The Nation July 14, 2011

Nigeria’s truly national newspaper

News

Oyo State raises committee to create 20,000 jobs

P9

Sport Odemwingie explains rift with Eagles coach Siasia P24 Business Banks recover N159.3b non-performing loans P11 http://www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

VOL. 6, NO. 1820 THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

N150.00

States evacuate citizens over Boko Haram threat Kwara, Kano, Plateau, Benue, Kaduna bring home indigenes NYSC to move Corps members From Adekunle Jimoh (Ilorin), Joseph Abiodun (Maiduguri), Tony Akowe, (Kaduna), Uja Emmanuel, (Makurdi), Kolade Adeyemi, (Kanu) and Marie Therese-Peter, (Jos)

S

TATES are evacuating their citizens from troubled Maiduguri, the Borno State capital that has been seized by Boko Haram, the anti-western education Islamic sect.

Benue, Kano, Plateau, Kwara and Kaduna states yesterday sent buses to bring home their people.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is planning to redeploy members who feel unsafe.

Troops are to remain in the city, National Security Adviser (NSA) Gen. Owoye Azazi said yesterday.

He was reacting to the call for the removal of soldiers by elders of Borno, who accused them of genocide.

“Terrorism is a new phenomenon in Nigeria. It is a new threat and there are new initiatives to deal with the situation,” Gen. Azazi said.

Kano State Government has evacuated over 200 students of the state’s origin studying at the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID).

•Some residents of Kaliyeri in Maiduguri leaving ... yesterday

INSIDE •Azazi: soldiers’ removal not solution •Sheriff denies link with Boko Haram •Seven police chiefs to face trial for murder of sect leader Yusuf Muhammed

Continued on page 2

AND MORE ON PAGES 2 & 3

•Former Borno State Governor Ali-Modu Sheriff talking to reporters at the PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN Villa in Abuja ... yesterday

Lawmakers reject 40% pay cut S •Senate President Mark

ENATORS and Representatives, hit by a 40 per cent pay cut, yesterday decided to ask President Goodluck Jonathan how the Executive has cut its overhead.

They are also weighing whether to reject the cut, until the Executive makes its austerity measures public.

But the National Assembly leadership said it might not go back on

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation, Abuja

the 40 per cent cut.

Although Senators and members of the House have been paid N8million per head for accommodation and furniture, they are angry that Ministers are earning more than that.

A Senator from the South, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent after a caucus meeting,

said: “If we are talking of cut in overhead, why is the Executive silent on jumbo allowances of its Ministers, Special Advisers and Special Assistants?

“Our position is that before the 40 per cent cut in overhead can become effective, the President must also be forthcoming by laying the cards on the table on how the executive has cut its overhead.

“What we have at the moment is that

lawmakers are being made scapegoats.

“Once the Executive does not cut cost, we will certainly revolt and insist on the restoration of the 40 per cent.”

Another Senator said: “At our own meeting, we took note of the fact that the 40 per cent cut may affect interaction between the lawmakers and their senatorial districts and constituencies.

Continued on page 4

•POLITICS P17 •INDUSTRY P13 •SPORTS P23 •EDUCATION P25 •N/HEALTH P47

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

2

NEWS BOKO HARAM MENACE 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 •Witnesses afraid, court told 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 From Kamarudeen Ogundele, FEDERAL High Court sit1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 Abuja ting in Abuja, yesterday ad1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 journed till July 19 for the other case which involves only Sgt. 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 arraignment of seven police chiefs Gado but with similar facts, circum- 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 that allegedly killed leader of the stances, evidences and witnesses.

1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 Boko Haram sect Mohammed Yusuf He sought the leave of the court 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 on July 30, 2009. to consolidate the charges.

1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 Those arraigned are ACP J.B. Ojabor also told the court that the 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 Abang, ACP Akeera, CSP MohamPolice witnesses refused to appear 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 med Ahmadu, ACP Mada Buba, Sgt. in court because they are afraid.

Adamu Gado and two constables; Defence counsel Paul Erokoro 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 Anthony Samuel and Linus Luka.

(SAN) who did not oppose the ap- 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 They are charged with unlawful plication, asked the court to com- 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 killing of Yusuf and his followers, pel the witnesses to appear in court. 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 and conspiracy to commit an ofSensing the direction of the pro- 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 fence to wit; a terrorist act contrary ceedings, the judge at point invited 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 to Sections 315 and 516 of the Crimcounsel to his chamber. inal Code and punishable under After about 30 minutes, the court 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 Section 15 (1) (2) of the EFCC Act, reconvened.

1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 2004.

Since the charges against the ac- 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 Although the seven were to be cused are similar, Justice Okorowo 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 arraigned yesterday, only five were ordered the prosecution to consoli- 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456 in the court. Samuel and Luka were date them. absent.

He adjourned the matter till July 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456

Seven police chiefs to face trial July 19 over sect leader Yusuf’s murder

A

The prosecution counsel, R.N Ojabor told the court that there is an-

19 for the accused persons to take their plea on the amended charge.

123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 123456789012345678901234567890 •The suspects...yesterday

•The suspects...yesterday

PHOTOS: ABAYOMI FAYESE

States evacuate citizens over Boko Haram threat Continued from Page 1

The students were received by Deputy Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on arrival in Kano at about midnight Tuesday.

They were conveyed in 11 vehicles.

Addressing the students, Ganduje said the government was worried about the deteriorating security situation in Borno State.

Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam dispatched five Marcopolo buses to Maiduguri to evacuate Benue indigenes, who are stranded in the town.

Addressing the drivers before their departure, General Manager of Benue Links Transport Company, the stateowned transportation company, Mr. Emmanuel Manger, advised them to be security conscious.

He said the move to evacuate Benue indigenes from the troubled state was as a result of the activities of Boko Haram.

The Kwara State government ordered an immediate evacuation of its students at UNIMAID. The university authorities closed the institution, following the spate of bombings in the metropolis. The government sent 40 buses to Maiduguri.

Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Isiaka Gold cautioned drivers and other government officials against excessive speeding.

He urged parents of the students to remain calm.

The Plateau State Government has also evacuated its students at UNIMAID. It was gathered that the students made distress calls to the management of Plateau Express Service known as Plateau Riders,

the state government-owned transport company, to evacuate them.

Governor Jonah Jang’s spokesman James Mannock said the government directed “Plateau Riders” to transport the students back home.

The vehicles are billed to return with the students today.

The Kaduna State government yesterday dispatched 15 vehicles to convey its students back home.

“The governor is worried about the continued insecurity in Borno State. He has directed that plans be made for those who want to come back home to do so.

You know that because of the security situation in the area, transportation has been difficult and so, these people may not have the opportunity to leave. So, you can understand the apprehension of the governor,” a source said.

Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity Reuben Buhari said in a statement that the government relocated its citizens to safeguard the lives of the students.

The statement said: “Due to the security challenges currently being witnessed in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital and the subsequent closure of the University of Maiduguri, which has led to some difficulties in transportation, Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, has dispatched 15 buses to the Borno State capital for the immediate conveyance of all Kaduna State students back home.

“This is to cushion the transportation difficulties currently being experienced by some of the students. He is assuring all parents with wards studying in Maiduguri that they should not panic

as the state government is adequately providing enough secured transportation back home for all their children.”

NYSC Director-General Brig.-General Maharazu Tsiga yesterday told Corps members at the orientation camp in Maiduguri that as a father he cannot watch the lives of his children put in danger.

He told Corps members that since the security situation in Borno was depreciating, he would relocate those who are interested in going to other states.

He said he would provide buses to convey them out of the state directly from the camp.

He said they would be sent to other states so that the spirit behind the scheme will not be defeated.

Panic traveling out of the troubled city caused accident in which five persons died. The accident involved two commercial cars – an Opel and a golf – in Damaturu yesterday.

Eyewitnesses said the two vehicles were conveying fleeing residents of Maiduguri to Jos before the accident occurred.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Assistant Zonal Coordinator in-charge of the North-East, Ibrahim Farinloye said the people should stop panic travelling out of Maiduguri.

He said: “All fleeing people should desist from panic travelling in order to reduce carnage being experienced along the various routes on the high ways due to road congestion and overloading.”

Ringim transfers 40 police chiefs

T

O reposition the police to combat the menace of Boko Haram and general insecurity across the country, Inspector General Hafiz Ringim, yesterday approved the redeployment of 40 senior police officers Ringim on Tuesday redeployed Commissioners of Police.

The IGP also created four new Area Commands in Lagos. They are Ijesha, Ajah, Ikorodu and Idimu.

Those affected in the transfer are mostly Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) and Chief Superintendents of Police (CSPs).

According to the posting order of the redeployed ACPS, ACP James A. Ochai is now AC Operations (AC OPS) in Kogi, Aromeh P. Attaboh (AC Admin, Abia), Ibrahim Mohammed (Area Command-

•Creates additional four Area Commands in Lagos From Sanni Ologun, Abuja

er, Azare Bauchi), Ahmadu Dankano (Area Commander Rano, Kano), Abdullahi Yerima Ibrahim (AC OPS Kano), Audu A. Madaki (AC Establishment Force Secretary), Sagir Abubakar (Area Commander, Bama Bornu), Awunah A. Donald (AC Criminal Investigation Department, Akwa Ibom), Yusuf A. Sani Area Commander Owerri Imo), Dickson Izam (AC Admin Niger), Mobayo Babatunde (AFS III Force Headquarters), Emienbo T. Assayomo (Area Commander Okigwe, Imo) and Ona’Ade S. Awoniyi (Area Commander Area ‘L’ Ijesha, Lagos).

Others are Momoh Umar (Fi-

nance Cooperative ‘C’ Dept.), Tajudeen Toyese (Area Commander Ilorin Metro Kwara), Mfon A. Akpan (AC Admin Airwing Ikeja), Moshood O. Agbola Rumi Area Commander Ijero Ekiti), Okoroloko Emmanuel (Area Commander Orlu Imo), Esa Sunday Ogbu (AC Special Fraud Unit Lagos), Celestine Okoye (AC OPS Imo), Vwamhi Felix Yame (Area Commander ‘J’ Ajah Lagos), Amos Markus Omuiyadun (Area Commander ‘N’ Ikorodu), Ibrahim Sani Kaoje (Area Commander ‘M’ Idimu), Abdusalam Busari (AC OPS Benue) and Anthony Ogbuagu Njoku (AC CID Benue).

The redeployed CSPs include Dan Okpe (AC ‘X’ Squad Zone 4),

Yekini A. Ayoku (AC Second in Command, 2I/C Panti), Adamu Elihu (Area Commander Kafanchan Kaduna), Abubakar Umar Bature (Area Commander Oyo), Adeleke A. Bode (AC CID Airport), Aliyu Garba (Area Commander Agodi Oyo), Pakuma T. Mustapha Benin Metro), Muri U. Musa (AC CID 2I/C FCT Abuja), Idris Dabban Dauda (Area Commander Kazaure Jigawa), Yusuf A. Usman (Area Commander Bauchi), Aliyu Adamu Alhaji AC INTERPOL FCID), Haladu Musa Rosamson (Area Commander Yola Adamawa), Adamu Aliyu (AC Railway), Musa Uba (Area Commander Ogoja Cross River) and Babatunde B. Ishola (AC Anti-Fraud (FCID).

1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 1234567890123456789 •Ringim

3

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

NEWS BOKO HARAM MENACE

T

HE call for the removal of troops deployed in Borno is not a solution to terrorism in the state, National Security Adiser Patrick Azazi said yesterday.

The Federal Government deployed troops of the Joint Task Force in Borno State in the wake of incessant bombings and attacks on security agents by a group known as Boko Haram (western education evil).

Leaders in the state have, however, accused members of the Task Force of killing and harassing innocent persons and inflicting untold hardship on the people, leading to their mass exodus from Maiduguri.

Operating under the aegis of Borno Elders Forum, prominent citizens after a meeting in Maiduguri on Tuesday called on President Goodluck Jonathan to order immediate withdrawal of the troops.

They claimed that peace had remained a mirage following the intervention of the military in curbing the activities of the Boko Haram members.

The task force has since denied any involvement in charges levelled against it by the Borno elders.

Gen. Azazi said while some residents might not be comfortable with the presence of the troops, their removal was not a solution to the problem of terrorism in the state or in any part of Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted Azazi as saying: “The soldiers are barely one month old in Borno. Soldiers deployed in any part of Nigeria must behave responsibly at all times.

“Unfortunately when you are the target of a bomb attack, there is the possibility that you react in a manner not approved by the people.

“There is need for cooperation from all sides; the military, the people and everybody.

“Terrorism is a new phenomenon in Nigeria. It is a new threat and there are new initiatives to deal with the situation.

“The security issues in the country today are keeping the security agencies on their toes, but they need the cooperation of all Nigerians to put an end to the crises.’’

The National Security Adviser said his office was already putting in place new measures to address the security challenges in the country.

Removal of soldiers from Borno not solution, says Azazi Army aligns with NSA on JTF

N

ATIONAL Security Adviser (NSA) Gen. Owoye Azazi’s decision on the withdrawal of the Joint Task Force (JTF) (code-named Operation Restore Order) from Borno State got the backing of the Army yesterday.

Some elders from the troubled Northeast state have asked for the withdrawal of the JTF, saying its presence has been escalating the delicate situation.

The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Brig-Gen. Raphael Isa, who spoke with our correspondent on phone said: “The Nigerian Army has no decision other than what he has said, that it is not the withdrawal of the JTF that is the solution.

Our presence there is not the problem”.

A military source said the thinking in the military was that the clamour by the elders was misplaced.

He said: “Where were the so-called elders when the whole place was becoming unbearable because of these people?

“One begins to wonder what the situation would have been today if they had come out earlier to ask their young ones that are perpetrating this violence to cease fire or seek better ways of airing their grievances instead of destabilising peoples’ lives “First is public enlightenment to let people know what to do to enhance their own security and safety.

“We have also created a counterterrorism department to collate and analyse strategic intelligence on terrorism.

“Terrorism is a global phenomenon, but our objective in Nigeria is to focus on the country while cooperating with development partners and our neighbours to ensure that we check terrorism.

Gen. Azazi also told reporters that a committee had been set up on the protection of critical national infrastructure to ensure that they were kept safe.

“Public places, including banks and other critical infrastructure, must be protected in the new security arrangements being put in place,’’ he said.

He added that there was the need to train and retrain security personnel and provide them with modern-

From Dele Anofi, Abuja rather than asking the JTF to withdraw.”

The Nation has gathered that the army is unhappy with the negative publicity and public attention its participation in the restoration of peace, law and order in the country has attracted.

More particularly, the attribution of casualties from the clash of Boko Haram with JTF in the state to the Army alone, may have unsettled the NA. According to a military source, who spoke with our correspondent, the Army high command is putting a massive awareness campaign plan in place to correct the negative impression.

The source said: “This undue association of the Nigerian Army with results of engagements with Boko Haram is getting unsettling.

“It is becoming worrisome because our participation is not only part of our constitutional responsibility but a means of bringing succour to the people in that area just like in other flash points around the country.

“Remember we are Nigerians first and we have families and friends across the country. Are we not duty-bound to protect our brothers as individuals, if we are called upon?”

12345678901234567890123456789012123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456 •Gen. Azazi...yesterday

day equipment to enable them to discharge their functions effectively.

The NSA expressed regret that security and safety had not been get-

PHOTO: NAN

ting adequate attention in planning done in the past and stressed that it was time the country focused squarely on security and safety of lives and property.

Envoy: Nigeria, France to collaborate on security

M

OVED by the security challenges facing Nigeria, France has expressed interest to partner with the country to find a lasting solution.

French Ambassador to Nigeria Jean Michel Dumond made the disclosure yesterday when he visited

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

Senate President David Mark.

According to a statement by Mark’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS) Paul Mumeh, the ambassador promised that his country will collaborate with Nigeria in the area of peace-

keeping, security and stability of the West African sub-region.

The French Government, Dumond said, is worried about the recent unrest in Nigeria and would therefore join forces to contribute her quota towards arresting the menace.

He, however, praised the government and Nigerians for the successful conduct of the last general elections, saying that the poll have given President Goodluck Jonathan the needed legitimacy to transform the country in dire need of development.

Maiduguri: The troubled city

By Bolade Omonijo, Group Political Editor to the West and Old Maiduwuri to the East. It is home to two major markets and its population, about 1.2 million, makes it strategic to the development of the re-

M

AIDUGURI ,

the capital city of Borno State, derives its importance from its strategic location in the Northeast geo-political zone, its sheer population and the place of the Shehu of Borno in the Nigerian Islamic community.

The town, which was established in 1907 by the British as a military outpost, comprises two parts, Yerwa

gion.

In political development, the decision by the military to make it capital of the Northeast State in 1967 was the bedrock of its modernisation. The state spanned today’s Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa and Taraba states . It was easily the largest of the 12 states and thus attracted attention.

Religious, political and communal violence are not strange to Maiduguri . In the wake of the political disturbances that trailed the military

coups of 1966, Maiduguri literally burned and participated actively in the pogrom of that year and the resultant counter coup.

On October 31, 1982 , about 482 lives were reportedly lost in religious riots spearheaded by followers of Islamic cleric Alhaji Mohammadu Marwa.

In January 2001, the lunar eclipse was enough to trigger another round of wanton destruction. The eclipse of the moon sent Muslim youths to the streets as they attacked brothels, hotels, churches and bars. Their reason: the eclipse was the result of sinful activities in the town and the sinners should be rooted out.

Five years later, when a Danish newspaper, Jyllands-Posten, reportedly published an article deemed to have been blasphemous of Holy Prophet Mohammed, the youth in Maiduguri seized the opportunity again to go on the rampage. Aljazeera put the death toll from the riots at 15; 12 churches were razed.

The current phase of the string of

crises could be traced to 2009 when the public face of the Boko Haram crusade was exposed. Since then, not than 700 people are said to have been killed while many others have been injured.

The economic cost is still being counted as many non-indigenes have left their means of livelihood in a bid to save their lives. Even indigenes are now fleeing as no one is safe from the daily explosions that have rocked the tow.

If the trend continues, what could be expected of this historic city? The history of Nigeria cannot be written without reference to the role played by the progressive Borno Youth Movement led by Ibrahim Imam, the place of the fiercely independent minded Kanuri people in the Islamic Movement, the Shehu who is regarded as deputy leader of Nigerian Muslims and the commercial value of Maiduguri . Where is all this headed now? How fast President Goodluck Jonathan resolves the present conflict could decide the fate of the once prosperous and promising capital of the people of the Northeast.

Sheriff denies link with sect From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

FORMER Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff has denied the news making the rounds and a statement allegedly credited to a former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Gen. Jeremiah Oseni, that he was the brain behind the creation of the Islamic fundamentalist Boko Haram.

He described Gen. Useni’s allegation as incorrect and unfortunate.

The group, the former governor said, has been in existence before his coming into office in 2003.

He also denied any link or ever being a member of the sect.

Sheriff, who spoke to State House Correspondents yesterday after meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, also said his apology to the group was made in the interest of peace, since the group promised to stop its actions if he and the two others apologised to them publicly.

He, however, said there was nothing new in the public apology, nothing that it was not different from the one he made to the people when he handed over to his incumbent, Kashim Shettima.

Refuting any link with the sect, Sheriff said: “Boko Haram has been in existence before I became a governor. The so called leader of Boko Haram was arrested and was executed in Abuja before I even thought of becoming governor. So, people make comments on what they don’t know and in life, you don’t speak on matters that you are not very competent.

Whoever said it that I am a mentor of Boko Haram is most unfortunate and that and there is no truth in the statement.”

The governor said the fact that a former commissioner under him was linked to the group cannot be enough reason to label him as its mentor. According to him, the said commissioner had been in active politics before coming to serve under him.

Withdraw military or there won’t be peace, says sect BOKO Haram said yesterday there will be no dialogue with government until the military is withdrawn from Maiduguri.

Spokesman for Boko Haram Abu Zaid said in a telephone conference broadcast on Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) news last night: “All soldiers deployed in Borno as part of the Joint Task Force must be withdrawn before any dialogue could be opened with government.”

He said 19 members of the sect had been killed in recent clashes with the military. He also warned journalists to be neutral in their reporting or they would be treated as saboteurs Boko Haram’s statement came 24 hours after Borno state elders, who include former government ministers and police officers, called on the JTF to withdraw from Maiduguri, saying its siege of Boko Haram was causing more harm than good.

The Boko Haram spokesman said the group has no foreign sponsors as he denied the alleged plan of the sect to attack the University of Maiduguri teaching hospital.

The military has denied accusations it is using unnecessary force.

4

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

NEWS

Fed Govt assures foreigners on safety of funds From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

FOR the umpteenth time, the Federal Government yesterday assured the international community of the safety of investors’ funds in Nigeria.

Vice President Namadi Sambo based the assurance on the series of mechanisms being put in place to scrutinise funds coming into the country.

He told the visiting Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey, Mr. Bulent Arinc, who visited him at work about government’s determination to deliver on good governance.

The Vice president said: “Investors funds are secured as arrangements have been concluded with the World Bank and other reputable financial agencies around the world for proper securitisation of investors’ funds through the issuance of Sovereign National Guarantee”.

Why local govt system is a failure, by don

C

ELEBRATION of the 77th birthday of the Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, continued yesterday in Lagos, where a lecture on local government system and media roles was held.

The lecture, organised by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism’ was entitled : “Re-evaluating Local Government In Nigeria: What responsibilities for the media”.

It attracted scholars, representatives of civil society groups, politicians, electoral officers, media and students.

Well-wishers joined the organisers to cut the birthday cake of the literary giant, amid showers of praises on him for his contributions to social crusades, intellectual productivity and political consciousness in the country.

The guest lecturer, Prof.

Bayo Olukoshi and other discussants; Dr Abubakar Momoh, Hon. Afeez IpesaBalogun, Kadaria Ahmed

•Encomiums on Soyinka at 77

By Emmanuel Oladesu Deputy Political Editor

and Muyiwa Adekeye, paid glowing tributes to the retired university don for inspiring the younger generation, who perceived him as a role model.

Olukoshi, professor of African Politics and Government and Director of the United Nations’ African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (UNIDEP), Dakar, Senegal, dissected the local government in Nigeria, saying it has continued to mirror the colonial Sole Native Authorities in post-independence era.

Lamenting the inability of the councils to deliver, he said: “We are badly governed. We are also undergoverned.

“When Governor Fashola delivered to the people what ordinarily should be done by the local government, we see him as a hero”.

The political scientist said that not only is the local government under-performing, it is also dysfunctional, stressing that it has never become a foundational structure for democracy and development.

Explaining the poor output of the councils, Olukoshi listed their constraints, including the lack of autonomy, prolonged military rule, lack of strong revenue base, corruption and lack of true federalism.

He blamed the under-performance to the failure of successive governments to depart from the concept of decentralised despotism on which foundation the local government system was built.

Alluding to the suppression of the third tier of government by the military, Olukoshi said: “Military rule created distortion and inconsistencies that weakened the local governments and sub-

jected them to the whims and caprices of the federal and state governments” But he also chided the civilian governments for under-developing the councils, recalling that, in 1979, governors across the political parties , who refused to hold election into the councils, proceeded to appoint sole administrators to steer them.

Olukoshi also argued that the councils lacked strong economic base, adding that, except in Lagos and Kano states, councils can hardly survive by depending on internally generated revenue.

He said the picture contrasted with councils in United States, which can raise adequate money to fund development.

Olukoshi called for the revitalisation of the system, maintaining that local government must be developed in the interest of democracy and development.

He called for an active citizenry capable of insisting on constitutional provisions

Anyim to fast-track reform bills

Awo foundation holds lecture The Obafemi Awolowo Foundation will hold a special dialogue with the theme: ‘Transformational leadership and good governance: Lessons from Awolowo example’ between July 20 and 22 at Efunyela Hall, Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State.

A statement by the foundation’s Secretary, Dr. Tokunbo Dosunmu, said speakers would include Professors Itsey Sagay, David Oke, Pat Utomi, Nuhu Yakub, Deji Aina, Ayo Olukotun, Williams Fawole and Banji Oyeyinka-Oyeniran.

The lecture will be chaired by former Minister of Justice Prince Bola Ajibola. Ondo State Governor Segun Mimiko is guest of honour.

NYSC DG seeks more pay for members NATIONAL Youth Service Corps (NYSC) DirectorGeneral Brig-Gen Maharazu Tsiga yesterday urged all tiers of government to increase allowances of Corps members in their domain.

The Federal Government last weekend raised Corps members allowance to N19,800.

Tsiga gave the advice when he visited Batch ‘B’ Corps members at the Plateau temporary camp at Bukuru.

He said: “The NYSC is a relevant scheme with dedicated Corps members who have contributed and wouldcontinue to contribute meaningfully to nation building.

Corps members should not be made to feel inadequate in a way they are getting meager allowance for serving the nation.

“Corps members need to be appreciated because many sectors of the economy would have collapsed without their efforts.”

He, however, encouraged them to continue to be committed to the service of their fatherland.

to move the third tier forward.

Olukoshi also asked the media to use their investigative powers to build awareness on the roles of the councils. He said: “Ministers of government were forced out of office in the seventies because the media exposed their corrupt tendencies.”

Welcoming the guests, Prof. Ropo Sekoni observed that there was the need to make the councils responsive to local needs. He urged the media to bring the repertory of the local government on the front burner.

He said the Freedom of Information Bill(FoI) passed into law after 10 years of incubation would assist the media in carrying out their work as effective watchdogs.

At the lecture were the Chairman of Ejigbo Local Counci Development Area, Kehinde Bamigbetan, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftain, Mrs Moji Maciver, and Hafsat Abiola, founder of Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND).

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

T

•Co-ordinator, Wole Soyinka Centre Media Lecture Series, Motunrayo Alaka (left), Prof. Olukoshi, Ahmed, Coordinator, Orderly Society Trust, Foluso Idunu, Chairman, Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Afeez Ipesa Balogun and Abubakar Mundi PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA cutting Prof. Soyinka’s birthday cake…yesterday.

Lawmakers reject 40% pay cut Continued from Page 1

“But we queried the rationale behind the decision of the National Assembly leadership for accepting the cost cut without asking the Executive to take the lead.

“We also decided to mount pressure on the President of the Senate, Chief David Mark and the Speaker of the House, Aminu Tambuwal, to approach the Executive for its austerity measures.”

A member of the House of Representatives said: “In our case, the cut is about 63 per cent, which is a terrible development.

“Some of us are weighing options on what to do, if the Executive does not cut cost. We want to see clear evidence of what the President and his cabinet have done to reduce overhead.”

Another member of the House from the Northwest said: “This cut in overhead is an acid test for National Assembly lead-

ership. If it does not cut across board, they should be prepared for rough days ahead.

“We want a detailed memo from the Executive on how it has reduced its overhead. We have fulfilled our own part of the bargain but the Executive is foot-dragging.”

By the 2011 budget, the National Assembly is expected to spend N111, 244,416,513, although it had initially jacked up its estimate to N150billion before resolving the grey ar-

eas with the Executive.

The National Assembly budget includes Personnel Cost(N17,974,915,979); Overhead Cost(N90,055,657,984); Recurrent(N108,030,573,962) and Capital(N3,213,842,551) The allowances that might be affected are recurrent (N108, 030,573,962) and overhead cost (N90, 055,657,984), such as travelling, entertainment, oversight to constituencies and projects, medical vacation, and so on.

Finbank ex-director gets permission to travel abroad

A

LAGOS State High Court, Ikeja, yesterday granted a former director of Finbank Plc, Mr Dayo Famoroti, leave to travel abroad for medical treatment.

Famoroti is standing trial with the bank’s former Managing Director Mr Okey Nwosu and two other former directors, Mr Danjuma Ocholi and Mrs Agnes Ebubedike.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned them be-

By Joseph Jibueze and Abike Hassan

fore Justice Lateefat Okunnu for allegedly stealing the bank’s N10.9 billion.

The judge said she was satisfied that Famoroti would not jump bail if permitted to travel abroad, as he had been granted a similar leave by the Federal High Court, Lagos where he is standing trial for other charges, and did not jump bail.

She directed the court registrar to release Famoroti’s

traveling documents to him, adding that they must however, be returned as soon as he is back, which must be before the next trial date.

Famoroti’s counsel Mr Seyi Sowemimo (SAN), in a June 20 application, had asked the court for a variation of Famoroti’s bail condition to enable him travel to England for treatment for an undisclosed ailment.

He tendered a letter written by a United Kingdom medical consultant, Robert Rawley, advising Famoroti

to come abroad for continuation of his treatment.

Sowemimo said the defendant had traveled abroad on at least three occasions since he was charged at the Federal High Court and had always returned.

EFCC lawyer Miss Taiwo Ogunleye opposed the application, saying it was an attempt by the defence to stall trial, but the court disagreed.

Justice Okunnu adjourned till September 5 for the beginning of trial.

HE Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, has pledged to fast track the process that would lead to the passage of the pending reform bills.

According to the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE)’s spokesman, Chukwuma Nwokoh, Anyim spoke in Abuja while receiving the members of bureau, led by its Director General, Ms Bolanle Onagoruwa.

The SGF noted that government’s good intention to divest from public enterprises would be a mirage if the necessary legal and regulatory instruments were not put in place.

He said the administration was keen on the privatisation of the nation’s enterprises and that was why after assumption of office,” I demanded to know the bills that were pending for passage to aid privatisation and I have discovered seven of them”.

According to him, the passage of the bills would lead to the setting up of bodies to regulate activities in the various sectors, stressing that privatisation cannot succeed without regulatory bodies.

The pending bills include the Railway Bill; Road Reform Bill, National Transport Commission Bill, Postal Bill, Inland Waterways Bill, Ports and Harbour Bill and the Competition and Consumer Protection Bill.

Promising to assist the Bureau to succeed in its mandate, Anyim pledged to meet with the management from time to time to ensure the success of its mandate.

Ms Onagoruwa told the SGF that the visit was to congratulate him on his appointment and to sensitise him on the workings of the Bureau.

5

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

NEWS Rape victim’s family under pressure to drop charges From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

T

•Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, His Eminence Anthony Cardinal Olubunmii Okogie (third right) by Dr Dayo Onimole, Vice President, Catholic Men Organisation (CMO), Catholic Churh of the Resurrection, Magodo GRA (left), Tony Udenze, President, Seyi Martins Secretary and Mr Patrick Ajumobi when Rev Okogie visisted the church...last weekend

Governors tackle polio with quarterly crusades T

HE crusade for polio eradication assumed a new dimension yesterday, with the 36 governors announcing a quarterly sensitisation of Nigerians.

Launching the programme under the aeges of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NUF), the governors said the essence is to raise the level of awareness on the need to end the deadly plague across the country.

They (governors) fixed Saturday, August 13, 2011; Saturday, November 12, 2011; Saturday, February 11, 2012; and Saturday, May 12, 2012 for elaborate crusades they believe, will rev the war against the disease.

According to a statement made available to reporters in Abuja, said the Director-General of the NGF, Mr. Asishana Okauru, “the Forum unanimously resolved to dedicate one day every quarter to holding sensitisation campaigns in all the states to raise the level of awareness”.

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

He explained that the decision to fix specific dates for the nationwide awareness was taken at the last meeting of the Forum held at the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge, Abuja, on June 21.

The meeting, he said, reviewed the polio situation in the country and agreed that even though, much progress had been made towards curbing the menace, a lot more needed to be done to completely eradicate the scourge.

The NGF Director-General said that during the sensitisation days, each of the 36 governors would commit substantial resources to creating more awareness about the disease and how it could be eradicated in their respective states.

Apart from massive campaigns

in the media, the governors, he said, would also collaborate with other stakeholders in the health sector to educate parents on the need to immunise their children against the disease.

The statement reads: “Our governors are committed to eradicating this disease from our country once and for all, and they have promised not to rest until that objective is achieved.

“All members are agreed on the need to declare total war on the disease and that is what they have done. Enough is enough.

Polio must disappear from our land.”

A recent report by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which is collaborating with the NGF in the war against polio, had painted a very dismal picture of the polio battle in Nigeria, saying the disease was resurg-

ing in some states in the North.

The report, signed by Michael Galway, the Foundation’s Senior Programme Officer, Vaccine Delivery, said: “We remain increasingly concerned about the polio situation in Nigeria with two cases of the virulent Type 1 virus being reported in Kano and the on-going circulation of Type 3 virus in the North-west that’s spread to Mali and Niger, the world’s hope for a breakthrough in stopping Type 3 globally this year is dimming”.

The sensitisation campaigns, Okauru said, is even more urgent and necessary as Nigeria is still one of the four polio endemic countries in the world.

Others are India, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

“Getting out of this nauseating list is not only necessary but also mandatory”, he said.

Reps invite minister, Labour chiefs to avert strike

L

AWMAKERS launched yesterday a desperate mission to avert a strike over the minimum wage.

The House of Representatives invited Minister of Labour Emeka Wogu and the leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

The resolution followed a motion on urgent national importance raised by Hon. Peter Akpatason on the planned industrial action. A three-day warning strike is billed for Wednesday.

Akpatason, former National President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), called for an urgent intervention by the House, saying the proposed strike will affect the economy.

Akpatason said the best way to avert the strike is for the House to bring all the concerned parties to a round table to resolve the mat-

•Labour yet to pay minimum wage From Victor Oluwasegun, Abuja and Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu

ter.

The Deputy Speaker, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, who presided, said the House would invite the Minister of Labour and Productivity as well as all the labour unions to avert the strike.

The House has backed the upward review of the revenue sharing formula in favour of states and local governments to enable them pay the N18, 000 minimum wage.

Five months after the approval of the new pay, workers of the two Labour centres and various trade unions are lamenting their inability to enjoy the new wage.

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Secretariat, Abuja workers said are still earning N7,500. Two of the workers, who pleaded for ano-

nymity, said they tried to make the leadership see why “it should lead by example”, but they refused.

One of them said: “It would have been a perfect thing for the NLC to bring out its books and show Nigerians, including the Federal Government, that, ‘see, we are already doing what we preach’. The same goes for all the affiliate unions.”

NLC spokesman Comrade Chris Uyot said: “We have a national salary scale; we don’t have any problem here.”

But, a junior worker disagreed, saying: “Let them bring out their books; we are earning N7000 and books cannot lie.”

The General Secretary, National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE), Comrade Olusegun

Ola, said: “We have written to the employers in our sector; we are not paying the minimum wage yet. How can we pay it (to the secretariat staff) when our members have not started enjoying it?”

A National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) worker said the union was yet to implement the new minimum wage. The General Secretary, Comrade Joe Ajaero, did not pick his calls.

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) said it would pay the new salary immediately. Labour is agitating for the arrears of the minimum wage, which was approved in March. The Federal Government has promised to pay the arrears, but for workers within Level 1-6 bracket. This has not gone down well with Labour, which has served a strike notice.

WO students of the University of Ado-Ekiti - Tope Adeniyi and Betiku Cosmos, – accused in the alleged rape of a 17-year-old pre-degree student, appeared at the Magistrate’s Court 1, Ado-Ekiti on Monday.

Reports said the accused, handcuffed and accompanied by Moses Dagba, the Officer-in-Charge (Legal) of the case, were brought into the premises of the court around 8am.

Also at the court with them was Sadiat Hassan, the supposed friend of the rape victim, who allegedly facilitated the evil encounter.

Chief Magistrate Mrs. Dupe Aina refused to grant bail to the accused.

She ordered that they be remanded in prison custody till July 28. Sadiat was granted bail but told to appear whenever the case comes up.

The Nation learnt that the families of the two accused students have been mounting pressure on the family of the victim, pleading that they forgive Tope and Cosmos.

Rita Ilevbare, a lawyer, whose organisation, the Gender Relevance Initiative Programme (GRIP), has pledged free legal representation for the victim and her family, said: “The case appears to have been closed. The guardian of the girlvictim said the family is not interested any longer in pursuing the case further. He called me saying they were under pressure as so many big people from all oevr the places have kept calling them to hands off.”

Ilevbare is GRIPS’s Executive Director.

But the father of the victim is said to be opposed the out-of-court settlement.

“The issue has become a family one and the family has not met to decide which way to go. I will not say the family has hands off. I will call you back to feed you whenever a decision is taken”, Ilevbare said.

Five arrested for Suleja bombings From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

F

IVE suspected bomb throwers have been arrested by the Niger State Police Command since explosions rocked the Northcentral state in March.

But the command said no arrest has been made in respect of the two explosions in Suleja and Madalla on Sunday and Monday. The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Richard Oguche, told reporters yesterday in Minna that the arrested persons have been helping the police in their investigations to fish out the perpetrators of the bomb explosions that have occurred on March 3 and April 2.

According to Oguche, the suspects have made useful statements, which he said, would assist the command in raiding black spots and hideouts to apprehend other culprits.

On the attacks on worship centres in Suleja and Madalla, the PPRO described the explosions that occurred within thirty six hours as worrisome and disheartening.

He said that in view of the development, the Commissioner of Police has directed all Divisional Police Officers to provide adequate security for all worship centers in their division. Oguche said, “The Commissioner has directed all DPOs to map out strategies at providing adequate security for all Churches and mosques now that places of worship have become the target of these hoodlums.”

The Police spokesman then appealed to members of the public to report any suspicious individual or group to security agencies.

6

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

NEWS

Kwara Police chief decries increasing car theft

NAFDAC to close ‘open’ drug market From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

HE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has said it would shut down all open drug markets in Nigeria.

Its Director-General, Dr. Paul Orhi, spoke in Kano yesterday at the inauguration of a N100 million drug distribution centre established by the MDS Logistics, a subsidiary of United African Company (UAC).

Orhi said NAFDAC would soon clamp down on open drug markets to sanitise drug distribution system in the country.

He said there would be a new regulation to make it mandatory for drugs manufactured in or imported into Nigeria to be channelled through recognised distribution centres.

He said: “I will urge all importers and manufacturers to take advantage of the system because very soon, we will require that all medicines for distribution in Nigeria are channelled through the MDS Logistics distribution centres.”

The NAFDAC chief expressed displeasure over the chaotic drug distribution system in Nigeria, noting that it posed grave danger to public health.

He said Nigeria was one of the few countries where drugs were freely and openly distributed and sold.

Orhi said: “In open markets, you see a lot of fake medicines and that was why in 2003, the Federal Government established a Presidential Committee on Pharmaceutical Sector Reforms to come up with guidelines on drug distribution and sales in Nigeria.

“One of the recommendations of the committee is that states should set up drug distribution centres, while private sectors should set up makers’ distribution centres.”

·•Command parades five suspects

T

Ogun PDP warns against indiscipline LEADERS and elders of the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun East Senatorial Zone yesterday resolved to reposition the party for future challenges.

They met under the aegis of Ogun East Elders’ Forum and issued a communiqué after an enlarged caucus meeting in Ijebu-Ode. In the communiqué by Vice-Chairman, Alhaji Agboola Alausa, the elders said since issues bordering on ministerial nominees had been settled, they needed to forge a common front.

They said the decision was reached after the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gbenga Ashiru, assured that delivering on his mandate at the national level would not disturb him from working for the state.

Ashiru hails from IjebuOde, in Ogun East Senatorial District.

The elders resolved to mobilise a monthly subvention for each of the nine local governments under the senatorial district.

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

•Princess Alexandra, Lady Ogilvy, Duke Of Gloucester, Prince Richard (middle) and Acting Nigerian High Commissioner in the United Kingdom, Mr. Dozie Nwanna, at the presentation of Nigeria’s 50th anniversary gold medal to Princess Alexandra in London. The Princess represented the Queen of England at Nigeria’s Independence celebration last October.

Alleged N1.3b fraud: How N450m was paid for N16m contract, by witness

A

PERMANENT secretary in the Taraba State Ministry of Finance, Asabe Maiangwa, has told a High Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Abuja, how the government paid N450 million for a N16 million contract for the supply of stationery and office equipment.

The payment was allegedly approved by the then Commissioner of Finance, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Tutari.

Maiangwa is the seventh prosecution witness (PW7) in the prosecution of former governor, Rev Jolly Nyame, who is facing a 41-count charge on money laundering, criminal breach of trust and gratification to the tune of N1.3billion when he was governor.

At the resumed hearing yesterday, Maiangwa recounted how N450million was paid for phony contracts.

I

By Olamilekan Andu

He was led in a cross-examination by prosecution counsel Rotimi Jacobs.

Maiangwa corroborated the previous testimony of an accountant in the ministry, Alhaji Naigari Umar, saying she was in Kaduna for a seminar in 2005 when her secretary informed her on phone that a cheque for N250 million had been released from the Office of the AccountantGeneral to be paid through her ministry to Salman Global Ventures Limited.

She said she directed the secretary to ensure that necessary documentation was done before releasing the cheque.

Maiangwa said: “The secretary carried out my instruction and showed me the documents in the file. I endorsed the back of the receipt and passed the document to the secretary and the file was re-

turned to the dip, where we store files.”

Asked if the payment of the N250 million followed due process and if she knew what purpose the money was meant for, she said: “I was not around, so I don’t know. But I did not see anything in the file to suggest that the job was done.”

On the payment of N200million by the government in 2005, Maiangwa said: “The Commissioner of Finance (Alhaji Abubakar Umar Tutari) met me and gave me a list with two names - Salman Global Ventures and the Deputy Speaker. He told me that the Accountant was going to bring a cheque from the Accountant-General’s office and we should disburse it.

“In the note, the commissioner directed that N165 million should be paid to Salman Global Ventures;

N15 million to the Deputy Speaker, Taraba State House of Assembly; N4 million to the Personal Assistant (PA) to Commissioner of Finance; and N16 million was for the purchase of the stationery.”

She said she handed N16 million to the Accountant to buy stationery through a local contractor, Baba Gambo.

Maiangwa said she asked Tutari why the cheque was issued when the job had not been done, adding that the Finance Commissioner said he was acting on instruction.

When she was asked to name who gave the instruction, an argument ensued between the prosecution counsel and that of defence, Charles Edosonwam.

The trial judge, Justice Adebukonla Banjoko, adjourned the matter till October 5 for ruling and continuation of hearing.

‘Illegal arms importation caused post-election violence’

LLEGAL importation of arms into Nigeria and unguarded utterances by politicians caused the April post-election violence in the North, residents of Zangon Kataf, Kaduna State, said yesterday.

The Bajju ethnic group in Zangon Kataf Local Government made the submission in its memorandum to the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the government on the crisis that followed the announcement of the presidential election result.

Many people were killed and property worth millions of naira destroyed.

In the memorandum, which was presented by its counsel and former Commissioner for Justice in the state, Mark Jacob, the Bajju community also alleged that the discovery of 36 explosives, suspected to be high calibre bombs, in a river in the area in 2007, raised suspicion among the residents.

Zonkwa, the headquarters

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

of the Bajju ethnic group, and other Bajju communities, which had been peaceful, were thrown into crisis during the post-election mayhem in the North.

The group alleged that the illegal importation of arms into the country triggered suspicion among the residents, citing the example of the ship arrested in Lagos with large arms.

The ship allegedly originated from Iran.

The Bajju noted that besides the illegal arms, politicians also made inciting statements prior to the election.

It said the refusal of politicians and parties to accept defeat and the failure of the government to properly handle prior election crises contributed to the April violence.

The group identified what

it called “illegal use of military uniforms by militants” and ethnic discrimination among the causes of the mayhem.

It said: “In 2007, 36 bombs were found hidden by a riverside in Zonkwa. By some divine intervention, those deadly weapons were discovered before they could be used on innocent and unsuspecting Zonkwa community and Bajju people.

“The Police in Zonkwa were invited into the matter and they retrieved the bombs. Police bomb experts detonated one of the bombs and the effect was so devastating, despite using their device to reduce the capacity of the bomb.

“The residents of Zonkwa and environs became scared and have been left only to wonder who smuggled in the deadly weapons into Kajju and for what purpose. Suspi-

cion set in between the Muslims and non-Muslims, taking into account the happening in Plateau State, where bombs were used to kill innocent people and to destroy churches and property belonging to Christians.

“Prior to the election, there were reports of the seizure of illegal arms imported into Nigeria. Notable among these incidents was the seizure of arms from Iran.

These unchecked cases of illegal importation of arms into Nigeria led to the beneficiaries and recipients of the dangerous weapons to feel ready and prepared enough to run down and kill their imagined enemies.

“Past experiences have shown that our security agents, particularly the Police, are always caught unaware by crises and are always ill-prepared to nip the disturbances in the bud.”

KWARA State Police Commissioner Peter Gana has raised the alarm over increasing cases of car theft, particularly Japanese brands, in the state.

Gana spoke yesterday in Ilorin, the state capital, when the Police command paraded three suspected car thieves.

He said: “Car theft is very common in Kwara State. All the criminals do is to use locally fabricated keys to unlock their victims’ cars, and their targets have always been Japanese cars.

I, therefore, urge vehicle owners to expend some amount of money to secure their property.”

Gana said the suspects were arrested when they attempted to steal vehicles parked at the premises of a popular church on Ajase-Ipo road, Ilorin, adding that they had three master keys and a bunch of assorted car keys in their possession.

The suspects are: Ganiyu Rahman, Kashim Ahmed and Shola Adewale of Asa Dam road, Ilorin, and Ogijo, Ikorodu, Lagos State.

Globacom boosts customer care with Glo Zone TELECOMMUNICATION giant, Globacom, has introduced Glo Zone, a franchised customer-connect centre, to bring services close to its subscribers and deepen their interaction with the Glo brand.

Hitherto, walk-in customer service was only available in Gloworld, Globacom-owned and operated retail outlets.

Globacom’s Group Chief Operating Officer Mohammed Jameel said the Glo Zone would be located in neighbourhood communities nationwide within 10 kilometres radius of Glo customers and manned by those who will run them as franchisees of the company.

Jameel said: “The subscriber base of Globacom has grown exponentially over the last few years and, as such, had necessitated provision of rapid points of contact with them.

“The new shops, which will be run by private and budding entrepreneurs, were set up to provide convenience to our customers nationwide. They are a network of neighbourhood customers service centres for the needs of the peri-hub and semihub areas and rural markets.

“Customers can get a whole range of customer care and sales services obtainable in any Gloworld shop nationwide, including information on Glo products and services, customer complaints, SIM registration and replacement, activation of Value Added Services, bill payment, migration and world class customer care support.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

7

NEWS ‘No bomb blast in Jigawa NYSC camp’ From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

THE National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) yesterday denied the bombing of its Orientation Camp in Jigawa State.

NYSC Director-General Brig.-Gen. Maharazu Tsiga, who spoke through his Special Assistant, Alhaji Musa Abubakar, told The Nation that the rumour was untrue.

He said: “It is a lie. I just spoke with the Jigawa State Coordinator and there is nothing like that. The rumoured bomb blast at the Jigawa State National Youth Service Corps Camp is a lie.”

Senate clears four ministerial nominees

T

HE Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Philip Aduda, has criticised the exclusion of indigenes of Abuja in the appointment of ministers, ambassadors and other top federal positions.

His criticism came after the Senate cleared four ministerial nominees yesterday.

Those cleared yesterday were: Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina (Ogun); Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed (Jigawa); Omobola Johnson (Ondo); and Dr. Mohammed Pate (Bauchi).

They were cleared after answering questions on sundry issues.

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

Aduda lamented what he described as “the systematic exclusion of indigenes and settlers of the federal capital territory”.

He said this was a breach of the Federal Character principle.

The lawmaker noted that stakeholders in the FCT had forwarded the names of 10 persons to President Goodluck Jonathan for consideration as requested of every state.

Aduda said it was regrettable that nothing came out

of the list.

Citing sections 299, 147(2)(3), 14(3), 303 of the Constitution, Aduda said the pattern of appointment of the ministers relegated the indigenes and settlers of the FCT to second-class citizens.

He urged the authorities to ensure equity and justice in the distribution and allocation of appointments.

The lawmaker advocated the integration and upgrading of indigenous population into settlements instead of the present displacement in the guise of resettlement.

Aduda said: “We observe with dismay the recent ap-

pointment of ministers without representation from the FCT. We seek the inclusion of FCT inhabitants in the federal cabinet and other public service appointments in line with the Federal Character and quota system.

“The Presidency should initiate an executive bill for consideration of the National Assembly for an Act to establish political and administrative structure for the FCT in accordance with Section 303 of the Constitution.

“The Presidency hould initiate the establishment and recognition of the FCT as a

Air Force adopts new rank structure

Lamido sends commissionernominees’ list to Assembly

T

HE Air Council has approved the use of a new rank structure to be worn by officers of the Nigerian Air Force. According to a statement by Air Commodore Y Anas, the new rank would replace the current ranks worn by the officers.

It is the second restructuring of rank badges in the Nigerian Air Force since the establishment of the Service in 1964.

The Nigerian Air Force officers at inception wore the same ranks as their army counterparts. The new working dress rank badges have additional laurels that make them more distinguishable than the current rank badges The new ranks will soon be made available to all Nigerian Air Force officers from Pilot Officer to Air Chief Marshal. It will be launched by Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal MD Umar.

From Eunice Bosua, Dutse

JIGAWA State Governor Sule Lamido has sent names of 15 commissionernominees to the House of Assembly for scrutiny and confirmation.

Seven were returned.

They are: Alhaji Rabiu Taura, (former Commissioner for Land, who also doubles as Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state); Alhaji Nasiru Roni, (Finance); Salisu Mahmud (Local Government); Jinjiri Abdulkabir, (Rural Development); Hanafi Yakubu, (Water Resources); Alhaji Mukhtari Birniwa, (Commerce); and Prof.

Haruna Wakili, (Education).

The new nominees are: Yakubu Husaini, Hajia Hauwa Lawan, Hajia Hadiza Abdulwahab, and Alhaji Babandi Ibrahim, a former House of Assembly member representing Gumel State Constituency.

Others are: Alhaji Mohammed Barde, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Land; Dr. Hassana Adamu, Permanent Secretary, Gunduma Health System; and Auwalu Mohammed.

Lamido said his action was in line with Section 192 of the Constitution, urging the Assembly to confirm the names fast.

He said: “The people nominated are qualified.

Necessary steps should be taken to confirm them without hindrance.”

• Wife of Osun State Governor, Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola (right) during a condolence visit to Mr and Mrs Folorunso Adeoye (left), who lost two children in a collapsed building at Igbaye, Ilesa East Local Goverment.

Bauchi earmarks N359m on dropouts’ admission

T

HE Bauchi State Government has earmarked N359million Intervention Fund for pupils, who did not meet the requirements for admission into tertiary institutions to resit the papers they failed.

Addressing reporters yesterday in Bauchi, the Executive Chairman of the Commission for Youth and Women Development (BAYWARD) Prof Musa Maisamari said about 2,000 pupils from the 20 local governments would benefit from the fund.

He said: “The state government is committed to im-

From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

proving the standard of education, hence the decision to consider the fate of school dropouts to give them another chance to retake their papers to enable them get admission into tertiary institutions.”

Maisamari said the commission would train the pupils for nine months and give each of them a N5,000 monthly stipend during their training.

He added that the money would boost the pupils’ mo-

rale and make them work harder.

Maisamari said: “This is the third time we would partner Yankari Academy, a private educational outfit, to train our pupils. Initially, we operated three centres but we have increased the centres to 10, located at Alkaleri, Bauchi, Dass, Toro and Ningi. Others are Shira, Jama’are, Misau, Gamawa and Katagum centers.”

He urged the beneficiaries to cooperate with the commission to fast-track government’s education policy which gives priority

to human development without consideration for gender or religious affiliations.

“The policy thrust of the Isa Yuguda administration is to ensure that Bauchi State produces sound and worthy youths for Nigeria’s development. So far, we are on the right path, he said.”

He urged parents and guardians to ensure that their children and wards who failed at the last West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE) are not used by politicians to destabilise the state.

Furore in PDP over Jonathan/Sambo campaign vehicles

T

HERE was tension yersterday in the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over disappearance of more than 100 vehicles used by members of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) for the April polls.

A source said most of the departmental Heads of the PCC took away the vehicles attached to their offices after President Goodluck Jonathan was declared winner of the April 9 election.

Democratic Mayoralty in line with Section 301(a) of the Constitution that provides for self-governance.”

The four nominees that scaled the hurdles are professionals.

Adesina is an accomplished consultant agriculturist and Johnson is an Information Technology (IT) specialist; Pate is a primary healthcare expert and Mohammed is a consultant psychiatrist.

They answered questions on their areas of specialisation and the Senate cleared them for ministerial positions.

From Sanni Ologun, Abuja

Most of the new vehicles, including Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), 18-seater buses and cars, were donated to the PCC by supporters of Jonathan and the PDP. The source noted that the committee in charge of youths had four buses, donated by a company in the oil industry, and said the vehicle had disappeared.

He said the Publicity Com-

mittee had one SUV, a bus and a car, but its director had not returned any of them either to the director-general of the disbanded PCC, Dr Dalhatu Tafida, or the party’s national secretariat.

It was learnt that a report on the activities of the PCC, including the logistics and funds it used to prosecute the campaign, had not been submitted to either the Presidency or the PDP. The Presidency and the national leadership of the PDP

were said to be unhappy about the untidy state of affairs.

They want a record of how the campaign was managed for future reference.

It was gathered that some departments at the PDP national secretariat are in need of official vehicles and the workers expected that the campaign vehicles would be distributed to the departments, zonal and state chapters of the party after the elections.

The PCC Director of Publicity, Abba Dabo, said the allegation was not true.

But another official of PCC, who spoke in confidence, said the vehicles were not meant to be returned.

According to him, even the officials of the disbanded Jonathan/Sambo Campaign Organisation went away with the vehicles attached to them.

He said: “I don’t know the arrangement made by the leadership of the PCC concerning the vehicles.”

PDP chair: Youths back FCT ex-minister From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

Y

OUTH groups have urged President Goodluck Jonathan to support former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Ibrahim Bunu for the chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Speaking yesterday in Abuja, the youths explained that they were supporting Bunu because they believe he would inject new ideas in the party, which they noted has ruled Nigeria for over a decade with little or nothing to show for it.

“For the past 12 years, PDP has been at the helm of affairs in this country, which means the bulk of the fault lies with the party for its inability to either provide the right leadership or monitor the leaders it has provided.”

In a letter addressed to President Jonathan and signed by their Chairman and Secretary, Sale Kubah and Agunloye Peace, the groups described Bunu as “an experienced politician who can be relied upon to transform the party”.

They noted that as a founding member of the party, Bunu was experienced enough to “complement the efforts of the president to transform the country”.

8

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

NEWS

Akpabio swears in commissioners

A

KWA Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio yesterday swore in 40 political office holders.

He urged them to serve selflessly and join in transforming the state.

“We have built a momentum of development and we expect you to sustain that momentum or improve on it.

We will not ask for less and Akwa Ibom will not accept anything less.”

Those sworn in are Chief of Staff; 20 commissioners; five special advisers; Head of the Service; 11 permanent secretaries; Chairman of Internal Revenue Service and acting Auditor- General for Local Governments.

The Chief of Staff is Godwin Michael Afangide.

The commissioners include Aniekan Umanah

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

(Information and Communications); Don Etim (Works); Emmanuel Enoidem (Housing and Urban Development); Dr. Francis Udoikpong (Health); Clement Bassey (Culture and Tourism); Adasi Ubulom (Commerce and Industry); Obong Eno Akpan (Agriculture and Natural Resources); Jerry Akpan (Economic Development); Enobong Uwah (Environment and Mineral Resources); Paul Ekpo (Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs); Sonni Ayang (Rural Development); Bassey Akpan (Finance): Dr. Nseabasi Akpan (Education) and Mrs. Comfort Etuk (Science and Technology).

Others are Assam Assam(Attorney General);

A

E

•Oshiomhole

aged.

“In the next few weeks, you will see people coming to do a detailed study of what needs to be done and cost it and thereafter builders will move to site and you will find that jobs will be going on. As we finish one, we will move to another until we completely and properly reposition the school.”

‘ACN’ll win in Southsouth’

T

HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has vowed to win next year’s governorship elections in three Southsouth states.

The states are Edo, Cross River and Bayelsa.

The party’s National Treasurer, Kenneth Kubani, said this yesterday after a meeting of ACN Southsouth leaders in Benin.

He said: “Our people are getting ready in Edo, Cross River as well as Bayelsa.

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

The experience of our party in the last election is of great value to us. There is work to be done. We have urged our supporters to come out for early preparations toward the success of our party in these states.”

Kubani urged governors of other states in the South south to emulate Governor Adams Oshiomhole in delivering good governance to the people.

PDP candidate loses at tribunal From Shola O’Neil and Aiwerie Okungbowa, Asaba

T

Austin Mbeh (Special Duties); Bassey Antai (Lands and Town Planning), Oyong Asuquo (Youth and Sports); Mrs. Eunice Thomas (Women Affairs and Social Welfare),

and Ekpenyong Ntekim as the Commissioner in the newly created Ministry of Transport.

The Special Advisers are: Senas Ukpanah (Bureau of

Investment and Industrialisation Planning); Etido Inyang (Technical Matters); Ime Sampson Umoh (Labour, Productivity and Public Service Matters); Godwin

Udom (Cooperative Matters) and Samuel George Frank (Political and Legislative Affairs).

The Head of Civil Service is Mrs. Cecilia Udoessien.

Fake EFCC official arrested in Benin

Edo to reposition varsity DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has expressed the administration’s determination to reposition the stateowned Ambrose Alli University by investing in infrastructure.

Oshiomhole made this known when he visited the university yesterday.

He said: “Let me assure you that I am here to come and see for myself what is here in the school for government to take specific decisions that would make meaningful impact. Obviously, the school will not be the same after the visit.

“We are going to start by investing in reconstruction, renovation and even building of a new structure. This school could do with a lot of resources, but I am also concerned that existing ones are not properly man-

•Some of the aides taking the oath of office...yesterday

HE National and State Assembly Elections Tribunal sitting in Asaba, Delta State, yesterday threw out the petition of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) senatorial candidate, Ighoyota Amori.

Amori is challenging the victory of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) candidate, Pius Ewherido, in the April election in Delta Central Senatorial district.

Justice Yakubu Dakwak yesterday struck out Amori’s case because the PDP candidate failed to file a pre-hearing motion. The tribunal chairman said he was deemed as having abandoned his case.

In his reaction to the verdict yesterday, Ewherido offered “immeasurable thanks to God”.

He described the victory as the “victory of the people, for the people”.

Ewherido said it is a mandate to re-dedicate himself to the service of his constituency.

Amori, who is now the Senior Political Adviser to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, was yet to comment on the verdict yesterday.

FAKE official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), who identified himself as DSP Dan Akowa, has been arrested in Benin, the Edo State capital.

An EFCC identity card, bearing his name and passport photo, and a letter-headed paper of the commission stating his position as an investigator were found on him.

Akowa was arrested while working on a petition against the Chairman, Edo State

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

Committee on Illegal Structures, Street Trading and the Removal of Road Obstructions, Maj. Lawrence Loye (rtd).

He was nabbed when he and two others went to Loye’s home and introduced themselves as operatives of the EFCC. But Loye discovered that the ID cards they presented were fake and alerted the Army-Police Joint Task Force.

After their arrest, it was

discovered that the men were on a kidnap mission.

It was also learnt that the petition they claimed to be investigating was written by two suspended members of the Task Force, Humphery Agbontaen and Solomon Ekharia.

Loye said: “The suspects had been lurking around my compound since last Friday.”

“As soon as I smelt a rat about their mission, I contacted operatives of the “Operation Thunderstorm” who acted swiftly and arrested one

of them who, on interrogation, confessed that they were sent by two suspended members.”

Agbontaen and Ekharia, however, denied knowing Akowa.

The fake EFCC officer insisted that the duo wrote the petition he was working on and admitted that he is not with the EFCC. Though the suspects were taken to the State Police headquarters yesterday, police spokesman Peter Ogboi said he was yet to be briefed.

Ondo petitions Fed Govt over workers strike

T

HE Ondo State Government yesterday reported leaders of the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) in the state to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity on the illegality of the indefinite strike embarked upon by workers.

It said labour leaders and the government had reached an agreement on the N18,000 Minimum Wage.

But JNC Chairman Adelegan Solomon said the leadership of the council was being threatened because of the strike.

He said the security agencies had invited him and other JNC leaders but they had not honoured the invitation.

Adelegan said the strike embarked upon three weeks ago was only suspended, and not called off, stressing that they could resume the action anytime without notification.

He said the labour unions were generous enough to give the government a 24-hour notice, which lapsed on Tuesday night.

The Head of Service, Ajose Kudehinbu, in a July 13 letter to the Controller of Labour in Akure, took a swipe at the

Edo NUT threatens boycott From Osagie Otabor, Benin

T

HE Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT)in Edo State has threatened to begin an indefinite strike from next Monday, if the state government failed to include teachers in the just approved new Minimum Wage.

It gave the government seven days ultimatum to ensure that teachers receive the Minimum Wage.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole had, on Monday, signed the new wage agreement with labour leaders in the state, including the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joint Negotiating Council and Trade Union Congress.

The communiqué issued at the end of the meeting reads: “It was agreed that the Minimum Wage in the Edo State Public Service shall be N18, 000.34 for the lowest grade of employees, i.e. GL 01 Step 01, from June 1.

“If there are sectors that have issues arising from the implementation of the new Minimum Wage and the consequential adjustments across the grades, such sectors are at liberty to make their cases for the consideration of the government.”

But NUT, in a communiqué issued at the end of its meeting and signed by its Chairman Patrick Ikosimi, and five others, demanded that all teachers’ special allowances (27.5 per cent) should be included in the new minimum wage.

NUT said it would embark on strike upon the expiration of the ultimatum and advised all school heads/principals and teachers to await further directives.

•JNC: nobody can intimidate us From Damisi Ojo, Akure

decision of the JNC to order an industrial action without following due process.

The letter reads: “After

reaching an agreement on Salary Relativity which was criticised by the National Leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the

JNC also repudiated the agreement by proposing to join the strike being contemplated at the national level on the Minimum Wage.

“The combined effect of the criticism of Salary Relativity by the NLC and the decision of the JNC after an agreement had been reached was that Labour had effectively and unilaterally backed out of the agreement on Salary Relativity.

With the non-compromising position of Labour on Salary Relativity, the state government proceeded to implement the law on the N18,000 minimum wage.

“As an afterthought, Labour now insisted that the Salary Relativity should still be implemented despite the position of its national leadership and its ambivalence attitude to the agreement.”

The Commissioner for Information, Ranti Akerele in a statement, also said: “We are compelled to bring the action of JNC to your notice because for the second time in about a month, the Council had embarked on industrial action without giving the statutory notice.”

Bayelsa Assembly introduces bill

T

HE Bayelsa State House of Assembly has introduced a bill to secure the future of families of deceased people.

The Bill, titled the Bayelsa State Administration of Estates (Small Estates Payment Exemptions) Bill 2011, was initiated by House Leader Amalayon Yousuo (Brass 2). It is aimed at restricting the involvement of the extended family in the sharing of inheritance.

He described the bill as an “emergency one that should be passed into law to deal with the exigencies of the moment in the state”.

“Because of the non-existence of the law dealing with issues of estates left behind by family heads, there exists a pile of files at the Ministry of Justice on contentious issues of sharing in-

From Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa

volving property and estates,” Yousuo said.

Members who supported the bill included the Deputy Leader, Mrs. Agatha Goma (Ekeremor 1);Obedient Emotor (Ogbia 2);Kurokigha Dorgu (Southern Ijaw 1); Daniel Igali (Southern Ijaw 3) and Inibio Obiene (Nembe 3).

They all noted that the bill, when passed, would protect the children and wife of the deceased against the customs and negative practices that had empowered the extended family.

Speaker Nestor Binabo referred the Bill to the House Committee on Judiciary, directing that a report on the bill should be ready in two weeks.

9

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

NEWS

Party withdraws petition against Ajimobi at tribunal

T

HE Action Alliance (AA) yesterday withdrew its petition challenging the election of Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

The party said AA and its logo were omitted on the ballot papers used for the April 26 governorship election.

It said this denied its supporters the right to vote for the party’s candidate.

AA’s counsel Bayo Azeez informed the tribunal sitting in Ibadan yesterday of his client’s decision to discontinue with the petition against Ajimobi and his deputy, Moses Adeyemo.

He asked the court to strike out both the petition and the names of Ajimobi and Adeyemo.

He brought his request in pursuant of paragraph 29 (9) of the 1999 Constitution.

Azeez, however, pleaded that the legislative aspect of the suit be transferred to the Legislative Tribunal sitting in High Court room 20.

But Ajimobi’s counsel

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) opposed the application, saying the tribunal lacks the jurisdiction to transfer the legislative aspect of the petition.

He based his argument on Sections 285 and 137 of the constitution and Section 133 of the Electoral Act. He advised the petitioner to go and file a fresh suit of interest in the legislative tribunal.

The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Abubakar Kutigi, struck out the suit.

AA’s governorship candidate Ayo Otegbeye said he bowed to pressure from eminent citizens of the state.

He said: “Monarchs, chiefs, religious leaders and well meaning Nigerians prevailed on us to withdraw our case against the governor.

“We are convinced that we need to join the ACN that is progressive like us to move the state forward and that is why I withdrew my case against the ACN government.”

World Bank hails ‘Ondo Abiye’ project

T

HE World Bank has recommended the ‘Ondo Abiye’ (Safe Motherhood) programme as a solution to Africa’s health challenge.

The bank’s African Regional Vice-President, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, spoke in Washington, United States,when Governor Olusegun Mimiko made a presentation on the state’s health initiative in tackling infant and maternal mortality.

Mrs. Ezekwesili said Ondo had provided a role model in tackling infant and maternal mortality rate.

She said the Federal Government and other states should adopt the strategy and replicate same.

Mimiko told the World Bank that the Abiye project aims at realising the Millennium Development Goal 5 for Africa by bringing qualitative, accessible and effective health care to women and children and increase the utilisation of health care facilities.

Oyo sets up panel to create 20,000 jobs YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday inaugurated a six-man committee to supervise the creation of 20,000 jobs.

The project will be completed within his first 100 days in office.

Inaugurating the committee in his office in Ibadan yesterday, the governor said the provision of 20,000 jobs was one of the cardinal programmes of his administration, to be achieved in his first 100 days in office.

He said the creation of jobs was to address the problem of mass unemployment among youths, both at individual and societal level.

Ajimobi said the scheme tagged Youth Empowerment Scheme of Oyo State (YES-O), would involve intervention in employment and skill acquisition.

He said: “We shall not only provide fish for participants in the scheme, we shall teach them how to fish. The participants shall be engaged in public works like environmental sanita-

O

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

tion and beautification, sensitisation and enforcement of traffic regulations, provision of support in emergency situations and farming in the state’s farm settlements.”

The committee will be chaired by Deputy Governor Moses Adeyemo.

Other members are Deputy Chief of Staff Bimbo Adekanmbi; Nurudeen Olarinde; Taiwo Fawole; Soji Eniade and Fatai Omokemi.

•SHARING A JOKE: Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi (right); human rights activist Femi Falana (centre) and Prof Bayo Olukoshi at a forum by the Orderly Society and Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism to commemorate Soyinka’s PHOTO: RAHMAN SANUSI birthday at the Protea Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos…yesterday.

How hoodlums shot my son, by police inspector A

SIXTY-FIVE-YEARold retired police inspector, Mrs. Adedoyin Edrah, yesterday in Ibadan burst into tears at the Judicial Commission of Inquiry investigating the crisis at the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Oyo State Council.

She narrated how her son, Patrick, an undergraduate of the Federal College of Education, Osi-Ele, Abeokuta, was injured in the melee at Iwo Road Motor Park by hoodlums, allegedly led by Mukaila Lamidi (alias Auxiliary).

Madam Edrah said Patrick got entangled in the crisis as he was travelling to Ikirun to collect his school fees.

According to her, Patrick, in his bid to catch up with an Ikirun-bound bus, was hit by a bullet.

She said Patrick is at the

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. Madam Edrah told the Commission that her son said three people died as the NURTW hoodlums shot sporadically.

Her words: “He is at UCH, Ward E1 Bed 2. He has undergone three major operations; the medical bills I have incurred is already over N400,000.

“Even Governor Abiola Ajimobi saw him among other victims at the UCH, when he visited the victims sometime ago.

“My major problem now is that I am totally out of funds to cater for his increasing medical bills.

“This is why I am appeal-

ing to this panel to help me.

I am a widow, and I have two other children in tertiary institutions.”

When members of the panel asked police counsel Emmanuel Ijalana if he would cross examine the witness, he said he sympathised with the family of the victim.

“The police would visit Patrick to record his statement,” he said.

The Chairman of the panel, Justice Olagoke Ige, ordered the government to continue to bear the cost of treatment of all victims of the crisis at the UCH. He said: “Since treatment at UCH is subject to payment, government should continue to guarantee and refund all the bills incurred by the victims at the end of their treatment in the hospital.

“This Commission of Inquiry will make adequate recommendations for compensation in this regard.

“We are giving you the assurance.”

Also testifying, Kamoru Agboola, a commercial bus driver and a Tokyo group loyalist, said he witnessed all that happened on June 4 at the Iwo Road Motor Park.

Agboola said: “Auxiliary is the major problem of the Oyo NURTW”.

He narrated how Auxiliary allegedly led hoodlums, most of them dressed in military uniforms, to the Iwo Road Motor Park at about 2am and started shooting sporadically.

He urged the commission to curb the excesses of the Auxiliary group by ensuring their arrest and incarceration to guarantee safety of lives and property.

The panel adjourned hearing till today.

One killed in street gangs clash in Lagos

O

NE person was killed and five others injured yesterday at Fadeyi in Lagos, when rival factions of street gangs clashed.

The fight was reportedly triggered by the invasion of a faction member into the territory of the other. The clash allegedly started on Tuesday night.

Police spokesman Samuel Jinadu confirmed the killing and said policemen from the State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) are combing the area

•Five injured

By Jude Isiguzo

for suspects.

He said 94 suspects had been arrested by SARS and that they would soon be prosecuted.

Jinadu said a team of antiriot policemen had been deployed in the scene to ensure that peace is restored.

It was gathered that the recent crises started when one of the street urchins wanted to board a commercial bus at

the end of the ‘enemy territory’ when he was attacked and killed.

The group, which the deceased belonged to, carried out a reprisal attack.

Sources said during an exchange of fire by the urchins, an unidentified man was hit by a stray bullet in the leg at Ibadan Street, Ilupeju and was rushed to a hospital for treatment.

Other streets affected are

Ojurini, Shelon Road and Idera, where four others were injured.

Pupils of the Eloquent Nursery and Primary School were asked to go home.

A police source said the crises were caused by members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) because of their coming election.

According to the source, the factions are just trying to intimidate each other in order to have an upper hand during the elections.

Protest in Ogun as 2,000 workers are ‘disengaged’

O

GUN State Government yesterday asked about 2,000 workers recruited by former Governor Gbenga Daniel to re-apply for employment into the state civil service.

The workers stormed the Governor’s Office in OkeMosan, the House of Assembly and the Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), protesting alleged disengagement from service by the Governor Ibikunle

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

Amosun-led administration.

The protesters, bearing placards, alleged that they were employed between April and May by Daniel.

They asked the government to pay their three months salaries, totalling over N91.8million.

The protesters reminded Amosun of his electioneering promise of creating

•Govt: you can re-apply 10,000 jobs within the first 100 days in office.

The House of Assembly, in its May 31 plenary, declared as “nullity and of no effect all last minute deals, staff recruitment, staff promotions, among others carried out by Gbenga Daniel.”

This was backed by a bill passed on June 2 for a review of all Daniel’s decisions which “contravened due

process.”

But the government, through the Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa, noted that though the affected workers were engaged under questionable circumstances, an opportunity had been given to them to re - apply to be re-considered for employment.

Addressing some of the workers at the Governor’s

Office, Adeoluwa urged them to discountenance the rumours that they had been disengaged from service.

He said: “The rumour is strange. As a government that rode to power on a popular mandate and has promised to create 10,000 new jobs, this is strange. No responsible government would allow illegality to stand. We have said all those recruited in April by the last administration should go and re-apply.”

10

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

NEWS How I was attacked, by NCP chief

T

HREE-time governorship candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP) in Ogun State Lanre Banjo yesterday recounted how he was attacked by three men who came to his house in Sagamu, Ogun State around 1:30pm.

Banjo said his security men saved him from being killed by the men.

He said: “The three assassins came to my house on Wednesday afternoon around 1:30pm in a Toyota Camry. On getting to my gate, my security men stopped them and in the course of interrogating them, they told said they were looking for me.

“In response my security men asked them why they wanted to see me and they said they just wanted to see me.

“My securitymen told them I was not at home. Not satisfied, they requested for my telephone numbers, which the security men refused to give to them.

“As they were trying to go back into their packed car, the security men noticed a gun inside the pocket of one of them and he quickly raised the alarm to alert the neighbours.

The men then started shooting into the air with an attempt to escape through an abandoned road in front of my house.

Balogun said he believed they wanted to kil him to embarrass Governor Ibikunle Amosun. He said the matter has been reported at the Remo Police Division.

Police release body of Naval officer killed in Force Hqtrs bomb blast T

HE body of Navy Captain Ugochukwu Chinwe Ezeorah (Rtd.), who was killed in the bomb blast, which occurred at the Police Force Headquarters on June 16 in Abuja, has been released by the police authorities to his family.

His remains, according to a statement signed by Kenneth Ezea on behalf of Gabriel Ugwuozor and the bereaved family, were released to the family and the naval authorities in Abuja following the identification of his body, which was deposited at the Asokoro District Hospital by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) after the blast.

The statement said: “An autopsy report has been issued detailing the cause of his death.

“An engineer and former Deputy Director of Marine Engineering at the Naval

•Family petitions Jonathan From Sanni Ologun, Abuja

Headquarters, Abuja, the late Ezeorah was killed by the blast while visiting a police friend of his at the Police Force Headquarters on the fateful day.

“He had just been led out of the headquarters building when the blast set off, killing him and damaging his car.

“Though his burnt car was identified only by its number plate and a copy of a Christian magazine, The Mirror, which he had with him, it took days before his body was traced to the morgue of Asokoro District Hospital.

“A native of Aku town, Igbo-Etiti Local government Area of Enugu state, the late Captain Ezeorah enlisted into

the Navy as an Officer Cadet of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Regular 27 in 1980 and was commissioned sub-lieutenant while at the Naval College of Engineering in India. He trained in England, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji and the National Defence College, Abuja.

“At various times, he was Marine Engineering Officer (NNS ARADU), Marine Engineering Officer (NNS ENYIMIRI in Lagos and Liberia), Captain Sea Training Marine Engineering, Command Technical Officer (CTO), Western Naval Command, Lagos. His last posting was the Protocol Office, Defence Headquarters, Abuja,

before he notified the Navy of his decision to retire after 30 years of meritorious service.

“Unfortunately, he was yet to conclude his severance before being cut down by the dastardly bombing.

“Meanwhile, the Aku community, at home and in the Diaspora, has written to President Goodluck Jonathan condemning the apparent silence of the Police authorities in recognising and acknowledging the death of their illustrious son in the bomb blast, ”it said.

Ezea further quoted the deceased family’s compliant letter to the President thus: “Your Excellency, the entire people of Aku wish to bring to your notice the demise of our son, Navy Captain Ugochukwu Ezeorah, who was brutally murdered at the

Firm gets electronic franchise

A

Dabo’Adzuana lauds Jonathan on Cabinet AS the new ministers settle down in their respective portfolios, chairman of Move Nigeria Project and former Deputy National Auditor, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Godwin Dabo’Adzuana, has praised President Goodluck Jonathan for selecting what he calls an ‘A-Team’ cabinet.

Hailing the President for not yielding to socio-political pressures which could have jeopardised his much publicised dream of a new Nigeria, Dr. Dabo’Adzuana remarked that by doing away with the past monster of appointing inept and recycled leaders, he has once again justified the high confidence his movement and the electorate have in his ability and leadership to take them to the promised land resulting to their trooping out in millions to vote for him at the election.

•Chairman, Bi-Courteny Ltd, Dr. Bolanle Olawale Babalakin flanked by his Personal Assistant, Ms Bisi Awoniyi, and the Acting Project Manager, Mr Mike Laleye, during the Induction/ Training for traffic assistants at Isheri, Ogun State... on Tuesday

Ebonyi tribunal dismisses petition against ANPP

T

HE National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, has dismissed the petition by the Senator representing Ebonyi Central Senatorial zone, Chief Paulinus Igwe-Nwagu.

In the petition filed by his counsel, Igwe-Nwagu prayed the tribunal to strike out the petition filed by All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) Senatorial candidate, Innocent Ugo-Chima, on technical grounds.

Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Henry Olusiyi said it

From Ogbonnaya Obinna, Abakaliki

was not right to punish the party for the mistake in addressing the petition and deny it justice, citing paragraph 5b of the First Schedule of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended.

He said: “Having listened to the prayers of the parties, this tribunal believes that it is not right to punish the party for the error in addressing the petition and deny it justice as this is only a misnomer.”

Justice Olusiyi said techni-

‘Having listened to the prayers of the parties, this tribunal believes that it is not right to punish the party for the error in addressing the petition and deny it justice as this is only a misnomer’ calities could not be allowed to override justice.

“We are satisfied that there

is only one tribunal for the purpose of the said election and this is the tribunal and the parties are not in the wrong place. Technicalities cannot be allowed to override justice. Therefore, we have come to the conclusion that the defect in the address cannot defeat justice. The petition is hereby dismissed.”

The matter has been adjourned till next Monday.

The ANPP senatorial candidate for Ebonyi Central Innocent Ugo Chima described the ruling as a victory for democracy.

Group urges youths to shun violence

FGC holds revival FOURSQUARE Gospel Church, Idimu zonal headquarters, will hold its annual renewal and revival service on Sunday. The theme is: “A New Man.” According to a statement from the organising committee chairman, Nurudeen Adesina, the one-week annual event will enjoy the presence of Revs Ayomide Abraham, Jerry Oyegoke and Siyanbola Oyeniran.

The programme is expected to transform the participants.

scene of the suicide bombing that rocked the Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, on june 16, by the Boko Haram sect.

Captain Ezeorah served his motherland for over 30 years as a very conscientious, dedicated and diligent Naval Officer.”

He said: “They (family members) requested that the late Ezeorah and other victims of the violence be given national recognition” Continuing, they said: “An act of remembrance inspires patriotism and reassures the relatives of the victims that their loved one did not die in vain.”

“In the letter signed by Gabriel Ugwuozor, the community urged the President to smoke out the members of Boko Haram and their sponsors to face the law. It urged government to assist the children of the deceased, whose education have been disrupted.”

T

HE South-West Youth Leaders Association (SWYLA) has described the incessant bomb attacks in some parts of the country as a worrisome development and cautioned youths in the country to be wary of unscrupulous individuals who want to cause anarchy.

In a statement by the Secretary General of SWYLA, Mr. Awoyinfa Segun , the group bomb explosions that claimed lives of innocent citizens attributed to Boko

Haram sect is not justifiable.

The pressure group which is representing the interest of youths in Yorubaland said the idea of killing defenceless citizens is uncalled for and should not be en-

couraged under any pretext.

“We cannot tolerate destruction of lives and property of the citizenry and that is why we are condemning the bomb explosions that have been attributed to the

Boko Haram Sect. we also call on those in the positions of authority to make sure that they deliver their promises to the people so as to earn their trust”, Awoyinfa said.

FIRM, Transformed Thinking, has acquired a license to offer the Electronic Compass Aligned Performance Systems in Nigeria.

The system is described as a simple, effective and affordable strategic planning, implementation and performance management process that aligns staff members to a company vision.

Its Chief Executive Officer Noruwa Edokpolo said his firm was delighted to be introducing the product into the Nigerian market at this time when organisations and government agencies need to enhance staff performance and productivity.

“It takes the stress off performance management. It removes appraisal from the subjective realm to the realm of objectivity,” Edokpolo said.

NIIT announces 12th IT scholarship in Nigeria AN Information Technology (IT) firm, NIIT Limited, has announced its 12th Nigeria IT Scholarship for this year.

Successful students in a test will be trained in skills required to make a mark in global IT industry.

They can choose to enrol for comprehensive training programmes on any of software and application development, network engineering, database administration, multimedia applications, and management of IT and services.

Four students will get the opportunity to go on a seven-day, all-expensespaid education tour to India, the firm said in a statement.

Rights’ group writes police over brutality on member

I

NTERNATIONAL Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) yesterday petitioned the Anambra State Police Commissioner

Muhtari Ibrahim over police assault on one of its members Justus Ijeoma.

The Fegge Police in Onitsha had, last month, beaten up the Secretary of the Civil Liberties Organisa-

tion (CLO) and Head of Publicity of Intersociety, Ijeoma, for refusing to pay N30,000 allegedly demanded by the police as bail.

Chairman, Board of Trus-

tees of Intersociety,Emeka Umeagbalasi, called for a “thorough and conclusive investigation with intent to mete out the administrative and legal sanctions on the culprits.”

11

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Insurance is quite different from the banks. What happened in the banks cannot happen in insurance. What will happen is what NAICOM is doing at present which is riskbased recapitalisation. The parameter for judging insurance and banks differs. While the risk is fundamental for insurance, the scope is what the banks are using.

–Director-General, Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) Sunday Thomas

OkerekeOnyiuke: SEC lauds court’s affirmation of rights

T

HE Securities and Ex change Commission (SEC) has hailed the decision of Justice Ayotunde Philips of the Lagos High Court in Igbosere, declaring that it can neither be deterred nor prevented from exercising the powers conferred on it by law in discharging its dual mandate of capital market regulation and development.

Speaking through its lawyer, Mr Babatunde Fagbohunolu (SAN), the commission commended the judge for acknowledging that as a regulatory body, it is not precluded alongside other security agencies from investigating the former DirectorGeneral of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Prof. Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke, for obtaining redress should they entertain a reasonable suspicion that she had at any time breached any provisions of law or committed infractions of capital market regulations.

Justice Phillips had, while delivering judgmentin the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by OkerekeOnyuike last Friday restrained the EFCC, the Inspector-General of Police from arresting Mrs OkerekeOnyuike without first establishing that she has committed a crime.

She held that it was imperative that security agencies must first establish reasonable suspicion against a suspect before effecting his or her arrest.

The judge who urged men of the nation’s law enforcement agencies to learn from their counterparts abroad cautioned them against being in a hurry to arrest suspects when they were yet to complete investigation and arm themselves with enough facts and evidence to secure conviction.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$114.2/barrel Cocoa - $2,856/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢78.07.pound Gold -$1,161/troy ounce Rubber - ¢146.37/pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE JSE NYSE LSE

-N7.82 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion

RATES Inflation -12.4% Treasury Bills -2.64% Normal lending -24% Prime lending -18% Savings rate -3% 91-day NTB -6.99% Time Deposit - 6% MPR -8% Foreign Reserve -$31.6bn FOREX CFA 0.281 • 218 £ 242.5 $ 150.9 ¥ 1.5652 SDR 241.5 RIYAL 39.3

• Ms Sola Yomi-Ajayi, a recipient of UBA Most Valuable Performer’s (MVP’s) award; Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, Executive Director, Resources, UBA Plc; and Mr. Jalo Waziri-Haruna, Managing Director, UBA Asset Management Ltd, at decoration of MVP awardees, at UBA’s Head office in Lagos.

Banks recover N159.3b non-performing loans D

EPOSIT Money Banks appeared to have re corded significant reduction in the portfolio of their non-performing loans (NPLs).

The Nation investigation has revealed that an average of 32 per cent of NPLs has been recovered this year.

In a sample of seven banks, the non-performing loans declined by N159.3billion from N498 billion recorded in 2009 to N338.7billion in 2010. The banks include Sterling Bank Plc, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc, Wema Bank Plc,

By Akinola Ajibade

Ecobank Nigeria Plc and Skye Bank Plc. Sterling Bank has reduced its NPLs by 44 per cent from N22.8billion in 2009 to N12.9billion in 2010. First Bank marginally reduced its stock of non-performing loans by 0.5 per cent, from N94 billion in 2009 to N93.4 billion in 2010. Guaranty Trust Bank obtained over 52 per cent reduction in its backlog of non-performing loans, from N70,826,085,000 in 2009 to N42,960,620,000 in 2010, while Access Bank’s NPLs

were reduced from N80, 671,438,000 in 2009 to N37, 673,139,000 in 2009.

Others banks in the same bracket are Wema Bank Plc, which non-performing loans went down by about N33billion from N70, 610,655,000 in 2009 to N37, 166,845,000 in 2010; Ecobank Nigeria reduced its non-performing loans from N89.5billion in 2009 to N64.4billion in 2010, while Skye Bank recorded N69.3billion in 2009 as against N49.5 billion recorded in 2010.

By this, the banks are making efforts to attain the ceil-

ing of five per cent non-performing loans, the benchmark specified by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

According to 2010 financial reports, many of the banks have recorded growth across major indices. They have recorded growth in their earnings, profitability and market capitalisation, among other areas.

A financial analyst, Tayo Bello, said the reduction in the non-performing loans was made possible by the CBN’s reforms package. Bello also said the reforms package put the banks on their toes, forc-

NNPC allays fear of explosion at Diamond Estate

T

HE management of the Nigerian National Pe troleum Corporation (NNPC) has assured residents of Diamond Estate in Isheri– Olofin on the Igando/Iba Expressway, Lagos, that the corporation is guarding against any possible explosion at the oil leak site, which is near the estate.

The residents of the estate cried out recently that the oil leak is deteriorating and is threatening their safety.

Speaking during a session with journalists in Abuja, the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Corporation, Dr. Levi

• Deploys expert for remediation

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

Ajuonuma, said that the services of a renowned environmental consultant from a leading Nigerian university has since been contracted to begin a thorough evaluation of the sub-surface condition of the site preparatory to the final remediation exercise.

He stated that findings indicate a massive seepage of hydrocarbon into the acquiver, occurring over the years due to past pipeline vandalism and explained that with the heavy

rains in Lagos, the water table has risen hence the Estate is experiencing another re-occurrence of wells contamination.

The NNPC spokesman also reiterated that the integrity of the Atlas Cove-Mosimi products pipeline which passes through Isheri, Idimu and tees off to Satellite Depot remains intact.

He said that when the initial report of hydrocarbon seepage and contamination of boreholes was made last year, the PPMC replaced multiple segments of piping around the area

stretching about 10 km to repair all vandalised points on the pipeline.

“Since the advent of this unfortunate incident the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Austen Oniwon, has left nothing to chance because at the corporation safety is our watchword. We have been working in concert with residents of the estate to seek and implement lasting remedy to the situation. We are sinking bore holes in the interim and all we want from residents is to give our experts access to the premises to allow for proper work,” Ajuonuma said.

NERFUND signs MoU with five institutions

T

HE National Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND) yesterday in Abuja signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with five development institutions as part of Federal Government’s effort to empower entrepreneurs.

The institutions are the Ni-

gerian Capital Development Fund (NCDF), the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprise (NASME) and the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association Network of Entrepreneur Women (NNEW).

Others are the Idoma National Forum, and the Asaba

Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Alhaji Baba Maina, the Managing Director of NERFUND, who signed on behalf of the organisation, said the move was aimed at creating jobs for Nigerians as well as fast-tracking the country’s Gross Develop-

ment Product (GDP).

“With these latest agreements, NERFUND would have succeeded in extending its dragnet to all corners of our great country with the sole aim of empowering our people through job creation and development of the nation’s GDP.

ing them to put in place sound risk management policies.

“What banks are doing now is to reduce their risks as much as possible, while at the same time recouping their inactive loans. In the past two years, banks have intensified their loan recovery efforts, as evident by the growth recorded in their books,” he said.

He said the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has put banks on a good pedestal to perform by absorbing the bulk of their loans, and subsequentlyconverting them to profitable use.

BPP to hold forum

By Kelvin Osa- Okunbor

T

HE Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has said its Fourth National Procurement Forum to mark the agency’s 10th anniversary would hold between July 25 and 26 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. .

Director-General of the Bureau, Emeka Ezeh, said the event would be opened by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Ezeh said BPP was created shortly after the dawn of democracy in 1999 through the collaboration of the World Bank and some private sector specialists, to refine the country’s financial and procurement systems.

“The report recommended the systematisation of the nation’s public expenditure system, dovetailing into the Due Process campaigns, the Public Procurement Act, 2007 and, eventually, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) as the regulatory body.”

12

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

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

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

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

1.

2.

3.

4.

Arik Aero Arik Aero

1. Arik 2. Aero 1.

2.

3.

4.

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

LAGOS – KADUNA Aero 08.00 Chanchangi 10.00 Arik 10.00 Arik 15.10

1.

2.

3.

4.

Arik Aero Arik Aero

LAGOS – WARRI 08.15 11.50 11.55 14.55

09.1 12.50 12.55 15.55

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

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

08.50 09.45 09.40 14.00 15.45 19.55

LAGOS – OWERRI 07.20 14.00 16.30

08.30 15.10 17.40

LAGOS – UYO 10.35

11.35

LAGOS – MAIDUGURI 11.15 13.15 15.50 18.00 08.00 18.00

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

are hoping that we would start accessing the loan as from this month,” he said.

Babajide said CBN has not come out with modalities for accessing the fund, since it is putting in place some measures that would enable them get the fund.

He said the banks need the fund now, since they are being repositioned for improve performance.

CBN had two weeks ago, issued the new guidelines for the operations of microfinance banks.

The guidelines provide room for the establishment of rural, state and national microfinance banks.

Nigerian ship owners complain of low patronage

C

09.10 11.00 11.10 16.20

08.40 08.40 14.55 15.10 17.40

LAGOS – ILORIN 1. Overland 07.15 2. Arik (M/T/TH/F) 17.30

velopments, said the apex bank has put in place frameworks to ensure that microfinance banks access the fund as soon as possible.

Mohammed said arrangements use being made to ensure that the guidelines for accessing the fund are released soon.

“It is true that microfinance banks would soon have access to the fund, but I cannot give detailed information on the issue now since somebody is charged with the responsibility of overseeing that department,” he said.

Also, the Chairman, Associa-

tion of Microfinance Banks of Nigeria, Mr Olufemi Babajide, told The Nation that the CBN had earlier promised to make the funds available to the operators of microfinance banks after sanitising the sector.

He said: “We have approach CBN on the issue of accessing the N54billion loans set aside to facilitate our growth. What they told us was that they want to sanitise the banking sub-sector first, before allowing the operators to access the N54billion development fund. ‘’CBN gave a deadline of June 30, this year for sanitising the industry. Now that June is gone, we

12.15 12.45

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

1. IRS 2. Arik

By Akinola Ajibade

08.50 12.40 14.10 17.20

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

1. Dana

T

HE 700 microfinance banks (mfbs) will start accessing the N54billion development fund set aside for them by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) next month – barring last-minute changes.

The Development Financial Institution (DFI), an arm of the CBN, has been mandated to keep the fund for distribution to the banks at a later date and for a specific purpose.

The fund is earmarked to assist microfinance banks in meeting their development needs. Most of them are still grappling with financial challenges.

CBNs spokesman Mohammed Abdullahi, who confirmed these de-

08.30 09.10 11.50 12.45 13.40 15.20 16.30 16.40

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

1. Arik 2. Arik 3. Arik

‘MFBs to access N54b development fund’

• From left: Managing Director, Society for Family Health, Sir Bright Ekweremadu; Director-General, NAFDAC , Dr Paul Orhii, Group Managing Director, UACN, Mr Larry Ettah and Divisional Managing Director, MDS Logistics, Solomon Aigbavboa, at the opening of Kano Pharmaceutical company ... yesterday.

Naira weakens on demand from lenders

T

HE naira weakened at a Cen tral Bank of Nigeria (CBN) auction yesterday, snapping five straight increases as lenders demanded the most foreign currency in five sales.

The marginal rate, which is used as the prevailing exchange rate, fell to 150.08 per dollar compared with 150 at the previous sale, the apex bank said.

The Wholesale Dutch Auction System (WDAS) recorded a $250 million sale, less than the $410 million demanded, the biggest amount

By Collins Nweze

sought since the June 27 sale. In the interbank market, the naira depreciated 0.4 per cent to 152.4 per dollar.

“High government spending is putting the naira under pressure.

Speculative demand is expected, as dealers can buy at the central-bank auction at the current low price while the rate in the black market is about 162 per dollar,” Bismarck Rewane, managing director of Financial Derivatives Co., a brokerage, said.

Bloomberg reported that the Federal Government slashed almost N500 billion ($3.3 billion) off a budget adopted two months earlier, taking the final spending plan to N4.5 trillion.

The apex bank has been using foreign-currency reserves to keep the naira within a three percentage-point band above or below 150 per dollar at its twice-weekly auctions. Foreign-currency reserves stood at $31.7 billion by July 4 compared with $37 billion a year earlier, according to central- bank data.

Costain boss decries harsh operating environment

T

HE Managing Director, Costain (West Africa) Plc, Mr Ayodeji Karim, has bemoaned the high level of risks and uncertainties in the economy, which he has adversely impact on the profitability of construction companies.

Speaking in Lagos yesterday, Karim said construction companies experienced many operational risks including dramatic increase in the prices of raw materials used in construction process such as diesel and cement.

He said that the inclement economic environment in recent times has negatively affected construction companies, noting that construction sector is primarily driven by the overall health of the economy, government funding levels and population growth and the resulting private sector activities.

According to him, a stagnant or de-

Taofik Salako

clining economy will generally result in a reduced demand for construction in the private sector.

“This reduced demand increases competition for private sector projects and will, ultimately, increase competition in the public sector as companies migrate from bidding on scarce private sector work to projects in the public sector. These factors had affected our business in 2010 and we hope to see an improvement in the coming year ahead,” Karim said.

He added that a stagnant or declining economy tends to produce less tax revenue, thereby decreasing the source of funds available of spending on public infrastructure improvements.

He pointed out that greater competition from foreign companies has also reduced revenue growth of Ni-

gerian construction companies as well as decrease the profit margins of their operations.

He said the delay in receipt of payments from clients has had negatively affected the cash flow of his company as it had to make provisions for some debts.

“Unfortunately, we have had to demobilize from some of the projects won during the previous financial year due to cash constraints on the part of clients,” Karim said.

He however assured shareholders that the company has put in place adequate measures to cope with the operating challenges.

According to him, with Costain’s diversified portfolio of projecvts, streamlined organization, and flexible business model, the company is in an excellent position to capitalize on the new and attractive possibilities.

HIEF Isaac Jolapamo, Chairman of Indigenous Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (ISAN) has decried the low patronage of its members by cargo owners.

Jolapamo said in Lagos yesterday that Nigerian shipping companies were not doing well due to lack of patronage.

“It is a very frustrating situation that we found ourselves in the maritime industry,’’ he said.

He said that foreign shipping companies operating in Nigeria were doing well on the contrary “and nobody thinks about transforming the maritime industry”.

“No Nigerian trader in oil and gas uses Nigerian vessels.

“They ridicule you and make you to look like a leper, even when an indigenous operator is presenting a better vessel,’’ he said.

Jolapamo said that the foreign vessels’owners were always smiling to the banks while “Nigerian ship owners are the weeping boys and will continue to be”.

“The maritime industry is supposed to be an engine of development to any nation willing to develop.

“Our over-reliance on foreign people to handle our maritime sector is beginning to give some of us problem,’’ Jolapamo said.

He said that the nation had enough human resources to transform the maritime industry and fight hunger and poverty.

ICAN elects officers

F

OLLOWING the election and investiture of Prof.

Francis Ojaide as the 47th President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), other officers of the body has also been elected to assist him.

They include Mr Doyin Owolabi, Vice President; Alhaji Kabir Alkali Mohammed, 1st Vice President and Mr Chidi Onyeukwu Ajaegbu, 2nd Deputy Vice President. Mrs. Onome Joy Olaolu, was elected Honorary Treasurer.

The Vice President, Mr Doyin Owolabi, is a fellow of the institute. He has been chairman or member of several committees of the institute’s Governing Council since 1998.

Besides, he was chairman of the Accounting Technical Committee of the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), where he also chaired the Review Committee of the Exposure Draft (ED) 16 of the Accounting Standard on Insurance.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

13

INDUSTRY HALF-YEAR REVIEW

Operators groan over high inflation, lending rate The performance of the industrial sector was mixed in the first six months of the year. Operators said the elections seemed to have slowed down the implementation of the government’s economic reform agenda. The double digit inflation, they said, is not good enough for the economy. TOBA AGBOOLA x-rays this sector.

OW did the industries fare in the first six months of the year, The question appears somehow difficult to answer because of the challenges facing many of them.

The major challenge, however, remains power. Another is the double digit inflation, which stakeholders said aggravates costs and weakens consumer demand.

H

the ex-factory price of its product to N1,350 per bag.”

The company’s Executive Director, in charge of Sales and Marketing, Mr Ekanem Etim, briefing cement distributors, said the reduction in its exfactory price was in line with the company’s declared policy to make the product affordable to Nigerians as it expands its local capacity in the country.

High inflation /lending rate According to the President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Otunba Femi Deru, inflation rate of over 12 per cent is not good for business as it erodes purchasing power and undermines profitability of businesses. He said in the next four years, Nigerians will like to see concrete steps being taken to curb inflation.

Also the lending rates may have negative effects on the real sector .

This is because Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) will begin to increase their lending rates.

The increase in Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by 100 basis points, from 6.5 per cent to 7.5 per cent, elicit widespread reaction from diverse sectors of the Nigerian economy.

It will be noted that the MPR was increased by 100 basis points to 7.50 per cent from 6.5 per cent, while maintaining the symmetric 200 basis points corridor around the MPR. The guarantee on interbank transactions and on foreign credit lines were extended by three months, from June 30 to September 30, 2011.

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the CBN, met on March 21and 22, this year. The overriding theme of the decision by the MPC, is to manage the liquidity position with the aim of achieving single-digit inflation. In a swift response to government’s expansionary fiscal stance for 2011 as well as lingering pressure on the Naira, the MPC raised the benchmark rate by 100bps, the highest increase since 2009.

SON’s deadline on fake items In a bid to enforce standardisation , the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), announced a deadline for importers who deal in fake and substandard products to remove them from the market. The SON chief had on May 1 given the importers of such products 30 days to remove them from the market or be prepared to face the full wrath of the law. The deadline expired on May 31.

During the intervention with the Alaba traders, the Director-General of SON, Dr Joseph Odumodu, appealed to the importers to patronise genuine products because to do otherwise will have grave consequences on individuals, the economy and the environment.

However, the DG has announced a new deadline for importers who deal in fake and substandard products to remove them from the market. The new deadline is August 15.

Odumodu extended the deadline due to appeals by importers who prayed for more time to enable them clear their products from the ports.

Odumodu, while extending the deadline, however warned that there won’t be further concession after August 15.

He appealed to the importers and traders in the market to resist the temptation of dealing in fake and substandard products because of the dangers associated with the products. He told the mammoth crowd at the occasion that fake and substandard products could cause serious health problems and in some cases death.

Bailout funds Stakeholders expressed happiness over the various intervention funds in such areas as manufacturing , agriculture, textile, aviation and SMEs. The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, through the Bank of Industry (BoI), has disbursed N185.172 billion intervention fund for the manufacturing sector to the Bank of Industry, (BoI), for onward payment to participating banks.

The disbursement is from the N200 billion intervention funds approved for the manufacturing sector by the Federal Government.

According to the CBN, 30 applications valued at over N222.50 billion were received.

Speaking at roundtable on 2011 Nigerian Economic Road map, organ-

•Makoju Stories by Toba Agboola

ised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, CBN governor Lamido Sanusi, said 516 projects, valued at N199.67billion or 98 per cent had been utilised by banks through the BOI to finance and restructure their outstanding manufacturing exposures.

As part of the general bailout to revive the manufacturing sector, the Federal Government approved N100 billion cotton, textile and garment development fund and directed the Federal Ministry of Finance to raise and disburse the amount through the BOI. The ministry was expected to raise the fund and manage it through the Debt Management Office (DMO).

Many people expressed doubts about the new fund, but the President allayed their fears by assuring them that it is the responsibility of the government to provide an enabling environment for them to succeed.

He said: “We consulted the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Textile Workers Union on what they wanted the governement to do to revive the industry.

“They were unanimous that the major problem is funding. This administration, as a result, made N30 billion exclusively avaliable to the textile industry as bailout funds.”

Power challenges For industry, power has continued to be a major challenge in the last six months. The situation of having to live with irregular electricity supply is gradually taking its toll, as more companies are folding up and moving to other West African countries where they can better their lot.

Inadequate supply of gas to power generating stations has always been a recurring decimal and it should be addressed, as the existing infrastructure cannot transport the volume of

•Olusegun Aganga, Minister of Trade and Investment

•Odumodu

gas required to power the expanding generating stations.

do everything humanly possible to reduce the price of the product as directed by the Federal Government.

He said the manufacturers, especially Dangote Cement is investing heavily in the sector to ensure the reduction of the all-important product.

According to Makoju, both the President and the manufacturers have agreed to address the causes of the product scarcity and high cost as it is government’s obligation as well as what was required on the part of the manufacturers.

The manufacturers said the major problems facing the industry include the supply of Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) consumed by the industry and loss of over 6, 000 trucks by Dangote recently as well as the post-election crisis in the North, which caused a shutdown of production of cement in the area for some weeks.

Chairman /Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Group, Alhaji Alike Dangote, said: “We are doing all we can to try and bring down the cost of transportation, but we will do it in such a way that it will not affect other transporters because we also need them in the business to survive.”

However, recent happening in the industry indicate that the price has drop. Investigation by The Nation shows that a bag of cement in the market is now between N1,800 and N1,700.

Dangote Cement two weeks ago crashed the factory price of a 50-kg bag of the product from N1,500 to N1,350.

This is a further step taken by the company after the directive issued

by President Goodluck Jonathan in May which forced cement stakeholders to work together to bring down the price of the commodity from about N2,800 to around N1,800 per 50kg bag.

According to the company: “Dangote Cement Plc has announced a significant reduction in

Multiple taxes and levies The Organised Private Sector (OPS) at various fora, described the issue of multiple taxation as a serious cause for worry requiring urgent attention.

At a recent meeting between the President in Lagos, the OPS appealled to the President to deeply look into the issue of multiple taxation .

They said operators in the real sector are the most affected. The President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, (MAN), Mr Kola Jamodu, said the government is yet to effectively harmonise and streamline as desired, the numerous taxes and levies being charged, especially from business operators. The President, however, promised to looked into the issue Cement price and market control One issue that really shook the commercial and industrial sector is the high cost of cement which was experienced early this year. At a point, a bag of cement sold for as much as N2,800 and N3,000, depending on the area.

As a result of this, President Goodluck Jonathan had at an interactive session with front line cement manufacturers in the country mandated them to device means of pushing down the price of cement. The group was given one month to achieve the target.

While the nation looks up to the cement manufacturers to reflect the desires of the government, the group has come up with the argument that issues such as high cost of energy including diesel and other operational costs may work against the realisation of government’s directive.

After the meeting, the President, Cement Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (CMAN), Chief Joseph Makoju, said the manufacturers will

Cost of governance According to Nigeria Chamber of Commerce ,Industry, Mines and Agriculture, the high cost of governance is a serious cause for worry, and called for a review. According to the President, Dr Ademola Ajayi, the commitment of a disproportionately high percentage of the resources to recurrent expenditure has denied the economy the much needed investments in infrastructure. He regretted that the nation’s capacity for economic diversification remains weak. “ We believe this is not good for economic stability and sustainability. The relativity of recurrent to capital budgets should therefore be appropriately adjusted,” he said.

Nigeria’ll not be an emerging economy by 2030, says UNIDO

T

HE United Nations Industrial Development Organisation’s (UNIDO’s) Resident Representative and Director, Regional Office in Nigeria, Dr. Patrick Kormawa, has said Nigeria will no longer be an emerging economy by 2030.

Kormawa spoke during the quarterly business luncheon of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Lagos.

He presented a paper entitled: Industrialisation in Nigeria: Challenges

and opportunities.

He said: “At UNIDO, we are confident that Nigeria will emerge an African industrialisation success story in the next decade or two.

“Jim O’Neill, Chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management and a member of the board of the Bruegel think tank also thinks along these lines. In his recent publication in Project Syndicate/Europe’s World 2011, he projects that beyond the BRICs, among the likely top 10 contributors to glo-

bal Gross Domestic Product growth this decade are South Korea, Mexico, and Turkey.”

Kormawa noted that, from the developed world, only the United States was guaranteed a place on this list and the top 20 could include Iran, Nigeria, the Philippines and Vietnam.

He also said the same report forecast that, within the next 20 years, Nigeria, home to around 20 per cent of Africa’s population, could account for one per cent of global

GDP. “This projection is underpinned by the fact that Nigeria’s economy has almost doubled in size over the last 13 years. It is presently growing at 7.4 per cent and inflation below 10 per cent,” it added.

Meanwhile, the President, LCCI, Otunba Femi Deru, has said the cost of doing business in Nigeria is still very high.

“The cost of funds is currently in the range of 20 and 25 per cent and this is too high to sustain manu-

facturing enterprise,” he said.

Deru added that the manufacturing sector of the economy was contributing less than five per cent to the country’s GDP, adding that “the reality is that the economy has transformed into a trading and consuming economy, not one that produces.”

He, therefore, called on the government and individuals to tighten the industrial sector to help alleviate poverty and create wealth.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

14

INDUSTRY

How govt can help real sector, by NACCIMA N

ATIONAL President of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dr Ademola Ajayi, has urged the government to pay political attention to the real, productive and business trading sectors of the economy.

He said: “It can be done by ensuring good governance; provision of enabling business environment as well as a set of consistent economic policies and legislations that will facilitate profitable business activities.”

Ajayi spoke at the Nigeria Women Entrepreneurs Exhibition (NIWEX), held in Lagos.

He said the theme of the fair: Women! The world’s biggest untapped resource, was timely and appropriate considering the great emphasis placed on the expected role of women by the present administration in its agenda, especially the Vision 20:2020 to ensure the growth and development of the country.

NACCIMA, he promised, would continue to support NIWEX at en-

T

‘It can be done by ensuring good governance; provision of enabling business environment as well as a set of consistent economic policies and legislations that will facilitate profitable business activities’ suring the upliftment of women entrepreneurs, as well as the sustenance of the on-going reform agenda in the country.

Chairperson NACCIMA business Women Group (NAWORG), Iyalode Alaba Lawson, said the role of women entrepreneurs in ensuring the realisation of a nation’s economic development cannot be over emphasised in the present day economy.

She noted that there is need for all and sundry to give utmost sup-

port to women entrepreneurs in the country as their role in business is filling a very important vacuum in the overall development process of the economy.

She disclosed that NIWEX is organised by NACCIMA Business Woman Group to empower women to exchange their talents and hidden treasures in their various areas of businesses with stakeholders and foreign investors showcasing their contribution towards the economic development of the country.

The Chairperson implored the Federal Government to continue to ensure that issues affecting women development are tackled through effective legislation and policies.

“There is need to establish a Women bank to enable women get access to credit facilities without hurdles”, she added.

The exhibition will showcase products and services in the area of education and training, insurance, pharmaceutical, haircare, banking and finance, food, beverages and drink fashion, tie and die, telecommunication among others.

WTO lauds economic reforms

HE Federal Government has been praised for its robust and broad-based economic reform during the fourth World Trade Organisation (WTO) trade policy review of Nigeria in Switzerland.

Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review Body of WTO Ambassador Mario Matus of Chile gave the commendation in his remarks during the concluding part of deliberations at the organisation’s headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

Matus praised the steps taken by Nigeria to simplify Customs’ procedures at its borders, advising that the country’s efforts on economic diversification and regulatory reform should be a continuous exercise so as to meet its targeted development goals.

The Chairperson pointed out that the fourth trade policy review of Nigeria has given the organisation a better understanding of the country’s recent economic, trade and policy development.

His words: “The fourth trade policy review of Nigeria has enabled us collectively to measure the challenges which Nigeria is cur facing in improving its economic prosperity.”

Stories by Toba Agboola

According to him, members welcomed the country’s reduction in the average applied rate to Most Favoured Nation, MFN tariff, from 29 per cent in 2003 to 12 per cent in 2009, and reduction in the number of products on its import prohibition list.

Matus added that certain measures taken by Nigeria might not be compatible with the WTO’s commitments in such areas like the import prohibition and restrictions, the Nigeria Content Development Act, which discriminates against foreign suppliers of goods and services in the oil and gas sector, gladdens the hearts of every member.

The WTO meeting, however, suggested a number of areas where reforms could be beneficial to Nigeria and help strengthen its international trade and investment policies such as domestication of the organisation’s Agreement in Nigeria to give legal effect to it in local court and reform of multiplicity of other taxes and charges to import in addition to custom duties.

Others include, difficult registration procedures and high cost of doing business in Nigeria; large number

of draft bills before the National Assembly yet to be passed and burdensome Customs procedures and documentation which need to be streamlined.

Also, WTO members urged Nigeria to implement its planned reforms in competition policy, contingency measures, the petroleum industry and public utilities, advising the country to provide full transparency of its laws and regulations on import procedures and Customs regulations.

Delegates noted that there was significant gap between the applied MFN tariffs and the bound rates, and low level of tariff binding which created uncertainty and therefore, urged Nigeria to make its tariffs more predictable.

They also encouraged the country to jettison out-dated intellectual property right and speed up the passage of the new Intellectual Property Bill before the National Assembly.

Similarly, the members observed the country’s poor state of infrastructures and commended the Federal Government’s new power sector roadmap and the progress made in privatisation and divestment in power generation, distribution and transmission.

School gets library, play ground

A

S part of its Corporate So cial Responsibility (CSR), Unilever Plc has donated a library and play ground to Olusosun Primary School Oregun, Lagos.

Unilever Managing Director Mr Thabo Mabe, who spoke at the flag-off of the projects, in the school premises, said the need for the projects was informed by the falling standard of education due to poor infrastructure.

He noted that the company will ensure the sustenance of the projects, adding that lack of maintenance is the bane of infrastructural development in

By Chuks Udo Okonta

the country.

Mabe said the company has entered into an agreement with a firm to ensure the projects are maintained regularly.

Head Mistress of the school, Mrs Ayodele Olayinka, praised the company for the gesture, adding that the projects will enhance the learning standard of the school.

“I appreciate Unilever for the gesture and I was very happy when they told us of the projects.

I really enjoy working in a comfortable environment,” she added.

Firm introduces carbon emission products

I

N a bid to reduce constant emis sion of carbon dioxide into the air, an international company based in the UK and West Africa, Toughstuff, has introduced some solar-powered energy products which can help in enhancing the environment.

The products, which are solar panels, battery power pack, mobile phone connectors, rechargeable Led lamp, radio connectors and other accessories such as USB charging cable, desktop charges among others are affordable, durable and accessible to about 24million people worldwide.

Speaking with journalists at the regional head office in Lagos, the Regional Business Development Manager of Toughstuff, Mr George Okoro, disclosed that the products were developed based on the company’s unique understanding of people with lower incomes in Af-

rica with the aim of reducing poverty, improving health and building enterprise and employment.

He said the emission of carbon dioxide into the air which was gradually leading to the depletion of the ozone layer will be reduced to the barest minimum since the solar products provide an alternative power source after sunset.

He added the company’s name “ToughStuff” was chosen to signify the toughness and durability of the products as they all have a-three year lifespan except the Solar panel which has 10 years lifespan.

The company which started product sales in April, seeks to expand its distribution channels through sales agents and other means as well as partnering with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) for market/consumer awareness and product promotion.

Heroes award search hots up

T

HE Search for the 2011 Indomie Independence Day Award for Heroes of Nigeria, a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of Dufil Prima Foods, makers of Indomie Instant Noodles, is now in top gear.

According to reports by Field Consult, the independent research firm inaugurated to carry out the search, several stories have so far been gathered from the six states of the 10 selected for this year’s edition.

The Head of the team and Chief Field Officer, Field Consult Limited,

Mr Yinka Williams, said the search has been carried out in Lagos, Ogun, Nassarawa, Kwara, Gombe and Kano states.

He said the search for the heroic children is different from the conventional research field work because it requires a lot of time and effort to get leads, digging and following up to get the desired stories.

Williams stressed further that the company has engaged experienced executive interviewers and personnel to work at every stage of the process due to the sensitive nature of the research

•From left: Special Adviser to the President of Representatives of Du Benin, Mme Grace Lawani; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Lagos State, Alhaja Risikat Akiyode; wife of Ogun State Governor Mrs Olufunsho Amosun and Chairman, NACCIMA Business Women Group (NAWORG) Iyalode Alaba Lawson, at the opening ceremony.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

15

INDUSTRY

NIMN records N202.4m turnover in 2010 T

HE National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN) recorded an increase in its 2010 performance with a turnover of N202.4 million.

This, the institute said, surpasses the 16-month result for September 2008 to December 2009.

Speaking at the institute’s yearly general meeting recently in Lagos, its President, Chief Lee Aimiuwu said they could have achieved much more surplus than the N1.2 million, which he said, was far more better than 2009 deficit of N6.8 million turnover achieved the previous year.

He said the 2010 net result of N6.1 million, caused by deficits directly attributable to disruptions, was also marginally better than the preceding period’s (N6.8 million).

Aimiuwu disclosed that the institute cash flow suffered the greatest blow.

Stories by Toba Agboola

“For an institute that does not receive subventions, grants, or loans from the government or any agency, and also has zero bank loans, to be denied access to its bank accounts, was supposed to have killed off NIMN. Though, we now have access to almost all our accounts, cash flow challenge persists, compounded by subsisting economic liquidity crunch afflicting the country currently. However, we will continue to confront this challenge creatively and professionally”, he said.

He challenged the council and the members of the institute that the profession must never be allowed to be a dumping ground for the purposeless and visionless, a refuge for dregs and misfits in Nigeria.

Aimiuwu advised members not to allow themselves to degenerate

into a haven for the criminal minded but the professional institute must be positioned as the engine-room of value creation, established by law to regulate, control, develop and promote marketing professionalism practice, ethics and discipline in all ramifications.

“We must remain united, focused and determined to defend, protect and project the beautiful profession of marketing, and sustain the ascendancy of the professional as the soul of business; crucible of creativity; driver of innovation; pilot of world economies; manager of competition and stimulant of corporate professionalism,” he said.

Speaking on the crisis which rocked the institute, he said: “A group of people tried to re-enact factional chaos from which they benefited in those dark early days of marketing, in an attempt to create a ‘cause’ to champion, but they

were two years too late. Members believed in their new NIMN branding and fought these crooks stoically, rallying around the leadership. After receiving 1,500 solidarity phone calls in just a week.

“Having failed to get ransom (source allege N40 million), they proceeded with their threat to assassinate character, and destroy reputations.

Figures were cooked, and using forged documents, cloned logo, and impersonating council of the institute, and posing as principal officers with forged letterhead, they flooded all the security agencies with thousands of pages alleging N100 million fraud against principal officers.

The institute emerged stronger, as no fraud was found, indeed investigation officers were alarmed at their desperation and also one of their leaders is on trial on al-

leged ‘419’ officers.

“They post a new council, in compete 419 style, they made straight for the banks and waving a letter with ‘FHC Ref No’ gained access to bank accounts, and effectively cut the institute off from its own accounts”.

“However, those who have displayed so much capacity for evil, and invested so much energy in pulling the profession down can certainly not be called heroes but are vampires of marketing.”

Aimiuwu described marketing as a beautiful profession, which must remain beautiful in the lives of Nigerians by delivering distinctively and sustaining the very essence of life; shaping the fortunes and destinies of people; promoting freedom by creating real choice; upgrading the competitiveness of nations and lubricating the advancement of human civilisation.

NEPAD, ECCAS sign MoU on fisheries governance

N

EW Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen the implementation of the policy on fisheries in Central Africa.

This was contained in statement signed by Dr. Sloans Chimatiro, the senior Fisheries advisor, NEPAD at the 17th African Union Summit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

Chimatiro said that the MoU was signed by Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki, the NEPAD chief executive officer and

Gen. Louis Sylvain-Goma, the secretary-general of ECCAS. The agreement, according to him, is aimed at supporting the implementation of efforts between NEPAD and ECCAS, with a view to assisting the Regional Fisheries Commission to strengthen its capacity to implement the regional fisheries strategy for the region.

The MoU, the advisor added, include assisting ECCAS to increase the contribution of fisheries to the economic growth and the strengthening of the role of fisheries in the implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Devel-

opment Programme (CAADP) at the national and regional levels.

He said that the MoU would expedite the integration of the policy on fisheries into the regional economic community agenda and processes, provide technical support to ECCAS in developing and implementing the Regional Plans of Action, to reduce illegal fishing.

He said that the MoU was also aimed at developing the capacity of ECCAS member states to design and implement fisheries policy and governance reforms, which would enhance the integration of fisheries into the regional value chains

•From left: President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Otunba Femi Deru, presenting an Entrepreneurial award to the Olofa of Ofa, Oba Mohammed Gbadamosi while former President, NACCIMA, Chief John Odeyemi (middle) looks on.

•From left: GMD/CEO, Coodsynergyn Oil West-Africa LTD, Otunba Gbenga Odusanya; Executive Director, DantusSynergyn Oil Ghana, Mrs Dorothy Amoah and MD/CEO, National Petroleum Authority, Mr Alex Mould, Ghana, during a visit to Synergyn Oil Ghana exhibition stand at Ghana Investment Summit recently.

whilst also improving access to international fish markets.

The statement added that NEPAD Agency’s support to ECCAS would also result in strengthening human,

institutional and professional capacities in the sub-region to enable ECCAS member states tap the rich potential of the resources of the resources of the sub-region.

Govt to boost shea butter production

N

O fewer than three shea butter producing communities are to benefit from the Abuja Enterprise Agency, “One Village one Product” initiative aimed at boosting shea butter production in Abuja and its environs.

The beneficiary communities include Nuku and Rimba community in Abaji and Rubochi community in Kuje area council.

This is coming from the resolve by the Federal Government to boost shea butter production for export so as to increase foreign exchange earnings, employment generation, wealth creation and income generation.

The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Fatima Bamidele disclosed this while inaugurating a technical committee on the National Shea Development in Abuja.

Mrs Bamidele observed that Nigeria produces 50 per cent of the West African production of shea nut estimated at 600,000 metric tonnes based on traded volumes ahead of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali and Togo.

She lamented the shea processing method in Nigeria is laborious and the product of low quality hence the poor export performance relative to the production potential.

The Permanent Secretary urged stakeholders in the industry to close ranks in repositioning the sector for optimum performance.

Membership of the National Shea Development Committee is drawn from the ministries of agriculture, commerce and industry, finance, relevant agencies, NGOs, development partners and representatives from shea producing states with the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as Chairman.

The Managing Director, AEA, Mrs Altine Jibrin, while sensitising the communities about the project, decried the crude method of shea butter production in the communities, adding that the local technique had often reduced the market value of the product.

She said: “One village one product, is a strategy borrowed from Japan, to promote local product in the community, and adding value to the product in such a way that such product becomes attractive to the local and international market.

“Because the local community has

the problem of transportation, it is difficult for them to interface with the cities, but if conscious effort is made to develop the product that they have, the cities, the international community will be looking for them to get the product.”

Pointing out that lack of machine had often hindered production capacity of the butter producers, the chairman disclosed that a new machine composed of a processor, miller, crusher, roaster and a lister engine to power the engines would be distributed to the three communities to boost their production.

To compliment this, she said experts would be brought in to train them on how best to do this product in such a way that would meet international standard.

The Madaki of Nuku village, Mr Ezekiel John while praising the initiative, said it was part of conscious effort to reduce poverty, through the provision of avenue for the women to be self-employed.

He said shea butter production in the community is very high, but because there was no encouragement, the butter was locally produced.

“But now with the look of things, steps are being taken to modernise the production process for them. I believe that this would bring a lot of development to the community.

The encouragement would boost them to rise up to expectation,” he noted.

The Village Secretary, Mr Isa Sokwo said shea butter is the major means of livelihood of the community, hinting that the production of the duo have been threatened because of lack of water.

He appealed to the government to assist the village with the provision of portable water to further boost the shea production in the community.

‘One village one product, is a strategy borrowed from Japan, to promote local product in the community, and adding value to the product in such a way that such product becomes attractive to the local and international market’

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

16

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

CBN reforms: A new approach to stoke, regulate A market evolves its own means and methods. “The present-day free market economy is a system based on the availability of service or product at the nearest convenience of consumer provided there is capacity to buy. At times, this capacity is even induced to smother the process of exchange so that the global market does not get limited to mercantile interest, but made a forum of other kinds of social interaction.

Hence ideals such as humanism, consumerism, world citizenship, eco-friendliness, etc are brought into one embrace in an emerging world where individuals, nations and continents can locate their bearing, in a world-order that is becoming increasingly one-directional. In respect of this the art of governance is also merchandised so that Corporate Governance is not just abou t the bull and bears only, but a ‘univers-ity’ sort of basket that encapsulates everything about our unique new free market economy”.

A change of a kind: HE “process of exchange” is an expressive activity. The market regulator is a stabilising influence that enables the other market forces to pull in one direction; to generate power within and dovetail into whatever is mainstream vision/mission of the nation. Well, what is Nigeria’s vision? If we can take the “Vision 20:20:20,” for instance, presuming for a moment that this is being determined as the market is trading; so having established that Nigeria is a nation in a flux of changes, i.e.: notwithstanding its incomplete structures was plunged into a vortex of reforms (by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration); which was further compounded by the un-foretold global financial challenges; and to which in reaction the latest bank reforms by the CBN under Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi also came in; there is no doubt, of a need to tinker with the corporate polity. But what is happening so far is no more like a template of corporate businesses. How and when shall be Corporate Governance?

The template of change under CG rests on a tripod of: People, Structure and Context: People: The intelligent human agent moving a business community; “there has to be a Sponsor (what makes a sponsor?:- Knowledge, resources, varied influences). In the stakeholder mapping about Nigerian estate, for instance, who takes the biggest chunk of positives from a CG-proficient political economy? It’s the Nigerian government.

And actually she has started sponsoring the change, but perhaps by a faulty approach, and evidently within a deficient structure.”

Evidently, following a resumed democratic experience from 1999 and the ensuing underlying motif of change, a most intense substructure for Reforms was launched by the Obasanjo administration, thus: Due Process, Classification & Privatisation of Public corporations, Anti-graft/drug agencies (EFCC, ICPC, NAFDAC), Service delivery (SERVICOM) model for public service, groundwork for Rationalisation & Monetisation of benefits, Patronage of multilateral agencies/models (plus hire of Nigeria-born world-class technocrats), etc Whatever happened to ‘people’ factor in Nigeria, and the balance of expectations from above plan of sponsorship (story for another day) were mooted by its principal, General Olusegun Obasanjo (rtd) recently at the United Nations (June 2011) when he expressed the doubt about his successors’ capability to fight corruption (and its allied factors) in Nigeria, because the viral cycle had entered a loop. At that point, Nigeria’s once much, sought debt-relief, which was a hindleg for a build-up to that administration’s forex reserve, was no longer an issue. The Nigeria project had suffered a setback in the change process. In what Prof. Biodun Jeyifor would probably read, for a historical-materialist parallel on Nigeria, as a syndrome of “arrested

T

decolonisation”. But, “why do men defy their own rules?” Perhaps the cut back is found in the infamous saga of the third term agenda, the scandal and corruption trial of the Halliburtons, Siemens, etc, and the Aso Rock feud of the President and VP that led to the scuttling of entire national agenda: a perfect sample of how corporate culprits always falter at the highest point of decisionmaking, to unleash untold hardship onto market and entire polity; that is, despite the ‘knowledge, resources and varied influences’ referred above.

Structure: Following the UN template of (structured environment) considerations, Regulation “cannot be effective in an uncultivated terrain and any Enforcement would be outright unfair if there was no structure in place”.

As in the above, the Nigerian Reform blueprint obviously by experts from the external environment based on the well known MDGs- template, was common only to the ears of a select few with the passion, vision and access to instrument of power/governance; but who could not sell it for the people (of Nigeria) to OWN, nor their team assemble a critical coalition to successfully internalise that dream, and drive it to a point of no return. Therefore, their finish was poor, ending as sub-optimal performers.

Structure also includes infrastructure and Knowledge (Training/Academia’s curriculum for CG). About this Nigeria is at ground zero, like most other emerging economies.

But even in the structured economies corporate governance is an emerging ambulance (intellectually) because its underlying concepts are still evolving, painfully slowly. So far, its frontline world experts, A G. Monks, Nell Minow et al, have identified three giant leaps that represent the rapid development of the subject in an attempt to embed it in acceptable curriculum to bequeath to Business schools: Corporate Governance, Good Corporate Governance, and Better Corporate Governance.

Nigeria is yet approaching the first, Corporate Governance.

Context: “As a matter of fact Nigeria would require a Culture Audit to ascertain the availability of these structures first, before asking whether for her, the ambulance services of CG are effectual.” But Corporate Governance experts: Institutions, Regulators, Academics, Enforcers, et al, (acting together) have to deal with the Methodology of mixing the CG options available, to enact a virile liaison between the two environments. These experts have an understanding of the ruling macro world, but they also have the knowledge of how to interrogate what is available in a locale (like Nigeria) and employ the most expedient strategies to get a maximum compliance to corporate governance. After the CBN rolled out its latest form of “Approved Persons Integrity Regime” last month, it

became evident that all the options of interrogation for the seamless transition to modernity and fiscal sanity have not been exhausted for Nigeria.

One, some terms of the Regulation appear incognisant of certain stakeholders’ rights to participate. Else, Regulator(s) prospect exclusively for the instrument to adjudge the level of integrity of top managers (operators) - what relationship subsists between them? Indeed, who regulates the Regulator? Especially now that CBN seems to have hacked a Convergence and culled its own style of Divergence, ostensibly speaking for the Establishment (sponsor), who reserves at least a voice of restraint, just in case someone is overacting?

For a glaring case, does the Minister of Finance have at least an alternate role with the CBN Governor over some of the classified issues, -as in their differing opinions to the National Assembly once over the comment that its members lap up improportionate percentage of recurrent expenditure-? What has been his (Minister) consistent part in the finance policies/ implementation over the years? Not to make light of the constitutional role of Legislators also, in this newly procured instrument of “Approved Persons Regime”. This leads back to the Economic Policy component in the Vision 20:20:20. What are its effective drivers - what roles are specifically assigned to the Private sector? Is PPP a mere slogan and façade? And what is the metric of the measure of the trend of performance?

Recall at a point in the ‘70s-‘80s, they were ushered in to “the commanding heights of the nation’s economy”. Today, what’s the flow of strength or priorities of the polarium of control? What is their positioning, i.e outside of the organised ‘Corporate-cocktail’ for Mr President? The banks are the barometer of the market, should they not be among the stakeholders to sit to determine what is acceptable baseline or minimal behavior for acceptance (or integrity) by both industry and polity? What should be the proper relationship between banks and CBN? Two, the Questionnaire form to fill, served

by CBN in accordance to certain criteria which the apex bank decides, although mentioned casually inter alia, this document is actually the ultimate instrument desired, whether in America, UK, Europe or Nigeria. It was what America was looking for in Sarbanes-Oxley. In October 2010, this column had noted after the Cecilia-Ibru conviction: This is the area where there has to be a laying of framework for the contextual business practice as far as corporate governance is concerned in the world, and in particular Nigeria; where the CBN, Corporations, Stakeholders, the Legislature and the Media will have to congregate and work it into a form of CERTIFICATION. Then, the Academia can come in to structure it, in a sort of curriculum (fit for Nigeria) for study.

Even the PROMOTIONS experts can take

GBENGA OGUNSAKIN advantage to forge it into a kind of Marketing/AFFIRMATION tool; before the casual investor comes in to OWN it. It could even become a tool for nation building, because market integrity confers credibility and such is a negotiating instrument for wooing investors. Here is an exciting long process, and not at all the pain and bitter pill which the path to Corporate Governance is being construed to look like right now.

The general rule and rule of specifics: No doubt that procuring a certificate of integrity for the markets is towards the universal subject of convergence. Although all nations are wont to work out their own in specific terms and criteria, not to the extent of obliterating underlying principles which are supposed to mediate both the markets and human relations, because these are the capital value that promote or undermine people’s performance in the work environment. When the basis of market morality is eventually re-established, it should be easy to structure human behaviour appropriately, giving what is appropriate nuisancevalue to the deviants and apportioning the correct sanctions to the compliant or otherwise. But as it is, there is not yet a finished term of convergence that is overboard, because it is not ready, and that is all.

In Britain, the Lord Adrian Cadbury codes, despite its intensive foray into causes of the massive scandals of the ‘90s, was out-classed by more ingenious scandals in the new century. In America, reformers who thought to nail the wood-work and shut the barns by the Sarbanes-Oxley, extended the exterior angles to the Act, but found that external monitoring only tends to add its own differentials. Nevertheless, these were done within the bigger framework of certain terms of the millennial cross-over. Integrity is a timeless subject and Nigeria can afford to factor in without destroying the cart.

Apart from relying on the findings built on the works of sans-culottes such as Adrian Cadbury, there is no evidence also that the new methodology of harsh hemming by enforcers in Nigeria would produce better results, rather than employ a market-friendly, affirmative mentality that encourages more risk and good success. As a matter of fact, a clampdown and Puritanism would only engender more negative reactions than are at present noticed at those eight banks under the caretaker management, whose regime in two years were not virtuous enough to change the turn over nor change the fortune of the banks.

• Ogunsakin Email:greenhavenfoundation@gmail.com tel: 08037250343

BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL

T

OYOTA Motor Corp. (TM) has won dismissal of 26 of 33 claims in a stockholder lawsuit over alleged sudden unintended-acceleration problems leading to a 20 per cent drop in the car maker’s shares in January and February of last year.

The suit raised claims under Japanese securities law, over which the United States court didn’t have original jurisdiction, US District Judge Dale Fischer in Los Angeles ruled in an 11-page memorandum dated July 7. Those claims involve investors who purchased their stock on foreign exchanges, Fischer said.

Toyota wins claims suit on car defects Respect for foreign law “would be completely subverted if foreign claims were allowed to be piggybacked into virtually every American securities fraud case,” the judge wrote.

The investors, led by the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System, said in their complaints that internal documents show the Toyota City, Japan-based company, Asia’s largest car maker, deliberately hid the acceleration problems and knew

about defects as early as 2000.

“We are pleased that the court has granted Toyota’s motion to dismiss most of the claims in the federal securities case,” Celeste Migliore, a Toyota spokeswoman, said in an e-mail. The company believes it’s important that the judge rejected the shareholders “attempted end-run around” a Supreme Court decision to pursue claims under Japanese law, she said.

The judge allowed the case to proceed

on seven of the 33 misrepresentations Toyota is alleged to have made to investors about the sudden-acceleration problems.

“We respect the judge’s decision, but we plan to move forward and collect significant damages,” David Paulson, a spokesman for Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler, who represents the retirement system, said in a telephone interview.

17

THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

As politicians begin the countdown to next year’s governorship election in Bayelsa State, plans by the opposition parties to launch joint action against Governor Timipre Sylva is raising concern in the Niger Delta State. ISAAC OMBE examines political development, in view of the relative strength of the parties as shown in the April elections.

• Sylva

• Kubor

• Ebifemowei

• Alaibe

Bayelsa: PDP, ACN others back in the ring I

N the 2007 elections, the Peoples Demo cratic Party (PDP) and the Action Con gress (AC) were major political parties in Bayelsa State. Chief Timipre Sylva, the incumbent governor was the flagbearer of the PDP, Ebitimi Amgbare ran on the platform of the AC. At the end of the elections, Amgbare kicked against Sylva’s election and cried to the tribunal with the allegation that there was no election. He added that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) merely allocated votes to parties.

In addition, the AC accused INEC of conniving with the PDP to cook up results. The PDP and INEC denied the allegations and moved to the tribunal at the instance of the AC to defend themselves.

The Elections Petition Tribunal looked into the complaints and ruled in favour of Sylva.

Not satisfied, Amgbare headed for the Appeal Court sitting in Port Harcourt where it was ruled that a rerun election should be

conducted. The PDP carried the day in the rerun election. Sylva was sworn in as governor for the second time in one year.

Preparations for the 2011 governorship and legislative polls reached the zenith last year before the Federal High Court in Abuja, later confirmed by the Appeal Court ruled that the governor’s tenure subsists until 2012. However, the seats in the House of Assembly and National Assembly were up. In April, PDP swept the polls.

At the height of the campaigns, there were a few major political parties with serious governorship candidates including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with Chief Timipre Sylva; the Labour Party (LP) with Mr. Timi Alaibe; the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) featuring Dr. Imoro Kubor; Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP); Mr. Ebitimi Amgbare; Change for Advocate Party (CAP) Chief Abel Ebifemowei and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) which features Chief Eberiye.

Unlike in the 2007 election when AC and

the PDP were the only parties in the state, in the 2011 elections, the PDP still managed to maintain its popularity but that of the LP dwarfed ACN’s.

As the 2012 governorship election approaches in the state, serious but underground preparations are on top gear among the governorship candidates in the various parties.

It is not clear if the parties will retain candidates who charged at the primaries. But the incumbent governor has continued to show his preparedness to face the electorate in 2012.

In an interview recently, Sylva said his projects would speak for him at the coming elections. He expressed confidence that the people would vote for him as they had done before.

However, not much has been heard from Alaibe, one of the popular candidates in the last botched governorship elections, as regards his preparations for 2012.

Unconfirmed sources have said he may go

for the governorship race again but ,there are moves, it was learnt, to persuade him to rejoin the PDP. The pro-Sylva group has dismissed the clamour for another primary in the PDP. “There is no need for another primary in the PDP; the candidature of Governor Sylva is okay for the party because he has performed well,” noted a PDP stalwart in the state who pleaded for anonymity. According to him, what is left for members of the party is to rally round the governor for effective and collective campaigns ahead of the 2012 poll.

Also not much is heard yet from Dr. Imoro Kubor of the ACN. A retired Federal Permanent Secretary who has a huge task to sell himself to the electorate.

Some also see age as an obstacle to his good performance as it might tell on his daily activities in the saddle, especially the stress he may go through.

There are indications that new factors will determine who carries the day in next year’s governorship election in Bayelsa State.

RIGHT OF REPLY

Mohammed Haruna, mischief making and Nigerian democracy

M

OHAMMED Haruna used his People and Politics column on the back page of The Nation of Wednesday July 6, 2011 to lay into Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the reappointed Minister of Finance. As one of the cohort sworn to prevent the MD of the World Bank from returning to the Federal Cabinet, Mr. Haruna reacted to the inevitable by penning what he headlined As Ngozi returns to Finance Ministry. His mission in the article which also appeared on the Newsdiaryonline website was simple and straightforward: since the scheme to thwart Dr. Okonjo-Iweala had come to grief, the next best course of action was make her

By Uche Nmutaka

tenure difficult. In carrying out this dubious mission, Haruna forgot that in pointing one finger accusingly at someone else, the other four fingers of his hand are trained right on himself.

His attempt to calumniate Dr. OkonjoIweala ended in woeful failure; his efforts at painting the lady as unqualified and unpatriotic did not even begin to gather momentum. In short Mohammed Haruna abused the privilege of enjoying the use of a weekly page in a respected national daily.

Mohammed Haruna wrote that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was a “a mid-

dle-ranking official” of the World Bank at the time former President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed her Finance minister in 2003! The lady studied Economics at Harvard, and earned a PhD in Regional Economics from the MIT in 1981.

By 2003, she had held the following positions at the World Bank: Special Assistant to the Senior Vice-President, Operations, World Bank, 1989-91; Director of Institutional Change and Strategy, World Bank, 1995-97; Country Director, Malaysia, Mongolia, Laos and Cambodia, World Bank, 1997-2000; Vice-President, Middle East Region, World Bank, 2000-03. Yet Haruna described her as a “middle-ranking official!

Not only that, Haruna wrote, without proof, that Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala had become swollen-headed because the American Time magazine named her in its list of 100 most influential persons in the world in 2005. Haruna also wrote, again without a shred of evidence, that the lady had also become swollen headed because the Financial Times of London described her as “the lady to save Africa.”

By demoting her to middling status and positing her as proud – two categorizations that fly in the face of available evidence, Mohammed Haruna •Continued on page 18

18

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

POLITICS

‘We won’t rest, until Federal Govt accords Lagos special status’ Erelu Kuti of Lagos Abiola Dosunmu spoke with Deputy Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU on the agitation for special status for Lagos State, legal status of the 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) and other issues.

W

HAt are the challenges that Governor Babatunde Fashola should tackle in his second term?

Governor Fashola is on the right path. He has had the experience of the first four years. He knows where the shoes are pinching. He should continue the implementation. He must also put together a group of well meaning people to drive more fortune for Lagos State. We deserve to have extra support from the federal government because this is a mini Nigeria. Everybody is here. he deserves support to be able to give excellent services. to be able to add more value to the lives of people, to be able to build the needed infrastructure, the extra services. The population of Lagos is high. It is double at the weekends by the number of people who come from other parts of Nigeria. so, we need to enhance the services. he can’t do it with just the revenue he is getting from Lagos or the allocation from the federal government. He must mobilise people who must go out as his ambassadors and fight for more support from the federal and other sources to attract more

fortunes for Lagos.

What is your reaction to the refusal of the National Assembly to list the additional 37 local councils in the constitution?

It is a process. The councils have been created and the battle is almost won. The development councils must prove themselves and make themselves instrument of development and enhancement of the lives of people in the areas. That is the key to recognition. Local governments are created to facilitate development.

Again like I said, we must champion our cause. Has there been any strong move to get the local councils recognised for a while now? Let the councils prove themselves. We have the evidence of their importance. We have the population. The proofs are there.

It is for us to have the political will to push for recognition. In Nigerian experience, do you just get anything on the platter of gold, even if you are deserving of it? So, you have to fight for it.

But you must have a strong ammunition. Get well meaning people to champion the cause.

Is it not confounding to you that Lagos has not been accorded

• Erelu Dosunmu

a special status as a former Federal Capital Territory, as it is being done in other mature countries of the world?

I am not surprised. I blame Lagosians. Former Governor Bola Tinubu set up a forum of elders to go and fight for the interest of Lagos at the federal level. The Ayangburen of Ikorodu was the chairman of the committee. Mr Aro-Lambo was the secretary. And we worked very hard. Whenever we got to Abuja, everybody relied on me to open doors and we were making waves. At the meeting, we got the concession that the property of Lagos should be given to Lagos State and that it is when Lagos State does not want it that it should be given to anybody else. but with politics and infighting among us Lagosians, we

scuttled that committee and we lost out. By the time the final decision was taken, the committee was no more functioning and there was no reason. There was no voice to stand for Lagos in the scheme of things and we lost out.

And we are still having internal wrangling among us. I am sure that, the federal government, if we present our case properly, will be sensitive. Tell me, is there any successful person in Nigeria who does not have a stake or hold in Lagos. I am sure well meaning people would support any claim

by Lagos, if it is well packaged and well driven by well-meaning people. We have petty wrangling among us in Lagos. But it is not the end of the road, and I assure you, I shall champion it.

You are a popular person and a socialite. Why did you not join politics?

As an Erelu, I am barred from politics. As a traditional title holder, I am not allowed to join politics. It is either I give one up for the other. At that point in time, anybody that was enlightened and with minimal education would want to distance himself from tradition and culture. May be because I had been exposed to culture and cultures of other parts of the world sat the highest level, I became interested in my culture. My culture is beautiful.

It is over 30 years. In those days, you asked people to come and take chieftaincy and they ran away. But now, without pre-fixing chief to the name of a successful person in Nigeria, he considers it to be an affront. They want to have so many titles. I consider my life a fulfilled one. I have been a trail blazer promoting tradition and culture.

What is the motivation for remembering King Dosunmu of Lagos as you are planning to do?

King Dosunmu left behind a great legacy as an oba and a man of peace, who saved his kingdom from British attack when they approached him with the treaty of

peace and trade.My ancestry from Benin royalty is from Asipa, Ado, Erelu Kuti, Ologunkutere, Akitoye, Dosunmu, my grand father, my father and myself. It is straight and undiluted. That is my ancestry. When I say I am a proud Lagosian, I have a reason.

Why this celebration of 150 years of Treaty of Peace and Trade in Lagos?

Twenty years ago, I wrote a book; ‘Lagos: The legacy of honour’, when former President Ibrahim Babangida was moving the federal capital territory to Abuja. The sub-title of the book is ‘Lest we forget’. I was referring to the roles of Lagos from the amalgamation of Nigeria and the peaceful influence of Lagos in the development of Nigeria. I believe that was the culture and inheritance we got from my great ancestor, King Dosunmu. The British had come to Nigeria through violent means. Because of that peaceful entry, a culture was started.

There was peaceful co-existence, cordiality and prosperity. In Benin, in the days of Oba Orveramen, they over ran the place, killed the people and took the king to exile. Eventually, he came back to cooperate with the British. But for a king, with all the glories and pride of a king, to have the presence of mind to swallow his pride, instead of going for a fruitless war against superior ammunition, for the sake of his people and preservation of his territory. It should not be lost on us. Why is it so poignant to celebrate the event? What he did at that time; the peaceful resolution of that aggression, round table discussion to convince a superior power, to avert a catastrophic event. How he did it, we don’t know. What he did then is on the front burner of the world now. Everybody is saying that the best way to handle situation is peaceful resolution, not war. We jaw jaw, not war war.

His legacy is worthy of celebration.

Mohammed Haruna, mischief making and Nigerian democracy •Continued from page 17

showed very clearly that he is both insincere and mischievous in his write-up on Dr. Okonjo-Iweala.

But, let’s take a look at Mohammed Haruna, our pontificator who attempted, unsuccessfully, to play the ultimate patriotic hero, trying spiritedly to save Jonathan’s presidency from the maelstrom that Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala represented in his super mind.

For Haruna who flaunts his “command” of the English language, it is not mischievous to write that Okonjo-Iweala who was promoted from Vice President to Managing Director of the World Bank, after three and half years as Nigeria’s Finance Minister, was “catapulted” to the post? The reader is invited to read critically as Haruna’s mischief after mischief is highlighted. In discussing the President’s invitation to Okonjo-Iweala to join his Cabinet, Haruna wrote: “It was as a managing director of the bank that, as the speculations went at the time , Yar’Adua tried to woo her back as minister of Finance. She reportedly declined the invitation, presumably still smarting from the wretched treatment she got from Obasanjo, Yar’Adua’s predecessor. President Jonathan has obviously succeeded where his late boss had failed. But her acceptance of the president’s invitation

seems to have come with some strings attached by the lady herself.” These are all conjectures. Citing a little-known publication, Haruna claimed that Okonjo-Iweala insisted on “having a free hand to pick the members of his new economic team and to ‘chart and direct the economy,’ albeit consistent with the president’s ‘Transformation Agenda.”

Pray, where lies the mortal sin in this? Presumably, Nigeria’s Finance Minister will pass Haruna’s test of approval if she were no more than a figure head, a mere puppet who took dictation on how to do her job from a middling Niger Stateborn journalist! Elsewhere, leaders comb the universe in search of able lieutenants. But it constitutes untold pain to Haruna that “the country had to go all the way to Washington-DC to beg her to return.”

The last issue to touch in demonstration of Haruna’s vapid and unpatriotic writeup is the $18 billion Paris Club debt relief agreed when Okonjo-Iweala was Finance Minister under President Obasanjo. Haruna described the relief as “so-called”! Why? Because he questions the size and authenticity of the debt.

Six years have elapsed since the debt relief. Yet, Haruna, our inimitable investigative journalist, did not present any figures to contradict the size of the debt not did he develop

any thesis in contradiction of the debt’s authenticity. After six whole years. Does this not point to journalism by the tool of laziness?

More. Professor Jeffry Sachs, the last development economist in the world, had told our dear columnist that the “The $18 billion debt cancellation for Nigeria is good but it is less good than it should be.

The creditors are nasty and stingy. To extract $12 billion from a country with an annual budget of $3 to $4 billion is callous.” Did Nigerians require development economists to tutor them on the nastiness and stinginess of international creditors? A pertinent question is imperative at this juncture. Was the debt relief discussed and agreed at the Federal Executive Council or was it decided merely on the strength of a tête-à-tête between Obasanjo and OkonjoIweala?

Yet, Mohammed Haruna is not through with spinning wonders. He introduced the bogey of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP). The debt relief agreement, he tutored us, was contingent upon our introduction of the IMF’s Policy Support Instrument or PSI. The PSI, says Haruna, is SAP in everything but name.

And did SAP not sap Nigeria to finish? Okonjo-Iweala must be crucified for the PSI while Haruna conveniently forgot

SAP was introduced in Nigeria

by General Ibrahim Babangida, his epitome of national leadership.

Here again journalistic laziness rears its ugly head. It is six years since the debt relief agreement. But Haruna did not drive home his argument with concrete examples of Nigeria’s ruination by the PSI. Why? Is it not because Haruna is laden with inertia and lacks the necessary instruments for determining the impact of this particular economic policy on a country he postures as loving to tiny bits?

Haruna has a knack for citing experts – foreign experts – with approval. Another of experts is Monsieur Yves Gaudeul, a former French ambassador to Nigeria. Gaudeul told him that Nigeria’s exit from the Paris Club’s indebtedness couldn’t be instantaneous because “There are “lots of technicalities to be solved and it takes a long time. I do not know when that will be.” Why should a sensible expect the exit to be as instantaneous as the pulling of a trigger and the gun’s report? Laziness is also self-evident at this point. Six years after the debt relief agreement, Mohammed Haruna, the internationally acclaimed Nigerian journalist, could not tell the hapless readers of his blinkered pieces whether or not his country has exited the Paris Club’s indebtedness!

This is Mohammed Haruna’s conclusion on Okonjo-Iweala: “This is the lady we have gone on our knees to plead with to return to manage our finances even though it should be obvious that she is not likely to resolve the conflict of interest she would inevitably face between serving International Capital and serving Nigeria in favour of the former.” This is a conclusion arrived at via prejudice. A more enterprising journalist would have had the assiduity to cross-check all the information at his disposal and put all of them in proper perspective.

He would have found or tried to find answers to questions seemingly unresolved. He would not have spent valuable time celebrating foreign development economists trained at American Ivy league universities while our own dear Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is an internationally acclaimed development economist trained also at American Ivy League universities. So much ordure from a middling pen pusher who ran many a media organisation aground only to mount a media success story established by another person and use it for fanning the embers of intrigue and subversion.

• Uche Nmutaka, a Public Analyst based in Abuja, wrote in response to Mohammed Haruna’s July 6 column.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

19

EDITORIAL/OPINION Comments

EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

IdeologyTrumpsEconomics

Lagos floods •State response to nature’s ruthless downpour must be matched by citizen responsibility

T

ORRENTIAL rains took Lagosians by storm early Sunday morning, with devastating consequences on the inhabitants of the nation’s commercial nerve-centre. The rain continued until the next morning. It paralysed vehicular traffic, broke down vehicles by the road sides, destroyed homes and valuable house-hold items and, above all, grounded economic activities.

The effects of the floods were quite broad: from high-brow areas like Ajah, Lekki Peninsula, Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Ikeja, Apapa, FESTAC town down to Iyana-Ipaja, Agege, Mushin, Egbeda and Ayobo, among others, its vicious impact will take sometime to forget.

Though flood has, sadly, remained a continual fixture not only in Lagos but other parts of the country, we are particularly elated by the prompt response of the Lagos State government

‘However, the battle against flood is something the Lagos State government must wage with all seriousness. We are not oblivious of the present efforts of the state government in this regard, but whatever it would take, the current tempo, even when it should not be a government affair alone but should also include the people, must be increased so that the menace of flood can be drastically reduced’

through its ministry of the environment.

The ministry dispatched widely circulated text messages that showed that government was on top of the situation and enjoined Lagosians to bear with the government because the ‘downpour has been heavier than normal as the state government had earlier warned’. The ministry called on inhabitants to ‘please be calm and not panic …Our men are on the field working to manage this situation. Please remain indoors as much as possible until the rain stops,’ it added.

This official note of caution that has been standard practice in civilised parts of the world should be commended. At least for once in a country where official apathy to emergency has become a routine; it is good that Lagos is leading the light in this official responsive direction. No doubt this kind of official promptness during moments of serious apprehensions demonstrates to inhabitants that they are truly cared for by their government.

However, the battle against flood is something the Lagos State government must wage with all seriousness. We are not oblivious of the present efforts of the state government in this regard, but whatever it would take, the current tempo, even when it should not be a government affair alone but should also include the people, must be increased so that the menace of flood can be drastically reduced.

We know that many Nigerians have not imbibed the right environmental attitude and therefore are fond of dropping

carelessly on the roads and drainages, product wastes like ‘pure water’ sachets, fast foods’ wraps, fruit leftovers, empty cans and banana peels, among others. These wastes lead to blockages resulting in floods of the type that happened early this week.

We advocate that drastic steps be taken to arrest this avoidable situation.

The Lagos State government must sponsor a bill to be passed into law by the state assembly that will make indiscriminate disposal of wastes, whether on the roads/ streets or any public place an offence punishable with a heavy fine or, in case of high culpability, a term of imprisonment.

Nigerians must understand the intercourse of environment and safety.

When the people see that infractions are actually punished, they will imbibe the right attitude about the environment. Furthermore, more drainage channels should be built around Lagos so that flood waters can easily be contained.

President Goodluck Jonathan should not just come to Lagos to make rhetoric because of the last flood occurrence.

Rather, he should ensure that federal roads with bad drainage system, serving as arteries to the heart of the state are quickly repaired or reconstructed.

Moreover, a sizeable chunk of ecological funds must be released forthwith to help the state government rid its territory of this perennial flooding.

Lagos deserves more attention from the Federal Government than it is presently getting because of its crucial role in the nation’s existence.

Avoidable clashes • Herdsmen rape and rapine in Imo State highlight recurring nightmare

T

HE sad news that Fulani herdsmen had allegedly killed two villagers in Umuapu, in Ohaji/ Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State, is condemnable, but hardly surprising. Condemnable because some criminal-minded elements had allegedly turned the legitimate, if tension-prone, work of cattle herding into wilful crime. That is the only logical explanation, when nomadic herdsmen turn their cattle loose on farmlands, invade the community as alleged, kill the men and the infirm, and rape the host women.

But it is hardly surprising because tension between farmers preserving their farms and herdsmen looking for pasture for their cattle is as old as human history. What has always been missing in the Nigerian setting is the determination of the state to protect the interest of each, such that anyone who oversteps his bounds faces the harsh sanctions of the law. This has led to victims, on both sides of the divide, taking laws into their own hands.

In 2001, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, a former military head of state and later presidential candidate, led a protest to Alhaji Lam Adesina, then Governor of Oyo State, on behalf of Fulani herdsmen and their alleged maltreatment in some parts of Oyo State. Though disapproved of by many, it was a bold attempt at legitimate protest, when rising tempers could have led to needless loss of lives and property.

But if many disapproved of his move just then, it was because it was perceived that nomadic cattle herdsmen were almost always a law onto themselves, leaving the dead and the raped in their trail.

Still, while this might be fair perception, given the preponderance of facts, the Umuapu incident being the latest tragic example, the herdsmen themselves could be reacting to difficult operating conditions, particularly if there is a dearth of grazing land.

The state ought to have evolved such arrangement that both farmers and pastoralists are well catered for, such that each group does its business with minimal interference – if any – by the other. For instance, the era when pastoralists have to move about with their cattle in search of pastures is gone. This they could do in settlements specially made for such purposes. If this is done, there will be little need to move cattle about, destroying farmlands in the process.

Having said that however, criminality is criminality; and whoever hides behind any trade to commit crime should face the music. That is where the Nigerian state had been remiss in the past; and that is why some impunity has been built into the system, causing avoidable shedding of blood.

On this score, the police deserve a lot of blame. In the Imo case, they complained that the harassed villagers took to the expressway to protest

and vent their spleen. While protest is legitimate, venting of spleen on innocent travellers, whose journeys were disrupted was regrettable. But how did the police expect a hurting people to conduct themselves in the face of such helplessness despite brazen impunity? The disruption would have been averted if the police had moved into action the moment they received the complaint and arrested the suspects.

Let the unfortunate incident, however, be a wake-up call. While there should be renewed enlightenment to push for peaceful coexistence between farmers and pastoralists, the police must move swiftly to probe any reported case of crime in the sector; and prosecute it in record time.

That is the only way criminals masquerading as agricultural workers can be kept at bay.

T

HERE is a huge gap in logic at the heart of the Republican intransigence on a debt-ceiling deal, and President Obama helped to illuminate it on Monday.

The party claims, as an article of faith, if not evidence, that the government’s growing debt is the reason for persistent unemployment and economic stagnation.

And yet Republicans are spurning the president’s compromise offers to reduce that debt by trillions over the next decade because he is sensibly insisting that any deal include some increase in tax revenue.

“Where are they?” Mr. Obama asked at his news conference. “I mean, this is what they claim would be the single biggest boost to business certainty and confidence. So what’s the holdup?”

The holdup, of course, is that Republicans are far more committed to the ideological goals of cutting government and taxes than they are committed to cutting the deficit. They rejected several compromise offers by the White House, even though any revenue increases would be far outweighed by spending cuts.

Republican rejectionism was on clear display Saturday night when John Boehner, the House speaker, was forced to abandon a plan he and the president had discussed to reduce the deficit by $4 trillion over 10 years.

The plan would have gone much too far in cutting discretionary spending and entitlements, taking too much money from the economy at a time when it desperately needs government investment. But it would have been better than the slashing and burning the Republicans have been demanding because it would have raised from $700 billion to $1 trillion in additional revenue beginning in 2013 by ending tax breaks and deductions for corporations and the rich, or by ending the Bush tax cuts for families making $250,000 or more.

The House Republican leader, Eric Cantor, insisted to Mr. Boehner that his members, shackled to antitax pledges, could not accept it, or anything similar. Now negotiators are trying to reach agreement on a deal to lower the deficit by $2 trillion or so over a decade. But the consequences for the economy and Americans’ lives would be just as disastrous if all of those “savings” come out of essential government programs, with no additional revenue.

Mr. Boehner’s refusal to push back against his party’s ideologues is only feeding their worst impulses. Many House Republicans have gone even further than Mr. Cantor and have rejected any deal that raises the debt ceiling, whether it contains revenue increases or not.

Representative Michele Bachmann and Reince Priebus, the Republican national chairman, airily and irresponsibly insist that the government will find some other way to pay its bills. That’s dangerous nonsense.

And as the president forcefully noted, a default could propel interest rates skyward, throw millions more Americans out of work, and create another recession.

It was good to see Mr. Obama challenging the Republicans’ illogic and pushing them to make a deal before it’s too late. But we fear the sort of deal he is willing to consider, based overwhelmingly on spending cuts, could still consign the country to more years of economic stagnation.

The president spoke about the need to create an infrastructure bank, to maintain unemployment benefits, and to protect the elderly and the poor. But keeping those goals will be nearly impossible with a debt deal that cuts three times as much spending as it raises revenue. A balanced plan, like the one Senator Kent Conrad is circulating among Senate Democrats, would cut spending and raise revenue equally, and would make it possible to pay for programs that kick-start the economy.

Americans need to hear the hard economic truth that there is no way to both cut the deficit and revive the economy without finding additional sources of revenue.

As the president himself said on Monday, “If not now, when?”

– New York Times

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Kunle Fagbemi

‘Let the unfortunate incident, however, be a wakeup call. While there should be renewed enlightenment to push for peaceful coexistence between farmers and pastoralists, the police must move swiftly to probe any reported case of crime in the sector; and prosecute it in record time’

• Controller (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu • Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

•Chief Internal Auditor Toke Folorunsho

•Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli

•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

•Managing Editor Waheed Odusile

•IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness

•Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina •Group Political Editor Bolade Omonijo •Group Business Editor Ayodele Aminu •Abuja Bureau Chief Yomi Odunuga •Sport Editor Ade Ojeikere •Editorial Page Editor Sanya Oni

•Pre-Press Manager Chuks Bardi •Press Manager Udensi Chikaodi •Manager, Corporate Marketing Hameed Odejayi • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

20

EDITORIAL/OPINION

S

IR: Twenty first century Nigerian polity is still being heated up because of N18, 000 minimum wage, when all over the world, Africa inclusive, you don’t hear of work stoppages over such again.

Why do we find ourselves in these avoidable dumb fights?

We are in the rigmarole because political leaders see the minimum wage as a booby to trap labour to their side and score cheap political gain, whereas, what they give with the left hand is withdrawn from the right hand. Labour too would like to glory vainly that they have won something for their members when in reality the more you look the less you see the gain.

Abdusalam Abubakar raised minimum wage from N1, 200 to N3, 500 in 1999, but left the succeeding civilian government in the states to grapple with the resultant ripple effects of wild-cat strikes.

During the May Day of 2002, Olusegun Obasanjo raised minimum wage to N7, 500 with a caveat to the states to negotiate the appropriate wage with their workers. Many states settled for between N5, 000 and N5, 500 when the centre was paying

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

Ending the dumb fight over minimum wage N7, 500.

However, no government raised oil prices in this country more than Obasanjo. He met petroleum prices at N11 per litre and on the eve of his departure attempted to raise it from N55 to N75, before late President Umaru Yar’Adua brought it back to N65.

Two strange challenges have emerged from the current N18, 000.

The first is that, for the first time, state NLC’s are unilaterally agreeing with their governors on what they termed temporary figure as minimum wage in their state. In a true federalism this ought to be the norm but as for now, if it holds then the NLC should know that half of their umbrella power is gone. No state chapter of the NLC can initiate the minimum wage issue in their

domains and so should not threaten or weaken what the national body has initiated and concluded.

Another unusual dimension to this year’s minimum wage is the clamour by governors for the removal of fuel subsidy before they could key – in to the minimum wage law. When did it become the duty of component states to render unsolicited advice to the centre to plunge into a decision that can lead to industrial hara-kiri?

As it is, the federal government will have no problem of adjusting its pay structure with the new law, since its least paid employee presently is on N17, 000, whereas no state is paying above N8, 000 per month now.

Obasanjo in his hey days, paddled his canoe anytime he hiked fuel

price. No solicitation or assistance overt or covert from nowhere. Is Jonathan weak or a jejune and so needed the states to prod him on fuel subsidy? Will the Governors be there for him, when the industrial crisis on fuel hikes blossom?

The Revenue, Mobilisation, and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMFAC) fixes salaries and allowances for all political office holders in the country be it local, state or National. This is fixed through consensual agreements and laws passed to legalize it. Throughout this process no feather will be ruffled, because the bowl of soup is big.

When the big pie is shared no noise will be heard but when workers are to share the crumbs or leftovers, then the fight will begin, and the falcons may not even hear the falconer.

The challenges before Jonathan

S

IR: While growing up in the marshy creek of the Niger Delta, Dr Goodluck Jonathan suffered privations which toughened him. A son of a canoe carver, he trekked long distance to school in stocking feet in the scorching tropical African sun. His piteous life story of rags to riches resonates with us.

So, not being born with a silver spoon, and having experienced economic hardship, it is not unexpected of him to identify with us, and solve our problem of poverty.

Nigerians had given him a thumping victory, and he has a pan -Nigerian mandate, now. So, he has no excuse to offer us if he fails to give us purposeful and transformational leadership that will make Nigeria one of the best twenty economic powers in the world.

In Nigeria, we live with the erroneous philosophy that leadership is an opportunity for political leaders to pillage our treasury for their enrichment. No, it is not. It is a call for a selfless national service. So, he should hit the ground running, hav-

ing constituted a formidable cabinet that has in its fold such renowned technocrats as Dr. Ngozi Okonjo – Iweala, Professor Bath Nnaji and others For a long while now, insecurity of lives and property has gripped Nigeria by the scruff of the neck, trying to asphyxiate it. The deadly Boko Haram has intensified its murderous activities. We have not witnessed a let –up in the activities of this deadly group with noxious and cockeyed philosophy. Now, no day passes without their exploding bombs and killing people either in Maiduguri, Bauchi, Abuja or Kaduna. Sadly, the government’s response to the menace of the Boko Haram has left much to be desired. Some former northern governors, and a sitting one, reportedly tendered apologies to the group for offending them. Have we surrendered to the Boko Haram?

Aren’t our leaders aware that the unchallenged terrorist acts of the group can lead to the disintegration of Nigeria?

The issue of insecurity of lives and

property in Nigeria is not unconnected with the high rate of unemployment in the country. Poverty or privation is an incitement to and motivation for crime. So, a promise of bread and butter and better life in heaven is enough to spur these youths who are in straitened circumstances into destructive and murderous frenzy. But, their manipulators and sponsors are those enemies of Nigeria who lost out in the power equation in the country and in the sweepstakes for top political posts.

The government should diversify the economy, and create employment opportunities for millions of Nigerian youths who are without jobs. Daily, companies based in Nigeria are relocating to Ghana or folding up because of lack of steady supply of electricity. During the inglorious regime of chief Obasanjo, billions of naira was sunk into the power sector. But, instead of enjoying uninterrupted power supply, blanket of darkness was thrown over our territorial space nightly. And, during the day, manufacturing com-

panies ran on diesel and petrol- powered generators, which increased their cost of production.

Education is another issue that needs urgent attention of the government. In the past, we had ivory towers (instead of the current mud towers) where researches were conducted. I doubt that these dysfunctional schools can drive our developmental agenda, and put Nigeria in the group of technologically and economically advanced countries.

So, it behooves on our political leaders to holistically revamp our comatose educational system in order that we can achieve our national goals and aspirations.

President Jonathan must know that Nigeria belongs to us all; that the oneness of Nigeria is inviolable and sacrosanct; that our greatness lies in our diversities. Those centrifugal forces that are bent on tearing us apart should be checked.

• Chiedu Uche Okoye Uruowulu- Obosi Anambra State.

The Wages and Salaries Commission has the capacity to bail this country out of the quagmire of future minimum wage if allowed to function optimally. It was through the periodic review of salaries of the federal civil servants through the same commission that the least worker moved from N7, 500 few years ago to N17, 000 now. Will the state governments allow this same commission guide them periodically to improve workers wages? No way. Can labour submit itself to be guided by this same commission? Doubtful. If players cannot hear the whistle of this umpire, then the dumb fights may continue till sanity prevails.

• Seyi Adekeye, Assist. National Secretary NUJ, Abuja.

SOS to Education Minister

IR: Kindly permit us to use your widely read newspaper to make our plight known to the honourable minister of education, Prof Ruqqayat Rufai and to appeal for her intervention. The junior staff of Federal Government College, Ikirun, Osun State have not enjoyed the financial benefits of our last two or three promotions. For instance, some of us on Grade Level 7 still receive Grade Level 4 salaries.

Collective and individual efforts to rectify the situation has not yielded much fruits as only a few of us who have connections in very high places have gotten their cases sorted out. Even those ones were only paid a fraction of the arrears of salary differential accruable to them.

Having spent a fortune travelling to and fro Ikirun and Abuja on many occasions and achieving nothing, and having been warned that engaging in any form of protest is tantamount to risking our jobs, we are left with no other option but to seek your help. We are convinced by your previous records of display of human kindness that if you get to know our plight, you will not allow this injustice to linger any further.

OLAWANDE BORISADE, Federal Government College, Ikirun, Osun State.

S

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

21

EDITORIAL/OPINION

Parents’ anxiety and NYSC posting

A

N academic colleague of mine from Lagos State University came to visit me over the weekend and to solicit my help in putting him in contact with another academic colleague in the University of Maiduguri over the posting of his daughter to Borno State.

This colleague’s only child was sent into the lion’s den so to speak. I was surprised that NYSC is posting anybody at all to Borno State especially bearing in mind the Boko Haram problem in that state. This is a state where the gubernatorial candidate of the ruling political party and the brother of the then incumbent Governor were gunned down in broad daylight. Even if we are to assume that some of the political leaders in that State appeared illegitimate because of electoral manipulation, killing them brutally is not the solution to political illegitimacy. The public apology by the last governor of the State to Boko Haram seems to bear this illegitimacy out.

The same cannot be said of the royal house of the ElKanemi which since the 19 th century has provided the Shehus of Borno but which has also suffered in the hands of Boko Haram militants who killed the immediate brother of the incumbent Shehu of Borno. In other words, nobody is safe in Borno State particularly in its capital of Maiduguri.

An old friend of mine, Shetima Ali Monguno, a distinguished Nigerian of impeccable integrity and honesty said a few days ago that Borno State was in trouble and suggested that the troubled situation of his state can be

‘What we demand is to be let alone to enjoy our miserable lives which our bloated administrations have not been able to affect. Leave us alone to navigate our ways on the pot-holed roads and in the dark since light is never available. Certainly no government has the right to send innocent children of subjects to sure death which is what posting Youth Corpers to dangerous areas of Nigeria represents’

W

HEN it started raining in the early hours of last Sunday no one thought it would last all day. Rains are usually perceived as showers of blessing.

That of Sunday was seen as such until it got out of hand. Many drove in the rain to church where they probably prayed that it would be showers of blessing. It was really so until the tide turned. To use the cliche, it rained cats and dogs that the people started wondering if the endtime was here. The rain continued to gather momentum even when many thought it was going to stop.

Usually many motorists don’t like driving in the rain, but they were forced to do so on Sunday as they drove to and from church. As I headed for the office in the rain I was shocked by how flooded many roads had become as at 3p.m. I was in the company of an elderly couple that I was going to drop off at home in Ikeja along the road. As I turned into the gate of their estate I marvelled at how flooded the place was. On enquiry, I was told I have not seen anything. What I saw I was told was just a tip of the iceberg. Is that so? I asked no one in particular.

The couple said that is what they normally go through in the estate whenever it rains. And this has been on for years without the government being able to find solution to the problem. The estate belongs to the Federal Government and it serves as residential quarters for some of its staff working at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja. Indeed, what I initially saw at the estate was nothing compared to the havoc the rain later wreaked on different parts

traced to bad governance and corruption in the previous regime. I feel very sad about what is going on in Borno State. I was Dean of Arts at the University of Maiduguri in the 80s and I helped set up the Graduate School as well as the Department of Mass Communication there. I had a good time working with the Vice Chancellor, Professor Jubril Aminu and I can say that my stay in Maiduguri was one of the happiest and most productive times of my life. During the three years I stayed there, I had access to the highest in the society from Sir Kashim Ibrahim the former governor of the old North to the Shehu of Borno. I even wrote a biography of Sir Kashim Ibrahim at that time. I therefore feel extremely sad about the turn of events in my beloved Borno and its capital Maiduguri.

I am very knowledgeable about Borno and I am familiar with its history and politics right from the time of MaiIdris Alooma to the dynastic change in the 19th century from the Saifawa to the El-kanemi dynasty and even the attempted resurgence of the Saifawa in the early 1960s through Alhaji Ngeleruma. In short, every time I read about Boko Haram, I always wonder whether it is the same Maiduguri where I spent three years of my life in the 80s. The Kanuri people were the first people to come in contact with Islam and they are the inheritors of an ancient civilization which encompasses the Southern part of Libya, most of Chad Republic and important areas of Northern Cameroons and the Republic of Niger. They do not deserve the tragedy that has befallen them. It is incumbent on the government of Nigeria and the government in Borno to find solutions to this problem. While this is going on, no child from outside Borno should be posted there for NYSC not even graduates from neighbouring states not to talk of states farther away.

Whoever cannot speak Kanuri, Hausa, Fulfude Margi or Bura should not be sentenced to death by posting them to any part of Borno.

As a parent, I would not allow my child to go to Borno to serve in the NYSC. If I did this, it will be an act of irresponsibility on my part. I will also expect the directorate of NYSC not to post anybody to Borno. All parents whose children have been posted to Borno should refuse to let them go and damn the consequence. The same should apply to Bauchi where 13 youth corpers were killed in the violence that followed the last election. There are of course super patriots who may want to sacrifice their children, my prayers will be with those people. This is the case with my colleague from Lagos State University who allowed his only daughter and only child to go to

Showers of rage of the country. For many of us residing in Lagos and Ogun states, it was a hell of a day.

As I waded through the flooded ‘Ikeja along the road’ to the office my prayer was that the rain would have subsided by the time I am closing in the night. It was wishful thinking. The rain fell throughout the day and in the newsroom we kept wondering when it would stop. If we had the power, many of us, I believe, would have ordered the rain to stop. It was beyond our power so to do; so we silently prayed for the One who brought the rain to also intervene and stop it. He did in His own time, but by then many of us were already gnashing our teeth.

In the office, we had tales of those either stuck in the traffic or trekking to their destinations because there were no vehicles. Put in a better way, it was not a case of inavailability of vehicles but that of marooned buses.

Commuters were seeing the vehicles in the distance but they couldn’t get to where the passengers were to pick them. Many of our staff got to the office drenched. One of them narrated how he and other commuters trekked from Bariga to Oshodi . That was around 5p.m.

Things were to get worse as the day got older.

A colleague who left the office about 7p.m., for home returned to work around 11p.m., lamenting. If he had known, he said, he would not have made the attempt. Another who left about 2p.m., didn’t return until

‘We are still counting the cost of the downpour. The losses cannot be quantified in terms of naira and kobo alone because many people died. We have all seen the damage done by Sunday’s rain. What should be uppermost on our minds should be how we can avert a recurrence because the rain is yet to start in full force’

past midnight. Across the country the situation was the same. Flooded roads; submerged houses and missing persons. We are still counting the cost of the downpour.

The losses cannot be quantified in terms of naira and kobo alone because many people died. We have all seen the damage done by Sunday’s rain. What should be uppermost on our minds should be how we can avert a recurrence because the rain is yet to start in full force.

Going by meteorologists’ forecast, heavy rains are expected this year.

The rains, they warned, would be accompanied by flooding. They advised those residing around flood plains to take precautionary steps to avoid disaster. With Sunday’s rain we had a foretaste of what to expect when the rain begins in full force. If we had discountenanced the warning of the meteorologists before it is time we took another look at their forecast before enormous damage is done. If Sunday’s rain could cause the kind of damage we are now seeing, what do we expect when the heavy rains set in next month and in September.

From statistics, a portion of the Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway caved in during Sunday’s rain. That road has become a death trap in such condition.

The government cannot afford to cross its arm and wait until people get killed on the road before it does something. As it were, it is a very busy road which motorists ply day and night. To leave it in the condition it is now will amount to endangering the lives of the millions of people using it everyday. The Federal Government which has so far not said anything should realise that this is an issue that should be treated with utmost despatch because it involves human lives.

As governor, Babatunde Fashola has so far acted in the public interest, what remains is for

Maiduguri for NYSC Service. He has now travelled up to Maiduguri to see how his daughter is faring, my advice to him is to demand another posting and if he is too shy to do this, I am making this demand on his behalf. The Yoruba adage says Jide “Igi ganganran ma Osuntokun gunmi loju, okeere lati n mu kuro”. This means prevention is better than cure, although it does not capture the meaning completely.

I appeal to the government of Nigeria to do something before our people revolt; there is a limit to how far you can push a people. Goats have been known to bite when driven to the wall. Posting children or people to violent areas in the service of our country is carrying patriotism too far.

We should avoid a situation in which governments’ directives will be disobeyed flagrantly and justly. There is no replacement for life. It is better to avoid tragedy than to be sorry. I will hate to see political leaders telling parents again that the death of their children is the will of God. Our God is not an evil but a beneficent and benevolent and kind God. But He will not come to the earth to do posting for us when he has given us reasoning faculties. If we refuse to use them, then we should not expect sympathy for our errors of foolishness and irresponsibility.

I appeal for an executive order from President Jonathan to stop posting to areas in which his government cannot guarantee security for Nigerians.

Our people usually don’t demand much from our various distributive administrations. What we demand is to be let alone to enjoy our miserable lives which our bloated administrations have not been able to affect.

Leave us alone to navigate our ways on the pot-holed roads and in the dark since light is never available. Certainly no government has the right to send innocent children of subjects to sure death which is what posting Youth Corpers to dangerous areas of Nigeria represents.

Enough is enough.

the Federal Government to conplement the Lagos State Government’s efforts so that together they can save lives before it is too late to do so. Fashola, who went round the metropolis on Monday and Tuesday to assess the damage, has warned that his administration would begin the enforcement of environment laws to ensure the safety of lives and properties. He also pledged to write to the Federal Government on the cracked Lagos/ Abeokuta road.

Fashola said: ‘’Those who are in the building we have marked as structurally unstable or those who built on canals should leave the building immediately because we are coming to take possession. We are not going to risk human lives anymore. I will be making an appeal to the President to help with fund to relocate and resettle flood victims. I will also write to the Federal Government on the failed portion of the Abeokuta Expressway. We hope the Federal Government will respond because we have virtually lost that road and traffic will be terrible.’’

This grim picture of the failed road painted by Fashola is enough proof that something urgent must be done to reclaim the road before it turns to the graveyard of motorists. The mending of the road should be the first assignment of the Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen. How he handles this matter will tell us how prepared he is for the task ahead of him.

RE: Much ado about Islamic banking CHRISTIANS need more than mere education from the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) and we all know that no Sharia bank will lend money to a pastor. Let there be a law that no bank must be named Islamic as stipulated in the Banking and Other Financial Institutions Act(BOFIA). The advisory council of the bank must consist of at least 50 per cent Christians, 40 per cent of the loan must be for Christians

Lawal Ogienagbon lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net

per year, 30 per cent of the customers must be non-muslims. This will ensure that they market the product to non-muslims without bias.From: 08037554071.

Sanusi doesn’t know that anything that has to do with the mentioning of muslims or christians must be handled with care. From: Enock, Kaduna (08057746584).

Our ‘combative’ CBN governor should tread gently. I don’t see anything wrong with Islamic banking from what I have read so far. The public needs enlightenment.

From: Etta, Yenagoa (08055454474).

It is the actions and utterances of Sanusi and his ilk that have kept Nigeria perpetually divided. From: 08055160427.

I pray that some people will not see this as an issue of Jihad in a secular nation as ours. From: Dayo (08075929791).

Sanusi is expected to educate the people and not to tell them to go to court. It shows he has no respect for the people.He should stop being arrogant. From: Taiwo Oladipo, Abuja. (08026247527) If it is not about islamisation then why not set up a non-interest unit in every bank, with anybody interested free to go there? Why grant new licences? From: 08037554071.

SMS ONLY: 08056504763

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

22

EDITORIAL/OPINION

A

T a meeting hosted by the Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, last Friday, the South west governors set an agenda for regional development. In order to facilitate the process of political, legal and socio economic development and integration of western Nigeria, the governors resolved to pool resources together for rapid development as well as promote core values of the people of the region.

The governors’ initiative is a welcome development. But coming two clear months after Action Congress of Nigeria ( ACN) won the elections in the region only demonstrated the party‘s lack of preparedness for governance. This is a function that ought to have been initiated by the party even before its victory. But even now, it as if the party and its elders are still busy celebrating their well deserved victory at the April polls leaving their core responsibility to the governors.

The reason for this failure is not farfetched.

ACN along with other parties are ‘new breed’ creations. They are floating. They have nothing to build upon. This problem can be put squarely on the military that destroyed most of the institutions it inherited. Political parties are often products of urban educated elites. The US Democratic Party traced its origin to 1792 and Thomas Jefferson, the author of the declaration of American independence. The Republican was a byproduct of the federation and the Whig in 1854. British parties also evolved from the activities of the governing elites made of aristocrats and the nobles. The earliest Nige-

‘Except Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State handles his Osun portion of the road between Ijebu jesha and the IleshaIfe express road, and Ajimobi tackles the intractable Ibadan- Iwo round about gridlock, without Senator Ibikunle Amosun borrowing a leaf from Babatunde Fashola of Lagos about his miracles in Oshodi, Mushin and his deft handling of Apapa unruly truck drivers, the journey between Ado Ekiti that should take three hours will still take six and half hours in spite of Fayemis’s efforts’

South West agenda for regional development rian political parties in the early 1920s as well the three major parties, NCNC, NPC and AG that heralded in independence were similarly formed by the new emerging Nigerian elites made up of repatriates and educated Lagos based professionals.

But like most other social engineering efforts of the military aimed at resolving Nigerian national question, the old political parties were not just proscribed; the new parties formed were forced to cut the umbilical cord that tied the past to the present. The height of absurdity was when General Ibrahim Babangida came and decreed two parties with similar ideologies. As if to invent the wheel, he insisted that the grass root masses should mobilize the elites and also decreed the present cannot be part of the past. He spent a whopping N3billion to build so called political party headquarters that have since been taken over by weeds or converted to other uses by the host communities. At the end, his decreed parties collapsed with the aborted Third Republic.

Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, the arrow head of ACN, started his political carrier in the Third Republic when he contested and won a senatorial seat from Agege on the platform of IBB s decreed Social Democratic Party (SDP) Ironically while the governors’ initiative was going on, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, the leading light of the party was at the inauguration of an administrative block named after him by Agege local government from where he started his political career.

Winning an election is the least important role of a political party. It is after the election that the serious art of governance begins. It is the party that ensures its elected members are faithful to its manifesto if it intends to win the next round of election. The party leaders must be able to articulate the party policies and ensure the power addressees know what the party is doing to achieve those objectives. Personality, popularity and even performance are not enough. Politicians, regarded as men of many words, are hardly trusted by the electorate and need to be actively engaged at all times.

It is time for ACN leaders to stop celebration and get hold of the party if it hopes to avoid the AG disastrous outing of 1952 when the party thought that personality, good intentions and past records of its leaders were all that was needed to sell their policies on free education. The party lost the following 1952 election to NCNC that created fear in the minds of the electorate instead of preferring meaningful alternative policies. President Obama and his Democratic party suffered similar fate during last year’s US mid- term election. The party lost the election during the season of celebration of Osama’s victory on the American hitherto intractable health care problem and his efficient handling of the economy.

During the Agege outing, the ACN leader was also reported to have called for fiscal federalism to allow individual communities have resources to develop according to their pace and as dictated by their needs. H e also called on President Jonathan and the National As-

sembly to ensure devolution of power through appropriate constitutional amendment to enable the third tier of government to respond to the needs s of local people and foster development at the grass root.

The governor Emeritus was just playing politics. If fiscal federalism is not a call for sharing of the national cake, but a call for baking one, as ACN has often argued, I think the party now has a good opportunity to practice what it has always preached. More equitable distribution of the resources between the federal and the other two tiers of government will no doubt leave fewer funds for stealing at the center, but more funds at the other two levels of government may not necessarily lead to improvement in the wellbeing of the people. Our experience has shown that increase in the quantum of funds going to the state and local government hardly translates into increase development. For instance, the total funds the governments of Niyi Adebayo of Ekiti, Lam Adesina of Oyo and Segun Osoba of Ogun received from the federation account was less than 30% of what their successors got in the last eight years. But the level of infrastructural decay is worse in these areas than it was eight years ago.

But the ACN is the most fortunate political party today. With the states it controls along with Ondo State, the party is in a better position to show the rest of the country what fiscal federalism means. All it has to do is to properly harness the resources of the geo-political zone to achieve economy of scale. And the starting point is harmonization of projects and supervision by the party elders.

Let us take road infrastructure for an example. The governor of Ekiti during his last outing in Lagos boasted about the quality of Ado-Itawure Ilesha federal road he recently mended. The governor did a beautiful job. But except Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State handles his Osun portion of the road between Ijebu jesha and the Ilesha-Ife express road, and Ajimobi tackles the intractable Ibadan- Iwo round about gridlock, without Senator Ibikunle Amosun borrowing a leaf from Babatunde Fashola of Lagos about his miracles in Oshodi, Mushin and his deft handling of Apapa unruly truck drivers, the journey between Ado Ekiti that should take three hours will still take six and half hours in spite of Fayemis’s efforts. We can say the same thing of health, education and agriculture sectors. It is the responsibility of the party to give broad guidelines to the governors who sometimes behave as the Lords of the Manor or as competitors.

VIEW FROM THE FOREIGN PRESS

T

HE rejection of the ministerial nomination of Dr. Obadiah Ando by both the Taraba State House of Assembly and the three senators representing the state once again accentuates the spectre of political imbroglio that has plagued Nigerian politics for a very long time. It also pinpoints the dialectical struggle between competence and ineptitude, meritocracy and clientelism that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has been grappling with in his proactive efforts to constitute a credible cabinet that will steer Nigeria along the path of sustainable development where the dividends of democracy will be felt even by those at the periphery of society.

The effort of the president to form an allinclusive cabinet that does not discriminate on the basis of gender, religion, ethnicity and even political partisanship also shows his sincerity and commitment to his election pledge to lead Nigeria to a new brand of politics that is people-oriented. This new brand of politics has helped Nigeria to experience one of its best elections in the country’s history—an election that saw the emergence of leaders who are a representation of the will of the people.

Similarly, the president went against popular party sentiments to endorse the choice of Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal as Speaker of the House of Representatives, a development which in the past dispensations would have been farfetched.

This people-inclined character of our new democracy, where the will of the people is allowed to prevail over and against the selfish interests of a few influential people, has again displayed itself in the president’s noninterference in the rejection of Obadiah Ando by the people of his state as the minister representing Taraba State. The fact that his rejection was based on his dismal performance during his tenure in the federal cabinet as minister of water resources as well as his high handedness and perceived lack of affinity to the people further substantiates the fact that the president will not substitute substance for mediocrity, even if it means going against the interest of some political stalwarts in the country.

Indeed, it is interesting to see how this melodrama of ministerial appointment for Taraba

The unending tussle for Taraba’s ministerial slot

By John Kpanti State will play out as it has become obvious that there are too many conflicting interests and forces at play for the position. The past few days have seen many names being paraded as possible replacement for Ando. These include Mr. David Sabo Kente, an assistant director in the National Assembly and the purported preferred candidate of the governor, Senator Anthony Manzo, the erstwhile senator representing Taraba North and Barrister Damian Dodo. In view of the above, Taraba State and indeed the entirety of Nigerians look forward anxiously to the candidate that will emerge as the new ministerial nominee for the state following the rejection of Ando.

The protracted delay in forwarding another name to the Senate as ministerial nominee from Taraba gives the impression that the president is either wrestling with the intense lobbying for the seat by staunch power brokers from the state, or he is saving the best for last by keeping his cards close to his chest.

Whatever maybe the case, it is hoped that the president will choose the best candidate rather than bow to undue pressures fuelled by misguided interests or baseless intimidations. In fact, this is yet another opportunity for the president to prove his leadership mettle to the Nigerian people and respect his election promise of being a president that has the ear of the people, by simply nominating the best for the job.

Based on the antecedents and qualifications of all the names flying around for the aforementioned position, it is obvious that Manzo is by far the most competent candidate for the job. His competence is reflected in the fact that his name has been consistently present on the list of ministerial nominees from the initial list of 10 sent by the state governors to

the PDP national secretariat for possible consideration for the job to the final list of two.

One would ordinarily think that with the disqualification of one S.D Gani who, together with Manzo, made the list of two, Manzo would be unanimously endorsed for the position. But that didn’t happen. Instead, another name, Obadiah Ando, purportedly supported by the godfather of Taraba politics, emerged alongside Manzo. Eventually, it was Ando’s name that was forwarded to the Senate for screening. Ultimately, there is absolutely nothing wrong with anyone recommending a candidate for a ministerial post given his position as an elder statesman and the pivotal advisory role he continues to play in the Nigerian political scene. However, the rejection of Ando was not on the basis of his benefactors but his alleged incompetence and alleged highhandedness. With Ando’s rejection, one would ordinarily expect that the next name on the line would be Manzo’s. Instead, the public has been made to wait a little longer. We are not sure how long this waiting game would last, but the hope of the people of Taraba and the patriotic citizens of this country is that the president will choose the best man for the job.

Whereas many of the names making the papers have excelled in their various fields, Senator Manzo is unarguably the most qualified of all the candidates, having been the most politically active as seen by his robust contributions in Nigeria’s sixth senate. In essence, this is Manzo’s strongest edge over the other candidates – his extensive knowledge of the political landscape and his conversance with the machinery of governance. A simple glance at his long career which has traversed the fields of medicine, diplomacy, scholarship, governance, law making and philan-

thropy shows his possession of the experience, expertise and character needed for the job. Not only has he excelled in all these areas, he has also handled his plethora of crystal accomplishments with poise, gentility and humility.

As repeatedly shown by this man in both his actions and writings, leadership is all about sacrifice, innovative ideas and the betterment of the lives of the people. Over and above all, Senator Manzo remains the most popular candidate with the people of the state because of his proactive leadership, track record of excellence and people-oriented approach to service. Bearing in mind that he comes from Northern Taraba, a region that has largely remained underrepresented in the present political equation of the state and the nation at large, his nomination will further serve to bolster the president’s already-alluded commitment to forming an all-inclusive government. It is hard to imagine that the governor and the president would pass Manzo for the other candidates but again this is Nigerian politics and anything can happen.

• Kpanti writes from Jalingo

‘This new brand of politics has helped Nigeria to experience one of its best elections in the country’s history—an election that saw the emergence of leaders who are a representation of the will of the people.

Similarly, the president went against popular party sentiments to endorse the choice of Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal as Speaker of the House of Representatives, a development which in the past dispensations would have been farfetched’

AHEAD NIGERIA/GHANA FRIENDLY

Siasia to rely on fresh legs

Pg. 41

New sports minister assumes duty Pg. 41

Nation Thursday, July 14, 2011

FREE COPY

PAGE 23

NIGERIA/GHANA FRIENDLY Pg. 24

•Osaze

Odemwingie explains rift with Siasia NATIONS CUP QUALIFIER

Victor Moses doubtful for Madagascar Pg. 41

THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

24

NATION SPORT Rangers boss escapes death

NATION SPORT

•Odemwingie

O

SAZE Odemwingie has described the rift with coach Samson Siasia as a clear case of misunderstanding which stemmed from a breakdown in communication.

Player and coach finally got to talk last week in a fence-mending parley

brokered by the NFF and Osaze says it is all in the past.

"It was all a misunderstanding. I spoke to him asking for permission to go back, and the next day, when I got my passport from the Secretary, I thought that meant I had permission

to leave.

"Unfortunately, it was not. It was just a breakdown in communication," Osaze said.

The striker says after a conversation with Siasia, it was all resolved.

"As soon as we spoke, it was clear that it was all a misunderstanding.

"He wants the best for Super Eagles, and that is the same thing I want. And I believe we can all work together to achieve it."

Osaze, accepted as a player who always turns in hundred percent, says

N

IGERIA may again not be able to field Wigan Athletic of England forward, Victor Moses for its next Africa Nations Cup qualifier against Madagascar on September 4 if words emanatinmg from the Federation of International Football (FIFA) headquaters in Zurich are anything to go by.

This is as a result of an email mail sent by this reporter to the media department of FIFA this week to inquire on the status of the matter which had been on prior to Nigeria's qualifying match against Ethiopia in April.

'For now the application is still pending and as a result of this l cannot really tell you anything or when the application will be completed,' read the mail.

As at April this year, FIFA had demanded to know more about the player's status who was born in Nigeria but moved to England at the age of 11.

It had also requested for a compilation of all matches played by Moses matched both at the U-17 and U-20 levels for

he will continue to give his all in the Nigeria jersey.

"I feel honoured every time I wear the Nigeria jersey and I am always proud to represent my country. That is why I give 110 percent each time I am on the field.

"I will continue to do so for the country, the fans and the team."

Odemwingie is expected to be part of Samson Siasia's squad for the next game, a friendly international against Ghana in London on August 9.

Mikel wants Essien’s quick return from injury

C

K

•Mikel

HELSEA midfielder and Nigerian International John Mike Obi wants a quick return from injury of teammate Michael Essien.

The Ghana international will be out for six months after suffering a horror knee injury in Chelsea’s first pre-season training at Cobham.

Essien’s Nigerian teammate, Mikel, however, believes his idol will make a quicker return than expected.

“Unfortunately Michael Essien has been injured, and we all feel sorry for

T must be a hot, long bath for the team this morning after a cold, windy first night in Lisbon.

You could hear the bellow of the powerful wind all through the chilly night.

The temperature has dipped remarkably from the warm 32 degrees in Faro to 20 degrees in Portugal’s capital city.

Some players and officials are caught off guard by this sharp change in temperature because they had expected Lisbon weather to be the same with that of Faro, at least in the summer.

The Portugal FA have housed the Flying Eagles at the four-star Praia Mar Hotel in Carcavelos, it’s a well-appointed lodge by the beach and the Carcavelos Sea. But the hotel could do far better than the small Grundig television sets in the

NOC inaugurates Rugby Football Federation T last, there were banters, backslapping and huggings as the Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC, brought the warring parties of Nigeria Rugby Football Federation under one umbrella at the NOC Secretariat.

It was during the inauguration of the board which finally signalled that peace had returned to the body that went on different ways. It was an emotional inauguration that made the NOC Scribe, Honourable Tunde Popoola wipe away tears.

Director General of the NSC, Dr Patrick Ekeji who was represented by Mrs Tayo Oreweme told the combantants to channel their energy into making Rugby the best sport that

would attract sponsorship and bring honours to the country.

“I'm happy that Rugby is now one big family. Today is a day of reckoning. Together, we can forge ahead and like a bunch of broom, we can have a clean sweep”, he admonished the 16 new members.

While inaugurating the board, the first Vice President of the NOC, Dr Jonathan Nnaji who represented NOC President, Engr Sani Ndanusa charged the new board to rise up by repositioning the sport for better results. We are happy that Rugby is now an Olympic sport and with many talents in Nigeria, the sky will be the limit for the sport”. NOC Scribe, Popoola promised the NOC would

never interfer in the running of the board.

President, Dr Richard Ajayi thanked the NOC for their fatherly role and promised Nigerians that with his new members, Rugby would soon kick itself into the consciousness of Nigerians.

Others members of the board include; Senator Isa Kachako(1st Vice President), Prince Kayode Oguntayo (2nd Vice President), Beyioku Niyi(SecretaryGeneral), Dr Andy Fodoju, Prof Winston Bell-Gom, Odum Dike, Alfa Idris Ahmed, Edward Pam Fom, Barrister Akin Akintola, Richard Raphael, Mrs Grace Kurah, Mrs Patience Kapella, Tinubu Kunle, Tunde Akerele and Ntiense Williams as the Technical Director of the board.

England as well as his names on his international passport through its head of players’ status committee, Laura Zantonelli. Moses is however eligible to play for the Super Eagles since he has not played for the England senior team.

However when NFF was contacted on the matter, it remained optimisic that the player would be cleared before game.

'We are on top of the situation. Already we have also got documents of their places of birth and registration from the National Population Commission, which have been dispatched to FIFA to effect their clearance for Nigeria to use them in subsequent matches,' said the official on the condition of annonymity.

Nigeria ran the risk of forfeiting points had they fielded Moses without getting an official clearance from FIFA. The federation would also have paid a fine of 6,000 Swiss Francs ($6,611).

•Promises crisis-free administration

T

HE newly appointed minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC) Yusuf Suleiman has promised a crisis-free administration of the sector to ensure rapid sports development and properly position Nigeria to attain the vision 2020-20 mandate of the current government.

Suleiman stated this on assumption of office, Wednesday 13th July, 2011 following his confirmation as the new helmsman of the Commission.

Commending the management team of the National Sports Commission (NSC) headed by the Director General, Patrick Ekeji, the new minister, however, decried the current spate of rancour in certain quarters which according to him “has reduced sports administration to a situation of crisis management” and if unresolved will militate against rapid development of sports, in Nigeria.

Suleiman, further stated that if properly harnessed, sports has the potential of creating massive job opportunities for the nation’s teeming youths as well as engendering the development of the country’s human capacity.

While soliciting support of well

him and wish him well and hopefully he can come back very soon,” Mikel told the club’s website.

Essien, 28, has since undergone successful surgery and is now in rehabilitation.

The Nigerian was among the Chelsea squad who played for the first time under new coach Andres Villas Boas, clocking 45 minutes in 3-0 win, and he told the club's website the training sessions have been progressing well.

rooms...

Team co-ordinator Ahmed Abdul aka Ajakpo and goal trainer Sule Shuaibu make the most of the early morning by taking a stroll around the crowded and ever-busy beach just across the road.

The hotel is also about 15 minutes drive from the Estadio Nacional, where Nigeria will take on their Portuguese counterparts as part of the build to the Under-20 World Cup in Colombia.

There is a rich history behind the Estadio Nacional, where the friendly against Portugal will be staged.

The 35,000-capacity arena was built in the 40s and renovated in 1999. It is built among a forest of pine trees and modelled after the ancient amphitheatre of the Greek and Roman Empires. Its stands surround the pitch at about 270 degrees, with the rest an open area leading into the mainbowl.

An architectural masterpiece, no doubt.

The players walk around the well conditioned pitch ahead of the match.

Team secretary Sirajo Hassan makes a quick dash to the airport in Lisbon to receive NFF technical committee boss, Chris Green just as the team have their breakfast, which is the usual continental buffet.

Green is upbeat of the team’s chances in Colombia. “They are capable of winning this World Cup,” said the Rivers State FA chairman.

The squad have secured their visas into Colombia and the team secretary is at the embassy in Lisbon to pick up the passports.

The four-hour bus ride from Faro the previous evening was mostly uneventful, but as you cruise through the expressway made possible by the European Union (EU), you have a fair idea of what Portugal is all about.

From Ejiro Femi-Babafemi, in Germany

New sports minister assumes duty

Flying Eagles’ diary, July 13 in Portugal I

A

•Bosso

Victor Moses doubtful for Madagascar

Osaze explains rift with Siasia

Bosso won’t rule out Pillars’ title chase ANO PILLARS head coach, Ladan Bosso, has told rivals in the race for the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) title this season to brace up for a stiff challenge from his side.

“We are very much in the race to win the league this season because we are not far off from the leading teams. No doubt we have had our ups and downs this season but we are one of the strongest sides in this season’s campaign.

“And I believe that our opponents recognise the kind of threat we can pose to them in the race for the league title. The race for the title is still very much open at this point,” said Bosso.

The 45-year-old coach premised his confidence of Kano Pillars challenging for the title on the back of players in the fold of his team.

“In the Nigerian Premier League today you cannot ignore the fact that Kano Pillars have some of the best players in the country. This team have very, very good players and that is why we are among the top four and I believe we can finish even better.

“Remember that last season Kano Pillars finished second behind Enyimba by a few points and I can tell you that most of the players that achieved that feat are still with the club, and are ready to do better than last season,” the former Wikki Tourists handler said.

Kano Pillars will play host to another title-chasing side, Dolphins, on Saturday at the Sani Abacha Stadium.

Bosso’s men are fourth on the Premier League log with 56 points – four behind Sunshine Stars and Dolphins in first and second positions respectively.

NATIONS CUP QUALIFIER

NIGERIA/GHANA FRIENDLY

E

NUGU Rangers boss Ozor Paul Chibuzor narrowly escaped death Tuesday morning after the car he was travelling in was involved in a ghastly accident.

Chibuzor was lucky to escape with only minor injuries as his one-time official car, a Nissan Tida 2009 model with registration number, 1 ENSG 3089 that has now been ceded to him by the Enugu State Government, crashed.

The accident happened along NTA Road, Independence Layout in Enugu Tuesday morning. The car was damaged beyond repairs as eye witnesses said it somersaulted over three times.

However, Chibuzor’s 'Under-Secretary' Joseph Onwukwe was not as lucky as his boss as he was also involved in another crash with his personal Nissan Pathfinder 1992 model Onu-Asata along Presidential Road.

Onwukwe suffered a serious head injury after his car also somersaulted at the very busy round-about and he was rushed to a private hospital in Enugu according to an eye witness.

Onwukwe was the club secretary some seasons back but was retained by the current CEO to do the secretarial duties of the club.

41

meaning Nigerians to steer the ship of sports administration in Nigeria to the promised land, the minister promised to reconcile all warring factions during his tenure as he admitted that “there are issues to be resolved” in order for us to build a virile sports sector in Nigeria .

The minister also affirmed his commitment to promote and accord equal amount of attention to all sports to ensure that Nigeria athletes are eventually ranked among the best 10 in the world in various sports to realize the aspiration of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Welcoming the new minister of Sports to the National Sports Commission, the Director-General, Patrick Ekeji congratulated Yusuf Suleiman on his appointment by the Federal Government and assured him of maximum cooperation, total support, full loyalty and a dedicated workforce.

Ekeji also expressed optimism that with the cognate experience of the minister as an astute politician, there is no doubt whatsoever that Suleiman will bring these to bear significantly on the administration of Sports in Nigeria. He wished the new minister a successful tenure.

Disu upbeat about Lagos Junior Premier League

T • Coach Samson Siasia celebrate a goal with player

AHEAD NIGERIA/GHANA FRIENDLY

Siasia to rely on fresh legs S

UPER EAGLES coach Samson Siasia has revealed he will give a chance to a couple of new players for next month’s friendly against Ghana.

Ghana players will face Nigeria in London next month Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia has revealed he will give a chance to a couple of new players for next month’s friendly against Ghana.

The Eagles clash with arch-rivals Ghana on August 9 in London.

“I might bring in two or three new players, but my team is still the same you have watched over the last six

matches,” he told MTNFootball.com on arrival from his holidays in the United States of America.

“Whatever be the case, I would present a team that will handle Ghana very well at the Vicarage Ground.”

“I hope to submit the list of players for the match against Ghana to the NFF in the next couple of days and it is going to comprise the same set of players that I have been using since I came on board as the coach.”

Siasia equally confirmed Osaze Odemwingie will be picked for the

game.

“Osaze would be invited from the friendly against Ghana,” he disclosed.

“He has been pardoned. He called me and explained the circumstances that led to whatever happened and asked to be pardoned and I have forgiven him. I made him understand that what he did was not the best for team spirit and he agreed with me.”

Nigeria will use the Ghana friendly as part of the build-up for the mustwin Nations Cup qualifier away in Madagascar on September 3.

ECHNICAL Director of the Lagos Junior Premier League, Tunde Disu (OFR), is optimistic that the competition will set the stage for the discovery of new talents in the country.

The inaugural season of the Lagos Junior Premier League begins in September 2011.

“We expect the competition to produce up-and-coming stars, who will be within the right age bracket for Nigeria’s age grade teams. Interestingly, football scouts watched the preliminaries to uncover youngsters.

“Matches will be played on home and away basis like it is in the English Premier League. At the end of the season, teams will be relegated and promoted. The champions of the LJL will be rewarded for their feat,” Disu, a former Super Eagles coach and Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) told SuperSport.com.

He equally commended the Lagos State government for the initiative.

Teams for the LJL are Agbado Oke Odo Bombers, Oriade FC, Mosan Okunola FC, Ayobo Ipaja FC, Badagry West, Surulere FC, Apapa Golden Boys, Nath Boys, Lagos Island East FC and Coker Aguda Bombers.

Others include Ojodu FC, Onigbongbo

Ultimate Strikers, Agege Giants, Ifako Ijaiye (FKJ United), Oshodi Isolo FC, Ikorodu West, Ikosi Isheri, Ikorodu (Ayangburen Warriors), Imota (Ayayo FC), and Kosofe FC. Disu maintained that teams are expected to field players who are students in secondary schools.

Twenty teams will compete in the second cadre (Lagos Junior League 1), while 18 teams will contest in the lowest division (Lagos Junior League 2.)

•Disu

25

THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com

email:- education@thenationonlineng.com

• Senator U. Dukku, sacked council chair

•KADPOLY gate

KADPOLY enjoys new lease of life After a six-month closure, Kaduna Polytechnic has finally resumed. Workers hope the new management will repair the damage done by the one sacked by the Federal Government along with the Governing Council reports TONY AKOWE.

T

HE sack of the management and Governing Council of the Kaduna Polytechnic by the Federal Government is being celebrated as a victory for the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) as well as other unions in the institutions. The local chapter of the union downed tools for six months (from January 28 to last Monday), agitating that the management, led by Dr Danjuma Isa as rector be sacked because of mismanagement of funds and incompetence. They also did not regard the Governing Council as transparent and wanted its members sacked as well.

During the period, the union survived attempt by the Council to proscribe it and insisted that members’ salaries be paid while they waged the war. At the end, they lecturers were victorious as the Federal Government announced the sack of the management team and governing council last Friday.

By Tuesday, life had returned to the four campuses of the institution. The lecturers were ecstatic as they resumed academic activities.

The union had successfully shut down the institution and sustained their agitations until the Federal Government acceded to their demands.

They were happy that at the condition they gave to return to work – the sack of the management and the council, was met.

The ASUP members also like that the government has promised to investigate the activities of the sacked management.

The KADPOLY ASUP Chair, Mustapha Yahaya Bida described the sack as a victory for tertiary education.

He said: “The pronouncement made by the Minister of Education, Prof Rukayyat Ahmed Rufa’i on the dissolution of both the governing Council and the management of Kaduna Polytechnic is to us one of the greatest milestones in the history of tertiary education in Nigeria. We salute the courage of the Minister and indeed the government of President Goodluck

Jonathan for this bold step to save this citadel of technical education from collapse.

“Today we have witnessed the triumph of truth over falsehood. And our hearts are gladdened by the government’s decision to investigate the financial misdeeds of the sacked management/council. This has rekindled our hope in a better nation; we believe has strengthened the government anti corruption crusade.”

The union has pledged to support the new Acting Rector, Aminu Aliyu in getting the institution back on track.

“We know the task of regaining confidence in a decadent system and also rebuilding it is gargantuan. We have resolved to give the new administration/acting Rector all the necessary cooperation for the institution to march forward. We urge him to be firm, focused and position Kaduna Polytechnic for the next level.

It is not a time for celebration but that of deep thoughts and prayers for success,” he said.

Other unions also joined ASUP to celebrate the victory. Leadership of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnic (SSANIP) described the change of the institution’s leadership as the beginning of a new dawn for the premier polytechnic in the north.

The group said in a statement signed by its chairman, Mallam Isiyaku Malumfashi that the sacking of the management was a fulfillment of the saying that the victory of evil over good is only temporary. They commended the Academic Staff Union for redefining unionism in the institution and for remaining in the trenches in the face of harassment, intimidations, threats, betrayals and even cheap blackmail during the long months of battle.

Kaduna Polytechnic is one of the institutions established by the late Premier of the defunct Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto. It is one of the two polytechnics the federal government plans to convert into universities of technology – the other being the

•ONDO MERGEs SECONDARY SCHOOLS

- Page 28

Yaba College of Technology.

However, the crisis that led to the six-month strike plunged the institution into darkness.

Trouble began late last year when the academic staff cadre embarked on a warning stike, accusing the management of embezzlement and mismanagement of the institution’s funds, injustice, insecurity and general decadence in the institution established in 1956.

They returned to the trenches in January calling for Isa’s removal as Rector. ASUP chair, Mustapha Yahaya Bida said the management’s decision to suspend all allowances approved by the government exacerbated the crisis. They complained to whoever cared to listen, including the 6th National Assembly, which promised to look into the matter, and the Visitation Panel to the institution.

The panel, which submitted its report shortly before the dissolution of the last Federal Executive Council is believed to have recommended the dissolution of the management even though the government, rather than sack the management, removed the Rector, which did not go down well with the union seeking total sack of the management team.

As the strike dragged into the fourth month, the Governing Council on April 3 took a decision to proscribe the union and stopped salaries of its members, directing them to sign an attendance register if they want to earn their pay.

The Council said through its Secretary and Registrar of the institution, Mamoon Abubakar, that it has no choice but to proscribe the union after various efforts at resolving the dispute proved abortive. According to them, He said: “Council in its deliberation noted the efforts and appeal made by the Kaduna State Government, the Emir of Zazzau, the honourable minister of education and officials •Continued on page 26

•Danjuma Isa

•Mustapha Yahaya Bida

•KANO YET TO ACCESS N2.5b ETF FUND - Page 37

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

26

EDUCATION

‘Nomadic schools have produced 184,000 graduates’

T

HE National Commission Nomadic Education (NCNE) said that it has so far graduated over 183,919 pupils from the various nomadic primary schools across the country, with 141,879 of them presently in junior secondary schools.

Acting Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mallam Ibrahim Yamta who disclosed this in Kaduna said that 77 per cent of the children of the nomads across the country who have finished primary education were now in the second-

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

ary schools.

Yamta who was addressing the commission’s Governing Board, directors of university-based centres, directors and coordinators of nomadic education programme across the states said that the nomadic education scheme which stated with 12 states in 1990 is presently available in the 36 states of the federation and the FCT. According to him, from 329 schools with a pupil enrolment of

18,331 with 829 teachers in 1990, the commission now have 3117 schools in the 36 states and the FCT with an enrolment figure of 502,611 with 14,421 teachers.

He noted that the commission has also been involved in providing extension services in the areas of modern skills in animal husbandry, mobilization and assistance in cooperative formation and teaching of literacy, numeracy and functional skills to the nomadic youths and adults and also provide academic support services through the university-based

nomadic education centres.

He disclosed that two of our nomadic model training centres have been selected in Kaduna by the Federal Ministry of Education for the Skills Training and Vocational Education Project of the ADB. According to him, the project which is to last till December 2012 is aimed at achieving the Federal Government of Nigeria Poverty Reduction Initiatives that seek to expand access to basic, non-formal and vocational skills education with the aim of achieving Educa-

tion for All (EFA) and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

While expressing worries over the decline in the implementation of the nomadic education programme in recent times, Yamta attributed the development to the absence of monitoring and supervision of nomadic schools, noncompletion of the Interactive Radio Instruction scheme as well as the absence of teacher training programmes and review of the adapted curricula amongst other numerous challenges.

POWA donates computers to Jos school

W

IFE of Plateau State Commissioner of Police and chairperson Police Officers Wife Association (POWA) Plateau State chapter, Mrs. Oluwatoyi Akano, has donated a desktop computer and laptops to members of staff and pupils of the Police Children School, MOPOL 8 Barrack Jos. Mrs Oluwatoyi, who made the donation when she visited to the school recently also distributed exercise books, biros and Mathematical sets to pupils of the school. She was accompanied on the visit by executive members of the association.

She said: “We decided to visit the school to enable us see how our children are faring in the school and to show our motherly care to our children in this school. We belief that the most valuable gift you can offer a school child is books and writing materials. We live in computer age presently and we also feel providing these sets of computers will help the teachers

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

and pupils in strengthening their computer literacy programme.”

While receiving the computers on behalf of teachers and staff, head teacher of the school, Mrs Akan Ndifreke said the visit shows the association cares about the school.

“Since I took over as principal in this school in 2009, no POWA executive has visited the school in this manner. I am therefore so pleased and contented over this visit and I want to express the profound gratitude on behalf of the management team of the school to the efforts of POWA to have shown that they care for the school. Your presence alone is giving a sense of fulfillment to the pupils and your words of encouragement will go along way in inspiring the children in their future career. Your visit will also create a long lasting memory in the children” she said.

‘Your presence alone is giving a sense of fulfillment to the pupils and your words of encouragement will go along way in inspiring the children in their future career. Your visit will also create a long lasting memory in the children’

•Mrs Akano (right) presenting a computer to the head teacher Mrs Ndifreke of Police Children School, MOPOL 8 Barrack Jos during a visit by Police Officers Wives Association (POWA) to the school

Students caution Ondo govt on loan

T

HE National Association of Ondo State Students’ (NAOSS) has called on the Governor of the state, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, to rescind the decision to source for N30 million loan from the capital market to avoid putting the state and its people in perpetual financial bondage.

KADPOLY enjoys new lease of life •Continued from Page 25

of the Federal Ministry of Labour towards resolving the impasse. Council further noted that all appeals and entreaties were rebuffed by ASUP. “In effect, over 130 days had been lost to the senseless and meaningless strike action from June to September, 2010 and 28th January, 2010 to date.

Council relying on the provision of Section 7 (1), of the Federal Polytechnics Act 2004 which provides inter alia that ‘Council has the power to do anything which in its opinion is calculated to facilitate the carrying out of academic activities of the Polytechnic and promote its best interest,’ resolved to proscribe the activities of Kaduna polytechnic Academic Staff Union (ASUP).”

On the other hand, the Union said that the management deserved to go for failing to remit taxes deducted from workers to the government.

While accusing the management and governing council of maladministration and total lack of managerial competence to run the affairs of the institution, the group also alleged that the sacked management fed the public with lies about happenings in the institution, including claims that their salaries paid by the federal government were short every month while some cadres of workers including security men and cleaners were

not paid for months.

“Our tax deductions are not remitted, voluntary contribution by the staff from their salaries for months (including donations to institution’s Mosques and Chapel) are withheld, loan repayment deducted from staff salaries are not remitted to the banks.

Between 2007 and 2008, Kaduna Polytechnic generated over N1 billion. In 2009, about N500,000 was generated.

In 2010 about N1billion was again generated. Each of the Federal Polytechnic got N1.2 billion from the Education Trust Fund (ETF) to rehabilitate its facilities in 2010.

“With all these money, there is nothing on ground to show for it.

We still use outdated books and Journals in our Library. Our laboratories are bare of tools and materials. The physical surrounding is derelict, with no functioning conveniences, and students use cardboard, in place of desks to write. When we started asking questions, they quickly called some of the contractors who were awarded contracts in 2008, and they have started supplying some laboratory materials. In one of the contracts, they are building a structure without a toilet. When we pointed it out, they now awarded a separate contract for the construction of six toilets to the structure”, Bida said.

Sacked Rector, Isa has said he

would continue his job as a lecturer.

“I took over as a Rector from one of the departments in the polytechnic.

And it is normal that when a Rector finishes his eight years tenure, he goes back to his department. So I am to be there in my department as a Chief lecturer, not as a lecturer again.

Rectorship is an assignment, even if you are from another polytechnic, you go back when your tenure ended and resume your duty there. I congratulate those outsiders that contributed to the resolution of this crisis” he said.

Acting Rector, Aminu Aliyu who is said to have spent eight at the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi is perceived as the chief beneficiary of the saga.

He has called for the cooperation of all members of the polytechnic community.

He said: “I must caution the people that I am not a magician. Everybody has a role to play, from the cleaner who cleans the offices to the top man.

If we work together as a team we will succeed. Otherwise we should forget it. My immediate area of concern is to help the polytechnic to succeed. And I am assuring that I will do my very best. I am looking forward to the cooperation of everybody, both staff and students, from the junior staff to the topmost ones.

If I go wrong, please, don’t hesitate to call my attention.”

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

The association’s call was contained in a release signed and made available to newsmen by Obanoyen Abiola and Oni Olajide the National President and the General Secretary at the end of the NAOSS meeting at the University of Lagos at the weekend.

The students said that attempt by the government to source for the loan would definitely affect the financial health of the state.

The students said: “The said loan will place unnecessary monthly interest cost of N250 million on the resources of the state.

This is unacceptable” The NAOSS also called on the state Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, to reverse the 4.00 CGPA prerequisite approved by its gov-

ernment in awarding scholarship to 3.50 CGPA saying it is a “calculated attempt to reduce the number of the students who are already qualified to get the scholarship” They also urged Mimiko to pay bursary allowances to students from the state studying in tertiary institution across the country and commence the payment of outstanding bursary and scholarship allowances of 2009/ 2010 and 2010/ 2011.

The students said the government has stopped the payment of the annual bursary and scholarship since the present administration came into power in 2009.

“The only bursary and scholarship paid was the one budgeted by and approved by his predecessor before he left office,” they said.

“Sir, I think we have just redefined the term, ‘Mobile Education’!”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

27

EDUCATION

•One of the classrooms needing attention

•A cross-section of old students

Better days ahead for 41-year-old school T

HE calibre of personalities, who stormed the Government Secondary School (GSS), Yelwa-Yauri, Kebbi State, formerly called Yauri Secondary School, for an alumni meeting and awards last Saturday did not fit the shabby environment of the 41-year-old school.

The event drew alumni some of whom were from the Military, Police, Immigration, Customs, among others.

It was a gathering for them to reminisce on their days in the school and thank their teachers for the wonderful old days they spent as pupils.

Like their counterparts in other schools, the old students and pioneer teachers of the school, would operate under the banner of Yauri Old Boys Association (YAOBA). They are determined to run a vibrant alumni association for the good of the school and reverse the situation where some of its structures, especially hostels and many classrooms have seen better days.

During the event, they shared in the good, bad and ugly conditions of the school’s placement by taking various responsibilities with pledges that were never made throughout the reigns of its 14 indigenous principals after inspecting the structures, facilities and state of development.

All these were not without some tears rolling down the cheeks of Mr Maurice

From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

Amaocha, a pioneer teacher of History, English and Geography accompanied by his wife from Imo State to grace the unique occassion.

He described his former pupils as ‘’ my heroes’’ in a long speech he delivered amid tears while reflecting on the journey that brought them together to become one in the school.

The old students donated 10,000 worth of exercise books and other support contributions for distribution to students.

Present at the event were Alhaji Abubakar Gidado Bodinga (Sardaunan Bodinga), who was the Head Boy of the second set of the school; Suleiman Garba Illo, Head Boy, third set; Justice Muhammad Sulaiman Ambursa, Col. Farouk Magaji Gwandu, Abubakar Malami Tambawal, Alhaji Ahmad Usman Bunza, Head of Service, Kebbi State; Alhaji Umaru Nagwari Tambawal, Executive Chairman, Kebbi SUBEB; and Shehu Saraki.

To inspire the pupils of the school, the alumni honoured 10 of its members including pioneer teacher Amaocha, Alhaji Bodinga, Alhaji Muhammad Tambari Yabo, Commissioner of Police, Kano State; Justice Sulaiman Ambursa, Alhaji Bunza, indigenous pioneer principal and then Deputy Governor, old Sokoto State, Alhaji Muhammad Bachaka; Alhaji

Tambawal; Prof Ibrahim Galadima, National President, Mathematical Association of Nigeria; Colonel Farouk Magaji Gwandu and Shehu Saraki.

Emir of Yauri, Alhaji Muhammadu Zayyanu Abdullahi, while presenting the awards to the recipients, described education as a veritable tool for the advancement of the society, urging all to encourage standards in the sector.

“This is a precedence which should be promoted and sustained,” he said.

He said it was time for young pupils of the school to imbibe the culture of self discipline, tolerance and hard work to keep the flag flying for success in all areas of their learning. He commended the foresight of the old boys for laying a foundation that would continue to bring its members together for the better.

Abdullahi also appealed to the state government to ensure that responsive policies and programmes regarding education were effectively implemented for the socio- economic advancement of the state.

Earlier in his opening remarks, Bello Atto Goronyo, who was also nominated as Protem-Chairman of the association, to lead five other officials – with Shehu Saraki as Secretary – noted the significance of the gathering. He added that education remains an umbrella under which the society counts it development.

He said: “To us, it is not a merry making or jamboree gathering, but a challenge to re-awaken our individual and collective commitment to the development of education. The world itself is education driven and collectively, we can actualise its sustenance with determination and support.”

According to him, the event was an historic milestone that would strengthen the collective voice of its members towards stimulating avenues for advancing the intellectual and curricular standard of the school through mutual understanding, contribution and team work.

He maintained that no nation or society would thrive without fighting ignorance through promoting quality education for optimum productivity while urging the association to ensure sustenance of the school’s past glory, which he said was fast eroding.

He further lamented the decaying facilities, which were posing threat to academic activities of the college. He called on the state government to assist in rehabilitating the infrastructure.

Earlier, the Senior Principal of the school, Alhaji Danjuma Abdullahi, said the school was suffering dilapidated structures.

“This is grossly affecting our standards.

We are appealing to government through you to please help salvage the poor state,” he said.

28

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

EDUCATION

Ondo merges secondary schools

UNILORIN FILE Library donates teaching aids THE University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) Library has presented 14 cartons of materials including educational posters, toys, toy computers, school lunch bags, writing materials for Primary school pupils and books to the University Primary School.

The presentation was made last month and the University expects the school to make a judicious use of the books and related materials for the advancement of the pupils.

According to a statement by the Acting Acquisition Librarian, Mrs. G. O. Babafemi, the books, facilitated by Prof. Bolade Eyinla, were donated this year by “Books for Africa”, an organisation based in the United States of America.

F

ROM the next academic session which starts in September, junior and senior secondary schools in Ondo State would cease to be administered independently.

This would mean that instead of having two principals running the junior and senior arms of a school separately, there would only be one principal.

This was the case before the Universal Basic Education (UBE) scheme came into force in 2006. When it did, administration of the junior and senior secondary schools was separated from the senior because the first three years of secondary education (JSS) is part of the nine-year compulsory Universal Basic Education - the minimum level of education that children

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

must attain.

During a briefing in Akure, the Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Ministry of Education, Mrs Taiwo Kolawole, announced that the state government had adopted the rearticulation policy for public secondary from September 2011.

This disarticulation system became effective at the beginning of 2006//2007 academic session while Dr Olusegun Agagu was governor. It divided secondary schools, whereby a secondary school is headed by two principals, junior and senior pupils wore different uniforms, while teachers in Junior secondary were not allowed to teach senior classes.

With the proposed change by the state government, over 301 principals and 225 vice-principals may be demoted and be heading for the classroom again as only one Principal will be allowed to lead a school.

However, Mrs Kolawole said the stakeholders agreed that during the rearticulation of schools, the appointment and posting of principals should not be politicised but based purely on seniority, hard-work and efficiency performance.

At a one-day education stakeholders’ forum attended by the State Executive Members, the Chairman House Committee on Education, Representatives of Federal Ministry of Education, the state Head of

Service, chairmen and members of boards and parastatals, Ministry of Education, monarchs, NUT, ASSUSS, ANCOPSS, AOPHON, PTA, NAPPS discussed on how to rebrand the education system in the state.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko presided over the event, during which participants agreed that the disadvantages of the disarticulation of public secondary schools outweigh the advantages.

They identified the disadvantages to include indiscipline, high administrative costs, lack of synergy between the two levels, unnecessary politicisation of schools administration and deepening of bureaucratic process without achieving expected efficiency.

The forum also agreed that many teachers, who would have been useful in the classrooms, are now acting as VicePrincipals or Principals, while there were problems of shortages of teachers in specific subject because teachers in JSS could not teach in SSS classes.

OSPOLY gets new Rector

Training for supervisors

By Adegunle Olugbamila

T

THE university is planning a training session for capacity building in doctoral research supervision, thesis writing and post-doctoral dissertation and project writing.

To achieve the objectives of the training, the University management has procured a set of books on Ph.D. and post-doctoral research supervision and thesis writing.

Director, Academic Planning Unit, Prof. A. Oladosu, said in a statement that the training is mandatory for Deans, Heads of Departments, Directors of Academic Research Units and Institutes, while those involved in postdoctoral supervision can also attend.

Use of auditorium THE Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services), Prof Alber Olayemi has directed members of the UNILORIN community to secure clearance for use of the university auditorium before advertising the venue for their programmes.

In a circular copied to all deans, departmental heads and other groups, Olayemi decried a situation where programmes of two groups clashed because they did not get approval from the management to use the auditorium.

The circular read: “The Administration has observed that in spite of the guidelines on the above subject matter, Professional Societies/ Faculties/Departments/ Individuals often indicate the University Auditorium as the venue of their organized Conferences, without prior approval(s).

•Dr Mimiko

•Kabiru, Opeyemi, Blessing and Aisha enjoy playing the game

Traffic board game excites pupils

T

HE preliminaries of the Lagos State School Traffic Safety Advocacy competition were officially completed by 12.15pm in the five districts where they held Wednesday last week.

For 35 minutes, primary, junior and senior secondary schools pupils played the Road User Friendly (RUF) board game to the best of their ability to earn a place in the final coming up on the 26th at the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Hall in Maryland.

The game designed after the fashion of the popular Monopoly board game, helps pupils to familiarise

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

themselves with traffic rules and regulations, road signs while having fun. In the process of ‘driving’ around the board, they can earn money and buy assets as reward for good behaviour on the road, or be be forced to pay fines, go to jail, visit the psychiatric hospital, or the drivers’ institute as punishment for disobeying traffic rules or not being familiar with road signs. The contestant with the most amount of assets and least liabilities wins the competition.

The prizes at stake include an educational tour to the United Kingdom to visit the London Transport Museum for winner in each category so the competition is stiff.

Since Maria Anifowose won the competition last year, her classmate, Kabiru Yakubu pupils of Community Senior High School, Wasimi, Maryland, have taken greater interest in the traffic safety advocacy programme.

Yakubu said Maria, who wrote an essay to win the competition, urged pupils in her school to take the

programme seriously.

“Maria’s win affected us because we became conscious of road safety issues.

She used to teach us about road signs – what we should do and not do,” he said.

However, the attractive prizes is not only reason Lagos State pupils take the competition serious. The RUF game is also very interesting.

At Oregun High School, where contestants drawn from schools in Education Districts IV and VI gathered for the competition, while they waited to learn the results, many pupils busied themselves chatting or playing the Road User Friendly (RUF) board game again.

Yakubu, an SS2 pupil, teamed with school mate, Opeyemi Adebayo in SS1 to play against Blessing Ogbu and Aisha Saleh, both JSS2 pupils of Oregun Junior High School. They moaned when they threw the dice and it landed them on the hazard sign on the board – which meant they had to serve one punishment or the other detailed the message cards they picked at

random. They cheered when any one of them won some money or bought an asset as a reward for good behaviour.

Blessing and Aisha’s teacher, Mrs Funmilola Aremu said her pupils find it difficult to stop playing the game, learning how to use the roads properly as they go along.

“This programme is quite good. It exposes the pupils to traffic rules. I see it as a means of helping their parents. The game makes them feel as if they are on the road,” she said.

Mr Shina Loremikan, a member of the technical team for the advocacy programme of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said it is hoped that young people involved in the programme would grow up obeying the traffic rules they are being exposed to now.

Orji Sandra Central Primary School, Oshodi and Mamah Blessing Ayelabowo Primary School, Mushin; while in the secondary category, Oke Odunayo Estate Senior Grammar, Ilupeju and Victor Odekunbi of Agidingbi Junior Grammar School will represent District VI in the final.

HE Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has appointed Dr Jacob Olusola Agboola as the Rector of Osun State Polytechnic (OSPOLY), Iree, Osun State.

A statement signed by the Media Relations Officer of the institution, Mr. Tope Abiola, quoted a letter signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Elizabeth Opakunle, as confirming the governor’s approval of Agboola’s appointment following the recommendation of the panel that conducted an interview for applicants.

Agboola, who joined the institution in 1994, was the Head of Department of Secretariat Studies for eight years before he was appointed Director of Continuing Education. He has also served as Director, Examination, Academic Planning and Deputy Rector of the institution.

In December 2009, Agboola became the Acting Rector under former governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, a post he held till July1.

Agboola, who contested with five others for the post, has 12 books including and 45 academic papers to his credit.

As Rector, Agboola has promised to overhaul the system. He assured that with the introduction of Vocational and Technical Education (TVE) and encouragement of Entrepreneurship Education (EE) in the institution, its graduates would be self-reliant.

Similarly, Mr Olusanya Akingbade- Adetuberu, an engineer, has also been appointed the institution’s Director of Works. A native of Ilesa, Adetuberu holds a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Mechanical Engineering and a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from the Obafemi Awolowo Univeristy, Ile-Ife.

• Dr Agboola

29

‘I want to be relevant in life’

Tale of three corps members Page 31

Page 30

*CAMPUSES *NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE

0805-450-3104 email: ladycampus@yahoo.com

THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

Three Law students of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, defeated their counterparts from 19 other countries to become the world’s fourth best at a competition in The Netherlands. OPEOLUWA SONUGA (200Level Law) reports.

OAU Law students shine in Europe A

DEBIMPE Adeloye, Iseoluwa Akintunde and Victoria Ojo are the trio who wrote the name of the country in gold at a contest for Law students. It was the 2011 Forrest Mosten_Loius M. Brown International Client Consultation Competition, hosted by the Faculty of Law, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

The students will remain grateful to the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State Prof Michael Faborode, and Dean, Faculty of Law Prof Ademola Popoola, who rallied to ensure they participated in the contest. In 2008, Oluwaseun Omotosho and Abimbola Odeleye, who won the national rounds to make it to the international stage in Las Vegas, United States (US), could not attend because of certain problem.

The competition is geared towards exposing budding lawyers to standard international legal practice and the ever-increasing sophistication of the profession. It is also aimed imbuing law students around the world with the requisite skills of client interview and advice. The competition will see a client come to the office of the “lawyers” to present a hypothetical legal problem to which the “lawyers” are to offer appropriate legal advice.

A night before the students’ departure, OAU allowed them to use its guest house in Lagos, and also furnished them with souvenirs to be exchanged with other participants at the competition. The team was not just representing Nigeria; it flew Africa’s flag. It was the first time the students were travelling outside the country.

Reliving the experience Victoria said: “We picked another flight in Germany and travelled on several trains; this was a ‘waoh’ experience, but the challenge was the cold.

The extreme cold weather got us shaking from head to toe. I kept wondering how our people there survive”.

The opening was attended by 20 countries: Nigeria, India, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Russia,

•Adebimpe and Iseoluwa, with some other participants, at the Cultural Night.

Jamaica, The Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Australia, USA, England, Wales, Puerto Rico, Indonesia, Malaysia, Finland, Ukraine and Ireland.

It was followed by a seminar with the theme: “Should clinical education be a part of the university curriculum?” On the panel was Bart Groen, a man reputed to have revolutionised The Netherlands civil system. He was of the opinion that “the skills of law students need to be developed; skills ranging from research, writing, oratory, argument need to be integrated into all law courses.”

Afterwards, the competition was declared open and countries were matched. Nigeria

was matched with Russia and Sri Lanka. The OAU students scaled through to the semi finals, after beating their counterparts from America, Russia, India, England, Scotland, Wales, Cambodia and several nations which did well in the past competitions. They made history as the first team, in many years, from Nigeria and even Africa to proceed beyond the first round.

There were visits to wonderful places during the programme. Daily, the participants were conveyed in buses or trains to places of interest.

There was a cultural event on the second night. It was an opportunity for students to become familiar with diverse cultures.

When it was Nigeria’s turn, the audience

was treated to diverse ways of greeting an elder by the country’s three major ethnic groups.

Adebimpe said of the reception “They no doubt liked our performance. Some were practising our ways of greeting with us.

Indeed, Nigeria is unique. We also danced to the rhythms of the popular gospel musician, Ayefele”.

Why Ayefele? Iseoluwa responded: “We are Yoruba and that was one of the songs we had on our phones. Coupled with that, the song we played had the tribes well represented, which afforded us the opportunity •Continued on page 30

• Fidelity Bank partners SUG - Pg32 •Students get laptops at subsidised rate - Pg33

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

30

CAMPUS LIFE

Slowly killing Pushing Out our future

W

E ARE narcissists. I say this in the general sense. It can be argued that no one expects anything from government. For many of us, government is like a big cow from which we eagerly await our turn to cut large chunks of meat, periodically.

For a small percentage, the cutting is a neverending jamboree; it has become a right. We slash off hefty slabs, not for the common good (not even for our neighbours), but for our personal gratification.

The dictionary defines narcissism as “inordinate fascination with oneself; excessive selflove; vanity”. It is also seen as the “normal condition at the infantile level of personality development. Synonyms include selfcenteredness, smugness, egocentrism, vain person and egomaniac.

The above defines the Nigerian experience – especially the leadership - in its relationship or lack of it with the youth of the nation.

One of my favourite channels on DSTV is Nat Geo Wild, an animal channel. I have learnt a lot from it. Permit me to share some of the amazing documentaries I have seen.

The subject was the crocodile, an animal known for its ruthlessness when it comes to pouncing on a prey. I was struck by the fact that the mother crocodile was equally loving and fiercely protective of its young, right from the time she lays the eggs. She shields these eggs very carefully and woe betides that animal which as much as forays anywhere near

with

Ngozi Nwozor 08054503104 (SMS only)

•campuslife@thenationonlineng.net •ladycampus@yahoo.com the place where these eggs are hidden. The crocodile also “mourns” the destruction of its eggs. A particular one, in mourning, went thrashing at the sea and became extremely violent when some of her eggs were lost. Then, when the eggs are hatched, the little ones are shielded - in the mouth of the mother crocodile!

Do I talk about the eagle and its eaglet? I exclaimed when I saw the eagle deal with a deadly cobra when that one threatened its young. It held the cobra’s head down with its talons and lifted it high on top of a rocky mountain. Then it began to hit it between two hard rocks. By the time it finished with this cobra there was nothing left of the reptile. I remember shouting and screaming as I watched this angry mother eagle. Meanwhile the cobra had not touched its baby.

What about the monkey and its young I watched two monkeys hold down a crocodile’s mouth at both ends while a third snatched a baby from the reptile’s mouth!

If animals - land, air and sea creatures - put

their lives in danger to protect their young, it means that even they understand the need to preserve the future.

What do we say about human beings who God has given the power to dominate over all failing to preserve their own young? Do those in authority understand that it is indeed a sin not just against the youths but also against God and against Mother Nature when they do not do everything to develop and preserve the young in this country?

From statistics from the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) road accidents is the highest killer in Nigeria.

The average age of those who die in these accidents is 26. Agreed that it is

not only bad roads that cause accidents, some drivers are actually on death-wishes I know.

All the same, if the system is right, the number of suicidal drivers would have reduced long ago. Is it not in this same planet we live in that patrol teams book drivers for over-speeding and actually punish them? Do people in such countries have more heads than we here?

In both the education and health sectors all we get to hear is strikes. Again, as I write, the academic staff union of the universities (ASUU) has given notice of yet another strike. That of Kaduna Polytechnic just called off a six-month old strike; we should be ecstatic, I wager.

What about the hospitals. These days, people rely on divine intervention and healthy habits to preserve their lives. I have not done a survey but I can wager a bet that close to 70 percent of Nigerians would first visit a herbal doctor or their religious leader when they are sick than go to the hospital. This is for the simple reason that they believe the hospital would “waste” their time before hastening their death.

Before now, security used to be a far-fetched issue. Save for armed robbery attacks and the isolated kidnapping here and there, many of us didn’t bother much with that word. But now, it has become a major issue affecting the average Nigerian. Kidnapping in the Southeast has continued unabated. The media hardly gets to report the many cases affecting ordinary people. Boko Haram in the north is having a field day, stomping and trampling all it cares. The security agencies are just there; talking tough and delivering very little.

Sadly, as has happened in other areas, the shoddiness and unpreparedness of the authorities have been thrown up for all to see.

People have resorted, as always, to God. On Monday, students at the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), Borno State, were asked to go home – indefinitely. According to Ahmed Mohammed, the institution’s Head of Information and Public Affairs, the decision was taken after mounting rumours of impending attack from the Boko Haram sect. “The authorities had no other option than to shut down the university for now…. This is the best we can do in the face of the security challenge we found ourselves in Borno,” he had added.

Meanwhile, a Colonel Victor Ebhaleme, spokesperson of the Joint Task Force in the state, said the university’s closure was “hasty” and capable of promoting “unnecessary panic!” Of course no one takes him serious; even he would not believe himself.

The leadership has completely failed the young of this country. Why indeed must we continue in this doomed way? Why indeed must we persist in wasting our young? Are the animals better than us? I shudder to even consider the question.

Ciao

Abdulsalam Idowu, a physically-challenged 100-Level student of Law, University of Lagos (UNILAG), is not new in the university. He had earlier obtained a Second Class upper degree in Political Science from the institution. He told AYODEJI ADESINA (400-Level Mass Communication) his challenges and why he went for another degree.

‘I want to be relevant in life’

•Idowu

C

AN you talk about your background?

My mother died when I was five. After my father took another wife, his attention was on the new wife and her children. We, the children of the late wife, had to fend for ourselves. Coupled with this handicap, my chances of going to

school were very slim. I started with what they called jeleosimi, a type of nursery school then. But when other children were promoted I was not. I asked the teachers why, and one of them said: “We can’t promote you because of your condition; we just allowed you to be playing with other children.

You are not registered by anybody”. I cried. I persuaded my dad to just register me and forget the rest. So he registered me and from the day of registration, I started begging on the streets. I fed myself, bought my uniform and books.

What motivated you to come for another degree?

I first came to Lagos, in 1991, for begging. Before, as an SS3 student, I was doing small business. I would buy things in Maiduguri and come and sell in Oyingbo, Lagos. That was how I got used to Lagos. So, I knew I would settle in the state. My attraction to UNILAG is its violence-free nature; another motivation was the neatness of the place as well as friendliness of the students.

Everywhere was neat and well tarred; thus a cripple like me could move freely without assistance.

Are you getting the desired support?

I told my friends when I gained admission that it was not gaining the admission but excelling that mattered. Let me be sincere, I have survived till today not based on begging but based on what people did for me when I entered UNILAG. And, thankfully, I utilised maximally what I got. A few individuals have helped; one corporation - Wapic Insurance has

been great. It promised to be giving me N50,000 per semester. There was a time it forgot, but when reminded, it gave me N100,000.

The university helped by giving me free accommodation for the first two years of my first degree.

That is rare; one cannot expect more from the school.

What drives your passion?

It is the need to get myself out of life’s relegation. Begging is life relegation. I spend a lot of time in the library, reading. This is because I want to be relevant to my generation, adding values and influencing lives for good.

Why did you opt for Law? I believe that the best professions for physically-challenged people are law and journalism. I was disappointed when I didn’t make First Class in Political Science. I made a 2:1. Besides, I am not satisfied with just one degree. So, I put in for Law. But I will need a part-time work to support myself as the course is demanding. There are several books and materials I need to buy.

What are your other challenges?

There is no facility for cripples to work. Even able-bodied people do not find it easy, not to talk of a disabled guy. So, the best is to study courses you can practise on your own, like Law. Again, I love teaching, so being a lecturer is another option for me as it would make me relevant in my discipline.

How do you feel when people look at you with sympathy?

We have a weak understanding of physically-challenged people in Nigeria. One day, I was on my bike heading for the mosque when a man stopped me and gave me N10.

I had to tell him I was not a beggar.

The truth is that 90 percent of physically-challenged people are beggars on the streets. Even, some normal people disguise as physically- challenged people to beg. Due to that I don’t feel embarrassed. I just politely tell people I’m not a beggar.

•The three: Victoria, Iseoluwa and Adebimpe.

OAU Law students shine in Europe •Continued from page 29

to also showcase the various ways of dancing in the tribes. It was funny to see a white guy, Komole, and others bringing out their handkerchiefs to join us in the Igbo dance”.

On the third day, the Nigerian team competed and when the result was released, it came fourth. With theresult, it was ruled out of the final. Asked if they knew what went wrong, Bimpe answered: “On enquiry, we discovered that the approach of the other teams to the problems differed from ours; this is because of the peculiarity of their law. The divorce law applied by most of the competing teams does not require attempts at reconciliation. Nigerian law, however, sees marriage as a sacred institution, so we feel we were victims of the law we applied”.

The final saw Jamaica coming tops, defeating Australia and New Zealand.

To round off the competition, a dinner was held at La Caverne de Guelhem, where all the participants had the opportunity to say good bye and exchange souvenirs as well as receive their certificates of participation.

Commending the Nigerian contingent, Prof Mosten, the organiser of the competition, said: “Your performance is precedental. I’m proud of you and I know Nigeria is also. Your performance is the best Africa has gotten in contemporary times”.

When CAMPUSLIFE asked Victoria to compare Nigeria’s education with what she saw in The Netherlands, she replied “It’s incomparable, underlined”.

Iseoluwa gave piece of advice to the government: “I recommend that Nigeria overhauls the various phases of our educational system in order to be in tune with the rest of the world. Gone are the days when education is seen as the benefits of a privileged few. Education is a right!”

Victoria added: “Every child over there, in the age brackets of 0-18, is educated free. What they bother with is to buy a bicycle that will take them to and from school.

If you happen to get into the university before the age of 18, you are lucky as the scholarship will also apply. The common man on the street is insured. To describe the experience in one word; I’d say ‘Speechless.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

31

CAMPUS LIFE Three Corps members have reminded many of the saying, “no one is useless in this world that lightens the burden of others.” They did this through their projects, which were commissioned at the Ohaozara Local Government Area, Ebonyi State. FEMI ASU (NYSC member) was there.

•Nko (middle, standing) and some of the graduates of her training programme.

•Nko, Adesola and Oluwatoyin.

Tale of three corps members

A

S one of the cardinal programmes of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC),Corps members are expected to be involved in Community Development Service (CDS), which runs concurrently with their primary assignment. They are organised – in groups - to work with local communities to execute projects aimed at impacting positively on the lives of the people.

This is compulsory. Corps members could also initiate and execute projects individually or in collaboration with others in what is called individual CDS The trio of Nko Solomon, Adesola Adefiranye and Oluwatoyin Yusuf, have etched their names on the minds of many people in their host community as well as fellow corps members. They share several things in common. They came to Ohaozara on the same day for their primary assignment. They live in the same Corpers’ Lodge in Obiozara. They also work in the same organisation, Ohaozara Local Government Area.

Living in the community has not been without some challenges. Notwithstanding, they decided to leave

the land better than they met it.

They saw certain needs and made up their minds to fill them. At a time when the need for self-employment is a source of concern for many Nigerians, Nko, a graduate of Chemical Engineering from the Federal University of Technology, Yola, harnessed her knitting skill into an effective machinery of change in the community.

“I wanted to empower the woman in Uburu, Ohaozara, so that they can have something that will give them daily income with which to take care of their families”, she told CAMPUSLIFE. For five months, she engaged the women in free knitting training.

They were taught how to produce cardigans, baby sets and head warmers. The project started with 30 persons who showed interest, but as a result of language barrier, since she could not interact with many of them in Igbo, the number reduced to those who could read and write in English. Eventually, 10 people were successfully trained.

And to afford those who could not meet the requirement of literacy the opportunity to benefit from the training, the establishment of a co-

operative knitting school was agreed on so that the graduates of the school would in turn transfer the skill to others in their language.

Apart from the language barrier, “to train human beings is really taxing. Many times, I had to go up and down. Sometimes, their works would fall down or when problems generally arose, I had to go round to supervise the trainees. I had to sacrifice a great deal of time, even when it was not convenient. It wasn’t easy, but I really thank God for the success today,” Nko added.

Some of the graduates of the school, Divine Cooperative Knitting School, spoke to our correspondent. Mrs. Mamudu Maimuna, a civil servant, had this to say: “I am very happy and grateful to the corper for the training she gave to us. She has given us something everlasting if we can maintain that and have the same mind to train others the same way she trained us. She has dropped something in this town.

From generation to generation, people will continue to benefit from her effort. I believe that this very good gesture she showed to us will continue to follow her wherever she goes, in Jesus name”.

•Adesola, at the bus stop she constructed.

“I really thank God for the corper that initiated this project. I will never forget that she served in this town. I will transfer the skill to the younger ones so that they can be self-sufficient. In fact, I have a vision of making an industry out of it,” enthused Mrs. Helen Orji, a computer operator.

Some of the participants in the training have bought their personal machines and materials for production.

Adesola Adefiranye, a graduate of Accounting from the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Ogun State, saw the need to construct a passenger shield or bus stop after witnessing and experiencing the untold pains people go through daily under the sun and the rain while waiting to get a bike or bus to take them to their destinations.

The construction of the bus stop which started three months ago was not without some challenges.

According to her, the job was wrongly executed by the craftsmen

initially hired. Also, the hike in materials to be used for the building of the bus stop took a toll on the project. But “thanks be to God that, through it all, today the project is a reality,” she said.

A number of indigenes expressed appreciation to the corps member who brought that development into the community. Said Moses Uwadiegwu: “It’s a great thing to see this project. Really, the Corps member will never be forgotten in this community for good.”

Oluwatoyin Yusuf is a graduate of Insurance from the University of Lagos. She will not be forgotten in a hurry by fellow Corps members, especially in the lodge, Obiozara.

Like her fellow initiators, she saw a need in the Corpers’ Lodge and filled it. “This project was conceived two months ago. I noticed that both Corps members and the public usually found it difficult to identify the lodge. Besides, the •Continued on page 36

‘You don’t need flamboyance to win election’ At the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), the Student Union President, Michael Obiukwu, has given the administration the sobriquet “Aluta Dignity.” This name, he told GERALD NWOKOCHA, is to help the leaders accord their offices the dignity it deserves.

•Michael

W

HY are you in students’ unionism?

This is because I want to protect students’ right and interests.

Students are being victimised and denied of their rights and privileges. In addition, I also want to help them unite, relate well and respect constituted authorities.

How would you rate your government?

Some students say we have achieved a lot; others say we are moving slowly. Nevertheless, the truth of the matter is that we are achieving greatness today. Some people naturally criticize leaders whether the man at the head is do-

ing well or not. But I welcome ideas from students which enable me to correct my mistakes and, today, everyone smiles. Though we have not arrived yet, we will do more. I rate my administration 72percent.

Can you give some details of what you have achieved?

We had a vision before we contested the election. In our inaugural speech last October 29, we pleaded with the management to ensure the rehabilitation of the FUTO back gate and also install 1000kva generator for students. The then Vice-Chancellor, Prof Celestine Onwuliri, promised to attract private investors to assist the school in tarring the road. Today, those two promises have been fulfilled. We also facilitated the installation of new seats to replace the damaged ones at Hall of Mercy, 750-seater and 500-seater lecture theaters. The SUG

now has a cybercafé located at the union building to ease students’ stress of going far to browse. We have also maintained the clearing of the environment, ensuring that the cleanup exercise introduced by the last SUG is maintained.

We have assisted 20 indigent students in paying their school fees. We held a successful union week organised by the Vice-President, Juliet Eze. Other events include the SUG leadership seminar aimed at capacity building of students, and the second FUTO marathon.

We are also working to ensure that all our election manifestoes are achieved - at least 80percent and more. We will ensure we complete all our projects before we leave office.

What is your advice to students as well as new SUG aspirants?

Students should take the bull by

the horn. They should not sell their votes for money. They should be interested in electing credible leaders who will have them at heart. And to the aspirants, I advice they play by the rules. The school has said there should be no printing of banners, almanacs and stickers. They should heed to that. They don’t need flamboyance to win. When I ran election, someone spent over N1,000,000 yet he lost. And if such a person succeeds, he would be more interested in “recouping” what he invested.

How do you intend to cope with the new VC? I hope the incoming VC will do more than Prof Onwuliri who was a father in the true sense of the word. I hope for a better working relationship with him. And I pray God to give him direction on the better ways to manage students especially to carry the SUG along in the scheme of things.

32

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

33

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

34

CAMPUS LIFE At the University of Ado-Ekiti (UNAD), examinations scheduled to hold on June 28 were postponed to July 4. They held, but July 6 and 7 became dates to remember - not exactly for the right reasons. SOLOMON DADA reports.

•An unidentified SUG leader addressing students at the meeting.

•The three suspected cultists apprehended by members of the Cadet Corps.

When students said enough T

HE pandemonium lasted three days. On July 6, two students who are suspected to be cult members chased a suspected rival cultist onthe Satellite-Osekita Road and macheted him severely. The incident happened in front of the Foursquare Student Fellowship; time was 3:30pm. An eye witness recalled: "Motorcyclists were turning back in the opposite direction; even after the assailants had gone, none was willing to carry the injured who was covered with blood all over him".

Students were still discussing this event when another happened the following night. As is the custom during exams, students went for night classes in churches, mosques and lecture theatres. It was not yet 8pm when the first set of gunshots boomed. One of the students who didn't want to be named described what happened: "Over 30 guys dressed in black converged on Satellite Junction holding weapons ranging from guns to machetes. The second gunshot sounded almost immediately and

students began to scamper for safety.

Shop owners quickly closed their shops while everyone ran".

In the ensuing stampede, about 10 students (six ladies and four guys) fell into a 7feet recently dug soak away.

The cult members took over the road from the junction, strolling, shooting and hitting their machetes on the ground. Then, they began to chant an eerie song "Who bi eiye/Na we dey reign/Na we be their oga".

CAMPUSLIFE learnt that they belong to the black axe group.

The cult guys took over the road for over one hour. There were screams for help, but no one dared go out. It took the intervention of the University Peace Corps popularly known as Cadet to salvage the situation. This was not without dire costs, as one of the cadets was badly macheted. Soon after, men of the State Security Service (SSS) and the mobile police stepped in on an all night patrol.

Another scene unfolded the following morning when the cadet in retaliation and pain of their wounded

•SUG President Olalekan.

member decided to go on house to house raid of the cult members. Three of those who struck the previous night were apprehended. While taking them to the cadet base, some students believed to be colleagues of the cultists ambushed them, setting off another fight and wave of panic. Students who had exams that morning stated running back home.

One of the students asked: "Why shouldn't I go back home? These people are cult members and what if their colleagues decide to strike again when we are in the examination hall?

•Members of the Student Team who lost 1-2 to the Staff Team.

Students tackle staff in football match

“E

ver imagined right in front of you is your most dreaded lecturer, not in class or the laboratory but rather sweating it out with you on a football pitch? And there you collect the ball, dribbled past him, get the ball over his head, dribbled past another lecturer and guess who he is this time, your HOD! “Without rendering the air, applause from other students to the admiration of your football skills and then alas, the unexpected hap-

From Dayo Ibitoye ABU ZARIA pened, you lost the ball to your opponent who now dribbled past you, dribbled another, and then past the defender, aimed for the goal post and then shouts of ‘goal!’ rent the air”.

This was how a student described the experience two weeks ago, after participating in a match between students of Chemical Engineering against their lecturers at the

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.

It was all about fun and display of skills. The suspense was enthralling as staff and students slugged it out.

The crowds were treated to 60 minutes of football skills, 30 minutes apiece.

They all matched out to enjoy the round leather game despite the heavy downpour earlier in the day.

The football match is the first of its kind in the department. The first goal

Where would we run to? It's only a living that can bag the B.Sc. I had better carryover a course because my life can't be carried over".

The Student Union President, Olalekan Shittu, who was busy all through with the president of Iworoko Residential Association, Olayiwola Damilola, said the day's exams "should be postponed until further notice because the security of students were not guaranteed and some victims were still in hospital and some are not in school because of fear".

A panic-stricken female student narrated her experience: "I was at the Redeemed Christian Fellowship when it started yesterday night. I can hardly remember anything I read. It's the sound of gunshots that booms in my head now".

However, some students and invigilators defied the confusion as they sat for and conducting the examinations even when some students were not in the hall. The Student Union leaders then began to go to classes where examination were being held, sending out invigilators and examiners, accusing them of not having the interest of their students at heart.

A new twist was added when the University Christian Association Ado-Ekiti (UCAAD) waged into the situation and this time, it was not in a spiritual manner. One of its officials said: "It was high time we said

enough is enough. We suffer majorly when these guys strike. They waylay our members after vigil or programmes that end at night, collecting their phones and laptops. It's a madness that must stop".

The Christian body merged with the Student Union to embark on a peaceful protest to the Governors' Office. Other challenges that were brought up include lack of power supply, inadequate security, lack of drinkable water, and "neglect of the institution by the state government". For the last point, they claimed that the governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, had not stepped into the institution since he was sworn-in last October.

The protest was stopped by security personnel at the main gate. After some unfruitful deliberation, the students decided to block the road by not allowing other vehicles to pass.

Eventually, an aide of the governor attended to them; he explained that Fayemi was busy. But to pacify the students, he put a call through to the Governor as the Governor spoke with the students on phone, urging for calm and promising to look into their grievances.

By 5:30pm, the blockade was lifted.

Olalekan, the SUG leader, said: "This is a seasonal film, they (the cultists) cannot watch it to the end because aluta is continua and our victory is ascerta."

of the game was scored at 10 minutes of playtime with the goal coming from a lecturer. The first half ended in favour of the staff. The second half of the game started on a tough note with the students struggling desperately to have an equalizer, however none came until the ninth minute of the second half.

Shouts of goal rent the air. It was as if the goal added more flavour to the game as both teams now struggled to show the stuff they are made of. It was indeed fun. The winning goal came at the 16th minute from a penalty awarded to the staff team as a result of a foul committed by the opposing team. A member of staff, Mallam Mohammed Musa, wasted no time in sending the ball into the net making the score line 2-1. The students struggled endlessly to score but all efforts proved abortive. At the end of the game both staff and students had a fun-filled day. It was indeed an event they would always want to experience again.

Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE, Suleiman Agboola, President of the Nigeria Society of Student Chemical Engineers NSCHE, organiser of the match and a 500-Level student, said the match was to foster unity between students and staff. He further thanked all who participated as well as those who turned up to watch.

A student, Joseph Saint, who played expressed his impressions thus: “This match had definitely brought us closer to our lecturers. Imagine the HOD slugging it out with us on the field; it is indeed a good development and more of it will be appreciated.”

Department gets donation From Frank Ikpefan AUCHI POLY

S

TUDENTS of Mineral Resources, Auchi Polytechnic (AUCHI POLY), have received teaching materials from Engr. Olusegun Ogundele, the Head of Department (HOD) and Engr. A.B Ojemu, another lecturer.

Ogundele donated 200 copies of his book, Safety and environmental control in mines. Ojemu, on his part, donated a planimeter to the department. The lecturers said they wanted to assist in the development of the young department.

Reacting, the Rector, Dr. Philipa Idogho, said she was elated by the gesture of the lecturers. She described the initiative as inspiring and commended them for their thoughtfulness, adding that they had set good example which other lecturers should emulate.

In another development, the Campus II of Auchi Polytechnic has been named after Dr. Idogho.

It was approved by the governing council. The campus is now to be known as Philipa Idogho campus.

The request to name the campus after the Rector was put forward by members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) and the Students’ Union.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

35

CAMPUS LIFE

A sacrifice for freedom

By Samson Ademola adesam212foru@yahoo.com

E A

VERYONE knows cultism could lead to death. Everyone would also agree that murder

FTER graduation, the first issue that comes to mind is enlistment in National Youth Services Corps (NYSC) scheme. Many prospective corps members, who have connection, usually get posted to their state of choice. Not satisfied, they usually take a step further to lobby to stay in cities and good places. Most corps members are guilty of this act, simply because of the fear of the unknown, including communal violence.

From the onset, the NYSC scheme was beset with many discrepancies including wrong implementation of programmes and postings, inappro-

I

T is disgraceful for parents who are mandated with the sole responsibility of directing and protecting the children in their care to engage in a fight, how much more security agents who are the enforcers of law and order?Men on whose shoulders rest the safe guarding of the lives and properties of over 150 million?

“It is regrettably lugubrious” would have been the response of Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon if his reaction were sought. The recent brawl between soldiers and policemen rubbishes the little gains we have made in this democratic experiment.

We are used to members of the national and state assemblies turning themselves into punching bags, street boys engaging in fisticuffs, cultists devouring their rivals in open battles and irate youths venting their spleen on communities, but we are not comfortable with the frequency with which soldiers and policemen engage in free-for-all. It is not just a huge embarrassment but a slap on the face of the nation.

Pray, are these people not supposed

By Samson Folarin childofdkingdom@yahoo.com

S

IR, I had to communicate with you this way to beat the protocol that may not allow me to personally deliver the letter to you.

The deluge of visitors on courtesy visits, congratulatory calls, and other perfunctory visits may also tax my patience.

As you mark your first month in office, I wish to whisper some important thoughts into your ears.

launch on campus is always shocking. Somebody you saw just few minutes ago would have been dead before the snap of the finger. But if you want to feel the poignant effect of cultism, look no further; visit the grave of the OAU-5 and see how hope and ambition were terminated.

Up till now, the blood of the victims of this mindless killing on Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) campus in 1999, one a prospective lawyer, George Iwilade (fondly called Afrika), remains the liquid with which present OAU student nourish the flower of freedom.

The five students - George was the the Secretary General of the Student Union; Eviano Ekelemu, Yemi Ajeteru, Babatunde Oke and Efe Ekede, were perfect examples of

how cultists waste the lives of many promising youth and turn the dream of many families into nightmares.

Today, OAU students see George and Eviano as martys for a cult-free campus.

They championed a crusade against cultism and made a public disgrace of nine top members of the Black Axe confraternity in March 1999, having arrested them at the university quarters. These secret agents then launched an attack on the students on July 10, 1999, a date that coincided with the Kegites day.

However, this would not be the first time the blood of disciplined students would be shed on campus by cultists. Of course, it happened in Kwara State Polytechnic, Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, among

others. The institutions became known as cultist schools. Recently, the University of Ado-Ekiti recorded the wickedness of the cowards.

After the murder of the OAU-5, other students went berserk on a revenge mission, arresting some of the perpetrators in the nearby town just like a scenario put forth in the popular Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar “Fire, revenge! Kill! Let not a traitor escape!”

Wherever the perpetrators of the July 10, 1999 killings are today, despite the fact that they were eventually released by the then university administration, their ears would tingle at the mention of OAU students. Maximum or ferefe shishi, as the current punitive measure is

NYSC: Are corps members safe?

By Ibrahim Muhammad Suleja passionateibro@yahoo.com

priate and epileptic academic calenis strikes in our dar, frequent riots and higher institutions. It is not news that majority of corps members do not want to serve in villages and lessdeveloped states.

I thereby make a case for the abolishment of the scheme. Focus should be placed on better ways to engender unity. The views that want NYSC to be scrapped have started

gaining momentum in the wake of the post-election violence in some northern states that left 10 corps members dead.

Meanwhile, recent deployment of Batch “B” corps members to Borno, Bauchi and Plateau states has been greeted with fear. Parents and the students lamented the spate of bomb explosions rocking the state, no thanks to Boko Haram, a sect that believes conventional education is a sin.

The unlucky ones who were posted

to the “bomb sites” have cried out for adequate security. This tells us that there is a problem already with the scheme. Or why should a citizen call on government to protect him from the brutality of fellow citizens?

But if government stops budgeting huge sums to the scheme and redirects the funds to other sectors, this will provide job opportunities for the graduates. Government should also ensure vocational training for students; this will make

termed, may be seen as crude in this 21st century, but it curbs the criminal tendencies of some students and engenders peaceful coexistence of people with divergent backgrounds.

We are made to see ourselves as equal; no man is above another. Irrespective of the strength my brother has or the muscles he has built, he dares not raise his hand to beat me in school. The worst he can do is to insult and nothing more. This is the extent to which maximum shishi has taken us in OAU. To youths, cultism may be a sugarcoated option presented to you to remain free on campus, but before you take the oath, weigh the possible consequences - the shame it would bring to your parents when you are caught and the death sentence, which is the ultimate wage for your action.

Samson, 400-Level Biology Education, OAU, Ile-Ife them to be self reliant without waiting for jobs in the ministries. Instead of disbursing billions ton the scheme, let the money be put into the educational sector as grants that will enable students attend seminars on international fronts. This would give them the needed exposure to add to national development.

If this is done, graduates would be happier to go to school and benefit from the numerous opportunities tertiary institutions offer rather than expressing doubt over participation in a scheme that endanger them.

Ibrahim, 400-Level Mass Comm., BUK

Two parents in naked brawl to be the law enforcement agents? In a manner reminiscent of ‘area boys’ method, they pounced on one another in an open brawl as though they knew nothing of what the law says. Then I ask, can a man look at his son straight in the eyes and tell him not to dance in the street when he himself is a street dancer? When citizens of this country are being kidnapped, robbed and bombed on daily basis for reasons they do not know, all the security agencies could do was to engage in lawlessness!

The latest fracas was not just a disagreement over BRT lane but a product of pent up antagonism, suspicion and unhealthy rivalry. Instead of taking the law into their hands, the policemen should have recorded the particulars of the uncivilised soldier and forwarded it to the military police for necessary action. Having said that, the inability of the police to prevent such fracas in the past has resulted in a sour relationship beThey probably reflect the thinking of electorates like me who defied the heat of the scorching sun to vote for you.

Sir, I need not remind you that this is a momentous epoch for you in history. After four years, biographers and historians will gather to comb the archives and search through dog-eared pages of newspapers for your contribution to the society. Some of them will write with utmost objectivity while few others will write with prejudicial minds. But one thing will stand out in their documentations what you were noted for!

I believe by now you have come to grips with the challenges of office.

I guess it may not be as easy as you thought during the electioneering period when you had to slug it out with your rivals at the campaigns.

You understandably deployed hyperbole and euphemism to tell us you hold the ace. Many of us were enraptured by your eloquence. We knew you would deliver to our doors the dividends of democracy.

I understand there would be clash of interests - the people’s interest and the godfather’s. I want you to remember that we the people constitute the ultimate power and

tween the police and other security agencies, including civilians. To the teeming citizens of this country, “Police is your friend” cliché does not make any sense because civilians are arrested and molested at will.

These days, you dare not help an accident victim. Why? The police would make fortune out of you with a claim that you hit the victim down.

“You must follow us to our station” without even an explanation. With this mentality, I wonder how the men of the police force want us to court the agency. While hapless citizens may swallow these bitter pills in the face of molestation, soldiers cannot do the same. Hence, the reason for the bloody confrontation.

Now, to the soldiers. Outside the barracks, it is expected of our soldiers to respect the law. Disobedience to the constituted rules amounts to insubordination, which is punishable by law. Even, the heavy presence of soldiers on our roads when the nation

is not in war calls for concern. Soldiers are trained to operate in a state where orderliness has been breached. But here, we have a situation where law and order is still in place. If military personnel are to leave the barracks in their full regalia, it must be on permission from an authority and they must not leave with their assault rifles.

Kudos to Sanusi Mua’zu, the Brigade Commander of the 9th Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Ikeja, for admitting that the soldiers were at fault by disobeying the law. Honesty is the first step to solving this problem and with soldiers assuming responsibility for the confrontation at Obanikoro, Lagos, we are halfway to re-uniting the two agencies.

The Federal Government can solve this problem by calling the Chief of Army Staff, Inspector General of Police and the heads of other security agencies to a round table. If not, another brawl between these agencies

Letter to my governor our interest must come first. I will be dumbly idealistic to say you should rubbish those who contributed directly to your success at the polls.

They deserve some respect; it is the reality of the Nigerian society where an unknown candidate can only have a chance when he treads on the coat tail of well established juggernauts.

However, I want to strongly aver that the people must be supreme in your agenda. Explore all the available media of measuring public opinion.

Don’t be too busy not to have time to read newspapers, watch TV and listen to radio programmes. Don’t fall to the lull of cable TV. Use local media to feel the pulse of the common man.

Now, to those you defeated at the polls. You will recall that during the campaign you had arguments on the state of the people. You disagreed on a number of issues and gave divergent approaches to revolutionising our economy. I was struck at the way you marshaled your argument at the debates. Your opponents also spoke well. I appeal to you not to dispose the baby with

the dirty bath water. Borrow from the substance of their ideologies and dispose the chaff.

However, your first major step is the appointment of those to work with you. Your team members determine largely the extent you will go. If you gather mediocre and party members in your cabinet, then you’re doomed from the start. You need to be very discreet in your choice so you don’t bring liabilities into your government. Periodically review their performance and relieve those who are incompetent.

And please remember us, the youth. We have energy and zeal. Fix us up where we can profitably engage our exuberant propensities to the progress of our state. Instead of watching us become social dregs thereby creating more heartaches for your administration, empower us for entrepreneurship exploits.

And stay away from controversies.

I have discovered that many governors who left the state house in shame did so because of the issues they got caught up in which took the wind out of their sail. They could not

By Chris Okafor mathswiz2003@yahoo.com

would transcend to tragedy of monumental dimension and it would not be an entertaining show any longer.

Chris, 400-Level UNIPORT

Microbiology,

concentrate on state matters any longer as they had to reply to every abuse and allegation. They lost touch with the people in the process and became unpopular. Don’t tilt at windmills, focus on the job we have given you and execute it with assiduity and rapidity.

Sir, I have a very important advice to add - be discreet in your relationship with the press. They can be a veritable tool for development; they also can be devastating as the fourth estate of the wreck.

As I close, I urge that you put a stop to the reveling and fulsome courtesy visits. Time is of the essence. After four years minus a month, if you have not changed the status of this state, we will not be laughing. We are waiting; we are watching. This is your time to make impact in the history of this state.

Conduct your affairs with utmost sincerity to the people who trusted you to the point of entrusting their destiny into your care. Remember in every decision you make that the position does not last forever. You will soon be out to be on same level with us again. I hope I will be able to greet you, hold you, hug you?

Samson, just graduated from Mass Comm., UNILAG

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

36

CAMPUS LIFE

Students visit media house

I Making ‘killer’ presentations(II)

By Uche Ogbonna uche.ogbonna@fidelitybankplc.com 08055061278

L

AST week, we started a series on the above topic. We will conclude with more tips which if harnessed well will give every student the needed advantage required in becoming a super presenter, moving from project defenses through to seminar presentations and ultimately to the stage where he can just about sell anything, even himself!

Warm up to the audience: We have talked about the power of humour to break the ice when making a presentation. I must warn, the use of humor must be skillfully delivered as a wrong joke can ruin your entire presentation.

Certain audiences may not appreciate the use of a joke; so be wise and size up your audience before you use jokes. A good and well delivered story is almost a certain ice breaker that warms you up to the audience. Everyone loves stories as long as they are brief and deliver an apt lesson that they can refer to as you build up your presentation.

Avoid academic presentations: By this, I mean avoid doing things in a boringly predictive way. For instance, if you are going to use a slide presentation format, as much as possible study the slide so well that you have the entire slide registered in your mind. Avoid reading the slide line by line. Use more of pictures than words as pictures leave more enduring messages in the mind of the listener. Be unpredictable and creative in your delivery.

Relevance: Never get carried away! Speak and make reference only to things that will help you score the necessary points. Never get involved in answering questions that do not buttress the point you are trying to make.

Always ensure that examples you wish to cite are point on in helping you convince your listener. If you do not have any relevant example or reference to make (though as much as possible you should as it is always to your advantage), then say nothing. It is better that you do not say anything than to say something that is irrelevant which may eventually take points away from you.

Practice! Practice!! Practice!!! Though it seems an overrated cliché, I must assure you that the age old principle of "practice makes perfect"

On and Off Campus

still holds true. Many excellent presenters have learned the art of serial practice in which they do over and over and over again mock presentation sessions where they role play and anticipate all possible events. There is an increased sense of readiness that comes to a person when he has rehearsed a process over and over again. It also helps put your mind in a proactive state, giving the impression that you have been on this road before and seriously reduces the surprise impact element of the presentation.

Be conscious of time: Never begin any presentation without a fair knowledge of how much time has been allotted to you. Doing this will save you the embarrassment of being cut short and allows you to pace yourself.

Good presenters deliver not only lively and intelligent speeches but are also conscious of time. Many fail here. They begin and get distracted and dwell on irrelevancies and before they know what is happening they have run out of time and must now round up when they have not reached the point of decision.

They end up leaving out critical issues unsaid leaving too much room for indecision on the part of the listeners.

Captivate your audience: Use every tool available to you: voice, pitch and tone, movement, animation, gesticulation, name it. Be an interesting presenter. If you have the luxury of space, move about, but not frantically and not in a distracting manner. A few paces may help. Use your hands. Do not let them hang limp by your side at all times. Feel free to point, wave, raise and demonstrate freely without seeming too distracting as well. Avoid adages you do not fully understand, and feel free to ask questions if necessary. Also entertain questions…but only when you are done and you can afford to do that. Do not sacrifice your presentation to answer a question. Some questions are designed to derail the speaker and set them on other paths. Ensure you do not fall into that trap; keep your audience riveted on you.

Being a student can be a tough job. This is why your Bank is consistently presenting these articles to empower you and give you the edge. Feel free to write us at marketing.communications@fidelitybankplc.com or uche.ogbonna@fidelitybankplc.com and share with us your ideas and thoughts or even suggest a topic you would love for us to write about. Remember, it must be relevant to the campus community. Better yet, walk into any of our branches and join the Fidelity family that is if you haven't -

T was an educative and memorable experience for 300-Level Mass Communication students of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), who recently visited the Abuja office of National Mirror in Wuse.

The students went to the media house alongside their lecturer of Newspaper Management and Production, Mr. Raphel Abimbola. It was part of the practical side of the course. According to the lecturer, the two-day trip was meant to familiarise students with the practical aspects of newspaper production.

The medium Bureau Chief, Mr. Iseoluwa Ige, took the students on a trip to departments in the office, from the newsroom, the press, the pre-press and the IT section. He also lectured the visitors on modern styles of news gathering and reporting.

On their way back to school, the students

From Imoleayo Oyedeyi AAUA

stopped at Lord Lugard’s house in Lokoja.

Narrating his experience to CAMPUSLIFE, Olalekan Akindoju, one of them, said: “It was an educative trip because I was exposed to the practical aspects of news reporting and newspaper production. At Lokoja, I saw the Lord Lugard’s house and his communication office”.

Describing his experience as distinct from what he learnt in the classroom, another student, Adekunle Famutini has this to say: “The experience was awesome and different from what we knew in the classroom. In class, we were exposed to paper reporting, but when we got there, it was a different ball game entirely - a very interesting one!”

•Students of English Department, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) in a PHOTO: IMOLEAYO OYEDEYI stage play they presented.

Poly mobilises 816 for NYSC

T

HE Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State, has expressed confidence in the quality of its graduates deployed to serve their fatherland across the country.

The polytechnic, which mobilised 816 corps members, said it was sure the students would be of good behaviour in their places of deployment. Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE over the weekend, the Deputy Registrar. Students Affairs, Alhaji Muhammed Baba Ndana, said the corps members who trooped down to his office to pick up their call-up letters last week presented themselves in a mature way.

By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

From Bola–Ige Alabi BIDA POLY

He further disclosed that his office has urged them to be good ambassadors of the institution wherever they find themselves.

He maintained that though some corps members complained about being posted to crisis regions like Bauchi and Borno states, his office tried to make them see reasons why they need to believe in the Federal Government and the NYSC Directorate’s efforts to provide adequate security for them.

Department gets press club

T

HE Foreign Languages Department of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) has set up a press club. Speaking at the inauguration of the club, President of Foreign Languages Students Association (FOLSA), Emmanuel Nwosa, congratulated the new press team and promised to render support to the club.

Meanwhile, CAMPUSLIFE reporter, Gilbert Alasa, who chairs the team, assured members of a rewarding time. He added “Press club affords its members a forum to

From Socrates Ikiebe UNIBEN

understand the role and importance of journalism in nation building. Hence, every member must seize this opportunity to learn, grow and make impact on the gown and the town.”

A member of the team, Queen Ogbodu, told CAMPUSLIFE: “I just want to learn the ropes here as much as I can. I like journalism and this is a golden chance to explore the passion. I am full of hopes.”

Tale of three corps members • Continued from page 31

front view of the lodge has been defaced. Hence, there was a need to make the building unique as well as beautiful,” she said.

So, leaving no stone unturned, she ensured that the NYSC logo was sculpted on two different places on the entrance wall of the lodge and the wall repainted. She expressed satisfaction that the project was a success in spite of the challenges such as unfaithfulness to terms of agreement by labourers and insufficient fund to execute the project as at when expected.

A corps member at the lodge said: “This makes the lodge stand out. I’m so glad; God bless Toyin.”

Speaking at the commissioning of the projects,

the state NYSC Coordinator, Mrs. Clara Anekwe, represented by Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Ndubuisi, Assistant Director (Operations), expressed happiness over the “outstanding qualities and contributions of the three corps members”.

“Remember, when you get to the world, you will meet challenges. With what you have done here, God will give you the courage to surmount them. I wish you the best in all your life endeavours.”

On their parts, the Chairman of the Ohaozara Local Government Council, Hon. Enekwachi Akpa, represented by the vice, Hon. Ogbonnaya Sunday and the Zonal Inspector, NYSC, Ohaozara LGA, Mr. Enock Isau, saluted the courage of the initiators and wished them the best in life.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

37

EDUCATION UNAAB FILE

Kano yet to access N2.5b ETF fund

Institute plans agric. manual

•Kwankwaso: we have serious challenges in education

T

HE Executive Secretary of the Education Trust Fund (ETF), Prof.

Mohood Yakubu, has disclosed that the Kano State Government has not access over N2.5 billion Education Trust Fund (ETF).

Disappointed about the development, Yakubu said the past administration did not take education serious in this regard.

Speaking in Abuja when he received the Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso who came to inquire how the fund can be accessed, the ETF boss said the Kano State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) as at today has over N1.2 billion un-accessed Fund while the ministry of education and tertiary institutions in the state collectively have over N1.3 billion waiting to be collected.

This, he said brought the figure to over N2.5 billion.

He said: “We do the budget according to the sharing formula in law, allocate the resources and make the beneficiaries to tell us what they want to do with the money. They must account for what they have collected before

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

they collected another allocation.

SUBEB in Kano has as at today over N1.2 billon un-accessed. The state Ministry of Education and tertiary institutions in the state collectively have over N1.3 billion un-accessed. The implication is that Kano State has over N2.5 billion un-accessed.

“Some of these funds have been committed to an ongoing project but some have not been committed at all. We will give the governor a complete profile of funds allocated to the Kano State government since 1999.”

Responding, Kwankwaso expressed disappointment about the situation and promised to access

the fund.

“We have serious challenges in the education sector. When I was governor between 1999 and 2003, if you go to any classroom on the average we had about seven students per classroom and gave them uniform. But now you will find up to 140 pupils in one classroom. Expectation in Kano today is very high and education is very important and our commitment to education in the state is not in doubt. When we came in we inherited things that ordinarily shouldn’t happen. Because record shows that we are not able to access a lot of money.

“When we came we were shocked. Kano State government could not pay the counterpart fund

‘SUBEB in Kano has as at today over N1.2 billon un-accessed. The state Ministry of Education and tertiary institutions in the state collectively have over N1.3 billion un-accessed. The implication is that Kano State has over N2.5 billion un-accessed’

•Kwankwaso

for UBE in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

What we did was to look at the figures. The UBE counterpart funding from 2008 was over N800 million.

And we approved it immediately we gave them and this week they promised that they are going to give us our money. Kano State will have over N1.7 billion to construct classrooms and other infrastructure. And this year by the grace of God we will pay for the 2009 and 2010. I assure you that our government is very much ready to partner with you.”

College gets deputy provost

T

•Dr Olajuyigbe

HE Governing Council of Adeyemi College of Education (ACE), Ondo State has approved the appointment of Dr Abayomi Olufemi Olajuyigbe as the Deputy Provost of the College.

The appointment which is for two years took effect from July 1 and will expire June 30, 2013.

Olajuyigbe joined the services of the college on August 28, 1997 as Lecturer II in the Department of Biology. He rose through the ranks to the position of Chief Lecturer last October.

In the course of his academic ca-

reer, he has held various administrative positions including: Head, Department of Biology, and Dean, Students Affairs (August 2010 – July 2011).

Apart from his membership of other College and Departmental Committees, he is currently a member of the Ethics Committee of Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), ACE, Ondo Branch, the umbrella union for academic staff in the College.

Outside the College community, he is a supervisor to the Universal Basic Education Commission

(UBEC) Federal Teachers Scheme.

As an astute scholar, Olajuyigbe has published about 16 journals articles, contributed chapters to six books, attended about 28 conferences and presented scholarly papers.

Olajuyigbe is the chairman, Building Committee of his church, Christ Chapel Interdenominational, ACE and the National Director, Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship International.

Olajuyigbe is happily married to Mrs. O.A. Olajuyigbe, a Chief Lecturer in the Department of English and they are blessed with children.

OKOPOLY to expand Rector’s Cup

Varsity empower farmers THE Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Centre (AMREC), UNAAB, in collaboration with Cassava: Adding Value for Africa (C:AVA) Project, have empowered over 20 Farming Community groups with tools to boost their productivities.

At the Handing-Over ceremony of 20 Knap Sack Sprayers and 40 Fermentation Vats to farmers and processors, the Director of AMREC, Prof Carolyn Afolami said the equipment were meant to alleviate the sufferings of farmers in addition to the training that AMREC gave the farmers and processors on the use and processing of Cassava.

This was done with the support and cooperation of C:AVA. Corroborating the Director, the Country Manager of C:AVA, Prof Lateef Sanni, said that the prospects derivable from the cultivation and processing of cassava products like Gari, Fufu, Biscuit, Lafun,are enormous.

FUTA appoints registrar, professors

T

HE Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Oko, Orumba North council area of Anambra State, Prof Godwin Onu has announced plans to expand the Rector’s Cup football competition beyond the institution.

Addressing students after the grand finale of the 2011 edition of the competition at the Polytechnic Sports arena, Onu said from next year, secondary schools in Orumba North and South will participate in the competition.

Already, he said the institution is seeking the blessing of the State Government to include secondary schools in the two councils in the football contest and has written to the Anambra State governor, Mr Peter Obi in this regard.

He added that the competition, which is the institution’s minimal contribution in the area of cooperate social responsibility, would be extended to other parts of the state subsequently.

Speaking of his dreams for the competition, he said: “Everything about the football competition has been well packaged including financial commitment.

We will be inviting the State Governor to perform the kick off event. We will be attracting sponsors and other donor agencies to make the event a unique occasion.”

THE Institute of Food Security, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research (IFSERAR), University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (UNAAB) is set to develop and produce a universal manual for the documentation of agricultural statistics in Nigeria.

The Director of IFSERAR, Prof Segun Osinowo, said the move is against the backdrop of persistent conflicts associated with agricultural statistics released to the public by relevant agencies.

Osinowo pointed out that though the statistics being churned out by the agencies were accurate in most cases, he observed that sometimes they are ridiculously in sharp contrast.

He blamed the development on lack of common framework to produce agricultural statistics, adding that IFSERAR is currently working round the clock to fill the vacuum by producing a manual that will guide agencies in the collection of statistics and data.

A

•Prof Onu (left) presenting the golden trophy to the captain of the winning team From Adimike George, Onitsha

While making plans for the expansion of the Rector’s Cup, Onu said sports development would not be neglected.

“I have approved the appointment of a new professional sports coach; a former footballer of the Enugu Rangers to handle our football teams for a successful outing during the next national

sports events. I want to assure you that plans have reached advanced stage for the preparation for next year’s NIPOGA game slated for Ede, Osun State. I have mandated the sports unit to go for gold especially in football to compliment our investment in sports development,” he said.

Onu also promised to set up Polytechnic Sports Club and equip it to reinvigorate the Unit

and make sports events more memorable.

School of Financial Studies lifted the Rector’s Cup (Male category) while the female team from the School of Business Studies won the female category.

Both teams were rewarded with N100,000 each.

First and second runners up teams won N50,000 and N30,000 respectively.

UTHORITIES of the Federal University of Technology, Akure have approved the appointment of Dr Modupe Olayinka Ajayi as the institution’s Registrar.

Dr Ajayi joined the university as an administrative Officer I in April, 1992.

She rose through the ranks as Assistant Registrar, Senior Assistant Registrar, Principal Assistant Registrar and Deputy Registrar between 1995 and 2008. She became the Acting Director of the Directorate of Establishment and Human Resource in May, 2009 until she assumed office as Registrar on June 1.

Dr Ajayi has a Bachelor of Arts (Ed) degree in English Language from the University of Benin, Benin City, Master’s in Public Administration from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and a Ph.D in Management Science from FUTA. Meanwhile, the university has promoted three Readers to the position of professors. They are Dr Niyi Okunlola and Dr Igbekele Ajibefun (Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension), and Dr. I.A. Adebayo (Department of Animal Production and Health).

Similarly, Dr M.T. Olaleye (BioChemistry), Dr B. Adeyemi (Physics), Dr. F.K. Omole (Urban & Regional Planning) and Dr B.A. Adegboye (Electrical/Electronics Engineering) have been promoted to the position of Readers.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

38

EDUCATION Ambassador, others tour varsity

A day out with pupils

T

•Foundation visits Abuja school

A

NON-GOVERNMENTAL organisation, Adedoyin Adefuye Foundation, has visited the Annunciation Catholic Nursery and Primary School, Kpaduma II, Asokoro, Abuja, to give out learning materials and spend time with the pupils.

When Mrs Bunmi AinaCraig, the Executive Director of the Foundation, and her team arrived, they were received by the management team led by the Head teacher, Mrs Alice Oluse.

The entourage was taken round the classes to see the pupils who welcomed them with the popular cliché “Good Morning aunty. We are happy to see you, God bless you…”

The Foundation organised a quiz competition for the primary classes and nursery rhymes contest for the pre-nursery and nursery classes during the visit. The best three pupils got prizes to encourage them to do better and pass a message across to other pupils that there is a reward for hard work.

In Primary 1, Humphery Friday, Patrick Sebastian and Abednego were the top three, In Primary 4, Amarachi John, Yohanna Stephen and Hilary Sebastian came tops, while Saviour Danladi, Gloria

From Tayo Owolabi, Abuja

Busari and Abigail Apeh of Primary 5 emerged winners.

The Foundation also gave out souvenirs to all the pupils.

Mrs. Aina-Craig said the visit was a way of reaching out to the less privileged. She added that it was shameful that the school exists in a deprived community very close to people living in mansions worth millions of Naira without anyone paying them attention.

She said: “When I came to this area, I saw the school and I was very surprised because on your way here, there are lots of mansions just two minutes away; edifices worth millions of Naira and to now see the contradiction of this kind of place here, I think is a bit shameful and I thought it is worthwhile for all us to try and reach out to our immediate communities.

“I think if we do a little bit, we will succeed eventually because these children are our

•Mrs Aina-Craig right, presenting a gift to the winner of the quiz competition, Miss Amarachi John.

future. Now we are talking about a lot of violence, terrorism and all that. If you don’t empower these children, if you don’t give them education, if you don’t open their minds, we are going to keep on having these problems. So, this is my own little bit, me and my wonderful team. We are all here today and we are happy and proud to be part of this.”

Mrs Aina-Craig added that the visit is in line with the foundation’s activities aimed at meeting the needs of pupils from

disadvantaged backgrounds.

“We go around supporting children of the less privileged – providing books, learning materials, assistance, scholarships and all that. And we also interact with them as you can see today. We don’t just come and give them gifts and books, we also interact with them,” she said.

The Head teacher, Mrs Oluse appreciated the visit, which she said was the first of its kind from an organisation ready to help the school.

‘If you don’t empower these children, if you don’t give them education, if you don’t open their minds, we are going to keep on having these problems. So, this is my own little bit, me and my wonderful team. We are all here today and we are happy and proud to be part of this’

Oluse said: “We are so happy because this is the first time we are seeing people coming here to present gifts and spend time with the pupils. We were here one fateful day, when they just came in to introduce the foundation to us and we welcomed them. They told us their aims and objectives and we saw that their mission was going to benefit the school and we decided to welcome them.

“I want to thank the organisation for their contribution and kindness. They promised to give scholarships to some our students who are less privileged and orphans.

We are so excited. We are going to pass the information to their parents and guardians because these children deserve a better future.”

HE Cameroonian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Salahuddeen Ibrahim Abbas, has commended what he called the remarkable progress by the American University of Nigeria, Yola, in the last few years.

The ambassador, who led a team of 10 Cameroonian officials to the university, was in the Adamawa State capital for a diplomatic meeting on interconnection of power between the two countries when he visited AUN. Receiving the delegates, Vice-President Byron Bullock expressed the institution’s pleasure and pride at Cameroon’s continued interest in and friendship with the University. Assistant VP, Abba Tahir, invited the High Commissioner to be a speaker during the forthcoming AUN Diplomat’s Leadership Series coming up later in the year.

In the High Commis sioner’s entourage were Ambassador Ntede Richard, Head of Judicial and Treaties Division, Cameroon Ministry of External Relations; Ms. Oumoul Aisatou, Sub-Director of Studies, Cameroon Rural Electrification Agency and others.

‘We make foreign education easier’ Mick Howarth is the Director-General, Global Education Study Centres (GESC) in the United Kingdom. The GESC is an education consultancy outfit for prospective students who wish to study overseas. In this interview with ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA, Howarth speaks on the centre’s success in assisting Nigerians who thirst for foreign education.

H

OW long has GESC been in Nigeria?

The GESC (UK) opened its first offices in Port Harcout and Lagos in 2005, and we now have six offices in, Warri, Kaduna, Jos and Abuja.

Further expansion is planned against 2012.

What is your main business activity?

We are educational advisers for potential students who wish to study overseas. We take students through educational advice, application, financial requirements and finally visa application.

What are your main markets?

Our major market is the United Kingdom which accounts for 80 per cent of our activities. We also deal with students who may wish to study in France, Cyprus, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, and Malaysia.

What is the success rate of students who apply through your outfit?

We have a 97 per cent success rate on visa applications for the UK, and we are very proud of that record; in other countries such as Cyprus, it is 100 per cent.

How do you promote your business to intending students?

We work with a number of high quality institutions in all

our markets. We regularly receive delegates from our partners who carry out presentations and interviews in our offices. These are promoted through newspaper advertisements, radio announcements and internet/email announcements.

Who are your major partners?

We have around 40 UK partners – with Coventry University, London College of Accountancy and Liverpool Hope University rated as our top three destinations of study in the UK. What have been your challenges?

Our major challenge is the constant changing of visa regulations. For example this year alone, the UK has gone through a series of amendments to the regulations with further changes due in the near future.

How have you been able to overcome those challenges?

It is my role as the DG to ensure that I keep all my staff fully up to date with the ever changing requirements of the various immigration rules in all our markets. Many potential students fall into the wrong hands and are badly advised and the penalties are very severe especially, if he or

•Howarth

she submits any fake documents or does not complete forms honestly and with due diligence.

What level of co-operation has your outfit received from government bodies?

For the UK, I am in regular contact with the embassies to clarify any new rules that may have been added or changed with respect to visa applications. I also visit many of my partner institutions in the UK to discuss student issues to ensure that all our students settle down well on arrival.

Does your outfit offer scholarships?

Many of our partners offer reductions on fees and bursaries for high performing applicants. For example, with bursaries and reductions, students can study Masters degree in the UK for approximately N1.5 million in a public university.

How do students get involved with GESC? We have regular interview sessions and any intending student can register and become a member. Our membership terms and conditions can be found on our website along with all our contact and office details.

Interested individuals can visit www.globaleducation.me.uk

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011 CHANGE OF NAME ADEOKUN I formerly known and addressed as Miss Adeokun Seun Elizabeth, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Kuyooro Seun Elizabeth. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

SHONEYIN

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Titilola Shoneyin, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Titilola Soyinka. All former documents remain valid. Regent Secondary School, Utako and general public should please take note.

OMOSUN I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Amedu Omosun, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Moses Omose Ibhafidon. All former documents remain valid.

Aims ASSET Mgt. Limited and general public take note.

SADIQ

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Sadiq Rashidat Olayinka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Sodiq Rashidat Olayinka Sadiq. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ONUWAJE I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Buluwa Onuwaje, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Buluwa Adebayo Ashaolu.

All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

UBONG I formerly known as Ubong Aniefiok Ikafia, now wish to be known as King Aniefiok Ikafia. All former documents remain valid.

Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, Adamawa State and general public should please take note.

OGUNYINKA

I, formerly known and addressed as Ogunyinka Samuel Oludare, now wish to be known and addressed as Olayinka Samuel Oludare. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADEOGUN

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adeogun Adepeju Abosede, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Idowu Adepeju Abosede. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ANAKAA

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

UGBODAGA

OLADUNJOYE

I formerly known and addressed as Ugbodaga Oluwasegun Michael Opeoluwa Mary, now wish to be known and addressed as Oduniyi Oluwasegun Michael Opeoluwa Mary. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Oladunjoye Fatimat Bolanle, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Omoseni Fatimoh Omobolanle. All former documents remain valid. TASUED, Ijagun and general public should please take note.

ADEDAMOLA

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Tade Tawakilitu Oluwayemisi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Lamina Tawakalitu Oluwayemisi.

All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Mr. Adedamola Olabanji Oluwasanmi, now wish to be known and addressed as Prince Oluwasanmi Adeniyi. All former documents remain valid. Federal Housing Authority and general public should please take note.

ODETUNMIBI I formerly known and addressed as Odetunmibi Sunday Olapade, now wish to be known and addressed as Tunmibi Sunday Olapade. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

AJAGUNGBADE

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Grace Ajagungbade, Now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Grace Adebowale. All former document remain valid, general public take note.

DURU

l,formerly known and addressed as Miss Pauline Nmachi Duru, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Pauline Nmachi Nwankwo. All former documents remain valid.

GJSS Umuahia and general public should take note.

AMAECHI I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Timothy Chidinma Amaechi. now wishes to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chidinma John Cosmas Udofia. All former document remain valid. NYSC and general public please take note.

OWUAMANAM

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Owuamanam Oluchi Lora. now wishes to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oluchi Lora Ekwueme. All former document remain valid. NYSC and general public please take note.

AKPOVWOVWO

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Joy Odoyum Anakaa, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Joy Dooyum Ugese. All former documents remain valid. NSCDC, Nigeria Police Force and general public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs Akpovwovwo Edirin Gladys. now wishes to be known and addressed as Mrs. Orhoro Edirin Okpako. All former document remain valid. NIJ and general public please take note.

OGUNSIJI

SALIU

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ogunsiji Damilola Adetola now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Aadelekan Oluwadamilola Adetola. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Saliu Titilayo Oluwatoyin, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ayelaagbe Titilayo Oluwatoyin.All former documents remain valid. Federal Science and Technical College, Ijebu Mushin, Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja and general public should take note.

OKECHUKWU I formerly known and addressed as Miss Chinasa Lucia Okechukwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Chinasa Lucia Mgbemena. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

IDAHOSA I formerly known and addressed as Miss Blessing Taiwo Idahosa, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Gbadega-Idahosa Blessing Taiwo. All former documents remain valid. SUBEB and general public should please take note.

LAYADE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Adebukola Titilayo Layade, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adebukola Titilayo Akintayo. All former documents remain valid.

Promasidor Nigeria Limited and general public should please take note.

OBIOZOR I formerly known and addressed as Miss Chinonso Millicent Obiozor, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chinonso Millicent Chris- Emenyonu.All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ERU

I formerly known and addressed as Eru Miriam Eje, now wish to be known and addressed as Adepoju Miriam Eje.All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

TYODEN I formerly known and addressed as Miss Sekyen Scholastica Tyoden, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Sekyen Scholastica Gang.All former documents remain valid.General public should take note.

OSUEKE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Osueke Leaticia Eberechi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Onyeoziri Leaticia Eberechi.All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should take note.

LAWAL

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Lawal Afolashade Idayat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Mustapha Afolashade Idayat.All former documents remain valid. National Open Unjiversity and general public should take note.

ADEBAYO

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Tawakalitu Oluwatosin Adebayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Tawakalitu Oluwatosin Adebambo.All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

LAWAL

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Lawal Oluwakemi Ayopo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Igueakporo Oluwakemi Ayopo.All former documents remain valid. Ogun State Teaching Service Commission, Abeokuta and general public should take note.

TADE

39 CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME EKWUNIFE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Chioma Helen Ekwunife, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Chioma Nnamdi Onyewuchi.

All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ASSONA I formerly known and addressed as Miss Assona Calista Oby, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Wogu Calista Oby. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

UKWAMEDUA

IJEIH

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Loretta Nkechi Ijeih, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Loretta Nkechi Ogbogbo. All former documents remain valid.

University of Benin and general public,please take note.

EBELEBE

I,formerly known and adressed as Miss Ebelebe Ijeoma Linda now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Eze Ijeoma Emanuella. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Amaka Patricia Ijezie, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Okoli Amaka Patricia. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Linda Ugochukwu Ukwamedua, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Linda Ugochukwu Cosmas-Izuogu. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This to notify the public that Edet Gabriel Edet, is the same and one person as Nse Gabriel Edet. All documents bearing the above names remain valid. General public should take note.

AYODELE

OSUJI

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Babatola Iyabo Jumoke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ilori Christiana Jumoke Odunayo. All former documents remain valid general public take note.

IJEZIE

I formerly known and addressed as Ayodele Olanrewaju Samuel, now wish to be known and addressed as Agbeja Ayodele Olanrewaju Samuel. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Juliet Olumma Osuji, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Juliet Olumma Agunanne. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

BABATUNDE

KESTON

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Babatunde Nimota Bola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Olatoye Nimota Bola. All former documents remain valid.

Government Technical College, Ekiti State and general public should please take note.

OMOBORIOWO I formerly known and addressed as Miss Omoboriowo Olabisi Mabel, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Olutayo Olabisi Mabel. All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State Hospital Management Board and general public should please take note.

AJIGBON I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ajigbon Oluwasayo Dorcas, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Olakolegan Oluwasayo Dorcas. All former documents remain valid.

University of Ado-Ekiti, Skye Bank Plc. and general public should please take note.

ADIGUN I formerly known and addressed as Miss Taiwo Adigun, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Taiwo Gbolahan-Osinubi. All former documents remain valid.

GTBank Plc. and general public should please take note.

AZUBIKE I formerly known and addressed as Azubike Okolo, now wish to be known and addressed as Wealth Ugochukwu Innocent. All former documents remain valid. GTBank Plc. and general public should please take note.

OYEWALE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Oyewale Bashirat Folasade, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ajagbe Bashirat Folasade. All former documents remain valid. MDCN and general public should please take note.

AYANWESO I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ayanweso Misirat Iyabo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Kareem Misirat Iyabo. All former documents remain valid. Federal Polytechnic, Offa, NYSC and general public should please take note.

KOLARU I formerly known and addressed as Miss Kolaru Dolapo Felicia, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adekoya Adetunji Dolapo.

All former documents remain valid. NYSC, Secretary Yobe and general public should please take note.

KOLARU I formerly known and addressed as Miss Kolaru Dolapo Felicia, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adekoya Adetunji Dolapo.

All former documents remain valid. NYSC, Secretary Yobe and general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Pemu Arayi Keston, now wish to be known and addressed as Arayi Pemu Eyeokan. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

DIETE-SPIFF I formerly known and addressed as Miss Suzzy Diete-Spiff, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Suzzy Bickersteth. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

SIMON I formerly known and addressed as Miss Welson Endurance Simon, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Endurance Timothy Mania. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ODIONG I formerly known and addressed as Miss Enobong Brendan Odiong, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Enobong Ita Udo. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OKOH I formerly known and addressed as Mr. John Okoh, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr John Agbone. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ONYOBRU I formerly known and addressed as Miss Evelyn Ejiro Onyobru, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Evelyn Ejiro Agbone. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

AGBO I formerly known and addressed as Chinedu Agbo, now wish to be known and addressed as Gilbert Nwafor. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

AFOLABI I formerly known and addressed as Miss Afolabi Abiodun Modinat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adebiyi Abiodun Modinat. All former documents remain valid. LASU, HMO, LASAA and general public should please take note.

AJAYI I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ajayi Abisola Rachael, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ojetunde Abisola Rachael. All former documents remain valid.

HMO, LASAA and general public should please take note.

DARE I formerly known and addressed as Dare Olufemi, now wish to be known and addressed as Oluwadamilare Adebayo Afolabi.

All former documents remain valid. Abeokuta Grammar School and general public should please take note.

AYORINDE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ayorinde Funmilayo Caroline, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Bolarinwa Funmilayo Caroline. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ODUAH

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Oduah Oluwatosin Roselyn, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adeyemi Oluwatosin Roselyn.All other document remain valid.General public should take note.

BABATOLA

OJO

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ojo Folakemi Adeola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adeloye Folakemi Adeola.

All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State Teaching Service Commission and general public take note.

OKUSANYA

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Okusanya Kehinde Oluwaseun, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Owoniya kehinde Oluwaseun. All former documents remain valid. C-Soka, JILOAK Ltd and general public take note.

SHITTU

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Shittu Eniola Adeola Eunice, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Alabadan Eniola Adeola Eunice. All former documents remain valid. Office of Establishment and Training, Ministry of Commerce, Industries and Co-operative,Ekiti State and general public take note.

EKIYOU I formerly known anmd addressed as MISS JANET EKIYOU now wish to be known and addresed as MRS. JANET ALOYSIUS ANYA. All former document bearing my name remain valid general public please take note.

OKOLOBA I,formerly known and addressed as MISS AYIBAMIE OKOLOBA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS.AYIBAMIE AFY-DOUGLAS. All former document bearing my name please remain valid. Bayelsa State Civil Service and general public please take note.

TATA I,formerly known and addressed as ASONYE NELSON TATA now wish to be known and addressed as ASONYE NELSON NELSON. All former document bearing my name please remain valid. General public please take note.

AMAONWU I,formerly known and addressed as AMAONWU NGOZI OLUCHI now wish to be known and addressed as EZEMENYIBA NGOZI OLUCHI. All former document bearing my name please remain valid. Dimond Bank plc and general public please take note.

ELUU

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ELUU EBERE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EBERE SAMUEL IDAWARI LONGJOHN. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

AIKHUELE I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OBEHI IRENE AIKHUELE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OBEHI IRENE OLATUNJI. All former documents remain valid. Zenith bank plc and the General public should please take note.

AKINWALE

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS SHERIFAT OMOTAYO AKINWALE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS SHERIFAT OMOTAYO AKINWALE LAWAL. All former documents remain valid. The General public should please take note.

OKOLIE

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OKOLIE FLORENCE U, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AKALAWU FLORENCE UZOMA. All former documents remain valid.

NIGERIA SECURITY AND CIVIL DEFENCE CORPS (NSCDC) and The General public should please take note.

TIJANI

I, formerly known and addressed as TIJANI RAHEEMOT ADEDOYIN, now wish to be known and addressed as RAHEEMOT HAMZAT TIJANI. All former documents remain valid. The General public should please take note.

LAWAL I,formerly known and adressed as Miss Omoshalewa Omobolanle Lawal, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Omoshalewa Omobolanle Ologun. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

IFEDAYO I,formerly known and adressed as Ifedayo Sherifat Yetunde, now wish to be known and addressed as Saliu Sherifat Yetunde. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

A D V E R T : S i m p l y produce your m a r r i a g e certificate or sworn affidavit for a change of n a m e publication, with just (N3,500.)

The payment can be made through FIRST BANK of Nigeria Plc. A c c o u n t number 1892030011219 Account Name VINTAGE P R E S S LIMITED Scan the details of your advert and teller to gbengaodejide @y ahoo.com or thenation_advert @ yahoo.com For enquiry please contact: Gbenga on 08052720421, 08161675390, E m a i l gbengaodejide @yahoo.com or our offices nationwide.

Note this! Change of name is now published every Thursdays and Sundays, all materials should reach us two days b e f o r e publication.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

40

EDUCATION

Non-academics seek Council membership N

ON-TEACHING staff of colleges of education have urged the Federal Government to amend the law establishing the schools to make them members of the governing councils.

The Chairman of Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education in Nigeria (SSUCOEN), Federal College of Edu cation, (FCE-T) Akoka chapter, Comrade Nicola Ogbusuo, made the request at the maiden public lecture of the association entitled: The menace of idle time and perceived rot in the Nigeria public service sector: Challenges and the way out.

Ogbusuo said: “Federal Government should amend the act establishing Federal Colleges of Education. There are three members representing academic staff on the Governing Council. Whereas we don’t have any to cater for the needs of non-teaching workers as obtainable in state colleges of education.”

He said non-teaching staff should also get funding opportunities to pursue further education like lecturers do.

“We want the government agen-

By Seun Olalude

cies concerned with the administration of funds to Colleges of Education to consider including, nonteaching staff, in the award of scholarship for Masters Degree and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) programmes in their budgets. Because of the Act, government agencies responsible for administration of funds to colleges only channel their funds in the training of academic staff. It cannot make us attain the required technical development. That is the only way you can ensure development of the tertiary institutions in line with the technical development of Nigeria in line with vision 2020,” he said.

Also, the guest speaker, Mr Ignatius Adegunle, urged students and lecturers to avoid idleness.

“Students should form societies to help clean their environment, visit motherless homes. Lecturers should not miss lectures, give students work to do and practical should be part of their work in school to get them engaged,” he advised.

The Acting Provost, Dr Sijibomi Olusanya, praised the union for her contribution to the education sector.

“It is worthy to note that your union has not relented in her quest for finding lasting solutions to problems the nation’s educational system. I have never had of a member of this association retiring without collecting her benefit. I want a union that will be assisting her members,” he said.

The Chairman of the occasion, who is also the Registrar, University of Lagos, Mr Oluwarotimi Shodimu, praised the union for organising such an educating programme.

The Southwest, Chairman, SSUCOEN, Comrade Lere Oladapo, urged management of colleges of education to play by the rules.

“Experience has shown that industrial crises do arise at college levels due to the attitude of management in not wanting to address staff-related matters. If we learn to play by the rules, we would be saving ourselves a lot of troubles,” he said.

•Mr Chalakudi Ramnath of Globacom’s Customer Care Department (right) addressing Business Administration students of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) during a study visit to Globacom.

Varsity urged to train Islamic scholars

T

HE Kano State Government is seeking collaboration with Bayero University, Kano (BUK) on further training for Quaranic scholars.

Receiving the university’s management in his office, Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, said his administration is deliberating on several people - oriented programmes, that would move the state forward.

The governor requested the university to submit a proposal on how to train Qur’anic scholars in view of their number in the society to keep them involved in the scheme of things.

Affirming his passion for educa-

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

tion, Kwankwaso recalled that during his first tenure between 1999 and 2003, his administration “reactivated the Kano State University project, established the School of Environmental Studies, Gwarzo and initiated the primary school feeding programme among others to revitalise education.”

He called on well-meaning individuals to invest more in education because of its role in stimulating development.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Abubakar Rasheed, assured the governor of the

university’s co-operation. He added that the institution is planning to establish new centres such as Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Dry land Agriculture, African Entrepreneurship and Research as well as a Centre for Shari’ah and Qur’anic studies to enhance its academic programmes and research.

Rasheed, however, appealed to the governor to support the university by initiating new projects.

He said BUK was faced with challenges such as lack of funds for uncompleted projects as well as get outstanding pledges from donors.

Group holds quiz competition

T

HE need for children to come together to study, share ideas and know more about themselves was emphasised at a quiz competition organised by the Lagos State Chapter of the League of Muslim Schools Proprietors (LEAMPS).

The Chairman Planning Committee, Mr Abdul-Lateef Atanda, while addressing the pupils said the aim of the competition was to build up the children’s quest for

By Vivian Ebbah

knowledge and to create sociocultural relationship among the schools in Lagos State and prepare them for future challenges.

He advised the pupils to see the competition as an avenue to share and impact knowledge with one another.

“This competition is not a do-ordie-affair, but an avenue for you to learn new ideas from your mate, he

said.”

The pupils were tested in English Language, Mathematics, Islamic Studies and General Knowledge.

At the end of the competition Beneficent Nursery and Primary School Mushin came first, ArRahmon Montessori School Kosofe, second, while Mims Nursery and Primary School, Surulere and Rahmat Islamiyyah School Agege were third and fourth.

EDUTALK

with

Incentives for deprived school teachers Kofoworola URAL and hard-to-reach areas usually suffer neBelo-Osagie glect. The same goes for schools situated in such places.

Kofosagie@yahoo.com They hardly have good struc08054503077 (SMS only) tures and requisite facilities. If they do, they lack adequate quality and numbers of teachers. This invariably affects the quality of teaching and learning in such schools.

The boat mishap that happened at Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State Tuesday last week brings the plight of teachers and pupils in the hinterland into focus. But for providence, 11 teachers and one pupil would have died when the boat they were traveling in capsized on their way to school. They were rescued by some passengers who were also good swimmers and members of a community not far from the shore. The incident made many of the victims to long for postings in better areas, particularly within the city, where it is easier for them to get the attention of government, meet their needs and those of their families, and generally enjoy the good things life has to offer.

Teachers serving in deprived areas would give almost anything to be posted out, while those out would consider any posting to the rural areas as wickedness, banishment to the Siberia of education.

Once, I covered a workshop for public school teachers during which the facilitator praised one young man for his skills, pointing him out to me as a shining example. After the event, the teacher sought audience with me and requested for my phone number. He went to the extent of expressing hopes that somehow I could influence his posting out of a village in Badagry. “I want to leave that place,” he said with desperation. As a reporter, I could do little to help him other than listen to him.

Many times, teachers have suggested that those of them posted to hard-to-reach areas be given special allowances and other incentives to encourage them. I agree. In such areas, government could provide living quarters to house the teachers, especially if they cannot commute from their places of work to wherever they have their families on daily basis. In addition to housing, the teachers could be paid higher salaries to make up for the comforts they miss that others in the same profession enjoy just because they work in deprived communities. Such teachers could also enjoy tax breaks. When they see that they get some forms of compensation for the sacrifices they make, the teachers would be more motivated to work, and could settle down to get the best out of their environments and their pupils.

This should not be done in isolation. The facilities in such schools must be in great shape while the government should concentrate on making the communities attractive enough for people to want to settle there.

Failure to address the challenges facing schools in the rural communities, means there will always be discrepancies in quality of pupils that pass through their schools compared with their peers in the cities, which should not be. Teachers that are not motivated usually are truants. They do not do their work properly and they take out their frustration on their pupils. As a result, the pupils do not learn well.

R

‘Many times, teachers have suggested that those of them posted to hard-to-reach areas be given special allowances and other incentives to encourage them.

Government could provide living quarters to house the teachers, especially if they cannot commute from their places of work to wherever they have their families on daily basis. The teachers could be paid higher salaries to make up for the comforts they miss that others in the same profession enjoy’

From my Inbox Re: A needless death (Thursday, July 07) Hey Kofo, the death of Samson Adeniran was so painful that I didn’t know when tears ran off my cheeks. Everyone present at the beach needs to ask for forgiveness from God. I pity the poor boy’s parents. May God grant him eternal rest. Tolulope Aluko, Ibadan.

Hi Kofo, I saw your Edutalk. It is really educative. That type of trip should not be allowed because there was no proper arrangement.

There is a lacuna somewhere. The school authority should not this.

Olupade Seun, Ado-Ekiti.

SLIDING TACKLE

"Neymar is a Santos player, Aguero belongs to Atletico Madrid...

Adebayor is at Manchester City, but perhaps he is closer because he was our player for six months, we should not be very distant from those names, but I am calm because we have a fantastic squad and we are in a very good situation."

Thursday, July 14, 2011

42

Real Madrid coach, Jose Mourinho, insisting the Spanish club prefers to sign Emmanuel Adebayor rather than Neymar or Aguero.

Guardiola hints at new Cesc offer E UROPEAN champions Barcelona FC of Spain are reportedly making an improved £35million offer for the Arsenal captain after three of their previous attempts to re-sign him were rejected.

Fabregas has expressed his desire to return to the club where he began his career, but Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is doing all he can to keep the Spanish international.

Guardiola has been coaxing Fabregas to return for some time now and is reportedly disappointed with Barca president Sandro Rosell for his failure to sign the 25-yearold earlier this summer.

"Now the situation about moves for reinforcements is very complicated, but I'm hopeful in the next few days it will become clear," Guardiola said on Catalunya Radio.

"I'm always optimistic."

Mourinho: Adebayor is closer to Real Madrid than Neymar, Aguero

R

EAL Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has admitted that the club is more likely to sign Emmanuel Adebayor than Neymar or Sergio Aguero.

The Portuguese tactician officially opened the race for a new striker on Monday by affirming that he is looking to add some more firepower to his squad.

Neymar and Aguero have both been strongly tipped to join the club in the summer, but Mourinho revealed that it is Adebayor, who spent the second half of the last season on loan with the capital giants, who is the closest to reinforcing his side.

"Neymar is a Santos player, Aguero belongs to Atletico Madrid... Adebayor is at Manchester City, but perhaps

he is closer because he was our player for six months," Mourinho said at a press conference.

"We should not be very distant from those names, but I am calm because we have a fantastic squad and we are in a very good situation."

Mourinho, who noted his players are 'physically dead' following their first training session, explained the reason he chose the United States as location for the pre-season training camp.

"I like the freedom of the United States for my players.

In Europe, they cannot go out for a walk," he noted.

Madrid will play David Beckham's Los Angeles Galaxy in the World Football Challenge on Saturday, July 16.

•Fabregas

Inter Milan denies receiving offer for Sneijder

I

NTER Milan technical director Marco Branca insists the Italian club have not received any official offers for Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder.

Premier League champions Manchester United have been strongly linked with a move for the 27-year-old, but Inter are adamant he is not available.

"No, there's not been an official offer and there has never been the intention to listen to them," Branca said.

"There are no updates. He is not for sale."

In early June, Sneijder told Inter's website: "At the moment I am very happy here, and I don't see why I should leave."

Yet speculation over his future continues to persist, and newspaper reports on Wednesday claimed that Manchester United were close to sealing a £35m deal for the playmaker to move to Old Trafford.

Branca, however, insists that no official offers have been

received, and also denied reports in the Italian press that a meeting between the agent of Sneijder - who is under contract with Inter until June 2015 - and his current club was scheduled this week.

"There are no meetings planned," he said. "We don't sell by force.

"The player is getting on with his work and so are we.

"It's not surprising that Sneijder is a player that is liked by many teams, including the strongest in the world like our team is.

Sneijder - currently in preseason training with Inter joined from Real Madrid in 2009 and helped the Nerazzurri to a Champions League, Serie A and Coppa Italia treble in his first season.

He is also being linked with big-spending Spanish side Malaga.

Former Manchester United and England defender Gary Pallister told BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty that Sneijder would be "a huge hit" should the club succeed in buying the player.

Torres hits pre-season goal form with Chelsea

C

HELSEA manager Andre Villa Boas has had his first chance to see the Blues squad in action after a friendly win behindclosed-doors against Wycombe Wanderers on Monday.

Fernando Torres made a good start to Chelsea’s campaign, making his mark with the Blues’ second goal in a 3-0 victory against the newly-promoted Npower League One side.

The Spaniard scored just one league goal for the Stamford Bridge side after his £50 million switch from Liverpool in January, but his second-half strike found the back of the net after a fine pass from Nicolas Anelka.

The former Porto boss gave a total of 23 players a run on the pitch in the pre-season game, with none of the squad asked to play for more than 45 minutes.

Yossi Benayoun and Slobodan Rajkovic, a youngster from Serbia making his debut, scored the other two goals of the game.

Israeli international Benayoun, who is starting his second season with Chelsea, scored after just four minutes of play against Gary Waddock's side.

Rajkovic, who has been loaned out to three different Dutch sides in four years, scored the third with a volley to conclude a healthy victory for the Barclays Premier League side.

The match, held at Chelsea’s Cobham HQ, was closed from the public and was organised after the Blues boss cancelled Chelsea’s opening pre-season fixture away to Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem.

Vitesse’s official website claimed that new boss VillaBoas rejected the fixture because it was too early for his side, who would have only completed five days of training before the match.

The club’s website apologised to fans, offering full ticket refunds to those who were planning to make the journey to see Chelsea in action.

Chelsea’s next pre-season fixture will be against Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Saturday.

Klitschko brothers bring documentary to London

H

EAVYWEIGHT world champions Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko wooed a media round table in a plush five star hotel in Hounslow on Monday as they promoted the launch of their personal documentary and declared their dream of heavyweight dominance has come true.

The giant double act entertained boxing scribes with their wit and intelligence as they basked in the glory of being the only brothers in prizefighter history to hold a clean sweep of world title belts.

On entering the room smiling, Wladimir apologised for their late arrival before moving around to warmly shake everybody's hand.

Cruelly labelled as robotic and boring champions throughout their joint heavyweight domination, there now seems to be a timely change of opinion in giving them both the respect their conduct and records deserve.

I can whole heartedly admit that I have never been a Klitschko fan but their performances in and out of the ring (particularly Wladimir) has enabled me to appreciate and admire two men I would now best describe as ‘class acts.’

Any aspiring young athlete would do themselves a huge favour in looking up to men who have climbed to the top of the tree as professional sports champions and also attained academic heights.

Wladimir was the more vocal of the two and unsurprisingly radiated huge contentment and slight cheek, fresh from giving trash talking David Haye a boxing and conduct lesson just over a week ago.

The brother’s manager Bernd Boente opened up proceedings saying, “We are all very happy RTL our German TV broadcaster had 16.2 million. (viewers). It was a huge event, very happy about the win there are no questions after that fight maybe about his (Haye`s) little toe.

•Klitschko

43

THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

e-Business Quality of Service remains poor In this half year review of the telecommunications sector, ADLINE ATILI examines the issues that shaped the first quarter ROM being one of Africa ’s underserved countries in telephony services, Nigeria is now Africa ’s largest telecommunications market.

The first quarter (Q1) has seen efforts by stakeholders in the industry to address multiple regulations and taxation, lack of fixed and mobile broadband services, non-compliance with regulations by operators, inadequate power supply, insecurity of telecoms infrastructure, rights of way issues, registration of SIM cards, deteriorating quality of service, among other efforts to up achievements of the sector.

Quality of Service (QoS) has been a raging issue in the telecoms industry. Dropped calls and poor connectivity have been among the problems subscribers battle with in communication.

According to the Executive ViceChairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC), Dr Eugene Juwah, the Quality of Service of telecommunications services, especially of wireless telecommunications networks is deteriorating nationwide, promising to engender change in his tenure.

Juwah said multiple taxation and regulations by state governments and federal agencies will be investigated as they affect the roll-out of base stations which in turn affects QoS. Multiple taxation from diverse regulatory bodies in Nigeria was a

F

hot topic in Q1. Operators complained bitterly of unwholesome taxes and levies they are forced to pay on almost daily basis.

President of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr Gbenga Adebayo, said the imposition of these levies and taxes on operators stifles their desire to serve the public effectively and efficiently by adversely impacting on their ability to improve the quality of service on their networks while offering the various telecoms services for which they were licensed.

Nigeria’s GSM operators have continued to benefit from strong subscriber growth in Africa ’s largest mobile market.

According to the telecoms subscriber data of the NCC, (May 2010 to April 2011), total connected lines of GSM, CDMA and fixed wired/ wireless stood at 117.3 million, while total active lines stood at 90.5 million. GSM got the lion share of the figure with total active lines at 83.6 million.

The market remained dominated

by MTN which has grown its subscribers to over 40 million. The

CDMA segment however, did not fare well in Q1.

The sector was continually dogged by losses that threatened to put it out of existence. These losses made Telkom of South Africa sell its Nigerian CDMA unit, Multi-Links for $10 million.

According to the subscriber data, the CDMA operators—Starcomms, Visafone, Multi-Links and Reltel— lost about 201, 279 active subscribers in Q1 2011 alone.

In the data, active mobile CDMA lines, which stood at 6,186,442 in January 2011, dropped to 5,985,163 in April of the same year.

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is already carrying the bulk of Nigeria’s international voice traffic. Applications such as e-commerce, online banking, e-payment and mobile money, e-health, e-

I

learning and e-government are rapidly evolving.

Luckily, a third submarine cable, the West African Cable System (WACS), of which MTN is a major investor, has landed the shores of Africa to provide larger bandwidth to deliver these services.

To match this, Second National Carrier, Q1, launched the nation’s first 4G-LTE network. Long Term Evolution (LTE) is a revolutionary Fourth Generation mobile technology which enhances data transfer rates, delivering unmatched mobile broadband experience and high data speed and reliability.

LTE is said to be the next step from 3.5G and High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) for many users not only those on the GSM technology curve but also for others too, such as CDMA and WiMAX.

‘Quality of Service (QoS) has been a raging issue in the telecoms industry. Dropped calls and poor connectivity have been among the problems subscribers battle with in communication’

Ndukwe seeks liberalisation of power sector MMEDIATE past Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Ernest Ndukwe has urged the Federal Government to liberalise the nation's poorly-performing power sector to solve the perennial problems besetting it and accomplish the feat of the telecommunications sector.

The liberalisation of the telecoms sector in 2001 opened it up to investment opportunities leading to phenomenal growth of the sector. According to data by the NCC, the telecoms sector's contributions to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stood at 3.5 per cent as at 2009.

Ndukwe, who was addressing a section of the ICT Publishers Alliance who paid a courtesy call on him ahead of A Decade of GSM forum slated for August, noted that the telecoms sector liberalisation was one of the areas the government got its bearings right; urging it to demonstrate

• Adebayo

• Juwah

same willpower in the power sector.

He said: “The success of the telecoms sector can be anchored on a number of factors including liberalisation, independence of the NCC, non-interference by government in the operations of the commission and willpower by government to implement a private sector-led telecoms industry.

“Liberalisation of that sector was one of the areas the government got its bearings right; we are enjoying the fruits of that singular act today. I think government should demonstrate the same willpower in the power sector to completely turn that sector around.

“This year, we would be celebrating ten years of mobile connectivity, one of the defining points for Nigeria's economic growth which should be replicated in the power sector. If this had been done since, Nigeria’s

energy challenge would have long been solved. There is a big justification for the celebration because of the landmark achievements in the last ten years.

“We need to remind people of what can be done when they put heads together. It is important to celebrate, but it must also be an occasion to remind ourselves of how much work is left to be done in other sectors.”

Ndukwe added that the mobile revolution was chiefly driven by a strong sense of leadership and enabling environment that gave investors confidence.

Secretary to the Federal Government, Senator Anyim Pius-Anyim and industry stakeholders in the Information and Communications Technology sector will gather in Lagos for the forum, to reflect on achievements of the telecoms sector in the past ten years and how the template could be used as solution for the success of other sectors.

G

LOBACOM, and mobile phone giant, Nokia have entered into an exclusive partnership under the Glo Mega Deal on a bundle offer for the new Nokia E6. The phone which is being introduced in Nigeria for the first time comes with a unique offer from Globacom.

The company’s Group Chief Operating Officer, Mohamed Jameel said the offer which is available on the Nokia E6, E7 and N8 devices, offers customers 6GB of Internet data access for six months for N7, 500.

“The Nokia E6, described as the ultimate business smart phone comes with rich features meant to enhance productivity. It has Nokia’s latest Operating System, the Symbian Anna and is both a touch and QWERTY keyboard phone with multiple home screens. It also has Microsoft Exchange, intranet access, Microsoft Communicator and preinstalled productivity applications such as Yahoo!, Gmail, Hotmail, Nokia Maps, F-Secure protection, Joiku hotspot application, SMS Wipe and Lock, News and RSS Feeds.

As such, it will revolutionise deployment of data-centric applications like High Definition Video Streaming, HD-Video bridging, Interactive Multiple Gaming, eHealthcare and so on.

Meanwhile, in Q1, there were investments on network upgrade by the operators. Airtel announced last week that it had invested $1 billion dollars on network expansion and facility upgrade in the country, up from $600 million when it took over Zain.

Starcomms also said it had invested N1.3 billion to improve capacity and strengthen its network in 10 Nigerian cities. MTN on its part, injected N150 billion to expand its network.

In March this year, new entrant, Etisalat secured a $650 million funding from eight Nigerian banks for network expansion.

In Q1, attempts to sell Nigeria ’s moribund Telco, NITEL failed yet again, with the reserve bidders unable to come forward to make bid payment.

Globacom partners Nokia “The offer which is exclusive to Globacom for now is a further demonstration of Globacom’s commitment to giving value to subscribers.

We are happy to partner with Nokia on this offer and feel proud to bring to our subscribers the exciting E6 handset for the first time. The Mega Deal package ties in with Glo’s philosophy of empowering Nigerians technologically and giving them access to the best value and pricing,” Jameel said.

Unfolding details of the offer, Globacom’s General Manager, Prepaid Marketing, Ashutosh Tiwary, explained that a subscriber may choose between the Nokia E6, E7 and N8 series and still enjoy the benefits of the Mega Deal including 20 per cent bonus airtime.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

44

e-Business

ATCON to connect 50 million telecoms users

T

HE Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), in collaboration with BusinessWorld, a weekly economic intelligence journal, is organising a high level broadband summit aimed at identifying opportunities and challenges for universal access to broadband Internet in Nigeria, engender investment, remove barriers to access, build a market and encourage building of infrastructure to ensure Nigerians begin to enjoy the benefits of today’s technologies.

The summit with theme: Broadband as Enabler to Connecting the Next 50 Million Telecoms Users in Nigeria will hold on 26 and 27 July, 2011 .

An investment expert, Mr Fola Adeola, will deliver the lead paper focused on forecasts into Nigeria’s investment climate in the next decade to connect 50 million telecommunications users in the country.

President of ATCON, Mr Titi OmoEttu noted that despite the large number of telephone lines recorded, the average

Stories by Adline Atili

Nigerian is yet to get the necessary empowerment which ICT offers today, stressing that emphasis hitherto placed on ‘number of connected lines’ in Nigeria will be shifted to emphasis on ‘number of users’ of telecommunications services to reflect the true development requirement of empowering Nigerians.

He maintained that this is misleading as many Nigerians are served with multiple phone lines, contrary to the universal belief that every person is served by one line; adding that the summit would be first in a series of initiatives to bring access to Nigerians.

He said: “Broadband is today’s transformational technology.

By revolutionising access to content and changing the delivery paradigms for a whole host of public and private sector services, it is becoming essential basic infrastructure for every country’s future development. Yet for the moment, access to high-speed Internet is very much a rich world privilege.

“To truly harness the power of information and communications technologies to create tomorrow’s Knowledge Societies and meet the Millennium Development Goals, new approaches to driving broadband roll-out across economic barriers are urgently needed.

“This summit is not a typical talk-show but a practical discussion among industry regulator (NCC), investors, top players and senior executives of major telecommunications and finance institutions who need to do business in Nigeria and for whom information is waiting to meet such objective.

“The three-in-one event will include a high level business discussion, exhibition of available products and services and presentation of an Investors’ Book.

The book is a document which is promoted by ATCON as the roadmap to bringing Internet access to the last man in Nigeria and would serve as reference for investors and frontline players of the ICT industry in Nigeria ’s second decade of ICT revolution.”

SkyVision to boost Starcomms broadband Internet

S

KYVISION, a provider of Internet Protocol connectivity over satellite and fibre optic systems, has been chosen as broadband fibre connectivity provider for Starcomms.

By way of international submarine cables on the coasts of Nigeria, SkyVision would provide connectivity solutions for a range of Starcomms’ Point of Presence (PoP) across Nigeria, enabling high quality and faster connectivity to Tier-1 Internet Service Providers through SkyVisio’s PoP in Lagos.

Chief Executive Officer of SkyVision, Mr Doron Ben-Sira said: “SkyVision is pleased to respond to Starcomms’ demand for high quality international fibre connectivity for its major PoPs across Nigeria.

“We are honoured to support Starcomms’ vision of becoming a provider of world-class, fixed

EasyFuel partners American firm on cashless fuelling

E

•One of Globacom’s Glo Zone franchisees, Mrs Ngozi Onakpoma (right) receiving her franchise certificate from Globacom officials at the inauguration of the Oshodi Glo Zone, a customer care and sales shop in Lagos.

New Horizons partners NDE on IT skills acquisition

N

EW Horizons, an Information Technology training firm and the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) have launched Skills for Employment and Enterprise (SEE) with a view to tackling the problem of graduate unemployment in Nigeria.

Over 10,000 unemployed graduates were empowered with IT skills at the launch of SEE which also served as New Horizons’ 4th National Job Fair.

Managing Director of New Horizons, Tim Akano said SEE aimed at bridging the wide skill gap that exists today between industry requirements and what university graduates have will empower the Nigerian graduates not only in Information Technology skills like Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle, and IT security, but also with skills in

personal branding, customer service, executive etiquette, selling skill, communication and leadership and entrepreneurship.

He said: “Graduate unemployment has reached an epidemic level in Nigeria. We are using SEE to produce graduates that will constitute veritable workforce in organisations around the world.

Feedback from employers has shown that today’s graduates do not possess skills that will make them hit the ground running from their first day in office.

“This is why the graduate trainee programme which used to take one year in most multinational companies in the past now takes three years. As a result, some companies now prefer to hire Asians to do jobs which Nigerians could do better

with additional training.

“Upon completion of the SEE training, graduates will be assisted with job placements as interns in banks, telecommunications companies, manufacturing and other companies.

For those who would like to be wealth creators, the skills acquired during the programme will prepare them to start a small scale IT business.”

At the end of the seminar, 100 graduates were awarded full scholarships by the NDE and New Horizons to study any Information Technology course of their choice and other soft skills to prepare them for a career in corporate organisations under the SEE project. Akano said the scholarship was part of the company's contribution to solving the problem of graduate unemployment in Nigeria.

Meridian Technologies empowers students with IT

I

N celebrating 10 years of offering Information Technology services and training, Meridian Technologies, an IT training, certification and solutions firm has announced a bonanza called 1 + 1 Offer.

According to the company, any student who enrols for an IT course at the company will get one course for free, at the same value. This is to encourage students to enrol for a rewarding and promising career in IT. The courses available under the free course are a range of courses from

leading vendors like Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle, Java and CompTIA. Business Development Manager of the company, Mr Chittaranjan Sharma said: “The 1 + 1 Offer is being introduced after the resounding success of free laptop and free certification exam offers, which were also part of the 10 year celebration.

“The free laptop offer empowered the students with their own laptops and under free certification exam offer, every student could obtain the internationally

and wireless communications solutions throughout Nigeria .

“Through our fully customised, independent and scalable solutions, Starcomms will be able to provide its customers with high quality Internet connectivity and support the increasing demand for superior service.”

Chief Commercial Officer of Starcomms, Mr Logan Pather noted that: “As our trusted broadband over satellite communications provider for the past three years, SkyVision’s commitment, close attention to client needs and first-class customer service made them the natural choice of provider for this new venture.

“With SkyVision’s international fibre connectivity to our company’s PoPs across Nigeria, we can now provide our customers with top of the line Tier-1 Internet service.”

recognised certifications from Microsoft, Oracle, Java, Cisco and CompTIA as they did not have to pay for the exam fees separately.

“As the exam cost could be up to 75 per cent of training cost for some courses, this offer was of immense benefit to the students. Under this offer, any student who enrols for an IT course will get the second course for free at the same value.

The student can do the second course himself or get someone else to do it for free.”

ASYFUEL Limited, a company pioneering integrated cashless fuelling in the nation’s downstream oil and gas sector, and its technical partner, Gilbarco Veeder-Root (GVR) have said Nigeria is ready to transit to a cashless economy.

GVR, a global leader in forecourt automation solutions in the oil and gas industry, is currently collaborating with EasyFuel to change the face of electronic payment in Nigeria. According to the companies, the system will eliminate the use of cash in buying petroleum products at filling stations across the country.

Speaking while paying an official visit to EasyFuel’s headquarters in Lagos, Regional Territorial Manager, Central Africa, GVR, Mr Jaques Van Der Merwe, said the global trend of cashless transactions and the wide acceptance that the cashless fuelling system has enjoyed in other parts of Africa made it imperative for Nigeria.

He said: “If you look at the huge business benefits that the system has and the sophistication of the average Nigerian, you will agree with me that Nigeria is ready to transit and embrace cashless transactions, especially in fuelling.

“Most transactions in the developed world are cashless and even some countries of the developing world, have embraced the system. South Africans, for instance, are hooked on to the system. I can tell you that it is a huge

success over there.

“We are collaborating with EasyFuel on this in order to deliver world-class services because we believe that the system will work and bring convenience to customers and eliminate the opportunities for fraud.”

Merwe said GVR was supporting EasyFuel in staff capacity development, software and hardware development, customer service, marketing, among others.

Managing Director of EasyFuel, Mr Tayo Olajide, said: “The vision of cashless fuelling is aimed at bringing innovation to the Nigerian oil and gas sector. I am convinced that the benefits of convenience, among other advantages, will make it popular. We have been working on this for about three years and we are happy it’s turning out well.

“I need to say that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s policy of cash withdrawal limit is a brilliant one. We don’t need to carry cash around to transact business.

“EasyFuel is coming into the Nigerian market with three solutions, which are backed by a solid state-of-the-art technology.

These include eGO Card, Sprint and SpeedPass. The EasyFuel system also accepts bank-issued ATM debit and credit cards, thereby enabling customers to pay for fuel electronically from their current/checking bank accounts.”

VConnect offers free SMS to users

V

CONNECT Global Services, a local search engine and leading information service provider, has introduced SMSConnect, an interactive service that enables users to send up to 50 Short Messaging Services daily to friends and business associates on any GSM network for free.

General Manager, VConnect Global Services, Mr Deepankar Rustagi said the service enables individuals and businesses register by filing an online form on the VConnect Website (www.vconnect.com) and get up to 50 SMS daily and 1000 monthly for individuals; while businesses listed on the service can send thousands of free SMS to their customers every month.

He said: “With SMSConnect, we

are offering Nigerians opportunity both as individuals and as businesses to register on our Website and use the SMSConnect service to send free SMS to friends, loved ones, business partners and customers. All a user needs to do is log on to the Website, click on SMSConnect and register by filling the form, after which a code will be sent to the phone number and email address provided.”

According to him, the features of the service include: Quick SMS; Group SMS; Schedule SMS, which allow users to compose messages to be sent at a later time automatically; and the address book which allows subscribers to save all their contact numbers on the service as backup.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

45

e-Business

Production Team: Femi Jolaolu, Lekan Hammed, Yomi Oseni, Ugo Ananaba, Michael Ojo, Lanre Malik Marketing: Adeline Atili, Nkechi Nwabaogu, Kemi Makinde, Lillian Nsi-Enodien, Mariam Adeyanju Edited by: O’seun Ogunseitan

Pls. send Questions to oseun2@gmail.com or text to

080 5511 9009

New downloadable Abiola memorial videos released

T

HE Nation newspaper’s Databank and Archives, this morning, released a new set of its downloadable Abiola memorial videos on the internet. It is the last of its month-long free downloadable video releases.

The latest release which concludes a series began on June 12, is to mark the 13th anniversary of the death of Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola.

The new video release is a 10-part video.

It is a longer-duration edition of the version of the Abiola video released last month. The earlier video, was just about 15 minutes in length, small enough for download from the internet as a single file. The new version released this morning is more than thrice as long. It is 45 minutes in length.

The slow speed of internet service available in the country, made it difficult for many Nigerians to download the earlier single-file edition released to mark the 18th anniversary of the June 12, 1993 election. Today’s newly released edition in 10 parts, is highly compressed at less than 10Mb per part, for faster download.

Users of Nigeria’s slow internet services will now find it easier to download and store their copies of the epochal videos of the beginnings of the pan-Nigerian democratic struggle, triggered by the annulment of the Nigerian Presidential Election of June 12 1993.

Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola, who won the election adjudged to be the freest and fairest of all Nigerian elections todate, died exactly 13 years ago today, while in detention, under the regime of General Abdulsalam Abubakar. Abubakar became the Nigerian Head of State a month earlier, at the death of General Sanni Abacha on June 8, 1998.

OpenMarket releases new 10-part video

By O’seun Ogunseitan

The new video captures something about virtually all participants in what became a debacle of a nation, including General Sanni Abacha, who had Chief Abiola in detention between 1994 and 1998 widely regarded as Nigeria’s most politically turbulent peace time era.

Many internet users in the country were unable to sustain connectivity long enough to download the earlier released 50Mb single file video in full and most could not resume downloads after such connectivity was lost.

The Nation Databank was forced to release a five-part mobile phone version of the earlier video for download by eager users of several mobile phone internet services. More than 2,700 persons downloaded at least one of the five parts of that version within the first week of its release last month.

Now, OpenMarket, The Nation Databank’s burgeoning new digital-age marketing forum has again teamed up with The Nation to release an even longer Abiola biographical video but for easier download by web users within and outside Nigeria.

PCUser2User forum releases Google’s Chrome Disc in Nigeria

N

IGERIA’s premier personal computer user group, the PCUser2user forum, has published a compact disc-based user-ready version of the Chrome Operating System from Google, the world’s most powerful internet search engine maker.

The Chrome OS from Google, is the world’s first browser-based Operating System. It enables a computer to be switched on and boot straight on to the internet, just from a compact disc, even without any hard disc installed.

The software, which give hints of the next direction of personal computing, is available for free download on selected websites on the internet. But its

By Lanre Malik

download is not for neophytes in computing, because it is not just a software, but a collection of hundreds of software arranged in a particular order which must be maintained after download, for it to work properly.

The PCUser2User forum is growing a user interactive blog on the internet for the Chrome OS Disc it has now made available with computer software vendors in Nigeria. To this end, the forum has made a user manual for the Chrome OS available for free fast download on its on BlogSpot space or Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pcuser2user.

48,002 phone users have used OpenMarket ™ Have you?

Like the previous editions, these latest videos are already available on the internet at www.facebook.com/pcuser2user The Nation had first published the archival Abiola memorial videos in June and July 2009 and distributed them as free video and data disc inserts in the newspaper in honour of the largehearted, yet officially unsong hero of the 1999 military handover. Although more than 200,000 copies of the free discs were published and given out free by the newspaper, requests for copies have still not ceased two years after.

The Nation Databank has more than five hours of archival video footages on the Nigerian June 12, 1993 Polical Crisis.

The extremely slow speed offered by internet service providers in Nigeria, has made it advisable to chop up whole videos into smaller bits to faciliate easier downloads. Downloads of a large single video file, will need to be restarted each time the download stops due to drop in internet connection.

Although all parts of the new Abiola video, must be downloaded in full before a whole video disc which can be created and played on a home video player, a copious excerpt of the video is still live and will remain live literally for ever, on YouTube, the internet’s largest host of webviewable videos. YouTube, however limits its free user videos to a maximum of 15 minutes each.

Ms. Tosin Akanmu, spokesperson for US-based Media Tools and Technologies, owners of the OpenMarket franchise, confirmed that the organisation also has a web access that will enable owners of high-speed internet connectivity to download the video and a comprehensive biography of Bashorun M.K.O.Abiola and other heroes and heroines of Nigerian struggles from independence to the 1999 third democratic berth, as a single file disc image.

The unique single file compact disc image, called an iso image, contains the Abiola videos and hundreds of photographs, other documents and ebooks, including Dr. Olatunji Dare’s authoritative eye-witness recount of the June 12 crisis, Diary of Debacle.

A disc iso image is a digital clone of a disc. It is a copy of the entire contents of a disc, as a single computer file. With a disc recorder software, mostly called disc burning software, such image will automatically turn a blank disc into an exact copy of the original disc cloned.

The special Abiola disc iso image now available for high speed download, will enable any PC User to create their own memorial discs, containing the Abiola videos for home television viewing as well as for computer playback, while also having access to rare e-documents and e-books on the June 12 crisis.

A feature-rich archival disc of the same videos, as well as many new materials, including more recent updates and interviews, is to be published by OpenMarket. It will include a new video documentary on Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola’s rise from rags to riches, for Nigerians who may find the internet access for the video download too technical or the disc-creation from the iso image too demanding.

Visit

www.facebook.com/PCUser2User for the weblinks for all downloads

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

46

e-Business Matters e-Rising

Posers for CPN’s fifth IT Assembly

Segun Oruame segun@segunoruame.com

T

HE 5th Information Technology Assembly, flagship event of the Computer Professionals (Registration Council) of Nigeria (CPN), holds in Abuja from June 29 to July 1, 2011 with the theme: Information Technology and Democratic Dividends in Nigeria: Issues and Prospects.

The CPN is the body responsible for regulation, control and supervision of computing practice in the country. It certifies a professional to practice and also corporate institutions engaged in computer related businesses.

More than any other body in the IT industry, the CPN has had to contend with its own load of controversies as to the legitimacy of its existence as well as its actions.

And in the last few years, it has had to rely on the law as well as the charisma of the IT professionals that have driven it as a body,

to defend and assert its legitimacy.

That legitimacy is expansive beyond certifying training schools and corporate entities engaged in computer enterprise.

Therefore, this year’s theme of the IT assembly will not only raise posers on stakeholders’ expectations of how democracy should impact positively on the entire spectrum of the IT industry but also whether the country’s political leadership truly appreciates the role of IT and IT professionals in national development.

The IT assembly, sadly, amplifies nonchalant attitude of the country’s democratic leadership towards IT. We live in interesting times. Times when developed countries are increasingly strengthening their fiscal investment and vision of IT as the cornerstone of their engagement in the New World Economic Order;

and in contrast, times when several developing countries including Nigeria, appear to have no clear-cut plan for driving real economic growth through IT. The more reason why this year’s IT assembly must be a rallying point to speak truth to power that there will be no growth without strategic integration of IT in all spheres of our national life.

The CPN and its drivers will be discussing ways of increasing capacity building; encouraging the right policy thrust for building robust national IT infrastructure; fostering skilled IT human resources from the secondary and tertiary levels and opening up government and governance to IT resource among other critical issues.

But it has always been all talk.

The world is leaving Nigeria be-

hind and we must ask ourselves the question: How could government list seven priority areas of develore on IT in the last few years be truly regarded as focused? Are we not spending on IT or even implementing IT action-plans, the way we have done with our diplomatic missions?

International lawyers and ‘relationists’ have tended to get the point on the mark: Nigeria’s diplomatic missions is always at variance with its national interest? What is our national interest in IT? The CPN Registrar, Mr Sikiru Shehu has rightly described the IT assembly as an exclusive networking event for senior IT decision makers, IT consultants, upcoming IT entrepreneurs, IT practitioners, teachers and IT system administrators.

They make up the population of

a country in search of credible IT direction.

Therefore, upon this IT gathering is the burden of identifying Nigeria’s national IT interest within the myriad of duplicities in terms of the number of government bodies and statutory IT agencies with similar roles; and government policy thrusts that are at once, duplicative and at once, contradictory.

If the singular gain of the fledgling IT industry is to sanitise its priorities as well as get some steam in terms of proactive direction, it would count as great ‘Democratic Dividends.’ Indeed, these are the real issues for which the prospect for real growth is hinged. Mr Shehu and the CPN family must face up to this fact.

Subscribers get free credit in SIM registration promo

T

HE free airtime promo introduced by Etisalat, the 9ja Free Credit, has prompted a lot of its subscribers to register their SIM cards at the Telco’s Experience centres, distribution and SIM registration outlets nationwide.

The promo, which was recently extended to July to allow all unregistered subscribers participate, was designed by the company to reward prepaid and post-paid customers with 30 per cent free airtime up to a maximum of N10,000, to call any network in Nigeria when they register their SIM cards within the period.

According to the company’s Chief Commercial Officer, Wael Ammar, “If a subscriber recharges a total of N300 in 30 days, he gets N90; for N500, he gets N150 and if it’s N30,000 and above, they get N10,000. Upon registration, all recharges from first recharge are monitored for the next 30 days and the day after their 30th day, a 30 per cent bonus of all recharges will be credited to a subscriber’s account as bonus.

“The promo has seen a lot of subscribers register while new subscribers are joining us and taking advantage of the opportunity to register and enjoy the bonus credit we are offering.

Subscribers who registered in June have begun receiving their bonuses already.

“We are encouraged with the feedback from our customers which shows their belief in our ability to deliver best value to them.

It is also an indication that they are impressed with our products and services. We promise we’ll continue to offer superior products and services to our customers.”

He said to enjoy the offer, subscribers need to activate their SIM cards by dialing 200 and thereafter register the SIM cards and begin to recharge. The reward, according to him will also apply in the month of August.

“For example, if you register your SIM on July 15, all recharges between July 15 till August 15 will be monitored and the bonus will be given on August 16,” Ammar said.

NigComSat conference to explore opportunities in satellite communications

F

ORMER Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Ernest Ndukwe will deliver the keynote speech at the Stakeholders Conference of Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Limited for the pre-launch of its replacement satellite, the NIGCOMSAT-1R. Ndukwe, who is also Chairman, Open Media Group, an ICT Consultancy group, will speak on Satellite and Broadband Penetration.

He will be speaking on a familiar turf having been the champion and advocate of broadband penetration during his 10-year tenure as NCC boss.

Other speakers include the Executive Vice Chairman of the

NCC, Dr Eugene Juwah who will x-ray regulation as it relates to communications satellites.

Spokesman of NIGCOMSAT, Mr Sonny Aragba-Akpore said in a statement that Chairman of the Global System Analysis Simulation Association of US, Prof. Tak Utsumi will examine the global socioeconomic implications of communications satellites deployment.

Aragba-Akpore explained that besides listing the advantages of communications satellites to national development, the conference will answer several questions about job creation via satellite communications and the opportunity to take the telecommunications services to the unserved and underserved parts of the country.

•From left: Managing Director, New Horizons, Tim Akano; representative of the National Security Adviser to the President, Ambassador Aruna Wando; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Ola Ibrahim and EC-Council President Sanjay Bavisi, at the World Cyber IT security conference in Abuja.

Insurers urged to partner telecoms operators to boost penetration

I

NSURERS have been urged to collaborate with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to deliver insurance services to the average Nigerian.

Speaking at the eNNovators Breakfast Series 2 organised by financialtechnology in Lagos, General Manager, MicroEnsure, Ghana, Peter Gross, argued that providing micro insurance through the ubiquitous mobile telecommunications platform in Nigeria is the only available means of developing products to insure the critical mass that form the informal sector and allow the insurance industry to increase the level of penetration.

Gross whose company is in the forefront of promoting mobile insurance in Ghana, explained that micro insurance penetration is low in Nigeria because of a few faulty assumptions within the insurance community.

According to him these assumptions include such remarks as: “‘We don’t believe that 70 per cent of Nigeria can be insured.’

‘Insurance is not in demand or ‘cannot be understood by the tar-

get client base.’ ‘If insurance for the poor must be low cost, it therefore must be low value.’ ‘The poor face more risk, so we have to account for them.’ ‘We can use our basic policies and strip them down.’”

He noted that such faulty assumptions in the insurance community have led to faulty products such as low-value credit life products, heavy conditions and exclusions that erode consumer trust, insurance processes that do not account for rural realities and administrative systems that cannot handle millions of clients.

He pointed out that micro insurance penetration is low in Nigeria on the buying side because most Nigerians think insurance products are too expensive.

“They do not trust the insurers enough. They think insurance products are not available and they also feel that no one has explained it to them,” he said.

He, however, warned insurers that collaborating with mobile operators to provide micro insurance is not a guarantee for success if the right approach is not adopted.

According to him, the requirements for successful use of mobile

channels to drive micro insurance should include products that drive the channel’s core business, simplified processes, minimised operation expenses, commitment to the micro market and developing the right partners.

Head of Distribution, FBN Life Assurance, Ayodeji Bankole- Olushina noted that the adoption of alternative channels of distribution that brokers over 80 per cent control of the insurance distribution would be shifted to the underwriters.

“Brokers control 80 per cent of insurance distribution and their influence is expected to remain strong. However, alternative channels such as mobile, online and card platforms may overtime redefine distribution and shift market power to underwriters,” he said.

He explained that mobile, cards and other online channels would address the insurance industry’s distribution challenges such as poor payment and collection infrastructure, lack of credible national database, non-adoption of appropriate technology, wide gap between service providers and consumers and unhealthy dependence on insurance brokers.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

47

THE NATION

NATURAL HEALTH E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

CLINIC DAY

QUESTIONS (1) I drink tea a lot, especially lemon grass tea. I understand there are different types of tea, what are the types, differences and health benefits?

The Director, Odumegwu Herbal Tea, Robinson Ike responds to the question on teas and their benefits while the search engine, amabute.wordpress.com provides a director of Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service, Prof. Chris Idzikowski’s articule as answer to the second question.

– Oduye Igbayilola, Ekiti State

Benefits of tea, by expert T

EA comes from the evergreen tea bush (Camellia Sinensis). The following terms only describe tea leaves after they are harvested from the tea bush and processed for consumption.

Tea origins Tea is the most popular drink in the world. It has been drunk for thousands of years and is thought to have originated in China when some tea leaves fell into the Emperors water. Since then it has been used in various ways and at some points in history it was so valuable that it was used as currency. It has been used by doctors to treat disease and is thought to improve longevity, vitality and general well-being.

Types of tea Many people do not realise that tea comes in five main types: Green Tea; Oolong Tea; Black Tea; White Tea and Pu Erh Tea. Theycome from the same plant called the Camellia sinensis and are given various names only after certain cooking or preparation, methods are carried out. Green Tea is pan fried or steamed to prevent the leaves from oxidizing or fermenting. Oolong teas are the most expensive because they are semifermented and made in a more elaborate method. The colour of this tea is usually light yellow.

Black tea is the strongest tea of all the the type we are most used to drinking in the west. It is fully fermented and has up to three times as much caffeine in it than the other teas. White tea is quite rare and is made from the white buds of the tea plant as opposed to the green tea leaves. It is a clear white color and much finer. Pu Erh Tea is chinese tea that has been fermented twice and then left to grow mold on it. It is said to have strong medical properties. Of these six types of tea, only herbal tea is not “true” tea - that is, it is the only type of tea that does not come from the Camellia sinensis plant.

There are also herbal teas like you find in a Chinese doctors shop but these are not really teas as they are not usually made from tea leaves but other types of plants.

There are some infused blends of tea where other flavours have been added.

America contributed to helping tea become what it is today by introducing iced tea at the World’s Fair in St. Louis in 1904 and then again in 1908 with the introduction of tea bags.

And looking at the latest tea trends from across the world there seems to be nothing that is not being touched by some type of tea or another. There are now vari-

ous teas which are used to flavour different foods. For example, Green tea is an ingredient in green tea ice cream. You can also find many flavours of slimming tea which include different types of tea and other ingredients all blended together deliciously. And of course you have the many, many, flavoured but still healthy Black, White, Oolong, Green and Ceylon tea.

Now as we have been speaking about the various teas you may have been wondering why I haven’t mentioned herbal tea, herbal infusions or even tisanes tea. When you have these teas you may believe that you are drinking another type of tea, however these types do not really belong in the tea category at all. These types are also known as alternative teas. In this category you will find herbs such as the dragon fruit, rooibos, and others being used as infusions to make tea like drinks.

Still other alternative types of tea will be infused with fruits and flowers which have been added during the production process, to make them more flavourful and in some cases a healthier alternative to many of the other drinks that we have available to us.

As we can see there are many various teas which you can try for yourself or buy as gifts to give.

(2) My fiancé sleeps with legs raised up, please does this mean anything or are sleeping positions indicative of personality types?

•Ike

And no matter what reason you have for drinking tea you will find that each typs of tea will be perfect for their own different reasons.

The health benefits of drinking tea:

Here are some health benefits of tea: Tea is an anti-cancer plant; it boosts your brain; tea helps you fight off illness; tea beats stress and help you lose weight.

Health challenges of taking tea Sleep problems: If you are having sleep problems already it might be a good idea to take a look at how many teas you are drinking. Many people do not realise that tea is quite high in caffeine and too much tea can affect how well you sleep. However, your sleeplessness might be caused by other things.

Kidney damage: Some scientific studies have shown that the oxalates in tea can cause some kidney damage. However, this has only been shown in people who drink a lot of tea – a lot more than most of us drink.

Although there other draw-

– Segun Jaiyeoba, Lagos State backs associated with tea ,none of them have been definitively proven by science. The main message is that excess is not a good idea. If you are drinking more than about four cups of tea a day you are more likely to have some negative effects.

How not to drink tea

Don’t add milk Scientists have found that adding milk to your tea actually detracts from the health benefits.

Get your tea from a clean area One of the best things you can do if you are serious about your health is research where your tea comes from. I learned this trick in India and I think it makes a lot of sense. Pollution in the air and soil has a massive effect on how healthy your tea is – places such as China and India have a lot of air pollution.

Don’t add sugar Sugar is like a leech. It has so many negative effects on the body and you should avoid it at all costs. If you can cut out or reduce the amount of sugar that you put in your tea you will be doing your body a big favour.

Sleeping positions and their meanings

I

F you want to know someone’s true personality, then try to know the way he/she sleeps. Scientists believe the position in which a person goes to sleep provides an importance clue about the kind of person they are.

Our lives, the amount of sleep we get, and how well we actually rest during those night-time hours may change drastically over time.

However, one sleep researcher says that our body position in bed could say something about who we are, not just what else is happening in our lives.

A study of 1,000 Brits revealed that the six most common sleeping positions are indicative of personality types.

We are all aware of our body language when we are awake but this is the first time we have been able to see what our subconscious posture says about us.

What’s interesting is that the profile behind the posture is often very different from what we would expect.

The research also links certain sleeping positions with health risks. Some aid digestion while others spur on snoring and restlessness.

Here are the seven common sleeping positions and correlated personality traits and health implications, according to this study.

Fetus - A whopping 41 per cent of participants sleep in this curledup manner. Women are twice as likely to rest like this and it is listed as the most common position. These sleepers are said to have a tough exterior but are still sensitive and may appear to be shy but warm up quickly.

Log - If you sleep on your side with both arms down, you are a social, easy-going person who is trusting, sometimes to the point of being gullible. The study showed 15 per cent of people sleep like a log.

Yearner - A close third is the side-lying position with both arms out in front of the body, with 13 per cent of partipants sleeping like this. Yearners are noted to be openminded and still cynical, suspicious, and stubborn about sticking to decisions once they are made.

Soldier - These sleepers lie on their backs with arms down and kept close to the body. This 8 per cent study is said to be reserved, quiet, without fuss, and hold themselves and others to a high standard. Soldier sleepers have a higher likelihood for snoring due to the flat-back position, which may not cause them to wake up often but may result in a less restful night’s sleep.

Freefall - Those people who lie on their bellies with arms under

or wrapped around a pillow with head turned to the side, make up seven per cent of the population studied. Freefallers are brash, outgoing, and are very uncomfortable with criticism.

Starfish - Sleepers who lie on their backs with arms up near their head or the pillow account for five per cent of participants. These people are good listeners, helpful, and are uncomfortable being the center of attention. People who sleep in starfish position are more likely to snore and to suffer from a poor night’s sleep more often.

Stargazer - Lovers of liberty, seekers of comfort, admirers of beauty, the Stargazer’s happy-go-lucky attitude towards life can be magnetic at times. As your open, free, warmthaccepting sleeping pose reflects, you enjoy life and all the beautiful things it has to offer. Beware though, as you do not take to discomfort lightly and people may complain that your expectations can be too high at times.

Also, you should guard against being too talkative about other people.

If you think you are one of those people who move through all of these positions, which are not likely to really be the case. The research revealed most people stay in the same position all night and only five per cent lay differently night by night. Also interesting is that the

•Source: heavenlybedding.com study showed only one in 10 people cover their bodies entirely with a blanket, with most people exposing an arm, leg, or both feet.

NOTE We apologise for our inability to publish this page last week. It was due to some technical hitches.

48

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

NATURAL HEALTH

Healing with 12 homeopathic cell salts W

ELCOME to homeopathy, a royal medicine system. Rarely has it been discussed directly in this column as I am encouraged to do today by Nigey Lennon, a professional writer and musician, and Lionell Rolfe, a journalist and authour with lifelong interest in medicine. They are co-authors of HOMEOPATHIC CELL SALT REMEDIES, subtitled HEALING WITH NATURE’S 12 MINERAL compounds. Their book is so simple that it takes away the tedium of navigation through a medical jungle which discourages many lay people like me from studying homeopathy.

Simple as this book is, it is impossible for it to begin the story of the 12 healing cell salts without reference to Dr. Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843), the German researcher acclaimed as the father of homeopathy. He was disgusted by the practice of “bloodletting” or “bleeding” by doctors of his time which often killed their patients. If you were ill and your doctor thought your blood was poisoned, he made incisions into your body to help you lose some of the bad blood. Of course, given the insanitary conditions of this practice in those days, the patient could get infected and die.

That got Dr. Hahnemann thinking and reviewing thousands of plant medicines in use at that time. He came up with the idea that whatever caused a disease in large doses could cure it in much smaller doses as small as one part in a million! Thus was born the idea of “like” curing “like”. As an example, snake poison, diluted to say one-millionth of its potency, may cure snake bite poisoning. If you pinch yourself that you’re not going to take that kind of medicine preparatory to a forest tour where you could be bitten by deadly snakes, remember that, as a child, you had vaccination for polio or tuberculosis. It was the weakened poison of these diseases (“likes”) which gave you immunity against their deadlier kindred (“likes”). Even the father of modern Western medicine, Hippocrates would say: “Through the like, disease is produced, and through the application of like, it is cured”. A Yoruba adage will confirm: Omo ina li a n ran si ina” (it is the child of fire we send after fire).

In 1812, Hahnemann’s thoughts prevailed over the practice of bloodletting when French Emperor Napoleon let him treat 180 typhoid sufferers. At that time, typhoid epidemics were killing French people by the thousands and mainstream medicine was powerless against it. Only one of Dr. Hahnemann’s patients died! In 1832, homeopathy scored another plus over cholera, and America opened its doors to it.

By the time Hahnemanne had built up a treasure trove of more than 900 homeopathic remedies. It is this list which, after him, grew to more than 2000 that have now been shrunken to no more than 12 biochemic cell salts by another German, Dr. William Schnessier. A linguist, Dr. Schnessier was influenced by the work of Pathologist Dr. Rudolph Virchow, said to be the father of modern pathology. Dr. Schnessier concluded that disease begins from disturbances at the cellular level. What is described as disease is actually a change of metabolism status within the cell. These changes would occur, no doubt, due to changes in the cell constituents. Discovering these constituents, therefore, was crucial for the understanding of disease and its reversal. Dr. Schnessier burned the cell and discovered, he said, that these constituents are reduceable to no more than 12 biochemical or cell salts. To him, these 12 salts can perform most of the functions within the cell that thousands of the other substances do. It would appear from this submission that those salts, in varying degrees, are present in all bodily materials.

Why would Nature then create a large number of stores? I wondered after reading him. Could it be to avoid extinction of some of a small number of cell activators?

The 12 Cell Salts They are named here not by their homeopathic names but by the common or general ones. These are: · Calcium fluoride · Calcium phosphate · Calcium sulphate · Ferrum phosphate · Magnesium phosphate · Potassium chloride · Potassium phosphate · Potassium sulphate · Silica · Sodium chloride · Sodium phosphate, and · Sodium sulphate.

Calcium Flouride Lennon and Rolfe say it is “a natural producer of suppleness and elasticity”. And it is found on the surface of bones, tooth enamel, and elastic fibres of the body. A chemical union of lime and fluoric acid, it debunks the lie often visited upon lime juice as a sperm thinner and infertility agent for women. People who are losing enamel protection of their teeth need it. So, do arthritic people with abnormal spine curvature, weak gums damaged or inelastic connective tissue in the joints. How about people with varicose veins, rumpled inelastic skin, hemorrhoids and even obesity? They all should profit from calcium fluoride. I take the juice of three limes in 75cl bottle of water in the moving and last thing to bed, sometimes added to oatmeal, in the search for calcium fluoride. After I read this book, I have searched the market for these salts and was compensated by Dr V.C. Vogel’s THE NATURE DOCTOR, which suggests that rye is rich in calcium fluoride. Now, I have added rye powder to my oatmeal breakfast.

Calcium Phosphate A potentiator or trigger of all activities in the cell, this is a powerhouse of calcium and phosphorus, a bone hardener

which combines well with silica for fractures, osteoporosis, growing up pains of children and reproductive organ disorders, especially in women.

Calcium Sulphate A wound healer good for boils, abscess and acne, it is well known for making hospital casts. It is plentiful in egg shell which may be ground to fine powder and used in these and other conditions it helps. It is a good antacid because it helps the body keep water. Many homeopaths say it protects stomach wall, eyeball, nasal passages, mouth, throat, bladder and the skin, preventing dehydration. As a wound healer, it works synergically with silica.

Ferrum Phosphate We know shepherd’s purse for stopping, bleeding, especially from women’s problems. But here comes what may be a more powerful agent for this purpose which also aids iron metabolism, helps fever and anaemia. It delivers iron to the cells in such microscopic servings that do not cause constipation or damaging congestion in the liver.

Magnesium Phosphate Magnesium calms and relaxes nerves; calcium contracts them. Palpitating hearts need magnesium. So do spasmodic uterine fibroids which cause menstruation pain. I suggest massage with magnesium oil to people with muscle and nerve pain. I learned this week of a doctor who was magnesium oil for the massage of the lifeless limbs of stroke patients. Magnesium phosphate acts on the white nerve fibers in contrast to potassium phosphate which acts on the grey ones. People who do a lot of brain work will benefit from magnesium phosphate. I am reminded of my ‘O’ Level school days when students took a product called phospherine while studying for their final exams.

Potassium Chloride A mucus fighter that would also combat fluid in the ear and ease sore throat, this cell salt is useful for many of the conditions in which potassium sulphate would help.

Potassium Phosphate This is the tranquiliser or cell salt for nerve problems and held as the most important of the three potassium salts. Potassium partners here with phosphoric acid. And phosphoric acid is part of the “gray matter” of the brain. This makes potassium phosphate good for people who suffer from psychological problems to which belong depression, anxiety and irritatibility. Lennon and Rolfe say “it helps cure headaches and restores healthful sleep patterns” and is often “prescribed for memory loss and dementia associated with the aging process”.

Potassium Sulphate An oxygen carrier, potassium phosphate works well with ferrum phosphate and goes on to help in the building of new cells to replace damaged or dead ones. It is used in asthma therapy and skin problems.

Silica Known well for healthy skin, nails and hair, silica (dust from worn down rocks), it is suggested also for firming up tissue, cleansing, breaking boils. As the authors add: “Silica also relieves swelling and heat in joints and has been

‘Discovering these constituents, therefore, was crucial for the understanding of disease and its reversal. Dr. Schnessier burned the cell and discovered, he said, that these constituents are reduceable to no more than 12 biochemical or cell salts. To him, these 12 salts can perform most of the functions within the cell that thousands of the other substances do’

e-mail: femi.kusa@yahoo.com or olufemikusa@yahoo.com

used successfully to dissolve the urate deposits of arthritis and gout. In cases of asthma, complicated by heavy mucus on the chest, silica can significantly reduce the inflammation and restore normal breathing” Sodium Chloride Working with potassium but chiefly resident outside the cells, in spaces between them, sodium chloride helps to regulate water balance in the body by maintaining osmotic pressure of the cell wall. Sodium has been given a bad name for causing hypertension and other degenerative diseases, including cancers, when it overshoots its ratio with potassium in the body. Now it is known that the crisis comes from table salt which has been stripped in the manufacturing process of more than 80 brochemical micro nutrients which help to prevent a sodium carnage. And that’s why sea salt, though lacking in sufficient iodine which can be obtained from kelp or the proprietary product IODORAL, has become a bail-out.

Sodium chloride cell salt helps combat headaches, probably because it supports steady blood flow to the brain.

Sodium Phosphate This is a biological antacid. Present in muscles, nerves and brain cells, help it to decompose lactic acid and metabolise essential fatty acids. With many degenerate diseases now linked to excess acids in the body, what will a biological antacid not attend to?

Sodium Phosphate Sodium chloride attracts water to the body, but sodium phosphate helps to take away excess water, as in dampness in the lungs which may provoke asthma. This makes it also eliminate toxins as it removes water containing toxins twice its size. It is suggested for diabetes, jaundice babies, and intestinal problems.

Simplified Remedy Guide

N

IGEY Lennon and Lionel Rolfe provide a simplified Remedy Guide for many health disorders. These in cluded acne, aging related problems, airsickness, anaemia, appetite loss, asthma, back pain, bed wetting, behaviour related disorders, bladder-related problems, weakened bones, bronchitis, colds, constipation, cough, cramps, depression, diabetes, diarrhea, digestion-related problems, dizziness, earrelated problems, eating disorders, eye related problems, fatigue, split fingernails, gout, gum related problems, headaches, hemorrhoids (piles), hiccups, insomnia, irritability, itching, liver-related problems, memory loss, menstrual flow problems, menopausa-related problems, nervousness, osteoporosis, pain, perspiration-related problems, rheumatism, sore throat, teeth-related problems, vaginal discharge related problems, varicose veins, warts and weight problems, among others.

I show interest in remedies for the eyes and teeth because this column often receives enquiries about them from many readers. The authors say that “if your mouth is always dry and your teeth are deficient in enamel, which leads to rapid decay, calcium fluoride is indicated immediately”. The same goes for teeth loose in their sockets. Even children with delayed dentition are said to benefit from them. My friends who experience showers, flickerings or sparks of light before their eyes, spots on the cornea, conjunctivitis or cataracts should find soccur in calcium fluoride of which the authors say: “…One doctor reported that in 13 cases of cataracts, eleven were cured with regular cases of calcium fluoride”.

What about asthma? “It is also suggested in cases of asthma where the mucus coughed up contains any yellow lumps”.

Where menstruation is “too thick”, calcium fluoride is said to help and in other female troubles. For example, “if after a miscarriage the uterus loses muscle tone, calcium fluoride is needed”. Similarly, “in cases where menstruation is not only excessive but is also accompanied by bearing down pains and flooding, this cell salt can also help”.

As the authors conclude on the cell salt: “Calcium fluoride is to elastic tissues what silica is to connective tissues, and it is regarded as the complement of silica.

In many cases, these two remedies should be used together, or one can be used when the other fails to help the ailment.

I cannot help checking up tonsillitis. I have been asked many times about what children with tonsillitis can be given.

I often suggest Oregano double strength spray, Ionyte gaggle, or colloidal silver spray in addition to golden seal root with Echinacea, Bee pollen, Grape seed, extract and Olive leaf extract. The book gives an example where calcium phosphate helped tonsillitis.

“Mark S., a five-year-old boy, had all the symptoms of a calcium phosphate deficiency. He was thin, delicate – looking and quite tall for his age. He had problems with his hearing, and all of his symptoms were worse when he was so sore that he would not let a doctor examine it. After he took calcium phosphate for three days, his soreness started disappearing. His tonsils, which had been swollen, and red, started recovering. In three weeks, Mark’s hearing problem were gone and the swelling had subsided completely.”

The 23 homeopathic cell salts will feature more regularly in this column from now on. I hope that you, too, will give them some space in your home or office food supplements medicine box.

•This article is being re-run due to popular demand

Tel: 08034004247, 07025077303

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

49

50

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

51

52

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

53

NEWS

• Representative of Lagos State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)chair, Chief Kareem Daramola • Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi (right) discussing with Godwin Stephen, a member of the cutting the tape to open the constituency office of Senator Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos East) at CMD state contingent, who was wounded at the just-concluded National Sports Festival in Port Harcourt Road, Magodo, Lagos...last weekend. With him are Senator Ashafa (left) and other party officials at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.... on Tuesday.

• Abia State Governor Theodore Orji welcoming Head, Southeast National Agency for Prohibi- • Ondo State Governor Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and the daughter of the late Bashorun MKO Abiola, Mrs Hafsat Abiola-Costello during a courtesy call on the Governor in Akure... on Tuesday tion of Traffic in persons (NAPTIP), Mrs. Ijeoma Okoronkwo to his office in Umuahia

• Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole being presented with a copy of the Holy Bible by the • Dean, Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Prof. Ayotunde Catholic Archbishop of Benin Diocese, Dr. Augustine Akubueze during his visit to the Government Ajayeoba (left) greeting the Keynote Speaker Dr. Sunny Kuku at a lecture in Ibadan... on Tuesday.

House, Benin...on Tuesday.

With them is Chairman of the occasion Prof. Oluwole Akande.

• Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State Senator John • Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State (right) presenting a souvenir to the Managing Akpanudoedehe signing the condolence register at the Lagos home of the late Mrs. Christy Essien- Director/CEO, Skye Bank (Plc), Mr. Kehinde Durosinmi Etti when he visited the governor in Ilorin...on Tuesday Igbokwe...last weekend

54

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

NEWS In an interactive session with reporters in Abuja, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi speaks on his vision for the service and how President Goodluck Jonathan interventions have helped to place the Customs in a good stead. Our Abuja Bureau Chief, YOMI ODUNUGA, was there.

‘Customs will surpass the N450b target’ I

T appears that the Customs has not been generating appreciable funds of late, what could be responsible for that?

Contrary to your belief, the Customs is actually generating more.

As I have always pointed out, in 2009 we collected N30 billion. But, today, we collect several times more. For example, in June, 2011 alone, we collected N61.5bn. The truth is that, in the past, our officers were not Internet compliant and computer literate.

Naturally, the job suffered. They did not understand how the system works when we started. They adhered to the pre-shipment inspection and so lost grip. During the pre-shipment regime, goods were inspected at take-off point and bills of laden and other documents only came here as evidence that the inspection was done properly. What usually happened here in Nigeria was that the Customs officer would merely call the importer to the office and agree on something as the tariff.

Essential duties like classification and valuation were done abroad.

The point is that when we practiced pre-shipment inspection, our men just dropped their guards and never studied anything on their duties.

They were reduced to people who merely opened containers and shut them back.

When we operated that way, our personnel were actually uninitiated or uneducated in the new ways of retrieving Customs duty. But we have trained quite a lot of officers and that training has led to the increase in revenue that we are being praised for. We have motivated our personnel with an increase in takehome pay. This has improved the attitude of the average officer and the results are there for everyone to see.

When we started, we inherited a revenue figure of N30 billion monthly collection and as I told you, that was under the pre-shipment inspection regime, which rendered our officers redundant and less effective in discharging their statutory responsibilities whereby valuation and classification of goods are all done abroad and all the customs officer did was to open a container and examine it and that was all. But with the coming of destination inspection, things have changed as goods are assessed in Nigeria and valued here as well.

So the duty that importers pay has risen.

To begin with, we went for a total revolution in capacity building by first making our officers knowledgeable in the fields of classification, valuation and assessment and other related statutory responsibilities of officers. If you look at training, we have educated 12000 of the 17000 officers and we have embarked on training the trainers on courses that are germane to the Customs and things are looking up now.

Our revolution on capacity building has educated officers on where and how to value imports and that has helped in driving our revenue profile in the country. Customs officers have come of age. They are motivated because we have undergone various reforms since 1978 but never before have the officers become more motivated than now when we collect over N61billion monthly.

We have more than doubled the monthly collection and our target before December is N100 billion monthly and hit our target of N450 billion annual target before October and what we collect thereafter would be a bonus collection.

We learnt you were in Brussels

for a crucial conference, of what benefit is that to the Service and the country?

The Nigeria Custom Service was in Brussels, the global Customs Headquarters where we meet annually. It was a good outing for us as we ran away with the coveted prize of a Regional Customs Staff College where officers from all over the continent and beyond will learn the technicalities of the profession. Because of the concept and format of the institution, the World Customs Organisation decided to take over the institution and sustain it.

Their involvement would improve Nigeria’s image abroad and their input and material contribution would enhance the quality of training one receives from the Institution. The trainees would comprise mainly of senior officers who would be taught how to offer responsible and responsive leadership.

We were also granted the right to host the WCO, which is the Customs’ apex governing body. About 30 countries entered to secure the hosting rights but Nigeria was chosen. China hosted the body last year and by the 7th of December, the 42 countries and 25 businesses and international organisations will be in Nigeria for seven days. It is at the week-long meeting, that the WCO will work out its roadmap for 2012.

These two achievements, I believe, will sign post the dawn of a new era and they are in fact epoch making. The institute will open new vistas to foreigners who have never been here and their visit will disabuse their minds on the negative information that they hear about the country.

It is a thing of joy that the institution will break grounds. I am sure that those who used to think that Nigeria was nothing would have a change of heart. Also, the WCO has a programme for resource persons.

When it is satisfied with the performance of any one of its resource persons, if that person is Nigerian, then the Nigerian will take over the training of other people and so on.

The programme is not merely for Nigerians alone but the whole of Africa. It will draw expertise from all those who are vast in the subject under study and that will enhance the quality of erudition that people receive from the institution.

How much impact has the revenue you have been collecting rubbed on the average Nigerian?

This is a good question. The tariff we collect is usually divided into three parts. The sum goes to the three arms of government namely the federal, state and local government levels. No Nigerian can claim not to benefit from our efforts. The federal government which takes care of federal roads and other services like electricity; the state government provides education and fertilizer while the local government does the rest. No matter who you are, you must enjoy something that the Customs tariff contributes to and that is why we fight smugglers because if they desist from smuggling revenue will grow and government will take more of its responsibilities to the population.

In my view therefore, it is important that people too pay their dues and tariffs as at when due and in the right amount so that the government would shoulder more responsibilities for the people to benefit meaningfully.

Are you not worried that the wars on the African sub-region are likely to allow arms and ammunition to flow in to the country through our borders?

As far as I know, the Customs,

• Abdullahi

police and the army are all present at the nation’s borders and there has never been any case of the seizure of ammunition at the nation’s borders or shores. In any case, it is not the responsibility of the Customs to go after the people in the hinterland to impound ammunition.

There are agencies that are responsible for that.

But what about the guns in the country, how did they get in?

Would this not be seen to reflect the laxity of the agencies since some people have argued that such dangerous ammunition would not come in to the country if soldiers are allowed to join forces with other agencies?

I have just told you that there are soldiers at the borders too and at no time has any one of the other security outfits made any substantial arrest or seizure at the sea shores or the borders as to justify the claim that arms and ammunition are in the country because the customs has not been doing its job.

And if there were any arrests at any time, then the credit would go to both the Customs and the others and not a single agency. We have scanners that inspect goods at the ports and since they got here, the smuggling of arms and ammunition has gone down drastically.

What new measures are you adopting to forestall the smuggling of contraband through other routes?

We have perfected the use of scanners that check goods that are coming into the country. But that does not mean that our men can ensure a 100 per cent surveillance of what comes into the country. Our borders are very long and, therefore, to be full-proof is impossible since we are dealing with human beings.

Nigerians should also help with information regarding such entries that are not within the reach of our system. The public can help but I am confident that, as of now, it is extremely difficult to bribe a Customs officer to allow dangerous ammunition and contraband into the country no matter what one offers.

What gives you the confidence to speak glowingly about your men?

The Customs officers are being trained regularly and we have ensured that anyone who goes out to

train is attached to someone at his host country to see first-hand how the Customs work in those countries so that whenever they return to Nigeria, they would allow anything that would damage the image we have built for ourselves to be damaged. We still have a long list of people to train.

But one thing I must add is that in the last one year, I have not read any report in the media involving a Custom officer doing some heinous things.

Moreover, the removal of Customs roadblocks throughout the country has reduced the negative perception of Customs. We have evolved several strategies to hinder smugglers from having a free reign and they are working.

We have also ensured that we surprise people who smuggle goods into the country.

Remember whenever smugglers have their way, the revenue accruing to the country through the Customs would sink to the lowest ebb and whenever the Customs is effective, the revenue jumps. So, this is a simple yardstick for measuring whether the Customs is working or not.

What is the target that the Federal Government expects from the Customs?

About N450 billion per annum and you can already see that we have achieved close to that in the middle of the year. So our men are not doing too badly. One key motivation for us is the increase in salary which I requested from the President and Commander-in – Chief, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, and he graciously acceded to it and since then things have been good for the men.

Your revelations on training show that about 12 000 men have been trained. How do you select people for the courses?

Since my assumption of office I made sure that each and every Customs officer who deserves training in his field is on queue to attend one course or the other.

We shall leave no one behind and the intention is to have all the men of the service trained. And so, when others return from courses that we think they need to impart that knowledge on their colleagues, we allow then to teach others and this

has spread the training broadly.

Everyone is training including me. I am serious about the broadbase of the training we offer and we take training in valuation seriously because we want to operate in the same vein as any Customs anywhere in the world.

We are intensifying efforts along the train-the-trainers lines to widen the scope of our professionals and the idea is to have everybody on the same page. We have areas of specialty like rule of origin, classification and valuation techniques.

These are specialized fields where we want our personnel to excel.

Some goods for example originate from say Ghana on their bill of laden but they may in fact be produced in the USA and when they get to our borders we would have to waive their duties. But the point is that by the time our people are well vast in the field of identifying such things, they would charge appropriate duty on every import and revenue will rise tremendously.

When do you think the customs would achieve operating in a paperless environment as is done in other parts of the world?

By January 2012, we hope that all Customs agents and all other operators at the ports including the concessionaires would hop on to the next level and meet the Customs half-way so that each and every one is on the same page. We hope that, by that period, importers would not have to leave their homes to clear goods and that could be done in record time. That is where we are headed. It is imperative that all operators at the ports move in tune or tandem with the Customs and in two weeks we intend to induct the Customs agents to understand that when we inspect their goods, we would be sure who is where on our integrity profile and we intend to incentivize the service of Customs agents so that those who minimize the risk of smuggling we shall partner with you because of your integrity and reward you adequately and those who fall foul of the law will be severely punished. For your information, I am travelling to Canada soon to understudy the risk management profile system where those who do business with integrity would be on the green line so that whatever they bring into the country would get priority because they are known to be honest and decent clearing agents and those who fall foul of the law would be seriously rebuked. That is one way of managing the routes effectively and it can only be achieved through the reeducation of personnel beginning from the top.

What have you done to take the Customs service to the level of other services in the world especially in the area of detecting hidden weapons and other scientific material that are smuggled into the country?

Actually we have officers that work with nuclear regulatory agencies but we decided to have them work without publicity in order to keep the people’s minds at rest. We do not want the nation to begin to fret over whether or not we have nuclear weapons coming into the country. But they are working effectively and discretely.

Some few minutes ago, you commented on how President Jonathan granted your request to increase the salaries of your officers. How would you describe such intervention?

The Nigeria Customs Service has never had it so good with the Presidency. If you remember the issue of our budget of the previous years and how much we are getting currently, there is no basis for comparison.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

55

MONEY LINK

Nigeria’s $500m Eurobond sale spurs Angola into Sept listing

N

IGERIA’S successful Eurobond sale in January has spurred Angola into raising $500 million debt from the international market, come in September.

An upgrade of Angola's sovereign debt rating by Standard & Poor's, showed the oil-producing country is on the right path to emulating Nigeria's successful debut Eurobond issue, analysts said.

Standard & Poor's raised Angola's sovereign rating to BB- from B+, citing improved fiscal and external balances on the back of strong oil prices and progress in macroeconomic management.

Nigeria's successful sale of a similarly-sized Eurobond in January, reassured other African governments of the strength of demand among global investors.

The move, which followed similar upgrades in the last two months

by Fitch and Moody's, comeing just over a year after the country first received its ratings, could help Angola deliver on its promise to launch a $500 million Eurobond.

Nigeria, which Angola rivals as Africa's top oil producer, sold its Eurobond with a yield of seven per cent, meeting heavy demand, but Angola's lack of presence in the external debt market could mean it has to pay a slight premium.

"Angola is in a favourable position to do this in terms of fundamentals. If you have the same appetite as was seen in the first-half of the year, it could be oversubscribed.

But this is not the first time Angola plans to issue Eurobonds. In 2008, it wanted to issue $4 billion of foreign debt, but it never happened, so investors are waiting to see," Samir Gadio, an analyst at Standard Bank in London told Bloomberg.

S&P praised the government's

By Collins Nweze Senior Correspondent

progress in paying back part of the $6.8 billion it suddenly announced last year that it owed overseas companies after the oil price slump after 2008.

"The negatives for Angola are that it will be new to the debt market, will not have much domestic demand and still have transpar-

ency problems," said Stuart Culverhouse, chief economist at Frontier Markets Brokerage Exotix.

A repeat of the oil price decline, and resultant drop in revenues, remains the main risk for investors, Culverhouse said, although he added that Angola is now in a better position, with strong foreign exchange reserves, than when it had to abandon its issuance plans in 2008.

Nigeria’s $500 million bond for which the nation’s Ministry of Finance, the Debt Management Office (DMO), as well as the Ministry of National Planning and other government officials were fully involved, were issued with the assistance of Citigroup and Deutsche Bank, which are the appointed book runners. The advisers were, Barclays Capital and FBN Capital, a subsidi-

Skye Bank gives out car in promo

A

N Awka based businessman, Ifeanyi Gregory, has won the Toyota Corolla starprize at the South East zonal draw of Skye Bank, held at Enugu on Tuesday. Several other prizes which included a cash prize of N1 million, five LCD screen, five generator sets, three air conditioners, among others, were also won at the draw which drew customers from the five states of the region.

The bank's Executive Director, South East/Treasury, Amaka Onwughalu, said the savers promotion was part of the bank's

policy of giving back to its customers who have entrusted their funds to the bank. Besides, Onwughalu said the exercise would encourage and promote the much needed savings culture which is the bedrock of investment, noting that the accumulation of all savings over time translates to investible funds for the customers for the future.

She therefore advised members of the public who are yet to sign up to the promo to do so by opening any of the qualifying savingsaccounts which include Skye Save, Skye Wise, Skye

Rainbow and Skye Treasure.

The General Manager , Retail Banking Group, Arinola KolaDaisi, said the exercise would help in building up their savings as well as give them an opportunity to win a brand new car, cash, and a host of other domestic appliances.

She urged both the old customers and the prospective ones to pay at least, N25,000 into their accounts to qualify for the monthly draws and win big prizes. To qualify for the grand star prize of Toyota Prado jeep, she advised the savings account holders to inject fresh inflow of N50,000 and maintain

N

IGERIA banknotes have a shorter lifespan, compared to the notes used in Europe and Asia. The Chief Executive officer, Joe-Han Network Limited, Gbolahan Dada, said during a workshop on effective cash management programmes organised by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) in Lagos.

Dada, in his paper titled: “Corporate Requirement for Effective Cash Management,” said the lifespan of currency notes from Europe and Asia is 65 per cent above that of Nigeria.

He said the lifetime of naira notes is

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

By Akinola Ajibade

He said the apex bank introduced polymer notes to solve the problems associated with banknotes, adding that they are more durable.

He said management of coins takes a longer period of time, due to its relatively low value.

“The fact that coins are not user friendly, is responsible for its rejection by the populace. Also, it has a considerable effect on the purchasing or buying power of many people.

The corporate requirements for managing coins are not only problematic, but expensive.

usually between three months to 12 months, while banknotes from Europe are in circulation for a longer period of time.

Outlining the lifespan of the naira notes, Dada said N50 notes have a life span of three months; N100 notes four months; N500 notes, eight months and N1000 notes staybetween 10-12 months.

Dada, said mutilated naira notes are still in circulation because the CBN does not have enough resources to provide new ones.

Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 400m 467.7m 400m 452.3m 500m 499,8m

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Date 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 13-7-11 SYMBOL

CAPHOTEL BAGCO PRESTIGE GTASSURE SKYEBANK INTERCONT WENABANK UBN JAPAULOIL CUTIX

O/PRICE

4.90 2.58 1.75 1.36 6.76 1.01 0.93 2.30 1.04 2.28

C/PRICE

5.14 2.70 1.83 1.42 7.05 1.05 0.96 2.35 1.05 2.30

CHANGE

0.24 0.12 0.08 0.06 0.29 0.04 0.03 0.05 0.01 0.02

LOSER AS AT 13-7-11 SYMBOL

CAP GLAXOSMITH FCMB STARLNBANK ACCESS REDSTAREX OCEANIC CILEASING AIICO PLATINUM

O/PRICE

31.00 24.32 6.66 1.62 6.70 2.92 1.27 1.12 0.69 0.74

Exchange Rate (N) 153.59 153.4 153.45

Date 25-5-11 23-5-11 16-5-11

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Currency

7.9-10% 10-11%

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Amount Sold ($) 400m 400m 499.8m

EXHANGE RATE 30-05-11

INTERBANK RATES

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

He said lack of trained personnel, standardised processes; inadequate data, security, and forecast for future planning/ expansion are some of the challenges facing cash management in the country. Others are poor communication, huge cost of replacement and repairs of machinery, and poor commitment to cash management issues.

He said situations where by corporate bodies and banks recycle or reintroduce mutilated banknotes into circulation must be addressed, to ensure an effective cash management programmes.

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

same each month for the six month duration of the promo.

DATA BANK

Tenor

OBB Rate Call Rate

•GMD Skye Bank, Kehinde Durosinmi-Etti

‘Naira notes have one -year lifespan’

FGN BONDS

NIDF NESF

ary of FirstBank.

The bond idea was initiated in 2008, but delayed for various reasons among which were adverse market conditions. The government has argued that the aim of the 10year bond is to set a benchmark in the global market for Nigeria, rather than to raise funds, meaning the pricing was more important than the timing.

C/PRICE

CHANGE

29.45 23.11 6.33 1.54 6.37 2.78 1.21 1.07 0.66 0.71

1.55 1.21 0.33 0.08 0.33 0.14 0.06 0.05 0.03 0.03

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N) Parallel Market

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

06-07-11 N7.756tr 24,256.97

Name

January ’11

February ’11

May ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

8.00%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 11.3%

NIBOR

7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

05-07-11 N7.823tr 24,465.52

% Change 0.86% 0.85%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS

DISCOUNT WINDOW

Tenor

NSE CAP Index

Rate (Previous) 04 MAR, 2011 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 24, MAY, 2011 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 117.62 1,586.00 0.81 0.99 1,586.00 9.97 1.39 1.87 8,827.74 193.00

9.08 1.00 117.16 1,576.75 0.78 0.99 1,576.75 9.48 1.33 1.80 8,557.25 191.08

ARM AGGRESSIVE KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND THE LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL BGL NUBIAN FUND NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY THE DISCOVERY FUND • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank P/Court

Previous 04 MAR, 2011

Current 07, MAR, 2011

8.5000 8.0833

8.5000 8.0833

Movement

56

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 13-07-11 2ND-TIER SECURITIES Company Name FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC PRESCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 1 15 18

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.50 8.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 103,165 51,582.50 20,000 10,000.00 353,790 2,830,620.00 476,955 2,892,202.50

Quotation(N) 2.63 7.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 8,350 21,151.00 540,420 4,066,626.40 548,770 4,087,777.40

Quotation(N) 2.09

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 155,348 317,423.52 155,348 317,423.52

Quotation(N) 6.37 0.95 5.00 2.80 6.33 2.23 11.55 0.57 13.93 9.58 1.05 1.21 0.71 7.05 0.85 1.54 5.25 2.35 0.87 0.96 14.03

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 6,484,804 42,745,460.99 1,738,923 1,623,421.95 755,910 3,767,254.44 371,946 1,071,520.66 1,378,000 8,754,810.00 3,372,995 7,553,043.80 18,138,511 211,174,746.82 1,450,080 839,218.14 22,341,042 313,934,877.41 1,396,785 13,417,429.15 4,195,884 4,275,474.07 1,650,779 2,014,726.17 3,455,323 2,491,442.45 2,850,553 18,673,895.53 11,789 9,549.09 414,756 639,024.24 8,419,494 44,490,361.77 6,947,962 16,335,032.87 132,499 114,170.16 3,049,778 2,877,633.40 19,161,639 268,667,294.61 107,719,452 965,470,387.72

Quotation(N) 4.46 244.99 6.39 88.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 5,000 22,300.00 66,964 15,742,394.40 2,565 15,595.20 1,430,752 126,159,721.14 1,505,281 141,940,010.74

Quotation(N) 20.70 9.30 122.40 48.05

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 30,804 615,645.40 229,153 2,085,172.05 82,865 10,072,372.69 1,251,916 60,077,148.74 1,594,738 72,850,338.88

Quotation(N) 3.16 9.91 29.45 0.91

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,500 4,515.00 1,000 9,420.00 144,539 4,256,783.55 500 455.00 147,539 4,271,173.55

AIR SERVICES Company Name AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 5 42 47

AUTOMOBILE & TYRE Company Name R. T. BRISCOE (NIGERIA) PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 14 14 BANKING

Company Name ACCESS BANK PLC AFRIBANK NIGERIA PLC DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK NIGERIA PLC FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC FIDELITY BANK PLC FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC FINBANK PLC GTBANK PLC STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC INTERCONTINENTAL BANK PLC. OCEANIC BANK INTERNATIONAL PLC BANK PHB PLC SKYE BANK PLC. SPRING BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC. UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC UNITYBANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC ZENITH BANK PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 171 56 43 28 29 94 704 34 734 51 94 55 36 106 1 10 254 147 9 43 366 3,065 BREWERIES

Company Name CHAMPION BREWERIES PLC GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 52 3 163 220 BUILDING MATERIALS

Company Name ASHAKA CEMENT PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTHERN NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 25 21 51 51 148 CHEMICAL & PAINTS

Company Name AFRICAN PAINTS (NIG.) PLC BERGER PAINTS NIGERIA PLC CHEMICAL AND ALLIED PRODUCTS PLC I. P. W. A. PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 1 19 1 23

Oil, banking stocks emerge worst performing stocks

O

IL and banking stocks were the worst hit in the sustained recession at the Nigerian stock market, with losses by investors in the two sectors four times higher than the average market loss.

The Nigerian stock market further trended downward yesterday with the benchmark index and aggregate market capitalization dropping by 0.40 per cent each, pushing market’s year-to-date return to -3.66 per cent.

Sectoral indices however showed that investors in petroleum-marketing, banking, insurance and certain high-cap stocks were running far higher losses, underlining the depth of the decline that has pushed the market close to its 10-month low.

According to sectoral indices provided by FSDH Securities, average loss in the petroleum-marketing sector stood yesterday at 15.94 per cent while banking stocks trailed with average year-to-date return of -13.59 per cent.

The indices showed that insurance sector has lost an average of 7.06 per cent so far this year. Investors that had showed preferences for ethical investments were also not spared by the

No of Deals 1 23 24

Quotation(N) 0.50 2.78

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 500,000 250,000.00 336,970 936,776.60 836,970 1,186,776.60

COMPUTER & OFFICE EQUIPMENT Company Name TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1

No of Deals 28 13 50 48 139

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 2,895 8,945.55 2,895 8,945.55

Quotation(N) 37.00 1.03 39.01 27.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 77,152 2,735,606.40 477,680 492,010.40 278,096 10,852,856.53 295,599 7,841,981.94 1,128,527 21,922,455.27

Quotation(N) 2.81 56.30

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 160,500 450,346.08 98,845 5,287,252.50 259,345 5,737,598.58

Company Name JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 93 93

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 109,767 246,312.06 109,767 246,312.06

Company Name DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 5 5

Quotation(N) 45.00 17.80 16.00 12.00 81.00 4.25 4.99 41.50 400.01 24.70 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 87,385 3,973,011.11 434,612 7,691,575.61 224,987 3,599,792.00 1,033,705 12,211,980.02 2,852,411 230,157,290.25 24,560 99,383.60 875,602 4,383,592.89 161,212 6,786,071.00 18,535 7,447,325.76 3,032 72,838.00 172,000 86,000.00 5,888,041 276,508,860.24

Company Name RESORT SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC Sector Totals

Quotation(N) 1.20 1.80 23.11 3.80

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 40,000 45,600.00 47,850 85,902.00 321,763 7,509,358.76 38,600 146,186.00 448,213 7,787,046.76

Quotation(N) 5.14 1.46

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 56,000 287,840.00 2,996,510 4,374,904.60 3,052,510 4,662,744.60

CONSTRUCTION Company Name COSTAIN (WA) PLC JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 16 15 31

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 13-07-11 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC 4 LAW UNION AND ROCK INSURANCE PLC. 20 N.E.M. INSURANCE CO. (NIG.) PLC. 21 NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. 16 OASIS INSURANCE PLC 12 PRESTIGE ASSURANCE PLC. 6 STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC 682 UNIC INSURANCE PLC. 2 UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC 3 INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INSURANCE PLC 1 Sector Totals 863

Quotation(N) 3.25

CONGLOMERATES Company Name PZ CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC UAC OF NIGERIA PLC UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

bearishness with the FSDH Ethical Index indicating a negative year-to-date return of about 7.2 per cent.

A high-end category of 20 stocks showed the highest average loss of 18.34 per cent while a broader group of 40 leading stocks was more resistant to the near free fall with negative return of 1.08 per cent.

However, manufacturing and related stocks have continued to retain values for their investors with a yearto-date positive return of 5.52 per cent.

Aggregate market capitalization of equities dropped by N31 billion to close yesterday at N7.630 trillion as against N7.661 trillion recorded as opening index. The All Share Index declined by 96.63 points to close at 23,863.07 basis points compared with the opening index of 23,959.70 points.

Chemical and Allied Products (CAP) led the slackers with a drop of N1.55 to close at N29.45. It was followed by GlaxoSmithkline Consumers Nigeria with a drop of N1.21 to close at N23.11.

On the upside, Capital Hotel again led the gainers’ table with an increase of 24

No of Deals 5 5

Quotation(N) 2.30

No of Deals 10 10

No of Deals 23 50 32 100 65 9 22 28 36 3 2 370

No of Deals 1 9 16 5 31

No of Deals 2 14 16

INDUSTRIAL/DOMESTIC PRODUCTS Company Name ALUMACO PLC FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC VITAFOAM NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1 20 22

Quotation(N) 7.75 0.50 6.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 4,394 34,053.50 6,000 3,000.00 711,755 4,274,995.55 722,149 4,312,049.05

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Company Name STARCOMMS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 26 26

Quotation(N) 0.53

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 649,138 346,666.14 649,138 346,666.14

INSURANCE Company Name AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INSURANCE PLC EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC GUARANTY TRUST ASSURANCE PLC GUINEA INSURANCE PLC.

No of Deals 47 12 8 3 10 15 1

Quotation(N) 0.66 1.06 2.96 0.50 0.50 1.42 0.50

Quotation(N) 1.07

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 296,455 317,206.85 296,455 317,206.85

Quotation(N) 1.05

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 2,471,750 2,545,932.40 2,471,750 2,545,932.40

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 12,500 6,250.00 12,500 6,250.00

MORTGAGE COMPANIES

HOTEL & TOURISM Company Name CAPITAL HOTEL PLC IKEJA HOTEL PLC Sector Totals

1,388,889.50 2,139,037.50 2,308,373.00 1,796,472.00 965,000.00 417,066.75 5,500,500.00 45,632.00 103,000.00 3,672.00 22,810,649.49

MEDIA

HEALTHCARE Company Name EVANS MEDICALPLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. Sector Totals

2,777,779 4,278,075 4,411,575 3,556,008 1,930,000 229,150 11,001,000 91,264 206,000 7,200 37,599,890

MARITIME

FOOD/BEVERAGES & TOBACCO Company Name 7-UP BOTTLING CO. PLC CADBURY NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIGERIA PLC HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT COMPANY NIGERIA PLC NIGERIAN BOTTLING COMPANY PLC NESTLE NIGERIA PLC NORTHERN NIGERIA FLOUR MILLS PLC TANTALIZERS PLC Sector Totals

0.50 0.50 0.53 0.50 0.50 1.83 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.53

LEASING Company Name C&I LEASING PLC Sector Totals

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY Company Name CUTIX PLC Sector Totals

kobo to close at N5.14.

Bagco followed with a gain of 12 kobo to close at N2.70.

Turnover stood at 171.390 million shares worth N1.587 billion in 5,904 deals.

The banking sector, known for its dominance, traded 107.719 million shares worth N965.470 million.

This was followed by the insurance stocks with 37.600 million shares. Other sectors with relatively high volume were food and beverages, hotel and tourism, packaging and maritime with 5.888 million shares, 3.053 million shares, 2.684 million shares and 2.472 million shares respectively.

Meanwhile, Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN) Plc appeared to be the toast of investors as the bank sustained its capital appreciation.

The uptrend by UBN followed the successful signing of the crucial “technical implementation agreement” with group of new core investors. With this, UBN will receive $750 million in new capital from a group led by private equity company; African Capital Alliance.

UBN has since the break of the news on Tuesday been on the gainers’ list adding 5.0 kobo or 2.17 per cent to close yesterday at N2.35 as against N2.30 posted in previous trading session.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

COMMERCIAL/SERVICES Company Name COURTVILLE INVESTMENTS PLC RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Sector Totals

Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

Quantity Traded Value 1,752,749 1,875,000 579,250 2,040,000 2,022,370 822,470 20,000

of Shares (N) 1,208,184.34 2,010,750.00 1,714,980.00 1,020,000.00 1,011,185.00 1,167,907.40 10,000.00

No of Deals 1 12 13

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.53

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 450,000 225,000.00 515,000 272,950.00 965,000 497,950.00

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Company Name CRUSADER NIGERIA PLC. Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 2

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 500,000 250,000.00 500,000 250,000.00

Quotation(N) 2.70

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 2,684,233 6,939,585.06 2,684,233 6,939,585.06

PACKAGING Company Name NIGERIAN BAG MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 447 447

PETROLEUM(MARKETING) Company Name BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA OIL & GAS PLC. FORTE OIL PLC MOBIL OIL NIGERIA PLC. OANDO PLC TOTAL NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 7 2 26 8 6 18 129 15 211

Quotation(N) 0.50 70.75 34.30 4.30 19.28 157.50 40.80 195.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 37,822 18,911.00 500 33,610.00 38,220 1,253,797.80 70,891 289,944.19 3,582 69,060.96 4,003 603,012.71 455,789 18,273,429.63 10,346 2,068,232.25 621,153 22,609,998.54

PRINTING & PUBLISHING Company Name UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 13 13

Quotation(N) 5.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 102,030 503,451.00 102,030 503,451.00

Quotation(N) 20.15

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 649,207 12,875,706.00 649,207 12,875,706.00

REAL ESTATE Company Name UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 27 27

ROAD TRANSPORTATION Company Name ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 2

Quotation(N) 0.57

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 23,500 12,925.00 23,500 12,925.00

THE FOREIGN LISTINGS Company Name ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Sector Totals Overall Totals

No of Deals 18 18

Quotation(N) 14.43

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 218,870 3,158,294.10 218,870 3,158,294.10

5,904

171,390,226

1,587,076,717.60

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

57

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

58

NEWS FLOODS OF FURY

Lagos records one month rain in one day, says expert T HE Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR) has said the 264millimetre rainfall recorded in Lagos last Sunday was the volume expected for one month.

An Assistant Director in the institute, Dr Regina Folorunsho, made this known in a telephone inter-

view with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

“The exact amount of the rain that fell on Sunday was meant for one month, but we had it in just one day. There was no way anyone could have prepared for such amount of rainfall,” she said.

She said Nigerians should brace up and be on the alert for such occurrence.

Mrs. Folorunsho appealed to Lagos residents to curb indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drains.

She urged them to clear their drains regularly to en-

Senate to deliberate today •Reps seek Fed Govt support

T

HE Senate will today deliberate on the flood that ravaged Lagos State last Sunday.

Many people died and millions of naira worth of property destroyed by the flood.

The Senate will deliberate on how the Federal Government can partner the state to avoid such losses and destruction in the future.

A motion was brought before it yesterday by Senator Ganiyu Solomon (Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Lagos West).

Co-sponsors of the motion include Senator Oluremi Tinubu (ACN, Lagos Central) and Senator Gbenga Ashafa (ACN, Lagos East).

Solomon sought the assistance of the Federal Government.

He said: “We want the Federal Government to support Lagos State to ‘arrest’ the situation.”

From Augustine Ehikioya and Onyedi Ojiabor, Abuja

Through voice votes yesterday, senators supported that the motion be debated today.

Senate President David Mark said: “The issue will be addressed today.”

Also, the House of Representatives yesterday urged the Federal Government to initiate measures to tackle perennial flooding inthe state.

This followed a motion of national urgent importance on the deadly flood that ravaged parts of the state last Sunday.

It was sponsored by Yakoob Abiodun Balogun (Lagos Island Federal Constituency) and seconded by Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa (Ikorodu Federal Constituency).

The House also urged President Goodluck Jonathan to assent to the National Climate Change Commission Bill.

•Mark

The Bill was passed by the Sixth National Assembly and forwarded to the President for his assent.

Balogun feared that since meteorologists had warned that heavier rainfall would be experienced in Lagos during the year, steps should be taken to avert disaster.

Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa said what is being experienced in Lagos was one of the effects of climate change.

She noted that the flood problem in the state was beyond the state government.

Samson Osagie (Edo State ) drew the attention of the House on the need to review the country’s emergency response mechanism.

Jonathan,Oshiomhole, Aregbesola condole with victims to extend to Your Excellency RESIDENT Goodluck

P

Jonathan condoled with the victims of last Sunday’s flood.

The President’s message was delivered yesterday by Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) when he inspected the damage around Lekki and Ajah.

Among the areas visited by the governor include Maiyegun village, drainage channel at Silverbird Communications Lekki;

Lagos appeals for donations

T

HE Lagos State Government yesterday began the enumeration of the victims of last Sunday’s flood, just as it called for donations of relief materials from institutions and individuals.

Intending donors can contact the Commissioner for Special Duties, Wale Ahmed on 0802234870; Commissioner for Health Jide Idris on 08022234273; Special Adviser on Health Yewande Adeshina on 08055329229 and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties, Remi Desalu on 08033041284.

Others are General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Femi Osanyintolu on 08060907333 and Mrs Sade Sadeko on 08089889104.

By Miriam Ndikanwu

Alpha Beach at Ijoko Agba; Ajiran drainage channel; Igbo Efon community; Agunbi/Ajiran drainage channels and Olugbolo community.

Also, Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole commiserated with Fashola over the flood, which devastated parts of the state.

Oshiomhole said: “I wish

the commiseration of the people and government of Edo State over the flood, which affected many parts of Lagos State.

In Osun State, Governor Rauf Aregbesola condoled with residents of Ilesa and Ile-Ife on the damage caused by flooding at the weekend.

He promised that preventive measures are being taken to curtail the menace in the two ancient towns.

sure easy flow of water whenever it rained.

She attributed heavy rainfall to the effects of climate change and advised Lagosians, whose houses were located in waterlogged areas, to relocate to other areas.

“People should start relocating now because this is what we will be seeing from time to time; so people living close to the ocean must be prepared to face the menace,’’ she said.

NIOMR is responsibile for conducting research into the resources and physical characteristics of the Nigerian territorial waters and the high seas, among other functions.

Amosun, Fayemi assure victims From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta and Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

O

GUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun yesterday warned residents against dumping refuse into drainages to avert flooding.

Amosun said the culture of blocking the drainages with refuse would not help areas prone to floods, adding that the situation is equally not helped when people erect structures on flood plains.

The governor spoke when he inspected locations in Abeokuta that were affected by last Sunday’s rain.

Some of the locations affected by the flood, which the governor visited, include: Ijaye bridge; St Mary Anglican church, Oke-ejigbo and Isale abese bridge.

Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has allayed the fears of residents that the government would ensure that there is no flooding in any part of the state.

He said proper channellisation of the waterways would be done to ensure residents are safe from flood.

The governor said this when he inspected roads in the state. Fayemi said channelisation would be given due attention through construction of proper drainage and other preventive measures.

He said to keep the menace under control, the state had started freeing blocked drains and constructing culverts in areas such as Ojumose, Oke Oriomi and other parts of the capital.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

59

60

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

61

FOREIGN NEWS UK steps up aid to refugees in Somalia

B

RITISH aid agencies are preparing to expand their activities in Somalia to help some of the 10 million people at risk of starvation in East Africa.

Relief operations have been constrained by the security situation in Somalia.

But Islamist militant group al-Shabab last week announced it was lifting a ban on foreign aid organisations because of the severity of the drought.

The UK’s Disasters Emergency Committee has launched an appeal after severe drought in the Horn of Africa.

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) said Somalia, where there has been no national government for 20 years, was one of the hardest places in the world to deliver aid.

Most international aid agencies in the country have been banned from working in areas under the control of al-Shabab, which is thought to have links to al-Qaeda.

DEC charities are preparing to increase their work in southern Somalia as thousands of people continue to flee to Kenya, Ethiopia and even Somalia’s war-torn capital Mogadishu.

One of the DEC’s member charities, Islamic Relief, said its priorities in Somalia were focused on providing food aid, healthcare, clean water and sanitation facilities.

Explosions shake Mumbai India’s financial hub

T

HREE near-simultaneous explosions have shaken India’s commercial capital Mumbai (Bombay), police say.

Seventeen people were killed and 81 injured, said Maharashtra state’s chief minister Prithviraj Chavan.

He called the explosions, during Mumbai’s busy evening rush-hour, “a co-ordinated attack by terrorists”.

One explosion was reported in the Zaveri Bazaar, another in the Opera House business district and a third in Dadar district in the city centre.

Police sources were reported as saying the explosions were caused by home-made bombs.

The attacks are the worst in Mumbai since November 2008 when 10 gunmen launched a three-day co-ordinated raid in which 166 people were killed.

The three explosions in Mumbai have taken place in some of the most crowded neighbourhoods in the city.

The latest explosions hit the city around 1900 (1330 GMT) as workers were making their way home.

Mumbai has been put on a state of high alert and a commando team is standing by, said Home Minister P Chidambaram.

Delhi, the capital, Calcutta and several other cities have also been put on alert. Mr Chidambaram urged people across the country to stay calm.

Forensics teams have been sent from Delhi and Hyderabad to examine the explosion sites.

Egypt sacks 700 policemen for killing protesters A

LMOST 700 senior police officers in Egypt are being removed from their jobs over the killing of protesters during the revolution earlier this year.

Interior Minister Mansour Essawy said 505 generals and 164 officers would end their service on August 1.

The move comes as protests continue in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, calling for the speedy trials of police officers and corrupt Mubarak-era officials.

The military also confirmed that polls set for September would be delayed.

“It has been decided to hold [parliamentary elections] in October or November,” an

official from Egypt’s interim ruling military council told the Mena state news agency on Wednesday.

Many of Egypt’s new political parties have called for the vote to be delayed so that they can compete against better organised and more powerful opposition groups, notably the Muslim Brotherhood.

On Tuesday, the military said it would draft guidelines for selecting the 100-member assembly that will write a new Egyptian constitution. That

could make it more difficult for any Islamist-led legislature to choose the body and thereby give the charter an Islamist slant, analysts say.

As protests in Tahrir Square entered a sixth straight day, the interior ministry - which oversees the much detested security services, known for their brutality under the Mubarak regime - unveiled what it termed the “biggest shakeup in the police force’s history”.

Among those dismissed were 505 major-generals, in-

cluding 10 of the interior minister’s top assistants, 82 colonels, and 82 brigadiers, the report said.

Egyptian state TV said that 37 of the dismissed officers face charges of killing protesters.

More than 800 protesters were killed during the 18-day revolt that led to the ousting of President Hosni Mubarak on 11 February.

The move seems to be a victory for Egypt’s embattled Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, says the BBC’s Jon Leyne in Cairo. An earlier announcement by him to take similar action was blocked by the interior minister.

Murdoch’s News Corp withdraws bid for BSkyB RUPERT Murdoch’s News Corporation has announced that it is dropping its planned bid to take full ownership of satellite broadcaster BSkyB. The move came as the House of Commons prepared to vote for a motion supported by all major party leaders calling on Mr Murdoch to scrap the bid.

It follows a scandal over phone hacking at News Corp’s UK newspaper group.

News Corp deputy chairman Chase Carey said the bid had become “too difficult to progress in this climate”.

The scandal has already led to the closure of the UK’s biggest-selling newspaper, the News of the World.

On Friday, Prime Minister David Cameron announced details of a public inquiry into phone hacking and media regulation.

Kenya row over Somali refugees

•Bush (second right), Mrs Clinton and Mrs Obama at the funeral

US First Lady Betty Ford’s funeral held

F

ORMER occupants of the White House and other United States dignitaries have gathered at a California church to honour late US First Lady Betty Ford.

Mrs Ford, known for her work on drug and alcohol treatment and considered one of the most visible first ladies in US history, died on Friday at age 93.

She was married to late President Gerald Ford, who succeeded Richard Nixon in 1974.

The public funeral is being held at a desert church in southern California.

The hearse containing Mrs Ford’s body A coffin containing Mrs Ford’s body was carried into the church by an honour guard.

Among the mourners on Tuesday were First Lady Michelle Obama, former President George Bush, former first ladies Nancy Reagan and Rosalynn Carter and former California First Lady Maria Shriver.

Also in attendance was Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who was first lady from 1993 to 2000.

Mrs Ford’s family is to hold a second funeral for her in Michigan on Thursday.

She was best known for her work on substance and alco-

hol abuse, including founding the Betty Ford Centre for drug and alcohol rehabilitation in Rancho Mirage, California, a facility where tens of thousands of addicts have been treated.

She was also outspoken on women’s rights issues.

Mrs Ford was born Elizabeth Anne Bloomer in Chicago in the state of Illinois in 1918 and grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, as one of three children.

After studying dance at Bennington College in Vermont, she moved to New York City at the age of 21 to work as a dancer and model before heading back to the mid-western US two years later.

Mrs Ford met and married her first husband, William Warren, in 1942 but divorced after five years.

A short time later, she met Gerald Ford, a Navy lieutenant at the time.

The two lived in the Washington DC area for nearly three decades as Mr Ford climbed from Capitol Hill, where he served as a congressman, to the White House, where he held the presidency from 1974-1977 after Richard Nixon resigned in disgrace over the Watergate scandal.

They were married 58 years.

Libyan rebels abused civilians, says Human HE campaign group crimes, but that did not Rights Watch serious Human Rights Watch excuse the behaviour of the

T

has accused rebels in

Libya of looting, arson and the abuse of civilians.

Observers from the New York-based group say they have witnessed some incidents themselves, and have interviewed witnesses to others in territory recently seized by rebels.

A rebel spokesman talking to reporters in Brussels has denied the allegations.

Accusations of abuse by both sides have circulated since the rebellion against Col Muammar Gaddafi began in February.

The latest allegations focus on four towns seized by rebels

in the west of the country in the last month: al-Awaniya, Rayayinah, Zawiyat al-Bagul and al-Qawalish.

“The rebel conduct was disturbing,” said Fred Abrahams, a special adviser to Human Rights Watch (HRW).

“We documented fairly widespread looting of homes and shops, the burning of some homes of suspected Gaddafi supporters and - most disturbingly - the vandalisation of three medical clinics [and] local small hospitals, including the theft of some of the medical equipment.”

He said the Libyan government had committed more

rebels.

“Our aim is to hold all combatants, all militaries - whether they’re organised and states and governments or rebels groups - to the same standards, and it’s very much also a warning shot across the bow, because of these other areas they are approaching. We’re deeply worried about how they might behave and treat civilians in those areas.”

A senior rebel leader has refuted the Human Rights Watch claims.

“This is not the case in the liberated areas,” rebel spokesman Mahmud Jibril told reporters in Brussels.

A ROW has broken out in Kenya’s government over the huge influx of Somalis fleeing the region’s worst drought in 60 years.

About 370,000 Somalis are at an over-crowded camp and the government is divided over opening a second camp.

One minister said a new camp would encourage more Somalis to cross the border.

Another minister, however, said he was “embarrassed” that Kenya was refusing to give more help to refugees.

On Monday, United Nations refugee agency chief Antonio Guterres held talks with Kenya’s Internal Security Minister George Saitoti to appeal to him to open the Ifo II camp, which is near completion.

It has room for up to 40,000 people and would ease over-crowding at the Dadaab camp, near the Somalia border, Mr Guterres said.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT I, Mr. Joseph Abiodun Babajide Adu declare that I was issued a certificate of occupancy by LSDPC for Block IX, plot 286, Omole Residential scheme, Lagos, but this got lost in transit. LSDPC and general public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE GRANITES PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA, OSUN STATE. The general public is hereby notified that the above named Association has applied for registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

The Trustees are: 1.

Chief Atolagbe Oluwole Ademola 2.

Engineer Lucky Abidoye 3.

Elder Odetoyinbo O. Oluwatoyin 4.

Alhaji Sule Ajibade 5.

Mr. Oyelakin Ojo

- Chairman - Secretary - Treasurer

Aims and Objectives 1.

To promote unity amongst members.

2.

To protect the welfare of members.

Any objection(s) to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, P.M.B. 198, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within twenty-eight (28) days of this publication.

Signed Adeyemi Adedeji Esq.

62

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

63

NATION SPORT

NATIONAL SPORTS FESTIVAL FALLOUT

Ogun protests final medal table

O

GUN State has protested the outcome of the just concluded 17th National Sports Festival (NSF), claiming the omission of some medals won by the state.

NationSport gathered that in a letter made avaiable to media men, the Press Officer, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Rotimi Oduniyi, the leader of delegation and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Youth and Sports Alhaji Muyideen Salau, has written to the Secretary General of the Main Organising Committee of the games Alhaji Abba Yola and copied the chairman of the Main Organising Committee and Chairman Games Service Commission demanding that the error be corrected and reflected on the medals table.

According to the letter the state won 19 Gold, 23 silver,

• The Copa Coca-Cola ball in display yesterday. PHOTO: John Ebhota

COPA COCA-COLA YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

Ugbade’s Calabar beats Ikpeba’s Ibadan to gold

I

N a game that had two former Super Eagles players, Victor Ikpeba and Nduka Ugbade dishing out instructions from the sidelines to two different State representatives in the final match of the Copa Coca-cola Youth Football Championship at the Campus Square ground in Lagos Island, it took two first half strikes from Ebiye Moses and Idowu Jide to send Calabar home 2-1 winners of the football fiesta ahead of hard fighting Ibadan.

This saw the two teams up and out with determination to cart home the topmost prize and both fought as worthy finalist Calabar was led by 1985 Under 17 World Cup winning captain Nduka Ugbade while two-time African Footballer of the Year, Victor Ikpeba was in charge of

•As Moses, Jide deliver trophy to former Eaglets’ captain

By Olusoji Olukayode the Ibadan side.

But the former Eagles defender, Ugbade would have the first and last laugh on the day.

With scores still at 0-0 by the 27th minute, Ibadan removed Ayobami Isaac and brought in Olubodun Ayodele. And while that obviously meant the South Westerners were not ready to leave any stone unturned in their bid to come top the Calabar lads had something else cooking up their sleeves and that they unleashed just a minute after that Ibadan change.

Their weapon of destruction was competition highest goal scorer, Moses. He pounced on a pass on the right flank and

taking only two steps, shot into the roof of the net on his near pole.

And while the game went on in a ding dong affair for about five minutes, Calabar would be the one to break the rhythm again. They were back with another goal but this time it was Jide who claimed the credit. He struck from way outside the penalty box in the 32 nd minute his effort was deflected into the net by another player but al the same Calabar climbed closer to the podium.

Ibadan were not to be outdone so soon as they mounted pressure upon pressure on resumption of the second stanza and that paidoff when Adebayo Ibrahim Shile capitalized on a rebound

WORLD MILITARY GAMES

Nigeria names 16-man contigent

T

HE Nigeria Military has named a 16-man contingent to represent the country at the 5th World Military Games scheduled to hold between 16th-24th July, in Rio De Janario, Brazil.

The team which departed the country Tuesday night for the world military games, will participate in the following sports; Boxing, Judo and Shooting.

According to the Chef-De Mission of the team Col. Olatoye Olasunkanmi while chatting with Sportswriters in Lagos shortly before the team departed for the games, the team is expected to excel in their respective events going by their preparation and the fact that “we are parading some of the best athletes in boxing and judo and as such expect to pick as many medals as possible” Col. Olasunkami also stated that the country’s participation at the Brazil Games will help in putting Nigeria in good stead ahead of the Africa Military games to be hosted in Nigeria next year.

The names of the athletes are; Boxing, Ifeanyi Onwumere, Awolusi Olaiya, Adebanji

Akeem, Muhammed Umar.

Judo (male) Adamu Ogar, Saleh Mabo, Isah Bello, Chukwu Angus, women: Iwara Mercy and Ugoh Jennifer, Shooting; riffle events; Army Warrant Officer; Barau Waziri, Master Warrant Officer, Abolurin Sesan and Navy Umar Suleiman and in the pistol event are; Master

Warrant Officer, Oseni Abdualahi, Sergent Henry Idowu and Flight Sergent, Abdul Madu.

The coaches are; Warrant Officer, Aweda Kehinde former Olympian (boxing), Staff Sergeant Peter Ngobua (Judo male), Omoyajowo Kemi (Women Judo) and Brigadier General, Adeoye Lonsday.

FEMALE WORLD CUP FINAL

USA confronts Japan •Sweeden France to play third place

T

HE United States struck twice late in the second half to beat France 3-1 on Wednesday and book a spot in the women's World Cup final where they will face either Japan or Sweden.

On a rainy afternoon, the Americans, who won the title in 1991 and 1999 and have never finished below third place in a women's World Cup, took an early lead when Lauren Cheney flicked in a Carli Lloyd cross in the ninth minute.

France leveled after the break with a Sonia Bompastor cross that bounced past U.S. keeper Hope Solo but two goals in three minutes from Abby Wambach (79th)

and Alex Morgan (82nd) secured a third World Cup final appearance for the Americans.

"This is our journey, this is our dream," a beaming Wambach said. "France are a great team.

There were moments they were outplaying us but I am so proud of this team."

"I know we are going to pull through. I have belief in this team.

Everybody is working for each other."

Meanwhile, in the second semifinal match decided yesterday, Japan also defeated Sweeden by the Same goal Margin.

As it is, Japan will now face United States of America in the final

from off the Calabar goalkeeper, Balafa Imiele to slot home his side’s first and thus set up a tough contest that lasted the full period.

But that goal proved to only be a consolation as the center referee ended the game after 4 minutes of added time was observed.

By Innocent Amomoh and 46 bronze medals as against the 19 gold 22silver and 46 bronze medals announced by the secretariat of the Main Organising Committee.

The state therefore noted that the final medal table released and in circulation which placed Bayelsa state on the 5th position with 19gold 23silver and 38 bronze medals is not correct as Ogun state that won equal gold and silver medals but superior bronze medals should occupy the 5th position while Bayelsa should be expected to occupy the 6th position.

The state while congratulating the organisers on the successful completion of the games attached the authentic details of medal won by its athletes to buttress its claim

Fashola to grace Ibeju-Lekki Chairman’s Cup finals

G

O V E R N O R Babatunde Raji Fashola will grace the Ibeju -Lekki Chairman's Cup as the Special Guest of Honour with the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji.

Also expected to be on the train to the Lagos Island are, newly appointed Commissioner for Sports, Waheed Enitan Oshodi and former Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Kola Kasali as Guests of Honour in the finals which has been slated for Friday.

The playground of Roman Catholic Primary School in Ibeju-Agbe Town, will be agog tomorrow as the final of the grassroots soccer tourney tagged Chairman’s Cup 2011 between Invisible FC of Awoyaya and Candid of Iberekodo will hold.

To qualify for the final, Invisible defeated Okanlomo FC by a lone goal in one of the semi final ties played on Monday, while Candid FC beat Lakowe FC 3-0 at the playground of Magbon Alade Grammar School, Ibeju.

The final will kick off by 2p.m. prompt.

WHO

‘It is not clear yet what inadequacies he shall be ordered to cover.

It is not clear yet what guilt may unman him. Now that he has stopped speaking truth to power, he shall start speaking truth according to power. I guess he knows that he has finally entered that gory tale which he was desperate to end’

THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL. 6, NO. 1,820

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

A

FTER a long while, the economy has elbowed politics off the front page.

The revelry that followed the April elections is dying. The trophy is laid on the shelf and the sleeves are rolled up. The reality.

President Goodluck Jonathan set the ball rolling, with a brief meeting of cement merchants whom he ordered to crash prices. Weeks after that presidential decree, cement prices are down. Just like that. No reduction in diesel prices and haulage remains a nightmarish experience, no thanks to the prostrate rail and the collapsed roads. But for how long can you run an economy by imperial proclamation?

If it was easy to force cement prices down and stop the outcry, not so with the N18,000 minimum wage, despite the fact that it has been signed into law. Workers are warming up for a three-day warning strike on Wednesday. Should the government fail to pay, an indefinite action will begin, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said.

Many states insist they cannot pay, unless their allocations from the Federation Account are raised or other responsibilities are dumped. But can government survive and attain fulfilment just by paying salaries? In fact, out of frustration – many insist confusion – governors have stormed the Villa to ignite a highly inflammable matter by prescribing the removal of what they call the huge subsidy on petroleum products. The proceeds, said the governors, will fatten the central purse and provide everyone with more cash to share. The President, it was learnt, bit the bait – in principle.

Since then, the subsidy debate, which was popular in the Gen. Ibrahim Babangida days, has resurrected, like the phoenix.

Many there are who believe the subsidy story is nothing but a mere fraud that exists only in the conjectural supposition of its dubious purveyors. The apostles of subsidy insist that in naira terms, the cash is so massive that if pooled and shared, each Nigerian will earn at least N4m. The mere simplicity of this logic makes it laughable because the cash is never going to be handed individuals. But this is no time for a sardonic laughter. It is crunch time.

They say the subsidy, instead of making oil products cheap for the poor, only ministers to the greedy pockets of the rich who are actually never meant to enjoy such palliative measures. Going by this argument, we know those who have not allowed the subsidy – let us agree that it exists, just for the sake of this discussion – to percolate and give us all the expected joy. Why don’t we just go after them?

To those of us who are not versed in economic and financial gymnastics, subsidy

•••’SHAKARA”!

HARDBALL

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

gbenga.omotoso@thenationonlineng.net

Now the crunch

RIPPLES Minimum Wage: NLC extends ultimatum to July 20-News

ning and create jobs. Great.

But, many are asking: when will there be banks for adherents of the other faiths and brands of the major religions – in the spirit of justice and equity? Ogun (the god of thunder), Guru Maharajji, Olumba Olumba, Grail Message, Boko Haram, Hare Krishna, Kingdom of Heaven on Earth etc.

Before the Islamic Banking row, there had been the planned daily cash withdrawal policy by which an individual can only draw N150,000 only from his deposit, no matter how huge such a deposit is. Companies can withdraw only N1m. The policy is expected to rein in inflation and guarantee a solid cash base for banks, with running cost and personnel emoluments going down. Besides, Nigeria will move faster towards a cashless economy, with almost everybody carrying those little plastics that mean so much. Good.

But, many are doubting the feasibility of this plan. Banks have branches right in markets, yet traders are keeping their cash at home. Despite the assurance of the CBN that no bank will be allowed to go down, many microfinance banks have sunk. Gone with them are those little savings that represented so many years of sweating and toiling.

Will the nomadic cattle dealer collect a cheque from a desperate birthday celebrator who must slaughter a cow to entertain his guests? Will the fabric retailer at Idumota on Lagos Island wait for a cheque to sell the celebrator’s desired aso- ebi ? How will “daily- paid” labourers on building sites get paid? By cheque? Will the Lagos spare parts dealer ever be convinced that a cheque is as good as cash?

Of all the debates and analyses, none has matched the Senate screening of ministerial nominees. I wonder how senators felt when former Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said Nigeria was living above her means. Here are people whose salaries remain a subject of hot arguments

EDITORIAL NOTEBOOK

removal is simply higher fuel price and its corollary of rising prices – of food, services, transportation, medicals and more.

Instead of being more robust and productive, life gets harsher and harsher. And, God forbid, our own version of the Arab Spring will be here, faster than predicted.

Even as the subsidy debate is yet to be in full swing, a fresh row has broken out in banking. Mallam Lamido Sanusi Lamido, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) chief, has announced that Islamic/Interest- free Banking will soon make its debut. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is furious, saying it will further polarise Nigeria along religious lines and shake our unity. Those who are for the idea have said that it is only Islamic in name and that its essence is that it will make borrowing easier by charging no interest on loans, thereby ensuring more funds for production, which will in turn keep factories run-

M

AIDUGURI, the capital of Borno State, is in dire straits. Not since the sacking of Birni Gazargamu, capital of the Kingdom of Bornu, by the Fulani in the first decade of the 19th century, and the abdication of Mai Ahmad in favour of his son, Dunama, has there been so much distress and anguish among the Kanuri as the one they confront in the Boko Haram rebellion. The saviour of Mai Dunama and Birni Gazargamu was Muhammad al-Amin al-Kanemi of Ngala, who had repelled numerous attacks launched by belligerent local Fulani groups. Birni Gazargamu, which was recaptured two months after it was sacked, was located north of Maiduguri, the present capital of Borno State. Twenty-first century is a long way from the 19th century, and the issues that led to war then are not quite the same as the Boko Haram rebellion of the past few years, but there is no doubt that this is a period of angst for the people of Borno, and in particular, Maiduguri. Will a charismatic, religious, knowledgeable and bold al-Kanemi come to deliver Borno?

Alas, the state cannot see the wood for

OLATUNJI OLOLADE

everywhere being told that allocating over 70% of the budget to recurrent expenditure will only kill the economy as it will leave little for development. In other words isn’t it well known that obesity is a killer? Do our senators care? How much do they earn?

Will they agree to a drastic pay cut?

The former World Bank Managing Director reportedly asked the President to give her the right to appoint heads of the agencies under the ministry, such as Customs, Securities and Exchange Commission and the Debt Management Office. I doubt if she got a promise on this. What will happen to Federal Character and Quota System?

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala wondered why Nigeria imports fuel and cannot build new refineries. We all are perplexed by this strange paradox of an oil giant buying fuel and threatening its people that it will remove its subsidy and allow the sector to be hijacked by wolves bearing the banner of market forces. Why will the multinationals and all those who have been licensed to build refineries not do it?

I doubt whether the President agrees that recurrent expenditure is heavy. His Excellency is seeking the National Assembly’s permission to raise the pay of his National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Economic Adviser. Who says the NSA does not deserve a pay rise, considering the daring dispositions of the Boko Haram, the mere exertion such a Herculean job demands and the inconvenience of drawing him out of a well-deserved retirement for this thankless national service?

When Dr Jonathan’s letter was read at the House of Representatives, it was rejected with shouts of “no, no, no!” But, wait a minute, does anybody know how much our dear Reps earn?

Also at the screening, Mr Olusegun Aganga, the former Finance Minister, shocked us all when he said revenue agencies, such as the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), were not making remittances to the treasury. The cash, according to such agencies, went into running cost, but the law says at least 80% of revenue must be sent to the treasury. Why can’t we enforce the law?

Bath Nnaji, a professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, now Power minister, told the Senate that Nigeria could generate 15,000 MW in three years. To pull it off, we will need N10bn yearly in the next 10 years, according to Nnaji. Where will the cash come from? Concession? Loans?

This is the problem.

For our leaders, the reality is separating politics from governance. Each has its time.

Do they know?

•For comments, send SMS to 08057634061

GBENGA OMOTOSO

•Omar

SAID WHAT

Fed Govt, Maiduguri and rebellion the trees. Maiduguri residents are reported to be fleeing the city in droves, afraid for their lives, caught as they are between rampaging Boko Haram militants and, according to some reports, vengeful and undiscriminating Nigerian soldiers.

Schools have closed down, and fear and tension have become so real they could be cut with a blunt knife. The state government has become ineffective, made so by an even worse preceding government, led

by Ali Modu Sheriff. No one has an idea what to do, not even the police, which virtually exacerbated the rebellion by its typically high-handed method of law enforcement; and not the army, which appears hard put to devise an effective counterattack suitable for guerrilla and terrorist attacks.

The vacillation is made worse by a Federal Government that is eternally poised on the edge of dialogue and surrender. At various times, the police and the army threaten fire and brimstone; and at other

times, the authorities loudly proclaim, as Caleb Olubolade of the Ministry of Police Affairs has just done, their preparedness to secure peace at any price and on any terms. Now and again the presidency is open to suggestion that it should opt for dialogue, though its natural and first instinct tells the men in power it would be a disaster to negotiate with those sworn to divide the nation through the espousal of religious and political ideas that undermine the constitution.

This is the first grave threat to the nation President Goodluck Jonathan will be facing. He needs to steel his spine and confront the menace intelligently, boldly and smartly. He must give no quarters.

But if he chooses to negotiate, he must have no illusion that he has determined very clearly and openly what nature of disaster he wants to court, for which he is unlikely to have a second chance. Could one of his advisers search history and get the president materials on al-Kanemi?

Published and printed by Vintage Press Limited. Corporate Office: 27B Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos. P.M.B. 1025,Oshodi, Lagos.

Telephone: Switch Board: 01-8168361. Editor Daily:01-8962807, Marketing: 01-8155547 . Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Tel: 07028105302.

E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO