July 10, 2015

Newspaper of the Year

•11 feared dead, eight injured in Ondo road accident P8 •’N6b pension scam’: EFCC to quiz Oronsaye again today P2 •Synagogue rejects coroner’s verdict on collapsed house P57 •Anxiety as 80-year-old woman is kidnapped in Ekiti P8 •Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 10, NO. 3271 FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

Boko Haram: U.S. seeks total approach Page 2

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

•INSIDE: ‘DIASPORA REMITTANCES HIT N10.35TR’ P11 OHAKIM GETS N270M BAIL P58

Southeast traders shut markets

Our role in ‘bailout’ cash,

by NLNG chief Omotowa

•Boko Haram prisoners relocated From Chris Oji, Enugu and Nwansoike Onu, Awka

By Olukorede Yishau

W

HERE is the $1.6 billion Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd’s contribution to the multi-billion naira package for states coming from?

The question, which has sparked a row between the Presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been settled.

M

AJOR markets in the Southeast were yesterday closed in protest against the presence of Boko Haram detainees in the Ekwulobia prison, Anambra State.

Traders planned to stage a mass protest at a well-attended meeting of the South East Amalgamated Traders Association held in Onitsha last Saturday.

The meeting drew participants from various traders’ unions and associations in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states.

They strongly condemned the transfer of the Boko Haram prisoners to Ekwulobia prison and requested President Muhammadu Buhari to remove them.

“At our meeting in Onitsha last Saturday, many participants were very angry over the alleged attempt by the Federal Government to spread terrorism and terrorists to Igbo land. We have made it clear that we don’t want Boko Haram prisoners anywhere in the Continued on page 2

INTERVIEW Pages 4&5

•All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader and former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and British Deputy High Commissioner Mr Ray Kyles who visited him at his office, Freedom House, Victoria Island, Lagos...yesterday.

The fund is from the NLNG’s Company Income Tax and Education Tax, which it paid on June 17 to the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), The Nation confirmed yesterday. The Continued on page 2

Buhari rejects N400m cars President: I don’t need five armoured Benz

By Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

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RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has turned down a proposal to buy new cars for his use. He will stick to the vehicles he inherited from former President Goodluck Jonathan, The Nation has learnt.

The proposal from the Aso Rock bureaucracy is for Buhari to approve the purchase of five customised armoured Mercedes Benz S-600 (V222) cars at about N400 million.

It was learnt that President Buhari rejected the proposal on Wednesday when he received briefings from the Permanent Secretary (State House), Mr. Nebolisa Emodi.

The President has been receiving briefings from permanent secretaries since the beginning of the week on the activities of the ministries.

He directed that the proposal, which was first made to ex-President Jonathan, be dropped.

Jonathan had advised that the plan be left for Buhari to approve since it was made in the twilight of his administration and the cars would be due for delivery till after he might have left WILL THE the office.

CHIBOK GIRLS

?

EVER RETURN?

Continued on page 2

•Former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido (sitting left) during proceedings...yesterday. Sitting next to him are his two sons and others

Lamido, two sons remanded in prison

•SEE PAGE 7

•POLITICS P9 •AGRIC P12 •BRAND P17 •SPORTS P24 •INDUSTRY P47 •FOREIGN P60

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

NEWS Southeast traders shut markets Continued from page 1

Southeast and the government has no reason whatsoever to bring them here. Their plan is to expose us to danger and we must resist it,” one of the traders’ leaders said.

All markets in Enugu, including Ogbete Main Market, Kenyatta Market and Garriki Market, were locked. Onitsha was also totally paralysed.

Imo markets were closed as the traders joined the peaceful protest.

In the commercial town of Aba, Abia State, however, all was normal.

Ebonyi traders also failed to join the protest.

•From left: Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Executive Secretary Nigeria Export Promotion Council Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, Director General of SMEDA, Mallam Bature Umar and Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja…yesterday.

PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN

Boko Haram: U.S. seeks comprehensive approach

T

HE United States insisted yesterday that Nigeria requires a comprehensive regional approach to end the Boko Haram insurgency.

Visiting Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari’s coalition approach as he reassured of the U.S. commitment to back Nigeria’s efforts to battle the menace.

He urged that priority should be given to efforts at rescuing the abducted schoolgirls of Government Secondary School, Chibok.

Blinken told reporters that defeating the sect must not

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

only include a strong military response, but also sustainable security for liberated areas, good governance, development, and opportunity for the civilian population.

“It also requires a strong commitment to human rights, the absence of which only alienates the people and drives them toward Boko Haram,” he added.

“We have been working hard to assist the government of Nigeria. For example, we have been providing training, equipment, advice, information, intelligence sharing and logistic support. We recently estab-

lished a $40-million fund to global security fund; that is a sign to promote joint effort with the Lake Chad countries to strengthen cross border security, cooperation and capacity to combat Boko Haram,” he said.

Blinken added that the U.S. government, as part of the support package, released $5 million to the Multinational Joint Task Force towards strengthening the force against the insurgents.

He assured that his country would begin training for investigators and training on border security, post blast investigation and crisis management.

Blinken, who noted that so many internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the country need help, promised that the U.S. government would step up humanitarian assistance to the people in need.

“So all of these are comprehensive support package for Nigeria.

“The Chibok girls remain a priority for us. I know there are many more young girls and women who are missing. Our focus is on them as well. We will continue to provide assistance to the government in an attempt to look for them, find them and bring them home,” he said

ICPC files charge against five directors over N605m fraud

T

HE Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has filed a charge against five directors of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, accusing them of among others, defrauding the ministry of N605m between July 2013 and October 2014.

They are Yusuf Agabi (Director of Finance and Account), Akpore Okeroghene (Deputy Director of Fiance), Abibu Ayinla (Director of Finance), Idowu Adewale (Deputy Director Accounts) and Ngozi James (Deputy Director Accounts).

They were to be arraigned yesterday before Justice Husseini Baba of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja on the 46-count

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

charge, but for the absence of some of the accused in court.

Justice Baba has fixed September 16 for their arraignment.

The accused persons, who were at various times Directors of Finance and Deputy Directors of Finance in the Niger Delta Ministry, allegedly siphoned the money from the Constituency Project account of the ministry under fraudulent claims.

ICPC’s Chief Legal Officer, Paul Ahmed, who signed the charge filed on July 7, alleged that the accused persons fraudulently withdrew the total sum of N605m from the Constituency Project account of the ministry without authorisation.

The ICPC also alleged that the accused persons perpetrated the fraud using fictitious claims through payment vouchers containing false information.

Some of them were said to have used the proceeds to build private houses.

Part of the charge reads: “That you Ayinla Abibu (m) in the month of March 2013 or thereabout, at Abuja, being a public officer to wit: Director of Finance at the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, did receive for yourself through a ZEOCAT NIG LTD, the sum of N60m belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria knowing same to have been obtained fraudulently from the account of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs which you used to build a house

at Ogbomosho, Oyo State, for yourself and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 13 and punishable under section 68 of the Corrupt Practices Act 2000.

“That you Yusuf Mohammed Agabi, Akpore Okeroghene, Idowu Anthony Adewale and Ntu James Ngozi, between months of January 2013 and December 2013, at Abuja being agents of the Federal Government did engage in a criminal conspiracy to present documents to your principal which were defective in material particular and designed to mislead for the purposes of fraudulently obtaining various sums of money from your principal thereby committing an offence Continued on page 61

Governor Dave Umahi explained that since the suspects had already been taken to Abuja, the protest was unnecessary.

He said: ”The traders have the right to protest but there was no need for the protest because we(Southeast governors) had enjoined the Federal Government not to relocate any Boko Haram prisoner to any prison in the Southeast. Those suspects brought to Anambra State have been taken back to Abuja.

“The state decided against the protest for the reason that the governors of the region had intimated the Presidency Continued on page 61

Alleged N6b pension scam: EFCC to quiz Oronsaye again today

A

FTER initial bail reprieve, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday invited a former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Steve Oronsaye, for another round of interrogation.

Oronsaye was detained on Wednesday by the anti-graft agency in connection with alleged N6billion biometric pension’s enrollment scam.

But after the first round of interaction with the EFCC team, he was granted bail in the early hours of Thursday.

A top official of the commission said Oronsaye had been invited again for quizzing today.

The source said: “Oronsaye is also being interrogated on fresh allegations of monumental fraud and embezzlement of funds in the running of a Presidential Standing Committee on Financial Action Task

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

Force, which he chairs.

“The committee is a policy advisory body to the president on the implementation of the AML/CFT .

“Oronsaye was accused of using it as a conduit to siphon and launder money.

“This fresh lead is triggered by allegations by some members of the Committee who claim that Oronsaye operates an illegal account in a first generation bank in the committee’s name, without the knowledge of the committee members through which he has laundered hundreds of millions of Naira.”

“It was however learnt that Oronsaye maintained his innocence while his interrogation l a s t e d b e t w e e n Wednesday and Thursday.

Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said Oronsaye was “still being questioned.

Buhari rejects N400m cars Continued from page 1

Buhari, according to a sources, told the permanent secretary that the cars he inherited from the Jonathan administration were good enough for him.

"I don't need new cars. The ones I'm using now are just fine," the source reported the president as saying.

He however approved the plan of the Permanent Secretary to reduce the operating costs of the State House and strengthen its Finance and Accounts Internal Control Mechanisms.

Buhari told him to capture all State House expenses within the approved budget, to avoid the frequent recourse to "Presidential intervention funds," as it was rampant in the last administration.

When he visited the United Kingdom in May, shortly before his inauguration, the then president-elect rejected the exotic cars made available for his use by the Nigerian High Commission.

When he arrived at Heathrow Airport, he turned down the Rolls Royce brought by the Continued on page 61

Our role in ‘bailout’ cash, by NLNG chief Omotowa Continued from page 1

money has nothing to do with dividends from the LNG giant.

This is contrary to the PDP’s claim that the money was from the Goodluck Jonathan administration’s savings. PDP spokesman Olisa Metuh, in a statement on Wednesday, claimed that LNG’s dividend

stood at $5.6 billion before the May 29 handover and would have been shared but for the insistence of former President Jonathan that it should be left for the incoming administration to manage.

NLNG Managing Director Babs Omotowa, in an exclusive interview with The Nation in Lagos, said the company paid $1.6b as Income Tax and Edu-

cation Tax to the Federal Government through the FIRS for the 2014 financial year as required by law. He added that the company paid $1.3b last year. Its recent payment has generated a buzz because of the transparency of the Muhamadu Buhari administration, according to Omotowa.

Omotowa explained that dividends are paid quarterly or bi-annually, depending on income, adding that in the last 10 years the company has paid over $30b to its shareholders, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Shell, Eni and Total (49 per cent of this has gone to the NNPC).

The NLNG chief said: “The $1.6b we paid on June 17 was our Company Income Tax and Education Tax. The money was paid to the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) as our 2014 income tax payment. You

may recall that last year we paid $1.3b to the FIRS as our Company Income Tax and Education Tax for the previous year. So, that particular amount is for tax. Dividend is a different issue and different payment. We make dividend payment to our shareholders, who include NNPC, Shell, Eni and Total. Those dividends are paid to them quarterly or biannually, depending on how much cash we generate. Of course, in the past, over the past 10 to 15 years, we have paid over $30b as dividends to all our shareholders.”

On how much of the $30b has gone to the NNPC, Omotowa said: “We can only tell you that we have paid $30b.

Dividends are paid by the equity shareholding of each shareholder. NNPC holds 49 per cent. Shell owns 25.6 per cent, Total owns 15 per cent and Eni owns 10.4 per cent.

Those are the percentages the dividends are paid.”

On why the 2014 Income Tax and Education Tax are just being paid, he said: “It is for the 2014 accounting year, which ended December. Of course, you have to do your audited accounts and you have to get that audited accounts approved and the CIT Law requires you to pay it before June ending.”

Speaking on its position on the table of major contributors to government coffers, Omotowa said: “It will be difficult for me to know what other companies pay, but I know that in terms of Company Income Tax, we are the highest in the country. In fact, we are the highest in sub-Saharan Africa in terms of Company Income Tax. But of course, there are other payments other companies pay. Some of them pay royalties and pay other funds. We in

•Omotowa

addition to our Company Income Tax pay dividends to our shareholders. I think when the government looked at it last Continued on page 61

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

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NEWS

‘NLNG credit r In the last few days, the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited has been in the news for being the source of the fund with which the Muhammadu Buhari administration is bailing out cash-strapped states to pay workers’ salaries. Its Managing Director, Babs Omotowa, in an exclusive interview in Lagos yesterday with Assistant Editor (News) OLUKOREDE YISHAU, shed light on the company, its operations and potentials.

•From left: Nigeria’ former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK), Dr Christopher Kolade; Head, Strategy & Entrepreneurial Department, Lagos Business School, Dr. Chris Ogbechie; Chairman, Steering Committee, National Code of Cooperate Governance, Victor Odiase; ex-President, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), Dr Nosike Agokel at the institute’s roundtable discussion at Civic Centre, Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

•Executive Director, Finance & Strategy, Sterling Bank, Abubakar Suleiman; Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN) representative, Chudi Obiora; Executive Director, Corporate & International Banking, Sterling Bank, Kayode Lawal and another (OAAN) representative, Nwagwu Churchill at the presentation of the best Poster Award in financial services sector by the OAAN representatives in Lagos.

PHOTO: ADEJO DAVID

•United States (U.S.) Deputy Secretary of State, Mr. Anthony Blinken (middle) addressing a news conference on the outcome of his meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, some governors and members of civil society groups in Abuja...yesterday. With him are: U.S Ambassador to Nigeria James F. Entwistle (left) and Assistant Secretary of State, Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

•From left: Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Ikeja Forum, Reginald Odiah; Branch Chairman, Ikeja Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Prince Oba Felix Okojie; Chief Finance Officer, Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKDC), Mr Aigbe Olotu and Director-General, MAN at a consultative forum between IKDC and MAN in Lagos...on Wednesday.

Y

OU had a meeting with the president recently. What did you discuss?

We were very pleased to have had the privilege and opportunity to meet Mr. President. We were really very encouraged. The President of course being a former minister for Petroleum knew about NLNG. In fact, the President was one of those who actually designed the LNG when he was Petroleum minister. He was able to reminisce on his days and the dream they had of building 12 LNG plants.

He was very happy at the progress we have made to have built six trains.

He was very pleased about our performance. He was pleased that we are really managing the company well.

He also highlighted that he wasn’t pleased that we hadn’t grown up to the 12 trains that they designed. But, he was also very clear that his government will do the needful in terms of security and ensure that the security issues we face are resolved. He was also keen to help us resolve a lot of the challenges with multiple regulations and non-competitive charges that we are facing. So, Mr. President really encouraged us and we really got a lot of motivation from that visit and we look forward to continuing to work with the new government to actualise the growth activities that we have in front of us.

What has Nigeria and NLNG shareholders lost to the delay in the take-off of the Train Seven of your LNG plant in Bonny, Rivers State?

Think of the fact that we recently paid $1.6 billion as Company Income Tax (CIT), aside from the dividends that we paid from our current six trains, the seventh train is 40 per cent growth on that. So, you can imagine if we had built it by now, we will have been adding 40 per cent more than the $1.6 billion. But, I think it is even much more than that. The construction of the train will create about 18,000 jobs during the construction phase. This would have created employment for a lot of people. It would have also enabled us to have brought in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of over $10 billion for that construction phase, which would have created a lot of activities in terms of contracting, procurement of goods and services. So, jobs, money, reduction of gas flaring, these are things, I think, we would have benefitted if we had been able to put train seven on stream.

Of recent the NLNG paid some money to the government, can you shed light on this?

The $1.6 billion we paid on June 17 was our CIT and Education Tax. The money was paid to the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) as our 2014 income tax payment. You may recall that last year, we paid $1.3 billion to the same FIRS as our CIT and Education Tax for the previous year. So, that particular amount is for tax. Dividend is a different issue and different payment. We make dividend payment to our shareholders, who include the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Shell, Eni and Total.

Those dividends are paid to them quarterly or bi-annually, depending on how much cash we generate. Of course, in the past, over the past 10 to

15 years, we have paid over $30 billion as dividends to all our shareholders.

How much of this has gone to the NNPC? We can only tell you that we have paid $30 billion. Dividends are paid by the equity shareholding of each shareholder. The NNPC holds 49 per cent stake; Shell (25.6 per cent); Total (15 per cent) and Eni (10.4 per cent).

Those are the percentages the dividends are paid.

What period does the $1.6b cover?

It is for the 2014 accounting year, which ended December. Of course, you have to do your audited accounts and you have to get that audited accounts approved and the CIT Law requires you to pay it before June ending.

As a major player in the oil and gas sector, I suspect that you have an idea of what other companies pay to Nigeria. Is there any other company that pays as much as NLNG pays to the government coffers?

It will be difficult for me to know what other companies pay. But, I know that in terms of CIT, we are the highest in the country. In fact, we are the highest in sub-Saharan Africa in terms of CIT. But of course, there are other payments other companies pay.

Some of them pay royalties and pay other funds. We, in addition to our CIT, pay dividends to our shareholders. I think when the government looked at it last year, we were ranked the number four company by the government’s own rating. But, in that ranking, we were the number one indigenous, home-grown company because the other three are foreign companies. We believe we are in that sort of region in the top contributor to the Nigerian economy.

Why is it difficult to get the Final Investment Decision (FID) for the Train Seven? Is the problem funding?

Of course, it is not money. We can finance the construction of the project and we have done that for trains 1 to 6. So, it is not in doubt that we can do it. But, of course, a FID will require the gas suppliers from the upstream to be able to build their own gas gathering infrastructure and be able to send gas to us. So, for the upstream, there have been quite some challenges on the lack of the PIB to define the fiscals for them. Funding has been a big issue because of they require a lot of money from the NNPC to construct those infrastructure. Those are some of the issues we have been working to resolve. But, I think the good part about the project is that all the shareholders are committed, all the gas suppliers are committed and we already have signed sales agreement for the train seven. So, we are working through all the issues. Unfortunately, the bid for the tender for the construction that was done in 2008 has expired. So, we need to re-tender again with a new design. We need to include a lot more Nigerian content requirement into that. That will also take time to go through the bidding process, go through the Nigerian content activities we have to do on the project.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

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NEWS

dit rating better than Nigeria’s’ • The NLNG plant in Bonny Island, Rivers State

‘

NLNG has such a strong balance sheet and a global name recognition that for us to borrow money is no problem. We actually have a higher credit rating than even the Nigerian credit rating. For us, we are able to finance ourselves and banks are willing to support us all over the world

• Omotowa

How long more do we think it will take for the FID? One of the critical parts is the upstream gas suppliers. The time it takes them to get their gas projects constructed and approved. Currently, it still takes up to two years for them to get contracts approved through the bureaucracy. So, that remains one of the critical parts. For our own activities, within two to three years, we will conclude those and hopefully, within the framework of two and three-year timeline, they too should conclude theirs.

What are the different taxes the NLNG pay to government and its agencies?

At the federal level, we pay the CIT, which we discussed and the Education Tax. We also pay the Value Added Tax (VAT) and Withholding Tax of which we have paid over $1.4 billion over the years. Over the last 15 years, we have paid over $1.4 billion. At the state level, we also pay taxes, the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) taxes. We pay about N6 billion annually to the state government. At the local government, we also pay our local government fees and charges of over N100 million as well. And then for various agencies, including the Department of Petroleum Resource (DPR), NIMASA , Federal Ministry of Trade and Industry and a whole raft of agencies. I think we pay more than 20 agencies various fees, including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Agency (NCAA) for our airstrip… I think that is one of the big challenges in Nigeria that makes us less competitive in the global market because our operating environment is just challenging. Today, we have more than 16 people from various agencies who are in our plant from the government trying to carry out regulatory activities. This is just something that could be better streamlined.

You just mentioned NIMASA. Have you resolved the disagreement between this agency and NLNG? You will recall that in 2013, we indeed went to court because we had been blockaded for more than 21 days at a huge loss to the country because today, the take of the government from the NLNG is 70 per cent from taxes, dividends and all of that. So, 70 per cent of the losses we suffer due to the problem with NIMASA are to the country, which is quite unfortunate.

After we were blockaded and they refused to obey the court injunctions, we then paid under protest and after that we then went to the court and we have been in the court. There have been quite a lot of appeals by them.

They have appealed to the Appeal Court, Supreme Court, most of which they have lost. But, we are following the process. We believe in the rule of law and we are confident that at the end of the day, judgment will be delivered in our favour and that this kind of extortion does not happen again in the future.

For how many years has the NLNG been paying the CIT and Education Tax? We paid last year. We paid $1.3 billion last year to the FIRS. It is just more transparent under the new government that everybody seems to know.

But, we did pay $1.3 billion last year to the Federation Account.

You said about $10 billion FID will come in for Train Seven. Where will this be coming from?

As you see when with the six ships we are building in Korea, we had to also get FDI of $1. 5 billion. We got much of that from Korean banks.

KEXIM, the Korea Export Bank and KSURE, another Korean financial institution and we also got many of the international banks in the world to fund that. NLNG has such a strong

‘

balance sheet and a global name recognition that for us to borrow money is no problem. We actually have a higher credit rating than even the Nigerian credit rating. For us, we are able to finance ourselves and banks are willing to support us all over the world.

In simple terms, what really does it mean to say NLNG contributes four per to Nigeria’s GDP? You measure GDP by various indices. Some of it is output and ome of it is based on jobs created. So, we have the University of Ibadan come and carry out an analysis, which was on output basis and their conclusion from that analysis is that NLNG’s contribution to the GDP was four per cent. And, I think you can even see some of that when you think of the $1.6 billion tax that we just paid, which is just one element of the several taxes that we paid. That money alone is about eight per cent of the projected revenue for 2015, from just that simple payment whereas we make several other payments on dividends, state government, local government and other regulators that we pay. I think that you can see very clearly that our contributions to the country are very significant.

How serious is the shale gas challenge to the NLNG? It’s a challenge in the sense that the United States (U.S.) market, to which we were selling 35 per cent of our products when we started, is zero per cent today. And the U.S. is now selfsufficient and it is also planning to start export, which means not only have we lost the market in the U.S. but they will be competing with us elsewhere. It is such a big amount of reserve and people estimate that it could produce up to 70 metric tonnes from the U.S. per annum in the next few years. It’s a challenge but hav-

ing said that, there have been various challenges over time. When Qatar came on stream, Qatar started to produce 77 metric tonnes per annum.

Australia is growing significantly.

They also want to get to 80 metric tonnes per annum. We are seeing Tanzania, Mozambique growth in all these areas. So indeed, the competitive space is a lot bigger than it was in the past but for us. Competition is good because it brings out the best in us. We are very proud of our reliability, which stands at about 97 per cent today. We are also proud of the fact that we are a very efficient organisation. We can compete very well and the forecast is that the demand for LNG will continue to grow. It is expected that by 2030, it would nearly have doubled because Southeast Asian countries, China, India and now use LNG in transportation, marine and land transport that are using LNG enable that growth. We see quite a lot of up sides and opportunities despite the shale gas challenge.

What is your response to this shale gas challenge?

When the Shale gas came from the U.S., we were very quick to identify new markets. We were one of the first to go to Japan when the Fukushima accident occurred few years back. We have been able to find new markets in South America, in Argentina, in Brazil and we are exploring new markets as we speak, even in Southwest Asian countries. So, the Shale gas has expanded competition but it has brought creativity and has also brought the need for us to be more efficient. As I said, we are one of the foremost plants in the world; we are the single biggest industrial complex in sub-Saharan Africa and with 97 per cent reliability, we are really loved by our customers all over the world because they are sure they will get products from us. So, the Shale gas itself is an additional competition. It has only brought us more creativity from us.

Is NLNG still number four in global LNG supply?

Yes, we are still number four in the world in terms of LNG plants.

Let’s talk about domestic gas supply. How involved is the NLNG? On the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) side, we currently supply 80 per cent of the cooking gas in the country, which means every 10 cylinder that you see, eight are being filled with gas from NLNG. We want to grow that to two million metric tonnes per annum from the current 250,000 tonnes. There is room for 10 per cent growth and what this growth will do is to enable people to stop using the likes of kerosene, which the government is still subsiding by over $3 billion, or people chopping down trees, especially in the North, which is leading to deforestation and envi-

ronmental issues.

Let’s talk about the Nigerianisation of the NLNG. Will you say this has helped the company or things were better when foreigners were running the show?

I think today, 95 per cent of our staffers are Nigerians. The whole management team is Nigerian. Of course, we have our Board, which consists of directors from the stake holders. And I think when you look at the company’s performance over the 15-year period, I think that we have been able to show in the period that Nigerians have been managing the plant and running the company to show that a Nigerian can also do what any foreigner can do. The company has been well-managed. Performance of our plant, the reliability is among the best in the world. Anybody who visits our plant from anywhere in the world has always been pleased with the way we have maintained it. Our customers and buyers are so proud of the reliability they get from the plant. Every day they are waiting for cargo from Nigeria, they know it will appear and we have been able to contribute what we are contributing to Nigeria and the Nigerian content part of it shows that having Nigerians have its advantages because we understand the terrain, we understand the issues, we feel the same pain and we are able to do things. When you think of what we have done on the ship construction side, how we have been able to train more Nigerians, how we have been able to get Nigerian manufacturers to be exporting products to the world, I think this shows clearly that the company is meeting its core value and vision of building a better Nigeria while being a global player. I think we have been able to demonstrate that with more Nigerians, the company has been more successful than it has been in the past.

Where do we see NLNG in the next 10 years?

Clearly, we see growth. We expect that in 10 years, our Trains Seven and Eight will be on stream and NLNG will be able to deliver more values to the country both in terms of financial contributions and Nigerian content.

We are looking at creating many more local champions, companies that can become exporters and even global players from our efforts. We are seeing years that other companies will have seen how NLNG has been able to run a successful business and that learning would have been able to help others, be it in refineries and several other areas to also get more Nigerian companies being run as successfully as the NLNG. We are optimistic that in 10 years, we will continue to be an inspiration to the country and continue to be a key player in building a better Nigeria.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

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Why drug trafficking thrives, by NDLEA chief

Abuja hosts parley on EPA

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AN international conference to examine the merits or otherwise of Africa signing the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) is scheduled to hold in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, July 28 -29.

Organised by the leading pan-African newsmagazine Africa Today, the conference hopes to beam the spotlight on the agreement that has split the continent into two: those countries wanting to sign and those not wanting to unless the continent gets a more favourable deal.

Publisher of Africa Today, Mr Kayode Soyinka, announcing this in Abuja, said the conference, which will take place at the Transcorp Hilton, is expected to put the EPA on the front burner of national discourse, enlighten ordinary citizens and business people, examine the agreement’s pros and cons as they affect Nigeria’s economy and those of the countries in the west African (ECOWAS) sub-region and, indeed, Africa.”

Soyinka said the EPA remained a thorny trade issue between Europe and Africa. The deadline for signing the agreement was missed last October and Europe is insisting it would not come back to the negotiation table.

Speakers for the two-day conference, which will take place at the Transcorp Hilton, include emeritus professor of economics Ademola Oyedeji and president, National Association of Nigerian Traders, Ken Ukaoha .

ATIONAL Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Chairman/ Chief Executive Ahmadu Giade yesterday said drug trafficking persists because the most vulnerable substance abusers are not properly educated on the dangers.

He said drug abuse is spilling over into countries lying on trafficking routes such as in West and Central Africa, which he said are witnessing increasing number of cocaine users, cannabis smokers and those who use amphetamine-type stimulants.

Giade said prevention must start with a community in which families, teachers, youth leaders and mentors care about the vulnerable, and in which the

•Experts seek end to substance abuse

By Joseph Jibueze

needs of the youth are not lost in the development of broader national drug policies.

He spoke in Lagos at the First West Africa Forum on Drugs (WAFOD), organised by the People against Drug Dependence and Ignorance (PADDI Foundation), with the support of the World Federation against Drugs (WFAD). It had the theme: “Mainstreaming health and child-right concerns in substance abuse policy, planning and programming in West Africa.”

Giade, in a keynote address delivered on his behalf by NDLEA Director, Drug De-

mand Reduction Mr Baba Oseni, said drug use most commonly starts in adolescence when the brain is vulnerable.

According to him, childhood is the time when drug habits are established, adding that it is crucial how a society protects children from drug use.

“The international drug policy debate today focuses on drug-using adults and this has overshadowed the moral and legal obligations to protect children from drugs,” Giade said.

Other speakers included Country Representative, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Mr Koli Kouame; a former Director,

Drug Evaluation and Research at National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mrs Hauwa Keri; PADDI’s director Mr Eze Eluchie, and Prof. Ifeoma Okoye of the University of Nigeria, Enugu, among others.

Kouame, represented by UNODC’s Project Coordinator Glen Prichard, said West and East Africa remain vulnerable to the trafficking and consumption of illicit drugs.

He said drug trafficking and abuse persist due to inadequate resources to fight the crime, limited understanding of the nature of drug problem, reactive policing methods, lack of modern

equipment, inadequate technical know-how, and limited number of evidence-based prevention and treatment programmes.

Eluchie said youths are falling prey to drug abuse, which manifests in increasing violent crime, fatal accidents, and domestic/spousal abuse.

He rejected calls for drug use to be given legal backing, saying: “We cannot afford the risk of drugs being legalised. The push for its legalisation and de-criminalisation must be rejected especially as everybody agrees with the need to protect our health and our children.”

Eluchie said those who deserve punishment and incarceration and those who traffic in drugs, and not the victims who consume them.

•Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (3rd right); his Deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori (third left), Speaker, State of OsunHouse of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salam (second left), Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (right), President, North America Based of Egbe Omo Yoruba, Agba-Akin Bolu Omodele (second right), during the Delegation’s visit to the Governor in his Office, at Government Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo on Tuesday

NANS: we’ll resist pressure to use us against AMCON

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HE leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) yesterday distanced itself from any alleged move by a Lagos lawyer, to discredit the management of Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

A statement by the student body directed its members to “bluff any overture or inducement from any quarters against AMCON management.”

The statement came on the heels of reports that some of its members were allegedly planning to stage a protest in Abuja and Lagos against AMCON and its Managing Director, Mr. Mustafa Chike-Obi. The statement signed by its National President, Mr. Tijani Usman, and titled: “NANS Dissociates Self from the Picketing of AMCON” warned that it cannot be used to achieve any untoward ob-

jective against AMCON. The statement reads: “NANS has a primary mandate of fighting for the dignity and rights of students and putting all issues concerning the education and empowerment of the youth on the front burner.”

While acknowledging the achievements of AMCON since its inception, NANS said: “The Mustafa Chike-Obi led AMCON management has successfully turned around some en-

terprises under its management and sold them at a profit to shareholders and investors.

“The leadership of NANS therefore dissociates itself completely and unequivocally from any picketing of AMCON or any demonstration against its management, since it is a distraction that has nothing to with the aims and objectives of Nigeria’s foremost students’ body, representing all shades of opinion.”

Akpabio explains interest in Minority position

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ORMER Governor of Akwa Ibom State Godswill Akpabio has expressed why he wants to be the Senate Minority Leader.

The PDP has zoned the position to the Southsouth.

He spoke in Abuja yesterday shortly after a meeting with the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

The former governor said he was still holding consultation on the seat, adding that the decision would ultimately belong to PDP members in the Senate.

Akpabio, who said he was at the party’ secretariat to discuss national issues with the leadership of the party.

According to him, “It is not a question of interest. It is a function of capacity, whether I have the capacity to lead my colleagues. My colleagues will decide.

“You know, in the Senate, everybody is equal except our bosses who have been there for a long time like the ranking senators and all that. “So, once

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

you are opportuned to be in the red chambers, you have equal rights, you can aspire to any position.

“But you first have to be sure that your colleagues will be interested in your leading them.

“I’m aware that my name has been mentioned severally by my colleagues and am consulting. At the end of my consultation with stakeholders of our party across the nation, I’ll be able to make an appropriate statement”, the senator said.

According to him, the emergence of an opposition member as Deputy Senate President would ensure that issues before the legislature were examined in a more wholistic and all encompassing bipartisan approach.

This, he said, would place the 8th Senate above the previous session in terms of performance and quality of legislation.

“I think the development is very good for democracy because Ekweremadu was freely elected by senators.

“If you recall, he scored about 54 votes and the total number of PDP members in the senate are about 49. Which means he was accepted across party lines.

“It is also possible that some of the senators of PDP did not vote for him and that we probably have more senators of the APC voting for him than the PDP. “But the major thing is that he was voted for across party lines. That’s the way the Senate wanted it. They want an experienced person to work with the Senate President and they want a very stable Senate.

They want a Senate that will be productive, a Senate that will have serious continuity.

“And I think it is good for politics and is also good for President Buhari, that at the end of the day, we have a Deputy Senate President who has been there before, who is not from the APC so that we can

•Akpabio

look at things from a wholistic point of view, from a national perspective and not always through party binoculars.

“So, for me, I believe that the 8th Senate will achieve far more than the previous sessions did because of the fact that issues are going to be looked at not from a partisan point of view but in a bipartisan way.

“I am very proud of the decision by the Senate. I stand by the Deputy Senate President and the Senate President and the Senate for what they have done”.

WHO, UNICEF: Nigeria’s sanitation situation worsens From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

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IGERIA has recorded no progress in the area of sanitation in the last 25 years, a World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) 2015 has said.

The 2015 report is aimed at monitoring the progress of countries towards achieving access to safe water and basic sanitation.

It said in 1990, 38 per cent of the population had access to improved sanitation.

In 2015, the figure is now 29 per cent, which is up just by 1 per cent from 2014’s figure of 28 per cent.

“The proportion of Nigeria’s population that has gained access to improved sanitation since 1990 is only 9 per cent,” the report said.

It said in 1990, 24 per cent of the population was practicing open defecation. That figure is now 25 per cent.

It added that in 2014, it was 23 per cent which means that Nigeria is not only worse off now than it was 25 years ago but in the past year alone, the country has regressed by 2 per cent in this regard.

According to the report, the Federal Government has not met the national target it set to ensure that 75 per cent of its population has access to safe water by this year.

“Nigeria has generally done better in the area of water provision and has met the MDG target for water which was to halve the number of people without access to safe water.”

“The goal on sanitation, however, has failed dramatically.

At present rates of progress it would take 300 years for everyone in Sub-Saharan Africa to get access to a sanitary toilet,” it stated.

Reacting to the new report, the Country Representative of WaterAid Nigeria, an international agency, Dr. Michael Ojo, said that It is true that a lot has changed in the 25 years since the WHO /UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme began to document the world’s access to drinking water and sanitation.

The picture for Nigeria, he said, has for the most part remained quite grim.

Dr. Ojo said: “Communities without safe water and basic toilets have higher rates of illness and are held back from economic progress. Children spend long hours fetching water instead of at school desks, parents are less able to spend time earning incomes and hospitals fill with people suffering from preventable water-borne illnesses. The burden is disproportionally felt by women and girls, who are most often tasked with fetching water and who are most at risk of harassment and worse if they are without a safe, private place to relieve themselves.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

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NEWS

Boko Haram: Military to retain essential checkpoints, says NSA N ATIONAL Security Adviser Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) has said the military will retain essential checkpoints to contain the Boko Haram insurgency.

He met yesterday with the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh and the service chiefs on how to curtail the resurgence of attacks by Boko Haram.

There were indications last night that the military chiefs may come up with new strategies to protect vulnerable villages and towns in the Northeast and the Northwest.

But the military has relocated the three suspects behind Jos and Zaria bomb explosions from Gombe to a secret military facility for interrogation.

According to PRNigeria, the military’s covert media link, Dasuki said President Muhammadu Buhari did not give any order for a “blanket dismantling of all checkpoints nationwide”.

He made the clarifications after a session with top military and security chiefs in Abuja.

Dasuki said: “Military roadblocks in flashpoints will continue to be maintained while those in relatively peaceful areas will be dismantled. Soldiers will still be positioned in those areas while not blocking roads.”

NLC: renewed killings unacceptable

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HE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday gave the Federal Government a wake-up call following the renewed killings of the citizens by the Boko Haram insurgents.

In a statement titled: “Renewed killings unacceptable,” the congress General Secretary, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, said the “government must wake up to its responsibility of ensuring that it defends our sovereignty as well as protect the citizenry. Nothing less will be acceptable. It will be a tragedy, if the previous gains against the Boko Haram are lost.”

The NLC expressed shocked at the massacre of innocent workers by suicide bombers who had gathered for screening at the local government secretariat in Zaria.

The act, the congress said, defied comprehension.

It added: “A few days earlier, we had similar fatal explosions in Kano, Jos, and Potiskum.

We had also recorded wholesome invasions and massacres in some border communities in Borno and Yobe states.

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

“We condemn in very strong terms this renewed coordinated violence against innocent and law-abiding citizens, who are just beginning to put together what was left of their lives.

“The frequency and ease with which these incidents happened seem to suggest that the Boko Haram has regrouped and will continue to pick on soft targets.

“It also means that we may have let down our guard too soon.”

The NLC added that with the dislodgment of insurgents from their safe havens, “some of them may have passed themselves off as internally displaced persons and are now wreaking havoc”.

“Our security forces will have to go back to the drawing board just as the citizenry will have to renew their vigilance as well as strengthen the bond of community.

“Finally, our hearts go out to the families of the victims,” it said.

•Dasuki, CDS, service chiefs meet over security situation From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

He said it was both a conventional and global practice for governments to increase security measures whenever insecurity is heightened and appealed to citizens to endure attendant temporary inconve-

niences.

Dasuki said the essential security checkpoints in vulnerable areas “are necessary inconvenience” to ensure that criminals and terrorists did not have easy passage.

He cited some arrests made recently, including that of a mastermind of bomb attacks

in some towns who were nabbed by troops at such checkpoints.

But the NSA said the government would not tolerate proliferation of checkpoints by unauthorised bodies.

He said: “We will continue to ensure that the necessary or essential security check-

points are not avenues for extortion, indiscipline and other forms of corrupt practices that can exacerbate traffic flow and cause road accidents.

“The government is deploying new sophisticated scanners and detectors in some areas to ease traffic and to identify movements of strange objects, concealed weapons and criminal suspects.

“With effective use of technology, which minimises physical contact between security personnel and citizens, the time spent at designated security checkpoints will ultimately be reduced,” he said.

He said whenever necessary, the soldiers would mount their points to conduct security screening in emergency situations and for quick response.

Also yesterday, the military relocated the three suspects behind Jos and Zaria bomb explosions from Gombe to a secret military facility for interrogation.

A top military source said: “The suspects have been moved from Gombe to a facility kept under wraps. In fact, as part of the ongoing investigation into the explosions, the military has restricted the use of their photographs.

“Before they were taken into the detention facility, they made some useful dis-

•Dasuki

closures, which will be of help to the military and security agencies.

“We are already on the trail of others implicated in the explosions by the suspects.”

The NSA however had an appraisal meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff and the service chiefs on how to curtail the resurgence of attacks by Boko Haram.

Another source said: “These insurgents have changed tactics by attacking new targets and the military chiefs met on how to nip the resurgence of Boko Haram assaults in the bud.

“We are hopeful that the military chiefs may come up with new strategies to protect vulnerable villages and towns in the Northeast and the Northwest.”

Lamido, two sons remanded in prison

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•Vice President, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission Mr. Toga Mclntosh (second left) addressing a news conference on the sideline of the ECOWAs 10th Meeting of the Strategic Planning Coordinating Committee (SPCC) in Lagos…yesterday. With him are Hajara Amana Onoja of ECOWAS Court, the commission’s Financial Controller, Mr. Sanni Bello and its Director, Strategic Planning, Essien Abel Essien.

ORMER Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, two of his sons, Aminu and Mustapha, and Wada Abubakar were remanded in prison custody yesterday after they were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before a Federal High Court in Kano.

They were arraigned on 28count charge of money laundering, abuse of public trust and bribery by contractors amounting to N1.351 billion.

The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them and their counsel, Offiong Offiong (SAN), prayed the court to be allowed to move a motion for their bail.

The prosecution, led by Chile Okoroma, objected to the request, arguing that they were served with the motion “by 5p.m. on Wednesday”.

He said the prosecutions

Insurgents’ attacks have increased, says Ekweremadu

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EPUTY Senate President Ike Ekweremadu yesterday expressed concern about the resurgence of Boko Haram activities with greater intensity under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

He asked the Federal Government to deal with the insurgents, no matter the cost.

Ekweremadu urged the international community, especially Nigeria’s neighbours, to support the government’s efforts at tackling the challenge.

The Deputy Senate President spoke to reporters in Abuja.

Ekweremadu did not, however, speak on the alleged unauthorised alteration of the Senate Standing Rules.

He noted that the country would not be able to make any meaningful progress without stopping Boko Haram activities.

The first task of the government, he said, should be to deal with and bring the Boko Haram insurgency under control.

Ekweremadu said: “I am worried about the resurgence of the Boko Haram activities in Nigeria.

Shortly before the inauguration of the present gov-

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

ernment, the country had almost rolled back Boko Haram and its activities in every part of Nigeria from Adamawa to Borno to Yobe.

“I was hoping that when we come back in the Eighth Assembly, that we will work with our colleagues from the Northeast to develop a plan of action that will help to rehabilitate that part of Nigeria.

“I feel so concerned about the suffering of our people from the Northeast. I had hoped that by now we would be tasking ourselves on how best to rebuild that part of Nigeria.

“Regrettably the actions of Boko Haram seem to have resurfaced now not only in Borno, they have carried out their activities also in Plateau, they have gone to Adamawa, Kaduna and Kano. ”I am worried that if nothing is done, the next target would be Abuja. Maybe they will start going to South.

“It is important for us as those in government, whether Executive or Legislature, to come together to find solutions to these problems.

“So, I will like to use this opportunity to appeal to our friends, our neighbours, and the international community to support Nigeria to ensure that we roll back the activities of Boko Haram.”

“There is no way we can have progress in the country when there are security problems. ”So, the first thing we need to do as a government is to deal with this security challenge no matter what it would cost us. ”So, I will like to sympathise with the Boko Haram victims . We believe our president would sit on top of this situation. Because we believe that Nigerians are worried about this situation and they would like to see an end to Boko Haram activities.

“So, we would like to do everything to encourage our president to support him and bring this situation to an end so that we would be able to have peace within this area - the Northeast and all parts of Nigeria.

“So whatever has caused this insurgence we need to address it and aggressively too before it gets too late.”

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

ought to be given ample time to respond to the motion.

Okoroma then applied for Lamido, two of his sons and Wada Abubakar to be remanded in prison custody.

But Lamido’s counsel pleaded that the accused should be remanded in EFCC custody.

The prosecution counsel objected, saying: “Our facilities are overstretched in Abuja and Kano. We appeal for them to be remanded in prison custody”.

In her ruling, Justice Evelyn Anyadike ordered that the four accused persons be remanded in Kano prison custody because the EFCC said they lacked enough facilities to accommodate them.

Lamido, the sons and Abubakar were arrested on July 7 by EFCC operatives.

But thousands of Lamido’s supporters protested outside the court premises for what they described as “politically motivated trial”. They were chanting “Sai Lamido”, “Why Lamido, there are bigger thieves than Lamido” and “Why this selective justice”.

Ahead of the arraignment, fierce looking security agents were drafted to the court to strengthen security.

Lamido, who wore white dress and black slippers, arrived in the court with others about 8:47a.m.

The accused persons were conveyed to court in a white Nissan Urvan bus belonging to the Nigerian prisons with registration number PS 548 AO1 at 1:35 pm.

They were later driven back in the same vehicle to the Kano Central Prisons.

Their trial is fixed for September 28.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

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NEWS Ogun to develop industries

UPN: Fasehun not our chairman

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HE Ogun State government has reiterated its commitment to the promotion and development of industrial activities.

The Director, Industrial Promotion Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Mojisola Dosunmu, said the government had provided industrial extension services and training for micro, small and medium scale enterprises.

She said adequate information on basic raw materials available within the state was being exhibited at the State Raw Materials Display Centre, Parastatal building, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

“All these efforts have begun to yield great results as the state can boast of 68 companies facilitated by this administration in the last four years,” the Director said.

I’ll transform LTV 8, says Ambode

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AGOS State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has promised to upgrade Lagos Television (LTV) 8 to a world-class broadcast station. He said this when he visited the studios in Agidingbi, Ikeja.

The governor, who was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Paul Bamgbose-Martins, said the station has the potential to compete with the best TV stations in the world.

Received by the Director of Programmes, Deji Balogun and Director of Finance, Lawrence Ojo, Ambode inspected the facilities and promised to digitalise the station and support it to become the best station in Nigeria.

He recommended that the station review and improve its programming and the aesthetics of the studios.

The governor decried the use of the company’s premises for other commercial activities.

‘Alasoadura should apologise’ From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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LL Progressives Congress (APC) leaders in Ondo Central Senatorial District yesterday criticised the support given to Senate President Bukola Saraki by the senator representing the district, Tayo Alasoadura.

Alasoadura was the only Southwest senator, who voted against the party’s directive during the National Assembly elections.

A former member of the House of Representatives, Ifedayo Abegunde (Abena), advised Alasoadura to show remorse for his action.

“Alasoadura has failed to explain to his district why he joined the ‘coup’ against his party, “ Abegunde said.

The APC chieftain said the senator’s action did not represent the opinion and character of Akure people.

But Alasoadura maintained that he had never worked against the party’s interest.

He said his assignments in the National Assembly were to attract development across all sectors to enhance the well-being of his constituents.

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

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•Commandant, Nigeria Airforce Detachment, Air Commondore Olatokunbo Adesanya, inspecting the Guard of Honour of the Airforce Primary School during the passing out parade in Ibadan…yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

80-year-old woman kidnapped in Ekiti

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FTER a brief lull, kidnapping has resurfaced in Ekiti

State.

An 80-year-old woman, Mrs. Rose Aina, has been abducted in Ilogbo-Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area.

Madam Aina was said to have been abducted at 9pm on Tuesday and her whereabouts remain unknown.

Her kidnap has thrown the community into de-

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

spair and panic as residents now live in fear, following the incident.

It was gathered yesterday that search parties had not yielded any result.

The octogenarian was said to be sleeping in her room when the kidnappers whisked her off to an unknown destination.

A source said Ilogbo community was worried

about the “strange” incident.

He said: “We have been searching for the old woman without success and nobody knows where they have taken her to.

“The kidnappers have not contacted her family and this has heightened our fear.

“This is an old woman, a woman who depends on her children and Good Samaritans.

“The whole community is afraid and we now live in perpetual fear because it can happen to anybody.

We are more concerned because we are no longer safe.

“In a state or country where we have police and other security agencies, this is very unfortunate.”

Police spokesman Alberto Adeyemi said efforts were on to secure the release of the octogenarian.

Ondo APC raises alarm over ‘distressed’ Govt House

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has raised the alarm over what it has described as the imminent collapse of the Government House, Akure, the state capital.

The House was built during the Second Republic by the first civilian Governor of old Ondo State, the late Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin.

The party said the Olusegun Mimiko administration awarded a N450million contract to revive the disctressed building.

The APC said the reconstruction and rehabilitation were poorly handled as the contractor failed to use qual-

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•’Allegation mischievous’ From Damisi Ojo, Akure

ity materials.

“The building has been facing all sorts of challenges, mostly attributed to engineering failures,” it said.

Its Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Adesanya, said the manner in which the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government had handled some sensitive projects was appalling.

It emphasised that Mimiko ought to have complemented the legacies of his predecessors by giving the state a befitting Government House that would stand the test of time.

‘The governor has ulterior motives and these should be investigated.

Akure remains the seat of power and should be officially and legally recognised as such’ On the alleged relocation of the governor and his

family to his Ondo home town, the statement said the movement was uncalled for since the Government House has more than two luxury edifices.

“The governor has ulterior motives and these should be investigated. Akure remains the seat of power and should be officially and legally recognised as such.”

But a government source said the APC was being mischievous.

It said rather than raise unnecessary insinuations, the party should face its multifarious challenges and mind its business.

The source maintained that the Government House has no defect.

Court remands man for alleged attempt to kill mum

N Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrate’s Court has remanded a 32year-old man, Kayode Oke, in prison custody for allegedly attempting to kill his mother.

According to the police prosecutor, Sergeant Bamikole Olasunkanmi, the accused committed the offence on June 29 in Igede-Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area.

Olasunkanmi said Kayode chased her with a cutlass. The prosecutor told the court that the offence contravened Section 320 of the Criminal Code, Cap C 16, Laws of Ekiti State 2012.

Olasunkanmi told the

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

court that the case file had been sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in the Ministry of Justice for legal ad-

vice.

The plea of the accused was not taken but his counsel, Busuyi Ayorinde, sought a date of adjournment, pending the outcome of the advice from the

DPP’s office.

Chief Magistrate Idowu Ayenimo remanded Kayode in prison custody, pending the advice from the DPP and adjourned till August 7.

11 dead, eight injured in Ondo accident

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LEVEN persons died yesterday and eight others injured in an accident on the Ile-Ife/ Ondo Road.

Police sources said the accident was caused by reckless driving and over speeding by the drivers of a Toyota Camry and a bus.

It was gathered that one of the car’s tyres burst and lost control. It collided with

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

a commercial bus in the opposite direction. The two vehicles were razed.

The accident, which occurred at the boundary of Osun and Ondo states, disrupted free flow of traffic for several hours.

A police source said eight of the bus’ passengers, including a toddler, were injured.

It was learnt that the victims were rushed to the Trauma Hospital in Ondo town.

Some others were reportedly burnt beyond recognition, their remains have been deposited at the morgue of the General Hospital, Ondo.

Police spokesman Wole Ogodo could not be reached for comments.

HE National Chairman of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Prof Bankole Okuwa, yesterday urged the founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr. Frederick Fasehun, to desist from further carrying on as the party’s national chairman.

Okuwa, who addressed the press in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, said Fasehun had been removed from office, but was still creating confusion and embarrassment in the party.

The professor of Political Science said he emerged the national chairman at the party’s national convention in Kaduna on March 6.

He said his office was recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and urged Fasehun to stop parading himself as chairman.

Okuwa said: “Dr Fasehun of the OPC has been claiming to be the national chairman but he is no longer the national chairman; he has been removed.

“My name is there as the national chairman. I appeal to him to respect himself, he is an elderly person. He does not need to behave like a rascal.

“I was elected on March 6 that was the birthday of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. INEC officials supervised the election and they were satisfied and the report was adopted. There is no division in UPN. Okuwa said he would welcome the former interim national chairman.

He said: "We can reconcile, in fact, my type of politics is not that of enmity. Fasehun is a good man. I respect him and we can be useful to each other.

“But, I think he should accept the fact that is out as the UPN national chairman."

Deputy praises Aregbesola From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

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SUN State Deputy Governor Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori has praised the “stability of the Rauf Aregbesola administration”.

Speaking at the launch of a book: “A History of Osogbo Progressive Union”, she enjoined residents not to be discouraged by the present economic downturn but to “see the light at end of the tunnel”.

Mrs. Laoye-Tomori assured the people that respite would soon come their way.

Praising the people, particularly workers, for their patience over the delay in payment of their salaries, she solicited for their understanding.

The deputy governor said the book does not only have a historical value but also includes a blow-by-blow account of how communities can complement the social engineering effort of any government.

She said the 85-year-old author, Pa Hezekiah Adetunji Odetoyinbo, who is a lawyer and her uncle, had illustrated the public spirited efforts of the OPU in empowering youths in the town.

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FRIDAY JULY 10, 2015

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

EDO POLITICS Since 2008, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been down in Edo State. Its efforts to bounce back into reckoning has been futile. Ahead of next year’s governorship election, party chieftains have returned to the drawing board. But, they are divided. A section of the party believes that only the founding fathers can rescue it. Another caucus disputes this, saying that the socalled founding chieftains have dented the image of the party, owing to their corrupt tendencies while steering the affairs of the state. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the fate of the polarised chapter as its antagonistic leaders work at cross purposes.

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DO State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is at the crossroads. On May 29, it became an orphan, following the exit of the party from federal power. Gone are the days when its leaders would rely on the federal might to win elections or intimidate the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Its acclaimed leader and fixer, octogenarian Chief Tony Anenih, has also stepped aside as the PDP Chairman of Board of Trustees (BoT). The chapter is crisis-ridden. Ahead of next year’s governorship election, two groups are fighting for the soul of the party.

The first group is led by former Governor Lucky Igbinedion (1999 - 2007). The arrowhead of the second group is former Senate Chief Whip Rowland Owie. Igbinedion, son of the eminent businessman and Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, has declared

•Igbinedion

•Anenih

•Owie

•Ize-Iyamu

Edo PDP and the battle ahead that the next PDP governorship candidate will be a founding member of the party. But, Owie says the candidate will not have any relationship with previous failures of the PDP government.

In the race are: Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who is believed to be of the candidate of the Igbinedion camp, Senator Ehigie Uzamere, Chief Solomon Edebiri, Mathew Iduoriyikemwen and Mike Onolememen.

Sources said that a special committee has been set up by top hierarchy of the party with a mandate to search for a popular candidate. The search for a popular candidate became more imperative, following the defeat of the PDP in 2007and 2011 elections.

In 2007, PDP fielded Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor. But, he was defeated by Governor Adams Oshiomhole. Although the umpire allotted victory to the loser, the stolen mandate was retrieved at the Supreme Court after more than a year of protracted legal battle. Also, in 2012, the party fielded the retired soldier, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere, as its flag bearer. He lost his deposit at the poll. Shortly before the recent general elections, the retired General defected to the APC. Many factors accounted for why the PDP lost relevance in Edo. The eight years of Igbinedion administration, according to observers, were years of ineptitude, inefficiency and gross maladministration.

Yet, there were high hopes about the Igbinedion administration in 1999. The governor had warmed himself into the people’s heart as the Chairman of Oredo Local Government.

He performed creditably. Thus, in the aborted Third Republic, when he contested for governor as the National Republican Convention (NRC) candidate, he lost narrowly to former Governor John Odigie-Oyegun. Thus, when he later realised his ambition to rule the state, there were high expectations.

However, when Igbinedion completed his first term, there was a wide gap between expectation and reality. The corridor of power had become an avenue for private accumulation. Stakeholders complained that corruption had taken the central stage. Irked by the abuse of power and laxity, indigenes rose to halt the drift. They decried the opulence and graft in high places, saying that it could lead to doom.

In their view, a new governor should emerge from the PDP in 2003.

But, the beneficiaries of the rot mounted a stiff resistance. The former governor also relied on the power of incumbency to survive. At a fundraising for Igbinedion’s second term, his father jocularly reflected on the public perception about the administration. But, he said his son deserved a second chance. “People say Lucky no pass. Lucky no good. If a person does not pass in a class, should he not repeat the class. Let Lucky repeat,” he said. Igbinedion secured a second term, but he could not make any difference. According to stakeholders, he failed to deliver.

Ahead of 2007 polls, Oshiomhole had taken Edo politics by storm. The former Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) was brimming with patriotic anger. He fired salvos at the out-going governor, saying that he was leaving without worthy legacies. He complained that Edo

was groaning in hopelessness. Then, he challenged Anenih, the acclaimed ‘Mr. Fix it,’ to a duel. He said godfatherism must end in Edo State.

The campaign was hot. Ordinarily, Osunbor, the Professor of Law, had no baggage. But, Oshiomhole said that the university don had joined a bad company. During the exercise, the people voted for the comrade-politician.

But, he had to wait till more than a year to reclaim his mandate.

Outside power, judgment day came for Igbinedon. He became the guest of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The former governor withdrew from public limelight. His credibility was at stake.

Before the judge, he opted for plea bargaining and regained his freedom. Few months later, he picked up the gaunglet. Asserting himself as a leader, he said the way forward for the PDP is for the party to remember its beginning. In his view, the founding members are likely to be more emotionally attached to the platform.

But, Owie disagreed with Igbinedion’s position. He reiterated his readiness to join wellmeaning stalwarts to scout for a credible candidate. But, he said that credible candidate should not have link or connection with the failed PDP government. “The 2016 governorship will not be based on political platform. It is going to be who that candidate is. For the PDP to be seen to have broken ranks with irresponsibility, we have to be sure that our candidate for 2016 will not have any relationship with previous failures of the PDP government in Edo,” Owie stressed.

‘Enugu ‘ll survive through cooperative governance’

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NUGU State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has reflected on the challenge of governance, stressing that the state can only survive through cooperative governance. He promised to consult stakeholders and tap from their wealth of experience as he navigates the ship of state.

The governor, who spoke with reporters in Enugu, unfolded his agenda, saying that rural development will be the priority of his administration. “So much will have to be done in the rural areas. The urban areas have receive much attention. It is now time to redirect our energy and focus attention on rural development,” he said.

But, for the administration to succeed, Ugwuanyi said that stakeholders, especially political leaders, leaders of commerce, investors, clerics, women and youths, must support his developmental programmes. The said he was motivated to set up a council of elders to foster participatory governance and give eminent indigenes wider opportunities to contribute their quota to development.

A year ago, the former legislator did not dream of becoming the governor

By Emmanuel Oladesu

of Enugu State. He was warming up for the House of Representatives primaries in Enugu State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). But, fate catapulted him to the number one seat when stakeholders insisted that he should succeed former Governor Sullivan Chime. On that note, he became a rallying point and symbol of party unity.

Ugwuanyi told reporters that, although he is the chief executive, he will consult regularly with the three senators. In fact, at the media chat, he was accompanied by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and Senator Barth Nnaji, who are members of the Enugu State Economic Advisory Committee set up by him.

The committee is headed by Monsignor Obiora Ike. It is charged with the responsibility of opening up the state, fashion out a robust economic plan and attract investors to the state. “We want to lay a solid foundation for economic development and prosperity,” the governor said.

Ugwuanyi described Enugu as a safe state, in spite of the political crises that

engulfed the House of Assembly and the ruling party during the electioneering. He said, following his inauguration, peace was restored, adding that the executive and legislative arms are now working together to deliver dividends of democracy. However, he said the cabinet list will not be ready until two weeks.

The Southeast state is not insulated from the cash crunch, owing to the shortfall in revenue allocation from the Federation Account. Reflecting on the likely consequence of power shift, he said Enugu, which is now ruled by

If we don’t pay salary in Enugu, there will be problem. Workers will describe us as the worst government, if they don’t get their bank alert in time. A friend told me that this is not the best of time to be governor. I know God will see us through

the minority party, has no father in Abuja to come to its rescue. “Our major challenge is the paucity of funds,” he said, adding that it could affect developmental programmes. “If we don’t pay salary in Enugu, there will be problem. Workers will describe us as the worst government, if they don’t get their bank alert in time. A friend told me that this is not the best of time to be governor. I know God will see us through,” he added.

Ugwuanyi promised to run an accountable government. He said civil servants must sit up and be more committed. He also issued a stern warning to contractors, saying that Enugu will not accept shoddy jobs. “We will pay unscheduled visits to schools, offices, and project sites. If you tell contractors that you will get to a site at a particular time, they will get latte rite that night,” he said.

Ekweremadu, who hailed the governor’s administrative style, said the stakeholders are ready to cooperate with him in the interest of the state.

He said the governor will need adjustment strategies, following his transition from the legislature to the execu-

•Ugwuanyi tive. The Deputy Senate President said, while a legislator has enormous freedom, the job of a governor is more challenging.

Ekweremadu dismissed insinuation that Enugu is prone to crisis, stressing that it is a peaceful state. He said: “Enugu is working. There is no division in Enugu PDP. There is no division between the party and the government. Enugu is peaceful and it has potentials to grow and develop.

There is no tension between those of us in Abuja and those at home in Enugu. We want to show that a state can work to make a difference. We want to support our governor.”

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THE NATION FRIDAY JULY 10, 2015

What Dickson has done is the conflict and acrimony in the ‘Bayelsa State PDP today that has brought about different

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factions. His ambition has caused a lot of damage to the party

POLITICS

Former Bayelsa State Chairman of Save Nigeria Group (SNG) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Tony Ile speaks with MIKE ODIEGWU on the challenges facing the party and the preparation for next year’s governorship election.

‘Dickson has polarised Bayelsa PDP’

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HY were you fired as an aide by the Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson?

I think this is the first time I am talking about this issue since I left office, which is because I promised that I would give myself sometime to ponder about what happened before I talk to the press. Yes, I served as an assistant to the governor on civil society and unceremoniously, I was booted out. I want to, first and foremost, thank the governor for giving me such a wonderful opportunity to serve in his government.

Besides that, things happened and which, to the best of my knowledge, shouldn’t have happened. Well, as somebody that has passion for the restoration agenda, I took it in good fate and I told myself that I can’t be in government forever. Neither is it my birth right nor I signed a contractual agreement to stay with the governor for the rest of his tenure.

So, I thank him for giving me the opportunity to serve in his administration, which I must say I did very well.

I was accused of being involve, in anti-party activities and was invited to appear before a disciplinary committee of the party. But before I was invited by the committee, I heard a radio announcement saying that I have been relieved of my appointment by the state government. At that point, I forwarded a text message to the governor and called several persons to know exactly what I did wrong and how we could remedy it but to no avail. So, when I appeared before the seven-man committee, certain questions were put across to me and I defended myself.

I marveled at the avalanche of re-

ports against me. The truth of the matter is my own case was born out of hatred by certain individuals. In fact based on the report I got, my crime is that I have friends across all political parties. So, I told the committee that the young man that wrote the petition is not socially inclined and that is just the true picture of everything. If he were socially inclined, he wouldn’t have viewed my social life to be antiparty activity. Besides, I don’t play primitive politics; the kind of politics I play is the type that allows you to even sit with members of the opposition and woo them with ideas to join you, rather than to avoid them. I keep saying it that there is life after politics.

You are the brain behind renunciation of cultism by 11,000 cultists. How did you do it?

You would agree with me that, in terms of security, the past administration did very badly and seeing youths indulge in cult-related activity is very painful. The senseless killing of young people by warring cult groups was alarming. So, as the senior special assistant to the governor on civil society, I felt that it behooves on me to advice government on how to build a peaceful society. So, when the governor bought the idea, I went straight into action. I spoke with their leaders

and told them, opportunities that await them if they use their lives to do things that would transform society positively. Luckily for me, they all agreed to shun cultism.

From what I heard, even the former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan commended the program. Today you would agree with me that there is peace in Bayelsa state.

How would you assess the performance of the Dickson administration?

The restoration government initially was focused. We were all happy when this new administration came on board. We all were witnesses to what happened. I was also instrumental to the wind of transformation that blew across the state at that time. I will tell you this, because the previous administration wrecked the state, there were high hopes when this government came onboard. I must confess, the government was focused in its first year in office but today the situation we find ourselves is a sad story.

Today the governor runs a system that disrespects people’s ideas and the government above all detest socialization. Today people are being expelled from the PDP because of one man’s ambition. I mean responsible and senior patrons of the party are being expelled for one

There were high hopes when this government came onboard. I must confess, the government was focused in its first year in office but today the situation we find ourselves is a sad story

Omosede Igbinedion, a lawyer, is a member of the House of Representatives. She represents Ovia Constituency. She spoke with reporters about her legislative agenda. OTAGIE OTABOR was there.

‘My election should inspire young people‘

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OW do you feel being a member of the House of Representatives at your age?

I feel it is a great stride for democracy and the development of our nation. It shows we are matured and it is not just a thing for the older men in the society to sit down and be there for a life time. Youth should take up mantle of leadership and carry out task that ordinarily should not have been given to them in the past. It shows that we are evolving, it shows we are changing and there is a greater acceptance. If we are emulating western world and other democratic societies I think we are doing very well because having more youths in elective position is a paradigm shift from the way things used to be before and the way they ought to be. It is important that more youths take up the challenge of going ahead to contest for elective positions. To be appointed as a youth is easy but really struggling and getting through the political race to emerge the winner is wonderful. It is a challenge and not an easy task. A lot of people will think I got elected on a platter of gold. Each and every day It was difficult and daunting. I took it as a challenge and I loved to be

challenged. I enjoyed every minute of the campaigns and I didn’t sleep well. I didn’t sit back to say my dad can do it. I have to get into the hearts and mind of the people and let them know that I really want to represent them. I want to be there to represent their need and desires and they can use me as a point of contact to be able to realize what they want in Ovia and what they want Nigeria to be as a whole. I want to be able to put Ovia on the map.

Did you feel intimidated on your first day in the chambers?

It was a feeling of fulfilling. Being a lawyer, I think there is so much I expected. It was a beautiful experienced, I felt humble and bless. It was a sweet experiment having to be in the seat of Ovia Constituency.

Why the choice of Dogara for Speakership?

I am a true party person. Both candidates were wonderful. The speaker that emerged was the PDP choice. I have PDP in my blood, I have PDP in my bone marrow and I have PDP in my DNA. As a true PDP person, voting for Dogara was the only option. I keep amiable relationship with both parties. It was at the last hour that the party de-

man’s ambition. And some of us that have been in the PDP since 1998 till date don’t want to lose Bayelsa state to another party. But the truth of the matter is that with the way Dickson has polarized the PDP, if we go into an election, the PDP will fail.

Whether you like it or not the PDP in Bayelsa is divided and if we go into an election, with the way things are we will lose election. Take for instance, the chairman of the party was suspended over one flimsy excuse and I hear the case is in court because due process was not followed when his suspension was carried out. The governor is suspending people because he fears that some persons want to contest the election against him. But as a party that is going into election very soon, what we need now is unity, and sacrifice.

To me, if any other party should come and take over power in Bayelsa state, it should not be APC and that is the general feeling of everybody. But if the PDP field the present governor as a flag bearer of the party, the PDP would fail woefully. Dickson has failed Bayelsans and nobody is ready to vote for him. i stand bold to say this because Dickson has lost grassroot support.

If you doubt me go to the street to make your confirmation.

But the party has set up a reconciliation committee. Don’t you think it would turn around the fortune of the PDP before the election?

The question is: who caused the crisis that warranted the party to set up a reconciliation committee? We should not waist our energy trying to reconcile things that are irreconcilable. Without preempting the outcome of the committee, that committee would die a natural death. Even some of the elders of the party are not telling the governor the truth.

If they were, somebody should have advised him that the only option left for him in PDP is to step down and give way to others during the forthcoming governorship election. Who are you trying to reconcile? Is it people you have expelled or people you are yet to expel for your personal ambition? The governor has lost touch with the

•Ile grassroots. That is the simple truth.

The governor is taking people for granted and ruling them as if he has conquered them. I mean, that is an autocratic system of governance.

How can a governor use the party to expel past governors and senators? The most annoying part is the fact that he used the party leadership to expel a serving senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Is that not the highest level of disrespect for constituted party authority?

A PDP stalwart, King A. J Turner said that he hasn’t seen anything Dickson did wrong that would deny him a second term...

Let me tell you one thing, A.J Turner has his own personal perception about Dickson. He on his own fought enormously that Dickson became the governor and from the look of things, he has benefitted from that project. Do you expect him to come and tell you that Dickson has not done well and doesn’t deserve a second tenure? But, if he wants to prove to us that he is indeed an elder, who I think he is, he should tell the governor the truth. He should tell the governor that he has failed and therefore, cannot win election in Bayelsa State. In fact since he said that, let me answer him. What Dickson has done is the conflict and acrimony in the Bayelsa State PDP today that has brought about different factions. His ambition has caused a lot of damage to the party.

Opeyemi returns to law practice

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•Igbinedion cided on which direction we have to go. The party is supreme.

Any regret being a female politician?

I have no regret being a female politician. I hope there will be more women in politics. I have every reasons to be thankful for.

There are rumours that you plan to defect because of business interests?

There is no iota of truth that I want to defect. My father is a chieftain of the PDP. He has always remained in PDP. He is part and founder of the PDP. My senior brother, Lucky, who is a past governor, is a PDP chieftain. I will never defect to the APC or any other party. There is no truth in that.

FTER serving the people of Ekiti State in the 7th House of Representatives, Hon Opeyemi Bamidele, who represented Irepodun/ Ifelodun Constituency, Ekiti State, has returned to law practice.

While giving God the glory and adoration for the rare privilege and grace given to him, Opeyemi said he has served the country creditably.

He said, he was determined to stand up against all odds and made a strong statement in support of internal party democracy without which true democracy cannot grow in Nigeria.

The former law maker said: “Though l did not win the gubernatorial election as envisaged, l carry in me a sense of fulfillment that my active participation in the governorship race has tremendously deepened democracy on our soil” He thanked all those that contributed to the success of his political

•Bamidele

By Sina Fadare aspiration, adding; that “I could not have gone far in this struggle without the understanding and support of well meaning individuals and the grassroots people who shared my dream and aspirations.

“In the best of my ability, l have worked hard in the last four years to walk my talk, keep my promises and sincerely made the people of the state to be proud of my little contribution. I will always represent my people and all those that believe in me for a better society as l resume back to my law practice”.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

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BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

‘The present challenges we are facing should not deter us from growing our economy. It shouldn’t stop us from investing. It’s just a passing phase. Other countries that we refer to as developed started from somewhere’ •President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote

Buhari to protect firms against unfair foreign competition

Ministry to CBN: Review collateral on loan to women From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

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From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

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R E S I D E N T Muhammadu Buhari yesterday promised that his administration will implement essential reforms to protect Nigerian manufacturers from unfair competition from abroad.

He gave the promise during a meeting with the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Abdulkadir Musa, and senior officials of relevant agencies at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Buhari, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said with his focus on job creation, the government was ready to do whatever it considers necessary to boost domestic manufacturing and industrialisation.

He said his administration will fully support the effective implementation of the plan evolved by the Ministry to boost local manufacturing through legal, regulatory and structural reforms, lower interest rates, special intervention funds, protection of local manufacturers and significant improvements in national infrastructure.

He said: “With high interest rates and entrepreneurs needing trillions of Naira to buy machinery, we are virtually back at Ground Zero as far as industrial development is concerned.

“So, we will shun all anti-development policies, and make the climate more suitable for entrepreneurs. We will create the environment for them to thrive. Generating employment was one of our key campaign promises and we will keep that promise.

“We will no longer allow our markets to be flooded with things we can produce ourselves. We must believe in our system. Whenever you need my intervention at anytime, please come to me, “ he added The Permanent Secretary and his team told the President that the objective of the Ministry’s Industrialisation Plan was to create more jobs, diversify exports and broaden the country’s tax base.

They said that the plan’s critical success factors included dialogue and consultation with industry stakeholders, essential reforms and greater collaboration among relevant agencies.

•From left: Honorary Life Vice President, Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC), Barr. Patrick Abuka; President, Prince Dapo Adelegan; Managing Director, UACN Property Development Company Plc (UPDC), Mr. Hakeem Ogunniran; and Vice President NBCC, Mr. Kayode Falowo during NBCC’s breakfast meeting in Lagos....yesterday.

‘Diaspora remittances hit N10.35tr’

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HE Nigerians in Diaspora Organisa tion (NIDO) yesterday said its members remitted about $63.17 billion (about N10.35 trillion) into the country between 2011 and June, last year.

Its Chairman, Board of Trustees, Dr George Manuwuike, stated this in Abuja during a news conference on the Diaspora Day 2015 scheduled to hold between July 23 and 27 in Abuja.

Manuwuike said the Diaspora remittance was second only to oil and gas revenue as the highest foreign exchange injection to the economy.

He said: “As the umbrella organisation of Diaspora Nigerians, we are proud to associate with the phenom-

enal amount that Nigerians living abroad have been bringing to the national economy.

“Recently, the World Bank reported that between 2011 to June 2014, Nigerians in the Diaspora had remitted about 63.17 billion dollars (N10.35 trillion) into the country.

“In terms of remittance from her citizens living abroad, Nigeria was ranked five globally next to China, India, Philippines and Mexico.”

The chairman said NIDO, since its inception in 2000 had served as forum for Nigerian Diaspora networking and advocacy.

He said it had organised tens of trade and investment conferences that brought together Nigerians

and foreign investors for dialogue opportunities for technological, educational, industrial and other forms of investment in Nigeria and others.

He said NIDO intended to reverse and convert the “brain-drain” the country had suffered for so long into “‘brain-gain”.

“NIDO plans to ramp up its engagement in Nigeria to ensure that its mission and goals are achieved, and impact of its actions are felt by both government and the Nigerian masses.

“It is for this and other purposes that a structure of NIDO has recently been registered here in Abuja as a non -governmental organisation.

“We believed that this action will instil confidence

in NIDO as a partner with all our citizens and government at all levels,” he said.

He said the organisation wanted to use this year Diaspora Day to raise funds for a number of projects that were proposed for the benefit of Nigerian people.

According to him, key among the projects are multi-million naira Diagnostic and Trauma Centre, and Boko Haram Victims Rehabilitation Fund to assist victims of terrorism and minimise the trauma experienced by survivors.

He said this would be done through facilitating access to proper medical and psychological treatment through the Diaspora Liaison Office in Abuja.

NERC seeks to discharge order on new electricity tariff

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HE Nigerian Electric ity Regulatory Com mission (NERC) yesterday prayed the Federal High Court in Lagos to discharge an ex-parte order restraining it from implementing the new electricity tariff.

The new billing rate for power consumption was to take effect from June 1 but was stopped by the court.

Justice Mohammed Idris made the order following an ex-parte application by a Lagos-based lawyer, Mr Toluwani Adebiyi.

The judge had restrained NERC and the electricity distribution companies from effecting any increment in electricity tariff pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

The commission’s counsel, Mr Tonbofa Ashimi, told the court yesterday that he filed an application to discharge the order.

He said he also filed a preliminary objection challeng-

By Joseph Jibueze

ing the suit.

Adebiyi said he needs time to respond to the said application on points of law.

The court had, on June 15, renewed the order so as to preserve the subject matter of the suit.

The plaintiff had said: “My Lord, everybody is affected.

Even this court is running on generator. There is a need to stop them from increasing the electricity tariff because Nigerians can’t afford such and there is no justification for such increment.”

Adebiyi is seeking an order restraining the NERC from implementing any upward review of electricity tariff without a meaningful and significant improvement in power supply at least for 18 hours in a day in most communities in Nigeria.

He also wants an order restraining the NERC from

foisting compulsory service charge on pre-paid meters not until “the meters are designed to read charges per second of consumption and not a flat rate of service not rendered or power not used.”

He also wants the service charge on pre-paid meters not to be enforced until there is visible efficient and reliable power supply like those of foreign countries where the idea of service charge was borrowed.

Adebiyi is further asking for an order of court mandating the NERC to do the needful and generate more power to meet the electricity use of Nigerians, adding that the needful should include and not limited to a multiple long-term financing approach, sourced from the banks, capital market, insurance and other sectors of finance to power the sector.

The lawyer is also praying the court to mandate the

NERC to make available to all Nigerians within a reasonable time of maximum of two years, pre-paid meters as a way to stop the throat-cutting indiscriminate estimated bill and which must be devoid of the arbitrary service charge, but only chargeable on power consumed.

In an affidavit in support of the suit personally deposed to by the applicant, the lawyer lamented that despite the motto and mission of NERC which were expressly stated as “keeping the light on and to meet the needs of Nigeria for safe, adequate, reliable and affordable electricity,” most communities in Nigeria do not get more than 30 minutes of electricity supply, while the remaining 23 hours and 30 minutes were always without light and in total darkness.

Justice Idris adjourned till July 21 for hearing of all pending applications.

HE Ministry of Women Affairs has said it is ready to enter into negotiation with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to review the collateral for granting loan to women.

Its Permanent Secretary, Ezekiel Oyemomi who spoke in Abuja while receiving the leadership of the Women’s Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) in his office, said a situation where certificate of occupancy (CofO) is been demanded as collateral from women who cannot even afford to buy a land is worrisome.

The CBN is expected to disburse N250 billion repayable loan to women for the promotion of small scale industries in the country.

Oyemomi said the loan has been unassessed for years due to the tight collateral being demande by the banks.

He said chief among the tools to be used in poverty eradication is agriculture adding that the ministry has several programmes in collaboration with the Ministry of Agric and water resources to help women farmers.

While assuring WARDC of the ministry’s willingness to partner with it, he urged the organisation to ensure that its project reach women at at the grassroots.

PenCom woos Southeast states From Chris Oji, Enugu

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HE National Pension C o m m i s s i o n (PenCom) has urged Southeast governments to adopt or implement the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) to avail their employees of the numerous benefits of the scheme Its Director-General, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu made the appeal at the stakeholders sensitisation conference on Pension Reform Act 2014 organised by the National Pension Commission in Enugu yesterday .

According to her, several states in the federation, had adopted the CPS Prior to the enactment of the 2014 Act and were at various stages of implementation.

She regretted that the scorecard for the Southeast Zone has not been encouraging since no state has attained full implementation status.

She said: “I would therefore like to passionately appeal to all the states and local governments in the Southeast Zone that are yet to adopt or implement the CPS to quickly embark on doing so in order to avail their employees of the numerous benefits of the scheme while avoiding huge future pension liabilities.

“Recent developments with regards to inadequate finances affecting most states of the federation is a pointer to the urgent need for states to adopt the CPS.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

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Acute farm labour shortage caused by attractive wages in other sectors and the need for a shorter turnaround time on the farm have fuelled investments in mechanisation. But farmers are still facing challenges securing tractors. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

Tractors: Beyond farmers’ reach D

ANLADI Usman (not real name) grew up in the suburbs in the North. He never lived in the farm. But he visited home and saw his relatives growing crops and was attracted to farming. He loved the rural setting because it was a great place to raise a family and make a living. He was determined to start a large farming operation - growing vegetables, crops and economic trees. He was encouraged by increasing market demand. For him, massive production could only be achieved on a large farmland.

Subsequently, he and other farmers individually secured many acres of land for planting.

The area, however, would take more than 60 persons about a week to clear, working with hoes and machetes. Mechanical approach was the preferred option since it makes clearing faster.

But they found it challenging to hire a tractor. Not only was it costly, it takes a long time before it could arrive from the local government council.

Indeed, farmers are facing increasing difficulty making a living with traditional methods of growing crops on large expanse of land.

Apart from non functional programmes to subsidise inputs, they are unable to afford fertilisers. Many farmers also are not able to secure tractors. They blame the shortage of tractors for hire on the government. In a particular farming community, only three government tractors serve hundreds of farmers.

Chief Executive, Hastom Global Services Limited, Dapo Thomas Olushola, said this much.

A big time farmer in Ogbomosho, Osun, Olushola said tractors are hard to come by. Some farmers believe the government’s financial limitation is the reason why there are many non-functioning government tractors.

Farmers also see the government tractor hire service as merely a demonstration to encourage investors to venture into the industry. This is because while the system is working well in many communities that have a good supply of tractors, in others, there is still a shortage of supply.

Olushola said it requires some element of luck to get a tractor to hire. Since he manages large farmlands, he had to buy one for almost a million naira. Right now, there is an acute labour shortage caused by a variety of reasons, including better rising

•Tractor

rural wages in other sectors. The need for a shorter turnaround time is also fuelling investment in mechanisation.

In addition, owning a tractor has become something of a symbol of prosperity, among farmers pursuing large scale operations.

But the fear is that tractorisation can led to indebtedness, when the farmer is not making it.

Unlike Olushola who is involved in land clearing almost all year round, others don’t need tractors all the time because their farming is seasonal.

As such they preferred lease instead of owning farm machinery.

Average use of tractors is just 450 hours in a year, less than half of the 1,000 hours required for it to be economically viable. Underutilisation of farm machinery is leading to higher costs of production and lower net income to farmers, making it economically unviable.

For some farmers, sinking money into buying machines, from which returns are only possible in large farm holdings, have increased the debt of farmers As labourers migrate away from rural areas, the number of workers available for seasonal employment has declined.

Thomas believes it makes economic sense to use a tractor to fill the gap.

His use of tractor, allows him to open up large land-holding and cultivate unfarmed areas. His ability to access mechanised services can also allay his fears of missing crucial planting windows in the wait for labour.

In all, the tractor helps him to carry out primary and secondary

• Samuel

tillage operations better for optimal seedbed preparation and long-term conditioning of the soil.

His concern, however, is that there are not enough functional tractors in the country to meet the high demand among smallholders.

But over the years, the Executive Chairman, Vegefresh, Mr Samuel Johnson Samuel, has made heavy capital investments in tractors, reapers, threshers, seeders and a handful of bore wells to water his crops, in addition to warehouses. He embodies the very image of a commercial farmer. So despite doing well, he had challenges, especially insecurity in Bauchi State that affected his tomato operations. But this has not changed his view on farming.

• Olushola

His concerns about a labour shortage are growing. He believes however that farmers can handle this with economic use of tractors.

Samuel said it is logical to redirect efforts towards addressing the problems of farmers as agriculture will continue to be the most important sector in the economy.

He stressed the need for long term mechanisation plan to boost food security, overall agricultural development and economic growth.

The plan, he explained, should provide the incentives to farmers and rural agro-industries so that they can buy the equipment they need.

Samuel said most farmers still rely on manual labour for farming activities. He said tractor us-

Although tractor imports are themselves duty free, high tariffs are charged on spare parts, leaving tractors with a short average life span of about six years – compared to other countries in which a tractor life span can be as long as 15 years.

ers are limited.

He reiterated that mechanisation is integral to agricultural transformation. Samuel said the company has a national tractor hiring scheme with the aim to serve all the local government councils in the country.

The scheme, he noted is a groundbreaking change designed to help farmers secure tractors.

According to him, where an individual farmer cannot invest in a tractor, the company works through cooperatives. He said the company is talking to governments, private institutions and small farmers as co-operatives to come together to buy one tractor.

Samuel disclosed, however, that supply of tractor is driven by price, including different horsepower and spare parts.

To him, dealing with small farmers carries high risk where it’s more difficult to come up with a solution.

The issue is that small farmers don’t have collateral. That means, they have to deal with them through cooperatives.

He said cooperatives will play an invaluable role if farmers in the rural area would have access to tractors.

According to him, the company’s focus is promoting subsistence farming.

His goal is a prosperous rural community geared to local market requirements with access to sufficient tractors to maximise crop production.

He reiterated that Nigeria has an unprecedented opportunities for agricultural growth, but making the most of them will require effective mechanisation of agriculture.

According to an Agribusiness Indicators on Nigeria report prepared by the Agriculture and Rural Development Department of the World Bank, farm power among small-scale farmers in most parts of Africa, including Nigeria,is largely human or animal driven, and relies largely on the use of the hoe and other hand tools.

The report said the low level of mechanization greatly limits the amount of land that can be cultivated, and limits the productivity of individual farmers.

The estimated 45,000 tractors in the country, it noted translates to a density of 5.7 tractors per 100 square kilometers, far short of the estimated 81,000 tractors that would be needed to satisfy demand for tractors.

Given that about half are out of commission at any given point in time, the report said the average 1,000 tractors that the country imports annually is less than adequate to mechanise agriculture.

And although tractor imports are themselves duty free, high tariffs are charged on imported spare parts, leaving tractors with a short average life span of about six years – compared to other countries in which tractor life spans can be as long as 15 years.

The report said tractors in Nigeria operate an estimated 507 to 682 hours per year, again very few compared to the 1,500 to 2,000 engine hours recorded in other countries.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

Wanted: National survey on food, poverty T

HE Federal Government has been urged to examine the nation’s food rquirement to know the number of people with no access to good food.

Deputy Director, Directorate of General Management, Agricultural and Rural Management Institute (ARMTI), Dr Ademola Adeyemo, made the call in an interview.

Poverty and food survey, he said, would address the relationship between poverty and food needs in every state and provide data on participation in food and programmes, and other food-related and economic measures.

He said the survey would show indicators of food insecurity in each state.

Stories by Daniel Essiet

He said leaders, decision-makers and non-profit organisations could use the information to address local food insecurity issues.

Calling for a “step up” to improve productivity, sustainability and projects to train, finance and engage small farmers to increase sustainable production and farmer incomes, Adeyemo said food insecurity is a big challenge facing the nation.

He added that many Nigerians are living below society’s minimum standard of living and that many children and adults aren’t properly fed.

As the population increases, he said food insecurity would present a serious challenge.

The effect of food inflation, he noted,

would not undermine the efforts to fight poverty but would create macroeconomic imbalance.

He said the government’s reliance on food imports to meet the demand, reflected the inability of the domestic food value chains to meet the evolving consumer demand in terms of quality, volumes, prices and consistency of supply.

Achieving gains in efficiency and productivity, he noted, would require refocusing investments to build on the critical infrastructure along the value chains for sustainable growth.

While increasing agricultural yields is essential, he stressed that more attention should be placed on the downstream segment of the agrifood system. These include assembly, storage,

processing, wholesaling and retail.

The impact of food insecurity, he added, could not be overstated with declining harvests and increased imports, calling for a continuum of multilevel approaches to address the situation.

To understand food security challenges, he said consideration must be given to the nation’s vast geography, remote and diverse communities, climate, and economic and social environments.

He added that interventions and policies to improve food security must be holistic, adding that support for the local food systems is essential.

Calling for efforts to realise its antipoverty targets, Adeyemo stressed that there was no room for compla-

cency as Nigerians were seeking the right to food.

He added that meeting the other targets is possible, only if the government do not waiver from its commitment to make agriculture a priority.

He urged the government to take appropriate steps to deal with rising food prices by providing incentives to domestic producers.

He wants the government to examine food safety and quality standards, to protect consumer health and ensure fair practices in food trade.

He urged the government to also extend social safety nets to a wider range of vulnerable groups and to provide every citizen, a minimum monthly income.

•FEEDING THE NATION: Indigenous palm oil makers at work in Okubuchi-Irruan, Boki Local Government Area (LGA), Cross River State.

NAFDAC warns against consumption of imported poultry products

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HE Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Orhii, has alerted Nigerians to the dangers in consuming imported and smuggled poultry products and frozen meat.

He gave the warning while addressing reporters at the end of his Certification Visit to Amo

Byng Nigeria Ltd, producers of Amo Byng Feeds & Amo Farm Sieberer Hatchery Nig Ltd, in Awe town, Oyo State.

He said the poultry products, especially chicken and turkey, cause non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and anti-biotic resistance.

The NAFDAC chief explained that the NCDs are non-infectious,

adding: “But they are as deadly” as cancer, kidney disease and hypertension, among others.

Orhii said patronising smuggled poultry products is a sabotage in addition to the health hazards to the citizens.

He added that studies by his agency shown that most of the smuggled chickens and other poultry products contain deadly

chemicals, such as heavy metals.

He attributed this to improper packaging and transportation.

Although imported foreign chicken, turkey and others have been banned by the Federal Government, some Nigerians still smuggle the products into the country.

Managing Director, Amo Byng Nigeria Ltd, Dr Ayoola Oduntan,

FADAMA III: Lagos signs $25m rice pact with Fed Govt

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HE Federal and Lagos State governments have signed a $25 million agreement on the FADAMA III Additional Finance Project.

The agreement was signed by the state Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative with the Federal Government.

Under the project, no fewer than 400 farmers are being prepared for the rice planting season in Lagos.

The state FADAMA Coordinator, Mr. Foluso Ajijola, said the FADAMA III Additional Financing (AF) is aimed at increasing production and farmers’ income in the selected states and other production areas engaged in priority

staple foods, namely rice, cassava, sorghum, and horticulture.

The states, he said, Kogi, Kano, Lagos, Niger, Enugu and Anambra.

Lagos was selected because of the success stories of the FADAMA parent projects, the cooperation of the state government in the prompt payment of its counterpart funding of the projects, and the establishment of Eko Rice Mills by the government at Imota-Ikorodu, with a capacity of 20, 000 metric tons yearly.

According to Ajijola, FADAMA Task Team Leader, Dr. Adetunji Oredipe, and the National FADAMA Coordinator, Mr. Tayo

Akinwunmi, and their teams, have visited Lagos.

The farmers, who are in about 15 production clusters and 35 production groups, have been sensitised at various fora by FADAMA officials.

At present, the rice farmers are involved in land preparation preparatory to planting, though some local governments have passed the stage. The rice produced by the farmers will be milled by the state-owned rice mills at Imota, with its 20-ton capacity to serve Lagos and environs.

On the success of FADAMA III, the state coordinator said many projects had been completed.

“Farmers were supported in the acquisition of productive assets and in their production lines. Equipment for fisheries, livestock and crops were purchased to increase farmers’ activities and income.

“Furthermore, fishing equipment, boats and engines were provided for fish farmers to be able to go to high sea fir fishing, while many of the groups acquired cold rooms to store and preserve their fishes. One of them is the five-ton cold room of Agbelere FCA in Eti Osa LG. We also have in Epe and other parts, while butchers have also been assisted with cold rooms and market reconstruction,’’ Ajijola added.

said the consumption of imported frozen poultry products could damage the human system, unlike the locally produced poultry ones.

He lamented that despite that imported frozen products contained high levels of dehyde, which is injurious to human health, some Nigerians still consume the products.

The Amo Byng boss confirmed the presence of high level metals and other substances, which are lethal to human body, adding that these anti-bodies can cause toxicity-related mutagenesis (mutation), cardiovascular diseases, skin disorders, neurotoxicity and nasal cancer.

Besides, the health hazard, Dr Oduntan said the government was losing about N400 billion in revenue to the smuggling of poultry products yearly, alleging that smuggling of frozen chicken is a threat to the people and the economy.

According to him, the demand for local frozen chicken is low.

Oduntan urged the government to float an enlightment campaign to alert Nigerians on the danger of consuming imported/smuggled frozen poultry products.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

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THE NATION

BUSINESS BRANDS & MARKETING

e-mail: adedejiademigbuji@yahoo.com /mobile line: 08131075667

Advert: Skye Bank rekindles hope with Ice Prince

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VERY advert by a commercial enterprise is not often aimed at increasing patronage. But through their storylines, it can be understood that some of the businesses around still care, despite their desperation to stay ahead of competition.

In a latest TV and radio commercial, Skye Bank Plc is selling a dream beyond its products, featuring a popular musician Ice Prince whose story epitomise ‘Grass to Grace”.

The bank in its new campaign tagged: ‘The Skye is Big Enough’ explores Ice Prince’s humble beginning and his obstinacy in turning the challenge to opportunities to drive home the campaign theme ‘The Sky is Big Enough’ as a form of inspiration to its customers.

The Client Service Director, Centerspread, the agency that produced the creative, Mr. Nwamba Claude, said the concept of the commercial is borne out of deep research, as the bank wants a paradigm shift of people’s mindset so that they see the bank as one that stands by them and has the youth at heart.

According to him, “We used areas that could relate to the youths such as fashion, sports, music and a lot more in the commercial. We realised that people like Ice Prince had similar story to that of Skye Bank, which is a bank that comes into the life of someone and make his or her dreams become reality.”

The Executive Director, Corporate Services, Skye Bank, Mrs.

U

• Ice Prince Stories by Adedeji Ademigbuji

Abimbola Izu, explained that the campaign is borne out of what the bank is, its rich heritage and the bright future the bank is drawing its customers and potential customers into.

She noted that the rebranding of the bank would involve a lot of financial implications, adding that the investment would be worth every kobo, as it is geared towards making the bank a better value proposition for its customers.

“The investment will endear us more to our customers and help us offer better value to our customers.

We have completely trained very skilled workforce to deliver on the

service promises that we are holding out to our customers,” Izu said.

She disclosed that Skye Bank now has a contact centre for its customers and the opportunity here is to be able to take feedback from customers on areas the bank needs to improve on.

On his partnership with the bank, Panshak Zamani, a Nigerian hip hop recording artist, better known by his stage name as Ice Prince, said he felt honoured to be associated with the campaign.

He explained that in telling the story of the bank, he is also telling his story, thereby making people understand that there is actually nothing impossible to achieve.

pation whilst pushing forward UReport, an innovative project supported by UNICEF. U-Report, an innovative SMSbased platform, empowers Nigerians to participate and engage in policy-making and governance and to access real time information on key social issues.

The platform, which was launched in Nigeria in April, has over 400,000 registered users, making Nigeria the leading U-Report platform globally, among 16 other countries.

The Chief Executive Officer/Man-

aging Director, Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, said the company is committed to empowering Nigerians and is keen on supporting programmes that will enrich the lives of its various stakeholders.

The UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Jean Gough, said UNICEF is committed to providing innovative solutions towards better delivery of services and social change.

He said the partnership can empower millions of Nigerians through access to information and opportunities to help them transform their societies.

ACTV launches first Cam-Card for Smart TVs

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FRICAN Cable Television (ACTV), the latest entrant into the Pay TV market in Nigeria, is ready to break into the market, despite stiff competition in closing the gap between a dominant player and market followers.

With the brand’s promise of innovation and affordability to the low-end market, ACTV has launched the first CAM-Card for satellite Smart TVs, a few months

after it introduced the first cardless HD/PVR decoder.

The Conditional Access Module (CAM) Card is an electronic device which equips an integrated digital television, popularly called satellite Smart TVs, which has the ability to capture and view satellite video channels directly without the need for a set-top box or decoder as it is popularly known.

ACTV in order to bring this prod-

uct to as many Nigerians as possible has entered into a partnership with LG has sold 5,000 of the product already in just a few months, the brand managers said.

The pay TV Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), Mr. Joseph Chitanta, explained that globally new ways of delivering quality video contents were being deployed and Nigeria cannot be left out.

CIMA offers 50% discount to students

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HE Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) has launched a special offer of 50 per cent discount on its registration fee for Masters of Business Administration (MBA) and Masters of Science (MSc) in Accounting holders.

According to the institute, the offer, which closes July 31, allows Nigerians with the relevant degrees to extend the global reach of their career by obtaining the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation.

This designation for management

EECON Global Services Limited has introduced a wellness product called Top More Ginger Ale drink into the market.

Top More Ginger Ale is made from natural supplements, including ginseng and ginger extract which assist in the overall stimulation and anti-inflammatory effects of human body functions. Ginseng and ginger are also known to protect the heart and arteries, relieve stress and help to control weight and blood sugar in the body.

At the launch in Lagos, the Chairman of Eecon Global, Nnamdi Unachukwu, said the health drink would re-ignite the waning culture of drinking ginger ale among Nigerians.

He said: “The fear of falling ill due to rising cases of diabetes, obesity and cancer is responsible for the decline in consumption of beverages especially fizzy drinks among Nigerians who are increasingly becoming health conscious. We decided to introduce Top More in this market because of its amazing health benefits. Ginseng extract in Top More is known to promote relaxation by reducing stress while giving energy and acting as a mental stimulant. Another major natural herbal supplement contained in Top More is Ginger extract. Ginger is known to aid digestion and helps in reducing the risk of diabetes. It also contains antioxidant compounds which play a role in prevention of heart diseases”.

South African Wines returns with tasting

Airtel, UNICEF invest in social marketing NITED Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) and Airtel Nigeria have entered an agreement to deepen their social cause marketing investment in communities across the country.

The deal allows UNICEF to tap into Airtel’s mobile services to make health, education, child protection and community-focused content available to Airtel customers across the country.

Accordingly, the partnership is expected to increase access to social change related information and provide opportunities for partici-

Top More wellness drink launched

accountants is recognised the world over as the most relevant finance qualification for business and is powered by the expertise and resources of CIMA and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

CIMA Country Manager, Ijeoma Anadozie, said: “Our mission as an organisation is to help people and businesses succeed and we see this as the way to make CIMA more accessible to a greater number of business, finance and accounting graduates and professionals. Anyone with a relevant degree will benefit from a carefully defined exemptions policy that will

allow a student to start CIMA studies at the right point and progress more quickly through the qualification.”

She said CIMA’s accelerated route has been extended to chartered accountants, MSc in Accounting and MBA holders in Nigeria.

The route, according to her, grants 12 exemptions out of 17 papers, leaving applicants just five papers to write after the initial assessment.

Successful candidates are also awarded the CIMA Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting, entitling them to use of the professional letters CIMA and Dip MA.

THE Wines of South Africa (WOSA) grand tasting is returning to Nigeria. It will hold at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos on Saturday, July 18, 2015.

This event coincides with the Nelson Mandela Day. It is opened to those who are 18 and above, and is designed to showcase quality wines from over 25 wine producers and over 200 wine brands from different regions in the Cape Wineland of South Africa.

Guests are expected to trade, taste and attend the exclusive South Africa Wine course. According to the organisers, “the wine course will be led by Wine Advisor, Brad Coetzer, from renowned education company, Beverage Intelligence.

The course is opened to only Trade businesses such as importers, distributors, hotels F& B managers, retailers, portfolio manag-

ers, gourmet and brand reporters and general food and beverage service provider”.

The yearly event is established as a platform that delivers an upmarket audience in a very prestigious environment. It aims to create awareness for the South African category in the Nigerian market; the 12th largest importer of packaged wine from South Africa and the third biggest among African countries.

The Managing Director, Spronks Creations Ltd, Aderonke Sobodu, the organisers, said some of the finest South African wines would be on parade as WOSA would showcase wines from the leading family owned Wine Estates in South Africa, such as Ken Forrester, Paul Cluver, MAN Vintners, DGB, Noble Hills Estate, Rainbow End wine Estate, Robinson & Sinclair, Tamasa wines, Vondeling and Jordan, among others.

GTbank kicks off autism campaign GUARANTY Trust Bank (GTbanK) Plc has commenced the fifth edition of its autism programme. This year’s started with a two-day conference at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos on June 30, and ended the following day. It was followed by a seven-day child assessment clinic on July 2, as well as a radio talk titled: Let Talk Autism The initiative is an advocacy programme designed to create awareness and provide support for children with developmental disability, especially in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Autism spectrum disorder affects one in every 150 children around the world and is a life-long developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with others The Senior Manager, Communication and External Affairs, GTbank, Oyinade Adegite, said the bank recognises the challenge posed by autism in the educational developmental of children.

“GTbank has over the years partnered with various stakeholders and practitioners, including the University of Lagos College of Medicine, blasing trails international, ministries of health and women affair to increase awareness about autism in Nigeria,” she said.

“The 2015 programme assumes a rather broader spectrum in expanding existing research on ASD through its theme “Bridging gaps and transforming lives.”

She further said the conference featureS different classes focusing on diverse areas of the management of autism spectrum disorders.

MasterCard renews UEFA Champions League sponsorship MASTERCARD has extended its long-standing UEFA Champions League sponsorship for the next three seasons through to 2018.

The renewal includes sponsorship of the UEFA Super Cup, UEFA Women’s Champions League final and the UEFA Youth League finals. The agreement will also see MasterCard continue as the Official Provider of UEFA Champions League player mascots.

Few weeks ago, the brand welcomed three kids Abba Ahmed, Jordan Ubah and Jamiu Babatunde,

who were sponsored to the UEFA champion’s league finals in Berlin at the olympiastadion as player’s mascots.

Vice President and Business Head MasterCard Africa Omokehinde ojomuyide said MasterCard Goal Celebration contest had hundreds of entries.

However, with the renewal of its sponsorship, the Chief Marketing Officer of MasterCard, Raja Rajamannar, said MasterCard brand was excited to renew its deal in the UEFA Champions League.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

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THE NATION

BUSINESS LABOUR

Workers condemn attack on worship centres O

RGANISED Labour has expressed concern over the new wave of killings and destruction by the Boko Haram insurgents.

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) condemned the recent attack on the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Potiskum, Yobe State, where the pastor and six worshippers were killed.

The union also kicked against the killing of over 100 innocent souls in Zamfara and Plateau states by the insurgents.

NUPENG President Comrade Igwe Achese called on the Buhari administration to launch a new offensive to dislodge the insurgents from their various camps

•Call for urgent solution Stories by Toba Agboola

scattered around the Sambisa Forest.

“The union sympathises with the families of the deceased and wants the Federal Government to allow the people of the Northeast feel the movement of the Army High Command to Maiduguri.

“The union calls for more funding, use of sophisticated weapons and modern scientific methods in tracking the insurgents and their sponsors. The union wants the Federal Government to block the sources of their financial transactions, fuel supplies, logistics to forestall further onslaught,”

Achese said.

Achese said the union was disturbed and wanted Boko Haram’s resurgence nipped in the bud, with the co-operation of Cameroun, Niger and Chad.

The President, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, who also expressed shock, said the government should also devise a medium and long term plan of action to rejuvenate economic activities in the area, create jobs for the restless youth, with basic education put in place for the many uneducated youths that are used for suicide bombings and killings.

He said the union believes that efforts must be made to re-organ-

ise the Armed Forces to make them fit to face the guerrilla warfare, through adequate training, increase in payment of hazard allowances and other welfare packages to boost their morale.

“We are shocked by this brazen and ferocious savagery and saddened by the seeming helplessness of our security forces.

“The Congress appreciates the challenges of our intelligence and security forces by way of a porous border, large and uncharted expanse of land, and an extremely difficult terrain, but finds unacceptable this level of mindless violence and the response of our security forces,’’ he said.

The international rights group, Human Rights Watch (HRW), also condemned the recent attacks by the Boko Haram sect in some

Northeastern states of the country.

Nigeria Researcher, HRW, Ms Mausi Segun urged the Federal Government to bring the perpetrators to justice.

He called on the government to protect the lives of citizens in vulnerable communities in the Northeast and to rescue the scores of girls taken captive by the insurgents in the past few weeks.

“These measures must be carried out in ways that do not further jeopardise the rights and safety of members of those communities. All those responsible for these horrific crimes must be brought to justice as soon as possible,” Segun said.

He called on the government to change its strategies in tackling the insurrection.

‘Stop casualisation’

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HE Zonal Director, South west, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Ifeoma IgwezeAnyanwutaku, has urged employers to desist from retaining workers as casuals for too long.

She reminded the employers that the law required them to retain casual workers for not less than six months, after which they are bound to either make them permanent staff or disengage them.

Speaking with reporters in Lagos, the director said denying workers the privilege of becoming permanent staff was tantamount to slave labour.

Igweze-Anyanwutaku urged

them to promote harmony with other stakeholders and maintain an atmosphere of industrial peace through continuous engagement of workers in social dialogue.

She said: “The issue of casualisation remains a great concern to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity as the ministry continues to admonish employers against prolonged retention of workers as casuals or temporary workers as such a practice is against the nation’s extant labour laws. Aside the legal angle, there are also moral issues involved in such a practise as it is tantamount to exploitative and slave labour.”

‘Basic registry to generate 10m jobs’ •From left: Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) former President Mrs Bunmi Oke; President Mr. Kelechi Nwosu; Keynote Speaker Dr. Matt Carter; a participant, Mrs Biodun Adefila, and Course Director Dr Celey Okogun, during the AAAN Negotiation Skills Course in Lagos.

Implement Uwais Report, labour urges

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HE organised labour has said the implementation of the Justice Muhammad Uwais Report will boost credibility during elections.

Speaking at a dinner in honour of the former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Dr. Ayuba Wabba said the non-establishment of courts to try electoral offenders, recommended by the committee, would continue to encourage politicians and their agents to flout electoral laws.

Wabba, who praised Jega for the ‘good job’ he did in INEC in the five years he held sway, in the Commission, however, charged President Muhammadu Buhari to replace Jega with a person of similar integrity.

He said the president should appoint such a Nigerian to consolidate on the reforms by Jega.

He said: ‘’We, like other Nigerians, hope that the benchmark set

by Comrade Jega as INEC Chairman will be emulated by whomever Mr. President will appoint to replace him. Much as we would have been happy to lead the campaign for Jega to be re-appointed as chairman for the second tenure, we respect his decision to move on.

“Organised labour and Nigerians

also expect that anyone coming after Jega, as chairman of INEC, should know that Nigerians will not accept a reversal of the progress made in the 2015 general elections, where the will of the people truly reflected in the ballot.”

He said Nigerians were aware of the electoral challenges, noting that politicians would not stop rigging elections except the government put in place a strong legal framework.

“It is not yet uhuru, as long as the reforms can be reversed. We look forward to an INEC that will arrange seamless continuous registration of voters once they turn 18 and of voting age; we look forward to increasing use of technology in our electoral process, among others,” he stressed.

The NLC helmsman expressed hope that those taking over from Jega would work on the harmonisation of Nigeria’s data base in such a way that the national identity card could be acceptable for voting.

He said the former INEC boss succeeded because he was a labour leader, who came into national limelight in the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as President during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida.

He also recalled that Jega served in the Justice Muhammad Uwais

Electoral Reform Committee.

Wabba added: “The wide acclaim

by Nigerians of all persuasion on the outcome of the work of the Committee of 22 eminent persons, of which the NLC had a representative, attests to the integrity and patriotism of members of the Committee and their commitment to the ideals of democracy.

“Though a number of the key recommendations in the Report of the Uwais Electoral Reform Committee were not taken on board by the Government, the appointment of Prof. Jega as INEC Chairman was a turning point in the history of INEC under the current democratic dispensation and in the annals of Nigeria’s electoral experience since independence.”

He noted that the reforms, which the Jega-led INEC brought to the organisation led to the breakthroughs Nigeria witnessed in the last general elections. This, he said, showed that in spite of the impediments in the electoral laws, which led to electoral failures in the past, with a committed, patriotic and honest disposition, Jega succeded.

The NLC chief maintained that the internal reforms at INEC brought by Jega helped to redeem Nigeria’s image, as the country is no longer one of those “basket cases,” as far as credible elections are concerned.

CONSULTANT to the National Population Commission, Dr Anthony Uwa, has said the implementation of Basic Registry and Information System in Nigeria (BRISIN) will generate over 10 million jobs and enhance economic development.

He told reporters in Abuja that BRISIN, also known as the National Integrated Data and Information Infrastructure (NIDII), would enhance economic development if effectively implemented.

According to him, BRISIN is the panacea for the nation’s socioeconomic and environmental crisis.

Uwa said BRISIN would give the managers of economic policies a clear vision and knowledge of how to get things done.

He explained that the programme would create over 10 million jobs in a few years when fully

A

implemented.

“BRISIN is a job creator and when embraced by any nation, it would enable it to create a lot of jobs because all aspects of its sectors will be monitored by the programme.

“BRISIN is an infrastructure a country can build from the local, state and federal governments that will give it opportunities of knowing her economy as well if it is well planned,’’ he said.

He added that with data and information, ministries, agencies and departments would benefit from the project.

He said past administrations failed in their various policies because they did not have BRISIN that would have guided them to plan and execute their policies.

He listed lack of publicity, funding, and delay by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which is the pilot state, to provide facilities for the start of the programme, as challenges facing BRISIN.

ILO holds conference on better future at work

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HE International Labour Organisation (ILO), in collaboration with some universities, will today in Geneva, discuss policies for a better future at work.

The Fourth Conference on regulating for decent work: Developing and implementing policies for a better future at work (RDW), according to the global body, will focus on four key issues, namely shaping the future of work in modern societies, protecting workers, securing income, regulating labour markets and reach-

ing out to vulnerable workers.

The ILO said the meeting is coming at a time economic and social crisis reached global scale with destructively high unemployment, expanding precarious work, growing numbers of working poor and rising inequality.

“While reforms in policies and institutions that would counteract these trends have yet to materialise, the conference discussed ways to overcome these policy failures, which have triggered a broader unease about the future of work”, the statement said.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL

LETTER

For love of twins •The succour to Ruth Uche and her twins is ennobling. But a more structured approach, to deal with such plights, is imperative

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LTHOUGH it had the elements of a publicity stunt, the move was noble; and it has worked well enough.

By her own admission, 34-year-old Mrs. Ruth Uche gave an insight into why she adopted the approach that has brought her favour and succour from sympathisers in the corridors of power, a private organization and even neighbouring individuals. Sensationally, the woman is in the news because her husband deserted his family ahead of the arrival of a third set of twins.

“I went for immunisation some days ago and I told them my condition; and why they have not been seeing me,” she told The Nation, “It was there that they advised that I should come to government.

Government should please help my children; no one to help me with house rent, electricity bill, school fees, food and so on.”

Perhaps predictably, her dramatic appearance at the Lagos State Secretariat,

‘It is a point to ponder that since the law came into force there has not been any known arraignment arising from its contravention. What is the use of a law if it is not enforced? With the spotlight on Mr. Uche, his may be a test case. And if the state prosecutes Mr. Uche, would the newfound succour of his wife and kids be complete?’

Alausa, with her six children, two of them born only last month, attracted significant attention. The Lagos state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode directed the Deputy Governor Dr. Idiat Adebule to assume responsibility for the welfare of the mother and her kids.Dr. Adebule gave a cheque while Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation will oversee the family’s welfare . Also, Mrs. Uche got a visit from Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa who, as her representative in parliament, donated foodstuffs and cash.

By the last count, the Voice of Divine Truth International Outreach, a faithbased organization, had offered her third set of twins scholarship from primary school to the Master’s level at the university — and, for the Uches, it would appear morning yet on blessings day!

While these responses are laudable and ennobling, the idea must not be encouraged that all any woman in similar distress needs to do is to follow Mrs Uche’s example of self-exhibition at the place of power. It is important for the government to put in place a functional institutional mechanism to address developments of this kind so that help is not personalised.

Expectedly, the run-away husband and father, 39-year-old Mr. Emeka Benjamin Uche, is the butt of jokes and a target of unsympathetic criticism. Why did he abandon his family? It would appear that he was overwhelmed by the thought of another pair of twins after the first two sets. He didn’t even wait for their arrival!

According to Mrs. Uche, a secondary school graduate and teacher in a private school: “Since I gave birth to the children, I have tried calling my husband but he would not pick once he knows that it is me.” But speaking from hiding, Mr. Uche

told The Nation that he regretted abandoning his family; and only did so because he couldn’t bear to helplessly watch them suffer. Though his wife pleaded with him to come back home, the run-away husband is scared of arrest and possible prosecution.

Mr. Uche is said to be a factory worker.

But this cannot excuse his irresponsibility. There is no question: he ought to bear a moral responsibility to his wife and children, and he cannot reasonably plead inadequacy as justification for his action.

Parenthood leads to parenting. Given his parenthood, Mr. Uche cannot leave parenting to his wife alone.

Against the background of a 2011 state law criminalising men who abandon their pregnant partners, there is an interesting angle to this story that mirrors paternal irresponsibility. The law subtitled “Desertion of Pregnant Woman or Girl, Section 277,” seeks to protect women and children. It is noteworthy that Mr. Uche not only ran away while his wife was pregnant, he did so as a result of the pregnancy; and he has kept away from his wife and children.

It is a point to ponder that since the law came into force there has not been any known arraignment arising from its contravention. What is the use of a law if it is not enforced? With the spotlight on Mr. Uche, his may be a test case. And if the state prosecutes Mr. Uche, would the newfound succour of his wife and kids be complete?

It is still possible to have a happy ending based on a family reunion, if Mr. Uche heeds collective wisdom and returns home, even at the risk of prosecution.

That would be a welcome conclusion to a riveting drama.

Beyond Keshi’s ouster •For Nigerian football to grow, it must isolate itself from external politics and influences

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HERE are two kinds of football coaches, goes that cynical quip: those sacked and those waiting to be sacked! That means a coach is as good as his last result.

That is why the Amaju Pinnick-led Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should not have reappointed Stephen Keshi as Super Eagles coach after he flunked qualification for the 2015 African Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.

Against all odds, Keshi won the Nations Cup in 2013; won a bronze in the Championship of African Nations (CHAN) — for Africa-based football stars — in 2014 (both in South Africa); and made the second round in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

But failing to qualify to defend the title he won in South Africa should have nullified those previous glories. So, by reappointing Keshi, NFF only rewarded failure.

In fairness, NFF was not too keen on reengaging Keshi. But the Goodluck Jonathan presidential court barely hid its preference for a Keshi encore. Even then, a disapproving NFF handed Keshi a renewed contract, with reduced salaries and reduced powers; subjugating him, in the selection of players, to the control of the body’s Technical Committee. Still, Keshi took the job, and in earnest won his first match, against Chad: a qualifier for 2017 Nations Cup in Gabon; perhaps hoping to ride the storm.

But then the sudden end: allegations of doubtful loyalty. Keshi just got a new contract with Nigeria. Yet, his name popped

up in a list of coaches being head-hunted for the job by Cote d’Ivoire. That was the final straw. NFF screamed doubledealing. Keshi pleaded innocence, claiming an agent’s indiscretion. An NFF body to probe the matter ended with a seeming non-decision: probe was inconclusive. But out of the blue, the verdict: the Keshi era as Nigeria boss was history. Good riddance — and about time too!

But Keshi’s sack came at a delicate juncture, which could well plague the team with instability; and could well create an apologia for Nigeria’s non-qualification for Gabon, in a group that features six-time African champions, Egypt, Chad and Tanzania; only the winner of the group automatically qualifies.

Still, the lesson is clear: even if Nigeria fails to make it to Gabon, NFF would have learned the tough lesson never to subjugate its decisions to external influences — for such would always come back to haunt it. Many would say that is easier said than done, given the over-bearing influence of government in football in Nigeria. They won’t be incorrect. But for Nigerian football to make headway and optimise its potential, it is imperative for the powers-thatbe to give NFF the operational independence to steer Nigerian football.

If, despite the present crunch, Nigeria makes it to Gabon, NFF’s hands would be more strengthened, other things being equal. But if Nigeria falters, NFF itself could be in jeopardy, with stakeholders calling for its head. That would herald another round of instability that can only further

doom Nigerian football.

Meanwhile, after Keshi, NFF is reportedly lining up Sunday Oliseh, another former Super Eagles captain and strong character. Aside from a dearth of coaching experience (2008-2009 with Vervietois, a Belgian fourth division side), Oliseh belongs to the golden generation of Nigerian football: won Nations Cup in 1984, member of the first Eagles set to qualify for World Cup in USA 1994; and was in the Olympic team that won gold in Atlanta ’96 — the first African side to do so.

He played professional club football in Europe, is a member of FIFA Technical Study Group and runs a consultancy that regularly conducts periodic coaching clinics. He also works as pundit during big football championships.

But not unlike Keshi, he does not suffer fools gladly. Indeed, even as national team captain, he parted ways with the administration because of the constant cant coming from Nigeria’s House of Football.

So, after Keshi, can NFF cope with Oliseh? We sincerely hope so.

‘But for Nigerian football to make headway and optimise its potential, it is imperative for the powers-that-be to give NFF the operational independence to steer Nigerian football’

Waiting for the change agenda

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IR: President Buhari and APC made history on March 28, when they defeated an incumbent President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. But they will fritter away the goodwill on which Nigerians elected them if care is not taken. APC is the party with a president on whose character, personality and strength Nigerians think they can experience a better life.

Nigerians cannot be blamed. For many years, they have been betrayed by governments. Past administrations have failed in bringing a new lease of life for a people that deserve better and bright future.

It is quite disheartening that happenings within the APC and the conduct of its elected members at the National Assembly makes one wonder whether the agenda of the party is continuity or change. Activities of government under the PDP after the 1993, 2003, 2007 and 2011 elections were same old same old. Their economic plan and public policies were all the same. This is to be expected from a conservative party like the PDP. Former President Jonathan’s economic policies were the worst despite having a Harvard and MIT trained economist as Minister of Finance. This was the reason Nigerians ended his tenure as President.

The APC seem to have a better economic plan and agenda different from that of the PDP. Former Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola exemplified this in the way he managed the affairs of Lagos State. Dr. Kayode Fayemi also stood out with his developmental programmes in Ekiti State before his unfortunate defeat by a man who many agreed ran a governorship campaign based on stomach infrastructure.

A great decision was made when Nigerians decided to try another political party. Nigeria is faced with numerous challenges and everyone look up to President Buhari and his political party to fix these problems. The new APC government need to live up to the people’s expectations and have a radical departure from what obtains under the PDP. APC should not be tempted to adopt the policies and style of the PDP. Doing things the PDP way is definitely not an option for members of the APC at all levels of government. APC needs to vigorously pursue its change agenda without any hindrance.

What played out at the inauguration of the 8th National Assembly on June 9, shows that true change may not have come after all despite President Buhari’s believe and avowal in his inaugural speech. The coup d’état in the senate, the emergence of a PDP Senator as Deputy Senate President and the dissenting voices of some disgruntled members of the National Assembly all show what the course of events would be in the next four years of our democratic experiment.

Nigeria is truly evolving; besides the APC is saddled with the responsibility of bringing about the desired change. It is up to APC to prove to Nigerians that what they voted for during the 2015 general elections is not continuity but change.

• Bolaji Samson Aregbeshola, Lagos

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

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

•Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina

• Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde •General Manager (Abuja Press) Kehinde Olowu •AGM (PH Press) Tunde Olasogba

•IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness •Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital) •Press Manager Yomi Odunuga Udensi Chikaodi •Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu •Legal Counsel John Unachukwu •Group Business Editor Simeon Ebulu • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye •Group Sports Editor Ade Ojeikere •Acting Manager (sales) •Editorial Page Editor Olaribigbe Bello Sanya Oni

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

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CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: As President Muhammadu Buhari settles down to the serious business of governance, one key area that should quickly engage his attention is the petroleum industry. The reason for this is not farfetched; as a major player in the global oil market by the virtue of our natural crude endowment, it is ironical that the country is not only an importer of petroleum products, but also, experiences acute shortage on a constant basis.

Due to the heavy dependence on the importation of petroleum products to augment local production, marketers have exploited the situation to perpetrate massive fraud as the subsidy fraud imbroglio showed. At will, they also hold the nation to ransom by withholding products from the market.

To address the ugly situation, it has been suggested over the years that local refining of the crude oil is the most sustainable option. However, the combined capacity of the four refineries owned by the Federal Government is far below the daily oil requirements.

The involvement of the private investors in establishing refineries becomes imperative. The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has issued a number of licences to various companies over the last ten years. Despite this, no privatelyowned refinery is operational in Nigeria as of today.

A lot of factors are responsible.

Many of the licence holders have accused DPR of shifting the goal post in the middle of the game concerning sourcing of crude, the major raw material. The initial arrangement was that there would be a sovereign guarantee of steady supply of crude

by DPR to Nigeria-based refineries.

A situation where no priority is accorded and operators would have to rely on off-shore crude sourcing is a major worry. Instead of selling crude to foreigners as a matter of

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The case for modular refinery priority, operators are demanding that national interest and investors concern should take precedence in arriving at a decision.

The current oil subsidy regime by the Federal Government also constitutes a big headache for intending refinery owners. Except for diesel, all other petroleum products are currently being sold at a highly subsidised rate. With the possibility of private refinery operators production cost being higher than the current subsidized rates, there are fears that they might run into a huge loss if they invest in the refinery business. The operators are wait-

ing to see how the new government addresses this disincentive.

Two options are open for considerations here: One, government assures operators of buying their products at the production cost so they could break even. Two, the sector is deregulated and allow market forces to determine pricing.

Another huge concern is that of infrastructural challenge. Setting up a refinery comes with its peculiar challenges. In most cases, refineries are sited in locations that are far from city centres, where there are deficit in terms of infrastructural provision. Good access roads, con-

stant electricity supply, hospitals, schools, among others are some of the facilities that the operators would expect the government to provide in order to support the social and economic needs of the refineries and their host communities.

Leaving the investors to provide all these facilities aside the huge capital requirement of setting up the refineries would be highly discouraging.

A critical area that government could help the operators is that of financing. The current high interest rate of domestic borrowing will surely have a negative effect on

product pricing. The ordinary citizens will bear the brunt of high product price. Like the government did in some critical sectors like entertainment and aviation, operators have suggested an intervention fund would help a great deal.

Government can also provide encouragement by granting generous waivers for the importation of needed materials and equipment for the projects.

For the country to jump start the country’s oil industry and guarantee the availability of petroleum products for the citizens at all times, the establishment of local refineries is crucial. Government needs to support the licensed operators through the provision of conducive environment for them to thrive, bring succour to Nigerians and contribute substantially to the country’s economy by way of job creation, among other benefits.

• Charles Daniel Lagos

Ramadan and change IR: Ramadan offers Muslim faithfuls a unique opportunity to move closer to the creator and inspire spiritual rebirth and revival. In climes where patriotic Muslim leaders and scholars exist, the month of Ramadan is a platform to use the guidance of Holy Scripture to rally the people and inspire spirit of identifying with the nation, as the month emphasizes mankind and not Muslims alone.

It is important to understand that simply keeping away from food and drink is not sufficient to reap the benefits of fasting and to attain piety as mentioned in the Holy Qur’an. The purpose of the fast is to help develop self-restraint, selfpurification, God-consciousness, compassion, the spirit of caring and

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sharing, the love of humanity and the love of God. Fasting is a universal custom and is advocated by all the religions of the world, with more restrictions in some than in others.

Fasting in Ramadan must develop in a person the real spirit of social belonging, of unity and brotherhood, and of equality before God. This spirit is the natural product of the fact that when people fast they feel the hunger and hence worries and stresses of the lessprivileged and the have-nots in the society.

Fasting is a more comprehensive action that should help the leadership in striving to eradicate poverty and shun financial mismanagement of the nation’s resources.

Fasting person is one whose

limbs withhold from sins, his tongue from lies, foul speech and falsehood, his stomach from food and drink and from sexual intercourse.

The questions are, are our efforts reflecting these characteristics? Are we adorning our fasting with long prayers; supplication for forgiveness and extra recitation and contemplation of the Book of Allah?

Or are we sleeping out our fasts or perhaps watching endless hours of television and home videos to pass time? Can we use the opportunity of this fast to critically examine our national problems and with the fear of Allah chart a progressive path for this potentially great country?

Will our leaders attain piety and sincerely face the task of serving

the country and eschew corrupt tendencies?

We should have the desire to change our attitude towards our deeds and lives as fasting is an institution for the improvement of moral and spiritual character in human-beings. There is no more opportune moment than this, for this is the month where ‘the gates of paradise are opened, the gates of hellfire are closed and the devils are chained.’

Here is hoping that we will all benefit from the opportunity offered by this month and make our nation a better place.

• Rasak Musbau Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015 16

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COMMENTS

Nigeria will be finished Email: tunji_ololade@yahoo.co.uk 08038551123, 08111845040

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E belabour the ‘Nigerian dream.’ We abuse the idea that life will get better, that progress is assured if we keep faith, obey the rules and work hard, that prosperity is guaranteed if we continue to tread the slow, steady path to progress and a prosperous future. And in pursuit of these lofty ideals, we pervert the steady, measured, impartial course of the universe; hacking pliant paths to our dreams, from the crossroads where gluttony fosters depravity.

Eventually, we awaken to a cold, bitter truth: We are being sacrificed.

The Nigerian dream we are sold isn’t worth our sacrifice. And the individual dreams we pursue, aren’t worth a smidgen of what we make them out to be. By the time we all struggle to achieve our dreams; Nigeria will be finished. Enter Boko Haram and the resurgent dreams of Biafra.Given that each tribe may finally achieve its dreams of nationhood via secession, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Ijaw to mention a few may establish their new nations.

When we do, the swollen belly of our idiocy and pride shall become clearly visible to us. When it does, it shall suddenly dawn on us that, all along, we had been blindly acting to a script prepared by career predators from Western nations of Europe, America and our ruling class.

The truth shall become clearer to us in intensity and impact and we shall hopelessly realize that we are being sacrificed. We will all be sacrificed; some of us much quicker than others. As it is now, so shall it be in our new nations, the Biafran

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youth, Ijaw youth, Oodua youth and Arewa youth to mention a few, shall become disposable indices in the scheme of things.

But until then, we will continue to have today and squander it on the altar of racism and greed. Today, it’s impossible to see any offspring of our ruling class engage or become embroiled in the familiar tragedies that mar our lives. It’s always the children from the breadlines, struggling middle class and backwaters that are involved.

We are the youth divide traditionally expected and required to function and serve as unquestioning muscles and ordinary cannon fodder in the ruling class’ blueprint of pillage and destruction.

The decline of Nigeria is a story of gross injustices by the ruling class to the citizenry. But that is only an aspect of it, the greatest injustice is that meted out by individual citizen to self – the youth particularly.

And this predominant malaise often plays out in our corruptibility and disinclination to foster a more humane leadership and society.

Today, we suffer declining standards of living, stagnant and falling wages that are hardly paid at due time; we suffer curtailment and absolute denial of our basic wages, long-term unemployment, slave labour, escalating crime wave, among other ills.

Together, we perpetuate gruesome realities of the weakest being crushed decisively and maniacally by the affluent and strong. Together, we perpetuate a story of unbridled sectarian, ethnic and corporate power that has taken our

ECENTLY, Kunle Afoloyan, Igwe Gab Okoye (Gabosky) and other artistes and film producers went on a rally to the office of former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, to protest against the scourge of piracy, which has seriously affected their business and fortunes. Watching from the sidelines, one wondered what the Lagos State Government can do on a subject which is on the exclusive list, that is, an issue which is under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal Government.

Having observed the Nigerian intellectual property terrain in the last two decades, one can categorically state that the problem of piracy is caused by official corruption, abuse of office and impunity by certain officials of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), the Federal Government agency regulating all matters relating to copyright in Nigeria. Curiously, the type and volume of abuses which daily occur in the Nigerian copyright space do not occur in other intellectual property sectors such as Patents and Trade Mark and Designs. Are we therefore saying that the creation of the agency is the root cause of the piracy menace? This cannot be the reason because there are other agencies created to assist in the regulation of various sectors which are enhancing the purpose and progress of the sectors. We cite agencies like National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to mention a few, which have made their sectors major economic hubs.

If the creation of the NCC is not the problem, then certainly, the operators or the officials must be. When the NCC was established in 1989, rather than taking stock of what were already on ground with a view to strengthening them for the efficient regulation and basis for standardization in the sector, the officials went on a mission aimed at wiping out existing institutions on copyright administration with the aim of creating their own structures. One of those organizations was the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria (MCSN), which was established in 1984 and operating since then with an outstanding repertoire of copyright works. One discovered on inquiry that the NCC and certain of its top officials spent not less than 16 years following its establishment to antagonize and fight MCSN (which of course they are still doing till date), while doing virtually nothing to develop the NCC as an agency or advance the cause of copyright administration and enforcement or create any viable or democratic structure to assist copyright interest holders.

The only structure which the NCC can boast to have created is the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), purportedly established in 2009, but which investigation reveals was a mere transformation and change of name of the Performing and Mechanical Rights Society of Nigeria (PMRS), which was allegedly formed and approved by members and top

government hostage, overseen the dismantling of our cultural heritage, societal and entrepreneurial values.

But if the ruling class, in connivance with predatory nations and institutions from the so-called ‘first world’ is responsible for plundering our natural resources and bankrupting the nation, we, the youth, are responsible for even worse atrocities.

We serve as the tools by which the ruling class and its cohorts overseas plunder and destroy our nation. The virus of political corruption, the perverted belief that only political and material profit matters, has spread to distort our thoughts and understanding of right and wrong. Today, it manifests in endemic proportions plaguing our communities with religious and political terrorism, economic and cyber-terrorism to mention a few.

Today, the Nigerian society dies a gruesome death basically because we lay to waste, our youths and we, the latter, by our suicidal actions and thoughts, submit ourselves as hopeless prey to the Nigerian ruling class and their cohorts overseas.

Everyday encounters with gluttonous gangs of struggling youth reveals among other things, that many of us are the same social products as our peer from the aristocratic divide. Conditioned by life’s harshest vicissitudes to survive at all cost, we lay in wait, striving and bidding our time until we are ably positioned and strong enough to serve or rob the rich whose life we earnestly covet and decry.

A visit to any night club, party, religious organization or office still attests to this fact. Ambitious and upwardly mobile youth from the breadlines or struggling working class families engage in a variety of excesses to the applause of mates

yearning to be in their shoes. Either as advance fee fraudsters, bankers, journalists, accountants, secretaries, factory hands or ordinary clerks, youths from the breadlines daily engages in a bitter, desperate struggle to chance on the shortest possible cut to sudden and stupendous wealth.

We seem beset by a greater and unexplainable fear beyond the fear of poverty amongst other harsh realities of their lives. Fear plays a greater part than hope: we are infinitely buoyed and obsessed with thoughts of the money that we could make or the possessions that might be taken from us or elude us, than of the joy and value that we might add to our own lives and to the future of our fatherland.

Most of us, like our more privileged peer crave the best of everything without actually sweating for it. And when we do sweat for it, our industry is tainted by vigorous dashes of impatience and duplicity.

In our work, we are haunted by jealousy of competitors, and a fleeting interest in the actual work that has to be done. We spend greater time and passion defending unjust privileges that we are desperate to enjoy.

Such appalling youth constitute a greater segment of the human element expected to salvage Nigeria from eternal ruin and bloodbath.

Consequently, our society becomes more rudderless and unstable and

vulnerable, on our watch. Now that Nigeria as our fathers, ‘the wasted generation’ made it, and we the youth, aggravate it, have begun to collapse, we withdraw from the possibility of rebirth, and instead choose to exploit the infinite possibilities in our fragility and predicted collapse.

It’s about time the Nigerian youth started postponing immediate gratification and endure hard sacrifices spurred by conviction that the future can be better than the past. Beyond the politics and inanities of our existing ruling class and political parties, we face far more difficult questions at our moment in history: How do we reconcile reality with promises that have been made to us? How do we make the best of our circumstances at the backdrop of indefensible leadership failure and disillusionment of the citizenry? How do we evolve and nurture to fruition, a new vision to help us deal with our gruesome realities, even as we chart a promising story of the future? How do we divorce ourselves from the pains and disappointments of the past – particularly those that many of amongst us had no stake in but yet internalize and perpetuate unexplainable miseries thereby?

How do we redefine “Peace, Unity and Progress” with our lust for “Life, Liberty and Happiness?”

How do we become more human than we are now?

‘Fear plays a greater part than hope: we are infinitely buoyed and obsessed with thoughts of the money that we could make or the possessions that might be taken from us or elude us, than of the joy and value that we might add to our own lives and to the future of our fatherland’

Piracy: Blame Nigerian Copyright Commission

By Blessing Eyo officials of the NCC in 1994! Till date, NCC has not given a clear explanation as to why certain members of its Governing Board would form an organization, which they approved for themselves as a sole collecting society to the exclusion of other organizations, including MCSN. Indeed, the scourge of piracy began to escalate first, with the establishment and composition of the members of the board of the NCC who were fraternizing with major exploiters of copyright materials, mostly pirates and later with the unlawful refusal of the Commission to approve MCSN and other interested individuals and groups as collecting societies. This is in spite of the fact that MCSN and certain of these groups have been in existence and operating before the establishment of NCC and the law which gave the NCC powers to approve collecting societies.

The refusal of NCC to approve MCSN as a collecting society led to protracted litigations, which held the entire copyright system down, and pirates and infringers of copyright had field days in their nefarious activities. These are still going on till date and the NCC is virtually helpless or deliberately giving the pirates and rights’ abusers freedom to operate. This naturally would be the case, because the NCC has tied the hands of the copyright owner/holder, mainly MCSN, behind its back through its powers to approve who can go to court as captured under Section 17 of the Copyright Act. As a matter of fact and law, it is only in the Copyright sector that you have a law which would require a property owner, be it in single or multiple form to first obtain the license or approval of a government agency before it can move to enjoy or enforce its property right or even approach the court for redress. These are the serious implications of Sections 17 and 39 of the Copyright Act 2004. Certain officials of the NCC, particularly those in its enforcement and litigation departments have been exploiting these provisions to deny legitimate copyright holders of the benefits of their proprietary holdings while giving pirates immense room to operate. At the National Assembly Public Hearing on the activities of the NCC conducted by the House Joint Committees on Justice and Judiciary in May 2013, the Director General of the NCC, Afam Ezekude and his team could not defend any of the actions of the NCC or justify the forced monopoly they have engendered in the copyright environment. The National Assembly at the plenary session of that day passed a series of resolutions directing the NCC to immediately approve MCSN as a collecting society among oth-

ers. However, the officials of the NCC have continued in their impunity by refusing to carry out the directives of the National Assembly after the findings and recommendations of the Joint Committees of the House were unanimously adopted and passed as resolutions in December 2013.

It is not the first time NCC would be flouting an order made by constituted authority. As far back as 2006, former President Olusegun Obasanjo had directed that NCC be merged with the Offices of the Registrar of Trademark, Patents and Designs to be known as Nigeria Intellectual Property Commission (NIPCOM) with the erstwhile Director General of the NCC, Adebambo Adewopo, to serve as the pioneer Director General. It was expected that such an establishment would catapult the Intellectual Property sector vis-à-vis NIPCOM into class “A” Agency in the Nigerian economy. But sadly NCC dilly dallied until the tenure of the former president lapsed without the directive being obeyed. President Muhammadu Buhari must revisit this issue.

Talking the about economy and the volume of income that can be generated from the intellectual property sector, the amount being lost daily due to the impunity, abuse of office and corruption in the NCC are mind-boggling. In the field of royalty collections by similar organizations like the MCSN in the United States of America among five major societies like ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, HARRY FOX AGENCY and AMRA, have been in the region of US$15 billion annually. This does not include income from film, dramatic or literary organizations or societies. French organizations which numbers are more than the ones in the USA collect far more. The trend is the same in Canada, United Kingdom and other countries including those in South America. In most of these countries, the entertainment industry contributes not less than 20% to their national GDP. The question therefore remains why should the NCC force a single organization (COSON) to do what more than three organizations can effectively and efficiently do in Nigeria with a population of more than 170 million people?

With a new government in place under President Mohammadu Buhari, which is determined to effect change in the polity and desirous of diversifying the economy, the Intellectual Property Sector, particularly, copyright, should be of prime importance in the expected shake up. It is not just about changing the present set up but also overhauling the entire structure.

• Dr. Eyo is a copyright lawyer based in Lagos.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

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COMMENTS ‘These are the times that try men’s souls’ ¯ Thomas Paine HE Boko Haram(BH) sect, it clearly seems, would stop at nothing to destroy the northern parts of the nation without the slightest compunction. They get more emboldened by the day - and the reason is simple: They have gone away undetected with so many atrocious acts that left reasonable people wondering what happened to the nation’s security apparatus.

The sect members have committed several atrocities with the latest happening in Zaria, Jos, Kaduna and Yobe. The destructions inflicted on the people can only, as in previous attempts, imagined. The sect’s satanic pursuits should be brought to a halt by the new government of President Mohammadu Buhari(PMB), before the sect becomes permanent impediment to his promised change to Nigerians.

In the past, this column remembers two of the numerous atrocious and highly condemnable terror that Boko Haram unleashed on the nation. To start wit: The sect several months back bombed the popular Nyanyan motor park in Nyanya, about five minutes drive to Abuja - a day after that year’s Christians’ Palm Sunday. Later, The sect abducted over 200 female students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok that were writing their West African Examination Council (WAEC) examinations in the southern part of Borno state, enveloping the nation in nightmarish situation since then.

Till date, the whereabouts of those innocent girls remain unknown and the promise of their being found by the last government and PMB over four hundred days after the incident has been dashed since no clue about there whereabouts has been given by the security agencies overtime. The earlier claim during the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s era that they were somewhere in

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‘The siege foisted on the nation

by Boko Haram and the way it is handled in months ahead will be a monumental test of the leadership skills of PMB’s presidency.

PMB should be told that Nigerians are tired of rhetoric on the way forward regarding the Boko Haram malaise; what they want is effective official action that could wipe out the miscreants masquerading as Islamic adherents’

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08110000117

Lamentations over BH’s unending calamities the Sambisa forest remains speculative since no trace of them could be confirmed despite the several military’s numerous onslaughts in the evil forest.

With the frequency with which the sect inflicts pains on its environs despite the dawn of the PMB’s administration, it is not impossible at the time of reading this piece that many other dastard acts from the sect may have also happened which underscores the level of insecurity currently ravaging the country. It is pertinent to ask: What has happened to the nation’s intelligence arm? What is PMB doing with the rotten Military Service Chiefs that failed former President Jonathan’s government? What is the effect of the billions of funds that the Service Chiefs squandered on the socalled prosecution of Boko Haram in the entire north?

The latest Jos and Zaria bomb blasts devilishly sneaked into town like a thief at night, wrecking heart-rending explosions - shattering in the process, lives and property. The attendant devastations reportedly affected buildings,whacked glasses and devastated cars parked near and several metres from the scene.

The ferocious consistency with which the terror group is bombing everywhere in the north has put a lie on hitherto held views that PMB was a backer of that notorious sect that is fundamentally working against humanity in Nigerian and the entire world.

This column remembers that partisans like Femi Fani-Kayode, Governor Ayodele Fayose and others in the People’s Democratic Party supporting Jonathan in his failed re-election bid for the presidency tried to make the mischievous allegation stick on PMB. By now, they should have realised that the sect’s operations could not have been sustained under this cur-

HE huge downpour which left all-Lagos totally drenched and flooded from noon July 2, initially constituted itself into a braggart that threatened to make NTA’s Nite of Tribute for Jimmy Atte, a flop.

Eventually however, it ended up as a heaven-sent coolant of frayed nerves and a succor to hearts in great grief at the loss of this gem of a man - a devote Christian, a thoroughly good man, an expert worker, quintessential leader and helper of the helpless - who is no more.

By 4pm when the programme was slated to commence, heaven was still offloading the watery deluge on Lagos. But by 5pm people began to defy the rain and began to pour into the venue in torrents, forcing the rain to finally give up.

NTA’s Director-General, Sola Omole was one of the earliest to come. NTA’s former DGs like Dr Tonie Iredia and Engr.

Vincent Maduka graced that most-solemn event. But former DG, Senator Ben Murray Bruce was conspicuously absent.

Other prominent TV, theatre and social personalities also flooded to the venue. But it was DG Sola Omole that kickedoff the tribute-paying soiree. He said Jimmy Atte was so dear to them and that no amount of rain could stop the NTA Family from celebrating him as their own.

Omole said the NTA is based on the tripod pillars of News, Engineering and Programmes and for Jimmy Atte to have headed two of the three Directorates has made him a colossus. He said Atte was a man who never put any wrong foot forward and that he has therefore left an excellent, huge legacy.

He also added that Atte should be remembered as a special, eminent broadcaster, mentor, leader and champion.

Mrs. Nkechi Alli-Balogun gave a hear-trending tribute. She said Atte’s demise was her personal loss, as Atte in his goodness to her had become a father-figure. He was her mentor, counselor and confidant. Nkechi who was an NTA staff before she went into the banking industry said she met her husband for the first time in her life in Atte’s office. She said Atte counseled her in every step and move that has made her into a success. She said Atte taught her how to forgive and how to love - because he never held back forgiveness and always radiated love to everyone. He testified like almost everyone in the home that Atte was a generous giver who was always happy, never bitter.

Dr. Tonie Iredia however harped on Atte’s generosity of a different sort. He said he couldn’t afford to miss any outing in honour of Jimmy Atte, anytime, anywhere. He said the generosity he experienced from Atte was not material but intellectual. As Atte’s boss, they constantly quarreled because the DG’s best was not good enough for the perfectionist Director.

rent tenure if truly PMB were to be one of their backers,as erroneously alleged, in recent time.

Despite the fact that PMB cannot be evidentially linked with the satanic sect’s behemoth, there is a huge responsibility on him to ensure that the country wins the war that the group is waging against her sovereignty.

But the situation at the moment is one that personally should be embarrassing to the current president. More importantly, what is evidently clear now to all is that Boko Haram members have proved themselves to be creatures of rage and lunacy because they ceaselessly inflict darkness on the country’s humanity. Nowadays, faces in the northern region grow forlorn not out of personal volition but because the days ahead are marked with unexpected affronts that the government could not provide answers for. Most of these are usually disastrous and more worrisome is the fact that the process is increasingly becoming irksome and incessant.

The nation is aware of recent diplomatic shuttles of PMB to neighbouring countries and Germany for the G-8 Summit, ostensibly meant to seek supports that could bring an end to the Boko Haram cankerworm. But this new president must realise that Nigerians cannot perpetually continue to live under the fear of the sect’s looming evil. Otherwise, reasonable questions may be asked whether the country is one governed by rules and with full compliment of state instruments of coercion in place. In the view of this column in relation to the Boko Haram’s incessant horrors, this is becoming doubtful because attrition avoidably rules the air at the moment with little hope that it would disappear soonest.

What is our government doing? Better put -

what is the administration of PMB doing to end this unceasing bloodshed? Why is the widely touted official effort against the sect not effective? When is the presidential globetrotting’s impact going to be felt? What has happened to previous official efforts? Are we scheming for self-destruct? Are things going to continue like this until there are very few people left to kill in that part of the country? What assurance is there that the menace will not spread to other parts of the country?

The Boko Haram bombings/killings/abductions could best be described as nothing but a national tragedy despite the fact that some lucky parts of the country only read the story and view the ruins on television sets. But for the humanity that flows in human veins, they may never fully appreciate the pains and anguish of victims who dread to sleep for fear of Boko Haram-induced nightmares. The sorrows that the sect brought on humanity, through impiety, remain the hardest to bear. Is there a way to safety? Can someone rescue these Boko Haram afflicted people since the former Jonathan’s administration was incapable of providing effective escape route while it might seem a bit hasty and reluctantly unfair to fully accuse the PMB administration of laxity in not earnestly rescuing the country from the looming destruction?

The PMB government must realise the need not only to halt the satanic speed with which the sect is moving in its war against the nation; but the reigning administration must also ensure that the over 200 Chibok girls abducted in their innocence over a year ago are rescued, no matter how, but prayerfully soonest, from their current unintended hosts. The siege foisted on the nation by Boko Haram and the way it is handled in months ahead will be a monumental test of the leadership skills of PMB’s presidency. PMB should be told that Nigerians are tired of rhetoric on the way forward regarding the Boko Haram malaise; what they want is effective official action that could wipe out the miscreants masquerading as Islamic adherents. As a Muslim, l know that what Islam preaches is not the evil that Boko Haram members are doing and for sure, it is undeniable that they could not have been true Muslims.

In practical terms, when will these victimsinflicted trials, struggles and losses come to an end? Quite sadly, this column, without the fear of being accused of undue pessimism, does not see any hope of immediate liberation out of the abyss of despair for victims of these violent afflictions with the half-hearted handling of the Boko Haram onslaught by the inherited Military Service Chiefs of the PMB’s administration. This period is really a trying one to our souls. It is time we rose from our slumber!

NTA’S night of tribute for Jimmy Atte

By Ola Amupitan Atte was always critical but at one point Iredia began to notice that the criticism was always constructive and productive. The DG then began to take more care to dot his ‘i’s and cross his ‘t’s before giving them to Atte. The boss now testifies that Atte contributed enormously to Iredia’s success as NTA DG, and concludes that every successful major enterprise must have a Jimmy Atte in its system.

Tributes were truly endless for Jimmy Atte. Everyone had a word of praise for the media guru. They say Atte like a true champion lived for others, not himself. They taught that anyone can live his life as he wishes but because no one can live his life twice people should emulate Atte and let his life be a blessing to others.

Yours truly was also encouraged to testify to an instance of Atte’s goodness. In 1992 politicians had attracted me to take up an appointment as the General Manager of a government newspaper in Lokoja. Within six months they had also so frustrated me that I had to resign and return to nothing in Lagos. It was Atte, who didn’t know me from Adam, except for my Okun-name and my little popularity in the press – who came to my rescue. He helped me to find my feet again.

But unknown to these Lagos tribute-givers is that this man, who was always ready to deprive himself in order to lift any man from distress, once passed a state commissionership position, signed, sealed and delivered to him unto another man. He wanted to concentrate on his professional calling.

Atte gave to another a position many Nigerians feverishly sought, and are still seeking, to make themselves multimillionaires.

Also unknown to many people at the NTA premises on that day of tribute-giving, is that this Atte that has just died was a silent activist for the well-being of Okunland in Kogi State from which he hailed.

Chief Jimmy Folorunsho Atte, the Amona of Okunland once invited me to his office to show me copies of a brand new map of Okunland he had commissioned and produced. All the towns, villages and hamlets of Yagba, Ijumu, Kabba and

Bunu sub-ethnic districts were in bold relief. Then he elaborately pointed out to me that Bunu District alone has a landmass as big as the land areas of some states in Nigeria and that we are not asking for too much in demanding that Okun State be created. The call for Okun State is more than justified - that was his well-considered position and intended pursuit.

Indeed, the NTA has decided rightly to celebrate Atte’s wonderful life of radiant performances but for us, it is the loss of a General at the battlefield of Okunland emancipation.

Amona, Okunland is still in shock and in mourning at your exit. The emancipation of the homeland of which you were a pillar of support, remains in limbo. This wicked illness that has claimed your most precious life at only 66 is a major setback, even if not an abortion. We miss you already. But we shall overcome. Fare thee well!

• Amupitan wrote in from Lagos.

‘But unknown to these Lagos tribute-givers is that this man, who was always ready to deprive himself in order to lift any man from distress, once passed a state commissionership position, signed, sealed and delivered to him unto another man. He wanted to concentrate on his professional calling. Atte gave to another a position many Nigerians feverishly sought, and are still seeking, to make themselves multimillionaires’

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

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Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON SOUTHEAST STATES

Abia to raise N1.5b IGR monthly

Community relishes health facility •PAGE 38

•PAGE 27

FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

PAGE 25

Residents want refuse heaps cleared •PAGE 40

In combat or captivity, insurgents are dreaded in equal measure. NWANOSIKE ONU reports that the relocation of Boko Haram prisoners to the Ekwulobia Prisons in Anambra State is still being resisted in the region

•A street protest against the relocated prisoners in Anambra

Battle against Boko Haram prisoners capitated and, reportedly, even beheaded victims. Their suicide bombers, among whom women and young girls, some as young as 12, have blown people apart.

Thus, since the relocation of captured insurgents to Ekwulobia, the residents and people of the Southeast have not rested. It was said that about 47 Boko Haram prisoners were brought to Anambra, but more have been shipped in to join the ones earlier relocated.

The development triggered outrage from the zone. Traders under the aegis of Anambra State Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA) led by Chief Chukwudi Ezenwankwor protested in the streets.

The action by the Federal Government has also drawn the ire of

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B

OKO Haram fighters are pretty much like the proverbial lion, avoided in life and death. Even in captivity, guarded by prison officials and the military, no one wants to have anything to do with them.

In Ekwulobia, Anambra State, to whose prison some insurgent prisoners have been shipped from the northeast, there have been protests since the relocation about two weeks ago. Across the region, the resistance has been just as vehement.

Boko Haram fighters have amply shown such mindless thirst for blood and maximum violence. Their bombs have ripped apart huge structures including churches and mosques, among other buildings. They have de-

Since the relocation of captured insurgents to Ekwulobia, the residents and people of the Southeast have not rested. It was said that about 47 Boko Haram prisoners were brought to Anambra, but more have been shipped in to join the ones earlier relocated

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the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), with the evangelical organisation describing it as spiritual warfare.

The governors of the Southeast states, led by Owelle Rochas Okorocha (Imo), have brainstormed the issue in Owerri,

the state capital. Their meeting ended without a clear way forward.

The situation has created panic among the residents of the state, while some in Ekwulobia have started relocating to other communities.

Not only that. The region’s

youths have threatened to declare war if the Federal Government fails to rescind its decision of dumping the high-risk insurgents in the area.

Though, the military had been deployed to take charge of the area for safety purposes, the youths declared that it will not deter them any time they want to take action, if nothing is done.

The state CAN led by its chairman, Superintendent Senior Apostle Tim Okpala, has declared fasting and prayer.

Less than a week ago, the Christian fold in the state assembled at Emmaus House in Awka alongside the youth, •Continued on page 26

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

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THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

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T was once the biggest thing, powering the national and regional economies. Suddenly, like almost everything Nigerian, the coal industry went cold and out, replaced by crude oil. Is a bounceback in the offing? That question is worth asking considering the fact that candidate Muhammadu Buhari running for presidency told Enugu residents that the coal industry would be revived if he won the election.

Enugu people are expectant. Why? Coal is still a money-spinner and keeps the world running. Its power stations reportedly generate about 40 per cent of the world’s electricity.

Much of the material used in making steel, coke, is derived from coal. The beauty industry also finds coal extremely useful in producing such items as shampoo and dandrufffighting creams or powders.

Fertilisers are byproducts as well.

Even concrete is derived from coal.

There are so many other uses of coal. That was why Enugu residents were excited during the electioneering campaigns when the then All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate announced through the spokesman of the party in the Southeast, Osita Okechukwu that the Nigerian Coal Corporation (NCC) would be revived if Buhari won the election.

The party also added that when revamped, it would create jobs for no fewer than 10,000 people. The moribund NCC, its workers and retirees welcomed Buhari’s promise.

The black solid mineral was once the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy until the advent of liquid gold in the early sixties.

Enugu State government had strenuously called for the resuscitation of the industry which held sway before the discovery of crude oil.

Coal was discovered in Enugu in 1908 by a team of British geological explorers led by Sir Albert Kitson but actual mining did not start until 1915, a year after the then British colonial government and a number of Udi warrant chiefs led by the legendary Onyeama of Eke signed an agreement for its exploitation.

•Continued from page 25 women and other clergy to protest the federal government action.

Among those present during the protest and spiritual warfare were the Anglican Archbishop on the Niger and Dean, Church of Nigerian, Most Rev Christian Efobi and Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor.

Also, in the procession were Anglican Bishops of Awka, Most Rev Alex Ibezim, Bishop of NigerWest, Most Rev Johnson Ekwe and Bishop of Ogbaru, Most Rev Samuel Ezeofor.

The women and youth members of the various denominations carried placards that read, “Anambra CAN says no to Boko Haram, we have no accommodation for Boko Haram, we have not slept since then, WOWICAN rejects Boko Haram among others.”

Apostle Okpala warned against violence. He told The Nation that the war the youths said they would declare should be spiritual, not with arms.

He said, “The youth should remain calm; there is no need for such because we have seen war before, going to war will not solve the problem, CAN is not in support of that. Our own war is spiritual; we are going to take our own weapon which is prayers to fight this battle.

“What we are saying is that the prisons belong to the federal government, but they should take these high risk prisoners back to the North; Southeast is not a home for them, we do not need them in this peaceful environment.”

During his campaign, President Muhammadu Buhari lifted the hopes of Enugu State residents on the return of the coal industry if he won. Now, the people are waiting on him, reports CHRIS OJI

•A part of Enugu

Waiting for Enugu coal revival The discovery of coal in Enugu endeared it to the Europeans who chose it as the administrative headquarters of Eastern Nigeria.

Soon after the opening of the coal mine in 1915, the colliery management embarked on massive recruitment of labourers to work the mines. The then colonial governor, Lord Fredrick Lugard had as early as 1912 decided that the coal field in Enugu should be operated as a state industry in contrast to tin being mined in Jos as private enterprise. This, he reasoned, was because of the importance of coal in the development of the Nigerian economy.

By 1917, over 3000 men were working in the Enugu Colliery and in the same year Enugu was declared a second class township and divided into four zones: The European Reservation Area, the Neutral Zone, the residential and business area as well as the native locations.

No doubt the changes in the status of Enugu were brought about by the coal mining activities with the influx of immigrants to the town at the early stage of development.

In the same way as coal has brought Enugu into reckoning, so also has it helped to chart the course of •Continued on page 27

•The abandoned coal-powered Oji River station

Be more dedicated, journalists told From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

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•A school hostel in Yobe State once destroyed by Boko Haram

Battle against Boko Haram prisoners “The issue of insurgencies which is a global dread, could inflict emotional injuries to the people in a relatively peaceful environment like Anambra State” “Bringing inmates of insurgents constitutes a serious security risk to the lives and property of the people inside and outside the prison.”

“These people are not our brothers and sisters, they should go back to where they belong; we condemn the act of bringing insurgents to an

ordinary prison like Ekwulobia prison.”

CAN urged the public to be calm in the situation, calling for prayers from Nigerians for security of life and property in the country.

It has become a blame game between the former governor of the state, Peter Obi and his successor, Willie Obiano, who accused Obi and former president Goodluck Jonathan of being behind the current situation when they allegedly signed a pact in 2012 to relocate the

inmates. Obi has fired back, calling his successor a liar. Chinedu Obidigwe a special adviser to Obiano on political matters reportedly pointed the finger of blame on Obi, while the former governor’s media aide, Valentine Obienyem responded on behalf of his principal.

As the fire rages on, the federal government has continued to keep mum over the matter, but one thing is clear, the people of the Southeast have said there is no going to sleep till the issue is resolved.

HE chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abia State council, Mr. John Emejor has challenged journalists in the state to be more professional in the discharge of their duties.

Emejor also bemoaned what he termed as the decline of investigative journalism, urged colleagues to be probing in their reportage.

He told The Nation that the reason why it appears as if journalism was not thriving in the state was because practitioners do not ask critical questions on issues of public importance and do not follow up stories.

He spoke with our correspondent on the phone.

“The problem remains that investigative journalism appears not to be thriving in the state. When issues are raised and nobody follows it up to its logical conclusion, suddenly the whole thing will fizzle out. If we dig deep, then the application of that FOI Bill will come into place”.

On how to fight quacks in the state which has infiltrated the noble profession/practice, Emejor disclosed that ethical committee has been established by the state council to deal with such matter, stressing that the committee would always act by investigating on any petition against journalist alleged of being a quack and the commit•Continued on page 28

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

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THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

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•Governor Okezie Ikpeazu at a press conference in Umuahia. with him from left are Senior Special Assistant, Media, Ugochukwu Emezuoe; Chief Press Secretary, Godwin Adindu, and Deputy Chief of Staff, Elder John Nwagborogwu

Abia to raise N1.5b IGR monthly From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

from Aba can run the state effectively without relying on federal allocations.

In a chat with in Aba, Ogunji posited that if Aba is fixed, the city has the potentials to generate huge Internally Generated Revenue which would be far in excess of federal allocations, stressing that the governor must plug revenue leakages.

“I think the governor has started on a good note by his efforts to rehabilitate roads and open some of these areas. He can change the face of Aba and make sure that touts are pushed out and ensure that infrastructure is working well and turn Aba into a mega city. Investors will come and businesses will begin to

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HE slump in oil prices seems to be bringing out the best in the leaders, with Abia State planning to generate N1.5b internally every month.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu revealed the government’s plan at his maiden press briefing in Umuahia, the state capital.

A source said the state was once generating between N300b to N600 billion monthly but has since dropped due to leakages linked to a few individuals who siphon government funds and have been getting away with it. This, according to the source, the governor will no longer tolerate.

According to Ikpeazu, part of the steps taken by his administration to achieve to it target was the ongoing infrastructural and some road reconstruction and rehabilitation in the state, especially Aba, the commercial hub of the state, adding that more road constructions in the state are due for inauguration in less than one week.

The governor further disclosed said that the state government’s plan is to do an average of 100 trucks of waste everyday for 30 days, stressing that that has been completed and would be extended.

The governor assured that de-silting of drainages in Aba would be a monthly exercise for six months.

Meanwhile, the chairman Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Aba branch Mr. Chidozie Ogunji, a lawyer, has advised Governor to make good use of the state IGR as the price of oil at the international oil market continues to dwindle.

Ogunji in a chat with journalists in Aba, the commercial nerve of the state, noted that the economy of the state would blossom and government able to execute its projects if the IGR of the state would be properly managed.

According to him, if Ikpeazu can fulfill his promise of infrastructural renewal and boost trade and commerce in Aba he will discover that resources that would be generated

I think the governor has started on a good note by his efforts to rehabilitate roads and open some of these areas. He can change the face of Aba and make sure that touts are pushed out and ensure that infrastructure is working well and turn Aba into a mega city

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thrive in the city. Again, the problem of illegal revenue agents and touting should be given a serious attention because most of these rev-

enues they collect end up in private pockets. He must make haste to block revenue leakages to get funds for development purposes.”

Waiting for Enugu coal revival

Community gets monarch six years after

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•Continued from page 26

HE kingship tussle that rocked Ishiagu community

in Ivo local government area of Ebonyi State for over six years has been resolved, resulting in the acceptance of His Royal Majesty Eze Moses Okafor Ngele as the Agu III of Ishiagu kingdom.

The royal conflict which outlived the administration of former Governor Martin Elechi had torn the community apart, with an aggrieved section going to court. At a point violence broke out in the area leading to the hospitalisation of the wounded. Even His Royal Majesty Agu III was almost kidnapped and assassinated.

Those days are over, which was why there was a huge turnout of Ishiagu people at Ivo Local Government Area of the state where the new king was widely accepted by the people. Women groups, chiefs, members and executives of Ishiagu Community Development Union, ICDU, the council boss, politicians, among others, endorsed Eze Moses Okafor Ngele as the king of the Ishiagu.

Recall that the Agu II of Ishiagu kingdom, HRM Basil Onu died in 2008 and since his demise, the community had stayed about 7 years before a new king was unanimously endorsed by the people and elders

He urged the governor to cut the high cost of government in the state by not recycling some names that have refused to engage themselves in any other work than relying on government as well as scrapping Ministries, Department and Agencies, MDAs, with similar functions.

The NBA chairman also lamented that the courts have been on strike in the state and called on the governor to ensure that the problems is resolved.

According to him,”It is an infringement on the rights of the people to have the courts shut down.Gov. Ikpeazu should do everything within his means to ensure that the courts are opened.

Whatever is the matter should be resolved; it is undemocratic to have the courts under lock and key.”

•Elders and chiefs of the community at the event From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakiliki

of the community.

At the occasion which is the official presentation of the Agu III by the President of ICDU, Chief Stanley Uchenna Anyim to the Council boss of Ivo LGA, Mr. Joseph Obasi, marked the fulfillment of the process leading to the Agu III getting his Staff of office from the state government.

As it is customary, the Council boss will in turn take the new king to Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state who will at a time appointed give the staff of office

to the king of Ishiagu kingdom.

In a chat with South East Voice, the Agu III of Ishiagu kingdom, HRM Eze Moses Okafor Ngele who noted that the delay behind his presentation to the Council was due to political interference reiterated that his reign would foster economic prosperity of the people, checkmate incidences of violence and crime and establish togetherness and peace in the whole of Ishiagu community.

“The support and endorsement I got today was very overwhelming; the entire chiefs of both Agu I and II are with me including

women groups, youths, ICDU, Ishiagu Elders traditional Council and people of Ishiagu are solidly behind me as their king”.

Also, both the ICDU President, Chief Anyim and Ivo Council boss, Mr. Obasi confirmed that appropriate steps put in place for the selection of the Agu III were followed by the Committee set up to handle the exercise adding that the general acceptance of HRM Eze Moses Okafor Ngele by the people of the area as the king of Ishiagu would go a long way towards forestalling peace and unity in the community.

Nigeria’s independence. Enugu colliery in spite of its importance to the economy of the country, was however, bedeviled with series of internal crises occasioned by autocratic management. Because of the physical exertion coupled with low wages and poor conditions of service, work in the mines was usually uninteresting, resulting in desertion by local labourers. Series of strikes interrupted work at the mines. The first colliery strike was in 1917. Other strikes followed in 1920, 1925, 1932, 1945, and thereafter. The most devastating occurred in 1949, leading to killing of 21 miners.

That tragedy triggered violent reactions from Port-Harcourt, Onitsha, Aba and Calabar. Some have said that the protests over the killings eventually paved the way for the agitation for self-government.

The colonial government tried to salvage the disorder by establishing the Nigerian Coal Corporation (NCC) by an Ordinance in 1950 and charged it with the responsibility to prospect, mine, treat and market coal products in Nigeria.

Coal effectively dropped out of reckoning in 1970 shortly after the discovery of crude oil in 1959.

There are coal deposits across a large section of the country, just as there is a wide market for coal.

Once, the Oji-River power station was driven by coal. It has since been abandoned. Enugu residents will benefit from its revival, but not only them. Unemployment will be scaled back. More people will breathe easier from work and supporting their families. That will be a national victory.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

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THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

•Eze Madumere (middle) after the installation

Honour for Imo Deputy Governor

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HE Council of Traditional Rulers of Imo State has conferred the title of Ohamadike or the brave man of the state on the state Deputy Governor Prince Eze Madumere. The conferment took place in Owerri, the state capital.

Madumere was deemed to have merited the honour through his contribution to human and community development.

The Ohamadike is only given to a person who has made remarkable impact in education, business, politics and philanthropy, among other vocations.

Chieftaincy title conferment in Igbo land is an important and ageless tradition. It is a means of showing appreciation and reward for hard work and accomplishments.

By so doing, others are spurred to work hard and contribute to community development so as to be honoured.

Madumere was once a notable figure in philanthropy before his foray into politics.

Unassuming, although from a royal family in Achi in Ezi-Mbieri autonomous community, in Mbaitoli Council Area of the state, the Deputy Governor has mentored several youths from the state, who are currently doing well in their

There is no title higher than being a prince but this title of Ohamadike is our own way of appreciating the Deputy Governor for his contributions to the development of the state

,

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

various fields of endeavor.

As the President of the Prince Eze Foundation, Madumere has touched the lives of several indigent people through free healthcare services, women and youth empowerment and educational support for students across the state, which includes direct scholarships, payment of WAEC, SSCE and

•Fr Okoro inaugurating a health centre in Amagu, Ebonyi State

UMTE fees for students from less privileged backgrounds.

In a speech delivered during the occasion on behalf of ‘Ndi Owere’, the chairman of the organising committee, Mr Kingsley Ononuju, a lawyer, said the people of Owerri, decided to honour the Deputy Governor for making the zone proud with his conduct and sterling performance in office, which has earned the zone respect.

He pointed out that Madumere has used his position as the Deputy Governor of the state, to bring unity, peace and harmony in the state and showcase the people of Owerri zone in good light.

Ononuju noted further that, “Ndi Owerri are indeed proud to have one of our own as the Deputy Governor of the state and decided to organize this reception which also coincides with his birthday anniversary and Chieftaincy title conferment in appreciation of his humility and wisdom in aligning with the state Governor”.

He continued that, “Madumere is the symbol of the aspiration of the people of Owerri zone, who he

noted can provide good leadership after his boss, Okorocha.”

The Chairman of the Owerri Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Chidume Okoro, who performed the chieftaincy installation in the company of other traditional rulers, including the Chairman of the State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Samuel Ohiri, said, “There is no title higher than being a prince but this title of Ohamadike is our own way of appreciating the Deputy Governor for his contributions to the development of the state, especially his sup•Continued on page 37

Be more dedicated, journalists told •Continued from page 26 tee in line with the provisions of the NUJ constitution would sanction the person appropriately.

“There are many quacks in the business, but when we have a written report against them, we will go after them and the committee instituted by the council will determine their punishment in line with the constitution of the union but where it goes beyond what we can manage, we will hand the person over to the security agencies to investigate the person further. There must be written evidence indicating what the person did. But when there is no report, will be chasing a hot air”.

Speaking on steps the NUJ, Abia State Council was taking to train and retrain its members to meet international best media practice, the NUJ state chairman said “We have been trying to partner with institutions and corporate individuals, but incidentally, not much exist in Abia State. We are yet to have people that would fund and get some professionals to train us.

“Nobody can play with training and retraining of journalists because a well trained journalist is an invaluable asset to this community and the entire human race. Training and retraining is part and parcel of programme we have for Jour-

nalists in Abia State”, he emphasized.

He advised journalists in the state to always cross-check their facts and as well try to give the accused fair hearing which he said would make their reports balance and objective. ”I want to advice journalists to be professional in their reportage; there are two sides to every situation. Each time, we (journalists) tend to take stories from mostly government angle and refused to take from another angle. The practice is being anchored on ethical principles. Let journalists go all out to use the FOI Bill. I am insisting that to be a renowned professional, you must also be professional in your outlook, in your writing, speeches and all that”.

The Abia NUJ chairman stressing the need for journalists in the state and to embrace reading said “There is no laziness in this business, they (journalists) should find something new, any day, any time and for you (journalists) to stay afloat and people to keep reading you, you must not play with your books.

Journalists are not reading their books anymore because of the pressure of the job but I will advice any journalist who wants to remain relevant in this life and in his chosen profession to find time to read books particularly communication and other books”.

Newspaper of the Year

AN EIGHT-PAGE PULLOUT ON THE SOUTHSOUTH STATES

FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

PAGE 29

•Mother of the deceased crying. She is consoled by well-wishers.

•The late Amaseimogha

•The deceased’s fiancee being consoled by a relative

River of tears flows in Bayelsa •Navy, Opume bury 25-year-old soldier killed by Boko Haram

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INSIDE

EARS. Tears. Tears. If only tears could wake the dead, Seaman Paul Alex Amaseimogha would have no business lying stone cold, face up in his white casket. Who did not cry that day? Perhaps only people oblivious of the death of the 25-year-old.

Friends, family members, relations and residents of Opume kingdom in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, were weeping, sulking and crying.

Like the river surrounding Opume, the tears of Darling, the

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

mother of the deceased, flowed.

Like the water cascading from a fountain, the tears of Miss Yusuf Emma-Ojo, 25, the deceased’s fiancee, who hails from Kogi State, flowed.

Rogers, the father, was all tears as he repeatedly used his wrinkled bare palms to wipe his swollen visage. In fact, the community was beaten by the same bug of sorrow.

Those who could not cry stood

Akwa Ibom communities cry over floods’ woes PAGES 31

with their hands folded. The misery permeated so much in the community that children disappeared from playgrounds.

That Amaseimogha died was not the reason for the tears. The circumstances surrounding his death and the fact that he was cut short in his prime fighting a needless war in the Northeast caused the lamentation.

He was one of the young soldiers trained in counterterrorism in Belarus and deployed in Borno State to flush out the Boko Haram

End of the road for ‘fake’ mobile policeman PAGES 34

insurgents. He was hit by bullets in the Boko Haram battlefield and the vivacious young man described as an intelligent and patriotic soldier by his peers later passed on.

While his fellow fallen heroes were buried in a dedicated graveyard in Abuja, the family of the late soldier requested that his remains should be brought back to them for interment. The Chief of Naval Staff directed that the remains of Amaseimogha should be taken to his Ijaw community and bur-

ied according to the Navy tradition.

So, the residents amidst their tears, rained curses on Boko Haram and called down evil on sympathisers and sponsors of the evil group. Miss Ema Yusuf, the fiancee of the late soldier was the worst-hit. The beautiful young woman never expected that a man she had dreamt of spending the rest of her life with would die unexpectedly.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Why Asaba people see Asagba as God's rep on earth PAGES 34

• YOU HAVE STORIES FOR US? PLEASE CONTACT US ON 07066954441 OR 08123521990

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT NEWS Day Saro-Wiwa, Biriye, Boro were resurrected in Port Harcourt From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

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RADITIONAL rulers, elders, youths and women leaders from across Ijaw communities in the Niger Delta wore their best. It was at the Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. They were there for two reasons: to seek an alternative to violent agitation and to honour men who contributed to building the region.

The highpoint of the event was the honouring of some notable Niger Deltans, including the late Dr. Ken Saro-Wiwa (Ogoni); Chief Harold Dappa Biriye, (Bonny); Jasper Adaka Isaac Boro (Kaiama -Bayelsa); Dr. M. Fibresima (Okrika); Chief U.O. Ekeneoko (Andoni); Chief P. G. Wormate (Kalabari) and Dr. Obi Wali (Ikwerre).

The summit with the theme “The Niger Delta Struggle: Reviewing the old approach and the new alternative in evolving socio-economic and political realities”, suggested a new module opposed to militancy, hostage taking and shutdown of oil installations.

A former President of the jaw Youth Council (IYC), Prof Atuboyedia Obianime, said Ijaw youths must change from the Kaiama Declaration and use of violence to seeking attention. He urged them to embrace peaceful and intellectual articulation of the Ijaw demands. He said there was need to go back to the era where elders used their wisdom and youths used their strength to achieve a common purpose.

Another speaker, Dr. Sofiri Joab Peterside, recalled that it was the Ijaw struggle that led to the emergence of Dr Goodluck Jonathan as President. While he conceded that the pattern of the struggle must be reviewed, he said the outcome of the last general elections means that the Ijaw must negotiate, consult and set agenda.

He said: “Negotiation, partnering is the only way to go, we have the capacity to mobilise and to discuss our commonwealth. As an Ijaw man whoever wants to represent us as our leader must hear from us, must be part of us; that is why we must quickly draw an agenda that would be respected by all and until we have a common agenda, where elders and youths would come together and agree on a common goal, we would not get it right.

“Some of our agitations went right because the elders supported it. I remember when we convened a meeting in one of the Ijaw communities and the security agents said the gathering would not take place but the elders insisted that we have the right to hold meeting anywhere in Ijaw land and that was how we held that meeting. The Ijaw elders must play their role.

“Sometime the elders are the cause of the problem in Ijaw land, especially when it has to do with the proceeds of the oil. They hide from the youths and refuse to make clarification and explanation on how the money was used or misused. Now, the struggle started from the side of the youths who were desperate to look for an alternative that would guarantee them a say on the resources of their land. Because no one would voluntarily want to disrespect the elders, some elders became chiefs overnight or chief in the afternoon, even at the age of 60, they struggle to become youth leaders, just to take what does not belong to them. Sometimes the basis of who is a youth in our region becomes a major controversy. We must put together what we called Ijaw development agenda; there must be an agenda for Ijaw ethnic nationality.

“Goodluck Jonathan became a president without an Ijaw agenda; surprisingly some activists and militant leaders in the region went to sleep. Some became contractors while others got political appointments. It was when Jonathan failed that we now realised that we have an Ijaw agenda, perhaps if we had continued with regular meeting he (Jonathan) and those who took over from him would have known that there is Ijaw agenda.”

Other speakers at the event said 58 years after the Willink’s Commission recommended development of the region, the Niger Delta has remained the same without a tangible development in spite of the creation of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The National Secretary General of the IYC, who is also the leader of its Rivers State branch, Comrade Bristol Alagbariya Emmanuel, explained that the event was organised to chart a non-violent course for the youth. He called on the Ijaw youth to stop any act capable of tarnishing the struggle and image of heroes of the region who placed their lives on the line to attract respect in the struggle for the emancipation of the region.

Lawmaker fetes constituents

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HE lawmaker representing Ovia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Ms Omosede Igbinedion has promised members of her constituents that she would give them robust representation and make life better for them.

Omosede gave the assurance at a dinner party she held to thank the Ovia people for making history in voting her as the first female federal lawmaker in the state.

The party was well-attended by residents in Ovia as transportation was provided to convey them from their various villages to the Benin ‘Garden of Eden’ residence of Omosede father, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin Kingdom.

In her remark, Omosede denied insinuations that she planned to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party and promised to remain loyal to the PDP as well as worked towards ensuring victory for the party in next year’s governorship elections.

She promised to fulfill her campaign promises, which according to her, included youth employment and women empowerment.

According to her, “I will forever remain loyal to you, I will not defect and I will remain loyal to the PDP.”

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

“PDP is taking over Edo we go into governorship election next year. Edo is tired of APC. They need a change. It will be PDP all the way.

“Every promise I made will be sustained. It is about supporting your dreams, aspiration, desires and I will live up to every expectation. I will do more than I promise to do.

“I am here to say a big thank you. I know a lot has transpired in Abuja and having been watching the strides I am making on your behalf. I will be a chairman of one of the committees soon to be inaugurated. Every promise I made will be sustained. It is about supporting your dreams, aspiration, desires and I will live up to every expectation. I will do more than I promise to do.

“I never make promises I can never keep. I don’t want to make up things.

Our youths will be gainfully employed. Women will be empowered.

“What you want is development.

You want to see your community enhanced. There is a line of communication that will be open. I am a representative of every single person in Ovia. From good road to provision of portable water, I will make the dreams become a reality.”

NIGER DELTA REPORT COVER

Tears as Bayelsa buries Boko Haram victim “T

HIS is a day I least expected to come soon,”she sobbed.

Recalling her last meeting with him, he said: “The last time I saw him was when he said they were taking them to Jaji Forest in Kaduna State.

He left. The next call I got was that they were going to Maiduguri.”

But Miss Yusuf said something unusual happened.

“The last time he called, I don’t know, I was in a programme, we were launching an album with Samsung and he was calling again and again.

He had never called me like that. He later sent a text saying he was going to the warfront. I never heard from him again.

“I only heard he was dead. His friends told me. A friend of his sneaked from their camp there to come and see me with some Alex’s properties, his phone, and he was like Alex is dead. I didn’t believe it at first but when I saw his phone, I knew he was no longer there again.”

She further remembered that she had earlier mounted pressure on him to resign from the navy but the late Amaseimogha refused insisting on serving the country.

On why she asked him to leave the service, she said: “I told him to resign but he refused. I told him so because they were not paying them. They were not giving them the necessary attention. They don’t even care if they were there. Some died of dehydration, no water.”

She said the man she never married would not have died if he were attended to immediately after the attack. “He survived the attack for a whole night. No medics attended to him. They cared less. They just left them there without any medication, no attention.

“He wouldn’t have been a dead man because he got the attack on Friday and died on Saturday morning. He didn’t die immediately, he survived all through the night. There was no proper care, they kept saying, ‘the helicopter has not arrived’, until he gave up,” she said.

In a tearful voice, Miss Yusuf displayed a ring festooned in her finger and said her fiancé made a vow that after their six-month contract of combating the terrorists, he would take her to the altar. But she said he never came back. She said her fiancé was so decent and Godly that throughout the period of their courtship, he never made love to her.

“He gave me this ring proposing marriage. He said they have signed a six-month contract that after he is coming back to finalise everything but he never came back,” she lamented.

Describing the late soldier, she fondly called Alex, she said: “Alex is a very unique man in nature. He is very tolerant. He loved his country. He wished there was something more he could do to solve this Boko Haram attack. Alex is a man that I’ve never met a kind like him on this planet earth.

“All the time we were in courtship until he deceased , he was waiting to take me to the altar before he would ‘cross me’. He never made love to me.

He was a very honourable man. I just wish there are men like him out there but I’ve never seen a man like him.

“He is just so unique. He would always challenge me when l called him perfect. He would say, ‘my baby, no man is perfect. It’s only God that you can use that word for. Perfection is of God and not of human’. But to me, he was always my perfect man.”

The aggrieved fiancee could not conceal her loathsomeness to her fiancé’s decision to serve the country

‘‘

It is a day of mourning. In fact, it reminds us alive and in uniform that God is just our guidance. He keeps us when we go in and go out for operations. We are just using today to observe his ultimate prize for his patriotism to the nation

•The naval funeral tradition

•A relation goes down in pains

•The deceased’s father

‘‘

as a soldier.

She said: “With everything in me, I regret he served the country. I wish there was something I could do to just bring him back. I’ve been telling his friends to retire from the force because Alex died for nothing.

“He died but they are not recognising him. He survived, but they didn’t give him care and attention. Why are they dying there for nothing. The government does not even know you are there. There is no food to eat and there is no water. Your colleagues are dying of starvation and dehydration.

“There was one that died instantly.

He was walking and was shouting water, water, water, he fell and died. I regret he served Nigeria because it was not worth it. How can a man put his life at stake in the warfront and died and there will be no attention from the government.

“I don’t think it worths it at all. I get angry everyday and ask myself what is this for? Everything about him is cut short, his unborn children, his home, his family is mourning. Where is the government?”

Just like Miss Yusuf, Rogers, the father of the deceased, is still in shock.

All his investments on his late son had ended suddenly in a white casket. He said his son would not have died if he had avoided the special force.

“He was a brilliant and intelligent child. After everything, he went for Naval training successfully and passed out. I trained him at the Petroleum Institute in Warri. After graduating from that place, he said he was going for Naval training, I sponsored him to that very place not knowing that at the end, this type of thing is going to happen.

“He graduated and was working as a Naval officer already and after two years he told me that he had got another training at oversea, Russia. When he came back, he said he is no more in Navy that he is in special force and I asked him what is the difference between Special Force and Navy and he said that side is better than this.

“I never knew the force was facing defence at the Maiduguri Forest. When he returned from that place, he was posted to Abuja, from Abuja to Maiduguri. When he got to Maiduguri,

•The deceased’s brother surrenders to fate

he phoned me and told me he was at Maiduguri and I said where Boko Haram is? He said no problem, that they went for defence and I said okay.

“At the end of it, I was called and told that he is dead. After that I came back to the community to receive his body from the Federal Government.

As you see me, I am not happy, there are tears in my eyes,”he said.

The 50-year-old said the twin brother of his deceased son is studying at the University of Calabar, describing all his sons as responsible, respectful and obedient.

“They are six and they are united.

Nobody fights. They obey me to the core,” he said.

He, however, added: “I have no regrets that he went to the Navy even until now. The diversion is from the training at Russia, he wouldn’t have died. At Navy, he was trained as a communicator, they didn’t train him to go to war. I regretted he diverted from Navy to other area.”

He demanded adequate compensation from the Federal Government.

He said the news of his son’s death got to him as a rumour which he later confirmed to be true.

Also, Silas, the twin brother of the deceased ,described his death as painful and shocking.

“We didn’t expect it. I heard from him three weeks before his death.

We used to chat on Whatsapp.

“The last time we spoke, he told me about his experience in Sambisa Forest. He told about the progress they were making. He had this passion for the Navy so I don’t regret

that he joined the Navy because it was his decision and he did that for a reason. I miss him a lot”, he said.

Even his first cousin, Mr. Mitema Amaseimogha, never believed that he was dead. The relative who works with road safety said there was a time he was rumoured to have died but it turned out to be false.

He said: “Last December, there was a rumour that he was dead and I was in Jaji at the Nigerian Army Training School. Then I called him and he said he wasn’t dead. So when I heard about his death,I didn’t believe it until I saw his corpse. I feel very bad, we were so close. My mother took him as her son.

He is not the arrogant type, he would always play with the children around.

“He had always wanted to work for his country. He had always loved the uniform men. He was staying with us at Opolo whenever he comes to Bayelsa state,before he went for the recruitment. Since then, we never met again. It’s over three years now but we have been communicating on phone.”

Navy buries its own The late Amaseimogha was given a military burial based on the tradition of the Navy. He was honoured by top echelon of the navy from the Naval Headquarters, Abuja and the Headquarters of the Central Naval Command (CNC) in Yenagoa. His body was driven into the riverine Ijaw community in a convoy of the Navy.

The Chief of Naval Staff was represented by the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), CNC, Rear Admiral Stanley Ogoigbe, who ensured that the cer-

•Crying, crying everywhere

•It is crying galore

emony was carried out to the details.

Ogoigbe led the naval officers to the community and spent time pepping up the family members and giving them reason to live again.

The pall bearers, soldiers dressed in military fatigue, lowered the white coffin draped in a naval flag in the arena. In tears, the community gathered to witness the departure of their hero and to catch a glimpse of his remains.

They listened to the officiating priest as he spoke on hope for a better life.

Quoting from the Bible, he described death as the greatest enemy of mankind. At the end of the sermon, the citation of the late Amaseimogha was read to the audience.

After the sermon, it was time to bury the heroic solder. He would not be buried within the community because of his age and the fact that he had no wife and children. It is the custom of their people. Therefore. The pall bearers bore his coffin and in military fashion and command walked about a kilometre to a nearby forest where youths from the community dug his grave.

There he was laid and covered after 21-gun salutes.

The curtain fell on the late gallant, patriotic, disciplined, dedicated and intelligent soldier. But the Navy took his accoutrement comprising shoes, cap and the naval flag and the FOC presented them to Silas, the deceased next-of-kin, as objects of remembrance.

The FOC curdled and consoled Silas.

He also gave N250,000 from the chief of naval staff to the family for the burial

expenses and asked Silas to begin the process of collecting all the entitlements of his late brother.

Among the senior naval officers, who trooped out to honour the late soldier, were Commodores A.K. Owo-Chuks, B. Babagbale, C.A. Ofor, F.O. Teimisan, U.B. Onyia and M.A. Eno.

The man Amaseimogha He was born in Opume Town on May 1, 1990. He attended the Community Primary School, Ogbia Town and had his secondary school at the Community Secondary School, Ayakoro in Ogbia Local Government. He, however, completed his secondary school in Adagbabiri after which he proceeded to the PTI, Warri where be obtained a Diploma in Computer Engineering.

He later attended the Navy Training School in Port Harcourt where he was trained as a communicator. He served as a full-fledged naval personnel for two years and was sent to Russia because of his intelligence for a fivemonth training. He served as an intelligent officer in the special forces before he was transferred to Maidguri were he died.

Navy pays tributes The FOC read the citation of their late soldier and described him in glowing terms for dedicating his life to fight for the peace of Nigeria. He said the deceased paid the supreme price of patriotism.

“He went for the training, he did very well. It was not everybody that

went for the training that passed. He came out and he was deployed happily. He never expected he will die.

None of us that have joined the military look forward to death. But we know death is the ultimate prize you pay for your patriotism. He is a hero, he paid the ultimate prize for his love and patriotism for Nigeria.

“Like the Reverend Father stated in his sermon, Alex is not dead. He has gone to sleep. He has done his bit for Nigeria. He paid the prize to ensuring that Nigeria is a peaceful country.

“We are very proud of him and in that regard I will state again that on behalf of the Chief of Naval Staff, officers, ratings of the Nigerian Navy, I wish to express my gratitude and appreciation to the Amaseimogha family to the Opume community and to the great Bayelsa state for giving us a worthy son that immensely fought to ensuring peace in our dear nation, Nigeria”, he said.

FOC later described the ceremony as a sad day for the Navy.

He said: ”It is a day of mourning. In fact it reminds us alive and in uniform that, God is just our guidance. He keeps us when we go in and go out for operations. We are just using today to observe his ultimate prize for his patriotism to the nation.

“He was in combat fighting insurgency in the northeastern part of the country. These days,operation is not done by one service alone. We carry out operations jointly. So, he was on one of the special forces in support of the Nigerian army to ensure that insurgency is reduced in the country.

“Casualty is expected every time you go into combat. When you go in and come back, you give thanks to God. Some percentage of casualty is always expected, it could have been any one. It is a pity he is a young man.

While describing his burial as special, he said the name of the deceased would remain indelible in the cenotaph of departed heroes. “His name will be indelible. It can never be erased”, he said.

On how they relayed the tragic information to his family, he said: “When we heard that the young man fell in the battle front, what we did was to promptly check out record to look for his next-of-kin. The next-of-kin happened to be his twin brother, so we communicated with him immediately.

“He is a student of UNICAL. We connected our base in Calabar to locate him, which they did through his address and that’s why you see us here today. We gave them the option of either burying the young man in national military cemetery in Abuja or to bring him home and they decided to bring him home.

“The military has a tradition for everything. We have a procedure for communicating with the next-of-kin.

In fact, the next-of-kin is informed first before any notice and announcement”.

So, the journey of the late Amaseimogha ended abruptly. He fought gallantly for peace and paid the supreme prize. It is only expected that the country will reciprocate the sacrifices of persons especially soldiers who shed their blood for peace and sovereignty of Nigeria.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

JTF provides water, rebuilds abandoned school in Bayelsa communities

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HE people of Koluama II and Igbomotoru 1 in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, will forever remain grateful to the Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Atewe-led Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield. The commander has deployed carrot-and-stick approach to tackle oil theft.

Igbomotoru will never speak ill of JTF. Maj. Gen. Atewe has been kind to the community, initially known as the hotbed of oil-related crimes in the state. He has visited the community three times within a year. Each time he visited, the JTF commander would solve a pressing social and economic problem in the community.

In his first visit, Maj. Gen. Atewe was only there for a sensitisation campaign as part of JTF’s efforts to stop economic sabotage. But the people then complained that their source of drinking water had been polluted.

They demanded potable water from the JTF and the commander gladly promised to provide water for them.

The task force fulfilled its promise without delay. The commander returned to the community and inaugurated boreholes which have become the people’s only source of water.

While he was commissioning the borehole, the commander discovered that the Baptist Day Primary School in the community had no roofs. The roofs were blown off by rainstorm 11 years ago and the building had remained like that since then. He immediately promised to fix the roofs and renovate the buildings.

So, in his third coming, the JTF landed at the jetty in a convoy of four gunboats. It was a carnival-like occasion as the people trooped out en masse to give the army chief a rousing reception. To the people of Igbomotoru, Maj. Gen. tewe and his JTF is the only government they can identify with. He has shown them much love and concern.

The people were glad and they expressed it. The JTF boss has done what their representatives in all levels of

Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

government could not do. The pupils of the renovated school could not hide their affection for the military officer.

They came out bearing placards and singing songs to celebrate the day.

“Commander Sir, you are God-sent, you are our savior”, “Maj. Gen. E.J Atewe, the sky should be your limit, you are welcome”, were some of the messages on the placards. It was indeed, a heroic welcome.

Men and women whom the JTF donated fishing nets and sewing machine to were seen flocking around Atewe in appreciation. Others tabled more requests for empowerment before the JTF boss.

Atewe did not just renovate the school buildings, he also furnished them 400 desks for the pupils who hitherto sat on bare floor for tutorial.

The school now looks beautiful beaming in green aluminum zinc and paintings.

The Community Development Committee (CDC) Chairman, Mr. Godspower Okosufa, poured encomiums on Atewe.

He said: “Our dynamic and amiable JTF Commander of the Niger Delta, we welcome you to our great communities for the third time. Your first step to our kingdom was based on oil theft and illegal bunkering. We identify your coming as God-sent to eradicate pains and problems that we are encountering in our communities.

“Four about 16 years ago, we have not experienced development till the days of this God-sent, helper and the comforter, who has changed Igbomotoru. You sent medical team to solve our health problems both present and future, sank borehole for the students and the entire community.

“You identified with some poor women by buying sewing machines and fishing nets for them. You purchased football kits for youth empowerment and also prepared school chairs for your renovated primary school building.

•Maj. Gen. Atewe with pupils of one of the schools furnished by the JTF.

“You have comforted the pupils with conducive environment for studies. The primary school had been dilapidated by rain storm for about twelve years ago. Pupils have been using ordinary floor as desks and chairs”.

In fact, the community insisted on conferring on Maj. Gen. Atewe a chieftaincy title, “the Ibemiewei of West Bomo Kingdom”, saying he had “done what Napoleon could not do”.

The community also called on the JTF Commander to prevail on Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) to reactivate the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it reached with them as a host community.

The Head Teacher of the renovated school, Mrs. Apa Clement showered praises on the commander.

She said: “This community has suffered a lot of setbacks, due to lack of infrastructure and power. You are God-sent, if only we have just one person like you, this community would have grown in geometric progression.”

The highpoint of the event was a novelty football match between

Igbomoloru I and II in honour of Maj. Gen. Atewe who provided both football teams with complete jersey and boots.

JTF did not stop at Igbomotoru. The outfit headed for Koluama II community. Atewe is aware of the economic hardship confronting the people of the community especially after the 2012 Chevron blowout. The community lacks basic amenities including drinkable water. Therefore, in his carrotand-stick approach of tacking oil theft, the JTF commander decided to provide the most essential needs of the community which could force its people to engage in illegal oil bunkering, kidnapping and piracy.

Undoubtedly, the people heaved a sigh of relief after Atewe and members of his team inaugurated boreholes to give them a source of potable water. The residents jubilated and danced in appreciation.

Maj. Gen. Atewe told the crowd the reasons for JTF’s interventions. He said: “You may not know why Koluama became very close to the JTF. It has to do with the problem Koluama had with Chevron where the youths

went and occupy the oil and gas platform because of none response from Chevron, and the challenge that has to do with the platform that got blownoff some time ago.

“It was indeed a big problem that would have led to the damage of the Chevron platform but we invited both Chevron and Koluama community and held meetings more than five times.

“One thing I discovered during, the meeting is that the Koluama people are very peace loving, they co-operated with us in ensuring that peace was maintained between Chevron and the community.

“In our own token way of saying thank you for the understanding and your support in our fight against illegal oil bunkering, we decided to erect this borehole as a mark of our love for your support.”

The project was commissioned by the Deputy Governor of the state, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd) who was represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Bayelsa Central District, Mr. Alamene Williams. He described the gesture as unprecedented.

Akwa Ibom communities cry over loss of N50m property to floods

A

BOUT N50 million was reportedly lost to rain and floods in Akwa Ibom State last week. About 1,000 people were affected and over 100 houses were either partly submerged or seriously damaged.

Oron and Eket are worse hit. But, Uyo, the state capital, was not spared despite the over N15 billion said to have been spent in the last eight years on the popular underground pipeline jacking system.

An Uyo non-governmental organisation, Policy Alert, called on the state government to activate its disaster preparedness and emergency response plan as the state is bound to witness more floods this year.

Speaking to reporters at Eket after an inspection tour, the organisation’s Head of Programmes, Tijah Bolton-Akpan, said: “What is happening should not have taken us unawares given earlier warnings from the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency in its Nigeria Flood Outlook that the Cross River Sub-basin is among river basins to be seriously affected by flooding this year. We should be prepared for more floods. Some months ago we had called on government and communities to put in place disaster readiness and emergency response plans to deal with possible re-occurrence of floods this year to avoid the loss of lives and properties witnessed in the state in recent years.”

Bolton-Akpan added that his group had initiated an engagement with the relevant authorities and had “volunteered its expertise to government to ensure efficient, citizen-friendly and more coordinated response to the current flood disasters in various parts of the state”.

He also said the NGO has sent out teams of volunteers to visit high flood-prone commu-

From Uyoatta Eshiet, Uyo

nities in the state to put them on alert and sensitise them on steps to take in the event of a disaster.

He added: “We are also concerned about issues of equity and transparency in the distribution of relief materials and in the days ahead, we will kick off our engagement with the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to ensure that relief benefits get to those who need them most.

“We noticed that women and children are the worst affected by this disaster. We saw several children who could not attend school because they were locked in by the flooding. The state government has to do something urgently about the issue of floods, not only in the state capital but across the state. As we speak, thousands of rural families stand the risk of losing their livelihoods because their farms have been swallowed by the rains. These extreme conditions prove that climate change is a reality.

“This is why, for some time now, we have been advocating for a State Policy on Climate Change and it is high time the issue is put on the table. All stakeholders must come together and devise strategies and an action plan to ensure that climate change is mainstreamed into every aspect of development decision making.”

At Afaha Ikot Eyo Edo in Esit Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, rainstorm submerged over 20 houses and property worth several millions of naira.

The Village head of Afaha Ikot Eyo Edo, Chief Samuel Ikene, stated this while briefing

reporters in Esit Eket: “Since the rainstorm started on Sunday, flood ravages the community and people have been rendered homeless.

“Some people have packed their properties to neighbouring villages for shelter. We don’t have a place to sleep and even clothes to wear”, he said.

He said about 1,000 people have already been rendered homeless in the area. Ikene said the flood also destroyed property worth millions of naira.

The Village Head attributed the flood to lack of good drainage system in the area while calling on the government to help stem the tide in the area.

He called on the government and other relevant stakeholders to come to their aid, saying that flood had destroyed their farmlands.

A resident in the community, Mr Atang Friday, expressed surprise that the flood got to the window level of their houses. He said the flood also destroyed his personal effects and other valuables. He pleaded with the government to provide them relief materials.

Another resident, Mrs Arit Nyoho, said the flood had compounded their suffering while appealing to the government to come to their aid.

“As I was in the house, the flood just covered the house and destroyed my property and my personal effects. We shouted and some people came to rescue us from the flood,’’ she said. She said that her children were taking refuge in neighbouring village.

Efforts to reach the Chairman of Esit Eket, Mr Ibanga Ettang, proved abortive.

The Village Head of Ekpene Afaha Eket, another community in Eket, Chief Enim Ekanem, said four have died between last year and now

due to floods.

“There is information that two people have drowned this year, and two last year, which is the present situation. We need help from government at all levels,’’ he said. He said that Afaha Eket people are the worst affected during the rainy season in Eket while decrying that the whole rainstorm are channel to the area.

The Village Head said that Afaha Eket had been neglected especially during rainy season.

“We always suffer because of flood being that the whole water in Eket Urban is channel to Afaha Eket and its environs,’’ he said.

The Village head attributed the cause of the flood to the blockage of drains which led the water into the homes of residents.

He advised the Town Planning Ministry to channel most of the flood water away from residential areas.

He called on the Federal Government to dredge Eketai River in order to carry volume of water, saying that most rivers in Eket are due for dredging.

Residents in a sprawling Itiam Etoi community, Uyo Local Government Area, urged Governor Udom Emmanuel to visit their area.

The community protested at the State House of Assembly. They claimed to have lost property worth over N30 million to floods.

A cleric and resident in Itiam Etoi, Pastor Patrick Asikpo, said the protest was meant to draw the attention of government to their plight.

He said the flood in the area started in 2011 when the government of Godswill Akpabio, started the construction of the gigantic Tropicana Entertainment Center without making provision for the channelisation of water from the community.

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33

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

NIGER DELTA REPORT INTERVIEW

How keke NAPEP is aiding kidnappers, robbers in Delta T

HE death of motorcycles as means of transport in some parts of Delta state was quickened when it became the choice means of transportation for armed robbers and other criminals who were using them for robbery and other nefarious crimes.

It was against this background that the decision of then Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan to ban okada, as it is popularly called, was greeted with cheers from across the state. The support the ban received was not just due to numerous accidents associated with the two-legged means of transportation, but because of the relief from hoodlums and petty robbers.

However, three years, its successor the tricycle popularly called keke, has again become an easy and convenience transportation facility for criminals in the university town of Abraka, Warri, Udu, Uvwie and other parts of the state.

Our investigation, which is corroborated by police sources, revealed that kidnappers and their cohorts are taking advantage of tricycle for their nefarious activities. Gangs that specialize in attacking customers coming out of banks, car snatching syndicates and others use keke, obviously because it is common place and because it is easy to 'disappear' with.

Scores of stolen keke have been recovered by the police across the state and angry mob have set several on fire when robbers abandon them as they did along Sokoh Estate Road in Effurun recently.

Several months ago, Mr Ewoma Okpokpor was robbed, by hoodlums who rode in a keke. The maroon Toyota Corolla car they snatched from him, GSM handsets and cash are yet to be found.

In Ovwian, Udu Local Government Area of the state, a 55-year-old staff of the Unified Payment Services (names withheld), was last Wednesday abducted. The male victim was holidaying in the area, when he was abducted by hoodlums at a bad spot along the Orhumworun road area.

"The criminals were probably working in league with some keke riders," a police source at the Quick

From Shola O’Neil, Port Harcourt

Response Squad in the state told our reporter.

"What we have found out is that the criminal keke operators mingle with genuine ones at strategic junctions, usually around Mofor Junction and the DSC Steel Camp area, while their accomplices and colleagues lay ambush at any of the bad spots along the road.

"When they see a flashy car, they would relay the details via GSM phones to the team ahead, giving them information like the type of car, the number of occupants etc. So, before the victim reaches the bad spots they are already waiting to pounce. If the sentries sight a police team they also brief their colleagues using terms like kpokpo or ikelebe Our source said that was ostensibly how the kidnappers of the UPS staff abducted around the notorious Celestial Church area on the DSC Expressway, Orhunwhorun.

The hoodlums made away with his Black Toyota Highlander SUV, GSM phones, cash and four ATM cards, with which they withdrew N200,000 after forcing him to divulge the PINs. "Before they went to the bank, they reached an agreement with him that if any of the PIN was found to be incorrect, they would come back and finish him off."

A QRS team, led by an Assistant Superintendent of Police simply identified as Omonigho, rescued him from the bush, several hours later. He told the police that he was taken to the hoodlums hideout with two tricycles conveying other members of the gang in tow.

At the hideout, he was chained and locked with padlock, while the hoodlums retired to a well-laid bed complete with mosquito net and other conveniences.

His car was yet to be found at the time of this report on Tuesday.

Police Public Relations Officer in the State command, DSP Celestina Kalu, who confirmed the report, vowed that the police would track hoodlums terrorizing the state and bring them to their knees.

‘

We are very worried because over the past months and weeks we have arrested several criminals with locally manufactured cut-tosize barrel guns yet more Awka (local) guns keep surfacing in Warri and environs Meanwhile, it was learnt that the Police Command is also having sleepless nights over the sources of locally manufactured firearms that are being used by hoodlums to terrorise residents of the state.

It was gathered that the Quick Response Squad, which is special unit based in in Warri, is investigating the source of locally made double- and single-barrel guns, after a rash of arrest and confiscation of such weapons.

A reliable source in the top echelon

of the command told our reporter that the squad is worried that despite spirited efforts and feats recorded in the past months, more of the firearms are still being seized from the criminals, who mostly operated in keke.

Our source said: "We are very worried because over the past months and weeks we have arrested several criminals with locally manufactured cutto-size barrel guns yet more Awka (local) guns keep surfacing in Warri and environs.

"As much as we are working round-

‘

the-clock under the supervision of the OC (Officer in Charge) of QRS and the Area Commander, we have not been able to locate the source of these weapons. We know that once we get the source of these weapons crime rate will reduce in the state," the usually reliable source added.

It was further gathered that more worrying for the police is that none of about 100 suspects so far arrested across the state with the weapons have been able to provide useful information about the source.

"When we investigate them, they always say they got it from someone who also got it from another person and the line is endless, yet we know that the manufacturers are either in the state or nearby.

"We are appealing to members of the public to provide useful information that can enable the police track down and cut off the source of these illegal weapons, because not until we are able to get to the source, our efforts would be futile."

Koko museum gets artefacts on Niger Delta nationalist Nana Olomu

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ENOWNED Niger Delta-born historian, Prof Obaro Ikime has advised the National Commission for Museums and Monuments to prioritise creation of monuments, including a National Cemetery across the country.

Ikime, Professor of History at the University of Ibadan, made the call in Koko, headquarters of Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State during the official presentation of century-old photographs on the life and times of renowned Niger Deltan nationalist, Chief Nana Olomu.

In his presentation titled: “Monuments as History”, Ikime said the NCMM should not just be content with declaration of individual structures or buildings as monument, but should go out of its way to create them.

He said: “Photographs being handed over to the Museums and Monuments constitute part of Nigerian History. It is not enough to declare structures or buildings as national monuments but the NCMM must create National Monuments.”

He said there is need for the designation of places as National Cemetery as is done in other parts of the world, adding that it would help to generate revenue from tourists across the globe.

He charged the NCMM DG to fast-track the creation of the National Cemetery as it represent a slice of Nigeria’s history. He expressed regrets that Nigeria is the only country in the world that does not teach history as a subject to her citizens.

The relics presented at the event included historic photographs, particularly of Chief Nana Olomu’s residence and warehouses in Ebrohimi village

‘

Photographs being handed over to the Museums and Monuments constitute part of Nigerian History. It is not enough to declare structures or buildings as national monuments but the NCMM must create National Monuments

‘

before they were destroyed during the 1894 British Expedition.

The artefacts were presented to the Director- General of NCMM for onward display at the Nana Living History Museum in Koko.

Prof Ikime’s presentation, made on his behalf by his wife, also paid glow-

ing tribute to Pa. J.O.S. Ayomike, another renowned historian. He described Ayomike as the brain behind the Nana Living History Museum.

While stating that Chief Nana Olomu was one of Nigeria’s greatest figures of the 19th Century because of his stand against British imperialism, Prof Ikime appealed to the NCMM to ensure the sustenance, maintenance and preservation of the Nana Living History Museum for generation to come.

In a brief address, HRH Prince Edun Akenzua, the Enogie of Obazuwa, also commended Pa. JOS Ayomike for his and his family’s efforts that led to the birth of the museum, remarking that Nana Olomu is an important character in Nigeria’s history.

Prince Akenzua said the British attack on him and on King Ovoramwen of the ancient Benin Kingdom took similar dimension because they were both seen as stumbling blocks to the British territorial bid and commercial interests.

He therefore called on all persons and institutions across the world to return all the cultural properties forcibly and illegally removed from their owners.

Pa. JOS Ayomike later presented the two photographs to the DG of the NCMM and the dignitaries present at the occasion including the representatives of the Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse 11.

Guests included Chiefs Nelson Utieyone, Yaya Pessu and the Olaraja of Koko community, Chief Victor Nana and Dr. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, former Governor of the Old Mid –Western Region and former Bendel State, amongst others.

IYC: NOSDRA, others have failed us The President of the umbrella body of Ijaw youths, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, speaks to MIKE ODIEGWU on reasons behind persistent environmental problems in the Niger Delta and plans of the youth to tackle the menace.

H

OW would you react to the attitude of oil companies operating in the Niger Delta, especially with regard to oil spills, compensation and other environmental issues?

It is impunity - do what you like and then bribe some people and get away with it. The spillages of Mobil since 1998, they have refused to pay the Niger Delta people. They are there conniving with agents. The senior management of Mobil is conniving with claim agents, embezzling money meant for communities. We will take this matter up to the highest level of Mobil.

SNEPCO is owing our people $1.8bn. They have been asked to pay but they come with this flimsy excuse that we are in court. We are not in court. pay us our monies because the activities have brought untold hardship to our people.

They have changed our people's lifestyle and have turned them to criminals and because of this they are forced to break pipelines to carry crude. They are forced to cook crude to destroy the environment just because they must survive.

So part of the crises in Niger Delta is as a result of the activities and negli-

gence of the oil companies, and so you see our people getting involved in negative activities just because they want to survive. They destroy pipelines just to survive; they steal crude oil just to survive.

The usual ways of survival have been destroyed by corrupt practices and so SNEPCO must pay Bonga spill that saw over 40,000 barrels of oil in the environment and even when they came to clean they came with harsher chemicals that further destroyed and compounded the issue in the environment. That issue is lingering and they must pay that money.

We will tackle them till the society understands what we are doing.

We will take this fight to Holland,London and America where the people will question them. I hope that President Buhari will ensure the dignity of Nigerians by ensuring that all are sanctioned without any iota of fear or favour. Any International Oil Companies (IOCs) that abuses the rules of engagement or wants to bend the normal practice when it comes to doing their business and the environment should be sanctioned because if they respect the environment in the Golf of Guinea, they should do same here. They should pay attention to our environment too.

How would you react to the recent judgment by the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt on the case involving ARCO and other companies?

I think that it is victory for democracy and the judiciary in the Justice Lambo Akanbi delivered judgment against Agip Oil Company, Plantjera and General Electronics (GE) against ARCO Group of Companies. ARCO has been servicing the Obiobi Gas Plant in conjunction with G.E for Agip since 2007 and the Local Content law says that when a local contractor demonstrates capacity to handle a job and handle equipment,it should be given priority but unfortunately Agip went and brought Plantjera,an automobile company that has no experience to try and see how they will push out ARCO and ARCO went to court.

The IOCs always boast about owning the law in Nigeria because they can spend all manner of money to hire all kinds of senior advocates and delay your case until you grow old. The judiciary us living up to expectation by restoring the dignity of Nigeria in terms of cases between Nigeria and multinationals and we are happy because the statuo quo should remain.

In fact, Agip brought Plantjera to take away ARCO, even when there was a court process on, an abuse of the Nigerian judiciary system. This is what the IOCs do. They come here and indulge in practices they don't do in their countries because they think our people will always sell out. That is the same thing

that is why they were able to challenge them. It has strong Nigerian presence and has added so much value to the lives of Nigerians. I pray that the judiciary wakes up to its responsibility just as it's doing so that every other indigenous company can also stand up to challenge the statuo quo when it is trampled upon.

So, what do you think account for the double standard of oil companies in Niger Delta?

It is all about the attitude of our people. It's government not being responsible and ensuring that you enforce the law. Why should a foreigner break the law in Nigeria and then he will not even imagine it in his dream in his company? It is because we are still in this master-slave mentality. We must begin to grow beyond that. They abuse the environment and don't tell the government how much they have made. We must be respected as individuals and as a country.

I implore Buhari to look at that area because revenue accruing to the Federal Government is being lost through these practices. If the President really needs

Mobil did in 1998,which is causing a lot of problem in the Niger Delta.

What does the judgment portend to the Local Content Act and the Niger Delta?

It is a wake up call for the local content board because if they were strictly enforcing their laws, we won't go to court in the first place but they are not doing their job. You can't blow hot and cold and behave as if nothing happened and allow these companies think they can get their way. People don't do what is right when they see oil money. It is a wakeup call for the local content board to sit up and ensure that they enforce the laws that have been put in place to protect Nigerians.

What can other indigenous companies operating in the Niger Delta learn from AIICO? AIICO is a strong company. It is not every indigenous company that is as powerful as AIICO to even hire a SAN. AIICO was able to get three SANs to do its case and that is because it's buoyant. Overtime, AIICO has been able to build capacity and strength

money to run his government, then he must ensure that these companies do what is right.

By the SNEPCO's spill,the Federal Government has $1.8bn in fines and royalties. It is plenty of money to run government and pay salaries. These are part of loopholes that need to be blocked. Respect our laws and do what is right as at when due. If the government is strict with our laws, these companies will respect our land.

Do you think National Oil Spill Detection Regulatory Agency (NOSDRA), the Ministry of Environment and other regulatory agencies have done enough?

They have not done enough. There is so much inequality in Nigeria. Everybody wants to meet up. Corruption has eaten deeply into every strata of the society. The President needs to be ready to fight corruption. These agencies are there to ensure that these companies do the right things or sanction them but somebody will look the other way. That is why SNEPCO has refused to pay compensation they are supposed to pay. That is why Mobil has refused to pay 1998 spillage and that is why Agip can think that they will abuse the law of Nigeria and disobey court orders and get away with it.

Is there any future for the Niger Delta environment?

As we are now, there is no future. There is nothing to look forward to until a reversal of these issues that I have raised. The national confab has put a lot of these things into perspective and that's why some of us have advocated that President Buhari's government should begin from implementing the national confab report because that report has seen a lot of these issues looked into holistically. The national confab holistically discussed issues that affect our environment, issues concerning oil businesses and exploration, issues concerning government,and if implemented,we can begin from there.

So the future for the Niger Delta lies in restructured Nigeria where we have reorganised the way we will continue to live as one. That reorganization will begin to take care of every strata of the society.

What can IYC do?

Advocacy, just as I am doing now. The issues must be brought to the fore so that people can discuss and begin to proffer solution. One day somebody will listen and one day, President Buhari may decide to listen and take the steps necessary. The best we can do is advocacy and discussions; moving the discourse to their table is the new approach of IYC. It will not only be on the streets of Nigeria. It will be on the streets of London, America and Europe so that when they can avoid the discussion in Nigeria by bribing people, let them go and bribe their people and let us see.

Niger Delta farmers urge sustenance of agricultural policy

T

HE President Muhammadu Buhari has been advised to sustain the achievements recorded in the agricultural sector by the former Minister of Agriculture and President-elect of the Africa Development Bank, Dr Akinwumi Adesina.

The advice was given by the Nigerian Agricultural Watch Network, in a statement signed by Mr. Emmanuel Okotie-Eboh and Solomon Eyituoyo Iwetan, Chairman and Secretary of the group in Warri, Delta State.

NAWN opined that the former

From Shola O’Neil, Port Harcourt

Agriculture Minister was outstanding among the ministers who served under the past administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, adding that it was imperative to sustain the momentum and build on his legacies.

The statement noted: "Agriculture is definitely the brightest star of the Jonathan administration under the watch of Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, agriculture was transformed to a viable business. Dr. Adesina used ag-

riculture to diversify the Nigerian economy.

"He succeeded in this regard because of his crack team; his team shared his vision and they succeeded at the end of the day. The solid foundation laid by the former Minister should be built upon. The success showed that he has some competent and incorruptible men in his team that was the secret behind his success.

"There is need to continue this agricultural policy and so it is important that Dr. Adesina should be consulted before the appointment of the

next Agriculture Minister.

"We want to stress it here that if President Buhari must succeed in the agriculture sector, the eggheads that made agriculture a success story in the administration of former President Jonathan should be assembled and their wealth of experience tapped as the legacies left behind by Dr. Adesina are unbeatable.

"Party should not come into play here; we want the progress of our country hence we are imploring President Buhari to sustain the enviable legacies of Dr. Adesina," the statement added.

34

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

FEATURE End of the Road for ‘fake’ mobile policeman

T

HE saying, ‘every day for the thief, but one day for the owner of the house’, became a sad reality for Mr Ochocho Mathew, a former mobile policeman who was nabbed in Warri, Delta State, recently for impersonation and illegal duty.

For four years, the ‘police corporal’ went about garbed in well-starched uniform with matching well-polished boots and posed as a mobile policeman even though he had since left service. Armed with his uniformed marked F/No. 255038 and the two chevrons marking him as a corporal, Ochocho continued to work as ‘policeman’.

But he got to the end of his road on the wrong side of the law on Thursday, June 25, when a patrol team attached to the Quick Response Squad, a special police force in Warri, accosted him and a consignment of equipment around the NPA Expressway during an ‘escort duty’.

“He was escorting a Ford Transit vehicle conveying equipment from Lagos to Warri, but we suspected that there was more to the man than the uniform he was wearing and the identity card he showed us,” a member of the squad who arrested him told our reporter.

Police Public Relations Officer, Delta State Command, DSP Celestina Kalu, said the Ford Transit van with Reg. No. (Lagos) EPE 790 XH, was loaded with a fairly used Mikano SP 20 generator and a Denyo Daw18083.0 KVA welding machine.

“The said vehicle was being escorted by one Ochoche Matthew ‘m’ who was fully dressed in police uniform with F/No. 255038 and Cpl. rank. The said Ochoche Matthew claimed to be a serving policeman attached to No. 20 Squadron, Police

•Mathew From Shola O’Neil, Warri

Mobile Force, Lagos.”

When he was accosted by his ‘colleagues’, it was gathered that Ochoche tried to talk himself out of trouble by feigning anger at their lack of understanding and disrespect for a fellow policeman on a germangerman (extracurricular) assignment.

But rather than being cowed, the team insisted on taking him and the consignment to the QRS Base, located on Ogunu Road, Warri.

At the base, Ochoche turned his

charm offensive on the Commander and Officer-in-Charge, QRS, Alkali Lamido, a Superintendent of Police, assuring him that he was a genuine officer who was doing the escort job just to make some extra money. It was learnt that the no-nonsense Lamido insisted on getting to the bottom of the matter, particularly because he suspected that even if Ochoche was a genuine mopol, he was on illegal duty.

One of the suspect’s kinsmen at the QRS Base, who was called in to help get the truth out of him, spoke with him for several hours, yet the suspect refused to budge or change his story.

“He kept insisting that he was a mobile policeman. When he saw that that story was not getting him out, he confessed that he was merely on illegal duty. He even got angry that he was being embarrassed by his colleagues in Warri after passing through countless checkpoints from Lagos.

“The OC made calls to various police units, including Falomo, where the man said he was serving until the breakthrough finally came when one of those he called, brought out Ochoche’s record. It was found that although he served with 20 PMF, Lagos, he was demobbed since July 18, 2011.”

Reliable source in the force disclosed that Ochoche was removed from service after he refused a posting from Lagos to Akwa-Ibom state four years ago. “He disappeared and nobody heard from him until he resurfaced in Warri days ago,” the source added.

Meanwhile, DSP Kalu said the suspect was arrested for impersonation and is undergoing investigation, while the vehicle and exhibits have been impounded.”

NIGER DELTA REPORT BRIEF Why Niger Delta is not developed, by activist From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

T

HE President of Political Watchdog, a nongovernment organisation, Comrade Curtis Ugbo, has blamed the region's lack of development during the last political dispensation on self-styled activists who abandoned the struggle for resource control.

Ugbo decried a situation where the 'apostles' of resource control and a better Niger Delta abandoned the struggle and became 'spokespersons' of the Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government.

Ugbo described some of the agitators as self-seeking freedom fighters whose main concern is lining their pockets at the expense of bringing development to the region.

Ugbo, who spoke with our reporter in Benin City, Edo State, said these activists were busying acquiring eye-popping properties outside the region and the country.

Ugbo stated: "Before Goodluck Ebele Jonathan became the President of Nigeria, the Niger Delta struggle was at its peak and resource control agitation was very high. The likes of Ankio Briggs, Asari Dokubo, Opunabo Inko-Tariah, Ledum Metee and Edwin Clark were always on the television telling Nigerians and the world how the Southsouth has been marginalised by the North and the West despite her oil.

"By divine and metaphysical error and act, Goodluck Jonathan, from the Southsouth, became the President of Nigeria after President Umaru Yaradua's death in 2009. His emergence came as a joyous daybreak to end our age-long marginalisation. There was a beacon light of hope for my region. Immediately, the Niger Delta struggle stumbled and died or went comatose. The Niger Delta activists mentioned above became Jonathan's spokespersons and abandoned the struggle. Even though in 2011, Nigerians - Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Christians and Muslims - voted massively for President Goodluck Jonathan.

"Thereafter, administrative thieves were appointed ministers and head of federal institutions, convicted criminals received presidential pardon, militants were given contracts running into billions of Naira, impunity and corruption became the norm; all these and many more replaced the Niger Delta struggle for resource control.

"The need for constant electricity, portable water, good health facilities, good road network, and massive manpower development went into oblivion. Even the recent Ogoni UNEP report that would have changed the lives of an average Ogoni man was not implemented by their regional brother-president which played a major role in the problem with Ex-Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

"Saro wiwa, Isaac Boro and others actually fought for the wellbeing of the people, they refused kick back and agitated for basic amenities for their people, but today struggle is glamour with thieves and they obtained money and embezzle it. Ijaw communities have land but they rather prefer to build schools in Benin Republic."

He cautioned those who are being called upon to take up arms and go back to the creek to first of all demand accountability from the so-called freedom fighters before embarking on such mission.

Why Asaba people see Asagba as God's representative on earth

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O the people of Asaba, their monarch, the Asagba of Asaba, Prof Chike Edozien, 90, is God's reprentative on earth.

A former Director-General, Nigerian Institute for Advanced Legal Studies, member Commonwealth Arbitration Tribunal and chairman organising Committee of the Asagba's birthday celebrations, Prof Epiphany Azinge (SAN), told Niger Delta Report that the Asagba stool means everything to the people.

He explained why the people see him as God's representative on earth: "We see the monarch as a symbol of the unity of Asaba. We see him as the representative of God on earth. We see him as the mouthpiece of the Asaba people, by extension we look at him as a philosopher king who though fallible to large extent almost infallible in decision making in thoughts words and action "So, we hold him in high esteem because we believe in terms of thought processes, vision that naturally he is the person who will direct and help us navigate through the challenges that may come our way. He is the custodian of the lands around us and more significantly he ensures peace, harmony, unity and stability in the land.

"The present monarch is one that has carved a niche for himself, easily the most educated ever in the history of Asaba and that has been unquestionably in most of his actions and the directives he proclaims. It has also been clearly demonstrated in the positive reforms that he has carried out .It has also found expression in the peace, unity and harmony that exist among our people at this point in time.

"So for a philosophy king because he fits into that expression, not just being a monarch, but philosophically well-endowed and academically vibrant even at his age ,we can say that Asaba people have benefitted immeasurably from his wealth of knowledge, reservoir of experience and his internationally acclaimed exposure in terms of his participation in many spheres of human activity. He is early professor of medicine, first indigenous dean of medicine at the famous University College, Ibadan. We feel that Asaba indigenes, and Deltans are lucky to have him as the reigning monarch in Asaba right from the inception of the State in 1991 when he was enthroned shortly before Delta State was created and Asaba became a State Capital."

On the monarch's 90th birthday, he said: "We decided to roll out the drums because it is given to a few to celebrate 70 years and given to fewer people to celebrate 80 but to celebrate 90 and in good health is worthy of celebration at the highest level. For us, it is not just an ordinary celebration because we never can say when there will ever going to be another monarch that would be 90 and a monarch who has distinguished himself so well and to the admiration of his subjects, believing that this is an opportunity to say thank you to him. We are given to believing that the best time to eulogise people is when they are no more. For us that belongs to the past; we believe it is fitting to celebrate people when they are alive. For us it is more proper to celebrate someone whom we

•Monarch marks 90th birthday For us it is a stepping stone for what every Asaba son and daughter should look forward to."

On the activities for the 10-day celebration, Azinge said: " We consider a living legend in his own right and one whose actions, tried to blend tradition with scholarship, and fanfare. We tried utterances and activities seem to have helped in sharpening the not to make the events elitist, we have tried to galvanise our destiny of our people and one we have benefitted immeasurably people across the strata of society to participate fully in the from his intellect and acumen." celebration of our monarch. We will have cultural exhibitions, He explains why the community is inducting the Asagba into we will re-invent the wheel, and growing up most of us enjoyed the Asaba Hall of Fame: "I believe it is likely to create some doubt moonlight tales but those things are no more, we want to use in the minds of people. Ideally it should be the other way round this to attract our children to their natural habitat and put them that it is the Asagba who confers chieftaincy; he is the symbol of in the right frame to understand their authority, the reigning monarch that would history. do things for the subjects. But this time around "The cultural exhibitions will enable us at 90, we believe that it is only proper and right showcase our traditional artefacts. There for us to do something that would seem to be will public lecture delivered by Prof honouring him for a change. I do not think Akingugbe, we will have a book the Asagba can ever be honoured again presentation chronicling the Asagba's because from 1991 when he mounted the biography. We will unveil a larger than throne that seem to be the highest achievement life statue of the Asagba that would be anyone can aspire to. He has gotten that for placed in a strategic place in Asaba almost 24 years. We want to use the metropolis. Hopefully this statue will opportunity to demonstrate how highly we become a tourist attraction in years to treasure him so we conceptualized this Hall come. Football matches are ongoing as part of Fame idea . of activities marking the event which will Ultimately it will be a beginning of the climax into the final on the 26th of July. A process in the history of Asaba. Asaba people, golf tournament is starting on the 18th July in our traditional folklore, are said not to .We will have a traditional wrestling acknowledge and applaud heroes, so for us it competition, we have a quiz competition is a beginning of a new dawn. Time has come that will be screened live, also an essay for Asaba people to acknowledge what is their competition among secondary schools in own. Contrary to our historical past, if you do Asaba have reached advanced stages. not eulogise great people may be you are "This celebration is an opportunity for failing in one respect. You are not invigorating, us to bring our children back to their origin, motivating people to continue in their path history, and cultural setting. Intellectually, and continue to excel. So the thinking is that we have tried to engage our children at we may have Asaba sons and daughters that •Edozien that level. The celebration is a full package. will distinguish themselves who will move from not becoming chiefs in Asaba but they other Asaba indigenes to look forward We will have a street carnival that will take may have done exceptionally well to be to the fact that when you do well in life, us through the length and breadth of the inducted to the Hall of Fame. There will a Hall and live life of incorruptibility that there city. We are modelling our carnival after of Fame whether it will be a museum or any is something that awaits you. The chiefs the Calabar Carnival and Rivers State other thing we will set up, but let it go down and all the other nobility and Asaba Carnival so that we can get the attention in the history of Asaba that Obi Prof Chike people will induct the Asagba. Citations of the people and awaken their Edozien, Asagba of Asaba will be the first will be read, plaques will be unveiled consciousness as to what we are doing. A Asaba son living or dead ever to be inducted and other formalities will be performed musical festival will take place which will into this Hall of Fame which will be a symbol before the Iyase of Asaba will read out cater for our youths so they will be fully of excellence and a footprint that will invite statement whereby the Asagba will be entertained. An inter-denominational formally inducted into the Hall of Fame. service will climax the event."

From Aiwere Okungbowa, Asaba

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

36

NIGER DELTA REPORT COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

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LIVE and well. Rustic on one end.

Glittering on the other. Its waterways ever busy. Its roads only means to get about the Island. You must get on water to mingle with other lands. Bonny, that is what it is called. Rivers State is where it is. It is unarguably the richest Island on this part of the world. Its gas deposits and crude oil have brought it fame. Its waterways opened it to the world.

But, my concern today is its jewel. Shell and one other oil giant have presence there. For me, however, they are not Bonny’s jewel. The diadem belongs to the 26-year-old Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited.

There are only few places in Nigeria where 24-hour uninterrupted power supply is enjoyed. Bonny is one of them. It shares this special status with places like the Aso Rock. The NLNG ensures it gives the power it enjoys in its Residential Area (RA) to its host. It is a practice alien to other oil and gas giants, which often treat their hosts as pests.

Bonny and its jewel, which is of inestimable value to Nigeria, came to my mind some days back after it emerged that some $1.7b dividends and taxes it paid to the Federal Government is helping to bailout states from the salary mess.

I understand that since it started, it has paid over $9b as dividends to the Federal Government, through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which owns 49 per cent of this company responsible for four per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Yet for the first 10 years after its incorporation, construction and squabbles were all it could achieve. Its first cargo of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) did not leave the Bonny Port until 16 years ago. And once it took off, it appeared there was no stopping it. It rose so fast that it became the fourth largest supplier of LNG. Its six-train plant produces about 22 Metric Tonnes Per Annum (mtpa) of LNG for export and five MTPA of natural gas liquids (NGLS). It has made over $25 billion from a $2.6 billion investment.

Aside its core business, the NLNG is also involved in anciliary services. It owns 24 ships and six additional ships are on the way from Samsung and Hyundai dockyards. The six new ships will increase NLNG fleet to 30 ships.

Its second subsidiary, the NLNG Ship Manning Limited (NSML) is the biggest employer of Nigerian seafarers on board its 13 LNG carrier ships.

Its wholly-owned subsidiary set up in 1989, Bonny Gas Transport (BGT) Limited, which provides shipping services for NLNG, was set up in Bermuda with an ordinary equity holding from NLNG Limited and preferential equity holding from the sponsors, NLNG's shareholders.

When former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala visited the NLNG Plant on Bonny Island, Rivers State on November 15, 2013, she was lost for words. She described the NLNG as an asset to Nigeria, a shining example of a successful company and a beacon of hope for a better Nigeria.

The minister alluded to the fact that NLNG's

OLUKOREDE YISHAU

ABOVE WHISPERS

•A weekly intervention on Southsouth people and matters

olukoredeyishau@gmail.com

Bonny’s jewel ‘

Never again should we leave important decisions unmade.

The time for the NLNG Train Seven is now. Not tomorrow.

It is today and should be done by President Buhari without any further ado.

And with an additional $2.2b to be reaped as dividends from this project, in which no dime will be sourced from government purse, now is the time to lift Bonny’s jewel to the next level

•Omotowa

financial book was an enviable balance sheet and that told the success stories.

"I came after looking at your books and saw that you have been commercially viable and successful. The Nigeria LNG is an asset to the country," she said, adding that not much was in the public domain despite the very impressive performance of the company.

The then minister described the NLNG as the most successful Nigerian company with 49 per cent government ownership, which she described as a distinguishing feature among companies in the public and private sector.

Shell Gas BV (SGBV) owns 25.6 per cent, Total LNG Nigeria Limited controls 15 per cent equity and Eni International has the remaining 10.4 per cent.

Aside Mrs Okonjo-Iweala, top Nigerians, in

‘

fact two former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon and Chief Ernest Shonekan, were also excited when they visited its plant.

I was one of the journalists in Bonny when Gen. Gowon and Shonekan visited. There was one major request these men made to the Goodluck Jonathan administration: allow NLNG Train Seven, which is capable of bringing in additional $2.2 billion to the Federal Government. Jonathan saw no sense in the plea of these men and I was not happy with him for this.

My anger stems from the fact that this was a project the company needed no financial assistance from the government to execute. It only needed a Final Investment Decision (FID).

NLNG is solvent enough to see the project through and even if it needs loans, international

LAST WORD

bankers will be falling over one another to grant the loans. The company is that reputable.

This indecision, as far as I am concerned, has stunted its growth. Though it still makes really good money, it can make even more if its expansion plans are approved. It has lost its pre-eminence in the global LNG market.

There are imminent fears it will still dip further.

A large expanse of land, close to its Train Six in Finima, Bonny Island, is waiting to house the Seventh Train. Pre-FID actions have been taken. Seven years ago, it signed sales and purchase agreement for its seventh train, which, I am told, will attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) estimated at over $8 billion and help reduce flared gas, and improve the country's revenue profile. About 10,000 jobs, I understand, will also be created while construction is ongoing.

Jonathan’s inability to give the nod for the Seventh Train, which ex-Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi blamed on his desire to see the Brass LNG in his Bayelsa hometown take off first, has made the country lose grounds to Qatar and Australia.

Qatar has moved its output from 20 million metric tonnes to 80 million metric tonnes.

Australia, from its previous 20 metric tonnes, now churns out 81 metric tonnes annually.

NLNG is stuck at 22 million metric tonnes.

Australia has 10 LNG projects, with 20 trains and $215 billion worth of final investment decision. Instructively, Australia has only 60 per cent of Nigeria's gas reserves. Nigeria has gas reserves estimated at over 160 trillion cubic feet.

The United States (U.S.), formerly a major LNG export destination, plans to become a net LNG exporter by next year, with 1.1 billion cubic feet per day, projected to rise to 2.2 billion cubic feet per day in four years.

China, with an estimated gas reserve of 1,275 trillion cubic metres, is also planning big for the LNG market. Mozambique too is set for a fair share of the market, with plans to build a two-train facility at advanced stage.

TheTrain Seven will make Nigeria give these competitors some good fight, as it will raise the liquefaction capacity of the Plant to 30mtpa.

Jonathan is gone. Now, President Muhammadu Buhari is here. The NLNG management led by its Managing Director, Babs Omotowa, recently visited Buhari and made a presentation to him. Buhari, I believe, knows the potential of the Seventh Train and should not waste time in approving the FID. My final take: Never again should we leave important decisions unmade. The time for the NLNG Train Seven is now. Not tomorrow. It is today and should be done by President Buhari without any further ado.

And with an additional $2.2b to be reaped as dividends from this project, in which no dime will be sourced from government purse, now is the time to lift Bonny’s jewel to the next level.

President Buhari, we are waiting! Don’t fail us like Jonatahn did on this project.

BY IMAM BELLO

For Akwa Ibom's Orubebe, the end justifies the means

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IS name is not really Orubebe. But this man, Uwemedimo Nwoko, who took the oath of office a few days back as Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, has more than a passing characteristic with the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe.

In May, this man removed his suit, folded his sleeves, tightened the fist of his hand and was ready for a fight with the All Progressives Congress (APC) agents, who were that Tuesday carrying out the order of the Election Petition Tribunal to inspect, copy and scan ballot papers and other election materials used to declare former Governor Godswill Akpabio as winner of the March 28 Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial district election.

Nwoko lost his cool. The drama went to the extent that the chief law officer of the state fumed with rage that over his dead body would he allow the scanning of the over 450,000 ballot papers the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate.

Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), party agents and reporters watched in shock and disbelief as Nwoko recre-

ated a replica of the Godsday Orubebe show at the International Conference Centre during the collation and announcement of the Presidential results.

Activities at the conference hall of the electoral commission in Uyo, venue of the inspection, came to a standstill for more than two hours. Security personnel comprising mostly men of the Department of State Security (DSS) and Police pleaded with APC agents to exercise restraint.

The APC has described the action as shameful, shocking, disgusting and unbecoming. Not even pleas by officers and men of the DSS that he should show some level of civility could Nwoko.

The earlier order of the tribunal granted on May 8 declaring a 10-day grace for the inspection of the election materials was unsuccessful owning to acts of interference.

Tempers rose to its peak when party agents took him up warning him against flouting the tribunal's order. The situation got worse when the Head of Legal Department of INEC as well as the electoral officer of Ikono Local Government Area also echoed Nwoko's position that the ballot papers would not be scanned until they tribunal's order was interpreted by the tribunal, a position

that further incensed party agents who sensed that both Nwoko and INEC officials were merely playing script to undermine the process. Security agents had to smuggle the EO to safety as the angry agents almost mobbed him for being partisan even as a civil servant.

When it was time for the EO of Ikono to supervise the scanning of the ballot papers of the local government, he was nowhere to be found. When asked for by the party agents, the legal officer said he was receiving treatment in the hospital, a reply which further infuriated the petitioner's agents. It took the intervention of the State Secretary of the APC to calm down his party agents for normalcy to return to the venue.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Austin Okojie, who was alleged to be in a hospital at an undisclosed location had to call the Legal Department of the commission directing that the tribunals order should be carried out as directed and contained in the tribunals order that was earlier served INEC before any progress could be made. Nwoko was still desperately trying to scuttle the scanning of the ballot papers even with the directive of the REC and non interference order of the tribunal which the PDP he claimed he was

representing were also served.

Until January, Nwoko was not a politician in the strict sense of the word. He was a lawyer in private practice loved by many for his radical bent and assistance to the underprivileged.

He was sworn in by Akpabio as the 14th Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of the oil-rich state on Tuesday, January 13. He served the administration for 20 weeks and seems to have proved his worth as fourth occupant of the office under Akpabio.

Before relocating to Akwa Ibom, Nwoko practised law in Lagos. Many will remember him as the lawyer who dragged retired Air Vice Marshal Nsikak Eduok to court on allegation of the murder of his domestic servant.

The Nwoko of that Tuesday is quite different from the vintage Nwoko who ate, slept and dreamt the rule of law. Anger sure got a better part of him.

Well, with Akpabio fulfilling his promise to ensure Governor Udom Emmanuel appoint him as commissioner, the end seems to have justified the means for Nwoko, who threw caution to the wind because of his benefactor. Ride on oga Nwoko, time will make people forget the show of shame of that Tuesday.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

37

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

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HE Tertiary Education Trust Fund or TETFUND has announced the donation of N180m to the Oko Federal Polytechnic, Anambra State for the purpose of developing skill acquisition centre where youths will learn trades and keep of restiveness.

The announcement was made by a member of the Board of Trustees, Chinedu Onu, who was part of the Fund’s team visiting the Rector of the Polytechnic, Prof Godwin Onu. The announcement of investing the money in the institution on boychild education is to check youth restiveness in the school, and also the entire state, by implication.

He said the money had already been allocated to the school to develop skill acquisition centres in the polytechnic, and that the team came to inspect the site of the project.

The programme, according to TETFUND’s Onu, was aimed at creating opportunities for male children who unable to further their education because of rigorous process of gaining admission.

Under the arrangement, the programme will ensure the assemblage of all interested skilled youths, who are carpenters, mechanics, masons, bricklayers or hair-dressers.

Also, those who are into such other businesses as trading will benefit to sharpen their skills and knowledge on their careers and at the end, they earn certificates from the institution.

The programme is not only meant to thrive in Oko federal Polytechnic, as other four institutions, had been chosen by TETFUND in the south east.

Onu said that the pilot scheme is starting in Federal Polytechnic Oko in Orumba North local government Area of Anambra state, which is expected to be run by the private sector and will be free from official bureaucracy of the school.

He said, “Federal Polytechnic Oko is a child of TETFUND because of its financial discipline and hard work.

Virtually all our programmes are implemented in full capacity here.”

“So, the Rector, who is in a hurry to

•From right: Mrs Anene, TETFUNDs Chinedu Onu, Prof Onu and Dr. Odukwe, among others

TETFUND’s N180m to check restiveness in Anambra From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

develop this place, Prof Godwin Onu, has always made our work easier” “This institution should serve as an example to other institutions whose funds are trapped due to their inability to execute previous jobs; we are impressed with the speed of development here” “We must also commend the coun-

cil, students and management as it creates conducive atmosphere for speedy development.”

Responding, Prof Onu, who has gone through series of battles in the community, told them that they were overwhelmed by the choice of the institution as the pilot scheme of the programme.

This, according to him keep the students busy and take their minds away from every vice including armed rob-

bery, cultism, kidnapping among others.

Furthermore, he said that the programme will also ensure lasting peace in the society as the youth will be gainfully employed or be the employers of labour upon finishing the programme.

Before now, the institution had introduced such programme in the area to help students not to flood the labour market upon graduation.

Abia cracks down on illegal tax collectors, ghost workers BIA State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has warned illegal tax collectors to desist from the act or face the wrath of government.

Ikpeazu said that the era of multiple taxations in the state is over in the state, as those who are authorized to collect government taxes are only workers of the state Board of Internal Revenue which must be paid into state bank accounts.

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From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

Speaking with newsmen during his maiden media chat in Umuahia, Ikpeazu said that dirty habits are difficult to leave which is the reason people who are not tax collectors are still collecting taxes illegally for their own use.

Ikpeazu noted that the state gov-

ernment is ready to partner with any group that wants to generate ideas on how to improve the internally generated revenue, “But they will not be expected to touch our money.”

He said, “Such group will be expected to only give us ideas on how to increase our IGR and not to lay their hands on our money, as doing so will mean trying to do another thing, which we will not accept”.

•Some residents protesting the relocation of Boko Haram prisoners to Ekwulobia prisons

Ikpeazu said that the fight against ghost workers has commenced in the state, adding that he expect workers to help government to identify such people so that the infrastructure they are providing will go round.

He said that any worker found to be involved in ghost worker syndicate, staff racketeering and padding of staff salary will be declared an economic saboteur, “And made to face the full wrath of the law”.

The governor explained that the revenue generation of state government is within the range of N300-600 million monthly, stressing that he intends to increase it to N1.5 billion monthly.

Ikpeazu said that the revenue will only be increased when the massive road rehabilitation that is going on across the state, especially in Aba is completed, “Only then will people willingly pay their taxes and increase revenue generation”.

He said that he is determined to pay outstanding staff salaries, staring from the ones under his administration and gradually picking up the ones he inherited, assuring that “the issue of salary arrears will be cleared in no distant time”.

On the issue of subvention to institutions and parastatals, Ikpeazu said, “I expect the bosses of such institutions to tell us how much they generate, so that we can know how much to give as subvention”.

He said, “If I am giving out subvention to the university, I expect the boss of the university to tell me how much they generate and if there is an increase in fees by 30%, I am expected to reduce my subvention by 30% as well.”

The Rector described TETFUND as the best thing that has happened to tertiary education in the country.

He commended TETFUND for their other initiatives aimed at improving academic standard in the country, while assuring that the institution will continue to utilize every fund it received judiciously.

“In the next few months, the polytechnic you see today will be transformed beyond recognition in addition to over 21 buildings springing up in different locations at the polytechnic”

Honour for Imo Deputy Governor •Continued from page 28 porting roles to the Governor.

“He is the symbol of a new Owerri. We are proud of his humility and commitment to the course of the development of the zone and the state”.

The Deputy Governor responded, saying, “What we observe today is no longer only the celebration of your son and your Deputy Governor but a celebration of a new Owerri zone spirit; a new song of unity, symbolising the beginning of a new era for the future.

“We can also observe that this gathering has gone beyond Owerri Zone affair but Imo State and beyond. I remember the first time this idea of reception ever filtered into my ear. I also remember the day I put in appearance in appreciation after it was mooted to me that my people have been meeting on this idea.

“On getting into the venue, I was overwhelmed by a great number of people putting heads together for this new spirit. At that point I realized I could not stop these determined minds.

“Today, I have seen that it was indeed the decision and mind of Imo people that this historic day shall come. Umunne I am flabbergasted. I am overjoyed for this huge honour.

Great Owerri people let me use this forum to say a big thank you for coming out en mass to support me and our Governor, Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha during our second term bid. That victory is your victory and victory for the future of Ndi Owerri. The support was massive. Let me say to you, it was a right step in the right direction.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

38

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

W

HAT does it means to you being appointed IMT rector?

Well, to be fair, it is a challenge and opportunity to put back to the system the knowledge I garnered in my academic sojourn. It is an opportunity for me to use those skills acquired over the years; managerial, administrative and academic skills to make something better out of IMT and I am happy that gradually, I think that we are succeeding.

Have you achieved some of the things you planned as IMT rector?

When I came here in 2011, IMT was de-listed, disenfranchised and the accreditation of the school to operate as a polytechnic was withdrawn by the supervisory and regulatory agency for polytechnic education in Nigeria, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). They had written to inform the general public that IMT’s accreditation has been withdrawn.

‘IMT was like dead factory’ Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Rector Prof Iloeje Michael, in this interview with SUNNY NWANKWO, speaks on how the institution rose from rot and mismanagement to one of pride. Excerpts: Prior to that, the federal government had also directed JAMB (Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board) to delist IMT; so what it means is that people will no longer be processed for admission into IMT. Further to that, they had also written to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) office, directing them that nobody from IMT should be mobilised for the mandatory National Youth Service programme. What that means is that entry for admission into IMT and exit has been sealed up. It is like when the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) says

that a particular brand of beer should no longer be produced or sold in Nigeria. That factory is dead. So, that’s why people like me were appointed to come and serve.

How did you rescue the institution?

When such first generation counterparts as Yaba Tech, Kaduna Poly, and Ibadan Poly, among others, were waxing stronger, IMT was being shamed following the withdrawal of its accreditation. It was unacceptable to academicians and intellectuals like me, particularly those of us of Enugu State extraction. So, we went to work and

within two months into my administration, I provided a roadmap for the federal government through the NBTE to restore the accreditation of IMT, presenting facts and figures that cannot be challenged successfully anywhere. Having provided such roadmap, the NBTE restored our accreditation status, allowing us to operate again.

JAMB was equally directed to again enlist IMT among institutions offering admission to students seeking for admission into tertiary institutions. Further to that, NYSC was directed to start mobilising graduates from this in-

Community relishes health centre

,

T

HINGS are looking up for residents of Item Amagu in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi. They have a brand new health centre right in their midst, and they have the Chinedu Ogah Foundation to thank for it.

Financier of the foundation, Comrade Chinedu Ogah, also lifted the spirits of the poor and less privileged as the community savoured the new facility.

Ogah, a philanthropist, distributed wrappers and cash to over 1000 women who graced the occasion the community’s playground.

It ws his birthday which he chose to share with his townsfolk, especially the needy among them. The celebrant also distributed bags of fertilizers to the people to help them in this year’s farming season.

Addressing the people, Comrade Ogah urged them to love one another and come together as one for the growth of the community.

He said: “Everyone irrespective of party or religious affiliation should leave together in peace and harmony it the community. Support the government in power both at the state and federal level to deliver dividends to us”.

“If there is no peace in the community, no government will come in to build schools, roads, hospitals and other amenities for you.

Also if you are not united you cannot present a common front to government when agitating for these things meaning that you may not get them. So it is important you live one another.”

He promised to continue giving scholarships and other support to the youths and widows in the community.

Meanwhile, worried by the nonavailability of a functional health centre close to the people of Item Amagu in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi , a non-governmental organisation, The Chinedu Ogah Foundation has donated a one story building worth over N30m to the Health Care Centre located in the community to help alleviate the plight of the people in accessing quality health care.

The building was commissioned recently as part of activities to mark the birthday of Comrade Chinedu Ogah, who is an indigene of the community.

The edifice was named after the South East Leader of All Progressive Congress (APC) and former governor of Abia State, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu. Speaking at the occasion, Comrade Ogah said the edifice was

Comrade Ogah said the edifice was named after the former National Chairman of the ANPP who is one of the leaders of the APC who are fighting for the less privileged in the society by championing the change crusade of the party

,

•The facility built by Comrade Ogah

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

named after the former National Chairman of the All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP) who he noted is one of the leaders of the All Progressive Congress who are fighting for the less privileged in the society by championing the change crusade of the party”.

“This change is all about good health to the people, it is all about uplifting the standard of leaving of the people in all its ramifications and we deem it fit to name this edifice after Dr Ogbonnaya Onu in recognition of his years of service to the people of the state and Nigeria in general.”

He praised the government of President Muhamadu Buhari for starting on a strong footing and urged for support by Nigerians to enable the President succeed in his vision and mission to bring about positive change to the country.

“Buhari is a man of reputable character, he is a man with vision.

That is why we erected this building. Every leadership irrespective of party we pray for them. We are very happy with what APC government is doing, we are appealling •Continued on page 39

•Ogah distributing wrappers to women

stitution for the one year mandatory youth service. You can imagine having a backlog of about 15,812 graduates of this institution who were just pooled somewhere, denying them entry into the job market and you know that if a graduate doesn’t go for NYSC, he or she can’t get a job. What that meant was that it disenfranchised graduates from IMT; it is unacceptable. It won’t just create educational problem, it will create a social problem, so that has to be attended to.

•Continued on page 39

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THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

‘IMT was like dead factory’ I tackled the issue of overcrowding in the institute. This place was so over-bloated with students. We have a carrying capacity of 7,080 approved by NBTE. But when I came here, they were over 35,000 students which was part of the reason why IMT was delisted and de-accredited

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•Prof. Mike Iloeje •Continued from page 38 “I am happy to say that within two years all the students were able to go for their NYSC peacefully and I can tell you that most of them have been absorbed in the labour market.

I also decided to look inwards into the rot in IMT. If you had come here in 2011, you would have shed tears.

This institution was rotten; every aspect of it was totally unacceptable for some of us who went to very good schools. It was also a shame and embarrassment that an institution handed over to us in Enugu State was left to just rot down the line. So, we decided to clean it up.

The first thing I did was among the staff because they were not properly paid. There was a new salary arrangement which the federal and state government had agreed to implement in the polytechnics as far back as 2009, but that salary package was not implemented here. So, I decided to go to all extent to see that our staff were paid salaries commensurate with their

Community relishes health facility •Continued from page 38 to Nigerians to be patient with Buhari. He is trying to take his time so as not to make mistakes. If you do things in a hurry you may not achieve success but if you have strategic planning, you will achieve success. And that is what I believe he is doing. In a short period of time, he will start unveiling his programmers for Nigeria”.

He urged other well to do individuals to always help the poor and less privileged around them.

“The best way to leave life is to help the poor. They elect leaders and pray for them. We are in positions of leadership not be use we are better than them, but because they gave us that opputprtunity, so every effort should be made by leaders to enhance their living standards” Comrade Ogah also urged the people in the community to protect the health facility which he said cost the foundation about N35m to build and furnish.

Commissioning the project, the Parish Priest of Holy Cross Parish Okpoitumo Ikwo, Rev Fr John Okoro urged the people to utilize the facilities at the Hospital judiviously.

He also commended Comrade Ogah for his magnanimity in providing succor to the poor and less privileged in the society.

The Clergyman also enjoined privileged individuals in the society to emulate the actions of Comrade Ogah.

colleagues in other polytechnics in this country.

The [then] governor Mr Sullivan Chime approved a tremendous increase from N20m to N120m a month and that money has been coming.

With the fund, I was able to pay my staff salaries commensurate with their colleagues in other polytechnics in this country.

The next thing I did was tackle the issue of overcrowding in the institute. This place was so overbloated with students. We have a carrying capacity of 7,080 approved

by NBTE. But when I came here, they were over 35,000 students which was part of the reason why IMT was delisted and de-accredited.

Our admission policy was reviewed in order to ensure that only qualified students were admitted here, there is no magic to it. What we did was that we implemented the age old National Council for Education policy that for you to be admitted for tertiary institutions; universities or polytechnics, you must have five O’ Level credits at

not more than two sittings and those credits must include English Language and Mathematics. It wasn’t being implemented here; people were being admitted and graduated with only one or two credits at school certificates, so I insisted on it and by that, I was able to sift the admission process in order to ensure that only qualified candidates were actually registered in IMT. The next thing I equally did was to look at the admission process.

There was a lot of hanky-panky going on here; people were collecting money to syndicate admission and I immediately put an end to that syndicate and now everything about admission in IMT is done online.

After achieving that, I went on in pursuit of getting professional and academic accreditation for our programmes. We were able to put on ground and called various accreditation bodies; NBTE among others to come and look at our institution, department by department, asking them to tell us what

we need to do to increase our library facilities and our teaching to improve teaching and learning in our institution. I can tell you that 34 of our programmes have been accredited by the National Board of Technical Education. Seventeen of those programmes received full valid for the next five years. Other ones received interim accreditation valid for the next two years. That is the way of restoring the academic credibility of this institution.

I also looked at our libraries, laboratories and workshops. We used all funds made available to us by TETfund (Tertiary Education Trust Fund) to buy laboratory and workshop equipment. We have 2,000 refurbished mini laboratories and many workshops here, particularly in Engineering and Technology where it will be easy to make a faster intervention if we want to buy new equipment. We also have new equipment in our mechatronics lab; we have new equipment like we do have in civil, mechanical and electronic engineering departments.

Meanwhile some of it came from the TETfund for Library equipment.

To top the list is our new international ICT centre which we have built from our IGR (Internally Generated Revenue) of about N300m within seven months of the building project commencement and has since been commissioned by the Commissioner of Education, Enugu State.

I will encourage visitors in the state to go there and look and avail themselves the opportunity of making use of the tremendous ICT facility that is at their disposal in IMT.

Special court for kidnappers, cultists in Imo A

S part of measures to curb the rising incidence of kidnapping and cultism, Imo State is to set up a special court to try cultism and kidnapping cases.

Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Acho Ihim said that the court when inaugurated would ensure that suspected kidnappers and cultists are treated according to the dictates of the law.

The Speaker, who made the disclosure after a joint security meeting, said that other conventional courts in the state will be renovated.

In a related development, the

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

state government also inaugurated a committee to decongest the prisons in the state.

The committee made up of the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere and the Chief Judge of the State, justice Paschal Nnadi, was mandated to visit the prisons and liaise with the authorities on how to decongest the prisons. .

He said that the council also re-

solved to find a lasting solution to the lingering strike action embarked upon by the workers of Federal Medical Center Owerri ; adding that the state government will have meeting with the union of the hospital to find a lasting solution.

Chief Ejiogu also appealed to Imo indigenes to always ensure that their gutters/drainages are kept clean as the state would be experiencing heavy down pour as forecast by Nigeria meteorological agency (NIM).

•Nigerian Army Engineers reconstructing the Ezenwa Street in Onitsha North Local Government Area of Anambra State

Probe oil depot, Buhari urged From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

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EMBERS of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), plying their trade at Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Osisioma on the outskirts of Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State has called on the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari to beam its searchlight on the depot as the campaign to reform and bring sanity in the oil sector gathers momentum.

The group in a press release issued on Tuesday by its chairman, Levi Amah noted that reform would not only restore sanity in the system, but would also bring fresh breath into the depot that services Southeastern zone.

Amah while urging President Buhari to use his office to unravel the mystery behind scarcity of petroleum products in the depot and the entire southeast at the moment said it was worrisome that despite the assurances by of Pipelines and Petroleum Marketing Company (PPMC) officials to make petroleum products available for purchase, their members still suffer untold hardship to get the products which makes them source it from outside the zone.

IPMAN while describing as untrue and so flimsy the excuse making rounds in some quarters that the scarcity of petroleum products in the zone was as a result of the old and rustic nature of pipelines use in conveying products from Port Harcourt to Aba depot, recalled that petroleum engineers had assured that such pipes last for more than 150 years before they could become rustic and out of use.

“We are sending this ‘SOS’ because for the umpteenth time, officials of the PPMC have assured us of availability of products, but we do not see any and this has made us to travel as far as Lagos to buy products that ordinarily we could have gotten at Aba, with its attendant risks.

“Again, blaming the scarcity on pipelines vandalism amounts to buck passing because the pipelines are being guarded by a combined team of security men.

Pipeline vandalism in this wise could only be possible with the connivance of security agencies unless they are indicting personnel of these agencies”.

The Nation check in most petroleum stations on Tuesday reveal that pump price of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) sells between N110-N120 while black marketers sells N130-N140 a liter, though there were no queues as a result of the products availability in most of the filling stations as at the time of filing this report.

Some Petroleum product consumers who spoke to our correspondent while recalling how horrific it was for Nigerians especially travelers during the last strike action by members of the petroleum dealers urged the major players in the industry to resolve their issues amicably and added that the citizenry and the country were yet to recover from the impact of the last industrial set back it had from the past industrial action by the union.

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HE General Overseer, Deeper Life Christian Ministry (DLCM), Pastor William Kumuyi and the Bishop of Christ Holy Church aka Nation Builders, 7b Ibo Road, Aba Province III Headquarters, His Eminence Rt. Rev. Nathan Umeh have asked their parishioners to increase their faith in God. Kumuyi in a message at the DLCM camp ground at Flyover, on the outskirts of Aba to conclude his 5days spiritual tour in Abia State preached on the topic “God’s Miracle Working Power in your Life”.

The cleric taking his scriptures from Mark 2 : 3-10, narrated how the faith of the man with paralysis earned him his healing and told the congregation to hold on to their faith at all times.

“When the sick man saw that the crowd could not allow him access to Jesus, he looked up and told his friends to look up and open the roof to let him down from there.

Residents want refuse heaps cleared From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

of our customers either stop at Flyover to buy from there. The roads are not good, refuse scattered here and there. My house is not too

far from here (Crystal Park) and yet going home and coming to my shop everyday is more agonizing. In fact, we live like people or a patient who has been suffering from a terminal illness left on his or her sick bed

without being attended to by any doctor or nurses only waiting to breathe his or her last.

“The reason is simple, you are here and you have equally seen things for yourself. I can’t remem-

Clerics preach faith

God doesn’t want to hear any complaint but obedience to His word which will bring challenges in all the spheres of your lives. The reason why you see people suffering is because they lack faith in God

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From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

“His friends did as he told them and let him down through the roof and when Jesus saw his faith, Jesus said to him “Son, thy sins are forgiven you, rise up, take your bed and go home” and urged them to have the right attitude in the worship of God if they must obtain God’s bless-

ings.

The event featured special prayers for parishioners, DLCM and the country in general.

In a related development, Bishop Umeh in his first homily as the Bishop of CHC Aba Superintendency and Province III after the retirement of His Eminence Rt. Rev. Aaron Eziuzor described Christians who lacked hope in God as people that

are being guided by the flesh.

The preacher who took his text from Luke chapter 5 vs 1-6 urged his parishioners not to say that “you are tired in worshipping God or doing His work(s) or maybe that you are confused because of the challenges that may come your way”, but to be patient and wait for Gods promises which shall come to pass even if it tarries.

“God doesn’t want to hear any complaint but obedience to His word which will bring challenges in all the spheres of your lives. The reason why you see people suffering is because they lack faith in God” and added that if they (parishioners) abide my Gods words which he said was going to bring salvation and would strengthen their faith and commitment in God”.

ber last time when we saw ASEPA officials coming to this place to evacuate refuse and yet we pay for ASEPA fees and other environmental levies. Please help us if you can to inform them (ASEPA) that we are really suffering here and feared that situation of things might grow from bad to worse if they don’t come to our rescue immediately. I don’t know if we are still part of this Aba or not, Mrs. Chikwendu Okereke, a Port Harcourt road resident and shop owner retorted.

However, a staff of the agency who would not want its name to be mentioned attributed their inability to evacuate the refuse on Port Harcourt road to the nature of its road network and promised that they were already mapping out plans on how to tackle waste disposal and management in the area.

“You can agree with me that refuse disposal and management in Aba has really improved. We have been also been able to replace old receptacles with new ones and that of Port Harcourt road is a peculiar one. The road network is bad. We have been able to cleanup some places where we can have access to, but the other areas where our trucks can’t have access to, we seriously mapping out plans on to see how we can come in and help to address the situation”.

Buhari, Okiro, governors for Anambra summit

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari is billed to lead the chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC), Mike Okiro as well as state governors to Anambra State next week for a summit on moral education.

The summit is scheduled to hold at the Women Development Centre in Awka, the state capital.

The event is organised by the Association of Moral Education in Nigeria and Africa, led by its coordinator, Rev. Sis. Maryjude Therese – Nwodo.

Briefing reporters at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka, Nwodo said President Buhari was chosen for the summit because of his “demonstrable commitment in moral rearmament.”

She said, “President Buhari is chosen because of his change mantra.

We sent an invitation to the President and we got a message that he has shown interest to attend.”

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P

•A refuse heap on Port Harcourt Road

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E-SILTING Aba’s clogged drains has started but the commercial city is still a sorry sight. Heaps of refuse characterise Enyimba City, especially its busiest expressway, Port Harcourt Road. Residents including business owners want the garbage dumps evacuated.

They called on the agency managing domestic and industrial waste in the commercial town to urgently clear the heap of refuse.

The residents also feared that the refuse if not hastily evacuated could lead to outbreak of disease.

Some of the residents and shop owners who spoke to our reporter claimed that they have made several efforts to draw the attention of the Abia State Waste Management Agency (ASEMA) without any positive result.

They said it is not only that the health risks they are worried about, but also that the refuse heaps are an eyesore to everyone including visitors.

“The dangers these heaps of refuse poses to our lives are too much and the type of stench that comes out from the refuse heap is enough to send someone to his or her early grave. This is where we do business and we can’t afford not to come out to open for business, because if we don’t how then are we going to fend for our families?

“But the truth is that it is not funny and not good for our health. We on a daily and sometimes, weekly basis patronize chemist shops or go to the hospital to run one medical test or the other because of the bad odor that we inhale here on a daily basis.

“The situation we have found ourselves has equally not been favourable to our businesses. Some

President Buhari is chosen because of his change mantra.

We sent an invitation to the President and we got a message that he has shown interest to attend

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From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

The Revd. Sister maintained that moral education has become a burden in the society, while blaming

the government for not creating jobs for the teeming youths in the society.

She said in Anambra State, for instance, former governors Chris

Ngige and Peter Obi tried their best in teaching morals in the society, adding that Obiano has also not been quiet on the topic.

She further said the association decided to organise the conference to keep a legacy for the next generation, adding that it is creating awareness on how to build a better society.

The event, which would start on 14 July and ends on 18 July, 2015 at Finotel Hotels, would have Prof.

Godswill Obioma, Executive Secretary, Nigeria Education Research Development Council deliver a paper on the day.

The association, according to Therese Nwodo, was formed in 1976 and had Nigeria as its 36th member nation.

She said the Parent American Association on Moral Education became interested in making Nigeria its member after her presentation the last time she

•Rev Nwodo visited the organiSation.

She said the task of imparting virtues in the young was a job for everybody, adding that was why the association is non-religious and inter-disciplinary.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10 2015

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COMMENTARY

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T no time in the life of man can the true nature of human existence more manifest than in Ramadan. It is in that sacred month that Muslims reflect mostly on the purpose of their existence on earth. Some people fasted actively last year but are no more today. Some put their feet at the door step of Ramadan this year but never entered it. Some fell by the way side along the line. Some fasted with absolute faith in Allah and confidence in making use of the lessons of Ramadan.

Some joined the spiritual train with no idea of their destination in the month.

Segments of Ramadan At the beginning of this sacred month, an analysis was done in this column classifying the 30 or 29 days of Ramadan into three segments. The first segment was said to contain the first ten days of the month during which the blessings of Allah came to the faithful Muslims freely and in abundance. Except for meeting that segment with faith and good intention, there was no working for it.

That segment ended after 10 days paving way for the second segment that began on the 11th day of Ramadan.

During the 10-day period of the second segment, most fasting Muslims intensified worship (Ibadah) by spending their days and nights seeking Allah’s forgiveness and by chanting Istighfar.

But such forgiveness was neither automatic nor free. Usually, conditions were attached to it. One of such conditions was for every fasting Muslims to admit his/her misdeeds and repent of them.

The second was to voluntarily and genuinely seek forgiveness. And the third condition was to resolve never to return to such misdeeds again. To seek Allah’s forgiveness during the month of Ramadan, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was reported to have said that “if you want to speak with Allah, make your request on prostration. And if you want Allah to speak to you recite the Qur’an”. No one who abided by the above conditions and followed it scrupulously would ever be disappointed.

Allah is both promising and fulfilling.

He never reneges on His promise. In Qur’an 2:186 He promises thus: “…when my servants ask you (Prophet Muhammad) about me, tell them that I am very close to them. I answer the prayers of whoever seeks my favour if he prays to me (without any intermediary). So, let them expect my favourable response and trust in me so that they may be rightly guided”

Midway Ramadan Those second ten days were not just to consolidate on the blessings of the first ten days, they were also to prepare the fasting Muslims for the last ten days when they are expected to be fully liberated from the evil machinations of any Satanic forces.

Human life is not measured by the time or manner of his or her death. In Islam, death is neither the consequence of sin nor the repercussion of ignorance.

There are instances when the sinless dies and the sinful lives. There are also instances when the learned dies while the ignorant lives. The schedule of life and death is not in the custody of any human being. Death is a debt which every living being owes and must pay.

Not even Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was spared of death or given a foreknowledge of it. Allah ordered him to say in the Q. 10:49 thus: “Say I have not the power to benefit or to harm myself except what Allah pleases. Unto every nation is a fixed term. When their terms expire, they cannot delay it by an hour nor can they bring it forth before its time”.

This is a verse of the Qur’an which the ignorant ones have severally quoted and interpreted according to their whim. In their imagination, they want the Prophet to claim infallibility to enable them call him a liar.

Nostalgia Some people dream but never live to realise their dreams. Some look but never see. It is only in the imagination of man that age should be a factor of death.

We shall all die at our scheduled time.

Therefore, whoever is privileged to pass

FEMI ABBAS ON femabbas756@gmail.com 08115708536

Summary of facts ‘Besides abstaining from foods, drinks and sex, in the month of Ramadan, a good Muslim must mind his relationship with people around him, including neighbours. Fasting in the month of Ramadan cannot be taken in half measure’ through this year’s Ramadan successfully should endeavour to add spiritual value to his or her life and not diminish in faith after the sacred month. We shall all account for that value before Allah.

In a few days time this year’s Ramadan will come to an end by the grace of Allah and we shall continue to look back with nostalgia to the good things we have done in the sacred month. For instance, we shall remember that in no other month of Hijrah calendar is the role of Muslim women more pronounced than in Ramadan. Like in other months, they display the roles of wives, mothers as well as that of their husbands’ confidants. But more than in other months, they exhibit their religious dedication in Ramadan.

Even as they assist their husbands financially in maintaining the homes, they still take care of those husbands as well as the children and relatives domestically. At the time of the day when the husbands are knocked out by fatigue arising from fasting, the wives are still busy in the kitchen preparing Iftar for the household. At the time in the night when some husbands are engaged in Tahajjud, or are snoring in bed, the wives are already up in the kitchen preparing the Sahur for the family.

Some of these women are pregnant. Some are suckling their children. Some of them are knowledgeable enough to do the Tilawah (recitation of the Qur’an) like their husbands. Some are even rich enough to finance the home fully or partially.

And, in all these activities, they never feel tired. Where and when they feel tired, they never show it. If any month has ever depicted the virtues of women, it is Ramadan and the women activities in it. If for the reason of their activities in Ramadan alone, they deserve tenderness and dignified treatment in the hands of their husbands.

We shall also remember the role of our children in the month and then endeavour to ensure the continuity of those rewarding activities.

Allah’s greatest gift Children are Allah’s greatest gift to man.

Their presence in a house is blessing. Their contribution is immense. Those are children for you. They can play the role of teachers just as they can do that of students.

They learn fast, they teach fast. They are a major security for parents in any given environment.

Children play both temporal and spiritual roles in a matrimonial life. And with such roles, they sometimes create hope for humanity and sometimes, they signal despair. They are the greatest asset in the

possession of parents in time of peace.

They are also the greatest weapon for those parents against the forces of Satan.

Because of their innocence, they pave way for God’s forgiveness and quick acceptance of prayers. And, most importantly, children guarantee the continuity of man’s existence on earth. It is only with them that the fulfillment of today’s promise is possible tomorrow.

In the Qur’an, children are mentioned many times and most often with reverence. They are treated in that glorious book as a major issue in the life of man.

As orphans, they do not only have a role to play, they also compel some adults to play a role relating to them.

As heirs to their parents, they have substantial shares in inheritance. Muslim children are like cubs. They follow very closely the footstep of their parents or guardians. They are often with their parents during the five daily prayers. They watch their parents as the latter give charity to the poor. They accompany them to public lectures and Islamic social gatherings.

And, in Ramadan, children are part of the Muslims’ total spiritual package.

They wake up with them at night. They fast with them in the day. They break the fast with them at sunset. They join their parents at Tafsir and night lectures.

They participate in Laylatul Qadr and in giving Zakatul Fitr to the poor. Who can substitute the role of children in a matrimonial home?

In all the above mentioned activities, children are supposed to be encouraged.

At the tender age of seven, they should be guided to fast even if for half a day.

And when they reach the age of 10 they should be strengthened in faith and in religious deeds. They should be provided with necessities of life both on the temporal and spiritual grounds. With these, they will grow up to become the fulfillment of their parents’ dreams.

Most children grow up as good or bad Muslims by emulating their parents. A child is therefore what his parents make him. If advantage of Ramadan is not taken by parents to mould their children into good Muslims what other platform will be used? Your child is your sun.

Make hay with it while it shines.

Neighbours We shall also recall how we related to our neighbours, especially the nonMuslims among them in that month. In Islam, neighbours are as important as the next of kin. And, Islam attaches so

much respect to them. According to Bukhari and Muslim, Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) was reported to have sworn

by Allah three times saying: “he does not believe in Allah! He does not believe in Allah! He does not believe in Allah! And when he was asked who? He replied by saying: whoever creates fear in his neighbours atrociously” In another Hadith also reported by Bukhari and Muslim, the Prophet was quoted as saying that “Whoever believes in Allah and the last day let him be nice to his neighbours and respect his guests” In the month of Ramadan a good Muslim is expected to wear a new toga of sobriety and repentance. He doubles his good deeds to his neighbours, extending generosity to them and cultivating a new atmosphere of friendliness and trust with them. He genuinely gives them as much impression of love and brotherhood as he does with his consanguine relatives.

It does not matter whether those neighbours are Muslims or non-Muslims. Neither does it matter whether they are tribesmen or non-natives. The Prophet did not discriminate in his Hadith when he was admonishing on neighbours. And that is the inalienable position of Islam on neighbours. Whoever, had quarreled with his neighbours before Ramadan therefore, let him/her go and settle the quarrel.

Besides abstaining from foods, drinks and sex, in the month of Ramadan, a good Muslim must mind his relationship with people around him, including neighbours. Fasting in the month of Ramadan cannot be taken in half measure. Whoever wants to receive full rewards for his religious activities in Ramadan should treat his neighbours well. And, when Ramadan is over, the good deeds must continue. Ramadan is not made a pillar of Islam by accident. Its purpose is to return man to the original state of purity in which he was created. That Allah entrusts the world to man is also not by accident. Allah consulted wide and far before entrusting this great responsibility to man having volunteered to bear it.

This much is revealed in Qur’an 33:71 thus: “We offered the trust (of the world) to the heavens; the earth and the mountains they all turned it down and were afraid of it. Man undertook to bear it but he has proved to be insincere and deceitful”. For man to re-examine himself, repent his misdeeds and be redeemed, therefore, Allah brought Ramadan as a means of rescue.

Needs and wants It is in the month of Ramadan that Muslims reconfirm NEEDS rather than WANTS as the necessities required for the sustenance of their lives. Muslims, by their faith and orientation, are not, ordinarily, given to WANTS. They are more concerned about NEEDS than WANTS. The reason for this is not farfetched. With NEEDS come contentment and satisfaction while WANTS are the cause of greed and avarice.

Allah, the creator and Sustainer of the universe, had provided the needs of every living creature even before its creation. But then, He knew that of all those creatures man alone would go beyond NEEDS into the realm of WANTS. That was perhaps what informed the negative role which Satan assumed in the life of man shortly after the creation of Adam.

By introducing WANTS to man, what Satan did was to create a permanent job for himself in the life of man. Without WANTS the world would not have been what it is today. Blood would not have been shed. Money would not have been deified. Hatred would not have been known to man. And, man’s inhumanity to man would have been totally averted.

The effect of WANTS first became known when Qabil (Cain), the first son of Adam preferred his brother’s wife to his. In the argument which ensued, Qabil (Cain) killed his brother Habil (Abel) and combined the latter’s wife with his.

Thus, greed and avarice became ingredients of man’s culture. And WANTS rather than NEEDS became the domineering factor in the life of man. These are some of the anomalies in man that Ramadan comes to correct every year. If you are a witness to it this year, utilise your experience maximally. You don’t know whether or not you will have that opportunity again. Ramadan Karim!

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

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HEALTH THE NATION

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

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‘Dedicate oil block to cancer detection, management’

OW can the government get the cash to fund cancer management? It should allocate an oil block for tghe ailment’s early detection and management, a renowned Oncologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof ‘Remi Ajekigbe, has said.

Ajekigbe, with two decade experience in the management of cancer, has managed over 8,000 cases across the globe. He said the Federal Government could also allocate for cancer management five per cent of the gross incomes of members of the executive and legislature at the federal, state and local governments.

He added: ‘’You will see the wonder the deductions will do in the early detection of cancer and its management.”

He is not alone. Other experts say early detection and management is the panacea.

On how prepared Nigeria is to battle cancer, Ajekigbe said the country could improve on available equipment for the management of the disease. According to him, there are “eight departments of Radiotherapy and Oncology, two functional Cobalt 60 machines, two functional Linear Accelerators, eight available, but four functional Megavoltage machine, with the ratio at 33.3 million citizens per machine.”

Across the country, cancer patients source funds for treatment. They are not fully covered under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). The scheme has just deployed some mechanisms to ensure that some enrollees, with life-threatening conditions and terminal diseases, are supported financially.

The oncologist also said LUTH, as a foremost federal medical institution that receives the highest number of cancer patients from within and outside the country, should divide its Radiation Biology, Radiotherapy, Radiodiagnosis and Radiography Depart-

Some causes of cancer Environmental factors • The totality of the environment from environmental pollution to microbes, eg. industrial wastes, polycles hydrocarbons, parasites, ultraviolet rays of the sun, among others.

• Socio-economic factors • Poor social-economic status and cervical cancer: -Early sex and marriage -Early pregnancy -Early first child -Fat or high cholesterol intake and breast cancer • Dietary factors -High cholesterol and fat intake increase risk of breast cervical cancer -High intake or fibre reduces risk of colorectal cancer -Higher risk of colorectal cancer with higher intake of protein, saturated fatty acids and alcohol.

-Lower risk of colorectal cancer with

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

ment into two. One, Biology and Radiotherapy; the second, Radiodiagnosis and Radiography. As it is, it is a five in one department, namely, RB, R, R and R+ Medical Physics.

The division, he said, would ensure better coordination of the treatment of cancer patients. There are about two million cancer cases in the country, with over 100,000 new cases recorded yearly.

Of this number, 10 percent, or about 200,000, have access to hospitals with radiotherapy facilities. About five percent - 10,000 - have

higher intake of dietary fibre, fruits and vegetables -Smoked salted fish and nasopharynx cancer • Exposure to ionizing radiation -Cancer in early radiologists -Radiotherapy in mastitis in the past -Accidental exposure to radiation as in Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident in Russia • Oral and non-oral contraceptives -The use of oral contraceptive for up to seven years before the first full term pregnancy increases the chances of breast cancer.

-Oral and non-oral contraceptives could give a false sense of protection from unwanted pregnancy to lady, thus making her throw caution to the wind and engage in uncontrolled sexual activities with multiple partners that may lead to cancer of the cervix • Tight underwears (pants) in men (trauma) the resources to go abroad where they pay between $10,000 and $15,000 per patient for a three-to-five week course of radiotherapy which translates to about $100,000 yearly. The cost of chemotherapy is about 10 times more than that of radiotherapy.

Ajekigbe said about 27 per cent of the two million cases are breast cancer-related while about 25 percent are cancer of the cervix.

Though the cause of cancer is unknown, Ajekigbe said from molecular biology, cancer is recognised as a genetic disease where mutations in genes, inherited or acquired, transit from a normal to a malignant growth.

The rise in cancer cases, according to

•Prof Ajekigbe

Ajekigbe, is due to some factors, including genes, environment, viral, occupation, socioeconomic, social, racial and dietary (change in lifestyle by moving from eating organic food to junks; lack of exercise), and endocrine/hormonal.

Also exposure to Ionising radiation, oral and non-oral contraceptives, tight underwears in men (trauma), anthropometric parameters, hereditary cancer syndrome and the invisible evil arrow.

Ajekigbe said another way cancer could be reduced is for law enforcement agents to use, “laughing gas, a mixture of Nitrous Oxide and Oxygen ( Entonox) that I successfully used in the dressing of the very bad bilateral breast ulcer of a patient in LUTH in the early 90s, that earned me a commendation letter from LUTH Management. This Entonox should be made in canisters and used instead of tear gas during students or general riots or protests or whenever lawmakers are scaling fences for crowd control. This will cause no harm to the protesters who will instead laugh back to their hostels or markets or law-making chambers or homes or stall, than the after effects of teargas.”

Ondo to Fed Govt: remain in SURE-P Health scheme

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HE Federal Government has been advised to re-consider its withdrawal from the SURE-P Midwives Scheme, to avoid the maternal and child survival initiative from running into a hitch.

Ondo State Commissioner for Health Dr Dayo Adeyanju gave the advice at a meeting in Akure, the state capital, with the 400 health workers in the programme.

Adeyanju said rather than withdrawal, the Federal Government should have blocked the leakages in the system and embark on a gradual exit from the programme.

He said the programme had contributed immensely in reducing maternal and child mor-

By Adeyinka Aderibigbe

tality in the state.

Adeyanju said: “The Federal Government should not have pulled-out completely, even if they want to do so, it should be a gradual process, because if they are able to block the leakages in the system, especially with the newly introduced Performance Based Financing, it will help sustain the programme for more effective health service delivery, especially in the grassroots.”

He said state government would retain all the health workers employed under the SUREP Programme because they contributed immensely to the Abiye and Agbebiye initia-

tives of the government in the state.

“You would recall that last week, the Federal Government decided to withdraw from the SURE-P Midwives Scheme, saying it can no longer sustain it. This would create a huge human resources gap at the Primary Health Care level, which is the most critical level in the health system of any developing nation.Therefore, as a state government, we cannot allow this to happen.”

He said, if the state government must reduce maternal and child mortality and ensure that pregnancy is no longer a death sentence in the state, the midwives and birth attendants must be retained.

The Executive Secretary, Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr. Olugbenga Osunmakinwa, said laying off the workers would create shortage of human resources as the midwives extension workers provide a wide range of services in maternal and child health care in all facilities, including: family planning, immunisation, antenatal and post-natal services, among others.

Speaking on behalf of the Health Workers, Mrs. Dunni Ajiboye praised the state government for its passion for quality health care delivery. She appealed to the Federal Government to rethink its action, saying this would help to improve health care delivery.

Tips on stress management Physical “STIMULATE your parasympathetic nervous system because this relaxes the mind and the body. There are several ways to do this, such as breathing from your diaphragm.

My favorite method is to lightly run one or two fingers over my lips. Parasympathetic fibers are spread throughout the lips, so touching them stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system. It’s remarkable how this simple gesture produces an immediate sense of calm in the mind and the body.” Toni Bernhard, J.D. “I go outside. There’s something about natural light that’s tremendously soothing to me. Any weather will do, except maybe pouring rain. But sun, clouds, snow...all good.

I try to be mindful of my surroundings, noticing the trees against the sky, grackle on a lawn, the patterns of clouds. It just takes the edge of.” - Sophia Dembling, Psychology Today Blogger.

•Source: www.flickr.com

•From left: Chief Medical Director (CMD) Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof Chris Bode; Director of Administration, Mr Babajide Grillo and Deputy (Chairman Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), Training and Research, Prof Wasiu Adeyemo, at a briefing on the on-going strike by the members of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) of the hospital.

PHOTO: OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPGA

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

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INDUSTRY

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HE Lagos Chamber of Com merce and Industry (LCCI) has kicked against the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) recent policy on foreign exchange (forex), which listed 41 items not valid for foreign exchange, arguing that it has dire consequences for the economy if not reviewed and possibly reversed.

Its President, Mr. Remi Bello, at a forum with the CBN in Lagos, frowned at the inclusion of what he called ‘intermediate products’ on the list of the 41 items excluded from the forex market.

While flaying CBN for not engaging the private sector before introducing the policy, Bello noted that as key stakeholders, the opinion of private sector operators should have been sought.

An economist, Mr. Opeyemi Agbeje, said there had been anxiety in the business community over the exclusion of the items from the market, adding that it is a de-facto ban.

LCCI flays CBN forex policy

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

“Many businesses are affected. The policy process should have involved consultation and engagement of the organised private sector,” he said.

Managing Director Coleman Industries, makers of Coleman cables and wires, Mr. George Onafowokan, said he lost over N800 million due to the policy and the technical devaluation of the naira by the CBN. “I lost N800 million as a result of the policy,” he lamented, noting that his company has a two-year expansion plan of N11 billion.

He asked: “If we cannot buy our raw materials that we believe have been wrongly tagged in the CBN list, the question is, how will CBN cushion the effect of this devastat-

ing policy?”

He insisted that the policy was not in the best interest of the manufacturing sector. He said it would be impossible for his company to keep over 400 workers if the policy was sustained.

But, CBN Director, Monetary Policy, Mr. Moses Tule, explained that the two key micro agencies of the government in charge of fiscal policies must come together, noting that no economy is run on foreign exchange.

He said CBN was not bound to disclose the reason behind its policy before unveiling them, insisting that the apex bank forex policy is in the best interest of the private sector and the nation in general.

“No Central Bank brings its micro economic policy for debate before implementation. We acted in the best

interest of the nation with no vested interest anywhere as being alleged in some quarters,” he said.

Tule wondered why people do not question unpatriotic traders who import unwanted things, thereby depleting the nation’s foreign exchange reserves.

He said: “From January to May, we spent $575 million importing wheat. We have land and farmers in abundance. We should not forget that agriculture contributes about 85 per cent of our GDP. In the same period, we imported fish worth $374million. Are we saying we cannot produce fish locally?

What are we doing with all the fish farms in the country?

“In addition, the nation spent $349 million in the same period import-

•TUC Rivers State and Commissioner of Police Chris Ezike after the meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

Insecurity: TUC withdraws ultimatum to Rivers police chief T

HE Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), River State chapter, has withdrawn its 14-day ultimatum to the new Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, Mr. Chris O. Ezike, to improve the security of lives and property in the state or have its members withdrawn from work in protest.

TUC state Chairman, Comrade Hyginus Chika Onuegbu, said the decision to withdraw the ultimatum taken at a meeting with the Commissioner of Police (CP) on Wednesday, July 8, this year, where the Congress pledged to collaborate with the CP and state Police Command to improve the security in the state.

“The meeting was very fruitful as CP Ezike assured the Union that the Rivers State Police Command was working assiduously to improve security of lives and property in Rivers State and also solicited the support of organised labour in Rivers State. The

By Chikodi Okereocha

CP also informed the Union of some of the successes recorded by the State Police Command since his assumption of duty,” Onuegbu said, in a statement made available to The Nation.

He also said TUC Rivers listed some security challenges facing its members and affiliates in the state, especially increased cases of kidnapping, armed robbery, destruction and killings.

TUC had in a letter to the CP last Friday, gave the CP a 14-day ultimatum to improve the security or face its members’ wrath. The union noted the spate of criminality, adding that it has reached an unprecedented level in the state.

TUC said: “The situation is so bad that many of our members now live in fear and are actively seeking for transfers out of Rivers State. Also,

worrisome is the unwarranted attacks on the secretariat and leadership of labour unions in Rivers state.”

At the meeting were the executives and officers of key TUC’s affiliates in the state. They include the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) and Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP).

Others were Senior Staff Association of Communications, Transport and Corporations (SSACTAC), Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institute and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIA), Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC), and Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN).

LEAP Africa advocates entrepreneurial training

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NON-governmental organi-sation, LEAP Africa, has urged graduates to embrace afterschool entrepreneurial and leadership training to be self-reliant after graduation.

LEAP Africa Programme Officer, Mrs Chinenye Etoniru, gave the advice at the end of the entrepreneurial and leadership training by the NGO, tagged ‘School to Work Employability Programme.’

Etoniru said the programme, co-sponsored by Citi Foundation, is a yearly event targeted at reducing the rate of unemployment among youths, especially gradu-

ates.

“The programme is an opportunity for youths to learn entrepreneurial, leadership, conflict resolution and other helpful skills, like personal branding, before or in the process of searching for their desired career,” she explained.

Etoniru noted that there was high rate of graduate unemployment in the country and the reason is not because there are no jobs, but because some young people are not qualified.

“It is not enough to graduate from school alone, but to be armed with the necessary skills

that would make one get and retain a job,’’ she said, adding that 80 participants are taking part in this year’s edition of the programme.

A participant, Miss Damilola Dada, said the courses in the programme had equipped her with basic skills to help her with getting a job and retaining it. She said she hopes to further her education, and also establish a business.

Dada added that should she not get a job, the entrepreneurial skills would help her to establishe her business. Similarly, Mr. Benjamin George, a graduate of accounting, said the week-long programme had assisted in his career.

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HE Advanced Manufactur ing Technology (AMT) Programme of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) will create more wealth, its Chief Information Officer (Media and Protocol), Mr. Segun Ayeoyenikan, has said.

Speaking in Abuja, he said the AMT programme for wealth generation could deliver increased industrial productivity to reduce importation of goods, equipment, raw materials and services that translate to increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Ayeoyenikan added that AMT could help reduce capital flight by generating value added employment, boosting performance of entrepreneurs and members of Manufactures Association of Nigeria (MAN).

He affirmed NASENI’s readiness to provide facilities at its headquarters and its institutes for training in the various aspects of AMT. “The main objective of AMT programmes is to provide local training for the development of skills to address the shortage of qualified and competent technologists, technicians and engineers. We will focus, especially on design and manufacture of process equipment,” he explained.

Ayeoyenikan said NASENI would provide high quality postgraduate training that would contribute to the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) in the manufacturing sector.

“For Nigeria to be ranked among the 20 richest countries by 2020, there is no alternative to the adoption and application of AMT for economic growth,’’ he said.

Customs turns the heat on smug-

ing electrical and electronics; this can only happen here. In other countries they will insist that you set up manufacturing plants in their country, but here we are quick to import. Must we continue to grow other nation’s economies, keeping their factories running to the detriment of ours?”

He insisted that CBN does not have enough foreign exchange to encourage people to spend on frivolities, such as tooth picks or even private jets, adding that those who insist on doing things the old way should at least source their foreign exchange themselves.

Tule insisted that CBN had not banned the import of any of the items on the lists, saying it does not have the power to do so. He stressed that CBN does not have the cash to allocate for the importation of tooth picks and items that will not boost the economy.

He revealed how the government policy, shortly before the elections, impaired the growth of local rice, as the government issued licences to some people to import rice, adding that this crippled its huge benefits the country has made in the local production of rice in Kebbi and other states.

Tule regretted that some farmers were in a fix and remain impoverished as they could not sell what they produced with the challenges of insurgence in the northeast.

The CBN boss insisted that the policies were as a result of the prevailing economic situation in the country.

“CBN has at various times toyed with several policies such as wholesale, retail, interbank, Dutch auction system etc. Now we are restricting certain products from accessing foreign exchange.

“We are committed to the growth of our economy, job creation and the overall well being of our nation. We have put intervention funds at a point in time, tried to domesticate what we need here and in that light have supported the manufacturing sector to grow,” he said.

‘NASENI programme’ll wealth creation’ glers of poultry products. Smugglers of poultry products into the country are in for tougher time following the launch a special anti-smuggling operation against illegal importation of the products by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). The operation code-named ‘Hawk Descend’ was part of NCS efforts to salvage the poultry sector.

Launching the operation at Seme border, Comptroller-General of Customs, Dikko Abdulahi said the objective of the operation is to achieve national food security and protection of the economy against smuggling of frozen poultry products.

According to him, Nigeria can no longer be a dumping ground for smuggled products, most of which are preserved with chemicals dangerous for human consumption.

He said: “During this period, our operatives will intercept smuggled products, seize and destroy them in line with the provisions of extant laws and regulations.

“There will be no hiding place for smuggled chicken in our land. Our hawks will descend and mop them out of circulation. As we roll out our guns smoking, we are strengthened by the outcome of recent medical research, which reconfirmed our fears about the health hazards of consuming smuggled products.’’

Dikko, who was represented by Deputy Comptroller-General (DCG), Investigation, Inspection and Enforcement, Tahir Musa, said NCS needed to send a message to the exporter-countries that Nigeria would no longer be a dumping site for useless products.

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THE NATION

SOCIETY

For information on how to feature on this page, contact:

E-mail:societygirlontop@gmail.com Tel :08060829778

A new governor for Rotary HE Rotary District 9110 has a new District Governor to stir the helm of its affairs for the next one year. At a grand ceremony, Otunba Bola Onabadejo was installed with pomp at the Intercontinental Hotel on Victoria Island, last Saturday.

Activist lawyer and former Chairman of the West African Bar Association (WABA) Femi Falana (SAN), who was the guest lecturer, spoke on the topic: Be a gift to the world.

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•Otunba Onabadejo flanked by Falana (SAN) (left) and Bishop Diocese of Lagos Mainland, Methodist Church of Nigeria, Rev. Isaac Ayo Olawuyi

•From left: Lady Sarah Onabadejo; immediate past District Governor Dr Dele Balogun and his wife

New priests in town AST Sunday, a new set of priests and deacons were added to the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).

The event, was held at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos.

Bishop Emeritus of Lagos, Adebola Ademowo, charged the newly ordained to uphold God’s call to serve in chastity, poverty and obedience.

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•Newly ordained Deacon Odeyomi Oladapo and his wife Folashade

•From left: Rev Ademowo; Rt Rev Solomon Kuponu of Ijebu North; Justice George Oguntade (rtd) and Justice Oyebanji of the Lagos State Judiciary at the event

•From right: Groom’s father Oba Tejuoso; groom’s mother Olori Omolara Tejuoso; Mrs Nwadiuto Iheakanwa and Olori Yetunde Tejuoso •The Awujale of Ijebuland Oba Sikiru Adetona

Conjugal bliss

T •The couple Adetunji and Adebanke cutting their wedding cake

•Ogun State Deputy Governor Mrs Yetunde Onanuga

HE wedding between former Miss Adebanke Theresa Amusa and son of Oba Adedapo Tejuoshso, Adetunji Adeniji held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Victoria Island, Lagos. A reception followed at Dorchester Hall Water Corporation Drive Ligali Ayorinde, last Saturday.

•Bride’s father Mr Aderemi Amusa and a representative of bride’s mother Mrs Adeola Babalola

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FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS SHOPPING

E-mail: toniaitose@gmail.com

sms : 07035302326

The acceptance of E-commerce can be closely tied to the emergence and growth of online stores, especially in the last three years. Now, as online stores celebrate three years of existence in the Nigerian market, online retail business has continued to thrive, warming its way deeper into the hearts of more discerning shoppers, TONIA ‘DIYAN reports.

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OT many gave it a chance in the ever competitive Nigerian market. This is not just because of the fact that several products jostle for the consumers’ pockets, but it was a completely new way of shopping unknown to Nigerians at that time. Such fears or suspicions bothered on credibility issues. For instance, it was common to think of scams when approached for patronage.

And so, for online operators, it has been three years of hurdles and having to face series of litmus tests.

But now, three years on, the perception has changed.

Today, It has been three years since Nigerians started shopping online.

Three years of contemplating whether to buy online or not, three years of disbelieve, distrust and criticism.

Few years ago, the Nigerian internet space had little or no commercial viability.

This was because internet usage was still developing and provided limited network opportunities for people. Then, an explosion in the number of people that have access to the internet with its unlimited opportunities among which is online shopping which has completely changed the face of retail business in Nigeria.

Yes, Nigerian’s have actually embraced e-commerce quite a lot. Back in 2010/ 2011 when e-commerce started on a large scale, the conversation was really about educating people that Nigeria was ready for e-commerce.

People needed to be educated about how to shop online. Also, most platforms had to do pay on delivery as a way of reassuring the customers that they will get the right product of the right quality. Customers also worried then that their payment details will be compromised if they shop online, so they preferred cash on delivery.

Today, these same customers are now so accustomed to shopping online that they depend on it as part of their lifestyle. According to Raphael Afaedor, Chief Executive Officer of supermart.ng, a grocery online store, ”customers buy their entire grocery needs for the week at one address and get it delivered straight to their doorstep. Lots of these customers have cut down their visits to the local supermarket significantly thereby saving themselves some quality time.

Adding that the q u a l i t y o f the service offering is important for customers to fully embrace the office, Afaedor said,there is an understanding that customers spend too much

TRUE VALUE 360

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

Welcome on board

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HIS is a column that promises to discuss, mold and shape societal values, seeks to protect the inBy Kemi Otegbade terests of consumers, truevalue360@gmail.com citizens and other broader relevant topics such as decadence of educational systems, unemployable job seekers, trading ethics et al under the column, ‘TRUE VALUE 360’. It is an interactive column as suggestions, complaints; day to day experiences are welcome.

This first edition, we are going inwards to pinch ourselves by treating the topic:

‘The Unemployable Graduate’

Three years on: Online trading changes face of shopping time grocery shopping; easily over 3 hours per week, between going to multiple stores, then a visit to the local market just to get the products they want to buy.

Because Supermart.ng aggregates the entire available inventory both from the local market and supermarkets at one address customers are able to fulfill their entire basket which also ensures suppliers make money.

For Evangeline Wiles, the Managing Director of Kaymu.com, in the past three years, online shopping has revolutionized consumers buying habits. More and more Nigerians are embracing e-commerce and the lease of life it provides.

Online shopping places the consumer’s purchasing power at the click of a button and he is not limited by time and place as with retail shopping. It’s easy, fast and convenient.

This is partly because of the introduction of cheap Smartphone and cheaper data plans. Also most ecommerce businesses have been able to build up the trust factor allowing people start their search of a product or service online without fear of been scammed.

They say online shopping is widely accepted particularly because of the introduction of cheap Smartphone and cheaper data plans. Also most ecommerce businesses have been able to build up the trust factor allowing people start their search of a product or service online without fear of been scammed.

Using Carmudi as a case study, the Public relation officer of the firm said the firm has seen a very significant increase in its page visits since its existence and can

only attribute this to the fact that online shopping has become a convenience and also because people have come to view carmudi as a trusted platform. “We also noted that the millennial (between 18-34 years old) are more active in the ecommerce space.

35% of searches on the carmudi website come from this age bracket. This group is the first to be born straight into the digital generation.

The internet is not a thing to Millennia; it is just the norm so it is only normal for that online shopping will continue to increase.”

Konga started by selling beauty, personal and baby care products to online shoppers in Lagos. The company grew quickly with the rapid expansion of product categories and geographic reach. Today Konga delivers products to every state in Nigeria and now has a massive array of over 200,000 products listed for sale on its site.

Public Realtion Officer, Tomiwa Akande said, “We have a strong social media followership of close to 2 million people”. Since the opening of the Konga Marketplace to small and medium size businesses through its SellerHQ Marketplace in 2014, over 20,000 traders have registered on the site.

Konga.com, whose revenue grew 450% from 2013 to 2014.”

She added that the information above is a reflection of how E-commerce has gained more acceptances by Nigerians since inception. it is after all the acceptance that has in turn made Konga grow so fast in the last 3 years. The speed of the growth is so astronomical that it is evident E-Commerce is the future. It is here to stay and more Nigerians are harnessing it to make

shopping cheaper and more convenient for them and also making money while trading on Konga. With Konga building a thriving e-commerce ecosystem, it is soon to be the next goldmine in Nigeria.

People have gradually migrated to buying items more online with the introduced ‘pay on delivery method’(see and touch what you are paying for) which is introduce to convince the average Nigerian man that nobody intends to steal from him. This method of operation gradually built trust in the minds of many who now shop for items online.

Likely growth, predicted three years ago is becoming a reality as online shopping by urban consumers is more than double; this is according to demographics from these platforms. Explaining reason as; digital influence is rapidly expanding to small urban towns and rural areas, thereby, increasing the number of mobile users in country.

According to the demography, discounts will not be the only driving force for people to switch to online shopping, as was previously thought, but factors like convenience and access to wider assortment has also largely influenced shopping decisions. To put it in numerical context, Euromonitor recently estimated that clothing and footwear will be a $1 billion naira per year market online along in 2019; that sounds like a big number but that is just 1% of today’s total wholesale and retail. Now 65% of Nigerians are under 24 and tech savvy with Facebook & Twitter accounts. There is still a long way to go even though the adoption so far has been very impressive.

The unemployable graduate is that job applicant who is academically and professionally qualified for a position but unemployable because he or she cannot defend the certificates presented.

This topic is heartrending to me as one of my core calling is Recruitment. In the last decade, I have seen a lot in the selection process. Several times, we had wondered if the applicants knew they were coming to be interviewed. To get 10 employees for a client, one may need to talk to over 60 seemingly qualified candidates which is tasking and cumbersome.

The orientation and level of preparedness is usually zero except for very few; to cap it all, they all want to earn the same figure intellectuals earn; and when this class are given a lower position cum salary, they feel victimized. Meanwhile they are actually unemployable. I may prefer to refer them to set up Recharge card shops as their brain may not be able to process more than that.

Most fresh graduates cannot write impressive application letters, not to talk of writing letter of introduction on behalf of his / her company; to do a proposal definitely becomes a tall order.

A WASC/NECO holder of 2 to 3 decades ago will clearly win a Graduate of today’s age hands down in productivity and intelligence.

Now, where did we go wrong? Why do we have 70% unemployable graduates?

We all are guilty. Yes every one of us. Why? How? •The lecturer who lures female students to sleep for marks.

•The male hooligans who will rather pay or blackmail to get high grades •The parents who will buy questions and results or even bribe lecturers •The Runs girls (now the boys have invented their runs too) who are not ready to learn in school but to be the hottest chick on the campus •The Sugar Daddies who will sleep with girls of their children’s age with no intention of marrying them and vice versa.

•The last but definitely one of the most important factor is BREAKDOWN IN EDUCATIONAL INFASTRUCTURE. So how can we solve this problem of The Unemployable Graduate? It is almost too late for these set unless they are ready to go for special training on Work Expectation and Ethics, if they are humble enough to admit to themselves.

For the upcoming graduates, it begins with all of us: the government and appropriate budget for education, the students, parents, lecturers’ et al, a total re-orientation and re-alignment of values. No one says students should not enjoy student life or have fun; after all, work, work and no play surely makes Jack & Jill dull. It is better to give Caesar what is his.

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EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 09-07-15

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 09-07-15

Stanbic IBTC declares N9b interim dividend

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HE board of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc has recommended distribution of N9 billion as interim dividend on the first half earnings of the holding company. Shareholders on the register of the company as at July 31, 2015 will receive a dividend per share of 90 kobo. The dividend will become payable on August 28, 2015.

The dividend recommendation was part of the highlights of the first-half earnings report of the company released yesterday, which showed 11 per cent growth in gross income and steep decline of 40 per cent in net profit.

Key extracts of the sixmonth accounts and report for the period ended June 30, 2015 showed that gross earnings rose to N68.30 billion in first half 2015 as against N61.72 billion in comparable period of 2014. Profit before tax however dropped by 52 per cent from N19.95 billion to N9.54 billion.

•Half-year profit drops by 40%

By Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

Profit after tax also declined by 40 per cent to N9.70 billion in 2015 as against N16.18 billion in comparable period of 2014. Earnings per share dropped from N1.48 in first half of 2014 to 80 kobo in firsthalf of 2015.

The company’s balance sheet meanwhile emerged stronger with 22 per cent growth in customers’ deposits within the six-month period. Total assets closed June 30, 2015 at N1.03 trillion as against N944.54 billion recorded by the year ended December 31, 2014, representing an increase of nine per cent.

Customers’ deposits rose by 22 per cent from N494.94 billion in December 2014 to N601.73 billion in June 2015.

Total liabilities rose by 10 per cent from N830.27 billion to N911.17 billion. Shareholders’ funds also increased by eight per cent from N110.05

billion to N118.76 billion.

Stanbic IBTC Holdings’ share price rose by 1.05 per cent to N25.01 per share yesterday at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), playing the contrarian stock as the downtrend at the stock market continued. The NSE Banking Index dropped by 1.3 per cent, ahead of the 0.82 per cent decline recorded by the overall benchmark index, the All Share Index (ASI).

Average-year-to-date return at the NSE thus worsened to -8.34 per cent, extending the recent sustained decline to its eighth seventh consecutive trading session.

There were 16 gainers against 33 losers. Forte Oil topped the losers’ list with a drop of N9.74 to close at N185.24. Guinness Nigeria dropped by N7.31 to close at N138.93 while Seplat Petroleum Development Company dipped by N4.89 to close at N330.11 per share.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 09-07-15

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

MONEYLINK Zenith Bank achieves three ISO certifications

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ENITH Bank Plc was yesterday awarded three certifications from British Standards Institution (BSI) for Information Security Management System ISO/IEC 27001:2013, IT Service Management System ISO/IEC 20000-1:2011 and Business Continuity Management System, ISO 22301:2012.

The certificates were presented to the bank’s Chairman, Jim Ovia and the Group Managing Director/CEO, Peter Amamgbo graced by the Deputy British High Commissioner, Mike Purves, top management of the bank and other employees.

Ovia said the bank’s commitment to these internationally accepted standards, stemmed from its resolve to deepen customer experience through greater information

By Collins Nweze

security, an efficient IT management system and a robust business continuity plan, adding that these are targeted at protecting customers and investments in an increasingly unpredictable business environment.

He said certifications remain strong proof of the lender’s commitment to implementing policies and practices that meet globally recognised principles.

Amamgbo said the bank is proud to have achieved these milestones, adding that technology is at the core of its business strategy in meeting the needs of its customers.

“For us, the customer is the reason we are in business, therefore it is essential that we deliver exceptional cus-

tomer services. Certification to these standards will assist us in doing this,” he said.

He stated that becoming certified to these three standards, provides evidence in the lender’s efforts to comply with local and international regulations relating to data protection, privacy and IT governance.

“We hope, implementing ISO/IEC 27001 will give greater confidence to our customers and other stakeholders that the security of assets, such as financial information, intellectual property, employee details and information entrusted to us is protected securely.

“ISO/IEC 20000-1 acknowledges our high level of efficiency in IT service provision and our ability to continuously improve the delivery of IT services,” he said.

Access Bank emerges best flow house in Africa

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CCESS Bank Plc has emerged winner of the Best Flow House in Africa accolade in the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2015, which held at the Natural History Museum in London.

It is the first time an African Bank will be recognised as winner of this highly sought award. Access Bank’s win comes in recognition of the Bank’s increasing transaction flows across Africa, particularly its dominance in the Nigerian financial markets, the bank said in a statement.

According to Euromoney, the Best Flow House award is given to honour firms that have demonstrated an ability

to excel across the region in the key areas of foreign exchange, equities, rates and credit. The winning firm must also have shown commitment to providing liquidity and pricing in all market conditions. Also, such firm will have shown leadership in developing and integrating technology into its sales and trading businesses, as well as the importance of research.

“We are delighted to be presented with this highly coveted award. This is in recognition of our regional expertise; and our continuing ability to provide customised currency and fixed income solutions to our customers

across Africa,” the Group Managing Director, Herbert Wigwe said, adding, “this award is an attestation of the bank’s determination to be the world’s most respected African bank by 2018" He assured that the bank will sustain this growth momentum, pointing out that the award is an honour, not only for Access Bank, but for Nigeria. “This is just the beginning of more things to come for our bank,” he concluded.

The Euromoney Awards for Excellence, now in their 25th consecutive year, continue to be the most respected awards in the financial services industry.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

55

NEWS I’ll develop LASPOTECH, says rector

By Oluwatoyin Adeleye

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•Members of the new PDP protesting....yesterday

Oyo PDP leaders kick against Secondus as acting chair

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EADERS of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State have kicked against the choice of Uche Secondus as acting national chairman.

They said “people with questionable character should not be allowed to hold positions within the party”.

The PDP chiefs called for the re-integration of Senator Rashidi Ladoja, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, Seyi Makinde and others into the umbrella party, if it must return to winning ways.

These were parts of the recommendations of the party’s chieftains under the aegis of Oyo State PDP Leaders of Like Minds presented to the Emeka Ihedioha-led PDP Post-Election Review subcommittee in Ibadan yesterday.

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•Members want Ladoja, Alao-Akala, Makinde, others back From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

Those who signed the ninepage memorandum included Dr Saka Balogun, Senator Ayo Adeseun, Chief Jumoke Akinjide, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi, Professor Taoheed Adedoja, Professor Soji Adejumo, Femi Babalola, Alhaji Kunmi Mustapha, Alhaji Bisi Olopoenia and eight others.

The leaders said the hijack of the party structure and consequent imposition of unpopular candidates with the support of some members of the National Working Committee (NWC) forced Ladoja, Alao-Akala, Makinde and others out of the party and led to its dismal performance

in the last elections.

“The party should imbibe the culture of transparent internal democracy in all its dealings.

“If we want to regain our lost glory, conscious and concerted efforts should be made to bring back all willing members of Accord, Labour Party and Social Democratic Party (SDP).

“Since primary election did not actually hold in Oyo State, all the money collected from aspirants should be refunded.

“The PDP should strictly adhere to its guidelines on how delegates and party executives are to emerge.

“The party has a structure in place to resolve crisis that might emanate in the party.

“However, the operators of the structure did not imbibe the spirit of equity, justice and fair play in handling disputes.

“More often than not, cases were determined in favour of the highest bidders and people with links to the NWC members. The template adopted by the Presidency to harmonise the camps of Musiliu Obanikoro, Bode George and Jimi Agbaje was not replicated in Oyo State,” they said.

But just as the committee was receiving the memoranda from Lagos, Ekiti and Oyo states, a group of protesters stormed the venue to demand for an all-inclusive party executive in Oyo State.

Tears, curses as slain Iyaloja of Ijebuland is interred

EARS flowed yesterday as hundreds of traders in Ijebuland gathered for the funeral of the slain Iyaloja of Ijebuland, Alhaja Sadia Elewuju, in Ijebu -Ode, Ogun State.

Alhaja Elewuju, who was installed the Iyaloja by the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, in 2002, was buried at 4pm.

Mourners and sympathisers, who thronged her Itorin-Sabo home to receive her remains, cursed her killers.

Some threw themselves on the ground as the hearse, bearing her body drapped in white, pulled up at her home at noon.

Many bemoaned the killing

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

of the 82-year-woman, who was described as bold, courageous and upright.

Security agents had a hectic time controlling sympathisers, who kept wailing and cursing the murderers.

It was gathered that Alhaja Elewuju was attacked at 4pm on Wednesday, when assailants invaded her home, shooting and also inflicting severe cuts on her before leaving the octogenarian in a pool of blood.

The assailants, sources said,

struck when her male workers went to the market to buy food items for entertainment of guests.

A source said she was first taken to a nearby private hospital on the Ijebu - Ode - Ore Expressway, then the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOU), Sagamu and later to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, where she died.

The Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Alli, who resumed yesterday afternoon, vowed to arrest the killers.

Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi told re-

•The late Alhaja Elewuju

porters that the police were on the killers’ trail, promising that the police would put measures in place to prevent a recurrence.

Adeyeye is Akungba-Akoko monarch

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INGMAKERS in Akungba Akoko, Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State have approved the selection of Prince Sunday Adeyeye as the Alale of Akungba-Akoko.

The throne became vacant in 1995 after the demise of the late traditional ruler.

The development led to the installation of three regents,

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

with the latest being Princess Toyin Omosowon, who was installed three years ago.

But Princess Omosowon, who was recently freed after being kidnapped for two weeks, has expressed her readiness to vacate the throne.

Prince Adeyeye is from the Ole ruling house.

Addressing reporters yes-

terday, the kingmakers, who spoke through their leader, Chief Akin Osemawe, refuted claims that Prince Isiaka Oseni was the kingmakers’ choice.

Osemawe said the choice of Prince Adeyeye came after due consultation with the gods and the Ifa oracle.

He added that the consultation of the oracle was a condition precedent in the selection of the Alale.

“The selection of Prince Sunday Adeyeye from Ole ruling house followed wide consultations with the Ifa oracle and general acceptability by the community. At no point did we select any other person.”

He urged Governor Olusegun Mimiko to quickly install Prince Adeyeye as the next king.

Speaking through their leader, Akinwumi Akinfemwa, the protesters, under the aegis of new PDP, called for an all-inclusive PDP in the state to enable the party recover lost ground in 2019.

They carried placards with inscriptions, such as “No to hijackers and jagbas in Oyo State”; “Oyo PDP is dying”; “Bring back our members in Accord, SDP, and Labour Party.”

AGOS State Polytechnic Rector Samuel Sogunro has promised to improve the school’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

He made the promise yesterday at his official inauguration as the 10th rector.

The rector said his administration would focus on agricultural sources of generating funds and partnerships with foreign and local institutions.

“My strategies include: “Constitution of Agro-Allied Business Think Tank to resuscitate palm oil production, establishment of profityielding rabbitry, piggery, poultry and fish farming businesses, installation of high-calibre bakery and commercialisation of bread and water production by the School of Technology, among others.”

The rector, who resumed office on June 1, said efforts had already begun in achievement of these.

He acknowledged the achievements of his predecessor, Dr Abdulazeez Lawal, and promised to walk in his “exemplary strides”.

Sogunro promised to uphold entrepreneurship in the academics, intensify research activities, improve teaching and learning facilities and infrastructure, provision of internet facilities and ensuring that transcripts, certificates, letters of completion and other such documents are promptly processed and released.

‘Fraudsters using my name’

By Seun Akioye

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FORMER Chairman of Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State, Prince Bayo Osiyemi, has raised the alarm over internet fraudsters, who are using his name to defraud the public by soliciting for phone call cards and foreign exchange.

Osiyemi said the internet fraudsters hacked into two of his emails, stole his contacts and were using them to defraud his friends on Facebook.

The former council chairman said in a statement that the scammers sent text messages to his friends, soliciting for phone call cards and other assistance. He said some of his friends had fallen victim.

He said the scammers had been contacting his friends and relatives in the United States and United Kingdom to claim that he was mugged in Istanbul, Turkey and needed $700.

“To push their fraudulent act further, they gave some of my contacts my name and an address in Turkey, 19 Sirkeci, Eminonu Faith, Istanbul 34210, which they could use in sending the money through Western Union,” Osiyemi said.

The former council boss said he had never been to Turkey and urged security agencies to go after the fraudsters, who had also opened an alternative email to further their activities.

105 write promotion exam From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

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NE hundred and five senior civil servants on substantive directorate grade levels in Ekiti State yesterday sat for a promotion examination.

There are vacancies for permanent secretaries, administrative secretaries and general managers for some ministries, departments and agencies.

Speaking with reporters in Ado Ekiti, the Head of Service, Dr Olugbenga Faseluka, said the examination was to fill the vacancies in the public service with strong and credible leadership through an open and competitive process.

He said: “This is a competitive process. This government has decided to put the civil service at its desired pedestal. Any form of entry, be it recruitment, promotion elevation to the top echelon of the service will continue to be a competitive process that starts with a written exam. The purpose is to make sure that we ensure that the best are engaged.”

Of the 105 candidates, 20 are women.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

56

NEWS Wike, PDP lose bid to prevent inspection of election materials •Tribunal: order on inspection still stands

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IVERS State Governor Nyesom Wike and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday lost the bid to prevent the inspection of materials used for the April 11 governorship election in the state.

The Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, on June 11, following an exparte application by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Dakuku Peterside - who are challenging Wike’s election - ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow the petitioners inspect the election materials to prove their case.

But INEC refused to obey the order on the grounds that Wike had applied for the order to be set aside and the PDP was challenging the court’s jurisdiction.

Wike, by his application, asked that the tribunal either set aside or vary the order on the grounds that it was wrongly made.

Alternatively, the governor applied that his agents be allowed to participate in the inspection by the petitioners.

The PDP supported Wike’s position and INEC said it would await the outcome of the application to decided - whether or not to obey the order for inspection.

Ruling yesterday, tribunal Chairman Justice Muazu Pindiga refused Wike’s application on the grounds that it lacked merit.

The judge noted that the order made on June 11, in accordance with the provision of Section 151 of the Electoral Act, was directed at INEC and not Wike.

He said: “There is need for us to clarify the order we made on June 11. The order was made against INEC to allow the petitioners access and inspect and obtain the

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

Certified True Copies (CTC) of election materials in respect of the governorship election in the state.

“The order was made in accordance with the provision of Section 151 of the Electoral Act. The order still stands.”

He adjourned till July 22 for the pre-hearing to begin in the petition by APC and Peterside against Wike’s election.

The parties, who argued Wike’s petition on July 7, disagreed on why INEC was reluctant to allow the petitioners to inspect the election materials based on the tribunal’s order of June 11.

The petitioners’ lawyer, Akin Olujinmi (SAN), argued that INEC’s continued refusal to allow his clients’ agents to inspect the election materials was a manifestation of an alliance among INEC, Wike and the PDP to frustrate the hearing of the petition.

Olujinmi urged the tribunal to dismiss Wike’s application on the grounds that the order was not directed at him but at INEC, which was directed to allow the inspection.

The lawyer averred that Wike’s decision to challenge an order that did not affect him and INEC’s refusal to obey the court’s order formed part of the plot by the PDP, Wike and INEC to frustrate the proceedings before the tribunal.

He urged the tribunal to halt the current disregard of its order.

Olujinmi said: “We have shown that INEC has not objected to the tribunal’s order and, today, they have confessed before the tribunal that they disobeyed the order for inspection because the second respondent (Wike) filed a motion seeking the setting aside of the order.

Tension in Niger Delta over plight of Amnesty students abroad •Ex-militant leaders seek Buhari’s intervention

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HERE is tension in Niger Delta over the plight of students undergoing academic and vocational training abroad under the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) of the Federal Government.

The students, who are in higher institutions in European, Asian and African countries, are said to have been stranded, following the inability of the government to pay their fees and other allowances.

Niger Delta youths, including the families of the affected students, have allegedly been threatening to attack oil facilities to compel the government to settle its financial obligations to the students.

It was learnt that the region has become charged with likely disruption of existing peace, unless the government pays the beneficiaries of the programme.

Following the threats, some former militant leaders and commanders of the Movement for Emancipation

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

of Niger Delta (MEND) yesterday sent a Save Our Soul (SoS) letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The ex-militant leaders, under the aegis of Leadership Peace and Cultural Development Initiative (LPCDI), urged the President to urgently address issues within the Presidential Amnesty Office.

In a letter by their President, Pastor Reuben Wilson, the former militants reminded the President that the amnesty, which was proclaimed by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, led to the increase in crude oil production.

The letter reads: “Thus, with the acceptance and commencement of the programme, our oil production increased from 900,000 barrels a day to over 2,000,000 barrels a day; kidnapping and pipeline destruction became minimal. This upsurge brought an increase in our national income.”

Kerosene explosion kills three-year-old girl

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KEROSENE explosion has killed a threeyear-old girl at Ozoro in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State.

An expectant mother, who was hit in the explosion, was in coma yesterday at the Ozoro General Hospital.

The woman, in her late 30s and identified simply as Mrs. Uyeri, had the kerosene in her

•Expectant mother in coma From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Ughelli

apartment in Ozoro.

A source said the woman, who resided on Urude Road in Ozoro, was refilling her lamp at 7:30 pm when the explosion occurred.

The source, who spoke in confidence, said: “It was the

cry of the woman that attracted her neighbours and rescuers.

“While she was being rushed to the hospital, she was seen pointing towards her apartment that her little daughter of about three years was still in the house.

Although she was rescued,

but the fire had burnt her severely.”

Dr. Ossai Chuks of Ozoro General Hospital confirmed the incident.

He said he was worried when he saw the woman.

According to him, though she is responding to treatment, the little girl did not survive because of the severity of the burns.

Senator Gbenga Ashafa (right) condoling Mrs Evelyn Ogundimu, on the death of her husband, Pa Ogundimu Victor Olamide, who retired as a Permanent Secretary in Lagos State civil service in 1986, during his visit to the family at their Park View, Ikoyi, Lagos home...yesterday

Explosion in Rivers court as judge sacks 22 councils’ excos

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HERE was an explosion yesterday at the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The explosion occurred in the morning, before the court, presided over by Justice Lambo Akanbi, sacked 22 of the 23 local government areas and their councillors.

The tenure of the chairman and councillors of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area will expire next year.

The judge nullified the election of the local government chairmen and the councillors because it allegedly flouted a court order.

Justice Akanbi accused the Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi-led former administration of lawlessness and disobedience to the court.

He set aside the May 23 elections, which produced the local government officials.

The Prof. Augustine Ahiuzu-led State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), the government body that conducted the elections in 22 of the 23 local government applied for the release of the voter register from the Dame Cecilia Khanled state Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The PDP filed an injunction restraining INEC from releasing the register.

The party alleged that the process was impromptu and, therefore, illegal.

The PDP sued the government, RSIEC, the All Progressives Congress (APC), among others.

At the earlier hearing, the court declined jurisdiction in the matter.

Lawyer to the respondent, Beluolisa Nwofor (SAN), informed the court that his clients had filed an appeal on the matter.

He urged the court to step down further hearing, pending the decision of the higher court.

The court ordered parties to maintain the status quo

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•Wike sends names of caretakers to Assembly vourable judgment we got at APC: this is travesty of justice the Election Petitions Tribunal HE Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday expressed sadness over the dissolution of the elected 22 of the 23 local government

areas.

In a statement in Port Harcourt, the state capital, by its Publicity Secretary Chris Finebone, the party said: “APC is saddened that, despite his earlier ruling to stand down the matter until the appeal questioning the jurisdiction of his court is determined by the Appeal Court from October 12, Justice Lambo Akanbi, this morning (yesterday), handed out ruling on a matter that was awaiting a decision of the Appeal Court.

“Without any hearing notice to the parties except, perhaps, to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Justice Akanbi, presiding over Federal High Court I in Port Harcourt, began sitting this morning (yesterd ay) and quickly handed down a ruling in respect of a matter between PDP and other parties, including the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), voiding the election of 22 local council chairmen and councillors in Rivers State. He claimed to have earlier ordered that the elections should not hold.

“However, that position by Justice Akanbi is far from what transpired in the matter.”

From Bisi Olaniyi and Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

and leave the rest.

It adjourned the matter sine die (indefinitely).

When the election was conducted on May 23, PDP boycotted it; the APC produced all the 22 chairmen and almost all the councillors.

The respondents, at the end of the last administration withdrew the Appeal and closed the case.

Justice Akanbi resurrected the matter yesterday, nullifying the election.

But APC and the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) told reporters in Port Harcourt that the judgment lacked a fair hearing.

Delivering judgment, Justice Akanbi said: “The respondent (APC) was aware of the order that they should leave the rest. The respondent committed contempt of court for going ahead to hold the elections while the suit was pending.

“When a matter is in court, nothing should be done to prejudice the matter.

“The parties cannot jump the gun to do anything in their own way. A party in a suit cannot resort to self-help. Whenever a ruling has not been given, parties are bound to maintain the status quo.

“The attitude of the second and third respondents in this matter is unacceptable, provocative, lawless and condemnable.

We must learn to uphold the rule of law. It helps to strengthen our democracy.

“I hereby set aside the local government elections held on May 23, 2015.”

Rivers APC blamed the explosion on the PDP. APC said: “The explosion at the Federal High Court (FHC) was a make-up act by PDP members; such acts are notorious with their activities in Rivers State to justify any of their diabolical and evil acts against Rivers State and its people.

“Acts of killing and bombing are associated with the PDP. So, if the police are serious to unravel this, they should beam their searchlight on the PDP. We would have declared today (yesterday) a day of mourning in Rivers State, if not for the fa-

in Abuja, which set in motion the move to unseat ...Wike.

“With the favourable judgment, we are very convinced that it is a matter of weeks for Wike to face the wrath of our people...”

On the dissolution of the 22 local government chairmen and councillors, APC said the councils were well constituted and the sacked officials duly elected by Rivers electorate.

It described the development as sad and unfortunate.

The APC said it would appeal the dissolution to ensure that justice was done and Wike’s impunity redressed.

The sacked members of the state chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), led by Chimbiko Iche Akarolo of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, recently accused Justice Akanbi of acting Wike’s script for their sack.

The ALGON members also sent a petition against Justice Akanbi to the National Judicial Council (NJC), calling for his dismissal for unethical conduct and corruption.

But Rivers PDP’s Publicity Secretary Samuel Nwanosike described members his party as law-abiding and peace-loving.

He denied its involvement in the explosion.

The PDP urged security agents to investigate the incident.

Governor Nyesom Wike yesterday sent the names of caretaker committees’ members for the 22 local government areas to the House of Assembly.

Speaker Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani led the other lawmakers to screen the caretaker committee members.

The process was underway at the time of filing this report.

Also, the 22 elected council chairmen yesterday withdrew the suit seeking protection from Wike’s dissolution.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

57

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

I’m in deep mess, man tells court

“I

•The collapsed building...yesterday

PHOTO:DAYO ADEWUNMI

Four-storey building collapses in Lagos

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FOUR-storey building collapsed yesterday in Yaba, Lagos Mainland, affecting a church adjacent to it and another building.

The building went down shortly after the seven workers working on it left. The workers were said to have left when they felt the building vibrating.

A mechanic, Ganiu Lawal, said the building collapsed around 2.30pm.

Baba Musa, who secures the building, said the workers left before their closing hour

By Precious Igbonwelundu and Idayat Bello

when they felt the building vibrating.

“The building used to be a bakery and after it was demolished they started the construction of this house last year. Few minutes after they left, it collapsed. It was only a man who had minor injury because he was at the pharmacy beside the building when it collapsed.”

Isaac Solomon, who resides in the church, said he was asleep when the building collapsed.

“I can’t believe I survived.

Who says God doesn’t answer prayers. I have been year for over 10 years and I have never witnessed such incident,” Solomon said.

Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) General Manager Michael Akinlade confirmed the incident, saying:”No one was trapped in the building.

From the information we gathered, the seven workers who were at the site have stepped out before the building collapsed.

“We have done head count

and have seen all seven of them. None of them is hurt.

The building was still under construction and part of it fell on a church and the other part affected a residential building.

“All the relevant agencies are on ground and we have started demolition for safety reasons. We can’t ascertain the cause for now, but necessary actions will be done.”

He said the demolition of the remaining part of the building had begun adding that the cause of the collapse will be ascertained by the relevant agencies.

How Ambode saved my baby, by grandma

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OR 50-year-old Mrs Afolake Ogunnoiki, January 1, 2015 will forever remain a memorable day.

That day, her eldest daughter, Mrs Sherifat Ogundimu, was delivered of a baby girl, Oluwajomiloju Goodness Ogundimu, who turned out to be the first baby of the year in Lagos State. She was born about 12.01am.

But the family’s joy was shortlived following the death of the mother. Besides, it was later discovered that the baby had a heart disease which could only be corrected through surgery.

The grandmother, who took over the baby’s care, said the family could not afford the N5million required for the surgery abroad.

She said all her search for help to save the baby was to no avail until Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode came to office on May 29. On learning of the case, 48 hours after he assumed office, the governor ordered that the child be sent to India for the surgery.

Mrs Ogunnoiki, who was at the State Secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja yesterday with the baby to thank the governor, went emotional as she relived her story.

“I am the grandmother of the baby, my first daughter, a chartered accountant and first class graduate from University of Lagos (UNILAG), gave birth to this baby by 12.01am at Island Maternity Hospital as the first baby of the year. But unfortunately she passed on shortly after delivery.

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

“After the death of my daughter, I took care of the baby and I was informed that she has heart issue, already before my daughter died we spent five months in the hospital, three months in Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and because of the strike we left for Island Maternity where she stayed for two months and delivered the baby.”

She explained that on discovery that the baby had heart disease, the Island Maternity Medical’s Director tried to help by giving her a letter to the Commissioner for Health, who also responded and referred them to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

“When I got to LASUTH I did not know what the situation was as I was being tossed about, luckily I learnt from one of the health workers who was moved by my situation that my granddaughter’s case cannot be treated in Nigeria but required to go abroad.

“I went to the hospital on a daily basis with the baby looking for help and when I learnt that the governor has resumed work on June 1, I came with the baby on Wednesday June 3rd and he received us that same day and immediately approved our trip to India.”

She thanked the governor for the gesture and prayed that God would use him for the state.

“I also want to appeal to the government because the doctor in India asked us to come back one year after for check up. I want to appeal that they should not forget us.”

THOUGHT I was doing my clothier a favour when I decided to take her as my second wife; I never knew or perceived the mess I was getting myself into until we started living as a couple.”

These were the words of a 44year-old butcher, Adam Yusuf, who yesterday urged the Lagos Island Customary Court to dissolve his eightyear-old marriage to Aminat.

He accused her of disrespecting him and his first wife.

“She sold cloths to me at abattoir and when I got to know she was chased out of previous husband’s house because she had no child, I told her I was going to assist her by impregnating her,” he said.

The petitioner, who lives at 12, Enuowa Street in Lagos, said he rented a two-bedroom flat for her but she insisted she wanted to live with him and his family.

He said: “ She was always at loggerheads with tenants.

Almost everyone in fear avoided her trouble in the neighbourhood.”

The petitioner said she moved in to his house with-

By Basirat Braimah

out notice, adding that he was forced to give her a room to avoid her trouble.

“I was sad because my first wife wasn’t expecting such incident to happen. We built where we live with our hard earned money,” he said Yusuf said the respondent once beat him and his wife up.

“I left my house seven months ago due to lack of peace. I sneak to the house I built whenever I want to see my family. It is that bad, “ he said.

He said he was no longer interested in her.

“Recently, I got to know the reason her husband chased her was because of her attitude. Even when I complained to her family, they asked me to keep enduring. The last time I slept with her was last year. I thought I was doing her a favour. I am in serious mess.

I need assistance and I don’t want my first wife to die of heart attack,” he added.

The court’s President, Chief Awos Awosola, ordered the respondent to appear in court and adjourned the case till July 13.

Synagogue rejects coroner’s report •’It’s unreasonable, one-sided and biased’

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HE Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) yesterday picked holes in the Coroner’s report indicting it for the September 12, last year’s collapse of its guest house in Ikotun, Lagos.

In a statement on its facebook page, the church said the report was unreasonable, one-sided and biased.

The statement reads: “The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN) rejects the verdict of the coroner on the grounds that it is unreasonable, one-sided and biased.

“The church maintains its stand that the incident was as a result of sabotage. We repeat: No matter how long a lie is sustained, the truth will someday prevail!”

The church’s position caused public anger in South Africa, with callers to a Johannesburg radio station, accusing it of shocking its responsibility.

On Wednesday, Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe held that the collapse was caused by a faulty foundation, adding that the building had no approved plan.

He said the church should b e investigated and tried for breaking the law; while the engineers should be investigated and tried for criminal negligence.

Pakistani jailed 18 months for heroin trafficking

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

J •Mrs Ogunnoiki with her grandchild...yesterday

Mrs Ogunnoiki also appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that the health sector is strike-free during his tenure, adding that her daughter died because of health workers’ strike while she was in LUTH. “I know that it was the strike of LUTH that killed my daughter, but I thank God for Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, who heard of our case and decided to take care of the bill.

“I will also appeal to President Buhari and our governor to solve the problem of strike in

the medical sector. Medical is very important. The first work I did in my life was my first daughter, but I lost her as a result of health workers’ strike. I want their tenure to stop strike in hospital.

A female doctor in the governor’s office, who accompanied the baby to India, said they spent two weeks in the hospital where the open heart surgery was done.

The doctor, who did not want her name mentioned, government would not abandon the baby.

USTICE C. J. Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday sentenced a Pakistani, Iftikhar Muhammad Arslan to 18 months imprisonment for importing 25.400kg of high heroin

worth N22-million.

The convict was charged with unlawful importation of 25.400kg of heroin contrary to and punishable under Section 11(a) of the NDLEA Act Cap N30, laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The convict claimed to be a medical student. He initially pleaded not guilty but changed his plea midway in to his trial.

Iftikhar also pleaded for leniency. The prosecutor, Mr Owens Fingere, opposed his plea, urging the court to consider the value of the drugs and the fact of the case in sentencing him.

Justice Aneke held that heroin is a dangerous drug that would have caused serious harm to the country.

He said the court would be lenient with the convict because “he is a first time offender and is remorseful over his action.” The judge added that as a student, the convict deserves a second chance to correct his mistakes.

Iftikhar was arrested by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) official at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMA) in Ikeja, Lagos on April 5, last year, during the inward screening of passengers on a Qatar Airways flight on his way from Doha, Qatar.

The brownish substance that tested positive for heroin was packed in 25 parcels hidden in a smaller bag inside his luggage. “I am a student of Punjab College and I am in Nigeria as a tourist because my friend told me that Victoria Island and Ikoyi are beautiful tourist centres.

“Unfortunately, when I arrived at the Lagos Airport, the heroin was found in my luggage. This is my first time of coming to Nigeria and I had intended to spend a week or two,” Iftikihar reportedly told investigators during his arrest.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

58

NEWS Services sector “ll create employment, growth, says report

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OR African nations to reduce unemployment and ensure growth, services sector must be aligned with national and regional policies.

This was contained in the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) Economic Development in Africa Report unveiled simultaneously in 15 African countries yesterday.

The 136-page report with the theme: “Unlocking the potential of Africa’s services trade for growth and development”, was presented to the Nigerian audience by the organisation’s Head of Trade and Poverty, Switzerland, Patrick Osakwe.

It argued that building continent wide policy coherence in financial services would boost economic productivity as well as reduce poverty.

It noted that because Africa’s infrastructure provision remains suboptimal and costly, the services sector, though a dynamic driver of growth in the continent, has not been able to deliver the kind of structural transformation required to address development needs.

The report, Osakwe said, states that Africa has had relatively good growth performance over the past two decades but with rising unemployment, high inequality and an increase in the absolute number of poor people in the continent.

He attributed the misnomer to lack of structural transformation of African economies, just as he noted that African governments have in the past years, started paying more attention to structural transformation but with focus on agriculture and manufacturing activities.

“Very little attention is paid to services. The effective structural transformation requires strengthening and exploiting linkages between the service sector and other sectors, particularly manufacturing and services,” he said.

Osakwe also stated that the report underscored the need for action in at least two key areas - making infrastructure services more accessible and affordable as well as addressing the disconnect between services trade policies at national, regional and international levels.

According to him, findings of the report revealed that services recorded 4.6 per cent per annum growth between 20092012 in Africa, which was more than twice the world average for same period.

During same period, Osakwe said the report discovered that the wholesale trade, retail trade, restaurants and hotels category grew at 5.0 per cent, compared to 5.8 per cent for transportation, storage and communication category.

He stated that Africa’s services exports and imports totalled $271billion in 2012, adding that the sector has contributed to high rates of economic growth in the country over the last decade.

Recommending effective regulation for infrastructure services, Osakwe said that it was a requirement for African firms to exploit growing opportunities for trade through global services value chains.

“For African firms to exploit growing opportunities for trade through global services

By Precious Igbonwelundu

value chains, major investments in transport, logistics and energy infrastructure are required.

“Better infrastructure services regulation is critical for ensuring access, affordability, and good quality control.

“Most African states rank low in regulatory independence across all sectors and standard international models of infrastructure regulation are not regularly employed in Africa.

“Although the state remains a major player in the provision of infrastructure services, regulatory independence is an important element of effective infrastructure services provision.

What is important is not the type of ownership – state, private, public-private partnership or joint venture – but whether it contributes to a government’s development objectives.

“There are important services policy disconnects at the national, regional and global levels in Africa, which impede African countries from fully reaping the gains from services trade.

“Service is a driver of growth, but its potential needs to be unlocked...

“There are some dynamic emerging services subsectors with the potential to generate growth, trade and employment opportunities, which have yet to be tapped. For instance, logistics and distribution could greatly benefit Africa’s agriculture and manufacturing sectors.

“Vesting the regulatory bodies of infrastructure services with sufficient independence, whether they are public or privately owned, is critical to raising the efficiency of these services to foster growth, raise competitiveness and achieve key SDGs. “Supporting the informal sector through measures that target private sector development can promote services.

“Developing services trade and advancing in regional integration processes are mutually supportive. In order to boost the prospective benefits of greater intra-African trade, the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) negotiations need to open up services trade in parallel with trade in goods...” said Osakwe.

Similarly, a statement from the UNCTAD quoted its Secretary-General, Mukhisa Kituyi, as saying infrastructure services are critical to achieving the sustainable development goals being set by the UN for 20162030 and creating a platform for broad - based growth in Africa.

“Africa accounts for 15 per cent of the world’s population, but only 2.2 per cent global services exports, indicating tremendous untapped potential for the sector. The economic development in Africa Report 2015, underscores the need for African countries to tackle various regulatory and policy shortcomings, which explain these inefficiencies and impede the continent’s capacity to fully capitalise on the potential of its services sector,” he said.

At the unveiling of the report were Prof. Pat Utomi of Pan-African University, the United Nations Information Centre’s (UNIC) National Information Officer, Oluseyi Soremekun, as well as representatives of government and private sectors.

•Ogun State Acting Governor, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga (middle), Secretary to the State Government Ade Oluwa (right) and Head of Elewuju's family,Chief Olatunji Oyefuga during the burial of the Iyaloja of Ijebuland, Alhaja Sadiat Elewuju, at her Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State home...yesterday.

•Islamic clerics performing final rites on the remains of Alhaja Elewuju ...yesterday

Ohakim gets N270m bail

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ORMER Imo State governor, Ikedi Ohakim got a breather yesterday as a Federal High Court in Abuja accepted his bail application yesterday.

Ohakim, who left office in 2011, was arraigned before the court on Wednesday on a threecount charge bordering on money laundering. The charge was filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In a ruling yesterday, Justice Adeniyi Ademola ignored the objection by the prosecution and granted Ohakim bail at N270million, with a surety at the same amount.

The judge, who ordered Ohakim to deposit his international passport with the court’s registrar, said the surety must be a resident of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with a landed property within the FCT. Justice Ademola observed that the essence of bail was ensure the accused person attend court to stan trial.

He also noted that since the prosecution has concluded investigation, the likelihood of the accused person interfering with prosecution’s witnesses

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

and investigation was not real.

Ohakim is being prosecuted for allegedly making a cash payment to the tune of $2, 290,000.00 ( about N270,000,000.00) , for the purchase of a property at Plot No. 1098 Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, otherwise known as No.60, Kwame Nkurumah Street, Asokoro, Abuja.

It is the EFCC’s contention that the amount is above the threshold approved for an individual going by the provisions of Section 1 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2004.

He is also accused of deliberately neglecting to disclose all his assets in the declaration submitted to the EFCC and the Code of Conduct Bureau.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Ikedi Ohakim, on or about the 26th of January, 2013 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, while under arrest for an offence under the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act, 2004 knowingly failed to make a full disclosure of your assets by

not declaring your ownership of the property known and described as Plot No. 1098 Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District- it is also known as No.60, Kwame Nkurumah Street, Asokoro, Abuja and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27(3)(c) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act, 2004 and punishable under the same section.”

EFCC said it discovered, in the course of investigation, that Ohakim allegely acquired the house while he was Imo State governor in 2008 “through a proxy - Tweenex Consociate Nigeria Limited at N270m and the payment was made in dollars of about $2,290,000.00 through one proxy, known as Abu Sule, who in turn paid the money to one Mukhtari Isa Maidabino.

“The accused person fraudulently entered into a tenancy agreement with Tweenex Consociate for a two-year rent of the said property for N20m.

“He issued three Fidelity Bank cheques totalling N20m purportedly to be the payment for the rent on the property.

“The agents, Tweenex Conso-

ciate confessed that the property does not belong to them, even though they bought it on behalf of the accused person, through a cash transaction in dollars.

“Mukhtari Isa Maidabino confirmed that the house was bought from him in 2008 and payment was made to him in cash with dollars.

“The accused person claimed that the property was bought in 2012 afetr he sold his land in Maitama District, Abuja for N300m, but was paid the dollars equivalent by one Scott Tommey.

“The said Scott Tommey bought the land through his company, Merryl Fynch Limited for N250m, through his Sterling Bank account, to the accused person’s account in Fidelity Bank and not by cash in dollars as claimed by the accused person.

“The accused person did not declared the Asokoro property to the Code of Conduct Bureau and also in EFCC Assets Declaration Form.”

Ohakim has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Further hearing has been adjourned to October 20.

Motorists groan as LASU students block road

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OTORISTS and commuters bore the brunt yesterday as Lagos State University (LASU) students blocked the LagosBadagry Expressway, causing a traffic gridlock.

The students made bonfires on both ends of the road, rendering it impassable for hours.

Their action followed a 48hour ultimatum issued to management to conduct the first semester examination. They also appealed to the Visitor,

By Adegunle Olugbamila

Lagos State Governor Akinwumi Ambode to intervene on the matter.

The Nation gathered that on Wednesday, the students embarked on a non-violent protest to the Governor’s Office in Alausa over the same issue.

Speaking with our reporter on phone yesterday, the LASU Students’ Union (LASUSU) Public Relations Officer (PRO) Lasisi Fatai blamed the man-

agement and staff for the development.

He said since workers forced the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof John Oladapo Obafunwa, out of the university on March 16, the Senate building and two administrative offices (one of which houses the VC office) have been locked. This he said, made the building making inaccessible for the Senate to meet.

“We are calling on workers of this university to allow the

two administrative buildings as well as the Senate building to reopen immediately. We want the vice-chancellor to return to LASU and complete his term,” he told The Nation yesterday.

Lasisi continued: For me; management did their best to ensure examinations hold but they couldn’t because they (Senate members) cannot access the Senate building to sit so as to ratify examination calendar.

59

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

NEWS Fed Govt, German govt partner From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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•Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (middle), his deputy, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule (fourth left) and other Muslim faithful during the Ramadan Tafsir at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Wednesday.

Kwara to pay bursary, scholarship arrears From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

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HE Kwara State government has promised to pay the arrears of bursaries and scholarships as soon as possible.

Students under the aegis of the National Association of Kwara State Students (NAKSS) on Wednesday protested the non-payment of their 2013 and 2014 bursaries totalling N235million.

The Executive Secretary of the Bursary and Scholarship Board, Alhaji Fatai Lamidi, said the delay was due to the financial crisis facing the state and the country.

The board assured that the government would resolve the problem as soon as the state was financially- buoyant.

Lamidi said bursary was a privilege and not a right.

Okada riders protest ‘extortion’

by Kwara agency From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

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OMMERCIAL motorcyclists (aka okada riders) yesterday protested against the Kwara State Road Traffic Management Agency (KWARTMA) for alleged extortion, intimidation and harassment.

The protesters were said to have taken their grievances to the Government House in Ilorin.

The Chief of Staff, Government House, Alhaji Wahab Yusuf, received their representatives and held a meeting with them.

It was learnt that the protesters on Wednesday marched to the Gaa-Imam office of the agency, brandishing weapons.

Operatives of the Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS) prevented them from gaining entry.

The Chief Executive Officer of KWARTMA, Mr. Yekeen Bello, denied the allegation.

Said he: “The allegation by the okada riders that our officials charge them N10,000 is a surprise to me. It is also not true that our personnel demand N200 bribe from arrested commercial motorcyclists.”

A

N Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded yesterday on Numan Road, Kofare community, Jimeta, Yola, the capital of Adamawa State.

Three people were injured and two minors were arrested.

The boys, aged nine and 11, were said to have been sent by an unknown person at Wure Jebbe to detonate the bomb. He reportedly gave them N2,500 to accomplish the task.

A source said the boys, who thought the items were used aluminum, approached a

Bomb explodes in Yola •Two minors arrested From Barnabas Manyam, Yola

man, Baban Bula, a dealer of scrap, at a refuse site. The man reportedly refused to buy the items, because, according to him, they were not in large quantities.

The source said the boys walked away, but a few minutes later, the items exploded and injured three people.

He said nobody died.

The explosion was said to have occurred near the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) office.

The Commander, Mr. Luka Ikpi, confirmed the incident.

He said: “When I heard the explosion, I rushed out, but I was told it was a tyre that burst. I was curious and I instructed the officer in charge of intelligence to find out

what happened.

“He returned later and said it was an explosion, adding that two suspects (minors) have been apprehended and handed over to the police.”

It was learnt that the police have raided the scene of the explosion and have arrested people.

They were said to have used bomb detectors to ascertain the nature of the IED. The police spokesman was said to have travelled to Abuja for an official assignment.

Niger APC fingers PDP consulting firm for ‘illegal salary deduction’ T HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State yesterday accused a consulting firm engaged by the last administration of being responsible for the illegal deduction from the June salary of civil servants.

It alleged that the firm was the mastermind of a trap set by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to put the workforce on a collision course with the government.

Party spokesman Jonathan Vasta said in a statement in Minna that the illegal deduction of between N10,000 and N20,000 from the June salaries of civil servants was or-

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

chestrated by the adversaries of the APC in the state.

Vatsa alleged that the consulting firm engaged by the Aliyu Babangida administration for a staff audit should be queried for the illegal deduction from the workers’ salaries – an act designed to portray the APC government in bad light.

The statement said: “We are aware of the Maravier Group engaged by the previous administration to de-

tect ghost workers. The firm was engaged for only six months, but it has served for years. Now they want to frustrate the APC government in connivance with unscrupulous elements.”

The APC spokesman said the excuse of technical error for the illegal deduction was too convenient and a shallow explanation that exposed the ulterior motives behind the act.

He urged the government not to waive the incident aside, to avoid serving as an

impetus for the adversaries of the present administration to orchestrate their plan of frustrating the implementation of the good programmes designed for the people.

The statement added: “Realising that those dubious people who do not want Niger State to work are still around, we in the APC will mobilise support for the government and encourage it to investigate the incident and prosecute the culprits.

“We enjoin the government to disengage the firm.”

Buhari’s approach scares Boko Haram, says PDP chair

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HE National ViceChairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Northeast, Senator Girgir Lawal, has urged people to raise their level of vigilance to help the security operatives overcome the Boko Haram insurgents.

According to him, the militias were in their lastminute desperation to wreak havoc before their annihilation by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Lawal spoke in Gombe after the sitting of the party’s Post-Election Review Committee.

He said: “The insurgents are aware that President Buhari’s approach is a very serious approach as a professional military man. They

By Vincent Ohonbamu, Gombe

know he means business.

“They are becoming desperate, especially now that Buhari has come on board.

They believe he will finish them off.

“They don’t want to die sitting down, hence they are doing their best before their end to scare Nigerians that they are invincible.”

The Second Republic lawmaker went on: “They (Boko Haram) are well armed. You don’t know where they are getting their arms. They are organised.

You don’t know how they get organised.

“Therefore, you can’t take them for granted that Buhari is going to finish them off and they are waiting to

They don’t want to die sitting down, hence they are doing their best before their end to scare Nigerians that they are invincible be finished off.

“Now desperation has set in: If you are going to kill me, kill me standing. I won’t just sit down and wait for you to come and kill me.

Let me start kicking. I know I will die, but I will do my best before you kill me.

“This to me is a last minute’s desperation from them because they will strive to wreak the last minute’s havoc, which is what they are doing.

“I don’t know where they are getting these girls; whether they are the Chibok girls that have now been brainwashed and indoctrinated to come and do things. But certainly, they know what they are doing; they don’t want to die sitting down.”

Lawan said the recent attacks on places of worship indicated that no one and nowhere are spared.

He said Nigerians should not relax and conclude “that security agents or government only can do it, adding that “we all have a role to play.”

HE Federal Government and the German government have partnered for the surveillance and management of communicable diseases in Kano and Oyo states.

The game is to tackle communicable diseases in the country.

The theme of the pilot project is: “Surveillance and Outbreak Response Management System in Nigeria (SORMASN). It will be centred on surveillance on communicable diseases such as, measles, cholera, avian influenza and Ebola virus.

The Deputy Director, Disease Surveillance and Monitoring, Federal Ministry of Health, Mr Sebastine Yennah, who led the German health expert to Oyo State on Wednesday, was received by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Oluyemisi Iyiola, on behalf of the state government.

Yennah said the Federal Government, in collaboration with the German government has partnered for an electronic surveillance to be able to access public health data from the grassroots to the national level.

According to him, what we intend to achieve is that every disease situation will be detected as quick as possible.”

Boy, two, found dead in pond

T

HE Jigawa command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) said yesterday that it had recovered the body of a two-year-old boy, Sani Umar, from a pond.

The Commandant, Malam Muhammad Gidado, told the News of Nigeria (NAN) that the deceased was discovered by men of the command.

He said the incident occurred at Unguwar-Gabas quarters in Malam-Madori Local Government Area.

‘Radio station not religious organisation’

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IRECTORS of a radio station Salama Radio have criticised a national newspaper (not The Nation) for what they termed as wrongful representation following the granting of a licence to them by the immediate past administration.

The controversy stems from a publication dated June 22 in a national newspaper titled: “Jonathan awarded 72 radio stations in last-minute allocation’.

A statement signed on behalf of directors of Salama Radio and Media Limited by two of its directors, Apostle Emmanuel Nuhu Kure of the Throneroom Ministry, Kafanchan, Kaduna State and Dr. John N. Akanya, former director-general of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), said the newspaper’s publication was totally misleading and mischievous.

“While we cannot speak for other companies that also got licenses or their motives, we must, however, say that singling out Salama Radio and Media Limited, and allotting three paragraphs in the news report to our company, could not in any way be coincidental, but rather deliberately designed to prejudice the Nigerian public against the good name of Salama Radio and Media by creating a false image of our company, even before the commencement of operation,” said Kure.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

FOREIGN NEWS U.S. intercepts Russian bombers on July 4

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HE same day that Russian President Vladimir Putin sent congratulations to the White House to mark July 4; the U.S. military was tracking Russian bombers off the coast of Alaska and California.

The U.S. military performed two intercepts of Russians aircraft, though they never entered U.S. airspace, according to a U.S. military official.

The official told CNN that while the U.S. intercepts were routine from a military point of view, the Pentagon views it as Putin “sending a message” to the U.S. on Independence Day, especially because of the congratulatory message to President Barack Obama.

In the message, Putin expressed confidence that the two countries can “find solu-

tions to international issues and efficiently resist global threats and challenges as they base their dialogue on principles of equality and respect of each other’s interests,” according to a Kremlin press release.

In Alaska, F-22s took off to identify and track two TU-95 Bear bombers near the Southern coast. The two jets were followed until they turned around.

Similarly off the coast of California, F-15s tracked two other TU-95s that had been detected near the coast of San Francisco.

The incident in California was a rarity, because Russian forces don’t generally travel that far South. However, this was reminiscent of a similar flight Russia performed off the West coast on July 4 three years prior.

Pope focuses on poor in Bolivia

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OPE Francis is visiting Bolivia, on the second leg of his tour of Latin America’s three poorest countries.

After landing at La Paz airport, the pontiff spoke of the need to protect the most vulnerable in society from the impact of capitalism.

He was greeted by President Evo Morales, Bolivia’s

first indigenous leader, who gave him a ritual pouch with coca - a sacred leaf in the Andes.

The Pope flew in from Ecuador. He will also visit Paraguay During the airport welcome ceremony, the pontiff praised Bolivia - a majority indigenous country - for encouraging the poor to be active citizens.

“Bolivia is making important steps towards including broad sectors in the country’s economic, social and political life,” he said.

Bolivia’s national anthem was sung by President Evo Morales, an Aymara Indian, standing alongside Pope Francis After taking office in 2006, Mr Morales ordered the Bible and cross to be removed from the presidential palace - both symbols of colonial Spanish oppression.

A new constitution in 2009 made Bolivia a secular state, and Andean religious rituals replaced Catholic rites at official state ceremonies.

Many of the faithful waited for hours in the bitter cold in their traditional dress for the arrival of the Pope But Mr Morales’ attitude to the church changed radically when Francis became pope. He visited him twice in Rome and invited him to come to Bolivia, our analyst says.

Before leaving for the lowland city of Santa Cruz, Pope Francis visited the site where the body of a Jesuit Bolivian priest was found.

The priest was tortured and murdered in 1980 during the military rule for defending the rights of Bolivia’s mining community.

Uganda’s presidential rivals detained

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WO leading presidential hopefuls have been arrested in Uganda for organising meetings without police permission, state media report.

Amama Mbabazi was arrested in eastern Jinja town, while Kizza Besigye was detained at his home in the capital, the New Vision newspaper said.

Both are former close allies of President Yoweri Museveni.

He is widely expected to

seek re-election next year, but this has not been confirmed.

Last month, Mr Mbabazi said he would challenge Mr Museveni, 70, by seeking the nomination of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.

Mr Mbabazi was held in a police station in Kampala Mr Museveni sacked Mr Mbabazi as prime minister last year, ending a close working relationship of more than 20 years.

Mr Mbabazi was arrested in Jinja as he headed out to

canvass support in the eastern town of Mbale, reports the BBC’s Patience Atuhaire from Kampala.

Renegade army General David Sejusa was at the police station in Kampala where Mr Mbabazi was being held to show solidarity with him, she adds.

His daughter has also been arrested, his spokesperson Josephine Mayanja-Nkangi says.

She also says no charges have been brought against him.

On Wednesday, police said Mr Mbabazi had not been cleared to hold meetings.

Dr Besigye, the former physician of Mr Museveni, is seeking the presidential nomination of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party.

Mr Museveni has ruled Uganda since 1986, and his critics say he has become increasingly repressive.

However, his supporters say he has provided stability and has improved the living standards of Ugandans.

Over four million refugees flee Syria, UN says

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ORE than 4 million Syrians have fled abroad since the 2011 outbreak of civil war, the largest number from any crisis in almost 25 years, the United Nations said yesterdy.

A recent wave of people leaving Syria and an update of Turkish statistics confirmed the tragic milestone, according to the U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR. The agency said 7.6 million additional people have been displaced from their homes within Syria by the fighting.

The 4 million refugees are the most to flee a conflict

Greek ‘submits’ debt plans

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REECE has submitted new proposals to international lenders "shortly", to secure a third bailout and prevent a possible exit from the Eurozone, Defence minister has said, after the country's cabinet met yesterday.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has been seeking agreement from his ministers.

The new proposals will be studied by Eurozone finance ministers on Saturday and a full European Union summit on Sunday.

Defence Minister and junior coalition party leader Panos Kammenos gave no further details as he left the prime minister’s residence, where ministers had been meeting.

UK advises Britons to leave Tunisia

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RITAIN's Foreign Office is advising British nationals to leave Tunisia, saying an additional terrorist attack is "highly likely."

The warning comes after an attack at a beach hotel that left at least 38 people dead, most of whom were British citizens.

"If you're in Tunisia and you don't have an essential need to remain you should leave by commercial means," read an updated advisory issued Thursday.

The ministry acknowledged additional security measures put in place by the Tunisian government since the attack, but it said they were insufficient to protect British tourists.

Over the weekend, Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi declared a 30-day state of emergency, giving the military and police more authority to combat terrorism and placing restrictions on such rights as public assembly.

That decision, too, was in response to the June 26 attack in which a gunman opened fire at the beachfront Hotel Riu Imperial Marhaba in the coastal city of Sousse.

since the Afghan civil war forced 4.6 million out of their country beginning in 1992.”This is the biggest refugee population from a single conflict in a generation,” U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said. “It is a population that needs the support of the world but is instead living in dire conditions and sinking deeper into poverty.”

The flow of refugees is accelerating only 10 months after the agency said more than 3 million Syrians had fled their country.

Turkey has borne much of the impact.

In June alone, according to UNHCR, more than 24,000 people arrived from northern Syria amid fighting between the Islamic State group and Kurdish militants.

The more than 1.8 million Syrians in Turkey have made it the biggest host of refugees in the world, an expensive undertaking that Turkey is bearing mostly on its own.”What are we going to be facing in another year’s time?” Andrew Harper, the UNHCR chief in Jordan, asked in an interview with the Associ-

ated Press.Harper emphasized that countries involved had to figure out ways to keep the Syrian refugees productive.”We should make sure that the people who are here, the skills, the work, the ability, are not wasted,” Harper said. “We do not want to warehouse the refugee population of four million.

Just imagine the amount of productivity they could contribute to an economy.”

Ex-Guinean ruler Camara indicted for 2009 massacre

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OUSSA Dadis Camara hopes to make a political comeback in Guinea during presidential elections due to be in October Guinean former military ruler Moussa Dadis Camara has been indicted for his role in a 2009 massacre in Conakry, his lawyer has told AFP news agency.

More than 150 people were killed when security forces opened fire on thousands of anti-government protesters at the capital’s main stadium.

Women there were raped and dozens of people were never seen again.

An inquiry was launched in 2010, after Capt Camara was ousted and fled to Burkina Faso, where he still lives.

More than 150 people were killed during the September 2009 protest against the military government Capt Camara was indicted by magistrates who came from Guinea on Wednesday to question him about his alleged involvement in the September 2009 massacre, his lawyer JeanBaptiste Jocamey Haba told AFP by telephone from Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso.

Capt Camara’s Patriotic Front for Democracy and Develop-

• Camara

ment said the interrogation was a “purely political” reaction to his announcement that he intended to run for president in elections due in October.

EXPRESSO

PMB: If this not inertia?

•Continued from Back page In other words, PMB has absolutely no excuses not to have the offices of the PS, CoS and SGF filled by now. Who is working the engine room of governance? People who ought to be the president’s foundation staff would now have to be learning the ropes when they eventually come on board?

No matter how long we wait to recruit these personnel, we are never ever going to source them from Mars. They will have to be humans and Nigerians. No human, how much less Nigerian is perfect but the president has the glorious power to hire today and fire the next day if necessary, without recourse to any other authority. This is all the more reason why we should have got down to work without much delay.

The other day, we were told something about handover note deficiency and lack of cooperation by the out-gone

government as reasons for the slow march. Later, the National Assembly imbroglio was touted. Nigerians are truly worried now. When the matter is raised these days in some circles, many would choose to be mum; many would look pleadingly wishing the topic was never raised or praying that it would be dropped immediately.

Nigeria’s situation is too precarious to allow for moment’s vacuum.

Certain things cannot wait.

Even if we cannot have ministers, matters like the fuel subsidy issue could have been situated; a forensic probe of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) ought to have been instituted almost immediately (and not this half-hearted panel of governors); the national intelligence corps ought to have been rebooted from May 29th to unleash preemptive measures on the Boko Haram insurgents. Boko Haram thrives still because of poor intelligence.

Wild economic and market

indices that had made a respectable genuflection upon the election of PMB have all straightened up defiantly once again. The naira exchange rate is one pointer. The president must set off the government without further delay lest disillusionment sets in completely among the populace. Nigeria cannot afford the luxury of such long time that the president demands. Consider the checklist of problems: electricity, fuel subsidy, fuel supply, leakages, budgeting system, inflation, compromised institutions, moribund LGAs, endangered economy, etc. These are urgent matters begging to be addressed.

Finally, whatever grand vision the president may have, he still has to sell to his cabinet. For instance, the ongoing meetings with MDAs ought to have been with his new cabinet. In other words, he needs to be planning with his team from the outset.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

NEWS

RAMADAN KAREEM

Ramadan 23, 1436AH

RAMADAN GUIDE WITH FEMI ABBAS e-mail: femabbas@yahoo.com Tel: 08122697498

Knowing the Qur’an

R

EADING any book has a purpose and a method. No good reader will ever read a book without taking cognisanze of its author, its publisher and its date of publication. And to read any new book, the very first point of call is its contents which tell you the topics and the subjects you will read about in it. Then, to have a pre-idea of the entire book in its summary form, before reading it, a good reader mustgo straight not only to the introduction to such a book but also to the foreword written on it. The combination of both will surely give the reader a pretty idea of what the book is all about. This is the shortest means of familiarizing oneself with a new book before going through its chapters.

The word Qur’an means continuous recitation. It is so called because of its inimitable origin which makes it a compelling daily reading throughout the world, across nations and ages. It is the unsurpassed word of Allah not only in the grandeur of its diction and splendour of its rendition but also in the depth of its meaning, substance and profundity.

The revelation of this Book to mankind through an unlettered desert Arab, Muhammad son of Abdullah and Aminah, began in 610 CE. It lasted 23 years (10 years in Makkah and13 years in Madinah). The book contains 114 chapters and 6236 verses (not 6666 verses often taught by most Imams and Alfas). Of these 114 chapters, 86 were revealed in Makkah and 28 in Madinah. But the 28 chapters revealed in Madinah constitute two thirds of the Book. And this is because the Makkah chapters are short and rhythmic while those of Madinah are long and prose-like.

Although the Qur’an was revealed orally, its writing began almost immediately the revelations started. The writing was however done on primitive materials like wood, animal hide, back of trees and others of the like which were then readily available. It was only much later, after the demise of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), that those writings were rendered into a book form. And one of the wonders of recording the Qur’an is the classification of those revelations into chapters and verses by the Prophet himself despite his illiteracy.

The manner of presenting the Qur’anic revelations is sim-

ple and direct. It employs neither artifice nor conventional poses. Its main appeal is to man’s intellect, feelings and imagination. It does not only touch the anecdotes of Prophets of different ages and nations as well as the accounts of earlier revelations, it also covers the period from the beginning of creation to the very last Day of Judgment and beyond.

Not only that, Al-Qur’an also gives insight into some natural phenomena like sphericity and revolution of the earth (Q. 39:5) the formation of rain (Q. 30:48); the fertilization of the wind (Q. 15:22); the revolution of the sun, the moon and the planets in their fixed orbit (Q. 36:29-38); the aquatic origin of all creatures (Q. 21:30); the duality of the sex of plants and other creatures (Q. 36:35); the collective life of animals (Q.6:38); the mode of life of the bees (Q. 16:69) and the successive phases of the child in the mother’s womb (Q. 22:5 & 23:14). Yet, the purpose of this Book is not to teach history, astronomy, philosophy or sciences. If any book is ever qualified to called the encyclopaedia of encyclopedias it can only be The Qur’an.

More details about these will be written in ‘The Message’ column in The Nation newspaper after Ramadan in sha’Allah!

Okorocha hosts Muslims to Ramadan ‘iftar’

I

MO State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has said Ramadan is a period of spiritual rebirth that requireds sober reflection.

Okorocha spoke yesterday when he hosted Muslim faithful to a Ramadan ‘iftar’. He urged Christians and Muslims to unite and fight the Boko Haram insurgency.

The governor urged Nigerians to pray for the nation, especially for President Muham-

madu Buhari to succeed, pointing out that Buhari’s victory was an eye opener that nobody should be judged based on tribe or religion, but by what he can do for his country.

Chairman of the Muslim Council, Yusuf Nwoha said the Ramadan ‘iftar’ had been a tradition since Governor Okorocha came into power. He said this year’s occasion was important and unique because the invitation was extended to

Muslims residing in other Southeast states.

Nwoha appreciated the honor done them while pledging the support of Muslims to the Okorocha-led government.

The chairman also requested for an Eid ground, large enough to contain the ever-increasing Muslim population as well as the establishment of a Muslim Pilgrims Welfare board

Lawmaker’s wife donates to expectant mothers

W

IFE of the law maker representing Ojo Federal Constituency, Mrs Aishat Obasa has called on mothers to always take good care of their children.

She spoke while donating

By Medinat Kanabe

baby items to mothers undergoing ante-natal at Ojo Primary Health Centre.

Mrs Obasa said:” Prior to my husband’s election, I have been visiting orphanages and hospitals during the month of

And remember Zakariyah when he cried to his Lord: “O my Lord! leave me not without offspring, though thou art the best of inheritors. So, we listened to him: And we granted him Yahya. We cured his wife’s (barreness) for him. These (three) were ever quick in emulation in good works. they used to call us with love and reverence, and humble themselves before us.

Qur’an 21 vs 90 Sponsored by ALHAJI KHAMIS OLATUNDE BADMUS Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland

ramadan, it is a season to give to the people and don’t forget that givers never lack” She thanked the mothers for accepting her donation.

The Matron of the health centre, Mrs M.A Folarin praised Mrs Obasa’s effort in remembering the less privileged in the community.

“This is not the first time she is visiting, it is routine for her during Ramadan season.

Maybe the difference now is the new position her husband occupies and that has made her to contribute more compared to her donations in the past “ Mrs Folarin said.

The coordinator of Enaife Foundation, a non governmental organisation, Mr Badmus Adams, who was also at the ocassion assured residence of Ojo of an adequate and healthy attention.

NEWS Southeast traders protest against Boko Haram prisoners Continued from page 2

on their opinion on the matter, and so no need for anyone to encourage people to take to the streets, Umahi said.

According to the plan, traders in Abakaliki were expected to gather at the Abakpa main market at about 8am.

They were to march round the state capital before converging at the Government House gate where Umahi was expected to address them.

Riot policemen took over the market to prevent the traders from embarking on the protest and to avert a possible breakdown of law and order.

Ebonyi police spokesman Chris Anyanwu said that the police had to tighten security.

He said: “We got wind of plans by traders in Abakaliki markets to stage a peaceful protest over what they alleged as relocation of persons suspected to be Boko Haram members to some prisons in the South-East. We had to mobilise our men immediately to major roads and locations in the state to avert any breakdown of law and order”.

Following the closure of markets and banks in Anambra State, Onitsha traders moved in a motorcade to Ekwulobia in Aguata Local Government Area.

The protest, which paralysed activities in the state was led by the South East traders Association coordinator, Chief Okwudili Ezenwnkwo.

But the protest was greeted with criticisms from Transform Nigeria Movement (TNM), led by Comrade Obi Ochije, who described the

protest as “senseless” and “unnecessary”. He blamed it all on Governor Willie Obiano.

He said: “it is shameful and unfair for market leaders to be closing markets without considering the poor, the widows who have nobody to cater for them.”

The rights activist said civil society groups were appealing to Obiano to stop closing markets, but hailed him for his efforts in fighting for Ndigbo on the issue.

National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki’s team was in Anambra State to discuss with Obiano how to resolve the issue.

The seven – man team and Obiano held a closed-door meeting that lasted late into the night.

And after the meeting, Obiano told reporters that the matter would be resolved

soon.

The meeting was attended by the Obi of Onitsha, Nnaemeka Achebe, Catholic Bishop of Awka, the Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor, Anglican Bishop of Awka, Most Rev Alex Ibezim, the Monarch of Umuoji community, Igwe Cyril Enweze.

Others are Ezenwankwo, Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Apostle Theo Okpala, National Legal Adviser of Association of Town Unions (ASATU) Ephraim Illozumba and the Union’s President, Dr. Jude Okolo.

Chairman, National Association of Igbo Traders, Chief Anayo Nweke, said they were aligning themselves with Senator Uche Ekwunife and Southeast governors in condemning the action of the Federal Government.

Besides, he said since the

Federal government was compensating the Boko Haram victims, it should be extended to Ndigbo who lost their property in the North as a result of Boko Haram.

Addressing the traders yesterday at the Ekwulobia Township Stadium, Ezenwankwo, said any gun shot at the environs of Ekwulobia would be seen as declaring war in Igbo land.

He said the traders and the people would not rest until justice was done by the federal government by taking the Boko Haram inmates back to where they came from.

The market leader in the Southeast said that relocation of the dreaded inmates was a ploy to Islamise Ndigbo, adding that the people would not fold their arms and allow their people suffer unnecessarily.

‘Our role in bailout cash’ Continued from page 2

year, we were ranked the No 4 company by the government’s own ranking. But, in that ranking, we were the No 1 indigenous, home-grown company because the other three are foreign companies. We believe we are in that sort of region in the top contributor to the Nigerian economy.”

He explained that aside the CIT and Education Tax, the company also pays Value Added Tax (VAT) and other levies.

“We also pay VAT and withholding tax of which over the years we have paid over $1.4billion. Over the last 15 years, we have paid over $1.4billion. At state level, we also pay taxes, the PAYE taxes.

We pay about N6b annually to state government. At local government, we also pay our local government fees and charges of over N100million as well. And then for various agencies, in-

cluding DPR, NIMASA, Federal Ministry of Trade and Industry and a whole raft of agencies.

I think we pay more than 20 agencies various fees, including the NCAA for our airstrip… I think that is one of the big challenges in Nigeria that makes us less competitive in the global market because our operating environment is just challenging. Today, we have more than 16 people from various agencies who are in our plant from the government trying to carry out regulatory activities. This is just something that could be better streamlined,” he said.

ICPC files charge against directors Continued from page 2

contrary to Section 26(1)(c)and punishable under Section 17(1)(c)of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000.”

Buhari rejects N400m cars proposal Continued from page 2

High Commission by telling High Commissioner Dalhatu Tafida, that his visit was strictly private and he had made arrangements for all his needs in the UK. A presidential spokesman Mallam Garba Shehu said “in keeping with his commitment to prudence in the management of national resources, President Buhari will continue to use the cars left behind by President Jonathan.”

Permanent secretaries in the ministries of Works, Justice, Trade and Investment, also briefed the president at the Aso Villa yesterday.

The Justice ministry’s Permanent Secretary Alhaji Abdullahi Ahmed told reporters at the end of the briefing that his ministry will work closely with others to facilitate trial of those found wanting. ``If the ministry receives investigations concluded by the responsible agencies, we will play our part. ``We will play our part in the prosecution of whoever has been found wanting and the security agencies have concluded their investigation on them. ``At the moment, the ministry is not in receipt of any report concerning anybody in that regard.``

Ahmed said the ministry would continue to cooperate with the President to ensure that all the promises he made to Nigerians relating to the Rule of Law were kept. ``We have briefed the President on how we conduct ourselves concerning the maintenance of the Rule of Law in the country. ``As you know, Rule of Law is one of the cardinal policies of this administration and we have given him a rundown of what we have been doing from 2011 till now. ``We also pledged to him our continued cooperation to ensure that all the promises he has

made to Nigerians - as far as they relate to the Rule of Law are achieved.`` Amb. Abdulkadir Musa of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment said his meeting with Buhari centred on job creation.

Musa said the administration was working assiduously to attract more investments to Nigeria and encourage business.

According to him, the President has given him the mandate to discuss with the relevant people that will assist in driving the agenda.

Mr. Dauda Kigbu of the Ministry of Works, said the Federal Government was consider-

ing funding road construction outside the annual budgetary allocations with the Public Private Partnerships (PPP).

He said: "I took the President through the activities of the Ministry of Works. As you may be aware, 90 per cent of the ministry's mandate is mainly on roads.

"I went through all the major projects across the country and I emphasised the need of seeking other windows of funding outside of the national budget, particularly looking at PPP model as well as looking at various support, like multilateral supports from agencies, such as the World Bank." He said

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

63

TODAY IN THE NATION

FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.10 NO. 3271

‘The siege foisted on the nation by Boko Haram and the way it is handled in months ahead will be a monumental test of the leadership skills of PMB’s presidency. PMB should be told that Nigerians are tired of rhetoric on the way forward regarding the Boko Haram malaise; what they want is effective official action that could wipe out the miscreants masquerading as Islamic adherents’ MOBOLAJI SANUSI

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

T

HE civil service is indispensable to the successful outcome of government functions. As the institution charged with the design and implementation of government policies, its role cannot be overestimated and governments know that their success depends on an efficient and productive civil service. This is why democratic governments especially take seriously their relationship with their civil servants and defend them and promote their interests. And when they perform as they are expected to or beyond expectation, governments are not reluctant to sing the praise of their bureaucratic wing.

Western Nigeria under the leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo was rightly boastful of having the best civil service in the country between 1954 and 1959. That was a time of mutual respect between government and civil service. Chief Simeon Adebo was full of praise for the team that Chief Awolowo put together, observing that the political leadership had a firm grip on its policy objectives, having done its homework, thus making it easy for the civil service to perform as efficiently as it did. Returning the favour, Chief Awolowo said that the Western Region was fortunate to have the best civil service in Africa with a clear focus on service delivery.

The Western Region civil service model was possible because of the synergy that existed between the political leadership and the bureaucracy. Each of the pair had a good understanding of its role. Though design and implementation of policies are normally understood as the purview of the civil service, it was clear from the onset that Chief Awolowo and his team were on top of the design part and Chief Adebo and his team acknowledged this much. The Action Group adopted a welfarist policy thrust and the civil service was saddled with responsibility for implementation strategies.

In its performance of its functions as best it can, the civil service of the old west made life livable for the citizens of the old west. From the implementation of the free education programme to the delivery of agricultural services, citizens not only enjoyed the benefits of their membership of the political community, they were also actively incorporated into participation in the affairs of their communities. It was this understanding of civil service as an effective partner of political leadership that the modern Southwest inherited from its immediate past.

Beside the efficiency and commitment of the pioneer civil service cadre of the West, there was also the important element of judicious management of resources that characterised the administration of Chief Awolowo. The administration lived within its means and civil servants

SEGUN GBADEGESIN gbadegesin@thenationonlineng.net

Navigating our bureaucratic quandary

•Chief Awolowo

had no choice but to understand and live with the reality as enunciated by the Premier and his team.

To this extent, the Western Region not only did not depend on the Federal Government, it also loaned funds to the central administration.

It was a clear and unambiguous policy of that government that recurrent expenditure including its compensation budget must be kept to the minimum relative to its capital budget. This was understandable. At the time that Chief Awolowo took over, the infrastructural development of the region was at an abysmal state and he and his team were in such a hurry to carry out developmental programmes.

Second, as a student of political economy, Chief Awolowo knew something about diminishing re-

I

S the presidency suffering inertia; that state of inability to take action? Has it been overwhelmed by the heavy weight of the office? Or even by the sheer depth of the rot it has uncovered in the polity? Is the country on auto-pilot now? Is President Muhammadu Buhari already weary even before he has started? These are the fears plaguing many Nigerians right now. Have we made a grievous mistake? Some have ventured to ask.

Nigerians are right to be apprehensive. It is more than three months since Buhari won election as the president of this country riding on a momentum of change; and it is more than 30 days after he was sworn in. True, the nation is at the nadir of its existence, but the populace voted with near-unanimity on March 28, 2015, expecting instant change or at least, a well-defined roadmap for change.

But more than 90 days on, the euphoria, the wave of positive energy that swept the president to power is fast receding into the sea from whence it came, it seems.

Right now, nearly everything about the polity is flat and cold like overnight porridge.

In 90 days after the election, many Nigerians have gone 360 degrees from high hopes of a new beginning to hopelessness and uncertainty. There are several good reasons for such regression. For a man who has been everything and has held literally all positions of authority in Nigeria (both military and civilian), it is difficult to understand for instance, why the president cannot pick a Chief of Staff (CoS) in 90 days. He has also not been able to appoint other core backroom staff like Principal Secretary (PS) and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

Not having these staff betokens that there is a vacuum and the state may well be on auto-pilot. Who has been taking notes of the activities of government so far? Would such

turns on investment. In this case, there was an optimal level of employees that the civil service could use and he made sure that it wasn’t exceeded. Of course, there were demands from political associates and perhaps, humanly speaking, he wasn’t able to dismiss all such requests for appointment. But the service was not bloated and it was not as unwieldy as we have it in many of our states and the centre today. It was the discipline of a leader that made it possible. The reward was that capital development took off in exponential terms under Chief Awolowo.

Fast forward to the present, and the difference cannot be clearer. Surely, we have to also understand the difference in the demographics of the present vis-à-vis the past. One of the highlights of Chief Awolowo’s revolution was the development of education at all levels and the introduction of universal free primary education in 1955. This alone ensured that 12 years after, there was a four-fold increase in the number of available workers and naturally there had to be enormous pressure on the government as the single most important employer of labour.

The trend has continued since then, especially with the return of party politics in 1979 and 1999.

Both at the federal and state levels, it is common knowledge that we have a bloated and unwieldy civil service. Of course, these are relative terms. It is not the absolute number that makes an entity unwieldy; it is relative to the task and to its productivity. There was no question of diminishing returns in the 1950s and 60s. The task was enormous and the number was just optimal. It’s a different story now.

One story is that the numbers in the books are not a true reflection of reality because of the existence of ghosts among the workforce in various

STEVE OSUJI

EXPRESSO

steve.osuji@yahoo.com

•Columnist of the Year (NMMA)

PMB: If this not inertia?

LGAs: Can El-Rufai bite the bullet

“T

HEREFORE, I am happy to inform you that the government under my watch has formally abolished joint account in Kaduna State, there will be no more holding of local government funds under the pretence of joint account.

“Added to this, I also wish to inform you that the government will do its best to be remitting 10 per cent of the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to the local government areas of our dear state. Like I said, we must deliver; we cannot let our people down.”

This is Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, speaking to the Interim Management Committees of the 23 local government councils in the state. This column stands accused for being passionate (and blindly so if you like) over this issue and has been an ardent canvasser for this model. One was therefore buoyed beyond measure reading El-Rufai’s beautiful words. It is indeed the sweetest music one has heard in a long time.

Should the governor abide by his words even by half, (that is, should he allow the LGAs even 50% of their fund) he would have achieved a huge paradigm shift and he would return after four years, as one of the greatest men who ever ruled a state in Nigeria.

All Governor El-Rufai needs do is: one, he must find people of quality; two, make them draw up easily deliverable budgets to be agreed upon; three, institute some checks and make them accountable; and four, institute some form of competition among them (something like Annual Governor’s Award for the best LGA).

The result would be an unleashing of massive integrated economic and social development in Kaduna State. With coordinated activities going simultaneously in all parts of the state, jobs will be created, youths will be engaged and crimes will reduce.

El-Rufai will be surprised at the great quality of people we have in this country and he would indeed find that some of the LGA chairmen, if given the opportunity, can run the state far better than him. Nigeria is in such turmoil because LGAs have been allowed to atrophy these past 16 years. It is our fervent prayer that El-Rufai will by this move, spark up a revolution that will spread across the land.

notes, not taken by a statutorily recognised agent of government be valid under the law?

The roles of these personal staff in helping even the president settle in quickly and dive

ministries. Second, among genuine flesh and bone humans, a good number only appear for the sake of appearance with no visible work effort because there is none for them to do. For this group, the mornings are useful for good amala and gbegiri breakfast, while the afternoons are good for old-time gossips. In either case, the funds that could be used for developmental projects go into waste because those who take such funds immorally aren’t likely to use them to good end even for themselves.

These all add up to the disproportionate recurrent budget vis-à-vis capital budget of the various states. Where a state’s compensation budget gulps a whopping 70 per cent of its total budget, leaving only 30 per cent for development purpose, there is something seriously amiss and civil servants should be the first to volunteer ideas for the reversal of such anomaly. Just as we find it unethical that the National Assembly has a budget allocation that is greater than that of many states of the federation, so it must be considered unfair that a State or Federal Civil Service should have a compensation budget that is two-thirds of its total budget.

These observations can be misconstrued. I have not here advocated for the laying off of workers from the civil service, as I am fully aware of the dislocation this might cause. However, I know that this current situation cannot be sustained and therefore there must be a concerted effort on the part of the service itself to find a solution to the problem of productivity in the system.

One solution is the rationalisation of the number of ministries and it appears that the Federal Government has taken the lead in this respect. Excess staff members can be reallocated to productive engagements within the system.

There also has to be a new formula for measuring productivity and a pay system that rewards it accordingly. To say that the present system whereby the Federal Government has to bail out states in the matter of salary payments cannot be sustained is to state the obvious.

There is no magic wand to reverse the unfortunate economic downturn in which we now find ourselves. For a start, however, the public sector must facilitate the development of the private sector and attract investors, foreign and domestic, through incentives, which include infrastructural development. Needless to add, this desirable approach requires huge capital investment with which our current bloated recurrent budget must have to compete. In the short run therefore, something must give, if we are to enjoy a lasting economic bliss in the long term.

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080 effectively into his main tasks are trite. One quick example will suffice: the recent turf ‘war’ between the president’s Chief Security Officer (CSO) and his Aide-De-Camp (ADC) could be attributed to the fact that there is no CoS in the Villa who could have mediated and quietly resolved the matter before it became the public embarrassment that it turned out to be.

Apparently the president saw a need to change the security architecture of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa and perhaps, the entire presidential security order. This transition would have been effected quietly between the offices of the CoS, the SGF and heads of the various security arms. In the same vein, there is no doubt that both the security and military systems are in urgent need of cleansing.

For instance the recent removal of the Mr. Ita Ekpenyong as director-general of the Department of State Security (DSS) could have been done immediately upon inauguration five weeks ago to pave the way for the total overhaul of the Service. It would have also served as a well-structured signal both to the DSS and Nigerians in general that the disgraceful conduct of the Service during the era of the former president did not go unnoticed and would never be condoned. Now, removing Ekpenyong under a situation of petty squabbles has beclouded and even diminished the cogency of the lessons to be learnt.

This is just one example. We have seen the faux pas and double takes that have attended the appointments of new helmsmen at the DSS and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). These are matters the SGF’s office would have handled as a matter of routine and of course in consultation with his boss.

•Continued

on page 60

•For comments, send SMS to 08111526725

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Editor Daily:08111813080, Marketing: 01-8155547 . Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Tel: 07028105302. Port Harcourt Office: 12/14, Njemanze Street, Mile 1, Diobu, PH. 08023595790. WEBSITE: www.thenationonlineng.net E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO