The Nation July 24, 2012

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

News Five Nigerians die, three injured in New York car crash P10 Sports Chukwumerije leads Nigeria to London Olympics P23 Business Tension in SEC as DG Oteh returns from suspension P11 www.thenationonlineng.net

VOL. 7, NO. 2196 TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

•GETTING THE YOUTH TO READ: Renowned Author, Professor Ngugi wa Thiong’o (middle) flanked by GMD/CEO, UBA Plc, Mr Phillips Oduoza (right) and MD, UBA Foundation, Ms Ijeoma Aso, with pupils of secondary schools in Lagos at the launch of ‘Read Africa’ 2012, a UBA Foundation initiative to encourage reading among the youth, held in Lagos…yesterday. See story on page 55

Our case against Jonathan, by Reps Budget ‘not run to Nigerians’ benefit ’ From Dele Anofi, Abuja

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HE House of Representatives launched yesterday a defence of its decision to begin impeachment proceedings against President Goodluck Jonathan if the budget is not fully implemented by September.

The lawmakers said they were not unaware of the comments as well as what they described as the deliberate plan by the Presidency to misinform the public on the rationale behind their “nationalistic stand”.

House spokesman Zakari Mohammed, in a statement in Abuja yesterday, said the lawmakers’ decision was informed by the fact that the growth in the economy has not reflected in the well-being of Nigerians.

He said: “This bold and patriotic step by •Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun (left) congratulating the newly sworn-in local government chairmen during the Seventh Assembly has attracted differ- the ceremony at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta...yesterday. Story on Page 8 ent comments from a lot of quarters, expectedly. Therefore, some sponsored news, edi-

‘

We in the legislature are lawmakers and not contractors and the constituency projects execution has been the exclusive preserve of the executive and its agencies

’

Continued on Page 2

State creation: Tension over moves to favour only Southeast From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

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ARELY three days after the conclusion of its retreat, the Senate is gripped by tension over moves to create one state - from the Southeast only.

The Chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum, Senator Umaru Dahiru, yesterday said no such decision was taken at the retreat, adding that it is impossible to have new states created from one geopolitical zone alone.

After the retreat of the Senate Constitution Review Committee in Asaba, Delta State, the Senate Leader, Mr. Victor Ndoma-Egba, was quoted as saying that the Senate had agreed to have a new state from the Southeast.

Ndoma-Egba said: “At the end of the retreat, the following were suggested as key issues that Continued on Page 2

38 die in Jos floods

ON Man loses seven children 68 declared missing STORY PAGE 2 Woman, 90, baby among victims 200 houses gone

•PROPERTY P13•SPORTS P23 •ABUJA REVIEW P25 •POLITICS P43 •ENERGY P47

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

NEWS State creation: Tension over moves to favour only Southeast Continued from Page 1

•Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole dancing with Nollywood comics, Aki and Pawpaw at the victory party organised to celebrate hisre-election at the Kings Square, Benin City...on Saturday

38 die in Jos floods

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LATEAU State, which is still reeling from the effect of sectarian killings, was yesterday hit by another major calamity.

No fewer than 38 people were killed as floods sacked Rikkos Tundun, Gangare and Angwan Rogo in Jos North Local Government area of the state.

Sixt Eight people have been declared missing. More than 200 houses were washed away.

A resident, Abdulhamid Useni, lost seven of his 12 children. The distraught man said his wife and the other children were lucky to survive the flood.

“I have recovered the corpses of six of my children but we are still searching the corpse of the seventh one, he said.

Among the dead is a 90year-old woman and a threemonth-old baby according to Manasel Phampe, head of the Nigerian Red Cross in Plateau State. He said 20 bodies had been recovered in Gangeri and 18 in Rikkos.

The death toll was expected to rise last night after 68 people were declared missing.

The floods followed downpour which lasted for many hours between Sunday afternoon and early yesterday. It

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu and Marie-Therese Nanlong, Jos

caused the overflow of waterways, forcing River Rikkos to overflow its banks. The rampaging flood consumed everything on its path.

“So far, we have recovered 16 bodies but many others are still missing,” the Publicity Secretary of Jama’atul-NasrilIslam, Alhaji Faruk Umar, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos. “Already, we have just buried 14 bodies. Two bodies have just been discovered, but we are also still searching for more bodies because many people are still missing.

“More than 200 houses were washed away following the flooding of Rikkos River,” he said, listing the worst-hit areas as Gangare and Ungwan-Rogo.

Umar blamed what he described as “colossal damage”, on the practice of building houses on waterways and blocking of drainage. He called for a massive drainage evacuation to allow free flow of water.

A NAN correspondent, who went to the cemetery, counted 14 bodies. He also saw two more bodies being conveyed to the burial ground.

An official of the National

•Useni who lost seven children...yesterday

Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr Kazeem Olanrewaju, said NEMA officials were already taking stock at the scene.

“NEMA has evacuated some of the displaced persons from Dilimi, UngwanRogo and Gangare to a nearby school and we are battling to see how much assistance we can render for now.

“The figure of those affected is rather much and we expect the situation to be tougher with the Ramadan season but we shall do our best to help them,” he said.

Mr Edward Maigida, NEMA’s Director, Relief and Rehabilitation, told NAN at the College of Arabic and Islamic Studies in Jos where the displaced persons had been assembled that the agency was counting the displaced persons.

“We are conducting a census to ascertain their number and work out immediate intervention before we arrange some more lasting arrangements.

“We are also still assessing the situation around the vicinContinued on Page 59

needed to be tackled by the Constitution Review Committee: creation of one state for the Southeast zone for equity and fairness.”

The Senate Leader’s statement has ignited tension, with most Northern Senators expressing surprise.

The National Assembly received 45 memoranda requesting for the creation of states from the existing 36.

Although state creation is one of the issues before the Constitution Review Committee, there were fears that some forces were pulling the strings to restrict it to only the Southeast.

A Senator from the North said: “It must be a joke for anyone within the committee to assume that he can use influence to restrict the creation of state to only a geopolitical zone.

“The truth is that they cannot recommend a new state for the Southeast outside other geopolitical zones. Do not forget that there has been agitation for creation of states from some old provinces, like Zaria , Kabba, Oyo, Ijebu, Edu, Old Annang, Warri, Kontagora, Muri, and Ogoja.”

Another high-ranking Senator said: “Let them smuggle anything they want into the constitution review, the majority will decide at the end of the day.

Those behind this latest seed of hatred can have their say; they will not have their way in the chamber.

“I am surprised that an exercise that has not started has been concluded. Things are not done this way at all.”

The Chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum, Senator Umaru Dahiru, said: “To the best of my knowledge, creation of new states did not come up at the retreat. It was surprising to hear that a new state for the Southeast was one of the issues suggested to the committee.

“Maybe Nigerians should ask how they arrived at that in Asaba. I am aware that there are many requests before the National Assembly, including those from the North, and the constitution

•Senate President David Mark

review process has not even got to the level of giving any geopolitical zone a slot.

“I do not know if anyone has superior information that this Forum does not have.”

A Senator from the Southeest said: “I doubt it if the Senate Leader will make such a commitment.

But if he did in Asaba, it cannot hold water at all. We cannot accept the creation of one state from a zone alone. It is impracticable.

“I am aware of the anger of some Senators on the purported statement of Senator Ndoma-Egba but I have not lost any sleep at all because the process of creating a state is not one-off thing.”

A Senator from the Southeast said: “The Constitutional Committee of the Sixth Senate had concurred that there should be a state from the Southeast. So, it is nothing new.

“I want to appeal to our colleagues not to politicise this matter at all.”

A Senator from Ogun State , Alhaji Gbenga Kaka, said: “I was at the retreat throughout. They just said they received 56 requests, which they said they were going to consider.

“So, all that we have received is the proposal. It is when we get there that we will know the number of states to be created. It is not a case of one state.

“If there is any member from the Southeast who spoke, it was Senator Chris Ngige who demanded for a new state from the zone.

And no one can blame Ngige for protecting the interest of his zone.

“Also, the Asagba of Asagba used the opportunity to ask for the creation of Anioma State.”

Our case against Jonathan, by Reps Continued from Page 1

torials and commentaries choose to deliberately misinform the public on the rationale behind our nationalistic stand, for the avoidance of doubt, whilst we are aware that all revenue-generating agencies have surpassed their annual target by mid this year.

“The House is worried that this positive development did not reflect the implementation of the budget for the benefit of the Nigerian peoples.”

The spokesman also faulted reasons adduced by the Presidency as being behind

the impeachment moves, saying: “This trend, if not arrested, would worsen the already fragile state of the nation, hence the need for our quick intervention.

“To then insinuate that the House of Representatives took this noble step to satisfy pressure from a political party or because the Constituency projects were not awarded to members or because of the drama that followed the presentation of the fuel subsidy report, is to say the least malicious damaging and uncharitable to the image of the Assembly.

“We in the Legislature are lawmakers and not contrac-

tors and the constituency projects execution has been the exclusive preserve of the executive and its agencies. At no time has there been any argument on this.

“Similarly, what members do in the course of the budget preparation is to furnish the respective MDAs with locations and areas of needs of our constituencies.

“The bidding processes are handled by the supervising ministries. The entire 360 members in the House are bound by the Nigerian project, our independence and objectiveness is evident in the selection of our principal officers which we did ac-

cording to our thoughts.

“To assume that we are guided by some forces outside the House of Representatives is mischievous and a deliberate ploy to misrepresent the House before the Nigerian public”.

According to the spokesman, the lawmakers took steps to preserve the integrity of the institution by not shying away from sanctioning erring members. He cited the bribery scandal involving House member Farouk Lawan and businessman Femi Otedola from which he said the 7th Assembly has distanced itself.

Besides, he said, Lawan

was suspended as Chairman of the committees on fuel subsidy and education, and the House encouraged law enforcement agencies to do their work according to the dictates of the law.

“To now conclude that our resolution on Thursday is borne out of selfish motives is terribly out of place, We would, however, continue to raise our voices to the highest ebb where we sight injustice or impunity; no amount of blackmail or intimidation would cow us to abdicate our constitutional responsibility which we signed with our employers (the Nigerian people) to stand firm and protect

•Dr. Jonathan

their interest,” Mohammed added.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

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NEWS

Makoko •Killer cop on illegal duty, says IGP

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•Rivers State Governor Amaechi (left) recieving the winners cup of the 2011 Garden City Games from the Local Organising Committe (LOC) Chairman and Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru, at the Government House, Port Harcourt...yesterday.

•Taraba State Governor Dambaba Suntai (left) receiving a souvenir from the President of the Nigerian Society Of Engineers (NSE), Mr Mustafa Shehu, when members of the society visited him in Jalingo... on Sunday.

•Wife of the late Gyang Fulani Keneg (second right) and her children at the funeral service for him…yesterday. See story on page 58

•From left: Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okogie, Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) Acting Chairman, Mr Nta Ekpo, And ICPC member, Prof. Olu Aina, at the joint news conference between NUC and ICPC in Abuja..yesterday PHOTO: NAN

ESIDENTS of the Makoko/ Iwaya waterfront in Yaba Local Council Development Areas (LCDA), yesterday stormed the office of the Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola to protest the demolition of their shanties by the government.

The protesters, who were conveyed to the secretariat by commercial buses, brandished placards, with inscriptions such as: ‘Shelter is our right’, ‘Lagos State Government, respect our privacy and right’, ‘Leave Makoko residents alone’, ‘respect us as citizens of Lagos’, and ‘We are not foreigners’, among others.

The protest march took off from the Ikeja Shopping Mall, Alausa and ended at the Governor's Office, with the people chanting "Fashola o Fashola oo, leave us alone, Fashola oo".

The protesters, who included men, women and children, were also at the House of Assembly.

They had placards with inscriptions such as "My house maybe on water but it is my home" and "Let's have right to live. We are Nigerians".

The Chairman, Lagos Marginalised Community Forum, (LAMCOFOR), Mr. Afose Latif, said: "They governor told us that he wanted to develop our area and that those houses 50 metres close to the lagoon will be destroyed but government people came on Saturday and were destroying our homes and properties.

"Nine of our youths have been arrested and they are at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, while three school children have drowned in the water."

Spokeperson, LAMCOFOR, Agbodemu Musbau said they were not happy with the way the government was treating the poor masses.

He said: "Are we slaves or foreigners? Is it a crime to be poor? Since 1984, the government has been tormenting the people who live in the slums, taking our land and giving it to rich people. If the government knows we are not human beings or part of Lagos, then why did they accept our votes?"

An old woman, who spoke in Yoruba language, was in tears as she knelt before the Government House, raising her hands up.

The protesters were led by the Baale of the community, Chief Yusuf Sadiq, and their lawyer, Felix Mouka. They appealed to the governor to stop the demolition and allow them to return to their homes.

Sadiq, speaking with Fashola, said the residents voted for the governor because they believed in his integrity and the fact that he would always be there to fight for the poor.

He said: “We appreciate you since you have been the governor because you understand what is happening to the masses. Every one of us voted for you because we know you will defend us.

“We have been waiting to see your performance in our community when suddenly police took over our community destroying properties and shooting, in which my assistant Baale was killed.”

Sadiq said they are law-abiding citizens who have lived on the waterfront all their lives.

He said: “We have no power to fight; we have no gun to shoot them, but all we have is our voice. And today, we speak with one voice to you, our father that you should not throw us out of our home.

• The protesters... yesterday

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We have come to ask you what we did wrong as our father that you are now angry with us. So, if you tell us our wrong, we will amend and won’t do it again.

A fish cannot live on the ground, don’t let us die

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By Miriam Ndikanwu, Precious Igbonwelundu and Jude Isiguzo

“We have come to ask you what we did wrong as our father that you are now angry with us. So, if you tell us our wrong, we will amend and won’t do it again.

“A fish cannot live on the ground, don’t let us die. We are here for a peaceful protest to let you know our plight and help our situation. We heard the rumour making round that criminals live in our community. As a leader, I can assure you that no such thing happened and if we have such people among us, we will certainly hand them over to the authority.

“Besides there are criminals living in Lekki and I know that the government cannot say because they have such incidents to relocate residents from Lekki. My suggestion is for us to find solution to our security challenge.”

One of the protesters, Mr Emmanuel Shemende, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), that residents had moved 50 metres away from the power line, as directed by the government.

Shemende also appealed to the Chairman of the Council, Mr Olajide Jimoh, to assist the community in carrying their appeal to the governor.

Shemende said: “Our people are not violent, our community is a peaceful community and we are indigenes; why deny us the right to our homes?The government has rendered us homeless, we have nowhere to go to.“ Speaking with NAN, another resident, Mr Joseph Ideebe, noted that the government should have mercy on them and stop the ongoing demolition, adding that they had not been given any alternative.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

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NEWS

evictees to govt: fish can’t live on ground

• Sadiq (right), Mr. Steve Aji (second right) and Senior Apostle Simon Hlonfo (left) during the peaceful protest ...yesterday PHOTOS: MOSES OMOSEHIN

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AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday explained why his administration is demolishing the Makoko fishing community, Lagos Mainland.

He said it was necessary to halt the continuous expansion of the community into the lagoons with its negative impact on the environment.

Addressing scores of Makoko residents who came to the Lagos House, Ikeja to appeal for a reconsideration of the decision to demolish parts of the fishing community, Fashola explained that while the government was finding a solution for residents within the recognised boundaries, it would not allow further expansion of the community.

Fashola said sequel to several meetings with leaders of the community and an agreed boundary set, the government had been working in the area to find solution to the difficulties, which the indigenous residents encounter by providing basic infrastructure and amenities to uplift the standard of life of the people who, according to him, have been there for a long time.

The governor explained that rather than maintain the established boundary, what had happened over the years was a rash of illegal shanties which expanded towards the Third Mainland Bridge and underneath the high tension electricity cables across the area.

Expressing the readiness of his administration to meet with genuine representatives of the community, Fashola advised them to be wary of people who are profiting from their difficult situation. He advised the community to resist being used by people who want to take advantage of them.

The governor noted that piling saw dust on the lagoon, discharging wastes in it and blocking the discharge points for storm water had contributed to the flooding in places like Bariga, Shomolu, Ebute-Metta, Ogudu, Owode, Ajegunle and Ikorodu, among others.

He said: ”The truth must be told; some people are benefiting from your difficulty and that is the truth. They are taking advantage of you in the guise of being your friends. They are taking all sorts of grants purporting to help you but it never gets to you. But as your government, we understand the challenges you face there and we are working to solve them.”

The governor, who said the primary concern of his administration is to uplift the standard of living of the indig-

enous members of the community, which has existed for over 60 years, said: “Now, as we are finding solution to the boundaries we recognise, we will not allow further expansion”.

He said: “We owe you a duty, but we also owe the greater part of Lagos a duty. That lagoon is the only lagoon where we drain water during rainy season from Akoka, Bariga, Shomolu, Oworonsoki and from Macgregor Canal. The lagoon is shrinking because they are expanding and building into it; it has to stop.”

Fashola said the way forward was for the leaders of the community to team up and meet the government to find a lasting solution to the problem adding that he is working with people within and outside the country to find a way to expose the community as part of the culture of Lagos, where the indigenous people could live in a clean environment with clean drinking water and other basic amenities while they also engage in their fishing occupation.

He said the doors of the government were open at all times and that he would welcome such a team as

“We deal in fishing in this community. If we are sent out of this place, fish would be scarce for the people of the state, “ he said.

Jimoh, however, implored the residents to exercise more patience. He urged them to continue to live in peace and harmony, assuring that the govern-

ment would look into their matter.

Inspector General of police Mohamed Abubarkar has said the police Corporal who killed Hunpoyanwa was on illegal duty.

Abubarkar explained that the suspect, Corporal Pepple Boma was not

• Fashola addressing the protesters... yesterday.

With him are: Commissioner for the Environment Tunji Bello (right) and Commissioner for Waterfront Adesegun Oniru.

The truth must be told; some people are benefiting from your difficulty and that is the truth. They are taking advantage of you in the guise of being your friends. They are taking all sorts of grants purporting to help you but it never gets to you. But as your government, we understand the challenges you face there and we are working to solve them

‘

Why we’re demolishing Makoko,

by Fashola

By Miriam Ndikanwu, Staff Reporter

appointed by the community to find lasting solution to the problem adding that the community’s peaceful approach would lead to much more progress.

According to him, "as your government we understand what challenges we face there and we are working in all of the communities that you represent. We know what your mainstay and occupation is fishing, I have had meetings with you and the people of Okobaba, at least 3 meetings.

"The people of Okobaba have said they are ready to move and we are working on their relocation, we are working on the houses that we are building for them in Agbowa. Some of you said you wanted to stay, that is how I understood that some of you actually bring the logs, cut the logs, some people sell the logs, and it's an industry.

Fashola said: “We are working to provide water, schools, libraries and so on for you. But those who have just come must leave. That is the re-

ality.”

Describing the decision to stop the illegal expansion by the new comers as “very, very difficult”, the governor said the chances of the Government are limited adding that if the place must be sustainable to accommodate the indigenous people and other interests, the continuous expansion has to stop.

He added: “We have land in other parts of the state that are close to water, so if communities want to apply for land, we will give them land; but you cannot build on the lagoon” adding, “That is the natural drainage that God has given us and we have to preserve it. The only issue was the expansion of the community and the time to define the boundary is now.”

Noting that various groups and individuals have diverse interests such as sensationalising the issue and making it a human rights issue, Fashola said the only real issue that is in the interest of the indigenous

among those posted on special duty to Makoko.

The Corporal, who is attached to the Maria police department, has already been arrested and he is being interrogated at the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba.

Abubakar, who spoke through the Commission of Police Lagos Command, Mr Umar Manko, noted that a government official took the alleged killer cop to the demolition site Illegally.

Manko, who was at the place on a condolence visit to the community

community and the government was to ensure that the people of Lagos cohabit together and find solution to the common problem in order to get on with their lives.

Fashola apologised for the loss of life during the clearing exercise, describing it as regrettable and promised that the government would investigate the circumstance under which it happened. He, however, added that it was the duty of government to protect the ecosystem, to protect the environment and, more importantly to protect the life of the people.

He said: “I am really sorry about the loss of one of you during the course of this incident because in the process of doing our job, we ought to also protect lives and properties and ensure that no life is lost while we do our work.

“I regret that such has happened and we would investigate the circumstances to which it happened. You must look more to your government than to any other person, we do not act in those areas for our own benefit, and we act for the benefit of the community at large.” and the family of the deceased on behalf of the IGP, urged residence to be calm and embrace peace.

He said the police are not ready to hide anybody, promising that a proper investigation will be conducted and that the outcome will be made public.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

NEWS NAFDAC to open offices in border towns

• Senator Oluremi Tinubu (second left) flagging off the tree-planting season of the Onigbongbo Local Council Development Authority (LCDA)... With her are Onigbongbo LCDA Chairman Babatunde Oke, Vice-chairman Oladotun Olakanle and Chairman, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Onigbongbo LCDA Mrs. Iyabo Akerele.

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ICPC raises 12-man panel to probe systemic scandals in varsities

HE Acting Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr. Nta Ekpo, yesterday said the commission has raised a 12-man panel to conduct a system review of malpractices in the nation’s universities.

He said the 12-man panel, headed by a former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, will begin with a pilot project at the University of Nigeria , Nsukka (UNN), Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) and Salem University in Lokoja, which is privately owned.

Ekpo, who spoke at a joint briefing with the Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie, said ICPC’s preliminary investigations had uncovered “utter disregard or failure of regulatory systems.”

Ekpo said: “The Independent Corrupt Practices & Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is inundated daily with petitions from students, staff, unions, and other stakeholders

•Pilot project to begin in UNN, OOU, Salem universities From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

alleging all manner of corrupt practices and abuses in most of our tertiary institutions. “These petitions highlight flagrant abuse of processes in student admissions, examinations, appointment and promotion of staff, manipulation and falsification of academic records like transcripts, sexual harassment and victimization of applicants, students and staff, syndicated plagiarism, delay or nonpayment of gratuities and pension to pensioners, non-adherence to bidding processes in the award of contracts, bastardizing accreditation processes through deception, running un-approved Study Centres, affiliates and programmes, establishing and

operating un-approved and consequently illegal universities, etc.

“We are all witnesses of the frustrating, disruptive and atimes fatal consequences these have on innocent members of the university community, the nation and our international ranking due to institutional decay, corruption and blatant abuse of processes.

“Our preliminary investigations point towards the absence, utter disregard or failure of regulatory systems within these academic Institutions.”

The ICPC chairman said the system review was not intended to usurp the functions of a Visitation Panel to any university.

Ekpo added: “I wish to inform Nigerians, through you, that ICPC

intends to invoke its statutory mandate derived from Section 6 (b )-( d) of its enabling law to undertake a comprehensive Systems Study and Review of the Nigerian University system with the principal aim of identifying and correcting corruption-prone processes.

“ICPC’s intervention is specific and does not conflict with the regulatory, supervisory and auditing roles of the Visitor, Ministry of Education, Councils and indeed the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC).

“In designing this exercise, a protocol and cooperation has already been established between the Commission, the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) and other stakeholders.

“A broad view of corruption in the

Court declares imprisonment of nursing mothers unlawful FEDERAL High Court in Lagos has held that the imprisonment of mothers along with their babies by government and prison authorities in the country is unlawful.

Justice Fatimat Nyako held that it is unjust for the state to incarcerate children, who did not commit any crime along with their mothers, who are either convicted or standing trial of alleged commission of offences.

The judgment given was on a suit filed by a child’s rights advocacy group, Child’s Rights Advancement and Protection Initiatives (CRAPI).

The group had, in the fundamental rights enforcement suit marked: FHC/L/CS/26/2010, faulted the practice of imprisoning pregnant women and nursing mothers with their babies and described it as a violation of the rights of the affect women and children as protected under existing laws.

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THE National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is to establish offices in border towns to curb fake drugs.

Its Deputy Director, Port Inspection Directorate, Mr Adefolarin Adeleke, yesterday said the agency had concluded plans on the offices.

Adeleke spoke in Dutse while addressing reporters at the end of a field operation to access the quality of drugs in the state.

He said the agency had already opened offices in Jibiya and Kamba border towns of Katsina and Niger Republic to address unregistered drugs imported to the country.

He said some drug importers used the border towns to smuggle fake and unregistered drugs. He said the field operation showed that some unregistered drugs which were manufactured in China and meant for Niger Republic were smuggled into Jigawa.

Adeleke said the team visited 31 patent shops in eight local government areas of the state, adding that out of 101 drugs tested, 94 were good while the remaining were bad.

“Apart from the ones tested, there are so many banned drugs that were found and seized in various patent stores we visited,” he said.

He called on the general public to patronise only registered pharmacies, patent medicine stores, and to ensure that the drugs they purchased were duly registered with NAFDAC.

By Eric Ikhilae

CRAPI contended that such rights were protected under the country’s Constitution and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap 10 Laws of the Federation and other international Declarations and Conventions signed and ratified by the country.

Justice Nyako held that although the Constitution and the Prison Act stipulate instances where individuals could be incarcerated, such instances do not include when a child did not commit an offence or was not under trial for any offence.

She held that it was unlawful to subject a child to imprisonment because the child’s mothers was imprisoned under any of the instances stipulated in Section 31(1) of the Constitution and Prison Regulation under the Prison Act. “A child who did not commit an offence and against whom an order

of imprisonment is not made has no business being in prison. I hold that a child who has not committed an offence has no business in prison custody,” the judge held.

She added that the prison authorities have no powers to take into custody a child against whom no order of imprisonment was made.By implication, this decision voids the provision in the Prison Regulation under the Prison Act Cap 29, Laws of the Federation, 2009 to the effect that “the child of a female prisoner may be admitted into prison with the mother if it is at breast and less than eighteen months.”

The judge did not order the release of children currently being held under such circumstances. She also did not order monetary compensation for them as requested by the plaintiff, but directed the government to take steps to remedy the situation.

The judge, who was also silent on how such children, in the case of nursing mothers, should be treated,

held that “It is the responsibility of the system to initiate measures to correct this.”

Justice Nyako refused to dismiss the suit as prayed by the Lagos State’s Attorney General (AG) in its counter affidavit.

Relying on the provisions of Section 35(1) of the Constitution, the Lagos AG had argued, in a written address signed by Olubunmi Obadan of the state’s Directorate for Citizen Rights, that the incarceration of a pregnant /nursing mother under the said provision was lawful.

The Lagos AG, who was the only respondent to respond to the suit, urged the court to dismiss the suit on the ground that the right which the plaintiff sought to enforce was not known to law.

The other respondents include the Attorney General of the Federation, Inspector General of Police, Controller General of Prison and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State.

university system was taken and three (3) Universities, namely University of Nigeria Nsukka, Olabisi Onabanjo University , Ago-Iwoye, and Salem University , Lokoja are being sampled. They were selected for a pilot Study to reflect Federal/ State/Private University as well as North/West/East characteristics.

“Since some baseline information already exist from the various Visitation Reports and White Papers, the ICPC study and review exercise would take about two weeks in each university at which a strong team of university administrative experts and professional investigators will be physically present on the campuses.

“The exercise will commence from July 23, 2012 simultaneously in the three sampled universities. The institutions concerned have been accordingly informed.”

“At the end of the exercise, it is expected that, empirical data upon which far-reaching policy decisions relating to expected outcomes would be gathered in the studied Universities.

“The expected outcome will include improvement in the delivery of quality-university education in Nigeria and improved climate for transparency and accountability in the university system.

“In addition, the Universities would be better structured with policy and procedures that discourage corruption, malpractices and fraud at all levels of operations, while also improving on the quality of their service delivery. The outcome will also be a template for similar exercises in tertiary education in Nigeria .”

Prof. Okojie, said: “This exercise is a turning point in the history of university education in this country. We have come through a very rapid transformation to the extent that between 2000 and now, we have additional 69 universities.

“But with the diversity in terms of proprietorship, we have more challenges. That is why this pilot project will be useful to review governance structure in universities.”

7

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

RAMADAN

Ajimobi, Lanlehin others urge rededication O YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on National Planning, Economic Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin and the Chairman , Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) in the state, Yekeen Popoola has urged Muslims to use the period of Ramadan to rededicate themselves to the cause of Allah .

Ajimobi, through his Special Adviser on Media, Dr Festus Adedayo, called on Muslims to use the Ramadan period to seek God’s intervention in the affairs of the country.

According to the governor, the holy month

Lawmaker: pray for mercy

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

is a period when Muslims should offer supplications to Allah for peace to reign.

He enjoined Muslims to intercede for the country in the attempts by some unscrupulous people to put the tag of violence on the nations. He said Muslims owe it a duty to ask Allah to return Nigeria to the good old days when the nation was peaceful and calm.

“We should take the opportunity of the month of Ramadan to ask Almighty Allah to stop this spate of bomb-throwing and violence which are very alien to the Nigeria that we have always known. Let us use this period of fasting to ask God for the forgiveness of

our sins and rededicate our lives to the cause of a peaceful and God-fearing nation,” Governor Ajimobi said.

He urged Muslims to be pious during Ramadan, saying Muslims should live above board during and after the fasting.

Senator Lanlehin, representing Oyo South Senatorial District, urged Islamic adherents as well as other Nigerians to be more committed to God and humanity.

A statement issued in Ibadan by his media aide, Olawale Sadare, said the sacred month of Ramadan usually offers an opportunity for repentance and renewed commitment to the service of God which in turn enables the faithful to gain better spiritual

advantage.

“Nigerians, irrespective of their religious belief, should use this sacred month to seek God’s intervention in our national life so that the country could overcome challenges manifesting in insecurity, avoidable disasters and poverty,” Lanlehin stated.

Popoola enjoined Muslims to observe the fasting with a high level of commitment by abstaining from sins that can bring the wrath of God on the land.

He urged them to be diligent and assist the downtrodden by providing food and money to them during the Ramadan period and thereafter.

Group preaches peaceful co-existence

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•Ajimobi

The ALGON boss reiterated that fasting is one of the pillars of Islam that should be taken with all seriousness, saying that denial of food and drinks to the body would increase spirituality.

He prayed for the aversion of economic, religious crisis and fratricidal wars that have threatened the existence of the country

By Oziegbe Okoeki

D

EPUTY Whip of the Lagos State House of Assembly Rotimi Abiru has urged Nigerians, especially Muslims to use this Ramadan period to pray to Almighty Allah for mercy.

According to his message, which was contained in a press statement signed by his Media Assistant, Omolara Balogun, Abiru said Nigerians must use the holy month of fasting to beg Allah for the realisation of their hopes, dreams and aspirations.

“We have unrealised hopes, dreams and aspiration as individuals and as a nation and there is no better time to seek Allah’s face for their realisation than the Holy month of Ramadan which brings us closer to Him,” Abiru said.

He noted that besides the period of the Civil War, Nigerians have never come under such threats as the one being experienced in the country.

“Ramadan offers another great opportunity for our dear nation to pray for the healing of wounds and immediate end to the waste of human lives and property.

If we cry to Allah this period I am sure there will be an end to all the carnage in the land”, Abiru assured.

Association sues for peace

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HE Bauchi State chapter of the Association of Muslim Professionals has called on Muslims and non-Muslims to embrace peace and do away with anger, arrogance and hatred.

The association, in a statement signed by its president, Malam Misbahudden AbdulGhanee, said the call has become imperative because of the worrisome and unacceptable high-level of insecurity in the country.

“The level of insecurity and anxiety in the country is worrisome and not acceptable.

Islam is synonymous with peace, harmony and respect for human rights.”

HE Ansar-ud-deen Society of Nigeria has called on Muslims all over the world to embrace peace and show utmost love for others, especially during the Ramadan period.

The Islamic organisation made the call in a statement signed by its President, Alhaji Lateef Okunnu, on Sunday.

It said Ramadan is a period to embrace peace and show love, and urged Muslims all over the world to reflect on their past and turn to God in repentance.

“We all should seek the forgiveness of our sins and pray for our dear nation, against all calamities bedevilling the world,’’ he said.

Okunnu described Ramadan as a period to seek the mercies of God through fasting and prayers, while also extending the hand of fellowship and love to others.

He urged Nigerian Muslims to pray for the nation, adding that the country needed prayers against the various challenges confronting it.

Okunnu implored political leaders to reflect on the state of the nation and better the lot of the people through peopleoriented policies.

“They are expected to render selfless services to humanity, and the people’s interest should always be given the necessary priority,’’ he said.

‘Reform your characters’

By Tajudeen Adebanjo From left: Prof. Tajudeen Gbadamosi, Prince Tajudeen Olusi and Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Project Implementation, Alhaji Sulaiman Yussuf, during a Ramadan lecture organised by the state Muslim Council at NTA 10 premises, Tejuoso, Lagos.

Muslims, Christians break fast together

I

N the spirit of peaceful co-existence, hundreds of Muslim youths and their Christian counterparts break Ramadan fast together.

The event occurred at the Sultan Bello Mosque, Kaduna State.

The occasion was organised by the Christian-Muslim Youth Peace Initiative of Nigeria under the cochairmanship of Dr Suleiman Shuabu Shinkafi, the chairman of the Muslim youth division and Diji Haruna, President of the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

Muslim and Christian youths sat on the same table to share the Ramadan iftar meal served in big bowls.

The essence of the breaking of fast together was to further promote peaceful coexistence among the diverse groups and religious divides in Nigeria.

“The youths are the worse hit in times of crisis,” Dr Shinkafi said.

“We want to create the needed awareness of tolerating each other and stop the youths from being used for violence.”

Dr Shinkafi called on the government to engage the youths meaningfully, so that all forms of social vices perpetrated by the youth would be reduced.

Haruna described the joint breaking of fast together as historic.

“It was also seen as a good chance to promote understanding and religious tolerance,” Haruna said.

“I pray that it will not just stop at eating together alone, but that we will further join forces to say no to violence and collectively build a better society, our religious differences notwithstanding,” he said.

Ex-PDP chair urges militants to repent

F

ORMER Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, has urged militant groups in the country to use this period of Ramandan fast to purge themselves of all negative tendencies.

Baraje, the Proprietor of Baraje Centre for Arabic and Islamic Studies Ilorin, in Kwara State, said “if

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

evildoers and criminals could shun killing of innocent souls and other social vices during the holy month of Ramadan, they should completely have a change of mind even after the Ramadan period.”

He explained that Islam as a religion preaches peace and harmony and described the new

dimension in the crime wave in the country, such as bombing and kidnapping as alien not only to our culture and tradition but also to both Islam and Christianity.

He appealed to Muslim faithful and religious leaders to be more sincere in their sermons so that people would have a positive change of heart.

He called on the government and the

governed to continue to operate together in trust, which the Holy Prophet Mohammad preached during his life to build a virile nation.

He enjoined security operatives to be more proactive in combating crime and urged the citizenry to provide information to security agents about people with questionable characters.

T

HE President of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, MSSN, Lagos State Area Unit, Alhaji Qasim Badrudeen has enjoined Muslims to use the period of Ramadan for selfreformation and prayer for peace and tranquility in Nigeria.

Badrudeen said the essence of the Ramadan fast was to instil Gods consciousness in man.

This, he said, would make him live peacefully and respect the rights of others in the society.

The youth leader also asked Muslims to use the holy month to pray for peace, security and progress of the country, saying that at this critical time, what the country needs most is divine intervention.

‘Ramadan has come to teach us a lot of lessons. It has come to teach us how to love and care for the poor and needy in our society. It has also come to move us closer to our creator,” he said.

He urged governments at all levels to reflect on Ramadan teachings and fear Allah in the way they govern the country.

‘This is another opportunity for them to repent and do what is right for the masses of the country,’ he said.

8

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

NEWS

Amosun urges chairmen to render effective service

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HE 19 newly elected Ogun State local government chairmen, who emerged in areas where elections results were declared on Sunday, yesterday took their oaths of office at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta.

The chairmen and the councillors had stopped over at the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) office on Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta, to collect their certificates of return.

The local governments are: Abeokuta South, Abeokuta North, Yewa South, Yewa North, Ijebu North, Ijebu East, Ijebu North East, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun-Waterside, Obafemi Owode, Ewekoro, Ifo, Remo North, Ikenne, Sagamu, Odogbolu, Ipokia, Ado Odo/Ota and Odeda. The council chairmen are: Tajudeen Amoo (Yewa North), Olaide Oyefeso (Ijebu North), Rufai Razaq (Ogun-Waterside), Tajudeen Salako (Ikenne), Diyaolu Nurudeen (Obafemi Owode), Oludele Soluade (Ewekoro), Safiu Odebiyi (Yewa South) and Olumide Enilolobo (Ifo).

Others are: Femi Oyefowokan (Ijebu North East), Oluwakemi Razaq (Ijebu-Ode), Abayomi Femi (Remo North), Olawale Shittu (Odogbolu), Ogunde Patrick (Ijebu East), Ramon Jimoh (Ado Odo/ Ota), Sulaiman Adebayo (Odeda) and Afuape Oluwafunmilayo (Sagamu).

Ogun council chiefs take oaths of office •Warns against idleness, mismanagement of funds

O

GUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun yesterday urged the newly elected 19 chairmen of local governments to hit the ground running.

He said they have become trustees of the people’s mandate.

The governor spoke at the June 12 Cultural Centre in Abeokuta, the state capital, at the inauguration of 19 of the 20 council chairmen.

He described the free and fair polls that produced the council chiefs last Saturday as “another great manifestation of the Ogun standard that sets new benchmarks”.

Amosun advised the new chairmen to justify the confidence the electorate reposed in them by bringing development closer to the people and ensuring even development of their domains.

The governor promised to ensure that all the local governments would continue to get their funds.

He urged the council chairmen to devise legal means to also generate funds for their projects.

Amosun said: “It is regretful to note that while most of the local governments in Nigeria complain of lack of funds, they also have not exploited the constitutional avenues available to them to raise their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). Even where they have done so, the funds are generally mismanaged.”

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

Governor Ibikunle Amosun urged the council chairmen to pro-

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Communication, Mrs Funmi Wakama, the governor warned the chairmen against mismanagement and reckless borrowing which characterised the local governments during the last administration.

He noted that these put them in dire financial straits.

“Funds must be prudently used for the benefit of our people at the grass-roots,” Amosun said.

The governor thanked the people of Ogun State for ensuring that there was no use of cudgels, cutlasses, guns and machetes, which the residents experienced under the former administration, in last Saturday’s elections.

Amosun hailed the leadership and members of the state Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) for conducting the first and most credible elections in the state since the return of civil rule in 1999.

He also praised the compliance of the electoral body with all court orders and praised the security agencies for discharging their responsibilities creditably.

The Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance were administered on the 19 council chairmen at 11.25am by Justice Olatokunbo Olopade, the Chief Judge of the state.

The chairman-elect of Imeko Afon Local Government Area could not be sworn in due to a court order, which stopped OGSIEC from issuing a certificate of return for the chairmanship position until the final determination of a case before it.

vide and execute policies that would impact positively on the lives of the residents, especially at

the grassroots.

He said: “I use this opportunity to implore our new local government chairman to ensure the im-

plementation of programmes that would be beneficial to the people, especially at the grassroots level.”

The governor advised the council chiefs to key into his administration’s agenda of rebuilding Ogun State as well as initiate avenues to boost their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) because of inadequate funding of councils.

Amosun said: “The people of Ogun State will benefit from the newly elected chairmen and councillors compared to the last administration.”

According to him, inadequate funds would be given to local governments to enable them meet their responsibilities to the people.

The governor hailed the state Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC), saying it has proved that it is capable of conducting a free and fair election.

He said: “OGSIEC told me that they have a court order saying they should not give a Certificate of Return to Imeko-Afon until the court resolves the issue on ground.”

Oyefowokan hailed Ogun State residents and the government for supporting their ambition.

The council chief said he and colleagues would live up to the expectations of the people at the grassroots, adding that they would continue to support the governor and the electorate.

Alleged witchcraft: Police quiz monarch in Ekiti

By Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

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HE Olomuo of Omuo-Ekiti, Oba Noah Omonigbehin, was yesterday interrogated at the police headquarters in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, for his alleged role in the killing of Mrs Rebecca Adewumi, who was accused of killing her stepson through witchcraft.

Mrs. Adewumi was on July 30 killed by some youths, called the Imekula, for allegedly causing a strange ailment that killed Ola Adewumi.

The invitation of the monarch and his interrogation followed allegations by three members of the late Mrs Adewumi’s family, including her daughter, Mrs. Grace Smith, and Mr. Gabriel Omokanju.

It was the second time in about two weeks the police were inviting g the monarch on the killing.

Though details of the interrogation were not made public, it was learnt that the police wanted to know why Oba Omonigbehin allegedly ordered the killing of the woman without reporting to the police.

The Nation yesterday learnt that the monarch was released in the evening following the intervention of some notable residents.

His release was said to be on the condition that he would ensure the arrest of the Imekula.

Oba Omonigbehin was also said to have got an order to return to the police headquarters everyday and support police investigations.

•Dr. Fayemi at the lecture...yesterday

How to return to classroom after politics, by Fayemi

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KITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi yesterday urged academics to reverse the trend that makes it impossible for them to return to the classroom after a stint in politics, business or public administration.

The governor called for the repositioning of the Nigerian university system because “we need to rethink the linkage between town and gown”.

Fayemi, a PhD holder in War Studies, spoke in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, at the second convocation lecture of the Osun State University, entitled: Repositioning Nigerian universities within a dynamic global university system: challenges

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

and prospects.

He said universities should invent a system that constantly relates research to local and global needs.

Fayemi said: “Our universities, in the best tradition of research, should identify social problems and work toward providing solutions.

Our industries and governments must also be ready to partner with universities to do this.

“For instance, we need to address questions on how to ensure that our Engineering departments are able to pull resources to end our power generation, distribution and supply problem. Our scholars

in the Engineering departments, both home and abroad, have the capacity for this.”

The governor noted that academics could be challenged to be social problem solvers rather than “mere repeaters” of theories in the classroom by the governments and the society.

According to him, scientists should lead the needed technological and scientific revolution in the country.

He said: “Let us challenge the sciences and Engineering faculties of our universities to start by generating their own power - solar, wind, coal, etc, even providing their own water and recycling their own garbage. Let the universities

provide the lead.”

Fayemi said in linking the town and gown, the university must also challenge the “tyranny of value-neutral knowledge”.

The governor explained that while it is attractive to pursue academic objectivity in the intellectual tradition, there must be caution that such objectivity is always for some purpose.

The governor explained why he is collaborating with the authorities of the state university in Ado-Ekiti to establish an Institute of Peace and Security Studies.

He said: “I am dusting my own books to share some thoughts and reflections on a regular basis in my own local

university in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State University. There, we are finalising plans, with the cooperation of the ViceChancellor and subject to the approval of the university’s Senate, to establish an Institute of Peace and Security Studies, to produce graduate students and researchers in a field that is most necessary at a time that our country is daily ravaged by challenges of insecurity.

“If we must reposition the university within a global context, the university must not be a closed mind in its intellectual tradition. Indeed, it must consciously provide space for practitioners to share their experiences in public life.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

9

NEWS

Ondo teachers back Akeredolu for governor

‘Pick ex-OSOPADEC chief as deputy governor’ From Damisi Ojo, Akure

F

ORMER militants in Ondo State yesterday urged the leadership of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to pick a former chairman of the Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC), Chief Adewale Omojuwa, as the deputy governorship candidate in the October 20 election.

They promised to support ACN to win the poll, if the party agrees with their position.

In a statement by their leader, Samagbeyi Felix, Ikuesan Kudi, Sapatan Omotehinse, Hibo Ogbaro, Sunny Sedara, Ahunmo Ehimore, Bigjoe Orola, Ajimosun Oriole, Papa Obakpolor, Esanmore Sosor, the former militants said the only way they would work for ACN is if the party picks Omojuwa as the running mate to the party’s candidate.

They noted that when Omojuwa was OSOPADEC chairman, he achieved a lot for the people in the oil producing communities.

They said he would do more, if he is given the Number Two position under ACN. According to them, all ex-militants in Ilaje Local Government have unanimously endorsed Omojuwa and resolved to work for ACN during the election on the condition that the former OSOPADEC chief is given the deputy governorship slot.

The statement said the resolution was based on the antecedent of the former OSOPADEC chairman.

The statement reads: “We have unanimously resolved to work for ACN in the election on the condition that Chief Omojuwa be chosen as the party’s deputy governorship candidate.

“This statement should not be seen as a threat but as a reality of the political situation on ground in the coastal area of Ondo State.

“We are not imposing him on the party, but we are only appealing to the leadership of the party to see Omojuwa as a politician and leader that could brighten the chances of ACN and make the party secure our support in the forthcoming election.

“We have other politicians that have good antecedents, but Omojuwa possesses outstanding humanitarian services and political record.”

The Mahin, Aherin and Etikan Women’s Forum (MAEWF) in Ilaje Local Government of Ondo State has endorsed Chief Omojuwa as the deputy governorship candidate of ACN. In a communiqué by Mrs Roseline Akinbuwa, Mrs. Faith Olugbeje, Olori Oyeneyin Orete, Mrs. Eyitemi Akinlaja, Mrs. Ibitayo Omojuwa and Mrs. Oluwambe Olugbeje, the women urged the state and national leaders of ACN to pick the former OSOPADEC chairman as the running mate in the October 20 poll.

They described Omojuwa as a politician of note with tentacles spread across all the wards in Ondo South Senatorial District.

The women said they would vote for ACN, if Omojuwa is made the running mate.

The statement reads: “Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s father is from Owo while his mother is from Igbobini in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of the state.

PDP to challenge Ogun council poll result CHIEFTAIN of the

A

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Prince Buruji Kashamu, has faulted the result declared by the state Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC).

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) won 19 of the 20 councils’ chairmanship seats.

In a statement in Abeokuta, the state capital, Kashamu said the PDP would challenge the result at an appropriate forum.

He said the party was not surprised at the outcome of the election because OGSIEC’s activities had allegedly dumped “the candi-

dates’ list submitted by the mainstream PDP for an unpopular and pliable group, which sold the PDP out because of their personal relationship”.

The politician alleged that beyond the video clips shown on some television stations, OGSIEC should also show video clips of where votes were collated and results announced at local government headquarters in the presence of party agents, the police, State Security Service (SSS), Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) and other agencies, as stipulated by the election guidelines.

‘Stop pulling down Ajimobi’s govt’

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HE Oyo State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has condemned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for criticising the achievements of the ACN-led government in the state.

Reacting to a communiqué by the Oke Ogun chapter of PDP on some issues relating to the area, the ACN state Publicity Secretary, Dauda Kolawole, who is also from the area, said the PDP chapter lacked the moral right to criticise the Abiola Ajimobi administration.

ACN decried the manner the PDP has been hoodwinking the reseidents and feeding them with false information to discredit the ruling party and its government.

“They are people of questionable characters and opportunists. These are greedy and selfish individuals who have found delight in being used as willing tools in the hands of their masters,” it said.

The party challenged the PDP in the area to produce its developmental report on the over eight years it had been in the Senate, representing the zone.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

•Akeredolu

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EACHERS in Ondo State have said they would work for the victory of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship aspirant, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), in the October 20 election.

The teachers, under the aegis of the Teachers Earnestly Support Good Governance (TESUGG), described the Olusegun Mimiko adminis-

tration as deceitful. They said the electorate should vote it out in October.

The teachers noted that the education sector, under the present government, has slipped to abysmal level “because those appointed to formulate educational policies for the state are inexperienced and selfish”.

At a meeting in Akure with Akeredolu at the weekend, the spokesperson of the group, Mrs. Titi Fayoriju, noted that apart from being poorly remunerated, teachers also receive their salaries “towards the middle of the following month, long after ministry officials would have exhausted their

salaries and anxiously waiting for another one”.

Mrs. Fayoriju described the N22,000 minimum wage to the state workers as scandalous and political.

She added: “Ogun State’s salary structure, with a minimum wage of N18,000, is better than our own heavily-doctored N22,000 minimum wage.”

Rather than pay 27.5per cent professional allowance to teachers, she said the Mimiko administration has reduced teachers’ allowance to a mere 2.5per cent, making teachers the least paid and most policed among the work force.

The teachers promised to support Akeredolu, who they described as a transparent and thoroughbred professional.

They said the former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President has distinguished himself in his chosen career and public service.

Akeredolu said if elected, he would improve and renovate all public schools and avoid selective construction of mega schools that would polarise and create unnecessary rivalry among the residents.

The frontline lawyer said he would prudently use the state’s enormous resources to assuage the feelings of the people who desire good governance.

Akeredolu promised to involve the interest of stakeholders in running an all-inclusive administration that would elevate Ondo State among its peers.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

10

CITYBEATS

Waste managers lament poor payment of bills THE Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter (AWAM), has lamented the poor payment of waste disposal bills by Lagosians. The new Chairman of the association, Mr Olabode Coker, disclosed this at the formal inauguration of the new executive officers.

He said the development poses threat to the operations of waste managers in the state.

"The greatest challenge that we are facing is that people are not ready to pay their bills. Even educated people are giving us problems, when it comes to payment of bills. We have held series of meetings with community development association on this issue, but we are yet to see meaningful improvement," Coker lamented.

Also speaking at the event, the Publicity Secretary of the Association, Mr Adewale Agboluaje said the success of waste managers popularly called PSP in the State depends largely on the capital returns of their investment through prompt payment of waste disposal bill by tenements.

He hereby appealed to Lagos residents to take waste disposal bill as a priority and pay as at when due.

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

Police arrest fake Air Force, LASTMA men

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HREE suspected fake Air Force men and three “fake” officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) have been paraded by the police.

It was gathered that the LASTMA officials were arrested at Opebi in Ikeja; the Air Force men were apprehended in Idimu, a Lagos suburb.

According to the police commissioner, Mr Umar Manko who paraded the suspects, the fake LASMTA officials were arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) as they were extorting money from okada operators.

By Jude Isiguzo

He gave their names as Mayowa Shibu (28) and Saheed Akintola (35).

Manko said the Air Force men were arrested while protecting landed properties for illegal owners.

He also paraded some car snatchers who were arrested last Thursday at Ikorodu.

Recovered from the suspects were four cars, fake numbers plates, master keys, and iron cutters.

Manko said the suspects would be charged to court after investigation.

•Manko

Dana crash: Coroner may compel witnesses to appear A

LAGOS Coroner, Magistrate Oyetade A l e x a n d e r Komolafe, yesterday said he may compel witnesses to appear before him to testify on the June 3 Dana plane crash.

Komolafe was reacting to the request of Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) for an order compelling a witnesses to appear before the coroner.

The coroner said he would first give all witnesses a chance to appear voluntarily but would not hesitate to "wield the big stick," if they continued to shun the hearings subsequently."

The Magistrate lamented the low-turnout of witnesses at yesterday's proceedings despite efforts made to reach them, including DANA management.

The Coronersaid: "Let all the witnesses know this. You are under duty to be here. We will not be shopping for witnesses. People have to be here to give eye-witness accounts."

To ensure the presence of

•Magistrate considers Falana’s request

By Adebisi Onanuga

witnesses at the next hearing, Komolafe said further proceedings would be moved from the Magistrate's Court in AbuleEgba to the Lagos High Court, Ikeja premises for easier access.

A counsel, Chukwu Agu, representing the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, was chided for not bringing his witness, who he said works in the Homicide Section of the Force was absent because of an important assignment.

Komolafe ordered Agu to inform his client that it is important that the witness showed upat the hearing.

At esterday's proceedings, an officer of the Lagos State Fire Services, Gbadebo Olaogun said fire fighters received the call about the

crash at about 15:56 hours (3:56 pm) and got to the crash site around 16.10 hours (4.10)pm.

He said:" Our first effort was to make sure that we put out the fire, because the fire was already on the buildings when we got there.

"The fire was extinguished within 15 minutes. We recorded this in our normal routine report. After that, we were able to rescue 45 victims that were not burnt but were suspected dead."

He said though the fire fighters had problem with the crowd they were able to put out the fire in the affected building and the plane within 15 minutes.

Olaogun, who said he discovered the pilot's body, added that his men stayed on after putting out the fire because it was still

S OYO STATE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

INVITATION TO BID 1. Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture, Natural resources and Rural Development, invites reputable and qualified Contractors, Companies and Manufacturer’s Representatives to bid for: Lot 1: Supply of Tractors and Implements for the use of Farmers in Oyo State.

Lot 2: Supply of Spare Parts for Tractors.

2. i. ii. iii. iv. v.

BID REQUIREMENTS Evidence of Registration with Corporate Affairs Commission.

Evidence of Registration with Oyo State Bureau of Public Procurement.

Evidence of Registration of Business Premises with the Ministry of Commerce.

Company Profile with relevant information on key personnel, professional staff, etc.

Evidence that Bidder is either an original Equipment Manufacturer or is an accredited Dealer/ Representative of an original Equipment Manufacturer. vi. Bidders must also provide evidence of Manufacturer’s warranty and after-sales support/ service vii. Evidence of Certification of Product by National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization (NCAM). viii. Evidence of Payment of Personal Income Tax by at least two (2) Directors over the last three (3) years.

3.0 TENDER FEE: Interested bidders are expected to pay non-refundable fee of Twenty-Five Thousand Naira (N25,000.00) only per Lot in favour of Oyo State Government into Account No. 2012411197 First Bank Plc (Code 4040024) and Agency Code 41400.

4.0 METHOD OF APPLICATION: Prospective bidders can obtain bidding documents from the Office of the Director, Agricultural Engineering Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development (MANR&RD), as from Wednesday 25th July, 2012 between 8:00am to 4:00pm daily. Fully completed Bids should be submitted in a sealed and waxed envelope clearly marked at the top left hand cover “Supply of Tractor” or “Supply of Spare Parts for Tractor” not later than 12:00noon on Wednesday 8th August, 2012, 2012 to the Cabinet Department of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan.

5.0 Note that only shortlisted Contractors will be contacted and late applications shall not be considered.

6.0 Government is not bound to accept the lowest bids.

7.0 Received bids will be opened at 12 noon on the 10th August, 2012 at the above address in the presence of bidders who choose to attend.

Signed:

BLDR. BIMBO KOLADE Honourable Commissioner Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Develpment

smouldering and could reignite. The witness listed other agencies that participated in the operation to include the Police, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Salvation Army, Red Cross and Julius Berger.

His testimony was faulted

by Falana Adewale Adeniyi, all lawyers representing the interested and summoned parties. The lawyers argued that contrary to the testimony of Olaogun, the pace of the operation of the fire services was "too slow."

Falana said:" It is a shameful thing that we had to bring in a private body . The same thing happened during the Bellview incident. It was the same Julius Berger that came to our help".

Adeniyi said he visited the crash site on the day of the

incident, adding that the fire was still burning after 4.30pm.

He said:"I was there because my brother's wife was involved. You people were not able to put out the fire.

You people did not do your job diligently. I was there precisely around 4.30pm and it was Julius Berger that helped in putting out the fire."

Momodu said the video footage of the crash showed that the fire was still on during the late hours of the day, noting that this was contrary to Olaogun's testimony.

Olaogun, however, maintained his stand that the fire fighters did their best and involved other emergency services because it was a national disaster.

The inquest is at the instance the law firm of Falana and Falana, which petitioned the Lagos State Chief Coroner, Justice Lateefat Okunnu, over the crash in which 153 persons died.

Magistrate Komolafe adjourned the case till tomorrow.

Seven arraigned for alleged theft

EVEN middle aged men have been arraigned before a Lagos State Magistrate's Court in Ikeja for alleged robbery.

Stanley Augustine, Chukwuka Ezeilo, Abayomi Olubuade, Suleiman Layiwola, Taye Akatah, Sodiq Shittu and Wale Oje, with ages ranging between 19 and 28 are facing a threecount charge of conspiracy and robbery.

Prosecuting Inspector Samson Ekikere, told the court that the accused committed the offence on July 5, at Mile 2, ApapaOshodi Expressway, Lagos.

Ekikere said the accused

By Tumininu Owolabi

with others now at large, on the aforesaid date and place at 8:45p.m stole one blackberry phone valued N40,000, property of Mr. Olajide Ajikanle.

The prosecutor also alleged that the accused stole another Nokia X2 Phone valued N13,000 belonging to Mr Kayode Adesanya.

The offences, he said, contravened Section 295(1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.

The charge reads in part: "That you Stanley Augustine, 28, Chukwuka Ezeilo, 22, Abayomi Olubuade, 19, Suleiman Layiwola, 24, Taye

Akatah, 25, Sodiq Shittu, 21, Wale Oje, 24 and others now at large on July 5, about 20:45hrs, at Mile 2, Oshodi Expressway, Lagos, did conspire to commit felony to wit: robbery and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 5(b) and punishable under Section 297 of the criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011."

The accused pleaded not guilty.

Magistrate Taiwo Akanni granted them N100,000 bail each with one Surety each in the like sum. The sureties, she said, must be relations of the accused.

She adjourned the matter to August 22.

Community charts course for growth

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HE Lagos State G o v e r n m e n t , traditional rulers, leaders of Community Development Associations (CDAs) and residents of Ilado and Inagbe Islands in Lagos, have resolved to embark on a five-year development programme. This is to enable the islands realise their true potentials as a tourist destination in West Africa.

The decision which was taken at a Town Hall meeting organised by the Onilado of Ilado, Oba Mobadenle Oyekan, Esimikan II, following a charge by Governor Babatunde Fashola, during the recent presentation of certificate and staff of office to the new king.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Lagos State Government, the Executive Chairman of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government and his team,

representatives of the Lagos State Police Commissioner, as well as all the Baales in Ilado and Inagbe. Leaders of Community Development Associations in the area, youth and religious leaders were also in attendance.

Oyekan disclosed that the meeting would be the first in a series among all the key stakeholders in the islands towards ensuring peace and security as well as improving and up-grading the quality of life of residents of the islands.

The Chairman of AmuwoOdofin Local Government, Ayodele Adewale commended the king not only for his quick reaction to the governor's charge, but also the large turnout at the meeting.

He promised increased support and cooperation of the Local Government administration towards the realisation of the aspirations of the communities.

Comrade Adewale appealed for the cooperation and support of the various leaders and residents in order to promote security, stop pollution and environmental degradation, as well as illegal bunkering.

He pointed out that with the achievement of these three point action, the islands will attract not only more government and Nigerian private sector attention and investments but also huge foreign direct investments.

All the Baales took turns to speak on the challenges of their various domains and their expectations from the government.Thereafter, contributions were made by leaders of the various community development associations, leaders of Christian and Islamic organisations, youth leaders, as well as other participants who indicated interest to speak and contribute.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

11

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Naira firms further, gains expected

T

HE naira firmed on the interbank market yesterday as dollar flows from two energy companies and banks increased liquidity and supported the local currency.

The naira, according to Reuters, closed at N161.10 to the dollar, firmer than its N161.25 close on Friday.

Traders said a unit of Addax Petroleum sold $10 million and Agip sold about $3 million to lenders.

Some banks that bought dollars from the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) last week sold a portion of their holdings in the market yesterday.

“The market is comfortable with the level of dollar liquidity, that was the reason the naira is trading at this level today,” one dealer said.

The naira rose to N160.10 to the dollar on the interbank market last Monday after the NNPC sold around $400 million, but fell in the week as demand squeezed out part of the supplies. But traders expected the naira to strengthen this week.

“We see the naira appreciating further in the near term because we are gradually entering the monthend cycle and expect more dollar inflows from oil companies and offshore investors buying local debt,” another dealer said.

On the bi-weekly auction, the CBN sold $300 million at N155.89 to the dollar, compared with $430 million sold at N155.87 to the dollar last Wednesday.

The new PIB was drafted with equity in mind and that the concerns of the international oil companies were taken into consideration so as to engender a win-win situation for Nigeria as well as stakeholders in the oil and gas industry.

- Mrs Diezani AlisonMadueke, Minister of Petroleum

Tension in SEC as Oteh resumes

P

ALPABLE tension en veloped the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) yesterday as the embattled Director-General of the apex capital market regulator, Ms Arunma Oteh, resumed following her reinstatement by the Presidency last week.

Oteh was at the centre of soiling capital market probes, including a highly publicised public probe by the House of Representatives, internal probe by the board of the Commission and an investigative audit of the Commission’s Project 50

by PriceWaterHouse Coopers.

On the basis of the report of its internal audit, the immediate past board of SEC had sent Oteh on compulsory leave and called in PriceWaterHouse Coopers to conduct independent in-

• Acting DG retires

By Taofik Salako and From Nduka Chiejina, Abuja

vestigation of the Project 50.

However, the Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, last week recalled Oteh, stating that the report of PriceWaterHouse Coopers did not indict her of any corrupt practice, although the recall letter admitted she did not follow laid-down rules in some instances.

The report of the PriceWaterHouse Coopers investigation has not been made public.

Staff of SEC had last week protested the reinstatement, alleging that due process was not followed in the recall. They said the supervising Ministry of Finance

rather than the office of the SGF should be the proper office to decide on the recall of the director-general.

In the twilight of protest by staff of SEC, the ad hoc Committee of the House of Representatives released its report indicting Oteh of several counts of corruption.

The report recommended her removal.

The uncertainties created by the intrigues of her recall still pervaded SEC yesterday as several members of staff of the commission were still apprehensive that Oteh might use her recall to “weed out those who she perceived to be against her.”

But Oteh yesterday met with directors and head of departments and urged them “to forget the past and let us

work together to move the SEC forward.”

Meanwhile, The Nation learnt Mr Ibrahim Bello, who acted while Oteh was on compulsory leave, has retired from the Commission. A source, however, said Bello was already due for retirement in June and only stayed back because of his role as acting DG. Capital market operators were still undecided as operators discussed in hushed tones the development at SEC.Many stakeholders’ groups that had expressed open support for the participatory style of the former acting DG were said to have been taken aback by the recall.

In the meantime, the stock market opened this week on a bullish run, chalking up N91 billion gain on the first trading day.

NSE JSE NYSE LSE

-N6.503 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -12.6% Treasury Bills -7.08% Maximum lending-22.42% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -2% 91-day NTB -14.18% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $34.6b FOREX CFA 0.2958 EUR 206.9 £ 245 $ 156.4 ¥ 1.9179 SDR 241 RIYAL 40.472

N

IGERIA’s oil loadings are set to fall to 1.81 million barrels per day (bpd) in September, a provisional loading programme showed yesterday, leaving exports at an 11-month low.

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) – the producer’s exports have mostly been around two million bpd so far this year, helped by the new Usan grade, which began production in February.

The last time exports were so low was October 2011 when the country was due to load 1.80 million bpd.

Nigeria will ship a total of around 55 million barrels of oil in September compared to around 68 million in August, a provisional programme compiled by Reuters showed.

Lower volumes are due to fewer cargoes of the benchmark Qua Iboe grade which typically exports between 11-12 cargoes but will load just 10 in September.

The Forcados grade is due to load six cargoes in September compared with eight in August, the programme showed.

Traders said the lower exports were likely to support Nigerian differentials which fell to near two-year lows earlier this month.

FIRS’ revenue in six months hit N2.43t From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

T

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil - $123.6/barrel Cocoa - $2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold - $1,800/troy ounce Rubber - ¢159.21pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS

Oil exports set to fall

• PHCN staff protesting at their headquarters in Abuja .... yesterday.

Electricity workers’protest unreasonable, says BPE

T

HE Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Ms Bolanle Onagoruwa, yesterday described the protest by workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) as “unreasonable.”

She spoke after signing a contract for the management of the Transition Company of Nigeria (TCN), with a Canadian firm, Manitoba Hydro International (MHI) in Abuja.

She said the government had about 18 meetings with the representatives of the workers in the past 14 months, adding that they did not yield any fruit.

She noted that in line with the 2004 Pension Law, pension is contributory, but the Federal Government has even accepted to pay its part and that of the workers. An offer, which she said they rejected.

Onogoruwa also explained that whereas the workers are supposed to

• Workers demand 25% pension From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

contribute 7.5 per cent and the government 7.5 per cent totalling 15 per cent, the PHCN staff are demanding that the Federal Government pays them 25 per cent pension.

She said:“Their last concern is unreasonable. We are saying that they need to conform to the Pension Law. The Pension Law of 2004 actually makes it clear that pension is contributory.They pay 7.5 percent and the Federal Government pays 7.5 per cent.

We also agreed that the Federal Government would pay those contributions, which they (workers) have not paid.And that will take us to 15 per cent. But that is also not acceptable to them.

“They said they want to collect 25 per cent, which is against the law. We are law-

abiding citizens. Why must the unions of PHCN feel that they must behave differently from 160 million Nigerians? I think it is time that the press also looked at this from the sides of both parties and report objectively.”

The Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, explained that the deployment of security to the PHCN corporate headquarters was to ensure that the workers were not molested.

According to Nnaji, senior officials of TCN and other officials of the PHCN were being pushed out of their office.

He said: “We cannot allow that in this country. It is not a correct thing. So, a union membership does not empower anybody to abuse and hurt another person. We cannot have that, it is brigandary. Those people out there were shouting that

something was being done to them whereas the security was to maintain order in that building.”

President Jonathan’s power reform includes the privatisation of the power sector generation and distribution companies, while the Federal Government controls the TCN with a private sector management. The intention is to inject best practices in transmission sector management, which culminated in the emergence of the MHI through a competitive bidding, Nnaji said.

He added that the MHI is to manage the workers and the system for the Federal Government. “The people managing the company can deputise the new management and it is only if a person that is put in a deputy position does not want, there will be a change. Otherwise, the system will work, there will be no reduction of salaries for anybody. And we expect we will gain a lot by this act.

HE Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) said it realised N2.43 trillion in the first half of this year.

This is a significant increase over the N1.94 trillion it collected in the same period last year.

In a statement, its Director of Communication, Mr Emmanuel Obeta, said the agency has continued to record steady increases in revenue in taxation, noting that collections in the first six months of this year surpassed that of first six months of last year by N499.20 billion.

He said non-oil accounted for N838.58 billion out of the total collection, while receipts from oil taxes accounted for N1.60 trillion.

Last year, the agency made N955.19 billion in the first quarter and N985.30 billion in the second quarter.

Obeta said the figure represents a remarkable increase in tax collection, which includes oil and nonoil revenues with both recording N1.17 trillion and N1.26 trillion in the first and second quarters.

“This stride demonstrates the Service’s resolve, not only to achieve the N5.085 trillion set target for the year, but to also increase the non oil taxes and lessen the dependence on oil as its main revenue earner,” he added.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

13

PROPERTY

Tuesday, JULY 24, 2012

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com

* The Environment * Mortgage * Apartments * Security * Homes * Real Estate

email:- property@thenationonlineng.net

An estate on flood plain •River Basin, residents trade words over solution

•Riverview Estate last October

It was conceived as an estate to rival any in Lagos. But now flood is making the Riverview Estate on the banks of Ogun River at Isheri North Local Government the last place the residents want to be. In the last two years, the place they call home has become uninhabitable. But the problem, they say, can be solved, by the state government and Ogun/Osun River Basin Authority (OORBDA), which they accused of creating the menace. The government and OORBA dispute the claim,OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE reports.

•CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

•Why Lagos adopted Land •Fashola urges world leaders Use Charge, by Commissioner to control population - PAGE 14

- PAGE 51

•APBN reiterates commitment to national development - PAGE 52

14

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

An estate on flood plain •CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

W

HEN the Ogun State government created the Riverview Residential Scheme in Isheri, Isheri North Local Government, the intention was to take advantage of the booming real estate market in neighbouring Lagos by attracting investors who had been priced out of choice areas in the city. The promoters took advantage of its nearness to Lagos and it became a success but little did the subscribers to the scheme know that their investment would be washed away by devastating flood.

Residents and land speculators’ hope of a benchmark estate in the state was shattered in October 2010 when flood ravaged the entire community allegedly because of the release of water from the Oyan Dam by the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority(OORBDA).

The damage was extensive; many houses were flooded with properties worth millions of naira destroyed.

Moved by the extent of the disaster, President Goodluck Jonathan visited the area with former Governor Gbenga Daniel and Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola.

At the height of the flooding, President Jonathan promised immediate relief with N700million to provide a permanent solution to the problem of flooding of the estate and other communities in both states. The Nation learnt from a source that the Daniel administration disbursed N285million to the worst affected property owners.

However, the flooding of the following year was so severe that many individuals and corporate residents of the once serene neighbourhood, such as Turkish International School worth over $4million had to abandon their properties as parents withdrew their children from the elitist school;

while others who were in the process of building mansions in the estate put such dream on hold. Those who desired to sell their land to minimise their risk got stuck as nobody was willing to wacth his hard earned cash down the drain.

As property owners counted their losses, they turned their angst against the state government and her purported accomplice - (OORBDA) who they accused of causing the havoc by releasing water from the dam.

But in a swift reaction, the Managing Director of OORBDA, Mr Jimi Omoliki debunked the accusation of been liable for the series of flooding in the estate by the purported serial releasing of water from the dam. He insisted that they only release excess water, which in no way can cause the havoc as experienced by the residents.

Rather, he attributed the flooding to natural and environmental factors, such as global warming and unusual heavy rainfall, which makes the Atlantic Ocean to rise above the normal height and subsequently spills into the lagoon, which vents its anger on land in its course of movement.

He said: “The River View Estate is within the transition zone with turbulence, which is between the Atlantic Ocean and Ogun River and expectedly when the river is full it finds its level and discharges on its path, which is inclusive of the estate” Omoliki advised that instead of blaming the agency, the residents should be interested in finding solution to the flooding, which has become a yearly devastating experience. He called on them to wake up relevant government agencies and alliances to find solution to the problem. The River Basin boss also advised them to access the Ecological Fund, which was set up to tackle such

Why Lagos adopted Land Use Charge, by Commissioner

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HE Lagos State government introduced the Land Use Charge to harmonise the multiplicity of property taxes, Commissioner for Finance Mr Adetokunbo Abiru has said.

He said the multiplicity of property taxes, which came from various sources, was burdensome.

Abiru said multiple taxation led to defaults by the public who reacted to its operation and only paid when they require documentation from government.

He said the government is also propelled by a World Bank report, which estimated that local governments collected less than 25 per cent of possible tenement rate revenues while the state government collect less than five per cent of the land related revenues to which it is entitled.

He said: “Against the backdrop of the lack of collection mechanism enumerated it was also a matter of fact that rates were too low and do not reflect the real values of properties. In addition, the various tax laws

•An abandoned house at the estate

disaster.

He, however, confirmed that the authority may not have been designed to warehouse the volume of water reserved now but that the question of releasing water in a magnitude that can cause the yearly recorded havoc does not arise.

He prided the agency as having a pool of engineers who are versed in dam construction and management.

Omoliki harped on the need for proper planning by the governments of Ogun and Lagos states and also the need to develop the axis to decongest the Lagos city centre in pursuance of the megacity.

He said the solution can only be achieved holistically with the involvement of the Federal Government to have a possible rail route, rotate the area with dykes and water channels with a capacity to absorb the flood and also provide a tourist haven for tourists and visitors alike.

But the secretary of the estate’s association, Mr Yusuf Lawal disputed the position of the River Basin Development Authority boss. He attributed the flooding to a deliberate human activity. He said the operational level of the dam should be lowered to avoid its

devastating nature on residents. He also raised the alarm on the possibility of another flooding by October this year due to the non-committal nature of the authorities concerned, accusing them of being responsible for the resident’s hapless condition.

He said: “So to speak, on July 10, 2011 the flooding that was devastating in Lagos didn’t reach anybody’s ankle in the estate. It was only in October that we experienced serious flooding problems that swept away houses just like what happened the previous year but the position of residents is that the position expounded by the authority is false. We are of the belief and with good reasons that the flooding is as a result of a deliberate human activity caused by the River Basin Authority.”

Another resident, Dr. Akintola Omigbodun said while rainfall is natural, dams and their reservoirs are manmade and subject to human control and their owners or operators are expected to exercise control over the water behind their dams. He said the operators should be in such control that in years of heavy rainfall and for singular rainfall events, water going past

the dam will not damage the dam infrastructure or create flood.

Frowning at the non-guilty position of River Basin Authority, he challenged them on their duties, which include comprehensive development of both surface and underground water resources for multi-purpose use with particular emphasis on the provision of irrigation infrastructure and the control of floods and erosion. He rejected the position muted by the authority that the estate is on a flood plain area and rather advised them to live up to their responsibilities by increasing the freeboard in the reservoir behind Oyan Dam by four metres as an interim measure pending appropriate studies and a construction programme along the River Ogun from Oyan Dam to Lagos flood plains.

Earlier, Chairman, Riverview Estate Residents and Stakeholders’ Association, Mr Abayomi Akinde, said they have been inundated with stories and reasons on why the flooding cannot be controlled in the estate.

He, however, said residents have a better idea and also of the belief that the flood can be contained from studies done by independent bodies.

He said charges for Owner-Occupied residential property is 0.0394 per cent per annum of the assessed property value, industrial premises of manufacturing

concerns -0.132 per cent, residential property/commercial -0.394 per cent, while commercial property used by occupier for business purposes -0.394 per cent

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie Asst Editor

that existed at that time were being subjected to differing interpretation and jurisdictional authorities.

Thus, property tax payers arbitrage on the confusion of who is to collect what tax and evade property tax.”

The Commissioner told The Nation the law made provision for the consolidation of all Property and Land based rates and charges payable under the Land Rates Law, the neigbourhood Improvement Charge law and Tenement Rates Law in Lagos into a new land based charge, to be called property land Use Charge.

He also said it includes the assessment of chargeable properties and identification to ascertain those that qualify for exemption or tax.

According to him, properties that may be exempted are those occupied by a religious body and used exclusively for public worship or religious education,

•Map of Lagos State

a registered institution or educational institute certified, as well as those used for public library and owner - occupied pensioner’s property.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

18

NEWS ANDONI-OPOBO-NKORO DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT

Why we are holding Andoni-Opobo-Nkoro Development Summit, by Peterside He was Commissioner for Works in Rivers State. Now, Dakuku Peterside is a member of the House of Representatives and chairs its Committee on Petroleum (Downstream). Peterside is spearheading the Andoni-Opobo-Nkoro Development Summit. He spoke with OLUKOREDE YISHAU about the summit. Excerpts:

W

HY are you holding the Andoni-Opobo-Nkoro Development Summit?

On the 21st December 2011, I convened a constituency stakeholders meeting attended by virtually all the key stakeholders of Andoni, Opobo/Nkoro area of Rivers State.

At that meeting, we identified the fact that we have a lot of untapped potentials in our area and agreed on the need to bring these potentials to the fore and mainstream it to our development programme. That in summary is the origin of the concept of Andoni, Opobo, Nkoro Development Summit. The proposed summit is about showcasing the economic potentials of the area and presenting to development partners a forward looking roadmap for the infrastructural and social development of this unique area in the Niger Delta. It is also about sharing our experiences of development initiatives that works and what seems not to be working. Instructively, it is a development effort driven by the people themselves. Andoni-OpoboNkoro area of Rivers State more than any other part of Rivers State typifies the Niger Delta setting. This explains why ours is a unique case.

There are Rivers State strategic development plan and the Niger Delta Masterplan. Why AndoniOpobo-Nkoro development plan?

The proposed Andoni-OpoboNkoro development plan compliments both the Rivers State and Niger Delta Masterplans. Niger Delta masterplan and Rivers State strategic development plan are broad strategic plans. AndoniOpobo-Nkoro development plan which is one of the products expected from the forthcoming summit will serve the purpose of a strategic partial development plan, providing necessary details and peculiar local perspective. It is expected that this AON masterplan will partially feed the State and regional masterplan as well as operationalise it. We recognise the central role collaboration and partnership play in sustainable development. Thus, we will work closely with Rivers State Government and NDDC. What is the vision driving this summit considering the fact that often we mix politics and development?

This has nothing to do with politics. It is a community driven initiative anchored by the people themselves. All stakeholders of different persuasions are involved.

The vision is to see AndoniOpobo-Nkoro area that is the hub of tourism, oil and gas, agriculture and generally economic activities in the Niger Delta. If we can develop a community model that works then we can encourage other communities to replicate our model.

What led to the conceptualisation of the summit in the first instance?

There are several reasons that led to the conceptualisation of the sum-

mit but four are key. First, the communities of Andoni, Opobo and Nkoro despite the fact of our natural endowments are perceived to be disadvantaged, difficult to develop and inaccessible. We needed to prove that that perception does not reflect the reality on ground.

Secondly, the example of Calgary and Ontario in Canada is instructive but the difference is that by Nigerian laws we cannot exist as a separate legal entity but we can drive development at our own pace.

Third, we are inspired by the example of Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State. Here is a man who approaches his development agenda as if the rest of the country does not exist. He has not allowed the laidback nature of other parts of the country pull him backwards.

Fourth, our area has several advantages we have not leveraged – perculiar geographical location by the Atlantic Ocean, abundant oil and gas resource that have not been explored, qualitative manpower that cannot easily be found in any other part of the Niger Delta, peace loving people, abundant tourism potentials and most importantly, a dynamic spirit. Nobody is talking about these advantages, potentials and opportunities.

Finally, the need to develop a masterplan, one of the several outcomes expected from the summit, that will serve as foundation for dialogue with Government and development partners on the economic direction Andoni-OpoboNkoro wants to go.

So the development plan is distinct from the summit?

Yes, the relationship is not complex. We have registered an Andoni-Opobo-Nkoro Economic Zone Development Foundation with CAC. AON Summit is an umbrella vehicle under which economic stakeholders in Andon/ Opobo/Nkoro gather, collaborate and set common development agenda. Most importantly my expectation is that the summit will catalyse non-governmental actors to action for the development of our communities. Like I said earlier, one of the several products of the summit is the Andoni, Opobo, Nkoro development plan. Andoni Local Government Area and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area Councils are also at the centre of the summit thus the factor of grassroot governance is mainstreamed into the programme.

What are the activities and possible outcome expected from the summit?

We have several activities lined up for the summit. Some are high level thought provoking sessions led by an Under-Secretary General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, another is peer to peer comparison of development models. In that respect we

•Peterside

‘ We have several activities lined up for the summit. Some are high level thought provoking sessions led by an Under-Secretary General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, another is peer to peer comparison of development models. In that respect we are inviting officials of Calgary Economic Zone Authority to showcase what they are doing

‘

are inviting officials of Calgary Economic Zone Authority to showcase what they are doing. Yet another is a special workshop for budding women entrepreneurs from our area and a special workshop on leveraging on local content in the oil and gas industry for our youths.

Ultimately we expect two key outcomes from the summit-presentation of a unique area of the Niger Delta that offers a lot of potentials for investors and presentation of a development blueprint for the area.

To a lesser extent the summit will accelerate economic growth in the area.

Where are you getting funding for this project? It is obvious that it is a very big project?

When people are passionate about their development, they can go to any level to see it through.

You will not believe it that the old

woman in Oyorokoto, Iwoma Nkoro and in Kalaibiama is ready to contribute her one naira to make the summit and by extension, development of our area a reality.

Second, we have institutional partners who support us in kind, some are UNITAR, Action Aid, the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency, amongst others. We also have media partners. We also have corporate partners, mostly businesses that are interested in our area, including the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Finally, Rivers State Government under Governor Rotimi Amaechi is standing with us all the way. Governor Amaechi is the number one champion for the development of Andoni, Opobo and Nkoro area.

He will be at the summit as citizen of the area and Special Guest of Honour.

NBA is avoiding the issues, says Ngige

By Joseph Jibueze

A PRESIDENTIAL candidate in last Tuesday’s Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) election, Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN) , yesterday accused the association of avoiding the issues of manipulation he raised.

NBA General Secretary, Mr. Olumuyiwa Akinboro, has debunked Ngige’s allegations that the election was fraught with irregularities and manipulations.

But Ngige described Akinboro’s response as “baseless and without merit”.

He said shaking Wali’s hands after the election did not mean he conceded defeat.

Ngige said: “To insinuate that my charitable gesture towards Mr. Wali amounted to conceding defeat or acknowledgement of the fairness of the election is highly mischievous.”

Ngige said the inclusion of NBA President’s son, Paul Babatunde Daudu, in the list of voters on the excuse that he became a National Executive Council (NEC) member by virtue of his being the Secretary of Young Lawyers Forum (YLF) was misleading.

He said Chairman of YLF, Mr. Precious Igbuan was never co-opted into NEC by the NBA leadership. “That is why his name did not appear in the voters’ register as a co-opted member but as a delegate under Benin Branch, thereby making him a legitimate voter in the election.

On Daudu’s wife, Ranti, Ngige said: “From the minutes of NEC meetings at my disposal, she was not a NEC member until the voters’ register surfaced 24 hours to the elections, clothing her with NEC membership as a coopted member.

“The General Secretary is conveniently avoiding the issue. We specifically mentioned the transfer of names of 20 Senior Advocates from the list of co-opted members in the voters’ register, leaving the list of co-opted members at 100.

“Again, if you remove at least 14 Benchers from the list of co-opted members, the list cannot be more than 86. Therefore, it is now beyond doubt that the 100 names representing list of co-opted members contains names of non-NEC members.”

106 inmates urge court to free them

By Joseph Jibueze

A HUNDRED and six inmates detained between four to 12 years without trial at the Kirikiri Maximum Prison in Lagos yesterday asked a state High Court, Igbosere, to order their unconditional release from indefinite detention.

The applicants said they have suffered undue hardship and that the authorities are not interested in prosecuting them but to keep them in custody in perpetuity.

They sued the Attorney-General of Lagos State; the Commissioner ff Police, Lagos State; the Director of Public Prosecution, Lagos State and the Deputy Controller of Prison, Kirikiri Maximum Prison.

In a motion filed on their behalf by their lawyer Mr Ahmed AdetolaKazeem, the detainees said their continued detention without trial violated their fundamental rights.

The court, presided over by Justice Mufutau Olokoba sitting at its Tafawa Balewa Square annexe, yesterday granted the applicants leave to serve the police through the Officer Commanding of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti.

Adetola-Kazeem told the court that the law does not envisage a situation where a citizen of this country would be detained without facing trial for such a long period of time in detention.

A Litigation Executive at the Prisoner’s Right Advocacy Initiative, Mr Ishaq Lawal could not depose to the affidavit because they are inmates.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

19

EDITORIAL/OPINION Comments

EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

China into Africa

Perverse patriotism •Does Minister Abdulkadir want more innocent youths wasted in the name of NYSC?

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T is not unlikely that the Minister of Youth Development, Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir, perceives himself, selfrighteously, as the quintessential super patriot. His curious and rather perverse definition of patriotism is, unfortunately, one in which unarmed youths without military training whatsoever are sent recklessly, in the name of national service, to be killed or maimed in violence-infested areas of the country where trained and fully armed military outfits have been struggling in futility to restore normalcy.

If Abdulkadir had not expressed himself so earnestly, passionately and with apparent strong conviction on the issue, we would have believed he was only speaking tongue-in-cheek and trying to make light of a truly tragic situation. Obviously piqued at the approval by the

‘The minister is clearly deluded if he thinks his hard line stance will force parents to endanger the lives of their children in the way he so flippantly suggested. The reality is that the NYSC law has become clearly anachronistic in the light of current realities. It is unfortunate that Abdulkadir showed so little compassion for those families that have lost loved ones to mindless violence.

This is most unbecoming of a public officer in his exalted position’

management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) of the re-deployment of youth corps members from hotbeds of violent insurgency like Borno and Yobe states, to the considerably more peaceful Benue and Nasarawa states, the minister moved swiftly to overrule the decision.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the minister said the law establishing the NYSC had to be strictly complied with and, as such, corps members can only be re-deployed from states to which they have been posted on marital or health grounds. Giving the impression that Nigerians are made for the NYSC law and not vice versa, Abdulkadir stated emphatically that the affected corps members must serve wherever they are posted, irrespective of the level of insecurity. Shedding further light on the rationale for this inexplicable decision that flies in the face of sound logic and common sense, the minister drew disturbing inspiration from the country’s tragic civil war.

In his chilling words: “Don’t forget that a number of people went to the civil war; a number of Nigerians went to the war front. They were killed, they left families. There are people who up till now, for no fault of theirs because by circumstances they were born during the period of the war…they got incapacitated. They are living with those disabilities because of the war. This is a sacrifice to the nation”.

Unsurprisingly, there has been strong public disapproval of the absolutely bizarre and insensitive view of a member

of the highest decision-making organ of a government that has failed so signally in its primary responsibility of maintaining security of lives and property across the country. The minister’s warped view is that highly trained Nigerian youth must willingly offer themselves as disposable cannon fodder and bear the brunt for the sheer incompetence and mediocrity of a dysfunctional Nigerian State.

Of course, Abdulkadir’s absurd effusions have been condemned and dismissed by a cross-section of Nigerians.

For instance, in a recent strongly worded statement, the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), a pressure group in the SouthWest, advised parents against releasing their children to undertake national service in those parts of the North where violence currently prevails. It is certainly difficult to fault the ARG’s contention that “As things are today, we have reached a point in the South West where we can no longer accept the wastage of our expensively trained and hardearned human lives on the altar of Nigerian integration that is not working…”.

The minister is clearly deluded if he thinks his hard line stance will force parents to endanger the lives of their children in the way he so flippantly suggested. The reality is that the NYSC law has become clearly anachronistic in the light of current realities. It is unfortunate that Abdulkadir showed so little compassion for those families that have lost loved ones to mindless violence.

This is most unbecoming of a public officer in his exalted position.

New NBA, new SANs •Both must work in defence of the defenceless EMBERS of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) have been in the news recently. While the NBA has elected a new executive under the leadership of Chief Okey Wali as President, the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee has announced a 25-member list of lawyers for elevation as Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), in 2012, with the renowned rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana, as one of them. On both counts we join other Nigerians to wish the new executive a successful tenure, and congratulate the privileges committee for a rancour-free nomination process.

But while congratulating the new leadership of NBA, we hasten to advise Chief Wali and other members of the executive to appreciate the enormity of their responsibilities. They must remember that their relevance is dependent on the promotion of rule of law, as the welfare

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‘As the elected officials and the elevated lawyers celebrate their new positions, they must work to advance the cause of the society. In this regard, the inner bench (SANs) and the body of lawyers (NBA) must work together to strengthen the disciplinary process of those that bring the respected profession to ridicule’

of their group and the larger society is dependent on that. So, at all times, their primary interest must be to foster and promote democratic values, particularly in the bar’s election process. In our view, the leadership, nay every lawyer must at all times stand on the side of the people, and always defend the greatest public interest. Again, the NBA leadership must also reject all entreaties to become surrogates or agents of the state authorities, especially when their actions harm the general wellbeing of the society.

Also, as those honoured as SANs celebrate their elevation; they must show themselves worthy before the general public. There would be no greater honour than to use their skills and enhanced influence to advance a better society. Some of the older members of that group have, instead of adding value to the welfare of the society, used their trade and skills to fester corruption and inefficiency in the system. Such dishonourable SANs, once retained to serve a client’s interest, forget that they are also officers in the temple of justice.

As a lawyer who had distinguished himself in human rights advocacy and public interest litigation, many Nigerians wondered why Mr. Falana’s elevation took so long in coming. In our view, this recognition is well earned, and the recognition of such anti-establishment persons gives credence to the selecting process. We recall that in the past years, there was a movement among lawyers to abrogate or reorder the entire process of the selection of SANs. The argument was that the process was very corrupt, and

that undeserving lawyers have been recognised, while merit and due process were sacrificed. Such disputes reduce the worth of the body.

One particular accusation was that nepotism had become paramount in the selection process, as undeserving relations of well connected persons were recognised even when their more distinguished peers were ignored. There was also the claim that members of the selecting team accept monetary and other inducements, to taint the process.

About two years ago, a court injunction was secured to stop the swearing-in of those nominated, leading to the non-recognition of any lawyer as SAN that year.

While it may be impossible to satisfy every interest in the selection process, we hasten to add that when a process is manifestly fair, only then will such process be self-sustaining and better appreciated.

As the elected officials and the elevated lawyers celebrate their new positions, they must work to advance the cause of the society. In this regard, the inner bench (SANs) and the body of lawyers (NBA) must work together to strengthen the disciplinary process of those that bring the respected profession to ridicule. When a few bad eggs, regardless of their positions in the bar, are allowed by their professional conducts to smear the public perception of the profession, the other distinguished members must understand that unless they act to stop those involved, their own integrity may become subsumed in such negative public perception.

ACOB Zuma, South Africa’s president and hitherto an evangelist of China’s role in Africa, has warned an AfricaChina summit that his continent needs to “be cautious when entering into partnerships with other economies”. Africans may legitimately worry about their trading patterns with the world’s second economy – but Mr Zuma and other African leaders are best placed to address these concerns.

Mr Zuma is right that a trade relationship based mainly on supplying China with unrefined raw materials is undesirable “in the long term”. Africa’s deepening integration with the world economy should not lock it into a role in China’s supply chain – and a low value-added role at that.

For now, however, the balance of China’s engagement with Africa is positive. The continent has had a good decade of strong growth. It would be wrong to dismiss China’s contribution to this – through financing, infrastructure construction, and the often neglected benefit of affordable manufactures.

There are, of course, dark sides to trade flows that have grown from very little to $166bn a year. They include cultural frictions, resentment at Chinese labour that keeps locals out of new jobs, and China’s lack of concern about corruption and power abuse – just when western companies are starting to clean up their acts. But here African leaders bear the greatest responsibility. Chinese lending will most probably be wasted in countries with the worst governance. Angola, for example, has mortgaged future oil but already landed itself with white elephants.

The rest of the world cannot wash its hands. China in particular must take responsibility for the impact of its presence in Africa. Libya and Sudan show that the days when Beijing could be indifferent to corrupt or dysfunctional government in Africa are over. Both China and the rich world should keep an open door to African manufacturing exports by maintaining or deepening trade preferences such as the US’s African Growth and Opportunity Act. But Africa’s destiny is in African hands above all. Its leaders should manage relations with China for long-term advantage, for example by pushing for more skills transfer in construction, and infrastructure that benefits the wider economy as well as Chinese supply routes. And they should put their countries in a position to climb the productivity ladder. A growing number of success stories prove Africa’s potential.

Fair and efficient institutions, and investments in health and education, will best realise it.

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– The Financial Times

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

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•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

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

20

EDITORIAL/OPINION

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IR: I wish to congratulate Sir Victor Umeh, Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) who turned 50 last week.

It is regrettable however that this joyous moment is coming at a time he is reportedly estranged with Anambra State Governor, Mr Peter Obi, who also celebrated his 51st birthday Thursday.

Before and after the 2003 governorship election, they were best of buddies and Umeh stood solidly behind Obi during his travails in the hand of People Democratic Party (PDP), especially the notorious Uba brothers. He refused to be compromised even when the chairman of the party at the time, Chief Chekwas Okorie, was openly in league with the PDP. Umeh stood behind Obi like the Rock of Gibraltar and refused to be swayed, compromised or fatigued.

Huge sums were reportedly offered him by the PDP to ditch Obi

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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

Umeh @ 50: A democratic icon but he held on steadfastly until victory came their way three years later.

He then began a titanic battle with Okorie over the soul of APGA. He fought doggedly, using the law and his integrity before victory came his way finally this year when Okorie surrendered, having been emasculated by the Supreme Court, with his expulsion from APGA affirmed.

Regrettably, this was the moment the party ought to consolidate on the party’s gain and take firm grip of the South-east, but Governor Obi

decided to engage Chief Umeh in a war of attrition in the bid to kick him out of the party.

All kinds of lies were manufactured against him in order to discredit him.

We know that Umeh is a selfmade made who had come into fortune before going into politics and if money was his motive, he could have connived with the PDP, instead of sticking to principles and offering unalloyed support to Governor Peter Obi. If indeed he is asking that party members who worked for Gover-

nor Obi’s re-election in 2010 be appointed into office, I don’t see how this is worthy of crucifixion since it is the practice all over the world.

A party that refuses to appoint its members into office is declaring a vote of no confidence in itself and saying that its members cannot be trusted with public office. This is a negation of the concept of the party system in principle.

An effete rebel group then made futile attempt to suspend him but an overwhelming congress of the party returned a resounding vote of confidence in him. Chief Umeh

Trade barriers hurt small-scale farmers

IR: The free trade flows that have powered robust global economic growth since the end of World War II are increasingly coming under threat. If left unchecked, a wave of trade distorting regulation will harm people in the developing world, particularly small farmers in poor countries.

Consider that the World Trade Organization found that the G-20 economies - the world’s biggest, which account for a vast majority of the world’s economic output and trade added 124 new restrictive measures to international trade between April 2011 and April 2012. These are the countries that have benefited most from lower trade barriers. It appears some in these nations now want to prevent others from enjoying the blessings of free trade.

Many of these regulations are in the form of non-tariff barriers to trade. These include rules, standards, and principles imposed by governments or industry groups designed to restrict and regulate the flow of goods and services. They are no less an impediment to trade than blanket prohibitions or taxes and tariffs.

For example, standards designed to regulate the trade in palm oil are now taking hold. These rules will shape the global market for vegetable oils and biofuels. They will make winners out of established veg-

etable oil producers in the West; and they will harm small farmers in Nigeria and elsewhere in Africa by blocking them from international markets.

Nigeria has a rich history when it comes to palm oil. The nation was the world’s largest producer of the valuable and versatile vegetable oil back in the 1960s. Nigerian business and political leaders believe the country can once again move to the top ranks of global producers. The sector now employs 1.8 million people in Nigeria alone, many of whom are smallholders cultivating their own small plots of land to provide for their families - some for many generations.

This resurrection of the national sector is being jeopardized, however, by environmental activists seeking to deny market access to palm oil exports.

These groups promote sourcing policies and the application of standards designed to regulate trade in palm oil. These efforts, whatever their intention, are harmful to Nigeria, as well as other developing nations hoping to expand agriculture through profitable crops like palm oil.

Certification is costly, and while large companies may be able to accommodate the costs of auditing, independent small farmers without economies of scale of large compa-

nies are less capable of affording these costs.

Nigerian small farmers cultivate 80% of production, that come largely from scattered smallholdings spread over an estimated 1.6 million hectares of land. These small farmers typically operate on razor thin profit margins, so every additional Naira is precious and can’t be redirected to support a complex certification scheme.

The US and Europe benefited from their agricultural revolution throughout their history paving the way for conditions for the US and many European countries to prosper.

This is the same pathway to prosperity that Nigeria and all other countries in African aspire to achieve. But additional regulation would make the road to prosperity thorny and riddle with potholes.

Our Honourable Minister of Trade and Investments, Olusegun Aganga, and his agriculture counterpart,Akinwunmi Adesina, therefore do not need to be reminded that just over 50 years ago Nigeria accounted for more than 40% of global output of palm oil, and this crop contributed 82% of national export revenue.

The ability of Nigerian small oil palm farmers to contribute to the nation’s growth and success must not compromised by expensive certifica-

tion schemes that will tip market in favor of established producers or other regions. Nigeria’s small farmers must be free to compete on equal footing, using their talents and hard work to build a better future for themselves.

• Thompson Ayodele Initiative for Public Policy Analysis Lagos

is a dogged and indefatigable fighter, an icon of democracy and avatar of rule of law. When the history of this democracy is written, his role as an opposition figure will be embossed in gold.

What went wrong between him and Governor Obi may not be very clear to the public but Governor Obi came across in the eye of the public as ungrateful and opportunistic, considering the way he treated his staunchest political ally and supporter. Governor Obi, having won re-election and exhausted the maximum two terms does not need APGA and Umeh and may return to his sprawling business empire at the expiration of his term. But as a Yoruba proverb says, the rain can beat one into the same tent twice.

However, Governor Obi must recognise that the party must have a life after his tenure so that the party will retain Anambra and possibly make inroads into other PDP controlled states in the South-east.

He cannot afford to destroy the platform under which he climbed up.

His war of attrition with Chief Umeh and his veiled attempt to unseat him are unchristian and I hope he will reconcile with his brother whom he toiled with to rescue Anambra State from the evil grip of PDP. The PDP must be having a great laugh now. How sad?

• Adewale Adeyemi, Surulere, Lagos

Who will deliver the children of Palestine?

IR: Everyday they are being killed; imprisoned. Everyday they are being arrested and tortured with their houses destroyed. Not even their schools are spared.

Their parents are killed right in their presence.

Their human rights are daily violated. They are not free in their fatherland. Their education is not guaranteed; their future is jeopardized.

Their crime is to have been born in their fatherland – Palestine. That is their crime. Just because they are Palestinians.

Nobody is doing anything to help them. Everyday, Israeli soldiers are either arresting or killing Palestinians for no just cause.

This always troubles me and makes me to ask, where are the activists? I mean the human right activists? Where is justice? Who will deliver them? Who will deliver these children?

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UN Universal Declaration of human rights Article 3 says that every one has the right to life, liberty and security of his person.

Article 8 says “Everyone has the right to expect justice if their fundamental rights, granted by the constitution or law, are not respected”.

Also, Article 9 says, “No one shall be arrested or detained without good reason”.

I hereby call on the Human Rights watch, Amnesty International, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and other International NGOs to rise up and defend the rights of these Palestinian children and stop Israel from perpetrating their evil in Palestine. They must also prevail on United States to stop supporting Israel in going against UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Palestine.

• Ajiboye John Tosin Osogbo, Osun State

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

EDITORIAL/OPINION

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Hajiya Sakauto! (July 3) I read your piece on Hajiya Sakauto. Well, thanks for playing with words. – Prince Illo, Abuja, +2348054566282.

Really nice piece! I love the way you dramatised the whole National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) posting dilemma.

Olakunle Thanks. - +2348085584611. lordbeek@yahoo.com, 08054504169 (Sms only, please) Abimbola Ha, ha, ha! You are damn funny and right, sharing your personal perception with Hajiya Sakauto, your daughter(?).

Please give her your blessings.

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You have written on behalf of most South-westerners, minus Ripples: I stand corrected, thanks. one Mrs Mary Kolajo at NYSC Headquarters in Abuja. Let her On Musdapher and Salami’s unfinished business: The to think that his presence in Edo State would swing the votes in lead by example by sending her children and relations to go on [former] Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) was playing hide-andfavour of his party. Jonathan should be told in clear language that holiday in the riot-prone states in the North to prove a point. I seek with the issue. He knew what really transpired between his presidency is simply naked and that no advantage is derivable expect to see her denial of the nefarious directive to corps memthe duo. The new CJN is also in the know in the matter. Until from any association from it. – Akin Kayode, Iju, +2348035531642. bers (The Punch, July 3, page 8). All corps members posted to the issue is judiciously settled, nobody should claim to be I salute your courage for consistently projecting Jonathan as he Kwara must not go beyond Ilorin. Let Mrs Kolajo use her own redeeming the judiciary or fighting corruption. The president really is. Million of Nigerians feel the same way but few are able blood to keep Nigeria one. – Akintayo A, Ulesa, State of Osun, is playing party politics by following a Peoples Democratic to present him as you have. - +2348023506040. +2348055679465.

Party (PDP) script, not obeying legal or moral law, in the Whether Jona dresses in the Pope’s wear or in almajiri dress, he I read your beautiful satire (Hajiya Sakauto!). You got it right matter. The PDP is a merchant of corruption. The president still remains the same naijaluck Jonathan. Edo State is lost already. and I must confess, I am enmeshed in a similar duel. My eldest can’t be trusted for any statement made. It is purely PDP Let the PDP try nonsense and see trouble. Let them ask from kid will be through in July from Redeemers University. She versus Salami. God will surely right the wrong soonest. He Oyinlola, Oni, Alao-Akala and Daniel, what the ACN can do with wants to serve her fatherland, after four long, glorious and gracewill also save us from this lawless and value-neuter governthe masses. It is only in Bayelsa that nonsense can work. The fear ful years. But I am worried (not scared) about the entire North. ment – Pastor Odunmbaku, +2348058131182 so apparent in both Jonathan and [Vice President] Sambo’s body But she is not. But I will not lie – I am not going to be like the Who will disagree with this piece? The truth is that the language is enough to tell us that Oshiomhole, who won Obasanjo ideal dad that you wrote about. I will try to make some good reactionaries and metaphysicians rule the world and who will four years ago, has not lost focus. He is still an ACN strategist and contact to save her from the heartless and satanic imbeciles who expose their fallacies? The new CJN has not come to change winner, not a PDP general of shame and failure – Lawal, Abuja, have gone on a killing spree of innocent people, for whatever the social order that has brought poverty. – Amos Ejimonye, +2348151702406. reasons. I just lost my mum and also a dear pal, on the same day.

Kaduna, +2348039727512 You have made my day. I hope yours is made as well! I believe So, I am not ready to lose another dear one. – Blankson, A judiciary rippling with anything but sanity! If young ones the armed forces have this mascot as their grand commander, +2348058514944. cannot look up to 70 years old men as role models, from the while the country is being ruled by instinctive and destructive I read your article. Not only are you not funny, you are a mirror of morality, humanity and principle, then the society rhetorics, a clear indication that between the mascot and his mas- horrible father and you have failed your daughter as a parent. is doomed. The way Hon. Justice Salami’s matter has been cot-”dom”, there is no connect! Rather than deploy his “godogodos” +2348076589314. managed by his colleagues shows there is no justice anymore to the Plateau where they are killing members of parliament like You are great. Your reportage on Hajiya Sakauto and her in our courts. Therefore, the old man will be kept in the cooler roaches, he is deploying them to Edo. What an unreasonably daddy made me laugh the whole day. Thank you for being until all the states delivered by his court of justice are “reuncommon transformation! Oshio-Baba should carry on. We are abreast of the everyday problems we have in this nation. captured” or perhaps, till his retirement in two years’ time. celebrating, in advance, your tenancy renewal at Osadebey House, Ride on Republican Ripples. Like you in your column picture, Edo State and its people have proved this idea to be unrealiscome July 14 and so shall it be! – Kayode A, Abeokuta, I dey laugh ooo! – Elder Pascal Labe, Gboko, Benue State, tically untenable and I believe the next “title fight” in Ondo, +2348073821313. +2347039679768.

Ekiti and Osun states will follow this pattern. When all elecSokoto is a very peaceful and quiet state. I have lived here for tions are won fairly and squarely at the polling booths under ‘Who will disagree with this piece? The truth five years now. I should alert indigenes to read your article. the eternal vigilance of the people, there will be no need to Welcome to the visitor. You won’t want to leave us! is that the reactionaries and metaphysicians rule approach a court of surrogate political judges. Welcome on +2347085626322. board, Hon. Justice Aloma Mukhtar – Kayode A, Abeokuta, the world and who will expose their fallacies?

Your piece today was phenomenal, hilarious and seriously +2348073821313.

The new CJN has not come to change the sofunny; and, at the same time, thoughtful. Hajiya Sakauto! But you Mascot Jona, July 10 never told us what choice the lady later took. Once again, well cial order that has brought poverty.’

It was the height of presidential madness for Jonathan done! – Yusuf Olabode, Festac Town, Lagos, +2347089246170.

AJIYA Sakauto”, “Mascot Jona” and “Musdapher and Salami’s unfinished business” – the endless engagement continues, with valued readers having their pride of place today. Enjoy!

Musdapher and Salami’s unfinished business (July 17) Lord Bimbo, always hard hitting – you won’t leave Aloysius Katsina-Alu alone, as shown in your latest column. But boy, you goofed about John Hobbes! It is Thomas Hobbes, the apostle of authoritarianism’s divine sovereign. The Johns are John Locke, John Milton and John Erskine, who were Libertarians. – Bisi Olawunmi, - +2348083385767

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epublican ipples

Hajiya Sakauto and other tales

OR an administration that prefers to wear the tag of “clueless” like a badge of honour, it must be something of a turning point for President Goodluck Jonathan to admit at his party’s 60th National Executive Council meeting Tuesday last week that the country under his leadership is stuck. Quite in the character of his outsourced administration, the President chose the moment of the “unforced” candour to settle for deliberate misdiagnosis of the problems while frontloading ready excuses for the failure of his administration to deliver.

Mercifully though, he left no room for anyone to doubt that the problems have clearly overwhelmed his administration.

The summary of course is that the President thinks that the Boko Haram terrorists, with their destructive agenda, should excuse his monumental failure to deliver on promises. To the Boko Haram, we may add the cannibal rage in the Plateau and the wave of militia activities which have since become a permanent fixture of our politics and its distraction.

Now, I do want to make light of the security situation.

The situation is certainly grave enough in the North-east and parts of the North-central – both bastions of the Boko Haram and the fratricidal wars. Security of course remains a crucial matter in any consideration of development. The point however is that an administration that commandeered nearly 20 percent of the 2012 budget in the name of fighting a security war has no business treating the citizen to the song of lamentation that came out of the PDP parley.

Indeed, one considers the security situation as reflecting the lack of effective governance – in other words – a symptom of a deeper malaise of ineffectual leadership – which the Jonathan administration prefers to treat as a cause.

Where is the Jonathan administration headed? I wish someone would tell Nigerians. For the Olusegun Obasanjo presidency, one at least understood its mishmash of fundamentalist market orthodoxy of government abdication.

The Jonathan presidency, with its outsized appetite for freebie, plays in a different league altogether. The Jonathan economic management mantra reminds me of the story of the famed elephant at whose demise all manners of darts are permitted to thrust at its trunk.

When once I described this presidency as outsourced, I was – with the benefit of hindsight – rather generous for the flattering description of mock governance by disparate but clearly dysfunctional committees which appears more like an avenue to dispense patronage without any commitment to the responsibility of service. That is what has now become the face of governance in our dear country.

We need to ask the President of what has become of the

(Feedback)

Policy Sanya Oni sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk 08051101841

The President and his alibi scores of committees established to take care of the problems.

Or is the party over already? The last time I checked, there was a committee to revamp the refineries including the possibility of establishing new ones? There was another committee created to trim the outsized government and the bureaucracy.

What about the panels established to plug the leakages in government revenue? What has happened to them? When will the inputs of these committees be fed into the processes of governance?

I get amused at what passes as activism by the leading lights of the administration. You are most likely to be struck by the palpable deficit in what is packaged as content by those whose sing-song is Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Imagine how ministers of the republic have been falling over themselves in photo-op sessions with Caucasian faces in the course of signing mere Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on subjects ranging from power, refineries to even cassava processing?

The other day, it was Olusegun Aganga, the Trade and Commerce Minister announcing a so-called FDI haul of $4.5 billion in new, Greenfield refineries. It emerged that the so-called haul was no more than a statement of intent!

Sure, Nigerians have seen it before. They have the lesson of 20 refineries licences to remind them of the fruit of previous activism. Number-numbed citizens must by now be weary of the phantom foreign investment that never gets beyond the pages of newspapers.

More crucial of course is the management of the nation’s finances. The nation is said to be neither broke nor insolvent.

The much we know is that the nation is in the hole by $41 billion in domestic debts alone. By the year’s end, the foreign component of the debt would have hit the $9 billion mark.

Yet, the price of our crude has never for once under this Presi-

dency fallen below the budget benchmark. As it is, the more petrodollar earned, the greater the appetite for unbridled expenditures.

Of course, at the heart of the debt question is whether real value was anytime delivered not just for the huge receivables but the additional debts being incurred. The answer seems obvious in the derelict infrastructure and the standard of living of Nigerians that have failed to lift despite the humongous cash spent.

Hopefully, we should at some point be able to talk about what the government considers as spending priorities. Suffice to say that even this reflects much of the confusion in government. Consider for instance that the federal government continues to baulk at the suggestion of direct investment in new refineries as part of the nation’s quest for energy security. The same government that sees nothing wrong with awarding contracts for rice mills on the planks of food security? C’mon someone must be joking here!

Of course, we can talk on and on about how the gap between the kobo spent and the value delivered under this presidency which seems to have gone separate ways. Witness for instance, how the N500 billion set aside for fuel subsidy in 2011 shot up to more than N1.5 trillion of which more than 50 percent has been found to be payments for imports that were never made. The indication is that the nation would require a supplementary $4 billion to finance the remaining portion of the current year’s subsidy.

Now, this is the same government that would rather do nothing about our crater-infested roads or the refineries.

While the idea of a modern integrated public transportation network would seem far beyond its imagination, electricity has remained luxury. For the neglect of pipelines, the nation currently pays a huge price in the scores of roasted citizens on the highways – victims of petroleum tanker fire.

Surely, our President would need a better alibi to explain those.

‘Consider for instance that the federal government continues to baulk at the suggestion of direct investment in new refineries as part of the nation’s quest for energy security.

The same government that sees nothing wrong with awarding contracts for rice mills on the planks of food security?’

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

22

EDITORIAL/OPINION

D

EATH as we all know is a necessary end and will come when it will. But then some do invite death on themselves either deliberately as in acts of suicide, armed robbery and similar crimes or due to negligence, greed and what have you. Some also die from what we often call avoidable circumstances like dying from treatable ailments like malaria, tetanus and even tuberculosis.

The value that a society attaches to human lives can be gleaned from what that society does to prevent unnecessary death as we call it. Since the fuel tanker explosions in the last fortnight in Rivers State that claimed hundreds of lives, I have been wondering the kind of value we attach to human lives in this country.

I wasn’t giving much thought to this until few years ago when a childhood friend of mine cancelled her annual Christmas holiday to Nigeria from her base in the UK, owing to what she described as our zero value for human lives. She was worried then at the spate of aircraft accidents we were experiencing in the country which she rightly believed were avoidable.

Drawing from my experience in the aviation industry I tried to convince her that our airspace is still one of the safest in the world, an assurance which did everything but change her belief that air travel in Nigeria is just as dangerous to human lives as travelling on our roads. With our roads, I thought then she had a point, but after the recent DANA Air crash in Lagos and the number of lives lost, I couldn’t but wonder whether she was right after all about air travel in this country and the value we attach to human lives.

Why do we keep on wasting human lives in this country when all we needed to do to prevent such was just to do the right thing, what people do in saner societies, and apply a little bit of common sense?

We lost some of our kids at Port Harcourt international airport few years back when a Sosoliso flight conveying secondary school children and other passengers came down in bad weather. Accident investigators’ report later revealed that the pilot was misled by the weatherman who gave a wrong report of the weather situation at the airport at the time the pilot was to land the air plane. What an avoidable accident! We’ve had similar air

T

HERE is a disconnect between my experience at Lead City University, Ibadan and the decision, which I read in the newspaper on July 5, that the license granted to the university by the NUC had been suspended. I was a guest of Lead City University on May 9 when I gave the 2012 Distinguished Faculty Lecture, and I stayed there for another two days to observe the campus; interact with the faculty, staff, and students; and to hold a series of discussions on what I could do to elevate the status, prestige, and reputation of the university.

What did I see? To put things in perspective, Lead City is a university campus that can be compared with many other institutions in any part of the world with a similar foundation date. The university is in an impressive campus with an elaborate infrastructure, far ahead of at least seven state-owned universities in Nigeria that I visited in the last five years. In its physical space alone, the facilities are not only adequate, but can take more students, more staff, and more visitors.

Regarding the infrastructure, the continuing expansion is not only noticeable but remarkable. I made two suggestions that the management not only approved, but indicated that they have been working on. One is on a beautification project of landscaping and planting trees. My second suggestion was on energy supply. I discussed with the management the possibility of rethinking the energy supply based on the use of diesel.

However, I know that infrastructure is not the best judge of performance. The university is an idea—of knowledge generation, research, excellent teaching, and much more.

On my own, and without being led by the Registrar or Vice-Chancellor, I began to look for those ideas that were in place.

The body of ideas that I discovered from my self-guided tours leads me to my third point.

Universities must advance the interest of students. In this regard, Lead City University is true to its mission. In five selected departments, I saw the teachers on the ground.

The library is well stocked with books, journals, and diverse instructional materials in various fields. There are commensurate facilities for recreation and sports. For African

What value for human lives? crashes in the past caused by human error.

If the aviation sector is this bad one can imagine what is happening on our roads. To say the least, Nigerian roads are death traps.

From Lagos to Sokoto, Port Harcourt to Maiduguri, Kano to Yola, Ijebu Ode to Enugu the condition of our roads is horrible. The other day fuel tankers laden with petrol collided along Lagos Ibadan expressway, and it was a harvest of fire. So many lives were lost. Most of these people could have been alive today if the government had fixed the bad portions on that road that cause accident daily and claim innocent lives.

Even if the government has failed in its responsibility to us in this regard must we also aggravate the situation? Pray, how do we explain the recent fuel tanker explosion that engulfed Okogbe village in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State on Thursday, July 12, 2012? The fuel tanker carrying petrol had an accident around the village due to the bad condition of the road and spilled the content on the road. The villagers, against all rules of common sense, came out with their buckets and jerry cans to scoop the fuel for sale later, but in the process, hundreds of them got either roasted to death or seriously injured in the inferno that followed.

What would you call this if not avoidable death or appropriately put, suicide? The villagers cannot claim not to know the danger involved in such an act. Would anybody in his/her right senses engage in such a thing? Anybody that attaches high value to his/her life would stay away from such a thing even without being warned. Why on earth would somebody risk everything

including his/her life to make a living albeit illegally? If scooping the fuel was a legal thing maybe it was worth the risk, but this was stealing. Even hardened armed robbers would consider their safety and possibility of escape with their loot first before embarking on any criminal activity.

I cannot understand why this kind of thing should continue to happen in our society in spite of the glaring dangers. Could this be attributed to greed or poverty? If it was greed why would somebody be so greedy to the extent of endangering his/her life? Or what kind of poverty would force somebody to openly court death?

I agree this is more of a moral issue open to different interpretation, but then what is bad has no other meaning. The society should be able to teach its people what is good and what is not and this can only be done effectively by the family. As the smallest unit of society, the family should be able to take up this role and do it well for the sake of the larger society.

The government too is an important member of the society and aside from the family has a big role to play in shaping societal behaviour. When government fails in its responsibility to the governed then it is indirectly encouraging a resort to self help.

In the first instance if all our roads, especially the highways are in good conditions, the likelihood of that tanker or any other vehicle getting involved in a road traffic accident would be less, so also is the likelihood of fuel being spilled on the road, not to talk of people scooping it.

That Ahoada road is a federal road and part of the East/West Road that has been bad for

What I saw at Lead City University, Ibadan

By Toyin Falola athletes, the challenges are multi-fold, with the lack of recreation and sports facilities to practice. Lead City University has taken the step to correct this error, creating sporting facilities that include a well-equipped gym, basketball court, and even an Olympic size swimming pool.

It is very remarkable that Lead City University is not disconnected from its public—a big plus, and the fourth point that I noticed. Like urban universities in the West, it should develop this connection further.

Local creativity should be an asset and an integral part of university life. In this era of increasing globalization, these peculiar aspects will not only enhance the status of the university but also guarantee its attractiveness and connection to the outside world.

The contribution of this university to the city of Ibadan must be underscored, emphasized, and appreciated. It is building a new culture that combines educational knowledge with entrepreneurship. I cannot emphasize enough the significance of this crucial connection to the city. The students are not caged and are part of the dynamic city experience—a worthy model in terms connecting the student population with the real world, where the students will live and function after their university education.

I do not know the transgressions committed

by Lead City University, and I cannot hold any brief for them. However, my experience on what I saw on the ground did not correlate with the reasons I read concerning the suspension of its license. Given the manpower and infrastructural facilities available at the university, I believe that the NUC and the public must correct the inadequacies where noticed, rather than de-market and destroy

the institution and the legacy it has established in its short existence. Although I learned that the immediate sanction is that the institution should not admit students for the current year, the NUC and the Nigerian public should be aware that the long- term consequences are enormous.

From this unfortunate example of a sudden announcement without pre-warning, without detailed information to the public, without a paper trail for decent people and committed scholars to review, and without data that will compare one university to another, a new culture to establish and demonstrate transparency, fairness and justice must emerge.

First, the NUC and the public must actually agree on what universities do, and what they are expected to do in our society. Political leaders and citizens must all agree on what we want private universities to do, and how they have to be defined, so that we do not shift our methods of evaluation. Our emphasis, as far as I understand it, is that we want students to learn, acquire skills, and be thoughtful. We want to educate.

Second, it is imperative that the NUC makes public notices of its incremental warnings and sanctions, elaborate visitation reports, and responses by universities. A disorderly announcement of suspension does not take the students and parents into consideration and confidence, nor does it take cognizance of the investments made by all the stake holders.

Third, private and public institutions must now be compared in relation to available resources and outcome. From my experience, were Lead City University owned by a state government, its license would not have been suspended—not because the state school is

years now and which the federal government had promised repeatedly it was going to repair/rebuild, and on which no appreciable work has been done. The states around that region, especially Rivers have done remarkably well to either upgrade their roads or construct new ones, but not much has been done by the Federal Government on the federal roads.

This kind of unnecessary waste of human lives would have been avoided if the roads and other forms of land transport are in good condition. This brings to mind the sorry state of rail transportation in this country. There were times in the past that fuel and similar products including heavy goods were being transported round the regions by rail. This type of accidents and loss of lives were not rampant then. Can’t we rehabilitate the Nigerian Railway Corporation and even deregulate rail transport in Nigeria, by removing Federal Government’s monopoly?

Most importantly however, government at all levels should as a matter of urgency address the issue of unemployment in the country. Perhaps if those villagers that died in the Ahoada fire and similar accidents in other parts of the country had been gainfully employed, scooping fuel from a stricken tanker would not have appealed to them and may be they would have been alive today.

Enough of this waste of human lives.

‘Why on earth would somebody risk everything including his/her life to make a living albeit illegally? If scooping the fuel was a legal thing maybe it was worth the risk, but this was stealing.

Even hardened armed robbers would consider their safety and possibility of escape with their loot first before embarking on any criminal activity’ running well, but because the NUC and its chairman would not have the courage or the clout to deal with the nationalistic uproar that would greet their decision.

Fourth, an independent body should be in place to examine what people do with degrees after graduation. Until such an independent body emerges, Lead City University may take it upon itself to build such a data base as part of its public relations. I know that using the market to test the quality of university products is still difficult in Nigeria, but ultimately market forces will determine the worth of these graduates.

In the spirit of its own integrity, the NUC must not just give one-liner reasons for suspending a university’s license. Their own system must be transparent so that the public may know the reasons for the decisions of the NUC beyond the brief catalogue that it provides in paid newspaper advertisements.

The NUC must also be accountable to a higher body to ensure that it does not abuse its powers.

Lastly, and on a note of caution, there is the need for credibility, fairness, and justice. When will the licenses of all the new federal universities be withdrawn since they clearly have nothing on the ground to justify the recruitment of a single student? Why are several state universities, which do not have half of the intellectual resources and infrastructure of Lead City University, still standing? Has Lead City University truly failed in the auditing of its structures, processes, rules, and personnel? If so, the reports should be made public. What is the nation doing in striving to reclaim the lost integrity of its university system?

The NUC should really applaud Lead City’s efforts by encouraging them to do even better, in the hopes that other institutions can copy and learn from them. We really do not want to think that private institutions are being treated unfairly or picked on for irrelevant things, when underperforming state and federal universities are left alone. We need as many efficient universities as possible.

• Falola is University Distinguished Professor and the Frances Higginbotham Nalle Centennial Professor, The University of Texas at Austin

3 DAYS TO LONDON OLYMPICS

MUHAMMAD ALI EXISTING HEALTHY

to be recognised for humanitarian efforts

IDOWU PULLS OUT

of training camp Pg. 24

Pg. 24

relationship will earn Nigeria good results —Minister Pg. 24

Sport

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

•Chika Yagazie Chukwumerije of Nigeria fights Akmal Irgashev of Uzbekistan to wins the Men's +80kg bronze medal held at the University of Science and Technology Beijing

AHEAD LONDON OLYMPICS

NIGERIA

NAMES CHUKWUMERIJE as team captain

•Okagbare is vice captain •Mariam Usman flag bearer Pg. 24

•Okagbare

24

41

NATIONSPORT TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT

MUHAMMAD ALI to be recognised for humanitarian efforts

M

UHAMMAD ALI, the former world heavyweight champion and one of the most famous sportsmen on the planet, is to be recognised for his humanitarian efforts.

The 70-year-old Ali, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, will be honoured at the Sports for Peace Gala, which will be held at the Victoria &

•Muhammad Ali

AHEAD LONDON OLYMPICS

Albert Museum in London on July 25, two days before the official start of the Olympic Games.

“The aim of t h i s year’s Sports f o r Peace event is to provide a platform to celebrate Olympic ideals, and Muhamma d Ali’s six core values – respect, confidence, conviction, dedication, giving a n d spirituality,” said the organisation’s chairman, Jaka Bizilj.

“The entire world over, there is no other public figure that displays more determination in fighting for civil rights, humanity, and peace from war”.

Ali, nicknamed “The Greatest of All Time”, will be recognised in particular for his work through the Muhammad Ali Centre and Parkinson’s Research.

NIGERIA

NAMES CHUKWUMERIJE as team captain

•Chika Yagazie Chukwumerije of Nigeria fights Akmal Irgashev of Uzbekistan to wins the Men's +80kg bronze medal held at the University of Science and Technology Beijing

IDOWU PULLS OUT

of training camp

P

HILLIPS IDOWU's participation at London 2012 has been thrown into further doubt after he pulled out of Team GB's warm-weather training camp in Portugal. The 33-year-old Beijing silver medallist has not competed since injuring his foot when he landed awkwardly in a triple jump competition in Oregon on June 2.

He has subsequently pulled out the Olympic trials in Birmingham and also the Diamond League meet at Crystal Palace just moments before he was due to compete, saying he had felt tightness in his left hip during the warm-up.

Idowu has avoided making any concrete statement on his fitness, preferring to keep those outside his circle, including UK Athletics head coach Charles Van Commenee in the dark.

Sportsmail told how he began using his own doctor, rather than one supplied by UKA and his absence from the holding camp is a worrying sign.

Leap of faith: Idowu's preparations have been unconventional

In a statement, Idowu's coach, Aston Moore, said: 'In training recently Phillips has had an ongoing injury problem and we have not been able to go at things 100 per cent.

'At the weekend, Phillips told me he would continue to seek treatment from a private physio in London and would not travel to prepare in Portugal, although he may join us here later.

'He is an experienced athlete who I have worked with for more than four years and we will assess the situation again in the coming days.'

Sydney gold medallist Jonathan Edwards tweeted: 'So Philips has pulled out of GB training camp...prob not hugely surprising given his unconventional #london2012 preparations thus far.'

On Sunday, Idowu took to Twitter to exclaim: 'I WILL NOT GIVE UP!'.

Other members of Team GB's athletics squad today arrived at the training base in Portugal, with 100m star Adam Gemili tweeting: 'This holding camp is mad!!!!!’

BADMINTON PLAYERS bemaoan Nigeria's absence

T

WO top Nigerian badminton players on Monday bemoaned the country’s non-participation in the London 2012 Olympics beginning on Friday, blaming it on inadequate preparation.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone that lack of sponsors hindered players’ attendance in international competitions, where they would have accumulated points to participate in the Games.

They noted that participation in such major international tournaments had its own points, while playing in it meant additional points. Nigeria’s number one player, Ifraimu Jinkam, said he worked hard to participate in the Olympics, but noted that he did not attend enough competitions to secure the required points.

“I am so disappointed that Nigeria will not feature in the badminton event of at the Olympic Games; people see me and ask why are we not going? If you do not attend up to 10 competitions, how do you expect to be picked? I can count the number of competitions that I attended, compared to Edwin Ekiring of Uganda. ”The badminton federation really tried for us because we attended some of

the continental qualifying championships but they were not enough to qualify us for the Olympics.

We need sponsors to come to the aid of badminton because it offers more than one medal. If we had sponsors, I am sure we would have earned the points to be there,” he said.

Ifraimu also appealed to the government to release funds early in the year to allow the federations pursue their programmes.

His colleague, Eneojo Abah, who is number two, appealed to the National Sports Commission (NSC) to give other sports that could win more medals equal recognition as football.

Kogi state-born Abah said that sports like badminton should also be given equal attention by the ministry of sports, because if they attended more international competitions, their continental and world rankings would rise. ”I can count the number of championships we attended before the Olympics, if we do not attend virtually all the competitions, we will not earn enough points for world tournaments. I know that the government cannot do it alone, but they should also put other sports into consideration.

3 DAYS TO OLYMPICS:

3 DAYS TO LONDON OLYMPICS:

A

S preparations for the Summer Olympics gets to the height in London, the Nigeria Sport Commission (NSC) has named Beijing Olympic bronze medalist Chika Yagazie Chukwumerije as captain of the Nigerian contingent.

NationSport learnt that one of Nigeria’s medal hopefuls, Blessing Okagbare has also been appointed the vice-captain of Team Nigeria.

According to the Public Relation Officer of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), who spoke from London, the choice of the duo was as a result of their immense contributions to Nigeria Sports in recent times.

Meanwhile, to carry the Nigeria flag at the quadrennial event will be one of the female weightlifters, Mariam Usman.

CHIKA CHUKWUMERIJE CHIKA CHUKWUMERIJE will be leading Nigeria’s unsought at the forth coming Olympics in London. He will be aiming to improve on his performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics where he clinched a bronze in the +80kg of the Taekwondo event. Going for his third consecutive Olympics, Chukwumerije was born on

•Okagbare is vice captain •Mariam Usman flag bearer

By Innocent Amomoh December 30, 1983 in Nigeria to the family of former Information Minister, and a current senator in the Nigeria government, Uche Chukwumerije. Chika is a graduate of mechanical engineering at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigerian and a Masters Degree holder in Operations and Supply Chain Management from the University of Liverpool.

He had his Olympic debut at the 2004 edition in Athens after qualifying in Cairo, Egypt in late January 2004. He went ahead to win the Gold medal for Nigeria at the All Africa Games (AAG) in Algiers.

Chika first drew attention in 2003 during the qualifiers for the year’s All-Africa Games, where he eventually won a bronze medal in the Heavyweight Male category.

BLESSING OKAGBARE BLESSING OKAGBARE is one of Nigeria’s prospects at the London Olympics. Rising from the disappointing outing in the 100 metres dash of the recent African Athletics Championships in Porto Novo, Benin Republic, where she was dethroned by little-known Gabonese

sprinter, Ruddy Milama, Okagbare went on to gets her second Diamond League victory, posting a time of 10.96 and beati ng the America’s Tianna Madison and Jeneba Tarmoh.

B o r n October 9, 1988, Blessing Okagbare will also be representing Nigeria in the long jump event. She came to limelight in May 2007, at the AllAfrica Games trials in Lagos, when s h e established a Nigerian record of 14.13 metres in the triple jump. At the 2007 AllAfrica Games she won the silver medal in the long jump and finished fourth in the triple jump.

Blessing Okagbare, is a multi-talented athlete, who will also be the hope of the nation in the 100m, 4x100m women’s relay.

The Sapele-born sprinter and jumper has been Nigeria’s most consistent athlete from the last edition of the Games in Beijing, China, in 2008.

Now, with just with three days to the big show in London, all eyes are on the beautiful athlete to once again repeat or even surpass her Beijing feat, when she surprisingly won a bronze medal in the event.

Quite unpopular then, she achieved the unthinkable when she wasn’t reckoned with as a world-class athlete.

Then a positive drug test by Ukrainian, Lyudmila Blonska, moved Okagbare into the finals where the jump of her life (22-8, still a personal best) earned her and Nigeria third place and the bronze medal. She was just 19 then.

MARIAM USMAN ONE of Nigeria’s hopeful in the weightlifting event for women, Mariam Usman competed in Weightlifting at the 2008 Summer Olympics in the +75 kg category finishing fifth with 265 kg. She also won overall gold in the +75kg at the 2012 African weightlifting championships in Kenya. At the same tournament, she

emerged second-best female lifter, with fellow Nigerian Chinenye Fidelis being tops.

The 22 year old athlete won overall silver at the 2007 All-Africa Games in Algiers, with a total of 248 kilogramme. At the 2007 World Weightlifting Championships she ranked 9th with a total of 257 kilogrammes. Usman she won overall gold at the 2008 African Championships, with a total of 265 kilogrammes.

S •Bolaji Abdullahi

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja others had embarked on preparations for this Olympics without getting funds from the National Sports Commission (NSC) the sport’s governing body in the country. Some of them were refunded their money recently when the Federal Government released funds for the Games holding in England. The Minister is quite apprehensive of this fact and has commended the federations for their understanding and cooperation. “Most of the things that caused problems and failure (in Nigerian sports in the past) are not based on technical reasons but most of the

continues for Bolt

Q

UESTION MARKS over Usain Bolt's fitness continue to hamper the Jamaican sprinter's build-up to the defence of his gold medal titles in London. The triple gold medallist from Beijing is the number one attraction of the London Games, but the question mark over his troublesome hamstring has added an extra layer of intrigue to what is already an eye-wateringly exciting 100 metres race. Bolt needed some stretching and massage treatment for a tight hamstring following his 200m defeat by Yohan Blake in the Jamaican trials at the start of the month, having also lost to Blake in the 100m days earlier when he looked to be nursing the injury with a tentative start.

He immediately withdrew from last Friday's Monaco Diamond League meeting where he had been due to run the 200m in a last race before the Olympics. Bolt then travelled to Germany to see renowned German sports doctor Hans-Wilhelm MullerWohlfahrt, though his agent Ricky Simms said the trip had been longscheduled as part of his regular 'prehabilitation' regime. The 6ft 5ins (1.95m) sprinter suffered with hamstring troubles early in his career, a problem linked to a curvature in his spine, and has to put himself through a gruelling stretching and conditioning regime to prevent any recurrence. 'He had a slightly tight hamstring during the trials and that's why possibly he didn't push as hard as he could have,' Simms said recently when assuring the public that his man would be in good shape for London. 'He was just protecting that. The main thing at the trials was to get through and get on the team for the Olympic Games. 'His coach decided that he needs to get a little bit of massage and treatment on that and rest up, and then train again hard next week so that he's ready for the Olympic Games.' Bolt, like the rest

•Bolt

of the all-conquering Jamaica athletics squad, is training behind closed doors in Birmingham, around 100 miles north of London, before moving south for the start of the track and field programme on Aug. 3.

Running with aches and niggles are part and parcel of an international sprinter's life but winning a multiround championship with an injury is another matter all together. Bolt, who has been given a specially-made 7ft bed in his Birmingham quarters, will also be defending his 200 metres title and will hope to help Jamaica defend the 4x100 gold they also won in world record time four years ago. That programme represents a minimum of nine separate races in eight days and while some of the heats will be run on cruise control, the semis and finals will be at full bore. That is a punishing regime for a fully fit athlete but an impossible one for a sprinter with the slightest question mark over a hamstring.

FOREIGN VISITORS

queue for six hours to get their tickets

H

Existing healthy relationship will earn Nigeria good results —Minister PORTS MINISTER, Bolaji Abdullahi is banking on the existing peaceful atmosphere in Nigerian sports to fetch Nigeria a very positive results in the London 2012 Olympic Games that would commence in England on Thursday. His predecessors have engaged in settling of quarrels among Federations in the past which often upset good planning for major international tournaments like the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and All Africa Games. But the road to the London 2012 Olympics is free of any rancor among federations prior to the Games. Some of the Federations like the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Nigeria Basketball Federation, Boxing, weightlifting federations and

INJURY WORRIES

time is about human relationship. So once you are able to manage human relationship then the result would be positive. “I was told that this is the first time that we (Nigeria) will be going to the Olympics and there that there will not be any issues between the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Olympic Committee. So once you are able to manage relationship effectively well, everybody will be on the same page. At the end of the day the only person that matters here is the man who holds the Nigerian mandate, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. So I expect good performances and positive results from the Nigerian contingent in the London Games”, Abdullahi told NationSport in Abuja.

UNDREDS of foreign visitors were today forced to queue for up to six hours to collect Olympic tickets after arriving in London for the Games. Purchasers from the United States, Australia, Sweden and Canada had to stand outside in temperatures approaching 27C at a college in Paddington because of an administrative blunder by ticket agency CoSport. Staff at the company, which has the exclusive rights to sell “premium packages” to seven countries, were struggling to issue tickets that had been bought online.

By 1pm today a queue of more than 200 people was snaking out of the doors of the City of Westminster College’s Paddington campus, where the tickets were due to be picked up. Some visitors are thought to have left without collecting their tickets because they could not be found, while those who did wait had to cover their heads with coats and umbrellas because of the heat.

John Schrader, 54, from Adelaide, was nearing the college entrance after waiting for four hours to pick up basketball, swimming and athletics tickets. He said: “You have several hundred people queuing for four, five, six hours, this is a significant public safety issue. You could have people collapsing or fainting. People are getting dehydrated and are in the sun.

“I feel very sorry for the staff and volunteers because they are the

victims of incompetence up the food chain.”

Derek Reimer, 64, from Canada, spoke to the Standard after waiting two-and-a-half hours with his family.

The retired archivist bought tickets to see Canada play Japan in the women’s football in Coventry on Wednesday as part of a trip to Britain to visit relatives.

He had not planned to come to London but CoSport told him he could not pick up his tickets, as planned, in Shrewsbury, where he is staying.

He said: “The irony is that there are thousands of tickets for sale for this game. I assume we could just walk up and buy a ticket. CoSport has handled things abominably. The only thing they are good at is taking your money.”

David Prais, 48, from Uxbridge, spent more than three hours to collect several tickets, including some for Taekwondo for friends whose daughter is competing for the US team.

He said: “It doesn’t cast the Olympics organisers is a very good light. Clearly there are people in the queue where one of their first experiences of this country is to pick up their tickets, and what a disaster that is.”

No one from CoSport was available to comment. On its website, the company describes itself as “the leading provider of consumer hospitality packages and individual event tickets to the Olympic Games.

INSIDE

TUESDAY, JULY

24, 2012

Website: http://www.thenationonlineng.com

Page 25

Inside Abuja slums

I’m Nigeria’s ambassador for life - Page 27

A boost for Abuja schools - Page 28

T From the Villa - Page 40

HEY sleep under leaky roofs. Some of them cook in the open. Their children run around, some barefoot, on grounds littered with odds and ends. Many of them are not in school. Electricity is in short supply where it is available. Hurricane lamps and other sources of light are more common than power from the national grid. Water is just as much a challenge; no one can vouch for the quality of what they drink but they drink it all the same. Life is unpleasant.

From Bukola Amusan

That is the picture of shanties in the nation’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The FCT parades several of such communities but not all of them are necessarily located within the federal capital city.

Some are in neighbouring states but they are essentially populated by people who work or do business in the FCT, but cannot afford the high demands of the city.

Willy-nilly, they make their way to the

precincts where they settle down and try to make the best of life.

When Abuja was conceived as the country’s new capital, it was meant to be a functional city, boasting the good things of life. The founding fathers visualised a city with adequate social amenities, conducive and wellplanned layouts. They hoped to bequeath to Nigerians a capital that could be described as near-perfect.

Continued on Page 26

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

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ABUJA REVIEW

F

IRE for fire? No. Talk? Yes. That is the position of the Peace Corps of Nigerian (PCN) on how best to tackle the Boko Haram menace in the country. And the dialogue should be across board, meaning every relevant segment of the nation should be involved.

National Commandant of the PCN, Ambassador Dickson Akoh said there is also the need to confront the security challenges by adopting new strategies.

Speaking in Abuja at a press conference to mark the 14th year anniversary of the PCN, Akoh commended President Goodluck Jonathan for taking the bold step to appoint the retired Colonel Mohammed Sambo Dasuki as National Security Adviser (NSA).

“In this wise, we wish to humbly advise that in tackling the security challenges head-on, the new NSA be more approachable and endeavours to run an open door policy at variance with his predecessor’s style of “exclusionism”, while rest – assuring him of Peace Corps of Nigeria’s full cooperation as well as willingness and readiness at all times, especially over intelligence gathering.”

His words: “In view of the current security challenges confronting the nation and the need to adopt new strategies in combating the trend, the Peace Corps of Nigeria hereby uses this medium to applaud the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, for...sacking the erstwhile National Security Adviser (NSA), General Owoye Andrew Azazi (Rtd) and replacing him with Colonel Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (Rtd). We congratulate Dasuki on his timely and well deserved appointment and whose worthwhile stance of embracing dialogue as the best workable solution to putting an end to the rising spate of insecurity in the country and his ongoing extensive consultations with well-meaning Nigerians. ”It is our submission that a veritable approach to tackling insecurity which is now assuming a global dimension is for the security agencies to improve upon their relationship with the civil populace as a means of strengthening and fostering intelligence gathering, since guns, ammunition or even armoured personnel carriers are not the solution to inse-

•A blast scene in Abuja

‘Dialogue is best way to tackle Boko Haram’ From Gbenga Omokhunu

curity, but rather, addressing the fundamental causes of the problem, rather than the result. ”We wish to equally identify with the dynamic Inspector General of Police (IGP) Alhaji Mohammed

It is our submission that a veritable approach to tackling insecurity which is now assuming a global dimension is for the security agencies to improve upon their relationship with the civil populace

Dikko Abubakar for his reformist policies that are positively repositioning the Nigeria Police towards internationally acceptable best methods of policing such as was admirably witnessed by this organisation’s seven-man delegation’s recent visit to Brazil.”

PCN has also protested the alleged harassment and intimidation by the State Security Service (SSS).

Akoh said: “In sharp contrast to the international recognition being accorded us, and in a clear case of a prophet not being honoured in his domain, the SSS in clear violation of a subsisting judgment of the Federal High Court, which we obtained against it, which was never appealed by the Service, members of the SSS persistently continue to portray this noble organisation before federal,

state, local governments and their agencies as being illegal, through discreet reports.

“While their counterparts in other climes are busy [channelling] their energies to core security challenges threatening their corporate existence, ours are busy pursuing mundane issues and character assassination. After fruitless efforts to meet with the leadership of the agency with a view to resolving issues with them amicably, they deliberately keep shielding themselves from us. ”We hereby appeal to Mr. President to check the excesses of the security agencies, especially the SSS and advice them to conduct their affairs strictly within the confines of the law, if the much desired peace is to be attained.

“The Peace Corps of Nigeria,

founded on July 10, 1998. It is obvious that a person of 14 years has already come of age and is desirous of growing to contribute in making our great nation even greater.

“As the founder of this organisation and as a youth, I drew my inspiration from the then President of the United States, John F. Kennedy who also has the unprecedented record of being the youngest American President in history and who came with a noble idea of establishing an important organisation known as American Peace Corps. As a young Nigerian then, I thought of what to do in order to put a smile on the faces of other young people like myself and after a careful research into the challenges of my immediate environment, I was motivated to embark on this all important selfless initiative.”

•Children in an Abuja shanty The story is the same in many Abuja slums like Mpape, Gwagwa, Karmo, Kado Kuchi and Durumi, among others.

Yahaya Audu, who resides in Lugbe, said most of the residents are there because they don’t have a choice.

In the circumstances, those who reside in these slums appeal to the FCT Administration to improve their living standards.

Inside Abuja slums •Continued from Page 25 Abuja, the FCT was conceived to be an answer to Lagos, the former federal capital, whose infrastructures were overstretched.

However, this dream of a capital city devoid of filth and shanties has since died. In order to maintain this perceived vision of what the capital should be, it was accorded a status akin to that of states.

To further ensure that it retains that for which it was conceived, ministers have been appointed to administer it. Each tried to put in place the needed infrastructures that would make the city retain its beauty.

Unfortunately, the daily migration of people into the city, they say, has been hampering this dream.

From Gwagwalada to City Gate; From Zuba to Mpape, from Nyanya to Durumi, one often comes faceto-face with deplorable sites that negate the plan to make the city

one of the most beautiful in the world. This is so because slums have long sprung up along these routes due to population explosion. With this situation, poverty set in.

The Lugbe, a ghetto settlement along Airport Road, presents a sharp picture of poverty.

From filthy and crowded environment to absence of basic social amenities, Abuja has become a shadow of itself.

In Lugbe village, the people contend with poor and non-functional infrastructures which successive administrations didn’t put in place.

Most residents here could be described as the wretched of the earth and the dregs of the society.

There are many responsible, well educated and hard-working Nigerians who live in these shanties because they couldn’t afford the exorbitant accommodation rents in the city. Having no choice, they moved into such unsuitable abodes.

Lugbe, despite a pending court order, has been marked for demolition by the FCT Administration.

THE

2012

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

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ABUJA REVIEW

•Abuja commuters

M

INI-BUS transport operators otherwise known as Araba have rejected moves by the Federal Capital Territory Administration Transport Secretariat to relocate them to an area far from the city centre.

In this regard, the secretariat has given an ultimatum to the commercial operators and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to stop plying routes in the city from August 1.

Officials of the secretariat led by Adewale Alebiosu had gone to the Wuse Market Park to sensitise the operators on the need for the adjustment. However, the operators objected to the idea, saying it would not be beneficial to them.

The FCTA plans to bring in more high-capacity buses to the city.

The Secretary, FCT Transportation Secretariat, Mr. Jonathan Achara Ivoke had said that the action became necessary because of the persistent traffic jam in the territory.

Bus operators protest new routes From Bukola Amusan

He said: “Having painstakingly studied this programme, we decided to commence these services.

First of all, we ensured that the ex-

isting stakeholders were trained and licensed.”

He said 15 routes have been designated to be plied by the minibuses, while seven routes, including the Nyanya-Kugbo, Airport Road and the Outer Northern Expressway also known as the Kubwa

What we have just done is to direct and redirect traffic, connecting places of major traffic problem without causing unnecessary traffic congestion

Road would be covered by the high capacity buses.

“What we have just done is to direct and redirect traffic, connecting places of major traffic problem without causing unnecessary traffic congestion,” he stressed.

The secretary said that the administration plans to take delivery of 300 more buses apart from the 200 buses already acquired. He added that the minister has provided funds in the 2012 statutory budget in order to ensure that high capacity buses are affordable and efficient.

“With this, the administration is going to disburse N1b to subsidise the cost of transportation by 20 per cent. This would encourage our people to use the buses which we have provided. It will also enhance the financial fortunes of the operators.

As part of measures towards tack-

I’m Nigeria’s ambassador for life, says outgoing Hilton GM

L

OVE and loyalty should be forever. That is what Mr Andre Herrenschmidt, General Manager of Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja is saying as he hands over to new General Manager Etienne Gailliez.

Herrenschmidt has pledged to be Nigeria’s ambassador for life.

Addressing journalists at the farewell party organised for him in Abuja, Herrenschmidt noted that his seven and a half years stay in Nigeria has shown that the country has a fantastic future.

He said he will forever promote Nigeria as a country to visit and do his best to disabuse people’s minds of the ugly stories circulated about Nigeria.

As he is leaving Transcorp Hilton Abuja for Ras Al Khaimah Waldorf Astoria Resort, next to Dubai, Mr Andre Herrenschmidt said he would miss Nigerians’ sense of humour.

Herrenschmidt said the Transcorp Hilton Abuja has supported the arts, particularly the art group which practiced for five years in the hotel and rendered a farewell, performance for him on Thursday.

As for the staff of the hotel, Mr Andre Herrenschmidt said he has “motivated the team to bring out the best in them, and the team is more self-confident now.”

From Nduka Chiejina

He urged his successor Etienne Gailliez to take Transcorp Hilton Abuja to new heights, stressing that he has no regrets being in Nigeria.

Speaking on his experience as the General Manager of Abuja Transcorp Hilton, Herrenschmidt noted that “at the Abuja Hilton you meet the world; it is actually an exceptional landmark. I have great memories of receiving so many key players of the world from the International Olympic Committee to the FIFA Under-17 football World Cup; from Bill Gates to Bill Clinton and hosting all the participants of the Africa South American Summit but the highlight will remain the State Banquet at the Presidential Villa for the 50th Anniversary of Nigeria.”

But his best memories of all he reminisced “are those of meeting, on a daily basis, all our guests, many of whom are here tonight, and making so many friends over the years.”

While as General Manager of Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Andre Herrenschmidt said the past Director Generals of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) helped him source for funds. According to him, “some special people played a key role in

making the hotel so special, people that have always backed me when I needed the funding from the former Director Generals of BPE, Dr. Julius Bala, Mrs. Irene Chigbue and the current one, Ms. Bolanle Onagoruwa.”

The new General Manager, Mr. Gailliez said he when he “stepped back into the Transcorp Hilton after seven years, I was impressed by the tremendous growth the hotel has undergone over this period to maintain the pole position of the Transcorp Hilton as the leading hotel in the West African sub-region.”

At the Abuja Hilton you meet the world; it is actually an exceptional landmark. I have great memories of receiving so many key players of the world •Mr Herrenschmidt

ling the traffic problem, he said the minister inaugurated some new operational vehicles for the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS).

“To augment this, we are going to increase the number of personnel in the DRTS and give them intensive training to enable them to cope with the level of tasks we wanted to provide in the FCT.” He further said that the secretariat would visit motor parks to further sensitise stakeholders through the use of radio, television and other mediums “to ensure that people are adequately sensitised.”

Traffic congestion is common on routes like Nyanya-Kugbo Road, Lugbe-Airport Road and the Kubwa Road.

The administration plans to bring this to an end through the latest measure.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

28

ABUJA REVIEW

T

HE Secretary of Health and Human Services of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Dr. Ademola Onakomaiya has said that the administration has aligned its health budget of 2012 to the Strategic Health Development Plan (SHDP).

Speaking at the 55th National Council on Health meeting in Abuja, he noted that the alignment

FCT to reposition health sector From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

was aimed at implementing the SHDP. He added that the FCTA in 2011 conducted a joint annual review of

Irrespective of the health services payment model adopted by the administration to attain universal health for the people, the government has a major role to play to attain universal health for the people

the SHDP and developed the 2012 operation plan, which is being implemented with the release of the 2012 budget.

Dr Onakomaiya further said that in the bid to improve access to healthcare service, the FCT administration has rejuvenated its mobile health outreach programme, stressing that it has provided up to 40 additional primary healthcare facilities in the FCT. He said that the FCTA Health and Human Services Secretariat has been able to complete the construction and equipping of the 40-bed Zuba Cottage Hospital, while the construction of the 220-bed Utako District Hospital and the 60-bed Cottage Hospitals at Shere, Karshi and Gwagwalada are ongoing.

Onakomaiya noted that the FCTA has upgraded and

rehabilitated some existing secondary health facilities in Kubwa, Bwari and Abaji General Hospitals.

FCTA, the secretary said, has provided adequate medical equipment such as Oxygen Plant, High Definition Ultrasound Machines, CT scan, Mammogram, and Digital Fluoroscopy Machines to some secondary health facilities.

According to him, the FCTA has provided about 80 hospital beds to some secondary health facilities and 48-bed primary health facilities.

On employment, he said about 900 health workers which cut across all professions were engaged last year, adding that the FCT achieved about 15 per cent increase in out – patient attendance in secondary school health facilities.

He also disclosed that the admin-

istration has made tremendous commitment to the advanced nursing and midwifery education by expanding and upgrading the schools of Nursing and Midwifery in Gwagwalada.

He said: “Irrespective of the health services payment model adopted by the administration to attain universal health for the people, the government has a major role to play to attain universal health for the people.

“This challenge is in terms of the provision of policy and strategic direction in the health sector, establishment of structures and provision of resources for the attainment of positive health result.

“Incidentally the present government has demonstrated its willingness and commitment to this through the adoption of the National Strategic Health Development of strengthened and sustainable healthcare delivery system.”

M

INISTER of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed has done much to lift the standard of education in the Territory.

Since he came into office, he has established additional 24 junior secondary schools all of which became operational this academic year. In addition to this, about 4,289 Junior Secondary School (JSS) and primary school teachers and head teachers have been trained in core subject areas. This is aside the prompt payment of salaries.

Recall that Mohammed recently recruited 1,700 staff and posted them to various junior secondary schools across the Territory to improve standard of education at the universal basic education level; while arrangement to absorb the 2nd Batch of Federal Teachers Scheme participants has reached advanced stage.

To motivate the teachers to put in their utmost in the service, Senator Mohammed has promoted about 6,239 teachers under UBEB scheme.

In a further push to actualise this dream, the FCT Administration has installed Internet facilities at the headquarters of the Universal Basic Education Board at Area 2, Garki I District Abuja. This is to ensure that education administrators are in tune with current realities in terms of information gathering and dissemination.

Realising the fact that the administration cannot achieve its set goals alone, it entered into partnerships with some development partners.

These are Japanese Embassy, Chinese Embassy, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), British Council, United Nations Educational Social and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and British Airways, among others.

This genuine partnership has resulted in the aggressive provision of instructional materials and, in some cases, construction of classroom blocks in FCT schools.

Again, the partnership motivated the Peoples Republic of China to set up a school at Nyanya, a suburb of Abuja.

Any wonder schools in the FCT have been recording improvement on the performance of students in junior schools certificate examinations over the years.

It is on record that in 2010, Senator Mohammed constructed 1,299 classroom blocks and rehabilitated 309 dilapidated school structures, constructed security fence in 32 schools, drilled boreholes with 10,000 litres overhead tank in 39 schools, supplied 1,316 sets of furniture, and Intro-Tech equipment to six schools as well as science equipment to 10 schools.

The FCT Administration recently

•The pupils benefitted from the efforts

A boost for Abuja schools From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

constructed technology laboratory in 29 schools, constructed basic science laboratory in 10 schools construction of Intro–Tech laboratory in eight schools. Science laboratories were constructed in four primary schools.

The FCTA also supplied six fourwheel drive pick-up vans, six 18seater buses, constructed eight classroom blocks in Islamiya schools as well as constructed nine ECCDE classroom blocks.

In order to promote physical and health education, Senator Mohammed has constructed pitches for games in four schools, supplied 141,200 copies of basic textbooks in core subjects, provided recreational facilities in four schools, in addition to the construction and equipping of sickbay in three schools. He also constructed and furnished hostel blocks in two schools, even as he supplied learning aids to one special school.

The FCT Administration during the period under review also constructed and furnished administra-

tive block in one school and is currently renovating another one in Gwarinpa I District.

Construction of water system toilets and drilling of solar-powered borehole in a school have been completed. A library has been built in one of the schools, even as construction and furnishing of computer studio had been completed in two schools.

It has also been able to access funds from the Education Trust Fund (ETF) for the improvement of basic education in the Territory.

On capacity building, his admin-

istration has re-positioned the FCT scholarship scheme, which hitherto was a unit known as Education Support Scheme under the office of the Secretary for Education.

The FCT Administration through its scholarship board has recorded various achievements, including disbursement of 2009/2010 education-assistance (scholarship) to 10,084 beneficiaries; learning kits and aids to the physically challenged persons; commitment to girl-child excellence in academic and sports; as well as education assistance to 22,399 beneficiaries.

The FCTA supplied six four-wheel drive pick-up vans, six 18-seater buses, constructed eight classroom blocks in Islamiya schools as well as constructed nine classroom blocks

The Minister has approved a three-year overseas course in the maritime sector for 23 FCT students.

The programme is in partnership with Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) under their Seafarers Development Programme.

As a reward for creativity and excellence, the Minister also awarded scholarship up to tertiary level to students in SS I who wrote two books and a primary school pupil who also wrote a book.

To ensure that graduates of FCT schools receive university education, Senator Mohammed mooted the idea of establishing the Abuja University of Technology, Abaji (AUTA).

The minister has also trained 144 teachers of basic and post-basic schools on the use of electronic science kits to facilitate learning activities. He has supplied 2,350 smart electronics kits to 30 primary schools, 18 junior secondary schools and 24 senior secondary schools.

On adult education, the FCT Administration through the FCT Agency for Mass Education has trained 186 FCT youths from the six area councils in various trades such as auto electrical, electrical installation, plumbing and pipe fitting, painting and decoration.

THE

TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

29

‘

My greatest expectation from the CJN is for her to continue with the judicial reforms which here predecessor started. She has my confidence because for most of us who have practised this profession for a while, particularly those of us who has appeared before her, will attest to the fact that she is a quality judge, being a quality judge we expect her to be a quality (CJN).

• SEE PAGE 30

’

E-mail:- law@thenationonlineng.net

• Wali (SAN)

Last week in Abuja, Mr Okechukwu Emmanuel Wali (SAN) emerged the 26th President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). He will be sworn in next month. In this interview with our Legal Editor JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU, he speaks about judicial reforms, his vision for the Bar, plea bargain, the Stamp and Seal programme of the Bar and data base for lawyers, among other issues.

NBA of my dream, by Wali

W

HAT is your massage to those who lost in this election?

Well, the elections are over; we are all members of the same family, like I said after the election, we will look at their manifestos, their ideas, the issues they canvassed during the electioneering campaigns and see how useful they will be to the Bar. Not just their ideas,

Inside: Court hears Cross Country boss’s ...- P.32

we must also need them, all hands must be on deck to move the NBA forward.

What is your vision for the NBA? My vision for the NBA is to have a professionalised NBA. If you went through my programme and manifesto in the course of electioneering campaigns, I made it clear that the focal point and cardinal point of my administration is

professionalising the NBA. What do you mean by the professionalisation of NBA? When I say this, I mean two focal points, one, will be an ethical revolution. We seem to have some issues in the profession,we believe that the business asset of any legal practitioner is his integrity

•STORY ON PAGE 30

No ghost voters in our elections, NBA tells Ngige- P.36

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

30

LAW COVER CONT’D

NBA of my dream, by Wali •Continued from Page 29

and that comes from compliance with the ethics of the legal profession. We seem to have some problems with that at the moment and I intend to pay so much attention to that as possible.

I have talked to my colleagues along the line that if that is the only thing I achieve after two years of serving the NBA, I will leave the presidency of the NBA a very satisfied man.

How did the profession get into this mess in the first place?

Most unfortunately, the decadence in the society appears to the seeping into the profession. The young lawyers we have today obviously passed through the universities, passed through the secondary schools with all the problems that exist in those institutions and so on, the problems are gradually creeping into the legal profession, but we have to re-educate and change their orientation by letting them know that this is a very noble profession.

We have ways of conducting ourselves at the Bar, we must go back to that. Prior to this, I had led a group at the Bar called Juris Cradle, our focus in Juris Cradle has always been ethics. To make sure that the best traditions of the profession are maintained and protected.

The NBA and the National Judicial Council (NJC) had issues recently which made NBA to boy-

cott the NJC what are you view on this?

My view is that the NBA and the Judiciary belong to the same family, you were first a Lawyer before you became a Judge, so as members of the same family, we must find a platform to address issues of common interest. As chairman of the Port Harcourt branch of the NBA 1998, I set up what I called a Bar Bench Forum. That was the platform on which the Bar met with the Bench and we told ourselves the home truths and resolved all issues between us. I believe that if we have such a platform like that , we will have better opportunities to address issues rather than criticising ourselves and discussing our internal problems in public. I believe that will enhance a better relationship, a much more improved relationship between the Bar and the Bench.

What do you intend to do about retired Chief Justice of Nigeria, Aloysius Katsina- Alu and President, Court of Appeal Justice Isa Ayo Salami matter?

Well, I would like to be fully briefed by the Presidency that I am taking over from on what has gone on with that, you know that it is a matter that you need to study carefully because there are pending litigations on it. And in the best traditions of our profession, when a matter is sub judice, you don’t even talk to the press about it. So, am afraid that I cannot discuss the matter now.

The concept of plea-bargain was condemned by the former CJN, Dahiru Musdapher. What is you view on this?

In principle, I do not think that plea bargain is a bad thing, but its implication could raise some issues. We cry about our prisons being congested, criminal justice reforms in other climes have led to issues like that being addressed, that is the origin of things like plea bargain, suspended sentence, community service and so on. If you look at some of our laws, they already have provisions for things like that.

For example, the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) Act has provisions for what they are doing at EFCC. So, if an Act does provide for it, you cannot say that it is illegal. There might be an issue with its implementation, but in principle, I do not think that plea bargain is a bad thing.

What challenges do you expect the new Chief Justice of Nigeria Aloma Mukhtar (CJN) to address?

My greatest expectation from the CJN is for her to continue with the judicial reforms which here predecessor started.

She has my confidence because for most of us who have practised this profession for a while, particularly those of us who has appeared before her, will attest to the fact that she is a quality judge, being a quality judge we expect her to be a quality (CJN).

Which area of reform are you interested in the reformation of the judiciary ?

We must address this issue of delays in our courts, we cannot afford a situation where you spend five years on a matter in the High Courts, you go to the Court of Appeal, give it another five years and when you get to the Supreme Court, sometimes it takes up to five years before you get a date to come and do your matter. That is not good and is at the root of the lack of confidence in our judicial system. If anybody gets that right, then that person has made a great contribution in solving the problems of the judiciary in this country.

There seem to be great challenges facing the Bar, the problem of young lawyers, the issue of stamp and seal, providing a reliable data base for Nigerian Lawyers, how do you intend to address these?

The problem is beyond the problem of young lawyers, it is a problem in the profession.

But let me say this, the problem with stamp and seal, database, etc is with their implementation. The

• Wali (SAN)

snag is that those issues are not covered by the provisions of the Legal Practitioner’s Act, which is the extant law on that. However, there is a process of amendment o the Legal Practitioners Act, I can say this authoritatively because in the last two years, I had served as the Alternate chairman of the Legislative Advocacy Working Group of the NBA, so I know as a fact, that these bills are pending before the National Assembly In the case of the Legal Practitioner’s Act, it is not just the case of the National Assembly, it is a problem with multiple dimensions because in the legal professional, the stakeholders are not agreed on certain issues in the Legal Practitioners Act Amendment Bill that is pending before the National Assembly.

What do you mean by this?

Now you have version of variance between the body of Benchers, the Body of Senior Advocates and the NBA. What are you going to do about this?

I told my colleagues during the course of the electioneering campaign that I am going to create a platform where the stakeholders in the legal profession will have to sit down and discuss the Legal Prac-

titioners Act Amendment Bill as it is currently standing before the National Assembly because unless and until you amend the Act do capture the issue of stamp and seal, you cannot implement that programme because it will not be covered by any law and any lawyer could go to court if try to deprive him of exercising rights because it is not covered by the Act. What about the Database?

Well, I am aware that the current administration had paid so much attention to that. A committee headed by my brother Silk, Augustine Alegeh (SAN) has done that job and turned in a report which the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the NBA has studied and approved.

I believe that it is a gradual process.

What I intend to do is when I do finally take over the leadership of the Bar, I will take a closer look at the report submitted by the Alegeh committee, I believe that it is a critical issue that must be addressed because it help us to address such issues as the issue of fake lawyers, we need to know how many we are.

This helps us to plan for the Bar because if we do not know how many we are, we cannot effectively plan for everybody. It is one of the earliest issues I hope address when I take over in August.

• Wali (SAN)

APGA flays Appeal court ruling implementation

T

HE All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has criti cised the way the Appeal court judgment on local governments in Imo State is being implemented.

In a statement, its Publicity Secretary, Ben Akoma, said the party is not happy with how the police handled the matter without due process.

He said: “It is regrettable that the action of the police is coming on the heel of an appeal by Imo State government against the judgment.

More worrisome is that while the appeal and motion for notice of stay of execution of the judgment have been served the appropriate quarters, the police ignored all these, but instead continued to pursue execution of a judgment whose appeal is before a Supreme Court, the highest court of the land.

“It is a known fact in law that whenever a motion for stay of ex-

ecution is pending before a court of competent jurisdiction, parties are expected to remain in status quo.

We wish to state that the party has never been served any drawn-up order nor forms 48 and 49, which ordinarily are necessary warnings about consequences of disobedience as to empower the police to enforce the judgment by force. ‘’APGA in Imo State, therefore, cannot be said to have breached any judgment of the court to warrant police invasion of the councils on the guess of enforcing court judgment.

“We wish to state that APGA as a party is founded on rule of law as demonstrated in Anambra State and other related cases and our position is that parties should allow the judicial process to run its full steam as the party is prepared, willing and ever ready to abide by the outcome of the Supreme Court at the end.”

• From left: Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, Lawal Rafiu Rabana (SAN) and his wife Nella, at the valedictory in honour of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Dahiru Musdapher.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

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LEGAL OPINION

Immanent dualities?A socio-legal analysis of the character, attainments, and limitations of Gani Fawehinmi’s human rights praxis

A

ND he said to ram disarm ... ex cept by rooting, who can pluck yam tubers from their base? Christopher Okigbo The Clio’s couch, the disengagement that only distance may bring, is not for us the gift of time. -UpendraBaxi “By the end of his life, his fearless, relentless campaigning had made him something of a celebrity. After his death his fellow lawyers gathered at a valedictory court session to honour a ‘colossus’. Politicians from across the spectrum, recognising Fawehinmi’s common touch and immense popularity, hustled to pay their own tributes, even while perpetuating many of the vices he had long criticised.”

-Telegraph Newspaper (UK)

I. Introduction The principal objective of this paper is to assess systematically the human rights praxis (i.e. the theory-informed human rights practice) of the late GaniFawehinmi, one of Nigeria’s – and indeed one of the World’s – most cerebral, dogged, accomplished, and thus celebrated, human rights lawyer/activist. The idea here is to train a scholarly searchlight on the character, attainments and limitations of this iconic figure’s human rights praxis, while conceptually situating that praxis in the broader contexts of both Nigerian and global human rights discourse and experience.How precisely did Gani Fawehinmi(hereafter referred to by his virtual nomdeguerre ‘Gani’) go about doing his human rights work? What exactly, if any, are his value-added contributions to the advancement of the cause of human rights in Nigeria (and beyond)? What were the limitations, if any, of his preferred approaches to human rights activism? And in what ways, if at all, did his human rights praxis conform with or depart from the dominant approaches to human rights activism within and without Nigeria?

A key conceptual and methodological point that should be noted at the outset is that the goal of this paper is not to analyse the entire body of work that Gani produced as a lawyer andsocio-political activist. That very massive undertaking is way beyond the scope of a paper such as this. The focus here is squarely on his body of human rights work. An even then, only a representative sample of that segment of his body of work (gathered via the purposive sampling method) is analysed here.The vastness of the terrain to be covered were every single aspect of his human rights work to be collected and reviewed, and the space constraints that inevitably define a paper such as this,necessitated the adoption of the sampling method.

Similarly, it should also be pointed out that since, even upon

By Obiora Chinedu Okafor

cursory examination, Gani’s body of human rights work appears tohave transcended the narrow confines of the legal, and did, in fact, include the political and the social,the analysis undertaken here had to take on that the same colour.

Accordingly, the range of efforts that Gani made to advance the human rights of Nigerians is treated in this paper in a more or less transdisciplinary way. This means that Gani’s work in the fields of law, politics and social relations are viewed as intertwined, interconnected, interdependent, and often symbiotic, and are not treated or analysedas separate spheresof activity or silos.It is for this reason that the analysis undertaken in the paper is properly viewed as of “socio-legal”or “law-in-society” character.

As importantly, given that one of thekey overarching concerns of the enquiry that is conducted in this paper is the extent to which Gani’sotherwise much celebrated human rights praxis was nevertheless riven by the very same kinds of”immanent dualities” that appear to have historically characterised virtually all manifestations of human rights praxisthe world over(what I have referred to elsewhere as “the dualistic deep structure of the [human rights] discipline”)the concept of immanent duality as it applies to human rightsdoes require someexplanationin this introductory section. The expression”the immanent dualities of human rights” or the phrase”its dualistic deep structure”refers to the fact that throughout recorded human history human wrongs have always been the flip side of the human rights coin, and vice versa. Human wrongs and human rights have always been joined at the hip, one with the other. As such, at no time in human history has a human rights heaven existed. Rather, what we have always had are human rights worlds: which are places of imperfection, of good and evil, of contradictions, of dualities. For, throughout the history of human society, the enjoyment of human rights for some has always existed side by side with, and has always in fact entailed, the violation of the human rights of some others. For e.g., as I have argued elsewhere, “The American Declaration of Independence loftily proclaimed that all humans were born free and should remain so while slavery remained conceptually legitimised in the praxis of the very drafters of that document and went on largely unhindered for over a century afterward (Morgan, 1972).”And the high quality of life enjoyed by the great thinkers of any society, whether within the four walls of the ancient

• The late Chief Gani Fawehinmi

university at Timbuktu, or in the Roman Curia, has always come at the price of the displacement suffering to the hewers of wood and fetchers of water whose grinding toiling existence allowed these thinkers the free time and full bellies usually necessary for meaningful reflection.7Even in the most human rights friendly societies of our time, significant rights violations and displacements of suffering from one segment of society to another (the “other”) do occur on a daily basis. Indeed, in the real world, in the living human rights law (which is human rights law as it is actually experienced by real people and not the human rights that exist in the texts of constitutions, statutes, and treaties), the enjoyment of certain human rights almost always requires the deprivation however minor in extent of certain rights from others. Your freedom of expression is for some others a deprivation of their right to privacy or right to dignity or freedom from racist discrimination. The difference between eras and between societies has always been relative: i.e. how extensive the zone of violation is in one era or in a specific society, relative to the zone occupied by violations, and compared to other eras and societies.And so the question raised by the phenomenon of the existence of such “immanent dualities” iswhether, just like human rights praxis itself, Ganiwas at one and the very same time a defender of human rights and a perpetrator of human wrongs? And whether this matters in any way?

These are of course difficult questions to ask about any human rights defender or group, what morewhen they are being asked about the work of such a celebrated iconic human rights figure as Gani. For, as MakauMutua has correctly noted, human rights defenders and the human rights movement now occupy a high “moral plateau,”a high level of

• From left: Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Prof Epiphany Azinge (SAN) and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Justice and Human Rights, Dr Ali Ahmed at the Gani Fawehinmi Lecture in Abuja

more or less deserved venerationthat too oftenimpedes efforts at the rigorous assessment of their methods, approaches, coherence, and effectiveness. Indeed, as Susan Dicklitch has noted: Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have a certain mystical, venerable quality to them. They are often portrayed as fighting for the poor and helpless, especially in developing countries ... It is thus sometimes difficult to develop a clear, unbiased, and realistic understanding of what role NGOs really do play in the context of democratic transition and human rights protection.

This difficulty is even more pronounced when the scholars who must undertake such balnced enquiries do themselves support these human rights defenders and feel as if they are part and parcel of the human rights movement. Yet, as difficult as it is to ask the hard questions about the good and not-sogood sides of the human rights praxis of accomplished activists such as Gani, scholarly rigour and integrity demand that these questions be fairly posed, investigated and answered. And that is one of the objectives of this paper.

In order to systematically pursueall of its objectives, the paper is organised into five main segments, this introductory section included. In Section II, the character of Gani’s human rights praxis is analysed and exposed. Section III is devoted to an assessment of the attainments of his human rights efforts; i.e. the extent to which he has “added value” to the effort to improve the human rights situation in Nigeria and beyond. In Section IV, the limitations, if any, of his approach to the human rights struggle are examined. Section V concludes the paper with a conceptual reflection of the lessons that may be learned from Gani’s praxis regarding the immanence or otherwise of human rights dualities.

II. Between thought and action: The character of Gani Fawehinmi’shuman rights praxis What were the main features and characteristics of Gani’s human rights praxis? In what ways and via what methods exactly did he pursue his human rights activism?

What major strategies, approaches, tactics, techniques, and sensibilities featured prominently in his sustained and highly courageous effort to uplift the status of human rights in Nigeria? These are the major questions with which this section of the paper is concerned.

These questions are addressed in the sub-sections below, each of which deals with one of the methods or approaches that characterised and animated Gani’s human rights praxis.

Technical Legal Advocacy

It is fair to state that while a range of symbiotic and mutually reinforcing methods and strategies featured in the rich repertoire of human rights approaches that Gani put to use, the chief approach (i.e. the single most dominant method or strategy)which he adopted,was what will be referred to in this paper as “technical legal advocacy.”The fact that he placed such a strong accent on this particular approach to human rights activism should not be all that surprising given the fact that Gani was after all engaged in full-time legal practice throughout his professional and natural life. In any case, as shall become clearer later on in the paper, Gani was a great believer in the rule of law and in its power as an instrument for the attainment of social justice.11Deploying various forms of technical legal advocacy (including what some have referred to as public interest litigation or as strategic impact litigation12), Gani relentlessly filed and actively litigated law suits against what he clearly saw as the serious human rights violations perpetrated by almost every military or democratic regime that ruled/governed Nigeria between his return to Nigeria from Englandin the 1960s and his fairly recent death in 2009. In the result, Gani was either the plaintiff and/or the counsel of record in a massive number of such cases. The number of cases on this list isfar too numerous to recount or deal with in full in a relatively short paper such as this.

However, short skeletal reviews ofa purposive sample of such cases will offer sufficient insight into the broad nature and orientation of the kinds of technical legal advocacy that Gani deployed in his effort to advance the cause of human rights in Nigeria. In one of the earliest of his many notable human rights law suits, Amakiri v. Iwowari, Gani acted as counsel to the plaintiff, a journalist who had been detained and flogged by the aide-decamp of the then military governor of the old Rivers State of Nigeria, Alfred Diette-Spiff, in a suit to enforce his fundamental rights to liberty, etc. The Plaintiff’s “offence” had been that he had published a story on the sorry plight of teachers in the old Rivers State who had been demanding improved salaries and emoluments. 14 In Fawehinmi v.

Akilu and Another, he struggled in defense of the right to life when he doggedly and quite courageously fought the then General Babangida-led military regime for the right to privately prosecute two military officers who he had accused of being responsible for the murder via a letter bomb of famed journalist Dele Giwa.

• To be continued next week

• Guest lecturer Prof. Obiora Chinedu Okafor, who occupies the Gani Fawehinmi Chair at NIALS (left) and Prof. Clement J. Dakas (SAN) at the event.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

32

LEGAL OPINION

Court hears Cross Country boss’s application Sept. 28 A

LAGOS State High Court, Igbosere, presided over by Justice Samuel CandideJohnson will on September 28, this year hear a preliminary objection by Chairman of Cross Country Transport Limited, Mr David Bube Okorodudu.

He is urging the court to quash a charge brought against him by the state.

The Lagos State Government charged him with defrauding the Chief Executive Officer of Tetrazini Food Limited, Donatus Okonkwo of N595 million in April 2008 over a property in Lekki-Pennisula Phase 1.

The charge said he fraudulently misrepresented to the purchaser “that he had paid to the Lagos State Government the full price and obtained deed of occupancy, knowing full well that such representation was false.”

In a Motion on Notice filed by his

By Joseph Jibueze

lawyer, Chief Ladi Williams (SAN), Okorodudu challenged court’s jurisdiction to hear and determine charge.

He argued that it was unconstitutional and violated Section 36 (12) of the Constitution.

It says: “A person shall not be convicted of a criminal offence unless that offence is defined and the penalty is prescribed in a written law.”

Williams claimed that the purported charge had not been served on his client, adding that it constituted “abuse of court process as they are oppressive and prejudicial” to Okorodudu.

He argued that the offence contained in the charge was not a product of proper investigation by the police.

Williams said the charge was meant to tarnish Okorodudu’s reputation and coerce him to agree to terms which the contract between him and the complainant did not support.

He further stated that the proof of evidence did not disclose any offence known to criminal law nor did it disclose a prima facie case against the defendant.

“The information is an improper and oppressive use of Constitutional powers of the Attorney-General of Lagos State to indict the defendant to face a scandalous trial, which from the outset the Attorney-General knows or ought to know that the defendant should not face,” the defendant said.

According to Williams, the laws under which the defendant was being charged were no longer in existence and hence have no binding force in law.

Falana: derobe corrupt lawyers

H

UMAN rights activist, Mr Femi Falana (SAN) has called on the Civil Society Organisation (CSO) to investigate and derobe corrupt and lawyers and judges.

Falana, who spoke at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and CSO interactive forum and partnership to fight corruption in Lagos, said the law profession is the greatest obstacle to the fight against corruption.

He berated corrupt lawyers and judges, who he said, aided indicted public officers to escape justice, calling on the anti-graft agencies to reopen the N6billion corruption allegation against a judge as well as cases involving members of the legal profession.

“It is our duty as CSO to mobilise our people and stop the collapse of our country by a few unpatroitic Nigerians. We must insist that all those indicted in the subsidy scam be brought to book,” he said.

To win the war against corruption, Falana urged the CSO to strategise and departmentalise to avoid duplicacy of efforts.

“We must strategise and departmentalise. We cannot all be doing the same thing because there is enough for all to do.”

Falana expressed optimism that the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloma Muktar, would sanitise the judiciary, stressing that she has

By Precious Igbonwelundu

never been associated with corruption.

“I have known Justice Muktar since 1985 and I can say without fear of contradiction that she has never been associated with corruption in her professional practice. I am not sure I can say the same of more than two judges,” he said.

Among the participants at the forum were Chairman, EFCC, Mallam Ibrahim Lamorde; President, Campagain for Democracy (CD), Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin; Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja, Branch, Mr Monday Ubani, as well as executive directors and representatives of various CSO. Lamorde noted the greatest challenge the EFCC has with adjudication, saying that there are cases that have been in court for five years without trial.

“I can mention about 10 cases as I stand here that have not gone beyond arraignment in the last five years because of adjournments. The judges keep adjourning the cases because the counsels to the suspect keep filing unnecessary applications on behalf of their clients.”

According to Lamorde, corruption is not a crime of passion, people engage in corruption because of the proceeds.

“In spite of the growing rate of poverty in our society, Nigeria has the

• Falana

highest number of private jets.

“It is only a Nigerian that will collaborate with a foreigner to steal from our country. We act like mercernaries in our own country.

“It is in our enlightened self interest that we fight corruption otherwise we shall all be consumed by the wrath of the people,” he said.

For Mrs Odumakin, a Sovereign National Conference was the only way out because corruption has become the most enterprising business in Nigeria.

“No matter how one fries a rotten fish, it cannot be edible. But the fight against corruption is a fight for all of us. There must be a synergy. We must fight and ensure that the culture of impunity is eradicated from our system,” she said.

Lawyers urge CJN to resolve Salami’s matter

A

FORMER chairman of the Ni geria Bar Association (NBA), Ikorodu Branch, Prince Kazeem Adebanjo, has urged the first female Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, to recall Justice Isa Ayo Salami, adding: “You would recall that when the out-going CJN came into office, it was at the height of the disagreement, argument for and against the suspension of Justice Isa Ayo Salami from the Court of Appeal.

“The CJN set up some committees and they did a thorough job and gave their verdict and as far as I am concerned, they have done what Nigerians expected of them. Having said that, it is left for the President to act, but they are hiding under the court and saying that the matter is subjudice and that until that matter is taken care of in court, they will not reinstate him. It is a good thing that those cases have been struck out by the courts.

He urged Justice Mukhtar to work on the reports of Justice Uwais and that of other committees, which recommended the recall and reinstatement of Justice Salami.

“From experience, when you place a woman at the head of an organisation, you expect some moral rectitude and moral uprightness. I can tell you that she would do what men who had been in her position would not do or have failed to do because of lack of courage.

Women are known to be very coura-

By Adesisi Onanuga

geous and very difficult to compromise when there is problem. And I know that she would not disappoint anybody.

“She should not encumber herself with technicalities. Let her go straight to implement those reports that had been submitted in the past. She should make sure that those reports are giving effect so that the judiciary will not continue to be rubbished as far as the issue of Justice Salami is concerned,” he added.

He advised Justice Mukhtar to look into cases of allegation of corruption levelled against the judiciary, “even at the very top”, which he noted, were never thoroughly investigated and concluded.

“If she wants to set example, this is her opportunity. There are things wrong with the judiciary in Nigeria. We need somebody who will cleanse the judiciary. We need somebody who will bring forth the changes we need in the judiciary and I think that will come with the new Chief Justice of Nigeria, “ he said.

Also, Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch, Mr Monday Ubani, said Justice Mukhtar is competent, saying: “This is a woman who has scored first in almost everything that concerns her career. She is the first woman to be appointed a justice of the Appeal Court. She is also the first woman to be appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court. That is no mean feat, “

he said.

Though he has not appeared before her in the court, Ubani said he has heard from respected quarters that Justice Mukhtar “is an upright Judge and a very diligent one”.

Ubani, however, pointed out that much is expected of the Chief Justice, who he urged to pursue the execution of the recent policy trust of the former CJN, Justice Dahiru Musdapher , who he recalled, made many pronouncements, but did not have the time to execute them before his retirement.

He advised the Chief Justice to be forward looking and to be progressive in her actions, taking into cognisance the complaints people have had against the judiciary. “So, we need to restore the hope of the common man into the judiciary. We need to reform the judiciary itself,” he said.

He stressed the need for quick dispensation of cases, saying: “Where cases last up to 10 years is not healthy for the litigants and lawyers ,especially those who want to be Senior Advocates. There is a certain limit of time allowed for you to dispose of your case at the appellate court. So, we need to really reform the judiciary and entrench equity and justice in the real sense of it and bring men and women of integrity to man the judiciary. So, it is important that her programmes be well spelt out and carried out with precision to restore the hope of the common Nigerian in the judiciary”.

LAW AND PUBLIC POWER

with gabriel AMALU email:gabrielamalu1@yahoo.com

Oshiomhole’s triumph, politics

G

OVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), no doubt, remains an intriguing public official in the political dispensation. His size, his dressing, his pedigree, his friends, all speak volumes. As a labour leader, the Comrade Governor developed a mastery of rhetorics and this has served him well in politics. He has also resonated well in Edo State as a performer. Indeed, watching him on television paying obeisance to the Oba of Benin, after his love sermon in Abuja, in honour of President Goodluck Jonathan, following his success at the last Governorship election, I was even more enthused with his politics.

To cap his election fever performance, the Comrade Governor effusively praised the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), ProfAttahiru Jega, when he received his certificate of return, as required by law, after the election. The INEC chairman must have been relieved when he recalled that the comrade Governor had lambasted the process as a failure early on the polls day. Governor Adam’s fair grouse was that the electoral materials arrived late in Benin townships with many voters, while the far flung places had their materials on time. Amazingly, Oshiomhole won the highest number of votes in the local governments in the state, and so he quickly returned the integrity of the commission as he received his certificate.

Oshiomhole pulled 477,478 votes, winning about 73 per cent of the votes, as against his main rival Maj.-Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd), who polled 144,235 votes, making up 22 per cent of the votes. With his ego airbag busting at the realms, the Comrade Governor rode triumphantly around the major streets of Edo to show that his winning was not a fluke. He couldn’t but be floating on air after defeating the Edo godfathers led by Chief Tony Anenih, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion and Dr Samuel Ogbemudia; in a poll that was clearly free and fair. As many commentators have advocated, winning the election was a major hurdle, but more important will be performing to meet the high expectation.

In his remarks following the Governor’s visit, the Benin monarch, Oba Erediuwa said he prayed to his ancestors to grant the Comrade a second term in office, because of his successful improvement of the infrastructure in the state. The respected monarch had also shown his preference for Oshiomhole when President Jonathan led the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) candidate and his motley crowd to pay the monarch a homage during their party’s election campaign in the state. Despite the attempt by the palace officials to deny this snub for Mr President and his crowd, it was obvious that the monarch successfully sent a message to the electorate by his action. So, when the comrade Governor visited after the election, he emotionally thanked the monarch, particularly for treating him, a minority in the state, as one of their own.

Oshiomhole also earlier in the year planted a seed for President Jonathan’s half-hearted support for his party’s candidate; at least by not allowing the PDP’S rigging machine to be unleashed against the Governor. It was during the national crisis arising from the president’s New Year day’s gift of increase in fuel price. Smarting from a trip out of the country, the Governor in his reaction to the increase, tried against his original constituency’s interest to justify the jack up in the price of fuel. That gift from the Comrade Governor had a worth in gold, as many governors were sitting on the fence, even when they had been pushing for the removal of the subsidy in private.

As a quid pro quo, the President seems to have sent in the military to demobilise the tactical rigging command in Edo State, and that may be why the Governor has been singing the praises of Mr President as a statesman. The President also used flattering words in favour of Oshiomhole following his victory, to suggest that he may have been dragged to Airhiavbere’s election campaign in Edo. Oshiomhle’s tentacles also extend to former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida. To show this affinity, the spokesman for his reelection campaign was Kassim Afebua, also the spokesman for the retired General, who may have been seconded to Benin City for the assignment. While many in his party had complained about his closeness in party politics to the General, the comrade may have weighed his options and believed that the relationship has its strategic importance; hence he kept and advertised it. It may not, therefore, come as a surprise if the General is later credited with part of the success. Again, the Comrade as labour leader was very close to Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, and while there are no clear indicators as to how things stand, it is likely that the friendship may be alive and well. Moreover, squaring against Chief Anenih, who obviously had fallen out with his former beneficiary and also benefactor, it is likely Obasanjo will even be more endeared to the success of Oshiomhole’s re-election.

No doubt, the reelection battle may be Oshiomhole’s greatest political battle so far. In the previous election in 2007, events had coalesced in his favour, substantially because the Edo godfathers were then at each other’s throat, and were working against the party’s candidate, Prof Osunbor. Then also, Oshiomhole was seen as a beautiful bride, and when won and backed by ACN’S strategic leadership led by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he sailed through at the polls, and also with their formidable support, in the courts. With many political interests to please, it is hoped that the Comrade Governor will keep faith with his party.

THE

012

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

33

LEGAL OPINION

Overview of Freedom of Information Act and tangential provisions of Official Secrets Act Objectives of Freedom of Information (FOI) Act HE Freedom of Information Bill was assented to by the President on May 28, 2011, on which date it actually became operational as a law. The opening, Long Title of the Freedom Of Information Act 2011 clearly sets out in a self-interpretative language the following as the objectives and thrust of the laws to wit: •Making Public Records and Information freely available •Provision for Public Access to Public Records and Information.

•Protection of Serving Officers from adverse consequences of disclosing certain official information and.

•Establishment of Procedures for the achievement of the above and related purposes.

Right of access to public record and information Section 2(1) of the Act categorically declared and established the right of Any Person to access or request information which is in the custody of any Public Official, Agency or Institution howsoever described, whether such information is in a written form or otherwise. Thus subsection 1 of Section 2 reads as follows: “Notwithstanding anything contained in other Act, Law or Regulation, the right of any person to access or request information, whether or not contained in any written form, which is in the custody or possession of any public official, agency or institution howsoever described, is hereby established.”

What is more to the above unprecedented right is the express provision in the Act at S.2(2) that an Applicant, that is, any person seeking access to Public Record and Information, need not demonstrate any specific interest in the information being applied for.

This singular ancillary provision is most laudable having regard to the fact that before the Act, Public Institutions, Offices and Government Agencies had effectively used the ground of lack of or Insufficient Interest as a Carte Blanche to refuse any application for information in the custody of Government Offices or Officials.

The signal importance of the provision is that for example, the police and other law Enforcement Agencies and their Agents, Offices and their officers, can no longer casually refuse at will, an application for information and record in their possession. Similarly, the Courts can no longer refuse an application to enforce a right to access or obtain any information on the ground that the Applicant lacks locus standi or has not shown sufficient interest to justify his quest for such information. So then, to the Public is now open a Sluice Gate of Information which was hitherto not easily available.

To ensure that the Right to Information is not a mirage, the Act provides in Section 2(3) that any person (meaning just any individual, a company or group of such) entitled to the right of information under the Act shall have the right to institute proceedings in a court to compel any public institution to comply with the provisions of the Law. It is a thing of delight to note that the realness of the enforceability of the right of information has recently been tested and has received judicial affirmation in a number of cases at the High Courts. The Human Right Community, The Press, Civil Society and other crusaders for a Better Society are thus better equipped by the provision.

T

By Nojim Tairu

Mandatory duties of government institutions to make public disclosure of their activities, operations Ostensibly, to ensure that the days in which Government Institutions are run like a Secret Cult or Society with their activities shrouded in mystery and carefully protected away from the people, the governed, the Act reels out a set of duties that every Public Institution must, of necessity, comply with regarding its records and information. Thus it provides in Section 3(1) that every Public Institution shall: (i)Ensure that it records and keeps information about all its activities, operations and business. (ii)Ensure the proper organisation and maintenance of all information in its custody in a manner that facilitates public access to such information. (iii)Ensure that the information stated below, under (v)a-p, are widely disseminated and made readily available to members of the public through various means including Print, electronic and online sources, and at the offices of such Public Institutions. (iv)Update and review information required to be published periodically and immediately whenever changes occur. (v)Cause to be published, widely disseminated and made readily available to the public through the Print, electronic, online sources and other media the following information: a.A description of the organisation and responsibilities of the institution including details of the institutions’ programmes and functions of each division and department thereof. b.A list of all classes of record under the control of the institution in sufficient detail to facilitate the exercise of the right to information under the Act. c.A list of all manuals used by employees of the institution in administering or carrying out any of the Programmes or activities of the institution. d.A description of documents containing final opinions including concurring and dissenting opinions as well as orders made in the adjudication of cases; e.Documents containing substantive rules of the institution; f.Documents containing statements and interpretations of policy which have been adopted by the institution; g.Documents containing final planning policies, recommendations, and decision; h.Documents containing factual reports, inspection reports, and studies whether prepared by or for the institution; i.Documents containing information relating to the receipt or expenditure of public or other funds of the institution; j.Documents containing, the names, salaries, titles, and dates of employment of all employees and officers of the institution;

• Tairu

ies, or publications prepared by independent contractors for the institution; o.A list of materials containing information relating to any grant or contract made by or between the institution and another public institution or private organisation; and p.The title and address of the appropriate officer of the institution to whom an application for information under this Act should be sent, provided that the failure of any public institution to publish any information under this subsection shall not prejudicially affect the public’s right of access to information in the custody of such public institution.

Government institutions must frontload public record and information It bears recapitulation to state here, that by virtue of the provision of S.3 (4) of the Act, paraphrased under (iii) above, Public Institutions now have a statutory obligation to widely publish and disseminate upfront to the general Public vide newspapers, margazines, Radio, Television, internet and other media all the information stated under S.3(3)a-p. The full text of S.3(4) says: “Public Institutions shall ensure that information referred to in this Section is widely disseminated and made readily available to members of the public through various

means, including print, electric and online sources, and at the offices of such public instructions”. (Underlying supplied for emphasis/comment, anon).

It should be noted that the word “shall”, underscored in the provision quoted above, when used in a Statute, as in the above provison of FOI Act, denotes a mandatory command of what it is directed at. It admits of no discretion. It carries with it the element of compulsion and “a must” obligation as distinct to when the word “may” is used. The point of emphasis is that the compulsory act of publication and dissemination must be done by the institution suo motu, without waiting to be told or prodded to so do.

Liability of public institutions for failure to publish information Section 3(6) of the Act vests in every person that has the right to access information, a Correlative Right to institute Proceedings in a court to compel any public institution to comply with the above duties imposed on every Public Institution. Thus the subsection 6 states that: “ Any person entitled to the right of access conferred by this Act shall have the right to institute proceedings in a court to compel any public institution to comply with the provisions of this section”.

The above provision makes doubly veritable, the liability of every public institution to do the needful regarding the aforementioned duties. It is submitted that a Public Institution that fails to carry out any of the above duties is strictly liable to be sued in court for the appropriate reliefs to compel it to perform its duties.

The right to enforce the duties against the Public Institution would appear to be a specie of Strict-Liability offence. This is so in the sense that failure to comply with any of the duties would, without more, make the institution liable thereof in an action at the instance of any person.

Public institutions defined The Act at Section 3(7) defines by reference, institutions that would qualify as Public Institutions for the purpose of the provisions of Freedom of Information Act. It provides that Public Institutions are: •All authorities whether executive, legislative or judicial agencies, •Ministries and extra-ministerial department of the government,

•Corporations established by law, •Companies in which government has a controlling interest, •Private Companies utilizing Public Funds, providing Public Services or performing Public Functions.

Similarly, paragraph 5 of the interpretation Section 32 of the Act also defines a Public Institution, in a manner that is duplicatious of Section 3(7). Thus, it says public institution means: •Any legislative, executive, judicial, administrative or advisory body of the Government, including boards, bureau, committees or commissions of the State •Any subsidiary body of those bodies including but not limited to committees and sub-committees which are supported in whole or in part by public fund or which expends public fund and •Private bodies providing public services, performing public functions or utilizing public funds.

It would appear that the definition of a public institution under S.32 is wider than that under S.3 (7).

At any rate, it is posited that the above definitions are wide enough to include a private contractor/ company or firm contracted by a government institution, ministry, department, agency, paralstatals, etc to provide services or perform any job for the client-government institution.

Such a private firm would be duty bound to comply with the duties imposed on public institutions to frontload and make public disclosure of their activities, operations and records as set out in Section 3 of the Act. Instructively, such a private firm would, by virtue of the above provisions, be similarly liable in an action in court to compel it to supply the requisite information, if it fails to do so of its own accord.

Procedure for Access to Public Information To access a record or information in custody of a Public Institution, what is required of an Applicant i.e. any person who applies for information under the Act; is a Request for information. The application which should be addressed to the relevant Public Official, Agency or Institution having custody or Possession of the record or information, should also contain the gist/ nature of the information applied for.

• To be continued next week

k.Documents containing the right of the state, public institutions, or of any private person(s); l.Documents containing the name of every official and the final records of voting in all proceedings of the institution; m.A list of files containing applications for any contract, permit, grants, licenses or agreement; n.A list of reports, documents, stud-

• Dipo Okpeseyi, SAN (left) receiving a plaque from Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, at the Silver Jubilee dinner by the Nigerian Law School Class of ’86 (the Centennial Class) in honour of members who were conferred with Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in Abuja.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

34

LAW & SOCIETY

The Rashidi Yekini case and mental health law in Nigeria Introduction

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PART from feeble attempts by health au thorities and efforts of charitable organi sations, little has been done in Nigeria and a host of underdeveloped and developing economies to tackle mental health and, indeed, the law governing that very field of medicare.

In fact, the society more often than the other, turn the proverbial blind eye whenever confronted with the obvious and not too obvious cases of mental infirmity, disorder and or illness.

A national hero Rashidi Yekini, a national hero, Nigerian Professional Footballer with immense talent had a successful career spanning over 20 years. After displaying his talent for local Nigerian teams including the defunct Abiola Babes F.C. of Abeokuta, UNTC of Kaduna and my darling Shooting Stars Football Club of Ibadan (Up Shooting!), he had an eventful career overseas playing mostly in the European continent, especially for the Portuguese club, Victoria Setubal, where he scored 93 goals in 122 appearances.

He also played for Olympiakos in Greece, Sporting Gijon in Spain, FC Zurich in Switzerland and Bizerte FC in Tunisia. He returned from Europe to play in Cote D’ Voire for Africa Sports and then the Nigerian League (now Nigerian Premier League) with Julius Berger of Lagos and Gateway FC of Abeokuta. Yekini’s international career saw him play for the Super Eagles of Nigeria 58 times between 1984 and 1998. During his exploits in the national team, he scored 37 goals including Nigeria’s first ever goal at the World Cup Finals. This was, indeed, a glorious career.

Since his untimely demise at 49, the press has been awash with several controversial headlines including “Was Rashidi Yekini Killed?”, “Untold Story of Rashidi Yekini’s Last Days”, “ExEagles Striker, Rashidi, Dies in Herbal Home” and “How Rashidi Yekini Died of Depression”.

The above point to the fact that the death of ‘Gangling Yekini’, (as he was fondly called), was shrouded in mystery and was probably related to his state of health. We do not know what his state of mind was but what comes to fore is the issue of utmost neglect of special people in need of the attention of the state. Another issue of utmost importance is also the re-examination of the enabling legislation regulating mental health issues.

Historical Perspective The history of mental health regulation in Nigeria dates back to the pre-colonial period through the English statutes of 1845 and 1890, applicable to Nigeria as a Statute of General Application. In 1906, the Lunacy Ordinance was passed in the then Southern Province of Nigeria.

The Ordinance empowered the Colonial Government to establish a lunatic asylum. Consequently, the first Asylums were built at Yaba in Lagos and at Calabar. Lunatics under the Ordinance include idiots. Medical supervisors appointed had the power to detain a person suspected to be a lunatic for not more than a month but ultimate authority lay with the District Commissioners who had the power not only to detain but hold hearings and appoint medical supervisors.1 The established asylums functioned more as a prison than a treatment centre. As such Lunatics that is the inmates were kept without any care and were secluded from the society as if they were outcasts.

With the growing need for a law that will take care of the affairs, well being and fundamental rights of Lunatics, Reports were commissioned on mental health in Nigeria.2 The Reports advocated an expansive approach to the provision of mental services and this led to the enactment of the Lunacy Act 1958. This Act has remained the basic legislative framework on mental health in Nigeria. This legislation made provisions for the detention of Lunatics by Medical Practitioners and the courts in designated hospitals. It was, however, grossly blank on salient issues of consent to treatment, appeal against detention and it was grossly inadequate on important issue the management of the affairs and property of the Lunatic.

State of facilities Nigeria, unlike most countries of the European Union, is yet to have an effective legal framework to regulate, cater for, or provide for the management of mentally ill persons and their affairs. The state of the law is rather insufficient to meet the challenges of proper regulation of mental health. Just about 3.3 per cent of government’s annual expenditure on health is earmarked for mental health in a country where the proportion of budget on health to the Gross

By Bolaji Ayorinde Domestic Product (GDP) is about 3.4 per cent.

Most resources on mental health in Nigeria are provided by government. The total per capital expenditure on health is US$31 and out of this, US$7 represents government expenditure. Out of the proposed health budget and that granted to the mental health department, 90 per cent of this has been put into recurrent maintenance of mental hospitals only. The infinitesimal amount dedicated to mental health cannot be enough to embark on any new capital infrastructural on mental health; rather, it has been used to maintain the ones already existing. It is noteworthy to state that our mental hospitals are in deplorable condition. In Nigeria today, there are seven mental health facilities, six of which are owned by the Federal Government. The hospitals are poorly equipped with a total of 1,092 beds. Even other developing African countries have better equipped hospitals with a better ratio of medical personnel to patients and patients to beds.

The Nigerian government owned mental health facilities are inadequately funded and underdeveloped but they can boast of about 95 per cent of trained Psychiatrists while the remaining five per cent work for Non-Governmental Organisations, for profit and private practice. As such, there is a pool of expertise in government owned institutions that are not being maximised as they should be to boost the mental health sector.

Legal frame wosrk The legal framework for regulation of mental health and their patients are moribund as even subsisting laws are inadequate. The operative law in Nigeria is the Lunacy Act of 1958. New efforts aimed at formulating a new law to include trends and advances in relation to laws of other countries have not been successful. Nigeria formulated mental health policies in 1991 with objectives to advocate, promote, prevent, treat and rehabilitate mentally ill patients. Most of these objectives have not been implemented effectively.

Nigeria’s legal framework regulating the affairs of mentally ill persons as aforesaid is largely based on the repealed Mental Health Act 1959 of the United Kingdom. This Law has been replaced with the Mental Health Act 1983 (United Kingdom) and the current law now in the United Kingdom is the Mental Health Act 2007 with accompanying amendments.

Mental disorder was defined in the United Kingdom 1983 Mental Health Act as any disorder or disability of the mind excluding those of severe mental impairment and psychopathic disorder which were included in the lunacy laws in force in Nigeria as a result of the 1959 Act which was copiously enacted. This definition has further widened the term and persons that fall under the definition of mentally disordered persons as this category is now not limited to just persons suffering from the omitted ailments, but also other persons that were not or might not have been envisaged under the 1959 Act with exceptions to learning disability or alcohol dependence. A lunatic, as stated in the Public Trustee Law for the purpose of the management of his property and affairs is described as ‘a person found lawfully adjudged to be a lunatic by the magistrate court and includes persons suicidal or dangerous to himself; or persons not dangerous to himself but dangerous to others; persons incapable of managing himself; or persons capable of managing himself and not dangerous either to himself or others, but incapable of managing his own affairs a criminal lunatic while insane or under confinement - any person not detained and not found to be a lunatic, but whom through mental infirmity arising from either disease or age, is not capable of managing his affairs.”

Management of property and affairs of the mentally disordered The properties of mentally disordered persons properly so called are issues of private law over which the state has no power over save certain instances known to law. However,

•Chief Ayorinde (SAN)

mentally disordered persons are subject to state protection and therefore there is a state responsibility to handle their affairs. As such, in the United Kingdom, the Mental Health Act 1983 provides that the affairs of the mentally disordered persons (including their properties and belongings) are to be handled by the state through Lord Chancellor who has the power to nominate Judges of the Supreme Court to manage such properties and affairs. The Supreme Court has created a Court called the Court of Protection to be in charge of this. The Court has a head called the Master of the Court of Protection. The existence and the powers of the Court of Protection are entirely statutory by virtue of the Mental Health Act 1983. Section 17 of the High Court law of Lagos State states as follows: “...the High Court shall have the powers and authorities of the Lord Chancellor of Great Britain in relation to the appointment and control of guardians of infants and their estate, and also keepers of the persons and estates of idiots, lunatics and such as being of unsound mind are unable to govern themselves and their estates” By the above, the High Court of Lagos possesses the power of the Lord Chancellor to the extent that it can appoint guardians for infants and to manage and control the affairs and estate of lunatics who are unable to govern such themselves. Before such management can be embarked on, it must be shown that the subject is incapable of managing his property and affairs by himself through medical evidence given by a registered medical practitioner.

Therefore, the equivalent of the Court of Protection is to be found in the powers of the High Court to appoint a ‘committee in lunacy’entrusted with the management of the estate of the patient. Where it is believed that such a person is incapable of managing and administering his property and affairs. Powers conferred on the High Court can be exercised after considering medical evidence proffered by the medical expert that such a person is incapable of managing and administering his property and affairs.

While the practice and procedure of the Court of Protection in England has significantly developed over the years, same cannot be said of the Nigerian practice even though there are relevant but insufficient provisions in the High Court laws of Lagos State and, indeed, other states of the federation. See, for example, Section 11 of the High Court law of Oyo State 2000.

In the United Kingdom, there are settled principles with regards to the powers of the Court of

Protection. By Section 16(1) of the Mental Capacity Act 2005, such power (which by Section 20(1) includes the power of the deputy acting with the Court’s authority) becomes exercisable only when the Patient lacks mental capacity in relation to his or her personal welfare, property and affairs. Other powers of the court includes the power to make declarations concerning capacity which is a new power of the Court of protection granted under section 15 of the Mental Capacity Act 2005, statutory power of the Court under section 49 of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 to call for a Report from a public guardian, a Court of protection visitor, a local authority or an NHS (National Health Service) body, power in relation to the Patient’s welfare, property and affairs under sections 17 and 18 of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 which include choice of patient’s residence, contact persons of the patient, consent to treatment, choice of medical practitioner for the patient, power in relation to enduring and lasting powers of attorney as well as Independent Mental Capacity Advocates who are service officials to advice, assist and safeguard persons that lack the capacity to make a specified decision at a particular time, are facing a decision on a long term move or serious medical treatment or have nobody else to be able to represent them as stated in sections 35-41 of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. The practice has also settled principles relating to proceeding parties thereto and the manner of notices to be issued.

Furthermore practice rules are established governing hearings, taking of standings, evidence, enforcement of decisions and appeals. With regard to appointed Deputies, principles governing the mode of application, the structure, duties and power of the Deputy and the termination of the Deputy’s tenure are also firmly established.

The need for urgent action One of the most common situations in Mental Health situations in most jurisdictions is the presence of lunatics on the streets without care or any attempt to take them in and treat them. In the Nigerian jurisdiction, there are no provisions for taking such lunatics in or detaining them. As such they sleep on the streets and in public properties causing danger to themselves and innocent passersby. In the United Kingdom (UK) under the Mental Health Act 1983, Section 136 provides for a lunatic to be removed from places where the public have access to by a Constable for the protection of the Lunatic and the public.

Such Lunatic will be removed to a ‘Place of Safety’.

Section 135 defines a Place of Safety as a residential accommodation provided by a local social service authority under part III of the National Assistance Act 1948 and under paragraph 2 of the National Health Service Act 1977, a hospital as defined by the act, a police station, mental nursing home, residential home for the mentally disordered persons or any other suitable place where the occupier wilfully receives the patient. It is, indeed, a sad commentary that the legal system has not developed a proper and efficient legal framework to protect the most vulnerable of its citizens and it is about time, legislation is encouraged in this field. We have not developed our legal framework while social distaste and ostracisation remains the unfortunate order of the day in Nigeria with regards to the mentally ill.

This article is dedicated to all the victims of abuse who have been let down by the system and who are still waiting for justice. However, these people may still be better off than the likes of Yekini who, unfortunately, may have been let down by the nation he served with his all.

• Ayorinde (SAN) is Chairman, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria and former Pro-chancellor/Chairman, Governing Council, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomosho.

Mazrui for lecture tomorrow

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MINENT political scientist, Prof Ali Mazrui, will arrive in Nigeria tomorrow to speak at the Eighth üLEX Annual Lecture holding at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

Mrs. Funke Adekoya (SAN), partner at üLEX, (organisers of the lecture), explained that the presence of the renowned intellectual at the event would afford stakeholders the opportunity to hear from and exchange ideas with others.

She said: “We could relate with their circumstances, consider them; and then determine how we can address them to reach a solution.”

Until 1973, Mazrui was the head of the Department of Political Science and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda; this was before was forced into exile

by Idi Amin.

In 1974, he joined the Faculty of the University of Michigan as professor and later was appointed the Director, Center for Afroamerican and African Studies (1978–1981).

In 1989, he was appointed to the Faculty of Binghamton University, State University of New York as the Albert Schweitzer Professor in the Humanities and the Director of the Institute of Global Cultural Studies (IGCS).

Mazrui’s presentation on the lecture theme: This house must not fall: Constitutional reform and the people’s will, would be discussed by renowned academic and veteran journalist, Dr. Haroun Adamu, who was also a member of the 1989 Constitutional Conference; Dr. Ayo Teriba, the Chief Executive Officer, Economic Associates (EA) and member of the National Economic

• Mazrui

Intelligence Committee (NEIC) and Ms. Annkio Briggs, a prominent activist from the Niger Delta and Founder/President, Agape Birthrights Organisation.

The event is expected to be chaired by Justice Kayode Eso.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

NATIONAL BAR

Behold new NBA national officers

By John Austin Unachukwu

Joyce Oduah, Treasurer As the Treasurer of NBA, I will ensure that the funds and assets of our great association are properly and appropriately managed.

I will ensure that annual budget is produced and managed all through the year.

I will work with the President and other members of the Exco to move our great association forward.

I will ensure that the treasury is automated to allow for easy reconciliation of all transactions.

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HE Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) last week in Abuja, elected new officers to man its affairs in the next two years.

In the election, which was keenly contested, the following were elected. Here we unveil them and their programmes.

Okey Wali ( SAN) President My vision for the NBA is to have a professionalised NBA. If you went through my programme and manifesto in the course of electioneering campaigns, I made it clear that the focal point and cardinal point of my administration is professionalising the NBA. When I say this, I mean two focal points, one, will be an ethical revolution. We seem to have some issues in the profession. We believe that the business asset of any legal practitioner is his integrity and that comes from compliance with the ethics of the legal profession. We seem to have some problems with that at the moment and I intend to pay so much attention to that as possible.

I have talked to my colleagues along the line that if that is the only thing I achieve after two years of serving the NBA, I will leave the presidency of the NBA a very satisfied man. So I will work with the national officers, the NEC and the entire Bar to achieve this.

Emeka Obegolu (General Secretary) Our dear association has come to be revered beyond our professional precinct as it has become a national symbol for fairness, justice and equity.

There is, thus, no gain saying the fact that given our association’s interest in socio-economic and political national issues in recent times, it is evident that tremendous innovative transformation is needed to ensure that the NBA secretariat, our engine room, remains responsive and dynamic.

Given the huge expectations from legal practitioners and Nigerians in general, our dear association has no option than to continue to build itself into a viable association capable of engaging the system more proactively and harnessing the synergy of purpose to galvanise the innovative process of positive over haul of the status quo. This can only be achieved where the secretariat is poised for the emerging challenges and equipped with a dynamic leadership to support the Bar programmes and policies. I will work with the President elect to actualise this.

Kelvin Ejelonu, Welfare Secretary My job is simple as the welfare officer.

Anything I want to do has to be structured with the president’s programme of action.

Our president has a lot of programmes, which when implemented, will impact positively on the welfare of lawyers. So, I will assist him to deliver his mandate.

Paul Ebiala (1st Asst. Secretary) Well, we are set out to make sure that our secretariat runs the way a secretariat should run. That is a secretariat that takes cognisance of modern gadgets and adopts the fastest way of getting information across to the members. We will make sure that the quality of minutes we produce for members should be one that represents our status.

O. J. Erhabor – First Vice-President We have just been elected and we pledge our loyalty to the President-elect. We will also give institutional loyalty to the Bar. As the first vice-president, I wish to state that we shall look at the economic rights of our members. Many of them are undergoing serious hardships and challenges. We will look into the welfare of our members.

Very soon, we will meet with our president-elect again to brainstorm on the way forward.

Rather than individual programmes, we will work as a team to deliver the presidents vision for the Bar.

Afam Obi Publicity Secretary The NBA is our collective thrust. We must guard it jelously. I will promote the image of the Bar and protect is integrity will al sense of duty and responsibility.

U. F. O. Nnaemeka, Second Asst.

Secretary Before the election, I made promises which I believe, I will fulfill, to be a good assistant to both the First Assistant and the General Secretaries and God willing, I will fulfill this promise.

Steve Abba, Second Vice-President y promise is to give unreserved ser vice, to build on the legacies of my worthy predecessor in office, key into the vision of the president for the benefit of the Bar. For every assemblage of people, the paramount factor is welfare, everything we do revolve around welfare and this is pivotal to what the president wants to do for the Bar. We will support him with every strength in our body, God helping us.

M

Francis Ekwere (Third Vice-President) From my interaction with members, there are lots of complaints that they do not access NBA programmes. So, I intend to work with the programme officer to make sure that our programmes are well and highly accessed by our members.

Sule Usman (Legal Adviser) The Bar has a lot of legal issues, which include fake lawyers, touting in courts etc. I will do my best to tackle some of those issues. I will encourage branches to draw and abide by the provisions of their Bylaws. Because without law, no organisation can function properly.

We will enlarge our members to report any unethical issues to us, we shall deal with it as one family and encourage the president to do his best for the Bar.

John Austin Unachukwu (Asst National Publicity Secretary) S the Assistant National Publicity Sec retary, I will deploy my Public Rela tions and Communication skills for the service of the Bar. I will assist my boss, the Publicity Secretary and the president-elect to realise their vision, mission and mandate. We all must assist him to deliver for the interest of the NBA and welfare of lawyers.

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36

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

NATIONAL BAR

NBA: Lawyers laud election

By John Austin Unachukwu

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HE Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) election has come and gone.

In this report, The Nation presents the views of those who attended it.

NBA President, Joseph Bodunrin Daudu (SAN), said: “We thank God that the wishes of the people have been reflected in the result and democracy in NBA works. We give thanks to God. The full joy of an occupant of an office is to have a successful transition and I thank God that this has been successful.”

His advice to the newly elected executives of the Bar: “It is for them to serve the Bar dutifully, live up to the tenets of democracy.”

On his challenge as the president, he said: “Well, my greatest challenge as the president of the Bar was that of working in an emerging economy and democracy with the security threats and challenges.

“We thank God for the successful of this exercise. At least, we have one more hurdle to go, which is the Annual General Conference (AGC).

Former President of the NBA, Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) said: “The election is credible, free and fair. I commend the NBA President J. B. Daudu (SAN) for a very well conducted electoral process”.

Agbakoba continued: “However it is obvious to me that there are concerns as a result of the election.

I stood for Okey Wali (SAN), I gave my full support to Okey Wali (SAN) and the Eastern Bar Forum (EBF).

“But obviously the new Executives of the NBA is dominated by the Igbos to the exclusion of other sections of the country. However, the South West was the cause of their own exclusion because they traded off their candidates and lost off.”

Agbakoba stated “My concern is that this is not too good to have intrigues and politics dominating the election of officers of the Bar. It is something we have review and discuss.”

“It goes back to the politics of inclusion that I introduced when I was the President of the NBA to the effect that the country can only survive if every part of it feels included.

“What I think the NBA needs to do is to go back to may inclusion doctrine and see how we can take out money politics and intrigues, so that we can preserve the two most important goals in the election of our officers.

“The first is to see the best candidates emerge victorious in our elections and the second is that this must include all 100 branches of the NBA. If we define this very well, the tension we saw in this election would be reduced in future elections.I am sure that if we do this we should see less tension in 2014.”

For O C J Okocha (SAN): “Well, I feel very very happy and fulfilled. As you know, I am the one who nominated the incoming president of the Bar Okey Wali (SAN). “ He is my kinsman, my friend and my learned brother silk. We attended the same secondary school and I feel so happy that he emerged president of the NBA. “I am sure that he will justify the confidence, which we reposed on him and I assure the NBA that they have elected a worthy successor to our worthy president, J. B. Daudu (SAN).”

On his advice to the incoming administration, Okocha said: “My advice to them is to lift the NBA to a higher level. Let them be magnanimous in victory and they must be charitable to their co-contestants, to make sure that it is a no-victor-novanquished situation. We usually say that the only winner in our elections is the NBA and I hope that principle will continue to hold.”

should use his good offices to see to the amendment of the NBA constitution to accommodate inclusion before 2014 elections.

“Ordinarily, the election of the NBA was free and fair for which I commend J. B. Daudu (SAN) and his EXCO. “se the composition does not in any way engender representation, confidence and therefore cannot carry along the 100 branches of the NBA in case of a major national crises.”

Ochoga continued: “The President- elect should revisit the inclusion programme of the Agbakoba administration, which was approved by the Maiduguri NEC. It allocated one office to each of the six geopolitical zones and left the remaining eight offices for competition by all the zones.

“Unfortunately, Egbe Amofin has been the major opponent of this inclusion, but today, they are the first victim of non-inclusion.

It is hoped that lawyers will immediately appreciate that the NBA is not an academic exercise, but a professional body that must respect the diversity and Federal Character of this country.”

Augustine Alegeh (SAN) said: “The result is very good; we have shown that the Bar is good; the Bar is united, the overwhelming votes received by the president-elect shows that East, North, South and West, the Bar remains united and we have given good leadership to the people.

On his advice to the executives, he said: “My advice to them is for them to provide good leadership, excellent leadership and building on the achievements of the past administration. “ We have done marvellously well.

I thank God for the leadership.

Chief John Ochoga said: “The election was well conducted in terms of physical voting, transparency and credibility. I commend the NBA President, J. B. Daudu (SAN) and his administration for this exercise.

“However, leadership is a process of administering people and this is also about inclusion. This election has not produced the required result that is needed for the NBA to move forward.

“There is no executive from the Southwest; the North has only two officers that were returned unopposed.

“It is a very dangerous tendency for any group of people or tribe to think that they alone can lead the Bar. This is Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) not Arewa Lawyers Association, Eastern Bar Forum or Egbe Amofin.”

“The provision of Section 14 subsection 3 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is clear about this. It is all about associations and the management of people in such a way that every part of the country will be represented and feels the impact of governance.

“So, if our national law recognises the principle of inclusion, we are bound to recognise it also and unless we have an inclusion government, you may see a section of the country dissociating itself from the pronouncements of the association because it is not accommodated in its executive committee”.

“So, it is expected that the Presidentelect, Okey Wali (SAN), who is experienced and well accepted to all,

Tess Morris Okeke said: “I am very happy because we have done it again.

The Bar, which has always provided a conducive environment for democracy to thrive in our society; that is why we have done very well.”

On her advice to the incoming administration, Okeke said: “Let them be magnanimous in victory and carry everybody along so that there will be unity of purpose and oneness in the Bar. We don’t have constituencies in the NBA; so the president-elect should spread his wings throughout the 100 branches of the NBA and make sure that he carries everybody along.

Dr. Ikpeze Ogua said: “You can see that we are jubilating that Okey Wali (SAN) will in a short while will become the 26th president of the NBA in 2012. This is the day that the lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it.”We are happy that the process edible, transparent, free and fair.”

F

ORMER President of the Mus lim Lawyers Association of Nigeria (MULAN), Alhaji Tajudeen Oladoja, said: “I feel elated that the best professional association of Nigeria and, indeed, the world, the NBA has done Nigeria proud by organising a credible, successful and transparent delegates’ election.

“The president-elect and other national officers are going to show that the NBA will come out more united, vibrant and relevant to issues of national discourse.”

“Because of the calibre of officers that have been elected, the president, and all his officers, we have one of the best teams that the NBA has produced in recent times.”

On his expectations from the new EXCO, Oladoja said: “My expectations are one, Okey Wali (SAN) and his team should fulfill their campaign promises; let them overhaul the electoral process, which I think is flawed and it is so stressful. They should do all that is required for the process to be overhauled and for us in the society, both at the Bar, the Bench and the society at large, the NBA should play a more pivotal role to cleanse the society of corruption and, thirdly, we should be more proactive to confront the government when there is the need to do that in the overall interest of the society.

Nella Andem Rabana (SAN) said: “I am very happy; the winners actually deserved their victory. They worked hard to convince us, and we came out and voted. I hope that the rest of Nigeria will see that once we put in place an electoral process whereby things are transparent, nobody will argue that these are the results and they are true.”

On her expectations from the new executives, Rabana (SAN) said: “Well, first of all they will live up to the promises they have made.

“They came up with manifestos, they came up with promises, they came up with programmes they intend to execute, so we expect them to implement them.”

Ichie L. M. E. Ezeofor said: “We are happy, that the elections were smooth and the results came out as we expected.

The Okey Wali executive will definitely deliver,” on his expectations, Ezeofor said.

The bar belongs to all of us and the young lawyers should feel the impact of belonging. We should make progress with the payments we are making at the Bar.”

T

M. A. Abubakar said: “I am definitely highly elated for the NBA president-elect.

“This is the good example that the polity can emulate from the Nigeria Bar Association. This continued seamlessness with which we transit from one government to another, I commend this to Nigeria.

“On his expectations from the Okey Wali (SAN) administration, he said: “Well, expect them to better what the last administration has done, on the way, they have made a lot of promises during their campaigns, manifestos and text massages. We are going to hold them to those text massages.

HE Attorney-General Ekiti State Mr Dayo Akinlaja said: “I must really commend the committee that organised this election. To every discerning mind, it is an indication that we have really come of age in terms of conducting elections in the NBA. It is an indication that the country has a lot of learn from the NBA in the conduct of free and fair elections. I have, no doubt, that it was a free and fair elections and there is no doubting the fact that everybody is somewhat satisfied that the election could not have gone any other way.

On his expectations from the new executives, Akinlaja said: “The expectations are quite many.

The summary of it is that I expect a new administration that will serve assiduously for that matter to build on what the outgoing administration has been able to achieve in the course of its tenure and it is my belief and conviction that God helping them, they should be able to do well.”

37

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

LAW & SOCIETY VALEDICTORY DINNER IN HONOUR OF FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE OF NIGERIA (CJN), JUSTICE DAHIRU MUSDAPHER

BY NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED LEGAL STUDIES AT TRANSCORP HILTON HOTEL, ABUJA

• From left: Ambassador Joseph Ayalogu; Ambassador Aminu Waziri Wali (standing) and Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) Prof.Epiphany Azinge (SAN)

• Michael F. Lana, left and Director, Research NIALS, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye

• Dr. Valerie Azinge (left) and Justice A. O. Otaluka

• Chief Solomon Awomolo (SAN) and his wife Victoria

• A cross-section of NIALS Choir at the event

• Former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Dahiru Musdapher flanked by his wife, Fatima (left) and new CJN Aloma Mukhtar

•Rickdey Tarfa (SAN), left; and Justice H. A. Nganjiwa

• Commissioner for Education, Ogun State, John K. Odubela (left) and Godwin Abali

Kingsley Agomoh; his wife, Chidinma; and Chairman, NBA Abuja branch, Afam Osigwe

• Hon. Olivai Agbajoh and Col. Bello Fadile (rtd)

PHOTOS: JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU

38

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

NATIONAL BAR

No ghost voters in our elections, NBA tells Ngige

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HE Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has denied that ghost voters took part in its delegates’ conference in Abuja, last week.

In a statement, the General Secretary of the lawyers’body, Olumuyiwa Akinboro, said the names of its dead members in the delegates’register were given to the Electoral Committee by the secretariat of the association, who got them from the May edition of the list of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) published by the Supreme Court.

The NBA said the names were marked in the register to reflect their status.

He said NBA conducted an election, which its members, the media and observers described as the most credible, free and fair elections in the country.

However, Emeka Ngige (SAN), one of the presidential candidates in the election, who lost to Okey Wali (SAN) alleged that misconduct and names of dead members of the association appeared on the voters’ register.

In the statement, the NBA said: “At the end of the well-conducted NBA elections Mr Ngige, in the full glare of the public and television cameras conceded victory in the election and congratulated the winner, Okey Wali (SAN) only to turn around in less than 24 hours to submit an ‘election petition’ to nobody in particular and as described above purporting to discredit the electoral process for reasons best known to him.

“It is most unfortunate that a person of Ngige’s knowledge and experience at the Bar would allow sheer emotionalism and the pressure of electoral defeat to overwhelm him to the extent of making unfounded accusations against the NBA. On letter to Mr Olumiya Akinboro on June 28, requesting for NBA delegates’ list, it said: “As

By John Austin Unachukwu

a body of lawyers which prides itself on constitutionalism and due process, we wish to state that it is not the practice to give contestants the delegates’ list in advance to avoid any undue advantage or favour that this line of action may encourage. The NBA General Secretary is not constitutionally empowered to release the ‘voters list’ to contestants.

“Since the 2009 amendment to the NBA Constitution, the General Secretary’s role in the actual conduct of the election has been taken over by the Electoral Committee.

Consequently, contrary to Ngige’s suggestions, there was no conspiracy or concerted action to deprive Ngige of the delegates list.

His request was simply ultra vires of the office and functions of NBA General Secretary.”

On the alleged manipulation of NEC list to include non-NEC members the NBA said: it said: “According to Ngige, the (NEC) list was manipulated to include non-NEC members and even those “who are constitutionally disqualified”.

He gave the example of Mrs Ranti Bosede Daudu and Mr Paul Tunde Daudu, the wife and son of the outgoing NBA President.

“More worrisome is the fact that he is deliberately projecting himself as someone who is oblivious of the NBA constitution and NEC resolutions. The composition of NBA NEC is contained in article 9(a)(I-iv) and (vil-3).

“Mr Paul Babatunde Daudu is the secretary of the Young Lawyers Forum and by virtue of that office, he was co-opted into NEC with the Chairman of the forum. “ Paul Daudu’s involvement with the NBA Young Lawyers Forum (YLf) preceded this father’s ascendancy as President of the Nigerian Bar Association. This is not the first time that the chairman and the secretary of the YLF will be co-opted

into NEC. Mr Opayinka (one of those who contested this election) was a member of NEC all the years that he served as Chair of the Young Lawyers Forum and he was below seven years then.

“Furthermore, there are NEC members who are less than 10 years at the Bar and they include the First Assistant Financial Secretary. These are statutory exceptions to the Rule that a NEC member should be at least 10 years at the Bar. There are also branch executives who are less than 10 years who represent their constituencies on NBA/NEC. This has been the tradition since the inception of the sections and fora.

“As for Mrs Daudu, she has been a NEC member since the inauguration of the current NEC. She also in her right based on her human rights work with children with disability appointed as a Commissioner to the National Human Rights Commission on the recommendation of NBA/NEC. Theirs and that of other members were approved for membership at GOMBE NEC. “It seems entirely strange that Mr Ngige is feigning ignorance of this tradition all in a bid to malign the NBA, which he had attempted to serve in the capacity of a President.”

On the manipulation of voters’ register, the NBA stated: “ The allegation that NBA manipulated the voters register to procure some sinister ends is absolutely false as alleged by Ngige. On the contrary, all the names submitted by the chairmen were published in the voters register. No single name or names were added in favour of the winner as alleged. “ Mr Ngige made reference to the Port Harcourt branch’list ostensibly to show that it was padded in favour of the winner. The fact is that Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja branches have over the years turned out the largest numbers of delegates. In this year election, Abuja branch had 45 delegates,

• Akinboro

• Ngige

Lagos, which is Mr Ngige’s branch had 43 and Port Harcourt 42. It is a known fact that the highest percentage of lawyers in Nigeria are concentrated in these cities and since the delegates derivation scheme is premised on the population of the lawyers, who paid practising fees in each of the branches, the reason the aforementioned three cities will always have disproportional number of delegates vis-a-vis other branches becomes abvious.”

On the presence of late SANs names on on the list, the NBA stated: ”The list of the Senior Advocates of Nigeria and benchers were given to the Electoral Committee by the Secretariat, who sourced same from the Supreme Court of Nigeria with qualifying remarks where applicable.The names of deceased SANs and benchers he mentioned were appropriately annotated in the register with remarks reflecting their deceased status.

“At any rate, the deceased SAN’s and Benchers mentioned by Mr Ngige were recently deceased and that fact was not known to the Secretariat Staff. No deceased delegate voted or could have voted. Ngige should name a SAN or Bencher who voted without being qualified to do so.

On duplicated names in the register, NBA added: “The allegation of duplicated or multiple rendition of voter names in the list is not correct. It is remarkable that Mr Ngige did not say the purported duplication of names resulted in multiple voting since he knew that such voting was not possible in NBA election as a result of diverse mechanism embedded in the electoral process to check all forms of fraud and manipulation.

“The electoral committee had a duty and, indeed, an obligation which it creditably discharged by its inexorable adherence to the fair principle of “one delegate one vote.”

Chevron partners media on development

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HEVRON Nigeria Limited (CNL) has restated its com mitment to the media to enhance its efforts to achieve its social responsibility.

The company’s General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Mr Deji Haastrup, stated this during a luncheon with top media executives at the Ocean View Restaurant, Lagos.

He stated that the luncheon was the beginning of more opportunities to meet with and interact with the media.

Haastrup said: “ This will mark a new era of media engagement, which will assist the media in accessing information and dispensing same with objectivity, transparency and credibility.

He listed the company’s objectives as: safely provided energy products vital to sustainable economic progress and human development throughout the world; are people and an orgnisation with superior capabilities and commitment; are the partner of choice; earn the admiration of all our stakeholders investors, customers, host governments, local communities and our employees – not only for the goals we achieve but how we achieve them; deliver world class performance.

These are anchored on the company’s foundation, which is built on the values that distinguish Chevron and guide her actions.

He said the company conducts its business in a socially responsible and ethical manner,operates within the ambit of the law and has utmost respect for Universal Human Rights, protects the environment and benefits the communities

By John Austin Unachukwu

where they operate.

On community development, he said: “CNL has a traditional of helping to improve the quality of life, particularly in its areas of operations and in Nigeria.

“In 2005, the company adopted a new approach to community engagement in the Niger Delta to improve local participation in determining the needs its programmes should address.

“This model, called the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU)), gives the communities greater roles in the management of their development through newly created Regional Development Committees (RDCs).

“In 2009, CNL renegotiated the GMoUs that expired in 2008 and launched the Participatory Partnership for Community Development (PPCD) initiative. The PPCD is a Chevron-led partnership programme that leverages the strengths of CNL, New Nigeria Foundation, Pact and other organisations to help increase the capabilities and activities of the RDCs. “The GMoUs have generated about 200 projects in more than 400 communities, villages and chiefdoms, and benefited some 600,000 community members. CNL supports the process by providing funding for governance, administration, and project and partner costs, while local Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) provide technical assistance, and help to resolve conflicts that arise in the communities.

“In 2011, Chevron announced it was joining the United States

Agency for International Development in contributing $50 million to the Niger Delta Partnership Initiative (NDPI) Foundation, which Chevron established to address the socio-economic challenges facing the area.”

Chevron’s $25 million commitment is drawn from a $50 million endowment it created in 2010 to launch the NDPI Foundation.

He said Chevron’s approach to partnership and sustainable development is motivated by the saying that if you want to go faster, go alone and if you want to go far, go with others.

He said: “The partnership we have an unwavering commitment to being a good partner focused on building productive, collaborative, trusting and beneficial relationships

with governments, other companies, our customers, our communities and each other.”

Applying the Chevron’s corporate responsibility, Haasstrup, said: “CNL is an industry leader in its commitment to supporting economic and social development of communities around its areas of operations and beyond. Apart from delivering on its core objective of oil and gas production, the company continues to add value to the society. Chevron’s corporate responsibility posture stems from its vision to be the global energy company most admired for its people, partnership and performance.

He explained: “At Chevron, corporate responsibility means consistently applying the company’s

core values as outlined in The Chevron Way; maximising the positive impact of its operations on current and future generations; integrating social, economic and environmental considerations into the company’s core practices, and engaging with and balancing the needs of its key stakeholders.”

So far, Chevron has earned laurels when its comes to corporate responsibility in Nigeria. As an international oil giant, the organisation has been striking a balance between its objectives for profit and its conscience as a corporate citizen.

Observers say the company should continue its massive social investment in Nigeria for the benefit of stakeholders.

By Joseph Jibueze

ers in the country are replete with disappointments over applications for the new meters and the morbid responses of the PHCN officials who show no scruples in announcing the unavailability of the meters or in pronouncing the fee payable for one.

“The question that begs a keen and compelling answer is whether a high tariff regime that is not supported by a strong, free, and well-entrenched “prepaid” metering system will not push the average consumer from frying pan to fire, in the sense that consumers who cannot purchase the new pre-paid meters will be billed arbitrary new tariffs which PHCN officials will heighten under the new tariff regime.

Coalition opposes new electricity tariff

A

COALITION of Non-Govern mental Organisations, One Voice, has urged Nigerians to reject the new electricity tariff.

The coalition, funded in their programmes by the National Endowment for Democracy, said a NoPrepaid-Meter-No-Higher-Tariff campaign should begin and be sustained by the media, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and professional groups.

At a media parley in Lagos, the group said: “One Voice Nigeria reminds Nigerians that the higher risk we run by accepting a higher tariff regime without a strong and pervasive pre-paid metre system is that once government achieves the higher tariff regime unhindered, it would renege on taking the trouble to provide the pre-paid metres.”

It said the situation would pave way for Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) officials to market the few available metres at cut-throat prices to consumers who would have no choice but the buy them.

“Nigerians would need to recall the history of the fuel subsidy promises,” it said.

One Voice added: “Although the new and celebrated regime of pre-paid metering has been lavishly flaunted as an all round solution to the energy problem in Nigeria, the challenge associated with it turns on availability and affordability of the meters (even though reported to be free).

“Verifiable reports by consum-

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

39

ABUJA REVIEW NEWS

•Bishop of Kubwa Diocese, Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. Duke Akamisoko (right), Chairman, 2012 Synod Planning Committee, Sir Uche Okonkwo and Synod Clerical Secretary, Rev. Simeon Obisike during a pre-Synod 2012 press briefing of the Diocese in Abuja PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

•The new Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Maryam Aloma Mukhtar (middle). With her are, from left, Minister of Lands and Urban Development, Ms Ama Pepple; Minister of Water Resources, Mrs, Sarah Reng Ochekpe; Minister Women Affairs, Hajia Zainab Maina; Minister of State For Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada; Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Hajia Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi; Minister of Petroleum Resources, Deziani AlisonMadueke; Minister of Education, Ruqayyatu Rufai and Minister of Environment, Mrs. Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafia during the swearing-in of the new CJN at the Presidential Villa.

•From left, state governors: Ibrahim Shema (Katsina); Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo); Minister of State, FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide; Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo and Anambra State Governor Peter Obi at the National Economic Council meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja

•Director, Quality Assurance and Development, Emmanuel Amlai (left); Director General Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Mrs Ify Umenyi and Director, Consumer Education, CPC, Alhaji Aminu Kawu at the National Young Consumer Contest Award in Abuja

•Vice Chancellor University of Calabar and the chairman of the occasion, Prof. James Epoke; Registrar Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria, Prof. Anthony Emeribe; National President Association of Medical Laboratory of Nigeria, Dr. Godswill Okara and the Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Prof. Olusola Adeyeye at a grand reception in honour Medical Laboratory Scientists and Friends of the Association in Abuja

PHOTO ABAYOMI FAYESE

•Clerk of the Senate Mr, Ben Efeture (left), administering the oath to Senators Solomon Ewuga (Nasarawa North) and Lady Margery Okadigbo (Anambra North), at their swearingPHOTO ABAYOMI FAYESE in Abuja.

•From left: Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina; Coordinating Minister of Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Minister of Information, Labaran Maku and Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Deziani Alison-Madueke during a meeting on agriculture at the Presidential Villa Abuja

•From left: Senate President, Senator David Mark; Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Musdaphar and Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu during the meeting of Heads of Arms of Government at the Presidential Villa Abuja.

PHOTOS: AKIN OLADOKUN

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

ABUJA REVIEW

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HE threat from the House of Representatives almost ruined the week that would have passed for one of the most peaceful and eventful in recent times at the Presidency.

The country celebrated its first female Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), an affirmation of President Goodluck Jonathan’s position on gender equity.

It is therefore not out of place to say that the House of Representatives punctuated the flow of events in the course of the week which was sailing well until, like a boisterous wind, the lawmakers began the talk on the level of implementation of 2012 budget and threatened the President with impeachment over what they called “poor implementation” of the budget.

The Presidency was quick to diffuse the possibility of a showdown between the House of Representatives and the President.

Dr. Reuben Abati who is the Presidential spokesman, in reaction to the reported threat of impeachment, said the president and members of the House are on the same page on the need for efficient budget implementation.

Abati said the President was also concerned about budget implementation. Abati also noted that Jonathan made it clear that his administration lays premium on budget performance, adding that based on the President’s directive, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, a few weeks ago, presented a detailed report of the level of performance by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). He further noted that the report was discussed at the Federal Executive Council.

“The House and the President are on the same page on budget implementation. Just as the House is concerned, Mr. President is concerned too. What happened today in the House was ironic and a big coincidence because two ministries: Interior and Police Affairs, were in the Villa today (Thursday) to make presentations on their key performance index.

Each ministry came with all the parastatals under it and presented their KPI in relation to Budget 2012.

“They were required to state their mandates, the money they collected under Budget 2012, their level of performance and their challenges if any, and then define their next steps. “After each presentation, there was robust discussion.”

All the same, the week went well for the Presidency starting with the inauguration of the first ever female Chief Justice of the country, Justice Maryam Aloma Mukhtar, a woman with many firsts. Mukhtar is the first female lawyer in the former Northern Region, First female High Court Judge in the North, first female Justice of the Appeal Court and the Supreme Court.

Besides, President Jonathan who presided over the event also conferred on Justice Mukhtar who is Nigeria’s 13th CJN national the honour of Grand Commander of Niger (GCON). She took over from Justice Dahiru Musdapher, who was also present at the event.

The president in his remark described the ceremony as “historic” and also advised the new CJN to quickly settle down for the urgent task of reform of the Nigerian judiciary.

“We are dealing with security challenges occasioned by sporadic acts of terrorism in some parts of the country. The three arms of government must work [together] to overcome this terrorist threat and act in the country.

“The war against corruption is another endeavour that calls for concerted action by all arms of government. I am confident that the judiciary under your able leadership will rise up to the challenge and provide the most

A near-perfect week From the Villa

By Vincent Ikuomola needed support for government to address these challenges.

“Our citizens complained of delayed trial particularly in cases of corruption, terrorism and other matters of serious concern.

“These complaints have led to frequent calls for special courts or designation of special judges to handle them with the required experience and speed. It will be your prerogative to consider and decide on this call. But I am sure that the entire country is in agreement that justice delayed is justice denied. I believe that an independent judiciary remains the final hope of our citizens.

“Your lordship should apply the instrument of your hallowed office to ensure timely justice delivery to make manifestly claim that substantive justice will never be sacrifice on the altar of procedural technicality, impunity must have no place in progressive Nigeria,” he said.

The president also commended the immediate past CJN, Justice Dahiru Musdapher for his effort within the short period he stayed in office.

He said, “I will like to place on record our immense gratitude to the immediate past CJN, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, despite his short tenure, he made spirited efforts to restore public confidence in our courts. We wish Justice Musdapher a well deserved retirement and hope that he will avail his wealth of experience in the continue service of our nation especially as he is now a member of the Council of State.”

Oshiomhole also breezed in to say thank you to the president who had created an enabling

environment for a free and fair election which ensured his reelection.

Though the Villa seems to be an odd place for the Comrade Governor to have been celebrated especially when his main opponent in that is in the same party as the occupant of the presidential villa,

the irony was that even mighty in the corridors of the presidential villa celebrated his victory.

As the Edo governor got to the entrance of the Council Chambers, dignitaries emerged to catch a glimpse of him. The unplanned reception at the villa portrayed him as a political David who had defeated the Edo political giants which include the Chief of Staff to the president, Mike Oghiadome who had to take some days off from his busy scheduled to lend a helping hand to his party candidate at the election.

He was hailed by the dignitaries present. Senators, members of House of Representatives, ministers took turns to hug and congratulate him for his victory at the poll.

Oshiomhole who later spoke to State House Correspondents, said that the Edo election has confirmed that when the President and

As the Edo governor got to the entrance of the Council Chambers, dignitaries emerged to catch a glimpse of him. Hias unplanned reception at the Villa portrayed him as a political David who defeated the Edo political giants which include the Chief of Staff to the president, Mike Oghiadome

Commander in Chief puts the country first and conducts himself as a statesman, and not just a party leader, credible elections are possible.

He also commended the president for the directive to deploy the military, police as well as men of the State Security Service who monitored the election at every stage to ensure that every vote counted.

Oshiomhole also called on Nigerians to appreciate and encourage the president to sustain this principle of truly reminding those in political offices that they are at the mercy of the masses and not at the mercy of the Presidency.

Presidency also on Wednesday dispatched the authentic Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB)to the National Assembly a few days after it disowned the fake PIB making the rounds.

The president sent the PIB 2012 to the National Assembly after what the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Deziani AlisonMadueke, described as “in-dept review”.

Also in the cause of the past week the Federal Government and states came close to resolving the issue of Excess Crude Account (ECA) which has pitched both parties against each other. The state governors had recently threatened to approach the Supreme Court to stop the federal government from the continued deduction from source money to finance the fuel subsidy an action the governors described as “illegal.”

First Bank honours customers

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IRST Bank of Nigeria Plc has honoured three of its customers with brand new 307 Peugeot cars in its Save and Excel promo.

The three lucky customers Ms Ekpo from Calabar, Ms Rosaline Osadebawhen from Benin branch and Mr. Tufa Samuel Audu from Langtang, in Plateau State, were picked in a draw witnessed by officials of the National Lottery Commission in Abuja.

The promo which is scheduled to run from January to December this year has two components, the quarterly draw were cars are won and

From Nduka Chiejina

the monthly draws were other prizes like home theatres, deep freezers, plasma televisions sets and N50,000 cash prizes are won by the bank’s customers.

Speaking at the event, Mrs Funke Smith, Head Consumer banking products of First Bank Plc said the promo is open only to new and old savings accounts holders of the bank who make and maintain a minimum deposit of N20,000 to qualify for the monthly draw and N30,000 for four months

straight to qualify for the quarterly draw for the car.

At the event in Abuja 12 winners from the South zone comprising the six South- South states and the five South East states went home with home theatres, another 12 with deep freezers, another with N50,000 and the last 12 with 32 inches plasma television sets as part of the monthly draw of the save and excel promo of the.

Before the draw in Abuja, 12 customers from across the country had already been selected for an all expense paid trip to London to watch the 2102 London Olympics.

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TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

When Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan hosted the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, he found time to engage journalists on salient issues. Group Political Editor BOLADE OMONIJO, who was there, presents the governor’s thought provoking views.

Oil producing states should get 50% derivation, says Uduaghan

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HAT is your impression about the visit of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Review to your state?

What has happened today is that we are highly honoured as a state to host the Senate Committee on Constitution Review. Their coming has enriched us as a state, it has exposed us. But specifically, today’s event is quite interesting because everybody is eager to do something about our constitution. There is no doubt that no constitution is perfect. Because of our experience in the last 13 years or so in dealing with the constitution, many people have experienced the flaws and they believe we need to do some changes. People in government, executive, legislature and judiciary, who have been using the constitution to manage the country, they have seen the weaknesses. So everybody, whether you are in or outside government, believes that we need to deal with the constitution and I believe that what will come out at the end will be the people’s constitution because what has been discussed today did not just start today.

You raised different issues at the event, which of them is most important?

For us in the south-south and as a state, the issue is really, what kind of federation are we practicing? People have had their own definition of federation, ‘you either have a federation or you don’t have it, there is nothing like a false or true federation’; those are academic arguments as far as I am concerned. The truth is, if we say we are in a federation, are we really practicing federalism the way it should be? The answer is no. So for us in the south-south, I said, ‘let us practice federalism the way it is known worldwide. What does that mean? There is a centre and the various states. In a real federation, the states are not appendages of the centre. There is no one big man up there and then you have the small men, and then the big man will start distributing crumbs to the small men down there, which seems to be happening now. What we are saying is this; there are 36 states and a federal government; for us, we will call it 37 governments. Yes, the federal government is bigger than the others but there are 37 governments in Nigeria. And the various governments should be able to manage their affairs, somehow independently, with all of us converging at the centre.

Specifically, what would you like to see?

We are saying that as a federation, the federal government is taking too many things and should be confined to certain areas and let the states do a lot more than they are doing now. Why should the federal government go to build primary schools and healthcare centres or boreholes? We believe that the states should handle that. But in so doing, we also need to review the allocation formula. I hear people say that the states should be generating their IGR but the reality is that Nigeria today still depends on oil, you can call it 65 or 70, whatever percentage. Most of the revenue today, either at the federal or state, we still depend on oil. That is the situation, there has to be a proper way of dealing with the funds that come from the oil: who gets what? Who has the right to get what? And we the states of the Niger Delta, the oil-producing communities, because of the challenge we have and the difficulties in the terrain and in developing our area, justice and fair play demands we should be getting 100 per cent and paying tax at the centre. But if that arrangement is not on, then they should increase the derivation to the various oil-producing areas. And then we are also talking about security, today, every part of this country is talking about one form of security problem or another and we think that with our long history we need to review our security arrangement and one of the areas that we believe should be reviewed is that states should have their own police. And from what I have heard today, for me, I think that seems to be one of the most exciting parts. Now, agree that there should be a state police, what is left is what should be the relationship between the state police and the federal police.

And how do we ensure that when the state police is put up it wont be abused by the governor; those are fine issues that can be discussed. But as for the issue of having a state police, everybody knows that if we don’t go that way, our security challenges will continue to get worse.

You mentioned that the derivation formula should be revised, to what percentage are you suggesting?

• Dr Uduaghan

The minimum should be 50 per cent.

When is Delta State likely to have a local government election? Secondly, why have you reacted to the Kidnapping Bill the way you have reacted even though you are the most affected?

On the issue of local government, there are two federating units in Nigeria, the federal government and the states. Look at the Nigerian law, the truth is that the local government is not a federating unit; the House of Assembly can make laws for the governing of local government council. That is to clarify the issue of federating units. In the state, in my first tenure, I did a local government election so you cannot accuse me that I haven’t conducted a local government election before. Unfortunately, their tenure finished sometime last year. And you know we had the highest number of elections in Delta State at about that period.

The tenure of that local government finished and almost at the same time, the tenure of the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) expired. Unfortunately too, the DSIEC we have been having also had its own challenges, in the sense that the membership of the DSIEC with the old law is lopsided and there have always been complain about the membership; some senatorial districts have more than others. So we sent an amendment to the House to ensure that there is equity and justice in the representation at the commission level. That has been passed; we are just collating the list now which we will send to the House. Once the DSIEC is put off, we will give them 3-4 months and we will do election. I want to do election, I don’t run away from it; I have been a governor when a local government election was done before and I think it can be done again, I don’t have problems with that.

The second question was about the kidnapping. First, what happened was that at the time the bill was passed, I didn’t give accent to it. Then they started a second one and between the time they brought it I was also not in office and all the things that has followed and so the lifespan of that assembly passed. They have resuscitated that bill, they have heard a public hearing, they have not quite finished; it has not been brought back to me. When they were doing the public hearing, I sent my Attorney-General to give them my own view. And one of the things I did send him to do was to tell them that I don’t believe in death sentence for any crime because death sentence has not stopped any crime in this world. Instead, sometimes, it has made the crime more deadly.

Right now, people that are being kidnapped, we are able to get them in one way or the other. I believe that if we now put a death sentence, the kidnappers may become more desperate knowing that if they are caught they will be killed, thus some of them might start killing more of their victims. We have the case of Anini in Benin City who was executed publicly but yet robbery did not stop. I also believe that all human beings have the right to life, it is my principle. But the bill has not come back to me, I need to correct that impression. When they bring it back to me and I look at it, then I will let you know whether it is acceptable or not.

Right now, there is no dispute between the executive and the legislature.

There is the fear of possible disintegration of the country, what

‘And we the states of the Niger Delta, the oil-producing communities, because of the challenge we have and the difficulties in the terrain and in developing our area, justice and fair play demands we should be getting 100 per cent and paying tax at the centre. But if that arrangement is not on, then they should increase the derivation to the various oil-producing areas’

is your view?

It is not possible. Forget it. Nigeria will not break up. Nobody is contemplating a breakup.

In Nigeria recurrent expenditure is very high. What could be the cause of this?

On the issue of the budget, if you pick up any budget in this country now, most of them are deficit. What does that mean? You come out with a budget in which you want to execute N100 billion project, but realistically, what you are expecting is N60 billion from the allocation and the IGR. But because of the policies, people force you to put some projects and when it gets to the Assemblies, either national or state, one project is added and all that, such that by the time the process finishes, the expenditure itself is quite high. But there is another aspect that people do not consider, how do you get the money to it? It is like your salary and loan can only by you a Toyota, meanwhile you are budgeting for a Mercedes. Now, you are ready to buy the Mercedes but the money you have is just for a Toyota and you are insisting you must buy the Mercedes; you already have a deficit. That is how most budget in this country is. At the end of the day, that deficit, you might have to look for a loan to be able to bridge that gap.

And of course, you can’t consistently take loan every year because as you are taking the loan, you must pay back.

Then secondly, when you budget at the beginning of the year, before the end of the year, something comes to distort your budget. Maybe midway there is a wage increase that shoots up your expenditure. Sometimes, there is a problem with our exchange rate and that increases the cost of contracts; you award a contract for N10 but because of exchange rate by the end of the year, there is inflation. We have a lot of things that combine to make it difficult to execute the budget. Now, what have we tried to do? We have to be realistic; there is no way I can tar all the roads in Delta State, but everybody expects me to tar the roads to his village, to his house; my friends, my brothers, my political associates, they all want me to do everything, but it is not just possible for me to do everything. Even classmates that you have not seen since primary school, once you become a governor, they surface and they expect you to do something for them. Nobody borders about how you get the money but they want you to do something for them. but you cant also blame them because if I were in their position, I would look for my classmates if they get into positions.

So we have that challenge of having deficit budget; of course if you have a deficit budget the performance is definitely going to reduce.

You mentioned that oil-producing states should be given 50 per cent derivation, meanwhile some people are calling for state creation, how do you reconcile that?

That I need 50 per cent derivation is my own pain, another person’s pain is to create states, another person’s pain is to create local government. So let us put all our requirements on the table and negotiate.

You are the brain behind Delta Beyond Oil concept, what does it entail?

The concept of Delta Beyond Oil is that when states that are oil producing get funds from Federal Government as allocation because of our oil producing status, what I am saying is that we can use those funds no matter how small they are, to develop other areas of the economy which is almost totally zero now. Let us develop other areas of the economy so that in future whether near or far; oil is not something you can rely on fully, there might be fall in price, it can finish, so that in future whether we have oil or not we can have a stable economy. What has happened is that because we have oil, we seemed to have forgotten the other areas of the economy not just in this state alone even in the nation.

Delta State is a rich state like Akwa Ibom, but is the state spending judiciously?

Really I hate comparisons; that was why when you said we are rich i wanted to be clear on what the richness is about. The state you called now, our allocation is not as much as theirs. It has never been since the past 5 years; we don’t have the same allocation.

Two, states have different problems and challenges. This is the only state or maybe Ondo, where whatever we get, especially the derivation part, the governor does not spend all the derivation money. What we are talking about now, when it comes, i have to divide it into two; 50% goes to the state level and 50% goes to an outfit we call the Delta State Area Development Commission, to be able to deal with the oil producing communities. I needed to explain that so that when you are talking about being rich, i have that going on. So the bit that is left is what I have to use for the whole state including the oil producing area. I still have to deal with them from this money. Two, I have a challenge of having the highest urban centres in Nigeria. In Delta State, there is Asaba, there is Warri, there is Agbor, there is Sapele, there is Ughelli; and all of them are urban centres that can be state capitals. When you doing something in Asaba you also have to be conscious that you are doing something in some of these places; it might not be as much as what you are doing in Asaba but whatever you are doing in Asaba you have to do near that in Warri. We have many urban centres that you have to pay attention to at the same time. you go to some states and the state capitals are the only urban centres and people are assessing from just getting to the state capitals. You go to some states, you stop at the capital and you leave there and assess but you cannot do that Delta. You cannot come to Asaba and assess from only Asaba and go back, a lot of people will take on you if you make assessment from only Asaba. That means that our development has to be more widespread than many other places. When people say, ‘He is not doing much’ they don’t take some of these factors into place. In any case, people have different programmes, I am not on a popularity test. If I want to be on a popularity test, I will just come as a governor and ask what the people like, maybe renovate all the schools and leave other things undone.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

44

POLITICS PERSPECTIVE

Day Commonwealth lawmakers commended Tambuwal

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HEN members of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region gathered for their 43rd conference in Gauteng, South Africa last week, one thing was on their minds: to bolster legislative influence in the day-to-day running of governments in member-countries so as to ensure good governance. They alos sought new ways to tackle poverty and deepen democratic norms and values.

For them, the gathering offered another opportunity to share experience, learn from each other and find solutions to the myriad of problems and development challenges bedeviling the African continent.

Since the CPA Africa Region came on board in 1980, it has left an imprint on the continent’s sphere of governance. This can be seen from past resolutions of the conferences in areas like the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), food security, climatic change among other important areas.

Since the return of democratic rule in Nigeria in 1999, the country’s parliamentarians have played various roles in promoting the ideals of the CPA. However, as with many things Nigerian, the enthusiasm shown by participants to the CPA conferences at the beginning of the millennium has since waned. This can be seen from the attitude of Nigerians who show up at past conferences but depart almost immediately the opening ceremony was concluded without waiting to take part in crucial committee level sessions. That was the norm at least until the emergence of Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal as the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the leader of Nigerian delegation to the CPA. The sign that things would be different with Tambuwal began to emerge during last year’s CPA conference in London. However, it was at last week’s gathering of the Africa Region of the association that Nigeria not only took its rightful place among sister nations, but left the stage with a positive impression not seen since 1999.

By the end of the conference, and largely due to his insistence on attending all scheduled activities at the conference, a new picture had emerged on the person and character of Tambuwal, a sort that inspired confidence among participants, observers and other Nigerians who attended the forum.

From their utterances during and after the conference, Nigerians gathered at the Michel Angelo Convention Centre made it clear that a new dawn has befallen the country’s legislature. To them, Tambuwal, like a

By Imam Imam

General tasked with the mandate of leading his troops to battle, roused them into action in the most positive manner.

Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament and Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, praised Tambuwal’s efforts which he said had ensured that Nigerian lawmakers participated actively in all the sessions of the weeklong conference. He said for the first time in many years, Nigeria made the necessary impact in the continental gathering due largely to Tambuwal’s influence.

“Our delegates took part in all the sessions and made useful contributions many of which were adopted at various committee levels. This is instruc- •Tambuwal tive considering the fact that we were notorious for not showing up at such eral Republic of Nigeria,” Adejare gatherings or if we do, we pack our said. belongings and return home early.

On his part, the Speaker of Akwa “This change of attitude was made Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon possible by the leader of our delegaSam Ikom, said the new found syntion (Tambuwal) who took part in all ergy existing between the National the sessions and led by example. Due to Assembly and state Houses of Ashis diligence, our country has reaped sembly will be beneficial to the counthe benefit of its attendance. Our memtry. He commended Tambuwal for bers from the National Assembly and his efforts; saying with the legislavarious State Assemblies have enriched ture working together, Nigerian detheir legislative skills and I am sure we mocracy is on the right path. will benefit from it when we return According to Hon Luke Onofiok, a home,” Ekweremadu added. member of the Akwa Ibom State For the President of the Pan African House of Assembly who attended Parliament (PAP), Hon Bethel Amadi, the conference as a delegate, Tambuwal’s pragmatic style of leaderTambuwal is proving to be one of ship not only at the CPA conference but the greatest leaders among the also in the House of Representatives, present crop of leaders in the counhas injected confidence into the operatry. tions of the lawmakers at international His words: “My respect for the fora like the one provided by the Speaker knows no bound. From Gauteng conference. what I have seen in this conference, Speaking at a lunch attended by Nigehe is a team player who has given rian delegates, a member of the House every member a sense of belongof Representatives, Hon Rafiu ing. In my book, he is a true nationBabatunde Adejare, said the leadership alist.” provided by Speaker Tambuwal at the No doubt, the Commonwealth conference offered an opportunity for Parliamentarians may have spoken the lawmakers to retool and strategies the minds of millions of Nigerians for better service delivery back home. who have come to appreciate According to him, taking part in the Tambuwal’s leadership style since CPA will play a big role in fostering he was elected to head the House of unity and understanding among lawRepresentatives in June last year. makers from the continent and the enWithin this period, he has justified tire Commonwealth as a whole. the confidence of those who reposed “For the benefit of those who do not their trust in him. The Speaker know the Speaker well, I must say that showed commendable leadership he is an exemplary leader whose love technique that saw Nigerian delfor Nigeria is deep. As you can see here, egates to the CPA conference come he has given each and every one of us a together in demonstration of unity. sense of belonging not minding the fact Importantly, their contributions that some of us are from the National were hailed by all participants as Assembly while others are from States the best of its kind in recent Houses of Assembly. In our midst here memory. are persons of different political leanings but in Tambuwal’s book, we are • Imam is the Special Adviser on all one and the same people who are Media and Public Affairs to Speaker here to represent the interest of the FedTambuwal

Why Nigerian politicians play do-or-die politics – Ajimobi

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YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Monday blamed lack of visible means of livelihood for the do-or-die type of politics played in Nigeria.

He stated this in Ibadan while receiving the Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, Ms. Jumoke Akinjide, who led other members of her delegation to deliver President Goodluck Jonathan’s condolence letter to the governor over the death of his mother, Alhaja Abeje Ajimobi, last week.

According to the governor, anybody who had a definite profession or job would not take politics as a matter of life and death.

“It is unfortunate that politics, as it is played in Nigeria is a do or die manner, and it is because a lot of people are there who have no job and no profession. When they eventually come into politics, that is the only thing they know because they are professional politicians,” he said.

He described himself, the visiting minister and President Jonathan as professionals in politics and not professional politicians, saying this had accounted for their liberal disposition towards politics and governance.

“In our own case, we are professionals in politics. Even the President himself, who is a man of no mean achievements, is a professional in politics, and that has manifested in this condolence visit.

“This is the way politics should be played. When it is time to rejoice together, we rejoice together; when it is time to share sorrow, we share it together because in the end, we are all fighting for the betterment of Nigeria.

“But those who are fighting for the betterment of themselves are those who take politics as do or die. We must, as much as possible, discourage those who see politics as a matter of life and death,’’ Ajimobi said.

He expressed appreciation to President Jonathan for raising such a highpowered delegation to condole with him over his mother’s death.

Earlier, Ms. Akinjide had said that she and members of her delegation were in Ibadan to deliver the president’s condolence letter to the governor and to celebrate the life and times of the late Alhaja Ajimobi whom she said lived a long and fulfilled life.

In the letter, President Jonathan expressed his profound sympathy to the governor over the passage of his mother.

“I write on behalf of my family, the government and people of Nigeria to express our profound sympathy to you on the transition of your dear mother, late Mrs. Ajimobi. The passing of one’s mother is undoubtedly a sorrowful occurrence. Our hearts go out to you in your moment of grief.

“I pray that God will grant you and all those she left behind the courage to bear the irreparable loss and grant her eternal rest,’’ the president said.

Oyo lawmaker defends wives’ trip abroad

By Jeremiah Oke

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HE Chief Whip of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Hammed Abiodun-Adigun has repled critics of the recent controversial trip of wives of the lawmakers to attend a training in London. He said, contrary to the popular basis of the hail of criticisms that the training has generated, it was not funded by public fund. He however did not disclose the source of the funding.

The lawmaker said the training was organised for wives of the political office holders to know how to groom women in the society on how to complement efforts of the men and maintain good relationship in their constituencies.

Adigun said “there are fundamental things the wivesof political office holders need to know and that is why we are now organising seminars and workshops for them both at the federal and states levels.”

He explained that the House members accepted that their trip was not their right but a privilege being given to them as wives of lawmakers in the state to know how to deal with people in the society.

He insisted: “there are many things that are privileges in this life, for instance, there is nothing like the First Lady in the Nigerian Constitution, but we accommodate it in the system because it is a privilege. I want to believe that some of our wives can as well go abroad on their own without any eyebrow in the society because some of them are working, but the trip to London was for the development of our constituencies.

“The money spent on this trip was not state money; we generated money for the project from other means to ensure that the State is not left behind among the states that took part in the programme. Oyo State is not the only state to attend such seminar; other states also attended.

“If you look around today, you discover that governments at various levels are organising workshops, seminars and conferences both here in Nigeria and abroad for women in the society to know how to become productive leaders as well as the role they can play in the society.

“We didn’t just approve the proposal without proper consultation. When the organisation brought the proposal, we went through it and examined it critically to know how it will benefit our society. So, people should also consider the benefit of the seminar to the constituency, not just criticising why and how they attended the seminar”

Niger official denies governorship ambition

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•From right: Niger State Governor Dr Babangida Aliyu receiving the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria Mr Chris Cooter, when the diplomat paid him a courtesy visit in Minna.

HE Chief of Staff to Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, Professor Muhammed Kuta Yahaya has dismissed as ludi crous and totally untrue the report that he is interested in succeeding his boss in 2015.

A national daily yesterday reported that “Professor Yahaya is being prepared for the governorship seat in 2015, a development which may pitch the governor against some powerful retired generals in the state who have a different game plan for the 2015 race” But in a statement made available to newsmen yesterday, Professor Yahaya said the current speculation is a façade, meant to divert public attention, emphasizing that for now, he is concentrating on helping his principal to deliver on the promises he made to the electorate.

Prof Yahaya referred to the report as a figment of the imagination of its authors or at best the opinion of some individuals planted in the media to cause disaffection within the state.

Yahaya said he remains committed to his present assignment and would not be distracted by any unsubstantiated report in the media.

He reiterated his commitment to the ongoing efforts at re-engineering the state to achieve its vision of becoming one of the top three most developed state economies by the year 2020.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

45

HEALTH THE NATION

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

Fake yellow fever card in abundance Fake yellow fever vaccination card, which sparked a diplomatic row between Nigeria and South Africa in March this year, is still in circulation. DAMILOLA OWOYELE investigates the prevalence of the card and the perpetrators.

HE car park had the sign “Rent a Car” at its entrance.

Ishmael, middle-aged and a cab driver, trudged on amid the teeming people within the park on that busy Wednesday morning, July 18, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos. Ishmael said: “The two yellow (fever) cards you want to buy cost N4,000.” He seemed eager to strike a bargain.

Asked if the two fake yellow fever vaccination cards would be different from the original ones, and if there would be vaccinations, he said: “They are the same thing. The only difference is that we don’t give injection.”

He went on: “Wait here; I will go and collect them from my friend who sells them.”

But when this reporter insisted on following him, he said, “Ha! It is wahala if we are caught selling these cards. Lai lai, you can’t come. Wait here, I won’t be long.”

Having said that, he went to obtain the fake yellow cards from his friend.

At that instance, a younger fellow in jeans and faded T-shirt, who had been watching us from a distance, walked up to Ishmael and spoke silently to his ear. The fellow seemed suspect of the would-be buyer (this reporter) who Ishmael had been engaged with.

Ishmael, on hearing what the young man said, looked back and his countenance, which had been cordial in anticipation of the patronage of the fake cards at N2000 per piece, changed; he became apprehensive. Yet, he proceeded to get the cards accompanied by the younger man. They disappeared around a corner.

Before long, he returned and said hastily: “The guy who sells it has left.

He isn’t around.”

When asked if the yellow cards could be bought later, he said curtly, “I don’t know when the guy (who he had earlier called his friend) will come back.” With that, he hurried away.

That was how the attempt to penetrate the lair of the peddlers of fake yellow fever vaccination cards at MMIA was foiled by the wary accomplice.

Earlier, these fake cards had reportedly been sold with impunity on the premises of MMIA. But since they became the source of a diplomatic dispute between Nigeria and South Africa, the peddlers have been forced to go underground. But from where they still operate.

On March 2 this year, 125 Nigerians on Arik Airlines plane to Johannesburg were denied entry and deported by the

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‘Wait here; I will go and collect them from my friend who sells them (fake yellow fever cards), but when this reporter insisted on following him, he said, “Ha! It is wahala if we are caught selling these cards. Lai lai, you can’t come. Wait here, I won’t be long’

•Who should have been given the ‘yellow card’, Nigeria or South Africa?

South African port health authority.

The authority had concerns about the validity of the yellow fever vaccination cards, which the passengers had as proof of having been vaccinated against yellow fever. Nigeria reciprocated by deporting more than 60 South Africans; thus a diplomatic feud ensued until South Africa apologised.

Yellow fever, which is a viral haemorrhagic fever, is endemic in West Africa since 50 per cent of the population is not vaccinated. And Nigeria, according to a WHO report, is at risk of yellow fever outbreak while South Africa is not.

Tony, who works at one of the airlines’ stalls at the international airport said: “Yes, the fake cards were being sold freely before the disagreement between South Africa and Nigeria, but now things are a little different. I would even advise you to get vaccinated. It would help you and it is cheaper; it is just N500. People buy the fake cards because they want to get it for someone else or they don’t want to be injected.”

A visit by The Nation to the Port Health Services at MMIA ascertained the persistence of the fake cards. The Chief Nursing Officer, who did not acquiesce to the publication of her name in print, said, “The fake yellow fever cards, which had been seized by the port authority from passengers, still bear

1969 as the year of inception of issuance. Whereas it has been reviewed; now the new original ones bear 2005.

“Also, there are traits common with fake cards. They usually carry stamps of fictional hospitals and names of vaccines that are no longer administered, such as Cholera vaccine that is only administered to people going on hajj pilgrimage. These touts often write CMS, the bus stop, instead of CSM (cerebro-spinal meningitis) vaccine on the fake cards.”

She revealed that the latest real stamp by the Port Health Services was “PORT HEALTH OFFICER, MURTALA MOHD INT. AIRPORT, HEADQUARTERS IKEJA” also with the impression of the Nigerian Coat of Arms. She contrasted it with the fake cards that bore stamps like: “MEDICAL OFFICE OF HEALTH, LAGOS ISLAND, L.G. CITY HALL LAGOS”, “MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH”, and “PORT HEALTH SERVICES, FEDERAL MINISTRY OF HEALTH, M.M INTER. AIRPORT, IKEJA”. Other fakes have only the Coat of Arms imprinted in them. She said some fake cards had Oshodi and Ikeja as locations of nonexisting hospitals.

She described the incorrect vaccine batch numbers that were filled in the counterfeit cards. These, particularly, were the features the South African port

Hospital needs space, others

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CTING Medical Director of Shomolu General Hospital, Lagos, Dr Oluwatoyin Adelaja, has said the hospital needs space and infrastructure.

Dr Adelaja said the state government is set to expand the hospital to meet the yearnings of the Shomolu community on health care.

He spoke when he received the District-Governor and some members of Rotary District 9110 Nigeria, who donated 10 baby cots and an incubator.

Explaining the cause of the problem, he said, the hospital was transformed by the state government from a primary health care centre to a general hospital to provide health care at the secondary level.

He said: “There is little space to con-

By Wale Adepoju

tain all that would have been required in a general hospital but the state government is making effort to expand the hospital. The programme is already on ground. The maintenance is being taken care of by the government but it doesn’t come all that fast as it has to go through due process which may take some time.

“The officials of state Ministry of Works have come around and will forward the report to the government before starting the refurbishment.”

On the items, he said, the cots would be useful to newborns in the maternity ward of the hospital. “Right now, we have about 15 baby cots in addition to the 10 donated, shows the hos-

pital is really expanding as expected by the government.”

District-Governor, Rotary 9110 Nigeria, Dr Kamoru Omotosho, described the gesture as essential because of the need to guarantee maternal and infant health.

According to him, the cots would help to solve the shortage of beds for newborn at the hospital.

He said part of need for assessment is to ensure how the hospital would own and maintain what had been donated to it, stressing that the items be maintained by it.

“Sustainability is part of our vision unlike in the past when we donate equipment they are condemned after a few weeks of use,” Omotosho added.

health authority said they found unrecognisable and unacceptable. She said of intending passengers interested in fake cards, “These people claim they are healthy. They say, ‘I don’t have malaria; I don’t have fever.’ They don’t know yellow fever is a disease on its own and the vaccine prevents it. Yellow fever has the tendency to perforate any organ. It can kill a lot of people within 72 hours.”

Known symptoms of yellow fever are jaundice (yellowness of the skin and membranes), congestion of the face, widespread haemorrhage, nausea, and vomiting of blood. According to Wikipedia, every year, 30,000 deaths out of 200,000 cases of yellow fever occur in endemic areas.

The Chief Nursing Officer, who is also a community health expert said: “The essence of vaccination is to prevent trans-boundary communication of the disease. We shouldn’t let citizens of this country infect citizens of another country, and vice-versa.”

It should be noted that danger associated with the international transmission of yellow fever is the high mortality that accompanies the infection of population that has not been infected (non-endemic areas), while natives in endemic areas are relatively protected by acquired immunity.

On the status of the relationship of the Port Health Services with South Africa, the Chief Nursing Officer said, “South Africa does not accept vaccination cards from any other health facility, be it University of Benin Teaching Hospital or University College Hospital. They only accept those of Port Health Services. Also, there is a secret way we fill the original cards, and this is only known by us and the port health officers in South Africa.”

She, however, did not say if any secret arrangements had been made with other countries to ensure authenticity of the cards.

She lamented the plight and ignorance of those who were deported in the past for possessing fake cards, “A woman and her daughter had purchased the fake cards at N2,500 per card, only to be sent back to Nigeria.

Deportees had bought the fake cards because of sheer ignorance, and be-

cause Nigerians just like short-cut to everything. These people don’t know that the yellow-fever vaccine should be administered 10 days before travelling, because it is by this time the traveller would be immunised. Also, some travel agents had also helped prospective travellers acquire fake yellow fever vaccination cards.”

A prospective traveller on the queue at the departure section of MMIA, who refused to be named, showed his yellow fever vaccination card. It was worn out and did not have the real stamp of the Port Health Services; it only had the Nigerian Coat of Arms imprint. “I have been using this card for a while.

My agent procured it for me. It cost N1000. I wasn’t given any injection; In Nigeria, we don’t do that jare.”

When asked if she would attribute the sale of fake cards to laxity in the manner the Port Health Services officers discharge their duty, the Chief Nursing Officer said: “We had the vaccines, but travellers did not come. Even though it was just N500 and we administered the vaccine to them, they would rather buy the expensive fake ones without being vaccinated. However, after the South Africa problem, a lot of people have been coming here to get vaccinated. We also have a 24hour operational clinic at the airport where people can be vaccinated.”

This reporter saw would-be passengers being vaccinated at the MMIA clinic. When a nurse was asked if the yellow fever vaccination cards could be obtained without vaccination or for someone else, she said, “No.” On the implementation of plans by the Federal Government to curb the peddling of the fake cards, the Chief Nursing Officer said: “Directives have been given to the Nigerian Air Force and State Secret Service to arrest those printing and selling the cards. The Federal Government has said it would commission the Central Bank of Nigeria to formulate and print new cards so that they will not be easily copied.”

The yellow fever vaccination card, also known as International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, had been used to certify vaccinations against yellow fever, cholera and small pox for long. It could also be used to certify other vaccinations that individual countries may require before entry is permitted.

After the certificate was revised in 2005, only yellow fever vaccination remained mandatory. In 1973, Cholera vaccine was stopped, while WHO declared on May 8, 1980 the eradication of small pox vaccination. Immunisation against yellow fever lasts for 10 years.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

HEALTH

‘Many people suffer from heartburns’ M

ANY people suffer from heartburn in the country, according to medical experts.

They spoke at the launch of Gaviscon by Reckitt Benckiser Nigeria in Lagos.

Guest Speaker Dr Funmilayo Lesi said heartburn, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), may not kill but could cause great discomfort.

She said the disease can be linked to cancer of the esophagus, which means it has significant impact on the quality of life.

Mrs Lola Adesina, 28, and Mr Gbenga Olawale, 25, had both suffered heartburns.

Mrs Adesina said she had bouts of heartburns, especially during her pregnancy.

This made her see a doctor, who prescribed antacid, which she took, but the condition persisted.

She said anytime she ate late at night, she usually found it hard to sleep. Confused, she said: “I don’t know what to use to treat the disease. I want a complete cure.”

Stories by Wale Adepoju

On the other hand, Olawale who has suffered heartburn as an undergraduate, said his story has not changed years after graduation.

The episodes, he said, vary sometimes about two to three times weekly. “I usually experience the condition anytime I take food or drinks such as chocolate, pepper-soup and beer,”he added.

He had seen a doctor who gave him antacids which provided him temporary relief.

Olawale said he needed something that would give cure.

Lesi, a consultant gastroenterologist, Lagos University Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba, Lagos, said heartburn is a condition which develops when there is reflux of stomach contents into the oesophagus.

But a study conducted in Enugu showed that 26.3 per cent of 400 students have the condition. “In a similar study conducted at Mushin Local Government Area (LGA), one out of 10 people has the disease. This

•Deputy Director of Pharmacy Services, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Mrs Oluranti Adedeji and Lesi at the event.

shows that the disease is more prevalent than HIV and AIDS,” Lesi said.

She said the disorder doesn’t kill, but affects economic activities and social life. It is also found to be the major contributor to the loss of man-hour due to dyspepsia-related sick days.

It is responsible for the exorbitant cost of investigative and endoscopic procedure and purchase of antacids.

She said: “Pepper, chocolate and coffee can worsen GERD, adding that the disease can be mild, distressing or disturbing.’’

She said dyspepsia could accompany GERD or be its direct consequence; saying patients usually have aches, belch, nau-

sea, burning and bloating sensations among other conditions.

She said GERD could occur as chronic cough and laryngitis.

“It can be presented as nocturnal asthma to a respiratory clinic and dental erosion to a dental clinic and non-cardiac chest pain to a cardiology clinic.

Lesi said endoscopy is the diagnostic gold standard.

Consultant Gastroenterologist, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Dr Charles Onyekwere, said managing the disease require the ability to recognise the disease and avert misdiagnosis.

Others are the use of symptoms analysis, PPI trial, PH studies and impedance and motility stud-

ies.

Onyekwere said there was a need to identify and treat the symptoms or complications associated with the reflux disease as well as any predisposing factors such as obesity and hiatus hernia.

He said doctors are to ensure rapid symptoms resolution and healing of mucosal injury, adding that poor awareness of the disease contributes to the prevalence.

He identified affordability of the management and compliance as other challenges to GERD management.

“There is also a lot of misdiagnosis on the part of health care especially the drug being administered,” Onyekwere added.

‘Tree planting’ll reduce asthma attacks, others’

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• Prof Oke planting a tree at LASUTH

REE planting has been identified as a useful exercise that can help curb asthma and other respiratory diseases.

According to the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof Wale Oke, tree planting will clean up the atmosphere and ensure fresh air, thereby preventing pollution, which is the major cause of the disease.

Oke, who spoke at the tree planting ceremony at the hospital, said asthma and other respiratory tract infections are

Fed Govt to partner optometrists HE Federal Government is set to collaborate with the Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA) to provide primary eye health care services.

According to the Health Minister, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, there is need for an integrated approach to health care delivery, particularly that of the eye.

Chukwu, represented by the Medical Director, Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Dr Abdulrahman Lawal, spoke at the opening of the 36th yearly conference of the Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA) in Lagos.

He said optometry is part of the commitment of the stakeholders in the health care sector and one

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major contributor to the six building blocks of the health sector.

Chukwu enjoined them to provide workforce for primary eye health care.

He commended the group for its development on human resource capacity and the plan for the deployment of optometrists in private and public sectors to every nook and cranny of the country.

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, who delivered the keynote address, said there are new approaches that expand the possibilities to prevent and treat a wider variety of vision-related anomalies and eye diseases.

Fayemi, represented by the

Commissioner for Health, Prof Olusola Fasuba, said the optometry staff were not enough to meet the challenges of eye care in the country, adding that links have to be established with other sectors and other disciplines to do this.

Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Dr Jide Idris, said the profession needs to develop prevailing local challenges, adding :‘’We have set new targets and means of achieving them.

“Health care policy making worldwide is evidence-based, tailored around the local needs of the health care users who are informed by research findings and other intellectual materials.”

caused by pollution.

“Asthma is usually caused by environmental pollution, which is also what has led to greenhouse effect,” he added.

He said unmanaged asthma could kill within minutes, especially if it is really bad.

On the types of asthma, he said: “There is acute severe asthma which can actually kill a patient within five to 10 minutes if attention is not given.

And you have chronic asthma, which can make a patient uncomfortable because he cannot breathe properly. And you must prescribe certain drugs before the patient gets better.

Definitely environmental pollution is related to prevalence of asthma.”

The CMD said trees take in carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, while man produces carbon dioxide and takes in oxygen.

This means there is a symbiotic relationship with trees, he said. “By felling trees because of development, we are actually harming ourselves. That is why Governor Babatunde Fashola said if you fell one three, plant five, so that we can improve on environmental health.

“If you fell 30 trees on the plot of land that you are building, you have reduced the number of trees that would give you oxygen. If four people fell 30 trees each you will see the cu-

mulative effect on the environment. But if you fell one and plant five, you will actually be replenishing it.

“This is not just about Nigeria; it is a global thing to plant trees. When I went to Israel on a course, each of us was asked to plant two trees and I’m glad Lagos State has said we should plant five. This means we will replenish. And the truth of the matter is that houses in the cities are made of cement structures. There is a lot of pollution because there are no trees to replenish the environment. If you go to a state where there are more trees and the air people breathe is fresher and healthier.”

The government, he said, is promoting health by asking its citizens to plant trees.

“The rate of asthma among other respiratory diseases has gone up due to pollution, which has been identified as the main cause.

“If you measure the rate of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, acid rain and others, you would see that the air in Lagos has become fresher. If you go to industrialised countries, you will see that the air you breathe is polluted and you work a few steps and you are breathless because what you are inhaling is detrimental to your health, but as the air gets cleaner you level of tolerance increases,” Oke added.

TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

47

ENERGY THE NATION

E-mail:- energy@thenationonlineng.net

Lower prices slice profits for oil, gas companies

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•From left: General Manager, Mobil Exploration/Chairman of session, Mr Chikwe Edoziem; Guest Speaker, Robert Lory; President, Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), Dr. Mayowa Afe; Publicity Secretary, NAPE, Mr Sola Bakare and Dr. Mustapha Jubril of ExxonMobil, at the NAPE technical meeting in Lagos sponsored by ExxonMobil.

Ikeja Electricity to install 9000 meters in August

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ETWEEN now and August, the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, one of the 18 successor companies from the unbundled Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) will increase meter installation for its customers from 6,000 meters to 9,000 meters, to enhance service delivery.

Chief Executive Officer, Chris Akamnonu, an engineer, at a briefing in Lagos, said achieving this target would enable the distribution company to meet the 18 months deadline given by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for the metering of its customers within the zone.

With new customers expected

By Bidemi Bakare

monthly, Akamnonu said the company was prepared to capture them by deploying the meters and channeling others to existing customers.

He noted that when these meters and transformers are adequately distributed and deployed, consumers would have no reason to complain of poor services.

Refuting the claim in some quarters that electricity consumers within the zone were contending with an outrageous 300 per cent increase in bill estimation, Akamnonu hinted that there was no iota of truth in the claim as consumers were only charged based

on their consumption and not presumption.

Besides getting appropriate billing, he added that consumers now also enjoy prompt receipt of their bills for adequate payment. For instance, he said it is unprecedented that customers got their May bills in the month of July, an achievement he hinged on the relentless and collective effort of the workers.

He added that the June bill, which is almost ready is about 38 per cent averaged over the previous month where certain areas were paying higher.

He, however, warned erring customers tampering with the meters to desist as the act would not only

jeopardise service being delivered to them but also their lives. He appealed to the media to endeavor to correctly inform the public if they are to gain the right perspective about the functionality and operations of the company.

On power allocation to Lagos, Akamnonu said it is good news that this has improved significantly as the state now gets about 3800MW of power, assuring that efforts would be made to either sustain this or improve on it.

He commended the Federal Government for its genuine intention on revenue generation to support and sustain power generation, transmission and distribution in the state and country.

Oando makes N6.6b half year profit •To list upstream subsidiary on Toronto Exchange

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ANDO PLC, a leading indigenous energy group listed on both the Nigerian and Johannesburg Stock Exchanges, has raked in a profit after tax (PAT) of N6.6 billion in the first six months of this year.

This is a marginal decrease of four per cent when compared to N6.9 billion the company recorded within the same period last year.

The group’s turnover grew by 31 per cent to N350.6 billion compared with N267.8 billion within the same period in 2011. Gross profit increased by eight per cent to N33.9 billion compared with N31.5 billion last year while profit before tax (PBT) decreased by 20 per cent to N10.4 billion from N12.9 billion.

The half year result also showed that Oando Exploration and Production (OEPL) completed the drilling of a second well in the Obodeti-Obodugwa field. OEPL has received date for the completion of the Reverse Take Over (RTO) of Canadian listed Exile Resources Inc., to create Oando Energy Resources Inc, and has executed a farm in agreement to acquire a 40 per cent participating

interest in the Qua-Iboe marginal field (OML 13).

Another subsidiary - Oando Energy Services’ (OES) fourth rig commenced extensive refurbishment programme in anticipation of starting a swamp drilling contract with an international oil company (IOC) in 2013 while Oando Gas & Power (OGP), another subsidiary has commenced commercial operations on the EHGC pipeline and flowed gas to its anchor customer.

The report also highlighted the Federal Government’s attempt to fully deregulate PMS in the first quarter, which initially hampered the company’s ability to operate at its regular efficiency. “A new PMS pump price of N97 was set and our operations across the nation regularised in the second quarter,” the company said. It added that its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) strategy continues to gather momentum with the delivery of over 343,000 cylinders.

Commenting, the Group Chief Executive, Oando PLC, Mr Wale Tinubu, said: “We are pleased to report our half year performance for 2012. The year so far has expe-

rienced significant developments across the oil and gas sector, we remain steadfast in our commitment to grow our businesses in line with our strategic focus.

“The exploration and production (E&P) division has been notified of a closing date for the RTO transaction and the subsequent listing of OER on the TSX on July 24. The division signed a farm-in agreement for the acquisition of a 40 per cent participating interest in the Qua Ibo field (OML 13), which immediately increases our 2P reserves by five million barrels, while also delivering a successful drilling programme in the Obodeti-Obodugwa field (OML 56), which promises an imminent increase in our oil reserves and production. Our fourth swamp rig remains in the United States, undergoing extensive refurbishment, with planned deployment scheduled for early next year.

“Our three drilling rigs contracted to the IOC’s have maintained high safety standards and a 95 per cent average drilling uptime in their operations. We continue in our strive to expand our footprint in the midstream with our

•CEO, Oando Plc, Wale Tinubu

dedicated participation in the Federal Government’s privatisation of generating and distribution assets. Our downstream businesses have been able to fully recover from a challenging first quarter, following deregulation. We continue to reposition and upgrade our existing storage facilities, whilst our drive to switch the nation to the use of LPG (cooking gas) in Nigeria is also well on track with the delivery of over 343,000 cylinders.

“The second half of the year promises growth in our industry and we will continue to deliver on our operations and our proposed initiatives for added value creation to our shareholders.”

OR oil and gas companies, the maths was simple in the second quarter: lower prices equal lower profits.

With gasoline prices averaging more than $3.40 per gallon and oil around $90 a barrel, it may be hard to believe oil companies are under duress. Most will report profits measured in the billions of dollars for the quarter.

But they earned less than a year ago - In some cases a lot less. That’s because they had to sell oil and gas at lower prices. The average price for oil was 8.8 per cent less from April to June. Natural gas prices have been especially painful. The average price dropped 46 per cent compared with last year’s second quarter.

According to Associated Press, this has made many gas drilling operations unprofitable, so drillers have begun to cut back.

“We are all losing our shirts,” said Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson in a speech. Exxon is the United States’ largest producer of natural gas.

The cutback means companies that provide drilling services to oil and gas companies have had less work to do, which should equate to lower profits.

For refiners that buy oil and cook it into gasoline, though, the quarter was likely a good one. Many paid less for oil, but were still able to fetch high prices for their gasoline. And costs fell because they used low-priced natural gas to power some equipment.

Here’s more on what to expect from energy companies’ second quarter reports: The drop in the price of oil and gas is good news for just about everyone but the companies that produce and sell them. The top U.S. oil producers Chevron Corp., BP PLC, Exxon Mobil Corp., ConocoPhillips, Occidental Petroleum Corp., Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Anadarko Petroleum Corp. and EOG Resources Inc. - are each expected to post lower profits in the second quarter, according to FactSet. Exxon and Chevron could each report next week that net income fell by more than $1 billion.

Oil prices fell because new supplies came online just as a slowdown in the global economy reduced demand. Libya restarted its pipelines and oil fields shut down by last year’s rebellion. Saudi Arabia pumped more oil to make up for an embargo of Iranian oil. And U.S. production is the highest since 1998.

At the same time, the financial crisis in Europe, and weaker economic growth in the U.S. and China helped reduce demand for oil as drivers, shippers and travelers used less gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.

Altogether, drillers produced about 1.4 million barrels per day more than the market needed. This led to increased supplies and lower prices. The companies can’t quickly cut costs, so the price drop can dramatically impact their bottom lines.

The warmest winter on record reduced demand for natural gas for heating. But U.S. drillers kept producing more of the fuel than ever.

This led to a glut and fears that the US storage facilities would run out of room by this fall. Natural gas prices hit a ten-year low early in April. For the quarter natural gas prices averaged $2.35 per 1,000 cubic feet, compared with an average of $4.38 a year earlier.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

48

ENERGY

‘PHCN workers should ask their leaders W for pension funds’ ORKERS of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) have been asked to find out from the three trade unions in the power sector how hundreds of billions of dollars purportedly contributed over the decades by them towards their pension scheme disappeared.

In a statement, the Special Assistant to the Minister of Power (Media), Ogbuagu Anikwe, said it has become necessary to ask the PHCN employees to inquire from their labour leaders what happened to the money because the company’s management and the labour leaders are the only trustees of the pension scheme.

The three unions in the power sector are the National union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Senior Staff of Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEC) and National Union of Pensioners (NUP).

Prior to the introduction of the Pension Reform Act in July 2004,

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

the state-owned power utility operated an in-house pension scheme, which enabled the workers to enjoy a scheme different from the contributory scheme, which most public sector organisations operated.

Anikwe said the PHCN management has over the years provided N3 billion yearly for the payment of retirement benefits to staff members who were retiring individually, which made most workers believe that the scheme is well funded from the 25 per cent deductions purportedly made by the company over the decades.

“However, with the impending privatisation of 17 PHCN successor companies, which necessitates mass retirements, there are practi-

cally no funds in the account to pay the severance package of the 50,000 PHCN employees.

“Contrary to the propaganda by some labour activists to the effect that there is N88 billion in the pension account as of June 30, 2004, when the old scheme ceased to operate, what is available in the account administered by the union leaders and the PHCN management is a mere N3 billion.

“It is, therefore, incumbent on the PHCN employees, whether retired or serving, to find out from their union leaders who are the signatories to the bank account what happened to the difference of N85 billion, in the interests of transparency, probity and accountability,” he added.

Anikwe said power sector labour leaders have insisted before their

followers and the public that 25 per cent of workers’ salaries were deducted religiously and paid into the pension account up to June, 2004, citing a letter by the NUEE General Secretary, Joe Ajaero, dated July 17, this year, which was addressed to the Minister of Power, Professor Bart Nnaji.

“I wish to state emphatically that these deductions have never been reflected in any bank statement anywhere in the country,” Anikwe added.

He also disclosed that the PHCN has yet to comply with th e Pension Reform Act, eight years after it came into existence, by setting aside 7.5 per cent of each worker’s salary every month and with the government providing another 7.5 per cent towards the mandatory contributory pension

scheme.

In spite of these severe lapses, Anikwe said: “President Goodluck Jonathan has graciously acceded to Nnaji’s request that the government pay the huge shortfall of N85 billion in the pension funds as of June 30, 2004, in addition to the provision of 15 per cent of the salary of each of the 50,000 PHCN employees since July 1, 2004.”

These concessions have been made purely in the interest of peace and on compassionate grounds, Anikwe said.

On media reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is about to investigate the PHCN management and officials of the three trade unions who have been administering the pension scheme over a missing N200 billion, he said that the anticorruption agency “has, to the best of my knowledge, not yet approached any person in the minister’s office for any information.

Total steps up safety awareness campaign for tanker drivers

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ORRIED by the frequent rate of road accidents and the attendant loss of lives and properties caused by fuel tankers, Total Nigeria Plc has organised an awareness campaign on safety for petrol tanker drivers.

The campaign came on the heels of a recent tanker explosion/accident, which occurred at Okoigbe village near Mbiama in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State killing over 100 people and injuring several others.

At the event tagged Transportation safety posters campaign in Lagos, the General Manager, Health, Safety, Environment and Quality (HSEQ) of the company, Peter Adegunle, an engineer, identified over-speeding, night driving, continuous driving without rest as the major causes of most accidents by petrol tankers.

He noted that from the speed monitoring facility called OBC installed at the office, it was discovered that most drivers exceed the specified speed limit for tankers which is between 45 and 60 km/ hour.

“When we load our tankers with petroleum products, many of the drivers do not know we have a system, which monitors the speed of

By Bidemi Bakare

our drivers. With the OBC, we found out that most of them do not comply with the speed limit of 60km/hour. At some areas which are densely populated, the speed is expected to be regulated because a 45km/hour speed may even be over-speeding at these places,” he said.

He added that in some other instances, some drive continuously without rest whereas it is required for a driver to drive a maximum of four hours and rest for an hour.

The General Manager, Operations, Mr Ayanfulu said that when companies put up training programmes for drivers, they expect that the drivers would be able to put to practice the driving lessons learnt.

He said the huge investment made in training of the drivers would amount to naught if the drivers do not avoid habits or acts that are capable of jeopardising their lives and others while noting that it costs about N30 million to put a truck on the road without the contents. He reminded the drivers of the need to be careful on the wheels.

•From left: Mr Venkatapathy; Ramesh Virwani, Executive Director, Finance, Nigerian Gas Company Limited (NGC); and Mohammed, during the tour.

76 oil wells: Cross River owes Akwa Ibom N18b NGC chief supports increased D use of gas as auto fuel

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HE Managing Director of Nigerian Gas Company Limited (NGC), Saidu Mohammed, has given total support and commitment to the promotion of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as auto-fuel as part of effort to deepen gas consumption and effectively harness the abundant gas resources in the country.

The commitment, he emphasized, largely accounts for the floating of a joint venture (JV) Company - Green Gas Limited – by NGC and Nipco Plc. The Green Gas Limited is a veritable avenue aimed at creating infrastructure that would aid Federal Government’s lofty objective in line with the Gas Master Plan.

Mohammed spoke during a working visit to Nipco terminal in Apapa, Lagos. He said with modesty, Nipco has provided reliable infrastructure that could effectively aid the use of CNG as a viable alternative vehicular fuel in the country.

Mohammed, who is also the Chairman of Green Gas Limited, expressed delight over the on-go-

ing expansion in the company which led to construction of more CNG outlets across the country.

He noted that the happiness stems from the fact that the more avenues created for gas utilization, the better for the country in view of the abundant gas resources.

“We will always appreciate and commend willing partners like Nipco because such partnership not only provides avenue to access gas as auto-fuel but also helps to stimulate economic growth,” he noted.

The NGC chief commended the good house-keeping of the terminal, which he described as the best.

The Managing Director, Nipco Plc., Venkatapathy Venkataraman, said the company is very passionate about the oil and gas industry, which is the reason for its huge investment in the industry.

He commended the government’s initiative in promoting CNG as auto- fuel stressing that such feat will not only improve domestic consumption and utilisation of gas but also reduces fuel subsidy on petrol majorly used as vehicular fuel in the country.

AYS after the Supreme Court confirmed Akwa Ibom as the rightful owner of the 76 disputed oil wells, the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Ekpenyong Ntekim, said Cross River is indebted to Akwa Ibom for N18.4 billion.

He disclosed this in a statement from the Special Assistant (Media) to the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Essien Ndueso.

Noting that Cross River ought not to have dragged the issue to court, Ntekim said such indebtedness “surreptitiously caused the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to arbitrarily and illegally deduct from the derivation revenues of Akwa Ibom State between January 2008 and May 2012.”

He explained that contrary to the position of Cross River State that the N18.4 billion was deducted from the ecological fund; the said amount was actually arbitrarily and illegally deducted from the statutory derivation revenue of Akwa Ibom State.

“It should be stressed that the entire sum of over N18 billion

paid to Cross River State during the said period was not sourced from any ecological fund as erroneously represented by agents of the Cross River State Government, but from the statutory derivation revenues of Akwa Ibom,” he stated.

He pointed out that the deduction was even twice the value of the derivation revenue accruable from the 76 oil wells for the period in contravention of Section 162(2) of the 1999 Constitution.

This action, he said, negated the brotherly gesture in the proposals canvassed through a letter by the Akwa Ibom State Government to its Cross River State counterpart in January 2011.

He said that the Akwa Ibom State Government even offered Cross River State a monthly grant of N250 million in appreciation of the historical and cultural ties that bind the two sister states; a gesture that was turned down by the Cross River State Government, which opted for a continued legal tussle.

The Akwa Ibom State chief law officer further maintained that it

was unfortunate that some elders from the sister state have chosen to ignore the position of the court on this matter and rather continue to fan the embers of disunity by making unguarded utterances.

“As a government we are alarmed and shocked by the highly temperamental pronouncements of the leadership and agents of the Cross River State Government over the said judgment aimed at causing a frosty relationship between the peoples of the two states and demeaning the judicial officers of the Supreme Court,” Ntekim said.

He advised peace-loving Nigerians not to be deceived by wave of propaganda and deceit against the Supreme Court ruling of July 10, as the Akwa Ibom State Government will continue to operate within the provisions of the law.

“As a responsible government, we shall continue to maintain due process in matters of both law and government and refrain from actions capable of destroying the ancient bonds or intimidating and/or weakening the administration of justice, irrespective of the occasion or euphemism,” he added.

49

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

ENERGY

Expert unveils new technology for seismic acquisition

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•Kopelchuk(left) and Dr Oduntan

Russian firms to invest in power sector

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DELEGATION of Russian companies has expressed interest to invest expertise and money in the country’s power sector.

The companies, which include Evitec AG, Homek, LEP Komplekt JSC, Sheto and Hntep, among others, had their representatives at a seminar and investment forum tagged “Russian energy transmission technology and Nigeria’s energy needs” held in Lagos and hosted by Afriwide Consult.

The head of delegation, Mr Stanislav Kopelchuk said the Russian federation supplies electrical and technical equipment to different parts of the world including Africa. He noted that the companies are into various energy operations such as equipment with high reliability, anti pipeline corrosion, among others.

He said that power losses take place in distribution due to human aggression, low voltage through transmission and can be prevented by technical means and insulated wires. He said: “Our delegation is open to dialogue. The companies are ready to consider any options. We are open to private and government partnerships.

The chief executive of Afriwide Consult and a lecturer at the University of Kent, Dr Gbenga Oduntan in his paper entitled: Electricity energy insecurity in Nigeria, noted that Nigeria has all the resources of a great nation and should have electricity security. He said with over 167 million people, Nigeria is the eighth largest population in the world with fourth largest population under the age of 20 as well as 10th world largest reserves of oil and gas.

He said Nigeria is the fifth fastest growing economy in 2010 covered by CIRA economists – China, Taiwan, Singapore and Qatar and has prospects of growing its global GDP share to 2.5 per cent in 2050, overtaking Italy, France, and UK. Following the definition of energy security by the Asian Pacific Economic Coperation (APEC), which means “affordable and secure supplies of energy, which are central to economic growth and sustainable development...”

Oduntan said Nigeria and most

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

developing states in the ECOWAS region and beyond are far from the desired goal although their respective levels of vulnerability differs significantly from each other.

He said for successive decades, Nigerian governments have shown little appreciation of the damaging consequences of energy insecurity and very little is done in coordinating domestic and foreign policies to address this problem. Interestingly much focus is on other areas such as education and agriculture, whereas no progress can be made in these sectors without electricity energy, he added.

He said that economic growth is inhibited by insufficient power supply, adding that lost Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth attributable to power supply constraints will reach $130 billion by 2020 and about $3.5 billion per annum is required over the next eight years to meet the power targets of the government.

On short to medium term objectives, Oduntan said government should ensure a system of generation, transmission, distribution and marketing that is efficient, safe affordable and cost-effective throughout the country and ensure that the power sector attracts private investment both from Nigeria and overseas as well as promote competition to meet growing demand through the full liberalisation of the electricity market.

On the long term objectives, he said the government should provide a new regulatory environment that is sufficiently flexible to take into account new technological developments and the international trends in the power sector and provide universal access to electricity, although not necessarily through the national grid.

He commended the incentives provided by the government such as exemption from Income tax – tax holiday between seven and 20 years depending on quantum of investment, import duty exemption for machinery, spares and consumables 150 per cent on research and development (R&D) and two per cent tax concession on in-plant training for specified number of years.

‘The government should provide a new regulatory environment that is sufficiently flexible to take into account new technological developments and the international trends in the power sector and provide universal access to electricity, although not necessarily through the national grid’

NEW set of seismic acquisition and processing technology capable of improving oil well exploration, production and development in the future has been uncovered.

The technology known as Ocean Bottom Cables (OBC) was unveiled by the technical team lead, Exploration, Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) Unlimited Robert Lory at the July technical meeting of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) in Lagos The geophysicist said the technology has become the only viable acquisition method to provide good subsurface coverage of assets such as platforms, drill rigs and Single Point Mooring (SPMs) particularly in shallow offshore locations.

Citing example of where the OBC had been deployed with great success, he mentioned the 1556 km2 high density multi-component seismic dataset acquired over the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)/MPN Joint Venture producing acreage on the eastern Niger shelf from 2007 to 2010 According to him the final processed P-waves were delivered in phases between fourth quarter of

By Bidemi Bakare

2010 to third quarter of last year.

He said the acquisition contractor was Delta Plus/RXT while Bulwarks/GXT was the processing contractor.

Compared to the streamer technology, which had earlier been in use, Lory said the OBC offers a more superior advantage as it contributes to observed uplift in imaging quality, including higher resolution, better signal/noise ratio and improved steep dip and fault imaging.

He said the key acquisition technology is the four component sensors within the Vector Seis Ocean (VSO) system.

Giving more details on how the OBC is used to produce better resolution Lory said:” First, the accelerators are coupled to the sea floor for them to demonstrate good vector fidelity. So, also is the system that has an excellent low-frequency response being matched between the hydrophone and accelerators.

And by accurately recording ground motion and pressure, this allows for an effective dual sensor summation that cancels the receiver side ghost and multiples. This fills

the ghost notches, increase the bandwidth of the data and consequently translate to better resolution.”

He disclosed that one key element that is likely to contribute to the success of seismic acquisition and processing using the OBC is the good working relationship that must exist between the contractors and the operator.

“If not that we had a close working relationship with our contractors it would have been difficult for us to get result. But because we understood the importance of team work among the parties it became quite easier. We worked closely with both our acquisition and processing contractors and that helped a great deal in delivering the dataset in record time, he said” On the intended benefits of the new technology, Lory said: “Nigeria has a lot to benefit when this new technology starts gaining currency. One, the OBC 3D seismic programme would help produce the reserves that the country already has. Secondly, it is also going to assist in discovering more reserves for development and production.”

Sirius Energy wins oil block in Niger Republic

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IRIUS Group, one of Africa’s fastest growing energy groups with interests in oil and gas, power generation, real estate, shipping, and financial services, and its subsidiary, Sirius Energy Resources, has been awarded an oil exploration licence for the Grein Block in the NorthWest region of Niger.

Sirius Energy Resources was listed amongst five companies that were successful in the recent bid for oil blocks in the country, as quoted in the Niger National Daily - Le Sahel, of July 9, this year.

The Grein Block lays roughly between latitudes 190 and 210 north and longitude 100 and 110 east covering approximately 22,020km2. It falls within the Cretaceous-Tertiary West African Rift system, which is believed to extend 4,000km from Gao trough in Mali to the Anza basin in Kenya, according to Fairhead, 1986.

The block consists of deep narrow

grabens filled with Cretaceous to tertiary sediments with thickness reaching at times 12,000m.

Grein is bordered on the west by the Tenere block owned by CNPC and estimated to have 1-3 billion barrels of probable oil reserves and North of the Agadem block with proven reserves of over 500 millon barrels of oil and 10 billion cubic metres of natural gas, also being exploited by CNPC. The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Tony Rapu, acknowledged the cooperation of the government and people of Niger and the CNPC in the award of the concession license to Sirius Group. He pledged that the company will continue to uphold quality, corporate governance and innovation in its business engineering processes to attract capable hands and will always consider its community social responsibility efforts in strengthen-

•Rapu

ing its business ties with its host community.

Sirius Group, according to him, is driven to provide excellent products and services that break existing barriers in the sectors in which they operate in. In furtherance to its international business expansion strategy, Rapu has forecasted a healthy business outlook for its oil and gas subsidiary.

‘Nigeria must adopt its model to develop oil & gas’

I

NSTEAD of copying from some oil producing countries’ models that are not in attunement with the economy, Nigeria has been urged to develop and implement its own unique model for the development of the oil and gas industry.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, NRG Drilling Nigeria Limited, Nwankwo Charles stated this in an interview with The Nation.

Nwankwo while commenting on the alleged circulation of different versions of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), said it was inconceivable for anyone to think of trying to tinker with the original document and allow foreign and external influence to shape the structure and texture of the proposed bill.

He said though it may be prejudicial to presume that there are politicised versions of the bill, the interest of the country according to him, is to ensure that the growth of the oil and gas industry is given utmost priority.

Comparing notes, he said Nigeria may not for instance, use Ghana’s model for development as the economic factors existing in the two countries may be different.

“Even as close as Ghana is to Nige-

By Bidemi Bakare

ria, we must not think that a model that is workable in that country will also be feasible here in Nigeria.

Ghana for example is producing 60,000 barrels a day while we are producing 2.4 million barrels per day.

So the economics are quite different and wide apart. Besides, the model may also not be applicable in Nigeria because of the two countries’ approaches to business, which are different,” he said.

He acknowledged the commendable work done by crafters of the bill saying it is still the best legislative document that the country can boast of in recent times. He said: “We cannot but recognise the huge part played by the crafters of the bill as a lot of mental work would have gone into it. These are people who understand different parts of the industry. While there are those who may understand the engineering but not fiscal part of it, others understand the fiscal side but not the engineering or geology part.

So a lot of people would have merged their interests or ideas together to come up with this brilliant piece of legislation. But if you ask me, I think the main issue as regards the bill is about the international oil companies

(IOCs) and the country’s interests. For instance, the fiscal regime as contained in the bill is a major concern for both the IOCs and the government. There are many questions still begging for answers on this. As a matter of fact, this issue is the major point of divergence between the stakeholders including the IOCs and the government .There are provisions, which the IOCs are contesting but are supposed to help Nigeria function better as the owner of the assets.”

He said the PIB when passed into law would further strengthen the local content law, which became operational over two years ago. He added that the local content law can be adjudged to be working in view of the recent partnership between Shell and some Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) on the funding of the Equipment Components Manufacturing Initiative (ECMI) scheme.

“The local content law is working thanks to visionaries like Ernest Nwapa, who has seen through the future and is applying certain principles .The recent signing of agreement between Shell and the OEMs is a testimony to this. The reason OEMs/Shell relationship is being brought on board is that we have not had the capacity to address the issue of infrastructure,” he said.

50

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

ENERGY

PIB and Alison-Madueke’s midas touch T

HE first time I came across Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, the first female to be so appointed Minister of Petroleum in Nigeria and in the African continent was in 2007 on the Lagos-Ibadan Express Way. I was with The News magazine at the time and was travelling from Lagos to Akure, Ondo State capital to do a story on the governorship tussle in the election tribunal between Governor Olusegun Mimiko and his predecessor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu. And suddenly, I saw Alison-Madueke, who was Minister of Transport at the time cry profusely. She had taken time out of the comfort zone of her office to do on the spot assessment of major roads in the country and the Lagos- Ibadan road, which had become a death trap, was one of her ports of call.

She saw Nigerians suffer and she wondered why the ordinary people on whose palms sovereignty lies die like rodents on the road, which ordinarily should have been on nylon tiles considering the enormous resources allegedly spent on it by the previous administration.

For me, the tears flowing from her eyes down her maxilla showed her connect with the ordinary Nigerians who are common victims of road accidents, which regrettably have killed more Nigerians than all killer diseases put together.

This encounter endeared me to this amazon who had carved a niche for herself in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria and in the international community. Little wonder that she is the first woman ever to lead a Nigeria delegation to Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to Vienna in Austria in 2010 and the first Nigerian woman to be conferred with an honorary doctorate degree by the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) for excelling in a field that is strictly men’s world.

So, I was not surprised that President Goodluck Jonathan retained Madueke as Petroleum Minister in the face of unfounded calls for her head. And with the recent presentation of the water-proof Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to the National Assembly for passage by the Executive Arm of government, the Bayelsa born technocrat has added another feather to her cap. It is true that she is not the first to moot PIB but Madueke is clearly the architect of this newversioned PIB and mid-wifed it to maturity, in spite of the distraction by enemies of reforms. She achieved this by rallying round all the stakeholders in oil and gas industry including the malignant International Oil Companies (IOCs) through dialogue, wide consultations with Nigerians across board and the engagements of the media and civil society, the result of which is a brand new PIB that in the words of the minister addresses the concerns of IOCs and engenders a win, win situation for Ni-

•Oil platform

By Francis Ottah Agbo

geria, Nigerians and the IOCs alike.

This new PIB, which is adjudged to be pro-Nigeria because of its rich local content is divided into eight broad parts and four schedules couched in 226 pages with 365 sections to make interesting reading.

The Minister must be praised for securing the buy-in of the IOCs in the new PIB. It will be recalled that IOCs had surreptitiously frustrated the passage of the earlier bill in the defunct sixth National Assembly on grounds that it was insensitive to their strategic interest. They, for example, claimed that the old PIB amongst other things, compelled them to pay mind-boggling and unrealistic royalties and taxes to the Federal Government through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and feared that if passed into law, it would freeze them from business. Some of them such as Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Chevron, Mobil, among others, even threatened to vacate the shores of Nigeria for neighbouring countries such as Ghana, Niger, Angola and so on that now have oil in commercial quantities.

No responsible government would allow them to leave as that would cripple oil exploration, exploitation, refining, and revenue profile of Nigeria. So government was in dare need of solution to keep the IOCs in the country and Diezani had to come to judgement by deploring her sterling leadership qualities and persuasive skills. The Minister quickly addressed the issues of royalties, taxes and licenses in such a manner that the interests of the IOCs are protected in the new PIB. And before the skeptics and cynics could say Nigeria, the minister talked the IOCs into it and they flew with it!

•Mrs Alison-Madueke

If the bi-cameral Nigerian legislature as expected by Nigerians passes the PIB into law as quick as possible as promised by Senate President David Mark, the administration of oil and gas sector will be transparent and accountable to the public and the pricing of petroleum products in the downstream sector will be completely deregulated with more indigenous participation. Deregulation will amongst other things create fair market value for petroleum products in the Nigerian economy, make enough products available by removing artificial scarcity and ultimately remove economic distortions.

If critics thought the new PIB would be insensitive to the Niger Delta, the region that produces the golden eggs, then they were dead wrong. The Minister ensured that the PIB provides for the setting up of a Petroleum Host Community Fund, which compels oil companies to surrender 10 per cent of their profits from upstream activities for the development of the oil producing communities as more and more Niger Deltans especially the youths will be gainfully employed. This I believe will complement the activities of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and quell youth restiveness in the area. The PIB further protects the environment, terminates oil flaring and makes it punishable by law. Rather the hitherto flared gas will now be exported to developed nations in dire need of the product hence creating another window for the inflow of revenue into the economy and hence signaling the implementation of the Gas Master Plan.

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), which had become the butt of many jokes in pepper soup joints, are to be scrapped if the new PIB sails

NAPE partners Ikon Science on local content

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S part of contributions to harness the benefits of the Local content development, the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) in collaboration with Ikon Science has embarked on training for members and industry practitioners on technology transfer.

The lecture, which stressed pressure and overpressure in the subsurface, is of utmost importance to the Nigerian oil and gas industry given the need to drill safely and the ability of pressure to indicate new exploration opportunities leading to more reserves.

The training if effectively harnessed is expected to offer technical information on how to avert disaster leading to fire outbreak in the oil and gas industry including the Niger Delta region.

Many had lost their lives and properties worth hundreds of mil-

By Ambrose Nnaji

lions of naira to fire incidents in the oil and gas industry hence provoking the need to finding a lasting solution to contain future occurrences.

Speaking during the training in Lagos, the NAPE President Mayowa Afe, said for the local content to be fully realised, there was need to ensure adequate safety of lives of the people and property in the oil and gas region through training of industry players.

He said the association was committed to bringing foreign experts to train people from all member company including Total, Agip and Chevron, among others, to update them on how to overcome the challenges of over-pressure so that there would be increased safety in the oil region.

“It is the objective of the associa-

tion to advance the course of geosciences and any course that is related to the exploration and production of oil and gas in Nigeria. So we are training and developing experts as a contribution to the Nigerian content development,” Afe said.

He said that IkonGeopressure and local partner Sonar were awarded the Niger Delta pressure study by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in 2009.

Since then, the IkonGeopressure team had been heavily involved in supporting Nigerian academia in exposing the next generation of geoscientists to real world exploration and production business.

The course, he said, marked the third Ikon education event in Nigeria in the year. Previous education events organised by Ikon include the SEG Aristotropy workshop and careers day at the Obafemi Awolowo University, IleIfe.

through. They are to be replaced with Petroleum Technical Bureau and the Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency with in-built measures to curb malfeasance and waste.

Equally interesting is the fact that NNPC is to be unbundled into three companies – National Oil Company, National Petroleum Assets Management Corporation and National Gas Company. To further give the public a say in the oil and gas sector, Nigerian investors are to have 30 per cent equity in the National Oil Company and 40 per cent in the National Gas Company within six years from the date of incorporation.

Parts of section 150-152 of the PIB read: ‘‘The Minister of Petroleum shall, not later than three months after the effective date, take such steps as are necessary under the Companies and Allied Matters Act to incorporate the National Oil Company as a public company limited by shares, which shall be vested with certain assets and liabilities of the NNPC. At the time of its incorporation, the initial shares of the National Oil Company shall be held by a nominee of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and Ministry of Finance incorporated on behalf of the government ... ’’ The PIB insulates the National Oil Company from the hammer of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 and the provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2007.

The bill also makes it mandatory for government to, within six years of the incorporation of the National Oil Company divest up to 30 per cent of the authorised shares of the company to the public in the Stock Market transparently.

If the National Oil Company is incorporated, the assets and liabilities held by the NNPC on behalf of the Federal Government except the interests in the unincorporated joint ventures and Nigerian Gas Company Limited shall be vested in the National Oil Company within 12 to 24 months from the effective date. The transfer of liability or obligation under the section stated above frees the NNPC from the liability or obligation as far as the transferred assets are concerned but the National Oil Company can defend or enforce all obligations for or against NNPC as if it is the original party to such obligation in the event of majeure or default.

The PIB provides for a National Petroleum Assets Management Corporation as a holding company, which will operate fully on a commercial swing. Consequently the Corporation will have power to (a) enter into contracts and incur obligations; (b) acquire, hold, mortgage, purchase and deal with all types of property; (c) establish and maintain subsidiaries for the discharge of its functions as the Corporation may determine and so on.

Similarly, the sections allow the Downstream Petroleum Regulatory

Agency to oversee tariffs to prevent hijack of deregulation by exploitative marketers. Aside this, the agency will oversee transportation of pipeline, bulk storage of petroleum products at designated depots. In spite of this power conferred on the agency, PIB empowers all marketers to establish loading facilities, jetties and own independent pipelines and depots to create a level playing field for all players in the oil and gas sector.

One salient provision of the PIB is that it gives absolute power to licensed oil marketing company, bulk consumer of petroleum products or independent refineries to construct and operate independent pipelines, depots or jetties for their exclusive use.

A deep study of the crux of the NNPC reform embarked upon by Alison-Madueke is to reposition the corporation in such a way that it is more transparent and profit-oriented so that it could generate more funds for the federation thereby dispelling rumours of NNPC’s insolvency, alleged sharp practices and inefficiency.

The reforms will equally make the corporation to be at par with its counterparts in other oil- producing countries like the Petrobras of Brazil, Aramco of Saudi Arabia and Petronas of Malaysia. The implication of this is that NNPC will declare more money for government to develop the country.

Nigerians and the National Assembly must rise up in unison to own, fly with the PIB and chart the course of our collective destiny by ensuring that the PIB is expeditiously passed into law. It is by so doing that the name of the seventh National Assembly will be written in gold. It is by so doing that there will be more money to meet the Millenium Development Goals. All men of good will, civil society and media must sustain the support for the bill that seeks to revolutionise the downstream sector.

Neither the baby nor the bath water should be thrown away since this version of the PIB has received the endorsement of majority of Nigerians, the critical stakeholders in the oil and gas sector, civil society and the popular media.

The insinuation by a few individual and a section of the Abuja press that the PIB vests too much power on Alison-Madueke should be discarded.

The issue at stake is not about her or President Jonathan but about our destiny as a people and institutional reforms of the sector which we all desperately desire. In any case, AlisonMadueke will not be Minister of Petroleum till eternity, many will still come after her. So, Nigerians should not allow the thunder of the minority to cow the ovation of the majority as far as the PIB is concerned.

•Agbo, a journalist and public affairs analyst wrote in from Abuja and can be reached via francisagbo38@yahoo.com (08164572288).

51

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

Fashola urges world leaders to control population

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AGOS State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has called on world leaders to initiate population control policies in their jurisdictions to tackle global crisis of housing shortage and stem rural-urban migration.

This, he said, became imperative following the rapidly depleting life supporting resources such as water and arable land and a growing human population.

Fashola made this call at a panel discussion with the theme, Slum Upgrading and Social Housing Provision: An Intercontinental Dialogue as part of the Mega City Mayors Summit.

He also advocated more focus on agriculture and agro-allied development in rural areas to check growing rural-urban migration worldwide.

The panel discussion had as Chairman the Housing Secretary, City of Rio de Janeiro, Mr Jorge Bittar, and co-discussants - the Head of Housing Policy Section of UN-HABITAT and Coordinator of the UN Housing Rights Programme, Claudio Acioly Jnr., and Urban and Environmental Management Expert, Jakarta Municipality, Indonesia, Ms Aisa Tobing.

Fashola told the panelists and members of the audience drawn from across the globe: “In my view, if you want to take people out of poverty, you must first deal with those who are already poor because if you continue to add to the number, it will not only be an uphill battle, it will be continuously in decline.”

He asked rhetorically: “With the growing population, the world’s global supply of water is depleting, the world’s arable land is depleting and the number of people are growing. Can we feed the population? Can we provide

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie Asst Editor

enough houses for them? That, to me, is the issue to be addressed.”

He noted that the answer to the problem of rural-urban migration lay in the development of the rural areas.

“If all leaders of the world, especially those challenged by ruralurban migration, begin to invest massively in agriculture and agroallied businesses in the rural and urban settlements, I am convinced that it will slow down, if not reverse the urbanisation trend.

“World leaders must come to the reality of population explosion. It is not just providing houses for the people; can we feed that population?” The Governor reiterated that the only way to reverse the trend was through population control and massive investment in agriculture and agro-allied businesses in rural areas.

On what his administration has been doing in the last five years to solve housing problems, Fashola said his administration has developed a policy called the Lagos HOMS which is an acronym for Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme.

“What our government is doing is that we are using taxpayers’ money and every month from our revenue, we are pooling a percentage of income together. We have designed a housing model that we think can adequately address the needs that we face”, Fashola said.

He pointed out that the real challenge of housing lay not only on the number of people needing houses but the number who have the capacity to pay for them.

“We adopted a model of four

LAWMA, NBC partner on community development

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HE Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), in a bid to ensure that every community in the state experiences its transformational agenda in the area of effective waste management, recently launched a community clean-up project in Oluwole Ogba Community in collaboration with Nigerian Bottling Company.

This scheme, which is being executed under the LAWMA’s Community Participation Programme, is geared towards ridding every community in the state of refuse and its attendant consequences in addition to providing job opportunities for the locals. LAWMA has in time past partnered with some corporate bodies, such as Nigerite, Universal Steel, Protea Hotel, Maryland, Guinness Nigeria Plc and a host of others to bring meaningful development to every community in the state.

General Manager (Administration and Special Duties) of LAWMA, Mrs. Abimbola Jijohom Ogun said the community clean-up programme was initiated to keep up with the ongoing round-theclock sanitation work of LAWMA

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JI River local government in Enugu State would soon complete its 250 housing units.

Some units of the Oji River Urban housing estate are almost set for the owner-occupiers to move into and begin to live as landlords as some of the one-bedroom terrace houses were almost completed.

Initiator of the housing project, and chairman of Oji River local council, Chief Gabriel Onuzulike, who took members of Nigeria Union of Jour-

•Fashola

floors including the ground floor with each block having 12 apartments and they are integrated in the sense that on each floor, there is a one bedroom, two bedrooms and three bedroom units and it is erected like that right to the top floor,” he said.

Explaining the reason for the model adopted by his administration, Fashola who noted that the land size of the state is small, said: “We have to build vertically in order to accommodate people that are coming in”, adding, “The one bedroom unit is above 70 square metres and the two bedroom unit is about 90 square metres while the three bedroom unit is about 120 square metres.”

“Now as I speak, we are contemplating a supply initiative that delivers each of the housing units at roughly about 600, 000 USD per block. By the end of this year and in the first quarter of next year,

we will deliver about 3, 000 units of houses”, the Governor said.

He said the new model represents the plan by his administration to sustain the investment in housing pointing out that the plan would fill the gap between demand and supply created by the absence of housing development as against population increase over the years.

“We thought that if we do this there would be more people benefitting in the programme. Our intention is to ask people to contribute a maximum of 30 percent of the equity of the value of the house, whether it is a one bedroom or two bedroom flats or a three bedroom apartment,” the Governor said, adding that Government was also interested in seeing that the potential owner could afford to pay 25 percent of his monthly income towards settling his mortgage.

•From right: Minister of State for Works, Amb Bashir Yuguda; Minister of Works Mr Mike Onolememen in handshake with chiefs and elders of Ogoni land, who paid a coutesy visit to the Federal Ministry of Works in solidarity for the completion of Bodo-Bonny road and bridge.

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie Asst Editor

in the state.

Mrs. Ogun said the project was first begun on the major roads and highways, but due to the need to involve every part of the state, it was moved down to the inner communities.

She added that more corporate entities are stepping in to partner with the authority in the area of championing the cause for a cleaner Lagos, having seen the results achieved so far with the scheme.

She seized the opportunity to appeal to other corporate organisations that are yet to partner with LAWMA to key into the corporate social responsibility(CSR) by giving back to society, saying “together we can make a difference in our society.”

Head of Public Affairs and Communication, Nigerian Bottling Company Ltd, Mrs. Adeyanju Olomola said what informed their decision to partner with LAWMA in the clean-up exercise was their desire to make life more meaningful for the people.

•From left: Simbo Uviesherhe, Mercy Azeta, Sade Kadiri and Adu Ademuyiwa, displaying the award given to PHOTO: their Managing Director, Mr Ola Oresanya by journalists at Arepo, Ogun State.

OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE

Local govt to build 250 housing units From Chris Oji, Enugu

nalists (NUJ) on inspection of the project, said the project was conceived because Oji town is an urban council with housing challenges.

Onuzulike said Oji River local government is a bridge between Anambra and Enugu states that needed housing accommodations for the growing population of the semiurban council.

He added that before the second quarter of next year all amenities needed in the estate would have been put in place.

The 250 housing units include three bedroom bungalows, two bedroom bungalows and one bedroom terrace houses mostly meant for workers that would be accommodated through mortgage agreements.

He added that applications for ownership of the houses were al-

ready being received.

Other projects executed under the council chairman’s administration include construction and rehabilitation of different primary schools in the council, roads construction projects such as the Isikwe and Enuguagu-Achi roads, Achi courtUmuabi road as well as IsikweAwlah road.

Enugu State chairman of NUJ, Mr Louis Dilibe, had told the council

chairman that the journalists were on tour of the local government councils to see the works of the third tier government in the state. He said that the council would access different councils based on their sectoral performances.

Onuzulike, however, pledged that his council would assist the NUJ in the renovations of the council secretariat as well as in the other laudable projects it proposed to embark on.

52

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT Lagos threatens to take over houses

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•Group picture of the executive council members of APBN at the investiture of their new state chairman and induction of the executive in Lagos

APBN reiterates commitment to national development P RESIDENT, Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN) Mr Segun Ajanlekoko said the body has been interacting with the Federal Government and its agencies constructively to deploy and optimise the country’s resources towards rapid and sustainable development.

Ajanlekoko, who spoke at the Investiture of Rahmoni Adewale Adeyemi as the chairman Lagos Chapter of the association and the induction of the executive council, said the body will continue to provide platform for professionals to attain high level performance to move the country forward.

According to him, APBN has been engaging in advocacy and policy dialogue with the government to move Nigeria forward.

Ajanlekoko assured that the body will continue to promote the highest moral standards and professionalism, adding that it

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie and Wale Adepoju

will uphold excellence, integrity, accountability, transparency, probity, diligence and best practices among other core values.

“The country is in dire need of credible leadership for direction and good governance,” he said.

This, he noted, is necessary to checkmate corruption, create employment, and provide steady and reliable power supply and infrastructural development. It will also provide security for the citizens, he added.

He said: “There are serious national issues affecting critical sectors. If our intention is to move forward as a country, government at all levels should embrace greater use of Nigerian professionals to deliver people-friendly programmes.

“APBN with its pool of competencies is strategically positioned to partner the various governments towards achieving this across the country. The place of professionals in the present and future growth and development of the country cannot be under-estimated.”

APBN Lagos Chairman, Adewale Adeyemi, said the body which has 22 registered members in its fold and is involved in the development and monitoring of professional and educational programmes and updating skills of its members to possess certification in relevant areas.

In a goodwill message, President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Mr Segun Aina urged government to tap the resources invested on professionals because according to him a professional is a problem-solver and an important agent of development at the level of technical and managerial competence that ensures positive transformation in all human endeavour.

Architects Fair gets presidential endorsement

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HE 23rd edition of the annual specialised exposition and workshops on the building, construction and infrastructural development sector (Archi-built), organised by the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) will be officially opened by President Goodluck Jonathan on August 22 at the Ladi Kwali Hall, Abuja Sheraton and Towers in Abuja.

Archibuilt has over the years attracted world-class companies and organisations from Nigeria and abroad as exhibitors while con-

versely pulling in good visitor participation with a cumulative of about 500,000 people in recent years for the seminars and the expositions.

The Archibuilt platform has evolved into a veritable tool which the NIA utilises to contribute to national development by creating a framework for the infusion of international-best ideas and practices with the cross fertilisation of local realities and expert opinions towards the success of the national developmental agenda.

The theme is: Viability and Sustainabilty of Africa’s Future Cities.

According to a statement by the organisers, the event will feature workshop sessions that will run concurrently with the exposition.

Sub-themes for the workshop are: Addressing Security Concerns in City Development; Planning for Power Sufficiency in City Development; Project Financing in City Development and Abuja City Development - A Case Study. Application of the New Conditions of Engagement will also be treated as a sub theme.

Firm targets upscale market

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ONSUMER’S furniture company, Aframero Limited has exhibited some of its product at the just-concluded furtex international furniture, home textiles and home suppliers trade fair held in Lagos, last week.

Aframero Limited not only supplies premium quality building and woodworking materials to the construction and furniture sector, it also provides advisory services.

Its Managing Director, Mrs. Yetunde Oghomienor said the

company was birthed to fill the gap in high quality interior finishing materials at affordable prices.

She said the company’s main products include wood composite panels, such as medium density fibrewood, and Formica brand countertops.

In addition, she said their products carry the widest range of colours, finishes, and sizes.

According to her, Aframero’s kitchen accessories include magic

corner, pantry unit, pullout basket and other items that makes a kitchen beautiful and making working easier and more pleasurable.

General Manager Mr clement Sampson described Aframero Limited as a one-stop shop were you get all your furniture materials and accessories.

He said the product is targeted at professionals, specifiers in the building sectors, architects, builders and furniture manufacturers.

UN-Habitat appoints Manager

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R Kabir Mohammed Yari has been appointed the new Habitat Programme Manager for Nigeria.

He will oversee the United Nations Habitat Human Settlements Programme Support Office (HAPSO) in Abuja Yari, according to a statement, holds a B.Sc. Degree in Geography from the Bayero University, Kano

Nigeria and a Masters Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.

In addition, he attended many short courses in Housing, Project Preparation and Appraisal, Public Private Partnerships and Urban and City Management among others.

He is a professional town planner with extensive experience in

urban infrastructure projects, participatory planning, city development strategy and urban governance.

He started his working career with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing before joining Urban Development Bank of Nigeria where he rose to the rank of Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.

HE Lagos State government has called on allottees of vacant houses in some of its housing estates to take physical possession of their properties.

Commissioner for Housing Bosun Jeje said in a statement that the state will have no option but to implement the terms of the initial agreement entered into by the concerned parties.

He expressed the displeasure of the state government at the continued abandonment of houses in some estates long after they had been allotted to interested members of the public.

Jeje expressed worries that there are as many as 87 housing units left unoccupied at different Millenium Housing Estates such as Oke-Eletu nine units, Alaagba two units, Ojokoro 33 units, Shasha 10 units and Ibeshe 33 units. This, he noted negates the spirit and purpose for which the houses were built; which was to provide shelter for the teeming population of Lagosians who are in need of decent accommodation.

The Commissioner, who reinstated the state government’s com-

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie Asst Editor

mitment to reducing drastically the estimated five million unit’s deficit in housing need of Lagosians reminded the allottees that non occupation of the houses denies other citizens access to that aspect of democratic dividend.

Jeje said the abandonement constitute environmental challenges and security threat to the concerned estates and the neighbourhood.

Many of the unoccupied houses, he noted, now constitute eye-sores, with weedy and dirty environment defacing their aesthetics. Furthermore he pointed out that they serve as hide-outs for criminals who use them to plan crimes and use them as launch pads to attack unsuspecting residents and innocent members of the public.

Warning that the trend was no longer acceptable, Jeje revealed the government has magnanimously approved a 60-day moratorium within which the allottees should comply with the terms of the agreement or the law will take its full course.

•Jeje planting a tree in one of the Government Estate in Lagos

Group elects President

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HE Federation of Construction Industry(FOCI) has elected a new President. He is Mr Solomon Ogunbusola. He was elected President at the 56th Annual General Meeting of the Association held at the Sheraton & Towers, Abuja last week. Until his election, he was the Deputy President of the Association.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Ogunbusola said: “No matter how brave or gifted, when a young man steps on hallowed grounds on which much older predecessors had operated, he must exhibit some hesitation before picking up courage”’ He said his team has assessed the

challenges coming with the election and that they will do their best to ensure that FOCI forges ahead with the needed dynamism to provide needed leadership for the industry.

He also outlined the challenges facing the industry that he knows deserve greater attention to be; delays in payment for certified jobs, escalating cost of contracts due to some factors, inadequate funding leading to avoidable delays and anxiety over worsening security situation for personnel on construction sites.

To these challenges, Ogunbusola promised, “they will be pursued with greater zeal”.

Unilever, Facebook partner on potable water NILEVER, through the Unilever Foundation, in partnership with PSI (Population Services International) has announced the launch of Waterworks, a non-forprofit programme, that will provide safe clean drinking water to communities in need around the world.

Waterworks, which operates through a ground-breaking Timeline application developed jointly with Facebook, will connect people with means directly with people and communities in need.

Water is the source of life, but almost 800 million people don’t have access to clean drinking water. Preventable water-borne diseases, such as dysentery and diarrhoea are a particular threat to the weakest members of

U

society: a child dies from water-related illness every 20 seconds.

Unilever’s Chief Marketing Officer, Keith Weed, said his company has made a public and ambitious commitment through the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan to provide safe drinking water to 500 million people by 2020 working in partnership with others.

He said they share the belief with United Nation’s declaration in July 2010, which states that safe and clean drinking water is a human right. On the reason behind the partnership with Facebook, he said: “At Unilever, we believe that small, everyday actions can add up to a big difference; and that the power of social connections can drive real change across the world.

53

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

EQUITIES

Equities open with N91b gain

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 23-7-12

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HE Nigerian Stock Market opened this week with bullish gait as quoted equities gained N91 billion in first trading session.

With highly capitalised stocks leading the rally, the All-Share Index rose by 1.24 per cent to close higher at 23,381.05 points. Similarly, market capitalisation of all equities rose by N91 billion, to close higher at N7.440 trillion.

Dangote Cement, the only stock that weighs over 25 per cent of the entire market weight was major contributor to yesterday’s growth. It gained N5.75, representing 5.0 per cent maximum value appreciation to close at N120.75. This was Dangcem highest price ever

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By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

since May 14th when it was marked down for dividend.

However, Unity Bank Plc has declared a profit after tax of N2.99 billion for the half-year ended June 30.

This according to the result represented to the Exchange represented an increase of 63.4 per cent against N1.83 billion posted in the corresponding period of 2011.

It said that its profit before tax stood at N3.53 billion as against N2.15 billion recorded in 2011.

The company’s gross earnings also rose to N25.93 billion as against N20.99 billion posted in the comparative period of 2011, representing an in-

crease of 23.5 per cent.

The company’s net assets stood at N47.35 billion as against N47.34 billion recorded in the preceding year.

The bank had recorded a dismal performance for the financial year ended December 31, 2011 with a profit after tax of N2.43 billion.

The bank had posted N12.49 billion in 2010, representing a decrease of 80.5 per cent.

Also, the profit before tax stood at N3.13 billion from N13.41 in the corresponding period of 2010, representing a decrease of 77 per cent.

Gross earnings dropped to N47.53 billion as against N64.81 billion declared in 2010, a decrease of 26.7 per cent.

Stakeholdes to Fed Govt: Review money market rates

RESIDENT of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr. Ariyo Olushekun, has called on the government to review rates in the money market, as a way of ensuring growth of the capital market.

Olushekun spoke at the Nigerian Stock Exchange after the introduction of the new Registrar and Chief Executive of CIS, Mr. Emmanuel Ajayi to the stockbrokers in Lagos yesterday. He said with over 15 per cent yields on government bonds, investors would continue to move from the capital market to the government stocks.

According to him, the rates in the money market are rather too high to encourage anyone to invest in the capital market.

He said, “If investors can get over 15 per cent or thereabout from government stocks,

which is tax free and which has the highest security, what that means is that the real returns is actually higher than 15 per cent.

“So there is no encouragement for people to come to the capital market. Don’t forget that the inflation rate is 12.7 per cent, in that case, if you can make well above inflation rate in the money market, you wouldn’t want to come to the capital market, given what has happened in the market in the last few years. We are asking government to look at rates in the money market.”

He noted that the market recovery is top on the agenda of the institute, adding that CIS has been deliberating with the government in tax incentives for companies and investors in the capital market.

The CIS boss stressed the

need to reduce the tax payable by quoted companies, saying “corporate income tax that companies pay should be reduced to maybe 25 per cent.

Currently they pay 30 per cent.

“Investors are currently paying VAT when they buy and sell, we don’t think they should be paying, because VAT is more applicable to consumption items and these are not consumption items, so we want a situation where that is removed,” he said.

He said that outdated fees such as the contract stamp should be scrapped, noting that “the contract stamp is long overdue for removal.

The contract stamp was for the days when it took a long time for trades to settle after purchase, but now there is really no need for it.”

While canvassing for the reduction or outright removal of withholding tax payable on dividends, Ariyo said: “We are asking government to deal with the lingering debt issue by granting forbearance to operators on the margin loans, that will enable operators to play the role that they normally play which is to lift the market up.”

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 23-7-12

54

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

MONEY LINK

CBN: External debt rises to $5.9b in Q1 •Reserves shed $830m in four weeks T HE public sector external debt rose to $5.99 billion in the first quarter of 2012 from $5.67 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011 as a result of additional loans incurred.

A statement from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said the continued increase in the public sector external debt may constitute a threat to the existing debt sustainability position of the country if future loans are not project-tied and self sustaining.

The private sector external debt stood at $0.27 billion in the first quarter of 2012 compared to $0.44 billion in the fourth quarter, 2011 and $0.39 billion in first quarter 2011.

Public sector debt service payments increased from $0.07 billion in the fourth

By Collins Nweze

quarter of 2011 to $0.09 billion in the first quarter of 2012.

Analysis of foreign exchange utilised by sectors in the review period revealed that $8.13 billion was spent on the importation of various items into the country.

This represented 81.3 per cent of the total foreign exchange utilised during the period . It also indicated an increase of 4.2 per cent and 38.3 per cent in comparison with the levels recorded in the preceding and corresponding quarters of 2011, respectively.

In the first quarter 2012, the sum of $1.87 billion foreign exchange was expended on

out-payments made for services that included financial 62.7 per cent; business 14.4 per cent and transport services 11.2 per cent.

Estimates indicated that the capital and financial accounts swung from a deficit position of $1.06 billion in fourth quarter to a surplus position of $2.46 billion during the review period.

The improved position was attributable to the huge surge in portfolio investment. Further analysis revealed that the country’s assets abroad decreased from $5.05 billion recorded in the fourth quarter, to $2.18 billion during the review period.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s foreign reserves dropped to $36.36 billion in July 20, from

$37.19 billion four weeks earlier, losing about $830 million within the period.

According to data from the CBN website, the reserves stood at $37.19 billion in June 20, 2012. In between these dates, the reserves declined like it did the case between July 18 and 17 when the reserves shed $41 million.

The reserves were $37 billion as at July 4, 2010, but rose to $68 billion in August 2008 before the global financial crises impacted negatively on it.

Although oil price at the international market rose marginally, but the possibility of the reserves rebounding has been punctured by discovery that oil imports will decline

African Central Bank coming

A

FRICAN Central Bank Governors will meet in Algiers, the Capital of Algeria next month to decide on the possibility of floating the African Central Bank (ACB).

Chair of the technical committee on the development of the draft document Dr. Rene N’ Guettia Kouassi, who is also Director for Economic Affairs, Commission of the African Union, told journalists in Abuja yesterday that the draft document on the creation of the ACB will be reviewed in Abuja this week.

By Nduka Chiejina Assistant Editor

However, African Central Bank governors will first study the document before it is adopted as a working tool for the creation of the African Central Bank and then the “document will be admitted in to the organs of African Union.”

Dr. Kouassi stated that the committee was “very close to the desired goals as the experts have submitted the draft documents that African Central Bank governors will look at in Algeria in August.”

The goal of the technical committee he said is to look at the draft document and fine-tune it to get it into the good form that is desired by African countries.”

Aside from the creation of the African Central Bank, the continent plans to have its own African Investment Bank, which will be in Libya; the African Monetary Fund in Cameroon and the ACB in Abuja Nigeria. All these financial institutions he said will however, receive the final endorsement of the African Heads of State.

He noted that the institution

of a Common Currency was symbol of autonomy of Africa, as the African Union (AU) and ACB governors have agreed to get experts to come up with draft document.

On his part, the Co-Chair of the committee, Mr. Ralph Tseka, Director Governor’s office Reserve Bank of Malawi said the creation of the African Central Bank is at the heart of the African common currency and the central bank documents from the joint technical committee was instrumental to the creation of both organs.

FGN BONDS Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2012 “ 14-04-2012

GAINERS AS AT 23-7-12 SYMBOL

O/PRICE

DANGCEM 115.00 CONOIL 24.94 PORTPAINT 2.27 DANGSUGAR 4.75 OANDO 14.69 ROYALEX 0.58 UBA 4.18 DIAMONDBNK 2.32 DANGFLOUR 6.60 GLAXOSMITH 25.15

C/PRICE

120.75 26.18 2.38 4.98 15.30 0.60 4.29 2.38 6.71 25.50

C/PRICE 2.30 3.84 4.04 3.14 7.14 1.63 1.05 52.50 0.64 4.14

U

sition of Principal Manager, nine to Senior Manager position, six to Manager status while those promoted to the ranks of Deputy Manager and Assistant Manager altogether number 54.

Other staff in the rank of Senior Banking Officer, Banking Officer, Assistant Banking Officer and Executives also benefitted from the promotion exercise.

Of the number proceeding on retirement one each are in the rank of General Manager and Deputy General Manager and another an Assistant General Manager while others are of various categories.

In carrying out the retirement, the bank said it worked in cooperation with all the stakeholders including The Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) to ensure industrial harmony.

The retiring staff will be paid their terminal benefits, gratuity, and other entitlements and supported to start new lives as entrepreneurs.

CHANGE 0.12 0.20 0.21 0.16 0.36 0.08 0.05 2.50 0.03 0.05

Exchange Rate (N) 155.2 155.8 155.7

Date 2-7-12 27-6-12 22-6-12

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Year Start Offer

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N) Parallel Market

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

Dec ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 12.6%

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

CHANGE

5.75 1.24 0.11 0.23 0.61 0.02 0.11 0.06 0.11 0.35

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m 113m

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12

LOSERS AS AT 23-7-12

SYMBOL O/PRICE AVONCROWN 2.42 ETRANZACT 4.04 CCNN 4.25 FCMB 3.30 ACCESS 7.50 MAYBAKER 1.71 TRANSCORP 1.10 FLOURMILL 55.00 CONTINSURE 0.67 STERLNBANK 1.19

NITY Bank Plc has begun implementation of a programme of staff promotion aimed at raising productivity and competitive position in the financial industry.

With the implementation of the programme, the bank has announced staff promotions, retirements and will embark on new recruitments to fill vacancies.

About 389 staff of all categories have been promoted while salary increments by way of notches were given to another 1,855. The bank said in a statement that about 500 of its workforce will proceed on retirement as per the rejuvenation programme, which emphasizes different age bands of retirement for categories of staff.

According to the bank, one Deputy General Manager was promoted General Manager, two to the rank of Deputy General Manager and five others to the position of Assistant General Manager. Three members of staff were elevated to the po-

Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 350m 150m 350m 138m 350m 113m

Currency OBB Rate Call Rate

Unity Bank promotes staff, cuts jobs

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM

MANAGED FUNDS

NIDF NESF

•CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido

DATA BANK

Tenor

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

in the coming months. On July 20, oil price inched up from $101.6 per barrel a week ago to $108.7 per barrel.

Nigeria’s oil exports are set to fall to an 11-month low of 1.81 million barrels per day (bpd) in September, a provisional loading programme showed. The country will ship a total of around 55 million barrels of oil in September compared to around 68 million in August, it showed.

Offer Price

Bid Price

ARM AGGRESSIVE 9.17 KAKAWA GUARANTEED 1.00 STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE 122.73 AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 105.51 LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL 0.74 BGL SAPPHIRE FUND 1.09 BGL NUBIAN FUND 0.95 NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. 1,713.35 PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND 8.95 CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST 1.39 CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST 1.87 STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY 7,978.16 THE DISCOVERY FUND 193.00 FIDELITY NIGFUND 1.67 • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

9.08 1.00 122.59 105.46 0.72 1.09 0.93 1,712.68 8.51 1.33 1.80 7,766.68 191.08 1.62

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank P/Court

Previous 04 July, 2011

Current 07, Aug, 2011

8.5000 8.0833

8.5000 8.0833

Movement

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

55

NEWS SSS summons Bakare

By Emmanuel Oladesu

T

HE Directorate of the State Security Service (SSS), Shangisha, Lagos, yesterday invited the Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly and Convener of the Save Nigeria Group (SNG) Pastor Tunde Bakare for questioning.

His media aide, Comrade Yinka Odumakin, said: “Yes, he has finished and is out of the place.”

The Chairman of the Campaign for Democracy (CD), Dr Joe Okei Odumakin, confirmed the report.

Her words: “I spoke with the pastor some minutes ago.

“He is out of the place. He told me that he was invited for a chat by security operatives.

“He got there around 3:10pm and left the place around 4:20pm.”

On whether the invitation was in connection with his Sunday sermon, entitled: “How to Change Government Peacefully and Make Society Free”, the activist said the cleric was questioned on several issues.

Bakare, in his message, predicted that the 2015 general elections would be free, fair and credible and better than the 1993 general elections.

Also, he advised President Goodluck Jonathan to follow the path of honour by throwing in the towel rather than becoming a victim of impeachment by the National Assembly.

AIDS conference begins in US From Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha, Washington D.C

O

VER 23,000 delegates from more than 195 countries have converged on Washington D.C, United States of America for the XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012) to find ways to end the epidemic.

With the theme: “Turning the tide together”, delegates will present their latest research to ensure that financing and global leadership keep pace with scientific progress against HIV. The International AIDS Conference was last held in the U.S. in 1990 in San Francisco.

United States travel restrictions for people living with HIV prohibited the conference’s return.

Years of advocacy by exPresident George W. Bush and President Barack Obama lifted the restrictions.

The International Chair of AIDS 2012 and President of the International AIDS Society (IAS), Elly Katabira, said: “Our return to the United States after a 22-year absence comes at a time of extraordinary hope. “ A time when we believe that the end of the AIDS epidemic is possible.

“AIDS 2012 is an important opportunity to thank Americans and highlight the millions of lives saved as a result of generous US contributions to the global fight against AIDS and its leadership in HIV research.”

Nigerians killed in New York car crash F IVE unidentified Nigerians, including two children, were killed in a car crash near the Van Wyck Expressway in Queens, New York, United States of America (USA) on Saturday.

The driver and seven passengers were coming from a nearby banquet hall, where they attended a celebration by a Nigerian association.

The celebration concluded a two-day annual convention of the Arondizuogu Patriotic Union National Congress of North America.

The police have not released the identities of the victims, but among them

From Adeola Fayehun, New York

were an eight-year-old girl and a nine-year-old boy.

The accident occurred around 3:15 am and the police believed the Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) was speeding.

Eyewitnesses told investigators that the vehicle allegedly ran two red lights shortly before the accident.

The vehicle struck a concrete support for the AirTrain to Kennedy International Airport and flipped a number of

times before coming to rest on the passenger side about 80 feet away, bursting into flames.

Some passengers escaped from the vehicle, including a 26-year-old man, whom rescue personnel found sitting on the curb, a spokesman for the Fire Department, Frank Dwyer, said.

The driver, a 45-year-old woman, who lives in the Bronx, was taken to Jamaica Hospital in critical condition.

The third survivor is a seven-year-old boy, who

was in stable condition.

It did not appear that any of the eight passengers were wearing seat belts, a law enforcement official said, although a community leader, Don Akamnonu, said the 26year-old man said he was wearing one.

The vehicle, a MercedesBenz GL-class, is built with seats for seven.

“The convention was supposed to bring us together — not end in tragedy,” said Anthony Nwankwo, 49, from Houston.

The convention draws about 200 people from across the United States.

Sanders advises African leaders FORMER United States Ambassador to Nigeria Ms. Robin Sanders has called on African leaders to be sincere in the implementation of developmental polices and programmes that affect the masses.

Ms Sanders spoke at the President Nite of Eagle Toastmasters Club International in Lagos.

She said Africans can be more proactive in developing the continent when its leaders implement programmes that affect the yearnings and aspiration of the people.

The ex-envoy said development means investing in people, providing them the tools to improve their lives, and allowing them to become more productive members of their families, their communities and their nation.

“We should invest in people by emphasising the rule of law and the accountability of the government to its people; and by supporting sustainable agriculture and diversified economic growth so that people can support themselves and their families,” she said.

Hip surgery in DELSUTH From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

•Jonathan flanked by Vice-President Namadi Sambo and Mrs Okonjo-Iweala...yesterday

Jonathan vows to end crude oil theft

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has vowed to end crude oil theft in the country.

He said it is embarrassing that Nigeria is the only oil producing country with a record of crude oil theft.

The country loses over N9.6billion yearly as a result of the activities of sea pirates.

Besides, the country loses over N2 trillion annually in capital flight due to the inability of indigenous ship owners to fully participate in cargo lifting, including crude oil exports.

Jonathan spoke yesterday at the opening of the Maritime Sector Presidential retreat with the theme: “Harnessing the Potential of Nigeria’s Maritime Sector for Sustainable Economic Development” held in Abuja.

He said: “It is embarrassing that it is only in Nigeria that crude oil is stolen.

“It is very bad news and I believe that Nigerians and foreigners who indulge in the act need to put their heads under the pillow.

“We are not the only oil producing country. Why is it that it is only in Nigeria that people steal crude oil? This must stop. We will be decisive in putting an end to this malaise.

“Our charge to all relevant agencies and departments of government is to work with the required urgency this challenge deserves.”

The President said the maritime sector is a critical component in the economic development of a modern state.

“Given its importance in the national economy, we have an

•Sets up 14-man committee •Okonjo-Iweala decries increase in piracy From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

uncompromising obligation to safeguard our territorial waters against all threats: poaching, piracy, pipeline vandalism, coastal insecurity, crude oil theft, bunkering, non-payment of statutory levies and charges, illegal entry of ships into our territorial waters, illegal importation of arms and hard drugs, among other sundry crimes.

“Even though it is generally known that the West African coast has the richest fishery resources in Africa, our inability to take advantage of our endowment has been attributed to inadequate law enforcement and industry capacity.”

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,

also spoke on the insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea.

She said the cost of inadequate maritime safety and security to Nigerian society and the economy “has been significant”.

She noted that piracy has risen from 45 per cent in 2010 to 64 per cent in 2012, thereby threatening Nigeria’s over $600 million fishing business.

The minister said the country loses over N2 trillion annually in capital flight to foreign countries.

The President set up a 14member committee to review maritime sector operations.

The committee will look into the various issues raised at the retreat.

The committee will be chaired by the Minister of

Transport, Senator Idris Umar. Olisa Agbakoba is the Vice Chairman.

Other members include Senior Special Adviser to the President on Maritime, DG NIMASA, MD NPA, representative of Chief of Naval Staff, Special Adviser to the President on Project Monitoring and Evaluation, representatives of the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, the Secretary to the Governemnt of the F. Others are the Comptroller General of Customs, Jim Ovia, Mrs Vicky Hastrup and the Director-General, Bureau for Publice Enterprise (BPE) Ms Bola Onagoruwa.

The President advised the committee to handle issues on amendment of maritime laws.

THE Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara, has successfully performed a hip replacement surgery.

The hospital achieved a similar feat six weeks ago when it performed a knee replacement surgery on 74year -old Pa Thomas Akhalumemo from Edo State.

The hip operation was done on 29-year-old Ete Erueyin on July 5.

Prof Godwin Iwegbu, who headed the operation, said hip replacement is usually for the aged.

He said the surgery was necessary for Erueyin because of the high level of damage to his hip bone resulting from the steroids he received for bronchial asthma.

Iwegbu said the surgery was done without bone cement, usually required for older persons, adding that with about N500,000 such operation could be done in DELSUTH as against the over four million naira if done abroad.

He urged Nigerians to desist from seeking medical help from quacks as they do more harm than good.

Ngugi Wa Thiong’ o praises Nigerian writers

A

UTHOR of the celebrated African classic, Weep Not Child, Prof Ngugi Wa Thiong’ o praised Nigerian writers yesterday at the launch of the Read Africa Initiative of the UBA Foundation.

Ngugi, who thrilled pupils and staff of the bank when he read from ‘Dreams in a time of War’, a memoirs of his childhood, said the likes of Wole Soyinka, J.P Clark, Chinua Achebe opened the doors of publishing to other African writers.

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

“It is impossible for me to be here without paying homage to Nigerian writers because Nigeria played a big role in awakening the imagination of the rest of us.

“When Achebe, Soyinka, Clark and now Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie visit us, we welcome them as if they are Kenyans.

“Nigerian writers are very important to the continent.

When I started in 1962, Nigerian writers had already started publishing,” said the

74-year old.

Ngugi, a professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of California, advised the pupils to read to nurture their imagination.

He also told them it was not too early to start writing.

“Reading books, that is what feeds the imagination.

The more we read, the more we nourish the imagination.

“One of the reasons I like talking to students is because I became a writer when I was a student. My first two nov-

els, The River Between and Weep Not Child were written in college.

“Don’t say I am a student rather say I am a person with a mind who happens to be a student,” he said.

The Managing Director of UBA Foundation, Ms Ijeoma Aso, said the bank, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, will distribute Weep Not Child, to pupils in 19 African countries.

The author urged the bank to consider supporting books written in local languages.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

56

NEWS

F

Police rescue kidnapped doctor in Owerri

REEDOM came for Dr Ifeanyi Okoro yesterday as the police in Imo State foiled the activities of a four-man kidnapping gang in Umuike Amakohia, near Owerri.

Okoro, who was kidnapped penultimate on Sunday and being held captive by the gang, became the beneficiary of the police operation.

Police spokesman in the state Mr. Vitalis Onugu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Owerri that the police acted on a tip-off on the hideout of the gang.

Onugu said the police successfully rescued the medical doctor, who worked at St. Patrick’s Hospital and Maternity, Onitsha.

He said: “We had been alerted days before and we laid ambush for them. Men of the police force have been sleeping in the surrounding bush for days because we didn’t know when they would return.

“Fortunately, our efforts have not been in vain because we were able to rescue their victim.”

Onugu said the kidnappers opened fired on sighting the police, adding that one of them was killed in the gun duel with the police.

He said three of the kidnappers escaped, leaving behind one AK 47 rifle with seven magazines loaded with live ammunition.

Onugu said that efforts to apprehend the suspects were being intensified, even as he urged the public to volunteer information on any suspicious movement intheir area.

He assured that any information offered to the police would be treated confidentially.

A

Politician shoots wife dead in error

PROMINENT politician from Umuida, Enugu Ezike, in Igbo Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State has allegedly killed his wife in error.

The politician, identified as Nweze Mathias, has been arrested and taken into custody at the Central Police Station, Nsukka.

It was learnt that Mathias erroneously shot his wife Sat-

From Chris Oji, Enugu

urday night when he suspected that thieves had invading his home.

The suspicion arose when his generator was switched off twice by unknown persons.

Suspecting a foul play, Mathias went for his gun and started shooting sporadically, thinking that robbers were

behind the stoppage of the generator.

According to a source, a “stray bullet hit the wife and left her fatally injured”.

The deceased was rushed to New Testament Hospital, Ogurute, Igbo Eze North Local Government Area, where she was confirmed dead by a doctor.

Confirming the incident,

the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Enugu State Command, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, said the command had launched “a full-scale investigations into the incident that led to the shooting of a wife by the husband”.

He said that the “remains of the deceased have been deposited at the mortuary for autopsy”.

•Abia State Governor Theodore Orji inspecting a guard of honour mounted by the Batch B National Youth Sercice Corps (NYSC) members during the closing of the 2012 Orientation Course at the NYSC Permanent Camp, Umunna, in Bende Local Government Area...yesterday

Breach of contract: Court seals bank branches in Nnewi

T

HREE branches of a first generation bank operating in Nnewi, Anambra State, have been sealed on the order of High Court in the city.

The order followed a breach of contract by the bank against one of its customers – Messrs Innoson Nigeria Limited.

Armed policemen accompanied a team of court workers to enforce the court order given on May 28.

Justice M.I. Onochie had on

From Okodili Ndidi, Onitsha

May 28 ordered the bank to pay N75 million to Innoson Nigeria Limited as damages.

The judge upheld the plaintiff’s case that the bank (defendant) entered into a contract in November 2008 for the opening of a Letter of Credit worth N805, 430 million for the importation of component parts for the completion of its automobile manufacturing plant in Nnewi. But the defendant de-

faulted in executing the contract, thereby causing the company to suffer huge damages.

The plaintiff instituted a legal action against the bank, claiming N500 million as general damages for negligence in implementing the contract despite the undertaking to do same.

Justice Onochie upheld the claim of negligence and breach of contract by plaintiff against the defendant and awarded N75 million as

damages.

Money, properties belonging to the bank, such as vehicles, air condition units, vital telecommunication equipment and transformer from its main branch were taken to the premises of the High Court at Nnewi.

It was learnt that the defendant had on July 9 filed the stay of execution application.

The court rejected the application and ordered the enforcement of its order.

World Bank’s $40m lifeline for education in Anambra

A

PUBLIC NOTICE THIS IS TO NOTIFY THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ORIGINAL INDENTURE REGISTERED AS 15/ 15/223 AND 17/17/265 COVERING ALL THAT PROPERTY AT 36, MCCULLUM STREET, EBUTTE METTA LAGOS BELONGING TO LATE ISAAC BABALOLA OGUN IS MISSING. THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS FURTHER INFORMED THAT THE PROPERTIES COVERED BY THE AFORESAID REGISTERED AS 15/15/223 AND 17/ 17/ 265 ARE BEING SOLD TO HAGGAI SAVINGS AND LOANS LIMITED OF NO 119 BODE THOMAS STREET, SURULERE LAGOS BY THE EXECUTORS OF THE ESTATE OF LATE ISAAC BABALOLA OGUN .

ANYONE WHO PURPORTS TO BUY, LEASE OR OTHERWISE DEAL WITH THE AFORESAID PROPERTIES OTHER THAN HAGGAI SAVINGS AND LOANS LIMITED DOES SO AT HIS PERIL.

FOR FURTHER ENQUIORIES PLEASE CONTACT: CHIEF ZACHEAUS OLAOSE OGUN -08033313929.

MRS MORISOLA IPAYE -08080422619 BUKOLA OLATUNBOSUN -08023685564

$40 million Word Bank fund is underway for the development of education in Anambra State, the bank’s Senior Operations Officer on Education, Mr. Irajen Appasamy said yesterday.

Appasamy spoke in Awka, the state capital at a meeting the bank held with National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the Federal Ministries of Education and Finance.

He disclosed that the bank’s plan to contribute $150 million to three states in the pilot scheme. The states are Anambra, Ekiti, Bauchi as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

According to the official, the fund due for release within the

M

next two months, would assist the states to prepare projects in the education sector.

Appasamy said: ”We are working with Anambra to prepare a project which is focused on education results.

“It is different from the traditional approach of focusing on educational input that include employment of teachers, provision of text books, equipment, furniture and other infrastructure “So, the idea is to have a sizeable amount of funding which can indeed create the enabling incentives that will bring about the desired result based on the state’s education planned priorities.’’

He further explained that there was no counterpart fund-

ing required by the participating states, noting that they were only required to show commitment, leadership, transparency and accountability in the execution of their projects.

Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning Prof.

Stella Okunna described the selection of Anambra for the donation as a reward.

She said: “Part of the reward is because Anambra is known for executing projects with data and statistics.

“The state was also the first to enact a law in 2009 and establish a Bureau of Statistics.”

Prof Okunna said that the state had already received the donation of a Toyota Hilux utility vehicle, 30 motorcycles,

computers and GPS machines in appreciation of the role of Governor Peter Obi in the use of statistics for governance.

In her remarks, the state Commissioner for Education, Dr Uju Okeke, said that the state was passionate about developing the education sector.

Okeke explained that it was for that reason the government gave back schools to their original missionary owners to enhance proper teaching and learning.

The Deputy Director, MultiLateral education, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Fabiyi Abiodun, stressed the need for states to have reliable statistical data to realise the objectives in the education sector.

I see Achebe in Awoyinfa, says Kalu

ORE encomiums poured in yesterday for prolific writer Mike Awoyinfa, who turned 60.

Former Abia State governor Dr.Orji Uzor Kalu described him as the Chinua Achebe of journalism.

Apparently, Awoyinfa’s mastery of the English language, which comes out with no verbosity in his column, led Kalu to put the journalist in the shoes of the author of Things Fall Apart.

Kalu said: “Reading

Awoyinfa is like reading Achebe. You rarely need a dictionary. It does not matter where you are - in your bedroom; in a ‘molue’; in the rest room and even in your sleep; you can read them both without blinking an eyelid. I wish him many more years of back page homilies.”

Awoyinfa, according to the ex-governor may not be of Igbo background but he has become part of the Southeast that he could be given a chieftaincy title there.

“He is highly detribalised.

I do not really know the difference between him and Dimgba Igwe. Journalists call them twin brothers and I cannot fault that. They are not just twins, I see them as Siamese twins. I wish other Nigerians could shake hands across the Niger like the great Mike Awoyinfa.”

The former governor also reminded readers of Awoyinfa’s Ghanaian side as well as the crowd of wonderful writers that graduated from the Moshood Abiola School of Journalism.

Kalu said: “Awoyinfa spent some of his early years in Ghana. That is why he is like Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. Remove the last three letters of his sur name, he becomes an Awo. Ovation publisher Dele Momodu has joined this Accra nexus.

“With Femi Adesina, Eric Osagie, Chika Abanobi, Ben Memuletiwon and Ose Oyemaden, I guess they could regroup as alumni of the Abiola inspired Weekend Concord Post-Graduate School.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

57

NEWS Shot Delta HOS taken outside Asaba

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HE Head of Service (HOS) in Delta State, Okey Ofili, who was shot and injured in Asaba on Sunday, has been transferred to a hospital outside the state capital.

Police spokesman Charles Muka confirmed that Ofili was shot in the leg on Okpanam Road by kidnap suspects.

Muka said the incident occurred when the HOS resisted attempt by the suspects, who blocked his vehicle and tried to force him into their car.

He said the victim was saved by a police patrol team.

The spokesman said the response of the police to the gunshots prevented the hoodlums from taking the man away as they jumped into their car and ran away on sighting the police vehicle.

“He was rushed to a hospital for treatment but I am informed that he has been moved out of the state capital for better medical attention,’’ he said.

He said investigation into the incident has commenced, adding that detectives are on the trail of the gangsters.

Officials ordered to produce suspect From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

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DEPUTY Comptroller of Prisons in Oko Prisons was yesterday ordered to produce a suspect, Chukwuma Owonrode, who is on trial for alleged unlawful possession of a human skull.

President of Iguobazuwa Area Customary Court Bright Oniha said the prison authorities had, on six occasions, failed to produce the suspect in court.

This, he said, was a ploy to delay justice and insisted that this was unacceptable to the court.

“This is where the delay of justice comes from. This development is totally unacceptable to this court; every accused person is entitled to his date of trial.”

He adjourned the case till Thursday.

Kidnap victims relive ordeal

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IDNAP victims abducted by suspected sea pirates in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, yesterday relived their ordeal.

The victims, who were members of a fishing trawler crew, said they were kept in the forest for four days without food.

Sebastian, who identified himself as the captain of the vessel, said the pirates beat them and took them in a speed boat to a fishing settlement on the sea.

He said: “The attackers were armed and they took us to an unknown destination and kept us in the forest for four days, without

From Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa

food.

“On Sunday, they blindfolded us and took us on another speedboat ride.

“We thought they were taking us to Amassoma, but they dropped us at Awegbene community.

“They pushed us into the river and sped off. We were rescued by a woman.

“We were maltreated.

They collected ransom from the company before freeing us.

“After receiving the ransom they agreed with our company that they will deliver us safely at Amassoma.

But this was not so.”

Monarchs hail Oshiomhole

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RADITIONAL rulers from Edo Central have described Governor Adams Oshiomhole as a governor who has the genuine mandate of all Edo people.

The monarchs, led by the Onojie of Opoji, Zaiki Aidenojie Ehidiame, during a congratulatory visit to the Government House in Benin City, said since independence, Edo State just witnessed the most transparent election on July 14.

“We have come to congratulate the governor on the victory which revealed God’s hand at work. We are also appreciative of the role of the Oba of Benin, who spoke about peace and progress during the election.

“We have full confidence in the governor. We have a governor who has the genuine mandate of the people, you are the governor of all Edo people.”

Oshiomhole thanked the traditional rulers for their prayers and support during the campaign .

“As royal fathers, you have made the point that you do not belong to any party, but you cannot be neutral.

“We’ll fulfill all those promises made on my visit to your domain. It is now time to return to work, I will carry royal fathers along.”

Delta teachers to strike

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ELTA teachers may today embark on a strike, following the inability of the government to implement the 27.5 per cent enhanced pay for teachers or Teacher’s Peculiar Allowance.

The strike may disrupt the 2011/2012 promotion examination scheduled to begin on Thursday.

The action originally scheduled to begin yesterday was postponed to enable the State Working Executive Council (SWEC) meet and take a final decision.

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

The allowance was approved by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) in 2008.

Its implementation began in 2009 but was withdrawn by the Delta State Government.

Delta State is among 14 states refusing to pay and the state wing of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) on July 4 petitioned the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, urging him to restore the payment.

•Cross-section of Batch 'B' Corps members at the end their orientation in Kaduna

Rivers tanker fire: Nine bodies recovered T HE ruler of Okogbe in Ahoada West Local Government of Rivers State, Joshua Eziba, yesterday said nine more bodies were recovered near the scene of the July 12 petrol tanker fire.

They have since been buried.

The monarch said the stench led to the discovery of the bodies.

He noted that many of the bodies being discovered were persons who ran into the bush for safety.

Eziba, who earlier put the casualty figure at 191, said besides the nine decomposing bodies, one person also

•They’ve been buried, says monarch From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

died in a traditional healing home, bringing the death toll to 201.

The monarch said eight of the survivors are still receiving treatment at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH).

Besides the initial 95 victims, who were given mass burial at the scene of the dis-

aster, three decomposing bodies were discovered near the scene, a few days later.

The monarch stressed that almost every family in Okogbe was affected by the tragic incident, while many non-indigenes also lost their lives to the fire.

The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of UPTH, Prof.

Aaron Ojule, who is also the Chairman of the 11-member

Rivers State July 12 Emergency Burns Committee, set up by the government to ensure survival and recovery of the victims, said they mostly suffered third degree burns.

The CMD called on relatives of victims being treated at home and in private hospitals, to move them to the teaching hospital for free treatment, with a ward already created for the victims. Ojule said a sub-committee was also put in place at the teaching hospital to collate the figures of the victims and to know those who had died so far.

12-man panel to probe scandals in varsities

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HE Acting Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Nta Ekpo, yesterday said the commission has raised a 12man panel to conduct a system review of malpractices in the nation’s universities.

He said the panel, headed by a former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), would begin with a pilot project at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) and Salem University in Lokoja, which is privately owned.

Ekpo, who spoke at a joint briefing with the NUC Exec-

•Project begins in UNN, OOU, Salem From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

utive Secretary, Prof. Julius Okojie, said ICPC’s preliminary investigations had uncovered “utter disregard or failure of regulatory systems.”

Ekpo said: “The ICPC is inundated daily with petitions alleging corrupt practices and abuses in most of our tertiary institutions.

“These petitions highlight flagrant abuse of processes in student admissions, examinations, appointment and promotion of staff, manipulation and falsification of academic records, sexual har-

assment, victimisation of applicants, students and staff, syndicated plagiarism, delay or non- payment of gratuities and pension, non-adherence to bidding processes in the award of contracts, bastardising accreditation processes through deception, running un-approved study centres, affiliates and programmes, establishing and operating un-approved and consequently illegal universities, etc.”

The ICPC chairman said the system review was not intended to usurp the functions of any Visitation Panel.

Ekpo added: “I wish to in-

form Nigerians that ICPC intends to invoke its statutory mandate derived from Section 6 of its enabling law to undertake a comprehensive Systems Study and Review of the university system.

“A broad view of corruption in the university system was taken and three universities are being sampled.

“They were selected for a pilot study to reflect Federal/State/Private university as well as North/West/East characteristics.

“The exercise will commence from July 23 simultaneously in the three sampled universities.

“The institutions concerned have been accordingly informed.”

NLC decries handling of fuel subsidy probe

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HE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday decried the manner the Federal Government is handling the report of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc committee on fuel subsidy regime.

The union said despite the ongoing drama between the former Chairman of the Committee, Farouk Lawan and the Chairman of Forte Oil, Femi Otedola, there is need for the Federal Government to expedite action on the implementation of the report and reports of other committees set up on the oil subsidy rip-off.

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

NLC President Abdulwahed Omar spoke in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, during the opening of the NLC 2012 Rain School.

Omar said: “The outcome of that historic protest is there for all to see.

“There have been mindboggling revelations of theft, fraud and rapacious greed.

“Congress is uncomfortable and worried at the way and manner in which the Federal Government is handling the report of the petrol subsidy probe.”

On insecurity, the NLC president bemoaned the level of incessant bombings

and killings in the country.

Omar regretted that in an increasingly competitive and globalised world, Nigerians are wagging ethnic and religious wars, struggling for the control of resources and religious territories.

He explained that the incessant violence and general insecurity in the country, which are engendering fear and restlessness in the citizenry is taking a negative dimension in the country.

Omar said the insecurity in the country is inimical to growth and development, adding that no nation can grow in a chaotic and anarchical situation.

“NLC would organise a peace conference in September for all stakeholders to come together to find a solution to the insecurity in the country.

His words: “We recall that in the past, the Congress had held a similar conference on the Niger Delta militancy and today the insurgency has reduced and amnesty has been granted and there is relative peace in the region.

“We urge all progressive organisations to add voice for the need for peace and stability in the country.”

He lauded President Goodluck Jonathan for his role in ensuring free and fair election in Edo State.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

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NEWS

Weep not for Fulani, Jang urges Plateau indigenes

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LATEAU State Governor Jonah David Jang has urged the indigenes not to weep for the late Gyang Fulani, the former Majority Leader of the House of Assembly.

He spoke yesterday at the Government House Chapel, Jos during the funeral service in honour of Fulani, who died on July 8.

Jang said they should rather weep for themselves, adding: “The late Fulani died as a child of God and devout Christian. What about the rest of us, are we committed to the Christianity we claim as our religion?”

The governor went on: “We keep claiming Plateau is a Christian state. What is our level of closeness to God? It is a

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fact that many of us are not living a Godly life and are not committed to our religion.

“It is high time we got down on our knees and prayed to God to intervene in the crisis in Plateau. So far, we have not prayed enough. Let us get closer to God, let’s give God our hearts, we need to ask for God’s mercy.

“God took the life of Fulani to challenge us. We have to live up to that challenge as individuals.

“Plateau is God’s own state.

Anyone that torches Plateau is torching God and no one can go into battle with God and win.

“Plateau is the apple in the eyes of God. Whoever torches Plateau torches God and the person should wait for the con-

sequence.”

President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Serah Wreng Ochepe, said: “We are saddened by the event that led to the death of the two lawmakers. The Federal Government is not resting on its oars. It is doing everything to restore peace to Plateau State and other trouble areas in the country.”

The Chairman of the state Traditional Council and the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da. Jacob Gyang Buba, said he believed that President Jonathan was given diluted information by the security agents about the insecurity in the state.

He said the President should allow the Traditional Council to give him the true

Plateau redeploys corps members

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•Jang...yesterday

picture of the situation in Plateau State.

Speaker of the House of Assembly John Clerk Dabwan said the late Fulani was a unifying factor among the lawmakers.

The widow of the deceased, Mrs. Kaneng Gyang, said her husband was a bundle of humility and love. She added that he brought his family up in the way of the Lord.

The remains of Fulani were buried yesterday at his Little Rayfiled-Jos home.

Insecurity: Northern governors call emergency meeting

OVERNORS under the aegis of the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) will hold an

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

emergency meeting in Abuja on Thursday to find a solution

to insecurity in the region.

The Chairman of the forum and Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu,

yesterday said the governors are determined to end the insecurity that has resulted in the loss of life and property.

IGHT hundred and two corps members of the 1, 750 posted to Plateau State have been redeployed. But 30 have decided to stay back.

Speaking yesterday at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Batch ‘B’ orientation course held at the temporary orientation camp, Bukuru, the Coordinator, Mr. Maram Maful, said the 802 included married women, expectant and nursing mothers as well as those that applied for redeployment.

He said 30 of them have submitted letters to withdraw their redeployment, while others are still contemplating.

From Marie Therese Nanlong, Jos

Maful added that the request would be forwarded to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) headquarters.

He urged those who would stay back to participate in individual and group projects.

According to him, no corps member would be posted to crisis-prone areas except if the spouse of a married corps member is in such area.

Governor Jonah Jang represented by the Commissioner for Youth Development Lohfa Bako assured them that the government would give them protection throughout their service year.

Two get six months for stealing cow

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N Ilorin Magistrate’s Court in Kwara State yesterday sentenced two men to six months’ imprisonment each for stealing a cow.

Kayode Adetunji and Aliu Abubakar were tried on a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and theft, contrary to sections 97 and 287 of the penal code.

Prior to their conviction, the police prosecutor, Baliqis Adu, applied for their trial since they admitted to have committed the offence.

According to the charge sheet, the convicts and two others now at large, on July 19, invaded the camp of Garuba Haruna at Jebba in

From Samson Ademola, Ilorin

Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State, stealing a cow valued at N120, 000.

The complainant informed the vigilante on patrol and they arrested them. Two escaped.

The convicts were arrested in a Nissan bus with registration number KWARA XA 613 ARP on Jebba Road.

Police preliminary investigation showed that the recovered cow has been identified by the complainant as his own.

Magistrate Kudirat Yahaya sentenced the accused to six months’ imprisonment without an option of fine.

VC opposes banning of part-time programmes

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HE Vice-Chancellor of the Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Prof.

Suleiman Abdulkarim, has said the banning of part-time programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) is not the solution to the problems facing the institutions.

He added that the decision is tantamount to shutting the doors of universities against the poor.

Abdulkarim urged the NUC to give people who have the quest for knowledge an opportunity to realise their dreams.

The professor of chemical engineering said: “I don’t think outright banning is what we need. If there are people who are genuine in

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

their quest for knowledge, we should give them a chance.”

He went on: “Personally I don’t think this is the solution to the problems confronting Nigerian universities. It is not everybody that has the means, the time or even the effort to go through full-time programmes. NUC took the decision because the programme has been abused by some universities.

We had cases of universities that established distance learning centres without employing lecturers to impart knowledge to the students.

Such universities gave out degrees without allowing the students to develop themselves.”

Court remands three for defiling 14-yr-old girl

SPACE FOR SALE

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Chief Magistrate’s Court in Niger State has remanded three youths alleged to have defiled a 14-year-old pupil at Kuta in Shiroro Local Government Area.

The youths were arraigned by the police at the Kuta Divisional Command on a twocount charge of joint act and rape punishable under sections 97 and 283 of the penal code.

According to the First Information Reading (FIR) read by the Chief Magistrate, Hajiya Aishat Lokogoma, the youths on July 3 about 8pm lured the 14-year-old girl into the room of Zayanu Nuhu and defiled her one after the other.

The two other suspects alleged to have defiled the victim are Abubakar Mahmud

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

and Mu’azu Hassan Chiroma. They were said to have threatened to kill the girl if she did not allow them to satisfy their sexual urge.

The suspects pleaded guilty to the charges, but the magistrate refused to take their pleas on the grounds that the offence could not be tried in her court.

Police prosecutor Usman Yerima Chiroma objected to their bail because of the increasing rate of rape at Kuta.

He told the court that the case diary would be sent to the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecution for legal advice and that if granted bail, the suspects would jeopardise police investigation.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

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NEWS Three brothers, two others shot dead in Maiduguri

Amnesty programme saves N33.4b daily for government, says Kuku

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IGERIA would have been losing N33.4 billion daily but for the amnesty programme, the Federal Government said yesterday.

The government blamed the intractable violent attacks in some parts of the country on the absence of Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP).

Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman, Amnesty Programme, Kingsley Kuku who spoke yesterday in Abuja at a two-day workshop on CIP in Nigeria, said issue of infrastructure that impacts on people’s lives should not be taken with levity.

Represented by his Special

From Dele Anofi, Abuja

Assistant Henry Ugbolue, Kuku cited the Niger Delta and the threat posed to to the nation’s economy by incessant violence visited on oil and gas infrastructure in the height of militancy in the region.

He said: “There are 13 oil producing companies operating in the Niger Delta, there are 159 Oil fields in the zone, 1,481 oil wells and more than 7,000kilometres of pipelines and flowlines as well as 275 flow stations in the region (NNPC & AAPW 2004).

“Had the persistent attacks on the infrastructure not abated through the amnesty progrmamme, the consequence

on the nation’s economy would have been monumental.

“Indeed, in spite of the security challenges in the country today, the tranquillity in the once restive Niger Delta, particularly the cessation in the wilful destruction and vandalisation of critical oil and gas infrastructure in the zone, has led to an astronomic growth in the nation’s economy.

“From a paltry production level of 800,000 barrels of crude oil per day at the peak of the Niger Delta crisis in the first quarter of 2009, Nigeria currently produces between 2.4 million and 2.6 million barrels per day.”

To underscore the impor-

F

•Kuku

tance of the Programme, he said it has not only safeguarded the critical infrastructure in the region, it has also saved the economy from a looming collapse.

Okogbe’s petrol tanker fire tragic, says NDDC MD

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HE Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Christian Oboh, has described the July 12 petrol tanker fire in Okogbe, Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State as an avoidable tragedy.

He admitted that there is poverty in the Niger Delta, but stressed that people of the region must act responsibly,

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

in their quest to suppress the hardship.

Oboh spoke after visiting some victims of the tragedy at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH).

The NDDC’s chief, who directed the immediate release of funds to assist in the procurement of drugs, described

the incident as pathetic.

He said: ”We need to be responsible, no matter the situation. It is quite sad. We have seen the victims and our hearts are actually bleeding.

We pray for God’s intervention, because the burns are quite severe.”

Oboh lauded the management of the UPTH for rising to the challenges, while assuring that the NDDC would

partner with the hospital, to quicken the administration of medical services.

Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Prof.

Aaron Ojule, told Oboh that over 156 people died in the incident.

“There are still some survivors and we are doing everything to ensure that we do not lose more,” he said.

38 die, 68 missing in Jos floods Continued from Page 2

ities and shall do what we can do immediately before getting to the headquarters,” he said.

Police spokesman Mr. Emmanuel Abu described the incident as a “natural disaster”, saying, however, that he had not received full details of the disaster.

“I will get back to you immediately we have the full de-

tails,” he told a NAN correspondent on the telephone.

The affected settlements are prone to flood disasters with such cases reported every year.

The Plateau State government expressed sympathy with the victims.

In a statement by Commissioner for Information and Communication, Yiljap Abraham, the government said:

“The Plateau State Government commiserates with the families and surviving victims of yesterday’s flooding in some communities in the city of Jos which has resulted in several deaths, missing persons and displaced of many families.

“Government is saddened by this unexpected natural phenomenon which has

brought grief to the people in its wake.

“Consequently, Governor Jonah Jang has directed the state relief committee to step in with immediate effect and provide relief material for the surviving victims.

“The governor urges citizens to pray against any situation that bring further pain and discomfort on the people.”

IVE persons including three brothers were yesterday shot dead by unknown gunmen in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

The three brothers were killed at Ganaram area of the town shortly after leaving their parents, whom they visited in their usual tradition to drop foodstuffs for the Ramadan fast.

But they were attacked and killed, their Toyota Camry car snatched and taken away.

There was apprehension and mourning with many contemplating relocating from the

Joseph Abiodun, Maiduguri

area for fear of another attack.

In another incident, there was shooting at Gamboru area of the town, known for incessant attacks from the notorious Boko Haram sect.

Two people were shot dead around the Customs office in the area.

When contacted to confirm the incidents last night, spokesman of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, said he was not aware of the killings.

NECA tackles UNDP, ILO over expatriates

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HE Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA)is angry over the United Nation Development Project (UNDP) and International Labour Organisation’s insistence that foreign trainers be used for the ongoing International Enterprise Development Training for young farmers in Ekiti State.

Director-General of NECA, Mr Olusegun Oshinowo, at a news conference in Lagos yesterday said the body is particularly miffed because ILO trained the Nigerian master trainers and certified them fit for the job. NECA

By Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu

said both UNDP and ILO do not mean well for the unemployed, giving the job meant for local trainers to foreigners, even after they promise to engage indigenous hands.

He said the action undermined the development of the country.

Oshinowo said NECA will not take it lightly with UNDP and ILO because as the benefiting Ekiti State would not achieved desired result. The trainers, according to him, will only teach them the theory unlike local trainers who would practicalise the training.

‘I’ll meet Airhiavbere in court’ From Osagie Otabor, Benin

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DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has described as laughable decision of some lawyers to offer pro bono services for defeated candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Major-Gen Charles Airhiavbere.

He promised to meet his challenger and his lawyers in court.

Oshiomhole, who spoke with reporters said lawyers only render such kind of services to the poor.

His words: “I read today that some lawyers have volunteered to render legal service to my opponent in the election they said I possess only Standard Three, well we will know when we get to court.”

Your Sexual Health & You: Novelty Tips, Questions & Answers

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y first marriage was a very difficult one. My husband was a drunk and used to beat me and the children. I divorced him six years ago and remarried four years later. It was really a horrible time in my life that I don’t want to remember. Now he keeps calling me saying that he is a changed man and wants to see his children. Me I don’t want him to come close to my kids for their own safety – Christiana Dear Christiana, I admire your protective instincts and your desire to raise your children in a safe environment.

Your ex-husband was totally wrong to hit you and the kids. But here is what you also need to understand.

However useless your ex-husband is, he is still the father of your children. Those children have questions and someday, they will start looking for their father. If they get to know in the future that you deliberately prevented them from knowing their father and possibly repairing their relationship with him, it will back fire and you will end up looking like the bad person here. I don’t think you want that.

So here is my advice. You can organise supervised visits where your ex-husband can visit his kids in your house and in your presence. Your current husband will be present for such visits too. You can even talk to your lawyer so that he can remind him of the consequences of making trouble when he visits. Believe me when I say that your ex-husband will be of his best behaviour. I suspect he wants to apologise to the kids and make up for all his wrong doings and that will be good for everybody involved – Uche Good day sir. I am interested in penis enlargement because I have a small and embarrassing penis. My friend told me about Size Rx enlargement cream and he says that it is better when combined with a Penis Pump. Can’t I use it alone because of cost? Cosmos Yes Cosmos you can use it alone. Size Rx is an instant penis enlarger that works within minutes and lasts for about a day. But when you combine it with a penis

pump, you will get the benefit of both short term and long term results – Uche Sir if I want to impress a woman for the first time, when should I apply the Size Rx Penis enlargement cream before sex? Emeka I suggest applying it one hour before sex. This will give it enough time to enlarge to the fullest - Uche Sir what can a woman use to enjoy sex? Sometimes it is painful. My husband also says that I am too wide down there – Ezinne Dear Ezinne, get Tighten it Up V-Gel. It is both a lubricant and vaginal tightening gel and will stop the pain – Uche I could not get an erection for months until a friend that you helped told me about Enzyte. I just wanted to let you know that I took your advice and bought Enzyte. Now my erections are okay again. Thank you sir - Linus Hello sir. I just wanted to report back to you that my premature ejaculation does not happen again when I use that Rock Hard Delay Cream. I couldn’t believe that these things worked at first. Thank you – Isa You are both welcome - Uche I am female, I have never had an orgasm and that is why I don’t enjoy sex – Martha Martha you need a vibrator and an orgasm gel. Use the Daffy Deep Stroker vibrator and Liquid Sex orgasm gel during intercourse and you will climax over and over again– Uche Size Rx is very good. I like it. I can enlarge my penis within minutes just like that – IK That’s it for today. The names of the people featured here have been changed for their privacy. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 08027901621 or 08051924159 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries, send your emails to custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

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NEWS Unity, development dominate Okanbi’s sons’ meeting

Two die in Lagos-Ibadan accident

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WO men yesterday died and two others were injured on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway when two tyres from a truck, with registration number (Lagos) XP152AKD, dislodged from the vehicle and hit them.

The tyres were said to have first hit a Nissan car, with registration number (Lagos) FQ981EKY. They damaged its windscreen and door, before hitting one of the deceased, identified as Kabiru Okunola, on the chest and head.

The deceased was reportedly sitting in a garden on the CMD end of the expressway when the incident happened.

It was learnt that the truck driver and the occupants of the Nissan ran away after the

By Precious Igbonwelundu

accident.

An eyewitness, who did not want his name mentioned, said the truck had a problem.

According to him, the driver was warned to stop and attend to the problem but ignored the warning.

The eyewitness said: “Around 9am, I was driving at Iyana-Oworo when I saw smoke emanating from the rim of the truck. I saw the driver and two other occupants in the vehicle. I advised them to park and attend to the problem.

“The driver said if he parked his car on the roadside, traffic officials would arrest him. So, he continued driving. Look at what has happened now, not even up

‘Around 10am, about eight of us were sitting in the garden when I heard someone shouting ‘tyre, tyre!’ We all attempted to run but the joined tyres were moving too fast.’ to 30 minutes after I warned him.”

Another eyewitness, Dare Onanuga, said the dead and the injured were artisans who usually sat in the garden to rest.

He said: “Around 10am, about eight of us were sitting in the garden when I

heard someone shouting ‘tyres, tyres!’ We all attempted to run but the joined tyres were moving too fast. The tyres first damaged a Nissan car before moving in our direction.

“After the incident, I saw four men lying down; they were bleeding. Okunola was already dead but the others were still alive. So, we rushed them to a hospital.

“But at the hospital, we learnt that another victim had died while two others were said to be responding to treatment.”

Police spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, said she was yet to receive a report on the accident.

Her Ogun State counterpart could not be reached for comment.

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

F

OR the unity and development of the Yoruba race, the seven sons of Okanbi converged yesterday on the palace of the Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Wahab Kayode Oyedotun, in Ila-Orangun, Osun State.

All seven direct sons of the Okanbi - Oba of Benin, Alaketu of Ketu, Onisabe of Sabe, Olowu of Owu, Onipopo of Popo and Orangun of Ila - were present.

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, did not attend the meeting and no explanation was given for his absence.

The historic meeting was believed to have been convened by the representative of the Council of Obas in Benin Republic and Togo, Chief Taye Tolulase Oguntosin.

All six monarchs stressed the importance of sustaining the legacies of the Oduduwa, who was the progenitor of their father, Okanbi.

The monarchs agreed that only the unity and collaboration could help advance the interest of their various communities.

They said it was important to make their impact felt through the promotion of tradition, art and culture of the Yoruba people, which they identified as the only tool to preserve the peoples’ identity.

Group cautions members on HE Police Assistance police email

T

Committee (PAC) has warned its members not to abuse the use of Nigeria Police Force’s new email address, policemonitor@npf.gov.ng recently released to the public by the Office of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).

Addressing its grassroots members in Lagos on how to use the police email, which is in line with the PAC community policing approach, PAC’s Director-General Dr. Martins Oni cautioned the committee members against giving false alarm to the police or other security

agencies through the email address.

Oni urged members, who are mainly tradesmen and artisans, to adhere strictly to the areas the IGP has approved for the use of the email.

The committee chief hailed the IGP for his initiative and other policies to carry the public along in confronting security challenges in the country.

He renewed PAC’s promise to work with the police and other security agencies to fight crime.

Clerics seek partnership in governance

T

HE Lagos State group of the Fellowship of Christian Ministers Nigeria (FCMN) has urged Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) to allow its members to get more involved in state matters, particularly on religious issues.

President of the fellowship Rev. Joseph Oladipo addressed reporters in Lagos on the centenary anniversary/annual conference of FCMN. The cleric noted that ministers of God are the closest to their congregation and could function well as government’s spokespersons.

He hailed Fashola’s open-door policy, saying the governor carries the people along in his administration’s programmes and policies.

Rev. Oladipo also hailed the governor’s regular meetings and dialogue with religious leaders, saying this has not been equallled.

The cleric prayed God to continue to lead Fashola on the right path.

He said the theme of the fellowship’s centenary celebration/ annual conference is: Awake! The time is short.

According to him, the celebration will begin today in with a visit to SOS Village where FCMN members will offer prayers and distribute gifts to the less privileged.

He said the anniversary lecture will hold tomorrow. It will be delivered by Dr. Sunday Makinde, the Prelate of the Methodist Church in Nigeria at the Yaba Baptist Church by 10am.

UI to honour Afe Babalola, Alaafin, others From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

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RONTLINE lawyer Are Afe Babalola (SAN), the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III and Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi are among five eminent Nigerians to be honoured with the Distinguished Personality Award by the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan (UI) next month.

The director of the institute, Prof. Isaac Albert, told reporters yesterday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, that the honour is part of the 50th anniversary of the institute.

According to him, Babalola, Oba Adeyemi, Amaechi, his Niger State counterpart, Babangida Aliyu and Prof. Kwabena Nketia of the University of Legon, Ghana, would be honoured for their contributions to the institute’s development.

Saying the celebration will last five months, the anniversary coordinator, Dr. O.I. Pogoson, added that African tradition and culture would be showcased during the period.

The anniversary will enable the institute to “show to the rest of the world that Africa is not a dark continent but a place where human civilisation took its root”.

Pogoson added: “We have been able to show that Africans have problems but that there is a collective responsibility in the origin of these problems. Our researches have shown that as mounting as they are, African problems are not insurmountable.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012

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TODAY IN THE NATION

‘Consider for instance that the federal government continues to baulk at the suggestion of direct investment in new refineries as part of the nation’s quest for energy security.

TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL. 7

NO.2,191

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

S

OMETHING unspeakably perverse has happened to Nigeria’s value system.

A state governor, newly arrived on the scene, one of 36 such elected officials, takes it upon himself to promote – yes, promote — the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the post of ordinary permanent secretary.

Ordinary permanent secretary, that is, permanent secretary without portfolio, of all things.

Not that designating her super-permanent secretary or permanent secretary for ultraspecial duties would have made any difference, because, in the scheme of things, a permanent secretary by any name whatsoever – even an executive governor, for that matter must perforce take a back seat to the First Lady of the Republic.

For a governor to presume to promote a personage of such great national consequence to ordinary permanent secretary in the provincial backwaters of Bayelsa: that is contumacy enough Now, Her Excellency Dame Patience Goodluck-Jonathan is much more than First Lady of the Republic. In her capacity as chairperson of the African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM), she is literally and figuratively the First Lady of Africa.

To assert that the purported promotion of a personage of such global stature to permanent secretary in a provincial bureaucracy compounds the contumacy is to repeat the offence. As I see it, the purported promotion is a premeditated insult, the object of which is to humiliate the person of Dame Patience Jonathan, and to bring her exalted office into disrepute. For, to call it by its proper name, the whole thing is at bottom a demotion.

But where is the outrage?

What happened to the gallantry for which our people were well known –gallantry in defence of women subjected to wanton insult, the type most flagrantly emblematised by the purported promotion of Dame Patience to ordinary permanent secretary without portfolio?

As if to rub it in, the Bayelsa State Government, through an official calling himself or herself Head of Service, a person who ordinarily should consider it an honour to be named Senior Deputy Personal Assistant to the First Lady, put it out that Dame Patience is in fact just one of 18 persons promoted to permanent secretary.

Just imagine: The First Lady of first ladies in Nigeria and the whole of Africa having to share a dubious distinction with some 17 others, most of them not known outside the provincial bureaucracy?

The whole thing, it is hardly necessary to insist, is worse than a backhanded compliment; it is a calculated insult. And yet, there has not been even a muted chorus of condemnation at this insolent gesture, only ten-

OLATUNJI DARE

AT HOME ABROAD olatunji.dare@thenationonlineng.net

In defence of The Dame

•Mrs Jonathan taking the oath of office...on Friday

dentious insinuations and inane questions.

Was she in the first instance an employee of the Bayelsa State Government? Was she qualified for the promotion? Would she have to relocate to the bucolic ambience of Yenagoa or commute from Abuja in an executive jet from the Presidential fleet? Would Yenagoa airport have to be retrofitted to accommodate the kind of traffic such a commute will entail? How would she juggle the exertions of First Lady with the duties of permanent secretary? And so on and so forth.

Going by the strict hierarchy that is the hallmark of the civil service, the First Lady of Nigeria and Africa will now have to report to, and take instructions from the Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, the Head of Service, and ultimately to the Governor. Her world has been turned upside down, literally.

This so-called “promotion” has got to be the ultimate putdown, and a particularly disingenuous one at that. No one disputes Governor Seriake Dickson’s right under the Constitution to appoint or promote any person in the state’s Civil Service to any position. After all, didn’t the great Roman emperor Caligula, without giving a damn, appoint his horse a Senator, with all the rights and privileges enjoyed by members of the Curia?

But nowhere in the Constitution is it written

RIPPLES BRIBERY SCANDAL: I’M READY FOR TRIAL-Farouk Lawan

and please come along with EXHIBIT A, the KUDI

that the Governor Dickson, or any governor for that matter, can humiliate the First Lady of Nigeria and Africa in any manner whatsoever, least of all by purporting to “promote” her to a position manifestly beneath her dignity. No code of behaviour, no system of values in operation anywhere in Nigeria, can be cited as authority for such grossness.

I ask again: Where is the outrage?

Those who profess to desire peace in Nigeria have expressed no outrage that, by purporting to promote Dame Patience to permanent secretary, Governor Dickson is distracting her from taking her gospel of peace to vast stretches of Nigeria riven by violent conflict.

Having successfully taken that gospel to several African countries under the AFLPM, she was finally set to launch it in Nigeria, with mass rallies in Jos, Damaturu, Maiduguri, Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi and Gombe. Her purported promotion has now cast grave doubts on the mission.

Can it be that Governor Dickson doesn’t give a damn about peace in those strife-torn places?

The PDP has not rebuked Dickson for engaging in conduct unbecoming of a member of the biggest political party in Africa and subversive of its most cherished principles. No motion has been placed before the Bayelsa State Assembly by the member representing Otuoke

HARDBALL

W

HAT do you have to do to be branded a terrorist organisation in Nigeria?

Slaughter over 1,000 innocent people in a campaign of bombings and assassinations in less than three years? You don’t qualify.

This much has become apparent with the row that has broken out over the testimony of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, before a US House of Representatives Sub-committee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights.

Oritsejafor had, among other things, said: “Boko Haram has waged a systematic campaign of terror and violence. They seek an end to Western influence and a removal of the Christian presence in Nigeria. This is outright terrorism, not legitimate political activity or the airing of grievances’’.

He also accused the Barack Obama administration of being hypocritical in its posturing as a champion of freedom, while at the same time dragging its feet over the designation of Boko Haram as a foreign terrorist organisation.

Just before he was fired from his position, former National Security Adviser (NSA), General Andrew Azazi, had visited the US to lobby the State Department against designating the

SANYA ONI

censuring Dickson for this calculated insult to the First Wife of the community.

Even on the feminist front, nary a dissenting murmur has been registered. Women in Nigeria (WIN) has been funereally silent, and so has the National Council of Women Societies.

Nor has the African Union seen it fit to warn that the purported promotion stultifies the office and person of the First Lady of Africa, just as it distracts her from pursuing her passion for peace on the Continent.

I ask one more time: Where is the outrage?

Instead of outrage, the so-called human rights activists who should have risen in robust and indignant condemnation of the purported “promotion” have taken cowardly refuge in the ancient doctrine of volunti non fit injuria to condone, if not justify, what is unquestionably a gratuitous insult to the First Lady of Nigeria and Africa.

They are saying in effect that, by consenting to the promotion and taking the oath of office, Dame Patience cannot complain about any injury arising from those acts.

Some people can never stop blaming the victim.

And in this matter, Dame Patience is clearly a victim. According to the best authorities, she was guided in this matter by the consideration that her exalted status carries exalted obligations. The greatest of these is to put her vast experience , great learning, her scientific intelligence — NCE, BSc (Combined Honours in Biology and Education) under her belt, and a doctorate in view, until state duties supervened — to the service of the people of Bayelsa State, at no cost to the exchequer.

I should add that, unlike her undiscerning critics, she recognises the patriotic obligation to do nothing that could overheat a polity already suffocating from the acrid smoke of Boko Haram’s improvised explosive devices.

That is exemplary personal sacrifice, noblesse oblige at its noblest.

It is also for the same reasons, I gather, that President Jonathan has stayed splendidly above the fray, not because he doesn’t give a damn that his wife has been wantonly degraded, as the professional mischief-makers have been claiming.

After this, can anyone claim in good conscience that the First Lady and the President are not leading by personal example?

Correction Contrary to what I wrote in this space last week, the purported election of Prof Oserienmen Osunbor as governor of Edo State was never upheld by any court. Chief John Odigie-Oyegun was elected SDP governor of Edo during General Ibrahim Babangida’s transition programme.

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•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

A duck that quacks like a duck sect’s members as terrorists. That curious campaign was driven by fear that such a label would make the group less amenable to pursue dialogue with the Federal Government.

This position was reaffirmed a few days ago, at a meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs in Abuja, when the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Martin Uhomoibhi, criticised Oritsejafor’s views. He reportedly described the Boko Haram insurgency as a “security challenge”, and argued that the US Congress should have sought the government’s opinion rather than that of a particular religious leader.

Frankly, it is hard to understand what all the splitting of hair is about. Back in June, the same US State Department designated three Boko Haram leaders - Abubakar Shekau, Abubakar Adam Kambar and Khalid alBarnawi as terrorists. If the leaders can be called terrorists, then the group over which they superintend cannot be termed a humanitarian organisation.

It is true that for several decades there has been a lack of international legal consensus regarding the definition of the term “terrorism”. But since 9/11 a broad sense of who or what qualifies for such a tag has emerged.

Such groups can easily be identified through this definition by James M. Poland. “Terrorism is the premeditated, deliberate, systematic murder, mayhem, and threatening of the innocent to create fear and intimidation in order to gain a political or tactical advantage, usually to influence an audience.”

The duck test says: “If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck”. Boko Haram has been waging a brutal campaign of bombings against Christians, government targets and sundry innocents, in its bid to achieve its political and religious goals. The cap is a perfect fit.

The government can choose to call this a “security challenge” or “human rights activism” – that is their business. In reality, the almost daily global headlines about the sect’s killings testify that this is one mindless terrorist organisation.

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