising in Rivers •Petrol sells for N141 at filling stations •It’s declaration of war, says TUC •NLC asks workers to prepare for indefinite strike

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HE New Year’s Day removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government has led to hikes in transport fares and the prices of commodities in Rivers State.

Petrol is now being sold for N141. Queues started forming at the filling stations with petroleum products in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

The state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), through its Chairman, Mr. Chris Oruge, urged workers to prepare for an indefinite strike.

The state chapter of the

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), also through its Chairman, Mr. Chika Onuegbu, described the subsidy removal as a declaration of war.

He vowed that the union would shut down the state.

The Nation investigation in Port Harcourt yesterday showed that only the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) filling station at Lagos Bus Stop, Port Harcourt, popularly called Town, sold petrol for N138.

Others sold the product for

N141 with queues on the road leading to the station.

Conoil at Education Bus Stop, Mile 1, Diobu; AP filling station in Town; Oando filling station on Aba Road, near Abali Park; and Mobil at Waterlines Bus Stop on Aba Road, sold petrol for N141.

A Total filling station at Garrison Bus Stop, on Aba Rad, did not sell fuel. An attendant, who declined to mention his name, said the filling station’s manager had directed that fuel should not be sold. He did not give any reason.

Intra- and inter-state trans-

port fares recorded over 100 per cent or higher increases in some cases.

Transport fares from Port Harcourt to Lagos, at the popular Godfrey Agofure Motors (GAM), which was N3,400 before January 1, has been increased to N6,500. The fare from Port Harcourt to Warri rose from N1,300 to N3,000, with officials of the transport company indicating that the fares might still be increased.

Within Port Harcourt, a trip from Abali Park to Williams Jumbo, has increased from N50 to N100, despite commuters’ lamentation.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

9

NEWS

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (middle),Ms Funmi Iyanda (seventh right) in a group photograph with the members of the audience and beneficiaries of Funmi Iyanda’s Change-ALife Programme during the Annual Change-A-Life Television Show at the Freedom Park, Old Prison Ground, Broad Street, Lagos, on Sunday.

Five arrested for alleged plot to bomb church F

IVE suspected terrorists have been arrested by men of the State Security Services (SSS) over an alleged plot to bomb the headquarters of Winners Chapel on Sapele Road in Benin, Edo State.

It was learnt that one of the suspects was to pose as an ice cream seller in front of the church during the New Year’s service with the bomb planted on his bicycle.

One of the suspects is said to be a Nigerien.

A source at the church

Osun Speaker condemns subsidy removal From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

OSUN State House of Assembly Speaker Najeem Salaam yesterday condemned the hike in price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol.

He said the Federal Government should have allowed the National Assembly to conclude its findings on the corruption at the down stream sector of the oil industry.

The Speaker said Nigerians should not be made to serve any punishment for the misdeeds of the corrupt few.

Salaam frowned at the manner the Petroleum Products Price Regulating Agency (PPPRA) announced the fuel price hike, saying the Federal Government was insensitive and provocative in its action.

Salaam, who expressed worry over the way governors and Houses of Assembly were left out of the framework for the utilisation of subsidy removal proceeds, said the attendant effect of the subsidy removal would not be for federal workers alone, but everyone.

He, however, asked the people not to be panic, saying the Rauf Aregbesola administration would not allow them to suffer.

The Speaker implored the citizens not to embark on any action that could lead to the break down of law and order, disclosing that the House of Assembly is on the side of the people.

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

told The Nation that the bomb scare has made the management strengthen security around the church.

The source said the SSS intervention prevented the bomb from reaching its target.

State Director of the SSS Bakori Bello-Tukur said what the agency did was to make sure security was not

breached in the state.

He said they have not established the presence of Boko Haram members in the state and that those arrested were being screened to know their level of involvement.

Bello-Tukur said their action was to ensure that the state was safe, adding that some of those arrested were freed after investigation.

PDP summons state chairmen over congresses From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

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HE National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has summoned state chairmen to Abuja ahead of congresses to be held at the various levels.

In a statement yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, said the FCT chairman is not excluded from the meeting.

The statement reads: “In view of the fact that the PDP congresses scheduled to take place at all levels nationwide are fast approaching, all state chairmen are hereby invited to report to the National Secretariat.

“For briefing as follows: Date: Wednesday, January 4. Venue: PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja. Time:10am.

“Similarly, FCT Chairman is also expected to attend the meeting along with other state chairmen.”

•Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan inspecting the additional 100 Delta State City buses purchased by the government to boost transportation, in Asaba... yesterday.

‘Work with security agents’

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HE public has been urged to work closely with security agents to avert deadly attacks by extremists.

The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulure, made the call on Sunday while speaking with reporters at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, after the New Year’s service.

Mrs. Orelope-Adefulure urged the public to share security related information with security agencies to bolster security in the state.

She said: “Through cordial working relationship between the public and government’s security apparatus, criminals creating havoc in the country can be defeated.”

The deputy governor urged residents to be vigilant and report any security threats in their areas.

The Archbishop of La-

By Paul Oluwakoya

gos, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Adebola Ademowo, enjoined Nigerians not to be extremists in their creed.

He said religious tolerance is the virtue needed towards a peaceful co-existence among Nigerians.

“This service is for thanksgiving, praises and to pray for our country so that we can continue to enjoy peace and tranquility.

“It is the duty of the church to intercede and pray for our country and on that we stand.

“We must not think that as we start the New Year there won’t be difficulties and challenges.

"I want Nigerians to put God first in everything.

We tmust be religious friendly irrespective of affiliation, tribe, social and political class .

“We must confess positively for our country at all times.”

•Wife of Ogun State Governor Mrs. Olufunso Amosun (second left) presenting gifts to the mother of the state’s first baby of the year, Mrs. Olayombo Ogunyemi. With them are Chairman of the state Hospital Management Board, Dr. Tunde Olowonyo and Acting Chief Medical Director, Dr. Haroun Ajibode at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu

•Wife of Oyo State Governor Mrs. Florence Ajimobi presenting gifts to Mr &Mrs Babatunde ,parents of the state’s first baby of the year delievered at Jericho General Maternity Hospital, Ibadan...yesterday

10

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

NEWS

•Elechi and his wife, Josephine(right) commiserating with a victim...yesterday

Abia spends N10b on roads From Ugochukwu Eke, Umuahia

ABIA State Government has spent about N10 billion to rebuild some federal roads across the three senatorial zones.

The roads include Uzuakoli/Ohafia Federal Highway; Arochukwu- Ohafia; Port- Harcourt and Owerri roads in Aba and Ogbor Hill; Ikot Ekpene road also in Aba,Old Tower to Isieke, Osisioma Ring Road Junction among others.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Works, Jude Nwokoro, said some 25 roads are also being rehabilitated.

Nwokoro said: “Already,s the government has mobilised contractors to site with N2.5 billion, which has resulted in the massive rehabilitation going on in all parts of the state.

He said the government would use the dry season to ensure that all the deplorable roads are rehabilitated.

Festival of Power begins tomorrow THE fourth edition of the annual crusade of Wordbase Assembly, tagged: “Festival of Power”, holds from tomorrow till January 15.

The two-week event, will hold at the church’s crusade arena, in Okota-Lagos, at 6.30pm daily.

With the theme: “Oh God, Arise”, the crusade, according to the Resident Pastor, Mike Nwimoh, “is aimed at heralding the New Year and ushering residents of Okota and environs into the presence of God. It is also targeted at winning souls for Christ.”

Renowned evangelist Dr Uma Ukpai and Apostle Lawrence Achudume are among guest ministers at the event.

The hosts, Bishop Humphrey Erumaka and Rev. Huldah Erumaka, will also minister at the event.

•Some of the victims...yesterday

I counted 26 bodies in Ezillo, says Governor Elechi

E

BONYI State Governor Martin Elechi has said with the weekend massacre in Ezillo, he doubts if the Ezillo and the Ezza Ezillo people would be able to cohabit again.

Elechi spoke yesterday at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, when he visited some of the victims.

He said: “When I visited Ezillo on the day of the incident, I counted 26 bodies and within 10 minutes more bodies were brought in.

“It is a disturbing situation, no doubt about it. The victims at the hospital are the lucky ones.

“I believe most of them here will survive after treatment but the ones we saw in Ezillo are dead. You need

From Ogbonnaya Obinna, Abakaliki

to go there and see things for yourself.

“I doubt if the people can live together again, with the type of destruction that was meted out on the Ezillo people.

That kind of destruction leaves permanent bad feelings.”

The governor said when the war started and both communities were reconciled in 2008, things were not as bad, noting that it is only God who can heal the scars.

He said policemen from Cross River, Rivers and Akwa Ibom states have been deployed in the area.

“Those of us who are alive would ensure that there are no more deaths. I believe the people themselves are

aware of the efforts of the government in ensuring lasting peace in the area.

Nonetheless, it is our duty to guarantee permanent peace there.”

He said the police would fish out the criminals.

“The police are doing their best to fish out the criminals, let the criminals state their grievances.

“Look at the little children, what wrong could they have done? You will agree with me that the perpetrators are mindless.

“We don’t know what they are looking for. All those behind the atrocities will be brought to book. There is no hiding place.”

The governor said the bloodletting would not derail him from his poli-

cies and programmes for the state, adding that the destruction is only the latest in the series.

“Everywhere in the world there is peace and there is turbulence. So we can’t accept that ours is the worst.But it will not stop the investors from coming to the state,”he said.

Some of the victims are still waiting to be operated on.

The All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) governorship candidate in last year’s April election, Julius Ucha, has described the killings as “senseless, unreasonable and barbaric.”

He called on security agents to investigate the colossal loss and urged the families of the deceased to take heart.

Police parade undergraduate, four others in Rivers

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FINAL year student of Accounting at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt, Princewill Zornata, and four others were yesterday paraded for alleged robbery and kidnappings by the police in Rivers State.

Zornata (29) reportedly confessed that he took part in the December 8 foiled robbery in which the cashier of Khana Local Government, Lekia Nwiku, was killed.

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

Nwiku was killed by the gunmen on the SaakpenwaBori Road while returning from the bank.

Also paraded was Emmanuel Dumale, who hails from Beeri-Ogoni in Khana Local Government.

Zornata said three of them were involved in the operation.

Dumale, who moved to Aba, Abia State, to treat gunshot wounds on his left leg,

was apprehended on December 9, following information from a doctor.

Four AK-47 rifles, 200 rounds of ammunition and a loaded gun were recovered.

The other suspects: Liberty Ochomma, Akinima Uche and Ahule Agorachor were allegedly involved in the December 25 kidnap of an 80year-old woman in her home in Ahoada West Local Government.

Ochomma, who was arrested on December 29, led po-

licemen to a village where they kept their victim, who was released.

Uche and Agorachor were apprehended.

Ochomma said the victim’s younger brother, who is at large, was the leader of the gang.

He provided information that led to the kidnap, which would have fetched the gang N4 million.

RSUST spokesman Des Wosu could not be reached for comments.

Senatorial rerun: Movement to be restricted Thursday

M

OVEMENT of vehicles will be restricted between 10 am and 4 pm on Thursday, during the rerun election for the Rivers East Senatorial District.

Senator George Thompson Sekibo was sacked by the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt on December 7.

Commissioner of Police Suleiman Abba said this yesterday at a briefing in Port Harcourt.

He warned against demonstrations or processions over the removal of fuel subsidy.

Abba said 697 robbery suspects were arrested in the state last year, with 119 of them killed.

About 305 kidnap suspects were apprehended with 71 killed; 110 suspected cultists and 61 pipeline vandals were

‘We have sensitised our officers and men on their responsibilities, especially providing a level playing field for political campaigns by interested parties’ From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

arrested and 101 kidnap victims rescued.

Two hundred and eighty seven firearms were recovered from hoodlums, including robbery, kidnap suspects and cultists, with 2,580 rounds of ammunition and 143 vehicles and motorcycles recovered.

He said: “Based on the directives of the Court of Appeal, INEC has decided to conduct a re-run election for the Rivers East Senatorial District seat on

January 5.

“The Rivers State Police Command, with the support of sister forces, departments and agencies, has made adequate arrangements for security and safety before, during and after the election.

“We have sensitised our officers and men on their responsibilities, especially providing a level playing field for political campaigns by interested parties.

“We will provide a conducive atmosphere in the almost 2,000 polling units in the af-

fected eight local governments of Emohua, Etche, Ikwerre, OguBolo, Obio/Akpor, Omuma, Okrika and Port Harcourt.

“There will be a ban on movement of vehicles between 10am and 4pm.

“However, movements of vehicles for medication, fire service, accredited media and election observers and for similar circumstances, in line with the Electoral Act or INEC guidelines, shall be allowed.

“Over 12,000 policemen and personnel from the security and law enforcement agencies are deployed.

“Public safety and peace during the period (of election) is guaranteed.

“Our colleagues in the Armed Forces have also made adequate arrangements to support the efforts.”

‘There’ll be no reprisal attack’

By Kelvin Osa- Okunbor

T

HE Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Kingsley Kuku, has said despite the provocative antics of Boko Haram, the Niger Delta will not carry out reprisal attacks on northern or Islamic targets.

Kuku said the bold security measures taken by President Goodluck Jonathan would curb the activities of the sect.

The special adviser, who was speaking with reporters in Lagos, said the reported attack on a mosque in Sapele, Delta State, was an isolated case and should not be seen as a reprisal attack.

“The President has said it all, what Boko Haram is doing is pure terrorism.

“What the sect is doing has nothing to do with Islam neither can anyone say the sect is propagating a northern agenda.

“It is terrorism, pure and simple,” he said.

•Kuku

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

11

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Airlines record huge passenger traffic

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

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IRLINE operators yesterday recorded huge passenger traffic in and out of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos in spite of of the astronomical increase in the price of premium motor spirit from N65 per litre to over N140 per litre.

Surprisingly, air fares remain unchanged as the price of aviation fuel, known as Jet A-1, which was deregulated many years ago, oscillates according to the forces of demand and supply.

At the new Domestic Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, the departure hall was brimming with passengers, who were either purchasing tickets at the counter or proceeding to the hall for boarding, even as some airlines were charging low air fares to major destinations. Among the airlines that operated flights were: Aero Airlines, Dana Air, First Nation Airways, Arik Air and Air Nigeria.

But, for commuters, it was a tale of woes for many airport and airline workers, as they had to pay 100 per cent increase in fares.

On the Ikeja-Airport route, commuters had to pay N100 compared with N50 that most passengers had been paying on the same route.

Some passengers, who complained of the astronomical increase in fares, waited at the bus stop, wondering why the operators will effect such increase, forcing some to walk long distance between Ikeja and other parts of the metropolis.

From the Oshodi/ Mafolukwu axis, fares also went up by 100 per cent, as passengers had to pay between N100 and N150 compare with the N50 charged on the route.

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

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

-

0.2958 206.9 242.1 156 1.9179 238 40.472

Investments in renewable energy have a large potential for growth given the large gap between energy demand and supply and the enormous renewable energy options available to the country.

- MD, Bank of Industry Evelyn Oputu

Fed Govt, Global Biofuels sign N424b plant deal T HE Federal Govern ment and Global Biofuels Limited, an indigenous bio-fuel producer, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the construction of 15 integrated bio-fuel plants in Nigeria worth N424billion.

The project is expected to generate 450megawatts of electricity as well as create 120,000 direct and 750,000 indirect jobs.

The Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga, signed for the Federal Government, while the Managing Director/CEO, Global Biofuels Limited, Dr. Felix Obada, signed for his firm.

Aganga said: “This will create value chain, in addition to linking 15 states of the federation to cheap bio-fuel generated electricity at the rate of 30 megawatts per state.

“Construction on the pilot plant, which will be established in Ekiti State, will

• To generate 450mw of electricity, create 870,000 jobs

From Franca Ochgibo, Abuja

commence in the first quarter of 2012 and shall be completed within 12 months, while 14 additional plants will be established in 14 other states after the completion of the pilot project. The states include: Ondo, Osun, Kwara, Kogi, Benue, Gombe,Bauchi, Zamfara, Kano, Kaduna, Nasarawa and Plateau.

“The project had been subjected to stringent feasibility and market studies, the Ministry of Trade and Investment would partner other focal ministries and parastatals of the Federal and state governments to ensure the successful execution of the project.”

The minster said the project is the culmination of several years of hard work and intensive research between Global Biofuels and its collaborators in Research Institutes in Nigeria, China, Brazil and India. When completed, he said the project would positively impact the nation’s economy and attract more Foreign Direct Investments into the country.

The company, he said, will start the implementation of an agro-based industrial activity for the production of ethanol, biomass electric power and food, all from a single industrial complex, using sweet sorghum as raw materials. The pilot project is at Ilemeso, Ekiti State.

Aganga said plant construction is scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2012 while mechanical completion, test run and inauguration have been fixed for the last quarter of 2012.

“The project is expected to create 120,000 direct jobs and 750,000 indirect jobs across the project’s value chain while a minimum of 15 states of the federation shall be linked to cheap biomass electric power supply at the rate of 30 megawatts per state,” he added.

Obada said 70 per cent of the project would be funded by the Chinese government while the remaining 30 per cent would be sourced from other financial institutions including NEXIM Bank, ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development,Africa Finance Corporation, Fond Gari of Togo and FirstBank of Nigeria Plc.

• Executive Director, Commercial Banking, North and Public Sector, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Mr Ibrahim Kwargana; Regional Operations Head, Lagos Island, Mrs Ireti Abimbola; Group Managing Director, Mrs Funke Osibodu and Executive Director, Corporate and International Banking, Investment Banking and Treasury, Philip Ikeazor, after a briefing on the bank’s Rights Issue, at its head office in Marina, Lagos ... on Frifay

OPS seeks palliatives on fuel subsidy removal

By Toba Agboola

T

HE Organised Private Sector (OPS) has urged the Federal Government to introduce palliative measures, saying that the removal of fuel subsidy caught them unaware.

Speaking with The Nation, the Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Muda Yusuf, said the removal of subsidy will raise the price of some services and also cause pains to the citizens.

Besides, he said it will worsen the already battered economy, adding that the cost of transportation will increase and this will affect cost of production. “ This is not the right time for this kind of decision. It will worsen the conditions of citizens, especially an average Nigerian,” Muda said.

He, however, noted that the subsidy removal will lead to the diversification of the economy and encourage private investment in the downstream sector.

“It will also reduce pressure on our foreign reserves, but as I said an average man will feel the impact most,” Muda said.

The President, Nigeria Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA),Dr Ademola Ajayi, said the subsidy removal caught the chamber by surprise.

He said it was sudden because the President did not mention it in the budget.

Ajayi said the government need to address the infrastructural problem, such as power, to ease the pain. He, however, said the OPS will issue a statement on the decision.

To the former President, Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprise (NASME), Dr Ike Abugu, the decision is premature and it is going to hit the SME sector.

Bonga spill: Senate denies clearing Shell

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HE Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology has denied giving Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) a clean bill of health on the Bonga oil spill containment.

The Committee Chairman, Senator Bukola Saraki, said his committee only noted that after their assessment visit to spill site, they discovered that the spill had stopped and the containment successful to an extent.

Saraki in a statement signed by his media aide, Akintoba Fatigun, said the committee also raised the issue of the oil found at the shoreline, which Shell claimed was not from Bonga. He said until tests are carried out to ascertain the owner of the oil, it will

• Communities protest damage to environment From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

be premature to conclude.

“But we have insisted on a joint sample taken by Shell, DPR, NOSDRA and a consultant appointed by Senate to be sent to a reputable international laboratory for testing,” he added.

Saraki said: “Until the results are out, we can’t conclude.But in the meantime, we agreed with Shell irrespective of whose oil it is,that Shell will take responsibility of the cleaning of the oil at the shoreline, which is what is most important.

“Also, we are evaluating the cleaning procedure to see the effects on ecosystem

from the use of the dispersants.Shell is investigating the cause of the spill to confirm the reliability of the export line.

The issue of compensation to community can only be addressed after the source of oil is established.

“On the issue of compromise, the media should remember that it was our committee that first responded to Bonga oil spill in a press conference held at the media centre of National Assembly in Abuja and we also went ahead to assure Nigerians that we will do everything possible to make sure that Shell contains the spill as quickly as possible and to also hold Shell to international

accepted practices in protecting our environment.

“Before that, we have made contact with USEPA for technical assistance and surely, this is not action of a committee that wants to do nothing or is satisfied with present status. If we are compromised, will we take such step?.”

Meanwhile,angry villagers from 13 villages along the coast reportedly affected by the spill are blaming and protesting against Shell for devastating their areas. According to Reuters, the villagers said they have spent much of their time scooping up the spilled oil into buckets while scores of fish lie dead on the

beach and dozens of boats meant for fishing, which is the main source of income for many in the Niger Delta, have been damaged.

A Chairman of one of the communities, Jacob Uka, said: “The pollution is there.

The problem is there, so we cannot go to the river. We are based on fishing. There is no way we can live with our families ... please and please...in order for peace to reign let the Federal Government look into this problem immediately.”

Shell is denying that the washed-up oil is not from its Bonga facilility.

Shell Country Chairman, Mutiu Sunmonu, had said the spill was dispersed and contained before it reached the shore - a claim disputed by the villagers and rights groups.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

12

BUSINESS NEWS Flight Schedule

Shareholders to petition Reps, NAICOM over N20b premium

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

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

1. Arik 2. Aero 1.

2.

3.

4.

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

LAGOS – KADUNA Aero 08.00 Chanchangi 10.00 Arik 10.00 Arik 15.10

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

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

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

08.40 08.40 14.55 15.10 17.40

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LAGOS – WARRI 08.15 11.50 11.55 14.55

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

08.50 09.45 09.40 14.00 15.45 19.55

LAGOS – OWERRI 07.20 14.00 16.30

08.30 15.10 17.40

LAGOS – UYO 10.35

11.35

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

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

08.00 18.00

LAGOS – ABUJA SAT/SUN Arik 7.15; 10.20; 2.20; 5.20pm – 7.30; 9.15; 10.20; 2.20; 4.50; 6.45 Aero 07.30; 09.35; 13.10; 14.50; 20.20 – 07.30; 09.35; 13.10; 14.50; 20.20 Air Nigeria 08.15; 14.30; 17.15; 18.30 – 08.15; 13.30; 14.30; 17.15; 18.30

By Chuks Udo Okonta

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• From left: Herbert Wigwe, Group Deputy Managing Director; Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Group Managing Director and Gbenga Oyebode, Chairman, Access Bank Plc, at the bank's Extra-Ordinary General Meeting, at the Lagoon Restaurant, Lagos.

NigComSat-1R connects 60% of MDAs W

HEN it begins full com mercial operations next month, Nigeria’s replaced communications satellite, the NigComSat-1R, will provide bandwidth connectivity to over 60 per cent of governtment’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) across the country.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NIGCOMSAT Limited, Timasaniyu Ahmed-Rufai, disclosed this during an interactive session with reporters in Abuja.

He listed the benefits of the satellite to government agencies and other business enterprises to include reduction in the cost of bandwidth acquisition, which costs Nigeria N75billion yearly.

Other benefits, according to Ahmed-Rufai, include boost of government’s e-governance initiative, development of indigenous software applications to aid Nigeria’s quest for a knowledge economy, enhancing the nation’s telecommunications services delivery, facilitating the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) pursuit of a cash-less economy, among others.

The NIGCOMSAT boss disclosed that, at present, the facility has attracted the Nigerian Television

• To link 78 varsities in June Stories by Adline Atili

Authority (NTA), the Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST), the Nigeria Customs Service, Galaxy Backbone, the Nigeria Immigration Service, security operatives and several Internet Service Providers (ISP) in the country.

He added that the satellite, which has the capacity to cover over 40 African countries, has already got a request from Ghana to supply two transponders. Other countries, which have expressed interest in the facility, according to him, include sSierraLeone, Congo-Brazzaville, Kenya, Angola, South Africa and about six European countries.

He said: “Based on the excellent performance of the NigComSat-1, customers are interested in the replacement NigComSat-1R. Many of them are ready to migrate from their existing providers. Sixty per cent of government entities have expressed interest in the satellite’s services. They include NTA,

NIPOST, Galaxy Backbone, Customs Service, Immigration, the police, the Nigerian Army and several ISPs.” In addition, the NIGCOMSAT boss explained that the launch of the satellite will boost the country’s knowledge economy drive.

“We are trying to build talented Nigerians who can create products that will be competitive in the global market. By doing so, we will be developing a pool of highly-skilled workers. If you want to create a knowledge economy, you have to create humans with knowledge,” he said.

By facilitating access to e-education, Ahmed-Rufai said study materials will be made available to about 78 universities in the country via the company’s e-Library project, expected to take off in June 2012.

To forestall possible failure of the satellite, Ahmed-Rufai disclosed that in the next few years, two satellites will be launched to act as backup to the NigComSat-1R. According to him, the first of the satellites, the NigComSat-2, will be launched 30 months from now; while the other, the NigComSat-3, will be launched one year after the launch of the first.

Citiserve deploys inter-operable POS terminals

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ITISERVE – a member of the Vigeo group - has introduced the CitiServe Point of Sale Terminals (CMPOS) for electronic payment services across Nigeria.

A distinctive feature of the CMPOS terminals is its inter-operability, which allows acceptance of all the major electronic payments cards on one POS. It is also certified by the Nigerian Inter Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) and compliant with all the requirements of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Executive Director of Vigeo Holdings, Lola Ogunbambi, said the CitiServe PoS terminals have powerful transceivers that capture weak radio signals, in addition to a battery life span of 72 hours.

She disclosed that the terminals are certified by MasterCard and VISA- the EMV version 1&2 certificates.

Besides, Ogunbambi said CitiServe CMPOS terminals also passed rigorous tests including the drop test and fire test, to ensure client satisfaction.

Describing the inter-operability

of the CMPOS terminals as a milestone in the corporate industry, she said the CitiServe terminals are the first to accept all Nigerian bank cards on one POS. She noted that apart from the ability to check account balance, customers do not have to worry about fraud or theft while entering their Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) during transactions.

“With the new cash-less campaign by the CBN, going cash-less has been made easier. The portable, dust-proof and user friendly CMPOS by CitiServe enables customers carry out electronic payment transactions easily.

“These CMPOS not only accept all Nigerian bank debit cards, including Visa, MasterCard and Verve, they have the ability to reverse a transaction if you change your mind about purchasing an item already paid for. The terminals are certified by the Nigerian Inter Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) and also compliant with all requirements of the CBN,” Ogunbambi explained.

On the operations and transactions, Ogunbambi points out that the CMPOS exceeds minimum industry standards and have completed live transactions test. She said the CMPOS’ are transacting live. The company’s “full application have the User Acceptance Testing (UAT) certification by NIBSS” she explained.

Other applications are the Global Systems for Mobile Communications (GSM) credit top up and payments for payTV. Ogunmbami confirmed that the company has in-house after-sales facility and qualified technicians for maintenance and repair of the terminals. “We, at CitiServe, have fully-trained and certified technicians and engineers, who repair and maintain the PoS terminals.

The company also holds local workshops for maintenance and provides spare parts of the terminals for clients. Ensuring and aiding Easy Lifestyle of our clients is our pride and our new CMPOS is one more way of showing our dedication to that vision,” she added.

HAREHOLDERS have concluded plans to petition the National Assembly and National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) over the N20billion debt brokers owe the underwriters, the President, Nigerian Shareholders’ Renaissance Association, (NSRA) Mr Olufemi Timothy, has said.

Timothy told The Nation that the decision has become imperative due to the negative impact the brokers’debt was having on the performance of underwriters. He said shareholders are affected because their expected returns on investment are no longer met.

He said the underwriters’ operations are hampered due the huge funds brokers owe underwriters, adding that a case in point is that of the International Energy Insurance Plc, which brokers owed about N1billion and Standard Alliance, whose bad and doubtful debt stands at N2.6billion.

He said: “That brokers owe underwriters over N20billion is not healthy for the insurance sector. This is what we want to call the attention of NAICOM to. We want them to quickly address it and make sure that the debtors are sanctioned. We also hope to take up the issue with the National Assembly. Shareholders are really suffering while brokers go about un-punished.”

The Chairman of Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), Mr Olusola Ladpi-Ajayi, said the withholding of premium has thrown up an issue between underwriters and brokers, adding that the mandate by NAICOM to underwriters to rid their books of bad debts has prompted the underwriters to recover the premiums in the hands of brokers. ”The issue is that the brokers have claimed that the premium have not been paid because they have not received it from their clients. And we are now compelled to remove the premiums from our account. It is a very difficult situation, because before you can allege that a broker has collected premium and that he has not remitted it, you have to get a confirmation from the mutual client that he has been paid and this not easy. So, what most insurance companies are trying to do is to get to the clients to verify the claims of the brokers if they have actually been paid,” he added.

The NIA chief said the issue when finally resolved, will help erase credit transactions, adding that the face-off will help underwriters and brokers do their businesses on cash and carry bases.

“The long term benefit of the examination of brokers is that it will erase credit transactions. Brokers themselves will know that they cannot indulge in credit transactions. If you bring a business, you have to pay for it. But, we will see how the development goes as people are still trying to establish, which one has been collected and those not collected. NAICOM too has been trying to help by asking underwriters to send a list of debtors. May be we may not get much from what has gone, but definitely, that trend will not continue.

“The development will also strengthen the statutory position of ‘No Premium No Cover’ when NAICOM enforces the order by not recognising outstanding receivable, as an underwriter, one should know that he should not do his business on credit. Indeed, it is of no use to have a premium on book while one does not get the money,” he noted.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

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14

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

Nsofor back to full fitness

Pg. 49

NSC stalling on documents

Pg. 16

Nation PAGE 15

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Keshi avoiding Senegal

Pg. 16

Ameobi wants start against Man United Pg. 16

Pg. 49 “I dream of getting back to Eagles. But for the injury I was in the team already, so I am looking forward to be back with the team as I wait for coach Stephen Keshi to extend an invitation to me.�

Nsofor back to full fitness

Pg. 49

NSC stalling on documents

Pg. 16

Nation PAGE 15

Tuesday, January 3, 2011

Keshi avoiding Senegal

Pg. 16

Ameobi wants start against Man United Pg. 16

Pg. 49 “I dream of getting back to Eagles. But for the injury I was in the team already, so I am looking forward to be back with the team as I wait for coach Stephen Keshi to extend an invitation to me.�

TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2011

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49

NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT

TECHNICAL ADVISER JOB

N6BN MAPUTO GAMES ALLOCATION PROBE

Pillars reject Coach Salisu

NSC stalling on documents

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IGERIA Premier League (NPL) side, Kano Pillars have said that their former coach, Salisu Yusuf is not on their shopping list for the post of technical adviser.

Several reports had been linking the former Super Eagles’ assistant coach to the job at Pillars following the sudden departure of coach Ladan Bosso to Wikki Tourists.

An official of the club told SuperSport.com that the management of Pillars has never looked in the direction of the erstwhile coach for the vacant position.

“Pillars never talked to coach Salisu for the technical adviser’s job.

“Nobody in the management is thinking about him at the moment.

“Coach Bosso’s departure to Wikki Tourists was sudden, nobody knew he was going and now he has gone we want to sit down to decide who will fill the position.

“Coach Mohammed Baba Ganaru is the acting coach now, he was in-charge before Bosso joined us.

“Apart from the former coach of Kaduna United, Maurice Cooreman, there are several others interested in the job.

“We don’t want to do a rush job, very soon we will announce the right person for the post.”

Pillars are at home against Niger Tornadoes on Sunday, January 8 NPL opener and the official is upbeat of Pillars’ victory.

“Expect the best match from us on January 8 against Tornadoes.

“The vacuum created by coach Bosso will not affect us negatively.

“We are used to such situation. At a time coach Kadiri Ikhana was with us before he left, the same as coach Salisu Yusuf for the Super Eagles job. We were doing very well before coach Ladan Bosso arrived.

“We’ll cope very well,” he said.

2012 NPL SEASON

3SC returns to Liberty, Adamasingba

By Olusoji Olukayode HOOTING Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan will be fully back to base this term, NationSport can reliably report. The Oluyole warriors, as they are fondly called, will be playing their 2012 Premier League home matches at the Liberty and Adamasingba Stadium.

Revealing this was the team’s Administrative Secretary, Demola Alabi who stated that the Festus Allentutored side will kick-start their League campaign this term at the “Liberty Stadium,” but “will go back to Adamasingba from Liberty stadium.”

Alabi said: “Adamasingba should be ready before the end of January because the governor has given the go-ahead to the contractors.”

On his side’s first game of the new season, Alabi disclosed that they are billed to face back-to-back home games against Sharks and Gombe United.

“We are playing at home in the first two matches. The first against Sharks, and the second one against Gombe United. Both matches are at home,” he said.

Asked why the Mutiu Adepoju-led club chose Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State as training camp ahead of the new season, Alabi explained: “Because it has all the necessary facilities and Adamasingba Stadium is under construction.

“By January Adamasingba Stadium will be ready and we don’t want distractions from our fans. If we camp in Ibadan there will be distraction from fans who will gain easy access to the venue and Ijebu-Ode will afford us the opportunity to concentrate.”

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HE top brass of the National Sports Commission (NSC) are growing grey hairs on how to tackle the various questions which the Sports Committee of the House of Representatives posed to them when the NSC visited the Committeee late last month.

The Committee has accused the Director General of the NSC, Patrick Ekeji of tactically buying time in the submission of the documents requested from him by the lawmakers.

According to the Committee’s chairman, Godfrey Gaya, Ekeji did not submit the document the committee requested for before they went on break, and if by the time they resume on 10th January, the document is still not submitted, they would decide on the next course of action.

Gaya said that the the answer sought from the NSC Director-General was how over N5 billion was presented on only one item.

“We saw a session of N3.9 billion for the Maputo (2011 Commonwealth) Games, we also saw another N2.1 billion for the same Games. The question was, was the N3.9 billion for the ceremony alone, and the N2.1 billion for the preparation? Those were the other details we asked them to furnish within three days which were not forthcoming on, which they couldn’t before we went on vacation.

“When members (of the House) are on holiday, it does not close the secretariat of the committee, so the NSC could have used the period to

From Patrick Ngwaogu submit the document we needed. I hope that the document has been submitted. Although, I am yet to get in touch with the clerk of the committee to see if it has been submitted, if it has not, we know the next line of action to take.

“Though, if they submit (it) now, we will not treat it, because any action taken now would be envisaged as witch-hunting, which I don’t want anyone to accuse me of. But I want to tell you that we are not going to allow what we discovered in what they submitted to us to be swept under the carpet,“ Hon. Gaiya said.

He argued that the reason the NSC had its way in the past was because the House relied on it to perform some of Committee’s oversight functions, but that, “this time round we have made up our minds not to rely on them for anything, we are going all out to do our job thoroughly, and there is no going back on it.”

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY

Keshi avoiding Senegal N

IGERIA coach Stephen Keshi would prefer to test his team of players from the domestic league against Angola than against a star-studded Senegal, officials have said.

General secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Musa Amadu, confirmed Keshi was not disposed to playing against one of the favourites for the 2012 Nations Cup, Senegal with a second team because of the fierce rivalry between Nigeria and Senegal.

“The coach said the rivalry between

both nations (Nigeria and Senegal) was too tight to fight with local stars. In fact, it was going to be a prestige friendly and he did not like the idea of playing with a second team,” Amadu disclosed.

The Teranga Lions are back to their best after a massive re-organisation of the team who reached the last eight of the 2002 World Cup. Led by experienced striker Mamadou Niang, Senegal romped to the 2012 Nations Cup from a group that also had Cameroon and DR Congo.

I love Yakubu’s goal-scoring form – Keshi

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UPER EAGLES handler, Stephen Keshi says he loves the goalscoring form of Blackburn striker, Yakubu Aiyegbeni who has found the back of the net 12 times this season in the English top flight.

Aiyegbeni had 10 to his name going into Saturday’s game away to Manchester United but one goal in each half of that encounter saw him lift to 12, helping Blackburn secure a

By Olusoji Olukayode rare 3-2 Old Trafford triumph against Sir Alex Ferguson’s men.

And Keshi told Peak Soccer Moment on RayPower fm that though he is not carried away by the striker’s run, he loves his form.

He said: “I’m not excited but I love his goal-scoring form. (same for)

Victor Moses, Osaze Odemwingie, every one of them that are doing good.”

Keshi also confirmed he is recalling the big striker for international duties beginning with the away tie against Rwanda in Kigali. He reckons the player is worth the recall seeing he is on a high in a top league.

NFF must change attitude - Jaja

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ORMER President of the Nigerian Referees Association (NRA), Sam Sam Jaja says the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) must approach things differently this year if it hopes to avert the failures experienced in 2011.

Speaking on Brilafm, Jaja said the Aminu Maigari-led board must be more accommodating and entertain others’ views to be able to get the nation’s football on the upward way.

He said: “The issue of keeping some people away, those who have a lot of knowledge to give because they want to corner the administration of

By Olusoji Olukayode football, will also spell doom if they continue with that lifestyle.

“They should be more accommodating and tolerate dissenting voices and not to look at those who are criticising them as enemies.”

Nigeria’s national football teams failed at the world stage last term, with the Under 17 national team not even getting a glimpse of the World Cup in Mexico and the Super Eagles failing to reach the Nations Cup for the first time in 25 years.

Sammy Ameobi wants start against AMMY AMEOBI will come into Man United contention for a right-wing slot

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against Manchester United.

Frenchman Gabriel Obertan limped out of Anfield on Friday night with a suspected foot injury and is a doubt to face his former club Man Utd at St James’ Park.

Ameobi junior has cut a disappointed figure of late and is eyeing more firstteam opportunities in a Toon shirt.

The teenager reflected his desire to play more via his own personal Twitter page after experiencing another cameo role.

The Academy product has had just one start this season despite making

• Ameobi

rapid progress in the first team under Alan Pardew.

However, he has been told to stay patient by his manager.

Ameobi has made 10 substitute appearances in the Premier League this season and started against Manchester City back in October during the 3-1 loss. But he has been unable to build on that start thus far.

Ameobi said: “Getting a regular spot in the starting line-up is my goal for 2012. Hopefully I will be able to achieve that.”

Should Obertan – who suffered a toe infection earlier this season – miss out against the Red Devils, Pardew also has the option of turning to Dan Gosling again after the Devon-born midfield man completed a three-game suspension following his red card against Norwich City last month.

Gosling endured a tough 2011, spending the first half out with a knee injury before finding it tough to break into Pardew’s starting line-up.

And his dismissal at Norwich summed up a frustrating year.

However, Gosling – who has played wide right and central midfield during his fledgling career – will be looking to make his mark on the first team stage with Cheick Tiote set for Ivory Coast duty in the coming month.

•Obinna Nsofor in action for Locomotiv Moscow

Aiyegbeni: Fans should give Kean a break

B • Keshi They boast of several top-class strikers like Demba Ba (Newcastle United/ England), Moussa Sow (Lille/France), Papiss Cisse (Freiburg/Germany), Souleymane Camara (Montpellier/ France and Dame N’doye (FC Copenhagen/Denmark) Keshi has opted for a match-up against 2010 Nations Cup hosts Angola, while some officials would have wanted his team of players from the NPL to take on Senegal as they would offer a stiffer competition.

A home-based Nigeria team will now host the Angolans on January 11 and three days later come up against Liberia in another friendly.

The local Eagles will also play newlypromoted NPL side Rising Stars on January 4 and the next day tackle Lobi Stars.

“It’s part of the rebuilding process, we want to ensure that our team are in proper and strong shape before the internationals, including friendlies and qualifiers, that is why we want to test them against the best in Nigeria,” declared team co-ordinator Emmanuel Atta.

LACKBURN striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni hopes the win over Manchester United will persuade supporters to end their protests against the club’s ownership and manager Steve Kean.

Rovers drew 1-1 against Liverpool at Anfield, then completed a stunning 3-2 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford with the Nigerian scoring two goals.

“The win has to change the perception [of Kean],” the Yak, who has now scored 12 Premier League goals this season, said, told The Times.

“What did [the fans] expect? They should give him a break and support the team. Look at the way he believes in the players.

“You have to give credit to the fans today, they supported the team. This is what we want. Playing at home, when we go down it is, ‘He has to go, he has to go’, but today things have really changed.

“We are looking forward to the next game and hopefully they can get behind the team. This is a fresh start for us. We will be fine.”

Manager Kean added: “I hope this does change the atmosphere for our home games because we want to climb the table.

“Nobody gave us a chance in these two games at Anfield and Old Trafford. They were probably looking at the West Brom and Bolton defeats and thought we were going to struggle.

“But we have managed to rally round, get a young side out, get them organised and working for each other and I think they have thoroughly deserved this result and the point at Anfield.

“I have five or six players who are under 22 and if they can feel a negative vibe around the ground, it can get to the younger players. So I hope the fans realise we have a young side and are a little bit fragile, and I hope they get behind us.”

The beleaguered boss responded emphatically to suggestions that some Rovers fans had wanted the team to lose in order to force a change of manager.

“I wouldn’t imagine any true supporter would want to see us get relegated,” he said.

“If there is anybody in the stadium who is taking a bit of joy when we don’t win or when we lose and that’s their goal when they come to the ground, I wouldn’t class them as supporters.”

Nsofor back to full fitness

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IGERIA international striker Obinna Nsofor has said he has regained full fitness after he was sidelined for two months by a knee injury.

“I am back to full fitness and I have been training since I came back to Nigeria for the holidays,” the Lokomotiv Moscow striker Nsofor told MTNFootball.com “I am returning to Russia this week because we are to resume January 9 to begin preparations for the resumption of the league. I am ready to go full force to have more impressive run when league restarts and wish for an injury-free time.”

There was a consideration to undergo a surgery for the injury in Italy but that was later shelved.

The Nigeria star has netted once in eight appearances for Lokomotiv since joining up with the Moscow club last summer after a loan spell at West Ham in the English Premier League.

Lokomotiv are sixth in the standings with 53 points from 32 matches.

Nsofor informed that he will depart with his club to Lagos, Portugal, on January 12 for a two-week training tour. The trip ends January 31.

The Russian league reopens on March 3 with Lokomotiv hosting closest rivals Rubin Kazan.

OLYMPICS QUALIFIERS IN EGYPT

WTF confirms Chukwumerije, others

A

HEAD of the London Olympic Games slated for this year, the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) has confirmed 2008 Beijing Olympics bronze medalist, Chika Chukwumerije, and two other Nigerians for the African Olympics Qualifiers holding this month in Cairo, Egypt.

NationSport gathered that the qualifiers in Egypt stand as the only chance for athletes on the continent hoping to be part of the London 2012 Olympics with the finalists in each weight category automatically making it to the quadrennial games.

Alongside Chukwuemrije, ranked 29 in the world in the heavyweight +80kg category, other Nigerians like Beijing Olympics quarterfinalist, Issa Muhammad Adam, who won bronze at the 2011 All Africa Games, will also be competing in the men’s -68kg category. The only female athlete representing Nigeria at the qualifiers is Joy Ekhator who will be jostling for a place in London 2012 in the 49kg.

In Chukwumerije’s weight category are eight other athletes including Chukwuemrije’s conqueror at the 2011 All Africa Games in Mozambique, Cote d’Ivoire’s Zokou Saint Nom Firmin. Also in the heavyweight cadre is former World champion, Mali’s Keita Daba Modibo.

On his part, Adam has 18 other athletes to compete against, while Ekhator will compete alongside nine others.

A confident national coach, Osita Egwim told journalists yesterday that the country has the chance to book places in London considering the quality of athletes representing Nigeria in Egypt.

“I think we have a 100 per cent chance of having our athletes in London from the Egypt qualifiers. I believe with the kind of training they must have been exposed to in Korea, they can take on any athlete in Egypt.

They just need to win between three and four fights and they are sure of making it to London,” Egwim said.

Egwim, who guarded the team to second place in the taekwondo event of the 2011 All Africa Games, however, admitted that the athletes need to be on their best form against athletes from Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Senegal, Tunisia and Morocco who are

By Innocent Amomoh among the best in the continent.

For the past six weeks, the team has been honing their skills for the Egypt qualifiers in Korea under the watchful eyes of the new Korea coach engaged by the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF).

Before the team’s departure to Korea last month, an optimistic Secretary of NTF, Chinedu Ezeala-Ogundare said that the team was poised to pick the three slots in Egypt, adding that the training in Korea became necessary to ensure that the team prepared well for the qualifiers on January 11 and 12.

Ezeala-Ogundare expressed confidence in the team, saying: “I believe we can build on our performance in Maputo to clinch the four slots, because the athletes are capable and with the training in Korea they well surely do the country proud in Egypt.”

Aside the National Sports Commission (NSC) supporting the team, the Chika Chukwumerije Sports Foundation assisted the team in the branding and promotion of the contingent for the Korea tour.

• Chukwumerije

FALLOUT OF STUNNING WINNER

Anichebe eyes Eagles recall •Awaiting Keshi’s call-up E •Dedicates goal to sick dad

VERTON match winner Victor Anichebe has said he now looks forward to playing again for Nigeria after returning to action following a long-term injury.

On Sunday, big forward Anichebe staged a sensational comeback after he was sidelined by a groin injury for the past four months.

“I dream of getting back to Eagles.

But for the injury I was in the team already, so I am looking forward to be back with the team as I wait for coach Stephen Keshi to extend an invitation to me,” he told Sky Sports TV. He said he hopes it is the beginning of better tidings for him in the New Year.

“I am very happy that I am back and playing again. It was great way to start year 2012, it is a sign of good things to come my way this year. I believe the goal will spur me and the team to greatness,” he disclosed.

“It was very hard for me to be out of action for that long because I always want to play. I had few setbacks to my career due to injury and I hope that is over now.

“I want to keep improving. I couldn’t

have asked for a better way to return, giving my team an away win was marvellous.

“I was not surprised that I played because I was to play against Sunderland during the week, but I was asked to just rest, so I was sure I would be in action against West Brom.”

Anichebe dedicated his stunning strike against West Brom to his father, who is ill and in hospital.

“I hope the goal will aid my dad’s recovery, my mum is there with him in the hospital, I hope they return home soon,” said the Everton striker, who came off the bench Sunday to make a telling difference.

• Anichebe

TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

16

49

NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT

TECHNICAL ADVISER JOB

N6BN MAPUTO GAMES ALLOCATION PROBE

Pillars reject Coach Salisu

NSC stalling on documents

N

IGERIA Premier League (NPL) side, Kano Pillars have said that their former coach, Salisu Yusuf is not on their shopping list for the post of technical adviser.

Several reports had been linking the former Super Eagles’ assistant coach to the job at Pillars following the sudden departure of coach Ladan Bosso to Wikki Tourists.

An official of the club told SuperSport.com that the management of Pillars has never looked in the direction of the erstwhile coach for the vacant position.

“Pillars never talked to coach Salisu for the technical adviser’s job.

“Nobody in the management is thinking about him at the moment.

“Coach Bosso’s departure to Wikki Tourists was sudden, nobody knew he was going and now he has gone we want to sit down to decide who will fill the position.

“Coach Mohammed Baba Ganaru is the acting coach now, he was in-charge before Bosso joined us.

“Apart from the former coach of Kaduna United, Maurice Cooreman, there are several others interested in the job.

“We don’t want to do a rush job, very soon we will announce the right person for the post.”

Pillars are at home against Niger Tornadoes on Sunday, January 8 NPL opener and the official is upbeat of Pillars’ victory.

“Expect the best match from us on January 8 against Tornadoes.

“The vacuum created by coach Bosso will not affect us negatively.

“We are used to such situation. At a time coach Kadiri Ikhana was with us before he left, the same as coach Salisu Yusuf for the Super Eagles job. We were doing very well before coach Ladan Bosso arrived.

“We’ll cope very well,” he said.

2012 NPL SEASON

3SC returns to Liberty, Adamasingba

By Olusoji Olukayode HOOTING Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan will be fully back to base this term, NationSport can reliably report. The Oluyole warriors, as they are fondly called, will be playing their 2012 Premier League home matches at the Liberty and Adamasingba Stadium.

Revealing this was the team’s Administrative Secretary, Demola Alabi who stated that the Festus Allentutored side will kick-start their League campaign this term at the “Liberty Stadium,” but “will go back to Adamasingba from Liberty stadium.”

Alabi said: “Adamasingba should be ready before the end of January because the governor has given the go-ahead to the contractors.”

On his side’s first game of the new season, Alabi disclosed that they are billed to face back-to-back home games against Sharks and Gombe United.

“We are playing at home in the first two matches. The first against Sharks, and the second one against Gombe United. Both matches are at home,” he said.

Asked why the Mutiu Adepoju-led club chose Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State as training camp ahead of the new season, Alabi explained: “Because it has all the necessary facilities and Adamasingba Stadium is under construction.

“By January Adamasingba Stadium will be ready and we don’t want distractions from our fans. If we camp in Ibadan there will be distraction from fans who will gain easy access to the venue and Ijebu-Ode will afford us the opportunity to concentrate.”

S

T

HE top brass of the National Sports Commission (NSC) are growing grey hairs on how to tackle the various questions which the Sports Committee of the House of Representatives posed to them when the NSC visited the Committeee late last month.

The Committee has accused the Director General of the NSC, Patrick Ekeji of tactically buying time in the submission of the documents requested from him by the lawmakers.

According to the Committee’s chairman, Godfrey Gaya, Ekeji did not submit the document the committee requested for before they went on break, and if by the time they resume on 10th January, the document is still not submitted, they would decide on the next course of action.

Gaya said that the the answer sought from the NSC Director-General was how over N5 billion was presented on only one item.

“We saw a session of N3.9 billion for the Maputo (2011 Commonwealth) Games, we also saw another N2.1 billion for the same Games. The question was, was the N3.9 billion for the ceremony alone, and the N2.1 billion for the preparation? Those were the other details we asked them to furnish within three days which were not forthcoming on, which they couldn’t before we went on vacation.

“When members (of the House) are on holiday, it does not close the secretariat of the committee, so the NSC could have used the period to

From Patrick Ngwaogu submit the document we needed. I hope that the document has been submitted. Although, I am yet to get in touch with the clerk of the committee to see if it has been submitted, if it has not, we know the next line of action to take.

“Though, if they submit (it) now, we will not treat it, because any action taken now would be envisaged as witch-hunting, which I don’t want anyone to accuse me of. But I want to tell you that we are not going to allow what we discovered in what they submitted to us to be swept under the carpet,“ Hon. Gaiya said.

He argued that the reason the NSC had its way in the past was because the House relied on it to perform some of Committee’s oversight functions, but that, “this time round we have made up our minds not to rely on them for anything, we are going all out to do our job thoroughly, and there is no going back on it.”

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY

Keshi avoiding Senegal N

IGERIA coach Stephen Keshi would prefer to test his team of players from the domestic league against Angola than against a star-studded Senegal, officials have said.

General secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Musa Amadu, confirmed Keshi was not disposed to playing against one of the favourites for the 2012 Nations Cup, Senegal with a second team because of the fierce rivalry between Nigeria and Senegal.

“The coach said the rivalry between

both nations (Nigeria and Senegal) was too tight to fight with local stars. In fact, it was going to be a prestige friendly and he did not like the idea of playing with a second team,” Amadu disclosed.

The Teranga Lions are back to their best after a massive re-organisation of the team who reached the last eight of the 2002 World Cup. Led by experienced striker Mamadou Niang, Senegal romped to the 2012 Nations Cup from a group that also had Cameroon and DR Congo.

I love Yakubu’s goal-scoring form – Keshi

S

UPER EAGLES handler, Stephen Keshi says he loves the goalscoring form of Blackburn striker, Yakubu Aiyegbeni who has found the back of the net 12 times this season in the English top flight.

Aiyegbeni had 10 to his name going into Saturday’s game away to Manchester United but one goal in each half of that encounter saw him lift to 12, helping Blackburn secure a

By Olusoji Olukayode rare 3-2 Old Trafford triumph against Sir Alex Ferguson’s men.

And Keshi told Peak Soccer Moment on RayPower fm that though he is not carried away by the striker’s run, he loves his form.

He said: “I’m not excited but I love his goal-scoring form. (same for)

Victor Moses, Osaze Odemwingie, every one of them that are doing good.”

Keshi also confirmed he is recalling the big striker for international duties beginning with the away tie against Rwanda in Kigali. He reckons the player is worth the recall seeing he is on a high in a top league.

NFF must change attitude - Jaja

F

ORMER President of the Nigerian Referees Association (NRA), Sam Sam Jaja says the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) must approach things differently this year if it hopes to avert the failures experienced in 2011.

Speaking on Brilafm, Jaja said the Aminu Maigari-led board must be more accommodating and entertain others’ views to be able to get the nation’s football on the upward way.

He said: “The issue of keeping some people away, those who have a lot of knowledge to give because they want to corner the administration of

By Olusoji Olukayode football, will also spell doom if they continue with that lifestyle.

“They should be more accommodating and tolerate dissenting voices and not to look at those who are criticising them as enemies.”

Nigeria’s national football teams failed at the world stage last term, with the Under 17 national team not even getting a glimpse of the World Cup in Mexico and the Super Eagles failing to reach the Nations Cup for the first time in 25 years.

Sammy Ameobi wants start against AMMY AMEOBI will come into Man United contention for a right-wing slot

S

against Manchester United.

Frenchman Gabriel Obertan limped out of Anfield on Friday night with a suspected foot injury and is a doubt to face his former club Man Utd at St James’ Park.

Ameobi junior has cut a disappointed figure of late and is eyeing more firstteam opportunities in a Toon shirt.

The teenager reflected his desire to play more via his own personal Twitter page after experiencing another cameo role.

The Academy product has had just one start this season despite making

• Ameobi

rapid progress in the first team under Alan Pardew.

However, he has been told to stay patient by his manager.

Ameobi has made 10 substitute appearances in the Premier League this season and started against Manchester City back in October during the 3-1 loss. But he has been unable to build on that start thus far.

Ameobi said: “Getting a regular spot in the starting line-up is my goal for 2012. Hopefully I will be able to achieve that.”

Should Obertan – who suffered a toe infection earlier this season – miss out against the Red Devils, Pardew also has the option of turning to Dan Gosling again after the Devon-born midfield man completed a three-game suspension following his red card against Norwich City last month.

Gosling endured a tough 2011, spending the first half out with a knee injury before finding it tough to break into Pardew’s starting line-up.

And his dismissal at Norwich summed up a frustrating year.

However, Gosling – who has played wide right and central midfield during his fledgling career – will be looking to make his mark on the first team stage with Cheick Tiote set for Ivory Coast duty in the coming month.

•Obinna Nsofor in action for Locomotiv Moscow

Aiyegbeni: Fans should give Kean a break

B • Keshi They boast of several top-class strikers like Demba Ba (Newcastle United/ England), Moussa Sow (Lille/France), Papiss Cisse (Freiburg/Germany), Souleymane Camara (Montpellier/ France and Dame N’doye (FC Copenhagen/Denmark) Keshi has opted for a match-up against 2010 Nations Cup hosts Angola, while some officials would have wanted his team of players from the NPL to take on Senegal as they would offer a stiffer competition.

A home-based Nigeria team will now host the Angolans on January 11 and three days later come up against Liberia in another friendly.

The local Eagles will also play newlypromoted NPL side Rising Stars on January 4 and the next day tackle Lobi Stars.

“It’s part of the rebuilding process, we want to ensure that our team are in proper and strong shape before the internationals, including friendlies and qualifiers, that is why we want to test them against the best in Nigeria,” declared team co-ordinator Emmanuel Atta.

LACKBURN striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni hopes the win over Manchester United will persuade supporters to end their protests against the club’s ownership and manager Steve Kean.

Rovers drew 1-1 against Liverpool at Anfield, then completed a stunning 3-2 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford with the Nigerian scoring two goals.

“The win has to change the perception [of Kean],” the Yak, who has now scored 12 Premier League goals this season, said, told The Times.

“What did [the fans] expect? They should give him a break and support the team. Look at the way he believes in the players.

“You have to give credit to the fans today, they supported the team. This is what we want. Playing at home, when we go down it is, ‘He has to go, he has to go’, but today things have really changed.

“We are looking forward to the next game and hopefully they can get behind the team. This is a fresh start for us. We will be fine.”

Manager Kean added: “I hope this does change the atmosphere for our home games because we want to climb the table.

“Nobody gave us a chance in these two games at Anfield and Old Trafford. They were probably looking at the West Brom and Bolton defeats and thought we were going to struggle.

“But we have managed to rally round, get a young side out, get them organised and working for each other and I think they have thoroughly deserved this result and the point at Anfield.

“I have five or six players who are under 22 and if they can feel a negative vibe around the ground, it can get to the younger players. So I hope the fans realise we have a young side and are a little bit fragile, and I hope they get behind us.”

The beleaguered boss responded emphatically to suggestions that some Rovers fans had wanted the team to lose in order to force a change of manager.

“I wouldn’t imagine any true supporter would want to see us get relegated,” he said.

“If there is anybody in the stadium who is taking a bit of joy when we don’t win or when we lose and that’s their goal when they come to the ground, I wouldn’t class them as supporters.”

Nsofor back to full fitness

N

IGERIA international striker Obinna Nsofor has said he has regained full fitness after he was sidelined for two months by a knee injury.

“I am back to full fitness and I have been training since I came back to Nigeria for the holidays,” the Lokomotiv Moscow striker Nsofor told MTNFootball.com “I am returning to Russia this week because we are to resume January 9 to begin preparations for the resumption of the league. I am ready to go full force to have more impressive run when league restarts and wish for an injury-free time.”

There was a consideration to undergo a surgery for the injury in Italy but that was later shelved.

The Nigeria star has netted once in eight appearances for Lokomotiv since joining up with the Moscow club last summer after a loan spell at West Ham in the English Premier League.

Lokomotiv are sixth in the standings with 53 points from 32 matches.

Nsofor informed that he will depart with his club to Lagos, Portugal, on January 12 for a two-week training tour. The trip ends January 31.

The Russian league reopens on March 3 with Lokomotiv hosting closest rivals Rubin Kazan.

OLYMPICS QUALIFIERS IN EGYPT

WTF confirms Chukwumerije, others

A

HEAD of the London Olympic Games slated for this year, the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) has confirmed 2008 Beijing Olympics bronze medalist, Chika Chukwumerije, and two other Nigerians for the African Olympics Qualifiers holding this month in Cairo, Egypt.

NationSport gathered that the qualifiers in Egypt stand as the only chance for athletes on the continent hoping to be part of the London 2012 Olympics with the finalists in each weight category automatically making it to the quadrennial games.

Alongside Chukwuemrije, ranked 29 in the world in the heavyweight +80kg category, other Nigerians like Beijing Olympics quarterfinalist, Issa Muhammad Adam, who won bronze at the 2011 All Africa Games, will also be competing in the men’s -68kg category. The only female athlete representing Nigeria at the qualifiers is Joy Ekhator who will be jostling for a place in London 2012 in the 49kg.

In Chukwumerije’s weight category are eight other athletes including Chukwuemrije’s conqueror at the 2011 All Africa Games in Mozambique, Cote d’Ivoire’s Zokou Saint Nom Firmin. Also in the heavyweight cadre is former World champion, Mali’s Keita Daba Modibo.

On his part, Adam has 18 other athletes to compete against, while Ekhator will compete alongside nine others.

A confident national coach, Osita Egwim told journalists yesterday that the country has the chance to book places in London considering the quality of athletes representing Nigeria in Egypt.

“I think we have a 100 per cent chance of having our athletes in London from the Egypt qualifiers. I believe with the kind of training they must have been exposed to in Korea, they can take on any athlete in Egypt.

They just need to win between three and four fights and they are sure of making it to London,” Egwim said.

Egwim, who guarded the team to second place in the taekwondo event of the 2011 All Africa Games, however, admitted that the athletes need to be on their best form against athletes from Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Senegal, Tunisia and Morocco who are

By Innocent Amomoh among the best in the continent.

For the past six weeks, the team has been honing their skills for the Egypt qualifiers in Korea under the watchful eyes of the new Korea coach engaged by the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF).

Before the team’s departure to Korea last month, an optimistic Secretary of NTF, Chinedu Ezeala-Ogundare said that the team was poised to pick the three slots in Egypt, adding that the training in Korea became necessary to ensure that the team prepared well for the qualifiers on January 11 and 12.

Ezeala-Ogundare expressed confidence in the team, saying: “I believe we can build on our performance in Maputo to clinch the four slots, because the athletes are capable and with the training in Korea they well surely do the country proud in Egypt.”

Aside the National Sports Commission (NSC) supporting the team, the Chika Chukwumerije Sports Foundation assisted the team in the branding and promotion of the contingent for the Korea tour.

• Chukwumerije

FALLOUT OF STUNNING WINNER

Anichebe eyes Eagles recall •Awaiting Keshi’s call-up E •Dedicates goal to sick dad

VERTON match winner Victor Anichebe has said he now looks forward to playing again for Nigeria after returning to action following a long-term injury.

On Sunday, big forward Anichebe staged a sensational comeback after he was sidelined by a groin injury for the past four months.

“I dream of getting back to Eagles.

But for the injury I was in the team already, so I am looking forward to be back with the team as I wait for coach Stephen Keshi to extend an invitation to me,” he told Sky Sports TV. He said he hopes it is the beginning of better tidings for him in the New Year.

“I am very happy that I am back and playing again. It was great way to start year 2012, it is a sign of good things to come my way this year. I believe the goal will spur me and the team to greatness,” he disclosed.

“It was very hard for me to be out of action for that long because I always want to play. I had few setbacks to my career due to injury and I hope that is over now.

“I want to keep improving. I couldn’t

have asked for a better way to return, giving my team an away win was marvellous.

“I was not surprised that I played because I was to play against Sunderland during the week, but I was asked to just rest, so I was sure I would be in action against West Brom.”

Anichebe dedicated his stunning strike against West Brom to his father, who is ill and in hospital.

“I hope the goal will aid my dad’s recovery, my mum is there with him in the hospital, I hope they return home soon,” said the Everton striker, who came off the bench Sunday to make a telling difference.

• Anichebe

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

17

MARITIME ‘Cancel temporary import licence’ Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda, Maritime Correspondent

•Some of the abandoned power generating equipment at Apapa Port, Lagos.

PHOTO: OLUWAKEMI DAUDA

N10b power equipment rot away at ports D

ESPITE talks to boost power supply, the Federal Government seems not to be taking concrete steps to achieve the objective.

Three years after they were imported, N10 billion worth of power generating equipment are rotting away at the APM Terminal, Apapa, Lagos.

The government, it was learnt, has directed that the equipment be transferred to the Inland Terminal in Ikorodu, Lagos.

The Nation learnt that the equipment were imported over three years ago for the Independent Power Project (IPP) to boost power generation.

But they have been abandoned at the port since they arrived in the country.

Speaking with The Nation, a senior government official at the Lagos port, who craves anonymity, confirmed that the equipment belong to the government.

Some of the equipment, he said, were imported into the country more than three years ago.

Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda, Maritime Correspondent

The equipment, he alleged, were abandoned at the ports after they discovered that some of them were fake and substandard.

A senior Customs officer, who pleaded anonymity, told The Nation that a senior Customs and some top officers from the National Independent Power Plant (NIPP) and Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), met with the Senate Committee on Power and Development few weeks ago, but the equipment, he said, remain at the port.

On what will happen to the equipment if they are not cleared within stipulated time, the officer said: “In line with extant laws and regulations of the government, which stipulates that 15 days after the arrival of any uncleared cargo at the port, it is quarantined, and after another 30 days, it is listed for auction, which shall hold after another three months’ notice.

“To give room for clearance, however, the Customs has waited for over two years for the equip-

ment to be cleared, but nobody has come forward to do that. I think that was why the government decided to move the equipment to Ikorodu to create space at Apapa port for new goods coming from abroad,” the officer said.

The officer, however, painted a gloomy picture when he said those who imported the equipment in government’s name are waiting to buy the items and use them for their own purpose.

“If you have visited the port and seen this equipment, you will notice that most of them are industrial generators and high power factory cables. Those who imported the items with tax payers money and abandoned them at the port knew what they intended to achieve. ‘’They knew that the equipment will be auctioned by Customs at the end of the day and all those that are involved are waiting to buy them cheaply and convert them to their personal use. That is the Nigerian style of embezzling public funds,” the officer alleged.

Firm urges training for seafarers

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has been urged to evolve a programme that will address the dearth of seafarers next year.

He was also urged to give priority to the training of jobless youths to become qualified seafarers.

Speaking at a seminar organised by the Agenda for Good Governance (AGOG), in Lagos, the Executive Director, Shipping Investment Solution, Solomon Oyegbola, said the increase in joblessness is becoming intimidating and asked President Jonathan to find a lasting solution to the problem.

Based on the challenges facing the sector, he urged the president to put in place all the necessary structures and arrangements that would encourage the youth to develop a career at sea.

In his remark, the Managing Director, Sea Enterprise, Sesan Alebiosu, said training of seafarers should be given priority and be extended to marine pilots, maritime administration and port administration.

Alebiosu, also called on NIMASA to chart a new course for the maritime industry through adequate seafarers training.

He observed that many youths

•President Jonathan

and the graduates were into crime due to lack of jobs.

He stressed the need to train the youths to occupy the vacancies in the seafaring sector.

According to him, the profession is suffering from shortage of qualified personnel worldwide.

Alebiosu, advised other stakeholders to join hands with the government to move the sector forward. He urged the three tiers of government to collaborate to ensure adequate training opportuni-

ties for seafarers within and outside the country.

Alebiosu said he was happy with the decision of the Manila Conference, in June last year which adopted major revisions to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention) and its associated Code, to make June 25 of each year the annual “Day of the Seafarer,” a day, he said, was set aside to remind developing countries, such as Nigeria on the need for manpower development.

He said there are about 1.5 million seafarers in the world and the country needs to wake up from her slumber to contribute her own quota.

Last year, he said, NIMASA sent 61 cadets to Arnet University in India for a seafarers training programme.

The cadets, he said, were jointly sponsored by NIMASA, Niger and Kaduna state governments.

Kaduna State sponsored 31, Niger State had 25. He urged other state governments to emulate them.

Other states, Alebiosu said, need to embrace the Nigeria Seafarers Development programme in the interest of their people and the jobless youths.

THE Federal Government has been urged to cancel Temporary Import Licence (TIL) for ships.

Speaking at a one-day seminar on seafarers training by Ocean Investment Limited, its Managing Director, Mr Godwin Adams, said TIL deprives the country of substantial revenue from duty sources.

Under TIL, foreign ship owners are allowed, under the temporary importation laws, to bring vessels into the country with a temporary import permit, which comes with negligible levy yearly, as against 13 per cent duty on vessels imported by indigenous ship owners.

“Temporary import licence is something the government will need to review. We need proper guidelines for the maritime sector. We feel temporary import permit should not be permitted because everybody is now hiding under that to deprive the government of good revenue.

Even the Nigerian operators are now operating under temporary import licence. People think we don’t have fund to buy vessels. It is not true, provided the government provides enabling environment.

“With the local content fund, the NIMASA fund and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), we can guarantee fund for capacity building,” he said.

The Managing Director, Sunkight Shipping, Mr Funsho Oyinlola, however, urged indigenous ship owners to form a united front in their push for involvement in inland and coastal shipping business, if they expect success in their agitation.

He urged them to come together under one umbrella for them to be taken as a serious group of business people.

According to him, there are too many groups fighting for a common purpose without coordination.

Nigerian ship owners had recently asked the Federal Government to abrogate the Temporary Import Licence on vessels for a flat rate of two per cent for indigenous and foreign operators.

The move, according to them, would help create a level playing field for all operators in the maritime sector.

Tin Can Customs ready for 24-hour operation THE Tin Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has started the 24 hours cargo clearance directed by the Federal Government.

Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Charles Edike, said for the directive to succeed, it must involve not only Customs, but all stakeholders.

“Let’s us not wait to see the 24-hour service delivery succeed, but rather let us all be part of the success story. It is not only for Customs alone to do it, but it involves every stakeholder to join hands with us to see that the 24 hours service delivery is successful,” he said.

Edike also disclosed that the command’s Customs Processing Centre CPC) has commenced round the clock operations, a development that will avail both importers and their agents to process their documents even at night.

A clearing agent, Mr Rotimi Adbayo, however, noted that power supply may pose a challenge to the implementation of the 24-hour cargo clearance as, according to him, the situation may not allow for physical examination of cargoes by Customs at night.

Clearing agents, he said, are ready for the exercise.

But he called on the Federal Government to look into the matter as the command depends on generator for its power supply.

Dangerous overtime cargoes litter Ikorodu terminal THE Ikorodu Lighter Terminal, the warehouse for overtime containerised cargoes from the Lagos Ports and terminals, may be in danger of being suffused by expired and dangerous goods, unless the Federal Government takes urgent action to correct the situation.

Investigation conducted by The Nation has revealed that some goods that can pose great human and environmental hazards are being kept inside the terminal.

A senior government officer who does not want his name in print told The Nation that there is need for the leadership of the Nigeria Customs Service to take stock of all overtime cargoes at the terminal to avert problem.

He alleged that a large portion of containers at the terminal have expired consignments that are inimical to human environment.

“The issue of overtime cargo at Apapa Ports has virtually, been resolved and almost cleared by the Federal Government but Ikorodu terminal is a classic case where many things are not thought through and the government needs to do something to correct the situation,” he said.

ISPS can’t stop security problem THE Managing Director of Export Development Agency, My Bolaji Adesegun, has picked holes in the much-touted International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS), saying the policy is not the solution to maritime security in the country.

Speaking with The Nation in Apapa on Friday, Adesegun said before the ISPS code was introduced, the shipping industry in West Africa has had maritime security problems.

He lamented that the shipping, oil and gas industries have expanded without carrying the host communities along.

Adesegun observed that ISPS was made to protect certain interest against terrorism. He, however, said that when the core needs of the people of the shipping host communities are met, the issue of maritime security challenges will be reduced.

The Managing Director said the neglect of the host communities has resulted in the insecurity being experienced in the Niger Delta area.

“In the Niger Delta Area, the country has a huge human capacity, a huge maritime, oil and gas industry, a huge coastline, but has a single maritime training institution which is grossly inadequate so that the militants could be gainfully employed.”

According to him, the fastest way to engage the militants fully, is by sending them to the local and international maritime labour market with all the necessary International Maritime Organisation (IMO) certifications.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

18

MARITIME

ISAN, ANLCA demand policy consistency T HE Federal Government has been urged to ensure consistency in policy formulation and implementation to revamp the maritime industry for greater productivity.

Speaking at a seminar titled: The removal of fuel subsidy and its impact on the Nigerian maritime industry, and organised by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) on the impact of the proposed deregulation of the oil industry by the Federal Government last week, the Secretary, Indigenous Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Capt Niyi Labinjo, said the country has become dangerously over-dependent on oil revenues even though the oil and gas sector has not had the desired level of trickledown effect on over 80 per cent of the population due to inconsistency in government policies, mismanage-

Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda, Maritime Correspondent

ment and corruption.The maritime industry, Labinjo said, is one of the backbones of the nation’s economy, adding that the totality of what is derived from the oil and gas sector are made realisable in monetary value based on inputs from the sector in terms of import and export of goods within and outside the country.

The ISAN scribe said the country has a huge potential in maritime activities and urged local ship owners to come together and float a viable shipping company that will challenge and halt foreign domination of the lucrative business.

He also regretted that individuals with the requisite knowledge are not encour-

aged to take appointments in the maritime industry and training institutions because of politics and poor environment which does not support a good family life.

Also, the National President, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Alhaji Olayiwola Shittu, said the Federal Government has not done enough before proposing the deregulation exercise “The Federal Government is yet to exploit the enduring gains inherent in the maritime business, while policies have failed to promote development along the growth trajectory that developed maritime countries have followed. Therefore, politicians and those in positions of authority

should intensify efforts in revamping the sector for greater productivity and benefits of jobless Nigerians,” he said Deregulation, Shittu said, should start with those in power.

He urged the government to curb the execess of its officers before asking Nigerians to pay highly for the price of petrol.

Speaking on the occasion, the ministers of Transport and Information, Senator Iris Umar and Labaran Maku, reiterated the Federal Government’s position that the economy would collapse if the country failed to deregulate the downstream sector of the oil industry and urged Nigerians to prepare for the limited pains they would suffer prior to the time they would start to reap the benefits of deregulation in various facet of their life.

‘Invest in boat building’ Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda, Maritime Correspondent

NIGERIANS have been urged to invest in boat building this new year, as there is a huge market for boat operation in the country.

The Managing Director, Gift Shipping, Mr Solomon Adisa, made the call while speaking with The Nation after the seminar organised by the Maritime Reporters’Association (MARAN) in Ikeja, last week.

He said opportunities in boat operation exist in Lagos and other areas such as passenger ferry services, leisure, haulage operations and boat ambulance service.

Adisa said entrants into the boat building and boat design industry stand to enjoy huge financial benefits in the not-too-distant future.

He, however, said there are only five licenced boat operators in Lagos at present and there is room for hundreds more.

“The government is opening up the water ways and that’s the truth particularly with the Lagos State government. They are building massive jetties. Massive jetties, massive investment. It is not just the jetty, the terminal, you have the car park; they want people to have fun. You park your car go on the boat, your car is safe, you come back and while waiting for the boat, you can sit in the terminal and even watch television.

“Then you now have pockets of ferries all over. Another good thing is that it is not just happening in Lagos. You also have the Niger Delta. They are also building jetties all over the Niger Delta. My question is after building those jetties, are you going to paddle canoe on them? The best that can happen is for local competences to be developed for us to be building boats locally.

So, there is the waterways for ferry services.

“In Lagos today, if you start that business, its not a business that waits. It’s a business that immediately you start, you start making money. And in two years you have your capital back and you can then start making profit. And because it’s a huge market if there are boats people will jump into them immediately,” Adisa said.

‘How we curbed piracy’ THE Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) said one of its most outstanding achievements last year is in securing the nation’s territorial waters in the wake of increasing piracy attacks worldwide.

The agency’s Deputy Director,Public Affairs, Hajia Lami Tumaka, told The Nation that the agency has successfully tackled the menace of piracy on the Nation’s territorial waters.

The feat, the image maker said, was made possible as a result of collaboration the Agency established with the

Navy. This partnership with the Navy, Tumaka said, has made the work of NIMASA policing the nation’s territorial waters, especially the Lagos axis, easier.

She also said there has been a drastic reduction of piracy attacks within our territorial waters especially in the Lagos anchorage area. The result of this frustration to the pirates is that they moved toward the Benin Republic area in the course of the past year.

“When they were frustrated out of Nigerian waters, the Pirates intensified their activities in the Benin axis,” she added.

Chandlers set for action •From left: Minister of Transport, Idris Umar; former Minister of Interior, Capt Emmanuel Ihenacho; Minister of Information, Labaran Maku; Executive Director, NIMASA, Dr Ishaku Shekarau and Managing Director, NPA Omar Suleiman.

PHOTO: OLUWAKEMI DAUDA

How operators extort drivers at Lagos ports

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XTORTIONS, indiscriminate charges and poor service delivery by some terminal operators are frustrating business at the seaports, investigation has revealed.

Major importers, who spoke with The Nation, appealed to the Federal Government to fast-track the establishment of a regulatory agency to monitor private terminal operators at the ports this year.

Due to the absence of a regulatory agency, the terminal operators through their security personnel and other staff hold importers to ransom, frustrate the efforts of truck drivers to return empty containers on time. But stakeholders said, this is not in conformity with the international best practices.

Investigation also revealed that the practices of the terminal operators and their staff have not given Nigerians the hope of attaining the expected gains of the ports reforms if the Federal Government fails to appoint port regulator next year.

While handing over the

port to the private operators, the then Director-General of Public Bureau of Enterprises (PBE), Mrs Chigbue Irene, had said the government’s expectations included reduced the cost of shipping and clearing of goods at the port, increases efficiency and service delivery.

Confirming the story, a truck driver, Mr Adams Johnson, who spoke on behalf of other drivers, recounted their bad experience in the hands of the security officials at the APM Terminal in Apapa.

He alleged that before their trucks were allowed to enter the terminal last Thursday,

they were ask500, an amount he said, was outrageou.

But when The Nation contacted the image maker of the terminal, Mr Bolaji Akinola, he debunked the allegation. He said there was no iota of truth in it as the officials of the terminal follow government rule

Group calls for national fleet

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HE Agenda for Good Governance (AGOG), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has urged the Federal Government to maintain a viable national fleet as it proposes to deregulate the downstream oil industry.

Speaking on why Nigeria needs a national fleet at a forum organised by the group in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, the Executive Secretary of the association, Mr Rotimi Onakoya, wondered why the country cannot maintain a shipping line even when other countries are doing it to boost their economies.

Onakoya said one of the reasons the nation’s initial

attempt at owning a national fleet failed was because of insufficient cargo. He said this has changed as the country has enough import and export cargo to sustain a national carrier.

The fleet, he said, would give training and employment opportunities for Nigerians.

Another speaker, Mr Lekan Arowora, said several options are open to the country with regards to owning a national fleet.

Arowora said the Federal Government should not continue to allow foreign interests to dominate the maritime industry.

He said if the Federal Gov-

ernment decides to build a national fleet, it could do so through direct participation, going into joint ventures and multilateral trade agreements by having a navigation treaty.

“Shipping has become one of the most important sources of earnings and saving of foreign currency by developed and developing countries such as Nigeria,” he said.

Arowora urged the government to establish a national fleet as a prerequisite for economic development, prestige, defence and security, employment generation as well as balance of payments purposes.

SHIP chandlers in the country say they are ready to rescue the multi-billion Naira industry that can provide employment for over a million people from the hands of the enemies of the industry.

The association says it can assist the government in the fight against the menace called ‘sea piracy’.

The new elected National Vice-President and Chairman Lagos Chapter, Mr Uche Mboama, accused the security forces, who mount security check points on the water ways just to extort money from the ship chandlers, who do their genuine business of supplies to the ships anchored at the

By Uyoatta Eshiet

high seas.

Mboama alleged that what security forces, which include the Customs, Navy, Marine Police and NDLEA, do is ask for bribes from all water users and once one gives them what they want, they would allow one to go irrespective of the kind of business the person might be doing.

He said the ship chandlers, who have been registered by government, know those who are not their members and can identify them but the security forces that is supposed to check this things are busy collecting money from everyone.

Promote industry, govt urged THE essence of developing capacity in the maritime sector came to the fore last week, as maritime lawyers urged the Federal Government to put all the necessary policies in place to promote the industry.

Speaking with reporters in Lagos, the lawyers said the dearth of human and material capacities has been a source of worry in the maritime sector.

They called relevant government agencies at the port to complement stakeholders’ efforts in capacity-building, noting that businesses blink first in the event of any government policy breakdown.

A maritime lawyer and consultant in the industry, Mr Frannk Simpson, said the dream of the youths who are seeking employment is only

By Uyoatta Eshiet

realisable through job creation via the sector and human capacity building.

The consultant said the country can be the number one maritime nation in Africa if human capacity building is taken seriously.

He said proper training of seafearers, officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and other government functionaries is key to the success of the scheme.

Another lawyer, Mr Kabiru Adebanjo, observed that until relevant agencies in the transport sector brace up to the challenge of building human capacity, there will still be dearth of manpower in the industry.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

19

EDITORIAL/OPINION EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

COMMENT

Iran and the Strait

Wanton injustice •After 10 years in detention, an innocent man walks free

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HAT a man was detained for 10 years without trial sounds ludicrous. But it actually happened in Nigeria where the Constitution evidently frowns at detention without arraignment for more than 24, or at most 48 hours, where the court is more than 100 kilometres radius to a temple of justice.

Mamman Keita, 43, citizen of Republic of Niger was a victim of this condemnable criminal justice system in the country. He got freed by Justice Habeeb Abiru of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, 10 years after he was arrested for manslaughter, without trial. Keita was charged for manslaughter at the Magistrate’s Court, Ebute-Metta, Lagos, on July 23, 2001. He was never tried until his release recently.

Keita, a ram seller in Lagos, claimed that on the eve of 2001 salah celebration, his bag containing N177, 000, being the proceeds of his ram sales, was snatched. He reportedly said that one of his assailants stabbed him in the buttocks. In the ensuing struggle to protect himself from the life-threatening provocation, Keita in self defence claimed he stabbed the hoodlum in return before he reportedly died some days later, due to the injuries he sustained.

Ahmed Adetola-Kazeem, Keita’s counsel, through an October 24, 2011 Motion on Notice, asked for N100million compensation for his client and prayed the court to enforce Keita’s fundamental human rights. The respondents did not reply to the motion despite the fact that the court records showed that they were duly served. Even when a counsel appeared for the state at the hearing of

the application, his defence was quite appalling. The state counsel claimed that Keita was not arrested or detained by the office of the attorney-general. He probably had forgotten that the attorneygeneral of a state is accountable for all matters and issues relating to remand proceedings.

In our view, such duty is a ministerial responsibility owed by the chief law officer of the state and a strict liability issue that should not under whatever circumstances be dependent on an occupant’s knowledge of such proceeding. The holder of the office has the statutory and moral duty of taking concrete steps to make self to be aware of all criminal prosecutions commenced in all courts within his jurisdiction. The state failed to meet these requirements in this particular case.

We are happy that the matter was dispassionately dispensed with immediately it was brought to the notice of the court. Justice Habeeb Abiru was admirably compassionate when he ordered Keita’s unconditional release. He moved further by ordering the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice and Lagos Commissioner of Police to pay the Nigerien N7million damages. The man was also to be given a state apology for his illegally prolonged incarceration without proper arraignment and trial.

Keita, though not a Nigerian, deserves to be accorded all the fundamental rights to dignity of his person, his personal liberty and freedom of movement as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution; Nigerians, wherever they may live,

deserve the same thing. Thus, Keita’s detention without proper trial was a serious impediment to his enjoyment of these rights for years, even when the state could not establish any criminal charge against him. The court had acted well and we expect the government to quickly release him, get his compensation paid without delaying his letter of apology for the wanton and illegal curtailment of his fundamental rights for over a decade.

There are several others languishing in prisons across the country for committing no established crime and with no hope of securing freedom in the nearest future.

We call on governors and judges to quickly look into such cases that fall within their jurisdictions so as: to decongest the prisons and more importantly: to ensure that innocent people do not get punished by the system.

‘There are several others languishing in prisons across the country for committing no established crime and with no hope of securing freedom in the nearest future. We call on governors and judges to quickly look into such cases that fall within their jurisdictions so as: to decongest the prisons and more importantly: to ensure that innocent people do not get punished by the system’

Expressway •The Lagos-Ibadan road reinforced its value when high-profile names got stuck for hours

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T least three of the country’s top citizens had a taste of what ordinary Nigerians go through on the LagosIbadan Expressway on December 24, last year. They were Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and his Rivers State counterpart, Rotimi Amaechi. It was a day sirens could not help the governors who ordinarily could have had a right of passage merely by blaring their sirens.

Of course, many other commuters, including one who identified herself as Mrs Chuzoba Okafor who was travelling for her sister’s wedding in Anambra State were trapped in the traffic gridlock for hours. Needless to say she must have arrived the ceremony late if she was able to make it at all.

It was apparently in frustration that Prof Soyinka and Governor Amaechi pulled

‘We expect the company to mobilise and redouble its efforts on this road, to ensure timely completion. At the rate it is going, it is impossible for it to meet the four-year deadline for the project.

And, for as long as the project continues to suffer undue delays, so long would people continue to die avoidably on the road. This is aside the economic losses arising from lost man-hours that would be spent travelling on the road’

phone calls through to the Ogun State governor on their experiences, unknown to them that Amosun was also stranded in the traffic on the busy road. “Governor Rotimi Amaechi and Professor Soyinka called to inform me of their ordeal, unknown to them that I was also in the same traffic. I spent close to five hours just like everybody. It was just terrible,’’ Governor Amosun told reporters.

But it appears there was little the Ogun State governor could have done beyond sympathising with the duo and other travellers that were undergoing the same ordeal. This much was reflected in his frustration as he briefed reporters: “”We have been witnessing the menace for ages and it seems there is no hope in sight for all of us. The final solution will be to give the road to those who have the capacity to manage it effectively”.

This is where the problem lies. The road is a federal road and the Federal Government has concessioned it to BiCourteny Highway Services.

Unfortunately, little progress, if any, has been made on it ever since. Rather, it has been a bundle of excuses and promises that are hardly kept. For instance, BiCourtney had promised to fix the road before Christmas; it didn’t. If it had, perhaps Prof Soyinka and the governors as well as other stranded travellers would have had smooth journeys.

As Governor Amosun observed, traffic situation on the expressway is uncalledfor and absolutely avoidable. The LagosIbadan Expressway is acclaimed to be the busiest road in the country. As such, it

deserves priority attention both on the part of the government and the concessionaire. The minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, had on July 23, last year given the company a 60-day ultimatum to complete palliative works on the expressway, preparatory to when the climate would be friendlier for the expected reconstruction of the 105kilometre road.

We expect the company to mobilise and redouble its efforts on this road, to ensure timely completion. At the rate it is going, it is impossible for it to meet the four-year deadline for the project. And, for as long as the project continues to suffer undue delays, so long would people continue to die avoidably on the road. This is aside the economic losses arising from lost manhours that would be spent travelling on the road. It was good that phone lines had to literally jam when some of our top citizens got stranded on the road on December 24 last year. That is what the ordinary people go through daily. But maybe that is part of what will accelerate the completion of the job. After the experiences of Prof Soyinka and two governors, Bi-Courtney had to come out again with an assurance that it would fulfil its promise to accomplish its task on schedule.

We urge all concerned parties connected in one way or the other with the project, including the state governments through which the road traverses, to make the necessary sacrifices to ease the agonies of people, both high and low profile, before the rains resume. the road is an expressway and not a snail track.

I

RAN’S threat to shut the Strait of Hormuz — one-fifth of the world’s oil trade passes through there — if the United States and Europe press ahead with new sanctions is unacceptable. The Obama administration is right to signal, in deliberately moderated ways, that Washington will not back off if Tehran ever attempts to carry it out.

A show of American naval force kept the strait open to oil tankers during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s. A Fifth Fleet spokeswoman usefully reminded Iran this week that the Navy always stands “ready to counter malevolent actions to ensure freedom of navigation.” Oil markets reacted calmly, at least for now, with no price spikes.

Whether or not Tehran is bluffing (or trying to drive up oil prices), Washington will not back down and Europe should not. More than five years after the United Nations Security Council ordered it to stop, Iran is still enriching uranium and mastering other technologies that would allow it to build a nuclear weapon. According to the latest report from United Nations inspectors, Iran has created computer models of nuclear explosions, conducted experiments on nuclear triggers and completed advanced research on a warhead that could be delivered by a medium-range missile.

Eighteen months have passed since the last round of Security Council sanctions. American calls to tighten the economic screws by, for example, concentrating on Iran’s petrochemical industry have been stymied by Russia and China. Europe, however, has been increasingly willing to impose its own investment restrictions. And Iran’s latest threat is a clear sign of its growing economic desperation.

The new sanctions Tehran hopes to fend off are a United States law that would penalize foreign companies that do business with Iran’s central bank — which they must do to buy Iranian oil — and a tough new round of punishments, possibly including an oil embargo, now being considered by the European Union.

We strongly support applying maximum economic pressure to constrain Iran’s nuclear ambitions. But we think Washington penalizing foreign companies for engaging in otherwise lawful commerce with Iran is not the right way to go about it and could backfire, alienating European allies at a time when they are preparing to impose their own stronger sanctions. President Obama can limit the damage by making full use of a waiver, which allows him to block the penalties if they would threaten national security or cause oil prices to soar.

Europe must also find the best way to increase pressure on Iran’s government. We are not sure how a full-scale oil embargo would affect the global economy, but, before proceeding, the European Union should carefully weigh the consequences. Meanwhile, it should expand its list of targeted Iranian companies, officials and government entities. And both Europe and Washington should mount a new push on Russia and China to agree to toughened United Nations sanctions.

Tehran’s latest threat to block global oil shipping should leave no doubt about its recklessness and its contempt for international law. This is not a government any country should want to see acquire nuclear weapons.

– New York 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 •Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon •Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina •Group Political Editor Bolade Omonijo •Group Business Editor Ayodele Aminu •Abuja Bureau Chief Yomi Odunuga •Sport Editor Ade Ojeikere •Editorial Page Editor Sanya Oni

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu • Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde •Chief Internal Auditor Toke Folorunsho •Senior Manager (sales) Akeem Shoge •Advert Manager Robinson Osirike •IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness •Press Manager Udensi Chikaodi •Manager, Corporate Marketing Hameed Odejayi • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

20

EDITORIAL/OPINION

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IR: Odd as it is, people want— and still live—close to volcanoes even though volcanoes have a very bad habit of doing things that kill people: molten magma that had for thousands of years lied in unhurried ambush spontaneously tears through the earth crust upwards into the sky, only to descend with a pack of woes.

Most volcanoes are believed perfectly safe for long periods between eruptions, and those that erupt frequently are thought predictable by the people. These predictions, however, are subject to human mistakes, and as such lie within safety limits. It therefore

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Boko Haram: our man-made volcano follows that nobody knows to a precision the very time when a quiescent volcano would rage up viciously like some displaced god from hell. This unknown quantity breeds fear, and this fear, no matter how subdued, does besiege the

hearts of those adventurous people who live on those hostile rocks, and the religious among them are thus compelled to make countless last prayers each day as they go after their endeavours.

Let’s now come home: here in

Nigeria, we have not recorded any major volcanic event except that of November 2010 at the mountainous Mkomon district of Kwande Local Government of Benue State. The other case in Gombe State was merely described by the Nigerian

Linking foreign aids to gay rights

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IR: The location of the waste disposal sites in the commercial city of Onitsha, Anambra State, and Benin – Owo expressway in Edo State portend great dangers for travellers on these busy roads, especially during this festive season.

One of the criteria for choosing a waste disposal site is that it must be at least 500metres (1/2Km) away from a major highway. In the two waste disposal sites in question, this wasn’t observed at all. This is somewhat surprising, as it is assumed that Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) should have been conducted before the sites were chosen. One could only then assume that either an Environmental Impact Assessment was not carried out at all before the site was chosen or that the recommendations were not followed and enforced by the Ministry of Environments in both states.

In the case of Anambra State, the waste disposal site is located on the Onitsha – Okija road, on the outskirts of the Onitsha town. There is no clear-cut boundary between the waste disposal site and the highway, as some of the wastes from the site are already encroaching on the highway. The imminent danger present in this

particular site includes loss of lives and other hazards associated with the unfavourable stench coming from the site. The scavengers who forage on dropped wastes are sometimes carried away by their activities and most times even forget that they are on a very busy highway. Also, landfill gases such as methane that is generated from decomposing organic has adverse effects on the health of the passengers travelling on the highway.

In the case of Benin – Owo road,

the distance between the waste disposal site and the highway is not up to 20 metres. The indiscriminate incineration of the wastes dumped here portends great hazard to travellers on the road. The driver of the bus in which I was travelling had to slow down almost to a halt as the smoke from the incineration of wastes on the site was so thick that he couldn’t see the oncoming vehicle.

As Nigerians, we are faced with a lot of avoidable situations and conditions that contribute to loss of

lives of innocent citizens daily; bad roads, insecurity and so on. Loss of lives that may arise from this bad practice of waste disposal is avoidable; let us dispose our wastes properly by adhering to the rules.

This therefore, is a call on the governments in both Anambra and Edo States to take urgent action to correct this anomaly.

•Ayimoro, Gbenga Samuel.

G.R.A, Ondo, Ondo State.

Meteorological Agency as extinct or dormant.

Yet Nigerians, especially those living at the north, live in perpetual fear akin to those of the people who live on rocks of very active and fierce volcanoes. Or shall we deny that such fears exist? Then tell me exactly where and when the next Boko Haram bomb would answer.

Or predict the very next time and exact place where Boko Haram gunmen would sporadically open fire on defenseless citizens and even on military men.

But just like I said earlier, nobody knows this time. These terrorist activities are now our own type of volcanoes, which have taken up the cloak of devout piety. They erupt more frequently than any known natural volcano, and are less predictable. Consequently, these pious volcanoes are dreaded even more, for they seem to have defied all intelligence.

My consolation is that evil always have a self-defeating effect. The perpetrators of this heinous crime are ultimately affected, even though they may be telling themselves baseless lies, and living in a delusive world created by their distorted, myopic imaginations.

• Tony Ulonso Anidike Port Harcourt.

Jonathan should apologize over ASUU

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IR: The attitude of President Goodluck Jonathan to the education system has become the subject of discussion in various fora.

To cut the long story short, Jonathan is a product of the university system. I am still wondering why ASUU is still having problems with “2009 Agreement”.

Is President Jonathan not the first PhD holder to become the President of this country? Let us consider that it was Obasanjo or Buhari or Babangida in charge; people would have said that these personalities did not attend university let alone

having PhD. I know that PhD stands for Doctor of Philosophy degree.

This means that Jonathan is a philosopher. Aristotle once said that “we need a philosopher king to properly manage the resources of a state.”

In this context, Jonathan is as a PhD holder, a philosopher and as the President, a king. The question now is that why is he failing Nigerians most especially ASUU? Look at the issue of Boko Haram in the North, incessant bank robberies in the West, daylight kidnappings in the East and political unrests in the South.

The first time PhD holder would become President of this country,

less than 60 days in office, he proposed six-year single term. Less than six months in office, he proposed the removal of fuel subsidy; less than three months in office, he removed the President of Court of Appeal amidst controversies. Less than six months in office, he destabilized political terrain in Bayelsa State. Yar’Adua came from the north to solve the problem of Niger Delta; our PhD President seems not to have solution to problem of Boko Haram.

President Jonathan should apologize to Nigerians most especially ASUU and Nigerian students for disappointing all PhD

holders and for bringing untold educational, socio-economic and political hardships to Nigerians. As one philosopher rightly puts it “He who makes mistakes and refuses to accept that he makes mistakes, he will continue to live in fool’s paradise”. I believe that of Mr. President will not be like that. Once again, Nigerians deserve apology from Jonathan for not honouring the agreement Federal Government entered into with ASUU. • Ishola, Akeem Adetoyese Department of Political Science University of Ibadan

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

21

EDITORIAL/OPINION

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THOSE who feign surprise at President Goodluck Jonathan’s gift of subsidy removal few hours into the New Year obviously needs a lesson or two on how government works. I have even heard some otherwise distinguished lawmakers express outrage that the federal government went ahead to eliminate the subsidy on petrol without consulting them.

I ask, what outrage when current year’s budget before the same lawmakers makes no provisions for the subsidy item?

Talk of lawmakers perennially playing the ostrich; how about going for broke – restoring the subsidy item like their infamous constituency projects into the final document to show how much they love the masses?

As they say in these parts – at the death of an elephant, all manners of darts are welcome to thrust at its hefty trunk! So also has been the debate on the subsidy ranged from the implausible to the outlandish.

Permit me to share some thoughts on the Town Hall meeting organised by the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) on the fuel subsidy issue which I believe should be of interest to any student of public policy. It is the new tone of those who hitherto denied that anything called subsidy even existed on the fuel price template, not to talk of removing what they say does not exist!

Trust Nigerians’ legendary capacity to draw varied and sometimes conflicting conclusions from the same sets of facts; what I cannot recall is any of the discussants at the Town Hall meeting denying the facts; neither did I observe the tendency to make facts appear secondary in order to win the argument –as was hitherto fashionable on the subsidy issue.

You call it a new awakening, I call it progress!

Unfortunately – not so for the inelegant fashion of sneaking the subsidy-removal business through the back door as the

‘Let us continue to pray that Europe recovers – or that nothing drastic happens in the global energy scene to precipitate a free fall in energy prices. At $70 a barrel, we would probably just manage. At $50 it would be disaster. Anything sub$50 would spell Armageddon. By then, the vultures making a hash of rating our economies “stable” or “positive” would have been long gone – leaving us to our devices’

I

N 1881, Egypt became a colonial power in the Sudan, but as is known from history of all nations, colonial administration from all shapes and forms were always maintained by brutal actions with minimal respect for the lives of the natives. The slightest form of resistance was met with the full force of the colonial authority reducing men of towering heights to crippled and decrepit dwarfs.

Colonial administrations, mostly exploitative, tyrannical, and patronizing, were mainly set up by their patrons to feed the home industries with cheap raw materials. The colonial governments, usually ill-staffed with roughnecks of inhumane disposition, acted their roles with singular crude discipline.

Imposed by mindless official militancy and maintained by the same harsh, ruthless and degrading governance, rules were devised only to maintain law and order. No real love existed between the cajoled natives, often belligerent, and their haughty rulers.

But the British took over the administration of Egypt with the sacking of Alexandra after the French left their base in that city. In his book “The River War” or “The Reconquest of The Sudan”, a war which lasted from 1891 to 1899, Winston Churchill writes “The Sudanese are of many tribes’ but two main races can be clearly distinguished: the aboriginal natives and the Arab settlers”. The indigenous inhabitants of the country were negroes as black as coal, virile and simple minded savages, they lived as we may imagine, pre-history men, hunting, fighting, marrying and dying with no idea beyond gratification of the physical desire and no fears safe those engendered by ghosts, witchcrafts, the worship of ancestors and other forms of superstitions common among people of low development.

They displayed the worst barbarism. They were brave and honest. The smallness of their intelligence excuses their deprivation of their habits. Their ignorance excused their innocence.

Winston Churchill, a young army officer of about 25 years of age wrote, with great zeal, energy, candor and passion.

The spirit of the time and the superiority in human grading

‘The restoration of a colonial administration in the Sudan in 1898, the setting up of an AngloEgyptian condominium, a rulership of two unequal partners and powers, Britain and Egypt, an odd amalgam in government indeed, self rule was granted to Sudan only 1956’

Policy Sanya Oni sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk 08051101841

2012: Occupy year? government did on Sunday. Not even the class enamoured of the subsidy elimination would be gratified by a method that reeks so much of bad faith! It was a case of one step forward and several backwards!

Now, where do we go from here. Clearly, 2012 promises to be a make or mar year – not so for much the factor of the retention or removal of the subsidy but in spite of it. Not for even for the scourge of the Boko Haram which has set the nation’s adrenalin levels soaring.

Clearly, there will be difficult battles over the issue of the subsidy as indeed over other measures not least government’s plan to alienate the unbundled power entities. I can even picture our Occupy-wherever moment in the unfolding battle over the subsidy issue and whenever the privatisation process train revs full throttle. And surely, there would be enough time for horse-trading as Labour engages the government in a battle of wits either to force an outright reversal, which seems unlikely, or wrest concessions from it over this and many other items under the government’s never-ending agenda of reforms.

Why do I say that 2012 will be a make-or-mar year? Good question. I need to go back a bit to a minor incident in Tunisia of December 17, 2010 – the self-immolation of a vegetable vendor Mohamed Bouazizi, following humiliations suffered in the hands of a woman constable. Today, the world rather conveniently talks of that incident as setting the stage for the Arab Spring. But then, in reality the story is far deeper and more complex than the lone incident of a frustrated martyr. Often forgotten is that had Europe not descended into economic crisis three years before, Tunisia would have not lost its export market; there would have been no halting the train for the fun-loving throng from Europe who trooped into Tunis to savour the country’s tourism on which the middle class prosperity sorely depended! Of course, educated youths like Mohamed Bouazizi would have found profitable

South Sudan: after the freedom Olayinka Simoyan of the British and his peculiar lineage, gave him temerity as an officer and war correspondent, to write this incredible bias, even in those dark days, in the Sudan.

He went to Harrow, had four years military service in India, where by sheer accident and obvious self-appraisal, and comparison with his peers in the army, embarked on self-education supported by his mother to make up for his lack of scholarship and other failings as he realized he had woefully missed those rare camaraderie, interaction and fellowship, university education offered its ward when it lasted.

Now when the British Government imposed a protectorate on Egypt by force, Churchill’s “Negroes and Arab Settlers” were chasing out their country, Egyptian over-lords.

By the irony of history a combined armed forces of the British and Egyptians reconquered the hapless nation of the Sudan, partly to avenge the killing of Gen. Gordon and the impudence of the natives and their Arab brothers led by their Mahid in a politico-religious movement to regain their freedom.

The restoration of a colonial administration in the Sudan in 1898, the setting up of an Anglo-Egyptian condominium, a rulership of two unequal partners and powers, Britain and Egypt, an odd amalgam in government indeed, self rule was granted to Sudan only 1956.

From one tyrant to another, blacks suffered under the Sudanese national government from independence until 2011.

They suffered under the heavy boots of soldiers, politicians and others who by sheer majority of population, ruled with iron hands. But a corrupt and awful government could not last forever: a nationalist group of blacks soon emerged fighting a valiant military and guerrilla war-fare in which they lost many of their renowned leaders. John Garang fell while still negotiating for common ground with the North Sudan as an important member of a national Arab-African government.

It soon became a negotiation between the Khartoum regime and South Sudan of the blacks. The combatants later withdrew their gleaming swords, sat down at conference tables to negotiate for a lasting peace between the Sudan of the North and Sudan of the South.

The referendum held in the South last year seemed to be fair and free, recording ‘yes vote’ of over 99 percent.

From the flaming salvo of rockets to the hot vapour of

outlet as against the final solution of self-immolation.

Let me put it this way – our Arab Spring moment is not here – at least not yet. Of course Nigerians would claim to be disenchanted with the situation of things; they will moan and complain to no end about how their government is not working, how the corruption in government and the ineptitude of those who rule over them are hampering the march of the nation to greatness. But then, these are often times skin-deep or rather more out of being left out of the gravy!

The truth is that there is too much free money floating around. In the last year alone, we have spent more time on issues bordering on oil revenue than issues connected with generating wealth from other non-oil sources. Today, Nigerians seems to have found a better enterprise praying that their own turn would come than fight to create a just and egalitarian society of their dreams.

This is why I do not see Nigerian Spring happening anytime soon. At $140 per barrel, we had enough time to debate whether to go the route of liberalisation or deregulation. To show how much stock we placed on cash holdings, we built impressive reserves only to hand it to our creditors like obedient slaves. Today, we have gone a step further handing out $1 billion in cash in the guise of a Sovereign Wealth Fund.

At today’s $100 per barrel of our sweet crude, our government seems ever unsure about how to go about the all important business of creating the foundations for future growth; I hear the government has retained enough cash to smother of any weather of discontent in the event of the looming cataclysm over fuel subsidies! That is transformation!

In the meantime, let us continue to pray that Europe recovers – or that nothing drastic happens in the global energy scene to precipitate a free fall in energy prices. At $70 a barrel, we would probably just manage. At $50 it would be disaster. Anything sub-$50 would spell Armageddon. By then, the vultures making a hash of rating our economies “stable” or “positive” would have been long gone – leaving us to our devices. Happy New Year!

‘At $140 per barrel, we had enough time to debate whether to go the route of liberalisation or deregulation. To show how much stock we placed on cash holdings, we built impressive reserves only to hand it to our creditors like obedient slaves’ bombs, the civil war continued for over 20 years. But with referendum over the South, the Sudanese seemed to have won the political war though that of economic survival is still raging yet the perception of the blacks as mirrored by Winston Churchill in 1899 seems to have altered only slightly, even presently especially when seen through the blurred periscope of the mass media of the developed world.

The Blackman’s World is still covered with filths and rots in their estimation.

South Sudan, still pastoral and bucolic with numerous ethnic nationalities and as divided as should be expected, as perhaps the older African states, should learn from the errors of those who gained independence before it. Neither a Katangan nor a Cabindan diabolical political scams should be permitted to emerge by the actions and likely feuding of the political scions preaching a novel gospel of provincial emancipation in the oil rich enclave of the new state of Southern Sudan (in the Unity province) seems likely.

Older African countries with similar or even grimmer development problems should come to the aid of South Sudan with realistic solutions in tackling the dire economic difficulties stirring the embryo state in the bare face.

Certainly, economic riddles cannot be resolved with the same political methods of the past nor by guerilla tactics of the liberation movements of the same era. The perceived bogey of yester years to the North can no longer be blamed for the political and economic mistakes in the South soon to rear their ugly heads. The strong Siamese cord of the dissimilar twins had been separated by the clean scalpel of the people through the inviolability retained in the power of the ballot box.

By the continuing twist in man’s tales, Egyptians are ruled today by a military junta, North Sudan, in doldrums and South Sudan, a free nation.

• Chief Simoyan, a retired diplomat writes from Egbe, Kogi State

‘The perceived bogey of yester years to the North can no longer be blamed for the political and economic mistakes in the South soon to rear their ugly heads. The strong Siamese cord of the dissimilar twins had been separated by the clean scalpel of the people through the inviolability retained in the power of the ballot box’

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

22

EDITORIAL/OPINION

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RADUALLY, the Boko Haram threat to the continued existence of Nigeria as a united nation is fast assuming a life of its own and it appears we are incapable of doing anything to stop it. Each time they threw their bomb, lives were lost, limbs broken and properties destroyed. No place is considered sacred and nobody is deemed untouchable in their bid to destroy Nigeria.

Not even the house of God. Churches you know have been bombed and worshippers killed. Mosques and Muslim faithful have not been spared either. Youths on national service have been cut down in their prime. They have even hit at the heart of the Nigeria police while military barracks are no longer safe. Even our president has been cowed and driven underground as he could not celebrate the last Independence Day anniversary in the open. Most churches cancelled their traditional all night prayer and service to welcome the New Year following the Christmas Day bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madallah near Abuja by the blood thirsty group that left many dead and several more injured.

We are all at the mercy of the terrorists and all President Goodluck Jonathan could do immediately the terrorists struck, as is usual of him, was to promise to get to the root of the dastardly acts and bring the perpetrators to book. Even though we heard him, we didn’t believed him and this was much in evidence when the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Pastor Ayo Oritsejafo had audience with him at the presidential Villa in Abuja few days after the blast and told him that Nigerians have lost confidence in the government. Though this was rather harsh, the man of God was saying the obvious. We are sick and tired of the do nothing government of Goodluck Jonathan.

But the CAN president was to later disappoint when he literally called on Christians to take up arms against Muslims if attacked again as if Boko Haram is acting on behalf of Muslims or

‘Though this was rather harsh, the man of God was saying the obvious. We are sick and tired of the do nothing government of Goodluck Jonathan’

Has he finally woken up? in the interest of Islam. Oritsejafo’s statement was reckless and irresponsible. A call to sectarian violence or war does nobody any good. Go and ask them in Lebanon. Leaders, whether religious, traditional or political should guard their utterances and refrain from provocative statement or incitement no matter the level of provocation. That’s why they are leaders.

This is not to condone the initial lethargic reaction of Muslim leaders and northern traditional rulers to the Boko Haram terror.

Though better late than never, as they have now found their voice and speaking out more loudly against terror, they could have done more to help the security agencies fish out these terrorists, after all these guys are no spirits, they live among the people.

Even if such unguarded comments as Oritsejafo’s was unexpected of a leader, it appeared to have jolted Jonathan back to reality from his deep slumber, and suddenly our president has seen the need to act decisively against Boko Haram. Belatedly, he has declared state of emergency in some local government areas in four states in the north that have borne the brunt of the mayhem being perpetrated by Boko Haram and handed the security agencies wide powers to deal with the situation and restore normalcy to the affected areas.

Though it might be too early in the day to say whether the President’s new found boldness to tackle terrorism in the country will actually restore peace to the troubled areas and indeed restore peoples’ confidence in this Federal Government, the fact that he has suddenly woken up to his responsibilities as Commander-In-Chief looks reassuring, but whether he can go the whole distance and wipe

these terrorists away, the same way the Maitastine religious sect of the 80s was dealt with remain to be seen. If Boko Haram is a big security challenge in the north, people down south are now sleeping with just one eye closed because of the terror being unleashed on them daily by armed robbers. Since Jonathan seem to be energized now, he needs to act decisively here too and make sure his orders are obeyed.

It is better, as the Yoruba saying goes, not to become the king than be an ineffective one.

Jonathan should act now to safeguard our unity in all its ramifications. We can’t afford his naïve approach to security matters any longer.

Nigeria is too important to be allowed to fail.

A word is enough for the wise.

That rascality in Adamawa The Adamawa State House of Assembly has been embroiled in a needless crisis for some time now traceable to the desk of the State governor, Murtala Nyako. The retired Vice Admiral recently ordered the closure of the legislature following the lawmakers’ decision to effect changes in the leadership of the Assembly, a move that led to the removal of some of his cronies from office. Erstwhile Speaker Barrister Ibrahim Saddiq Dasin and his deputy Wale Fwa were relieved of their positions and in their place, the law makers elected Honourable Ahmadu Umaru and Barrister Kwaomati Laori as Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively.

The change which the new Speaker said was necessitated by the need to halt the drift noticed in the activities of the Assembly after an appraisal of its six months of operation and refocus it in line with the vision and

transformation agenda of the government has reportedly not gone down well with Governor Nyako. Why you may ask?

The governor is believed to be nursing a fear that the new leadership might be up to something sinister and sees the removal of Dasin as a first step towards removing him from office by the legislature via impeachment.

Aside from this, he is also believed to be afraid that the Supreme Court which is due to give judgment any time from now on the tenure of some governors, including himself might rule against them, hence he needs his man as Speaker who would act as the State governor pending the conduct of another governorship election due this year. A ‘hostile’ Speaker could make things difficult for him before the election which he hopes to win. With this scenario, it appears the governor feels it is better to keep the Assembly under lock and key if the members would not see reason with him and restore Dasin as Speaker. The strong denial of any plot to destabilize his government or even remove him from office by the new leadership has done nothing to allay the governor’s fears.

This blatant disregard for the constitution which guarantees separation of power between the three arms of government and the rascally approach to politics by Nyako is expectedly causing concern in the State. The question being asked is if the governor has nothing to hide why would he not allow the Assembly under Umaru to function, after all the new Speaker is also one of his staunch supporters. And with the state judiciary almost comatose, the fear being publicly expressed in the State is that Governor Nyako might turn Adamawa into a dictatorship with himself as the emperor.

This scenario reminds one of a similar situation in Ogun State where former governor, Otunba Olugbenga Daniel similarly closed down the State legislature and starved it of fund just because the legislators refused to do his bidding. The failure of the courts and even the National Assembly to resolve that matter in Ogun State must have encouraged Nyako to act in this rascally manner. This is dangerous for our democracy not only in Adamawa but the nation in general as other similarly inclined governors could also deal with their state Assembly this way. This would not only be illegal as in the present situation in Nyako’s Adamawa, but would also be promoting anarchy. Some one should stop Nyako now.

VIEW FROM THE FOREIGN PRESS

W

ALK into any Police station across the land and there is a good chance you would be greeted with a bill announcing “the Police is your friend”. Never mind that this cheerless bill coated in layers of dust, hanging on a ill-kept wall have long become forlorn and its proclamations very much out of place. You may also overlook the very bitter personality behind the counter, clad in faded uniforms and bathroom slippers to match, whose well choreographed response to your cry for help is a swear word, followed by a litany of excuses why routine duties can’t be performed.

Our police have had their good times, especially in Nigeria’s peace keeping operations abroad where opportunity for bestiality may be limited. Beyond this, not too many Nigerians would consider the Police their friend; neither have the latter gone out of their way to make themselves likeable.

The average Nigerian policeman moves with a swagger, an eternal frown etched in his brows, never failing to remind you he is untouchable and he is the man in charge.

Emboldened by the ubiquitous AK-47 loosely strapped on the shoulders, he is not a man of reason, reflection or long suffering.

I will explain shortly.

A few months ago, after wading through the labyrinth of clearing process at Tin Can Ports, I finally got a Sports Utility Vehicle out of the clutches of the several government agencies littering the ports. The harder part of concern remained bringing this vehicle to Port Harcourt. I had been reminded that there were no less than 50 Police checkpoints lo-

‘In consequence of Goodluck Jonathan’s wrong foot on this one, we are likely to find a Police more convinced of its infallibility, less accountable to superior authority, more intolerant of civil indiscretions and increasingly resistant to change’

The Police is your friend

By Njoku Odum cated between Lagos and Benin, each requiring “settlement”. To this I had resigned myself. But the unreasonableness of the individuals manning these checkpoints was shocking.

The pattern remained the same. As the vehicle approached a Police checkpoint, hordes of policemen wielding guns on one hand and a sachet of pure water on another, quickly abandoned their roadside shelter, descending on the car, with screams of “stop there”, “bring your papers”, “na tokunbo” renting the air. After what seems like an eternity of perusing the papers in search of flaws that never was, the car is waved on, not before naira bills exchange hands and a mischievous remark by the beneficiary that they reserve the powers to seize a vehicle even with all necessary papers available, ending with a reminder that we ought to be thankful for their generosity.

The Police would do with a good dose of humility and submit itself to the same laws it was created to protect. Police vehicles run against traffic, menacingly wagging a horse whip at law abiding road users ; they routinely break traffic laws; their men ride on motor cycles in states where governments have placed ban on its use; the men in black aid electoral misdeeds; they are short- fused and won’t shudder to release the bullet in search of a naira note.

In all these, they don’t consider themselves accountable to a higher authority or to moral principles of society. I once saw a full grown male, a father and a husband frog-jumped in a busy bus stop, under the blazing sun, as passersby watched helplessly, scared stiff to intervene on behalf of the suffering man. On another occasion a Police officer, his face rumpled in rage, dragged a man on the scruff of the neck, to a waiting van.

It is fair game for the Police to carry out raids on neighborhoods, bundle young men into a cramped van and compel them to “bail” themselves. Not too long ago the Police raided a strippers den, parading, half- naked women in what somebody described as a gross act of barbarism. Whatever was left

of the humanity of the bedraggled girls evaporated in this overzealousness to overrun soft targets. On a major bus-stop and right under the watch of passers- by, a full grown was turned into an unwilling sparring partner when a visibly uncontrolled Police office rammed his victim into an iron column holding the Bus stop shed. On this occasion however the victim was fortunate to have come out of this encounter alive.

Young Emmanuel Victor was not that lucky. He was cut down in cold blood in the streets of Bayelsa as his mother watched in horror. His crime against the state was that he had cautioned a group of policemen manning a check point to desist from extortion.

For his nerve he was hunted down like a wild game and shot at close range. To compound the sorrow of the now terrified mother, arms and a convenient dose of drugs was planted on his lifeless body. In what has become an established norm in our dysfunctional society, the matter is being investigated and the culprits are out there thirsty for the next victim.

It is in this manner the case of the Apo Six have fared. More than six years ago, in Abuja, a group of Igbo boys returning from an evening outing were rounded up by policemen and summarily executed. In the haste to cover up their tracks, the bodies were dishonoured with a quick burial in shallow grave. The motive for this dastardly act remains a mystery. The Nigerian state and its justice administration system is unperturbed that this case of multiple extrajudicial killing lies unresolved. Painfully, the prime suspects in this crime are at large; one escaped inexplicably from the fingers of the police; two others were granted bail on health grounds and have never shown up in court thereafter.

A justice administration that has been found tardy in many respects proved eager in granting bail to suspects in a capital offence!!!

The Nigerian landscape has become a vast killing field. In the past 12 month so much blood has been shed by violent groups as the Police watch in powerlessness, thwarted by the weakness of their own structures built on cruelty and insensitivity. The Nigerian Po-

lice compares well with a wild bull driven amok by a sniff of intoxicant. The institution and its men are thoroughly out of control, with no one in the political firmament man enough to rein in this monster. The police have joined itself with criminal gangs, Islamic fundamentalist, corrupt politicians, united in one objective: to make this land inhospitable.

Long suffering Nigerians, bent over under the Police yoke, certainly do not feel better that the President found this era of wanton bombings and bloodletting an auspicious time to honour the Inspector General of Police with a national award. With Hafiz Ringim perched atop the police echelon, the Louis Edet House was nearly bombed out of existence. Then came the United Nations building ; scores of smaller targets have followed, the human toll has been rising, climaxing in the presidency retreating into the protective walls of Aso Rock to mark the country’s Independence celebrations. Under the careful watch of the IGP, Nigeria has witnessed unprecedented social disorder, and brazen affront on the state, reviving ancient fears over the viability of the union. By this action, the President has not helped the Police leadership rediscover itself and chart a new a course of relevance. Once again he has let slip an opportunity to give a bite to the Transformation Agenda and make a profound statement on his campaign slogan to do things differently.

Nigerian politicians are forever concerned about their self preservation, and view public interest as incidental to that objective. For a man who since he came to power has been wracked by self-doubt and fear of even his own shadow, I doubt if the President acted in selflessness. However in consequence of Goodluck Jonathan’s wrong foot on this one, we are likely to find a Police more convinced of its infallibility, less accountable to superior authority, more intolerant of civil indiscretions and increasingly resistant to change.

The more ugly side of our bitter experience with the Nigerian police is the simple fact that the fate of the Police is intertwined with the future of Nigeria as a corporate entity.

While the politicians supervise the daily dismemberment of Nigeria and high wire thievery, our police are conveniently distracted by lucre and ego.

• Njoku Odum writes from Port Harcourt

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

25

PROPERTY

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com

* The Environment * Mortgage * Apartments * Security * Homes *Real Estate

email:- property@thenationonlineng.net

•Sagamu-Ore-Benin Express Way

Motorists trapped on Lagos-Benin road at Yuletide

When the Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolomemen, promised to make the Lagos-sBenin Expressway motorable for the Yuletide, many motorists were sceptical.They have been proved right. OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE writes that many travellers spent their Christmas Day on the road as their vehicles crawled to their destinations.

•‘Insurance valuation critical to real estate development’ - PAGE 26

•CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

•Why Fashola is beautifying Lagos, by Commissioner

- PAGE 40

•Nigerite donates gifts to orphanage, NGO - PAGE 40

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

26

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

‘Insurance valuation critical to real estate development’

R

EAL Estate operators have underscored the importance of insurance valuation in the development of the sector.

Former president of the Nigeria Institution of Estate Surveyors & Valuers (NIESV) and Director-General, NIESV Learning Centre, Lagos, Mr William Odudu said such valuation will ascertain the correct amount of coverage.

He was speaking at a forum for surveyors and insurers in Osogbo, Osun State.

In a paper entitled: Estate surveyors & valuers the compulsory insurance scheme: the professional responsibilities, challenges and opportunities, he said if the property is over-valued, the premium paid will be too high. On the other hand, if it is undervalued, the premium paid will be less but the insured may bear the burden of the additional risk in case of claim for replacement.

He said: “Valuation will provide immediate proof of loss in case of fire as required by the terms of the insurance policy. In the event of loss or damage, the valuation report and records which are kept in the valuers’ office or underwriter’s office can be relied upon as a back up.

“It will also facilitate the settlement of claims by providing a detailed inventory of the destroyed property with itemised depreciated replacement cost figures,

Stories by Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie Asst Editor

where applicable.”

He noted that the Insurance Act, provides in Sec.65(3) that liabilities to be covered go beyond just property and structures as it covers legal liabilities of the owner or occupier of premises in respect of loss of or damage to property or bodily injury or death suffered by any user of the premises and third parties.

On who pays the professional fees of the valuer, Odudu suggested that it can be negotiated by surveyors and insurers on a percentage of the assessed cost or a scale of charges to be agreed upon.

The insurance firm or the insurance brokers can insist on proper insurance valuations being carried out by qualified professional valuers and the report sent directly to the insurance company or the broker before the premium is fixed for the insurable risk, he added.

Suggesting collaborative efforts with operators and regulators, the NIESV past president said the list of registered and accredited surveyors can be obtained from the NIESV or the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON). The accredited list can be reviewed from time to time to ensure that only properly registered Valuers are used for the

valuation exercise.

On the challenges for the regulators, operators and estate surveyor and valuer, he said: “The biggest challenge, in my opinion, is creating awareness of the law to the public. Most people are not aware that the Insurance Act. 2003 makes it obligatory for owners/ occupiers to insure their properties against a listed insurable risks.

The regulators, though are making efforts through public enlightenment and the Market Development and sRestructuring Initiative (MDRI) of the NAICOM, the majority of people are still ignorant of the law compelling them to insure against the risks listed in the law.

Other challenges, he listed, are the successful enforcement by the regulatory authority NAICOM and how the body’s legal unit can be enlarged to cope with the numerous court cases that will be generated by the enforcement unit. He

advised that those who fail to comply must be taken to court and convicted before appropriate punishment can be applied. However, he regretted that at some annual general meetings of insurance companies, stakeholders and shareholders had blamed the NAICOM for the poor performances of their companies.

They, according to him, complained that the regulatory body has failed to implement the laws on compulsory insurance, particularly the one on compulsory insurance of public buildings and buildings under construction. See Sec.64(1) of the Insurance Act,2003.

He underscored the need for the operators, that is underwriters and insurance brokers to work closely with professional valuers to ensure speedy implementation of the law.

According to him, with the close collaboration and co-operation of the valuers and the operators and regulators of the insurance indus-

‘The biggest challenge, in my opinion, is creating awareness of the law to the public. Most people are not aware that the Insurance Act. 2003 makes it obligatory for owners/occupiers to insure their properties against a listed insurable risks’

Motorists trapped on Lagos-Benin road at Yuletide •CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

W

HEN the Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolomemen assumed office, he promised to fix the Lagos/Benin Expressway. Over six months after, this promise has not been fulfilled. Rather, motorists are still suffering plying the road.

Last Christmas, it was hell for travellers heading home.

The expressway remains a nightmare for motorists. Travellers during the Yuletide had nasty experiences on the road as they were stranded for many hours.

Their problem was made worse by policemen, who mounted checkpoints at almost 500 metres interval, asking for ‘Christmas gifts’ from them.

Ironically, despite huge budgetary allocations for road construction and rehabilitation by the government, more than 70 per cent of the 34,123km federal roads across the country are in deplorable conditions.

The budgetary allocation for the Works Ministry last year was N163 billion, while in this year, it is N181 billion, a slight improvement over that of last year. But observers are of the opinion that it may not be uhuru yet for the roads as they have not improved from what they used to be.

An association, National Road User Association (Lagos/Benin Branch) called on President Goodluck Jonathan to declare a state of emergency on the road sector. It recalled the deaths recorded on their axis of the road in particular and the nation’s highways in general.

The group’s Protean Chairman, Mr Nosa Sunday, berated the government for allowing the highway to deteriorate to the level it is today and thereby causing human and material losses.

He wondered why there is a call for a road tax and fuel subsidy removal when the government has not shown enough commitment to alleviate the sufferings of the masses who daily ply the highways to their detriment.

A lawyer, Mr Nkem Echemazu,

try, it will become easier to enforce the law. He urged insurance operators and regulators to forge an alliance with the property owners through the professional valuers, the NIESV and the Registration Board (ESVARBON).

He said: “The insurance operators must agree a template for information needed to assist in proper assessment of premiums while the valuers will need to brace up to the challenges of carrying out proper insurance valuation exercises”.

He observed that ther are vast opportunities for operators and the professional valuers. He hinted that operators will have huge new revenue source base with the volume of new policies that will be taken up by house owners and occupiers as professional valuers, working in collaboration with the insurance operators and regulators will assist in generating more business for the insurance operators while also creating job opportunities for themselves (NIESV members and other professionals).

He encourged insurance stakeholders to take advantage of the law to expand their scope of operation and make money for their shareholders. On the part of the public, including the property owners and occupiers, their insurance risks can be taken care of with the insurance regulators ensuring their claims are met as and when due.

Minister decries high housing cost From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

T

•The Benin-Ore Expressway

who spoke to The Nation at Ajabandale, in village in the Ondo axis of the expressway, chided the minister of Works for not doing enough, adding that he rather employed propaganda to deceive the public.

He said he had expected the road to be motorable for the festive season so that the millions of ordinary Nigerians who travel by road will move in peace to meet their loved ones.

He recounted the number of accidents on the road on December 23, 2011, when he spent two days to get to his town in Abia State due to the poor state of the road and regretted that the country has some insensitive leaders who do not care about the plight of the ordinary man.

Echemazu touted the idea of suing the Federal Government for crime against humanity if nothing urgent is done to address the ugly situation.

He regretted that daily hundreds of lives are lost to road mishaps far above the number lost to HIV/AIDS and pleaded with the government to address the situa-

tion without further delay.

A driver with USA Transport, an Akwa Ibom-based transport company, Mr Bassey Udoh, also lamented the hardship and stress, he and his colleagues go through commuting from Lagos to Akwa Ibom State.

He recalled how they were recently attacked by bandits who sacked his passengers from their bus and took cash and other handy materials they could lay their hands on. He said: “Please plead with the government on our behalf to make use of the billions of naira we hear every day on the radio to work for our good. ‘’Though the government officials do not ply the road to experience what we see on it daily, they listen to radio and read papers and as human beings, they can, at least, imagine our sufferings. ‘’The frequency with which we visit the mechanic has greatly increased and one can imagine what our passengers will go through in the years ahead with subsidy removal,”he added.

Another traveller, Mrs Chika Ude, who was among those stranded on the road for some

days because the bus they were travelling on from Lagos to Enugu broke down at Ore, lamented that she has been on the road for the third day waiting for the bus to be fixed so that she could continue her journey to Nsukka with her five children. She also called on the government to do something urgent about Lagos-Benin Expressway.

She said: “It is the bad road that heightened the problem of the vehicle we were travelling with as the bus kept entering bumps and switching lanes. At a point, it hit a culvert while trying to avoid an head-on collision with a fast moving car heading for Lagos from Benin. ‘’We were only saved by the grace of God. Many people who were with us have left because they had extra cash and were travelling light but because l have my five children and several luggage I am trapped in this bush waiting for divine intervention to get home to spend the Christmas with my people.

“Please help us ask the government to fear God and help the masses,” she pleaded.

O bridge the housing sector, the Federal Government is to build mass houses for artisans and non-government officials to buy at low cost prices, Housing and Land Development Minister Ama Pepple has said.

Ms Pepple, who spoke at the first meeting of the National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development in Abuja, said it is disappointing that despite government’s efforts the cost of housing is still high.

She said: “Look out for housing revolution by 2012, low income earners can afford to own a house at that time, prices of houses will range from N1.5million for one bedroom flat; N2.5million for a two-bedroom flat and N3million for a three-bedroom flat.

“At present, we are partnering with state government to give us land for this project. For every housing estate built, there will be water, and light, with this in place housing revolution has started.

“We would look at the mortgage policy so people can have access to mortgage, everywhere you go you see government building houses, yet they are not enough because of lack of proper planning.

“We would put in place the necessary enabling policies to direct our actions and strategic intervention in the housing and urban development sector in order to accomplish the envisaged goals of Vision 20:2020.

“Two revised draft policies on Housing and Urban Development were presented for validation. The revised policies have incorporated the key concerns and the major thrusts of the unapproved national policies on Housing and Urban Development from 1992-2006, in addition to being effectively aligned with the current policy enunciations of government,” she added.

27

TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

E-mail:- law@thenationonlineng.net

Many cases were not concluded by the courts last year for one reason or the other. There was either no time for the courts to do justice to the cases or their hearing was deliberately delayed by counsel through some antics. These cases, at least the major ones, may be disposed of this year in the public interest. ERIC IKHILAE, KAMARUDEEN OGUNDELE and JOSEPH JIBUEZE write on some of such cases.

Cases that may shake 2012 L

AST year was fairly busy for the courts going by the volume of cases decided. The courts achieved this feat despite the leadership crisis at the topmost level, which almost shattered the reverence accorded the judiciary by the public.

With the courts bogged down by some challenges, like the slow pace of justice administration, poor performance of judicial officers and corruption, the public is hopeful that the system will rise above these obstacles this year.

Nigerians are looking forward to the judicial reforms promised by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Dalhatu Musdapher.

They expect the judiciary to surpass its performance last year as courts resume hearing in undecided cases, some of which will attract public interest.

Some of the cases are:

Salami vs Katsina-Alu, NJC, others One major case that will attract public attention is that filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja, by suspended President of the Court of Appeal Justice Isa Ayo Salami.

He is challenging his suspension by the National Judicial Council (NJC) for, among others, allegedly lying against former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

The public is anxious to see how the case will beheard since the Supreme Court has resolved the legal contest over the election of President Goodluck Jonathan in his favour.

Justice Salami is praying the court for, among others, an order quashing the verdict.

In a supporting affidavit, he insisted on standing by his allegation that Katsina-Alu asked him to give judgment in favour of the governor in the Sokoto State governorship election dispute.

He argued that his allegation against Katsina-Alu is beyond what NJC can handle. Justice Salami is contending that the NJC, as constituted, has no powers under the law to make findings from

allegations made under oath before a court, because it is a mere administrative body.”

Justice Salami contended that the two panels set up by the NJC breached the agelong principle of fair hearing while discharging their duties, adding that the proceedings of the Justice Abdullahi Umaruled probe panel and the Justice Ibrahim Auta-led review panel were invalid.

Joined as co-defendants are: The NJC, Justices Dahiru Musdapher; Katsina-Alu; Umaru Abdullahi; Emmanuel Ayoola; Dominic Edozie and Michael Akpiroroh.

Others are Mrs. Rakia Sarki Ibrahim; Jus-

tices Ndahi Auta; Kate Abiri; and Peter Umeadi.

Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court, Abuja has fixed February 9 for the hearing of the consolidated preliminary objection filed agaist the suit by the defendants.

The alleged N37b loan scam EFCC vs Bankole, Nafada One of the suits, which have generated political tension last year is the one involving former Speaker of the House of Repre-

sentatives Dimeji Bankole and his erstwhile deputy, Alhaji Usman Nafada.

They are facing a 17-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

They are charged with criminal breach of trust and dishonest use of House bank account to obtain loan, before Justice Suleiman Belgore of the Federal Capital Territory High Court (FCT). They were arraigned on June 13 The alleged offences are contrary to Sections 97(1), 286 and 311 of the Penal Code •See page 29

•Ibanga sues Akpabio over council committees- P.30 • ‘Jonathan has a duty to tackle terrorism’- P.36

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

28

LAW REPORT

Candidate who wins case on court judgment steps into shoes of invalidly nominated opponent the 1st appeal therefore is that it is devoid of any merit and same is accordingly dismissed. There shall be costs of N30,000= to the 2nd - 4th respondents.

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL ( Judicial Division) On Wednesday, July 2, 2008 Suit No: CA/PH/EPT/8/08

CLARA BATA OGUNBIYI, J.C.A.: The grouse of the second appeal is predicated on seven grounds of appeal wherein all are complaints of errors in law. The reproduction of the grounds without their particulars are of significance:-

BEFORE THEIR LORDSHIPS SAKA ADEYEMI IBIYEYE ....... Justice, Court of Appeal CLARA BATA OGUNBIYI ....... Justice, Court of Appeal PAUL ADAMU GALINJE ....... Justice, Court of Appeal OLUKAYODDE ARIWOOLA ....... Justice, Court of Appeal GEORGE OLADEHINDE SHOREMI ....... Justice, Court of Appeal

• Error in law

BETWEEN CHIEF SERGEANT CHIDI AWUSE

...APPELLANTS

• Error in law

AND CELESTINE NGOZICHIM OMEHIA INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC) & 2 ORS. ...RESPONDENTS CLARA BATA OGUNBIYI, J.C.A. (Delivered the Leading Judgment):

B

Y the doctrine of stare decisis, the decision of apex court serves a binding authority on all other courts in Nigeria. It is elementary to reiterate therefore that this court and indeed the tribunal are bound by the decision in Amaechi v. INEC (supra). The issue of whether the proper parties were before the court, or whether the decision was interlocutory or final is not important here.

Section 246(1)(b)(ii) of the Constitution clearly states that parties to an election petition can appeal as of right only on any question as to whether any person has been validly elected to the office of Governor or Deputy Governor. I am aware of the apex court’s decision in Abubakar v. Yar’adua (2008) 4 NWLR (pt.1078) 465 which is binding on this court and all other subordinate courts. At page 525 paragraphs A-C the apex court, per Tabai, JSC said: “Section 233(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides to the effect that an appeal from the decision of the Court of Appeal in any civil or criminal proceedings shall lies as of right to the Supreme Court where the ground of appeal involves questions of law alone. And this is irrespective of whether the decision in final or interlocutory. Thus where the grounds of appeal against the decision, whether final or interlocutory, involves question of law alone and it is file within the times stipulated by the Rules of Court, the appeal is competent. See Mohammed v. Olawunmi (1990) 2 NWLR (pt.133) 458. No leave is required in such a case.”

Although the appellant herein has a right to appeal, with all hrs grounds of appeal involving questions of law’ the appeal however is not coming under the provision of section 246(1)(b)(ii) of the Constitution. In other words, the appeal is incompetent and same as rightly submitted and argued by the learned senior counsel Imadegbelo, is in dire breach of the said section 246(1)(b)(ii) of the Constitution 1999. The leverage sought by the appellant’s counsel Chief Okoye that this court invokes section 15 of the Court of Appeal Act 2004 to join and or substitute Amaechi for Celestine Ngozichim Omehia is completely outside the powers arid jurisdiction of this court.

By the provisions of paragraphs 14(2) of the 1st schedule to the Electoral Act 20(16 which precludes alteration or amendment read along with paragraph 4(1)(a) of the same, it is far too late in the day to effect substitution especially where contents of an election petition must on the onset have specified the patties interested in the election petition.

A judicial interpretation grounding the said principle of law was given in the case of Ngige v Obi (2006) 14 NWLR (Pt.999) 1 wherein at page 136, R.D. Muhammad JCA made the following pronouncements and said:“The provisions of paragraph 14(2) is clear and. unambiguous.

No amendment will be allowed which will

The election tribunal erred in law in entertaining further proceedings and in the hearing and determination of the 2nd - 4th respondent application challenging its jurisdiction before the court after having been served with a motion on notice seeking an order of stay of its proceedings at the Court of Appeal.

introduce new Parties to the Petition, In effect, any amendment which is substantial which alters the grounds for or the prayer in the election petition will not be allowed.”

The introduction of section 15 of the Court of Appeal Act is fundamental and substantial and would certainly alter the foundational nature of the petition away from that originally intended’ This is contrary to the spirit of paragraph 14(2) of the schedule to the Electoral Act and must therefore not be allowed.

This is moreso with the further strengthening derived from the provision of paragraph 27(1) of the 1st schedule on the effect of determination of Election petition which states thus:At the conclusion of the hearing the tribunal shall determine whether a person whose election or return is complained of or any other person, and what person was validly returned or elected, or whether the election was void, and shall certify the determination to the Resident Electoral Commission or the Commission.”

In the issue at hand, Omehia was not a person whose election or return was complained of, and in the absence of Amaechi having been made a party, he could not also properly be ascribed.

For the reasons so advanced I hold the firm view that the 1st respondent’s name was properly struck out. I therefore find the preliminary objection meritorious and I uphold same. The consequential effect on

The election tribunal erred in law and was without jurisdiction in entertaining further proceedings and in the hearing and determination 2nd - 4th respondents’ application challenging its jurisdiction after having been put on notice of the appeal challenging its decision.

• Error in law The election tribunal erred in law in the following passage of its judgment: “In the circumstance thereof, we do hereby strike out all the paragraphs relating to Mr. Celestine Ngozichim Omehia in the petition, that is to say paragraphs 3, 4, 14, 24, 25, 30, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 48 and 50 are accordingly struck out.”

• Error in law The election erred in law when it held: “The petitioners did not stop at that but went further and urged us to annul the election entirely. This we are afraid we cannot do because the person whose election or return is complained of is not a party to the section 140(1), 144(2), 147(1) of the Electoral Act, 2006 and paragraphs 27 (1) of the 1st schedule the Electoral Act, 2006.”

• Error in law The election tribunal erred in law in the following passage of its judgment): “In the instant case, Mr. Celestine Ngozichim Omehia who was erroneously

declared the elected or returned by the respondent sis no longer a party before us.

The deemed declared candidate Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi is also not before the tribunal. Still the petitioners want us to annul the election of 14/04/07 into the Governorship seat of River State.

In the absence before us a person whose election or return is being complained of in this petition, we are of the view that this petition is incompetent and we so hold.”

• Error in law The election tribunal erred in law when it held that the tribunal lacked the jurisdiction to continue the hearing of the petition because the person whose election or return is being challenged is not before it.

• Error in law The election tribunal erred in law and acted in excess of its jurisdiction when it applied the decision of the Supreme Court in Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi vs.

INEC to the petition on areas where no issues were joined by the parties.”

The appellants’ brief of argument was dated 31st March and filed on the 1st April 2008 wherein the learned counsel Chief Mike Okoye adopted and relied on same.

Four issues were distilled by the appellants from grounds of appeal and are as follows:•Whether the election tribunal was right to strike out the paragraph5 of the petition and dismiss the petition without giving the court of appeal opportunity to entertain the motion for stay of further proceedings and the appeal. (Issue 1 is distilled from grounds I & II of the Notice of Appeal.)

•Whether the election tribunal was right in resolving issues not pleaded and not joined by the parties in their pleadings’ with evidence, contrary to and at variance with the averments in the pleadings. (Issue Z is distilled from ground VII of the Notice of Appeal.)

• Whether the election tribunal was right to have struck out all the paragraphs of the petition relating to Celestine-Ngozichim Omehia and to have dismissed the petition.

(Issue 3 is distilled from grounds III & V of the Notice of Appeal.)

• Whether the person whose election or return is complained of is joined as e party to the petition as presently constituted, and if the answer is in the affirmative; whether the tribunal was right not to have nullified the return and order a second election.

(Issue 4 is distilled from grounds IV & VI of the Notice of Appeal).

•To be continued

•From letf: Hon. K. O. Fagfbemi,Ranti Daudu, Lateef Fagbemi8 (SAN) and Nnenna Ukachukwu at the last International Bar Association (LBA) Conference held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

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LAW COVER CONT’D

•Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Musdapher •Continued from page 27

Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990, and punishable under Sections 287 and 315 of the same Penal Code Act.

Bankole’s trial over alleged contract scam Bankole is also facing charges of contract inflation and embezzlement of public fund.

Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, last year, dismissed two preliminary objections filed by Bankole against the 16-count charge which he is being tried.

The judge held that there was sufficient evidence linking Bankole with the said offences as disclosed in the proof of evidence filed along with the charge. Bankole had lost similar applications at the (FCT High Court.

In his objection, Bankole urged the court to quash the case against him. He also asked the court to disqualify the private prosecutor, Festus Keyamo, claiming that the lawyer is biased, having written a petition against him on the issue in the past.

He equally contended that there was no Attorney-General in office when the charges were filed.

Sylva, PDP rift The case was instituted by the Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

He is challenging the propriety of the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to deny him the right of participating in the party’s primary to select its candidate for the next governorship election.

The party has since given its ticket to Henry Seriake Dickson, who won the November 19 primary.

Named as co-defendants in the case, pending before Justice Gabriel Kolawole, are the PDP, its Acting National Chairman, Abubakar Baraje, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

State vs Ndume Of high importance is the case involving Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, who was arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on terrorism.

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

He is also accused of giving the telephone numbers of certain public officers to Boko Haram members for the purpose of communicating terrorist messages. The alleged offences are contrary to, and punishable under, Sections 3(b), 4(1) (a) and 7(1) (b) of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011.

He has since been granted a N25 million bail, with two sureties in like sum. His trial resumes on February 2, before Justice

•Attorney-General of the Mohammed Adoke (SAN)

Federation,

Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

EFCC vs ex-governors, ex-bank chiefs It is expected that progress will be made, this year, in the money laundering cases involving some former bank chiefs and directors pending before the Federal High Court, Lagos. The cases are currently bogged down at the preliminary stage.

Those involved include Mr Bartholomew Ebong (Union Bank); Mr Sebastine Adigwe (Afribank); Mr Okey Nwosu (FinBank); Mr Francis Atuche (Bank PHB); a director of Bank PHB, Mr Francis Ojo; and Managing Director of Falcon Securities Mr Peter Ololo, and some directors of Intercontinental Bank.

The cases involving some former governors — Rashidi Ladoja (Oyo); Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu) — and a former Minister of Aviation, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode, are yet to be fully disposed off.

While Ladoja’s case is at the Court of Appeal, that of Fani-Kayode is at the Supreme Court following an appeal by the ex-minister.

Nnamani and 11 others are standing trial before Justice Charles Archibong of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on a 124-count charge brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). They are accused of laundering about N5.5 billion.

Some of the former bank chiefs are also being tried for alleged stealing before the Lagos State High Court.

They include Erastus Akingbola (formerly of Intercontinental Bank); Okey Nwosu (Finbank Plc); Sebastian Adigwe (Afribank Plc now Mainstreet Bank) and Francis Atuche (Bank PHB). They are being tried with some directors of the banks

Trial of al-Mustapha and Sofolahan On January 30, Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos High Court, Igbosere, will give judgment in the about 11-year-old trial of former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the late Head of State, Gen Sani Abacha, Hamza al-Mustapha, and aide to the late Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, Lateef Sofolahan.

They were charged with conspiracy and murder of the late Kudirat, who was shot dead on June 4, 1996 in Lagos.

Sofolahan’s and al-Mustapha’s journey to the court began in 2000 when, the state, acting on the advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), initiated charges against four people accused of complicity in the case.

Sofolahan, al-Mustapah, Abacha’s son, Mohammed and former Head of the Police Mobile Force, Aso Rock Unit, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Rabo Lawal were arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and murder.

As the case progressed, the Supreme Court freed Mohammed. Ruling on a nocase-submission by the defence last July,

•Ibrahim Auta, Chief Judge Federal High Court

Justice Dada acquitted Lawal because the prosecution could not establish his involvement in the crime.

The trial of ex-NIMASA boss Hearing is expected to resume early this year in the ongoing trial of the former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Temisan Omatseye.

Omatseye is being tried before Justice Fatimat Nyako of the Federal High Court, Lagos, over an alleged N78 million fraud.

He was arraigned last year on an 11-count charge of criminal contract splitting and unlawful approval of money. The accused is on bail.

The arms importation case There is also the case involving Azim Aghajani, an Iranian and a Nigerian clearing agent, Ali Abbas Usman Jega, who are being tried by Justice Okechukwu Okeke of the Federal High Court, Lagos, for alleged involvement in the unlawful importation of about 12 containers of arms and ammunitions.

They are being remanded in prison on court order.

Theft charge against Okereke-Onyiuke, others Hearing will resume in two separate charges against former Director- General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Prof Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke, and seven others by the Lagos State Government.

In the charges before Justice Christopher Balogun, Prof Okereke-Onyiuke and others are accused of stealing about N3.3 billion while in office.

Also named in the suit are some ex-senior officials of the NSE — Alhaji Lance Musa Elakama and Uzoma Henry Onyekuru. Five companies — Creative Financial Services Limited, Mining System Limited, OPDC Properties Limited, OAK Business and Finance Company Limited and Kingdom Securities and Finance Company Limited — are also facing trial.

At the last hearing the court ruled that the presence of the accused was not necessary during the hearing of their preliminary objection. The court is expected to entertain arguments on the preliminary objection when hearing opens in the case this year.

Trial of suspected wife killer The trial of Mr Arowolo Akolade, arraigned at the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, on a count charge of murdering his wife, Omozoje, a banker, will begin on January 13. The case is one that is expected to generate a lot of public interest.

Akolade allegedly killed his wife on June 24, last year at Isolo, Lagos. The charge reads: “Arowolo Akolade (M) on or about the 24th day of June 2011 at No. 8, Akindele Street, Isolo, Lagos, in the Ikeja Judicial Di-

•Inumidun Akande, Chief Judge Lagos State

vision, murdered one Arowolo Omozoje (F).”

The alleged offence is contrary to Section 319 (1) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 17, Laws of Lagos State 2003. Akolade pleaded not guilty.

The accused has been in prison custody after appearing at a Magistrate’s Court, Yaba, which ordered his remand.

His arraignment before Justice Lateefah Okunnu followed the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs Olabisi Ogungbesan’s advice that he has a case to answer.

Recommending trial, Mrs Ogungbesan said: “Post-mortem shows extensive injuries from a sharp knife which could not have occurred through self injury.

“In view of the aforesaid, the office shall prosecute the defendant at the High Court.”

The DPP said no fewer than 15 witnesses would testify for the state when trial resumes on January 13 this year.

Akolade’s counsel Mr Olanrewaju Ajanaku asked that all materials related to the case in the prosecution’s possession be made available to him to enable him prepare his client’s defence. “I don’t want to be ambushed,” he said.

The judge urged the DPP to “take all necessary steps” to ensure that justice is done without delay.

Indian faces N32 billion fraud charge The EFCC is also prosecuting a Nigeriabased Indian businessman, Patrick Fernandez, on a 56-count charge for allegedly attempting to defraud some Nigerian banks of about N32 billion. The case is before Justice James Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

ACN members’ suit over arrest Will the Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, be ordered to pay N15 billion to 23 leaders and members of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)? Only the court can answer this poser.

The politicians sued the police chief for allegedly preventing them from entering the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on September 21 and on October 25 and 26, last year.

The first group was turned back on their way to Abuja to witness the trial of their leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Abuja.

The second group was on its way to attend a meeting at the party’s national secretariat, Abuja.

The applicants sought a declaration that the act of the police led by Ringim in holding them hostage for hours, under harsh weather conditions, without any lawful or justified basis is unconstitutional, and, therefore, illegal.

They asked the court to hold that police officers who restricted their movement and prevented them from entering FCT because of their membership of the ACN violated •Continued from page 30

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

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LAW COVER CONT’D

‘We advocate substantial justice’

T

HESE days some lawyers and judicial officers,even at the highest level are singing the songs of doing substantial

justice. By this doctrine it is argued that cases, particularly electoral matters,must be heard on their merit. It is argued that by so doing, people will be allowed to ventilate their cases even if they loss at the end of the day.

The protagonists of substantial justice believe that justice will be seen to have been done if the substantial justice principle is applied in the hearing of causes and matters before our courts.

But it must be bore in mind that the concept of substantial justice has its root in equity, where some English judges,particularly Lord Denning used the principle to ameliorate the harshness of strict application of law. These English judges applied this principle in causes and matters within their jurisdiction. Equity,we are told follows the law, but not slavishly. In a country governed by written constitution, like Nigeria, where judicial powers are defined and time frame to conclude certain proceedings and deliver verdict are constitutionalized, can we apply the principle of doing substantial justice to the prejudices of the supremacy of the constitution. It is submitted with respect that you cannot employ the concept of doing substantial justice to defeat the clear provisions of Nigerian constitution.

For instance, S.285 of the 1999,Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, has provided time frame to conclude proceedings in election cases. At the Tribunal or Court of trial, the petition must be heard and judgments delivered within 180 days from the date the petition was filed.

Where any appeal is filed against any decision of court or tribunal,the appellate court must give it’s decision on the appeal within 60 days from the date of the decision of the court or tribunal where the appeal emanates from. It is submitted with respect that no court or tribunal can do substantial justice where it has no jurisdiction. It is no longer news that some appeals were allowed and trial on the merit ordered or trial denovo before another panel.

In view of the mandatory language of S.285 of Nigerian Constitution, can we still hear some of the petitions that have out lived the 180 provision from the date the petitions were filed under the guise of doing substantial justice? My answer with respect is no.

The law is settled that the duty to amend the law is that of parliament. It is my submission that to continue hearing petition outside 180 days stipulation in S.285 of our

•J.S Okutepa (SAN), Hajiya Fatima Kwaku, Okey Wali (SAN) and Chief John Ochoga at the last IBA Conference held in Dubai United Arab Emirate

constitution will amount with respect to judicial legislation and a violation of the principle of separation of powers as clearly set out in SS.4,5 and 6 of the Nigerian Constitution as amended. No court I submit with respect should be gluttonous to hear causes and matters outside constitutional stipulation for hearing such matters or causes.

I hold the view and very strongly too, that

those courts and or tribunals still hearing petitions outside the days set out in S.285 of our Constitution are with respect committing constitutional sacrilege and insubordination in the extreme. Our judicial officers must not allow themselves to be infused with judicial timidity.

They must be bold to do their job and critique the law in their decision or judgment

and make bold statement for legislative intervention where there is lacuna.In a written constitutional democracy like ours,we must do things according to the constitution and not what our hearts tell us to do, even where what our hearts tell us to do is forbidden by the constitution. I say no more.

•Okutepa (SAN) is a lawyer based in Markudi, Benue State

•Prof Penny Cooper (left) and President, Commonwealth Lawyer Association (CLA) Boma Ozobia at the last Section on Legal Practice (SLP) Conferences held at Rockview Hotel, Abuja

Ibanga sues Akpabio over council committees

P

ROGRESSIVE Action Congress (PAC) governorship candidate in last April election in Akwa Ibom Mr Steve Ibanga has sued the state government over the constitution of the transition committees for the 31 local government areas.

Ibanga, in the suit filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, is seeking a declaration, among others, that the committees are illegal.

He is alleging that their being set up is a ploy to delay the council election.

He urged the court to nullify the transition committees.

•Continued from page 27

their right to freedom from discrimination.

The N15 billion compensation, they said, is for the alleged gross violation of their freedom of movement, right to dignity of human persons and freedom from discrimination.

Besides, they argued that there is no provision in the Constitution or any law by the National Assembly restricting their rights to enter or exit the FCT, Abuja or any other part of the federation.

•Govt: He’s insincere

By Joseph Jibueze

Ibanga prayed for an order that all the money they have collected so far be returned to the state.

The plaintiff also urged the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission to stop releasing funds to the local governments until the suit is determined.

On why he filed the suit, Ibanga said: “My action is not personal but for the collective

interest of Akwa Ibom people. The rule of law must be followed.”

He added: “What really pains me most is that all the transition committee chairmen and members were selected by Emperor Godswill Akpabio’s family members in all the 31 local governments in the state.

“So, I have to say ‘no’ to this one-family government. Akwa Ibom people should not be afraid to speak the truth and speak out.”

But the government described Ibanga as insincere.

Commissioner for Information Mr

Aniekan Umanah said: “ Again, Ibanga is an alarmist.

“The State Independent Electoral Commission published a statement in newspapers giving reasons for the postponement.

“The body is properly constituted and have authority and can exercise its powers and rights in accordance with the provisions of the law.

“Steve should stop crying fowl. There is no sincerity in his action.”

The suit is expected to be heard when the courts resume.

Cases that may shake 2012 The My Pikin case Almost three years after they were first arraigned officials of a Lagos-based drug manufacturing firm, Barewa Pharmaceutical Company - Kola Ogungbade, Adeyemo Abiodun and Egbele Eromosele - are still in court.

They are standing trial before Justice Okechukwu Okeke of the Federal High Court, Lagos, for their alleged complicity in the manufacture and sale of adulterated

baby teething mixture - My Pikin.

The Baba Suwe case The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said it will appeal the judgment of Justice Yetunde Idowu of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, which awarded N25 million to popular comedian, Mr Babatunde Omidina (alias Baba Suwe) against the agency.

Baba Suwe sued NDLEA for N100 million over his arrest and detention for suspected drug trafficking. The NDLEA claimed scans revealed he had hard drugs in his system, but after several defecations, nothing was found.

On November 24 last year, the court declared Omidina’s October 12 arrest and detention a gross violation of his rights. The NDLEA has since appealed the decision.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

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LAW & SOCIETY Text of a statement by the President of the Nigerian Bar Association(NBA), Joseph Bodunrin Daudu (SAN), at a Press Conference in Kaduna.

‘Nigeria is up for rough times ahead’

I

WELCOME you to our last monthly briefing for 2011. It has been an eventful year for which we thank God Almighty for all the favours he has dispensed on us. We wish all Nigerians a merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. For the Nigerian Bar Association the year 2011 has been truly eventful.

The impact of the Nigerian Bar Association has been felt in those areas that we are required to intervene i.e. in upholding the Rule of Law, in safeguarding democracy and good governance, in ensuring that the fundamental rights of all persons in Nigeria is observed and protected and above all, in ensuring that the wheels of justice continue to run efficiently in the service of Nigerians and all her institutions. We do not intend to use this occasion to demonstrate or showcase our achievements.

Far from it; our desire today, Gentlemen and ladies of the media, is to address certain topical national issues which require our input and or position. As a strategic professional body and civil society, we owe society a high duty in ensuring that we stand as sentinels in the gates so that misrule and or bad governance will not choke the society into extinction. I am therefore going to deal with certain major issues that the NBA has taken positions on. They are as follows:

The stakeholders committee of judicial reforms The Honourable, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mr Justice Dahiru Musdapher, had on the October 14, 2011 set up a 28-person committee of stakeholders for the express purpose of introducing reforms into the judicial and legal process in Nigeria. The Hon. CJN had clearly perceived that all was not well with the justice delivery system as borne out of his speeches at different fora, the main one being at the opening of the 2011/2012 legal year ceremony at the premises of the Supreme Court on September 19, 2011. The NBA regards the reform steps taken by the Hon. CJN as bold, courageous and timely. Acknowledging that rot exists in the justice system was the first step to cleansing. We had always recognised that the difficult aspect was in identifying which areas needed reforms and the appropriate measures for change. Thus the announcement of the 28 member committee was greeted with muted approval. The doubt being that most of the members were active participants since independence in the judiciary of this country and they naturally would be reluctant in dismantling the machinery (now either moribund or ineffective) which they had spent a life time in building. Consequently there were centripetal and centrifugal forces at play from the inauguration of the Committee.

The areas requiring reform It is a herculean task to describe in summary the ills afflicting the justice system in Nigeria. But it is agreed that corruption, slow pace of the justice delivery and the quality of judicial appointees cum disciplinary process were the bane of the system. The solution(s) to these problems are interwoven and interrelated. As such, fundamental issues had to be addressed. I will attempt to explain the impact of suggested progressive looking reforms and how it was rejected or watered down by the majority. Before this I must explain that the Committee in issue is not a constitutional or statutory body such as the NJC or any other judicial body. It is an ad hoc committee set up at the pleasure of the Chief Justice of Nigeria for the express objective of advising him on how to proceed with justice sector or judicial reforms. Consequently, it was understood from the outset that the conclusions of the committee were recommendations and had no binding force on the Chief Justice or any of the other organs that would be involved in the implementation process such as the National Assembly and the President.

Again it must be noted that the CJN himself had a clear direction as to where to position the reforms. In his inaugural speech, his lordship had identified 13 areas that required reform. He said that his list was not exhaustive and the committee could look into other areas through which to reform the judicial/justice system. It is against that back ground that the committee did its assignment. In fairness

a lot of ground was covered by the committee with record breaking speed. There however existed as stated above areas of irreconcilable fundamental differences between some members of the Bar and the other members. The differences were correctly captured by The Guardian December 16, 2011 thus: •Whether or not the Chief Justice of Nigeria should continue to maintain the chairmanship of the National Judicial Council (NJC); •Whether or not to invite input from the public in the process of appointing judges by advertising such appointment; and, •Whether to retain the services of judicial officers who have been consistently performing below average.

It is necessary at this stage to analyse what the differences on the above fundamental issues were:

National Judicial Council The National Judicial Council is the constitutional body charged with policy and administration of the Judges and justices of superior courts in Nigeria. It takes charge of matters of appointment, management and discipline of these judicial officers. Its remit is very wide.

In a nutshell, if the NJC is unable to perform its functions, the consequences are usually very dire for the judicial system in particular and the country in general. For example the chairman of the NJC is the serving Chief Justice and he appoints virtually all the members of the NJC. Again there exists a dichotomy between members of the Bar serving on the NJC and other members including laypersons.

Members of the Bar are not allowed to participate in any other NJC matter except appointments. So there is an anomalous situation where lawyers can partake in the appointment of judges and no more. Fortunately, the committee has recommended the removal of this dichotomy. The fundamental points of disagreement are 2-fold. The Bar is firmly of the view that any person amenable to the disciplinary powers of the NJC ought not to be a member. This includes the Chief Justice of Nigeria. During the last dispensation, the NJC was faced with the embarrassing scenario where both the CJN and PCA were facing disciplinary procedures before the same council where they were members. Naturally the effect of the appointing process of members would play a role in the ultimate resolution of whatever crisis the council was facing. In any case, serving members in the judiciary still have their career progression in the judiciary to consider hence some of us argued that it was in the overall interest of fairness and propriety that (a) the Chief Justice of Nigeria should no longer constitutionally be the chairman of the NJC and (b) Serving members of the judiciary should no longer be on the NJC. It was suggested that retired Chief Justices, Presidents of Court of Appeal, Chief Judges et al and experienced legal practitioners be appointed to the NJC by an appointing committee.

This proposal was strongly resisted by other members apart from those members of the Bar that proposed it in the first instance. At a time when no compromise was in sight, it was suggested that both views be reflected in the report to the CJN but the majority refused.

This refusal has grave implications for the Bar in that should the matter be re-visited at another forum i.e. the National Assembly and the Bar presents a position different from that in the above mentioned report; it would be guilty of dishonourable conduct. That is why we cannot in good conscience sign a report in which a fundamental view of the Bar is not reflected. This situation could easily have been averted had both positions on this and other matters been properly reflected in the report for the acceptance by the CJN who set up the committee one way or the other.

Appointment and discipline of judicial officers At present judicial officers are appointed through recommendation from Heads of Courts. Other judges now comment on the suitability or otherwise of the candidates. This is then taken to the appropriate Judicial Service Commission (Federal or State) from there to the NJC where no form of interview is conducted before judges or justices are appointed.

Without any pretence the recommendation system is simply a system of patronage. It is fraught with all sorts of irregularities. Siblings and favoured ones have been known to be appointed as Judges when more qualified persons are available. In the long run, the judiciary has become loaded with persons who ordinarily would not become Judges if a level playing field was created by the powers that be. The annoying aspect is that judicial officers now highly remunerated are paid directly from the consolidated revenue fund. This is tax payers money and it ought not to be used for the employment of persons who are in my humble view not the best candidates available. Therefore, against this background, the Bar suggested a more pragmatic model, which is that every Nigerian legal practitioner who meets the constitutional requirement should not be subjected to this present mode of appointment of judges, which is subjective, instead a transparent and open mechanism of self application, followed by, interviews and other forms of objective assessment of previous judgments, briefs and or academic papers of applicants. This will enable Council to assess competence and philosophy of a prospective judge/justice.

Again it was suggested that council members sit on permanent basis, since they would now be mainly persons who will sit full time for the demanding functions of a council member. It was contended that permanent membership in council will afford members the opportunity to sit on a day to day basis so as to ensure that only the best materials are appointed to the Bench. It was also suggested that the present mode of appointment is damaged by criticisms that there is no room for competition and only nominees of Senior Judges/Justices ever get appointed as judges.

An objective procedure will guarantee a level playing field for all applicants. In this way, the suggestions in paragraph 2-(c) of the CJN’s address can be met. The majority of the committee did not find favour with these recommendations which will free the judiciary from the clutches of patronage.

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

On discipline, it is clear that the machinery for discipline is afflicted by the same vice of patronage. There is a great reluctance to engage in the discipline of judges. Technicalities are sought to dismiss petitions from Nigerians. With this knowledge at the back of our minds, we suggested to the stakeholders another strategy, which is to go through the evaluation of judicial officers’ performance for the past 4 years and weed out the non performing judicial officers. This suggestion from the Bar was rejected. It ought to be noted that despite the rejection of these obviously valid suggestions, the committee declined to even reflect these views for the consideration of the Chief Justice of Nigeria. On that note, Chief Akeredolu (SAN) and my humbles self acting for the Nigerian Bar Association refused to sign the final report that was presented to the Honourable CJN on December 14, 2011.

Removal of fuel subsidy I just wish at this point to reiterate the position of the Nigerian Bar Association of the vexed issue of the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government. Although FGN claims to bear the brunt of subsidy it is also borne by State Governments. Subsidy is the difference in cash terms in the final cost of supplying PMS or motor fuel and the price at which the same commodity is sold to the Nigerian consumer. Throughout the Obasanjo Administration and up to the close of Yar A’dua Administration subsidy did not exceed N300 Billion how it has now shot up to N1.3 Trillion or thereabout remains a matter for serious inquiry without any corresponding increase in the supply of PMS. The deficiency in the argument of the pro subsidy removal is that it is entirely based on the importation of petroleum products. The point that only a few moguls benefit from the existence of subsidy is no argument for its removal as what will

•Daudu (SAN)

be gained from the removal will be transferred to the coffers of the Federal and state Governments who will as usual deal with those fresh funds in the same way and manner as previous funds have been dealt with.

The moguls will continue to thrive as the funds gained by politicians in government are merely transferred to be borne by poor hapless Nigerians. Government appears adamant in the quest to remove this subsidy. The people are equally resolved in its opposition to the removal of subsidy. Nigeria is up for rough times ahead. The time has come for a final determination whether those in Government derive their power from the people or whether they are independent and owe their stay in power to other entities other than the people. We foresee a victory and liberation for the people of Nigeria, while those pushing for deregulation in the present form will depart with more than a bloody nose. For the avoidance of doubt, The NBA position on the proposed deregulation or removal of subsidy is as follows: The Nigerian Bar Association WILL NOT support at this point in time the removal of petroleum subsidy, which is said to amount to N1.3 Trillion. Without beating about the bush, the foregoing shows that the situation is dire, on the one hand, the idea of the fuel subsidy has its utilitarian values as it was intended to give the average Nigerian access to cheap petroleum products; on the other hand however there are flaws in the policy in that it has become a drainpipe for the country’s resources and an avenue to enrich a few people in and out of Government. In our view, raising the issue of fuel subsidy removal by Government at this stage is with respect suspect. Government knows that the proposed policy is anti-Nigerians. That it is not an argument they will win or a policy that can be implemented without imposing considerable long-term hardships on Nigerians. Removing what is considered as subsidy will cripple the economy and lives of Nigerians. The benefits of the removal, which is the investment of N1.5 trillion into public sector works and poverty alleviation programs are if anything mere palliatives that will have only a long term effect. In between Nigerians will suffer and unmanageable socio-political upheavals will erupt, the magnitude not seen anywhere in the world in recent times. It therefore appears as if Government has raised the issue of subsidy removal knowing that it will resisted by the people and the status quo will continue thereby further entrenching the monopoly to stupendous riches enjoyed by a few Nigerian oil moguls.

Growing insecurity in the nation It goes without saying that there is great insecurity in the nation. Government must seize the opportunity to re-double her crime fighting efforts. There is a need to shake up the security agencies with a view to putting dedicated officers in the right positions. The NBA has always been consistent in its position on security.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

LAW & SOCIETY WORKSHOP ON THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM AND PROGRAMMES AT THE NIGERIA INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED LEGAL STUDIES (NIALS) AT ITS UNILAG, AKOKA, LAGOS, CAMPUS

•Prof. Mike Ikhariale (left) and Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN)

• Acting Institute Librarian, Ufuoma Lamikara and Institute Secretary James Bathnna

•From left: Obianuju Obiora and Abah Anthony

•From left: Helen Chuma Okoro, Benedict Agu and Dr. Adebisi Arewa.

• From left: Dr. Nkolika Aniekwu, Prof.Chinedu Obiora Okafor and Kodilinye Jerry Ezeobi

• Ogeah Raymond and Okpara Nnenna

•Fidelis Ibhagbosoria and Tina Onyebashi

• Jamin Adedeji and Rabi Ahman

•Laura Ani (left) and U.Eteng

•From left: Calista Anyanwu Adalikwu, Godwin Atsu and Ebiere Samson Ogege PHOTOS: JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

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LAW & SOCIETY SENSITISATION PROGRAMME BY THE AFRICAN COURT ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS AT NICON LUXURY HOTEL, ABUJA

•From left: Former President, WABA, Femi Falana; President, African Court, Gerrad Niyungeko and Davidson Ikemefuna

•From left: Prof. Peter Akper (SAN), who represented Attorney-General of the Federation/ Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN); Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Umar Dahiru and Sola Ephraim-Oluwanuga.

•Hon. Elsie Thomson and Hon. Modibo Tounty

•Senator Femi Lanlehin (left) and Senator Babajide Omowarere

•From left: Justice Ishaq Bello, Justice M. N. Oniyangi and Justice I. M. Bukar

•From left: Third Vice-President, NBA, Dr. Ikpeze Ogugua; Chairman, NBA Abuja branch, Mazi Afam Osigwe and Adaobi Uba

•From left: Paullen Tarfa, Stanley Ibeh, his wife Okeoma and Osai Ojigho

•Obiageli Oraka and Maxwell Kadiri

•Lawal Mohammed Gusau and Eileen Ongaso

•Cross section of participants at the event PHOTOS: JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

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LAW & SOCIETY ON THE ROAD TO DURBAN:

Cultural legitimacy and climate change crisis

in some ways diminished the validity of these strategies and undermined them in achieving their intended purposes.

Adaptation

•Fagbohun

A

T Bali, Parties agreed that the negotiation on a long-term agreement should address the issue of a shared vision for long term cooperative action. The future discussion will address enhanced national and international action on such issues as measurable , reportable and verifiable nationally appropriate mitigation commitments or actions by all developed countries, and nationally appropriate mitigation actions by developing country Parties, supported and enabled by technology, financing and capacity building, in a measurable, reportable and verifiable manner. Future discussions will also focus on the use of sectoral approaches, approaches to enhance the cost-effectiveness of mitigation actions, including market mechanisms, and the issue of reducing emission from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD).

With respect to the conflict situation that has arisen, the obvious barrier to resolving the conflict is that, the discussions are unfortunately taking place in political and economic settings. Assuming the dispute is being interpreted, not in the context of politics and economics, but in a setting in which climate change has been defined in mutually and culturally acceptable terms, the tendency to listen, to tolerate, to try to understand and to cooperate may be induced by a perceived similarity in values and belief system (e.g. collectivism), or by attitudes (e.g. sincerity) and behaviours (e.g. open discussion, silence).

The argument here is not that climate change premised on cultural legitimacy will be devoid of its own challenges some of which we shall be discussing in the next section. The more common of this is intercultural conflicts, but, this can be resolved when parties are made aware that their perceptions of divergent interests are erroneous.

The point of emphasis here is that we must consciously take into cognizance the orientation and cultural identity of those who are involved and representing nations in international negotiations. Respective native culture and cultural positions must have a direct bearing on the development, formulation, declaration, interpretation and implementation of principles and instruments.

A case in point would be the possible tools and rules above identified to assist countries meet reduction commitments, together with the approach to negotiations on a longterm agreement; these are fundamental conceptions that did not give due consideration to the valuable contribution of cultural legitimacy. Ostensibly, there seems to be a presumption that cultural values will be taken into cognizance at national levels. This obviously does not go far enough. The inclusion of cultural legitimacy ought to have been one of the essential guides of the current cultural concerted approach. The lack of concern for cultural legitimacy in the articulation of mitigation strategies may have

In recognition of the impacts of climate change such as drought, extreme weather conditions, floods and sea level rise, and the serious harm that these can cause to economies and communities globally, the UNFCCC commits all Parties to formulate, implement, publish and update adaptation measures, as well as cooperate on adaptation. By undertaking National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA), least Developed Countries are placed in a position to access their urgent adaptation needs. These countries will consequently be able to develop proposals for adaptation projects that will qualify for international funding. In this regard, the five-year Nairobi Work Programme on impacts vulnerability and adaptation to climate change was aimed at assisting all countries in understanding and accessing impacts, vulnerability and adaptation.

Further, under the Kyoto Protocol, an Adaptation Fund to be supervised and managed by a special Adaptation Fund Board was established to finance concrete adaptation projects in developing country parties that are also Parties to the Kyoto Protocol.

The fund is to be sustained by means of a 2% levy on projects for the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism. The longterm cooperative action includes international cooperation to support urgent implementation of adaptation actions; risk management and risk reduction strategies; and disaster reduction strategies; transfer of climate-sound technologies for adaptation; and development of financial mechanisms that will spur financial and investments flows to support developing countries to take further adaptation actions.

Other international support for adaptation is expected to come substantially through the delivery of the commitments made by rich countries to double aid by 2010 and the commitments made by several countries to meet the target of 0.7% of GNI by 2015.

It is instructive that adaptation decisions are made, more often than not, at the local level e.g. municipal governments, and by private bodies (individuals, households and firms). As noted by Fussel and Klein, adaptation has an intrinsic local nature. The implication of this is that since all the cultural traditions of the world ordinarily provide for the societal survival of their respective societies, seeking cultural legitimacy for the full range of the adaptative strategies aimed at meeting the negative impacts of climate change would have societal support and compel political leaders to implement the adaptative strategies. Since there is a cultural dimension to every aspect of human consciousness and activity, we can give efficacy to adaptative strategies by conceptualizing and articulating the indigenous cultural values underlying these strategies. In this regard, since the strategies in that instance will not only be ‘internal’ to the people, but, will also be their shared insights, it will be easy for them to identify with the strategies and sincerely support their implementation. It will not matter whether these strategies are primarily technological, financial, institutional or informational. The fact remains that they are driven by man. Man’s cultural orientation and perception is what the society will leverage on. Among the immediate benefits would be that rather than forced, lastminute, emergency adaptation or retrofitting with its attendant cost, the people will engage more and be interested in anticipatory and precautionary adaptation.

A critical issue which must be noted at this stage relates to the fact that a locally effective adaptation policy may negatively affect neighbouring regions, while a temporary successful adaptation policy can weaken vulnerability in the longer term.

These are clear examples of maladaptation.

If this were to happen in the context of adaptative strategies which have cultural values underlying them, it will also bring

By Prof Olanrewaju Fagbohun

to the fore intercultural conflicts based on different cultural values, ideologies, perceptions, assumptions and mistrust. In this situation, the strongly held ethnocentric response of respective cultures is what will promote the situation of mistrust in the ensuring intergroup conflict. These obviously are challenges some of which will be relatively easy to resolve while some others may not. To a large extent, however, such developments will deepen intercultural understanding, and a third party who is currently aware will be able to arbitrate a winwin situation.

•Culture As A Critical Resource for Sustainable Development It was Crispen Dirwai who observed that indigenous groups all over the world have developed cultural belief systems that demonstrate knowledge and appreciation of the Earth. According to him, these cultural belief systems embody cultural rules about how the various components of the environment should be treated for the good of the present and future generations. The tendency to fall back on traditional knowledge and cultural practices has in several instances yielded positive dividends over the years. Traditional ecological knowledge has further been made popular through the work of the International Conservation Union (IUCN).

According to Fikret Berkes et al, case studies revealed that there exists a diversity of local or traditional practices for ecosystem management. These include multiple species management, resources rotation, succession management, landscape patchiness management and other ways of responding to and managing pulses and ecological surprises. Social mechanisms behind these traditional practices include a number of adaptations for the generation, accumulation, and transmission of knowledge; the use of institutions to provide leaders/stewards and rules for social regulation, mechanisms for cultural internalization of traditional practices; and the development of appropriate world views and cultural values. These traditional systems had certain similarities to adaptive management with its emphasis on feedback learning, and its treatment of uncertainty and unpredictability intrinsic to all ecosystems.

As also noted by Watson, natural and social scientists, communities, policy makers and resource managers are increasingly being confronted with issues that revolve around how wilderness should be used and, ultimately valued as component of the local, regional, and global culture. Watson underscored the point that generalized statements of the meaning and values of wilderness are less useful than providing in-depth understanding of values to specific social groups. The reason for this is that the physical and ethereal qualities of wilderness vary too greatly to be discussed as a general concept.

In this section, reference will briefly be made to few jurisdictions to show the valueadded and importance of culture in bridging the gap in the conceptualization of strategies for the protection of the environment.

Example from Nigeria The agricultural sector plays an important role in Nigeria’s economy, contributing 37 percent of the Gross Domestic product (GDP) and employing 65per ecnt of the adult labour force. In relation to climate change, agriculture is being questioned and facing challenges for the future. It is questioned because it is among the main contributors to global climate change by its GHG emissions, fluctuating between 10 and 12 percent of the world GHG emissions, and by the high deforestation rate, mainly concentrated in tropical regions. The two chal-

lenges thus faced are adaptation to the new climate conditions, and ethic obligation to actively participate in a global mitigation strategy.

In 2004, there was a pilot study on agricultural practices in Nigeria commissioned by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The aim of the study was to compare indigenous knowledge about farming practices vis-à-vis modern technology in sustainable crop production.

The study observed that as in many parts of Africa, Nigerian farmers are noted for their indigenous knowledge and the utility of this in their farming businesses. It was found that the system has reduced the negative impact agriculture would naturally have on the environment. It was also found among others that farmers were able to maximize their total gross margin by using fewer amounts of pesticides in cowpea production in Nigeria consequent on the adoption of mixed cropping techniques in their cowpea productions systems.

The study concludes that small scale, resource-poor farmers have good reasons for sticking to their local knowledge and farming practices attendant thereto, and that modern technologies can only be successful and sustainable if the interplay of local knowledge, of cultural, social and ecological systems are taken into consideration.

Examples from Kenya, Swaziland, Tanzania and South Africa In another study under the auspices of UNEP in four study areas, namely, Kenya, Swaziland, Tanzania and South Africa, the focus was on the repertoire of indigenous knowledge that communities in the study areas draw on to deal with natural disasters. The study revealed that this knowledge serves communities well within the traditional power structures. The successful application of this knowledge is based on good prognosis, close observation and a thorough understanding of the local environment.

These power structures ensure that communities are properly guided on the actions to take to prevent or mitigate disasters. Signs of coming disaster are obvious to everyone and this leads to instinctive response and preparation for coming events without necessarily being instructed as such by elders.

The report further noted that people revere elders in their role of divining climate conditions and natural disasters. The culture and belief system of a community also influences its response to disaster. In most communities, disasters were believed to be of supernatural origin and as such the communities affected resigned themselves to the fact that they had no power to stop them once triggered but could mitigate their effects. The report focused on the practices of the communities in these countries in relation to management of natural disasters, early warning systems, food security and storage, disaster prevention and mitigation, treatment of diseases during disasters, disaster response and recovery, droughts, and strong winds and winds storms.

Specifically in relation to traditional medical practices in Swaziland, the Report noted that an important area where indigenous knowledge has been used from time immemorial in Swaziland is in relation to health care. As far back as 1894 the practice was flourishing and caught the attention of the colonial powers that made an effort to outlaw it. Among the factors for the acceptance and popularity of traditional heath care is the variety of cultural factors that influence people’s perception of life.

Example from Zimbabwe In the study carried out by Crispen Dirwai, he explored the use of ethno-based knowledge to protect the environment from degradation as expressed through totems, rituals and prohibitions regulating the use of natural resources.

•To be continued

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

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LAW PERSONALITY Mr Ifedayo Adams Adedipe was the best overall graduating student in the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) Hons final exams at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife) in 1979. A year later, he was called to the Bar. Now a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Adedipe has since graduation remained in active law practice. In this interview with JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU, he bares his mind on security in the country, judicial reforms , same sex marriage and other national issues. Excerpts:

‘Jonathan has a duty to tackle terrorism’ N

IGERIA has faced security challenges for some time. How can we use law to restore the security of lives and property in the country?

The primary duty and responsibility of every government is to secure lives and properties of the citizens in that country.

What do you mean by this?

Under the rules of international law, it is only the government that is empowered, entitled and allowed to bear arms and to deploy those arms to enforce the security of lives and property of its citizens. So, strictly speaking, the law permits the enforcement of law and order as a means of providing security for the citizens.

So, how do we get there?

There is absolutely no way than a robust and uncompromising enforcement of the laws to ensure that citizen’s rights and properties are protected.

Lately, as you rightly observed, we have had security challenges. I am still wondering why the terrorists in our midst appear to be ahead of us.

Is it as a result of lack of intelligence or is it as a result of compromise, infiltration of the security services, if you like. Or is it as a result of despondence on the part of citizens that make them to collaborate with the terrorists in our midst.

Make no mistakes about it, the terrorists did not come from high heavens, they live with the people, they reside among us and so when people are most reluctant to deal with them, it will either be out of fear or distrust for the government.

So what is your suggestion?

The Federal Government needs to ask itself critical questions. The security situation is quite worrisome. Try and imagine for instance, what would happen if retaliatory measures were to be embarked upon by the Christians against their muslim brethren on Eid-el-Fitri day. If they were to bomb them as it happened to the Christians on Christmas Day. Imagine what would happen.

The failure of our security agencies to nip these attacks on the bud could either be because they have been infiltrated or they are disenchanted with the government or other factors. But this is indeed a worrisome situation.

Can you attribute the weakness of the government to deal with the security challenges to the weakness of our laws? Do we need new laws to strengthen existing ones?

I do not subscribe to the idea that our laws in this area are weak. Probably enforcement is what weak. I had an exchange with a colleague during the International Bar Association (IBA) conference at Buenos Aires in Argentina. I said how are we are going to get out of our problems and he said: “There is nothing wrong with your country that adherence to the rule of law cannot take care of. Ordinarily, seemingly innocuous ways of behaving, traffic laws violation, reckless driving, breaching contracts, etc are rampant here and unless the law fights back, people will take advantage of our weakness in implementing our laws to commit atrocities.

Can you elaborate more on this?

Yes, if you travel or go through any major highway in this country, you will see policemen brandishing guns, harassing commercial motorists and I have always asked the question, how many armed robbers have been caught at road blocks?How many smugglers have been arrested at road blocks, how many terrorists have been arrested at these so called road blocks? How many drug barons have been arrested at road blocks? The truth of the matter is that the law enforcement agents are not doing what they should do. They are just there to extort money, you’ll see a man driving his car and they will say Oh! Your engine num-

ber is not well written bring N10,000. This is what we are confronted with everyday, so, people are disillusioned and disenchanted with our police.

What is the solution to this mess?

It is not that the leadership of the police is not aware of the what is happening, but they chose to look the other way, that is what I call elite conspiracy.

These police men are expected to be the face of government and the face I see, is a very ugly one, the way our police men harass us. Lately, the law has been trying to ensure that those who violate the law and are managed to bring before the law, pay some token fine or the other, but it is not as if the law is weak.

We seem to be losing the fight against corruption. How do continue the fight?

It is only in this country that when people need money, they leave the private sector and join the government. Elsewhere, when people want money, they will leave the government and go to the private sector to invest. But in our own case, the reverse is the case. And you the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) to combat corruption.

What is their punishment?

Three years’ or two years’ imprisonment.

And at the same time, our Senate is passing a law prescribing 14 years imprisonment for same sex marriage. We have a wrong priority to most of our problems. How is same sex marriage a public issue, it is a private matter. If a man decides to go with another man, let him do it. But when you begin to steal our money, when you begin to break our laws like bearing arms against the State and innocent citizens, I expect the Senate, the National Assembly to pass tougher laws, I expect the National Assembly to pass tougher laws against terrorists and criminals in our midst.

I expect that our country should act in a manner that would discourage criminals from breaching our laws. There is a lot of impunity in this country. Until recently, people routinely killed other human beings particularly in the northern parts of this country and nobody is brought to account, nobody is arrested or prosecuted.You just read of it on the pages of newspapers and it goes like that. So, it is not as if the law is not there, it is the will to implement it that is our problem.

What is you appraisal of the way terrorism and allied offences are handled by the government?

Well, I consider it as most unfortunate, a statement credited to President Goodluck Jonathan that terrorism is a burden we would bear.

No, I don’t want to bear that burden. It is his duty, as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to ensure that we do not bear this burden. He should do everything within his powers to bring it to an end. That is why we elected him our president. That is why we supported him and we will continue to support him to deploy the resources of this country to ensure that whoever these characters are, are brought to book. There is so much impunity in this country, so if he says that we most bear that burden and that is the end of the story, then they will do it again and again, I don’t want to bear that burden.

The Judicial Reform Committee Submitted its reports and recommendations to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) recently, what type of reformation do you expect at the end of the exercise?

First of all, let me commend the CJN for having the courage to set up that committee. We must not pretend, a lot was wrong with our judiciary, from recruitment to indolent personnel, to compromised person-

‘Well, I consider it as most unfortunate, a statement credited to President Goodluck Jonathan that terrorism is a burden we would bear.

No, I don’t want to bear that burden.

It is his duty, as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to ensure that we do not bear this burden. He should do everything within his powers to bring it to an end’ •Adedipe ( SAN)

nel, to indifferent personnel purporting to administer justice. I have always held this view that Judges are staying in place of God on earth, so. They should administer justice without fear or favour, ill will or what have you. But in our country because of the circumstances in which some people became Judges, through godfathers, godmothers, through quota and the rest of it, there seems to be a drop in the quality of the administration of justice. The uproar in the last one year about the administration of justice must have informed His lordship’s setting up the committee and justifiably so. I happen to hold the view that we need to amend our laws so that judges do not declare candidates winners of elections because it is a veritable source of corruption. This is because all they do is to cancel some peoples’ votes and award victory to another.

Probably what they need to do is to find out in truth if the elections were not free and fair. Let them then order them to redo it, but for the judge to be the voter and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as it were, is quite tempting and we have seen the consequences in the number of petitions and allegations we are confronted with.

What is your reaction to the recommendations of the Committee?

Setting up of committee by the CJN is quite commendable, the quality of men there is also highly commendable. There, you have former Presidents of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), OCJ Okocha (SAN) and erudite jurists, such as Kayode Eso, former CJNs, fsormer Presidents of the Court of Appeal (PCAs) and so on. These are individuals that have made their own names, believe in their own integrity and are concerned, like you and I about the affairs of the judiciary. So, I believe that they will come up with meaningful recommendations. I had read somewhere that some of the recommendations of the Bar were not reflected in the report. I suggest that it is not in the best interest of the nation to dis-

card the position of the Bar. We are the ones who appear before these judges. We know what we encounter in the courts daily, from somebody giving awkward ex-parte orders, and then adjourning sine dine for instance.

To judges not knowing the differences between mareva injunctions and interlocutory injunctions. We have seen these things, so the mode of recruitment is very crucial. I understand that among the recommendations is that you now advertise the appointment of judges, well let us see how that one works. But we should really be able to know those who ought not to be there. So that when their names come up, people should protest, what does this one know?

Gradually, we will get there but it will take time.

I am looking forward to a day when a man goes to the bank, he takes a loan, he defaults, the bank does not need to go and get any order before they take over his property as it happens elsewhere. You foreclose the Mortgage. Many people will learn their lessons. But in Nigeria, a man will take loan, mortgage his property and when they ask him to pay, he would say oh! But that Mortgage does not have the governors’ consent and we are expected to stay with this type of situation.

I am sure that the committee will factor some of these things into their recommendations. I am aware that regularly judges do have conferences and so on, maybe they should be having more of that. Then there should a mode of assessment, if a judge cannot deliver about 10 quality judgment in a quarter, he ought not to be there.

Judges should be well and properly remunerated, well taken care of.

Some of the things we lawyers do must come under critical examination by the judiciary itself. You don’t writ petition against a judge because he has ruled against you, you don’t write a petition against a judge simply because he made off the curve comment or the other, or you don’t like the face of a judge or that the judge is from the same state or area with your opponent.

These are some of the frivolous ways that some lawyers write petition.

37

TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

2012 IN PERSPECTIVE Deputy Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU writes on concerted attempts by the federal and state governments to undermine the performance of the local council as the third tier of government and the out look in the new year.

Can local councils be effective ?

I

T is incontrovertible that they are the closest to the people.

Their functions are clearly defined. The structures for func tion performance are also well spelt out. But, their impacts are seldom felt by the grassroots, either as rural governments, urban councils, local authorities, district councils, town councils, local governments, municipal councils or local council development areas. Indisputably, in the last 60 years, local governments have never acquired lives of their own.

As the federal and state governments flex muscles over the right of control over them, they become victims of the lopsided federal arrangement. At issue is the status of the grassroots government. Are they the third level or tier of government or mere appendage of the states? Does the constitution gives them autonomy in inter-governmental relations? Are they mere local agencies of the state administration for the purpose of interface with the countryside? Can they acquire independent status following constitution amendment?

Currently, local councils exist as semi-autonomous units of government created for the purpose of easy administration by the federal and state governments. Money is allocated to the councils by the federal government from the Federation Account. But state governments also have power to either create or dissolve the councils through the instrumentation of the House of Assembly. While some think that local government should be a third tier, other political leaders, especially pro-true federalism advocates, think otherwise. To them, only two tiers, a central government, and states, which are coordinate with the central government as component units, constitute the making of a true federation.

When money is allocated to the councils, it does not go directly to them. It is deposited in the State/Local Government Joint Accounts (JAC). At the JAC Committee meeting, the council is a junior partner. Thus, it has been alleged that governors indulge in diverting council allocation through controversial deductions.

The illegal deduction compelled President Goodluck Jonathan to suggest the separation of the State and Local Government Accounts, a move that was criticised by the governors and their commissioners.

These puzzles stare the fledgling councils in the face. While it is stipulated in the 1999 Constitution that democratically elected local governments are fully guaranteed, nearly half of the 774 local governments sharing allocations from the federal treasury are administered by caretaker bodies set up by governors, who perceive them as the extension of state ministries and departments. Governors strategically schedule council polls in a way that would lead to the emergence of lackeys who would coordinate their battle for second term at the grasroots.

As it is currently constituted, the modern local government system in Nigeria is a creation of the military government, with its centrist approach to administration. In the words of Prof.Peter Ekeh, a sociology teacher at the State University of New York, Buffalo, United States, they are designed to “serve as receptacles of their allotted share of the largesse from petroleum oil revenues distributed from the Federation Account”.

The university don also expressed concern about the shrinkage of councils’ official responsibilities, their inability to create a buoyant local economy and foster a service-delivery culture, unlike the earlier era. Their viability, sustainability and survival are also in doubt. “Most of these local governments would collapse, if they do not receive regular allocations from the central government”, Ekeh said.

Many agree that local governments are beset by problems.

They range from under-funding to identity and role crisis, constitutional crisis, poor administration, lack of economic viability, inept council bureaucracy, and corruption. However, none of these challenges invalidate the justification for grassroots government.

Dissecting the local government system in Nigeria, former Secretary to Lagos State Government Olorunfunmi Basorun, described it as the den of the deadwood. “Some council engineers are mere technical employees. Officers are ill-trained and there is lack of expertise. The councils are poorly managed, poorly monitored and poorly assessed”, he said.

What has not been in doubt is their usefulness, if the councils are positioned for effective performance. “The federal and state governments are distant levels of administration, aptly insensitive to local concerns and expectations. It is the council govern-

•Jonathan

ment the people can call their own because it is expected that they should have more access to it”, remarked another university teacher, Boniface Ayodele, who frowned at the penchant for hijacking council roles by the federal and state governments, especially responsibilities for markets, refuse disposal and primary education.

Ayodele, a Political Science teacher at the University of AdoEkiti, chided the federal and state government for the underdeveloping the councils. Local areas, he pointed out, are worst for it.

The introduction of presidential system at council level in 1989 was a turning point. Following this reform, local politics assumed a new dimension. The 1999 Constitution, which also made provisions for a democratically elected council, gives executive power to the chairmen, who after the election, are expected to set up a cabinet of Supervisory Councillors. In turn, the legislative arm, headed by a Leader, acts as checks and balances.

Explanations put forth by local government scholars portray the councils in three dimensions; as local responsibility zones, democratic school for training future politicians and prudent managerial centers.

As a structure very close to the locality, local councils should serve as essential instrument for the performance of basic services, which could be best administered locally, based on the intimate knowledge of the needs, conditions and peculiarities of the areas concerned. Among these are chieftaincy, marriage, markets, local schools, primary health care and refuse disposal. Owing to lack of expertise, working tools and enormity of the challenge, refuse disposal and construction of markets, have been taken over by some state governments.

However, Prof. Ekeh attested to other specialised functions of the councils. These include sanitary inspection, town planning, water supply and market management by Town Councils, and local security, which is now prohibited by the constitution. Before their derailment, old town and city councils performed these functions creditably and with minimum difficulties. “The personnel of such high profile town governments as Lagos Town Council rivaled that of the Central Government in the quality of employees whom they attracted. Thus, such giants in the history of Nigerian public service as Dr Ladipo Oluwole and Chief Adogbeji Salubi were employees of Lagos Town Council in the 1930s and 1940s”, recalled the university don.

Many agree that councils of today are wide departure. Apart from being bastion of corruption, they have often disappointed

‘While it is stipulated in the 1999 Constitution that democratically elected local governments are fully guaranteed, nearly half of the 774 local governments sharing allocations from the federal treasury are administered by caretaker bodies set up by governors, who perceive them as the extension of state ministries and departments’

the people by their sheer ineptitude and lack of initiative. Council chairmen are usually overwhelmed by the resources at their disposal, although the funds are not enough, if they are development-conscious. To buttress this, a report by the Jide Jimoh House of Assembly Committee on Local Government Appropriation in Lagos State had harsh words for many council chairmen, who demonstrated lack of competence, to the detriment of the people they were elected to serve.

Basorun, who lamented the window-dressing approach to council administration, stressed that, the love of money, rather than the desire to serve, has been the motivation for jostling for chairmanship and councillorship seats at the councils. “You will see the poor quality of budgeting and project implementation by the councils for you to appreciate the poor standard of our councils across the country. Many chairmen and councillors lack the training to know these technicalities”, he added.

While on tour of the Lagos councils, following his assumption of office in 2007, Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN), was confronted by the rot in many council areas. Frowning at the ineptitude, he suggested some targets, which he said the chairmen should aspire to meet so that they could deliver dividends of democracy to the people.

Experts have argued that the internalisation of service-delivery orientation could prepare council operators for higher tasks at state and federal levels. This is why local government is viewed as a training ground for political leaders. This is the democratic perspective. A career politician is expected to use the lowest tier, or the third tier, as a lever for acquiring political training and leadership qualities by first contesting as councillors.

In this regard, Lagos councils have served as training grounds for future leaders at regional, state and federal levels. They include Chief Rotimi Williams, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, the late Chief Mumuni Adio Badmus, Chief Ganiyu Dawodu, Chief Enoch Ajiboso, Chief Lanre Rasaq, Dr Tola Kasali, Hon. Toyin Hamzat, Hon. Sesan Olanrewaju, Senator Adekunle Muse and Senator Ganiyu Solomon. In much earlier dispensations, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Chief Adekunle Ajasin, Chief Bode Thomas, Mazi Nbonu Ojike, Adegoke Adelabu, and Alhaji Shetima Ali Mongonu began their elective political careers as councillors. That was the bright side of the earlier councils.

But there were dark sides too. In the First and Second Republics, many councils were subverted as tiny administrative units because positions in them were reserved as compensation for political dregs, dwarfs and failures who, could not make it to the state and federal parliaments and cabinets.

With the practice of presidential system at the grassroots, many believe that there is a wider scope of political apprenticeship in local politics. For example, the councillors acquire the skill of law making, which can be useful, if they are elevated in the future to the positions of state lawmakers.Putting this into perspective, a British politician, Lord James Bryle, remarked that local government is the best school of democracy and the best guarantee for its success is the practice of local self-government.

Ayodele, who elaborated on this view, stressed that, as elected agencies of the people, councils must be accountable to the people, who must continue to wield control over their functionaries.

This accountability and control perspective is important in Nigeria, where councils have portrayed themselves as the most corrupt tier of government. It has implications for the polity. If corrupt men and women are not elected as chairmen and councillors, many corrupt politicians would be prevented from climbing the hierarchy of government at state and federal levels.

Ayodele, who supported this view, said: “Whether elected councillors would return to office or not will be decided by local voters. They can be their watchdogs and use the votes to check them”.

However, judging by the contemporary local government history of Nigeria, election at the council level is negotiable. Thus, there are time lags and lost grounds because the hands of the state governors have been heavy on the councils.

Many governors have deliberately responded strategically to the compelling need for democratic council polls, with utter insensitivity to timing. The Chief Executives often try to avoid a situation whereby loyal council chairmen are in the saddle during their re-election for a second term, because as custodians of local treasury, they are powerful mobilisers of the grassroots to the advantage of an incumbent governor.

A Lagos lawyer, Idowu Fadairo, castigated the governors for postponing local government elections, saying: “Since the law says there should be elected councils, it is illegal to postpone it or refuse to hold it on time”. Also, since it is the governor that will constitute the local government electoral commission, council elections are held with in an atmosphere of minimal electoral reforms, making the opposition parties to be edged out of the local electoral process.

More often than not, crisis between state and local governments permeate the inter-governmental relationship. Across the federation, between 2007 and 2006, council chairmen and governors were at loggerheads over illegal deduction of council funds by the states, with governors threatening to sack chairmen who raised serious objection. For example, former Ekiti Central local government chairman, Hon. Taye Fasubaa, cried out that he was be• Continued on page 38

38

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

POLITICS Former Special Adviser to the Imo State Government on Security Matters Chief Zeek Nnadozie spoke with reporters in Owerri on the political situation in the state.

‘Okorocha, APGA stole PDP’s victory’ Y

OU are a regular commentator on the affairs of Imo State, what do you have to tell the people this New Year?

That they should remain steadfast in the pursuit of truth, justice and equity.

Can you assess the general political situation in the state last year?

The political situation in Imo State last year was hopeless. That’s why I say the people should remain steadfast in the pursuit of truth and justice because only the truth and justice can restore hope and guarantee a future.

When you say hopeless, can you elaborate?

Hopeless in the sense that the current governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, is busy dismantling all the democratic institutions that has taken the people fortunes to build in the past 12 years.

Look at what he is doing with the State House of Assembly. He has turned it into a rubber stamp. Every day, he goes there with a new list of expenses and pronto, they will approve without any debate. So far, the House has approved over 20 billion naira for him without any supplementary budget.

Look at what he did with the local government councils. The first thing he did on assumption of office was to sack democratically elected local government chairmen and councilors.

You know the story. Even after the court had told him that he has no power to do so, he prevented the chairmen and councilors from going back to work. Today, the councils are dysfunctional. Nothing is happening in the local government areas. And this after so much had been spent in electing the councilors. By the time Gov. Rochas Okorocha finishes with them, that tier of government would have collapsed completely. There are other examples. Governor Okorocha does not observe due process. Go to the Ministries, the permanent secretaries will tell you that they are not aware of what is going on. The governor even had the temerity to say that he does not believe is due process whereas the entire essence of good democratic governance is due process.

The governor said following due process slows him down. May be he is right, knowing what our civil service is.

That is arrant nonsense. Government is not a private business. You must run it according to laid down rules and procedures. You must work with people. Okorocha talks about “my people, my people” while in actual fact he is saying, “myself, myself”. He has appropriated all the machinery of governance to himself. Now, every official guests of the government was lodged at Lamonde Hotel, along Okigwe road. As soon as he came, he disbanded the catering department in the Government House. Now, all catering services for the Imo State government are being undertaking by an eatery allegedly owned by his wife.

But many people may not agree with you. They believe his is doing well. You spoke about construction projects. There are quite a number going on.

Very good. Anybody can sign a contract. The question is, what is the content of those contracts? How did you arrive at them? Did you follow due process? Is the process in conformity with laid down procedures? Yes, the people may be seeing projects, but what is the value of those projects.

Take one example. I have heard people talking about the streets of Owerri on which the governor is pouring sand. That is a grand deceit.

Don’t the people deserve that those

roads are tarred having waited this long? Some people even try to use that to judge his predecessor, Ikedi Ohakim. In the first place, what is the value of the streets? The total length of the streets is not up to ten kilometers.

Put together, they are nothing compared with what Ohakim did in the corresponding period. By exactly this time in 2007, Ohakim has done over 150 kilometres of brand new stone-based roads in the rural areas. It is a matter of priority. Ohakim said his priority was to lay a foundation for the building of an economy for the state. And the first thing that must be done in that regard is to link the rural areas with the urban areas. Imo is an agrarian society. You cannot be rebuilding houses in Owerri when the rural areas where over 90 percent of the people are living are not accessible.

Is that a justification of Ohakim’s alleged neglect off the urban areas, especially Owerri, the state capital?

Ohakim’s priority was to connect the people in the hinterlands with the urban areas, especially Owerri, the state capital. Incidentally one of the roads he did is the one leading to Okorocha’s house in Ogboko. Are you not aware that until Ohakim came, there was no road leading to Ogboko, Okorocha’s home town from any part of the state? It is not about trying to make keke riders in Owerri clap for you.

It is about sustainable development.

Ohakim thought big. He was focusing on how to do mega projects that would create jobs for our youths. And he was right on course. He had started off well. That was why in the 2011 budget, emphasis shifted rehabilitating roads within the Owerri metropolis. Not just pouring sand on them as we are witnessing. And somebody is clapping. They should ask Okorocha why he is pouring sand on the roads instead of implementing the budget which provided for the tarring of the roads? It’s so unfortunate that nobody is asking such questions. It is a shame that our people are falling for such antics.

Your party, the PDP, is still in court over the last governorship election.

What are the prospects? Some people think it is an exercise in futility?

You said “some” people, but I can assure you that the generality of the people of Imo State are looking forward to the restoration of the mandate they gave to the PDP on April 26, 2011. That is the truth. PDP won that election on April 26, 2011. Of course, you know the truth. We were merely robbed of victory. But justice has to be done.

But the Tribunal threw out the case for lack of merit.

Very good. And that judgment, the Tribunal judgment, is the very nemesis of Governor Okorocha and his party APGA. The tribunal based its ruling on the pretence that there was no election in three local government areas namely: Ohaji-Egbema, Oguta and Mbaitoli L.G.As. This is even in spite of the fact that INEC which earlier declared election in Imo inconclusive brought out results certified by it to show that elections held in those three local government areas. The Tribunal in its own wisdom ignored all that.

Recently, the Federal High Court in Owerri upheld that there was election in Oguta. That puts a lie on the judgment of the Tribunal. A similar case is being heard in the case of OhajijEgbema. So, it is left for the Appeal Court to tell us whether or not there was election in those three areas.

That’s where we are now. We are waiting. You can see the desperation of Governor Okorocha and APGA to

• Okorocha

scuttle the court processes. The other day, they sent hoodlums to demonstrate against a member of the Appeal panel, abusing her, calling her names. Something that has never happened anywhere in Nigeria before. That shows the level Okorocha has brought down the people to. We now sound so timid.

The other day, they attempted to bribe the state executive of our party.

But that failed. Now, they are working towards ensuring that the sitting of the panel on January 5, 2012 does not hold so that the case is not dispensed with and it becomes time bared. But they will fail.

But some people believe that going by the governor’s populist bent, the people may protest should the PDP win the case.

Who are the people? Don’t listen to such crab. Imo people are too sophisticated for that. Let’s wait and see first. Anybody who thinks the people are not aware that the PDP was robbed of victory is deceiving himself.

Imo People are clamouring for justice.

Governor Okorocha may cover the streets of Owerri with gold but I can assure you that the people are bent on seeing that justice is done. Justice is the essence of democracy. Justice is the biggest democratic institution all over the world. You have justice, you have democracy. Remove it, you are wasting your time talking about democracy.

Can councils become effective ?

• Continued from page 37

ing victimised for objecting to the diversion of council funds and illegal deductions by the governor. Furthermore, chairmen whose name have appeared in the black book of the governors forfeited their offices through the dissolution of the councils, in active connivance with the state Houses of Assembly.

In Ibarapa local government, former Governor Rashidi Ladoja delayed the swearing-in of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) council chairman who defeated the candidate of his party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the poll.

In fact, in some states in the Southeast, Southsouth, Southwest, and Northcentral, governors have resisted attempts to hold council elections, to the consternation of anxious aspirants.

However, these atrocities paled into insignificance in the face of the oppression of the councils by the federal government. This suppression preceded the current democratic dispensation.

In consonance with its centrist approach, the Abacha Administration dazed the country when he appointed a minister of local government.

The 1999 Constitution, which is the legacy of Abdulsalami Administration, also created friction between the federal and state governments over the control of the local governments.

The federal government insisted that states lacked the power to create more councils, claiming that all the councils have already been listed in the constitution. Former Katsina State Governor Umaru Yar’Adua, who later became President of Nigeria, had to retrace his steps by axing the newly created councils in the state, out of fear.

It was a different ball game in Lagos State, where Tinubu Administration created additional 37 local councils.

Despite the fact that they were created by legitimate state authorities, the federal government disagreed. The allocations due to the pre-existing 20 local governments were seized by the Obasanjo Administration. Also, the Senate refused to list the new councils in the constitution, despite the referendum that gave their creation the nod.

In fact, in a memo to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, who had earlier directed that the withheld allocations should be released, the Ministry of Justice advised him to terminate the newly created councils, saying that they were undermining the judiciary and challenging the authority of the federal government. Irked by the incessant harassment, House of Representatives member, James Faleke, former chairman of one of the councils not listed; Ojodu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), said: “The victimisation of Lagos councils by the federal government undermines the right of Lagosians to development”.

But how have the existing councils fared nationwide? Have many have justified the people’s confidence? In

Lagos, former Information and Strategy Commissioner Opeyemi Bamidele once acknowledged that the councils have worked at a slow speed because elections had not taken place.

After the council elections in 2008, the tempo of activities increased, although House of Assembly members were still inundated with complaints during the town hall meetings that many chairmen showcased cosmetic achievements.

The bane of the councils, Basorun contended, is the bloated bureaucracy.

He said the councils should trim down so that money spent on maintaining gigantic structures could be deployed to capital expenditure. Sharing this view, Ayodele said the council cabinet is too large and burdensome.

“Council chairmen maintain extensive political structures. They appoint too numerous supervisory councillors, special advisers, special assistants, and personal assistants like the President and governors, making the recurrent expenditure to soar”, he lamented, stressing that “this is at the expense of capital expenditure”.

Other stekeholders cautioned the state government against dabbling into their functions and responsibilities. Human rights activist and politician, Dr Tunji Abayomi, berated state governments financing market projects, pointing out that they have hijacked the local government’s roles.

“Look at my state, Ondo. The governor is busy commissioning markets, which is the function of the local government. Is he elected to set up markets?”, he asked.

Ayodele urged the Houses of Assembly to monitor the activities of the councils for better function performance and general efficiency. He added: “The legislative arm of the council should also act as checks and balance, instead of going after money doled out by council chairmen”.

The Chairman of Yaba LCDA, Jide Jimoh, said local governments should be well funded so that they can be alive to their responsibilities.He added: “If councils are well funded, they will serve society better. But the baseline also is that local government helmsmen should be prudent and shun misuse of council funds. This is what we are doing in Lagos State”.

A federal legislator, who spoke on the proposed constitution amendment, disclosed a searchlight would be beamed on the local government system. She said that the status of local government would definitely be on the agenda. The lawmaker added: “There is the concern that, for councils to perform creditably, they need adequate funding. There is need for reforms again. I hope ALGON will make representations to the National Assembly, if there members would not be afraid of governors, who see the councils as the extension of their fiefdoms”.

• From left: Former Western State Adeyinka Adebayo, Ekiti State Deputy Governor Funmi Olayinka; and Governor Kayode Fayemi shortly after the presentation of the 2012 Budget at the House of Assembly, Ado-Ekiti.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

39

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT Building Issues

A bungalow is a storey building

C

OMMUNICATION is an essential factor that con tributes significantly to the success of projects.

The complex and interwoven activities in building projects require the use of specific terminologies rather than descriptive words for effective communication.

Existence of confusion over the use of ground floor and first floor cannot be denied in the building industry. The world wide ambiguity created by this conflicting floor references has made many opted for the use of the word STOREY, which is more precise with constant global interpretation.

However, the use of the building terminology, storey in Nigeria is at conflict with the rest of the world. Throughout the world, a storey means the floor or level in a building, including

•A luxury mansion at Oniru Housing Estate, Lekki, Lagos.

•Some LAWMA workers at a workshop

Why Fashola is beautifying Lagos,

by Commissioner F

OR the Babatunde Fashola administration, the beautification of Lagos State is a task that must be accomplished.

This is why during the Yuletide, the government decorated some streets and highways in the spirit of the season.

In the third year of the environment beautification characterised by elaborate lighting and decoration of roads, the government also created special provisions for children to have fun.

According to the Commissioner for the Environment, Mr Tunji Bello, “this year’s festive season decoration and lighting has surpassed those of previous years in scope and magnitude, as feedbacks from members of the public has been overwhelming and encouraging, an indication of expectation been met and fulfilment of campaign promises.”

A drive at night on major highways and streets in Lagos, such

Stories by Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie Asst Editor

as Secretariat Road Alausa, Section of the Old Toll Gate of the Lagos Ibadan Expressway, Marina, Eric Moore Surulere, Falomo Roundabout, Kingsway Road, Ikoyi, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Ikeja, among others, are beautiful sights to behold with various shades and displays of colours lining these highways.

According to Bello, the goal of the government is for Lagosians to cultivate the habit of cleaning and beautifying their environment at all times.

The citizens on their part have appreciated the improvement in the aesthetics of the state. They claimed that they feel at ease moving and driving around the state, especially at night when they are fully confronted with the

beauty that the state government has turned Lagos environment into.

Bello, however, implored Lagosians to key into the ministry’s plans of attaining zero tolerance to all forms of environmental abuse and degradation.

Lagosians should desist from patronising street traders as they intend to keep major highways clean at all times. We should ensure we dispose our waste properly this festive season to attain a cleaner and sustainable environment and make Lagos a pride of place to live.

The Commissioner also warned market men and women to keep their markets clean and desist from dumping waste into canals and drainages as any unclean market risks being closed for three months.

Nigerite donates gifts to orphanage, NGO

A

S a way of showing love and concern for the well-being of the less-privileged during the Yuletide, and to fulfill its corporate social responsibility to Nigerians, Nigerite Limited, manufacturers of NT fibre cement roofing and ceiling sheets, has donated items worth thousands of Naira to Hearts of Gold Children’s Hospice, Surulere and Awesome Treasures Foundation, Ilupeju in Lagos State.

Presenting the gift items to the ben-

eficiaries over the weekend in Lagos, Dapo Ajayi, Marketing Communications Manager of the company, said the firm has always given back to the society as part of its corporate responsibility to the Nigeria citizen.

The gift items include three sets of computer, bags of rice, cartons of milk and groundnut oil, among others.

He said the company felt compelled to add value to the life of less-privileged children, adding that it is the hope of the company that the gift items

will offer the recipients some social relief as they engage in and merriments of the season.

Ajayi added that the donation is Nigerite Limited’s way of acknowledging the laudable contributions of Awesome Treasures Foundation to the well-being of the less-privileged by organising holiday coaching for public primary school pupils to bridge the gap between them and their private school counterparts.

the rooms on that floor. In that case, a storey extends from the floor to the ceiling.It is used for horizontal division of buildings.

The etymology of storey traces the early use of the word to the period from 1175 to 1225 in Europe when artistic display of events on stained glass windows and walls of different floors were used to promote history.

Hence, storey originated from the Latin word, historia, which reflected in the

By Kunle Awobodu

tive or collapsed buildings, resorting to descriptive floor counting (numbering). The international community is bemused when the Nigerian press ascribes conflicting number of storey(s) to the same building.

There is no ambiguity in the global use of storey (English spelling) or story (American spelling). Ambiguity exists in the counting or numbering of floors in different parts of the world.

There are two major floor numbering methods in the world: The English or European method that counts ground floor as zero and the American method that prefers to label the ground floor as the first level.

In that case, first floor in European method means second floor (level) in American

‘In the midst of this collective misnomer, government agencies end up describing the type of building under reference or in the Nigerian building regulations.

Hence, the compulsory building insurance scheme is directed at buildings described in the law as having more than two floors’

Anglo-French word estorie.

A mistake repeated for long unchallenged, uncorrected might become putative and elevated to acceptable fact. Even among building construction professionals, the confusion as to the appropriate use of storey is apparent.

The word upstairs is meant for a building with upper floor(s).

In Nigeria, an upstairs house, especially the one with one upper floor is commonly and wrongly referred to as a storey building.

In the midst of this collective misnomer, government agencies end up describing the type of building under reference or in the Nigerian building regulations. Hence, the compulsory building insurance scheme is directed at buildings described in the law as having more than two floors.

Ministries of Physical Planning and Urban Development, for instance, also face the challenges of communicating defec-

method.

Most countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa adopt either of these two methods of floor numbering.

However, the difference in the two systems is unified in the use of storey.

A building with ground, first and second floors in European system is a three-storey building.

The building numbered first, second and third floors in the American system remains a three-storey building.

A subterranean room, a cellar or

basement is a storey below the ground floor in European method or that below the first floor in the American method.

A penthouse, which is an apartment for comfort, is a storey located on the last or topmost floor of a building.

From the foregoing, a bungalow, which is a house that has one floor is, therefore, a one-storey building.

Once we are able to overcome the Nigerian error, that long existing distortion, the use of storey will serve as a more appropriate word to distinguish different heights of buildings for effective communication in the Nigerian building industry.

This will, of course, give building clients, end-users and the general public a clear understanding of the building height specifications.

• Awobodu is the National Publicity Secretary, The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB).

‘A subterranean room, a cellar or basement is a storey below the ground floor in European method or that below the first floor in the American method. A penthouse, which is an apartment for comfort, is a storey located on the last or topmost floor of a building’ •Contributions, questions? e-mail: quichi3cities@yahoo.com

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

40

AVIATION

AON flays minister’s plan for new national carrier

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VIATION Minister Mrs Stella OduahOgiemwonyi may have touched a raw nerve in the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), with her plan to float another national carrier.

Since the liquidation of the Nigeria Airways seven years ago, the country has not floated another national carrier.

Rather, the Federal Government liberalised the airline business, creating room for more individuals to invest.

The AON is worried that Mrs Oduah-Ogiemwonyi is contemplating the creation of another national carrier.

The association, it was learnt, is set to take its case against a new national carrier to the National Assem-

Stories by Kelvin OsaOkunbor Aviation Correspondent

bly.

If the lawmakers do not listen to AON, it may go to court, sources told The Nation.

According to sources close to AON, the association believes it is beyond the minister to propose a national carrier, when the government has liberalised the business environment with total withdrawal of government in commercial/business outfits.

This, it argued, was why the government since 1999, came up with the privatisation policy and the establishment of the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) through an Act of Parliament to give legal backing to its programmes and the divest-

NCAA re-opens Bebi airstrip

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HE Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has ordered the reopening of the Bebi Airstrip, Obudu, Cross River State.

The reopening followed the inspection of the airstrip last week by the Aviation Minister, Mrs Stella OduahOgiemwonyi, to ascertain the readiness of the facility for light aircraft operations.

The minister, who was accompanied on the tour by the Permanent Secretary, Ms Anne Ene-Ita; NCAA Director-General Dr Harold Demuren and other parastatal heads, expressed satisfaction with the equipment at the airstrip.

With the Very Omini directional radio range in place, runway lights, adequate fire cover and radio equipment, the facility has been noticed to airmen open by the NCAA. The airstrip, which serves the Obudu Ranch Resort, was closed for safety reasons by NCAA. Last week, Dana Air increased flight frequencies on its Lagos-Port Harcourt-

Lagos route and commenced flights on the Lagos- Calabar route.

Its Chief Executive Officer, Jacky Hathiramani, said the airline has introduced an additional flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt as well as the commencement of the Calabar route as part of its expansion plan.

Hathiramani said: “We are aware of the demand for extension of our world-class services to more Nigerian cities and the west coast, and wish to state that plans are underway to expand our route network in the first quarter of 2012 in line with our growth plan.”

The commencement of operations to Calabar is in fulfillment of that promise.

“Now the good people of Cross River State can enjoy the same world-class services that Dana Air is renowned for on all its other routes. Our goal is to meet, and even exceed, the travel expectations of guests flying in and out of Calabar, either for business or pleasure,” Hathiramani stated.

ment of government’s interest in government-owned business outfits and the withdrawal of subsidies from government- owned commercial agencies.

Given the government’s policy of not getting involved in business, members of the AON, it was gathered, wondered why the Aviation Minister would work against the policy of the Federal Government with her proposed floating of a national carrier. The operators claimed they invested heavily in the registration of their airlines and purchase of modern/state of the aircraft and equipment because of government’s liberalisation policy.

Part of their argument, it was learnt, is that if a national carrier is desirable, it should be left to registered Nigerian airlines to evolve one through a merger and public offer in the stock exchange.

AON said anything short of this, the minister would be threading on a dangerous path that would end up rubbishing the privatisation policy of the government and an endless litigation in the courts.

When contacted, AON Assistant Secretary General Alhaji Mohammed Tukur said the Secretary-General, Alhaji Mohammed Joji and members of the executive, were not happy with the pronouncement on the planned floating of a national carrier, saying it would rubbish their “heavy investment in the air transport industry unless the government was prepared to compensate them by paying back the heavy capital they invested.”

He said very soon, Joji would come up with a comprehensive position paper of the body on the issue at stake, adding that in today’s

world business environment, “government has no business in business.”

On government’s plan to set up a national carrier, Aligbe said: “At the moment in Nigeria, no airline is yet ready to drive the policy of government in the industry.

There is no strong airline. It is crying about a project that will come to being.

“The airlines we have now are not positioned to become a national carrier. This is because of issues of faulty foundation of just acquiring brand new aircraft. The other challenge is the ownermanager syndrome as well as using untested foreign manpower that are unfamiliar with the Nigerian environment.

“If we must make progress as a nation, we must move beyond being a point-topoint carrier, which cannot survive the global environment.”

The Federal Government has restated its commitment to refloat a national air-carrier even as it unveiled plans to set up five additional terminals by 2012.

Mrs Oduah-Ogiemwonyi disclosed this at the inauguration of the Very Important Personality (VIP) lounge of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport by the Deputy Senate President Senator Ike Ekeremadu in Abuja.

She said the air carrier would be completely driven by the private sector while the new terminals would serve the country in exporting its agricultural produce.

Her words: “The Federal Government will not have any percentage in the shares of the national carrier; it would be all private sector. We have to own it but that doesn’t stop us.

America has more than five carriers; any one of them that meet the criteria could be our national carrier.

•From left: Chairman, League of Aviation and Airport Correspondents (LAAC), Mr Chuks Iwelumo; Director-General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr Harold Demuren and Managing Director, National Aviation Management Agency (NAMA), Maxi Nnamdi Udoh, during the end-of-year party organised by LAAC in Lagos.

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE.

Sector to focus on manpower development

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F the aviation industry must make significant progress this year, players, including airlines and regulatory agencies, must invest in the development of their personnel. DirectorGeneral of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr Harold Demuren, has said.

Demuren, who stated this while reviewing activities of the NCAA in the past few months, said it was only in doing this that the agencies could sustain service delivery, because the industry is becoming very competitive.

He explained that manpower development would also help combat brain drain and threats from Middle East airlines that are poaching the best hands from the sector.

Demuren lamented that the workforce was being depleted by Middle East airlines because they attract manpower with high pay.

“Emirate and Middle East airlines continue to be a threat to us because they have excessive resources to attract our good hands, hence, we need to train the existing manpower to compete with them and sustain

the level we have reached.

So, the training of our work force would be very crucial and our priority,” he said.

Demuren said with such high manpower training envisaged, the aviation personnel would be able to man the infrastructure the administration is putting in place across airports.

He added that several airports are undergoing rehabilitation while the construction of a new international airport terminal would commence in Lagos this year.

“It would be patterned after the Abuja International Airport. That is going to be our standard and would put Nigeria where it rightly belongs.

“This is because the aviation sector has now taken the centre stage to grow the economy, and thanks to the present administration’s transformation agenda in infrastructure development.”

Demuren also said the nation and the sector had learnt a lot about the importance of beefing up security around airports from the Usman Farouk Abdul Mutallab’s attack on Delta Airline on De-

cember 25, 2009.

“Today our airports in Nigeria are beefed up with security gadgets like body scanners that have made us unpopular. But, it has helped us achieve progress in the sector.”

Demuren explained that sanity and safety in the industry has earned Nigeria and the aviation sector the Category One status from international organisations, He said the sector had come a long way between 2006 and now when the sector witnessed various air crashes locally.

“Today, that has been drastically reduced to zero level, especially in scheduled local commercial flights with a very solid and safety regulatory aviation regime in Nigeria. In the last five years, we have not had a single scheduled commercial flight crash in Nigeria, except for a few chartered ones.

“The report that scheduled local aircraft with either 200 passengers or 300 passengers on board crash- landed in Nigeria has become history and it will be history forever in Nigeria.

“We will continue to work

hard and sustain this zero tolerance for air crashes in Nigeria.”

The Managing Director, Nigerian Airspace Management Authority (NAMA), Nnamdi Udoh, canvassed international training exposures of aviation personnel including journalists.

“They need exposure on International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) programmes to equip them for international reporting of aviation events.

“Such would make them experts in reporting the industry and strengthen their annual trainings at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Technology, Zaria, that began some 10 years ago, he said.

A few weeks ago, the Federal Government was urged to setup an Aviation Manpower Development Board (AMDB) to address the growing challenge of dearth of skilled and efficient personnel facing the industry.

The Chief Executive Officer, Belujane Konzult, and former General Manager, Public Affairs, of the liquidated Nigeria Airways Mr. Chris Aligbe, made the call in Asaba, Delta State.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

41

HEALTH THE NATION

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

Cancer is a killer disease. For long, it has damaged the world, which has been desperate to find a cure for it. That cure seems to be in sight, reports the American Newsweek magazine in its December 19, 2011 edition.

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T'S a disease that kills millions a year and a slew of hoped-for miracle treatments have gone nowhere. Now scientists say vaccines could hold the key—not just to a cure but to wiping out cancer forever.

By all rights, Shari Baker should have said her final goodbyes years ago. In 2005, more than a year after three doctors dismissed a lump under her arm as a harmless cyst, she was diagnosed with stage IV (metastatic) breast cancer, which takes the lives of at least 80 per cent of patients within five years; it killed Elizabeth Edwards in 2010. Half of those diagnosed with breast cancer that has spread—in Baker, it had reached her spine—die within 39 months. But the 53-year-old jewelry designer in Scottsdale, Ariz., wasn’t ready to die.

“I’ve been a competitive athlete and a body builder, I take care of myself and eat right,” she says. “I was going to fight this.”

Baker began searching for a clinical trial, and through the International Cancer Advocacy Network (ICAN) found an intriguing possibility: a cancer vaccine. In May 2006, she travelled to the University of Washington. The vaccine was injected into her upper arm; she got five more shots over the next five months. Today, with scans detecting no cancer anywhere, Baker seems to have beaten some extremely stiff odds.

Short of a sci-fi nano-camera to capture what was going on at the cellular level, it’s impossible to know exactly what the vaccine did. But based on studies of lab animals and cells in petri dishes, scientists have a pretty good idea. The vaccine contained fragments of a molecule called her2/neu, which, perched on the surface of tumor cells, fuels the growth and proliferation of some breast cancers. Baker’s immune system treated the flood

Could this be the end of cancer?

of injected her2/neu like an invading army and mounted a counterattack. Cells called CD4, acting like biological Paul Reveres, sounded the alarm, rousing white blood cells called T cells. The body’s Minutemen, they invaded Baker’s tumor, summoning reinforcements called cytotoxic (“killer”) T cells, which destroyed the tumor cells in Baker’s breast as well as her spine. Enough of the other 21 women who received the experimental vaccine against metastatic breast cancer are doing so well that its inventor, immunologist Mary (“Nora”) Disis of UW, dares to envision a future in which vaccines “control or even eliminate cancer.”

The road to a cure After four decades of largely unfulfilled hopes—December 23 marks 40 years since President Nixon declared war on cancer—scientists have hit on a potential cure that few thought possible a few years ago: vaccines. If they succeed, cancer vaccines would revolutionize treatment. They could spell the end of chemotherapy and radiation, which can have horrific side effects, which tumor cells often become resistant to, and which often make so little difference it would be laughable were it not so tragic: last week,

for instance, headlines touted two new drugs for metastatic breast cancer even though studies failed to show that they extend survival by a single day. Vaccines could make such “advances” a thing of the past. And they could make cancer as preventable, with a few jabs, as measles.

“Could” is the key word. Cancer vaccines are still being tested. Patients, doctors, and scientists know only too well that seemingly wondrous cancer therapies can flame out.

But progress is accelerating. In 2010, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the first-ever tumor vaccine, called Provenge, to treat prostate cancer. Scores of other vaccines are in the pipeline. Over the summer, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania unveiled what they call a cancer “breakthrough 20 years in the making”: a vaccine against chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) that has brought about remissions of up to a year and counting—and which its inventors believe can be tweaked to attack lung cancer, ovarian cancer, myeloma, and melanoma. Vaccines against pancreatic and brain cancer are also being tested. “For the first time,” says Disis, who has a $7.9 million grant from the Pentagon to develop a preventive vaccine, “clinical trials [of cancer vaccines] are demonstrating antitumor efficacy in numbers of patients with cancer, not just one or two unique individuals.”

First, some basics. By “cancer vaccine,” scientists mean something that will stimulate the immune system to attack malignant cells. The most di-

rect route to that, studies suggest, is by injecting the very same molecules, called antigens, that stud the surface of cancer cells much like Lady Gaga’s hats. As with the her2/neu vaccine, that would stimulate T cells to home in on the antigens and encourage the production of killer T cells specific to cells with that antigen. It may seem odd that our bodies would attack our own cells, but by tweaking the antigens, the immune system can be spurred into attacking the tumor.

Such a vaccine could be therapeutic, wiping out tumors, or, in theory, preventive, keeping tumors from forming. (Cervical cancer vaccines now on the market are strictly preventive but also unique in that they target can-

cer-causing viruses; most cancers aren’t caused by viruses.)

Harnessing the immune system is completely counter to how cancer is now treated, largely by chemotherapy and radiation. Both can weaken the immune system, which is why some alternative practitioners advise against them. Following that advice can be fatal. But the importance of the immune system in fighting cancer is getting new respect from the nation’s leading oncology researchers. It has also inspired a Hail Mary play from a leading advocacy group. Last year, the National Breast Cancer Coalition launched the Artemis Project with the audacious aim of eliminating breast cancer by Jan. 1, 2020. Since the most likely way to accomplish that is through vaccines, says president Fran Visco, NBCC is awarding seed grants for research on, for instance, which antigens make good targets.

NBCC has good timing: research on breast-cancer vaccines is exploding.

Last week, the biotechnology firm Antigen Express, Inc., announced that 89 percent of patients who received its her2/neu vaccine were alive after 22 months, compared with 72 percent of nonvaccinated women. The company hopes to get FDA approval for a phasethree trial in 2012. Interestingly, the vaccine seems to help even women who don’t qualify for the breast-cancer drug Herceptin because their levels of her2/neu are too low. “We think 75 per cent of women with breast cancer could be candidates for the vaccine,” says president Eric von Hofe.

Vaccines have the potential to revolutionise cancer treatment because their effects do not stop with existing tumors. Cancer is notorious for its craftiness, changing the biological pathways by which cells proliferate so much that chemotherapies and even targeted molecular therapies soon stop working (that’s why even much-hyped drugs such as Avastin increase survival by, at most, a few months). Vaccines could • Continued on page 47

Key players in the health sector speak on the problems and prospects of the sector.

They also proffer solutions to its problems. WALE ADEPOJU reports.

Experts canvass better health care

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HE health sector, which is expected to take care of the sick, is itself ailing. It is suffering from inadequate infrastructure and funds. This is why many hospitals cannot discharge their functions according to some stakeholders.

The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof Akin Osibogun, said the major challenge to health care delivery last year was power supply.

He said: “But, fortunately, the Federal Government is reviewing its strategy for electricity supply. This year, it is liberalising power generation and distribution. So the expectation is that electricity supply in the country as a whole and for teaching hospital would be much improved.

“As you know, many of the equipment that we use are dependent on electricity. Once that improves this year, definitely our ability to diagnose accurately and provide appropriate treatment for patients would rapidly improve. That would be one

major achievement from the government.”

Osibogun advocated preventive health care rather than curative which he said was more expensive and difficult to achieve.

He said: “The public should be enlightened on methods of preventing diseases and promoting their health. This is because health itself is a shared responsibility among individuals, families and government. By providing information to the public, many diseases would be prevented. Some preventable diseases, such as malaria, diarrhea and respiratory tract infection, which are the leading causes of death particularly in children can be prevented.

So, if you provide information to the members of the public. They will be able to prevent many deaths in children and other diseases even in adults such as cancers because some of them are results of exposures.”

Osibogun said further: “We need to provide information to the public, regarding what they should avoid, what they should do or not do. We will be helping the health

sector greatly.”

The Chief Medical Director, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof Wale Oke, said health care in Nigeria was not where it should be considering with the rate of the development in the country.

He said: “The main reason being that the World Health Organisation (WHO) stipulates that five per cent of the nation’s budget should be dedicated to health and I am sure we have not achieved that.

“I think we are about 2.5 to three per cent or thereabout and if we do not conform to WHO then we are not doing what we are suppose to be doing, and we cannot effectively manage the health of Nigerians.”

Oke said the Lagos State government had been showing commitment to health care. “For example, it is only in Lagos State that patients, who are under 12 years are given free treatment. Also, patients who are above 60 years are given free treatment. Every casualty or acci• Continued on page 43

42

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

HEALTH

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Foundation donates child clinic to UI

HE multimillion naira Otunba Tunwase National Paediatric Centre in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State has been donated to the University of Ibadan (UI) and College of Medicine (UCH).

The centre built on a 50-acre land on the Sagamu-Benin Expressway, is the brain child of Otunba Subomi Balogun. It was built under the aegis of Otunba Tunwase Foundation.

In 1994, on his 60th birthday, Otunba Balogun decided to build the centre as a referral tertiary hospital and research centre in child health.

That was after his tour of the children’s Emergency wards/wing of UI’s College of Medicine, UCH where he saw children dying in droves as a result of dilapidated facilities and lack of equipment.

Most poignant was the sharing of drip stand by children where nurses had to remove drips midway from a sick child and fix a new drip for other

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha emergencies.

He said: “A child died in the process right there in my presence. Something in me gave way and there and then, I decided to do all within me to give a new lease of hope and life to peadiatrics and that was the beginning of my involvement with the health care sector and I built the complex, the best gift to humanity I have ever given.”

The experience also made him to refurbish the children’s Emergency ward/wing by maintaining it to date, “And the best maintained facility in UCH,” according to Chief Medical Director, University College of Medicine (UCH), Prof Temitope Alonge.

The children’s Emergency ward/ wing, located on the first floor of the UCH, was named after him.

His kinsmen in Ijebu-Ode also urged him to repeat the feat in his

home town and he responded by building a 40-bed Children Hospital-the Iye Subomi Child Care Centre, which he named after his late mother.

On how he got the template for the complex, Balogun said the late Prof Olikoye Ransome Kuti asked him if he would be interested in building a hospital like ‘The Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, that will be a referral institution and will devote itself not only to the health care and welfare of children, but also would be involved in the research in to and teaching about all the diseases that afflict children.

On board of the complex are a renowned paediatric Surgeon, Dr M.A. Bankole; former President, International Association Paediatricians and Minister of Health, Prof Adenike Grange, who was grateful to the philanthropist for giving her a free hand to select her team.

•Pate laying the foundation of the diagnostic centre.

State-of-the-art equipment coming for hospitals

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LL public-owned hospitals will be well-equipped to provide adequate services, the Minister of State for Health, Dr Muhammed Pate, has said.

Speaking during a visit to the federal neuro-psychiatric Hospital, yaba, Lagos, Pate said the government is determined to provide public facilities state-of-the-art equipment.

He lay the foundation of the hospital’s diagnostic centre during the visit.

Pate, who inspected the clinical facilities at various departments of the 104-year-old hospital, assured the management of government allocation to support the hospital.

The minister, who also visited the hospital annex, the Federal School of Occupational Therapy, Oshodi, said: “If you consider the budgetary appropriations of the previous years, you will discover that the allocations for the health sector since incumbent president assumed office have been on a steady increase. I assure you that in due course, a noticeable difference will be felt here in the hospital. This is because the government has taken infrastructural development seriously to ensure that citi-

By Paul Oluwakoya zens of this country reap fully, the dividends of the transformation programs of the current administration” The Chief Medical Director, Dr. Rahman Lawal thanked the Federal Government for supporting the hospital through budgetary allocations that has transformed the hospital to its present level of development, said: “The decision to construct a diagnostic centre was taken last year and when the authorities of the hospital contacted the company, they obliged with open hands.

“It would be recalled that this hospital started as a lunatic asylum in October 1907. It has since

‘If you consider the budgetary appropriations of the previous years, you will discover that the allocations for the health sector since incumbent president assumed office have been on a steady increase’

then evolved over the years to become a full-fledged neuropsychiatry hospital and tertiary mental health facility that provides comprehensive mental health facility and services.

By virtue of its location the hospital has attracted clients from Lagos State and adjoining states, and beyond. Hence, we operate two sites – Yaba and Oshodi”.

The General Manager, Planning and Ventures Management (TUPNI), Ms Chinyere Uche, assured the minister of the completion of the project as scheduled, saying it would be handed over to the authorities of the hospital as soon as it was completed.

“When the building project is completed in 2012, the hospital would have a fully-equipped twostorey building diagnostic centre containing a reception/waiting area, a Maggnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), an echocardiogram (ECG) Room, a sleep laboratory, some consulting rooms and a bio-chemical laboratory.

Other facilities are a conference/ teaching room and necessary facilities, such as changing rooms, toilets, an administrative office, among others.

Health Tourism With Dr Dheeraj Bojwani e-mail: indiasodel@gmail.com

Managing back pain in India

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RAUMA, aging, improper body mechanics, and normal wear and tear can all injure your spine. Damage to any part of your back or pressure on the nerves in your spine can cause back pain and other symptoms. If you have ongoing back pain, maybe you’ve wondered — could back surgery help? If you are experiencing back pain, see a doctor who can determine the cause. If the pain spreads down your leg or is accompanied by tingling, numbness or weakness, see a doctor immediately.

The spine, or backbone, is made up of a column of 33 bones and tissue extending from the skull to the pelvis. These bones, or vertebrae, enclose and protect a cylinder of nerve tissues known as the spinal cord. Between each one of the vertebra is an intervertebral disk, or band of cartilage serving as a shock absorber between the vertebrae.

The types of vertebrae are: • Cervical Vertebrae - the seven vertebrae forming the upper part of the spine • Thoracic Vertebrae - the 12 bones between the neck and the lower back • Lumbar Vertebrae - the five largest and strongest vertebrae located in the lower back between the chest and hips.

The sacrum and coccyx are the bones at the base of the spine. The sacrum is made up of five vertebrae fused together, while the coccyx (tailbone) is formed from four fused vertebrae.

The causes of back pain can be complex. Some causes of back pain include accidents, muscle strains, and sports injuries. Depending on the diagnosis, surgery may either be the first treatment of choice - although this is rare - or it is reserved for chronic back pain for which other treatments have failed. If you are in constant pain or if pain reoccurs frequently and interferes with your ability to sleep, to function at your job, or to perform daily activities, you may be a candidate for back pain surgery.

Almost everyone has back pain at some point in their lives. According to the National Institutes of Health, back pain is the second most common neurological disorder — only headache is more common. If you have back pain, the first step is to be properly assessed by your primary care provider. Back pain has many causes, from muscle strain to more serious conditions such as a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, spondylosisthesis, osteoporosis, or a tumor, so it’s important to find out what is causing the back pain.

Back pain surgery in India

Most people with back pain will have it resolved with the use of conservative treatments and therapies.

If you happen to be one of the few who have suffered with back pain that will not respond to any of the many conservative treatments available to you, you may need to decide if surgery is the next logical step to take on your road to relieving your back pain. The goal of surgery should always be to relieve pain, prevent any further degeneration of

the spine and allow the patient to live a more normal life.

Back surgery might be needed: • If you have a condition that compresses your spinal nerves, causing debilitating back pain or numbness along the back of your leg.

• In some instances when you have bulging or ruptured (herniated) disks — the rubbery cushions separating the bones in your spine. However, many people with bulging disks have no pain.

• If you have broken bones (fractured vertebrae) or other damage to your spinal column from an injury that leaves your spine unstable.

• If you have vertebral fractures and an unstable spine related to osteoporosis.

• If you’ve first tried conservative measures and they fail to relieve your back pain or other symptoms.

Back Pain Surgery in India helps patient in their back pains related treatments by packaging their medical trip to India and it also offers a full complement of surgical as well as physiotherapy services exclusively to International Patients combined with their post - discharge recuperative holidays.

Spine surgeons are physicians who receive special training in the diagnosis and treatment of the spine, which include problems with the neck (cervical spine), mid back (thoracic spine) and low back (lumbar spine). We are proud to say that India has produced some of the best world renowned Spinal Surgeons and our associated Senior Spinal Surgeons working for their respective JCI Accredited Hospital are always eager to extend a supporting helpful hand to your back problems.

Back pain surgical procedures In the most serious cases, when the condition does not respond to other therapies, surgery may relieve pain caused by back problems or serious musculoskeletal injuries. Surgical procedures can include: • Discectomy • Foraminotomy • IntraDiscal Electrothermal Therapy (IDET) • Nucleoplasty • Radiofrequency Lesioning • Spinal Fusion • Spinal Laminectomy Some surgical procedures may be performed in a doctor’s office under local anesthesia, while others require hospitalisation.

When your back is in chronic pain, an approach that heals the mind as well as the body is needed. Patients need to understand that everyone gets back pain, and it’s largely a function of conditioning within our spine. The spine and the muscles and all of our attachments — ligaments, joints — constantly need to be in motion to remain in good condition. When they’re put to rest or overused, they tend to get irritated.

So often back pain is a function of overusing or underusing, and conditioning will help.

Dr. Bojwani is the Chief Executive of Forerunners Healthcare Consultants Pvt Ltd, India’s Pioneer Medical tourism organisation.

Local contact: 07042394040, 07090830097, 08191462542, 07037065779, 08023051420

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

43

HEALTH

Experts canvass better health care • Continued from page 45

• Osibogun

• Oke

dent which needs surgical emergency is offered free treatment within the first 24 hours so as to ensure that these people do not die from preventive causes,” he added.

Oke said the free treatment had a price attached to it, adding that to an extent the state adjusted its health scheme which was now being abused by other states. “I can say for sure that people come from around the state and sometimes even from outside the country to access free health in the state because there is no state identity card.

“For example, the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Unit by the Toll Gate, only ten to fifteen per cent of Lagosians are the ones that are benefitting directly from it, the rest are from neighbouring states,” he added.

Oke scored Lagos State 60 per cent while other states representing Nigeria are between 30 and 35 per cent.

He said: “It would have been nice to have an insurance scheme that would cover all these people. That would mean they come and pay the premium just like the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Oke praised the Federal Government for establishing the NHIS, saying it was very slow though. “But it appears to be achieving the purpose for which it was established. If we can have something like that in Lagos State, it would reduce the financial burden which free health has brought on the state,” he added.

“If I am treating a patient for free, it

is not just the consultation but also the drugs, x-ray, laboratory and surgical intervention among others. If a patient is having surgery, he will require sedative to sleep. Sometimes it requires rehabilitation, psychiatry or physiotherapy. Free treatment involves everything. So it has a multiplier effect, which is negative in terms of the amount of cost,” he noted.

He said the state was trying to have a state identification card, saying some parameters would be used to define who merits it. And then when you come to Lagos hospitals, you tender it and they will know you are from the state, he added.

The state, Oke said, would strengthen each arm of medical care from primary to secondary and tertiary care. “What happens all over the country now is that the tertiary centres accommodate patients from primary and secondary centres which put a lot of strain on them.

The job they are supposed to be doing they are not doing. Lagos State by 2012 would strengthen the primary unit and the secondary care.

“The governor said there would be a doctor at each PHC because any patient who wants to go to the hospital won’t do so if there are no doctors. If there are doctors, things that could be settled at that level would have ended there. You won’t go to the secondary or tertiary hospital again. So teaching hospital would have reduction in the number of patients they attend to.

“The number of patients we see

is alarming. If you come during our clinic in the morning you will be surprised. Halve or three quarter of the time we are attending to patients that we should not really be attending to. We are a teaching hospital we are expected to treat cases that dumbfound primary and secondary cares.

“Some consultants start their clinic at 8:00am and they don’t finish until 6:00pm. They complain to me that some of the patients they see are not supposed to be seen at a tertiary facility but they have to because a doctor is obligated to treat patients.

He said the NHIS would get bigger and better and translate to better health for the people. “NHIS is growing, but I think it is growing slowly. May be we need it to grow slowly so that we don’t make too many mistakes. But, since the inception of the scheme which is over 15 years ago, it should have gone round the whole country effectively. I think it coverage should be about 50 per cent now,” he added.

Oke said there was a paradigm shift in health care as infections was still there but it’s falling.

“However, non-communicable diseases are beginning to take hold.

Hypertension, diabetes and other cardiovascular diseases are increasing by the day. This is because of our changing lifestyle. We consume sugar and lots of salt and lots of fats without exercise. Smoking among youths is on the increase but the adults are not smoking that much.

But in the universities and colleges we have a lot of smokers.

“Our diets are not really healthy and solution to that is health education. This would prevent heart attack, kidney failure, strokes. If we control our diet, salt we take, blood pressure, sugar and diabetes it is better. These things are cheaper to manage or control than to treat.

“For somebody, who has heart attack to have interventional cardiology will cost N600,000 whereas if asked you to cut down on salt or sugar you are even saving money.

Similarly, when people stop smoking, they save money.

“Adults must be mindful of the fact that it is the children who need the food more than us. But we often give them the bony part of meat not a meaty part of bone. We only need food to keep us alive but they need food to grow. The adult feels when he was young he was deprived of meat. We should give most of our food to our children.

“We need to look after our health individually. Nobody would look after how much I eat salt or fat I eat or how much I exercise. We have to take our health in our hands because the government can only do what it can do. The final responsibility is still with us individuals and families.”

The Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta, Lagos, Dr Yewande Jinadu, concurred with Prof Osibogun that power was the bane of health care.

She said: “The greatest challenge is electricity. A lot of fund is extended on generating electricity.

Stable electricity for use including that for equipment, unlike most facilities we have to run 24 hours electricity supply. That is proving very expensive and its mopping up a lot of fund that would otherwise be used.

“My expectation for 2012 is that until the whole country is able to have steady supply those organisations that require this vital need are given special considerations for electricity. I don’t know how it’s going to be done but we need it.

“The second is funding. Hitherto, we used to be lumped together. That is, all hospitals under the federal

service and the central body decides on what equipment and what facilities we need. Now, in the last five years, that has been decentralised.

Every hospital decides on what it needs and goes to defend that needs and present them both at executive and legislative levels. That has greatly improved the quality of service. Unfortunately, since it started we would defend and we be allocated be initially. Then may be half way through the year when most of those programmes have taken off then the allocation would be slashed. Therefore, we are left with the half project. Therefore, I am looking forward to 2012 where the funds approved for us are released early. Only what we are given is approved so that we can work and work in totality. If you know you have N5, you will work towards it. Not you are told it is only N10 and then in September you are told it’s only N5.

Commending the government, she said: “We have been given standardised booklets such that we have three to five choices of equipment to buy. The Federal Ministry of Health and other organisations have sat down and looked at the equipment we need and looked which manufacturers have established in Nigeria services and spare parts among others and have brought them up for us. So that, we all can encourage those organisations to develop and we all know that we are compelled to buying non-obsolete equipment. You don’t just buy equipment because some marketer came to appeal to you.

And then you find out he doesn’t even have the spare parts. He doesn’t even have the servicing he has to bring people from Germany to service them. That has stopped.

Therefore, if you walked around hospitals today you do not see the obsolete equipment again. The type that we keep in one corner and waiting for one manufacturer is gone.

That is what happened and nobody has commended the Federal Ministry of Health for this. You can’t just bring in anything now. You have to have what is serviceable and what the spare parts are available.”

Could this be the end of cancer?

• Continued from page 41 match the cancer cells move for move. In women who receive Disis’s vaccine, after T cells destroy breast cancer cells they gobble them up and spit them out. That floods the body with the antigens that adorned the cancer cells, stimulating the immune system to target this second wave of tumor antigens. This spreading immunity creates locked-and-loaded T cells that can destroy tumor cells years after vaccination—the same kind of lifelong immunity that, say, a smallpox vaccine confers.

One final benefit of the cancer vaccine may explain why Shari Baker is alive: T cells never forget. Once the immune system has targeted a threat, be it cancer or smallpox, it keeps a reserve militia ready to attack should that threat return. In principle, that should confer immunity against breast cancer and possibly other cancers as well—forever.

The optimism surrounding cancer vaccines reflects a string of recent discoveries hinting that the immune system can vanquish cancer. Immune activity in and around a tumor—the presence of certain white blood cells—is often a harbinger that a cancer will go into remission and even vanish. A 2006 study, for instance, found that colon cancers that attract killer T cells most strongly are less likely to recur after treatment. Similarly, when early-stage lung cancer cells or some breast cancer cells are studded with T cell–attracting molecules, patients are more likely to dodge metastasis, remain in remis-

sion, and live longer. And in liver cancer and ovarian cancer, if the tumor has been invaded by T cells, patients survive longer. There is one final clue to the power of the immune system. “At least 30 percent of tumors found on mammograms would go away even if we did nothing,” breast surgeon Susan Love of UCLA told a Project Artemis workshop last spring—a tantalizing hint about the power of the immune system to eliminate cancer.

That raises the obvious question: why does anyone with a working immune system develop cancer, much less die from it? One reason is that tumor cells churn out defensive molecules that repel or destroy T cells. Several experimental therapies are trying to get around that, including an immunotherapy against metastatic melanoma that the FDA approved earlier this year.

Called Yervoy, it blocks a molecule known as cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen (CTLA4), which plays a role in impeding the immune system’s ability to fight malignant cells.

“That takes the brakes off the immune system and lets it kill the cancers,” says tumor immunologist Patrick Hwu of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, who is developing another melanoma vaccine. But Yervoy, made by Bristol-Myers Squibb and priced at $120,000, extends average survival from 6.5 months to only 10. Doing better, says Hwu, will likely require packing more immune-stimulating molecules into a vaccine.

The National Cancer Institute

counts more than 150 kinds of cancer, from the almost-always survivable testicular to the fast-killing pancreatic. Those targeted by experimental vaccines include some of the deadliest, where existing therapies fall tragically short. Last month, for instance, scientists led

by NCI tumor immunologist James Gulley announced promising results with a single experimental vaccine against metastatic ovarian and breast cancers. Called PANVAC, it contains genes for two antigens often found on cancer cells, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and mucin1 (MUC1). The 14 ovarian-cancer patients in the study have survived an average of 15 months so far, and the 12 patients with metastatic breast cancer have survived an average of 13.7 months, just slightly better than average. But what stands out for Gulley is a patient whose metastatic breast cancer has “completely disappeared,” and who is still alive more than four years after diagnosis. “We see shrinkage of tumors that we’ve never seen before,” says Gulley. Gulley suspects the results might be even better in patients who have not received chemotherapy, which can leave the immune system “beat up.”

Vaccines might even tame pancreatic cancer. In March 2010, Bert Williams, 78, heard the worst phrase a doctor can utter: not “you have pancreatic cancer,” which Williams had been told in January, but “we didn’t get it.” The tumor was positioned such that surgically removing it could have proved fatal. Williams

thought he was facing a death sentence, but his wife, Gail, found a clinical trial at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey. An oncologist there, Elizabeth Poplin, came to his bedside. We’ve been looking for you, she said: Williams had yet to receive any cancer treatments that might weaken his immune system and was otherwise healthy. He agreed to receive the experimental vaccine.

The retired advertising executive in Jackson, N.J., received the first injection in March 2010, directly into the tumor. By December, scans detected no tumors anywhere; three of five other patients with inoperable pancreatic cancer are also stable, Poplin and her colleagues reported last month. The best guess is that the vaccine, which floods the body with the tumor antigens CEA and MUC1, stimulated T cells to kill tumor cells tagged with these antigens. “The patients who were vaccinated 13 to 19 months ago are doing well for longer than I am used to,” says Poplin. “None have liver or other metastases, which is surprising because pancreatic cancer likes to spread everywhere.”

Brain cancer is as deadly as pancreatic cancer, but at least one experimental vaccine is showing promise against glioblastoma multiforme, the most common and aggressive form.

It contains bits of the antigen epidermal growth factor receptor variant III, which studs brain cancer cells. In a clinical trial, 18 patients whose tumors had been surgically removed received the vaccine; median survival was 26 months, scientists at Duke Uni-

versity reported in 2010, compared with the usual 14. And in July, Larry Kwak of M.D. Anderson and colleagues reported that in patients given an experimental vaccine against follicular lymphoma, a form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, their cancer remained in remission almost twice as long, and counting, as unvaccinated patients. Biovest International plans to seek FDA approval for the vaccine, BiovaxID, in 2012.

Would-be cancer cures have come and gone, and vaccines could fail to live up to our hopes. In many studies, patients like Shari Baker and Bert Williams are exceptions, responding almost miraculously while others derive little or no benefit. The reasons for that difference are under intense study. Some patients are too sick or weak to mount a strong immune response; this is why flu vaccines fail to protect some seniors. Also, immune therapy can take months to work, allowing tumors to grow and metastasize. And if the antigen the vaccine targets is also on healthy cells, killer T cells might go after them, too, causing autoimmune disease.

Despite these challenges, the number of believers in cancer vaccines is growing, and the money is following. Hundreds of clinical trials are recruiting patients (type “cancer and vaccine” into the search box at clinicaltrials.gov). “After many years of failure [with cancer vaccines], we’re finally getting it right,” says Kwak. Between yesterday and today, another 1,500 people in the U.S. will have died from cancer. There is no time to waste.

44

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2011

45

NATION SPORT

MOURINHO:

J

OSÉ Mourinho has given his last interview of 2011 to Real Madrid’s official

website, in which he insists he does not want to leave the club whilst also looking forward to 2012.

How have the Christmas holidays gone?

Well, as always. Quiet. I was in Portugal for a while and also in Paris, both times with my family. I am more than ready to begin working hard again.

Is the team where you thought it would be at the end of the year?

We have achieved our aims so far this season and are doing well in the league. In any other competition the difference over second place would be much larger, significant and definitive. In terms of the quality of our direct rivals we are having a great season, but the difference in points is small.

In the Champions League the most important thing was to qualify, but we also came first [in the group] in brilliant fashion and left our mark on European football. In the Copa del Rey it appears we have put an end to the curse of going out early to lower division teams.

Do you need to strengthen during the winter transfer market?

No. I can understand how the market is a game for many. For the Press, players, agents and the people who make a living out of it. The market is an open opportunity for those who need it, but fortunately we don’t. For us the market is closed. I don’t want any players. I’ve not asked for any nor am I going to ask for any.

At the moment are Madrid playing the way you saw it in your own mind?

Madrid are playing very well. If anybody says we are

I’m proud to coach Madrid not and that we are only getting results they are lying, because we are playing good football, enjoying ourselves and people want to watch us.

We have the Bernabéu and whoever we play against there it is full. A team that has won 16 or 17 out of the last 18 or 19 games is solid and compact as shown by our results. Every team has its style but football has different culture and styles; Madrid play fantastic football and get results, allied to the quality of our play.

You recently made some declarations to the BBC that could have been misinterpreted, thinking that you were talking about your departure from Madrid.

It was a programme about the Olympic Games and the contribution of sports science to them. I was on one side with the team sports and Sebastian Coe was on the other with the individuals. A 30-minute conversation ended with a minute of joking, with Sebastian asking me when I was going to return to English football, and I told him I’m happy at Madrid.

Everybody knows I loved it in England and that one day it will be a natural destination for me in my career, which I hope will be another 20 years or more: one day, within the

next couple of years, I will have to look for a destination.

Now I am not even thinking about it because I am at Madrid. The programme is available on the internet for anybody who wants to listen and has become a neverending story of how I am getting ready to leave. It makes me sad as it leads people to think and interpret things in totally different ways.

The phrase ‘a couple of years’ does not mean in two years but in a few years.....

Yes. A couple of years does not translate literally. It is an expression used in English to mean in a few years, not exactly two. It can be two, three, four, twenty....The people who know me know perfectly well I would not miss this for the world because Madrid are only going to get better. The best years of this generation and this team are still to come. The work being done is not just about today but also winning tomorrow. The best is yet to come and I wouldn’t be very intelligent if I dedicated myself to this from day one, giving my heart and soul to this project, then afterwards thought of leaving halfway through.

I am where I like to be and I want to carry on. It’s impossible to say the number

of years I’ll be here, but what counts is the intention. The President knew that a long time ago because I told him that while we were working so well together the number of years on my contract doesn’t matter. What matters to me is that I am enjoying myself and am enormously proud to be the Coach of Real Madrid. I don’t see me leaving at the moment, nor do I want to.

Iker has said you want to do something big with this team and that he hopes to be with you a long time....

He knows my mentality. We were in Sevilla the day before the game and after dinner he was with some of the players and said: “Boss, you’ve been

in Italy and England and are now at Madrid. What are you going to do in the future?

Albiol says that after Madrid you will coach in Portugal but Arbeloa and Alonso said no, you like it in England. I don’t know, so what do you say?

End the doubts here and now.” I told them sure, sure, sure, that in two years nobody will get me out of here unless it is because of bad results. But I am 100% sure I will complete my contract.

Ozil has said you are like a father to him.

The others now joke about it and when we are together they say things like: “Look, you’re father is coming” or “Your son is here.” Others say: “Your son is much more

handsome than Ozil and you’d never have a child as ugly as Mesut.” We have a good relationship that goes beyond that of player and coach.

What are your wishes for 2012?

Look, I’ll tell you the truth. I don’t know if here in Spain there is the same tradition of eating 12 grapes. In Portugal we eat dried grapes and raisins and there is no thought of the 12 grapes going towards football. Obviously we are professional, ambitious and are proud to be who we are and where we work. It’s normal that inside us there exists an ambition to achieve great things, to leave the people who love Real Madrid and have the club in their heart with the sweet taste of victory. That is what we will try to do, as I’ve said all along, without promising anything, as to promise anything in football is a little difficult. We will face it with the mentality the team has, with quality and hope. Let’s go for everything and hope something stays with us.

The original and full Spanish version of this interview conducted and published on realmadrid.com can be found here.

“No. I can understand how the market is a game for many. For the Press, players, agents and the people who make a living out of it.

The market is an open opportunity for those who need it, but fortunately we don’t. For us the market is closed. I don’t want any players. I’ve not asked for any nor am I going to ask for any.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

45

NATION SPORT

MOURINHO:

J

OSÉ Mourinho has given his last interview of 2011 to Real Madrid’s official

website, in which he insists he does not want to leave the club whilst also looking forward to 2012.

How have the Christmas holidays gone?

Well, as always. Quiet. I was in Portugal for a while and also in Paris, both times with my family. I am more than ready to begin working hard again.

Is the team where you thought it would be at the end of the year?

We have achieved our aims so far this season and are doing well in the league. In any other competition the difference over second place would be much larger, significant and definitive. In terms of the quality of our direct rivals we are having a great season, but the difference in points is small.

In the Champions League the most important thing was to qualify, but we also came first [in the group] in brilliant fashion and left our mark on European football. In the Copa del Rey it appears we have put an end to the curse of going out early to lower division teams.

Do you need to strengthen during the winter transfer market?

No. I can understand how the market is a game for many. For the Press, players, agents and the people who make a living out of it. The market is an open opportunity for those who need it, but fortunately we don’t. For us the market is closed. I don’t want any players. I’ve not asked for any nor am I going to ask for any.

At the moment are Madrid playing the way you saw it in your own mind?

Madrid are playing very well. If anybody says we are

I’m proud to coach Madrid not and that we are only getting results they are lying, because we are playing good football, enjoying ourselves and people want to watch us.

We have the Bernabéu and whoever we play against there it is full. A team that has won 16 or 17 out of the last 18 or 19 games is solid and compact as shown by our results. Every team has its style but football has different culture and styles; Madrid play fantastic football and get results, allied to the quality of our play.

You recently made some declarations to the BBC that could have been misinterpreted, thinking that you were talking about your departure from Madrid.

It was a programme about the Olympic Games and the contribution of sports science to them. I was on one side with the team sports and Sebastian Coe was on the other with the individuals. A 30-minute conversation ended with a minute of joking, with Sebastian asking me when I was going to return to English football, and I told him I’m happy at Madrid.

Everybody knows I loved it in England and that one day it will be a natural destination for me in my career, which I hope will be another 20 years or more: one day, within the

next couple of years, I will have to look for a destination.

Now I am not even thinking about it because I am at Madrid. The programme is available on the internet for anybody who wants to listen and has become a neverending story of how I am getting ready to leave. It makes me sad as it leads people to think and interpret things in totally different ways.

The phrase ‘a couple of years’ does not mean in two years but in a few years.....

Yes. A couple of years does not translate literally. It is an expression used in English to mean in a few years, not exactly two. It can be two, three, four, twenty....The people who know me know perfectly well I would not miss this for the world because Madrid are only going to get better. The best years of this generation and this team are still to come. The work being done is not just about today but also winning tomorrow. The best is yet to come and I wouldn’t be very intelligent if I dedicated myself to this from day one, giving my heart and soul to this project, then afterwards thought of leaving halfway through.

I am where I like to be and I want to carry on. It’s impossible to say the number

of years I’ll be here, but what counts is the intention. The President knew that a long time ago because I told him that while we were working so well together the number of years on my contract doesn’t matter. What matters to me is that I am enjoying myself and am enormously proud to be the Coach of Real Madrid. I don’t see me leaving at the moment, nor do I want to.

Iker has said you want to do something big with this team and that he hopes to be with you a long time....

He knows my mentality. We were in Sevilla the day before the game and after dinner he was with some of the players and said: “Boss, you’ve been

in Italy and England and are now at Madrid. What are you going to do in the future?

Albiol says that after Madrid you will coach in Portugal but Arbeloa and Alonso said no, you like it in England. I don’t know, so what do you say?

End the doubts here and now.” I told them sure, sure, sure, that in two years nobody will get me out of here unless it is because of bad results. But I am 100% sure I will complete my contract.

Ozil has said you are like a father to him.

The others now joke about it and when we are together they say things like: “Look, you’re father is coming” or “Your son is here.” Others say: “Your son is much more

handsome than Ozil and you’d never have a child as ugly as Mesut.” We have a good relationship that goes beyond that of player and coach.

What are your wishes for 2012?

Look, I’ll tell you the truth. I don’t know if here in Spain there is the same tradition of eating 12 grapes. In Portugal we eat dried grapes and raisins and there is no thought of the 12 grapes going towards football. Obviously we are professional, ambitious and are proud to be who we are and where we work. It’s normal that inside us there exists an ambition to achieve great things, to leave the people who love Real Madrid and have the club in their heart with the sweet taste of victory. That is what we will try to do, as I’ve said all along, without promising anything, as to promise anything in football is a little difficult. We will face it with the mentality the team has, with quality and hope. Let’s go for everything and hope something stays with us.

The original and full Spanish version of this interview conducted and published on realmadrid.com can be found here.

“No. I can understand how the market is a game for many. For the Press, players, agents and the people who make a living out of it.

The market is an open opportunity for those who need it, but fortunately we don’t. For us the market is closed. I don’t want any players. I’ve not asked for any nor am I going to ask for any.”

46

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

NATION SPORT

Villas-Boas admits Chelsea’s poor form

A

EIGHT MATCH BAN

Luis Suarez’s evidence, unreliable –FA L

UIS SUAREZ used the Spanish words 'negro' or 'negros' seven times in a sustained verbal assault on Patrice Evra, according to the Football Association's disciplinary commission that heard the case.

The FA, who published the commission's 115-page judgement on Saturday night, cast doubt on the version of events given by Liverpool striker Suarez, undermining the club's campaign to back the Uruguayan, who has been

banned for eight matches for racial abuse.

And Liverpool's chances of successfully appealing appear to have diminished after the full written reasons for the ban were released Saturday night.

The FA report says Suarez's evidence was 'unreliable in matters of critical importance' and 'inconsistent with the contemporaneous evidence, especially the video footage'.

The FA rejected Suarez's assertion that he had used the word 'negro' - Spanish for

black and commonly used both with and without racist overtones in South America - in a friendly manner as 'incredible' and doubled what would ordinarily have been a four-match ban because he used the word seven times.

By contrast, the FA found that Evra was 'a credible witness' and that he gave evidence 'in a calm and composed way' and was 'for the most part consistent'.

Evra, for his part,

Martinez hails midfielder display

R

OBERTO Martinez led the praise for Ben Watson after he came off the bench to earn Wigan a precious point at Stoke on Saturday.

With his side trailing 2-1, the Latics boss had no hesitation in sending Watson into the action after Wigan were awarded an 87th-minute

penalty following a foul on Hugo Rodallega.

Watson had missed his last two spot kicks but didn't let his manager or teammates down at the Britannia Stadium as he scored with his first touch, sending goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen the wrong way.

Martinez said: "In football, it's not (a case of) being brave, it's trying to do the right things.

"Taking a penalty is something of a specialist

(task) and we have got two specialists at the club; Jordi Gomez and Ben Watson.

"Jordi Gomez wasn't on the pitch at that time and it would have been very unfair, or a big gamble, to put another player in that position.

"Ben Watson, for me, is technically one of the best players in English football and that's his forte; his concentration. The big thing is he showed that he was ready for the team. I had a real belief and confidence in him."

Redknapp pleased with away point from Swansea clash

T •Martinez

OTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp paid tribute Swansea following the 1-1 draw at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday, tottenhamhotspur.com reports.

Scott Sinclair’s late equaliser denied Spurs the chance of a seventh league win on the road this season. Redknapp believes that Swansea deserved a point with the way they played yesterday and was impressed with how

good they were. Tottenham now sit third in the league and have a game in hand on the rest, which is the rearranged opening day fixture against Everton.

Redknapp said: ‘I don’t think many teams are going to come here and win. I think anyone coming here and taking a point will be quite pleased. They’ll be a match for anyone. We’re disappointed because we were 1-0 up.

admitted using obscene language at the start of his clash with Suarez.

The FA Disciplinary Commission, composed of Paul Goulding QC, Brian Jones, the chairman of Sheffield and Hallamshire FA, and former player and manager Denis Smith, decided that the likeliest version of events was that Evra initially spoke to Suarez aggressively, using foul and abusive language to ask why he had fouled him, and that Suarez responded by saying, in Spanish: 'Because you are black.'

Evra then responded, in Spanish: 'Say it to me again, I'm going to punch you!' to which Suarez replied: 'I don't speak to blacks.'

Continuing in Spanish, Evra said: 'Okay, now I think I'm going to punch you.'

Suarez responded: 'Dale, negro, negro, negro.'

Having consulted linguistic experts, the commission decided that this had the colloquial meaning: 'Okay, blackie, blackie, blackie.'

The commission also decided that Suarez used the word 'negro' twice more in separate conversations around the incident in the 63rd minute of the LiverpoolManchester United game on October 15.

NDRE Villas-Boas admits Chelsea’s poor form in December has cost them any chance of winning the Premier League title race.

But the manager remains confident his position is not under threat despite his admission that his side’s performances have fallen well short of expectations.

Villas-Boas’s side sank to a 3-1 loss to Aston Villa – their third home league defeat of the season – extending their recent run to four games without a win.

The defeat meant they were unable to take advantage of Manchester United’s defeat to Blackburn Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur’s failure to beat Swansea City, and allowed Arsenal to leapfrog them into fourth place.

Villas-Boas – whose side face Wolves on January 2 – said it was frustrating that his side had not been able to pick up points in a month when other title contenders had been dropping them.

“It’s disappointing on the fact that, in the last three fixtures, all the top teams have dropped points.

“We spoke about how December could have been decisive in the running of the league.

“From what is happening now, Arsenal made the most of a good December.

Liverpool, too, in some way.

The rest of the teams have struggled.

“All of them dropped points, but we couldn’t make the

most of it. It’s difficult for us to be in perspective for league contention this year.”

Villas-Boas, who was brought to the club at great expense by billionaire owner Roman Abramovich after a successful season with Porto, said that there were no hard luck stories regarding his side.

“There is no running away with excuses. What we regret more is that, from the last four games, we’ve lost a big opportunity to shorten the distance to the leaders.

“Massive opportunities lost.

We would have been running for the title if we’d had a better December.

“I don’t think the title is realistic. Our reality is a fourth place finish, but that is not good enough.”

•Villas-Boas

Ferguson's mind games won't affect me, claims Mancini

M

ANCHESTER CITY manager Roberto Mancini insists any mind games Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson may try will not affect him.

The Scot has been famed for participating in a war of words with rival managers in an attempt to destabilise a counterpart prior to matches, but the former Inter boss is

•Mancini

adamant that he remains focussed only on "the next match".

Manchester United were five points behind after the 6-1 thrashing they received from City at Old Trafford, but have since climbed level on points with Mancini's men.

However, the recent loss could see City take a threepoint lead at the Premier League summit if they manage to beat Sunderland on Sunday.

"I only think about the next game," said Mancini, according to The Mirror. "I don’t think about what Fergie or any other manager says about my team. I know what Sir Alex is like. But words between managers are not important.

"We have respect for him and for his team, but we are strong enough here to just keep our eyes on the title.

"I won’t have any pressure from Fergie because my focus is on my team and we don’t listen to anyone else. If we want to win the Premier League then we need to win a lot of points from our next 20 games.”

Henry seen as Rice’s replacement

A

RSENAL legend Thierry Henry is being lined up as Arsene Wenger's new No.2 at the Emirates Stadium.

The 34-year-old spent eight highly successful years in north London, scoring 226 goals in 369 appearances for the club, and is set to rejoin the Gunners on a two-month

loan deal from the New York Red Bulls during the MLS offseason.

Henry's return will bring a boost to the entire Arsenal squad, and also provide cover up front while the likes of Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh are away on African Cup of Nations duty in January.

But, it is now understood that Wenger will use the period to monitor his fellow Frenchman's suitability for the prospective position as his right-hand man.

Henry has spoken openly about his love of Arsenal, and revealed he would be keen on taking up a coaching role once he finally hangs up his boots.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

NATION SPORT

47

EUROPEAN FOOTBALL...EUROPEAN FOOTBALL...EUROPEAN FOOTBALL...

•Higuain

'Higuain not considering Real Madrid exit' T

HE father and agent of Real Madrid star Gonzalo Higuain has signalled the intention of his son to see out his contract with the Spanish club, although he did not dismiss reported interest from Chelsea and Juventus for a move in January.

Both clubs have been linked with an approach for the Argentine, who is under contract with Madrid until 2016.

According to father Jorge, however, who gave an interview on Saturday with La Stampa, Higuain's first priority is to commit himself to Madrid and see out his current deal.

"At Real Madrid nobody has been talking about wanting to sell Gonzalo, and he also does not have any intention of leaving. In fact the idea is to continue the relationship until his contract expires in June 2016," he explained during the chat, although he added that should

Madrid declare his son surplus to requirements, there would be no shortage of suitors.

"If someone told us that we are no longer welcome [at Madrid], I am sure that the offers would not be bad."

Sneijder returns to Man Utd radar M

ANCHESTER United target Wesley Sneijder is back on Sir Alex Ferguson's radar with Inter Milan willing to sell the Dutch star to any club who meets their £25 million valuation.

Inter president Massimo Moratti has met with the Dutchman’s agent, Soren Lerby, and told him his client will be allowed to leave if the asking price is met, according to the People.

Manager Claudio Ranieri does not want to lose Sneijder but Moratti is

Cole keen on permanent move

planning for the future and is keen to build a new-look Inter around rising Brazilian star Lucas, it said.

Ranieri is involved in a battle to keep Sneijder at the San Siro.

“Sneijder is our crown jewel,” said Ranieri. “He is not just a squad member, he is the main man. He has to be the leader of the team.

“I don’t want him to go anywhere.

I want him to stay here at Inter. He belongs here in this squad. There is still so much room for improvement and more success here.”

P

ALERMO coach Bortolo Mutti is looking forward to starting his new job in earnest when Serie A resumes after the winter break.

The 57-year-old was announced as Devis Mangia’s replacement in the hot-seat just two days before the Rosanero's final match of 2011, a 2-2 draw with Novara, and is eagerly anticipating seeing more of his new team after the league’s resumption.

“It has been a positive start, both in terms of what we achieved in Novara and our training sessions,” Mutti told reporters.

“The squad is very strong and the lads work hard. I can’t wait to start training intensively for around 1015 days so I can have a better understanding of the side at my disposal. We certainly need to improve.

“I spoke briefly to president Maurizio Zamparini in Novara, when I arrived. He asked me to lead the team, involving everyone, but with authority and confidence.

“I am not to freeze anyone out and make sure everyone has an opportunity, although obviously at the end of the day those who deserve

it will play.”

Palermo are preparing to take on Napoli at home in their first game of 2012 on January 8.

The Stadio Renzo Barbera outfit are currently ninth in Serie A with 21 points from 16 matches.

•Mutti

Gyan out for three weeks, Ghana boosted

L

IVERPOOL midfielder Joe Cole has admitted that he is keen to complete a permanent move to Lille at the end of the season.

Cole is loving life with the French champions after joining them on a season-long loan in August, and has helped Lille to a 17-match unbeaten run, scoring three goals in 15 appearances.

With the 30-year-old former England star having failed to make an impact at Liverpool under Kenny Dalglish, Cole's future in the game would appear to lie away from Anfield. He revealed that he would welcome a full-time switch to France.

Cole, who has moved his family to France, said: "I'm really happy at Lille. If things continue like this, it would make sense for me to stay.

I've started well here and I'm going to keep getting better and better."

Higuain finished by discussing the reported interest from Chelsea and Juve, calling them "two great clubs" and stating that "in any case they would be two huge opportunities, but no-one has talked to me."

Mutti: ‘I can’t wait to start training intensively’

G

•Sneijder

HANA key striker Asamoah Gyan has been ruled out of action for three weeks which means he should be fit for this month’s Africa Cup of Nations.

The UAE-based attacker suffered what looked like a serious injury on Friday just weeks before the start of the tournament in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

The Al Ain striker has now been told he needs to rest to be able to fully recuperate by the time the tournament starts on 21 January.

“The doctors have told me that I need to rest for about three weeks for me to be able to fully recover from the hamstring problem,” Gyan told MTNFootball.com exclusively.

“I am feeling some pain in the thigh right now but I know in two

days’ time the pain will subside for me to start my recovery process.

“With this I am hopeful that I will be fully fit be the time the Africa Cup of Nations starts.”

The in-form attacker was taken off during his side Al Ain's 4-0 win over Emirates in the UAE top-flight

game on Friday.

Gyan put his side in the lead in the 6th minute after converting penalty before he suffered the injury.

Ghana will start their camping in South Africa on January 7 in preparation for the tournament.

Netzer: Bayern lucky to have Robben FORMER West Germany international Gunter Netzer believes Bayern Munich are lucky to have a 'world-class' winger in Arjen Robben.

The fleet-footed attacker has been hampered by inury this season yet the club has performed well without their Dutch talisman.

The 27-year-old is now back from the treatment table and ex-Borussia Moenchengladbach player Netzer believes the winger could play a key

role in helping the Bavarians win the league.

"He is world-class for Bayern Robben is pure joy. For Bayern to have a man of this quality is simply fantastic and for the club's game, it is extremely important," Netzer told Express.

"If he is fit again he is a very important player for Bayern. He is an ambitious player but that's a good thing."

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2011

48

NATION SPORT

‘Lendl’ll be superb and successful with Murray’

Serena Williams defends US Open antics S

ERENA Williams says she doesn’t regret her outburst during last year’s US Open final and warns she would do it again if her emotions are as high as they were during her loss to Australia’s Samantha Stosur.

Williams reacted angrily when chair umpire Eva Asderaki ruled that her shout of “come on!” after

hitting a forehand was a hindrance and awarded a point to Stosur.

Following the ruling Williams directed a torrent of abuse at Asderaki including calling her a “hater” and “unattractive inside” - and was subsequently fined.

But speaking before her first round match in Brisbane, Williams said she couldn’t see anything

wrong with her actions.

“I honestly think I was really toned down, like I didn’t use any bad language or anything so I wouldn’t change it so much,” she said.

“When you’re (full of) emotion that’s kind of how you feel.

“And I’m an emotional player and I’m an extremely emotional person, oh my goodness, it

A

was what it was.

“I’m always going to be me - if that means I’m giving 200 per cent then that’s how I am. I love that and I think people can respect that when they see me play.”

Williams takes on South Africa’s Chanelle Scheepers today and could play Stosur in the semifinals if the draw goes according to the seedings.

Mitchell set for February return against unbeaten Irishman Ormond at York Hall

K

EVIN Mitchell will make his eagerlyawaited return to the ring on February 10 when he collides with unbeaten Irishman Stephen Ormond at London's York Hall.

Mitchell has been out of action since his epic British Fight of the Year victory over John Murray last July in Liverpool.

• Mitchell

The Dagenham Destroyer would have earned a shot at Brandon Rios for the WBA lightweight championship a title the unbeaten Mexican was stripped of after failing to make the correct weight in New York earlier this month.

But the proposed bout hit a snag after Mitchell's brush with the law.

The 27-year-old avoided a prison sentence after police found a butterfly knife in his car in east London and was ordered to complete 100 hours of community service, which he has now served.

Now, a hungry Mitchell is raring to get back inside the ropes and has been back in training over Christmas, working hard on getting back into top condition for his 2012 comeback.

The Frank Warren-fighter will be out to make statement of serious intent when he meets New York basedIrishman Ormond, who has not lost in 12 fights since turning professional in 2008.

A win would put him on course for mouth-watering Battle of Britain contest against Scotland's Ricky Burns who holds the division's interim crown.

Rios remains on Mitchell's radar, however, after he declared he would love to gain revenge for his beaten pal Murray.

'It's very clear to see I'd have no troubles with Rios,' Mitchell said earlier this month.

'I've watched quite a bit of Rios. He loves it his own way, loves a bit of a tear-up, he's quite ferocious, but he leaves himself very open at times.

'He over-exaggerates his shots. I would make him miss then pay. It was meant to be my fight.'

Mitchell, who suffered his only defeat to Michael Katsidis at Upton Park in 2010, is certain to sell-out York Hall in front of his loyal home fans on a night where he'll hope to get back on the right path to his world championship dream.

NDY Murray's new coach Ivan Lendl is a grossly misunderstood character who will break the mould of great players being pitiful coaches, according to the Czech-born eight-time major winner's former mentor Tony Roche.

"I've got to say it's a really good move from Andy, an especially good move," Roche said at the Hopman Cup when asked about the man hired to orchestrate the world number four's tilt at a breakthrough major championship this year.

"Anyone who knows Ivan will tell you how much he's going to bring to the table for Andy. Few people in our sport have ever trained as hard as Ivan or been as professional," Roche added.

"All the things his career was based on, like working hard and being meticulous with preparation and execution and that ability he had to concentrate on what was in front of him for hours on end, will rub off on Andy."

Roche firmly believes Lendl's work ethic will have nothing but a positive effect on the talented Scot.

"Ivan was always looking for the edge, even in the smallest ways, and now he'll be doing it on Andy's behalf. Whether it was the way he trained, tinkering with his equipment, getting his diet right," the 66-year-old Australian added.

"I mean, Ivan and Martina Navratilova were the two players in the 1980s who took the game to another level in terms of professionalism. He's always been one of the great students of the game so I'm pretty sure Andy has struck a bit of gold here."

Roche spent eight years with Lendl, who became a U.S. citizen in 1992, before guiding the careers of three other world number ones in Pat Rafter, Roger Federer and his current charge Lleyton Hewitt.

The man from Wagga Wagga said Lendl's real persona was far removed from his image of being some sort of emotionless machine and his return to the spotlight after keeping a low profile since his retirement in 1994 was great news for tennis.

"Ivan is back in tennis and that is fantastic for our sport," Roche said.

"I mean, he was just a giant of the game. He didn't want anything to do with it for 15 years. I'm happy he's back for Andy's sake and also our sport's.

"People have always had the wrong impression of him. First of all, he's a very intelligent guy, very smart about tennis but just very intelligent in general.

"He's a fun guy, you know, great company, someone who was completely different to the person you saw on the court. That was his office between those lines and he went out there with a job to do.

"No-one could knock his record as a player but I don't think the media ever really wanted to get to know the other side of him."

A common theme in tennis is that great players have not gone on to be as comparably successful as a coach.

Jimmy Connors' brief run with fellow American Andy Roddick had its moments but the most successful mentors of the modern era have been the journeymen players such Brad Gilbert and Darren Cahill.

Roche himself only won one singles major, the 1966 French Open.

"There is that trend but I've got no doubt Ivan will be a superb and successful coach," Roche said.

"Being the student of the game that he is, being such a switchedon and motivated guy, the way he worked on his game as a player, the way he prepared himself, all of that knowledge and experience is in Andy's corner now.

"That's not to say Andy hasn't been working his backside off already and putting in the hard yards but I think Ivan is going to add another dimension."

Murray has suffered the frustration of losing all three of the major finals he has contested in an era dominated by three of the greatest players of all time: Federer, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

Lendl lost his first four grand slam finals before going on to win eight major titles and hold the world number one ranking for 270 weeks.

He and Murray's first campaign together will be at the Australian Open in Melbourne from January 16.

• Murray

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

48

NATION SPORT

‘Lendl’ll be superb and successful with Murray’

Serena Williams defends US Open antics S

ERENA Williams says she doesn’t regret her outburst during last year’s US Open final and warns she would do it again if her emotions are as high as they were during her loss to Australia’s Samantha Stosur.

Williams reacted angrily when chair umpire Eva Asderaki ruled that her shout of “come on!” after

hitting a forehand was a hindrance and awarded a point to Stosur.

Following the ruling Williams directed a torrent of abuse at Asderaki including calling her a “hater” and “unattractive inside” - and was subsequently fined.

But speaking before her first round match in Brisbane, Williams said she couldn’t see anything

wrong with her actions.

“I honestly think I was really toned down, like I didn’t use any bad language or anything so I wouldn’t change it so much,” she said.

“When you’re (full of) emotion that’s kind of how you feel.

“And I’m an emotional player and I’m an extremely emotional person, oh my goodness, it

A

was what it was.

“I’m always going to be me - if that means I’m giving 200 per cent then that’s how I am. I love that and I think people can respect that when they see me play.”

Williams takes on South Africa’s Chanelle Scheepers today and could play Stosur in the semifinals if the draw goes according to the seedings.

Mitchell set for February return against unbeaten Irishman Ormond at York Hall

K

EVIN Mitchell will make his eagerlyawaited return to the ring on February 10 when he collides with unbeaten Irishman Stephen Ormond at London's York Hall.

Mitchell has been out of action since his epic British Fight of the Year victory over John Murray last July in Liverpool.

• Mitchell

The Dagenham Destroyer would have earned a shot at Brandon Rios for the WBA lightweight championship a title the unbeaten Mexican was stripped of after failing to make the correct weight in New York earlier this month.

But the proposed bout hit a snag after Mitchell's brush with the law.

The 27-year-old avoided a prison sentence after police found a butterfly knife in his car in east London and was ordered to complete 100 hours of community service, which he has now served.

Now, a hungry Mitchell is raring to get back inside the ropes and has been back in training over Christmas, working hard on getting back into top condition for his 2012 comeback.

The Frank Warren-fighter will be out to make statement of serious intent when he meets New York basedIrishman Ormond, who has not lost in 12 fights since turning professional in 2008.

A win would put him on course for mouth-watering Battle of Britain contest against Scotland's Ricky Burns who holds the division's interim crown.

Rios remains on Mitchell's radar, however, after he declared he would love to gain revenge for his beaten pal Murray.

'It's very clear to see I'd have no troubles with Rios,' Mitchell said earlier this month.

'I've watched quite a bit of Rios. He loves it his own way, loves a bit of a tear-up, he's quite ferocious, but he leaves himself very open at times.

'He over-exaggerates his shots. I would make him miss then pay. It was meant to be my fight.'

Mitchell, who suffered his only defeat to Michael Katsidis at Upton Park in 2010, is certain to sell-out York Hall in front of his loyal home fans on a night where he'll hope to get back on the right path to his world championship dream.

NDY Murray's new coach Ivan Lendl is a grossly misunderstood character who will break the mould of great players being pitiful coaches, according to the Czech-born eight-time major winner's former mentor Tony Roche.

"I've got to say it's a really good move from Andy, an especially good move," Roche said at the Hopman Cup when asked about the man hired to orchestrate the world number four's tilt at a breakthrough major championship this year.

"Anyone who knows Ivan will tell you how much he's going to bring to the table for Andy. Few people in our sport have ever trained as hard as Ivan or been as professional," Roche added.

"All the things his career was based on, like working hard and being meticulous with preparation and execution and that ability he had to concentrate on what was in front of him for hours on end, will rub off on Andy."

Roche firmly believes Lendl's work ethic will have nothing but a positive effect on the talented Scot.

"Ivan was always looking for the edge, even in the smallest ways, and now he'll be doing it on Andy's behalf. Whether it was the way he trained, tinkering with his equipment, getting his diet right," the 66-year-old Australian added.

"I mean, Ivan and Martina Navratilova were the two players in the 1980s who took the game to another level in terms of professionalism. He's always been one of the great students of the game so I'm pretty sure Andy has struck a bit of gold here."

Roche spent eight years with Lendl, who became a U.S. citizen in 1992, before guiding the careers of three other world number ones in Pat Rafter, Roger Federer and his current charge Lleyton Hewitt.

The man from Wagga Wagga said Lendl's real persona was far removed from his image of being some sort of emotionless machine and his return to the spotlight after keeping a low profile since his retirement in 1994 was great news for tennis.

"Ivan is back in tennis and that is fantastic for our sport," Roche said.

"I mean, he was just a giant of the game. He didn't want anything to do with it for 15 years. I'm happy he's back for Andy's sake and also our sport's.

"People have always had the wrong impression of him. First of all, he's a very intelligent guy, very smart about tennis but just very intelligent in general.

"He's a fun guy, you know, great company, someone who was completely different to the person you saw on the court. That was his office between those lines and he went out there with a job to do.

"No-one could knock his record as a player but I don't think the media ever really wanted to get to know the other side of him."

A common theme in tennis is that great players have not gone on to be as comparably successful as a coach.

Jimmy Connors' brief run with fellow American Andy Roddick had its moments but the most successful mentors of the modern era have been the journeymen players such Brad Gilbert and Darren Cahill.

Roche himself only won one singles major, the 1966 French Open.

"There is that trend but I've got no doubt Ivan will be a superb and successful coach," Roche said.

"Being the student of the game that he is, being such a switchedon and motivated guy, the way he worked on his game as a player, the way he prepared himself, all of that knowledge and experience is in Andy's corner now.

"That's not to say Andy hasn't been working his backside off already and putting in the hard yards but I think Ivan is going to add another dimension."

Murray has suffered the frustration of losing all three of the major finals he has contested in an era dominated by three of the greatest players of all time: Federer, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

Lendl lost his first four grand slam finals before going on to win eight major titles and hold the world number one ranking for 270 weeks.

He and Murray's first campaign together will be at the Australian Open in Melbourne from January 16.

• Murray

SLIDING TACKLE

"It is fantastic. For him to come back is something so brave. He has nothing to prove. He has a statue here - only a couple of players have that. He broke every single record at Arsenal - he won everything here.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

50

B

ARCELONA midfielder Cesc Fabregas is full of ambition ahead of the second half of the 2011-12 campaign, and has set his sights on winning La Liga, the Champions League and Copa del Rey with the Catalan giants.

The former Arsenal star has already lifted the Club World Cup, UEFA Supercup and Spanish Supercopa since his return to Camp Nou, and Fabregas is hungry for more in the new year.

"I want to achieve many successes and win many titles with Barcelona in 2012," Fabregas said on his official Twitter account.

"I am dreaming of winning the treble.

If I have to choose, I want the Champions League most, and then La Liga.

•Rooney

"The title I'm longing for the most is the Champions League.

This competition gives me a special feeling and is valued the most by the majority of the players."

Barcelona lock horns with Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16 of the Champions League, which will resume in midFebruary. Meanwhile, the Blaugrana will host Osasuna on Wednesday in the first leg of the Copa del Rey last-16, before taking on Espanyol in La Liga on Sunday.

WAYNE Rooney was fined a week's wages of £250,000 in a bust-up with boss Sir Alex Ferguson, it was revealed yesterday.

The angry striker, 26, was axed from the Manchester United team that lost 3-2 to Blackburn on Saturday after he had a Boxing Day night out with two teammates.

Roo and wife Coleen, 25, and United pals Darron Gibson and Jonny Evans and their partners had dinner at the Vincent Hotel In Southport, Merseyside.

Fergie, 70, had told his players to rest and "not to be seen out and about" in the run-up to the match.

So he was furious when he noticed the three stars looked lethargic in training the next day.

They were ordered to do extra training on Wednesday, which had been scheduled as a day off.

They were also fined a week's wages — and Rooney and Gibson, 24, were dropped from United's squad for Saturday's shock defeat by Premier League strugglers Blackburn.

Gunners’ captain Robin van Persie commending Arsenal legend Thierry Henry’s decision to rejoin the north London side on a six-month loan.

ARSENAL STRIKER Robin van Persie says Thierry Henry is still a world-class player and will not tarnish his legacy if he re-signs for the Premier League club. Frenchman Henry is set to complete the paperwork on a two-month loan deal with his former side, in his off-season from US club New York Red Bulls.

Henry is Arsenal's record goalscorer after netting 226 times in his eight years with the club (1999-2007) and Van Persie said his former teammate will prove he still has something to offer at the top level.

"It is fantastic," Van Persie told Arsenal's official website.

"For him to come back is something so brave. He has nothing to prove. He has a statue here - only a couple of

•Fabregas

ENGLAND's League Managers Association says Gary Ablett, the only player to have won the FA Cup with both Liverpool and Everton, has died. He was 46.

The former English defender died on Sunday night after a 16-month fight against non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of blood cancer.

Ablett won the league championship twice and the FA Cup in 1989 during a 147game stint at Liverpool between 1986 and 1992.

•Serena

FORMER world number one Serena Williams made a successful return to Australia on Monday, beating South Africa's Chanelle Scheepers 6-2 6-3 in the first round of the Brisbane International.

The 30-year Williams, who last played Down Under when she won the Australian Open title in 2010, was not able to defend the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup last January

due to injury.

She was also returning after a lengthy layoff following a sensational tirade against the chair umpire in the U.S. Open final last September.

Williams was censured and fined $2,000 (£1,288) for her outburst in the final, which she lost to Australia's Sam Stosur, said prior to the Brisbane tournament she would not dial down her intensity.

•Henry players have that. He broke every single record at Arsenal - he won everything here.

"Some people might question 'why do you do it, because you have proved everything already?' but there is only one answer.

He made the rare switch to neighbor and rival Everton in 1992 in a 750 000-pound transfer.

At Everton, he became the first player to win the FA Cup with both Merseyside clubs when the Toffees beat Manchester United in the 1995 final.

After four years at Everton, Ablett also played for Birmingham, Sheffield United and New York club Long Island Rough Riders in the closing years of his career.

BARCELONA star Lionel Messi has returned to Spain after spending the winter break in his native Argentina and could line up with his teammates in the Copa del Rey round of 16 first-leg clash against Osasuna, according to Mundo Deportivo.

Messi was granted an extra four days of leave over the

•Messi

Christmas hiatus, but reported to the club's training ground at on January 2.

However, the 24year-old will not train with the rest of the squad and will have his fitness assessed by the club's training staff, who will decide whether the Argentine is in good enough condition to face Jose Luis Mendilibar's team.

Barcelona, who are currently second in the league table behind Real Madrid, face Osasuna at 22.00CET on January 4. They restart their league campaign on January 8 with a local derby against Espanyol.

51

TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

ENERGY THE NATION

E-mail:- energy@thenationonlineng.net

The Bonga incident has become an eye opener on what emergencies arising from oil production can be and the need to prepare ahead for such occurrences, EMEKA UGWUANYI Assistant Editor (Energy) reports.

Senate to float commission, fund for environment degradation S INCE the Bonga oil spill oc curred on December 21, gov ernment officials, regulatory agencies and non-governmental organisations have identified importance of preparedness for emergencies such as oil spills, especially from offshore assets.

They noted the need for a country such as Nigeria, which depends on oil to have well equipped spill combatant agencies that would have the technology and skills to contain oil spills.

The Senate Committee on Environment after visiting the Bonga spill site as part of its oversight function, addressed reporters on their findings and how the lawmakers are planning to contain future occurrences especially if the company that owns the spill asset doesn’t have the capacity as Shell to address the problem.

Safety standard The Vice Chairman of the committee, Professor, Ben Ayade while fielding questions from reporters said the Senate is concerned about the safety of Nigerians and the environment and is prepared to put in place any safety standard obtainable in any part of the world to accomplish this objective.

Ayade said the Senate has set up a joint Senate committee compris-

ing the committees on the Niger Delta Upstream and Environment to look at that the UNEP report and other environment issues in the Niger Delta that are associated with oil activities.

The joint committee is expected to address the recommendation in the UNEP report and other environment issues caused by impact of oil production. The committee is expected to include in its recommendation the creation of a commission that would be set up and the institution of a fund that would be backed by law.

Ayade said: “It is important that the agencies that are responsible for oil spill detection and response are given the tools to work in order to make them effective.

There are very clear guidelines and laws that will guide us.

“I assure you that when we get back to Abuja, we would invite the Nigerian Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Shell and other relevant agencies and hopefully be in a better position to give us some of the reports of their assessments. Based on their reports, if there is need to make amendments to the existing laws, we will do that.

“We want to assure the public that whatever are the international

• From left: Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Senator Bukola Saraki, Chairman and Prof. Ben Ayade, Vice-Chairman, all members of the Senate Committee on Environment, when they addressed the press in Lagos after the committee’s visit to Bonga spill site.

standards in any part of the world we will bring those standards home. We want to develop the country.” He noted that Rome was not built in a day, therefore, it would take time to get things in their right perspectives. “Mistakes have been done in the past by even the regulatory agencies but as you know, in any environment, any operator would behave according to the environment. It is our responsibility to put the right things in place and we would do that.

“We must tell you that something is being done about the UNEP report because in the Senate a joint committee has been set up, which include the Niger Delta committee, the Upstream and Environment committees to look at that report and begin to address the recommendation. The recommendations include certain commis-

sions that would be set up as well as certain fund that would be backed by law. It is our intention that the committee would be able to come up with recommendations that would solve the problem. That committee has already started to meet,” he said.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment, Dr. Bukola Saraki commended Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO) for its timely response in bringing the oil spill under control. He said that Shell’s response was very prompt, adding the company had done a lot of work to clear the spillage. The amount of human resources and technology put together to contain the spillage is commendable, he added.

Poor funding Saraki expressed concerns over the poor funding of spill response

agencies, adding that the committee has directed the Nigerian Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) Shell Nigeria and other relevant agencies have been directed to carry out independent examination of the spillage to ascertain the remote cause.

The committee chairman said his committee would focus on finding ways of improving the lot of other companies in order to prepare them for such timely response in times of disaster, adding that Shell was able to contain the situation because it is a big company with vast human and material resources.

Saraki said that contrary to reports that about 40,000 barrels had been spilled, the actual quantity of the spillage was less than 30,000 barrels • Continued on page 14

Govt to inaugurate 18-man board for subsidy fund

T

O ensure that funds realised from removal of subsidy is prudently used, the Federal Government is set to inaugurate an 18-man board to be drawn from all sectors to oversee the spending of accruals from subsidy removal.

The board, which would constituted by President Goodluck Jonathan, would comprise of people from government, labour unions, civil society organisations, women group, Journalists, three ministers and his Special Adviser, Technical. It would oversee the judicious spending of the fund that would accrue to the nation from subsidy removal.

Government also has called on Nigerians to brace-up for the dawn of an era of a non-subsidised sale of petroleum products including premium motor spirit (PMS) or petrol and urged the labour unions and civil society organisations to support the deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry in the interest of the economy and the future of the country.

Speaking at a seminar organised by the Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN) in Lagos, titled “The Removal of Fuel Subsidy and Its Impact on the Nigerian Maritime Industry,” the Ministers of Transport and Information, Senator Iris Umar and Labaran Maku reiterated government’s position that the economy would collapse if the

By Oluwakemi Dauda

country fails to deregulate the downstream sector of the oil industry.

The ministers urged Nigerians to prepare for the limited pains they would suffer prior to the time they would start to reap the benefits of deregulation in various facets of their life.

The Minister of Transport said the Federal Government uses about N1.3 trilion annually in subsidising fuel that benefit only the rich, middle class and some neighbouring countries that receive smuggled products oftentimes.

Umar explained that the government is contributing N73. 49 Kobo per litre to make petrol available to Nigerians based on the current cost of N65 per litre at the filling stations.

In his remarks, Maku warned of a greater consequence for the nation if President Jonathan’s economic panacea of subsidy removal is spurned. Jonathan, Maku said, is desirous of discontinuing subsidies on prices of petroleum products because it poses a huge financial burden on the government.

He said the subsidy, which disproportionately benefits the wealthy, is inefficient and diverts resources away from potential investment in critical infrastructure.

He told participants that the

chairman and vice chairman of the proposed board, would be experienced persons of excellent reputation and integrity. The six geo-political zones of the country would also have reputable members on the board.

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Omar Suleiman; the former Minister of Interior, Mr Emmanuel Ihenacho; Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Adminstration and Safety Agency

(NIMASA), Mr Patrick Akpobolokemi, the President Indigenous Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Chief Isaac Jolapamo and the Managing Director, LADOL Offshore Logistics, Amy Jadesimi who also presented papers, urged Nigerians to support the fuel subsidy removal so that the economy of the country would not crash.

The Managing Director, NPA said the Federal Government is taking

the unpleasant measure of removing the fuel subsidy so as to diversify the economy and make jobs available for the youths.

Speakers at the seminar were unanimous on the fact that subsidy removal would make more money available to meet the bloated recurrent and depressed capital expenditures. They said it will also allow government to embark on visible programmes that would benefit all Nigerians and most especially the poor.

• Minister of Environment, Hajia Hadiza Ibrahim (left) speaking with reporters shortly on her arrival from Bonga oil field inspection at Ikeja, Lagos. With her is Director-General, National Oil Spill Detection and Respond Agency (NOSDRA) Mr Peter Idabor.

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

52

ENERGY

BOI/UNDP: Nigeria’s household energy market worth $5.1b

T

HE Bank of Industry (BOI)and United Nations Develop ment Programme (BOI/ UNDP) partnership has identified the potential in investing in household energy through supplies of energy-efficient equipment and bulbs adding that the market is worths $5.1 billion.

The Project Manager, UNDP/BOI Access to Renewable Energy Project, Segun Adaju in his paper titled ‘Investing in clean energy for the Base of the Pyramid (BOP) in Nigeria’ presented at a forum in Lagos, said the BOP is the largest of the pyramid, but poorest socioeconomic group, which in global terms, refer to the four billion people who live on less than $2 per day.

“The phrase “bottom of the pyramid (BOP)” is used in particular by people developing new models of doing business that deliberately target that demography, often using new technology. The BOP bottom of the pyramid has been seen as the biggest potential opportunity in the history of commerce. It makes up US$5 trillion global consumer market in local purchasing

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

power, yet highly underserved.”

BoP markets are often rural - especially in rapidly growing Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa – very poorly served, dominated by the informal economy and the market attracts higher prices for goods and services than do wealthier consumers. Most people in the BoP have no bank account and no access to modern financial services.

And many lack access to water and sanitation services, electricity, and basic health care, he said.

According to him, World Health Organisation (WHO) said more than three billion people use wood, dung, coal and other traditional fuels inside home to meet cooking and heating needs and resulting indoor air pollution is responsible for 1.5 million deaths per year – mostly children and women .

He said that the African BoP market is estimated at US$500 billion, with Nigeria in the lead about 120 million of its population living below US$2/day.

He noted that there is the urgent need for a paradigm shift by put-

ting a stop to seeing the poor as a problem, rather than as an active market and source of innovation, which can be approached through disruptive technologies, that is, innovations that allow less skilled, less affluent people to do things previously done by expensive specialists who often centralise their activities in inconvenient locations.

He said the energy sector is of strategic importance to the Nigerian Economy and a major driver for growth adding that Nigeria is currently facing an energy crisis, with only about 60 percent of the populace of which 90 percent live in rural areas and have no access to electricity.

Adaju said despite the importance of MSMEs to the GDP and contributes between 50- 70 percent, they are faced with acute shortage of energy services noting that about 40 percent of overheads of MSMEs is energy related. Lack of modern energy services is identified as one of the most important barriers for development and expansion of manufacturing and services industry.

He said in Nigeria’s energy mar-

ket supply, the actual available capacity of electricity is between 3,000-4,000 MW out of an installed capacity of 8,000MW against a current demand of 16,000MW and a plan of 190,000 MW by 2025 adding that 20 IPP licenses were issued to investors, which had the capacity to add 10,000 MW but none of the projects has been realised due to various factors.

He said: “A large percentage of MSMEs (and the populace) have invested in their own power generation at a high cost to business.

These conventional fossil fuels are not economical and have negative impact on the environment. The grim picture of the energy situation in the country has therefore called for innovative options to meet the demand.

“Reliable and affordable energy services for agriculture, industry, commerce and households underpin growth in productivity, output and improvement of the welfare of the poor. In Sub-Saharan Africa, less than five percent of rural households receive electricity services and at the current rate of electrification, more than 50 percent of

households would still lack access to electricity by 2050.

‘Lack of energy services at the BoP is due to chronic underinvestment in the sector as well as sub-optimal policies and weak institutions. The total spending needs for Africa to increase access by 10 percent point and eliminate electricity shortages are estimated at US$40 billion per annum.’

He said the solution to the problem is to resort clean energy.

Clean energy refers to products and services that produce energy from renewable resources and emit fewer greenhouse gases than does energy from conventional fuels.

Lack of reliable supply of power from electricity grid and the availability of free and inexpensive fuels, such as wood and kerosene, are key influences on this market.

Clean energy electricity systems and clean energy cooking and light products is a growing and has high-potential market for investors, he added.

He urged investors to invest in solar Lanterns, energy-efficient cookstoves and solar home systems.

Temporary upside expected HE Crude Oil market does not have any serious demand-sup in oil price ply mismatch. The pledge by

T

• Transmission facility

Spill: Senate to set up commission, fund for environment degradation • Continued from page 13 Shell contains spill Shell said most of the spilled oil has been dispersed and contained.

We had five ships working to disperse the spill before it reaches the shoreline and over 50 per cent of the spill has naturally evaporated.

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana had at the recently held town hall meeting on removal of petroleum subsidy organised by the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), charged the government to compel Shell to pay compensation for the Bonga spill but when the Senate committee was asked whether it was con-

sidering directing Shell to pay for the spill, Saraki said until the cause of the spill is determined, it would be difficult to decide what to do.

Shell’s country chair in Nigeria, Mutiu Sunmonu, had already expressed regrets concerning the spill. He said: “Since we became aware of this regrettable leak at our Bonga offshore facility, substantial progress has been made in mitigating the consequences. The sheen has thinned considerably due to a combination of natural factors and dispersant application, and in places is breaking up, all of which should aid further dissipation. Another significant development is that we identified the source of the

leak as a failure in a flexible export line. Let me express my heartfelt thanks to industry colleagues and government agencies for their ongoing support to mitigate the impact of the leak.

“We will continue our efforts to protect the coastline and have a sizable mitigation operation underway to protect sensitive areas. Five ships have been deployed to apply dispersant and maintain constant surveillance, and will be supported in day light by two aircraft. More equipment and vessels are being mobilised. We have brought in additional oil spill response experts and marine life experts to assist in the overall effort.”

Oil price heads toward $100/bbl on US economy

O

IL prices inched higher to ward $100 a barrel Friday in Asia amid encouraging signs the U.S. economy is slowly improving.

Benchmark crude for February delivery rose 23 cents to $99.88 a barrel at late afternoon Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The contract added 29 cents to settle at $99.65 in New York on Thursday.

In London, Brent crude was up 11 cents at $108.13 a barrel on the

ICE Futures exchange.

Crude has traded near $100 since mid-November after jumping from $75 in October as investors eye growing evidence the U.S. economy could avoid a recession next year. The government reported Thursday that claims for jobless benefits fell to a four-week average of 375,000, the lowest level in three and a half years.

According to Associated Press, the National Association of Realtors also reported that contracts to buy U.S. homes rose last month to

the highest level in a year and a half.

Some analysts worry Europe’s debt crisis will drag the continent into recession next year and undermine global crude demand.

“From a longer term perspective, we continue to zero in on the euro zone as the primary driver of oil pricing during the first quarter of 2012,” energy consultant Ritterbusch and Associates said in a report. “We still view the euro zone debt issues as intractable.”

OPEC to increase the output to 30 million barrels per day (mbpd), coupled with slowdown in China the second largest consumer of crude oil in the world, mainly due to the contraction in manufacturing PMI, the drop in industrial production and strengthening of the dollar triggered a correction in crude oil.

It corrected from $102/barrel to $93/barrel last week. Again, prices are back at $100/barrel. However, factors other than contraction of demand are having a significant impact on oil prices.

According to Nirmal Bang Commodities, last week crude oil futures surged amid evidence that the demand for crude oil by the US could be growing. The Energy Information Administration recently said that crude inventories had fallen by 10.6 million barrels, the biggest drop ever for that time period and a much larger drop than the decrease of 2.3 million barrels which was forecasted by analysts. Since the last two months we are witnessing a gradual drop in crude oil inventories in the US which are seen lending support to the prices.

The European Union and the US are seeking support from the Middle East and Asia for sanctions to increase pressure on Iran to abandon a suspected nuclear weapons programme.

The sanction on Iran may escalate geopolitical tensions, which can push crude oil prices upwards. According

to the US Department of Energy, about 15.5 million barrels of oil a day, or a sixth of global consumption, flows through the waterway between Iran and Oman at the mouth of the Persian Gulf and any disruption can send crude oil prices soaring.

Iran put neighbours on notice saying that it was about to conduct a vast naval exercises in the Arabian Sea, including war games near the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane for international oil traffic. The exercises, to start Saturday (24th Dec. 2011) and last 10 days, are Iran’s first since May 2010 and described by official news media as the largest the country has ever planned.

The exercises are bound to put Iranian warships close to vessels of the United States Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, which patrols some of the same waters, including the Strait of Hormuz. About one-third of the world’s oil tanker shipments pass through the strait of Hormuz.

Despite the ongoing slowdown in the global economy, fears of geopolitical tension have resulted in $810/premium in crude oil prices.

Looking at the demand and supply of crude oil, one may not buy it.

However, due to the recent developments, a temporary upside in crude oil futures can be expected and it may test $103-104/barrel this week, despite bearish fundamentals.

OPEC reports 4.9% rise in production in Venezuela

V

ENEZUELAN oil output av eraged 2.36 million barrels a day in November, according to data published by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in its monthly report.

OPEC, based on statistics provided by secondary sources, said that in November Venezuela’s oil production declined 28,500 barrels (1.1 percent, for the second month in a row) compared to October, when output hit 2.389 million barrels of oil per day. In contrast to the November 2010 production, oil output in November this year rose 4.9 percent, as a year ago the average extraction was 2.25 million barrels per day.

Note that the statistics supplied by OPEC continue to report a significant gap of about 500,000 barrels per day between the production volumes attributed to Venezuela and the figures reported by the Venezuelan government.

This difference, El Universal report, is because the secondary sources of the oil market still view Venezuela’s production of upgraded crude as synthetic crude.

At about mid-year, Oil and Mining Minister Rafael Ramírez reported that in June the OPEC meeting approved “a change in the definition of oil. And they passed a resolution that recognizes the extraheavy oil of the Orinoco Belt as conventional. It (upgraded oil) will no longer be accounted for as it was before.

Ramírez then stated that “the secondary sources have not reflected the Orinoco oil belt crude because they felt that it was synthetic (...)

From this meeting on, future books and publications of OPEC should mirror the production we report.

There is no excuse for the secondary sources to say that we do not produce.”

53

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

ENERGY

Petroleum Minister lists benefits of subsidy removal

T

HE Minister of Petroleum Re sources, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke, has enumerated the benefits of subsidy removal to Nigerians and the economy.

The minister said the discontinuation of fuel subsidy is because it poses a huge financial burden on the government, disproportionately benefits the wealthy encourages inefficiency, corruption and diversion of scarce public resources away from investment in critical infrastructure.

She said subsidy removal will save additional resources for investing in programmes targeted at mitigating poverty and spurring economic growth.

She noted that since 2000, the government issued 20 licences for new refineries and none of them has resulted in construction of new refineries. The deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry will lead to rapid private sector investment in refineries and petrochemicals, which will generate millions of jobs and lead to increased prosperity for Nigerians, she added.

She said: “The total projected subsidy reinvestible fund per annum is N1.134 trillion based on average crude oil price of US90 per barrel.

Out of this, N478.49 billion, accrues to the Federal Government, N41.03 billion to state government, N203.23 billion to local governments, N9.86 billion to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)and N31.37 billion as transfers to derivation and ecology, development of natural resources and stabilisation

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

funds.”

The Minister said a robust programme structure has been developed to ensure adequate oversight, accountability and implementation of the various projects, which accruals from subsidy removal would be used for to mitigate the subsidy removal impact. ‘’The entire project will be overseen by a Board to be constituted

by Mr President, consulting firms with international reputation will be appointed to provide technical assistance to the Board in financial and project management. Relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) would set up project Implementation units to drive the implementation. An independent body will be responsible for monitoring and evaluating the implementation and will report directly to the Board,” she added.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority, Dr. Noble Abe, who spoke at a forum in Lagos said data from petroleum marketers association showed “USD10 billion is expended annually by the country importing PMS alone.”

He said that Nigeria’s biggest problem has been the huge percentage of its income that was spent importing refined petroleum products. He pointed out that oil and gas apart from providing fuel, constitutes important raw materials for production of different products.

He said: “Unknown to many Ni-

gerians, oil and gas is a very important raw material and its use is not limited to powering generators and driving cars.

“Over 6,000 products can be identified as made from petroleum; therefore, exportation of mineral resources in its raw form undermines industry, job creation, the availability of raw materials for secondary industries, transfer of technology and contributes to fuelling social ills.

“Our goal should, therefore, be to add value to our greatest resource which is one of the most important raw materials known to man. The quantum effect of this will totally transform our economy in little or no time and help to resolve most of the problems we are experiencing as a nation today.”

One industry stakeholder said the reason the refineries have not been working and there are no private refineries in the country including occasional fuel scarcity and

the government’s ineptitude as well as lack of infrastructure, are all due to the existence of fuel subsidy. They noted that government hide under spending much money on subsidy to perpetuate decay in infrastructure, leave unemployment to soar and fritter away public funds.

According to the sources, with deregulation, private refineries will spring up in different parts of the country much earlier than anticipated. The situation would not only create employment but with refining of crude in-country, the price of petroleum products would fall and make them affordable.

They are of the view that Nigerians including the labour unions and civil society groups, instead of rising against removal of subsidy should hold government to accountability by setting some milestones the government should achieve at specific periods with the removal of subsidy.

The sources said if subsidy is re-

•Mrs Alison Madueke

moved and the government doesn’t meet with the agreed milestones such as fixing the power, the roads and other infrastructures, the labour and the populace will have every reason to protest.

Libya’s oil production hits 1mbpd

T

HE Libyan oil industry con tinues its recovery with pro duction in excess of one million barrels after an eight-month long conflict that brought the country’s oil production to almost total halt.

According to Tripoli Post, the chairman of the state-run National Oil Corporation, Nuri Berruien told the press during a meeting in Cairo of the Organisation of Arab Petrol Exporting Countries, OAPEC, that Libya would resume normal oil production by the middle of next year.

Libya had been pumping about 1.6 million barrels a day in January, before the uprising that began in February and that eventually overthrew the Gaddafi regime after 42 years of rule.

Recently, the country’s oil minister, Rahman Ben Yezza said in Vienna where he was attending a meeting of the Organisation of Petrol Exporting Countries, OPEC, that Libya, which is a member of both OPEC and OAPEC, was making efforts to raise its production

to two million barrels a day in three-to-five years’ time.

In Cairo, Ben Yezza confirmed that there’s a “gentleman’s agreement” within OPEC to accommodate the return of Libyan oil.

At its December 14 meeting, OPEC set a new production ceiling for the first time in three years. The agreement targets the group’s official output to 30 million barrels a day. The agreement underscores how some members are concerned oil at about $100 a barrel may sap demand amid signs Europe’s debt crisis is driving the world toward a recession, according to Bloomberg Libya’s recovery in its production rate to more than one million barrels a day means that its output now exceeds that of two other fellow OPEC members, Ecuador and Qatar.

According to data from Poten & Partners Inc., at least four tankers had been booked in the past few days to load 420,000 metric tons of crude oil in Libya, with the ships chartered to pick up the equivalent of about 3.1 million barrels, compared with about 2.7 million barrels booked to load on four vessels the previous week.

• A refinery

Japan’s total oil sales hit 26-year low

J

APAN’s total oil product sales in November fell 3.4 per cent from a year earlier to the lowest in 26 years for the month, government data showed, as overall demand stayed weak despite a jump in low-sulphur fuel oil used in power generation following the March earthquake.

Total petroleum product sales in the world’s third-largest oil consumer fell to 16.24 million kilolitres, or 3.40 million barrels per day, data from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) showed. That was lowest for the month since 15.5 million kilolitres in November 1985.

According to Reuters report, oil sales declined except for B- and Ctype fuel oil used in power generation, demand for which rose 51.3 percent from a year earlier as record-low nuclear plant utilisation forced utilities to plug a power shortfall.

The reconstruction of northeastern Japan, devastated by the mag-

US crude oil stocks increase

C

RUDE oil inventories in the US moved up during the weekend, official data showed.

The US Energy Information Ad-

Energy prices

Domestic prices of petroleum products

Energy & Oil Prices OIL ($/bbl)

Companies

PMS

AGO

DPK

Conoil

65.00

160.00

140.00

AP

65.00

160.00

140.00

Total

65.00

160.00

140.00

Oando

65.00

160.00

140.00

Mobil

65.00

160.00

140.00

Texaco

65.00

160.00

140.00

PRICE* CHANGE % CHANGE TIME Nymex Crude Future Dated Brent Spot WTI Cushing Spot OIL (¢/gal)

98.83 107.58 98.83

-0.82 -0.75 -0.82

-0.82% -0.69% -0.82%

12/30 12/30 12/30

PRICE* CHANGE % CHANGE TIME Nymex Heating Oil Future 291.42 -0.59 -0.20% 12/30 Nymex RBOB Gasoline Future 265.74 -1.20 -0.45% 12/30 NATURAL GAS ($/MMBtu) PRICE* CHANGE % CHANGE TIME Nymex Henry Hub Future 2.99 Henry Hub Spot 2.98 New York City Gate Spot 4.86 ELECTRICITY ($/megawatt hour)

-0.04 0.00 1.62

-1.26% 0.00% 50.00%

12/30 12/30 12/30

PRICE* CHANGE % CHANGE TIME

INDIGENOUS Energy

65.00

160.00

140.00

Fagbems

65.00

160.00

140.00

Nipco

65.00

160.00

140.00

nitude 9.0 quake and tsunami in March, could also eventually support demand for gas oil next year, industry sources say.

Gasoline sales dropped 2.7 percent and gas oil demand fell 4.7 percent, hurt by the expiration of a 1,000 yen ($13) highway toll ceiling earlier this year, a METI official said.

Mid-Columbia, firm on-peak, spot 27.12 0.20 0.74% 12/30 Palo Verde, firm on-peak, spot 27.78 -1.52 -5.19% 12/30 BLOOMBERG, FIRM ON-PEAK, DAY AHEAD SPOT/ERCOT HOUSTON 29.00 3.15 12.19% 12/30 • Bloomberg Oil Buyers Guide

ministration in its weekly crude oil report said US commercial crude oil inventories increased by 3.90 million barrels to 327.50 million barrels last week, and are in the upper limit of the average range for this time of year.

The week before, crude oil inventories decreased by 10.60 million barrels to 323.60 million barrels.

Meanwhile, total motor gasoline inventories moved down by 700,000 barrels last week, after decreasing 400,000 barrels in the prior week, but are above the upper limit of the average range.

According to RTT News, analysts were expecting crude oil inventories to dip by 2.20 million barrels last week.

Last week, data from the API revealed that US crude oil inventories unexpectedly jumped by 9.60 million barrels and gasoline stocks rose 1.90 million barrels at the week end.

Oil refinery inputs averaged about 14.60 million barrels per day during the week, which were 19,000 barrels per day below the previous week’s average as refineries operated at 84.20 per cent of their operable capacity.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

54

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 30-12-11 2ND-TIER SECURITIES Company Name LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 12 4 6 22

Quotation(N) 0.72 23.10 8.67

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 1,902,500 1,369,200.00 61,000 1,409,400.00 203,500 1,662,700.00 2,167,000 4,441,300.00

AIR SERVICES Company Name AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 11 12

Quotation(N) 2.17 5.14

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 106,223 230,503.91 306,025 1,567,222.50 412,248 1,797,726.41

Quotation(N) 1.22

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 137,440 167,713.80 137,440 167,713.80

Quotation(N) 4.80 1.92 1.98 4.18 1.46 8.90 14.25 8.30 3.84 1.01 2.59 10.60 0.55 0.57 12.18

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 7,739,855 37,244,863.77 608,418 1,185,414.84 206,000 407,880.00 464,000 1,891,102.86 105,003,610 152,180,284.40 826,095,316 7,511,927,381.37 4,495,785 63,362,194.75 122,500 1,004,987.40 1,673,798 6,040,798.97 2,015,351 2,069,719.50 55,598,319 142,963,767.50 6,963 70,117.41 2,223,540 1,208,587.00 111,058 62,486.09 8,166,998 99,088,829.15 1,014,531,511 8,020,708,415.01

AUTOMOBILE & TYRE Company Name R. T. BRISCOE (NIGERIA) PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 4 4 BANKING

Company Name ACCESS BANK PLC DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK NIGERIA PLC FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC FIDELITY BANK PLC FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC GTBANK PLC STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC SKYE BANK PLC. STERLING BANK PLC UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC. UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC UNITYBANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC ZENITH BANK PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 51 38 5 20 46 363 232 14 50 23 122 4 15 17 146 1,146

‘Fuel Subsidy removal will lead to efficiency’

C

HIEF Executive Officer of Partnership Invest ment Company Limited, a dealing and council member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Victor Ogiemwonyi, has said the removal of fuel subsidy would lead to efficiency and help in rationing fuel usage

by Nigerians.

Ogiemwonyi, said the subsidy was enriching the wrong people and commended President Goodluck Jonathan for the boldness in taking the decision.

“There is no where in the world where price controls have worked. Using subsidy to control the price of fuel is wrong. The market price will force us to ration our use of petrol. Demand and supply will moderate prices,” he

No of Deals 16 116 132

said.

He said the mass transportation will develop quicker, but his only wish is that the government will reinvest the subsidy savings strictly into road/mass transit development such as railways all over the country.

He advised against not making the mistake of Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) where he alleged savings were invested in dubious projects such as town hall buildings and primary health care centres that had no personnel or drugs.

He however, suggested that the funds saved from removal of fuel subsidy should be focused on the most affected sectors such as

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 30-12-11 INDUSTRIAL/DOMESTIC PRODUCTS

Quotation(N) 250.00 94.42

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 46,436 11,049,437.14 1,574,420 148,976,382.85 1,620,856 160,025,819.99

Company Name B. O. C. GASES NIGERIA PLC VITAFOAM NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 14 16

No of Deals 30 13 14 8 65

Quotation(N) 11.30 4.35 110.77 43.25

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 601,408 6,519,510.17 181,296 821,498.32 24,524 2,811,649.70 146,762 6,348,352.98 953,990 16,501,011.17

Quotation(N) 8.47 14.50 5.11

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 89,911 743,849.35 17,091 259,025.02 360,000 1,749,600.00 467,002 2,752,474.37

CHEMICAL & PAINTS Company Name BERGER PAINTS NIGERIA PLC CHEMICAL AND ALLIED PRODUCTS PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 6 5 9 20

COMMERCIAL/SERVICES Company Name RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 11 11

Quotation(N) 2.39

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 264,200 608,135.00 264,200 608,135.00

COMPUTER & OFFICE EQUIPMENT Company Name NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. Sector Totals

No of Deals 4 4

Quotation(N) 9.31

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 8,817 80,817.21 8,817 80,817.21

CONGLOMERATES Company Name A. G. LEVENTIS (NIGERIA) PLC PZ CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC UAC OF NIGERIA PLC UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 20 14 34 36 105

Quotation(N) 6.85 5.06

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 2,000 13,360.00 136,448 673,499.60 138,448 686,859.60

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.84 0.50 2.28 0.50 0.67 1.42 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.54 0.50 0.94 0.50 0.50 0.50

Quantity TradedValue 775,936 1,384,550 1,467,188 65,066 1,028,000 17,080,453 198,195 329 1,000,000 6,000 20,000 2,051,351 795,000 5,100 50,000 1,200,000 73,171,787 100,298,955

Quotation(N) 0.63

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 87,065 53,938.98 87,065 53,938.98

Quotation(N) 0.90

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 798,200 704,678.00 798,200 704,678.00

INSURANCE

BUILDING MATERIALS Company Name ASHAKA CEMENT PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTHERN NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC Sector Totals

roads development and building of mass transit systems, which will immediately provide the public with visible gains.

Meanwhile, as the stock market reopens for the new business year, investors and market operators are optimistic that the market would witness a rebound this year.

Most analysts said they expected the stock market to recover part of the values lost in the previous year, especially given the strong fundamentals of several quoted companies.

They said the impending release of audited reports and accounts of companies, which is expected to start by late February, would enliven the market.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

BREWERIES Company Name GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC Sector Totals

By Tonia Osundolire

Quotation(N) 1.38 28.00 0.57 31.18 29.00

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 200,000 276,000.00 89,699 2,592,802.22 1,960,000 1,101,000.00 307,345 9,411,928.33 333,386 9,641,436.09 2,890,430 23,023,166.64

Quotation(N) 31.60 8.69

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 31,300 1,034,594.00 567 5,171.04 31,867 1,039,765.04

Company Name No of Deals AIICO INSURANCE PLC. 19 CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC 22 CORNERSTONE INSURANCE CO. PLC. 2 CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INSURANCE PLC 3 EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC 4 GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC 18 GUARANTY TRUST ASSURANCE PLC 4 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC 1 LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. 1 LAW UNION AND ROCK INSURANCE PLC. 3 MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC 1 N.E.M. INSURANCE CO. (NIG.) PLC. 22 OASIS INSURANCE PLC 1 PRESTIGE ASSURANCE PLC. 3 STACO INSURANCE PLC 3 UNIC INSURANCE PLC. 1 UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC 1 Sector Totals 109

of Shares (N) 391,719.00 1,178,162.00 733,594.00 148,190.48 514,000.00 11,373,753.51 281,436.90 164.50 500,000.00 3,120.00 10,000.00 1,045,995.08 397,500.00 4,595.97 25,000.00 600,000.00 36,585,893.50 53,793,124.94

LEASING Company Name C&I LEASING PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 3 MARITIME

Company Name JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 23 23

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Company Name CRUSADER NIGERIA PLC. NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 5 6

Quotation(N) 0.50 1.12

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 200 100.00 155,000 168,100.00 155,200 168,200.00

Quotation(N) 1.70

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 277,470 470,814.90 277,470 470,814.90

CONSTRUCTION Company Name JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA PLC ROADS NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 7 1 8

PACKAGING Company Name NIGERIAN BAG MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY Company Name CUTIX PLC NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 2 3

Quotation(N) 1.55 0.50

PETROLEUM(MARKETING) Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 2,000 3,240.00 10,000 5,000.00 12,000 8,240.00

FOOD/BEVERAGES & TOBACCO Company Name 7-UP BOTTLING CO. PLC CADBURY NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIGERIA PLC HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT COMPANY NIGERIA PLC NESTLE NIGERIA PLC TANTALIZERS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 17 34 50 49 12 16 15 1 196

Quotation(N) 46.47 11.40 5.00 4.70 65.45 2.31 4.01 445.66 0.50

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 6,300 292,761.00 82,759 931,750.48 264,679 1,334,687.16 1,864,463 8,877,581.95 717,141 44,878,030.35 104,700 241,587.00 475,054 1,901,116.00 55,086 23,322,310.68 100 50.00 3,570,282 81,779,874.62

No of Deals 1 12 15 8 10 46

Company Name MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA OIL & GAS PLC. FORTE OIL PLC MOBIL OIL NIGERIA PLC. OANDO PLC TOTAL NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

Quotation(N) 0.67 0.79 23.00 1.99 1.08

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 150 100.50 314,600 243,663.00 312,144 7,103,497.30 145,450 289,235.50 116,000 119,480.00 888,344 7,755,976.30

No of Deals 13 13

Quotation(N) 59.00 31.50 2.96 11.60 133.91 22.00 188.10

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 276,297 16,297,413.00 5,291 168,868.88 310,176 898,196.22 14,596,775 161,211,733.02 9,351 1,312,278.10 3,235,319 68,305,305.53 18,371 3,455,485.10 18,451,580 251,649,279.85

No of Deals 4 4

Quotation(N) 3.40

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 17,428 58,845.68 17,428 58,845.68

Quotation(N) 12.00

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 500 6,300.00 500 6,300.00

REAL ESTATE No of Deals 1 1

ROAD TRANSPORTATION Company Name ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 2

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 114,228 57,114.00 114,228 57,114.00

THE FOREIGN LISTINGS

HOTEL & TOURISM Company Name IKEJA HOTEL PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 7 10 18 15 7 150 7 214

PRINTING & PUBLISHING Company Name UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC Sector Totals

Company Name UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. PLC Sector Totals

HEALTHCARE Company Name EVANS MEDICALPLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 19 19

Quotation(N) 1.70

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 326,000 554,200.00 326,000 554,200.00

Company Name ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Sector Totals Overall Totals

No of Deals 27 27

Quotation(N) 10.50

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 4,734,159 48,924,031.82 4,734,159 48,924,031.82

2,211

1,153,355,220

8,677,817,823.33

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

55

MONEY LINK

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and deposit money banks are working out modalities that would reduce the agricultural financing gap in the country. The parties are working with Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and other key stakeholders to develop an innovative financing mechanism, tagged Nigeria Incentive-based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), The Nation has learnt.

Data from the CBN said estimated the annual demand for agribusiness financing over the next 40 years is projected at $6.5 billion per annum, compared to the current annual fund supply of $1.5 billion.

The apex bank said the scheme is expected to provide farmers with affordable financial products, while reducing the risk of loans to farmers under other financing programme offered by the financial institutions.

The initiative will build capacities of banks to expand lending to agriculture, deploy risk sharing instruments to lower risks of lending and develop a bank rating scheme to assess banks based on their lending to the agricultural sector. it The apex bank boss added that the initiative will help unlock access to bank finance, critical for stimulating agric lending and increasing food and crop production in

CBN, banks move to bridge agric-financing gap Stories by Collins Nweze

the country.

The regulator admitted that the future of agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa is clouded with several uncertainties that include increasing resource scarcity, heightened risks from climate change, higher energy prices, demand for bio-fuels and doubts about the speed

of technical progress.

Head Agricultural Banking, Stanbic IBTC, Jacques Taylor said in an interview in Lagos that access to agricultural inputs, market linkages, technical support services as well as access to financial services are key to reviving Nigeria’s ailing agriculture sector.

According to him, value chain financing will ensure the flow of financing

within the agricultural sector, across all value chain actors, thereby getting agricultural products to the markets.

He said that Standard Bank and Stanbic IBTC are driven by the conviction that opportunities exist to provide an end-to-end banking solution for agriculture in which the banks can leverage and cross-sell a full suite of products and services, from traditional

Cash-lite: Mainstreet Bank offers alternative channels it is ready to fulfil the promise of a

W

ITH yesterday’s com mencement of Cash-lite Lagos, Mainstreet Bank Limited (MBL) is offering its customers alternative transaction channels to ensure seamless and convenient banking experience.

The bank has overtime, provided channels needed to meet the business needs of its customers in their attempt to comply with the policy initiated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Speaking on the readiness of the bank for the new policy, Faith Tuedor-Matthews, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Mainstreet Bank, insisted

that it’s array of e-products which include MB Pay, MB Collect, Mobile Banking, Mobile Payment, PoS terminals, Internet Banking and other electronic banking solutions are timely alternatives to cash transactions for both private and corporate customers.

She said that the bank is in a transformation mode, and is therefore

searching for new ways to serve its numerous customers better.

For instance, the bank is currently enhancing its Information Technology (IT) backbone to ensure a seamless end-to-end electronic processing of all its transactions.

The bank is equally using the CBN Cash-lite Policy as a spring board to prove to its customers that

F

Commenting on the transaction, Managing Director of Ecobank Nigeria, Jibril Aku said the bank has a track record of success in merging banks to drive value for shareholders and deliver excellent service for our customers . “We will move expeditiously to establish a single, integrated organisation,” he said.

Mr. John Aboh, out-going Managing Director of Oceanic Bank, said the merger with Ecobank marks a successful outcome to the rescue of Oceanic Bank. The combined entity provides shareholders and employees access to a stronger banking group.

I

The combined draws which attracted promo regulators, past winners, customers of the bank and media practitioners saw 50 customers across the country winning N1 million each at the special Christmas draw, while in the monthly draws, Maurice Okolo, a customer at the Lekki Expressway, Lekki branch won the Salary 4Life, that is he will earn N100, 000 for the next 20 years; Dato Shederach of Bukuru, Old Jos Road branch won N5 million while Cynthia Chukwu of Alaba International branch went home with N2.5 million.

Some of the new millionaires include Ogamba Ugochi Chioma, Adeola Hopewell, VI branch; Jonas Orji Lekwauwa, Semi border branch; Chidera Beneth Anika, Enugu Oba road, Nsukka branch; Obumnaeme Umeagbor Dike; Akpapkava Road, Benin branch and Hypolite Ofodile Ikwuka of Ahmadu Bello Way, Garki, Abuja branch, among others.

Speaking about the campaign and

N line with its industry leadership in rewarding customers, Diamond Bank has rewarded 53 of its customers that emerged lucky winners at its SavingsXtra promo draws held in Lagos.

“I leave with the satisfaction of having delivered value for our shareholders and opportunities for our employees. I thank the regulatory authorities for their support in the successful conclusion of this process,” he said.

Analysis said that the merged entity will be a top tier bank in Nigeria, with a strong retail franchise, and a top five position in terms of assets, customer base, deposits and branches.

The merger will result in cost savings due to economies of scale. These savings are expected in the areas of information technology, procurement, cost of funding and elimination of duplicated costs.

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

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES OBB Rate Call Rate

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 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 30-12-11 SYMBOL FLOURMILL UACN OANDO UNILEVER PRESCO BERGER CADBURY IBTC GUARANT NAHCO

O/PRICE 62.34 29.70 21.00 28.50 8.26 8.07 11.00 8.00 14,00 4.90

C/PRICE 65.45 31.18 22.00 29.00 8.67 8.47 11.40 8.30 14.25 5.14

CHANGE 3.11 1.48 1.00 0.50 0.41 0.40 0.40 0.30 0.25 0.24

LOSER AS AT 30-12-11 SYMBOL O/PRICE NB 99.37 WAPCO 45.00 CHEVRON 60.67 GLAXOSM 23.90 ZENITHBANK 14.40 DANGSUGAR 4.80 IKEJAHOTEL 1.78 CONTINSUGAR 0.88 STERLNBANK 1.05 DIAMONDBANK 1.94

C/PRICE 94.42 43.25 59.00 23.00 12.18 4.70 1.70 0.84 1.01 1.92

Amount

Offered ($) Demanded ($)

MANAGED FUNDS

NIDF NESF

special draw, Head, Liability Products, Diamond Bank, Adewale Akinrinade, stated that the special Christmas draws which produced 50 instant millionaires was a way of rewarding customers for doing business with the bank, adding that the Millionaires would step into the new year happier and ready to meet their goals and have their lives transformed.

He noted that the regular monthly and weekly draws would continue as scheduled , stating that all it takes to qualify for the draw is to have N5, 000 in Diamond Bank savings account.

“The saving Xtra reward campaign is one way of saying thank you to our customers. We cherish their contributions to the growth of the bank. If you already have a Diamond SavingsXtra Account you will automatically qualify for our draws if you save at least N5,000, otherwise, hurry to any Diamond Bank branch and open a SavingsXtra account. Every additional N5, 000 in your account qualifies for an extra chance to win,” he said.

DATA BANK

Tenor

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

better customer experience as indicated in the bank’s on-going corporate campaign.

It has also restructured and refocused its operations to make its array of quality services and products easy and accessible to its numerous customers spread out in it’s over 200 branches nationwide.

Diamond promo produces 53 millionaires

Ecobank, Oceanic merger sealed OLLOWING the recent share holders’ approval of the merger of Ecobank Nigeria and Oceanic Bank, the requisite legal and regulatory approvals have now been obtained and the full merger of the two institutions has now been concluded.

Oceanic Bank merged with Ecobank Nigeria with effect from 30 December 2011.

A statement from Ecobank said the merger of the two banks creates one of the strongest financial institutions in Nigeria, in terms of branch network, asset size, customer base and revenues, with significant operational synergies.

commercial banking and lending products to crop and weather insurance products.

The bank said that the challenge of financing small farmers is more than just the provision of finance; it is also about providing a complete solution to small holder farmers to ensure long term sustainability, food security and higher standards of living.

Amount

Exchange

Sold ($)

Rate (N)

Date

450m

452.7m

450m

150.8

08-8-11

250m

313.5m

250m

150.8

03-8-11

400m

443m

400m

150.7

01-8-11

EXHANGE RATE 26-08-11 CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Currency

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD

147.6000

149.7100

150.7100

-2.11

NGN GBP

239.4810

244.0123

245.6422

-2.57

NGN EUR

212.4997

207.9023

209.2910

-1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

Bureau de Change 152.0000 (S/N)

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

Parallel Market

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

NSE CAP Index

NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N)

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

(S/N)

153.0000

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

Aug ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

8.75%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 9.4%

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 118.85 98.43 0.76 1.04 0.88 1,642.73 8.24 1.39 1.87 7,351.90 193.00

9.08 1.00 118.69 97.65 0.73 1.04 0.87 1,635.25 7.84 1.33 1.80 7,149.37 191.08

ARM AGGRESSIVE KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND THE LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL BGL SAPPHIRE FUND BGL NUBIAN FUND NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY THE DISCOVERY FUND • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED

CHANGE 4.95 1.75 1.67 0.90 0.22 0.10 0.08 0.04 0.04 0.02

• STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

Rate (Previous) 24 Aug, 2011 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 26, Aug, 2011 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK Previous

Current

04 July, 2011

07, Aug, 2011

Bank

8.5000

8.5000

P/Court

8.0833

8.0833

Movement

56

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

FOREIGN NEWS Manhunt in Mount Rainier Park after US ranger shot dead MOUNT Rainier National Park was been closed since Margaret Anderson, 34, was shot dead while trying to stop a vehicle on Sunday morning.

The suspected gunman, Benjamin Colton Barnes, 24, has also been linked to an earlier shooting at a New Year’s party.

The United States Marine is reported to have posttraumatic stress disorder.

Police said they had recovered his vehicle, which had weapons, body armour and survivalist gear inside.

The gunman sped past a park checkpoint that was monitoring if vehicles had tyre chains, sometimes required in snowy conditions.

As one ranger gave chase, mother-of-two Mrs Anderson blocked the road with her vehicle to stop the driver.

Both of them were fired on, but only Mrs Anderson, who was married to another ranger, was hit.

Margaret Anderson was married and has two young children. Response teams could not reach the wounded officer for nearly an hour-and-a-half because the gunman continued to shoot, the Seattle Times newspaper quotes officials as saying.

Syria unrest: Arab League calls for end to shooting

T

HE Arab League secretary general has called for an end to shootings in Syria, warning snipers remain a threat.

Nabil al-Arabi said “all signs of military presence” had left the cities, with tanks and artillery removed.

Some 60 Arab League monitors are checking compliance with a peace plan, but correspondents say protesters are frustrated they cannot stop killings.

The UN says more than 5,000 people have been killed

in a crackdown on anti-government protests since March.

There has been no let-up in violence, and activists say 390 people have been killed since the observers arrived last week.

Activist group the Local Co-ordination Committees said 15 people were killed on Monday, 10 of them in the flashpoint city of Homs.

Meanwhile in northern Idlib province, mutinous troops killed, wounded or captured a number of gov-

ernment soldiers in attacks on three checkpoints, London-based opposition group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

There has also been criticism of the head of the monitoring team, Sudanese Gen Mustafa al-Dabi - who is regarded by some as biased towards the Syrian government.

And on Sunday, the Arab Parliament, an advisory body to the league, said the observers should be withdrawn because of the con-

“All signs of military presence have been withdrawn from the cities; tanks and cannons have been removed ... and are now away from residential areas,” he said.

“The observer mission was able to take food supplies into some cities, specially Homs. It also managed to bring out corpses.

“I have spoken with the head of mission and yes, shots are still being fired and there are still snipers in action. We want all these signs of violence to disappear.”

Mubarak trial resumes amid acquittal speculation

T

HE trial of Hosni Mubarak resumed yesterday amid speculation that a recent acquittal of policemen tried for killing Egyptian protesters could be a prelude to the dismissal of charges against the ousted leader.

Mubarak faces charges of complicity in the killing of more than 800 protesters during last year’s uprising that toppled his 29-year regime.

The 83-year-old ailing Mubarak was brought by helicopter to the Cairo courthouse from a hospital where he is held in custody.

He was then taken into the defendants’ cage on a gurney, wearing dark sunglasses and covered by a green blanket.

Lawyers for the dead have demanded that Mubarak be transferred to a prison in south Cairo where the other defendants are held because his journey from the military hospital in a helicopter costs the state 500,000 Egyptian pounds ($82,000) each time.

Another Cairo court on Thursday acquitted five policemen of charges of killing five protesters during the Jan. 25-Feb. 11 uprising in the capital’s district of el-Sayedah Zeinab.

The court said three of the defend-

South Sudanese flee to escape deadly ethnic clashes TENS of thousands of South Sudanese are fleeing their homes after inter-ethnic clashes around the town of Pibor.

The United Nations is warning villagers to run for their lives as some 6,000 fighters advance on their ethnic rivals.

Fighters from the Lou Nuer ethnic group are pursuing members of the Murle community, reports say, as a deadly vendetta over cattle raiding continues.

A UN official told the BBC that peacekeepers and government troops are heavily outnumbered.

The government is sending additional police and troops in a bid to quell the violence.

About 1,000 people have been killed in recent months as reprisal attacks over cattle raids have escalated.

Tens of thousands of Murle fled Pibor after it came under attack from the Lou Nuer on Saturday.

BBC East Africa correspondent Will Ross says the Lou Nuer are attacking villages and burning homes and that it could take a week for the Murle to walk to an area of safety.

Deputy UN deputy humanitarian coordinator in South Sudan Lise Grande told the BBC that several hundred UN peacekeepers and government troops were “far outnumbered” by about 6,000 Lou Nuer fighters.

“Several flanks of the attackers have moved in a south-easterly direction [from Pibor], almost certainly looking for cattle,” she said.

tinuing violence.

At a news conference at the league’s headquarters in Cairo, Mr Arabi said the mission needed more time to complete its work.

The league would then report on the monitors’ activities and decide if more work was needed, he added.

He said the military had withdrawn heavy weapons from residential areas and was on the outskirts of cities, but the violence had not ended.

•Mubarak in court...yesterday

ants were not at the site of the killings while the other two fired against protesters in self defense.

The ruling angered families of the victims. Activists demanded that the killers be brought to justice and complained that similar cases are languishing in courts in several Egyptian cities. .On trial with Mubarak are his two sons, Gamal, his one-time heir apparent, and Alaa, along with the ousted leader’s former security chief and six top police commanders. The Mubaraks face additional corruption charges in the same case.

The trial began August 3 but has since been bogged down in procedural matters, including a demand by lawyers for the victims that the presiding judge, Ahmed Rifaat, be removed. That request alone took a separate court about three months to rule on.

The acquittal of the police officers in el-Sayedah Zeinab and the relatively long time the Mubarak trial is taking before even starting to deal with the core of the charges against him have led many activists to brand the proceedings a farce, organized by the generals who took over power when the longtime leader was ousted.

Subsidy not a constitutional matter, says Minister

M

ORE facts emerged yesterday on why the Federal Government chose January 1 to withdraw fuel subsidy.

Labour and Productivity Minister Emeka Woku said the government had no option because there was no extension for the lifespan of 2011 Budget.

He said the National Assembly did not extend the implementation of last year’s Appropriation Act. His words: “Like I told you, if you pick this year’s budget, it has no subsidy and if you now take it alongside the fact that most of the ministries, departments and agencies have closed their books for the year, and that there is no extension of the life of the 2011 budget by the National Assembly.

“You will now agree with me that the coming into effect of the removal of subsidy as announced by the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) as an aspect of their duties and the deregulation policy with the encompassing policy that includes the removal of subsidy. Certainly, you don’t need a soothsayer to tell you that the regime of subsidy has come to an end.”

According to Wogu, who

‘Withdrawal not politics’ Continued From page 4

Explaining that all the petroleum products consumed in the country would be produced locally in the next two years, Maku insisted that the control of petrol price had stifled the growth of the downstream sector and prevented private sector investment in the refining of petroleum products.

He said: “Private investors will now seize the opportunity to establish refineries that will compete in production to bring down the price of petrol in no distant future and create more job opportunities for Nigerians.”

He cited the implementation of deregulation in Ghana’s oil sector which he described as a proactive measure to start oil exploration and refining on sound policies.

Assuring that funds that will accrue from deregulation would not form part of the regular budget, but would be managed by credible Nigerians from diverse interest groups who would apply the resources to From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

spoke at his residence at Asokoro District in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), subsidy is not a constitutional matter but an economic issue, which only the President is empowered to decide.

He, however, described the resultant increase in the cost of transportation

projects that have direct bearing on the common-man. He said that part of the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme is the restoration of the railways across the country to provide alternative and affordable means of transportation of goods and services.

Part of the programme, he said includes government’s provision of interest-free loans to transporters to buy buses that would shuttle Nigerians at subsidised cost in order to ameliorate the high cost of transportation.

The government, he also said would use the funds to construct the Mambila Hydroelectricity Project to generate 2,400 Megawatts of electricity, support irrigation particularly the production of 400,000 metric tonnes of rice annually, maternal health, infrastructure development and rural and urban water supply.

He urged Nigerians to hold the administration by its promise to deliver on all the projects and called for patience and sacrifice from Nigerians for the growth of the economy and posterity.

across the country due to the withdrawal of subsidy as unjustifiable.

He appealed to the organised labour to avail itself to the process of finetuning of the ongoing negotiation on the implementation of “the subsidy reinvestment programme of government.”

On how to cushion the

effect, he said government has put in place a transportation system.

He added that the uniqueness of the transport scheme was not only in the fact that it will be managed by the organised labour, it also provides an avenue for cheap financing for transporters.

The minister said: “To cushion the effect of

t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , government, through its subsidy reinvestment programme has made provision for ameliorating the transport cost by providing transportation system that will be managed by the people and for the people. By this, I mean that the transport scheme will be managed by both the NLC and the TUC. Apart from this, there will be cheap financing for transporters.”

Reacting to the soaring cost of transportation, he said it was the handiwork of the unscrupulous businessmen who wanted to take advantage of the announcement to shortchange the commuters.

He said: “You cannot rule out businessmen’s capacity on situation that does not give room for inflationary impact because for now, there is no room for price to skyrocket except that some unscrupulous elements in the society have capitalised on the announcement made Sunday”, he said.

According to Wogu, the Federal Government did exhaustive consultation with stakeholders before withdrawing the subsidy on premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

57

FOREIGN NEWS Fish and chip fever batters South Africa

W

HEN the first one opened in 2002, South Africans had never seen anything like it. Now they can’t get enough. The country has discovered the simple pleasures of the local chippy.

Fish and chip shops are spreading fast and visibly booming. The chain Old Fashioned Fish and Chips, which claims to have got in first, doubled its reach in the past year and plans to keep on expanding.

Others are joining the craze and hoping to trade on Britain’s global reputation for crispy batter and golden chips.

Shop signs for the Fish and Chip Company carry the slogan “Traditional English-style food” with the logo of a fish wearing a top hat and waving the union flag.

The meals, costing the equivalent of £2 to £3, are up against South Africans’ staple favourites biltong, bobotie, boerewors (spicy sausage), bunny chow, pap (porridge made from maize meal) and mopane worms.

Fish and chips are not new here, said Nicolas de Sousa, operations and marketing director of Old Fashioned Fish and Chips, but they were typically sold from a local corner cafe along with other foods. It was only when De Sousa’s mother and a colleague opened for business in Elma Park, near Johannesburg, nine years ago that South Africa got its first dedicated fish and chip shop.

“South Africa doesn’t have a direct tradition of fish and chips like Britain,” the 29-year-old said.

“It had the corner street cafe that sold everything, including fish and chips. It wasn’t a core product.

“We never had anywhere we could go in terms of a traditional fish and chips takeaway.”

Al-Qaeda, Taliban groups unite against US A PROMINENT alQaida and Afghan Taliban fighters asked Pakistani militants in a pair of rare meetings to set aside their differences and step up support for the battle against United States-led forces in Afghanistan, militant commanders said yesterday.

The meetings were held in Pakistan’s tribal region in November and December at the request of the Afghan Taliban’s leadership council.

They could indicate the militants are struggling in Afghanistan, or conversely, that they want to make sure they hit US forces hard as the Americans accelerate their withdrawal this year. That could give the Taliban additional leverage in any peace negotiations. .”For God’s sake, forget all your differences and give us fighters to boost the battle

against America in Afghanistan,” senior al-Qaida commander Abu Yahya al-Libi told Pakistani fighters at a meeting on December 11, according to a militant who attended.

Pakistani militants have long been split over where they should focus their fighting. The Pakistani Taliban have concentrated on toppling their own government, although they have sent some fighters to Afghanistan. Other Pakistani groups based in the tribal region have almost exclusively directed their attacks against foreign forces in Afghanistan.

The Pakistani Taliban, an umbrella organization set up in 2007 to represent roughly 40 insurgent groups, has also been split by infighting over turf and leadership positions

German President Wulff faces new trouble in loan affair

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G E R M A N newspaper said yesterday that the country’s president complained to its editor about its plans to report on a private loan he received and threatened legal action, deepening an affair that has raised mounting questions over the head of state’s authority and judgment.

The mass-circulation Bild daily reported for the first time on Dec. 13 that President Christian Wulff received a euro500,000 ($650,000) private loan from the wife of a wealthy businessman and friend, apparently at below market rates, in 2008. At the time, he was governor of Lower Saxony state.

Months before he became president in 2010, regional opposition lawmakers asked Wulff if he had business relations with longtime friend Egon Geerkens, a former

jeweler and investor. He said he hadn’t, failing to mention the loan from Geerkens’ wife.

Critics have said Wulff needs to do more to explain the loan — but also have faulted his handling of the story. Following days of silence in which he communicated mostly through his lawyers, Wulff made a public statement on Dec. 22 apologizing for not disclosing the loan in 2010.

That appeared to calm matters, but on Monday, another newspaper, Sueddeutsche Zeitung, reported that Wulff had called Bild editor-in-chief Kai Diekmann to try and halt the Dec. 13 report on the loan.

Wulff’s office said he greatly values media freedom and doesn’t comment on private or telephone conversations.

Bild said it had given Wulff an opportunity to comment on the loan issue before it went public with the story. It said the president gave, then

Violence erupts in China as police knock down mosque

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IGHTING broke out between Muslims and police when a mosque was demolished- for being classified an ‘illegal religious place’.

Violence erupted in the town of Hexi, in China’s northwest Ningxia region, after 1,000 officers arrived to help police the knocking down of the building.

More than 50 protesters were injured and 100 arrested after several hundred members of China’s Muslim Hui minority tried

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to stop the demolition.

Sources from the Hong Kong-based Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy said two people died in the clashes.

An employee who answered the phone at the town police station confirmed officers had fought with protesters and said 80 people were detained, but denied any deaths.

The employee added that police demolished the mosque after the violence.

Cameron voices UK hopes for 2012

RITISH Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to use the “global drama” of the Olympics and “glory” of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee to help get Britain “up to strength”.

“This will be the year Britain sees the world and the world sees Britain,” the PM said in his new year message.

However, he admitted 2012 would be difficult as the economy struggled.

In his New Year message, Labour leader Ed Miliband said his party must convince people in 2012 that “opti-

after commanders were killed by the Pakistani military and US drone strikes.

The group has fractured into more than 100 smaller factions, a process that some analysts have suggested would take a toll on militants fighting in Afghanistan by making it increasingly difficult for them to find recruits, as well as restricting territory in Pakistan available to them.

Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud attended the two meetings on Nov. 27 in Wana, the main town in South Waziristan, and Dec. 11 in the Datta Khel area of North Waziristan, Pakistani Taliban spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan told The Associated Press.

Other prominent Pakistani militant leaders who attended included Mehsud’s deputy, Waliur Rehman, and two commanders who have focused on fighting in Afghanistan, Maulvi Nazir and Gul Bahadur, Ehsan said.

Also there was Sirajuddin Haqqani, an Afghan militant based in North Waziristan who leads one of the most feared groups fighting in Afghanistan.

The Afghan Taliban fighters at the meetings included Zabiullah Mujahid, a wellknown spokesman, and Maulvi Sangin, who claims to have custody of U.S. Army Pvt. Bowe R. Bergdahl, captured in Afghanistan in 2009.

The four Pakistani commanders and Haqqani agreed to form a council to resolve differences, said two Pakistani Taliban commanders who attended the meetings.

mism can defeat despair”.

The message, issued before the new year, said the UK needed “profound change” to avoid a future of struggling to compete in the world and called on politicians to show they could make a difference.

And in a message issued to Lib Dems last week, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the new year posed “many great challenges for everyone”, adding that his party had ensured the coalition government was helping people.

Mr Cameron said 2012 “must be the year we go for

it” - the year the coalition government “does everything it takes to get our country up to strength”.

The prime minister’s new political prophecy reads like a pep talk from the country’s coach at a particularly gloomy time. He’s at pains to say that he understands people’s fears, their worries about jobs, high prices, City excess and the economy.

It’s an attempt to enthuse a pessimistic people that better times lie ahead. Number 10 knows it must offer the hope of something sunnier beyond austerity and cuts.

retracted, a statement on Dec. 12.

Wulff tried to contact Diekmann, but didn’t reach him because he was on a business trip, Bild said. The president then left an indignant message about Bild’s research into the loan on Diekmann’s cellphone mailbox and threatened legal action against the editor involved, it added.

•Wulff

Macedonian Independence leader Kiro Gligorov is dead THE man considered the architect of Macedonian independence, Kiro Gligorov, has died aged 94.

A former senior Yugoslav communist official, he was elected as Macedonia’s president in 1991 while it was still a Yugoslav republic.

After guiding the country through the break-up of Yugoslavia, he served two terms as leader until 1999.

Kiro Gligorov was badly wounded in an car bomb attack in 1995 that killed his driver and a bystander.

He lost an eye and spent four months in hospital, eventually returning to work with severe facial scarring.

The attackers have never been brought to justice.

During his period in office, the country joined the United Nations as Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia because of an enduring dispute with Greece, which has a northern province also called Macedonia.

Failure to resolve the dispute has slowed Macedonia’s attempts to enter Nato and the EU. Born in 1917, Kiro Gligorov graduated as a lawyer and joined the partisans fighting against Nazi occupation during World War II.

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SPORT EXTRA Swansea in deserved two-goal win over Villa

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WANSEA deservedly claimed their first away win in the Barclays Premier League as Aston Villa’s troubles at home continued.

The Welsh side went ahead in the fourth minute when Stephen Warnock got in a mix-up and gave the ball straight to Nathan Dyer, who took it on before firing past Brad Guzan.

Wayne Routledge then made it 2-0 shortly after halftime, pouncing when Danny Graham hit the post, to seal a maiden victory on the road for the Swans since their promotion to the top flight last summer and condemn their opponents to a fourth successive defeat at Villa Park.

The result brought Alex McLeish’s team crashing back down to earth after their shock 3-1 win at Chelsea on New Year’s Eve and sees them slip to 12th in the table, overtaken

by Swansea, who are up to 11th after building on Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham with another impressive performance.

As anticipated, Swans boss Brendan Rodgers refreshed his side again by making a host of adjustments from the Spurs game, restoring the likes of Graham, Leon Britton and Angel Rangel to the starting line-up.

Villa’s record signing Darren Bent, who had come off the bench to score against Chelsea after missing three matches with a thigh problem, came in for Marc Albrighton in what was the only change for the midlanders.

Having finished 2011 on such a high, Villa made a ter-

rible start to the new year as Swansea snatched an early lead following a blunder by Warnock.

The defender needlessly lost possession in his own half and Dyer took full advantage, collecting the loose ball, driving into the box and firing a shot into the corner of the net.

The hosts looked to make a quick response, but Gabriel Agbonlahor appeared to be put off by his team-mate Bent as he headed Charles N’Zogbia’s cross wide, and Swansea then went close to doubling their advantage, Andrea Orlandi given the space to advance before flashing a strike across Guzan’s goal.

Stephen Ireland saw an effort deflected behind and James Collins a header saved as Villa attempted to get back on level terms, but a crosscum-shot from Dyer in between issued another warning at the other end.

Warnock suffered more embarrassment just before the half hour mark as he was left for dead by Dyer, whose cutback was met by Graham to bring a stop out of Guzan.

N’Zogbia blazed a free-kick over the bar and Swansea were soon breaking forward again, this time Orlandi teeing up Graham, who sent his shot just wide.

Villa struggled to muster much in way of reply and were grateful that the damage was not greater by the time the interval came.

Within just two minutes of the restart, though, the hosts had fallen further behind, with another error on their part playing a role.

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Baribote: No going back on NPL kick-off

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HE chairman of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) Victor Baribote has maintained that there will not be a change in Saturday’s kick-off of the new season despite complaints by the clubs.

A majority of the clubs have kicked against the start of the 20-team championship, arguing that the time has been too

short for them to prepare for the new season soon after the end of the previous campaign.

However, NPL chief Baribote told MTNFootball.com the league will roll out as scheduled on Saturday in Port Harcourt.

“Clubs would always complain. But I want to appeal to them to take the NPL serious

for once because any club which decides to shun the league kick off date would be doing that at their own peril,” the Bayelsa United boss warned.

“Everyone was at the congress and it was unanimously agreed that the league kicks off on January 7 and with the NFF Congress ratifying that decision at the

WOLVES 1- 2 CHELSEA

Lampard nets winner for Blues

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Adebayor eyes home comforts against West Brom

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MMANUEL Adebayor has called on Tottenham to cement their place in the top four by taking maximum points from their home games this month.

Spurs passed up an opportunity to close on Manchester City and Manchester United on Saturday when they could only draw 1-1 at Barclays Premier League newboys Swansea.

A win would have put Harry Redknapp's men within four points of joint-leaders United and City, who suffered shock defeats to Blackburn and Sunderland respectively this weekend.

But with home games against West Brom, Everton, Wolves and Wigan coming up this month, Spurs have a perfect opportunity to show that they can achieve the topfour spot that escaped them last term.

Speaking ahead of Tottenham's game against the Baggies on Tuesday night, Adebayor told Spurs TV

• Adebayor

Online: "We have four games at home we have to focus on them and make sure we get maximum points out of them.

"Now 2011 is over, we are looking forward to 2012 and we have a big chance to finish in the top four, or maybe get second or third.

"The season will be long and tough but we just have to keep going, keep believing we can get in that top four and if you want to finish in the top four these are the games you cannot lose or draw.

"West Brom is going to be an important game for us."

For Spurs fans, 2011 will be a year that lives long in their memory.

Having negotiated a difficult group containing Inter Milan, Redknapp's men went on to beat AC Milan in the Champions League second round before being eliminated by Real Madrid in the quarter-finals - a remarkable achievement for a club taking part in the competition for the first time.

The likes of Rafael van der Vaart, Luka Modric and Gareth Bale have all gone on to excel in the league this season, where Spurs bounced back from a disappointing start to go on a run of one defeat in their last 16 matches.

Despite missing the chance to put real pressure on the Manchester teams last weekend, Van der Vaart thinks the disappointment at drawing against a side with a stellar home record this season shows how far Spurs have come in the last 12 months.

last congress, I wonder why any club should threaten to shun the league kick-off.”

Champions Dolphin will host Sunshine Stars on the opening day of the new season. The Port Harcourt club pipped Sunshine to the league title last season.

Nine other matches will be played across the country on Sunday.

Jigawa Golden Stars of Dutse, Wikki Tourist of Bauchi, Rising Stars of Akure and Akwa United of Uyo are the four clubs promoted to the Nigerian top flight while JUTH, Crown FC, Zamfara United and Plateau United were relegated.

• Arsenal's Johan Djourou, left is shown the red card and sent off by referee Lee Probert, centre, during their English Premier League soccer match against Fulham at Fulham's Craven Cottage stadium in London yesterday.

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Late goals give Fulham dramatic win over Arsenal

ULHAM scored twice in the dying minutes to beat Arsenal 2-1 and deny them a return to the top four in the English Premier League in a dramatic match at Craven Cottage last night.

Arsenal led from the 21st minute with a Laurent Koscielny header but, after they had Johan Djourou sent off 12 minutes from time for hauling back Bobby Zamora, Fulham struck twice to win for the first time in four matches.

Steve Sidwell, who started his career at Arsenal but never played for them, equalised for Fulham with a header after 85 minutes before Zamora smashed in a left foot volley in the third minute of added time to give Martin Jol’s team all three points.

Arsenal started the day in fourth place but were knocked back to fifth by Chelsea who won 2-1 at Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier Monday.

Chelsea have 37 points, one clear of Arsenal on 36. The top three - Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur - were not in action and play later this week.

Chelsea ended a four-match winless run when Frank Lampard struck late.

All four afternoon kickoffs ended in victories for the away team with Swansea City winning 2-0 at Aston Villa, Stoke City beating Blackburn Rovers 2-1 and Norwich City prevailing 2-1 at Queens Park Rangers who had Joey Barton sent off after he gave them an early lead. Steve Morison scored Norwich’s late winner.

Chelsea, who drew three successive matches before losing 3-1 at home to Aston Villa on Saturday, went ahead through Ramires who scored after Wolves failed to clear a corner after 54 minutes. Stephen Ward equalised in the 84th before Lampard struck the winner a minute from time.

“It’s a massive win,” Lampard told the BBC. “Everyone knows we are having a tough time but the determination shone through and I think we deserved it.

“The character showed as we battled through to the end and that is what the players are all about. We have resilience because we have players who have been here and won medals. I hate looking at the table and seeing us not challenging for the top spot and that is where we have to get back to.”

Chelsea manager Andre

Villas-Boas told Sky Sports: “To win today has a special flavour due to the tremendous physical effort that you are put through when you play 48 hours after (the last match).

ERNANDO Torres returned to the Chelsea starting XI for yesterday's away clash with Wolves which ended 2-1 in their favour, as Didier Drogba droped out of the squad completely.

The Ivorian is reportedly sidelined with knocks to both his calf and ankle, while top scorer Daniel Sturridge was also out due to a bruised hip, leaving Ramires, Mata to join Torres in attack.

Frank Lampard eased the pressure on Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas with a late winner against Wolves in the Premier League clash at Molineux.

The veteran midfielder celebrated his return to the starting line-up by converting a cross from Ashley Cole with two minutes remaining.

Ramires had given the Blues a 54th-minute lead but Stephen Ward looked to have salvaged a point for the home side - until Lampard settled the issue.

However, it needed an injury-time save from goalkeeper Petr Cech - who tipped over a close-range header from Kevin Doyle - to deny Wolves a point.

Crouch double sinks Blackburn

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ETER Crouch scored twice in the first half to give Stoke a 2-1 victory at Blackburn and halt the host's momentum following a stunning win at Manchester United.

Rovers began well and Christopher Samba headed against the bar before seeing a goal disallowed. But it was Stoke that took the lead in the 17th minute through Crouch, and the tall striker added a second on the stroke of halftime by finishing off a counterattack.

Substitute David Goodwillie pulled one back with 21 minutes to go, but it was not enough to prevent a third successive home defeat for Blackburn, which beat United 3-2 at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Ayegbeni Yakubu, who has scored 13 goals for Blackburn this season, should have equalized in the 79th minute when a long throw-in fell to the striker virtually on the goalline, but

his shot was blocked by Jonathan Woodgate and the rebound fell into the arms of Thomas Sorensen.

After Stoke weathered an early storm, Dean Whitehead clipped the ball into the area and Crouch chested it down and planted a volley into the bottom corner for his 100th goal in league football.

Stoke had been pegged back in their own half for a substantial period of time before adding the second, as Matthew Etherington ran virtually from his own box before crossing for Crouch, who finished the chance in a similar way to the first goal.

RESUL TS RESULT January 2 Aston Villa Blackburn QPR. Wolves W. Fulham

0-2 1-2 1-2 1-2 2-1

Swansea Stoke C. Norwich Chelsea Arsenal

www.thenationonlineng.net

WHO SAID WHAT

TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL. 7

NO.1,994

‘Leaders must ensure that their policies and programmes are for the good of the greatest number of people.’

FASHOLA

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

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S every expatriate knows, you can never leave the old country behind. It has a way of following you wherever you go.

In my experience, this condition seems to be truer of Nigerian expatriates than it is of other kinds of expatriates.

Wherever and whenever you find two or more Nigerian expatriates communing, the conversation invariably drifts to Nigeria – the latest political intelligence, Boko Haram and the growing threat to personal safety and security, the deteriorating social services, the general misery, and in the face of it all the utter helplessness, if not the indifference, of officials who month after month pocket, without remorse or twinge of conscience, obscene compensations for services they do not even feel called upon to deliver.

Even when the expatriate calls folks in the old country to ask after their health, he or she is sure to be deluged with a litany of woes, and not always of the kind that a remittance through Western Union (payment in dollars only, please) will solve, although that usually helps.

This season of goodwill to all has been chockfull of such intimations.

Like the relation and his family who were trapped on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway for some six hours as they headed to Kogi for Christmas. And that was just one family among hundreds, perhaps thousands, who were so circumstanced. Like the world-class physician driven to the edge of hysteria by the discontinuities of daily life.

Like entire communities whose deposits are trapped in banks that have been shot to pieces by armed robbers or banks that have remained shut, fearful of armed intrusion. Like one town I know of, where the police have no command post to operate from, their former base having been blown up by gunmen after freeing detained suspects.

One day last week, the central market in Kabba that had been bustling suddenly began to empty. Fresh from its latest orgy of bestial savagery in Madalla, Boko Haram, it was bruited, had sent notice to the Obaro, no less, that Kabba would be its next port of call.

From this remove half a world away, the whole thing seemed to me improbable. But those “on ground” who know much better and who stand to suffer horribly from such a malignant visitation had decided to take no chance.

“Did the Obaro actually receive such a message?” I asked.

There was no such message, a friend who had taken a more nuanced views of the matter told me.

“But the Obaro could have used the services of the NTA Station in Kabba to dispel the rumour and reassure the people that there was no cause for alarm?” I pursued, not unmindful that the query might be judged impertinent.

OLATUNJI DARE

AT HOME ABROAD olatunji.dare@thenationonlineng.net

2012: A summons to fundamentals

•Dr Jonathan

My friend chuckled, the way people chuckle when they are signalling that they are about to impart some diverting intelligence.

“The NTA station goes on air only when it has enough money to buy diesel oil to power its generator,” he said.

So, there you have it. A false security alert could not be dispelled because the television facility in town was not functioning. Even if the threat was clear and present, there was no way of communicating with the public in a manner that could contain mass panic and its consequences. You certainly could not trot out the old town crier in broad daylight and amidst the din and the tumult that are sure to drown his message.

Well before the serial bank robberies and the false alert, indeed for the better part of six months, the busy Abuja-Lokoja highway has

been the domain of armed robbers, where they operate in broad daylight and sometimes for hours on end, stripping their victims of prized possessions and in many cases killing them as part of their demented routine.

Those motorists who are spared this grim prospect cannot exult, for the next stretch, from Lokoja to Okene, is just as heavily infested. So is the stretch from Okene to Kabba, which used to be a 20-minute cruise across undulating savannah. Now you have to hold your breath as you enter it, not knowing what may be lurking ahead.

I understand that along the Abuja-Kaduna and the Abuja-Keffi highways, gangsters combining violent robbery with sadistic killing are just as menacing.

While innocent Nigerians suffer these ordeals, the police are usually nowhere to be found. If they show up at all, it is usually long after the event. But who can blame them when they are so poorly paid and housed, and when their equipage is vastly inferior to that of the hoodlums and gangsters they are supposed to confront and combat?

In this state of siege, President Goodluck Jonathan’s first thought was the idea of convening yet another national summit, this time on security.

National summits on education have not raised standards one bit. The nation’s thirst has grown more insatiable with every summit on water. Despite all the national summits on power, darkness envelopes vast swathes of the country. Despite all the national summits on health, life expectancy has dwindled. And despite all the summits on food, hunger still stalks the land.

Perhaps all this was pointed out to him by officials who can tell him what he needs to know, or more likely, he came to realise the vacuity of the approach after going through his daily press briefings, for he has now declared a state of emergency in the areas convulsed by Boko Haram and sectarian violence.

HARDBALL

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AVING exhausted its verbal powers trying to convince Nigerians the country would collapse if fuel subsidy was not removed, the government of Dr Goodluck Jonathan has brusquely decided to end all consultations on the issue and to finally implement its deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry. The president and his aides, notably Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, were at first evasive on the subject of subsidy removal, even suggesting strongly that the policy would not be implemented until well into the first quarter of 2012. In the end, they ate their words.

A government needs to jealously guard its honour and credibility. In fact, being an elected government, the Jonathan presidency needed to remind itself why and how it took power. Integrity is a vital component of that why and how. But as the dispute with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) shows, in which an agreement freely entered into by the government is repudiated with astonishing indifference, the Jonathan government could indeed be suffering from integrity deficit. This may explain why it has suddenly started to implement the fuel sub-

Dr Jonathan must not flinch from invoking the exceptional powers the Constitution vests him with under a state of emergency. But he must wield the emergency powers judiciously.

The emergency cannot be a blanket authorisation for the state to engage wantonly in the kind of conduct it was designed to contain.

It is to be hoped that this response also signals an end to his habit of being everywhere and yet nowhere — serving notice that he is set to withdraw a dubious subsidy on gasoline, making cassava the favourite breakfast item on the Presidential Villa, ending rice imports, scheming to foist a new constitution on the country through the back door, proposing a budget that consecrates executive profligacy even as it summons everyone else to austerity, and declaring glibly at every opportunity that Nigeria can never break up.

His academic specialism is reportedly ichthyology, the scientific study of fish. But surely, he cannot be innocent of contemporary history. If the mighty Soviet Union could dissolve and if Yugoslavia could splinter, who is to say that Nigeria may not follow the same path if and when the objective conditions coalesce?

And yet, Dr Jonathan has foreclosed some options that can make for a more perfect union. I mention only one of them: state police.

He says he has consulted the Council of State and that members are unanimous that the country is not ready for it; that it was abused in the past, and would be abused again.

Was it not the collective acts of omission and commission of these very men that brought Nigeria into its present grief? What store can one therefore set by their prejudices and mistakes? Whom do they represent anyway? What mandate can they claim, earned or purloined?

In whatever case, is control of the police by the Centre not abused every day? What makes that abuse less invidious than the abuse that control by the states may engender?

Every institution created and operated by human agency will be abused. The best way to curtail abuse is to institute laws to regulate the operations of the institution and punish abuse whenever it occurs. You stultify the people and stifle growth when you resolve that the best thing is not to create such institutions in the first place.

Dr Jonathan now has his work cut out for him. Without intending it, Boko Haram has helped concentrate his roaming mind. He should get serious and get focused on the fundamentals of Nigeria’s existence. Governance is much more than round after round of cocktails.

•This piece was written before the dubious oil subsidy was withdrawn in a New Year day ambush.

•For comments, send SMS to 08057634061

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

or military, has ever hiked fuel price as A most duplicitous fuel subsidy game ian insensitively as he has done.

Second, coming at the most inauspicious

sidy removal measure though it claimed to be consulting and was prepared to wait for a while to implement the measure.

The government probably got fed up listening to public objections to the policy. On January 1, 2012, it decided to order the adjustment of fuel price to what it felt was the deregulated optimum. In consequence, fuel dispensing outlets have begun to charge prices ranging from N138 to N142 per litre.

This is over 100 percent increase. The full impact of this price adjustment will be felt in the coming days as the market tries to respond to the new reality. It is unlikely that the palliatives the government promised to cushion the price hike will come as fast or be substantial enough to meet the exigencies of the moment.

The National Assembly appeared to have been sidelined in the decision to implement the subsidy removal, but in reality, there was little it could do. While a new budget is still in the pipeline, the old budget, which lifespan has been extended until a new budget is passed, does not have any outstanding pro-

vision for fuel subsidy. Therefore, whatever the lawmakers need to do can only be done in the budget under consideration. So, apart from ambushing the electorate with messianic glee, the presidency has also preempted the National Assembly with cynical dexterity.

But whether gleefully or cynically, the subsidy removal may have come at an inordinate price. First, whatever else the Jonathan government does, it is unlikely to be trusted again. By removing subsidy through executive fiat, as predicted much earlier by this newspaper, Jonathan has acted irresponsibly with utter contempt for the electorate that voted him into office. He needed to persuade them with facts and figures, or failing that to look for alternative measures. Instead, he allowed his frustrations to get the better of him, and has acted peremptorily. Now, no one is going to listen to, let alone buy, his suggestion that the constitution be amended to provide for a single term of six or seven years for the presidency. It would breed unbridled dictatorship. After all, no government before Jonathan, whether civil-

time of early January for a disgruntled and impoverished people, and hard on the heels of the uncertain but wide-ranging security measures he has just enacted against the Boko Haram terrorist menace, Jonathan must have a distinctly weird sense of timing and an unrealistic perception of his own vulnerability. Surely he must know that on top of alienating a large section of the North and running an uninspiring government accustomed to dithering, he has now almost comprehensively antagonised the whole populace with his sweeping, suspect and painful subsidy measure.

It will be surprising if he gets away with this price hike, even if subsidy is partially restored, and notwithstanding the famous docility of the Nigerian electorate. The auguries are not good at all. The country is in ferment socially and politically, and every corner is unsafe, as the last October 1 Independence Anniversary proved. Let Jonathan reverse himself and take fresh tutorials on running a democratic government. He seems to have forgotten himself.

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