The Nation June 20 2011

Nigeria’s truly national newspaper

N216.7b saved in 2010 appropriation

Police’s N1m ransom on Tokyo, Auxiliary •‘They must be arrested’

BUSINESS – Page 15

•BPP gives account of stewardship

NEWS – Page 10

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VOL. 6, NO. 1796 MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

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Cabinet battle rages in Lagos, Ondo, Kwara Obasanjo pushes for daughter PDP, APGA disagree over Akunyili

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HE battle for ministerial slots deepened at the weekend, with President Goodluck Jonathan withstanding pressure from lobbyists, bigwigs and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

But the President has

THOSE ON THE LIST •Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala •Dr. Tonye Cole •Ms Jumoke Akinjide •Nuhu Zagbayi •Zainab Maina •Bukar Tijjani •Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar •Arc. Mohammed Musa •Prof. Rufai Alkali •Dr. Akinwumi Adefila •Labaran Maku

•Yerima Ngama •Ada Okwuonu •Dr. Mohammed Haliru Bello •Bolaji Abdullahi •Yusuf Suleiman •Caleb Olubolade •Emeka Wogu •Odein Ajumogobia (SAN) •Diezani Alison-Madueke •Bala Mohammed •Prof. Onyebuchi

•Prof. Barth Nnaji •Prof. Ruqayyat Rufai •Bashir Yuguda •Godsday Orubebe •Usman Shamsudeen •Mohammed Bello Adoke •Bassey Ewa •Mary Onyali-Omagbemi •Olasunkanmi Akinlabi

THOSE UNDER CONSIDERATION •Abubakar Kawu Baraje •Adetokunbo Kayode •Josephine Anenih From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation, Abuja

made up his mind on the choice of 32 nominees whose names will be forwarded to the Senate this week.

The battle grounds are Anambra, Imo, Ogun, Enugu, Rivers, Ondo, Abia,

•Dora Akunyili •Festus Odimegwu •Fidelia Njeze

Delta, Kaduna and Lagos states.

It was learnt that ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo is pushing for his daughter, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello for the Ogun slot, but security agencies advised against it, citing the ongoing trial of the ex-Senator for alleged

•Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello •Aliyu Idi Hong

N10million fraud.

Deputy President of the Senate Ike Ekweremadu and Governor Sullivan Chime differ sharply on the return of former Minister of Aviation Mrs. Fidelia Njeze.

The governor favours Njeze; the Deputy Senate President is seeking the slot

for another zone in the state.

In Imo State, the people of Okigwe, led by a former governor and erstwhile influential official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are up in arms against the immediate past Deputy Governor, Mrs. Ada Okwuonu, who has been

chosen on merit.

In Anambra State, the PDP is pitched against the All Progressive Grand Alliance(APGA).

PDP is seeking the return of former Minister of Women Affairs Mrs. Josephine Anenih. APGA has nominated a former Minister of Information and defeated senatorial candidate, Prof. Dora Akunyili as its representative in the proposed Government of National Unity (GNU).

Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi favours his Chief of Staff Nelson Wike, but some Presidency heavyweights prefer a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche.

The situation in Delta State is also cloudy, but the President was said to have conceded the slot to his godfather, Chief Edwin Clark, who has up till Monday(today) to make a “good choice.”

Continued on page 2

Clerk: Bankole rejected advice F

ORMER Speaker Dimeji Bankole took loans for the payment of members’ allowances to avoid impeachment, House Clerk Mohammed Ataba Sani-Omolori has said.

The Clerk said the leadership of the House bowed to pressure from members who insisted that “if the leadership does not announce the date of payment of the running cost, they were all going to be removed”.

Bankole and his erstwhile deputy, Usman Nafada, are on trial over the way they ran the financial affairs of the House.

They were granted bail at the weekend after being remanded in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) custody.

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

The Clerk’s clarifications, in a statement made to the EFCC, have been attached to the Proof of Evidence before the court.

Both the prosecution and the defence counsel have the Proof of Evidence, which was obtained from the court by our correspondent.

Sani-Omolori gave a comprehensive insight into the financial transactions in the 6th House of Representatives, especially the controversial loans.

He said: “In practical terms, the National Assembly has three branches, the Senate, the House of Representatives and the management. The three Continued on page 2

•Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (middle), congratulating his Edo State counterpart, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole (right) at the solemnisation of the holy matrimony between Oshiomhole’s daughter, Winifred Isimakhome and Solomon Aduvienane Owumi, at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, Abuja ... on Saturday. With him is Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

•POLITICS P12 •SPORTS P23 •CITY BEATS P25 •JOBS P43 •CEO P45

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THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

NEWS How to tackle bombing, Boko Haram threat, by ex-IG Ehindero, ACN, others

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•Abia State Governor Theodore Orji commiserating with the widow of Nollywood star Ashley Nwosu at his funeral in his country home, Umuigwu Oboro in Ikwuano Local Government Area...at the weekend

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan must urgently tackle the growing Boko Haram threat, bombings and insecurity in the country, former Inspector General of Police Sunday Ehindero and the Action Congress of Nigeria (AC N) advised yesterday.

Former presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau and the Anglican Bishop of Awka diocese in Anambra State, the Rt. Rev. Alexandar Ibezim also spoke on the matter.

But they differ on the approach to the menace.

From Damisi Ojo (Akure) and Nwanosike Onu (Awka)

Committee to make appropriate provisions in the budget.

“Within the interval, the committee assured that they will reflect the funds in 2011 Budget. It was then agreed to source the funds and of course I raised the memo as an administrative function.

would be difficult for the police to arrest it.

“This is an ugly trend that must be swiftly tackled with all seriousness. That was how terrorism started in the Middle East; it is a trend that must not be allowed.

“Crime all over the world is dynamic and it must be addressed with dynamic ways of curbing crime. Before now, the nation was only experiencing robbery, which later developed into kidnapping and now bomb blast.

“Just like kidnapping became a difficult menace to handle, my fear is that, if not properly checked, bombing may become another phenomenon that will be difficult to combat.”

The former police chief is against state police which, according to him “cannot address the high level of insecurity in the country.” “I don’t think state policing is the solution to crime control; it will further aggravate the situation. Some governors will take undue advantage of state police to harass the public,” Ehindero said, adding: “Decentralising the police will not bring solution to crime; government should rather make the police more efficient and effective through proper funding.

The ACN said the federal government should urgently engage those behind the worsening Boko Haram-led violence in dialogue, rather than place emphasis on the use of force, as a way of ending the violence.

In a statement in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party urged Jonathan to take the lead in engaging the Boko Haram sect, just like the late President Umaru Yar’Adua took charge of the amnesty programme for the Niger Delta militants, instead of leaving it to the Borno State governor.

It also advised the police to talk less and show more tact in dealing with the issue, saying it took only days after the Inspector-General of Police Hafiz Ringim boasted that the days of the sect were numbered, for it to take the battle to the IGP’s doorsteps with the first-ever suicide bombing in Nigeria’s history.

The party urged the government not to be discouraged by the near impossible conditions for dialogue that have been reeled out by Boko Haram sect, saying dialogue will pay off in the end if those involved can stay the course and surmount the obstacles. ‘’Our stand is based on the fact that Boko Haram is a product of politics gone awry, as the former Borno State governor allegedly used the sect to further his political career only to dump it unceremoniously. The coldblooded killing of its leader by the police was the last straw. This is just like how some governors in the Niger Delta allegedly helped to create the monster of militancy by arming youths for political ends. Thankfully, that militancy has now been largely curtailed through a political solution,’’ ACN said.

Continued on page 10

Continued on page 3

Ehindero, who spoke at his hometown, Oyin Akoko, Ondo State at the weekend, said the President should take proactive measures, including properly funding the Police, to get to the root of insecurity. He dismissed the suggestion of state police as recommended.

The ex-IG said since crime was being handled with dynamism by criminals, dynamic ways of combating crime should be fashioned be security operatives.

In his view, once suicide bombing becomes regular, it

Cabinet battle rages in Lagos, Ondo, Kwara, others Continued from page 1

“The President has asked Clark to weigh all his nominees thoroughly and choose one. But the elder statesman has not recommended anybody as at last night,” a source added.

The horse-trading also affected the cabinet plan in Abia State where the President has decided to retain the erstwhile Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu. He also specifically invited the Managing Director of the World Bank, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

The World Bank chief is expected to “make her final decision known today.”But the power game has affected the ministerial fortunes of a former Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, who will now be given an ambassadorial appointment.

Vice-President Namadi Sambo has opted for his ‘political godson’, Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar, a former Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), ahead of a former Governor, Senator Ahmed Maikarfi and a former governorship aspirant, Suleiman Hunkuyi.

In Kwara State, the battle for the cabinet slot took a twist, with the nomination of a former Commissioner for Education, Mr. Bolaji

Abdullahi, against National Secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, hitherto nominated.

It was learnt that Baraje may either be the nominee for the North-Central or be given an Ambassadorial appointment.

A presidency source simply added: “Baraje’s nomination is still one of those under ratification by the President.”

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The battle for ministerial appointments has turned dirty in some states and an amusement in a few others.

“For instance, there is a challenge in Ogun State where some party leaders and exPresident Olusegun Obasanjo are pushing for Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello.

“But security agencies have questioned the rationale of choosing a candidate who is standing trial for alleged corruption.

“And given what Obasanjo said in Geneva about low commitment to the fight against corruption, picking Senator Obasanjo-Bello will confirm the disputable rating of the ex-President.

“Another argument against the choice of Obasanjo-Bello is that an Egba man cannot be the governor of Ogun State and a Minister coming from the same district.

“Some party leaders also raised a moral issue against the ex-President’s choice. They

claimed that if Obasanjo could stick out his neck for a Yewa man as the party’s governorship candidate, why can’t he do that for the ministerial slot.

“The ex-President did not stop at that, he is allegedly pushing for the candidature of a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Breweries, Chief Festus Odimegwu from Imo State. Odimegwu is considered a personal friend of Obasanjo in contrast to the benchmark set by the presidency for nomination into this new cabinet.

“The President has made his mind known that the era of imposition is over.

“In Anambra State, APGA is hell-bent on Prof. Dora Akunyili but most PDP leaders insisted on Mrs. Josephine Anenih whose contributions to Jonathan’s victory was unparalleled.

“Akunyili also has a security hurdle to clear over issues surrounding the declaration of the Senatorial election between her and Senator Chris Ngige in April. Only INEC report on the dispute could clear her as a nominee.

Security agencies are already relating with INEC.” “Regarding Ondo State, frivolous petitions against a former Minister of Defence, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, have made his name to fall under ratification but he is ‘highly favoured’ by the President for the slot.”

Responding to a question,

the source added: “There is no state where the ‘war’ is fiercer than Imo where the people of Okigwe, an ex-governor and a former INEC official have kicked against the choice of the immediate past Deputy Governor of the state, Mrs Ada Okwuonu.

“Their argument is that Okigwe zone has been completely marginalised at the state and federal levels, with the outcome of the April general elections.

Investigation by our correspondent however revealed that the President has concluded issues on 31 nominees.

The Presidency source said: “The list will be sent to the Senate this week after final checks by security agencies.

Mr. President will close this chapter of intrigues any moment from now so that the cabinet can start business.

“The rest is left to the Senate to screen the nominees.

With the work done by security agencies so far, I think most of the nominees will survive the rigorous exercise.”

The 31 nominees are the Managing Director of the World Bank, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala(whose final decision is being expected by the President today); Dr. Tonye Cole; Ms Jumoke Akinjide; a former Deputy Governor of Niger State and Campaign Coordinator for Goodluck /Sambo, Nuhu Zagbayi; ex-President, NCWS, Zainab Maina; Bukar

Tijjani; ex-PTDF Executive Secretary, Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar; Arc. Mohammed Musa; PDP National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Rufai Alkali Dr. Akinwumi Adefila; exMinister of Information, Labaran Maku and Yerima Ngama.

There are also ex-Deputy Governor of Imo State Ada Okwuonu; PDP National Chairman, Dr. Mohammed Haliru Bello; ex-Commissioner for Education in Kwara State Bolaji Abdullahi; ex-Minister of Transport Yusuf Suleiman; and ex-Minister of State for FCT, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade(rtd).

Others are ex-Minister of Labour, Emeka Wogu; ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Odein Ajumogobia(SAN), ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke; exMinister of FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed; ex-Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi; a former Minister, Prof. Barth Nnaji; ex-Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyat Rufai; Bashir Yuguda; ex-Minister of Niger Delta Affairs; Elder Godsday Orubebe; ex-Minister of National Planning, Dr. Usman Shamsudeen; the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke(SAN);Bassey Ewa; ace athlete and Olympic medalist Mary OnyaliOmagbemi and Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi, a former Minister of Youth.

Clerk: Bankole, others rejected advice on loans Continued from page 1

branches have their separate accounts.

“In the case of the House, the Hon. Speaker is the approving authority for all expenditure from the House funds. As the Clerk of the House, I am aware in most cases of the memos on the House funds. The signatories to the House Accounts are employees the Finance and Account Department.

“Whenever the need arose for any expenditure around me, I will write a memo seeking for approval from the Hon. Speaker. He sent it back by writing ‘please process’.

“On receipt of any such memo, I will forward it to the Clerk of the National Assembly to please direct further.”

Sani-Omolori explained how the House ran into trouble since 2010 over funds.

He said: “The budget figure

for the House for 2010 eventually came to a figure of N60billion, capital inclusive.

There was no supplementary appropriation budget by the House in 2010 but there was an Appropriation (Amendment) by the House in 2010.

“I am not familiar with the general regulation for obtaining loan by government establishment but aware that the system I met in the House was for the approving authority to endorse taking of loan for specific or general purposes.

“Sometime in March last year-2010, the House decided to enhance its running cost and therefore set up a 37-man committee, made up of one member per state and the FCT, to review the welfare package, specifically to enhance their running cost and any other welfare.

“When the ‘37 wise men’ submitted their report to the

Executive Session of the House, they were directed to meet with the Clerk to show me the basis and how they intend to fund the increase.

“I informed them at the meeting that since the budget had been passed, it was only an amendment that can make the funds available.

“The House resolved that the new running cost must be paid at all cost. The Principal Officers met at a meeting in the Hon. Speaker’s Guest House in Asokoro sometime in May 2010 where the Chairman of the Appropriation Committee, Hon. Ayo Adeseun, promised to reflect the changes that would give legal backing to the new running cost by adjustments in the budget when the Appropriation (amendment) Bill that was being expected come.

“The Body of Principal Officers resolved to source

funds, to meet the members’ demand, from the Senate, the management and the bank.

“As the ‘37 wise men’ met me through their leader, I wrote a memo to the Hon. Speaker, drawing his attention to the illegality of what they are proposing to do in respect of increasing their running cost without appropriate budget back-up and to also spend the capital funds outside the appropriation.

“He sent the memo back to me to ensure the rules are followed at all times. Indeed, we restated the rules guiding capital funds to the committee.

“The memo of 19th October 2010 to the Hon. Speaker on the payment of additional running cost for members was written in furtherance of the standing decisions of the Body of Principal Officers to source funds even by loan from the Appropriation

•Bankole

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THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

NEWS

Industrial giant Aliko Dangote has joined the battle to rescue a 32-year-old undergraduate, who is mentally-ill. After reading Khadijat Oluwatoyin Sanya’s story in The Nation, he sent a cheque of N850,000 for her treatment. Jude Isiguzo, who reported Khadijat’s plight, presented the cheque to the community that has shouldered her rehabilitation.

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•Isiguzo (left) presenting the cheque to Alhaji Abdur-Rahman, Rev. Oguntulu and Mr. Alade

•Khadijat

By Jude Isiguzo

“We are appealing to other goodspirited Nigerians to assist in emulating Dangote.”

Khadijat, 32, suddenly became mentally deranged midway into her studies and was rushed home by her colleagues.

It was gathered that the woman, described by many as brilliant and promising, is also a student in a private school of aviation, where she is

By Emmanuel Oladesu Deputy Political Editor

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Dangote’s gift of life for mentally-ill undergraduate HERE is hope for Khadijat Oluwatoyin Sanya, the mentally-ill undergraduate of Lagos State University (LASU), whose story appeared in The Nation on June 13.

Business giant Alhaji Aliko Dangote, was moved to pity after reading the sad story of the 300-Level Business Administration student.

He sent a cheque of N850,000 for her treatment.

Members of the Arowojobe Community, Oshodi, Lagos, where Khadijat had been roaming the streets after she ran amok in 2009 before she was rescued and taken to a private psychiatric hospital, appealed to public spirited individuals for assistance.

They pleaded for help to defray her medical and rehabilitation bills.

They set up a trust fund for that purpose. Dangote responded to their plea.

He sent the cheque to Khadijat Oluwatoyin Sanya Trust Fund. The cheque was presented to The Nation on Thursday.

By 10am the following day, The Nation, through its correspondent Mr. Jude Isiguzo, transferred the cheque to the funds’s managers.

Those who received the cheque were the Secretary of the Community Development Association (CDA), Mr. Sunday Akani Alade, the General Overseer of Christ Light House Church, Rev. Joshua Oguntulu and the Imam of Aye-Gbesin Central Mosque, Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Abdur-Rahman.

Alade, who spoke for the committee, thanked Dangote for his gesture and prayed God to protect every member of his family.

His words: “We thank Dangote so much for this gift of life. We did not know that help will come this quick.

He will be successful in all his business. His business will continue to grow. This kind of sickness will not befall any member of his family. The community decided to take responsibility of the girl when it was discovered that there was no one to take care of her”.

Alade noted that when Khadijat is completely healed, the community would need more funds to rent an apartment for her and also establish a cottage business for her to continue her education.

Tinubu to bag leadership award in Ghana

•Dangote undergoing air transport.

According to a source, her poor parents broke down and in the search for a solution to the strange ailment; her father fell off from a Molue bus at Oshodi.

“The injury he sustained did not only land him in the hospital, he also underwent surgery that has kept him virtually bed-ridden since then,” the source said.

It was learnt that Khadijat ran out

of her parents’ home and was on the streets of Oshodi and its environs before help came.

In a collaborative effort, the Adeyemi/Arowojobe Community Development Association (AACDA) and Aiye-Gbesin Central Mosque opted early in year to rescue her. They took her to a Lagos hospital, where she has been undergoing treatment. She is reported to be responding to treatment.

CTION Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu will bag the maiden ‘African Servant Leadership Award (ASLA) from the Graduate School of Governance and Leadership (GSGL), Ghana, on June 28.

African statesmen, frontline politicians, scholars, captains of industries, businessmen, and other eminent persons will gather at Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, Accra, for the ceremony.

Eighteen other Africans and corporate institutions, which have done the country proud, will be honoured along with the Third Republic senator.

The organisers said the former Lagos State governor was nominated for the award in recognition of his contributions to the socio-economic and political development of Nigeria.

The school Registrar, Raymond Eli, who conveyed the institution’s decisions to Tinubu in Lagos, said the “Judging Panel and Court of Governors”, which selected him for the award, comprised men and women of integrity and proven character.

On the panel are former member of the Council of State in Ghana, Dr Simon Asore, GSGL Rector Dr David Dartey, Vice Rector Dr Henry Appiah, former Deputy Governor of Bank of Ghana Nana Oye Mansah-Yeboaa, a member of the African Peer Review Mechanism Organisation, Gloria Ofori-Boadu, Ghana’s former Ambassador to Liberia, Maj.Gen. Adu Amanfo (rtd), GSGL Chancellor Rev. Gideon TitiOfei and GSGL co-founder Rev. Olivia Titi-Ofei.

Eli, who was accompanied by an entourage from Ghana, told reporters that Tinubu merited the award because of his leadership qualities, which have made him an example on the continent.

He said many Nigerians have also attested to Tinubu’s leadership worth as an organiser and manager of human and material resources.

“He has been nominated for the political leadership category of the African Servant Leadership Award. We are changing the tradition of honouring leaders after their death. We want to recognise them when they are still living”, added Eli, who congratulated Tinubu for the nomination.

How to tackle bombing, Boko Haram threat, by ex-IG Ehindero, ACN, others Continued from page 2

The party said Boko Haram has now evolved into a monster because of the dangerous mix of politics, religion, economy and international terrorism (alleged Al-Qaeda connection). ‘’Because of this dangerous mix, this monster cannot be subdued by force. If it were so easy, there would have been no dialogue with the IRA after years of military campaign against it. In any case, Nigeria currently lacks the capacity to use force to crush the Boko Haram sect.

How many car parks, hotels or eateries and drinking joints can the police man? It is apparent that a sect that has claimed responsibility for bombings at military barracks as well as the headquarters of the police

cannot be intimidated by six APCs, which the police said they have moved to Borno state. ‘’The authorities should also remember that a suicide bomber is an end-gamer who fears nothing, whether it is APCs or military tanks.

And a man who has no value for his own life obviously places no premium on anyone’s life. To worsen matters, the pervasive poverty in the country today, plus the evolving religious fanaticism, is such that there is large pool of willing recruits for suicide bombing. The bad economy has created many Boko Harams. ‘’Since long years of bad governance have left millions of citizens

destitute and hopeless, some are willing to wager their lives for the Utopian life-after, the eternal peace in heaven, being promised their followers by some clerics. In the reasoning of these end-gamers, why not look elsewhere for the better life that has eluded them in this part of the divide?’’ it said.

ACN warned that unless the government acts fast, the current state of insecurity can only harm the country’s image and ruin its economy, as no investors will be willing to come to a country where he or she can be blown up by suicide bombers. ‘’No foreign investor will wait for a travel advisory from his/her government before deciding not to visit

a country where security is not guaranteed, where a drink in a pub can fetch one a bomb. This is why all stakeholders must be involved, as we advised in an earlier statement, in the efforts to resolve this Boko Haram crisis. Let the process begin today!’’ the party said.

Shekarau, in a statement by his spokesman Sule Ya’u Sule, described the bombing of the police headquarters as “callous”.

He said the attack should be condemned by all lovers of peace and tolerance.

Shekarau, the immediate past governor of Kano State, said he received the news of the blast and casualty figure with sadness, “because human life is very precious”.

The former governor challenged the police and other security agencies to intensify their vigilance and intelligence gathering.

“With the cooperation from the public, it will be easy to defeat those threatening the security, unity and stability of Nigeria,’’Shekarau said.

He prayed God to grant the souls of the dead repose and the wound quick recovery.

Shekarau urged Nigerians not to give in to fear and called on President Goodluck Jonathan to do everything in his power to ensure that the Boko Haram threat was nipped in the bud.

The Rt. Ibezim has called for the review of the security in the country.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

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NEWS

Motorists groan as Abuja traffic gets more chaotic Far from the dream of its builders, Abuja is getting crowded. The traffic situation is bad, reports Francis Onyeukwu of NAN

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T is becoming nightmarish for those who live on the outskirts of Abuja coming into and travelling out of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT); no thanks to the chaotic traffic.

Mostly affected, particularly in the early and late hours of the day, are those resident on the Abuja-Kaduna road, Abuja-Keffi road and AbujaLokoja road.

Motorists spend hours before getting to their offices, business centres and homes.

Observers said the situation is gradually getting worse on the three major routes, as motorists usually form at least four lanes on the twolane roads.

More buses are breaking down following the overheating of engines.

To say that the plight of commuters is harrowing is an understatement. Some of them sweat profusely in over-loaded commercial buses;’ others resort to trekking to taking alternative vehicles to get to their destinations.

Mr. James Effiong, a trader in Wuse market, expressed his frustration. “Moving around in Abuja has become a real wahala (problem); It take hours for most people who live in Kubwa, Nyanya, Idu, Karimo and other satellite towns to come to the city centre or return home after the day’s work.

“The situation is even compounded by ongoing construction on some major roads such as the one leading to Kubwa, as road users spend hours moving at snail pace on such roads,’’ he said.

Observers said the traffic situation on the inter-city roads is traumatic as it is commonplace to see motorists with frayed nerves hurling abuses at each other, while there are occasional accidents.

But the logjam often leads to brisk business for some traders, particularly those hawking snacks, bottled and pure (sachet) water and cell phone recharge cards, among others.

•A traffic snarl on Kubwa road in Abuja

“I like the go-slow a lot; e dey make me sell my gala (sausage rolls) well well,’’ Sadia Ibrahim, a roadside snacks seller said, adding: “If the vehicles are moving fast, nobody will stop by to buy from me.’’

Many residents insist that the chaotic traffic situation was never envisaged by those who planned the city. They had modelled its master plan after modern cosmopolitan cities, such as Venice, Brussels and Paris.

They attributed the harrowing traffic situation to factors which, they said, have brought serious suffering, health hazards and economic losses to residents.

Many residents have sour tales to tell about the deplorable situation that is gradually becoming commonplace on Abuja roads.

Mrs. Lucy Babayeju, a Kubwa trader, recalled her experience on the Kubwa axis of Abuja-Kaduna road on a particular day.

She said: “I boarded a bus in Abuja that was going to Kubwa about 6.30 p.m. But I was stuck for over three hours on the road.

“I became very uncomfortable, as I sweated profusely in the crowded bus which stank of petrol fume and burning clutch. I soon told the driver to drop me because I could no longer bear the inconveniences.

“I had to trek a long distance before getting to Dutse junction, where I bought a bottle of Coca Cola and some biscuits from hawkers taking advantage of the traffic holdup to make brisk business.

“I sat down at a corner to rest and

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

‘Commuters and motorists are seen sweating as early as 7am’ recover before continuing my journey home,’’ Mrs Babayeju said.

However, Valentine Onwuka, a public servant, insisted that despite the chaotic sistuation on Abuja roads, the vehicular movement in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is still better than that of Lagos and Port Harcourt.

Recalling his first experience in a typical Lagos traffic in the mid1980s, Onwuka, a resident of Kubwa, admitted a similarity in the traffic situation in Abuja and Lagos.

He said: “Commuters and motorists are seen sweating as early as 7am. Some of them cover their noses with handkerchiefs to prevent the dusts kicked up by some reckless motorists who drive on road pavements, all in an effort to find a way out of the traffic jam.’’

Nonetheless, some people traced the genesis of the terrible traffic situation in Abuja to 2007 or 2008.

Mr. Davidson Ohurogu, a lawyer, attributed the traffic situation to the dramatic increase in the population.

His words: “Before now, the population of Abuja was manageable;

people could leave their homes in Kubwa, for instance, by 7.30am and get to their destinations in Garki, Asokoro, Wuse and Maitama districts around 8a.m.

Ohurogu said the massive migration of people to Abuja for sociopolitical and economic reasons in recent years largely accounted for the remarkable boom in the population.

He said: “The thinking of most job seekers is that it is easier to get employment in Abuja, while the sales of government quarters by the Federal Government forced some categories of workers out of the city-centre.

“As a result of these factors, among others, many people relocated to the satellite towns to get accommodation; thereby increasing the traffic problems on the roads.

“However, commercial bus drivers are the major bane of the traffic situation in Abuja, as these drivers often complicate traffic holdups by forming four lines on two-laneroads.

“Such actions consequently lead to serious traffic congestion on the roads linking satellite towns to the city centre.’’

Mr. Tanko Buba, a bus driver, said drivers are not unmindful of the harrowing experience of road users, adding that the situation has been compounded by ongoing reconstruction on some major roads.

The situation will definitely improve whenever the projects are concluded, he said..

Buba said: “A few weeks ago, many motorists plying Abuja-Zuba road

Experts: cancer causes one in eight deaths

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HE American Cancer Society (ACS) has said one in eight deaths worldwide is caused by cancer.

Its views are contained in a document made available to reporters and cancer control advocates participating in a pre-United Nations High level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) conference, tagged ‘We can, We should, We will conquer cancer’, in New York, United States.

The ACS said if efforts are not stepped up to curb cancer, the global cancer burden

•Nigeria, others worse hit From Olukorede Yishau, Assistant Editor (News) in New York

would double to 21.4 million cases and 13.5 millions deaths by 2030.

The document said the World Health Organisation (WHO) research shows that low and medium income countries, such as Nigeria are the worse hit.

It said: “Key factors in these rising rates are the lack of access to information about pre-

vention, early detection and treatment in developing countries and an inadequate medical and public health infrastructure.

“As a result, cancers are often diagnosed at a late stage and people suffer needlessly from inadequate palliative care.

“Although our understanding of cancer is unprecedented, cancer continues to be a leading cause of death largely because of lack of application of known interventions.”

The society said the activities of tobacco giants should be curbed to reduce the cancer burden.

“Africa presents unique challenges and opportunities.

Sub-Saharan Africa is home to the fastest-growing rates of tobacco use in the developing world.

“To fight the rise, the Society has collaborated with five partners as the Africa Tobacco Control Consortium (ATCC) to implement an ambitious tobacco control programme in sub-Saharan Africa.

abandoned their vehicles and trekked to their destinations.

But Mr. Hippolitus Unamma, a worker, with a construction firm, blamed the perennial traffic congestion on non-implementation of the Abuja Master Plan by successive FCT Administrations over the years.

However, an official of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), who pleaded anonymity, insisted that the traffic situation on the roads leading to Abuja could get better, despite the on-going expansion, if motorists exhibit the right attitude.

The official said: “As a result of the expansion works on the Airport, Nyanya, and Abuja-Zuba roads, more FRSC officials and traffic wardens are always deployed to control traffic on the roads and ensure hitch-free movement of vehicles.

“But motorists, especially commercial bus drivers, usually exhibit deviant behaviour; they drive recklessly and break traffic rules. This results in long hours of traffic congestion.’’An estate manager, Sharing similar sentiments, Mr. Ibrahim Abubakar, said road safety agencies, like FRSC, should not relent in efforts to mobilise motorists in their FCT to adopt good road safety practices.

“This is because most of the problems on Abuja roads are caused by aberrant drivers who have no regard for traffic rules,’’ the FRSC official said, adding; “the agencies should step up their road safety campaign, while sanctioning erring road users to serve as deterrent to others.’’

Hajj commission seeks reduction in pilgrimage days From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

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HE National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) may recommend a reduction in the number of days pilgrims spend in Saudi Arabia, it was learnt yesterday.

Citing logistics and other operational challenges, NAHCON wants the days slashed from 45 to 35.

At a stakeholders meeting for Federal Capital Territory (FCT) pilgrims in Abuja yesterday, NAHCON kicked against the government’s $750 Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) for pilgrims, saying the money is insufficient for the over one month exercise.

The Commission’s Executive Secretary, Alhaji Musa Bello, said the recommendation became necessary because of the logistics and other operational difficulties faced during the yearly religious pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

Bello said the planned reduction may go a long way in mitigating the Commission’s operational challenges and avert the accompanying embarrassment caused the country in the holy land.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

5

NEWS

Ogun alleges destabilisation plot

Alao-Akala will not lead Oyo PDP, ex-deputy vows From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

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NY attempt by former Oyo State Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala to impose himself on the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as its leader will be resisted, a former deputy governor to Alao-Akala, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarunmi, warned at the weekend.

After his defeat at the April poll, Alao-Akala and some PDP chieftains have been at loggerheads over the leadership of the party.

Gbolarunmi told The Nation at his Bodija home in Ibadan that Alao-Akala is not fit to lead the party and should stop parading himself as such.

He said the former governor’s defeat at the April poll is proof that the people have rejected him.

Gbolarunmi said the PDP’s defeat in the April polls was not caused by a loss of confidence in the party, but a rejection of Alao-Akala as a person.

He said: “Akala cannot be a leader of the PDP in Oyo State.

There is nowhere in the PDP constitution where it is established that former governors must be leaders of the party.

Akala lacks the charisma to lead.

“He’s not experienced. He became the governor on a platter of gold and by way of mischief. Our leader will definitely emerge naturally.

“I’m not denying that I was part of the decision to foist Akala on the people in 2006 after Senator Rashidi Ladoja’s impeachment. But it was a huge error and we so much regret it.”

Fayemi to begin capital projects From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

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KITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi has said his administration will soon begin capital projects to enhance development.

At the end of a three-day retreat in Iloko-Ijesa, organised by the government to appraise the 2011 Budget and fashion out a work plan for the next six months, Fayemi said the retreat would enable members of the State Executive Council and permanent secretaries chart a new course that would make his administration more proactive in the delivery of its eight-point agenda.

He said: “It is a routine exercise. We had the mid-year review of our programmes and budget, based on the priorities of government and the realities on ground.

“It is the priority of this administration to drastically reduce, if not totally eradicate poverty from the ranks of Ekiti people and make life more meaningful for all of us.”

Fayemi said the retreat was an opportunity to assess the level of compliance of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) with the 2011 Budget objectives and policies.

He said challenges encountered during the implementation of the budget in the first half of the year were also identified and solutions proffered.

Fayemi said the plans of the MDAs were studied and effective plans were adopted for the rest of the year.

He said: “The issue of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) was also a focus of our discussion. It is high time efforts were intensified in this regard as we cannot continue to depend on federal allocation, which is not adequate for effective execution of our programmes.

“With what we have done here, Ekiti is likely to become a huge construction site in the next six months.”

Ekiti flags off free medical mission

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HE Ekiti Free Health Mission will be flagged off today in the North Senatorial District

by Governor Kayode Fayemi.

The 10-day mission will end temporarily on June 30.

The medical train will roll into Ido Osi, Ikole, Ilejemeje, Moba and Oye local governments, where patients would be screened for various ailments and treated by the medical team.

The primary health care in-

By Emmanuel Oladesu

tervention project is sponsored by the Ministry of Health, in conjunction with a group, “Development Support Initiative.”

According to a statement by the ministry, the mission is in fulfillment of “Agenda Five” of the Fayemi Administration.

Free medical services for children, expectant mothers, physically challenged and senior citizens, are guaranteed.

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LLEGED plots by a group to destabilise the Ogun State Government has been uncovered, it was learnt yesterday.

In a statement, the Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to Governor Ibikunle Amosun on Media and Communication, Mrs. Funmi Wakama, alleged that the group plans to achieve this aim “by inciting the people against the government.”

According to the statement, the group is allegedly led and financed by a former top government official.

It alleged that the group met last Thursday and the “first tranche of funds meant for implementing the plot was released at the weekend.”

Sources said the meeting was attended by representatives of transport workers, students and politicians loyal to the said ex-government official.

A policeman from the State Police Command was allegedly present at the meeting, where the plan was put in place to distract and discredit the Amosun administration.’

It was gathered that the students were assigned to mobilise their colleagues from the seven higher institutions in the state to start violent protests against the new administration.

Why we reviewed Daniel’s decisions, by ex-Deputy Speaker From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

F

ORMER Deputy Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Mr. Remmy Hazzan, has said the outgone sixth Assembly passed the Bill for a Review of land allocations and sales of landed property because they were allocated under questionable circumstances.

Hazzan said the motive was not to witch-hunt anybody but to ensure that the manner of land acquisition conformed with laid down rules and public interest.

The Bill was sponsored by Johnson Olu- Fatoki (Ifo), Akeem Salami (Ijebu East), Michael Sewedo Fasinu,Adiro Lukman (Abeokuta North) and Olawale Alausa (Ijebu– Ode).

In an interview with The Nation, Hazzan, who has returned to the Ogun Assembly on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), alleged that the former governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, erected private and commercial structures on government acquired land under questionable circumstance.

“The site of the Conference Hotel, Ijebu–Ode, is designated as Judges’ Quarters in the master plan of the state.

“It was meant for judges serving in Ijebu Division of the Judiciary.

“By the Land Use Act of 1978, all land is vested in the hand of the governor, but there is a provison to acquisition,” he said.

By Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

The students are also to issue press statements to condemn the Amosun administration and issue deadlines on several phony issues, it was learnt.

The transporters were allegedly instructed to plant their members in commercial buses and spark off anti-government discussions.

Some politicians and aides

•From left: Permanent Secretary, State Treasury Office/Accountant-General, Mr. Akin Ambode; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Oluseyi Williams; Director of Account, Ministry of the Environment, Mr. Shakirudeen Odusanya; Director of Accounts, Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Shakirat Babatunde and the Vice-President of Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN), Mr. Doyin Owolabi , at a cocktail in honour of the distinguished members elected into ICAN council at Renaissance PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos…yesterday

‘No going back on rotation of Oyo Obas’ Council chair’ T

HE pan-Ibadan group, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), has said there is no going back on the rotational chairmanship of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.

The council made this known at the inauguration

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

of its new Executive in Ibadan, the state capital, at the weekend.

The administration of former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala introduced the

Osun ACN seeks security consciousness

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T the weekend, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Osun State urged Nigerians to be more security conscious.

It advised Nigerians to assist security operatives with information about things happening around them.

Reacting to explosions in several parts of the country, ACN Chairman Elder Adelowo Adebiyi said there is need to change the orientation that security is the sole responsibility of the government. He said recent happen-

of the ex-government official, it was gathered, have been instructed to plant stories in the media to distract the Amosun administration and put its activities in bad light.

The plan of the group is to ensure that the Amosun-led administration is kept so busy that it would not have

time to probe the alleged acts of illegality and fraud committed by the past administration in the state.

The government said “a national newspaper had, in its June 5 edition, exclusively reported that a group loyal to the former administration had put together N50 million to sponsor media campaigns against the Ogun State government.”

It alleged that intelligence reports had confirmed the plot and urged the police to be on the alert.

The statement reads: “We call on the Police Commissioner to put his men on the alert and ensure that no politician or group of politicians re-enact the volatile and dangerous situation of the recent past in the state, where lives and property were constantly imperiled.

“The police are charged with the responsibility of maintaining law and order, so we expect the police commissioner to probe the allegation that one of his officers attended a meeting where a plot to destabilise the government was hatched.

“We also urge our people to ignore these trouble makers and their antics. They should not be allowed to foment trouble in any part of the state as part of their sinister plan to cover up their dirty tracks.”

ings have shown that we must all join hands to ensure security.

Appealing to those behind the explosions for calm, Adebiyi said violence would not solve the problem, if any. He urged aggrieved parties to negotiate and embrace peace.

He said: “There is an urgent need for all to jettison selfish parochial interests and let the interest of the country supersede all others. We cannot afford to leave a bad impression on the youths and future leaders of the

country, who now wake up daily to witness horrendous occurrences which are strange in this part of the world.

“When people talked about suicide bombing, never did we think it would happen in Nigeria. At all times, we must monitor our environment and report strange happenings to security operatives.”

Adebiyi commiserated with the families of explosion victims.

rotation of the council’s chairmanship among the Alaafin of Oyo, Olubadan of Ibadan land and the Soun of Ogbomoso.

It was believed that AlaoAkala made the amendment to punish the Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, who allegedly worked against his second term ambition. The Alaafin was the permanent chairman of the council until last month.

The council identified the former leadership structure, which made the Alaafin the permanent chairman, as the reason the Olubadan shunned the council since his coronation five years ago.

The National President of the CCII, Chief Bayo Oyero, said the amendment was a welcome development, add-

ing that the council had been agitating for it since 2004.

He said: “We welcome the rotation of the Oba’s council chairmanship, which though belated, has supported our age-long agitation. The permanent position of the council made the Olubadan to steer clear of the Obas meetings since he became our ruler.”

Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Waheed Olajide, thanked Ibadan indigenes for electing him and promised not to disappoint them.

Ajimobi, who is an Ibadan indigene, urged his kinsmen to support his administration with prayers.

The Olubadan congratulated the new executive and urged them to sustain peace and progress of the city.

6

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

NEWS Cleric urges security review

Kwara governor urges firms to fund education KWARA State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has urged philanthropists and corporate bodies to invest in education just like the Chancellor of Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Bishop David Oyedepo, has done.

The governor spoke at the weekend in Omu-Aran, at the maiden matriculation of about 970 pioneer students of Landmark University.

Ahmed, who described education as the bedrock of development and a potent tool for eradicating poverty, ignorance and diseases, praised Rev. Oyedepo for his foresight and intervention in the education sector.

The governor said education is one of the cardinal programmes of his administration, adding that it is the vehicle by which his administration would drive growth, development and progress in the next four years.

Congratulating the ViceChancellor, principal officers, workers and students of the university, Ahmed said the government would strengthen the present environment to enable investors in the new university and other tertiary institutions to thrive.

‘Include women in Jonathan’s cabinet’ From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

THE Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to include its members in his cabinet.

APWEN noted that women engineers have the potential to contribute to national development, adding that they were being undervalued and underutilised.

Addressing reporters in Abuja at the weekend, APWEN President Iniobong Louisa Usoro said science and technology were critical to national development, adding that their growth would enable nations to meet their economic, culture and social needs.

She said: “It is essential to design, implement and monitor with the full participation of women, effective, efficient and mutually-reinforcing, gender-sensitive policies and programmes geared towards development at all levels which will foster the empowerment and advancement of women.”

Usoro urged the President not to renege on his promise, saying: “In the spirit of the Affirmative Action and the promise made by our dear President, we do hope that more women engineers will be included in the new administration to help engineer the Nigeria of the future, which we so much desire.

“We, in APWEN, are willing and able to deliver on our quota, but we must be tested and, as technocrats, you can count on us to deliver on target.”

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

T

•The Chancellor, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Dr David Oyedepo (left), welcoming Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed to the maiden matriculation of the institution in Omu-Aran... at the weekend.

Our challenges on Plateau crises, by Task Force chief T

HE Commander of the Special Task Force (STF) on Jos Crises, codenamed “Operation Safe Haven”, Brig.-Gen. Hassan Umaru has said the Task Force faced some challenges in the search for peace in Plateau State.

Umaru spoke in his office at the weekend when he received a team of “Face of Peace Pageant” at the STF Headquarters, Jos, the state capital.

He said: “We encountered numerous challenges in our efforts to stop the killings and restore peace on the plateau.

These ranged from stiff opposition to our operation by sections of the state; silent killings; youth unemployment; negative media propaganda; fake soldiers syndrome, among others.

“Of these challenges, the one that worries me most is the lack of confidence (by the people) in the Task Force. This

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

is the centre of all the opposition against our duty here from the initial stages.

“Part of the lack of confidence on the STF was the wrong impression that members of my troops are divided along ethnic and religious inclinations. I find this difficult to believe because in all my life in the military, it’s only in Plateau here that I began to hear of Muslim soldiers or Christian soldiers.

“This notion is unusual in the history and set-up of the Nigerian Army. All the members of my troops were posted from all over the country across religious divide to serve in the Nigerian Army and not a religious army. We

don’t have such orientation.

“It was difficult for me to convince the residents that they were misunderstanding us but today I’m happy that they have begun to appreciate our job. This is the result of the current peace we are enjoying in the state today.”

Umaru said the STF comprised the Police, the Army, Air Force and Navy.

He said: “We meet as leaders of these various organisations with the state government to review our operations, our challenges and our way forward on regular basis. We have inter-agency cooperation with other relevant agencies and I’m happy we are beginning to achieve the objectives of the STF, which is peace.”

He noted that the prevailing peace in the state was not enough for the STF to relax,

adding: “We will ensure this is sustained and become the peace that will last. People might be celebrating the current peace but in STF we have not given up because to us, it is not over until it is finally over.”

He praised the leadership of “Face of Peace Pageant”, saying they adopted a peacebuilding task, which was the greatest challenge facing the nation.

Umaru said: “There is no alternative to peace and all hands must be on deck to ensure there is peace anywhere in the country.”

“Face of Peace Pageant” Chief Executive Salis Muhammed Abdlsalam said the visit was to seek a partnership with the STF to sustain the peace in the state.

He said: “That is why we chose Jos to camp our contestants for the 2011 ‘Face of Peace Pageant’ to showcase the fact that peace has been restored in the state.”

33,000 displaced in Kaduna post-election violence

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HE Federal Commissioner for Refugees, Hajia Hadiza Sani Kangiwa, has said about 33,000 people were displaced in Kaduna State following the April post-election violence.

Mrs Kangiwa, who spoke in Abuja after a road walk marking this year’s World Refugees Day, noted that although the commission was still compiling the figures of displaced persons, the highest figures were from Kafan-

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

chan due to the religious violence in the area.

She said many people were displaced in Bakassi, Cross River State and Koro in Bauchi State; some others in Ebonyi, Enugu, and AkwaIbom tstes.

“There are thousands of people in displaced communities all over the country,”

Kangiwa said, adding that most of them need relief materials to return to normal life.

She urged the National Assembly to expedite action on the bill on displaced persons, which has been pending before it.

Mrs Kangiwa said: “The challenges to resources have been affecting us since the commission is still limited to annual appropriation through the National Assem-

bly, and it is not enough to run our activities.

“Displacement is something that comes without plans. It is important that we also amend the act that established the commission so that it can be independent to function effectively.

“We are also calling on the Federal Government to assist in ensuring that the commission is properly positioned to address the issue of displaced persons.”

HE Anglican Bishop of Awka Diocese in Anambra State, the Rt. Rev. Alexandar Ibezim, has called for the review of the nation’s security system.

He urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Offences Commission (ICPC) to be sincere in their fight against corruption and avoid selective arrests of suspects.

Ibezim spoke yesterday at the Cathedral Church of Saint Faith in Awka, the state capital, at the closing session of the ninth Synod of the church with the theme: The great commission: compassionate church.

He said: “The incessant armed robbery attacks, unresolved cases of missing persons, kidnappings, bombings, assassinations, political killings and ritual killings, which have continued unabated, are quite worrisome.”

“We call on the government to create the right atmosphere so that the right caliber of people would be employed to combat the soaring crime wave.”

Senator advocates diesel price cut From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

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FEDERAL lawmaker representing Kano South Senatorial District, Senator Kabiru Gaya, has criticised the Federal Government for failing to stabilise the price of diesel and make kerosine available to Nigerians.

Gaya, who addressed reporters yesterday in Kano, the Kano State capital, said he would sponsor a motion to compel the Federal Government to fix the price of diesel at N70 per litter and make kerosene available without stress.

He noted that non-availability of kerosine and the high price of diesel have caused Nigerians untold hardship.

According to him, it is disheartening to note that the high price of diesel, which is used to power vehicles for the movement of goods and services from one end of the country to the other, has forced the prices of commodities to go beyond the reach of the common man.

Rights groups petition Fashola over EFCC suspect

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WO human rights groups have urged Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola and the Ministry of Justice to intervene in the complaint by a suspect, Mr Sunday Akinyemi, that he was being denied the right to medical treatment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Akinyemi, 56, who is being tried by the EFCC for an alleged offence, is reportedly suffering from cancer of the colon. Although he has applied to the court for treatment in the United Kingdom,

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Political editor

he is being transferred from one hospital to another in Nigeria, contrary to the advice of the team of medical experts that examined his ailment and submitted a report to the court.

The rights groups said: “He (Akinyemi) is paying for the cost of treatment to the tune of N3million and he is now being denied opportunities for medical attention abroad.

On medical ground, he is not

fit to defend himself.”

The Executive Director of Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), Debo Adeniran, and leader of Africa Centre for Labour Research, Biodun Sowumi, told reporters in Lagos yesterday that Akinyemi may die in the cell, due to lack of access to proper medication.

They urged the EFCC and other authorities connected with his case to arrange for his treatment, adding that if they could not meet the cost, he should be released on medical leave or bail to en-

sure that he does not die.

Sowumi said: “An accused is innocent until proven guilty. The state has responsibility to ensure that anyone undergoing trial or has been convicted is treated humanely. The alleged offence of Mr Akinyemi is not a capital offence punishable by death.

Therefore, the delay in arranging and releasing the defendant is further diminishing his chances of being cured of the cancer.

“It is inhuman treatment of a Nigerian considered innocent until proven guilty. This

•Fashola

case further highlights the plight of prisoners and those held in custody awaiting trial.”

7

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

NEWS Police parade two robbery suspects with weapons

NIREC urges arrest, prosecution of Boko Haram sect members

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

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HE Kwara State Police Command has paraded two suspected armed robbers, who allegedly specialised in car snatching at gun point.

Fahad Kamaldeen, who had allegedly robbed a supermarket in the metropolis, was paraded with Taoheed Olayode in Ilorin, the state capital.

The command’s spokesperson, Dabo Ezekiel, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) said: “You could recall that on May 3, there was a robbery at a supermarket in Ilorin, where one of the suspects was arrested with a Nissan vehicle used for the operation.

“Investigation was intensified, leading to the subsequent arrest of one Taoheed Lamidi, with a Honda Accord car with registration number (Kwara) AH195FUF. The suspect was also found to be in possession of an Emerald automatic pump action gun; 96 cartridges; one AK-47 magazine; 62 AK-47 ammunition; charms and Nokia phones, among other things.

“For now, we are sounding warning notes to all criminals to either leave Kwara or repent because we are on their trail.

Kwara is now a no-go-area for them as no criminal is wanted in this place.”

Lamidi, an indigene of Oyo town in Oyo State, said he was a danfo driver in Lagos.

He limps due to alleged gunshot injuries.

Lamidi denied committing the offence, saying he was arrested at a beer parlour when he was enjoying himself.

He said: I am not a criminal. The Honda vehicle they are accusing me of stealing belongs to my elder brother. I urge the Police authorities to release me so that I can take care of my aged mother.”

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HE Southwest zone of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) has demanded the arrest and prosecution of members of the Boko Haram sect believed to have bombed the Police Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.

In a statement by its Chairman,the Anglican Bishop of Abakaliki Diocese, Rt. Rev Benson Onyibor, and coChairman, Sheikh Suleiman Ukandu, NIREC condemned the unusual bombings across the nation, especially the threat of Boko Haram to national unity.

The statement issued after a meeting in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, reads: “We call on our secu-

From Ogbonnaya Obinna, Abakaliki

rity agencies to be more proactive on intelligence gathering. The Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS) should also be re-organised to avoid the infiltration of foreigners who may be involved in this dastardly act.

Onyibor noted: “Members of this group, whether religious or political, are known.

They are not masquerades.

The people know them.

“Since they have been identified, why not get then arrested to suffer for the offence they have committed. I think the Federal Government should do something.”

“The statement said the constitution does not allow the killing of people, adding; if anybody kills, he commits murder and there is penalty for murder; it is an offence.

Why should people kill others because of whatever reason?

It said: “Boko Haram said that they don’t want Western education. Boko Haram means Western Education is a sin. Now if it is a sin and they want it to be wiped out, have they any alternative?

“Because if you want somebody to drop what he has, you have to offer an alternative, but if you have no alternative, why do you want us to drop Western Education? It is rubbish. It is completely rubbish.

Whosoever is sponsoring that is sponsoring rubbish and I know, before God’s judges the person, the society is judging the person.

“There is a wide difference between the agitation of the Niger Delta militants and that of Boko Haram. Niger Delta militants are talking about internal resources; that the resources generated from their land should be used to develop their region. The issue of Boko Haram to every Nigerian is alien because Nigeria as a nation state is heterogeneous.

“It is not an Islamic state.

So for you to say Western education should be outlawed in Nigeria, to me it is an aberration to nationhood.

Aliyu sends names of 21 commissioner-nominees to Assembly

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IGER State Governor Babangida Aliyu has sent 21 commissioner-nominees to the House of Assembly.

The list included four women and others, who were members of the executive council.

It was sent with a letter, dated June 14, from Aliyu to the Speaker of the Assembly.

The former commissioners in the list are: Dr Jibrin Sule, (Works); Dr Peter Sarki, (Education); Hassan Abdullahi, (Lands); Aminu Yusuf, (Agriculture); Mu’azu Bawa, (Finance); Abubakar Garba (Skipper), (Sport); and Abdullahi Bawa Wuse, (Local Government, and later AttorneyGeneral).

Others are: Mrs Susan Gana, former Commissioner for Environment, before she was dropped mid-way into Aliyu’s first term; and Dr. Isah Yayaha Vatsa, former Commissioner for Water Resources.

Aliyu’s former Chief of

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

Staff Mallam Yusuf Tagwai, and the contentious former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Ndako Idris Kpaki are also on the list.

Some youths in Mokwa had on Wednesday kicked against Kpaki’s nomination.

Two permanent secretaries - Alhaji Nuhu Musa of the Head of Service Office and that of Basic Education, Dr Mustapha Lemu - made the list.

Three other women in the list are: Mrs Hasantu Adamu, Hajiya Abdullahi and Mrs Victoria Jumma.

The governor’s letter, which was delivered to the Speaker on Wednesday evening, was in compliance with Section 192 of the Constitution.

The Assembly had, on Tuesday, approved 21 special advisers for Aliyu, bringing the executive council to 42.

Aliyu had planned to reduce the executive council members to 20.

Sultan berates Nigerian drivers for disobeying traffic rules

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HE Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad, has condemned reckless driving and violation of traffic regulations among Nigerian drivers.

He noted that these posed serious challenges to the measures by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to ensure sanity on the nation’s highways.

Speaking after his induction as a special marshal, with other executive members of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) by FRSC Corps Marshal and Chief Executive Osita Chidoka, the Sultan expressed confidence in the corps’ capacity to correct the anomaly, adding that his confidence was reinforced by Chidoka’s recent re-appointment as the Corps Marshal by the Federal Government.

The Muslim leader urged the FRSC to increase the enforcement and public enlightenment campaigns to enlighten Nigerians on safer road use.

Chidoka advocated improved safety consciousness among Nigerian road users, saying the FRSC had begun collaboration with the NSCIA to include road safety education in Qur’anic schools’ curriculua; training of traffic units of mosques on traffic control during Jumat service; establishment of help desks in FRSC formations for counselling road crash victims; and including safety messages to complement Khutba (sermons) during Jumat services.

He said the FRSC had identified the need to leverage on the positive influence of religious leaders to stress road safety ideals in Nigeria.

Also, the Director-General of the National Mathematical Centre, Prof. Sam Ale, has solicited a partnership with the FRSC on how to use mathematical modules for researches on the corps’ statistics on road crashes.

He said this was part of strategies for addressing road traffic challenges in Nigeria.

•L-R: Ekiti State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Eniola Ajayi; her Art and Culture counterpart, Alhaji Saidu Jinadu; and Governor Kayode Fayemi, at the end of a three-Day retreat on Programme and Budget Review for Ministries, Departments and Agencies, held at the Iloko-Ijesa... at the weekend.

Nasarawa: Court issues warrant of arrest on senator

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N Akwanga Upper Area Court in Nasarawa State has issued a warrant of arrest on Senator Yusuf Musa Nagogo, a Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) federal lawmaker representing Nasarawa Northern Senatorial District, instructing the Police Commissioner to pro-

From Johnny Danjuma, Lafia

duce him.

The order was issued on Friday by the court registrar, Lydia Ekpaji, on behalf of the sole-judge following a petition by one Yahaya Abba of Wamba Local Government Area,

Nagogo’s constituency, alleging that the senator threatened his life. Nagogo was supposed to have appeared before the court last Thursday to answer charges of criminal intimidation against him but did not show up.

At the resume hearing of the case, Nagogo failed

to appear as the 24-hour ultimatum given him by the court lapsed last Friday.

This compelled Judge Ibrahim Galadima to issue the warrant of arrest and ask the Police Commissioner to arrest and bring him to the court at today’s sitting.

Yobe to build 300km road in seven councils

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HE Yobe State Government will build a 300kilometre road to link seven local governments, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Alhaji Maisanda Lawan, has said.

Addressing reporters in Damaturu, the state capital, Lawan said the road is strategic because besides linking the councils, it shares a border with Niger Republic.

He added that the road would be completed before the end of the year.

Lawan said: “The survey and design for the road have been completed. We are fully prepared as this project has been captured in the 2011

•New airport underway From Duku Joel, Damaturu

budget.

“Government will invite biddings and award the contract as soon as the Governor Ibrahim Gaidam inaugurates the House of Assembly.”

On the economic benefits of the road, Lawan said: “The road will serve as a major link to the local governments to boost economic activities and between the state and the Republic of Niger, and increase bilateral ties between the

two countries.”

According to him, the government is planning to construct an airport in Damaturu. “The survey and feasibility studies for the project have been captured in the 2011 budget,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary said over 500 kilometres of urban and rural roads have been built by the present administration.

Lawan said: “Similarly, an 18-kilometre ring road was constructed in Damaturu, in addition to the 16-kilometre township roads

nearing completion. Nguru, Geidam and Gashua have each enjoyed 10kilometres of township roads; Potiskum has 13kilometres; and there is another 45-kilometre road from Bayimari to Yunusari.”

He said the Ministry of Works is monitoring the projects to ensure that “there is value for money committed into the projects”.

Lawan added: “The ministry (of Works) has attached five workers to every project to ensure that all contractual agreements are adhered to and to ensure that government does not incur additional costs.”

ELECTIONS 2011

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

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NEWS One dead in police, Okada men clash From Osagie Otabor, Benin

O

NE person has been reported killed and three others injured at Ibillo, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State when commercial motor-cycle riders, popularly called ‘Okada’ clashed with policemen.

The commercial motor-cyclists were said to be protesting the alleged killing of one of their colleagues at a checkpoint by a policeman.

He said the protesting riders barricaded the Abuja –Lagos road for many hours.

The witness said the bike riders attacked the police station in the town while some vehicles were set ablaze and detainees at the station released.

One account said policemen attached to Ibillo police divisional headquaters shot the cyclist at a check point in Ekpesa junction over his alleged refusal to bribe them.

“During an argument, one of the police sergeants shot and killed the cyclist, believed to have hailed from Imoga community. That resulted into violence between the policemen and the riders,who gave his name as Shola Iyogun, said: “The clash erupted between the police and Okada riders at the police station, when the riders stormed the station to bail one of the bikes that was serized by the police. They demanded for N2, 000 for the release. “ The police tear gassed them but when they resisted, the police started shooting and the mob set one of the vehicles ablaze. One person was shot dead and three others severely injured and are being treated at the hospital in Ibillo.”

According to Iyogun, it was the intervention of the interim council, Anselm Agbabi that brought the situation under control.

Though, the state police command spokesman, Peter Ogboi could not be reached yesterday, a senior police officer, however said the incident hadbeen recorded and “we are already investigating it”.

REDAN, others partner in housing financing options, new technology EAL Estate Developers Association (REDAN) and relevant stakeholders will today in Abuja discuss financing options and alternative strategies for mass housing under the auspices of Global Pathway Limited, a United Kingdom firm involved in container technology for mass housing.

President of REDAN Olabode Afolayan said the idea is to reduce the nation’s over dependence on cement, explore financing options and bring to the fore alter-

R

By Okwy Iroegbu, Assistant Editor

native building materials and technology that will make housing cheaper for the people. The workshop, according to him, would be approached holistically to ensure production without compromising quality.

Explaining the concept of the container technology in housing, Afolayan said it is simply about making use of the regular shipping containers that lie around the ports and habours to build homes for mass housing.

JAMB: ‘Finger print verification needs to be perfected’

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ORMER Chairman House of Representatives’ Committee on Education Hon Faruok Lawan, at the weekend, said the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) should perfects the newly introduced biometric finger print verification for candidates of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Lawan, who also monitored the conduct of the examination in Abuja, said the failure of the biometric system brought a bit of embarrassment and should be

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

avoided next year.

The lawmaker disclosed that the National Assembly will try as much as possible to legislate more funding for education, adding that JAMB also needs to be adequately funded.

He said: “There appears to be some challenges in the commencement of the exanimation. It happened that in this centre, they could not start at 9: 00am because of the Biometric problem. It appears that they are trying to solve the problem.

“Over the years, I am glad that JAMB was able to conduct examinations smoothly as well as release results as quick as possible. Challenges associated with technology need to be further perfected so that candidates do not suffer.

“I believe that the biometric system can reduce the prevalence of examination malpractice associated with our examinations. Education needs to be funded.

Education is seriously underfunded as it is now in the country. We need to in-

crease funding of education at all levels. JAMB needs to be properly funded to carry out its function adequately.

Definitely at the National Assembly, we will see what we can do to increase funding for JAMB and other examination bodies.”

According to a source in the board, the results of the exam is expected to be made public on Wednesday, adding: “All the answer sheets are to immediately leave all states of the federation to Abuja where they will be marked and all hands must be on deck to meet up with the Wednesday deadline.”

Aregbesola faults Osun PDP’s sense of history on exco

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SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has faulted the sense of history of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)which said it had researched into the history of democratic governance the world over and discovered that none had operated without an executive council seven months after taking over.

Aregesola ,through his Director, Bureau of Communications and strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said “one cannot but be amused by the content of a statement by the Osun State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party which shows the warped sense of history of its leaders.”

The Osun State PDP, in a statement titled: “Aregbesola Enters Guin-

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

ness Book of Records” and signed by its Acting Chairman, Chief Sunday OjoWilliams, said: “Since the Greek started democracy as the best form of government, no one has run a government without a cabinet for seven months as being done by Mr Rauf Aregbesola in Osun state.

Aregbesola said: “Since Chief Sunday Ojo-Williams has no sense of even recent history of Nigerian politics, may we educate him and his co-sojourners in this fruitless journey that former Governor Balarabe Musa served as Governor of Kaduna State for 20 months.

He had no commissioners.

Yet, his administration was reputed to have been one of

the best in the history of that state.

“Had those who created the highly respected Guinness Book of Records carried on with such lazy culture of research and faulty conclusions, would the whole world have taken their findings and records serious? To us, the PDP in Osun State is enjoying the limelight it is getting from debates over the appointment of commissioners. But they should not pollute the highly revered Guinness Book of Records with their poorly researched conclusions. The PDP, needless to state, is known for its penchant for purveying fictions as facts. It has missed the point on this as well.

Just last week, the party, out of idleness, named commissioners for me (Governor Aregbesola.)

What a trivialisation of serious governance issue? I wish to restate that we have the best interests of the people of Osun State in mind and this,

•Aregbesola

more than anything else, dictates our actions. One thing our critics cannot fault is our service delivery fervour which has manifested in the restoration of hopes in areas of job creation, healthy living, agricultural revolution and others. The people of Osun State are yet to see anything because we are better positioned to turn Osun State around within the shortest pos sible time”, the governor said.

Surveyor raises alarm over collapsed buildings

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HE President of Nigeria Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Bode Adediji, has raised alarm over the spate of collapse buildings in Lagos State.

He spoke on Friday shortly after the heavy downpour.

He said: “Buildings built on the basis of penny wise, pound foolish would pose serious challenges that would gulp millions of nira to sort out. Most buildings do not meet minimum construction standards and those that cannot meet the resilience test may give way as the rains increase.”

He urged those who live in flood prone areas to raise their foundations well above the drainage level to avoid being swept away as the rains increase.

Adedeji advised the government to work on the intersection at Ozumba Mbadiwe and Akin Adesola by redesigning and reconstructing them to check flooding and road

‘Buildings built on the basis of penny wise pound foolish would pose serious challenges that would gulp millions of Naira to sort out...’

By Okwy Iroegbu, Assistant Editor

failures. The NIESV president encouraged house owners to always build in maintenance cost in construction,adding that some houses collapse because they are weak.

The Lagos State Government had warned on the approaching rains, educating people on the need to clear drains.

But stakeholders beleive that the government may not have envisaged the impact of the heavy rains on areas such as Victoria Island, Lekki, Ikoyi and other parts of the metropolis where massive flooding occurred with roofs and trees blown away.

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THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

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THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

NEWS Police place N1m ransom on Tokyo, Auxiliary

US, Nigeria sign pact on air marshals

OYO State Police Command yesterday placed N500, 000 ransom on each of the wanted leaders of the proscribed National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

Another body with information that could lead to the arrest of Abdul Lateef Akinsola aka Tokyo and Lamidi Mukaila aka Auxiliary, will get the money, the police said.

Commissioner of Police Adisa Bolanta said the police have pasted photographs of the feuding union leaders in strategic places in the state capital.

The photographs of the wanted factional leaders of the NURTW were seen around Dugbe, Mokola and Eleyele areas of the state capital.

Bolanta said: “We will not rest until we arrest Tokyo and Auxiliary. These people were suspected to be involved in the killing of innocent Nigerians who have the right, according to constitution of this country, to be protected.

“We are going to arrest them and make them face the law. Heaven will not fall if we do. We will not sweep the matter of the NURTW under the carpet. We urge members of the public to give us useful information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects,” he said.

The police boss said the crisis within the union is not limited to Ibadan.

He said one Alfa Rasheed Bello was shot dead at Shaki, Oke Ogun area of the state, adding that two suspects arrested on account of the incident will be prosecuted soon.

Bolanta promised adequate security, saying the atmosphere in the state is peaceful.

He traced the rumour of bomb planting to the doorsteps of “those who are out to discredit the police command”.

By Kelvin Osa- Okunbor

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Secretary General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Lateef Adegbite(left), Chidoka and Sultan Abubakar at the induction

Sultan condemns reckless driving on roads

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HE Sultan of Sokoto, , Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar has condemned the spate of recklessness and violation of traffic rules and regulations among drivers.

The Sultan spoke after his induction as Honorary Special Marshal, alongside other executive members of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) by the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Osita Chidoka.

The Corps Public Education Officer, Nseobong Akpabio, in a statement in Abuja said the Sultan expressed confidence in the Corps’ capacity to address this disturbing trend as justified by the recent re-appointment of the Corps Marshal by the Federal Government.

“The Muslim leader however, urged the FRSC management to step up efforts in the area of enforcement and public enlightenment campaigns as part of measures to conscientise the Nigerian populace on safer road use,” Akpabio

From Sanni Ologun, Abuja

added.

He said in an earlier presentation, the Corps Marshal advocated for improved safety consciousness among road users.

Chidoka added that the FRSC has initiated some areas of collaboration with the NSCIA to incorporate road safety education in their Koranic school’s curriculum, training of traffic Unit of mosques on traffic control during Jumat services, establishment of help desk in FRSC formations nationwide to fa-

cilitate counselling of road crash victims and sending of safety messages to periodically complement teachings during Jumat services.

“Before the induction of the Muslim clerics, the Corps Marshal stated that FRSC identifies the need to leverage on the positive influence of religious leaders to further project road safety ideals in Nigeria.

“In a related development, the Director-General of the National Mathematical Centre, Prof. Sam Ale has solicited for a partnership with the

FRSC in utilising mathematical modules to embark on researches on the Corps’ statistics on road crashes as part of strategies towards addressing the challenges of road traffic challenges in the country.

“Speaking further during a courtesy visit on the FRSC management, Prof. Ale identified some specific programmes such as post graduate courses in mathematical science and statistics being offered by the mathematical centre, which can enhance the capacity of the FRSC personnel to discharge statutory functions,” he added.

Bane of Nigeria’s development,

by Babalola L

EGAL luminary Are Afe Babalola has said the continued insecurity and unemployment in the country must be blamed on skewed allocation of resources from the Federation Account.

Babalola blamed the increasing wave of insecurity on the prevalence of poverty among Nigerians.

He said the current formula applied by the Federal Government in the allocation of fund to states and local governments would not allow for development.

He spoke at the weekend when 21 Army generals visited the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), as part of their short pro-

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

gramme at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Topo, Badagry, Lagos State.

Babalola wondered how development could occur when only a paltry allocation was given to the 36 states and 774 local governments, which are the tiers closest to the people.

He said the problem of insecurity would continue to worsen, until the formula for the distribution of the federal allocation was redrawn to allow both states and local governments tackle un-

employment.

Babalola said unemployment was caused by poverty and would bring insecurity, and warned political leaders against toying with the future of the youths.

His words: “I saw it coming (the Abuja bombings). I am not surprised at all because there is so much unemployment in this country.

This is an important issue that must be addressed with all seriousness.

“Our constitution has made politics so lucrative that nobody wants to work again.

“Our constitution has made the states and the local councils mere agents of paying salaries of civil servants.

VIATION safety and security in Nigeria received a bosst at the weekend as Nigeria signed an In-flight security agreement with the United States of America.

This agreement involves the deployment of in - flight Security officers/Air Marshals.

Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Dr. Harold Demuren signed on behalf of Nigeria while John W. Halinski, Assistant Administrator, Office of Global Strategies, Transport Security Administration (TSA) of America signed on behalf of the United States.

The agreement was signed recently at the Transport Security Administration (TSA) Headquarters, Arlington, Virginia, USA, It was witnessed

by Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, Prof. Ade Adefuye.

16 model schools for Bayelsa

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O achieve complete turnaround of education infrastructure at the primary and secondary school levels, Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, has approved the building of 16 model schools across the state. The model schools will be constructed by the state government under the State Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme.

Each model school will have a 12-classroom block with hall, internet facilities, fully equipped staff office, store, toilet and multipurpose hall with tiled floor.

Amnesty gets technical aide From Tayo Owolabi and Genevieve Ajewole, Abuja

T

HE Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Committee, Kingsley Kuku, has appointed Larry Pepple his Technical Assistant on Re-integration, it was learnt yesterday.

In a statement the Media and Communication Department, Head of the Amnesty Office, Henry Ugbolue said Pepple is expected to “study and properly interpret the classification report from the demobilisation camp and supervise the meticulous implementation of the report.”

Clerk: Bankole rejected advice Continued from page 2

“After the loan(s) were obtained from UBA, the members were duly paid their enhanced running cost.

The running cost of members before they increased it was N27million per member per quarter. They increased it to N42million per member per quarter and the difference of N15million per member per quarter also led to a shortfall that they will take the loan to abridge and pay members.”

He said the House augmented payment of running cost with borrowed funds from the National Assembly management (N2.5b); Senate (N1.5b); and UBA (N6b).

“By the second quarter of

2011, the sum of about N10.2b) representing two months allocation was released to UBA which had outstanding loan repayment from us to the tune of about N10.7b. The bank used the money to liquidate their loan.

“This led to non-payment of members’ running cost and this created a lot of problem in the House. The House met on this issue in an Executive Session and resolved that the House should close its account with UBA and open another account with First Bank of Nigeria which then gave us a loan of N12billion to pay members’ running cost, suspended members’ outstanding running cost, services of the

House and the balance of the loan from UBA. The House has paid off the UBA loan.

“There was no House resolution authorising the taking of initial loans. The Body of Principal Officers took that decision.

Sani-Omolori gave details of how restiveness in the House forced Bankole and other leaders to source for the N12b, three days to the tenure of the 6th House.

He added: “When members noticed the reluctance of the leadership to pay the new running cost, they threatened to remove the entire leadership of the House and in fact set aside a day in which if the leadership does not announce the date of payment of the run-

ning cost, they were all going to be removed.

“On the morning of that day, the leadership resolved to obtain loan to pay the members. The meeting that took the decision was held in the Hon. Speaker’s Guest House in Asokoro and was attended by Hon. Dimeji Bankole; Usman Bayero Nafada; Tunde Akogun; Baba Agaie; Emeka Ihedioha; Aminu Tambuwal; and Mohammed Ali Nuke.

“The Chairman of the House Appropriation Committee, Hon. Ayo Adeseun; the Chairman of the House Finance Committee, John Enoh; and the Chairman of the House Services Committee, Al-Makura were also in attendance.”

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

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THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

POLITICS OLITICS P

Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko spoke with Deputy Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU on the activities of his administration in the last two years and proposed Southwest regional economic integration.

‘2011 poll was my mid-term assessment’ H

OW has the journey been after two years in office?

What is going on here is a quiet revolution. We are revolutionalising governance.

We are re-defining governance.

We are bridging all the disconnect between the government and governed. We are changing the physic of our people about from ‘they’ to ‘we’ and it is not something that will just happen.It is the same philosophy of the greatest good for the greatest number. A lot of our people in the past have been marginalised. They don’t see themselves as part of government. They don’t reap directly from government.

What is the motive behind the urban renewal programme?

This is about the only state in Nigeria where we don’t displace people without providing an alternative. And when we provide the alternative, we raise the bar.

The alternative is far better. When you see people on the street trading in the sun and run, building shackles all over the place, the easier thing for any government is go and clear the place. We have not done that. It is part of our social responsibility and social democratic mantra and because we are creating new governance paradigm. All we have done is build an alternative for them. In terms of standard, the alternative is better beyond what hitherto existed for those who considered themselves privileged in society.

Go to our market, for example, people who were on the streets were located to modern markets with all facilities; good paved roads, 24-hour water supply, solar powered, diesel powered electricity, ambient environment. we have ensured that the people we displaced were the actual occupants of this new modern markets.

But we are now creating mega schools that would be the envy of any private schools in Nigeria; complete with ICT facilities; ambient, solid world class environment. We are bring people from down there to up here.

What is the philosophy behind the new brands of hospitals being built across the state?

That is the mother and child hospital. When I came here, I told my guys, look, I want to build a hospital that will offer the best services in Nigeria, but at the same time will be free. They said it was a paradox. We have done it. today, by international acclaim, the mother and child hospital has been described as the best run public facility in Africa. Our cesarean section discharges within 48 hours.

That is the standard in the best hospital in the United States of America. It is in down town Ajegunle, Oke Aro, not on Victoria Island. There is no hospital in Nigeria, in terms of quality of services, that rivals mother and child hospital. It is one year three months old. We are now busier than UCH in delivery. We take an average of 25 deliveries per day; all free of charge in a world class environment. We are binging people down there and taking them height above the hitherto privileged in the society. we have done it in urban renewal, education, health, urban development sector, rural development. It is bottom to top development approach. In two years, we can boast of at least, 180 competed projects in the rural areas of Ondo State. And we are still moving. Our aim is to complete 330 functional projects nominated by the people themselves. These are projects that have changed their lives completely and changed their performance about governance. What is happening here is a revolution. We are creating new generation of farmers in ambient farm centers. We do not claim the originality for it. It took off from the Awolowo farm settlement. But we are developing it to meet modern times.

I saw recently volunteers scheme in Osun. I don’t want to compare.

We started volunteers scheme. As I talk to you, we have 5,000 volunteers and these are people who have been given new skills, apart from their educational qualifications. The people who did our community projects, we call them Community Change Agents.

These were youths that were trained and empowered for com-

Group wants ‘June 12’ as Democracy Day

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GROUP, Democracy Net work for Development [DEMNET,] has urged the federal government to proclaim June 12 as democracy day.

The group also called on Ondo State government to make its financial transactions open to the public to ensure transparency.

In a communique issued at the end of a symposium organized to mark 18th June 12 anniversary in Akure, the group said government should use public funds responsibly and desist from destabilizing political organisation and structures.

A communique signed by the group’s chairman, Theo Adebowale, said political parties should ensure internal democracy and respect the rights of the electorate to choose their representatives and make them perform.

It noted that money has become a serious issue in Nigeria politics because government has made

• Mimiko

‘What is going on here is a quiet revolution.

We are revolutionalising governance. We are re-defining governance. We are bridging all the disconnect between the government and governed. A lot of our people in the past have been marginalised. They don’t see themselves as part of government. They don’t reap directly from government’

munity change engagement; given training in GPRS functionality and computer programming. Go to Isikan, Akure at night. You will see the first Nigerian-built integrated solar generator, with an inverter, loca.lly built by the people that we trained. They are volunteers, but we have empowered them in renewable energy and computer programming. Other sets are on the farm being trained in poultry and fish farming. Our traffic control people were trained in Police College, about 5,000 of them.

They are not just putting on uniform and getting free money.

World Bank came and said our urban renewal is second to none. it is in the newspapers. It is amazing what we have done. Where we are collaborating with multinationals and international agencies, we have demonstrated uncommon capacity for project implementation, timely and within budget. In Akure, we are rebuilding our roads. When we were building Oba Adesida road, some people with philistine disposition said they did not know what are doing. They are not seeing what we are seeing. we are transforming Akure into a modern state capital. In Awara, Ifon Ose Water Works we are taking up the abandon water project. We are not only providing water, we are creating a tourist attraction.

Could you shed light on voting pattern in the state and how President Goodluck Jonathan was able to win this state?

Two days to elections, we endorsed Jonathan in this place. We held meetings with more than 50 different groups. People were telling us whether to vote umbrella. We said, go ahead. People had trepidation that, if people ‘s mind are conditioned to PDP, our real election, which was the House of Assembly elections, which touches on governance directly, may be affected. We said, no, our people are enlightened.

We returned 80 per cent of the votes for Jonathan here, which was the highest. Less than five days after, everybody went back home to Labour Party. We got 25 out of 26. I don’t want to talk about the 26th one. We got eight out of nine House of Representatives seats. It was a mid term election for us. When I came here two years ago, our people were excited about great possibilities. Today, they are more excited.

Where were all these ideas when you were a commissioner under the former governors? Did you deliberately hoard them?

I have been in public service for long. I have been Commissioner for Health. don’t forget, I started the Health Rangers Scheme, the festival of surgery which is now a household thing all over Ni-

geria, the Millennium Eye Centre, which I built in a hundred days.

Why did people think that this man will make a difference in their lives?

It is because they have seen me in and out of office.

When I was a commissioner, I went to my boss, the late chief Ade Adefarati. I said sir, all the surgeries we do in one year, I can put together a mechanism that can make us to do it in one day without asking for additional kobo, except his support. He said how. I called my colleagues into a meeting and i told them, gentlemen, this country has invested in you, can you give a weekend in the service of our state?

They said why not. We got ourselves prepared. We screened patients for surgery. They came on Thursday. The doctors came on Friday. When we started our festival of surgery, we did the first one at Ikare. We did 35 surgeries in one day. During the fourth festival of surgery, we did 175 surgeries in two days. That was more than what they were doing in two years. When we adverised our festival of eye surgery, we had almost 2,000 people suffering from cataract blindness.

We chose those who had been blind for 10 years. They came on Thursday. By Sunday, all of them saw light for the first time in 10 years free of charge with volunteer doctors.. It was a surgery that, ordinarily, would have attracted N8,000. Our Health Rangers picked a man with tetanus and took him to the hospital and when he got well, was taken back to his house. He said that he did not know that government could come for him in the bush and treat him.

In those days, we engaged the civil service. We used to work till 2 am or 3 am. We started the 24-hour services in the hospital system. Before I came in, they used to close around 4 pm or 5 pm. Doctors would be looking for how to get the keys to the pharmacy and laboratories. The millennium eye center we built in 2000 is still contemporary. It was used to celebrate 100 days of Adefarati Administration. We said there would be no single cataract blind patient in Ondo State in four years. Guinness was to partner with us by bringing mobile theatre. We were to take the mobile theatre to the communities to do the surgery.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

poverty a state policy.

“Nigeria is only practicing civil rule and not democracy yet, because our elections are based on the highest bidder, June 12 is the only authentic Democracy Day in Nigeria, not May 29” the group stressed.

It urged the government to tackle poverty by providing jobs, and make the private sector vibrant, while political parties should ensure internal democracy and guarantee the rights of the electorate to choose their representatives.

Among the dignitaries that graced the symposium were the state chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN], Mrs. Jumoke Anifowoshe, Dr. Bayo Borisade, Mr. Bola Ajimuda and Theo Adebowale.

The theme of the symposium was “Nigeria Democracy and the challenges of money politics

•From left: Bauch State Gov. Isa Yuguda, in handshake with the Speaker, Bauchi House of Assembly, Alhaji Yahaya Miya at the State Assembly’s inauguration in Bauchi recently.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

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THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

We have to make America the best place in the world to do business.

–Dick Cheney

Interbank rates flat, budget funds eyed

Jonathan warned on choice of power minister

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NTERBANK rates were broadly flat at an average of 12.5 per cent this week as banks anticipate the distribution of May budgetary allocations to the three tiers of government next week, traders said last Friday.

Nigeria distributes revenues from oil sales and taxes among its three levels of government each month, part of which comes to the banking system and helps banks fund their operations.

The secured Open Buy Back (OBB) closed flat at 10 per cent, 200 basis points above the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) benchmark rate and 4.0 percentage points over the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rate.

Overnight placement and call money were unchanged at 13.50 per cent and 14 per cent respectively.

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) last Tuesday said it was distributing N606.5 billion ($3.9billion) from central accounts to government for May. Dealers had hoped a portion of the funds would hit the market last Friday.

“We had expected that a portion of the budget allocation would have been posted by now and help boost liquidity, but so far the money is yet to be released,” one trader said.

Traders said technical challenges at the CBN prevented them from accessing their cash balances with the regulator, but said the system would be liquid as soon as the allocations are posted today.

“There were huge outflows into foreign exchange and bond purchases this week, but expectations of budgetary cash inflow had kept rates in check,” another trader said.

The indicative rates for the Nigeria Interbank Offered Rate (NIBOR) rose with 7-day funds, rising to 13.95 per cent from 13.54 per cent last week.

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 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

By Dada Aladelokun, Assistant Editor

P

• From left: Muyiwa Akinyemi, MD, UBA Kenya; Bram Steller, Chief Operating Officer, Kenya Airways and Mohan Chandra, Commercial Director, Kenya Airways, during the signing of A partnership deal between the airline and UBA Group in Nairobi, Kenya.

BPP saves N216.7b in 2010 appropriation A

TOTAL of N216, 690,945,419.56 was saved by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) for the Federal Government while reviewing project proposals from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the 2010 appropriation.

Director-General of the Bureau, Mr Emeka Ezeh disclosed this to journalists in Lagos.

He said the figure is the difference between the entire project cost as requested by the federal procuring entities and as eventually certified by the BPP in the capital allocation of the 2010 Budget, which ran between January 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011.

Ezeh, said the reviews, which led to the reductions are not necessarily to accuse anyone of corruption or of unduly inflating contract sums, but a deliberate effort at improving on the procure-

By Kelvin Osa- Okunbor

ment process to enable government get value for the money as enshrined in the enabling law.

“We have been painstaking in the vetting process to make project proposals better in the interest of transparency and quality”, he stated, stressing that the calculations came from proposals from 30 entities.

He said:”Through the judicious use of scarce resources, it is expected that infrastructures and utilities which, have been lacking in the nation’s social life would be provided. The BPP is now happy to report that substantial progress is being made in ridding the nation of avoidable excesses in public

procurement”.

Ezeh noted that through the Public Procurement Act, 2007, the bases of participation in quests for public contract have been expanded.

He said: “The consciousness, knowledge and awareness of the Act have gradually discouraged the earlier prevalent sole sourcing for competitive bidding in the award of public contracts, which is why some of those who have lost out have remained critical of the Act. “A sense of participation and possible victory from bidding has been engendered by the Act. This fact, which relates with the participatory tenets of democracy highlights Nigeria as a country, which is moving with the times. The Act has

also brought about a higher level of responsiveness on the part of contractors and consultants, which raises the stakes for quality and productivity in the execution of public projects.”

He noted that cost of contracts are no longer unreasonably expensive as they are vetted with due rigor.

Ezeh denied lingering allegations that the Bureau delays projects.”What is the percentage that comes to the Bureau? Do you not know that it is only projects that are more that N1billion that come to the Bureau? What percentage of the Budget is that?,”he asked.

He said that out of 952 requests for Due Process Certificate received, 843 representing about 89 per cent were certified while only nine were denied certification. 100 projects are awaiting further clarifications by MDAs, he added.

Why banks must lend, by AMCON CEO

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ITH the acquisition of 9,000 non-per forming loans by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), banks have no excuse to give fresh loans, the corporation’s MD/CEO Mustapha Chike-Obi has said.

He said the loans acquired

by AMCON are estimated at 30 to 40 per cent of the total assets of banks.

Speaking during the confirmation of Fellowship to bankers by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) at the weekend, Chike-Obi said AMCON has successfully acquired the bulk of the non-performing loans in the banking industry. He said any bank that refuses to lend can no longer use non-performing loans as an excuse. “AMCON has success-

By Collins Nweze

fully acquired the bulk of the non-performing loans in the banking industry. So, when the banks refuse to lend henceforth, they can no longer use non-performing loans as an excuse,” he said.

He said foreign banks operating in the country survived the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) stress test because they adhered to strong risk management processes, which the local banks should emulate while giving out loans.

“The banks that were managed exclusively by foreigners, are Citi Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Stanbic IBTC. None of them had crisis. All the banks that had a crisis were managed by Nigerians,” he

said.

The AMCON boss however, noted: Unfortunately, none of those foreign banks have been able to fully impact on the local economy and they showed no growth whatsoever in Nigeria over the last 10 years.

He said that banks should combine good governance with appropriate risk taking, so that they can move the economy forward.

He said recapitalising the rescued banks is far better than liquidation and that the apex bank and AMCON have worked closely to make this happen.

“Having recapitalised the banks by September 30, the first thing AMCON has to do is to manage the non-performing loans in its book,” he said.

He said since the bad loans

are non-performing, AMCON intends to talk to every borrower, find out why they defaulted, ask them how they intend to pay because they must pay and we must work closely with some of them to support their businesses in a manner to help the economy and allow AMCON recover its investment. This, he said is a huge job that may be going on for the next 10 years.

“We hope that as we talk to these borrowers, we restructure their loans we can return some of the loans to the banks affected as healthy restructured loans.

So, we expect partnership with the banks over the next 10 years in restructuring and rehabilitating these borrowers,” Chhike-Obi said.

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has been warned against politicising the choice of the next minister of power.

The Nigerian Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (NIEEE), an umbrella association of professional Electrical/Electronic Engineers in Nigeria and a division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) made this call in a statement.

The group said making a wrong choice would compound the socio-economic problems that poor power supply has caused the nation and indeed, Nigerians.

According to the statement signed by its General Secretary, Hafeez A. Ajibade, an engineer, the lingering power problem had remained seemingly intractable because rather than putting the right person in charge of the appropriate ministry, past administrations in the country had been putting wrong persons in charge.

“Nigeria’s over 150 million people are the most deprived of electricity. With just over 3,600MW of available power generation, the country is one of the least served in the world per capita of electricity generation at 22.74W per person, compared to South Africa’s 890W. Today, electricity is generally equated to “life” itself since most human activities are anchored on it. As a matter of fact, electricity makes life itself worth living as the modern world cannot even dream of living in its absence. Its applications revolve around all facets of human life.

Kano spends N772.5m to procure ferlilizer From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

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HE Kano State Government has approved the procurement of 10,000 tonnes of fertilizer worth N 772.5 million for this year’s farming season.

The state Commissioner for Information, Prof Umar Faruk disclosed this while speaking to reporters on the outcome of the maiden state Executive Council, presided over by Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso yesterday at the Kano State Government House.

Faruk said 8,000 tonnes of NPK fertilizer would be procured at N630 million, while N142.5 million worth of Urea fertilizer would also be purchased and distributed to farmers.

The Commissioner maintained that the government deemed it imperative to approve the procurement of the commodity to guarantee food security for the people of the state.

16

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

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

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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

By Akinola Ajibade

industry.

He said: “ A major aspect of these reforms was the recapitalisation of the ailing banks through Mergers and Acquisition (M&A) scheme, and since the exercise begun, no one saw the needs to involve a strategic stakeholders like ASSIBIF in the process, and when something goes wrong with these arrangements, they sack our members in droves. Yet, the same over-indulged managements who were responsible for the crisis would continue to enjoy their perks and privileges of office”.

He said the impact of the CBN-led reforms package can be deduced from the rate at which most banks have been downsizing in the last two years.

Salako acknowledged that the problems in the industry could be attributed to issues such as granting

of unsecured loans, cooking of books, disregard for prudential guidelines among other infractions allegedly committed by the banks.

He said banks were competing for size, rather than focusing on asset quality and risk management programmes.

Banks, he said, were expanding rapidly without developing capacity to manage such growth, while shareholders were coerced into believing that the banks were producing impressive growth.

Salako chided CBN under Prof.

Chukwuma Soludo for allowing too much laxity in the industry, noting that the crisis began immediately after the consolidation exercise.

“One would have thought that the Prof. Chukwuma Soludo led banking sector reforms would live up to its words by not only expanding the capacity and the capital base of banks, but also put in place mechanisms that would detect financial misadventure and protect all stakeholders”, he said.

08.50 12.40 14.10 17.20

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria’s ((CBN) decision to recapitalise the ailing banks would increase the unemployment rate in the country, president, Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSIBIFI), Comrade Olusoji Sunday Salako has said.

The banking watchdog had recently ordered the rescued banks to recapitalise by September 30 by seeking for new investors or face liquidation.

But Salako said the recapitalisation of the banks, among other issues enunciated in the reforms package are not in the best of the workers in the industry.

Salako said CBN has been insensitive to the plight of workers by not involving ASSIBIFI salient issues affecting the industry.

He alleged that the apex bank has refused to involve ASSIBIFI in the reforms process, and that the development has had undesirable consequences on the workers in the

08.30 09.10 11.50 12.45 13.40 15.20 16.30 16.40

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

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Banks’ recapitalisation: ASSIBIFI chides CBN T

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

• From left: Managing Director of AFL, Paul Thompson; National Sales Manager, Utility Market AFL, Steve Maederer presenting a gift to the President and Chief Executive of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote in his office, during a business visit to discuss the progress of the Dancom Technologies fiber project.

BoI, UNDP to spend $4.8m on renewable energy

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HE Bank of Industry (BOI) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is set to spend $4.8million to finance renewable energy project in the country.

The UNDP representative, Mr. Daouda Toure, who disclosed this, said the UNDP would help Nigeria divest its energy source base.

The renewable energy programme targets increase in public energy supply to boost the activities in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector.

He spoke during the signing of project documents on renewable energy in Nigeria, with the theme, ‘access to renewable energy project.’

Toure said: “The project will start with a take off capital of $.655million. UNDP is expected to provide $2million initial capital. BOI as the

From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

agency that will implement the project is expected to house the project management unit.

“Nigeria’s over dependent on generators induced power for both domestic and economic activities is not good for the economy. With the vast energy resources potential in Nigeria, it remains a concern that for most needs, the country has relied on back up generators with high environmental and economic cost to operate.

“The Central Bank estimated that N1.56trillion ($13.35billion) is used to fuel these generators annually. I just want to imagine the environmental and economic impact this has on the nation.

“If alternative sources of energy are allowed to thrive in the country, the huge recourses spent on

diesel and fuel to power generating sets will be saved, in addition to the actualisation of a cleaner environment.

“Nigeria’s quest to raise its power generation from the present stage of 3,500MW to 190,000MW by the year 2020 would remain a pipe dream without an increase in public energy supply.

“If the country failed to tap into the green revolution, some items on the Millennium Development Goals, (MDGs) programme, would be adversely affected, with serious implications on the wellbeing of the people.”

The BoI Managing Director, Ms.Evelyn Oputu, said that investors were not considering renewable energy sector as a veritable area they could tap into because of various misconceptions and lack of proper understanding of the sector.

Kerosene scarcity: Group urges Jonathan to act HE Executive Director of Afpanies (IOCs), which has resulted in on PIB rica Network for Environloss of potential revenue from roy-

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ment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Rev. David Ugolor at the weekend, said the inaction of the sixth National Assembly on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) was one of the causes of the unending scarcity of petroleum products, especially household kerosene.

Ugolor, in a statement issued in Abuja, urged President Goodluck Jonathan to act expediently on the bill.

He noted: “Millions of Nigerians are today faced with biting scarcity of diesel and kerosene, the major

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

fuel of the poor, a situation which has forced untold hardships on the mass of our people who have now resorted to other environmentally degrading coping measures. This is in spite of the huge amount of money spent on Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of the nation’s refineries.”

Ugolor said the non-passage of the PIB has equally created an environment of uncertainty for new investments by the International Oil Com-

alties by the Nigerian government.

He said the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are worried that the authorities do not seem to be moving in the right direction to bring about the much needed reforms in the oil and gas sector.

Ugolor added: “We recognise that law is the framework that regulates a society. The Petroleum Industry Bill repeals all existing laws because they are obsolete, out of tune with international best practices and lack accountability and transparency frameworks.”

‘Fed Govt to create Ministry of Information Technology’

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ICE-President Namadi Sambo has said the Federal Government is planning to create a ministry of information technology.

Sambo disclosed this last Saturday at the 27th Convocation ceremony of the University of Port Harcourt. ``We are currently working on the creation of a new ministry of information technology to boost technology in the country,” he said.

Sambo said there was a need to create the ministry to tap the potentials of many talented youths in information technology.

He said education was one of the priorities of the present administration ``hence its commitment to support institutions aimed at providing Nigerians with quality education.

“Nine Federal universities are currently being constructed across the country to help educate the ever growing population,” Sambo said.

He commended the university for blazing the trail in producing ``sound minded” graduates and ensuring that the country produced quality leaders for the future.

The vice president donated N3 billion on behalf of the government ``for further development of the university’’.

Earlier, Prof. Joseph Ajienka, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, had said the university had set up an institutional capacity enhancement programme aimed at strengthening research and development. ``This programme will harness research efforts of faculties, departments and institutes and apply such research in solving the problems of the larger society,” he said.

Registrar frets over neglect of coal mining

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R Jonathan Ikeako, Regis trar, Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists (COMEG), on Sunday expressed concern over what he described as ``Federal Government’s lack of interest in coal mining’’.

Ikeako, who made the observation in Abuja, said that abandoning coal had accelerated deforestation in the country as people now use firewood for cooking instead of coal.

He said that coal, in its raw form, could be used for various things, including cooking and generating electricity.

Ikeako said that coal could also be processed into briquettes (smokeless coal) and used for cooking, or other things. ``We have seen occurrences of coal in at least 11 states of the country. ``From the Middle Belt or North Central states to South Eastern states to the South-South, we have coal in abundance,’’ he said.

Ikeako said he was surprised that in spite of the quantity and quality of the country’s coal `` we have not shown the interest that we should show in exploring and exploiting it’’.

He said that incessant cutting down of trees for firewood, instead of using coal, had led to deforestation, which had in turn, adversely affected the environment.

He said the lack of interest in coal by the Federal Government started in the early ‘70s, when petroleum became the mainstay of the nation’s economy.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

17

ISSUES

•CBN

From CBN, a stimulus for agro finance The agriculure sector has long been starved of funds. Banks do not consider the sector viable enough for investment. This may soon become a thing of the past, as government is dangling carrots and sticks to enhance credit flow to the sector. TAOFIK SALAKO reports

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed all banks to establish comprehensive “top-to-bottom structures” to facilitate agricultural lending. According to a CBN circular, banks are required to establish agric finance structures at their headquarters, regional and zonal offices and branches.

The agricultural finance directorate at the head office will relate with the regions and zonal officers, which will also facilitate activities with the units in the branches.

CBN outlined the staffing requirements and functions from the directorate to the departments and units. Banks are expected to employ agricultural experts and provide facilities for them to scout for agricultural finance opportunities. Besides, regular periodic reporting of their agricultural lending activities, banks are expected to create a data base of the agricultural sector and agro finance, which could be used by the public and private sectors during research and planning.

With a warning on sanctions for banks that fail to establish the agro finance structures and the outlined functions, the directive places the onus on banks to source, encourage, package, evaluate and activate agricultural finance opportunities, a departure from the previous government-led efforts that spoon-fed banks with funds.

The latest directive came on the heels of a new initiative by CBN to create a new demand-driven financing framework for agriculture. The new Nigerian Incentive–Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural lend-

ing (NIRSAL) is designed as a demanddriven credit facility as against the current supply-driven funding. NIRSAL would adopt a value chain approach to lending and banks would be free to choose which part of the chain they would be interested in lending. Besides, it is expected to build the capacity of banks to engage and deliver loans by providing technical assistance, reduce counterpart risks facing banks through innovative crop insurance products and reward performance in agricultural lending.

Created as the one-stop shop for agro finance, NIRSAL would pool and integrate the current resources in CBN’s agricultural financing schemes and other investor funds and transfer these into different components of the programme.

While NIRSAL places responsibilities on banks, it offers incentives to those with outstanding records of agro finance. CBN Governor Mallam Lamido Sanusi, said the change in approach implied by NIRSAL was due to the failure of the current model to yield the desired impact of making adequate credit available to the agric sector.

Over the years, the government has introduced several finance schemes to unlock flow of credits to agriculture and increase the productive base of the economy. The Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme (ACGS) was established in 1977, with the aim of encouraging banks to increase lending to the agricultural sector by providing guarantee against inherent risks. In spite of

government guarantees, credit flow to agriculture has been abysmal. The Federal Government, through the CBN, also last year introduced another major intervention aimed at enhancing lending to the agric sector. The N200 billion Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Guarantee Scheme was aimed at promoting access to credit by SMEs. The scheme provides guarantees on loans by banks to the sector in order to absorb some of the risk elements that inhibit banks from lending to the real sector. The guarantee covers 80 per cent of the amount borrowed and is valid up to the maturity date of the loan, with maximum tenor of five years.

Under the scheme, the maximum amount that can be guaranteed is N100 million and this can be used for working capital, term loan for refurbishment, equipment upgrade, expansion and overdraft. Businesses covered under the scheme include manufacturing and agricultural value chains; SMEs, processing, packaging and distribution of primary products.

Also, the N200 billion Commercial Agricultural Credit Schemes (CACS) was conceived as a quick-win gap-bridging finance for the development of commercial agriculture. Loans made under the CACS are at single digit interest rate subject to a maximum of 9.0 per cent, while the CBN bears the interest subsidy at maturity. The CACS was initially designed to promote commercial agricultural enterprises but has since been expanded to accommodate small scale farmers

through the on-lending scheme of the state governments. But the banks, which were to serve as purveyors for the disbursements, have rather been lackluster. By April 2011, out of the 23 eligible deposit money banks, only 13 banks including Access Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank, First Bank of Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank, Oceanic Bank Plc, Skye Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Union Bank of Nigeria, United Bank for Africa, Unity Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Citibank and Diamond Bank Plc were participating under the scheme. According to the April 2011 report, the CBN has so far released N133.11 billion for disbursement to 139 beneficiaries made up of 115 individuals and private promoters and 24 state governments that accessed N1.0 billion each.

But the apex bank had to retrieve about N21 billion relating to 22 projects from five banks due to non-disbursement and contravention of the guidelines of the scheme. The underlining issue is that the strategic importance of agric finance to the economy has never been lost on government but what appeared to be missing is the critical link between policy formulation and realisation.

Many reports have indicated that Nigerian banks were more disposed to financing trade and services than real sector productions.

So, even where the government provides funds, the lack of strong institutional mechanism in support of real sector, especially agro-based projects, usually undermines •Continued on page 18

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

18

ISSUES

From CBN, a stimulus for agro finance •Continued from page 17

credit management. The recent banking crisis has also adversely affected both banks’ lending capacity and their risk assessments.

While poor balance sheet position has led to contraction in lending, a crisis-induced strong risk aversion has tended to direct credits to governments and easily structured outlets such as imports.

Kenneth Spurling, Chief Executive Officer, FSDH Asset Management, said banks were not lending because they lacked the necessary risk assessment capacities to evaluate opportunities in the economy. Against the backdrop of general increase in banks’ profits amid declining turnovers, Spurling noted that banks now make their money through proprietary investments and by reducing their expenses rather than engaging in active lending to support viable businesses and fund the needs of Nigerians. “They don’t know how to assess risk .Up to 2008; they were giving money to any body, including themselves.

Now they are totally withdrawn because they are nervous about risks. That tells me, I maybe wrong, that they don’t know how to assess risks, that is, to know which lending is risky and which is not, “Spurling said.

Government think-thanks, through the Monetary Policy Committee, has acknowledged that “greatest challenge facing the economy” is “the lack of flow of credit to the critical sectors, and the consequent need to unlock the flow of credit for critical investments in agriculture, SMEs and manufacturing sectors.”

Problems of agro finance Many analysts have identified the obvious gap and disconnect between government policies, the banks and the farmers as the bane of poor agro credit development. Bankers have lamented the enormous challenge posed by the comparatively uncoordinated approach of many farmers to credit request. A senior bank official confided that many agriculture proposals were not bankable, especially in the light of the revised credit risk assessment and management. This trend is also visible in the CACS request and approval schedules.

While banks have submitted many loan requests for private projects and state government projects, the success levels for the two categories ranged within 25 per cent and 59 per cent respectively. In spite of its enormous potential, Nigerian agricultural sector has remained largely at the primitive manualdriven system. Given its largely unstructured nature, banks were concerned about the initial processing cost of agric-finance compared with strait-jacketed form-filling documentation for trade and services.

Besides, the almost non-existent state of agric insurance also exposes lenders to greater risks than other sectors. This, in most instances, restricts lenders to government-backed financing schemes rather prospecting for individually for opportunities. This not only inhibits credit outflow, it limits the development of adequate institutional capacity necessary to ensure robust growth of agric-finance. The untenable state of land, the largest assets of many rural farmers, as collaterals also compounds the problem of agric-finance. Funke Osibodu, Managing Director, Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN) Plc, in a recent interview, said banks were more concerned now than ever to assess and evaluate the risks they take.

“Over time, we have seen that banks have to make a lot of provisions, a lot of write-ups because of the quality of loans they have written before. This is because the banks have to be very careful in the kinds of loans they will be booking going forward and because of that, banks have to be very careful,” Osibodu said. She said Union Bank has increased its lending to agriculture but it has become more careful in assessing the beneficiaries of such loans.

Banks have also complained about the laidback attitudes of agricultural operators, who, having been fed by the supply-driven model of financing over the years, have become rather lukewarm in the application, processing and disbursing of loans. Farmers often times fail to take and pursue initiative to secure loans. Mr. Bisi Onasanya, Group managing Director, First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Plc, said the bank has a bouquet of agricultural financing products designed to cover the en-

tire chain of agricultural activities. “At First Bank, we recognise that agriculture provides the surest pedestal for economic diversification and growth. This is why we offer a wide range of agricultural financing solutions to support the entire agricultural enterprise value chain from input supply and primary production to storage, processing and marketing,” Onasanya said.

Many analysts have also noted the limitation posed by the largely short-term nature of banks’ funds as a major contributor to the paucity of attention to the real sector, including agriculture; which by nature requires low-cost long-tenored funds. The establishment of the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) is expected to provide the linchpin for inflow of long-term special purpose funds to sectors such as agriculture.

The finance challenge Agric experts, operators and financiers are unanimous that the success of Nigeria’s agriculture revolution lies in a holistic agric-development policy that integrates government fiscal and monetary policies with appropriate legislatures and enforcements. Besides, finance, operators in the agriculture sector have fingered inconsistent government fiscal and monetary policies, inclement weather, and generally poor infrastructure as major drawbacks against the sector.

According to Pierre Vandebeeck, chairman, Presco Plc, agricultural companies were prone to low production occasioned by poor weather while unfavourable macroeconomic situation often compounded the unpredictable weather. He noted that inconsistent economic policy often placed Nigerian farmers at the receiving end, citing the lifting of ban on crude palm oil importation without commensurate incentives to Nigerian farmers.

Chairman of FTN Cocoa Processors Plc, Chief Olusegun Osunkeye, said the agriculture sector has continued to suffer under poor government attention to policy requirements in the sector. According to him, lack of adequate policy to govern the cocoa market in the country was the bane of the industry as there were no policy formulations to regulate the operators in the industry. “The issue of non-signing of Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with European Union made our export products to suffer significant low patronage in the international market when compared to other cocoa exporting countries like Ghana, Cote D’Voire,” Osunkeye lamented.

He called for inclusion of agricultural operators in policy formulation and implementation. Operators have also called for effective monitoring mechanism to ensure agric funds flow to “real farmers” rather than “portfolio farmers”. They called for extension of key non-finance initiatives like the Local Content Act to agriculture. Besides, government’s fiscal policies, such as tax holiday, productivity grants etc, can also be directed at encouraging farming. Agric development is intricately tied with efficient land system. As such, government also needs to expedite the land reform process. Development of agric research and accessibility to new products and technologies is also important to the agric revolution. In the absence of effective modern storage facilities across the country, Nigeria’s poor rail network further constitutes major impediment to agric development while the high cost and delay in road transport are disincentives and unnecessarily elongates the farm-to-market route.

Opportunities and threats Focusing on agricultural development no doubts holds strong potential for the Nigerian economy but neglect now more than ever could spin far-reaching dislocations. With more than 20 per cent of Nigeria’s population unemployed, among which include about 40 per cent youth aged between 15 and 25 years in rural areas, the underdevelopment of agriculture not only poses an economic challenge but also represents an enormous social crisis.

An estimated population of about 150 million growing at about two per cent rate places enormous challenge on Nigeria to develop adequate internal food sufficiency to avoid serious economic distortions. According to the CBN, Nigeria expends much foreign exchange on import of food items such as rice whereas

•CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

‘In basic capital theory, funds will naturally flow into areas of economic advantages. This is why the government needs more than the stick against the bankers to stimulate agricultural finance. Rather, the government should lead the stakeholders in finding a comprehensive agro development strategy that places agriculture at the core of national planning and development’ what is needed is the implementation of policies that will lead to food security and total self sufficiency. The recourse to imports to bridge the huge gap between local demand and production places much burden on the stability of the Naira. But there is much more that Nigeria could gain by developing its agric sector. With a land area of 910,768 square kilometres out of a total area of 923,768 square kilometres, Nigeria’s arable land use stands at more than 33 per cent. From the North to the South, from West to East, Nigeria’s climate and terrain are suitable to cultivation and breeding. Notable agriculture produce across the regions include cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, corn, rice, millet, cassava, sorghum, yams, rubber, cattle sheep, goats, timber, fish among others. Favoured by natural variables, Nigeria stands the chance of huge economic advantages by harnessing its natural advantages and youthful large population to tap into huge opportunities represented by spiraling local and international food demand.

The United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) projects that grain output would have to double by 2050 to meet global demand. With the world’s population estimated to rise from seven billion to some nine billion by 2050, increasing global demand for food amidst declining production orchestrated by climate change; focuses attention on agricultural countries. Besides, the strong expecta-

tion that world population would surpass the estimate, there is the more important concern that growing urbanisation would greatly increase food consumption as urban dwellers tend to eat more.

With this global outlook, developing agriculture is a win-win situation for Nigeria by stemming possible tide of social unrests that may arise out of lack of self sufficiency in food production and enhancing economic development through immense opportunities provided by the seemingly inelastic global food demand. But doing this requires the inputs and supports of all stakeholders. The efforts of the CBN and the body of bankers through the Bankers’ Committee in channeling funds to agric sector are no doubt commendable, but even the cheapest of funds can only work within an amenable environment.

Besides, banks exist on private funds- equities and deposits, which ultimate goal is profit.

Forcing them to direct their flow of funds into conscripted area runs contrary to principles of private enterprise and free economy. In basic capital theory, funds will naturally flow into areas of economic advantages. This is why government needs more than the stick against the bankers to stimulate agricultural finance.

Rather, government should lead the stakeholders in finding a comprehensive agro development strategy that places agriculture at the core of national planning and development.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

19

EDITORIAL/OPINION EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

COMMENT

Minimum wage debate *•Time to the delist minimum wage from exclusive list

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NLESS good sense, pragmatism and maturity prevail, the country may well be heading for another disruptive national labour crisis that will further compound the challenges of the economy to our collective detriment. At issue is the National Minimum Wage Act passed into law by the National Assembly and given presidential assent earlier this year by Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

The law stipulates N18,000 as the national minimum wage; an increase from the previous figure of N7,500.

However, the bone of contention now is that most state governors, speaking from the platform of their regional groupings –North, South-South, South-East and South- West – claim they are unable to meet the new minimun wage obligation without a major change in the prevalent revenue allocation formula. The contentious revenue allocation formula presently in operation sees the federal government allocated more revenue from the federation account than the 36 state governments combined.

Governor Chibuike Rotimi

In a genuine fiscal federal system, revenue allocation must be driven more by considerations of real development and poverty alleviation for the entire citizenry.

Amaechi, the new chairman of the National Governors Forum forcefully stated the position of the governors thus: “The states are willing to pay but we are asking the federal government to review the revenue formula because no state can pay that minimum wage with the present revenue formula. We will pay but we are asking the federal government to bring some money to enable us pay”. While agreeing that the National Minimum Wage Act has become law, Governor Amaechi contends that the simple reality is that the states can’t pay what they don’t have. It is obvious that the position of the governors is also informed by the challenge of meeting their other developmental challenges to the entire ctizenry beyond simply paying the wage bill of the formal workforce.

But the workers, on their part, equally have compelling arguments why they believe the state governors are merely offering excuses. For one, they point out that most governors promised to pay before the last elections only to sing a different tune after the polls. Again, the workers argue, the National Council of States approved the new minimum wage before it became law. The new minimum compensation package, they further insist, was the outcome of a tripartite negotiation between organized labour, the organized private sector and government. Workers are also certainly not unaware of the seeming hypocrisy of public office holders who earn universally con-

demned outrageous salaries and allowances in a supposedly depressed, poverty-ridden economy.

However, there is clearly no wisdom in allowing this unhealthy situation to degenerate into another debilitating economic crisis. This is why we call for good sense and maturity on all sides. The federal government is surely concerned that workers at all levels in the country earn living wages. It must, therefore, do all it can to enable state governments meet the new obligation. Luckily, the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has expressed its readiness to amend the revenue allocation formula to reflect changing realities. While this may be a pragmatic response to the current situation, it cannot be a sustainable practice for the revenue sharing formula to be changed each time to accommodate changes in minimum wage configurations.

In a genuine fiscal federal system, revenue allocation must be driven more by considerations of real development and poverty alleviation for the entire citizenry. After reaching a minimum consensus on addressing the present differences, the best way forward in the words of former Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin, is “to delist the subject of minimum wage from the exclusive list to the concurrent list to enable both the federal and state governments free hand in negotiating wage increase matters separately with their workers, which will further stregthen our fiscal federalism”.

Bank executives’ pay •Moves to re-align executives pay with economic realities apt

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN) seems poised to administer yet another antidote in its long-drawn battle to save the Nigerian financial services industry from itself. Last week, at a forum of West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management, CBN governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi dropped the hint that CBN may soon begin to tinker with the remuneration of bank executives.

Reason: he thinks the take home of the barracudas in the banks is ‘excessive’ and thus ‘exposes their banks to excessive risk taking.’

Himself a former bank executive, he admitted that executive compensation was board and management matter but insisted that the CBN would have to pry into it since self -regulation seemed to have failed.

Well , it may be okay to have some regulatory overview on bank pay which most other people agree is out of sync with the rest of the economy.

People have often wondered why a banker should for instance, earn more than his counterpart in a manufacturing company who probably works longer hours? The answer often proffered has always been that bankers have access to other people’s money which they could help themselves to as they wished.

But then, if the problem was the stipulated monthly pays -handsome as they are- it would have been tolerable, but the real issues are bogus allowances. Bankers award to themselves for instance, such things as profit sharing; a percentage of their bank’s annual profit even when such profits are often cooked up. There are also all sorts of sweetheart loans, holiday allowances and so on.

Why would the Board and shareholders allow this kind of bogus compensation one may ask? They do not allow it, they are often bamboozled, compromised or they are outright powerless to do anything about it.

Somehow, most bank managing directors manage to rule over the bank; especially during the era of founderMDs. All said, no remedy would work unless the CBN cleans up its own act thoroughly. It needs be repeated over and over again that CBN’s monitoring and regulatory system is weak, if not badly compromised. The CBN does routine audit of banks, it gets monthly, quarterly and annual return of accounts from banks, it approves their annual accounts. So how come in spite of all of these, it did not detect the rot in some of the banks’ audit they become insolvent?

How is it that under CBN’s watch,

a bank director, MD or even his wife and maid spirited billions of naira out of a bank without being detected?

What about the huge insider dealings and loans-for shares racket which is common knowledge to all except the CBN? How come a bank is declared insolvent while the MD, Directors and Senior managers are drowning in the sea of solvency and can actually bail out the bank 10 times over?

Yes, the CBN could keep an eye on the remuneration of bank executives if it so desires but it may do well to clean out its own house, weed corrupt officials, build capacity and be up to speed with its supervi sory and monitoring functions.

The CBN could keep an eye on the remuneration of bank executives if it so desires but it may do well to clean out its own house, weed corrupt officials, build capacity and be up to speed with its supervi sory and monitoring functions.

Legalizing the Libya mission

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HIS week, House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) wrote a letter to President Obama warning him that he would be in violation of the War Powers Resolution unless Congress approved the U.S. mission in Libya by the weekend. The letter may have involved some partisan gamesmanship, but the speaker was right on both law and policy, and the president's response Wednesday was unsatisfactory.

The War Powers Resolution, enacted over President Nixon's veto in 1973, says that the president must obtain congressional authorization for a military action within 60 days (extendable to 90) or withdraw U.S. forces.

The law defines military action to include situations in which U.S. forces are introduced "into the territory, airspace or waters of a foreign nation." The air raids in Libya clearly fall within that definition, even though sorties lately have been carried out by other NATO countries.

Nevertheless, the administration is now arguing that the War Powers Resolution doesn't apply because the United States isn't involved in "hostilities." Supposedly this is the case because U.S. ground troops aren't engaged and because other NATO countries have taken over airstrikes. Those arguments, however, are specious.

Although presidents of both parties have had constitutional qualms about the War Powers Resolution, it provides a sensible balance between the prerogatives of the commander in chief — including the need to respond forcefully to attacks and emergencies — with Congress' constitutional power to declare war. That is particularly true of the law's deadlines for congressional action.

Senators. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) and John S. McCain (R-Ariz.) have been working on a measure that would provide congressional support for the Libyan mission while requiring greater consultation. We have been wary of the Libyan mission from the start, but if it is to continue, it must be with congressional support. If Congress does pass legislation, it should be carefully circumscribed to approve only the air attacks on Libya and not to open the door to U.S. ground troops in that country, a prohibition already contained in the U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing the Libyan operation. It also should specify that the purpose of the operation is the one identified by the United Nations: the protection of civilians Obama shouldn't have left it to Congress to ensure that this operation is grounded in the rule of law. Three months into the Libya campaign, he should have had enough confidence in his policy to submit it to the House and Senate. Instead, he has sought refuge in legal obfuscations.

– Los Angeles Times

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THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

20

EDITORIAL/OPINION

IR: MANY Nigerians lack the knowledge of the country’s history of electoral commissioners. And this avoidable gap is what this piece attempts to correct through this medium. Between 1979-1983 when I was an undergraduate. Chief Michael Ani and Ovie Whiskey served. I have a very good memory of them as men of substance and honour, but their employers ( the then military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo, and President Shehu Shagari’s National Party of Nigeria respectively) hijacked the system and corrupted it.

Professors Eme Awa and Humphrey Nwosu served in the Third Republic, 1988-1993. The prevalent belief that time was that General Ibrahim Babangida, the military Head of State, dropped Prof. Awa for Prof. Nwosu because he could not stand the man’s frankness, because he thought that Awa might not cooperate with his [plan to rig the elections, and so he found an excuse to drop him. Although Nwosu could not dare the military authority to announce the result of the June 12 presidential election of 1993, he kept insisting that it was won by Chief M. K. O. Abiola, which was contrary to what Babangida wanted.

What we may never know is whether Awa would have announced the result of the election that was annulled by the military

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IR: ON behalf of all Ondo State Law Students across the universities in the country, we sincerely crave your indulgence to assist financially Law Students from the State, in the payment or subsidizing of Nigerian Law School Fees. Over the years, it has been a notorious fact that Law school fees has always been increasing. This situation has caused set back to many indigenes of the state

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Going down electoral lane government, but the election was adjudged internally and externally as Nigeria’s freest and fairest, and Nwosu protected the sanctity of the electoral figures. I am not disposed to judging him (Nwosu) because of his unwarranted continual respect for Babangida.

The period 1995-1998 was not glorious in Nigeria because of recurring political assassinations. Gen. Sani Abacha held sway. I remember the man because my village became the headquarters of a new local government, and through Abacha’s Petroleum Trust Fund

also, a road was tarred which made going to my village less burdensome. The federal electoral commissioners that time were Summor Dagogo Jack and Ephraim Akpata.

I know next to nothing about them, except that the names were popular, and Abacha, like his predecessors, chose honourable popular persons into such sensitive positions.

The Fourth Republic, properly socalled, witnessed the tenure of Pa (Dr.) Abel Guobadia, 1999-2005. Everything went well with his honour because nobody asked him to account for how the then President Olusegun Obasanjo deceived the

Alliance for Democracy governors and fraudulently took their States from them in the general elections of 2003. The man resigned in 2005, and Obasanjo replaced him with Prof. Maurice Iwu, 2005-2010.

The General and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) found in him an accomplice in their rigging prowess. He would announce election results no matter the level of irregularity even when irregularity was the order of the day.

I have gone down the memory lane to the best of my ability, to prove that Nigeria has always had good electoral commissioners un-

til Prof. Iwu. The problem was hardly ever the commissioners but their employers that usually circumvent their efforts. But in the case of Iwu, he was generally perceived as an accomplice and public outcry trailed him until he was replaced with another trustworthy person, Prof.

Muhammadu Attahiru Jega, 2010 till date.

The issue now is that since we are no longer in the military era, handpicking of electoral commissioners and returning officers by our partisan rulers should be reviewed, judiciously and constitutionally. The rulers should magnanimously reform the system by handing off all electoral matters, as much as necessary, to obliterate the temptation that could ensue along the line whether at the federal, state and local government levels. If that is done, posterity will smile at all of us. Doing this portends transparency, peace, and stability.

• Pius Oyeniran Abioje, Ph. D, University of Ilorin.

PDP leadership’s game of nemesis

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IR: I enjoin the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership to stop complaining but accept the speakership of Aminu Tambuwal, just as it accepted the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan.

Double standard is not a virtue. Understandably, Yoruba land lost the opportunity to redeem its image,

having produced two unhonourable Speakers consecutive order.

My consolation as a Yoruba is that everybody has his/her own name.

Beyond that, I sounded a note of caution to Dr. Jonathan and the then leadership of the PDP to honour the zoning arrangement of the party,

and allow the north to complete its eight years presidency, in accordance with the party’s constitution.

How can someone or a group of people eat its own portion of a cake and then begin to ask for it? Did Jesus not warn that the measure you use to judge others will be used to judge you?

Educating the North in their attempt to pursue their compulsory legal professional certificate.

The payment of Special bursary to Law Students in the state shall be an important incentive which will enhance the academic performance of these students while in the university and at law school. This is because apart from the law school fees of #250,000, we are still expected to buy laptop, textbooks, pay for

the law school form and upkeep.

Thanks to some state governments who always include this payment in their annual budget. Such states like Kaduna state paid #250, 000 per law student, Lagos state paid #200,000 per law student, Kwara state paid #200,000, Ekiti state paid #100,000 per law student, Kogi state paid #150, 000 per law student while Ogun state too paid #50,000 as published in The Nation newspaper of

Friday, February 5, 2010,page 16.

We would be very happy if the state government could create a special bursary scheme to assist Law Students from the state by including such in the state supplementary budget.

• Agbede Titus Modupe Facultyof Law Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife.

The implication of the foregoing discourse is of course that the PDP has no stable leadership or principle. Whoever finds himself holding the presidential reign controls the party’s leadership in accordance with his own desires, whims and caprices. Meanwhile, the Party’s members and interested watchers, such as myself, Tambuwal and his supporters must take note. And so, watchful and considerate persons could see that the rule of the game presently favoured Tambuwal’s ambition.

Some other observers have noted that in a democratic setting, the House of Representatives is free to elect its officers. The answer to the latter question is of course the fact that the policy is fluid, and follows the principle of might is right and a game of survival of the fittest.

• Pius Oyeniran Abioje, Ph. D, University of Ilpri.

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THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

EDITORIAL/OPINION

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N some two thousand two hundred and sixty words contained in one hundred and thirty-three sentences which were compressed into forty-seven paragraphs, President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan’s full-fledged inaugural presidential speech rang into the hearts of change-starved Nigerians on the occasion of his swearing-in on the 29th of May, 2011 at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

As expected, the President’s speech is a multiplication of the four key worded National Motto of Nigeria: UNITY and FAITH, PEACE and PROGRESS. And like the National Anthem’s “Arise O Compatriots”, he began his speech with “My Dear Compatriots”. Again, like the National Pledge’s “So Help Me God”, he ended the speech with “God Bless You All! And God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria”. But I ask: Can or should God help those who can help themselves but shamelessly refused to help themselves?

This nature-pampered nation was doubly blessed with the best leadership then; a leadership that implemented universal, compulsory, free, and quality education without neither petro-kobo or political independence. At independence, she was already showing the light for the rest of the so-called Third World countries to follow. She was the “The Third World Lion”, as she reduced today’s Asian Tigers to the ‘Goats of the Third World’. Then, Nigeria’s per capita income dwarfed those of India, China and Indonesia. So much was the hope that in 1962, a World Bank Report had projected that this mega-nation will become one of the twenty richest nations of the world by 1980. Note that Nigeria was not yet a Republic in 1962.

That was the golden era of this Giant of Africa. The Father of modern Nigeria and modern Africa, the Great Zik of Africa, had successfully nationalized the philosophy and practice of bringing back the golden fleece from where it was taken to. So that Nigeria was served by her very best. A Renascent African, Professor Chinua Achebe, had located the problem of Nigeria in her head. That sounds

‘They are not true Nigerian leaders, who own homes overseas; who while majority are exposed to the elements, are covering their umbrellas from the rain and the sunshine; who luxuriate inside luxurious umbrellas; which are fixed inside hedonistic canopies; which are firmed inside extravagant cubicles; which are wasted inside sybaritic mansions; which are lost inside epicurean walls’

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HEY seem to have found their scurrilous voices, dishing out lies and lies and seeking to pool wool over our faces. Even in an era when information is now driven by the social and popular media, they seem to be married to their false spin of a revolving door.

When it soothes them, facts are walked on their legs and completely denied. They appear to be caught in their own hysteria and diatribe laced with fiddlesticks, about a state where nothing works.

Because for 10 years, they fed the people with excuses of lack of funds and a meal of scorpion, they hardly can reconcile how Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has been able to garner the funds for massive investment in infrastructure. And the comrade’s traducers naively think that the only way to regain relevance and win the heart of the people is to deny his startling work.

But the Edo people who can perceive Oshiomhole’s work on the streets certainly know better. With the advantage of the new media, many have sent pictures of the on-going projects to friends and family members in different parts of the world. The people are wiser not to gauge the current development strides in Edo from the prism of those who hardly wish the state well.

Each time you listen to the ranting of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) or Kenneth Imasuagbon and their hireling, one is simply amused by their fairy tale which is merely filled with sound and fury. They are lost in their gory picture of Edo. In their anxiety to garner cheap support, hoodwink the people and rekindle their party’s drowning image, they are struggling feverishly to deny reality. What a pity! It was amusing listening to the sermon of a leader in PDP who presides over a faction of the party that governed Edo for 10 years without anything to show for it.

He didn’t have the courage to acknowledge Oshiomhole government’s current renovation work which has already transformed schools like Idea College, St Maria Goretti and Niger College, all in Benin City and other schools located across the state like Holy Trinity Grammar School, Sabongida Ora, St Angela’s Girls School, Auchi, St John’s Grammar School, Fugar, St Paul’s Grammar School, Igarra, Annunciation Catholic College, Irrua and others. Reviving and restoring integrity to public schools in Edo state is work in progress.

It is estimated that given the present level of work, most of the 598 secondary schools in the state would have been rehabilitated by year 2015. With the access to the UBE funds, it is also envisaged that many of the primary schools will be transformed if the current pace of work is sustained.

Exploiting the last students protest at Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, this PDP factional leader mounted the pulpit to provide false succor. Like a drunken man just emerging from a burukutu bar, he simply latched out at the

Nigeria and fake Nigerians

By Rootman Ogbor

somewhat contradictory. How a people would have good brains but bad head is another mystery you can only explain with brain-drain formula. Yes, Achebe is one of the world’s fifty greatest writers, Soyinka is a Nobel Laureate, and Chukwuma Emeagwali is the father of internet. Yes, the trio is ‘of Nigeria’, but yes, the latter’s best is ‘for America’. Nigeria simply cannot afford her best brains.

Left with empty skull, the Nigerian head becomes more and more insane – far removed from reality. Nigerians began to celebrate false dawns in thick-dark midnight.

The fire-fly becomes their god-sent. And like the dog, they eat their vomit. For instance, in 1979, they vomited the regime of Generals Obasanjo, Yar’adua, and Danjuma; but twenty years later, they were served with same vomit, and they called it a new dawn. Remember that Atiku Abubakar was only holding forth for the younger Yar’adua. It is a pity that a mere lightning in the moonless midnight is a new dawn for Nigerians.

Only false citizens will celebrate false dawns with great relish. Demographically, Nigerians are about 160 million, but patriotically, Nigerians are less than 160,000. The average Nigerian is not really a Nigerian. Over ninety percent of Nigerians are only physically in Nigeria. Their hearts are outside Nigeria. That is why Nigerians treat Nigeria heartlessly.

Very regrettable, Nigerians have religiously failed to keep the pledge that they made before God, thereby making a disunited, faithless, insecure and backward nation out of Nigeria. The only unity among Nigerians is the fact that there is unity in keeping Nigeria disunited. Certainly, a united people cannot be venerating zoning which amounts to holding separate wedding ceremonies for the groom and the bride. Peace is alienated in Nigeria as insecurity had become the new order of the day. Today, deadly bomb blasts have replaced twenty-one gun salute and canisters during our celebrations, including our independence anniversary celebrations.

This is where the golden rule of patriotism comes to play.

The golden rule states that each one should love one another as oneself. This is because all men are equal. But no man is equal to his state. Therefore, a citizen ought to love his state more than he loves himself. Accordingly, the rule enjoins every citizen to love his country more than he loves himself. This has become more imperative in Nigeria where so much is taken by the citizens, notably the blind elites,

Oshiomhole and Edo facelift

By Simeme Ehiakhame recent resignation of some aides of the governor citing that as evidence of cracks in the government.

Without shame and in what has become a refrain, he threw tirades and jabs at the governor. He had stuck to his worn out propaganda that Oshiomhole was only planting flowers until he started sounding like a broken record. For a state where governance broke down for close to 30 years, it would perhaps have made some sense for the PDP which held sway for 10 years to plant flowers rather than leaving it almost prostrate.

His soul mate, another PDP loud mouth, told his audience at a recent Kaakaki programme on African Independent Television (AIT) that the government led by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is doing nothing. For a man who can hardly appreciate the dualisation of the Airport Road, a major gateway into Benin City in the 21st century, this other man may just be too short sighted to be considered seriously as an aspirant to Osadebey House.

In one breadth, he sought to deny Oshiomhole’s outstanding performance and on the other hand, he says the governor’s rehabilitated roads do not bring any major economic lifeline.

To add insult into injury, he recently welcomed President Goodluck Jonathan to a New Edo State in an advert which had the alluring water fountain at the King’s Square built by Oshiomhole, adorning the background. What a shame! That he sought to govern Edo on the platform of lies, fraud, halftruth and fiddlesticks is unfortunate. How can the people entrust governance to a man who tends to speak from two sides of his mouth?

Perhaps the PDP family in Edo state needs to be told that presiding over the affairs of a highly sophisticated state like Edo is beyond the bubble gum. Governance is about vision and farsighted planning and not meant for people who can hardly understand issues of development.

Rather than complement Oshiomhole’s vision to rebuild dilapidated roads in Benin City and give the federal roads across Edo a facelift, they are busy engaging in frivolities. If Oshiomhole’s roads are to be faulted, certainly not on designs which includes covered drains particularly in built up areas, the provision of green area and street lights. Because of the very rigorous level of supervision by the governor, his senior

while so little is given by the citizens.

That is why if President Jonathan wants to be different from others before him, he should appeal to his powerful ‘Goodluck’ to make him restore the Nigerian Spirit. To build Nigerians at heart should be Jonathan’s most palatable and nutritious food for thought. Pitifully, Jonathan is surrounded with Nigerians of the mouth. We should not be deceived by the avalanche of oaths of allegiance and offices.

They are not true Nigerian leaders, who own homes overseas; who while majority are exposed to the elements, are covering their umbrellas from the rain and the sunshine; who luxuriate inside luxurious umbrellas; which are fixed inside hedonistic canopies; which are firmed inside extravagant cubicles; which are wasted inside sybaritic mansions; which are lost inside epicurean walls: Yet, who wear expensive cloths, who wear needless cloths of cloths. Which good leader will reduce his constituency’s per capita income by two hundred percent while increasing his income a million times during his regime? One is talking about those who have reduced our dear Republic to ‘Reprivate’ or ‘Depublic’ where nothing public works.

Even our religious leaders have turned to the worship of the root of all evil. For instance, whenever you see a Nigerian Christian and his Muslim counterpart not killing each other, know that money is at the centre. At that point, the Christian will forget about the Church and will willingly donate the first half of the Church (che) to money, and of course the Muslim will complete the devil bargain with the generous donation of the second half of the Mosque (que) to money. “Che” plus “que” is equal to “cheque”.

Therefore, I was rationally sceptical when President Jonathan launched his “Bring back the Book” project. Not even with the presence of one of the few Nigerian book men, Professor Wole Soyinka. I know that the only book that the Nigerian blind elites read is the cheque book. In Nigeria today, money rather than the head does the thinking. No matter how potent and Abrahamic Jonathan’s goodluck is, he cannot impregnate a woman who has reached her menopause. We must genuinely invest in our young ones.

Putting Nigeria first implies balancing Nigeria. And with national balance, a few blind elites would not privatize the commonwealth and thereby alienate the majority from their God-given land. Our national highways are bumpy. We hang between deep fresh pits and high fresh mounds. And instead of us to simply cover the pits with the fresh earth of the mounds to make level grounds, we belabour ourselves by attempting to either dig the pits deeper to cover them or import strange earth from overseas. This explains why our national spirit is witnessing.

• Rootman Ogbor, a teacher and author teaches at the West African People’s Institute, Calabar. taprootman@gmail.com aides and hired consultants, some of the contractors who were indicted for shoddy jobs were directed to correct them.

There’s really no problem if this level of commitment has now gingered a wakeup call on the federal government to rebuild federal roads in the state. After all, the entire plan to dualise the Benin – Abraka road is a welcome development.

But they need to rise to the occasion and further complement the gains of the Oshiomhole government in many other areas.

The PDP has had to confront the deafening drum beat arising from Oshiomhole’s outstanding performance as governor thereby trading on lies. If a party can celebrate Bode George, an ex-convict who was jailed for corruption with pomp and pageantry including a thanksgiving service attended by its leading chieftains, you can expect nothing.

The bold strides of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) government led by Oshiomhole in a little over two years is quite stunning and can be gleaned on the streets no matter the antics of latter day charlatans.

A striking difference between the 10 year reign of locust by the PDP and the present government is the massive investment in infrastructure in varied spheres from roads, schools, hospitals, water, electrification and other social projects as part of the move to actualize the social contract with the people.

Apart from the over N165 billion commitment to infrastructure cutting across roads, hospitals, schools, water project, rural electrification and other social welfare issues, it is an undeniable fact that the Oshiomhole administration has raised the bar of governance comparable only to the Samuel Ogbemudia and Ambrose Alli years.

With massive investment in 33 road projects, some already completed and the bold programme to rebuild schools, hospitals and provide water and rural electrification, the entire state is a huge construction site, providing jobs for several thousands of people and engendering a significant trickledown effect.

Ehiakhame is a public affairs analyst who lives in Benin City

‘For a man who can hardly appreciate the dualisation of the Airport Road, a major gateway into Benin City in the 21st century, this other man may just be too short sighted to be considered seriously as an aspirant to Osadebey House’

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

22

EDITORIAL/OPINION

L

ET me begin by acknowledging the sincerity of the truth that, I obviously lack the appropriate syntax and diction to exhaustively capture the magnitude of my gratitude in this well intended effort at appreciating the good people of Abia State who came out in droves to renew my mandate to be their loyal and trusted steward for another second tenure of 4 years.

This boundless love is inspiring and evokes a genuine empathy that leaves me wondering what special qualities I posses to deserve the affection that gave rise to this monumental mandate.

Even in the face of my inadequacies and shortcomings I have been variously reminded that the good qualities inherent in me, far out weighs the areas where I may have been deficient. It is also heart warming to note that Abians applaud and reward hard work as exemplified by the issue based, exhaustive and painstaking electioneering campaigns, which also sought to clarify issues using a no holds bared methodology. As a State which prides its self as owned by God, I know that biblically inspired strategy of up-holding and propagating the truth, will always set you free as you constantly warm your way, into the heart of the people.

This overwhelming mandate will undoubtedly stimulate me to ensure that Abia is evidently taken to the next level of holistic development. Having come from a clime which attaches so much importance to a name, I have grown up to see it greatly manifest in the life of those who are determined to etch their names in the annals of posterity.

Consequently, this second half of four years will be characterized by non negotiable and prosperous activities which will sought to match the peoples well placed expectations.

In summary and sectorial sequence, our insatiable and unquenchable drive to woo the private sector will hopefully yield result. As recommended by participants during the first Abia State Economic summit, this government has established a “one stop-shop” to fast-track and boycott bureaucratic bottle necks which tend to impede Diaspora and other private

My gratitude to Abians

By Theodore Orji sector led inputs in investment. Given our haste to get cracking, its grey areas would have been taken care of in a matter of weeks.

That strategy is closely followed by well laid incentives that will see investors enjoying very attractive rebates in taxes and land titles.

One of the immediate gains of that effort is that the State will soon boast of being a proud producer of cement. Juno Hermes in association with their foreign partners are at the verge of moving machineries to site in Arochukwu Local Government Area (which boasts of large deposits of lime-stone) preparatory to installation for a kick off of this massemploying venture. This is closely followed with a juice manufacturing factory from England due to be located in Osisioma Local Government Area and being attracted by an illustrious son of the State. In the days to come, the victory song that will follow our genuine desire to raise the stakes in Abia State will be unprecedented.

As earlier some where highlighted, our resolve to equitably allocate values has given rise to a conscious effort at strengthening the industrial parks in the 3 senatorial districts, with a view to encouraging the growth of small and medium enterprises.

Let me state unequivocally, that Umuahia main market must be re-located to Ubani as proposed. It is a matter that cannot be negotiated because the master plan of Umuahia must be re-visited with a view to making it a befitting State Capital. Discussions have commenced, between the government, board members and share holders of Golden Guinea Breweries Plc, on the way forward on the revival of the Industry. We are confident that this approach will resurrect that establishment which was once the Pride of South-East Nigeria.

Democratic eldorado can only thrive in a society of the educated. It remains the anti-

dote for making positive changes and even criticizing constructively. The overwhelming importance of education has inevitably motivated us to re-engineer that sector and over haul the regulatory authority. The State House of Assembly having passed the enabling law, we have adopted the approachable method of initiating consultations with indispensable stake-holders; Missionaries, Town Unions, Teachers Unions and other allied members with a view to restoring back our educational and academic lost glory.

The positive and cheering news from that gesture is that Abia State will witness the first instance of handing over schools to some of the following former owners; seventh day Adventist, the Presbyterian Church, Methodist Church, Catholic Church, Anglican Church, United Evangelical Church, Apostolic Christian Mission and Assemblies of God Church Basking from the commendable and exhilarating gains of restoring normalcy in the State, we do not intend to relax in our oars.

Closed circuit Television will be installed in some strategic points in the State to complement the efforts of combat ready and crime cracking military personnel and other law enforcement agents who are evidently on top of the security situation in the State.

We shall strive to restore the glory of Aba as the commercial hub of Abia and the SouthEast region. The resuscitated Peoples Work Department, in synergy with the environmental authorities will be empowered to clean up Aba and while dilapidated roads will be repaired, new ones will be opened to attract foreign investors and encourage free flow of goods and services.

I am grateful to all Abians, for standing by me, in the dark and unfortunate days of political brigandage occasioned by the sleight hand of the so called founders, who were

supposed to be the bridge builders, but ironically orchestrated the fire that engulfed our former party. My initial delay in exiting that family venture was largely due to the moralism and good conscience that nurtured me.

My conviction was that all warring factions will eventually sheath their sword for the sake of our dear state. But given the apparent inevitability of the centre to hold, Gods divine intervention saved the situation.

We are a state lavishly endowed with intellectuals, and entrepreneurs in the organized private sector who have excelled in their area of expertise and endeavour. May I humbly stretch out a hand of fellowship, as I enjoin you all to come on board the new Abia and help touch the lives of our brothers and sisters especially in the housing sector, where we are targeting over five thousand housing units. This will boost our continuous and relentless push which has given rise to the construction of Ugba Housing Estate located in Adelabu Street Umuahia, Amuba Phase I Housing Estate located in Apumiri Ubakala, Unity Gardens in Osisioma, on going Isieke Housing Estate Umuahia and the on-going New Heaven Estate, Umuobia in Umuahia South Local Government Area. But the fastest driver remains the organized private sector. Hence this clarion calls.

Our proper sense of direction has given us the much expected sigh of relief which has undoubtedly placed the state on the path of progress and prosperity and there will be no looking back.

• Orji is governor of Abia state.

‘This boundless love is inspiring and evokes a genuine empathy that leaves me wondering what special qualities I posses to deserve the affection that gave rise to this monumental mandate’

VIEW FROM THE FOREIGN PRESS

T

HE Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is being sidelined by religious fundamentalists, and it’s bad news for American officials seeking to halt Iran’s nuclear program.

The same Iranian leader who dabbled in Holocaust denial and messianic fantasies was, paradoxically, also the theocracy’s most ardent advocate of direct nuclear negotiations with Washington. As Mr. Ahmadinejad falls out of favour with Iran’s hard-line religious leaders, the prospect of a nuclear deal between Tehran and Washington is diminishing.

Once the darling of clerical conservatives, who only two years ago rigged the system to ensure his re-election, Mr. Ahmadinejad is now clinging to his post amid furious recriminations from his erstwhile allies. His fall from grace has been fierce and fast. In what is only the latest in a series of humiliating comedowns, Mr. Ahmadinejad was heckled recently at a service commemorating the leader of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The most devastating blow came in May from Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who publicly repudiated his hand-picked protégé in a clash over presidential powers.

Iran’s Islamist clerics deliberately made the presidency a weak office, due to their enduring suspicion of central authority and popular elections, and each of Mr. Ahmadinejad’s predecessors plainly chafed at its limitations.

The brash Mr. Ahmadinejad persistently sought to transcend these constraints. By

‘An increasingly confident and aggressive Iran is unlikely to accept meaningful limitations on its nuclear ambitions or sever its ties to militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah’

Ahmadinejad’s fall, America’s loss

By Suzanne Maloney and Ray Takeyh

deftly exploiting nationalist impulses and economic grievances, the president used every opportunity to build a power base and assert his influence. These same shrewd political instincts drove him to embrace the notion of negotiations with Washington, a proposition fundamentally at odds with the clerics’ official ideology of anti-Americanism.

Mr. Ahmadinejad’s interest in dialogue was not motivated by any appreciation of American civilization or an impulse to reconcile.

Rather, the provocative president saw talks as a means of boosting his stature at home and abroad while touting his vision of a strong nuclear-armed Iran. For a politician with delusions of his own grandeur, the idea of high-profile negotiations with Washington offered an opportunity to strut on the world stage as the champion of a new, antiAmerican world order.

Iran’s conservative establishment has long recognized Mr. Ahmadinejad’s ambitions as a threat, both to their political domination and to their ideology. However, for as long as Mr. Ahmadinejad’s rabble-rousing served the purposes of the regime, Mr. Khamenei indulged and even encouraged him — until the president’s pretensions began to infringe on Mr. Khamenei’s authority.

Having finally kneecapped the unruly Mr. Ahmadinejad, the supreme leader is now more firmly in control of Iran than ever before. None of the relevant decision-makers are willing or able to push back against Mr. Khamenei’s hostile and suspicious stance toward the West. And as turmoil spreads through the region, Iran is seeking to expand its influence across the greater Middle East and beyond. An increasingly confident and

aggressive Iran is unlikely to accept meaningful limitations on its nuclear ambitions or sever its ties to militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.

This poses a real conundrum for policy makers in the United States and Europe, who have been relying almost exclusively on economic sanctions to impede Iran’s nuclear progress while hoping that factional infighting might eventually lead the regime to collapse. Both strategies are likely to fall short.

After all, Iran’s nuclear program was revived by the clerics during a period of isolation and wartime austerity as Iran fought Iraq in the 1980s, and fierce debate among Iranian elites is hardly new.

Still, the current political upheaval in the region does make the Iranian regime vulnerable. Moreover, Mr. Khamenei’s increasing absolutism has alienated not just Iran’s citizenry but even his loyal foot soldiers, from the revolution’s founding fathers, like the former president Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, to its zealous children, like Mr. Ahmadinejad.

A regime raven by internal conflicts, leery of its constituents, under economic duress, and surrounded by burgeoning anti-authoritarian protest movements offers its own share of pressure points — and a more creative American approach could pay dividends, as shifting alignments among Iran’s political class offer opportunities to reshape Iran’s priorities.

Washington must appreciate that it is locked in a prolonged struggle for regional influence with one of its least predictable foes. To prevail in this conflict, Washington must abandon any expectation that Tehran can be seduced or coerced to the negotiating table.

American policy should seek to maximize financial and technological constraints on the Iranian nuclear program, strengthen Iran’s opposition, exacerbate the many fissures within its political class and insulate Iran’s neighbours from its nefarious activities. The leaders of a revolution that has once again devoured its own can surely be thwarted by the United States and its allies.

Suzanne Maloney is a senior fellow at the Saban Centre for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution. Ray Takeyh is a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

– New York Times

• Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,

Ighalo’s goal takes Fashola’s N27m largesse Granada to La Liga for KADA Games athletes

Pg. 24

Pg. 41

Nation Monday, June 20, 2011

FREE COPY

PAGE 23

•Ekhigo Ehiosun

2012 LONDON OLYMPICS QUALIFIER

Nigeria wallops Tanzania 3-0

T

HE Dream Team of Nigeria scaled through to the next round of the 2012 London Olympic Games qualifier after defeating Tanzania 3-0 in the second leg of their second round fixture at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin, Edo State yesterday.

The Augustin Eguavoen led team were trailing their East African opponents going into yesterday’s game having lost the first leg in Dares Salaam 1-0. But it only took few

By Olusoji Olukayode in Benin minutes for the hosts to get themselves back in the series as Ekhigo Ehiosun headed home the first goal of the afternoon on the left from an Ahmed Musa cross sent from the right flank in the 3rd minute.

Late in the half, injured Sone Aluko went out for Nnamdi Oduamadi but the first half

failed to produce anymore goal and thus the score was to be settled in the second stanza since both sides were equal 1-1 on aggregate.

However, Nigeria struck again in the 55th minute of play when unmarked Ganiu Oseni tapped in the second goal near the left pole to make it 2-0 on the day and 2-1 on aggregate.

But the summarizer would come from the right flank. Ahmed musa who had troubled the Tanzanians on that side of the field,

finally sealed his performace with a goal as he sent the ball into the net with a low chip in the penalty area after seing his initial effort prevented from going in, 3-0 he made it and thus it ended.

Nigeria progressed 3-1 on aggregate and has thus qualified for the eight-team mini tournament that will eventually produce Africa’s three automatic representatives for the Olympics.

MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

24

41

NATION SPORT

Chelsea stun rivals with Agbonlahor asks fans to mega £50m bid for Aguero give McLeish a chance CHELSEA have launched a mega £50 million offer for Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero.

The Daily Star Sunday says Chelsea last night launched a stunning £50miIlion bid to sign Aguero – after it was revealed the player was close to joining Juventus.

The Blues’ dramatic move for Aguero, 23, comes as Atletico coach Gregorio Manzano warned -megabucks Manchester City – who are also -interested in the Argentina striker – to make an offer or face the prospect

of having to meet his £45m release clause.

Chelsea’s bid is intended to blow everyone out of the water. If accepted it would mean that chairman Roman Abramovich has spent £100m on strikers this year, following on from his £50m capture of Fernando Torres, 27, from Liverpool.

And with David Luiz, 24, also having joined the ranks for £20m in January, the Russian -billionaire has not been shy with his cash as he targets winning the Champions League.

A

STON VILLA appointed McLeish as the new boss in less than a week after he quit archrivals Birmingham. The move to appoint McLeish has irked fans who say that McLeish brings with him a more direct form of play.

"At Birmingham his team had to play a certain way and some Villa supporters seem to be worried about that kind of style because it's not Villa's way. But with the talented group of attacking players he'll have

Runsewe gets 2-year contract at HB Koge

A

•Aguero

Tevez ready to stay at Man City CARLOS TEVEZ'S agent has indicated the Argentine striker is ready to pledge his future to Manchester City.

Tevez's future at Eastlands has been the subject of much speculation after he expressed a desire to be closer to his family, who live in his native Argentina.

But his representative, Kia Joorabchian, has claimed the forward is now prepared to stay as he is ready to bring his family over to Manchester from South America.

"I don't think speculation about Carlos leaving is fair at the moment,"

•Tevez

Joorabchian told the Daily Star Sunday.

"I don't think money is a consideration.

"Maybe it's a case of his family coming over to him. That's something he's trying to sort out. I'm sure in the next week he will sort the family issue out.

"Once he does, he will announce it and everyone will be in a better place."

Joorabchian insists Tevez has not asked to leave and that he remains committed to City's cause by helping them win more trophies after leading them to FA Cup glory last season.

"Carlos has always had a goal. The goal was that City needed to get into the Champions League and win a trophy," added Joorabchian.

"And they won a trophy and achieved that goal. Now that has given him a tremendous feeling. He held that trophy with a lot of pride.

"If you look at the team they are going to get stronger and stronger and, if Carlos stays, they would be my favourite to win the title.

"I'm sure that will be a factor in his mind and, the fact that City fans have embraced him, will count for a lot along with his great relationship with the supporters.

"I think all these factors will be positives for him to stay. Carlos has not made any decision to move. We have not asked to leave the club."

Cheryl Cole moves back in with Ashley CHERYL COLE has moved back in with her ex-husband Ashley, it emerged today.

The Girls Aloud star has spent the night at the couple's former £5million marital home in Surrey before the footballer went on holiday and has been lying low there during his trip abroad.

Although the singer, who recently lost her judging spot on the U.S. version of The X Factor, stayed at the 12-bedroom pad - the pair are not said to have shared a room.

The couple married in July 2006 but divorced last September.

'They were saying what a special night it was. They were mucking about like old times just playing pool, smoking and having a few drink,' a friend told the News of the World.

‘There wasn’t any awkwardness between

the two of them and they seemed very comfortable together.’

Following their reunion, the Chelsea footballer flew to America for his holiday leaving Cheryl there.

It is believed the singer had wanted to escape the huge media spotlight on her and the attention she was getting at her rented home in north London.

A friend of the star is also quoted in News of the World, saying: ‘She knew Ashley was going away so it made sense to be there.

They spent the night together and got on brilliantly. Who knows what will happen when Ashley gets back from his holiday.’

The news comes amid concerns over Cheryl’s well being after it was revealed the singer has been dropped from an exclusive royal dinner party.

DEOLA RUNSEWE joined Danish club HB Koge in the winter market from Trelleborg FF in Sweden, but as an amateur was unable to play because he did not have a residence permit. Now, HB Koge have replaced the amateur contract with a two - year professional contract.

The talented and pacy Nigerian had been playing for the Reserves, and trained on an equal footing with his teammates.

There is a prospect of playing first team football when the season resumes. ''I had a difficult start with a lack of residence, and as it turned out that I could not play anything other than reserve team matches, I had several offers but I decided to stay here for the training environment is super and I felt that I would have a good time here. Therefore, I look forward enormously to getting started with playing "real" games, '' says Adeola Runsewe to HBKoge.dk.

The 21- year-old previously played for FC Ebedei, FC Midtjylland and FC Hjørring.

at his disposal here, it will be a lot different. I see exciting times ahead, I really do" Agbonlahor was quoted as saying by Teamtalk.com.

"To those Villa fans who don't seem to be happy, my message is simply to give him a chance and see what he can do" he added.

McLeish's appointment was confirmed yesterday but the controversy it has caused seems far from over.

McLeish accepts he must win over supporters while Birmingham are also determined to maintain their legal challenge.

"I know that some of our fans have voiced concerns and I can understand why. It will be up to me to convince you that I am the right man to drive the club forward and I intend to give absolutely everything to prove that I can be a success at the club" McLeish said.

•Agbonlahor

FC Tavria terminates Brown's contract

F

ORMER Gateway FC captain Ayodeji Brown has had his contract terminated by Ukrainin club, FC Tavria, reports the club's official website FC Tavria.

Brown and FC Tavria mutually agreed to terminate the contract, which was due to end December 2011.

Idika Nsofor laments dearth of Heavy Weight boxers

By Innocent Amomoh

A

PPARENTLY worried over the chances of Nigeria in the boxing event of the All African Games (AAG), holding in Maputo, Mozambique, the Technical Adviser of the Nigeria Boxing Federation, Idika Nsofor has lamented the dearth of heavy weight boxers in the country.

Bearing his mind on what he described as the 'unavailabity of heavy weight boxers in the country', Nsofor, however, expressed disappointement at the development, comparing the situation with obtained in decent past what use to obtain.

He said Nigeria may probably be competing in the AAG without fielding a heavy weight boxer.

"Due to the light body size of most of the boxers, we may not be having an heav weight boxer representing us at the games. I have, however, urged the coaches to work harder by discovering and recruiting big body boxers that can fit into the weigth category.

“I wonder why all our boxers are not weighing much nowadays, we going to do very well in the light- heavy and light weight categories in the All African Games, we don’t really have heavy weight boxers which is not too good for our image”, Nsofor stated.

The 22-year-old seemed a promising recruit at the beginning of his romance with Tavria, but he only managed to play one game in the league.

Tavria have another Nigerian on their payroll, Lucky Idahor, who finished last season as the third highest goal scorer in the Championship.

Ighalo’s goal takes Granada to La Liga •Hits U-23 camp Tuesday for Ghana

N

IGERIA U-23 international and Granada of Spain striker, Odion Jude Ighalo was the hero in his club qualification for the Spanish La Liga after 35 years absence when he got the all important goal in his club’s 1-1 draw with Etche another La Liga hopeful in the second leg of the Play off decided Saturday night in Etche.

Ighalo’s Granada had initially played a goalless at home to their foes when the first leg was played on Thursday and they were the underdogs judging by the antecedents of their opponents coupled with the valuable draw but Ighalo swung the match in favour of his club when he stunned Etche with his goal in the 28th minutes to put his club at the driver’s seat.

Etche, however, equalised about 10 minutes to the end of the encounter but it was too little to late as Granada ensured the affair ended 1-1 and thus booked their passage to the elite division through the away goal rule and assured that the club would be rubbing shoulders with Real Madrid, Barcelona , Sevilla, Valencia and other top clubs in the Primeria Liga next season after a 35 year search for a berth.

NationSport caught up with Ighalo shortly after the match and he explained that his joy knew no bounds that Granada was able to make it to the La Liga and was more elated that it was his goal that guided the club after such long years of waiting to stage a comeback.

“I cannot actually describe how much happy I am now. I am yet to gather myself because everybody is still in celebration

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri

mood. I am happy and extremely thankful to my colleagues for believing in ourselves that we could do it.”

Meanwhile, Odion Jude Ighalo

has exclusively told NationSport that he would hit the Benin camp of the Olympic Eagles on Tuesday this week to contribute his quota to the Dream Team V and the rest of their campaign in both the Olympic Qualifiers and the All African Games version where the team has a weekend clash with The Black Meteors of Ghana.

•Ighalo

HEAD of this year's Wimbledon, Murray has indulged in a bit of self-critical analysis.

"When I was growing up I'd play all the time, as other people. Now I'm in some

•Murray

[of the games], so that's quite cool.

Though I'm not that good. Actually I always play as Roddick. I worked out how to get aces on every point," The Telegraph quotes Murray, as saying.

Self-deprecating, humorous, relaxed, in many ways, it is not the Andy Murray of old approaching Wimbledon this year. As was demonstrated by his controlled, disciplined, at times even smiley performance at Queen's, Murray is in a new frame of mind. He is tackling his game in a manner different from his old image of snarl and fury.

As everybody from John McEnroe to his mum has long told him: that sort of attitude was largely counter-productive.

"I think anger and frustration is not a good thing. If you get pumped up every time you play a good shot, and on the flip side get angry and disappointed when you play a bad one, it takes its toll. Over four or five sets, especially.

Then over a tournament, a grand slam, not good. It's something I've needed to work on. It's something I've spoken about with a lot of the guys I work with," Murray says.

Fashola's N27m largesse for KADA Games athletes

L

AGOS state govenor, Babatunde Raji Fashola will on Thursday, be giving monetary rewards to the state's athletes that won various medals at the KADA 2009 National Sports Festival in Kaduna.

Source close to the state house told NationSport that the governor has approved the sum of over N27m to be distributed according to the medal won at the games.

Chairman of the state's sports council, Agboola Dabiri, expressed happiness at the gesture of the governor and the state government, which he believes will motivate the athletes to do better in the future.

While revealing the details of the rewards, Mr Dewunmi Ogunsanya, the Director of Sports in the Sports Council, said gold medal winner will receive N100,000, silver medal winner will get N75,000, while bronze medal winner will pocket N50,000, respectively.

"The governor has also directed that the remaining 420 athletes that participated for Team Lagos at the Games but did not win any medal be rewarded with N20,000 each. This is a kind gesture from Govenor Fashola to encourage the athletes.

"I want to say that the governor instructed that the athletes should be paid online so that the money will not end up in wrong hands. The Sports Council has opened accounts for the athletes through three designated banks for the payment of the money.

We're planning to give all the athletes ATM cards for them to withdraw their money," said Ogunsanya.

A top officials of the Ministry of Sports in Alausa, Ikeja confirmed the June 23

By Innocent Amomoh event, saying that Governor Fashola intends to show that rewards will always be given to any athlete that make Lagos proud in national and international events.

Prince Wale Oladunjoye, Senior Special Assistant on Grassroots Sports Development to the Governor, who is playing advisory role for the preparation of Team Lagos for the Garden Games 2011 National Sports Festival in Port Harcourt, said that Fashola's reception for the KADA Games medal winners is one of the major events planned before Team Lagos jets out to Port Harcourt, venue of the next festival.

All the athletes have been directed to come for their forms and recent passport photos at a designated point at the Rowe Park before Thursday for the processing of their rewards.

Samba 'wants to play for Arsenal' •Fashola

NBF moves to train coaches on electronic scoring •Italian expert flown in •20 boxers selected for camping

I McIlroy on verge of history at US Open RORY MCILROY awoke on Sunday on the verge of a historic US Open triumph, with only the greatest lastround collapse ever seen in golf standing between him and his first major crown.

The 22-year-old from Northern Ireland carried an eight-stroke lead into the final round at Congressional Country Club, humbling the course

in a manner mindful of how Tiger Woods ripped apart Augusta National and overwhelmed the field in 1997 to win his first major at the same age.

McIlroy squandered a four-stroke lead entering the last round of this year’s Masters, but seems to have learned from his mistakes and appeared set to complete the takeover of golf by a new generation.

N the bid to educate Coaches, boxers and referees on the latest techniques in the pulgilist game ahead of the All African Games(AAG),slated for Maputo, Mozambique, the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF) has organized a one week refresher course.

An Italian expert Nino Fracasso has been flown in to intimate the participants with the rudiments of the electronic scoring system which has in recent time robbed Nigeria of vital opportunities to excel in boxing internationally.

NationSport learnt that Fracasso is a respected and well recognized expert in the technicalities of the sport, sanctioned by the International Olympic Commission (IOC),

By Innocent Amomoh

and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), as the brain behind the seminar.

Sources in Ibadan revealed that the Secretary General of the NBF, Patrick Uwagbale said the weeklong seminar which had commenced since Saturday inside the media center of the Liberty Stadium will end on 22nd of June with all boxing referees and judges also participating.

Meanwhile, after the national trials conducted to select boxers for the AAG, the federation has shortlisted 20 male boxers for camping,while the six female boxers selected will be groomed for the Olympic Games next year in London.

Grafite signs for Al Ahli

•McIlroy

BRAZILIAN striker Grafite has left Wolfsburg to join Al Ahli on a two-year contract.

The 32-year-old, who was the top scorer in Wolfsburg's 2009 Bundesliga title success, revealed the offer from the Dubaibased club had been too good to refuse so late in his career.

"At my age it is time to think of my family, which is close to my heart, and discover something new," he told Wolfsburg's website. "I want to take a step forward and also prepare my family particularly well for my life after football."

AND the latest club to be linked with a move for Didier Drogba are Malaga It seems that the Spanish outfit, backed by the rich Qatari Sheikh Abdullah ben Nasser Al Thani, are intent on following the Manchester City route in splashing big cash to get a modicum of success.

Managed by Manuel Pellegrini, the La Liga outfit see Didier as the perfect player to play alongside Ruud van Nistelrooy.

•Drogba

AHEAD OF ALL AFRICAN GAMES

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Murray ready to deal with best players'

REWARD FOR EXCELLENCE

NATION SPORT Drogba in new Spanish link

He added: "I want to thank Wolfsburg for four great years in a magnificent country and at a wonderful club. My special thanks go to VfL Wolfsburg, which has provided the most notable moments of my career."

The Brazilian scored 28 goals and was named German Footballer of the Year when the Wolves won the 2009 championship.

Last season Grafite, who has been capped four times by Brazil, managed just nine goals as Wolfsburg narrowly avoided relegation.

BLACKBURN star Chris Samba has told the club he wants to join Arsenal.

The 27-year-old defender was linked with a switch to the Emirates Stadium in January but talks between the Gunners and Rovers broke down.

Samba then penned fresh terms at Ewood Park which will tie him to Lancashire until 2015.

But Anuradha Desai — chairperson of Rovers' owners Venkys — admitted Samba iss still keen on a move to north London.

Desai said: "We don't want to let Chris go. I'm confident that we can keep him and I hope he'll stay.

"I know he has an ambition to play for Arsenal but I hope we can keep him for another year at least and prove our own ambition."

•Samba

Rooney is dream strike partner for Cahill TIM CAHILL reckons he and Wayne Rooney would be the perfect strike partnership at Everton.

The Australian attacker has been spending time with Rooney (and Phil Neville) in Barbados on holiday this summer, and has formed quite a bond with the former Everton man.

Now, with Tim Cahill wearing the new Everton kit at every opportunity, and United’s away kit being black, we can assume that Wayne is impressed with the new Everton shirt!

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

CITYBEATS THE NATION

E-mail:- ynotcitybeats@gmail.com

25

• Buyers selecting durable tyres at Ladipo ware house. Inset: Celestine (up) and Osuagwu

PHOTO: SUNDAY OGUNDUGBA

Tokunbo tyres: Ticking time bombs on the road S

ALIU Azeez, a commercial driver in Iba on the outskirts of Lagos, did not envisage any problem with his yellow Danfo bus as he hit the road that fateful Monday. The destination was Oshodi. His conductor’s echoing syllables at various bus stops on the Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway attracted many passengers.

But a few metres to Sogunle bus stop, one of the front tyres burst. The bus was pushed to the side kerb. Since there was no good spare tyre for the punctured one, efforts to convince the passengers to wait for a vulcanizer to fix the tyre failed.

Azeez, who spoke with CityBeats, confessed that he bought the tyres from an automobile shop because they were cheap.

Like other commercial drivers in Lagos, buying cheap, fairly-used tyres without consideration for durability has become the

‘

Since some tyre manufacturers such as Dunlop and Michelin folded up in Nigeria because of infrastructure challenges, Tokunbo tyres have become the in thing

By Sunday Ogundugba

norm in Lagos.

These second-hand tyres, popularly referred to as Tokunbo, despite the legislation against their importation and attendant risks, are smuggled in and displayed in open markets at cheap prices. Since some manufacturers such as Dunlop and Michelin folded up in Nigeria because of infrastructure challenges, Tokunbo tyres have become the in thing.

Motorists decry poor car parks MOTORISTS have decried the deplorable car parks at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos demanding their rehabilitation.

The three parks at Terminal Zero, Limousine and General are managed by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

The motorists, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), complained about FAAN’s failure to maintain the parks.

According to them, the parks become muddy each time it rains, thereby making movement difficult for both vehicle and people.

A car hire operator, Isreal Olawale, described the state of the car parks as ridiculous in spite of the huge revenue FAAN was realizing from the parks.

’

Although the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has embarked on extensive campaigns on the danger of using Tokunbo tyres, many motorists, especially the commercial bus drivers, prefer to buy them.

Most of the tyres are smuggled into the country. They are badly packed, thus making them to warp, as they are twisted while forcing them into the vehicles used to convey them into the country.

When this reporter visited a popular warehouse in Ladipo Market, Lagos, where these

LAGBUS to increase fares THE LAGBUS Asset Management, operators of LAGBUS, says it will increase bus fares within Lagos Metropolis from July 1. The Managing Director of LAGBUS, Babatunde Disu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the increase was due to the high cost of diesel. Disu, however, did not disclose the new fare.

LAGBUS is currently charging between N50 and N200 a ride, depending on the distance and route.

Disu said the price of diesel rose from N105 per litre last year to between N160 and N170 at the moment.

Disu added that diesel was not only costly but was scarcely available.

He noted that the high cost of tyres and other vehicle spare parts was also posing major challenge to the running of transport business in Nigeria

tyres are sold in wholesale, the managers chased him away. Many buyers were busy selecting durable ones from the heap of tyres in the warehouse.

CityBeats gathered that the business is thriving because of the high cost of new tyres and the lack of strict enforcement against importation. Patrons of these second-hand tyres, explained that they are sometimes better than new ones from China. They also argued that the tyres are not all about bad news and the cause of road accidents. A vulcanizer in Mushin, Lagos, who identified himself as Baba Adija, said Tokunbo tyres are preferred not because most drivers cannot afford new ones, but they feel they are better.

According to Ikechukwu Okeke, who has been selling Tokunbo tyres for the past 15

•SEE PAGE 26

Lagos commits N434m to rural areas THE Lagos State Government has disbursed over N434 million of the N689 million earmarked for rural infrastructure development under the Commercial Agriculture Development Project (CADP) last year.

The state project co-ordinator of CADP, Bolaji Balogun, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the remaining N255 million would be disbursed before the end of next month for the construction of more roads.

Balogun said many of the rural access roads had been done up to 73 per cent by the end of last month, while CAPD rehabilitated 22.19km of roads in 10 locations.

The project, he said, also provided water and electricity for some communities in Epe, Ikorodu, Ojo, Alimosho and Badagry local governments.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

26

CITY BEATS Ticking time bomb on the road •Continued from page 25 years Ladipo, most drivers prefer to buy second-hand tyres rather than new ones from China, saying China products wear out fast.

Okeke, who shared his experience with CityBeats, explained that the business is thriving because the tyres are sold at cheap prices and are durable.

He said: “Why I sell Tokunbo is not only because it is cheap but also because it is durable. The quality is good, sometimes better than the new ones. Tokunbo tyre has grades; there is first grade, second grade and even third grade. This is why over 90 per cent of commercial drivers buy them. Popular brands are Dunlop, Goodride, Sonny, Rotalla, Triangle, Michelin and Achiles.

Asked how he gets the tyres, despite strict legislation, Okeke confessed that the tryes are smuggled from Cotonou.

He said: “The business is very profitable but for the fact that the government and Nigerian law no longer permits it, it is now costlier. We get the tyres through hook and crook. If you want to import 100 tyres, you have to load each vehicle with one bundle.

“There are four or three tyres in a bundle. No vehicle will carry more than one bundle. The prices are higher because it is not only one vehicle that will convey them to Nigeria.

“I will advise the government to legalise the importation of Tokunbo tyres. Let Tokunbo stay. We are bringing them in through Cotonou, the country is making money but the government is not making money and Tokunbo tyres are entering the country every day.

The only reason why the government can ban Tokunbo is if it can encourage trye factories to be reopened in Nigeria to meet the need of Nigerians,” he said.

Another trader, Chidubem Osuagwu, claimed to have been in the trade for over 25 years.

•Tokunbo tyres displayed for sale

‘

The business is very profitable but for the fact that the government and Nigerian law no longer permit it, it is now costlier...We get the tyres through hook and crook

“I started from scratch. And I can beat my chest to say that I have achieved basic things in life through the business. The prices depend on sizes. For instance 14 rim used by the Danfo drivers are sold for N3,000, this one can serve you for less than one year. But the new ones go for like N8,000 so you see the difference. There are those that have just been fairly used, there are also those that have been used for long.

“These used tyres are originally imported from Japan, Germany,

1. Fire and Safety Services Control Room Phone Nos: 01-7944929; 080-33235892; 080-33235890; 08023321770; 080-56374036.

’

Singapore and I buy directly from the warehouse at the Ladipo First Bank bus stop. The profit depends on the rim you want. For instance, if I sell one for N3,000 I get like N500 gain. Commonly bought is 14 rim used by Danfo drivers.”

However, Osuagwu, a member of Road Wares and Tyre Dealers Association, said the challenges of selling the tyres are enormous.

He said: “Not everybody can afford new tyres. This is the problem. If these tyres are produced in Nigeria, it would be cheaper and

better. On how to get quality ones in the market, Osuagwu said: “When you talk about Tokunbo you talk about the make-up and the age.

Whatever is on earth has expiry date. When you are buying tyres, you check the dates; it should not be older than two years. If you want to buy good ones, I will still advise that you go for new Indonesian tyres but if you can’t, you can get durable Tokunbo tyres for as low as N2,000, depending on the size of the rim.”

Another trader, who identified himself as Celestine, said the life span of tyres could be as long as four years, saying it depends on how they are used. Celestine said the brand or quality is also a determinant of how long a tyre would last.

But according to the Sector Commander of FRSC in Lagos, Mr Jonas Agwu, selling substandard tyres is not only illegal but very detrimen-

Foundation seeks scholarship for orphans

‘Team work essential for qualitative health care’ THE Chief Executive Officer of Business School, Netherlands, Lere Baale, has said team work is needed for qualitative and efficient health care delivery.

Mr Baale spoke at the continuing medical education workshop organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Health in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

The workshop entitled: “Team work as a core driver of quality health care delivery” was chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health (LSMOH), Dr Femi Olugbile, and was aimed at sensitising medical personnel on the need for team work in health care delivery.

Baale, in a paper “Creating peak performance team” said team work was people-oriented and a collective effort which required patience, drive, planning and purpose in carrying out set tasks.

PHOTO: SUNDAY OGUNDUGBA

tal to road safety. Agwu lamented that the substandard tyres flood the market despite repeated warning about its effect.

His words : “Lot of sensitisation programmes have been put in place by the commission to educate drivers on the negative effects of using expired tyres. Such programmes include jingles on the radio and television and visits to motor parks.

We have also tried to educate drivers on the negative effects of using substandard tyres because they are the cause of many road accidents.

“As a partner in road safety, FRSC has a clear stand on the use of substandard tyres such as the Tokunbo ones which is that it is illegal and flouting the order attracts stiff penalty.

“It is unfortunate that these tyres are smuggled into the country by greedy persons for their selfish aims.

Since FRSC has no control over the importation of these tyres, we have embarked on sensitisation to enlighten road users about the dangers.

“Common excuse that new tyres are costly is not justified because if you calculate the amount these drivers spend on changing substandard tyres, then you know it’s almost equal to buying new durable ones.

Enforcing the ban on Tokunbo tyres should go beyond enforcing laws but taking it as a collective responsibility.

Mike Adeleye, a business consultant advised the Federal Government to attract foreign investors to produce the tyres in Nigeria first and then organises task force to clamp down on sellers of the fairly used tyres.

His words: “It is not only because of tyres that there are accidents. Even good tyres can cause accidents. The government banned tokunbo tyres for some reasons which are necessary but not justified. Most of the manufacturing companies such as Dunlop, Michelin packed up because there was no power, no water to work.

And then there was the problem of ‘area boys’; Baale will charge them heavily, there was the local government tax, Federal Government tax etc. These are excessive. An enabling environment must be created to restore the situation.”

By Evelyn Osagie

•Sheffy

A

T 27, Sheffy Belo-Osagie has 10 children. No, they are not her biological children but orphans she has adopted under her ‘Children of Haggai Foundation’.

The foundation is geared towards providing orphans in orphanages with quality education.

2. Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Lagos Zonal Command Phone No: 080-77690200; 01-7742771 Sector Commander Phone No: 080-776909201; 01-2881304 FRSC Emergency No: 070-022553772

A visit and interaction with children Sheffy met at the Lekki Orphanage Home gave birth to the Children of Haggai Foundation in 2009. Initially, she said she sourced funding from friends and family to enrol them in a private school because she was unsatisfied with their communication skills.

She said: “In August 2009, I visited the Lekki Orphanage in Lagos.

From my interaction with the children, I discovered they lacked basic communication skills.

“I thought they would do better in a private school so I started soliciting scholarship from good private schools in the neighbourhood.

One school, Valour, offered a 60 per cent rebate to 20 children.

“I sent emails to friends requesting 100 people to donate N33,000 every year for six years for the orphans. I managed to raise half the sum within a month and decided to start off supporting 10 children.

“For continuity, I set up a foundation, ‘Children of Haggai’, with four trustees. We hope to sponsor more children over the years and

continue to contribute towards bridging the gap in the quality of education available to the privileged and the under-privileged. It is a small step, but I am fulfilling a long-term desire to be a change agent in Nigeria.”

Having spent two sessions at Valour, Sheffy said the orphans have improved so well that they can compete with peers from more privileged backgrounds.

“So far, I have managed to create stability and better education for 10 Haggai kids. There’s a clear difference in the Haggai kids. They speak better, they are more confident; they can almost fit in with privileged kids,” she said.

With what she has seen in the ‘Haggai kids’, Sheffy said she wants to extend this privilege to many more orphans across the country – with many of them getting dedicated sponsors for their education until graduation.

“In five years, I want a large percentage of the less-privileged kids converted to Haggai kids. One dedicated sponsor per child. My ultimate dream is to build a worldclass school for the less-privileged.

EMERGENCY LINES STATE AGENCIES

3. LASTMA Emergency Numbers: 080-75005411; 080-60152462 080-23111742; 080-29728371 080-23909364; 080-77551000 01-7904983

4. KAI Brigade Phone Nos: 080-23036632; 0805-5284914 Head office Phone Nos: 01-4703325; 01-7743026 5. Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Phone Nos: 070-55350249; 070-35068242 080-79279349; 080-63299264 070-55462708; 080-65154338

In five years time, this dream should be on course. We hope that at some point, one out of every five homes will adopt a Haggai child. I have three children apart from the 10 who have dedicated sponsors.

We want people to know that you don’t necessarily have to put them under your roof. You can just be responsible for their education,” she said.

Her love for children did not start overnight. Growing up with three older brothers and one younger sister in Benin, Sheffy usually took charge of younger cousins during family holidays. She looked for opportunities to keep children around her.

“I have always been drawn to children because they have a way of lighting up the world. When I teach my children in Sunday school, I always come out feeling lighter and it is a great way to start off my week,” she said in an interview with CityBeats.

Come the first weekend in August, Sheffy will be gathering Nigerians together with the hope of getting them to support her dream to provide top rate education for less privileged children.

767 or email: rapidresponsesquad@yahoo.com 6. Health Services – LASAMBUS Ambulance Services Phone Nos: 01-4979844; 01-4979866; 01-4979899; 01-4979888; 01-2637853-4; 080-33057916; 080-33051918-9; 080-29000003-5.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

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THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

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CITY BEATS

Club donates helmets to Okada riders

FROM THE COURT

‘Murder accused acted under provocation’

A

N Investigating Police Officer, Insp.

Philips Ikuejajo, has told an Ikeja High Court in Lagos that a security guard, Lawali Adamu, accused of murdering one Gbolahan Odutayo, acted under provocation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Ikuejajo was testifying at the trial of Adamu before Justice Olabisi Akinlade.

• Oke (right), Ojo (second right), Odeh (on a motorcycle) and other Okada riders at the event

T

HE Rotary Club of Ilupeju Central has donated 75 reflective jackets and 200 helmet guards to Odi Olowo Branch of the Motorcycle Operators Association of Lagos State (MOALS) to promote road safety.

Two hundred Okada riders benefited from the gesture aimed at ensuring the health and safety of the riders and passengers.

Rotary District 9110 Governor Dr Dehinde Shoga represented by Past Assistant Governor Fatai Bade Oke said the gesture was necessary because Rotary Club is about improving lives and society in general.

According to him, the re-

A

By Wale Adepoju

flective jackets would enhance the visibility of Okada riders to drivers to be cautious with motorcycles on the road at night while the helmet guard would ensure that no passenger contact any disease from using the helmet.

Shoga said there was the need to ensure sanity on the roads, adding that proper protection was one of the ways.

“When a motorcycle rider is on the motorcycle the reflective jacket would allow the drivers to see him in their front while the napad helmet guards would prevent transmission of disease when sharing crash helmet,”

he said.

President of the Club Mr Ayobamidele Ojo said it is a way of announcing the club’s presence in the area and also ensuring the protection of life and health of the people in the community.

“The club is new and giving back to the society is a way of telling the people it is here because there is another club also within the community but we are closest to them,” he said.

He said the club would make the donation of the jackets and guards a continuous exercise round the year.

Ojo said the Lagos State Government has made a law to prosecute passengers and Okada riders plying the state without crash helmets.

Lawmaker demands Police Area MEMBER of the Command in Epe House of Representa-

tives from Epe Federal constituency, Mr Lanre Odubote, has appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, to establish an Area Command to check the perennial threat to life and property in Epe Division.

The lawmaker, who made a similar appeal to Governor Babatunde Fashola said the command would ensure peace, stability and boost socio-economic activities.

Odubote spoke at a reception for newly-elected political office holders in the division by Eredo Development Association of Lagos State at Naforija, Epe. He argued that the “setting up of the area command has become necessary in view of the deplorable security situation and threat to lives in

By Oziegbe Okoeki

the division,” adding that “it is not security wise for policemen to wait for orders and more personnel support from the area command along Kosofe area of Lagos State in the course of their duties.”

Assuring the gathering of his readiness to make a change, Odubote, who admitted that Epe has suffered neglect, said he would ensure the area is given due recognition to the effect that economic activities are reawakened.

He added: “I will exert my legislative powers, working together with my colleagues on improving rural communities and enhancing quality of lives of my constituents.”

He, however, told the peo-

ple to be united, patient and cooperate with him in the performance of his legislative duties.

“My commitment to democratic ideals and making the welfare of the people a priority in my legislative agenda remains intact, but I urge you to imbibe a new spirit of unity and let us work together towards the development of our area,” he pleaded.

The programme attended by two elected members of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Epe 1 and 11, Hon. Abiodun Tobun and Hon. Olusegun Olulade respectively, was also witnessed by traditional rulers, while Senator Olugbenga Ashafa sent a representative.

The Nation man relives ordeal in police hand

A

STAFF of The Nation, Mr Julius Ifijeh, has urged the Lagos State Police Commissioner and the leadership of Ebenezer Police Station in Ijaiye on the outskirts of Lagos to probe the policemen who allegedly extorted N2,500 from him.

Ifijeh was driving along Jankara last Saturday when some policemen on patrol stopped him. According to him, all the papers they demanded were inspected by them.

“On Saturday, June 4, 2011 at around 6:15 pm, I was driving along Jankara area at Ijaiye area of Lagos. Just as I was about to negotiate the bend at Osanyintola

Junction, some policemen jumped into the road and stopped me. When I stopped, they demanded to see my vehicle licence which I showed them.

“Apparently not satisfied that my papers were complete, the policemen entered my car and ordered me to drive to their office at Ebenezer Police Station, opposite Ebenezer Comprehensive High School on Ijaiye Road.

“We hadn’t driven for up to two poles when the policemen asked me to stop the car, saying we were not going to the police station anymore

and that I should give them N6,000 so they can let me go.

“Knowing that my particulars were complete, I told them I wasn’t going to give them any money. Then they demanded that I produce my laptop.

“While this was going on I decided to show my ID card to properly identify myself but just as I dipped my hands into my pockets, the money I had there, N2,500 fell on the ground. Before I could reach for the money, one of the policemen grabbed it and then we started struggling for the money. It was at that point the auto electrician that was with me advised me to leave them. So, they left with the money.”

‘

An argument resulted in a scuffle over a piece of plank to which they both laid claim to

’

Adamu, 32, is facing a onecount charge of the murder of Odutayo, a shoe-maker, on July 15, 2009, in Agege, Lagos.

Ikuejalo, who was being led-in-evidence by the prosecutor, Mrs Abiola Adeyinka, told the court that police investigation revealed that Adamu stabbed Gbolahan to death with a pair of scissors.

He said the accused and the deceased were scavenging at the site of a demolished structure along the railway line in Agege area of Lagos when an argument resulted in a scuffle over a piece of plank to which they both laid claim.

He said Adamu brought out a pair of scissors and stabbed Odutola when he was overpowered by the deceased.

Under cross examination by the defence counsel, Mr

Jonathan Ogunsanya, Ikuejajo, however, said he did not know whether the accused acted in self defence.

He told the court that he did not carry out any investigation in that regard because he thought Adamu must have acted under provocation.

Alhaji Yahu Kake, Chief Security Officer, Agege Hausa Community, also testified in the matter.

Kake said he was returning from mosque on the fateful day when he saw people gathered around the railway line.

He said when he got to the scene, he met Gbolahan’s lifeless body lying on the ground while Adamu, was standing some distance away holding a pair of scissors stained with blood.

Adamu had on May 11 pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge of murder.

The case was adjourned to June 23 for continuation of trial.

Driver docked for manslaughter

A

TRAILER driver, Ibrahim Abubukar, has been arraigned before an Apapa Senior Magistrates Court, Lagos, for allegedly killing an “Okada” rider through dangerous and reckless driving.

Abubakar, 38, was arraigned before Senior Magistrate Amos Adeyemi on a three-count charge of dangerous and reckless driving, causing damage and manslaughter.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The magistrate granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in the like sum.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Friday Inedu, said Abubakar allegedly drove his trailer truck with Reg. No. XA 889 BSA recklessly and caused the death of Emeka Emeta, the commercial motorcycle operator.

He said the accused allegedly committed the offence on May 28 at about 10:20 p.m. on Access Road, Apapa.

He said the accused, on the same date, time and place, al-

legedly dam- Damages aged two caused by “Boxer’’ mo- reckless torcycles with driving Reg. Nos. QE 09 KSF and QU 419 LND. The accused was also alleged to have damaged a tricycle with unknown registration number, belonging to one Umah Chima.

He said that the alleged offences contravened Part 7, Sections 28, 29, Cap.126 of the Road Traffic Law Act (RTA) of Lagos state.

The court adjourned further hearing till June 22.

Court discharges septuagenarian N Apapa Chief Magfor reckless driving istrates Court has dis-

A

charged a septuagenarian for reckless driving.

Damian Ekwonu, 71, was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Oluyemisi Adelaja, for alleged dangerous driving and endangering other road users.

The prosecutor, Insp.

Benedict Unawunwa, told the court that the accused drove his commercial bus with Reg. No .XM 68 AGL and in the process damaged one Toyota Corolla car with Reg. No. ES 734 EKJ.

Unawumwa put the value of the damaged vehicle at about N456,756.

He told the court that the offence was committed on December 14, at about 2 p.m., at Liverpool Roundabout, Apapa.

Unawunwa said the offences contravened Sections 24 (1) and 29 (1) of the Road Traffic Act (RTA), Cap. 124 Vol .6 Laws of Lagos 2003.

Ekwonu, who had pleaded not guilty when he was first arraignment on Feb. 28, was

granted bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

After a series of adjournments, the chief magistrate had ordered the prosecutor and the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) to produce witnesses since none had appeared since the case began.

At Monday's sitting, Adelaja struck out the case for lack of diligent prosecution and subsequently discharged Ekwonu.

Man gets three months community service for stealing

A

N Apapa Chief Magistrates Court has sentenced a 20-yearold man, Lanre Daramola, to three months community service for house breaking and stealing.

The convict is to be kept in Kirikiri Prisons from where he is expected to be brought to court to clean the premises and also cut the grass for the three months.

Daramola was, however, not given an option of fine.

Chief Magistrate Oluyemisi Adelaja, who handed down the sentence, said Daramola was guilty of stealing a gold necklace and N11,000 cash, property of Mrs Tina Akpan.

“The accused is guilty of the offence of house-breaking and stealing and is sentenced

to three months imprisonment without an option of fine.

“Prison officials should bring him to the court premises on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays until he has served the sentence,’’she said.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp.

Benedict Unawunwa, had told the court that the accused committed the offence on

‘

Daramola, with another still at large, forcefully entered Akpan’s room and stole the items, an offence which

’

June 13 at 1:10 a.m. at 65, Railway Line, Ijora-Badia in the Apapa Council Area.

He said Daramola, with another still at large, forcefully entered Akpan’s room and stole the items, an offence which, he noted, contravened Sections 390 (9), 412 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accused pleaded guilty to the three-count charge of felony, stealing and house-breaking, but urged leniency.

Counsel to the accused Mr K.C.J. Eboh pleaded with the court to be lenient with the accused as a “first offender.”

But the prosecutor urged the court to jail Daramola to serve as a deterrent to others.

RECREATION

PARTNERSHIP

LAUNCH

When varsity took to fitness

Firm helps tackle road accidents

An example of women empowerment

Anambra 31

Lagos

34

Ekiti

36

Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

MONDAY JUNE 20, 2011

Page 29

T

HE Army cantonment in Onitsha, Anambra State has marked a longstanding tradition at an event that attracted celebrities and a huge chunk of the civilianpopulation.

It was this year’s edition of the West African Social Activities (WASA),aneventthatdatesbackto the Army’s formative days in the colonialera.

Officersandmenmixedfreelywith civilians. Cultural troupes from different parts of the country performed. Army personnel engaged one another in a sport, with the winning party marking theirfeat.

Many hailed it as a means of fostering unity between military personnel and their host community.

The event was by the 302 Artillery Regiment and the 14 Field Engineering, Onitsha.

Performers who thrilled the audience were drawn from the Achalaugo, Otuodu, and Igba Igbo cultural groups. The Akambi cultural group from Calabar also performed, as did the Swange troupe from the Tiv, and Sabon Rai and Sarki Mammy, among other masquerades.

In his welcome address, the Commander of the Onitsha Military Cantonment, Col. J. Abuka explained that WASA has its roots in the days of the Colonial West African Frontier Force (WAFF). When it was celebrated in those days, able young men from thelocalpopulationwererecruited into the Army. At such a time, usually the planting or harvet seasons, said the Colonel , traditionalrulersandvillageheads offered sacrifice to their gods and ancestors, and also prayed for successful operations for their young men who had just been

A victorious group in a tug of war competition gives hearty cheers at the event

Army fetes host community Military organises social activities festival Obi promises continued Army partnership

From Adimike George, Onitsha

recruitedintotheArmy.

He added that the Army eventually incorporated the

tradition,christeningit WASA. The commander said WASA has sincebecomearallyingpoint.

“Today, as the Nigerian Army undergoes series of transformation,thistraditionisstill

upheld in order to foster esprit de corps, enjoy the confidence of soldiers and bring together families of officers and soldiers at the end of everyyear,”Abukasaid.

He added: “It is customary in the

Nigerian Armed Forces to take yearly stock of events and activities whenevertheyearisover”.

That was why the military cantonment, Onitsha, housing the Artillery Regiment (Gunners) and the Field Engineering Regiment (Sappers), invited friends, wellwishers and colleagues to celebrate thisstock-takingingrandstyle.

Continued on Page 30

Mimiko inaugurates Akure South secretariat

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Mimiko cuts the tape, with assistance from council caretaker committee chair, Oluwatuyi (middle) and Deji of Akure, Oba Adesida (second left)

HE Akure South Local Government, Ondo State, nowhasanewsecretariat.

The multi-million building which was erected from Internally GeneratedRevenue(IGR)cash,was inaugurated by Governor OlusegunMimiko.

Funds from the state capital savings were also added to the IGR proceeds, amounting to N126m as totalcostofthebuilding.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the local government, Mr. Tayo Oluwatuyi said that at the inception of his administration in June 2009, there was the need to repair the broken-down portions of the fence, gate house and provide additional

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

facilities in the existing local governmentsecretariatbuildings.

“There were not enough rooms and furniture items for the ever increasing staff and political functionaries, which were prompted by long years of neglect of the buildings by past administrations,”Oluwatuyisaid.

“This development spurred me to action in forwarding a letter to the governor in 2009 indicating my intention to embark on the reconstruction of fallen portions, constructionofanewgatehouseand constructionofanewofficecomplex befittingthestatusofAkure.”

Continued on Page 30

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

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Mimiko inaugurates Akure South secretariat •Continued from Page 29

He said the construction started in January 2010 after the submission of all relevant architectural and other documents.

The new complex has various facilities including 78 offices, traditional council chamber, computer room, conference room, registry, a standard car park among others.

However, the chairman urged the governor to approve the provision of a 300KVA transformer solely for the secretariat , as well as the renovation of the old secretariat building to save it from imminent collapse.

Oluwatuyi used the forum to highlight some of his administration’s achievements in less than two years, naming such as the drilling of 11 boreholes in all political wards, reconstruction of Ilesa Garage and channelling of Ala River to prevent flooding.

In his remarks, Governor

Mimiko praised Oluwatuyi for re-defining local government administration in the state. He described the council chief as the Mayor of Akure, saying his action is enough evidence that the third tier government can elevate the society Mimiko praised Oluwatuyi for re-defining local government administration in the state. He de-

•The new Akure South secretariat annex

scribed the council chief as the Mayor of Akure, saying his action is enough evidence that the third tier government can elevate the society.

Mimiko said the Akure South chairman has joined the league of performing council bosses in the state, stressing that performance has contributed to the de-

velopment of human capacity.

The governor reiterated that his administration would continue to work for the people , adding that he would endeavour to bring transformation to the state in all facets of life.

Among the traditional rulers that graced the occasion were the Deji of Akure, Oba Adebiyi

Adesida and the Olojoda of Oda, Oba Akosile, who eulogised Mimiko for the renovation of his palace.

The monarch said: “Soldiers go, soldiers come, but the palace remains. I am happy that the renovation of the Olojoda’s palace is happening during my reign”.

Ondo Assembly sets up committees From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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•Muolokwu (left, foreground) and Abuka (in kaftan) in a chat amidst other dignitaries at the event •Continued from Page 29 The commander said the cantonment is poised to sustain and improve upon its achievements with a view to actualizsing the vision of the Chief of Army Staff.

“We have resolved to do better during this year’s training cycle and in other commitments such as the internal security operations in Anambra State,” he said.

Addressing officers and men of the Onitsha Cantonment, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, Brig-Gen Sarki Bello, who was represented by Brigadier-General A. Danpome charged them to maintain the cordial relationship between the soldiers and their landlords in the cantonment.

He insisted that the need for such a cordial relationship between the military and the civilians cannot be over-emphasised, maintaining that the era of misunderstanding between soldiers and the civil populace has since become a thing of the past.

The GOC expressed satisfaction with the professional conduct of

Army fetes host community officers and men of the Artillery and army Engineers which he said was responsible for the good rapport between the soldiers and their Onitsha and Obosi landlords on the one hand, and the soldiers and state government on the other.

Anambra State Governor Peter Obi who was represented by his Security adviser, Col. George Muolokwu (rtd) promised to continue partnering with the Army in providing security in the state.

He thanked the military for their

efforts in securing the state.

Chief Rooney Ezeonwuka, proprietor of the Rojenny Tourist Village in an interview with Newsextra, commended WASA event which he said brings diverse cultural heritages in the country together.

He regretted that the poor economy undermines the military exercise which he said is under-celebrated.

He noted that such celebrations afford the civilian populace the

We have resolved to do better during this year’s training cycle and in other commitments, such as the internal security operations in Anambra State

opportunity to interact and share banters with the military, adding that it also gives them the opportunity to see how the military works.

Breaking the traditional kola nut, the traditional ruler of Onitsha Igwe Alred Achebe, who was represented, thanked God for the cordial relationship that has existed between the people and the military, praying Him to continue granting peace and harmony to the soldiers and the host communities.

He asked God to give them long life and good health.

Also the monarch of Obosi, Igwe Josiah Nwakobi, who is a stakeholder, prayed God to preserve the traditions and cultures of the people.

There was a tug of war game which was won by the group named after Governor Obi. The victorious group heartily celebrated the feat, lifting their headgear in salute.

There was presentatation of gifts and awards.

HE Ondo State House of Assembly has inaugurated two committees, one headed by the deputy speaker, Hon. Dare Emiola, the other by the majority leader, Hon. Dayo Akinsoyinu.

The two ad-hoc committees are charged with the responsibility of allocating committee positions and reviewing running grants in the House.

The committees were inaugurated as the seventh assembly went on three weeks recess.

The setting up of the committees was seen as a deft move to avert what would have been a crisis in the state assembly.

The move earned Governor Olusegun Mimiko praise. He was said to have responded swiftly.

Speaking to reporters in Akure, the state capital, a lawmaker representing Ilaje Constituency ll, Hon. Gbenga Edeme, said the leadership qualities of the governor and others in the party have contributed to the emergence of a brand new assembly without friction.

Edema, a lawyer was one of the aspirants who eyed the seat of the speaker which was zoned to the Ondo Southern Senatorial District.

Others were the incumbent speaker, Samuel Adesina, Hon. Oye Aladetan and Hon. Victor Akinwe.

Mimiko was said to have held a marathon meeting on the eve of the House inauguration, with the former lawmakers at the Government House, where he pleaded that the members should maintain status quo in the Assembly leadership.

Consequently, former speaker, Adesina and his deputy, Dare Emiola were retained.

Edema commended the inauguaration of the committeesm, saying the development will endear him to his colleagues and bring stability to the House.

“We believe in party’s supremacy as a disciplined party men; we agree to work harmoniously with the leadership of the Assembly and the party,” he lawmaker said.

Edema expressed optimism that the current seventh Assembly will join the executive to transform the state.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

31

I

T started from the top. The Vice Chancellor changed into his tracksuits.

Other senior members of the admistrative staff and professors joined.

Someone picked up a football. The VC’s wife led the female folk on the campus.

That was how the whole community of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State launched its fitness campign.

It was the maiden edition of the university’s Staff Games and when it ended, participants were begging for more.

Rita Obiakor, a secretary in one of the administrative offices on the main campus in Awka, usually sat at her desktop computer typing memos and other official matters. She did little else.

Nnamdi Osondu is an administrative officer in one of the faculties. He can teach memo writing and filing to anyone, but there was little more to him.

That was the routine of the university’s robust workforce, numbering in thousands, until the university changed it.

It started with what it called a special day for fitness, a day when employees would vacate official business to attend to fitness. Thus, what had begun as just a suggestion at one of the meetings of the University Management Committee, blossomed into a campus-wide affair that all who took part greeted with a resounding applause. It was the very first time such an event would be held in the history of a university that has existed for over twenty years. Therefore, for Rita Obiakor and colleagues, that fitness Thursday will never be foprgotten.

Fitness Thursday’, as the day has now come to be known, kicked off with the ViceChancellor of the University, Professor Boniface Egboka expressing joy at the event and giving kudos to the Directorate of Sports for a successful Staff Games event. Stressing the need for fitness, the Vice-Chancellor noted that the essence of the day was to keep the body and soul together while still not forgetting the overall objective of taking the university to the loftiest heights possible. Declaring that the Staff Games event would be held annually, Prof. Egboka called on the Departments of Theatre Arts, Music and History and International Relations to explore the possibility of organizsing a cultural festival for the university soon.

“With exercise, we can all forget our problems and smile”, the Vice-Chancellor said and declared the maiden annual Staff Games open by jogging alongside other principal officers and staff of UNIZIK to the Bakassi Sports Centre (mini-stadium) venue of the games. From football to traditional wrestling, fill-inthe-basket, marching and to tug-of-war, the day was packed full of fun for participants. In all, the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, some 14 faculties, directorates and units fielded representatives.

One unique point of the games was the fact that staff members united for the joy of the games. Hence, the offices of the University’s two Deputy Vice-Chancellors, the Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Physical Planning, Commercial Ventures, Guest House and Internal Audit merged and became a team. It also saw a marriage of the Library, Post-Graduate

•The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Egboka making a speech while the DVC and other looks on

When varsity took to fitness From Emeka Attah, Onitsha

School, Pre-Science, the Continuing Education Programme and Sandwich units as a team. Besides, where representatives had won, their departments or units were announced as winners; there were no victors and no vanquished.

And the games began. There was a march by all participating teams. A wrestling duel between the Works and Security Departments resulted in a draw as officiated by Professor Umeasiegbu, and both teams could also not get a way round each other in the tug-of-war event which Dr Agbanze umpired. A novelty match between the UNIZIK Management Men and UNIZIK Women, which was a spectacle that saw the University Registrar

assuming the form of Argentine striker Lionel Messi, capped the events; it ended goalless. The women, sensing a hard time on the pitch, also shocked spectators when they played football with their hands!

“We would have given the women a hundred goals, if they had not been funny during the match, and if the officiating had not favoured them because all the women in this university played against an 11-man team. They were more than we, and they used their hands to play a kind of football I have never seen in my life. Is it handball? How can you play football with your hands?” the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Boniface Egboka had jokingly queried shortly after the match. On the contrary, the VC’s wife, Lolo Ifeoma

We would have given the women a hundred goals, if they had not been funny during the match, and if the officiating had not favoured them, because all the women in this university played against an 11-man team. They used their hands to play a kind of football I have never seen in my life

Egboka rather encouraged her team mates for giving the men a run for their manly strength.

Expectedly, Fitness Thursday left commendations in its trail. The Vice-Chancellor described the Staff Games as a very good work born out of a good initiative.

Reiterating his stance on the events holding annually, the VC said, “Everyone is gratified. An idle brain is the devil’s workshop. Administrative staff members sit at a place; the lecturers always stand up here and there, and there is hardly any time for other things. So, today has afforded them the chance to move their limbs, legs and arms and to exercise their brains. Everybody is happy and I am also happy.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Professor Joe Ahaneku described the day as incredible. He praised the duo of the Professor Egboka and the Sports Director, Mr. Makasi. He noted that UNIZIK is gradually emerging as a full-blown university where sports, recreation and residential facilities are given the needed attention. He said with the successful Staff Games, the culture of fitness has just begun. “I am very happy that this ended well”, said the DVC. The Registrar of the University, Barrister C. C. Okeke said: “Today is unprecedented in the history of this university; it is a spe•Continued on Page 35

‘State police panacea for insecurity’

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HE National Coordinator of the O’odua People’s Congress (OPC) Otunba Gani Adams, has joined the campaign for state police, saying it is the only instrument capable of providing maximum security.

Opponents of state police say it is prone to abuse, but Adams has said it is imperative, especially in policing localities where the federal police is perceived to be less effective.

The OPC leader was responding to a question on why OPC members are being used in vigilance groups and personal guards.

Adams said but for consistent pressure put upon him and his members, he wouldn’t have acquiesced to such requests by people as it is out of the ideology of the socio-cultural organisation. He

By Adegunle Olugbamila

added that the involvement of his members in security does not translate to inefficiency on the part of the police that are statutorily assigned such role.

He said people would still insist on OPC security because they are looking for trust and people they believe could guarantee such trust.

Adams went on: “Our (OPC) involvement bothers solely on trust! People need persons who understand their language and who can be trusted by knowing their families and where they are coming from.

How will you say you want to trace the family of a policeman that is being attached to you as an orderly? Let’s assume you are a Yoruba and the police

officer attached to you is from Maiduguri. The issue of trust would not give that person the opportunity to trust his orderly.

“The elements of trust will not give that person 100 per cent loyalty to the person he wants to secure. Let’s assume that such policeman is from Maiduguri.

That’s why we are clamouring for state police.

“I’m just back from Brazil where effective security of the state is being handed over to the state police, though there are federal as well as military police that complement the efforts of the federal police at the federal level. The state police have the duty of providing security for every state.

Assuming there is state police for now, the issue of OPC involving in guarding the society will be reduced drastically.”

•Gani Adams

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

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Uduaghan to check flooding

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ELTA State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has assured residents of Asaba that the current drainage project going on in the town is comprehensive and will adequately check erosion in the capital town.

Uduaghan, who gave the assurance while inspecting some projects in the capital city, ordered the contractor to fast track the project so that the people of Asaba will have immediate relief.

He explained that though it was difficult to

•Uduaghan

Proprietors harp on quality education

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ARENTS have been urged to provide quality and balanced education for their children to guarantee them a secured future.

This call was made by the National President, League of Muslim School Proprietors Worldwide, Alhaji Tijani Mikail Taiwo during league’s first National Luncheon held in Lagos.

Alhaji Taiwo stated that the purpose of the luncheon was to create a forum for interaction among school proprietors, discuss relevant issues of educational interest and enhance further development for the schools under the umbrella of LEAMSP. He noted that LEAMSP has impacted positively on the activities of the Muslim schools within and outside the country.

He called on the proprietors to continue to strive towards the development of schools with necessary equipment and materials that would make teaching and learning effective and efficient.

He stated some of the achievements of LEAMSP over the years which include the

Lagos

By Vivian Ebbah

interaction with National Education Regulatory bodies, Recognition by the Federal and State Ministries of Education, membership assistance in school registration and approval, development of evaluation and monitoring tools for school supervision and collaborative ministries of education.

Mrs Sewanu Amosu , Director Private Education from the Lagos State Ministry of Education, admonished the proprietors to always put in their best in providing the necessary equipment for the development of the standard of their schools.

Amosu noted that the only way children can perform very well is when parents take it upon themselves to always cross check the day-to-day activities of their wards in school, stressing that education is the bed rock of a country and that every child has a right to quality education.

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Delta appreciate the progress of work in a drainage project, he nonetheless expressed satisfaction with the pace of work.

“I am pleased with the pace of work.

Drainage work has a complicated process and I believe the construction company is doing a good job. This will help solve the erosion problem in Asaba and environs,” he said.

The governor promised that the drainage project would be extended to connect internal roads in Asaba, explaining that within the next two or three years there would be an effective drainage system in the city.

Governor Uduaghan also encouraged youths in the state to device means of empowering themselves rather than depending solely on government saying: “I think many of our youths should emulate this. The boy grinding garri at the bank of the Anwai River is earning a living from it”.

Engr Pierre Karim of Modis Construction who conducted the governor round the drainage site along Okpanam and Anwai road said the project was a master underground drainage system.

He noted that the drainage would channel flood into the Anwai River, stating that his company was currently carrying out excavation work and constructing 200 meters retaining wall to protect the infant Jesus Academy building which is close to the drainage site.

Engr. Karim also explained that his company was constructing kerb stones to create a walk way along the drainage system and promised to deliver not just a quality job but one that would meet specifications and be complete unschedule.

•Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun with Mr. Marc Stordiau, Chairman International Port Engineering Management (IPEM) and Mr. Merce Van Bouwel during a courtesy call on the governor in Abeokuta.

Govt, investors sign pact on youth employment O

VER 2000 jobs are on the way for Bayelsa State youths and professionals as government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hyundai Heavy Industries of South Korea recently.

The agreement for the construction of a

Wabara lauds Ajimobi

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former President of the Senate, Adolphus Wabara, has lauded Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, for his great contributions while serving as a member of the upper legislative chamber.

Wabara, who was in the Senate together with the governor, said the quality of Ajimobi’s contribution as a senator indicated that a higher position of responsibility was waiting for him.

He stated this during a courtesy visit to the governor in his office in Ibadan .

Wabara said Ajimobi was an active member who made legendary contribution at all levels

Oyo From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

including committees where he served at the time.

He urged the governor to bring his abundant experience to bear in his new role as the Chief Executive of Oyo State.

Replying, Ajimobi expressed appreciation to the politician. He pledged to turn the state around by tackling challenges in various sectors of the economy.

Ajimobi described Senator Wabara as a dependable ally while at the Senate.

Lagos transporters on overseas training

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HE National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Lagos State Council top notchers have embarked on overseas training programme to enhance their knowledge in transport management and administration.

The team led by its chairman,Alhaji

Rafiu Akanni Olohunwa, will attend a seminar/training programme in London to improve the transportation system and interaction with people of Lagos State.

Those on the trip included Kehinde Daudu, Taofeek Yusuf, Isa Murphy and Tolani Obama. They are expected back in Nigeria next week.

•Pharmacists Celestine Mbamarah, Past National Chairman, Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN); Deji Osinoiki, Uzamat Akinbile, chairman IDEAL ZONE; Rawland Anopueme and Isaac Olufunmilayo at a media briefing after closure of unregistered drug outlets in Lagos.

•From left: General Manager/CEO, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Oluwafemi Oke-Osanyintolu; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties, Dr. Aderemi Desalu and Mrs. Amaka Okafor, during the disbursement of financial assistance to victims of the recent fire incident at Aiyetoro Market, Epe.The event took place at Alausa, Ikeja

Cleric proffers solution to power

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HE only veritable solution to the lingering problem of power failure in Nigeria lies in the hands of Nigerians, Rt. Rev. Isaac Ayo Olawuyi, Bishop, Diocese of Lagos West, Methodist Church Nigeria, has affirmed.

The Ogbomoso, Oyo State-born Bishop, reasoned that since the elite among Nigerians had proven undoubtedly incapable of solving the age-long problem of unreliable electricity supply, it is incumbent on the ordinary Nigerians who had remained at the receiving end of the social problem to shake off their docility and take their destiny in their hands by giving the government a binding deadline.

“It is sickening to recall the billions of naira that have been wasted under the pretence of solving power problem in this country over the years. And for that long, Nigerians have remained in perpetual darkness while all their efforts that are directly linked to constant power supply have continued to suffer to the detriment of members of their families. Not a few artisans are now Okada riders against their will because they don’t have electricity to power their sources of livelihood.

“Go to the high-brow areas of this country, you would discover that it is the helpless impoverished Nigerians that bear the sad effect of the power problem because they don’t have the wherewithal to buy, rent and fuel power generators. The pauperised have no choice other than resign to fate and grope in utter darkness while their businesses suffer during the day. Then, how do they feed and nurse their children

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Lagos

•Bishop Olawuyi

Lagos to lift corrective surgery programme Lagos The Permanent Secretary disclosed that followup care and physiotherapy would be provided for the patients at various General Hospitals nearest to them free of charge for the next six months after which they will be fully discharged.

Olugbile who noted that the socio-interaction of patients especially children who have deformed limbs are low compared with their peers, stated that the corrective intervention offered by government cannot be over emphasised especially as it would reduce the distress on patients and make beneficiaries to compete favourable with their peers without any hindrance.

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan and other politicians have been advised to serve selflessly and leave enduring legacies for upcoming youths.

Justice Bassey Ikpeme gave the admonition while drawing the similarity between

Bayelsa fabricating yard on Brass Island in Brass Local Government Area of the state.

Besides the Hyundai Heavy Industries, the establishment of a pipe mill near the multibillion naira Gbarain Gas gathering Plant is also on the way.

Elated Governor Timi Sylva, in his speech at the event expressed joy over the project, saying it is expected to create about 2, 000 jobs for the people.

The facility, according to him, is strategic, as “it would significantly contribute to the sustenance of peace in the state”.

He observed that the Niger Delta crisis was worsened as a result of lack of employment opportunities, saying the investment by Hyundai Heavy Industries was crucial as it would create sustainable jobs.

The governor assured authorities of the company that government would discuss with the host communities in an effort to ensure a conducive operational environment for the group.

The project, which is expected to be completed in 18 months, would attract more investments from Korea when it becomes operational.

Mr. Ernest Nwapa, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, who also witnessed the signing of the agreement , praised Hyundai Heavy Industries for its investment and urged it to expedite action on the project.

Briefly

FCTA sets up committee to clean up WORRIED by the ugly trend of traffic congestion, street begging, hawking and illegal structures within the Abuja metropolis, the FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Biodun Nathaniel Olorunfemi, has constituted special task teams to be located at strategic points across the Federal Capital City to tackle such municipal menace.

According to the Permanent Secretary, the FCT Administration intends to nip in the bud such repulsive incidences because, if allowed to degenerate further will pose serious security problems to all and sundry irrespective of age, class, religious and cultural background.

Dr. Olorunfemi remarked that the task teams will be in operation for three weeks with a mandate to take all necessary measures aimed at achieving the set objectives.

He, therefore, appealed to the general public, particularly the residents of the Federal Capital Territory for cooperation and understanding by appreciating the fact that no city thrives under lawlessness and disregard to set rules and regulations.

•Fashola He said: “This is why the state government provides resources towards the success of the programme to ameliorate sufferings of limb deformed patients and their families.

‘Let’s bequeath enviable legacies’

From Isaac Ombe-Yenagoa

By Dada Aladelokun, Assistant Editor

in the face of the current strangulating economy?

This is why I believe it is time Nigerians wake up and give their so-called leaders an ultimatum, say, a year or two, for them to give them light.”

Stressing the need for improved power supply as a panacea for the nation’s ailing economy, Bishop Olawuyi maintained: “Adequate electricity supply will go a long way in revitalising our economy at both individual and corporate levels”.

AGOS State says it is scaling up its limb deformity corrective surgery programme, an intervention designed to surgically rehabilitate patients with various forms of limb deformities, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Femi Olugbile has said.

Olugbile, who made this known during a visit to the latest beneficiaries of the programme at the theatre complex of the General Hospital, Lagos noted that the scaling up was informed by the successes of the programme in the past hence government has put in place a machinery that will ensure that patients who cannot afford to pay for limb deformity surgeries can be put on a waiting list for the next round of the programme.

He pointed out that since the inception of the programme in 2004, no fewer than 7000 patients have benefited from the initiative with radiology and laboratory tests carried out and mobility aids like wheel chair, calipers, knee braces, splints, crutches etc freely given.

“The current round of the free surgery begun with the screening of 162 patients who were equally sent for radiology and laboratory tests, and yet another 58 patients were given mobility aids while test results were reviewed and 56 patients were booked for surgery.

Surgery commenced on Monday, 13tth of June, and so far 42 patients have been successfully operated on while another 14 patients have been slated for surgery next week”, Olugbile explained.

•From left: Mrs Adenike Thomas; Mr Dapo Thomas ;Mrs Faosat Thomas;Mr Adeniyi Thomas; and Mrs Yewande Adeduro during the funeral service of late Pa Emmanuel Abiodun Thomas at the African Church Bethel Surulere, Lagos PHOTO DAYO ADEWUNMI

Lagos

By Biodun-Thomas Davids

Children’s Day and Democracy Day, during a seminar recently held in Lagos, tagged: National Unity, Peace and Progress Through Service.

He said: It would be natural and rational for us as adults in the present generation to work towards equipping our children properly to actualise ‘National Unity, Peace, Stability and progress Through Service.”

While underscoring the importance of the event organised under the auspices of Lagos Zone of AMORC, he drew attention to a section of the amended 1999 Constitution, bordering on “promoting good government and welfare of all persons”.

In a similar statement , Chief (Dr.) Kenneth U. Idiodi, The Grand Administrator and Vice President AMORC Europe and Africa, tasked Nigerians to place before them, “every morning, afternoon and night, the Nigeria we wish to establish at the beginning of this 21st Century: a progressive, united and peaceful Nigeria”.

Speaking further in his key note address he said, “the other aspects concerns working on our individual selves in a way which allows the spirit of service to others to dominate our being from the beginning of day to the end of the day.

Group holds symposium on youth empowerment

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call has gone to the youths to acquire vocational skills and forget about white collar job which has drastically reduced as a result of the global economic meltdown.

The call was made by a director in the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mr Gabriel Adetiloye during a symposium organised by the Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria, FOMWAN, to mark its 25 years of existence in Lagos.

Adetiloye said the only thing that can save the unemployment situation as well as free the country from producing mass graduates without jobs is entrepreneurial skills which would make them have a basic income and be self-reliant. He therefore charged the government to include vocational training skills in the school curriculum right from secondary schools to the tertiary institution, adding, “the secondary school should allow these children to discover themselves right from Junior Secondary School, JSS 3.

In his observation, not all the children are gifted to go beyond JSS3.

To him, such a child should go for courses in vocational studies, while those that can cope with the challenges of education should further their studies. “…Everybody is being moved to the Senior classes and by the time they do their School Certificate examinations, almost 90 percent up a failure. There are a lot of them roaming the streets. When they fail the West African Examinations Council, (WAEC) and later University Matriculation Examinations, UME, they end up constituting a nuisance to the environment.”

The director encouraged the secondary

Lagos

By Risikat Ramoni

school students to pick up a skill acquisition programme after their school certificate , while at the same time waiting for admission into the tertiary institution.

To further corroborate this, he said the ministry has trained 895 graduates and 11,520 School certificate holders in the past five years for free.

The skills available at the ministry are:

catering and hotel management, alluminium fabrication, tiles laying and interlocking, refrigeration and air-conditioning maintenance and repair, barbing ,hairdressing and cosmetology, and computer studies. Others are; fashion design and sewing, printing technology, shoe making, photography, vulcanizing and wheel balancing and wooden fabrication.

“If youths and young graduates can acquire any of the aforementioned skills, there will be less problem, crime, vices and it will go a long way to create wealth.”

•From left: Mr Femi Osiyale, Registrar Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic, Mrs Kehinde Ogunlore Libarian (middle) Mr Ayo Olusanwo Bursar (left) at the Students Union Caretaker Committee election 2011 held at the school premises,Ijebu-Igbo PHOTO: BADE DARAMOLA

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

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Firm helps tackle road accidents

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•Eva

N a bid to stem the tide of road acidents in the country, an Information Communication Technology (ICT) enterprise, Multicultural Centre for Adult Education (MKFC) Stockholm/Helsinki College, Finland, has embarked on a two-year campaign tagged Green Means Go Road Traffic Safety through Education/Action for Change.

The project is aimed at encouraging the use of new media technology and community sensitisation activities among young Nigerians in promotion of road safety. It is jointly put together by by Ministry of Foreign Affairs Finland, SEED Nigeria and Eve Development Educational (EDEEN) Foundation.

Speaking to Newsextra, the Project Manager for Africa, MKFC Stockholm/Helsinki College, Eva Kagiri said the project has a fourpart approach: educative video documentary for road users, road safety competition among primary and secondary schools in

By Adeola Ogunlade

Lagos and Imo states, data collection on road related accident through the use of new digital technology and community development projects on road safety awareness.

Eva, who hails from Kenya, said that the increase in road accidents since 2004, according to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), is very disturbing indeed.

The trend, she said, also undermines the country’s productive profile, especially one which aims to be among top world 20 economies by the year 2020.

Eva, a social development expert, cited the increasing numbers of top government functionaries, industrialists and other road users who have been killed, injured or maimed on Nigeria’s bad roads. She also said some of those deaths are traceable to inadequate understanding of safety tips by road users.

She said that the project will start with a

road safety competition among three primary schools in Lagos and two primary schools in Imo State.

“It is important that our desire and effort to rebuild and sustain the culture and identity of road safety can be effective when our children are nurtured and integrated into the campaign of road safety in Nigeria”.

Eva added that the project will also involve data collection of the number of road accident cases in Nigeria which would help in answering the question of who are the most vulnerable road users, who suffers the most among the pestestrian and those using the three wheel drive.

“We are setting up a road data collecting system through the use of new digital technology like facebook, twitter, short message service (SMS) where first-hand information on road accident cases will disseminated to a medium for proper articulation and intervention of road accidents in Nigeria”.

Rain wreaks havoc in Rivers

R

ESIDENTS of Rivers State have been counting their losses since the last heavy downpour. The rain flooded roads, crippling movement. It damaged property and caused considerable grief to residents.

The once flood-free Aladimma Street axis along Shell Location Road, which is the major entrance to Oyigbo town in Oyigbo Local Government Area (OYILGA), experienced an equivalent of a tsunami that Saturday. The rain started by 8.30am and lasted throughout the day.

It was not an easy experience for motorists and pedestrians alike. Many were kept out of the road due to flood waters.

In Aladimma Street, the flood caused many people severe challenges, with quite a number seen baling water from their abodes.

Opposite Aladimma Street, is a blockmaking factory. The operator, Mr. Damian Okoro, will never forget the day the rains damaged his blocks. He lost thousands of naira that day.

“These were blocks moulded hours before the rain started,” he told this reporter, uncovering the blocks for evidence. “But as you can see, they have all been damaged by the flood.”

When asked if he had experienced such damage to his blocks during previous rains and the flood that covered the entire place before, Mr. Okoro who claimed that he had resided in the area for the past 40 years, said no.

Some grief-stricken residents besieged this reporter and complained that their predicament started since two to three years ago. One of the victims who pleaded anonymity said they they started experiencing the ‘tsunami” since First Bank built its branch in the area.

Asked how the bank did that, the man explained: “There is a drainage system built by the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) between Chief Charles Ebelebe’s compound and where First Bank is located. The bank’s premises used to be an empty plot of land before First Bank bought it. The drainage is not on the land the bank bought, it is on the boundary of Ebelebe’s house and the bank’s.

When the bank started building, they built on the drainage and blocked it not allowing easy passage of water to a pit at the back of the two compounds.

It was gathered that before the bank built

• The flooded streets

By Odimegwu Onwumere

on the said land, the residents used to work on the drainage and on the surrounding gutters during the monthly sanitation exercise, an exercise which used to allow easy flow of rainfall into the pit. But today, they no longer have access to the drainage as a result of its alleged blockage by First Bank.

In another development, it was gathered that First Bank is not the only factor causing the alleged blockage. Some of the residents alleged that a church, Jesus Ministries International, is also a contributing factor. According to the residents, the church shares in the blame concerning the blockage.

But in a swift reaction, some discordant voices said that the church is not the problem but the bank. In their views, “if the bank had not built on the waterway erected by the SPDC, the church could not have had the temerity to block the drainage on its part because

We are calling on the authorities to help us tell the bank and the church to remove whatever structure they have on the drainage to enable us have free access to the drainage and clean it as we used to the church’s new building is at the back of the bank. However, we are calling on the authorities to help us tell the bank and the church to remove whatever structure they have on the drainage to enable us have free access to the drainage and clean it as we used to.

It would be recalled that on February 25, 2011, the Rivers State government, through its Information Ministry, had announced that rainfall would be very heavy this year and that it would gener-

ate heavy flooding. This was contained on a meteorological report from a study on the state.

The disclosure made after a state Executive Council meeting on February 23, 2011, necessitated the setting up of two committees to ensure that effective flood control was in place in Rivers State.

However, investigations have revealed the two committees are inactive.

•Onwumere is Coordinator, Concerned Non-Indigenes In Rivers State (CONIRIV)

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

35

A

NY moment between August and September, the meeting of the executive members of the ASCON alumni association will hold. It is put up modalities for the ASCON Alumni Week which was to hold last year but was later postponed.

The ASCON Alumni Week is meant to gather all those that had received one form of training or the other from ASCON, a training institute set up by the Federal Government in Topo Badagry in 1972 with a vision to ‘Consistently provide excellent management training consultancy, research and allied services for performance improvement in all those sectors of the economy.”

This was announced Thursday last week by the institute Director-General Mr Ajibade Peters to the thunderous applause from 117 participants who graduated and received their certificates having undergone 10 varrying courses.

“They (members) were to have a meeting here in October last year. Unfortunately the president of the association took ill, a number of the members came for the meeting but not much could be done. But from what I heard, the meeting will be in August or September this year to deliberate on modalities for the ASCON Alumni Week.

The week, as expected, will comprise lectures, sporting events, and some interactions with one another on how to help make ASCON grow.”

The anticipated ASCON Alumnni Week, according to the DG, is part of the reform being embarked upon by the current administration under him to revitalise the association which once went comatose, to

ASCON alumni week coming

By Adegunle Olugbamila

assist in further developing ASCON. Ajibade recalled: “It was in 2009 that we re-established the association. The alumnus association has been in place since about 1990 when Prof Yahaya was then the DG. But along the way, it was not very active, so we therefore had to revitalise it in 2009 in Abuja where we had a good number of alumni members that attended. Since then, we are to move from zones to zones and launch the association. We have successfully launched in Kogi Yobe, Bayelsa and Taraba states. It is the Southwest that we have challenges maybe because of its proximity to this place. In the North and Southsouth, it is doing well. In terms of membership, it is very large because we are talking about people trained in ASCON since its establishment in 1972; and we are compiling a database for all of them now.”

Ajibade congratulated the new graduands for being the first set to be graduated by ASCON after the swearing in of the new administration under President Goodluck Jonathan. He therefore charged the participants to key into the reform agenda as espoused by President Goodluck in his inauguration address.

“With every sense of responsibility, we must be very grateful to God for giving us such a determined and focused transformational leader in our generation.

However, there is no way Mr President alone can transform this country. This therefore, poses a big challenge to the entire citizenry and the public servants in particular.

“We must buy into this transformational vision through increased determination, commitment, and dedication to reasonable service. We must resolve as public servants, to improve on the quality of service we render to the public as a well as improve on

We must buy into this transformational vision through increased determination, commitment, and dedication to reasonable service. We must resolve as public servants, to improve on the quality of service we render to the public

our efficiency rate, our level of productivity and also our spirit of patriotism. It is therefore imperative that you join His Excellency Dr Goodluck Ebebele Jonathan in his transformational leadership programme.”

Ajibade who commended the participants for conducting themselves well all through their training period, added that since governments realizes training as a means of improving productivity and efficiency of its workforce. This, ajibade stressed,was the reason why the participants had to undergo the two-week training through ASCON so as to be ‘change agents’ and “lead their organisations in purposeful directions’ “I challenge you all to become a dedicated student of leadership. Becoming an effective leader in your MDAs provides an opportunity to be able to leave a legacy for the future. A legacy that does not include people has no value. You are therefore required to exert the position of influence in re-positioning the public service for effective performance.

The breakdown of the programmes are: Gender in Management Course (8); General Management (22); Advanced management (31); Public Enterprise Financial Management ((2); Conflict Management and Resolution (1); Accelerated and Sustainable Rural Development ((2); Use of Computer in Financial management (04); Faclilities maintenance Management Course (10); Financial Management (17); and Programme Monitoring and Evaluation (21).

•Female staff members of the school jogging it out •Continued from Page 31

cial one, quite entertaining and everyone should be in a joyous mood. It has been wonderful and should continue. This owes to the creativity of the Director of Sports and the Vice-Chancellor’s proactive approach. I am looking forward to a repeat of this event next year. Plans are underway to ensure that.”

When varsity took to fitness The Anambra State Commissioner for Sports, Lady Chinwe Anowai appeared more excited. According to her, it was an honour to be at the inaugural edition of the Games, for which she praised UNIZIK Management and commended the Vice-Chancellor. She said: “UNIZIK is a university of the moment. I urge other universities to emulate this because sporting makes one physically and mentally alert.” The Commissioner also called for a continued love that exists in UNIZIK. Similarly, Mr. Chris Obiora, a lecturer in Physical and Health Education at Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe expressed satisfaction with the level of success that the Games recorded. “We never knew it would come to

this level when I was coming, because I had thought they would just be initiating a programme. But we found out that everybody came in so kitted and happy. It is fantastic,” the don said.

Prof. Edmund Egbo, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, in a chat with reporters said the day was a wonderful one in the sense that it was the first time the event is taking place. He commended the Vice-Chancellor for supporting the initiative. “It is unprecedented in the history of Nnamdi Azikiwe University. This has never been witnessed before in this university; so, kudos to the Vice-Chancellor. I would recommend that this should be made an annual event.”

Egbo, whose faculty team did not perform to expectation, said the Social Sciences would be back stronger and better at the next edition of the games. “Today’s event is an eye opener to the Faculty. We tried our best but it just was not enough to take us to where we had wanted to be. Hopefully, next

year or next time round, my Faculty will adequately prepare for this occasion,” he said.

The man who probably had the best reason to smile is the Director, Directorate of Sports at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Mr. Patrick Amechi Makasi. An obviously elated Makasi, who gave the University a well-commended Staff Games, described the event as wonderful. “I will ever cherish this moment till the end of my life.

When I will be taking my last breath, I will remember today,” said Makasi who lent his voice to calls that the event be made an annual one. He added that his Directorate is very much prepared to host more editions of the Staff Games. He thanked all for the support given him.

In the end, the Department of Security came first, while the Faculties of Engineering and Basic Medical Sciences, Nnewi trailed in the second and third positions respectively. The sums of N50,000, N30,000 and N20,000 went to the first, second and third positions in that order.

MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

36

I highly respect the wife of the governor and her accomplishments over the last few years. We are fully confident that she will bring her wealth of experience as a development expert and gender specialist to bear on development initiatives in this great state

F

rom sunrise, Adetiloye Hall, Trade Fair Complex, Ado-

Ekiti, was aglow with festivities.

By 9:00 a.m., guests from many states of the federation were seated because they knew their host as a stickler for time. Many indigenes returned home to lend support to a novel initiative connecting the rich with the poor. In their presence, Ekiti Development Foundation (EDF) was weaned by the wife of the governor, Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi.

Former Governor Niyi Adebayo and his wife, Angela, led the pack, which included heavyweight politicians, top government officials, traditional rulers, the clergy and laity, leaders of women and youth organisations and representatives of non-government organisations.

A local cultural troupe was on the stage entertaining the dignitaries.

Women and youths, the principal beneficiaries of the Ekiti Development Foundation (EDF) that was being launched, exchanged banters; dancing and praising the founder for her compassion for the poor and needy.

The venue was electrified with the arrival of wives of Southwest governors; Mrs Abimbola Fashola (Lagos), Olufunso Amosun (Ogun), Florence Ajimobi (Oyo), Olukemi Mimiko (Ondo) and Mrs Kafayat Oyetola, wife of Osun State Chief of Staff, who stood in for the governor’s wife, Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola.

Exuding happiness and reeling off words of felicitation, they formed a protective wall around their own. “Our presence connotes support. This is how we should assist our husbands in the arduous task of spreading the benefit of welfare,” said Mrs Fashola, who spoke on their behalf.

The rich also heeded the wakeup call to give succour to the less privileged, in a bid to close the poverty gap. Eminent legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola, Aare Bamofin of Yorubaland, frontline businessman, Chief Michael AdeOjo, and Deux Company Chief, Dr Tunji Olowolafe, agreed to part with a chunk of their stupendous

A novel example of women empowerment

By Emmanuel Oladesu

wealth. In addition, they lectured the audience on the spiritual benefit of giving and sowing without expecting reward.

“I congratulate Erelu Bisi Fayemi for her spirit of social entrepreneurship,” said Olowolafe, a native of Are, who donated N10m, a block of technical classrooms and 40 computers towards the worthy cause.

To the chief launcher, Sir AdeOjo, Chairman of Elizade Nigeria Limited, Mrs Fayemi, has led the way in spreading the gospel of philanthropy in the Fountain of Knowledge state, •Mrs Fayemi at the launch of the foundation urging well meaning individuals tended to complement the efforts and corporate organisations to supof the governor to support and proport the initiative. mote women’s right and welfare “Change has come to Ekiti State in Ekiti land, adding that the tarand you are witnessing it. When gets would cut across political leansomebody gets to office and thinks ings. of how to make life better, easier “I have been asked if the benefiand comfortable, that person is ciaries of EDF will be only those great,” said the Ilaramokin-born from the ruling party in the state. I business magnate, who oiled the would like to assure everyone that, wheel of progress with N5m and a just as Dr Kayode Fayemi pledged brand new Toyota vehicle. to be the governor of all people in Indigenes and visitors from far Ekiti State, any initiative run by and near agreed that the project this foundation will be for the benwas unique because it was initiated efit of citizens and not on the basis with malice to none. Neither were of political affiliation,” Mrs Fayemi self-gratification, agrandisement said as her speech drew a wild apand adulation the motivation. Explause from the crowd. plaining the objectives and eleThere is a distinction between the ments of the programmes, the inifoundation and the state governtiator emphasised that she inment. EDF, said Mrs Fayemi. It’s

not an organ of the Fayemi administration. Echoing this line of demarcation, the deputy governor, Mrs Funmilayo Olayinka, who unveiled the logo of the foundation, declared: “The foundation is not Erelu Bisi Fayemi Foundation. It is not christened Kayode Fayemi Foundation. It is for women in Ekiti.” The deputy governor prayed that the initiative would endure in the state.

Never in the history of the state has any wife of any governor extended to so many indigent women a duty of care. In fact, the launch of the foundation trailed new gospel of philanthropy, which underscores the launch of the Multiple Birth Trust Fund. The fund, Mrs fayemi explained, was meant to give support to people that gave birth to twins, triplets and quadruplets. About 150 families with multiple births have benefitted from the fund in terms of cash, materials and medical attention.

EDF, many believe, will also achieve more in the area of sensitisation. Praising the ‘dynamic, energetic and competent Mrs Fayemi,’ the United Nations Women Country representative, Dr grace Ongile, suggested that the foundation should take up the obligation of educating and enlightening women on critical health issues, especially child and mother mortality, HIV/AIDS, and general rules of hygiene.

She pointed out that the collective devotion to women education, training and healthcare by Mrs Fayemi and her husband attested to their pedigree as development experts. The onus, she added, is on the first lady to make the foundation contribute to the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by facilitating women political participation, campaigning against violence against women, enhancing women’s economic empowerment and promoting gender equity.

“I highly respect the wife of the governor and her accomplishments

over the last few years. we are fully confident that she will bring her wealth of experience as a development expert and gender specialist to bear on development initiatives in this great state,” Ongile added.

Both Aare Babalola and Chief Ade-Ojo shared her views. At the round table discussion, which was one the highlights of the ceremony, Babalola testified that his love of giving made him to establish Afe Babalola University, AdoEkiti, as a charitable institution and not a profit-making school.

Defining philanthropy, the eminent lawyer said: “It is the act of giving, helping and assisting the poor,” adding that Erelu Fayemi deserved commendation for sparing a thought for the needy.

Ade-Ojo, who was in the same spirit, had told the audience that giving attracts blessings from God. However, he had other reasons for supporting the foundation. He said: “Bisi is my niece. I attended their wedding ceremony in London.” Noting that government is not expected to fund the foundation, Ade-Ojo called on men of goodwill to rally round the founder to realise its lofty goals.

“What do you possess that you have not been giving out? What have you possess that was not given to you? What did you bring into this world and what would you take away? If you are called upon to give, it is a prayer for you.

When you give, you receive more,” he added.

Guests, including the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Dr Wale Omirin, the former Chief Judge and Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti, Oba Ajakaye, Acting Chief Judge, Justice Deji Daramola, Secretary to Government, Ganiyu Owolabi, Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Adio Folayan, Chief of Staff, Yemi Adaramodu, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) deputy chairman, Chief Dele Falusi, Hon. Orisalade, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Dr Ife Arowosoge, Mrs Mrs Moji Awokoya among others were present.

Fresh air in Ekiti ALGON

F

OLLOWING the swearing-in of the newly appointed local government caretaker committees in Ekiti State, the state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has approved the constitution of a new leadership of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, (ALGON).

A statement signed by the Special Assistant on Media to ALGON in the State, Mr. Gbenga Sodeinde said the approval of the new leadership was conveyed by the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmi Olayinka who disclosed that the governor has approved that the chairmanship of the association should move to the Ekiti Central, the secretaryship to the North and the post of treasurer to the South Senatorial district of the state.

In view of this, the Deputy Governor, during her first official meeting with the committees in Ado Ekiti, however announced the emergence of Efon Local government Chairman, Chief Joel Omoniyi as the new ALGON Chairman, while the Oye Local government Chairman Barrister Adekoya Anthony Adewale was appointed as Secretary of the Association and Ekiti East Local Government Chairperson, Ms. Omonusi Anthonia Alaba

•From left: Ms Omonusi, ALGON treasurer; Mr. Adekoya, secretary; Deputy Governor Funmi Olayinka, and the ALGON chairman, Chief Joel Omoniyi

By Dada Aladelokun

became the treasurer.

Responding on behalf of the ALGON, the new Chairman expressed delight at

the appointment, promising that they would never disappoint the governor and the people of the state.

Omoniyi said the appointment had placed greater responsibility on them

which they would discharge in conformity with the eight-point agenda of Dr Kayode Fayemi-led government to ensure that the people enjoy more dividends of democracy in the state.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

37

CITY BEATS

CRIME

F THE COURTS SROM ECURITY TIPS

How to rid the society of crime, by cleric

A

cleric has spoken of how to sanitise society.

According to Pastor Philip Babalola responsive leadership, moral righteousness, fear of God are the only ways to rid the society of crimes and other unholy acts.

Babalola, the Pastor-incharge of Evergreen Christian Church of God, Obanikoro, Ikorodu Road, Lagos, was speaking on the future at his church.

The lawyer-turned cleric who had always maintained that the fear of God is the only key to moving the society out of the doldrums, restated that the current democratic practice in the country could only bear the required fruits if allowed to rest squarely on the foundation of Godliness.

“Indeed, democracy is good because it gives the electorate ample room and freedom to choose their preferred leaders at elections. However, it must be realised that without God’s direction, bad leaders often emerge and even after leaders’ emergence, we need God to direct the cause of

‘

• • • • • •

By Dada Aladelokun

events in our system, otherwise, people will be led astray and the resultant effects are what we are grappling with today,” he said.

Explaining further, Pastor Babalola said: “In our land today, there is the crying need for us to turn to God. While our elected leaders must see their mandate as a covenant with God and the electorate, the followership must also not forget God in their day-to-day dealings.

Today, some resort to all sorts of illegitimate activities to eke out a living because of what they see as failure of governance. Look at the stories of killings, kidnappings, theft, lootings and sundry other misdeeds we read in the newspapers daily; we need nobody to tell us that there is a breakdown somewhere. There is a great disconnect between men and God to the detriment of the entire system.

It is time we allowed God to take control.”

Nigerian public office holders at all levels, he advised, must shun greed, materialism and discontent, which he reasoned, had

This is why Nigerians must keep faith with Him and hope for His intervention at the appropriate time

’

• • • • •

•Babalola

combined to encourage crimes in the society by the deprived and the exploited among Nigerians.

“Why must we amass wealth? After all, where are we taking them to? Is it Godly to deprive our lessprivileged fellowmen of the good things of life? These are among the question our leaders must ask themselves and ponder because God is watching with keen interest.

And I want to say that God is not tired of our problems; He has the capacity to hear our heart-cry.

This is why Nigerians must keep faith with Him and hope for His intervention at the appropriate time,” he said.

He passionately appealed to religious leaders across all faith to make it a bounden duty to have the courage to speak the truth to Nigerians, especially the leaders to put God’s fear into whatever they do in order to ease the growing tension in the land.

Be cautious when entering private vehicles that operate as taxis Avoid spending the night with free women In crowded bus stops, hold tight to your bags and pockets in order not to be robbed by pick pockets Do not leave your children with strangers, especially in religious places of worship.

Always secure your residence by locking up the place.

Do not allow a stranger to embrace you in the public as such person may be out to pick your wallet Mind how you leave your car with strangers as some may be robbers.

Be observant inside and outside bank premises in order not to be trailed by robbers.

Provide adequate security for cash in transit, including the use of police escort, also stop keeping money or valuables inside your car.

Help the police to help you. Let us join hands to rid our society of crime. It is our collective responsibility.

Report suspicious movement within your vicinity to the Police, never confront crimi nals as your life is very important, call the police on the following numbers: Police Control Room 1 emergency/distress call telephone numbers 07055350249, 07035068242, RRS Control 2 Alausa 08065154338, 07055462708, Control Room 3 SHQ: 08079279349, 08063299264 and 767 Toll free line.

MISSING PERSONS

1.

One Kenneth Madubike ‘m’ aged 68yrs old about 5ft tall dark in complexion speaks English and Igbo languages fluently. If seen contact one Onyinyechi Madubike ‘f’ of Emma Ugest House, onilewuna Street, Egbe Lagos or Ikotun Police Station.

2.

One Akinbode Toyin ‘f’ aged 28yrs old about 5ft tall fair in complexion, speaks Yoruba. If seen, contact one Akinbode Suleiman ‘m’ of 27, Abeokuta Street, Agege, Lagos or Pen Cinema Police Station.

3.

One Fatimo Olubukola ‘f’ aged 23yrs old about 4ft tall dark in complexion, speaks Pidgin English and Yoruba languages fluently. If seen, contact one Akinsile Olufunmilayo ‘f’ of Opposite Tololope Nur/Primary School Topa Ajara, Badagry or Badagry Police Station.

4.

One Nneoma Grace Ogba ‘f’ aged 14yrs old about 3ft tall, fair complexion, speaks English and Igbo language fluently. If seen, contact one Chima Obuma ‘m’ of No. 8, Abimbola Odunsi Street, Ifako Ijaiye Lagos or Ikeja Police Station.

5.

One Folake Godonu ‘f’ aged 27yrs old about 6ft tall dark in complexion, speaks Yoruba and Egun Languages fluently. If seen contact one Joseph Godwin ‘m’ of Ikoga Zebbe Badagry Lagos or Badagry Police Station.

6.

One Benjamin Onuikpu ‘m’ aged 30yrs about 4.8ft tall fair complexion, speaks English and Hausa Languages fluently. If seen contact one Monisola Adetola ‘f’ of Block 94 Flat, 1 Jakande Estate Isolo or Festac Police Station.

7.

One Feyisara Oyindamola Shittu ‘f’ aged 32yrs old about 5ft tall, dark in complexion, speaks English and Yoruba Language fluently. If seen contact one Mr. Shittu Kamoru ‘m’ of No. 6/ 8, Rufai Street, Onipanu Shomolu Lagos or Onipanu, Police Station.

STOLEN VEHICLES

1.

One Toyota Camry S/Car with Reg. No. AR 700 KUJ with Chassis No. 4T15KIZESPU1803 and Engine No. 551818765. If seen contact any nearest Police Station.

2.

One Toyota Camry and Reg. No. RZ 435 AAA Colour Grey with chassis No. J4T1BG22K8WU267091 and Engine No. 556469891. If seen contact any nearest Police Station.

RECOVERED VEHICLES

The Lagos State Police Command recovered a total number of 28 vehicles from 18th - 23rd May, 2011 suspected to have been stolen from different location in Lagos and the vehicles can be located at the station mentioned against each of the recovered vehicles as follows:-

•Some Chaplain at the inauguration

Group to seek EFCC’s, ICPC’s probe of fraudulent pastors

T

HE United Nigerian Chaplaincy (UNC) will ask the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate pastors who embezzle church fund, the group has said.

UNC regional Commandant Dr Lazarus Toryila made this revelation during the inauguration of its Lagos chapter, last Wednesday.

Other UNC officers present at the event were the Osun State Commandant Dr. Gabriel Adedipo, Ondo State Commandant, Dr Joseph Oshin, Lagos Coordinator, Dozie Nwankwoh and Mr Adeghite John.

Toryila who was repre-

By Ebele Boniface

sented by Dr Emmanuel Babalola, said that pastors who tamper with church money should be treated as criminals.

On his part, Dr. Adedipo said they were ready to work with EFCC, ICPC to stamp out corruption both in the churches and in Nigeria.

Babalola explained that UNC is an umbrella for all Chaplaincies in Nigeria as there are other bodies like civil chaplains, military, police who are Moslems or Christians.

“We are priests in uniform. We can arrest and handover to police. Though dealing with corrupt pastors is an internal matter we would not hesitate to handover corrupt pastors

who embezzle church fund to EFCC or ICPC,” he said.

He said their coming together to form a formidable force that could bring about the desired change and stamping out corruption in Nigeria.

He said the cleansing would involve checkmating men of God who engage in proliferation of pastors and those involved in obtaining from innocent children of God. “We also want to investigate those pastors that use offering money which is meant to develop churches and mosques to drive exotic cars,” Babalola said.

He stressed that though the battle will be spiritual and that they will use fasting and prayers, they intend to go physical whereby the fraudulent pastors would be exposed, arrested.

S/NO

NAMES OF VEHICLE

REG. NO

COLOUR

LOCATION

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

HONDA ACCORD TOYOTA SIENNA HONDA ACCORD HONDA ACCORD HONDA ACCORD TOYOTA COROLLA TOYOTA COROLLA MAZDA 232 HONDA CIVIC PEUGEOT 306 MERCURY VILLAGER OPEL OMEGA TOYOTA COROLLA HONDA ACCORD TOYOTA SIENNA TOYOTA COROLLA TOYOTA CAMRY TOYOTA COROLLA FAN PICK UP TOYOTA COROLLA HONDA ACCORD TOYOTA 4 RUNNER HONDA ACCORD TOYOTA COROLLA HONDA ACCORD NISSAN PATHFINDER NISSAN QUEST NISSAN QUEST

FP 401 LSR LP 291 KJA EQ 467 LND CX 586 MUS BU 236 BDG BH 609 BDG CN 122 FST CC 385 AKD CP 807 KTU AJ 586 KWL NK 826 AAA DC 470 MUS BW 624 AKL EY 442 APP TU 730 KJA BZ 638 KSF PP 856 RBC EE 809 KJA DG 491 GGE ET 398 APP SM 974 KJA EP 61 KRD SD 242 KJA DY 489 AAA DN 623 LSD FW 449 LSR DE 934 RBC NW 137 AAA

ASH GOLD GREY ASH BLACK --ASH RED L/BLUE ASH S/BLUE WHITE M/GREY WHITE ASH BLACK BLACK GREY GREY BLACK BLACK GOLD GREY ASH BLACK BLACK GOLD L/BLUE

YABA DIV. RRS HTQR. LAYENI ORILE OJO OJO AJAH OJO IPAKODO TRADE FAIR OJODU AGO-OKOTA ALADE ALAPERE OJOKORO AGUDA V/ISLAND OJO LAYENI SHOMOLU RRS HQTR AREA ‘D’ ILASAMAJA DENTON IJESHA LAYENI GOWON ESTATE SABO

Members of the public who have claims to the recovered vehicles should check at the police station mentioned against each recovered vehicles with original documents.

Claimants should endeavour to check the engine numbers as the original registration numbers may have been tampered with.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

38

CITY BEATS

Court jails housemaid for stealing N1m jewelry

By Emmanuel Udodinma

A CHIEF Magistrate’s Court, lgbosere, Lagos, has sentenced 23-year-old Joy Ezekiel Jonhson to four-year imprisonment for stealing jewelry valued at N1.5million belonging to Mrs Egbichi Akinsanya.

She was charged with conspiracy and stealing.

She, however, pleaded not guilty and was granted bail.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Peter Nwangwu, told the court that on November 13 at Maitama Sule Street, Off Awolowa Rd Ikoyi ,Egbichi conspired to steal various types of jewelries He said the offence contravened Section 390 (9), 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State.

The Magistrate, Mrs A.O Awegboro sentenced Joy Ezekiel Johnson to two years imprisonment on each of the count.

In another case, the magistrate sentenced a middle-aged man, Jubirl Azeez to three years imprisonment.

Azeez was convicted for conspiracy, felony and obtaining under false pretences.

The police prosecutor, Sgt Peter Nwangwu, stated that on July and August 2007, the accused fraudulently obtained N2,945,000 from the victim after falsely claiming to secure Europe visa for his victim.

Court detains Inspector, IPO

By Eric Ikhilae

JUSTICE Deborah Olawayemi of the Lagos High Court has ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Assistant InspectorGeneral (AIG) Zone 2, Onikan to detain Inspector Amaechi Farade and Sergeant Marian for contempt of court.

The Sergeant is the investigating police officer (IPO) in a case before the court.

The two drew the ire of the court when they attempted to forcefully arrest an applicant, Taiwo Abiodun within court premises without a valid warrant of arrest after the court adjourned a hearing in a case brought by Taiwo.

The court had, on February 17,at the last hearing in a fundamental human rights application filed by the victim, Taiwo and one Yetunde Taiwo ordered parties to maintain statusquo, upon complaint by their lawyer that the Police was about to arrest them.

The court failed to hear the case in view of the faulty lightening system in the court building, a development that compelled the court to adjourn the case.

Shortly after the applicants left the court, Inspector Farade (8th respondent) and Sergeant Marian (7th respondent) attempted to arrest Taiwo (2nd applicant) within the court premises but he resisted.

How to ensure better education standard

HE standard of education can only be improved if drastic steps are taken to correct the anomaly, right from the grassroots. This is the position of a principal consultant, Lonadek Oil and Gas Consultants, Dr. Ibilola Amao.

Amao spoke at the 12th annual Vision 2020 career workshop organised by Lonadek Oil and Gas at Muson Centre, Lagos.

His words: “We must effect a positive change in the Senior Secondary School Examinations (SSCE) written by students. There is a need to adopt new strategies to encourage learning and development. We need to improve literacy, aggressively empower and motivate the best teachers and career counsellors, introduce mind stimulating activities and competitions that would bring out the best in our youths.”

Amao said the organisation is committed to discovering the potential locked in the nation’s youth.

“Our goal is to identify youths with potential, who are willing to submit to the process of talent discovery and skills development,” he said.

T

•Cross section of youths at the forum

By Seun Olalude

Hundreds of pupils representing 49 schools from private and state secondary schools in Lagos State participated in the programme.

Chairman Board of Trustees for the committee, Mrs. Olatokunbo Somolu said youth empowerment is an

attitudinal, structural and cultural process, whereby young people gain the ability, authority and agency to make decisions and implement change in their own lives and the lives of other people, including youth and adults.

She said the need to guide and nurture our youth who

Our goal is to identify ‘ youth with potential, who is willing to submit to the process of talent discovery and skills development

’

Clinic celebrates with less-privileged kids

N

IGERIA’S foremost assisted conception centre, The Bridge Clinic, marked this year’s Children’s Day with lessprivileged children at the Heart of Gold Hospice, Surulere, Lagos.

The Bridge Clinic team leader, Dr Olamide Okulaja, said the visit was to make the children feel loved and appreciated.

Okulaja, the Business Development Manager of the clinic, reiterated that children are the future and hope of every nation, adding that with their presence, the world is truly a beautiful place to live in. “This is why we at The Bridge Clinic, are committed to assisting every family to experience the joy of parenthood,” Okulaja said.

The Administrative Manager of the Hospice, Miss Funke Oladele, expressed her gratitude to the Bridge Clinic’s kind gesture and love.

She noted that the children

By Oyeyemi GbengaMustapha

are always delighted when they receive visitors and, therefore, beckoned on other corporate organisations to emulate the gesture by visiting the less privileged children more often.

The visit from the clinic proved to be an enjoyable one for the children as they received gifts of food, toiletries and love from the Bridge Clinic and their officials.

Hearts of Gold Children’s Hospice is the first hospice in Nigeria that cares for abandoned and orphaned children who suffer from a vast range of severe congenital, physical and mental disabilities.

The Hospice offers a comfortable, caring and loving environment for all these children who were abandoned by their parents because of their disabilities and medical conditions.

The Bridge Clinic is Nigeria ’s first assisted concep-

tion centre.

It pioneered IVF services in Nigeria in 1999 and has recorded more than 1,200 successes since its inception.

The centre was set-up by Dr. Richardson Ajayi, after years of practice in the UK which earned him the fellowship of the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

are the future of our great country Nigeria cannot be overemphasised.

Mrs Shomolu lamented that excellence is no longer celebrated.

“Let the adults here cast their minds back to their youthful days and recollect how it seemed almost possible to do anything as opportunities and choices were in abundance.”

She said negative vices such as exam malpractices, cultism, get rich quick syndrome, have replaced these virtues and are becoming acceptable norms celebrated in high places. “The result is what led to the rising poverty level, unemployment and youth restiveness,” she said.

Mrs Shomolu suggested that quality education and training should be provided in core subjects such as Mathematics, Science and Technical Science being the foundation to other subjects. Offering scholarships to the best children who excel in Mathematics, Science and Technology is one of the several ways to encourage our youths in our drive towards the restoration initia-

tive,” she said.

Ms Anwuli Ojogwu, Communication Coordinator Fate Foundation, urged pupils to desire to be their own boss.

“You can be an entrepreneur, you don’t have to leave school with a mindset of working for someone, you can be your own boss,” she said.

Pupils received several lectures and watch video clues on how to abstain from sex and how they can be of help to their mates.

During the programme, the examiners go round to examine science projects exhibited by schools where Laureates College, Ikeja emerged first received N75,000 while Lafiaji High School, Lagos Island took second and Arch Deacon Adelaja, Bariga came third and went home with a cheque of N25,000.

Some of the participants spoke with The Nation of their experience.

Chisom Okwunze, a student of Apostolic Faith Secondary School, Anthony, Lagos, said she has learnt to choose career based on interest not money.

Govt urged to implement Child Rights sue of child labour and slavHE government has Act ery still persist. been called upon to

T

the ensure full implementation of the Child’s Right Act to ensure a secure future for children.

The Managing Director, DBS Media, Mr Cletus Chukwuma, gave the charge in Lagos during the official presentation of the book Trampled Rose written by a Senior Reporter with The Nation newspaper, Mr Chuks Udo Okonta.

Chukwuma ,who was the

•Reverend Adebayo Akinde (left), Olusola Dada and wife during the book launch at NIIA, Lagos

book presenter, called on the government to enforce the Act to give children a sense of belonging, adding that the future of any nation is depended on children.

Chukwuma urged the public to show concern on the less privilege, adding that the book has helped to highlight the trauma most children are subjected to.

Editor Newsextra The Nation newspaper, Mr Ogochukwu Ukeje, the book reviewer, called on governments and individuals to protect the right of the child.

He noted that it is unfortunate that after the passage of the Child’s Right Act, the is-

Ukeje called for adherence to biblical teaching which admonished that children should be considered as God’s heritage.

Okonta said the book was inspired to highlight some of the ills in the society, especially as it relates to children.

“I used the story of Efe (the protagonist), who goes through unimaginable hurdles to eke out a living,” he said.

He noted that though children are like roses, the treatment meted out to majority of Nigerian children is not one deserving of a precious flower such as the rose.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

39

CITY BEATS

CFAO introduces shaving stick

W

OMEN’S desire to have a special shaving stick has been met. Women who desire to shave off unwanted hair no longer have to share this personal product anymore as CFAO NIPEN, has produced for them, what it calls BiC -1 Lady Shaver.

CFAO NIPEN, unveiled the all-new BiC brand before personal care professionals,industry stakeholders, enthusiasts and a large crowd of women at a product launch which took place at the Ikeja premises of the company.

According to CFAO NIPEN Managing Director Mr Steve Faderin, it is unhygienic for two or more people to share a shaver either at home or hair salon. He also noted that, over the years, women have been denied the opportunity of owning their own shaver, since the product was thought to be meant for men only. Thus, his company thought it wise to produce shavers for women and at the same time, assist the healthcare industry to remove the hazard involved in the sharing of shavers generally.

BiC-1 LADY is a shaver designed in an attractive pink colour with safely embedded high impact razors, colourful plastic holders and

By Yinka Aderibigbe

grip contours which was satisfactorily tested with randomly selected beauticians, cosmetologists, career women and full-time housewives, before its introduction to the Nigerian personal care market.

Faderin recommended the product to all beauticians, cosmetologists, midwives and all Nigerian ladies to patronise it, since BiC-1 LADY, was produced to their demands and specifications.

While fielding questions from reporters, the General Manager of the company, Mr. Gabriel Omitogun, said the product is made from quality materials with sophisticated technological finishing that makes it a unique and durable feminine brand.

Unveiling the product, the National President, Association of Hairdressers, Cosmetologists, and Barbers and the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Elegance Twins Salon, Lagos Dr. Elizabeth Osinsanya, described BiC1 LADY shaver as “a great product,” with both marketing and economic potential.

She called on all the members of her association to avail themselves of the op-

• From left: Van Den Broek, Mr Njoku, Mrs Osinsanya Faderin, Omitogun; Mrs Ogungbe and others at the event

portunities brought by the unique product, which she said are “second to none” in Nigeria.

Dr. Osinsanya who testified to the quality of the product said “I have used the product and I found it very good. BiC 1 LADY shaver has helped me to remove unwanted hair on my body. I am very grateful to

NIPEN and I implore all of you to make use of this product in order to gain from its unique qualities.”

The representative of the Director-General of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Director of Enforcement, Mr. Louis Njoku, said the product should be protected from being imitated and called

‘

The product is made from quality materials with sophisticated technological finishing that makes it a unique and durable feminine brand

A

the danger of using substandard and low quality shaving instrument for their beauty make-up.

She said she has tested the new BiC product and discovered that it is of high standard and therefore recommended the BiC-1 LADY shaver to all Nigerian women, young or old.

International observers of the launch included, Mr. Peter Van Den Broek, General Manager, Middle East-Africa, Coutand Helene, Brand Manager, Coroline Vollereoax, Bic Legal Department, Sande Vitolino, Bic Trade Manager, Africa among others.

trained on traffic safety so that they could learn new techniques in traffic management, adding that during the long vacation, some school children would be trained in the same area.

Loremikan stated that the greatest challenge faced in the bid to ensure traffic safety in the state was resistance by members of the public who were not willing to change from the old ways of doing things.

He said the state governor, Babatunde Fashola was very keen in ensuring that traffic nuisance was curbed in the Lagos metropolis and that the governor was looking up to the youths to be vanguard of championing such change in the nearest future.

“The governor demonstrated this by formally launching the LASTSAP on 29 February, 2009. Under this programme, we also advocate for drivers to go to the state’s driving schools to get certified. There is a law backing this up in Lagos State . It is an offence if you don’t go for such training,” he said.

Loremikan stated that under the LASTSAP scheme, six children who emerged the overall best on traffic safety competition were normally sent to London to learn more on how to manage traffic in

advance countries, saying that 18 students were currently slugging it out to be part of the next six to go for the trip, which was the third in the series.

“The business of equipping the children on traffic safety cannot be done by government alone. We need you, the teachers to help us since you are the mentors of these children.

“We have gone to several schools to promote traffic safety. We have the challenge to make this visitation a daily affair instead of weekly we are currently doing, but we will need the teachers in this area,” he added.

Deputy Director, Education District III, Mrs. Esohe Agbonlahor said the training had really impacted on the teachers who would now go back to their schools to impact what they had learnt on the pupils and students “It is now the duty of the teachers to go back to their school and teach the students the safety tips needed to avoid accidents and obey traffic laws in order to reduce accidents on our roads.

These children don’t know these signs but when you teach them, they can also impact what they learnt on their parents,” she stated.

’ Lagos trains teachers on road safety

• Cross section of teachers

FIVE-DAY in-house capacity building programme for teachers on traffic safety has been held in Lagos. The training tagged: Capacity Building for Safety Mentors attracted teachers from five education districts in Lagos.

At the Education District III, headquaters on Awolowo Way, Ikoyi, Lagos, 60 teachers, 20 each from primary, junior secondary and senior secondary took part in the training programme last week.

Senior Special Assistant on Transport Education to the Lagos State Governor, Dr. Mariam Masha, said the Traffic Safety Lab was one of the four key components of the Lagos State School Traffic

for collaborative efforts from all the stakeholders to ensure that the menace of faking is eradicated in Nigeria.

“The issue of fighting faking in Nigeria should be a collective responsibility of all Nigerians because if it has not affected you today, what about tomorrow? If it has not affected you as an individual, what about your loves ones? It is high time we rise up to fight this monster,” Njoku said.

In her speech, the guest speaker, Managing Director/CEO of Sholly Beauty World, Mrs. Sola Ogungbe, warned Nigerian ladies of

By Yinka Aderibigbe

Safety Advocacy Programme approved to be piloted in 70 primary and secondary schools across Lagos State.

He said: “The project involves the installation of miniature traffic signs and other road safety devices within the school environment to serve as traffic education teaching aids and learning tools for school aged children. Consequently, it serves the function of complementing what is being taught in the traffic safety clubs.

“In order to achieve the above goal and further enhance the Club Teachers and the Lagos State Traffic Man-

agement Authority Monitoring Officers’ knowledge of the Programme, there is need for an in-house capacity building for the traffic safety mentors who will ensure that the children learns the basic concepts of traffic safety education in a fun and relaxed yet educational environment.

At the training, the teachers were educated on basic techniques of teaching traffic safety; road awareness, such as child safety and road safety; pedestrian safety, with subheads on walkway, pedestrian bridges, cycling.

Other areas the teachers were trained included introduction to the Road User Friendly games’ crashes on the road, prevention, the

green cross code and traffic laws and enforcement.

The training was facilitated by senior officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA and facilitated by the Deputy Co-ordinator, LASTSAP Technical Team, Mr. Shina Loremikan.

According to Loremikan, 300 teachers in five education districts would be trained under the scheme, saying that the aim was to enhance the capacity of teachers in equipping the youths with traffic safety tips since the teachers were in charge of mentoring the children during club activities in schools.

He said that recently, LASTMA officials were also

MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

40

CITYBEATS

QUOTE OF THE WEEK “Nigerians are tired of stories; they want action. The days of rhetoric are over. All campaign promises must be accounted for. Nigerians await speedy dividends of democracy.”

Cardinal Anthony Okogie during a press conference in Lagos to mark his 75th birthday.

MFM holds choral competition for pupils

A

S part of its 70-point agenda to motivate youths, the Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministry (MFM) has organised a choral competition for secondary school pupils in Lagos State.

The gesture tagged: 2011 Dr and Mrs DK Olukoya Choral Competition for secondary schools was flagged off in February with the zonal preliminaries held in zones of the various Lagos State education districts.

Out of over 60 schools that participated, 10 were shortlisted for the finals which took place last Saturday at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) main auditorium.

The grand finale attracted various secondary school students in Lagos and other eminent personalities such as the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Dr Daniel Olukoya,Mr Idowu

‘

I believe the choral com petition is a credible initiative because it would divert the students’ attention from vices to creativity

By Sunday Ogundugba

Ajanaku and many lecturers from UNILAG. According to the judges, criteria for awarding scores were good tone production, good diction, good expression and interpretation, appearance and stage presentation.

After thrilling the audience with their presentation, Millennium Secondary School, Egbeda Lagos clinched the first prize ,a grand piano worth N2million plus N250,000 cash gifts. Girls Senior High School, Agege came second and went home with a piano worth N950,000 plus N150,000 cash while and Queens College,Sabo, Yaba took an electronic piano plus N150,000 cash. Others went home with consolation prizes.

Olukoya ,while presenting the gifts, said the competition was introduced to encourage team work among the students, expose talented students in the area of choral music, perpetuate choral music in secondary schools and to equip students with musical instruments. He said the competition would now hold annually, promising that it would be more exciting in subsequent edition.

Mrs Orelope-Adefulire, in her remarks, described the choral competition as a good gesture, saying it would turn the youths from vices and diverts their atten-

• Mrs Orelope-Adefulire (right), presenting the prize to one of the students and Dr Olukoya and wife watches PHOTO: SUNDAY OGUNDUGBA

tion to creativity. She praised the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry (MFM) for investing in the future of the youths.

“My willingness to identify with MFM is because of its lofty ideas and programmes for the youths.

Particularly interesting is

the fact that the church recently gave 21 first class graduates of the church car gifts aside other investments.

“I believe the choral competition is a credible initiative because it would divert the students’ attention from vices to creativity. It would

also empower them to stand tall among their contemporaries all over the world. I want to advise the principals of the schools to give music importance in the curriculum because it has many advantages.

“Music can fulfill many purposes. Some medical

practitioners use it for healing. Even in churches, music plays an important role.

We are aware that King David played music to drive the evil spirit that tormented Saul away. I am confident that this competition would produce more young singers better than David.”

Gen Mobolaji Johnson, to commemorate the first anniversary of the creation of the state, was hitherto staged in May every year until 1998, when it was rested due to logistic reasons.

The proposed fair organised in collaboration with

Perfect Care Systems Limited, is geared towards reviving Small and Medium Scale industries in the state as well as showcasing and promoting the state’s indigenous cultural heritage to the world.

The Director of Commerce, in the state Ministry of Com-

merce and Industry, Hakeem Adeniji, while flagging off the street sensitisation, listed the objectives to include providing a platform for commerce and industry to thrive in the state, promote the development, adoption and use of appropriate technology in industry and to highlight private sector investment in the state.

Adeniji described the week long fair scheduled to starting from July15 to 24 at the National Stadium Surulere, as a domestic fair with uniqueness of catering small enterprises.

“When the product of the small scale are showcased, they are in a better position to be well patronised and when they are well patronised they can increase their productivity”, he said.

Chief Executive of Perfect Care Systems Limited, Mr Gbenga Babatunde added that the fair would go a long way to promote the economy of Lagos.

He explained that over 100 companies have indicated their interest, to participate in the fair, while adding that all logistics have been put in place to make the fair a huge success.

“The awareness is good and since it’s a continuous one, by the end of this week, we should be increasing the level of participation. We have gone all round Ikeja, Agege, Ogba, Idimu, Iyana-Ipaja, Maryland, Ojota, to let the people know about the development.

On the security arrangement in place to safe guard lives and property within the duration of the fair, he said: “We have a security organisation that we have contacted to provide us with 24 hours security with the Nigeria Police. We also penetrated into them by employing some of them, some of these people you are seeing are those who have been reformed, those that are actually controlling them, and we have actually employed them to be part of the security team.

“We have a 24 hours help desk and then we also have 24 hours police surveillance and the private security would also be on ground for 24 hours.” he stressed.

’ Resuscitating Lagos cultural heritage through Eko Xpo fair

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FRICA has a rich culture which unfortunately, its people do not appreciate.

They are more interested in foreign culture, which those concerned now see as a threat to African culture.

There is an ongoing cam-

By Miriam Ndikanwu

paign to revamp African culture and in the last few weeks Lagos has been alive with various cultural fiesta to resuscitate African heritage.

The fair, initiated in 1968 by the former Military administrator of Lagos State, Brig-

‘

•Participants during the sensitisation

When the product of the small scale are showcased, they are in a better position to be well patronised and when they are well patronised they can increase their productivity

’

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SLIDING TACKLE

“I initially told them they would get N500,000 naira if they could get a win but for their brilliant draw despite the intimidation, I will give them half of that sum to encourage them not to be demoralized at the recent turn of event in the leadership of the NPL. We are sure that the league will still be ours since we still have lots of matches to be played.”

Monday, June 20, 2011

42

Dolphins FC technical adviser, Stanley Eguma announcing he would fulfil his promise of cash reward to his players.

We are struggling T to survive —Amoo

Work on Aper Aku Stadium to commence this week—Iorfa

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FTER pulling a one all draw in Port Harcourt against Sharks Football Club, Fatai Folorunsho Amoo did not seem excited but stunned at the result and outcome of the match which sent him praising God at the end of the day as he openly expressed his joy to the press.

Amoo who was short of words at first, noted that it was the very first time his boys were putting up such fight with so much determination.

"Sincerely speaking, I really glorify God and I thank the Boys that for the first time, they really showed that they wanted to go back home with something and that was thing that really worked for the players. They decided that they were not going to lose this game and I think that what they put up was really by the grace of the Almighty God and I thank God for that".

•...Rejoices over Port Harcourt draw From Florence Nkem Israel, Port Harcourt

Coming to the way the Shooting Stars boys played, one would think that Fatai Amoo was given an ultimatum to deliver after the game with Enugu Rangers last week, but the coach insist that an ultimatum for him would compound the problems of the club at a time like this.

"I was not given an ultimatum and am not given because that would create more problems in the sense that we know within our house that we have enough problems and every body have made up their mind that we are going to manage the situation because we are really going through pains.

"We don't have any money.

We pay to come here with the players and begging them every day so giving ultimatum means you are ready to create problems. But the chairman has been trying everything possible with his board members to motivate us, dipping hands into their pockets to really source for money, so their is no ultimatum given us than for us to try and work hard to stay clear of relegation zone".

He also noted that despite being owed, there was no other option for him and the boys than to work hard to ensure that they are not relegated as one can not get anything achieved by sitting idle.

"If you are working the way we are working, being owed, both players, no money and we are being owed sign on

•Gbolahan Salami

fees. Like I joined towards the end of last season, I have not gotten all the money and this season I have not gotten anything but you have to work, you can't sit at home and get anything. All we are working towards it now is how to get away from the relegation zone and that is the best way out as the management trying everything they can, we can achieve it and we will achieve it".

HE General Manager of Lobi Stars, Dominic Iorfa has informed NationSport that concerted work will begin this week on the Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi toward ensuring that the Benue State-owned team plays its next season Nigeria Premier League (NPL) matches at the stadium.

Iorfa made this known at Benin during the Saturday botched London 2012 Olympic Qualifier between Nigeria and Tanzania before it was played yesterday.

The former Nigeria International stated that Lobi would play the remainders of its this season’s NPL matches at the Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi where the club had played its last three

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri

home matches after leaving the Jolly Nyame Stadium, Jalingo over undisclosed reasons.

“The Benue State government has approved the money earmarked for the take off of work on the Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi. Hopefully the stadium will be completed in three months and next season we will have a brand new stadium to be playing our matches in Makurdi. We are going to start playing our home matches there as from next season. We don’t want to run to our home without ensuring work on the stadium is completed. Iorfa stated.

Lobi Stars is 9th on the League table with 40 points from 26 matches.

Pillars draw at Plateau United

A

last minute goal by John Huan rescued Kano Pillars from defeat at struggling Plateau United Saturday.

The 2-2 draw at the Rwang Pam Stadium in Jos meant Pillars moved to third place on the table with 47 points from 28 matches, until Sunday’s match between closest rivals Warri Wolves and Sunshine Stars at the Warri City Stadium.

Plateau climbed a spot to third from bottom with 27 points.

“We thank God for the draw despite the fact that the home team put on undue pressure on the referee,” said Pillars spokesman Idris Malikawa.

Pillars forced a draw after they first took the lead in the 14th minute through Cameroonian defender Isaac Hele, who shot home off a corner from outside the box.

The home team then drew level on the hour through leading scorer George Akpabio for his 10th strike

of the season, before he set up a second as the hosts went in front 10 minutes later.

However, just when it looked like Plateau would

run away with the full points, stocky forward Huan rose to rescue his team when he dribbled past his markers before firing home a minute from time.

•Kano Pillars striker John Aondongu up against Ekong Nehemiah of Crown FC

Dolphins’ players win coach’s N250,000 largesse

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FTER posting a commendable away draw in Ilorin against Kwara United, Dolphins FC of Port Harcourt Technical Adviser, Stanley Eguma who is presently with the Nigeria U-23 team in Benin had

Former Sharks ace Adiele dies

F

ORMER Sharks player, Echendu “Opulopulo” Adiele has died. The player reportedly died in his sleep early Saturday morning.

He was holidaying in Nigeria following the end of the football season in his Germany base.

The cause of his death is yet to be officially ascertained, as an

autopsy is yet to be conducted.

His body has been deposited at the Braithewaith Memorial hospital, Port Harcourt.

Meanwhile, Adiele’s wife is also said to have taken ill at about the same time as her husband’s death. She is presently in a coma and is also at the same hospital where her

husband’s corpse is deposited.

Adiele was part of the Gold medal winning side of Rivers State at the 1988 National Sports Festival.

Adiele had a stint at Nigeria Premier League club, Sharks before moving on to Germany where he played for a host of lower division clubs.

•Fayemi Fasheun of Crown up against Kwara United

•After playing 1-1- away to Kwara United From Tunde Liadi, Owerri promised to give his players a sum of N250,000 naira for their valiant effort against the Afonja Warriors.

Eguma in a brief chat with NationSport in Benin on Saturday night opined that he had wanted to give the team half a million naira had it been they won but judging by what he heard transpired in Ilorin which he declined to talk about on print, Eguma stressed that a half of that token would be theirs for the draw.

“I initially told them they would get N500,000 naira if they could get a win but for their brilliant draw despite the intimidation, I will give them half of that sum to encourage them not to be demoralized at the recent turn of event in the leadership of the NPL. We are sure that the league will still be ours since we still have lots of matches to be played.”

With the draw, Dolphins is still second on the log with 54 points from a total of 27 matches.

Dolphins’ players win coach’s N250,000 largesse

R

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

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

43

• Pharmaceutical production plant

The flip side of technology As the world embraces technological advancement, it is also somewhat worried that technology may kill jobs. Already, some jobs have become automated, rendering many workers redundant. What does this protend for the labour market? DANIEL ESSIET asks.

S

OME careers are fading away. Advances in technology have eliminated the need for such jobs. Many jobs deemed essential to the work force are on the decline. Among those affected are clerical and secretarial duties. The introduction of sophisticated computers and other office equipment has affected the professions.

The positions of office stenographers are declining due to the increased use of dictating machines. The availability and efficiency of dictating and transcribing machines has virtually scrapped shorthand secretarial positions.

In most of the industries, the number of secretarial jobs has been declining because computers and laser printers allow supervisors to type and print their own letters and memos.

The economy has gradually moved from the industrial age to the information age and is affecting every area of the economy.

Because of this, there is disproportionately high percentage of national unem-

ployment in certain industries. Of particular interest are traditional manufacturing and agricultural industries.

As industries are declining so are certain careers endangered especially where technology has impact on high-value activities and there are high benefits to economies of scale. While total employment in the manufacturing sector has to continue to declined, there has been average growth in industries such as computer, electronics and telecommunications. In most industries, the change has made people feel insecure because they do not feel their skills are up-to-date.

Speaking with The Nation, the Human Resources Manager, Nigerian Bottling Company (Plc), Ikeja plant, Mr Oladapo Akinloye, said the manufacturing industry is suffering from the impact of technology on traditional careers. This is larger in national average than in other industries.

This decline, he explained, has to do with low activities in manufacturing, coupled with an inability to keep pace with growth in information components of the industry.

Overall, the scale up in auto, energy, and

other high technology industries have provided evidence of longer-term workforce benefits of maintaining highly-skilled manufacturing jobs. Most of the declining careers are in industries such as textiles and apparel, and furniture industries have collapsed in size at the national and state levels.

In view of the declining of employment, job opportunities are intended to replace artisans and crafts persons with experienced graduates.

Akinloye said jobs done by qualified artisans are being automated. He said implementation of labour-saving machinery, the changing demand for goods, have all lead to the rapid decline in traditional industrial production jobs.

While the sector is characterised, on the one hand by declining employment due to the use of labour-saving technology, the human resources expert noted that on the other hand, it has created an increased demand for skilled employees who can operate the increasingly sophisticated machinery.

In much of the economy, he said technol-

ogy has made it possible for some industries to eliminate certain low skill positions such as machine tool cutting setters, operators among others.

Added to this is a perception among young people that these types of careers have a low social status and should therefore be avoided.

The issue is acquiring the skill and training required for higher-skilled manufacturing jobs and engineering innovation.

He said there is a great demand for individuals trained in both analog and digital instrumentation. In order to get into this field a person may train from instrumentation mechanic to automation or technician with light current and instrumentation skills.

On the whole, the biggest demand, he said is for more experienced and skilled engineers at a senior level. This is for industrial/production mechanical engineers, adding that low activities in most manufacturing sectors is affecting em• Continued on page 44

44

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

JOBS

The flip side of technology • Continued from page 43

ployment. Mechanisation and automation in manufacturing and many other industries have also meant a continued decline in crafts and production employees, but the number of mechanics and repairers has remained a constant proportion of the workforce.

The case of the mining industry is outstanding. Overall, there is stagnation within the sector. That is the major reason there is slower growth in demand for mining engineers as well as metallurgical engineers.

In a lot of organisations, increased use of computers has eliminated many clerical activities, contributing to a decrease in these jobs.

Communications equipment operators are affected. The normal switchboard and telephone operators are done away with. Those who are retained are given customer service training to operate on the front door.

In the next five years, opportunities for switchboard and telephone operators are expected to decline rapidly because of the growth of technology, including voice recognition systems.

Across the printing industry, there is less need for book binders and bindery workers.

This is because technological improvements have changed the way the bookbinding industry operates. Computerisation of the publishing process is reducing the need for artisans such as compositors and typesetters. Traditional printing jobs, such as typesetting have been largely replaced by electronic processes. Likewise, many secretarial posts have been lost to more general personal assistant or administrator roles.

Employment specifically related to the print industry is expected to be reduced by the rise of electronic/ online publishing.

Though, the shift is towards the use of high technology, and labour-saving capital equipment in the manufacturing sector, there are declining opportunities for general engineers.

Across the telecommunications industry, demand is for specialist engineers.

These include specialists who can design, build, maintain or administer computer-assisted engineering programmes for schematic cabling projects; modeling programs for cellular and satellite systems; and programmes for telephone options, such as voice mail, e-mail and call waiting. For specialist telecommunications engineers, lucrative first jobs beckon. There are increasing companies in the oil and gas sector offering golden hellos.

Specialist engineers and executives with oil and gas experience have never had it so good. They are confident of getting their firstchoice job and expect record salary packages when they begin work.

The boom in energy prices, along with increased global exploration and means companies and recruitment agencies are falling over themselves to attract and retain the best personnel. The overriding trend is of demand outstripping supply and there is a dearth of good talent. Local oil firms are looking for geo-physicists, petro-chemical engineers as well as experts in the extractive process. The demand for geologists have dropped.

Because of the economy, some Nigerians in declining careers working for oil companies are now employed on a contract basis. This trend is likely to continue until the industry enters a more economically stable period.

Today, most medical graduates don’t choose rural careers. Rural residence is a major discouragement. There are other factors such as career pathway opportunities, unpreparedness to adopt a rural lifestyle; poor educational opportunities for children.

In his response, the honorary life Chairman, Southsouth Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr Hyde Ochia, said careers in commerce and industry have not so much been affected negatively by technology improvements and office automation.

Instead, he observed that growing use of software and automated

operations has made professionals more efficient.

While, opening up of the marketplace has brought decline in certain low-skill technology jobs, Ochia said improvement has upped performance in customer call centres, technical support and other services provided by administrative workers.

He said rapid development of computer technology – hardware, software, networks, and the Internet has enhanced the productivity of professional and technical workers.

According to him, technology changes have complemented the work of higher-educated workers while replacing work for mid-level workers and hardly affecting the more manual work of the lowestpaid tier.

He maintained that technology has reduced demand for routine manual skills used in high-paid manufacturing production jobs, but non-routine manual skills used in many service jobs such as health aides, security guards, orderlies, cleaners, and food servers have not been affected by computerisation.

Ochia stressed that technological breakthroughs in telecommunications, the Internet, and collaborative software tools have dramatically lowered the costs of doing business remotely and across borders. Within the textile industry, careers in textile winding, twisting, and drawing out machine setters, operators are declining with automated operations. Automated sorting machines and other technological advances is reducing the need for human labour.

With globalisation and the rise of online shopping, the shipping industry in the next 10 years will have to do more business with an increase in package deliveries.

Some careers such as librarians and museum curators depend on government employment. Where state governments face budgetary constraints, their employment is affected. Less than percent five growths in demand are expected for professions such as librarians, archivists, historians and linguis-

• Akinloye

• Richard Uche

tic occupations over the next five years.

Speaking with The Nation, an agricultural human resources specialist, Dr Olugbenga Ladebo said the growth of technology has affected occupations in the field of agriculture.

He said sector is highly labour intensive and there is little scope for substituting labour for capital.

Former president, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Dr Richard Uche, said it is not possible to have declining trend in the accountancy sector because of the growth in demand for chartered accountants and accountants arise from the fact that they are needed in all sectors of the economy.

To him, the makeup of the accountancy practice is highly skilled and professional by nature. In the financial sector, the professionals’ one encountered, most frequently, at least 30 per cent are accountants, some working as auditors, financial and management consultants as well as management consultants.

According to him, employers across various sectors have recognised that the high-level skills of chartered accountants for instance, can be used in a diverse range of functions.

Uche noted that strong growth in

the financial services industry is tied to overall growth of the economy. Over the last 10 years, however, the economy has witnessed a dramatic change in the employment for less-educated workers who have faced greater challenges finding jobs and have increasingly dropped out of the labour force.

One reason for this is traced to the decline of the manufacturing sector, particularly the constructive and automotive industries.

Changes in employers’ needs and their demand for workers with specific skills brought on by technological advancement, and increased competition for business investment are causes of declining opportunities.

The economy is losing considerable manufacturing capacity as companies close their doors or move out to where they see as “more friendly” locations, bleeding jobs at a rate greater than previously estimated.

Therefore, the days of traditional factory workers are gone, and what is evolving is the reinvention of the craftsman” to do tool and die working in today’s market.

From reports, the job trends appear to be moving differently with business cycles.

CAREER MANAGEMENT

T

HE interview is one of the most important elements in the job search process. When an employer invites you to an interview, he/she is indicating an interest in bringing you on board.

The interview gives both of you the opportunity to exchange enough information to determine if you are a good “fit” for each other. Think of an interview as a highly focused professional conversation.

You should use the limited amount of time you have to learn about an employer’s needs and discuss the ways you can meet these needs. In many cases, you will interview at least twice before being hired for a position. Once in a brief screening interview and at least once again in a more serious meeting when you may also speak with many of your potential coworkers.

The job interview is a strategic conversation with a purpose. Your goal is to show the employer that you have the skills, background, and ability to do the job and that you can successfully fit into the organisation and its culture.

The interview is also your opportunity to gather information about the job, the organisation, and future career opportunities to figure out if the position and work environment are right for you.

Most employers do not hire people based on merit alone. Personality, confidence, enthusiasm, a

Making a success of job interview

By Olu Oyeniran

positive outlook, and excellent interpersonal and communication skills count heavily in the selection process.

After your cover letter and résumé, the interview is your best opportunity to wow the employerregardless of your background and experience. To do this, use every possible strategy to develop effective interviewing skills. The best way is to prepare a selective presentation of your background, thoughtful answers to potential interview questions, well-researched questions about the organisation, and an effective strategy to market yourself.

Also consider your career goals and what the available job offers so that you can discuss both of these topics with employers. Interviewing is a skill that improves and becomes easier with practice.

Check with your school career center or your local Employment Service office to see if it offers workshops and individual videotaped mock interviews for practice.

Research It is to your advantage to carefully research the job and the

organisation. There are many ways to do this. You can request printed materials from the employer, such as annual reports and job descriptions. This is an entirely appropriate request, so don’t hesitate to make it. Use your library and career center resources.

Ask colleagues, friends, and faculty about the organisation, and about any personal contacts at the organisation they might have.

Look at the organisation’s home page. Knowing about the job will help you prepare a list of your qualifications so that you can show, point by point, why you are the best candidate.

Practice, practice, practice Prepare a succinct, clear answer to each of the questions in the interview questions section. Practice answering questions with a friend, or in front of a mirror. Ask your friend to give you constructive criticism on your speaking style, mannerisms, and poise. As you practice, avoid colloquialisms, such as “like” and “you know.”

Make sure you don’t script all your answers-you’ll sound as though you’re reading cue cards! It’s important to prepare yourself for talking with complete strangers.

Find out the logistics of the interview The more you know, the more focused your answers will be. Find out when the interview is scheduled, what to expect during it, and how long you will be there. Also find out if you will be talking to just one person, or to several.

Be prompt and professional Always arrive early. If you don’t know where the organisation is located, call for exact directions in advance. Leave some extra time for any traffic, parking, or unpredictable events. If you are running late, call right away and let someone know. The best time to arrive is approximately 5 - 10 minutes early.

Give yourself the time to read your résumé one more time, to catch your breath, and to be ready for the interview. Once you’re at the office, treat everyone you encounter with respect. Be pleasant to everyone as soon as you walk in the door.

Dress for success Wear a professional business suit.

This point cannot be emphasised

enough. First impressions are extremely important in the interview process. Women should avoid wearing too much jewelry or make up. Men should avoid flashy suits or wearing too much cologne. It is also important that you feel comfortable.

While a suit is the standard interview attire in a business environment, if you think it is an informal environment, call before and ask.

Regardless, you can never be overdressed if you are wearing a tailored suit.

Be organised Carry a portfolio notepad or at the very least a manila file folder labeled with the employer’s name.

Bring extra résumés and have the names, addresses and phone numbers of references, in case the employer asks. Also, bring a list of questions for the employer. You may refer to your list of questions to be sure you’ve gathered the information you need to make a decision. Do not be preoccupied with taking notes during the interview.

• To be continued next week Olu Oyeniran is the Lead Consultant, EkiniConsult & Assoiciates.

Website: www.jobsearchhow.com E-mail: oluoyeniran@yahoo.com Tel 08083843230 (SMS Only).

45

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

THE CEO

The National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) was established two years ago to build a sustainable manpower base for the power sector.

Its DirectorGeneral, Reuben Okeke, in this interview with EMEKA UGWUANYI, Assistant Editor, lists the institute’s plans for realising stable power supply.

• Okeke

‘We are reengineering power sector’ W

HAT are the achievements of this institute?

NAPTIN was two years old on March 23, this year; and we have achieved much. One of our mandates is to ensure that we upgrade the skills of the personnel in the power sector. It is a very big challenge, because for 16 to 20 years, there has not been any structured training in the sector, so, many workers, both technical and non-technical, have not been trained at all. Therefore, we started by bridging the gap. We embarked on what we call ‘intervention courses.’ Intervention courses are courses that impact strictly on sustenance of power when the power is there.

How has this intervention changed the course of events?

The human factors that contribute to power failure and the rate of accidents, which we have in the network, are being tackled headon. From the outset to March this year, we have carried out training in almost all the courses that would help us to achieve what our mandate requires us to do.

The number of workers (supervisors to craftsmen), which we have given structured

training is about 2,710. We trained them in ensuring that the lines do not snap. Craftsmen, linesmen, cable jointers and fitters constitute the majority of the 2710 personnel we have trained.

We have also trained electrical systems’ operators. They are found in the transmission sector. They ensure, 24/7, that when power is produced, it is sustained in the national grid. They switch on and off the grid. They determine which of the generating plants will bring whatever megawatts into the grid at a given time.

Electrical system operators look at the meters and distribute the loads to end-users. Within these two years, we have taken a few of them, about 70, to man the transmission stations. We have taken 10 of them to one of the institutes in the United Kingdom, the Eon Academy in Nottingham, for two weeks training.

Eon Training Academy is one of the places we go, to get our people trained because we identify with its best practices and our people will get the kind of training that suits the Nigerian environment at the institute and a lot will be achieved because we had spon-

sorship from them.

Considering the magnitude of energy required, do you think the number the institute has trained is enough to fix and maintain the system?

Within the two years, we have also trained others at NAPTIN. We recognise that those that impart this training to the workers have to be trained as well, so we have sent about 18 of our own trainers to Israel – Israel Electric Corporation Training Centre, where they spent two weeks.

They were trained in what we call, pedagogical training.The Israelis will be coming to Nigeria to spend four weeks to train more trainers that will impart more knowledge to the workforce in the power sector.

Within the two years, we have taken 80 engineers from the three sections of the power sector – generation, transmission and distribution to the National Power Training Institute of India. Each of these sections spent four weeks in India. In India we have exactly the kind of Institute we want to build, but they have been established since 1965.

We took these engineers there under the sponsorship of the World Bank. We were

sponsored by the World Bank under its loan scheme.

We started that since November last year and the last set finished in February this year. We took 14 of the marketers, as well to India.

We are trying to enter into partnership with them in order to stop sending people there since we are building our own. The Indians will be here in June and will spend four weeks with us to enable us finalise arrangement on the partnership and how we will do it.

Within these two years, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IUC Training Centre, apart from the trainers, which they trained for us. We are trying to enter into agreement with them also because we don’t want to have all our eggs in one basket. So we are looking for Institutes that will come to help us to develop the training capacity needed in the power sector.

Are you also planning to increase the space for training and facilities?

Within these two years, we have acquired, • Continued on page 46

46

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

THE CEO

‘We are reengineering power sector’ • Continued from page 45

through the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), 106,000 square metres of land in Idu Industrial Estate. We have just finished evaluating the expression of interests (EOIs), which we received from 59 architectural firms. In that very location, 10.69 hectares, which has been given to us by the government, we intend to develop a stateof-the-art training institute.

In sustaining the power sector’s generation, transmission and distribution, capacity building is the key because the only three things that can make this thing happen is fuel, infrastructure and the workforce. As far as we are concerned, we are trying to put a foundation for the future.

We are talking of nuclear engineering right now. The government is identifying with nuclear power station, people have to be trained, we are talking of renewable energy, people have to be trained, we are talking of increasing the energy to 25,000MW, people have to be trained. So our Institute is really on a right path.

One of the seemingly intractable challenges of ensuring stable power supply, according to PHCN, are the technical and non-technical losses in the system. What plans do you have to address them?

On what we call aggregate technical and commercial losses, United States Trade and Development Agency USTDA) and the government have entered into an agreement.

I went to Washington to sign the agreement with USTDA, an arm of the United States Government. The USTDA will come to Nigeria and pick three distribution companies, including Ikeja, Eko and Abuja, to carry out a study on how to use the IT technology to reduce technical and commercial losses in the system.

Once we are able to reduce these losses, even by 10 percent, the efficiency of the power system will improve and the revenue that will be generated from it will be so much because the power supply will improve substantially.

So this agreement that we have signed with USTDA, is very imperative for the achievement of government’s aspiration in the power sector. In fact, the project could have started since January this year, but we are yet to award the contract.

Can you explain what technical and commercial losses are?

When people complain of low voltage (candle-like light), you see those very long lines, might be far from the source of generation or supply. One of the things that is responsible for low voltage is that, you are very far away, and for the light to reach that place, you are losing a lot of power through the line, that is technical losses. When you open your feeder pillar, you see a glow in the night, that is responsible for technical losses. If you aggregate all of them in the distribution network, it is about 16 per cent.

For commercial losses, there are many people using electricity in Nigeria that are not paying for it.

Some are stealing it, the welders and even residential consumers, those ones are called commercial losses. If you aggregate all of these, you will have almost 40-45 percent and nobody can survive on that.

That you generate 100 units of electricity, which costs you so much, and out of that 100 units, you cannot account for about 55 units, is very discouraging, not just in power business but in any other business.

So this very company we men-

tioned (USTDA), which is an arm of the United States Government, that is one way they want to contribute in helping the Nigerian Government to improve the power sector so that by the time we generate 100 units, we should be able to use the 100 units and account for it.

How much will the project cost?

The project will cost about $666,000, which they (USTDA) will expend to come and study these three distribution companies and make recommendations on what should be done and also train through NAPTIN the staff that will apply this technology in reducing the losses we have in the system.

Will the institute have branches in other parts of the country or will it just be in Abuja alone?

NAPTIN has created a lot of awareness among the players in the industry. Before, nobody recognises training, nobody makes budget for training, but now the majority of companies we have in the power sector, even industries that operate the captive generation, are asking us to train their staff.

We have renovated all physical infrastructure within the seven training centres the PHCN has, which have become part of the institute. They are practical testimonials for anyone to see. We have also built three new regional training centres within the period. The Jos regional training centre is the most recent. It was commissioned on March 24, by the Minister of Power.

The Jos centre existed before but in a rented apartment. Currently, we stay in our building in Jos. Previously, no training school existed in the whole of southeast, but within this period, we have built a world class regional training centre at Oji in Oji River, Enugu State, which will be rolled into operation shortly.

We have another one, which will be completed by the end of this month in Kano. We have to spread this to be able to capture people, so they don’t need to travel far away to receive training in the power sector. If you go to these three locations alongside our existing six regional centres you will discover we have really achieved so much.

How is your funding bone?

The present administration has given us a lot of support through the Minister of Power. The budget allocated for the Institute in the appropriation of 2009 and 2010 we have utilised. We want to ensure that training in capacity building in the power sector is close to the people so that in no distant time, people will not be travelling out again for training, instead people will be coming from across the world to obtain this training here in Nigeria especially at our main campus which will be built at Idu. Our head office is in a rented apartment and we are giving ourselves a target that by the time rent will be due for renewal, we would have completed and be ready to move into our permanent headquarters in Idu.

• Okeke When is the Nigeria, US partnership taking off?

Actually it is not a partnership, it is a grant. The United States Government through the USTDA gave the grant and we have signed that agreement that they are investing $666,000 in order to study how they can reduce these losses, making use of IT technology and they will train Nigerians on how to do it.

We signed that agreement in September last year, but the processes of awarding the contract because the people who will do this are coming from the United States. The advert was done in the United States. We have now advertised due process and have selected the company that will do it and we have to get a no-objection letter from USTDA before it will commence.

The United States company – ESIKEMA, will come to Nigeria this month so that we can ink the agreement and we send it to USTDA after which they will give us a noobjection letter and the project will commence. It is expected that this project will be completed and ready for implementation within two years. The two years started from the date we signed the agreement. So we expect that by last quarter of 2012, we would have completed the project.

Why is the US company using NAPTIN? Why NAPTIN is being used is that we are going to replicate what the US company will do in these three successor companies in the remaining eight successor companies.

The Israelites are coming to Nigeria to train the trainers, when will this take place?

Actually they have trained 18 of

our trainers. The 18 trainers went to Israel in February and spent two weeks. But 18 are not enough considering the challenges we have and the number of people that will be involved. So they will use this 18 as multipliers to survive. They watch them, see how they will train others. We have already advertised and we are getting more trainers for the system especially those who are already in the power sector and in the PHCN. We have advertised and we have almost 200 would-be trainers from which we will select, have applied. They are coming in August. They would have been here earlier but for the elections. We have agreed they will come and spent one month here in Nigeria to train more trainers working with those 18 people they trained to train others. The instructors will be for generation, transmission and distribution and for non-technical activities as well.

What plans does the institute have for manufacturing of power equipment in-country?

That is not within our mandate.

We do not have any hand in manufacturing but the thing is that we collaborate with original equipment manufacturers (OEN). Those that manufacture the turbines such as General Electric (GE) or other equipment like the high voltage circuit breakers such as Siemens.

We collaborate with them because we send our people to their training schools abroad to be trained on those equipment but on our own, we don’t get involved in manufacturing of power system equipment. Ours is to train people on how to use the equipment. We collaborate with OEN because we send our people to their factory

‘We have renovated all physical infrastructure within the seven training centres the PHCN has, which have become part of the institute. They are practical testimonials for anyone to see. We have also built three new regional training centres within the period. The Jos regional training centre is the most recent. It was commissioned on March 24, by the Minister of Power’

overseas because these equipment are not manufactured here in Nigeria.

We also plan to procure two vital equipment – a simulator and electrical engineering training laboratory, which will tremendously help us to attain our objectives of producing very efficient workforce that can compete in any part of the world.

What are these simulators and the electrical engineering training laboratory used for?

A Simulator is an equipment or collection of various systems that can be used to mimic a complete live 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 exact flow of electricity from the point of manufacture to the consumer can be simulated using this equipment in the Laboratory.

Many fault conditions or system live 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 without interfering with the real grid network itself. Most importantly is ability of hands-on training of power engineers without interrupting power to the costumers.

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.

Both equipment with 20 workstations each will take six months to manufacture and when commissioned first quarter of 2012 they will be the only one in the West African region. With the first quarter release of FGN 2011 appropriation, NAPTIN will proceed to go ahead with the opening of the LC to enable TEC equipment of UK and Lucas Nuell of Germany respectively commence production.

Will the institute send people to be trained on how to use the equipment?

On the simulator and engineering training laboratory, we are sending five of our engineers to each of the projects that will be with them while they are manufacturing and train them because these are sophisticated equipment, world class equipment that are designed to train, so our people (NAPTIN instructors) engineers, will be sent to Germany. The engineering training laboratory is coming from Germany and the simulator is coming from United Kingdom. It is in the contract that those people will come, work and train our people with it and work with us for two weeks.

You said something about power training policy, what about that?

There is nothing like power training policy existing anywhere now.

And if you 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. The Minister of State for Power, Nuhu Wya has directed us to assist in developing a national power training policy. Now we have done this and submitted it and there will be a national debate on it by all stakeholders. We shall get it published once we get his approval. The first draft has been made and we used very experienced consultants who helped us in developing our five-year business plan under the DFID, CORE International, they helped us to develop a national power training institute and national power training policy.

The first draft of National Power Training Policy for the sector has been approved by the Minister of State (Power) to be made public.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

47

CAPITAL MARKET

Investors stake N3.57b on bank shares

B

ANKING stocks led the pack at the Exchange last week with 480 million units’ worth N3.57 billion in 10,586 deals. Investors in the industry had exchanged 450 million units valued at N3.73 billion in 10,529 deals a fortnight ago.

The banking sector which controlled 35.82 per cent of the total activities at the Exchange last week, suffered a drop in value compared with 50.49 per cent the penultimate week, the value of money spent on banking stocks in perc ent stood at 52.26 per cent.

The Insurance sector retained its first runner up with 149.18 million units worth N 138 million in 828 deals.

On average evaluation, the Insurance sub-sector accounted for approximately 10.47 per cent of the total activity and 1.91 per cent of the total funds invested at the Exchange during the week under review.

Overall activities at the exchange last week ended on a bearish note.

The worth of activities last week stood at N6.83 billion with 1.34 billion shares traded,,as against the 907.70 million shares worth N 7.39 billion a fortnight ago. The total amount invested last week dropped by 7.57 per cent compare to our observation in the penultimate week.

To support this, the Market capitalization dropped to N8.13 trillion last week from the N 8.23 trillion it attained a fortnight ago.

The All Share Index also declined to 25,428.35 from 25,759.72, representing a 1.28 per cent decrease on weekly assessment. The braIndex® also fell by 2.36 per cent.

Shares of Zenith Bank Plc, First Bank of Nigeria Plc and Access Bank Plc were the toast of investors as they were actively traded in terms of volume and total investment.

In terms of transactional volume, the Telecommunications sub-sector’s performance represented an improvement of about 1.06 per cent last week. The total weekly value of stocks in this sub-sector stood at N 73.20 million.

All the three market indicators fell last week, showing that overall activities in terms of volume and fund invested reduced noticeably.

The return of both benchmarks less than two index point and this was attributable to the recent policy shift within the Exchange corridor.

On a year-to-date basis, both benchmarks - the NSE All-Share Index and the braIndex® - showed gains of 2.87 per cent and 3.54 per cent.

Stock Market Sectoral Performance Investors in the shares of Zenith Bank Plc exchanged 66.26 million units in 1124 deals worth N 0.99 billion. The average number of deals remained well over 224 deals per day during the week. First Bank of Nigeria Plc was second with 51.01 million shares worth N0.68 billion.

In the Insurance sub-sector, Goldlink Insurance Plc led with 71.09 million shares worth N35.54 million.

The sectoral volume amounted to almost 149.18 million units and constituted over 10.47 per cent of the sector’s trading volume.

Companies’ Appraisal Zenith Bank Plc was th most active in the Banking sub-sector, followed by the Access Bank Plc. Both firms closed the week at N1.67 billion in 3,226 deals apiece.

Among the most active companies in the Insurance sub-sector were Goldlink Insurance Plc, Custodian Insurance Plc, N.E.M Insurance Co. (Nig.) Plc, Continental ReInsurance Plc, Staco Assurance Plc and Lasaco Assurance Plc. In the Conglomerates industry, apart from Transactional Corporation Plc, Unilever Nigeria Plc and P.Z. Cussons Plc which claimed the very

Table 1: A Five-Day Moving Average Data of the Market Indices Change(%) Average Weekly Depth (

Market Capitalisation (%) 0.66)

All-Share Index(%) (0.71)

Year To Date (YTD)

3.07

3.02

3.56

Month To Date (MTD)

1.45

1.48

1.03

Week To Date(WTD) Values

(1.21) All-Share Index

(1.28)

(2.36)

braIndex®

8.13

25,428.35

Market Cap(trillion Naira)

As of closing on June 16, 2011

Average Average (1.15)

16.53

Source: NSE & bra Limited Table 2: Stock Market Summary Statistics for the week ending June 16, 2011.

Period Market Capitalization (Trillion) 09/06/2011 8.23 10/06/2011 8.21 13/06/2011 8.18 14/06/2011 8.16 15/06/2011 8.14 16/06/2011 8.13 Source: NSE & Bra Limited

All-Share Index (Base Points) 25,759.72 25,696.46 25,604.85 25,533.68 25,471.59 25,428.35

braIndex® (Base Points) 16.93 16.78 16.80 16.61 16.57 16.53

Table 3: Statistics on Weekly Sectoral Contribution Sectors Banking Conglomerates Telecommunication Food Beverages and Tobacco Insurance Source: bra Limited

% of Total Trading Net Worth 50.47% 2.67% 0.23% 11.34% 2.57%

Trading Net Worth(in Naira Millions ) 3,730.57 198.83 17.36 839.37 192.00

Figure 1a: The All Share Index and braIndex® Performance at a Glance

Source: BRA Computation

Source: BRA Computation

active companies in the sector in terms of trading. UAC of Nigeria Plc and AG Leventis Plc also contributed immensely to the total trading volume of the sector last week. The overall sector worth stood at N189.39 million.

The Telecommunications industry was also active in terms of the market value. Daarcomms Plc, Chams Plc, Starcomms Plc, Multiverse Plc, and MTI Plc were some of the most active stocks in the sub-sector.

Last week, shareholders of Nigerian Bottling Company Plc, ETI Plc, Presco Plc and Cadbury Nigeria Plc saw the value of their investments earning profit by almost two per cent, while investors in Oando Plc, UAC of

Nigeria Plc and Stabic IBTC Plc made less than 2 per cent loss on a daily basis.

The weekly stock market analysis reports the current position of the outlook of the stock of the companies listed on the Exchange and the aggregate market.

The NSE closed the 24th trading week on a bearish note. The movement supports our statement last week as we suggested strides towards a bearish stand. The expected improvement may, however, be small in the coming week.

Historical analysis of trading volume shows that in the new week, the Banking, Insurance and Food, Beverages and Tobacco stocks are

likely to continue to be the toast of investors.

POINTS TO NOTE: The weekly stock market analysis reports the current position of the outlook of the stock of the companies listed on the Exchange and the aggregate market. The NSE closed the 24th trading week on a bearish note.

The movement supports our statement last week as we suggested strides towards a bearish stand. The expected improvement may, however, be small in the coming week.

Historical analysis of trading volume shows that in the new week, the Banking, Insurance and Food, Beverages and Tobacco stocks are

likely to continue to be the toast of investors.

DISCLAIMER This report has been prepared for information purposes only and for private use. Whilst reasonable care had been taken in its production, bra Limited does not guarantee the correctness of its contents nor does the company accept liability for any loss arising from a reliance on its contents. Kindly note that our suggested recommendations and other tactical actions are based on bra Limited best estimates which are guided by generally available information and our Proprietary Tools. This is not an invitation or a solicitation to deal in any stocks and we do not guarantee the future outcome of such recommendation.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

48

CAPITAL MARKET Bond and Money Market Review

I

NVESTORS increased their investment in the bond market, as capitalisation went up by 0.85%.

The volume of market transaction increased showing further improvement in responsed recorded fortnight ago. The stock market on the other hand ended activities on a bearish stand last week, to replicate what was observed a fortnight ago.

Market capitalisation edged to N1.775 trillion to end last week’s transaction, as against the N1.763 trillion recorded in the penultimate week.

The index direction indicated that the market performance and bond prices showed a complete turnaround from the previous weeks’ impressions.

The positive signal is as a result of recent investment trends that enhanced investor confidence resulting in improved activity.

In relative terms, the market appreciated, as the prices of most long term instruments rose. For instance, the FGN bond Index began the week at 1,452.24 and closed at 1,462.80 points, rising by 1,052 basis points as against a drop of 621 basis points a fortnight ago.

It ended the week at 1,462.80 points.

Average index stayed at 1,453.66 points, compared with 1,450.18 points the previous week. There was therefore a magnificent increase on the average evaluation by 3.4 basis points.

The 30-day, 60-day and 90-day indices dropped by 9 bps, 24 bps and 28 bps to 11.21 per cent, 12.01 per cent and 12.33 per cent respectively.

Among the 15 traded bonds, 12 had their prices increasing in the weekly movement while two remained unchanged.

Other categories witnessed stumbled prices. The top price gainer was the 20-year bond, 12.49 per cent FGN Nov 2028, which appreciated by 90 basis points to close at 113.00. However, the 3-year bond, 10.50 per cent FGN May 2012 dropped slightly by 61 basis points to end the week at 97.16.

Figure 1 illustrates the six-month change in the bra FGN bond Index.

The bra FGN bond index is a market value weighted index and is designed to measure the performance of the Nigerian investment-grade fixed income market.

Although the index remained flat during most of January and February as seen, it recorded a sharp drop in March as investor outlook turned negative in the bond market in anticipation of elections.

The FGN index fell 108 points in March losing roughly seven per cent of its value. We observe the stabilisation of the declining trend in April and a gradual recovery in May. The index increased by 1.1 per cent in May recovering some of its losses since mid March.

Last week, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) sold foreign exchange worth $400 million to authorized dealers at the Wholesale Dutch Auction System (WDAS) window as against $400 million a fortnight ago.

The dealers had demanded $467.68 million before the auction while the actual amount offered stood at $400 million.

Investors in treasury bills also parted with N120.33 billion on three financial instruments maturing between three and 12 months. The bonds comprised the N29.6 billion (91-day), N40.6 billion (182-day) and N50.0 billion (364-day) tenors at the stop rates of 8.62 per cent, 9.39 per cent and 10.99 per cent respectively.

The public subscriptions were N58.017 billion, N74.017 billion and N178.773 billion for the 91-day, 182day and 364-day coupons.

The over-the-counter bond market notched up by 2.59 per cent last week, yielding N160.43 billion with a turnover of 197.8 million units in 1,301 deals.

The amount compared favourably with the N157.84 billion invested on

Capitalisation rises by 0.85% Table 4: Key Statistics of Market’s Stock Performance as of June 16, 2011 S/N

Company Name

Share Price Gain (‘N)

% of Shares’ Gain by Investors

TOP FIVE GAINERS BY PRICE 01

Nigerian Bottling Co. Plc

42.50

1.50%

02

ETI Plc

15.00

0.60% 0.29%

03

Presco Plc

8.00

04

Cadbury Nigeria Plc

17.90

0.24%

05

Okomu Oil Plc

16.00

0.20%

Oando Plc

51.00

-1.40%

02

U.A.C of Nigeria Plc

39.01

-0.79%

03

Stanbic IBTC Plc

9.69

-0.51%

04

Longman Plc

6.27

-0.33%

05

Interlink Plc

4.90

-0.25%

TOP FIVE LOSERS BY PRICE 01

Source: NSE and bra Limited Indicator Turnover Value Deals FGN Bond Index Market Capitalization Index Weekly Returns (%) Index Year-to-Date Returns (%) 1-Month Returns (%) 3-Month Returns (%) 12-Month Returns (%)

CurrentWeek 197.8 million N160.43 billion 1,301 1,462.80 N1.775 trillion 1.77 5.21 0.66 5.28 18.49

PreviousWeek 192.8 million N157.84 billion 1,296 1,452.57 N1.763 trillion 1.73 5.20 0.64 5.24 18.40

% Change 2.59 1.64 0.70 0.85 2.31 0.19 3.12 0.76 0.48

Source: BRA Figure 1: FGN Bond Index

Source: FMDA Primary Market Auction

Figure 2: Nigerian T-bill Primary Market Auctions

Source: Financial Markets Dealers Association

192.8 million units in 1,296 deals a fortnight ago. The activity was boosted by the 20-year bond, due in July 2030 with 10.0 per cent coupon rate.

It traded 41.95 million units valued at N31.30 billion in 316 deals.

This was followed by the three-year bond, 5.5 per cent FGN Feb 2013 which traded 33.55 million units valued at N30.04 billion in 281 deals.

Sixteen of the available 34 FGN bonds were traded during the week, compared with 12 the previous week.

In May there was no issuance of new NTBs in the primary market

yet there were two issues of OMO bills in the fourth week of the month with subscription rates well above the amount offered. The true yield on the four-month NTB was 9.37 per cent and on the 6-month one was 9.84 per cent.

In the mean time, the Federal Government issued two FGN bonds in May both with 35 billion Naira face values.

The yield on these three and five year maturity new issues were 11.04 per cent and 12.05 per cent. These rates suggest an increase in investor demand for the FGN debt since in April the three-year FGN bonds yielded slightly higher at 12.14 per cent and the fiveyear ones had a yield of 13.19 per cent.

Figure 23 shows the volume of the NTB and FGN Auctions in the Primary Market.

Nigerian Yield Curves We observe an increase in the the short-end of the Nigerian Interbank Treasury Bills True Fixing Yield (NITTY) curve in May compared to April and the beginning of the year.

The yield on the 30-day T-bill increased to 6.83 per cent up more than 100 bp compared to 5.25 per cent in April but relatively less than the record yield of 8.03 in March.

The yield on the one-year T-bill stood at 10.52 per cent down from

11.74 per cent a month earlier. This is substantially higher than the yields seen at the end of February when the onr-year NITT Yield stood at 8.98 per cent.

Figure three shows the NITT Yield curves for the last three months. The increase in the short-end of the yield curve as well as the drop in the longend suggests investors’ appetite for holding short-term debt has moderated while 6-month and 1-year bills have become more attractive.

We believe this is a sign of improving political risk conditions in Nigeria.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

49

PERSONAL FINANCE

Email: taofad2000@yahoo.co.uk

Investor’s Worth

The N476m blue chip portfolio of Babalaje

B

LUE chip multinationals prefer Chief Olusegun Osunkeye and he apparently prefers blue chip stocks.

Chief Osunkeye has over the years built reputation as a corporate governance icon in the Nigerian and international business circles.

He is evidently the mostsought after boardroom expert in Nigeria. From Nestle Nigeria to GlaxoSmithKline Consumers Nigeria (GSK) and Lafarge Wapco Cement Nigeria, Osunkeye chairs the boards of key sector-leading companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

His deep understanding of the inner workings of the blue chip multinationals has evidently enamoured Osunkeye to high-end equities of multinationals. Although multinational stocks are usually at the top-end of the pricing range and are also seldom available, Osunkeye holds significant shareholdings in these companies.

With an estimated worth of N476 million on the basis of publicly declared equities, Osunkeye holds the largest shareholding by any director on the board of Nestle Nigeria. His shareholding in Nestle Nigeria more than doubles the entire shareholding of the other share-holding directors with average yearly dividend income standing at about N3.8 million in the past two years.

With the bonus shares declared by Nestle Nigeria, Chief Osunkeye stands to increase his shareholding by 20 per cent or pocket some additional N24 million.

Chief Osunkeye built his largest nest egg in the healthcare company- GSK. With 1.25 per cent equity stake in GSK, Osunkeye’s worth in GSK is in three digits of millions of naira and his cash dividends have grown tremendously as GSK set new performance records year-onyear.

From about N9 million for 2009, cash dividends accrued from GSK investments rose to N14.4 million for 2010 business year.

Although his shareholding in Lafarge Wapco may appear inconsequential on the basis of statutorily requirements, Osunkeye’s 0.0034 per cent equity stake in the company represents a significant stake in terms of value and potential for returns.

A growth stock and longstanding nation builder, Lafarge Wapco’s massive investments and strategic sector gives a picture of sustainable returns and capital appreciation.

While his main investments are in blue chips, Chief Osunkeye has also made investments in penny stocks, showing dexterity as an asset manager by combining largely defensive value stocks with high-risk low-priced or penny stocks. As chairman of FTN Cocoa Processors Plc, Osunkeye’s eight-digit shareholding in the company brought in N770, 000 for the 2009 business year. He also serves on the board of Chams Plc, where he holds appreciable interest.

A fellow of the Institute of

•Continued from last week

W

•Osunkeye

Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Institute of Directors (IOD), Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) and Society of Corporate Governance Nigeria, Osunkeye chairs Nigeria chapter of the International Chamber of Commerce. A past president of the Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Osunkeye has contributed immensely to the development of entrepreneurship and education generally in Nigeria. In recognition of his outstanding worth as a role model, he was conferred with Doctor of Science Degree by the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (UNAAB).

He was also honoured by the national government with the prestigious national honour of Officer of the Order of Nigeria (OON). His traditional chieftaincy title of Babalaje of Egbaland, a highranking post, summarises his mettle as an investor and astute manager.

Ask a Broker

What is renunciation?

R

IGHTS issue statutorily entitles every share holder to benefit from the supplementary offer. As such, rights, or shares being offered under rights issue, are pre-allotted to shareholders on the basis of their shareholdings.

But with the understanding that not all shareholders may be interested or be in position to take up their allotted shares,

the company making the issue provides shareholders with a window to reject their allocations.

This is technically called renunciation, simply meaning that the shareholder renounces his entitlement for other to take up.

A letter of renunciation is usually attached to rights document for partial or full renun-

ciation. Partial renunciation occurs where the shareholder picks up a part of his allotment while full renunciation gives up the entire allotment.

With the window of opportunity provided by trading in rights on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), shareholders can trade their rights, which are usually priced at discount, at premium on the secondary market.

Ways and Means

Buying a new home with existing home

H

OUSING is a capital in tensive project that of ten time requires lifelong savings to achieve.

But with innovative financial products, low-income newcomers and existing homeowners can rest under their own roofs as well as build a good portfolio of real estate investments.

One of these financial products is the Stanbic IBTC Bank home Loans, a three-variety bouquet that meets the requirements of a just-starter as well as an avid property magnate.

The first of the three varieties is the mortgage finance for already completed house with valid titles.

The second variety known as equity release allows a property owner to borrow on the

•Sola David-Borha, MD Stanbic IBTC

back of his property so that he can buy or build another one.

Under the plan, Stanbic IBTC Bank gives as much as 80 per cent of the recent valuation of the house to enable the owner build or buy another house.

Besides, a house owner can use his house to borrow for other non-real estate businesses, subject to a ceiling to

Basics of personal financial planning (2)

be determined by the bank.

The third product under the Stanbic IBTC Bank Home Loans known as off plan building loan provides mortgage finance to anyone that wants to buy a house under construction.

With a deposit of 20 per cent of the cost of the project, the bank will provide the balance of 80 per cent to complete the project.

During the construction phase, the beneficiary will only pay interest on the loan and upon completion of the project; the outstanding balance will be converted into mortgage finance under the first product.

The bank only requires a proof of status as an employee or self-employed person with traceable cash flow for anyone to benefit from these products.

HEN it is usually the last element on the planning process, evaluation serves as the initial element or trigger for the next planning and most importantly leads to corrective measures that better guide the planner closer to the realisation of his objectives.

Atop the “10 Golden Rules of Becoming Wealthy” are two important cornerstones of successful financial planning: live within your means and save aggressively.

To achieve these two goals, it is important to control one’s incomes and expenditures, which is technically known as budgetary control. Budgetary control gives an individual the ability to manage his incomes and expenditures to achieve sustainable development.

A step-to-step approach to successful budgetary control starts with analysis of expenses into categories- recurrent and capital.

This analysis creates awareness in spending and enables the planner to manage his debts or deficits more efficiently.

This step is followed with outline of incomes and expenditures.

Incomes should contain both fixed incomes like salary and rentals as well as expected incomes. Incomes and expenditures statement should be lucid and detailed.

Budget and implementation Then comes the actual budget setting and implementation. Budget should take its cue from the overall personal finance goals and should be developmental in approach.

In other words, budget should aim at lifting the planner into the next level of development.

In typical high-flyer budget, expenditures can exceed incomes, stretching the planner to energise his critical thinking faculty to look for ways to bridge his deficits. It is imperative that once budget is made, the planner must exercise enough financial discipline to stick to budget and shun tendencies to turn into unguided spending.

However, budget could be reviewed to accommodate current exigencies. Budget review is different from unguided spending because

By Taofik Salako

it is a rational and deliberate process of change.

Risks management In the process of personal financial planning, every individual should take into consideration various risks that could mitigate realisation of his objectives. Risk management includes consideration for the risk appetite of an individual, social risks, political risks and economic risks such as interest rate and exchange rate risks.

One major way of hedging risks is to take relevant insurance policy to cover each undertaking. Insurance provides necessary cushions for assets and secures the insured against vagaries of natural and man-made happenings.

Personal finance advisors have enumerated eight vital points of wealth creation.

One, draw the purse strings by spending less than you make.

This enables you to build savings that could afford you advantage of lifechanging opportunities.

Secondly, know yourself, that is, let your passions drive your incomes.

This creates an unstoppable continuity of incomes that ends only with your death. This explains why many affluent persons still continue to work.

The third point is training, knowledge and education.

The importance of these are self-evident and cannot be over-emphasised. Wealth creation also relies on creating and sustaining multiple streams of income. In doing this, one can tap into formal education, personal talents,

‘The catch in financial leverage is that the reason for the leverage should outweigh the cost. Loans should only be procured on assets that generate incomes that far exceed the totality of principal and interest on loan. Lastly, learn to apply the principle of only assets buy luxuries’

goodwill and relationships.

Another principle is the concept of profitable ventures. One needs to constantly assess each endeavour with a view to determining inherent value derivable from it and competitive comparism of such yield to other alternatives besides, constantly seek opportunities to increase value.

Wealth creation is a dynamic and continuous process.

As environment changes and opportunities evolve, one must not be static in order not to join the pack of yesteryears. Today’s money growers may be quoted equities, tomorrow’s sure things may be fixed-income securities, and the other day’s enliveners may be real estate.

The watchword for success is to keep eyes on the changes and tap the opportunities as they arise. Then, make use of liability profitably. One major often-misconceived principle of wealth creation is borrowing or leverage. Many people see debts in the negative.

Meanwhile, borrowing or financial leverage is a chief wealth creation tool in the hands of the rich and corporate giants.

The catch in financial leverage is that the reason for the leverage should outweigh the cost. Loans should only be procured on assets that generate incomes that far exceed the totality of principal and interest on loan. Lastly, learn to apply the principle of only assets buy luxuries.

Long-lasting financial success depends on a strong foundation of income-generating assets and one must not plunge into unsustainable living by directing his incomes primarily to acquisition of personal luxuries such as cars, jewelries, wears and palatial homes without the primary solid structures of supporting investments and cash flows.

“The Richest Man in Babylon” sums up these in seven age-long words of wisdom: Start thy purse to fattening, control thy expenditure, make thy gold multiply, guard thy treasures from loss, make of thy dwelling a profitable investment, insure a future income, and increase thy ability to earn.

And more importantly, success lies with God. One’s ways and means must reflect his beliefs to truly attain lasting satisfaction.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

50

LABOUR Delta: Primary school teachers on strike

‘No special salary structure for media workers’

A

• NUJ: we’ll take it up with him

C

ONTRARY to the information at the disposal of media workers unions, there will be no special salary structure for media workers, Chief Richard Egbule, the chairman, National Incomes, Salaries and Wages Commission, has said.

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has said the statement is not in order. NUJ President, Mallam Mohammed Garba expressed surprise at the statement made by Egbule who led the management of the commission to congratulate Sen. Ayim Pius Ayim, on his appointment as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

Garba said the statement surprised him because when the NUJ visited Egbule, he was made to believe that the government would release a white paper on salaries of professionals, of which NUJ is one. He said a thought was even given to professionals who face

hazards in the course of carrying out their duties.

“NUJ members don’t observe weekends, they work round the clock, and face all sorts of danger while on duty. I am really surprised the chairman could say that.

We are going to take it up.”

Egbule, however, said the workers would be compensated.

“There will be no special salary for the media people but there is going to be a compensation, which we have all agreed that will also come to you,“ he said.

Egbule also announced that only junior workers on salary grade levels 01 to 06 would benefit from the N18, 000 recently approved by the National Assembly as minimum wage.

“We are already in the process of bringing to your office, sir, the recommendation of the commission that it concerns only the junior workers, 01 to 06.

“We have looked at all the har-

• President Goodluck Jonathan

• Garba

monised salary structures presently in the public service and only one is below that, which is the consolidated Public Salary Structure that covers the civil service“, he said.Egbule said though provision for the wage increase had been captured in the 2011 budget, the commission had worked out the implication, adding it would soon be submitted to the office of the SGF. Responding, Ayim noted that the issue of salaries and wage increase had dominated socio-political discussions in recent time.

The SGF pointed out that it was the desire of the government to move the economy into private sector and called on the commission to forward all outstanding issues on wage increase to his office for action.

He thanked the commission for the visit and assured his support to enable it succeed in its assignment.

Mr Yemisi Bamgbose, President of Radio, Television, Theatre Art Workers‘ Union (RATTWU) declined to react to Egbule’s comment.

NUPTE alleges anti-labour practices by Airtel

T

ELECOMMUNICATION workers, under the aegis of the National Union of Postal and Telecommunications Employees (NUPTE), have condemned alleged anti-labour practices by the Bharti Airtel telecommunication company.

Mr Sunday Al-Hassan, President of NUPTE, said the telecommunications company introduced unfavourable working conditions.

Bharti Airtel took over the management of Zain Nigeria following its purchase of the assets of Zain Africa.

Officials of Bharti Airtel are expected to rebrand the network to Airtel in October and invest $600 million (N90 billion) over a threeyear period to strengthen operations in the Nigerian market.

AL-Hassan said the union was not against the takeover of the

company by the Indian firm but was not pleased with the new management’s disposition.

He alleged that the management had increased the working hours and changed salary structures without consulting the union.

“The management of Airtel reviewed the condition of service of the workers and changed the working hours without negotiating with the union or con-

sidering some factors,’’ the unionist said.

He, however, noted that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company, Mr Deepak Srivastava, had agreed to meet with the union to avoid industrial crisis.

Airtel is the fifth company that took over Zain Nigeria since it started operations in 2000 as Econet Wireless.

FTER the expiration of 14days ultimatum given the Delta State Government by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in the state over non-payment of N17,000 harmonised salary of primary school teachers, the teachers have commenced an indefinite strike.

NUT, Delta State, rose from its emergency State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) last Wednesday in Asaba, directing the teachers to stay away from work until the government meets their demand.

The communiqué, signed by the union’s Secretary, Mr Eddy Uloho, stated that the action was based on the government’s nonchalant attitude toward the welfare of the teachers.

It noted that the action was called after reviewing the 14-days ultimatum issued to the government on May 17, over some vexatious issues bordering on the welfare of the teachers.

The issues, the communique added, included the non-payment of N17,000 harmonised and consolidated salary structure to primary school teachers in the state.

It also includes the withdrawal of the negotiated Teachers’ Peculiar Allowance (TPA) from their monthly emolument.

The communique also stated that teachers in secondary schools would join the strike after two weeks.

It noted that “it was a pity that after additional seven days of grace to the government, no meaningful progress was made in addressing the issues.’’

It further stated that the SWECin-session considered the Delta Government’s action as “a total disregard for the welfare of teachers and an ill wind for the educational development of the state.’’

It, however, urged teachers in the state to remain calm and wait for further directives from the state NUT.

ICEM, chemical employers begin dialogue

T

• Governor Aregbesola

T

HE Osun State Government has commenced negotiations with labour leaders on the payment of the N18, 000 minimum wage to workers.

Mr Abiodun Akintaro, Permanent Secretary, Osun Ministry of Finance disclosed this to reporters in Osogbo last Wednesday while giving a breakdown of the state’s 2011 budget.

Akintaro said Governor Rauf Aregbesola had promised to deal with welfare of workers, especially their emolument.

He disclosed the governor was already meeting with labour leaders on how matters relating to the new minimum wage would be tackled without acrimony.

• Former Labour Minister, Chief Emeka Wogu

Osun begins talks on minimum wage The permanent secretary urged workers to be patient and optimistic as the state government would soon come up with a policy decision on the new wage.

Akintaro did not disclose details of the ongoing negotiations, but he said the state government would not disappoint workers.

On the state budget, which amounts to N102.86 billion, Akintaro said the appropriation would focus on economic transfor-

mation of the state.

He remarked that the transformation would aim at addressing poverty, hunger, unemployment and unhealthy living.

Akintaro added that it would also strive to promote functional education and enhance communal peace.

The permanent secretary said the government would enhance the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), currently put at between N400,000 and N1billion monthly.

“The government has approved the appointment of a tax consultant, Messrs Infiniti Sement, which has a proven track record of efficient performance.

“The current administration is also determined to reposition the Internal Revenue Service towards greater efficiency through the recruitment of qualified personnel,” he said.

According to him, efforts will be made to reduce leakages in the tax collection system in line with the new IGR policies of the state government.

“Agencies of government are expected to double their efforts and be aggressive in the drive towards generating more revenue,” he added.

HE International Labour Organisation (ILO) will be organising a tripartite meeting on Promoting Social Dialogue on Restructuring and its Effects on Employment in the Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industries in Geneva in October this year.

Participants at the recent International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers’Union (ICEM), and the International Chemical Employers’ Labour Relations Committee (LRC)’s jointly organised first “Global Social Dialogue Meeting in the Chemical Industry” in Geneva also said that the ILO will hold a Global Dialogue Forum on initiatives to promote decent and productive work in chemicals at the same venue between 2012-2013.

The meeting fully supported ILO meetings on developing social dialogue in the industry.

Participants discussed cooperation framework, principal topics, and follow-up for developing global social dialogue in the chemical industry. The meeting also took up the globally celebrated “International Year of Chemistry – 2011” with a role and contribution in social dialogue. Following deliberations, the meeting agreed to release a joint ICEM and LRC statement called the “Geneva Declaration.”

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

51

LABOUR Fed Govt moves to enforce local employment content

T

HE Federal Government has said all memoranda submitted to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on procurement contracts by MDAs must now indicate local employment content implications.

Vice President Namadi Sambo disclosed this in Abuja while declaring open a two-day stakeholders workshop.

The workshop was organised by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on labour-based approach to government operations.

Sambo, who was represented by Mr Anthony Ozodinobi, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, also announced government’s public works programme in states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to combat unemployment.

“This programme will involve the engagement of private sector contractors to implement simple labour-intensive public works in areas such as the renovation and maintenance of buildings in schools, hospitals and primary health care centres,’’ he said.

The vice president said the programme would also include road rehabilitation and maintenance works, urban sanitation and solid waste disposal as well as erosion control and community works projects.

He said it was imperative to adopt the method in the development of infrastructure as a means of investing in income and employment generating activities.

Sambo said security challenges confronting some of the states could be addressed through the adoption and adaptation of labour-based approach.

He urged states and local governments to adopt at least 50 per cent labour-based approach in the construction of rural roads and other infrastructure as a means of reducing unemployment and poverty.

Sambo said available statistics showed that over 70 per cent of roads in the country were amenable using the method.

“I will implore government agencies and other key operators of this approach to carry out further sensitisation and mobilisation of the communities on the benefits of the method,” he said.

He charged the workshop to come up with a “national framework to ensure the propagation and sustainability of labour-based approaches in government.”

Earlier, Malam Abubakar Mohammed, the Director-General of National Directorate of Employment (NDE), had said creating employment to reduce poverty required a multisectoral approach and involvement of a wide range of stakeholders.

Mohammed said the task of employment generation had become more challenging and required a dynamic, innovative and scientific approach as well as intervention.

“This is why the NDE considers it important to create this forum for major stakeholders, policy makers and experts in infrastructure provision to gather, exchange ideas and experiences and agree on the appropriateness of labour-based technology,” he said.

The workshop has as theme: Mainstreaming Labour-Based Technology in Government Operations.

SON to engage 500 marshals

T

HE Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) said it will engage the services of 500 Standard Marshals to tackle the problems of substandard products.

Chief Executive, SON, Mr Joseph Odumodo, said that the marshals would assist staff of SON in addressing the menace of fake goods.

He said SON decided to embark on the initiative because the organisation had limited workers to conduct its statutory roles.

“As much as we plan to employ more hands, we will also engage the marshals to make meaningful impact as soon as possible,” he said.

Odumodu said the modality for engagement of the marshals was being worked out.

“We are going to train them on how to identify substandard products and to act effectively,” he said.

He said those that would be engaged would be persons of impeccable character and pedigree.

Odumodu urged members of the public to report cases of substandard products to enable the organisation prosecute the sellers.

Obasanjo challenges UN, governments on job creation • Says governments in Africa have not been good job creators

F

ORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has challenged the United Nations (UN), International Labour Organisa-

tion (ILO) and African governments to partner in the creation of jobs in Africa.

He also noted that the governments in Africa had not been good job creators.

Obasanjo, speaking at a panel discussion on building sustainable societies on the sideline of the ongoing 100th Session of the International Labour Conference, last Tuesday in Geneva, said the partnership would avert crisis of unemployment in Africa.

“I want to underline this as a situation that must signal red alert for us in Africa; I am worried, I am apprehensive about unemployment in our continent. Ît is not being taken as seriously as it should be.

“I give the example of my own country Nigeria, we now have 120 universities.

When I was growing up and I had to go to university, there was only one university.

“With polytechnics and other tertiary in-

• Obasanjo

stitutions, we have more than 200. We have over 600, 000 graduates every year and we are not creating 100, 000 jobs for the gradu-

ates.

“The youths can be ignited anytime, and now we have about 165 million people, we must be talking of jobs, jobs, jobs, and jobs, ‘’he said.

He said if the unemployment situation in African countries was allowed to continue the consequences would be more severe than what is being witnessed in the Middle East.

The former President said if the situation was allowed to continue and given the awareness of the youth “none of us the leaders would have a place to hide.”

He said governments in Africa had not been good job creators hence they must provide a conducive environment for the private sector to thrive and create jobs.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the meeting was organised by ‘Club de Madrid’ an independent non-profit organisation composed of 80 democraticallyelected former presidents and prime ministers from 56 countries.

Bank workers condemn financial guarantor policy

S

ENIOR workers in financial institutions have described as repugnant and anti-labour, a recent directive by some banks mandating their employees to provide financial guarantors.

The workers, under the aegis of the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI), issued a statement signed by their President, Mr Sunday Olusoji Salako.

The statement states that this new policy, stipulates that such a financial guarantor must have twice the yearly income of the employee being guaranteed.

The implication, according to ASSBIFI, is that if an employee’s yearly income is N8 million, the financial guarantor must be a person with a yearly income of N16 million. The union also said the policy requires that such a guarantor must provide a notarised statement of account with a specimen signature, which the current employer bank must verify. In the alternative, such a guarantor must also provide certified evidence of owning landed property in choice areas, which must also be verified by the employer.

This policy, in the union’s observation, is currently generating a lot of apprehension within the industry, “causing many of our members to raise doubts on the real intents of the policy. It is, therefore, ap-

Stories by Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu

posite that we correctly contextualise the implications of this policy.”

ASSBIFI recalled that following the bank sanitisation of 2009, most banks claimed that bloated staff strength was responsible for their high overhead cost.

“Thus, thousands of bank workers were laid off as scapegoats for what indeed was the recklessness and indulgencies of members of Boards and Managements of the banks. The Executive Directors of all rescued banks were indicted of running the finances of their organisations aground by granting risky margin loans, financial capital speculations and sundry frauds.”

ASSBIFI wondered why the existing insurance policy designed to cover fraudulent practices was been cast off.

“We want to state clearly on record that the financial system, globally, is run on trust-entrenched institutions. The banking system and most Managements already have in place, an insurance policy called “ Fidelity Guarantee” which covers any fraudulent practices by erring employees.

To our chagrin, however, banks and insurance firms are veering off this known and tested mode of risk protection to request individual employees to provide financial guarantors. It is a trite knowledge that the risky lending, which is affecting

the fortunes of the banks were never granted by these employees but by the same boards and management teams to their cronies and associates yet trillions of public funds were used to bail these same board and management out. We ask who is going to serve as the financial guarantors for members of boards and management s of these banks?

“We condemn this directive as socially unjust, naturally repugnant, highly immoral and capable of creating chaos in the banking industry.

“This is at variance with the Federal Government’s policy on human capital development and job creation,’’ the senior workers said in a statement in Lagos.

The senior bank workers noted that the directive stipulated that a financial guarantor must earn twice the yearly income of the employee being guaranteed.

“The implication is that if an employee’s yearly income is eight million naira, the guarantor must be a person with a yearly income of N16 million,’’ they said.

They said the development might result in increased unemployment rate and poverty in Nigeria.

“It is also an open invitation to high scale crimes,’’ they said.

The workers also described the directive as an attack on the dignity of labour and job security.

They urged all financial institutions to desist from such a policy.

ILO designs new strategy to boost employment

T

HE Director-General of International Labour Organisation (ILO), Mr Juan Somavia has said that ILO’s new research survey report has designed fresh strategies to boost employment and social policies.

Somavia said this while reviewing the new survey carried out by ILO. At the ongoing 100 th conference of the organisation.

He said the survey would now play a crucial role in boosting job creation and making economic growth more solid and equitable.

He said the survey carried out by ILO from onset of the global financial crisis in 2008 caused massive increases in unemployment, and pushed millions of workers into vulnerable employment or back into poverty.

“While a job-centered strategy is both desirable and possible, implementing it requires careful tailoring to the needs of each country, for which social dialogue is essential.

“It also calls for coherence with macr-

oeconomic policy settings, notably an efficient financial system” Somavia said nevertheless, the implementation of well-designed employment and social policies by a number of countries paved the way for a sustainable recovery.

He said such policies were central to putting a floor to the global financial crisis in those countries, and kick-starting a recovery.

“As a result, millions of jobs were either saved or created and the impact of the financial crisis on labour markets was far less critical,” he said.

Somavia said that certain employment, social and skill policies are of paramount importance in this regard and financial reform would greatly aid job recovery, according to the report.

He said favourable effects would manifest mainly in the medium and long term.

“This, combined with resistance to change from the financial profession may contribute to explain why reforms do not happen,’’ he said.

• Somavia

52

MOTORING THE NATION

MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

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

0803-4693-984 tajudeen1423@yahoo.co.uk

email:- motoring@thenationonlineng.net

Over the years, Subaru has proven to be one of the most versatile and durable brands. Its patronage, however, may be far less, compared to the Toyota brand. However, latest models with certain fascinating changes are making car freaks renew their interest, writes SEYI ODEWALE.

Subaru STI 2011 AWD better than ever

•Subaru Wrx Sti

S

UBARU motor manufacturers to the surprise of motor freaks, has implemented a series of changes that almost seemed like a custom-tailored effort to win its customers over. Its pros include how very fast and very ‘grippy’ it is, availability of nicer creature comforts, and being the best bet for day-to-day driving. The fact that it is expensive, however, constitutes its cons.

Its features include: Powertrain: 2.5 litre turbocharged horizontally-opposed 4-cylinder, 305 hp/290 lb-ft, six-speed manual, allwheel-drive and EPA MPG estimates of 17 MPG city/23 MPG highway; premium fuel required The manufacturers showed an improved version of the WRX with the 2011 WRX adopting the wide-track suspension, bodywork and wheels from the STI, while the 265 hp engine is a carryover.

Noticeable changes can be charted and they include the STI, previously available only as a hatchback, which now comes as a sedan and is a better-looking car.

Besides, the sedan is more aerodynamic, so it tops out at 158 MPH — three mph faster than the hatch — which means it’ll get one to work faster. The sedan also comes in a new Limited model with leather seats and a sunroof, and all STIs offer an improved navigation system with Bluetooth phone and audio. There are more changes under the skin: stiffer springs, thicker sway bars, lighter wheels, and new suspension bushings designed to increase handing response without excessive harshness.

The 2011 STI feels noticeably tighter and sharper than last year’s car, and it no longer gives the uneasy feeling. And yet despite its improved handling, the STI cruises so quietly and comfortably that it’s easy to forget that one is driving Subaru’s penultimate hot-rod.

But are the improvements enough to get one

•Interior of the car

to switch sides? The STI is very fast and very ‘grippy’, but it still doesn’t deliver the physicsdefying thrills of the Lancer Evolution. Push the STI hard enough to break its prodigious grip and it under-steers like a front-wheel-drive car. Where’s the fun in that? No matter how much one fiddled with the user-selectable center differential (which alters power distribution between front and rear axles), one

couldn’t feel much change in the STI’s balance.

It’s a stark contrast to the Evo, which has a computerised all-wheel-drive system.

In virtually every other respect, the STI blows the Evo out of the water. Compared to the Subaru, the Mitsubishi’s interior is cheap and crappy, the ride borders on abuse, and the small gas tank means one can only enjoy the Evo in 20-minute increments. No ques-

tion, the STI is the more pleasant car to live with — but that said, would one shop for the 300-hp-all-wheel-drive-screaming-terror class? Certainly not! That “pleasant” should not be at the top of one’s priority list.

So, for those who want the best in speed, handling and grip that Subaru has to offer, the STI is it and the 2011 model is a better deal than ever.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

53

54

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

55

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

56

MONEY LINK

CBN may outsource cash management services

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) may outsource the supply and management of cash, if it acceeds to suggestions by operators.

The Vice Chairman, Integrated Cash Management Services Limited, Charles Nwodo Jnr., said at a seminar that his firm has undertaken the service at a reduced cost.

Speaking during a cash management seminar organised by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Nwodo, said why many Central Banks have only partial responsibility for the supply and management of cash, the CBN has made the service its sole responsibility.

He said cash, if not well managed, has significant cost and risk implications not only on the Central Bank’s business, but also on the larger economy, suggesting that the CBN should take the lead and move from an active player in the cash supply chain, to an active regulator.

“When CBN moves to this level, it will naturally find it easy to implement and enforce the minimum standards. Implement and enforce principles of currency recirculation. Enforce the clean notes policy as well as approve Cash held to order policy and related guidelines.”

He explained that the size of the opportunities in Nigeria’s Cash Supply Chain, recommend quick,

Stories by Collins Nweze Senior Correspondent

decisive and sustained action by the CBN, the Banks and the licensed Cash In Transit /Cash processing companies. “ It is my strong conviction that these actions, if taken, will result in reduced aggregate industry cost of cash, greatly increase operational efficiencies across board, and the emergence of a set of pan industry, virile and profitable enterprises that will compete with the best in the world,”

U

NITED Bank for Africa (UBA) has renewed its strategic partnership with Visa. The partnership is seen as a milestone for UBA in its commitment to offering clients increased convenience and security associated with electronic banking.

With a balance sheet of N2.27 trillion, UBA seems to be making good its plan to be Africa’s global bank with a firm expansion policy in place.

he said.

The key to unlock the full potential of the cash industry is to understand and key into the implementation of CBN’s strategic intent, which is to create a virile, modern and pan-industry cash subsector, to support the emergence and growth of a modern and competitive banking system in Nigeria.

This awareness, he said, is pivotal to strategic decisions that each stakeholder needs

to make in relation to its future involvement in the cash supply chain.

In essence, CBN strategic direction is crucial to developing the frame work and orchestrating an integrated model for moving, holding and processing cash in the country.

He said the way cash is managed in the country is expensive and highly risky. Significant pockets of avoidable costs and risks abound along the cash supply chain. Putting

UBA renews partnership with Visa “The strategic partnership with Visa means an increased cardholder base for UBA, and also means that our clients can transact at 1.8 million Automated Teller Machines and at tens of millions of merchants in over 200 countries and territories across the globe. Visa also lends an international brand credibility which goes hand in hand with the bank’s global strategy to be the financial institution of choice

for Africans and Africa related businesses,” says Luqman Balogun, Group Director, EBanking at UBA. The past 12 months have seen the roll out of Visa products across key markets including Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Liberia, Uganda, Senegal, Kenya, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Chad, Gabon, Guinea and Tanzania.

“The roll out of Visa debit and prepaid offers UBA clients

W

EMA Bank Nigeria has offered auto matic employment to Lilian Okafor, an outgoing youth corps member in Lagos State who served in the Apapa branch of the bank. The corp member, said to had, distinguished herself. in her community development service, by building and donating the first community

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

primary school in the Agodo Alara community in Ikorodu, Lagos.

Managing Director, Wema Bank, Segun Oloketuyi, commended the effort of the facilitator for the positive image she had given the bank through the project and pledged additional support of the bank to the project.

Lagos State Governor,

Babatunde Raji Fasola, represented by the Ex-Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Hon. Kaoli Olusanya, advised all corps members to always see opportunity to excel in every challenge as Lilian has done.

The National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) Lagos State Coordinator, Mr. Ladipo Olaniyan, represented by Mrs. Victoria Akinlere, Assis-

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 17-6-11 SYMBOL NBC NAHCO PZ INTBREW FCMB CONOIL PRESTIGE SKYEBANK HONYFLOUR ZENITHBANK

O/PRICE 39.01 18.00 23.55 8.06 12.98 4.01 7.10 47.63 2.60 5.60

C/PRICE 40.36 18.90 24.34 8.38 13.20 4.21 7.30 47.80 2.69 5.69

CHANGE +1.35 +0.90 +0.79 +0.32 +0.22 +0.20 +0.20 +0.17 +0.09 +0.09

LOSER AS AT 17-6-11 SYMBOL GUINNESS UNILEVER DIAMONDBNK FIRSTBANK ETERNAOIL NASCON COSTAIN PRESCO UAC-PROP ASHAKACEM

O/PRICE 132.00 14,00 27.61 10.97 15.00 16.75 6.27 6.50 5.30 9.69

C/PRICE 130.00 13.30 27.06 10.43 14.53 16.40 5.96 6.21 5.04 9.49

for her doggedness, visionary attitude, passion and commitment to education that led to the start and finishing of the project.

He however urged the community leaders, corporate bodies and well meaning individuals to emulate the action of the 24 year old graduate of geology and mining from the Federal University of Technology,

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

tant Director, NYSC Zone C, reiterated his believe in the NYSC scheme and the commitment of the body to national integration. He wants NYSC to be strengthened rather than being scrapped as recently canvassed in the country.

The Oba of Ikorodu, Dr. Salau- Oyefusi, represented by his wife, Olori Muhibat Oyefusi, praised Miss Okafor

Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 400m 467.7m 400m 452.3m 500m 499,8m

MANAGED FUNDS

Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Premium and Credit cards are the next steps in UBA’s card segmentation strategy.

“It is our objective to avail all our customers with a choice of cards that is in sync with their spending habits and income brackets. Our target is for customers in all our markets to have the same range of products and services that are currently available in Nigeria,” says Balogun.

DATA BANK

Tenor

OBB Rate Call Rate

the option to transact internationally and opens up ecommerce and point of sale channels which offer our cardholders the flexibility to transact in ways that best suit their needs,” says Ade Ashaye, Country Director for Visa Sub - Saharan Africa.

UBA intends to continue its roll out on the continent and are hoping to obtain further Visa licenses in identified markets. Launching Visa Prepaid,

Wema Bank offers automatic job to corp member

FGN BONDS

NIDF NESF

ment will hit N10 billion per annum come next year. This covers cash purchasing, vault management, cash in transit and cash processing costs by the banks.

However, CBN Director, Currency Operations Department, Muhammad Nda, also agreed that there is need to reduce cost of banks’ operation by at least 30 per cent, and reducing high cost of cash management is a viable means of achieving that, he stated.

it in another way, increase in volume of cash in the system directly results in increase in the costs of transportation, holding and processing of cash.

The CBN like most, central banks, the world over, understands that although cash is an important product, it is not the main purpose of a central bank’s business, he said.

The total cost spent by the 24 deposit money banks (DMBs) on cash manage-

CHANGE -2.00 -0.70 -0.55 -0.54 -0.47 -0.35 -0.31 -0.29 -0.26 -0.20

Amount Sold ($) 400m 400m 499.8m

Exchange Rate (N) 153.59 153.4 153.45

Date 25-5-11 23-5-11 16-5-11

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

17-06-11 N8.0922tr 25.309.17

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

16-06-11 N8.1303tr 25,428.35

% Change 0.47% 0.47%

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 1.00 117.35 119.45 0.84 1,582.15 9.94 1.00 1.39 1.87 9,199.45 193.00

9.08 1.00 116.81 118.70 0.81 1,576.19 9.46 1.00 1.33 1.80 8,914.86 191.08

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 MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

57

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 17-06-11 2ND-TIER SECURITIES Company Name FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC PRESCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 1 14 18

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.50 8.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 220,000 110,000.00 18,000,000 9,000,000.00 512,567 4,106,841.50 18,732,567 13,216,841.50

AIR SERVICES Company Name AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 24 27

Quotation(N) 2.66 8.23

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 14,000 37,240.00 164,489 1,352,582.81 178,489 1,389,822.81

Quotation(N) 2.08

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 83,748 178,670.80 83,748 178,670.80

Quotation(N) 7.30 1.05 5.69 3.04 7.55 2.61 13.20 0.53 15.92 9.49 0.96 1.11 0.68 8.38 0.79 1.88 5.78 2.16 0.96 1.00 15.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 3,065,723 22,145,859.15 792,665 799,227.51 2,239,200 12,797,603.00 57,726 175,487.04 5,559,241 42,212,229.62 3,396,755 8,850,875.81 7,461,308 96,806,753.86 7,401,177 3,852,022.58 12,219,362 195,070,213.76 1,084,961 10,118,302.16 16,954,859 15,573,494.47 6,239,549 6,563,113.98 7,527,207 5,107,869.73 2,679,635 21,761,783.28 270,000 213,300.00 344,992 624,011.30 11,372,256 65,974,938.90 3,781,343 8,030,801.45 959,510 918,344.30 2,955,611 2,942,171.64 28,980,719 431,681,043.13 125,343,799 952,219,446.67

Quotation(N) 4.05 245.00 6.42 90.00 0.93

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 12,000 49,085.00 43,533 10,755,131.89 81,555 499,465.60 1,013,130 91,315,468.62 1,400 1,302.00 1,151,618 102,620,453.11

AUTOMOBILE & TYRE Company Name R. T. BRISCOE (NIGERIA) PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 3 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 125 35 33 3 27 56 430 79 528 48 170 97 113 79 20 19 236 124 19 37 321 2,599 BREWERIES

Company Name CHAMPION BREWERIES PLC GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC PREMIER BREWERIES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 38 9 128 1 179

BUILDING MATERIALS Company Name ASHAKA CEMENT PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTHERN NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 59 11 27 51 148

Quotation(N) 24.34 10.20 130.00 47.80

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 723,201 17,555,595.74 426,910 4,380,675.00 286,359 37,346,139.18 556,615 26,479,847.64 1,993,085 85,762,257.56

Quotation(N) 10.43 30.96

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 205,500 2,143,365.00 54,583 1,773,947.50 260,083 3,917,312.50

Shareholders blame SEC for market downturn

S

HAREHOLDERS have blamed the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the downtrend at the stock market.

Speaking with newsmen last Friday, the President of the Progressive Shareholder Association of Nigeria, Mr Boniface Okezie, said nine months after SEC intervened in the affairs of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), things have remained the way they were before the intervention.

According to him, since the intervention, the market has yet to fully recover from the financial meltdown as the regulator misplaced its priorities in tackling the problem.

“The regulator, just like other jurisdictions of the world made move to revive their stock market and provide liquidity for the markets through the interventions of their governments, in our own case, SEC saw personalities as the problem and since their intervention there has not been any improvement for the

No of Deals 10 19 29

No of Deals 2 11 13

Quotation(N) 0.52 2.85

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 19,900 10,646.00 264,625 755,335.00 284,525 765,981.00

Quotation(N) 36.00 0.91 40.36 27.06

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 85,524 3,099,232.33 11,178,702 9,949,464.26 843,639 33,985,437.32 924,827 25,051,891.47 13,032,692 72,086,025.38

CONGLOMERATES Company Name PZ CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC UAC OF NIGERIA PLC UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 32 49 78 41 200 CONSTRUCTION

Company Name COSTAIN (WA) PLC JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 59 10 69

Quotation(N) 3.40 56.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 2,857,684 9,243,698.44 29,583 1,657,973.83 2,887,267 10,901,672.27

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY Company Name CUTIX PLC NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. Sector Totals

No of Deals 9 1 10

Quotation(N) 2.18 0.67

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 20,000 44,383.36 2,000 1,340.00 22,000 45,723.36

LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC N.E.M. INSURANCE CO. (NIG.) PLC. PRESTIGE ASSURANCE PLC. SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC UNIC INSURANCE PLC. UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 12 63 73 75 52 12 1 69 30 61 3 8 459

No of Deals 30 4 9 43

Quotation(N) 46.00 17.90 16.40 13.30 90.03 4.55 1.87 6.21 42.50 400.49 0.50 0.66

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 31,684 1,454,298.34 981,971 17,536,509.14 806,203 13,044,322.84 1,987,342 27,219,125.90 241,443 21,879,496.43 435,000 1,949,670.00 25,000 44,500.00 2,338,752 15,062,092.27 143,645 6,125,316.60 56,225 22,542,516.70 21,000 10,500.00 66,296 42,826.90 7,134,561 126,911,175.12

Quotation(N) 1.93 28.35 3.80

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 9,482,841 19,019,547.12 14,054 378,614.76 72,232 273,442.16 9,569,127 19,671,604.04

HOTEL & TOURISM Company Name IKEJA HOTEL PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 8 8

Quotation(N) 1.38

No of Deals 10 18 28

Quotation(N) 0.52 6.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 244,600 336,602.80 244,600 336,602.80

No of Deals 51 51

No of Deals 91 91

Company Name AFROMEDIA PLC DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 129 7 136

Quotation(N) 1.12

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 6,115,841 6,801,727.58 6,115,841 6,801,727.58

Quotation(N) 0.51 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 26,000,000 13,260,000.00 38,840 19,420.00 26,038,840 13,279,420.00

MEDIA

MORTGAGE COMPANIES Company Name ASO SAVINGS AND LOAND PLC RESORT SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 2 4 8

Company Name CRUSADER NIGERIA PLC. Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.50 0.57

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 7,303,682 3,651,841.00 400,000,000 200,000,000.00 103,007 58,713.99 407,406,689 203,710,554.99

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 48,800 24,400.00 48,800 24,400.00

Quotation(N) 2.69 4.21

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,179,620 2,963,967.36 425,074 1,789,561.54 1,604,694 4,753,528.90

PACKAGING Company Name NIGERIAN BAG MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC NAMPAK NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 33 4 37

PETROLEUM(MARKETING) Company Name AFRICAN PETROLEUM 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 6 7 8 13 22 67 7 130

Quotation(N) 21.35 72.00 40.00 5.19 159.00 51.00 195.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 4,135 83,899.15 14,876 1,044,212.40 10,180 389,740.00 77,071 390,372.10 35,355 5,439,386.70 712,878 36,383,409.42 1,659 326,726.69 856,154 44,057,746.46

PRINTING & PUBLISHING Company Name LONGMAN NIGERIA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC Sector Totals

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 8,781,938 4,393,825.61 8,781,938 4,393,825.61

Quotation(N) 0.77 1.11 3.00 0.50 0.50 1.60 0.50 0.50 0.56

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 2,534,634 1,966,921.98 502,000 557,260.00 256,250 771,791.00 5,000 2,500.00 234,490 117,245.00 377,500 604,788.18 20,019,444 10,009,722.00 16,000 8,000.00 71,428 39,999.68

Company Name UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 7 10

Quotation(N) 5.96 5.04

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 101,500 604,940.00 88,040 446,642.00 189,540 1,051,582.00

No of Deals 51 51

Quotation(N) 18.90

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 4,470,684 78,790,320.86 4,470,684 78,790,320.86

ROAD TRANSPORTATION Company Name ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 6 6

Quotation(N) 0.57

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 95,000 55,800.00 95,000 55,800.00

Quotation(N) 0.62

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 44,995 27,688.10 44,995 27,688.10

TEXTILES

INSURANCE Company Name No of Deals AIICO INSURANCE PLC. 43 CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC 3 CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INSURANCE PLC 11 EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC 1 GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC 6 GUARANTY TRUST ASSURANCE PLC 12 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC 2 LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. 2 LAW UNION AND ROCK INSURANCE PLC. 3

800.00 2,500.00 366,994.52 539,178.00 91,500.00 19,279.00 10,713.50 50.00 43,250.00 580,235.00 15,732,727.86

REAL ESTATE Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 369,476 192,227.52 369,842 2,219,107.00 739,318 2,411,334.52

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Company Name STARCOMMS PLC Sector Totals

1,600 5,000 671,742 321,210 183,000 38,558 21,427 100 86,500 1,098,500 26,444,383

MARITIME

INDUSTRIAL/DOMESTIC PRODUCTS Company Name FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC VITAFOAM NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

0.50 0.50 0.54 1.67 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.53

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

HEALTHCARE Company Name FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. Sector Totals

1 1 17 3 2 3 2 1 2 11 126

Company Name JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

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 TANTALIZERS PLC UTC NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

over the country to have access to their brokers have been drastically cut down with their managers.

He urged all well-meaning stakeholders to rally round and restore the NSE back to its position as an independent body capable of efficiently running its operations.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 17-06-11

COMMERCIAL/SERVICES Company Name COURTVILLE INVESTMENTS PLC RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Sector Totals

‘The regulator, just like other jurisdictions of the world made move to revive their stock market and provide liquidity for the markets through the interventions of their governments, in our own case SEC saw personalities as the problem and since their intervention there has not been any improvement for the investors’

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

CHEMICAL & PAINTS Company Name BERGER PAINTS NIGERIA PLC CHEMICAL AND ALLIED PRODUCTS PLC Sector Totals

By Tonia Osundolire

investors,” he said.

He said the actions of SEC under Ms Arunma Oteh have failed to lead to any improvement in the state of affairs and activities of the stock exchange.

He alleged that the SECappointed management led by Mr Emmanuel Ikhazoboh that took over from erstwhile Director General have succeeded in terminating appointments of about 76 staff in just five months on the excuse that the Exchange was overstaffed but he allegedly through the back door recruited people who were neither interested in what was happening at the Exchange nor understood their different responsibilities.

He added the interim administrator engaged in indiscriminate redeployment of competent hands to frustrate them out of the system.

He said the workforce of all branches across Nigeria, which initially was to motivate investors all

Company Name UNITED NIGERIA TEXTILES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 4 4

THE FOREIGN LISTINGS Company Name ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Sector Totals Overall Totals

No of Deals 13 13

Quotation(N) 14.53

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 935,500 14,389,020.00 935,500 14,389,020.00

4,497

664,690,537

1,779,503,265.80

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FOREIGN NEWS Ex-Zambian President Fred Chiluba is dead

F

ORMER President of Zambia Frederick Chiluba has died at the age of 68 after a heart attack.

He was a trade unionist who became the president of Zambia in the country’s first multi-party election.

His decade in office was notable for high-profile corruption scandals, marriages to two of Zambia’s most prominent politicians, and a noticeable taste for highheeled shoes. He was 5ft tall.

Kenneth Kaunda, Zambia’s president since independence in 1964, had made it a one-party state in 1972.

It was the stalwart ally of all southern Africa’s liberation movements, and its capital, Lusaka, was home to the headquarters of the exiled African National Congress.

Bombing, incursions and destabilisation from Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and South Africa did much to ruin the economy. After the dismantling of apartheid began in 1990, western governments were keen to see new leaders in power, especially in countries where opposition to apartheid South Africa had been the key policy of the old leaders.

Libya: NATO probes ‘civilian deaths’ in Tripoli attack

N

ATO is investigating Libyan government claims that it bombed a residential area of the capital, Tripoli, killing several civilians.

Bodies were pulled from a badly damaged three-storey house after the alleged raid in the Souk al-Juma district.

Nato says a surface-to-air missile site in northern Tripoli was successfully hit overnight, but it has previously admitted mistakes in targeting.

It is enforcing a United Nations resolution to defend Libyans from pro-Gaddafi forces.

If it is confirmed that Nato planes did indeed bomb a civilian area by mistake, serious questions will be raised about the conduct of the mil-

itary campaign in Libya, says the BBC correspondent in Tripoli.

Yesterday’s alleged attack, in one of Tripoli’s poorer neighbourhoods, happened shortly after midnight, Libyan officials say.

When journalists arrived at the site, rescue workers and local men were digging through the rubble, mostly with their bare hands, looking for survivors or bodies. The destroyed buildings were in Souk al-Juma, a residential area, about a mile from a military airfield which has often been targeted by Nato.

Neighbours said the explosion happened at just after one in the morning. The

building which was destroyed seemed to have been a family home. It looked to be the result of an air strike or missile attack.

Nato’s mandate is to protect civilians. More questions now seem likely about what Nato is doing in Libya and what it is achieving - not least by Nato members who never agreed with the operation.

Our correspondent, who was taken to the site by government officials, saw two bodies being removed from the rubble.

Scores of men were working alongside the emergency services, pulling at sections of rubble and looking for bodies.

Locals said an entire family had been killed, though BBC correspondent was una-

ble to immediately verify this claim.

The level of damage, he adds, looked like the aftermath of an air strike, with concrete floors blown out on to the street - the incident did not look like a government stunt.

He was then taken to a Tripoli hospital where he was shown the bodies of two men, a woman and two babies reportedly killed in the alleged strike.

Libyan officials say nine people were killed in the attack. It is not possible to verify this claim independently.

Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaim said the incident represented a “deliberate targeting of civilian houses”.

SOMALIA has jailed three Britons, two Kenyans and an American for bringing more than $3m (£2m) in cash illegally into the country, allegedly to pay ransoms to pirates for ships they hold.

The two men accused of carrying the cash received 15-year sentences; the others got 10 years.

The men were arrested on 24 May shortly after they landed at the airport in the capital, Mogadishu.

The UN says more than $110m in ransoms were paid to Somali pirates last year.

The Somali government officially opposes the payment of ransoms, but the practice has become routine.

The Foreign Office in London has said it is aware of the verdicts and has told the authorities in Mogadishu to ensure the safety and security of the group while legal options are considered.

Ivory Coast deadline for ICC testimony

Palestinian Fatah-Hamas reconciliation talks postponed

A

SCHEDULED meeting between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal has been postponed, officials say.

The talks earlier scheduled for tomorrow in Cairo, Egypt, had been aimed at reaching consensus over a new reconciliation government.

But continued disagreements meant the talks had been postponed indefinitely, said Fatah officials in Ramallah.

The delay has cast doubts on last month’s unity deal between Hamas and Fatah aimed at ending a four-year rift.

The split has left the Palestinians with rival governments in the Fatah-governed West Bank and Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. The unity agreement is intended to pave the way for a joint interim government ahead of national elections next year.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met in Jerusalem, discussing how to relaunch peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

The talks are deadlocked over the issue of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Ms Ashton’s talks coincided with an announcement by the planning committee of Israel’s interior ministry that it had approved the expansion of 2,000 homes in East Jerusalem’s Ramat Shlomo settlement district.

The committee said it allowed each home to add a room.

Almost 500,000 Jews live in settlements on occupied territory. The settlements are illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.

Somalia jails six for ‘pirate ransom’ cash

•Rubble of the three-storey building hit by NATO airstrike in Tripoli...yesterday

S

Somali PM Mohammed Abdullahi Farmajo resigns

OMALIA’S Prime Minister says he has resigned, following an agreement between the president and parliament to remove him from office.

Farmajo had initially refused to step down, but will now go “in the interest of the Somali people”.

His removal was part of a UN-backed deal that extends the mandates of the president, the speaker and deputies to August 2012.

Somalia has been without an effective central government since 1991.

Islamist militants control large parts of southern and central Somalia.

Farmajo said: “Considering the interest of the Somali people and the current situation in Somalia, I have decided to leave my office.

“I would like to thank my cabinet who have done a lot to help improve security and standards of governance in Somalia.”

Last week, Farmajo told the BBC he would not quit because only parliament had the power to oust him.

He said he had the support

of the Somali people to stay in office.

There were protests in the capital, Mogadishu, rejecting the deal to remove Mr Farmajo.

Under the deal signed in Uganda, the mandates of President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, speaker Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden and the

deputies were extended until 20 August 2012, when new elections will be organised.

The president and the speaker had been in conflict over what would happen when the current administration’s mandate runs out in August.

Somalia has been without an effective central govern-

ment since the fall of the Siad Bare regime in 1991, as rival factions constantly fight for power.

Foreign donors have been pushing rival factions to resolve their differences, and focus on defeating the Islamist threat.

The US believes that Somalia is a haven for al-Qaeda activists in East Africa, and has carried out several air strikes in the country to kill militants.

China floods: Millions affected by deadly downpours T ORRENTIAL rain was continuing, leaving large parts of Zhejiang and Hubei provinces under water, state-run news agency Xinhua said.

It said nearly 1,000 businesses were being disrupted and crops destroyed, pushing up food prices.

This month’s flooding the worst since 1955 - has already left about 170 people dead or missing, reports say.

The government has mo-

bilised troops to evacuate hundreds of thousands of people.

China’s disaster alert has been raised to the highest level, four.

Downpours earlier this week triggered landslides that buried houses and killed at least two people in Zhejiang and another two in Hubei.

The floods come after months of crop-destroying

drought in the centre and north of the country.

Some areas along the Yangtze River have suffered their worst drought in half a century.

Despite the rain, officials have warned that the crop shortages and dislocation caused by drought will remain severe.

Analysts say crop shortages in China could affect prices around the world.

VICTIMS of post-poll violence in Ivory Coast have been given 30 days to submit testimony to the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.

Luis Moreno-Ocampo said these would lend support to his request for a formal ICC investigation into crimes committed during months of violence.

The crisis began when Laurent Gbagbo refused to accept defeat in November’s poll and had to be removed by force.

An estimated 3,000 people were killed before Mr Gbagbo’s arrest in April.

This week, the government of newly inaugurated President Alassane Ouattara said it was setting up a national commission to investigate crimes committed during the four-month dispute.

Both Mr Ouattara’s forces and those loyal to Mr Gbagbo have been accused of atrocities.

Russian human rights activist Yelena Bonner dies RUSSIAN human rights activist Yelena Bonner has died at the age of 88 after a long illness in the United States.

She was active in the human rights movement in the USSR in the 1960s, and helped to found the Moscow Helsinki Group, a rights monitoring body.

In 1972 she married the nuclear scientist and fellow human rights activist Andrei Sakharov, who won the Nobel Peace Prize three years later.

Mrs Bonner died on Saturday in the US, where she had lived in recent years in the Boston area, her daughter Tatiana Yankelevich and son Alexey Semyonov said in a statement.

The statement added that Mrs Bonner’s ashes would be interred next to her husband’s remains at Moscow’s Vostryakovo cemetery, in accordance with her wish.

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THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

SPORT EXTRA

AFRICA BEACH SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP

Senegal dethrones Nigeria •Defeats Beach Eagles 7-4 in final •Olawale voted MVP

S

ENEGAL defeated Nigeria 7-4 in the final of the Africa Beach Soccer Championship to clinch this year’s edition of Africa Beach Soccer Championship held at the Ain Diab Beach in Cassablanca, Morocco.

By Akeem Lawal The defending Champion, Nigeria won the title in 2007 and 2009 but could not defend the title in 2010 as the competition was not held because the FIFA 2010 World

Cup hosted by South Africa.

Though both teams have qualified for the 2011 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup holding in Italy from 1st -11th September, this year, the Senegalese showed the Beach Eagles that they were ready to dethrone them.

Kouphaki opened scoring for Seneagal as early as the first minute, but Beach Eagles captain Isiaka Olawale equalized just before the first quarter break.

An injury to Nigeria keeper, Abdulahi Isa ensured Coach Adamu Audu brought in Sunshine Stars goalkeeper, John Gaadi to start the second quarter.

However, Gaadi could not contain the attacking powers of the Senegalese, as he

conceded four goals in quick succession to end the half at 51.

Nigeria then reduced the deficit when Olawale converted a penalty in the early minute of the third quarter. But Senegal continued where they left-off scoring two goals to make it 7-2 before Gaadi was replaced by Isa. Olawale then added to the tally, his 8th in the tournament, while Azeez Abu scored Nigeria’s fourth goal, just two minutes after. It was however, too late for Nigeria as the game ended 7-4 in favour of Senegal.

Nigeria, however, got a consolation prize as Isiaka Olawale was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament.

Football crisis: Okocha, Itemuagbor exonerate Ogiadome from

F

•Toriola

NTTF NATIONAL TRIALS

Toriola, Offiong lead 18 others for final camping

T

HE most decorated Nigerian Table Tennis star, Segun Toriola at the weekend showed how important he is to Nigeria's dream of making headways in the Table Tennis event of the All African Games (AGG) slated for Mozambique after he emerged unbeaten in the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) trials organized to select players for the games.

In the same vein, Edem Offiong will be leading the female players to a sucessful preparation, when she went past other 15 players to clinch the number one spot.

Held at the National Stadium in Lagos, the former Africa’s number one player affirmed his booked a place in the AGG bound team ahead of other foreign-based players winning all 19 games to remain unbeaten in the trials.

Though the player noted to have played the longest game at the Olympics had to contend with opposition from home lads, Mojeed Olayiwola and Sola Adedeji to maintain a clean

By Innocent Amomoh slate, Toriola matched experience with current form to exact his supremacy.

On her part, France-based Offiong did not disappoint her teeming fans as she put up a good fight to emerge the overall champion at the trials with her Cross River’s counterpart, Cecilia Otu coming second.

In the men's category however, Toriola was closely followed by Portugal-based Aruna Quadri was second, while southpaw's Seun Ajetunmobi was third.

The ten female players selected from the trials include, Offiong, Otu, Janet Effiom, Halima Hussein, Funke Oshonaike-Irabor, Ganiat Olatunde, Fatimo Kazeem, Nike Aroyewun, Ganiat Ogundele and Olaide Atinuke.

According to NTTF scribe, Segun Oguntade, the selected 20 players will be called into camping to be organized by the National Sports Commission (NSC) in preparation for the AAG in Maputo.

ORMER Super Eagles skipper and Nigeria’s Football Federation (NFF) Technical Committee member, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha and renowned sports marketer, Chief Mike Itemuagbor, have said there was no iota of truth in the news making the rounds that Chief Of Staff to the President and former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Chief Mike Ogiadome was behind the current crisis rocking Nigerian football.

Okocha, who spoke first to reporters in Abuja at the weekend revealed that he has always been a close friend of Chief Ogiadome, whom, he said believes in due process and will not encourage any group to form a rebel group against a properly constituted body.

“The renegades have been engaged name-dropping and a section of the media fell for the tricks, Chief Ogiadomeh is a law abiding Nigerian, who will not encourage crisis anywhere in the country because he wants anybody removed from his position in football. He is a passionate football lover, who wants Nigeria to rule world

football and so cannot be architect of any crisis as Nigerians are being made to believe.

Itemuagbor, on his part, said he has known Ogiadomeh over the years as a man of integrity and honour, who will never encourage rebellion of any sort in any sphere of life. “We’re talking of a man who was for eight years Deputy Governor and now Chief of Staff to Mr. President, why should he drag our soccer in the mud?, he asked rhetorically.

He called on the opposition NFA led by Jarret Tenebe to follow due process, which abhors court cases and unnecessary bickering if they have genuine case against the present NFF leadership. “We’re in the midst of qualification for several important tourneys and I think the NFF needs to be given full concentration instead of what we’re witnessing, those who have a case against anybody let them leave government and its officials out of it and follow due process. I also want the NSC to thread softly, instead of playing to the gallery”, he said.

ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIP

Okagbare, Osayomi 16 others arrive

A

LL Nigeria Open Track and Field Championship sprint champion Blessing Okagbare arrived the country at the weekend to defend the title she won last year.

The University of Texas in El Paso general studies major who arrived on Saturday, came ahead of 17 others who flew into Lagos enroute Calabar yesterday evening.

Interestingly Blessing's greatest rival for the 100m title Damola Osayomi has also arrived.

Speaking with reporters at Murtala Muhammed Airport last night Okagbare who came to receive her friends said her clash with Osayomi was not a do or die affair.

“Others were there before I became champion so if I am beaten I will accept it as my fate,” observed the Olympic long jump bronze medallist.

She however admitted that she

will not surrender her title without a fight.

"Actually, my target this season is to make the final of the World Championships in Daegue and finish in thew top four. I also want to run sub 11second in the 100 and do a 7m in the long jump,” Amongst those who came in with the Delta Airline from Atlanta include Ajoke Odumosu, Seun Adigun, Endurance Abinuwa, Jessica Ohanaja, Nurudeen Salim, Blessing Mayungbe, Bidemi Balogun, Grace Chinenkwere and Okwuwa Okolie.

Some of the new athletes in town to compete at the Calabar Championships include Gloria Asumu, Leslie Njoku, Stanley Azie and Okwuwa Okolie.

Also expected to hit town today include Peter Emelieze, Chizoba Okodogbe and Emmanuel Bamishe. Women high jump champion Tosin Oke, Nigeria's triple jump champion is expected Tuesday.

1st Deepwater gives hope to orphans in Lagos HOPES and life were given to those we refer to in our society as downtrodden and downcasted in Lagos at the weekend when the Managing Director and proprietor of the defending champions of the NBBF Women Basketball league, First Deepwater Basketball Club, Engr Tunde Babalola associated and further endorsed his willingness, readiness and participation at the 3rd edition of the Kidsport football tournament for the orphanages in Lagos tagged "Unity through Sport".

The tournament for the orphanages as organised by Kidsport Nigeria enters its 3rd edition this year and Engr Babalola has said, he will always be part of those that gives hope, light and life to needy.

The Oil and Gas guru, while endorsing the tournament said," i will always give back to the society as far as i have the opportunity to do so. Its our policy at the First Deepwater

family to assist and help the needy to get to the top, not only that, show them love and affection, give them a sense of belonging to build their confidence not minding where they are living or coming from or whatever background but since they are alive and human.

Babalola, further stated that, its just a rear priviledge to be where he is today, so also those orphans, if given life, hope and necessary support as we are doing now can do exploits later in life. So, First Deepwater Discovery Oil and Gas is proud to associate with the organisers of this lofty idea of the football for the orphanages, he concluded.

In her response, Buki Alabi, coordinator of Kidsport Nigeria expressed her happiness and thanked the First Deepwater Discovery Oil and Gas for such a pleasant gesture and using the singular opportunity to beckon on other well meaning Nigerian to come to the aid of the orphans enabling them to showcase their talents and other potentials embedded in them positively.

WHO SAID WHAT

MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

‘There was no House resolution authorising the taking of the initial loans. The Body of Principal Officers took that decision’ VOL. 6, NO. 1,796

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

T

RUTH is all we claim we want. But truth is what we never seem to get. In this profession called journalism, truth has been a casualty. Why? Because we are preoccupied with facts, not truth. Historians also reel with anxiety over the real. Lawyers cringe at its temple.

But truth is a perpetual victim. It is a victim of war and peace, the faithful and renegade, heroes and villains, old and young, saints and fools. Yet for most times, we are overwhelmed with facts. At home, office, on the streets, facts toss us around. In his novel, Hard Times, Charles Dickens introduces his tale by mocking our genuflection to facts instead of truth.

“Now, what I want is, facts. Teach these boys and girls nothing but the facts. Facts alone are wanted in life…” begins this Dickensian classic.

But man craves not fact, but truth. The matter came up last week when Father – now Bishop – Matthew Kukah unveiled a book, Witness to Justice. The restless and erudite cleric wrote the book as his own version of the narrative of the truth and reconciliation effort that informed what became known as the Oputa Panel. The body was set up by President Obasanjo to seek answers and succour to the questions and wounds of our history.

The Owu chief, ever ready for grandiloquent mischief and anti-climax, became the major impediment of the initiative. The body never got the force of government it needed, and funding was a great burden. Bishop Kukah does not sound like or carry the mien of one who laments. But facility with words betrays such subtle, steely men. Both in the book and at the launch at the Sheraton Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos, he demonstrated how the panel seemed fated to failure. It occurred to me that was the case with all of the Owu chief’s exaggerated offerings from war on corruption to NEEDS. The Oputa Panel secured funding from elsewhere. Why did OBJ do that? It must be his way of diverting attention. This was OBJ who never paid tribute for once to the sage Awolowo and would do nothing to acknowledge his historic benefactor Abiola, without whose tragic passing OBJ would not have ascended the throne. The man will spend out his life in perpetual envy of both men. He cannot match their stature.

He had wanted the panel to look at a shorter, safer period between the 1980s and 1999. But he bowed to pressure, so it covered the sweep of our wrinkles and tragedies from 1966 when we stepped into the forbidden waters of fraternal rage and bloodbaths. It was clear OBJ was not comfortable with a larger canvas.

Hence when the body was done, no white paper, no pat on the back. It has become a monument to wasted officialdom. It is one of the major cynical projects of the Obasanjo presidency.

The panel is important because its scalpel went deep to the wounds of our being. Did the

SAM OMATSEYE

IN TOUCH

samo@thenationonlineng.net 08054501081(sms only) •Winner, Informed Commentary 2009 (D.A.M.E) •Columnist of the Year 2009 (NMMA)

To heal our wounds ‘Why did OBJ do that? It must be his way of diverting attention. This was OBJ who never paid tribute for once to the sage Awolowo and would do nothing to acknowledge his historic benefactor Abiola, without whose tragic passing OBJ would not have ascended the throne. The man will spend out his life in perpetual envy of both men’ •Obasanjo frustrated Oputa Panel

Igbos not have genuine grievance over abandoned property? Is that not part of its narrative of alienation in spite of Gowon’s “no victor, no vanquished?” Where is the autopsy report on Abiola, what has happened to our angst that we kept silence as officials from another country presided over poisoned tea? Who killed Dele Giwa, Bagaudo Kaltho, et al?

One of those who presided over Abiola’s poisoning, a fascinating damsel, basked in her reward in one of the top diplomatic offices in the world. Who were the prostitutes who fooled Abacha into death? Do we have a right to know? These are facts, but they could lead to truth. The battle of the Ogonis, the fractious fraternity of the storied people of the Niger Delta, is gaping at us. Or Odi, Zango Kataf…

What of the western region crisis, the schism still deep between the Pro-Awo and proAkintola forces, whose reverberations still

RIPPLES I’M NOT TOO OLD TO PLAY FOR SUPER EAGLES –Aiyegbeni

SUPER EAGLES?...Please try PAPA EAGLES

MOHAMMED ATABA SANI-OMOLORI

rankle the Southwest today? In my days at Obafemi Awolowo University at Ife, I walked out of a bank in town to see the bloodstained brow of a woman running on a lonely road. I was asked to return to shelter in the bank. Ife and Modakeke were on the boil again. Thank God, peace has returned to that part of the country. The absence of true healing exploded the Itsekiri-Ijaw conflict into militancy as the foot soldiers had to transform from tribal goons to phony revolutionaries. What of the coups and the innocent families, the distortion of reality as in when Rafindadi revealed that the film of horror that IBB showed us to demonise Buhari was actually of self-indicting drug pushers.

But it was not about facts alone. It was about history. We have often carried our lives as if we can always move on and forget the hurts.

Memories carry them and pass them across generations.

HARDBALL

T

HE outrage that has trailed the unveiling of multi-count financial misappropriation charges against former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole and his erstwhile deputy, Usman Nafada, is understandable. What is not explainable is that greater outrage is not being expressed over the continued payment of jumbo salaries and allowances to the 400-plus members of the National Assembly.

When Central Bank Governor, Lamido Sanusi, claimed that the federal legislature was bleeding the nation dry by spending a whooping 25% of the national budget lawmakers tried to browbeat him into retracting the statement. He never did change his position. The issue simply slipped away from the front burner, and Nigerians went to sleep.

Now the whole brouhaha over the inability of the House to pay the salaries and allowances of members has underlined, once again, the fact that what the federal lawmakers are earning is just not sustainable in a country whose economy is in intensive care. In a nation where the vast majority of states say they cannot pay their workers a minimum wage of N18, 000, the jumbo allowances being paid to lawmakers is just

The crisis in Plateau is a crisis of memory.

The crisis of the Niger Delta has been a crisis of memory. The crisis of who the true Awoists are is a project of memory. Last week, a bomb ravaged the police headquarters and it was attributed to Boko Haram. If we have resolved the issues of inequity in the past, if we had made resources for education and economic empowerment possible to their parents, shall we now be talking of bombs and Boko Haram?

We had that little experience with zoning, where PDP and Jonathan pooh-poohed the idea only to go back to their own vomit of zoning after the presidential polls. With the FOI Act, is it time to dig all those up, so we can confront what we fear!

“To imagine is to misinterpret,” wrote Harold Bloom, a celebrity literary critic of the Western canon and anxiety of influence. What he meant was that everyone appropriates the past and interprets it to suit themselves. The past is never past. We imagine it, and that is why we have different views of it. That is still difficult to determine what the truth is, and that was a question I propounded to the cleric.

He quickly referred to the question that Pontius Pilate asked Christ: “What is truth?” Christ had said he came to testify to the truth.

E.H. Carr made his career with the title of his famous book, What is History? We don’t refer to the history of anything but a history.

Every story is a version. No one has a monopoly of the past. So why have a truth and reconciliation panel where truth is not sacrosanct? Bishop Kukah referred to the South African example. He attended a conference on the matter in South Africa and the conclusion was that it did not resolve deep wounds, and if it had Zuma would not emerge today as the nation’s leader.

But when the hearings began, the Oputa Panel received tons of petitions. As Shakespeare noted, truth that is sunk into the earth shall jump out. In spite of apparent futility, they come out to express their positions, to unveil skeletons buried in their souls and our past. We need to have them even when it seems no big healing happens.

The zeal for it must not be played down. It provides catharsis to those who have pains deep for years. Catharsis could lead to a need to act. It is therapy without a cure. But it is a beginning. We crave it because it is action without being an action. Let people talk freely about the past. Election campaigns are a foil against secrets, especially if it is free.

Democracy can help when elections are free and fair. People can vote their pains and hopes. Elections helped to heal America over the civil war. It is healing Northern Ireland and the old communist strongholds of Europe. Bosnia, Russia, India approach their many wounds at the polls. Even South Africa is better in spite of Zuma. It is a gradual process. It begins with one voice and one sigh.

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Still on National Assembly billions grotesque.

Even more scandalous is the fact these monies are being collected without the approval of the body charged with fixing public sector emoluments - the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

There is a huge gulf between what is approved and what senators and House members pocket quietly. For instance, the RMAFC position as at July 2009 was that a senator receives an annual emolument of N8,206,920 while members of the House of Representatives take home N6,352, 680 each.

This would take a senator’s earning over four years to N32, 827,680.

To make life even cushier for them, they get to salt away a further N11, 145,200 each in allowances described by RMAFC euphemistically as “non-regular”. This irregular allocation is usually released to the legislators as a one-off payment at the start of their tenure.

The real scam is that while on paper it appears as if they are earning the official salaries which should cost taxpayers roughly

N18 billion over four years, in reality their earnings have been padded with bloated and irregular quarterly allowances – disguised as “running cost” - that dump a burden of several hundred billions on the national treasury over the same period.

When these huge payments are reflected in the accounting the obscene picture that emerges is that a member of the House pockets N42 million quarterly or N168 million annually. Senators do even better for themselves with N45 million quarterly or N180 million annually. This translates to N720 million being spent to maintain a senator in four years.

Assuming these legislators are in paid employment or productive business can they expect to churn out profit in excess of N100 million annually for working just 180 days?

How long can this heist be allowed to continue? Nigerians have to rise up to end this scandal. Frankly, it is not only Bankole and Nafada who should be in the dock – but everyone who has participated in these illegal pay-outs since they started.

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