The Nation June 14 2011

Nigeria’s truly national newspaper

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Bankole, Nafada charged with alleged N38b fraud EFCC rearrests ex-Speaker Dad says he’s worried over his safety

ICPC grills eight Oyo officials over N8.5b scam From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

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resentatives.

One of the loans was a N12billion facility obtained by the House leadership three days to the end of its tenure last month.

HE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) yesterday grilled eight top officials of former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala’s administration over their alleged complicity in the N8.5 billion contract scam.

The officials are in the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources as well as Commerce.

They were invited to the Abuja headquarters of the commission where they tendered files and other documents on the alleged contract scam.

It was learnt that the commission’s officials requested the files and documents to enable them probe the alleged contract scam, particularly to determine the role played by commissioners.

They were still at the commission, as at press time yesterday.

It was learnt that the documents they supplied were being scrutinised by

Continued on page 2

Continued on page 2

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FEDERAL High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday released former House Speaker Dimeji Bankole on bail. He is facing a 16-count charge of contract inflation and awards without due process slammed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

But his freedom was short-lived. He was rearrested and whisked off to an Abuja High Court for fresh charges.

At the Court yesterday were former and present House of Representatives members, senators and students of Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta, Ogun State. Some youths carrying placards with various inscriptions were at the court premises. They came to support Bankole.

Bankole and his former deputy Usman Nafada were arraigned on a 17count charge of criminal breach of trust, dishonest use of House of Representatives bank account to obtain loan and sharing same to members without the

•Bankole (left) and Nafada in court ... yesterday

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

THE FRESH CHARGES •Criminal breach of trust by agreeing to approve allowances and/or “running costs” of Reps in violation of the approved Remuneration Package •Dishonest use of House of Reps account to obtain about N38billion loan to augment allowances and “running costs” of members in violation of the extant rules •Dishonest misappropriation and disbursement of the loans •Felony to wit: theft From Yusuf Alli and Kamorudeen Ogundele, Abuja

consent and approval of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and the extant Revised Financial Regulations of the Federal Govern-

ment of Nigeria, 2009.

The alleged offences are contrary to Sections 97(1), 286 and 311 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990, and punishable under Sections 287 and 315 of the

same Penal Code Act. They pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Bankole and Nafada allegedly obtained over N37.91billion loans to pay jumbo allowances to members of the 6th House of Rep-

Cabinet: President drops five controversial nominees

P •Dr Jonathan

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has dropped five controversial would-be ministers. The Senate is expected to get the list tomorrow.

The President’s decision was based on security reports on the nominees.

They include two candidates linked to the ongoing N9billion scam in the House of Representatives for which ex-Speaker Dimeji Bankole is being tried.

•Lagos PDP members adamant on Aganga From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation, Abuja

Three others were implicated in the defiance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House members on zoning, which led to the election of Speaker Aminu Tambuwal. The party preferred Mrs Mulikat Akande-Adeola.

The three candidates were alleged

to have been part of the revolt in the House against the party.

The five nominees, whose names were kept under wraps yesterday, are being replaced.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The President has said that no nominee will be allowed to go through or be presented to the Senate, if he is being investigated for anything.

“Five of such nominees have already been dropped. Two are linked to the allegations against ex-Speaker Dimeji Bankole; three worked against the party to ensure the emergence of Tambuwal.”

It was gathered last night that members of the Lagos State chapter of the PDP and Lagos indigenes were adamant in their opposition to the return of the immediate past Minister of FiContinued on page 2

•POLITICS P12 •SPORTS P23 •PROPERTY P25 •ENERGY P37 •AVIATION P49

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

NEWS

•Senate President David Mark (third left), National Sports Commission (NSC) Director-General, Chief Patrick Ekeji (third right) pose with the five Benue students that received NSC scholarship award for performing well at the 2010 David Mark Secondary School Football Championship in Abuja ... yesterday

President drops five controversial nominees

Bankole, Nafada charged with alleged N38b fraud Bankole’s dad calls for his safety The allowances were allegContinued from page 1

edly paid outside the approved Remuneration Package for Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission and the extant Revised Financial Regulations of the Federal Government of Nigeria, 2009.

The accused persons were brought to court around 2:37 p.m. in a Coaster bus marked BR739BWR. Bankole was clad in his trademark allwhite dress with a white cap to match. Nafada wore a blue Kaftan and a red cap.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges. Prosecution counsel Festus Keyamo urged the court to remand the accused persons in prison custody.

The defence counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), who led Mr. Afolabi Fashanu (SAN) and others tried to move an oral bail application.

But Justice Suleiman Belgore declined the move.

He ordered the defence to file a formal bail application as sufficient materials must be placed before the court to show why bail should be granted.

But, Keyamo told the court of the EFCC’s predicament in

Southsouth governors seek repair of roads

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HIEF Alani Bankole, father of former Speaker of House of Representatives Dimeji, who is on trial for fund mismanagement, yesterday raised the alarm over his safety.

He said there is a plot to eliminate the former speaker who is remanded in the EFCC custody.

Chief Bankole said the case is not “judicial but political.” He was quoted in a statement by a former media aide to the exSpeaker, Mr. Kayode Odunaro.

The statement said there is “a desperate attempt of the EFCC to ensure that the erstwhile Speaker remains in detention. Even when he secured bail from a Federal High

keeping the accused persons in its custody.

Keyamo said the anti-graft agency does not have enough medical facilities to accommodate them. Besides, he said, the facility is overstretched.

“My lord, the prison has enough medical attention.

We don’t have facilities to accommodate them. Since we have charged them to court; that is the prerogative of my client,” he said.

Awomolo disagreed. He insisted that the commission could still accommodate them.

Then, the Judge asked: “How could you know they have facilities; this is a question of fact, you know it”.

On a second thought, Justice Belgore, said: “It is a presumption that the prison has facilities to accommodate them”.

Court, EFCC lawyer Festus Keyamo quickly filed another set of charges and opposed the bail asking for a long adjournment to hear the new bail application. The fear is that Bankole may succeed in proving his innocence, a situation likely to embarrass the EFCC and the nation.

“Chief Bankole calls on well-meaning Nigerians to come to his aid by ensuring that his son, who served the nation meritoriously, and has pleaded not guilty to all the charges brought against him so far, is not harmed while in detention. He recalled a similar incident in the case of another member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Maurice Ibekwe, who died while in the EFCC custody.”

Justifying his position, Keyamo said: “I say this with every sense of responsibility, there are lots of them. There are so many of them that will be brought in and there is no space for them again.”

Keyamo also opposed a short adjournment saying the week was busy.

But Awomolo pleaded with the court to grant a short adjournment as the liberty of the accused was at stake.

Ruling, Justice Belgore said the adjournment was important at this stage.

Consequently, he adjourned till Thursday for bail application. Overruling the request of the EFCC, the Judge ordered that the accused persons be remanded in the custody of the commission.

Keyamo told reporters after the court session that more charges will be filed as inves-

tigation progresses.

Admitting Bankole to bail at the Federal High Court, Justice Donatus Okorowo described EFCC’s claim that it was informed that Bankole planned to run abroad as hearsay and speculative.

Besides, he faulted the commission’s argument that it was not under obligation to disclose the identity of the riot policeman attached to Bankole who exposed his plot to escape abroad.

The Judge said no one is allowed to hide from the court any information that could assist in arriving at a considered decision.

The Court admitted Bankole to N5 million bail with one surety in like sum.

He was also ordered to deposit his travelling documents with the court.

The matter was adjourned till July 26 and 27 for trial.

From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

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OUTHSOUTH governors have appealed to the Federal Government to fast track the construction of the coastal and East-West roads to open up the region for development.

The governors who met in Port Harcourt last night also said they would initiate discussions with the Presidency, the federal government and all the states through which the WestEast railways would pass through to ensure a concerted effort at the development of an integrated rail system. This, they said, would open the region for increased investment.

Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State and Chairman of the Southsouth Governors’ Forum read the communiqué.

He also said the governors signed an agreement to set up the headquarters of BRACED Commission in Port Harcourt.

•Aganga Continued from page 1

nance, Dr. Olusegun Aganga.

They alleged that Aganga is not an indigene of Lagos and cannot take the slot meant for the state or represent the Southwest.

The party members and some members of Indigenous Association of Lagos, led by a retired Justice, are expected to seek audience with the President on the matter.

A source said: “Our position is that Aganga is from Sabongida-Ora in Edo State, as far as records on his parents are concerned. He has no basis to claim that he is from Lagos State.

“We bear no grudge against Aganga because he is eminently qualified as a Nigerian and a technocrat. But he cannot usurp the slot meant for Lagos State. The President is free to choose him as his nominee from Edo State.

“So, this time around, we want an indigene of Lagos as the ministerial candidate for the state. Aganga cannot even represent the Southwest.

“We want the President to

appreciate our position and make amend accordingly.

That is why we are seeking audience with the President on the peculiar challenge facing Lagos.”

It could not be immediately ascertained whether the President will accede to the case of the Lagos indigenes.

A Presidency source confirmed that Aganga is one of the returnees to the cabinet.

But he declined comments on the state he is to represent.

The official said: “The President has the constitutional prerogative to constitute his cabinet. No one can teach him who to choose or not.

“The baseline is that all the nominees must be bonafide Nigerians.”

Section 147 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), empowers the President to constitute his cabinet to reflect the Federal Character Principle.

The Section says: “There shall be such offices of Ministers of the Government of the Federation as may be established by the President.

“Any appointment to the office of Minister of the Government of the Federation shall, if the nomination of any person to such office is confirmed by the Senate, be made by the President, “Any appointment under subsection(2) of this section by the President shall be in conformity with the provisions of Section14(3) of this Constitution provided that in giving effect to the provisions aforesaid the President shall appoint at least one Minister from each state, who shall be an indigene of such state.”

ICPC grills eight officials Continued from page 1

•From left: Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi; Special Adviser to the Governor on Millenium Development Goals and Multilateral Relations, Mrs. Dipo Salami; and United Nations Children Fund Assistant Country Representative, Mrs. Sara Beysolow, at the signing of the 2011-2012 UNICEF/Ekiti State Government Implementation Agreement in Ado-Ekiti ... yesterday.

ICPC officials.

The ICPC resident consultant, Public Affairs, Mr Folu Olamiti, confirmed the visit of the government officials.

He said investigation was ongoing, adding that the commission was still at the preliminary stage of the probe.

Olamiti said the ICPC would require and vet relevant documents in the alleged scam to enable it establish the facts about the case.

The six former commissioners who were grilled by the anti-graft agency in Abuja last month, yesterday showed up at the ICPC Ibadan office.

It was learnt that they were asked to report to the Ibadan office on Mondays, pending the outcome of investigations into the alleged scam.

They are: Chief Bayo Bankole, (Finance); Alhaji Mukaila Aborode, (Environment and Water Resources); Alhaji Muslim Oyedemi, (Works and Transport); Mr Kunle Isola, (Agriculture); Dr Nureni Adeniran, (Education); and Dr Kola Blogun, (Commerce and Industry).

They arrived the Old Bodija office of the commission at 10am.

It was learnt that the politicians have been barred from traveling abroad pending the conclusion of investigations into the alleged scam.

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

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

NEWS Nigeria’s GDP now over seven per cent, says Head of Service From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

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•Osun State Deputy Governor, Mrs Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori flanked by Chief of Staff, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola (left), Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (second left), Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP) Task Team Leader, Mr. Nicholas Peltcer(second left) and Mr. Frederik Minaret of the French Development Agency, during the joint mission meeting of the World Bank and France Development Agency with Osun State Goverment, at the Governor's Office, Osogbo...yesterday

‘Tell the President l’m getting tired’ •Wife of Abuja explosions victim pleads with Jonathan to fulfil his promise

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HEY were not born deformed. They became deformed in the twin explosions that rocked Eagle Square, Abuja, during the celebration of the nation’s 50th Independence anniversary on October 1, last year. More than 10 others died in the blasts.

The injured were rushed to the National Hospital, Abuja, where they were admitted for treatment.

Their wards were like Mecca as many sympathisers came to see them. Among the sympathisers were President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife, Dame Patience, former ministers and the leadership of the Sixth National Assembly.

The victims were promised the best of treatment. But eight months after the incident, the victims are feeling that they have been quietly abandoned to their fate by the Federal Government.

Some of them who spoke with The Nation expressed shock that after the authorities’ initial ’’maximum’’ care , they have become victims of official indifference.

One of the victims, Augustine Olajie, who said visits by numerous dignitaries last year initially gave him much hope, said life has become difficult as the government and the National Hospital are now

From Jide Babalola, Assistant Editor, Abuja

indifferent to their plight.

According to him, an effort made by the victims to see the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the National Hospital last Thursday was rebuffed. The hospital’s Pharmacy Department, he added, has told them that they would henceforth, pay for their drugs.

He said: “I spent one month on the hospital bed. But I have been going from home to the National Hospital over the past eight months.

Life has become very difficult; some of us virtually live on drugs, but the National Hospital management has now told us that when they give us prescriptions, we must pay. They say there’ll be no drugs for us unless we pay.

“Last Thursday, we waited in vain, hoping to see the Chief Medical Director(CMD) and plead with him to look into our plight. We were told that he cannot see us.”

Another victim, Loveth Ochabo lamented that after the lofty promises made last year, the Federal Government has ‘’completely abandoned’’ them.

Enjoining well-meaning Nigerians to remind the President of his promise to the victims, Loveth af-

firmed that all their hope lies in God and the President.

She was a job-seeking spinster before she was incapacitated in the explosions.

A more pathetic case is that of Anthony Etim, a retired Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), whose predicament appears to be the worst among the 11 policemen taken to hospitals in Abuja for treatment after the second blast.

Etim, who was three months away from his retirement last January 1, after a 35-year service was one of those deployed to secure the scene of the first blast.

But Etim, a father of five, who was caught in the web of the second explosion which shattered his legs, feel that his long years of service, including participation in various risky encounters with men of the underworld were nothing but an exercise in futility.

Because he could not afford the transportation fare from his Minna, Niger State base, Etim has relocated to a ghetto in Nyanya, on the outskirts of Abuja.

His wife of 27 years, Cecilia shuttles between the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Minna to take care of him and the children.

While Etim still believes that God will touch the hearts of Mr. Presi-

dent to remember people like him, his wife told this reporter that the stress is almost killing her.

Her words: “Please help us use your newspaper to beg President Jonathan to remember us. It is good the way they have helped victims of the Suleja bombing. But since the promises of last year, we are still waiting on hope.

“Everything rests on my shoulders, including taking care of the children going to school in Minna. I am getting very tired, especially with the new directive that we must start paying at the hospital.

“My husband was in the hospital from October 1 till January 1, 2011 when he retired. I went to Minna to bring all his documents and we are still awaiting the conclusion of the processing of his benefits by the police headquarters’’.

The reasons behind the National Hospital’s new directive that victims of the October 1, 2010 bomb blasts should start paying for their drugs could not be ascertained.

In a telephone chat, the hospital’s spokesperson, Mrs. Rabiah Labaran, said she had no directive to to speak on the matter. She also declined comment on the inability of the patients to complain to the CMD.

Reps may extend adjournment over shortage of offices

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HE House of Representatives may be forced to extend its three-week recess because of inadequate office accommodation for members.

The House, which was inaugurated on June 6, adjourned on June 9 to ensure provision of offices for its 360 members.

Although members were asked to reconvene on June 28, there were strong indications yesterday that the resumption date may be shift-

From: Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

ed.

Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, however, ruled out extension of the resumption date at a briefing after inspection of facilities at the new wing of the House complex yesterday.

Ihedioha inspected the 175-room complex being built for members along with Speaker Aminu Tambuwal.

He said they were assured that

the complex would be ready in two weeks, “But we have discovered that the complex will not be ready until the end of August.”

Ihedioha said the challenges facing them was how to secure enough offices for members, adding that they discovered that most of the microphones in their Chamber were not functional.

Asked whether the situation meant that the House would shift plenary, he said they were not thinking of extension.

Their major pre-occupation, he said was how to find offices for members when they return.

But a source told our correspondent that the situation is so critical that the House presiding officers may be forced to extend the resumption date pending when the complex will be ready.

The source said: ‘’Members of the House are not expected to perform magic, they can only give their best when they have befitting offices to work.”

HE Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is now over seven per cent, the Head of Service (HOS) said yesterday.

The HOS, Prof Oladapo Afolabi spoke at the opening of a retreat on Performance Contracting and Convergence of the Public and Private Sectors towards attaining Vision 20:2020 in Abuja. He said agriculture, which was at four per cent ofGDP before has now moved to eight per cent.

He said: “The Nigerian system is working well; Nigeria’s GDP is presently above seven per cent, agriculture at a time was barely four per cent GDP, today it has really jacked up. There has been tremendous progress, if we look back to 1999 when democracy started to 2011, it is worthy of commendation.

“What we need to do right now is to stop being self destructive, learn from our mistakes and stop being critical of our country. I would like to state categorically that we are not adopting or importing any model from Kenya, we have our home grown system, which is pristine performance management system.

“This programme took Kenya almost 20-years to get to where they have gotten to, yes we are always in a hurry, I will say to you that there are pockets of successes in Nigeria already, if you look at Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for example, it is E-passport, once upon a time it will take you months to obtain a passport in Nigeria, we have gone far beyond that now, if you are clever enough and follow due process, I can assure you that between 48-72 hours, your passport is out.

“If you go to the Corporate Affairs Commission(CAC), once upon a time, it will take you years to get your company registered, today you can do this online, we are already winning in certain areas, it is the harnessing of all of these that we will put in our performance management system, then if we can introduce quickly E-government, which will introduce some transparency, accountability and responsiveness to get the public to start to have confidence in us once again’’

Commission to regulate water for efficiency

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HE Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission is set to regulate the use of water for efficiency and also embark on water preservation for future generations, an official has said.

Mr. Razak Jimoh the Coordinating Director of the Commission said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria yesterday in Abuja.

He said:“We want to ensure availability of fresh water for all generations; both the present generation and the generations yet unborn by carefully and properly managing the resource.

“It’s something that is very vital and is vulnerable. It can be exhausted.

“So, we are going to have regulations to guide people on how to develop water and how to utilise it.

“We are going to place emphasis on water use efficiency; we don’t allow for waste, so that’s through regulations.’’

Jimoh said the Commission was set to introduce regulations to ensure efficient water service delivery for environmental sustainability.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

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NEWS Four killed in Boko Haram attacks SUSPECTED members of the radical Islamic sect , Boko Haram, yesterday shot dead four people at a beer garden in a Maiduguri, Borno State.

“Four people were killed in an attack by gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram sect in a beer parlour at the Bulunkutu surburb of the city last night,” Zakari Adamu, assistant police commissioner for Borno State told AFP. He added: “The gunmen opened fire on people drinking in the beer parlour, killing four before engaging in a shoot-out with police who were attracted to the scene by gunshots.”

The assailants escaped.

Police have intensified surveillance in Maiduguri since last week’s attacks.

Corporate Nigeria honours pop singer

By Victor Akande, Entertainment Editor

A RARE support for new generation artistes was recorded at the weekend, as no fewer 10 corporate organisations signed up for young pop star, Ayodeji Balogun, better known as Wizkid, at the prestigious Eko Hotel and Suites where the artiste staged a live concert to launch his three year-old career.

Among the companies, which took VIP tables, costing N350, 000 each, are Arik Air, Multichoice, Guinness, HiTV, Flytime Entertainment, and Silverbird Group. The regular seats, which sold out about two weeks to the show, went for N5, 000.

The music and comedy concert paraded top artistes, such as Banky W, D’Banj, Basket Mouth, D.J Jimmy Jatt, Olamide, Ice Prince and M.I, among others.

My next challenge, by Jonathan P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said his next challenge after winning the battle for free and fair elections, is to win the war against bad governance.

Jonathan, who was represented by his former Senior Special Adviser on Documentation and Strategy, Mr. Oronto Douglas at a presidential roundtable meant to set agenda for his administration, said Nigerians must set their minds to good governance, the same manner they were committed to transparent elections.

The event, with the theme: “A strategy to vibrant Nigeria – the next 100 days,” was organised by the National Think Tank in collaboration with the Communities Defence Law Foundation.

Douglas said: “The President asked me to give a goodwill message to this important gathering by the National Think Tank in collaboration with the Communities Defence Law Foundation. He said I should tell the National Think Tank that any gathering that brings egg heads, great minds, brilliant Nigerians together to chart a way forward is one venue that he

•President: We must obey court orders From Sanni Ologun, Gbenga Omokhunu and Tayo Owolabi, Abuja

is disposed to attend.

“Unfortunately, the commitment of state has excluded him and he said I should bring a goodwill message to you. He said the battle for free, fair and credible elections have been won by all Nigerians and by Nigeria.

The challenge now is to win the war for good governance.

And winning the war on good governance will mean that every Nigerian, just like we all committed ourselves to actualising free, fair and credible elections, that same commitment to good governance, is what is needed at this point in time.

“He said a gathering of this nature cannot get the desired result except and until a total commitment is given to the ideals for which the Think Tank had come to be, which is to create a platform for national actualisation, in terms of its demand for Nigeria’s rapid ascendancy o greatness.

“I believe that the idea for

the National Think Tank is what Nigeria needs now and would continue to need in the future.”

Senator Smart Adeyemi, in an interview with reporters, said he was at the roundtable to advocate for a democratic budget process.

Adeyemi said: “Quite a number of us are here with different positions on issues that we feel will help the nation. For instance, I am here to champion the problem confronting unemployment in the country and to equally exchange ideas based on my experience in the last four years of budget in Nigeria.

“So here I will be advocating for democratic budgeting.

We have to change the system of budgeting in the sense that for democracy to be meaningful and for an average Nigerian to have the impact of democratic government, their representatives must be able to champion their needs and their aspirations, and that can only be done when you change the system of budgeting whereby the representatives will come to the table

with the needs and aspirations of their people.”

Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Prof Chukwuma Soludo said: “Following the will of Nigerians expressed in a free and fair elections in April, this is a part of the consultation process to ensure that the President performs within the first 100 days in office.”

The National Coordinator of the National Think-Tank, Prof. Steve Azaiki, said the objective of the conference is to generate a body of ideas that would complement the blueprint of the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

“Our objective is to fashion out how the new administration will activate and fully energise extant national policies and programmes, and to create new insights towards the actualisation of the goals of the administration,” he said.

Those present at the event include Senator Ahmed Markafi, former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chibu-

‘Return of schools illegal’ From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

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FCT demolishes church, illegal structures From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

THE Department of Development Control of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) yesterday demolished church and several makeshift structures in Abuja.

The church, a Pentecostal church was situated in a place designed for a recreation garden.

The Director of the Department, Yahaya Yusuf, said the structures contravened the Land Use Law. He said: “We identified an offensive structure which was not being used for the purpose it has been earmarked for.

“The illegal structure was not park-friendly. It was built and being used as a place of worship; church to be précised which is against the purpose of why the plot was allocated.

Yahaya, who spoke through the Chief Town Planning Officer at Department of Development Control, Nathaniel Atebuje, added that the place was marked almost a month ago.

•Jonathan

zor Igwoha and the Director of the Ken Nnamani Centre for Leadership and Development, Mr Brian Brown, among others.

Jonathan, on his facebook page yesterday, said his administration would always obey court orders since it preaches the rule of law.

He said: “As this administration ensured that the INEC is independent and seen to be so, we have ensured that law enforcement agencies are independent.

“Furthermore, I insisted we obeyed every court order since we came into being proving that the Rule of Law as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution as amended is the Fountain of Origin of this administration and you can take that to the bank.”

•Former Kaduna State Governor Ahmed Maikafi (left), Oronto Douglas (middle) and Soludo at the conference...yesterday PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN

Court grants Akingbola N100m bail

A

LAGOS State High Court, Ikeja, yesterday granted former Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank Plc Erastus Akingbola bail for N100million, with two sureties in like sum.

The court barred him from foreign travels. His trial for alleged fraud and stealing will begin on July 20.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Akingbola and the General Manager of Tropics Securities Limited, Bayo Dada, on an amended 22 counts of stealing the bank’s N47.1 billion.

Justice Habeeb Abiru remanded them in prison after their arraignment on May 31.

Ruling on their bail applications, the judge said the EFCC did not prove that Ak-

•Ex-bank chief barred from foreign travels

By Joseph Jibueze

ingbola would jump bail or interfere with the course of justice.

According to the judge, it was unlikely that the defendants would jump bail since they did not fail to attend trial after they were allowed temporary freedom by a Federal High Court, Lagos, where they are facing money laundering charges involving higher figures.

“If they did not jump the bail granted them by the Federal High Court, this court finds it difficult to believe that they will jump bail or abscond from trial,” the judge said.

Justice Abiru added that

Akingbola’s two sureties must be Lagos residents and must own property. They must produce evidence of property ownership from the state Land Registry.

He said they must also swear to an Affidavit of Means and present three years’ tax clearance certificates from the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service.

The court also granted Dada bail for N50million with two sureties in like sum.

It barred the two from travelling abroad, until the case is decided, except on the court’s permission.

Justice Abiru warned that should the defendants retrieve their travel documents from the Federal High

Court, they should bring them to his court.

EFCC alleged that Akingbola, as the Chief Executive Officer of the bank and Dada, with intent to defraud, obtained various sums of money from the bank and converted them to their personal use under false pretence.

It said some of the stolen money was fraudulently converted into loans to Tropics Securities Limited and Tropics Properties Limited, in which Akingbola is also a director.

The offences contravene sections 390 (7) and 427 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C. 17, Laws of Lagos State, 2003.

Akingbola and Dada pleaded not guilty.

Justice Abiru adjourned the trial till July 20, 26 and 27.

HE Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, (NSCIA) Ogun State Chapter, yesterday backed the decision of the House of Assembly reversing the return of mission schools to their original owners.

NSCIA, in a statement in Abeokuta by its Chairman Sheik Abdul-Rasheed Mayaleeke and General Secretary, Alh A. F Salam, said it has examined the action of Ogun Assembly and found it to be in accordance with due process.

The Council advised their Christian brothers who felt affected by the action of the sixth legislative Assembly to handle the matter with restrain.

The statement reads: “The return of schools to the former owners as executed by the last administration in Ogun State was indeed an act of illegality.

“The law enacted in 1976 which conferred the ownership of Schools to the government is still in operation since no legislation has been enacted to set aside the provisions of the said law.

“Our Council Representative on the government Public Sitting Committee confirmed that out of the 55 memoranda received by the Committee, 44 were decisively against the return.

“The adverse effects of the return of the schools have continued to stare us in the face as many indigent children of the returned schools have been thrown out of schools.

“The neighboring schools that absorbed them are embarrassingly overpopulated.

A situation where over 100 students are lumped in a class meant for about 30 is more that worrisome.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

5

NEWS

‘How Oni’s administration paid contractors billions for jobs undone’

T

HE government of Ekiti State paid billions of naira to contractors for jobs not executed, it has been revealed.

The payments were made by the ousted Segun Oni administration.

In most instances, the contractors were paid in excess of work done. Besides, some had their contracts terminated after receiving between 20 and 50 per cent payment of the contract sum without any refund.

Some abandoned the contracts after receiving part payment.

These facts are contained in a report by the Contract and Consultancy Review Committee (CCRC) set up by the Dr. Kayode Fayemi administration to review contracts awarded between May 2007 and October 2010.

The report is published by the state as an advertorial in this newspaper. It contains the committee’s work as at March 31. The committee examined about 89

By Eric Ikhilae

projects awarded to 63 companies.

According to the report, contractors, in most cases, were paid in excess of work done. Many of the contracts lie uncompleted.

They include the dualisation of Ado– Iworoko–Ifaki road, awarded to Messrs Hajaig Construction at N7, 471,743,345.46.

The committee found that while only 30 per cent of the project was executed, the contractor was paid N5,116,380,847.42 (69 per cent), indicating that it earned N2,924,857,838 “in excess of work done.”

In the case of the Emure– Supare road (13.3km), IgedeIlawe road (9.5km) and Ipole-Iloro–Ogotun road (11.8km), awarded to Messrs Dortmund Construction Limited, a substantial part of the contract sum was released, but the project was not completed. The committee noted that the drainage

part of the three projects was not done.

The committee also noted that the contract in respect of the Iludun-Eda OniyoObo Ayegunle road (Kwara State), Isinbode-Iro-Irun roads (Ondo State), awarded to Borino Prono and Co. Ltd, was allegedly over valued to the tune of 82 per cent (about N73,192,894.45).

On the contract for IjesaIsu-Ode road, awarded to Konstruja Ltd. at N312, 053,806.53, the committee said “it was terminated on May 26, 2007, as a result of poor performance,” after the contractor had collected N40, 122,456.48“ for work not done.”

The committee also noted that majority of solar powered street light projects, particularly those at Fajuyi Police Headquarters, Ojumose junction, NTA road, Old Motor ParkMinistry of Works, were abandoned after funds had been released by the state.

The contracts were awarded

at N1.35 million per pole.

The committee said the Ijesa-Isu -Ode road awarded to Parsons Science Engineering at N384,390,592.90 was re-awarded in 2008 and reviewed upward.

It discovered that although the project was 73 per cent completed, “the excess of N40,122,450.48 hitherto paid to Konstruja Ltd in respect of the same contract should be recovered.”

On the contract for the Egbe-Imesi road, also awarded to Parsons Science Engineering, the committee recommended that from what it had been paid, “the excess sum of N4,000,000 should be deducted from the retention sum of N18,066,058 due to the contractor.

The committee recommended the cancellation of some contracts, the renegotiation of some and the need for some contractors to be reimbursed to enable them perform.

Tribunal won’t dismiss petition against Senator Tinubu

By Eric Ikhilae

T

HE Election Petitions Tribunal in Lagos State has refused an oral application by former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) seeking the dismissal of a petition challenging the victory of his client, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

The tribunal also refused to entertain three new applications filed by the petitioner, Mr. Oladapo DurosinmiEtti, on the ground that they should have been brought before the tribunal earlier.

Durosinmi-Etti, who claimed to be a candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the April 9 Senatorial Election in Lagos Central, is complaining about the alleged exclusion of his party’s logo on the ballot papers used for the election.

He is urging the tribunal to cancel the election and order a rerun.

Yesterday, Olanipekun told the tribunal that he filed a reply dated May 25 to the petition, but the petitioner was yet to respond to it.

The petitioner’s lawyer, Babatunde Fashanu (SAN), said he filed a reply dated May 31 and served it on the first respondent, Mrs. Tinubu.

Chairman of the tribunal Justice Maurice Eneji directed the panel’s secretary to confirm whether the petitioner actually filed a reply. It was confirmed that a reply was filed by the petitioner and the judge directed the petitioner’s lawyer to proceed.

Upholding arguments by Olanipekun and counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Ola Bakare, Justice Eneji refused to hear additional applications by the petitioner. He held that the applications ought to have been heard at the pre-trial session.

Further hearing was adjourned till June 17

Group urges Mimiko to account for allocations •Govt: they’re mischief makers

T

HE Ondo State Government has been urged to account for N34 billion allegedly left behind by the immediate past administration of Dr. Olusegun Agagu.

A political group in the state, Sunshine Liberation Forum (SLF), made the call yesterday. It also urged the government to account for allocations received from the Federal Government.

The group’s Publicity Committee Chairman, Mr. Segun Odidi, said it was important to make the financial situation of the state public.

He accused the Administration of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of always claiming glory for projects it did not initiate.

Citing the Gani Fawehinmi Diagnostic Cen-

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

tre in Ondo town as an example, Odidi alleged that 80 per cent of the project was funded by an international agency.

Odidi lamented the high rate of unemployment, stating that the campaign promises of the LP on the revival of moribund industries had not been fulfilled.

Commissioner for Information Mr. Ranti Akerele faulted the claims of the group, describing those behind it as “mischief makers and enemies of progress.”

Akerele described the achievements of the governor in the last two years was unprecedented.

He urged the group to shun political sentiments and appreciate the state’s ongoing transformation.

Lagos bans pasting of posters •Archbishop of Lagos Catholic Archdiocese Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie (second right) about to cut his 75th Birthday cake at Metropolitan Club, Victoria Island, Lagos. With him are Social Communication Director, Fr. Gabriel Osu (left); VicarGeneral, Lagos Archdiocese, Rev.-Mon. Bernard Okodua (2nd left); Sir Patrick Ikemefuna (right) and others...yesterday

Osun votes N255m for road repairs

O

SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has approved N255 million for road rehabilitation, under the Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP).

He said good roads would make it easier for farmers to transport their produce to urban centres.

Deputy Governor Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, who represented Aregbesola at an interactive session held at the Executive Council Chamber, Bola Ige House, Osogbo, praised RAMP for completing a 12 kilometer road leading to Pataara farm settlement on schedule.

She thanked the World Bank team led by Mr. Nicholas Thiberge, which was

in the state to inspect World Bank projects, for approving the state’s participation in the FADAMA III project.

Mrs. Laoye-Tomori said: “We appreciate your partnership with our government, most especially on RAMP. We are elated by the approval for our participation in the FADAMA III project.

“The performance of the project is worthwhile, as you can see from the visit to Akinleye, one stop shop at Adana, FADAMA market at Ologunebi, the road linking Iwo-Pataara farm settlement, Pataara, Agoro, Ikonifin, Ajagose, Asa and Gbojosi.”

She said rural develop-

ment is one of the fundamental agendas of the Aregbesola administration and all hands must be on deck to achieve it.

Mrs. Laoye-Tomori said: “To this end, RAMP is given the onerous task of road improvement under Osun State Rural Enterprise and Agriculture Programme (OREAP).

“The objective of this programme is to make Osun State the food basket of the country and this can only be achieved through rural accessibility, which RAMP represents. RAMP is one of the World Bank assisted project that is in the good book of the government.”

She restated the govern-

ment’s commitment to collaborate with development partners to develop rural areas, adding that “the importance of the project to the governor was demonstrated in the approval of N255 million for road rehabilitation.”

Mr. Thiberge said Osun State has been approved as one of the four states in Nigeria to benefit from the $195 million provided by the World Bank to tackle the challenges of infrastructure.

Thiberge urged the government to employ residents of road side communities to maintain roads.

This, he said, would generate employment for rural dwellers as well as guarantee the durability of roads.

By Miriam Ndikanwu

T

HE Lagos State Government has prohibited aspirants contesting the forth coming Local Government Elections, movie marketers, organisations, advertising agencies and the public from pasting posters in the state.

The directive was contained in a statement yesterday, signed by the Head of Corporate Affairs, Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA), Temitope Akande.

He condemned the indiscriminate pasting of posters across the state, in spite of the government’s warning against it.

After the April elections, LASAA employed over 1,000 youths to clean-up posters and warned people to stop defacing the state with posters.

Akande said: “We view this as a deliberate act to undermine the efforts of the government in achieving a cleaner Lagos, as well as our resolution to take our city back after the last general elections.

“We state clearly that as the sole regulatory agency for the control of outdoor advertisement in Lagos State, LASAA will continue to arrest and prosecute any persons found guilty of indiscriminate pasting of posters. LASAA will not compromise on its statues and codes in the interest of the state.

“The date for local government elections is yet to be announced, but it will not be an opportunity to paste posters in unauthorised places.

“The law on unlawful pasting of posters is still very much in force and will be applied in full. Those pasting for commercial and entertainment are equally warned.”

6

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

NEWS Judge’s absence stalls NAFDAC’s arraignment of baker THE prosecution of an Osogbo baker, Afolabi Nurudeen, who allegedly assaulted some officials of the National Agency for Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), could not go on yesterday owing to the absence of the judge at the Federal High Court, Osogbo, Osun State.

Counsel to NAFDAC, Oche Abutu, had filed his application and was ready for the arraignment of the accused when the Court Clerk announced that the case could not be held as the judge was not in court.

Afolabi was accused of assaulting and inflicting injuries on the Osun State Head of NAFDAC, Mrs. Yedunni Adenuga and members of her team at his bakery.

The incident occurred at 13, Isale Agbara Street, Osogbo, on March 15, last year, when Afolabi allegedly attempted to prevent the NAFDAC officials from inspecting his bakery.

NAFDAC operatives reportedly stormed the bakery following a tip-off that Afolabi was using prohibited potassium bromate for baking.

Ajanaku leads PDP women THE Women’s Forum of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State at the weekend elected a new leadership.

Mrs Titi Ajanaku, who leads the group, promised to move the party to a higher height.

Elected with Mrs Ajanaku, a former Special Adviser to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, are Comrade Remi Ogunsola former Chairperson of the Women’s Wing of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and former chapter women’s leader of the PDP in the United States, as secretary.

Others are Chief Mrs Mujidat Ogunnaike, a former State Women leader of the party as organising Secretary and Mrs Seyi Aderinokun a veteran broadcast journalist, as Publicity Secretary.

Fayemi to establish child courts From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

EKITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi has said his administration would establish family courts to try cases on abuses of children.

He said there was need for such an institution because of cases of child rape in parts of the state.

Fayemi said the government would raise people’s awareness over the prevalence of the problem, adding that those found culpable of child rape and other extremes would be punished to serve as deterrent to others.

Amosun leads walk for Abiola in Abeokuta •Governor to build museum to immortalise hero of democracy

O

GUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun yesterday led pro-democracy activists and others for a symbolic march through some streets of Abeokuta, the state capital, to mark the 18th anniversary of June 12, 1993 presidential election.

The election was believed to have been won by the late Bashorun Moshood Abiola, who hailed from Abeokuta.

The 10-kilometre road walk, which began at 8.45am from the palace of the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Aremu Gbadebo, took them through Omida Road, terminating at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Kuto.

Amosun was accompanied by some members of the House of Assembly.

The governor urged Nigerians to insist on credible polls, quality governance and defence of democracy from being derailed.

He said Abiola died for Nigerians to enjoy democracy, adding: “Abiola did not die

•Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun (fourth left) with pro-democracy activists at the 18th anniversary of the June 12, 1993 PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI presidential election, at MKO Aboila Stadium, Abeokuta...yesterday.

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

in vain.”

Amosun, who declared yesterday a work-free day in honour of Abiola, promised to build a museum that would be named after the late politician.

He said the museum would serve as an archive for materials on the life and time of Abiola, his political struggles and documents on other prominent sons and daughters of Ogun State, like the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo; Dr. Beko Ransome–Kuti; Hubert Ogunde, among others.

The governor urged elected office holders to be cognisant that some people died and others were maimed or

lost their property during the struggle for the actualisation of the annulled poll in 1993.

Amosun urged politicians to use their positions to enhance the lives of Nigerians.

One of Abiola’s son, Mumuni, who was about nine years when the election was annulled by the General Ibrahim Babangida military administration, said the event attested to the fact that his father died a “hero and for a just cause”.

He noted that his father and slain mother, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, were killed over the struggle for the June 12 poll, adding that it paved the way for the democracy in Nigeria to take root.

Mumuni said: “My parents

died as hero and heroine.

June 12 is efficacious and it paved the way for the democracy we now have in Nigeria.”

Kano-based activist Tanko Yunusa expressed worry over the increasing poverty among Nigerians, saying Nigeria would face many challenges until tribalism is abolished and youths gainfully employed by the nation’s leaders.

Pro-democracy activist, Debo Adeniran, described June 12 as a “revolutionary phenomenon”, noting that Abiola gave Nigerians hope and promise to eradicate poverty before he was denied his hard-earned victory.

‘Babangida committed treason with June 12 poll annulment’ F ORMER President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) yesterday said former military President Ibrahim Babangida committed treason by annulling the 1993 presidential election.

The late business mogul, Bashorun Moshood Abiola, was believed to have won the election.

Akeredolu spoke as the guest lecturer in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, at the 18th anniversary of the election.

The event was organised by the Ekiti State Government and held at the Bishop Abiodun Adetiloye Hall, Trade Fair Complex.

He said: “What the mili-

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K

ANO State Government yesterday said it has uncovered N14 million monthly salaries’ overpayment to 35 civil servants in the last eight years.

Governor Rabiu Kwank-

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

tary did, as regards the annulment of the June 12 presidential elections, was treasonable, and the devastating effects are still on. Lives and property were lost and many still bear the scars, both physical and mental, of the devastating aftermath of the decision to disregard the wishes of the people as freely expressed on that day.”

In the lecture entitled: June 12 and Electoral Integrity in Nigeria, Akeredolu noted that June 12, 1993 election remained the most credible in the political history of Nige-

ria.

He said: “We never had credible elections in the colonial era; 1963 elections were massively rigged in favour of the Nigeria National Democratic Party (NNDP).

There was transparent rigging in the past. You cannot conduct an election to serve a predetermined purpose.”

Akeredolu condemned those who might have conspired in the annulment of the election.

He criticised former President Olusegun Obasanjo for distancing himself from the legitimate revolts to reclaim the election and for shunning appeals to immortalise the

late Abiola.

Akeredolu said: “Obasanjo betrayed June 12 and was a beneficiary. He betrayed the struggle and worked assiduously against it. He spat on the river that cleanses him.

Now, MKO (Abiola) has towered above Obasanjo and his cohorts.”

He stressed the need for voter education ahead of future elections, praising the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Youth Corps Members (NYSC) for their roles in the April polls.

Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi said the June 12 election was incontrovertible, saying it was a day Nigeria was inextricably woven.

Kwankwaso alleges overpayment of N14m monthly salaries From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

waso spoke in Kano, the state capital, at the swearing-in ceremony of 43 interim management officers to run the affairs of the local governments. Expressed dismay over the alleged fraudulent payment.

He said the actual salaries of the 35 civil servants ought to be N600,000 monthly, adding that some of the workers were paid N600,000 per month.

Kwankwaso said: “None of the 35 workers earn up to N20,000 as his monthly salary, but some of them were collecting as much as N600,000; N500,000;

N400,000; N160,000; and N120,000 as monthly salaries.

“This is direct stealing, and my government is not going to condone such fraudulent act in the civil service.”

The governor urged youths and politicians to desist from unwarranted visits to the offices of public officials to enable them work for the progress of the state.

He noted that such visits could frustrate the realisation of his administration’s programmes to provide purposeful leadership to the people.

Kwankwaso said: “The state government has plans to ensure that youths and politicians are constructively engaged in the scheme of things.”

He added that it is important for well–meaning residents to cooperate with the government to hasten the pace of development.

The governor urged the Interim Management Officers to perform their duties honestly and diligently, directing them to initiate programmes for the welfare of women, youths and children.

Kwankwaso urged them to fish out ghost workers in their domains and pay attention to environmental sanitation.

Forty-three Interim Management Officers were sworn in but none was appointed for Dawakin Kudu Local Government since the tenure of the incumbent Chairman has not expired.

He lamented that 18 years after the annulment, poverty had not reduced among Nigerians.

Another activist, Yinka Odumakin, urged Nigerians to fight for higher ideals, noting that not many Nigerians were willing to die for a cause they believe in, like Abiola did.

He said: “The lesson Nigerians should learn from the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election is perseverance.”

His wife, Dr. Joe Okei– Odumakin said June 12 was about electoral integrity, urging Nigerians to initiate the change and development they wanted from their leaders, instead standing aloof.

Police discover 10 hectares of Indian hemp farm From Damisi Ojo, Akure

T

HE Police yesterday said they had discovered 10 hectares of cannabis (Indian hemp) farm worth about N2 billion at Emure Ile, Owo Local Government of Ondo State.

During the operation, which was carried out by the Criminal Investigation Bureau of the State Police Command, six persons were reportedly arrested.

They are Stephen Akpan, 28; and Ezekiel Akpan 19; Idowu Obi, 25; Raphael John, 21; Abdukarim Raimi, 28; and Lucky Obi, 24.

The farm, located in a thick forest, was uncovered after days of surveillance by the Police team.

Addressing reporters after handing over the farm to men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Police Commissioner Sani Magaji said the farm was discovered after days of surveillance by his men.

Magaji, who led over 50 men of the command into the forest, said the Police command was working with NDLEA to check the illicit business.

He urged the government to constitute a task force that would penetrate the forest where the barons planted and cultivated Indian hemp.

The Police chief, who was accompanied by his deputy, Henry Fadairo, noted that the influx of non-indigenes in the area was worrisome.

The brothers said they went into the illicit business to cater for their sick mother.

7

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

NEWS Yobe doctors give 21 days’ ultimatum From Duku Joel, Damaturu

D

OCTORS in the employment of Yobe State Government have given the Ibrahim Gaidam administration a 21-day ultimatum to meet their demands or face a strike.

The chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (MNA), Dr. Musa Baba, told reporters in Damaturu, the state capital, that medical and dental practitioners would down tools if government failed to fulfil its agreement with the union within the period.

He listed the following among the agreement with the government: •70 per cent implementation of the CONMESS circular of April 2011; •discussion on the remaining 30 per cent in the next three months; •government to employ more healthcare personnel; and •government to consider other incentives – like cars, housing loans, etc - to keep the doctors from seeking greener pastures.

But the Head of Service (HOS), Alhaji Dauda Yahaya, said the financial muscle of the government could not sustain the doctors’ demands.

Slain pastor buried in Maiduguri

T

HE slain pastor in charge of the Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN), Railway Quarters, Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, Rev. David Usman, have been buried at the New Christian Cemetery, Baga Road.

The late Usman was killed last Tuesday with the church’s assistant secretary by unknown gunmen.

Although the Police have not apprehended the killers,

From Abiodun Joseph, Maiduguri

fingers are being pointed at Boko Haram.

A funeral service, held at COCIN Headquarters in Maiduguri, was led by Borno State Chairman of COCIN Borno Rev. Bulus Azi. Quoting from Psalm 39:4 and II Corinthians 5:2 and 3, Rev. Joshua Ruwah said Christians should be prepared for death at all times.

Sokoto PDP conducts primaries From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

S

OKOTO State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has conducted its local government chairmanship primary to pick its candidates in the July 23 council poll.

The results announced by the state Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) chief, Mallam Muhammed Bala, showed that Alhaji Shehu (Shamaki) Yabo won the party’s ticket for Yabo local government with 130 votes.

He defeated Alhaji Abdullahi Dagyel, who polled 65.

Yabo promised to run an open administration if elected on July 23 poll.

Dangel said he was satisfied with the result, promising to support Yabo next month’s poll.

Four aspirants initially entered the race but the party’s leadership trimmed the number to two.

Over 200 delegates from 10 wards of the local government participated in the election.

Suntai swears in commissioners, SSG

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ARABA State Governor Danbaba Suntai yesterday sworne in his new commissioners.

The ceremony was held at the Exco Chambers of the Government House, Jalingo, the state capital.

The Chief Judge, Justice Adamu Aliyu, administered the oath of office.

Four of the commissioners served in the old exco.

Former Commissioner of Finance Mr. Rebo Usman is now Commissioner of Water Resources; Timothy Kataps, who was the Commissioner for Environment and Urban Development, is the AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice.

Mr Danfulani Kwetaka, who was Commissioner for Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, is the Commissioner for Environment and Urban Development; Alhaji Abdullahi

From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

Lau was returned as Commissioner for Youths and Sports.

The former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) in the past administration, Mr. Jonah Agyo, is the Commissioner of Works. Former Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Publicity, Mr. Emmanuel Bello, is the new Commissioner of Information; and Prince Mustapha Hammangabdo, who was Adviser on Political Affairs, is Commissioner of Health.

Other commissioners are: Anthony Jelason, (Agriculture); Isa Musa, (Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation); Yakubu Agbaizo, (Education); and Iliya Wanapia, (Finance).

The only woman in the 13member executive council is Mrs. Charity G. Jonathan, the Commissioner for Women Affairs.

Hasten 65 ex-governors’, others’ trial, EFCC begs Chief Judge Auta T HE Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mrs. Farida Waziri, yesterday urged the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, to assist in hastening the trial of 65 highprofile cases, including those of some former governors.

But Justice Auta asked EFCC to reduce its long list of charges and stop amending them midway into trial.

Mrs Waziri spoke when Justice Auta visited the EFCC, noting that without accelerated trial of the corrupt public officials, most Nigerians would lose confidence in the administration of justice.

She said: “Without the support of the judiciary, all our efforts in EFCC will amount to nothing, because crime

•Judge: stop amending charges during trial From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

fighting and sentencing go pari-passu. If not for the support of the judiciary, today, the commission will not be boasting of a record of over 600 convictions and recovery of over $11billion.

“This confirms the obvious that justice is a chain process.

But beyond this, I must also seek the support and firm intervention of My Lord in the delay being witnessed by our high-profile cases in our courts.

“Today, the EFCC has over

65 high-profile cases pending in courts. Some of them were filed by my predecessor over four years ago. They have not gone beyond the plea stage.

“Majority of them, which I filed within the last three years, are suffering the same fate due to all manner of applications filed by the defence, just for the purpose of stalling trial.

“As a result, when the public tries to analyse the slow pace of the trial of high-profile cases in comparison to the quick determination of small offenders in advance fee fraud

(419) , cyber crime cases, they tend to blame the EFCC and the judiciary.”

Mrs Waziri said unless corrupt Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) are brought to book, the anti-graft campaign would not be internationally appreciated.

Justice Auta assured EFCC of his cooperation.

He said: “My judges are ready. All of us are here to fight crime. My idea is that we should work hand-in-hand with EFCC with mutual respect and mutual understanding.”

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Ahmed urges Kwara tertiary institutions’ workers to end strike T

HE Kwara State Government yesterday urged striking workers of its tertiary institutions to resume work in the interest of indigent parents and guardians.

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed appealed to the workers of Colleges of Education, Ilorin, Oro and Lafiagi; and the College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Stud-

ies, Ilorin, to end the strike they began yesterday on the order of their union leaders.

He expressed worry over the workers’ plight, promising that his administration wanted an amicable resolution of the industrial dispute.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Wahab Oba, the governor urged the union leaders to return to the negotiation table and allow his administration to resolve the dispute.

Ahmed said no worker would be victimised for

participating in the strike, urging the union leaders to open negotiation with the government.

The workers are demanding 100 per cent implementation of the Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Salary Structure (CONPCASS) and the Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTEDISS).

Police recover another bomb in Kaduna

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HE Kaduna State Police Command yesterday recovered and detonated another bomb at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Staff Quarters, Narayo High Cost Area.

The Bomb Disposal Unit recovered a bomb in Goni area of the metropolis a few

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

days ago.

Sources told The Nation that the bomb was discovered about 4am by a security man attached to one of the gates leading to the estate.

The man was said to have raised the alarm which attracted residents of the quar-

ters.

They reportedly made calls to the authorities to remove the bomb, but the bomb was said to have been left there till 8am, when the Bomb Disposal Unit detonated it and searched the area for possible concealment of another deadly object.

It was gathered that the

residents avoided the area when they were told of the lethal object.

Police Command spokesman, Aminu Lawan, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the incident, saying: “It’s an explosive object discovered by the people and we recovered and detonated it immediately.”

We won’t stop our case against Mark, says ACN

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•Mark

ENUE State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) will continue its case against the election of David Mark in the April 9 National Assembly, despite his emergence as Senate President, the party said yesterday.

ACN deputy governorship candidate Alhaji Abubakar Usman told reporters in Makurdi, the state capital, that ACN had am-

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

ple evidence to prove its case at the tribunal against Mark.

Usman said the declaration of Mark as the winner of the Benue South senatorial election against ACN candidate, Lt-Gen. Lawrance Onoja, was provocative.

He added that as a lawabiding party, its members

headed to court as the legitimate way of settling the matter.

Usman said the truth would prevail and the party would be vindicated in the end.

Responding to a question, Usman said: “It is not about an Idoma man becoming President of the Senate, but about seek justice that was denied a fellow human being.”

He said Onoja personally has a case against Mark’s victory, besides that of the party.

“So, the issue of conceding to Mark as an Idoma man does not arise, as nonIdoma ethnic nationalities also took part in the election in Benue South,” Usman said.

He expressed confidence in the ability of the tribunal to do justice to the peti-

tion.

Usman said: “Have you been to Otukpo town or gone through Otukpo-Enugu federal highway? It is a complete death trap. But we are not surprised because the man (Mark) is not used to travelling on our roads, as he flies in a helicopter to any part of the country, including his Otukpo home. So, he may not know the state of his town’s road.”

ELECTIONS 2011

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

8

NEWS Nursing mother, others burnt to death

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NURSING mother Chinyere Ogbonna Nwaokpuru, her 10- month- old child and three others were yesterday burnt to death in Abakiliki Local Government of Ebonyi State.

Their house was allegedly set ablazed by an unknown person.

Those who sustained injuries from the inferno are receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Abakaliki.

Mrs Nwaokpuru’s mother said: “I was in my room in the night when I heard someone shouting Jesus. I quickly rushed out to see what was happening though the smoke has engulfed the whole place. But I saw a woman running out from the room where they were lying.

“The problem started when my son paid the bride price of his second wife, Chinyere. Since then, there has been no peace even after building a bungalow for the first wife.”

Coordinator of Abakaliki Development Centre Mrs Franca Okpo confirmed the incident, adding that the incident had been reported to the police.

The traditional ruler of the community (Ezza community) Eze Alichi Unenyi regretted the incident and warned against another communal war between the Ezza community and Izzi people.

He called on the government intervention and said those found to be involved shall be punished to serve as a deterrent to others.

Police spokesman John Eluu said the police have begun investigation.

Seven kids rescued from suspected traffickers T HE Onitsha Police have rescued seven children from suspected child traffickers at the Jubilee Hotel on Obanye road.

Two persons have also been arrested in connection with the offence.

According to an eyewitness, the two suspects, a man and a woman came to the hotel with a Mercedes 200 salon Benz with the seven children.

From Adimike George, Onitsha

Trouble allegedly started when the suspects, who pretended to be a couple, wanted to book for accommodation in the hotel and were given a form to fill.

The fake couple felt uncomfortable with that arrangement and insisted that

they should be checked into the hotel without filling in their particulars. He said an argument ensued between the hotel workers and the suspects.

He said one of the hotel workers suspected the couple and alerted the Onitsha Central Police station through an SMS message.

But on sighting the police

patrol vehicle, the male suspect ran away.

It was gathered that the Obanye vigilance group ran after the man, caught him and handed him over to the police.

His female accomplice was apprehended at the lobby of the hotel and the seven children rescued and taken to the police station.

The kids were aged between four and seven years, the source further disclosed.

CLO writes SSS over attack on businessman HE Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has petitioned the Ebonyi State Command of the State Security Service (SSS) over the alleged attack on Chief Emmanuel Obiora and his apprentices, Chijoke Edward and Sunday Odah by men of the SSS. In a petition jointly signed by the organisation’s Chairman and Legal Secretary, Deacon David Okoro and Okechukwu Vincent.They alleged that Obiora, Edward

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and Odah were attacked in Abakaliki by operatives of the SSS. Director of SSS Alex Okeiyi denied the allegation, saying that Obiora and his two apprentices attempted to kidnap his men who were in the house to invite Obiora to the SSS office.

The CLO urged the SSS to apologise to them, saying that failure to do that within 14 days would compel the organisation to take a legal action.

Tension in Yenagoa over killing of militant leader HERE was sporadic shooting in Yenagoa following the killing of an ex-militant leader, Commander Ebi Albert, at the weekend.

Commander Albert was among the first batch of militants that embraced the Federal Government Amnesty programme.

He was killed by gunmen on Ebis Hotel road.

Shortly after the incident, guns boomed in Yenegoa till early hours of the next day.

Some residents relocated to Port-Hcourt and other neighboring communities.

The police said they are on top of the situation.

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Actress denies porn photo

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OPULAR Nollywood actress Empress Njamah yesterday denied rumours linking her to the lady in a pornographic photograph circulating on the internet and social networks.

She told The Nation on telephone that the propagators of the photographs may think they are tarnishing her image through the malicious publication; but they are rather making her more popular. “They think they are bringing me down, but unknown to them they are promoting my name even if

By Mercy Michael

it is in a negative way”.

Empress recounted that she had received several phone calls from friends with regards to the picture and that she is happy that none of them believes that she is the girl in the shot. “I have seen that photograph, as a matter of fact; a friend of mine called and said she saw it over two months ago. The good thing is that they have all been saying; “Empress, we know you are not the girl in that photograph and nobody can bring you down”.

Prof. Umoh for burial

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ROFESSOR Ime Ben Umoh has died. He was aged 66. The fellow of Nigeria Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (FNSBMB) died on April 17.

He will be buried on Friday.

He was Commissioner of Agriculture in Akwa Ibom State under Governor ( Col) Tunde Ogbeha. Until his death, he was the Pro – Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, Obong University, Akwa Ibom State.

He was the pioneer and Head of Department of Biochemistry, University of Benin.He will be buried at his home town, Ikot Akpa Idem,

•The late Umoh

Ukanafun local government.

He is survived by his wife, Grace and six children.

•Senator Gbenga Aluko of Chevron; Ondo State Deputy Governor, Ali Olanusi;Ondo State Governor, Dr.Olusegun Mimiko and Engineer Jide Ajide, General Manager, Oprations, Escravos/Chevron joint venture...yesterday.

Why I took over power, by Imo Ex-Speaker

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HE former Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly Amaechi Nwoha has said he took over power to correct the ills perpetrated by impeached ex-Speaker Goodluck Opiah.

He said Opiah was lucky to have been impeached five days to the end of his tenure.

Nwoha served for five days till the end of Opiah’s tenure.

According to the former member representing Nwangele constituency,the House needed cleansing.

Nwoha said they made several attempts to change the leadership of the House but he said former Governor

From Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

Ikedi Ohakim frustrated their efforts.

“The only luck the former Speaker had was that we had only a few days to correct the fraud he perpetrated against Imo people,” he said.

He said they repealed some obnoxious laws made by the House under the leadership of Opiah.”

The former Speaker added that the House also connived with the executive arm to increase the security vote of the governor, that of the House and other government officials by

‘The only luck the former Speaker had was that we had only a few days to correct the fraud he perpetrated against Imo people’ more than 150 per cent.

He said he slashed the security vote by 50 per cent,

thereby saving about N2.5billion.

According to Nwoha, it would take years for the illegalities committed by the Opiah-led House. But he said they had prepared the ground for the newly inaugurated House to correct the anomalies.

He hailed Rochas Okorocha for accepting to slash his security vote in good faith and described the gesture as exemplary.

On the dissolution of local governments, he said the law gives the governor the leverage to disband the councils if the need arises.

Anambra gets second female Speaker

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HE Anambra State House of Assembly has elected another female legislator from Ogbaru II State Constituency Princess Chinwe Nwebili as its Speaker.

Princess Claire succeeds Anayo Nebe.

The fifth session of the 30membe members from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Accord Party (AP) and Labour Party (LP).

APGA, which produced the Speaker yesterday in a unanimous vote, has 16 members.

However, only 25 of the 30 members were sworn in yesterday.Some former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers went to court to stop the swearing in of some of the new members.

There was heavy deployment of security operatives

•As court injunction stops five lawmakers From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

in the Assembly complex.

About 300 operatives were scrutinising guests and the legislators.

Acting Clerk of the House, Pius Udoh, said only 25 lawmakers would be sworn in because of a subsisting court

order restraining the Clerk from swearing in some of them.

The new Speaker was nominated by Chugbo Enwezor (Onitsha North I Constituency) while her deputy, Prince Chukwudi Orizu (Nnewi North), was nominated by Nicky

Ugochukwu (Orumba South).

Princess Nwebili thanked the members and promised to have a cordial working relationship with Governor Peter Obi administration.

Obi urged the House to make quality laws that would facilitate the development of the state.

Be wary of political merchants, Okorocha advised

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ORMER Security Adviser to Imo State Government Dr Zeek-Matins Nnadozie has advised Governor Rochas Okorocha to be wary of those he described as ‘political merchants.’

Nnadozie said the people that caused the failure of former Governor Ikedi Ohakim are now hanging around Okorocha.

Speaking with reporters in Owerri, the state capital, he said those he sees around the governor are mere hypocrites whose stock in trade is to hoodwink any government in power for their selfish desire.

From Emmanuel Mgbeahurike, Owerri

Nnadozie advised Okorocha to watch the calibre of people hanging around him.

“These are the same people that mis-informed Ohakim and contributed to his downfall, he said” He advised the governor not to squander public fund and reiterated his commitment to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He said the latest onslaught on the party would only strengthen the party.

Nnadozie appealed that the ministerial slot for the state should go to Okigwe zone.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

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NEWS

Security alert as ex-militants meet

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ECURITY agencies in the Niger Delta have been put on the alert, following a meeting by heads of militant groups in the region.

Sources said the militants are unhappy over the fate of the leader of the Niger Delta Liberation Force (NDLF), ‘General’ John Togo, and post-amnesty benefits.

Togo‘s fate remains uncertain as the Joint Task Force (JTF) awaits DNA test on a body exhumed from his Israel Camp during last month’s military operation.

It was learnt that the JTF and the police, particularly in Delta State, are closely watching the development over alleged threats

From Shola O’Neil, Warri

by NDLF members to attack former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo).

But the NDLF spokesman, ‘Capt’ Mark Anthony, has debunked the rumour, which was sparked off by a local newspaper report.

Anthony said: “The publication is with devilish intention as it is targeted to lure two Ijaw brothers into war for no genuine reason.

“General Tompolo is respected by all freedom fighters in Niger Delta, including NDLF fighters.”

It was learnt that some ex-militant leaders, claim-

ing to be Togo’s associates, met at the weekend to “evaluate media reports about Togo’s death, his face-off with the JTF and the controversy over his whereabouts.”

A source said the renegade warlords and heads of several groups, who attended the meetings, flayed the President Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government for the handling of post-amnesty disagreements.

“There are some germane issues that are yet unresolved over the amnesty matter.

“If you look around today, the true ex-militants, who are unhappy with the programme are more than those paid to sing its praise.

“The important discussion at our meeting was the fate of Togo, what has happened to him and if he is truly dead like his boys are claiming, what are the circumstances under which he was killed? These are questions for which we need answers.”

‘General’ Gift Tare, commander of the defunct “ Iduwini Volunteer Force (IVF) lamented the deaths of top former militant leaders, including Togo, Soboma George, hinting that the group intends to demand answers from the Federal Government.

He said the group would want the Federal Government to set up a panel to unravel the alleged killings of innocent civilians

by JTF operatives.

Three killed over relocation of military cantonment •MOSOP condemns killings

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HREE Ogoni men have died over the relocation of Port Harcourt military cantonment to Zor-Sogho, Ogoni in Khana Local Government of Rivers State.

Two of the victims, Goteh Keenam and Dambani, were killed on Sunday, when policemen attempted to arrest some persons.

The third person, Job Nkpai, was killed by a mob.

It was learnt that about two weeks ago, the villagers saw surveyors, who attempted to survey the farmlands, without any consultation and approval of the people.

At a community meeting, the roles played by Nkpai and some elite were condemned.

Nkpai allegedly reported to the police that his life was threatened. The policemen were said to have stormed the village on Sunday to arrest some people.

The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) yesterday condemned the killings and relocation of the cantonment to Ogoniland, calling on the people to remain peaceful.

Police spokesman Ben Ugwuegbulam could not be reached for comments.

MOSOP’s Information Officer Bari-ara Kpalap condemned what he described as the excessive use of force by the policemen.

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

He called on the government to investigate the matter, with a view to bringing the perpetrators to justice.

MOSOP said: “The killings are unnecessary and unjustified. If the policemen had adopted caution, the incident would have been prevented.

“We have heard from all the witnesses at Zor-Sogho that the suspected youths, for which the policemen came, did not resist arrest and there was no immediate threat to the safety of any of the mobile policemen.

“The murdered youths were shot dead without any good reason, as they were not part of those accused by Nkpai to have threatened his life.

“Most Zor-Sogho people are opposed to the sale of their farmlands for the Port Harcourt military cantonment’s relocation project, without the consent of the people.

“We will like to warn that Ogoni do not have the land that can accommodate such gigantic project and, as such, government should look elsewhere to actualise its dream. We do not believe that the era of slave –master relationship exists and as such our interest must count.”

Oshiomhole swears in seven commissioners

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• Newly appointed commissioners in Rivers State taking their oath of office at the Government House, Port Harcourt

Tribunal allows ACN to inspect electoral materials T

HE Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Akwa Ibom State yesterday granted the request of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to bring in forensic and handwriting experts to inspect the materials used for the April 26 governorship election.

The tribunal also granted the party’s legal team permission to use electronic scanning for all the materials.

The petitioners are ACN’s governorship candidate Senator James Udoedehe and his running mate, Dr. Ime Umanah.

The defendants are Governor Godswill Akpabio; his deputy, Chief Nsima Ekere; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC).

ACN is challenging Akpabio’s victory.

The party’s counsel, Tayo Olatunbosun, sought permission to add additional two prayers, which were not contained in the

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

May 6 motion ex-parte.

He prayed the tribunal to grant the party’s legal team permission to use electronic scanning and bring in forensic and hand writing experts to inspect the electoral materials.

Olatunbosun argued that INEC had breached the exparte order granted the

party on May 6 by the tribunal, permitting Udoedehe, Umanah and ACN to inspect and take copies of all materials used for the election.

He said the lawyers were barred from taking copies of the sensitive electoral materials during the inspection, adding that the party’s legal team only inspected five of 12 electoral forms.

A former Attorney-General of the Federation/Min-

ister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo, represented the first and second respondents.

Ojo also sought the leave of the tribunal for the first and second respondents to inspect sensitive electoral materials.

Tribunal head Justice Adam Onum granted the prayers of the ACN. He held that the purpose of the inspection is to allow the petitioners to articulate their facts before the pre-hearing session.

Igbinedion’s bail application stuck

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HE younger brother of former Edo State Governor Lucky Igbinedion, Michael, who was remanded in prison custody on May 31, will spend more days in detention as the absence of the trial judge stalled his bail application hearing yesterday.

The application will be taken next Monday.

An aide of the former governor, Patrick Eboig-

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

bodin, was also remanded in a case brought to the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Michael and Eboigbodin as well as four companies are facing a 66-count charge of money laundering preferred against them by the EFCC. The companies include GAVA Corporation

Limited, ROMRIG Nigeria Limited, PML Securities Company Limited and PML Nigeria Limited purportedly owned by the former governor, Michael and Eboigbodin.

They are being accused of laundering at various times from 2003 to 2007 N25 billion belonging to Edo State Government into various personal accounts on the orders of the former governor.

DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole yesterday swore in seven new commissioners and three local government Transition Committee chairmen.

He urged them to bring their experience to accelerate the pace of development.

Oshiomhole, who was silent on their portfolios, advised the commissioners to key into the programme of his administration.

His words: “We are injecting young blood into the executive council, so that the average age of council would drop, leading to more efficiency and more vigour in the management of affairs.

“We are approaching the final phase of the first term

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

and you would find that in the various ministries, there are programmes and projects that are on-going.

“The emphasis at the moment is to complete what we have already started so that we don’t have to abandon projects and move to new areas, so that we don’t have uncoordinated development.”

The commissioners are Mrs. Inumidun Idehen; Ekpenusi Omorotiowhe; Miss Anena Jemitola; Lucky James; Chris Ebare; Peter Ikem and Donald Osikhena Boih.

The council chairmen are Anslem Agbabi(AkokoEdo); Silvanus Gbogbo (Igueben) and Macu Shaka Momodu (Esan Central).

PUBLIC NOTICE LOSS OF CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY This is to notify the general public that the C of O of Mr Vincent Tunde Adedeji situated at ILAMOSE OKE-AFA NEAR ISOLO IN MUSHIN AREA OF LAGOS STATE WITH NO 62/62/1996 Issued BY LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT.Got missing in transit and all effort made to trace it prove abortive.

If found please.

Contact 08023755300 Elder Tunde Adedeji

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

10

NEWS Fayemi’s wife urges indigenes to develop Ekiti

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IFE of the Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, has urged the people to contribute to its development.

She said the development of the state must not be left to government alone.

Mrs. Fayemi spoke at the weekend during the launching of the Ekiti Development Foundation (EDF).

She said beneficiaries of EDF’s interventions would not be selected based on party leanings.

Mrs Fayemi said: “I would like to assure everyone that, just as Dr Kayode Fayemi pledged to be governor of all people in Ekiti State, any initiative run by this foundation will be for the benefit of citizens and not on the basis of political affiliation”.

The launch of the Multiple Trust Fund meant to support indigenes that give birth to twins, triplets and quadruplets, attracted eminent Nigerians, including the first ladies of the Southwest states of Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, and Ondo. They described the initiative as a thoughtful project in aid of the poor.

Those Jonathan must appoint ministers, by Okogie

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Political Editor

One hundred and fifty families with multiple births benefitted from the fund in terms of cash, consumables and medical support. Mrs Fayemi urged young parents in the state to accord priority to health and hygiene.

Unveiling the logo of the Ekiti Development Foundation, the Deputy Governor, Mrs Funmilayo Olayinka, who was flanked by Mrs Abimbola Fashola (Lagos), Olufunso Amosun (Ogun), Florence Ajimobi (Oyo), Olukemi Mimiko (Ondo) and Kafayat Oyetomi, representative of Osun State First Lady Sherifat Aregbesola, said it was a private initiative outside government and should be given support by individuals and corporate organisations.

“It is not Erelu Fayemi Foundation. It is not christened Kayode Fayemi Foundation. It is for women in Ekiti,” the deputy governor said.

United Nations Women Country Representative, Dr Grace Ongile, described the foundation as a project owned by the people.

• ‘President, governors must not fail’

By Nneka Nwaneri

•Cardinal Okogie

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HE Archbishop of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Okogie yesterday said President Goodluck Jonathan must appoint only men and women of impeccable character into his cabinet.

He advised Jonathan and state governors not to fail the people.

To the governors, he said: “The people expect you to provide them with modern amenities that will impact positively on their lives.” The Arch-

bishop urged them to emulate Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola.

Cardinal Okogie spoke in Lagos at a news conference to mark his 75th birthday.

He said Jonathan must be a father to all and not a few, adding: “Nigerians are tired of stories; they want action.

The days of rhetoric are over.

All campaign promises must be accounted for. Nigerians await the speedy dividends of democracy in deed and not in words.”

According to him, Nigerians deserve nothing but the best after many years of wallowing in penury due to leadership without direction.

“What do the masses want?

They want purposeful leadership that will ensure steady

supply of electricity, good road network across the country, functional health facilities, qualitative and affordable educational system, massive job creation and security of lives and property,” Okogie said.

On the N18,000 minimum wage, Okogie urged the Federal Government to readjust allocations to states as well as review downwards the emoluments of political office holders to enable states pay the wage.

He said a situation where the average worker is paid less than N20,000 per month while a lawmaker for instance takes home N15million amounts to a great injustice.

The cleric said the Economic and Financial crimes Commission (EFCC) appears to have soft-pedalled in its fight against corruption.

He urged EFCC Chairman Mrs Farida Waziri “to wake up from slumber” and bring to book all those who have looted the national treasury.

Okogie deplored the violence that followed the election, which he described as a huge success. The Archbishop praised President Jonathan for setting up a panel to recommend ways of preventing a recurrence in the future.

“We call on the President to ensure that the recommendations of the committee is given top priority and not thrown into the trash can of history as has been the case of reports of many panels of enquiry set up by the government,” he said.

Okogie called for an overhaul of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme considering the danger members have been exposed to.

‘US keen on mutual understanding with Nigeria’

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NITED States Ambassador to Nigeria Terence McCulley yesterday said his country annually sponsors Nigerians on exchange programmes to promote mutual understanding between citizens of the two countries.

He spoke in Abuja at a predeparture orientation programme for the 43 Nigerians,

By Olukorede Yishau

who are benefiting from American exchange programmes this year.

McCulley said the 43 grantees in this year’s academic and exchange programmes are among the brightest brains in Nigeria.

He said: “Many of you went through a rigorous se-

lection process and for you to have been accepted into the programme is a testimony of your accomplishments as a scholar, government official or a private entrepreneur. I commend you for your dedication and interest in our academic and exchange programmes.”

He added: “The essence of our academic and exchange programmes is to promote

mutual understanding between the citizens of the United States and those of other countries, including Nigeria.

“Each year, over 40,000 participants from countries all over the world, including the United States, have opportunities to build common bonds, share ideas and further mutual understanding through exchange programmes sponsored by the United States Government.”

The exchanges include: Fulbright, International Visitor Leadership (IVLP), Hubert H Humphrey Fellowship, Study of the United States Institutes for Faculties & Student Leaders and Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) programme.

McCulley said prominent Nigerian alumni of the exchange programmes include: Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme, and Nigerian Ambassador to the United States Prof. Adebowale Adefuye.

He said: “Alumni can have an equally impressive local impact as they do on a global scale. From starting civic organisations, advocating human rights, to organising disaster-relief efforts, alumni have returned home with ideas and acted upon them.

Clearly, for many alumni, the exchange experience does not stop when they return home. Here in Nigeria, a beneficiary was so inspired by her International Visitor Leadership Programme experience, that she returned to her former secondary school and established a scholarship programme to assist young girls further their education. Another alumnus, who is devoted to environmental awareness, brought together fellow alumni and organised a clean up of trash at a Lagos area beach.”

He urged them to be good ambassadors of the country while in the U.S. and return home to contribute to the political and economic growth of the country.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

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TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Since Independence, most Speakers of the House of Representatives have had their tenures truncated by varied internal storms. The current man has just begun, but on a worrisome note. Does he have the capacity to successfully weather the storm and break the jinx? Assistant Editor, DADA ALADELOKUN asks.

Reps’ leadership and its stubborn jinx

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ILL Mr Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the new Speaker of the House of Representatives, have the anticipated opportunity to fete his family and friends in grand celebration after his four-year term in June 2015? Or is he likely to suffer the misfortune of hurriedly handing over the rein of leadership to a “lucky” successor before then? Could those who graced his inauguration on June 6 have gone elsewhere, not wasting their time rejoicing with him?

Of course, history teaches.

Keen observers of developments in the Lower Chamber since the era of Hon Jaja Wachuku, the first Speaker of the House of Representatives in Nigeria, cannot but ask the above questions in utter apprehension. A member of National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC), Wachuku replaced Sir Frederick Metcalfe of Great Britain in 1960 at Independence, after receiving the instrument of Independence the Freedom Charter - on October 1, 1960, from Princess Alexandra of Kent (now Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom).

Wachuku spent only a year in the saddle, thus passing the baton to Ibrahim Jalo Waziri, also of the NCNC. The latter was lucky; he spent six years as Speaker of the House, but his regime was rudely aborted when the military struck in 1966, leading to the untimely death of the First Republic.

Perhaps save for Edwin UmeEzeoke (1979-83); Ghali Umar Na’Abba (1999-2003) and Aminu Bello Masari (2003– 2007) who ran our their complete terms, though not absolutely devoid of unnerving moments, successive leaderships of the House have always had crosses to carry. And they have always found the storms too fierce to withstand.

Should the names of past Speakers be called out, it is doubtful of Agunwa Anaekwe who reigned between 1992 and 93 will answer heartily with both hands up. The National Republican Convention (NRC) man had “no-go” areas to contend with, no thanks to the overbearing influence of the military government.

After the military interregnum that sent democracy on sabbatical for six years, Kano State-born Salisu Buhari got

elected as Speaker on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Between 1999 and 2000 when he reigned, both the proverbial rope and the fowl knew no peace. He was enmeshed helplessly in age and certificate scandals. The allegations were proved. The man in him crumbled as he broke down in tears and eventually resigned.

Like Buhari, Masari had allegations of certificate forgery to contend with. In the heat of the crisis, failed attempts were made by some members to seize the House maze, his symbol of power. Eventually, he survived it. Today, he cannot lay claim to a hitch-free reign.

The culture of unrest in the House got heightened during the era of Mrs. Patricia Olubunmi Etteh. He was elected in 2007. She had barely finished celebrating when the whirlwind of trouble blew. Her regime kissed the dust same year, precisely in October. She had faced a panel the previous month over allegations of fraud and mismanagement of N628 million meant for the renovation of her official residence and that of her deputy, and the shady purchase of 12 official cars meant for the House. She was forced to step down. She was, however, later exculpated from scandal.

Dimeji Bankole stepped into Etteh’s shoes immediately. It was on a healthy note as he was the youngest Speaker in the history of the House. But since the independence till date, it is doubtful if any Speaker has been as terribly tormented as him. Hapless Bankole! He began to wallow in tribulations almost immediately he clinched the seat on November 1, 2007. Did he actually partake in the compulsory National Youth Service after leaving the university?

This was the maiden problem placed on his laps by his political enemies.

• Tambuwal

He had barely survived it when he got locked in sundry battles with some of his aggrieved colleagues. Some were under the canopy of Progressive-Minded Legislators (PML) led by Hon Dino Melaye of Kogi State PDP. To the group, Bankole’s financial dealings in the House were not straight of legs; hence, he must pay dearly for it.

In the thick of the tussle to get him off the exalted seat, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the State Security Service (SSS) and his party took interest.

At a point, sever blows took over the floor of the Hallowed Chamber, tearing human fleshes and attires in a free-forall. That had not fully sub-

sided when Bankole had allegation of inflation of Peugeot cars’ prices to defend. It was followed by deafening rumpus over his alleged role in the illicit purchase of 37-storey NITEL building - NECOM House – in Marina, Lagos.

What appeared the last straw that sent the proverbial camel on sick-bed was the now-controversial N10 billion loan allegedly obtained by the House under his supervision. The latest accusation has since dropping the rein of power, made him an unwilling guest of the EFCC which has forced him into the ring for a bout with the laws of the land.

With the coming on board of new Speaker Tambuwal after a “surprise vote” on June 6, not a few who had got disenchanted with the crises that had become a recurring deci-

‘Up till now, his party has continued to hold on to its congratulatory message for Tambuwal: Reason: His supporters shattered the party’s zoning arrangement which it had thought, would produce its preferred candidate, Mrs. Mulikat Adeola-Akande, as Speaker’

mal in the House jumped up for joy in anticipation of an enduring new order. But no; they got it all wrong!

Already, fears have already gripped the nation’s political atmosphere over the future of the Tambuwal-led leadership.

Unfortunately, the refreshed unsettling scenario did not come from the opposition; it was cooked by the leadership of the new Speaker’s political family – the PDP. Up till now, his party has continued to hold on to its congratulatory message for Tambuwal: Reason: His supporters shattered the party’s zoning arrangement which it had thought, would produce its preferred candidate, Mrs. Mulikat Adeola-Akande, as Speaker.

Just on Wednesday, a frontline leader of the embittered party, Chief John Oyegun described Tambuwal’s emergence as “a time bomb.” With the current enemies from within, perhaps none needs no further evidence to prove that the new Speaker is likely billed to share in the “traditional” ailment of the seemingly jinxed Chamber. However, it is waiting to be seen if he has the total stamina to weather the gathering storm and make history after his tenure.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

13

POLITICS

CODER: On Sovereign National Conference we stand Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER) Coordinator Ayo Opadokun writes to President Goodluck Jonathan on the national questions threatening the unity of the country and how they can be resolved through dialogue.

National restructing is a necessity now

I

PLEAD for your indulgence to allow meutilize this medium to present my memorandum to you. My choice of an open declaration on the above subject matter is essentially to give you sufficient room to manouvre your way through the deviously organized political club of fun lovers and pleasure seekers that must have cornered you for their personal reasons.

Let me presage this memorandum by congratulating you for the victory you recorded in the April 16 elections. No matter how unpleasant our observations about the voting exercise can be, the fact is that you have not only been issued your certificate of returns, you have also be sworn in as the new President of Nigeria. End of story? The painful fact was that even though at the polling units across the urban centres, with the foreign and local observers fair representation, the elections were averagely better conducted than the former ones, the revelations of our observations was that the election perverts corrupted the figures from the ward and local government collation centres. That is why you find out that some governors who claimed to have delivered 90% of votes to the president i.e. about 1,400,000 votes could not deliver more than 300,000 votes for themselves.

I am one of these who believe that the consequential violence, that trailed your victory in many part of the northern state validated my intention to share my thought with you on the urgent necessity to convoke either a Sovereign National Conference, SNC or National Conference whose resolutions will not be subjected to manipulation, vetting or doctoring by an unelected elements or a National Assembly whose electoral mandate does not extend to writing (note amending) a new constitution. We have had enough of this national carnage and violence on staggering proportions that make critical minds to imagine that governments in Nigeria exist to compound people’s regular suffering.

Its needless to state that the consequential violence, killing of hundreds of young and old Nigerians and the most despicable act of killing youth corpers who were sent to help administer the April elections; the arson and cowardly setting on fire of hundreds of churches and about 45 mosques are practical manifestations of the fact that Nigeria is yet to be a nation but one sustained by brutal force. City states that have been held together by force in the past have been erased from the world map. Countries like USSR, Yugoslavia are illustrative. Even, the Irish Republic now have substantial automy to run their own affairs. No one should be under any illusion that the violence was instantaneous but a deliberately instigated action against a southern minority and Christian who was declared as having won a presidential election inspite of the sectional machination of some oligarchs who have never imagined that it will come to pass that at a time somebody could be declared as having won a national election who was not sponsored by them.

Mr. President, your setting up of a another panel to investigate the occurrence of the said violence after your victory was announced is another instance of diversionary tactics usually undertaken to calm frayed nerves, while the business of misgovernance continues. It’s a regularly beaten path that encourages more grievous violence because there is no punishment for offenders.

Permit me to remind you that in your dustbin or shelves, you can dig out several former probe reports with exhaustive recommendations that have been kept in the cooler and not implemented because of the succeeding government’s insincerity, lack of political will to apportion blame and punish offenders to prevent further impunity.

Welcome to governance

• Opadokun

•Mr. President, you are better off having just three point agenda. One, and most important, is the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference, (SNC) to respond to the palpable and manifest national mistrust, suspicion and lack of national cohesion; Second, delivery of at least twenty five thousand megahatz power supply within 12 month and thirdly, genuine and effective action against corruption. If you succeeded in achieving these ones, you could have reasonably transformed Nigeria. Don’t attempt to impress anyone by getting involved in every area of our national life.

•It remains part of your history that the April 2011 election was the first you contested as the principal candidate unlike your experiences in Bayelsa as Deputy to Alamiesiegha and the late President Umar Yar Adua. The current song is that its better to forget the past. But can Nigerians ever forget an inglorious past. But can Nigerians ever forget that some arrogant leaders from the North claimed that except a Northerner secure the PDP ticket, they would lead their people out of the PDP and found their fortune elsewhere?

What about the Northern Consensus Candidature?

•Mr. President, you have been long as an active player in the corridors of power, so you cannot feign ignorance of the pervasive nature of graft and other variants of corruption in succeeding government. Its no doubt that Nigerians generally have had to leave with the consequences of corruption which include collapse of most social services – education, health, employment, food supply etc as well as the loss of all national ethos, moral, and value system. Furthermore, Nigeria remains the only country with massive earning from petroleum yet it has the worst decayed infrastructure and extreme poverty and misery. Is that clearly reconcilable?

•My clear Commander in-Chief, Presidents Obasanjo, and Umaru Yar Adua and Yourself in the last eight years have spent nothing less than $20billion USD on power supply yet electricity supply remain epileptic and grossly in adequate. Do you have any magic wand to productively turn the situation around and stop constant lamentation and lame excuses for unusual and painful failure of governance?

Mr. President, you were a teacher before you joined politics. When will you start to utilize the huge fund being unreasonably stolen in educational agencies to really start the process of turning around our educational services? You should be aware of the fact that less

than 20 per cent young Nigerians who wrote WAEC & NECO examinations in the recent years passed Mathematics and English, and so they are not qualified to be admitted into the universities. Again, it is a regular occurrence that institutions like UBEC, NBTE etc are part of the compromised institutions where mindless graft, misapplication and outright misallocation of funds are rampant.

Can we try new hands to run those institutions appropriately?

The summary of the above negative situations demand a radical approach to change the course of our national life. Mr. President, permit to tell you the home truth, that arising from the political platform from where you emerged like a gallacy, I am not so confident that you can reasonably confront the human factors responsible for our national failure and woes with a view to redressing the situations. I would be pleasantly surprised if you were to behave otherwise.

Mr. President, the current national crisis and crises of underdevelopment are traceable to the lopsided national restructure. It needs not surprise anyone that Nigeria has been founded and constructed on falsehood and dishonesty and it has remained so in all its epochal decisions.

You should therefore be fair to yourself and your generations by asking the following questions: •Why has Nigeria remained undeveloped even after 50 years of independence inspite of its enormous human and material endowment?

•Why is our periodic exercises in population census still reflects the crude earlier compromised figures schemed by the British overlord?

•Why is it that at 51 years post independence, Nigeria cannot provide adequate power for its grown population inspite of the fact that Nigeria has all the ingredients with which it can provide more than enough power supply through thermal, coal, wind and gas?

•Why is Nigerian education standard become so low as to constitute an embarrassment and deception as it is today so much that most graduates can not reasonably write acceptable applications for job’s and therefore remained unemployable. They have to run preliminary courses now to be admitted for higher degrees in Western Europe and United States of America.

•Why is it that juicy appointments in custom, agencies under the ministry of education, leaders of many government parastatals departments of finance and administration etc are ordinarily the preserve of a particular set of people and region of Nigeria?

•Why is it that a section of our nation keeps on reminding the rest of us that they are born to rule why the rest of us are bound to be their servants?

Mr. President, I assume that you have not heard a thorough appreciation of how warped is the current national structure because of the very unique opportunity you were lucky to have. I am saying that, against all odds, yet you got to become No.1 citizen, your case is one in several millions that cannot be generalized. I believe that you were wrong to imagine that the Nigerian multidimensional cases of inequality before the law and of many other varieties; the fact that many nationalities have limitations for their national aspirations, while some are even permanently disempowered have long been settled. There is no opportunity yet for democratic discussion and resolutions of the many cases of mutal mistrust and suspicion that can convince many nationalities that they are coowners and joint inheritors of the national wealth.

Mr. President, I like to remind you that all our past and current constitutions are alien to most Nigerians because they were either imposed by our imperial colonialist masters or military oligarchs. You have to appreciate that perhaps the most important legacy you can live for Nigeria is your firm deter-

‘Mr. President, all these agitations, national mistrust, national suspicion are already boiling up to unmanageable level. A convocation of a national conference to discuss and resolve these difference will be a positive tactical move to save Nigeria from going under’

mination to organise a Sovereign National Conference composed of genuine representatives of Nigerian nationalities sitting at a Representative Assembly to discuss and resolve the national question. That assembly will answer two questions. One, do we want to live together? Perhaps because of the long period of interactions, the answer could be in the affirmative. In like manner, the assembly must respond to the second question: On what terms?

Furthermore, the fact that several states in the Northern State defied the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by making states laws that imposed Sharia law on their various States which is contrary to section 10 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which provides that Nigeria shall be a secular state is one other instance to prove that Nigeria is not a nation.

Again, the emergence of militant organizations like Egbesu, Mossop, OPC, and others are direct results of perceptions that there is injustice, unfairness and inequalities that must be protested against in order to even out matters for their nationalities in Nigeria.

Mr. President, all these agitations, national mistrust, national suspicion are already boiling up to unmanageable level. A convocation of a national conference to discuss and resolve these difference will be a positive tactical move to save Nigeria from going under.

It is the discussion, resolution and conclusions of such a genuine assembly that will lead Nigerians to have its own either Magna Carta or the bill of rights as it is with Great Britain and the United States of America.

Also, it will be the first time Nigeria can factually produce its own autochthonous (home grown) and an all inclusive constitution.

I need not remind you that your political mentor grudgingly and ill advisedly conveyed a meeting of his personal and governors nominees for a “national assembly” as a government response to legitimate national demand. But as it were, the conference became a failure because Gen. Obasanjo wanted to use the conference to legitimize his third term tenure elongation agenda. Like your mentor did severally, he had the most golden opportunity to transform Nigeria but he used his long period of eight years to further his own personal interests. That is why it happened that even though Nigerian earned enormous petrol dollar because of the crises in the Middle East, Yet Nigerians living conditions fastly deteriorated during his period.

It’s a fact that Obasanjo grudgingly gave a minimum wage then, but that was just a small fraction of the huge petroleum dollars the country earned as that time. You also will remember that he regularly increased prices of petroleum products because he wickedly failed to build any refinery during his time and so based his policy on importation.

Mr. President, it should worry you, but must believe the fact that it is the lopsided national structure that made it possible for Nigeria to have earned over 236 billion USD between 1999 and 2011 yet there is no positive impact of such national earning and usage in the life of average Nigerians. The USA remains the largest market globally. If the government of the USA decided to inject 20 billion USD into any of its national social services, bet it, education, health, road, power supply etc, the impact will be visible to Americans and visitors. Why must you sustain this weeked structure that only benefits a tiny cabal and their collaborators? Seize the initiative now to dismantle the perverted structure that has held Nigerian down, and painfully making it remain an embarrassment to the black race which destiny has been placed in Nigeria’s care for progress and development.

You need not feel detached, four years is very near. You ought to remember how quick you have spent one year without any significant result. You need to respond to this letter. I pray that you don’t behave like the German Philosopher, Paul Niomeller in a continuously relevant poem, when he said in summary that.

“When they came for the farmer, I did nothing because I was not a farmer; When they came for the trader; I did nothing because I was not a trader; When they came for the physician; I did not do anything because I was not a physician; When they came for the trade unionist; I did nothing because I was not a trade unionist; When they came for me; There was no one left.”

14

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

15

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Telkom halts Multi-Links funding as sale collapses

T

ELKOM South Africa Ltd., Africa’s largest fixed-line telephone operator, predicted declining voice revenue and said it has stopping funding for Nigerian division - Multi-Links Telecommunications Ltd. after a deal to sell the unit’s CDMA wireless business failed.

The board is ending all funding to Multi-Links, Telkom said in a filing yesterday. Telkom had agreed to sell the unit’s CDMA business to Visafone Communications Ltd. for $52 million.

“Certain conditions” haven’t been met “and the transaction will not proceed,” it said yesterday. According to Bloomberg, Telkom’s total full-year normalised operating revenue in the year ended March 31 fell 5.2 percent to 33.4 billion rand ($4.92 billion) as increased data revenue didn’t compensate for lower voice sales.

The CDMA sale to Visafone depended on conditions including renegotiation of a contract with Helios Towers Nigeria, a unit of London-based Helios Investment Partners LLP. Pretoriabased Telkom said yesterday it is still committed to exiting Multi-Links’ CDMA business. CDMA, or code division multiple access, is a radio technology used in data phones and networks.

The year “has been tough,” Telkom said in the statement.

“Competition, pricing pressures and regulatory intervention have all had an impact on our revenue. The declines seen in our traditional fixed-line voice revenue are set to continue.”

It takes a lot more to run a good business than just trailing commissions or kickbacks otherwise everybody would succeed, wouldn’t they?

- John Ilhan

Goldman Sachs predicts 3% rise in Nigeria’s GDP G

OLDMAN Sachs International, an A m e r i c a n Investment banking and securities firm, yesterday predicted three per cent rise in Nigeria’s current Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 7.85 per cent.

Nigeria’s GDP growth rate increased from 7.36 per cent in the first quarter of 2010 to 7.85 per cent in the third quarter of 2010. Nigeria had recorded a GDP growth of 10.3 per cent, 10.6 per cent, 5.4 per cent, 6.2 per cent, 7 per cent, 6 per cent, 7 per cent and 7.85 per cent in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 respectively.

Managing Director, Investment Banking

By Collins Nweze with agency report

Division UK, Mr China Onyemelukwe, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in London that this could, however, only be achieved if the current power problem was fixed.

“Solving the power problem will add two to three per cent increase to the current GDP growth of Nigeria,”he said.

He said government must demonstrate the will to take the bold steps to turn around the power sector for good.

“The power problem in Nigeria can be solved, it is do-able and people know what to do but it will take a lot of strong will and bold

steps to effect the necessary change,’’ Onyemelukwe said.

He also said that Nigeria’s economy being one of the emerging markets had great potentials. “ There are a lot of interests from around the world because there are huge investment opportunities not just in oil and gas but in infrastructure, power, human capital development and trade in goods and services,’’ he said.

He explained that the challenges facing the country’s economy include good governance, transparency, rule of law, and democracy.

Onyemelukwe, who

commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for its “aggressive’’ approach at tackling corruption, said corruption was not unique to Nigeria.

He said Nigeria was one of the countries in the fore front of anti-corruption crusade in the last 10 years, adding that the anticorruption institutions have been given the platform to perform.

“In spite of the challenges, people will raise issues whether justice has been applied equally across the board, and it is very difficult because there are so many factors to consider,’’ he said.

MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE JSE NYSE LSE

-N8.1 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion

RATES Inflation -11.3% Treasury Bills -2.64% Normal lending -24% Prime lending -18% Savings rate -3% 91-day NTB -6.99% Time Deposit - 6% MPR -7.50% Foreign Reserve - $32.5bn FOREX CFA 0.281 • 220.9 £ 253.5 $ 153.59 ¥ 1.5652 SDR 245.85 RIYAL 39.3

R

OYAL Dutch Shell Plc’s Nigerian unit declared force majeure on Bonny Light oil loadings for this month and July because of multiple fires on the Trans Niger pipeline, the company said in an e-mailed statement.

“Production deferment over the period has affected the loading programme at Bonny Terminal, and SPDC will now have to advise customers of a revised schedule,” a spokesman for Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), said yesterday in the statement. “The leaks have been repaired leading to resumption of production on June 12.”

Shell originally planned to ship 243,333 barrels a day of Bonny Light in June and 204,839 barrels a day next month, according to loading programmes obtained by Bloomberg News. The company previously declared force majeure, a legal clause allowing companies to miss deliveries because of circumstances beyond their control, on Bonny exports for loading in December and January because of a pipeline leak.

Nigeria is Africa’s biggest oil producer and the fifth- biggest source of US oil imports. Shell operates a joint venture in the nation in which it holds a 30 per cent stake and state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) owns 55 per cent.

Oil falls on signs of global economic slowdown

O

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$112.3/barrel Cocoa - $2,856/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢78.07.pound Gold -$1,161/troy ounce Rubber - ¢146.37/pound

Shell declares force majeure on Bonny Light

• From L-R: President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, discussing with the former United Kingdom’s Foreign Affairs Minister and Chairman of African Matters limited, Baroness Lynda Chalker in Lagos, during the latter’s courtesy visit to the Dangote Group, last week.

FAAN insists on terminating contract with Maevis

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HE Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN), Richard Aisuebeogun, yesterday broke his silence on the feud between the authority and one its concessionaires, Maevis Nigeria Limited. He said the authority has no regrets for initiating the termination of the agreement with the company.

Aisuebeogun, who spoke to journalists at the FAAN headquarters in Lagos, said the authority will not be swayed either by emotions or sentiments in terminating the agreement with the firm. He stressed that all the avenues offered for a review of the contract have exceeded the needed limits.

The declaration followed a statement by the Executive Director of Maevis Limited, Ms Bosede Owolabi last week, that the company had collected and remitted over

By Kelvin Osa- Okunbor

N32.5 billion and $12.2 million into FAAN’s account between August 1, 2008 and May 31, 2011.

Maevis, is insisting that FAAN should explore the option of arbitration as ruled by the Federal High Court in Lagos, instead of its insistence on terminating the contract.

But the FAAN boss said : "I do not want to discuss the issue of Maevis Limited and the concession agreement with FAAN on the pages of newspapers , because we are a government agency, while Maevis Limited is a private enterprise. “ We are the owner of the business. The owner of the business can decide what he wants. We cannot compare ourselves with Maevis Limited. Maevis Limited is far below us by any standard, the work Maevis Limited is doing is not extra ordinary .

“When a man is sinking, he can hold on to anything, so FAAN is not carried away by the information making the round. The facts are there, anywhere they are called for.

When the facts are presented the table is upturned, that is why FAAN is not worried about the issues raised.

“We cannot raise issues with them, information will be given when it is required, and as required, and I want to assure you that these are concessions that we have thoroughly checked. We have thoroughly assessed and have found them inadequate, that is why we are ensuring that they are reviewed. We have given opportunity for review and the last step is the termination of the agreement.

“So, it is not emotional, it is not based on sentiments.

What Maevis Limited has not told the world is that they were given enough opportunity for the review of the

agreement. They have failed to tell the world the truth.

They were given enough time to review the agreement. We have reached the terminal point, we cannot be exchanging words with Maevis Limited. We are the principal,” he said.

Aisuebeogun said the aviation unions have expressed misgivings about some of the issues, stating that he would not allow the matter to drag on to the point that they embark on any protest.

The National President of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Benjamin Okewu , had alleged that Maevis did not bid for the Airport Operation Management System(AOMS) contract of the Murtala Muhammed I n t e r n a t i o n a l Airport(MMIA),Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport(NAIA), Abuja, contrary to its claim.

IL futures dipped yes terday as increasing signs of global economic slowdown prompted risk aversion with the increase in speculators’ short positions in US crude further deepening its discount to North Sea Brent.

US crude futures slipped by 75 cents to 98.54 dollars a barrel.

Brent crude dipped by 34 cents to $118.44.

“Signs of slowdown are everywhere,” Oliver Jakob with Petromatrix said.

World stocks fell to a 12week low mainly because Chinese data highlighted concerns about weaker global growth momentum, prompting investors to unwind positions in higher-risk assets and buy government bonds.

The MSCI world equity index fell to its weakest since mid-March. The index has lost nearly eight per cent since hitting a three-year peak in late April and is very close to erasing all of its 2011 gains.

Further pressure came from Saudi Arabia’s divergence with the rest of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) last week.

16

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

BUSINESS NEWS Flight Schedule

IPMAN to Fed Govt: Deregulate diesel, kerosene importation

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

2.

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

1.

2.

3.

4.

Arik Aero Arik Aero

1. Arik 2. Aero 1.

2.

3.

4.

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

LAGOS – KADUNA Aero 08.00 Chanchangi 10.00 Arik 10.00 Arik 15.10

08.30 09.10 11.50 12.45 13.40 15.20 16.30 16.40 08.50 12.40 14.10 17.20 12.15 12.45 09.10 11.00 11.10 16.20

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

2.

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

08.40 08.40 14.55 15.10 17.40

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Arik Aero Arik Aero

LAGOS – WARRI 08.15 11.50 11.55 14.55

09.15 12.50 12.55 15.55

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

08.50 09.45 09.40 14.00 15.45 19.55

LAGOS – OWERRI 07.20 14.00 16.30

08.30 15.10 17.40

LAGOS – UYO 10.35

11.35

1. Arik 2. Arik 3. Arik 1. Dana

LAGOS – MAIDUGURI 1. IRS 11.15 13.15 2. Arik 15.50 18.00 LAGOS – ILORIN 1. Overland 07.15 2. Arik (M/T/TH/F) 17.30

08.00 18.00

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

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• Director General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Dr. Harold Demuren and Chairman, Arik Air, Joseph Johnson-Ikhide at Arik Customer Service workshop held at Arik HeadQuarters, Murtala Muhammed PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE. Airport, Ikeja, Lagos yesterday.

Feed price hike takes toll on poultry farmers P OULTRY farmers have ex pressed concerns over in creasing prices of feed, saying a large number of farms could close, leaving hundreds of workers jobless.

Speaking with journalists in Lagos yesterday, the Chairman, Poultry Association of Nigeria South West Zone, Dr Ayoola Oduntan, said animal feed manufacturers are operating below capacity and struggling to cover their costs.

Oduntan said the industry has faced a lot of uncertainty and is on the verge of collapse with high cost of feed, which reduces return on the business.

Due to shortage of grain, byproducts, oil cakes, prices of animal feed have been on the increase necessitating an increase in

By Daniel Essiet

the cost of animal feeds to a point where most farmers are not able to sustain their products .

He said farmers are managing their chickens at a loss and as a result, many have already started to reduce numbers, especially in poultry.

Poultry feed by its quality and price he said, is the major factor in determining the cost of poultry products such as eggs, broilers and profitability of the poultry farm.

He added that the prices of major raw materials used to make the feed have gone up by between 48 and 89 per cent since March 2011.

Farmers, he noted have had to

absorb all the increases without being able to increase the price of a crate of eggs or kilogramme of chicken.

“When you consider that feed makes up to 70 per cent of the total cost of production, it then becomes clear; why this drastic increase in the price of raw materials is significant. The price of poultry feed raw material is predicted to continue till November /December.”

He warned that if the trend continues unabated, most if not all poultry farms will have to reduce operations or close down.

Currently, Oduntan poultry feed produced by commercial feed mills he said, is handicapped on account of raw materials, which are transported from the north,adding that the increase in diesel cost by 74 percent has exacerbated the crises.

Goods worth over N.5b abandoned in Tin-Can port G OODS worth over N500million have been abandoned at Tin-Can Island port, Lagos by their importers and their agents, The Nation learnt.

The goods, which include motor vehicles, electric cables, spare parts, furniture and textile materials were abandoned despite the waiver given by the Federal Government few months ago and the warning by the Area Comptroller, Austin Warikoru that if the importers fail to clear their goods, they would be confiscated and auctioned by the Federal Government.

Speaking with The Nation at TinCan Island port, one of the senior managers in one of the terminals who does not want his name mentioned, said Customs is worried over the huge number of abandoned containers in their terminal. He urged the importers and their agents to come and clear them.

He wondered why importers would use their legitimate money to import goods into the country and

By Oluwakemi Dauda

abandon them at the port.

The goods, according to him, are worth over N500million. ‘‘These people brought their goods inside our terminal and abandoned them. This is giving us a lot of headache because they are occupying the little space we have to do our business. The problem is that if they don’t come forward to clear them, they would remain with us and cause congestion in the port. And before we know it, you journalists would start blaming us,’’ the official said.

Speaking with The Nation on the number of goods and containers that were abandoned in the port by the importers and their agents, Warikoru confirmed that there are so many goods and containers that have been abandoned in the port.

Although he could not give the

accurate number and the amount, the Customs chief, however, said most of the abandoned containers contain prohibited items and that was why the owners have decided to abandon them in the port. ‘‘You see, majority of these importers and their agents know the implication of what they are doing. They know if they import prohibited goods into the country and they were caught by my officers and men, they would be arrested, prosecuted and sent to jail. ‘‘More so, the waiver period given to them by the Federal Government has elapse and that is why they are running away from the port because of our determination that it cannot be business as usual. After the law has been made public, it is not our responsibility to tell you not to violate the law but it is one of our core duties to get you arrested immediately you break the law,” he said.

HE Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Ni geria (IPMAN) has urged the Federal Government to deregulate importation of diesel and kerosene to ensure availability of the products.

Chairman of IPMAN in Western Zone, Mr Olumide Ogunmade, made the suggestion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos yesterday.

He said that the scarcity of the products would continue if NNPC remained the sole importer and that importation of the products could not be a lasting solution.

“Government should ensure full deregulation of kerosene to avert frequent scarcity, usually encountered by marketers.

“The present importation of kerosene by NNPC is a temporary measure to ease scarcity in the market,’’ he said Ogunmade said that full deregulation of the energy sector was the only way to address problems of scarcity of diesel and kerosene.

The union boss said that the inability of government to carry marketers along also contributed to the scarcity and the high prices of the products.

The IPMAN chief said that some marketers were profiteering from the scarcity by hiking prices of the products.

“When the sector is fully deregulated, many players will come into the business and create an open market that will be attractive and ensure efficient supply.

“If the sector is fully deregulated, it will attract investors. Building of local refineries will also assist in addressing scarcity and high prices of the products,” Ogunmade said.

Samsung to open 50 more shops From: Dele Anofi, Abuja

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AMSUNG, in collaboration with Dajcom marketing company have disclosed plans to establish 50 brand shops and a training school in Nigeria before the end of the year.

This was disclosed last weekend during the inauguration of the Abuja Samsung brand shop where it was revealed that over N156million ($1million) had been injected in the establishment of similar one-stop shops for Samsung products in Lagos, Ibadan, Benin and Kano.

In addition to the establishment of an assembly plant for Samsung products in Lagos, the company also plans to institute a training school for manpower power development and accessibility to global trend in home electronic appliances.

Speaking at the event, the Marketing and Communications Director of Dajcom, Mrs Chantiri-Safa, said the initiative was to ensure that Nigerians are served with global best practices by having access to affordable unique and quality products from Samsung.

“Samsung is committed to ensuring the satisfaction of their customers in Nigeria, we are going to expand more in the north and we have started with the first two in Abuja and Kano,” he said.

Microfinance Bank disburses N6.5b loan to customers

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CCESS Microfinance Bank Limited has disbursed over N6.5billion loan to customers in the past four years of its operations.

Also, the bank’s active savers rose to 9,473 in 2010, indicating an increase of 45 per cent from that of 2009. The number of active borrowers increased by 19 per cent to 47,071.

The Chairman of the bank, Patrick

By Akinola Ajibade

Akinruntan, disclosed these during the bank’s fifth Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos.

He said the bank’s profit after tax rose from N106.6million in 2009 to N150.8million in 2010.

He said the bank, notwithstanding the inclement economic environment, grew its deposit by 45 per cent

from N204million to N295million.

Consequently, the Access Microfinance Bank boss said the institution closed the year with an active loan portfolio of N1.091billion, as against N850million recorded in 2009.

He said: “ This year, Accion collaborated with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in expanding our

reach to the private health sector, through the USAID health guarantee loan scheme. The development is aimed at expanding opportunities for micro-entreprenuers in the private health sector”.

On outlook for 2011, Akinruntan said the bank would set up new branches in Surulere and Agege (Lagos State) as well as upgrade its existing business units.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

MARITIME

NPA safeguards goods with fire-fighting equipment

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HE Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Omar Suleiman, has given kudos to the President Goodluck Jonathan administration for granting approval for the purchase of ultra modern multi-purpose fire fighting trucks to safeguard the multi-billion naira investment in the port, protect lives and makes the port customer friendly.

Speaking during the official inauguration of the equipment in TinCan Island port, Apapa, Lagos last week, Suleiman said President Jonathan is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens and expatriates working within and outside the port as his administration remains committed to addressing the various infrastructural challenges facing the port.

The purchase of the vehicles, he said, was a direct attempt to ensure safety of the citizens and their investment.

Since NPA started its operation in the ports, Suleiman said this was the first time eight fire fighting vehicles and eight pick up vans designated as personal and equipment carrying vehicles would be purchased and inauguration in a day.

NPA, he said, has committed huge funds into the project to reposition its fire service department to enable it respond timely in times of emergency and operate in line with modern trends.

Suleiman said to achieve a complete rebirth of NPA’s fire service and provide further assurance to terminal operators and other port users, an additional eight ultramodern multi-purpose fire trucks are being expected in the port before the end of the year.

The authority, the NPA boss said, has put in place a robust maintenance service arrangement to ensure timely and efficient service of the equipment. He urged the firemen to guard the equipment jealously so that the trucks can serve longer and better.

The NPA boss warned the firemen not to misuse or damage the trucks.

He promised that anybody found wanting in terms of negligence or dereliction of duty would be dealt with.

Suleiman also advised terminal operators and port users to desist from acts that are inimical to safety operations in the ports. ‘‘Your success is our success and

• Some of the fire fighting trucks commissioned in Lagos, last week.

PHOTO: OLUWAKEMI DAUDA

Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda, Maritime Correspondent

that is why we have gone to this length to provide fire protection.

The port fire safety regulation should be understood and adhered to strictly to safeguard our collective wealth,’’ he said.

But the question on the lips of port users and stakeholders after the inauguration of the trucks was “what is the level of preparedness of terminal operations in the event of fire outbreak in the tank farms now springing up with rapidity all across Apapa?”

What the stakeholders told The Nation was that most of the terminal operators do not have anything on ground to fight fire in the event of such an outbreak. Apart from the low level of preparedness to fight fire, the locations of some of these tank farms, they said, is worrying.

One of the stakeholders the National President of Association of Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Alhaji Olayiwola Shittu said he was happy that the management of NPA is now more focused.

Justifying the purpose of committing huge funds on the equipment

by NPA, Shittu said port users and other stakeholders are worried over indiscriminate location of tank farms in Apapa, which may one day be a time-bomb that would jeopardise many lives, and property if preventive measures such as the purchase of fire fighting vehicles by

• Suleiman

NPA are not taken in the interest of the nation, its people and the economy. ‘‘Judging by the way and manner tank farms are springing up within the Apapa area, it is obvious that if NPA does not procure the equipment now, lives of most of the residents and the business community operating in Apapa and Tin Can may be in jeopardy in an event of fire outbreak.

This indiscriminate construction of tank farms in Apapa is the end result of the Federal Government’s failure to put the existing refineries in the country in order in the last 25 to 30 years. ‘‘Tank farms are temporary relief

• Shittu

measures put in place by oil marketers to bring temporary relief to the problem of fuel scarcity due to failure of the refineries to meet the rising demand in the country.

Though these tank farms have brought some respite in terms of petroleum product supply, but they would be a disaster if the Federal Government does not find a lasting solution to the problem of petroleum product supply. ‘‘As a result of the increasing tank farms, trucks from the north, west and eastern part of the country, now travel several miles to take delivery of petroleum products in Lagos, causing heavy traffic, environmental

pollution from the vehicles and drivers who use the gutters as toilets.

Unfortunately, these trucks coming to take delivery of petroleum products queue along the roads and the tank farms not minding the volatility of the environment. Therefore, NPA deserves our support for planning to save lives and property,’’ Shittu said.

Expressing his dissatisfaction over the increasing number of tank farms at Apapa, the ANLCA chief said if the ports could not be relocated by the Federal Government, Shittu suggested that the tank farms should be relocated to Badagry no matter the amount they must have sunk into the projects because if the problem comes, it would affect them and the same project.

Shittu wondered why the government is not willing to do the right thing at the right time.

Also speaking, a senior official of the Nigerian Customs Service (NSE), who craves anonymity, said they were worried over the investment in the ports when the nation’s second busiest port, Tin Can Island Port (TCIP), Apapa, Lagos was late last year rocked by fire.

No fewer than 30 cars, he said, were affected by the inferno, just as some cargoes yet to be claimed by the consignees and agents were also destroyed.

The inferno, the Customs official said, was, however, prevented from spreading to other parts of the port by the spirited efforts of fire fighters from the NPA. ‘‘At the moment most of the port’s fire fighting vehicles and machines are either sub-standard or obsolete.

It is sad to note that even though fire service is an important part of the economy, we have not given it this due recognition as done by Omar Suleiman. ‘‘As a result of this type of negligence in the past, the country loses billions of naira yearly from preventable fire-outbreaks. It is time the government puts an end to this attitude and allow NPA to give more budgetary allocations to the fire service department not just to buy better fire fighting machines but also for the training and retraining of fire-fighters in modern techniques of fire-fighting. ‘‘Protecting the seaports and the general public from the enormous losses incurred as a result of fire outbreaks is the duty of the Federal Government,” he said.

Customs implements 48-hour cargo clearance

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HE Area Comptroller, TinCan Island command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Austin Warikoru, has given assurance that the command would implement the 48-hour cargo clearance policy of the Federal Government if importers and their clearing agents start to make correct declaration of goods imported into the country.

Most of the containers in the port, Warikoru said, are been subjected to 100 per cent examination because of the failure of the importers and their agents to make proper declaration.

Lack of integrity among the importers and clearing agents, he said, is the bane of the delay in cargo . clearance in the port.

In as much as trade facilitation is one of the major roles of the Customs in the port, the issue of national security which involves everybody, Warikoru said, would come first.

Stakeholders, importers, clearing agents, transport haulage operators port users and government agencies at the port, he said, must put the interest of the nation first while transacting business or performing their official responsibilities in the port.

Addressing stakeholders at Rock View Hotel, Apapa, Lagos, last week. Warikoru said the forum was aimed at proffering possible solutions to some of the re-occurring problems militating against trade facilitation and port security.

‘It is the desire of the Comptroller-General to improve the service delivery of the Nigeria Customs Service in order to reciprocate the kind gesture of the Federal Government and consolidate the gains

of modernisation embedded in the destination inspection contract. ‘‘These were some of the reasons why the stakeholders forum was graciously approved by the Comptroller General of Customs so that all stakeholders operating in the port can interact with a view to improve the service delivery of the Nigeria Customs Service” he said.

The main objective of the forum, Warikoru said, was to bring all stakeholders in the command to

work with unity of purpose towards the overall interest of the nation. He assured that whatever useful suggestion and opinion voiced by the stakeholders would always be given the necessary attention.

He urged stakeholders to make suggestions that would lead to trade facilitation in the port and improve the relationship between the Customs, importers and their agents.

On the anti-corruption crusade of the command, Warikoru condemned the usage of ‘camp boy’ by some government agencies in the ports to collect gratifications and absolved his men of the allegation of corrupt practices.

He also assured that the issue of existence of secret DTI cafes at the Customs Processing Centre after they were asked to move out of the place by the Comptroller General, would be investigated.

Fed Govt spends N10b on River Niger dredging

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HE Federal Government has spent additional N10 billion to remove 6.1 million cubic metres of silt between Jamata and Baro on lot 5 of the River Niger dredged scheme.

The Managing Director, Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mr. Ahmed Aminu Yar’Adua, said in Lokoja that his agency was working with the two companies to put the dredged channel into commercial use.

Already, two companies have registered to use the dredged river for movement of cement and petroleum products.

While Sterlion Oil Company was

said to have registered to use the river for the transportation of petroleum products from Warri to the Northern parts of the country, Ninon Tranport Limited has constructed a jetty at Lokoja for movement of cement from Dangote Cement at Obajana to the East and Southsouth region of the country.

“We have, by now, finished the dredging of the River Niger. We are now working with a transport company and an oil company to move cement and oil products through the channel. We are trying to start our own transport services in collaboration with some private individuals. We want to

buy a 45-seater boat to carry passengers from Onitsha through the river.

“We want to dredge the Benue River and we intend to construct jetties along the river. We also hope to buy our own dredgers and work with some consultant engineering companies to maintain the dredged channel,” he said.

The Federal Government had envisaged the evacuation of 900,000 cubic metre between the two cities along the river when the contract for the project was awarded two years ago.

But with the additional 6.1 million cubic metres, the total volume

of silt removed from the river between the two Northern cities was seven million cubic metres and that alone jacked up the dredging cost to N45 billion, up from the initial N35 billion.

The Federal Government had awarded the contract for the project at a whooping N35 billion, but the contractor handling lot 5 area, covering the two Northern cities in Kogi and Niger states reported later that the project might require the removal of 7.7 million cubic metres of silt from the area where an estimated 900,000 cubic metres was envisaged in the initial contract.

18

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

MARITIME

NIMASA spends over N8b on salary

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HE management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), spends over N8billion on salaries and allowances of its staff yearly.

The Director-General, according to 2011 budget earns over N70 million per year.

The three executive directors earn a total of N151,903,445.

The agency’s N45.233 billion budget as presented by its management team early in the year put recurrent expenditure at N10.65 billion, capital, N10.25 billion, personnel cost, N8.57 billion, 25 per cent Maritime Fund, N2.15 billion; dredging of lower Niger, N2 billion; development of Naval Air Stations, N380 billion.

The Direct transfer to Federation Account was estimated to be N450 million and surplus income N956,985.

A source in the Ministry of Transport told The Nation that there are no levels one and two officers in the agency.

The four least paid staff, the source said, are on Grade Level 3. They are either School Certificate or OND holders. The total emolument of each level 3 offficer is N3,120,666.

NIMASA, the source said, made proposed N8,575,175,381 as staff salary.

The agency with staff strength of 1,110 pays children education, dressing, entertainment, passage and 15 per cent productivity allowances among others to its staff.

NIMASA said the projections were made based on its expectation that the inflation rate would be two digits this year and the problem of ever increasing cost of doing business.

There are 11 Grade 17 officers working with NIMASA and their total emolument for the year as projected in the budget is over N370 million.

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Death of dock worker Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda, Maritime Correspondent

DOCKWORKERS working in the Tincan Island Container Terminal (TICT) Limited, located at the Tin-Can Island Port Complex in Lagos, were not happy over the death of one of their members, Mr Taiwo Olakunle.

Olakunle died due to an accident on board a vessel.

Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Stevedoring Unit, Tin-Can Port, Comrade Femi Odufote, told reporters that the accident occurred on the fateful day at about 2:30pm due to the alleged carelessness of a crane operator.

He said the crane operator had taken the deceased and others on board a vessel, the MV Volta, but did not wait for them to finish their job before lifting a container that hit Olakunle on the face, leading to his death instantly.

Meanwhile, the managements of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the TICT with the leaders of the MWUN met where they agreed to address the issue of safety at the terminal.

A staff of the TICT, who attended the peace meeting, told The Nation that the union and the company have agreed to prioritise safety and, as such, henceforth, safety measures will be strictly adhered to by the company.

Dikko reviews revenue

•Cargo ship

•Akpobolokemi

By Oluwakemi Dauda, Maritime Correspondent

The 23 Grade 16 officers working with NIMASA are to earn over N649 million.

The annual salaries of the 43 Grade 15 officers of the agency is N895,383, 115 while the total package of the 83 Grade 14 officers is N1,066,285,897.

The 62 Grade 13 officers and 80 Grade 12 officers are

to earn N551,369,711 and N642,848,000 respectively.

The agency is to spend N806, 315,123 on 127 Grade 10 officers and N1,216,164, 469 would go for staff salaries of 212 Grade 9 officers.

The total emolument of Grade levels 8, 7, 6, 5 and four in the agency are as follows: There are 222 Grade level 8 officers working in the agency and each of them receives N5, 194, 455 annually.

Each of the 84 level 7 and 97 level 6 officers are to earn N4,292,345 and N4,149,908 yearly.

A level 5 and 4 officer takes home N3,851,849 and N3,494,002 respectively.

And they are 58 in number.

In its N44,055,777,265 budget for the year, NIMASA says N8,006,985 of the amount would be its income while assuming that the exchange rate would be N150 to $1 and would remain stable throughout the year.

However, the agency has also promoted 536 senior officers and 135 junior officers, to boost the agency’s productivity.

Over 60 per cent of the staff were affected in the exercise which was in line with the provisions of the agency’s condition of service.

The Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Hajia Lami Tumaka also told The Nation in her office last week that the promotion was done in line with the Federal Government’s regulation.

Meanwhile, the DirectorGeneral of NIMASA, Mr. Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi has urged the staff of the agency to improve their productivity and live up to the responsibilities attached to their new designations.

He said the promotion, which is considered the most transparent in the history of the agency, is just one of the many avenues he is exploring to improve staff welfare.

Stakeholders said the commitment of Akpobolokemi to staff welfare, will not only motivate the agency’s workforce, but also enhance productivity in the maritime industry.

Firm partners Samsung on FPSO plant HE Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics base (LADOL), an indigenous oil and gas logistics providing company working with the Nigerian Ports A u thority (NPA), in partnership with Korean-based Samsung Company, is set to move Nigeria closer to the realisation of the ideals of the Local Content policy with the commencement of partnership between them in the establishment of an integration facility.

The project, expected to cost $250 million dollars, is known as Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) platform. It is expected to blaze the trail as Africa’s first of its kind in Greenfield project development in the region’s oil and gas industry.

The Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics base (LADOL), where the project is to be sited, is strategically located off the Apapa seaport in Lagos. Samsung Heavy Company is a leading international Offshore EPC Com-

Maritime Watch

By Uyoatta Eshiet

pany with interest in shipbuilding, offshore business development and marketing concerns.

The partnership was set in motion last week with the two organisations conducting a joint presentation of what the project involves, to the admiration of top officials of the Nigerian Content Development and monitoring Board (NCDMB), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), as well as representatives of the International Oil Companies (IOCs).

NPA’s General Manager, Ports Planning, Mr. Sunny Nwobi represented the managing Director, Omar Suleiman. He was accompanied by the General Manager, Western Zone, Mr Mohammed D. Bulangu; the General Manager, Corporate Affairs Chief Michael Ajayi; and the Port manager of Apapa Ports Complex, Mr. Joshua Asanga.

The Content board was led

by Mr Taiwo Elegba who represented the Executive

secretary, Ernest Nwakpa. In attendance also were Engnrs, Mr Ikpomnwonsa Oviasu and Okorie Chijoke.

Chairman of LADOL, Mr. Ladi Jadesimi, who conducted the guests round the facilities, said the partnership had become necessary to set the pace for future building of FPSO facilities to serve the country and beyond.

According to him, no country in Africa for now, has the facility to integrate the project, adding that if Nigeria embarks on it now, “what it means is that all the jobs, the foreign exchange and trainings for the FPSO, will now flow to Nigeria, rather than the current trend continuing with the capital flight that goes with it”.

Jadesimi said up till now, such structures were still being built and floated abroad, noting that with the commencement of the project, only the shelf will now be transported to Nigeria where all the facilities will be fabricated and installed locally.

He pointed out that by so doing, more than half of the

entire cost will now be expended in Nigeria with all the ancillary benefits of jobs creation, technology transfer and training.

Also speaking on the project, leader of the Samsung Korea team, Mr. Harris Lee, said the project was targeted at making Nigeria the central hub for oil and gas engineering and fabrication in the West-African sub region.

He said the company has taken steps to ensure the preservation of the Nigerian Content Act, by ensuring Nigeria takes a minimum of 54 percent of the project needs while Korea would retain the remaining 46 per cent.

He further disclosed that his company was still discussing with the Nigerian Content Board of the possibility of Nigeria clinching more of the equity holding, “depending on what we would arrive at after considering all other variables”.

Mr Lee said the project construction would last for about 18 months and to be located within LADOL yard.

NINE Customs Area Controllers have been praised for their commands, outstanding performance in revenue generation.

Comptroller-General of Customs, Dikko Inde Abdullahi, gave the Commendation in Abuja at a strategy meeting convened to undertake a review of revenue performance in the service.

In a Commendation letter issued to the Comptrollers, the Comptroller-General extolled the commitment and dedication to duty of officers and Men of the affected Commands, which contributed to an achievement described as “Unprecedented in the history of the Service”.

Comptrollers who got the Commendation are Idris Suleiman, the out-going Area Controller of Apapa Port; Austin Warikoru of Tin-can Island Port, Mohammed Nuhu of PTML, and Yusuf Umar of Ondo/Ekiti Commands.

The rest are Comptrollers Mohammed Biu, Borno/ Yobe, Abdulkareem Hussein, Sokoto/Kebbi/Zamfara, Mustapha Atiku, Kwara/Niger/Kogi and Musa Jubrin of the Federal Capital Territory. Also Commended for his superlative performance was the Acting Comptroller in Charge of Federal Operations, Zone ‘A’, Victor Dimka.

The Comptroller-General expressed satisfaction at the performance of the Service, which recorded a total revenue of N61.2 Billion in the Month of May, 2011. The figure represents about N9 Billion over the monthly average collected in the four previous months, and N1 Billion over the projected monthly target of N60 Billion.

The Comptroller-General tasked all the Area Controllers to see the performance as a benchmark the rest of the year.

Out of the total revenue collected in the month of May, N35,884,960,902.57 went into the Federation Account, while N25,356,551,758.50 went to the Non-Federation Account.

A total of N2,720,605,000 is also attributed to servicing Export Incentives through the Instruments of the Negotiable Duty Credit Certificate (NDCC).

Apapa generates over N20b THE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Command generated N20. 4 billion last month. This was higher than the N18 billion projected for the month.

Speaking during the monthly stakeholders’ forum organised by the command, the Area Controller, Idris Suleiman who has just been promoted to the rank of Assistant Comptroller General said the command attached importance to the monthly stakeholders’ forum aimed at creating harmony between Customs and stakeholders operating in Apapa port.

According to him, the forum was designed to maintain a constant dialogue with all port users as well as to establish a better environment for everyone to operate.

Suleiman said he was happy with the stakeholders who have been contributing towards the programme and assured that the command would take advantage of the meeting as it has assisted the command in generating higher revenues into the coffers of the Federal Government.

But the Chairman, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Apapa Chapter, Chief John Ofobike, said congestion is gradually creeping back into the port due to the selfish interests of some regulatory agencies and their ‘camp boys’, which, according to him, delay the clearance of containers in the port.

He alleged that there are some officials operating at the APM Terminal who usually demand N4,000 bribe before positioning containers for examination at the terminal.

The Area controller, however, promised to investigate the matter for appropriate action.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

19

EDITORIAL/OPINION COMMENT

EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

Ogun bomb scare • Why was the device not detected before officials arrived the assembly complex?

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HE past eight years have unquestionably been very traumatic and hazardous ones for the otherwise peace loving and hard working people of Ogun State. It was a period characterized by the worst forms of violence including armed robbery, assassinations, kidnappings and cult gangsterism among several others in the Gateway State.

A state renowned for its high level of civilized culture and the production of some of the country’s most illustrious professionals and leaders in diverse fields became synonymous with occultism, fetishism and other weird practices. Ogun became a gateway not to progress, development and prosperity but rather to retardation and retrogression –a throwback to Thomas Hobbes’ State of Nature where life for many became ‘solitary, nasty, brutish and short’.

Many prominent citizens of the state re-

‘The police authorities must also investigate why the explosive device was only detected after the governor and legislators were already seated in the Assembly complex. Was there no thorough combing of the premises before the commencement of the inauguration ceremonies?’

located for the safety of their precious lives. Citizens perished in purported motor accidents or armed robbery attacks that were difficult to distinguish from methodically planned assassinations.

The dastardly murder of Otunba Dipo Dina, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) gubernatorial candidate in the 2007 elections is a case in point. Many people still doubt the armed robbery theory peddled as the cause of the death of the politician and philanthropist so passionately committed to the development of his home state.

Observers of the politics of Ogun State in the period under consideration attributed the high level of insecurity to political intolerance, extreme partisanship and pettiness at the highest levels of governance in the state. This was corroborated by some ‘defecting’ top functionaries of the erstwhile administration who confessed to having been involved in schemes designed to eliminate assumed ‘enemies’ of the government. Such repentant former aides were soon to become targets of the same violence they had helped perpetrate against others when they ran foul of the self-styled Emperor that bestrode Ogun’s political terrain like an evil colossus.

The outcome of the last governorship election in Ogun State was clearly a vote against governance by terror and violence that had badly retarded development and the well being of the citizenry since 2007.

It was a vote for a breath of fresh air and a return to civilized politics. Against this background, reports of the aversion of a bomb explosion during the inauguration

of the seventh assembly at the House of Assembly complex are most disturbing and alarming. According to the report, the Anti-Bomb Squad of the Nigeria Police Force discovered and detonated the substance, believed to be explosives after the Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and the newly elected legislators were already seated within the complex.

Mr. Musa Daura, the State Commissioner of Police has rightly directed that proper investigations be carried out to determine the perpetrators of the planned explosion and their motives. If true, what this aborted bomb explosion implies is that those elements responsible for the violence that had destabilized Ogun State over the last eight years are still alive and well, and capable of wrecking further havoc. The new administration and all security agencies in the state can, therefore, not afford to lapse into complacency believing that all is well. There is the need to thoroughly comb the nooks and crannies of the state to identify and apprehend those murderous elements who still have the capacity to derail the new order.

The police authorities must also investigate why the explosive device was only detected after the governor and legislators were already seated in the Assembly complex. Was there no thorough combing of the premises before the commencement of the inauguration ceremonies? If not, then why? This is an important question that cannot be treated with levity. The Amosun administration must renew its resolve to restore peace and serenity throughout Ogun State.

President Jonathan at the UN • Diplomacy okay but duty calls at home.

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OR two days, President Goodluck Jonathan was in the United States to attend the United Nations (UN) Security Council Open Debate on the HIV/AIDS pandemic and to visit with President Barack Obama.

President Jonathan had been invited by Ban Ki Moon, UN’s Secretary- General to speak at what is obviously a low-level Security Council event as there is nothing new about the HIV/AIDS scourge that required the personal presence of heads of state. Hardly any other was there.

It is quite understandable that Ki Moon who is seeking a second five-year term needs the support of African nations and that can be influenced through Nigeria.

And of course Nigeria would need Ki Moon someday when the issue of her quest for a permanent seat in the Security Council comes up.

On the visit to President Obama, let us admit that it is great diplomacy for any head of state to visit the White House as his first port of call after inauguration.

We also expect President Jonathan to chip in a word or two on NATO’s bombardment of Libya, whatever weight that may carry. However, what may be considered the most important benefit of the President’s U.S trip may well be his ability to make a strong case for an expedited action on the much vaunted promise by the U.S government to channel funds, materials and expertise in support of Nigeria’s mired power sector.

Beyond the foregoing, we want to advise that President Jonathan’s job is well

cut out for him and it is situated right here at home. He has only four years and it bears repeating to the President and indeed all other elected officials of state that four years is a very short time.

President Jonathan must have learnt a lesson from an erstwhile president of Nigeria that is does not pay to be foot loose and to trot across the globe while work suffered at home. The country is currently beset by serious socio-economic crises which are tending towards an implosion in the polity.

While Jonathan was on the junket - if we must call a spade by its name - of a trip, the country was almost enveloped in black out. According to a release by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), electricity generation capacity dropped to less than 2000 megawatts from a level of about 3,200 megawatts. It is scandalous that for 12 years, the PDP controlled federal government has been fiddling with this crucial problem yet the situation is worse than it was despite the fact that billions of dollars have supposedly been funneled into it.

It would be unacceptable to Nigerians if at the end of four years they do not have drastic improvements in the power situation. It is worse in our oil and gas sector where a serious crisis brews. Kerosene, the indispensable fuel of the masses has been scarce for some time now, driving up its price. Same for aviation fuel. Many domestic airlines are in the throes of death today while airfares have recently been hiked beyond what the average

passenger can afford.

What is the problem? We are importing these essential fuels that we ought to be exporting if we got our priorities right.

No new refinery has been built in about 30yrs. We do not think Nigerians would carry placards if President Jonathan never visited the White House in all of four years. And come to think of it, how does a seat in the UN Security Council affect a cup of garri or a litre of kerosene? Why should a country that is grappling with blackout distract itself seeking for a seat in the Security Council of the UN? What really are our national priorities?

While we leave the President and his advisers to ponder over that, we say again, that the job is at home. He must roll up his sleeves and get down to it.

The fair rewards of invention

B

EFORE the Bayh-Dole Act was passed in 1980, the billions of federal dollars spent on scientific research rarely benefited the public through commercial applications. Fewer than 5 percent of government patents were licensed to industry. To push patents into practical use, the law set up a scheme for awarding the rights to institutions, like universities, that have incentive to bring inventions to market.

Since 1980, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for example, has been granted control of 3,673 patents. A recent study found that companies started by M.I.T.’s graduates, faculty and staff generate annual world sales of $2 trillion.

In a 7-to-2 decision this week, the Supreme Court undermined the act’s purpose by ruling that it does not automatically give a university title to an invention by a faculty member when the research is federally financed.

The case, Stanford University v. Roche Molecular Systems, involved a Stanford researcher who had transferred his rights to methods for testing AIDS treatments to a private company that was eventually acquired by Roche. Roche commercialized the procedure and incorporated it into H.I.V. test kits. Stanford sued Roche, arguing that the researcher’s assignment of rights was invalid under the BayhDole Act. The court held that even though the researcher may have had an obligation to the university, he had legally assigned his rights to the private firm.

Although the decision is based on a literal reading of a poorly drafted initial agreement between Stanford and the researcher, it is likely to have a broader effect. It could change the culture of research universities by requiring them to be far more vigilant in obtaining ironclad assignments from faculty members and monitoring any contracts between researchers and private companies. Relationships between the university and its faculty are likely to become more legalistic and more mercantile.

By stressing “the general rule that rights in an invention belong to the inventor,” the majority opinion of Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. romanticizes the role of the solo inventor. It fails to acknowledge the Bayh-Dole Act’s importance in fostering collaborative enterprises and its substantial benefit to the American economy.

– The New York Times

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Kunle Fagbemi

‘What really are our national priorities?

While we leave the President and his advisers to ponder over that, we say again, that the job is at home. He must roll up his sleeves and get down to it’

• Controller (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu • Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

•Chief Internal Auditor Toke Folorunsho

•Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli

•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

•Managing Editor Waheed Odusile

•IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness

•Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina •Group Political Editor Bolade Omonijo •Group Business Editor Ayodele Aminu •Abuja Bureau Chief Yomi Odunuga •Sport Editor Ade Ojeikere •Editorial Page Editor Sanya Oni

•Pre-Press Manager Chuks Bardi •Press Manager Udensi Chikaodi •Manager, Corporate Marketing Hameed Odejayi • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

20

EDITORIAL/OPINION

“Yes,N500...GOING...GOING...”

IR: History has always been made, but one was made recently in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo state. This is in view of the fact that Ibadan is today free from the shackles of illiteracy, ineptitude and brazen acts of thuggery.

The state was once the most shameful of them all. The question to ask is why indigenes of the state allowed uninformed and ignorant individuals to rule them for this long. However, since the victory of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate, Senator Abiola Ajimobi in the last election, there

S

Democracy lives in House of Reps

S

IR: Kindly permit me to congratulate the current members of the House of Representatives for jettisoning an unpopular policy imposed on it and the Senate. While the Senate stayed glued to the undemocratic rule, the Reps proved to the whole world that they can determine their leaders without any external interference and that to us is democracy in action.

It is very clear to all Nigerians that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) recent zoning formula is faulty and did not reflect the wishes of the majority. Some zones were marginalized and denied their rightful share on the altar of powerful zoning arrangement. This is unfair as it does not respect the rights of the people. Henceforth, the party should embrace open contests.

It is on this note that I once again congratulate members of the House of Representative for showing the others especially the Senate how democracy works and we hope they will continue in this spirit.

• Joshua A. Anunibe Igbinedion University Teaching Hospital, Okada

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

OYO: What must be done!

has been constant jubilation by the people in Oyo, most especially in Ibadan. Their happiness must have meant something as it went to show that their votes counted despite the evil machinations of faceless groups and individuals who believe in subverting the will of the people.

In any vibrant democratic dispensation, if an incumbent loses his second term bid, it is highly believed that he had not lived up to the peoples’ expectations. The case of Alao Akala readily comes to mind.

If many would not forget, for years, the strong man of Ibadan

politics and garrison commander (apologies to Dr. Ahmadu Ali), late Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu held the state by the jugular, dictating the tune after paying the piper. His dominance of Ibadan politics could be compared to the Tokugawa era in Japan. He was a demi-god who had access to the resources, power, authority and office. No politician could attain heights except with his consent. The import of this is that there still exist hundreds of Adedibu loyalists in the state who are desperate to continue to torment the state. Many of them though out of power will not rest on their oars of continuing the old

brand of politics. If Ajimobi must consolidate his administration and that of his party beyond 2015, he must ensure these individuals don’t come to play in Oyo politics forever.

It was once a known fact that Lagos was the dirtiest state in the world. Today, however, Lagos has moved away from such appellation with Oyo state taking over and even worse of. A new traveller to Ibadan cannot but complain about the stench and ugly scene that confronts him. It is quit disheartening that this great city has been turned into a dump site.

From Iwo road, Dugbe down to

Alakia, these places are in a sorry state. For the single fact that Iwo road belongs to the federal government, it should not be a criteria to abandon it for social miscreants and thugs who on a daily basis desecrate the place. It will take a serious government to make these places a haven they were in the past.

The trailers, tankers, cars, shops and illegal structures which line the streets of Ibadan should be removed to pave way for a green and clean environment. The roads too are in a deplorable state.

The local governments in Oyo state are a shame to even the people who reside in and around them. It is for this reason that the local government in the state must be overhauled by the new governor. The dreaded NURTW must be looked into. The task ahead is tough and if the new governor wants to have the continued affection of the people, he must get it right once and for all.

• Rahman Jimoh Kwara state.

NNPC’s caveat emptor and oil sector growth

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IR: NNPC’s recent widely publicized statement warning investors to beware of buying interests in certain hydrocarbon assets in the countryoffered for sale by Shell Petroleummay sound reasonable and logical, but it has, implicit in it, potential to chase away investors that the country badly needs to draw in.

The statement, headlined “Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation CAVEAT EMPTOR”, was published in several newspapers on Tuesday May 24, 2011. To understand its implications, let us look at where it is coming from.

For the past eight months, Shell Petroleum has been trying to divest from four of the 35 acreages in Nigeria in which it has operating interests. Over 20 companies have

pooled together in the shape of 10 or so consortia to bid for the acreages. Shell had made it clear, with the support of government that it preferred to sell its interests in these blocks to consortia led by Nigerian companies and it hopes that their work on these tracts would help build Nigerian management, technical and ownership capacity in operating large hydrocarbon assets.

The background is this: less than 15% of the 2.2Million barrels of oil per day of oil produced in the country are produced by companies with any significant Nigerian investment.

Out of those top six Nigerian companies that produce roughly 150,000 barrels of oil per day combined, NPDC, the operating arm of the NNPC can claim 70,000

barrels per day, with most of the production essentially established by foreign partners of the NPDC. What the sale of Shell’s assets to Nigerian companies is meant to do is to improve on the success of the marginal field programme, which has given birth to five companies, albeit small, but with significant experience in upstream operatorship of hydrocarbon property acquired in the process of raising funds to drill wells, running oil field operations, evacuating oil to export facility, all with money invested by Nigerians..

For the Shell properties on sale, Nigerians are coming in with money sourced from abroad, and this time they are partners in incorporated joint ventures, not passive partners who collect rent and leave the foreigners to

maximize experience and build capacity while Nigerians remain on the margins.

It is this opportunity that NNPC’s widely published Caveat Emptor has the potential to derail.

What NNPC’s Caveat Emptor is saying is that anyone who buys into those Shell properties should beware he doesn’t necessarily have the right to operate it; instead, with all that investment(none of the leases on offer is less than $150Million), such a company/ consortium may just be a passive partner. No. This is against the spirit of what the Nigerian technical oilfield professional has achieved in the last 10 years.

• Toyin Akinosho, Lagos

21

THE NATION TUESDAY,JUNE 14, 2011

EDITORIAL/OPINION

T

R

HIS piece is a product of many months’ mulling over the dramatic change in Nigeria’s value system, over a short period of time, particularly when holding public office is the question.

It was triggered by a series of lectures, which the Obafemi Awolowo Institute of Government and Public Olakunle Policy, Lekki Town, Lagos, organised between October and NoAbimbola lordbeek@yahoo.com, 08054504169 (Sms only, please) vember 2010. The theme was democracy, democratisation and allied matters.

To do justice to the theme, a slew of prominent public figures, either still in active service or retired, were inroast any public officer, suspected of any alleged infractions. vited; as guest lecturers, or as chairmen of the each of the ses- to This piece is not about joining that bandwagon. sions, each week, spreading over some eight weeks.

Still, while at those Awo lectures, the stark difference in ideals, Among the resource persons invited were Dimeji Bankole, Justice Esho (who has lived a long, distinguished and youthful former Speaker of the House of Representatives and between reputable life and is just coasting on his stellar life achievements) then the fourth in the hierarchy of the Federal Government of and Mr. Bankole (who may have stumbled with his deeds in Nigeria; and Justice Kayode Esho, the famous retired Justice of power, though he still has his future ahead of him), was startling. the Supreme Court.

Mr. Bankole was street-wise, personable and pragmatic – pragJustice Esho earned his reputation as a fearless and upright matic in the sense that he seemed not guided by any particular judge all through his long and sparkling judicial career. But it compass but the compass of convenience and exigency. This gave was his dissenting judgment in the Awolowo Vs Shagari presi- the disturbing that he did not particularly care about dential electoral case of 1979 that earned him a place in the public tomorrow sinceimpression it would naturally take care of itself. But Justice mind. He has kept that place, on account of his erudition, up- Esho appeared rooted to some philosophy that tended to insist on rightness and fearlessness. the right thing today, if tomorrow must be anything worthMr. Bankole, of course, was the youngest person (aside from doing Salisu Buhari, First Speaker of the Fourth Republic) ever to pre- while.

The paradox was remarkable: a grand old man, who nevertheside over the affairs of the House of Representatives. Despite his less passionate about the future; and a dashing young man, present travails, the jury is still out on what he made of his tour surewas inheritor of that future, but who seemed a bit lukewarm of duty. it all!

While Mr. Bankole was chairman of one of the sessions (and he aboutcourse, Justice Esho came highly recommended. Now, there did give a very good account of himself, despite directing affairs is Of this penchant to freeze old age, as if people who are old now in a gathering dominated by an opposing political party to his), were never young did not make their own mistakes. But if Justice Esho was guest lecturer in the session that immediately the revered retiredand Court justice comes highly recomfollowed Mr. Bankole’s. It was the performance of the pair that mended in learning Supreme and in character, it is simply because he aninspired this piece. his youth on worthwhile ideals and principles.

Mr. Bankole might be in some trouble now, but this piece is not chored That was why way back in 1979, when it was “received wisabout to indulge in the usual Nigerian penchant for media trials. dom” the Judiciary to tow the line of the powers-that-be on A people always bitterly disappointed by the conduct of their seriousfor electoral cases, even if the credibility of the election in leaders are all too anxious to form a partnership with a media question was patently doubt, Justice Esho spectacularly broke that though boasts tremendous brain power is plebeian-at-heart, ranks in the Awolowo in Vs Shagari case.

Though the Supreme Court went ahead with the military govof the day by judicially endorsing Alhaji Shehu Shagari’s “The paradox between Esho and ernment presidential win, despite the infamous twelve-two-third controBankole was remarkable: a grand old versy, that it decreed the case would not be cited as precedence clear self-indictment. But it was Justice Esho who forged his man, who nevertheless was passionate was name in gold, for interpreting the law as it was, even if the heavabout the future; and a dashing young ens would fall!

So, when from 2008 to 2010, the Judiciary started voiding vooman, sure inheritor of that future, but doo mandates and returning them to rightful winners, starting who seemed a bit lukewarm about it all!” with the Edo case in 2008 and ending with the Osun case in 2010,

Justice Esho’s name came up for golden mention. Perhaps if the Judiciary had done the judicial needful in 1979, interpreting the law without any political consideration, maybe the Second Republic would have survived and the democratic order would have been so deepened that the shameful (s)elections of 2007 would never have been this country’s lot. More importantly, the current ploy by vote robbers to discredit this patriotic judicial intervention would have been unheard of!

But then, Justice Esho made his choice and Nigeria made its. Given the way the Judiciary has saved the present democratic order (just maybe as the Esho-era Supreme Court could have saved the Second Republic), it is clear whose choice has been more beneficial.

Unlike Justice Esho, however, Mr. Bankole has not come highly recommended, given his tenure as Nigeria’s youngest Speaker (aside from Buhari) and the texture of his politics.

Mr. Bankole is down now and he is in the news for all the wrong reasons. It must be repeated and repeated loud and clear: he is innocent until he is found guilty. Until then, any insinuation at guilt or colouration of the case for sheer sensation is mere tavern tale.

Still, even the most fanatical of Mr. Bankole’s friends would concede his was not the model power exemplar. His House of Representatives never over-grew its label of graft and sleaze, which a cunning and calculating President Olusegun Obasanjo had stamped on it since the furniture allowance sensational reportage of 1999.

On a personal level, Mr. Bankole does not appear driven by any core principle. When the Ogun Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary shaped up, the former Speaker changed camp at will from the Daniel camp to the Obasanjo camp. Sure, he won the primary battle but he lost the election war.

After his loss, he reportedly congratulated the winner, even reportedly driving to Aremo Olusegun Osoba to congratulate him on the good fortunes of his party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). But days later, he was reported to be going to court to challenge the result of the same election he had conceded!

Of course, there is also the other issue of playing to the gallery on the hustings, jesting around that though the Mobile Police helped his party to muscle a previous election, the Army was on cue to help muscle the next!

With the performance of Lagos Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, it would be sweeping condemnation to claim Mr. Bankole’s generation dream no dreams, simply because the former Speaker failed to sparkle, character-wise while in office.

But it is fair comment to insist the Esho generation, on the balance of scale, gives more cause for confidence.

That is one challenge the younger generation must counter, if they really intend to make golden a future that without doubt belongs to them.

E

This is where the position of the CBN appears as tending to be equal – if not greater – threat to the process of the banks’ recapitalisation than the obduracy of the shareholders being told to wait for the crumbs might fall from the table of the new investors whenever the recapitalisation deal is eventually consummated.

No doubt, the CBN’s much vaunted plan to resort to plan B or C is particularly unhelpful at this time. The option of handing over the banks to AMCON – which means nationalising them – or the more drastic step of outright liquidation is obviously a knee-jerk reaction, or even desperate one; the effects on the already stricken financial services sector would be incalculable just as the costs to the economy in particular will be humongous were the options to be exercised now.

So, where do we go from here? This is hardly the time for grandstanding in the form of face-saving measures by an apex bank that has acted rather imperially on the knotty issue of shareholders interests in the proposed new structure of the banks, post-recapitalisation. Rather, it is time to get back to the negotiating table to see how much of their interests can be accommodated. As must be obvious now, it is futile to assume that there are no rights – hence remedies – involved; otherwise, we wouldn’t be talking of the hobbling court actions let alone the desperate measures being contemplated.

With trillions already sunk into the banks restructuring programme, we should be seen to be making progress – not moving in reverse gear. Herding the shareholders into one of the corporate suites in the CBN complex for a frank and open discussion on the way forward may not be a bad idea.

After all, what is the cost of massaging contending egos compared to the Armageddon threatened?

I rise!

epublican ipples

Between Bankole and Esho

ven before last week’s unflattering status report and the accompanying threat of invocation of the final solution to deal with the lingering crisis in the banking sector , only an incurable optimist would fail to acknowledge that the tell-tale signs of the 22 month-long restructuring under the watch of CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi are anything but troubling.

Last Friday’s advertorial published under the hand of Malam Sanusi is noteworthy for acknowledging that little or no progress has made in the banking recapitalisation agenda.

So also was his undisguised frustration palpable as revealed in the threat to force the exercise at the pain of liquidation of the anaemic banks.

Imagine – two years on – and N620 billion in bailout money after, the entire sector has managed to ratchet additional costs reckoned in tidy trillions; this in addition to the humongous costs in the hundreds of thousands of jobs lost to the Sanusi sanitisation. Only lately did we begin to see the signs that we have all along been cruising back to the starting blocks of August 2009. We are supposed to take solace in the unrelenting excoriation of the bad boys alleged to have brought their financial institutions to ruin – as if this is any consolation.

Like I said, the most revealing aspect of the Sanusi advertorial is the rescued banks status report as at December 2010. As for the lenders being very sick – there can hardly be any doubts. But that these institutions are so deep in the hole – the CBN has just certified them as terminally ill – after the combination therapies of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria AMCON) and the CBN appointed management boards, raises the troubling questions about the wisdom of the bail-out option in the first place. Acknowledged – that is only being wise after the act.

For a CBN Governor that has courted countless controversies in the past 22 months, the publication raises not a few puzzles both in terms of timing and in terms of what it sought to achieve. His frustrations with the group of obdurate shareholders – “a small minority of shareholders” he calls them – bent on scuttling his recapitalisation agenda would seem understandable. With September around the corner, and with growing unlikelihood of the much vaunted recapitalisation deadline being met, the question of the efficacy of the acclaimed therapy is no longer academic. That, more than anything, seems to have informed the notice to the shareholders that their cups were full and running over.

The increasingly bewildered citizens now have some 90 days to figure out whether the threat therapy will work the magic.

But then, bandying scary statistics on the rot in the banks are hardly new. While Nigerians may have lost sense of what to do with the figures, they ought to be aghast that nearly two years after, the unseeing hands of the “ancien regime” operators is said to be the chief, if not singular factor, to explain the failure to improve the status of the rescued banks!

Policy Sanya Oni sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk 08051101841

Threat of Sanusi’s sword of Damocles?

In the circumstance, the resort to the threat to close the banks, for what is clearly proving to be a monumental failure of judgment by the regulator, not only smacks of opportunism – it should be seen as one crusade taken too far. That the CBN Governor would indulge in an extravagant show to de-market the very institutions he has spent the better part of the last 22 months packaging as beautiful brides for the “core” investors to take up has, clearly set new limits in regulatory travesty!

Sanusi, no doubt has made the point repeatedly, that the shareholders no longer have any portion of the banks to claim as theirs, since the former managements are alleged to have wiped out shareholders funds. He may be right – at least technically – but then, the point really is that the issues are not strictly technical but lie more in the domain of fairness and equity in the process of the banks’ recapitalisation. That was the reason the shareholders have invited the courts to wade in, much to the chagrin of Sanusi.

Many – including yours sincerely, have wondered why the process has been so unfairly tilted to favour prospective buyers as against the interests of the existing shareholders.

No one is suggesting the handing over the banks to the shareholders to recapitalise as is being made out, but finding an equitable way to accommodate them.

Here – I need to make myself clear: I am convinced that the CBN needs the support of every Nigerian to sanitise the financial services industry. Given the plethora of cases in court over the measures taken by the CBN in August 2009, one is, even now, more convinced that the regulatory hands of the apex bank needs strengthening to be able to punish corporate delinquencies more decisively. However the issue of “innocent” shareholders, whose sole crime is putting their money in the rescued banks, deserves to be treated differently; after all no one has yet suggested that they were culpable in bringing those institutions to ruin.

‘With trillions already sunk into the banks restructuring programme, we should be seen to be making progress – not moving in reverse gear. Herding the shareholders into one of the corporate suites in the CBN complex for a frank and open discussion on the way forward may not be a bad idea. After all, what is the cost of massaging contending egos compared to the Armageddon threatened?’

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

22

EDITORIAL/OPINION

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RAVELING through Nigerian roads is hellish, no thanks to their deplorable state. The situation is further compounded by the poor state of most of the vehicles on these roads. The competence of most of the drivers is also questionable, their attitude horrible. And as if these troubles are not enough, the innocent motorist is subjected to exploitation by both uniformed and unlicensed robbers on our highways. You know the uniformed robbers don’t you, the ones that you and I clothed and armed to protect us but who oftentimes turn their guns on us?

Now imagine the motorist in the hands of these forces on a daily basis and you’d understand when people say our roads are death traps. How do you expect people to live long when they have to go through this repeatedly? And that is not all. There is a group of miscreants out there who claim to be road transport workers. They don’t do anything other than to exploit others, especially the commercial vehicle driver and his passengers. And when they don’t seem to have their way, hell is let loose on the rest of the society.

Residents of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital recently went through hell in the hands of these miscreants who claim to be members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) when two factions, fighting for supremacy, clashed, leaving in their trail sorrow, tears and blood.

NURTW, for your information has as its unofficial motto: ‘Chop alone Die alone’.

With this being their orientation, you would understand who they are.

Their notoriety as you may recall, dates back to the Second Republic when a certain thug called Adebayo Success, a chieftain of the then ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN) became the chairman of the union in Lagos. His abode was Oshodi, the same Oshodi which until the current political dispensation in Lagos was a no go area for any reasonable person in the society. With indirect backing from the NPN Federal Government, Adebayo Success with his NURTW was a thorn in the flesh of the Lagos State government then. He became the rallying point for the opposi-

S

MOKING of tobacco has been listed as one of the major causes of preventable deaths. It is a risk factor for lung cancer, hypertension, emphysema, cardiovascular disease, myocardial infraction, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, congenital malformation, coronary heart disease, bladder cancer, peptic ulcer, high blood pressure, oesophageal cancer et cetera. Besides, children are at risk of developing asthma, throat inflammation and respiratory illnesses due to exposure to the smoking of other people. The above mentioned diseases are regarded as chronic diseases with a rapidly increasing burden in a developing country like Nigeria which also have a large disease burden from communicable diseases.

The control of tobacco use will no doubt help in efforts aimed at reducing the disease burden from non-communicable diseases.

Therefore, the passage into law of the National Tobacco Control Bill by the sixth national assembly is a good development. Governments at all levels need to take a stand on the production of tobacco in the country in order to show its disapproval and lack of interest in the commercialization of the product.

While there are legislations on substances

‘Dangers of smoking tobacco are there for all to see except we decide to close our eyes to it. Different logic has been put forward by smokers to defend their smoking practice but it is important to know that life is a precious gift and it would be painful to lose it to a substance that has more negative effect on health than positive and which affects all members of the society’

The menace called NURTW tion whose only weapon against the Lateef Jakande administration in Lagos was to foment trouble and unleash terror on the people.

Having acquired this notoriety and with its capacity to cause trouble seemingly at will, the NURTW became a willing tool in the hands of politicians even when the military took over in 1983, thus terminating the life of the Second Republic. Anybody with means and political or economic interest to protect could hire the NURTW’s thugs to force his/her will on others and ‘nothing go happen’ as the saying goes here.

Even in a situation where no money was coming from the politicians, this union, one of the richest in the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), could raise millions from motor parks under its control through coercion, forcing the drivers to pay daily dues often determined by the local union leader. And woe betides that driver who refused to pay. In all this, successive governments at all levels pretended as if nothing was happening, either out of fear of what this thuggish union could do if its interests were threatened or the fear of losing its support during general elections.

In all this, the people suffer. If the union was banned or suspended as had been done in the past in some states, or a tough measure introduced to curtail its excesses, the members were quick to withdraw their services from the roads, and after a few days of outcry by motorists, the government would reverse the decision and it would be back to business as usual.

Apart from the general public the people who suffer most in the hands of the NURTW are drivers, who are supposedly its members. Now look at this scenario.

The driver wakes up in the morning and heads straight to the residence of the owner of the commercial vehicle he drives. He gets there and pays an agreed sum to the owner before he is allowed to take the vehicle.

That sum is the daily returns he ought to give the owner at the end of the day, but because the owner is tired of the usual cock and bull stories of drivers, he has learnt not to trust them, so he takes his daily returns up front, whatever the driver does next does not concern him. The driver gets to the park and pays to register to be on the queue to ‘load’ his passengers whenever it was his turn and, for every trip, he pays. At every stop on the road he pays the union touts or there would be trouble. To be able to operate very well, he needs a conductor, often another tout, to help him the passengers and collect the fares. At the end of the day’s work, he pays the conductor, who, as is often the case would have under declared the fare. Along the line, the driver still has to contend with the policeman whom he must give ‘rogger’ or he follows them to the station. Among the passengers there are some who would not pay, especially the uniformed personnel who would claim to be staff.

So at the end of the day, you discover that the driver is the only one working for the owner of the vehicle, the NURTW, the tout, the ‘staff’ and the policeman. And

Hazards of tobacco smoking

By Bolaji Aregbeshola such as heroine and cocaine, nicotine which is contained in tobacco and is as powerful as the former substances has been left without a comprehensive law regarding it. Smoking of tobacco is a major public health challenge Nigeria is faced with in the epidemiological transition from communicable diseases to noncommunicable diseases. Looking at the risk factors for chronic diseases, tobacco use seems to be the most prominent among other factors such as physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, alcohol use etc. Hence, there is a need for an intensified tobacco control efforts in Nigeria and the enforcement of global standards for tobacco control by relevant authorities.

According to the second edition of Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries, on the average, smokers will lose 20 to 25 years of life and will die between the ages of 35 and 69 years and quitting raises the chances of survival no matter how long an individual has smoked. Though the phrase “smokers are liable to die young” is a famous one; but with the daily consumption of tobacco by Nigerians, one wonders what the level of awareness is about the risk of mortality and danger caused by smoking.

Gone are the days when the billboards and mass media were inundated with advertisements for tobacco products with the pay-off line “smokers are liable to die young” so that consumers could at least be aware of the dangers of smoking tobacco. But these days, one hardly see such advertisement especially those that are aimed at making the general public aware of the health risk of tobacco which has led to the death of many around the world. Though the ban of advertisement for tobacco product may have been in an attempt to control smoking but this measure has not been effective.

Nigerians need to be informed from time to time that the eventual risk from smoking is high. Statistics show that worldwide, tobacco use accounts for 1 of every 5 deaths

among men and 1 of every 20 deaths among women over the age of 30.

The use of tobacco cuts across all the social class of our society with the smoking group comprising of young people, adult, men and women; and these are also the major categories of people in the society.

Dangers of smoking tobacco are there for all to see except we decide to close our eyes to it. Different logic has been put forward by smokers to defend their smoking practice but it is important to know that life is a precious gift and it would be painful to lose it to a substance that has more negative effect on health than positive and which affects all members of the society. Smokers impose health risk on non-smokers as they passively smoke tobacco when smokers inhale the vapour, besides secondary smoking has proven to be as dangerous as primary smoking. Secondary smoking is associated with a somewhat high risk of lung cancer, so, both the smokers and non-smokers are affected.

This shows that there are a lot of interest groups asides the farmers and those who smoke tobacco as far as curbing the use of tobacco is concerned in our country.

Many countries around the world have concluded debate on this important health problem while other countries are still debating this issue due to its highly contentious nature. The scientific evidence of the negative effect of tobacco consumption has led to its control in countries like the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and Denmark to mention but a few.

These countries which are developed and have a high burden of non-communicable diseases realize what the lack of paying proper attention to the issue of tobacco smoking portends for the health of their citizens.

They have been able to achieve a reduction in the number of people consuming tobacco over the years thereby addressing the problem of non-communicable diseases which most developed countries are faced with due to increased life expectancy.

Some countries are still battling with this

when it was time to go home, the driver who had been toiling since morning would barely have enough to take to his family, so his suffering continues. In frustration, he takes it out on the passenger who must pay through his nose to get to his destination. In all this, it is the NURTW that does not even do much to make its money from the driver, because for the driver to refuse to pay is to invite trouble. And on top of this, the union members still cause mayhem in the society.

In the Ibadan case, two factions of the union, one led by a man that goes by the name Tokyo, (Alhaji Lateef Akinsola) the capital of Japan and the other led by another man simply called Auxiliary were at each others throat, and at the end of it all, not only their supporters were killed, but innocent passengers, some just passing through the city or just arriving from far places were either killed or wounded. Innocent passersby were equally affected.

This factional fighting has been going on in the union in Ibadan for some time now and has political undertones. The two factional leaders owe their loyalty to the main political parties in Oyo State or their leaders. The moment these politicians are called to order and told to withdraw their patronage of the union in the state the crisis and mayhem in Ibadan would stop. These union leaders are illiterates and are only doing the biddings of their masters–the politicians. To stop the menace they constitute to the society, stop the politicians.

Banning the NURTW is not the solution, pick on the politicians backing them and the crisis would stop.

‘To stop the menace they constitute to the society, stop the politicians. Banning the NURTW is not the solution, pick on the politicians backing them and the crisis would stop.’ issue of tobacco use. A country like Nigeria that needs to control the fast rising disease burden from non-communicable diseases just recently passed a bill on the control of smoking tobacco which is one of the hottest topics in medicine. WHO have forecasted that by 2030, 10 million people will die per year of smoking-related illness, making it the single biggest cause of death worldwide with the largest increase to be among women.

Reports also have it that tobacco-related deaths are the fastest growing cause of death in low-and-middle income countries almost at par with HIV/AIDS pandemic. This dual epidemy of both communicable and noncommunicable diseases calls for urgent measures and interventions to reduce the incidence from these diseases before it becomes uncontrollable. The passage of the National Tobacco Control Bill early this year by the last senate, though an important step, shows that we still have a long way to go. Despite the non-inclusion of increased taxes on tobacco products in the highlights of the bill, the bill is expected to come to force six months from the date of assent. However, those who have been at the forefront of ensuring the passage of the bill from inception must be commended for their efforts at trying to reduce the health risk of tobacco on the people and also documenting a comprehensive law providing for regulations of supply and demand measures of tobacco products after the Tobacco Control Smoking Act of 1990 championed by late Minister of Health, Professor Olikoye Ransome-kuti.

Twenty –one years after the signing into law of the Tobacco Control Smoking Act and two years after the presentation of the National Tobacco Control Bill on the floor of the National Assembly, the senate eventually passed the bill. But the question is; what is going to be the fate of the bill as we start a new dispensation?

In the meantime, there is need to intensify the level of awareness about the dangers of tobacco smoking to the public as the expansion of information and education to the different smoking groups about the ill-effects of smoking will go a long way in discouraging people from smoking and using tobacco.

• Bolaji Samson Aregbeshola is a graduate student of Health at the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos.

Enyeama ‘ll shine Kalika: No need in France –Utaka for Eagles panic

Pg. 41

Pg. 24

Nation Tuesday, June 14, 2011

FREE COPY

PAGE 23

•Director General National Sports Commission, Patrick Ekeji (l) and Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia (first right)

NFF rules out federation congress Pg. 24

Thanks NSC for concern

TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

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NATION SPORT Mourinho targets £18m deal for Essien REAL MADRID coach Jose Mourinho is preparing an offer for Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien to replace the outgoing Lassana Diarra, according to the Daily Express.

Diarra is reported to have asked to leave the Bernabeu after being less than happy at playing second fiddle to German Sami Khedira last term and Mourinho is believed to be willing to grant the Frenchman's request as long as he can secure Essien as his replacement.

Moreover, it is thought that Chelsea are willing to listen to offers for the 28-year-old Ghanaian, who they signed from Lyon.

Essien struggled for his best fitness and form last season, although the Blues would still likely demand a fee in the region of £18 million to help fund their own big-money pursuits of Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder and Brazilian starlet Neymar.

Inter are also believed to be interested in signing Essien, but the combative midfielder would almost certainly prefer the opportunity to rejoin Mourinho - the manager who first brought him to Stamford Bridge back in 2005.

NATION SPORT

Enyeama ‘ll shine in France –Utaka M

ONTPELLIER of France striker, John Utaka has tipped Super Eagles first choice goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama to succeed in France following his recent switch from Hapoel Telaviv of Israel to Lille.

Enyeama will begin a new season in Ligue 1 as from June 1st after signing a four-year deal with the French champions. After six years in Israel with Bnei Yehuda and Hapoel Tel Aviv where he won two State Cups and a league title with the latter, Enyeama will also have a chance to play in the Champions League next season.

In a chat with NationSport, Utaka believes his compatriot has all it takes to compete at the highest level and be ranked among the best goalkeepers in the coming season.

“It will be all round fun in the French League this time around and I can’t wait for him to join us there. He is a good goalkeeper and I think he will enjoy the league.

Looking at his goalkeeping abilities and experience for his club in Israel and Nigeria over the years, he is the type of player that will certainly catch the eyes of every football lovers in France in seasons to come,” he told NationSport.

On 29 January 2011, Utaka signed for French first division side Montpellier, agreeing a two-and-a-

By Akeem Lawal

half year deal for an undisclosed fee following the relegation of the English team Portsmouth to the Championship division.

“It’s been wonderful because it’s like home sweet home. I’ve been there before and there is nothing new. I’m just doing what I know how to do best and I’m enjoying the league. I think that is the most important thing.”

NFF rules out federation congress •Thanks NSC for concern

T

HE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Monday rose swiftly to rule out notice extended to it by the National Sports Commission to convey an emergency

From Patrick Ngwaogu and Andrew Abah, Abuja meeting of the Federation Congress for Wednesday 15th June, 2011 in

•Enyeama

Dream Team V doctors to examine Ahmed Musa •Essien

•Venlo star may feature in Tanzania clash

D

ESPITE the injury scare threatning the chances of having football prodigy, Ahmed Musa feature in the London 2012 qualifiers against the Vijana stars of Tanzania this weekend at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium, Benin City, there are strong indications that the former Kano Pillars speedy winger Ahmed Musa may still feature for the Dream Team V in the must clash.

The player who helped his Dutch club VVV Venlo retain their spot in the Dutch top flight is expected to

report to the Dream Team V Prestige Hotel camp on Wednesday for medical examination by the team’s physician.

The move is to ascertain whether or not the player would be fit to prosecute the game against Tanzania.

“This is a must win game for us.

And we want to put in all available resources at our disposal to ensure that we get the ticket for the final eight tournament.

"I spoke with Ahmed and he said he would be here so let’s wait for

NTTF, Police approve Mini T/Tennis board

T

HE Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) has endorsed the Mini Table Tennis board, an initiative of the Value Sports One (VSOne), a sports development outfit based in Lagos.

Confirming support for the initiative coming from a meeting held by the board recently, the President of the NTTF, Honourable Kayode Omotoshe approved the project which has been programmed to cut across all the 36 states of the Federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The intention, according to the initiators of the programme is to return the game to the seventies when cadet players in every state of the Federation had the opportunity to travel out of the country for training.

Championing the establishment of the mini-table tennis board programme are: foremost administrator of the game, Coscharis Maduka, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Coscharis group, a member of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), Olufemi Olugbile, member of the ITTF Sport Science department, Folorunsho Omitiran, and Adedeji Olugbenga Saidi, an ITTF international umpire.

In a statement made available to NationSport, the Director of programmes, VSOne, Laja George Ijaodola said the development is a good one to redirect the game of table tennis from the grass root.

He said top players both in the past and present, like Segun Toriola, Sunday Eboh,

41

By Innocent Amomoh and Francis Sule, have all shown support for the initiative.

Meanwhile, the Police authority in Nigeria has expressed support for the innovation, as it plans to adopt the programme to discover budding talents for the future among their wards.

Speaking on the development, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Anderson Bankole, who doubles as Force Sports Secretary and a member of the NTTF board, said the NTTF is not relenting in its efforts to ensure that young talents a discovered to take over from the aging ones.

“There are many techniques we are experimenting at the moment, like organizing national U-13, 16 and 20 to select the best young players for the trial and ahead of the All African Games (AAG).

“We welcome progressive programmes, like the proposal of a sports promotion outfit VSOne, fully registered with the corporate Affairs Commission, in conjunction with the NTTF are planning to implement the Mini table tennis board for grass root development. It will enable us discover children between ages 5-12 that will learn the rudiments of the game,” he said.

Bankole said efforts are in top gear to ensure that the children in the Barracks benefits from the initiative as a mini table tennis competition will be organized for the Police children.

But for ex- Chairman of the NTTF, Engr.

Dotun George Segun, the success of the successors should be paramount, as success without a successor is failure at the long run. He said to earn ITTF’s recognition; focus must shift to developing the game from the grass root.

him to come. Like you already know Anthony Ujah, Nosa Igiebor and Odion Igalo along side Rabiu Ibrahim are all ruled out so if Ahmed can make the game it would be a plus for us,” declared coach Austin Eguavoen.

Meanwhile Warri Wovles striker Ekigho Ehiosun has expressed delight over his late invitation to the Dream team V Prestige Hotel Camp.

“I am very happy for this invitation because a lot has been said about me dumping this team which is not true. I thank coach Eguavoen for still having confidence in me. I wish I even had a jet I would have flown straight from Bayelsa to Benin immediately after our game” Ehiosun stated humorously on arrival to the team’s camp.

The team had two training sessions on Monday.The number of players in camp has swollen to 22 following with the arrival of Kano Pillars goal keeper Theophilus Afelokhia.

Abuja.

According to the NSC the congress is to discuss the various problems that have been beleaguering the game in recent time especially the various court cases.

NationSport scooped at the Glasshouse Secretariat of the Federation that the congress would not hold after all, as the Football Federation has informed the NSC that they have no plans of conveying any congress whatsoever at this point.

The letter which was signed by the NFF President, Aminu Maigari left the NFF Secretariat at exactly 1.54 p.m to the federal secretariat office of the National Sports Commission.

In the letter, the NFF thanked the Sports Commission for their interest in ensuring that the various crisis rocking the country's football is resolved once and for all, but because of some logistics problems, that conveying a congress of the Federation would not be possible at this time, as the State FA Chairmen will need at least three months notice for them to attend any congress.

The letter also informed the Commission that when such Congresses are called, that statutorily, the NFF should be the one to bear the cost of hosting.

Kalika: No need for Eagles panic

D

ON’T panic over Eagles qualification to the 2012 Nations Cup as they still control their fate, according to assistant coach Simon Kalika.

A recent 2-2 draw in Ethiopia has set off the alarm bells in Nigeria, but Dutchman Kalika has told MTNFootball.com that nothing has really changed as the Eagles still need to beat Madagascar and then defeat group leaders Guinea 2-0 to win the ticket to Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

“Nothing has changed by the draw away to Ethiopia because I still believe we are in the driver’s seat. What it means is that we must beat Madagascar and also beat Guinea by at least 2-0 in Abuja to pick the Africa Nations Cup ticket. And this is achievable,” disclosed Kalika.

“We were not happy we did not beat Ethiopia with the quality of the team we paraded in Addis Ababa. But even if we had won, nothing would have changed because we still need to beat Madagascar as well as Guinea to qualify for the Nations Cup. “The ticket to the Nations Cup is still in our own hands. I believe you have control of what is in your own hand and I am confident we will be at the Nations Cup.” Kalika further told MTNFootball.com: “It could have been disastrous if we had lost, but the draw has given us the hope we will qualify for the tournament. We just need to beat Madagascar away and also defeat Guinea, the group leader, by 2-0 to win the group on the head-to-head rule.

“Nigerians expected a total victory over Ethiopia in Addis Ababa but that was not to be. A lot of things happened which really stopped us beating Ethiopia.

“First, Emmanuel Emenike was to start

AHEAD OF NATIONAL SPORTS FESTIVAL

Rivers State promises tight security

D

ESPITE the relatively peaceful atmosphere now pervading River State capital, Port Harcourt and its environs, organisers of the Garden City 2011 National Sports Festival, scheduled for the end of this month have taken the issue of security seriously.

Information Commissioner, Ibim Semenitari, told reporters in Lagos at the weekend that Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, has ordered that apart from existing security cameras in the sate, special security cameras should be mounted at the University of Port Harcourt; which will serve as the Games Village and other strategic venues like the Liberation Stadium and the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium all in the Garden City.

The Governor’s directive according to the affable Commissioner is to

ensure that security is not breached, before, during and after the Sports Festival. She praised the personal concern of the Governor for the welfare of the athletes, noting that it will be the first time in the history of the National Sports Festival that not more than four athletes will stay in a room at the Games Village .

“The Governor, was told during the renovation of facilities for the Games Village that he should ensure that at least 6 athletes are quartered in a room to save cost and ensure order, but he insisted that only four athletes will stay in a room according to international standards. That is what the Garden City Games will bring to the table of the Festival and we hope subsequent hosts will follow suit.

Because we set records before with Rivers ’88 National Sports Festival.

Contributing to Rivers ground-

breaking efforts at redefining sportshosting in the country and indeed Nigeria, Senator Magnus Abe, a former Information Commissioner and later Secretary to the Rivers State Government, praised Governor Amaechi and Semenitari for the vision to redefine sports hosting.

Hear him: “hosting of international events has gone beyond packaging an event and asking people to come and participate, it also has to do with tourism and the culture of the host people and that is what Governor Amaechi is doing and people like the Information Commissioner are tapping into his vision to advance the state. So many negative things that are non-existent have been said about Rivers and my joy is that the Garden City Games is about to wipe all of them away”, the distinguished Senator said.

Adebayor: Abidal to agree contract extension CHAMPIONS LEAGUE winners until 2014 Football is in crisis Barcelona are on the verge of successfully

•ACP Anderson Bankole

concluding negotiations with experienced defender Eric Abidal over a contract extension, AS reports.

The 31-year-old's current terms expire in the summer of 2012, but Barca are eager to hold on to the stopper and have offered him a new and improved deal for two extra seasons.

Abidal joined Barcelona from Olympique Lyonnais in the summer of 2007 and has since made over 100 official appearances for the Catalans, deputising in the centre of defence rather than in his conventional left-back slot during the first half of the 2010-11 campaign.

He has so far won three La Liga titles with Barcelona, one Copa del Rey and two Champions League crowns, among several other trophies in a hugely successful spell.

The versatile defender was diagnosed with a liver tumour earlier this year and underwent surgery on March 17. Abidal returned to match action again just six

weeks later, and was given the opportunity by captain Carles Puyol to be the first to hold aloft the Champions League trophy at Wembley following the 3-1 defeat of Manchester United last month.

•Abidal

REAL MADRID striker Emmanuel Adebayor has insisted football is in crisis, despite FIFA president Joseph Blatter’s stance that the game is only going through “some difficulties.”

A series of corruption allegations have done great damage to the beautiful game recently, but the world football governing body has shrugged them off as little to worry about.

“Crisis? Football is not in a crisis,” the 75-year-old Blatter told the media ahead of his re-election as the fourth president of FIFA. However, the Togolese international maintained a clique has taken the game to ransom.

“Football is in crisis, that is for sure,” the marksman told Joy FM in Ghana. “Football has become a game of mafias today.”

The Manchester City loanee said the development casts a slur on the image of football across the world.

•Kalika along with Ikechukwu Uche but he developed malaria while in the plane travelling for the match. Also, Anichebe, who later played in Addis Ababa, had a knock during the Argentina friendly.

“Also the most important ingredient lacking in the team away to Ethiopia was willingness to play and perform well.

The determination and the zeal to put in everything they had into the game were lacking probably because of the jet lag.”

However, the Eagles No. 2 man revealed that the team will still keep faith with the squad they have picked so far for the campaign.

“There is no panic and so we are still going to make use of this same players for the remaining matches and get the results to qualify for the Nations Cup,” he told MTNFootball.com.

“What is needed at this time is a lot of talking and psyching of the players and they will hit the right form to get us the results. We cannot begin to introduce new players now or start changing things in the team, that could be counterproductive.

“We believe in these players and at the end of the day they would get the needed victories against Madagascar and Guinea.

I am very confident of that.”

Dynamo Kiev plans N336m swop for Haruna •Nigerian plays waiting game on Wolves

A

CCORDING to RMC, Monaco midfielder Haruna Lukman is in advanced contact with Ukrainian heavyweights Dynamo Kiev.

The Nigerian international midfielder is under contract with Monaco until the summer of 2012.

Monaco and the Kiev based club are negotiating on the basis of a transfer fee of 1.5 million euros (about N336m).

Appreciated by some, criticized by others, Lukman Haruna played only 17 games in Ligue 1 last season. Stoke City and Arsenal are also monitoring the Olympic National Team skipper.

Lukman Haruna admits he would love to play in the Premier League amid speculation linking him with Wolves.

Mick McCarthy's side are thought to be interested in the Monaco midfielder and are believed to have valued the player at around one million euros (£882,000).

However reports claim Dynamo Kiev have agreed a 1.5million euros (£1.32m) fee for the Nigerian international.

While Haruna admits he would love to play in the Premier League, he believes Kiev are also a big name in football so he is waiting to see how the situation develops.

"I would love to join the Premier League and play on the biggest stage in the world."

Lukman Haruna Quotes of the week He told skysports.com: "I would love to join the Premier League and play on the biggest stage in the world.

"However if a club does not meet my club's valuation, I can't do anything.

"I have heard about Dynamo Kiev, they are a European name, so we will see."

Giggs' sister-in-law given £500 for abortion AFTER weeks of shocking revelations, it seems things are still set to get a lot worse for Ryan Giggs.

After admitting to an eight-year affair with the shamed football star, his sisterin-law Natasha Giggs has claimed he gave her £500 to abort his baby, just two weeks before her wedding to his brother Rhodri.

Natasha decided to come clean about the affair to the News of the World last weekend, when she discovered the footballer had been seeing both her and Big Brother contestant Imogen Thomas.

And rumours soon hit that details of a

third affair – which Giggs’ reportedly put an end to on his wedding day - were set to emerge.

Now, in the latest shocking turn of events, Natasha Giggs has claimed she fell pregnant with Ryan's child, and was paid £500 by the footballer to abort the baby – just two weeks before her wedding to his brother Rhodri, last June.

'I was crying. All I kept thinking was, I’m getting married to Rhodri next month and I’m pregnant to Ryan, his brother,’ Natasha told the News of the World.

Drogba weds Lala Diakite in grand DIDIER DROGBA has married longceremony time girlfriend Lala Diakite in a

colourful ceremony before 500 will be part of the groom’s men. guests drawn from the world of sport The Ivorian striker and his Malian and show business in Monaco, wife Lala met in France while the France. player was beginning his career. They The ceremony which is being have three children. chaired by Chelsea owner and Russian billionaire Roman Abramovic, will last until Monday June 13, according to organisers.

The three-day fiesta sees the assemble of p r o m i n e n t personalities including Samuel Eto’o alongside other football greats, Senegalese singer Youssour N’Dour, American R&B singer Akon and a crop of NBA stars.

The marriage was officiated at the Marie de Monaco to be followed by festivities at Monte-Carlo Bay – a popular seaside hotel in the Principality.

Drogba’s teammates Salomon Kalou and Florent Malouda •Drogba (l) with his hearthrob Lala

Suarez eyes Liverpool title bid LIVERPOOL STRIKER Luis Suarez Suarez scored four goals in 13 games after joining Liverpool in January Luis Suarez says Liverpool can compete for the Premier League title next season if they repeat the form they showed in the second half of last term.

The Reds picked up 34 points from 18 games following Kenny Dalglish's return to Anfield as manager in January.

"The form we showed over the second half of the season bodes well," the Uruguay striker told LFC weekly.

But captain Steven Gerrard said: "Getting in the Champions League will be the main aim."

Gerrard, who missed the last three months of the campaign after groin surgery, added: "It would be stupid of me to raise expectations any more than they are already.

"At the beginning of every season at Liverpool, expectations rise and now that Kenny is staying and with a few signings I'm sure it'll go through the roof.

"We just need to continue what we've been doing during the last six months.

If we can hit the ground running and maintain the good form, then I think we've got a good chance of doing well "Hopefully we'll add some more players to strengthen the squad and then we need to compete.

"We are good enough to beat anyone on our day, we just need to find the consistency to challenge for honours."

Dalglish took over for a second spell in charge on Merseyside following the departure of Roy Hodgson and signed a new three-year contract in May. If Liverpool had repeated the form they produced under the 60-year-old

over the entire season, they would have ended the campaign on 71 points - level with second-placed Chelsea.

Suarez, a £22.7m arrival from Ajax in January, said: "We've been playing well and I think we've been getting into the type of form that we know we'll have to keep up for a whole season if we want to be title contenders.

"This is something we're optimistic about for next season and if we can hit the ground running and maintain the good form, then I think we've got a good chance of doing well."

•Suarez

25

PROPERTY

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

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

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

email:- property@thenationonlineng.net

Containers catch builders’ fancy

•A five-storey building constructed with containers

Containers are used for hauling goods. They have, however, been serving other purposes. They are used as shops, warehouses, offices; and homes at construction camps. Builders have also shown interest in containers, creating various designs of houses from them. OKWY IROEGBU reports.

•CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

•Dangote’s N96.3b cement plant begins operation in August - PAGE 26

•Planners examine ways of sourcing funds for infrastructure - PAGE 27

•Lagosians urged to clear drainages, surroundings - PAGE 28

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

26

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

Dangote’s N96.3b cement plant begins operation in August

O

N the heels of the Federal Government’s directive to cement manufacturers to cut prices, Dangote’s Ibeshe Plant has given some hope. Deputy Managing Director Dr. Ved Prakash Sarkari said production will begin in August.

He, however, warned that a meaningful price reduction may not be achieved except the government tackles the energy crisis which has contributed in no small way to the high cost of the product.

Sarkari put the price reduction at about 15 per cent if the necessary infrastructure is not put in place.

He argued that the price increase is a product of the challenges experienced by manufacturers due to the dearth of infrastructure and high cost of energy rather than arbitrary increase.

Sarkari challenged governments to ensure continuous supply of diesel, gas and Low poor fuel oil (LPFO).

He told The Nation that the plant will have an output of six million tonnes yearly from the six cement silos and hoped that it will crash the price of cement.

The Project Engineer, Mr. Bolu Aladeniyi, said one of the production lines was ready and undergoing a test-run as they are set to deliver klinker next month. The plant, he said, has three turbines of 37 megawatts each in addition to a piped gasline from Itori, a community 22 kilometres to Ibeshe.

He said the Ibeshe cement fac-

By Okwy Iroegbu Asst. Editor

tory, built with modern technology, will complement output from other cement manufacturing companies to put an end to the perennial high cost of cement.

Aladeniyi explained that the factory sited on over 2,000 hectares of land has the capacity to produce 6,000 tons of cement a day with 240,000 bags ferried to consumers daily by 800 trucks with capacity for 600 bags each.

According to him, Ibeshe mine has an estimated 760 million tonnes reserve to be mined for over 105 years on a mining lease licence granted for limestone and other additives. It has a huge capacity for klinker grinding and cement storage, including 12 packing machines and 18 tloading bays.

On the kind of technology applied, he said: “Our equipment is of the latest technology which has given us the opportunity to achieve a pollution-free environment. The national standard for dust emission is 50 per cent but we have targeted and achieved 30 per cent surpassing the national standards.”

Aladeniyi also revealed that the Ibeshe Plant is the only one in subSaharan Africa with the kind of technology as it employs surface mining techniques which are environmentally friendly instead of blasting.

On the transfer of technology to Nigerian professionals in the plant, he said Dangote Industries Ltd signed an agreement with Sinoma Engineering Company Ltd, the consultants from China, to

•Cement silos at Dangote Ibeshe Plant, Ogun State.

build and run the factory for two years with a proviso that they will hand over to local engineers at the expiration of the contract.

He said Dangote Group is to es-

PHOTO: OKWY IROEGBU

tablish plants in Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Cameroon, Ghana, South Africa and the Republic of Benin.

Aladeniyi, an expert in cement

production, noted that the likely cause of scarcity and high price of cement in the country is lack of power, transportation which is hampered by bad roads.

the components at the factory.

On how his firm intends to source the containers, he said they are negotiating with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to buy up the empty containers at the ports and import additional ones for massive housing construction.

He said the technology will not only clean the environment but also put money into government coffers. On the transfer of technology, he stressed that though it is a foreign technology, his firm will employ local hands to learn the technology for sustainability more so as the owners of the company are Nigerians.

In his contribution, National

President, Real Estate Developer Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Chief Olabode Afolayan, said his association is supporting the container technology in response to the yearnings of the majority for affordable homes without compromising quality.

He urged the government and individuals to take advantage of the latest technology in housing provision as it can be used in the Niger Delta areas and other coastal communities, as well as big cities.

On the likely effect on the cost of houses, he said it is hoped that it will crash the price of houses so that developers will be attracted to mass housing. Container houses are 40 per cent cheaper to build than conventional ones.

Containers catch builders’ fancy •Continued from page 26

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HESE are exciting times for the building industry.

Container space technology is providing alternatives for developers in the quest to bridge the housing gap. Used shipping containers are now the rave within the industry. They are being used to build every kind of structure.

The houses built containers range from luxury condos, expansive estates, schools, hostels, hospitals, shopping mall, barracks and vacation homes. They offer a flexible method of construction, being modular in shape, strong structurally and readily available.

Container homes offer a reasonably priced alternative to traditional space provision. They do not even have to look like containers.

It is a relatively simple matter to completely clad the building externally in a variety of materials; the benefits can also be seen in short and medium-term land use projects.

To date, this alternative method of construction has successfully created youth centres, classrooms, office space, artist studios, live/ work space and retail space.

In a chat with The Nation, the Managing Director of Global Pathway Limited, Ifeanyi Ndianaefo, said his company, formed by Nigerians in the Diaspora, was moved by the desire to change the face of the nation’s housing sector, especially in the volatile and coastal areas, with comfortable and affordable housing which is cheaper by over 40 per cent to conventional houses. The idea is to cover the price gap to make it affordable to the majority.

‘It is portable and can be dismantled; it is fire resistant, can be coupled in the factory and assembled at the site. It has been successfully used in Dockyards and Canary Wharf in the United Kingdom and other parts of the world’ •One-storey container building

On the added advantages of container houses, he said: “It is portable and can be dismantled; it is fire resistant, can be coupled in the factory and assembled at the site.

It has been successfully used in Dockyards and Canary Wharf in the United Kingdom and other parts of the world.

Globally, the concept is not new but, here, it is what the nation needs to build student hostels, classrooms and also for the police and military barracks, he said.

Ndianaefo regretted that some police barracks have remained an eyesore in our urban environment.

He said most police officers, on retirement, do not have houses to call their own and that is after living in squalor inside the barracks during their service years.

Ndianaefo said he came into the country to conclude negotiations with the University of Lagos (UNILAG) on the building of a students’ hostel, comprising onebedroom, two-bedroom and studio flats within and outside the campus.

On the uniqueness of the container technology, he said it is not only good for commercial purposes but also industrial and residential usage. It can be used to build a structure of 10 floors with a lift within weeks after coupling

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

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PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

Planners examine ways of sourcing funds for infrastructure

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NFRASTRUCTURE provision and financing have posed a serious challenge to most governments leading to decaying infrastructure around major cities.

In an attempt to proffer solution to the problem, the Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON), last week during a professional development workshop in Lagos addressed “Sourcing Funds for Urban infrastructure.”

In his paper, the president of Nigeria Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Mr Kabir M. Yari, said financing infrastructure is fraught with several challenges such as rapid population and settlement growth, lack of adequate institutional capacity and management in addition to poor infrastructure development plans.

He said available financing options are not adequate to tackle the challenges in the sector adding that for a project to be bankable it needs to have five main elements of technological, economical and institutional studies with financial analysis and legal framework which creates a transparent process that is continuous and enforceable.

In his presentation, the CEO, Popo Kadiku Consulting Ltd, Mr. Popo Kadiku identified general requirements for packaging sellable real estate as that of firstly enlightening the entrepreneur to put a correct financing model together as a lack of understanding of a suitable one may lead to difficulties in sourcing funds.

Kadiku also encouraged to find the right bank that supports the type of project or model.

According to him, it could be disastrous for a developer to utilise short term, high interest fund for a long term slow yielding interest.

He said: “Techno-economic

•Cross section of consulting town planners and guests at the Atopcon Workshop on Wednesday.

feasibility report is an important and integral part of any successful proposal for any construction project. It is that document that makes sense out of every line drawn by the design team.”

Kadiku also listed other requirements for packaging real estate financing as a well thought out and articulate application, precise estimate bills of quantities and building plans with the regulatory

Akwa Ibom civil servants rejoin housing scheme T HE Akwa Ibom State government has paid its counterparts funds to the Federal Housing Scheme to enable its civil servants own their personal residences,the State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, has announced.

The governor made this known while receiving staff of the state Liaison Office, who paid him a congratulatory visit over his second term inauguration at the Governor’s Lodge, Abuja, last Thursday.

He said the State House of Assembly, acting on his letter to that effect, has resolved that the public and civil servants should rejoin the Federal Housing Scheme.

Akpabio promised to review up-

wards the staff’s hardship allowance, currently standing at N3,500 per month, to cushion the inflationary trend in transportation in Abuja. The upward review will also be applicable to staff of the Liaison Office, Lagos.

He said the new prisons in Ikot Ekpene, the $556million gas plant in Esit Eket, as well as the e-Library have all been completed and awaiting cominauguration.

Akpabio expressed appreciation to the Staff for their solidarity and support, and assured them that nobody would be made to suffer for

not voting for him in the last elections.

The staff, in an address presented

by Mr Augustine Eyoh on their behalf, appealed to Akpabio to inaugurate the new Liaison Office complex to accommodate all the units in the office, provide a bus to ease their transportation challenges, as well as allocate land in Akwa Ibom for their personal houses.

The Permanent Secretary, Liaison Office, Abuja, Mr. Inyang Ekoriko, congratulated the governor on his re-election and thanked him for receiving them.

Firm installs weighbridge at Abuja quarry

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EIGHBRIDGE & Scale Services Ltd, an indigenous manufacturer of locally fabricated weighbridge has installed “Nigerian Magic”, a customised 70 tonnes, 17.5metre digital weighbridge platform at Ni ima Allah quarry in Abuja.

Unveiling the new Hi tech scaling device recently in Abuja, the Managing Director of Weighbridge &

Scale Services Limited, Mr Babatola Oyelesi said, the Nigerian Magic is a 60, 70 and 90 tons capacity platform, that uses eight carnister compression load cell, an IQ 710 plus indicator, a computer system and Epson 300 II dox matrix printer. The device comes with an optional features such as movable weighbridge with steel ramps or unmovable with concrete ramp.

He said the firm’s product dubbed the Nigerian Magic can compete with any other weighbridge in the world.

He, therefore urged the government to patronise, local manufacturers. Oyelesi made case, especially for the planned 150 electronics weighbridge meant for trans Sahara highway and asked that the government should patronise local manufacturers in its installation.

Disasters disrupt Nigeria’s development process, says HE National Emergency opment,’’ he said.

NEMA boss Management Agency He urged the development of

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(NEMA) has said disasters constitute a major disruption to the nation’s developmental process.

Alhaji Muhammad Sani-Sidi, NEMA’s Director-General, made this remark at the signing of the National Disaster Management Framework (NDMF), last week in Abuja.

According to him, disasters lead to loss of lives, disruption

of social networks and the destruction of capital investsments, among other things.

“Thus, when development plans are rolled out and disaster strikes, funds are diverted to contain the emergency.

“Additional aid is directed to relief and reconstruction needs to get the country back on track towards economic and social devel-

adequate procedures and systems to deal with situations which caused disasters.

Sani-Sidi averred that such mechanisms could be used for effective co-ordination of the human and physical resources in times of emergencies.

He said it was in line with these that NEMA took the initiative to develop the NDMF.

authority’s approval. Others are financial statement, executive summary of the project, complete contract document and the contractors profile.

Earlier in his welcome address, ATOPCON president Dr. Sadiq Sani said earlier workshops in the past had proved that the association is an organisation with a focus of preparing its members to be current in addressing urban problems.

He said: “Cities have been accepted as engines of national growth and crucibles of cultural fusion, but it appears that the

PHOTO: OKWY IROEGBU

capital infrastructure of many cities is decaying, this calls to mind that the need for urban environment need to be properly planned and managed to provide conducive and harmonious environment.”

He called on governments and all consumers of the urban and regional planning services to ensure that only ATOPCON members are employed as consultants for urban and regional planning services because they are continuously trained and retrained to provide the best.

UNEP, others explore safe mercury handling

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N international work shop “the Anglophone West Africa Awareness Raising Workshop on mercury in Artisanal and Small Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) organised by the Federal Ministry of Environment, UNEP with financial support from the United States Environmental Protection Agency in Lagos last week called on governments to develop appropriate, adequate policies on mercury use.

In a communiqué made available to The Nation it said regulatory reforms, accurate data base on mercury use, risk management plan, adoption of environmentally friendly technologies and sustained awareness raising in all the countries in West Africa remains a strategic move for the of mercury in ASGM. They called for the development of national strategic and action plans by countries in the West African subregion including a regional action plan for the phase out of mercury in artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector.

The need for environmental impact assessment (EIAs), in a simplified form for upcoming or new mining projects and sector

By Okwy Iroegbu, Asst Editor

specific environmental management plans for existing artisanal miners, including a sector specific environmental management plan, to be undertaken for small scale mining projects including geological surveys of mining sites was explored.

Participants drawn from Liberia, Gambia, Mali, including International Experts from Mozambique, Ethiopia, Senegal, Canada, Tanzania and the United States with other government agencies called for the establishment of National Interministerial Committees on ASGM to oversee issues such as the national strategic plans on ASGM, implementation of safe mining practices,Environmental Remediation of contaminated mining sites in each country and Medical Treatment for exposed and impacted communities The Federal Government was also enjoined to intervene immediately to save the lives of Nigerian children who are facing death threat from lead poisoning in Zamfara State and to also reinforce remediation and prevention activities.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

28

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT Building Issues

How to build cheaply without sacrificing standards

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•From right: Brian Cope, representative of British High Commissioner; Erelu Abiola-Dosunmu; Ambassador PHOTO: OKWY IROEGBU Ahmadu and Desmond Majekodunmi

‘Infrastructural development without land management destroyed our forests’

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HAIRMAN, Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF), Ambassador Hamzat Ahmadu has called on the government to be more responsible and responsive to the issues of forest resource protection and sustainable utilisation of forest products.

He stated this at the celebration of World Environment Day (WED) with the theme “'Forest for people, Forest for Green Growth” organised by the Foundation last week in Lagos. This year’s theme, according to him, underscores the intrinsic link between quality of life and the health of forests and forest ecosystems in addition to lending support to this year's UN International Year of Forests.

He called attention to the fact that the nation is losing a larger percentage of its forest composition gradually to infrastructural development and amenities without taking into consideration proper land management.

Stories by Okwy Iroegbu Asst. Editor

He said WED, which is celebrated in over 100 countries of the world, is designed to give a human face to environmental issues, empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development.

He said: “Ecosystem Forests play an important role in our planets. It is the part of the earth which serves as home for many species of plants and animals. It is also important to note that forests cover 31 per cent of total global land area with over 1.6 billion people’s livelihoods depending on it underscoring the need to preserve it.”

Ahmadu regretted that over the years in the name of urbanisation and development, our forests have been destroyed which poses a serious threat to our survival. He called for urgent and decisive action. He made a case for tree planting for all strata of government.

He said: “ By planting trees, we make up for the loss we've caused the planet and ourselves through the destruction of forest areas over the centuries.”

The NCF chairman said they have engaged in and spear-headed a number of tree-planting activities across the country, including the popular regeneration and rehabilitation of Urhonigbe Forest Reserve in Edo State.

Ahmadu maintained that it is the hope of the Foundation that the partnership building process it embarked on with forest rich states and communities such as Cross River, Ogun, Taraba, Ondo and Edo) will galvanise activities to enable the country achieve its proclaimed goal of attaining 25 per cent forest cover in 2020 to sufficiently arrest the encroachment of desert into country while mitigating the negative impact of global climate change.

Lagosians urged to clear drainage

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HE Lagos State Government has urged Lagosians to begin immediate clearing of drains in their frontages and surroundings to starve flooding.

The Permanent Secretary, Office of Infrastructure, Mr Wasiu Olokunola gave this advice while supervising clearing of drainage channels in Ikorodu Local Government Area as part of the holistic approach by the government to prevent flooding in the state.

“The only way to preserve the life span of the massive road infrastructural investment of the current administration is that,

residents should cultivate the habit of daily clearance of drains in their frontages, as we all know that blocked drains lead to flooding, which is the greatest enemy of paved roads.”

Olokunola further stated that available research on causes of flooding in the state have further revealed that activities of car wash operators that discharge waste waters on our roads, have been found not only damage our roads, but also cause flooding.

The Permanent Secretary stated that the government has commenced a clampdown on all

unpatriotic and illegal car wash operators and those apprehended will face the full wrath of the law.

He, however, urged Lagosians to join hands with the government and report these illegal car wash operators as well as challenge them to desist from this act, which causes serious damage to our road network that is built with tax payers’ money.

Similarly, Olokunola enjoined the public to desist from discharging waste water, oil and other lubricants on the paved roads to improve their life span as well as prevent flooding in the state.

Surveyor urges govt on Construction Industry partnership arrangement.

HE immediate past president of the Nigerian Institute of Development Board ``Our human capital develop-

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Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), Mr Okereke Onyeri, has urged the Federal Government to set up a Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB).

Onyeri said in Lagos that the board would help to organise and regulate the construction industry.

He said players in the construction industry were currently interested in their diverse interests, creating avenues for money invested in the construction sector by the Federal Government to go outside the country.

According to him, Malaysia and South Africa are now among the 20 industrial nations because they set up CIDBs in the 80s and 90s and are able to organise their construction industries.

He said: ``Our construction industry has to be organised and, together let us do what the South African Indian Malaysian and Japanese governments did. ``Let us do what all these countries did – they set up Construction Industry Development Boards. ``Now, this CIDB is a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) arrangement bet w e e n the private sector and the public sector.

It is a

ment in the construction industry is not properly distributed and it is the responsibility of this CIDB to ensure this. ``We also need to look into our procurement system. The CIDB will be able to bring the government and private sectors together and we can have properly organised procurement system by the government.

The former NIQS president said that labourers, technicians and semi-skilled workers were also not properly trained and could not compare favourably with their Ghanaian and Togolese counterparts.

He said: ``That is why we have buildings collapsing in Nigeria.

Look at piping; look at houses in Abuja, you will see all the concealed conduit pipes; you see them leaking water inside the walls. ``The workers we used to have in the 80s the ones we used to have in the 90s when we had the Public Works Department (PWD) were well trained and skilled; trained

by British administrators in the PWD in those days.’’

By Okwy Iroegbu, AVE you been shopping Asst Editor around for ways and means to building a cheap plumbing, electrical wiring to house, especially with the high ensure that they are done to nacost of cement? Are you shocked tional standards or cod, a plumbat the cost of building a modest ing that doesn't leak for instance. house, are you tempted to build The quality of finishing can be just anything now and correct the a huge factor in perceived qualmistakes in your second house? ity of the house. If something as All these may not be necessary simple as plastering is haphazas one can still build cheaply ard one then wonders what care while incorporating quality was taken in constructing the standards. underlying bones of the house.

When we talk of cheap house it Using quality materials is also does not translate to sub standimportant. It can be very temptard house put together with ing to salvage lumber from old cheap and inferior building mabuildings. Some of it can be good terials but affordable. quality yet, but be careful about The basic idea is that of dry rot, insect and mold damage, "cheap" with "affordable" while and too much holes from pipes continuing to keep an eye on qualand wires. A good, quick way to ity workmanship and constructest for dry rot is to try and insert tion. If all the basics of a house an ice pick into the wood in queswhich include the foundation, tion. You shouldn't wiring, plumbing, able to push it in insulation, roofing ‘The quality of be at all. If you want to and framing and finishing can be be more thorough others are soundly put together, then a huge factor in use a moisture meter to assess if half the battle is perceived qual- there's any moiswon. The battle indeed is that of tryity of the house. ture left in the ing to keep you If something as wood.

If you're looking budget in check into building a when building a simple as cheap house on house. Though one plastering is your own I might go targets a low budget house it is haphazard one so far as to recommend your being wise to challenge then wonders your own contracyourself to think of what care was tor and supplier in high-end finish order to save money materials. taken in from materials.

There are many constructing the Getting expert adinteresting and invice from profesnovative ways of underlying sionals in the buildusing salvaged, bones of the ing sector is invalubut still serviceable this will not able, building house’ components at the building materials market , some only allow you the opportunity of the stuff, if used in the right of building right but also elimiway, is really quite nice. nating wastages. When you alIn building a cheap house I low artisans to take the place of strongly urge you to consider re- construction professionals the resale value. Even if you currently percussions are heavy as they are plan on staying in the house likely to under quote or inflate the you'll build for decades to come, cost as the case may be because there will come a time when you they do not have the technical may have no other choice but to skill and knowledge to see it sell. through. Artisans no doubt have This however, is not to discour- their part to play but they should age alternative building method be left out of the complexities of but, to consider the quality of con- building construction. Since you struction and craftsmanship that are building to live, rent or sale it goes into the project. will be unwise to build a house Even if you decide on building without a second hand value a cheap house with alternative that can be easily traded. materials the quality of the craftsBut the most essential raw mamanship will be rewarded if and terial is your own resourcefulwhen you sell the structure. Noth- ness. As an owner you can repliing hurts worse than putting cate magic by ensuring that you months or years into building deliver flair and personality as your beloved house and have it well as durability due to your not be able to sell in any market if power of imagination. In buildyou decide to. ing cheaply it is recommended to So, what is this elusive "quality accommodate quality though construction"? You must have a quality is not in itself one style or solid foundation no matter how another but simple, practical and cheaply you want to build. After stylish design that offers more that you need to look at the value than high-end finishes.

‘But the most essential raw material is your own resourcefulness. As an owner you can replicate magic by ensuring that you deliver flair and personality as well as durability due to your power of imagination’ •Contributions, questions? e-mail: quichi3cities@yahoo.com

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TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

E-mail:- law@thenationonlineng.net

All eyes are on the National Assembly following its inauguration last Monday. Will it live up to expectations or will it be a rubber stamp legislature? This is the question on the minds of many as the lawmakers settle down to business. In the past, they were largely seen as making laws to feather their nests. Will things be different this time? Some lawyers have identified areas the lawmakers should focus on. JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU and JOSEPH JIBUEZE spoke with them.

‘Our expectations from National Assembly’ •Daudu, Akeredolu, Falana, others set agenda for lawmakers

•Tambuwal

• Mark

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AST Monday’s inauguration of the National Assembly signaled the beginning of its seventh session since the first was inaugurated in 1999. But has the nation got its money’s worth from its lawmakers in the past 12 years? The answer, many will say, is no. This is why the seventh National Assembly is expected to deliver because its forerunners disappointed the people.

Can the people rest hope in this National Assembly? Senator David Mark,who retained his post as Senate President seems to be aware of Nigerians’ expectations. He said the National Assembly “has to be truly

transformational in all ramifications. Our budgeting system needs a radical change.”

He added: “Nigerians complain that their democracy is too expensive. We as representatives of the people must initiate legislation that will reduce the cost of governance at all levels, thereby freeing resources to attend to the basic needs of the people.”

The National Assembly is responsibile for “very critical legislation that will propel Nigeria to the world’s 20 most-advanced economies,” Mark told the senators.

Topping the agenda of the new 469-mem-

‘Our judicial architecture needs holistic review’ – P.30

ber National Assembly is passing a legislation to overhaul Nigeria’s vital oil industry, amending old laws and passing pending bills into laws.

Uncertainty over the sweeping Petroleum Industry Bill, which has taken years in the making, has chilled investments in new projects in Nigeria, one of the world’s largest oil producers, with energy firms unclear about what the new rules will be.

The overhaul is aimed at allowing the government to collect more revenue from lucrative offshore projects as well as restructure the state oil company, widely seen as corruption-ridden.

Wodu is Eastern Bar chairman

One of the first tasks of the National Assembly, when it reconvenes, will likely be to vet cabinet nominees expected to be submitted by President Goodluck Jonathan this week. Most Nigerians expect the new National Assembly to tackle the embarrassingly huge recurrent budget profile of government with a view to reversing it considerably.

Nigerians would want the new lawmakers to resist any form of imposition by the Executive and begin early to assert their independence, especially now that they can •Continued on page 31

NBA seeks overhaul of judicial system – P.32

- P.33

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

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ROM THE COURT LFAW PERSONALITY Dr Babatunde Ajibade (SAN) is the Managing Partner at SPA Ajibade & Co. A graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and the King’s College University of London, where he obtained his Masters degree in Corporate and Commercial Law and Ph.D in Private International Law, he is the Chairman of the Capital Market Solicitors of Nigeria. Ajibade argues that instead of creating more specialised courts, the existing courts should be strengthened. He backed the argument that merit, as against seniority, should be considered in making judicial appointments. He spoke with JOSEPH JIBUEZE.

‘Our judicial architecture needs holistic review’ D O you share the view that the next Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) must not necessarily be a serving Supreme Court justice, to bring in fresh ideas and dislodge the ‘cabal’ if any?

That is an interesting one. I haven’t come across that particular debate. (Pauses) I hesitate because I am not aware that there is a cabal. I think I would support the idea for the simple reason that the system we have now does not promote merit. It’s effectively just a queuing system – the next person in line will become the CJN, just as the next person in line typically will become the Chief Judge of the state or of the Federal High Court, irrespective of merit.

I am not sure that is good for our judiciary or for our system. Having said that, so we don’t end up jumping from the frying pan into the fire, where you move away from the system of automatic promotion, you also need to be wary about the selection process by which people could be brought in from outside. If the appointing authority is not positively oriented, and it’s not doing what we’re seeking to empower it to do out of altruistic reasons, you may find that someone is brought in from outside who is even worse than what we would have had if we had just followed the old system of automatic promotion.

I think it’s a holistic thing that has to be reviewed. I recommend a complete overhaul of our legal system, judiciary inclusive.

What areas of justice administration do you think the next Federal Attorney-General should improve on?

I touched on that already in passing when I said that the entire legal system is overripe for an overhaul. I think the next Attorney-General needs to take this on board. The structure of the judiciary, the bar, the process by which judges are appointed and promoted – I think the entire system needs to be looked at carefully.

You have a system now where different pockets of the judiciary are acting as if they are not part of a composite whole. I’ll give you a very good example. We just recently witnessed the creation of a new superior court of record – the National Industrial Court (NIC), which by virtue of an amendment to the Constitution, has now been added to the list of courts in Section 6.

Do you have reservations about that?

As far I’m concerned, I don’t have any views about the quality of the NIC; that is not the point. But what I have a concern about is that it appears that the judiciary or the judicial system is not being viewed as a whole. I know for a fact that the leadership of the NIC and its proponents took that battle, or the fight to have that court established as a superior court of record under the Constitution, as a personal battle.

It was not a battle, as far as I am aware, in which the National Judicial Council was involved; or the CJN as the leader of the Nigerian judiciary was involved. For me, it just compounds issues. Since 1976 when the Federal Revenue Court now known as the Federal High Court was created, we’ve spent more time litigating about where to litigate than actually dealing with the substance of matters.

What should have been done?

One would have thought we should be looking at ways to resolve that problem rather than compounding it by creating even more specialised courts with supposedly exclusive jurisdiction. Now what you’re going to find with the creation of the NIC is that other areas of the law are also going to be clamouring – they already are – the Investment and Securities Tribunal, which is a specialised court created for the capital market by the Investments and Securities Act, is clamouring that it should also be designated as a superior court of record in the Constitution; that it should have its own legislation.

•Ajibade The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been clamouring for a special court to try financial crimes. The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria has been clamouring for a special commercial court to deal with banking and insolvency matters.

What could be the consequence of creating the special courts?

We cannot continue that way. Somebody needs to sit down and work out what the problem is with our existing courts. Rather than creating new mushroom courts to deal with each of these separate areas, we should try and deal with the problems with our existing courts.

And creating these courts is only going to exacerbate the problem, because we’re going to have a situation where we’ll spend time with labour disputes arguing for three to five years whether a case should have been heard in the High Court or in the NIC, whilst the underlying dispute will remain unresolved.

That is why I said there needs to be a holistic review of the judicial architecture of this country. In other parts of the world, where something like this would be done, they would have had a white paper released, and it would have involved the entire judiciary. It shouldn’t be the case of members of a particular court seeking to acquire more powers or seeking to have more revenue allocated to them, etcetera.

It is not right for our judicial architecture to be dealt with in this way, and that is what I think the next Attorney-General should take on board.

There have been suggestions that SANs should be appointed to the Supreme Court as justices . Would you accept such an appointment?

No, I would not. Would I accept such an appointment at any point in time? Quite possibly. I’ve been one of those who – and I think any serious legal practitioner in Nigeria must be – are concerned about the state of our judiciary. When I was growing up, and when I started my life in practice, the judiciary was made up of the cream of the legal profession. That is what is obtainable even in the other parts of the world.

It is those who have excelled that get elevated to the bench. But unfortunately in Nigeria, over the past 20 years or thereabout, I think there has been a reversal of that trend.

You find that those who are known to excel in legal practice have lost interest in going to the bench. And we are reaping the results of that now.

So, definitely I am fully supportive of any steps or any measures that are taken to reverse that trend, and to get those who are at the cutting egde of legal practice to go to the bench. I wouldn’t want to do that right now, but I don’t rule it out as a possibility down the line if I was asked to put myself up.

Why did you choose the legal profession?

I think subconsciously I might have been influenced by the fact that my father is a lawyer. This firm is a family firm, second generation. Although I’ve been asked this question on several occasions, I can’t

remember any occasion where my father said to me: Go and study law. But I’m one of four children and the only one that studied law. So, somehow, I think I must have bought into the idea without knowing it.

But I was never issued a directive to study law.

You have a doctorate degree in law. Any special reason for that?

Again, good question. It wasn’t so much for being in love with the profession, to be honest. For me, it was more of trying to acquire an edge over and above mycolleagues. At the time when I did my first degree, as a lot of people who knew me then would attest to, I would not have been considered one of the most serious students in my set. But with each passing year, as I moved closer to the LLB, I realised that I had actually underperformed relative to the capabilities that God had given me due to lack of sufficient application.

So, doing a masters degree was one way of trying to make up for the underperformance at the first degree level.

Doing a Ph.D was an even greater challenge. I saw it as a way of proving to myself that, well, I actually have the capacity to excel. It’s just that I didn’t realise it early enough.

Do you intend to go into academics later?

Possibly later. My wife is in academics.

She is a lawyer as well. So, as it is, we’ve donated one half of the family to the academia. We thought it was wise that one of us should stay put in the other aspect of legal practice.

The last elections were hailed by many as largely credible. Do you think Nigeria is there yet?

I think Nigeria is on the cusp of potentially great things. I don’t think the last elections were perfect. But relative to where we’re coming from, there’s definitely a major improvement. Contrary to what occurred in 1999, in 2003 and worst still in 2007, I don’t get the sense that people across board feel that the results were completely contrary to the will of the people.

I don’t handle election petition cases, but I know that one of the principles that regulate election petition cases is that it is not sufficient to establish that there has been an irregularity in an election. You have to establish that there has been such an irregularity that but for it, the result would have been different.

So, even if there has been rigging – maybe there were 20 polling units, and you establish that there was rigging in two, but it can be shown that even if you take out the result of those two where there was established malpractice, the results would have still remained that Mr ‘A’ won and Mr ‘B’ lost, then, you can say that you had a reasonably good election.

The sense I get of the election is that the results are actually reflective – broadly speaking – of the choice of the people. I think Prof. Attahiru Jega and President Goodluck Jonathan ought to be commended for having achieved that. Whether going forward this is going to be Eldorado for Nigeria is a completely different question.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

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LAW COVER CONT’D

‘Our expectations from National Assembly’ •Continued from page 29

boast of commendable number of the opposition in the House.

It is because of such fraternity with the Executive, according to most political commentators, that the National Assembly was unable to effectively discharge its oversight responsibility.

Another area of focus is the recommendation that the lawmakers must show responsibility in their personal and official conduct as well as in their relationship with other arms.

The Assembly is expected to ensure it reviews the current revenue allocation formula, which is believed in many quarters would reduce the powers of the Federal Government.

Nigerians also expect that a well-furnished congressional budget office with relevant materials and qualified personnel be put in place so as to raise the quality of financial debate.

Lawyers spoke on their expectations of the seventh National Assembly.

President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Joseph Daudu (SAN) said: “I have told them that for them to be adjudged as having been successful, they must be seen to be passing bills; they must be seen to do their work and there must be less emphasis on the issue of bills that promote their comfort and their personal issues.

“They must concentrate on how to move this country to the next level because we are far behind in a lot of things.”

On the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, who is also a member of NBA National Executive Committee, Daudu said: “We will watch him closely. It won’t be because he is one of us then we will turn the other way. In fact, we will be harder on him than non lawyers.”

He urged the Speaker to ensure the passage of justice sector bills, such as those for legal practitioners Act, and one on the Council of Legal Education.

Daudu said there is the need for continued public hearing predicated on consultation with the public and civil society organisations.

“You don’t just give a notice that public hearing is coming up in two days time.

Place it and put it on the agenda so that people will have at least a month’s notice, and the required participation and input of the civil society and indeed of the Nigerian stakeholders will also be taken. That is a way of positively impacting on the legislation that will be made.”

Immediate past NBA President, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) said: “The National Assembly should be focused. The real impression they give to members of the public is that they are there to serve their own personal interests.

“They should be concerned about Nigerians they are there to represent. They should perform their oversight functions in such a way that it would be manifest that it is done in the true interest of Nigeria and not self serving.”

For Mrs. Nella Andem Rabana (SAN), her expectation is that they invest in support staff that are sufficiently intellectual, that will have the capacity to research on issues so that debates will be based on well-researched and articulated material.

Activist-lawyer Mr. Femi Falana said: “My expectations are really high, having regard to my own areas of interest which essentially has to do with how law can enhance the quality of life of the ordinary man in our country.

“The National Assembly, I must confess, even unknown to many of us in the legal community, has done reasonably well by attending to some of those bills that could be said to be welfare oriented.

“Such laws include the Workman Compensation Act, the new Minimum Wage Act, the Freedom of Information Act, the Universal basic Education Act, the Childs Rights Act, the Public Procurement Act, the National Aids bill as well as the Legal Aid Amendment Bill which are yet to be signed into law by the president.

“The task before us now is how to enforce these laws. With these laws now, how can we ensure that no Nigerian child is left on the street to join hoodlums who may cause mayhem?

“That is why we now have to ensure that the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Act which has made education free from pri-

•Akeredolu

•Falana

•Ogala

•Otteh

•Ogbara

mary to junior secondary school is enforced. The Freedom of Information (FoI) Act which some of us are already putting to test is going a long way to expose hidden secrets in government circles.

“We need to know what legislators earn, we need know, how much the country is making from the sale of crude oil per day.

We need to know who is getting what contracts, including oil blocks; these are the advantages of some of these laws.”

Falana continued: “I would like the National Assembly to address the petroleum Industry Bill, which most stakeholders have not examined including governors.

We expect that the Administration of Criminal Justice Bill, the Evidence Act Amendment Bill and other Bills that are

•Enahme

meant to improve the legal system will be passed into law.”

A lawyer and former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Babatunde Ogala said: “We expect the seventh National Assembly to enact peoplesoriented laws that would better the lives of Nigerian, to look at existing laws and find a way of dealing with obsolete laws.

“Such obsolete laws include the evidence laws, the land tenure law, the criminal laws, these laws are all obsolete. Without sounding immodest, we request them to come and learn a little from what we have been able to do in Lagos in law reforms.

“The National Assembly must look at the laws that would improve the lives of the people, do a proper amendment of the Con-

stitution that would be done without bias, political interest or sectional interest. They need to look at a police that would enhance true federalism.

“They should make laws that would make the states less dependent on the Federal Government, laws that would make the states to look at their potentials and address it. They must address the issues of fiscal federalism, Niger Delta problems, and special status for Lagos and so on. I expect them to do a holistic and nationalistic reform of the constitution.”

For Mr. M. A. Abubakar said the leadership of the National Assembly must address the vexing issue of the amount of the resources that go into running the two chambers of the legislature. “If they do that, it will be a very good step in the right direction.”

Former Chairman, Eastern Bar Forum, Prof Ernest Ojukwu said: “There is hope in the Assembly even though a good majority of the old ones are there. They will help with experience, there are also going to be a number of new ones and are coming with new ideas.

“The major agenda for the National Assembly is how they can legislate effectively because the past Assembly did not legislate effectively. There are so many areas of our lives that need law reforms and many bill have been pending that have not been treated, so legislating effectively is the main agenda for any transformation that we require.”

For Mr. J.S. Okutepa the lawmakers the lawmakers should make laws that will uplift the living standard to Nigerians without rancour. He condemned a situation where lawmers would throw punches and tear their clothes in public.

“I expect a high level of maturity from them; I expect checks and balances on the excesses of the executive arm of government. They should avoid putting themselves on a Jumbo salary that will offend the psyche and sensibilities of all Nigerians who are saluting their courage in the way they elected their principal officers especially the speaker of the House of Representatives,” Okutepa added.

Former Chairman, NBA Ikorodu branch, Mr Nurudeen Ogbara said the seventh National Assembly has the advantage of having been ushered in with a better, cleaner and more popular mandate. So they would more likely enjoy the support of Nigerians.

According to him, they must be quick in attending to the bills they inherited, adding: “The parameters with which they are to be judged will be the number of qualitative, not necessarily quatitative bills that they turn into laws.”

He said Nigerians are eager to see the number of high quality resolutions that will come from them, how they respond to the needs of the Nigerian masses, the Nigerian Civil Society Groups and the global community.

“There are so many international treaties and covenants that Nigeria had entered into but which have not been domesticated by the National Assembly. For instance, the United Nations Framework Convention on Tobacco Controls (FCTC). The House of Representatives passed one the senate passed another one, then there is need for the harmonisation committee to harmonise it.

Executive Director, Access to Justice (AJ) Mr. Joseph Otteh said: “The primary responsibility of the legislature is to provide good governance. One way the new assembly can begin now to demonstrate that it is committed to Nigeria and to good governance is to review the question of what they take home, to review how much that had been a liability to Nigerians and see how they can change into something that can be an asset to Nigerians.

“I am not really taking about the budget for their work; I am talking about the arbitrariness with which they leverage the national resources not for things relating exactly to their core functions but to just satisfy selfish desires.

“They need to improve access to justice for Nigerians. We still have several manifold obstacles in accessing justice in Nigeria; the judicial system still wobbles in a number of cases.

“I think that one of the first things they can do is to ensure that Nigerians have access to justice, access to equal treatment, access in a non-discriminatory manner, and access to national resources.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

32

LEGAL OPINION

Wodu is Eastern Bar chairman M R Kemasuode Wodu has been elected chairman, governing council, Eastern Bar Forum (EBF) at an election in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Wodu polled 63 votes to defeat his opponent, Mr Okon Okon Akpan who scored 38 votes in the election held at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Partner Court Bar Centre at the State High Court.

Mr Igwenyi Ogbanna Obasi was elected General Secretary. He scored 56 votes to beat Mr Aniazoka Michael Chukwujeke.

In his acceptance speech, Wodu said: “I am indeed humbled that I have just been elected as the chairman of the governing council of this great body.

“At some point, I even had some doubts because in the course of the campaign, we had some experiences. But we thank God that it has worked out successfully.

“There is no victor, no van-

LAW AND PUBLIC POWER

with

Stories by John Austin Unachukwu

quished. Competition is good, because competition brings out the best in you.”

He promised to work with other members of the governing council to move the forum to greater heights and to work with his opponents to promote EBF’s cause.

Wodu was called to the Bar on December 12, 1990. He was Assistant Secretary, NBA Port Harcourt Branch (1992 to 1994); Member, National Human Rights Committee (2000 to 2002); Chairman NBA Yanagoa Branch (2001 to 2003) and member, National Judiciary Committee (2002 to 2004).

He was also member, NBA Constitution Review Committee (2002 to 2003 and 2006 to 2007); National Legal Adviser, NBA (2004 to 2006); NBA NEC member (2001 to 2003 and 2004 to date); Secretary Governing Council EBF (2004); and mem-

gabriel AMALU email:gabrielamalu1@yahoo.com

•Wodu ber Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Nigeria (2004) Wodu, an Associate Member Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (2005), was nominated by the NBA to the Constitution Review Committee of Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria Chairman where he served as Chairman (2006 – 2007).

Law Pavilion launches new product

• Olugasa HE Law Pavilion, a firm with focus on application of information technology in legal

T

research, has launched a new product to aid legal practice.

Named Law Pavilion 5.0, its features include selected laws of the Federation, Rules of Court, and full judgments of the Court of Appeal.

The firm’s Managing Director, Mr Ope Olugasa, said: “Law Pavilion 5.0 is an improvement on the existing solution which we had over the years.

“The beauty of it is that we have put the selected laws of the Federation in such a way that if you want to conduct a search, it will not only give you the case laws, that is, the cases that deal with the subject, it will also give you the relevant laws that deal with such

issue.

“We also believe in partnering with the industry to ensure that every one is properly groomed and we all have a better platform to render our services.

“Therefore, we actually came up with such a price regime so that everybody can afford our services and benefit from our products irrespective of their financial status.

“We also have arrangements for installment payments so that young lawyers who cannot pay fully can also use the products and pay in installments at agreed rates.

“The product is in a Compact Disc (CD) format to ensure efficiency and effectiveness,”Olugasa said.

•Justice of Supreme Court, Bode Rhodes Vivour; Mr Fabian Ajogwu (SAN) and former Nigeria's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr Christopher Kolade at the presentation of Ajogwu's books Fair Hearing and Mergers and Acquisitions in Nigeria: Law & Practice in Lagos.

PHOTO: JOSEPH JIBUEZE

LEGAL DIARY Institute holds New Frontiers Lecture The Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) holds its 2011 New Frontiers Lecture on the topic: “The Future of Administrative Law and Good Governance in Nigeria.”

Date: Thursday, June 16 Venue: NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja Time: 11 a.m.

Guest Lecturer: Prof Lorne M. Sossis, Dean, Osgoode Law School, Canada. Former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) is special guest of honour.

Attendance: Free

NBA holds Criminal Justice Reform Conference THE Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) will hold its first Criminal Justice Reform Conference.

Theme: Transforming the Criminal Justice System in Nigeria – A reform agenda.

Date: July 17 – 20 Venue: NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja Time: 9 a.m. daily Keynote address by Bryan Stevenson, Director, Equal Justice Initiative, Montgomery, Alabama, Geogia, US. Special Guest of honour: President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Chief Host: Joseph Bodurin Daudu (SAN), President, NBA.

Legislators and the wages of corruption

I

CANNOT remember the commentator who said Nigerians have been shocked to the state of ‘unshockability’; or something akin to that. But never mind the source, the important thing is that the assertion has been proved correct, over and over. Many of the corruption charges against Nigeria’s public officials now run permanently in several billions, and despite its larger implications for our life style, Nigerians just shrug it off, as if stealing is now normal. The most recent allegation is against the former Speaker of the lower chamber of the National Assembly, Dimeji Bankole, adding to the heap of unresolved accusations of corruption, that if proved would put our public officials on the top list of megalomaniacs.

But the corruption scandal against the Speaker really should be better described as one against the leadership of the lower chamber of the sixth national assembly. If the reports in the press of Bankole’s statement to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are correct; then even the new speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and his deputy Emeka Ihedioha, with the other former principal officers of the House of Representatives have a case to answer. According to the reports, the former Speaker claimed that the N10 billion loan was used to offset the unlawfully increased allowances of the leadership and members of that arm of the National Assembly.

The graphic details of who allegedly received what amount from the largess was published by the press. While Bankole is already having his day in the court, the other former principal officers are out on administrative bail, except of course the new speaker and his deputy. Unfortunately for the lower chambers, they have set up the stage for crisis of confidence with their choices of speaker and deputy, in the face of the allegations of corruption against them as former principal officers of the sixth House of Representatives. While Bankole and the other former principal officers are considered innocent as per Section 36(5) of the constitution, since they have not been tried and found guilty of any misconduct over the alleged N10 billion scam, members of the public are likely to view their emergence with consternation, as they should have been allowed to clear their names before being elevated to a higher responsibility.

But while the issue of who participated in the alleged corruption loot will be decided by the courts, the opacity of the income of the members of the last National Assembly stands condemned by all Nigerians. Recently, the chairman of EFCC, Farida Waziri called on the seventh National Assembly to publish the entitlement of members, so as to stem public odium against the National Assembly; but we shall see whether they will take up the challenge, or falter in the face of the tempting lucre. The chances if we go by the history of the national assembly since the advent of this democracy, is they will rather up the ante of alleged corruption tendencies than heed the advice.

On the Bankole saga, the chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Fidelis Mbam, empowered in paragraph 32 (d) of the third schedule to the constitution to determine the revenue of public officials, including legislators, have allegedly claimed to be unaware of the unwarranted and unmerited increments in allowances that the borrowed money was used to offset. I had sometime in the past on this page condemned the incompetence of that agency, for allowing the continuing hemorrhaging of our common resources, against the constitutional provisions imbuing it with powers to checkmate same.

Unfortunately, the Nigeria corruption syndrome is peculiar. It is difficult to understand how the system allows individuals access to the billions they are alleged to have stolen, before the circus of a trial is initiated. One wonders whether they are no inbuilt checks and balances to stop the itching hands of our public official from stealing resources put at their disposal.

When an individual is allowed to steal as much as several billions, the system puts him in a very strong position to further denigrate the system; through other untoward ways. Such resources allows the accused person opportunity to hire the best lawyers, corrupt the investigating authorities, the press and even the courts. Again as the accused lives in opulence, while the trial winds to no end, there is the negative influence on the rest of the society, as it begins to look like the end justifies the means.

Fortunately, the President of the senate is doing his fourth term while the Speaker is probably doing his third. Between the two I think they have had enough of the freebies from their time in the National Assembly in the current dispensation. So, just may be, they will persuade their colleagues to concentrate on law making instead of wheeling and dealing with the Nigerian common wealth. If the National Assembly can wean itself from the alleged corrupt ensemble, then they could summon the moral rectitude to face the greater buccaneers in the executive and help to tame them.

The members of the National Assembly should pause and review the effects of the cankerworm called corruption. They are the bad roads, the no light syndrome, the inhospitable hospitals, the brain drain, the garish infant and maternal mortality, the shambolic educational system, the disused housing schemes, the nightmares of armed robbers and armed gangs, the insider dealings passing off as wealth creation, the derailed railways, and may more hell raisers. These are all wages of corruption. Now let’s hope the redemption sorely needed by our country would begin with the seventh National Assembly. A forlorn hope?

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

NATIONAL BAR

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NBA seeks overhaul of judicial system

HE Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has deplored the dwindling quality of service delivery by Nigerian courts.

In a communiqué issued at the end of its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting last Thursday in Abuja and signed by the President, Joseph Daudu (SAN), NBA particularly criticised the manner in which criminal cases are handled.

“NBA/NEC notes a diminution in quality of service delivery in the justice system in Nigeria, especially in the criminal justice system.

“NEC encourages a rapid drastic but incisive approach to the improvement of judicial services in this matter,” it said.

To help reverse the trend, NBA vowed to begin an aggressive process of criminal justice system overhaul.

On the electoral process, NBA said it would partner with the government to ensure an early start in making adjustments to Nigeria’s electoral laws to avoid a repetition of the mistakes and pitfalls of past general elections.

“To this end, the NBA has set up an Election Laws Reform Panel chaired by Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) and co-chaired by Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) with 10 other members to look into the flaws associated with the state of our laws leading to the 2011 elections,” NBA said.

The panel will also examine the pre- and post-election violence, the inability to bring persons accused of committing election-related offences to book, how to tighten all the loopholes that allow rigging to thrive, how to ensure that all votes count, and how to deal with matters associated with pre-election litigation.

The committee’s report will include a draft Electoral Act Bill which will be presented within six months to the government for accelerated passage of proposed reform measures into law.

On insecurity, NBA condemned all acts of terrorism within the country, as well as the Boko Haram terrorist menace in Borno State.

It said: “NBA recognises that terrorists

•Daudu

•Emeka Obegolu, National Publicity Secretary, NBA

•Blessing Ukiri, 1st Vice-President, NBA

courage and validate the use of violence, force and or other illegal means to achieve illegitimate goals.

“The NBA encourages those behind the Boko Haram clamour to abandon and or disavow violence and terrorism in the overall interest of the people of Borno State and Nigeria.”

NBA condemned the clash between men of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Nigerian Army, and called for the prosecution of those involved.

It said: “It was resolved that all those found involved in the use of self help and excessive force and violence leading to the deaths of personnel of either service must be brought to book.

“It is noted that the recourse to force and violence is becoming a standard reaction

pattern of service personnel (whether it involves men of the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air force or Police) in the event of crisis or altercation between personnel of these services or between them and civilians.

“The leadership of these organisations is hereby called upon to engage their officers and men in intensive education so as to engender a new culture of due process, respect for constitutional institutions and measures for due process and the Rule of Law. “In relation to very recent events on this issue, NBA calls on the relevant agencies including but not limited to the Lagos State government to use all legitimate measures within their disposal to bring all those involved in the unreasonable use of force leading to untimely deaths to justice.”

By Joseph Jibueze

groups and acts are thriving in various parts of Nigeria as a result of security lapses.

“It was, therefore, resolved that the government should overhaul its security apparatus in order to combat this menace which hampers economic growth and scares away internal and external investment.

“This overhaul should include seeking expert assistance from our foreign allies who have had positive and encouraging results in their own fight against terrorism.”

The association condemned the alleged proposed bid by Borno State to accede to one of the demands of terrorists, which is to implement the Sharia Legal System.

NBA said: “It is a standard worldwide practice not to give in to demands made by kidnappers or terrorists as that will only en-

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

35

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

LAW & SOCIETY AFRICAN REGIONAL COURSE FOR GOVERNMENT LEGAL ADVISERS/LAW OFFICERS

BY THE NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED LEGAL STUDIES (NIALS) IN LAGOS 36

•Director, Legal Aid Council, Mrs Joy Bob-Manuel and NIALS Director-General, Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN)

•NIALS Secretary, Mr James Bathnna and former NIALS Librarian, Chief Theophilus Dada

•From left: Linus Ugwu, Michael Awoponle and Edith Agbakoba

•Ezekwere Ogechi and Harrison Ataide

•From left: Celestine Okolo, Ibrahim Umar and Latifat Salau

•From left: Obot Ekanem, Ignatius Icha and Uguyilam Wakomba

•Lawunmi Halilu and Goddy Idiong

•Habiba Ahmed and Lois Danjuma

•From left: Godwin Atsu, Aina Funmilayo and Busola Benstone

•From left: Hussaini Ali, Peter Anyebe and Juliet Abari-King PHOTOS: DAVID ADEJO

36

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

LAW & SOCIETY NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (NEC) MEETING OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION (NBA) HELD AT THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRE, ABUJA

•From left: Chief Judge of FCT High Court, Justice L.H Gummi; NBA President Joseph Daudu (SAN) and Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal

•From left: Boma Ozobia; Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN); Akin Akinbote and A.B Mahmoud (SAN)

•General Secretary NBA, Olumuyiwa Akinboro (left) with former General Secretary NBA Ibrahim Mark

•Okey Wali (SAN) and Wole Olanipekun (SAN)

•From left: Chief Emmanuel Ukala (SAN); M.A Abubakar and Joe Kyari Gadzama (SAN)

•From left: Rickey Tarfa (SAN); Mrs Nella Andem Rabana (SAN) and Lawal Rafiu Rabana (SAN)

•From left: Hajiya Fatima Kwaku; John Ochoga and OCJ Okocha (SAN)

•Senator Victor Ndoma Egba (SAN) and Deputy Speaker House of Representatives Emeka Ihedioha

• Welfare Officer NBA, Sule Usman and JS Okutepa

•National Publicity Secretary NBA, Emeka Obegolu (left) and Chairman NBA Lagos Chijoke Okoli

PHOTOS: JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU

37

TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

ENERGY THE NATION

E-mail:- energy@thenationonlineng.net

The Federal Government has adopted a strategy to end the lingering kerosene scarcity. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has imported some vessels of dual purpose kerosene (309,994,120.02 litres), which it said is 38.75 days sufficiency, going by the estimated eight million litres daily national consumption. The corporation has set up a monitoring committee that includes NNPC, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to ensure no marketer plays smart in the distribution of the product, EMEKA UGWUANYI Assistant Editor (Energy) reports.

NNPC, operators in strategic alliance to end kerosene scarcity

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HE Nigerian National Petro leum Corporation (NNPC) has taken a seemingly sustainable step to end the biting kerosene scarcity that has lingered in the past few months, forcing the price of the product to jump to about N145 per litre against the regulated price of N50 per litre.

The first 30,000 metric tonnes cargo of kerosene, which was brought in by MT Rhino was due for discharge last Thursday while other vessels would follow suit afterwards.

Other vessels with different volumes of the product include MT Zambezi Star with (30,104 MT), MT Nord Organiser (25,318 MT), MT Melody (28,001 MT), MT Challenger (35,666MT), MT Atlantic Olive (38,333MT), MT Freja Dania (38,189MT) and MT Kate Maersk (30,237MT). They are all berthed and awaiting discharge.

According to the information gathered by our correspondent, the total volume berthed in the high sea as at Thursday was 254,094MT equivalent of 309,994,120.02 litres, which is 38.75 days sufficiency going by daily national demand of eight million litres as stated by the

Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).

Explaining the situation and distribution arrangement with marketers, the spokesman of NNPC, Dr Levi Ajuonuma said: “We are giving one full cargo of DPK to the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN). They will be able to mobilise their members to take delivery and ensure that within 10 days or less, it will get to their stations and on the way to end-users.

“We are here to show that as far as NNPC is concerned, we have met our own side of the bargain by giving MOMAN a shipload of kerosene and they are taking delivery today.

We including NNPC, MOMAN, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) are monitoring to ensure that the kerosene is distributed and that it gets to the end-users.

“The Group Managing Director (GMD) of NNPC, Austen Oniwon also promised that other stakeholders like IPMAN and DAPPMA will also receive the same. He prom-

• From left: Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, Chairman, JEPTFON, Ikem Ohia, Secretary, DAPPMA and Sylverius Okoli, Chairman, DAPPMA at the joint meeting of DAPPMA and JEPTFON in Lagos at the weekend over NNPC kerosene allocation to major oil marketers.

ised to have a meeting with IPMAN and DAPPMA this week. The whole idea is to show that the product is available, the difficulty that we have in the past is primarily a distribution difficulty and with all the station owners cooperating with the NNPC and PPMC, this distribution hiccup should stop immediately and once the market is flooded with product, the price will come down.

“In addition to this importation,

ment means business and we say we want to flood the market with products”.

The Executive Director, Commercial, Products and Pipelines Marketing Company (PPMC), Farouk Ahmed said: “MT Rhino has 30,000 metric tonnes and because of the storage at Apapa, which cannot take 30,000 metric tonnes of DPK at a time, we divided it into volumes of 11,000 metric tonnes to • Continued on page 38

Fed Govt plans power training policy

INSIDE •Cylinder acquisition: NLPGA to start Lagos pilot scheme

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

•••Page 38

•Criticisms trail OPEC’s failure to raise output •••Page 39

•‘Training, education key to oil, gas development’

• Reuben Okeke, Director-General, National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN)

•••Page 40

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HE Federal Government has set in motion the process of estab lishing a National Power Training Policy, which will back up all ac-

tivities involved in creating the manpower base needed to achieve government’s set milestones in the power sector.

The Director-General of the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), Mr. Reuben Okeke, an engineer, who disclosed this, said that currently, such policy doesn’t exist in the country and without the policy; it would be difficult to implement some initiatives planned for the development of the sector.

“There is nothing like power training policy existing anywhere now.

And if we don’t have a training policy, especially in the power sector, it will be very difficult for me to implement some of the initiatives we have,” he said.

Okeke said considering the importance of the policy, the Minister of

OIL PRICES JUNE 3 - JUNE10

Light Crude

Source: Rigzone.com

they will complement what the refineries are producing. All the refineries are working and they are producing DPK. Normally the average national demand for DPK is eight million litres and presently we are giving about 12 million litres a day. So it should be able to bring down the price and also ease the difficulty that consumers have encountered in the last one month.

To give Nigerians and consumers confident and to show that govern-

Brent Crude

State for Power, Nuhu Wya, had directed the institute to assist in developing the training policy adding that the first draft had been done and submitted to the minister, which he has approved.

He said the draft document would be made public once the institute gets the minister’s approval on that after which there would be a national debate on it by all stakeholders. After the stakeholders’ forum, the final draft would commence, he added.

Okeke said: “The first draft of National Power Training Policy for the power sector of Nigeria has been approved by the Minister of State (Power) to be made public. A national all stakeholders forum on it will be held soon. The minister is empowered by law to sign such policy to guide all power sector participants in ensuring sustainability of capacity building and training in the sector.

“The consultant that assisted us in raising the draft document is Core International Inc. Core International is under Nigerian Infrastructural Advisory Facility (NAIF), which is a programme of Department for International Development (DFID), which also did the blue print that established NAPTIN and its five-year business plan. They will equally anchor the national all stakeholders forum and produce the final draft for the minister of power’s signature.

“The policy, which will be implemented by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), is one of the strongest forces that will ensure reduction in electrical accidents, power outages, loss of power equip-

ment, improve power quality, customer satisfaction and huge return on investment of owner’s equity.”

The NAPTIN chief also said that the government has procured two world class training equipment - simulator and electrical engineering training laboratory, which the institute would take delivery of on completion.

Okeke said: “Simulator is an equipment or collection of various systems that can be used to mimic a complete life electric power system value chain.

It generates its own power at very little voltage, transmits it over any distance of choice at different voltage levels and distributes up to end user voltage. The exert flow of electricity from point of manufacture to the consumer point can be simulated using this equipment in the laboratory.

Many fault conditions or system life disturbances can be simulated using the equipment to study the reaction of the grid network. The national grid security against system collapses study can be done with out interfering with the real grid network itself.

Most importantly is ability of handson training of power engineers without interrupting power to the customers. It is equally used to diagnose faults especially in a power plant.

“Electrical Engineering Training Laboratory is a complete set up with over 100 training softwares in all operations and maintenance, outage management, scada, system protection, among others, in generation, transmission and distribution systems. It is equally a laboratory for training engineers and technologists in renewable energies.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

38

ENERGY

Cylinder acquisition: NLPGA to start Lagos pilot scheme

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HE Nigerian Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association (NLPGA) says it plans to begin a pilot scheme on cylinder acquisition with the Lagos State government in a bid to promote the use of cooking gas in the country.

The association said the initiative has become necessary in view of the fact that LPG has not been popularised among consumers owing to the exorbitant price and inaccessibility of gas cylinders. He admitted that LPG would have been affordable and acceptable but for the high cost of the cylinders.

While responding to questions on the proposed construction of assembly plant for LPG cylinder, Prince Adebambo Ademiluyi, an engineer, and chairman of the technical committee on the project, told The Nation that the association as part of measures to enhance LPG is planning to distribute gas cylinders to Lagos State indigenes as a pilot scheme to drive the campaign for LPG use.

He said: “We are ready to do everything to promote LPG. Part of what we are doing is the advisory role we are ready to play to encourage investors and suppliers to build an assembly plant for LPG in the country. Apart from this we are also doing a lot to aid cylinder acquisition by the consumers and that is why we are putting in place a scheme to make this possible.

“We are starting with a pilot scheme in Lagos State. That pilot scheme is being coordinated by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Community Development Committees (CDCs) of Lagos State. In the pilot scheme, we want to distribute about 20,000 cylinders within the next six months to Lagos State indigenes. We are trying to encourage micro finance

By Bidemi Bakare

banks to finance the acquisition for the beneficiaries. With this, consumers can pay deposit and take the cylinders and pay the rest by installments. By doing this we believe it is just a way of reducing the point of entry for usage of LPG. Currently, we are working on this pilot scheme to see if it works maybe it will make government to realise that it is not as if people are not interested in LPG it is just because they don’t have the money to get the cylinders.”

He said even if the government cannot give the cylinders free as it is being done in other countries, it can help empower the micro finance banks with funding for people to access the special fund so that the cylinder acquisition can be done on a massive scale.

“I don’t see any reason why government should not be willing to give these cylinders free to people to encourage them to use LPG. This is what is obtained in other climes.

In Indonesia for instance, the government in trying to encourage the use of LPG told the people to bring their kerosene stove and were given a 6kg cylinder complete with burners in exchange free. That is the way to go. Even if the government is not disposed to giving the cylinders out free as expected it can help provide fund for the microfinance banks as guarantee for people to enter into hire purchase arrangement to acquire cylinders. This would no doubt contribute immensely to boosting LPG development in Nigeria” Ademiluyi said the association has had preliminary discussions with a host of ministries including ministry of rural development, ministry of women affairs and pov-

• Gas cylinders

erty alleviation, ministry of health and environment particularly,the Lagos State Environment Protection Agency (LASEPA) for them to key into the scheme and enhance its success adding that a stakeholders forum would hold before the end of July to formalise the scheme for it to take off by August.

The Quaint agency boss said the association is also looking into the issue of safety to help avert any incidence of explosion arising from transportation, distribution and usage of LPG. “We are considering seriously the issue of safety in the usage of LPG. In fact, that is why

we are making sure that we educate people and encourage them to buy gas alarm. We have been distributing fliers with tips of safety expressed both in Yoruba and English. We want to translate it to Pidgin English too.

‘We are also looking at safety in terms of transportation and distribution of the product. In actual fact, some few weeks back we were at a meeting where the issue of drivers’ training was discussed.

“So we are planning to train not only the drivers but owners of trucks and plants. In fact, for everybody participating in the whole

NNPC, operators in strategic alliance to end kerosene scarcity • Continued from page 37 be delivered by MT Rhino, followed by 15,000 metric tonnes to be delivered by MT Zambezi Star, and the remaining 4,000 tonnes by an NNPC shuttle called Zoja 1, totaling 30,000 MT. This volume is mainly for MOMAN and it is addition to what NNPC is giving to NIPCO jetty for our own throughput, which means we are also giving ourselves for our own customers, which is mainly independent marketers. For NNPC mega stations we are taking about 10,000MT for this week to Capital depot mainly for NNPC retail stations.

So we have this MOMAN, NNPC retail volume and the one going to NIPCO for NNPC throughput and this is in addition to average of four and half million litres per day from our three refineries.

“The national consumption as per PPPRA advice is eight million litres per day and we are giving a lot more than that almost 12 and half million litres per day on the average. So the product is there and people should not panic.

“We have created the slots for the vessels to arrive at NOJ because we cannot deliver the 30,000 MT at once due to storage capacity as well as draft limitation at Apapa, which is between 7.3 and 7.4 metres.”

According to Ajuonuma, the GMD “said: Arrangements with all strategic stakeholders are ongoing, which means what we are doing with MOMAN, IPMAN DAPMMA will be on a long term basis. We will sustain this meeting with them, so as soon as this supply gets to 10 days, we will give them another one. Kerosene has not been a serious issue like this in the past but after all investigations we discovered it was a distribution challenge. “We decided not to apportion blames but to tackle the

‘The national consumption as per PPPRA advice is eight million litres per day and we are giving a lot more than that almost 12 and half million litres per day on the average. So the product is there and people should not panic...We have created the slots for the vessels to arrive at NOJ because we cannot deliver the 30,000 MT at once due to storage capacity as well as draft limitation at Apapa, which is between 7.3 and 7.4 metres’ problem head-on and provide the solution, which is to overwhelm the market with the product to show it is not really a supply problem and also ensure that that the distributors get the product to the final consumer at affordable price.

“NNPC retail stations sell at N50 per litre and with the huge inflow into the market we believe the marketers will be forced to bring down their price also.

Remember the price of crude has gone up in the international market and kerosene is a derivative of crude but government says because the product is used by the majority of Nigerians, it should be made available to them at affordable price.”

Position of DAPPMA, JEPTFON After a prolonged joint meeting, the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA) and Jetty and Petroleum Tank Farm Owners of Nigeria (JEPTFON) said the government should involve their members in seeking solution to the kerosene scarcity because they control 80 percent of the distribution infrastructure.

The group’s position was delivered by DAPPMA Chairman, Mr.

Sylverius Okoli and JEPTFON Chairman, Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah.

Fielding questions from journalists, the group said: “What we are saying principally is that we have a larger infrastructure to distribute this product and we have storage infrastructure. In Calabar, for instance, where MOMAN doesn’t exist and to exclude us, that means that places such as Calabar would have to suffer. We have been in distribution but we are saying that we like others are involved in distribution but then if you take us out and we have 80 percent of infrastructure and we are spread all over the country and along the whole west coast, then you have to make the problem even worse.

“We don’t know the criteria the GMD adopted in selecting only MOMAN but whatever the criteria are, we are saying the GMD ought to involve all of us particularly those of us who have the network and infrastructure to deal with the issue.

Whatever the problem is, we all will contribute and get better solution but by excluding us it is clear the solution cannot be perfect.

“We were not in the meeting held with MOMAN and the NNPC has not sent any invitation to us for any such meeting next week (this week).

If the NNPC claims that MOMAN is chosen because they want a group with less number, which they would be able to control, I will say our number is not such that if there is any monitoring required, that we cannot do it. We have our rules and I don’t think the GMD has any reason to believe that we are undisciplined group. We have invested in state-of-the-art infrastructure and I don’t see how anybody can assume that we undisciplined and others are not.

“We are saying that we should be involved in whatever the solution should be, so that the scarcity can be taken out of the country.

Once there is an imbalance in the supply and distribution, there will be shortage of this kind and when you take away the major distribution channels out of that system, it might be difficult to mend what is already bad.”

On the supply sufficiency claim

by NNPC, the group said: “You can have 40 days sufficiency in the high sea, but it is until you go through the system and the system has to be the infrastructure on ground, the product cannot reach the target end-users. We do know that the distribution of this product is through licensed retailers, surface tanks and to jerry cans and to bottles before it gets to actual consumers.

“You can have 40 days sufficiency in the high sea but until you use the system or adopt a system that allows the 40 days sufficiency to go through every channel, the consumer will suffer. By not involving us, the NNPC has thrown us out of business, so we don’t have to close shop because they (NNPC) have shut us up. If you don’t allow me access to the product and you are the sole importer whether I want to close shop or not, you have closed me down.”

value chain we are going to be organising training for all of them.

If you may like to know, LPG drivers are really not drivers in fact we call them plant operators.

“They are plant operators because what they are driving is a plant. LPG truck is not like the petrol tank where the driver just open one valve and the product comes out by gravity. So, the driver must actually understand the reason why for instance he has to couple like this or the reason why he must stand the truck like that. As a plant operator he has to be certified.And this is what NLPGA wants to start doing(certifying) so that before any driver is employed he would have to be one that has been through the training,” he added.

PHCN: Adeoye takes over at Lagos Transmission Company

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HE management of Power Holding Company of Nige ria (PHCN) has appointed Mr. Sabit Adeoye, an engineer, as the Acting General Manger Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Lagos Region.

A statement issued by the company’s Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs. Celestina Osin, said before his appointment, Adeoye was the Assistant General Manager Transmission, Ikeja west sub-region.

Oshin said Adeoye took over from Mr. James Akinremi, also an engineer, who recently retired from the organisation.

Adeoye joined the PHCN in 1981 as pupil engineer and was overseeing transmission operations in both Lagos and Ogun States.

According to the statement, Adeoye has worked in various capacities and departments including the supervision of extension of the 330 KVA Ikeja west transmission station and also the supervision of the 330KV project line link to Sakate sub-station in Cotonou (Republic of Benin). The project is part of the West African Power Project (WAPP).

Adeoye was the team leader of the in-house engineers who rehabilitated the Ajah 330/132, 33kv substation after the station was guttered by fire.

He is married with children

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

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ENERGY

Criticisms trail OPEC’s failure to raise output

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

•OPEC Secretary-General

Abdallah el-Badri

S

INCE the 159th meeting the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) ended in Vienna, Austria, last week with a decision to leave output unchanged, the organisation has been under criticism for lack of concern for the rising price of crude in the international market, which is believed would have negative impact on the recovering world economy.

OPEC members rose from its meeting with no formal decision reached on a production agreement. However, the Organization said it abides by its longstanding commitment to order and stability in the international oil market.

According to Reuters, the International Energy Agency (IEA), which advises 28 industrialised countries on energy policy, expressed its disappointment with the OPEC for its failure to increase oil output.

The Agency in statement said: “We have noted with disappointment that OPEC members today were unable to agree on the need to make more oil available to the market. Of course what really matters is actual supply, which should move in line with seasonally rising demand, and we urge key pro-

ducers to respond accordingly.

“Ongoing supply disruptions, as well as the fragile state of the global economy, call for a prompt increase in supply on a competitive basis that will allow refiners to boost throughputs and meet rising seasonal demand.”

At the meeting, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Nigeria and Algeria supported an increase pressed other nations for an increase of up to 1.5 million barrels a day and to bring prices down to $80 per barrel, in an attempt to calm market but Ecuador, Venezuela, Iraq and Iran insisted on maintaining their output and to keep oil prices above $100 a barrel while the position of Qatar, Angola and Libya were unknown.

Venezuela Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez was quoted as saying that no OPEC production increase as long as the state of the world economy and the war in Libya injects uncertainty into the oil market.

Reuters’ poll also showed that global oil demand is growing faster than analysts expected. The poll of 10 top oil analysts showed oil demand will grow by 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) this year to hit a record 89 million bpd. At that level, global use will have risen by fiev percent since the depths of the recession in 2009.

The forecast for demand this year is 300,000 bpd higher than it was in the last Reuters poll in December, based on strong emerging market growth.

Barclays Capital gave four reasons OPEC could have increased output. They include the issue oil price, the consolidation of the backwardation in Brent, and then the recent further firming of that backwardation and the general tightening of the crude market in recent months and, more importantly, the projected tightening in the balances in the second of this year,

Schneider Electric deepens market in West Africa

S

CHNEIDER Electric, special ist in energy management, has strengthened its market presence in West Africa by signing a partnership agreement with Atlantic International Holding Company, Ghana.

The agreement enables Atlantic International Holding act as the sales representative of Schneider Electric in the areas of electrical distribution and medium voltage products in Ghana. The partnership will also help to generate new business, stimulate growth, as well as build new customer relationships through shared initiatives.

Speaking during the contract signing ceremony, Mr. Marcel Hochet, Country President, Schneider Electric Nigeria said that the new partnership with Atlantic International Holding Company would enable customers in Ghana enjoy the world class products and services for which Schneider Electric is renowned. “We are delighted to work together with Atlantic International Holding Company to provide Ghanaians our top quality products and services.

“It is also our expectation that this relationship will be mutually beneficial allowing both Schneider Electric and Atlantic International Holding Company drive growth and increase market presence,” Hochet said.

Hochet noted that the partnership agreement with Atlantic International Holding Company came on the backdrop of increasing demand

by Ghanaians for Schneider Electric’s products. He said some

of the products covered by the agreement include primary MV switchgears, secondary MV switchgears, power transformers, network protection, control and monitoring components amongst others. In addition to this, after sales service and maintenance would be provided to ensure the products work optimally.

Commenting on the agreement, the Managing Director, Atlantic International Holding Company, Dr. Patric Ata, said his company was glad to be associated with Schneider Electric. He said the new partnership affords both companies the opportunity to deepen market presence by offering Ghanaians Schneider Electric’s products and services.

He said: “Schneider Electric’s electrical products are in high demand due to their unmatched quality and price competitiveness. We will do our best to ensure that our customers in Ghana have access to the products as well as provide them with after sales service and maintenance.”

He thanked Schneider Electric for the opportunity offered by the agreement and pledged the commitment of Atlantic International Holding Company to ensure sustenance of the relationship.

Atlantic International Holding Company is engaged in the distribution, sales, services and maintenance of engineering products and services while Schneider Electric is a global specialist in energy management with operations in more than 100 countries.

• Next conference holds December in Vienna among others.

OPEC President and Acting Minister of Petroleum of the Islamic Republic of Iran, His Excellency Mohammad Aliabadi in his opening address at the meeting preempted the outcome of the meeting by saying the market was well supplied.

Aliabadi said: “Today, we shall look at developments in the international oil market since our last meeting in Quito on 11 December 2010. This period has been marked by high levels of volatility and an upward trend in prices. On several occasions in April 2011, the price of the OPEC Reference Basket topped US$120 a barrel. Then early May saw a reverse, with the sharpest weekly price decline on record, as both WTI and Brent lost almost $17 a barrel. All in all, however, while prices have slipped back from their earlier peaks, they are still well above what we saw at our meeting in Ecuador six months ago.

But the story goes deeper than this: when we look at currency movements and the inflation, the

OPEC Reference Basket rose by only 16 percent while, in nominal terms, the Basket has risen by 24 percent since the start of the year.

The early onset of winter had an initial impact on the situation. So did forecasts of a quicker than- expected rise in oil demand and a surge of investment flows into commodity markets, including crude. However, the market outlook has been dominated more recently by the political developments in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). There has also been the triple disaster in Japan.

Our sympathies go to those affected by all these tragic events, and we look forward to their early solutions. There is still much uncertainty about the strength of the world economic recovery. While the developing economies continue to be the main drivers of growth, particularly China and India, there are still some notable points of concern. These include the persistently high level of unemployment, the sovereign debt crises in major Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Develop-

ment (OECD) countries, potential overheating in many emerging economies and rising inflation across the globe. These are all important factors, they can interact with each other and they can all influence the return to steady economic growth.

In short, it has been a nervous six months for the oil market.

Throughout, however, fundamentals have remained sound. Very much due to OPEC’s efforts, the world remains well supplied with oil, with ample spare capacity and adequate stock levels. However, it appears that there is not enough effective spare capacity in the downstream sector, which has recently led to further spread of sweet and sour crudes. Despite that shortage, generally, the basics are right for market stability.

The Permanent Secretary, Goni Musa Sheikh, an engineer, led Nigeria’s delegation to the conference as currently there is no substantive minister of petroleum.

The 160th Meeting of the Conference will take place on 14 December 2011 in Vienna, Austria. This will be preceded by the Ministerial Monitoring Sub-Committee on 13 December

• From right: Group General Manager Medical, Dr. Peter. Nmadu, Area Manager PPMC, Warri, Mr. Enock Williams, Warri Depot Chief, Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mr. Austen Oniwon and Group Executive Director Refinery and Petrochemical, Mr. Phillip Chukwu, inspecting oil installations at the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company in Warri at the weekend.

Communities accuse Mobil of neglect, default in agreement S

OME host communities of Mobil Producing Nigeria Un limited (MPNU) have accused the oil firm of neglecting its social responsibilities and defaulting in past agreements with them.

This was contained in a statement released by a group of representatives of the communities - the Afigh Waad Ekid (AIE), a socio-cultural youth organisation in Eket Federal Constituency in Akwa Ibom State.

The Manager, Government and Public Affairs, MPNU, Nigel Cookey-Gam, however, said Mobil is discussing with the communities.

He said: “MPNU is in discussions with community leaders on issues raised by the group. The discussion is an ongoing process.”

The communities are in Eket, Onna, Ibeno and Esit-Eket Local Government Areas. The group said the statement titled: “Before the bubble burst” was informed by the need to make public, particularly to the stakeholders in the oil industry in Nigeria, the alleged refusal by MPNU to take proactive steps to douse tension in its core operational area.

It also accused the company of frustrating past efforts by the communities’ representatives to meet with its top management personnel with a view to seeking ways of averting imminent crisis in the area.

However, further investigation into the issue revealed that Mobil is

• We are discussing with the communities – oil firm

By Eric Ikhilae

willing to engage the group, dialogue with them and resolve the problem peacefully.

But a source from one of the communities said, there has been delay in resolving the issue because Mobil offered to sit with them and sort things out but the group insists on the Managing Director coming in person to the meeting. The company on the other offered to send its executive directors considering the tight schedule of the managing director to enable the issue resolved as quickly as possible.

The source said they are still talking with Mobil’s management as well as the youths to take the path of peace.

AIE stated in the statem e n t signed by its President-General, Mr. Bassey B.

Nkanang and Secretary General, Victor Rex that its leadership and other community leaders have almost exhausted their capacity to restrain “Our people in their push to have the issues in question sorted out with MPNU one way or the other without any further delay.”

The group catalogued the alleged many infractions of the oil company, lamented that their people were “gradually being pushed to the extremes in a situation where the community responsible for the highest crude output in the country is the least developed of all the oil producing communities in the country.

40

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

SLIDING TACKLE

“It was unfortunate that we have to lose that match, Lobi is not a team that kwara united will loose our match to but our boys lost concentration and within four minutes they scored us the two goals. As a matter of fact something is wrong with the pitch of Bauchi because it was slippery all through the encounter.”

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

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NIGERIA PREMIER LEAGUE...NIGERIA PREMIER LEAGUE...

We didn’t deserve to lose — Kwara Utd

By Akeem Lawal

K

WARA United secretary, Ademola Kiyesola has expressed dissatisfaction over the team’s 2-1 loss suffered in the hands of Lobi Stars at the Abubarkar Tafawa Balewa Stadium,Bauchi last weekend, saying the Afonja Warriors

Secretary to the Nigeria Premier League Kwara United, Ademola Kiyesola lamenting the club’s loss to Lobi Stars a match played last weekend. deserved at least a draw from the encounter.

In a chat with NationSport, Kiyesola believes his team failed to utilise numerous scoring opportunities that came their way, which could have made the difference.

“It was unfortunate that we have to lose that match, Lobi is not a team that kwara united will loose our match to but our boys lost concentration and within four minutes they scored us the two goals. As a matter of fact something is wrong with the pitch of Bauchi because it was slippery all through the encounter.

“The ball that scored us, our goalkeeper wanted to be on safe position, and he slipped and that was how the ball got in. It was a very weak shot that ordinarily won’t have been difficult for any keeper to

catch but the ball just went into the net easily. Then the second goal was a penalty. I don’t want to question the authority of the referee because he gave them that penalty.

“It was when our boys started mastering the pitch that the game was running to an end and the goal we scored, and you know scoring an away goal and the referee allow it, means it is a very good goal. Before we scored that one, we had lost about four clear chances that would have made the difference. We are not supposed to have lost that match at all but that is football for you, the game is won and lost. We are going back to get prepared for the next match against Dolphins”, he told NationSport.

Dolphins' Eguma wants double

M

ANAGER of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) club, Dolphins, Stanley Eguma wants to win the domestic League title and the Federations (formerly FA) cup in the same season for the first time his career. Dolphins are well placed in the NPL,

TOP SCORERS

•Fayemi Fasheun of Crown up against Kwara United

CAF CONFEDERATIONS CUP

Akombo, Itodo: We need to be cautious S UNSHINE Stars of Akure duo of Ukeyima Akombo and Cletus Itodo have both cautioned their colleagues not to be carried away by the team’s historic qualification for the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup and thus forget that tougher challenges lie ahead.

Both players disclosed this in an exclusive chat with NationSport shortly after The Mimiko Boys triumphed 1-0 over Al Ittihad of Libya to book a place among the elite eight clubs in the second tier African Club Cup competition.

“Yes I must admit that Ittihad really gave us tough time but we thank God we won which was the priority of the club before the game started. Having secured that I think we shouldn’t forget we have tough assignment ahead of us in the group stage which starts next month and it is no time to get carried away.” Akombo told NationSport.

Also speaking on the importance of staying focus, the former Enyimba of Aba midfielder, Cletus Itodo harped on the need for Sunshine to be disciplined and think more about the target ahead and not just living on the present.

He enjoined fellow teammate to ensure they all lift their

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri game and make Sunshine’s Cinderella run in their premiere outing on the continent worth it.

According to Itodo, “We will keep on working hard

because we know that we have not got there. Tougher matches are ahead of us and we must show that we are up to the task. We must approach our upcoming matches with the same spirits with which we started the competition. If we are able to do that, our objective of lifting the cup will be achieved.”

Yusuf tips Kaduna Utd for semis

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ADUNA United’s playmaker, Yusuf Siman, believes the club is good enough to secure a semi-final ticket in the 2011 CAF Confederations Cup. The CAF Confederations Cup debutants shocked top Algerian side, Entente Setif, rated one of the tournament’s favourites 3-1 on aggregate to reach the group stage.

Setif won the first-leg by a lone goal but the Nigerians powered by experienced Maurice Cooreman won the second leg 3-0 in Kaduna to make history.

The first half ended goalless but an own goal brought the Nigerians back into contention, while former international, Rabiu Baita and the club’s top scorer in the Nigerian Premier League, Jude Aneke, compounded the

woes of the Algerians on match day.

Yusuf told SuperSport.com that the victory over the Algerians has boosted the confidence of the team.

“Our qualification for the group stage has boosted confidence in the team. Most people didn’t take us serious even after we defeated Enyimba to win the Federation Cup and qualified to represent Nigeria in this competition, but now that will change.

“I’m confident that we can reach the semi-finals of the competition. We believe anything can happen in football,” he said to SuperSport.com.

The Kaduna United star revealed that the players have learnt some lessons from their two-legged encounter against the north Africans.

11 GOALS Ajani Ibrahim - Sunshine 10 GOALS Victor Barnabas- Enyimba Kabiru Sanusi - Kwara 9 GOALS Gambo Moh’mdPillars George Akpabio- Plateau Utd 8 GOALS A’rahman Bashir- Bukola Ehiosun Ekigho- Wolves Brenden Ogbu - Rangers 7 GOALS Efe YarhereWolves Akombo Ukeyima- Sunshine Sibi Gwar-Tornadoes Jude Aneke- Kaduna Utd ChristopherDolphins 6 GOALS James Amankwei -JUTHFC Victor Michael-Dolphins Atanda Sakibu- Sunshine Victor Ezeji- Sharks 5 GOALS Barnabas Imenga -Kwara Chima Akas3SC Gbolahan Salami3SC Otu Bassey Effiom – Bukola Siman Yusuf- Kaduna Utd Bello Kofarmata- Heartland Obasesam Enite- Zamfara 4 GOALS Uche Nwofor- Rangers Orkuma Moses - Lobi Stars Nwaogu Chimobi -Lobi Stars Derrick Amadi- Dolphins Cletus Itodo- Sunshine Osas Okoro Heartland Raheem Owolabi3SC Fred Okwara- Rangers Nkoro - Heartland Fade Adebayo – Bukola 3 GOALS Elekwachi -Wolves Gabriel Agu- Crown FC Fortune Ominiwari-Sharks Peter Bako- Zamfara Utd Kabiru Alausa- 3SC Captain Ejindu- Dolphin Tochukwu Mbachu- Wolves Isiaka Olawale- Kwara Utd Charles Omokaro- Wolves

RESULTS WEEK 27 SATURDAY 11 TH Dolphins vs Kaduna Utd(P) SUNDAY RESULTS Kano Pillars 3-0 Heartland Bukola Babes 1-1 Sharks 3SC 0-1 Rangers JUTH FC 0-1 Crown FC Lobi Stars 2-1 Kwara Utd Sunshine vs Tornadoes (P) Enyimba 3-0 Plateau Ocean Boys 1-1 Warri Wolves Zamfara 1-0 Gombe JUTH 0-1 Crown FC

occupying the summit with 53 points from 26 games.

The Port Harcourt club begin their Federations Cup campaign on Tuesday at the Rwang Pam Stadium, Jos against minnows, Black Stars.

Odds are heavily heaped on the underdogs getting a result against the NPL leaders but Eguma is well versed to the shocks the competition has thrown up in recent years.

“We are expected to win but we cannot make the mistake of underrating them. We don’t know much about them Black Stars but we will show them respect and approach the game with every dint of seriousness,’ Eguma told SuperSport.com.

Dolphins have won the

competition four times (2001, 2004, 2006 and 2007) but Eguma says victory in this year’s competition would be a ‘fantastic achievement’ if the club also nicks the NPL title.

“A double would represent a fantastic achievement for me and the club but we have to take it one step at a time,” he said.

Eguma who also doubles as assistant coach of Nigeria’s under-23 football team also spoke on the readiness of the Dream team V for Saturday’s 2012 Olympic qualifier against Tanzania’s Vijana Stars. The Central Africans won the first leg 1-0 in Dar es Salaam and the Nigerians know nothing short of a comprehensive performance would help their course.

•Dolphin players celebrating after scoring a goal

Nigeria Premier League table Team Dolphins Sunshine Wolves Pillars Enyimba Rangers Lobi Sharks Kwara Kaduna Bukola Heartland 3SC Ocean Tornadoes Gombe Crown Plateau Zamfara JUTH

P 26 25 27 26 27 27 27 26 28 24 26 26 27 27 25 26 27 27 27 25

W 17 16 13 14 14 13 13 11 13 10 10 10 10 10 8 9 8 7 6 5

D 2 3 7 4 2 5 4 9 2 6 5 4 4 4 8 4 3 5 7 5

L 7 6 7 9 11 9 10 6 13 8 11 12 13 13 9 13 16 15 14 15

GF GA 32 19 34 17 32 20 32 21 32 18 31 19 24 27 28 27 30 26 24 19 25 23 24 24 24 26 27 33 24 28 19 29 23 33 25 40 19 41 16 35

GD Pts 13 53 17 51 12 46 11 46 14 44 12 44 -3 43 1 42 4 41 5 36 2 35 0 34 -2 34 -6 34 -4 32 -10 3 1 -10 2 7 -15 2 6 -22 2 5 -19 2 0

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AVIATION

Nigerian pilots protest influx of expatriates A

BOUT 30 unemployed licensed Nigerian pilots and engineers have stormed the office of the Nigerian Association of Aircraft and Pilots (NAAPE) to protest the influx of expatriates in the aviation industry.

The protesters, who demonstrated at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, lamented that the incursion of expatriate pilots and engineers has rendered them jobless, despite their being qualified.

One of the protesters, who did

Stories by Kelvin Osa-Okunbor Aviation Correspondent

not disclose his identity, alleged that aeronautic graduate engineers who are not even type-rated on any aircraft are given employment by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to issue licence to aircraft maintenance engineers.

The aggrieved protesters also alleged that NCAA has not conducted any licence examination for upcoming aviation practitioners for almost a year, stressing that the situation was not good

for the development of the subsector.

He said: “With a deeper research, by design of their profession, aeronautic personnel are supposed to be in the factory where aircraft are being manufactured. Aeronautical engineers are destroying the future of licensed aircraft maintenance engineers in the country.”

The protesters also challenged President Goodluck Jonathan to appoint a technocrat from the industry, preferably an air traffic controller, cabin crew personnel,

pilot or engineer as the minister of aviation in this dispensation.

They said: “In the air transport industry, aeronautical engineers belong to the designers and the manufacturers of aircraft. They have little relevance in the airline operation because they are not licensed in practice. In Nigeria, we only fly and maintain aircraft and the core professionals are the aforementioned professionals that are licensed.”

Addressing the aggrieved personnel, the National President of NAAPE, Mr Isaac Balami, urged

them to be patient with the government.He assured them President Jonathan would listen to the voice of stakeholders and professionals in the industry by appointing a core aviator as the next minister of aviation.

He said: “As far as NAAPE is concerned, you should be patient, because this agitation commenced not too long ago and we should not raise any dust in the sector.

NAAPE and other professionals are trying to canvass for the appointment of an aviation professional as the Minister of Aviation and I’m sure we are on course.”

Air Namibia eyes West African market

T

O ensure smooth movement of passengers in West Africa, Air Namibia has unfolded its plans for lifting them.

Its Executive Officer (CEO), Ms Theo Namase, told reporters in Lagos that the airline had signed an agreement with Air Nigeria for seamless flights on the Southern Africa routes, with a connecting flight from Windhoek, the capital of Namibia.

Soon, she said, there would be direct flights between Nigeria and Namibia, adding that the airline is using Accra, the Ghanaian capital, to link its destinations. She explained that the airline could not ignore the Nigerian market, given the country’s strategic location and potential in the continent.

Ms Namase said Nigeria apart from being a strategic player on the continent, the huge passenger traffic is attractive enough, that any serious airline will get its market share.

She said: “Namibia is a country which lies on the West Coast of Africa, further down south of Nigeria, there is no reason for the people of our countries to remain restricted from each other by not providing linkages through air transport services, or for having to always travel via intermediate points such as Johannesburg when visiting each other.”

She explained that Air Namibia had since 18 months ago, commenced operations in West Africa into Accra.

The Air Namibia boss said: “Our initial work in West Africa 18 months ago entailed setting up and managing our administration and marketing activities in Accra, where we have established our regional office. We have been operating to West Africa into Accra since November 2010, and this meeting marks for us at Air Namibia to formally introduce our airline to the Nigeria community and travel trade, as part of our programme to extend our footprints along Africa’s Gold Coast.

“This is in line with the objective of our African leaders, who either directly as individuals or through institutions, such as the African Union, which made a declaration to Africa as a continent to unite and

A

RIK Air, West Africa’s largest commercial airline, is the fastest growing airline in Africa, according to statistics released by the influential Airline Network News and Analysis (anna.aero).

This is the second year in a row that Arik will be named the fastest growing African airline. The airline’s scheduled capacity rose almost 30 per cent after growing by 50 per cent in the previous year.

While the capacity for all airlines serving Africa may be up almost

develop.”

She said that if African airlines must do well, it will be in their best interest to pool resources together, affirming Africa should consider its own weaknesses and be geared to actively participate in global trade.

She said: “An Africa which cannot afford to wait until tomorrow to have its problems resolved. That will be an Africa determined to offer to its peoples, basic goods and services including air travel, at affordable prices.

“Among the most important medium to be used to realise these aims is the creation of and provision of infra Africa air transport infrastructure and solutions. A lot of work lies ahead, we are confident that our endeavours will be a success, contributing to serving the travelling needs of the people an communities of Nigeria and Africa, in its widest levels of diversity.”

Ms Namase explained that with the launch of Air Namibia in Nigeria, the airline is already bearing fruits, which he said could be seen from the increasing passengers travelling between Nigeria and Southern Africa on the flights via Accra.

She said: “Air Namibia which has been flying since 1946, has been successful in facilitating economic development through enhanced air linkages and diversified trading relationship between Namibia and its trading partners.

“We are driven by and follow opportunities where they present themselves with the singular aim of meeting customers’ expectations.”

The Air Namibia boss further explained that with the category of aircraft in the fleet of the carrier, comprising Airbus 340-300, Airbus 319-100, which are used on the West Coast route, the airline also has other aircraft including Boeing 737 and Embraer extended range 135, which the airline utilises for other operations.

She said: “Air Namibia operates on intercontinental routes, regional and Namibian domestic markets. We as an airline consider that we are small enough to care for our passengers, yet big enough

• L-R: Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Dr Harold Demuren; Ms Namase and General Manager, Commercial Services, Air Namibia, Xavier Madule during a visit to NCAA, Ikeja, Lagos.

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE.

as a carrier to take passengers to their destination. Our motto for this market is connecting West Africa and Southern Africa. We are international operations safety audit certified as safety, reliability, consistency and caring for our pas-

‘We have embarked on a programme to prepare for the launch of our flights into Lagos. We will be starting preparations to get the necessary governmental approvals. Air Namibia flights from Lagos will fly into Windhoek, Namibia’s capital city, providing ease and convenient connections to beyond points such as South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Angola, without requiring transit visa’

sengers and stakeholders are the fundamental cornerstones of the way we go about our business.

“Our service offering is founded on values of customer satisfaction, friendliness, care and respect. We strive to consistently go the extra mile in providing customer service and excellence.”

She listed the countries that Air Namibia operates flights to include Germany, South Africa, Zambia, Angola, Botswana as well as Ghana.

Ms Namase said: “With this interface with Air Nigeria, Nigeria is being served as an offline market, at the same time we are sending a message that in the next couple of months Nigeria will be added to the list of countries we fly into.

“We have embarked on a programme to prepare for the launch of our flights into Lagos.

We will be starting preparations to get the necessary governmental approvals. Air Namibia flights from Lagos will fly into Windhoek, Namibia’s capital city, providing ease and convenient connections to beyond points such as South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and

Arik is Africa’s fastest growing airline four per cent, the top three airlines (South African Airways, Egyptair and Royal Air Maroc) are all reporting notable capacity reductions compared to a year ago.

Speaking on the rating, Arik Air’s Vice President Planning & Marketing, Bert van der Stege, said: “Arik is very happy to be awarded the fastest growing African Airline again, which shows we see a lot of potential in developing air trans-

port in this part of the world. If we continue to grow at this pace, we will soon be among the top three carriers in Africa”.

Anna.aero’s Reader Relationship Manager, Sheng Pang said: “With its growing fleet of modern aircraft, serving domestic, regional and inter-continental services Arik Air has been a breath of fresh air in the African airline market. We look for-

ward to reporting on many more route launches for the airline in the months and years ahead.”

Airline Network News & Analysis is a totally free and open website dedicated to outstanding airline network planning intelligence, produced by a multi-disciplinary team led by Ralph Anker, a former network planner with Go and easyJet. Arik Air is Nigeria’s leading com-

Angola, without requiring transit visa.”

Also speaking, at the event, the Namibian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Selma AshipalaMusavayi, urged leaders in Africa to give attention to air transport as a way of accelerating integration on the continent to enable it play its rightful role in the global economy.

She made the appeal at the launch of Air Namibia’s operations to Nigeria via a code share commercial deal with Air Nigeria in Lagos.

The envoy disclosed that among the most important mediums to be used to realise these aims was the provision of intra-African air transport infrastructure and solutions.

Ms Namase said Nigeria was very special to her country and recalled that Nigeria made it possible for Namibia to restore peace in that country. Nigeria, she equally explained, helped to train her professionals in all fields when the tiny country with just two million people was in turmoil.

She stated that Namibia was interested in using tourism to minimise conflict and to build confidence in themselves. mercial airline. It now operates a fleet of 24 state-of-the art regional, medium haul and long haul aircraft including two Airbus A340-500 making the airline the first operator of the wide bodied aircraft in Africa.

The airline serves 30 airports across Nigeria as well as Accra (Ghana), Banjul (Gambia), Cotonou (Benin), Dakar (Senegal), Freetown (Sierra Leone), Monrovia (Liberia), London Heathrow (UK), Johannesburg (South Africa) and New York JFK (US).

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HEALTH THE NATION

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

Washing hands with soap can save lives D

O you know that the washing of hands, especially with soap can significantly reduce germs transmission and prevent child deaths? This and more were what experts gathered to deliberate on at a symposium in Abuja.

The highlight of the seminar was that the much needed education and enlightenment on hand washing can only be fostered to the extent that the aims of the major agenda which includes the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of reducing deaths among children under the age of five by two thirds can be realised.

Experts that graced the event included hygienists, environmentalists, community health workers, clinicians, physicians and government officials. They affirmed that effective hand washing prevents the spread of micro organisms that cause diseases via: (a) Faeco-oral transmission- diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera, Typhoid, worm infestation and (b) Direct contactSkin: infections e.g impetigo, nose: e.g common cold, influenza(HINI), chickenpox, measles, tuberculosis, human influenza can survive on surfaces for two to eight hours.

The event, which was a National Health symposium for the promotion of hand washing with soap, was convened by the Nigerian Infections Control Association (NICA) in collaboration with the National Task Group on Sanitation and Unilever through its Lifebuoy social mission, which aims to bring safety, security and health to people across the world.

Themed: Making big differences through small actions, the seminar challenged all concerned stakeholders on the need to influence and share control over health initiatives, decisions and resources as they affect Nigerians.

During the symposium, stakeholders reviewed the recent studies conducted by the Nigerian Infection Control Association and the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research Institute. Other studies carried out on hand

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

washing in Nigeria which reflect key findings and gaps in knowledge and recommendations for the way forward were also reviewed.

The study by Food Drug Ageny (FDA) which revealed that hand washing can prevent up to 50 per cent of food borne diseases such as E. coli and Salmonella infections and studies that showed that the skin infection impetigo can be reduced by 47 per cent with proper hand washing served as stencil.

The one-day symposium provided an opportunity for all concerned stakeholders to analyse the key policy actions and programmes to improve health through hand washing with soap in Nigeria, as well as Unilever’s contribution to addressing the global hygiene and health challenge and its social mission on hand washing.

The Managing Director of Unilever Nigeria Plc, Mr Thabo Mabe, said: “Hand washing with soap is an important public health issue because the pathogens responsible for many common illnesses such as diarrhoea and acute respiratory tract infections are readily transmitted via contact with hands, but can be dramatically reduced through hand washing with soap.

“This is why we at Unilever through our Lifebuoy brand have partnered with stakeholders who are vast in the dynamics of public health efforts, to promote hand

washing with soap at key moments and this is consistent with our vision of encouraging small actions that make big differences.”

Mabe said though providing appropriate health and hygiene is the responsibility of the government, health workers, key partners in the academia, professional organisations, international development community, public sector, and the general public have different roles to play in meeting the health MDGs through hand washing and improved hygiene.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Millenium Development Goals (MDGs), Hajiya Amina Az-Zubair said: “Adoption of the simple hand washing behaviour would greatly reduce the disease burden in Nigeria, which spends millions of naira on treatment of diarrhoea annually with the paediatric death toll due to diarrhoeal illness exceeding that of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined.

She said: “Supporting this health symposium is a demonstration of our eagerness to explore available opportunities in health development like we have done in other countries across the globe. We are strongly positioned in terms of resources, experience and expertise to partner with government agencies and organisations and international organisations that are seeking for viable solutions to improve health developments in the country.”

“Hand washing with soap is an important

‘As far back as 1847 in the lying- in maternity ward in a Vienna hospital, Dr Ignaz Semmelweis realised that a number of cases of puerperal fever was much larger in one of his wards than the others. After testing a few hypotheses, he found that the number of cases was drastically reduced if the doctors washed their hands carefully before dealing with a pregnant woman’

public health issue because the pathogens responsible for many common illnesses such as diarrhoea and acute respiratory tract infections are readily transmitted via contact with hands, but can be dramatically reduced through hand washing with soap.

“The two leading killer diseases of children across the world- pneumonia and diarrhoea account for about 20 per cent and about 16 percent of fewer than five deaths respectively, every year in Nigeria (WHO 2008).

These two killers account for almost 400,000 child deaths annually in Nigeria. Thus, Nigeria has the second highest number of child deaths due to diarrhoea and the ninth highest less than five child mortality rate globally (UNICEF/WHO 2009). Many of these deaths can be avoided, yet these conditions continue to cause child mortality,” Hajia Az Zubair said.

“Hand washing with soap is not only related to infant, child and under five mortality, but also maternal health. As far back as 1847 in the lying- in maternity ward in a Vienna hospital, Dr Ignaz Semmelweis realised that a number of cases of puerperal fever was much larger in one of his wards than the others. After testing a few hypotheses, he found that the number of cases was drastically reduced if the doctors washed their hands carefully before dealing with a pregnant woman. The germ theory of disease had not yet been developed at the time.

Only after Dr. Semmelweis’s death was the germ theory of disease developed, and he is now recognised as a pioneer of antiseptic policy and prevention of nosocomial disease.

“Now centuries after, we are here advocating for hand washing with soap to prevent childhood illnesses towards achieving the MDGs. Indeed, I wish to use this opportunity to call on all Nigerians, mothers, children, nurses and doctors alike to embrace this important means of disease prevention to propagate and advocate for hand washing with soap,” she said.

Firm donates ventilator to LASUTH

T

O reduce infant mortality, a health care company, AstraZeneca Nigeria Limited has donated a Continuous Positive Airwave Pressure (CPAP) Ventilator machine to the Paediatric Department, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

Its Country Manager, Mr Jose Castellote said the donation was a way of showing its commitment to the health care industry, professionals and the patients at large.

According to him, there is no better way to show the company’s commitment than making a donation to the hospital.

Castellote said his company was aware of the needs of the hospital, adding that its contribution would solve some of the problems.

He said the firm was proud to have the opportunity to touch the health care delivery system and LASUTH. Responding to the gesture, LASUTH’s Chief Medical Director, Prof Wale Oke said he had been in partnership with the company for more than 20 years, adding that he knew how responsible the company had been in maintenance of health care in the country.

Oke said the company has remained undaunted ever since.

“What the company is doing is not just to fulfill its corporate social responsibility (CSR); I think it has done

From left: Oke, Head of Field Force, AstraZeneca, Mr Charles Ajibo, Castellote, Head, Key Account, AstraZeneca, Ms Damilola Akinsetan and Consultant Paediatrician, LASUTH, Dr Salisu Mohammed, at the handing over of the ventilator the company for the donation.

By Wale Adepoju often thought to be the missing link

that many times. And to identify LASUTH as a place where it wants to make the donation of the revolutionary machine that will reduce the infant mortality deserves applause.

“The machine is called the CPAP ventilator. It has been used as far back as 1971. It is definitely a new method of management of respiratory distress in children. It is among the four most important advances in neonatology because its introduction has improved significantly and dramatically the survival of infants with respiratory distresses.”

He said the CPAP ventilator was

between supplemental oxygen and mechanical vacuum because it bridges the gaps and reduces infant deaths.

Oke said: “It is a very simple to use, you don’t need to put the tube down the baby’s trachea, so the machine would definitely reduce infant mortality.”

Head of Department, Paediatrics, Dr Elizabeth Disu, said it is a dream come true for the hospital because it has been trying to develop the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

She said the gesture was very unique because the hospital did not approach

Mrs Disu said the machine would help to reduce significantly neonatal deaths, adding that neonatal mortality constitutes about 25 per cent of under-five mortality worldwide.

She said: “If you need to do anything to bring down under five mortality rate and begin to work towards achieving Millennium Development goals (MDGs) we need to address neonatal mortality. Nigeria has the second largest number of newborns that are dying, it comes next to India.

“Lagos State has a high burden.

One of the most common causes of

death is low birth weight, depressed babies and we get a lot of them that we cannot do anything about.

“This machine would help a baby having problem with breathing. It is very easy to use and it is called a nasal safe pass. It is passed through a compressor and the child is able to breathe better and open up the lung better,” she said.

Mrs Disu said 700 newborns die daily in Nigeria, saying it is an equivalent of two airbuses crashing.

“If an airbus crashes it would be reported across the world. But daily 700 babies that can fill two airbuses die.”

She urged the government and stakeholders to do something about infant deaths.

On the causes of infant deaths, she said: “There are many causes of respiratory failure in babies and one of them is respiratory failure that occur as a result of birth asphyxia, the baby is born and has gone through some stress and unable to breathe. If you now help the baby to breathe better by ventilating the lung better, you will definitely help the baby to live.”

Neonatal mortality, she said, constitutes about 28 per cent of our national mortality. “If you are able to save babies who are dying as a result of difficulties in breathing and infection such as perinatal sepsis; you would have succeeded in reducing infant deaths. Most of these babies are born before term which makes their organs immature and their respiratory system tends to collapse easily. But if you can keep it open with a ventilator you would definitely reduce those intensities,” Mrs Disu said.

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MONEY LINK

NDIC pays N2.02b to depositors of 90 microfinance banks

T

HE Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has paid 90 Microfinance Banks’ (MfB) customers a cumulative sum of N2.02 billion.

The payments were made to depositors that met all the requirements stipulated by the agency. Head, Communications and Public Affairs Unit of NDIC, Sule Birchi, confirmed to The Nation that verification and payment of insured deposits is still ongoing provided such beneficiaries are able to provide the required documents.

Stories by Collins Nweze Senior Correspondent

The payments also covered the first set of depositors whose funds were trapped in microfinance banks (MFBs) it shut down last September.

The NDIC said, to hasten the claim process, depositors are required to present their savings passbooks, withdrawal slips, cheque booklets, term deposit certificates, statement of accounts and other documents as proof of account ownership.

•Payments to other depositors on-going For those wishing to collect on behalf of individuals and corporate bodies, proper written authorisation and identification are required, but must be endorsed by signatories to the account.

The verification and payment to the depositors started on January 17 to depositors of Adif Microfinance Bank, Birnin Kudu Microfinance Bank, Ezumuzo Microfinance Bank, Impact Microfinance

IFC, others to sign $115m Vodafone Ghana deal

I

NTERNATIONAL Finance Corporation (IFC), has mobilised a $115 million financing package for Vodafone Ghana from Chinese, German, and African institutions to help the company enhance its telecommunications network. It is also meant to spread the benefits of mobile phone and broadband services in Ghana, especially in rural areas.

The debt package, includes financing from a diverse group of commercial banks and development finance institutions, and is IFC’s first syndication with the ExportImport Bank of China and China Development Bank.

The deal includes $82 million syndicated loan, parallel loans from the Export-Import Bank of China, China De-

velopment Bank, amongst others.

It also includes $33 million credit from Barclays, Ecobank, Rand Merchant Bank and Standard Bank. IFC acted as the lead arranger and will serve as the administrative agent for the project.

In 2010, IFC provided Vodafone Ghana with a $100 million loan from its own account consisting of a $75 million senior loan and $25 million subordinated loan.

Vodafone Ghana CEO, Kyle Whitehill, said, “IFC has introduced us to new partners and sources of financing that will help us continue to expand our service offerings in Ghana.

We look forward to IFC’s continuing support as we work to further the develop-

Bank, Milestone Microfinance Bank and Trinity Microfinance Bank.

However, verification and payment for customers of Integrated Microfinance Bank (IMFB) started on January 24 and is still ongoing.

Part of the rules is that all depositors with less than N200, 000 will get full settlement while those with deposits exceeding N200, 000 can only get N200, 000 maximum payments. An

C

ment of Ghana’s telecommunications infrastructure”.

Vodafone’s focus on improving internet services for businesses in Ghana is an important tool in spurring innovation and increasing efficiency in Ghana’s private sector.

The company is also continuing its commitment to improving mobile phone coverage in rural and remote areas.

Ritva Laukkanen, IFC Director of Syndicated Loans and Management, said, “The completion of IFC’s first syndication with Chinese financial institutions in Africa is an important milestone and we look forward to partnering on many more projects in the future.

R Services (Credit Bu reau), has said the 24 de posit money banks (DMBs) have now subscribed to its services.

Chief Executive Officer, CR Services (Credit Bureau), Taiwo Ayedun, said the firm has attained enviable heights in the Nigerian financial services sector as a credit bureau to be reckoned with.

“We are grateful to the entire banking industry for making this possible. Since we commenced operations, we have continued to record success upon success, including being the first private credit bureau operator in Nigeria, the first credit bureau to integrate biometric technologies into a credit bureau system, and today, we are the first credit bureau to record 100 per cent coverage of the commercial banking space,” he said in a statement.

Ayedun, said his firm has developed the most reliable and secure credit bureau solution

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

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 13-6-11 SYMBOL WAPCO INTERNOIL PRESCO CCNN CUSTODYINS AIRSERVICE FIRSTBANK DIAMONDBNK IKEJAHOTEL CUTIX

O/PRICE 42.27 4.48 7.810 10.40 2.95 2.42 13.41 5.57 1.35 2.05

C/PRICE 48.00 4.70 8.00 10.60 3.08 2.54 13.49 5.63 1.40 2.10

CHANGE +0.73 +0.22 +0.20 +0.20 +0.13 +0.12 +0.08 +0.06 +0.05 +0.05

LOSER AS AT 13-6-11 SYMBOL NB NBC GUINNESS SKYBANK COSTAIN PAINTCOM ACCESS NEIMETH CADBURY UBN

O/PRICE 93.00 41.08 245.00 8.20 3.86 2.00 7.30 1.87 19.10 2.07

C/PRICE 90.10 40.051 244.50 8.00 3.67 1.90 7.20 1.78 19.01 1.99

and has helped customers grow their profit margins, increased debt collection and reduced fraud.

He said the banking reforms led by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has made it easier for banks to subscribe to credit bureau services.

He assured all subscribers of credit bureau services of commitment to use the best tools in getting its services across to customers.

“The best credit bureau operators are known to deploy world class technologies. We encourage all lending institutions and creditors everywhere in Nigeria to partner with CR Services Credit Bureau for their financial success as we help them to fulfill CBN regulatory requirement,” he said.

By subscribing to CR Serv-

ices, our subscribers have access to the largest and most robust credit information database in Nigeria and this would empower them to make accurate and informed decisions and conduct more profitable lending.

He said that this has become exigent after the CBN circular in which banks and other financial institutions were required to give report of their activities with credit bureaus over the past year.

The apex bank had directed banks to engage at least two credit bureaux in their subscription drives. These provisions have formed part of CBN’s efforts at strengthening the credit appraisal procedures of financial institutions with a view to enhancing credit quality and responsible credit behavior in the nation’s financial system.

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES

Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Credit bureau extends services to 24 DMBs

Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 300m 383m 300m 244m 400m 452.3m

MANAGED FUNDS

OBB Rate Call Rate

the seven out of the 103 MFBs that were closed by the CBN on September 24, 2010,” it said in a statement.

NDIC said it had earlier, from December 6, 2010 paid depositors in 80 closed MFBs their insured deposits in their respective banks. The exercise lasted for between five to 10 days.

Altogether, the first and second rounds of payments will ensure that depositors of 90 out of the 103 closed MfBs would have had the opportunity by the NDIC to file and collect their insured amounts.

DATA BANK

Tenor

NIDF NESF

official of the NDIC Help Desk told The Nation that depositors with more than N200, 000 could still get their remaining funds after liquidation when the banks’ assets are sold.

Before the exercise, NDIC had informed the public of its readiness to in the first phase, settle depositors in seven out of the 103 MFBs closed by the CBN last September. “NDIC in its capacity as the liquidator of the closed MFBs is pleased to announce that it has completed arrangements to commence payment to the depositors of

CHANGE -2.90 -1.03 -0.50 -0.20 -0.19 -0.10 -0.10 -0.09 -0.09 -0.08

Amount Sold ($) 300m 244m 400m

Exchange Rate (N) 154.50 153.59 153.4

Date 13-6-11 06-6-11 23-5-11

EXHANGE RATE 30-05-11 CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Currency

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD NGN GBP

147.6000 239.4810

149.7100 244.0123

150.7100 245.6422

-2.11 -2.57

NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N) Parallel Market

212.4997

207.9023

209.2910

-1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

06-06-11 N8.187tr 25,604.85

Name

January ’11

February ’11

May ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

8.00%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 11.3%

NIBOR

7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

03-06-11 N8.216tr 25,966.46

% Change -0.4% -0.4%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS

DISCOUNT WINDOW

Tenor

NSE CAP Index

Rate (Previous) 04 MAR, 2011 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 24, MAY, 2011 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 117.83 119.45 0.84 1,582.15 9.94 1.00 1.39 1.87 9,149.09 193.00

9.08 1.00 117.32 118.70 0.81 1,576.19 9.46 1.00 1.33 1.80 8,864.66 191.08

ARM AGGRESSIVE KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND THE LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND BGL NUBIAN FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY THE DISCOVERY FUND • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank P/Court

Previous 04 MAR, 2011

Current 07, MAR, 2011

8.5000 8.0833

8.5000 8.0833

Movement

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

57

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

Market pundits optimistic on medium-term outlook

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 13-06-11 2ND-TIER SECURITIES Company Name CAPITAL OIL PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 3

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 475 237.50 475 237.50

AGRICULTURE/AGRO-ALLIED Company Name FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC PRESCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 5 17 23

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.50 8.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 17,500 8,750.00 26,632 13,316.00 355,810 2,894,930.00 399,942 2,916,996.00

Quotation(N) 2.54 8.61

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 172,000 436,880.00 163,661 1,398,212.07 335,661 1,835,092.07

Quotation(N) 0.50 2.41

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 29,488 14,744.00 93,929 216,371.51 123,417 231,115.51

Quotation(N) 7.20 1.04 5.63 3.70 7.51 2.61 13.49 0.56 15.90 10.20 0.89 1.14 0.80 8.00 0.87 1.80 6.20 1.99 0.83 0.99 15.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 18,028,397 129,326,087.26 384,993 400,392.72 1,521,717 8,589,680.53 108,745 382,782.40 1,612,150 12,114,448.98 2,942,181 7,634,179.28 8,247,804 111,452,774.99 4,117,870 2,279,136.25 9,868,330 156,979,265.65 1,460,274 14,894,526.74 2,438,866 2,170,590.74 3,278,259 3,737,871.06 654,299 523,439.20 1,900,931 15,383,012.04 125,537 109,217.19 655,467 1,169,803.92 8,704,012 53,938,486.70 4,038,714 8,118,644.28 2,297,220 1,783,261.49 2,754,009 2,714,023.12 5,103,571 76,823,107.94 80,243,346 610,524,732.48

Quotation(N) 244.50 6.42 90.10

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 269,868 66,139,785.66 32,575 207,968.00 1,756,539 161,950,297.65 2,058,982 228,298,051.31

Quotation(N) 23.52 10.60 132.00 48.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 167,258 4,023,060.91 268,815 2,861,126.35 11,615 1,501,682.56 3,876,803 179,815,113.44 4,324,491 188,200,983.26

Quotation(N) 10.97 30.96 1.52 0.95 1.90 10.93

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 4,000 41,720.00 10,285 334,262.50 1,000 1,450.00 300 273.00 160,000 304,000.00 1,243 12,914.77 176,828 694,620.27

AIR SERVICES Company Name AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 4 38 42 AUTOMOBILE & TYRE

Company Name DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC R. T. BRISCOE (NIGERIA) PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 4 15 19 BANKING

Company Name ACCESS BANK PLC AFRIBANK NIGERIA PLC DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK NIGERIA PLC FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC FIDELITY BANK PLC FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC FINBANK PLC GTBANK PLC STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC INTERCONTINENTAL BANK PLC. OCEANIC BANK INTERNATIONAL PLC BANK PHB PLC SKYE BANK PLC. SPRING BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC. UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC UNITYBANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC ZENITH BANK PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 298 31 60 12 57 69 489 50 565 63 26 72 15 124 7 25 214 153 45 32 305 2,712 BREWERIES

Company Name GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 76 12 156 244 BUILDING MATERIALS

Company Name ASHAKA CEMENT PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTHERN NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 27 20 4 70 121 CHEMICAL & PAINTS

Company Name BERGER PAINTS NIGERIA PLC CHEMICAL AND ALLIED PRODUCTS PLC DN MEYER PLC I. P. W. A. PLC PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC PREMIER PAINTS PLC. Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 10 1 1 1 1 15

COMMERCIAL/SERVICES Company Name COURTVILLE INVESTMENTS PLC RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 4 15 19

Quotation(N) 0.50 2.90

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 280,100 140,050.00 677,794 2,028,331.07 957,894 2,168,381.07

COMPUTER & OFFICE EQUIPMENT Company Name TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 2

Quotation(N) 3.42

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,289 4,189.25 1,289 4,189.25

Quotation(N) 2.20 36.11 0.90 39.99 28.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 15,000 31,350.00 209,351 7,626,100.18 4,629,798 4,113,395.27 197,200 7,821,390.43 1,730,198 47,206,609.62 6,781,547 66,798,845.50

Quotation(N) 3.67 56.00 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 139,493 511,939.31 95,148 5,480,236.65 108,000 54,000.00 342,641 6,046,175.96

I

NVESTMENT analysts and fund managers said they are confident that Nigerian stock market holds out prospects of appreciable returns in the medium to long term.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has witnessed a streak of bearish trading in recent days with the market opening again this week with a loss of 91.61 points or 0.4 per cent, the four consecutive day of recession for the benchmark All Share Index.

In the last three days, market capitalisation dropped N56 billion to close at N8.187 trillion, while the All-ShareIndex dropped 176.80 points to close at 25,604.85 basis points.

Analysts at Afrinvest West Africa and FSDH Research, however said the downtrend was a short term phase, noting that the market would soon regain momentum.

According to analysts at Afrinvest, the rising interest rate environment that followed the recent upward revision in the benchmark rate may have triggered some asset reallocation away from equities, but this trend would soon reverse in the medium

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

term as bargain hunters take positions in lowly-priced but fundamentally viable stocks.

“We remain upbeat on the performance of the Nigerian bourse in the medium term as equities continue to benefit from positive market sentiments post elections,” Afrinvest said.

FSDH, advised investors in the equities market to maintain a medium-to-long term view of the market and watch out for opportunities in the banking, conglomerates, food and beverages, as well as the petroleum sub-sectors.

Meanwhile, turnover at the NSE yesterday totaled 154.533 million shares worth N1.426 billion in 4,710 deals.

The banking stocks were the most sought after with 80.243 million shares worth N610.525 million across 2,712 deals. The volume of transaction recorded by the financial sector represents 51.93 per cent of the total volume of transactions on yesterday.

On the price movement, out of the 21 banking stocks traded, 19 recorded price

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 13-06-11 MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC N.E.M. INSURANCE CO. (NIG.) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. OASIS INSURANCE PLC PRESTIGE ASSURANCE PLC. REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC STACO INSURANCE PLC STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC UNIC INSURANCE PLC. UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 43 49 43 63 199 CONSTRUCTION

Company Name COSTAIN (WA) PLC JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA PLC MULTIVERSE PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 12 18 1 31

Company Name C&I LEASING PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 3

No of Deals 6 1 7

Quotation(N) 2.10 0.73

No of Deals 10 52 84 60 72 14 2 77 54 34 1 7 7 474

Quotation(N) 46.00 19.01 17.54 14.00 90.00 4.55 1.87 6.49 40.05 400.49 29.20 0.50 0.63

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 7,007 322,582.00 403,033 7,661,302.07 515,330 9,015,193.77 242,576 3,398,914.37 1,625,916 146,332,871.50 59,404 268,797.00 40,100 71,378.00 2,894,788 19,011,443.86 537,496 22,553,252.48 46,540 18,646,298.30 100 2,920.00 67,500 33,774.00 91,117 57,716.88 6,530,907 227,376,444.23

Quotation(N) 1.26 2.05 28.35 4.00 1.78 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 2,244 2,692.80 9,344,000 19,155,080.00 12,620 340,578.00 163,148 624,019.96 102,216 181,944.48 30,000 15,000.00 9,654,228 20,319,315.24

Quotation(N) 1.40

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 738,616 1,030,045.93 738,616 1,030,045.93

HEALTHCARE Company Name EVANS MEDICALPLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC UNION DIAGNOSTIC & CLINICAL SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 7 5 20 4 2 39

HOTEL & TOURISM Company Name IKEJA HOTEL PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 18 18

INDUSTRIAL/DOMESTIC PRODUCTS Company Name B. O. C. GASES NIGERIA PLC FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC VITAFOAM NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 10 13 24

No of Deals 82 82

Company Name AFROMEDIA PLC DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 11 12

No of Deals 2 1 26 29

Quotation(N) 8.20 0.54 6.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,917 15,527.70 138,517 72,028.84 200,500 1,203,430.00 340,934 1,290,986.54

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.50 0.54

Quotation(N) 1.30

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 4,694 5,855.04 4,694 5,855.04

Quotation(N) 1.20

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 2,154,641 2,552,966.31 2,154,641 2,552,966.31

Quotation(N) 0.51 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 22,500 11,475.00 90,600 45,300.00 113,100 56,775.00

Company Name ABBEY BUILDING SOCIETY PLC ASO SAVINGS AND LOAND PLC UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC Sector Totals

Quotation(N) 0.84 1.11 0.50 3.08 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.67 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.54 0.50

No of Deals 1 4 22 27

Quotation(N) 1.44 0.50 0.53

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 200 274.00 171,834 85,917.00 1,840,086 974,215.29 2,012,120 1,060,406.29

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Company Name DEAP CAPITAL MANAGEMENT AND TRUST PLC NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1 1 3

Quotation(N) 2.02 1.16 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 7,500 15,150.00 5,000 5,850.00 9,000 4,500.00 21,500 25,500.00

Quotation(N) 2.50 4.01 1.21

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 947,920 2,382,473.00 84,330 333,241.74 52,500 63,525.00 1,084,750 2,779,239.74

PACKAGING Company Name NIGERIAN BAG MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC NAMPAK NIGERIA PLC POLY PRODUCTS (NIGERIA) PLC. Sector Totals

No of Deals 34 3 2 39

PETROLEUM(MARKETING) Company Name AFRICAN PETROLEUM PLC. BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA OIL & GAS PLC. MOBIL OIL NIGERIA PLC. OANDO PLC TOTAL NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 38 3 16 19 18 22 130 11 257

Quotation(N) 21.35 0.50 72.00 40.00 4.70 163.49 50.50 195.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 89,708 1,839,547.93 27,000 13,500.00 6,601 468,178.65 30,403 1,155,314.00 142,678 656,084.41 53,367 8,302,413.21 284,302 14,208,823.16 5,766 1,142,613.56 639,825 27,786,474.92

PRINTING & PUBLISHING Company Name LONGMAN NIGERIA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 10 11

Quotation(N) 6.60 5.51

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 3,780 23,700.60 60,610 344,762.50 64,390 368,463.10

Quotation(N) 18.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 14,100 243,729.36 14,100 243,729.36

REAL ESTATE Company Name UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 9 9

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 202,400 101,200.00 200,000 100,000.00 3,201,993 1,752,054.15 3,604,393 1,953,254.15

INSURANCE Company Name No of Deals AIICO INSURANCE PLC. 8 CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC 7 CORNERSTONE INSURANCE CO. PLC. 1 CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INSURANCE PLC 10 EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC 3 GREAT NIGERIA INSURANCE COMPANY PLC 1 GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC 14 GUARANTY TRUST ASSURANCE PLC 19 GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. 1 CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC 1 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC 9 LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. 9 LAW UNION AND ROCK INSURANCE PLC. 14 LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC 7

12,796.50 609,324.80 3,074,833.92 150,000.00 268,918.29 3,973,673.00 1,016.50 3,406,256.00 1,927.50 500.00 24,100.00 156,507.23 23,942,293.94

MEDIA

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Company Name CHAMS PLC MASS TELECOM INNOVATION NIGERIA PLC STARCOMMS PLC Sector Totals

25,593 1,183,980 4,237,473 300,000 150,499 7,947,346 2,033 6,812,512 3,855 1,000 48,200 302,061 31,238,380

MORTGAGE COMPANIES Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 163,785 342,883.50 1,000 700.00 164,785 343,583.50

FOOD/BEVERAGES & TOBACCO Company Name 7-UP BOTTLING CO. PLC CADBURY NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIGERIA PLC HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC NATIONAL SALT COMPANY NIGERIA PLC NIGERIAN BOTTLING COMPANY PLC NESTLE NIGERIA PLC NORTHERN NIGERIA FLOUR MILLS PLC TANTALIZERS PLC UTC NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

0.50 0.51 0.72 0.50 1.80 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.53

MARITIME Company Name JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY Company Name CUTIX PLC NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. Sector Totals

4 29 12 1 9 17 3 2 2 1 4 22 210 LEASING

CONGLOMERATES Company Name A. G. LEVENTIS (NIGERIA) PLC PZ CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC UAC OF NIGERIA PLC UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

changes with 12 reducing in value while only seven appreciated.

Analytically, the number of banking stocks with price drop, represents 63.16 per cent of the 26 stocks with price reduction yesterday.

These stocks include Oceanic Bank, Bank PHB, Afribank, Spring Bank, Intercontinental Bank, UBN, Skye Bank, Access Bank, UBA, Fidelity Bank, Zenith and Stanbic IBTC. Market watchers said it was obvious that the run down witnessed by the distressed banks was rubbing off on some other banking stocks that are said to be in strong standing.

Just as we have a long list of banking stocks with heavy price drop, some other seven made the gainers table. These include Unity Bank, Fin Bank, Diamond Bank, Wema Bank, First Bank, Sterling Bank and FCMB. Other actively traded sectors were insurance, healthcare, conglomerates and food beverage with 31.238 million shares, 9.654 million shares, 6.782 million share and 6.531 million shares respectively.

Quantity Traded Value 118,638 975,000 40,000 2,167,900 7,728 2,500 3,493,600 871,119 1,000 700 87,119 84,406 2,350,357 23,761

of Shares (N) 99,655.92 1,101,730.00 20,000.00 6,451,787.00 3,864.00 1,250.00 1,746,886.00 1,439,787.03 500.00 350.00 43,559.50 42,203.00 1,298,987.25 11,880.50

Company Name SKYE SHELTER FUND Sector Totals

No of Deals 8 8

Quotation(N) 97.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 23,530 2,353,000.00 23,530 2,353,000.00

ROAD TRANSPORTATION Company Name ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 3

Quotation(N) 0.60

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 51,266 29,221.62 51,266 29,221.62

Quotation(N) 0.62

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 10,000 5,900.00 10,000 5,900.00

TEXTILES Company Name UNITED NIGERIA TEXTILES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1

THE FOREIGN LISTINGS Company Name ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Sector Totals Overall Totals

No of Deals 24 24

Quotation(N) 15.78

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 320,450 4,842,040.00 320,450 4,842,040.00

4,710

154,533,122

1,426,084,915.09

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FOREIGN NEWS Congolese envoy’s wife held for ‘smuggled cigarettes’ in Romania

T

HE wife of a diplomat from the Democratic Republic of Congo has been arrested in Romania on suspicion of cigarette smuggling, Romanian prosecutors say.

Police found more than 18,000 cigarette packets hidden in her car.

Esther Pascaline Bombeto, whose husband is accredited in Serbia, reportedly claimed dip-

lomatic immunity before police forcibly searched the car.

She was arrested while returning from Serbia.

Romanian intelligence officers and anti-crime police had put the car under surveillance for months.

“Using diplomatic immunity, the smugglers were bringing cigarettes to Romania at least twice a week,” organised crime prosecutor Mircea An-

dres said.

Officers smashed Ms Bombeto’s car window with a crowbar to confiscate the illegal Albanian-made cigarettes after she allegedly refused to cooperate, claiming diplomatic immunity, the Associated Press news agency reports.

At least two Serbian nationals alleged to be Ms Bombeto’s accomplices were also detained.

Sudanese Omar al-Bashir to pull out from Abyei

S

UDAN’S President Omar al-Bashir has reportedly offered to withdraw his troops from the disputed town of Abyei - a flashpoint as South Sudan prepares for independence next month.

Mr Bashir is reported to have made the offer to southern leader Salva Kiir at African Union talks in Ethiopia.

Some 140,000 people have fled recent clashes in Abyei and the neighbouring region of South Kordofan.

Aid workers say pro-southern groups are being ethnically cleansed.

South Sudan is due to secede as part of a peace deal which ended two decades of north-south conflict, which left some 1.5 million people dead.

There are fears that the recent fighting could reignite the conflict, although President Bashir has said he would accept the south’s independence.

South Sudan’s Information Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin said the details of what would happen if northern forces withdrew were still being worked out.

Mr Bashir and Mr Kiir are continuing their talks for a second day.

Former South African President Thabo Mbeki and Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Meles Zenawi are mediating the talks in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

An AU statement said they would focus on the withdrawal of forces from the disputed town of Abyei, which the north forces seized last month.

Syrians flood Turkey border after crackdown

•Syrian President Assad

S

YRIANS poured across the border yesterday to refugee camps in Turkey, fleeing a military crackdown that sent elite forces backed by helicopters and tanks into a northern town that was spinning out of government control.

Troops led by President Bashar Assad’s brother regained control of Jisr al-Shughour Sunday, sending in tanks and helicopter gunships after shelling the town. But residents were still terrified; Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said yesterday that hundreds of Syrians have crossed over since Sunday.

Turkey, about 12 miles away, has given sanctuary to more than 6,000 fleeing Syrians, nearly all of them in the past few days from Idlib province.

Turkey’s prime minister has accused the Assad regime of “savagery” but also said he would reach out to the Syrian leader to to help solve the crisis.

Arab governments, which were unusually supportive of NATO intervention in Libya, have been silent in the face of Syria’s crackdown, fearing that the alternative to Assad would be chaos. The country has a potentially explosive sectarian mix and is seen as a regional powerhouse with influence on events in neighboring Israel, Lebanon, Iraq.

The government’s assault of Jisr al-Shughour was the most serious since the uprising against Assad’s regime began in mid-March. Assad has made some concessions, but thousands of people demonstrating against his rule — inspired by protests in Tunisia, Egypt and elsewhere

— say they will not stop until he leaves power.

The Local Coordination Committees, a group that documents anti-government protests, said government snipers have killed at least 10 people in the nearby village of Ariha in the past two days.

Syria’s government has said 500 members of the security forces have died, including 120 last week in Jisr al-Shughour.

More than 1,400 Syrians have died and some 10,000 have been detained in the government crackdown since midMarch, activists say.

Yesterday, Syria imposed a travel ban on one of the president’s cousins, a move that appeared to be an attempt to show Assad is serious about investigating the bloodshed.

State-run SANA news agency says the ban was imposed on Brig. Gen. Atef Najib, who ran the security department in the southern province of Daraa. The uprising erupted there in mid-March after the arrest of 15 teenagers who scrawled anti-government graffiti.

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61

FOREIGN NEWS

US tells African leaders to sever ties with Gaddafi

A

FRICAN nations have been urged to sever all links with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi despite his long support and patronage for many African leaders.

United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton spoke yesterday as she warned that without broad social, economic and political reforms Africa will face the same kind of revolts now sweeping the Arab world.

In a speech to diplomats at the African Union headquarters in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, Clinton said Africa should join most of the rest of the world in abandoning Gaddafi, who she said had lost all legitimacy to rule because of attacks on his own citizens. .”I know it is true that over many years Mr. Gaddafi has played a major role in providing financial support for many African nations and institutions, including the African Union,” she said. “It has become clear by the day that he

has lost his legitimacy to rule and that we are long past the day when he can remain in power.”

She urged all African leaders to demand that Gaddafi accept a ceasefire and then leave Libya. She also said they should expel pro-Gaddafi Libyan diplomats from their countries, suspend the operations of Libyan embassies and work with the Libyan opposition.

“Your words and actions could make the difference in bringing this situation to a close and allowing the people of Libya to get to work rebuilding their country,” Clinton said. “The world needs the African Union to lead.”

Since he seized power in Libya in 1969, Gaddafi has offered training, funding and other support for African rebel groups, including the African National Congress, which was fighting white minority rule in South Africa.

In addition, Gaddafi paid the membership dues of

many smaller, poorer countries at the United Nations, African Union and other international bodies.

As such, he is seen as a hero by many African leaders and Libya is still a member in good standing of the African Union. The Arab League, to which Libya also belongs, suspended the country’s membership in the midst of the crisis.

The revolt against Gaddafi in Libya is just one among many in the Middle East and North Africa, where the longtime leaders of Tunisia and Egypt have been ousted and anti-government protests have been met by severe crackdowns in Bahrain, Syria and Yemen.

Clinton said that repressive governance is no longer accepted in the world. She said discontent, mainly among exploding youth populations in Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere cannot be suppressed in the era of the internet and social media.

Mugabe welcomes resolutions

•Gaddafi (r) playing chess with visiting Russian head of World Chess Federation Kirsan...yesterday

Gaddafi plays chess with Russian visitor S the world awaits

A

Muammar Gaddafi’s next move, the Libyan leader has been playing chess with the visiting Russian head of the World Chess Federation.

The federation is headed by the eccentric Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, who until last year was the leader of Russia’s predominantly Buddhist republic of Kalmykia.

Libyan state television showed Gaddafi, dressed all in black and wearing

Germany recognises Libya rebels as sole government

G

ERMANY has recognised Libya’s rebels as “the legitimate representatives of the Libyan people”.

“We want a free Libya, in peace and democracy without [Muammar] Gaddafi,” Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said in the rebel stronghold Benghazi.

About a dozen states have recognised the National Transitional Council.

Germany came under criticism for its refusal to back a UN Security Council resolution authorising Nato action to protect Libyan civilians.

The NTC emerged from the forces which began a revolt against Colonel Gadd-

afi’s rule on 16 February.

After months of bloody conflict, Col Gaddafi remains in control of the capital Tripoli while the rebels hold Benghazi and much of the east.

Speaking alongside rebel foreign minister Ali Issawi, Mr Westerwelle said: “We share the same goal: Libya without Gaddafi.

“The national council is the legitimate representative of the Libyan people.”

Libyans listening burst into applause after he made the announcement.

A senior rebel official, NTC Vice-Chairman Abdel Hafez Ghoga, welcomed the German decision as a “very big step”.

Libyan rebels make claims

R

EBEL forces in Libya trying to push out of Misrata claim to have beaten back loyalist troops, but suffered some of the heaviest casualties to date, in the latest clashes between insurgents and forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi.

A small rebel force managed to push their way through the town of Zawiyah, about 30 miles west of Tripoli.

Rebel commanders bemoan what they see as a lack of NATO support in the form of airstrikes they say they need to push further, says CBS News correspondent Allen Pizzey reporting from Tripoli.

If the rebels manage to take that town they would effectively cut off Muammar Qaddafi’s main (and perhaps only) supply road out of the country - the road to Tunisia.

PUBLIC NOTICE CIUDAD SANTA ORPHANAGE MINISTRY The general Public is hereby notified that the above named Non Governmental Organization (NGO) has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission.

Trustees Are: (1) Mrs. Alali Christiana Olaoluwa (2) Harcourt Stanley - Ikubiesika (3) Dr. J. J. Somiari (4) Engr. Harcourt Stanley Any objection (s) should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission Zone 5 Wuse Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: Alali Christiana Olaoluwa Founder

MAC 61

dark sunglasses, playing chess Sunday evening with his Russian guest. He seemed somewhat unsure of how the game is played.

Russia’s Interfax news agency quoted Ilyumzhinov as saying Gaddafi told him he has no intention of leaving Libya.

It was unclear where the meeting took place. Gaddafi’s compound in Tripoli has been under NATO bombardment and was hit again Sunday.

A STATUS check by southern African leaders on the progress of Zimbabwe’s power-sharing deal was welcomed yesterday by both factions of the country’s tense coalition government.

“It came out very well,” President Robert Mugabe told journalists on his return from South Africa, where leaders from the 15-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) on Sunday reviewed the progress of the so-called Global Political Agreement between Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

The power-sharing government between the two rivals, formed in the wake of a violent, failed election in 2008, is meant to oversee the drafting of a new constitution and implement reforms to guide the country to a clean vote.

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TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

TOMORROW IN THE NATION

Bankole’s episode is a clear case of how not to be carried away by the trappings of office. You never can tell; you could be on top of the mountain today, only to find yourself at the foot of the valley the next minute.’

VOL. 6

NO.1,790

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

I

N the beginning, June 12, 1993, was just a day on the calendar, an important day to be sure, the culmination of a political transition programme that had been eight years in the making, but unremarkable in any other way.

Until the presidential election scheduled for that day began, doubts about whether it would hold were rife.

A self-styled Association for a Better Nigeria (ABN) led by maverick politician and one-time arms merchant, Arthur Nzeribe, and a string of shadowy characters that went by such names as “Dr Keith Atkins” and “Dr Ahmed Farouk,” with help from S.G. Ikoku’s “Council of Elder Statesmen,” were campaigning fervently for military president Ibrahim Babangida to stay in power for four more years.

An Abuja High Court, presided over by Justice Bassey Ikpeme granted an injunction sought by the ABN restraining the National Electoral Commission (NEC) from going ahead with the poll, even while conceding that the court lacked jurisdiction and that the ruling was not binding.

The Armed Forces ruling Council ordered that the election be held, following a warning that the United States Government would consider a postponement unacceptable.

The election was previously scheduled for December 1992, the driest month of the year, to ensure, it was claimed, that it would not be disrupted by rain. Now it was to be held just when heavy rains were guaranteed to set in.

But not a drop of rain fell that day until 9 p.m, long after the polls had closed, and that was in the creeks of the Niger Delta.

Against all their calculations, the election took place.

By the evening of June 13, the day after the election, official results released by NEC and certified returns awaiting only official proclamation indicated that the muslimmuslim ticket of Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola and Babagana Kingibe was set to win a decisive victory for the Social Democratic Party.

Then, the live network programme of the Nigerian Television Authority which had been announcing and analysing the results took an ominous turn.

Nduka Obaigbena, a prominent member of the other officially licensed political party, the National Republican Convention who had made an unsuccessful run for the party’s ticket for a Senate seat from Delta State, bobbed up on the screen, complaining that Abiola had appeared at the polling booth on election day attired in a garment embroidered with the SDP’s symbol, a stallion, contrary to the regulations.

This violation, Obaigbena said portentously, raised serious questions of “morality” which required that the entire election be voided.

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The day they couldn’t bury “June 12” prepared the ground for “May 29.” Without the one there might never have been the other, certainly not in that particular manifestation’ •The late Abiola

Breathtaking development followed upon breathtaking development.

Another Abuja High Court, Justice Dahiru Saleh presiding, ordered NEC to stop further announcements of election returns. It moved thereafter to declare the entire poll illegal on the ground that it had been held in violation of a subsisting court order. The AFRC affirmed the decision, moved, it claimed, by its absolute commitment to upholding the rule of law.

Protests broke out in various parts of the country. But were soon localised in the South West, which was accused of having “ethnicised” what had begun as a pan-Nigerian project.

Military president Babangida was forced to beat a ragged, lachrymose retreat from Abuja, after a handing over of sorts to a so-called Interim National Government that doddered on for 83 days before collapsing under its own contradictions.

Sani Abacha seized power, spawning the darkest period in Nigeria’s history since the civil war – an era terminated only by his death in an orgy of concupiscence. A month later, Abiola slumped and died, literally across the coffee table from an American delegation

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visiting, ostensibly to negotiate his release from the captivity in which he had been held since declaring himself president in 1994.

Then followed the rushed transition that led to the election of Olusegun Obasanjo as president, under a constitution that had not been published at the time of his inauguration.

The day he took office was proclaimed “Democracy Day.” That proclamation and the ceremonies staged each year to memorialise it always rang hollow. “June 12” prepared the ground for “May 29.” Without the one there might never have been the other, certainly not in that particular manifestation.

For many years, “June 12” was celebrated in the shadow of “May 29,” and only in those parts of the South West which had not been overrun by the federal might or in which elected officials were not too terrified by what “Abuja” might do if they stepped out of line Until yesterday.

Across six states of the South West where there has been a change of political leadership and a resurgence of the progressive agenda, June 12 was observed as a work-free day, and

HARDBALL

S

UPPORTERS of former Speaker Dimeji Bankole would have us believe that he’s being persecuted for frustrating the bid by President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to foist a leadership upon the House of Representatives. They say he’s paying for throwing the party’s zoning arrangement into disarray.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on the other hand, insists it is not being teleguided, but rather that serious crimes have been committed by the former Speaker and others in the House under his leadership. Whatever the spin put on it the truth is that Bankole is in hot water.

Aside the charge of contract inflation relating to the purchase of television sets and other items, he also has lots of explaining to do regarding the acquisition of the NECOM building in Lagos for several billions of naira by a company owned by his family, as well as the purchase of other pricey real estate in exclusive locations in Abuja. That is aside accounting for suspiciously large sums of money allegedly found in his accounts.

Now, he and his erstwhile deputy, Usman Nafada, will face a fresh 17-count charge for using House accounts with the United Bank

DELE AGEKAMEH

as the authentic Democracy Day That is an amazing turn-around.

“June 12 is dead,” those who annulled the election and their confederates were forever taunting those they derided as ‘June Twelvers.’

“Get over it.”

To which the “June Twelvers” would rejoin: “If ‘June 12’ is dead, why can’t you bury it?”

Hard as they tried, they could never bury it.

Shortly after the annulment, Federal Attorney-General Clement Akpamgbo had warned that any reference to “June 12” would be regarded as treason and punished as such.

Today, “June 12” is an ideology of sorts in a large swathe of Nigeria while Akpamgbo is remembered largely for his role in engineering the darkness that once enveloped Nigeria.

So is Arthur Nzeribe, whose malignant stranglehold on Imo politics, the only place where he could still claim some nuisance value, was broken last month.

Military president Babangida who concocted all sorts of untruths to justify the annulment now says it was the freest and fairest ever held on these shores, and seeks to be honoured for organising it. Even so, “June 12” hobbled his attempt to stage a political comeback.

Bassey Ikpeme, she of what Omo Omoruyi has called the “candlelight judgement,” never presided over another court session. By one account, she literally drank herself to death.

Dahiru Saleh, the Abuja judge who so readily provided the judicial props for voiding the election, was dismissed from the Bench for conduct most unbecoming.

Abiola’s running mate, Kingibe, gravitated seamlessly from one careerist perch to another until he overreached himself and was dismissed as secretary to the Government of the Federation in Umaru Yar’Adua’s Administration.

The influence of many a stalwart of the progressive community dimmed in the South West because they were perceived, rightly or wrongly, to be ambivalent toward the revalidation of “June 12,” among them Lateef Jakande, the high-achieving former Governor of Lagos State, Dr Olu Onagoruwa, the constitutional law expert and human rights crusader, and Ebenezer Babatope, the selfavowed Awosist.

Former president Olusegun Obasanjo was the principal beneficiary of “June 12.” Yet he never permitted himself to invoke that day, nor its symbol, Moshood Abiola. Now he has been politically neutered in the South West he claims as home base.

The late Gani Fawehinmi, whom nobody ever accused of humbug, once described “June 12” as a “spiritual force” that would bring to grief those who stood in its path.

Perhaps he knew something the rest of us don’t.

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Bankole’s underpopulated dock for Africa (UBA) and First Bank to obtain almost N40 billion in loans.

Prosecutors allege that N32 billion out of the loans obtained was used to indiscriminately increase the allowances of members, while the remaining N5.5 billion was “dishonestly disbursed” – legalese for blatantly dipping grubby fingers into the till.

The case against Bankole and Nafada may well turn out to be a watershed in Nigeria’s chequered war against official corruption, or become just a farcical show trial, depending on how far the government is willing to go. Much will depend on the kinds of answers that are provided for some troubling questions.

The first has to do with the whole process of obtaining the sordid loans. Was this a unilateral action on the part of Bankole and Nafada? What roles did other principal officers of the House, the Clerk to the House and civil servants play? Are there individuals in the new House leadership who should also be chatting

with the EFCC? What committees came up with the bright idea of obtaining the loans?

What about officials of the banks that gave out such huge and risky loans? Have they played it by the book?

It is no secret that Senators equally took part in the unilateral award to themselves of obscene allowances. There is no evidence to show that the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) approved of the jumbo payments. Perhaps, the prosecutors should also extend their probe to the Senate to determine whether the kind of breaches over contract inflation for which Bankole is being tried did not also happen in the upper chamber.

By the time we get answers to some of these questions, it would be clear that the dock in the courtroom whether the former Speaker and his deputy are facing the music ought to be more crowded than it presently is. It would also be the best way to answer cynics who sneer that Bankole’s prosecution is mere political persecution.

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