The Nation July 05, 2012

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

NNPC to review five-year audit reports

NYSC redeploys Corps members from Yobe, Borno

NEWS Page 6

BUSINESS Page 13

•To Nasarawa, Benue

•Changes model

Ex-Shooting Stars skipper Ojebode dies at 68 SPOR TS SPORTS Page 62

•Governor, NFF mourn

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TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

VOL. 7, NO. 2177 THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

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•A cross section of NYSC 2012 batch ‘B’ members during their swearing-in in Jos, Plateau State…yesterday. See also pages 6 & 7

Mukhtar set for history as first woman CJN

NSA plans talks with Boko Haram

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From Onyedi Ojiabor, Abuja

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USTICE Aloma Mariam Mukhtar is set to make history as Nigeria’s first woman Chief Justice.

But Her Lordship, who the President nominated yesterday, is no stranger to history; she is the first woman Justice of the Supreme Court.

CJN Dahiru Musdapher is due for retirement on July 15.

SEE ALSO PAGE 4

Continued on page 61

PHOTO: NAN

•Justice Mukhtar

ATIONAL Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki is set for talks with the Boko Haram (Western Education is a sin) sect.

Dasuki, a retired Army Colonel, who was appointed last week, has hit the ground running, visiting Yobe and Borno states –hotbeds of the

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

sect’s activities.

He said yesterday that he got the contacts of key Boko Haram leaders for possible dialogue.

Speaking during a meeting in Jos, the Plateau State capital, which has also been a flashpoint of violence, Col. Dasuki said he was planning

to meet with the group to secure a ceasefire and begin talks as soon as possible.

Col. Dasuki said: “I was in Yobe and Borno states last week and I have got the telephone numbers and contacts of key Boko Haram members and I will Continued on page 2

$620,000 bribe row: House insists on subsidy report I didn’t insult panel, says Otedola Tambuwal writes Police on Jagaba

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•Mohammed

AWMAKERS warned yesterday that the bribe-for-clearance scandal must not stop the fuel subsidy report’s implementation.

The House of Representatives seems worried that attention is being diverted from the report - a pot pourri of the fraud and mess in the oil sector - by the allegations of bribery involving a lawmaker and a major player in the

From Dele Anofi, Abuja

industry.

Businessman Femi Otedola said he handed Farouk Lawan, former chair of the fuel subsidy probe panel, $620,000, which he said the lawmaker demanded to get his company off the list of firms which got foreign exchange but imported no fuel.

Lawan Initially denied collecting the

cash. He later said he took it as proof that Otedola put him under pressure to collect a bribe. He refused to surrender the cash to the police.

“For us as an institution, we believe the subsidy report is sacrosanct and should be implemented to the fullest,” House spokesman Zakari Mohammed said in Abuja.

The lawmakers expressed concern

over the negative attention brought on the institution by the scandal, especially the audio clips of conversations between Lawan and Otedola. They said the House would not interfere with the investigation.

There are no plans to shield any member proven to have been involved in corrupt practices, Mohammed, Continued on page 2

•SPORTS P15 •EDUCATION P25 •E-BUSINESS P41 •NATURAL HEALTH P45

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

NEWS NSA set for talks with Boko Haram

I did not insult Reps, says Otedola

Continued from page 1

meet with them.

“I saw the dangerous effect of Boko Haram in these states and what I saw was pathetic.

“But I have the mandate to put heads together with religious and traditional leaders as well as the state governments to ensure an immediate ceasefire.”

According to him, he is in Jos for on-the-spot assessment of the security challenge and in furtherance of the Federal Government’s peace efforts, particularly across the North.

Col. Dasuki is confident that Plateau people can embrace peace and forge ahead with genuine reconciliation.

“I have a stake in Plateau because I lived in Pankshin Continued on page 61

By Joseph Jibueze

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•Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi (right), former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru when Olmert visited Port Harcourt…yesterday

The Otedola dribble: An unnecessary distraction

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S a concerned member of the House of Representatives, I have noted, with concern, the obvious attempt by some individuals to ridicule the institution of the legislature in the public sphere by their conduct and utterances, especially concerning the on-going investigation by the Ethics & Privileges Committee into the bribery allegation by Mr. Femi Otedola against Hon. Farouk Lawan, former Chairman of the House Ad-Hoc Committee on Petroleum Subsidy.

It should be noted that the Ethics & Privileges Committee, as a moral banner of the House, is one of the seven Standing Committees of the House saddled with among other things, investigations into allegations of breach of privilege or contempt of parliament.

Also, contrary to the misinformation in some quarters

By Victor Afam Ogene

and the deliberate mischief of certain persons, over the decision by the committee to hold a private hearing, Order XV11/112(2) (b), of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives states that: “No member may be excluded from non-participatory attendance at any hearing of any Committee or Sub-Committee. With the exception of the Committee on Ethics and Privileges (emphasis mine), unless the House of Representatives shall by majority vote authorize a particular Committee or sub-Committee, for purposes of a particular subject of investigation to close its hearing to members by the same procedures designated in this subparagraph for closing hearing to the public…”

Also, Sections 62, 88 & 89 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, gives legal

backing to both the House and its Ethics Committee’s decision(s) regarding the procedure it adopts in the conduct of its business.

For instance, Section 60 of the Constitution states that, “subject to the provisions of this constitution, the Senate or the House of Representatives shall have power to regulate its own procedure...”

Section 89 (1) (b) goes further to state that “for the purpose of any investigation under section 88 of this Constitution and subject to the provisions thereof, the Senate or the House of Representatives or a Committee appointed in accordance with Section 62 of this Constitution shall have powers to procure all such evidence, written or oral, direct or circumstantial, as it may think necessary or desirable, and examine all persons as witnesses whose evidence may be material or relevant to the subject matter”.

Going by the above authorities, therefore, the refusal of Mr. Otedola to cooperate with the House Ethics Committee and his non-challant disposition when he appeared before the Committee, are not only unnecessary - as he was not on trial - but simply a crass display of gross disrespect to a constituted democratic institution and a dangerous anti-democratic precedent to others who may have cause to appear before the Committee in the future.

It is obvious that this irresponsible drama is part of a devious plan by undemocratic elements who parade the corridors of power to ensnarl the House into an ugly controversy and by so doing seek to pitch the public against the parliament.

While the nation’s security agencies are busy handling the criminal aspects of the grave allegations that necessitated this whole sordid af-

fair, it should be apparent to all Nigerians that all Mr. Otedola seeks is to court public sentiment. This is so because should the Committee base its report upon the evidence at its disposal - as given by Hon. Lawan - it runs the risk of being accused of bias; yet it should be noted that in reality, while a witness, in a court situation, is at liberty not to answer a question put to him, the Judge simply takes judicial notice of both the action and the demeanour of such a witness and both comes in handy in arriving at his judgment.

The House of Representatives as a constitutionally empowered institution should never allow itself to be blackmailed into bending its rule(s) simply to please any individual or interest - and for whatever reason.

•Ogene is Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Information

IL merchant Femi Otedola yesterday denied insulting members of the House of Representatives Committee on Ethics and Privileges during a hearing on the bribe-forclearance scandal.

In a statement issued by his lawyer, Babajide Koku (SAN), Otedola said he was never abusive of anyone. He re-iterated his insistence on his testimony being taken in public.

The businessman said his attention was drawn to reports that the committee’s Chairman, Hon. Gambo DanMusa said: “How do you solve a problem when someone refuses to talk?

“He (Otedola) refused to answer our questions and insulted us; it was very stupid of him because he was just laughing. He said he was a businessman and not hungry like us. Are we hungry? Is anyone hungry here?”

Otedola said he never used such language.

The statement added: “To set the record straight, Mr. Femi Otedola (CON) at the meeting conducted himself with decorum, was not abusive and at no time in the course of the hearing made any disparaging remarks against any member of the committee.

“The statement of the Honourable Gambo Dan-Musa is, to say the least, unbecoming and underscores manifest bias.

“To reiterate, Mr. Otedola did not refuse to testify before the committee, save that his testimony should be taken in public and not in camera.

“The unfortunate misrepresentation of Mr. Otedola’s comments at the meeting further reinforces his call for a public hearing.”

$620,000 bribe: House insists on subsidy report Jagaba for interrogation next week

Continued from page 1

Chairman, House Committee on Media and Publicity said.

Mohammed said the investigation initiated by the House was not intended to truncate the process, adding: “As far as we are concerned, we told you at the beginning of the subsidy report when films were being played in part one, two, three, four, it is to take attention away from the main issue.

“Of course, it is unfortunate that it happened this way, but don’t forget that anti-graft agencies and security operatives and everybody have their responsibilities. But our responsibility as legislators is not to disturb anybody or bar the electronic media from playing what they want to play.

“As an institution, we distance ourselves from this because the law must take its course. If allegations are made, the onus lies on who made it to prove and part of the attempt to prove it is what is happening, but at the same time, we are imploring all agencies to do their jobs.

“While that goes on, we, as the House, have taken a position that as one member’s integrity has been called to question goes and face the consequences of that, it’s a personal issue that he’s carrying the cross.

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OUSE of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal has written the police that the Chairman of the House Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Mr. Adam Jagaba, will report for interrogation next week. Jagaba is to answer questions on the whereabouts of the $620,000 bribe businessman Femi Otedola allegedly gave Hon. Farouk Lawan.

Although Lawan told the police that the cash is with Jagaba, the latter has denied it.

But the police have tried unsuccessfuly in the last three weeks to obtain a statement on oath from Jagaba who failed to show up.

According to sources, the Speaker yesterday wrote the police that Jagaba will be available for questioning by the Special Task Force next week.

In the letter, Tambuwal said Jagaba could not appear before the police because of the ongoing Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (Africa Region) meeting in Guateng , South Afri“But for us, as an institution, we believe subsidy report is sacrosanct and should be implemented to the fullest, so that we are not diverted from the way .

“We are appealing that the subsidy report should still be considered for whatever it is

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

ca.

A source said: “At last, we have got a response from the Office of the Speaker that Jagaba will come for quizzing on oath next week. That is the only aspect delaying the conclusion of investigation into the bribery allegation.

“We wrote the Speaker last Tuesday for the release of Jagaba, who has not been forthcoming. The Speaker, in a letter to the Coordinator of the STF, CP Ali Amodu, said after the trip to South Africa , Jagaba will report.

“The only bend of the investigation yet to be addressed is the whereabouts of the bribe cash.

“We have fresh clues on the whereabouts of the money but we need to hear from Jagaba on oath. We have our interrogation team on standby for him.

“With this development from the Speaker, there may be no need to declare Jagaba wanted by the police.”

On the audio tapes being aired on Channels Television, the source said:

worth because this is a deliberate distraction calculated to take attention away from the rot in the oil sector.

“Unless we get to that, we will continue to dance in that vicious circle forever.”

On the notion that the House might affect the course of jus-

“They are the same with what we have in our custody. And the bribe giver, Mr. Femi Otedola, can always present it.

“The public airing of the tapes will not prejudice ongoing investigation by the police. Rather it will aid our probe because it is already in the public domain.”

Asked to comment on the disowning of the tapes by Lawan, the source added: “Our investigation will unravel the truth; we cannot pass any judgement now.

“All I know is that once Jagaba appears before us, we would have gone far with our findings. Then, we can write our report accordingly.”

Jagaba, in response to a letter from the Speaker of the House of Representatives, said: “I wish to categorically and unequivocally state that there was never a time I was in possession of the sum of $620,000 or any other exhibit (in my personal capacity or official capacity as Chairman, House Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes) relating to the subject matter of the above investigation.”

tice on the issue, the Spokesman said: “We have earlier declared that as an arm of government, we respect other arms of government. Only the judiciary is competent to judge Nigerians.

“Our business is law making but, of course, if the police find

any of their employees’ matter is brought before them, its what they call orderly room trial. It is called marshalling by the military. Even the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and other professional bodies have ethics committees that take care of those issues.

“But people are seeing it (Ethics and Privileges probe) as if we have turned ourselves to a court, but by our laws (Section 78 of the House Standing Rules), the only committee that can sit on that issue is the Ethics committee. So, nothing unusual has happened and let me sound it clear that we will never take sides with corruption.

“We told you at the beginning of this matter on January 8; when we had that committee, that issues will be brought up to rubbish and take attention from the subsidy report.

It’s happening now.

“As Nigerians, we owe you a duty as representatives to ensure that monies that should have benefited others have been brought forward, when some people took some money and they did not deliver oil or short-change the system.

“But, as much as possible, as the case goes on, on Farouk Lawan, Otedola or whoever, let the implementation of the subsidy report go on because there lies the benefit to Nigerians as much as this is concerned.

“We want to say that as a House, we are urging all the relevant bodies, the Executive, all other investigative agencies that the matter has been referred to expedite action on it.”

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NEWS

•Petroleum Minister Deziani Alison-Madueke, Police Affairs Minister Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade, Power Minister of State Garius Ishak, Minister of Power Prof. Barth Nnaji, Science and Technology Minister, Prof. Ita Okon Bassy, Trade and Investment, Minister of State, Dr. Samuel Ortom, Minister of Trade and Investment Minister Olusegun Aganga and Minister of Transport Idris Audu Umar at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja...yesterday PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN.

FIRST WOMAN CJN

Justice Mariam Aloma Muktar: A profile

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HE process of her assumption of office as the 13th Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) began yesterday, with President Goodluck Jonathan’s nomination of Justice Mariam Aloma Muktar for the position in a letter to the Senate.

This historic move, as it will be the first time a woman will occupy the position since the nation had its first indigenous CJN in 1958, is expected to mark the commencement of a new phase in the judicial history of the country.

Described variously as being a”liberal, highly principled, calm, and with an aversion to acts inimical to due process and the course of justice”, in the view of many, will help steer the ship of the Judiciary from the shore of public disrepute where it got abandoned at the end of Justice Alousious Katsina-Alu’s tenure.

Seen as an introvert and a true picture of what a modern judge should be, Justice Muktar exhibited part of her attributes when, alongside Justices George Oguntade and Walter Onnoghen, almost voided the outcome of the 2007 election that brought the late President Musa Yar’Adua and now President Jonathan to power.

While the quartet of Justices Kutigi, Katsina-Alu, Niki Tobi and Dahiru Musdapher (outgoing CJN) dismissed the appeal by then presidential candidate of the All Nigerian Peoples’ Party (ANPP), Justices Mukhtar, George Oguntade and Onnoghen held a dissenting view.

They maintained that the allegation of substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2006 was

How CJN is appointed From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

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HE Federal Judicial Service Commission was established in 1993

by Section 153 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

By law, the FJSC after receiving the list of a nominee from an outgoing CJN, will send the name to the National Judicial Commission (NJC).

The NJC will in turn recommend the person to the president for appointment. Acting on this, the president will forward the name of the nominee to the Senate for screening which will either reject or confirm his appointment before final approval from the president.

The FJSC has been granted several powers and responsibilities, and chief among them is to aid the National Judicial Council in finding and nominating candidates for all Open positions.

The Commission oversees all other Judicial staff members, including the Chief Registrars and Deputy Chief Registrars of the Supreme Court, as well as employees the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court.

Justice Mukhtar has served in the past as Chief Registrar Kano State Judiciary, Justice of the Appeal Court before her elevation to the Supreme Court.

She sat on the seven man panel that heard the Presidntial Election Petition Appeal filed by Muhamadu Buhari against the April 21, 2007 victory of the late President Umaru Yaradua.

She alongside Justices George Oguntade and Walter Onnoghen gave minority judgment that allowed the appeal, while former CJNs; Idris Kutigi, Aloysius Katsina-Alu andDahiru Musdapher, as well as Justce Niki Toby dismissed the appeal.

Subject to the confirmation of her appointment by the Senate, she is to take over from outgoing CJN, Justice Dahiru Musdapher who is billed to retire on July 15 at the mandatory age of 70 years.

By Eric Ikhilae, Judicial Correspondent

proved by the petitioner.

And like the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami, who rejected a questionable redeployment to the Supreme Court, Justice Muktar, in April, rejected an offer for an appointment as the Chief Judge of The Gambia.

Justice Muktar, who hails from Kano State, was born on November 20, 1944. She attended St. George Primary School, Zaria and St. Bartholomew’s School, Wusasa, Zaria, Kaduna State. She attended the Rossholme School for Girls, East Brent, Somerset, England; Reading Technical College, Reading, Berkshire, England and Gibson and Weldon College of Law, England.

Justice Muktar was called to the English Bar in November, 1966 and to the Nigerian Bar in 1967. She began her career as Pupil State Counsel, Ministry of Justice, Northern Nigeria, 1967, Office of the Legal Draftsman, Interim Common Services Agency, Magistrate Grade I, North Eastern State Government, 1971, Chief Registrar, Kano State Government Judiciary, 1973, Judge of the High Court of Kano State, 1977-1987, Justice of the Court of Appeal, 1987-1993, during which she served in the Ibadan division of the court.

Incidentally, Justices Musdapher and Mukhtar were originally judges in old Kano State before state creation moved the retiring CJN to Jigawa shortly after he was appointed the state Chief Judge. Although Mukhtar was appointed judge in 1977, Musdapher was appointed on January 1, 1979. But however, Musdapher became her senior both at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

A life member of the International Association of Women Lawyers, Justice Mukhtar will, on her eventual assumption of office on July 16, become the nation’s first woman to occupy that position. She is expected to vacate the seat on November 20, 2014 on attaining 70 years.

Justices Adetokunbo Ademola 1958– 1972, Teslim Olawale Elias, 1972–1975, Darnley Arthur Alexander, 1975–1979, Atanda Fatai Williams, 1979–1983, George Sodeinde Sowemimo, 1983– 1985, Ayo Gabriel Irikefe, 1985–1987, Mohammed Bello, 1987–1995, Muhammad Lawal Uwais, 1995–2006, Salihu Moddibo Alfa Belgore, 2006– 2007, Idris Legbo Kutigi, 2007–2009, Aloysius Katsina-Alu, 2009-2011 and Musdapher 2011-2012.

Reps lift suspension on sale of new number plates, driver’s licence

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HE House of Representatives has lifted the ban on the sale of the newly introduced number plates and driver’s licence.

The decision of the lawmakers followed the consideration and adoption of the report of the Committee on Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).

The Commitee examined the necessity and circumstances surrounding the introduction of the number plates and the driver’s licence.

The report considered at the Committee of the Whole House recommended that “the House should lift the suspension on the production and issuance of new number plâtés

•Advocate 20 per cent price reduction From Dele Anofi, Abuja

and driver’s licence imposed on FRSC.” Besides, the House urged the FRSC to review the cost of production of the two items sold to the Board of a Internal Revenue in states.

It urged a reduction by not less than 20 percent.

The lawmakers also adopted the recommendation that the Joint Tax Board, States Board of Internal Revenue and State Assemblies through the Conference of Speakers should commence the process of reviewing

the price of vehicle number plates and driver’s licence in line with the reduction of production cost by FRSC. The House adopted the recommendation that the FRSC, the Joint Tax Board and the security agencies should collaborate and intensify effort at tacking fake, parallel production and issuance of driver’s licence and number plates with a view to bringing to nipping the ugly trend in the bud.

The lawmakers advised the FRSC and others to extend the revaluation of the vehicle number plates and

•Tambuwal

driver’s licence by not less than a year from the date of adoption of the recommendation.

Fed Govt blames Libya for insecurity From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

THE Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Morro, yesterday said the war in Libya has contributed to the insecurity in Nigeria.

He spoke in Abuja when he received a panel of security experts of the United Nation’s (UN) on Libya.

Moro said: “It is believed by government that part of the problems that we have today, the challenges of internal security stemmed from the activities in Libya .

“It is indeed an open secret that even though, we did not share common border with Libya, arms and weapons have found their ways into Nigeria from Libya, giving the accompanying porosity of our borders, that arms from Libya resulting from the crisis in Libya, they have found their way to Nigeria.”

The minister said terrorism is fast becoming a global phenomenon. He noted that with the death of Muammar Gaddafi, the first phase of Libya ’s problem was over.

The head of the delegation, Mr. Salim Raad, told the minister that they were in his office for information on the Libya crisis that could assist the committee’s assignement.

Centre to train math teachers From Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

THE National Mathematical Centre (NMC) plans to train 3000 mathematics teachers across the country.

The Acting Director General (DG), Prof. Adewale Solarin, disclosed this yesterday during the 2012 Mathematical Event held in Abuja.

Solarin said: “As part of our capital project for this year, we are going to train like 3000 maths teacher nationwide.

“We are going to start with training of trainers, the head of departments of Mathematical Sciences in the universities who will pass the message across to the students and from there we will proceed.”

Speaking on the International Standard Organisation (ISO), Prof.

Solarin said the management was set to implement the new ISO standard.

He said: “The standard is aimed to prove to the world that the center has a standard management that functions and of international recognition” he added.

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NEWS

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola inspecting the guard of honour at the swearing-in ceremony for Batch ‘B’ members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)at the orientation camp, Ede...yesterday •Batch 'B'Corps members at their swearing-in ceremony in Abuja...yesterday

NYSC redeploys •Fed Govt, Yuguda, Jang: we’ll ensure Corps members are safe

•From left: Minister of Education Prof. Ruquayyat Ahmed-Rufai, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development Hajiya Zainab Maina, Minister of Labour and Productivity Emeka Wogu and the Minister of State For Education Nyesom Wike, at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja...yesterday PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has redeployed Corps members posted to Borno and Yobe states to Benue and Nasarawa states.

There are plans to redeploy those who are yet to report to camps in Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau, Kano and Kaduna states, report VINCENT IKUOMOLA, BUKOLA AMUSAN, Abuja, AUSTINE TSENZUGHUL, Bauchi and MARIE-THERESE NANLONG, Jos

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•From left: Former Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Alani Akinrinade (retd), Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Azubike Ihejirika, Commander, Infantry Corps, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Isah, and Gormer GOC, 82 Div, Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Abisoye at the lecture on the experience of Military Officers to mark the Nigerian Army Day celebration in Jaji, Kaduna State... on Tuesday PHOTO: NAN

HE National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) yesterday redeployed all Corps members posted to Yobe and Borno states.

Those posted to Yobe are to report to Nasarawa State; those posted to Borno were redeployed to Benue State.

A statement by the NYSC Director-General, Brig-Gen. Nnamdi Okore-Affia, directed those posted to Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau, Kano and Kaduna states but are yet to report in the orientation camps to report at the NYSC Directorate Headquarters, Abuja for redeployment.

The statement reads:” This is to inform all prospective corps members deployed to Yobe and Borno States for the 2012 Batch ‘B’ Orienta-

tion Course to note that all those posted to Yobe State will now hold their orientation course at the Nasarawa State NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Keffi, Keffi LGA, and not as stated on their call-up letters Brig-Gen. Okore-Affia said: “All those posted to Borno State will undertake their orientation programme at the Benue State NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp at Wanume, Tarka LGA, and not as stated on their call-up letters.

“Also, all 2012 Batch ‘B’ prospective corps members deployed to Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau, Kano and Kaduna states who have collected their call-up letters but are yet to report in camp should immediately report at the NYSC Directorate Headquarters, Abuja for rede-

Corps member gives birth in Katsina

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HE National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Coordinator in Katsina State, Mr Ebenezer Afolalu, yesterday said a Corps member has been delivered of a baby girl at the orientation camp in Katsina.

Afolalu spoke during the opening ceremony of the 2012 orientation course for batch B NYSC members deployed to the state.

The coordinator, who refused to disclose the name and state of the Corps member, said she was delivered of her baby on the first day of registration at the camp clinic. He added that both the mother and baby were in good health.

Afolalu said that a total of 2,144 NYSC members were deployed to the state.

He explained that the scheme was designed to expose the corps members to the cultures and traditions of the people of the states to which they were posted.

The coordinator also said that a comprehensive skill acquisition programme had been designed to prepare the corps members to become self-reliant after the service year.

Governor Ibrahim Shema said the state government would engage the Corps members in agricultural establishments to enhance its agricultural revolution programme tagged “Katsina-Songhai initiative’’.

Shema, represented by Youths and Sports Commissioner Alhaji Mannir Ibrahim, said the project was aimed at reducing poverty, empowering youths and ensuring food security in the state and nation.

According to him, engaging the corps members in the programme is also aimed at harnessing the agricultural potentials of the state using the rich potentials of corps members deployed to the state.

He assured the Corps members of their security and urged them to feel free • CEO. Etisalat Nigeria Mr Steve Evans (middle), Mrs Midian Dugger (left) and Head Public Relations Lagos and Head Public PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN “because Katsina people are kind and hospitable.”

Relations Ms Zainab Ashadu during the LagosPhoto 2012 news conference in Lagos... yesterday.

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NEWS

PHOTO: NAN

Yobe, Borno Corps members to Nasarawa, Benue ployment.”

Brig-Gen. Okore-Affia’s announcement coincided with the promise by the Federal Government, Bauchi and Plateau states to ensure that Corps members performing the one-year mandatory service are safe from danger.

Minister of Information Mr. Labaran Maku said the Federal Government is addressing the fear raised by some Corps members. He said President Goodluck Jonathan places premium on safety of corps members.

He said: “The Minister of Youths Affairs was not in the council meeting today but I believe the ministry is handling the issue appropriately. The President places premium on safety of corps members. It is our responsibility to ensure they are safe wherever they are deployed. The Federal Government will look into issues relating to the corps members’ safety now and in the future.”

Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda said steps have been taken to ensure the security of all Corps members serving in the state.

The governor, who spoke at the 2012 Batch “B” swearing-in ceremony and opening of the three-week orientation course of 1,350 Corps members posted to the state at the Wailo Camp, Bauchi, urged them to ignore the negative media reports about happenings in the state.

Yuguda, who was represented by the Head of Civil Service, Mr. Abdon Dalla Gin, said: “I believe that so many of you have never come to this part of the country and might therefore be apprehensive of what the service year will be like. The prejudices and biased media reports of happenings in this part of the country might have contributed to this.

“However, irrespective of your reli-

Lawyer: serving in the North suicidal

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LAWYER, Mr Daniel Onwe, has said observing the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps(NYSC) programme in the North is sui-

cidal.

Onwe, in a letter to the Director-General of the NYSC, Brid-Gen. Nnamdi Okore-Affia, urged the commission to reverse the posting of southern Christian graduates to the North for national service.

He said: “Such postings would have been okay for those who have suicidal instincts and looking for where to die. But these youths in question do not possess suicidal tendency. They want to stay alive to contribute positively the development of this country and so do their families.”

Onwe said should the NYSC fail to act in a week’s time, he would initiate a court action on behalf of graduates whose lives have been endangered by the postings.

“It is abundantly clear that posting southern Christian graduates to the north for youth service will be a dangerous infringement of their fundamental rights to life, human dignity and religion enshrined in chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution.

“Therefore, we urge you to use your good offices to reverse, forthwith, the postings of Christian southern graduate to the North for national youth service.

“Take notice that should you fail to accede to this demand within seven days of your receipt of this letter, we shall proceed against you and the NYSC in enforcement of the fundamental rights of the Nigerian young graduates whose lives are been endangered,” Onwe said in the letter dated July 2.

The lawyer said churches and other places of Christian worship have become the target of the ubiquitous Boko Haram sect in the northern states, with hundreds gion or tribe, you are safe and at home anywhere in this our dear state.

Government has directed all security agencies to ensure the protection of lives and properties of all citizens in any part of the state.”

Yuguda said the state government has made arrangements for the wel-

By Joseph Jibueze

of Christians killed in cold blood.

“It goes without saying that the Christians posted to the North for national youth service would not be free to manifest or propagate their religion on the pain of been killed,” Onwe said.

He added: “You would recall that on the eve of the 2011 election, NYSC secretariat in the north was bombed killing many corps members. As though that was not enough, after the election, irate mobs in the north went on rampage of slaughtering innocent and defenseless youth corpse members in their line of duty, serving their father land.

“Currently, the Boko Haram has been on the campaign of decimating the Nigerian populace particularly those of the Christian cum southern extraction. Churches are being targeted, bombed and worshippers killed in quick succession.

“Hardly would a day pass without innocent Nigerians falling to the bombs and guns of the Boko Haram. The situation in northern Nigeria today, truthfully speaking, is worse than a state of war. In a state of war, both parties are armed in defense of themselves and then in offensive.

“But the reality on ground is that the terrorists are armed, coordinated while their targeted victims are unarmed and defenseless. Southern Christians are now in exodus from the north back to the south.

“The security situation is so precarious that even the President and commander-in-chief of the armed forces of this nation has avoided some of the northern states to date. Unfortunately, these are the same states innocent and defenseless Nigerian youths have been posted to.”

fare of the Corps members during their orientation course and throughout their service year, adding that facilities at the camp would soon be renovated and the perimeter fencing completed.

He noted that the corps members were coming into national service at

a critical stage when the scheme was undergoing reorganisation meant to reposition it towards because of the insecurity in the country.

The governor urged them to be good ambassadors of their families and their alma maters.

The state Coordinator of the NYSC,

Mr. Nuhu Kwaghe, said 1, 581 Corps members were being anticipated but only 1,350 reported at the camp and were registered.

He said the NYSC management has taken adequate measures to protect the corps members during their orientation course.

He said: “I did undertake a tour of the state, especially Tafawa Balewa, Bogoro, Dambam, Giade and Katagum Local Government Areas were the last post-election violence occurred and I discovered that there is relative peace and tranquility in those areas.

“We are expecting the government to give us a policy statement on the posting of Corps members to those local government areas as well as other areas.”

Kwaghe urged the corps members to see their posting to Bauchi as a divine act.

Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang, who spoke at the official opening of camp and the swearing –in ceremony of the Corps members at the Zang Commercial Secondary School, Bukuru temporary camp, said the Corps members need to be careful.

The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Youth Development, Lohfa Bako, urged the Corps members to be vigilant. He said: “With the current security situation in our country, we can only face up to the change through collective vigilance and the committed efforts of all patriotic citizens.”

Jang urged residents of the state to create the enabling environment for the Corps members to carry out their service without limitations.

He said the scheme was a platform for them to foster national integration and harness their creative energies for national development.

Abia governor promises more facilities at NYSC camp

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BIA Governor Theodore Orji has promised to provide additional facilities at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) permanent orientation camp at Ummunna, in Bende Local Government Area of the state.

Orjimade the pledge during the swearing-in ceremony of the 2012 Batch ‘B’ corps members posted to the state. ‘’This administration is ready to do more for the NYSC scheme within available resources,’’ he said.

The governor said the government would sink an additional borehole and also provide a new generating plant to improve services in the camp.

He further promised to donate an official car to the NYSC secretariat to ease their transportation problem.

Orji commended the authorities of

the scheme for ‘’repackaging the scheme toward meeting the current needs of the nation,’’ especially in entrepreneurial development and new posting policy. ‘’The reinvigoration of the skill acquisition training for corps members and the introduction of marshal art for self-defence in orientation course content among others are highly commendable,’’ he said.

Orji, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Mkpa Mkpa, said the scheme had helped to inculcate positive citizenship and leadership values in Nigerian youths.

He further explained that the scheme had invoked in the youths, “the spirit of committed service, con-

structive engagement, patriotism and diligence to our great country’’.

He urged the corps members to take the programme seriously, pointing out that “this will greatly enhance your potential and create opportunities of employment during and after the service year.

In her speech, the state’s NYSC Coordinator, Mrs Victoria Okakwu, noted that 2,230 corps members, including 1,313 males and 917 females, had been registered for the programme.

Okakwuexplained that the corps members would be posted to rural communities where their impact would be most readily felt.

She said the measure was in compliance with the new posting policy

to four key areas of education, agriculture, rural health, and rural infrastructure and works.

In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), a cross-section of the corps members expressed delight that they were posted to Abia, describing the state as peaceful.

“I am happy because Abia is peaceful and I am prepared to give my best during the orientation course,’’ said a corps member who identified himself as Jenarius from Akwa Ibom.

Henrietta, another corps member from Delta, said she had looked forward to the exercise with great excitement, adding that “I am going to enjoy myself here.’’

•Orji

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

NEWS Aregbesola appoints DG for Awolowo Centre OSUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has appointed Prof. Moses Akinola Makinde as the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Awolowo Centre for Philosophy, Ideology and Good Governance.

A statement by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said the appointment took effect from May 1.

The statement said the centre will inculcate, through training workshops and conferences, the ideology and good governance of the late Obafemi Awolowo’s thoughts and practices.

He said the centre will emphasise integrity, accountability, transparency, personal discipline and fiscal discipline, mental magnitude, true federalism and good governance.

Prof. Makinde is a professor of Philosophy at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife, Osun State.

He hails from Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, and had a First Class degree in Philosophy from the University of Toronto, Canada; a Masters in Philosophy from the University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada; and a Ph.D from the University of Toronto in 1974, with specialisation in the Philosophy of Science/ Logic and Scientific Method.

He joined the former University of Ife (now OAU) in December 1974 and rose to become a professor in October 1989.

The academic was Head of Department of Philosophy in acting and substantive capacities for about 10 years and later became the Dean of the Faculty of Arts 1997-1999.

Prof. Makinde is a recipient of many local and international honours and awards.

These include the Fulbright Hays award in the USA (198384) academic year; the Institute of Administration Manager (IAMN); the Certified and Distinguished Administrator (CDA); Qualified and Incorporated Administrative Manager.

He is a member of the Editorial Board of The Nation, among others.

•Prof. Makinde

Ogun to develop island From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

THE Ogun State Government yesterday said it would fasttrack the socio-economic development of the Tongeji Island in Ipokia Local Government by building roads to link the area with other parts of the state.

The government said it is collaborating with the Federal Government and other stakeholders to delineate the island’s border from neighbouring Republic of Benin for efficient administration and provision of facilities.

Adelabu most charismatic Ibadan politician, says Ajimobi O

YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday extolled the virtues of the late Ibadan politician, Chief Adelabu Adegoke.

Ajimobi described him as a colourful and charismatic politician with a mercurial mind in his approach to issues.

The governor spoke at this year’s edition of the Adelabu Adegoke Memorial Lecture held at the Ibadan Civil Centre, Ibadan, the state capital.

He said the late minister was an intelligent man who believed that the Blackman was not subservient to his white brother.

Ajimobi noted that the late Adelabu’s brilliance was demonstrated in the rare scholarship given to him by the United African Company (UAC) to Government College, Ibadan, where his academic record remains a reference point, almost 60 years after leaving the institution.

He said: “His accomplishments in UAC remain indelible for his outstanding intellect and his organisational and highly applauded managerial skills as the first indigenous manager of the company.

“Adelabu was independent-minded and spoke his mind, not caring whose ox was gored. His oratory, profound intellect and sheer bravery in the face of adversarial gang-ups were remarkable.

“So also was Adelabu’s mastery of the English language and depth of appreciation of issues around him. His Africa in Ebullition is a profound mirror of his unadulterated mind and clear belief in the superior or non-subservient intellect of the black man, in comparison with his white brother.”

The governor said the late

politician, more associated with his highly-talked about Penkelemes, was profound and deep in knowledge, adding: “Penkelemes, an adulteration of his often burst of grammar and elocution, ‘Peculiar Mess’, has become a reference point for a man whose politics and humanity are still unmatchable today in public office. Adelabu was perhaps the one being referred to when French philosopher and essayist was referred to as having one of the best brains ever trapped in a human skull.”

Ajimobi said as an Ibadan indigene and a politician, he had always been in constant touch with the influence of the late Adelabu in the politics of the ancient city.

According to him, the politics of Ibadan holds its leg-

endary egalitarian character in part to the late politician’s influence.

The governor described the late Adelabu as a lover of education and a leading light in the quest for youths to be educated so that they could be self-reliant.

He noted that this was a reflection of the late politician’s evergreen mind and understanding of the unalloyed powers of education to open the doors for man, especially in the face of daunting existential challenges.

Ajimobi said: “Education, to me, encapsulates the totality of our lives. Without education, whether formal or informal, the human mind is drawn down and a ceiling put on its ability and capability.

Education, in our peculiar circumstances as Africans, is the key that can open the doors of greatness for the continent and the country in particular

Ekiti senior workers write capacity assessment exam

10 shortlisted for UniOsun VC From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

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T

WO hundred and fifty Ekiti State civil servants in the directorate cadre have sat for the capacity assessment examination to enhance their capability.

They are on Grade Levels 14 to 17. They took the examination at the School of Nursing in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, on Tuesday.

The examination lasted four hours.

The Permanent Secretary in the Office of Establishment and Trainings, Mr. Lekan Aiyeleso, said the examination was part of the new Civil Service Transformation Strategy of the state government, which was introduced to assess the capacity of officers on service delivery.

Explaining that the assessment is different from the promotion examination, the permanent secretary allayed the fears of the workers that it was a prelude to retrenchment.

He said the examination would enable the government to know the appropri-

•A cross section of the senior workers writing the assessment examination in Ado-Ekiti.

ate fields that officers should be posted, based on their competence.

Aiyeleso said: “The essence of this one is for the government to determine or analyse the personnel in the directorate level. It will also enable the government to know the training needs of the workers.

This examination has nothing to do with retrenchment. If we all look back, the governor has been saying this consistently since he came on board, that he has no intention to retrench any worker except any worker who send himself or herself out of service.”

The permanent secretary said 275 candidates were registered for the examination but only 250 sat for it.

He said those due for retirement in the next two

months were exempted from the exercise.

Candidates were tested on civil service rules and regulation, current affairs, use of English and professional questions.

Some of the candidates hailed the government’s initiative, saying it would improve the civil service, the engine room of government.

A director in the Office of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), James Owolabi, and an Assistant Director of Civil Engineering in the state, Mr Adeola Johnson, described the examination as the first in the state.

They noted that writing examinations was not new to them because they wrote entrance examinations before joining the civil service.

The most senior director in the state who is on grade level 17 and now serves as a Director of Public Health, Dr. Francis Ibikunle, described the assessment as an innovation based on merit.

He said people are put in positions based on their capacity, adding that this would make the workers to brace up and become conversant with the rules and regulations of the civil service and their professional fields.

The Director of State Information Services, Mr Kola Ajumobi, said: “I found the examination intellectually stimulating and it is a refresher course. It is indeed in furtherance of the compliance of Ekiti State to the national civil service reforms. I am happy to be a part of it.”

Osun Speaker decries corruption in Nigeria

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SUN State House of Assembly Speaker Najeem Salaam has said the only way Nigeria could be salvaged from corruption, which he said is ruining all government institutions, is for the leadership to indemnify such institutions against power abuse.

Salaam spoke in South Africa at a Commonwealth parliamentary conference, when he reacted to the bribery scandal involving House of Representatives member Farouk Lawan and diesel magnate, Femi Otedola.

In a statement by his Press Secretary, Goke Butika, the Speaker noted that the brib-

ery allegation is “nauseating, disturbing, heart-aching and highly challenging to the moral foundation of the integrity of this country”.

He said: “I am pained and shocked as a result of the celebration of the drama of absurd, which has constituted itself as an unholy dirge on the shallow graves of the innocent ones who lose their lives daily as a result of corruption in high places. It is high time we, in the corridors of power, halted and reversed the trend before the looming conflagration of the people’s fury consumes the nation’s ruling class.”

Salaam said what makes

in a world that is hostile to illiteracy.”

The governor said there is need for education to be at the core of any administration’s project and that conscious efforts must be made by all and sundry to equip the minds of the young ones through education for tomorrow’s tasks.

He said his administration places serious premium on education, adding: “We believe that once we take our children to a pedestal where their minds are successfully decorated and empowered with the equipment to face tomorrow, when our task is done, we would look back with great delight.”

The governor said the level he met education in the state on taking the mantle of administration was not too pleasing to him.

“We did not find desirable a situation where our state, where the author of Free Education in the Western Region, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, sat to propound all those laudable policies on education, came 34th in West African Examination Council (WAEC) examinations,” Ajimobi said.

the advanced economies tick is the strength of their institutions, adding that they could function without waiting for the directive of an individual, who could occasionally become powerdrunk.

“I’m widely traveled and I know that all the people at the helm of affairs are widely traveled and adequately educated about what obtains in other climes where systems are working without errant instructions. But the political will to make things happen, in accordance with rules and morals in Nigeria, has always be the bane,” he said.

The Speaker urged investigators to dig deep into the Lawan/Otedola saga, saying there must be an end to the sleaze drama in the media.

The lawmaker said if the trend continues, hungry and angry people may be pushed to react negatively.

Salaam said: “We are laughing now and trivialising what ought to be giving all political players concern; also hungry people, the unemployed, the rejected, the disadvantaged and the angry are watching us helplessly.

But who can stand their fury, if they choose to resist the celebration of corruption raging on in the media?”

EN professors have been shortlisted for the position of the ViceChancellor-designate of the Osun State University (UniOsun).

The Nation investigation showed that the 10 candidates were shortlisted from about 35 candidates who applied for the coveted job.

The incumbent Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sola Akinrinde, was appointed in August 2007 and his single term tenure expires on July 31.

It was learnt that some of the applicants in the shortlist may not be picked because they are above 60 years, which is the age limit of the university.

A source, who spoke in confidence, noted that some of those shortlisted are erudite scholars, tested administrators and technocrats, but a few of them have a thorough knowledge of the university’s administrative system.

The source added that such academics also lack basic understanding of the challenges facing the institution.

It was learnt that the multicampus system of the university would make it tasking for anyone without good health to run efectively.

Among those shortlisted are: Professor of Science and Technology Education, Duro Ajeyalemi; Professor of Microbiology, Olu Odeyemi; Professor of Information Management, Dayo Akinmoladun; a Fellow of Post-Graduate Medical College of Nigeria but not clear if he is a professor, Adekunle Bashiru Okesina; Professor of Agronomy, Odunayo Adebooye.

Others are: Professor of Political Science, Mojeed Alabi; Professor of History, Siyan Oyeweso; Professor of Forest Economics, Labo Popoola; Professor of Animal Science, Rasheed Bayonle Olorede and Professor of Micrbiology, Kola Oloke.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

9

NEWS

Court remands three Ogun PDP leaders for contempt

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FEDERAL High Court in Lagos yesterday ordered that three chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State be remanded in prison custody for six months for violating his order.

They are: Chief Ireti Oniyide, Tunde Oladunjoye (now media aide to Agriculture Minister Akin Adesina) and Faisiu Bakenne. They claimed to be principal officers of a purported Caretaker Committee of the party in the state.

Justice Charles Efanga Archibong held that the three, being agents of the PDP, should be remanded in prison custody for their continued violation of the order of the court in a May 2 judgment.

The judge noted that the PDP was a party in the substantive suit for which the May judgment was given.

The ruling was on a committal proceedings initiated against the PDP chieftains, the state’s Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) and its officials by Chief Adebayo Dayo and Alhaji Semiu Sodipo

•‘House built on sand won’t stand’

By Eric Ikhilae

for themselves and on behalf of the Ogun State Executive Committee of the party.

The applicants accused the three of continually subverting the court’s order by snubbing the Adebayo Dayo-led Executive Committee, which the court had declared as the only valid management of the party in the May 2 verdict.

They accused OGSIEC officials of circumventing the court order contained in the May 2 judgment by accepting the lists of candidates for the July 21 local government election from other sources other than the Dayo-led Exco.

The judge, however, refrained from making any order against officials of OGSIEC on the grounds that the agency and its officials cited for contempt were not parties to the substantive suit.

The OGSIEC officials include state Chairman, Alhaja Risikat Ogunfemi; Alhaji

Korede Lawal, Alhaji Bisiyu Adekanmi, Mutiu Agboke, Oyediran Aina, Kolawole Odesanya and Adetokunbo Williams. They were described as OGSIEC’s moving minds.

Justice Archibong noted that the court should not be seen as obstructing the electoral process in the state because the council poll forms the kernel of the dispute between the parties.

The judge warned that should OGSIEC accept the list of candidates from sources other than the valid state Executive Committee headed by Adebayo Dayo, the electoral body would be courting election controversies.

In the May 2 judgment, the court ordered the PDP, its National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, not to deal with the party in Ogun State, except through the Adebayo Dayo-

led Executive Committee.

It restrained PDP leaders from taking any step to prevent the officers that emerged from the congresses of the Soremi faction from concluding their four-year term in line with the party’s constitution.

Oladunjoye yesterday criticised the court verdict which ordered his imprisonment for six months.

In a statement, entitled: A house built on sand will not stand, the politician said he would challenge the verdict by Justice Archibong and take on the judge personally.

The statement reads: “My attention has just been drawn to a ‘judgment’ of Justice Archibong of the Federal High Court, Lagos, in a case involving the Omo-Ilu faction of the PDP in Ogun State, the PDP national body and the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC).

“The judge, has ‘sentenced’ the Chairman of the Caretaker

Committee of Ogun PDP, Chief Ireti Oniyide, myself and the other member of the committee, Fasiu Bakene, to ‘six months imprisonment for contempt’!

“My reaction is as follows: * “I have instructed my lawyers to challenge this scandalous judgment, which I believe, like a house erected on sand, cannot stand. * “This obvious abuse of judicial powers will not go unremedied, as I have instructed my counsel to prepare to take on Justice Archibong personally as in ‘convicting’ me without being served, without a hearing, in absentia, and against all known principles of fairness; Justice Archibong has lost his judicial immunity. * “The decision of Justice Archibong, to go ahead with this matter, despite the two petitions against him by our party, the Chief Justice of Nigeria’s query to him - based on our petition - and our Motion for Transfer of the case before him, leaves a lot to be desired...”

Youths are tools for cultural transmission, says Aregbesola From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

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SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said youths are veritable tools for cultural transmission.

The governor noted that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme is a preparatory knowledge base for corps members in understanding the complex socialcultural, ethno-religious diversities of the country.

Aregbesola spoke yesterday in Ede, when he delivered an address entitled: Stay On, Get On, at the camp opening for the 2012 Batch ‘B’ of the NYSC. He said the primary aim of the scheme is the promotion of the country’s unity and the enhancement of its cultural diversities.

The governor noted that an interaction through the scheme breeds mutual understanding, harmonious relationship and peaceful co-existence.

He said the flexibility to learn new things is part of the education the corps members received in line with what the NYSC scheme teaches them.

Aregbesola said: “The objective of the programme is to promote unity in diversity among all ethnic nationalities in the country and the world over. Youths are said to be veritable agents of cultural transmission, which NYSC is meant to facilitate.”

He assured the corps members of the state’s hospitality.

The governor said they would benefit immensely from this cultural contact at the end of their service year.

Aregbesola advised the corps members to savour the masterpiece land forms across the state to make their stay worthwhile.

The NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs. Mojibola Adeola Eboagwu, said 2,886 corps members have been posted to Osun State and that saing they have been registered by the scheme’s state secretariat.

•Ajimobi (left); the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ajagungbade III (middle) and the Senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial District, Ayoade Adeseun, at the palace of the monarch before the town hall meeting.

Ajimobi seeks upgrade of LAUTECH to Southwest Varsity

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YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has advocated the upgrading of the Ladoke Akintola UniversityofTechnology(LAUTECH) to Southwest’s regional university.

The governor noted that this would enable the university to serve the region better because it is among the best in Nigeria.

In 2010, LAUTECH was engulfed in an ownership crisis between former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo State and his Osun State counterpart, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

Alao-Akala was said to have taken a unilateral decision on the university without the consent of the Osun State Government, a joint owner.

Though the ownership crisis has been resolved between the present Action Congress of Ni-

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

geria (ACN) Governors Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and his Osun State counterpart, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the fate of its structures hangs in the balance.

Ajimobi spoke in Ogbomoso at a Town Hall meeting at the Soun Ogunmola Hall.

According to him, LAUTECH, which has a population of about 10,000 students, boasts modern facilities and equipment to host the Southwest regional university.

The governor also spoke on the proposed state Technical University, which he said would take off any moment, following the passage of an Act establishing it by the House of Assembly.

He said the N50 billion structures erected in Ogbomoso by Alao-Akala would become the

teaching hospital of the proposed university.

The structures have been proposed to become LAUTECH’s teaching hospital. But this has generated a controversy between the owner-states.

Ajimobi laid to rest the controversy when he said that instead of allowing the structures to waste, given the huge resources committed to them, they would be converted to the teaching hospital of the proposed state university.

The governor noted that though the institution has many unused medical equipment, he added that the structures would be subjected to an integrity test to determine their suitability.

He hailed the House of Assembly for approving the proposed university, saying this has cleared the road for its take-off.

Ajimobi, who visited the

Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi Ajagungbade III, promised that the Takie-Grammar School Road would be dualised to ease the traffic congestion within the metropolis.

The governor said the reconstruction of the Soun Ogunlola Hall would soon begin, in response to the request by the National President of Ogbomoso Parapo, Chief Adisa Adeleye.

He added that a township stadium would also be built before the end of his administration.

Ajimobi inaugurated the Ipeba-Ajaawa Road; the Ajaawa Township Stadium; Carlifornia-Ibafon Road; Hospital-Aworawo Road and the Vocational Training Centre, among others, in the five local government areas under Ogbomoso.

Ondo PDP berates Babatope for backing Mimiko From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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HE Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday condemned a statement credited to one of its national leaders, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, that Governor Olusegun Mimiko is the best candidate for October 20 election in the state.

The former Transport Minister, at a recent forum in Akure, the state capital, hailed Mimiko’s achievements, saying he deserves a second term.

But in a statement by its Director of Publicity, Ayo Fadaka, the PDP described Babatope as a periodic nomad that sometimes passes through Ondo State.

It said: “In his (Babatope’s) estimation, he believes that the administration of Dr Olusegun Mimiko has done so well and, therefore, deserves a second term. This statement, credited to a man of Babatope’s status, is absolutely unfortunate and typical of the withdrawal of many elites from the expected responsibilities that government must discharge to the governed. “...We know, without asking questions, what Babatope saw. We are sure he saw the water fountain that spills water on the streets and we are sure that he did not bother to know that the people of this state do not have water to drink. We are also sure that he saw the numerous government buildings that have been painted in the orange colour of Labour Party (LP) and we also know that he must have forgotten that those projects predate the Mimiko administration. Finally, the markets.

“For the umpteenth time, it is essential to educate all these political nomads that the Mimiko administration has received the highest allocation ever and has made over N580billion within the 40 months of its existence. And all we see are projects that create mere excitement but do not address fundamental developmental requirements of the state.

“It is absolutely unfortunate for people like Babatope to just come into the state and get carried away with mere window dressing and not making proper investigation of the precarious situation that mismanagement has brought us to.”

The statement noted that the state PDP takes serious exception to Babatope’s “unguarded statement” about the party’s preparation for the October 20 election.

The party said it needs to educate the former minister that the state PDP is not only ready for the election but its members are contesting to win.

Ondo ACN chieftain urges supporters to work for Akeredolu’s success

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NE of the governorship aspirants on the platform of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ondo State, Joseph Jaiyeola Ajatta, yesterday urged his supporters to abide by the decision of the party’s national leaders on the choice of Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) as ACN flag bearer in the October 20 gov-

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

ernorship election.

Ajatta also said his Jaiyeola Ajatta Campaign Organisation (JACO) would immediately start working for the success of the party in the election.

In a statement in Akure, the state capital, Ajatta said it has

become necessary for all party members to ensure the victory of the ACN at the poll.

He said: “As a progressive and loyal party man, from the First Republic till date, it is imperative that we collaborate for the success of our party.

“The non-utilisation of resources accruable to Ondo State for the benefit of our

people over the past three and a half years should not be allowed to continue under the present government.

“It is only in electoral victory that we will talk meaningfully about the integration with other Southwest geo-political zone for the betterment of the people of the state.

“Those of you who joined

us from other parties should remain steadfast, and those yet to join are hereby invited to join ACN and vote massively for the party in the next election.”

Ajatta urged other aspirants of the party to support the decision of the national leaders to unseat the ruling Labour Party (LP) government.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

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NEWS THE BATTLE FOR EDO Police warn detractors

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SSISTANT Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 5 Hashimu Argungu has warned politicians to desist from using thugs to cause distractions during next week’s governorship election.

Argungu said strategies have been put in place to forestall any security breach before and after the election.

The AIG, who spoke while addressing reporters in Benin City, cautioned politicians to desist from actions and utterances that could lead to a crisis.

He said the command was not oblivious to plans by some trouble makers to cause disaffection among the people.

The police chief said: “These groups of people are professional trouble makers who, for their selfish motives, create crisis. They are agents of mischief.

“I assure all politicians, parties and the electorate that the police are ready for the election.

“We have a duty to ensure protection of life and property of all residents of the state.”

NCP resolves leadership crisis

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HE National Conscience Party (NCP) said it has resolved the leadership crisis rocking the state chapter of the party.

It said Victor Ogba and other executive members of the party remain the recognised leaders of the party in the state.

A letter by the Deputy National Chairman (Southsouth)Peters Omoragbon said members, who disowned the leadership of Victor Ogba, have been given queries.

The letter addressed to the

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said the members might be suspended indefinitely.

Omoragbon said the party leadership has begun investigation into the causes of the disaffection.

But, the members said they were not happy that Victor Ogba was parading nonelected members as executives.

Their spokesman, Maxwell Iyamu, said they were not given queries ,adding that they acted in the interest of the party.

N30m for entrepreneurs From Osagie Otabor, Benin

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DO State Government has presented N30million to 150 young entrepreneurs trained under the state Graduate Entrepreneurship Scheme.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who was represented by Secretary to the State Government Simon Imuekemhe, said the initiative was to empower youths through development of the medium and small scale industries.

Oshiomhole said over 10,000 youths has been employed through the Edo Youth Employment scheme.

The governor urged beneficiaries to utilise the funds judiciously, adding that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry will monitor its usage for prompt re-payment to enable others benefit.

Responding on behalf of beneficiaries, Inegbenehi Sly said they would use the fund for its purpose.

Six held for ‘buying’ voters’ cards

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IX persons were yesterday arrested on Siluko Road, Benin, the Edo State capital,by the police for allegedly buying voters’ cards.

Police sources said they are being interrogated at the Criminal Investigation Department.

But the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said its members were holding a legitimate meeting when they were attacked and kidnapped by thugs allegedly sponsored by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

PDP’s Publicity Secretary Matthew Urhoghide said the party’s Ward Chairman, Ebomwonyi Osemwegie, the Youth Leader and Women’s Leader were abducted by the attackers.

Urhoghide, in a statement,

•They were kidnapped, says PDP Stories from Osagie Otabor, Benin

said the attackers were led by an ACN chieftain.

He warned of retaliatory attacks, if their members were not released within 24 hours.

The statement reads: “Failure to do this within 24 hours, we shall mobilise our members to seek redress.

“In the face of these sustained attacks, Edo PDP is finding it difficult to restrain its supporters whose patience has run thin as a result of being at the receiving end.

“Edo PDP has been civil in its prosecution of the election and its opponents have taken that for weakness.”

‘I ran into some youths fighting and, upon inquiry, I was told that they were trying to stop PDP leaders from buying voters’ cards from the people’ But the ACN chieftain said some youths in the area raised the alarm that PDP members were buying voters’ cards in the building.

He said one of the PDP

members escaped with some voters’cards.

He said he stopped a fracas that would have led to a serious crisis, adding that the cards were bought at between N2,000 and N5,000.

His words: “There was no sign of any party flag in that house.

“I ran into some youths fighting and, upon inquiry, I was told that they were trying to stop PDP leaders from buying voters’ cards from the people.

“With the help of the policemen, we arrested six of them and one escaped.

“They are answering questions at the police station.”

Commissioner of Police Olayinka Balogun said nobody was kidnapped and that a senior police officer was looking into the matter.

Oshiomhole deserves second term, says Ihonvbere

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PEOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, has urged the people to vote for Governor Adams Oshiomhole because he is a performer and deserves a second term.

Speaking to a crowd of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) supporters at Ozalla in Owan West Local Government, Ihonvbere said Oshiomhole is a man of integrity.

According to him, the governor has demonstrated that he can transform the state, but the people have to give him the opportunity to complete the projects he has

started.

The former Presidential Adviser on Policy and Strategy told the gathering ,which was attended by a former Deputy Governor, Peter Obadan, that the people should reject the money that the PDP will give to them.

Oshiomhole told the people that they have seen that Edo is viable, if the resources are applied for development.

He said: “We will bring water to the people who have no hope of getting water because previous governments said it was impossible, that is why we brought an industrial drilling rig to

Edo North.

“We have awarded the contract to renovate Ozalla Grammar School.

“We lay emphasis on education because with education there is no where you cannot get to in life,” he noted.

Oshiomhole said three and a half years will not be enough to repair all the damage done to the state in the past.

“I am here because I have what I can point at and when I say every local government headquarters will get street lights people believe me because we have done it in Benin and Ekpoma,” he added.

•Ihonvbere

The governor, who was also at Uzebba and Ivbidohen-Okpuji, said the government has awarded the contract for the construction of the Okpuji- Uzebba Road and the Osaji Secondary school has been transformed to a standard school.

Governor denounces ethnic campaigns

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DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has denounced the ethnic campaigns of the opposition.

He said the government would work to unite the people, since “we are one and the same.”

The governor, who also warned against the collection of land rent from cocoa farmers in Okada, Ovia North East Local Government, said nonindigenes should not pay money to owners of farmlands.

According to him, the land belongs to the government and the Oba of Benin.

“In Edo, we will not discriminate, instead the government must reunite the people, we are all one and the same,” he noted.

According to the governor, “the threat that if the cocoa farmers, who are non-natives, do not vote the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) their land will be taken from them is not possible.

“If you vote against the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), you are still entitled to live on that land.

“Never pay money as cocoa farmers to any individual and if anybody threatens you, that person will be arrested.

More support from artisans, women

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HE re-election bid of Governor Adams Oshiomhole of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) got a boost yesterday with the endorsement by Igbo women, National Association of Patent Medicine Dealers and Edo Saw Millers Association.

The groups gave their endorsement on different occasions when they visited Oshiomhole.

President of the Patent Medicine Dealers Ewere Igunma said their endorsement is based on the overall infrastructural transformation of the state and the governor’s commitment to ensure that politics in Edo State is peopledriven.

He said they are out to ensure that people vote for Oshiomhole in next Saturday’s election.

Leader of the Igbo women Mrs. Cyndy Nnaji said their reason for supporting Oshiomhole was for him to consolidate on his achievements.

She said: “If the road is good, you go twice and when the music is good, you play it twice.

Governor Oshiomhole’s acheivements are clear and visible for all to see.

“He has fulfilled all his promises in the areas “But when you make profits, you are entitled to pay tax to the government.

“If anybody harasses the cocoa farmers they should report to the government.”

Oshiomhole said the tax would be used to build more schools, more roads, provide street lights, hospitals and take water to the communi-

of social amenities, good roads, schools, hospitals, transportation and many others, for the betterment and benefit of all the people living in Edo State.”

Secretary of the Saw Millers Association Nmoye Lance said they decided to identify with the re-election of Oshiomhole due to the infrastructural development in the state.

He named associations under the body to include Timber Licence Association, Edo State Timber Contractors, Edo/Eastern States Saw Wood Dealers Associations, Timbers and Sawmill Workers Association, Lorry Drivers Association, Timber Converters Association and Lorry Owners Association.

He said they are ready to canvass votes for Oshiomhole to ensure a landslide victory for the ACN. Secretary to the State Government Simon Imuekheme and Deputy Governor Pius Odubu, who received the groups separately, urged them to ensure that their votes count.

ties.

The governor, who was also at Ohosu, Nikoroga and Ofunama in Ovia South West, assured the riverine communities of government’s attention in the provision of basic amenities.

“In the first tenure of the administration, we have shown that it is possible to

bring development to our communities as you can all see with the quality of schools and the roads we are building .

“It is a gradual process, what we still have to do is still much and if we have completed them, we would not have asked for a second tenure,” he added.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

CITYBEATS T Police dismiss Corporal

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

HE Police have dismissed a corporal, who allegedly shot a woman, Blessing Isabor, and abducted her younger sister, Patience.

Corporal Emmanuel Okujo was dismissed following an Orderly Room Trial (ORT).

Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar ordered the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon, Lagos, to investigate the case.

Okujo allegedly shot Blessing at her residence, No 12, Ifateyindo Street, Ifako and fled with Patience, who is pregnant for him.

Abubakar, it was learnt, directed that the case be investigated by the X-Squad following a petition from the Isabor family, who complained about how the case was being handled by the police

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•IGP takes over case

By Jude Isiguzo

in the Lagos Command.

The suspect allegedly carried out the act on February 10.

Attempts to locate him by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ifako Police Station, where he last served proved abortive.

Okujo and Patience turned themselves in at the Lagos State Command Intelligence Bureau in May, three months after the incident.

They have been in Police custody since. They were transferred to Alagbon, following Abubakar's directives.

The suspects may be charged to court for attempted murder and conspiracy after investigations.

Steven Isabor, an uncle to the girls, told CityBeats that the family is aware that the case has been transferred to Alagbon.

"We wrote a petition to the IGP about the case and how it was handled in Lagos, and we can tell you that the case has been trans-

ferred. All that we are asking for is for justice to prevail.”

Blessing, who was shot on the cheek, is still receiving treatment at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.

She is expected to undergo a corrective plastic surgery.

Her mother has been appealing to Nigerians for help because the family can no longer afford the hospital bills. The Office of the Public Defender (OPD) has also petitioned the police over the case.

Court reaffirms interim order on UNILAG

FEDERAL High Court sitting in Ikeja, yesterday reaffirmed its interim order restraining the Federal Government from renaming the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Moshood Abiola University.

Justice Steven Adah made the reaffirmation while hearing two suits challenging the name change announced by President Goodluck Jonathan on May 29.

The judge held that the restraining order granted by the court on June 25 would subsist pending the hearing and determination of the suits.

He also ordered that the two suits, which were filed by UNILAG Alumni Association and some students of the university, should be consolidated.

Justice Adah said this was in line with the provisions of Order 11 Rule 1 (2) of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules.

The judge said the consolidation was in order because of the similarities of the facts, the defendants and the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs.

The suit was instituted by Prof.

Olayide Abass and Mr Femi Olatunji, National President and Secretary of the UNILAG Alumni Association.

Others joined as plaintiffs are UNILAG students, such as; Ogunmola Olajide, Olawaye Elijah, Boatman Eniekenemi, Mathias Abraham, Asimiyu Ayodeji, Banjo Omojomi and Balogun Ismalia.

The defendants in the suit are the

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for shooting woman

By Bisi Onanuga

University of Lagos, the Council of the University of Lagos and the Senate of the University of Lagos.

Joined as defendants are the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Mohammed Adoke, and the National Assembly.

The counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr Wole Olanipekun (SAN), asked the

court to consolidate the suits.

Olanipekun said: “The issues involved in the two cases are legally the same issues bothering on the name change. ``The reliefs and the defendants are also the same and in order to save time, we want to move for the consolidation of the suits.''

The defence counsel did not op-

•From left: the FRSC Zonal Commander, Lagos and Ogun State, Asst. Corps Marshal K.A.B. Lawal and the chairman, Ikeja Local Govt, Wale Odunlami, during the Zonal Commander’s visit to his office... yesterday PHOTO: JUDE ISIGUZO

Muslims, Christians say no HOULD bodies be cremated to cremation in Lagos State?

This puzzle deepened yesterday as participants at the public hearing on "A bill for a law to provide for voluntary cremation and unclaimed bodies in Lagos State mortuaries and for connected purposes," expressed divergent views on the issue.

The public hearing was conducted by the Lagos State House of Assembly at its Lateef Jakande Auditorium in Alausa, Ikeja.

Some speakers criticised the state government for claiming that there is no land in the state to be used for mass burials and for burial grounds. They accused the government of using the land to build expensive estates in order to make money.

They also blamed the poor state of mortuaries on the government.

They said if a body is cremated, it is regarded as disrespect for the dead, blaming the government for shying away from its responsibility of providing an enabling environment.

AbdulRasaq Olatunji, who spoke on behalf of Association of Muslim lawyers, said: "If it is true that land in Lagos State has been exhausted, why can't the state government liaise with other neighbouring states and ask them to give it land in or-

pose the application, but informed the court that they had not filed their counter-affidavits in reply to the originating processes and therefore asked for an adjournment.

The judge adjourned the matter to Sept. 21, for hearing of the pending interlocutory application filed

by Olanipekun.

Chaplain held for shooting tricycle rider

By Oziegbe Okoeki

der to be used for mass burial."

Speaking on behalf of a Muslim group known as the Common, AbdulMojeed AddulKareem, said the proposed bill is against Islamic faith.

He said: "If we keep silent on the issue, and we say unclaimed corpses should be burnt, the spirit of Muslims among the bodies will be on our heads.

"This idea apart from being against our religion, it is also against our culture. If you say there is a crematorium in Ogun State, we know that there is no such law in Ogun State. So, we are not in support of this particular bill."

A member of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dele Asaju said when someone dies, the spirit is gone "and what we are seeing, on the floor is just the body. Even, the Bible says that we should give dust to dust and ashes for ashes."

Another Christian cleric representing CAN Oshodi disagreed with his colleague, saying: "cremation is alien to Christianity and contrary to divine injunction and also alien to our different cultures." He quoted from the Bible to support his view, saying the bill should be dropped.

By Jude Isiguzo

•Manko

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CHAPLAIN said to be an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) is in the police net for allegedly shooting a tricycle (keke NAPEP) operator.

He is being grilled by investigators at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos. Sources said the investigation is to unravel how ASP Moses Adekota, who ought not to carry any firearm, obtained one.

"A Chaplain is not supposed to move around with firearms. So, we want to find out who assigned him one," a source said.

The Chaplain, who is attached to the Lagos State Police Command, was said to have shot the keke NAPEP operator on his right shoulder for blocking him.

Sources said the Chaplain was driving home on Monday evening, when he ran into a traffic snarl on

Simbiat Abiola Road, Ikeja, Lagos.

The traffic jam, it was learnt, was caused by rain.

According to witnesses, the gridlock was caused by the reckless attitude of the tricycle operators who were loading on the road.

The ASP was said to have alighted from his car and asked one of the operators to leave the road, a development that resulted in an argument. The angry ASP reportedly went into his car, brought out a pistol and attempted to shoot one of the riders. The man reportedly fled on seeing the gun, but passers-by challenged the policeman for carrying a gun over a minor issue.

The Chaplain reportedly abandoned his car and mounted a motorcycle, ordering the rider to chase the fleeing man. It was learnt that the officer caught up with the Keke NAPEP man at Obada junction, around Anifowoshe and shot him.

His action ignited a protest during which he was disarmed and could have been lynched, but for the timely arrival of policemen from the MAN Centre Division, Ikeja.

Three men bag 25 months jail term each

By Precious Igbonwelundu and Fisayo Ige

AN Igbosere Magistrate's Court in Lagos has sentenced three men to 25-month imprisonment each for stealing N868, 000 from Mrs. Olarenwaju Omotala.

Yinka Olaiya, 20, Logere Azeez, 18, and Toyin Moruf, 18, were convicted on three counts of conspiracy, breaking and entering and stealing after pleading guilty.

They were said to have burgled the complainant's house at 1, Halleluya Street, Temu, Epe and stolen the following items: an HP laptop worth N200, 000; jewelleries valued N250, 000; one PS2 video game valued N20, 000, a camera worth N48, 000 and N350, 000 cash.

Sergeant Julius Babatope told the court that the offence, which contravened sections 409, 305 and 285 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, was committed on May 25.

He said the complainant returned from the market that day to find her apartment ransacked by unknown thieves who gained entry through her ceiling and made away with the said items.

"The complainant brought to the police station a screw driver and a white t-shirt which were suspected to have been abandoned at the scene of crime. In the course of police investigation, a lot of suspects were arrested but later released when they were found to have no connection with the crime," he said.

According to Babatope, the convicts were eventually arrested after the matter was transferred from Epe Police Division to Area J Command following the identification of the laptop that was taken away by one of the suspects.

"After the arrests and confessions of Yinka and Logere, Moruf, the mastermind of the crime, went into hiding and was arrested at waterside in Ogun state," he said.

Babatope said Moruf, had been on the wanted list of the Epe Police Station for allegedly raping a girl, also confessed to committing the crime.

Delivering judgment, Magistrate W.B. Balogun jailed the convicts 10 months each for conspiracy, three months each for breaking and entering and 12 months each for stealing.

Balogun said the sentences would run concurrently.

Four fake maritime agents arrested

By Precious Igbonwelundu

MEMBERS of an illegal maritime group, Merchant Maritime Transport Safety Association (MMTSA), have been arrested by the Nigerian Navy for allegedly duping some people of N13 million.

Godwin Awuko, 48, Idogo Yolinda, 42, Musa Sufyan, 35, and Nicholas Akpobilokemi, 55, were arrested for allegedly selling recruitment forms to people for N3,000 each. They realised over N13,739,600 and conducted training for over 200 youth at Irewe Island in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State.

The Navy said the suspects would be handed over to the Police while efforts are on to arrest fleeing other members of the gang.

The Operations Officer of the Western Naval Command, Commodore Henry Babalola, who paraded the suspects, said the sixmonth training involved boarding party, rescue operations parade and other military activities.

Aggrieved members of the group were said to have petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), after Awuko, their chairman, who is from Bayelsa State, allegedly embezzled the money.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

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NEWS Senate recommends state-run prisons From Onyedi Ojiabor, Abuja

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HOULD the recommendation of the Senate be accepted by the Presidency, states will soon build and maintain their prisons.

The Senate Joint Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Interior and Police Affairs, which considered “the plight of persons awaiting trial in Nigerian prisons,” recommended that the 1999 Constitution should be amended to remove prisons from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List. The plan is to enable states to build and maintain their prisons.

The recommendation was unanimously adopted by the Senate in session yesterday.

The upper chamber also recommended that the ongoing prison decongestion under the Federal Ministry of Justice should be discontinued as it is unsustainable.

It said that the programme should be completely taken over by the Legal Aid Council (LAC) which is more suitable for the job.

The Senate said that states and the Federal Ministry of Justice should be pro-active in reviewing case files before them for timely arraignment of suspects; It said that the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) should as a matter of urgency, set up Administration of Justice Commission pursuant to the Administration of Justice Act Cap A3,Vol1, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, for the purpose of ensuring interagency cooperation and collaboration in the justice sector in setting up strategies to address prison decongestion.

Court orders Hembe, Azubuogu to face trial

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Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court yesterday ordered the former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Capital Markets and Institutions, Herman Hembe and his deputy, Emeka Azubuogu, to face trial.

Justice Sadiq Umar dismissed their preliminary objections to the two-count charge of diversion of public funds slammed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The duo were charged following an allegation by the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms Arunma Oteh. They were consequently suspended.

Hembe was challenging the jurisdiction of the court to

entertain the charge Azubuogu challenged the leave granted the anti-graft agency by the court to prefer the charge.

Ruling, Justice Umar held that the EFCC had been able to establish a prima facie case against the accused.

Consequently, he dismissed the preliminary objections.

Before adjourning till July 18 and 19 for arraignment, the Judge promised to give the matter accelerated hearing.

He directed the EFCC to produce its witnesses on that day.

At the last sitting, Hembe’s counsel, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), said the court lacks jurisdiction to hear the suit because the allegation is still being investigated by the House of

Representatives Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

Besides, he said the counteraffidavit, which contains “extraneous facts and purports to make the EFCC a respondent in the suit”, is contrary to the Evidence Act, adding that there is contrivance and falsification of information.

He described the entire charge as an avenue to waste the public money.

“The prosecution is nothing but persecution and a waste of Nigeria’s public money. By virtue of Section 89 of the 1999 Constitution, it is the National Assembly that has the jurisdiction to investigate this matter,” Okutepa added.

Azubuogu’s counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) argued that, since the report of the House Committee investigating the

allegation has not been released, it will not serve the cause of justice to try his client.

“There is a case of inadequacy of documents and so there is no case for the second accused to answer to, especially as he sought to return the money through the Clerk of the House, only for the Director-General of SEC to ask him to keep the money, since there will be another conference.The absence of the DG of SEC in this case exposes the complicity in it.”

Citing Section 167 (b) of the Evidence Act, Ikpeazu submitted that, “the prosecution is bound to produce all criminal documents to the court to warrant trial and the absence of the DG of SEC in this case exposes the complicity in it.”

Objecting, the Prosecution

counsel, Ojeffu Ibe urged the court to dismiss the two applications.

He asked the court to establish whether the estacode was used for what it was meant for.

Referring to his counteraffidavit, Ibe said the 1999 Constitution only gave the National Assembly lawmaking powers, and not powers to investigate.

Justice Umar has adjourned till July 18 for ruling.

The two suspects allegedly converted $4095 each about N600,000 to their own use given to them by the SEC as traveling allowance to a conference in Dominican Republic in October, last year.

The offence is contrary to Section 308 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Security agents probe Abuja blast

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Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Kingsley Kuku (second right); Senators Ita Enang (right), Committee Chairman, James Manager (second left) and Vice Chairman, Nurudeen-Abatemi Usman, when members of the Committee on Niger Delta visited the Amnesty Office in Abuja...yesterday.

Tinubu greets US on independence anniversary

‘Fed Govt won’t shield criminals’

By Joseph Jibueze

• Group demands probe of ex-Governor Idris From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

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HE Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), yesterday said that the Federal Government will not shield those who indulge in killings and other forms of violent crimes.

He spoke in Abuja when International Criminal Court Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda visited him.

The minister said the executive arm had sent a Bill on Crime Against Humanity to the National Assembly.

The essence of the Bill, he said, is to criminalise crimes against humanity and genocide.

According to him, the government has been taking some pro-active measures to tackle violence-in line with the rule of law principles.

A group of youths carrying placards besieged the main entrace to the Federal Ministry of Justice to demand the prosecution of former Kogi State Governor Ibrahim Idris over allegations of corruption.

The youths in their scores were carrying placards with various inscriptions such as “EFCC invite IBRO”, “ICPC invite IBRO” among other inscriptions. IBRO is the immediate past governor of Kogi state, Alh. Ibrahim Idris.

Security agents brought the situation under control.

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

•Asiwaju Tinubu

CTION Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday congratulated the United States on its 236th independence anniversary.

In a letter to the US Ambas-

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sador to Nigeria, Terence P. McCulley, Tinubu said the ideals which led to America’s greatness are universal.

The former Lagos State governor said the world was watching to learn from America’s forthcoming election and to learn from its transparent processes.

He said: “May I extend my congratulations to the United States and to you personally as you celebrate Independence Day. “As your nation marks its 236th birthday, please know that Nigerians and freedomloving people throughout the world celebrate with you.

“The ideals of democracy,

Today, as we affirm the rightness of these ideals, it is as if we all are Americans. I want to personally thank you for inviting me to today’s celebration. justice and liberty that have propelled America to greatness are universal.

“Today, as we affirm the rightness of these ideals, it is as if we all are Americans. I want to personally thank you for inviting me to today’s celebratio at your residence.

“While I will not be there physically, I will certainly pass the evening honouring the spirit of the occasion.

“By way of this letter, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the American people for the support they have provided to the democratic struggle in Nigeria.

“As America moves toward free and fair presidential elections this year, the entire world is watching, not only to see the outcome but because your transparent processes serve as an example for all.

“Again, I celebrate with you on the occasion of America’s birthday and hope that your reception tonight is an unalloyed success.”

ECURITY agents are probing Tuesday’s explosion, which they believed was targeted at Sheriff Plaza, owned by National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki’s brother, Abba.

They are trying to identify the motive and mission of those who planted the bomb.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The bomb was planted opposite the plaza owned by Abba Dasuki, who is a brother to the NSA. Despite the fact that there was no loss of life, security agents have started investigating the motive and mission of the fleeing suspects.

“No one can say if the NSA is the target but this is a fresh dimension to terrorism. Where terrorists cannot get you, they tend to target your relations.

Terrorists has a way of fighting back.

“Security agencies are just examining the possibility of a ‘likely hit back’ at the NSA. But we have not concluded preliminary investigation.”

Vehicle owners warned

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HE Lagos State Police Command has warned owners of abandoned vehicles parked at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba to remove them or lose them to members of the public through auction.

The vehicles are Mazda car KG 391EKY, Espero HL 972 KJA, V/W Bus XX524 KJA, Sienna Car JJJ 826 A99, V/W Golf SJ 230 AAA, BMW Car LY 43 KJA and Gallant AL 85LND

Agabi’s absence stalls trial of el-Rufai, two others

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HE trial of former 2Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Nasir el-Rufai, and two others at an Abuja High Court could not hold yesterday due to the absence of Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), a defence counsel.

Also standing trial with elRufai are Altine Jibrin, a former Director-General, Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS), and Ismail Iro, a former AGIS General Manager.

They are facing an eightcount charge of abuse of office and illegal possession of government lands by the

EFCC. The land allegedly acquired by the trio was meant for the building of transmitting/ Injection sub-stations of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) at Plot 1201, Asokoro, Abuja. el-Rufai was also charged with allocating 10 plots of land with the help of Jibrin and Iro in Asokoro District to his family members, including his two wives, Hadiza and Hasiya.

The action was allegedly committed “in sheer disregard of the law guiding land allocation’’.

At the resumed trial before

Justice Abubakar Umar, EFCC counsel, Mr Adebayo Adelodun (SAN), told the court that Mr Sunday Idowu, an investigation officer of antigraft agency was in court.

Adelodun said that the witness was ready for cross examination by Agabi (counsel to Iro).

But Mr Haruna Alome, who was holding brief for Agabi, informed the court that the principal counsel was not in court due to ill health.

Alome told the court that he could not go on with the cross examination because Agabi only sent him to apply for an adjournment.

Reacting to the application for adjournment at the instance of the defence counsel, the EFCC lawyer informed the court that the timing for the absence of Agabi was “ill-timed’’.

“My Lord I know what I went through to be able to produce my witness, Idowu in court today.

“I have no objections to the application. But I want the court to take judicial notice of the fact that we are ready to go on with the matter and the adjournment is at the instance of the defence team,’’ he said.

Also reacting, counsel to elRufai (first) and Jibrin (second

•el-Rufai

accused), Chief Akin Olujimi (SAN), did not object to the application for adjournment.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

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BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Naira firms as oil firms, CBN sell dollars

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HE naira firmed against the greenback on the interbank market yesterday, after dollar sales by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and two oil firms boosted liquidity amid lacklustre demand, traders said.

The naira ended at N162.75 to the dollar on the interbank, firmer than the N163.16 it closed at on Tuesday.

Dealers said Chevron Nigeria Limited and Addax Oil sold about $50.2 million combined to some lenders, thereby lifting liquidity in a market with waning dollar demand.

At its auction, the CBN sold $251 million at N155.90 to the dollar, compared with $350 million auctioned at N155.94 on Monday.

It had initially offered $350 million at yesterday's sale, but only shifted $251 million due to insufficient demand, traders said. The apex bank did not disclose the level of demand at its auction.

"We see the market hovering around N162.50 and N163 in the coming days, unless there is a resurgence in demand and slowdown in dollar sales by oil companies," one dealer said.

The naira has weakened from around N159 to the dollar since the beginning of the year to above N162, in the past two months, driven partly by an exit of offshore investors in the local debt market and demand by fuel importers.

The CBN has been providing support to prop up the naira through direct intervention at the interbank market, which has been eating into the country's reserves.

Nigeria's foreign exchange reserves declined to $36.8 billion by July 3, compared with $37.64 billion a month earlier, the apex bank’s data showed on yesterday.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil - $123.6/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 -12.6% Treasury Bills -7.08% Maximum lending-22.42% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -2% 91-day NTB -14.18% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $34.6b CFA EUR £ $ ¥ SDR RIYAL

-

FOREX

0.2958 206.9 245 156.4 1.9179 241 40.472

Research has shown that about 90 per cent of bank customer daily withdrawals are of amounts below N150,000 whereas only 10 per cent of bank customers who withdraw over N150,000 are responsible for the rise in cost of cash management being incurred by bank customers.

- Mallam Lamido Sanusi, CBN Governor

NNPC to review five-year audit reports T HE Nigeria National Petroleum Corpora tion (NNPC) is to review audit reports of its activities in the past five years, the Group Managing Director , Andrew Yakubu, has said Yakubu, said the move is to build a comprehensive information data base to improve the corporation’s performance and address relevant recommendations.

The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Fidelis Pepple quoted the GMD as saying: “NNPC will have a zero tolerance for corruption and cases of corrupt practices will be severely dealt with in accordance with extant laws.”

Yakubu, who spoke during his inaugural town hall meeting with management and staff at the NNPC Towers, said Corporation would ensure the security and rehabilitation of its key pipe-

• New business model introduced From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

line infrastructure in the nation to guarantee efficient supply and distribution of petroleum products to every nook and cranny of the country.

The NNPC helmsman assured that management will work towards providing adequate welfare package for staff as well as strengthen its human resource base which he described as the Corporation’s greatest assets.

Besides, Yakubu said the corporation will introduce new business models in all Strategic Business Units (SBUs), stating that the step is to ensure the commercial viability of the Corporation to remain competitive in the

global oil and gas industry.

The NNPC boss, said the spokesman, noted that the management team will reposition the NNPC to become a commercially focused and profit-driven organisation that is governed by best management practices using technology in its effort to transform the corporation.

“To ensure early realisation of this objective, SBUs and CSUs must be positioned to pursue and maintain competitive operational and business efficiency, cost effectiveness, input/output optimisation,revenue maximisation and profitability,” the GMD said.

He listed the initiatives to be considered by the new management for immediate

approval and implementation to include: New business models and organisational structures for all the SBUs and CSUs, such as NNPC Retail Ltd, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) and others; capitalise and create profit-oriented SBUs; implement Project Sanction and Approval Procedure (PSAP); and implement performance management based on commercial orientation.

According to Yakubu, his agenda for the new NNPC will also include focusing on entrenching accountability and transparency, rebuilding NNPC’s financial position, implementing NPDC growth strategy, monetizing gas resources for national economic growth and development, revamping critical facilities and infrastructure as well as promoting capacity building, empowerment and staff welfare.

FCTA makes N1.1b IGR • Area councils share N1.74b From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

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HE Federal Capital Territory Administra tion (FCTA) realised N1.1billion from internally generated revenue last month, the Minister of State for the Federal capital Territory (FCT), Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, has said.

The minister, who made this known at the FCT Area Councils’ Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) in Abuja, also confirmed that the N1.743 billion allocation from the Federation Account for May, was allocated to the six area councils.

The minister, who was represented by the Director of Admin & Finance, Area Councils Services Secretariat, Alhaji Yusuf Tsaiyabu, explained that the Abuja Geographical Information System (AGIS) contributed N486.82 million out of the total IGR for the preceding month.

She said: “We achieved an IGR of N1.101 billion in June 2012.Of this amount, N486.82 million was realised by AGIS, while Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) collected N304.01million.Water Board recorded N202.57 million; Abuja Environmental Protection Board, N60.52 million and the Directorate of Road Traffic Services, contributed N34.14 million.”

Lessor seeks to repossess four aircraft, says Air Nigeria

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

T

• From left: Business Head, Citiserve, Mr Jubril Salaudeen; Chief Executive Officer, Citiserve, Lola Ogunbambi; Head, E-Business, Union Bank, Mr Fatai Baruwa; and Project Co-ordinator, Mrs. Pearl Kanu, during the Citiserve Merchant Congress stakeholders' forum in Lagos ... yesterday.

Daewoo to generate 10,000MW electricity in new deal with Nigeria

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IGERIA and Daewoo Engineering and Construction Company Limited yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate the production of 10,000 megawatts of electricity projects in the country.

A statement by the Special Assistant, Media to Minister of Power, Ogbuagu Anikwe, said Daewoo is to provide 20 per cent equity in the various projects listed in the scheme, as well as offer expert advice and guidance on electrical, production and construction of power projects to interested companies.

Minister of Power, Prof.

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

Bart Nnaji signed on behalf of the government, while the President/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Daewoo Engineering and Construction, Sang-Real Kim, signed for his company.

Nnaji said: “Today is a very important day for the relationship we want to create between ourselves and Daewoo and the people of Korea. President Goodluck Jonathan was in South Korea and he gave us an opportunity to reach your company. We agreed with your CEO that we would enter into a memorandum of understanding on how to work together and how your

company would work with us to improve power supply in Nigeria.”

Nnaji said the MoU would change the old system of contractors coming to the country simply to work and get paid and then go. “We are now making the power sector attractive for investment by international investors,” he said, adding that it is hoped that they would not only execute contracts, but would invest in the power sector.

The Chairman of Daewoo Engineering and Construction, Chief Joseph Penawou, expressed delight in the deal entered with the Federal Government.

The MoU is unique in many

• Nnaji

respects. While previous MoUs have guaranteed 10-15 per cent equity or other forms of investment in the reformbound Nigerian power sector by the foreign party, Daewoo under the terms of its MoU will invest 20 per cent equity in various engineering and construction services in the power sector.

HERE appears to be more troubles for Air Nigeria as the carrier yesterday confirmed moves by one of its lessors to repossess four of its aircraft.

Plans by the lessor came amid default in payment.

This has been worsened by the grounding of its operations by Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA).

In a statement signed by its Head, Corporate Communications, Sam Ogbogoro, Air Nigeria said: “Subsequent to the temporary suspension of Air Nigeria’s regional and domestic flight operations by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), our lessors have been requesting to repossess some of the aircraft in our fleet and we are fully co-operating to return their aircraft.

GECAS, one of our lessors, is calling four of their Boeing 737-300 aircraft, and Air Nigeria is cooperating in line with the Cape Town Convention to expedite the action.

He said Air Nigeria plans to acquire state-of-the-art aircraft to fill the reduction in capacity and is concluding plans to resume normal flight operations in its regional and domestic route soon.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

14

BUSINESS NEWS

Court consolidates applications in Dangote’s suit against Ibeto

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FEDERAL High Court in Lagos has elected to conduct one hearing in a suit filed by businessman, Aliko Dangote, through his company, Dangote Cement Plc. By the suit, Dangote is seeking the revocation of a purported waiver granted to one of his keen competitor in the cement manufacturing sector, Ibeto Cement Company.He also wants the court to compel Ibeto and its subsidiaries to pay to the Federal Government some unpaid import duties estimated at billions of naira.

Justice Fatimat Nyako, in a ruling yesterday elected to conduct a simultaneous hearing on Dangote’s originating motion and the defendants’ preliminary objection to save time.

The judge maintained her position to take all pending applications at once despite argument to the contrary by the two lead defence lawyers, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) and Fabian Ajogwu (SAN).

Named as defendants in the

By Eric Ikhilae

suit marked FHC/L/CS/447/ 12 include Ibeto and its subsidiaries - IBG Investment Limited, Derima Ventures Ltd; Federal Republic of Nigeria, Attorney General of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Finanace, Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, Board of Customs and Excise, Federal Inland Revenue Service and Nigerian Ports Authority.

Dangote Cement claims that Ibeto, acting in concert with its subsidiaries, IBG and Derima Ventures, allegedly suppressed facts and acted fraudulently in obtaining a consent judgment against the Federal Government FHC/Abj/CS/ 400/2006 and FHC/Abj/CS/ 496/2010.

Dangote further accused Ibeto and other defendants in the suit of colluding with each other to confer an advantage on Ibeto and its subsidiaries, by allegedly being allowed to import bulk cement with only five per cent import tax, excluding Value Added Tax (VAT) as against a presidential direc-

tive of July 8,2010 directing cement importers to pay 20 per cent import duty and five per cent VAT. The plaintiff urged the court to order the Federal Government to recover duties and taxes owed by Ibeto and its subsidiaries, by virtue of the 2010 directive, an order setting aside the consent judgment and an order directing Ibeto, IBG and Deriva to refund the N7.8b paid to it by the government by virtue of the judgment.

It further prayed for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the three companies from further importing cement into the country except as newly approved by the appropriate authorities under the current fiscal tax policy stipulations in force.

The Federal Government, in its counter affidavit urged the court to dismiss the suit. It said Dangote’s claims in the suit were “anti-competition and designed to control the entire cement industry and leave Nigerians at the mercy of the plaintiff’s (Dangote’s) price whims and caprices.”

• Regional Controller, Central Business Unit, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr Adewunmi Okubote (left) presenting a brand new 32’’ LCD TV to the winner Mr Owu Sunday in the on-going PHOTO: ISAAC AYODELE JIMOH Legend Real Deal Promo.

Fed Govt votes N37b for jobs

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HE Federal Govern ment is to spend about N37 billion in the agricultural sector to create additional jobs, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has said.

Adesina, who spoke yesterday when the Chairperson, Sasakawa African Association (SAA), Prof. Ruth Oniang’o visited him in his office in Abuja, admitted that the unemployment rate in the country is high.

“We have high unemployment rate that we are trying to deal with, but agriculture provides the fastest way. So, we are in an early stage of developing a bit of N37 billion programme to create a lot of jobs for youths in agriculture, and we will be very happy for Sasakawa Global 2000 to help us.”

From Olugbenga Adanikin and Adeola Adeyoye, Abuja

Describing the nation’s food dependency model as that of slavery, the minister noted that the trend is not economically sustainable and politically unacceptable, saying it became imperative for the country to device the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) strategy to ensure that Nigeria is food sufficient by 2015 by adding 20 million metric tons of food to its status.

He said the government would require the organisation’s support in farm extension services, adding that the country lacks extension system. Adesina said he is pushing for the creation of a Department of Extension Service in the ministry to manage farmers’ challenges in exten-

sion services in the country.

In her remarks, Oniang’o said Nigeria has the potential to be self-sufficient in food production as well as for export.

She decried the high losses of post-harvest farm produce despite the rate of production in the country.

Oniang’o said: “About 40 per cent of African food production turns to waste actually because we don’t manage harvest output, value addition, marketing and job creation.”

She pledged to support Nigerian farmers in capacity building and training.

She noted that it is possible to have agricultural potential, but still lacks good personnel to manage the virtues. “We will offer our training through extension workers,” she added.

Complaints trail PHCN pre-paid cards’ scarcity in Abuja

P

ROCUREMENT of elec tricity pre-paid cards has become a hot cake in Abuja.

Areas where the problem is rampant are Kubwa, Karu and Gwagwalada districts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

This has resulted in long queues of customers at the service stations at Byazhin, Kubwa, Karu and Gwagwalada vending centres.

At PW -Kubwa, Byazhin and Karu yesterday, the cashiers only complained that there was no network to vend the cards. The Business Manager of the Kubwa Unit of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), Usman M. Usman, said there has been a challenge in procuring the rib-

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

bon for the vending machine since the vending centres ran out of stock.

He said the challenge arose because PHCN did not know that the ribbon for vending the old pre-paid meters was different from the new ones installed by the World Bank.

He said: “You know, we cannot tell the customers that there is no ribbon for the machines. So, we have to tell them that there is no network for vending the cards. The problem is also in Gwagwalada and Karu; so, it is not only here. When I called Karu and Gwagwalada for the ribbon, I was told that it was also not available there. We

have placed an order for the ribbon from Lagos and we are already told that they are at the park for onward delivery to us.”

One of the customers at the Byazhin service station complained that cashiers gave them the flimsy excuse that there was no network to vend the card, but they have a way of selling to selected customers after negotiation.

When our correspondent sought to know the cause of the scarcity from the Principal Public Affairs Manager of Zone 4, Wuse, Debo Adegoke, he claimed not to know. “It is only they in the field that can explain to you.

This is why I directed you to them in the vending stations,” he stated.

Ekiti, BP to partner on biofuel

E

KITI State will soon be come the first state to produce biofuel in the country.

The Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, said the state is working with British Petroleum (BP) to actualise this dream soon.

Biofuel is a fuel whose energy is derived from biological carbon fixation. It includes fuel derived from biomass conversion, as well as liquid fuels and various

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie Asst. Editor

biogases. It is gaining increased public and scientific attention, driven by factors, such as oil price hikes and the need for increased energy security and concern over greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels.

The Governor told The Nation that green economy remains the key to the creation and revival of the economy

of the state that is largely rural and agrarian society.

He also said his administration is working on sustainable development of the state by evolving the best strategy as far as land management and conservation of the environment is concerned.

On his challenges, he said it is funding. The state been the 35th in revenue allocation by the Federal Government.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

18

NEWS Youths decry military harassment

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OUTHS in Badagry, Lagos, are lamenting the presence of soldiers and Customs personnel in Gbaji.

Under the auspices of MIFON MININOPO HENGO YOUTH association of Badagry, the youth said commuters plying the road were facing hardship because of the presence of the security personnel.

The group’s spokesman, Lanre Abu, said the presence of the security personnel was not unconnected with fracas between some smugglers and Customs.

Abu said his group had arrested some of the smugglers and handed them over to the police, adding that his group is always ready to work with security agencies.

Abu urged the security agents not to harass commuters in the discharge of their duties.

Police arraign two for alleged N11m theft

Police arrest man for killing Corporal

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36-year-old man, Opeyemi Afolabi, has been arraigned before an Oshodi Senior Magistrate’s Court for killing his friend, Energy Moses, a Police Corporal.

The late Moses, attached to the Ajeromi Police Division, died on December 19, 2011 along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, following an accident he sustained on Afolabi’s motor bike.

He was Afolabi’s passenger when the incident happened.

The two friends, who were allegedly drunk, rode on the bike en route Police Mechanised Salary System (MSS), Oduduwa, Ikeja, Lagos, where Moses was going to collect his October salary.

At Afariogun Bus stop, Oshodi, Afolabi allegedly lost control and hit a culvert.

Moses, who was Afolabi’s

By Precious Igbonwelundu

passenger, somersaulted and fell on the other side of the road, hitting his head on the ground and died instantly.

Realising that his friend was dead, Afolabi absconded, leaving behind the bike which he borrowed. He was later arrested by the police.

Afolabi was arraigned on a three-count charge of fatal man slaughter, operating a motorcycle under the influence of alcohol as well as riding without permit.

The charge states that the defendant on December 19 at about 3: 45pm, inward Mile2,

by Afariogun, Oshodi junction, the defendant being the rider of motorcycle with registration no.

AM238GGK, operated same recklessly, under the influence of alcohol and without riders’ permit, and caused the death of Moses.

His offences were said to have contravened Sections 29(1) Cap 172, 27 Cap 124, 19 and 7(1) of the Road Traffic Act, Laws of Lagos State 1994.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted N500,000 bail with two sureties in like sum by Magistrate M.R. Osho-Adebiyi.

Similarly, the Makinde Police Division, Mafoluku, Oshodi, has arraigned Anthony Ojo, for allegedly hitting a minor with a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number YA536MUS. Ojo, being the driver of the bus, allegedly knocked down

a three-year-old, Ijeoma, Onyema Isaac, of 3, Abeni Bakare Street on February 23, causing her severe injury.

The police said besides Ijeoma, Ojo also knocked down Sunday Okelike of 15, Ajenifuja Street, Orile-Oshodi, as well as damaged to a Toyota Corolla Saloon Car belonging to Oluwafemi Adeniyi and a Mercedes Benz saloon car, property of Ajetumobi, both residents of 80, Makinde Street, Oshodi.

Ojo, who was arraigned before Magistrate Osho-Adebeyi, was said to have committed an offence contrary to sections 29 (1), 34 and 23(A) of the Road Traffic Laws of Lagos State 1994.

The matter was later transferred to family court Ikeja because of the minor.

By Precious Igbonwelundu and Fisayo Ige

T

WO suspects, Ojimba Francis (40) and Dyabu Ismaila (50), have been arraigned for allegedly stealing goods worth N11 million.

The men are standing trial before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court on two counts of conspiracy and stealing of template iron belonging to Alhaji Ibrahim Bana.

The defendants were said to have diverted in transit, a trailer containing 40 templates iron valued at N11 million.

Prosecuting Inspector Marcus Okon told the court that the accused persons, with others at large, were contracted by Bana on February 26, at Apapa-Wharf, to deliver the materials in Kaduna.

He said the defendants were paid about N1 million to transport the goods, but ended up in diverting the goods to unknown destination.

“The defendants claimed they were attacked by armed robbers on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway around 3am on February 27, whereas, they allegedly stopped over at Ibafo by 10am.

“They made no contact with either the complainant or the police about the alleged armed robbery and their numbers were not going through.

Till date, neither the goods nor the trailer has been recovered,” Okon said.

Okon added that one of the defendants, who claimed that his phone was stolen by the robbers, was later seen with it at the police station.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, which contravene Sections 409 and 285(5)(b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

Investigation revealed that the defendants have been arrested severally by the Area C Police Command on similar matters.

Both defendants have been working together for about 15 years, but claimed they do not know each other’s residence.

We learnt that they used a white trailer with fake registration numbers to collect peoples’ goods in the guise of delivering them.

The team included two others, who are the trailer owner and the manager, both of whom are at large.

Magistrate Mr. A.A. Adefulire granted the defendants N5 million bail each with two sureties in the like sum.

•From left, Mr Chuks Akamadu, Chairman Board of Trustees, Ms Maryam Augie and President Nigerian Youths Affairs Mr Nnawuihe at the press PHOTO: JOHN EBHOTA conference flagging off the association at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos... on Tuesday.

Govt promotes safety in schools •Public schools may be shut to prevent hazards

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•Mrs Odebunmi

ICKETY school buses will henceforth be impounded in Lagos and the owners penalised, Director-General of the State Safety Commission Mrs Dominga Odebunmi has said.

Speaking at a safety awareness campaign held yesterday at Immaculate Height Secondary School, Maryland, Lagos, Mrs Odebunmi said safety in schools is of paramount importance to the government.

According to her, lack of adhering to safety precaution in schools are the root causes of hazards

By Yinka Aderibigbe

and accidents that has claimed lives of school children in the past.

Mrs Odebunmi said the campaign, which is open to all public and private schools, seeks to “inject safety into the education sector.”

The campaign, which would be carried to the other five education districts Mrs Odebunmi said, is meant to keep public school managers, owners and administrators abreast of the minimum safety requirements of the government.

She said the school safety general rule manual, an allembracing document which will address the minimum safety standards expected of them,

Lagos raises alarm on low quality blocks

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AGOS State Government yesterday raised the alarm over the sales of low quality blocks being sold to unsuspecting property developer in the state.

The Managing Consultant to the Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory, (LSTML) Mr. Shola Famakin, disclosed this yesterday, after conducting material test on

By Miriam Ndikanwu some products, during an assessment visit to some block making factory in Ayobo area.

He called on developers and sponsors of building and construction works across Lagos State who patronises block makers to be mindful of the quality of blocks they purchase.

He said the use of substandard materials contributed mainly to the incessant cases of building collapse noting that most of the sandcrete blocks inspected and tested failed to meet the recommended strength required for good construction works.

He said: “A random test of sancrete blocks at eight block

moulding sites revealed that only two sites have products that met the minimum quality standard of good blocks.”

He added that sites that fell below the expected standard have been duly advised to rectify the situation pending another recertification test.

have been packaged to ensure that school authorities in the state knows how to promote safety in their various schools.

“This document addresses safety in such areas as school transportation, construction of school buildings and fire safety, among others.

Mrs Odebunmi said though the Commission was still collating input aimed at transforming the document into law, all the appropriate ministries and departments are poised to begin its implementation once the schools buy into it.

She said: “We are prepared to begin the implementation of provisions of this guideline.

This is a document that took us a year to compile.”

Mrs Odebunmi said the initiative which is aimed at making safety a lifestyle in schools, would ensure the development of school managers’ capacity to respond timely to security issues for pupils.

The awareness campaign continues today at the Government Senior College, Alagba, IyanaIpaja, while education district three, would have theirs at St Georges Girls Primary School, Falomo, Ikoyi, tomorrow.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

19

EDITORIAL/OPINION Comments

EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

Rigged rates, rigged markets

Birth control?

• Again, President Jonathan courts needless controversy

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T appears President Goodluck Jonathan wishes to make unnecessary controversy a principle of governance. Having begun his substantive term as president with the mooting of a sevenyear single term, and followed this up last month with an expletive-laden refusal to publish his assets, the president has announced his intention to enact birth-control legislation.

Speaking at the swearing-in of the Chairman and Commissioners of the National Population Commission (NPC), Jonathan pointed out the dangers of over-population and encouraged the commission to develop a programme of awareness on birth control. He acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue, given deeply-entrenched religious and cultural beliefs, and promised that his administration would carry out adequate preparations be-

‘Population reduction represents a superficial response to Nigeria’s development challenges. It will not resolve the crises of access to educational, medical and other opportunities, nor will it address the fundamental disconnect that has paradoxically turned an oilrich nation into one of the world’s poorest countries. Indeed, it could simply add yet another burden to the country’s plethora of woes by attempting to impose unpopular policies on a resentful populace’

fore any policy initiatives are announced.

On the face of it, the President’s statements are unremarkable. Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country, and ranks among one of the 10 most-heavily populated countries. Lagos, its commercial centre, is a virtual mega-city. With a birth rate of 35.51 births for every 1,000 citizens, there is little doubt that Nigeria does need to ensure that its huge population does not constitute a drag upon continued growth.

The problem, however, is that President Jonathan appears to have approached the issue from the wrong angle by looking at the country’s population as a burden rather than an opportunity. A nation’s people are its human resources; countries like Singapore and Japan have shown that if they are properly harnessed, a country’s human resources can be even more valuable than its natural endowments. BRICS, the emerging-economies club, counts three heavily-populated nations among its members – China, India and Brazil.

All three are models of high growth rates, rapid infrastructural development and significant reductions in poverty, illiteracy and disease.

In Nigeria, the situation is markedly different. Despite its large population, the country has one of the highest rates of infant and maternal mortality. It has unacceptably high levels of illiteracy, unflattering school enrolment rates and staggeringly high rates of unemployment.

Even though it has substantially high growth rates averaging over seven per cent, much of this is jobless growth which does not result in increased employment or even out income disparity. While it does not require food aid, the country has become heavily-dependent on food imports and spends billions of dollars an-

nually on the importation of rice, wheat and processed foods. At 47 years, Nigeria’s life expectancy is the lowest in the West African sub-region.

None of these challenges is directly attributable to a large population. In actual fact, their roots lie in a virtual collapse in basic infrastructure, especially healthcare, education, agriculture and energy. Combined with a succession of rapacious and incompetent administrations, Nigeria has been unable to maximise its potential. This has made it impossible for the country’s population to take its rightful place at the vanguard of development.

Transforming this lamentable situation is what the Jonathan administration should focus on. It is puerile to contemplate population reduction when infant mortality is so high; it is ridiculous to consider introducing birth control legislation when the nation is facing critical shortages in almost all the professions; it makes no sense to be thinking of reducing invaluable human resources instead of thinking about how to maximise their use.

Population reduction represents a superficial response to Nigeria’s development challenges. It will not resolve the crises of access to educational, medical and other opportunities, nor will it address the fundamental disconnect that has paradoxically turned an oil-rich nation into one of the world’s poorest countries. Indeed, it could simply add yet another burden to the country’s plethora of woes by attempting to impose unpopular policies on a resentful populace.

Nigeria’s citizens are its greatest assets; properly utilised, they will prove to be a more lasting benefit than crude oil.

None to drink • Considering what has been spent on water projects, more Nigerians should have access to potable water

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F truly, as the late Afrobeat King, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti sang, “water has no enemy”, how come more than half the population of Nigeria has no access to potable water? If, indeed, there is water here, water there, as many poets have written, why then is there not enough to drink? Nigeria’s situation is particularly pathetic because in the last five years alone, at least one trillion Naira has been spent by the federal, states and local governments, as well as individuals, on water projects. So, why are millions of Nigerians still without potable water, despite the huge investments in water projects?

Some experts say it is due to the well known ‘Nigerian factor’: corruption. Others say it is under-investment in water projects. None of the two can easily be dismissed. There is no doubt that corruption has become a cankerworm in the country and there is no sector of our economy or lives that it does not affect.

One of the ways by which corruption manifests in the country is through abandonment of projects. Just last week, the Federal Government complained about the various projects it had awarded contracts for and actually paid mobilisation fees on, but which were abandoned at various stages of completion. Obviously, many water projects are caught in this web.

Two classical stories of such projects spanning about three decades will do. The first is the Zobe Dam Project scheduled for completion in 1983 but which as at 2010 remained a dream. The project was intended to deliver 65,000 cubic metres of potable water to Katsina metropolis daily. The Kafin Zaki Dam in Bauchi State

is another example. Conceived in1974, former President Shehu Shagari awarded the contract in 1979, with 1982 set as the completion date. It is also yet to be completed. Both projects had suffered several reviews, with successive governments injecting millions of naira into them before abandoning them. A major problem here is political instability which makes one government to see the projects as priorities and others to see them as less so.

Of course, when projects are abandoned, a lot of money must also have been lost in the process; and this is only one of the many ways that corruption has eaten deep into the country’s fabric.

But what is important is not the varying figures of Nigerians being bandied as not having access to potable water, or even whether the projects are usually abandoned after monies had been sunk into them. That as much as half of the 140 million Nigerians lack potable water is a serious challenge because of the consequences. Where piped water is a near luxury, people, especially rural dwellers will continue to source drinking water from polluted springs/rivers or wells, with the attendant health risks of contracting diseases such as guinea worm, cholera, typhoid, diarrhoea and river blindness.

These eventually have to be treated. Why then do we have to waste money treating preventable diseases? Even when people decide to sink boreholes, they hardly adhere to standards, which poses its own dangers.

As the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has noted,

“the right to water is a fundamental human right…”, and its violation will continue to contribute to the violations of other human rights. We want to emphasise though that what would give more Nigerians access to potable water is not necessarily the amount of money pumped into water projects but the extent of planning, monitoring and sincerity of purpose on the part of those whose responsibility it is to make water available and accessible to the populace.

If with the little resources accruing to his government from cocoa export in the 1950s, Chief Obafemi Awolowo could provide clean water for the Western Region, there is no justifiable reason why millions of Nigerians should be having challenges having access to potable water.

’We want to emphasise though that what would give more Nigerians access to potable water is not necessarily the amount of money pumped into water projects but the extent of planning, monitoring and sincerity of purpose on the part of those whose responsibility it is to make water available and accessible to the populace’

PDATE: After this editorial went to press, Barclays announced that its chief executive, Robert Diamond Jr. had resigned, effective immediately, and that Marcus Agius, who had resigned as chairman of Barclays on Monday, would become chairman again and lead the search for a new chief executive.

Marcus Agius, the chairman of Barclays, resigned on Monday, saying “the buck stops with me.” His was the first departure since the British bank agreed last week to pay $450 million to settle findings that, from 2005 to 2009, it had tried to rig benchmark interest rates to benefit its own bottom line.

Mr. Agius was right to go and the bank’s chief executive, Robert Diamond Jr., should follow him out the door. But the investigations cannot stop there.

The rates in question — the London interbank offered rate, or Libor, and the Euro interbank offered rate, or Euribor — are used to determine the borrowing rates for consumers and companies, including some $10 trillion in mortgages, student loans and credit cards. The rates are also linked to an estimated $700 trillion market in derivatives, which banks buy and sell on a daily basis. If these rates are rigged, markets are rigged — against bank customers, like everyday borrowers, and against parties on the other side of a bank’s derivatives deals, like pension funds.

Barclays is only one of more than a dozen big banks that provide information used to set the daily rate for Libor and Euribor. The settlement, struck with regulators in Washington and London and with the Department of Justice, indicates that the bank did not act alone. It shows that unnamed managers and traders of Barclays in London, New York and Tokyo colluded with or prevailed upon bank employees who provide the benchmark data to make false reports. The aim was to bolster Barclays’s trading positions and to aid or counteract other banks’ attempts at manipulation.

The evidence, cited by the Justice Department — which Barclays agreed is “true and accurate” — is damning. “Always happy to help,” one employee wrote in an e-mail after being asked to submit false information. “If you know how to keep a secret, I’ll bring you in on it,” wrote a Barclays trader to a trader at another bank, referring to an attempt to align their strategies for mutual gain.

If that’s not conspiracy and price-fixing, what is?

The Justice Department has left open the possibility of prosecuting officers or employees of Barclays. But it has agreed not to prosecute the bank itself, in part because Barclays was the first to cooperate in the investigation and has agreed to keep cooperating. Such an agreement makes sense only if that cooperation will allow prosecutors to nail other banks that have been involved in setting the rates, including potential cases against Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase and HSBC, and people who work there.

To date, the Justice Department has not distinguished itself in prosecuting major banks or their executives for conduct leading up to and during the financial crisis. But with Barclays now cooperating, the “Libor scandal” is another chance for government prosecutors to unmask and punish financial wrongdoing.

– New York Times

U

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

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

20

EDITORIAL/OPINION

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IR: The insistence of the management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to post new corps members to any state in the country shows how those in authorities value citizens’ lives.

With the federal government’s obvious cluelessness on how to tackle the Boko Haram menace that is tearing the country apart, it will amount to insensitivity of the highest order for any government agency to send educated Nigerian youths to crises prone areas.

Just recently, President Jonathan in a live national TV broadcast told a bewildered nation that he could not travel to Boko Haram states in a helicopter for security reasons. It is in this same country that some overzealous and misguided government officials are insisting that those who represent the future of the country must go to observe their mandatory one year national service.

NYSC seems to have forgotten in a hurry the Bauchi massacre of 2011 where close to 20 corps members were hacked to death by some religious extremists. Many families are still nursing the wounds of this incident especially in the southern part of the country where parents toil day and night, sell all they have and go a-borrowing to ensure that their children graduate from higher colleges.

To the Boko Haram members and their high profile sponsors, “western education is sin.” Why will NYSC send “sinners” to where they will be killed by those who confess that the more sinners they kill, the bigger their reward?

EDITOR’S MAIL BAG SEND TYPEWRITTEN, DOUBLE SPACED AND SIGNED CONTRIBUTIONS, LETTERS AND REJOINDERS OF NOT MORE THAN 800 WORDS TO THE EDITOR, THE NATION, 27B, FATAI ATERE ROAD, MATORI, LAGOS. E-mail: views@thenationonlineng.net

NYSC: Any value for human lives?

On most occasions when government officials display obstinacies like this, they are up to a game. It is either they are blowing someone else’s flute and/or there is money to be made or stolen; for the NYSC’s insistence, it is the both. It is not unlikely that the NYSC officials or the NYSC management is using this as a tool to upscale the bribes they collect twice every year from the candidates lobbying to be posted to a particular place.

NYSC like all other agencies of the Nigerian government is also deeply enmeshed in the corruption that has turned the nation’s alba-

tross.

After the unfortunate incident of 2011, as the usual government empty promises, President Jonathan and the bribe infested National Assembly assured the nation that the NYSC, which was established in 1973 by Yakubu Gowon government to begin the process of reintegration after the civil war, will be redesigned and reorganized to prevent future waste of human lives. Sadly, there is nothing on the ground to show that the government has lifted a pebble in this direction.

The government can make it vol-

untary for those that like risky adventures or in the alternative, spell out a comprehensive security arrangement backed up by world class life insurance for candidates that are forced to go there. The governors of Boko Haram states must sign undertakings that no harm will come near corps members posted to their states. NYSC can also create special incentive for members that are willing to go after all, this is the reason many African immigrants accept to join US Army to fight in Iraq, Afghanistan and other warring countries.

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• Sunday Odeleke Houston TX USA.

What a pity, Nigeria!

S

IR: A country whose President appoints misfits into sensitive positions of authority just because he has to compensate some forces for assisting him to power or may be the appointees are from his own tribe deserves some ounce of pity.

A country where a federal parliamentarian collects bribe from a willing businessman just to water down or kill a report that indicts the business mogul is a country in deep moral crisis. Pity such a nation!

A rational person will pity a coun-

try where a director steals the money that is meant for pensioners and claims the money is from her pure water business or the one in which the head of an agency helps herself with funds meant for the agency and when caught in the act claims to be a victim of some malicious conspiracy.

Why wont I pity a nation where the President cannot visit a trouble spot just because the place is not safe or that he does not give a damn about declaring his assets?

As for me, I will pity a country

where a parliamentarian collects constituency allowance meant for the development of his district, uses the money to build and buy choice mansions here and there, pockets the money or uses part of the sum to ‘empower’ his party loyalists to the detriment of his entire constituents.

While all these are going on, some people still go ahead to heap praises on him. Any future, then?

Any pity? Yes, there is for a country where professors and researchers alike collect research grants and use the money to buy sport utility

President wrong on assest disclosure IR: I’m not pro or anti Jonathan’s presidency. But his view on disclosure of his assets cannot stand the test of sound logic.

Constitutionally, the President is not breaking any law if he decides not to disclose his assets publicly, but sometimes in history of a nation, a dedicated leader can act with sense of urgency, initiate sound ideas and positive body language as a leader (like the doctrine of necessity). Afterall, he was once a beneficiary of this alien and unwritten law.

Transparency and openness are vital components for efficient democratic culture and development. I’m sorry to say that President Jonathan is not conscious of his personal sta-

The southern governors should also make their position known on this issue; they may keep silent if they are pleased with the bodybags that are being parceled to them in the past two years as a result of the Boko Haram killings. Parents and guardians must also resist the attempt to force postings on their children if they value their lives and consider the sufferings they undergo to see them through colleges.

The media, religious bodies, parents/teachers associations, traditional rulers and Human Rights Groups/NGOs should rise up in support of corps members that refuse their postings to Boko Haram states at least now that the federal government is yet to figure out how it intends to solve the problem; the recent cosmetic change of guards in the nation’s security apparatus notwithstanding.

tus and symbol of the presidency.

His mindset and body language are clear signs that he is not willing or ready to go extra miles to serve his fatherland. Nigerians are one of the easiest people on earth to lead; with our faith in God, we only need a dedicated leaders to give us the roadmap but, unfortunately, we have deficient leadership pool who consistently refer and seek refuge in defective laws to shortchange our aspirations.

Here in Italy, Premier Mario Monti decided that he will not take any salary throughout his tenure in office and many cabinet members bought into his initiatives. Those who cannot survive without salary opted for percentage pay cuts just to

show solidarity for ultimate survival of Italian state. All these actions were initiated privately under the doctrine of necessity to save Italy and Europe from economic meltdown. There is no law or legislation that stipulates that Premier of Italy and his cabinet should not have access to plum salary and peck of office even if the country’s treasury is zero. But these are leaders with better understanding of concept of service for public good. Unfortunately, here in Nigeria, we have leaders who select to obey defective laws to feather their nest.

I can say it without contradiction that Italy is gradually recovering economically with many big time tax evaders now paying up promptly their taxes with restored investors’

confidence. Ordinary citizens are willing to render their obligation to the state. Yes, this is the type of leadership attitudinal change is also possible in Nigeria. But our dire situation is like a mirage, just when we think we are getting it right, leaders we laboured very hard to elect as assets and beacons of our collective hope turn out to be huge burden and liability.

Personally, I learnt the greatest lesson on how not to be sentimental and parochial in selecting or electing a leader or associates. A shoeless Jonathan cum hawkish President Jonathan is a very bitter and regretful lesson of a lifetime.

• Akinola Muiz. A. Verona-Italy

vehicles, marry more wives, settle concubines or build more palatial mansions everywhere. I see no future in such a country.

When a country has the highest number of unemployed hands the world over and the leadership cannot think outside the box to mitigate the impending disasters that may come therefrom, then it is farewell to the country! A pity, indeed...

A nation where religious leaders are seen as objects of disunity, carriers and hewers of religious fundamentalism, traditional leaders go about as yes-men and bootlickers of political office holders; such a country has a hopeless future. Pity her, if you can.

Pity is the word for the country where a private individual gets a contract collects his money, fails to execute it and still gets presidential commendation because he is a friend of the President. A country where business men and women run foul of the laws yet go unpunished because they assisted the President or governor to power.

I pity a country where the governors are lords in there states, stealing the people’s wealth under the guise of one phony project or the other. A place where university graduates cannot write ‘original copy received by me’ is a lost paradise.

• Akinboyo Temidayo, Igbotako,Ondo state.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

21

EDITORIAL/OPINION

The collapse of infrastructure in Nigeria

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NE of the fastest ways of assessing the development of any given state is to find out the process of the movement of goods and services. In this regard, the transportation and communication network is critical. In a typical advanced western country, movement would be by air, by sea and by river, by train, both surface and underground; by road and in the case of liquid material such as petroleum and gas, by pipes.

Any country that does not have a mixture of all of these has not started on the development journey. Checking against these aforesaid parameters, we can see why Nigeria is not developing. Our transportation network does not extend beyond road transportation. These account for why there is so much pressure on road transportation in Nigeria. Unfortunately, since this is the only means of transportation that we have, everybody so to say, is on the road. What should ordinarily be transported by river, sea, rail or air is moved by road.

In the last decade, one government after the other has announced with fanfare their programmes for railway development in Nigeria. The railway that the British left after independence were allowed to go into disuse as a result of lack of vision or even conflict of interest by those put in charge of railways, but who at the same time had interest in road haulage. The result is that heavy goods that should have been carried on rail are carried on the road by huge trucks that do serious damage to the roads. In the first instance, the roads are poorly constructed without taking into consideration the tropical environment of heavy rainfall particularly in the south, with the consequence of the roads being washed off at the coming of the rains. The result of this is the virtual collapse of roads in the country.

What is particularly serious is that this is hampering economic development of the country. Lagos the commercial capital in Nigeria is cut off from centres of economic development in the South-south, South-east, South-west, and the North. The road between Lagos and the South-south and the South-east where the lifeline of the country in terms of gas and petroleum are produced are virtually impassable. The road between Lagos and Benin and Warri and the roads linking Warri with PortHarcourt, the so called South-south roads are virtually impassable. So also is the road between Lagos and Ibadan, which is perhaps the most important road in the country has become a death trap. The road between Ibadan and Ilorin which the Obasanjo regime awarded for dualisation since 2000 is still under construction after 12 years of work and yet this is a distance of about a hundred kilometres.

In the good old days when there was serious planning in this country, four North-South roads were in the master plan. One road was to run from Badagry to Sokoto. The existing LagosIbadan road was to run to Kano through Ilorin and a road from Benin through Lokoja was to join with Kano road while there was a plan for another road to run from Calabar to Maiduguri.

These roads are there on the ground, but no consistent work to actualise the plan has been done. Imagine if these roads have been built and have complemented the railway lines running

from North to South, this would have had a tremendous effect on the Nigerian economy.

What worries me and any intelligent observer of the Nigerian situation is how we leave things that should have been done undone, thus compounding our problems because if we had done these things in the past, the cost would have been cheaper than what we would now pay. We have been talking about an East-West railway and a coastal road running from Lagos to Calabar for more than 20 years. The economic importance of these projects is clear. They would open up the country for rapid development and also bring development to the doorsteps of the people in the South-south, where the geese that lay the golden eggs are found.

I remember Dr. Christopher Kolade saying that building a 10lane avenue from the airport in Abuja to the city of Abuja which is almost complete is a waste of resources and a misplaced priority especially when the roads linking Lagos with Benin and South-south is totally derelict. Nobody can argue with him on this point and it just shows how politics takes pre-eminence over economics in Nigeria. The roads between Abuja and Kaduna and Kano that were good roads in the past have also suffered from the same abandonment. Travelling to Jos and Bauchi from Abuja or Kaduna the area of potential touristic attraction is a challenge. What do we do?

First of all, we need a railway revolution in Nigeria, something that most European countries witnessed in the 19th century. This shows how far back we are in the developmental journey. If we have efficient rail system, we would free our roads from heavy and articulated trucks. Hauling refined petroleum products by roads is not only primitive but dangerous.

The incineration of thousands of our folks on the road over the years is an indication of the danger constituted by the present system.

We also need to look at the possibility of revamping the oil pipes that were at one time carrying refined and crude petroleum across the country much more efficiently than the present system of trucking them around. One of course is aware of the vandalization of these pipes by thieves who are drawn to this way because of lack of sanctions and punishments in the wider Nigerian society against those who commit economic crimes. A country like ours where the rivers Niger and Benue flow for hundreds of miles is perhaps the only country in the civilised world where water transportation is not modernised and used as they should be. I always remember travelling on the Rhine River from Switzerland through Germany and the Netherlands to the sea; and this is river that is not as mighty as Benue and Niger. Our rivers could be dredged and made to provide alternative means of transportation of goods between the coast and the country. I will not say anything about movement of goods by air which in advanced countries is an option, but with our own planes falling from the sky like dead flies, one would be unreasonable to suggest it.

The solution to many of our problems is not rocket science or

brain surgery, it’s just a matter of common sense. We really do not have the time to wait and waste because opportunity once lost can never be regained. We have to be determined to help our country.

Imagine, if we were determined to solve our infrastructural problems, build railways, roads, ports, and power stations, we would not only be developing our country, we would also be creating millions of jobs for our teeming Jide population. This is Osuntokun how the Chinese government got to where they are now. The problem we have is that we don’t use what we have. The huge population that we have should be an asset and we should be able to exploit this population and harness its power for physical and economic development but before we can do this, we must have the right kind of political leadership required for social and economic mobilisation. We ought to have a programme of redeveloping our country, rebuilding our cities from the ramshackle conditions in which they are to modern cities. All these would cost money, but if we block the economic and financial leakage in the country, there would be sufficient resources for the task ahead and if we need to borrow money, the international capital market would be willing if we have well-thought out project and if we can do away with our sordid International reputation, of a country steeped in rampant corruption by doing the right thing. This generation of Nigerians must face the challenge before us. If we do not, the signs are everywhere of a gathering storm of what James Baldwin calls The Fire next Time.

‘First of all, we need a railway revolution in Nigeria, something that most European countries witnessed in the 19th century. This shows how far back we are in the developmental journey. If we have efficient rail system, we would free our roads from heavy and articulated trucks. Hauling refined petroleum products by roads is not only primitive but dangerous’

Was there really a sting operation?

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INCE the bribe scandal blew open, the dramatis personae have been struggling to prove their innocence. But the more they try to do that the more confused they leave the people.

It all started with a newspaper interview in which Farouk Lawan, the suspended chairman of the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Subsidy Management, claimed that some marketers tried to bribe him in order to influence the panel's report.

Although, he did not mention names, those he was referring to knew themselves and they were not ready to let him get away with the allegation. They got the police to invite Lawan to throw more light on his claim. When he refused to play ball, the security agencies leaked information, which they have had all along, to the press. The information, which no doubt came from a party involved in this mess, was to the effect that Lawan collected $620,000 bribe from Femi Otedola, the oil magnate.

The purpose of the bribe is to facilitate the removal of the name of Otedola's company from the list of those indicted for subsidy fraud by the Lawan panel report.

Initially, Lawan denied collecting any money. He later changed his statement to ''I collected $500,000''. Since his confession, the matter has been on a rollercoaster, with the police digging into the case. The investigation has so far led to no where..

From the look of things, the police seem to believe that they have got their man and as such are no longer looking far. The police should not be too fast in coming to judgement on this case. There is no doubt that the cards appear stacked against Lawan, but that is no guarantee that Otedola himself has no case to answer. It will be a fatal mistake on the part of the police to leave one party and concentrate on investigating the other party as it seems to be the case now.

I am not saying that Lawan is innocent and that Otedola is not.

No, far from it. What I am saying is that the police should leave no stone unturned in the investigation of this matter. It is rather absurd that an impression is being created of the guilt of one man, who is yet to undergo trial, while the other person is given a free rein to do whatever he likes. Some may say that Lawan deserves his present fate, but they may be

‘The beauty of a sting operation is to nab the suspect with the incriminating evidence at the scene of crime. If that is not done, the sting is no longer a sting, but a stink.’

missing the point in taking such a stand. Lawan may have put himself out as integrity personified but we should not rush into questioning his claim for now until a logical conclusion of this matter.

Agreed that Lawan got himself into trouble, we should still give him the benefit of doubt and see whether he can extricate himself from this bribery web. As the saying goes, there are two sides to a coin. In this instance, there are two issues to be determined, as the lawyers will say. One is Otedola's claim that it was a sting operation carried out in collaboration with the State Security Service (SSS). Interestingly, the SSS has not said anything since the lid blew open.

SSS does not do its job on the pages of newspaper as we all know, but as the saying goes, to every rule, there is an exception.

This is one case in which the SSS should depart from its rules in order to assist the nation in getting to the root of this matter.

Where is the sense in the SSS maintaining silence on an issue as volatile as this if it can help in unravelling this Gordian knot?

This is one time that silence will not be golden. The SSS will not be doing the nation a world of good by keeping undue silence over this matter.

If the SSS could brief us on developments on the Boko Haram case once in a while, there is nothing stopping the outfit from doing the same in respect of this case. This is a case which is as complicated as the Boko Haram

insurgency. We should not forget that what gave rise to all these is the plan of some people to ensure that the fuel subsidy probe report does not see the light of day. And what better way to achieve that than by discrediting the Lawan panel report.

S oil barons, it is not unlikely that Otedola and his ilk may have a motive for wanting the panel report dead, especially when their companies were indicted. Did he because of the indictment initiate the bribery?

Was he acting alone or in conjunction with other oil magnates? If it was a sting operation, did he or the SSS initiate it? What led to the setup? Was it informed by pressure from Lawan or any other member of the probe panel? Why did Otedola report the purported harassment to the SSS and not the police?

The other story is Lawan's claim that he played along in order to expose Otedola and other marketers who tried to bribe the panel to avoid being indicted. How do you play along with someone who wants to bribe you? Is it by hobnobbing with him or by reporting to the police? Do you collect money from someone who wishes to bribe you without taking it to the police for safe keeping? Is keeping the money with your colleague, no matter his position in the House, the best step to take in a matter like this?

How do you nail a person, who wishes to bribe you? It is by putting the police on alert on the time and place you are to cut the deal. If you don't do that, you may be ac-

A

Lawal Ogienagbon lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net

cused of being a willing party and as such liable to prosecution. Come to think of it, why did Lawan collect the money and keep quiet?

What was he waiting for? Why did he not take the money to the police? Why keep it with Adamu Jangaba? And the so-called sting operators too, why didn't they go for Lawan immediately after he collected the money from Otedola?

Why did they allow a suspect to escape with valuable evidence?

The beauty of a sting operation is to nab the suspect with the incriminating evidence at the scene of crime. If that is not done, the sting is no longer a sting, but a stink.

According to the dictionary, you sting someone into something that is to goad or incite them into it.

Having done that, you move in to catch them in the act. Why didn't the sting operators act in this manner in this case? Their unprofessional conduct puts a question mark on this sting and it stinks to high heavens. No amount of audio or even video recordings can deodorise its offensive odour.

SMS ONLY: 08099400204

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5 2012

22

EDITORIAL/OPINION

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IKE Bukola Saraki, like Lawan Farouk.

The former was the whistle blower for the fuel subsidy scandal; the later was Mr ‘Integrity’ the celebrated nemesis of the shameless enemies of Nigeria. Nigerians had thought something new was at last coming out of PDP until we were rudely woken up from our illusion. The duo, we now know, might belong to PDP new breed, but they, like their forbears, breed nothing but greed.

Nigerians were already becoming fatigued with the government half-hearted battle against corruption when Abdulrasheed Maina and his Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT) emerged with incredible story of how it has uncovered the mother of all lootings by government officials. So thoroughly scandalised was the Senate President, David Mark, who thought he had seen it all in the senate where dogs eat dogs that he was to describe the pension scam as a “monumental fraud” and a national disgrace and embarrassment’.

And but for the EFCC recorded success, one would have dismissed Maina story as incredulous. Let us start from the dubious. For instance he claimed what moved him to action was the sight of a ‘“79-year old woman who retired as assistant Director, living under a staircase in the Office of Head of Service, few steps below the same office she retired from. But we do know that since Mutrtala and Obasanjo destroyed the bureaucracy in the mid-seventies, top civil servants have learnt how to prepare for the rainy day. It is doubtful a retired assistant director in the bureaucracy would retire to live under the stair case of her former ministry.

One becomes wary of such claim when it is discovered that the setting of the mindboggling stealing, Maina task force uncovered was right inside the office of the Head of Service. And it was allegedly masterminded by Sani Teidi Shuaibu, a former director, Pension unit, Head of Service of the Federation,( HOSF), in conspiracy with Mrs Phina Ukamaka Chidi, an Assistant Director. Many of the 30 others allegedly involved in the pensions scam are civil servants.

One also gets apprehensive about the task force claim, that ‘there was no single file from the Office of Head of Service of the Federation, ‘they never kept documents’. It asserted with such finality that one is forced to ask, how does the bureaucracy preserve its memory if there are no records? But from the dubious, let us move to the confounding.

Maina’s task force, he claimed, was able to save N4.1 billion monthly out of N5 billion

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RMED with numerous empowerment initiatives in his ideological kitty, Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso came into office well-prepared to tackle the daunting challenges bequeathed to him by his predecessor. Since his triumphant return to power, the major thrust of his policies centres on populist-oriented programmes. The level of achievements recorded in the last one year shows that he did not come by accident nor did he come unprepared.

He saw the problems when he was out of power; he met the problems when he assumed office and he is now conquering the problems right from their roots. As he always says, security does not just entail that of lives and property (which he places high premium on), but also job sescurity (which he provides through myriad of empowerment policies) and food security (evident in the laurels the state receives in agricultural development recently).

Prudent management of resources, transparency in government decisions, poverty alleviation, commitment to education, healthcare service delivery and general infrastructural feats are elements that paint the theme of this administration. The first budget of the state government, which has a ratio of 65:35 in favor of capital expenditure, buttressed this point. While applauding the

‘The new beneficiaries of this scheme are well trained and vetted in line with His Excellency’s penchant for manpower development and quality service delivery.

After undergoing a formal training and obtaining their certificates/diplomas in healthcare service delivery, the present administration offered them a free take-off capital of N50,000 each’

Senate versus Maina’s pension task force fraudulently sent to the office of Head of Service to pay pensioners. There were only 70,657 qualified pensioners out of 258,000 names in the budget.

The name of one of those used to siphon money in one of the banks was repeated 555 times with 555 different account numbers. Another staggering discovery: In case of police pension, ‘they were requesting for N24 billion instead of N4.4 billion’ monthly.

The Minister of Finance was ecstatic to learn that the task force had realised N151 billion out of which she quickly took N75 billion and put it into the budget On the methodology, spokesman of the team and staff of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), Hassan Salihu, explained: “we had to apply professional investigation tools such as research, surveillance and financial intelligence”.

Based on the findings of the Maina committee, Sani Teidi Shuaibu, former director, Pension unit, Head of Service of the Federation, (HOSF), Phina Ukamaka Chidi, his former deputy, and 30 others were charged with a 134count charge of conspiracy, fraud and corruption before Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court, Abuja by EFCC. Of the N60 billion allegedly looted, the EFCC has already recovered about N35 billion from several illegal accounts opened and operated

by Shuaibu, Chidi and others and their companies..

But like Saraki, Farouk, suddenly, the hunter has become the hunted. While the Senate has

not publicly denounced the uncovering of the biggest fraud in the civil service history, or the prompt intervention of EFCC that has already yielded N35 billion, its Joint Committee on Public Service and Establishment and States and Local Government Administration had however indicted Maina and all members of his team.

Chairman of the Senate committee which investigated the scam, Aloysius Akpan Etok, has blaimed, Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina for the mismanagement of over N273.9 billion pension fund. This followed the adoption of the report of its joint committee on establishment and inter-governmental affairs and states and local governments. The committee recommended, among other things, the prosecution of chairman of Pension Task Force Team, (PTFT), Abdulrasheed Maina, and other members of the team (including Mr. John Yusuf and B. G. Kaigama) for a litany of corruption-related offences.

The charges include “fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation, misapplication, outright stealing of pension fund; illegal contract splitting and award of contract to non-existing companies without appropriation”.

The committee also recommended that the Maina-led task team be immediately disbanded “as its continued existence and usurpation of statutory functions and violation of extant laws is illegal as also recommended by the two former Heads of Service, Steve Oronsanye and Adedapo Afolabi as well as the incumbent,

Youth empowerment: The Kwankwaso example

By Rabiu Sulaiman Bichi governor for husbandry of public till, many leading economists said the budget is first of a kind in this democratic era.

Worried by the fate of the army of youths who staked their lives to vote and protect their votes, Governor Kwankwaso rolled out empowerment policies to help alleviate poverty among the people. From Lafiya Jari scheme, the employment of traffic assistants, the employment of more than 1,000 graduates, the women empowerment, down to the new-born taxi scheme, Kano youths are now enjoying the dividends of democracy under Governor Kwankwaso.

One of the pillars of the government’s empowerment initiatives is Lafiya Jari, a longrunning initiative that empowers the youths on one hand, and on another hand brings affordable drugs to the people. A clear case of nipping two birds with a stone. Another interesting aspect is that the beneficiaries of this scheme during the first tenure of His Excellency between 1999 and 2003, have achieved an appreciable degree of success so far. For these youths, the sky is not just the limit but the beginning.

Determined to also empower the graduates of Health Technology and those of Schools of Nursing and Midwifery who were yet to secure gainful employment or entrepreneurial support from the previous government, Governor Kwankwaso directed for their inclusion in this highly-successful scheme.

The new beneficiaries of this scheme are well trained and vetted in line with His Excellency’s penchant for manpower development and quality service delivery. After undergoing a formal training and obtaining their certificates/diplomas in healthcare service delivery, the present administration offered them a free take-off capital of N50,000 each.

But the empowerment package did not just stop at the formal training and the capital, the government went a step further to offer flexible micro-credit facility of N100,000 that will enable them buy drugs and other relevant stock. The beneficiaries are to utilise the amount to procure drugs from the stateowned drug consumable supply company in the form of a revolving loan repayable within 18-month period. Through this process, the government can also check the proliferation of fake and counterfeit drugs.

Already hundreds of beneficiaries of this scheme have started business, and they would soon go in concert with the earlier beneficiaries in terms of successes. And this is not just a one-off affair as it will run throughout the tenure of this government.

In order to have even spread of the scheme benefits in the 44 local government areas of the state, each local government presents their nominees who were screened through a transparent process by a panel. The membership of the panel is drawn from the Lafiya Jari committee, the Community Reorientation Committee (a hugely-successful sister scheme) the Kwankwasiyya movement (serving as a watchdog), and the Kano Proper Committee (a very vital committee that promotes good conduct and ethics in handling government affairs).

With the apparent success of his empowerment initiatives, other states and policy makers are borrowing a leaf from him. While the political opponents were pontificating about the enormity of the plans, Governor Kwankwaso proved them wrong as his Marshal Plan and blue print began to take a pragmatic inroad.

Apart from the foregoing, the administration has also established 20 training institutes, two universities and a number of colleges in just a period of one year. Most of the

Alhaji Isa Bello Sali”.

But in spite of the tragedy of whistle blowing Bukola Saraki, Mr ‘Integrity’, Farouk $620,00 bribe scandal and now Maina’s mismanagement of N273.9 billion pension fund , Reuben Abati, the President’s spokesman has just told us that the President is not soft on corruption. In fact he has issued a release asserting that “President Jonathan wishes to reaffirm, once again, that there will be no sacred cows in the matter and that any organisation or individual found guilty of fraud or corruption will ultimately face the full weight of sanctions prescribed by the extant laws of the country”.

And unlike the angry Senate President that has blamed the latest ‘pension scam’ on lack of supervision by the executive, President Jonathan as usual is urging “ Nigerians to be patient and assured that the guilty will definitely not go unpunished as justice will certainly be done in the matter”. He craves for our understanding because for him, “in the prosecution of the war against corruption, the interests of national peace, stability, progress and development overrides all other considerations”.

The tragedy of our nation today is President Jonathan cynical approach to governance. Instead of addressing his party buccaneers, and his close associates, that are increasingly making war against corruption an unwinnable one, he is once again “urging Nigerians to be wary of those who seek to heat up the polity by politicising the issue of corruption in the pursuit of their selfish personal and sectional agenda.”

Undermining of the principle of division of power, general insecurity, corruption in both in the executive and legislative arms of government, infrastructural decay, can all be blamed on others except the government that got a pan Nigeria mandate just one year ago?

‘The tragedy of our nation today is President Jonathan cynical approach to governance. Instead of addressing his party buccaneers, and his close associates, that are increasingly making war against corruption an unwinnable one, he is once again “urging Nigerians to be wary of those who seek to heat up the polity by politicising the issue of corruption in the pursuit of their selfish personal and sectional agenda.’ institutes have already begun session, while others have graduated sets of trainees.

With this dazzling array of empowerment initiatives, it is little wonder that the present administrations receives torrents of commendations from editorialists and respected public affairs critics. Equally gladdening is the fact that other states in the federation are copying the policies.

Even without perusing the nation’s poverty index, one can infer that Kano State’s ranking has changed significantly under the present administration.

• Bichi is the Secretary to Kano State Government

•

Gov. Kwankwaso

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

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THE NATION

EDUCATION Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com

THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

INSIDE

19-year-old graduate is CU Valedictorian

email:- education@thenationonlineng.com

The race to get a successor for the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) Vice-Chancellor, Prof Is-haq Oloyede, has intensifies with intrigues gradually crystallising from certain quarters, and others faulting the criteria for a new VC writes ADEKUNLE JIMOH

WHEN he stepped into Covenant University (CU) four years ago, Egem-Odey MathewJustin never dreamt of graduating as the best in his set.

Nevertheless, he had conceived two jealously guarded ambitions - to consolidate on every opportunity that came his way and create an impact among his peers - as an undergraduate.

-Page 27

Pupil outshines peers in A-Levels ADESOJI Adeshina has been offered a place to study Biomedical Engineering at the prestigious Imperial College, United Kingdom.

He has his brains, Edgewood College, Lekki, the House on the Rock Church, and the Lagos State government to thank for his good fortune.

-Page 39

CAMPUS LIFE •An eight-page section on campus news, people etc

Okada ban stirs students’ anger POPULARLY called Achaba in the North, commercial motorcycling started as a parttime job for many operators.

But because of the hard times and the inability of many to secure a job after leaving school, okada, as it is popularly known nationwide, has become a thriving business.

The ubiquitous okada rider is found everywhere - in the cities, villages and remotest parts of the country.

-Page 29

•Who leads this university in the next five years?

Scramble for UNILORIN VC job W

HO succeeds the outgoing Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Prof Ishaq Oloyede, whose tenure expires in October?

This is the question being asked by staff and students as the race for the seat hots up.

A lot is being thrown into the race, with some interest groups rumoured to be scheming to get the job for their crony.

It was gathered that most of the candidates had hurriedly submitted their letters of intent to beat May 14, 2012 stipulated in the advertisement.

The candidates that beat the ultimatum include Professors Timothy Opoola from the Faculty of Science and three of his colleagues from the same faculty, Professors, Albert Olayemi and Musbau Akanji and Joshua Obalaye.

Prof Hassan Salihu from the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences (BSS) also beat the deadline just like Prof R.A. Akamidu from the Faculty of Arts and Prof Luke Ayorinde from the Faculty of Agriculture and Professors J.A. Olorunmaiye and B.F. Sule from the Faculty of Engineering.

There was also Prof AbdulGaniyu Ambali from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

The only external candidate mentioned in discussions during the investigation was Prof Ignatus Madu from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

By law the university’s Govern-

SOME

OF THE CONTENDERS Faculty

Prof Timothy Popoola Prof Albert Olayemi Musbau Akanji Joshua Obalaye Professor Hassan Salihu Prof R.A Akamidu Prof Luke Ayorinde Prof J.A. Olorunmaye Prof B.F.Sule Prof AbdulGaniyu Ambali Prof Ignatius Madu

Science Science Science Science Business and Social Sciences Arts Agriculture Engineering Engineering Vetenary Medicine From the University of Nsukka

‘

For some, the race is lost or won even before it begins. The advertisement would normally spell out preliminary qualification criteria that may exclude some persons. For example, the advert ab initio excludes those whose professorships are less than 10 years, as well as those who are above 60 years at the time of the advert

ing Council is expected to shortlist the names of three candidates to the university’s Visitor, President Goodluck Jonathan, from which he is expected to make his choice of who will lead the university till October 16, 2019.

Most of the candidates have either been or are currently Deans of the respective faculties. Apart from this, Akanji has been Dean, Stu-

’

dents Affairs (DSA), while Olayemi recently completed tenure as Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC).

Ambali, a professor of Avian and Aquatic Animal and Medicine, joined the university in 2010 to set up the faculty of veterinary medicine. He had applied to be the Vice–Chancellor during the exercise that produced Oloyede but was dropped on the basis of arguments

that the university as at then had no programme in his discipline.

Opoola, who has been Dean of the Faculty of Science between 2001-2006, also contested the post with Oloyede in 2007. He has also been a member of the university’s Governing Council. His area of specialisation is in Complex Analysis.

Prof Olayemi, immediate past Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Management Services, had also been Director of Academic Planning Unit, of the university. He was also the chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the West African University Games (WAUG) hosted by the institution. Like Olayemi, Prof Ayorinde had also been Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) in the administration of the outgoing Vice Chancellor.

Prof Salihu, a political scientist of note, who is also heading the UNILORIN Elders Forum, has been reported in local media of recent as saying he wishes to build on the successes of the outgoing administration. He also contested with Oloyede in 2007.

Olorunmaiye has been a Professor of Mechanical Engineering since 1997 and between 1997and 2003 was head of the department while he has been Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology since January 2009.

Oloyede’s tenure has brought about what is regarded as a watershed in the history of the sec• Continued on page 26

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

26

EDUCATION

Scramble for UNILORIN VC job

EKSU FILE

VC condemns corruption CHARTERED accountants have been told to gird their loins and join the crusade of eradicating corruption in the nation.

The Vice-Chancellor, Ekiti State University (EKSU), Prof Patrick Oladipo Aina spoke at the investiture of a member of the staff of the university, Mrs Rafiat Ayeni-Agbaje as the Fifth Chairman of Ado-Ekiti District of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).

Aina, while congratulating Mrs Ayeni-Agbaje on her investiture, noted that there should be a firm action by accountants, particularly chartered accountants in conjunction with government to rid the nation of corruption.

Speaking on the occasion, a former Acting Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Tope Ademiluyi, urged the government to utilise experienced chartered accountants in fighting corruption.

Dignitaries on the occasion included the elder brother to the new ICAN Chairman Alhaji Musa Ayeni, who was a former Deputy Governor of old Ondo State; Ekiti State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Dr Eniola Ajayi and Commissioner for Finance, Mr Dapo Kolawole.

Part-Time exam results out soon IN continuation of the restructuring of the EKSU PartTime Programme (PTP), the answer scripts of the recent semester exams will be marked within two weeks to quicken the release of results.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof Patrick Oladipo Aina, diclosed his in a congratulatory message to PTP students on the completion of their exams.

He told the students that all outstanding results would be processed for Senate approval without further delay and appealed to them to co-operate with the Management in sustaining the existing peace on campus.

New Professors emerge THE EKSU Governing Council has approved the promotion of some academic staff as professors and readers.

It also okayed the appointment of some members of the NonAcademic Staff as Directors, Deputy Directors, Deputy Registrars, Deputy Bursars and a Chief Supplies Officer.

Those promoted Professors are: Zaccheus Ogundare of the Faculty of Arts; Mrs. Bimbo Kemi Odu and Smith Adegoroye of Faculty of Education. The new Readers are: Dr M. S. Omirin and Dr. Babatola Ayodele also from Faculty of Education. The new Directors in the Registry are: Thomas Fagbemiro and Babatunde Adeoya while Ajibade Olubunmi has been appointed Deputy Registrar (Information).

Other Deputy Registrars in the Registry are: Mrs. Yinka AdeniranAjayi, Miss Modupe Oritingbeni, Mrs. Yetunde Oluwatayo and Mr Oluwole Joseph Ife. Mr Sanmi Ogunniyi was appointed Deputy Director in the Academic Planning. In the Bursary, the new Deputy Bursars are: Mr Tunde Apata and Mr James Olaniyan while in the Internal Audit, the new Director is Mr Kehinde Adekanmbi and the Deputy Director is Mr Williams Adebayo. The new Chief Supplies Officer of the University is Mr Anthony Bodunrin.

•Continued from page 25

ond generation university.

However, by law, the university's Governing Council is now expected to shortlist the names of three candidates to the university's Visitor, President Goodluck Jonathan from which he is expected to make his choice of who paddles Unilorin canoe for the next five years.

The university has set up a search team headed by the institution's council chairman and former minister of state for education, Alhaji Saka Saadu. The council is to recommend a candidate for President Goodluck Jonathan for appointment.

The vacancy advertorial signed by the Registrar, Mrs Olufolake Oyeyemi, said the applicants: "must not be a distinguished professor of not less than 10 years in one of the disciplines offered by the University of Ilorin; should demonstrate astute managerial ability to maintain peace and academic stability for which the university is reputed; be a scholar of outstanding national and international repute, with proficiency in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and considerable

experience at top levels of university administration and; a professor with track record of teaching, research and community service; a person of entrepreneurial and innovative predisposition with a proven track record appropriate to the vision and mission of a first class university.

“The person "must be capable of inspiring the advancement of learning and reaching out to all persons without discrimination in any form; be of a sound health, pleasant disposition, unassailable integrity and strong moral character for inspiring and maintaining moral discipline among staff and students and; of proven ability to initiate contacts and funding from national and international sources."

Some pundits are, however, picking, holes in the criteria.

In a newsletter published by a faction of the UNILORIN branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Dr Taiwo Oloruntoba-Oju, a unionist who was part of the Unilorin 49 sacked by the university but reinstated by the Supreme Court three years ago, faulted the criteria.

The newsletter reads: "For some, the race is lost or won even before it begins. The advertisement would normally spell out preliminary qualification criteria that may exclude some persons. For example, the current advert ab initio excludes those whose professorships are less than 10 years, as well as those who are above 60 years as at the time of the advert.

"While such criteria often appear objective on the surface, they are sometimes arbitrary and may indicate an underground machination to exclude some persons from the outset. For example, the 10- year requirement was not always applied in the last few exercises, and the reason for its application this time may not be clear. The 60-year limitation is another case of arbitrariness. This limitation is ostensibly related to 65year retirement age.

"Intrigues may have already crept into the current exercise. First of all, who exactly is the current Pro-Chancellor of the university? The situation is not at all clear. Reports have it that an external member of Coun-

cil has suddenly begun to act as chairman of the governing council.

"The status of Alhaji Tukur Mani, the known chairman until recently is not at all clear. The registrar is yet to publicly announce a change of baton at the pro-chancellery.

"In the meantime, Prof Oloyede, has appointed new deputy vicechancellors (DVCs) for his successor, less than five months to his own exit.

By law, DVCs are supposed to be nominees of the incumbent VC. "The reason for this sudden manoeuvre by the outgoing VC has been a subject of speculation. Many believe it may be a twin strategy by the incumbent to have an upper hand during the current VC selection exercise; and then, whatever the outcome of the exercise, to have a foothold in the next administration through his DVC nominees. A related strategy speculated is that it may be to enhance the CV of any of the DVCs who may be favoured to vie for the position of VC." The head of the Information Unit Kunle Akogun declined comments.

Some of the contenders include: Timothy Opoola from the Faculty of Science and three o f his colleagues from the same faculty, Professors,

Kwara rewards Spelling Bee winners

T

HE Banquet Hall of the Kwara State government was tensed during the con-

test.

It was the grand finale of the Great Kwara Spelling Bee, organised by the Kwara State Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Leah Charity Foundation and Women and Child Watch Initiatives (WOCWI).

Eleven out of 212 pupils, who began the competition, stood before their teachers, parents, school mates and government functionaries to display their talent.

Familiar words were made unfamiliar with their proper accentuation and pronunciation, though meanings and word use were offered to accompany them. The choice of words put to the pupils were from a wide spectrum of tongue-twisting and jaw-breaking ones, such as ‘camaraderie’ and ‘autohagiographer’, through ‘llama’ starting with double consonants, to words with Francophone decent and pronunciation such as ‘legerdemain’ and ‘lasagna’. The hall burst into laughter when a pupil among the audience, who thought he was asked to spell ‘zoo’ for ‘sioux’, which none of the contestant got right spelt it as ‘z-zero-zero’.

Yet, Atte Anuoluwapo only missed but one word in the competition, giving her an edge over Haliru Ganiyat, who only missed two at the final round, both girls proving that they are made of superior stuffs than men in the contest.

Of notice in the contest is the outstanding performance of a Junior Secondary School (JSS) boy, Garuba Favour, who would have clinched the third place against a Senior Secondary School Student (SSS) by the whiskers, but the experience of Samuel Agbede of Goshen Christian Academy, Bacita (of SSS class, the first runner-up in 2011) won him the third place this year.

The contest almost ended an allgirl conquest but for Samuel Agbede’s emergence as the third prize winner while a dark bespectacled girl, Atte Anuoluwapo (Thomas Adewumi, Oko) carted the first prize and Haliru Ganiyat (UNILORIN Secondary School) carted the second prize.

Anuoluwapo could not hold her

•The winner Ganiyat (middle) with the runner up Anuoluwapo Atte (right) and Samuel Agbede (left) From Samson Ademola, Ilorin

joy, as she had all her photo shots showing her well set teeth. The First Lady of the state, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed, who was represented by the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Felicia Peter, said every child counts, and that drives the education sector in the state.

In his lecture, Prof. Bayo Lawal, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) ran through the world’s greatest inventions, and concluded that this era of smart phones and computers have reduced the skills of young ones at using the English language.

Lawal urged the government to reward excellence among students so that education is matched with productivity, especially in English language, which he said is the Nigerian lingua franca.

Rewards for the champions were such that could encourage and provoke more hard work among pupils. Cash prizes in form of scholarships were presented to the winners. Mrs. Ahmed presented a prize of N200,000 to the first; the Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Abdulrazaq Atunwa presented a prize of N150,000 to the second; and the Emir of Ilorin,Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari presented N100,000 to the third.

A laptop and mattress were presented to the three winners who made it to the final round. The teach-

ers who coached the pupils received trophies, and tickets for a international trip with their pupils.

Perhaps stemming from the call by parents and audience that particular consideration be given to the Junior School pupils among the finalists, Garuba Favour (St. Anthony’s College), who would have won the third place and another

young girl, Aderibigbe Anuoluwa (Oyun Baptist High School, Ijagbo) were presented N25,000 each by the Commissioner of the Kwara State Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Alhaji Mohammed Raji.

Books were presented to the 11 finalists by Learn Africa PLC and other individuals.

“The alma mater is fortunate ... young men are ‘old boys’, and old men are young at heart!”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5 2012

27

EDUCATION ‘Best entrance pupil plays football every hour’ M RS Chinyere Chima, mother of the boy who scored highest in the entrance examination of Loyola Jesuit College, Gidan-Mangoro, Abuja has disclosed that one of the reasons Chidera Chima made it was because he plays football every hour.

She said football has been proved to develop one mentally but during the period of the entrance exams "we begged him not to play and he listened."

The pharmacist told The Nation that she was happy that her son got the N7.2 million scholarship to study at Loyola Jesuit and that she is not against him wanting to become a footballer as long as he qualified as a spine surgeon.

Mrs Chima said she made extra efforts to prepare Chidera for the exam as his elder sister, Chidalu, missed the scholarship by one point some years ago.

She is working on her younger daughter.

She said she is grateful to his school, St Saviours Primary School, Ebutte Metta and the Ebutte Metta community because it takes a village to train a child.

On his part, Chidera said he wants to become a footballer and play in the number four position (de-

By Medinat Kanabe

fensive midfield).

He said he had represented his school in football competitions in the past including the Memorial Cup competition.

The Headmistress of St Saviour, Mrs Ailsa Griffiths, said she is proud of the school.

She described Chidera as a gifted, diligent and hardworking lad, "who understands how to balance his life as a lad and find time for his lessons and studies and also a good football player."

Describing him as gentle and sincere, she said she would not be surprised if he becomes a medical doctor.

The South African said parents have an important role to play in the lives of their children.

Meanwhile, the school's primary six pupils have departed for this year's tour to South Africa, Cape Town for eight days.

They are expected to visit places like the Table Mountain, waterfalls, Robin Island, where Nelson Mandela was incacerated.

Speaking on the tour, Mrs

Griffiths said 36 pupils travelled with four staff members and eight parents, who decided to follow on their own.

She said the school decided to tour South Africa to broaden the educational experience of the pupils.

She said they had wanted to prepare the pupils to be global citizens. According to her: "Our teachers try to make sure that the pupils do well, the children are very close to them so they are best to go with them."

She added that the board of management of the St Saviours School approved of the teachers going with the pupils because they have done a good job.

The pupils paid N236, 000 for the trip; this covers their visa, tickets, accommodation and other activities, while parents paid N293, 300.

A representative of the Parent-Teacher Association , Mrs Frances Iwo-Brown, who is travelling with her twin girls - Amie and Amonia - said she decided to go because she needed relaxation, adding that the offer was good.

She said it would give the children self-confidence, exposure and experience.

•Sponsorship Manager, Guiness Nigeria, Nkiru Ogboruche (left) listens as a pupil of Brilliant Secondary School, Mangoro, Lagos State gives a speech when the group visited the school.

Guinness workers encourage reading culture

E

MPLOYEES of foremost brewer, Guinness Nigeria Plc, have come up with a project, tagged 'Read for Life' to enhance reading among pupils.

The employees, using the platform of the "Friends of the Community" - a charity group that focuses on donating resources and time to help communities, visited Western Boys High School and Notre Dame Group of Schools, in Benin, Edo State, and Brilliant Academy and St John's Secondary School, in Mangoro, Lagos to donate books to the pupils.

Speaking on the project, Corporate Relations

Director, Mr Sesan Sobowale said: "At Guinness Nigeria, we encourage talent and skills development. Our aim for the initiative is to support our young people and enhance the reading culture among students as we look forward to them becoming great leaders in the future".

Mr Precious Olumide, Vice Principal (Administration) of St John's Secondary School, Mangoro commended the organisation, saying: "Guinness Nigeria has portrayed itself as a good corporate citizen and we are indeed grateful for this gesture.

“We promise to put this books and the knowledge you have shared with us today to good use."

Mrs. Adrianne Nwagwu, Head Sustainability & Responsibility Guinness Nigeria said the pupils, who are beneficiaries of thie initiative were expected to influence others and show them the importance of reading.

"We cannot reach everyone. Nonetheless by sharing these books, we shall gradually reach many youths, especially children in senior secondary schools that are easily distracted by the new age of social media and peer pressure," she added.

•Mrs Griffiths (left), Chidera and one of his teachers

PHOTO: MEDINAT KANABE

Poly to partner NDLEA on drugs

T

HE Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, Dr. Shuaibu Musa, has assured the new Commandant of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Bauchi State Command, Mr Julius Bawa Phara of the institution's support in the fight against drug abuse and trafficking.

Receiving the Commandant in his office, Musa commended the agency in carrying out its obligation in the state. He

added that the Students Affairs Division, Security Unit and the Guidance and Counselling Unit of the polytechnic have been active in educating the students on the danger of the vices.

He noted that the institution in collaboration with students’unions and associations have mounted bill boards, sign boards and posters in the campus carrying vital information and signs of the danger of drug abuse and other social

vices.

He then assured the commandant of the cooperation of the polytechnic in assisting the Command to actualise its mission in combating drug abuse and trafficking in the state.

Earlier, Phara said the agency had been collaborating with students to fight drugs abuse. He said he visited the Polytechnic to interact with all the stakeholders on the need to tackle the menace.

28

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

EDUCATION AAUA FILE Dean lauds management for sponsorship THE Acting Dean, Faculty of Education of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Dr. Sunday Amuseghan, has praised the management of the institution for sponsoring him to attend the IJAS International Conference for Academic Disciplines at Harvard University, United States.

In a statement, Amuseghan, who chaired the conference, presented a paper entitled: “Effects of e-books on ESL Learners’ Attitudes towards Reading in English in Adekunle Ajasin University, AkungbaAkoko, Ondo State, Nigeria”, said he would like the university authorities to approve more sponsorship of such international exposures for capacity improvement.

564 graduates for youth service NO fewer than 564 graduates of the university have been mobilised for the Batch “B” national youth service.

The mobilisation list was pasted Thursday last week.

The alumni of the university who were posted to crisis-ridden states in the north have, however, condemned their posting. They were shocked that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) authorities would post corps members to the volatile northern states despite the ongoing mindless killings by the Boko Haram sect.

A graduate of AAUA, Mr Kehinde Jehleel Adeniji, was one of the 10 corps members killed by irate youths protesting the results of the last Presidential Election in Bauchi State last year. The affected would-be corps members have appealed to the NYSC to reverse the postings to safeguard their right to life.

Varsity mourns don A CLOUD of grief enveloped the University as the institution’s Management, staff and students defied the ongoing exams and gathered in the Multipurpose Hall for a Funeral/Commendation Service in honour of the late Mr Samuel Enimola, a lecturer in the University’s Department of Economics, who died in an auto crash on the Ondo/Akure highway.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Femi Mimiko, regretted the untimely demise of the young and promising scholar, saying his death was a colossal loss not only to his family but also the AAU community, the academia and the nation.

Mimiko prayed to God to give the deceased’s family, the AAUA Branch of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the university community the fortitude to bear the loss.

In his closing remark, the Chairman, AAUA ASUU, Dr. Busuyi Mekusi, appreciated the University community for the support and urged them to continue to rallyround the family of the late Mr. Enimola.

The late Mr. Samuel Enimola, 41, who started his teaching and career at Kogi State University, Ayingba, and later joined the university, attended the Ahmadu Bello University where he studied Economics.

His remains were buried at his Iffe-Ijumu home in Kogi State after a short service attended by AAUA Staff, ASUU members and students.

He was survived by his wife and children

• Egem-Odey

• Cross section of CU graduands at the university’s 7th convocation

PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI

19-year-old graduateisCUValedictorian •Says ‘I least dreamt of it’

W

HEN he/ stepped into Covenant University (CU), Ota, Ogun State four years ago, Egem-Odey MathewJustin never dreamt of graduating as the best student.

Nevertheless, he had conceived two jealously guarded ambitions to consolidate on every opportunity that came his way and create an impact among his peers - as an undergraduate.

But surprisingly, these two aims were what propelled him to the top, emerging the overall best student not only in the Department of Accounting where he studied, but the entire

By Adegunle Olugbamila

1, 389 graduates who bid farewell to CU at their seventh graduation on Friday last week.

Not only did Egem-Odey who had an intimidating CGPA of 4.89 shine like a million stars, his name rang like a bell among fellow graduates.

One thunderous applause followed another in a deafening dimension as the young man disengaged from a multitude of his contemporaries to shake hands with the Chancellor Dr David Oyedepo; Vice-Chancellor Prof Aize Obayan and her deputy Prof Charles Ogbulogo.

For Egem-Odey, 19, falling a 'victim' of ‘paparazzi’ at that moment would remain stuck to his memory.

Amid flashes of camera lights from photojournalists who scrambled to have a good shot of him, he maneuvered his way back to his seat as a swarm of admirers hugged, kissed and congratulated him.

According to him, his quest for relevance, which started a long time ago, was to change his environment.

He said: "Long before I entered the university, I had dreamt to change my generation. I've already started by trying to help others. I pick dirts on the floor without anybody's prompting. I was doing that to be relevant.

Octogenarian establishes school as legacy A

T 80, nobody would begrudge Prince Babatunde Taiwo if all he does is to lounge on his favourite chair, legs crossed with a pipe in his mouth in front of the television all day long.

But the octogenarian has not hung his boots yet. After enjoying a fulfilling career as a chartered accountant, Pa Taiwo has found a new past-time running a brand new school he has donated to his community, Ibefun, in Ogun State.

The International College, Ibefun is the product of his desire to leave a legacy behind for generations unborn to enjoy qualitative education. The college complements the Ibefun-Ilado United Secondary School, the only public school in the community.

In an interview with The Nation ahead of his 80th birthday last Sunday, Taiwo said he wants the school to fill gaps he has noticed in education service delivery.

Ibefun-Ilado United Secondary School has enjoyed Taiwo's support for years - with the father of six (two doctors, lawyers and chartered accountants) building structures, paying teachers of core subjects, and paying examination fees of indigent pupils.

Taiwo is consolidating his philanthropy in the International College, where a huge percentage of the pupils pay a fraction of the N960,000 it costs to educate them in a session.

It matters little to Taiwo that he will not live long to profit from the school. On the contrary, he said he is ready to do what it takes to give the best of education to all Nigerian children, regardless of background.

"I will say I built this school in fulfillment of my age long desire to leave a legacy for people to benefit from and as a contribution to edu-

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

cation, especially quality education.

If I had the means, I would educate all the children in Nigeria," he said.

Pa Taiwo said there are more than 30 pupils in the school - 20 of them enjoying scholarship, courtesy of his daughter who is practicing medicine in the United States.

He said his other children have also invested in making the school comfortable for the future leaders of tomorrow.

"In fact all my children have con-

• Pupils in the Biology laboratory

tributed to the school. My daughter is responsible for more than 20 children. She has contributed to infrastructure here. One of my children provided all the computers and furniture in the ICT laboratory. If I drop dead tomorrow, I have no doubt this school will continue. The interest they have generated is fantastic," he said.

He said more pupils will be admitted on scholarship in the coming session.

"I am signing 23 letters for incoming students who are to pay nothing.

Another 21 will be on partial scholarship. They will pay N100,000 for the academic year," he said.

“I have a mantra: 'How far you are going is the function of how far you think.' When you are thinking in a long time, your choices are different.

“When I entered school, I had a long time thought. I already knew where I wanted to be when I graduated. I didn't want to be the best graduating student (of my set); but I didn't want to misuse the opportunities. So, I denied myself lots of pleasure. I believe that in every facet of your life financially, socially, acacademically , and otherwise, you have to keep making long run choices. The pleasure of life will not give you so much joy in a long time. The long term plan is what I am enjoying today.”

Despite his big dream, EgemOdey said he remained passive, though there were overtures by friends to him to play some key leadership roles in school. Reason: he lacked managerial skill.

His belief was that one could an make impact regardless of the status one finds oneself. However, he was to embrace the significance of leadership and responsibility.

“I never joined the Students Council (equivalent of Students Union) in school because I was never good in management. Also, I didn't like the use of authority. I wanted to be on my own. But as I grew up I became more mature and realise that to change environment, you need authority.”

•Prince Taiwo

Principal of the school, Mr Benjamin Boanteng, boasted of the quality of his teachers who he said he challenges to improve themselves.

29

In their creative best

Corps members’ legacy of service

*CAMPUSES *NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

Page 31

Page 34

THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE 0805-450-3104 email: ladycampus@yahoo.com THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

Okada ban stirs students’ anger The Plateau State Government’s ban on okada in Jos, the state capital, has drawn the ire of students, who believe the action is too harsh. The government says the measure is for security reasons. Will there be a meeting point between the government and students? JOHNPAUL NNAMDI (400-Level TV Journalism, NTA TV College, Jos) asks.

P

OPULARLY called Achaba in the North, commercial motorcycling started as a part-time job for many operators. But because of the hard times and the inability of many to secure a job after leaving school, okada, as it is popularly known nationwide, has become a thriving business.

The ubiquitous okada rider is found everywhere - in the cities, villages and remotest parts of the country. Some states have tried to ban them without success. Plateau State has followed that well-beaten path. It has banned okada in Jos, the state capital, which in recent years, has become a hotbed of violence.

The government said it banned okada to sanitise Jos and turn it into a mega city - in line with its master plan. But most students are kicking against the ban.

Charles Udeh, a 200-Level student of Mass Communication, University of Jos (UNIJOS), said though the government wants to secure lives and property through the measure, it is not enough reason to stop okada in the city.

He said: “There are other ways in which the government can regulate the operation of motorcycles in the city. This policy has affected those who don’t have a car and who genuinely own motorcycles and are riding it for business.”

Although the government has introduced cabs and tricycles, also known as Keke NAPEP, to cushion the effect of the okada ban, Faith Kure, a 300-Level student of NTA

•Students riding okada to school

Television College, Jos, thinks the idea is not logical because Keke NAPEP can only transport passengers to designated bus stops.

“Okada is the only means of transportation that will take poor passengers to their houses, which a cab or Keke NAPEP cannot do,” Faith said.

She added: “People are now going late for appointments because getting a tricycle is a problem. I end up going late to school

now. I will trek to school every day, unlike before when I could choose the Okada that would transport me to the campus.”

James Maigari, ND II Public Administration student of the Plateau State Polytechnic, Jos, said: “I live around Jenta, a suburb of Jos city, and you can hardly find Keke NAPEP around there. Even if they would like to come to that area, the condition of the roads and the way the streets are structured will hinder them.”

Terdoo Awuhe, a 400-Level student of NTA TV College, pointed out that the consequences of the policy would be felt more by those involved in okada business because they sustain themselves and families with the proceeds therefrom.

“For many, okada business is what they do to earn their living. With this ban, they will be out of job and many of them will •Continued on page 30

•Google hosts African students in Nairobi- •Union building to be completed in six months -P33

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

30

CAMPUS LIFE

Having a sense of history (1)

I

N the aftermath of the controversial name change of the University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University by the Federal Government, the comments of Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Governor of Ekiti State and Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Senator representing Ekiti Central Constituency of Ekiti State, caught my attention and I feel the need to dwell on their comments because of the far reaching repercussions they have for us as a nation.

Dr. Fayemi tried to explain that most of the undergraduates of UNILAG may not even know who the late Chief MKO Abiola was and could not understand why the government would take such a decision without “consulting” them. He felt there was a disconnect somewhere and the students should not be blamed because most of them were mere kids when Abiola died.

Senator Ojudu, on the other hand, noted that in the future we may well have a President who may not know who the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo or Sir Ahmadu Bello, the late Sardauna of Sokoto was! Absurd and sweeping as this sounds, it may well come true if things continue the way they are.

What these eminent men were trying to say was that we have raised a generation that does not have a sense of history, do not understand what nation building and nationhood are all about (or where they do, it may be within a very narrow prism because of a failed leadership) and are totally lost when it comes to the issue of shared values simply because the policy makers failed to look into the future and put things in place to groom the next generation of Nigerians through a deliberate and concerted historical process.

Just like every facet of life, our descent to where we are now did not happen overnight, it was a progressive descent. In the mid 1970s the country toyed with various development models and the Import Substitution Industralisation (ISI) model was adopted be-

Pushing Out with

Agbo Agbo 08052959489 (SMS only)

•aagboa@gmail.com cause the nation was in a “hurry to develop” and to shake off the shackles of colonialism. In this developmental march, there was a distortion in the educational curriculum with emphasis placed on science courses to the detriment of courses in the humanities and social sciences.

In the early to mid 1980s, courses were actually “rationalised” in the universities and one of the courses affected was history. Prior to that, at the primary and secondary levels, the subject had been watered down to Social Studies and Government, depriving students who originally would have had interest in studying history in its undiluted form.

Fast-forward to 1999 when our current democratic dispensation started. The first two years of former President Obasanjo’s first term were marred by increase in militancy and ethnic nationalism by the component parts that make up Nigeria. In their quest to understand this “sudden upsurge,” Emeritus professor of history and former Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos, Prof. J.F Ade Ajayi, told the government that it emanated from a flawed or failed sense of history. He proffered solutions which led to a presidential directive on the need to rework the school curriculum. As with most things Nigerian, it died a premature death on the policy and implementation slab.

And now we are back to 2012 and some Nigerians are wondering why undergraduates of UNILAG would take to the streets and close the Third Mainland Bridge because their institution was named after a man that gave up his life for democracy. How can this be? One of the undergraduates I spoke with said they see the decision as “a cheap populist move by a clueless government to divert attention from serious to pedestal issues.” Agreed, these undergraduates may not have a firm grasp of

history, but they are articulate on why they reject the name change.

And now that we are at a crossroad as a nation with most Nigerians lacking the understanding of what being a Nigerian is supposed to be, we may have to ask ourselves why study history, and what does history have to do with all that is happening now?

The answer is because we virtually must, to gain access to the “laboratory” of human experience. When we study it reasonably well, and so acquire some usable habits of mind, as well as some basic data about the forces that affect our own lives, we emerge with relevant skills and an enhanced capacity for informed citizenship, critical thinking, and simple awareness. We need to study it in order to make progress, even though this progress may take years in materialising.

Any subject of study needs justification; its advocates must explain why it is worth attention. In a society that quite correctly expects education to serve “useful” purposes, the functions of history can appear more difficult to define than those of say architecture, engineering or medicine. History is in fact very useful, actually indispensable, but the products of historical study are less tangible, sometimes less immediate, than those that stem from some other disciplines.

History should be studied because it is essential to individuals and to society as it helps us to understand people and societies. In the first place, it offers a storehouse of information about how people and societies behave.

Understanding the operations of people and societies is difficult, though a number of disciplines make the attempt. An exclusive reliance on current data would needlessly handicap our efforts. How, for instance, can we evaluate war if the nation is at peace, unless we use historical materials? How can we understand the role that beliefs play in shaping family life, if we don’t use what we know about experiences in the past?

Some social scientists attempt to formulate laws or theories about human behaviour, but even these depend on historical information, except for in limited, often artificial cases in which experiments can be devised to determine how people act. Consequently, history must serve, however imperfectly, as our “laboratory”, and data from the past must serve as our most vital evidence in the unavoidable

quest to figure out why our complex society behaves the way it does. This, fundamentally, is why we cannot stay away from history: it offers the only extensive evidential base for the contemplation and analysis of how societies function, and people need to have some sense of how societies function simply to run their own lives.

History also helps us to understand change and how the society we live in came to be. The past causes the present, and so the future. Any time we try to know why something happened—like the Boko Haram crisis or religious/ethnic conflicts— we have to look for factors that took shape earlier. Sometimes fairly recent history will suffice to explain a major development, but often we need to look further back to identify the causes of change. Only through studying history can we grasp how things change; only through history can we begin to comprehend the factors that cause change; and only through history can we understand why elements of an institution or a society persist despite change.

So, how do we start to put the right foot forward? Realising the importance of History, the Lagos State Government has already started the process of teaching the subject from the basic level. If handled well it may be the pedestal for grooming a generation of Nigerians who would understand what being a citizen of Nigeria really means. I urge the state to explore other avenues beyond the four walls of schools to enable its citizens have a positive and progressive sense of history.

...Thank you all I want to sincerely appreciate these men and women of God for standing by us during the death and burial of the late Mrs. Ngozi Agbo. Rev and Mummy Iloh, Bishop Humphrey and Rev Hulda Erumaka, Rev Israel and Rev (Mrs.) Uzo Israel, Rev (Mrs.) Juliet Binitie, Pastor Iphy Okonkwo, Pastor Soji Omotunde, Rev James Olutoye, Rev Richard and Abbe Amakiri, Rev Lawrence Etuk, Pastor Blessing Etuk, Pastor Chinedu Momah, Pastor Paula Iwenjorah, all Ngozi Agbo’s “children” and associates in tertiary institutions and Alhaji Auwalu Ilu and other Moslem brothers and sisters. You are all simply great!

‘Greatness is not achieved while sleeping’

•Samuel

W

HAT is Psalms and Peace Ambassadors (PAPA) all about?

It is a non-governmental organisation that places premium on security of lives and property. It was established in 2008 and members advocate peace through music, drama, seminars.

How does your group create awareness?

During memorable days, such as Saint Valentine’s Day, World Peace Day and World Music Day, we always organise symposia for youths to educate them on the need to ensure peace and harmony within their immediate environment. Seasoned speakers are invited to drive the philosophy of the group to the audience through awareness and sensitisation programmes.

How do you combine academic work with PAPA engagements?

It is not easy but with God everything is possible. I believe any man that wants to achieve greatness will not sleep when others are deep asleep. I try to prioritise my activities and delegate as appropriate to my members if I am occupied academically.

Nevertheless, there is time for everything.

What are some of the challenges of your

Samuel Edet-Patrick, a 400-Level student of Medical Laboratory Science at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), is the president and founder of Psalms and Peace Ambassadors (PAPA), a student group. He spoke to ISAAC MENSAH (400Level Medical Laboratory Science) on the group’s vision. organisation?

Our major setback has been finance. This is so because every organisation requires funds for the smooth running of its affairs.

We need sponsors for our programmes.

What are the achievements of your organisation so far?

We have been able to change the views of many youths on peaceful coexistence of different groups in the society. We organised several symposia to this effect and the number of new entrants into our group shows we are accepted by the youth and the society.

What is your advice to the students?

We must shun violence and espouse unity among us. If we speak with one voice, our differences in tongue and religion would be a blessing for us in our move to build a better Nigeria for generations to come.

•Tricycle... introduced by the government

Okada ban stirs students’ anger •Continued from page 29

return to the streets and may become miscreants,” Terdoo said.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the government had given tricycles to interested operators as part of the palliative measures.

An okada rider, who benefitted from the scheme, told our correspondent that he welcomed the development. He said the measure would sanitise the state and reduce crimes committed with motorcycles.

In an interview, Mr Chris Kwaja, Director of Plateau State Research and Planning, told CAMPUSLIFE that Governor Jonah Jang is determined to transform Jos into a mega city. He added that the government is planning to give out another batch of cabs and tricycles to interested members of the public willing to abide by the laws of the state.

“The government is determined to trans-

form the state, that is why it has placed the ban on motorcycles. Although many will be affected, the government will make sure it doesn’t bring hardship by looking at the issue with a human face,” Kwaja said.

Mark Tseenpoet, 400-Level TV Journalism, NTA TV College, said: “The move by the government is commendable, though such change always causes hardship but, with time, we will get used to it.”

Alex Bot, 300-Level TV Production, NTA College Jos, lamented that commuting is no more flexible, adding that the okada ban has increased the cost of transportation.

He said: “One can no longer take a straight drop. One has to break his journey from one motor park to another. Before now, I paid N80 to get home. But now I spend over N150 because I need to take two drops. It is hectic and, at the same time, expensive because we are students.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

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CAMPUS LIFE

A congress that never was All was calm when students of the Faculty of Science at the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT MINNA) gathered for their congress. But the congress was postponed following a disagreement over who should chair the election panel. FAITH OLANIRAN and TOLULOPE AJOBIEWE (300-Level Urban and Regional Planning) report.

I

T is the second semester and a season of politics at the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT MINNA). From faculties to departments, congresses are being held to discuss ‘the way forward’ by all student associations.

They will culminate into an election of leaders for all student bodies.

The Nigerian Association of Science Students (NASS), FUT Minna chapter, is one of such bodies.

The tenure of its current executive will soon lapse and a congress has been called to discuss the modalities for election. In line with tradition, congress comes before electioneering.

At the congress about two weeks ago, students dissatisfied with the administration of the outgoing NASS leaders thought it was an opportunity for them to air their grievances. Others wanted to attend the congress to cause chaos.

On the congress day, however, a quorum could not be formed for the congress to hold. This led to the postponement of the congress to the next day.

Slated for 4pm penultimate Thursday at the New Lecture Hall, Bosso campus, the congress began hours behind schedule. This led to the belief that the outgoing executive had something to cover up.

After waiting for more than an hour, a congressman, who did not mention told CAMPUSLIFE: “This

is a sad development in the life of our association and it calls for concern because students have gathered at the venue by 4pm, but none of the NASS officials is in sight. Is there more to this delay tactics than we all think?”

Two hours later, the members of the NASS executive arrived at the venue. The congress started and the atmosphere was normal. Representatives from all departments that make up the faculty were allowed to air their views on the wellbeing of the association.

However, the event took a dramatic turn when an argument ensued out among 500-Level students of different departments over who would be the electoral committee chairman. This led to a quarrel in the hall, which snowballed into fisticuffs in the presence of the school security operatives, who were deployed to monitor the exercise.

In the midst of the chaos, Jonathan Uga, 400-Level Biological Sciences, told CAMPUSLIFE: “I believe there is a division in the house already and this is compounded by disaffection among 500-Levels students. Fighting over who becomes the chairman of electoral committee is nothing but sheer hooliganism on the campus.”

To douse the tension, one of the NASS executive members called the sub-Dean of the faculty, Dr. Ibrahim Wushihi.

On arrival of Wushihi, who

•FUT MINNA gate

doubles as the Staff Adviser to the association, there was pin-drop silence in the hall as the warring students kept their cool. Immediately, the congress was cancelled by the sub-Dean.

Wushihi said he was not informed about the congress, saying whatever event that was to take place in the university must be well-planned and protocols had to be followed.

“As the adviser to the association, I was not informed about the congress. Due process was not followed and there were no procedures sent out to members on how electoral committee members will be constituted. In the light of this, I

believe another day should be fixed to hold the congress. This one cannot continue again,” he told the warring students.

Michael Adekunle, 500-Level Biochemistry and ex-president of the association, said the reason for the disagreement could have been as a result of the absence of the Financial Secretary to give account of the association’s spending.

“Students decried the fact that the General Secretary and the Financial Secretary were absent at the congress to present the financial report. We are told they are observing their Industrial Training outside the state. And since government is a continuum and election must take place, I think the two

Batch “B” 2011 Corps members passed out last month. Some who served in the Federal Capital Territory left a lasting legacy through their Community Development Service (CDS). DAYO OJERINDE (400-Level Mass Communication, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko) writes.

Corps members’ legacy of service

T

HE Batch “B” 2011 corps members completed their mandatory national service out last month.

Some of them did not go without leaving a legacy at their places of primary assignment.

Those in the HIV/AIDS Community Development Service (CDS) group who served in the Federal Capital Territory were praised for their efforts in organising awareness programmes in secondary schools on the deadly virus, six months before their passing out.

The pupils of City Royal Secondary School, Abuja, benefitted from the awareness programme. The corps members lectured them on reproductive health problem, HIV/AIDS prevention and care. They also constructed a

•The pupils of City Royal Secondary trained by the Corps members

sign post to serve as a reminder to the pupils on their daily activities.

One of the corps members, Opeyemi Akinfaderin, said: “Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Nigeria requires a national effort from all sectors of our

life. It is on this note that we are particularly grateful to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and other technical supporting firm for their contribution to making the awareness on HIV/AIDS popular one through this

programme.”

Speaking on the challenges they faced, Oluwashola Adeagbo, another corps member, said: “The first and major challenge was getting schools •Continued on page 36

officials should send all relevant documents in their possession to the secretariat of the association so that elections will not be delayed.”

Ramat Onize, 200-Level Geography, said: “Our effort to change certain things in the association during the congress has been aborted by the outgoing executive members who used delay tactics to cause confusion among members.

We hope that, at the end of everything, a new day will be fixed for the congress.’’

Also, Dr. A.N. Saidu, the Deputy Dean of the faculty, urged the students to abide by the provisions of the association’s constitution and follow laid-down procedures before another congress.

Essay competition for undergrads

T

HE Nation CAMPUSLIFE in collaboration with AfricanLiberty.org and Network for a Free Society, is calling for entries into an essay competition. Details are as follows: Topics: •The Predatory State: Its Origins and Implications for Economic Growth •Statism (State Interventionism) or Free Markets: An essential ingredient in Africa’s Economic growth?

•Protectionism or Trade: Alternatives for Africa’s economic growth Note: Applicants are expected to choose one of the topics above. The format of the text should be in MS Word and not more than 1,500 words.

Interested students should please request for the background material from Adedayo Thomas at adedayo.thomas@gmail.com and copy Wale Ajetunmobi at ladycampus@yahoo.com.

On the first page of the completed essay, please write your full names, department, year of study and name of institution. Also include your email address and GSM line.

Send your entries to adedayo.thomas@gmail.com

and copy ladycampus@yahoo.com.

Entries will be received between June and July 20, 2012.

Prizes: 1st - $1,000 and scholarship to 2012 Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy at the Catholic University in Quelimane, Mozambique from August 8- 11, 2012 2nd - $700 and scholarship to 2012 Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy at the Catholic University in Quelimane, Mozambique from August 8 to 11, 2012 3rd - $500 and scholarship to 2012 Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy at the Catholic University in Quelimane, Mozambique from August 8 to 11, 2012 4th - $300 and scholarship to 2012 Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy at the Catholic University in Quelimane, Mozambique from August 8 to 11, 2012 5th - $100 We have eight consolation prizes of $50 each.

Announcement of winners: August 2, 2012. All entries will get a free CD “Ideas for a Free Society” containing 100 textbooks on various field of studies.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

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CAMPUS LIFE

•Prof White flanked by the staff of the deparment after the lecture

Rural areas are under-reported in African media, says don

T

HE African media is failing in its responsibility to report happenings in the rural communities. The media practitioners on the continent are engaged in urban reporting, a development that will further under-develop African communities.

The notion was enunciated in a lecture delivered by Robert White, a professor of Peace and International Relations Studies at Hekima

From Oladele Oge UNN

College, Nairobi, Kenya. The lectured, titled: Development communication in Africa: The impacts of media organisations, was delivered at the international workshop organised by the department of Mass Communication and Public Relations Unit of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka(UNN).

The two-day programme was held at the Princess Alexandra Hall in the university. In his speech, Dr. Nnayelugo Okoro, a Mass Communication lecturer, emphasised the essence of research in community relations, saying one of the major challenges against good governance in Africa was the neglect of rural communities by the media industry which was said to cherish adverts and “brown-en-

velop news”.

Prof White condemned the act of hiding facts in their news report to the audience, saying the press was the mirror and watchdog of any nation. He added that media practitioners should not expect reward on earth for their selfless service, saying it was only God that can pay them back.

Head of Mass Communication department, Dr. Greg Ezeah, de-

scribed the workshop as a milestone, urging students to embrace professionalism after their graduation. Also, Prof Charles Okigbo, one time lecturer in the department and now teaching at Dakota University in the United States, praised the school management for organising the workshop. The programme was attended by students and scholars in Nigeria and abroad.

‘Boko Haram members are not Muslims’ From Sunkanmi Arowolo LASU

T

HE Muslim Community of the Lagos State University (LASU), last week, held an annual symposium with the theme: Islam and global peace to orientate the public on the misconception of Islamic teachings.

Dr. Abdulhafeez Oladosu from Arabic and Islamic Studies department, University of Ibadan (UI) spoke on Nigerian war on terror: Between national security and human rights, while Dr. Sa’eed Ahmed Rufai of faculty of Education, LASU delivered a lecture on Islam: Between Revivalism and Radicalism.

Dr. Oladosu described terrorism as a strategy of demand for the impossible. He frowned at connecting Islam with terrorism, saying the religion does not support any form of unlawful killing under any guise. He criticised the security formation in Nigeria, saying: “National security is taken to mean the

security of the presidency and his subordinates, whereas the nation is only secured when the citizens are secured.”

He also identified loopholes in the Anti-terrorism Bill (ATB) passed by the Senate, stating the bill is unreasonable, non-proactive and insensitive to Islam as a religion of peace.

Dr. Ahmad Rufai traced the source of the stigmatisation of Islam to battles fought by the Prophet Muhammad.

He said: “After the death of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), the teaching of Islam took a different orientation and attempt to salvage the religion brought about the revivalism and radicalisation of Islam.” Considering Boko Haram activities, he said the same yard stick should not be employed to measure Islamic faith and those killing under the guise of Islam.

Union leader suspended on birthday

T

HE birthday of the Welfare Director of the Students’ Union of Lagos State University (LASU), Taoreed Olasunkanmi was last Thursday.

As he was busy celebrating the day, members of the Students’ Parliamentary Council (SPC) of the union were on sitting to decide his fate.

Then sad news came: the parliament suspended Taoreed from office.

Reason: he failed to performed his responsibility as the welfare officer of the union.

The Chief Whip of the house, Peter Owolabani, confirmed the report to CAMPUSLIFE. He quoted the Speaker, Rasheed Azeez, as saying: “The Welfare Di-

From Sunkanmi Arowolo and Musbaudeen Shekoni LASU

rector has breached the constitution, which amounted to gross misconduct. He disregarded the house after some of us pleaded to him in private to respect the members.”

Taoreed was suspended for a month. His friend, who is a member of the parliament, said: “As a member of the house, I am part of the resolution. So, I can’t go against what other members have decided even though Taoreed is my very good friend. But when it comes to politics, we just have to put friendship aside.” Nasir Ojopoke, a student from the faculty of Sciences was appointed in acting capacity.

•Abdullahi (left) presenting the award to LAUTECH students, who won the competition

S

TUDENTS of Oyo State origin under the umbrella of Federation of Oyo State Students Union (FOSSU), AlHikimah University (ALHIKIMA), Ilorin chapter, have celebrated their day.

The event featured cultural display, Amala competition and the maiden edition of Yoruba quiz competition. It was held at the university auditorium on June 14.

The union president, Abdullahi Ahmad, 400-Level Islamic Studies, said the competition was based on Yoruba cultural heritage including praise singing, dressing mode and knowledge of history. He said though 27 institutions were invited but only three participated in the contest. They are Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Kwara State Polytechnic (KWARA POLY) and ALHIKIMA. At the end of the competition,

Oyo students celebrate day From Musliudeen Adebayo ALHIKIMA

LAUTECH students came first.

The event was attended by ALHIKIMA Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Alhaji A.K. Bello, who chaired the

occasion; Registrar, Alhaja Rasheedat Oladimeji; Oba Kilani Olatoyese Ishola, Okere of Saki; Dr. Raji Yussuf and Dr. O.W. Raji, the staff adviser. The royal father challenged other students to promote Yoruba cultural heritage.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

33

CAMPUS LIFE Union building to be completed in six months

T F

OUR weeks after the renovation work of the Union of the Lagos State University (LASU) Students’ Union Government (SUG) Arcade, contractor handling the project, Abram-Fem Construction Company, has said the building would be delivered in six months. Project co-ordinator, Tony Olorode, told CAMPUSLIFE last weekend.

Olorode said: “We don’t have any

From Olasunkanmi Arowolo LASU

problem with the government in the area of finance but the only problem we are confronting is weather. We are having challenges with the rains, but we hope and should be able to complete it before the end of the proposed six months since all necessary materials needed are on ground.”

•The newly-inaugurated Aluta ground

T

HE Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY), led by Jasper Ogunkuade, is being praised by the students of the institution for donating Aluta Ground and Volleyball court for their use. The projects, which were commissioned last week, were stationed at the mini campus of the institution. The union executive members, who were inaugurated last December, were commended for taking progressive steps in the area of welfare of the students.

Rector, Dr. Mufutau Olatinwo, said the polytechnic was proud of the union leadership. “We praise the SUG executive because of its uncommon sense of purpose, maturity and non-violent approach to matters of interest to the students,” Dr. Olatinwo said.

While inaugurating the projects,

Union commissions projects From Akinola Oluyi OFFA POLY

Olatinwo said the achievement was a manifestation of transforming and developmental ideas of the students’ leaders. He stressed the importance of sport, saying it was one of the ways to maintain healthy life. After the commissioning, meritorious awards were given to notable personalities, including Olatinwo, Chairman of Offa Local Government, Prince Saheed Popoola, a member of the Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Samson Feyibiyi, Chief Imam of Offa, Alhaji Muideen Sulaimon and a former member of House of Representatives, Kehinde Odebunmi among others.

Jasper thanked the students for their support and called for more cooperation with his administration to move the polytechnic to a greater height.

Muftau Ayodele, ND II Mass Communication, said: “After its inauguration last year, the SUG facilitated the release of buses for transportation to the permanent site at the rate of N20. They also constructed the relaxation garden at the permanent site which was inauguration during the 19th matriculation ceremony early this year. In encouraging the students, the president also gave awards of excellence to the best students at each level. All such actions should be praised.”

•Work in progress...Engineers working at the site

Campus journalists hold leadership seminar

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HE association of campus journalists at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, has organised a leadership seminar for members. The event, which was held penultimate Thursday, took place at the lecture theatre of the Institute. The theme of the event was Overcoming the challenges of campus leadership: Your roles as a student.

The programme was aimed at breeding leaders and educating the students on the ethics and responsibilities of a good leader. A staff from the Public Affairs office of the institute, Mr Brown Ukanefimoni said writers should use their articles to bring about the positive side of every negative situation by stating the problems and proffer

From Princewill Jacob PTI

solutions to them.

Gbenga Amojo, a former president of the association, who spoke on the topic: Rebuilding the Nigeria of our dreams, said: “I challenge you students to be the agent of change we want in our society. The best influence we can have is to influence ourselves with good thoughts and intentions. It is time for us to be brave and courageous, and learn to be honest and responsible in all we do.”

The event was well attended by students from various departments. Certificates were given to organisations and students that distinguished themselves in areas of leadership

Students defend assignment during exam

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•Some of the Google’s students ambassadors after the event

Google hosts African students in Nairobi

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NLINE search engine, Google, for three days last week, hosted African students from different countries in its maiden Africa Google Student Ambassadors Summit in Nairobi, Kenya. The student ambassadors helped Google to connect its products to African undergraduates on campuses. They act as intermediary.

The summit was held at Oshwa Centre, Nairobi, Kenya and had in attendance about 145 students representing 103 universities

From Wale Bakare UNILORIN

from 12 African countries Mr Nmachi Jidenma, who spoke on Google social networking, said: “Google Plus has a lot of social features that has to be introduced to your colleagues on campus. Show them the way it can be used and the benefits it has on social networking.”

The students were taken various tourist centres in Kenya. They also visited a popular galleria and sport centre. Regional Programme, Mrs

Obum Okeke Manager of Sub Sahara Africa University Program, thanked the students for attending the summit.

One of the participants from the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Tayo Fagbohun, 200-Level Home Economics and Food Science, said: “The summit is an eye-opener for me because I learned different African cultures and languages. I gained valuable knowledge about latest technology and now I will serve as an ambassador for Google in my school for a period of one year.”

HE HND II students of Mass Communication at the Federal Polytechnic, Oko (OKO

POLY) have defended their entrepreneurship assignment even as the institution is writing exams.

The assignment, which was due for defence in March, was delayed because of the recent fracas between students of the institution and their host communities.

The Entrepreneurship course lecturer, Mrs Constance Egbue, said all members in a group must participate in the defence. Each group has 10 students and they showcased the materials they pro-

From Geraldine Okolie OKO POLY

duced which included shampoo, liquid soap, air freshener, cakes among others.

At the end of the presentations, Mrs Egue encouraged the students to develop on the skills they had acquired.

“I want you to keep yourselves busy when you go for holiday so that you don’t stay idle, as you can see you all did great jobs .You can even make these things for commercial purposes and pay your bills while still in school,” she charged.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

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CAMPUS LIFE Students of Fine and Applied Arts at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), last week, displayed their creativity during the department’s Variety Week. UCHE ANICHEBE (400-Level Law) reports

In their creative best

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HEY are Fine Arts students, and, in consonance with their training, they displayed various colours, artfully, during a procession at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), last week. Under the banner of the Association of Fine and Applied Arts Students (AFAAS), they celebrated their departmental week with fanfare.

The event kicked off last Monday, with orientation and induction for freshers. This was followed by prayers for the department tagged “AFAAS Prays”.

On Wednesday, the department marked her colour carnival. Students from other departments watched their colleagues in Fine and Applied Arts, who painted their faces and body in a mixture of colours and walked triumphantly in a procession round the campus.

According to AFAAS president, Israel Onimade, the essence of the colour carnival was to create awareness on the department’s Art Exhibition billed to hold the following day.

The exhibition was the high point of the week. It took place at the Centre for Excellence in the Arts and Humanities building. The venue was filled with assorted artworks by the students of the department.

The works displayed included paintings, sculptures, ceramics, graphics, textile and design, among others.

The exhibition was graced by dig-

•Some of the art works displayed during the exhibition

nitaries from Culture and Tourism Board, Arts societies and associations in Anambra State. Also present were the UNIZIK ViceChancellor, Prof Boniface Egboka; Head of Fine and Applied Art department Prof Clifford Nwanna; Staff Adviser Dr. Okechukwu Nwafor; students of Fine and Applied Arts from the Federal Polytechnic, Oko (OKO POLY), and their counterparts from the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu.

The exhibition was declared open by the Director of the Confucius Institute of the university. He praised

the creativity of the students, who he said exhibited quality artworks.

He encouraged the students to strive for the best in their fields of study. According to him, the works portrayed African history, beauty and tradition.

CAMPUSLIFE spoke with Onimade. He was delighted with the success of the event, especially, the exhibition. He said the works exhibited were by students from all levels in the faculty, adding, with such display of quality artworks by undergraduates, it may not be long for Nigeria to get to the level it desires in Arts.

•The procession of the students on the campus

CAMPUSLIFE also spoke with some visitors to the art exhibition.

Juliet Afoma, a student of Economics, was awed by the artistic display. She said: ‘’Frankly speaking, I am really impressed with the

works. I can’t believe that they were made by students like me. The creativity and finesse of the works speak well of the Fine Arts students.

In every artistic work, I saw ingenuity and perfection. I am really impressed.”

Gathering of saints The 13th edition of ‘Return of the Saints’, an annual fellowship event, was held penultimate weekend at the Nigeria French Village. A participant, GILBERT ALASA (300-Level Foreign Languages, University of Benin), reports.

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OR several weeks, the Nigeria French Language Village was full of expectations. Posters with inscriptions, such as “loading”, “65% loading” and “95% loading” adorned notice boards and walkways. These made the staff and students to wonder what was “loading”. When it finally “loaded” it was the 2012 edition of ‘Return of the Saints’ tagged “A new beginning”. It held from June 15 to 17.

The event kicked off two days earlier, with a rally to sensitise the French Village community on the programme. Students and members of staff, decked in lemon-green T-shirts, moved round all the nooks and cranny of the campus, sharing flyers, dancing and singing spiritual songs.

On the D-Day, guests and the “returning saints” arrived. Registrations and lodgments started simultaneously at the main auditorium.

In his address, the Director-General of the village, Prof S. O. Aje, enjoined the congregation to be prayerful, saying a new beginning symbolises a turnaround for good.

He said: “A new beginning is a reminder of the earlier beginning

when God supremely intervened in the creation of man and the universe. Consequently, a new beginning is an opportunity to start all over again and re-enact the glorious moments of the earlier beginning.”

In the same vein, the Registrar, Mr. Remi Fatunwase, said this year’s edition was aimed at reviving the spiritual vitality of members, especially during the time when “humanity thrives in the darkest hour of history.”

He said: “The lord is directing our attention in this year’s homecoming to the imperative of doing some soul-searching, inventory-taking and renew the resolve to be what we are destined to be even in the face of debilitating affronts to our faith.”

The Return of the Saints Pastor, Segun Afolabi, explained that the event was an annual gathering of students who had passed through the Nigeria French Village Christian Fellowship. He added that it was an opportunity for them to get together in the presence of the Lord, share life testimonies and network with others.

Because they came back to interact with students and members of staff, they are called “return-

•Members of the fellowship choir giving rendition at the event

ing saints.”

In attendance were Karis Music band, guest ministers, gospel artistes and external facilitators.

There were musical concert, drama presentation and discussions on career, marriage and relationship, leadership and music.

These were preceded by the question and answer session where solutions were proffered to burning questions.

Pastor Afolabi noted that the an-

nual gathering was a reminder of the second coming of Christ when saints would be caught up to meet with the Lord. Hence, he enjoined both residing and returning saints to lead their lives in view of the imminent rapture of saints.

Other speakers included Dr. Joseph Adeleke; Reverend Bassey Ekpeyong and Dr. Damola Adedayo. There were other guest ministers in attendance.

One of the “saints” from the Uni-

versity of Lagos (UNILAG) described the gathering as a “spiritual revitalisation”.

He said: “It was a perfect time to get refueklled, recharged and renewed for the greater journey ahead. I savoured every minute of the programme. In fact, the practical sessions were the most exciting. Such anointing often comes when saints gather.”

The event ended on Sunday with a thanksgiving service.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

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CAMPUS LIFE

The beauty of engineering

By Philip Okorodudu

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HE word ‘beauty’ is to me synonymous with engineering.

This is because beauty has to do with anything that is good and pleasing to the eyes. Engineering is pleasing to the eyes through its inventions and architecture.

Engineering, as a discipline, offers

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ORRUPTION is a cankerworm that has eaten deep into all strata of our national life. From the private to the public sector, corruption is a common occurrence. This, perhaps made the Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration to set up an anticorruption commission to fight graft in government offices and private firms.

But the situation has not changed. The rate of corruption in Nigeria is growing by leaps even with the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and its sister agency, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).

On January 1, President Goodluck Jonathan removed subsidy on petrol, a policy that led to a series of mass protests

by Nigerians. Lives were lost and the economy was crippled for days. After two weeks, organised labour had to succumb to the wishes of the government which announced a partial removal of subvention on fuel.

However, less than two months after the subsidy protests, facts have emerged on how the huge funds the government spent to subsidise fuel in the last four years were criminally siphoned by a cabal.

knowledge in physical laws, laws of Physics and Chemistry, which are gained through study, experience and practice. It is applied with good judgment to develop ways to economically utilise materials and forces of nature for the benefit of mankind.

The beauty of engineering lies in the fact that decisions are made after a series of processes in which facts are tested and verified through physical laws to arrive at a sound conclusion.

The conclusion here is termed ‘sound’ because the decisions reached can stand the test of time.

In the thoughts of Herbert Hover, former American President (1929 – 1933): “The great liability of the engineer compared to men of other professions is that his works are in the open where all can see them; his acts, step by step, are in hard substance; he cannot bury his mistakes in the grave like the doctors; he cannot, like the architect, cover his failures with trees

and vines; he cannot, like the politicians, screen his shortcomings by blaming his opponents and hope the people forget; an engineer cannot simply deny he did it, if his works do not work, he is damned.”

In recent times, the engineering profession has come under heavy criticisms, especially in Nigeria. Regularly, buildings collapse; we are now much more aware of the negative side effects of environmental pollution which, in one way or the other, is reducing the life span of man. Power supply has not shown much improvement, despite the huge sums of money invested in the sector. The unity and peaceful co-existence of man is daily being threatened with the invention of lethal weapons.

Engineers are receiving criticisms because most of these are the products of their inventions. Thus, unlike other professions which can bury its mistakes, a mistake in engineering is

P

Philip, 400-Level Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering, DELSU

In the eye of a bribery storm Discrepancies were discovered in the implementation of the subsidy regime; oil firms contracted to import petrol were indicted by the Farouk Lawanled House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee that probed the dispensing of subsidy funds. The constitution of the committee was praised by most Nigerians, especially when it was announced that Hon. Lawan, alias Mr. Integrity, would be its chairman.

To be fair, the Lawan-committee performed its duty noticeably well, at least, according to what we saw on television.

Recommendations made by the committee included the refund of billions of naira by majority of the oil firms that were indicted in the subsidy scam.

Hardly had the recommendations been implemented by the government, than controversies started trailing the Lawan-committee reports. The chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Farouk Lawan, is enmeshed in a bribery allegation. The owner of one

of the indicted firms, Zenon Oil, Mr Femi Otedola, alleged the lawmaker demanded $3 million from him to delete his company’s name from the indicted list, of which $620,000 was paid to Lawan.

Mr Integrity initially denied collecting bribe from the oil magnate but when he was told there was a video recording that showed he received the said amount, he changed the beat. He admitted collecting the cash but said he wanted to use the money as evidence that Otedola induced him with hard currency to compromise the recommendation of the subsidy probe report.

To me, Mr Integrity has a weak argument here even though I believe Otedola’s hands are not clean in the subsidy scam. If he wanted to nail Otedola with the $620,000 ‘bribe’, why did he wait for his detractors to expose him before he took action? Whether he comes out clean, at the end of the day or not, a slur has been cast on the

Need for amenities in tertiary institutions ROVIDING basic social amenities is one of the most valuable functions of any government. If any government at any level neglects this common responsibility, undoubtedly, its downfall may be very quick and unfortunate.

Nowadays, in Nigerian tertiary institutions, the major difficulties, bothering students is what I describe as LACK OF BASIC CAMPUS AMENITIES. No potable water, no power supply, poor road network, bad infrastructure and many more. Aside all these, the transportation facilities are dilapidated. Some weeks ago, I read a story on how students of one institution in the eastern part clamoured for water supply in their campuses. Off-campus students, especially those in public institutions, have been neglected by those concerned: the government, various school managements and private individuals. I’ll appreciate the efforts of those who have been, for long time, fighting for students’ rights.

To learn in an enabling environment, students need well ventilated and conducive facilities. It’ll be a very difficult situation for students living in a particular place where there is no electricity supply to succeed in his or her academic pursuit. Light is very essential for reading and other domestic activities. With the cost of kerosene, students have been us-

a reflection of an engineer’s thoughts.

Because they seek to tread where others dread, engineers try to do things in an exceptional way.

According to my the Dean of my faculty, who is an electrical engineer, Prof P.A. Kuale: “If you want to be great, you must know what the greats knew and do what the greats did.”

This probably led to the verdict of former American president John F. Kennedy that: “America must go to the moon by 1968;” after Russia broke the ground when it hoisted its flag in the moon.

Engineers seek to carve their names in gold by having done something to better improve the human race.

Oftentimes, I wander what the world would be without electricity brought to us by Michael Faraday. Thomas Edison came up with the low-energy bulb that illuminates our houses at night. If you talk about beauty, then

you are talking about engineering.

My friend, a civil engineering student, and I visited a construction site in Delta State University sometimes ago. As an electrical engineering student, I was busy admiring the masterpiece, my friend was busy trying to estimate the number of the bags of cement and the rods that were used in the design and construction of a beam at the site. This shows that an engineer is a professional that sees beyond the quantitative materials but quality of his job.

Yes, many happenings in recent times have called to question the integrity of the modern day engineer.

But the fact remains that many of the so-called engineers are quacks. It has been observed that most of the buildings that collapsed in the country were not managed by registered engineers.

However, in spite of the numerous challenges, the engineering profession still remains a beauty and the best.

ing electric gadgets to cook. I’m just illustrating this usage to reemphasise on the needs to provide stable electricity in our campuses.

On water supply, in fact, I was disappointed with governments at all levels, especially those at the grassroots. The reason is they fail to make life bearable for students, even if it is by building boreholes in their various communities. We all know the importance of water. No one can survive without using water daily. It is not a good idea if this is how we are going to continue. The off-campus students are suffering.

In one of my interviews with some students at the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, they narrated their experiences while searching for potable water. A student said: “I was sick when we resumed last year November and when I was tested; the Doctor told me I had contacted cholera”. You can imagine this kind of situation. They explained that they can’t afford to continue buying sachet water and that is why they fetch unclean water anywhere they see a well.

It will be an embarrassment if Nigerian students tell their counterparts in other countries that they do not usually bathe before going to lecture rooms because of scarcity of water; or that we did not have light that is why I failed my last examination. All these may seem minor but is a great

acclaimed integrity of Farouk Lawan.

The former director of the State Security Services (SSS), Mike Ejiofor, was quoted by the media to have said: “I was in deep shock when I heard the news of the bribery scandal by Farouk Lawan because of the faith and trust I had in him.”

I won’t be surprised if Nigerians express the same feeling because the lawmaker was hitherto seen as a defender of accountability and transparency in government. Farouk Lawan disappointed the longsuffering masses of Nigeria. He willfully threw his integrity in the mud and enlisted himself into the group of our tormentors. What a volte-face.

The bribery allegation may have signalled the death of the recommendations of the subsidy probe because other marketers indicted with Otedola’s company would contest the veracity of the reports given that Zenon Oil has been deleted and re-

By Muibat Salam

added in the list of indicted firms.

If this happens, Nigerians will be the losers at the end of the day.

Surely, nothing could be more unfortunate than when a man destroys his hard-earned integrity on the altar of greed and gluttony.

Muibat, ND II Mass Comm., MAPOLY

Re: Hard life at French Village

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By Akinola Oluyi

disgrace.

My view on the provision of basic amenities on campus may seem inauspicious, or, in other hand, seems impressionable but my focus and achievement on this will base on quick response from government at all levels. They should know that without such amenities, for example, good roads, adequate water supply, stable power supply and rehabilitation of those dilapidated buildings, students may find it difficult to contribute to educational development in the country.

Amenities make a place comfortable and easy to live in, therefore, WE Nigerian students are calling on government and nongovernment organisations to come and render their help so that campus life will be comfortable for all and sundry.

Akinola, ND II Mass Comm., OFFA POLY

HE attention of the Nigeria French Language Village has been drawn to a publication in The Nation newspaper dated Thursday June 7, 2012, purportedly written by one of your CAMPUSLIFE journalist, Mr. Gilbert Alasa.

We want to state that the said publication is an opinion of an individual and does not represent the true and current state of affairs in the Nigeria French Language Village.

For the avoidance of doubt, Nigeria French Language Village is the nation’s inter-university centre for French studies established in 1991, to provide the much needed domestic alternative to the mandatory Language Immersion Component of the B.A/B.Ed programme in French in Nigerian universities and colleges of education. The Nigeria French Language Village is strategically positioned to effectively handle the Language Immersion Programme for higher institutions in Nigeria given the infrastructure, human and material resources at its disposal.

To create this simulated environment of a French language institution, structures and facilities are put in place to ensure that students’ basic needs are met. These include, among other, a well stocked library, language laboratory, a computer centre, as well as hostel facilities to accommodate an average of 4-6 students per room and so the question of over-population does not arise.

As we all know, the Nigeria French Language Village operates

By T.O. Alegbeleye within the Nigerian nation with her challenges in the areas of infrastructure and social services. But be that as it may, management of the Nigeria French Language Village has been working tirelessly to ensure a comfortable and conducive learning environment for all students who come for the mandatory Language Immersion Programme in the village.

Mr. Gilbert Alasa raised the problem of light and water for instance.

It may interest you and the general public to know that the Nigeria French Language Village puts on its generators for an average of ten or more hours per day, depending on the performance of PHCN. And whenever these generators are not working, water is pumped into all the tanks in the Village. When the generators are not on, management ensures that there is water in the surface tanks around the Village. Of course, if the water in the overhead tank is exhausted, the natural thing to do is to fetch water from the surface tanks.

For Mr Alasa to make big deal out of this, without hearing the management side is, to say the least, unethical, not say uncharitable.

To conclude, we hereby request the general public and stakeholders in the education industry in Nigeria to disregard the said publication of June 7, 2012 as the content is totally false and misleading.

Mrs. Alegbeleye is the Public Relations Officer, Nigeria French Language Village, Ajara-Badagry

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

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CAMPUS LIFE Students of Ajayi Crowther University (ACU) in Oyo have relived the Oleku style, which was prominent in the 60s and 70s. Decked in old Yoruba attires called Oleku, they displayed a rare fashion sense during the institution’s Awards Night. OMOWUNMI OGUNTUASE (300-Level Mass Communication) reports.

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EW months ago, Ajayi Crowther University (ACU), Oyo, was in turmoil over the death of a student, Elvis Abu. He died in the institution’s health centre. Pandemonium broke out as students destroyed properties, blaming the management for Abu’s death. These crisis led to the closure of the university for weeks.

Weeks after, however, the school was re-opened and normalcy has since returned to the campus. But not so for students’ activities, which are gradually coming up.

To return the school to the social radar, the ACU authorities, penultimate week, granted permission to the students to celebrate their departmental weeks.

Associations in each department organised activities during the week, which included awareness, seminars, variety and award nights and excursion to Olumo Rock in Abeokuta.

The department of Business Administration variety night was tagged “Oleku Night”. Students were dressed in old Yoruba attire called Oleku.

It was an event of glitz and glamour as various cliques of students in the department picked the same materials for their attires. They all appeared wonderful in the clothes.

Some of them danced to the beats from a traditional talking drum, Bata, wafting from the corner of the venue. One of the high point of the event was when awards were given to students for their creativity and brilliance.

Damilola Samuels, 300-Level student, said: “What made the week unique was the Oleku Night. The concept was really good and the decorations were perfect. The Bata dance too was marvelous.

“For those of us who did not witness the era of Oleku style in the 60s and 70s, it has come back to be a major fashion style in our time. Oleku has brought back lost heritage of Yoruba culture. Most of us who normally have a preference for Western fashion are now adopting the

Students relive old Yoruba fashion

•Other students in funny dresses during the week

•Some of the students in Oleku attire

style and even looking good in it,” said Nike Adeboye, who was clad in Oleku clothes made from Adire.

She added: “Oleku is very comfortable given that it is a short-sleeve Buba (top) and Iro (wrapper), which is a little above the knee. One moves freely and does not get entangled with anything. It is a universal style that can be worn to a lot of places.”

Another student of the department, Fikemi Awoseyi, said the ex-

cursion to Olumo Rock and the pageantry at the Oleku Night brought memories of the beauty of the Yoruba culture.

The Information and Communication Technology and Computer Science departments held their week together. The programme featured an excursion to Erin Ijesha and also an award night. They ended it with thanksgiving at the school chapel.

On and Off Campus By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

Ibidun Awe, 400-Level Information and Communication Technology, said: “The week was not only about fun. We learned a lot of things from the seminar and excursion. Though it was still fun though throughout.”

The Department of Economics went a step further during its week.

The students of the department organised Miss Economic beauty pageant. A 200-Level student, Seyi

Akinya, won the contest.

“Although winning the pageant was a shock to me, I am grateful to God and my colleagues for choosing me as their queen,” Seyi told CAMPUSLIFE. Other departments that celebrated their week included History and International Relations, with the theme “The Renaissance”; Banking and Finance, and Communication and Media Studies.

‘Standard of education has not fallen’ HE Registrar of Ekiti State University (EKSU) Dr. Omojola Awosusi, has said the standard of education has not fallen. He spoke in an interview with CAMPUSLIFE. He said: “The standard of education has not fallen in my own opinion but what has happened is that people have failed to comply with standards.” He said syllabus used in the past was slightly changed to accommodate the present reality in the education system but blaming students for not wanting to learn.

“There was no entrance exam

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which would allow the programme as most schools we approached gave us excuses. In the long run, however, we got schools that were ready to accommodate us. But another challenge set in. It was time challenge. We were given just 30 minutes which was not enough to cover pertinent areas of the awareness programme.”

Another member of the group, Omolara Odetara, spoke on the success of the initiative. “We successfully trained 96 pupils and we were able to build self confidence in them, which made it easy for us to interact with the pupils freely,” she submitted.

Omolara added: “In the course of bringing the preva-

From Opeyemi Samuel UNAD

in the past and no computer and Internet. The standard today is higher but what is lacking is discipline and character among the students, who show lackadaisical attitude to lectures,” Dr Awosusi said.

He said the advent of mobile technology has affected education greatly, saying surfing the internet, using Facebook, Twitter and other social networksites are the latest distraction to students.

On EKSU administration, he said the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof Oladapo Aina, has put the school on the path of infrastructural development. “The university is enjoying a new lease of life because Prof Aina is trying to stop the culture of students not paying school fees on time, lecturers not submitting results as and when due. He is also introducing infrastructure where we will have solar electricity around the campus, build boreholes in the university to provide water for students use on campus,” he said.

Legacy of service lence ratio of the data of HIV/ AIDS to a zero level, we used our personal money to produce signposts for schools which contain information on abstinence.”

A pupil of City Royal Secondary School, who attended the programme, Victoria Achilihu, in Junior Secondary School, said: “The corps members have really changed my orientation on the cause of HIV/AIDS and its prevention.

Many people believed it is only through sexual intercourse that one can contact HIV/AID, but now I can tell people that one stands the risk of contracting HIV/AID by sharing sharp objects with an infected person.

I’ve also learnt that HIV/AIDS is not the end of life, you can actually become who you want to become in life as an infected person.”

Blessing Istifanis, a Senior Secondary School pupil, said: “There are some things that we were not told about the reproductive system in our biology class. As one is now getting mature, I have discovered that we should be taught those things that were being hid from us because people blame young girls for unwanted pregnancy, but if we were taught things we learn in the awareness programme, I believe such unwanted pregnancy will not happen.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

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EDUCATION ABU gets new DVC

FUNAAB FILE Lecturer wins scholarship

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HE Senate of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has elected Prof Ibrahim Na Iya Sada as the institution’s new Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration).

Sada took over from Prof Idris Isa Funtua, who has completed a two-term tenure.

A statement signed by Mallam Waziri Isa Gwantu media consultant to the Vice-Chancellor, said the election which was presided over by the ViceChancellor Prof Abdullahi Mustapha, took place in the university’s Senate chamber, with majority of senate members in attendance.

The new DVC, who hails from Danbatta Local Government Area of Kano State, obtained his LL.B (Hon) in 1978 from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1974. He was called to the bar in 1979.

Sada joined the services ABU in 1980 as a Graduate Assistant. He obtained his LL.M and Ph.D in Comparative Constitutional Law from the same university.

He became the Head of Islamic Law Department of the university 1987, where he steered affairs of the department for 10 years and was later appointed Assistant Dean of Students Affairs (Kongo Campus) from 1989-1992.

He was appointed Dean, Faculty of Law in 1992 after which he became Director, Centre for Islamic Legal Studies (CILS) between 2000-2004.

He was also a visiting Fullbright scholar, University of California Santa-Barbara in 2002.

He is happily married and has children.

A member of staff of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, Mr Ayodeji Adeyinka Adeoye has won a scholarship to study for his PhD in the United Kingdom.

Adeoye, who is of the Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, College of Environmental Management (COLERM) of the institution,was selected by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, United Kingdom, to attend a 36-month Ph.D Programme in Aquaculture and Fish Nutrition at the Plymouth University, South West London.

The scholarship is funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), as part of the Commonwealth Scholarships tenable in the UK for the 2012/ 2013 academic session.

•Prince Bola Ajibola(middle) with Dean, Faculty of Law, OAU, Prof Ademola Popoola and officers of Magna Curia Chambers cutting a cake at a lecture organised by the Muslim Law Students, University of Lagos.

Akwa Ibom e-library to open soon HE new Akwa Ibom State eLibrary will soon open to the public, the Commissioner for Information and Communications Mr Aniekan Umanah has said.

He told reporters in Uyo that the registration is available to online and On-site readers; while the Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) links the world e-library and other e-resource websites.

Umanah revealed that the official website address of the library is ww.ibomelibrary.org, adding that it has e-resources that can only be accessed onsite (intranet) within the facility of the Library.

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The Commissioner also said the state is processing a top level domain website www.ibomelibrary.gov.ng to ensure that all components of the library are easily accessed by registered users from all parts of the world.

Similarly, the Principal Consultant at the e-Library Prof Felicia Etim said to have access to the facilities of the e-library both online and on-site users must first register and be issued with access-card or account details.

She explained further that after acquiring the access card, users should go online, click on My Ac-

count, then Register and Log In after which they can search for e-resources of their choice, print or download depending on their subscription level.

Etim also informed library users that experimental websites like www.akselibrary.org and www.akselibrary.org.ng were not valid for access to the e-library.

Modalities for payments and account details, she explained, are being worked out and added that the date for the full opening of the library will be announced next month.

40 tertiary institutions battle for SIFE World Cup ticket

U •Prof Sada

Over 7,000 shortlisted for UI post-UTME

NDERGRADUATES from over 40 tertiary institutions in the country are showcasing the initiatives they have implemented to improve their communities at the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) National Competition.

The first round of the competition began yesterday at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

According to a statement by Mrs Adesuwa Ifedi, Country Director of SIFE Nigeria, the group’s teams representing each school, will display evidence that the projects have im-

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

proved host communities of their institutions in the past one year while making multimedia presentations.

Semi-final of the competition tagged: The SIFE Challenge, will hold today while the final will hold July 24.

As part of the final, all the teams that entered for the competition will be given an opportunity to exhibit their innovations in solving, socioeconomic and environmental prob-

lems and interact with visitors expected from far and wide.

The overall winning teams will represent Nigeria at the SIFE World Cup in Washington DC, United States, in September.

Similarly, SIFE is partnering with the United States Department of State to organise a conference tagged “Women Empowering Women” on today at the Grand Ballroom, Eko Hotel and Suites.

Over 200 women leaders from 25 states are expected at the forum, which will focus on providing answering to key questions on leadership using practical life examples.

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HE University of Ibadan (UI) has invited 7,057 candidates for its post-UTME screening next Monday.

The candidates were those shortlisted after the university’s Undergraduate Admissions Committee headed by Prof Joseph Anthony Woods screened their O/ Level and UTME results.

A statement by the University’s Director of Public Communication, Mr Olatunji Oladejo, noted that the candidates will write the subjects they sat for during the UTME held in April under strict exam conditions.

The candidates are to present originals and photocopies of their O/Level and UTME results, birth certificates, printouts of their invitation letter for the screening, and two passport photographs at the venue.

The breakdown of the shortlisted candidates shows that the Faculty of Science is inviting highest number of candidates (1,266), followed by the College of Medicine (1,145) and the Faculty of the Social Sciences (1,021).

FERMA to fix road THE Federal Roads Management Agency (FERMA) will start the reconstruction of the FUNAABCamp Road in two weeks.

This state Resident Engineer of the agency, Alex Mazoya, stated this at a meeting with the management of the institution and the executives of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), FUNAAB chapter.

The Vice Chancellor Prof Olusola Oyewole said the road had been patched several times over the years, and required reconstruction.

He said: “The road is a Federal Government’s road. I don’t think the state government will touch it.

It will be done by FERMA and we are seeing them soon.”

3,228 candidates screened THE Deputy VC (Academics), Prof Toyin Arowolo, said FUNAAB has concluded the screening of 3,228 candidates for the 2012/2013 academic session.

He said 3,008 candidates applied through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) while 220 were through direct entry.

The screening was done in three days by members of FUNAAB staff and consultants.

Arowolo said: “We have a sevenmember screening panel in each of the centres made up of eminent and dedicated professors and professionals. On each of the panel, we also have external members .

“The external resource persons, seven in number, came from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria; University of Jos, University of Abuja, University of Ilorin, and the University of Lagos.”

Chancellor counsels VC

•Dr. Shuaibu Musa, Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi in a handshake with Commandant NDLEA Bauchi Command, Mr Julius Phara

The FUNAAB Chancellor, Prof Chike Edozien, the Asagba of Asaba, has charged the ViceChancellor(VC), Prof Olusola Oyewole, to live up to the expectations placed on him by stakeholders of the institution.

Speaking when Oyewole visited his palace in Asaba, Delta State, the monarch noted that the high challenge for performance is the result of the achievements of his his predecessor, Prof Oluwafemi Balogun.

He admonished the new VC to combine the astuteness of a good academic with the prowess of a versatile administrator and the shrewdness of a businessman to surpass previous records.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

38

EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS

CRESCENT FILE

Proprietor honoured THE Magna Curia Chambers of the Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University has honoured the Proprietor of Crescent University, Abeokuta Prince Bola Ajibola.

The former World Court jurist was honoured as a pillar of justice worldwide.

He was also honoured by the Association of Muslim Law Students of University of Lagos (UNILAG) during its annual lecture tagged: Administration of social justice in Nigeria.

Prof M. T. Okorodudu-Fubara spoke on the theme: Environmental Law: Its roles and importance in curbing the nature fury in our environment to achieve sustainable development, at the Oduduwa Hall of the institution Prof Okorodudu-Fubara lauded Ajibola for being the first Nigerian to promulgate the environmental law when he was the nation's Attorney-General and Minister of Justice over two decades ago. He described him as a giant in the administration of justice and doyen of education management.

APPROACHING DEADLINES 2013 Scholarship for Postgraduate Students, South Africa Canon Collins Trust funded Scholarship for Postgraduate Students from Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe to Study in South Africa-2013 Study Subject(s):Courses offered by university Course Level:Postgraduate Scholarship Provider: Canon Collins Trust Scholarship can be taken at: South Africa Eligibility: To apply for a scholarship under this programme you must be: be a national of and resident in one of the following countries: Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe. in possession of a good first degree or about to graduate in the year of application Scholarship Open for International Students: Yes Scholarship Description: Scholarships of up to R40,000 per academic year for scholars at

Honours, Masters and PhD level. Applicants will be expected to show their commitment to the development of their country and region.

How to Apply: Contact employer Scholarship Application Deadline: Applications for 2013 will open in mid-2012.

END 2012 HEC-EGIDE/ Eiffel MBA Scholarships for Developing Countries, France French Ministry of Foreign Affairs announce HEC-EGIDE/ Eiffel MBA Scholarships for Developing Countries, France 2012 Study Subject(s):MBA Course Level:MBA Scholarship Provider: HEC, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministère des Affaires Etrangères) Scholarship can be taken at: France Eligibility: The HEC MBA Program applies on behalf of admitted eligible students. In order to be eligible the candidate must: Be aged 30 years old or less in the selection year. Have a single nationality from a developing country deemed an 'emerging country' by the French state department, especially those in Asia and Latin America, for example,

currently under-represented among the student population in France.

Scholarship Open for International Students: Yes Scholarship Open for Students of Following Countries: Developing country Scholarship Description: Launched in January 1999 by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministère des Affaires Etrangères), the Eiffel Scholarship is designed to bolster international recruiting by French schools of higher education, at a time when competition to attract top foreign students is growing among developed countries. HEC reserves the right to submit only those candidates it feels best qualify for the Eiffel Scholarship as the award is particularly competitive and prestigious. Note that applications from students currently studying outside France will be given priority over those from students already studying in France.

How to Apply: Contact employer Scholarship Application Deadline: End of November each year (after enrollment confirmation).

VC harps on training THE Vice-Chancellor Prof Hassan Okeleye, has described staff training as one of the pre-requisites for the promotion of staff, especially the non-academics of the institution.

Okeleye said this while presenting certificates of participation to members of staff who completed their training facilitated by the Professional Development Unit of the university.

Congratulating the beneficiaries, the VCs deputy Prof Ibrahim Gbajabiamila, encouraged other staff members to participate in the future training which include: building effective team, effective communication skills; developing interpersonal skills, and how to work effectively with your boss.

School re-enacts Ipi Ntombi A SPECIAL presentation on South Africa's Ipi Ntombi by the pupils of Greenwood House School exemplified their innate artistic potential.

The Agip Hall of the MUSON Centre shook with the spectacular performance of Ipi Ntombi, a South African dance by pupils of Greenwood House, Ikoyi.

Though stated for 5.30pm, parents, arts and culture enthusiasts filled the hall before the scheduled time.

The stage was beautifully draped in cultural artefacts and with attractive klieg lights. It was one electrifying evening as parents and others defied the earlier rain to watch the pupils showcase their unique endowments.

The coordination was superb while the costume portrayed rich African traditional heritage.

The presentation was an adaptation ipi Ntombi, which portrayed the young man as torn between his village root and the temptation of city life. It was a delightful beginning with a typical village scene with rhythmic tunes accompanying the mood of the cultural presentation.

It explored the city life of South Africa which was quite diverse from that of the village.

The pupils were all dressed in city attires and the popular Haya track was sung at the scene.

•From left: Mrs Dabiri Erewa; Registrar, AOCOED, Bola Disu; Executive Secretary, National Commission for Colleges of Education, Prof Muhammad Junaid; Mr Bashorun and Mrs Akran at the event.

Education key to development, says Fashola HE Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola has said education is the key to the growth and development of any nation.

He also said teachers are important in the development process.

Fashola, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government Dr Idiat Adebule, spoke at the

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By Adegunle Olugbamila and Medinat Kanabe

Adeniran College of Education (AOCOED) 29th, 30th, and 31st convocations held at the college premises.

He said: "If this is the case, teacher's education must certainly be an essential part of that process.

Teachers are the drivers of the soci-

•Atilade of Fashina Ife Oba Oladoyin Ogunwusi presenting a plaque to Babajide Omoworare a Senator representing Osun East Senatorial District and an alumnus of Saint John's Grammar School during the school’s Golden Jubilee celebrations at the school premises in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

ety. They are the curators of the past and the architects of tomorrow's building blocks.”

Fashola said his administration is committed to making the 53-yearold one of the best in the country with state-of-art facilities hence the fulfilment of a promise he made during the college Golden Jubilee in 2009 to build befitting Information and Communication Technology (ICT) complex to further enhance a more proactive and effective teaching and learning environment.

"I am pleased to note that construction of the ICT complex has been completed and is awaiting inauguration, as soon as the computers and other specialised equipment have been installed," he said.

He listed other ongoing projects, such as the first phase of the administrative block; the recently completed ultra-modern health centre and the N250 million released earlier in the year to upgrade some of the college existing facilities.

"I am happy to note that the facilities in the college have been overhauled to meet the challenges of modern-day teacher training and the college passed its most recent accreditation (by the National Commission for Colleges of Eeducation) in flying colours, especially in the areas of academic programmes.

In his speech, the college Provost, Mr Wasiu Olalekan Bashorun expressed the college appreciation to the government for its support over the last five years.

He, however, appealed for a raise of the college’s 25 per cent monthly subvention, noting that what it is getting could no longer address fi-

nancial needs of the institution.

"Our ability to meet obligations to statutory third party, especially Pension Funds Administrators, CTCSs, and tax authorities, is being threatened. The situation is getting darker by the day. We have requested increase in our monthly subvention. We need additional N55 monthly. We pray your Excellency to please assist us in this regards," Bashorun said.

Also, the college Chairman, Governing Council Mrs Victoria Adedamola Akran, urged the 7,303 graduating students to be great ambassadors of their alma mater.

She told them that school is different from work, adding that they need to adjust to the reality as quickly as possible, "with courage, determination, focus, hard work, a good plan and with the education you received from AOCOED, you will do well in life.”

The event also featured conferment of Fellows of the college on a member of the House of Assembly, Abike Dabiri-Erewa; Group Managing Director /Chief Executive Officer UBA Group Mr Phillips Oduoza, and Director of the Songhai Centre in the Republic of Benin, Fr. Godfrey Nzamujo.

Others who attended the event were Chairman, Otto Awori Local Council Development Area Bolaji Kayode Roberts; Mrs Sade Ogunlana who represented the Deputy Governor Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; Special Adviser to Governor Fashola on Rural Development Mr Oladehinde Agoro and his counterparts in Education Otunba Fatai Olukoga.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

EDUCATION

Public school pupil outshines peers in A-Levels •Earns place at Imperial College, UK

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DESOJI Adeshina has been offered a place to study Biomedical Engineering at the prestigious Imperial College, United Kingdom.

He has his brains, Edgewood College, Lekki, the House on the Rock Church, and the Lagos State government to thank for his good fortune.

The 17-year-old, whose widowed mother ekes out a living as a trader, was the cynosure of all eyes during the graduation of Edgewood College last week - winning awards in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry for the A-Level class.

As a pupil of Ansar-Udeen Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Okota, where he completed his secondary education, Adesoji won many prizes representing his school in competitions, including being the first runner-up in the Lagos State Spelling Bee competition of 2010, and earned eight distinctions and one credit in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

He also excelled in the scholarship examination organised by Edgewood College and was sponsored by the House on the Rock church to undergo the accelerated A-Level programme at the school.

Executive Director of Edgewood College, Mrs Kehinde Philips, said she initiated the scholarship, funded by the school, organisations and individuals, to give pupils from less-

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

privileged backgrounds access to quality education.

In an interview with The Nation, Soji was full of appreciation for his sponsors, and especially for Edgewood College for running the scholarship scheme and providing him excellent education during his stay at the school.

"The difference between my former school and Edgewood College is really wide. Over there, there was no real commitment to teaching and the facilities were not on ground. But here the teachers are committed and there are state of the art facilities on ground and the ICT laboratory is my favourite. I gained admission into Imperial College because my teachers predicted that I will make all As in the A-Level examinations we wrote and because I also did well in my SAT. Mrs Philips has helped to motivate me to look inwards to achieve my best and exceed my own expectations," he said.

Adesoji's education at the Imperial College will be sponsored by the church that funded his A-Levels education. He also said the prize money he won in the Spelling Bee competition would come in handy.

Mrs Philips appeealed to privileged members of the society to buy into the college's scholarship scheme so the school can admit more Sojis.

She said the college, which graduated 36 students who underwent A-

•Adesoji receiving a certificate from Rev'd Sister Ify Rosemary Atuegbu, School Administrator of Holy Child College, Lagos. Inset: Mrs Kehinde Philips

Levels, IGSCE and University Foundation Programme, is yearning to, and has the capacity to do much more to groom God-fearing leaders of tomorrow but with additional funding.

She said: "The opportunities for every one of us to contribute to the lives of the less privileged are immense.

There are so many Sojis out there who just need the push and right exposure. Soji is going to Imperial College to study Biomedical Engineering courtesy of House on the Rock. You can join hands with us to send these children to school.You can

Pacesetters School eyes varsity RRANGEMENTS have been concluded to upgrade the Pacesetters Group of Schools to a university, its Proprietor Kenneth Imasuagbon has said.

Imasuagbon, who spoke in Abuja at the 2011/2012 graduation and prize giving-day of the school, said: "In another two to three years, Pacesetters University would commence its entrance matriculation examinations for students.”

The school operates primary and secondary schools.

The Charge de Programme, Principal, Agriculture, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Ernest R. Aubee,who also spoke on the occasion, commended President Goodluck Jonathan for initiating the Bring back the book Initiative in Nigeria.

He said "Pacesetter College is a school that provides high quality education, a school with a difference, an indication that the quality of education in Nigeria is of

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• Pupil of Greatjet Kiddies Kollege, Ilupeju, Lagos on their cultural day

fortable with the position you have got in life. As you graduate from Edgewood College today, your certificate and result become something that you have already achieved and is in your past. You have to continue to reach out to possess all your dreams. You cannot allow obstacles to stop you," she said.

Chairman of the colleges’Board of Governors, Mr Yemi Cardoso, also urged the graduands to count themselves extremely privileged to be going for their further studies abroad and appreciate their parents for the investment.

Kwara to harmonise Western with Islamic education

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

high standard."

Aubee, a diplomat, said the school offers good and quality best practices in education.

According to him, Nigeria has produced a lot of intellectuals across the world in the education sector," adding that gradual progress could be made if some of the good things that happen in private schools could be consolidated upon."

Aubee advised parents and guardians to be more watchful.

He said: "Reading culture must be initiated because without reading, knowledge cannot be passed on to the future generation."

About 115 pupils received awards and certificates at the school, including Enuma Ebuka, one of them who died in the Dana plane crash disaster which occurred on Lagos on June 3.

About 250 pupils from the primary school arm of the institution also received awards.

sponsor some.Think of those other ones who are going to mix with your children in future.When I think of what Soji will become, my mind blows up. If Soji did not come to Edgewood, where would he be today? Please help people to get to the next level of their lives."

In a highly-charged exhortation, Mrs Ifeanyi Adefarasin, wife of founder/Senior Pastor, House on the Rock, counselled the graduands not to be satisfied with their successes but strive to accomplish even much more.

"You cannot afford to become com-

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

•Governor Ahmed

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HE Kwara State government has said harmonisation of Western and Islamic education will bring about peace and tranquility in the society.

The state, therefore, is poised to streamline the two for enduring peace in the society.

This, the government hoped, would enable graduates in religious education to work with their counterparts in the Western world.

The state Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Alhaji Raji Mohammed, told reporters in Ilorin, the state capital at the 12th Annual Gradua-

tion of Darul- Kitab Wasunna College of Arabic and Islamic Studies.

He added: "We are sure that by the time the systems of education are harmonised, unity would be fostered in the society.

"This would enable our children to bag dual certificates that would be recognised in the international community while it would also solve the problems of religious bias among our youths."

Also speaking, the Provost of the college, Dr Faozy Fazazy, noted that the institution is an affiliate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He said the college ensures religious

tolerance among youths through its unique ways of administration.

He said: "Today, we are convoking 379 students of different academic levels who have been found worthy both in character and learning. We are sure that they would be good ambassadors of the country anywhere they found themselves.

"Through the efforts of the proprietor, this college has been a pillar to the less-privileged in the society."

He urged government to continue to adopt policies capable of promoting religions harmony, admonishing parents to inculcate good religious and moral virtues in their wards.

Firm offers scholarship to 50 females A

TOTAL of 50 secondary school female pupils in the country have received a cheque of N100, 000 each at the Always care scholarship awards at Agidingbi Junior Secondary School in Lagos.

Always Care Scholarship Programme is a social responsibility initiative of Always Sanitary Pad, a brand of Procter & Gamble. The programme, which is in its second edition, is designed for 50 girls in secondary schools in the country, with N100, 000 scholarships each.

Speaking at the event, Associate Brand Manager (Always & Vicks), Mr Olumide Aruleba, said the first edition was held in 2009 with N20, 000 scholarships given to 200 female pupils. He said the programme connects with Always Sanitary Pad vision of "advocating and empowering girls to fulfil their dreams to the fullest."

On the criteria for selection of winners, Aruleba said entry boxes were given out to 1,870 secondary schools, and each pupil was expected to state the advantages that Always Sanitary pad has over ordinary tissues during menstruation, in addition to dropping empty pack of Always pad in the entry box.

"In total, we had about 19,530 entries, and on June 13, 2012, a raffle

draw was conducted at Agidingbi Junior Secondary School, from which 50 winners were selected. It wasn't partial because the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) officials supervised the draw, school principals and students also attended the draw," he added.

The Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Manager, P&G West Africa, Miss Fatoumata Doro, noted that the objective of the scholarship programme reinforces the company's vision of 'touching and improving lives.'

A representative of the Executive Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mrs Orimolade A.A, said the programme would help in encouraging pupils.

Comrade Oguare D.J., father of Naomi, a beneficiary of the scholarship from Obele Community Secondary School, Lagos, lauded P&G, saying it is fantastic to see a private company rendering help to the less privileged.

"The N100, 000 is, indeed, a lot of money for my enterprising girl, and I am going to use it to finance her education," he said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

40

EDUCATION

‘Technology impedes students' performance’ N ATIONAL President,All Nigerian Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Mrs Abdulrahaman Fatima, has condemned the poor performance of pupils in external examinations.

Mrs Abdulrahman noted that science and technology though good, distracts pupils from reading.

Mrs Fatima fielded questions from reporters at the weekend, during a seminar organised by a Management consult/non-governmental organisation in Abuja Diligent care for creative intelligence development (DECIDE).

According to Fatima, stakehold-

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

ers in the education sector are not happy about the low performance of students, adding that the amount of interest shown by the government is not commensurate with students'output.

"Stakeholders are not happy about the low performance of students and they have fallen short of strategies of handling the situation.

"We have infrastructure and qualified teachers, but the amount of interest by the government is not commensurate with their output.

"We are in the science age and the world is now a global village but students should not be distracted by all these social vices if they must excel.”

Earlier, convener of the seminar, Dr Paul Odenigbo, noted that the setback in academic performance is due to learning difficulty and attention deficit, which is as a result of overcrowding of classrooms, poor infrastructure, and few trained teachers with poor remuneration.

Meanwhile, a lecturer with the Bayero University Kano, Dr Ibrahim Kyauta, also urged students to cultivate team spirit with their teachers to guide and direct children to the right paths.

•Oba Oyefusi, assisted by Olori Olayinka, cuts the tape to inaugurate a block of lecture rooms. From left: Otunba Olukoga and, right, is Mr Arigbede.

PPP, best way to fund education

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NFRASTRUCTURAL development in tertiary institutions through the PublicPrivate Partnership (PPP) will enhance efficiency, increase access to higher education, improve education as well as the quality of graduates, the Vice-Chairman, Lagos State University (LASU), Ikorodu campus, Mr Dipo Arigbede, has said.

He spoke at the inauguration of a block of lecture rooms at the Odogunyan campus of the university.

This, according to him, would go a long way in revitalising the near comatose education sector.

Other benefits accruable to PPP in tertiary institutions include using the investment from PPP to take education to a higher level.

Tracing the history of PPP in higher education, Arigbede noted that government funding of higher education has dwindled

By Seyi Odewale

considerably, leaving higher education at the mercy of inadequate budgetary allocation; grants that are not accessible; local and foreign aids that are not there; skeptical international donors; religious organisation; internally generated revenue (IGR) of these institutions; corporate organisations and a host of other means of raising funds.

He noted that despite the establishment of bodies, such as the Education Tax Fund (ETF) to help in funding, education in tertiary institutions still suffer neglect.

Enumerating other challenges facing higher education apart from funding, Arigbede said inadequate infrastructure and manpower, especially, lecturers and researchers, adding that lack of commitment from lecturers has hampered higher education in the country.

Other challenges according to him are non availability of instructional materials and consumables in the laboratories and the unwillingness on the part of the students to learning and study, and menace of cultism and prostitutions are also serious challenges to higher education in the country.

The Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Education, Otunba Fatai Olukoga, noted that the PPP in Lagos is the best.

Olukoga praised the resourcefulness of the managers of the Ikorodu campus of LASU and urged others to emulate it.

The highlight of the ceremony was the opening of a block of lecture hall of five classrooms, 472 seats by the paramount ruler of Ikorodu, the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Salawudeen Oyefusi.

The hall is named after the monarch’s wife, Olori Olayinka.

Delay is dangerous, proprietress advises pupils UTGOING pupils of Foundation Schools, Okota, Lagos have been urged avoid procrastination in their plans.

Its Chief Excutive Officer Mrs Adenike Adamolekun gave the advice at the 19th valedictory and graduation of the school, where various awards were presented to outstanding pupils.

The event, which was held at the school's auditorium in Okota, Lagos, was attended by parents, guardians, friends, and relatives.

Mrs Adamolekun told the pupils that the world is rough and that they should not think that they are too young with time on their side.

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By Sampson Unamka

She said: "Nobody has plenty of time. An example can be seen from the people who died in the plane crashed in Lagos; some of them were babies; some were infants and some were 15 years old. They had a lot of plans ahead of them that they could not execute because they thought they had plenty of time."

She also advised that they should avoid procrastinating, and do everything thoroughly. “In all, she urged them to have the fear of God, behave very well and also be a pride to the nation. Speaking at the event, the SEF director of studies, Mr Vincent

EKSU VC allays fears over NUC directive on part-time programme HE Vice-Chancellor, Ekiti State University (EKSU), Prof.

Patrick Oladipo Aina, has told students of the Part-Time Programme of the university to continue their examinations despite

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the announcement of the National Universities Commission (NUC) suspending the Part-Time Programmes in universities.

Aina, in a statement by Mr Ajbade Olubunmi, Deputy Registrar,

Nkama, credited the success of the graduation to God. Nkama described it is a time of celebration and recognition as he advised the outgoing students to study harder and become achievers.

He said: "In Nigeria we need achievers because there are so many areas in the economy that we can develop.

A typical Nigerian attitude to work is poor, so we that need people that will stop it don't have the time on our side. "We train our pupils to do it perfectly that's why I told them (pupils) that all they need is discipline and with the discipline we have given to them they can achieve what ever they want to achieve."

Information, said EKSU has been very pro-active on Part Time and had gone a step ahead of NUC by restructuring the programme and not admitting fresh students before the announcement.

The Vice-Chancellor, however, stressed that the existing students of the programme would complete their studies.

EDUTALK

with

Are you a responsible parent?

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ODAY, I want to address those parents who have their children in public primary and secondary schools.

My gospel to them is that they Kofoworola be more responsible for the eduBelo-Osagie cation of their wards.

I can imagine some readers are Kofosagie@yahoo.com raising their eyebrows thinking 08054503077 (SMS only) that I have chosen the wrong medium. My target audience doesn't read newspapers. Given that most of the parents who send their children to public schools are low income earners, they are most likely the iya alatas that sell pepper to us in the market or the nna men who operate bend-down select boutiques in most cities or the mechanics, carpenters, plumbers, messengers and the like. If some of them come across this piece at all, it would not likely be because they purchased the paper to read but because, a long time afterwards, they may buy old newspapers for their usefulness for wrapping akara, boli or roasted corn for buyers.

I have been told by many teachers that this group of people, I mean those among them who have children attending public schools, do not care about their children's education because they do not pay for it. I hear also that they do not attend parents' forum meetings, buy textbooks or stationeries for their children, monitor their school work, or care about how they look before leaving home, whether they get to school on time or even eat or get lunch money.

Their nonchalant attitude has been attributed mainly to economic factors - the struggle to put food on the table and maintain a roof over their heads is not an easy one and most time the children are drafted in to earn some money as well.

However, it is not all such parents that are so poor they cannot afford to buy school uniforms, sandals, text books, note books, writing materials and other sundry items after tuition fees have been taken care of by the government. Some teachers tell me some of them don't just set their priorities right. When they manage to visit schools, teachers are usually surprised to see them dress so well and wonder why their wards have to look shabby.

I wonder too. I cannot really understand how such a situation can be. But that is the reality teachers experience regularly. At a meeting the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Princess Sarah Sosan held with head teachers of public primary schools on Tuesday one head teacher narrated his experience with a parent who was called to school because her ward was habitually unkempt. Her response to the summons was "Is that why you called me here?" almost everyone in the packed hall, including her Excellency, were astonished, their mouths wide opened that a parent could think such complaints too trivial to be brought to her attention.

But come to think of it. Are we sure that woman was the mother of the child in question? The child might have been her housemaid. This is where I think some in my audience read newspapers.

Increasingly, many of the pupils in public schools are domestic servants - though the law forbids that any child younger than 18 should serve as a house help. Some of our modern day high-flying parents now enroll their domestic hands in public schools. Commendable, after all, they are trying to educate children who are not theirs. It is just a favour. Thank you. But it is not enough if these pupils wear tattered uniforms to school, work so hard they hardly have time to study and are not bothered because nobody questions their performance or thinks they should even be capable of performing well.

Like private schools, public schools have Open Days when parents are expected to visit and interact with teachers on their wards' academic performance, behaviour in school, relationship with peers and teachers among others.

Middle and high income earners who have become 'parents' by virtue of enrolling house helps or distant relatives in public schools should try and perform these responsibilities - like they would do for their biological children attending high-fee paying private schools where they send circulars for parents to attend meetings.

If these social parents fail to do this, they will constitute a nuisance for the public schools because the government is working hard to make quality education accessible to all irrespective of socioeconomic background. So, if it is putting many programmes in place, and is trying to get parents involved, those social parents who do not show interest will clog the wheel of progress. So, dear reader, are you a responsible parent?

Middle and high income earners who have become 'parents' by virtue of enrolling house helps or distant relatives in public schools should try and perform these responsibilities - like they would do for their biological children attending high-fee paying private schools where they send circulars for parents to attend meetings.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

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e-Business It took them some time, but MTN, Airtel, Glo and Etisalat eventually paid the N1.17 billion fine for poor Quality of Service (QoS). The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has come under attack for collecting the fine, which many believe should have gone to subscribers as compensation. ADLINE ATILI reports

After the fine, will Telcos change?

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ROM day one, quality of service (QoS) has been an issue in the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) business. Subscribers have complained to no end about how the service providers bill them for calls not completed and related matters.

Rather than improve, the QoS is getting poorer and poorer.

In an apparent move to reverse the trend, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), after several warnings, which went unheeded, fined MTN, Glo, Airtel and Etisalat N1.17 billion for poor QoS. The service providers, which admitted that they were having challenges, blamed it all on multiple taxation, regulations, insecurity, inability to deploy infrastructure unhindered, and vandalism, among others.

The GSM service providers and some Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) companies have over 100 million subscribers as at last April. Poor QoS represents the greatest ‘speed bump,’ to effective service delivery, resulting in lower flexibility, higher costs, a multi-SIM culture and low Minutes of Use (MoU).

Poor service Analysts said annual volume of successful minutes of phone calls made by subscribers on all networks decreased by four million to 41 billion in December, 2009 as a result of poor service; in 2008 the figure was put at 45 billion.

In its review of telecommunications services delivery and the penalties imposed on the operators, the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS) said it was disappointed with the level of QoS. According to the telecoms consumer rights body, subscribers show an intense yearning for quality service in the face of huge spending on telecommunications services.

President of the association, Mr Deolu Ogunbanjo, said the ‘teething’ challenges, including cost of ownership, coverage, accessibility and interconnectivity, had all been reasonably addressed and offerings had also been diversified to meet the ever growing needs of different market segments and niches. “But subscribers still groan under the strain of poor quality of service,” he said.

Multiple subscriptions He pointed out that poor QoS has made telecoms consumers subscribe to multiple mobile networks, in a bid to experience reliable and hassle-free connectivity.

On assumption of office as Executive ViceChairman of NCC, Dr Eugene Juwah promised: “It would no longer be business as usual” for operators who are lax in offering quality services to subscribers.

To give verve to his words, he set up a task force to ensure improvement of QoS nationwide; he also developed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for measuring service delivery, assuring that the commission will ensure that revised QoS regulation is gazetted and fully enforced. This was amid calls for stricter measures by the regulator in enforcing standards in the industry.

NCC lived up to its billing, when on May 10, it fined the four GSM operators in the country: MTN, Globacom, Airtel Etisalat, N1.17billion as penalty for persistent drop in

quality of service to subscribers between March and April 2012.

According to the commission, their action contravened Section 104 (a) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 as well as the Quality of Service Regulations, 2012.

NCC, in separate letters to the operators, fined MTN and Etisalat N360million each; Airtel N270million, while Globacom got away with N180million.

In the letter co-signed by the Director of Legal and Regulatory Services at the NCC, Ms Josephine Amuwa and the Head of Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement, Mr Ubale Maska, the commission said: “The performances in the months of January and February 2012 were below the specified thresholds, however, for the purpose of enforcement of the new QoS regulations, the commission had taken these periods as ‘grace period.’ ” After over five weeks of dilly-dallying and complaints by the operators, they eventually paid the fine. However, NATCOMS faulted NCC for ‘awarding’ the fine to itself, saying it should have been paid to subscribers.

Stakeholders’ perspective Though the operators were not fazed about the fine, as a source close to one of them said, “Payment of the fine was a win-win situation for us and NCC,” they appealed to the commission to join forces with relevant stakeholders to address challenges in the operating environment. To them, “it is unfair to expect the same standards in Nigeria as obtained in Western countries, when national infrastructure are lagging behind in Nigeria.”

NATCOMS president, Mr Deolu Ogunbanjo, while praising the NCC for living up to its responsibility of ensuring quality telecommunications services for subscribers by penalising operators who fell short of its KPIs, said the fine shouldn’t have been paid to the Federal Government, but to subscribers who were direct victims of poor service.

He said: “We give kudos to NCC for the regular monitoring of service quality rendered by the telecoms operators for the overall benefit of subscribers. However, the N1.17billion fine should not be paid to the Federal Government, but to subscribers who are the direct sufferers of poor quality service.

“Why should NCC raise money in form of fine for the Federal Government at the expense of subscribers who actually suffered monumental loss as a result of poor quality service rendered by the operators? The fine should not be used to enrich the Federal Government; rather, it should be shared among the subscribers who have actually paid for services that were either not rendered or haphazardly rendered.

Moreover, it is the subscriber that will still pay the fine directly or indirectly.”

He recalled that in 2007 when NCC penalised MTN and Celtel (now Airtel) for rendering poor services to subscribers, each of the subscribers got N175 airtime as compensation. He appealed to the NCC to give succour to subscribers by compensating them through “sharing the fine in form of airtime. This will make the Nigerian telecoms subscriber feel a sense of satisfaction and the consumer, feel like a king.”

•A mobile phone user Ogunbanjo’s views were echoed by financial services analyst, Mr Bismark Rewane, that full compensation of subscribers for poor services was more ideal than paying the fines to the NCC. Rewane pointed out that in other markets, operators usually compensate users for service failure; sometimes discounting charges for a limited period, so consumers get a break.

Describing the fine as ‘arbitrary,’ Rewane said penalising the operators in favour of the commission would not be of benefit to victims of service quality deterioration.

“Money paid to the regulator is neither reinvested nor improves the network and service,” he said.

Rewane, who is also Chief Executive Officer of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, observed that poor services have led to customer frustration and increasing erosion of productivity gains, cutting across the industry and all networks.

A customer group in the telecoms sector also added to calls for the N1.17 billion fine to be given to subscribers and not the regulator. The group, Telecommunications Customers Association (TeCA) said it was wrong for the operators to make payments to the NCC rather than to subscribers who suffer the consequences of poor service for which the regulator sanctioned the firms.

TeCA has threatened to seek judicial redress for subscribers if they are not compensated.

TeCA’s president, Mr Kenneth Obinwa, questioned the rationale for the NCC collecting fines from the firms rather than askin g them to reward subscribers as the same NCC had done in the past under its previous leadership.

He also questioned the use of resources by the telecoms regulator, noting that it collects huge sums from the GSM companies as “annual operating levy” but has yet to invest in the sector.

“What has NCC lost that it should demand our money should be paid to it? Does NCC have a way of giving us the money or do they want to pay it into Nigeria’s coffers for politicians to steal?” Obinwa asked.

TeCA secretary, Mr Rasheed Umar added: “NCC is one of the richest government agencies in Nigeria. NCC collects annual operating levy from all telecommunications service providers and this runs into billions every year; what are they doing with it apart from paying themselves fat salaries and allowances? Have they ever given some of that money to the customers who generate it?

“Have they ever used it to develop any aspect of the industry as their law requires them to do? All we know they have done is donate computers to select higher institutions. Their Wire Nigeria (WiN) is a farce as they are disbursing subsidies to transmission companies on a ‘man-knowman’ basis.”

Regulator’s perspective Reacting, NCC’s Director, Public Affairs, Mr Tony Ojobo said there was a clear difference between ‘compensation’ and ‘fine.’

He said suggestions that the fine be paid to subscribers were not only trite but will not serve as deterrent to the operators, adding that the amount was too negliglble to compensate subscribers if that were to be the case.

He said: “Our rough calculations showed that sharing the N1.17billion to 99 million active subscribers would amount to an average of about N10 per subscriber. Surely, no Nigerian subscriber would wish to receive a credit of N10 from his operator for giving him poor service. Proposing compensation for the subscribers is tantamount to supporting them to continue to provide poor services as it would be easier for them to credit subscribers with this amount than pay penalties for services rendered.”

Ojobo recalled when the commission asked service providers to give N175 airtime to subscribers, “it was due to service outage at the time.” According to him, “The current sanction arose out of a different scenario where the commission acted in deference to existing regulations with specific Key Performance Indicators, which the operators failed to meet.

“When a similar situation like that was witnessed in the past, the commission did not hesitate to direct service providers to compensate subscribers by way of providing airtime for calls or providing other incentives.”

Managing Partner, TransitIt, Mr Femi Akinyemi, however, said the fine should be duly shared by the subscribers and the regulator.

As an alternative, he recommended that the operators should compensate the subscribers, in addition to the fine paid to the NCC. To him, this would serve as a ‘strong’ deterrent to them.

He advised the Federal Government to put in place an environment conducive to quality service delivery, as well as address challenges in the sector “so that the operators would have no further excuse for rendering poor services.”

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

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e-Business

‘Competition will force down GSM tariffs’

•Minister: Poor GSM services have caused economic waste

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INISTER of Communications Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, has said unsatisfactory GSM services have resulted in economic waste as many Nigerians have resorted to carrying multiple phone numbers and handsets.

She said this in Abuja at the International Forum on Mobile Number Portability (MNP) Implementation and Management, organised by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and BSP Media Group.

The minister, who was represented at the event by the Deputy Director (Telecommunications and Postal), Alhaji Ahmed Gumel, said: “The Nigerian public has been coping with unsatisfactory services by operators which have resulted in consumers maintaining multiple phone numbers and handsets.

“This has caused such individuals to expend funds that could be better used to address other needs. I have no doubt that once MNP comes on board, it will

From Augustine Ehikioya Abuja foster competition and improve quality of service since subscribers will have the power of choosing network without losing the numbers which they were originally known with.

“This technology has been deployed in many countries in Europe, America, Asia and Africa and it is my belief that Nigeria’s implementation is timely and will be perfectly implemented.”

Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC Dr Eugene Juwah, assured that the competition that will come with implementation of MNP before the end of the year will force down mobile subscription tariffs.

He added that the competition to be generated by the exercise will also boost quality of telecommunications services.

Putting the active subscriber base on the networks as at March 2012 at 99 million, he said with MNP, mobile telecommunications service providers will not be able to retain

their customers based on network coverage alone, except with quality service, innovative packages, customer relations and tariff, among other incentives.

Juwah said: “The commission believes that as competition increases with MNP, quality of service will also increase resulting in a reduction in tariff for telecommunications services.

This will be good for the industry and will also make telecommunications services more affordable generally.

“The days of retaining customers based on network coverage alone will soon be a thing of the past. Going forward, we see a regime in the telecoms industry where mobile telecommunications service providers will attract and retain customers based on not only network coverage but quality service.

“At the pace at which we are making progress through collaboration and cooperation of all stakeholders, we can proudly tell you that MNP is expected to be launched before the end of 2012.”

•From left: Head, Smartphones, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr Olumide Ojo; Head, Content and Services, Samsung South Africa, Mr Thabiet Allie; Head, Product Marketing, Mr Jude Omozege and Chief Executive Officer, Co-Creation Hub Nigeria, Mr Bosun Tijani at a Samsung-sponsored developers’ event in Lagos.

How video enhances collaboration, productivity

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YSTEMS integration firm, Resourcery PLC, in partnership with Cisco Systems International is set to deploy video-conferencing solutions to aid organisations’ collaboration and productivity.

Speaking at a briefing in Lagos ahead of its business seminar to be held next Tuesday in Lagos, Senior Manager, Business Development at Resoucery, Mrs Angela Chike-Dike, said business video solutions help organisations by expanding the power of video beyond traditional communications.

She said with the solutions, organisations can collaborate with High Definition video in a fully audiovisual and immersive environment. According to her, the mid-range and high-range solutions on offer by the company are

By Adline Atili affordable to both small and big businesses and can integrate seamlessly with existing solutions.

“Businesses do not even need to buy dedicated bandwidth from service providers to use these solutions,” she added.

She said further: “Videoconferencing can be used to achieve significant benefits beyond increased productivity and reduced costs. Other important benefits are the reduced downtime, operational costs and increased productivity and quality of life for travelling personnel as well as reduced hiring cycles for key employees.”

“Even local manufacturing organisations can use video conferencing and content sharing to verify product quality, make

revisions, and ensure accuracy throughout the supply chain. All these can be achieved while the competition is left behind to rely on next-day delivery of services.”

Business Solutions Manager, Voice and Video Solutions, Mr Olugbenga Adanlawo, noted that the global use of video to aid productivity and communications has increased within the corporate environment, adding that the Nigerian business environment is beginning to enter that developmental phase as well.

Adanlawo said this informed the upcoming business seminar tagged: Video as Tool for Corporate Communications and Productivity, aimed at showcasing developments in both one-way and two-way video solutions and how this can be employed within the corporate arena for improved benefits.

Job seekers get succour from Globacom

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LOBACOM has introduced a service that allows subscribers, especially job seekers send their Curriculum Vitae (CV) or resumes to prospective employers through Short Messaging Service (SMS).

In a statement, the company said the service, Glo Job Express, is a new feature of Glo Messenger which allows subscribers send their CVs

By Adline Atili using regular SMS by sending the keyword CV or REG to 2034 to start.

Glo Messenger is an SMS to email/Instant Messaging service that was launched to enable nonInternet users send and receive emails on Yahoo, MSN, etc, directly from their mobile phones

via SMS. Globacom’s Head of Value Added Services, Mr Samson Isa, explained that with Glo Job Express, a subscriber sends CV via SMS. This is delivered to the recipient such as the employer or recruitment agent as a regular mail with pre– composed job application or cover letter in the body of the email with the sender’s CV as an attachment.

Stakeholders to address challenges

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HE 24th national conference of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) will hold from July 25 to 27 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. It will focus on how stakeholders can utilise technology as a veritable ‘backbone,’ as the nation transits to a cash-less economy, the organisers have said.

According to NCS Chairman, Publicity, Events and Trade Services Committee, Mr Jide Awe, the conference with theme: Towards a Cash-less Nigeria: Tools

Stories by Adline Atili and Strategies is aimed at ensuring “real, inclusive development and transformation through Information Technology (IT).”

Awe said the conference will address the benefits, opportunities and challenges of cash-less especially as they relate to technology; adding that it will also hone in on related issues for the development of the nation and the industry.

Award for economic initiatives

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HE National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) is to sponsor the Africa Information Society Merit Awards (AISMA) at the Cyber Nigeria forum 2012 in Lagos.

Director-General of NOTAP, Dr Umar Bindir, said the award category is aimed at recognising and rewarding Best Technology Transfer Agreement. “In this present era of globalisation and liberalisation, a nation must be

able to harness her ideas inventions, innovations and creative works towards technological advancement and global competitiveness as well as nurture national talents and instil responsibility especially in cyberspace,” he said.

He said NOTAP would use the award category as a platform to create an enabling environment to encourage more activities in the area of technology transfer into Nigeria.

MTN introduces mobile advert service

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TN Nigeria has introduced a mobile advertising platform, MTN Mobile Ads, a mobile technology platform for businesses to get advertising messages to target audience.

The application, developed by MTN Business, the business-tobusiness division of MTN Nigeria, is a cost effective means for organisations to directly advertise their products and services to customers via mobile devices. The service leverages the combined potential of the mobile device and the large subscriber base of MTN to provide new ways for businesses to engage their customers cost effectively.

Chief Enterprise Solutions Officer, Mr Babatunde Osho, said with the service, target audience becomes measurable unlike other platforms, where advertisers can not accurately measure readership or listener-ship.

According to him, MTN Mobile

Ads meets the needs of every corporate organisation, brand executive, media-buying agency, advertising agency, and other members of the advertising community.

General Manager, Enterprise Marketing, Mr Ladipo Nylander, added that the service utilises various channels such as: iSMS, which are text-based mobile advertisements that request information from customers; SMS flash messages which are text-based messages that pop up on the screen of a mobile device; MMS, rich media, location-based messaging, USSD flash messages that pop up on the phone of the recipient making them impossible to ignore; caller tunes; IVR which are jingles played to customers calling the MTN call centre; as well as push and cell broadcast to communicate advertising messages to mobile subscribers.

Firm appoints Channel Manager

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ECURITY solutions firm, Cyberoam, has announced the appointment of Mr Himanshu Bisht as Channel Manager for Nigeria.

In a statement by the company, Bisht will drive Cyberoam’s channel strategy and implementation in the region, enable partners grow in profitability, ensure superior customer service, as well as

expand and reap maximum benefits from the huge market potential.

In his speech, Bisht said: “Cyberoam has established itself as a leading security vendor, based on its innovative technologies and wide range of portfolio. I will work towards Cyberoam’s continued journey of leading the market by creating extraordinary value for our customers and partners to aggressively capture the market.”

Samsung introduces wireless printer

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AMSUNG Electronics West Africa (SEWA) has introduced a wireless laser printer which enables users access and to print documents from a mobile device.

The printer, the ML-2165W, the wireless version and ML-2160 series, the USB version, is a wireless model of the Samsung range of printers which enables printing documents via Samsung’s MobilePrint applications.

While conventional methods require a 10-step set up procedure on a wireless network, Samsung’s one touch wireless feature (WPS button on the device) enables users to be connected with the printer through an access point and router in two minutes.

The Wi-Fi Direct feature on the printer also makes it possible to connect Wi-Fi Direct-enabled mobile to the printer directly without any access point or router, eliminating complicated start-up processes and devices.

Product Manager, Printing Solutions, SEWA, Mr Bennett Nwogu, said the printer lowers Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of printers, allowing for cost effective printing via Samsung’s Easy Eco Driver and Easy Print Manager. He said with this, users can closely monitor their printer usage and save up to 75 per cent on paper usage and 50 per cent on energy.

He said: “With an overall TCO efficient solution that offers worryfree experience from set-up to actual printing, the ML-2160W series represents our goal of enriching the lives of our customers.”

The ML2160 USB printer version is also equipped with Samsung’s one-touch Print Screen button, allowing users to print the content of their screen quickly and easily. One simple press of a button prints the user’s screen as it appears on the PC. monitor without wasting unnecessary paper, toner and electricity.

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e-Business Matters e-Rising Segun Oruame segun@segunoruame.com

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ATELY, attention has shifted to the hazardous effects of radiation of telecoms towers on human health.

Currently, there is a huge debate within the public domain about the dangers of radio frequency radiations (RFR) from telecoms towers to human health.

Along with that come complaints about noise, vibrations and fumes from standby power generators at telecoms base stations; telecoms towers interfering with aircrafts approaching landing, and towers falling on people and property.

These concerns stem from the recent proliferation of telecoms masts across the country, particularly in residential areas.

Public concern about the health impact of RFR from telecoms towers, vis-à-vis the need for quality telecoms service and possible challenges of co-location, presents a rather complex puzzle for anyone to deal with. This article looks at just one aspect of the puzzle, health concerns about radiations from telecoms towers, drawing on scientific research-based conclusions by the World Health Organisation (WHO), The Medical Journal of Australia (MJA), and by an independent Ghanaian scientist, Professor Emmanuel Amamoo-Okyere. Several WHO research and reviews have concluded that there is no clear evidence of detrimental health effects in humans exposed to RFR from telecoms towers.

There are at least 25,000 expert articles on the WHO website (http://www.who.int/ peh-emf/research/database/en/) related to

Beyond mast wars and health hazards (2)

RFR and human health and, significantly, none of them supports the scare about RFR from telecoms base stations. For instance, during a WHO International Workshop on Base Stations and Wireless Networks: Exposure and Health Concerns, in June 2005 in Geneva, there were a number of conclusions that: “Overall, there is no evidence of deleterious biological effects that could be associated with health hazards.” And that: “Exposure to base stations does not cause health effects.” The simple reason given was that the exposure levels are very low - typically 10,000 times lower than what could be harmful to humans.

The WHO review paid attention to the effects of telecoms masts radiations on sleep, blood flow, cognitive functions and general wellbeing. The conclusions were that there may be alterations to sleep and blood flow caused by exposure, but the data are still inconsistent.

Moreover, there is no known effect on health attributable to these “low-amplitude” alterations of sleep and blood flow (Hubber et al. 2002, 2003, 2005 and Loughran 2005).

No clear effects on cognitive functions (memory comparison, visual selective attention, and dual tasking) were identified but analysis of the data from a Dutch study in 2003, showed some minor effects of Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems (UMTS) signals on general well-being (no effects from GSM signals). “This report concluded that UMTS signals had an adverse effect on wellbeing,” (Zwamborn et al., 2003).

Simply put, the UMTS signals are related to third generation (3G, 3.5G) mobile technology.

The public should probably be concerned about the emergence of 3G and 3.5G technology. Indeed, the WHO itself has called for precaution in mounting telecoms masts, even though their health impact has not yet been established. One of such precautions would be co-location and a move to optical fibre technology that replaces dependence on satellite and rules out telecoms masts.

Another report published on the Internet by the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA) (www.mja.com.au) could be one of the sources of controversy around the health hazards of RFR. It was based on a study that sought to determine whether there was an increased cancer incidence and mortality in populations exposed to RFR from television towers (not telecoms towers) in nine Australian municipalities, three of which surround the television towers and six of which are further away from the towers. The study results showed that leukaemia incidence and mortality in children were significantly increased in municipalities closer to TV towers, but incidence and mortality in the outer area remained stable. It therefore concluded that “there is an association between increased childhood leukaemia incidence and mortality and proximity to television towers.

“No increase in brain cancer incidence or mortality was found, but there was an increased leukaemia incidence and mortality in the municipalities close to the towers.” It is important to note that this study was specifically related to television towers and not to telecoms base stations, and according to

experts who spoke with this writer, television towers in a country like Australia, generate high level RFR because they broadcast to a huge geographical area. That cannot be applied to a relatively small country like Ghana, much less to telecoms towers. Another study in the United Kingdom indicated that there is a decline in incidence of adult leukaemia with distance, but concluded that: “The results give, at most, no more than weak support for an association between residence near television transmitters and leukaemia risk.”

There are no known studies in Ghana yet, but one outspoken Ghanaian scientist, Professor Emmanuel Amamoo-Otchere, has made pronouncements to the effect that the telecoms mast radiation scare in Ghana is due to gross misconception. He has said that radio wave intensity decreases rapidly as it travels away from the antenna on the tower; in free space, it decreases to a quarter when the distance is doubled; in reality, it reduces much more quickly due to loss of the signal strength that is caused by having to pass through obstacles such as trees and buildings. The Professor noted that radiations from telecoms towers were nonionising and did not disrupt the molecular structure of biological material. Besides that, the globally-recognised, independent International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) has released guidelines that provide levels of RFR exposure that are regarded as safe for humans.

...concluded

e-Payment may boost Telcos’ revenue, says study

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LECTRONIC payment (e-Payment) services are expected to act as a boost to waning telecommunications Average Revenue Per User (ARPU), a new report by the asset management and investment arm of First Bank of Nigeria, FBN Capital has said.

ARPU is the average telecoms revenue generated per customer of an operator or service provider.

Experts have attributed this to increased competition and saturation of the voice market, saying operators need to move away from the traditional structures into farreaching horizontal business models that cut across their boundaries and are adapted to the hypercompetitive markets.

FBN Capital analysis of subscriber data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) showed that the number of active telecoms line in the country grew 11.6 per cent year on year to 101.1 million in April.

“Although this represents an improvement over the 9.0 per cent year on year growth for March, subscriber growth has slowed from the strong double-digit rates seen over the last few years.

“Teledensity which have grown rapidly from 0.7 per cent in 2001 to around 63 per cent, based on a population of 160million, is indicative of a gradually maturing market,” the report said.

The report observed that while opportunities seemed to exist in rural telephony, ‘most of the low-hanging fruit have already been plucked.’

By Adline Atili It stated that the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) operators which account for 96 per cent of active telecoms lines have seen sales growth slow and ARPU decline as they moved to acquire more price sensitive subscribers.

The report hinted that operators are looking to boost ARPU through data and mobile Internet services through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) mobile payment initiative; adding that plans to deploy cloud Wi-Fi hotspots to facilitate e-payments would further boost earnings of the operators.

Already, the Telcos have entered into several collaborations with e-payment services providers and operators for mobile payment services to ride on their infrastructure as the economy moves to cash-less.

“Although this is likely to boost revenue growth, investors still cannot gain direct exposure to the sector. Only one CDMA operator which appears to be struggling is listed. We note that a recent push by legislators for other Telcos to list has waned,” the report noted.

This report echoed the view of the Chief Operating Officer of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO), Mr Bashir Patel, that despite increased growth, the telecoms sector was in dire need of investments to shore up ARPU of operators and further grow the sector.

Senior Manager, Government Relations, MTN, Mr Austin Iyashere, (right) presenting educational materials to Principal of Government Science and Technical College, Mr Mohammed Idris-Ondekus. Watching are some students during the MTN 21 Days of Y’ello Care.

NAFDAC, NACA partner Airtel on counterfeiting

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HE National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have partnered Airtel in providing public health information for Nigerians.

As part of the arrangement, Airtel will

Firms spend $1.1trillion on data

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IGITAL information costs businesses worldwide $1.1trillion annually, according to a survey by security and systems management solutions firm, Symantec.

From confidential customer information, to intellectual property, to financial transactions, Symantec noted that organisations possess massive amount of information that not only enable them to be competitive and efficient, but also stay in business.

Group President, Enterprise Products and Services at Symantec, Mr Francis de Souza stated that, digital information makes up 49 per cent of an organisation’s total value and is expected to grow 67 per cent over the next year for enterprises and 178 per cent

By Adline Atili for Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs). de Souza said this vast amount of information generated by businesses enable them better serve their customers and increase productivity.

He, however, said the same information can also become a major liability if it is not properly protected. “Companies that effectively use their information will have a major competitive advantage over those who cannot, and in some cases it can be the difference between success and failure,” he said.

He said further that with its increasing value and rising cost, successful companies will find ways to more effectively protect their information and unleash the

productivity it can bring.

The survey revealed that businesses of all sizes are dealing with enormous amount of data with total size of stored information by all businesses at 2.2 zettabytes.

Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) on average have 563 terabytes of data, compared with the average enterprise that has 100,000 terabytes. The report read in part: “On average, enterprises spend $38million annually on information, while SMBs spend $332,000. However, the yearly cost per employee for SMBs is a lot higher at $3,670 versus $3,297 for enterprise. For example, a typical 50-employee small business spends $183,500 on information management, whereas a typical large enterprise with 2,500 employees would spend $8.2 million.”

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

provide dedicated lines for citizens to call in to NACA or NAFDAC. Citizens also receive text messages and alerts on issues of public health concern.

Airtel’s Director of Corporate Communication and CSR, Mr Emeka Oparah, said: “Our interventions in public health is akin to the work we are doing with primary education-investing in areas of demonstrable long-term benefit to the communities that we serve. Health is a fundamental concern. By enabling access to real time information, we hope to serve as a veritable link in the health care chain.”

He said the collaboration with NACA concerns the National Call Centre on HIV/ AIDS and Related Diseases, adding that Airtel provided the telecoms centre as well as toll free lines that enable citizens to call in and make enquiries about HIV/AIDS. He disclosed that Airtel provided an initial 30 lines for use of staff members at the call centre. “Thirty agents engaged by NACA at the National Call Centre on HIV/AIDS provide information, guidance and counselling to callers. All calls on a dedicated Airtel line, 6222, are free. Airtel also enables NACA use the centre to send regular SMS on HIV/AIDS and other health care concerns,” he said.

45

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

THE NATION

NATURAL HEALTH E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

CLINIC DAY Managing Director, Falaki Renewed Herbs Limited, Dr Akani Falaki writes on gonorrhea and syphilis from his Igando Centre, Lagos, while Chief Executive Officer, Justy Foods Limited, Mr George Ekeh, answers the second question.

Gonorrhea, syphilis: Causes, cure T

HERE are many diseases that are contracted exclusively or primarily through sex.

They include Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), chancroid, chlamydia, genital herpes, gonorrhea,lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV), granuloma inguinale, some types of hepatisis, syphilis and trichomoniasis.

Genital candidiasis can also be transmitted through sexual contact.

Crabs (pubic lice) and scabies also are sexually transmitted, but are considered parasitic infestations rather than infectious diseases. Let us look at the more common sexually transmitted diseases: gonorrhea and syphilis.

Gonorrhea is caused by a microorganism called Neisseria gonorrhoeae. These bacteria are commonly referred to as gonococci.

In women, gonorrhea often has no symptoms. When it does, they include frequent and painful urination, vaginal discharge, abnormal menstrual bleeding, acute inflammation in the pelvic area, and rectal itching.Men with gonorrhea usually experience symptoms, including a discharge of pus and mucus from the penis and slow, difficult and painful urination.

The symptoms usually appear between two and 21 days after sexual intercourse.

If not treated, the infection can travel through the bloodstream to the bones, joints, tendons, and other tissues, causing a systemic illness with mild fever, inflamed joints, and, occasionally, skin le-

sions.

At this stage, the organism is difficult to detect, and the condition is often misdiagnosed as simple arthritis.

In men, complications of gonorrhea can include sterility and urethral stricture.

Syphilis is caused by a type of bacteria called Treponema pallidum. This disease is occasionally contracted through close physical contact such as kissing and sexual intercourse.

If not treated, the illness can progress, usually over the course of many years, through three basic stages. In the first stage, 10 to 90 days after contact, a chancre - a red painless ulcer - appears at the spot where the bacteria entered the body.

In the second stage, perhaps four to 10 weeks after contact, a rash and patches of flaking tissue appear in the mouth, palms of the hands, soles of feet, or genital area.

There may be systemic symptoms, usually mild, as well as headache, nausea, and general discomfort.

If the disease progressed to its third stage, which is quite rare in the United States, a year or more after the initial infection, brain damage, hearing loss, heart disease, and/or blindness may occur. This disease can remain dormant for up to 20 years.

Anyone with STDs can make a major contribution to his or her survival and quality of life by early treatment programme and cure.

We help patients to enhance their immune. And people get second

and even third opinions from qualified health professionals on their health status.

It is a sign of wisdom, not cowardice to seek more knowledge through active participation as a patient. The body is a complex organism that has the ability to heal itself. If only you listen to it and respond with proper nourishment and care.

Despite abuses of the body, it endures, whether through exposure to environmental toxins, poor nutrition, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption or inactivity.

Prevention/ treatment Modern conventional medicine fights disease directly by means of drugs, surgery, radiation, and other therapies, but true health can be attained only by maintaining a healthy, properly functioning immune system.

It is the immune system that fights off disease-causing microorganisms and that ensures the healing process.

The immune system is the key to fighting every disease in the body, from that little shaving nick to the attack of viruses that seem to abound these days. Even the aging process may be more closely related to the functioning of the immune system than to the passage of time.

Weakening of the immune system causes increased susceptibility to different illnesses.

Some common signs of impaired immune function include

fatigue, repeated infections, inflammation, allergic reactions, slow wound healing, chronic diarrhea, and infections that represent an overgrowth of some normally present organism, such as oral thrush, systemic candidiasis, or vaginal yeast infections.

It is estimated that healthy adults in our society have an average of two colds a year. Persons who have significantly more colds and infectious illnesses than that are likely to have some problem with immune function.

By understanding some of the basic elements of the immune system and how they work plus the overall role the immune system plays in your health, you can take responsibility for your own health.

In its simplest terms, the task of the immune system is to identify those things that are "self" (that naturally belong in the body) and those things that are "non-self" (foreign or otherwise harmful material), and then to neutralise or destroy that which is non-self.

The immune system is unlike other bodily systems in that it is not a group of physical structure but a system of complex interactions involving many different organs, structures, and substances, among them are white blood cells, bone marrow, lymphatic vessels and organs, specialised cells found in various body tissues, and specialised substances, called serum factors, that are present in the blood. Ideally, these components work together to protect the body against infections and disease.

The human immune system is

QUESTIONS 1 Please, I have contracted gonorrhea and my girl friend was once treated for syphillis.

I will like to know more about these sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Emeka Ifeanyichukwu, 28, student, Enugu 2 I understand there are cookies/cereals now in the market embedded with vitamins and other micro nutrients that can combat degeneratives diseases, tell me more about them and how I can access same.

Joshua Saleh, 62-year-old trader, Taraba State functional at birth, but it does not yet function well. This is termed Innate Immunity - the immunity you are born with. Immune function develops and becomes more sophisticated as the system matures and the body learns to defend itself against different foreign invaders called antigens.This is termed adaptive immunity.

The immune system has the ability to learn to identify and remember, specific antigens that have been encountered. It does this through two basic means, known as cell-mediated immunity and humoral immunity.

Due to complications in diagnoses and treatment, I suggest that anybody with such experience go to qualified practitioner for comprehensive treatment.

How researched foods boost immune, cure diseases

I

WAS very young when the Civil War broke out in the country and many children died of acute malnutrition, kwashiokor and anaemia, among other diseases.

When international relief organisations came with materials, they reduced the hardship experienced by some of the children. They set up platforms, sick bays and relief centres to help under-nourished and malnourished children among other cases.

Fortified food having essential nutrients and minerals were given to malnourished children and it helped to keep them alive. Within 21 days, the children were bubbling with life again.

That exposure was the beginning of Justy foods. Food can solve a lot of health problems and it can also cause them. Food is important because it is the first thing God made before medicine.

After a research that spans six years, locally and internationally, by experts within and outside the country, I developed four kinds of foods that can complement the health needs of the people.

The product helps to recharge human cells and bring them back to life.

There are several reasons ortho-

dox doctors endorsed the product.

It acts as intervention in the nutritional improvement of children, mother, the elderly and the invalid.

As a complete food, it provides complete protein (whey), fibre, vitamins and mineral requirement for children of school age in the state.

It is also a rich source of iron, calcium, folic acid and colostrums for expectant mothers and babies.

The food can serve as immune booster for the people including people living with HIV (PLWHIV).

It helps to prevent various cancers, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, aging and infertility, due to the action of the anti-oxidants such as vitamin E, C and D, selenium and zinc.

The management of diabetes can be carried out by taking the food as recommended because of the presence of dietary fibre and chromium. It repairs the pancreas due to the presence of colostrums in the product.

The presence of choline helps to increase the memory and intelligence of the young and the elderly.

Many people are maintaining a good healthy heart by taking the product which also prevents coronary heart disease.

Women’s health is also enhanced by the product, thereby helping to manage menopause effectively

•Ekeh with one of the products with vitamin D and K, and calcium, while the presence of magnesium helps to tone muscle as it promotes healthy bones structure and dental health. The fortified foods promote vigorous sexual energy in women.

In men, prostate health is enhanced because of the presence of vitamin E, zinc and selenium. It boosts sperm count and promotes vigorous sexual energy of men and women.

The eyes also benefit from the

products because of the presence of vitamin A, taurine and leutine.

The adequate level of choline helps to prevent accumulation of fat in the liver. Choline, chromium and colostrums serve as fat burners by converting fat into energy.

Research showed that 90 per cent of health problems such as cancer, arthritis, diabetes and high blood pressure or heart disease relate to obesity.

An apple-shaped body or a big beer belly is a precursor to diseases.

Average Nigerian women of 45

years have fibroid, according to a study. Some of the signals heavy fibroid flow is due to the use of relaxers. Its excessive uses burn the scalp because they are made from sodium hydroxide.

Women are susceptible because the uterus is the point of least resistance. So sodium hydroxide goes into uterus to create hormonal imbalance and tumor begins to build up.

A research by Dr Lauren Wise of Boston University, United States, in Journal of Epidemiology, said the continued use of relaxer causes fibroid through scalp lesions and burns. In black women’s health study, the author assessed hair relaxer use in relation uterine leiomyomata incidence.

This story can be corroborated when you look at the height of our young ladies these days.

They are becoming shorter due to the relation between hormone and growth.

The anti-oxidants in it help to prevent the action of the free radicals of cell destruction thereby causing aging.

These are some of the reasons experts usually recommend detoxification which rejuvenates the functioning of the system.

To obtain any of the products, do contact the Editor, The Nation.

46

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

NATURAL HEALTH

For big sister, as she crosses the rubicon (2) A

PROMISE is a debt. And, as I dislike debts, I’ll keep last week’s promise right away. Of course, that means I’ll break the sequence of the head-t o-toe journey of the health issues of aging and old people.

As a reminder, this column, like last week’s, is dedicated to an avid reader in Benin, Mrs. M., who hit 70 the other day, and wanted to know how, nutritionally, she may avert health issues associated with the aging process. Last week’s column addressed such geriatic conditions as graying hair, failing memory, vision problems, neck and shoulder pains diagnosed as cervical spondylosis or cervical spondyhtis, loose teeth, failing teeth and gum disease.

Joyous Music hasn’t stopped playing in the home of Mrs. M. Her husband, also over 70, launched his memoirs last Sunday. I do not have the details yet. Relatively, they are in good health, and would like to work harder at rolling back the hands of the clock, maybe 10 or 20 years back.

It is a possible achievement for all of us. Often, this column emphasises the difference between biological age and calendrical age.

Biologically, many people are older than their calenderical ages. Yet, there are people whose organs are much younger than the calendar age they bear. We are as old, at the end of the day, as our organs make us. And our organs are as old or as young as we take care of them with the quality of food we eat, or of the water we drink, or of the air we breath. Not only that, what about the help we give them with herbs and nutritional food supplements to remove poisons from their cells, to build energy in these cells, and to protect themselves against fungi, bacterial, mold, viruses and other microforms which assail them every blessed day. Talking about cylindrical and biological age, there is, like Mr and Mrs M,. an Alhaja I am itching to meet. She lives at GRA Scheme I , a state-owned housing estate at New Oko Oba, Agege, Lagos. Two Sundays ago, she gave a huge party to celebrate the naming of her twin baby girls. She had them at the age, hold your breath, of FIFTY –TWO (52).

I mention her to give hope to many women who may be finding pregnancy related matters difficult tasks. If, at 52, a woman can carry twin pregnancies to term, it means every other woman can ... it is only a question of how healthy and biologically the reproductive organs are.

T

HIS will lead us, no doubt, to the promise of last e e k , which is a common fruit in Nigeria which has been used in Europe, for goodness knows when, to shrink enlarged prostate glands. I didn’t realise that the prostate gland in many men had become such a distended and diseased organ until a few weeks ago when this issue was revisited in the column on BENABIOTIC. The summary of that column was that, Benabiotic, originally developed for staphylococcus aureaus infection and later found useful as well in Sexual Transmitted Diseases (STDs), especially gonorrhea and, perhaps, syphilis, had helped many men reverse benign prostate enlargement to “perfect normal” situations. The report was based on a clinical experiment with four men in their 70s who took Benabiotic for three or four months. Without fail, I take my prostate supplements every day, and have slowed down on lager, one of the causes of prostate enlargement. In my medicine cabinet are Benabiotic, Bell’s Prostate Easy Flow Tea, Amazon Prostate Support, Udo’s oil and Flax Seed Oil and , of course, Zinc. The prophylactic therapy goes well.

With DaVinci’s PAARASHIED, which combines seven powerful detoxifying herbs ... Black Walnut Green Hull/ Wormwood Stem and leaf powder/ Grapefruit Seed Extract/Olive Leaf Extract/Pan Diarco/ Bark/Black Cumin Seed and Garlic Bulb. As this column often explains, a leaking colon may leach poisons on the prostate and infect it, indirectly causing prostate enlargement thereby through the organ’s response to the irritation. Detoxification of the bowels helps other organs as well. All these may be combined with PUMPKIN SEED therapy, the heart of the matter today. This is a promise fulfilled. Anne Arnett, author of FRUITS OF THE EARTH, provides more information on the use of pumpkin seed, plentiful in Nigeria, to prevent and to reverse benign prostate enlargement. She says in the book: w

FRUITS OF THE EARTH PUMPKIN SEED “The pumpkin belongs to the gourd family, and probably originated in India, but now it is cultivated throughout the world. The fruit can grow from a small size to two feet in diameter. The variety grown in this country is usually large and round and yellow, and the fruit is used most often in pumpkin pie.

“In China the fruit is a symbol of fruitfulness and health, and is called Emperor of the garden. It is, however, the seeds which we now believe to contain most valuable medicinal properties. We have on the whole discountenanced the fact that it has been a folk remedy for centuries. In many countries, Hungary, Bulgaria, Turkey, the Ukraine, all over Eastern Europe and the Balkans, and only comparatively recently have we learned about the value of pumpkin seeds in vitalising the prostate gland and in helping to keep it in a healthy condition.

“I am indebted for this information to W.D. Walters, M.P.S., a qualified pharmacist, who in middle life became keenly interested in the part which natural methods of healing could play in certain ailments and their cures. He has since become a consultant medical herbalist of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists, and the fruits of much of his research are

recorded in his thought-provoking book, ‘Wonderful Herbal Remedies’. He writes in the profound belief that medicinal plants are God’s gift to man for him to use. I quote: ‘A German doctor recently announced a new theory regarding the age-old use of pumpkin seeds in treating prostate gland disorders. In an article entitled ‘Androgen-Hormonal Curative Influence of a Neglected Plant’, Dr. W. Derient of Berlin informs us that the reason the prostate gland becomes enlarged is due to the organ’s efforts to make up for the loss of male hormones which have been steadily declining with the advance of age…

‘In Berlin ... The causes of this trouble are to be sought in the false methods of living. The poisoning of the glands with tobacco plays the most important role among them.

‘Dr. Derient feels that prevention is the best course to follow with regard to the problem of prostate trouble. He mentions that in certain countries where pumpkin seed are consumed in abundance throughout life, there is practically no incidence of prostate disorders ...

‘Investigations by G. Klein at the Vienna University revealed the noteworthy fact that in Transylvania prostates hypertrophy is almost unknown. Painstaking researches result in the disclosure that the people there have a special liking for pumpkin seeds. A physician from the Szekler group in the Transylvanian mountains confirmed this conclusion as an ancient healing method among the people…

‘My assertion’, (writes Mr Walters), ‘of the androgen hormonal (the male hormone) influence of the pumpkin seeds is based on the positive judgment of the old-time doctors, but also no less on my own personal observations throughout the years. This plant has scientifically determined effects on intermediary metabolism and diuresis (urination), but these latter are of secondary importance in relation to its regenerative, invigorative and vitalising influence ... (Pumpkin seeds have been found to be extremely high in phosphorus, and appear to have a higher content of iron than any other seeds. They also contain can abundance of B vitamins, a small amount of calcium and Vitamin A, and about 30 per cent protein and about 40 per cent fat, which is rich in (unsaturated fatty acids).

It is good to record that the firm of Prewitt’s at Prewitt’s Mill, Worthing Road, Horsham, Sussex, who have been milling excellent stone-ground flours there since 1861, now market, among other commodities, packets of pumpkin seeds, and these I discovered in a health food store in Harrogate. I found it interesting to note on the packet that the seeds were the produce of West Germany and were packed for Prewitt’s.

My interest here stems from the fact that in a visit to a number of towns in West Germany last month, (as I write) including Cologne, Bonn, Coblenz, Rudesheim and Linz, I noticed how far in advance of us were the West Germans, whose chemists and also ordinary food shops were packed with high quality natural and health food products. It is clear that there is a very strong feeling by many people in that country that it is absolutely imperative to get back to eating wholesome natural whole-foods and to utilising intelligently and wisely the abundance of the fruits of the earth, which so often we prodigally waste or misuse”.

MANY THANKS, ANNE SOME OBSERATIONS Descriptions of the Pumpkin seed above confirm or validate age-old use of this natural agent for prostate health care.

1. The Chinese see it as a symbol of fruitfulness and health”.

Fruitfulness here is taken to mean fertility. The prostate contributes immensely to male fertility. If Pumpkin seed helps it, so should if the near propstatic counterpart in the female reproductive arsenal. The testes in men may be a perfect counterpart match for the ovaries, followed by the prostate.

2. Pumpkin seed has been used for this purpose for centuries in Eastern Europe and the Balkan states, only recently (book written in 1979 in the West).

3. Dr. W.D. Walters let Anne Arnett into this secret.

4. The German seem to suffer from prostate enlargement because of tobacco poisoning. This matter seems to go beyond tobacco smoking as many non-smokers develop it.

Research suggests nutritional deficiencies as a possible cause. About 80 per cent of the zinc in the male body is stored in the prostate. About 250 enzymes need zinc for

e-mail: www. olufemikusa@yahoo.com

their manufacture. The body needs it as an antioxidant, for healing internal injuries, for fertility and for absorption of Vitamin A by the eyes, among other uses. In the prostate, frequent ejaculations mean zinc loss and a deficiency occurs if the losses are not replenished dietarily. In the prostate, zinc inhibits 5- Alpha reeducatase, an enzyme, for converting testosterone, the male hormone, to dihydnstestosterone, a cancer causing agent which promotes prostate enlargement. As shown by Dr Walters and other researchers, zinc is plentiful in pumpkin seed. It is, also, in one of the ingredients of BENABIOTIC which the younger Nigerian female generation has neglected in cooking. Could this be why Saw palmetto berries, rich in zinc, and a component of many male libido boosting proprietary formulas, has been found, experimentally, to give letter results than the drug PROSCAR, and without the latter’s side effects?

5. Dr Derient says the prostate enlarges because the male hormone, testosterone, is scarce, and it is searching for it.

That’s more like one of the reasons the thyroid enlarges, this time in search of iodine. If testosterone, the male hormone is scarce, if essential fatty acids (Omega -3 fats) are needed to make male and female sex hormones, if pumpkin seed, like saw palmetto berries, is rich in these fats, and in consumption of the pumpkin is be supplying the prostate these vital ingredients, could this be why it has been shown to prevent and reverse benign prostate enlargement? Many people underplay the importance of essential fatty acids on their dietary lifestyles. These are Omega 3, Omega 6 and Omega – 9 oils. The body cannot manufacture them, and has to obtain them from the diet. Omega 3 is antiinflammatory. Solid fats in the body as are found in the brain, eyes, breast, ovaries and prostate, for example, are meant to be protected by the Omega unsaturated fats (liquid at room temperature). Many people consume Omega 6 and Omega 9 far on excess of their consumption of Omega 3, thereby setting up the stage for Omega oil imbalance and chaos. Today, many researches believe there ought to be about 10 units of Omega 3 to about one of Omega 6 but many people have reversed the ratio to 20 to one in favour of Omega 6, found largely in vegetable oils.

Thus, Dr Johanna Bagwig would treat cancer with the Budgwig Diet, essentially flax seed oil (one of the richest source of Omega 3, and Quark. It is for this reason that the Polish Candian Dr. Udo Erasmus, arguably the leading authority on fats and oil and author of best seller FATS THAT KILL AND FATS THAT HEAL formulated his UDO’S OIL brand on the basis of a need to balance the Omega Oils.

Many proprietary blends of Omega 3, 6, 9 Oils are on the market. But many are produced under circumstances which leave much to be desired, going by Dr. Erasmus’s research and publications.

W

E may as well make this a PROSTATE DAY, in fulfillment of the promise made, and compensa tion for the week–long supervene. The following should be of interest to my good friends Mr Hycinth Uzo Adianeze and his Israeli friend, Joshua Schnaps and Azeez Oyeniyi. If we thought the pumpkin was worth clinging glasses of wine over, and smart Igbo business people begin massive plantation cultivation of pumpkin fruit for its seeds to capture Nigeria natural prostate health market as did the firm Morgan upon learning about what was happening in Germany, what about TOMATOES plantations as well?. The tomatoe has long been known as a prostate friend because of its Lycopene content Lycepene, also founding watermelon and pink grapefruit, is a carotenoid which some scientists believe is a cancer fighter. Once despired as a member of the deadly Nightshade family of crops but later accepted as food because of its high nutritional value, the tomatoe has no cholesterol or saturated fat. The medium sized tomatoe provides about 6g of carbohydrate, 6 mg calcium, 30mg phosphorus (a brain food), 11mg sodium, 273mg potassium (for musicales, the heart, nerves and to cleanse bloodstream and run the kidneys), 24mg vitamin C and minerals, other vitamins and trace elements. In 1935, the tomato was had been found to be antifungal. This should be good news for kidney sufferers as many cases of kidney problems appear to stem from Candida, a fungus which makes the kidney its preferred residence. In 1969, doctors at McGill University, Montreal, Canada, attributed the antifungal activity to a substance they called tomantire. Suspecting that tomatoe may be anti-inflammatory as well, they carried out a research on two groups of rats, giving one group the anti- inflammatory drug cortisone accetate and the other an equal dose of tomantine Anne Arnott, quoting reports of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology says in FRUITS OF THE EARTH: “Tomatine was, indeed, found to have strong anti-inflammatory activity, achieved by using the same dose of hydrocortisone acetate. But the rats treated with tomatine did not have the side effect of those treaded with the steroid drug”.

Well, since benign prostate enlargement, like arthritis, appendicitis, uveitis (inflammation of eye organs), gastritis etc, is an inflammatory condition, it may be worth the effort if tomato juice therapy is employed as adjunct therapy to complement any main lire of treatment. Isn’t this enough good reason why we all should grow tomatoes in the home gardens or in flower pots if our homes have no gardens? I have suggested before that four tomatoes parboiled in boiling rice may be used to replace beef in the diet for some time, to cleanse and to recompose the cells.

Mr Hycienth Uzor Adianeze, is the promise well kept?

Tel: 08034004247, 07025077303

47

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

INDUSTRY

T

HE House of Representatives Committee on Industry, chaired by Hon. Mohammed Onawo, has read the riot act to industrialists who have defaulted in the repayment of the Bank of Industry (BoI) loans. He said they should pay up or face the law.

He spoke during a visit to the BoI office in Lagos.

“This committee will do every means possible to pursue those who have refused to pay through the legal authority vested on us to make sure every debtor pays,” he said.

Onawo said those who received loans from BoI should strive to pay back, stressing that it is only when they pay back that the bank could continue to give more people facilities, to move the country for-

Reps to pursue BoI debtors Stories by Toba Agboola

ward.

He said it was necessary to go after defaulters and recover the loans so that anybody with entrepreneurship ideas in the manufacturing sector get a facility.

Onawo also said the support BoI was getting from local and international organisations was due to the confidence, which the management has been able to build.

A member of the committee, Moshood Mustapha, challenged BoI to develop programmes that would help to create jobs for the teeming unemployed graduates to

enable them contribute their quota to the development of Nigeria.

Mustapha praised the management team of the bank led by Managing Director Evelyn Oputu.

He said: “ We have gone out to see the monumental impact of BoI in Nigeria and what it is doing to change the lives of Nigerians. We have seen the value addition of this bank. Jobs are being created, individuals are encouraged to go into the manufacturing of goods that were hitherto imported.”

He noted that in any civilised society, the industrial sector is the largest employer of labour and

that without industries no country can grow economically.

Mustapha advised the bank to extend its facility to cover not just the funding of equipment but also the raw materials, stressing that without adequate raw materials for production, the equipment will not be put to optimal use.

In a related event, Onawo appealed to ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) as well as industrialists to maximise the benefits of the facilities and training offered by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) to make the country a better place.

He made the remarks in Abuja when he led members on a tour of ITF facilities as part of their oversight function.

He said the National Assembly

and the ITF had no option than to partner to benefit the electorate.

“That is exactly what ITF stands for, and this you have done successfully over the years. We do not have any option but to partner with you, support and give you all the encouragement you need in order to succeed,” he said.

He praised ITF for putting together world class facilities, like the Centre of Excellence in Jos and the Model Skills Training Centre in Abuja, adding that it is gratifying that such places exist in this country.

Director-General, Prof Longmas Sambo Wapmuk, thanked the committee for the support given the organisation and for finding time to visit its facilities.

MAN frets over insecurity

T

• From left: Chijile; Akinwunmi, Nnorom and APCON Registrar, Alhaji Garba Bello Kankarofi, at the press conference.

APCON harps on regulating outdoor HE Advertising Practitioners Akinwunmi said the forum Council of Nigeria (APCON) would also discuss outdoor adveradvertising tising because a lot has happened Tis to hold a forum to seek solutions to outdoor advertising issues and review existing laws governing the business.

APCON President Mr Lolu Akinwunmi said the forum would serve as an opportunity to review the practice and regulation of outdoor advertising with the aim of identifying the gray areas to ensure a better operating field for all.

He said the aim of the forum is to define areas of conflict, which are basically in tune with revenue generation. He said conflicting laws makes people pay various taxes to various groups laying claims to billboard sites.

His words: “Over 70 per cent of advertisers have abandoned the outdoor form of advertising as they can no longer cope with the different illegal charges they have to pay to different groups, which have in turn reduced the rate at which consumers get to know about their products.

“We, therefore, expect this forum to identify opinions leading

By Damilola Ogunfuye

to solutions and freely interpret what the law says because that is the basis while trying to resolve the problems existing between the federal, state and local tiers of government.”

‘We, therefore, expect at this forum to identify opinions leading to solutions; and freely interpret what the law says because that is the basis while trying to resolve the problems existing between the federal, state and local tiers of government’

in that field within the last three to five years.

The forum, to be held tomorrow at the Sheraton, Lagos, will be declared open by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal.

APCON Council member and Chairman of the 2012 Advertising Forum Mr Willy Nnorom said because of the legislative angle involved, the members of the legislative arms would be part of the discussants at the forum to provide the necessary legislative insight into the operations of outdoor advertising, to help fashion out a workable regime for all stakeholders.

President, Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN), Mr Charles Chijile, said a number of the associations have had to close down business because of the hostile operating environment the business has been subjected to, due to the new regulation regime introduced across states and taxation at various levels of government.

Nigeria, Canada trade volume hits $3b

T

HE trade volume between Nigeria and Canada has risen to $3 billion from $1 billion in 2011 just as Canadian investments in Nigeria rose to $3 billion.

The High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, Mr Chris Cooter, said this at the ground breaking of the commission’s new chancery building in Abuja.

Cooter added that ‘people to people relationship’ between the two countries had continued to

grow with 1,300 Nigerians going to study in Canada in 2011.

“Development assistance, particularly to maternal and child health is expanding,” he said.

Cooter said the new chancery symbolised the growing relationship between the two countries.

“We will see our government relations, trade opportunities and people to people ties flourish,” he said.

Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambas-

sador Martin Uhomoibhi, recalled that the two countries have signed a Bi-National Commission Agreement to create a framework to strengthen existing ties.

He said the construction of the new chancery signified a longterm commitment to Nigeria at this crucial time.

The new chancery, which is scheduled for completion next year, will be a three-storey building housing offices and meeting spaces, a multipurpose room and consular booths to serve clients

HE insecurity in the northern part of the country has fuelled fears among manufacturers that the sector may collapse.

President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr Kola Jamodu, raised the alarm during a visit to the Apapa branch of MAN. He said the spate of bombings in some parts of the country, especially in the North, has scared away intending investors from the region.

Jamodu said the threat of liquidation of manufacturing activities in the region posed a greater risk for investors, and may affect other real sector activities, especially agriculture, for which the region is known.

The MAN boss said efforts to restore peace to the region could not be the government’s alone but a joint one by all.

He said it was important to realise that everybody, including the people bombing, have much at stake in the effort to ensure that peace reigns.

Investors may not likely be attracted to an area where their investments or lives would not be safe, he said.

The Chairman, Apapa Branch of MAN, John Aluya, decried the state of insecurity in the region.

A recent survey by the Nigerian Textile Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (NTMAN) revealed that

of the nine textile firms that dominated production activities in the region 15 years ago, only two managed to survive. It said dumping of smuggled substandard products from neighbouring countries in the region did much to kill the textiles firms. Despite efforts to revive the sub-sector through the N100 billion Cotton, Textiles and Garment Fund, it still remains in doldrums.

However, efforts to get an update on the companies’ performance from the MAN head office proved abortive, as there was no available data on it.

Besides, the Decemeber 2011 analysis of industrial capacity utilisation, according to MAN’s bulletin, put manufacturing capacity in the North at about 2.3 per cent, following the collapse of a number of manufacturing firms.

With the recent bombings across the region, analysts believe that the region’s manufacturing/industrial capacity could be drop to almost zero per cent.

The April and May reports by the Federal Office of Statistics (FoS) also raised a serious concern on the fate of agricultural activities in the region.

In view of the effects of the lingering insecurity in the area, it warned that investments in agriculture and other productive activities may suffer, indicating a grim future for food security and economic development.

Ministry seeks more focus on non-oil exports

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HE National Council on Trade and Investment (NCTI) has called for increased participation of the 36 states in the promotion of non-oil exports.

According to a 16-point communiqué issued at the end of its fifth meeting in Abuja, the move would help to grow the non-oil export sector.

According to the one-year scoresheet of the Ministry of Trade and Investment, Nigeria exported nonoil products to 103 countries in 2011 valued at N428 billion. This figure represents 19 per cent increase over the previous year’s result.

Despite this remarkable development, NCTI noted that to boost the non-oil export earnings and increase its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), there is an urgent need to upgrade existing states’ export promotion committees to export promotion agencies to complement its efforts.

According to the communiqué: “The NCTI noted the need for states to be more involved in non-oil export promotion activities and urged

them to, as a matter of policy, upgrade the existing states export promotion committees to export promotion agencies in order to complement the work of NEPC towards improving value addition activities.

“It recognised the importance of skills acquisition in industrial development but noted that several agencies appeared to be involved in the establishment and administration of skills acquisition centres.” To this end, the council has urged the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) to strengthen its liaison with these agencies, including state governments that run such outfits. The NCTI also recognises the critical role Produce Inspection Services plays in export commodities quality control.”

However, it noted that the function of states’ Produce Inspection Services resides in ministries other than commerce, industry and investment as the case may be, and urged states to ensure that the function of produce inspection be appropriately domiciled.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

48

INDUSTRY UNIDO, Microsoft extend industrial development partnership

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HE United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and Microsoft have agreed to extend their partnership to use e-initiatives to create new opportunities for employment, enhance industrial productivity and strengthen sound environmental practices.

The partnership letter was signed

by UNIDO Director-General Kandeh K. Yumkella, and Chairman, Emerging Markets, Microsoft, Orlando Ayala, in Rio de Janeiro.

The partnership began in 2006, with the aim of harnessing the role of ICT in the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) of developing countries and economies in transition.

Over the last six years, the collabo•From left: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Risikat Akinode; Senior Sales Manager, MultiPro Enterprises Limited, Mr Jude Nzeata; Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adesina; at the grand finale of the first round of the 2012 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Week.

•From left: Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI); Mr Muda Yusuf; Deputy President, LCCI, Alhaji Remi Bello; Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Ambassador Oluseyi Onafowokan and Deputy President of the Chamber, Mr Knut Ulvmoen during an interactive session.

SON gives two weeks ultimatum on substandard products

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HE Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has given a two-week ultimatum to traders to remove all fake and substandard products from markets across the country or face the wrath of the law.

SON Director-General Joseph Odumodu, who was represented by the Director, Human Capital Development, Paul Angya, gave this warning at an enlightenment seminar organised for traders in Abuja.

He said SON would not hesitate to invoke its authority to remove any sub-standard products found in markets, stores or warehouses, and will also prosecute the producers, importers as well as those involved in the distribution and sales of such items.

Odumodu said: “We request you to imbibe the tenets of self-regulation by removing all those products that do not conform to standard specifications.”

The SON boss classified the affected goods as those that will not give value for money, endanger the lives and property of consumers and constitute a waste of scarce resources, including foreign reserves. He said all these must be removed from the markets within two weeks.

“We implore the traders to support the organisation in its efforts

From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

to improve the quality of life of Nigerians through standards.

“Our presence is aimed at informing, educating and enlightening you on the efforts of government through SON to protect our people from the dangers of sub-standard products which have cost the nation many avoidable deaths and unquantifiable losses in properties and goods.

“We have lamented issues of building collapses, food poison-

ing, fires in houses and markets, road accidents and such other sad incidents, many of which are traceable to the marketing, sales and use of sub-standard and life endangering products in our country, “ he said.

To check these ugly incidences, Odumodu said SON would pursue its zero tolerance of sub-standard products initiative launched early last year, to ensure that all substandard products are removed from Nigerian markets before the end of the year.

NECA collaborates on workers safety

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HE Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) and the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) are collaborating, through NSITF-NECA Safe Workplace Intervention Project, to ensure the smooth implementation of the Employee Compensation Act, 2010 and its full compliance.

NECA, the mouth piece of all private employers of labour in Nigeria, is partnering with NSITF to promote and ensure safe and healthy workplaces.

Some of the things to look into

are: good understanding of the application, procedure for reporting injuries and making claims and penalties for noncompliance, among others.

A one-day interactive enlightenment forum on the Employee Compensation Act, 2010, has been scheduled for July 31, August 7 and 9 in three locations.

The forum, which is designed to provide the platform for the Organised Private Sector (OPS) and other stakeholders, will also address employers’ concerns and challenges in complying with the new dispensation.

ration has evolved and resulted in the establishment of the AfrIPAnet investment monitoring platform, a computer refurbishment and ewaste initiative, and most recently, the launch of the Microsoft Innovation Centre in Uganda.

At the signing, the representatives of the two organisations expressed their joint commitment to foster sustainable industrial development and positive social change through the use of innovative ICT solutions in Africa, and agreed to extend the partnership until September 2015.

UNIDO and Microsoft intend to pool their expertise and available resources to support youth and women’s entrepreneurship, to develop technology applications for agro-industry, and to foster the Green Industry Platform.

Fresh crisis looms at Promasidor

F

EW days after workers of Promasidor Nigeria Limited resumed work after a three-week alleged lock-out by the management, there are signs that another industrial unrest is looming. This is due to the management’s alleged decision not to pay the workers for the period of the lock-out.

Managing Director Keith Richards, in a release, said the company would stop all forms of advances and loans, including those on housing and staff sampling products.

The measure is coming, despite the intervention of the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) and the National Union of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE), regarding the sack of over 500 workers.

It was NECA that brokered the agreement between the parties involved in the dispute. This prompted the management to re-

open the company’s premises for workers on Monday.

The management of Promasidor, had on June 4, locked out the workers for what the company said, was a preemptive measure following the threat by them to begin a strike over the sack of a substantial number of staff.

NUFBTE chided the management of Promasidor for acting without recourse to procedural agreement.

The workers are worried that before they could settle down, the MD released a memo repudiating the agreement reached under the auspices of NECA. “ threatening fire and brimstone,” The workers said their immediate reaction on receipt of the memo, was to shut down immediately, but that the union leaders persuaded the workers to wait till the end of the month to see how the MD would implement the policy.

Group to hold summit on trade and investment

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IGERIA-USA Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC) is to hold its third International Trade and Investment summit between August 9 and 14 at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.

The theme of the three-day summit is: “Identifying partners to maximise business opportunities in Africa’s fastest growing economy.”

The Lagos summit is coming on the heels of the successful outcome of the 2011 edition organised in collaboration with the Cleveland Council on World Affairs (CCWA), the Quicken Loan/Cleveland Cavaliers, US Department of

Commerce, US Small Business Administration, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Washington DC. More than 150 organisations from the US attended.

Present at the Lagos pre-summit event held at The Club at Key Center, Marriott Hotel Building Downtown, Cleveland, were Mayor Frank Jackson of Cleveland, represented

by Chief of Government Affairs/Manager of City of Cleveland’s International Programme, Ms. Valarie McCall, the President/CEO of Bonnie Speed Logistics and other dignataries.

Lagos, firm partner on hygienic environment ULTIPRO Enterprises Limited, makers of HYPO Super bleach, has partnered the Lagos State Ministry of Health on the maiden maternal, newborn and child health week, which ended with a grand finale at the multipurpose hall of the Secretariat Centre Mosque , Alausa, Ikeja.

It was attended by top government functionaries, including the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs Adejoke Orelope- Adefulire.

Senior Sales Manager, Multipro Enterprises, Jude Nzeata, said partnering the Lagos Health Ministry was another step in fulfilment of Hypo’s continued desire to contribute to the realisation of a clean and healthy nation, which started with the in-

M

troduction of affordable bleach for all.

“We believe that a clean, hygienic and safe Nigeria is possible when we ensure our homes are free of dirt, disease-causing germs, and we can have such homes by safeguarding the health and hygene of our mothers and children.

“This is why we partnered the Ministry of Health on this laudable maternal, newborn and child health programme,” he said.

Nzeata explained that beyond the several millions of naira involved in the partnership through the production of information and enlightenment/campaign materials, such as flyers and banners for the week.

diagnosis

THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

51

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to weed out weak and inactive political parties. Assistant Editor AUGUSTINE AVWODE speaks with leaders of some of the parties and reports the political and legal basis for the electoral umpire’s proposed action.

INEC, parties squabble over fresh deregistration bid

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T is not the first time the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would bare its fangs against fringe and amorphous political parties. After last year’s general elections, the commission de-registered seven political parties, thus scaling down the number of registered parties in the country from 63 to 56.

The affected parties were: Democratic Alternative, National Democratic Council, National Action Council, Masses Movement of Nigeria, Nigerian People’s Congress, Nigerian Element Progressive Party and National Unity Party.

The other parties that survived the gale, however, have had their survival celebration cut short as news came their way last month that the constitutional provision on registered parties would be implemented to the letter. The INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, expressed the readiness of the commission to de-register more political parties considered moribund or that failed to justify their continued existence yet again.

Jega pointed out that the constitution is clear on conditions that must be met for any party to operate as a political party. He said: “If you don’t meet them, you become de-registered. The major one is, if you don’t have a seat in either a state or federal constituency, you have automatically become de-registered.”

According to Jega, “Our constitution allows for a multi-party system but we have the power to de-register parties and we have started. It is a continuous process and we will continue to de-register parties that do not meet requirements for registration”.

For the parties concerned, this is bad news because it means that stalwarts of such parties will soon cease to parade themselves as chairmen, secretary or Board of Trustees members and so on of XYZ parties.

But in what appear to be the readiness of the parties to be affected, 52 of them have quickly drag INEC to court over the de-registration threat.

The parties and Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, a name/platform under which all the plaintiffs were jointly registered, are asking an Abuja High Court to, among other things decide: “Whether INEC can de-register a party which has fulfilled and satisfied all requirements of registration simply because it fails to win a seat in the presidential, governorship, national or state House of Assembly without considering other elections like the local government chairmanship and councilors elections; “Whether it will not amount to abuse of fundamental Human Right of the citizenry as enshrined in our constitution for INEC to proscribe a political party by way of deregistration on the ground that the party does not meet the requirements of Section 78(7) (ii) of Electoral Act 2011 as amended.”

The parties also joined the Attorney-General of the Federation as a defendant in the suit.

In an originating summons filed through their counsel, Mr. Kan Osieke, the political parties sought “a declaration that Section 78 (7) (ii) of the Electoral Act 2011, as amended, is unconstitutional and in effect null and void: “A declaration that Section 78 (7) (ii) of the Electoral Act 2011, as amended, is a calculated attempt to

• Jega at a seminar in Abuja.

suffocate life from young enterprising and growing political parties and an attempt to stop them from participation in Nigerian politic; “A declaration that the said Section78 (7) (ii) of the Electoral Act 2011, as amended, be expunged as same offends Section 40 of the 2011 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, which is a light to other laws, acts, rules and regulations; “A declaration that the plaintiffs have the right to belong to any political party of their choice, work hard for them to grow, after being duly registered according to law.”

Also, in a 14-paragraphed affidavit that was deposed in support of the suit by the National Chairman of the African Liberation Party, ALP, Emmanuel Osita Okereke, he averred that the parties had, ab initio, satisfied all the requisite conditions stipulated in the constitution and was accordingly registered by INEC at various dates.

Meanwhile, Justice Donatus Okoronkwo, has fixed October 25 to commence hearing the suit.

Section 222 (f) of the 1999 Constitution provides that, for a political party to be registered, it must maintain its “headquarters n the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja”.

But in a bold move, perhaps to streamline the numbers of political parties in the country and checkmate the rate at which ‘mushroom’ parties were springing up in the country, the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) empowers INEC to deregister political parties.

Section 78 (7) states that “The Commission shall have power to de-register political parties on the following grounds— (i) breach of any of the requirements for registration; (ii) for failure to win a seat in the National or State Assembly election”.

When INEC deregistered seven parties last year, Jega in company of some national commissioners, said the law remains clear on the fact that any party that does not win any seat at the polls stand the risk of being deregistered. He said that the affected parties did not even field any candidate during the April 2011 general election, let alone winning any legislative or executive seat.

Jega gave indication that it might just be the beginning of an exercise aimed at sanitising the political space.

He made it clear that the seven parties weeded from the comity of political parties in Nigeria were not among those who had gone to court to challenge the provisions in the Electoral Act 2010 as amended for the deregistration of political parties.

It was learnt that the plan to deregister the parties had been on the table for about three months before the seven parties were eventually axed last August. But the electoral body was restrained from deregistering more than the seven because some of the parties that fielded candidates but

failed to register their presence in any legislative House were at various tribunals across the country then. it was reasoned that they could at the end of the day win the mandatory House of Assembly seat or even a National Assembly seat.

With the cases almost cleared from the tribunals, the coast is getting clearer for INEC to pinpoint the parties that would be pushed to the guillotine.

After the general election in April last year, only 10 parties out of the 63 in the country won at least a seat as required by the provision of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

They are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Labour Party (LP), Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Accord (A), Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) and KOWA Party.

The implication is that by the time the whole tribunal proceedings are concluded, if no other party gets a seat, only 10 parties are statutorily qualified to exist in Nigeria.

The planned action of the INEC has raised, yet again, the argument for and against the multiplicity of parties. While some people, among them, politicians

‘If, after a general election, my party doesn’t meet the legal requirements to continue to exist, I will simply advise myself and call my people and tell them that, look, our efforts have not met the standard prescribed by law. It is only a shameless man that would come home empty handed after a general election and still continue to parade himself as the national chairman of a political party in a country of 160 million people’

are of the opinion that the INEC is absolutely right in applying the rules, others feel otherwise.

Former national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Chekwas Okorie, who is leading a new association seeking to register a new party, the United Peoples Party (UPP), told The Nation yesterday that the electoral body is right and that there is need for sanity in the de,mocractic process.

He argued that the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution clearly give condition upon which a political party can exist.

“I am one of those people who believe that there must be sanity in the democratic process. True the 1999 Constitution in Section 40 grants the right for association and all that but the Constitution also provides that for a party to exist, it must have as a minimum requirement, a national headquarters in Abuja which is the Federal Capital Territory.

“But the Electoral Act has said you must at least win one, just one State House of Assembly seat. A political party is not an NGO. Some of them can’t maintain a national headquarters because it is not easy to do; and they can’t win a seat in a State House of Assembly, so the law must be obeyed.

“If after a general election my parties doesn’t meet the legal requirement to continue to exist, I will simply advise myself and call my people and tell them that look our efforts have not met the standard prescribed by law.

“It is only a shameless man that wouldll come home empty handed after a general election and still continue to parade himself as the national chairman of a political party in a country of 160 million people. That is my position”, he stated.

But then others see INEC’s action and the provisions in the Electoral Act as “inherently against the spirit and letters of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which guaranteed the fundamental human rights of Nigerians.”

Spokesperson for the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Osita Okechukwu, argued in an interview yesterday that the action of the INEC is nothing but trying to limit the political space and make it difficult for some people to participate in the democratic process.

Osita said that “democracy is not about winning elections only, it is part of it but essentially, democracy should provide a forum for propagating developmental ideas and that is where political parties come in “Is democracy all about winning elections? The answer is no, capital no! Democracy is about contributing ideas that nurture democratic culture. There are many parties in the US that we always claim to copy from, that have not won election and they still exist. Look at the Tea Party for instance. So that is it. It is a wrong decision.”

•Continued on page 52

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

52

POLITICS

Jang, opposition set to test strength in council poll

Fed Govt to protect Nigerians in Ghana

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HE Federal Government has as sured Nigerians doing business in Ghana of its support and protection.

This is in reaction to the unfavourable business conditions targeted at Nigerians.

Nigerians doing business in Ghana are requires to have an initial capital of $300,000 and employ 10 Ghanaians before they can start any business in Ghana regardless of the size of the business.

Reacting to the issue, Minister of Information, Labaran Maku said the Federal Government acknowledged the long standing cordial relationship between the two countries but will not standby and watch her citizens being maltreated, particularly, if the practice is in flagrant violation of the ECOWAS protocol on movement of persons and goods.

Maku, who was responding to questions from State House correspondents on the issue, said that with the Federal Government and ECOWAS intervention, Ghanaian authority will reconsider their stance.

“Nigeria and Ghana enjoy very cordial and friendly relations, it is one of our foremost business partners in the West African sub-region.

“In ECOWAS we share common values, common vision for this sub continent and Ghana has always supported Nigeria on all major issues within and outside Africa and we also always stand by Ghana. This two countries perhaps have more cordial relationship in this sub-region and our people have learnt to live together and yes there will always be disagreement between neighbours on issues even between husbands and wives, there are times of quarrel.

“But in particular reference to the incidence in Ghana, the government within the rules outlined by ECOWAS and other international conventions made presentations on behalf of Nigerians in Ghana and currently the information available is that Ghana is also considering the suspension of the demands on Nigerians in Ghana, following the intervention of the Nige-

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

rian government and the ECOWAS parliament. That doesn’t mean that the problem is finally resolved, but that it creates an opportunity for both Nigeria and Ghana to resolve these problems amicably.

“What is most important for us as a leading nation in ECOWAS and in the African sub region is to create and environment where our citizens should be able to participate freely in all economic activities. ECOWAS is one of the greatest examples of regional integration in the continent and it has served the economies of member states in West Africa.

“We have also collaborated with other countries even on security stretched across to all member countries and Nigeria believes that in working together this region has more to benefit and that in allowing our citizens to compete freely in the market place we also create the synergy that will lead to competition, development and indeed defeat poverty in the sub region.

“So I assure you that both Nigeria and Ghana will continue to work together to resolve any teething problems that will arise as we continue to integrate West Africa and to promote economic development”. fight poverty and the development of this subregion.”

But many others feel strongly that such submissions are mere expressions of emotion and sentiments which have failed to take into consideration the fact that many of the parties were just merely for the owners and their families.

They argue that the proliferation of political parties has given rise to an unwieldy political atmosphere in the country which is a far cry from what it was in the days of either the National Republican Convention (NRC) or the Social Democratic Party (SDP) when only two parties existed in the land.

The doors for the emergence of more political parties were thus flung open when the Electoral Act of 2006, through Section 91 (2) provided for grants from the Federal Government to political parties and coupled with the ruling of the Supreme Court of 2002, all manners of groups sprang up, seeking registration as political parties.

The section of the Electoral Act provides that 30 per cent of the annual grant to political parties should be shared across board to all registered political parties, while 70 per cent be shared among parties that won National Assembly elections in proportion to the number of seats they won.

It is estimated that between 2003 and 2009, the INEC gave out about N3 billion to political parties as subvention.

People and groups saw the provision as an attractive source of cheap money.

• Jang

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OVERNOR Jonah Jang has called on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faithful in Plateau State to ensure that it clears all the available seats in the forthcoming local government election.

In the last council election held in the 17 local government areas of the state in November 2008, the PDP won in 13 and lost four to opposition parties. That, to the governor was not emphatic enough. Jang holds the view that as the party that produced the governor in the state, the PDP ought to record total victory in any election in the state.

Jang, who is one of the founding fathers of the ruling party in the country gave the charge during a three-day orientation seminar for newly elected leaders of the party in the state.

He said, “The state executive should go all out and mobilized voters for the proposed local government election in the state” Jang who delivered the keynote address during the orientation seminar said, “This call has become so necessary in view of the fact that the party cannot afford to lose its leadership position in the state.

“Let me remind you that we are still waiting for the electoral body

• President Jonathan

INEC to sanitise political space •Continued from page 51

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu

Soon, a negative byproduct of this policy manifested in intra-party fighting for positions and offices so as to be the one controlling the subventions which, in some cases, allegedly run into N6 million annually.

Nigerians witnessed the emergence of mostly inconsequential parties that existed only for the sharing of the largesse. In July 2006, 30 registered political parties dragged the INEC to court over the formula adopted by the electoral umpire in sharing N600 million annual grants to political parties.

Between 1999, when only three political parties contested the first election, and the 2011 April elections, the number of political parties rose from a meager three to 63 in such a short space of 12 years. What that means is that in the next 24 years, Nigeria could have a total of about 125 political parties at the least, if not checked.

It is, perhaps, this realisation that Nigeria might have inadvertently created the opportunity for parties to thrive without adding any value to the democratic process other than meet the need of their leaders that made the lawmakers to add the clause which forbids government from funding any party as well as empower the INEC to deregister any party that could not live up to expectations in the Electoral Act of 2010.

Eventually, the court will decide whether INEC is justified or not in the present move to rationalsie the numbers of political parties in Nigeria.

to give us date for the pending council election. While we wait, it will be foolhardy for us to fold our hands and basked in the euphoria of the last victory without subtle mobilization of voters to give us another set of tickets to capture the forth coming council election.

In his words, “I challenged our party officials to be proactive in laying a strong platform for mobilization of voters at the grassroots instead of seeking self opportunity. I belief the best way to serve the party is to work for the success of the party in every elections” said Jang The party has ruled the state since the return of democratic governance in 1999 when the pioneer chairman of the PDP, Chief Solomon Lar wooed voters for the party. That established tendency has been one factor working for the party in the state while opposition parties have found it a tough nut to crack.

For now, however, the administration of all the 17 council areas is being managed by committees put in place by the governor following the expiration of the last elected officials on January 20, 2012.

Both the ruling party and the opposition are set to test their might again as the state independent electoral commission (PLASIEC) is set to announce the date and time table for the next election.

While congratulating the newly elected officials, Jang also admonished leadership of the party from national to grassroots level to anchored their vision on the people; and that all of us must continue to put emphasis on the people State chairman of the party, Dr. Haruna Dabin while welcoming participants to the seminar said it was designed as a strategy in

enforcing cohesion and focus among party officers.

Dabin said, “The orientation for the party executive is a deliberate action aimed at repositioning the party in the state. We don’t need to relax because we are the ruling party, we must always work to remain the ruling party”.

The state party chairman further noted that it was a consensus among party members in the state that since youths constitute the human resource reservoir of the party on the Plateau, this segment of the society in the state should be mobilized to assist the party to acquire membership who will inject fresh and innovative ideas into the fortunes of the party.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the two day seminar, the party leaders recommended that only members with the spirit of team work, hard work, charisma, vision, foresight and honesty will be allowed to fly the flag of the party in the proposed council election as well as any subsequent elections in the state.

Governor Jang has literally closed the doors of the party to former members of the party in the state. He instructed the state party chairman not to receive members who intend to come back. In his words, “Members who left for another party and wish to come back should be made to do so through the ward level. As for those who left and contest against the party on another political party, such people should be left to remain in their new party so as to provide vibrant opposition for the ruling party. If all of us politicians in the state remain in the ruling party there will be no credible opposition, said Jang.

This is generating controversy as some leaders of the party at the national and state levels have said reconciliation is necessary in a bid to become more formidable.

Activist to govt: Nigeria sitting on keg of gun powder

A

SOCIAL critic, Adebiyi Odekanyin, has warned that with the alarming rate of corruption in the country, the intractable Boko Haram insurgency, unstable economy, large scale unemployment among the youths Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gun powder Speaking with newsmen in Oyo town, Odekanyin said any clandestine moves by the Federal Government, and the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to tinker with the House of Representatives committee’s report on fuel sub-

From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo

sidy scam could be an invitation to anarchy.

According to him, “today Nigeria is a widowed state, and urgently clamoring for remarriage. But since truth cannot be destroyed, Nigeria needs an urgent Sovereign National Conference, to decide her today and tomorrow” The public affairs analyst called on the President Gopodluck Jonathan, governors, members of both national and state assemblies, traditional and

religious leaders to try and fashion out a solution to Nigeria’s socio-political and economic problems.

“Otherwise, Nigeria with her 150 million people, and over 450 diverse ethnic groupings, which makes the country the most complex in the world, may till their soil to the point where the gods will snatch their hoes and cutlasses.”

Odekanyin further suggested that Nigeria needs undiluted federalism, two party system and human beings to manage her affairs at all levels.

L-R : Abia State Governor Theodore Orji, Chairman of the occasion Prof . Bolaji Akinyemi and the Publisher of Business Hallmark Prince Emeka Obasi, during the Annual Business Hallmark Lecture in Lagos yesterday .

PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

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EQUITIES

Japaul posts N980m profit

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 4-7-12

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APAUL Oil and Maritimes Services Plc has assured shareholders of improved profitability and returns in the years ahead as the company continued to reposition for emerging opportunities in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

Chairman, Japaul Oil and Maritimes Services Plc, Major General Joseph Omosebi (rtd), said the company has been investing in capacity building to ensure it remains competitive.

Omosebi spoke at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the company held in Ondo State.

He said the company’s investments in acquisition of vessels, oil and gas equipment and other machineries will help bring about an improvement in its profitability.

“With the deployment of some of our vessels and equipment with some oil and gas major, the future is bright bearing any challenges. The business activities in the maritime industry as it relates to oil and gas is improving and the efficacy of the local content law coupled with cabotage policies have created room for Japaul to triumph wonderfully,” Omosebi said.

He assured shareholders that the company would continue to reflect improvement in its operations in returns to shareholders.

The chairman noted that the board and management of the company recognised the importance of shareholders’ supports.

In his remarks, managing director, Japaul Oil and Maritimes Services Plc, Mr. Jegede Paul pointed out that the company currently has tender for business in excess of N31.4 billion.

He expressed optimism that securing at least 45 per cent of the contract will boost its prof-

•Market index rises by 1.11%

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

itability.

Audited report and accounts of Japaul for the year ended December 31, 2011 showed that turnover grew from N7.1 billion in 2010 to N10.25 billion in 2011. Gross profit rose to N4.7 billion in 2011 as against N3.2 billion in 2010. Profit before tax improved to N1.4 billion as against N1.1 billion recorded in 2010, while profit after tax closed 2011 at N980.4 million compared with N792.7 million in 2010. The company paid a dividend per share of 2.0 kobo.

Meanwhile, Japaul’s share price rose by 4.76 per cent yesterday at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) as equities rallied the overall market situation to positive. Japaul added 3.0

kobo to close at 66 kobo per share.

Aggregate market capitalisation of all equities rose by 1.11 per cent to close at N7.002 trillion as against N6.925 trillion recorded as opening value. The All Share Index (ASI) also improved from 21,690.54 points to 21,930.90 points.

Nestle Nigeria led the advancers with a gain of N5.50 to close at N451.75. Total Nigeria followed with a gain of N5 to close at N130 while Nigerian Breweries added N2.41 to close at N105.

Guinness Nigeria led the decliners with a loss of N2 to close at N225. Mobil Oil Nigeria dropped by N1.90 to close at N131 while Nigerian Aviation Handling Company lost 25 kobo to close at N6.

Honeywell Flour makes N2.7b profit ONEYWELL Flour Mills Plc grew turnover by 12 per cent to N38 billion in the immediate past business year as the flour milling company optimised its operational capacity to mitigate global and domestic challenges.

Audited report and accounts of Honeywell Flour Mills for the year ended March 31, 2012 showed that total sales rose from N34 billion in the 2011 to N38 billion in 2012. Profit after tax grew by about 8.0 per cent from N2.49 billion to N2.7 billion.

The company said its performance was constrained by current milling capacity of 1,610 metric tonnes per day, although it ran on average capacity utilisation of over 90

H

per cent, well above the industry average of 50 per cent.

The performance of the company was also mitigated by the global fluctuation in wheat supply situation, which presented cost challenges as input-cost inflation was prevalent during the financial year.

The company responded to rising operational costs by achieving moderate increases in prices of some of its products in order to improve declining product margins.

The company noted that the growing appeal of Honeywell Noodles and Pasta products was evident in the enhanced contribution to sales revenue from its vertically integrated subsidiary; Honeywell Superfine Foods Limited.

Honeywell Flour assured stakeholders of more impressive results and appreciable growth in the 2013 financial year when additional capacity from its 1,000 metric tonnes per day mill facility, which is close to completion, will come on stream.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 4-7-12

56

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

MONEY LINK

CBN pegs forex sale to BDCs at $50,000

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has pegged banks’ sale of forex to licenced Bureau De Change (BDC) dealer at $50,000 per week.

A circular signed by CBN

Stories by Collins Nweze

Director, Trade & Exchange, Batari Musa said effective Monday, July 9, the maximum amount of foreign exchange sale to authorised

foreign exchange sales to BDCs has been reviewed.

Consequently, the maximum amount of foreign exchange cash sales to each BDC per week shall be $50,000 with effect from

BDCs will be $50,000. He said the circular supersedes earlier one issued on March 15, 2012.

“This is to inform all authorised dealers and BDCs that the amount of weekly

Citiserve, Union Bank move to address PoS hitches

C

ITISERVE, a subsidiary of Vigeo Holdings Limited and Union Bank of Nigeria Plc have commenced a sensitisation programme to merchants, aimed at addressing rising complaints on Point of Sale (PoS) usage.

Speaking yesterday at the Citiserve Merchant Congress held in Lagos, Citiserve CEO, Lola Ogunbambi, said there is increasing need to support the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) cashless banking initiative, in which PoS merchants have key roles to play.

She said Citiserve, one of PTSP will continually interact with merchants to identify challenges in the use of PoS and addressing them.

The major complaints by merchants include poor network, delayed credit to merchants’ accounts by banks, bat-

tery failure, and poor infrastructure.

Head, e- Distributions, Citiserve, Jubril Salaudeen advised merchants not to part with their goods until the machine prints receipt, which is a guarantee that the bank will credit their accounts. He explained that CBN T+1 clearing rule means that merchants are credited the next working day.

He added that the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) is working on achieving a same-day settlement.

He said that the battery life of PoS is 72 hours, or 1,200 transactions, advising merchants to ensure that the machine is charged at least once every two days.

He said that a weak battery will lead to poor quality receipt printout. He said that the 1.25 per cent or N2, 000 fee charged on each transaction is

the initiative is that for fertilizers and other agric inputs, they are paying through the phones,” he said.

According to him, from the number of cards the bank has issued, it has seen a growth of almost 60 per cent of people coming to request for payment cards. Unlike before, when customers just open accounts and prefer to come to the bank and use their savings booklet, they are now requesting for cards.

“For Union Bank, I can tell you that transactions at our PoS is about N300 million monthly and we hope to increase it to about N1 billion before the end of the year. If the infrastructural, connectivity and some other challenges we have now are fully taken care of, we hope to be doing N300 million PoS transactions daily,” he said.

not high, adding that the CBN is still looking at the possibility of reviewing it downwards. He explained that in other parts of the world, merchants pay five per cent fee, and still purchase their PoS, but in Nigeria, the fee is lower, and PoS given to them free of charge.

Head, e-Business, Union Bank, Fatai Baruwa said the bank will continue to work on the cashless policy to see how it can get better. He said the programme was meant to enlighten the customers, understand their challenges and also find out how both parties can strengthen the relationship.

“First thing is education. We need to educate our customers and let them know more about the PoS and we also need to encourage the card holders.

Part of what the Federal Government is doing to encourage

Monday July 9, 2012,” it said.

The apex bank had last August, raised the volume of forex sale to BDCs in the country from $500,000 per week to $1 million. That was the third time in less than two months the apex bank made such move. In June 24, it pegged dollar sale to BDCs at $250,000 per week.

This was followed by another increase in July 28 from $250,000 per week to $500,000 before the latest one.

T

tute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Lagos Chapter has said.

A statement from the institute, said the event, which holds on Wednesday, July 18, with the

Amosun will be the Special Guest of Honour among other dignitaries.

The guest speaker, Mr. Taiwo Adeniji, an Executive Director at the Africa Finance Corporation

theme: “Developing an Appropriate Framework for Energy Infrastructure Financing in Nigeria” will be chaired by Felix Ohiwerei while Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle

FGN BONDS

U

NITY Bank is intensifying its engagement with customers in their primary places of business, with the aim of deepening interaction with them.

Head, Corporate Communications of the bank, Aliyu Ma’aji explained the engagement is also aimed at obtaining first-hand feedback from the customers and other people needing banking services.

In a statement, the bank said

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 350m 150m 350m 138m 350m 113m

MANAGED FUNDS

NIDF NESF

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2012 “ 14-04-2012

GAINERS AS AT 4-7-12 SYMBOL

O/PRICE

NESTLE TOTAL NB 7UP UNILEVER PZ UACN ZENITHBANK GLAXOSMITH WAPCO

446.25 125.00 102.59 40.22 29.78 25.50 31.90 14.15 23.07 41.00

C/PRICE

451.75 130.00 105.00 42.23 31.00 26.65 32.76 14.85 23.74 41.50

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N) Parallel Market

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

O/PRICE 227.00 132.90 6.25 6.00 57.00 11.20 4.12 1.69 1.55 1.98

C/PRICE 225.00 131.00 6.00 5.76 56.80 11.00 3.96 1.61 1.48 1.92

CHANGE 2.00 1.90 0.25 0.24 0.20 0.20 0.16 0.08 0.07 0.06

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

Dec ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 12.6%

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

Date 2-7-12 27-6-12 22-6-12

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

LOSERS AS AT 4-7-12

SYMBOL GUINNESS MOBIL NAHCO CCNN FLOURMILL FIRSTBANK DANGSUGAR JOSBREW CUSTODYINS BAGCO

Exchange Rate (N) 155.2 155.8 155.7

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Year Start Offer

CHANGE

5.50 5.00 2.41 2.01 1.22 1.15 0.86 0.70 0.67 0.50

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m 113m

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

OBB Rate Call Rate

(AFC) has worked on infrastructure policy formulation and financing in some of the largest economies in Africa, including South Africa, Egypt and Nigeria.

it will be organizing road shows in three cities across the country namely, Abeokuta, Ilorin and Minna. Similar exercises will be held in Abuja, Lagos, Bauchi, Katsina and PortHarcourt.

This phase of the rogramme, which commences today, in Ilorin, Kwara State will provide an opportunity for the bank to further showcase its Savings Products, which are attracting attention from small scale business men and women.

According to the bank’s spokesman, the rest of the road shows will take place within the month, within an interval of three days. The bank is running a six-month promo on the its saving products such BETA for micro entrepreneurs, Holy Trip for religious obligations and UnityKids for school fees and other educational demands.

DATA BANK

Tenor

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

Sanusi

Unity Bank organises customers’ forum

Energy funding tops agenda at Bankers’ Nite HE 2012 edition of the Lagos Bankers’ Nite has presented an opportunity for experts look into problems of securing finance for energy sector, the Chartered Insti-

•CBN Governor, Lamido

Offer Price

Bid Price

ARM AGGRESSIVE 9.17 KAKAWA GUARANTEED 1.00 STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE 124.54 AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 102.88 LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL 0.74 BGL SAPPHIRE FUND 1.09 BGL NUBIAN FUND 0.95 NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. 1,738.10 PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND 8.95 CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST 1.39 CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST 1.87 STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY 7,485.29 THE DISCOVERY FUND 193.00 FIDELITY NIGFUND 1.67 • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

9.08 1.00 124.43 101.96 0.72 1.09 0.93 1,728.70 8.51 1.33 1.80 7,289.38 191.08 1.62

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank P/Court

Previous 04 July, 2011

Current 07, Aug, 2011

8.5000 8.0833

8.5000 8.0833

Movement

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

57

NEWS Subsidy probe report: Court restrains Fed Govt

How Nigeria lost its ‘innocence’, by Abia governor

By Joseph Jibueze

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

Boy, six, crushed to death in Awka

A

N over-speeding car driver yesterday killed a six-year-old boy at Amawbia, near Awka, the Anambra State capital.

An eye witness told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the boy was returning from school when t the accident occurred.

The eyewitness said the boy was trying to cross a road when he was knocked down by the driver. The driver was said to have sped off as the boy died instantly.

Confirming the incident, the Anambra Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (frsc), Mr Hyginus Omeje, warned drivers against over-speeding and reckless driving.

HE discovery of crude and military intervention led to Nigeria’s loss of innocence, Abia State Governor Theordore Orji said yesterday.

In a lecture at the Public Policy Forum of the Business Hallmark newspaper in Lagos, the governor blamed regional underdevelopment to the imposition of a unitary system of government.

Orji spoke on the topic: Regional Economic Integration, National Transformation, Domestic Security and the Role of Stakeholders.

He said: “Nigeria lost its innocence with the discovery of oil as the mainstay of the economy, and was further worsened by military intervention, which foisted a lopsided but powerful centre and distorted federalism on the political sphere.

“By imposing a unitary garb on Nigeria’s federalism, especially in the area of revenue allocation and resource ownership, the Federal Government made the Nigerian federation unworkable and bereft of development initiatives beyond oil rents.”

He said Nigeria’s potential was stifled, and was not helped by “a failure to transform the national economy.”

According to him, this led to the assumption that a return to true federalism, which he described as Nigeria’s foundation, will reignite the engine of development and economic transformation.

“This is perhaps the strongest support for the promotion of intra-governmental regional integration, along previous regional trends.

“It is expected that this will lead to a healthy rivalry among the political zones, and with the harmonised policies of the regions, economic development and national transformation will follow,” Orji said.

He noted that insecurity, which he blamed on unemployment, could constitute a threat to successful integration of the regions, recommending state police as a way out.

“Getting our active population back to gainful employment has, therefore, become a critical issue in re-invigorating our economy, our social values and our unity as a nation.

“The urgency of these solutions demand a systemic restructuring of the nation to enthrone a structural and fiscal federalism, including resource control, revenue sharing formula, and state policing, all of which intensify collaboration between the federal, the state and the regions in dealing with the economic and security needs of Nigerians,” he said.

Former Information Minister, Dr. Walter Ofonagoro, said the existing six geo-political zones should be made federating units with equal number of states. The units, he said, will have equal representation in the Senate.

He disagreed on state police, saying it could abused by governors. Rather than state police, Ofonagoro said policing could be made a regional matter.

T

A

FEDERAL High Court, Abuja, yesterday restrained Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke from prosecuting a firm, Integrated Oil And Gas Limited.

The firm was among those indicted by the Farouk Lawan-led Ad hoc Committee on fuel subsidy management of the House of Representatives.

Joined as Defendants are the House of Representatives, Hon. Farouk Lawan, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

The court granted the order after counsel in the matter agreed that nothing will be done against the company in respect of the report until the case before the court is decided.

After the report was submitted to the President, it was sent to the AGF to make appropriate recommendation.

The Farouk Lawan committee recommended the indicted companies for prosecution.

The plaintiff is asking the court for an interlocutory injunction restraining the Attorney-General of the Federation from acting on the report.

In the motion on notice brought pursuant to order 26 rule 2 and other 28 rule 1 of the Federal High Court (civil procedure) ruled 2009 and the inherent jurisdiction of the court, the plaintiff asked for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the 3rd to 6th defendants or respondent, whether by themselves, their servants, agent and or representatives from acting or continuing to act on the report of the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on the monitoring of the subsidy regime, which was confirmed by the resolution of the 1st defendant or respondent passed on Wednesday 25th April, 2012 adopting and or approving the said report, in so far as the report affect the plaintiff or applicant pending the hearing and the determination of the substantive suit.

•First Vice President, National Olympic Committee (NOC), Dr. Jonathan Nnaji (left), Divisional Managing Director, UAC restaurants, Mr. Derrick Houten and NOC’s Secretary General Babatunde Popoola at the presentation of Mr. Biggs as the official food partner of the 2012 Olympic. With them is member, Marketing Commission Mr. Walter Mbah PHOTO: TONIA ‘DIYAN

Reps oppose immortalisation of House leadership M EMBERS of the House of Representatives yesterday kicked against the immortalisation of their leadership with renaming of meeting halls and office buildings in the House’s wing of the National Assembly after them.

The majority lawmakers defeated Uche Ekwunife, who moved the motion that the contributions of the leadership of the House since the advent of democracy in the country deserved not to be forgotten.

She said the best means to ensure their immortalisation was to rename meeting and hearing rooms after them, taking cognisance of the stanza in the national anthem that “the labours of our heroes past shall never be in vain”.

Mrs Ekwunife noted that from a three-office building complex at the inception of the current democratic dispensation in 1999, the National Assembly has grown exponentially with more of-

From Dele Anofi, Abuja

fice complexes that have sprung up in the last couple of years.

She said: “Since then, additional offices, hearing and committee rooms have led to a surfeit for offices for members as well as hearing and committee rooms for the transaction of the business of the House both at plenary and committees.”

On the need for renaming the halls, she said the offices are numbered in Arabic numerals 1.01, 2.01, 3.01 and 4.01 and above, while hearing and committee rooms are numbered in Arabic numerals of 101, 201, 301, 41 and above Honorable members.

“But one is concerned that these identical numbering system inherently confuses members, staff and guests as an office with the number of 3.01 could be confused with a committee or hearing room bear-

ing number 301,’ Ekwunife said.

But Bimbo Daramola (ACN, Ekiti) said it is necessary to have a broader expression of what the parliament stands for.

According to him, the leaders of the House, who were chosen by the members, have distinguished themselves, unlike those imposed on them.

“They deserve to be recognised,” he said.

Datti Ahmed (PDP, Kano) supported the motion, saying the legislature has been excluded from such recognition by the government.

He cited Abuja as an instance.

“There is nowhere in Abuja where you will see a street named after any of our leaders in the House unlike the Executive and the Judiciary. So, we have to recognise ourselves,” Ahmed said.

Opeyemi Bamidele (ACN, Ekiti) faulted those who argued against the motion on the ba-

sis of modalities for determining deserving members.

He said those who were impeached have already disqualified themselves.

Aminu Suleiman (PDP, Kano) said the legislators have sacrificed more for the growth of the country than any other arm of government and that future generations should not be denied knowledge of such heroes of democracy.

Femi Gbajabiamila (ACN, Lagos: Minority Leader) supported the motion but with a provisio that the recognition should be for those who deserve it.

He said: “We all know that it is not all of our leaders that can be said to deserve such immortalisation. In fact, we have had some renamed monuments to be ashamed of. So, we must set a bar and it should not be automatic.”

The motion was however defeated after it was put to voice vote by the presiding officer, Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha.

Firm donates N5m to Ogun Security Trust Fund

T

HE efforts of the Ogun State Government to ensure the security of lives and property of the residents yesterday received a boost as popular foods company, De-United Foods Limited, the makers of Indomie noodles, donated N5million to the state’s Security Trust Fund.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa, received the cheque from the management

From Ernest Nwokolo,

Abeokuta of the Ota, Ogun State-based company.

Adeoluwa said the Ibikunle Amosun administration places high premium on the security of lives and property of its citizens.

“Since we declared Ogun State open for business, we are leaving no stone unturned to ensure we keep the state safe and business friendly, and I can tell you confidently that

our effort is yielding positive results,” he said.

The SSG noted that despite the government’s huge investment in security, it is yet to draw money from the Trust Fund.

He expressed optimism that with the financial support from corporate organisations, criminal activities would soon become history in the state.

Adeoluwa hailed the management of the firm for

the donation.

He urged other corporate bodies and individuals to partner the government to make the state uncomfortable for armed robbers and other criminals.

The General Manager, Human Resource and External Relations, De-United Foods Chief Kola Hassan said the gesture was the company’s modest contribution to make the state secure for the residents.

Group flays Jonathan over assets declaration

A

GROUP, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Total Loyalty Group yesterday urged President Goodluck Jonathan to publicly declare his assets, adding that it is not too late for him to lead by example.

The group led by Alhaji Toyin Balogun also enjoined the President to fight corruption and promote the rule of law.

Balogun said in a statement in Lagos that President Jonathan had deviated from the path charted by his predecessor, the late Alhaji Umaru

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Political Editor

Yar’Adua by refusing to publicly declare his assts as he did in 2007, following his swearing in as vice president.

He said Jonathan’s statement that he had satisfied the law by privately declaring his assets was unsatisfactory, stressing that public declaration would have erased the perception that leaders are in government to accumulate wealth.

Balogun advised human rights groups and electorate to make public declaration of

asset a campaign issue ahead of 2015 elections.

He said this had become necessary in view of the soaring wealth of political leaders in a country assailed by bad roads, dying health sector, mass unemployment, insecurity and corruption.

Balogun added: “I implore all of us to start drumming it aloud that, in 2015, it will not be business as usual. We have suffered enough. Collectively, we must send this PDP government packing. Nigerians are yearning for change because they want a better

Nigeria”.

The group leader urged governments across the three tiers to fight poverty, which he described as the direct result of maladministration. He added: “As a group, we are not folding our arm. We have set up empowerment scheme for the poor. We have given three hajj slots to people and we are distributing free GCE forms to indigent students. We are also distributing food items to the poor in some parts of the state.

Well meaning Nigerians and corporate groups should join government in reducing poverty to the barest minimum”.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

58

NEWS Face-off over monorail project deepens From Bisi Olaniyi and Clarice Azuatalum, Port Harcourt

THE face-off between the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the Rivers State Government over the monorail project has deepened.

An aide to Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Mrs. Anita Laz-Nwokeafor,was quoted on a radio programme as saying that the monorail project did not follow due process and was fraught with irregularities.

But in a statement yesterday in Port Harcourt, Mrs Laz-Nwokeafor said at no time did she say that in the interview as being alleged by the ACN. “At no time in my wisdom did I make such a statement rather I said the process leading to the agreement between the Rivers State Government and TSI Nigeria Ltd was transparent and that the reason TSI backed out was because they lacked the funds to execute the project at the time due to the world economic meltdown.”

The opposition party, however, said: “This lack of due process is the issue ACN has vigorously complained about in the handling of the monorail project and sustained on the radio programme by Mrs. Laz-Nwokeafor.

“The tape/record of comments she made on the monorail project on the radio programme is available.

“The ACN calls for the sack of Mrs. Laz Nwokeafor, for speaking from both sides of her mouth.

“ACN is aware of pressure on her by the government to rescind her earlier statement that the monorail project is fraught with irregularities and without due process.

“We are also aware of the attempts she has made to influence the radio station to destroy the recordings of the live programme”.

Cross River donates to families From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

THE Cross River State Government has donated items worth thousands of naira and N70, 000 each to eight families of multiple births across the state.

The families had triplets.

The items, which included rice, beans, palm oil, toiletries, milk, was given by the Commissioner for Women’s Affairs, Mrs. Edak Iwuchukwu..

Mrs. Iwuchukwu said the gesture was a show of government’s benevolence which will enable them cope with the enormous challenges of caring for their multiple babies.

She advised them to use the cash to start petty trading so as to improve their income base and sustain the care for their babies.

I

Oil wells: Cross River warns of security implication

NDIGENES of Cross River State yesterday urged the Supreme Court to uphold the “political solution” proffered by former President Olusegun Obasanjo over its disputed oils wells with Akwa Ibom State in 2005.

The Apex Court is expected to rule on who owns the 76 oil wells in dispute on Tuesday.

The 18 local government chairmen, in a statement in Abuja, warned of dire consequences should the impending judgment by the court upturn the existing order by ceding the oil wells to Akwa Ibom.

They added that the Apex Court cannot afford to overrule itself as it had earlier given judgment in favour of Cross River State in 2005 on the same issue and upheld similar political settlement in the case of Rivers and

From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

Akwa Ibom states.

The local government chairmen, who signed the statement, include Dr. Emil Inyang (Biase), Eta Mbora (Calabar Municipal) , Ekpo Ekpo Bassey (Bakasi), Denis Nkiri (Akampa), Gabe Ugor (Yala), Jonas Otu (Boki), Ubi Itam Ettah (Yakurr) and Benjamin Ambe (Obanliku).

Others are Ekeng Nja Henshaw (Calabar South), Josephine Effiom (Akpabuyo), Linus Obe Ede (Bekwarra), Tony Ngban (Ikom), Francis Ettah (Abi), Ebi John Makpan (Ogoja), Stephen Asuquo (Odukpani), Chris Obasse (Obubra), Godwin Etim John (Etung) and Emmanuel Ikwen (Obudu).

The chairmen argued that the nation would be faced with a lot of security implications if the Supreme Court rules in favour of Akwa Ibom.

They called on President Goodluck Jonathan to play the same role Obasanjo played to avert a state of anarchy between the two states.

The statement reads : “Nigeria will by this judgement cede a good part of its internal waters to Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Sao Tome and Principe.

“The Navy shall have to seek and get consent from Cameroon to access its eastern Naval base on the Calabar Sea Port “The Cameroon Navy without consent or permis-

sion can navigate the Nigerian waters up to Calabar River and beyond the platforms now operated by Moni-Poli and Addax Oil companies.

“The hitherto brotherly relationship between Akwa Ibom and Cross River states would be sacrificed on the altar of oil wells.

“The current air of suspicion may degenerate into state of anarchy between the two brotherly states.

“As council chairmen, we are under intense pressure from our citizens as a result of the anticipated judgement.

“Our people are seeking to know if after ceding Bakassi, Cross River State is not being tactfully handed over to Cameroon.

“We call on the President , all security chiefs and indeed the people to take note of this clarion call and act accordingly.”

•Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole addressing voters at Ikhin, Owan East Local Government Area ... yesterday

Peace in Niger Delta under threat, says Kuku

T

HE relative peace in the Niger Delta, which has resulted in the generation of over N6 trillion from oil exploration, may come under threat if certain issues are not addressed, Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Kingsley Kuku, has warned.

Kuku spoke yesterday in Abuja when a delegation of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta visited him at his office.

He said the successes recorded by the amnesty should be sustained while the Federal Government should work to address the core issues that led to the

From Yomi Odunuga, Abuja Bureau Chief

armed struggle in the region.

He was responding to questions raised by the Chairman of the committee, Senator James Manager.

Kuku, who is also the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, said: “There is an urgent need to address certain problems that might threaten the programme.

“These are the issues that brought about the conflict in the first place—issues of land, development and rights to life.

“For now, we are dealing with militants. But I don’t think we are dealing about those issues that brought

about militancy.

“The people believe in equal development in the region. The question is how do we connect civilisation with development to give the people hope?

“Unless we do this, we cannot continue to use money to buy peace. We must sustain development.”

Speaking on how his office has been able to transform the ex-militants, Kuku said many youths have begun clamouring for their inclusion in the programme.

“I am delighted to inform you that the Amnesty Office has successfully placed 11,575 in skills acquisition/ training centres as well as in

formal education within the country and offshore.

“Of this number, 4,979 were placed in offshore facilities,” he stated.

He called on members of the committee to “visit and assess our performances in some offshore centres located in 25 countries in Europe, Asia and America.”

He also enjoined them to help in imploring the President to give the directive that some of the ex-agitators not captured in the initial programme be absolved for the training programme.

Manager said the committee would work to strengthen the activities of the amnesty office.

Rivers has potential, says ex-Israeli PM

F

ORMER Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has hailed Rivers State for its enormous potentials. He said he has confidence in the leadership of Governor Rotimi Amaechi to use the state’s resources to benefit the people.

Olmert spoke when he visited Amaechi in Port Harcourt yesterday. “The impression that I always get when I come to Africa is that these countries have enor-

mous potential and your country and your state has potential and I think that you happen to have at this time a dynamic, energetic and capable leadership.”

On the prospect of promoting partnership between the state and Israel, the ex-Prime Minister said: “I think that there is a possibility that we will find ways to explore together how to bring in investors; how to develop areas of interest that are of importance to the development of

the state in agriculture, in waste management, in water, in building up greenhouses, in growing vegetables that will be of the highest quality as we do in Israel instead of buying them overseas.”

After an inspection tour of one of the many new primary schools built by the Amaechi administration, Olmert described the school as “wonderful and very impressive”.

The governor thanked the former Prime Minister for

the visit and expressed willingness to partner the country.

“Rest assured that Rivers State will be very willing to partner with you, the Israeli people, the Israeli companies and the Israeli State to see how much we can develop in the area of agriculture.

“Basically, for us as a state the interest is to ensure that we create the opportunity for people to be employed and ensure that there is food security.”

FOREIGN Diamond: I’m sorry

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ORMER Barclays chief executive Bob Diamond has called the behaviour of those responsible for rate-rigging at the bank “reprehensible”.

He said he only learned the true extent of the scandal this month, and felt “physically ill” when reading incriminating emails from traders.

Diamond said he “loved” Barclays and had resigned to protect its reputation. “I’m sorry, disappointed and angry.”

He faced three hours of questioning by MPs on the Treasury Committee.

Diamond, who resigned on Monday, was asked about who knew what and when, and the role of the Bank of England and the previous government in the rate-fixing.

He defended the bank’s actions to address the problems, saying that Barclays acted quickly.

“As soon as we recognised [the problem] three years ago... we said ‘let’s get to the bottom of this’”, he said.

The regulatory agencies involved, including the Financial Services Authority in the UK and US authorities, “applauded our co-operation”, he added.

“This is not coming out in the court of public opinion.”

He said a number of supervisors at Barclays had already been dealt with, while he understood that there “would be ongoing criminal investigations”.

After the hearing, Conservative MP David Ruffley, a member of the Treasury Committee, said he was not satisfied with Diamond’s evidence.

Mandela’s daughter now ambassador HE daughter of South African anti-apartheid fighter Nelson Mandela has been appointed ambassador to Argentina, the South American nation has said.

Zenani Mandela-Dlamini is the oldest daughter from the former president’s marriage to Winnie MadikizelaMandela.

Argentina said her appointment represented the importance South Africa attached to their relationship.

Ms Mandela-Dlamini, 53, was a child when her father was imprisoned for 27 years by the white minority government.

She was not allowed to visit him in jail until she was 16 years old, the Associated Press news agency reports.

A graduate of the University of Boston, Ms MandelaDlamini was once married to a Swazi prince.

Mandela became South Africa’s first black and democratically elected president in 1994, stepping down after one term in office.

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who turns 94 this month, retired from public life eight years ago - his last public appearance was at the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.

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NEWS

Gunmen kill STF member in Plateau

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HE Special Task Force (STF) on Jos crisis has said one of its members, a mobile policeman, was killed on Monday and his rifle taken away.

It said the incident occurred about 8:30pm at Kakuruk village, Kura Falls in Barking Ladi Local Government of Plateau State.

The STF gave the name of the deceased as Corporal Friday Babale.

According to a statement by the STF Media/Information Officer, Captain Salisu Mustapha, “a mobile policeman serving with the STF was shot dead by gun-

•Soldiers torch over 50 Fulani houses From Marie-therese Nanlong, Jos

men on Monday, July 2 about 8:30pm at Kakuruk village, Kura Falls in Barkin Ladi Local Government.

“The MOPOL, Corporal Friday Babale, was heading for the toilet when he was killed. His rifle was taken away by his assailants.”

He noted that the gunmen have killed five personnel of the STF on the outskirts of Jos in the last four months.

“We have lost five of our men in the past four months.

They were killed by the people they were supposed to protect,” Mustapha told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos yesterday.

He condemned the constant attacks on security personnel and vowed that such acts would no longer be tolerated by the STF. Mustapha said the task force had stepped up efforts to fish out Babale’s killers.

He said the area was cordoned off on Tuesday after which STF men conducted a search.

“During the search, we re-

covered some arms and arrested three suspects,” he added.

Mustapha said the search for the killers and rifle is ongoing, adding that the public should assist in apprehending the culprits.

An eyewitness said on Tuesday, some members of the STF carried out a reprisal by burning down a Fulani settlement at Kakuruk.

The source said the soldiers invaded the village in the morning and set ablaze over 50 houses, adding that the incident lasted till 3p.m.

Housing Corporation GM killed in Maiduguri

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ORKERS at the Borno State Housing Corporation were thrown into mourning yesterday, following the killing of the General Manager, Isa Madu Ngaram.

He was allegedly killed by gunmen who attacked his office situated at Abbaganaram ward of the Maiduguri metropolis.

From Joseph Abiodun, Maiduguri

It was learnt the incident occurred about 11am when two men, armed with AK47 rifles, besieged the victim’s office and shot him dead when he was about to enter his car.

The assailants reportedly shot him in the head at a close-range and took his car

away. They fired several gunshots into the air before fleeing.

“It was like a Hollywood scene.

The attackers stormed the premises of the Borno State Housing Corporation and caught everybody unawares. They pumped bullets into the head of the deceased and left the scene in a hurry, leaving him in a pool of his

blood,” a witness who preferred anonymity told reporters.

Police spokesman Jubrin Gideon said on the phone that he would issue a statement on the incident.

A security source confirmed the killing. He said the assailants fled before the security agents arrived, adding that investigation has begun.

Drama in Kogi Assembly as Sergeant-At-Arm turns back lawmaker T HERE was a mild drama on Tuesday at the Kogi State House Assembly when Yunusa Olofu, the winner of the preelection case in Olamaboro Constituency, was turned back by the Sergeant-AtArm of the assembly.

A Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja had nullified the election of a Kogi State House of Assembly member, Damian Abdul Adejoh, representing Olamaboro Constituency. It ruled that Olofu won the first Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries and should be sworn in immediately.

In the ruling, the judge, Justice Nkwo Inang, said there were inconsistencies

From Mohammed Bashir, Lokoja

and irregularities, adding that the PDP primary election held on February 4 was still valid and there should be no reason for another primaries.

Olofu, a former chairman of Olamaboro Local Government, contested the primary election and won.

But later, the party hierarchy organised another primaries which was won

by Adejoh, thereby invalidating the first primary election.As a result of his victory at the court, Olofu

and his supporters went to the assembly complex to get sworn-in.

The jubilations and fanfare were aborted when the Sergeant-At-Arm stopped Olofu at the reception and enquired about his identity.

Having introduced himself, Olofu was said to have been shocked when he was asked to produce his certificate of return.

The Nation learnt that he left the assembly complex alongside his supporters disappointed.

Confirming the incident, the Chief Press Secretary of the assembly, Mr. David

Ehimohy, in a telephone chat said Olofu was turned back because he could not produce his certificate of return.

“If a court rules that you must be sworn in, you have to produce a proof such as a certificate of return. Anything short of that, you can never be sworn in. It is a constitutional matter,” Ehimony added.

Efforts to get Olofu to comment on the incident proved abortive. A text massage was sent to him, which he did not respond to at press time.

It was learnt that Adejoh has been attending the assembly, performing his legislative duties.

Shettima predicts end to insecurity in North •Gaidam suspends fanfare in honour of Albishir From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano and Duku Joel, Damaturu

•Shettima

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ORNO State Governor Kashim Shettima has predicted that the insecurity in the North would soon be over.

He spoke yesterday during his visit to Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State. He was in the state to commiserate with him over

the death of Senator Usman Albishir who died in an auto crash in Kano on Monday.

Shettima said peace would soon return to the affected states in the North because of the security mechanism put in place by the security agencies.

His words: “We hope and pray that the security challenges some states in the North are facing will soon be over.

“We have witnessed some elements of calmness in the past couple of weeks and with the forthcoming Ramadan, we

hope and pray that peace will be restored fully.”

The governor, who described Kwankwaso as an achiever, promised to visit Kano again to replicate the policies and programmes of the state and implement them in Borno.

“Kwankwaso can be described as an achiever. He has sustained the tempo in his second coming. With all these achievements, posterity will judge him. Kano indigenes will also recognise his efforts and put him in the right position he deserves,” he said.

Kwankwaso thanked Shettima for the condolence visit.

He described Albishir’s death as a great loss to his family and Nigeria as a whole.

Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has suspended fanfare in the state to honour his political rival, the late Senator Albishir.

Gaidam, at the launch of the 2012 fertiliser sale, ordered the drama troupe to suspend their drama shortly after the master of ceremony called them to entertain the guests.

He led a delegation to Kano yesterday to condole with the family of the late Nguru-born politician and business mogul.

Kano saves over N800m from road contracts

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ANO State Government has saved over N800 million from the review of five road contracts inherited from the previous administration of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau.

Addressing reporters on the outcome of the 55th State Executive Council (exco) meeting at the Government House

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

yesterday, the Information Commissioner, Prof. Umar Farouk, said the five road contracts were highly inflated by the previous administration, which informed the set up of a contract review committee.

According to him, the Independent Road contract, with an

initial contract sum of N2.220.424, 041.86, was reviewed downward to N1.577 billion, with a final discount of N1.500 billion, thereby bringing the total discount to N717, 928 million.

Farouk said the road contract of the Murtala Muhammed Way, with its original contract sum of N323.632 million, was also reviewed downward to

the sum of N297,408 million with a final discount of N290, 408 million, bringing the total discount of the entire contract sum to N33, 223 million.

The commissioner said with the impressive N800million savings from the two road contracts, the government can use the savings for the free feeding of primary school pupils.

NDIC builds N20m clinic at poly From Joseph Abiodun, Maiduguri

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HE Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has built an ultra-modern clinic valued at N20 million for one of the oldest higher institutions in the Northeast, Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri.

A spokesman for the NDIC said the building of the clinic is in line with its corporate social responsibility.

Ramat Polytechnic is one of the 12 tertiary institutions selected by the NDIC to benefit from the third phase of the funding.

Communication outfit holds LAGOS-based comcultural week munication outfit, Il-

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lustrious Media Concepts, publishers of Illustrious magazine, will hold a cultural week from July 9 to 13.

A spokesman for the company, Prince Kareem Aregbe, said the event will begin with a symposium entitled: “What can be done to promote and preserve our cultural values”. Guest speaker

is the Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Oyinlomo Danmole.

PUBLIC NOTICE EZEKAFOR I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ezekafor Ifeoma .G. now wish to be known and address as Mrs. Ifeoma Morget Igwe. all former documents remain valid. general public please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE EGI CHARITY FOUNDATION This is to inform the general public that the above named Foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration Under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES ARE; 1.

MRS. PRECIOUS NNADI 2.

MR. DESTINY MORGAN 3.

BARR. (MRS) CHIKODI ONYIGE ODU 4.

MRS. NAOMI ILE 5.

MRS. BLACKY MOSES 6.

MR. UCHENDU OKORO 7.

MR. CLEVER DIBIA AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To empower the less priviledged in Egi clan.

2. To Promote brotherhood among the Egi people.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: SECRETARY Tel: 08065225248

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NEWS US warns of threat to peace

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HE United States embassy in Nigeria yesterday warned its citizens about threats to American targets this week in Nigeria.

“The U.S. Mission in Nigeria is issuing this emergency message to inform U.S. citizens of potential threats against U.S. installations during the July 4 holiday week,” said a statement posted on the embassy’s website.

July 4 is American Independence Anniversary Day. Abuja was hit by fresh violence late on Tuesday, when a blast went off outside Banex Plaza, a popular shopping centre.

US citizens in Abuja remain barred from visiting places of worship as well as nearby

•Jang (left) and Dasuki …yesterday

PHOTO: NAN

NSA set for talks with Boko Haram Continued from page 2

and Jos when my father resided here. So, if we lived peacefully way back then, it is possible to go back to those good old days,” said the NSA, adding: “Before now, it is difficult for me to believe that you can see a Fulani and Berom man together on the street of Plateau fighting. But the presence of various ethnic and religious groups at this parley is a pointer to the fact that we want to forge ahead.”

The stakeholders in Jos demanded an end to the state of emergency in some local governments.

Dasuki pleaded with all the religious leaders to return the old tradition of living in harmony with one another.

He also made them to realise that peace can return to Jos if everyone works to-

wards it.

Among those Col. Dasuki met in Jos were Governor David Jonah Jang, members of the Plateau State Executive Council, Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Buba Gyan, and his traditional council members, Chairman and members of the Jamatul Nasril Islam; Christian leaders; representatives of Sheikh Yahaya Jengre; prominent traditional rulers, two members of the House of RepresentativesBitrus Kaaze (Jos East/Jos South), Hon Simon Mwatkon(Barkin Ladi/ Ryom); the Deputy Speaker, Johnbull Tyemlong and members of the House of Assembly.

A source said: “He begged all the stakeholders at the closed-door session to prevail on those behind the crises to sheathe their swords.

“He reeled out statistics on

how the crises have affected everyone and the huge loss of lives in the area. He said if everyone looks back, it will be obvious that the crises were needless.

Jang expressed regret that the emergency rule in the state had not achieved the intended effect as the attacks continued unabated.

On dialogue with Boko Haram, Jang said it was difficult to dialogue with the group since its leaders and members are not known.

He urged the group to come out and identify itself.

“We only hear that Boko Haram claims responsibility for this and that attack but we never heard anybody coming out to say he is Boko Haram.

“We know the Niger Delta militants had leaders and a cause they were fighting for,

which made the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to succeed with the amnesty programme, but who is Boko Haram?”

Jang alleged that some influential people were behind the sect, in view of the sophistication of its operations, and insisted that the sponsors must be dealt with by the appropriate authority.

Kaze alleged insincerity and lack of will on the part of the government to implement various reports on the Jos crises.

“In the last 10 years, no single person has been convicted for the crises on the Plateau,” he said, adding: “So, what you have is a situation whereby the assailants have become hardened and continue to carry on with the attacks with impunity.”

commercial establishments and must return to their homes by midnight, according to the embassy statement.

The embassy “is working with the government of Nigeria to implement additional security measures,” through the July 4 holiday week, the statement added.

Last month, Washington designated three Boko Haram leaders as global terrorists; a move it said was aimed to help stem the violence in Nigeria.

Boko Haram, which has previously threatened to strike US interests, has claimed attacks that have killed more than 1,000 people since the middle of 2009.

Jonathan nominates first woman CJN Continued from page 1

Senate President David Mark read the nomination letter dated July 3 to the Senate at the plenary session yesterday.

Entitled “Appointment of Chief Justice of Nigeria,” Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s letter said the appointment is in conformity with Section 231 Sub-section (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.”

The Section gives the President power to appoint a Chief Justice of Nigeria, acting on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council and subject to the confirmation of the appointment by the Senate.

“I have the honour to forward the nomination of Honourable Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, CON, CFR for confirmation as Chief Justice of Nigeria,” Jonathan wrote, urging the Senate to give the

nomination expeditious attention.

The President also sent to the Senate names of Justices Kumai Bayang Akaahs (Northwest zone), Justice of the Court of Appeal (JCA) and Stanley Shenko Alagoa (Southsouth zone) (JCA), as Justices of the Supreme Court.

“These appointments have been necessitated by the impending retirement from service of Hon. Justice Dahiru Musdapher, Chief Justice of Nigeria and Hon. Justice F.F. Tabai,” he said.

The nominations were referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.

The Senate confirmed the appointment of Justices Clara Bata Ogunbiyi (Northeast) and Musa Dattijo Muhammed (Northcentral), as Justices of the Supreme Court as recommended by its committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

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SPORT EXTRA

NFF mourns Sam Ojebode

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HE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)has expressed deep grief at the death, yesterday of former National Team captain, Samuel Ojebode.

Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi expressed shock.

Ojebode died in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital at the age of 68 years, after a protracted illness.

Speaking in Abuja, NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari said the Nigeria football family was greatly saddened by Ojebode’s death and prayed that Almighty God will grant the good family he has left behind the fortitude to bear the big loss.

“We received with great sadness news of the death of the

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former National Team Captain, Samuel Ojebode. It is big loss, but we are comforted by the fact that he lived a good life and served his country well,” Maigari stated.

Ojebode was deputy skipper of the Green Eagles at the 1976 African Cup of Nations finals in Ethiopia but wore the Captain’s armband in Nigeria’s first three matches in the forced absense of Christian Chukwu.

He was also a member of the IICC Shooting Stars FC that won Nigeria’s first continental honour – the African Cup Winners Cup –later the same year.

In the National Team, Samuel Ojebode played alongside the likes of goalkeeper Joe Erico,

defenders Sanni Mohammed, Muda Lawal, Baba Otu Mohammed, Felix Owolabi, Segun Odegbami, Thompson Usiyen, Aloysius Atuegbu, Godwin

Odiye, Kunle Awesu, Kelechi Emeteole, Idowun Otubusin and Patrick Ekeji, who is now Director General of the National Sports Commission.

...NPL too

EANWHILE, the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) has expressed deep sorrow over the death of former Green Eagles and IICC Shooting Stars Football Club (now 3SC) of Ibadan captain, Samuel Ojebode (MON).

Chairman of the league management board, Chief Victor Baribote Rumson, while reacting to the news on the demise of the former defence ace, described him as a true patriot whose outstanding contributions as a player brought glory to the nation.

Baribote regretted that Ojebode's death is coming on the heels of the demise of another Nigerian soccer legend, Rashidi Yekini who passed on only recently.

"It is rather sad and very unfortunate that Nigeria has lost two football legends in quick succession. Only recently we lost Rashidi Yekini and now it's Sam Ojebode" the NPL boss lamented.

"Ojebode was a true patriot whose commitment on the field of play brought glory to Nigerians. I remember his contributions in the Green Eagles' defence when Nigeria hosted and won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1980" Baribote recalled.

"On behalf the management board of the NPL, I wish to commiserate with his immediate family, the management of 3SC of Ibadan and Oyo State Football Association, the Nigeria

Football Federation (NFF) and the entire football fraternity in Nigeria on this great loss.

"I pray for the repose of his soul and that God grants his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss" he concluded.

•Sam Ojebode • Ojebode’s widow Olusola... yesterday

Yobo ready for Nwosu: Ojebode was a gentleman Arsenal friendly If…

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S condolences continue to pure in for ex-football star, Sam Ojebode, another former international, Henry Nwosu has poured encomium on the departed defender.

When NationSport sought his reaction yesterday, Nwosu said Ojebode was one of the best players Nigeria ever had, adding that he was a perfect gentleman.

“I played briefly against him a couple of times, and I can tell you that he was a perfect gentleman.

Though he was ahead of me in

By Innocent Amomoh

the game, he never disregarded anyone. While I was with the New Nigeria Bank (NNB) he was with the Shooting Stars Sports Club (Now 3SC),” Nwosu explained.

He, however, called on the state and Federal Government to assist the family he left behind, by providing them with those things they would miss in their departed bread- winner.

“I have always said anytime

an ex-international dies, that the Government should open a Trust fund for all ex-internationals who have served this country in one capacity or the other. We are like soldiers who die fighting for the country and because we will die some day, we also need to be well remunerated just like the regular pensioners,” he said.

Sam Ojebode died in the early hours of yesterday in Ibadan where he lived a better part of his life.

AHEAD AFRICA YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP

NFF reads riot act to Obuh, others

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HE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has charged the technical crew of the U-20 National Team, Flying Eagles, to shun the pursuit of personal interests and face the job of raising a formidable squad that will do Nigeria proud.

NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari said this on

Wednesday at a meeting with the crew of the team, led by Head Coach John Obuh.

Maigari made no secret of the unhappiness of the Federation and the generality of Nigerians over the team’s poor outing at the Cape Town International Challenge at the end of May. “We are really disturbed.

The NFF is not encouraged by your performance in South Africa and you have to work hard and be committed to a much better output in the qualifying series for the 2013 African Youth Championship, which start this month.

“Cases of dogged pursuit of personal interests and abuse have severally come out of your camp, and we are not happy about this. Here at the NFF, our job, our commitment and our task is always to raise teams that will make over 160 million Nigerians happy with good performance on the field of play. You are the champions of Africa and yet, you went to South Africa and lost all three group stage matches.

This is disheartening. “The fact that we give all the National Teams free hand does not mean that we don’t know what we are doing. You must consider it a privilege to be involved with a project that can give joy to the generality of Nigerians,” said Maigari.

The NFF President’s meeting with the Flying Eagles’ crew came against the backdrop of the team’s upcoming 2013 African Youth Championship qualifying fixture against Tanzania, which first leg comes up in Dares Salaam on July 28.

Maigari added: “The Flying Eagles is a team known over the decades for giving joy to Nigerians through good results. Way back in 1983, the team became the first from Nigeria to participate in a FIFA tournament. We cannot afford to backslide so terribly.”

•As Keshi hopes for favourable draw

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IT again Super Eagles skipper, Joseph Ikpo Yobo, says it would be a delight for him to be part of the team that will play the prestige international friendly against London Gunners; Arsenal FC, already scheduled for August 5 in Abuja.

Yobo, who is in London at the moment on holidays with his family as well as trying to sort out the transfer jig-saw between his club; Everton and Turkish top side Fernabahce, however said it would be dependent on whether his team would be in pre-season at that time or if the Super Eagles technical crew thinks it good for top players to feature in the friendly.

Yobo, who was touted at a point to be on the radar of Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger declared thus: “it would really be nice to play against Arsenal but we have to wait and see how things will turn out”.

Yobo again said he was disturbed by the rumblings over his move to Fernavahce on a permanent basis from Everton, saying he has resigned himself to the will of God. “No matter how bad the situation seems, I know it would eventually be sorted out the right way”.

Meanwhile, Super Eagles boss, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, who departed Tuesday night for South Africa along side, NFF Technical Committee Chairman, Barrister Christopher Green, said while he was not afraid of any team in the draws he was hoping for favourable draws on Wednesday.

“No team is too small or too big in Africa and world football, but we must avoid some big names but if at the end of the day we are drawn against any of the powerhouses we will have no option but to ensure that we qualify. We want a good draw for the team in the interest of the nation”, he said.

FCT Queens protest non payment of entitlements

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HE entrance to the Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT was yesterday blocked by FCT Queens who stormed the premises in protest against the non payment of their four years salaries and other allowances.

The female football team-FCT Queens managed by the Federal Capital Territory, alleged that their salaries and allowances since 2007 have not been paid and the body language of the administration suggests neglect of the issue, which constitute important economic value to them.

The young women numbering 30, carried various placards with inscriptions which read: “Pay us our money to pay our debts; You are fighting prostitution, yet you are forcing us to prostitution.”

They also lamented the neglect by the administration in paying them their National Sports Festival held at Kaduna and Port-Harcourt in 2009 and 2011 respectively.

According to the team captain, Oluchi Eze, "the administration

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja is owing us since 2008 till 2011 but they said they are going to pay us for the last one year but instead of paying us they keep telling us come, today come tomorrow" They said that the new administration had said it will not honour their former arrangement with the erstwhile management of the club under the defunct women commission of the FCT a position they said they are not comfortable with.

They argued that while the administration maintained that it would not honour the services the rendered between 2008 – 2011.

The Director of Sports, FCT Social Development Secretariat, Halim Musa who came and addressed the footballers assuring them that their file had reached the Treasury for payment.

His words: “We appreciate the fact that you people are facing some challenges but we are doing our best to handle the situation and to be sure that you people are comfortable as am talking to you the file is in the treasury for payment.

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www.thenationonlineng.net

TODAY IN THE NATION ’‘The beauty of a sting operation is to nab the suspect with the incriminating evidence at the scene of crime. If that is not done, the sting is no longer a sting, but a stink’

THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL. 7 NO.2177

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

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T the moment, we, as a nation, are still facing the problem of rage and violence in our country, particularly in the North, whereby the sect called Boko Haram is dealing death and destruction to people and property.

Attempts are being made left, right and centre to quell the rage of the group. Some people even question the ideology of the group to the extent that their belief is misplaced, to the extent that people have cited passages of Holy Qur’an and Hadith that western education originated with the Muslims in the 7th Century. Hence, they further advanced the philosophy that we cannot destroy what we created.

Opinions differ from one quarter to the other with regard to the necessary approach to bring an end to this alarming and destructive situation. By and large, there are two schools of thought. One thought is that force must be met with force and that the Federal Government should continue with the use of force to quell these destructive acts. Hence, the Joint Task Force (JTF) has been assigned the duty of carrying out the force which they have been performing till now but it seems the violence from Boko Haram’s end continue unabated. However, people are anxious and becoming rather impatient to see the end to these unfortunate violent acts, which had already taken the lives of hundreds of people.

The other school of thought advocated dialogue. To this end, even former President Olusegun Obasanjo tried unsuccessfully to dialogue with the sect. But recently, Vice President Namadi Sambo opened the door of dialogue on the part of the Government to Boko Haram. This is where I stand.

Now, religious bodies got worried and felt seriously concerned about what is going on in Nigeria, particularly with the problem of Boko Haram. So, the World Council of Churches (WCC) from Geneva and the Royal Aal Al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought (RAABIT) from Jordan with many religious leaders from many parts of the world arrived in Abuja on May 22, with the aim of finding solution to this problem. Some of the important people who took part in the visit are: Prof Dr. H.R.H. Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, Chairman of the Board of the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought, Chief Advisor to H.M. King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein for Religious and Cultural Affairs, and Personal Envoy of H.M. King Abdullah II; H.E. the Grand Mufti of Bosnia, Dr Mustafa Ceric; H.E. Shaykh Dr. Hussein Hasan Abakar, Imam of the Muslims, Chad President, Higher Council for Islamic Affairs, Chad; H.E. Professor Din Syamsudin, President of Mohammadiah Party, Indonesia; and H.E. Mustapha Ali, general Secretary, African Council of Religious Leaders. Others are: Revd Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary of the World Coun-

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Boko Haram: Solving the problem

•Sultan Abubakar

cil of Churches; Most Revd Michael Jackson, Anglican Archbishop of Dublin; Bishop Alex Gehaz Malasusa, Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania, Vice-President of the Lutheran World Federation; Revd Bernice Powell Jackson, WCC President, USA; Bishop Robert AboagyeMensah, formerly Bishop President of the Methodist Church of Ghana, Vice-President of the All Africa Conference of Churches; A delegate of the Coptic Orthodox Church; and Revd John Onaiyekan, Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Co-Chair African Council of Religious Leaders.

I was invited not only as a Chartered International Adjudicator and Arbitrator but also as a member of the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought in Jordan and Islamic Mission for Africa.

The delegation visited Kaduna where they met the Governor and his executive and also had dialogue with those affected one way or the other by religious conflicts.

Governor Patrick Yakowa, after giving them the history of Kaduna as the seat of government of Northern Nigeria during the colonial era and after Independence, also narrated all his efforts on serious attempts being made to resolve interfaith conflicts referring to the efforts of the Ministry created for this purpose together with other activities of

other people of Kaduna State.

The delegation also visited on Jos on May 24, where they met with the Governor with all the members of his executive. He equally narrated the efforts that he had made to resolve interfaith disputes in that state.

On returning to Abuja on May 25, the delegation continued its work where it went to dialogue with the Chairman and the Board members of the Abuja National Mosque.

One of the speakers explained the meaning of Boko Haram. Two other members criticised the activities of the Christians in the North but the Chairman ended by pleading for peace in the country and urged that this should prevail. Thereafter, the delegation moved to the National Christian Centre where two of their members spoke about their trials and tribulations in particular.

In the evening of the same day, further deliberations took place at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel and a press release was given, part of which is quoted as follows: “We are a delegation of Muslims and Christians from a number of countries around the world, with senior roles in our respective religious communities. We have come on this working visit to Nigeria, under the auspices of the Royal Jordanian Aal Al-Bayt Institute and the World Council of Churches to express to the people of Nigeria, and to their religious and political leadership, the concerns and anxieties of the international community about the current situation in this country.

“We have been told that we are the first high level international interreligious delegation of Christians and Muslims to visit Nigeria, certainly in recent years. We have valued being accompanied also in our visit by a number of Nigerian Muslims and Christians leaders.

We hope by our visit to demonstrate and international model of Muslims and Christians working together in interreligious engagement aimed at fostering peace and harmony between people of different religions.

“We bear witness that we believe that both Christianity and Islam are religions which long for peace, and that in both our faiths love of God and love of our neighbour must belong together.

HARDBALL

I

F there were a contest to determine the most entertaining reality show presently running, the Farouk Lawan-Femi Otedola $620,000 bribery scandal will win hands down.

You cannot escape from it. On television, your ears are tingled by excerpts from furtive discussions of the transaction purported to have taken place between the two men.

Off the screen, the story has taken permanent residence on the front pages of all newspapers – not because of the enterprise of investigative reporters, but more because each side is releasing its story in drip-drip fashion. The hope is every new tidbit will help their case – at least in the public eye.

While the public relations contest might have its uses, people are forgetting that because criminality has been alleged, if a trial ever happens it would not be on the pages of newspapers, or on television, but in some drab courtroom.

That is why many are wondering why the parties are wasting their time and energy courting the public – as though they were politicians facing an electoral contest – instead of going straight to the police to tell them all they know.

On the face of it, the public relations battle

LAWAL OGIENAGBON

“In hearing the pain of those who have spoken to us we also caught a glimmer of their dreams, and the hopes of many, both religious leaders and ordinary people, that a transformed reality is possible.

“We express our admiration of all those who spoke to us in a way that made it clear that they did not want their faith to be used as a pretext to propagate violence. We look forward to the day when the Christians and Muslims of Nigeria may offer an example of working together to the international community.

“We have been very grateful for the welcome and hospitality we have received during our visit. We give particular thanks for the preparatory work and support of the Christian Council of Nigeria and the Office of the Sultan of Sokoto, without which our work here would not have been possible.”

The delegation concluded that this is their first visit to Nigeria but definitely not the last one. In general, they are of the view that this first mission is one of fact-finding and that many meetings will still take place in and outside Nigeria. They observed however, that many of those people who spoke during the time of the dialogue on various problems in Nigeria such as acts of lawlessness where people committed offences with impunity without any sanction against them.

Many people also complained about injustice, poverty, abuse of the rule of law, unemployment and corruption. The delegation was also privileged to meet two important religious leaders, that is, His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, Sultan of Sokoto, who welcomed us wholeheartedly to Abuja and expressed great delight to assist in solving some of the problems facing Nigeria.

We must also point out here that the Emir of Kano emphasised the need for peace in the whole of Nigeria and particularly the North.

Narrating further the view of Sultan of Sokoto, he was of the view that very soon the whole problem would be over that he had warned the Boko Haram people that enough is enough.

Generally, the Sultan was optimistic that the whole problem would soon be over.

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), in his discussion with us, complained bitterly that Christians are badly maltreated because many of them were killed, their homes and churches destroyed.

“However, he expressed the view that dialogue would still be the ultimate. But he was rather ambivalent with regard to the people to be dialogued with.

In conclusion, he urged for prayers before he left for another engagement. Thereafter, one of their members deputised for him.

•Ajibola is a former judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague.

•Dapo Fafowora returns in a fortnight

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Bribery scandal as public relations war appears to be a two-way thing between Lawan and Otedola. In reality, however, it is a threecornered contest also involving the House of Representatives as an institution. Its reputation has taken a hammering because of insinuations that many others might be ensnared in the alleged conspiracy.

It is the need to shore up its image that caused the House to mandate its Ethics Committee to plunge into the matter. But in doing so, the panel is already making PR blunders. Although, it is not obliged to hold a public hearing, its decision to take testimony of all the principal actors in drama in camera was a mistake given that the matter has generated so much public interest.

Common sense would have required that interrogations of the invitees should be in the open so that the impression is not created that some people want certain things hidden from the public.

The Ethics Committee’s decision to take testimony in secret badly backfired Tuesday when Mr. Otedola appeared before it, and pointedly refused to say anything except the media and

other interested Nigerians were present.

Not only did he decline to speak in private, he also accused the lawmakers of making a uturn from their earlier commitment to make the hearings public. Was such a commitment ever made? If it was then, the change of mind is something that the mischievous would jump upon.

Besides, there is the whole song and dance about the Chairman of the Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Adam Jagaba, honouring an invitation to chat with the police over claims by Lawan that he handed him the bribe money.

Again, it is difficult to understand from a public relations point of view why Jagaba can’t just walk up to the police to make a statement.

After all, both Otedola and Lawan have done so.

The bribery saga has provided entertainment for Nigerians – but only of a sleazy sort, and people are becoming progressively turned off by the illogical stories emerging every other day. It is time the police resolved the matter and moved on to prosecution.

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