The Nation January 26, 2012

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

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Kano youths overrun police station

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•Kano police chief Ibrahim Idris

UBILANT youths yesterday overran a blood-splattered police station attacked by Boko Haram in Kano on Tuesday.

Suspected members of Boko Haram surrounded the police station Tuesday night, ordered civilians to get off the street, began chanting “God is great” and threw homemade bombs into the station while spraying

it with assault rifles, witnesses said.

The attack followed coordinated assaults on Friday that killed at least 185 people in Nigeria’s second-largest city.

Associated Press journalists on Wednesday saw that youths had overrun the bombed-out station in the Shaka neighbourhood.

Doors to jail cells stood open.

Blood coated the floor of the local commander’s private bathroom. Investigative files that had apparently been rifled through were spilled on the floors.

Cheering youths outside waved an officer’s uniform and jumped up and down on top of a burned-out police truck, with one wearing a police ballistic helmet, smiling.

Others in the crowd said they would kill any police officer who returned. Some ominously asked journalists visiting the site if they were Christians.

“We are not satisfied with what is happening now,” said 26-year-old Abubakar Muawuya. Our leaders “have to call this Boko Haram and sit down with them.”

Kano police spokesman Magaji Musa Majiya did not immediately respond to a request for comment yesterday morning.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, though it followed the pattern of others carried out by Boko Haram, including the use of improvised explosives.

Ringim kicked out Jonathan appoints Abubakar Acting Inspector-General Ex-DIG Osayande leads reforms panel

Why he was picked From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

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From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

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AFIZ Abubakar Ringim’s tenure as Inspector-General of Police (IGP) came to an abrupt end yesterday – a few weeks to his retirement.

President Goodluck Jonathan terminated Ringim’s tenure and appointed Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar, Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Zone 12 in Bauchi acting IGP. The Nation foreshadowed Ringim’s ouster in an exclusive front page story, “Shake-up: Jonathan set to drop Ringim, DIGs” yesterday.

Gone with Ringim are the six Deputy Inspectors-General of Police.

Ringim was appointed on September 8, 2010. His tenure was dominated by insecurity and bombings, especially in the North, arising mainly from the Boko Haram (Western education is sin) insurgency.

What appeared to be the last straw was last week’s escape from custody of a key Boko Haram suspect, Kabiru Sokoto.

Ringim failed to explain satisfactorily Sokoto’s escape.

The former IGP was at the Presidential Villa yesterday morning for the second day running. But it was a prelude to his ouster from office.

Continued on page 4

WE SAID SO

•Yesterday’s front page of this newspaper announcing the sack of police chief Hafiz Ringim

•Abubakar arriving at the Presidential Villa ... yesterday.

•Name: MD Abubakar •Born: May 5, 1958 •State of Origin: Zamfara •Joined Police: Aug. 1, 1979 •Appointed Acting IGP: Jan. 25, 2012

THE CV

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

Positions held: •AIG Zone 12 Bauchi •SEE ALSO PAGES 2,3,4,19&20 •AIG Zone 5, Benin •AIG Zone 6, Calabar •AIG Zone 2, Lagos •Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Abia, Kwara, Kano and MM Airport in Lagos

FEW hours before his appointment as Acting Inspector-General of Police, MD Abubakar yesterday got an order from President Goodluck Jonathan - to protect lives and property and reform the police.

He also asked him to collaborate with other security agencies to tackle insecurity in the North, which has been occasioned by the Boko Haram insurgency.

Abubakar will be on probation for six months.

His confirmation will be based on performance.

Jonathan opted for Abubakar because of the manner in which he had handled crises in some parts of the country when he was a Commissioner of Police.

Besides, he is the most senior Assistant Inspector-General of Police.

A Police Service Commission (PSC) source, who pleaded not to be named because he is not permitted to speak officially, said: “Although the President does not need to consult this commission on the appointment of any Inspector-General of Police, the truth is that Abubakar is an operation person. He will make an impact.

That is why the President appointed him.

“Also, he is the most Senior AIG and since the President wanted one of Continued on page 4

•POLITICS P17 •SPORTS P23 •EDUCATION P25 •NATURAL HEALTH P43

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

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NEWS SACK IGP MESSAGES RINGIM NEW OF YEAR From Louis Edet to Muhammed Abubakar

LOUIS Edet was the first indigenous IGP. He reigned from 1964 to 1966. For this man, who has the Police Headquatres, Abuja, which the Boko Haram atatcked last year, he had to prove that an indigenous officer could lead the police and accounts said he did his best.

EDET was succeeded by Kam Salem, who reigned for nine years.

He left in 1975. Now late, till date, no one has had such a long reign.

The police zonal headquatres in Lagos Island is named after him.

As the second indigenous IGP, he built on the records of Edet before quitting the stage.

SALEM’s successor was Muhammadu Dikko Yusufu, who was in charge from 1975 to 1979. Yusufu was respected.

After his retirement, he tried becoming President, but his attempts did not yield the desired result. He is considered as one of the best the country has had.

AFTER Yusufu came Adamu Suleiman who was in charge from 1979 to 1981. Suleiman’s two-year reign was in the opinion of some neither glorious nor infamous. He tried his best, which some agreed was good enough, but others felt were below expectations.

Can Abubakar triumph over Boko Haram?

There were no fewer than six officers ahead of him, but the Presidency by-passed them all to pick Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar as the 16th indigenous police chief. For this 54-year-old officer, his performance in curbing the menace of the insurgent group, Boko Haram, will, more than any other factor, determine his place in history, write OLUKOREDE YISHAU and JUDE ISIGUZO

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F having a network of friends in all strata of life is a criteria for succeeding as InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP), then Zamfara-born Mohammed Dikko Abubakar , until yesterday the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 5, is already a resounding success. Abubakar can also be considered a success, if serving the police in several capacities across the country help make a good IGP. This officer many love to describe as “having a fine face and soft-spoken” has, since joining the force on August 1, 1979, held almost every major position available in the force, except perhaps Deputy InspectorGeneral of Police (DIG), which he skipped to emerge IGP. Important positions he has held include Assistant Commissioner of Police, State CID, Sokoto Police Command; Assistant Commissioner of Police, Federal Operations, Force Head Quarters, Lagos; and, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Airport Police Command, Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos; Deputy Commissioner of Police (Administration), Lagos State Police Command; he served as a substantive Commissioner of Police in states such as Plateau, Abia, Kwara, Kano and Lagos; AIG in charge of Zone 2 comprising Lagos and Ogun states; AIG Zone 5 Benin comprising of Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa states; AIG Zone 6 comprising Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Ebonyi states; and AIG in charge of Zone 12, with operational base in Bauchi.

Abubakar’s time as Commissioner of Police in Plateau State coincided with the September 7, 2001 Jos crisis. The Justice Niki Tobi panel set up by the state government to inquire into the crisis felt he should have handled it better.

Abubakar, who will be 54 on May 5, is well-travelled. Though he holds no university degree, he has undertaken courses home and abroad. He is a member of the prestigious National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS). He is an active member of International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Economics (FCE) and a holder of the prestigious Police Medal (NPM).

Some of the professional trainings he has undertaken include: intermediate Command Course, Jos; Senior Command Course, Jos; General Detective

• File photograph of Abubakar and former IGP Mike Okiro

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‘Ringim, six DIGs’ forced retirement long overdue’

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HE forced retirement of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Hafiz Ringim and six Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs), have been described as long overdue.

A former member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Uche Onyeagucha, said the development was good in view of incessant bomb blasts in the North, insecurity in the countryand the escape of a suspected terrorist, Kabiru Umar, aka Kabiru Sokoto.

He said Ringim was a failure.

Besides the announcement of a former Lagos Police Commissioner, Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar, as the Acting IGP, the former legislator said there was urgent need for the police to be totally overhauled.

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

Onyeagucha, in a telephone interview yesterday, said the revelation by the spokesman of Boko Haram that the sect was being sponsored by Northern governors was not new.

He advocated the restructuring of Nigeria, especially with the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference (SNC).

Onyeagucha, a former governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Imo State and ex-member of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Police, described Nigeria as underpoliced, with underequippedpolicemen.

He alleged that most of the funds allocated to the police had not been going beyond the office

Course, Metropolitan Police, West Hendon, England; General Security Course, Israel; General Security Course, FBI, USA; International Security, England; and General Detective Course ,Scotland Yard.

But how far all these experiences will help him in dislodging Boko Haram, which cost Hafiz Ringim

Ringim woefully failed as IGP. He also failed as AIG in Umuahia, as he could not confront the kidnappers in Abia State, who were terrorising the residents, until soldiers were deployed to restore law and order

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of the IGP, which he described as very unfortunate, saying policemen in Nigeria are equipped to die and not to serve.

The ex-lawmaker said President Goodluck Jonathan must be firm and decisive in sanitising the police and ensuring safety of life and property.

his job, remain suspect. Bauchi, his last duty post, is a hot-bed for Boko Haram insurgency and critics say he achieved little to curb them.

Since 2009, Boko Haram has literally seized power in the Northeast. A report released a day before Abubakar was unveiled as the new police chief said the insurgent group has killed at least 935

Onyeagucha said: “Ringim woefully failed as IGP. He also failed as AIG in Umuahia, as he could not confront the kidnappers in Abia State, who were terrorising the residents, until soldiers were deployed to restore law and order.

“Policemen in Nigeria are equipped to die and not to serve. Their conditions of service are very horrible. Police should be made functional. Funds should be released to all police commands and stations. Money sent to the police do not go beyond IGP’s office. How can the police be well-equipped?”

The former governorship candidate urged Jonathan to be alive to his responsibilities, by putting an end to the incessant bomb explosions. He said only then will investors be encouraged to come into the country.

people since 2009, including more than 250 in the first weeks of this year.

The report by Human Rights Watch said Boko Haram, which means “Western education is sinful” is loosely modeled on Afghanistan’s Taliban. It has claimed responsibility for bombing churches, police stations, military

facilities, banks and beer parlours in the mainly Muslim north.

The sect focuses its attacks mostly on the police, military and government, but has recently increased its attacks on Christian institutions. It claims it is fighting enemies who have wronged its members through violence, arrests or economic neglect and corruption.

Bomb attacks and gun battles in Kano, killed 186 people on January 20, in Boko Haram’s most deadly attack to date. Gunfire was heard in Kano early on Tuesday, witnesses said.

Senior West Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch Corinne Dufka said: “Boko Haram’s attacks show a complete and utter disregard for human life. The Nigerian authorities need to call a halt to this campaign of terror and bring to justice those responsible for planning and carrying out these reprehensible crimes.”

The report said 550 people were killed in 115 separate attacks by Boko Haram last year, mostly in Borno State, where the sect was founded in 2002.

Gone were the days when the group was into drive-by shootings and petrol bombs. Now it is into suicide attacks using large and increasingly sophisticated explosives. A suicide car bomb last year killed 25 people at the United Nations headquarters in Abuja.

In July 2009, the sect launched an uprising in the northeast in which more than 800 people were killed in five days of fighting with security forces.

The sect originally said it wanted sharia (Islamic law) to be applied more widely across Nigeria.

London-based risk adviser for Eurasia Group said in a research note: “Jonathan’s inability to respond effectively, or articulate a credible strategy, reinforces the growing perception of a deep leadership void in Abuja. So far, militarisation of the region and strict curfews have only had limited effect and huge (military) spending outlays in 2012 offer little hope for a credible broader strategy.”

With Jonathan’s appointment of Abubakar, will the centre hold or will things fall apart? The days to come will paint a better picture of what place the sixteenth indigenous police helmsman will be in history. The task ahead is daunting!

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

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NEWS SACK OF IGP RINGIM SULEIMAN was succeeded by Sunday Adewusi, who reigned from 1981 to 1983. The Oyo Stateborn police chief presided over a highly politicized Force in the defunct Second Republic. The police were at the beck and call of the then ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN).

•Balogun

ADEWUSI was succeeded by Etim Inyang, who held the position for only one years, from 1985 to 1986.The Cross River State-born police chief was in the saddle under the administration of the self-styled military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.

Under him, the commentaries of robbery incidents were aired on the broadcast media like that of football

•Ehindero

MUHAMMADU GamboJimeta took over in 1986 and held the nation’s number cop slot till 1990. For the four years he was IGP, not a few considered the Adamawa State-born officer as working more for the government than for the people.

ALIYU Atta took over from Gambo-Jimeta in 1990 and reigned till 1993.His era was a particularly turbulent one for the country. It was under his watch that the various elections that would usher in the Third Republic, including June 12 presidential election were conducted.

•Onovo

OTHERS who came after Atta are: Ibrahim Coomasie, Musiliu Smith,Tafa Balogun, Sunday Ehindero, Mike Okiro, Ogbonna Onovo and Hafiz Ringim, who had a serious challenge in the Boko Haram insurgent group, which bombed police headquatres, among several other places.

•Ringim

From Edet to Ringim: a tale of controversial IGPs

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Since 1964, there have been sixteen Inspectors General of police (IGPs). the tenure of most of them always ended in controvesy, write Deputy News Editor BUNMI OGUNMODEDE

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S it was in the days of the first indigenous InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP), the late Louis Edet, so it was in the days of IGP Hafiz Ringim, and so ever shall be. Ringim, who was until yesterday the IGP, has been replaced by Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar.

It has become a tradition for successive police chiefs to leave the office in controversial circumstances. Many, who attained the pinnacle of their careers in the Police Force, were often relieved of the exalted position due to public outcry, mainly over partisanship and loyalty to the government in power to the detriment of the Constitution.

But of all the past police chiefs, the duo of Ogbonnaya Okechukwu Onovo and Hafiz Ringim have many things in common. Their failure to curtail internal security challenges posed by their kinsmen was the greatest undoing.

Ringim, from Ringim Local Government Arear of Jigawa State, was consumed by the insurgence of the members the Boko Haram sect.

Members of the sect are from the North, Ringim’s immediate constituency, while Onovo, from Enugu, fell from grace due to the activities of his kinsmen, who turned the Southeast states to kidnappers’ den and a haven for bandits.

Hafiz Abubakar Ringim

His appointment as an acting IGP shocked Nigerians when it was announced on September 8, 2010 by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The President, who was consolidating his hold on power in an acting capacity, had sacked all the service chiefs including the IGP and

The roll call A relatively junior officer as an Assiatnt Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Ringim was number 10 on the police hierarchy. He was named above nine Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs), incluging a town’s man, Uba Ringim

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the Director of the State Security Service (SSS).

A relatively junior officer as an Assiatnt Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Ringim was number 10 on the police hierarchy. He was named above nine Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs), incluging a town’s man, Uba Ringim. The DIGs are: Israel Ajao, Uzoma Declan, Haruna Ahmadu, Olusegun Efuntayo and Udo Ekpoudom plus AIGs Mrs Ivy Okoronkwo, Azubike Udah and Ganiyu Dawodu.

He was said to be the least qualified academically, as his highest qualification was the Advance Diploma in Public Administration, while the others had at least a uni-

Name Louis Edet Kam Salem Muhammadu Dikko Yusufu Adamu Suleiman Sunday Adewusi Etim Inyang Muhammadu Gambo-Jimeta Aliyu Atta Ibrahim Coomassie Musiliu Smith Mustafa Adebayo Balogun Sunday Ehindero Mike Mbama Okiro Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo Hafiz Ringim Mohammed Abubakar versity degree, with a couple of them having the Master’s degree.

Ringim joined the Force as a Cadet Inspector on March 1, 1977 with a school certificate, while the others joined as Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) with varsity degrees.

Before he was elevated, Ringim was the AIG in charge of Zone 9, comprising of Abia, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and Anambra, the five Southeast states, where armed robbery and kidnapping was the order of the day under Onovo, who, he succeeded.

On the day Ringim was named the acting AIG, banks in Aba, Abia State, had not opened for operation for a week, no thanks to robbery challenge.

The last straw that broke the camel’s back was the controversial

Period of office 1964–1966 1966–1975 1975–1979 1979–1981 1981–1983 1985–1986 1986–1990 1990–1993 1993–1999 1999–2002 2002 – 2005 2005–2007 2007–2009 2009 - 2010 2010 - Jan 2012 2012 - ?

escape from police custody of a prime Boko Haram suspect, Kabiru Sokoto.

But for his forced exit, Ringim, 59, would have taken a bow from the Force after a 35-year run in the service.

Ogbonnaya Onovo

His reign as the police chief was marred by the inability of the force to rein in some youths in the Southeast states, who, almost with impunity, eke out a living from robbery and kidnapping expatriates and wealthy men for ransom.

Onovo’s plea to his kinsmen to sheathe their sword for the sake of one of their own in the saddle fell on deaf ears, until he was forced out of office, before he attained the retirement age.

He left the office, four clear years of turning 60, the mandatory re-

tirement age. If years of service had been applied as the criterion for the Enugu state-born Onovo, he would have retired this year at 59 after clocking 35 years in service.

Onovo, who took over from Mike Mbama Okiro in 2009, enlisted in the Police on August 1, 1977, climbing the rank as an ASP.

Sunday Adewusi

The Oyo State-born police chief presided over a highly politicised Force in the defunct Second Republic. The police were at the beck and call of the then ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN).

Etim Nyang

The Cross River State-born police chief was in the saddle under the administration of the selfstyled military president, Gen. Ibrahim Gbadamasi Babangida.

Under him, the commentaries of robbery incidents were aired on the broadcast media as if they were football matches. At a Security Council meeting, Babangida once asked him: “My friend, where is Aneni?” Aneni was a notorious robbery kingpin, whose gang left unforgettable tales for many police officers to tell.

Musiliu Smith

The Lagos-born officer left a record as the first police chief, under who the rank and file of the Force went on strike over alleged poor condition of service. His failure to abort the strike was his Achilles’ heel.

Tafa Balogun

Born in Ila-Orangun, Osun State, Balogun became the first police chief to be arrested, arraigned for trial and jailed for theft and illegal acquisition of confiscated properties. He, however, burst the riddle of the Okija shrine as he personally led a detachment of detectives.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

NEWS

Ringim falls at the feet of history

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T was said of a one-time King of France, Louis XVI (17741793), that “he arrived in the wrong historical place at the wrong time.” No fate can be more implacable, and no destiny more cruel, than that a man should be held hostage by history. Nineteen years after he inauspiciously donned the crown, Louis XVI and his wife went to the guillotine, even though the crises France experienced under him began during the dissolute reigns of his predecessors, Louis XIV and Louis XV, at such a pace no man twice as gifted as he could control, let alone reverse.

Mr Hafiz Ringim, the Inspector-General of Police (IG) who was made to retire yesterday morning, may not have studied the role fate played in the rise and fall of Louis XVI, but he found himself a prisoner of destiny at that famously cruel juncture familiar to many great men forced to cede power – where history meets inescapable fate.

It is safe to say that Boko Haram, the Salafist Jihadist sect dedicated to violence and anarchy in Nigeria, ended the career of Ringim. He did not show himself an incomparable police officer, but he was passably articulate, even had middle class manners, and fitted in with the thin crowd of IGs (many of whom were indistinguishably average) who preceded him. Had Boko Haram not upended his plans to cruise along as an average IG, there is little doubt that he would have retired in March with

ANALYSIS

By Kunle Fagbemi

his head held high. But whether out of naivety or overconfidence, he was deemed by the terrorist sect to have challenged their prowess when he boomed after the Eagle Square bombing that the days of Boko Haram were numbered.

In methodical succession, and with an abandon that at once shames and enrages every security man on the public payroll, Boko Haram detonated powerful bombs one after the other, starting with the Force Headquarters bombing on a day Ringim was in office, and according to reports, barely escaped being the direct target of the bombers. As if taunting the police, the bombers detonated another powerful explosive at the United Nations building in Abuja, took out 43 worshippers at a church in Madalla, near Abuja, and finally unveiled misery, horror and death in Kano last Friday. In between, there were sundry explosions of improvised bombs (IEDs) and scattered shootings that ran rings round the police.

The Kano mayhem probably finally undid Ringim, in spite of President Goodluck Jonathan’s puzzling commitment to helping his career to a memorable and honourable end.

But there was no way Kano would have achieved such a deadly impact on Ringim’s career had a top Boko

Haram suspect, Mallam Kabiru Sokoto, not escaped from police custody days before in humiliating and benumbing circumstances. It seemed Ringim was fated to receive one indignity after another from Boko Haram, and to stumble from one unresolved crisis to another unmanageable security nightmare. In case Ringim brought all these upon himself by careless speechmaking, his successor, Mohammed Abubakar, will almost certainly watch what he says and where he throws down the gauntlet before a sect that takes up gauntlets with alacrity.

It would, however, be an oversimplification of the crises that put an ignoble end to Ringim’s career to suggest that his troubles were caused by an unbridled tongue or that most of the security challenges he encountered during his tenure were selfmade. If he showed little initiative in handling the escape of Kabiru Sokoto, and demonstrated overzealousness in attempting to muzzle the press, of which this newspaper was a victim, they were insufficient to end his career had he demonstrated in other areas the sterling quality needed to reposition the police and respond with aplomb to the increasing sophistication of the enemies of the state.

Notwithstanding, it is also probably true that President Jonathan was reluctant to sack Ringim when the indignities concocted by Boko Haram began to rain on the police, the presi-

dency and the nation like a torrent because he knew sensibly that the security challenges facing the nation transcended the police’s lack of initiative and incompetence. Even if he had a revolutionary mind, there was not much Ringim could do to stem the effusive daring of high-profile criminals and terrorists. Kidnapping, the nemesis of Ringim’s predecessor, has continued apace, if now little reported with the flourish that accompanied its dramatic beginnings. The country has not found a solution, and will not, for as long as the conditions that engender it persist. Boko Haram •Ringim is an inherited social and political disease. No police force on its own, tomorrow, and if not another terrible no matter how brilliant, can solve it. crime on the day after, Nigeria would It will require concerted efforts by the always stand the risk of being unpolice and the political establishment done by one crime or the other over led by the presidency to fight it. But its refusal to reform and remould its the presidency has been strangely re- political system when it still has the initiative. miss in leading the fight.

Boko Haram leaders may smirk More importantly, whether we admit it or not, Boko Haram and other heartily over the fall of Ringim, but crimes threatening the state are prod- they are not stupid to imagine that ucts of a dysfunctional society in he as a person represented the instiwhich the elite stupidly frolics with tution they fought so bitterly. The the incendiary tool of religion at a federal government would be naïve time scrupulous adherence to secu- to also think that once a new man oclarism would have considerably ob- cupies the IG seat, and he shows viated the crises that inundate the some imagination, then all will be country. In addition, these high-pro- well. Boko Haram is just an aspect file crimes are also products of an in- of the disease ravaging the body poliefficient and unworkable federal tic. The country’s problems are so structure resting on an incompetent fundamental and structural that no constitution operated by uninspiring palliative, either in weapons or rotaand effete political elite. If not kid- tion of officers or better technology, napping today, if not Boko Haram can prove a useful anodyne.

Ringim kicked out Continued from page 1

•Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun (second left) and his wife, Olufunso flanked by Mrs. Taiwo Durojaiye and Mr. Ososan Olufemi, during a session with the Elderly at the “Uplifting the Aged” programme marking the 54th birthday of the governor in Abeokuta … yesterday

Why President picked Abubakar as IG Continued from page 1

the AIGs to be the IGP, the lot automatically fell on him.”

Another member of the commission said: “If you look at his records, he has a fairly good grade and operational wherewithal to lead the police.

“The way he tackled security challenges in Lagos, Kwara and Plateau states proved that he could address the current security problems in the country, if given the right environment.

“Let me give you an example. From 2001 to 2003, in particular, in Kwara State, there was a serious security challenge following a crisis of confidence between the late Governor Mohammed Lawal and his erstwhile godfather, Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki,

but the coming of MD Abubakar restored normalcy.

He was non-partisan and he rid the state of armed bandits and thugs.

“He is also a cosmopolitan police officer, going by the way he managed the Lagos State Command. During his tenure as Lagos CP, he fought corruption among policemen to a standstill.”

To another source, the fact that the Acting IGP is from Zamfara State, a Sharia enclave, may enable him tackle the Boko Haram menace.

“Born in Gusau, Zamfara State on May 5, 1958, Abubakar joined the police on July 30, 1979. He was Commissioner of Police in Kwara, Lagos and Plateau states. He was elevated to Assistant Inspector-General

of Police on November 30, 2006. He is due for retirement on 30th July, 2014. He became AIG Zone 12, Bauchi on 15 November 2011.

The President may still have to refer the retirement of six Deputy Inspectors-General of Police to the Commission for ratification.

The DIGs, who retired with Ringim, are: Mrs. Ivy Okoronkwo, Second in Command (2i/c); Mr. Azubuko Udah, DIG “A” (Administration); Audu Abubakar, DIG “B” Operations; Saleh Abubakar, DIG “C” (Logistics and Supply); Alhaji Sardauna Abubakar, DIG “E” (Training) and Mohammed Yesufu, DIG “F” (Management Services).

A source said: “The President committed a constitutional and procedural error in

removing the six DIGs. He is only constitutionally empowered to appoint and remove the IGP. “Section 30 of Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution says the Police Service Commission shall have power to (a) appoint persons to offices (other than the Office of the InspectorGeneral of Police) and (b) dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over persons holding any office referred to in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph.

“The DIGs cannot be removed with fiat as the President did. They can only be removed by the commission based on his recommendation. To stave off a court action, the President will write the commission.”

At about 4pm, the newly appointed acting IGP was driven into the Villa in a black Toyota Prado marked Abuja CZ11RBC. He was ushered into the President’s Office.

One hour and 11 minutes after, Abubakar emerged from the President’s Office and his appointment was announced.

Presidential spokesman Reuben Abati, in a statement announcing the departure of Ringim and the appointment of Abubakar, said: “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has approved the appointment of Mr. Mohammed D. Abubakar as Acting Inspector General of Police as a first step towards the comprehensive reorganisation and repositioning of the Nigeria Police Force to make it more effective and capable of meeting emerging internal security challenges.

“Mr. Abubakar, who is currently an Assistant InspectorGeneral of Police replaces Mr. Hafiz Ringim, who proceeds on terminal leave with effect from today, 25th January 2012.

“Born on May 5, 1958, Mr. Abubakar enlisted in the Nigeria Police Force on July 30, 1979. He was the AIG in charge of Zone 12 Headquarters in Bauchi before his new appointment.

“President Jonathan has also approved the retirement of all Deputy Inspectors General of Police with immediate effect.

These are: Mrs. Ivy Uche Okoronkwo, DIG POL 2i/c Force Headquarters, Abuja, Mr. Azubuko J. Udah, DIG Administration (“A” Dept), Mr. Sardauna Abubukar, DIG Training (“E” Dept.); Mr. Audu Abubakar, DIG Operations (“B” Dept); Mr. Saleh Abubakar, DIG Works (“C” Dept.) and Mr. Mohammed A. Yesufu, DIG Planning and Info-Tech (“F” Dept.).

The President has also established a Special Committee to oversee the urgent reorganisation of the Nigeria Police Force. The committee is to be chaired by the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Mr. Parry B.O Osayande, DIG (rtd).

Other members of the Committee are: •Mr. Casimir T. Akagbosu, AIG (rtd.), •Mr. Bashir A. Albasu, AIG (rtd.), •Major Gen. S.N. Chikwe (rtd) •Prof. S.D. Mukoro •Dr. Fabian Ajogwu (SAN) •Aisha Larai Tukur •Solicitor General of the Federation •Permanent Secretary, SSO, Office of the SGF to serve as the Secretary to the Committee The Committee is to: •identify the challenges and factors militating against effective performance in the police and make recommendations for addressing the challenges; •examine the scope and standard of training and other personnel development activities in the police to determine their adequacy or otherwise; •determine the general and specific causes of the collapse of public confidence in the police and recommend ways of restoring public trust in the institution; •examine records of performance of officers and men of the police with a view to identifying those who can no longer fit into the system due to declining productivity, age, indiscipline, corruption and/or disloyalty; and •make any other recommendations for the improvement of the police.

“The Committee’s recommendations shall be implemented along with those by previous committees set up

by Government on the reform of the Nigeria Police Force,” the statement said.

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

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

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NEWS ‘Boko Haram got weapons, training from alQaida North Africa group’

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IGER’S Foreign Minister Mohamed Bazoum has said the Boko Haram sect, which has claimed responsibility for a series of deadly attacks in the northern Nigeria, received training and weapons from al-Qaida’s North African wing.

Bazoum spoke yesterday in Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania.

He said members of the sect were trained by and received explosives from alQaida in the Maghreb countries.

Bazoum said: “There is no doubt, the two organisations are connected and they have the same objective of destabilising our region.”

Ministers from the West African region met yesterday in Mauritania and vowed to intensify their efforts against militant groups.

•Enugu residents waiting to buy kerosene at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) mega station in Enugu...yesterday

El-Rufai to Jonathan: Fish out Boko Haram in govt F ORMER Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, yesterday urged President Goodluck Jonathan to identify suspected Boko Haram members in his administration.

The former minister said until the President identifies such people in his cabinet and reviews the nation’s security strategies, the Federal Government may not proffer a lasting solution to the sect’s crisis.

El-Rufai spoke in Abuja at a Political Party Primaries Reform Conference, organised by the Alliance for Credible Elections (ACE).

He said: “Unless you have the confidence of those you are supposed to dialogue

From Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

with, and they genuinely believe that you are serious to solve the problem, there is no basis for dialogue. Before dialogue, I think you are supposed to ask a question: who is Boko Haram? Where are its members?

“The President said they are in the government. If he knows where they are, let him fish them out to solve the problem.

“Dialogue is a second stage. The first stage is good intelligence and clarification of what the issues are:

where were the bombings and attacks before 2009? Let us go back and learn from it and try to solve the problem.”

Attributing injustice and extra-judicial killings as few of the factors that contributed to the nation’s problem, the former minister urged the government to quickly address the sect’s menace.

On the need to reform Nigeria’s political primaries, el-Rufai advocated legislations to back up the constitutions of political parties to prevent officials from altering candidates’ names after they win the primaries.

He noted that until the best candidates, who reflect the wishes of their parties emerge as the main candidate, the country would continue to have political problems and the people would continue to suffer.

El-Rufai said: “Democracy is supposed to be a link among those elected and those who elected them. But there’s no such a link, because most people get into office by pandering the wishes of a few people godfathers - rather than members of the party. This is a tragedy and this is where our democracy is dysfunctional.”

Petrol still sells for N150 per litre in Bauchi

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ESPITE the reduction of the price of petrol from N141 to N97, following the nationwide Labour strike early this month, many filling stations in Bauchi metropolis were selling the product for between N130 and N145 yesterday.

There were places where the commodity was sold for between N150 to N200 per litre.

This has shot up transport fares in the metropolis.

A short trip by commercial motorcycle (Okada) cost between N50 and N100; a

From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

short ride in a tricycle, Keke NAPEP, was N100.

Roadside petrol dealers, or black marketers, sold a litre for between N200 and N250 per litre.

The Nation investigation revealed that in Bauchi, the state capital, and some local government areas, the price fluctuated.

In Bauchi metropolis, at all A. Y. M. Shaffa and Manu Soro filing stations, a litre went for N141. At ASMAN, Shukura, AA Rano and

Jajere, the price was N150 per litre.

At the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) mega stations in Bauchi and environs, the commodity was sold for N97 between 8am and $pm, and N130 from 4pm to 6pm.

It was gathered that though pumping machines appeared to be discharging the normal quantity of fuel, only wary buyers could detect that the quantity was reduced through the manipulation of the nozzles.

At the NNPC mega station on the Bauchi/Jos Road, on

the outskirts of Bauchi, the price showed N97 per litre.

Queues of consumers have been conspicuous at the mega stations.

Many motorists abandoned their vehicles to return home when they could not buy the product before the filling stations closed at 6pm.

There have been allegations of exploitation against petrol dealers in the town.

Ayuba Garba, a motorcyclist, alleged that the pumping machines at the NNPC mega station were dispensing lower than the normal quantity per litre.

Anxiety at NLC over suspected Boko Haram threat

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FFICIALS of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have been staying away from their offices at the union’s headquarters and the states following a threat it reportedly received from someone claiming to speak for the Boko Haram sect.

A source at the union’s office, who spoke in confidence, said: “Boko Haram wrote, demanding oga’s (Abdulwaheed Omar’s) resignation over fuel price.”

A letter, purportedly written by the sect and sent to NLC’s e-mail address, al-

•Workers avoid offices

By Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu

leged that the umbrella union of Nigerian workers and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) did not do the people’s wish when they called off the strike following a reduction of petrol price from N141 to N97.

A copy of the letter, as posted on the social network, facebook wall of Comrade Denja Yaqub, a senior official of the NLC, reads (edited):

“WARNING: I said it recently: the so-called robbers, Labour union and its wife the TUC, are bastards, traitors that would disappoint Nigerians. How could they submit to the pressure? Who sent them? It is not on fuel subsidy alone. I am talking about d highest corruption in the land. What was a stay at home protest for that did not yield any result? The battle line is drawn. Badluck wants war; he believes in his Ijaw militants.

“The man does not under-

stand what Nigerians want.

On N65 (per litre) I stand.

He’s the most useless President Nigeria ever had. His PhD is questionable.

“I’m using this opportunity to tell Abdulwahed Omar (NLC National President) to resign with immediate effect. NLC and TUC: be prepared for fire at your head offices and offices nationwide soonest (friday 2012).”

A union leader advised that pending the confirmation of the genuineness of the letter, Labour leaders should be vigilant.

Cleric calls for dialogue, prayers to end sect’s menace From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has been urged to convene an all-encompassing stakeholders’ meeting for dialogue on the Boko Haram menace.

The President was advised to invite notable Islamic and Christian clerics for spiritual intervention that would help to expose the sponsors of the sect.

Addressing reporters in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, yesterday, the Chief Imam of the state, Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere, noted that Dr Jonathan has made physical efforts in engaging security agencies, including the police, State Security Service (SSS) and the Army, to secure the country.

The cleric added that the spiritual effort is lacking, to enable the nation attain effective security of life and property.

He said: “President Jonathan has really tried through the efforts of the police and the Army. But, every Nigerian has a responsibility in these efforts.

“The President should go a step further by inviting notable and genuine Muslim and Christian clerics and assign them with a specific task of spiritual intervention on this matter. I know if the President can do this, there will be a good result. Every other Nigerian should also join in the effort as well. This is the best way to expose and bring the perpetrators to book.”

‘Engage opposition, others in dialogue’

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has been urged to dialogue with the opposition and other interest groups to find a lasting solution to the Boko Haram menace.

In a statement in Abuja, veteran journalist and former Special Assistant to the late Chief Moshood Abiola, Lisa Olu Akerele, noted that the sect has become a problem to all Nigerians, irrespective of their political affiliations.

He said it is necessary for the President to parley with all parties to collectively curb the incessant attacks by the sect.

Noting that the bombs used

by Boko Haram do not discriminate between ethnic, re-

ligious or political ties of their victims, the retired journalist said it has become more compelling for all Nigerians to put heads together because of the increased attacks by the sect.

Akerele cautioned Ijaw and other Niger Delta indigenes to be more circumspect in their comments on Boko Haram attacks, adding that they were unwittingly pushing other ethnic groups to unite against Dr Jonathan.

He said all ethnic groups have suffered from the sect’s bombings. The retired journalist added that it is unacceptable for the Ijaw to give the impression that other ethnic groups have teamed up against the President because he is from the minority side.

Journalists urged to register with NHIS From Marie-Therese Peter, Jos

HE National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and President, West Africa Journalists Association (WAJA), Mr. Mohammed Garba, has said there is need for journalists to key into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) for their insurance.

He noted that this would ensure that their families have something to fall back on in case of accident or death, since many media houses do not have such scheme.

The NUJ chief spoke in Jos, the Plateau State capital, during a condolence visit to the state council over the death of some of its members.

He cited the case of a deceased journalist in Akure, the Ondo State capital, where members of his family would be paid N1.5million to cater for their immediate needs.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

NEWS Court strikes out suit against Wada From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

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N Abuja Federal High Court has struck out a suit filed by a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Emmanuel Abalaka against the Kogi Governor-elect, Captain Idris Wada.

The plaintiff was challenging his nomination as the PDP governorship candidate in the December 3 governorship election.

Justice Adamu Bello said the suit was wrongly commenced by an originating summons instead of a writ of summons.

According to him, the matter in dispute could only be resolved by adducing oral evidence, and not mere documentary evidence.

“The plaintiff, having many contentious issues for the court to determine, which includes whether or not the defendant has a mental problem should have come through a writ of summons and not an originating summons. This court cannot go into the merit of the case and the suit is hereby struck out. The plaintiff can come back through a writ of summons. I so hold”.

In an originating summons brought pursuant to Sections 31 (2), 31 (5) (6) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended and the inherent jurisdiction of the court, the plaintiff had asked the court to declare that Wada’s nomination by the PDP is null, void and of no consequence.

The court had been told that Wada has a record of mental disorderliness from the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

Wada, who was a successful pilot, denied the allegation.

The plaintiff alleged that “the defendant (Capt. Wada) has occasioned a mischievous and violent insertions of his name in the membership list of the second defendant (PDP) in Ward 1, contrary to the Electoral Act 2010, as amended”.

According to him, Wada made false declarations in his affidavit in support of personal particulars, adding that he also forged the membership card of the PDP to participate in the primary.

Besides, he alleged that the defendant made false declaration that he attended Federal Government College, Sokoto, between 1969 and 1970 and the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology in the same 1969 and 1970.

In a further affidavit, Uchechukwu Clement, a lawyer, had alleged that Wada is “not a fit and proper person to contest for the governorship of Kogi State”.

He averred that contrary to Wada’s claims on oath under Part B, Article E, Question 1, “Idris Wada had at a point been adjudged to be of unsound mind”.

Clement added: “That Wada is actually an un-discharged psychiatric patient of the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan; and “That Wada was admitted into the Psychiatric Unit of the UCH, Ibadan, on April 7, 1976 with card number 399346 on referral from Dr. V.O. Anosika of Estate Clinic Group for schizophrenic illness...”

Corps members seek redeployment from North N ATIONAL Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members

yesterday besieged their Headquarters in Abuja for redeployment.

The Batch “B” 2011 members posted to Kano and some other northern states sought reposting to other regions other than the North.

They urged the NYSC management to stop further posting to Adamawa, Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi and Niger, in particular.

The corps members urged the NYSC management to stop further posting to the North until the insecurity in the region is overcome.

•1,041 flee Adamawa

From Bukola Amusan,· Abuja and Barnabas Manyam, Yola

In Adamawa State, of the 4,171 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members trained for Ad Hoc electioneering duties by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), about 1,041 of them have fled the state following increasing insecurity.

Some of the corps members, who spoke with The Nation, said: “Since residents, most

especially corps members, are no longer safe in the northern states, they should henceforth be posted to their states of origin or preferred states in the interest of peace and safety.

“Our lives are no longer safe; we cannot die because we want to serve our fatherland. We should be immediately posted to safer states.”

The management of the NYSC urged the corps members seeking redeployment

to return to their states of origin after filling the redeployment form.

The Special Adviser to the NYSC Director-General, Alhaji Musa Abubakar said: “The NYSC does not have any right to deprive any corps member of his or her right.

“We will continue to respect their grievances. If a corps member feels he or she is no longer safe somewhere, we will redeploy such a person. We cannot continue to jeopardise their safety.”

Abubakar said affected corps members would be contacted when the management completes the redeployment process.

•Sheka Police station, allegedly attacked by suspected the Boko Haram sect in Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State on Tuesday evening.

No cause to flee Adamawa, say community leaders

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ON-indigenous community leader in Adamawa State have urged their compatriots to stop fleeing the state following rumour of likely ethno-religious confrontation.

About 22,000 Igbo and Yoruba in the state have fled due to insecurity, despite the calls by their leaders to return.

The Eze Ndi Igbo in the state, Chief Solomon Ebis, confirmed the development.

He urged the Igbo in the state to stop the mass exodus, saying there was no ethno-religious crisis in Adamawa State.

The National Coordinator of Global Initiative for African Development, a civil society organisation, Rev. Onwubuya Breakforth said the rumour of war against non-indigenes was unfounded.

He urged politicians to watch their language during election campaigns.

According to him, every

‘Ethno-religious crisis rumour baseless’ From Barnabas Manyam, Yola

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HE network of civil society organisations, which has been assessing the political and security challenges in Adamawa State, has dispelled the rumour of ethnoreligious crisis in the state.

It assured those fleeing the state to return.

The network, comprising 125 organisations, led by two principal organisations accredited by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) - Global Initiative for African Development, (GIFAD) and Centre for Strategic Conflict Management (CSCM) and six others – have arrived in Yola, the state capital.

It was learnt that the organisations have toured the 21 local government areas to assess the political and security challenges in the state.

Addressing reporters after the assessment, the National Coordinator of the group, Rev Dr. Onwubuya Breakforth and its General Secretary, Dr. I.E. Onyike, said the team met with various stakeholders, including the Adamawa State Independent National Electoral Commission, political parties, security agencies, trade unions, market women, public servants, emirs and chiefs.

From Barnabas Manyam, Yola

resident should ensure that the state returns to being the most peaceful so that everyone

could live in peace.

The activist hailed the state government for patrolling the

streets, adding that reporters deserve commendation for their coverage of the crisis.

The Chief of Yoruba community in the state, Alhaji Abdulganiyu said he had set up a high-powered committee to dissuade those contemplating leaving the state.

He urged the Yoruba to return, saying the state was peaceful.

According to him, the rumour of a crisis in the state was not true.

It was gathered that most shops in Mubi North, Mubi South, Jimeta, Yola South, Numan, Mayo-Belwa, Ganye, Guyuk and Michika have remained shut, despite the assurance from their community leaders that there was no cause for alarm.

President of Tiv community in the state, Chief Terkimbir Tyona, hailed Governor Murtala Nyako for safeguarding Tiv residents.

He urged his people to remain calm as the rumour of an ethnoreligious crisis was untrue.

Kogi tribunal: CJ warns trouble makers N preparation for the sittings of the Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal today, the Chief Judge, Justice Nasir Ajanah, yesterday warned party supporters to conduct themselves well around the court premises or face contempt charge.

Supporters of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the Peoples Democratic

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From Mohammed Bashir, Lokoja

Party (PDP) clashed on Monday when the newly constituted tribunal held its inaugural sitting on the December 3 governorship election petition filed by the ACN candidate Prince Abubakar Audu, who is challenging the election of Capt Idris

Wada.

Justice Ajanah frowned at what he called the unruly behaviours of the party supporters at the court premises.

The Chief Judge warned that such misconduct would no longer be tolerated at the court premises, saying the court would come down hard on trouble makers.

Ahmed slashes KWASU fees by 30% From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

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WARA State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has slashed by 30per cent the tuition fees (N50,000) payable by students of the state-owned University (KWASU).

The new fee regime, expected to begin from next academic session, will only affect students of the state origin. Affected students, who hitherto paid N150,000 per session, will henceforth pay N99,500.

In statement, the Senior Special Assistant Media to the governor, Dr Muyideen Akorede, said the phased palliative measures would cushion the impact of the increase in the pump price of petrol.

He said: “KWASU students are also to benefit from a new mass transit system under which the government will allocate two new buses each on routes to the university as well to the University of Ilorin and the Kwara State Polytechnic.

“Ahmed has directed the immediate abolishment of all fees and levies at senior secondary schools to ease the burden of fee payment on parents and guardians. In addition, senior secondary school pupils are to receive 10 free notebooks per session, courtesy of the state government.

“The first set of palliatives is targeted at youths due to the fact that they constitute the largest segment of the state population and based on his administration’s emphasis on youth empowerment.”

Idris inaugurates fertiliser plant From Mohammed Bashir, Lokoja

OGI State Governor Ibrahim Idris has inaugurated the multi-million naira Confluence Neem Based Fertiliser Plant to improve agriculture in the state.

Inaugurating the plant at Agbeji in Dekina Local Government Area, the governor said the project was a collaboration between the state government and the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology, Zaria, Kaduna State.

According to him, the project will boost food production and other economic activities in the state.

He noted that the project will help farmers and enhance the development of the state, especially the agricultural sector.

Idris said: “This effort will also ensure food security in the state and bail out citizens from hunger and abject poverty.”

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He restated the commitment of the Judiciary at providing tight security around court premises in the state.

Hailing the quick intervention of security agents during the Monday clash, Justice Ajanah urged political parties to check their supporters.

He said anyone without a business at the tribunal should stay away.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

7

NEWS

Ikeja bomb blast: Lagos to offer scholarship to victims’ children T

HE Lagos State Government has said it will give scholarship for children, whose parents died in the January 27, 2002, bomb blast in Ikeja.

Commissioner for Special Duties Dr. Wale Ahmed spoke with reporters yesterday on the activities lined up to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the explosion.

Ahmed said the government has also approved pro-

•Govt. approves training for divers

By Miriam Ndikanwu

fessional training programmes for divers who assisted the rescue team during the incident.

He said the government’s gesture does not mean it was responsible for the incident, but is aimed at ameliorating

the suffering of the victims.

Ahmed said: “Since the incident, the state government has, on an annual basis, organised a memorial celebration in honour of the victims. Part of what we have done was to approve the construction of a link bridge in that axis and that project is

almost concluded.”

As part of activities marking the anniversary, he said the names of the victims would be engraved on a commemorative wall.

Ahmed said: “The state government has also put into cognisance, parents and families that lost their chil-

dren and children who lost their parents in that incident.

Such parents will be given a token, while the children will receive scholarships.

This does not suggest that the state government was responsible for the incident and is giving a token as compensation. It is our way of reaching out to them.”

He said the government has carried out a comprehensive enumeration of the victims.

Alaafin advises Fed Govt on security

OGUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has pardoned seven prisoners.

According to a statement yesterday by his media aide, Mrs. Funmi Wakama, the governor ordered the release of Ibrahim Yinusa, Olanrewaju John, Kayode Adeyemi, Monday Iheakpo and Semiu Afolabi.

He also committed the death sentences of Rasidi Yisau and Saburi Adebayo to life imprisonment.

Amosun urged them to be of good conduct.

Ekiti revokes road contract From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

.Corps member donates tennis court From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo

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HE Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, yesterday advised the Federal Government to strengthen security in the country.

Oba Adeyemi spoke during the inauguration of a lawn tennis court at Durbar Stadium, Oyo. The inauguration was part of activities marking the 41st coronation anniversary of the Alaafin.

The court was built by a youth corps member serving in Oyo East Local Government, Miss Gloria Ezeokeke.

Oba Adeyemi decried the incessant killings by the Boko Haram sect and urged the government to curb their activities.

He said no meaningful development can be achieved in an atmosphere of anarchy and lawlessness.

The Alaafin said: “We should embrace peace and stop killing ourselves. There must be a stop to this bloodletting. We must co-exist and remember that we have no other country to call our own, except Nigeria. We must pave the way for a harmonious relationship, irrespective of our ethnic backgrounds.”

Lamenting the poor maintenance of sporting facilities in the country, he said: “It is indeed worrisome to note that in spite of the billions of naira spent on the construction of the National Stadium in Lagos, the edifice has now become an abode for miscreants.

“Government should put in place an effective maintenance system that will ensure that all sporting edifices stand the test of time.”

The monarch thanked corps members for their contributions to community development.

A representative of Mr. Taiwo Tiamiyu, the council chairman, said the local government would continue to protect the interest of corps members.

Gloria said she built the court, with the support of the local government, to improve sporting facilities at the Durbar Stadium.

She said: “Sporting activities enliven the soul and improve healthy living. Many people are willing to exercise, but the facilities on ground are inadequate, hence my determination to provide one as part of my community development project.”

Amosun pardons seven prisoners

•Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi (second right); Chairman, Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association ((NATA), Ekiti State chapter, Mr. Ayo Olubunmi (left); NATA Deputy National President Alhaji Kasali Obisesan (second left); and NATA National General-Secretary David Ajetumobi, at the Governor’s Office in Ado-Ekiti... on Tuesday.

Policeman set ablaze in Oyo for ‘killing’ driver POLICE corporal, Olufemi Ajayi, was yesterday set ablaze in Ayete, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State, by an irate mob, after he allegedly shot and killed a commercial driver at a checkpoint.

Ajayi, who is attached to Igboora Police Station, allegedly shot the victim, Mr. Emiola Kolade, after a minor argument.

Kolade died in a hospital in Igboora.

An eyewitness, Alhaji Salau Adele, said: “It all started at one of the many illegal checkpoints on Idere-Ayete road, when the corporal flagged down the driver and demanded a bribe. The driver gave him N100, but the policeman said the money was

A

From Oseheye Okwuofu Ibadan

too small and refused to accept it.

“This led to an argument between the two. We heard a gunshot later and the driver was found injured on the ground. The policeman tried to escape, but he was caught.”

It was learnt that the policeman was beaten and set ablaze by the mob.

Police spokesperson Mr. Femi Okanlawon confirmed the incident. Okanlawon said: “It is a serious issue and we are still on it. I cannot say anything on the matter now, but you may please call me back.”

Osun refunds N12m to Muslim pilgrims

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HE Osun State Government is refunding over N12 million to 2009 and 2010 pilgrims, who performed the Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

Executive Secretary of the State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board Alhaji Ibraheem Abdulkareem said Governor Rauf Aregbesola ordered the board to refund in compliance with directives of the National Hajj Commission.

Abdulkareem said: “We commenced payment of the refund on Monday as directed by the governor.”

Alhaji Moshood Opeloye and Alhaja Maryam Abubakar, who were among those who collected the refund, thanked the Hajj Commission and the governor.

The state government has

•To establish 334 health centres From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

said it would build 334 primary health care centres across the state.

Aregbesola spoke on Monday while receiving the report of the Professor Olusanya Adejuyigbe-led Committee on the State of Hospitals in Osun.

He said the government would partner the Federal Government in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Aregbesola said: “We plan to establish well-equipped primary health care centres in every ward. With that, we will be sure of adequate health care provision for our people. The cost is enormous

and we may have to review the unit cost that the Federal Government is proposing.”

Restating his administration’s commitment to providing adequate health care, the governor said the committee’s recommendations would be implemented.

Its report covered the nine state hospitals.

Aregbesola also asked the committee to assess the state of other health facilities, which cater for the bulk of the people.

He said the government is considering another approach to health care, which he called Rapid Response, where experts would be made available in remote ar-

eas during emergencies.

The governor said: “We realise that with the personnel required, especially at the primary health care level, the overhead might be quite burdensome. We are looking at a rapid response system that will take the few personnel we have to any critical area of emergency.

“If we have the capacity to rush experts to any area where an emergency exists, no matter how remote, I think, to a large extent, that will reduce mortality and complications that occur when care is not rendered on time.”

The committee lamented the structural and personnel decay in the inspected hospitals and urged the government to resuscitate the sector through Public Private Partnership (PPP).

Ajimobi urges Fed Govt to subsidise agric input

O • Ajimobi

YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has called on the Federal Government to subsidise agricultural input.

He said this would encourage more people to farm.

The governor spoke on Tuesday at his office in Ibadan, the state capital, while receiving members of the National Cotton Transformation Value Change.

He said subsidising input,

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

such as fertilisers and farm implements, will boost food production and ensure food security.

Ajimobi, who was represented by his deputy, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo, condemned the country’s “overreliance on oil” and urged people to go back to agriculture, which he said has contributed immensely to the

growth of the nation’s economy.

He said 22 of the 33 local governments have suitable land for cotton cultivation and urged the body to put them to good use.

The leader of the group, Chief Akanji Abiodun, said Oyo plays a leading role in cotton plantation and has been picked as one of the 12 states for mass cotton production.

THE Ekiti State Government has revoked the contract for the construction of the 17kilometre Ijero/Ipoti/ Ayetoro road.

It was awarded to RATCON Construction Company.

Commissioner for Works Sola Adebayo said: “The contractor was too slow on the work. Our target is to beat the rain, but the contractor’s pace will not make that achievable.

“The stand of Governor Kayode Fayemi is to reward excellence and merit without bias for political or religious affinity. This road was awarded to RATCON based on its performance on previous jobs.”

Six petrol stations shut in Osogbo From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

SIX petrol stations in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, were yesterday sealed by the Petroleum Products Price Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).

They were shut down for allegedly selling petrol above N97 per litre, the standard price announced by the agency.

The filling stations are NIPCO Oil, Oduwoye Oil, Tidel Oil, AP Oil, Con Oil and July 17 Petroleum Station.

Many filling stations on the outskirts of Osogbo, particularly around Oke Baale and Ilobu road, allegedly sell a litre of petrol for between N100 and N105.

Leader of the PPPRA Task Force Mr. John Ikwejuibe warned petroleum dealers against non-compliance with the pump price of products.

He also warned them against adjusting their machines.

Church holds zonal convention THE Methodist Church of Nigeria (MCN), Lagos Zone, will hold its convention from February 1 - 4 at the Methodist Theological Institute (MTI) in Sagamu, Ogun State.

The zone comprises Tinubu Council, ArchDiocese of Lagos and Remo, Ijebu and Egba-Yewa.

The theme for the convention is: “Behold, I am doing a new thing (Isaiah 43:19).”

It would feature seminars, bible study and motivational and inspirational sessions.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

8

NEWS Edo agency sacks 52 From Osagie Otabor, Benin

FIFTY two officials of the Edo State Traffic Management Agency (EDSTMA) have been sacked for alleged extortion, negligence of duty and abuse of office.

The sacked officials were among those presented with uniforms and name tags in October last year.

Commissioner for Transport Victor Enoghama said: “A couple of weeks ago, we fired two men based on evidence recorded on phone.

Extortion is zero tolerance, so if you are caught, you will be fired.”

Enoghama said a compulsory written test would be conducted for persons seeking to be issued driver’s licence by the Vehicle Inspection Officers.

He said the aim is to acquaint drivers with driving code, traffic signs and eliminate mediocrity in line with modern practices.

Ex-task force chair gets appointment From Osagie Otabor, Benin

THE embattled Chairman of the Edo State Task Force on Demolition, Illegal Structures and Obstruction, Major Lawrence Loye, has been appointed Senior Special Assistant on Environment to Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

Maj. Loye was arrested on the orders of Oshiomhole in August last year over illegal demolition of houses, including a building belonging to Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia.

He was arraigned at Evboriaria Magistrate Court and granted bail for N100,000 after spending more than 18 days in detention.

More than 10 lawyers allegedly sponsored by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) represented him in court.

With this, Maj Loye will now have double portfolios.

Hearing today in Akpabio’s, Udoedehe’s dispute

T

HE newly constituted Akwa Ibom State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal yesterday adjourned hearing till today in the case between Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and two others .

ACN governorship candidate John Akpanudoedehe and his running mate, Ime Umanah, are challenging the declaration of Akpabio and his deputy, Nsima Ekere, as the winners of the April 26, last year governorship election.

The three-member panel, headed by Justice Kwajafa, adjourned the matter till today so that the respondents’ counsel, led by Bayo Ojo (SAN), can study the petitioners’ reply.

Justice Kwajafa sought

But Awodein argued that it was erroneous to request the court to strike out the petition on the grounds that the 180-day time limit had lapsed.

He said the 180-day constitutional time-limit for hearing and determining the petition began from the date of the inauguration of a new panel to hear the petition, adding that a contrary interpretation of Section 285 (6) would defeat the constitutional intendment of that section and result in absurdity.

Awodein also said it would amount to a violation of the petitioners’ right to fair hearing and the constitutional right of appeal under sections 36 and 241 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Justice Adam Onum had, on July 18, last year, dismissed the petitioners’ ap-

plication based on technicalities.

Justice Onum held that the petitioners failed to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act on steps required for applying for notices for pre-hearing sessions.

Dissatisfied with the ruling of the lower court, the petitioners proceeded to the Court of Appeal sitting in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

But Justice Jafaru Makailu affirmed the decision of the lower court on September 9.

However, the Supreme Court, led by the Chief Justice, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, on November 15, last year held that the petition should not have been dismissed on mere technicalities.

He ordered for the re-trial of the matter on its merits.

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

Unknown gunmen yesterday kidnapped a worker of the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue, Mrs. Josephine Eke. The Nation gathered that the victim, who is the agency’s Stamp Duty Officer, was trailed to the office on Nnebisi Road, Asaba, by the hoodlums in a car painted in taxi colours.

The hoodlums reportedly swooped on her, ordering her at gunpoint to follow them into the waiting car.

Police spokesman Charles Muka confirmed the incident.

Robbery suspects: we got uniforms from JTF •’It’s most likely false’ From Shola O’Neil, Port Harcourt

T

HE Marine Unit of the Delta State Police Command yesterday arrested three members of a robbery gang in Warri.

The gang allegedly specialises in the use of military uniforms during its operations.

The suspects, who were dressed in military uniforms, however, made a stunning revelation when they claimed that an unidentified member of the Joint Task Force (JTF) provided them with the uniforms.

The Commissioner of Police, Mamman Tsafe, who paraded the suspects, said they had been terrorising residents of riverside communities in recent times.

He said a bag containing weapons was dumped into the sea by them.

Tsafe, who was represented by the Area Commander, Delta South, Abutu Yaaro, said the suspects confessed to various high profile robberies in Warri and environs, during which several persons, including policemen, were killed.

He said three pairs of military camouflage uniforms, two cutlasses and a chisel were recovered.

Prior to their arrest, the policechief said the hoodlums had reportedly robbed some victims, including one Roy Akporotu from whom they collected N145,000.

But 30-year-old Sapele, identified as the leader of the gang, debunked the claim by the police that they are robbers.

He said they are errand boys of a JTF soldier in Egwa 11, adding that that they were on their way to Warri to mend the military uniforms, which were allegedly given to them by a JTF personnel, when they were arrested.

JTF’s spokesman Lt. Col Timothy Antigha said the taskforce would verify the suspects’ claim.

“Their claim is most likely false. Soldiers know that they are not allowed to give their uniforms to anybody,” he said.

Antigha said there should be no jumping to conclusion until investigations are made at the Egwa II post of the force.

Okorocha visits Kano From Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

I

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

the cooperation of the counsel while urging them to ignore unnecessary arguments.

ACN’s counsel was led by Kola Awodein (SAN) and two others.

Ojo had, in his application dated January 6, prayed the court to dismiss the petitioners’ petition on the grounds that the time-limit of 180 days allowed from the filing of the petition and within which the tribunal shall hear the petition and deliver its judgment in writing had lapsed.

He cited Section 285 (6) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to support his argument, saying the tribunal lacked requisite authority, nay judicial power to extend the time beyond the 180 days as prescribed by the constitution.

Gunmen kidnap woman in Delta

MO State Governor Rochas Okorocha is in Kano for an on-thespot assessment of the recent bomb attacks by the Boko Haram sect.

The governor will access the level of destruction, especially as it affects Igbo and other Nigerians.

He will also visit Governor Rabiu Kwakwanso and the Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero to condole with them over the attacks.

The visit is in line with Okorocha’s commitment to the peaceful co-existence of Nigerians, regardless of their ethnic background.

He urged Nigerians to view the attacks as aimed at the nation rather than ethnic, religious and sectional.

The governor called on Nigerians to rise above religious and ethnic sentiments and work collectively towards building a nation of our dreams.

The suspects...yesterday

Tinubu’s telephone hacked into

A

TELEPHONE number belonging to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) national leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been hacked into.

The hacker has been using the number to solicit for funds from eminent Nigerians, a statement by the Tinubu media office said yesterday.

The statement said: “It has come to our attention that a telephone number belonging to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been compromised.

“Someone has hacked into it with access to the contacts stored on the

phone.

“We discovered this compromise with the help of contacts, who contacted Asiwaju to clarify a purported request to send money to him or other persons.

“Asiwaju Tinubu’s Media office wishes to inform the public that this is a scam.

“Tinubu has made no such request to anybody and any such purported request neither emanated from him or with his authority and support.

“There is no need to even remotely consider any such request.

“Tinubu regrets any

PHOTO:SHOLA O’NEIL

Women protest at Chevron

H •Tinubu

inconvenience this might caused many of his contacts.

“The incident has been reported to the security authorities and the mobile service provider for necessary action and investigation.”

UNDREDS of angry Ijaw women from Kolu-Ama community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State yesterday morning invaded the Warri regional office of Chevron Nigeria Limited.

The women, led by the wife of the monarch, Mrs Powo Edi, said they are protesting alleged disruption of their means of livelihood by the raging fire from the company’s Funawa facility.

An explosion rocked the company’s drilling platform at Funawa in Bayelsa State on January 16.

Workers were quickly evacuated from the facili-

ty in the wake of the incident.

It was gathered that the placard-wielding women accused the company of abandoning them after the incident, which they said devastated their means of livelihood.

Mrs. Edi vowed that she and her colleagues would maintain the siege until Chevron moves to put out the fire, which is still raging nine days later.

She said the protesters are not demanding for relief materials, but for Chevron to put out the fire, give them sustainable means of livelihood and develop their communities.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

9

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

10

NEWS 10 model schools for Delta

T

HE Delta State Government is building 10 model primary schools to upgrade primary education and expose pupils to electronic learning and academic excel-

lence.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan announced this yesterday when he inspected a primary school in Asaba.

He said the schools would be completed in April, but would start functioning in September to harmonise the school calendar.

“The model primary schools will be ready byApril but the schools will not take off until around September because of the school calendar.

“We are working hard to upgrade primary education,” he said.

Uduaghan said the schools would comprise nursery and primary sections and teachers would be trained by the British Council and donor agencies.

He said the schools would be funded and run by the government.

Uduaghan said the schools would admit 420 pupils in the primary section and 60 in the nursery section.

A

Robbers kill policeman, soldier in Ebonyi

SOLDIER and a policeman attached to the joint military/ police patrol team were on Tuesday killed during a shootout with suspected robbers at Oso-Edda junction on the Afikpo-Okigwe Expressway in Afikpo South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The robbers had attempted to rob a first generation bank in Ugep, Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State.

The robbery was, how-

•Five hoodlums killed From Ogbonnaya Obinna, Abakaliki

ever, foiled by the bank’s security personnel and residents.

A source said the robbers fled in a Sienna bus and were confronted by the joint military/police patrol at the junction.

He said: “At about 9am on Tuesday, we heard gunshots,

the shootings were so heavy that there was a commotion in Oso Edda.

“Shortly after the gunshots, we went to the scene of the incident. A policeman and a soldier had been killed.

“Five of the robbers were also killed. The robbers, we gathered, were coming from Ugep in Cross River State and were escaping through

Afikpo-Okigwe road.

“Others escaped into the bush, we mobilised the youths and combed the bush to track them.

“During the search, two members of the gang were ‘arrested’ inside the bush.

“We took them to the Police Command, Afikpo Division.”

Commissioner of Police Adeniji Adeola confirmed the deaths of the policeman, soldier and five robbery suspects.

He, however, said only one robbery suspect was arrested.

‘Arrest warrant shocking ’

T

HE Edo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Osagie Obayuwana, has expressed shock over the warrant issued by an Edo State High Courtto arrest him over a case of contempt.

Obayuwana told The Nation that he was never served any court papers, saying he couldn’t have disobeyed a judge’s order.

Justice Adamu Hobon had issued a bench warrant

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

for Obayuwana’s arrest, following his absence in court, despite a court order.

The Commissioner for Justice said he was shocked over the news and said he would appear before the court.

He noted that the case between the government and Churchgate had been on before the present administration came to power.

Support for Oshiomhole

A

GROUP, the Committee of Concerned Authors for Oshiomhole (COCAO), has backed the second term bid of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

A statement by its Chairman, Igbotako Nowinta, said the group endorsed Oshiomhole because of his achievements in the state in the past three years.

“Given the space of unprecedented urban renewal programme of the governor and his commitment to the development of Edo State in other sectors, common sense dictates that he should be returned back as governor in July.”

Truck kills protesting youth

A

TRUCK belonging to a construction company in Edegbene, Burutu Local Government of Delta State, yesterday crushed a protesting youth.

It was gathered that some youths stormed the construction company at the Ogriagbene/ Torugbene road site to protest against the alleged non-payment of compensation to Edegbene community.

The youth was allegedly knocked down when the truck was trying to leave the site.

The aggrieved youths were alleged to have set ablaze four trucks belonging to the construction

From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Warri company.

The situation was brought under control, following the deployment of security agents in the company.

A source said trouble started on Monday at Edegbene community, when the company started paying compensation to property-owners in Ogriagbene community and their community was left out.

A worker confirmed the incident but said the Edegbene community was ill-informed, adding that it was government’s responsibility to pay compensation.

•Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor Nsima Ekere (right) greeting the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, at a special state dedication banquet in Adeboye’s honour at the Government House, Uyo… on Tuesday. With them is the Speaker of the State House of Assembly ,Samuel Ikon .

Court dismisses suit against Edo ACN Senator

A

N Abuja Federal High Court has dismissed the alleged forgery case against an Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) lawmaker, Senator Domingo Alaba Obende (Edo North).

Delivering judgment in a suit by Yisa Braimoh of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Justice Abdul Kafarati, said it was wrongly commenced by an originating summons instead of a writ of summons.

According to him, the matter in dispute could only be resolved by adducing oral evidence and not mere documentary evidence.

21 die in road accident

The court agreed with defence counsel Moses Ofeashi that the suit “is meant to harass, intimidate, vex and embarrass his client”.

Besides, the judge ruled that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit as it is a matter of the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal.

He dismissed the suit and awarded a cost of N100, 000 against Braimoh.

Obende defeated Braimoh in the April 9, last year National Assembly election.

But Braimoh and the PDP went to the court to allege that Obende tendered a forged primary school certificate to contest in the election.

Adopting their written addresses, the plaintiff counsel, Mike Osuman (SAN), urged the court to declare Braimoh as the duly elected senator because Obende was not qualified to contest the election.

But counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) , Agabe Odeh and the Inspector General of Police’s (IGP’s), A.A Abuo, urged the court to dismiss the case for lacking in

merit.

INEC said Obende signed a duly completed form with no criminal record against him upon which his name was accepted as a candidate in the election.

Counsel to Obende Moses Ofeashi argued that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter as it is a post-election matter which only the National/ State Assembly Election Tribunal can hear.

Besides, he submitted that the suit amounts to abuse of court process as it was wrongly commenced through Originating Summons.

Subsidy removal: Decision was collective, says Akpabio ing the credit .

From Ogbonnaya Obinna, Abakaliki

T

HE Co-ordinator of Okposi Development Centre in Ebonyi State, Ihebunandu Okorie, has described as unfortunate the death in an accident of 21 Ebonyi indigenes, who were on their way to Okposi in Ohaozara Local Government from Lagos.

The accident occurred on Tuesday at about 4am when the 18-seater bus in which they were travelling ran into a trailer and was gutted by fire at Ore in Ondo State.

Okorie said the 17 adults and four children were burnt beyond recognition. He said: “It is unfortunate that our community lost 21 persons early in the year.

“The people were returning home to celebrate with their families because our people usually celebrate the Yuletide in January.

“They are usually busy in December, so most of them return home in January.

“An eyewitness said the accident occurred when the driver, who was speeding, switched lanes and ran into a moving trailer, thereby leading to a collision.”

He said the Centre had spent over N100,000 to bring back some of the bodies for burial.

The Commissioner for Environment, Paul Okorie, described the incident as a huge loss.

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

By Kelvin Osa- Okunbor

•Akpabio

A

KWA Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio has said governments at all levels were part of the decision to remove the fuel subsidy.

He hailed the Organised

Labour for calling off the nationwide strike to protest the decision, which raised petrol price to about N200 per litre.

Akpabio spoke with reporters yesterday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

He said people should stop blaming whoever took the decision, saying if the decision had been accepted by the people someone would have taken credit for it.

Akpabio, however, declined to say whether or not the governors sold the idea to the Federal Government as it is being speculated.

The governor insisted that it was a collective decision, including the ministers’.

“The true position is what was said by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, that it was the government’s decision.

“It was a government decision and we must stop this act of apportioning blame because for such a laudable idea, if it wasn’t that the public reacted the way they did, somebody would have wanted to lay claim and say ‘I did suggest it,’ am I right?

“It was because of the negative reaction of the people that is why people are now running away from tak-

“At least, nobody wants to take the blame.

“For me, you have to be objective and go beyond apportioning blame and look at the importance of the idea.

“If you sit down and look at the merit of that decision then you will know that somebody should be very proud to say ‘ I suggested it first’, but nobody wants to stick out his neck to say ‘I suggested it’ because of your reaction.

“I want to align myself with the submission of the minister that it was the government’s decision, it is left to you now to decide who is in the government.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

11

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

For the SURE programme, money has not really been provided for the housing sector but we are involved in vocational training and we just submitted our proposal for the building of vocational centres in each of the six geo-political zones.

-Ms Amal Pepple, Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development

Marketers indict NNPC in subsidy row • PPMC carpets IPMAN • Reps summon ex-PPPRA chief T

HE Nigerian National Petroleum Corpora tion (NNPC) has been indicted for allowing unqualified importers into the system.

It also received knocks for the scarcity and exorbitant price of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) or kerosene as a result of its monopoly of importation and direct sale of the product to farm tank owners rather than independent marketers with retail outlets.

The Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) said it granted waivers to NNPC amounting to N1.77billion and $135.39million between July 2009 and 2012 on the orders of the Federal Government in addition to being owed about N6billion by the NNPC. These revelations were made yesterday at the committee’s public hearing, by the President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Alhaji Abdulkadir Aminu, who said his colleagues, with more than 78 per cent of retail outlets were allocated one per cent of total PMS import for 2011, with zero allocation for kerosene.

He also said scarcity of any petroleum product as a result of hoarding is encouraged by the NNPC, stressing that the actual fuel consumption on daily basis can be obtained from the sales manuals of the NNPC and the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company Ltd (PPMC).

From Victor Oluwasegun, Dele Anofi and John Ofikhenua, Abuja

In his submission, the IPMAN chief said subsidy and its management would remain compromised and open to further manipulations unless the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) insists on attaching imported petroleum products to retail outlets.

“We start to experience problems with the advent of briefcase importers that have neither storage facilities nor retail outlets. They categorise themselves as independent importers.

He said in 2001, Depots and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria’s (DAPMAN) entrance into the industry was to provide additional storage facilities for the major

independent marketers and NNPC. Aminu regretted that majority of those involved in importation of petroleum products have no retail outlets to support those imports.

According to him, the drift from the norm was responsible for the rot in the system when importers without capacity took over importation of petroleum products.

Besides, the inability of the NNPC to attach imported fuel to retail outlets that created the opportunity for manipulation with the apex oil company preferring the independent importers above independent marketers by the NNPC, he added.

While he offered to suggest how the actual figure of daily consumption of fuel can be got, Aminu sought the

protection of the committee for his members against victimisation from the authorities before he could divulge his recipe.

In his submission, the President, Indigenous Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (ISOAN), Chief Isaac Jolapamo, disclosed that his members were being disallowed participation in the importation of petroleum products for baseless reasons by the NNPC and PPPRA. According to him, the development is impacting negatively on the country with between N27 trilion and N45 trillion payable on freight per year being denied the country, “this is even more than the controversial subsidy itself”, he said.

Saying that the association

had not received any money on fuel subsidy, Jolapamo dismissed claims by NNPC and PPPRA that Nigerian vessels have no insurance covers and as such could not involve them in a lucrative business.

In his submission, NPA representative, Acting Executive Director, Marine Operations, Mr Sotone Ineiyenge-Etomi, dissociated his organisation from the fuel subsidy controversy, but revealed that waivers of about N1.77 billion and $135.39 million were granted to NNPC from July 2009 till date on the orders of the Federal Government.

He said NNPC was also indebted to NPA for about N6 billion.

In a related development, the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company

Naira firms at interbank

T

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 0.2958 EUR 206.9 £ 242.1 $ 156 ¥ 1.9179 SDR 238 RIYAL 40.472

(PPMC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has refuted claims by Aminu that the association was denied direct allocation of kerosene by the PPMC. In a statement PPMC Managing Director, Haruna Momoh, said IPMAN President had told the House Adhoc Committee on Subsidy Monitoring that the association was yet to get a litre of kerosene allocated directly to it despite its numerous retail outlets spread across the country.

Meanwhile, the immediate past Executive Secretary of Petroleum Product Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Mr Goddy Egbuji, has been invited by the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee investigating management of petrol subsidy regime. He is to appear before the committee this morning.

• From right: Mr Chuma Ezirim, Chairman, Committee of E-Banking Industry Heads; Mr Tunde Lemo, Deputy Governor, Operations, Central Bank Of Nigeria (CBN) and Ms Eyitope St. Mattew-Daniel, Head, Shared Services, CBN, at a seminar on Cash-Lite policy in Lagos.

Nigeria’s economy still weak, says Sanusi T

HE Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has expressed concern on the state of economy.

He said the economy is still facing some challenges despite the robust economic growth being recorded by the country.

He spoke at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where he presented a paper entitled: The global crisis and the Nigerian economy: The Central Bank of Nigeria responses.

Sanusi, who was a guest lecturer, said the challenges in the economy have slowed the transmission of such growth indices to higher employment opportunities and better standard of living for the people.

By Nduka Chiejina and Collins Nweze

In a statement, he said: “Major bottlenecks and supply-side constraints, including enabling legal framework” have “slowed the responsiveness of some CBN reform measures.”

The apex bank boss had told the gathering that “the link between major growth drivers, particularly agriculture and manufacturing, continue to be weak and the required costs of the expected infrastructural needs of the economy are daunting and remained a major challenge to financial sector.

He noted that “the need for a low-cost long-term infrastructure financing re-

quires more than the CBN alone can tackle”.

Sanusi, however, offered hope, saying: “substantial progress has been made and significant public confidence has been restored to the banking sector with the reform measures adopted by the bank”.

He reiterated: “While the primary goal of a central bank should be price stability, in the context of developing economies, the central bank should also emphasise on its development roles in order to support positive economic transformation and rapid growth”.

The lecture series, according to the statement, have treated contemporary economic issues of global concern, with prominent aca-

• Sanusi

demic specialists and policy makers speaking before audiences of LSE staff and students as well as interested members of the public, including journalists, bankers, businessmen, and representatives of various governments, multi lateral institutions, and non-governmental organisations.

HE naira firmed to a three-week high against the United States’ dollar in the interbank market yesterday after oil companies sold the greenback and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) auctioned $250 million at its biweekly forex market.

The naira, according to Reuters News, closed at 160.05 to the dollar yesterday, the same level it traded at on January 4, after touching an intraday low of N159.80.

The unit closed at N160.80 on Tuesday.

“The market reacted to the increase in dollar supply from three multinational oil companies and the inflows from Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation’s (NNPC) sales last week,” one dealer said.

Traders said Royal Dutch Shell sold $100 million, Total $66 million and Addax $10 million, boosting dollar liquidity, and they said last week’s $550 million sale by stateowned NNPC was still affecting the system.

At the bi-weekly foreign exchange auction, the CBN sold $250 million at N156.85 to the dollar, compared with $250 million sold at N157 on Monday.

It didn’t disclose the level of demand.

“We expect the naira to continue to strengthen because more lenders are waiting to receive dollar inflows sold by oil companies,” another dealer said, adding that the unit could firm to 159 naira by Thursday.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

12

BUSINESS NEWS Flight Schedule

Oando denies benefitting from fuel subsidy

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.

2.

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

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Arik Aero Arik Aero

1. Arik 2. Aero 1.

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

LAGOS – KADUNA Aero 08.00 Chanchangi 10.00 Arik 10.00 Arik 15.10

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 14.00 Arik 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

09.1 12.50 12.55 15.55

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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

08.00

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

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• From left: Tokunboh Durosaro, Director, Oando Foundation, receiving the Corporate Social Responsibility Category A award from Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN) in recognition of Oando PLC’s commitment and contribution to the Lagos State Ministry of Education “Support Our School” Initiative ... on Tuesday.

Alison-Madueke challenges oil firms on local content • Vigeo Steel plans 200,000mt mill in Abeokuta

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INISTER of Petroleum Re sources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has challenged the multinational companies in the oil and gas industry to emulate SCC Nigeria Limited, a steel pipe fabrication company in Abuja.

A group, the Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change (NDIMRC), has also urged the minster to encourage full implementation of the Nigerian Content Act to avert crisis in the Niger Delta.

Alison-Madueke during her visit to SCC said Nigeria will soon start the export of steel pipes required for water and oil conveyance to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sub-region.

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja and Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

She said: “The challenge to international oil companies is to ensure that they encourage Nigerians to effectively participate in their own in the oil and gas sector including the upstream, downstream and the midstream. We want to see a plant that has been built from scratch in Nigeria that fabricates pipes of international quality for various uses by the multinationals in the country. And hopefully, at some point, it will also be exported at least first to the ECOWAS region.”

The minster said SCC located at Ushafa in Abuja, is a shining example that other investors in the industry should emulate, noting

that if SCC could do it here, other companies can also do it. She explained that the Federal Government would ensure that it creates an enabling environment to attract investors into the sector.

She said Yulong steel, a Chinese steel company promised to establish a 250,000 MT capacity Longitudinal Submerged Arc welded (LSAW) mill in Yenegoa, while Vigeo Steel is also taking similar steps to establish a 200,000MT capacity HSAW mill in Abeokuta.

Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Content Development Board, Mr Ernest Nwapa, attributed the achievement of the board in the last 20 months to the support of the ministry.

HE Group Chief Executive Officer of Oando Plc, Mr Wale Tinubu, has explained that oil majors did not unduly benefit from the government’s fuel subsidy as they were only paid the differentials between their costs and government approved retail price.

Speaking at the public hearing on the management of subsidy being organised by an ad–hoc committee of the House of Representatives, Tinubu said the money paid to marketers as subsidy was not a profit or windfall but under-recovery, arising from the differentials between the landing cost of petroleum products and the official pump price.

He stated that the use of the word ‘beneficiary’ was a misconception as the money was not a special favour from the government but a refund of the actual cost incurred by marketers in the importation of petrol.

Tinubu said the marketers spent an average of $30 million to import a 30,000metric tonnes cargo of petrol, but sold the products at almost $15million; while the balance was paid to marketers as subsidy.

“The Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) expected that there would be under-recovery. For example, when the landing cost was higher than the pump price, the government owed us money, which is paid as subsidy. When there is over-recovery, that is, when the landing cost is less than the pump price, we pay back to the government. For example, during the Yar’Adua administration, when the petrol price was N65 and the crude oil price dropped to $50 per barrel, the marketers paid back to the fund. I remember that Oando paid back N1.6billion back to the Federal Government,” Tinubu said.

He noted that when the subsidy regime was introduced in 2006, three major marketers, including Oando Plc, participated in the scheme, along with NIPCO Plc and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

According to him, Oando accounted for 53 per cent of petrol importation in 2006 and 47 per cent of subsidy payment.

He however, stated that the company’s market share in terms of subsidy receipts and petrol importation dropped to 11 per cent in 2011, due to proliferation of companies that participated in the PSF scheme.

Fed Govt to buy two ferries to boost water transport

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O improve water transporta tion, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the procurement of two fast-moving passenger ferries.

They will be managed by National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).

The procurement, which is awarded to Messrs Karflex Fisheries Limited, will cost the government N168.45 million. This amount includes taxes with a delivery period of six months.

Briefing reporters at the end

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

of the weekly council meeting, Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said the provision of the ferries will promote waterways transportation, boost economic activities and reduce pressure on other modes such as road transportation.

Acccording to him, the project will create over 23 job opportunities during the operation of the ferries while many job opportunities will be created in-

directly when the ferries are fully operational.

The minister described the project as a major step to make operational the lower River Niger, which dredging has been completed.

“The contract for the dredging of the Niger was awarded under the Yar’Aduna administration.

In the last two years, the dredging of the Niger has been completed. What is going on right now is the maintenance dredging. Also the inner waterway

ports have been virtually completed, some are set for inauguration. So in order not to allow the Niger River to remain fallow after dredging, Council approved the purchase of two fast moving ferries to ply the Niger right from Ontisha-WarriLokoja, carrying passengers.

These ferries would be jointly managed by government and the private sector and part of government efforts to bring down the cost of transportation in the country,” Maku said.

Investor’ survey: Kenya rated second to Nigeria

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EARLY half of international fund managers and invest ment bankers see Kenya as a top frontier investment market only second to Nigeria in Africa.

A survey of 158 international investors conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EUI), according to the Business Daily, showed that 76 of them believed that Kenya offered the best prospects for institutional investors over the next five years, compared to 81 per cent

who said Nigeria was better.

The survey is set to attract renewed international investor interest critical to faster growth of the economy and recovery of the stock market, especially coming in the wake of massive sell offs last year when equities shed 28 per cent of their aggregate value.

“This is extremely good news for Africa as a strong capital flow should feed a virtual cycle of job creation, income rises and

more investment,” said Nazem Al Kudsi, chief executive of Abu Dhabi-based Invest AD, which manages funds invested in Africa and the Middle East.

“Institutional investors are recognising an Africa that is better-governed, is less dependent on resource extraction, and is increasingly dominated by middle class expectations,” he said.

The survey by EIU showed a shift to long-term investment

strategies from more speculative and short-term bets, with a third of the respodents saying their allocation to Africa will be at least five per cent of their portfolio.

Local fund managers have attributed the growing interest to the emerging middle income class that is offering a ready market for new products, including financial services, consumer goods, property and energy.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

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INDUSTRY

Govt plans made-in-Nigeria solar panel L

OCALLY manufactured panels are being deployed in several southern states as part of a pilot programme to develop alternative energy and rural electrification in Nigeria.

The panels developed by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) are to be deployed to Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Delta states.

According to the Director-General of NASENI, Olusegun Adewoye: “Right now the Federal Executive Council has approved that we should have a pilot scheme of using our solar panels in the rural areas, the solar panel for now is going to take place in three states: Bayelsa, Delta and Akwa Ibom.”

He added that the project would be executed “within a space of four

By Toba Agboola

months we will have finished installing all the solar panels in those places. It is a pilot scheme.

We have 7.5 MW capacity and this is a small job to demonstrate.

“On top of this, the Ministry of Science and Technology is already sending a proposal to the Federal

Government to do what we call cluster development schemes and each cluster will use renewable energy to boost small scale industry and other economic development such as building for rural areas, processing of food, trees and other domestic or industrial processing.”

Chairman, Senate Committee on Science and Technology disclosed during a visit to NASENI’s factory: “We have seen the plant, we are really excited and impressed and we wish that other government establishments have the culture of excellence and hard work as this agency.”

It is a focused establishment that is addressing a very serious problem of the country, that is energy and what is being done, if well supported and well funded, can be of tremendous result for improving the quality of life not only in the urban areas but also in the rural areas.”

SON to promote importation of fuel efficient vehicles

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HE Standards Organisation of Nigeria(SON) has dis closed that it will promote the importation of fuel efficient vehicles, its Director-General, Joseph Odumodu, has said.

Speaking in Abuja while presenting two staff buses to aid workers’ transportation, Odumodu said the organisation will begin to do some testing on the imported vehicles to establish their level of fuel con-

How to manage merger, acquisition challenges

sumption.

"There are some vehicles that can use five times more fuel to attain the same distance. I don’t think these are the kind of vehicles that we need in Nigeria now that things are getting more and more expensive.

Those are the kind of changes we have to bring about," he said.

He said the two vehicles which were purchased from an indigenous manufacturer will not only assist the staff of the organisation but will ultimately boost local production and create more employment opportunities.

"These buses have not been tried sufficiently in Nigeria and it is also an opportunity for us to try it out.

The Federal Government has bought quite a number of them. If the way the government developed the mass transit system goes on as planned, these companies are going to expand within the shortest time.

Right now, the companies are employing about 5,000 to 6,000 people," he said.

He explained that the 32-seater bus were bought at N9 million each and are expected to last for 10 years with proper maintenance. They are 10

percent cheaper than the imported ones.

Dr Odumodu also said that SON is not happy that the country imports a lot of artisans from other African countries to come and do the jobs that can be done by Nigerians.

"Part of our target for 2012 is to ensure that we create opportunity for artisans, plumbers, drivers and even in the building industry where Asians are coming to do jobs that can be done by Nigerians. We need to create opportunities for Nigerians not for foreigners to come and dominate our industries," he said.

Siji Otenigbagbe, a UK based business change and change communications consultant with in-depth experience spanning over a decade. He has worked with several multinational, corporate and FTSE 100 companies. In this interview with AJOSE SEHINDEMI, he talks about the benefits of mergers through business change management.

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HY do CEO’s get it wrong during the mergers and acquisition process ?

IT can be somewhat daunting when a CEO and his managers look at the enormity of what needs to be done when an organisation is merge or acquired.

To some people, merger and acquisition looks like mere signing of documents and changing of company logos or colours. But it goes beyond that. In fact, this is the last stage of merger and acquisition.

Having been involved in several mergers and acquisitions globally, I have come to realise that this is simply a transformation or change initiative which involves a lot of strategies and planning.

One of the biggest mistakes a CEO can make is to treat a merger or acquisition or divestment as another project that needs to be carried out by the company.

So what exactly does mergers and acquisition entails?

Firstly, every CEO must understands that mergers, acquisitions and divestments are change initiatives. And change initiatives start with changing the core aspects of an organisation involved.

Change means a lot of things.

Change affects our personalities. It affects who we are, our mindsets, paradigms, beliefs and ways of doing things.

So, once we understand that mergers and acquisitions are change initiatives and not just projects, we would achieve our objectives.

What is business change management about?

Business change management, simply puts, is the art of managing change. It is the ability to manage change through certain specialised skills. Business change management

is an acquired art. This is the reason why a project manager cannot overnight evolve into a change manager.

The dynamics involved in change management are derived from an understanding of the successful mix of people, cultures, technology, policies, and norms. Many organisations have failed because they have not come to understand what a change initiative is all about.

In the light of this, what roles does a CEO play when it comes to change management?

Across the world, companies have achieved change and make it part of their system. I once consulted for an organisation that was interested in realigning it's businesses to save cost, and at the same time, merge six different organisations together in 2008.

Each of the organisations had different financial transaction platforms, different work ethics and cultures etc.

The most striking thing I noticed at the beginning of the initiative was that the management wanted the result of the change to show in the bottom line but that was not the case.

This lead to a frustrating and rework of several areas of the organisations as stakeholders did not have the needed drive from their executives and this trickled down to the various stakeholders causing unnecessary delays in delivery and milestones and invariably increase in budget also.

So the CEO and his lieutenants are the first agents of change. They need to all sit down together even before the consultant is called in and outline what they want to achieve and how they want to achieve it. A clear view at this stage will reveal to all stakeholders at the senior level the enormosity of the task at hand.

•From left: Deputy Director-General of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Mr Mike Ojo; Director-General, Mr John Isemede; Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) Washington DC Programme Officer for West Africa, Mr Yana Hongla and NACCIMA Consultant on CIPE, Mrs Wunmi Gbadamosi, during Hongla’s visit to NACCIMA Secretariat in Lagos. PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

•From left: Director, Special Duties, Standards Organisation of Nigeria(SON) Mr George Okere; Director General,

Mr Joseph Odumodu and Head, Southern Operations, Mr Bayo Adegun, during a press briefing at Westown Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

Lafarge promises more CSR commitment for communities

Subsidy protest takes toll on cocoa supply to Europe

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HE protest by Nigerians over the removal of petrol subsidy may have affected the supply of cocoa to Europe as the protest has halted shipment from farms to the ports.

A Nigerian industry group said shipments from farms for processing have halted adding that dry weather may also curb supplies from Ivory Coast.

Demand in Europe may have

climbed in the fourth quarter to the highest since at least 1999, according to the analysts.

“The strike in Nigeria may limit cocoa supplies.

“Weather conditions in Ivory Coast became less favourable of late, which may cause lower production volumes.” Carsten Fristch, an analyst at Commerzbank AG in Frankfurt, said.

In two days, the price soared 15 per cent, the most since January 17, 2001.

A.P. Moeller-Maersk A/S, the world’s biggest container-ship owner, has just closed its office in Nigeria, because of the strike, Anders Boenaes, a vice president of Africa services, said in an email. All shipments are at a “standstill.”

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HE management of Lafarge Cement WAPCO has assured its host communities of more positive impact on the lives of the people. It called on the Federal Government to fix the bad portions of the Sagamu-Ikorodu-Ogijo roads to ensure free-flow of economic activities in the area.

According to the Head of Communications of the company, Mrs. Tope Oguntokun, there is need for

increased participation between the community and companies operating there.

“I will not want to say categorically that let the community be the ones to speak for us; but importantly, it will spur us to do more. It encourages us to do more because we have seen that what we are doing is being appreciated, so we can only continue to do more.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

As the Fashola administration recently marked its 1,700 days in office, the call for special status for Lagos reverberated. Deputy Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU captures the passionate pleas by prominent Lagos indigenes on the occasion.

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BOUT 1,700 days after, he was handed the reins of government in Lagos State, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) is set to reinvent state administration. Since 2007, he has been mobilising resources and allocating them judiciously to all the sectors with impressive results. However, many believe that, since the state shoulders heavy national and sub-regional responsibilities in West Africa, it is due for a special status within Nigeria as the economic nerve centre.

Lagos has a huge population. According to the state government, it is estimated at over 18 million. It is a congested city and point of attraction for jobless youths in search of the proverbial golden fleece. A mini-country, there is probably no household in Nigeria that is not represented in the city-state. Yet, it is impossible for the government to discriminate against non-indigenes in terms of access to welfare programmes, including qualitative education at all levels, primary and secondary health care, employment, provision of water, good roads and housing.

As the commercial capital, Lagos also generates revenue for the federal government. It hosts the sea and air ports, many embassies, and foreign and local investments. Thus, security is a priority, and in the absence of a decentralised security arrangement under the lopsided federal structure, the state government has invested in optimum security to safeguard life and property.

Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Lateef Raji who spoke on the activities of the government, said a heavy burden rests on the shoulders of Governor Fashola on all fronts. “This is the justification for Lagos State’s clamour for a special status; a special consideration, even special revenue allocation to meet the multi-faceted needs of teeming Nigerians from 36 states residing in Lagos”, he added.

Governor Fashola, who spoke on the developmental programmes embarked by his administration also invoked passion in this regard. In appreciation of his feats, Lagosians are willing to give him maximum support.

Although certain difficult policies generated face-offs, government’s explanations have stemmed the tension and fostered government/public relations. As the tendered his stewardship before the stakeholders at the Blue Roof, Lagos State Television, Ikeja, reality dawned on Lagosians that the state required improved revenue base and special complementary support by the federal government.

For now, only 2.5 million people out of the target tax paying population of eight million, excluding the unemployed, pay taxes in Lagos that support an economy of over 18 million people. Thus, to Fashola, this is not equitable, adding that something must be done on it.

The celebration of 1,000 days in office underscores Fashola’s bid to implant accountability in governance. But two critical issues seemed to have affected the government’s projections this year. Fashola explained that “we have lost some time to the recent strikes”, adding that the removal of oil subsidy, which has led to high cost of living, may have also critically affected budgetary projections. No doubt, as the governor lamented, the fuel price hike has jerked up operating costs across the ministries, departments and parastatals.

“This is a most challenging budget as the

• From left: Lagos State ACN Chairman Dele Ajomale, Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu 1, Deputy Governor Adejoke OorelopeAdefulire, Governor Fashola and Information Commissioner Lateef Ibirogba at the event.

When will Lagos get special status? variables and economic assumptions continue to remain unpredictably dynamic; the ever changing interest, lending, exchange and borrowing rates are the only constants; and the realities of an increasingly depressing global climate, from which we will not be insulated, loom larger”, he noted. However, Fashola assured that there would be no budget failure in the state, promising to build on the 77 percent budget implementation recorded last year.

Last year, the governor embarked on the massive rehabilitation of 65 roads in the state.

Federal roads were not excluded. To enhance human and vehicular mobility, stem traffic snarl and reduce congestion, Fashola said road development has been a cardinal priority in the on-going infrastructure battle.

“Critical areas of activity for us will be construction and rehabilitation of inner roads.

Work has commenced in some parts of Ogudu, Surulere, Mushin, Ajegunle, IfakoIjaye, Alimoso and Ikorodu, to mention a few”, he said.

This year, the administration plans to construct, rehabilitate and rebuild 152 inner roads across the 57 councils out of the 396 roads identified for urgent attention by the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure. Their impacts are being felt by the people. Also, across the local governments, in the last 100 days, the Public Works Department (PWD) resurfaced 230 roads. However, Works Commissioner Dr Obafemi Hamzat lamented that, judging by the number of bad federal roads in the state, Lagos is still a neglected state.

One of the federal roads being constructed is Mile 12-Ikorodu Road. Reiterating his commitment, Fashola said: “The design of the road is ready and we are working with the Federal Government and World Bank to conclude financing on the project, which will cost about N30 billion”.

The enormity of the challenge of Federal Government’s indisposition to the massive infrastructural challenge in the state came to the fore during the flooding last year. Many

Lagosians were rendered homeless. Lives were lost and property destroyed. Environment Commissioner Tunji Bello complained that the bad federal roads contributed to the tragedy. To forestall a repeat of the calamity, the ministry has constructed more drains, clearing existing ones and preparing them for performance to optimum capacity, in anticipation of raining season.

Fashola said the teeming population has made housing a compelling challenge. Thus, plans are underway to to launch the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (Lagos HOMS), which the Housing Commissioner Bosun Jeje, would enable people to own houses through affordable mortgage finance.

The governor told stakeholders that several sites have been identified for housing projects, adding that contracts have been awarded for the construction of housing blocks of one, two and three-bedroom units in several locations.

These include Ogba, Omole, Alimoso, Lekki, Surulere, Ikorodu, Ilupeju, Amuwo-Odofin, Agbowa and Magodo.

He also unfolded plans to boost food production through a reinvigorated agricultural policy. The dual objectives are food security and expansion of the frontiers of employment. This plan, said Fashola, would come to fruition through increased planting, milling, bagging and supply of rice. “Two strategic projects to support this endeavour have virtually been completed; the Imota Rice Mill, Ikorodu, and Itoga Irrigation Project, Badagry. To boost bread supply, government has come up with a strategy whereby youths would be engaged in its production to earn income.

Government has not neglected primary, secondary and tertiary health system in the state, but the sector cannot cope with pressure by the mounting population. More hospitals and health centers, especially mother and childcare, are being commissioned, almost on monthly basis. The fruits are harvested by people of Ajegunle, Gbaja, Amuwo-Odofin, Alimoso, Ikorodu and Ifako-Ijaye and envi-

‘The enormity of the challenge of Federal Government’s indisposition to the massive infrastructural challenge in the state came to the fore during the flooding last year. Many Lagosians were rendered homeless. Lives were lost and property destroyed’

rons. Many Lagosians bypass the primary health care centres, thereby putting pressures on the General Hospitals, despite the fact that the health centers now run 24-hour service.

“This year, we will also be implementing the Lagos State Residents Registration Programme to ensure that every resident, as distinct from indigene, is registered in the state”, said the governor.

Today, there is no public primary and secondary school where construction project is not going on. Unlike other states, government does not discriminate against non-indigenes in public schools. Even, the doors of scholarship and bursaries are not closed against non-indigenes. A conducive atmosphere, said Fashola, is critical to learning.

At the state-owned Lagos State University, Ojo, many projects are at various stages of completion. These include the School of Transport, 1,000-capacity Faculty of Law Library, Main Auditorium and LASU International School. In the last 100 days, additional contracts have been awarded for the construction of the Senate Building, Faculty of Management Sciences Complex, Ultra-Modern three-in-one lecture theatre and Students Union Arcade.

Fashola promised to continue the strides of his administration in the areas of tourism development, efficient transport system, women empowerment through vocational development, youths and sports development, security and public order.

Raji said the governor could do more, if the fund is available. “Here, Governor Fashola, who has been widely acknowledged as a model administrator, has a lot of progressive programmes for the people. But Lagosians also expect the federal government to play its part because Lagos is critical to its economic survival”, he added, urging the federal government to accord the state a special status as the nation’s former federal capital.

The Special Adviser also enjoined the federal government to construct and maintain drains on federal roads, complement the state’s efforts by putting in place a more effective disaster response measure for dealing with floods and erosion.

Raji added: “There is the need to give Lagos a special status like other federal capitals like Bonn in Germany, Rio-dejainero in Brazil, Kaura-Lampur in Malazia, Sydney in Australia and Dar-as-Salam in Tanzania. These old capitals are not suffering like Lagos. They are simultaneously developed with the new capitals”.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

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POLITICS Senator Olugbenga Obadara represents Ogun Central Senatorial District in the Senate. In this encounter with Abuja Bureau Chief YOMI ODUNUGA and Correspondent SANNI ONOGU, he contends that Minister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Alison-Madueke ought to step down from office while the KPMG report on the rot in the oil sector is being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

National Assembly probe will sanitise oil sector, says Obadara

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HERE have been deliberations on fuel subsidy and then what I call a temporary resolution since labour just suspended the strike and government has also come down to N97 per litre. But, in general, what is your view about the deliberations?

I commend the executive arm of this government, Nigerians in general and most importantly the leadership of the Senate to have really brought this strike to a closure. If you look at what is happening, the agitation of Nigerians, truly not on the increase but the timing and the magnitude of the amount involved – from N65 to N141 - it is a spiral thing, that will affect every facet of the economy in this country. What is so worrisome if for us to have lost almost N1trillion in our economy in the days of the strike and how fragile the unity of this country is getting into? You can see the pain, the anguish of our people; the poverty in the land. Candidly I can tell you that our people have been so much impoverished with this unpopular decision. Pure water for example is already N10 from N5 and you know when it goes up like that for it to come down is a tall order. And I can say this, the way the protest was going on, the way our people are turning it into a sectional issue. I can tell you, either you are from North, South, West or East; there is nobody that is not affected.

The breakdown in communication caused all these problems. Negotiation was still going on and the President was encouraged to do the proclamation. The president said this morning and I will always believe in that, Nigeria belongs to everybody. We must do everything possible to really hold the unity of this nation. Look at insecurity – Boko Haram – a time has come for everybody to show leadership and have the trait of showing compassion to our people. We are elected to serve them. We must be able to serve their interest and it must be seen that the policies we use in governing them must have human face. In doing these we will be doing the bidding of the people that came out in April to put us in these positions. We did not put ourselves there; God used these people and we must be answerable to them. We thank God that in the present time, the strike has been called.

What is your view on the relevance of the Belgore committee?

The Belgore committee and labour would soon start negotiations and I believe the president of the nation should work in harmony with other arms of government. As a Senator, I will tell you that there was no time the president brought the issue of subsidy to floor of the Senate and what is so much insulting is that in a bicameral legislature nature of our government, the House of Representatives passed a motion and somebody somewhere was saying it was a mere expression of opinion. What an absurdity! The House of Commons in the UK cannot pass a motion and the Lords would say what they said was a mere expression of opinion. It simply cannot happen in United States where Reps would say something and the President Obama – would say it was just an expression of opinion. It is not just a complete arrogance but an insult to the sensibilities of people was representatives of people that elected us into office. We should be cautious in our statements not to heat up the polity. We have to work together to make sure we deliver the dividends of democracy to people that elected us to this exalted position and not to rule them with undue arrogance.

If he said that shouldn’t we blame

it on the constitution which says whatever resolution comes from the National Assembly is not binding on the President? Don’t you think this is a constitutional matter and not just a matter of somebody from the presidency talking?

Let me quickly say this, unless people are twisting the constitution, if the National Assembly comes out with a motion, though advisory, if they come out with any Bill and it is passed into law, I am saying this, it is incumbent on the president of this country to listen. We are the ones that are closer to the grass root. If people are saying this then why does the president brings his ministers fir conformation? Why does he bring other statutory appointments to the National Assembly? Maybe they have forgotten the power of the National Assembly on the President. If the judiciary gives a judgement or makes a proclamation, can the president say he would not abide with that? Can the president say if a High Court gives a judgement he is not going to respect it? Let’s get it straight, the three arms of government are working in the best interest of people that elected us to these positions and most of us have sworn to uphold the instrument of office that is the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Mind you Senators are of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and as Senators we will do everything possible to protect the sanctity of that office and Constitution all of us swore to abide with.

Labour was still negotiating when the President announced the reduction in price. Are you comfortable with the new price and secondly, do you think the action of the executive is right in a democracy?

If the National Assembly were put into confidence by the President, I am telling you we would have been able to advise the President duly to take a humble road at getting this one solved. The people that surround the President are more or less democrats that don’t even know their wards.

They don’t have the feeling of what is happening. Everything cannot be read in the books. The advice given the president is book theories and politics is far beyond that. Now that we have seen the effects of the policies the executive arm of government wants to bring to bear I am sure a lesson must have been learnt by the President giving assurance to the President that this is not the best way.

They must have consulted widely before taking this decision. There 109 members of Senate and 360 members of the House of Representatives. I can tell you in our wisdom we would have been able to advise the best way to go about it.

As representatives of the people what kind of feedback are you getting from your constitutents?

Our people from local governments that sent us here are informing us and we are conducting clinics.

We would have been able to tell the President what he supposed to have done and at the end of the day that would be in tandem with what binds us together in the Constitution. I am sure of one thing, with the lesson they will not go through this route if this type of opportunity crops up in future. You are talking of unilateral decision as said by labour. You know labour has been saying they wanted N65 to remain so you can be sure whatever the executive said is just a middle way and the reasonability of labour, they themselves would have seen that the nation cannot continue suffering. We have lost almost N1trillion from our economy. It is a wise decision to suspend the strike and allow Justice Belgore to start his work and negotiation continues and

‘Look at insecurity – Boko Haram – a time has come for everybody to show leadership and have the trait of showing compassion to our people. We are elected to serve them.

We must be able to serve their interest and it must be seen that the policies we use in governing them must have human face’ • Obadara

don’t forget the House of Representatives has a committee in place to determine the actual price of getting a litre of kerosene and of petrol. Let me give it to the reps because they are our junior colleagues, they would be able to look at it with the respected Honourable Member Farouk Lawan and I am sure they would come up with some decisions I can tell you would be in the best interest of our nation.

At a point the protest was about to be ethnicised. A Governor was quoted as saying that it was the ACN that was sponsoring the mammoth crowd that were at the Gani Fawehinmi Park, then suddenly we started reading adverts from the South South saying that should anything happen to the President Nigerians would be held responsible.

What is your opinion about this?

Those statements are so much unpatriotic. I can tell you no reasonable leader of this country would want this country to break. I am a Senator representing Ogun Central but I am a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; am representing my party – Action Congress of Nigeria – in the Senate as a Senator. The decision my party sent me to take in the National Assembly is to be the one that affects the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is just an opportunity to be a Senator. I can tell you, if you are a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or anywhere they work for the integrity of their federation. I can tell you it is just a lazy way of talking. I would not count such statements to be so intellectual because

as cosmopolitan as Lagos, tell me one family in this country that doesn’t have relationship in Lagos. Am sure this governor that was talking must have one or two houses in Lagos.

In the past we were told that N240billion was budgeted for fuel subsidy and suddenly it rose to N1.3trillion. Now there is a new budget before the National Assembly and there is no provision for subsidy but with the price coming to N97, what would like to see in the budget so that whatever is meant for subsidy is accounted for instead of this idea of we waking up the next day listening to N1trillion going into subsidy that was never appropriated for?

Let me say this. The way the money was spent was very much unethical.

The approval was given for N240 billion in 2011 budget and you are now telling us you have spent N1.3trillion.

Who approved that money? No supplementary budget was brought.

Even let me tell you, this N1.3trillion was not even brought to the knowledge of the National Assembly until when Senator Bukola Saraki and some people sponsored this motion through our intelligence. He never admitted to it at first until when a committee was set up at the Senate to probe this. I would not want to preempt my investigating panel which is on now and I am sure in some days’ time they are going to present their report. There were other revelations that came out but the question now till this very time nobody has told us with concrete evidence how much a litre of petrol really cost.

That is why I said the committee from the House of Representatives, since we run a bi-camera legislature in Nigeria, that committee is working so Senate would not have the need to set up such a committee so we don’t duplicate efforts. Let us be able to do simple arithmetic, you will be able to see that at the end of the day the present unit price of N97, the Senate will work closely with the presidency, don’t forget that we have oversight function, our downstream committee will work at making sure, we know the cost per litre and we know what will be beneficial to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Now this is worrisome. The problem boils down to corruption. Se the mind boggling billions, billions, billions these people are collecting, then you will be able to see the cabal – the president himself admitted – that are milking this nation dry, with the processes – people are asking one question: ‘why is it that these people have not been brought to justice?’ The KMPG report the Minister of Petroleum said they will now give to EFCC has been there for how many months? They lack the depth to confront these people carrying out the nefarious activities. The government should show character in facing these people squarely in the interest of this nation.

What is the way forward?

The way forward is what they have just started and I can tell you, the Minister of Petroleum cannot approbate and reprobate. She is not supposed to be on that seat while that investigation is being done by the EFCC. Morally, she is supposed to be removed to another Ministry if the President still wants her to be a part of his government. In that there would be probity, in that Nigeria will see that for the first time we have taken the bull by the horn. We must take the bull by the horn. Let a fresh blood be injected to that Ministry.

Believe me, if you have character, even elected and even appointed people, if you have character to say no when we are being confronted on things that bothers on national issues.

It means the President must have done much. It is like who comes to equity, goes with clean hands. If this has been there for these very good months and nothing was done until when this issue of subsidy removal came up and you are writing on the 12th of January to EFCC as if she just resumed that office last week. And mind you, it was during her tenure N1.3trillion was spent as subsidy. No. she should be able to have decency to step aside and let a clean job be done.

•Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi (second left), his Deputy, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo, (left); Mr Mahamane Amadoe Maiga, Malian Ambassador to Nigeria, (second right), and Mr Alassane Diallo, consular at the Mali Embassy, during courtesy visit on the governor in Ibadan.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

19

EDITORIAL/OPINION Comments

EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

The State of the Union in 2012

Good riddance •President Jonathan acted well, if belatedly in firing Ringim

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HE nation must be greatly relieved that President Goodluck Jonathan at last summoned the courage on Wednesday to do what many had expected of him long ago – terminate the appointment of the former InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP), Mr. Hafiz Ringim.

Even if belated, the President’s immediate firing of the police boss ahead of his formal retirement in two month’s time is a step in the right direction. It sends positive signals that President Jonathan is poised to act more decisively to tackle the country’s grave security challenges.

The escape from police custody on January 15, of Kabiru Sokoto, a suspect in the Christmas day bombing of a Catholic church in Madalla, Niger State, resulting in the death of 44 persons, was obviously the last straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back in Ringim’s case. That hugely embarrassing incident not only vividly illustrated the utter degeneracy of the Nigeria Police Force; it drew renewed attention to President Jonathan’s recent public lamentation that the Boko Haram insurgents had penetrated the highest levels of his government. We are encouraged that the President considered the current fragile security of the country as being serious enough to warrant the cancellation of his scheduled trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, even if it is unfortunate that he allowed things to descend to this abject level before dismissing a glaringly incompetent police chief.

The country is yet to recover from the crushing blow of last Friday’s Boko Haram bomb attacks that destroyed over

rampant crimes, including communal conflicts, political violence, kidnapping and armed robbery, among others. The organisation is in urgent need of surgical cleansing and institutional rejuvenation for greater operational efficacy.

The fact that he has been given this job despite the Justice Niki Tobi Panel’s negative views of his role in the 2001 Jos crisis when he was the AIG in charge of Zone 5 means that the President has faith in Abubakar’s professional competence and integrity. The new IG has a chip on his shoulders. Alleys are on him as to whether he would act with fairness. It is up to the new IG to justify this trust by performing his duties efficiently and impartially. There is, however, ultimately no alternative to the decentralisation of policing operations in Nigeria, in accordance with true federal practice.

200 lives in Kano, marking an alarming escalation in the temerity of the fanatical sect. This indeed had been the recurring pattern during Ringim’s inglorious tenure with Boko Haram operating with rampant impunity in various northern cities including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

By successfully bombing the police headquarters in Abuja right under Ringim’s nose last year, Boko Haram demonstrated its utter contempt for the country’s security apparatus. Despite that humiliation, the police and other security agents were unable to prevent the subsequent bombing of the United Nations Headquarters in Abuja, also last year.

During the country’s 50th independence anniversary in October 2010, a group describing itself as the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) claimed responsibility for the explosion of bombs near the Eagle Square, Abuja, with tragic loss of lives. The inability of the President to inspect the normal Independence Day parade at the Eagle Square last year, obviously because of bomb threats, reinforced the perception that nobody’s safety could be guaranteed in the country.

There is no doubt that the new Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Dikko Abubakar, the former Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of zone 12 in Bauchi has his job cut out for him. He is taking charge of the police at a time that the country’s stability and very existence is threatened by insecurity.

Apart from the festering Boko Haram menace, the entire country is plagued by

‘The escape from police custody on January 15, of Kabiru Sokoto, a suspect in the Christmas day bombing of a Catholic church in Madalla, Niger State, resulting in the death of 44 persons, was obviously the last straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back in Ringim’s case’.

Funding terror •Are governors of the North paymasters of the Boko Haram group as alleged?

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HOUGH many had suspected that some political leaders and the elite of the North are complicit in various ways, both in the emergence and subsequent deadly activities of the Boko Haram sect, none would have imagined it to be at the scale being suggested by the sect. Just four days after the Kano blasts, the most devastating so far since the sect turned inconsolably bloodyminded, it has been reported that some Northern governors are actually bankrolling the group.

According to a report in major newspapers recently, which was culled from an online publication, 247ureports.com, a senior official of Boko Haram allegedly granted an interview detailing how the sect had been on the payroll of a few governors of the North. The unnamed official had claimed that the stoppage of the financial support by the new government

‘All these evidences, though largely circumstantial, point clearly to the fact that the Boko Haram sect is a Frankenstein monster created by some elite of the North. As we have said on this space many times before, there is an urgent need for a concerted effort by the leaders of the North to arrest this monster and put him out for good, lest it gets completely out of hand’

in Kano had warranted the massive bomb attacks on the state. “Most of them pay us monthly to leave their state alone,” he was quoted to have said.

The two state governments specifically mentioned in the report (Kano and Bauchi) have however, denied the allegation. The spokesman of the Bauchi State governor described it as a “very, very strange allegation because, Isa Yuguda (the governor) cannot be involved in such… we in Bauchi have been living in peace. We are not involved in that.” His Kano counterpart spoke in the same vein.

However, the Boko Haram official let on that way back in 2004, the sect reached an agreement with former Kano State governor, Ibrahim Shekarau’s government to receive a monthly payment of N5 million which was later increased to N10 million in 2009. The agreement, just as in the one reached in Bauchi State, also included ‘infrastructural support’. However, both agreements were said to have been broken by the state governors in 2011 and the payments were stopped. This, according to the sect’s spokesman, warranted the recent bombings in the two states.

These allegations are in line with the long-held opinion of security operatives and keen watchers of the emergent situation that the Boko Haram was the creation of politicians, especially some governors who needed them to win elections, to intimidate opponents, score political points and extract relevance at the national level.

These groups, over time, became larger, unwieldy and difficult to control by their sponsors. In fact, it had become an open secret that the former governors of Borno and Yobe states who held sway in the Northwest zone for eight years were the

grand conspirators in the Boko Haram saga.

Sometime last year, these two governors had to tender unreserved public apologies to members of the Boko Haram sect, and they have since remained largely in hiding in Abuja, not venturing into their states for fear of being harmed. Such was the level of open admittance of guilt and complicity by politicians at such high levels. It would therefore, not be surprising if there are other governors and politicians who have been secretly funneling state and private funds to the Boko Haram sect or a coterie of other sects in the North.

A sitting Senator of the Federal Republic is currently undergoing trial for allegedly funding the group; so is a high court judge. Recently, the alleged mastermind of the Christmas Day Madalla Catholic Church bombing, Kabiru Sokoto, took refuge in his state’s Abuja Governor’s Lodge en route to escaping abroad. A serving Air Force officer was featured in the plot to spirit him abroad and when he was finally arrested, his escape from police detention in very suspicious circumstances has presented Nigerians with a classic case of official collusion of a most dirigible kind albeit, traceable high up the police hierarchy .

All these evidences, though largely circumstantial, point clearly to the fact that the Boko Haram sect is a Frankenstein monster created by some elite of the North. As we have said on this space many times before, there is an urgent need for a concerted effort by the leaders of the North to arrest this monster and put him out for good, lest it gets completely out of hand.

A

YEAR ago, after the last State of the Union address, we applauded President Obama for challenging the Republicans’ blamegovernment, slash-and-burn rhetoric. He explained why Washington must do more to help put millions of struggling people back to work and why any credible plan to wrestle down the deficit must include the wealthy paying a fairer share of taxes.

After a rough start to 2011, economic numbers have improved, and Mr. Obama has pushed Congress to extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits and outlined an ambitious jobs agenda. But the country’s problems are profound. There are 13.1 million unemployed, and the risk of stagnation is real.

Republican candidates are pounding on the wrong, but seductive, notion that the real problem is government spending — especially on the “others,” the poor and minorities. Congressional Republicans have barely wavered in their obstructionism.

Mr. Obama has become steadily more assertive, but he will have to push even harder. The State of the Union address was a chance to do that, and he did not squander it.

He sounded many of the same themes as last year, but his tone was sharper and he was far more willing to apportion blame, particularly singling out the financial industry for its excesses and politicians who are still determined to defend tax cuts for the rich and undo desperately needed financial regulations. “We can either settle for a country where a shrinking number of people do really well, while a growing number of Americans barely get by,” he said, “or we can restore an economy where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules.”

Mr. Obama’s talk of “an economy built to last” was a bit too folksy, but he is right that the country can’t rely on some invisible hand to develop a strategy to compete in the 21st century. Washington must do a lot more to create good jobs, to encourage new industries, to build the infrastructure to support a vibrant economy and to address climate change and promote energy independence.

The president’s calls to deny tax breaks to companies that outsource and provide a tax credit to companies that bring jobs back home are good ones. The real challenge will be to ensure that those repatriated jobs are good-paying jobs. The president called for better job training and education, but a skills gap isn’t the main problem. Employers aren’t going to do a lot more hiring until consumers buy more products. Demand is unlikely to recover until Congress agrees to more federal spending, including aid to states for hiring.

Mr. Obama’s idea to use half of the savings from winding down the wars for public-works projects is laudable and could put hundreds of thousands back to work. Republicans are sure to insist that the money be used for deficit reduction, setting up another battle to simply do the obviously right thing. Mr. Obama has pushed banks and Congress to make it easier for borrowers who are current in their payments to refinance. On Tuesday night, he called — finally — for a full investigation of the lending abuses that inflated the bubble and led to the crash. That is the best hope for getting meaningful redress for borrowers.

In addition to his longstanding call to let the highend Bush-era tax cuts expire, Mr. Obama called for a “Buffett rule” to ensure that millionaires pay an effective rate of at least 30 percent, ensuring that they never pay less than the middle class. “You can call this class warfare all you want,” he said. “But asking a billionaire to pay at least as much as his secretary in taxes? Most Americans would call that common sense.” We agree.

Over the last year, Americans have become more aware of the deep inequities in the economy and of the government’s responsibility to act. Mr. Obama deserves some of the credit for that, but it has a lot more to do with the unrelenting tough times and the efforts of Occupy Wall Street and other protests. What Americans want now is strong political leadership.

– New York Times

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

20

EDITORIAL/OPINION

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IR: In an age of virtual nonstop television coverage, the six-day strike and public protest called by the country’s two major unions (NLC and TUC) and its civil society allies remained a cause célèbre of some sort. Such is the power of television that its lens sometimes becomes the powerful arbiter that decides who the heroes and villains ought to be.

The defining message from the strike and protests was, evidently, the unmistakable reality of people power. This response is, potentially, an overriding one: how the electorate found its voice long subsumed by reckless rulers.

But there is also a message surprisingly muted by the grand rhetoric that spewed forth from the podiums of the rally square in Lagos and Abuja – giving heed to the voice of the people. The president amply demonstrated that virtue in ordering a reduction in the price of petrol, a rather humbling and un-

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The other side of People Power usual path to tread.

The spontaneity of public demonstrations sometimes generates a few refreshing insights and do actually create heroes that may become true champions of the people’s rights. Sadly, the outburst of Pastor Tunde Bakare at the Lagos rally at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park was anything but spontaneous; it came across as a carefully scripted act contrived with the most malicious intent to be unleashed against the president at the least opportunity.

If the five-day mass protest

helped put a lustrous sheen on our democracy and strengthened its foundation, Bakare’s unguarded vitriol was its anti-climax which stood in stark contrast to Jonathan’s image as a responsive leader. The price reduction was the strike’s redeeming feature which, as some observers say, would not have arisen in the first place if the subsidy had not been removed.

Was Jonathan’s action shaped by the cynical expectation that the people would simply express their disgust and afterwards accept the altered cost of living as a fait ac-

compli? It would be correct if the opposition to the policy were an outright invalidation of the premise on which it is anchored. Indeed, the reasons that underline the need to eliminate the subsidy on fuel remain just as compelling. Spending about a quarter of the nation’s annual budget on funding subsidy payments is an unproductive economic burden that creates distortion which unfairly benefits a few businesses at the expense of the collective whole.

Insights have been glimpsed from the mass protest and views of Ni-

Still on Senate probe of varsities’ Post-UME

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IR: I refer to the debate on ‘Illegal’ Post-UME in varsities in the Senate televised at the 9.00pm News of the Nigerian Television Authority ( NTA) on October 13, 2011. It is a sensitive issue that cannot be ignored, if for no other reason, but for the protection of the fragile educational sector.

The pro-post UME senators need to be applauded because of their honest stance on the issue. Posterity will remember them as supporters of strong and reliable educational system.

For the anti-post UME group, posterity will also judge.

Perhaps, it may be proper to take the issues raised serially to educate Nigerians.

First, to give the post-UME an ‘illegal’ status is analogous to the proverbial saying of giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it. If postUME is illegal, then the entire admission protocols ranging from checking of the subject combinations offered by the candidate in JAMB to the establishment of cutoff marks are ‘illegal’ because they have no constitutional backing.

These appendages are put in place to safeguard the standard of individual universities. Has any of the anti-post-UME senators queried the existence of remedial and Diploma courses in some Nigerian Universities?

Secondly, the issue that Universities have usurped the powers of JAMB does not arise. JAMB examination and the post-UME are complementary to each other, both having the goal of ensuring that the right persons are given admission to pursue careers that they have the capacity to run in the University. JAMB examination is the first step in the admission process and any university has the right to employ additional means to ensure that the best is admitted in order to safeguard its standard. The amount of sanity that the post-UME has brought into the university system cannot be quantified. It may interest Nigerians to also know that cultism in our campuses has gradually fizzled out with the introduction of post-UME. Other vices such as the postage of life bullets, life threats to members of academic staff and ‘sorting’ after examinations are now remembered in tales.

Why would the restoration of order and normalcy in our universi-

ties be attacked by those elected to lead us?

Thirdly, the issue of charging fees for the conduct of the post-UME was advanced by the anti-post-UME proponents. It is obvious that logistics are required for the conduct of any examination. The questions are printed, administered and graded and the results are finally collated and published. These activities involve money and the amount could be staggering due to the large number of candidates. This is not to hold brief for university administrators but to disabuse the minds of those with the misconception that the fees charged are to impoverish the candidates.

The fourth issue was that the JAMB registrar does not approve of the post UME. How can the registrar of JAMB disapprove of Post UME when his organization lacks the capacity to exert authority over both JAMB officials and the personnel hired to administer JAMB examinations? In spite of the huge sum of money col-

lected from candidates, JAMB still grapples with the nagging problem of conducting examinations that are not free from malpractices. JAMB administrators have employed several tactics to checkmate the perpetrators of examination malpractice but the uncompromising attitude of shameless and unscrupulous elements (parents inclusive) has aborted all the strategies put in place.

Consequently, the examination is manourvered to the advantage of crooks that are not truly university materials. The post-UME was put in place to address this major lapse on the part of JAMB and restore confidence to the University admission process.

The idea of continuing the debate on this matter should be laid to rest and the Senate should commit our resources and their time to more serious issues that are staring Nigeria directly in the face.

• M.I. Uguru Department of Crop science University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

gerians sincerely driven by the desire to find an answer to the anomalous situation that caused the unacceptable hike in the subsidy figure.

This point echoes in Jonathan’s speech where he concedes that government had not ignored the fact that the implementation of the deregulation policy would create some difficulties for the people and that the dispute has yielded some suggestions and credible alternatives.

Perhaps, some of these were considered in the measures the President announced as reaction to the problem, some of which are currently unfolding. Yet, it could still be argued those measures might not have been if the public had not risen in condemnation. But wouldn’t it be worse if the president were unyielding?

Getting a firm commitment that the government would strive to ensure that the country’s recurrent expenditure profile will be reduced and that general cost of governance will be pruned should be seen as promises that arose out of conviction and not compulsion. The same goes for the assurance that the petroleum industry’s legal and regulatory framework will be reviewed to such an extent that issues of accountability would no longer be a mere rhetoric; the promise of an accelerated attention to the Petroleum Industry Bill; the likelihood of sanction for proven sleaze in the oil industry based on the report of the forensic audit on the NNPC. They present sufficient grounds to hold the present to account.

Concealed beneath the people power narrative is a hidden sub-text: should protesters literally prevent other citizens who would rather be engaged in their normal daily pursuit than enlist in the protest or participate in the strike? Should security forces look the other way as hoodlums under the guise of civil protest carry out brazen acts of lawlessness that impede the rights of other citizens? These are issues that should not be overlooked.

• Nura Alkali Abuja

Amosun, save our investments

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On Saturday, January 21, Lagos and Ogun States experienced the first rain of the year. Normally, the rain should be seen as a positive thing, however many investors with landed property investments in Ogun

State, especially in Ifo Local Government Area feel otherwise.

This is as a result of the recurrent annual massive flooding in that area. These floods have affected landed investments in that axis leading to untold financial loss. This

is therefore to implore the Ogun State Government to seriously tackle this problem in order to prevent the flooding and loss of lives, properties and investments in Ifo Local Government and other parts of Ogun State this year by

opening up blocked canals and digging massive drainages in that area just as the Lagos State Government is presently doing.

• Adebanjo Owoeye Akute, Ogun State.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

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EDITORIAL/OPINION

Remembering Abiodun, the life and times of my wife who passed on May, 2003

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N May 3rd 2003, I lost the wife God gave me and life has not been the same. Something is missing. But God knows best. My wife, Abiodun (Abis), was born four days after the feast of Epiphany on January 10, 1948 in Lagos. She grew up on the Island of Lagos, surrounded by relations of her father and mother.

Her mother, Josephine Adedoyin Ononaiye, was born to a family of Christians. In fact, her father was a shepherd in one of the apostolic churches. Biodun’s father, Josiah Adeyemi Adekoya, was from the famous Ajanlekoko family of Ijebu-Ode. Both husband and wife were from Ijebu-Ode and they were proud of it. Biodun’s father worked for many years in the Lagos City Council’s Transport Division, while her mother took to trading and made a success of it like most Ijebu women.

Biodun went to Holy Trinity Primary School in Lagos before she came to Saint Anne’s School in Ibadan in 1962. She was in the higher school there in 1967 when she took the concessional entrance examination to the University of Ife where for the next two years she was studying Pharmacy. She left Ife for Canada in 1969 but because Pharmacy admission was controlled and restricted to Canadians in Nova Scotia, she ended up with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from the University of Western Ontario London Canada where she and myself were living and where I was an Assistant Professor of Commonwealth Studies from 1970 to 1971. We had gotten married in 1969 October when Biodun was just 21. Biodun then worked briefly as Biology teacher at Cambermere Comprehensive School Barbados, the West Indies where I was a lecturer in the University from 1971-72. We returned to Nigeria in 1972 and I joined the staff of the University of Ibadan, Jos Campus, while Biodun taught at Saint Louis College Jos. We left Jos for Lagos in 1974 and Biodun having graduated at the University of Ibadan postgraduate school in Library Science worked as Librarian at the National Medical Research Council Yaba, Lagos.

She later worked in the National Library before moving to CESAC, an educational research outfit at the University of Lagos.

We again in 1978 left for Canada and later the United States where I was Director of the National Universities Commission (NUC) while Biodun worked as Librarian in the Nigerian Embassy in Washington. After almost five years in North America, we went to Maiduguri in 1982 where Biodun was Bookshop Manager while I was Professor and Dean Faculty of Arts (1982-84). We returned to Lagos in 1985 and Biodun became Bookshop Manager in Lagos State University. She finally left government service and set up a garments factory using her mother’s house in Olorunsogo as factory and Eko Hotel where she had a shop as outlet. When I was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Germany in 1991, Biodun naturally abandoned her factory to follow me. It was in Germany that she gave everything up for full

I

T wasn't the first time Boko Haram will strike. The Islamic sect, which claims that western education is sin, has been doing that for years and getting away with it. But that of last Friday in the ancient city of Kano was something else. It went on a murderous mission with the intention to wipe out as many people as possible. It succeeded. So far, the casualty figure has been put at 186, with the nation still counting.

We have asked this question again and again: what does Boko Haram want? The nation has yet to receive an answer from the group and its backers. Boko Haram, except we are deceiving ourselves means business and its kind of businesss is not the one we are all familiar with. Its mission is to divide the country and it made this plain in the Kano attack. How do we rein in Boko Haram and save our country from disintegration? Is it by dialogue or by going after the group?

Expectedly, Nigerians are divided on how to tackle the Boko Haram menace. The division arises from religious and ethnic tendencies. Until Kano happened it was believed that Boko Haram was propagating Islamic cause. What fueled this belief was the undue silence of the leadership of the muslim community about the group's unwholesome activities. Then Boko Haram was attacking churches and christian faithful across the country. To worsen matters those attacked were mainly from the southern part of the country. With this scenario, the south was pitched against the north and muslims against christians.

This was a sure recipe for disaster.

The nation was at the edge of a precipice and just a little tip it will roll over.

With the Boko Haram elements ever ready to fight without looking back, the group added petrol to fire when it asked all southerners in the north to

pastoral duties on a non-stipendiary basis. She had joined the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in 1985 in spite of the fact that she and her husband were of the Anglican Communion. It was not surprising because her mother was into the Pentecostal mode of worship having been a strong pillar and prayer warrior in the Lagos circuit of the Christ Apostolic Church.

In spite of my initial hostility to her new religious denomination she persisted until she brought me into the RCCG, on the basis of where the snail is going the shell must follow. She was the foundation pastor and instigator of the Living Waters Parish of the RCCG in Bonn, Germany which she founded in 1992 and which somehow was the inspiration of the Jesus Embassy Family which was later started by Pastor Ghandi Olaoye. The name Jesus Embassy came from Pastor Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye who came to pastor Living Waters Parish in Bonn and lived in the Embassy residence for months with us while I was ambassador. At a time during our stay in Germany, Biodun hosted several pastors either for a short stay or for extended pastoral visits.

On return to Nigeria, Biodun could have gone back to business or to the university but decided to wait on the Lord until she was in 2001 given the commission to found Jesus Chancery, a name she chose because she felt “chancery” has both Christian and diplomatic meaning. It is a praying church where one can get visa to heaven. She named the auditorium appropriately Halleluyah Hall.

She committed all her resources and energy to the work of God until the very end. She transcribed all the teachings of the General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye in the School of Disciples and published for sale, all of them to the benefit of the School of Disciples without asking for any financial reward, indeed committing her own resources into the publication. She drove everybody hard including myself and others in the task of serving God through church planting.

She was an Assistant Pastor since 1991 and her establishing and pasturing two parishes remain an enviable work in the service of God. She left two legacies namely her children and the two parishes of Living Waters in Bonn and Jesus Chancery, No. 1, Awolowo Avenue, Bodija, Ibadan. Her activities in Bonn opened the way for the tremendous expansion of the RCCG in Europe and in Southern Africa. The saying in the diplomatic circle in Bonn Germany in 1995 was that the Osuntokuns did not only leave a legacy of service and excellence, they were the first diplomatic couple that left a church. She brought a few Southern African ambassadors to Living Waters who then took the good news of Jesus home to their own country in the unique tradition of the RCCG. Biodun chose what will endure to leave behind.

She was a highly fashionable and beautiful lady. She had class.

“Rose”, as she was called, smelled and bloomed like a rose. She is

somebody who could not be easily forgotten.

I met her in a crowd of thousands at the Apapa Wharf in 1965 and at a young age, she made such an impression on me, that I there and then promised to marry her if God willed, and God indeed made it possible. We remained inseparable until death and supported one another in sickness and in health and for poorer Jide and for richer. She was Osuntokun a very intelligent lady, very good with technical things, so good that she could have passed for an engineer. She was a natural leader, a meticulous person and an organizational being. She was a very compassionate lady who while she was wife of an Ambassador in Germany surrounded herself with unfortunate African refugees to whom she ministered to, prayed for and provided for. She was a highly principled and hardworking woman who loathed slothfulness and had no patience for foolish behaviour. She drove people hard when it came to the things of God and she led by example. She could become unpopular without caring what people said when it was about things concerning her pastoral calling. She did not know how to tell lies in order to please anybody and she spoke the truth as if driven by divine power, yet she had this magnetic personality that drew and attracted people to her. She shared willingly and she often said she did not care for money and that money was not her priority in life.

She was an excellent lady in many ways, and she designed her own clothes. She had a wonderful sense of colours and even the blue and white painting of Jesus Chancery was done as symbols of purity and love.

Biodun passed on in my hands surrounded by her children on the fateful day of May 3, 2003 in Dublin Ireland. She is an unforgettable lady who will remain forever in my heart and in the consciousness of her children – Folasade, Oluwatosin, Oluwaseyi and Yewande – and in the hearts of all those who knew and loved her.

Just like diamonds, memories are forever and Biodun will forever remain in my memory. I miss her every day. Oh Lord make me glad for as many days as you have afflicted me for as many years as I have seen trouble.

Death in the family leave for their home states. It was 1967 all over again, as people remembered the incident which led to the civil war.

Was Boko Haram indirectly asking for war with its demand? people asked in hushed tones. In order not to be caught unawares, some families started leaving the north where they had lived for years before the group carries out its threat.

Then Kano happened and it dawned on us all that Boko Haram is waging war against Nigeria and not only a part of the country. If Boko Haram has its way, it seems it is prepared to pull down the country no matter the consequence. The question is: must we allow Boko Haram to do that? According to a Yoruba proverb, if the flood has its way it will destroy a house but it behooves the owner of the property to take preventive measures. This is where we have collectively failed as a nation.

Since Boko Haram constituted itself into a menace, what preventive steps have we taken to stop further attacks by the group. None whatsoever. It is a big shame that we have not been able to find a solution to Boko Haram since the group started terrorising us in 2002.

Ten years on, Boko Haram has become larger than life, attacking the Force Headquartes and the United Nations (UN), all in Abuja, last year. These are the attacks that have emboldened the group and made it believe that there is no place, no matter how fortified that it cannot invade.

When it threatened to invade the Eagle Square during the celebration of the nation's 51st Independence anniversary last year, the government became jittery and shifted the celebration to Aso Rock. If the government can

cower under Boko Haram's threat, what then should individuals and corporate organisations do when they receive such threat from the group? With that action, the government was telling us that it has no answer to Boko Haram. But that cannot be. Government must be government and it must be seen to assert its authority over all those under its command.

Government cannot afford to give up on Boko Haram. To do so will amount to creating many other groups in the mould of Boko Haram.

Such groups may even turn out to be deadlier than Boko Haram, if care is not taken. This is the danger in treating the Boko Haram issue with kid glove. The Kano tragedy has presented us with an opportunity to confront the Boko Haram menace frontally now.

We can no longer afford to keep quiet otherwise before we realise it we will

not have a country to call ours again.

Boko Haram has done its worse in Kano. We must prevent another Kano from happening because if it does, the consequences will be too dire for us as a nation.

Like many Nigerians I am pained by what happened in Kano. It was human bestiality at its worse. My pain is double because a colleague was killed in the dastardly act. Enenche Akogwu was a young man. He had just started out on this job and enjoyed what he was doing. It takes a fearless reporter that he was to go to the scene of gun battle in search of news. I salute his courage. Many in his shoes would have given a thousand and one reasons why they cannot cover such assignment. But he was not like that. He went into the thick of battle but painfully he did not return to write the story.

Rather, he became the story. His

Lawal Ogienagbon

lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net

death is not only a loss to Channels Television, it is a loss to journalism.

We will forever remember this hero who died in the course of practising robust journalism. Enenche Akogwu, you may be dead, but you will never be forgotten. The circumstances of your death are irksome, but in dying that way you left us a message : that we must do everything possible to put an end to this Boko Haram menace. If we do that, you and other victims would not have died in vain.

Enter IG Abubakar

Y

ESTERDAY, Mohammed Abubakar was named Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP). He takes over from Hafiz Ringim, whose lacklustre tenure ended unceremoniously yesterday some weeks to his retirement. Abubakar is inheriting a load of problems. The major ones are Boko Haram and the escape of one of its chieftains, Kabiru Sokoto, from police custody. Abubakar knows why Ringim was sacked. I believe he must have learnt from his precedessor’s fall. How does he plan to run the police and make the outfit the true friend of the people? This is what should engage Abubakar’s mind.

I wish him all the best.

‘Government cannot afford to give up on Boko Haram. To do so will amount to creating many other groups in the mould of Boko Haram’ •The late Akogwu

SMS ONLY: 08056504763

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

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EDITORIAL/OPINION

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HE Nigerian feudal lords, aka fortune seekers have always insisted they and they alone own Nigeria. They are the patriots while the rest of us are enemies of the nation. They don’t even have the grace to concede a portion of the patriotism they so freely bandied around to others who have no other place except Nigeria. But for insisting that peace can only reign when there is fairness and justice, others are labeled enemies of the state.

Yet, those who preached against tyranny, I am sure, never said feudalism have no redeeming grace. Feudal lords are not necessarily evil. They, after all, beyond exploitation also provide for the spiritual needs of the poor. To guide against the sorry state of affairs we find ourselves today, in which the children of the deprived are at war with the children of the feudal lords and the rest of us, they have emphasized the imperative of restructuring of our beautiful country so that each group can develop at its own pace without interference from others. Shortly before Awolowo was sent to prison along with those who shared his world view in 1963, he had said, “Since 1957 I have fought, with vigour against the feudal system in the Northern Region and for its eradication and have strongly advocated the breaking up of Northern Region into more states in order to have true federation in Nigeria … in order to preserve peace and unity in the country”. The fortune seekers labeled him enemy of the state.

When the Second Republic also collapsed, the major victims of Buhari’s reactionary regime were not the fortune seekers who wrecked the economy, but those who on the basis of the federal constitution opted to spend the resources of their states to build hospitals and universities.

Last week, some eminent Nigerians led by professor Ben Nwabueze, Tunji Braithwaite, Dr Kalu Idika Kalu, Chief Missioner of AnsaruDeen Society of Nigeria, Alhaji AbdulRahahman Amad, leading others like Yerima Shetima, of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), Dr. Tunji Abayomi, Dr. Wale Balogun, Dr. Lakin Akintola, Prof Tony Kila, Human rights lawyer, Festus Keyamo, TV presenter Funmi Iyanda, Nike Ransome Kuti, and Fesstus Ekujini to demonstrate against the presence of soldiers in Lagos. They also canvassed for a national conference to prevent the nation from descending to a failed state. Samuel Jinadu, spokesman for police claimed that the hapless elders, some of them septuagenarians were dispersed with maxi-

mum force to prevent break down of law and order.

They were labeled enemies of the state.

The tragedy of our nation is that it is the fortune seekers that have ruled this nation since independence that takes it upon itself to define who the enemies of the state are. It is they and they alone that can identify patriots from among our various nationalities. In the First Republic, it was they that identified patriots from the old western region as well as the rest of the country.

At the onset of the Second Republic, it was they who picked, MKO Abiola, who like many of the fortune seekers, made his own fortune through a corrupt military regime that on the eve of digital revolution in telecommunication awarded to Abiola contract worth millions of naira for the supply of analogue telephone equipment, as the patriot from the west.

Abiola was a generous man. Apart from using his wealth to fight those his group identified as enemies of the state, in the Southwest, he took care of the emirs and in line with the philosophy of the group did not build schools but mosques around major towns of the north. Asked by a resourceful journalist shortly before some criminal members of his group annulled his victory in the June 12 1993 election, his views on the call for a sovereign national conference, he had said off-handedly, that with his election, there would be no need for any conference.

Of course in the Fourth Republic, the choice of identified Nigerian patriots from the South-west by the fortune seekers include

O

Be still: an appeal to Nigerians

N the occasion of the Carol of Nine Lessons organized by NTA and Radio Nigeria on December 10th last year, I was invited to deliver the message. I chose to speak on the theme, Do Not Be Afraid as a means of encouraging our people against the backdrop of fear and frustration that was mounting at the time.

Since then, things have gradually snowballed well beyond what one had either feared or hoped. On Christmas day, a bomb exploded at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, in Niger State, killing over 30 people and wounding a significant number of other innocent citizens who had come to worship their God as the first part of their Christmas celebrations. Barely two days later, we heard of the tragic and mindless killings within a community in Ebonyi State in which over 60 people lost their lives with properties worth millions of naira destroyed and hundreds of families displaced. In the midst of all this, on New Year’s Day, the President announced the withdrawal of fuel subsidy and threw an already angry and frustrated nation into convulsion.

The tragedy in Madallah was seen as a direct attack on Christians. When Boko Haram claimed responsibility, this line of argument seemed persuasive to those who believed that these merchants of death could be linked to the religion of Islam. Happily, prominent Muslims rose in unison to condemn this evil act and denounced both the perpetrators and their acts as being un-Islamic. All of this should cause us to pause and ponder about the nature of the force of evil that is in our midst and to appreciate the fact that contrary to popular thinking, we are not faced with a crisis or conflict between Christians and Muslims. Rather, we need to humbly appreciate the limits of our human understanding.

In the last few years, with the deepening crises in parts of Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, and Plateau states, thanks to the international and national media, it has become fanciful to argue that we have crises between Christians and Muslims. Sadly, the kneejerk reaction of some very uninformed religious leaders has lent credence to this false belief. To complicate matters, some of these religious leaders have continued to rally their members to defend themselves in

Fortune seekers as selfproclaimed patriots Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Tony Anenih,,Bode George, and Lamidi Adedibu. They declared the rest of the South-west enemies of state.

Members of the league from other parts of the country are listed among those indicted by various government probes including the ongoing fuel importation scam. In the last 13 years of PDP rule, these self proclaiming lovers of our country have resisted all attempts to have a national conference to negotiate and restructure our nation in line with the wishes of Nigerians. The fortune seekers have too much at stake.

As a prominent member of the group, you can become head of state without representing anyone, a big player in the oil, gas and banking industries, recipients of the highest national honours year after year even as the vital areas of our national life they control decay. Of course they belong to the distinguished group of proud owners of about 80 private jets evenly spread across the country.

Besides the loss of these privileges, fortune seekers dread a restructuring that will ensure people eat what they produce.

While only 25% of children of school age are in school in some parts of the troubled north, while the rest roam the streets without hope, the children of the western educated fortune seekers obtain the best education money can buy in the world. The impoverished youths see their political and elected leaders spend money like water. Thinking political Sharia would save them, the governors who are expected to liberate the people from darkness refused to invest enough resources in education, the only known weapon

By Matthew Hassan KUKAH a religious war. This has fed the propaganda of the notorious Boko Haram and hides the fact that this evil has crossed religious barriers. Let us take a few examples which, though still under investigation across the country, should call for restraint on our part.

Some time last year, a christian woman went to her own parish church in Bauchi and tried to set it ablaze. Again, recently, a man alleged to be a christian, dressed as a muslim, went to burn down a church in Bayelsa. In Plateau State, a man purported to be a christian was arrested while trying to bomb a church. Armed men gunned down a group of christians meeting in a church and now it turned out that those who have been arrested and are under interrogation are in fact not muslims and that the story is more of an internal crisis. In Zamfara State, 19 muslims were killed. After investigation, it was discovered that those who killed them were not christians. Other similar incidents have occurred across the country.

Clearly, these are very troubled times for our country. But they are also very promising times.

I say so because amidst this confusing debris of hate, anger and frustration, we have had some very interesting dimensions. Nigeria is changing because Nigerians are taking back their country from the grip of marauders. These stories, few as they may be, are the beginning of our song of freedom. Christians are now publicly crossing the artificial lines created by falsehood and bigotry. Let us take a few examples of events in the last week alone: In Kano, amidst fears and threats of further attacks on christians, a group of muslims gathered round to protect christians as they worshipped. In Minna and recently, in Lagos, the same thing repeated itself as christians joined hands to protect muslims as they prayed.

Penultimate week, christians and muslims together in solidarity protested against bad governance and corruption beyond the falsehood of religion. Once freed from the grip of these

dark forces, religion will be able to play its role as a force for harmony, truth and the common good.

Clearly, drawing from our experiences as christians, we must note that God has a message for us in all this. To elicit what I consider to be the message, I will make reference to three lessons and I know there are far more.

First, these times call for prayer. At the height of our confusion during the Abacha years, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria composed two sets of prayers; one, Against Bribery and Corruption and second, for Nigeria in Distress. Millions of Catholics have continued to recite these prayers and we must remain relentless in the belief that God hears our prayers and that God’s ways are not our ways. We know that our muslim brethren and millions of other non-christians feel the same and are also praying in a similar way for our country.

Two, these times call for solidarity of all people of faith. We are a nation of very strong believers and despite what anyone else may say, millions of our christians and muslims do take their religion very seriously. However, you might ask, if that is true, why do we have so many killings in the name of God and of religion? My answer is that we have such killings because we live in an environment of a severely weak architecture of state which allows evil to triumph. It is this poverty that produces jealousy and hatred which leads to violence.

We live in a state of ineffective law enforcement and tragic social conditions. Corruption has destroyed the fabric of our society. Its corrosive effect can be seen in the ruination of our lives and the decay in our society. The inability of the state to punish criminals as criminals has created the illusion that there is a conflict between christians and muslims. In fact, it would seem that many elements today are going to great extremes to pitch christians against muslims, and vice versa, so that our attention is

for economic development.

He who sows the wind reaps the whirlwind.

President Jonathan must now realise the game is up. Instead of humiliating the real patriots, it is time to have a national dialogue. With dialogue, those who have an axe to grind with their leaders don’t need to make the nation ungovernable. They are free to detest and reject the type of western education the northern leaders obtained from the best schools in the world only to be used as tools to impoverish the poor. They are at liberty to insist on sharia legal system within a negotiated federalism if that is what the people want. A people deserve the type of government they have.

If frustrated, hungry northern youths are killing youth corpers in Minna, a town that has produced two former heads of state, if the Vice President house in Kaduna is under attack by youths, if over 240 innocent people died in one day in Kano, where are the fortune seekers, the owners of the north and the nation by extension? Where are Babangida, Abdul Salami, Buhari, Gusau, Atiku Sanusi, Ciroma and the governors? Why are they hiding in their fortified palaces at home, Abuja and Lagos, regaling us with the tales of what the past feudal lords did?

If self proclaiming defenders of their people and purportedly elected governors are on the run from the same people, we don’t need any other evidence to show the fraud in the claim of these fortune seekers that have been bleeding their people and the nation since independence.

It is only through dialogue we can understand our differences as Ahmadu Bello had counseled. It is only by allowing the owners of the land who know how to appease their own gods, as the Igbos are wont to argue, that will enable the northern fortune seekers confront their raging youths that appear bent on destroying our nation.

‘He who sows the wind reaps the whirlwind. President Jonathan must now realise the game is up. Instead of humiliating the real patriots, it is time to have a national dialogue.

With dialogue, those who have an axe to grind with their leaders don’t need to make the nation ungovernable’ taken away from the true source of our woes: corruption. As Nigerians, we must stand together to ensure that our resources are well utilized for the common good. This is why, despite the hardships we must endure as a result of the strike, the fuel subsidy debate must be seen as the real dividend of democracy Three, religious leaders across the faiths must indeed stand up together and face the challenge of the times by offering a leadership that focuses on our common humanity and common good rather than the insignificant issues that divide us. We therefore condemn in very strong terms the tendency by some religious leaders to play politics with the issues of our collective survival. Rather than rallying our people, some of our religious leaders have resorted to divisive utterances, wild allegations and insinuations against fellow adherents of other religions.

In the last five or so days, text messages have been circulating across the country appealing to some of our worst demons We are told that many senior clerics either believed or encouraged the circulation of these divisive and false text messages. We must condemn this for what it is; a grand design by enemies within our folds who are determined to destroy our country.

Whatever they may call themselves, they are neither true christians nor muslims.

These are difficult times but they are also times of promise. Our country has turned its back on all forms of dictatorships. Our hands are on the plough and we are resolutely committed to democracy. Like a Catholic marriage, we may not be happy but we cannot contemplate a divorce. God does not make mistakes.

Although the freedom and growth promised by democracy are not here yet, we must remind ourselves that a better tomorrow is possible, a more united and peaceful Nigeria is possible.

The challenges of the last few days have shown the resilience of our people and their commitment to democracy and a better life. We believe this is possible. The government must strive to earn the trust of our people. All sides must take lessons from the demonstrations and resolve to build a better and stronger nation.

• KUKAH is Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese

AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS

Pg. 24

Mensah deligthed despite dismissal

NFF appeals court ruling, files-stay-of-execution notice Pg. 24

Nation PAGE 23

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Pg. 41

QPR agrees N.76b for Onuoha

N50M

I was under Pressure — Aneke Pg. 24

Pg. 24

ASSUALT

Obodo protests innocence Pg. 41

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

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41

NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT

AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS

Mensah delighted despite dismissal G

HANA captain John Mensah has spoken of his delight after his team won their opening CAF Africa Cup of Nations game against Botswana here, even though he picked up the competiton’s first red card.

Mensah’s first-half goal at the Franceville Stadium proved to be the match-winner as the Black Stars pipped debutants Botswana 1-0 on Tuesday.

However, the Lyon centre-back received his second red card in the Cup of Nations for a professional foul on Jerome Ramatlhakwana, who was clear on goal mid-way through the second half.

Mensah also saw red in the quarterfinal of the 2008 CAN in Ghana, when he fouled the goal-bound Peter Odemwingie of Nigeria. “I’m happy we won with my goal. We had to win to boost our confidence,” Mensah said after the Group D clash.

“I thank God for my first goal at the Nations Cup, unfortunately I also got a red card. But we have a good bench and so we have a lot of players who can replace me in the two games I will miss.”

We have a good bench and so we have a lot of players who can replace me in the two games I will miss.

John Mensah on his suspension Ghana coach Goran Stevanovic, however, lamented the absence of his first-choice central defender for the other Group D matches against Mali and Guinea. “I’m worried because Mensah is very difficult to replace,” he said. “He played well against Botswana but then got sent off.

“But while we were training in South Africa, I told the players that I need every one of them for this competition and so I have 20 other players who could replace him and we will be ready for Mali.”

Against Botswana, Mensah played alongside Rennes defender John Boye, who was making his Cup of Nations debut and was picked as the

man of the match by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Another young centre-back, Jonathan Mensah, who was dropped for Boye against Botswana, is most likely to replace John Mensah on Saturday against Mali.

Hoffenheim ace Issac Vorsah, who is the usual partner of John Mensah in the Black Stars back four, will also miss the match against Mali as he remains suspended due to his two-match ban for a red card in the final qualifier in Sudan in October. Mensah’s decisive goal came in the 24th minute of the game in Franceville, when he helped in a corner from the left taken by Emmanuel Agyemang Badu.

Stevanovic reflected: “We controlled the game until the red card for Mensah. We created some chances but they closed down the game with 10 men behind the ball. All the same, it was very important that we won our first game of a tournament that has already produced some surprises.”

F

• Mensah

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By Julius Okorie the game to the next level and compete on a higher pedestal.

The Nigerian tactician will, however, need to outshine other contenders in the final anaylysis including former English pro Kyle Lightbourne, who is staging a comeback to the position During his previous two-year term as national coach Lightbourne guided Bermuda into the top 120 countries in FIFA’s World Rankings.

Should Okpodu land the job, he will need to immediatly swing into action to prepare the national team nicknamed Gombey Warriors ahead of Febuary 29 proposed international friendly with a yet to be named opponent Bermuda occupy 106th position in current FIFA ranking just a step below Mozambique .

Oil and Gas Industry to interact with one another in a sporting atmosphere, which promotes goodwill, physical wellbeing and friendship,” he said.

Mr. Odjoji also informed that apart from the regular features of the Games which include; football, golf, quash, table tennis, tennis, scrabble, chess, 8 Ball Pool, swimming, 100 metres dash and Athletics, Basketball has also been introduced in the 2012 edition.

“We continue to explore ways of making the Games better and more inclusive,” he said. The participating companies in the Games include; Addax Petroleum, Chevron, Department of Petroleum Resources, Nigerian Agip Oil Company, ExxonMobil, Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), NNPC, PTI Shell Development Petroleum Company, Total and Oando.

ORMER Sports Minister , Chief Alex Akinyele , has called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to settle the problems rocking the country’s football .

Akinyele admitted that Nigeria should forget about court cases in January and focus on the development of the game. “ We didn’t qualify for the African Cup of Nations. Also, Nigeria didn’t qualify for the football event of the

N

N

T

IGERIA midfielder Christian Obodo has strongly denied reports that he helped assault a Nigerian lady in Italy over four years ago.

Italian reports, subsequently picked up by Nigerian media claimed that the victim, Cynthia Obasegie, named the midfielder as one of two men who assaulted her in 2007 and that the Lecce man now

• Super Eagles in a training session

London 2012 Olympics and some persons are still bringing on court cases in 2012 ‘’ We should be ashamed of ourselves , and until we clear out the bad eggs in the sports sector, we will never move forward,’’ Akinyele told allnigeriasoccer.com in a telephone conversation.

Recall that last week an Abuja Federal High Court declared both the NFF and the NPL illegal.

Osaze lands N50m endorsement deal S

UPER Eagles’ striker, Peter Osaze Odemwingie and Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji are happy people at the moment. A South

wanted to see me play for their team, but I was able to ease the pressure with the goal.

“I know how to manage the pressure at that level. Besides, it was important for me to score so the fans would go home satisfied.

My job is to score goals to make the fans happy,” Aneke said to SuperSport.com.

The former Kaduna United forward said he has adapted to the playing pattern at Wolves.

“We played a 4-3-3 formation with a three-man attack at Kaduna United, but Wolves have a 4-4-2 pattern, which is okay for me. I started with Oghogho Oduokpe and it was exciting.

“As a professional, I’m supposed

to adapt to any pattern the coach wants to play,” he stated.

Aneke expressed satisfaction with the reception at Warri Wolves.

“Everything went well. It was a warm reception. I’ve always seen Wolves as a serious side. They wanted me and that’s the only club I wanted to play for when it was obvious that I’ll leave Kaduna United.

“I know the players here since we were at the national team together,” he told SuperSport.com.

Port-Harcourt for this weekend’s game against Dolphin and they are very enthusiastic of this opportunity.”

The players were spotted at the club’s Tuesday’ morning training receiving special drills from the coaches, while efforts to speak to the players was rebuffed by some officials of the club who said they were acting on the instructions of Rangers CEO, Ozor Paul Chibuzor.

‘The Flying Antelopes’ have already signed a Togolese goalkeeper Mensah N’Souhoho and an Ivorian striker Konan Boris for this season.

African company which produces Cintrion Energy drink is set to make them ambassadors of the drink, knowing fully well they are masters in their chosen professions. The deal lands both Miss Nnaji and Osaze N50m each.

Osaze who has scored four times this season for his English Premier League club, West Brom is valued at £8million by the club amid interest from Fulham and West Ham. Promotion hopefuls West Ham are the latest club to enquire about the Nigerian striker, who was an unused substitute in the weekend win at Stoke.

Odemwingie has slipped down the pecking order at the Hawthorns after failing to repeat his form from last season when he bagged 15 Premier League goals.

But the forward’s price tag means he is likely to remain at Albion until the summer at least.

• Quadri

Albion boss Roy Hodgson has insisted Odemwingie is not for sale after only penning a new £35,000-a-week contract in August.

ESPITE his early ouster from the just concluded Hungary Open Table Tennis Championship, GDSR Os Toledos of Portugal player, Aruna Quadri has added more feathers to his cap, as he has been ranked the number one player.

The Civil Defense Corp man, who is billed to represent Nigeria at the London 2012 Olympic Gamessaid despite this feat he intends to keep working hard ahead future engagements.

“My performance since the inception of the league gave me more edge to be ranked number 1 in the midst of all other players in the league both the Chinese and the Portuguese.

It should be recalled that it happened last season as well when I was ranked number one in portugal in the month of january and after about two months

Agbonlahor’s boost ahead of Arsenal clash

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ABBY Agbonlahor, Stephen Ireland and Emile Heskey are all set to be fit for Arsenal in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday.

Agbonlahor is back in training, Heskey [achilles] should be back with the group later this week as well as Ireland [hamstring].

Charles N’Zogbia [heel] will be assessed by a specialist later this

GolfTeq Launches First Golf Simulator in Nigeria

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OLFTEQ Systems Limited has launched the first Golf Simulator in the country. The facility, provides opportunity for golf players of all levels, particularly beginners, to improve their skills outside the regular golf course, was recently launched in Lagos.

The indoor facility is located in the grounds of Hotel Bon Voyage overlooking Kuramo Waters.

According to the Managing Director,

Aruna Quadri ranked No 1 in Portugal

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Rangers set to sign Gambian stars WO Gambian players will soon feature for Enugu Rangers in the Nigeria Premier league.

MTNFootball.com has gathered that the player were spotted by the Rangers management at the last WAFU Cup in Lome, Togo, where the players starred for the losing finalists Gamtel F.C of Gambia.

A very reliable source told MTNFootball.com, “I can tell you that all negotiations have been concluded and the players’ licenses are on the way from Abuja.

“They may even be in the team to

• Onuoha

Assault: Obodo protests innocence

I was under pressure—Aneke IGERIA Premier League (NPL) all-time top scorer, Jude Aneke, has admitted he was under a heavy burden to score on his debut for Warri Wolves last Sunday following his famous transfer from Kaduna United.

The Nigerian international joined ambitious Warri Wolves to boost Paul Aigbogun’s rooster for local and continental assignments after his move to Belgian side, KAA Gent, evaporated.

Aneke, who missed the road trip at Enugu Rangers where his new team got a point, made a goalscoring debut for Wolves.

“Most of the fans came to the stadium when they heard about my arrival. I felt the heat because they

PR have agreed a £3 million fee with Manchester City for the transfer of Nedum

Onuoha.

However, former England Under21 international Onuoha is yet to agree personal terms and the deal could yet fall through.

New QPR manager Mark Hughes is desperate to bring in new players to help stave off relegation but so far has failed to land Alex from Chelsea and Henrique Almeida from Sao Paulo.

The Alex deal broke down due to wage demands and the same problem might affect Onuoha’s move after the QPR agreed a £2.75 million transfer which could rise to over £3 million with the add ons.

Onuoha is already paid around £60,000-a-week at City, which is big problem for QPR and indeed other potential suitors.

Akinyele calls for calm

F

Lagos hosts Oil Industry Games HE Central Planning Committee of the bi-annual Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry has announced Lagos as the venue of the 14th edition of the competition which attracts companies in the country’s oil and gas industry.

According to a statement signed by Mr. Peter Odjoji, Chairman, Central Planning Committee, the Games will begin with the preliminaries of the football event on Saturday, February 4 and end Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at the Practice Pitch of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. He said that the finals of the Games will take place at different venues in Lagos including Chevron Recreation Club Gbagada, Ikoyi Club, National Stadium, Surulere and Teslim Balogun Stadium.

“The Games has become a veritable platform for employees in the nation’s

Q

HE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Wednesday went to the Court of Appeal, Abuja to challenge a Federal High Court declaration that both the NFF and NPL were not properly incorporated and therefore not known to the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Federal High Court pronouncement was made on Friday, January 20, 2012 as the Judge Donatus Okorowo delivered judgement in a case brought by former chairman of Nigeria Referees Association, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja over his disqualification from the NPL elections of May 8, 2010.

On Wednesday, the NFF filed a motion-on-notice for stay-ofexecution of the High Court’s judgement at the same High Court, while the body filed a Notice of Appeal at the Court of Appeal, Abuja.

The Nigeria Football Federation is seeking ‘‘An Order staying and/or suspending the execution, further execution and or compliance with all or any of the Orders in the judgment of the Honourable Justice of this Honourable Court delivered on the 20th January 2012 pending hearing and determination of the Appeal against the judgment filed on the 25th day of January, 2012 and now pending before the Court of Appeal, Abuja”.

NFF CRISES

Okpodu may bag Bermuda job ORMER Super Falcons’ coach Sam Okpodu, is in the race for the post of national coach of Bermuda.

Okpodu according to a close associate is being considered for the job because of his knowledge of the terrain and the wealth of experience he displayed while contributing to Girls Development Football Camp held at the T.N. Tatem Middle School, Warwick, Bermuda recently Okpodu who led Super Falcons to the 2003 World Cup, is reported to have made a major impact during the 5-day camp aimed at discovering more talents to beef up the country’s senior female national team.

US-based Okpodu according to those pushing his case, has what it takes to re-position football to meet with Bermuda’s aspiration to take

QPR agrees N.76b for Onuoha

NFF appeals court ruling, files stay-ofexecution notice

By Innocent Amomoh in the second half of the league, fatigue set in and i was always feeling tired over and over,” he said.

The former Union Bank of Lagos player continued: “Also at the inception of the second half of the league this season, what happened last season started again when we visit sporting Lisbon where i lost two matches in a row, but this season am going to make sure that what occurred last season do not happened again. Am going to stick my position as number one this season. We are also busy with training working towards the league title.”

Quadri, however, recalled that the lost to Sporting Lisbon earlier in the season is a very good lesson for his side, adding that it was better that they lost in the round robin of the league instead of the round robin.

By Stella Bamawo Golfteq Systems Limited, Mr. Frederick Babatunde Tobun, the initiative was taken to contribute to the development of golf in Nigeria by encouraging new players to learn golf in a conducive and private atmosphere devoid of critical scrutiny.

“I discovered the simulator in the UK and felt the need to bridge the gap by integrating it into the Nigerian pastime activities. Currently the sport is tagged the elite sport in Nigeria and I believe we need to begin to provide the opportunity for anybody who is interested in getting involved in the game, including women and children.

One of the challenges is the high barrier of entry into the game; many believe it is very expensive. With this simulator, you can learn and improve your golf skills before ever stepping on any golf course.

“Those interested can visit us and be shown the ropes by our certified instructors. The Golf simulator has 120 different prestigious golf courses from around the world. The simulator also has swing analysis software to enable golfers and non-golfers to correct their swing.

“We can assure Nigerians that this product is effectively the best the market can offer. In fact, it is at least two years ahead of its nearest competitors on the world stage. So, what we are offering is tested and proven,” he added.

afternoon because he’s still suffering discomfort with the injury.

Chris Herd could be back in training in two-three weeks.

Alex McLeish said: “Gabby is okay and trained today after a bout of illness which forced him to come off against Wolves.

“Emile has responded well to treatment on his achilles and he will train later in the week so he has a chance of making it.

“Stephen Ireland missed the game against Wolves with a hamstring injury but we’re very positive on him and hopefully he will be back training with the group later in the week too.

“Charles will see a specialist later today because he still has pain in his right heel and we’ll await the results of that before we make a decision on whether he will be involved.

“Chris is still under guide of the specialist and the plan is to get him back in training in the two to three weeks so we have a bit of time to go with him.

“He’s probably still quite a bit

faces the prospect of jail time.

It is a claim that both Obodo, and Ms Obasegie strongly refute “I couldn’t believe it when I saw it,” Obodo told KickOffNigeria.com as he narrated the events that took place on the day.

“All i did was try to make peace. I had just come back from a game and stopped at the African store owned

by Obidike Okechukwu when I saw Cynthia, who I call Lilly being assaulted by her ex Damian Uwaoma.

“Since I did not want her to get hurt, I tried to calm her down and get her into the office and away from the fight. After that, I left.

“When the case went to court, I got a letter asking me to appear as a witness. By the time I appeared, Mr Uwaoma and his advisers had changed things and accused me of assaulting her.”

Obodo’s version of events is corroborated by the victim “He came in, and when he saw what was going in, he pulled me away and took me inside.

“He always calls me Mama Lilly, and He did not act like a star and ignore what was going on. He tried to protect me,” Ms Obasegie said.

“And when I went to court, I told them that all he did was try to be a peace-maker.

“If it wasn’t for Christian, maybe I would have been worse, and that is what I told the judge. I don’t know how they are now saying he assaulted me.

“Maybe they are trying to make money from him.”

Obodo told KickOffNigeria.com that he is confident of emerging innocent, and keen to take the matter further in order to clear his name.

King Osanga testing with Sochaux

N

• Agbolahor

IGERIAN winger King Osanga has been undergoing tests with Ligue 1 club, Sochaux since Monday, the French club announced on its official website.

Osanga is under contract with Etoile Sahel until the summer of 2014. The 21-year-old wishes to leave the Tunisian club due to his restricted chances following the arrival of a new coach.

FC Zurich, Switzerland are also willing to offer Osanga a contract, but prefer to wait until the end of the season.

Last season, the young Nigerian forward Brown Ideye scored 15 goals in 35 appearances for Les Lionceaux.

25

THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com

email:- education@thenationonlineng.com

As Bursar of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) Dr May Nwoye is entitled to renewal of her appointment when her tenure expires next Monday. But the position has been declared vacant, provoking comments about plans to force her out. OSAGIE OTABOR reports.

Much ado about a bursar's job

• Entrance to UNIBEN

P

OLITICS and academics are not expected to mix. But often times they mix on campuses whenever a vacancy exists in the principal offices. When these positions become vacant, the university becomes a huge political field with contending interests.

These are the offices on which a university oscillates. Occupants of these offices wield enormous powers within the university community and are primus inter pares (first among equals).

Soon, the position of Bursar will become vacant at the University of Benin (UNIBEN). The tenure of the Bursar, Dr May Nwoye, expires next Monday. Although she is entitled to a renewal of her appointment, it seems some forces are against her return. Her position has been declared vacant, without consideration for her eligibility to another term.

Those who should know say there is no love lost between her and the Vice-Chancellor, Prof.

Osayuki Oshodin. The duo, they claim, are involved in a personality clash. But, according to a source, they are using others to fight their battle.

There is, however, no doubt that what is happening is reminiscent of events that rocked the institution before Oshodin emerged as

‘The Bursar does not dish out money. She is conservative and does not know how to play politics. If she had opened the university's purse, this crisis would not have occurred’

• Prof. Oshodin

• Dr Nwoye

vice-chancellor in 2010. Before Oshodin's appointment, an intense battle was fought by many faceless individuals both within and outside the university community. On one side were those who insisted that a professor of Benin extraction should be appointed vice-chancellor, claiming marginalisation of Bini dons over the years. Others insisted that the appointment should be free of ethnic inclination. Academic and non-academic unions in

the institution were split over the issue until Oshodin, a Bini, got the job.

Two years after, a similar crisis is brewing. Trouble started in December after the Bursar's job was advertised in some newspapers. Dr Nwoye, it is believed, was not aware that the university management declared her position vacant.

She was said to have been dumbfounded when she saw the advert.

Investigations showed that Dr

Nwoye still has 10 years before attaining the compulsory retirement age.

The battle over the appointment of the Bursar is causing acrimony between those loyal to Oshodin and Nwoye.

The battle has split the university into groups like Justice and Fairness Forum, Edo United Professionals, Concerned Retirees of University of Benin, UNIBEN Development Stakeholders Forum and Committee on Advocacy for the Protection of Rights of Women, among others. While some groups are calling for her replacement, others are insisting that she should be given a second chance.

Those rooting for a new bursar want Dr Nwoye to re-apply and follow due process if she wants a second term. They petitioned the

‘It is common knowledge in the University of Benin to find the Bursar holding secret custody of idle bank accounts of the university for as long as four years without the vice-chancellor’s and top officers’ knowledge’ Education Minister, Prof Ruqqayatu Ahmed Rufa'i, calling for a probe into alleged fraud in the Bursary Department.

The petition urged the Minister to stop the university management from renewing Dr. Nwoye's tenure or stop her from proceeding on the mandatory annual leave at the expiration of her tenure.

Part of the letter reads: "It is common knowledge in the University of Benin to find the Bursar holding secret custody of idle bank accounts of the university for as long as four years without the vice-chancellor’s and top officers’ knowledge."

But those fighting for Dr Nwoye's re-appointment claim that those pushing for her ouster want direct access to the •Continued on Page 26

•ASUP TASKS FED GOVT ON POLY COMMISSION - Page 27 •CANADIAN EMBASSY EASES STUDENT VISA PROCEDURE - Page 28

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

26

EDUCATION EKSU FILE

FUNAAB FILE

VC bags OGTV award

Bank to donate sports facilities

THE Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun, has been inducted into the Ogun State Television (OGTV) Hall of Fame.

Balogun was one of the distinguished indigenes of Ogun State accorded honours in recognition of his selfless contribution to education.

Others so recognised at an award ceremony organised by the television station included: former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba and the Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, who all bagged Life Time Achievement Awards.

The Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Tunde Lemo and industrialists, such as Otunba Subomi Balogun, Otunba Mike Adenuga, Chief Kesington Adebutu, Chief Olatunde Abudu, among others, were given Special Recognition Award.

Hon. Justice Demola Bakre, Mrs. Tinu Dawodu and Mr Fabio Lanipekun, as well as Chief Kasimawo Laloko, Chief Segun Odegbami and Mrs. Falilat Ogunkoya, were honoured for their individual contributions to sports development.

THE plan of the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti to have a modern sports complex received a boost as the FirstBank Nigeria Plc promised to construct a basketball court, lawn tennis court and provide four table tennis arena with apparatus at N23.6million.

The bank's approval contained in a letter signed by Mr Olalekan Aileru and Dele Adefila was conveyed to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Oladipo Aina, by its Executive Director, Public Sector, Mr U. K. Eke. Aina commended the bank for responding to the institution's clarion call to individuals and organisations to support the reengineering of the university.

He added that the three projects would be part of a modern stadium to serve as training grounds for students and workers as well as generate funds for the university.

New buses boost transport THE FUNAAB Management Committee on Transport (MANCOT) has taken delivery of three brand new 60-Seater TATA buses, to complement the existing transportation fleet for students.

While handing-over the buses, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Balogun said they were purchased through revenue generated from the Acceptance Fees paid by newly-admitted students. Represented by the Dean, Students Affairs, Prof Sam Oluwalana, the Vice-Chancellor appealed to the drivers to take proper care of the buses.

"Apart from human lives in the buses that you can't quantify, all other things in it are quantifiable, so take proper care of it to avoid damages", he cautioned.

Chairman, MANCOT, who also doubles as the Deputy Dean, Student Affairs, Dr Samson Awokola, said the buses would go a long way to ameliorate the demands of passengers on the Somoorin axis, as the three buses put together can convey 300 students at once, with 60 sitting and 40 standing in each bus.

•From left: Director, Finance and Accounts, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Peter Momodu; Minister of Education Prof. Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Prof. Nicholas Damachi, during the Budget Defence of the Ministry, at the National Assembly, Abuja.

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

Much ado about a bursar's job •Continued from page 25 university's purse.

They argued that Dr Nwoye should be given a second chance if she is qualified for a renewal of appointment, warning that the university should not be thrown into another crisis.

However, a lecturer, who pleaded for anonymity, said the main problem is access to the university's fund.

The lecturer told The Nation that there has not been any confrontation between the Bursar and VC, adding that it is a surprise that their personal problem has degenerated.

The source said: "This is not an ethnic issue. Many Benin professors are of the opinion that Dr. Nwoye

Reacting, the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mr Harris Osarenren, said there was a good working relationship between Oshodin and Dr Nwoye, debunking allegations that the VC wants to support his cousin to become the next Bursar.

Osarenren said the university would not compromise merit in the appointment of persons to positions of authority, adding that Dr. Nwoye should re-apply because her position will become vacant soon.

He said the VC has been following due process by ensuring merit in appointments.

Approached to comment, Dr Nwoye declined, saying as a civil servant she is not authorised to talk to the press.

Bishop speaks on corruption AUDITORS and other professionals involved in monitoring financial transactions have been told to be honest and firm to stem corruption.

The Bishop of the Ekiti West Diocese of Anglican Communion, the Rt Revd S.O. Oke, gave the charge during a sermon at a funeral service for the late Mr Enoch Taiye Osuntokun at St Michael's Anglican Church Archdeaconry, Oke-Imesi Ekiti.

The bishop said Taiye, the brother of Prof Akinjide Osuntokun, EKSUPro-Chancellor, was a shinning example to auditors with the way he fought corruption and mismanagement of funds.

At the service were Prof Osuntokun, Prof Aina and his wife, Olabisi, principal officers and many members of staff.

VC seeks to improve IGR

•Members of the Committee during the inauguration

Student wins laurels ARAMIDE Opeyemi Afisat did FUNAAB proud by winning gold and silver medals at the Korean Ambassador Cup and the West African Taekwondo Championship, in Abuja.

A statement by the university's Director of Sports, Mr Bayo Oluwatoki, stated that the 300Level student of Statistics won the medals in the Fin Weight Category.

Aramide had earlier hauled gold medals at the last edition of the Nigerian University Games (NUGA), held in Benin, Edo State, and a silver medal during the African Youth Taekwondo Championship held in Morocco.

Impressed by her performances, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Balogun, has directed that congratulatory letter be sent to Aramide, with a scholarship award to cover the remaining period of her course in the university. Aramide is the current Sports Secretary in the Iyalode Tinubu Hall of residence.

should continue. It has nothing to do with ethnicity as canvassed by some persons.

"The Bursar does not dish out money. She is conservative and does not know how to play politics. If she had opened the university's purse, this crisis would not have occurred.

“There is no indictment on the Bursar and anyway, must Dr. Nwoye be a Bursar? She can go to the department and lecture.”

Another source told The Nation that one Victor Usunobun Imagbe, said to be a cousin of the VC, is being groomed to become the next Bursar. The source said many names behind the splinter groups are unknown to the university community.

RUN inaugurates sanitation committee

V

ICE-Chancellor of the Redeemer's University (RUN) Prof Debo Adeyewa has set up a committee to oversee sanitation in the staff quarters.

The committee has as its terms of reference periodic inspection of the staff quarters; ensuring that the quarters are clean and can serve as models in the Redemption Camp; provide monthly report on sanitation matters; organise and supervise local community sanitation committees.

Speaking at the inauguration of the committee, Adeyewa noted that every member of staff must serve as a role model to other residents of the Redemption Camp.

He urged the committee to give monthly reports on the sanitation situation within the quarters, and not to shy away from recommending appropriate sanctions for erring members of staff who flout the rules.

He also urged them to grade each resident according to his/her level of cleanliness and note those deserving of reward and who should be sanctioned for not keeping their environment clean.

Adeyewa also told the committee to approach management if any of the quarters needs repairs. He promised that the management would give the needed support for the committee to succeed.

The Chairman of the Committee, Mrs. O. F. Kingsley-Otaru, thanked the university management for the privilege to serve. She promised that members of the committee would put in their best.

Other members are: Mr. R. S. Dauda, Mrs. V. A. Olabode, Dr P. O. Adeniji, Mr. A. O. Ogunde, Mrs. P. O. Saliu, Mr. I. O. Afolabi, Mr. F. F. Adeyemi, Mr. O. S. Solanke, Member, and Miss J. O. Nebe (Secretary)

ALL members of staff of the EKSU have been told to work as a team in improving the InternallyGenerated Revenue (IGR) profile of the university.

While addressing a cross section of the workers, the Vice-Chancellor said his administration would be financially prudent but urged them to support his plans to increase the IGR. The Vice-Chancellor also spoke about starting a commercial farm as well as an EKSU Ventures which would harness all businesses of the university to increase funds.

“What an ‘ancient‘ author ... I just hope the old boy didn’t write in LATIN!”

27

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

EDUCATION

ASUP tasks Fed Govt on Poly Commission

T

HE Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has called for the creation of a commission that will exclusively oversee the affairs of polytechnics, like that of the universities.

ASUP National President Comrade Chibuzo Asomugha, who was at the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, said the proposed commission should design a special curriculum for the development of technical education.

He said: "The fastest way to develop technical education in this country is to create a commission that will be closer to polytechnics and specifically fashion out modern approach to the development of the institutions to meet international standard in infrastructure and academic excellence".

Asomugha said this when he was introduced to the Rector, Prof Godwin

From Adimike George, Onitsha

Onu, as the new head of the union

by ASUP Chairman for Southsouth/ Southeast zones, Comrade Anderson Ezeibe.

He further charged the Federal Government to appoint more academics into boards of polytechnics who would appreciate challenges in the education sector.

"You need somebody who shares the same vision with you and who has your interest at heart to move forward. Other people can still make meaningful impact in other sectors but education requires people who have passion for its speedy development," he said.

He commended the management for showing a sense of commitment and thanked the rector for coming from all fronts in his transformation agenda.

Onu thanked the members for ensuring victory for the national president and pledged the support of the management to the union.

Onu noted that the management is committed towards improving facilities as well as the welfare of the staff. He disclosed that his labour-friendly management has adopted an all-inclusive approach in taking various decisions aimed at sanitising and improving the image and character of the institution.

According to the rector, "the Management has approved over 200 study leave for staff with pay, embarked on massive construction of offices and lecture blocks, equipped and furnished staff offices and reduced backlog of staff promotions."

He continued: "We have provided ICT facilities to aid research

and teaching, create platform for online release of student's results, fight corruption and other related cases, stop all manner of harassment of students among other enviable projects".

Onu also disclosed that the management has cleared all backlogs of ETF scholarship grants of N10 million with most staff benefitting.

Ezeibe commended the rector on his lofty achievements and urged him not to relent in improving industrial harmony.

He lauded the physical transformation of the school, emphasising that the emergence of the ASUP President from the polytechnic would be of immense benefit to the institution and the zone if properly harnessed.

Ezeibe said it was in the union's interest that the core values of the institution are preserved, adding that in doing so the welfare of the members should be paramount.

Obasanjo for UNN convocation lecture

•Prof. Okolo (right); DVC, Prof. Ifeoma Enemo and Registrar, University Mr Anthony Okonta, at the press conference PHOTO: CLETUS OBI

tion”. He said the institution now has collaborations and linkages “with universities in every continent” while its ranking among world universities and locally has continued to improve.

The vice-chancellor added, “In May 2011, the Executive Congress of UNESCO adopted our biotechnology centre and upgraded it to a UNESCO category 11 Biotechnology Institute - the only one of its kind in Africa. This feat was achieved after a keen competition that involved proposals, presentations and defence by universities from other African countries.”

Okolo said UNN was investing

heavily in manpower development as well as replacement of ageing faculty. The institution had in the past one year sent about 30 lecturers overseas for doctoral programmes while it recruited 40 of its graduates with First Class Honours degrees. It is also offering tuition-free scholarships to academic staff pursuing doctorate degree programmes.

He thanked various benefactors who have endowed programmes or facilities, including Central Bank of Nigeria, which is sponsoring the Institute for Financial and Capital Market Studies for N1.6billion, and the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria whose

$100m Shell-UNN Centre for Environmental Management and Control is nearing completion as is the Centre for Excellence in Vocational Technical Education.

On its part, Okolo said UNN has built an International Scholars Village “dedicated to the accommodation of visiting researchers” and started the construction of six new buildings for Personnel Services, Economics, Data Centre, an Administration Complex in the Enugu campus and the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

He said UNN is also increasing its postgraduate enrolment.

While only 10 per cent of the graduating class is post graduate, enrolment increased to 34.7 per cent in the current year.

ROF Geoffrey Okogbaa, the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Wukari, Taraba State, established

by President Goodluck Jonathan last year, has charged workers to ensure that students are treated genially.

He said students are the main reason the workers exist.

"I have heard so many negative stories from various quarters on students. Nigerian students from what I have seen so far are wonderful, excellent and willing to learn despite the numerous challenges confronting them daily.

The main reason why we are here is to correct this perception. So, let's challenge ourselves by building a university where the stu-

School prepares for inter-house sport

OAU public health institute holds workshop

ARRANGEMENTS have been concluded by the management of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) International School to hold its 4th annual inter-house sport. The event is scheduled to start at 10.00am, holds on Saturday, February, 18, at the college sports ground.

HIGHER National Diploma (HND) holders with qualifications in agriculture have less than two weeks to apply to study for a B.Sc. in Agricultural Extension and Community Development at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN).

The new programme, which begins from the 2011/2012 academic session, is a result of collaboration between the university and Sasakawa Africa Fund for Extension Education (SAFE). It is aimed at addressing food security in Nigeria through the training of extension and rural development professionals.

According to a statement issued by the Registrar, Mrs Olufolake Oyeyemi, applicants must possess O-level credits in English Language, Mathematics, and any other three from Biology or Agriculture, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, Economics, Food & Nutrition and Home Management.

Exams begin Jan 30

New Federal Varsity to be student-centred

P

New course

THE First Semester examinations of the 2011/2012 academic session will hold between January 30 and February 18.

According to a statement by the Deputy Registrar (Academic Support Services), Mrs F. M. Olowoleni, the new date supercedes the earlier one circulated. Moreover, students have been warned to abide by the rules and regulations guiding the conduct of examinations.

A notice issued to all students signed by the examinations officer, Mr. A. A. Yusuf, urged them to be conversant with examination offences as contained on pages 58 and 59 in the Rules and Regulations and Students Handbook of Information and Regulations.

F

ORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo is expected to speak on education and national development at the Convocation Lecture of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) today.

Preceding Obasanjo’s lecture, an Israeli expert and President of Galilee International Management Institute, Nahalal, Israel, Dr Josef Shevel, would speak on “Economic Development based on Education and Higher Education: The case of Israel.”

UNN Vice-Chancellor, Prof Bartho Okolo, disclosed at a preconvocation briefing on Monday in Enugu that the lecture would be one of the highlights of week-long activities for the 41st Convocation.

The university would confer first degrees on 10, 243 graduates and higher degrees on 1,253 recipients. Ninety-four of the graduates would receive First Class Honours, 2, 305 Second Class Honours Upper Division, 1,593 Third Class Honours and 858 persons unclassified certificates and diplomas.

Among the postgraduate recipients, 170 persons would receive PhDs, 892 Masters, and 191 Postgraduate Diplomas (PGD).

Okolo assured that UNN was making significant progress in its avowed “ambition to become a truly 21st century university that will enjoy international recogni-

UNILORIN FILE

T

HE Institute of Public Health at the Obafemi Awolowo University, IleIfe, and the National HIV Vaccine and Microbicide Advocacy Society are training public health professionals in biomedical research next month.

The workshop, which holds from February 13 to 15, has as theme: "Ethical issues in Biomedical Health research" and will address

dents will excel," he said.

Okogbaa, who spoke while addressing members of staff at a dinner organised by the Registrar, Mr Ibrahim Jalingo, also advised them to respect one another while working towards achieving a "Student Centred University" where character, excellence and service will be exalted.

At the event were Mr Joshua

the ethical and practical challenges in developing, reviewing, conducting, and ov e r s e e i n g b i o medical health research.

Highlights of the workshop include: educational sessions led by experts trainers on biomedical health research, participatory approaches to learning about research protocol review process, round table discussions of real world cases, and recommenda-

Olatunji, Bursar; Mr Salihu Ndaji Mohammed, director of projects; Udom Uduak Okon and Jerry Amah, chief information officers.

The Vice Chancellor led a delegation of principal officers and other support workers on an inspection of some ongoing projects, during which he a charged contractors to work speedily to meet deadlines.

tions for ensuring appropriate research protocol development.

The training will benefit professionals, who review and manage research, investigators, research ethicists and educators and anyone interested in promoting health research collaborations.

Registration opened on January 16 and continues till class space is filled up.

Don gets Socrates prize PROF R. D. Abubakre of the Department of Arabic Studies has been honoured with the laureate of "The International Socrates Prize" in education.

The award presented by the International Socrates Committee of Europe Business Assembly (EBA, Oxford, United Kingdom) symbolises the highest degree of the international recognition of high achievement in the professional sphere.

The main criteria used for the nomination of Prof. Abubakre, the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, for the award were his irreproachable public reputation, introduction of economic and social programmes, absence of negative references, great services for homeland through his contributions in the field of education, especially at UNILORIN.

Fashola for UNILAG PG lecture THE University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, School of Postgraduate Studies, will hold the Eighth Annual Lecture for 2011/2012 Session on Tuesday, January 31 in the Main Auditorium of the institution.

The lecture entitled,"Education, Research and National Development", will be delivered by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN). The Chief Host of the event is the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof.

Adetokunbo Babatunde Sofoluwe (FAS).

The lecture is the university's platform for stimulating of ideas about national development with particular reference to postgraduate education. Eminent and credible personalities who have made significant impact on the society are invited to share their thoughts with the university community.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

EDUCATION FEBPOFFA FILE

ASUP Exco gets 2nd term THE Kamardeen Kadiri -led executive of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (FEDPOFFA) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has been re-elected for a second and final term of two years.

The executives, whose first tenure expired last November, were asked to continue for the second term, at a congress of the union held last month.

In a release signed by the union's General Secretary, Mohammed Sadiq, the executive council was dissolved to pave way for the fresh election but at a congress recently, there was a motion for the return of the executives for another two years.

The returned officers are Kamardeen Kadiri (Chairman); Mr Salimonu Ishaq (Vice-Chairman); Mr Sadiq (General Secretary); Mr Bankole Olurotimi (Assistant General Secretary); Mr Emiola Steve, (Treasurer); Mr Olaosebikan (Financial Secretary); Mr Ogundele (Publicity Secretary) and Dr Adeshina (Internal Auditor).

In his reaction on behalf of the other executives, Kadiri promised to "serve the union better than during its first term."

Aregbesola, Mimiko, Olajumoke for Achievers’ Awards

T

HE Governors of Ondo and Osun states, Dr Olusegun Mimiko and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, are among eminent personalities to be honoured by the Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State, as part of programmes lined up for its maiden convocation billed for Saturday.

Others are Senator Bola Olajumoke, who will be installed as the Chancellor of the first private University in Ondo State, and Elder Simeon Olakunrin (SAN), Chairman, Body of Benchers, to be awarded Honorary Doctorate Degrees in Law(LLD).

Speaking at a briefing to herald the convocation, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adebayo Odebiyi, said Mimiko and Aregbesola would be honoured with the Doctors of Science (D.SC) in Public Policy and Management while Olajumoke

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

would also receive an LLD, apart from his investiture as the first chancellor of the university.

Odebiyi expressed joy that, despite challenges, the university, which began academic activities in 2008 has successfully trained its first products who will graduate on Saturday.

He said: "Unfortunately, we started when there was serious economic recession, but we put judicious application of funds to start with eight academic programmes.

Between October and December, this year all the eight programmes were subjected to accreditation and fully accredited."

The vice-chancellor said two professional courses, Medical Laboratory Sciences and Accountancy among the accredited

programmes.

He said the institution is also considering proposals to apply for courses in Nursing and Law. Out of the 133 pioneer students admitted in 2008, Odebiyi said 104 will be graduating with first, second and third class degrees.

The vice-chancellor noted that the granduates are those pursuing fouryear programmes. He said those running medical courses will spend five years before graduation.

He used the opportunity to call for the inclusion of private universities in benefiting from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, given that the fund is raised from two per cent taxes from all registered companies for the education of Nigerian Children.

"I want to object to the notion that private universities were not part of laws setting the fund up. The law

Staff bags ISMN A STAFF member of the Directorate of Students Affairs, Mr Adebanji Davies, has been admitted as a certified member of the Institute of Strategic Management (ISMN).

Davies satisfied the requirements for the conferment of the prestigious award.

This was contained in a Certificate of Membership issued to the recipient and signed by the President and Registrar of the institute.

With the award, Davies is now a qualified Strategic Manager.

is unambiguous. It is an act of discrimination against students in private universities who are all Nigerian," he said.

The Vice-Chancellor noted that human capital was the bottom line of any developing nation.

Highlights of the one- week convocation is the inauguration of some projects and the convocation lecture to be delivered by the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC) Prof.

Julius Okojie on Friday.

Ex-ASUP Chairman claims vicitimisation From Osagie Otabor, Benin

'Xtian group prays THE President of Paul and Cedar, Pastor A.O. Israel, has again reiterated that the Christian religious group will continue to prayerfully support FEDPOFFA management, staff and students to ensure the success of all activities and programmes as well as smoothen the road to the zenith of academic excellence.

Pastor Israel said the interdenominational association established last year for Christian students, irrespective of their denomination, gather to pray and seek God's face to ensure peace in the polytechnic.

He claimed that the teaching of the group has assisted in reducing incidences of bad conduct such as cultism and examination malpractices among students.

•Prof Odebiyi

F

•From right: Mr Cooter, Mrs Sewanu Amosu, Director, Private Education and Special Programmes (PESP), and Mr Jean J. Gauthier, Canadian Deputy High Commissioner, at the event.

Canadian Embassy eases student visa procedure T

HE Canadian High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mr Chris Cooter, said the embassy has made efforts to reduce the stress of obtaining travel documents for Nigerian students offered admission to Canadian institutions.

Speaking on the efforts at the 9th Canadian Education Fair which opened at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island on Monday, Cooter said the embassy is doing some things this year to improve the speed of the students getting visas.

“We have worked with a company to open a visa application centre which started a few weeks ago where our students can get visas easily. We have also increased the number of clinics we have so that our students can do their check-ups without delay,” he said.

Cooter said the fair held in Lagos for three days because the state has the biggest market for Nigerian students going to Canada to study.

The fair will also hold in Abuja and Kaduna next week.

“We have over 40 Canadian institutions represented here we are going to take the fair to other cities of Nigeria by next week starting from Abuja so that we can increase access

From Medinat Kanabe

to Canadian education in Nigeria for people who are interested and this time instead of the normal 5 days, its going to be 10 days,” he said.

He said educational relationship between Nigeria and Canada has come a long way.

“We have a long history of working with Nigeria on education dating back to 1960. We used to send over 200 teachers to Nigeria every year in those days and that was about 40 per cent of our entire aide budget in the whole world. But now times have changed and there is technology every where, the world is much more globalised,” he said.

Cooter said from his interactions with Nigerians who have studied in Canada, they tell him they appreciate the skills they gain in Canadian institutions. He said there are many colleges that provide practical and technical skills, as well as many universities and high schools.

He said: “Nigerian students tell me when they go to Canada that they get good high quality and practical education and they have access

to other opportunities like learning other languages because Canada is becoming a multi culture country.“ Speaking on his country’s investment in Nigeria, Cooter said the commission is working on partnering with institutions in Nigeria to offer practical skills and training so that there would be jobs for young people in Nigeria.

In his speech, the Vice-President, Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC), Mr Paul Brennan said students trained in their colleges get employment easily.

He said: “Our students get jobs within six months of graduation. We try to put into our curriculum what the employers want. Half of the high school graduates in Canada now go to colleges for I year post graduate certificate course because the employer wants practical skills.

People can graduate and start working right away. We also offer applied degree in different courses.

If you want to work with people who like to make things work you should go to a college. We have a network of institutions that work with us to achieve this and we are partnering with the polytechnics in Nigeria. “

ORMER Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), Auchi Polytechnic chapter, Mr Friday Idugie has said the crisis rocking the institution has continued unabated because the former Governing Board of the institution lied to the Ministry of Education about pending cases at the polytechnic.

Idugie alleged that the action of the former Council led to the termination of his appointment and that of another Chief Lecturer at the polytechnic, Mr Thomas Osazuwa.

He said their offences were that they reported threats to their lives to the office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 5 in Benin without getting clearance from the Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Philipa Idogho.

The former ASUP chairman who spoke while addressing Journalists in Benin City accused the institution's management of embezzlement of funds and intimidation of staff.

Idugie also accused the Rector of falsifying records of appointment to evade retirement so as to seek a second term in office.

Reacting, Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mr Mustapha Oshiobuje, debunked the allegations saying they were allegations that have been repeated severally.

Oshiobuje said investigating agencies have visited the institution severally and have found no truth in the allegations.

He said the Rector did not manipulate her records to evade retirement, as her appointment into the service of the polytechnic was confirmed in 1984.

Ogun to reward best WASSCE candidates

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UBLIC school candidates with the best results in the 2012 May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) in each of the 20 local government areas of Ogun State will have cause to smile, courtesy of an all-expenses-paid reward trip that the Governor’swife, Mrs Olufunso Amosun, has put in place.

Each of them will accompany Mrs Amosun on a recreational trip to

United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The overall best candidate of the lot will be further rewarded with a cash gift to support his/her tertiary education.

She secured sponsorship for the initiative from various organisations who felt the cause is a laudable one.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Idowu Sowunmi, stated that travel

arrangements for the winners will be scheduled to ensure there is no interference with the admission plans of the winners.

The initiative tagged 'UPLIFTing SS3 Results in Ogun State' is aimed at encouraging the pupils in all state-owned schools to take full advantage of the free qualitative education scheme that the Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has introduced into the state.

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All in the pursuit of fame

‘Fed Govt, ASUU please resolve dispute’

Page 34

Page 31

*CAMPUSES *NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE 0805-450-3104 email: ladycampus@yahoo.com THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

The deadly sect, Boko Haram’s directive to those from the South to leave the North has thrown many people, especially students and their parents’ into panic. Many from the South are schooling in the North. FAITH OLANIRAN (recently graduated from Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Niger State) captures the students’ fear.

•A group of students discussing in a Northern university

W

ITH the unrelenting spate of bombings and killings in the North by Boko Haram, panic and fear have gripped residents. The fear is most palpable among southern Christians. In this group are undergraduates studying in universities and other institutions in the North. Their fear stems from the recent order by the sect that they should leave the North.

Students have been seen as neutral in most of the crises that have erupted in the North.

But, the-yet-to-subside Jos crisis has put paid to that notion, with students being killed and forced to run for their dear life. Although students in public universities have yet to resume because of the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the mass bombings and killings of last Friday in Kano State, the biggest city in the North

Students jittery over Boko Haram threat and Nigeria’s second most populated, has heightened fears.

A student of Taraba State University, who did not want to be mentioned, said the fear of the sect “is forcing me to consider foregoing my education in this country as a whole and to seek an alternative school outside the country.”

He added: “My mother is behind me but my father says he cannot afford the high fees.”

One question on the lips of students our correspondent spoke with was: how safe are we when ASUU calls off the strike and we resume?

They are pleading with the federal and state governments to look into the security of citizens in this part of the country, “most especially students”.

Bolarin Dada is a student of the University of Jos (UNIJOS). He said: “In my three years

of residing in the North, I have seen these people in their diabolical action. At such times, they become humans without feelings who are ready to do anything. With such disturbances in town, even where it does not enter the campus, there is no way students can study in peace. At the end of the day, the violence ends up disrupting the academic calendar.”

Olumide Olujobi, a student of Katsina University, believes everything will be sorted out soon. He advised students to be “highly security conscious and very careful with every movement they make when they return to school.”

A student of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAD), who spoke under condition of anonymity, wants students schooling in the •Continued on page 31

•Boko Haram: Akwa Ibom evacuates corps members - P32 • Furore over hike in tuition fee - P33

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

30

CAMPUS LIFE not need to be a senior management official in a multinational to know that it is suicidal to the company’s finances to cancel an entire retreat after rooms and conference halls have not only been booked, but members of the board and heads of departments are already checked in. What would have happened would be simply to make with whatever possible arrangement for these secretaries, even if it meant 08054503104 some two or more of them would share rooms. The idea alone, not to (SMS only) talk of the consideration, of calling •campuslife@thenationonlineng.net off the retreat for any reason save matters of grave security threat is not •ladycampus@yahoo.com only incredulous but jejune too. subsidy as suggested by President Goodluck This thus underscores the seriousness those Jonathan”. running the affairs of Nigeria bring to bear on He had added: “Moreover, the items are yet the job. I say Nigeria because such reasoning is to be approved as expenditure items in the 2012 not peculiar to the Benue legislators budget. There is therefore no need to boycott Governor Suswam, while suing for underthe budget retreat. Their action is hasty espe- standing from the lawmakers, had explained cially as they were yet to discuss the matter that the reason the jeeps were not bought was with the governor who as a former legislator because the Federal Government was unable is very sensitive to the need of the legislature to implement the full deregulation of fuel suband has always worked to support the busi- sidy. This meant that the money they had exness of the state house of assembly and is ready pected, at least from February, would be less. to continue to do so in the years ahead”.

I was one of those who felt disappointed by In his reaction, Majority Leader of the House, what I considered the organised labour’s caHon. Paul Biam, denied the rift. He said what pitulation during their negotiation with govthey did was that when they observed that some ernment on the fuel subsidy removal logjam. of their key officials, particularly the principal But with time, I have come to console myself staff of the secretarial arm of various commit- with the fact that we – those who consider ourtees were not accommodated in the retreat, they selves conscious Nigerians – can turn this opdecided to intimate the governor that the sec- portunity around for good. What do I mean? retariat was an important component of the Let us not only study and scream at those House Committee and since they were not duly silly items and their even sillier costs as listed accommodated, they then suggested to the in the Federal Government’s budget proposal governor another date be chosen for them to for 2012. Let us demand from our state governhave their retreat. This suggestion, according ments their own budget proposals and study to Biam, was “graciously obliged” to by the them with a view to not just cutting down on governor.But the Guardian report said the leg- inane items but also monitoring the implemenislators went ahead to hold a parallel retreat to tation of those we consider important. that of the executive there at Obudu. What proReading the Benue SUV story last week, I digious waste of public funds! tried to imagine where the government had Let us even go with Biam’s position that they previously (it is a yearly ritual, remember) agreed with the governor to hold another re- and would still easily take out such huge sum treat because provision was not made for the from. The amorphous security vote is one; accommodation of some secretaries. One does but it might interest us to discover that that

How not to Pushing Out waste the protest

Ngozi Agbo

STORY tucked in as one of the “briefs” on the inside pages of Guardian newspaper last Friday (January 20) caught my attention. The caption was “Benue lawmakers walk out on Suswam.” According to the report, the 29 members of the Benue State House of Assembly had, the previous day (Thursday), refused to show up for the opening ceremony of a weeklong budget retreat at Obudu Ranch, Cross River State.

The lawmakers were miffed that Governor Gabriel Suswam reneged in sending them a supposedly annual gift of a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) each, otherwise called “Jeep” in these parts.

The story added that the lawmakers had actually taken the pains (read pleasure) to go for the event but staged the boycott by remaining in their rooms, refusing to be part of the ceremony. They collected the allowances for the trips, and went with their drivers, aides and even girlfriends – I dare to wager. The lawmakers insisted that the car gift was a “yearly routine part of the retreat they were unprepared to give up”.

Things got interesting with the explanation provided by Mr. Cletus Akwaya, Suswam’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs.

He had described the legislators’ action as “inconsiderate” and “hasty”. The reason for this being that the 2012 budget had not been passed.

The same report ran by PM News said Suswam, through Akwaya, complained to the lawmakers of “lack of funds as a result of non implementation of complete removal of fuel

A

‘Understanding your identity is key’ Peter Akpan is a 300-Level Geology student at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT). He is a student-politician who has become a role model for many on the campus. He told CHRIS OKAFOR (400-Level Microbiology) how he combines leadership and his studies.

Y

OU are knowledgeable with political issues. What is the secret?

There is no secret. I would rather say that if you are a detailed person you will want to find out something concerning anything. It is this quest that propels you to read so you can be on top of developments.

How do you combine your studies with social life on campus ?

The truth is that time management is of utmost importance. Next to this is prioritising. Anyone who is able to manage these two things is on the right path of life. However, I must add that I have not found doing them that easy. But what helps me is that I have made God my chief planner.

What is your take on the SUG in UNIPORT? Aluta spirit should be sacred. But here. sadly, it had degenerated.

All the same, the fair efforts of this dispensation should be praised; this is not to say that there is no room for improvement.

A challenge the present leadership has is that it was inaugurated late. There was a lapse and that affects continuity.

What can you outline as its major setbacks?

People come into power for various reasons. It is time we started having capacity building workshops for leaders at this level. If they metamorphose with the wrong values into the larger society, then you can imagine what the nation is losing. Such training will help set their motives right and this we can do within our community since we have scholars who I’m sure will

•Peter

be willing to chart the course of good leadership.

What is your take on the ASUU strike?

The government should listen to ASUU and the lecturers on their part should reach an agreement with the government once and for all. Enough is enough!

Who is your role model?

Every upright and intelligent person is my role model.

Your advice to students?

I might as well be talking to myself.

Learn to be independent minded. I think the story of the late Steve Jobs should really inspire us all. What we hear as the American dream didn’t just start now; it was sustained by intelligent intellectuals. Above all, be of high moral standards. We are witnessing the import of western culture but understanding our identity is key.

purchase could be written out there – SUV for lawmakers to aid in constituency projects - in black and white, and no one would raise an eyebrow because more ridiculous items have been written previously.

The unending wastage and opulent lifestyle we see in governance and our public officials even at a time they tell us there is no money to fix infrastructure and education is galling. One of our reports today is on the over 100percent increase in the tuition fee paid by students of the Nwafor Orizu College of Education in Nsugbe, Anambra State. The students insist that though they were told last year that there would be an increase, but it was supposed to be “minimal”, not in the hundred percentile.

Something in me revolted when I read one of the students’ plea to Governor Peter Obi to wade in and reduce the amount. He added that the governor had insisted then that the state was almost broke and would not be able to pay the lecturers’ salaries without increasing students’ fees.

During the nationwide strike two weeks ago, the same Obi had told NLC and TUC leaders that he and the rest of the 36 governors supported the removal of the subsidy as that was the only way to raise money for the nation’s development. He sure convinced students of Nwafor Orizu College; good for him.

Last Friday, Nasir el-Rufai (he needs no introduction) wrote in his column on the back page of ThisDay an article he titled “Budget 2012 – Broke Country, Expensive Leaders”. I may not agree with all the details he enumerated but I agree with him in principle that our major problem is the childishness (when it comes to national issues) of our government functionaries.

It is time for us to begin to resist them, for their sakes and for our sake. That is the only way, for now, to ensure that our suffering and the deaths of our compatriots are not wasted. Next to that, as every election comes around, is to vote for the right reasons, no longer for silly sentiments.

Ciao

Geoffrey Ihenetu and Daniel Ogunbote are 500-Level Law students at the Lagos State University (LASU). They represented the institution at the International Moot Court competition that was held last December in King’s College, London. They share their experiences with ADEYEMI ONIKORO (200Level Law).

‘Students should go beyond the classroom’

W

HAT is the difference between the Moot Court contest in Nigeria and the one you attended in the UK? Daniel: The competition is called foreign direct investment International Arbitration Moot competition. It is about the coming together of Law students from across the world to argue on various issues. It is basically on arbitration whereby issues are raised and argued in a more friendly way; this is contrary to the litigation method.

LASU was the only African university in the competition. Why? Daniel: I will say that students of LASU are superb. And this may be as a result of the passion we have for litigation. Though, the competition was open for all universities, there were procedures to follow before any school could be shortlisted.

Chinedu: I think the challenge we have in Africa with regards to this competition is that it is based on a distinct area of Law called Arbitration. And it is rare to see a university that offers this as a course in Nigeria. That contributed to the absence of more African universities.

Among the 107 students who participated in the competition, both of you are rated 41 and 78 respectively.

How do you feel?

Daniel: As I said earlier, it is all about arbitration and Nigeria has no university that offers that as a course. But I will say this is not the best of me, but it is not bad being 78th best across world. But what impressed us most was the performance of LASU, because we are among the best 16 and we need to improve on this.

Chinedu: I was rated 41 which I think was good. We had a good outing, considering the fact that

•Chinedu

•Daniel

we beat students from the United States, Asia and Europe. I am happy with the result.

You failed to make it to the final stage of the competition, where do you think you got it wrong?

Daniel: Though there is no excuse for failure, but looking at the rating, we performed well because we dropped just before the quarter final which means that only eight schools were ahead of LASU. Having said that, I will say it could be because it was our first time. Most of our previous international competitions were all about litigation and this was the first time Africa is being represented in an arbitration contest.

Chinedu: Actually, we discovered that most of the participants were specialised in arbitration. We con-

tested with people that have LL.M in international arbitration and we are just undergraduates. Though, I also don’t see that as an excuse, we give our best but our best did not take us to the final stage.

What advice do you have for students?

Daniel: I will say the Law students in Nigeria should go beyond the classroom, because the terrain is quite different in international competition. It goes beyond the classroom.

Chinedu: I must say that opportunity abounds internationally for Law students. It is left for Nigerian students to be the best they can be.

It is not a matter of having a First Class; every Law student must make up his mind and launch himself on international fronts.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

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CAMPUS LIFE

‘Fed Govt, ASUU, please resolve dispute’ Students are unhappy with the ASUU strike because of its implication on their programme.

They are praying for a resolution of the teachers’ dispute with the government so that they can return to school. ZEENAT IBRAHIM (400-Level Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano) and DANIEL LAWRENCE (400Level Applied Biology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki) write.

•A group of lecturers protesting non-implementation of ASUU-FG agreement in the Southeast

F

OR close to two months, the gates of most public universities have been under lock.

The reason is not far-fetched. Lecturers are on an indefinite strike to force the Federal Government to honour an agreement with them. The pact was signed in 2009 between the government and Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU).

The strike has disrupted the academic calendar, implying that the students stay in school will be prolonged. This is their worry.

The students say they are always at the receiving end of the disagreement between their teachers and the government.

“I don’t know what to do with my time. I had wanted to learn bead making, but since ASUU can resume anytime, I just decided to let go because I will not like to learn the vocation half-way,” said Comfort Ogon, a 200-Level student of the University of Calabar (UNICAL).

For students of UNICAL, it is a double strike for them. The institution has been shut since last August, following a violent protest which resulted in the destruction

•Students of FUT MINNA before the strike

of property belonging to the school and members of staff. The school was billed to reopen this month; this was before ASUU strike began December 5.

In the North, the strike came at the wrong time for final year students of the Bayero University, Kano (BUK). They were expected to commence their final examination on December 5, the day the

strike began. However, their counterparts at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) were lucky to have scraped through. The OAU students, who started their exams before the strike, were allowed to finish. They were sent home afterwards.

In Damilare Amusa’s view, the Federal Government under the leadership of President Goodluck

Jonathan is insensitive. The 200Level student of History and Diplomatic Studies at the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijebu-Ode, said: “Strike has become a core course in all Nigerian universities because admission seekers now need to add period of strikes to their intending years in school. I expect Jonathan to listen to the

lecturers because of his background as a lecturer. The government must comply with the lecturers’ needs so that schools can resume as I am tired of being idle.”

Florence Aninta, in 400-Level Industrial Chemistry, at the Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Abakaliki, said: “ASUU must stop using strike to agitate for its demands from the government and they must also know that all their demands cannot be met by the government. For the sake of students who are suffering for this, they must end the strike this week.”

“Considering the issues that led to the ASUU strike, I will urge the Federal Government to fulfil its part of the 2009 agreement,” said Maimuna Momoh, in 400-Level English, BUK. For Ernest Ezema, 400-Level Computer Science, EBSU, the strike is not fair to the students and their parents. “I am supposed to be writing my final year project thesis now. But nothing is happening because ASUU declared indefinite strike action. The government and the lecturers must take our future into consideration as they continue to show us their stubbornness,” Ernest said.

Zayyad Ibrahim is a 200-Level Civil Engineering student at BUK. He said: “The government is toying with the future of the socalled tomorrow’s leaders. I have wondered if ASUU asked for too much when it called for overhauling of the education sector. I still believe education holds the key to every nation’s success but the government is not doing enough to ensure a smooth and effective learning. I plead with the Federal Government to please agree with ASUU so we can go back to school.”

Iniobong Alfred, a 400-Level Geology student at EBSU, said: “The strike is unfortunate due to the fact that we suffered the same fate in 2010 when schools in Southeast went on strike for six months. We are begging the government and the lecturers to do the right thing to save education from imminent collapse.”

Khalid Akonyi, 100-Level Sociology, BUK said: “I urged the Federal Government and ASUU to do everything possible to resolve all contending issues that caused the industrial action. My stay at home is enough and I want to go back to my studies.”

Students jittery over Boko Haram threat •Continued from page 29

North to be vigilant and prayerful.

He pleaded with state governments in the North to “tighten security on all campuses and students’ environments.”

Hope Wilfred is studying at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi. She expressed fear that “with what is happening around us, many parents will panic which might force them to withdraw their children from schools in the North, thus affecting the students’ academic pursuit and the resources invested.”

“The way out,” she added, “is for the Federal Government to do something fast to stop the madness.”

From the Kano University of Science and Technology comes Adedoyin Dimimu. He said: “This crisis is just not the way for the northern political elite to take its pound of flesh from the Jonathan administration. It is no secret that they have never liked him, believing that he

took away their ‘turn’ to lead. What they might end up doing is to split this country and nobody will benefit from that.”

The students’ fear is not unfounded considering the post-April 2011 election violence in some parts of the North.

A student from the Bayero University, Kano (BUK) who pleaded anonymity, lamented: “When will this cycle of killings stop? Is it when all students are killed and their parents start receiving compensation in exchange for their children’s life in which they have greatly invested?

We need an immediate solution to this challenge; yes, I call it challenge because it has a solution. Can you imagine what the Occupy Nigeria protest that rocked the nation during the fuel subsidy removal strike would have looked like if students were in session in the northern part of the country? I can wager that some students would have lost their lives and the government’s action, at best, would be to compensate their families. Say, what will that do when we can proffer a lasting solution to all this?”

•Baptist Student Fellowship members attending to villagers during their missionary assignment in Akinlalu village, Osun State PHOTO:OPEOLUWA SONUGA

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

CAMPUS LIFE

Mass Comm. set for costume day

S

TUDENTS of Mass Communication at the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu, are set to hold their annual Costume Day. Billed for February 2, the day will feature a walk within the campus.

The theme for the event is Arrest Cardiac Arrest. It is being held as part of the requirements for the fulfillment of the course Film Writing and Production.

CAMPUSLIFE learnt that the costume day is set aside to promote unity and oneness among the diversified cultures and professions

From Mutiat Alli LASPOTECH

in Nigeria. Yearly, students are dressed in different professional uniforms and cultural attires.

Our correspondent also gathered that the theme “Arrest Cardiac Arrest” was borne out of the fact that a lot of Nigerians suffer from stress which leads most times to this heart failure. The students hope to use the theme to sensitise members of the polytechnic community about the causes, symptoms, risks and preventions of the deadly condition.

Students hail new transportation scheme

T •Some of the Computer Science students at the dinner

Department holds dinner, award night

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HE final year students of Computer Science at the Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, have held their dinner and award night.

The event, which was held at Supreme Hotel in Ekpoma, started with a red carpet session anchored by one of the students, Stella Ambrose. It was followed by presentation of awards to various honorees among the students.

Afterwards, the dinner party started with performances by different student artistes.

Among dignitaries who attended the dinner were the Head of Computer Science Department, Dr I.B.

From Nosakhare Uwadiae AAU

Momodu; the HOD of Physics Department, Dr Omi Ujuanbi; the HOD of Mathematics Department, Dr E. Edokpayi, and Princess Omonigho Ojeifo, from Edo State Broadcasting Service.

Recipients of the award in the female category included Stella Eraikhuemen, who took the most intelligent student; Claret Imobhio, most beautiful student; Pauline Dame, most punctual student; Edith Isidahomen, most well-behaved student; Blessing Kabaka, most famous student; and Sandra Izeh, the most well-dressed student.

In the male category, Agbolade Omowole was awarded the most intelligent student; Agbi Uwa, most handsome student; Augustine Akhuetie, most well-behaved student; Solomon Yaya, most punctual student; Efe Osaiyuwi, most friendly student; Michael Aloye, most famous student; and Gregory Isidahomen, most well dressed student.

In an interview with CAMPUSLIFE, Agbolade said: “When excellence is recognised and celebrated, it challenges others to reach for the stars, to aim high and to positively compete with others by stepping out of their comfort zones.”

Students honour management staff

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HE National Association of Cross-River State Students (NACRISS), College of Health Technology (COHTECH) chapter, has honoured the institution’s staff. The event, which was held at the College auditorium, witnessed a large turnout of students.

In his opening remarks, NACRISS President, Michael Ahong, described the award as first in the history of the association. He noted that the choice of awarding the institution’s members of man-

From Isaac Mensah COHTECH

agement staff was borne out of the commitment of the honorees towards the advancement of students’ causes and academics.

The honour was also to further strengthen the bond between students and staff of the institution, he added.

Some of the recipients included the institution’s Provost, Dr Franklin Ani; Registrar, Mrs Philomena Obaji; Dean of Students’

Affairs, Emmanuel Eyo; Bursar, Joseph Udumo; Librarian, Eyo Akak and Director of Academic Planning, Effiong Bassey. Various departmental heads were also awarded.

Speaking, one of the recipients expressed joy, saying the awards would motivate the honorees to discharge their official duties better as well as strengthen the staffstudents togetherness and cohesion. A student, Riches Eteng, said the award was the first of its kind since the establishment of the institution.

Boko Haram: Akwa Ibom evacuates Corps members

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ORRIED by last Friday’s multiple explosions that rocked Kano where at least 150 persons were reportedly killed and scores injured, the Akwa Ibom State Government, has begun the evacuation of its corps members from the state.

Parents and guardians are mounting pressure on their children and wards to return home.

The Kano State Directorate of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has equally embarked on lodge-to-lodge visitation of corps members to ascertain their security. The Coordinator, Mallam Lawal Zariya, said the visit was to enable NYSC to improve on security, especially to ensure security agents are drafted

From Nosakhare Uwadiae NYSC Kano

to secure corps members in their lodges. He said collaboration with traditional rulers and security agencies across the 44 local government areas remained unbroken.

However, he urged parents and other concerned authorities to intensify prayers for safety of corps members and called for peace and unity in the country. Corps members expressed satisfaction, saying the visit was timely.

As at the time of filing this report, no corps member serving in Kano State was listed among

the victims of the multiple bomb blasts.

Our correspondent learnt that the Akwa State government’s decision was part of efforts to ensure its corps members’ safety in the volatile part of the country.

An official of the government, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE on the condition of anonymity, said the government may not allow the state’s indigenes to be posted to any part of the North for fear of possible attacks.

He said the measure was to circumvent what happened last year when over 10 indigenes from states in the Southern part of the country got killed during the post-presidential election violence.

HE transportation crisis facing students of the Federal Polytechni,c Offa (FEDPOLY, Offa), Kwara State, has been solved. And the students have hailed the intervention.

It was put together by the newly inaugurated Students’ Union led by the President, Oluwatosin Ogunkuade. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the SUG worked in consonance with the polytechnic management to provide Coaster buses which now convey students from Offa Grammar School (OGS) to the Permanent Site of the institution.

Speaking, the union’s Welfare Director, Idowu Odebunmi, had this to say: “This was put in place to solve the transportation problem faced by students which has contributed to their poor academic performance. Since last session when all the departments in the School of Business Studies were moved from Mini Campus to the Permanent Site last session,

From Akinola Oluyi OFFA POLY

our students were paying N100 each leg of the journey, on a daily basis; but now, the price has been reduced to N20 per leg”.

Among the students who shared their feelings on the new development was Omoniyi Olagoroye, who is in NDII Business Administration. He said: “During the last session, most of us would wait for tippers or pickups coming from the neighboring town, Ojoku, to carry us back to town when we finished lecture.

At other times, we’ would be late for lectures and examinations.

The last SUG leaders seemed out of their wits. We thank the current leaders for this intervention”.

Meanwhile, the SUG President, Oluwatosin, has urged students to cooperate with his administration to fulfill all the promises he made during the campaigns.

‘This was put in place to solve the transportation problem faced by students which has contributed to their poor academic performance’

New leaders for Lagos students

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HE National Union of Lagos State Students (NULASS), Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) chapter has inaugurated new leaders for the 2011/2012 academic session. The executive is headed by Comrade Oluwakayode Adelaja.

Adelaja, in his acceptance speech after the swearing in ceremony, said he was ecstatic that his fellow students saw in him the requirement for the needed repo-

From Mutiat Alli LASPOTECH

sitioning of the association.

He said: “I want to promise you that under my watch, NULASS in LASPOTECH sees the need to foster the cultural, social, political and above all the academic value of its members in order to promote the values of the state.

Take it for granted that the 2011/ 2012 executive has refused to take failure as an option; hence, the need for reflective thinking is our watchword towards a successful tenure”.

He added that his administration will be accountable to “every member as there is room for public opinions in order to take this noble association to the desired level”.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

CAMPUS LIFE Adeboye visits as OAU prays

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HE General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye was at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife for a two-day programme held between January 19 and 20 Tagged “God, Our Refuge”, the programme which took place at the main bowl, OAU Sports Complex, was attended by administrators of the university, lecturers, students and outsiders from IleIfe and environs.

Pastor Adeboye started his ministration by first praying for all the principal officers of the school and ended with an altar call. “You need to be holy so as to be in the right position to call and use the name of the Lord for refuge,” he urged while delivering the sermon.

Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE, Opeyemi Okeleke, a 400-Level student of Microbiology who is undergoing his Industrial Attachment (IT) programme at the school’s Health Centre described the event as awesome. He said: “It is always an experience to hear the man of God. He carries anointing with ease and his

From Hannah Ojo OAU

33

Students of the Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe, Anambra State, are kicking against an increase in tuition fee. JASPER DADA (NYSC, Onitsha) reports.

words are always perfect for the moment. It was really a date and I’m glad I attended.”

The programme coincides with the golden celebration of the institution which kicked off last Thursday with a thanksgiving service for Christians at the Amphi theatre.

Pastor Segun Obadje, of the department of Building, and Prof Greg Erhabor, of the College of Health Sciences, were among those who ministered at the service.

The Registrar, Dr Ayo Ogunrunku, gave the opening prayer. He was followed by the Bursar, Mrs Omolara Odeyemi, who led the offering song and prayers while the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Bamitale Omole, gave the opening remark.

CAMPUSLIFE learnt that the thanksgiving service came on the inkling of the Vice-Chancellor who adopted one of the recommendations of the last visitation panel.

It urged that a prayer service by both adherents of the Muslim and Christian faith should be held to praise God and pray for the peace of the university.

Varsity begins convocation

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HE activities to mark the 41st convocation ceremonies of the University of Nigeria (UNN) kicked off last Monday with a press briefing by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Bartholomew Okolo, at Enugu campus of the university.

The VC outlined the order of programmes of the events to the members of staff and students.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is expected to grace the occasion, where he is expected to deliver a lecture entitled Education and Development at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium, Nsukka campus.

From Oladele Oge UNN

Other programmes lined up to mark the convocation include an Art exhibition at the Nnamdi Azikwe Library and sports event at Akanu Ibiam Stadium, among others.

Over 10,000 graduates are expected to receive first degrees, diplomas, higher degrees including the award of honorary certificates at the occasion. The VC used the medium to invite parents, guardians and members of the university community to the convocation.

Oyo Students to get bursary after a decade •Students seek extension of data submission

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F the request for bio-data of all final year students of Oyo State origin by the state government is anything to go by, then final year students have a reason to smile. An undisclosed amount of money is on the way as their bursary allowance for the first time in a decade.

The request for students’ bio data was contained in a letter entitled Year 2012 bursary awards to students: Request for bio-data of Oyo State final year students dated December 28, 2011, and signed by the Secretary of the Scholarship Board, Mr. P.A. Adetona.

It will be recalled that the students have been denied the yearly allowance since 2002. An ex-students’ leader, who begged not to be named, said efforts by various as-

Varsity postpones exams

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HE University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) has postponed the Harmattan semester exams by a week. The exams, which were supposed to begin on January 23, will now start on January 30 and end on February 18.

The development was contained in the amended academic calendar pasted across notice boards in the institution by the management.

Following the postponement, the lecturers now make use of the op-

From Musliudeen Adebayo IBADAN

sociations to persuade the administration of Senator Rashidi Ladoja and Adebayo Alao -Akala to pay the funds met brick walls.

Meanwhile, students have appealed to the board to extend the deadline for the submission by two weeks. PResident of the Federation of Oyo State Students Union (FOSSU), University of Jos chapter, Afeez Hamzat, appealed for the extension, since information just got to the students in the northern part of country.

“Please let them give us two weeks so that we will be able to go to our campuses and come back to submit the list,” Afeez pleaded.

From Michael Adebayo UNILORIN

portunity to conduct their Continuous Assessment tests for students.

Also, faculties have come up with their timetables reflecting the new date. As at the time of filing this report, only provisional timetables were pasted while students waited for the final one.

Meanwhile, religious associations within the campus have started organising prayers for their members. They also conducted sensitisation programmes on examination malpractice. The Conference of Nigerian Christian Engineering Students (CONCES) held its programme last Friday at the Lecture Theatre 3, where they prayed for success in the coming exams.

•Main gate of the institution, with a statue of the late Nwafor Orizu.

Furore over hike in tuition fee T the Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe, in Anambra East Local Government of Anambra State, students resumed for the new session to meet a new fee regime of over 100 per cent. Students of the affiliate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) are not happy with the development.

Some of them spoke to CAMPUSLIFE. Beloo Okonkwo, in 300-Level Accounting, said: “The increment is over 100 per cent, and will effectively make it impossible for people from indigent homes to continue. If education is now meant only for the children of the rich, that does not augur well for the social economics of this nation. I plead with the Anambra State government to look into this matter and ensure a downward review is done.”

Another student who identified himself as Chinedu, from English Department, said he was shocked by the increment, which he said is 130 per cent. He added: “No student here is happy, everybody is complaining. But we have no one to defend us as our Student Union Government (SUG) is incapacitated; they are like puppets to the management. We are all dying inside. Some students may even drop out, especially those who are training themselves.”

Emeka Eze, from Biology Department, argued that the percentage of the increase was a “violation of an earlier agreement.”

He said: “Last semester when we heard a rumour about a fee like, we met with our Provost and other management staff at Hall C. At the meeting, the Provost confirmed that it was necessary for an upward review of the tuition fee. But he added that the increment would be minimal.

According to him, part of the reason for the increment was to ensure that the staff are well paid “We were convinced to support a minimal increase. Even during the last presentation of award to Governor, Peter Obi, the students threw their weight behind the increment of the salary of staff. But, to the surprise of all of us, the en-

A

tire burden has been placed on us.

This is a serious violation of the agreement. This increment is even more than double of what we were paying previously,” he concluded.

CAMPUSLIFE learnt that the students are also grappling with an extra N4,000 for accommodation.

One of them retorted: “This is too much. All they did in the hostels was repaint it; and now they are asking us to pay N18,000 instead of the N14,000 we paid last session. Six students will be packed in one small room like sardines.

Meanwhile, the open hostel which is like a hall that used to go for N10,000 is now N14,000.”

Our correspondent gathered that while many are grumbling, some students, especially the freshers, have started paying the new fees.

For Emeka, he would be able to pay “only by a miracle, where there will be financial breakthrough.” He said: “Some of my friends just paid their last session school fees last month. (Governor) Obi has been complaining of lack of funds, that he has many programmes he wants to do; so one understands. But they should please do something - anything they can do - to just reduce the amount. It is too much for the students.

A female student who CAMPUSLIFE met near one of the receiving banks declined to speak to us, saying: “No, no, I’m not

•Nworu, one of the students.

speaking to journalists. What do they want us to do? The SUG leaders who are supposed to fight for us have been paying. To worsen matters, a lady I met at the bank said there would be late registration by the end of this week.”

Meanwhile, a member of the SUG, Mazi Ejike, who is the Commissioner for Communication (the college’s version of a public relations officer), refused to say anything on the issue. He directed CAMPUSLIFE to “get to the President because I can’t say anything.”

Some students at the scene tried to persuade him to say something, but he refused.

We could not reach the SUG president.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

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CAMPUS LIFE

All in the pursuit of fame Entertainment thrives on campus. In this report, GILBERT ALASA (300-Level Foreign Languages, University of Benin) writes that campus entertainers are smiling to the bank.

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HE venue for the concert was not that cosy but students came in droves all the same. They waited eagerly to catch a glimpse of one of the reigning crooners, Wizkid, who was expected to perform. As the show progressed, they were asked to be patient as the singer's flight was purportedly being delayed. Hours later, Wizkid had yet to be seen.

Soon, the aggrieved fun seekers began to hurl stones, sticks and pure water sachets at the organisers. The venue turned into a boxing ring.

Many scampered for safety. Welcome to the flip side of campus showbiz.

Here, showbiz is a booming enterprise. Up-coming comedians, musicians, models and dancers abound in virtually every campus. Despite the competition, many soldier on, with the belief that, one day, “fate will smile” on them.

It is no news that many products and services are targeted at the youth. And as the campus harbours a substantial percentage of the population of youth, companies see it as a fertile ground for brand promotion.

This, in turn, creates a befitting atmosphere for campus entertainers to hone their skills.

A number of contemporary Nigerian entertainers started their journey to stardom from the campus.

Victor Ekeria is a 400-Level student of History as well as Chief Executive Officer of Genex Entertainment at the University of Benin (UNIBEN). He said: "The grass to grace stories of leading Nigerian artistes have constituted a source of inspiration to campus artistes. For prospective acts, the campus is perhaps the best platform to find your way to fame and scribble your brand name on the minds of students. It can also be seen as one's primary constituency in creating a massive fan base."

CAMPUSLIFE investigations reveal that climbing your way to the top as a campus artiste can be quite daunting. Sometimes, the entertainer pays the prize by skipping lectures for frequent rehearsals and performances. Even after this, most times, they are not paid for performing in a concert. Even when they get paid, it is often meager. A comedian who was the immediate past Vice-President of the UNIBEN Students' Union Government, MC Casino, recalled: "When I newly started out, I once trav-

elled to the Ambrose Alli University (Ekpoma, also in Edo State) for a show. As an upcoming entertainer, it was a rare privilege to get such invitations. So, I grabbed it with both hands. As the show ended, the organisers handed me a slim wad of cash and I was excited. Later, I realised the money was not even enough to take care of my transport fare back to Benin. It's one of those things, my brother.”

A campus showbiz entrepreneur who did not want to be named confessed to have employed unethical practices to sell his shows. He said: "In one of our shows, we have had to include bogus names of big and popular artistes to get students interested.

Once they see that big names like DBanj or P-Square are billed to perform, they put aside every other engagement to attend the show. But the consequences of such scheming could be terrible because students, sometimes, will order you to give them their money back.”

He continued: “Again, campus security officials could place restrictions on your show. In such instances, the option is to do the shows outside the campus but many students do not usually turn up because of their security and the sometimes real fear of being initiated into cults."

Don Saki, another entertainer, is a popular face on campuses shows in the South-South zone. He told CAMPUSLIFE that entertainment is a challenging engagement especially for students like him who are in tasking disciplines like Engineering. "For me, it has not been a child's play due to the demanding nature of my studies. You miss classes and essential academic tasks. Sometimes, people take advantage of you because you are yet to cut your teeth in the trade.

During the Goodluck Jonathan electoral campaign, I performed alongside Kas, Mocheda and others but UNIBEN-SUG did not pay me a dime despite the huge sum of money given to them to organise the rally.

At the 2011 Nigerian Universities Games (NUGA) hosted by UNIBEN, I was billed by the same SUG to perform also, but nobody paid me anything."

But for M-Factor who won the 2011 Peak Talent Show, such disappointments are necessary to prepare the entertainer for the challenges ahead. He said: “I can tell

•Violet flanked by first and second runners-up in 2011 UNILAG beauty pageant

you in plain terms that rising to the top as an upcoming act can be very discouraging. I remember having to do non-stop awoko (a parlance for night reading) while spending the whole day in the studio. You miss tests, classes and very important academic activities. But God has a way of doing things. Today, God has rewarded my efforts and the future is bright for me."

A beauty model at the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), AgoIwoye, Ogun State, who craved anonymity, said she had to forgo many modelling openings because organisers usually wanted to sleep with her before giving her the job.

She said: “I was called to model one soap in Ghana. Along the line, my manager began to pester me for sex. In the end, I declined the offer.

And when I realised how bitter he had been over my refusal, I stopped working with the agency. I would say it's tough going through the mill but I believe it's a price one has to pay."

Nnanyelu Oraka owns Sulcata Entertainment at the University of Lagos (UNILAG). The outfit organised the 2011 Miss UNILAG pageant. He said that despite the attendant challenges facing showbiz on campus, positive minded ones can achieve fortune when they keep their eyes on the ball. "You can succeed more than you had imagined when you know what you are doing. It's lucrative for both the entertainer and organisers

•Ex-Nigerian international Jay Jay Okocha with Violet at a funtion in Lagos

alike. At the moment, winner of the 2011 Miss UNILAG beauty contest, Violet Olisah, is an Ambassador for Tax for the Lagos State Government Internal Revenue Service (LIRS). She is equally an Ambassador of UNILAG, working with the Dean of Students' Affairs office. " Our investigations reveal that some up-coming acts go as far as joining unwholesome groups or do fetish things to attain popularity. Speaking in confidence, an entertainer at the OOU shared his experience. He said: "Before now, I

used to follow some campus artistes whenever there was a show on campus. But this particular day, it rained such that the show was cancelled. I wanted to go home but my friend (who was an artiste too) asked that I accompany him to meet with a popular artiste in Lagos. I was excited at the opportunity. Later, I found myself among a group of people doing strange things. My friend kept telling me to "comply" with whatever was happening. Somehow, mother-luck smiled on me and I escaped. I faced serious threats later.”

What next after graduation?

The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, like many other public institutions, graduated its 2011 set in December. In this report, OPEOLUWA SONUGA (200-Level Law) examines the challenges and prospects of graduates.

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•Accounting graduates celebrating their graduation as Awo hostel boys “baptise” them

HE latest graduates of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, called the Final Year Brethren (FYB) in 2011, are now known as the “Winning Eleven.” This is the nickname for those lucky to graduate with their set.

While considered “lucky” to graduate with their set, they still have a challenge that of securing

a good posting for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme and a good job thereafter.

Some of them spoke on their fears and expectations.

Ayodeji Ibitoye, graduate of Physics and Physical Engineering, said: “Life is in phases and people in sizes. Purpose brought me to •Continued on page 36

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

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CAMPUS LIFE

Problem of examination malpractice

By Victor Nwokedi melphleg30@yahoo.com

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XAMINATION malpractice is a menace to Nigeria’s educational system. It is like a cankerworm that has eaten deep into the fabric of not just the educational sector, but the society as a whole.

This is evident in all levels of education; I mean from primary, secondary and tertiary. Form of examination malpractice includes collaboration with other to write exam for a candidate, impersonation of a candidate and copying

of answer booklet of another candidate in an examination hall.

During the screening test conducted for prospective students for 2011/2012 academic session in the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), several candidates, involve in malpractice or the other, were caught. Some were caught bringing in prohibited materials into the exam hall, while some others were apprehended for impersonation. That this menace is growing disturbingly is to restate the worries of many stakeholders who have called on government to end the scourge.

Perhaps, a narrative of my encounter with an otherwise unrepentant cheat will suffice to show the depth into which the country has sunk in to the dungeon of infamy when it comes to examination malpractice. On a Friday during FUTOS’s screening exams, I was heading to Owerri town to purchase some items and so, I boarded one of the students’ buses. As the journey progressed, a woman sitting beside me brought out her cell phone and made a call that took most of us aback.

“Sandra, make sure you wear

dent in the bus described it as “the way forward.”

If one may ask: what other way can a country produce half-baked graduates other than this? Most undergraduates do not study effectively, but rely on cheating and bribing of lecturers. They may eventually graduate with certificates bearing good grades gotten from malpractice which they cannot defend in the labour market.

This is a major cause of unemployment in Nigeria, as employers not only look for first class certificates; they are also interested in what the graduate has to offer.

As worse as it may be, I still believe examination malpractice can be controlled. The control is a responsibility of the government, parents, teachers and students themselves. The government needs to fund academic institutions and pay teachers and lecturers adequately so that they can offer proper educational services to the students. I believe that if teachers are well paid, they would not be intimidated by financial offers from the students.

Parents, on the other hand, as the first teachers of a child, need to

inculcate morals and necessary lessons a child needs to be serious with his books. They need to discourage the children from the onset to shun all forms of illegal means of achieving success. If parents can actually stand as a vanguard to check and control malpractice, it would go a long way in curbing it.

Students need to give in their best in their academics by studying effectively. They need to build up confidence in themselves, for lack of confidence is one of the causes of malpractice, and confidence only comes when one studies properly. Also, there is need for proper orientation and counseling of students by religious and educational bodies about the consequences of examination malpractice.

To revitalise Nigeria’s educational sector, we need to curb the menace of examination malpractice, because if allowed to continue, the value of our educational system would continue to dwindle.

Victor, 200-Level Polymer and Textile Engineering, FUTO

Is it a crime to be a campus journalist

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VERYONE knows journalists are people whose job is to collect information and write it as reports or news for newspapers, magazines, television or radio. But easy as that may seem, the profession has its good and bad sides. I am saying money and hazards are moving together in journalism job.

The role the journalists play to shape a society is not an easy one.

As Nigeria marches to nationhood, the role the media plays can never be quantified as journalists pay the supreme price at times. Dele Giwa’s system was torn to pieces by parcel bomb. The duo of Tayo Awotunsin of Daily Champion and Krees Imodibe of The Guardian, died in active service during the Liberia war.

Godwin Agbroko, chairman Edi-

your bangles into the hall. Hide your phone under it and cover it with your sleeves,” the woman spoke loudly into the phone mouthpiece. Everyone in the bus understood what she was planning with the person, presumably her daughter, on the other end. She did not mind whoever was sitting in the bus with her.

She continued: “As soon as you get your question booklet, call Obinna and send him your question type so he could send you all the answers to the questions. Make sure you send you correct type so as to get the correct answers.

Please, be very smart.” She ended the call and returned the cell phone to her bag. She noticed me staring at her and she gave me a stern look that probably meant “face your business”.

I had wanted to confront the woman, but her look deterred me.

Suddenly, an elderly man rebuked the woman. He cautioned her that she was not doing her daughter any good. The woman gazed the man scornfully and heaped insults him, saying he was jobless. Unfortunately, the woman was supported by other passengers. A stu-

By Wale Bakare coxmonsfala@yahoo.com

torial Board of Thisday newspaper, died in a controversial circumstance. The episode of the unlawful detention of Nduka Irabor, Tunde Thompson, Chris Anaynwu, Lawal Ogienagbon and others have proved that while journalists are trying to get detailed, factual and balance news which make them continually search around for information, the job exposes them to high level of risks that could cost their lives.

Despite the violence against journalists and nothing is being done to it, some courageous people still take personal risk for the profes-

sion and insure themselves against calamity by faith and pray that nothing bad will happen.

The violence against journalists in the larger society is, however, being done to students who have taken campus journalism as their hobby. Must students, while searching for news miss lectures and tests that affect their cumulative grade point average (CGPA) negatively, but never mind because it is what they love to do.

What baffles me is, whenever students write actual information on an event that happens in the campus, they will be sanctioned for gross misconduct. If students are being punished for reporting ac-

Challenge of security

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HIS morning, I recall the tune of a song composed by the coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Kwara State, Mrs Ezinne Angela Ezekwe, during the three weeks orientation for November 2011 Batch ‘C’ corps members, which I participated. She tagged the song “Another challenge: Security number 1”.

Mrs Ezinne took pain to recite the song during every occasion, not minding the response of her listeners. As unmusical as the song seemed to sound in the ears of corps members, the lyrics of the song bore a lot of meaning in the light of the spate of insecurity in the country.

It is a known fact that insecurity is a major threat to our very existence as a nation and thus has become a topical issue despite government’s effort to fight it. Insecurity keeps growing by the day, obviously due to government’s flippant and mild approach to it, and it is claiming the lives and property of Nigerians daily. There is no month without stories of bomb blast by the members of the dreaded ‘Boko Haram’ sect in the North.

In the middle belt region, the outbreak of violence in Jos, the hitherto sleepy capital of Plateau State, has thrown the region into a cauldron of religious strife. Kidnapping and armed robbery in the southern part of the country have endangered the lives of Nigerian and corps members the more. The list continues and the government seems to be helpless to tackle this malaise.

The lyrics of this song carried with it, a

By George Ukwuoma georville@gmail.com message to all Nigerians especially the youths that the security of our lives and the lives of our folks lies in our hands and no one can protect us more than we can protect ourselves. The message is a realisation of the fact that it is not the sole responsibility of the government alone to tackle insecurity. Unfortunately, we have a way of disregarding words of caution even where it concerns our lives. This message I have reduced into writing in no particular order as a sure way of getting it across to all.

To begin with, we must say no to red light zone. The colour ‘red’, being an insignia

curately, how can they promote good character, which many schools claim to engender? Or is it a crime to be a campus journalist?

No society is free and duly democratic except information freely flows. My fear is, if the maltreatment of student journalists continues without management giving students right to public opinion, a time will come when students will not like to be journalists and few who join will have to consider their certificate and propagate false information to the public.

Journalism tries to keep a society in peace and the merit of a good journalist is discomfort of those in authority. Victimisation of

for danger explains that certain places should not be visited because of the risk it portends.

This has gone beyond adventure to being a matter of life and death for those that see life as an adventure. Such picture about life is indeed a sure ticket to ones doom. It is often said that we are the architects of whatever befalls us.

We must steer clear of night movements. No one needs to be told that this is the period of the day that ushers in all kinds of ungodly acts.

Unfortunately, some people like night movements not to mention those who see joy in embarking on night journeys in order to meet an important engagement the following day. Admittedly, it is this time of the day that some people go to work.

However, we should be careful with our environment. At least, the media has made it a duty to remind us of the need to report any suspected movements in our respective neighbourhoods. Just recently, a friend of mine lost his dad to car robbers within his area of residence. I believe someone may have seen the criminals but we often let our suspicion remain unattended to and this is to our own detriment.

Being security-conscious should be a way of life, an attitude and not just an adopted approach to save a situation temporarily. The Nigerian students and the youths generally are very prone to any societal hazard and thus must be the main target audience for any project initiated to stampede insecurity.

Mrs Ezinne took the pain to enlighten us on the challenge of insecurity in our country and each time she shared this with us, she reminded us of past horrible events that have led to the death of corps members.

Security is everybody’s business. The government apparently, has failed in its primary duty of protecting the lives and property of the citizens. There is no guarantee that the horrific bomb blasts will cease. Just as we mourn the death of Nigerians who lost their lives in the recent blast on Christmas day, we should take our security seriously.

George, is a corps member, NYSC Lagos

student journalists cannot be tolerated again even as I believe the Freedom of Information Act gives us a chance to express our views.

Gone are the days when students show their grievances through Aluta.

It is time we stakeholders checkmated universities that maltreat students based on the accurate news he or she has disseminated to the public. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria gives journalists right to report events and I believe the same should be applied to the student journalists.

Wale, 200-Level UNILORIN

Zoology,

By Taiwo Isola thelivingpurpose@yahoo.com

In pursuit of passion

I

T can be quite amazing how we live this rat-race called “life”. Consider this; our nation got independence in 1960 without knowing why. We became a republic in 1963 without knowing why. We went to the poll to elect our leaders without knowing why. Our leaders also got the position of authority without knowing why they are in office. On our own part, our parents told us “this is the career you must pursue, this is the way you must live your life”!

Every young man going to the higher institution in Nigeria today is dreaming of the •Continued on page 36

page 36

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

36

CAMPUS LIFE What next after graduation?

•Continued from page 34

OAU. Thankfully, I did not allow distractions to shift my focus. Indeed, there were times when academic, financial and other challenges confronted one but, all in all, I praise the Lord that, today, I am a victor. While I wait for the NYSC and what next, I believe that God has called me to start a nongovernmental organisation I have already named it Kingdom Image Network. We will be raising funds to support orphanages, Christian mission work as well as host leadership workshops."

For Monisola Oluwarotimi, who finished from Religious Studies and won the Best Dressed as well as Most Outstanding Female student of her set, life could not be more promising:“It was really a wonderful experience passing through a great institution like OAU. One cannot forget the burning of midnight candles and going on forced vacation, no thanks to ASUU and other disturbances.

As one with a passion for writing, interaction and impartation of issues, my experience under seasoned lectures has really broadened my methodological tool for the investigation of religion phenomena and human behaviour generally.”

On what the future holds, she quipped: "I believe I'm already equipped with the knowledge and problem solving skills to function either as an academic scholar, a researcher or an entrepreneur. For example, I'm a make-up artiste and I'm also into designing of cards and event management. So no walking the street in 2012, submitting applications, looking for job.

Even the removal of fuel subsidy is not a challenge by God's grace."

Adewale Adegoke graduated from Building department. Hear

On and Off Campus

him: "2011 marked the end of my five-year stay in OAU; those years were full of ups and downs. There were moments I felt like quitting; times I doubted if the stress and sleepless nights were worthwhile.

There were also moments I felt on top of the world. Fortunately for me, all my years in OAU, has made me to see tertiary education as a complement to one's innate potential, not a sole requirement for success in life."

On the next agenda, he said: "Every student ought to have answers to that even before gaining admission. We all had ambitions as children, wanting to become doctors, lawyers, engineers, pilots and so on. Reality however sets in when processing admission and after graduation. I want to stay in the construction industry briefly to gain practical experience; afterwards I will add to my professional qualifications and then venture into entrepreneurship. The aim is to be financially independent in life as early as possible."

CAMPUSLIFE equally spoke with Dr David Ogungbile, a lecturer. What does he see as likely challenges this set of graduates will face?

"For instance, to someone with a degree in Religious Studies, people will ask what's the relevance of such a degree to other areas of employment? The way to overcome this challenge would be for this person to give information of who he or she is. Definition of your personality will save you from the criminality of this discrimination.

Just like when I started teaching, someone saw my degree and said B.A BK, I said NO! It is B.L Religious Studies.I then had to explain what the degree is all about. So in this 2012 for as many of them going into the labour market, they should define their degree and by this show their capability".

By Solomon Izekor

•Burnt cloths of corps member Afolabi

•The door to Afolabis’s room...also torched

To protect our Corps members Afolabi Oni, a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) with registration number TR/11b/0694, is serving as a teacher with the Federal Science and Technical College, Jalingo, Taraba State. The CAMPUSLIFE correspondent who graduated from Education English, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, had a near-death encounter recently. He shares it in an open letter to Senate President David Mark.

I

WILL like to apologise for the breach in protocol. I know that I am supposed to address this letter through your secretary but for the sensitivity of the case.

On December 15, 2011, at about 3am, four students of the Federal Science and Technical College, Jalingo, came to my doorstep and poured petrol and lit fire while I was sleeping.

The boys were apprehended by other students and they confessed to the crime. My offence was implementing my Primary Assignment as directed by my employer, the Principal of the school, that I should participate effectively in all activities and coordinate the students in the hostel as that was the requirement for my being accommodated as other corps members do not enjoy that rare privilege.

I cautioned the main culprit, who had come with his gang. He was repeating his class. I caught him wandering during prep period and had advised him to go and read.

This was a day before English examination (Objective part) because I was marking the theory part and was dissatisfied with his poor performance.

The young man had come with his group to “see me” with his gang before that date, but met my absence. I had cautioned him a week earlier, on December 8.

The school had her interrogation and trial; they even notified the police, the Emir of Muri and the school board. After the trials, the judgement was known to only them and I was told to be grateful to the jury for sitting. I was.

These boys - four in all (two student of FSTC, one carried out the act, the other aided, abetted and incited, and the other two are not students of FSTC) - are still as free as a bird and still students of the school.

I am not under any fears neither am I asking for redeployment. I love my country and I will give my best. I have about four months left and it is not about me. It is about other corps members that will be posted to several places irrespective of geographical locations and their motto will be changed from service and humility to service and humiliation.

It is humiliating when a student who was probably in Primary Six when the corps member was in secondary school, slaps, kicks, and insults a corps member who volunteered to serve his fatherland. I wrote my State Coordinator on December 16, 2011, through my Local Government Inspector, my ZI and all the due process but I’m yet to get a feedback till date. I also sent a text message to my State Coordinator, a woman I consider

a mother, and yet no response.

I am not saying that corps members should not be deployed to FSTCJ, but the scheme should put her weight behind every corps member in future: they shouldn’t be humiliated; they are graduates and should be respected.

If those boys had succeeded and I had died in the fire, those who are supposed to protect me and stand up for me would probably have sweep it under the carpet as they have currently done. Since no serious warning is coming from NYSC-Taraba, posterity will judge me if another corps member becomes a corpse courtesy of another student wanting to show the teacher what he or she is made of be it in Taraba or anywhere else in the country.

For me, I am counting days, but others will still go through this, death by fire is the cruellest form of homicide.

Let us protect the corps members like our most precious jewel; let us give them the same respect accorded to a soldier. Any form of assault should be given weighty attention. Until that is done, the killing of corps members will not stop.

Thanks in anticipation of a response.

Yours faithfully Afolabi Oni

In pursuit of passion •Continued from page 35

day he will graduate and get a government job.

We suppress our passions, potentials and creative abilities and focus on what we can get from the government.

And when we eventually wake up from our world of fantasy, we discover that we are on the wrong side of life.

A well known politician summed his life thus “Youth is a mistake, manhood a struggle, old age, regret”. For someone to have described the life he lived as a ‘mistake’, ‘a struggle’ and ‘a regret’ means he never took a personal responsibility for his life. So, what’s the point?

I believe responsibility is the caretaker of destiny. When leaders and

followers are not taking personal responsibility for whatever positions they found themselves, the end result is chaos and confusion. I strongly believe we all have passions and childhood dreams that inspire us but too often we sacrifice these passions on the altar of greed and love for excessive materialism. Taking responsibility starts with pursuing your passions.

We all have something that triggers us. It may be writing, public speaking, acting, singing, critical analysis of issues, etc. But understand that when God created you, he never intended that your greatness in life be at the mercy of someone. In order to avoid this, he packaged you with potential and skills. It is when we

lose sight of our skills that we become successful failures. In developed countries, it has been observed that the citizens are pursuing their skills.

Of a truth, University certificate will fetch you a good job but never confuse wisdom of the head for wisdom of the heart. Wisdom of the head will give you a living; wisdom of the heart will give you a life. I encourage you to start pursuing your passions. Work at it. Sleep by it and success will add glory to your labour.

When a man does not know his purpose, his success in life is at the mercy of circumstances.

Taiwo, 100-Level UNIMAID

Anatomy,

37

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

EDUCATION

Why education standard is low, by Afe Babalola

F

OUNDER, Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola, has given reasons why there is drop in education standard.

He blamed it on poor funding, industrial disputes, students/ workers unrest, indiscipline, cultism, inefficiency of the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB), and the scrapping of the Higher School Certificate (HSC), among others.

Babalola was delivering the 13th Pastor S.A. Odunaiya Annual Memorial Lecture entitled: "University education in Nigeria: Problems and prospects," organised by the Young Men Christian League (YMCL) of the Christ Apostolic Church, Ebute-Metta, Lagos.

Others are poor quality of secondary school students admitted into universities, quota system, and undue interference by the Visitor and Ministry of Education.

Babalola, who was represented

by Mr Olu Daramola (SAN), explained that poor and inadequate funding is about the biggest bane of education in Nigeria today because with increased government expenditure on infrastructure and other areas of national life, less funds are made available for education.

"With the damage done to our national economy by each succeeding military administration and the current economic melt-down the world over, it will be uncharitable to expect that a government that has to fix the rot in all sectors must expend all our resources on giving qualitative education at all levels," he said.

Speaking on strikes in tertiary institutions, which he said in some cases are used by the actors as an

UK scholarships for students • President, YMCL, Mr Femi Sodeinde (right) presenting a gift to Mr Daramola (SAN) at the event.

By Medinat Kanabe

instrument of blackmail to compel those in authority to meet one demand or the other, Babalola said the motives are sometimes ridiculous.

He added that indiscipline occurs on the part of both students and lecturers. In lecturers, he noted it can feature as unethical and unprofessional practices, while the students on their part show no respect for their lecturers, do not attend classes, dress indecently and seduce lecturers to get good grades.

On cultism, he said initially the groups were meant to abolish convention, revive the soul of the university and end tribalism and elitism. However, he noted that now

they have been hijacked by society's delinquent young adults as they now kill, maim and instill fear in the campus community.

These youths, he said have contributed to many schools shut down, adding that these have obstructed the schools calendar.

Babalola also lamented the abolition of the HSC, which he said was a better programme of preparing secondary school products for the university.

He said: "The magic was that the rigorous nature of the HSC prepared its holders for university scholarship. Up till today, that is the practice in the U.K. Regrettably, in the 1990's, the HSC was abolished for a reason nobody has been able to satisfactorily give up till

today, thereby robbing all of us the discipline, industry and maturity, which that level of education instil in students and which in turn improved the standard of those who are admitted to the university."

Speaking on the quota system practised in Nigeria, which permits a position to go to a member of an ethnic group not because he is best suited for the job/position but because his ethnic group had to be represented, Babalola said it should be abolished.

He said: "This system was applied to our educational institutions. By it, candidates who were less qualified than others were, nonetheless, given admission into the universities to fill the quota of their ethnic regions."

• Prof. Obafunwa with AOCOED Provost, Bashorun

Obafunwa on his well deserved appointment and wished him a successful tenure in office.

Obafunwa and his team, which comprised all the principal officers of the university, expressed appreciation on the visit and prom-

ised to improve on the interaction and cooperation both professionally and socially with the two institutions. He pledged to ensure the creation of a forum of heads of tertiary institutions in the state and that such forum, when established,

could assist the state.

The College delegation comprised the Deputy Provost, Mr Oladeinde Agoro; Registrar, Mr Bola S. Disu; Librarian, Mrs. Omotayo Oluwole; and Bursar, Mr Olayiwola Ipaye.

LBS Dean chairs group

D

STUDENTS have been offered an opportunity for scholarships for higher studies at the University of Oxford.

The Registrar's office, which issued a notice about the scholarships, said the African Studies Committee at Oxford is calling for applications for the 2012 ORISHA Studentship for MSc in African Studies and Ioma EvansPritchard Scholarship.

The ORISHA Studentship is meant for those who plan to enrol into the MSc (African Studies) programme in October, and cover fees and maintenance for the duration of the programme.

In considering this opportunity, AUN students are required to indicate clearly in the funding section of the admissions application that they intend to apply for the "ORISHA MSc Scholarship."

Students are also required to name specifically "St. Cross, St Anne or St. Anthony's College" as first choice of college to undertake the programme. Results for this scholarship will be announced by the end of this April.

Varsity fetes Yola

T

EAN of Lagos Business School (LBS) Dr Enase Okonedo is the new chairperson of the board of the Association of African Business Schools (AABS). She takes over from Jonathan Cook of Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) South Africa.

AABS is an association of leading business schools in Africa established to promote excellence in business and management education, thus upgrading the

Students resume ACADEMIC activities begin today at the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola. The institution was closed during the fuel subsidy removal strike.

Orientation for new students and parents started last Thursday, while returning students resumed on Monday and completed their registration on Tuesday.

AUN President Margee Ensign thanked all those who were in school during the strike and assured students that the university was ready to receive them.

"Be rest assured we are working hard on our campus to make sure all facilities are ready for students, faculty and staff," she said.

AOCOED Provost seeks forum for partnership HE Provost, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Otto/ Ijanikin, Lagos State, Mr Wasiu Olalekan Bashorun, has called on the Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Prof John Oladapo Obafunwa, to spearhead the establishment of heads of Lagos State Tertiary Institutions forum.

Speaking when he visited Obafunwa at LASU, Bashorun said such forum would provide a platform for rubbing minds, exchange of ideas and resource sharing.

"Mr Vice-Chancellor, I look forward to a situation where you, will create and provide leadership among institutions owned by the Lagos State.

“This could be done if a forum is created where we can all meet to rub minds together and to collectively find solutions to problems besetting our institutions as well as the state," Bashorun said.

The provost congratulated

AUN FILE

skill of managers across the continent.

During her two-year tenure, Dr Okonedo said she intends to grow the number of schools in the AABS network so that more schools can benefit from the association. She also aims to help the schools raise their standard to enable them offer business education of global standards that also meets the peculiar needs of their economies.

Lagos Business School will be

hosting the AABS Annual Meetings and Round Table Symposium as well as the Research in the Practice of Management workshop in May. AABS has 25 member schools including University of Dar Es Salaam Business School, Tanzania, Strathmore Business School, Kenya, University of Cape Town Business School, South Africa, and American University of Cairo, Egypt.

•Dr Okonedo

THE impact of the AUN on Yola, its host - community, was felt at a party it hosted for community, religious and social leaders.

The Celebrate Yola Community Day programme, an initiative of AUN and the Adamawa Peace Council, to bridge the gap among the various groups of the Yola community, took place at the AUN Club.

The event was also attended by government representatives and youths from all parts of the town.

Guests included Sheikh Tijani Tahir, Rev. Moses Taparki, Rev. Raymond, Alhaji Hamid Usman Arabo (ex-chairman of Yola South LGA), Bishop Peter Makanto and Alhaji Bashir Ribadu.

AUN President, Margee Ensign said the large turnout at the gathering signified a positive step in its campaign for peace and reconciliation in Yola.

"This is a special day for Yola.

These distinguished people came together last week and made a very important conscious decision. We will not let anyone in this community divide us. This is a peaceful, beautiful place to live and I will rather live here than in the United States," she told the applauding gathering.

Chairman AUN Board of Trustees, Alhaji Ahmed Joda, also had this remark for children and youth present at the event: "We have had some problems in our society.

“Those who are following have a duty to create an environment that is good enough to live in."

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

38

EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP

ACE FILE Screening for freshers ADEYEMI College of Education (ACE), Ondo, has started the screening of its new intakes.

The exercise holds at the College Quadrangle from 9am to 2pm daily - with the students expected to present evidence of payment for the Post-UTME screening and change of institution fees; print-out of the admission status; and original copies of all credentials as well as the UTME print-out.

The exercise ends on February 10.

‘Trust in God’ THE Bishop of Ondo Diocese, Anglican Communion, Dr Latunji Lasebikan, has enjoined Nigerians to trust God for their needs in the New Year.

The Bishop was the Guest Minister at the New Year Prayer Meeting of the college.

In his sermon, Lasebikan asked Christians to look at Jesus and not at the circumstances around them, adding that the goodness of God is bigger than their salaries.

He cited various instances in the Bible where God protected and supplied the needs of the Israelites, adding that if we trust him, He will do likewise to us. He, however, warned that for the workers to live fulfilled lives and earn the crown of glory, they must have Christ in them.

In his remark, the Provost of the College, Prof Adeyemi Idowu, thanked the Bishop for honouring the invitation to lead the New Year Prayer Meeting, a tradition he met when he assumed office.

He ascribed all achievements in the College in the past year to monthly prayer sessions held among workers. He thanked the workers for their support and urged them to continue doing so.

APPROACHING DEADLINES International Doctoral Awards in Humanities at the College of Humanities Graduate School, University of Exeter, UK 2012 Study Subject(s):Humanities Course Level:Doctoral Scholarship Provider: University of Exeter Scholarship can be taken at: UK Eligibility: We invite applications for any of our specialisms from candidates with a strong academic background and a clear and engaging research proposal which can be developed through available research supervision. Successful applicants normally have a good first degree (at least 2.1, or international equivalent) in a relevant field of humanities, and a Masters degree at Merit level, or international equivalent, in a relevant field of humanities. If English is not your native language then you will also need to satisfy our English language entry requirements.

Scholarship Open for International Students: Yes Scholarship Description: The College of Humanities carries out excellent research and teaching across a number of related disciplines. Our areas of expertise include Archaeology, Classics and Ancient History, Drama, English, Film Studies, History, Modern Languages, Theology and Religion. In addition we undertake research in a range of interdisciplinary themes, including Environment and Sustainability, Identities and Beliefs, Medical Humanities, and Science, Technology and Culture.

With around 265 staff, 3500 undergraduate students and 550 postgraduate students, we carry out research and teaching at the University's campuses at Streatham (Exeter) and Tremough (Cornwall). We believe our size and quality enable us to not only develop world leading research but also offer a wide range of postgraduate and undergraduate programmes that are dynamic, flexible, and taught with a high degree of commitment and skill.

How to Apply: Online Scholarship Application Deadline: January 31, 2012 Read more: http://scholarship-positions.com Master's Scholarship Programme at University of Oulu for international students, Finland2012 - 13 Study Subject(s):Various Course Level:Master's Scholarship Provider: University of Oulu Scholarship can be taken at: Finland Eligibility:A successful applicant has obtained their first academic degree, normally a Bachelor's degree or equivalent, from an institution of higher education. As a rule, the Bachelor's degree is the lower academic degree. This degree should be equivalent of at least three

years of full-time studies (180 ECTS).Applicants are eligible to apply for a University of Oulu IM Scholarship 2012, if they are:Non-EU/ EEA** citizens who do not have a permanent residence permit in Finland.

Scholarship Open for International Students: Yes Scholarship Description: The University of Oulu International Master's Scholarships provide EURO 2.4 million in scholarships to academically talented international students in architecture, business, economics, education, engineering, and sciences.

The scholarship is aimed at students studying for a Master's degree in the University of Oulu two-year international Master's programmes*.

The scholarship is for one academic year and covers the full international tuition fee. The University of Oulu IM Scholarship 2012 does not cover living costs.

How to Apply: online Scholarship Application Deadline: January 31 2012 Read more: http://scholarship-positions.com Postgraduate Scholarship in the field of Business at Henley University of Reading, 2013 UK Study Subject(s):Accounting, international business, human resource management, entrepreneurship, marketing and international management Course Level: Postgraduate Scholarship Provider: Henley University of Reading Scholarship can be taken at: UK Eligibility: Applicants who: are from any country are currently enrolled on a postgraduate masters programme in accounting, international business, human resource management, entrepreneurship, marketing and international management can demonstrate outstanding academic merit, including achievements and contributions made during the autumn term Scholarship Open for International Students: Yes Scholarship Description: This postgraduate scholarship provides a number of individual awards up to the value of £1,000 towards the cost of tuition fees. It is available (dependent on eligibility) for the duration of the academic year.

How to Apply: By Post or electronically Read more: http://scholarship-positions.com

Insurance firms donate PCs

Bursary celebrates THE Bursary Division of the college has held a party to usher in the New Year.

The event was attended by the Provost, Prof Adeyemi Idowu; Deputy Provost, Dr Olufemi Olajuyigbe; Registrar, Mr Felix Aderiboye, Librarian, Dr Rotimi Egunjobi and the Director of Physical Planning and Works Services, Mr Francis Ajayi.

The Chief Host, the Acting Bursar said the party was to thank God for giving them opportunities such gift of life, good health and job.

He thanked the management for supporting the unit. He described the Provost as a good team leader who God has used to revamp the College and has made landmark achievements.

He urged all those who desire good things to emulate him.

T

• Participants at the Ninth Canadian Education Fair, at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos ... on Monday.

YABATECH gets anti-fraud unit

T

HE Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) has set up an Anti-Corruption and Transparency Monitoring Unit (ACTU) in line with the Federal Government’s directive.

The unit is expected, among others, to identify and advise on the practices, systems, and procedures in the college that aid fraud, corruption and other sharp practices in accordance with the ICPC and EFCC Acts of establishment.

It shall also receive and investigate complaints of corruption and other sharp practices, educate staff on and against bribery, corruption as well as monitor the college’s general compliance with the anti-

corruption and transparency crusade of the Federal Government.

The Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) Dr Muazu Kazaure inaugurated the YABATECH ACTU and implored the management not to interfere with the activities of the unit.

The ACTU, he said, will also handle misconduct cases ranging from suppression of records, false claim, corruption, embezzlement, dishonesty and falsification of records and other allied misconducts. The YABATECH Rector, Dr Kudirat Ladipo, in her remark at the inauguration assured the government and its agencies that the

unit shall be fully equipped and allowed to function in line with the Act that established it.

She allayed the fear of the government about interference in the activities of the unit, adding that the chairman and members of the unit are people of proven characters with integrity.

The chairman of the college ACTU is Mr Innocent Akhnumonkhan, who is also the Director of Academic Planning in the college.

The NBTE executive secretary was represented at the inauguration by the Deputy Director of Finance of the board, Mallam Jairo, who is the chairman of the NBTE ACTU.

• Dr Ladipo

WO Insurance Consortium Schemes, Fire, Burglary and Fidelity Guarantee Insurance Scheme and Group Life Assurance Consortium Scheme, have donated desktop and laptop computers and printers to the Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State in appreciation of their symbiotic business relationships with the university.

Fire, Burglary and Fidelity Guarantee Insurance Scheme donated eight laptops. The scheme is a group of 12 insurance companies consisting of five brokers and seven Underwriters.

On the other hand, Group Life Assurance Consortium Scheme donated three flat screen desktop computers and three HP printers.

The scheme is a group of seven insurance companies comprising four Brokers and three Underwriters Capital Express Assurance Company Plc, Intercontinental WAPIC Insurance Plc and Leadway Assurance Plc. While presenting the items on behalf of the firms, the representatives of the groups, Messrs. Lanre Ogidan and Bolarinwa Adedigba, thanked the university management for giving them opportunity to render services to the Institution. The representatives of the Consortium said they looked forward to a more robust partnership and years of improved business relationships with the university.

In his remarks, the Dean, Postgraduate School, Prof. Francis Oyebade, who represented the Vice Chancellor at the event, thanked the firms for the donation.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

39

EDUCATION

I

T could be likened to an altar call. When Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun asked civil servants and others present at the flag-off of the distribution of N1.8 billion worth of free text books to pupils, to rise if they attended public schools, nearly all of them stood up.

It was all the proof the governor needed for his free education scheme under which free text books are an integral part.

Pointing at the large number of former public school alumni, who are now successful professionals thanks to the investment in free education by the government of their time, Amosun told the pupils that his administration would ensure they get quality education to became successful in life.

He also told the public primary and secondary school pupils at the Arcade Governor’s Office, Abeokuta, that they have many role models to look up to as the state boasts of producing many of Nigeria's first professionals.

"The first doctor, lawyer, chartered accountant, chief judge, and the only Nobel laureate in Nigeria are from Ogun State.

Papa Awolowo was not known for any other thing but education. I can tell you that many of those standing before you did not have any other opportunity but public schools. Look at everybody, today, they are somebody, and all of them went to public schools. It shows that our fathers did well by providing qualitative education.

"We are going to make sure that we go back to those glorious days.

I like private schools, but I am telling them that they should be ready for stiff competition. Because we are going to do our best to put in place the best facilities in our schools," he said.

That is why, he explained, the government has embarked on massive renovation of schools in each of the 20 local government areas of the state, and plans to establish 50 model secondary schools. He underscored the significance of the distribution of the free textbooks, which he said was last done by the government 30 years ago, to highlight the importance his government attaches to education.

•Amosun presenting text books to secondary school pupils

Amosun restates commitment to education

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

He said: "The last time a government in our state provided free textbooks to students in public primary and secondary schools was during the administration of late Chief Victor Olabisi Onabanjo, in 1981. What this means is that our administration is actually working hard to restore the old glory of our state in the education sector and rebuild the legacy of our past heroes, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who introduced free education into this part of Nigeria in 1952, and Onabanjo."

Amosun said with the investment, the government is expecting better performance in the West Af-

rican Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). He added that the top three candidates in the 2012 edition of the examination starting in April, would be rewarded with prizes.

He urged the pupils to be studious now that they would have texts to use as reference and also promised to provide them with school bags.

Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr John Olusegun Odubela said the textbooks provided cover subjects taught at the primary, junior and senior secondary levels, including: Mathematics, English Language, Social Studies, Basic Science, Yoruba Language, Computer Studies, Civic

Education and French Language.

Others are in Agricultural Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Government, Geography, Literature in English and Economics. Each pupil will be given the books to use for the session at the end of which they would be returned.

In an interview, the Commissioner for Information, Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu added that the aim of rehabilitating schools and providing textbooks as well as instituting prizes and incentives for outstanding academic performance is geared towards making Ogun public schools produce the best WASSCE results nationwide.

He said in last year’s May/June WASSCE, a public school in the

state, African Church Grammar School, produced the best result nationwide.

Thanking the government for improving schools, Chairman of the All Nigerian Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Mr Dejo Kadiri, pledged that school heads would ensure improved results in the 2012 May/June WASSCE. "We want to appreciate Governor Amosun for this. We also want to appreciate you for giving us an enabling environment to deliver our services. We will encourage our students to give their best. The next WASSCE should be better. We will continue to partner with you," he said.

Proprietor flays exam malpractices in schools

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HE Proprietor of Omotayo College, Ogijo, Ogun State, Sir Omotayo Opanubi, has condemned examination malpractices in secondary schools, saying it is responsible for the fall in the quality of tertiary education in the country.

Speaking at the maiden graduation of the school last weekend, Omotayo said it is lamentable that universities now turn out halfbaked graduates because of the rampant exam malpractices at the secondary school level.

Opanubi, an engineer, said: "It is

By Tokunbo Ogunsami

common these days to hear of special centres. These are schools where students are asked to pay exorbitant fees so that they will be allowed to cheat in order to pass the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) with flying colours.

"Such students then proceed to tertiary institutions only to continue with the same attitude. Eventually they pass out as half baked graduates and are not employable."

Omotayo, however, said the situation is different at his college where

pupils are made to earn their grades.

"Let me again emphasise on Omotayo College's policy of zerotolerance for examination malpractices. For us as a school, it is sacrosanct and we will not engage in it.

We will also not associate with those engaging in it.

“Let us join hands to fight examination malpractices in our society.

Educationists should inculcate in students that the only way to success is through hard work and diligence in their studies. I must confess that at Omotayo College, we have been abused by some parents

and students because of our zerotolerance for examination malpractices. It is not right that students should obtain certificates through dubious means. If it does not affect them now, it will affect them in future and by that time it will be too late."

The Principal of the college, Mr Chike Okeome, said pupils who passed the last West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) with flying colours did so without being assisted in exam

S

• Pupils of Cardinal International School, Idowu-Egba, Lagos, acting a Christmas theme story.

halls.

The proprietor's prize of N10,000 each, for graduating students who obtained credits and above in five subjects including English language and Mathematics in last year’s WASSCE was won by Adekoya Kehinde, Oyetunji Rabiat, Olawoye Adeyinka, Odebode Oluremi, Ukomadu Ifeanyi, Olakunle Seyi, Adekoya Taiwo, Naboth Peace, Ubani Paul, Ateroko Misturat, Emilagba Lateef and Mayungbe Omotoyosi.

School to open sports complex

AINT Bernadette Educational Services, owners of Doregos Private Academy, and Saint Bernadette Nursery School, Ipaja, Lagos, will inaugurate its new sports complex on January 31.

The event slated for the school premises is expected to attract sports icons and parents.

Director of the school, Tokunbo Doregos, said arrangements have been concluded for a hitch-free programme.

"There will be novelty matches between SS3 and SS2 pupils, Doregos Academy staff versus Saint Bernadette staff as well as various athletics event," he said.

He said the idea to build a new sports complex is based on the development of sound and mentally fit minds for the overall benefit of the country.

"We not only train students on how to excel in academics, we also train

them to be great sport men and women. That is why we are tagged college of champions.”

Facilities at the new Sports centre, which can sit 200 spectators, include Astroturf and athletics tracks.

The school's 13th biennial inter house sports will take place on February 2 at the new sport centre.

The event will be competed by the four houses - Abeke, Doregos, Ogunsina and the defending champion Wosiwola House.

The most successful house in the school's sport history, Ogunsina, will be seeking its sixth overall title while Wosiwola will attempt to win its fourth title having won it in 1996, 1997 and 2008. Doregos house has claimed the title on three occasions while Abeke only success came in 2004.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

40

EDUCATION EDUTALK with Mimiko attributes success to training, others New Federal Varsities welcome...but

•Prof. Mimiko

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HE Vice-Chancellor Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Prof. Femi Mimiko, has unveiled the secret of the institution’s success.

He attributed to commitment to training, integrity of academic programmes and stable academic calendar.

Mimiko told The Nation that qual-

ity of faculty and students has improved because lecturers have been trained.

"What we are doing to ensure that we remain on track of our academic excellence in the past two years is to expose our lecturers to the right type of training. We make them to realise that they cannot afford to rest on their oars. We push them to attend international conferences and we challenge them to undertake research. We make funds available to support them if they have viable research proposals. If they have academic papers to present at any international conference, we fund them liberally to be able to attend," he said.

He added that 25 of the university's young academics are pursuing higher degrees (Ph.D. and Masters) abroad, with two of them topping their classes

in two British universities.

He said: "This will go on to show that the quality of progammes offering here is high and comparable to what we have around the world.

For me, it is a big thing to celebrate.

I am very happy that we are getting some good results from the quality of our academic programmes. Our students and alumni are doing the university proud within and outside the country. Also, our graduate fellows we sent abroad are doing well."

Mimiko, who also said the university's e-library is well equipped, emphasised that the rule governing zero tolerance for sale of handouts will be strictly enforced.

"We believe that selling handouts to students is destructive of scholarship and there is no room for that," he said.

• Wike (left) with Prof Obioma at the event.

Don tasks NERDC on varsity curriculum

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PROFESSOR of Vocational Education at the University of Nigeria (UNN), Nsukka, Sampson Olaitan, has urged the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) to expand its activities to cover developing curricular for entrepreneurial programmes at tertiary level.

Olaitan was one of the lead discussants at a colloquium organised by NERDC in Abuja.

He noted the various initiatives being introduced to the education sector by NERDC, particularly the emphasis on entrepreneurial and vocational education in the new school curricula.

Just as the development of relevant texts and teachers' manual as well as building the capacity of vocational education teachers at basic and senior secondary levels have been accomplished by NERDC, Olaitan stressed the need for the Council to focus efforts on universities also, especially on the implementation of entrepreneurial and vocational education.

He said the activities of NERDC in the university sector should also include publishing books on Technical/Vocational and entrepreneurial education and standardisation of textbooks, adding that genuine investment in technical education is the only sure way of achieving national development through technological breakthrough.

Prof Anthony Ali also of the University of Nigeria, was another lead discussant at the event. He lauded the Council's efforts in conducting evidence-based educational research for driving public policy in the past five years.

He, however, recommended that NERDC involve experts in the nation's universities who will be of

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

great assistance to the enhancement of the Council's academic activities.

Also speaking at the event, Minister of State for Education, Mr Nyesom Wike, said the theme of the colloquium, "Education for National Transformation: The way of the Future," organised for the home coming of its past Governing Board Chairmen and Executive Secretaries connects well with the ideals and aspirations of the Federal Government.

He said: "As you are aware, education is at the core of national development. Nigeria cannot make much progress towards the attainment of its Vision 20: 2020 unless we strengthen our education system, improve its quality and make it more functional. That is why Mr President wants to use the education sector as a springboard for our national transformation.”

Mrs Yetunde Holloway, who was the Executive Secretary of the Council between 1984 and 1987, said the present activities of the parastatal now headed by Prof Godswill Obioma, particularly its conduct of research relevant to the needs of the Nigerians, is in tandem with the ideals and aspirations of the founding fathers of the agency.

Corroborating Holloway, Prof U.M Ivowi, Executive Secretary of the Council from 1994 to 2000, also said the Council has done well because of better funding.

Making an assessment of his own tenure, Ivowi said: "Money hampered our intention to review or develop the then existing curriculum. There was even no money for research during my tenure at NERDC. But now, money is no longer a problem as the Council is being well funded. Thus, it took Obioma just one year to restructure the basic and senior second-

ary curricula, a task we couldn't achieve in 12 years.”

In his speech, Obioma said the Council has keyed into Federal Government's transformation agenda by implementing her statutory functions in a strategic manner.

He listed his achievements to include: the development of the nineyear Basic Education and the senior secondary curricular; preparation of the draft copy of the fifth edition of the National Policy on Education; and the development of a National Book Policy; preparation of school texts in line with the revised curriculum on public-private partnership principle; initiated the evolution of a national language policy and promoted the image of the country positively at international level through establishing networks and partnerships with a good number of agencies and institutions that share similar ideals.

He however, acknowledged the contributions of past leaders of the Council, adding that his team is actually building on their achievements, and that this act informed the decision to honour them.

The past Executive Secretaries honoured at the event include the late Dr. Joshua Akintola, who was the founding ES of the then Nigerian Education Research Centre, Mrs Holloway, Prof Segun Adesina, Alhaji Gani Bello (1991 -94), Prof Ivowi and Prof Madueweze.

The former Governing Board chairmen equally honoured at the colloquium were Prof Peter Lassa, Alhaji Kofe (2005-2007), who was represented by his son, Hon Salisu Buhari, also represented, late Otunba Muyiwa Collins 2009-January 2011, represented by his wife and Pastor Bola Ademuwagun, who served in acting capacity from April 2011 to August 2011.

I

ALMOST thought the Federal Government was done with esKofoworola tablishing universities after the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun in 2007.

However, its intention to estabKofosagie@yahoo.com lish a new university in the six geo08054503077 (SMS only) political zones is a welcome development and shows government is serious about addressing the problems of access.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of qualified candidates find they have no spaces in the universities or other tertiary institutions due to no fault of theirs. This has caused untold sorrow for many candidates and their families Education Minister Prof Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i said only 16 per cent (205,170) of the 1.3 million candidates who applied for university placement through the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) were offered admission in the last UTME exercise.

With the new universities, many more students can be absorbed each year. However, the Federal Government should ensure that the mistakes that have been observed in the establishment and running of the 27 older federal universities are not repeated.

The National Universities Commission (NUC) should be allowed to apply the standards it sets for the establishment of private universities which include inspecting the academic brief, development plans, making verification visits to check the facilities before awarding the licence.

For most public universities, it is usually the other way round – they would get their license first without any facility being on ground. Some take off from ridiculous temporary sites that the Commission will not tolerate from private institutions. If guided properly, the new universities will be developed on the right foundation that would allow them to bloom into world class institutions.

Though they have been established for donkey years, some of the existing federal universities have not been fully paid their take-off grant by the Federal Government. Some others are having problems with their host communities over ownership of land that they occupy because the Federal Government failed to settle the communities. There are yet others that have not been able to secure their lands because they do not have a perimeter fence. As a result, you have settlements within the university campus that should not be there. These are some of the issues that should be tackled upfront.

With the hindsight of challenges that the older universities have regarding expansion, structures in the new institutions should be built with the future in mind. Classrooms, lecture halls, hostels, libraries, laboratories should not be too small. The federal government and the management of the universities should always have population growth in mind and prepare adequately for it. Lecture halls should be equipped with public address systems, multimedia facilities that can be viewed from wherever the student is seated, and the deployment of ICT platforms to make the classes more interactive.

The new universities should also not be lacking in equipment and maintenance culture. We have moved on from the era where learning was theoretical and abstract. Adequate facilities that will allow for practical learning, field trips, internships and implementation of projects the way it ought to be done should be put in place.

If we check, I am sure we would find that many of the older universities deviated from their long-term development plans. This should not happen with the new universities. Successive administrations should be aware of the master plan of the university that would help fulfil its vision in the long run. Where necessary, we know there would usually be need for adjustment. This should happen after the vision and mission of the institution has been reviewed and the changes are seen to be necessary with the aim of improving the institution.

If the new universities are established only to be beset by the same problems the existing ones are facing, then it would be better they are not even started.

Belo-Osagie

‘Though they have been established for donkey years, some of the existing federal universities have not been fully paid their take-off grant by the Federal Government. Some others are having problems with their host communities over ownership of land that they occupy because the Federal Government failed to settle the communities’ • First published November 25, 2011

From My Inbox Re: The Value of time (Thursday, January 19) I appreciate your Edutalk today on the Value of Time. A student from the University of Abuja. Keep it up I am a secondary school teacher in Ogun State. Some of us had a training programme organised by NTI/MDGs September 2011. We were to be paid N14,000 for the one-week training. Up till now (January 21, 2012) our money has not been paid. Please help us find out from the Federal Ministry of Education why our money has not been paid or is it another one of those scams embarked upon by those in high places to cheat the hard working Nigerian? 08183307—.

SLIDING TACKLE “Hopefully it will be as soon as possible but we are within touching distance of the Carling Cup final. We have not won a trophy since 2006 and it is very important to the club to collect some silverware this season. At Liverpool, winning trophies is vital and we have a great chance of doing that in the Carling Cup. Of course, we are still working hard to qualify for the Champions League next season but we know it will be difficult”

Thursday, January 26, 2012

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Liverpools’ goalkeep Pepe Reina pleading with club fans to hold on for at least three years, before a major title could be won.

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A chairman David Bernstein has backed referee Howard Webb following Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli's violent conduct charge.

Balotelli had until 6pm on Wednesday to respond to the charge, which relates to an incident in which he appeared to stamp on Scott Parker's head during Sunday's 3-2 Premier League home win over Tottenham.

However, it is widely anticipated he will accept it, which would trigger a four-match suspension that ruled him out of Manchester City's Carling Cup semi-final match with Liverpool at

Anfield yesterday.

On Tuesday, City assistant manager David Platt said he felt Webb had seen the incident in real time and, therefore, Balotelli should not have been charged.

The player's agent went far further though, accusing Webb of acting like a "coward" and alleging the Yorkshireman changed his mind over the incident once Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has voiced his dismay in the aftermath of his side's defeat, when Balotelli scored the dramatic match-winning penalty in stoppage time.

R O G E R 1,000th of his F E D E R E R u s e d glorious career to m a t c h n u m b e r remind us just how good he still is, slapping down the man who once denied him a US Open title, Juan Martin Del Potro.

Federer will attempt in game 1,001 to redress the balance in the •Federer rivalry that has defined modern men's tennis, and it would be no huge surprise if he uses game 1,002 to win a 17th Grand Slam title, this year's

NOTORIOUSLY noisy Maria Sharapova slapped down questions over her loud shrieking Wednesday after she was singled out for criticism during a push for quieter

•Sharapova

Bernstein is sufficiently annoyed to issue a strong statement on behalf of the man who refereed the last World Cup final.

"Howard Webb is a fantastic referee and a great ambassador for the sport.

His ability and integrity are beyond question," Bernstein said.

"He has the utmost respect from within football in England and around the world. That could not have been demonstrated more clearly than in 2010, when he was chosen to referee the UEFA Champions League final and the FIFA World Cup final, and this summer he has been selected for UEFA Euro 2012.

women's tennis at the Australian Open.

As Swiss great Martina Hingis weighed into the controversy, S h a r a p o v a , described by rival player Agnieszka Radwanska as "just too loud", told a questioner that “no one important enough" had told her to be quiet.

"You've obviously asked me this question before," Sharapova said. "I've heard it a few times over my career.

You've watched me grow up, you've watched me play tennis.

JOB DONE for Andy Murray, who in cooler temperatures here produced something less than sizzling hot performance to reach the Australian Open semi-finals with an u l t i m a t e l y comfortable victory over Japan’s Kei Nishikori.

Pernickety though it sounds with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 scoreline, the British No 1 will need to lift his game considerably from this if he is to survive what is sure to be a far sterner test against Novak Djokovic after the defending champion brushed

I V E R P O O L goalkeeper Pepe Reina has pleaded for patience from the club's fans and admitted it could take three years before they challenge for the title.

The Anfield outfit have undergone a total restructuring in the last 12 months, with many of their preferred starting XI having only been at the club since last year.

However, a season that started with a splurge on the likes of Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson has yet to sparkle with the club seventh, six points off the coveted Champions League places.

And Reina believes even securing a top four place

will be an enormous task.

The Spaniard said: 'I think it will be two or three more years before we are ready to challenge for the Premier League or Champions League again.

'Hopefully it will be as soon as possible but we are within touching distance of the Carling Cup final. ”We have not won a trophy since 2006 and it is very important to the club to collect some silverware this season. At Liverpool, winning trophies is vital and we have a great chance of doing that in the Carling Cup. ”Of course, we are still working hard to qualify for the Champions League next season but we know it will be difficult.”

•Reina

aside world No 5 David Ferrer.

Murray admitted as much afterwards, especially when it comes to his serve, but the scorebook nonetheless shows a c o n v i n c i n g progression through a match in which he had everything to lose, in contrast to a tricky and talented opponent.

•Murray

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EFA warns top Football clubs across Europe over meltdown At UEFA's summit on financial fair play, it was revealed that the total losses across Europe's topflight clubs was £1.33billion in 2010 - up from £1bn.

General secretary Gianni Infantino said: 'This is the last wake-up call. This red trend has to be inverted very, very quickly to save European football.'

UEFA's latest club licensing report has revealed overall losses from the leading leagues around the continent are up a massive 36 per cent in a year.

The European governing body said the findings of the club licensing benchmarking report will take on 'an increasing significance' with the financial fair play rules starting to be measured from this season and implemented for European competitions in the 2013/14 campaign.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

43

THE NATION

NATURAL HEALTH E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

Provost, Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Nigeria, Dr Idowu Ogunkoya, spoke to WALE ADEPOJU on the herbal treatment of inflammation of the liver otherwise known as hepatitis.

How to treat hepatitis A

TRADITIONAL healer in Lagos Dr Idowu Ogunkoya has said hepatitis could be treated with herbs.

He told The Nation that it could be treated with cassia, citrus, lemon and stonebreaker, which are botanically known as cassia occidentalis, citrus aurantifolia, citrus limon and phyllantus amarus, and in Yoruba as rere, osan wewe, osan laimu and eyinbisowo.

The causes of hepatitis also known as inflammation of the liver are viruses, bacteria infections, or continuous exposure to alcohol, drugs, or toxic chemicals, such as, those found in insecticidal sprays and paint thinners.

According to him, hepatitis affects the liver’s ability to perform life-preserving function, such as the secretion of bile, a solution critical to fat emulsion and absorption and removal of excess glucose from circulation and its storage until it is needed.

Ogunkoya said further that hepatitis prevents the liver from converting excess amino acids into useful forms, adding that it would not be able to filter drugs and poisons from the bloodstream as well as neutralising and excreting wastes from the bile.

“No matter what its cause, hepatitis reduces the liver’s ability to perform lifepreserving functions, including filtering harmful infectious agents from the blood, storing blood sugar and converting it to usable energy forms, and producing many proteins necessary for life,” he added.

He said the disease could also result from an auto-immune disorder, in which the body mistakenly sends disease-fighting cells to attack its own healthy tissue, and that it was preventable through healthy living devoid of those factors that could make somebody susceptible to it.

•Stonebreaker

•Cassia

• Ogunkoya

•Citrus

•Lemon

On its symptoms, he said, it varies depending on the cause and the overall health of the infected individual.

“Some cases of hepatitis have few, if

any, noticeable symptoms. When symptoms are present, they may include general weakness and fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, fever, and abdominal pain

and tenderness. Another symptom is jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and eyes that occurs when the liver fails to break down excess yellow-colored bile pigments in the blood.

“In acute hepatitis, symptoms often subside without treatment within a few weeks or months. About five per cent of cases develop into an incurable form of the disease called chronic hepatitis, which may last for years. Chronic hepatitis causes slowly progressive liver damage that may lead to cirrhosis, a condition in which healthy liver tissue is replaced with dead, non-functional scar tissue. In some cases, cancer of the liver develops,” Ogunkoya said.

Expert canvasses road safety

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RIVERS and motor cyclists have been advised to be more careful in order to reduce accidents on the roads.

Medical Director, Oluro African Science Hospital, Lagos, Olaitan Simeon, gave the advise during an interview with The Nation.

He said cases of broken bones and limbs are on the rise in the country. He said since orthopaedic cases are difficult, the only solution is to urge drivers and cyclists not to be careless, adding that many of them do not obey road signs or trafic regulations.

“This is traceable to their rush to meet up with a particular schedule or due to inattentiveness when crossing the roads. With greater restraint, a lot of casualties and trauma cases can be prevented,” he stated.

To this end, Olaitan said he is embarking on a programme to sensitise the public, especially the cyclists on how best to carry out their duties to avoid accidents.

He said: “I am embarking on a programme to sensitise the public, especially motorcyclists and drivers on how to comport themselves on the steering. Though accidents cannot be totally eradicated, they can be minimised when we have drivers who treasure lives and are careful on our roads. My mission is to promote, encourage and preserve the indigenous talents in all ramifications leading to little efforts in treatment and positive result and also to

•Awolade (checking the patient file) and other hospital staff

By Temitope Olalekan

discourage all of human body amputation.”

A patient in the hospital, Joseph Ologbonla, who had dislocation in his leg said he sustained the injury from a hit-andrun motorcycle.

Joseph said he has been in the hospital in the last one month. He confirmed that he is responding to treatments.

Olaitan said the government can do

more to help bone setters in the country as, “People prefer to patronise us more than the orthodox sector. We often treat emergency orthopaedic cases and the urgent need to attend to them adequately should make government to empower us more, because so many things are involved like the rush of blood, broken bones and other injuries like brushes.”

Asked on his views on the proposed

Traditional Health Bill, he said: “The Federal Government has the say through our Representatives and Senators. The contents of the proposed bill are supportive of traditional medicine in all ramifications in terms of health improvement. The Federal Government can help improve the system by providing the natural hospitals with full support of development of traditional medication.”

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

NATURAL HEALTH

•Organic food

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HERE are numerous benefits of organic food that make the added costs you will need to pay well worth it.

What is organic food?

Organic food is produced with renewable resources and without any chemical chemical fertiliser, beneficial insects are used as pest control and when it comes to dairy products, organic cows aren’t given any hormones, antibiotics or feed with animal byproducts. Also, organic products are highly regulated, so they need to get a certification seal before going into the market.

Top seven benefits of organic food Genetic Modification (GM) free: One of the many Benefits of organic food is the fact that it has not undergone any genetic modification. A life form is said to be genetically altered when genes of other species have been mixed into its own genes. This is performed to improve the qualities if the subject. GM, however, is very new and still has

•Organic food

Benefits of organic food high chances of leading to the development of unwanted traits that may endanger consumers.

carry no risks of having toxic substances that can be hazardous to human health when consumed.

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) free: Synthetic animal feeds have the potential to cause the development of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy in animals which in turn may lead to the development of Creutzfeld Jacob Disease (CJD) in humans who eat the meat of animals that have BSE. CJD is a brain disease that has no known cure and is often fatal. It is also known as the human Mad Cow Disease.

More nutritious: Of the various benefits of organic food its higher nutritional content is considered to have the biggest impact.

Plants that are grown without fertilisers or pesticides adapt to the harsh environment by producing more proteins and anti oxidants to help them resist bugs and collect nutrients from the surroundings more effectively. Animals free of antibiotics and growth hormones also adapt this way. Their bodies produce more vitamins and minerals in order for them to survive.

Fewer artificial additives: Unrefined provisions are produced in a natural environment without any help from synthetic or industrial substances. This means that they

Better for the environment: Using no pesticides and fertiliser means that no toxic

chemicals are released into the surroundings. Crop rotation which involves the planting of different types of plants throughout the year also helps preserve the natural fertility of the soil. The absence of chemical solutions also allows the sustenance of wild plants and animals and therefore supports biodiversity.

Better for the animals: Animals in organic farms live better lives compared to animals in conventional farms. This is because the environment needs to be healthy and sustainable so that they can survive without antibiotics and other synthetic substances.

Great fresh taste: Great fresh taste is considered a bonus among the benefits of organic food. Unrefined provisions are fresher and have richer taste.

Culled from organicfoodzen.com

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

NATURAL HEALTH

A 2012 New Year resolution: Healthier digestive system (4)

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HEN I was 21, I thought I was going to die. That was 40 years ago. I'd finished higher school at Igbobi College the year before, took a book seller's job at Odusote Bookstores on Herbert Macaulay Street, Yaba, Lagos, and, from there, landed a bigger one, a trainee sub-editor's job, at the Daily Times newspaper on Kakawa Street, Lagos. The subeditor's job was, and I believe still is, a hectic, thankless job. A sub-editor is the unsung backroom shadow of the editor, the newspaper's last crucial bridge between the reporter and the reader, the one who makes sense out of nonsense. My trainer and boss was the herculean and perfectionist George Okoro, a socialist who lost most of his teeth, it was said, when a Biafran soldier smashed his jaw with the butt of a rifle. George Okoro was irrepressible, he may have opposed the Biafran leadership, got detained, tried to escape and arrested. He was a hard beer drinker, and introduced me to beer drinking. Work hours were indeterminate. The job was over whenever it was, and that could be anywhere near midnight. After two months, I abandoned the job for another at Mandilas nearby. But I returned one or two weeks after, claiming to have been ill, when the Mandilas managing director posted me to Kano, where I was to work as a trainee store keeper. Life at the Daily Times and with George Okoro was hectic. His brief was to bake greenhorn higher school certificates in to sub-editors in six months in the 'blast furnace' of the newsroom. So, from the newsroom at close to midnight, we crisscrossed the hotels, Ritz, Gondola Cabar, Fela's Kakadu, Chez a Bib etc before landing home. In the mornings, I had to read foreign newspapers for story and imaginative headline and photo caption writing skills in addition to layout. Two imaginative headlines I'd always remember the DAILY MIRROR for are (1) A QUEEN DIES and (2) NECKING ON THE BACK SEAT KEEEPS THE HEAD AWAKE. The "QUEEN" was an old British Royal Navy ship named Queen Elizabeth which sank.

The NECKING story concerned an old man who went to court to stop the local council from siting a bus-stop opposite his house. He said most of the late night passengers were teenagers who, on disembarking, kissed and hugged as a way of saying goodbye for the day, making such love noises in the process that disturbed his sleep! He won.

WORK in this stressful situation found an ally in the quest for manliness to deliver another devastating blow to my health, especially intestinal health. I had had no time for healthful meals, depended more on snacks and soft drinks and beer. I had been thin from school for which I earned the nickname PAPER WEIGHT. I wished to add weight, gulped lots of soft drinks because I had read in F. DANIEL'S TROPICAL HYGIENE FOR SCHOOLS that sugar got converted to fat. I took WATE-ON, the weight growing formula of the time and EGGOVIN, the egg and alcohol formula to which I added more raw egg and at least one tin of pasteurised cow milk. At that time, I knew next to nothing about the need to watch whatever went into my stomach, or of the fact that I AM WHAT I EAT AND DRINK. Soon, I had stomach and intestinal problems, which began with bloating, belching and farting. Apparently, I had overburdened my stomach, liver and intestines. The bloating wasn't ordinary bloating. It is the type called WIND. Stomach ulcer came along.

If the pains came, I'd rush out of the newsroom to a canteen opposite the office, grab a popular snack and wash it down with a soft drink. I didn't know that, with this white flour snack with beef accompaniment, I was loading my body with more acid forming foods. I became so bloated eventually that I couldn't eat a slice of bread without feeling full while still hungry for food. Somehow, the thought that I was dying struck me. At that time, two of my cousins passed away. The first to die was Tosin Otusayo. The other was Sunmisola Oshodipe, an OND Accounts graduate from the Yaba College of Technology who worked at Cocoa Industries, Ikeja. He was said to be blocking fraud by cocoa farmers who, as the story went, attacked him ethereally.

He became dizzy, perhaps from low blood count or low blood sugar, slumped one day and died! With their sudden departure, I sought help from my maternal grandfather in the village who took me to a woman who inherited healing herbs from her late herbalist husband. I had confidence in this woman because, prior to my case, she had helped to permanently cure my sister of her menstrual circle migraine. She gave her a leaf she was to place in her hair and bury in the earth at sunset. And that put an end to the hammering headache. For my case, she asked that a meal consisting of a particular fish and herbs be made early in the morning by a woman who would not wash her face or brush her teeth or speak to anyone. I, too, was to do likewise before the meal. Having a meal before brushing my teeth was strange to me. But I obliged. And I was cured till this day right from the first meal I had hours after. I was too young to appreciate the importance of this medicine and, so, did not ask for the recipe, which I could have obtained on a platter of gold. I was to need it at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, when my friend Damola Willoughby came down with stress ulcer, from which he recovered after hectic academic schooldays.

I have told these stories to underscore the importance of being careful about what goes into the stomach. We are in the fourth week of a 2012 Resolution to take extra care of the digestive system from where, according to the British Royal Society of Surgeons, death begins slowly but surely. In the first part of this series, renowned American natural physician JETHRO KLOSS detailed in his BACK TO EDEN how people who ate the wrong foods and often complained of stomach and intestinal discomfort were found during autopsy to have grown all sorts of tumours, including cancers in their throats, stomachs and intestines.

Through the works of STANLEY BURROUGHS of the Lemonade Diet Master Cleanses fame, we now can guess that microorganisms, especially Candida as revealed in the gray tongue or oral thrush, invade poison-ridden bodies and that these growths may indeed be an attempt by the body to imprison some of them. After discovering fungi in many cancerous cells, Italian oncologist Dr Tullio Simoncini, actually, wrote a book, CANCER IS A FUNGUS, in which he argues that fungal

infections set the stage for cancer formation. Dr Roland Gdanshi, in his CANCER, CAUSE and COVER-UP, agrees, saying it hardly occurs in the heart or blood vessels but in liquid storages such as the stomach, colon, bladder, breast or prostate where injuries may be easily infected by candida.

I have learned to know my stomach and to be its friend. It is a small bag into which the throat leads food from the mouth. Its job is to digest this food and pass it on to the intestines to finish the job. Some of the problems many people have with their stomachs are (1) gastritis (2) esophageal reflux or heartburn (3) peptic ulcer or (4) cancer. Gastritis is inflammation of the lining of the stomach. At the connecting point with the throat or esophagus, there is a muscular gate manned by the spincter muscle. This valve does not permit contents of the stomach to flow back to the throat or mouth, even when we stand on our heads, legs up like Atilogu dancers, unless a problem has occurred with it. A similar action occurs at the other end of the stomach where the duodenum makes the connection with the small intestine. The stomach pulsates, like the clenching and opening of the fist, to mix the food with digestive enzymes. Too much water or fluid, such as soft drinks or beer taken with meals, dilute and weaken the enzymes, prolonging digestion time or diminishing stomach efficiency. Prolonged delay causes putrefaction or rot which attracts fungi and other microorganisms. Poisons from the rot and waste products of these micro-organisms irritate stomach lung and cause inflammation (gastritis) and pain for which antacids are often used injudiciously. Use of antacid presupposes that the body is over producing stomach acid. But the reverse is often the case. Too little secretion causes digestion delay which leads to food decay or degradation into acidic substances. So, blocking stomach acid may be counter-productive. One simple assessment often advised in Alternative Medicine is to try the patient on Apple Cider Vinegar or lime or lemon juice or Betain Hydrochloride tablets or capsules before a meal. If no pain is felt and digestion is smoother, stomach acid was low. If the condition is aggravated, acid-forming foods such as milk, bread, sugar, beef, fried foods, eggs, biscuits etc are to be avoided for a long while, say three to six months, while one glass of water, preferably alkaline water, is taken every hour. If the stomach is beset for too long with acidic undigested food, it tries to rid itself of the burden by either expelling it through the throat or forcing it on the intestine.

But the sphincter gatekeepers at both ends, as good sentries, don't usually permit this. If the expulsion upstream occurs for too long, this may cause irritation of not only the esophageal sphincter valve but the lower esophageal tissue as well, leading to the pain of heartburn, damage to tissue, possible infection by fungi and even cancer. If the stomach forces its irritating acidic content downstream, that is to the duodenum, the sphincter muscle there may give way under pressure, acid would burn the duodenum and set off duodenal ulcer.

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R F. Batmanghelidg seems to have satisfactorily explained the connection between dehydration and stomach ulcer. The stomach is made up of flesh. The interior flesh is protected from acid contents by different protective layers. Above the flesh is sodium bicarbonate. Above the sodium bicarbonate layer is a water hydrant film. Above this film is the mucus membrane. All these layers protecting the flesh beneath need constant supply of plain water to maintain them. Plain water is different from fluid in which there are solutes which require water for their metabolism. Dehydration, like stress, thins out the mucus membrane which, thereby, becomes less protective. If the wear permits food substances and acid to drop through, the hydrant and the bicarbonate layer may be unable to neutralise them, causing trouble for the flesh beneath. Breaks in the armour bring fungi and bacteria, especially Helicobacter pylori bacterium which wreaks terrible havoc. I always tell peptic ulcer patients what their stomach injury looks like. The normal stomach flesh is like raw meat; the ulcerated or gastritis stomach flesh is like boiled or cooked meat. But as the stomach flesh is a living flesh, 'boiled'stomach flesh may heal under certain conditions. As a general rule for stomach health, I would make the following suggestions.

• Do not miscombine foods. Fruits and vegetables cause chaos in the stomach.

• Do not take fruits over a meal. Fruits take about 30 minutes to digest, solid foods about three to four hours. Fruits trapped on meal decay while waiting for the meal to be digested, causes gas, bloating, microbial infestation, dyspepsia (digestive pain),

e-mail: femi.kusa@yahoo.com or olufemikusa@yahoo.com

reflux, excessive stomach acid etc.

• Do not eat to fill the stomach. The contractions may cause esophageal reflux or hiatus hernia, in which a loop of the stomach is trapped in the hiatus, a hole in the diaphram. Eat to fill about half or three quarters of the stomach.

•As much as possible, take with every meal between 500mg or 1000 mg of Vitamin C or Grape Seed Extract (GSE). Either helps to detoxify mould or its toxins in food. For example, brown rice, often preferred to white rice, has a high mould load. Groundnuts come with afflatoxin, a dangerous poison from micro-organisms which feed on its oil.

• Calcium, Magnesium and Vitamin B Vitamin supplements taken with meals support stomach and intestinal function.

Calcium is used up for smooth muscle contraction, magnesium for their relaxation, and B Vitamins to reduce stress load on the system. Vitamin B1 aids nerve function. Nerves are involved in muscle contraction and relaxation. Often, stress and lack of these minerals may be the cause of digestive system slow down or stasis, that is constipation.

• Allow about five hours between meals. If a heavy meal requires about three hours in digesting and another is loaded in so soon, the stomach may wear down and out unnoticed until, finally, it crashes under stress.

• Bitters taken before meals stimulate nervous reaction in the glands which produce digestive enzymes ready to digest the coming food. Lime or lemon on the tongue similarly stimulates salivation. Besides, they help to stimulate the liver to produce bile which supports fat digestion, and exports poisonous wastes in the stool.

• Minimise water and fluid intake with meals. This weakens digestive enzymes and impairs digestion. Instead, take water about 30 minutes before meals or two and a half hours after.

Water taken before meals is recycled to the pancreas to make the alkaline pancreatic juice. This is injected into the duodenum to, among other things, protect it against acid content of the stomach. Without pancreatic juice to neutralise this acid load, the duodenal sphincter muscle declines to let stomach content pass, forcing food to stay longer in the stomach with dire consequences. The water taken about two and a half hours after a meal helps to flush the food out of the stomach. Many people have eased their digestion problems with this creative formula for drinking water… thanks to Dr F. Batmanghelidj.

HEN there is fire on the mountain and there is need to help the system out, many proprietary supplements have proved to be gold standard medicines1) Made from Turkish rhubarb, Molasses, Buckhorn bark, Barbery Chickweed and Urva Urs, Constipation Relief Tea in Capsules is designed to relax nervous systems of the stomach and usher food easily through the intestines, checking flatulence, killing worms and preventing inflammation, among other uses.

• I enjoy working with Excessively Acidic Stomach and Alkaline Balance where the chest and stomach are burning and I am not surprised it works in many cases. Three of the ingredients, Natrum phosphoricum (Sodium Phosphate), Kali Carbonicum (Potassium Carbonate) and Kali Sulferium (Potassium Sulphate) are homeopathic cell salts. Other ingredients include Alfalfa, Barley grass, MSM, Blue green algae, Chamomile, Cinnamon, Robinia Pseudoacacia, Sodium Bicabornate, Calcium bicarbonate, Berberine alkaloid, Aloe Vera powder and Rheum officinate • Acid reflux & Indigestion tea acts as an ant-acid, soothing and relaxing the stomach.

• I have recently personally witnessed the rejuvenating effects of homeopathic biochemic cell salts. For "Stomach Acid Related problems," the books recommend, especially, Natrum phos (Sodium Phosphate), Natrum Sulph (Sodium Sulphate) and Silica.

All are to be dissolved in hot water and drunk. If there are pains in the stomach, it may be wise to include Kali mur (Potassium Chloride). Natrum phos (Sodium Phosphate) goes for acidity pains; Natrum sulph (Sodium sulphate), for pains due to liver problems. There are 12 cell salts in all. Recently, I experimented with eight of them, taking two each two times daily, first thing in the morning and last thing at night. When I dissolved them in lime juice, I experienced such increased urination during the day, and no need to void in the night, that would make me suggest it to people grappling with prostate problems.

• Italian and Japanese studies suggest Sangre de Grado resin as an anti-cancer and anti-ulcer agent for the gastro-intestinal system.

• We cannot mention all the remedies in one fell swoop. I would like to round off today with Kyolic, the aged garlic extract. But, before then, let me quickly add to the list MarcaTreben's Bitters and Calamus root. Ktolic is odourless garlic with a difference. Garlic cloves are soaked in water for 20 months in stainless steel containers to eliminate its odourcausing compounds, which are converted into substances not present in natural garlic. Among these substances are Sallylcysteine (SAC), S-allylmercapto (SAMC) and Mailland reaction compounds. Hundreds of clinical and preclinical researches credit them with a wide range of health benefits including success in previously treated but uncontrolled high blood pressure, improvement of heart health, prevention of oxidative stress, protection of the liver against poisons, cholesterol and homocysteine lowering, immune enhancement, anti-tumour and anti-cancer activities, improved nerve growth, boosting of red blood cell production.

In 1972, Nagai K. and others found that "a Kyolic liquid Aged Garlic Extract containing Vitamin B1, Vitamin B12 and liver extract orally administered clearly prevented stress-induced ulcer formation. The authors attributed the anti-ulcer effects to strengthening of the gastric mucosa rather than to decrease in aggravating agents such as gastric acid and pepsin. From China have come reports of reverse trends in stomach cancer risk with dietary intake of garlic."

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Tel: 08034004247, 07025077303

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e-Business Worried by the closure of their facilities over taxes and levies charged by government agencies, telecom operators have formed a working group to find a lasting solution to what they call multiple taxation, ADLINE ATILI reports

The fear of multiple taxation I

F telecoms operators are asked to list the challenges they face while discharging their responsibilities, multiple taxes and levies imposed by regulatory bodies will top the list.

They argue that the closure of a transmission hub because of non-payment of multiple and sometimes illegal taxes, leads to deterioration in service quality, at a time the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is breathing down their necks on improvement of quality of service (QoS).

They argue that because of interconnectivity and co-location of telecoms infrastructure among operators, service provision on all other networks are affected whenever a telecoms facility is sealed off.

Industry watchers emphasise that the problem stems from the perception that telecom operation is synonymous with ‘big money.’

Forceful closure According to the operators, of recent, the industry has been witnessing cases of forceful closure of telecoms facilities in various parts of the country by agents of states and local governments for reasons bordering on non-payment of what they described as “spurious levies and taxes, which in most cases, cannot find any basis in the laws of the land.”

In February 2010, two telecoms sites in Abuja, belonging to MTN Nigeria were closed by officials of the Abuja Metropolitan Municipal Council (AMMC) for non-payment of ‘Annual Charges’ to the council.

Also, MTN’s sites at Osogbo, the Osun State capital were in May 2010, sealed by the state’s capital territory development authority for reasons bordering on non-payment of the state’s Land Use Clearance Fees. This, according to the authority, is in respect of all telecoms sites within the state capital.

Additionally, MTN’s backbone and hub site in Ebonyi State was sealed in May 2010, by the Ebonyi State Environmental Protection Agency for non-payment of Environmental Impact Assessment; Monitoring, Sanitation, Effluent Discharge and Environmental Support Fees for the period 2003-2010.

In July 2010, five Airtel Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) located in Umuahia, Abia State, were closed by the state’s Task Force for reasons of non-payment of N19million, being Tower Premises Registration and Renewal fees.

Additionally, four telecoms sites in Imo State belonging to MTN were sealed by officials of the State Ministry of Petroleum and Environmental Audit Report recently.

In April 2011, there was an attempt by the Abuja Municipal Management Council (AMMC) to shut down MTN sites for refusal to pay annual charge of over N257million.

There was also a demand notice from the Imo State Environmental Transformation Commission (ENTRACO) for Airtel to pay N262.4million. This sum being Pest/Vector Control Fees and Fumigation Charges for the years 2008-2011.

A demand notice too, was issued by the Ondo State Signage and Advertisement Agency for all network service providers to pay various sums of money for the network identification signages hoisted at their BTS sites in the state.

The Association of Licensed Telecommunications operators of Nigeria (ALTON) in a media statement on the closure of telecommunications facilities, lamented that government agencies have increasingly adopted extra-judicial and ominous tactics of invading

and locking up telecoms facilities and sites when such payments are not made, without consideration for either administrative due process of law or the wider implications of their action.

President of the association, Mr Gbenga Adebayo said there may be differences between regulatory authorities and telecommunications operators. He, however, said such differences should not affect services being rendered by operators.

He complained that ALTON members are constantly harassed and their base stations and offices locked indiscriminately due to alleged refusal to pay taxes and levies, most of which are unrecognised by law.

In addition to the statutory levies imposed on operators, he disclosed that Telcos pay various rates and charges to other agencies such as the Consumer Protection Council, federal and state ministries of environment and authorities in every state where they operate.

Adebayo complained that Telcos are often singled out for discriminatory treatment and taxation. “While it is recognised that government at all levels need to generate revenue in their jurisdictions to enable them provide the statutory obligations to citizens, the collection of such taxes and levies should not be done outside the ambit of the law and best practices,” he said.

According to him, because of the all-encompassing nature of telecoms services, impulsive closure of network facilities by government agencies, employees and other MDAs after slight disputes portrays the country as one degenerating into an uncertain business destination.

He noted that the imbroglio may discourage foreign and local investments in the sector; disrupt telecom services for voice, data and ancillary services; impact national security; compromise public safety; increase unemployment; halt economic activities as well as increase acts of terrorism and robbery in the country.

Information obtained from reliable sources at the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Joint Tax Board (JTB) shows that though the tax bodies are statutorily empowered by law to collect taxes, states and local governments place tax charges on their own, some of which might be illegal.

The sources, who asked not to be named, alleged that the illegal charges are outside of the Taxes and Levies (Approved List of Collection) Act 21 of 1998, adding that what further raises questions of their legality are the disparities in the rates approved by each state.

The sources said FIRS and the JTB are taking very stringent measures to tackle the challenge of unfair taxation.

According to them, the bodies have received complaints from not only Telcos but other associations as well. This made it engage the services of consultants to carry out assessment to identify the states in the thick of the issue, liaise with relevant authorities and take the matter to the National Economic Council.

Regulator’s perspective In his opening remarks at the eighth anniversary of the Telecom Consumer Parliament, Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Eugene Juwah said the commission was not unaware of the challenges in providing quality telecom services to subscribers in the industry.

“The main challenge has been that of quality of service that has not reached the envis-

•A telecommunications Base Transceiver Station.

aged level of efficiency, vandalism of telecom infrastructure and multiple taxation, among others. These all collectively affect expectations from the industry. The commission is providing regulatory intervention to curtail such challenges.

“At NCC, we’ll ensure we have a telecoms industry that is robust, vibrant and efficient, and which will be an impetus for greater economic development of the country,” he promised.

The NCC has made good its promise of intervening in challenges confronting the sector by inaugurating an Industry Working Group (IWG) to address the issue of multiple taxation.

The committee comprises members drawn from various stakeholder groups in the industry.

Executive Commissioner of the NCC, Mr Okechukwu Itanyi, at the inauguration ceremony in Lagos, said the high incidence of closure of BTS sites in the country, when added to the current socioeconomic realities in the country, portend grave dangers to the telecoms sector.

“This problem, if not quickly addressed, could even erode all the gains of the past 10 years in the industry,” he said.

He decried the rate at which various state governments are latching on to the modest gains of the telecoms sector to shore up their internally-generated revenues, saying such acts are contrary to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which puts all matters relating to telecoms on the Exclusive Legislative List of the Federal Government.

He said: “All matters relating to post, telegraphs and telephones are on item 46 of the Exclusive Legislative List of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and thus outside the legislative competence of any state, local government or area metropolitan council.

“However, we are witnesses to many cases where these levels of government have attempted to regulate or impose taxes on the operators which obviously falls within the exclusive preserve of the Federal Government.”

Itanyi said with the inauguration of the IWG, urgent steps will be taken to stem the menace.

“The mandate of this group would be to carefully articulate the industry’s position on the dangers of multiple taxation and engage relevant levels of governments with the aim of stopping imposition of illegal taxies and levies on telecoms operators in the country,” the

commissioner said.

As part of the terms of reference for implementation of strategies, Itanyi informed that the Industry Working Group will liaise with the FIRS and the JTB to ensure a fair and equitable taxes and levies regime for operators within the industry, as well as review the Taxes and Levies (Approved List for Collection) Act of 2008, which he said, has become moribund.

He added that the group is expected to develop strategies for addressing and managing the threat posed by multiple taxation to the growth of the telecoms industry and also form a strong lobby group to meet various arms of government on the dangers of multiple taxations to the nascent industry.

Head of Compliance Management at NCC, Mr Ephraim Nwokonneya, noted that the idea of inaugurating the committee was not to shield operators from performing their civic responsibility of paying legitimate taxes, but to protect them from illegal levies and taxes by some government agencies.

He said the group will act in an advisory capacity and make recommendations on matters relating to levies and taxes; review recent cases of multiple taxation and meet with the various arms of government to emphasise the dangers of multiple taxation to the economy.

Operator’s perspective Airtel’s Director of Regulatory Affairs, Mr Osondu Nwokoro, speaking on the sidelines of the event, said it would not be easy to give a specific amount to what operators have paid in multiple taxation and unwarranted levies.

He said: “There are two ways of analysing the impact of multiple taxation on telecommunications services. First is the issue of downtime from shut down of base stations by government officials. Here, operators are forced to make inappropriate payments so that subscribers would not be out of service; subscribers would not know that the downtime in service was through no fault of ours.

“Secondly, multiple taxation compromises our service agreement. This is because, even if we continue to go to court, time and money will be wasted in the course of litigation; most times, nothing would come out of it. That is why we reasoned that the issue can only be successful tackled through the intervention of the regulator with the support of other stakeholders in the industry.”

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e-Business

NLRC decries non-compliance with Lottery Act T

HE National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) has berated telecoms operators and advertising agencies over shoddy compliance with the provisions of the Lottery Act in promos and adverts.

The commission also warned against the use of minors in promos and adverts, advising parents and guardians not to allow their children or wards to be used for adverts, especially those with subliminal messages.

Assistant Director and Lagos Coordinator for NLRC, Mr Obi Iroegbu at a consumer advisory forum in Lagos, said many operators have not been fully complying with the provisions of the Lottery Act which specifies certain criteria that must be followed in running promos and adverts.

He said non-compliance with the provisions of the Act in its entirety has been robbing the society of certain benefits.

Under the Lottery Act, 20 per cent of the funds realised during a promo or lottery activity should

Stories by Adline Atili

go into a community trust fund, established by the Act; thirty per cent goes to the commission, while 50 per cent is given to winners.

Said Iroegbu: “We are all victims of the lottery business in Nigeria.

Lotteries in other climes have been used to advance the cause of humanity. Unfortunately, this is not so in this country. For instance, the Great Wall of China and Harvard University are dividends of lotteries. It is also on record now that 80 per cent of lottery money would be spent on the next Olympics.

“Unfortunately, unfair practices have become the order of the day among the operators as they often fail to comply with these provisions. Instead, they give excuses that they are running a loyalty or reward scheme whereas what they actually run is lottery.

“A reward scheme must not involve charging subscribers fees for participating in it but in a

promo or lottery, participants are charged certain amount of money for participating.”

He disclosed that most organisations that run promos often announce ‘phantom’ winners that are not easily traced.

“In Nigeria today, telecoms companies and other orgainsations run promos, tell you about winners but no one knows how the winners emerge. And in some cases, after televising the winners, the prizes are hardly received fully or not received at all,” he said.

Iroegbu said the commission is working at strengthening its enforcement machinery to ensure maximum compliance with the Lottery Act. He said: “The NLRC is not leaving any stone unturned in 2012 in ensuring that things are done the way they should be done.

When licenses or permits are given, we will make sure that they are issued to organisations that are fit and such promos and lotteries or draws would be witnessed by the commission.”

Interswitch achieves PCIDSS certification

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LECTRONIC payments and processing company, Interswitch, has achieved the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCIDSS) certification for the second time, in order to raise security standards of electronic payments and switching as the nation moves to cash-less.

PCIDSS is a set of comprehensive requirements created to help payment card industry organisations prevent e-payment cards fraud through increased controls around data and its exposure to compromise. It was founded by American Express, Discover Financial Services, JCB International, MasterCard Worldwide and Visa, Inc. By this feat, Interswitch is the only Nigerian and West African organisation to be compliant two years in a row.

The company, in a statement, said with the certification, card users would continue to experience enhanced payments account

data security.

The requirements ensure that the entities that process, store or transmit cardholders’ data meet and adhere to the following standards: maintain a secure network for processing transactions; protect cardholders and transaction data while in transit or at rest on the network; monitor and test of IT infrastructure regularly, among others.

The company’s Managing Director, Mr Mitchell Elegbe said: “We have demonstrated our commitment to raising the bar on transactions security by seeking and achieving certification based on the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC).

“Data security is a critical part of the switching business. In order to maintain and reinforce the same globally-acceptable standards, we have gone to great lengths and a rigorous process to ensure we retain the certification this year.”

Firm gets gold certification

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CC Networks, the communications division of the Computer Warehouse Group (CWG), an Information and Communications Technology Company, has achieved Cisco Gold certification in English West Africa.

In a statement by CWG, the certification demonstrates the company’s compliance with strict standards as enforced by Cisco Systems regarding service management, solutions architecting, project management and support capabilities, required to maintain a high degree of customer satisfaction.

The company said as a GoldCertified Partner, DCC will be privileged to high-level support

and economic incentives from Cisco, including access to best-inclass products and services, technical support, productivity tools, online training, marketing resources, and sales promotions.

According to the Cisco Channel Certification team, DCC met the personnel, support, and specialisation requirements for achieving Cisco Gold Certification. “CWG has demonstrated that it is qualified to sell, install, and support Cisco solutions in English West Africa.”

General Manager, DCC Networks, Oladipo Raji said: “I am delighted with the new Cisco Gold status because it will translate to more value, quality services and more offerings to our customers.”

Poor service fluctuations: who do we blame?

D •From left: Head, Corporate Communications, MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr Segun Fayose; General Manager, Digital Mobile Television (DMTV) Nigeria, Mr Mayo Okunola; Chief Operating Officer, 141 Worldwide, Mrs Bunmi Oke and General Manager, SuperSport Nigeria, Mr Felix Awogu, at the launch of DStv Mobile TV in Lagos.

DStv launches handheld TV

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ULTICHOICE’S multichannel digital satellite TV service, DStv Mobile has launched a handheld television device which will enable DStv subscribers watch television on-the-go.

The device, DStv Walker, follows a long line of technology innovations including the Drifta, DStv mobile phone, High Definition PVR decoders and integrated customer service tools.

General Manager of Digital Mobile Television Limited (DMTV), Mayo Okunola, said with the prod-

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uct, subscribers within DStv Mobile network coverage areas in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kaduna, Ibadan, Enugu, Benin, Onitsha, Aba and Asaba will now have access to the channels on the DStv Mobile DVB-H network.

He explained that the device, which is lightweight and has an inbuilt signal receiver, does not require Wi-Fi, 3G or connectivity to a computer.

Managing Director of MultiChoice Nigeria, John Ugbe, said the product was launched to enable television

viewers to be surrounded with compelling content anywhere they are.

“Whether at home, at work, at play or while sitting in traffic, we are determined to provide the avid TV viewer opportunity to catch up with breaking news, sports, current affairs and other programmes,” he said.

He added that: “With the African Cup of Nations, UEFA Champions league, EURO Cup and the Olympics all taking place this year, the DStv Walka will ensure sports-loving subscribers do not experience any dull moment throughout the year.”

ESPITE the fact that they are the best telecommunications companies in this part of the world the nation’s network operators are hardly living up to expectations.

With service disappearing as fast as the blink of the eye, network failure has become the norm in telecoms service delivery. This is in addition to delayed delivery of messages and PINGS, inability to make calls, disconnection of calls within few seconds of call placement.

Just when you think of picking up your phone to make a call, you realise you’re better off without it as subscribers have hardly been able to dial a number once and it goes through. To make matters worse, inability to make a call at certain periods of the day, especially between seven to 10 pm is becoming a norm that we wonder if the whole idea of peak and off-peak periods apply any more as inability to get calls

through these periods seem the same.

Maybe subscribers can breathe a sigh of relief as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), recently issued a warning to the major operators-MTN, Globacom and Airtel-instructing them to tackle poor quality of service on their networks which would include stoppage of sales of SIM cards. The commission said the three operators have fallen short of the Key Performance Indicators it set to determine operators’ level of improvement on quality of service.

Telecom Compare will not fall short in keeping you posted with important and timely information of such as it is in our habit to. You can equally make your voice heard by being a member of Telecom Compare.

Visit www.telecomcompare.com to get more details. Become a member of the platform and enjoy freebies like free airtime and free SMSs.

Trader wins N1m in Airtel promo Ericsson to deploy mobile communications ECHNOLOGY services procollaborating and socialising.

TRADER, Mrs Oladoyin in the future. in the oceans novating, vider, Ericsson, has been auThe result will be automated and simOgunleye and a call centre Speaking, Airtel’s Executive

thorised by Maersk Line, a global shipping company, to provide endto-end systems integration and deployment of mobile and satellite communications to Maersk’s vessel fleet.

In a statement by the companies, about 400 Maersk Line vessels will be equipped with Ericsson antennas and GSM base stations over the next two years; with upgrades to be made to the remaining vessels soon after.

As part of the agreement, Ericsson will provide seven years of global managed-services support, including all-

round network monitoring and onboard maintenance services in a large number of ports across all major regions.

President and Chief Executive Officer of Ericsson, Hans Vestberg, said: “The oceans are the last ‘white spot’ for the mobile communication industry to connect. We’re proud to connect Maersk Line’s fleet with our technology. We believe in a networked society, where connectivity will only be the starting point for new ways of in-

plified processes, higher productivity, real-time information, allowing quicker, more informed decision making and problem solving.”

He noted that for the shipping industry, mobile communication provides the opportunity to employ new and efficient ways of addressing fleet management, managing delivery time, improving interaction with vessels, enabling proactive issue resolution and prompt information sharing with customers and improving energy efficiency.

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operator, Mr Chukuma Augustine have emerged millionaires in the Airtel SIM card registration promo.

Speaking at the prize presentation ceremony in Lagos, Mrs Ogunleye, while thanking Airtel, said the news came as a shock to her.

In his remarks, Ilorin-based Augustine, described the winning as “an act of God,” calling on subscribers to avail themselves the opportunities of similar offerings

Director, Mr Deepak Srivastava, said the promo was aimed at rewarding customer loyalty and encouraging unregistered old and new customers on the network to comply with the SIM registration deadline by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

He said apart from the millions won in the promo, all registered subscribers during the period, will get 100 free on-net SMS over three months.

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e-Business

Lines get thinner for convergence

Matters e-Rising Segun Oruame segun@segunoruame.com

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ECHNO-OPTIMISTS dreamt of technology convergence in the early 90s when digitalisation would erase the lines between traditional mode of communication to bring all content whether audio, video or text storable in the same format and delivered through a wide variety of technologies including computers, mobile phones, televisions and other devices. That dream is now a solid reality in the 20s. Welcome to the age of convergence where you make flight booking via your mobile phones and pay for the same service via an SMS or Internet window that connects to your bank account.

The distinct walls of IT, telecoms, media and consumer electronics industries have collapsed to create one large ‘converged’ industry as technology analyst, Kate Wild predicted in 2006 when convergence was beginning to gather momentum across countries. Now in Nigeria’s mobile phone market of over 90 million subscribers, digital satellite pay TV company, MultiChoice DSTV is already offering digital television broadcast on mobile devices including iPod Touch, the iPhone, iPad, notebooks and other smartphones via its DSTV Mobile network coverage in several cities such as Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan, Port Harcourt,

Onitsha, Asaba, Benin City, Kaduna and Enugu. Channels Television, a terrestrial TV broadcast company is already delivering its news services through converged media windows including iPod, BlackBerry and tablets.

In the financial sector, virtually all the services financial houses can offer have converged through integrated platforms to provide a one-stop transaction window for customers. Thus, from the comfort of their homes or offices, customers can pay for utilities, hotel bookings, flight tickets and make orders from shopping or food centres. They can also confirm cheque payments, make huge transfer from bank to bank and effect salary payments in line with the new theme of ‘Cash-less Lagos’ – a sub variant of the larger goal of ‘Cashless Nigeria’ by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the country’s regulatory authority.

Those who are not using these windows are either not aware of their immense benefits or are too technology-shy to improve on their own efficiency. But the technology is available and convergence is already here to ease transactions and put more speed in the work processes. Anyone already conversant with Aero online early bookings will tell you of the convenience and huge savings that go with the entire process. I know of

many Nigerians that make online bookings to cover their prospective and already scheduled trips in a six-month circle to give them more than 60 per cent savings on flying across Nigeria.

You cannot beat that deal. Unfortunately, only a few are still wise enough to take advantage of this window. The idea is you have to plan ahead to optimise the benefits. What many small companies in Lagos do is to book and pay for the tickets online ahead of scheduled or prospective business meetings in Abuja or Port Harcourt. As much as possible, the companies try to make their clients to commit to meetings on days already covered by booked tickets. Would convergence help to encourage the culture of planning ahead?

You can bet an affirmative response on that.

The different sectors are about to explode with the opportunities that convergence brings. Some start-ups in Lagos are already setting to go on the business of selling music and movies online in a way that could erase the need to stock up all those loads and loads of CDs and DVDs in your homes.

Music and video streaming allowing you to pay as you play or view is about to enter the industry courtesy of increased bandwidth into several homes. It may soon be goodbye to your own home thea-

tres and DVD players in homes that want to be convergence-compliant.

Everything is changing including the way regulators must relate with the industry. The launch of the mobile television services by MultiChoice DSTV using the Digital Video Broadcast – Handheld (“DVB-H”) technology standard thickens the argument for regulatory convergence in respect of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the regulatory authority for the broadcast industry and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the telecom regulator. This much is stressed by the Director General of the NBC, Yomi Bolarinwa: “Convergence is here and we cannot run away from it, much more so that technology that has converged keep on growing in leaps and bound, technology in communication today keeps on looking out for the best and the technology is based on digitalisation and digitalisation is based on conversion.”

The licensing of several mobile money operators by the CBN is helping to reshape the relationship of the CBN and NCC in a market valued at over $2billion (about N300billion) that is bound to change service delivery in the financial market. Mobile payment or m-payment allows point-of-sale payment from a mobile device by individuals and corporate bodies,

goods and services and even to effect transfer of monetary instruments without physical interaction.

Much of corporate Nigeria has followed the convergence trail to deliver services to customers that have Web or mobile access. Virtually all banks offer online or SMS-based banking services. In the top league are First Bank PLC, GTBank, UBA PLC and Fidelity Bank. Customers need not go to bank to confirm cheque payments to third parties.

They only need a mouse click to make transfer from their account to another account even if the account is domiciled in another bank. In aviation, it is not only Aero Contractors that is on the convergence trail. Dana Airlines and other airlines have windows to allow online and SMS-driven flights booking and payments.

Across West Africa, convergence is gathering steam, helped by the connivance of increased bandwidth courtesy of the entry of several undersea cables and the growing number of smart mobile devices delivered by foreign and local hardware suppliers such as rlg Communications in Ghana, Zinox and Omatek Computers in Nigeria. With the steady shift from narrow band to broadband, West Africa is poised to experience more trends in convergence even as the market gets more sophisticated across all sectors from health, education and the media among others.

‘Data services is next growth opportunity for Telcos’

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•Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Communications, Hon.Usman Bawa (left) and Director of Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Tony Ojobo, at a telecom consumer forum in Lagos.

S communications revenue growth weakens in the face of increased competition and saturation of the voice market, data traffic is expected to be an avenue for telecommunications operators to shore up their ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) earnings, a new report by FBN Capital has said.

According to the report by the asset management and investment arm of the First Bank of Nigeria, telecommunications operators are at a turning point in the evolution of their industry; their traditional source of revenue, which is voice, is being commoditised, making it harder to raise the funds needed.

With the market saturating, communications revenue growth as a whole is beginning to stall. In response, operators are moving away from the traditional structures into far-reaching horizontal business models that cut across operators’ boundaries and

ITU develops new mobile phone standard

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LOBAL radio experts have approved radio standards that are to usher in a new mobile phone operating system to replace Third Generation (or 3G technology), the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has announced.

This next generation of mobile technology, ‘IMT Advanced Spectrum,’ according to the experts, would result in faster and better quality mobile services,eliminating the wait time between the tap of a finger and the appearance of a Web page.

ITU’s Secretary-General, Hamadoun Touré, while addressing the media on the closing day of the organisation’s Radiocommunication Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, hailed the announcement as a landmark development in mobile technology.

He said: “IMT-Advanced marks a huge leap forward in state-of-the-art technologies, which will make the present day smartphone feel like an old dial up Internet connection.

Access to the Internet, streaming videos and data transfers anytime, anywhere will be bet-

ter than most desktop connections today.”

Director of ITU’s Radiocommunication Bureau, Mr François Rancy, said: “Many of the current global standards are previous recommendations adopted at the Radiocommunication Assembly; the one adapted about 10 years ago, known as ‘3G’ spectrum. Many of the smartphones you have in your pockets now are an important result of recommendations such as those regarding 3G. “The IMT Advanced spectrum adopted this week provides a step forward in terms of quality and speed for mobile services. It would be like putting a fibre optic broadband connection on your mobile phone, making your phone at least 100 times faster than today’s 3G smartphones.

“But it’s not only about speed; it’s about efficiency. IMT-Advanced will use radio-frequency spectrum much more efficiently, making higher data transfers possible on lesser bandwidth. This will enable mobile networks to face the dramatic increase in data traffic that is expected in the coming

years.”

IMT-Advanced systems support low to high mobility applications and a wide range of data rates in accordance with user and service demands in multiple-user environments.

It also has capabilities for high quality multimedia applications within a wide range of services and platforms, providing a significant improvement in performance and quality of service.

Over the last 25 years, ITU has developed the IMT framework of standards — or International Mobile Telecommunications system — for mobile telephony and continues to lead international efforts involving governments and industry players to produce the next-generation standards for global mobile communications.

An ITU spokesman, Sanjay Acharya noted that the technology hasn’t been available until now because the U.N. must first approve of the international standards for its use.

Some phone providers have dubbed the new standard ‘4G,’ even though the ITU has said the term 4G remains undefined.

Stories by Adline Atili

are adapted to the hypercompetitive markets.

FBN Capital analysis of subscriber data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for November 2011 showed that the number of active telecoms lines in the country continued to grow in H2 (Second Half) of 2011 after a lacklustre H1 (First Half). The report noted that active lines grew 1.6 per cent month on month, being the fastest since January 2011, to 95.4m.

FBN Capital while making a comparison between Nigeria’s teledensity of 57 per cent and South Africa ’s 111 per cent and Egypt’s 98 per cent emphasised that opportunities for growth in the sector still exist.

“However, on a year by year basis, subscriber growth has slowed considerably from around 18 per cent in 2010 to eight per cent. Migration from voice to data is the obvious next step for the operators,” the report said.

FBN Capital reports that despite accounting for 94 per cent of the market, the GSM segment is still the key driver of growth, with 11 per cent year on year growth in subscriber numbers in November, compared with 22 per cent year on year and 28 per cent year on year for the CDMA and fixed wireless operators respectively.

The report predicts that the GSM operators will remain dominant. “We expect the GSM operators to remain dominant going forward. The only listed CDMA telecoms operator is still loss-making and is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future.”

The report hinted that operators would turn to increased value added services as a means of improving ARPU, given the moderation in subscriber growth, adding that this would mainly be via data services provisioning.

Additionally, as the Central Bank of Nigeria begins extensive implementation of the cash-less economy initiative, FBN Capital foresees mobile money as one of the mechanisms operators would resort to in increasing their revenue base.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

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EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 25-1-12 2ND-TIER SECURITIES Company Name CAPITAL OIL PLC JULI PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1 2

Quotation(N) 0.50 2.76

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 600 300.00 84 220.92 684 520.92

AGRICULTURE/AGRO-ALLIED Company Name LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 11 4 4 19

Quotation(N) 0.74 24.25 8.67

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,501,092 1,095,233.48 28,000 645,419.62 7,000 57,680.00 1,536,092 1,798,333.10

Quotation(N) 2.07 6.33

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 39,000 76,830.00 1,727,330 10,941,998.86 1,766,330 11,018,828.86

Quotation(N) 0.50 1.20

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 119,037 59,518.50 160,105 190,503.74 279,142 250,022.24

Quotation(N) 4.90 2.20 4.00 1.36 9.16 13.35 7.00 3.57 0.91 2.15 8.65 0.51 0.51 12.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 12,934,096 62,635,720.52 11,851,565 24,818,812.27 15,254,965 61,016,006.78 55,302,188 73,532,667.22 18,613,893 170,421,665.90 12,449,212 164,647,099.75 397,954 2,785,678.00 5,983,620 21,324,806.74 3,986,350 3,673,186.79 16,527,149 35,836,547.67 268,217 2,320,077.05 700,000 352,069.03 341,870 174,614.20 46,584,332 559,077,979.38 201,195,411 1,182,616,931.30

Quotation(N) 230.00 5.42 93.00 0.88

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,118,610 257,143,124.59 58,250 315,715.00 1,183,896 109,979,469.66 200 168.00 2,360,956 367,438,477.25

AIR SERVICES Company Name AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 49 50

AUTOMOBILE & TYRE Company Name DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC R. T. BRISCOE (NIGERIA) PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 4 12 16 BANKING

Company Name ACCESS BANK PLC DIAMOND BANK 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 68 59 33 66 468 346 25 82 23 159 5 14 15 254 1,617 BREWERIES

Company Name GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC PREMIER BREWERIES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 44 2 140 1 187

BUILDING MATERIALS Company Name ASHAKA CEMENT PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTHERN NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 43 10 40 48 141

Quotation(N) 10.50 5.11 117.98 44.28

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 591,378 6,178,514.70 266,020 1,360,162.20 225,544 26,664,235.29 411,905 18,207,991.44 1,494,847 52,410,903.63

Quotation(N) 8.45 15.22 8.59

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 191,768 1,541,960.28 70,214 1,069,534.26 4,980 40,686.60 266,962 2,652,181.14

African Alliance loses N3b

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FRICAN Alliance In surance Plc, the fourth most capitalised quoted insurance company, lost about N3.1 billion in 2010, according to the muchawaited audited report of the company released yesterday.

Audited report and accounts of African Alliance Insurance for the year ended December 31, 2010 showed a 16 per cent decline in net assets of the company as successive net losses impacted negatively on the balance sheet.

The report indicated loss before tax of N3.07 billion in 2010 as against loss of N4.82 billion in 2009 while net loss stood at N3.09 billion compared with N5.11 billion in 2009.

However, gross premium increased from N1.11 billion in 2009 to N1.37 billion in 2010. Reinsurance cost dropped from N24.15 billion to N16.86 billion. Commissions totaled N3.06 million in 2010 as against N6.09 million in 2009.

The balance sheet showed fixed assets dropped from N5.24 billion to N5.18 billion but long term investments improved from N2.14 billion to N2.28 billion. Short term loans however, increased from N131.47 million to N150.39 million. Insurance funds stood at N1.16 billion as against N1.11 billion.

African Alliance closed yesterday at its nominal

•Market in slight recovery

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

value of 50 kobo per share as most insurance companies remained at their lowest prices. The NSE Insurance Index slipped from 125.99 points to 124.35 points, reflecting losses suffered by four insurance companies.

Meanwhile, the overall market situation at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) returned to positive as highly capitalised banks rallied the market. However, most price changes were in negative.

Aggregate market capitalisation of all equities rose

by N9 billion from N6.491 trillion to N6.500 trillion.

The All Share Index (ASI) also inched up from 20,598.67 points to 20,625.56 points.

The positive outlook reflected gains recorded by highly capitalised stocks such as First Bank of Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith Bank, Dangote Sugar Refinery and Access Bank Plc. First Bank rose by 11 kobo to close at N9.16 per share. Guaranty Trust Bank gained 33 kobo to close at N13.35. Zenith Bank added 4.0 kobo to close at N12 while Dangote Sugar Refinery rose by 2.0 kobo to close at N4.51 per share.

Meanwhile, Berger Paints topped the gainers’ list with a gain of 40 kobo to close at

N8.45. PZ Cussons Nigeria gathered 24 kobo to close at N29.64. May and Baker Nigeria chalked up 13 kobo to close at N2.87. Honeywell Flour Mills rose by 11 kobo to close at N3.22. Diamond Bank and Access Bank added 10 kobo each to close at N2.20 and N4.90 respectively.

On the downside, Conoil topped the losers’ list with a loss of 50 kobo to close at N31.

Union Bank of Nigeria followed with a loss of 45 kobo to close at N8.65. Stanbic IBTC Bank lost 36 kobo to close at N7. BOC Gases dropped by 34 kobo to close at N6.51. GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria slipped by 30 kobo to N22.70. International Breweries dropped by 28 kobo to close at N5.42.

Cement Company of Northern Nigeria lost 26 kobo to close at N5.11 while Vitafoam Nigeria dropped 22 kobo to close at N4.25 per share.

Total turnover stood at 420.11 million shares valued at N2.05 billion in 3,323 deals. Banking subsector was the most active with a turnover of 206.08 million shares worth N1.23 billion in 1,673 deals. Insurance subgroup recorded turnover of 138.43 million shares valued at N84.89 million in 82 deals.

Computer-based systems subsector ranked third with a turnover of 40.64 million shares worth N20.32 million in four deals.

CHEMICAL & PAINTS Company Name BERGER PAINTS NIGERIA PLC CHEMICAL AND ALLIED PRODUCTS PLC NIGERIAN-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 19 24 2 45

No of Deals 4 5 9

Quotation(N) 0.50 2.30

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 40,635,700 20,317,850.00 78,000 178,750.00 40,713,700 20,496,600.00

COMPUTER & OFFICE EQUIPMENT Company Name NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1 2

Quotation(N) 9.31 2.94

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 10,000 97,700.00 1,079 3,021.20 11,079 100,721.20

Quotation(N) 1.47 6.43 5.89 29.64 5.52 0.55 28.90 29.60

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 5,647 8,051.60 500 3,055.00 7,550 42,280.00 1,677,135 49,722,410.76 2,183 11,460.75 1,672,954 920,778.70 1,095,679 31,750,461.20 857,720 25,381,226.56 5,319,368 107,839,724.57

Quotation(N) 30.70

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 68,996 2,128,347.05 68,996 2,128,347.05

CONGLOMERATES Company Name A. G. LEVENTIS (NIGERIA) PLC CHELLARAMS PLC JOHN HOLT PLC PZ CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC SCOA NIGERIA PLC TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC UAC OF NIGERIA PLC UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 8 1 3 142 1 17 100 61 333 CONSTRUCTION

Company Name JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 16 16

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY Company Name CUTIX PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 3

Quotation(N) 1.41

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 133,140 189,527.40 133,140 189,527.40

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 UTC NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 5 37 57 71 39 18 27 30 2 286

No of Deals 1 5 13 18 4 41

No of Deals 6 6

No of Deals 2 23 1 19 45

No of Deals

2,000 2,000

1,000.00 1,000.00

Quotation(N) 0.51 0.75 2.20 0.50 0.60 1.18 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.51 0.50 0.97 0.50 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded Value 6,177,256 63,815,900 176,300 250,000 231,250 604,610 9,600 200,000 140,000 2,000,000 250 475,787 64,043,571 300,000 2,500 138,427,024

Quotation(N) 0.53

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 72,671 38,102.21 72,671 38,102.21

Quotation(N) 0.76

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,417,422 1,074,666.32 1,417,422 1,074,666.32

Quotation(N) 5.65 1.60 12.71

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 748 4,016.76 350,235 543,142.20 301 3,636.08 351,284 550,795.04

of Shares (N) 3,155,156.30 46,587,024.90 368,693.00 125,000.00 140,744.50 714,187.80 4,800.00 100,000.00 70,000.00 1,020,000.00 125.00 432,824.58 32,021,785.50 150,000.00 1,250.00 84,891,591.58

LEASING No of Deals 7 7 MARITIME Company Name JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 38 38 PACKAGING

Company Name AVON CROWNCAPS & CONTAINERS PLC. NIGERIAN BAG MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC BETA GLASS CO. PLC Sector Totals

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 2,445 107,752.00 418,563 4,516,552.46 1,651,840 8,349,973.75 10,096,153 45,365,461.49 78,751 4,804,992.84 884,200 2,678,368.00 714,900 2,946,289.00 25,258 11,077,152.68 1,105 552.50 13,873,215 79,847,094.72

Quotation(N) 0.67 0.87 22.70 2.87 1.03

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,290 825.60 61,600 51,528.00 305,989 6,888,473.40 274,933 763,891.34 55,234 54,129.32 699,046 7,758,847.66

Quotation(N) 1.56

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 32,000 47,780.00 32,000 47,780.00

Company Name UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. PLC Sector Totals

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 2,056 23,027.20 976,860 6,359,358.60 120 4,126.80 691,967 2,948,519.25 1,671,003 9,335,031.85

Company Name ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 22 2 25

PETROLEUM(MARKETING) Company Name BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA OIL & GAS PLC. FORTE OIL PLC MOBIL OIL NIGERIA PLC. OANDO PLC TOTAL NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 2 23 22 7 17 186 15 273

Quotation(N) 0.50 56.05 31.00 2.67 12.18 133.91 19.94 190.01

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 20,000 10,000.00 1,778 94,678.50 161,683 5,002,988.37 830,968 2,248,075.84 11,787 136,493.46 6,984 915,168.13 2,444,007 48,800,227.20 11,942 2,269,135.56 3,489,149 59,476,767.06

PRINTING & PUBLISHING Company Name ACADEMY PRESS PLC. UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 2 4

Quotation(N) 2.20 3.25

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 5,000 10,450.00 4,069 13,224.25 9,069 23,674.25

Quotation(N) 12.60

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 13,908 166,573.84 13,908 166,573.84

REAL ESTATE

Quotation(N) 11.15 6.51 36.19 4.25

Quotation(N)

No of Deals 11 11

ROAD TRANSPORTATION

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Company Name

No of Deals 28 9 6 1 7 7 1 1 3 7 1 7 2 1 1 82

Company Name C&I LEASING PLC Sector Totals

INDUSTRIAL/DOMESTIC PRODUCTS Company Name ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION INDUSTRIES PLC B. O. C. GASES NIGERIA PLC NIGERIAN ENAMELWARE PLC VITAFOAM NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

0.50

INSURANCE

HOTEL & TOURISM Company Name IKEJA HOTEL PLC Sector Totals

1 1

Company Name AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INSURANCE PLC EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC GUARANTY TRUST ASSURANCE PLC CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M. INSURANCE CO. (NIG.) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. OASIS INSURANCE PLC PRESTIGE ASSURANCE PLC. SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC STACO INSURANCE PLC INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Sector Totals

Quotation(N) 46.00 10.98 5.08 4.51 60.10 3.22 4.19 423.00 0.50

HEALTHCARE Company Name EVANS MEDICALPLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Sector Totals

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 25-1-12 STARCOMMS PLC Sector Totals

COMMERCIAL/SERVICES Company Name COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Sector Totals

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N)

No of Deals 3 3

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 24,490 12,335.00 24,490 12,335.00

THE FOREIGN LISTINGS Company Name ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Sector Totals Overall Totals

No of Deals 57 57

Quotation(N) 10.25

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 4,880,567 49,819,513.74 4,880,567 49,819,513.74

3,319

420,109,555

2,041,984,891.93

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

55

MONEY LINK

Insecurity hampers investors’ confidence, says analyst

By Collins Nweze, Akinola Ajibade and Tonia Osundolire

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HE high level of insecurity in the country is taking a toll on investors’ confidence. The Managing Director, Partnership Investment Company, Victor Ogiemwonyi disclosed this yesterday during the Financial Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN) Bi-Monthly Discourse sponsored by Zenith International Bank Plc. The investment analysts said that the impact of the sectarian violence, political instability and ripple effects of Euro economic crises have brought the Nigerian Capital Market and investors’ confidence to its lowest status in recent years. He said the country is currently facing a high level of capital flight, and declining interest of foreign investors in the economy.

According to him, the huge impact of these crises reminds the country’s investors that they are part of one unified global entity, as seen in the impact of the Euro economic crises in emerging markets such as Nigeria. He said that the crisis in Europe has increased the rate of capital flight in the country, thereby further reducing the rate of capitalisation at the NSE. Ogiemwonyi said that as the market was about adjusting to that, the Euro crises ensued, leading to more capital flight. He said impact of the crises, reminded Nigerian investors that: “The level insecurity has increased, and has hampered investors’ confidence in the country. Don’t forget

that the stock market is a barometer for measuring a country’s economy. The insecurity in the country affects foreign Direct Investment and investors’ confidence. This is because crises brings uncertainty, which also affect investors’ confidence.”

He said that going forward; companies that want to raise funds in the market are free to do so, even when the amount is small. He also disclosed that the Exchange is reviewing private placement procedures, to make it better and appealing to prospective investors.

He explained that the level of security guaranteed in any country determines whether the country will grow or not.

Aside security threats facing the country, the analyst said the increase in pump price of fuel has imported inflation in to the country, which will deprive the stock market of its real value to investors.

He explained that such inflation will raise cost of operation for companies, leading to fewer profits and declining return on investment. Such will also add pressure on the naira, and increase volatility on the foreign exchange market.

Ogiemwonyi said that whenever the world economy slows down, there will be less demand for oil, and that means reduction in Nigeria’s foreign exchange

earnings. He said that unemployment remains another major challenge facing the country, as the economy is not strong enough to accommodate the unemployed.

The analyst said that 2011 was a year that investors will want to forget in a hurry, because of the uncertainties and huge loss on their investments, adding that 2012 is going to be a challenging year for the country economically.

For him, the issue of high inflation, high interest rate, political instability, insecurity are still prevalent in the country and there is no way the country will grow at double-digit interest rate.

However, there are still some positive indications in the economy. He said that the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has done well by solving the debt over-

hang problems in the country, which will enable banks to be more supportive of the economy through lending.

He reiterated the confidence that both local and international investors have on the Economic Management Team.

He said that privatisation of public corporations will equally boost the market confidence. Such exercise, he said, will make more funds available for investing into the market.

Mobile money operators target $1b by 2015

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HE Nigerian mobile money market is going to worth $1 bil lion by 2015, due to its size. This was the submission of the experts in the mobile money market during a stakeholders meeting in Lagos recently.

According to the Business Development Manager, Fortis Mobile Money, Mr Kunle Ogunmola, the mobile money market is fast expanding in the country.

Ogunmola, while announcing the sealing of partnership arrangements between his company and the microfinance banks in the state, projected that the market would worth billions of dollars in the next few years.

He said the size the 100million unbanked population in Nigeria, the readiness of Nigerians to tap the opportunities opened up by mobile money system, and the favourable regulatory policy would play a sig-

ecommunication operators in the country. It is enormous. If half of the over 90million mobile phone subscribers can key into the mobile money system, it means a lot in naira terms”, he added.

Also, the managing director, Paga mobile money company, Mr Tayo Oviosu, said there is a wider market for the operators in the industry. Ovious said the company has recovered over N100 million (about $666,666) in transaction volume since it formally launched to the public in February 2011.

He said the feat was recorded between February and the third quarter of 2011.

He said the service witnessed a 95 per cent growth in transactions in August alone and he estimates that the Nigerian mobile money market would be a billion dollar industry by 2015.

Oviosu hopes that the service would have expanded to about 15 million active users by 2015.

By Akinola Ajibade

nificant role in pushing the market shares of the operators.

He said there are over 90milliion phone users in the country, adding that the development would bring the desire growth to the industry.

Also, the Managing Director, Mobile Money Africa, Mr Emmanuel Okogwale, said there is no doubt that the industry would record more than $1 billion capital base soon.

Okogwale said there are abundant opportunities for the operators, arguing that the sky is the limit for trade who want to expand its profit, capital and shareholders’ base. He said Kenya has made mobile money market a multi-billion investments, despite its relatively small population. He said Nigeria has what it is takes to surpass Kenya’s achievements in the area of mobile money operations.

“Look at the size of the mobile tel-

RenCap: bank lending boom coming

T

HIS year has been tipped as hav ing potentials to revive lending in the country. The Renaissance Capital, and investment and research firm, forecasts that bank lending in the country will begin to pick up in 2012.

It said that in 2010 to 2011 a decline in the private-sector debt/Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio undermined the equity market. “We do not expect a bank lending boom this year, so the

market will not be pushed higher by local liquidity, in our view. However, a shift of foreign money into Nigeria on the back of the reforms outlined above could offer support to the stock market.

Heading into 2013 and beyond, local liquidity could then kick in and drive the market higher still,” the research firm said.

The implication is that while until

for education, health and agriculture.

The compromise, which has seen the retail price of a litre of petrol rise from N65 to N97 instead of the targeted N140 to 145, will be politically acceptable, we hope, while cutting the scope for corruption and allowing a redirection of funds that should benefit all Nigerians and reduce long-term fiscal risk,” it said.

The research firm said Nigeria remains

now investors had ‘only’ Nigeria’s seven to eight per cent growth, its great demographics and potential to buy into, the firm now also see evident reform and an increasing chance of growth rates of 10 to 11 per cent over the long term.

It rated Nigeria’s stock market in mid2012 as a long-term buy. “The reduction of the fuel subsidy costs the country more than the combined budgets

FGN BONDS

DATA BANK

Tenor

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

NIDF NESF

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 25-1-12 SYMBOL BERGER DIAMONDBNK MAYBAKER FIDELITYBK LIVESTOCK HONYFLOUR PRESTIGE CONTINSURE GUARANTY NASCON

O/PRICE 8.05 2.10 2.74 1.30 0.71 3.11 0.94 0.73 13.02 4.10

C/PRICE 8.45 2.20 2.87 1.36 0.74 3.22 0.97 0.75 13.35 4.19

CHANGE 0.40 0.10 0.13 0.06 0.03 0.11 0.03 0.02 0.33 0.09

LOSER AS AT 25-1-12 SYMBOL BOCGAS UBN VITAFOAM INTBREW IBTC CCNN GTASSURE CUTIX AIICO NIGERINS

O/PRICE 6.85 9.10 4.47 5.70 7.36 5.37 1.24 1.48 0.53 0.53

C/PRICE 6.51 8.65 4.25 5.42 7.00 5.11 1.18 1.41 0.51 0.51

Amount

Offered ($) Demanded ($)

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

woefully underpowered in contrast to other African countries, as any back-toback visit to Ghana and Nigeria will demonstrate.” The lack of officially generated power means that Nigerian businesses rely on expensive electricity from imported small generators, reducing the efficiency of all sectors of the economy,” it said.

Amount

Exchange

Sold ($)

Rate (N)

Date

450m

452.7m

450m

150.8

08-8-11

250m

313.5m

250m

150.8

03-8-11

400m

443m

400m

150.7

01-8-11

EXHANGE RATE 26-08-11 CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Currency

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD

147.6000

149.7100

150.7100

-2.11

NGN GBP

239.4810

244.0123

245.6422

-2.57

NGN EUR

212.4997

207.9023

209.2910

-1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

Bureau de Change 152.0000 (S/N)

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

Parallel Market

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

NSE CAP Index

NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N)

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

(S/N)

153.0000

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

Aug ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

8.75%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 9.4%

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 118.85 98.43 0.76 1.04 0.88 1,642.73 8.24 1.39 1.87 7,351.90 193.00

9.08 1.00 118.69 97.65 0.73 1.04 0.87 1,635.25 7.84 1.33 1.80 7,149.37 191.08

ARM AGGRESSIVE KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND THE LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL BGL SAPPHIRE FUND BGL NUBIAN FUND NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY THE DISCOVERY FUND • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED

CHANGE 0.34 0.45 0.22 0.28 0.36 0.26 0.06 0.07 0.02 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 THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

NEWS

Navy proposes N6.5b to fuel NNS Thunder, four Atlas ships •Senate condemns foreign assistance, budget cut

T

HE Navy said yesterday that it required N6.5 billion to fuel the newly commissioned NNS Thunder and four other Atlas ships donated to it by the United States Government.

Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, disclosed this while defending the agency’s budget before the Senate Committee on Navy in Abuja.

He added that the NNS Thunder would consume over one million litres, about N150 million of diesel per month.

Ibrahim said: “The tank capacity of NNS Thunder is around 1.05 million litres. If you multiply this by a round figure of N150 for a litre of diesel, that gives you N150 million. This is what it takes to keep the ship on the high sea for one month.”

The Naval chief decried a situation where about N19 billion was earmarked for it in the budget, whereas it requires N142billion to run its expenditures.

He, however, noted that the downward review of the proposals was in line with government’s plans to cut down on its spending, noting that it would affect the performance

‘We need a Navy that we can all be proud of.

You don’t run the Navy with half measures. If you want the Navy to be there at all times you must be ready to invest’ From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

of the Navy.

“We need a Navy that we can all be proud of. You don’t run the Navy with half measures.

If you want the Navy to be there at all times you must be ready to invest,” he stressed.

According to the CNS, initial proposal of N14 billion for capital expenditure was reduced to N10.2 billion, which is 11% lower than N11.5 billion approved in 2011, while proposed N84 billion for overhead was reduced to N9.012

billion.

Ibrahim also lamented the 34 per cent shortfall in releases from the 2011 budget.

He said the development hindered progress and better service delivery in the organisation.

According to him, the Navy could only meet the expectations of government and people of Nigeria as well as remain relevant in the Gulf of Guinea if it is adequately funded.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Chris Anyanwu, said the budget was “disastrous” and would not help in improving the activities of the Navy.

She also described the ships donated to Nigeria by the US as mere handouts that might turn into liabilities instead of assets.

Anyanwu said: “It is sad that we have to depend on our big brothers before fulfilling our constitutional role in Nigeria.

If we are able to plug the corruption in our system we should be able to buy new platforms to guard our territorial waters.

“That is the reflection of what is happening in our system.

Corruption has sucked the blood out of our system. So we have to depend on hand-outs.”

•Ondo State Governor Segun Mimiko flanked by his counterparts from Anambra State Peter Obi (left) and Liyel Imoke, Cross River State after the meeting of the Federal Committee on Power Sector Reform at the Cross River State Lodge, Abuja...yesterday

Fed Poly hails Fayemi over bus donation

T

HE FEDERAL Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, has hailed Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi for donating a luxury bus to the workers and students to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal.

The governor had, on January 6, donated an Ashok Leyland bus to the polytechnic, a gesture he extended to other tertiary institutions and interest groups.

This followed an increase in transport fares occasioned by the removal of subsidy on petrol.

In a letter of appreciation to the governor by the Rector of the polytechnic, Mrs. Taiwo Akande, a copy of which was made available to reporters in Ado-Ekiti, the school said the gesture was a clear testimony of Fayemi’s vision for the state.

It noted that the donation of the mass transit buses to civil servants, tertiary institutions and other bodies was an attestation to the gover-

nor’s determination to improve the welfare of the residents.

The letter reads: “Your foresight and strategic planning to move ahead, and very fast too, to cushion the effects of oil subsidy removal without unduly waiting for the Federal Government’s palliatives, has once again revealed the leadership qualities in you and the type of leaders Nigeria should pray for.

“Your pragmatism and altruism are worthy of emulation by all who find themselves in position of leadership.”

Mrs. Akande remarked that the new luxury bus given to the institution would go a long way in ameliorating the hardship experienced by staff and students in getting to the campus from the town.

She promised the commitment of the management towards ensuring that the bus is judiciously used.

•From right : Delta State Deputy Governor Amos Utuama (SAN), former Speaker of the State Assembly, Sam Obi and Senior Adviser to the Governor on Religious Matters Rev. Godspower Agbuduta at a Christian Dinner in Asaba.

Lagos council rehabilitates 21 roads

A

MUWO-ODOFIN Local Government council, Lagos State has begun the rehabilitation of roads, in fulfillment of the campaign promise of its Chairman, Comrade Ayodele Ayodele, to fight the infrastructure battle in the area.

The chairman, who also spoke on plans to enforce environmental laws, assured the people that the road projects would be completed before the end of the first quarter.

Also, the council has reiterated its determination to pursue youth and women empowerment. Adewale said that the micro-credit scheme that has been launched would cater for the needs of widows and indigent women, adding that the financial assistance would enable them to engage in petty trades, thereby earning incomes.

The chairman urged the people to endure some pains during the rehabilitation as

some areas would be closed to traffic while work is in progress. The affected areas include 111 Road to 12 Road/ AP junction, 32 Road Junction, and Fourth Avenue.

Adewale disclosed that the council would employ the men of the “Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI)” and Lagos State Transport Management Authority(LASTMA) to enforce traffic and environmental laws in the affected areas.

•Oyo State Governor’s wife Mrs Florence Ajimobi (second right) with beneficiaries of the widowhood support equipment from Lagelu Local Government at the launch of the programme in Ibadan…yesterday

Makarfi offers to help solve security challenges

F

ORMER Governor Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi of Kaduna State has promised to help solve the security challenges confronting the country.

The Senator, who was declared winner of the Kaduna North senatorial election by the Court of Appeal on Tuesday, urged Nigerians to compliment government’s efforts at addressing the current security challenges.

Addressing reporters at his Kaduna home yesterday, Makarfi said: “At this moment in our country, there was need

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

for all hands to be on deck for us to overcome all the problems bedeviling us.”

The former governor stated that he was prepared to partner with others in tackling the problem, adding: “Whatever role I am given, I will play such role with all my strength and wisdom.”

Makarfi hailed all his supporters for standing by him.

“I want to give gratitude to God for the affirmation of my victory at the Court of Appeal for Kaduna zone one, during

the April 2011 general elections. I take everything as an act of God. I thank the electorates and Nigerians in general for standing by me. They were all there for me.I cherish what they have done for the show of togetherness. I have not changed and I will not change.

I will continue to be a people’s man and I will not also forget my family. I will also continue to confer from time to time with my constituency. I look forward to working with everybody in order to achieve greatness for our people and our country,” he said.

• Osy George (left) and Aliyu Ismaila at their swearing in as federal Permanent Secretaries at the Presidential Villa, Abuja...yesterday PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

57

NEWS Delta community seeks dethronement of monarch From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Warri

T

HE Uzere community in Delta State has called for the dethronement of their traditional ruler Isaac Udogri (Ovie of Uzere kingdom), over alleged sacrilegious acts against the community.

The call to dethrone the monarch followed his absence from the palace for seven days insecurity in the community, among others.

Addressing reporters after an enlarged meeting, the community Chairman, Mr Believe Ojugo, said the community took the decision following the provocative decision by the monarch and ill-treatment meted out on the community.

Ojugo said: “Uzere is a peace loving community. But for some time now, the only problem we have had is the monarch taking side with the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) not to renew their expired Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) because of selfish interest.

“The trouble started when the three youths, who were allegedly sent by the monarch during a peaceful protest to SPDC over non -compliance of the renewal of MoU with the community, were killed by security operatives. It was the death of the youths that provoked the protest that led to the destruction of the palace.”

MAN decries declining commerce

T

HE Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) yesterday decried declining commercial and industrial activities in Southeast.

It said the zone has lost grip in manufacturing and trading.

The Chairman of MAN in charge of Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi states Chief Chike Obidigbo, spoke during an interactive visit by Hardis and Dromedas Company.

According to him, Southeast traders have been extorted by authorities in the country. He added that the lack of seaports and airports in the zone had contributed to the woes of the traders.

“Ndigbo used to be the greatest people in commerce

From Okodili Ndidi, Onitsha

and industry and Onitsha used to be the biggest and largest market in West Africa.

But, today, it is no more and this is because of efforts by some people to hijack the fortunes of the people in the zone. Similarly, the lack of other facilities like seaports for transportation of goods and services have also contributed to the dwindling fortunes of commerce and industry in Southeast,” he said.

General Manager of Hardis and Dromedas Mrs. Ifeyinwa Okolo said they were in Onitsha drug market to introduce their products. She said the products were manufactured locally from the finest African raw materials.

Nine dead in foiled bank robbery

A

BOUT nine persons reportedly died on Tuesday in a foiled bank robbery in Ikom, Cross River State.

Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa, the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations (ADAPR), 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, said the

•One soldier killed From Chris Oji, Enugu

robbery incident occurred at about “1830 hours on Tuesday.

He said the robbers fled towards Ebonyi State in two vehicles through the Ugep-

Abomigbe Road, running into a routine patrol of soldiers in Ebonyi State.

Musa explained that in the ensuing gun battle, nine armed robbers and a soldier were killed, adding that six

of them escaped, while two soldiers were injured.

Items recovered from the robbers include two RPG7 bombs, 28 empty magazine, two gas cylinders, 37 empty cases of 7.62 mm special ammunition, 22 live rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and two vehicles.

Monarch, others remanded for alleged murder

A

74-YEAR- OLD traditional ruler and six others have been remanded in prison custody by the Magistrate Court in Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government of Delta State, over their alleged involvement in the abduction and murder of a retired head teacher, Frederick Dick Ogbo.

The suspects are Michael Osioni, Sunday Otuedor, Peter Ogude, Efe Okoro, Oghale Osioni, Michael Akpoeni and Oke Okwebe.

They were arrested by police in Asaba.

From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Warri

Sources from the deceased family said the suspects were charged to court after police investigations had allegedly revealed that they were involved in the abduction and murder of late Frederick Ogbo on July 7, 2011.

The sources said the suspects were remanded in prison on November 30 and December 29, 2011 over their alleged involvement in the abduction and killing of the deceased.

According to the sources, the decomposing body of the head teacher was found in Ovurede-Ushe on July 13 after the abductors had allegedly collected N350,000 ransom from the family.

Ogbo was allegedly abducted in Ozoro on OzoroOwhelogbo road.

The sources said one of them, who was arrested for vandalising a pipeline, told the police how the late Frederick Ogbo was kidnapped and killed, leading to the arrest of other members of the gang.

The suspects allegedly confessed that they were hired by some members of Ogbo’s family to abduct and kill him over documents relating to a family land, containing oil wells presently being operated by an oil company.

The sources said police investigation into the matter led to the arrest and detention of the traditional ruler and some members of the family.

Police spokesman Charles Muka decline comment on the incident.

Soldiers in Lagos: Falana sues Jonathan for N500m

By Eric Ikhilae

H

UMAN rights activist, Femi Falana has sued President Goodluck Jonathan and two others, for N500million over alleged violation of his rights by soldiers recently deployed to Lagos.

In a motion on notice filed before the Federal High Court, Lagos, Falana alleged that his rights to freedom of movement, expression, peaceful assembly and association were violated when some of the soldiers prevented him from participating in the protest scheduled for January 16.

Sued with the President are the Minister of Defence and the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Falana, who said he had participated in a series of protests in the past, averred in a supporting affidavit that he was on his way to the Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota, on January 16 where a rally was scheduled to be held in continuation of the protest over petrol price increase when he was stopped at Maryland, Lagos by the soldiers, who sent him back home.

He said by preventing him from exercising his right to express his opinion at the rally, move beyond Maryland and participate in the rally, the soldiers violated his rights.

Falana prayed the court to declare that the restriction of his movement, by the soldiers is illegal, unconstitutional as it violates his right to freedom of movement guaranteed by section 14 of the Constitution and Article 12 of the African Charter on Human ad Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act. He also seeks the court’s declaration that his prevention from assembling peacefully by attending the rally, his prevention from expressing his opinion at the rally violated his rights. He is seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from further violating his rights. The case is yet to be assigned for hearing.

Orji calls for repositioning of FERMA

G

OVERNOR Theodore Orji of Abia State has advocated a new Federal Emergency Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) that will carry out its mandate of road maintenance to the satisfaction of the people.

The governor spoke in Umuahia when he received members of the House of Representatives’ Committee on FERMA who were in the state on official assignment.

Orji said FERMA has performed poorly in Abia and the entire Southeast.

•Ijaw women protesting at the Regional Office of Chevron Nigeria Limited in Warri, Delta State...yesterday Story on Page 8

Why our democratic governance is failing, says Uwais

T

HE Former AttorneyGeneral of the Federation, Justice Mohammed Uwais, yesterday said the lack of internal democracy is impeding the growth of the nation’s democratic governance.

Uwais made the remark at the opening of a Political Party Primaries Reform Conference organised by the Alliance for Credible Elections (ACE) in Abuja.

He said efforts by the National Assembly to pass the bill has been futile, adding that the government has also failed to adopt recommendations of the Electoral Committee Reform aimed at en-

suring free and fair internal democracy in the political parties.

“As we all know, our political process is still at its early stage. Internal party democracy has been a problem for quite some time.

I remember sometimes members of the National Assembly and the fifth National Assembly were so worried about it that they attempted to pass a legislation.

“I think that the bill is still pending at the National Assembly. They wanted to

pass a bill to make it compulsory for all political parties to observe primaries and to abide by the result of the primary.

“The Electoral Committee Reform report also made recommendation to free and fair internal democracy.

Here we are today still grappling with the same problem,” he said.

Uwais explained that the bill is to make it compulsory for all political parties to adhere to the result of their primaries without exchanging the elected candidate’s name.

General Secretary of Alliance for Credible Election

(ACE) Emma Ezeazu observed that the outcome of most political party primaries in the last electoral cycle were not only flawed, but constituted a fundamental threat to the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria.

He said there are instances where the leadership of various political parties deployed all manner of tricks and subterfuge to deny party members their democratic right of electing the candidates of their choice to bear the flags of the parties at general elections.

Ex-legislators appeal to Okorocha

From Ugochukwu Eke, Umuahia

He attributed the poor state of Ohafia –Arochukwu, Enugu-PortHarcourt roads, among others, to the ineptitude of the agency.

The governor said the money budgeted to FERMA should be given to governors to put federal roads in good shape, saying the state governors would easily monitor the road projects being handled by the agency in their states.

From Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

I

MO State House of Assembly former Deputy Speaker Jonathan Onyeama has appealed to the state government to implement the law that authorises former governors, deputy governors, speakers and deputy speakers of Houses of Assembly to collect monthly allowances and vehicles after the expiration of their office.

Addressing reporters in Owerri yesterday, the former

From Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

lawmaker argued that the law authorising former governors, deputy governors, speakers, and deputy speakers to collect monthly maintenance allowances is an Act of the National Assembly which other states have started operating. He wondered why it has not been put into effect in Imo state.

Although, he admitted that

the body of former legislators is yet to meet with the governor, Onyeama believed that if their retirement benefits are settled, the governor will get the best advice from the former political office holders.

“Let him (the governor) honour what the past Assembly has done, which is Law No 7. Honestly, I am not happy that up till now, over six years we left the House, nothing has been done on that”, he said.

•Okorocha

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

58

NEWS

Over protectionism bane of civil service, says Jonathan

IFJ condemns killing of Channels’ reporter

T

HE International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned the killing of Enenche Akogwu, a reporter with Channels Television, who was shot in Kano last Friday.

Akogwu died from gunshot wounds sustained during an exchange of gunfire between the police and members of the Boko Haram sect around the Farm House in the Kano metropolis while covering the sect’s onslaught on the city.

“We condemn this killing. It shows that journalists in Nigeria need adequate protection in the face of increasing risks,” said Gabriel Baglo, IFJ Africa Director.

“Our Nigerian colleagues have been confronted with a wave of brutal killings over the past few years, while the perpetrators of these heinous crimes remain at large. This environment has played in the hands of those who wish to silence the media,” he added.

Three months ago, Zakariya Isa, another journalist from the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) in Maiduguri, was shot and killed in front of his house by members of the Boko Haram sect.

The IFJ reiterated its stance that violence against journalists should not be tolerated and called on the Federal Government to redouble its efforts in ensuring public order, adding that efforts should be made to punish offenders.

Lagosians told to clean environment

T

HE January edition of the environmental sanitation will hold across Lagos State between 7am and 10am on Saturday, the Ministry of the Environment confirmed yesterday.

Spokesman for the ministry, Mr. Fola Adeyemi, urged Lagosians to observe the sanitation, warning that vehicular and human traffic would be restricted, except those on essential duties.

Quoting the Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, the spokesman told residents to actively participate in the sanitation, which he described as the first in 2012.

He spoke of the need to clear the accumulated refuse

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

•Jonathan

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has attributed low productivity in the civil service to over protec-

tionism.

President Jonathan, who spoke yesterday during the swearing-in of two permanent secretaries, which took place before the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, said the civil service is expected to work like the private sector, but it is being over protected by the law.

The President, however, advocated capacity building for the civil service. This, he said, would make it more productive and alive to its respon-

sibilities in the effort to transform the country.

He noted that creativity could go a long way to improve performance and enable the civil service to compete keenly with the private sector.

“The current challenge we have is the capacity of officers below you. This is what a number of people complain about in the civil service.

“We want the civil service to operate like the private sector, but the only thing is that the laws that operate in the civil service over-protect us, unlike in the private sector where we can easily do away

with people we perceive to be dead woods or people we consider not doing their work very well. In the civil service, it is a little different. So, we must be creative in handling such issues.”

President Jonathan therefore charged the two new permanent secretaries to do their best to improve the service.

He urged them to put in their best where ever they are posted.

The two permanent secretaries are Aliyu Ismaila Numa and George Ahamefuna Osi. The oath-taking ceremony lasted about five minutes.

generated during the last Yuletide.

The commissioner warned residents who still patronise cart pushers to desist from what he called an illegal act, saying the scope of the Private Sector Participant (PSP) operators has been increased to further accommodate more residents of the state.

Bello also warned commercial bus operators on intra and inter-state routes to comply with the restriction of vehicular movement, as any vehicle caught violating the order would be appropriately dealt with.

He said passengers in such vehicles would be prosecuted according to the State Environmental Sanitation laws.

NIPR partners The Nation on PR practice From Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

T

HE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has unveiled plans to partner Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation, on the need for truthful public relations practice and reporting.

A delegate from the professional body, led by its FCT Chairman, Mr. Emeka Ohaeri, spoke yesterday during a visit to The Nation office in Abuja.

He said: “We are trying to inculcate professionalism in all our members. We know you stand for truth, accuracy and professional excellence. As PR practitioners, what we should present should not be different from what you present. It should be accurate and speak for the truth.

“We are looking at synergy with The Nation to engender best practice in accurate and truthful reporting.”

He said the practice focused on earning public trust, adding that its aim is to educate the public after considering contemporary trends happening in the country, ranging from insecurity to socio-economic, political and reportage.

The Managing Editor, Northern Operations of The Nation, Alhaji Yusuf Alli, said the body is deviating from core values of the profession. He criticised NIPR for lack of objectivity and inaccuracy in its activities.

Baptist association holds meeting

T

HE monthly meeting of Itesiwaju Baptist Association will come up on Monday at 6:30 pm at Araba Baptist Church, Ilasamaja, Lagos. It will be pre-

sided over by the Moderator, Rev. Gbenga Ojo of Araba Baptist Church and Consultant, Rev. Femi Ajayi of Victoryland Baptist Church, Isolo, Lagos.

Free JAMB forms in Mushin council

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HE Chairman of Mushin Local Government, Olatunde Babatunde Adepitan, has urged youths in his council willing to seek admission into tertiary institutions to come with their original WAEC and NECO certificates.

He said such candidates should possess credits in at least five subjects, including Mathematics and English language.

They should also come with proof of tenancy such as PHCN receipt, water rate receipt or payment of Radio and Television rates.

Funeral for community leader

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HE funeral of Pa Julius Olatunji Oladini holds on Saturday. He was 88.

Oladini died on October 30 last year. A community leader and businessman, he hailed from Obaloran Compound, Ile-Ife, Osun State. He was a contractor with Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. There will be a wake at his 9, Layi Adeshiyan Street, ParakinObalufe, Ile-Ife home tomorrow, while the funeral service holds at St. Paul Anglican Church, Ayegbaju, Ile-Ife. Reception follows at Oranmiyan Grammar School, Ile-Ife. He is survived by wives, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

•Lagos State Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Wale Ahmed (middle), addressing a news conference on the 10th commemoration anniversary of the Ikeja bomb blast in Ikeja…yesterday. With him are Permanent Secretary, Aderemi Desalu (left) and General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Management Authority (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

Akingbola’s trial: Judge laments delay in proceedings

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USTICE Charles Achibong, the trial judge in the case against former Group Managing Director, Intercontinental Bank Plc, Erastus Akingbola, has decried the slow pace of the case.

Justice Achibong of the Federal High Court, Lagos said yesterday that the attitude of lawyers in the case was slowing down proceedings and cautioned them against further delay.

“I want the matter to be conducted as soon as possible. I gave a long adjournment, but I don’t know why the learned silk is just serving his counter-affidavit today,” the judge said in reaction to information that Akingbola’s lawyer, Chief Felix Fagbohungbe (SAN), has just served the prosecution a copy of his applica-

By Eric Ikhilae

tion.

Yesterday, parties were scheduled to take substantial steps in the case, but that was prevented when it became clear that the prosecuting agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), filed an application to which the defence just responded.

Prosecution lawyer, Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), told the court that he filed an application dated September 28 last year and that the application, which seeks the transfer of the case, should take precedence over other issues in the case.

He told the court that he was served the defence’s counter affidavit shortly before the court began sitting. He re-

quested for time to study the application before taking further step.

Fagbohungbe said the delay resulted from the recent crisis witnessed in the country and the public holidays declared during the Yuletide.

These, he said, disrupted normal work schedule.

In the counter-affidavit, Akingbola urged the court to discountenance EFCC’s request for a transfer of the case.

He said contrary to the prosecution’s claim that the court had exhibited element of bias, the judge had shown no sign of unfair conduct in his handling of the case.

He argued that since the application was predicated on separate case - a fundamental human rights case, which the court has decided on and the

EFCC has appealed - the commission cannot choose the judge to hear its case.

EFCC had, in its application, argued that having allegedly exhibited element of bias in the fundamental rights case, he was likely to also act against its interest in the current case.

It prayed the court to return the file to the Chief Judge for reassignment to a new judge.

Justice Achibong adjourned till next Tuesday for parties to adopt their written addresses in support of their application, following which a date will be fixed for ruling.

Akingbola is charged with alleged abuse of office, granting unsecured loans, among other offences.

Anti-graft war: US ready to work with EFCC

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HE United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Terrence McCulley, said yesterday that America was ready to work with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) in its battle against corruption.

McCulley made this commitment when he visited the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, in Abuja.

According to a statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the commission, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, the Ambassador said the United States has interests in deepen-

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

ing relations with the EFCC under the leadership of Lamorde.

He said: “We are ready to work with EFCC under your leadership. We commend your efforts to regain the credibility that EFCC has lost in the past.”

On his part, the American Deputy Assistant Under-Secretary, Mr. Todd Robinson, who was also on McCulley’s entourage, said: “The US government is looking forward to working actively with the new leadership of the EFCC.”

He hoped that the relationship between the EFCC and the United States would be strengthened. Lamorde said, “We appreciate the tremendous support and assistance that the United States government has been giving the EFCC since its establishment.”

He called for enhanced support to the EFCC in its antigraft efforts, especially in his desire to cleanse the commission of all vestiges of corruption with the creation of an Internal Affairs Department.

He sought the US assistance in the training of EFCC staff on investigation, prosecution and case management.

Lamorde added: ”Helping the EFCC to build capacities will rub off on other anti-graft agencies. This will make them to be strong and in the process the overall success of the anticorruption efforts of the agencies will be ensured.”

Other ranking American officials that accompanied McCulley and Robinson to the EFCC include: Diane Kohn, International Coordinator, United States Embassy, Abuja; Megar Amer, Foreign Affairs Officer, Africa Team; Daniella Gayapersad-Chan, Program Officer, Africa Team and Brendan Doherty, Special Assistant, State Department.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

59

NEWS

Boko Haram: Arewa youths advise against military option

Two firms to join Shonga NEWnew YEAR MESSAGES dairy farm, says Ahmed

By Olamilekan Andu

K

WARA State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed ‘We don’t have a cohas said two new milk ordinated process producing companies will for pushing dairy join the collection system of fresh milk at Shonga business forward in Dairy Farm to further enNigeria because Nihance production.

The governor, who adgeria is not yet a dressed reporters in Shonga, fresh milk consumEdu Local Government Area, when he visited the farm, ing environment.’ sought the Federal Government’s assistance on irrigation for an all-year-round farming.

The poultry farm has 40,000 chickens ready for processing, but this will be increased to 80,000 next month.

The governor decried the absence of a coordinated process for encouraging dairy business in Nigeria, saying this is responsible for the heavy reliance on evaporated milk.

Ahmed said: “We don’t have a coordinated process for pushing dairy business forward in Nigeria because Nigeria is not yet a fresh milk consuming environment.

“We are still tied to the canned evaporated milk. But for now, the supply from here is given directly to West African Milk Manufacturing Company (WAMCO) and we have received requests from two other companies Nitrosinma and Hollandia - which are ready to join the collection system of fresh milk production.”

The governor identified the absence of storage facility as a problem for daily production of fresh milk. He hoped that with about three bigger markets requesting for fresh milk from Shonga, the dairy farm would break even.

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OUTHS in the North, under the aegis of the Arewa Youths Forum (AYF), have urged President Goodluck Jonathan to opt for a diplomatic solution, rather than a military option, to Boko Haram.

In a statement in Kaduna, the National President of the forum, Gambo Ibrahim Gujungu, said it is clear that the approach of the police to resolve the problem has not yielded result.

Noting that increasing military presence at trouble spots has heightened tension and encouraged guerilla tactics, Gujungu said President Jonathan should begin genuine dialogue that would encourage peace and stability.

To him, this is the solution to the worsening insecurity in parts of the country. Dialogue with members of the sect could lead to them to surrender their

‘Fed Govt should summon monarchs’ From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Warri

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HE traditional ruler of Ogulagha Kingdom in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, Capt. Joseph Timiyan, yesterday urged President Gioodluck Jonathan to convene a national summit of traditional rulers and leaders.

He said the summit would enable monarchs control their subjects, curb the activities of the Boko Haram sect and guarantee peace in their domains.

Timiyan noted that the move was necessary because traditional rulers, as the custodians of culture have power over their subjects.

He said it is imperative to engage the monarchs, to safeguard their subjects since Nigerians now live in fear.

The monarch urged the Boko Haram sect and other militant groups to desist from attacking fellow Nigerians, saying the activities of the sect could lead to a revolution.

Urging the sect members to allow peace to reign, Timiyan said: “We should allow the Federal Government to carry out its developmental plans proposed for the country. It is not right for us to fight one another.”

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

arms and other weapons to the authorities, he said.

Gujungu decried the sect’s attacks in Kano last week, saying they depict-

ed a real war situation.

The AYF spokesman noted that the Boko Haram crisis would continue to heat up the polity and make Nigeria less attractive to foreign investors,

adding: “We need to grow and catch up with our counterparts in the international arena. We should not be the architect of stagnation and doom. Nigeria deserves to move ahead and maintain its status as the giant of Africa.”

He accused northern governors of not being fair to their people, saying: “Now is the time for our resources to be judiciously managed so that all northerners will have that sense of belonging and be carried along.”

Gujungu noted that the Boko Haram insurgency would not have happened if there was a just and equitable society.

The spokesman condoled with the Kano State Government, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Nigerians on the death of family heads and loved ones in the Kano attacks.

60

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012

62

FOREIGN NEWS Nigeria, Sweden collaborate on mining IN a bid to improve mining activities in the country, the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, is exploring fresh opportunities in the sector. It is working with the Embassy of Sweden and some Swedish companies.

A stakeholders’s forum to discuss the initiative is underway. The ministry, the embassy and four Swedish companies, it was leant, would lead other stakeholders to a two-day workshop on “Investment opportunities in the Nigerian mining sector” in Abuja.

The workshop scheduled for between January 30 and January 31. The four Swedish companies are ABB, Atlas Copco, Sandvik and Volvo Construction Equipment.

Day one will explore perspectives in the sector and presentations by the companies on Swedish experience. Day two will examine opportunities and potential pitfalls in mining in the country; and feature workshops on mechanised mining and funding of mining Investments.

NEWS ‘Expose Fulani herdsman that cut our kinsman’s hand’ From Damisi Ojo, Akure

A

GROUP, the Yoruba Peoples Congress (TPC), yesterday gave the police a seven-day ultimatum to apprehend the Fulani herdsman who chopped off the right hand of an artisan, Deji Adeleye, in in Ayedun Quarters of Akure, the Ondo State capital.

The herdsman reportedly severed Adeleye’s hand in his workshop for allegedly killing a cow.

In a statement in Akure by its National President Olu Alonge, and Ondo State Chairman Victor Adegboroye, the group urged the police to bring the perpetrator to justice.

It noted that the herdsman’s action is criminal and capable of disrupting the prevailing peace in the state.

The statement reads: “We plead with the police and the state government to produce the man for prosecution within the next seven days, failing which we will use all weapons available to us to apprehend him.”

The victim, with others in the area, had warned the herdsman to desist from grazing their cows in his business premises.

The herdsman was said to have disappeared after the act.

Adedeji, who is on admission at a private hospital in Akure, said: “The Fulani man moved stealthily towards me, drew out his sword with the intention to behead me. I raised my hand up to prevent his sword and had my hand chopped off.”

The police said investigation is ongoing on the matter.

•Thousands of Egyptians at a rally

Egyptians mark anniversary of anti-Mubarak uprising HOUSANDS of Egyptians held a rally yesterday in Cairo’s Tahrir Square to mark the first anniversary of the uprising which toppled President Hosni Mubarak.

Some celebrate the success of Islamist parties in the first post-Mubarak elections, while others are calling for further political reforms.

The decades-old state of emergency law has been partially lifted to mark the anniversary.

Mr Mubarak is on trial accused of ordering the killing of demonstrators.

Hundreds of people who had been sentenced to jail by

T

military courts were due to be released on Wednesday as a concession to the protesters.

On Tuesday night, several thousand people had already gathered to camp out in Tahrir Square, the focus of last year’s demonstrations they were joined by thousands more in the morning, representing both the liberal and Islamist ends of the new political spectrum.

The BBC’s Jon Leyne, in Cairo, says the mood is peaceful so far, resembling more a huge street party than a political protest.

One year on from Egypt’s revolution I am standing in

the same square with the same people in a different country. Thousands are filing into Tahrir Square to celebrate the end of a dictatorship which smothered this nation of 85 million people for decades. Protesters who stayed in the square overnight put up tents and chanted slogans against the military council, which many say should stand down immediately.

“We are not here to celebrate. We are here to bring down military rule,” pharmacist Iman Fahmy told the Associated Press news agency.

“They have failed the revolution and met none of its

goals.”

Demonstrator Khaled Abdallah told the Reuters news agency: “The army and police murdered us and cut off the revolution’s voice; but I am telling you now, the revolution’s voice will not be silenced.”

Other groups chanted “Down with military rule” and “Revolution until victory, revolution in all of Egypt’s streets”.

This is not a celebration, but it is a big event to send our condolences to our brothers who passed away” But some people in the square said the protests should end and the new lead-

Pakistan’s heart drugs kill 70 in Lahore

A

T least 70 people are believed to have died in the Pakistani city of Lahore over the last three weeks because of faulty drugs, officials say.

They said that at least 400 others are being treated for similar symptoms.

The number of dead has soared since Tuesday, when officials said about 36 people with cardiovascular problems had died since the start of the month.

The deaths have caused panic in the city less than three months after a dengue fever epidemic.

Officials have warned that the batch of contaminated

drugs might have been distributed to nearly 40,000 people since 15 December.

They say that patients affected by the sub-standard drugs suffer a rapid depletion of white cells and blood platelets.

The symptoms - first noticed in late December - created an impression that it was a form of dengue fever a mosquito-borne disease common in Pakistan during the monsoon season, officials say.

But patient data soon revealed that all of those affected were heart patients who had been using free cardiovascular drugs from the

government-run Punjab Institute of Cardiology.

Officials told the BBC that the deaths appear to have been caused by a batch of drugs issued on 15 December.

They say one or more of at least five drugs - all manufactured by little known local firms and purchased by the institute for heart patients - may be responsible.

The scare over the faulty drugs has caused panic in Lahore Punjab provincial health department head Saeed Illahi told the AP news agency that a total of 419 heart patients were ill from taking the drugs, and that 45

of them remain in a critical condition. Most of the patients are in Lahore.

The drugs have been sent for lab tests abroad to determine which of them caused the reaction.

Officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) told a court in Lahore on Wednesday that the drugs did not carry dates of manufacture and expiry.

The court has remanded in custody three people who own pharmaceutical firms which supplied the drugs to the Institute of Cardiology.

None of the three firms has commented on the allegations.

US Presidential poll: Obama takes message to key states NITED States President Barack Obama is beginning a three-day swing-state tour, as he seeks to hammer home his State of the Union speech in election battlegrounds.

Mr Obama will visit manufacturing companies, a university and give two high-profile television interviews.

The visits to Iowa, Michigan, Colorado, Nevada and Ari-

U

zona aim to spread the message Mr Obama outlined on Tuesday.

His speech to Congress renewed a call for higher taxes on the wealthy, something Republicans strongly oppose.

The US economy is on the mend, but unemployment remains high at 8.5%.

Correspondents say Mr Obama’s itinerary for the next couple of of days closely matches the re-election strategy

sketched out by his campaign team.

As Mr Obama flew to his first stop in Iowa, Republican presidential hopefuls attacked the speech.

Mitt Romney repeatedly called the president “detached” from the country’s reality, telling supporters: “This is a president who talks about deregulation, even as he regulates.

Who talks about lowering

taxes, even as he raises them.”

Forced by political pressure, Mr Romney released his tax returns on Tuesday, the same day in which Mr Obama called for higher taxes on the wealthy.

The forms revealed the former private equity tycoon earned nearly $22m in 2010 and paid an effective tax rate of about 14%, a lower rate than most other Americans pay.

IMF warns over risk of Iran oil price shock

T

HE International Monetary Fund warned that if the

West imposed financial sanctions on Iran, it would be tantamount to an oil blockade, and the shock to the market could be as bad as from Libya’s revolution last year.

Iran produces 5% of global oil output.

Moreover, if Iran goes ahead with a threat to blockade oil exports via the Straits of Hormuz in the Gulf, the IMF said the shock could be even greater.

About a quarter of all oil produced globally, and some 40% of all oil exports - including those from Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are shipped through the Straits each year.

“A blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would constitute, and be perceived by markets to presage, sharply heightened global geopolitical tension involving a much larger and unprecedented disruption,” the Fund said in a regular note to the Group of 20 leading industrialised countries.

Somalia: Western hostages freed in US military raid

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WO foreign aid workers kidnapped in Somalia three months ago have been freed in a rare United States military raid.

US officials have confirmed that elite US Navy Seals were dropped into Somalia to carry out the overnight operation which resulted in a shoot-out.

Vice-President Joe Biden told ABC News that the mission was approved because of the failing health of one of the aid workers.

The hostages - a US woman and a Danish man were seized on 25 October.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2011

63

SPORT EXTRA

2012 Budget: House Committee on 3SC coach blasts 'negative' Rising Stars Sports tackles NSC over N350m S Gyan admits

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HE House of Representative Committee on Sports has confronted the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC) Patrick Ekeji for flaunting the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, by obtaining a warrant from the Presidency to spend over N350 million from the 2012 Budget that has not been

From Andrew Abah, Abuja passed by the National Assembly.

The Committee Chairman, Godfrey Gaya said, "DG, you have breached the law of the Federal Government of Nigeria, by requesting for a warrant from a budget that has not yet been

Bamanga Tukur to chair Olympic Games Seminar

E

LDER statesman and President of Africa Business Roundtable, Dr Bamanga Tukur is expected to address Sport Stakeholders at a one day Townhall meeting scheduled for next Monday Jaunary 30 at O jez restaurant national stadium Surulere Lagos at 9 am. Tukur a former governor of the old Gongola state (now Adamawa State) will also chair the occasion which has the theme LONDON OLYMPICS 2012; WHITHER NIGERIA. The townhall meeting is designed to positively x-ray Nigeria’s chance at the world biggest sports meet.

This is to secure a respectable outing for Nigeria .Papers will also be presented by Segun Odegbami , Shuiab Gara – Gombe, Mitchell Obi, Martins Osaile, Brown

Ebewele, Nigeria Olympic committee and the National Sports Commission .

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IGAWA Golden Stars Boss, Coach Evans Ogenyi has blamed his team's heavy loss to Sharks in Port Harcourt on lack of rest and fatigue.

Speaking at the end of the match which was played at Sharks stadium on Wednesday, the former Enyimba coach asked to be shown where a team plays three matches in six days save in the Nigeria contest.

He also called on the press to report extensively on this challenge so the authorities concerned can be aware of the effects of such closed up fixtures

Lagos seeks corporate support

I

the NSC Patrick Ekeji had told the Committee that they obtained information that the former Chairman of the NSC Suleiman Yusuf had requested from the President a sum of N700 million from the N4 billion budget of the Commission to enable them prepare athletes for the London 2012 Olympics. That out of the money, the President magnanimously approved a warrant of N350 million.

The Director General was advised to appear with all the details, and ensure that he is accompanied by the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Ogenyi blames fatigue on heavy loss

ADOPT- A-TALENT SPORTS PROGRAM

N a bid to ensure that the objectives of the Adopt-ATalent Sports Program are achieved, Lagos State government has sought the support of corporate organisations in the country.

The support, which will come in form of partnership, would be in cash and value-in-kind for the athletes.

Prince Wale Oladunjoye, the Senior Special Assistant on Grassroots Sports Development to Governor Raji Fashola, who headed the Central Working Committee of the project, said the committee in conjunction with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Development have put in place a lot of benefits for the sponsors, among which is a platform for the sponsors to be part of the machineries established by the Lagos State government to drive sports and human capital development programmes of Fashola’s administration.

He said the partnership will also be an avenue for the sponsors to build enduring relationship with the state, with the government providing channels to enable corporate

passed. To this end, we are rejecting the defence of your 2012 budget until you present the original copy of that warrant with the signature of Mr President, the breakdown of all disbursements to the National Federations, detailed breakdown of all expenses from 2009-2011, and all vouchers of payments to the contractors within the period".

The Committee, therefore directed the NSC to bring all these details on Monday by 10 a.m. The NSC was accused of presenting vouchers of payments made to contractors twice in its presentations.

Earlier, the Director General of

bodies endorse their brands on various events and emerging sports stars.

Apart from the annual recognition and patronage from the State Government, the sponsors would also get possible tax incentives from the State and the Federal Governments.

“The sponsors will be on government protocol list for state functions and important sporting events. Company’s names will be on the Hall of Fame of the sports program-this will be displayed in a prominent location during the program’s events,” he said.

The Adopt-A-Talent Sports Program is designed to discover and create a pool of budding talents below the age of 18 years in the various disciplines, expose them to a scientifically structured all-year-round training program.

Governor Fashola had approved for the first phase of the program sports like Athletics (100m, 200m, 400m 4 x 100m, 4 x 400m relays), Soccer/ Beach Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball/Beach Volleyball, Boxing and Table Tennis.

From Florence Nkem Israel, Port Harcourt on the clubs.

But he also conceded to the fact that his boys played against a better team.

"My boys are fatigued. I played against a good side and you can see the result of the game. My boys have played three matches in six days.

So the fatigue told on the players. They have not fully recovered from the fatigue of the previous matches and I lost to a goodside. I have no problem with that.

"But I want you as partners in progress (referring to the press) to come all out and and write against this because even in Europe, I've never seen a situation a team plays three matches in six days, I want

anyone to come out and challenge me under oath", said Ogenyi.

Jigawa Golden star has lost to their third game in their entrance into the Nigeria Premier League.

HOOTING Stars coach Festus Allen has lambasted the "negative football" of NPL new boys Rising Stars after his team were held to a 0-0 draw at the weekend.

Shooting Stars dominated play at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in Ibadan, but a determined Raising Stars cancelled out ‘The Oluyole Warriors’.

"This is not the best way to play football. Their tactics were frustrating. They played negative football, they kept wasting time and defending all through the game," coach Allen lamented.

"But we have learnt our lessons from this game. We now know how to approach teams like this the next time we meet.

“It’s unfortunate but this is not how to play the game. When you defend all through 90 minutes and refuse to come out to play, it kills the fun and excitement in the game," he added.

However, the former Bukola Babes handler said he plans to get his pund of flesh in Akure when the two teams clash again later in the season.

"If Raising Stars can hold us in

Ibadan, nothing stops us from going to Akure to beat them," Allen stated.

Ghana 'were lucky' against Botswana

BBC SPORT, Franceville Asamoah Gyan in action against Botswana Gyan and his teammates struggled to break down a stubborn Botswana side Asamoah Gyan insists Ghana's mantle as one of the favourites to win the Africa Cup of Nations has not been diminished by a laboured 1-0 win over Botswana.

The Black Stars huffed and puffed against less fancied opponents and were fortunate not to concede an equaliser.

But the striker told BBC Sport that Ghana will improve as the tournament progresses, while acknowledging that luck played its part in the win.

"We were lucky to win but this shows the character of the boys," Gyan said.

NIGERIA PREMIER LEAGUE

Sharks demolish Jigawa 4-0

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HARKS Football Club of Port Harcourt recorded a crucial win in the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) week two encounter against Premier League rookies, Jigawa Golden stars via a 4-0 demolition in PortHarcourt.

Bright Ejike opened the scoreline with a third minute goal that came through Thankgod Amaefule's free kick.

The second goal came in the 31st minute when Bright Ejike's pass

From Florence Nkem Israel, Port Harcourt met Bernard Okorowata's waiting leg for a kick that deflected off a Jigawa defender into the net.

An interesting game that could have had a different outcome if only Jigawa Golden stars had been much more mature in their game.

The goal fest continued on the resumption of the second half as a set piece from Amaefule goyt

netted in by Sharks returnee, Amakiri George for the third goal.

Fourth goal came in the 78th minute for a brace from Amakiri George.

The encounter which registered several caution cards did not end without a scape goat and Sharks Bernard Okoronwata fell for it as he committed a second bookable offence and got sent out in about three minutes to the end of the game.

WHO SAID WHAT

www.thenationonlineng.net

‘Ringim woefully failed as IGP. He also failed as AIG in Umuahia, as he could not confront the kidnappers in Abia State, who were terrorising the residents, until soldiers were deployed to restore law and order’ THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

MR. UCHE ONYEAGUCHA

VOL. 7, NO. 2,016

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

“H

OW’s Lagos?”

“We dey o. All’s well. It’s a bit cloudy and cold after last night’s rain, the first this year. But the city is not flooded and, surprisingly, there’s no traffic jam.”

“Please, hold it! When did you become the weatherman? Who’s talking weather? I mean your protests; the petrol price rallies.

I understand soldiers have taken over the Freedom Park.”

“That’s true. We’ve beaten a tactical retreat, so that innocent people don’t die in this battle of ideas and pure people’s democracy, which Abuja has turned into a war of bullets and bayonets. There was no violence, but the government was scared that the gathering cloud could give birth to a tsunami that will sweep them all off.”

“You see, it’s a simple matter: the government says it can no longer subsidise petrol on which it spent N1.3trillion last year, even as the poor never got the benefits. It was all for you guys with your big big SUVs and a small circle of the oil and gas cabal. And you started a battle you knew you couldn’t win.”

“Please, don’t annoy me with your arrogance. This is the problem we are talking about. You people are too far from the people. If you administer a terrible drug with a devastating side effect, doesn’t the patient have the right to reject treatment and die in peace, rather than this piecemeal death?

Why don’t you go after the cabal you have so gleefully criminalised. Must we always pay so dearly for your slothfulness?”

“Is that why Lagos has turned into Tahir Square and all manner of people are abusing the President? Failed politicians, outof-job movie makers, including Baba Suwe, O yagbe ti, one-album stars, ‘area boys’ and off-duty touts.

“Well…you can call them whatever you like. These are the same people who risked their all to march in Abuja for Dr Goodluck Jonathan to become acting president. Then, moved by his I-had-no-shoes story, they voted for him to be president. Now, he says he must amputate them. Next time, we will be wary of voting a man who had no shoes.

Even as his victory was being contested, he launched into the seven-year single term nonsense. Ever since, it’s been one trouble after another. Imagine the poisoned chalice that was the New Year’s Day’s petrol subsidy removal; what sense was in that? Boko Haram had just launched a most pernicious attack on a church, bombing scores to death.

The nation was mourning. And then the government unleashed its own bomb. See the casualty. “ “You see… You people don’t understand how government functions. And instead of asking questions, you jump onto the

RIPPLES

GBENGA OMOTOSO

EDITORIAL NOTEBOOK

gbenga.omotoso@thenationonlineng.net

After the battle •V8 engine •No fuel or Oil •2WD •Double brake system •No speed limit •No plate no. required •Driver’s Licence not needed •Self-contain e.t.c PLACE YOUR ORDERS NOW!!!

•In the spirit of the times

street, crying like a baby whose lollipop has been snatched by an inconsiderate old man.”

“There you go again. Arrogance. Arrogance of a palace jester and a tenant challenging his landlord’s wife to a duel. The people were only exercising their right to protest. Then you sent in soldiers to smash a peaceful rally, closing your eyes to places in dire need of troops. Right there in your Madalla backyard , Boko Haram unleashed a devastating blow from which many families will never recover. Look at Kano. See Jos. Maiduguri is crippled. Minna is struggling to regain its senses. University teachers are on strike.”

“Again, I think it is your lack of understanding of how government works. No government will fold its arms when there is a clear case of subversion.”

“Subversion? I beg your pardon. The people were only telling you the truth; the common man is tired. What is subversive in that? And the other day at the Villa, Dr Jonathan was apologising to diplomats.

Don’t we all deserve his apologies? The family of Ademola Aderinto, who was shot dead by a policeman in Ogba, Lagos; those who travelled home for the Xmas break, but couldn’t return because transport fares hit the roof and those who couldn’t run their businesses for more than one week.”

“What could the government have done about Boko Haram? Are you not aware the President said they had infiltrated his administration? Some said the IG should be fired. But, this is an administration that cherishes the rule of law; due process.”

“Haba! Due process in a process that is already overdue? This is the lethargy we’re talking about. We all expected Ringim to throw in the towel and since he didn’t, the President should have shown him the door.

The man was busy chasing journalists doing their legitimate duties and ordering his Kogi prefect to keep barring people from going to Abuja. It’s one of the wonders of this administration that the man, who would rather keep his job than do it, is allowed to hang in there.”

“Well, you see, the man has a duty to stop any form of internal aggression against the government. If he says people shouldn’t protest, why should they disobey lawful order?”

“Aggression? How does placard waving become an act of aggression? Those old men, Prof Ben Nwabueze, Dr Tunji Braithwaite, Dr Kalu Idika Kalu and the others are some of the few patriots we have around. Whatever may have taken them off their normal businesses to protest in the street should give a conscientious government cause for reflection. But the old men were tear-gassed. Aren’t government officials afraid of curses?”

“I insist the law was broken. How can a group of people come together and begin to abuse the President all because fuel is being appropriately priced? Nobody has the right to confront the state o!”

“No, please. As for what you call abuses, I made people to understand that the government hasn’t done anything strange. They said the Presidency voted N1 billion for meals (N3 million daily) and N280 million

HARDBALL

SUBSIDY STRIKE WAS LIKE HONEYMOON IN OUR HOMES, say housewives

for bullet-proof cars. And so on. I defended all that. The other day, Boko Haram almost got Ringim. So, why wouldn’t the President get a bulletproof car, considering the sheer audacity- many call it madness- of the Boko Haram boys. As for food, who does not know that a President and his deputy, as well as their privileged guests, should not have the same culinary indulgence as ordinary folks, from whom no extraordinary actions are expected. Every meal must be a transcendental experience. Right?”

“Forget about cassava bread and all that.

The real thing is designer food. Consider this menu: Gucci rice with crystals, Louis Vuitton beans, Bvlgari garri, Givenchy fufu, Ferragamo pounded yam, Dorothy Perkins periwinkles, Adidas palm oil, D&G groundnuts, Polo pepper soup and Tommy Hillfiger tomatoes. As for tooth pick, nothing less than Hugo Boss would do. Everything served on the best of glittering china, on which the Coat of Arms and State House are engraved.

“And washed down with a nice exotic wine. Remember a good wine puts one in high spirits, pampers the throat, glistens the face and makes you feel like a king. A Chateau Lafile Rothschild Pauillac, silky, smooth and flavourful, should be found at any presidential meal worthy of its guests.

In fact, it is called ‘the King’s wine’, being King Louis XV’s favourite. A 1996 bottle costs a meagre $287. How about Dom Perignon, a champagne so common among the rich here? It’s just N30,000 per bottle.

For modesty.”

“Honestly, these are momentous times.

The government is in a season of transformation. Every patriotic Nigerian should give it a chance to work for the good of all.

All disgruntled elements who pose a danger to peace will face the full wrath of the law. We are tired of protests.”

“Well… I doubt if you can stop protests.

It’s all part of democracy. The government may have won the fuel price battle, let’s see how the war ahead goes.”

Farewell Ringim

H

AFIZ Ringim threw in the towel yesterday to end a most turbulent time as police chief. He will not be

missed.

Ringim ran a police force that had lost its way, becoming a huge liability to the people it was meant to protect. Criminals had a field day; the innocent had no peace. Waving a bitter farewell to the police chief are all those who lost their loved ones to the Boko Haram monster, extrajudicial killings, kidnappings, robberies and communal crises. Now that he is free from all that stress, he will have time to write his memoirs. The title, if I may suggest: “ The policeman who lost his bearing.”

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•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Finally, some spine in fight against Boko Haram

S

Yes...the GAINS of the strike will MATURE in NINE MONTHS

OONER or later, as the rhetoric over Boko Haram’s bigoted objectives shifted back and forth, the violent sect was bound to overreach itself. It crossed that threshold of public forbearance last Friday when it took on Kano in a bloody showdown that reverberated far beyond the borders of Nigeria.

About 200 lives were lost, not to talk of large scale destruction of property and the intolerable strain it put on the delicate bond of unity that keeps the country together. While the sect’s violent methods and locales of attack have attracted attention and worry, the most notable thing about it is how its style and objectives have caused disagreement and even friction in and out of government on how to tackle the sect’s menace.

Boko Haram, a Salafist Muslim sect that became jihadist in 2009, was founded around 2002.

It promotes separatism based on ethnic and sectarian intolerance, and is the leading proponent of terror in Nigeria today. It has survived three governments since it launched its

fiery activities, and, whether directly or indirectly, is believed to be responsible for the death of nearly a thousand people, most of them Nigerians. Originally based in the Northeast, it is gradually extending its areas of operation to the Northwest, and also threatening the peace and stability of the country. Until last week, the north and the Federal Government were both ambivalent towards the group, uncertain whether to use strong-arm tactics against it or to dialogue.

While Kano was thoroughly shaken and disgusted by the scale of Boko Haram’s irrational and indiscriminate killings last week, the Nigerian Army appears to be completely exasperated with the general pussyfooting over what methods to adopt in tackling the problem. Two days ago, at a seminar on national security in Abuja, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, publicly suggested that negotiation with the sect be ruled out. It is not known how the government would react to the public suggestion from a group that

should ordinarily take orders from the government, or at worst give private counsel.

However, the army seems to accurately reflect the mood of majority of Nigerians who patriotically feel that Boko Haram’s operations were leading Nigeria into a secessionist war.

Though military operation in urbanised terrain is a difficult proposition, the army is right to seek unified approach to fighting, not negotiating with, the menace. It should, however, go a step further by training and retraining its men in psychological operations in order to limit collateral damage from urban warfare and also to win the populace to its side. On its own, the government should see the counsel coming from the army as a timely and welcome one. The President recently said the sect had infiltrated the government and security agencies. It must now intelligently lead the battle to rid the government and security agencies of infiltrators. If it does not, it should not hope to win the war that has brought the country perilously close to disintegration.

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