June 23, 2014

Newspaper of the Year

Boko Haram kills 40 in Borno villages

NEWS

Page 4

•Shops, homes burnt by insurgents

•Begium 1 Russia 0 •Algeria 4 South Korea 2

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 9, NO. 2886 MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

•Keshi happy Eagles broke 16-year lack of victory jinx •Bosnia coach: they shocked us •Game was hard, says Osaze TS Pages 16&49 SPORTS •Moses: I’ll be fit SPOR

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

•From left: All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; Gen. Muhammadu Buhari ; The Rt. Rev. Dr Humphrey Olumakaiye; Chief Bisi Akande; Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and APC Woman Leader Alhaja Ramotu Tijani during the presentation of the award of Constatine ( Superlative Leadership Performance) to Chief Akande at St. Matthew Anglican Church, Ila-Orangun, Osun State...yesterday

NSIA posts N1.2b profit

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By Simeon Ebulu, Group Business Editor

HE Nigerian Sovereign Investment Agency (NSIA) has realised about N1.2billion profit as at the first quarter, ending March 31.

The amount is nearly N1billion over the return made last year.

NSIA Managing Director/CEO Uche Orji broke the news in Lagos. With him was NSIA’s Executive Director & Chief Investment Officer, Hanspeter Ackermann. He said the result aligned with the expectations of his team, adding Continued on page 56

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WHERE ARE THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15?

More Abia suspects linked to Boko Haram as kingpin is relocated

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HE military has relocated a Boko Haram kingpin, who is among the 486 suspects detained in Abia State, to a detention facility for a comprehensive investigation, The Nation learnt yesterday.

Of the suspects, 86 are said to have link with Boko Haram,

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

the Islamist sect that has killed thousands. More interrogators, comprising crack officers from Military Intelligence and the Directorate of State Security (DSS), have been sent to Abia State to join the suspects’ grilling.

None of the suspects had

been released - as at press time - in spite of pressure from many quarters.

The suspected kingpin was relocated out of Abia because of what a source described as “valuable information and clues” he had released to the military.

Continued on page 4

My election is victory for democracy, says Fayose Fayemi: Ekiti has spoken

By Adekunle Yussuf, Sina Fadare, Remi Adelowo, Seun Akioye and Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

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KITI State Governor-elect Ayodele Fayose was waving the olive branch yesterday, saying his triumph is victory for democracy.

There is no victor, no vanquished, he said.

Fayose won last Saturday’s election, beating incumbent Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who congratulated the winner — in a rare show of sportmanship, which earned him praises.

Fayose promised to build a flyover each at Fajuyi and Mathew in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, adding: “I will embark on ‘operation tar all untarred roads in Ado-Ekiti’ in two years of my administration.”

The governor-elect described governance as Continued on page 4

•Fayose speaking...yesterday. With him are Deputy Governor-elect Olusola Eleka (left) and the Director General, Ayo Fayose Campaign Organisation, Dipo Anisulowo

RESULTS APC •Efon 3,422 •Emure 4332 •Oye 10, 176 •Ilejemeje 3336 •Ikere 7989 •Ikole 8804 •Ekiti South West 6746 •Ijero 9348 •Irepodun/ Ifelodun 6834 •Ekiti East 8584 •Moba 7994 •Ise Orun 5809 •Gbonyin 8138 •Ekiti West 7860 •Ido Osi 7134 •Ado 13937 TOTAL: 120, 433

PDP 5,335 7086 11200 3670 16197 14238 11038 13814 13038 12498 8878 10136 11046 10702 13045 41169 203, 090

LP 358 1527 512 165 585 1259 1413 1554 3555 762 1000 600 714 884 1182 2065 18, 135

•SPORTS P15 •CEO P27 •JOBS P37 •MOTORING P35 •POLITICS P47 •FOREIGN P58

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

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NEWS

•From left: Head of Security, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Peter Okoloh, DirectorGeneral, International Institute of Professional Security (IIPS), Mr Tony Ofoyetan and Mr Paul Onyilo of Profile Security at the IIPS 7th Annual Award ceremony in Abuja, where Okoloh received the Best Security Manager (Banking) in Nigeria.

Fed Govt, trade p Efforts to revive the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited have failed in the past. But a fresh experiment by the Fedetral Government seems to be producing positive results, reports SANI ADAMU

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•From left: Senior Sales Manager, Boulos Foods and Beverages Limited, Mr Vasilis Katsikakis, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Boulos Foods and Beverages, Mr Boulos Boulos, Chairman, Boulos Group , Robert Ugbaja and Manager, Boulos Foods and Beverages, Mr Richard Nader at the launch of Frootzy and Frootz juices by Boulos Foods and Beverages Limited in Lagos.

PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA.

•From left: IT Editor, Thisday, Emma Okonji; MainOne's Data Center Project Manager, Olumide Ajani (2nd left); Chief Executive Officer, MainOne, Funke Opeke; General Manager, Capital Projects, Gbenga Adegbiji and Project Architect, Brett Ross, (JLB Architects) during a media tour of MainOne's new Tier 3 Data Centre.

•. From left: Deputy Editor-in-chief, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Idris Abdulrhaman; President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), Dr Nelson Uwaga and Deputy Editor-in-chief Mrs Nkechi Okoronkwo, during a NAN Forum in Abuja...yesterday.

Y all accounts, the present administration appears fully prepared to complete the hitherto moribund Ajaokuta steel project in Kogi.

The idea behind a steel project in Nigeria started in 1958, when the colonial administration commissioned a feasibility study on iron ore deposits in the country.

In 1967, a United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) survey identified Nigeria as a potential steel market; which led to the signing of a bilateral agreement between the defunct Soviet Union and Nigeria.

The Soviet steel experts that conducted a feasibility study confirmed the availability of raw materials and recommended further geological surveys.

They also recommended the Blast Furnace/Basic Oxygen Furnace (BF/ BOF) process, capable of producing 570,000 tonnes of rolled products per annum.

In 1971, an extra-ministerial agency, the Nigerian Steel Development Authority (NSDA), was established by Decree No.9, to focalise efforts required to actualise a steel plant in the country.

Besides, the discovery of large deposits of iron ore at Itakpe in 1972 by the Soviet aero-magnetic survey team, catalysed the formal signing of a global contract in 1975, with Tiajpromexport (TPE), a Soviet stateowned firm, for an integrated steel plant of 1.3 million tonnes of long products.

However, the actual work on the Ajaokuta Steel Company commenced in 1979 during the administration of Alhaji Shehu Shagari.

Record, however, showed that the Ajaokuta steel plant was inaugurated in 1983 when it had achieved almost 95 per cent completion, with most of its vital rolling mills, including light, billets, wire rod, medium section and structural mills, operational.

However, since its inauguration in 1983, the plant has been embroiled in managerial inaptitude and controversy, ranging from allegations of obsolete machines and outdated blast furnace model.

Despite its initial completion, the plant had suffered years of neglect under successive administrations.

In 2005, the efforts by the President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration through the concessioning of the plant to Global System Steel Holdings Limited (GSHL), an Indian firm, also failed to revive it.

The agreement was terminated in 2008 by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s administration.

This, perhaps, underscores the decision of President Goodluck Jonathan to reactivate the plant and ensure its final completion.

•Ajaokuta Steel Company complex

Three years down the line, available records showed that work on the critical sections of the massive steel complex had been completed and ready for operation.

Acknowledging the progress made so far, Mr Musa Sada, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, said that the Federal Government had also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with some private firms to facilitate its completion.

He, however, said that the investors were trade partners and not core investors.

Sada, who spoke during a working tour of the company, said that the investors would be engaged on a short-term basis to operate the completed facilities.

He said that the new approach was to avoid past mistakes in appointing management teams to handle the plant.

According to him, the move will save vital components of the plant and machines from further deterioration, stressing that the workers are among the best trained in the industry.

The minister said that reviving the steel plant was necessary in view of its crucial role towards the attainment of the country’s industrial revolution.

Nonetheless, the National Iron Ore Mining Company Ltd (NIOMCO), says that the Ajaokuta Steel Company will require about 2.3 million tonnes of iron ore concentrate to enable it start production.

Malam Abubakar Ibrahim, the Sole Administrator of the company, said this in Itekpe, Kogi, during a 3day facility inspection tour of the plant.

He said that with adequate supply of iron ore, the steel company could produce more than 1.3 million tonnes of steel annually.

Ibrahim, however, said that in order to meet the iron ore requirement of the Ajaokuta Steel Company, NIOMCO must also be able to produce and process seven million tonnes of raw iron ore annually.

He also said that in order to guarantee 15 to 20 years of uninterrupted iron ore production, sufficient amount of iron concentrate must be stockpiled at both Itakpe and Ajaokuta.

“At that level of production, our inhouse study has shown that the operating cost per tonne shall be about N7,000, which means that a net monthly operating income of about N228 million shall be realised at current world market concentrate price of N16,000 per tonne,’’ Ibrahim said.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

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de partners ‘revive’ Ajaokuta Steel ‘

Very soon, I want to assure you that the promise Mr President gave sometime in Kogi that the Ajaokuta Steel Industry will be brought back to life will be actualised... All the encumbrances to the progress of the project have been removed

by Mr President

•Sambo

He identified lack of appropriate storage facility for explosives and shortage of serious suppliers of the iron ore concentrate as some of the challenges confronting the company.

However, Sada allays such fears, noting that the Federal Government is doing everything possible to ensure that NIOMCO bounces back.

Sada also said the recent launching of National Industrial Revolution Plan by the government would address such challenges.

Interestingly, Vice-President Namadi Sambo also restated government’s commitment to make the plant functional within the shortest possible time.

Sambo said President Jonathan had also directed the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) to restore life to the steel industry through the speedy revival of the company.

“Very soon, I want to assure you

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that the promise Mr President gave sometime in Kogi that the Ajaokuta Steel Industry will be brought back to life will be actualised. ‘’I want to categorically state that all the encumbrances to the progress of the project have been removed by Mr President,’’ he said.

The vice- president spoke at the foundation laying ceremony of Kogi House in Abuja.

To justify the huge investment, the Ajaokuta Steel Company also said it would collaborate with Industrial Training Fund (ITF) to train 1,000 youths in each of the 36 states of the federation.

Mr Isah Joseph, the Sole Administrator of the company, said that the youths would be trained at its Metallurgical Training Centre (MTC) in Ajaokuta on various skills beginning from the third quarter of this year.

According to him, the programme

will go a long way to empower the youths.

“It is our plan that training will commence at MTC under the African Centre for Human Capital Development (ACHCD) arrangement in the third quarter of 2014.

“A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed with the ITF to actualise the skills acquisition programme of the Federal Government.

“The training of 1,000 youths per state in artisanal skills was worked out for the MTC,’’ he said.

Joseph said the 36,000 youths would be trained on carpentry/joinery, mechanical/machining, electrical installations and wielding, among others.

He said since inception in the 1970s, the company was conceived as a project that would lead Nigeria to industrialisation.

“The project, however, had history occasioned by an inter-play of forces that has made the integrated inauguration of the steel plant elusive till date. The bane of Ajaokuta Steel Company over the years has mainly been poor funding. Capital allocation to the project has remained a mirage for a number of years.

“Added to this is the case instituted against it since 2008 by its erstwhile concessionaires, which is in the process of being definitively concluded through mediations, courtesy of Mr President,’’ he said.

The sole administrator said the detractors of the project had continued to canvass for its sale.

He stressed that the plant was a strategic and rugged national investment, designed to last for several generations with minimal conservation efforts.

Joseph said privatising the com-

‘

pany at this point would scuttle the dreams of the founding fathers.

According to him, it will also amount to disservice to the nation and generations yet unborn.

“The technical audit of the plant by the international and local experts attests to its sound health, courtesy of the patriotic efforts of the staff,” he said.

Industry watchers, nonetheless, applauded the efforts made by the Jonathan administration to revitalise the ailing company, in order not to waste the huge investment made by successive governments.

“The dream of making Ajaokuta an industrial hub of the country is coming up slowly; the journey is still far, but it must be a reality,’’ says an observer.

•Adamu is of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Niger Delta fishermen reject Shell’s $50m

HOUSANDS of Nigerian fishermen have rejected an offer of $50 million from Royal Dutch Shell for “some of the largest oil spills in history,” their British lawyers said Friday after winning a landmark court ruling.

Shell already accepts responsibility for paying compensation and cleaning up spills caused by its own failures. But the London High Court decided that Shell can be held legally liable for spills caused by oil thefts, if it fails to provide reasonable protection for its pipeline infrastructure.The court case involves one of Nigeria’s worst environmental disasters. Amnesty International called it “a shot across the bows for Shell” and said the ruling

“paves the way for Shell to finally be held accountable for devastating oil pollution in the Niger Delta.”

Shell played down the judgment, saying in a statement that it was favorable in limiting litigation to “an assessment of actual damages sustained” in spills.

The oil company, Nigeria’s biggest petroleum producer, claimed that the court found Nigerian law “does not hold pipeline operators responsible for damage caused by oil theft.”

But Judge Robert Akenhead of the London Technological and Construction Court ruled Shell is responsible for taking reasonable steps to protect its infrastructure, including installing leak detection systems, surveillance

equipment and anti-tamper equipment. Shell does not have such equipment in its Nigerian fields, though they are considered mandatory in oilfields in the developed world.

It is the first time Shell has had its environmental record in Nigeria on trial by a British court. The thousands of compensation cases in often corrupt Nigerian courts drag on for years and often end with victims being paid a pittance. Until now, Shell has paid compensation only for spills caused by equipment failure.

Oil thefts in Nigeria have reached an industrial scale, with some $35 million worth stolen daily, according to figures this week from the country’s national conference.

Shell has a woeful record of cleaning up spills in Nigeria. It has yet to clean up the 2008 and 2009 spills that triggered the court case, saying the Bodo community has refused to give it access.

Mutiu Sunmonu, managing director of Shell Nigeria, said the company has accepted responsibility for the “deeply regrettable” spills and urged the fishermen to accept Shell’s “sensible and fair compensation offers.”

Martyn Day of London law firm Leigh Day said Shell’s offer of 30 million pounds (more than $50 million) amounted to about 1,000 pounds ($1,700) for each of 30,000 people who lost their livelihoods. He called it laughable.

Bodo Creek is one of Nigeria’s worst environmental disasters, with some experts saying it caused the largest loss of mangrove habitat ever caused by an oil spill.

Shell documents say the leak started Oct. 5, 2008 and a total of 1,640 barrels of oil was spilled. Government and community documents say the leak started Aug. 28, and industry experts estimate up to 4,320 barrels of oil was flooding Bodo each day for at least 72 days.

Amnesty International has accused Shell of manipulating oil spill investigations and wrongly reporting the cause and volume of oil spills devastating the Niger Delta, and of making false claims about cleanup measures

‘Fed Govt can use crisis management skills to curb insurgency’

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HE Federal Government has been urged to encourage the teaching of crisis management skills in schools as a way of curbing the growing trend of insurgency in the country and encouraging mutual coexistence among the youths.

A safety and crisis management expert, Mohammad Sani Isa spoke in Abuja at the weekend while speaking of plans for the public presentation of a book on crisis management titled: “Crisisology: Charting a course through crisis.”

He said the book, a monograph to be launched on June 26 at Merit House, Maitama, Abuja is

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

intended by his group, the Society for Safety and Crisis management (SSCM) to propagate the concept of Crisisology as an emerging academic discipline within the broader concept of social science.

“Its central theme is that crises can be detected, prevented and managed effectively and efficiently through education and sensitization,” Isa said He argued that the emerging trend of insurgency in the country results mainly from ignorance, which promotes the unwillingness

of those behind it to understand and tolerate contrary views about human existence.

Isa noted that it has become glaring that ignorance drives those behind the Boko Haram sect, who claim to detest Western education and their ways of life, but yet depend on their inventions, like the sophisticated weapons, which are products of Western education, for their activities.

“What the government should do is to focus on ways of enlightening the younger generation about the need to resolve disputes amicably, learn to accommodate others’ views and realise that violence bears no positive fruits.

Isa, who is the President of SSCM, suggested a departure from the current practice of deploying the nation’s energy to responding to crisis as against seeking ways of preventing crisis and nipping it in the bud, where it arises.

“Crisisology calls for improved, dedicated and scientific study of crisis for proper vigilance, extended due diligence and strict enforcement of extant control mechanisms.

Today’s operating environment demands that we should be prepared to develop a crisis mentality that recognizes that crisis can occur any time,” he said.

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THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

NEWS More Abia suspects linked to Boko Haram as kingpin is relocated Continued from page 1

•President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife Patience, officials and members of the Boys’ Brigade, Nigeria, after the investiture of President Jonathan as the grand patron of the Boys’ Brigade, at the Aso Villa Chapel in Abuja…yesterday.

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Jonathan congratulates Governor-elect Fayose

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday congratulated Ekiti State Governor-elect Ayodele Fayose.

He also praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the security services and the people for the successful conduct of the elections.

The President, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said the election was done in line with his administration’s commitment to ensuring that elections in all parts of Nigeria are progressively freer, fairer and more credible.

The statement reads: “As Mr. Fayose readies himself to assume office in fulfillment of the clearly expressed wish of his people, President Jonathan urges him to be humble and magnanimous in victory and com-

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

mit himself to forming an administration that will work for the advancement of the interests of all Ekiti people, irrespective of their political affiliations or loyalties.

“President Jonathan calls on Mr. Fayose to regard his second chance to serve as Governor of Ekiti State as a sacred mandate from God Almighty and his people which he must discharge with immense dedication, wisdom and vigour to achieve a much more rapid pace of socio-economic development in Ekiti State for the benefit of its people who resoundingly reaffirmed their trust in his leadership by voting overwhelmingly for his election yesterday.

“The President assures Mr. Fayose that the Federal Government will give all necessary

support and assistance to his incoming administration and cooperate fully with him in furtherance of the present administration’s objective of significantly improving the living conditions of Nigerians in all parts of the country.

“He wishes Mr. Fayose continued good health and a very successful second tenure as governor of Ekiti State.”

Dr. Jonathan maintained that Ekiti State had always been a PDP state.

He was optimistic that the PDP would do better in elections in other states.

The President spoke when the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP, led by its Chairman, Adamu Muazu, came to congratulate him at the Presidential Villa on the party’s victory in Ekiti State.

Jonathan said: “We have shown clearly that Ekiti is a PDP

state. I am happy that Ekiti has made it very clear that this administration stands for free and fair elections. We believe that we will even do more in other states.

“I thank God for the Ekiti election. It has been adjudged to be free, fair and credible by both local and international observers. It was peaceful and when the result was announced, nobody has been killed and no house has been burnt down.”

According to him, his administration is working hard to overcome the security challenges in the country.

He said the government was also doing everything possible to make Nigerians take electricity for granted and to bring back sustainable railway system among other infrastructure in the country.

On Super Eagles performance at the World Cup, he said: “Again, to crown it all, last night,

the Super Eagles made all Nigerians to smile. We know the game is not over until we play the last match, but at least as at this time, I congratulate this country, for what the Super Eagles have done. If they had lost that match, it would been devastating for us.”

“Even though we know we still have a top soccer country to meet, we are convinced that we will triumph. We are convinced that we will go in for the next round.”

Muazu said the victory recorded in Ekiti was due to President Jonathan’s purposeful leadership.

He noted that Jonathan gave him free hand in the selection of Ayo Fayose as the candidate of the party in the Ekiti election.

A special toast with wine and non-alcoholic drinks was made for the nation and the party at the occasion.

It was learnt that the arrest of the kingpin was, however, heralded with a drama as he gave a wrong name to interrogators.

According to a military source, unknown to the kingpin, a DSS officer in the interrogating team was one of those who had been on his trail. He recognised him.

After much gruelling, he disclosed his real name and admitted that he had been on the wanted list of security agencies.

The source said: “Based on confessions, the military has moved the Boko Haram kingpin out of Abia. He has revealed a lot and the clues cannot be ignored.

“He is at present in a secret detention facility.”

The source gave insight into the interaction with the kingpin and why his identity would not be revealed yet.

The source added: “When the kingpin was arrested, he gave a different name to those quizzing

Continued on page 56

Boko Haram kills 40 in Borno

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O fewer than 40 people were killed yesterday when Boko Haram suspects attacked Chuha A, Chuha B and Korongilim villages in Chibok Local Government Area of beleaguered Borno State.

They also destroyed many homes, shops and vehicles after carting away foodstuff and livestock.

Mallam Yakubu Joshua a youth leader in Chibok, who spoke on the telephone: “Some suspected Boko Haram terrorists invaded Chuha A, Chuha B, and Korongilim villages of Chibok local government area, killing over 40 persons.

“The terrorists injured many villagers, burnt many houses and made away with our foodstuff.

“The attack, which comContinued on page 56

My election is victory for democracy, says Fayose Continued from page 1

a continuum, saying refusal to complete ongoing projects would be a loss to the people who, according to him, are the purpose of governance.

Fayose promised to run an allinclusive government that will have the welfare of the people as its focus.

He warned his admirers not to organise any reception in his honour, saying: “When I was out of office for eight years, no one did any reception for me.”

Fayose, who spoke with reporters yesterday at Spotless Hotel in the state capital, urged the police and other security agencies to release unconditionally all those arrested and detained during the electioneering campaigns.

He attributed his victory to God and the people, noting: “I owe my victory to God and the common man in Ekiti. It will be impossible for me to come back eight years after I left the government without their support”.

He praised the governor for his show of sportsmanship and promised to work with him (Fayemi) and Bamidele.

“Fayemi has done his best. The only constant thing is change.

The office of the governor is an exalted office. For me, Fayemi remains my governor until October 16. He is a respectable

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Fayemi: Ekiti people have spoken

KITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi yesterday conceded victory to Mr. Ayodele Fayose in Saturday’s governorship election.

Fayemi, who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), lost to Fayose, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The returning officer, who is the Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Prof. Isaac Azusu, announced the result.

Fayose polled 203,090 votes as against Fayemi’s 120,433. Labour Party (LP) candidate Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele came a distant third. He scored 18,135 votes.

The remaining 15 candidates did not make any significant impact.

Domestic observers and foreign monitors lauded the poll as “free”, “fair”, “transparent”, “peaceful” and “credible”.

They urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to sustain the tempo in the Osun State governorship election and next year’s general elections.

Fayose won in all the 16 local governments. Following the announcement, there Nigerian and a respectable leader. It is in Nigeria that we rubbish our leaders.”

He said the people had remained with him despite his ouster in 2006 by the Assembly, promising to maintain the attitude which had ensured he remained accepted to the people.

“My people will never ask me for money. All they ask from me

By Emmanul Oladesu, Adekunle Yusuf, Seun Akioye and Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

was jubilation in Ado, the state capital, and other major towns.

Fayemi, who walked briskly into his office around 9:30am yesterday, looked royal in defeat.

In a broadcast, he told the people: “Yesterday, Ekiti State decided. Following the gubernatorial elections held in the Land of Honour, Ekiti State, Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially returned the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the election.

“If indeed this is the will of the Ekiti people, I stand in deference to your will.

If the result of the election is an expression of the voice of our people, we must all heed your voice.

“I have just spoken with my brother, Mr. Peter Ayodele Fayose, congratulating him on his victory. In a few hours from now, I would be meeting the governorelect to discuss the future of our dear state

is how to improve their wellbeing. I am a grassroots man. I identify with them. I owe them so dearly and I will continue in this trend.”

He went on: “This is still Ekiti, the homogenous state that speaks only one language. Four years is very short in the life of any government. Fayemi has called me to congratulate me. I

and how we would work together to institute a smooth transition programme.

“It has been a hard fought election. As expected, in the course of the campaigns, there were unsavory episodes as the candidates toured the nooks and crannies of the state to sell ourselves to the people.

Elections tend to be highly divisive affairs that often see brother rising against brother. Despite our diverse party affiliations, and regardless of which way we voted on Saturday, we must remember that we are all sons and daughters of Ekiti State. Ekiti is ours to build together.

“On our part, over the course of the campaigns, we presented our scorecards before the people of Ekiti State. We never at any point took your support for granted.

We campaigned, we canvassed and we traversed the nooks and crannies of this state. Our performance and achievements in office will remain the backdrop against which the next government and indeed future governments will be assessed. We are proud that with the support of Ekiti peo-

will see him tomorrow and let the public know that we are one.

Ekiti belongs to us all. A governor only gets a term and Ekiti will remain. Fayemi lost election today because the only thing that is constant in life is change.”

Noting that it was impossible to pursue industrialising Ekiti without assuring better

Continued on page 56

electricity supply, the governorelect explained that his administration would repair and upgrade every infrastructure to ensure better power supply across the state, noting that the move to industrialise the state should necessarily start with marked improvement in electricity.

Fayose said: “I told you during

•Dr. Fayemi

my campaign that this is Ayo Fayose that is older and wiser and who is ready to work with everybody. Fayemi is my brother and he will forever remain so. He has contributed his own quota to the development of this state.

“I also want to state that whoever suffered any loss during the electioneering campaign will be compensated Continued on page 56

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THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

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NEWS Army hails partnership with NIM

Pharmacists seek cancellation of Registrar’s appointment

By Nneka Nwaneri

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From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

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MEMBER of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), Dr. Paul Gar, has urged the Federal Government to cancel the appointment of Mr. Elijah Mohammed as the council’s Registrar.

In some petitions to the Health Minister, Prof Onyebuchi Chuckwu, the petitioner urged the government to conduct a fresh recruitment for the position.

He said: “My prayer is for directives towards the cancellation/nullification of the recruitment exercise purportedly conducted by the PCN and the initiation of a new exercise.”

The petitions, dated June 5 and 10, stated that the interview for the appointment of Mohammed was marred by irregularities.

One of them reads: “An advert for the vacant post of a Registrar was carried in three national dailies on March 10, 2014.

An interview for the post was eventually conducted on May 26, 2014. The recruitment was marred by serious irregularities that led to the selection of Mr Mohammed who has no public service experience and who is already 54 years old.

“Meanwhile, Public Service Rule 020205 (a) specifies that fresh appointees in the service cannot be less than 18 years or more than 50 years old.”

Ex-Aviation minister faults Fed Govt’s merger of agencies

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

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FORMER Aviation Minister, Mr Felix Hassan Hyat, has faulted Federal Government’s plan to merge three aviation agencies.

He said the plan was poorly thought out.

Hyat also faulted the government’s model for the concession of airport infrastructure.

The former minister noted that it was wrong to use public funds to build infrastructure only to give it out to private companies to manage.

Hyat spoke yesterday in Lagos at an award ceremony for another former Aviation Minister, Ms Stella Oduah.

He said the government’s decision to merge the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (MA) and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) into the Federal Civil Aviation Authority (FCAA) was not in the best interest of aviation safety.

Th e f o rme r m i n i s t e r noted that fusing a regulatory agency with service providing agencies would have adverse safety effects.

Hyat said: “I disagree with the government policy that seeks to merge aviation agencies. I am convinced that the agencies would do better if they carried out their statutory responsibilities independently. The NCAA should act alone as a regulator.”

•Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Right Rev. Nicholas Okon (middle); Chairman, Africa Forum on Religion and Development (AFRED), William Okoye (right) and President, Pentecostal Federation of Nigerian (PFN), Felix Omobude, during the National Conference of African Forum on Religion and Development (AFRED) in Abuja...yesterday PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

Sambo, Tambuwal, Sultan lead prayers

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ICE-PRESIDENT Namadi Sambo has led other prominent Nigerians to pray for the nation’s peace, progress and the eradication of terrorism and social vices.

The event, tagged: National Prayers for Peace and Security, was held at the National Mosque in Abuja.

Sambo urged the Muslim Ummah to pray for Nigeria’s peace and progress and an end to insurgency.

The vice-president said prayers are strong weapons against any adversity.

He said: “Let me reiterate that when any adverse situation befell the Ummah during the time of Prophet Muhammad and the Sahabah (the companions), their greatest weapon was resorting to prayers to seek Allah’s intercession.

“We shall continue to organise prayers as frequently as possible, and Allah, in His infinite mercy, will answer our prayers in removing acts of terrorism by Boko Haram and all other vices in Nigeria.

“Let me at this juncture urge all Nigerians to continue to pray for lasting peace and unity of our dear country.”

Sambo advised the Ummah to promote the ideals of Islam by living according to the tenets of the religion.

He said: “Islam promotes peace, good neighbourliness and kindness.”

The vice-president also urged Muslims not to allow “the few disgruntled elements among us to portray Islam and Muslims in bad light”.

He urged Muslim clerics to be modest in their sermons.

The vice-president called

‘Let me at this juncture urge all Nigerians to continue to pray for lasting peace and unity of our dear country’ for strict adherence to the Sunnah (ways of life) of Prophet Mohammed.

Sambo reiterated the commitment of the Goodluck Jonathan administration to the provision of tight security and at ensuring the nation’s stability and unity.

The vice-president said the Federal Government was doing its best to bring back safely the schoolgirls abducted in Chibok, Borno State, over two

months ago.

He said: “The government is working assiduously to support the efforts of the military by increasing its capacity in the search for our missing girls and to further secure the territorial integrity of the nation.”

Sambo expressed appreciation for the support Nigeria was getting from its neighbours and other African countries in the fight against terrorism.

The vice-president hailed the United Kingdom (UK), France, the United States (U.S.), China and other countries for partnering Nigeria on Boko Haram insurgency.

House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal said the National Assembly would do use its constitutional powers to support government’s efforts in the fight against terrorism.

Don’t cause fresh crisis in varsities, SSANU warns govt

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HE Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has cautioned the Federal Government not to delay the review of its 2009 agreement with the union.

The non-teaching workers said the warning was meant to make the government avoid a fresh crisis in the university.

SSANU urged the Federal Government to urgently set in motion the machinery for reviewing the agreement to ensure that the university academic calendar is not jeopardised.

In a communique issued at

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From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

the weekend at the end of its 24th regular Executive Council meeting at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) said the agreement had been due for a review since August 2012.

The communique by SSANU National President, Comrade Samson Ugwoke and the National Public Relations Officer, Comrade N. A. D. Aboribo, decried Federal Government’s failure to sign a tripartite agreement with unions without commitment to implement it.

The communique reads:

“The NEC-in-session notes that going by the terms of the 2009 FGN/SSANU agreement, the agreement was due for review with effect from August, 2012. Council frowns at the culture of the government signing agreement with unions with little or no commitment to full implementation of the terms of the agreement, which is one of the causes of frequent industrial crises in the country, particularly in the Nigerian public university system.

“SSANU NEC, therefore, calls on the Federal Government to, as a matter of ur-

gency, put machineries in motion for the review of the agreement without further delay before it degenerates into another round of crisis.”

SSANU condemned the non-implementation of the earned allowances component of the 2009 agreement to its members.

The union called for its regular payment “to avoid situations that may aggravate another industrial crisis in the universities”.

It also urged the government to pay the arrears it owes its members in research institute that are affiliated to universities.

State speakers seek financial autonomy

HE Conference of Speakers of House of Assembly yesterday rounded off its retreat in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, with a call for financial autonomy for the state legislature.

It said this would enhance effective and efficient discharge of their duties.

The retreat was with the theme: The Role of Legislature As An Instrument of Stability in Democratic Governance.

In attendance were the former Speaker of Malawian National Assembly, Chimunthu Banda and a former Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Adejare Bello.

They lectured the state speakers on: The Role of the Legislature As An Instrument of Stability in Democratic Governance and Constituency Representation: The Art of Lobbying and Advocacy.

In a communiqué endorsed by the Assembly speakers at the end of the conference, they said: “The importance of financial autonomy for the state Houses of Assembly for effective and efficient discharge of their legislative functions was brought to the fore and the state lawmakers reiterated their commitment towards ensuring the passage of the clauses as related to the autonomy of

the state legislature in the ongoing constitution amendment process.”

The communiqué was endorsed by Eugene Odo, Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly – Chairman; Terhile Ayua, Benue Speaker – Member and Larry Odey, Cross River Speaker – Member, on behalf of the body.

They urged the National Assembly to expedite actions on the Constitution amendment and transmit same to state Assemblies for further legislative actions.

Worried by frequent crises plaguing some state Assemblies, the conference ap-

pealed to the state lawmakers to ensure the stability in the polity and entrenchment of democracy by avoiding frequent and unconstitutional change of leadership of the state Assemblies.

The Speakers maintained that there was the need for stability in the country through the promulgation of high impact legislation, such as Electoral Act and its amendment.

The conference advised state lawmakers and their federal counterparts to engage in the legislative practice of lobbying with caution with a view to avoiding corrupt tendencies.

HE Chief of Accounts and Budget of the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration (NASFA), Maj.-Gen. Abdulahi Muraina, has hailed the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) for training and partnering Army personnel.

The general noted that the training had enabled many soldiers to become NIM members.

He thanked the institute’s President and Chairman of Council, Dr Nelson Uwaga, for supporting the teaching of Army officers to acquire management skills and techniques.

He said the Army benefitted from the first run of the leadership development seminar which was conducted recently in Lagos.

Muraina spoke at the weekend in Lagos when a team of the NIM visit the NASFA office at Apapa.

He said the collaboration had also enabled its senior officers to become active NIM members.

According to him, the training collaboration is with discounted prices and the goodwill extends to other sections of the Army.

150,000 Nigerians ‘visually impaired’ From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

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BOUT 150,000 Nigerians are visually impaired and blind because of glaucoma, a don, Dr Olufemi Babalola, has said.

He warned that the figure would increase to 200,000 by 2020, unless efforts are made to rid the nation of the eye ailment.

This implies that one of every 800 Nigerians is at risk of serious visual impairment from glaucoma, the university lecturer said.

Babalola spoke at this year’s 15th annual faculty lecture and launching of N50 million faculty endowment fund of the National PostGraduate Medical College of Nigeria’s Faculty of Ophthalmology.

According to him, glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness across the world.

But he said early detection and proper treatment would keep the ailment at bay.

Babalola urged people above 40 years to check their eyes at least once a year.

He said: “Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness globally. In Nigeria, it is estimated that about 150,000 people are severely usually impaired and blind due to glaucoma, and by 2020, there will be a projected increase to over 200,000 (Kyari et al). This means one out of every 800 Nigerians is at the risk of serious visual impairment from glaucoma.”

The don warned that “if glaucoma is the slow thief of sight we all know it to be, the only clear-cut way to prevent this is early detection”.

In the treatment of glaucoma, Babalola called for the use of lasers.

He explained that the laser beam is in the form of light produced by the stimulation of certain substances.

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THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

NEWS

Chibok girls: Nigeria in worst security situation, says Baraje

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FORMER National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, at the weekend said the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls by the Boko Haram sect in Chibok, Borno State, and the inability of the Federal Government to rescued them shows Nigeria is in its “worst security situation”.

He noted that without the girls’ release, the government’s on the matter would be perceived to be nothing, especially to their parents and the public.

Baraje, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), spoke in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at the graduation ceremony of 136 pupils of Baraje School of Arabic and Islamic Studies.

The APC chieftain, who was the party’s electoral chairman in the recent APC

Why corruption still thrives, by professionals

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin and Tajudeen Adebanjo

National Convention, said the party executives were the people’s choice.

He said: “We can only say and pray to God that all the abducted Chibok girls should be returned well and alive, just as we admonish government to step up efforts to ensure that these girls return to their parents.

“This is a very sad development. Any parent who puts himself in the shoes of the girls’ parents would know that Nigeria is in its worst situation, security wise.

“Since the girls are not released, nobody will believe that anybody is doing anything. When we begin to see that either five, 10 or all of them are released, then we can say the government is making efforts towards their re-

•Pupils to regain freedom in Ramadan if... lease. As far as we are concerned, the government’s efforts in that regard are not impressive.

“Whatever kind of appeasement that will make the people holding the girls should be done. Whether it is a negotiation or transaction, we want results. We saw America did it. Just for one person, America released about five insurgents. We have 219 adolescent girls.

“So, if we are to release everybody, if that’s what they want for the release of our children, why not do it? It is now left to the government to make appropriate arrangement to ensure that security is no longer breached.”

Also, the abducted pupils of the Government Girls’ Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, by Boko Haram may be released during or before Ramadan, it has been

learnt.

The Eti-Osa branch Chairman of the League of Imams and Alfas in Ajah, Lagos, Alhaji AbdulBari Yoosuph Afinni, spoke yesterday at a special prayer for national peace.

The Islamic cleric said the innocent girls might soon be reunited with their families during or before Ramadan, if the sect members are truly Muslims as they claim.

Afinni, who condemned the girls’ abduction, doubted that the Boko Haram sect is a Muslim organisation.

According to him, Islam accords women and girls special care and attention.

He said what the sect did with the continued incarceration of innocent girls for over two months was against the tenets of the religion.

At the special prayer for national peace, organised by

the league, Afinni said the nation expected that the girls would be released soon, in the spirit of Ramadan.

He said: “We are very sure that the nation’s numerous challenges will be surmounted. It is expected that the group will not take up arms against anyone in the spirit of Ramadan. That is if they are truly Muslims. Besides, Islam does not allow anyone to kidnap, kill or maim innocent persons.

“We don’t know them, but as they claim to be Muslims, we believe they could respect the holy month and release the girls. You don’t maltreat women; you don’t wage war against them. You must rescue them in any violence, not to talk of giving them psychological trauma.

“The girls are not feeling fine, no matter how much care they receive from the sect. The girls

By Nneka Nwaneri

100 military officers trained on war techniques

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HE Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN) has blamed the upsurge in corruption on the Judiciary and anti-corruption agencies.

The association noted that those involved in punishing erring Nigerians have been faulty in their duty.

It said such people were treating corruption matters with levity, thereby aiding its spread and encouraging more corrupt people at all levels of government.

Through its president, Bala Kaoje, APBN spoke in Lagos at the weekend at a two-day annual retreat of the association.

APBN said corruption kills a nation and its businesses.

The association urged Nigerians to fight the menace to save the future of the young generation.

The retreat, with the theme: Nurturing and Sustaining Professional Capabilities, was attended by 14 professional bodies and 80 members.

Kaoje said he was not approved among the members of the delegates for the National Conference, despite several propositions he submitted to the presidential committee of the modus operandi of what should be expected at the conference.

This, he said, was because the government did not expand its horizon but left the selection of delegates to “certain” individuals who “handpicked their friends”.

Kaoje said: “There is no proper recommendation of delegates. Many of those we find there have no business there in the first instance.”

Among issues raised at the retreat was how professionals can carry out their responsibilities effectively to enhance national development.

Also, there was brainstorming and an interactive session with a resource person to teach the professionals how to enhance their activities to yield more positive results and reduce corruption in the land.

won’t be mentally balanced.

“We appeal to the sect to release them for the sake of the holy month, if truly they are Muslims.”

Sheikh Mas’ud Mudasir, another cleric, urged Nigerians to seek forgiveness for their sins.

He said the various challenges confronting the nations are products of sins.

“All our problems are manmade and products of our sins from the leaders and the led. We have to repent and seek forgiveness from God Almighty. That’s the only way out. Prayer is the solution. We all know our sins.

We must go back ti God and repent,” he said.

The Amir (President) of Nigeria Muslim Students of Nigeria, Eti-Osa branch Yusuf Lawal said the sect’s activities are anti-Islam.

The Muslim cleric wondered why the sect attack Muslim leaders, women and other innocent Nigerians.

“Boko Haram doesn’t represent Islam. We also pray for the release of the Chibok girls and other abductees,” he added.

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•From left: Executive Director, British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation, Mrs. Oluwasoromidayo George; Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Otunba Bimbola Ashiru; Special Adviser to the Governor on Commerce and Indutsry, Mrs. Tinu Sopeju and Director, Kinderlech Centre, Mrs. Ewajesu Fasina, during the state’s entrepreneurship training programme organised for youths in Abeokuta.

Cement standard: Dangote dismisses job loss claim

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ANGOTE Cement Plc has dismissed as unfounded the claim that the recent review and grading of cement quality would lead to job losses.

The company explained that, on the contrary, it would open opportunities for more jobs.

The clarification came just as the Ibese plant of the company strengthened its relationship with the host communities in Yewa, Ogun State, when it disbursed scholarships worth millions of naira to students from the communities in higher institutions and secondary schools.

The leading cement manufacturers said the quality

•Gives scholarships to host residents

By Olamilekan Andu

review and the standardisation of cement used by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) would lead to the creation of more jobs.

The Group Managing Director of Dangote Cement Plc, Devakumar Edwin, spoke in Ibese during the award of the scholarships. company.

Edwin’s clarification followed complaints by some cement manufacturers and their employees that switching over to the high quality cement grade would affect their profit.

The company alleged that such cement manufacturers had been inciting the public to reject the new quality review on the pretext that it would lead to job loss.

The Dangote Cement chief also spoke in Lagos on the matter when a group of businessmen visited him at the weekend.

He said: “Gentlemen, let me tell you that the new cement quality review and trading would only create more jobs and guarantee confidence. The exercise properly positions the different types of cement we have and their uses. When you produce a quality

product, you would need more hands than when you churn out low quality and substandard product that requires little or no effort.

“Let no one deceives you: all over the world, only quality cement is acceptable. Nigeria is no longer a dumping ground. The SON has graded cement. All your building works should be done with 42.5 grade. The 32.5, according to SON, is meant for plastering only while 52.5 is for specialised construction, such as bridges, high rise building, among others.”

Beneficiaries of the scholarships jubilated and their parents hailed Dangote Cement for the gesture.

Ultimatum: Consultants to join NMA strike

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HE Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has threatened to join the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in the former’s planned strike, if the Federal Government fails to address its demands.

Members of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) opposed the appointment of medical doctors as medical directors in government hospitals.

JOHESU insisted that the

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

leadership of teaching hospitals should be open to any hospital worker to contest for.

But the NMA opposed the arrangement.

It issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to withdraw the circular it issued backing JOHESU on the matter.

NMA, at a recent media briefing, warned that should the Federal Government fail

to reverse its decision, its members would begin an indefinite strike, from July 1.

In a statement yesterday in Abuja, medical consultants described the government’s concession to JOHESU as unknown to medical professionalism.

In the statement by its President, Dr Steven Oluwole, and Secretary, Dr Aderemi Adeosun, MDCAN said it would be compelled to join the NMA’s strike, if the government does not

withdraw its concession to JOHESU on the expiration of NMA’s 14-day strike notice.

MDCAN said: “That the ultimatum of the NMA to government on JOHESU matters is noted. While MDCAN remains committed to its policy of ensuring uninterrupted health services, it will comply with directives to withdraw services, should the government allow the situation to deteriorate to the extent that NMA will have no credible alternatives.”

VER 100 senior military officers at the weekend concluded a training on planning and joint operations on land, maritime and air assets of multi-national forces.

The training involved Nigerian Armed Forces Officers and their counterparts from other sister African countries. It was designed to consolidate the officers’ knowledge in war gaming techniques.

At the end of the eightday exercise, designed for officers on senior course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, the Commandant, Air Vice Marshal John Chris Ifemeje, was optimistic that the officers would have gained a lot from the exercise.

He said: “In particular, you have enriched your knowledge on how to plan and conduct combined and joint operations involving land, maritime and air assets of multi-national forces. The exercise also availed you the opportunity to further develop your ability in the writing of estimates, briefing with the campaign plan schematics as well as the delivery of mission directives and planning guidance.

“I am also convinced that this exercise, tagged: SEA LION 2014, has consolidated your knowledge in the techniques of war gaming.

“During my visit to your cells in the execution phase of the exercise, I observed that you made efforts in your general preparations. This was evident from the well laidout operations rooms that I saw. I urge you to sustain this, as you would require such attitude to effectively face the realities in the field.

“The situation briefs given by the various commanders and the media also revealed the remarkable efforts of the teaching staff.

For these, I say well done.”

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

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NEWS

Smugglers attack Oyo council chairman, Customs officer

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CUSTOMS officer and Olorunsogo Local Government Area, Chairman, Hon. Wasiu Adekunle Olatunbosun, escaped death at the weekend when hoodlums attacked them, injuring several people at Kisi, a border town in Oyo State.

The council chairman, it was learnt, was held hostage by the hoodlums. He was rescued by a reinforced security team of Operation Burst.

Some irate youths from Igbeti and Kisi, assisted by others from Ilorin, were said to have descended heavily on customs officers performing their legitimate duty.

The Customs officer, Mr Idotade Jelili Alani, was soaked in his blood, having gone into coma following a deep machete cut on his head by the hoodlums who attempted to free lorry loads of

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

smuggled bags of rice and vehicles from the officers.

The youths, who made away with one of the seized vehicles, were armed with dangerous weapons, such as cutlasses, axes, pump action guns, knives and charms.

It was learnt that the hoodlums were mobilised from Ilorin, Igbeti and Kisi by angry smugglers who lost over 150 bags of rice and other contraband to Customs officers who intercepted vehicles conveying the goods.

Addressing reporters on the attack yesterday, the Coordinator, Customs Headquarters Special Anti-Smuggling Task Force, Abuja, Mr Shallangwa Hassan, described Kisi as a haven for smugglers.

He decried the attack against the officers by sus-

pected smugglers.

He said five suspects had been arrested and would soon be charged to court.

According to him, Customs officers shall continue to vigorously perform their duty and also restrain from use of arms with respect to the sanctity of human lives.

But, he warned that his men would not condone further acts of hooliganism to distract their operations and might be forced to match force with force if the attack continues.

While calling for collaboration between security agencies and host communities, Hassan declared that the Customs Services would make life difficult for unrepentant smugglers in the command.

He said: ” The purpose of my visit to the state is to access the situation on ground after the ugly incidence that occurred in Igbeti town be-

Ogun govt advises civil servants

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HE Ogun State government has urged civil servants to be more professional, dedicated and pro-active in the discharge of their duties.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun gave this advice in Abeokuta at the weekend while addressing participants at a training/ workshop organised by the International Business Machine Corporation (IBM) and the Voluntary Overseas Organisation (VSO) for Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

The governor, represented

By Adebisi Onanuga

by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Segun Odubela, said his administration would support civil servants to enhance efficiency.

Amosun said: “This partnership with the International Business Machine Corporation (IBM) in conjunction with Voluntary Overseas Organisation (VSO) is another important step in improving the professionalism of our public servants towards an enhanced service delivery in

Ogun State” Amosun said.

The IBM’s Corporate Affairs Head in West Africa, Mrs. Remi Abere, stated that the corporation’s mission was to empower civil servants with effective system of data collection.

The Head of Service, Mrs. Modupe Adekunle represented by the Permanent Secretary, Political Affairs and Administration, Mr. Oluremi Obayomi, stated that training and retraining of workers would continue to enhance development of all sectors of the state economy.

Foundation empowers unemployed graduates

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HE British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) has trained over 60 unemployed graduates under its Start-Up Ogun Youth Enterprise Training - Young Farmers’ Version which is designed to empower the youths in entrepreneurship.

Speaking during the closing ceremony, the Executive Director of the (BATNF), Mrs. Oluwasoromidayo George disclosed that the Foundation had identified the agrarian status of the state and decided to invest in the agricultural value chain, including investment in agriculture-based entrepreneurship for jobless youths, in fulfillment of BAT’s corporate social investment.

George said the training, empowerment and mentorship on agriculturebased enterprise was designed to foster creativity and innovativeness in business idea development and business networking promotion geared towards the creation of both direct and indirect jobs as well as the wealth creation.

“It is my pleasure to inform you that the one-week training programme which keyed into the “Start-Up Ogun” programme of the State Government, has successfully trained 60 youths of the state in acquiring requisite skills in developing their entrepreneurship skills, foster creativity and innovativeness in business idea development, promoting networking and

opportunity sharing among participants.

“It is worthy to mention that this is not the first time the Foundation is implementing projects in Ogun state, we have implemented four projects before now, three agriculture projects and one water project between 2006 and 2012.

“We also currently have two more projects which are work in progress. This will include the establishment of poultry farms in the four divisions of the state and a Cassava project in Ilugun, Ijebu North-East Local government area of the state”, she concluded.

In his address at the ceremony, Ogun State Commissioner of Commerce and Industry , Bimbo Ashiru, tasked the trainees to leverage on Bank of Industry and the State

government N1 billion SMEs loan for actualisation and practicability of learned business idea development and agriculture-based entrepreneurial skills, saying the government could not wait to key into the scheme.

Ashiru, whose ministry worked with the Foundation and the Kinderlech Centre on “Start-Up Ogun Youth Enterprise Training, declared that the State government would continue to expand its initiatives in wealth creation and employment generation through economic engagement of jobless youths in the state.

He added that the BATNF enterprise initiative would go a long to provide support in strengthening government socio-economic plans as regards agriculture and industrialisation.

Ondo inaugurates market today

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ONDO State Governor Olusegun Mimiko will today commission an 850-stall Caring Heart Market in Ore. According to a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Hon. Kayode Akinmade in Akure, the state capital yesterday, the market has 364 lock-up stalls and 480 open stalls.

He said the market also has a police post, administrative block, a restaurant, three cold room blocks, eight toilets blocks and two block of fish and meat stalls.

Akinmade said the market was built to enable the people benefit from the Caring Heart revolution going on in every part of the state, adding that the millennium market was designed to meet the sophisticated nature of the traders in the area, who play host to all classes of people from different parts of the country daily.

The government also urged the beneficiaries of the soft loan given to the traders by the governor’s wife, Mrs Olukemi Mimiko on behalf of the micro credit agency to repay the loan on time to enable others to benefit.

•The vandalised van

tween officers of the task force and some suspected smugglers that mobilised the youths against my men. I want to state here, for the records that this team which was constituted by the Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Inde Abdullahi, is a

•Alani

special anti-smuggling unit that is compact, fully kitted and staffed with highly trained and experienced officers and men to compliment the anti-smuggling efforts of the border commands in the face of the challenging security situation in the country.”

The Deputy Comptroller of Customs said: “But for those who think they can make profit through compromising our economy, health and national security have everything to fear because we will always track them down and bring them to justice.”

Arisekola-Alao: Nigeria lost a rare gem, says Tukur

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FORMER National Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday described the late Alhaji Abudulazeez ArisekolaAlao as a rare gem who would be missed by all.

Tukur spoken when he visited the Oluwo Kekere home of the late Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland in Ibadan to condole with his family.

“He was a rare gem whose replacement would be hard to find,” Tukur said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports

that Arisekola-Alao died in a London Hospital on Wednesday and was buried in Ibadan.

The former Chairman wrote in the condolence register “Aare Musulumi, a man of humanity and generosity. May Allah grant him Aljanna Fidaus, Amin’’.

He, however, refused to comment on the just concluded Ekiti Governorship election.

Sympathisers have continued to throng the home of Arisekola-Alao to commiserate with the family.

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THE NATION MONDAY JUNE 23, 2014

NEWS

El-Rufai: pardon to convicted politicians fuels corruption FORMER Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has decried the granting of state pardon to convicted political office-holders.

El-Rufai spoke yesterday when he delivered a lecture, “Corruption and the Challenge of Good Governance,” organised in Lagos by The Companion, an association of Muslim men in business.

He said state pardon to such convicted political office-holders would encourage many corrupt Nigerians.

According to him, it would also particularly give the youths the impression that corruption was something good and which people should get involved in.

“Pardoning convicted corrupt persons in Nigeria is sending a wrong message to the young ones,’’ the former minister said.

He also declared that no sector in Nigeria is free from corruption, identifying the vice as a major challenge facing the country.

He noted that if the nation’s politics is corruption-free, there would be “a representative and an accountable government.”

El-Rufai wondered how a minister would spend billions of naira on the charter of private jets and the president would be defending and justifying such a waste on national television.

“In some, if not all of

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•Former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Mallam Nasir El-Rufai (middle), The Companion’s National Amir Alhaji Musibau Oyefeso (left), University of Lagos Vice-Chancellor Prof Rahamon Bello, Otunba Abdul Lateef Owoyemi and Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) Secretary-General Prof. Ishaq Oloyede during the National Discourse organised by The Companion in Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

By Olatunde Odebiyi

these, the legislature has been silent, the anti-corruption agencies helpless while the judiciary is struggling to redeem its battered image. Impunity is the new norm in Nigeria these days,” he said.

According to him, “no one in the government seems to know what the other is doing and our welfare, progress and future of our children are the worse for it.

“Amidst this level of intragovernmental confusion and contradictions, we live in great fear of anarchists called Boko

Haram on the one hand, and ethnic irredentists’ issuing threats of secession and break-up of our country if an incompetent and callous president is not allowed to continue whether we choose to elect him or not! Should we talk about corruption or governance at all, or something else?

“We can choose to be like the ostrich and bury our heads in the sand, pretending that all is well with Nigeria, or we can confront the miniscule minority that is misappropriating our rights, freedom, future and prosperity and push for a good society that works for everyone...

Without doubt, one of the ma-

jor obstacles that have consistently thwarted our national progress and the actualisation of good governance is the issue of corruption.”

For corruption to be reduced, El-Rufai said Nigerian leaders must avoid measures and publicity that stigmatise Nigerians as inherently corrupts, avoid using anti-corruption agencies as tools of political persecution, minimise media grandstanding and focus on diligent investigation and casebuilding.

Lamenting the distortions in the polity, he called on Nigerians to join the fight to tame cor-

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From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

He vowed to fight Adeleke anytime they meet.

He said: “My regret was that I did not beat him as he claimed I did. If I had not been a minister, I would have flogged him like a baby. You know that he could not withstand one blow. You know Adeleke is sick; maybe he would have died that day.

“It was Sogo Agboola that gave Adeleke a dirty slap when he tried to caution him from being violent and he gave Sogo an elbow jerk, which Sogo quickly returned with a dirty resounding slap.

“I thought he was tough but he ran away immediately. He is lying if he says Omisore and I beat him. One upper or lower cut would have landed him in the hospital. You know me.

Let me tell you, Adeleke is a liar. After running to his people in the APC, they perfected the story for him. You know they are very good at propaganda. Ta lo nje ode aperin ni waju ode apeyan (who is an elephant hunter in the presence

of a hunter who kills human being)? I will one day leave office as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and anytime I leave office, I will fight Adeleke.”

Adesiyan swore by the Quran that he never attacked Adeleke.

He recalled the incident: “At about 1.00 a.m when I noticed that I was hungry because I had not eaten, I told Omisore and others at the meeting that I wanted to eat and we went to the pool side bar of the hotel to eat. As I was eating the fried plantain they served me, I noticed that some boys that looked like thugs were coming to our direction and all of a sudden, the light in the hotel went off.

“I was not afraid because nobody can terrorise me in my state though I felt there could be problem. The police did their jobs. They arrested the boys and collected their cell phones. Later, Adeleke, who was absent at the meeting on the ground that he was outside the state, came in and moved to me. He pointed to me and started shouting at me. He said he made me the

lenge with good governance is embedded in good leadership.

“We can’t have good leadership unless we have a fair election. It is challenging that people are yet to appreciate the linkage between their lives and their votes,” he said.

Earlier in his address, The Companion’s Amir, Alhaji Musibau Oyefeso, said the choice of theme for this year’s National Discourse, “Corruption and the Challenge of Good Governance,” was borne out of concern for the state of affairs in Nigeria, especially since the return to civil rule.

Sambo, others visit Arisekola-Alao’s home

Police Affairs Minister: I regret not flogging Adeleke

INISTER of Police Affairs Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan has expressed regret for not flogging the first civilian governor of Osun State, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, during the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) stakeholders meeting with the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osogbo.

Adeleke alleged that the Osun State PDP governorship candidate, Senator Christopher Iyiola Omisore, Adesiyan and a retired Customs officer, Mr. Sogo Agboola, beat him at a function a day before the state PDP governorship primaries, in which he planned to run.

Adesiyan, who spoke with reporters at the PDP state secretariat, Gbongan Road, Osogbo aat the weekend, denied beating Adeleke.

He however said he regretted that he did not flog Adeleke like a baby.

According to him, he refrained from beating Adeleke even when he provoked him because he was once his governor and more so because of his own position as a member of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

ruption.

Chairman on the occasion Otunba Abdul Lateef Owoyemi noted that the beginning of the end to corruption starts from each individual.

According to Owoyemi, corruption no longer knows sex, tribe, age or religion.

He said: “If Nigeria does not destroy corruption, corruption will certainly destroy Nigeria.”

One of the discussants, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Legal Adviser Dr. Muiz Banire said Nigeria is known as one of the most corrupt nations.

But he noted that the chal-

From Adebisi Oladele, Ibadan

V •Adesiyan

Director-General. I thought he got carried away because he was able to free his boys after telling those who arrested them that he was a former governor and that they are his boys.

“If I had ordered the arrest of the boys, the police dared not release them without informing me. Adeleke was so furious that Sogo wanted to caution him by holding him back, but he gave Sogo an elbow and which he returned with a dirty slap and Adeleke ran away with his thugs.”

Adesiyan also said that nobody can insult Omisore in his presence, saying: “I would rather die there.”

ICE President Namadi Sambo yesterday joined other eminent Nigerians to pay condolence visit to the family of the late Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji AbdulAzeez Arisekola-Alao. Sambo, who arrived Arisekola’s Basorun, Ibadan residence at 5:20 p.m yesterday, was led into the Presidential Hall of the estate where he spoke glowingly of the late Islamic leader and expressed President Goodluck Jonathan’s heart-felt condolence to the government, the family and the entire people of Ibadan and Oyo State in general.

He was received by Governor Abiola Ajimobi; his deputy, Otunba Moses Alake Adeyemo; the Deputy-Senate whip, Senator Hosea Ayoola Agboola; Chief Olabode George; former Minister of Sport, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja; industrialist, Mr. Oba Otudeko; Prince Ajibola Afonja, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi and some children of the deceased, among others.

The Vice President, who said he came to represent Jonathan, described Arisekola’s death as a monumental loss to the nation.

‘Aare Musulumi’s philanthropic gesture irreplaceable’ From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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HE Caretaker Chairman of Oluyole Local Government Area, Prince Abass Ayodeji-Aleshinloye and a chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Mr. Niyi Adeagbo, said yesterday that the late Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdulazeez Arisekola-Alao’s philanthropist gesture will be irreplaceable in the state.

They spoke separately during a condolence visit to the late Arisekola-Alao’s family in Ibadan.

“His death is a very painful one at this point in time when his wealth of experience and knowledge would have helped us greatly in overcoming the crisis in the country,” Ayodeji-Aleshinloye said.

Adeagbo said: “The late Arisekola-Alao was a very devoted Muslim leader, a captain of industry, the lover of the masses, who accommodated everybody, irrespective of their religion or nationality.

PDP governors, Tambuwal, Ihedioha, Kalu congratulate Fayose

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HE People’s Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDPGF) has said the victory recorded by the party’s candidate, Mr. Ayo Fayose in the governorship election in Ekiti State has shown the confidence Nigerians have reposed in the ruling party.

The forum pledged that governors elected on the platform of PDP would continue to execute programmes that would better the lives of the

people.

Akwa Ibom Governor Godswill Akpabio, who is also the chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum, spoke on behalf of his colleagues.

According to Akpabio, the forum also “congratulates President Goodluck Jonathan for his electoral reforms and commitment to the principle of one man, one vote, which have led to the free and fair election in Ekiti State, as attest-

ed to by local and international observers.”

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal and his deputy, Emeka Ihedioha, have also congratulated Fayose on his emergence as the governor-elect of Ekiti State.

Tambuwal also praised Governor Kayode Fayemi for conceding defeat, saying the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate’s action in congratu-

lating his opponent was a clear proof that the country’s politics is imbibing standard global practices associated with electioneering process.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Imam Imam, Tambuwal implored Fayose to work closely with all persons and interest groups to move Ekiti State to a new level.

Ihedioha hailed the victory of the PDP in the election and

congratulated Fayose.

A former Abia State governor, Dr. Orji Kalu, has also congratulated Fayose.

Kalu, in a message by his Special Adviser Prince ‘Kunle Oyewumi, said: “The turnout and peaceful conduct of Ekiti people at the poll is commendable.

“The congratulatory message of Governor Fayemi to Mr. Fayose shows that the election was credible and general-

ly acceptable.

“The election is a testimony that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria”.

Kalu acknowledged the political maturity and display of sportsmanship by the duo of Fayemi and Bamidele Opeyemi after the declaration of Fayose as the winner.

The former governor maintained that the election was a victory for all, irrespective of political divides.

THE NATION MONDAY JUNE 23, 2014

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NEWS EKITI 2014

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Mark, Ekweremadu, others congratulate Fayose

ENATE President David Mark led other personalities yesterday in congratulating the governor-elect of Ekiti State, Peter Ayodele Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on his victory at Saturday’s election.

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ecology and Environment, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki; the Kwara State governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN); and Enugu State Governor Sullivan Chime also congratulated Fayose.

Some of those who spoke also praised the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, for conceding defeat.

Mark, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja, hailed security operatives and the Independent National Electoral Commission,

From Sanni Onogu (Abuja), Adekunle Jimoh (Ilorin) and Chris Oji (Enugu)

(INEC) for the smooth conduct of the election.

He urged Fayose to justify the mandate of the people by embarking on projects and programmes that would have direct and positive impacts on the citizens of Ekiti State.

To do so successfully, he called on the governor-elect to bring all interest groups on board and ensure that no section of the state is shortchanged or marginalised.

The Senate President enjoined Fayose to ensure that Ekiti remains united and counselled Fayose’s opponents to accept the results of the polls in good faith and congratulate him as good sportsmen.

Ekweremadu, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media Uche Anichukwu in Abuja, observed that it was an important win for the PDP in the Southwest.

•Fayemi hailed

He stressed that the free and fair electoral processes that threw up the winner was vital for the growth of democracy in the country.

The statement said: “I send hearty congratulations to Mr. Ayodele Fayose and our party men and women who worked hard for this important victory.

“I equally hail the candidates, the good people of Ekiti State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the civil society, security agencies, and other democratic structures and institutions who ensured that the election was peaceful, free, fair and credible”.

Ekweremadu extolled Kayode Fayemi, for his efforts at developing Ekiti State for the almost four years he has held sway.

But he called on “him, the rest of the candidates and good people of the highly erudite state to join hands with the win-

ner to move the state forward.”

He enjoined Fayose to justify the confidence reposed in him by his people by aggregating the bountiful human resources available in Ekiti for its speedy transformation, irrespective of political leaning.

Saraki,, noted that Fayose’s emergence is a victory for democracy and a victory for the people of Ekiti.

He noted that despite the heavy military presence and outside intimidation, the election recorded a high turnout of over 51 per cent of the electorates who came out in large numbers to vote for their candidate of choice.

“I equally congratulate Governor Fayemi; who took the path of honour by conceding defeat and congratulating Fayose on his success,” he said.

He urged the governor-elect to see his victory as an endorsement on the expectations of Ekiti people for continued dedication to governance and a means for a focused purposeful leader-

ship.

Similarly, the Kwara State governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN), in a statement yesterday, hailed the people of Ekiti, INEC and security agents for the smooth conduct of the poll.

He added: “I congratulate our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and our candidate in the keenly contested governorship election in Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, on the convincing victory in the poll.

“I urge Mr. Fayose to reflect over this massive support and ensure the people get rewarded for their loyalty.”

Chime, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Chukwudi Achife, described Fayose’s election as not only a victory for the PDP, but a triumph for democracy and the will of the people as expressed through the ballot box.

He commended the INEC

People of Ado-Ekiti celebrating Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Mr. Ayo Fayose’s PHOTOS: NIYI ADENIRAN. victory...yesterday.

IGP praises Ekiti people for orderly conduct

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NSPECTOR-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar has praised Nigerians, particularly the people of Ekiti State, for their peaceful conduct before, during and after the Saturday governorship election.

A statement yesterday by the Force spokesman, Frank Mba, said the IGP was pleased with the high level of comportment, discipline, orderliness, patience and understanding exhibited by the citizens throughout

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From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

the period of the election.

“Of special interest to the IGP was the huge assistance extended to the police and other law enforcement agencies by the citizens, which made the election hitch-free.

“The IGP calls for a similar level of citizens’ cooperation and support for the police and other relevant agencies in other places, especially in Osun

State where similar elections will take place soon.

“He enjoins citizens to remain calm, confident, hopeful and trusting in the ability of the police and other relevant agencies to discharge their constitutional mandate of ensuring the safety of lifes and property and protecting the democratic rights and freedoms of the citizens,” the statement added.

The statement also quoted the IGP as pledging the prepar-

edness of the police to consolidate and re-enact the Ekiti security success story in other future elections.

The IGP also gave kudos to his personnel and other security agencies deployed in Ekiti for their professional conduct throughout the election period.

He noted that their exemplary conduct was an eloquent indicator of the readiness of the Force to provide the needed atmosphere for future elections in the country.

e-Eleven: voters have made their choice

GROUP of Ekiti professionals, the e-Eleven, has congratulated Mr. Ayodele Fayose of the Peoples Democratic (PDP) on his victory.

This came as the Senator representing Ekiti Central, Babafemi Ojudu, argued that the defeat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the just concluded governorship election was an opportunity to rebuild the party to subscribe to ideas and ideals.

The group’s Chairman Femi Ajiniran, in a statement

•APC’s loss is, opportunity to rebuild, says Ojudu

yesterday, said: “To the best that we can determine, we believe Ekiti people have made their choice and as people who are highly committed to the development and progress of Ekiti State, we respect the decision of our people and wish the governor-elect well in his new assignment.

“Election has come and gone. A winner has emerged.

While calling on the governorelect to act as a bridge-builder, we believe that he will see his

victory as rather belonging, not just to him, but the people of Ekiti State and will therefore continue the good work in Ekiti, especially the prevailing peace and infrastructure development enjoyed under the outgoing administration.

We in e-Eleven will continue to dedicate ourselves to the development of Ekiti State and we sincerely hope that the peace and stability that we enjoyed in the past will continue to reign.”

It hailed the outgoing governor, Kayode Fayemi, for the good job he is doing. “We are very proud of him. He is a good example of an ideal Ekiti man,” the group stated.

But Ojudu, in a statement, said.”We have to re-organise our party. Mistakes have been made, lessons have also been learnt. It appears that a few of us who are leaders seem to be miles ahead of our people. It is time for us to build a party that will subscribe to our vision.”

and the security agencies for ensuring a free and fair contest.

Chime praised the maturity and sportsmanship of Fayemi in congratulating his opponent shortly after the results were announced.

Former Information Commissioner Kayode Otitoloju rejoiced yesterday with Fayose.

Otitoloju, in a statement, said: “Your Excellency, if God says yes, who can say no.

“Fortune favours the brave.

Congratulations on your election.”

Aregbesola: this is beauty of democracy

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SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said that the beauty of democracy is that the will of the people must prevail at all times.

Aregbesola, in his response to the result of Ekiti governorship poll, said if the result, which declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ayo Fayose, the winner is the true reflection of the people’s decision and desires, his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), would have no option but to abide by the outcome.

He said a true democrat must be ready to embrace defeat just as he will be quick to embrace victory in all genuine democratic contests.

Aregbesola, in a statement by his Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy Semiu Okanlawon however cautioned that while recognising the will of the people in the attempt to institute real democracy in Nigeria, all institutions of state must be deployed in manners that promote and edify democratic tenets.

Reassuring the people of Osun of the confidence of his party to win the August 9 poll in Osun, Aregbesola said the support base for his party and government remained unflinching.

PDP, CNPP rejoice From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Gbenga Omokhunu (Abuja) and Damisi Ojo (Akure)

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HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has hailed Mr. Ayo Fayose’s victory in last Saturday’s governorship election.

PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, in a statement yesterday, described the victory as well-deserved, saying the election was credible, free and fair.

“We are particularly elated that the will of the people of Ekiti State prevailed and we sincerely congratulate them for realising their yearning for a truly democratically elected administration in their dear state.

“The outcome of this election confirms the popularity and acceptability of the PDP and its candidate, the governor-elect of Ekiti State. It brings to the front-burner, the genuineness of the crowd that throng our rallies across the country, especially in Ekiti Sate”, the party said.

The PDP also attributed the victory to its strict adherence to the principles of internal democracy and transparency in the conduct of the party’s governorship primary, which produced a popular candidate.

Thanking the people for their support, the PDP urged the governor-elect to ensure an all-inclusive administration that would revamp and reposition the state in line with the manifesto and ideology of the party.

The party praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies for their contributions to the successful conduct of the election.

The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) also yesterday congratulated INEC for conducting a transparent, free and fair election in Ekiti State’s gubernatorial election.

It said the election is far better conducted than the Anambra State’s governorship election.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

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NEWS Obiano, NCC begin anti-piracy battle

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From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

NAMBRA State Governor Willie Obiano has taken the anti-piracy battle to Onitsha in collaboration with the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC).

NCC’s Zonal Director, Mr. Emeka Ogbonna, said in a letter to the traders at Sir Emeka Offor and Jerry plazas that his office had taken notice of the alleged illegal copyright offence ongoing in the market.

He said stakeholders in the copyright industry and the copyright owners drew the commission’s attention to the high level of copyright infringements at the markets.

Ogbonna said: “This is the illegal reproduction and usage of protected work in memory cards, MP3 and MP4 devices for commercial purposes.”

He said the NCC’s war against copyright offenders still remained the cardinal point of their director-general’s policy to rid the markets across the country of copyright offenders and pirates.

This, according to him, was the reason the commission worked with the Anambra State government to encourage creativity among children.

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Aba residents in bomb scare

ESIDENTS of Aba in Abia State yesterday panicked over an object suspected to be a bomb.

The incident occurred less than a week after soldiers arrested over 486 suspected members of the Boko Haram on the Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway.

A source said a resident of Rivers Layout cried out over an object suspected to be a bomb.

The object, The Nation learnt, was under a car parked in front of the Royal Rock Church, 1, Rivers Layout, near East and George streets.

It was said to have attracted

From Sunny Nwankwo,

No controversy on Akunyili’s funeral date, says community

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HE Agulu community in Anambra State yesterday denied any controversy over the funeral date of their daughter, former Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili.

Some indigenes complained that the August 28 date as announced by the family coincided with the New Yam festival, saying it would be a sacrilege to bury her during the festival.

Those who spoke with The Nation said the community did not fix any funeral between August 15 and 30 be-

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

cause this is usually the period the community holds its New Yam festival.

It was learnt that any family in Agulu, who insists on burying their loved ones during the New Yam festival, would pay a fine of N100,000 to the community.

But President-general of Aulu commnity Sir Paulinus Aniagboso said there was no controversy concerning the ex-minister’s funeral.

He said the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Agulu People’s Union (APU)

would meet and decide on how to give Akunyili, who they described as an eminent citizen, a befitting funeral.

Aniagboso said: “The death of our dearly beloved wife, Prof. Dora Akunyili has left the entire Agulu people devastated and despondent.”

“Her painful demise has cast a pall of gloom and solemnity on our usually vibrant town. Prof. Akunyili was a great source of pride and beacon of hope to our community.”

“She made it possible for

Agulu to experience federal presence by attracting federal organisations to our town, a development that has boosted our socio-political profile.”

“She was a supportive wife and loving mother, who nurtured her husband and children to realise their potential and attain success in their careers.”

“We’ll cherish her memory and treasure her enduring legacies in Agulu community and have no reason to allow enemies to truncate her funeral activities,” Aniagboso said.

Aba

men of the police anti-bomb unit, who restricted movement for about two hours.

The source said the police told the residents to vacate their homes. They later inspected the object.

When our correspondent visited the church, an official, who preferred anonymity, said: “We didn’t know what happened until the end of the service. Policemen in front of our church told us not to come near the object.”

Police spokesman Geoffrey Ogbonna said the object was not a bomb but a fire extinguisher container.

Jonathan hope for stability, says Orji

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BIA State Governor Theodore Orji has described President Goodluck Jonathan as the hope of stability.

He said: “Any attempt to derail this democratic dispensation will be regrettable because this administration is best suited for the nation at this time.”

Orji spoke in a statement by his Special Adviser, Ben Onyechere.

He said: “It will be detrimental and a self-delusion for anybody to misinterpret the cautious approach of the Presidency as a sign of weakness, because President Jonathan is equipped to grapple with the challenges confronting our collective future vis-a-vis the stability of the nation.”

Added he: “The character and policy thrust of the Jonathan administration is rooted in its ability to exhibit reasonable flexibility to avoid the booby traps of its detractors.

“What we are passing through is an evolution to greatness as a nation and President Jonathan simply the pilot and not a scapegoat. It is, however, untoward and unacceptable to the majority of Nigerians that some people will denigrate the office and personality of our president without minding the international repercussion.”

‘Ebonyi records 947 rape cases’

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HE Ebonyi State Family Law Centre has cried out over the increasing number of rape and defilement cases.

It said about 947 rape cases were reported since 2013.

The chairman of the centre, Mrs. Elizabeth Nwali, spoke in Abakaliki.

She said 350 of the cases were reported between January and June, while 397 complaints were made last year.

Mrs. Nwali attributed the

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

increase to the justice their clients obtained over the years.

She said the cases bordering on violence against women and widows were entertained by the centre.

Hailing the governor’s wife, Mrs. Josephine Elechi, for her support, the chairman solicited financial support from the public to enable the centre tackle the scourge.

‘Free medical treatment in Imo’

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U.S.-BASED nongovernment organisation (NGO), “Available for Health International Initiative (AFHII)” with its headquarters in Abuja, will organise a free medical treatment at Umuokpo community in Owerri West and Isiokwu Ihioma community in Orlu local government areas of Imo State on June 26 and 27.

This followed a high level of maternal mortality and infant mortality rate in communities in the state and country.

A statement by the National Co-ordinator, Mr. Ikechukwu Nnadozie, said the NGO, led by its founder, Mrs. Christine Oby Egbo– Adinuba, intended to improve the health of women, children, widows, orphans and the less privileged, who could not meet their health needs.

It said a team of doctors, pharmacists, nurses, laboratory scientists and technicians would conduct free body check up, laboratory tests, free medications and counselling for the indigenes.

•Rear Admiral Alade inspecting the parade...at the weekend

PHOTO:PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU

Navy arrests vessel for ‘overloading’

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HE Navy arrested at the weekend an oil vessel for allegedly loading more than its approved capacity.

The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command (WNC), Rear Admiral Sanmi Alade, spoke at the command’s headquarters in Lagos during a parade to mark the end of his familiarisation tour of the units under the command.

Although Alade declined to give details of the arrest following the ongoing investigation, The Nation learnt that the vessel was impounded by personnel of the NNS BEECROFT after it was intercepted and found to have loaded more than its approved capacity.

The FOC, who scored the personnel and the units under his command high for their commitment to service and discipline despite the

By Precious Igbonwelundu

challenges facing the Navy, said plans were underway for fleet recapitalisation to ensure patrols of the waterways.

Reiterating the Chief of Naval Staff’s (CNS’) zero tolerance for illegalities at sea, Alade said the Navy would not hesitate to punish any of its personnel found wanting.

He warned sea criminals to keep off the Lagos waterways or face arrest.

Said he: “Yesterday, we arrested a vessel for illegality.

It is in our custody as I speak.

Two weeks ago, we arrested another vessel, which was also nominated to bunker a specific amount of AGO. “But it overshot in excess of about 50 metric tonnes of what was approved and it is an offence. We arrested the vessel because it has to explain how it came about the excess product.

‘We have challenges of infrastructure. Talking about infrastructure, it can never be enough, but we still need to do more to make our duties effective’ “The command has recorded success since my assumption as FOC. Despite the challenges of ageing fleet, the command has sustained a robust presence on our waters.

“Our patrol has been more effective and efficient with the upgrading of the command’s Regional Maritime Awareness Capability Centre in Apapa. Vessels have been arrested for offences and handed over to the prosecuting agencies for further action.

“Similarly, vessels have been rescued from pirates in recent time. The menace of oil theft and illegal fishing has been reduced, resulting in improved revenue generation for the Federal Government.

“We have challenges of infrastructure. Talking about infrastructure, it can never be enough, but we still need to do more to make our duties effective. We also need functional platforms to carry out our patrol duties, but the good news is that the CNS, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, is passionate about making sure that the NN’s fleet is recapitalised.

“In line with this, the NN has ordered vessels from China and the United States of America. We hope before the end of the year, we will have some of them and of course next year, some of them will join.”

Suspected robbers ‘kill’ vigilance group member

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ESIDENTS of 66, Item Road in Aba, Abia State are mourning, following the alleged invasion of their house and the killing of Israel Njoku, a member of the Abia State Vigilante Services (AVS), formerly called Bakassi, by suspected robbers.

It was learnt that four robbers about 2:30am on Friday allegedly stormed the house in Ngwa/Ohanku Road area and robbed the

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

occupants of cash and valuables.

Although it could not be ascertained if there was a fight between the vigilance group member and the robbers, a source said it was rumoured that the suspected robbers allegedly killed Njoku in his room after noticing that he was a member of the AVS.

The source said their neighbour died from gunshot wounds.

Njoku, it was gathered, pleaded with the invaders to spare his life, but the plea fell on deaf ears, as the robbers saw him as a threat.

A young man said to be in his 20s, identified as Ugonna Ike, has equally been reported dead. He reportedly drowned when excavating sand at the Imo

River.

Ike, an indigene of Uratta in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government, was said to have gone to the river with Osinachi Okezie to excavate sand.

It was learnt that efforts made by the rescue team to save him were unsuccessful.

Police spokesman Geoffrey Ogbonna said he was yet to be briefed.

The bodies have been deposited in the morgues.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

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NEWS Substation inaugurated in Calabar

Outrage over tariff hike From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

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ESIDENTS of Calabar, the Cross River State capital, are angry over what they described as an “outrageous” increase in their electricity tariff.

Though many of them admitted to improved power supply in the past few weeks, they said this was no justification for the increase.

At the weekend, hundreds of consumers stormed the office of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) in Calabar in protest.

A resident, Victor, said: “Before now, my bill was always about N1, 000, but the bill I got for this month is about N6, 500. That is over 500 per cent increment. That is not fair at all.”

Another resident, Ebong said: “I will not pay. How can I pay N6, 560 for a month? This is exploitation and I will resist it to the end.

“Most of the workers, especially the marketers, are fraudsters.

“Most times after paying your bill you will discover that your account has not been credited.”

Edet said: “I don’t really understand what is happening. Why will PHEDC suddenly increase electricity bill when I don’t even have light for close to three weeks?

“Usually, I pay N3,000 monthly but to my greatest surprise this month’s bill increased to N6, 560, which represents about a 100 per cent increase and that is not acceptable.”

But a PHEDC official said the company was running at a loss, due to the increasing electricity consumption in Calabar.

“The company is even running at a loss because in the past few months’ electricity consumption in Calabar has increased.

“Before now, the consumption charges were 200-300 units per customer but we had to increase it to 420 units so that we can recover a little of what was lost but it is not going to remain like that. I assure you that we will slash it down from next month.”

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

• From right: Chief of Accounts and Budget, Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration (NASFA), Major Gen Abdulahi Muraina; President and Chairman of Council of the Nigerian Institute of Management, Dr Nelson Uwaga and the Director, Army Finance and Accounts Big Gen Jahadi Jakko during the institute's courtesy visit to NASFA. PHOTO: NNEKA NWANERI

Rivers Assembly: Agumagu remains CJ

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HE Rivers State House of Assembly (RSHA) has reiterated that the government contravened no law in forwarding the name of former Acting Chief Judge, Justice Peter Agumagu for approval as substantive chief judge.

The Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary, Golden Chioma, made the clarification on a phone-in programme broadcast in Port Harcourt at the weekend.

Chioma said Governor Rotimi Amaechi has the constitutional right to appoint a chief judge upon receiving recommendation from the National Judicial Council (NJC), and forward such nominee to the

From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

Assembly for approval.

The committee chairman said: “Governor Amaechi is not bound to accept NJC’s recommendation, hook, line and sinker”. The basic qualification of a chief judge is 10 years practice experience in the bar.”

He described as unconstitutional, null and void; the assigning of administrative functions of the High Court to Justice Daisy Okocha, after failing to arm-twist the government to appoint her as chief judge.

“Anytime a constitutional provision becomes a subject

of dual contention, the necessary thing to do is to seek legal interpretation.”

This, the lawmaker said informed the government’s resolve to seek clarification in the Federal High Court presided over by Justice Lambo Akanbi.

He also said it was the judge’s position that while the NJC has the constitutional power to recommend the nominees for the position of chief judge to the governor; such recommendations are not sacrosanct, as the governor also has the right to accept or reject same.

Chioma, who is a lawyer, insisted that the NJC’s re-

course to suspending Justice Agumagu was unknown to law, stressing that Amaechi has the backing of the 1999 Constitution as amended to forward his choice to the Assembly for approval, which the Assembly in turn had given.

Answering a caller’s question, he said that the House committed no offence in giving speedy passage to the amendment of the 2001 High Court law.

“If I buy a car and decide to drive 75 kilometres per hour on the express way, instead of 30 km, will I be committing any offence?”

Journalist’s wife dies

Why I run a transparent govt,

by Dickson

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AYELSA State Governor Seriake Dickson has pledged to continue to run a government of transparency.

The governor promised to focus on improving the lives of the people and not succumb to rumour mongers.

Dickson spoke through his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Fred Agbedi, at a ministerial media briefing in Yenagoa.

He described the briefing as “a veritable channel to further educate our people on the policies, programmes and activities of the government.”

Agbedi said the governor has advised each ministry and MDA to “leap-frog our people from want to wealth, from poverty to prosperity, from despair to hope, insecurity to security of life and property”.

Agbedi lashed out at “desperate politicians and mischief-makers” for “misinforming the public and spreading rumours to achieve their own selfish agenda”.

THE new 2X150MVA, 330/ 132/33KV transmission substation in Adiabo, Calabar, Cross River State, was inaugurated at the weekend by the Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil.

The project, a terminal station, was conceived to deliver power from Alaoji transmission station to Calabar Municipality and its environs.

It was initially awarded to Alstorm/Areva in October 2001 at an initial cost of £9million off shore and N307 million onshore for a contract duration of 18 months.

The second phase mainly on the onshore aspect was re-awarded to MBH Power Limited in August 2006 at a revised onshore cost of N401 million with a completion period of eight months. On completion, pre-commissioning test began last year.

Wakil said : “The new transmission substation is a terminal station conceived to deliver power from Alaoji power station to Calabar and its environs.

“This substation is very significant because it would feed transmission projects, such as the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) transmission substation among others.

“In addition, it will also serve as a hub for power evacuation to the almost completed Niger Delta Power Holding Company power station at Odukpani.

“The issue of low voltage as was previously experienced due to the long distance transmission line from Alaoji to Calabar, has been addressed. This would further stabilise as soon as the 2X60MVA substation in Adiabo is completed.

“Indeed improved power delivery would impact positively on the tourism industry in the state.”

•Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State (right) welcoming the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar (middle) at the home of the late Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdulazeez Arisekola Alao when he paid the family a condolence visit. With them is the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Alhaji Suara Aruna (left).

Commuters lament condition of East-West road

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OTORISTS and commuters on the EastWest Road, the road that links the Southsouth to other parts of the country, have lamented the slow pace of work and the traffic jam on the road.

They decried the sluggish pace of work on the road, especially on the 54 kilometre Ahoada-Kaiama section, saying the development had made using the road a nightmare.

They complained that they spend a minimum of five hours on the road, which results in loss of time, energy and business setback.

Our correspondent noticed that the gridlock was caused by the activities of Setraco Nigeria Limited, the company handling the dualisation and reconstruction of the notori-

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

ous section of the road.

Rehabilitation of the 338km project started in 2006 after the contract was awarded by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Initially, the contract cost N200billion, which was initially under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Works, but was later transferred to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.

The cost of the project, which was divided into five sections, was later reviewed to N350billion.

Work on some sections of the road has been slow.

At the 54km Ahoada-Kaiama section, for instance, road users are finding it difficult as they send long hours to get to their destination.

A transport company driver, Udoma, said the experience on the road was simply hellish.

“We are suffering here. I have spent at least three hours in the logjam, not moving anywhere. Although they are working on the road, the contractors should endeavour to make a way for us to pass,” he said.

Also, a motorist, Peretimi, who was travelling to Warri in Delta State with his family, said his experience was nasty.

Peretimi, an asthmatic patient, said inhalation of carbon monoxide made him to pass out.

He, however, thanked God that his inhaler helped to revive him.

He said: “This is indeed a funny country. People do whatever they like. Imagine, this road had been awarded long time

ago, still we are grappling with this hopelessness. What have Nigerians done to warrant all this inhuman treatment?

“Here is a country that makes money from this region yet nothing to cheer about. Is it funny that people spend six hours on a journey that ordinary is less than two hours? This is what we have been subjected to at present.

“I was going to Warri to catch some fun with my family.

Now see me catching dangerous fun. I would have died, if not for God’s mercy.”

The motorists and commuters called on the Federal Government to prevail on the contractors to expedite work on the project.

The completion date for the dualisation of the road originally slated for 2012 was shifted to December.

Mrs. Helen Eke Eguabor, wife of Ide Eguabor, a veteran journalist, is dead.

She was 46. Mrs. Eguabor died in Johannesburg, South Africa on June 12.

She got her primary education in Zaria before proceeding to the Women Teachers College, Minna, Niger State for Grade II Teachers Certificate.

A devout Catholic, Helen was a member of the Catholic Women Organisation, Sacred Heart, Apapa Lagos.

She is survived by her husband, Ide and four children, Anita, Felix Jnr, Lauretta and David. Also left to mourn her are an aged mother, brothers, sisters, uncles and several in-laws.

Her remains will be buried at Ubiaja, Esan South East local Government Area of Edo State on July 4.

• The late Mrs. Eguabor

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

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NEWS ‘No support for Adeyemi’ From James Azania, Lokoja

POLITICAL leaders from Yagba Federal Constituency have reportedly withdrawn their support for Senator Smart Adeyemi.

A source said the leaders, at a meeting in Isanlu, which the senator attended, made it clear that they would not support his return to the Senate.

The source said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders told Senator Adeyemi that they would work against his return to the Senate.

He said: “Senator Adeyemi was told at the meeting that he will not get our support.

“His inaccessibility and the need for zoning will make it difficult for us to support him a third time.”

N600m for Kano roads From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

THE Kano State Government has approved N600 million has for the building of the Jaba-Rimin Kebe and Jaba - Gayawa roads.

Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso said Jaba-Rimin Kebe road would gulp N380, 860,730.17, and the Jaba – Gayawa road N255, 534,801.88.

Kwankwaso promised that the projects, located within Nassarawa and Ungogo local government areas, would be completed before the end of his tenure.

He said the government decided to rebuild the roads to ease the people’s suffering.

Kwankwaso appealed to council chairmen to collaborate with the government to ensure speedy completion of the projects.

The governor advised the officials to redouble their efforts toward the eradication of poliomyelitis by ensuring the immunisation of children in their domains.

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Why monarchs are Boko Haram targets, by Shehu of Borno

HE Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Elkanemi, has said northern traditional rulers became Boko Haram targets because of their cooperation with security agencies to fight terror in the Northeast.

The monarch said 14 of his empire’s 59 district heads had been killed by insurgents, arguing that it was wrong for the insurgents to claim that they were fighting an Islamic cause.

“It is wrong to force somebody to convert. There is nowhere in the Bible or Q’uran that we are asked to use force to convert people.

“They’ve attacked mosques, killed Imams, district heads, and even my own brothers,” he said.

The monarch spoke after Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson warned the political class and religious leaders against making comments that would escalate the nation’s security challenges.

A statement by Dickson’s Chief Press Secretary, Dan-

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

iel Iworiso-Markson, said both leaders spoke when they met at the Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.

The governor implored political and religious leaders to take steps that would reflect support for the security agencies, instead of capitalising on the situation to score cheap political points.

Dickson said: “This is a time to unify Nigeria, not a time to balkanise her.

“The challenges here should not be politicised. We should come together and confront it.

“Our view is that political leaders should refrain from making comments capable of inflaming passions. Our comments should reflect support and empathy for our security agents, and not seek to score cheap political points.

“We talk about the abductions and the killings. All people of goodwill are with the people of Borno and I

‘Our view is that political leaders should refrain from making comments capable of inflaming passions. Our comments should reflect support and empathy’ believethat Nigeria shall soon overcome this problem.”

He further noted that the nation’s constitution empowered governors to maintain law and order in their domains.

According to him, the intervention of Niger Delta governors brought about the existing peace and stability in the region.

The governor said the only difference between the president and the governors was that the president had direct control of the armed forces.

“As a state that has had its own share of insecurity, we deployed our constitutional powers to arrest the situation.

“Every state has sufficient instruments to enforce law and order. “ The governor has equal constitutional powers to maintain law and order, just as the President,” he said.

The monarch, who is the Chancellor of the stateowned Niger Delta University, said he was the first traditional ruler to be targeted by a suicide bomber.

He vowed to remain resolute and supportive of any process that would restore peace, harmony and unity to his over 1,200 year-old kingdom.

According to him, the Kanem-Borno Empire has never been conquered by power.

• Former VicePresident Atiku Abubakar and the Emir of Gummi, Justice Lawal Aliyu Gummi at the emir’s coronation in Zamfara State... yesterday.

INEC begins voter education THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Plateau State has begun processes of voter education.

The commission set up the Inter Agency Advisory Committee on Voters Education and Publicity (SICVEP), which will soon begin sensitisation and public awareness programme.

A statement by the Deputy Director and Head, Voter Education and Publicity, Osaretin Imahiyereobo, said: “The state chapter inauguration is scheduled to take place at the Nigerian Institute of Mining and GeoSciences Jos. “Public education programme is geared towards the preparations that will engender free, fair, credible and acceptable elections in 2015.

“The committee is expected to help INEC fulfill its statutory mandate as specified in sections 2 and 154 of the Electoral Act.”

From left: Media/Brand Public Relations Manager, Edem Vindah, Marketing Manager, Non-Alcoholic Drinks, Sampson Otoche, Presenter, Maltina Dance all Season 8 (MDA8), Osas Ighodaro and Senior Brand Manager, Maltina, Wole Adedeji at PHOTO: ADEJO DAVID. the MDA8 briefing in Lagos.

Lawmakers to reconcile Jang and House From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

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ATIONAL Assembly lawmakers from plateau State have intervened in the impasse between Governor Jonah Jang and the House of Assembly.

Member representing Pankshin, Kanke, Kanam Federal Constituency Emmanuel Goar said this after declaring his intention to run for senate next year.

The House of Assembly is investigating allegations of financial misappropriation against Jang and other state officials.

A group, Plateau Patriotic Front, petitioned the House, alleging financial misconduct of over N20 billion.

A copy of the petition, obtained by The Nation, titled: “Allegation of gross misconduct against Governor Jonah David Jang of Plateau State” contains allegations of extra budgetary spending, misappropriation, inflated contract sum and unauthorised bank loans.

Jang’s son, Yakubu, who is also the Special Adviser on Special Duties, has sued the lawmaker.

The government has circulated a memo banning all civil servants and political appointees from honouring invitation from any committee over the petition.

The memo, signed by Permanent Secretary, Policy and General Services, Izam Azi, said: "No civil servant working under the government or political appointees is allowed to honour invitation from the House of Assembly without seeking clearance from the governor."

The memo reads: "I'm directed to inform you that henceforth, no ministry, department or agency is to appear before any committee anywhere with respect to any petition unless you seek clearance and obtain approval from the governor."

Goar said: “The face off between the executive and legislature is a family affair because the two arms of government are products of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“I am aware of a petition against the executive which the lawmakers are acting upon, but the executive also believes that the House has no basis acting on a petition whose author is not known.

“This is normal in a democratic government; I don’t see it as fighting, it is part of checks and balances.

“I see all these as mere disagreement among family members and I believe we can sort things out in a family way. I have begun to mobilise my colleagues in the National Assembly to intervene.

“As a former speaker, I know the legislature and the executive hold me in high esteem and they have the confidence I can end the impasse.

The next line of action is to call a PDP family meeting and all outstanding issues will be resolved.

“So I appeal to both parties to remain calm and maintain status quo as loyal PDP members and allow for amicable resolution of the issues. They are not out of control, I can assure you, we shall resolve the issues in a family way.”

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

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THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

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NATION SPORT

‘Arsenal could have Balotelli for •44m’

A •Balotelli

RSENAL may have to pay up to •44 million [£35m] in order to sign Mario Balotelli if AC Milan have their way, The Insider has reported.

Goal revealed earlier this week that Arsene Wenger and the player’s agent Mino Raiola were due to meet in Brazil where the Arsenal manager is currently working as a pundit

Robben should have played for Manchester United—Ferdinand

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IO Ferdinand has revealed his regret at Manchester United missing out on the signing of Arjen Robben and believes he would have “fitted in” at the club.

The Dutchman, who was just 20 when he moved to Stamford Bridge, proved a big hit in the Premier League and now boasts title-winning medals in England, Spain and Germany, as well as his home country.

With a Champions League crown and 77 international caps also under his belt, Robben - currently enjoying a productive World Cup with the Netherlands - is among the world’s best players and Ferdinand wishes United had made a greater effort to bring sign him prior to Chelsea.

“Arjen Robben has been the

outstanding player of the tournament for me so far, and not for the first time I’ve being thinking ‘if only’ about the missed opportunity Manchester United had to sign him when he was young,” he wrote in the Mail on Sunday.

“He should have been a United player. He would have fitted in.

“He had a brilliant breakthrough season with PSV in 2002-03, a campaign in which he turned 19, and Sir Alex Ferguson wanted to sign him.

“United made a bid of something around £5 million (•6.25m) and Sir Alex was always determined he wouldn’t over-pay for any player.

“When that was rejected, Chelsea paid something like £12m (•15m).”

on French television - on Saturday, with a view to thrashing out a deal for the controversial Italy striker.

Arsenal was hopeful of being able to sign the former Manchester City star for around •31m [£25m] but Milan has issued Raiola with a mandate to get an extra •12.5m [£10m] from any potential buyer.

Having missed out on Champions League qualification Milan is willing to let their star player leave, but with Manchester City due to receive a 20 per cent sell-on fee the Italian giants are hoping to drive up the asking price.

Balotelli has scored 28 goals in 51 appearances for Milan since returning to Serie A in January

2013 and was coy when questioned about his future ahead of Italy’s shock 1-0 World Cup defeat against Costa Rica on Friday.

“I’m concentrating on the national team and the World Cup,” he told reporters.

“What comes later, we will see. I know nothing.”

Raiola was similarly guarded earlier this week with regards to his client’s future, saying: “Arsenal are a fantastic club,” when asked about the report by Sky Sports “Only eight or 10 clubs in the world can afford Mario Balotelli - like all premium players, and he is one of the greatest. “[Will the move happen?]

Anything is possible.”

Rakitic: Barcelona is a big step HE Croatia midfielder in my career admits that moving to

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the Catalans will represent a huge challenge and reflects on a “wonderful” three years at fellow Liga outfit Sevilla Croatia’s Ivan Rakitic has described his move from Sevilla to Barcelona as “a big step” ahead of his country’s pivotal Group A game with Mexico.

The 26-year-old will join the Blaugrana following the successful negotiation of a •20-million fee and has agreed a five-year deal to join

Luis Enrique’s side.

Rakitic, speaking ahead of his nation’s vital World Cup encounter against Mexico, insisted he was completely focused on Croatia but was also looking ahead to his future with his new club.

“Moving to Barcelona is a big step in my career,” the midfielder told a press conference.

“I want to thank Barca for being fair in the negotiations and satisfying Sevilla.”

Martinez to join race for World Cup stars

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VERTON FC boss Roberto Martinez is keen on Ecuador forward Enner Valencia after his impressive performances at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Valencia has scored three goals already at the tournament and has seven goals in 12 full internationals.

The Daily Express report that the Blues have joined Tottenham and Newcastle in the hunt for the 25-year-old who has scored 18 goals in just 23 games for his Mexican club side, Pachuca.

Pachuca’s vice-president Andres Vassi admits it will be hard to hold on to Valencia after his World Cup performances.

He said: “Enner Valencia’s value increases every day. We don’t know if he will stay, it will be hard given the offers we have received.

“The options that a great player at this level gets are to be taken into account. But for now he has to keep doing things right.

“No doubt it would hurt us to let Enner Valencia go, but we are realistic about his quality.”

The Blues could also strengthen their midfield with Crystal Palace winger Yannick Bolasie, according to the Daily Mirror .

Bolasie had an impressive season for the Eagles last term and could be available for as little as £3m as he has just one year remaining on his current deal and has yet to agree fresh

terms with the London club.

Finally, another Everton wing target, Ivan Perisic, could be on his way to Serie A with Napoli, according to The Sport Review.

The Croatian, who has scored ten goals in 30 games for German side Wolfsburg last season, scored for Croatia in their 4-0 World Cup victory over Cameroon last week.

Everton were thought to hold an interest but the winger’s agent says he could be on the verge of a move to Serie A. He said: “Personally, I am in regular contact with Napoli for my assistants, including Perisic, who I can confirm is wanted by director Riccardo Bigon.

“Many Serie A clubs are interested in Perisic. He is very happy at Wolfsburg, but if the two clubs were to reach an agreement for his transfer to Napoli, then he’d be very happy to play in Serie A.”

•Martinez

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

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NATION SPORT Early World Cup exit a ‘wake-up call’, says Ferdinand

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•Lionel Messi (1st L) of Argentina celebrates after scoring a goal with his teammates at the on-going Brazil 2014 World Cup.

Messi: We can play better

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IONEL Messi claims Argentina will improve despite unconvincing FIFA World Cup™ performances in the two victories which have secured qualification for the knockout rounds.

Messi came to the rescue again against Iran on Saturday, scoring in injury time to clinch a 1-0 win. That followed another Messi trademark goal to ensure a 2-1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in Argentina’s opening match.

Maradona praises ‘refreshing’ Costa Rica

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IEGO Maradona says he has been impressed by Costa Rica’s attacking style, praising the fact that they could beat Italy and Uruguay with flair.

The Central American nation have qualified for the last-16 of a World Cup finals for just the second time in their history after shock 3-1 and 1-0 wins over la Celetse and the Azzurri respectively.

However, what has particularly struck Maradona is that Jorge Luis Pinto’s side have refused to play “boring” football and have succeeded in taking on some of the established nations without solely being defensive.

“Like Chile, Costa Rica have won their first two matches in style,” the 53-yearold wrote in his column for the Times of India.

“They have been unafraid of their illustrious opponents and their strategy has been refreshing. They did not win by merely defending against better teams.

“They attacked with great speed, with the intention of scoring and once ahead, did not put everyone behind the ball in the defensive third to make life difficult for their opponents. They wanted to entertain and got the support of the crowd. It proved that a relatively small team doesn’t have to be boring to beat the established ones.

“This reminds me of Cameroon, who surprised everyone in 1990 by topping their group ahead of Argentina, Romania and the Soviet Union. But that side played a different game. They were extremely physical and produced some rough and destructive football to protect their lead against us.

“Costa Rica’s philosophy has been different and that makes their achievement all the more creditable.”

Maradona is now relishing the Group D encounter between Uruguay and Italy, which will decide the side that follows Costa Rica into the next round, but also emphasised that Cesare Prandelli’s men will need to improve to secure progress.

“The biggest upset in Brazil so far has been Costa Rica’s win over Italy,” he said.

The Barcelona forward said: “If we analyse both matches we might say we can play better but as we progress in the tournament we will improve and reach our full potential. We know we are not playing as well as we are expected. But we have qualified for the next round and that was our first objective.”

Messi, who called his goal “a wonderful moment”, admitted it had been difficult to overcome the challenge

posed by a determined Iran side. “It was difficult to break down their defence and find space,” added Messi.

“It’s tough to play against teams that close up like they did.

“We have to correct our mistakes and we are the first to realise that we aren’t playing at the level we want to. We were at least able to get the three points which means we don’t have to suffer in the last match.”

Argentina’s manager Alejandro

Sabella, not for the first time, paid tribute to Messi’s influence. He said: “All the players contributed to the victory but of course we have a genius who is called Messi. Fortunately he is Argentine everyone would like to have Messi but it is us who have him.”

Argentina will meet the runner-up from Group E - likely to be either Ecuador or Switzerland - in Sao Paulo if they top Group F.

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Switzerland had nothing to do with his ill-discipline against Honduras Didier Deschamps has revealed that

his decision to overlook Paul Pogba for France’s match against Switzerland was not a consequence of the midfielder’s ill-discipline against Honduras.

The Juventus man started France’s opening game against the Central Americans, where, despite impressing with his performance, he was criticised for a spat with Wilson Palacios.

The Honduras midfielder appeared to trample on Pogba, leading to the French midfielder kicking out in frustration, for which he was fortunate only to receive a yellow card.

Pogba was used only as a secondhalf substitute in the 5-2 thrashing of Switzerland in France’s second group game, but Deschamps insists it was a tactical decision to deploy Moussa Sissoko instead.

“That was not a sanction against the fact that he could have received a red card in the first game,” he said. “It was a choice with respect to Moussa Sissoko.

“Paul has huge potential, I trust him, and he knows that.

“He is capable of doing very good things. But I cannot play all players.”

Deschamps and France sealed qualification for the last 16 with their win in Salvador, and will play their last group game against Ecuador at the Maracana on June 25.

Pogba omission not punishment, insists Deschamps HE France boss says his decision to leave the Juventus man out of the starting XI to face

•Pogba

ORMER Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand believes England’s early elimination from the World Cup needs to be a “wake-up call” for the country to make radical changes.

England crashed out of the competition following narrow defeats to Italy and Uruguay but the 35-yearold hopes the country’s exit can act as an incentive to improve football in the country at youth level.

Keep up with all the latest Three Lions news and get involved in the debate on Twitter with our new England Social Hub “We lack facilities and coaches at all levels, and opportunities for top-level playing experience for the best young players,” he wrote in his column for the Mail on Sunday.

“In the whole of England there are 639 3G all-weather pitches. Germany have more than 5,000. An FA survey of clubs at all levels found 84 per cent of respondents saying facilities are poor.

“It hasn’t changed. This directly impacts on how many teams and at what age-groups kids can play.

We have too few coaches, and those we have are not as well qualified as they should be.

“England’s embarrassing early exit from the World Cup needs to be a wakeup call that something is fundamentally wrong in our national game and it needs fixing or we’ll be also-rans for ever.”

Much was made of England’s choice of youthful players but Ferdinand believes more players should be available and also claimed Roy Hodgson failed to pick the right blend of players.

Uncover the statistics behind the World Cup with our new Unibet infographic series “Roy Hodgson fell between two stools in his approach to mixing youth and experience,” he continued.

“He left behind the nous-heavy, tournament-hardened Michael Carrick and Ashley Cole, played his captain Steven Gerrard in a tough role, and gave youth its head only to an extent.

“There was a case for saying up front that this was going to be an event to gain experience, for the youngsters.

They’d learn how to prepare, play, rest, gain that high-intensity experience.

“With respect to the 23 in the squad, including some seasoned veterans who have done it all at club level and some extremely talented youngsters, our talent pool is puddle deep.”

•Ferdinand

Hazard feels pressure as Belgium’s star player •Hazard

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DEN Hazard has admitted he feels ‘huge pressure’ as Belgium’s star player at this year’s World Cup. The 23-year-old has excelled since his •40 million [£32m] move to Chelsea two years ago but confessed that his price tag, and reputation, has placed a level of expectation on him to help guide Belgium out of their group.

“It’s great to carry the burden of a nation and on the other hand, it’s huge pressure whenever you are on the pitch,” he confessed to the Times of India when told he was his country’s national hope.

“Belgian people are aware of my price tag

and so I guess it is quite natural for them to pin their hopes on me. I am only 23 but I am exposed to plenty of top-level football to have a fair idea of what the World Cup will mean to me and my team.

“We have some exciting young talents who have the ability to turn a match on their own.”

Hazard made an instant impression on his debut in the competition, setting up his side’s winner in a 2-1 victory over Algeria, and the former Lille player admitted he now wants to help ‘force the world’ to focus on Belgium with a strong World Cup showing.

“It was a dream come true for me,” he said

of his debut. “This is the biggest of all tournaments.It’satimeofcelebrationforfootball and for the participating nations.

“We have qualified for the finals after a long gap of 12 years. That was a great excitement for all of us. Getting to Brazil was a dream for all of us.”

“Now the dream is to play as well as possible and force the world to focus on us. Our first target is to qualify from the group. To do so we have to play really well.

“Once we get there, in the knockout [stages] no-one can predict anything. So, let’s just concentrate on the job at hand.”

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

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COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

FROM OTHER LANDS

More trouble for Nigeria’s oil

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•We should be worried over China’s plan to cut imports

F the shale oil revolution in the United States hasn’t quite set the managers of Nigeria’s economy in panic mode, perhaps, the latest developments from China – a country with equally humongous appetite for Nigeria’s oil – should.

Like the United States which moved from being the number one buyer of Nigeria’s crude only a year ago to a distant 10th place in recent time, China, according to reports, is also considering massive cuts in its current 900,000 barrels per day imports from Nigeria.

Addressing officials of his Communist Party, Chinese President Xi Jinping would observe that “the country needs a revolution in the way it produces and consumes energy, as demands continue to rise and supply challenges mount” just as he gave hints of measures to “restrain irrational energy consumption” through controls on energy use within its 2011-2015 energy

If the shale oil revolution in the United States hasn’t quite set the managers of Nigeria’s economy in panic mode, perhaps, the latest developments from China – a country with equally humongous appetite for Nigeria’s oil – should ...

China, according to reports, is also considering massive cuts in its current 900,000 barrels per day imports from Nigeria.

sector plan.

By supply challenges, the Chinese President of course meant the comparatively long shipping distance from Nigeria’s Shell’s Bonny Export Terminal to Tianjin, China –some 12,172 miles, compared with United States’ New York Harbour of 5,847 miles. Asian refiners are said to be pushing for discounts on Nigeria’s crude as a way to maintain some competitive edge.

For a country that has come under harsh criticisms over its environmental policies, the push by China towards conservation, and hence optimisation of energy use could not have come at a better time. While it seems the least that the world’s leading energy consuming nation could do at this time, it is a matter of its enlightened self-interest that it pushes to source its energy from sources that assure its global competitiveness.

What lessons does the development hold for Nigeria’s macro-economic stability?

The first must be the continuing folly in wholesale export of Nigeria’s crude.

We only need to recall the lessons of the 1980s to appreciate that the current boom in commodity prices would not last forever. To better appreciate the scenario, it seems unimaginable that the US which took a large chunk of Nigeria’s oil is already pushing to relax the regulation barring exports of crude oil in the immediate aftermath of the shale oil revolution. Today, US crude oil imports are reported as having declined to its lowest levels in 15 years – the result of new fuel efficiency standards. Of course, it seems only a matter of time before the two factors take their toll on energy prices.

Secondly, short of describing the current regime of fuel importation as treasonable, it is, to put it mildly, irresponsible. Spending a huge chunk of the nation’s reserve to bring in refined crude after exporting our raw crude remains a most unpatriotic practice to engage in.

Not only does it perpetuate the structural dependence of the economy on the international cartel of oil traders, it denies the economy the multiple benefits of economic linkages from processing the crude locally.

Unfortunately, whereas the developments in US and China provide evidence of how much the leading energy consumers are taking proactive steps to curb their appetite for imported oil, it does not appear to have registered to a producing country like Nigeria which continues to fritter its hard-earned resources on wasteful avenues, including refined petroleum products in the absence of a coherent energy policy. Today, the absence of such policy is just as true in the oil and gas as it is of the alternative energy source, coal, known to exist in abundance but lies untapped.

Today, nearly two years after, the much hyped Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) said to provide comprehensive framework for addressing the challenges of the oil and gas sector is in the doldrums. While multi-million dollar investments are said to be on hold as a result, our National Assembly is yet to find the presence of mind to pass the critical legislation.

Perhaps, one good way to start addressing the challenge is to urgently pass the law.

Boko Haram or harmless citizens?

A

•Arrest of 486 night travellers in Abia underscores the need for thorough probe

BOUT the same time the police defused a bomb planted in a church in Owerri, Imo State, the arrest of 486 night travellers, reportedly heading for Port Harcourt, Rivers State, is cause for anxiety for everyone.

The unease is not helped by the fact that the travellers were in a 33-Hiace Hummer bus-convoy, in the dead of the night; and indeed, two or three bus-loads of the travellers reportedly escaped.

Now, were the arrested people Boko Haram cells? If they were, why would they travel in a convoy, and therefore trigger suspicion and arrest?

If they were not, why travel in the thick of the night (perhaps hoping the convoy would be less noticeable?), why make a dash for it (as two or three buses in the convoy reportedly did?) and why would the bulk of travellers reportedly tell their interrogators they were not familiar with Port Harcourt and how to get there, even if that was where they claimed to be going?

The only way to secure answers to the mounting conundrum is a careful but thorough investigation. This is imperative because while it is fair and just that every Boko Haram cell be apprehended and brought to book, it is unfair and unjust that a blanket stigma of Boko Haram be stamped on innocent travellers, particularly south-bound northerners. Such mass stigmatisation is the exact divideand-rule tonic the Boko Haram members need to wreak more havoc.

But, first thing first. The security agencies have often been hit and bludgeoned

that they are near-useless, allowing Boko Haram to draw murderous rings round them, thus sending fear and panic into the general public.

However, in the Abia State arrests, the security agencies have earned due plaudits. We therefore praise them — and call on every Nigerian to do so. That should encourage them to do more.

Still, the troubling question remains: is Boko Haram penetrating the South, using the south east flank of the country to gain access to perpetuate mayhem? Already, anxious reactions are noticeable.

Reacting to the defused bomb at the Owerri worship centre, the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has warned Boko Haram to stay out of the South East.

Though MASSOB is no mainstream pressure group, it would appear to speak the voice of most people in the South East and South-South, and even every rightthinking Nigerian, in the face of the horrendous Boko Haram campaign. The unspoken threat is “or else ...”

If it gets to that stage, and Boko Haram indeed succeeds in carrying out terrorist acts in that part of the country, emotive retaliation on innocent northerners in the area can only play into the hands of the crazed insurgents. That must be averted at all cost.

Still, the Abia arrests have shown the security agencies are not folding their arms. Most of the travellers could well be northerners travelling down south for business to make ends meet. But with the present precarious security situation, no right-thinking person would question

the rationale behind it. Again, Nigerians should encourage the security agencies to do their work and contribute whatever they can, in terms of accurate and reliable intelligence.

But time is of essence. While the mass arrest is understandable, deliberate and conscious efforts must be made to fasttrack the investigations to separate those who have cases to answer — if any — from the innocent. That way, the innocent ones would go about their lawful duties, even as suspects are being further investigated.

Our other appeal goes to the media: careful reportage, please! This is a challenging time that calls for great tact. The media must strive to ensure the arrest of 486 south-bound northerners does not morph into blanket stigma of every south-bound northerner as a Boko Haram cell.

‘While the mass arrest is understandable, deliberate and conscious efforts must be made to fast-track the investigations to separate those who have cases to answer — if any — from the innocent. That way, the innocent ones would go about their lawful duties, even as suspects are being further investigated’

Where the blame lies over Iraq

• The impact of the 2003 invasion cannot be dismissed

T

WO questions have been at the forefront of debate as the turmoil in Iraq intensifies and the country lurches towards a possible breakup. One issue, inevitably, is what the US and its allies can possibly do to contain the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or Isis, the jihadist group making its mark on the country. But another question is also being discussed vigorously and will influence how the west ultimately reacts: who is responsible for Iraq’s current mayhem?

The instinctive response of many westerners is that the US-led invasion of 2003 is the principal cause of today’s turmoil. The invasion is widely judged to have been a catastrophic mistake. A quarter of a million Iraqis were killed in a conflict that also cost the lives of 4,500 US and 179 British service personnel.

The invasion was based on the premise that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction – a claim that was entirely discredited.

Yet throughout this week, several of the chief architects of the invasion have taken to the airwaves and the news pages to hit back at that suggestion. Dick Cheney, the former US vice-president, has laid the blame for the current debacle squarely at the feet of Barack Obama, suggesting the president “abandoned” Iraq in the face of the al-Qaeda threat. Paul Bremer, the former US diplomat sent to run Iraq after the invasion, said America “lost” its political influence when it withdrew all its forces in 2011. Tony Blair, the former British prime minister who has never conceded that the invasion was an error, said: “We have to liberate ourselves from the notion that ‘we’ have caused this. We haven’t.”

This effort by the “class of 2003” to play down its own role in the current disaster is unseemly and absurd. While the US-led invasion ended Saddam’s murderous regime, it also destroyed most of the state’s institutions. It changed the balance of Shia-Sunni power that had endured for more than eight centuries. It created an opportunity for al-Qaeda and other hardline Islamists to enter a part of the Arab world where they had never been present before. All this was bound to create long-lasting turbulence.

It would be wrong to say that the 2003 invasion was solely responsible for what we are witnessing now.

When the US left Iraq in 2011, the country could have moved to a pluralistic, inclusive and stable form of government. The decision by the Shia-based administration of Nouri al-Maliki, the prime minister, to pursue an aggressive sectarianism, marginalising the Sunni tribes, gave a powerful impetus to Isis.

It would also be wrong to ignore some of the responsibility that the Obama administration bears. True, President Obama was given no opportunity by Mr Maliki to keep US troops in Iraq after 2011. Goaded on by his Shia ally in Iran, Mr Maliki insisted on full withdrawal of US forces. But critics of the president are right to argue that he has overcompensated for the errors of the Bush administration, leaving US foreign policy far too reluctant to engage in the world.

This has given Russia and Iran more opportunity to manoeuvre in the Middle East.

That said, the neoconservatives who took the US and UK into Iraq a decade ago might usefully reflect on how much they have harmed their own case. While Mr Obama is treading carefully in this crisis, Mr Cheney is demanding a tough military response. Mr Bremer wants the US to launch air strikes to push back the forces of Isis. Mr Blair says that “where the extremists are fighting, they have to be countered hard, with force”.

These men fail to understand the enduring legacy of their bungling in Iraq a decade ago. It has left the people of America and Britain with little appetite for military intervention abroad – no matter how justified it might be.

– Financial Times

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh

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20

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

CARTOON & LETTERS

S

IR: Lagos population, according to the United Nations projections, will be 20 million by 2015 making it the third largest city in the world. With over three million cars and 100,000 commercial vehicles on the roads (the national average is 11 vehicles per kilometre), Lagos daily records an average of 227 vehicles per every kilometre of roads.

Lagos is home to about 2,000 industrial complexes, 10,000 commercial ventures and 22 industrial estates. It accounts for over 60% of Nigeria’s industrial and commercial activities; 70% of national maritime cargo freight, over 80% of international aviation traffic and over 50% of Nigeria’s energy consumption. All banks in the country are not only located in Lagos, but actually have their headquarters in the state. Aside this, Lagos consumes about 45 percent of the petroleum products in the country.

The above statistics is what makes Lagos a unique economic and industrial hub in Nigeria and, indeed, Africa. It is partly responsible for the prosperity of Lagos.

The uniqueness obviously has implications for the environment.

For instance, the city generates 10,000 tonnes of waste daily, almost three times higher than what the

S

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Protecting the Lagos environment

whole of Ghana generates. Also, the kind of industrial pollution experienced is second to none in the country. The peculiar traffic situation also poses serious threat to the environment.

Lagos residents need to understand that the quality of our lives, as human beings, is considerably a reflection of the quality of the environment which we dwell in.

Many still seem not to comprehend that the environment which we inhabit, like the air which we breathe, is life. Or how else can we explain the attitude of some who persistently make their abodes unsanitary and inhospitable environment?

It is still common to see people throwing things out on the highways from their cars.

On the streets, stagnant gutters still occupy pride of place next to conveniently-located food hawkers – all the easier for garbage disposal.

Even some of the fanciest areas are not exempted – “pure water” sachets (which surely rank very high on the list of the most environmentally-unfriendly products ever invented!), bottles and unofficial garbage dumps circle the gated walls of posh homes and well-manicured lawns. These dirty habits are not justifiable in a state where the government is doing so much on environmental sanitation. It is detrimental to our common good.

Despite efforts being put in place to sanitise the environment, some still prefer to continue to live in the past as they still get involved in actions capable of frustrating government’s investment in the sector. For instance, many houses in areas such as Ajegunle in Ikorodu (where there were cases of cholera recently), Amukoko, Orile Iganmu, Ijora Badia, Ajegunle in Ajeromi and Idi Araba in Mushin are lack-

But the fact that some of the negatives that prompted the introduction of the policy in the first place have started to creep back into Abuja roads may actually necessitate the repackaging and subsequent reintroduction of the scheme and this time with adequate legal arrangement. The numerous benefits attached to the scheme, like employment generation for the managers of the on-street Park and Pay, orderliness on Abuja roads as a result of controlled parking, and reduction in the number of road accidents are all compelling factors that should be considered to hasten the reintroduction of the policy.

It is true that handlers of this scheme adopted draconian measures like the exorbitant fees they charged for overstaying which ranged from N5,000 to as high as N15,000, and this subsequently pitched the operators against mo-

torists. But this factor could easily be curtailed through a sound legal framework whereby penalties for various parking offences are spelt out in black and white so that motorists and would-be offenders alike get to know what they are up against in the event of any fallout.

Park and Pay is the norm in most developed cities of the world and the FCT should not be prevented from experiencing this laudable initiative. Even Justice Afeni of the FCT High Court in his ruling on the matter noted that the policy was a laudable one but regretted that it lacked the necessary legal framework.

Park and Pay therefore is the way to go if FCT residents hope to see a return of sanity on Abuja roads and enjoy the benefits that have been enumerated above.

• Alhaji Ibrahim Abuja.

Bring back park and pay in FCT

IR: The Park and Pay scheme in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja was introduced in December 2012 to check the menace of double parking, parking on pedestrian walkways and to enforce the policy of no parking in restricted areas. This policy was really effective while it lasted as it helped to reduce accidents on Abuja roads and improve the city’s aesthetic beauty.

Unfortunately, this laudable initiative was brought to an abrupt halt

by Justice Peter Afeni of the FCT High Court for not having the necessary legal framework to back up its operation. A private company, Suntrust Limited had challenged the legality of the scheme in court, after an encounter with operators of the scheme. The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, would later move to suspend the policy in accordance with the court order.

ing toilet facilities. In some houses, septic tanks are channeled directly into the drain!

We need to change our attitude to environmental issues. The earth, for now, is our home. It is where we live, breathe, eat, raise our children, etc. Therefore, we cannot afford to destroy the environment because our whole essence depends on it. Consequently, when we imbibe positive attitudinal change towards the environment, we are sure of living free of any pollutants or hazards that we might introduce into our environment through human induced activities . Protecting the environment allows

future generations of human beings to grow and live without having to deal with anything we have done to contaminate the environment in which we do live and they will live.

Protecting the environment is, without doubt, the best way to protect ourselves against diseases and other harmful environmental hazards .

With natural disasters occurring across the world, as a result of the abuse of the environment, this is the time for everyone to have a rethink about our attitude to the environment. Community leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, NGOs and other stakeholders should work in partnership with the state government to ensure that current gains in the sector are sustained. It is only in doing this that the state government’s massive investment in protecting the environment would not be a waste.

• Tayo Ogunbiyi Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa-Ikeja.

Amaechi: NASS should impeach Jonathan

S

IR: To suggest that Governor Amaechi’s right to freedom of movement as guaranteed by section 41 of the 1999 Constitution was violated by the military on Thursday is to detract from the enormity and gravity of the unconstitutional act. The action of the Commander-inchief in deploying the military to carry out a brazenly unconstitutional act - to stop the movement of a governor and put him under virtual arrest - is an act of high treason.

It is a declaration of war on the constitution, hence the people of Nigeria. This is gross misconduct in the extreme and the National Assembly must commence impeachment proceedings against President Goodluck Jonathan without any ado.

This is not about APC or PDP. It is about the constitution, Nigeria and our democracy.

Governors enjoy the same immunity as the President under section 308 of the constitution.

No authority has the power to

derogate from that immunity.

Besides, Nigeria is a federation where there is constitutional division of powers between the centre and federating units, each being autonomous in its allotted roles. If Jonathan is ‘sovereign’, then the governors are also ‘sovereign’ under the Nigerian constitution.

Yesterday, it was the MOPOL used against Governor Fayemi; today, it is the military against Governor Amaechi; whose turn will it be tomorrow, and what becomes the fate of the ordinary citizens?

Notwithstanding the impeachment proceedings against Jonathan, the military officers involved must face the wrath of the law for obeying a patently unconstitutional order. You can only obey ‘orders from above’ that are legal and constitutional. All Nigerians must rise in unison to guard our hard won civil rule by ensuring the entrenchment of the rule of law and constitutionalism in Nigeria.

• Patrick James, Kaduna

21

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

COMMENTS

P

ERHAPS it is unsurprising that an interest group called Lagoon State Movement is campaigning for the creation of Lagoon State out of Lagos State, considering the fact that the megacity wears the proud tag, “State of Aquatic Splendour”, in addition to priding itself on being supposedly the country’s “Centre of Excellence.” The former federal capital in the country’s south-west region, created in 1967, “occupies 3,345 square kilometers, 22% or 787sq. km of which consists of lagoons and creeks”; and “in the South it stretches for 180 kilometres along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.”

So, the champions of Lagoon State can be applauded for the choice of a name that mirrors reality. However, it is curious and ironic that the group projects itself as “non-political”, for the concept of state creation cannot be divorced from political business. Or maybe the self-description was intended to promote its non-affiliation to any political party, but that is neither here nor there. As for being “non-partisan” and nonsectarian”, attributes which the group also reportedly claims, the stated neutrality in these contexts may be ultimately inadequate without political content because what is desired is a political entity.

It is food for thought that the group reenergised this advocacy at its recent 7th town hall meeting at the Awolowo Institute for Government and Public Policy and Museum, Lekki, Lagos. According to reports, its leader, Chief Babatunde Olusola Benson (SAN), claimed that the consequences of preserving the status quo include overpopulation, inadequate representation of the state’s indigenes, known as Lagosians, at the federal level, imposition of heavy taxation on residents of the state and indigene welfare problems. Conversely, he argued that the creation of Lagoon State would result in substantial job openings, greater representation of Lagosians in the Senate and House of

‘The truth is that state creation is no silver bullet, and it probably would be more helpful if the various tiers of government were better focused on what may be regarded as the most effective guiding principle for power, which is Jeremy Bentham’s philosophy that stresses concentration on “the greatest happiness of the greatest number.”

Or to put it in a capsule, if power was guided by social conscience’

N

IGERIANS are impatient for growth. Millions of employable Nigerians are struggling with the harsh realities of unemployment. We urge them to be creative, resourceful and enterprising in order to work their way out of poverty. We know, however, that their options are limited. Our inadequate transportation, power supply, water and sanitation, ICT and healthcare and more limits the options for self advancement. The key to opening opportunities for Nigerians seeking advancement is to invest in our roads and railways, power, water and sanitation and all other aspects of our physical and social infrastructure.

It is estimated that an investment of over USD2.9 trillion (NGN 460 trillion) is required for the next 30 years in Nigeria’s infrastructure and that a yearly average of USD 25.2 billion (NGN 4 trillion) investment is required over the next five years. (See the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan launched in December 2013). The Federal Government’s allocation to capital projects (under which lies infrastructure) in the 2014 budget stands at 27 per cent., representing NGN 1.1 trillion.

There is clearly a huge deficit which the government is aware of. To address the deficit the government has encouraged the private sector to invest in Nigerian infrastructure and has promoted public-private partnerships (“PPPs”) as a vehicle for channeling private sector investments. However, the levels of private sector investment have been uninspiring. I propose that we reconsider the sequence for seeking private sector investment for our infrastructure development and suggest a way

‘Nigerian industrialists and business magnates ought to take a lead in demonstrating their confidence in Nigeria by investing in the country as Aliko Dangote has done. When I recall the documentary/ drama The Men Who Built America, I marvel at the story told of the men whose industrial innovations and business empires revolutionised America. The men Cornelius Vanderbilt (steamboat and railroad), John D. Rockefeller (railroad and oil), Andrew Carnegie (steel), J.P. Morgan (electric power) and Henry Ford (automobiles) - are now credited with having built America’

Lagoonians of Lagos Representatives, and increased federal government funding which would facilitate grassroots development. There appears to be some confusion: Will people of Lagoon State still be Lagosians?

Understandably, other high-profile members of the group advanced his position, bringing various shades of perspective to the basic viewpoint. Its vice-chairman, Alhaji Gani Bello, reportedly added that the population of Lagos State, currently estimated to be over 10 million, was too large for one governor. Bello, a former provost of Federal College of Education, Osiele, Abeokuta, Ogun State, accused the state government of concentrating on urban areas occupied by non-indigenes at the expense of the indigenous rural population. Sir Segun Keshinro, a retired Magistrate for England and Wales, who chaired the meeting, reportedly described the state creation promotion as a labour of passion, saying that a major objective was to have indigenes govern their land. Interestingly, Professor Kunle Ade Wahab, the chairman of Ikorodu Leaders, reportedly sought the backing of Lagos State residents.

It is instructive that the proposed state is expected to include the following local government areas: Ikorodu, Epe, IbejuLekki, Apapa, Eti-Osa, Somolu and Kosofe. Expectedly, Benson made an argument for its viability, but the country’s state creation experience has proved that theoretical calculations cannot sustain a state. It is no news that quite a few of the country’s 36 states continue to face daunting developmental challenges not only on account of visionless leadership, which is bad enough, but also because of the sheer inadequacy of the wherewithal to pursue progress, which is a complicating factor.

Indeed, the timing of the latest demand for Lagoon State may be tactical, given the fact that the ongoing National Conference is expected to address the incessant campaigns for new states across the country. There are reports that several of the confab delegates have spoken in favour of increasing the number of states in the country for the benefit of allegedly marginalised groups as well as ethnic minorities. It is worth mentioning that these states were all created under military rule.

Possibly, the most laughable demand in recent times must be the one by Emmanuel Tsamdu from the Northeast who represents former local government chairman in the National Conference. He was quoted as saying, “I am from one of the most marginalised parts of this country. Our past leader and hero, late Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, promised that we would be treated equally with other provinces, such as Borno, Adamawa and Bauchi but today it is only my province that is not a state.” He then proposed that minorities be bunched together in one state as a solution to marginalisation; and requested a new state to be called Amana and created out of Adamawa State.

For a grasp of the depth of the cries for new states, it is noteworthy that two years ago Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, declared at a public lecture in Lagos that the National Assembly had received 45 memoranda requesting the creation of new states. He pointed out that about 34 of such memoranda were intra-state demands, seven were inter-state, and four cut across geopolitical zones. His talk on “Constitution Amendment and State Creation” was enlightening for its perceptive observations, which remain critical in considering any demand for state creation at this juncture in the country’s evolution.

In a chain of rhetorical questions, he asked, “Has the creation of more states allayed the fears of minorities and the feelings of marginalisation and domination? Has it resulted in good governance and speedier development at state levels than we had before? If it is meant to bring governance closer to the people, what then is the essence of the local government areas?

Importantly too, is the proliferation of states and even the extant ones viable and self-sustainable? Again, at a time the global trend is aggressively moving towards the contraction of the size of government and cost of governance and at a time the nation is already sweating profusely under the yoke of unwieldy size of government at the federal, state, and local levels, can we really sustain the status quo let alone create new burdens?”

The truth is that state creation is no silver bullet, and it probably would be more helpful if the various tiers of government were better focused on what may be regarded as the most effective guiding principle for power, which is Jeremy Bentham’s philosophy that stresses concentration on “the greatest happiness of the greatest number.” Or to put it in a capsule, if power was guided by social conscience.

Private investment in infrastructure development

By Elizabeth Uwaifo forward.

We need private sector funding to supplement our infrastructure finances. However, at what stage should we seek private sector investment? Can we rely on private sector funding for the construction of our infrastructure?

We have to be realistic in our expectations. The private investors we wish to attract are often foreign institutional investors who must account to their clients for their investment decisions. They need to be in a position to make a calculated assessment of the risks involved in their investment, be satisfied that they are working with reliable data, be reasonably comfortable that their capital is secure and be comfortable with the level of political risk they take on.

The construction of our infrastructure involves significant risks for foreign investors. Nigeria does not have a track record for executing PPP transactions, we do not have a good record for good governance and transparency in our corporate affairs and political and security risk remains high. It will therefore come as no surprise when private investors seek extensive guarantees that drive up the cost and timeframe of our projects. Chasing PPP arrangements for the construction phase of infrastructure projects have unsurprisingly been time consuming and involved delays that we cannot afford.

It is far better to finance the construction of our projects using our own resources and, following construction, to seek refinancing from private investors. We must start the process of building our core infrastructure from our own resources while we simultaneously prepare the framework for engaging with private investors at a later stage and on terms that work better for the Nigerian public.

Where would the own resources come from? The primary financing source must be the government budget we must commit as much of our public resources as we can allow with a view to liquidating the government’s investment at the earliest opportunity by selling bankable portions of the project to private investors.

In addition to the government budgetary allocation, the Nigerian public should be given an incentive to invest their savings in transformational infrastructure projects in Nigeria. Structured investment arrangements could be designed that provide an avenue for investment on terms

that include a return on capital while accommodating risks that may be unpalatable to foreign investors. Raising funding for specific projects should increase enthusiasm for the fund-raising. Imagine being called upon to invest in a railway network that connects the north and south of Nigeria; thoughts of the resulting exponential growth of commerce will encourage me to invest in the project. Generations of Nigerians will owe a debt of gratitude to those who help bring about infrastructure projects that allows them to grow and thrive. The investment by Nigerians will act as a catalyst for investment by nonNigerians.

Nigerian industrialists and business magnates ought to take a lead in demonstrating their confidence in Nigeria by investing in the country as Aliko Dangote has done. When I recall the documentary/drama The Men Who Built America, I marvel at the story told of the men whose industrial innovations and business empires revolutionised America. The men - Cornelius Vanderbilt (steamboat and railroad), John D. Rockefeller (railroad and oil), Andrew Carnegie (steel), J.P. Morgan (electric power) and Henry Ford (automobiles) - are now credited with having built America. I believe that we have Nigerians of similar stock; Nigerians able to employ their financial might in ventures that would elevate Nigeria to unimaginable heights and usher Nigerians on the road to dignified self development. Perhaps the story will one day be told of the men and women who built the new Nigeria.

• Uwaifo is a partner in the London office of the international law firm Fasken Martineau.

‘The construction of our infrastructure involves significant risks for foreign investors. Nigeria does not have a track record for executing PPP transactions, we do not have a good record for good governance and transparency in our corporate affairs and political and security risk remains high’

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

22

COMMENTS

T

HOSE with the penchant for underplaying the mortal danger the Boko Haram insurgency has been to the overall survival of this country, now have cause to bury such thoughts. Two events in the last one week have demonstrated beyond doubt that the insurgents are bent on precipitating another civil war in this country. The first was the discovery of bombs planted within the vicinity of the Living Faith Church International in a thickly populated area in Owerri Imo State, while the arrest of 486 terror suspects traveling in a convoy of 33 Hiace buses at night in Abia state made up the list.

If these two incidents were not enough indications that the Boko Haram insurgents were spreading their tentacles to the eastern parts of the country, the disclosure by the Defence Headquarters that a wanted terror suspect was among the 486 suspects arrested in Abia leaves no one in further doubt about such a prospect. This trend is not entirely novel as it was clearly reflected in the initial targets of the terrorists when they selectively targeted and bombed churches and areas of abode of southerners in the north. These left in their wake, deaths and property loss of inestimable proportion. They even issued ultimatum to non northerners to flee or face dire consequences. Many have since fled to their ancestral homes or states considered safer. But when this strategy failed, they resorted to attacking mosques to camouflage their real intentions. Incidentally, the federal government had predicted this trend. So when it came, it did not take anyone by surprise.

‘The arrest of a wanted Boko Haram suspect in their midst cannot help their case, so also the fact that most of them had no idea of their destination and their mission there.

Why were there no leaders with them who could vouch for their innocence?

Why must it always take the intervention of sectional and religious groups to plead their case?

I

Emeka OMEIHE 08112662675 email: EmekaOmeihe@yahoo.com

Boko Haram in Igboland What appears new from events of the past week is that it is the first time the insurgents are visibly seen penetrating Igboland with the intent of replicating the mayhem that has brought some parts of the north to their knees.

Apparently unable to achieve their weird objective of throwing the country into war, the insurgents may have reasoned that the fastest way to do that is to carry the battle to Igboland with the intent of provoking reprisal attacks.

Obviously, such scenes of horror and awe that followed the bombings in Abuja and other northern states are unlikely to be taken lightly when they are played out in Igboland. The Igbo are very likely to view such attacks as the last straw having been driven out of the north and now pursued to their last bus stop.

They will definitely fight back and only God knows what the outcome will be.

That is the potent danger in the two incidents in Imo and Abia that have the footprints of the insurgents. Though the police are yet to come up with the names of those arrested in connection with the Owerri incident, there is every reason to suspect the Boko Haram insurgents as the bombing of churches has been their key strategy to provoke others into action. It is also targeted at ruffling the sensibilities of a predominantly Christian population to create anarchy.

If the identity of those who planted the bombs is still some what hazy, that of the 486 arrested suspects cannot be said to be so. Not with the revelation that one of them is on the wanted list of Boko Haram leaders as released by the federal government some time ago.

There are also serious leads to suspect that those arrested needed more screening to identify why they had to travel in such a large number at night. The escape of two buses in the same convoy is also very suspicious.

N just two and half years, the Governor Dickson-led administration has delivered on the core of the Restoration Agenda. He has delivered on the promise of changing the culture of governance to emphasize service, shifted the government’s orientation from being a government of the few to that of the majority. He has also by example guided the institutions of state to make government accountable and effective as expected in a democracy through the enactment of relevant laws to guide good conduct, fiscal discipline, probity and transparency in government. The countriman governor has instituted innovative policies and programmes to usher in development, created opportunities for our people and largely inspired them to believe that as a people, we can build a New Bayelsa State where everyone can live life more abundantly. Indeed, the Restoration administration has stabilized the polity, restored order and created an enabling environment for prosperity. Hope is rising far and wide that the future is really bright for all of us if we continue to thread this path of renaissance.

Central to all of these is the government’s investment in education.

Education to the Dickson-led administration is a priority.

The declaration of state of emergency in this very important sector was not a slogan but a realistic means to address the huge rot in the system and to chart a roadmap for the future.

Today, the Restoration government has achieved so much in executing major educational programmes, spread across the state, raising real hope of a bright future for our children to have good education and create a better society.

Today in Bayelsa State, education is free from primary to the secondary level. Education is free for the children of Bayelsa in every sense as essentials such as school uniforms and text books are given to students without a single kobo being paid. Now, children ride in school buses to and from school. With the payment of WAEC, GCE, NECO and JAMB fees by government since the inception of this administration, Bayelsa is targeting an improved showing than its sixth position in the 2013 West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE).

The administration is doing this and much more because as a government, it believes education is key and central to development hence its desire to continue to invest heavily as it has done in last two years to drive the sector to greater heights. By September, the Dickson-led administration will begin the enrollment of students into the 40 modern secondary schools with boarding facilities across the state, built from scratch by the Restoration Government and fully equipped with science laboratories and modern facilities required for 21st century learning. The Dickson-led government is also

Preliminary findings by the police that most of the suspects neither have an idea of their final destination nor what they were going there for did not help matters. At any rate, how can such a huge number of people embark on such a mission without identifiable leaders? Who was to receive them at their final point of disembarkation and what arrangements were there for their accommodation? These are the issues to contend with as they are loaded with serious security implications.

It was therefore very uncharitable for the Arewa Consultative Forum ACF and the Jama’tu Nasril Islam JNI to insinuate ethnic and religious profiling as the basis for their arrest and detention. The two bodies had condemned the arrest insisting that it was based on their identity as Moslems and northerners. According to them, those arrested were from Jigawa State and were pursuing their legitimate means of livelihood.

That could as well be. But the arrest of a wanted Boko Haram suspect in their midst cannot help their case, so also the fact that most of them had no idea of their destination and their mission there. Why were there no leaders with them who could vouch for their innocence? Why must it always take the intervention of sectional and religious groups to plead their case?

We raise these posers because they are at the root of the current mess the nation has found itself in the fight against insurgency.

It is such wild and patronizing allegations that made the Boko Haram insurgency the unmitigated monster it has now become.

Even when the insurgents made their ethnic and religious agenda very clear at inception, groups like these saw it to the contrary.

They never came out openly to condemn their activities but always looking for excuses to heap blames at the doorsteps of the federal government. At other times, they will see violation of human rights and lack of respect for the rules of engagement. At another, they will be pressing for amnesty and negotiations with the insurgents.

Such was the patronizing or rather ambivalent disposition of the northern leadership until the insurgents gained sufficient grounds and now we turn round to blame the security agencies for lacking the competences and capacity to fight them. Now that the security agencies have done their job by first arresting and interrogating suspects to sieve the genuine ones from the criminal elements, they are at it again. They are more concerned with their ethnic and religious background than the fact that their mission has all the trappings of suspicion.

This is not to discountenance the rights of those who have nothing incriminating against them to be treated very decently. Perhaps, it needs to be stated that the police should hasten the screening process so that the innocent are not incarcerated unduly. That much has to be said. But insinuations of ethnic and religious profiling should not deter them from doing their job. This trend is not new. No less a person than a serving northern governor had even alleged genocide and the desire to depopulate the north as the raison d’etre for the insurgency even against the huge facts to the contrary. The same people and interest groups in their characteristic hypocrisy will turn round to blame President Jonathan for inaction and all manner of failings with respect to the war against insurgency.

Both the army and the police that arrested the suspects should be given a pat on the back for their vigilance. They need to intensify efforts to ensure that Boko Haram is not allowed to infiltrate the south. Not surprisingly, the two incidents have pushed some groups to threaten to bring down the country if Boko Haram explodes any bomb in Igboland. Nobody should dismiss such threats as these groups are likely to take to self-help if they are now pursued and attacked in their homes.

These are the dangers we now face and it beckons all those maintaining links and contacts with the murderous group not to allow the situation degenerate. Even then, such attacks will not serve the interests of innocent northerners who have been pursuing their legitimate businesses in these states over the years.

Bayelsa: Investing in future through education

By Daniel Iworiso-Markson improving the quality of public schools across the state in terms of infrastructure, teachers and their training and general welfare.

With over N6 billion expended in the state scholarship programme, 140 Bayelsans are currently on fully paid scholarships to study for PhDs in highly rated universities in Europe and America. The same thing for 400 Masters degree students sponsored overseas by the state. Bayelsa's partnership with the prestigious Lincoln University, Pennsylvania, which aside from our students learning on its campus, also has to do with technical assistance to the Niger-Delta University.

These far-reaching interventions which represent fulfillment of his electoral promises didn't come as a surprise to Bayelsans because just like him, majority of the people had first-hand experience of the decay that had set in in the state's educational sector just before he was elected into office.

Pupils and students were taught in dilapidated classrooms by teachers, some of whom lacked the right training and the instruments for teaching, just as they struggled to stay motivated. The situation Governor Dickson met was indeed gloomy which necessitated a pro-active and painstaking renewal.

The good news now is that within two years, the administration has overhauled primary and secondary schools in the state. The construction of the state's teacher's training institute has reached advanced stage. The goal of the governor is to move the state from one that is lacking in skilled instructors to a producer of qualified teachers. The rehabilitation of old schools is going on, as work is speedily being carried out on the model boarding secondary schools in the eight local government areas in the state. The model schools which are state-of-the art are the brain child of the Dickson administration.

For the state owned Niger Delta University, the governor handed its management a financial life line of N6 billion. The funding given the university is unprecedented. It is expected that with improved funding, the Niger-Delta University will regain it lost glory. With judicious use of its funds for struc-

tural and infrastructural restructuring, the university will again be on course to be a producer of fully baked graduates.

It hasn't all been rosy as there have been challenges along the way of repositioning Bayelsa's educational sector. One of such is the reduction of the state's allocation which coincided with the state government overshooting its initial one billion naira budget for international scholarships by over six billion. This led to delayed payments to some scholars which the governor has since released funds to ensure that their complaints are taken care of. Also students within Nigeria had to wait a little longer for their bursaries to be paid.

However, funds have since been approved for the payment of bursaries. Some have said that with the construction of a Teachers Training Institute, Maritime Academy, School of Agriculture, Tourism Institute, Driving Institute and a music school, Governor Dickson wants to make Bayelsa an education hub. It is indeed a tall dream which no politician in Nigeria in search of quick wins and cheap popularity wants to embark on. But it is one dream that all Bayelsans should support Governor Dickson in bringing to reality, thereby ensuring that Bayelsans irrespective of background can effectively be active players in the evolving knowledge economy by virtue of their quality education.

• Iworiso-Markson, writes from Yenagoa, Bayelsa State

‘Within two years, the administration has overhauled primary and secondary schools in the state. The construction of the state's teacher's training institute has reached advanced stage. The goal of the governor is to move the state from one that is lacking in skilled instructors to a producer of qualified teachers’

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

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THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

BUSINESS

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THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

JOBS

Europe is a good market for gas. Incidentally, Belgium has important terminals, such as the Port of Antwerp, through which Nigeria hopes to get its gas to the rest of Europe. We’ll start marketing our abundant gas resources to Europe.s •Group Managing Director, NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu

CEO

A shipyard and its many jobs - P. 37

‘Discos, Gencos got a raw deal’

News Briefing

Rising cocoa prices to boost earnings

Delay dims viability of Olokola, Brass LNG DELAY in construction and operation of the Olokola Liquefied Natural Gas (OKLNG) and the Brass Liquefied Natural Gas (Brass LNG) projects is dimming the commercial viability of the two projects, The Nation has learnt.

–Page 26

S

Cabinet reshuffles frustrate insurance bill THE long delay in the passage of the new insurance bill expected to improve regulation of the insurance industry has been attributed to frequent changes in the Federal Cabinet, The Nation has learnt.

–Page 26

London court rules in Shell’s favour A SENIOR English judge has ruled in Bodo preliminary issues trial that the interpretation of Nigerian law by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) is correct in all the crucial points argued before the court.

–Page 39

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil

-$117.4/barrel

Cocoa

-$2,686.35/metric ton

Coffee

- ¢132.70/pound

Cotton

- ¢95.17pound

Gold

-$1,396.9/troy

Sugar

-$163/lb MARKET

CAPITALISATIONS NSE

-N11.4 trillion

JSE

-Z5.112trillion

NYSE

-$10.84 trillion

LSE

-£61.67 trillion RATES

Inflation

-8%

Treasury Bills -10.58%(91d) Maximum lending -30% Prime lending

-15.87%

Savings rate

-1%

91-day NTB

-15%

Time Deposit

-5.49%

MPR

-12%

Foreign Reserve

$45b

FOREX CFA

-0.2958

EUR

-206.9

£

-242.1

$

-156

¥

-1.9179

SDR

-238

RIYAL

-40.472

- P. 27

•Prof Ogunye (right) presenting the academy’s award to Managing Director Arco Pipeline Solutions Limited, Mr. Pius Ajabhu. With them are Chairman, Arco Group, Chief J. J. Akpieyi (left) and Director, Greg Ero.

NCC urges global collaboration on cyber security T HE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has urged the Federal Government to seek global collaborative approach to fight cyber security and its attendant adverse effects on the nation.

Its Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Eugene Juwah, who spoke over the weekend in Lagos during the First National Cyber Security Forum (NCSF 2014) at Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in conjunction with the NCC, said criminal elements were taking advantage of loopholes in legal frameworks as harmonisation between existing laws across nations remained difficult.

Juwah said this development has made cross border investigation and prosecution difficult because the catego-

By Lucas Ajanaku

risation of crimes differs from country to country.

He said: “Although national measures are being taken by individual nations, cyber threats remain basically an international problem. The internet is a borderless communication tool and consequently, any solution to secure it must involve global collaboration. Loop holes in legal frameworks are being exploited by perpetrators (cyber crooks) as harmonisation between existing laws across nations is far from being satisfactory. Cross border investigation and prosecution are difficult if the categorisation of crimes differs from country to country.

“Added to this is the constant

evolution and sophistication of threats and the vulnerabilities in software, hardware and applications.

With the phenomenal growth in the use and application of information communication technologies (ICTs) and new trends such as cloud computing and virtualisation, it is increasingly likely that cyber threats will also spread to new bounds.”

According to Juwah, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) launched the Global Cybersecurity Agenda (GCA) in order to provide framework within which international response to the growing challenges to cyber security can be coordinated and addressed. He said the GCA is based on cooperation and strives to engage all rel-

evant stakeholders in a concerted effort to build confidence and security in the information society.

The EVC insisted that cyber threat is real and that it can be a threat to national economy and indeed national security He averred: “Capacity building in the area of cyber security is necessary for the development of a sustainable and proactive National Cyber Security Culture. One of the key challenges of cyber security is effectively educating the end user to be aware of and understand the potential dangers inherent in cyber space.

“There is the need for collaborative efforts by relevant government agencies towards the implementation of Domain Name Security System Extension (DNSSEC) on the top level Domain Name System in order to address identified vulnerability of the DNS system.”

Insurance firms pay $7.8m as kidnap, ransom claims

I

NSURANCE firms have paid about $7.8million (about N1.22billion) as kidnap and ransom claims on 730 reported cases in the last four years, Head, Strategy, Brand & Corporate Communications, AIICO Insurance Plc, Olurotimi Aleshinloye, has said.

He told The Nation on the sidelines of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) Business Group, held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) over the weekend that there have been 164 recorded cases of kidnap since the beginning of the year.

He said, according to the American International Group (AIG), a global insurance group in the United States,

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

contemporary kidnappingand–ransom industry emerged in the late 1970s in response to rampant kidnapping in Columbia and Latin America.

The AIG report said political and economic developments have started redrawing the ransom trade, especially in Nigeria where it has become very lucrative and attractive, but that with the government responding with tougher measures, such as compulsory registration of subscriber identity module (SIM) cards which makes it easier to track ‘criminals’ phone calls, the situation is expected to be reversed.

On the ransom payments, former Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro, estimated

that the total ransom paid in Nigeria between 2006 and 2008 exceeded $100million as the criminal gangs became more daring as the days went by and became ambitious.

Aleshinloye said for local insurance companies to play in the big league, there is the need for them to have a solid and robust finance base to be competitive and to square up with challenges in the sector.

He criticised the government for not giving enough support for the sector, noting that in the last three years, the patronage of the sector by the three arms of government has reduced substantially, adding that in the developed economies, insurance is compulsory for almost everything. He said in-

surance companies have robust and huge financial base to takeup emergent sectors in both the political and socio-economic life of the people.

On how local insurance firms with policies on kidnap and ransom claims can protect themselves from dubious ransom claims, he said the insurance firms involved have in-built capacity to check fraudulent claims.

Chairman, NEPAD Business Group Nigeria (NBGN), Chief Chris Ezeh, said with the nations huge population of over 150 million, the huge potential of insurance sector has the key to the transformation of the entire economy, as it presents vast opportunities for the citizens, the industry, the financial sector and the economy.

By Daniel Essiet

URGING chocolate consumption in Asia, United States (U.S.) and Europe may create a big opportunity for Nigerian cocoa farmers to make good money from foreign exchange.

Speaking with The Nation, the President, National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) Mr Tola Faseru said the price of a metric tonne of cocoa stands at $3030, almost 30 percent higher than May last year.

According to him, market in China is growing economically to further worsen the supply shortage situation of the world cocoa market. Right now, many western companies are busy positioning themselves to consolidate their cocoa supply base, in order to be able to serve expanding cocoa product markets in Asia with the scope for expansion in China, described as ‘enormous’.

He said the major impact on the volumes of cocoa consumed by the Chinese market would likely have an important bearing on the global balance of supply and demand, and hence on prices.

He explained that consumption will continue to outstrip production with stock levels being depleted; adding rising demand and weather-related setbacks in West Africa are playing an important role in supporting cocoa prices.

More broadly, he said the challenge facing cocoa producers is how to harness rapidly expanding demand for cocoa products in China and elsewhere in Asia, in ways which improve their revenue positions and foster structural development of their cocoa sectors. A report said the chocolate market in Asia is already worth more than $12billion and demand is continuing to increase. But supply is limited, due to patchy infrastructure and transport coverage, and the risks are high, but for those brave enough the long-term rewards could be bountiful. Generally, producers are lured by the potential for returns enhanced by new cocoa tree varieties developed and by the prospect of continued shortfalls in production in a sector dominated by smallholder farmers, of less than five hectares, with little access to credit, nor education in husbandry.

In March 2014, the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) forecast a shortfall in cocoa production for the 2013– 14 season to 115,000 tonnes less than consumption. This follows a production shortfall in 2012– 13 of 174,000 tonnes. While overall cocoa production is projected to increase (+4.1% to 4.10 million tonnes), it is not keeping pace with the continued expansion of demand (which is forecast to reach record consumption levels of 4.18 million tonnes for 2013–14).

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THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

BUSINESS NEWS

Construction delay dims viability of Olokola, Brass LNG

D

ELAY in construction and operation of the Olokola Liquefied Natural Gas (OKLNG) and the Brass Liquefied Natural Gas (Brass LNG) projects is dimming the commercial viability of the two projects, The Nation has learnt.

A former executive of Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited said the market window available for the projects is shrinking, adding that by 2020, it is feared that a significant proportion of the market would have been cornered by other gas producing countries that are currently investing in gas-based projects.

The ex-NLNG chief, who asked that his identity be veiled, said over $1billion had already been spent on on the projects. While the Olokola LNG has capacity for 5.5million metric tonne per year, the Brass LNG has 10million metric tonne per annum capacity. The source warned that if government fails to expedite action

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

to bring the projects on stream, the investment in the assets would not be profitable as expected.

He said the Brass LNG, in Bayelsa State and Olokola LNG in Ogun State have been in comatose over the past five years with no significant work going on. He explained that the price of gas at the international market has started dropping, coupled with major discoveries of gas across Africa.

The discoveries may sooner or later impact negatively on the revenue from Nigeria LNG projects because of the shrinking market, he said.

He said: “We have our three LNG plants but what are we doing with them? Nigeria should just get serious and fix those two other LNG projects. I mean, they have three LNG projects, get them started and get them running and then compete otherwise, that window will soon disappear because by 2020, we will find a

situation where significant funds would have been spent by other countries and those capital expenditure (capex) are actually converting to new sources of supply to the market.”

He warned that prices of gas will move southwards to about $9 per standard cubic feet because there are about six exporters with licences in the United States and it is expected that this would continue, going forward.

“This simply means that the market will change. The NLNG still survived three years after the focus shifted to shale gas, because it sells its products in the Atlantic Basin instead of Europe and America. It has also started selling in Japan. This is however at a very high cost. This is because to get to Japan, it’s three times the distance of getting to Europe, so it will cost you more, but at the end of the day, it is found that the strategy worked,” he said.

Bodo trial: London court rules in Shell’s favour

A

SENIOR English judge has ruled in Bodo preliminary issues trial that the interpretation of Nigerian law by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) is correct in all the crucial points argued before the court.

A statement issued by SPDC’s Corporate Media Relations Manager, Precious Okolobo, said Mr. Justice Akenhead accepted that the Nigerian Oil Pipelines Act provides a comprehensive and complete regime for compensation for oil spills. This decision limits the scope of the litigation to an assessment of actual damages sustained as a result of the operational spills. The judge dismissed the attempts of the community’s UK legal representatives to add a range of additional claims over and above the compensation due under the clear Nigerian statutory regime.

The issue of liability for environmental damage caused by oil theft and criminality was also addressed. The judge found that the

A

•From left: Company Secretary, CAP Plc, Mrs. Rose Hamis; Chairman, Mr. Larry Ettah and Managing Director, Mrs. Omolara Elemide,during the company’s 49th Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Golden Tulip Hotel, Festac, Lagos.

Frequent cabinet reshuffles frustrate new insurance bill

T

HE long delay in the passage of the new insurance bill expected to improve regulation of the insurance industry has been attributed to frequent changes in the Federal Cabinet, The Nation has learnt.

The draft revised Consolidated Insurance Bill was first presented about five years ago by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to the Federal Government under the supervision of the Ministry of Finance then headed by Dr. Shamsudeen Usman.

NAICOM had in March 2012 assured that the draft revised bill was ready for passage to the legislature by the Executive and would be ready before the end of last year.

It was learnt that the much- anticipated new regulatory regime of the industry is being truncated by the lack of understanding and commit-

By Omobola Tolu-Kusimo

ment by succeeding ministers, and most recently, the former Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama.

Sources, who do not want to be mentioned, disclosed that the bill is waiting at the cabinet office since the exit of the two ministers, who already understood the need for the commission to put in place a new law.

Responding to questions on the bill, Commissioner for Insurance Fola Daniel explained that the regulator had to explain the workings of the proposed bill to the supervising ministry from the scratch.

He said: “We started this journey and it got to a stage that the two of them left that ministry. So, we started the journey again, and all the expla-

nation we added to it and the Minister, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said she wanted new perspectives.

“She said the views in the bill were all about insurance and so we called stakeholders conferences which were attended by the MDAs to tidy it up. We were made to do presentation to the Economy Management Team, which we did three times. The ministry’s management then packaged what they felt the reform should look like and got contribution from stakeholders.”

He however affirmed that the bill is still waiting at the Cabinet Office.

He said the Federal Executive Council (FEC) will need to clear it before it gets to the National Assembly, adding that the short time at the disposal of the National Assembly before its lifespan expires, could be an impediment.

Dangote: Why we are creating awareness on quality

D

ANGOTE Cement has explained that its enlightenment on several radio stations across the country is to educate and inform the public on the benefits of using quality cement, especially the new Dangote 42.5 3X Cement in their construction works.

Its Director, Sales and Marketing, Southsouth Region, Chux Mogbolu, said the awareness became necessary as research has shown that most cement users in the country cannot differentiate between the various grades of cement and their uses

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

leading to application of lower cement grade where higher grade cement is should have been used.

Speaking during a radio programme on Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS) in Asaba, Mogbolu said because of the abysmal level of knowledge among artisans, block makers, masons and other craftsmen in the building industry, use of 32.5 grade cement in blocking making and house building has resulted in several cases of building collapse.

Describing the qualities of the new 42.5 cement grade, he said the grinding is better, smoother which makes it to expel pockets of air therefore preventing cracks in pillars, beams and other areas where it is used.

The Dangote Cement 42.5 3X public awareness campaign, he added, is more of a corporate social responsibility project as the company is concerned with the spate of building collapse and the resulting loss of lives and properties.

Oil Pipelines Act does not hold pipeline operators responsible for damage caused by oil theft. He did identify rare, “theoretical” but “difficult to prove” exceptions, for example in the event a pipeline operator knew the time and location of a planned attack by criminals and decided not to inform the police.

He also accepted that no compensation is payable for oil spilled as a result of illegal oil refining, the statement noted.

The judge further recognised the significant jurisdictional problems that arise when claims relating to Nigerian land are brought in England rather than in the Nigerian courts that have jurisdiction in relation to such land. These issues will need to be addressed during the main trial next year.

SPDC’s Managing Director, Mutiu Sunmonu, said the firm, as a responsible corporate citizen, had never denied responsibility for the unfortunate spills and had never said it will not compensate the victims.

Arco bags Academy award

RCO Petrochemical Engineering Company Plc has bagged an Appreciation Award from the Nigerian Academy of Engineering. The award is aimed at recognising organisations, firms, parastatals and agencies for their outstanding contributions to the success of the academy.

Arco’s award is in the Gold category. The honour was bestowed on the company during the Academy Technology Dinner/Lecture.

It is the country’s apex organisation of engineers and also serves as the nation’s think tank. It has been providing inputs and leadership in national technological issues and policies through contributions to science, engineering and technology ideas in Nigeria and in fact, globally.

Its immediate past President, Prof.

A. F. Ogunye described Arco as a reliable ally of the Academy in efforts towards the realisation of its objectives, adding that Arco has been steadfast in its support.

Arco’s Managing Director, Alfred Okoigun, who was elated by the award said in a telephone interview from Moscow where he was attending the World Petroleum Congress that the award was yet another fluffy feather to the firm’s cap of honours.

He expressed his gratitude to the Academy for the award, and said he was glad Arco shared the honour with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

He said Arco’s core business is engineering and so it was obligatory

T

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

on the part of its management to be mindful of institutions that are dedicated to the promotion of engineering education and practice and offer its own widow’s mite to enable such institutions to act as catalysts in that endeavour.

He was particularly pleased that the Academy as a non-profit organisation has been striving through thick and thin to influence the development and growth of the engineering profession in Nigeria.

Okoigun said: “Arco believes in indigenous human capital development in all fields of human endeavours. I have always held the view that acquisition of science, technology and engineering education by increasing number of Nigerian youths is an imperative to moving our nation forward.”

He said he has always suggested that Nigeria should join the league of nations that are net exporters of skilled labour. He said: “When we use our own skilled men and women to develop the various sectors of our economy, then they can attract the attention of other countries that may need the services of some of them.

“That objective is attainable if the federal and state governments, tertiary institutions, Nigerian Society of Engineers, employers of engineers and voluntary organisations like the Nigerian Academy of Engineering work hand in hand to intensify their investment in engineering education and provide hands-on-the-job opportunities for engineering graduates.”

Airline trains professionals

HE President of AZMAN Air Services Limited (AASL) Alhaji Abdulmunaf Yunusa said the airline has trained over 76 Nigerians in various aspects of aviation at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria.

He said the airline would soon open a training facility for its workers under the purview of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

“We are focused towards creating opportunities for a viable and robust aviation sector that empowers and creates jobs for our youths,” he said.

Yunusa also said the company is negotiating for the acquisition of a third aircraft, adding that it would have been difficult for the airline to commence scheduled operations if it did not receive maximum support from NCAA. He described the process of obtaining an AOC as a “comprehensive, well designed and crafted programme that is geared towards the provision of safe, reliable and

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

efficient airline services in Nigeria”.

“The NCAA has been instrumental in ensuring a safe and reliable aviation sector in Nigeria which makes Nigeria’s aviation sector to be among the most regulated almost in the same class with the developed world. But to ensure a robust aviation sector, you need to make the environment enabling by providing incentives.

From my own understanding, the major factors affecting the development of aviation sector in Nigeria is the absence of support system that will address the numerous problems faced by the operators,” he said.

Yunusa listed the problems bedeviling airline operators to include dearth and inadequate funding, qualified personnel, training infrastructure, maintenance and engineering infrastructure as well as lack of good organisation of the aviation industry, among others.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

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THE CEO The coming of the distribution and generation companies under the power sector reform was expected to address the power problem. Over six months after the succession-companies acquired the assets of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), nothing has changed.

Power supply is still erratic. Why? Sir Remi Omotoso, Chairman of DN Meyer Plc, says in this interview with Assistant Editors CHIKODI OKEREOCHA and OKWY IROEGBUCHIKEZIE that the Discos and Gencos inherited ‘poison’, whereas they thought they were going to get a ‘juicy thing’. He argues that power is crucial for the real sector to work.

‘Discos, Gencos got a raw deal’ H

OW can we reverse the trend where manufacturing, which hitherto was the economic livewire, now contributes only four per cent to GDP? There is a lot involved in the situation in which the manufacturing sector finds itself today. The manufacturing sector is the most adversely affected by this issue of infrastructure. There is hardly any manufacturing industry in Nigeria today that is not generating its own power, providing itself with water; a number of them have to connect their factories to the road at their own expense.

When you look at their total cost of operations, manufactured goods in Nigeria are about 40 per cent more expensive than the same goods manufactured in the West Coast of Africa. So, the manufacturing industry in Nigeria is not competitive and that is why this importation of all sorts of goods into Nigeria is going on unabated. If the manufacturing industry has to bear such a heavy load of cost and does not enjoy any protection whatsoever, that is recipe for death.

That’s why you now have manufacturing industries which in the 70s and 80s were contributing about 10 per cent to the GDP, contributing less than four per cent today.

Do you see light at the end of the tunnel for manufacturers with the privatisation of the power assets?

It’s going to be very bad before it starts to get better. The intention of government to stay out of power I applaud because for as long as government has its fingers in the provision of all these very important infrastructural facilities, we are not going to get anywhere. For a phone line to be brought to your house in those days you had to pay all sort of legal and illegal fees and you must know somebody right on top who would plead your case. Today, is the story not different? That can also happen to electricity.

But those distribution companies (DISCOs) inherited junks, comatose infrastructure and I don’t think they actually did a thorough due diligence when they took over. And they were outsmarting themselves; they gave very high bids thinking they were going to get a juicy thing. They inherited poison. But somebody has to detoxify those things they inherited and I think they are going through the process. It’s a very painful process. Banks are unwilling to lend them money because the assets upon which they are working are moribund. On the transmission side, I am not even sure government has really made up its mind so, I am worried about that. The generating end of it (GENCOs) itself is an issue. All the facilities that have got to be totally integrated are still in a disjointed form. Gas provision and supply is not in tune with generation. You have quite a lot of Independent Power Projects (IPPs) that cannot deliver to the national grid because of gas. The way we are today does not give us any hope that in five year’s we will get out of the woods.

Would you say the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) is doing enough in the standardisation of paints?

I don’t think I can stand here and speak for SON. SON has been doing a good job in a way, but you cannot compare SON with the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). NAFDAC is more effective, more aggressive; SON does

• Omotoso

Profile Institutions attended

University of Ibadan; Duke University, North Carolina, USA.

Qualifications

B.Sc Geography

Previous positions

Group Managing Director/CEO, Odu’a Investment Company Limited; Director-General/CEO, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Present position

Chairman, DN Meyer Plc.

Experience

Over 40 years.

not pursue those who fake products. Those who fake products and those who import sub-standard products, SON does not pursue such people as NAFDAC does. The difference could be that NAFDAC deals with those products that human beings consume and they are life threatening. SON too should not see itself as not being in that category.

SON is to protect the integrity of products

that are made in this country and those that are also coming in to be consumed in this country. There is a lot of work for SON to do, I make bold to say.

Sometime ago, you supported the merger of SON and NAFDAC. Do you still stand on that position?

We have gone beyond that now because government has taken a decision as to which

agencies should be merged. I think the two of them can stand each on its own, but let each one do what it’s assigned to do with all the concentration and the effectiveness that the mandate of the agency demands. If you look at how manufacturers are affected by products faking and importation of substandard materials you will shudder. Many of them are suffering a lot. You are talking about paints. Put your minds to tyres. Till this day, I don’t think we have fought the battle of preventing fake tyres from coming into this country as much as NAFDAC has fought the battle of fake drugs coming into this country. Fake tyres are as dangerous and life threatening as fake malaria products.

Maybe because the scope SON is covering is so wide. Maybe that’s part of the problem of their inability to do all that they need to do.

So, what would you suggest because some people say SON is overwhelmed?

SON is overwhelmed. I think first of all the culture; government should try and motivate Nigerians to imbibe the culture of self •Continued on page 28

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

28

THE CEO

‘Discos, Gencos got a raw deal’ •Continued from page 27

regulation. That’s where it should start. I don’t know how this could be done, honestly. The quest for quick money in this country mitigates the need to really put the interest of the other man into consideration. Many of the producers of these sub-standard materials don’t care a hoot as long as they make their money whether people die from consuming them or not.

Beyond that, punitive measures that will serve as deterrents should be really enforced. The laws are there, but somehow there is a lot of compromise. Somehow the court process is slow. I don’t want to say the courts are corrupt, but the process of justice is too slow to make the enforcement of the laws effective. I am passionate about this because I know they do a lot of damage to the economy of this country. You can’t export freely because our products will not be able to pass international standards test. Not the ones we produce, but the ones that are faked affect the ones that are genuine. They go and put the label of a good product on a bad product and once they get out of the shores of the country nobody knows which one that was genuinely produced and the one that was faked. It’s a major threat to our economy.

Over 70 per cent of raw materials for paints are sourced abroad. How does this affect the bottomline of paint makers and how can it be reversed?

That is a very fundamental question. Some of the raw materials that we use for paint manufacturing can be made locally, but the drive for local substitution that was embarked upon in the 1980s in this

country got abandoned.

At what point?

By the 1990s people had gone back to rely on import. It’s not only the paints industry that this is playing out; you can see it in the automotive industry. About the same time TATA got license to produce spares for Mercedes Benz trucks in India, ANAMCO in Enugu got theirs. But where are we today? If you look at the volume of spares that we produce in Nnewi that could be used basically to replace import of spare parts for vehicles, you will be surprised. But we are talking about paints. A lot of the materials we use in paints are available locally, I can tell you that.

But people find it easier to import.

Those people who should be developing local raw materials would rather go and import them and sale. If we are compelled to rely on our own internal resources I can assure you that those who are importing will begin to see the need to develop local substitute for the imports. Government should encourage this one way or the other through incentives because government is mostly affected by this problem of what we call import syndrome. If we are producing the raw materials here people will be employed in those outfits manufacturing those raw materials. They will also be paying income to government. We will not be creating employment for other people offshore in a country where you are suffering from unemployment of young graduates. Why did we have Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) at that time? It was to promote this kind of thing. What is that body doing today? Govern-

‘Those distribution companies (DISCOs) inherited junks, comatose infrastructure and I don’t think they actually did a thorough due diligence when they took over. And they were outsmarting themselves; they gave very high bids thinking they were going to get a juicy thing. They inherited poison’

• Omotoso

ment set up that body and they were doing research that will substitute raw materials that we were bringing from abroad, but all of a sudden RMRDC disappeared from the radar of this country. Is it not sad? So, that agency ought to be revived. It should be carrot and stick approach. If you rely on local raw materials, manufacturers will be compelled to contribute to the research funds for that body because we are going to all benefit at the end of the day. If however, you want to rely on imported raw materials, tariff should be able to take care of that, which is why I am talking of carrot and stick approach.

What are the major transformations in DN Meyer since you became chairman?

I became Chairman of DN Meyer about four years ago, and what we met on ground was a huge pile of debts incurred by the board and management of the company before we came in. We were really worried; we felt for the company to survive we had to do something about those debts. So, the board settled down and tackled the issue of debt restructuring. We were able to be covered by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) scheme. At least, that has given us some breathing space to be able to reorganise the finances of the company and have enough for working capital. Today, other than that debt servicing we are doing we don’t owe anybody outside. We were able to finance the different operations of the company from funds internally generated. Secondly, we’ve been able to instill financial discipline, block as much of the leakages as we could, run after those who owe us money.

We made reasonable recoveries, but we have not recovered all. If you follow our results you would have seen that every year we have been showing improvement. This last year, we actually made a profit, no matter how small. We have come from a loss making situation to a profit making situation. We have also done a very professional review of the company’s structure.

We looked at the various portfolios that we have, we’ve done some rationalisation and we have also done what we call staff audit, and we’ve done management review that was very professionally done.

We are working today with the number of people that will add value. So if you restructure your finance, restructure the company, do a sound management review, and you even look at your product range viz-a-viz market demand, you are positioned to move forward. That is what we have done.

What was the size of the company’s debt stock and how were you able to offset it?

First of all, I don’t think it’s proper for me to start giving you figures as to how much the debt stock was so we don’t play into the hands of the competition. I can only talk to you generally. First of all, you needed to have a clear analysis of who owe you and who you owe.

That was done. This thing doesn’t require rocket science, but considerable integrity of thought, integrity of work that goes into preparing this because we found out that some of these debts involved some measure of dishonesty between some of our staff and even the people who were owing us or people we were supposedly owing and now we had a clean set of figures that we could work with. From the money we were generating internally we began to pay those we owe. We worked with them, we agreed on terms and we had kept to those terms religiously.

DN Meyer acquired the flooring adhesives business of Dunlop Plc. What is happening to that business?

That business doesn’t have much

• Omotoso

‘The manufacturing sector is the most adversely affected by this issue of infrastructure. If the manufacturing industry has to bear such a heavy load of cost and does not enjoy any protection whatsoever, that is recipe for death’ synergy. The synergy is not that particularly strong so we don’t want to waste our limited resources on a product that has very limited synergy with what our core competence is.

That means you focus only on paints?

We are facing paints, paints in its various dimensions from domestic requirement to marine, industrial and all that; we are facing that squarely.

What percentage of your raw materials is sourced abroad?

We buy most of our raw materials locally. You must realise that those who are selling to you are not producing them here, they import and sale to you. Even when some of them say they have their own factory, they bring the raw materials and add some additives and sell to you. You can still do better than that because some of those basic things they are using to which they add some other agents can be produced here if we are dedicated and organised.

What do you want the government to do?

The government ought to get RMRDC back in place in a purposeful, focused manner, visionary in its approach, trying to collaborate with manufacturers to get a lot of the inputs produced locally. There is this 10 per cent local content in the oil &gas industry; something in that nature ought to start to get developed. Sometime we can become an industrial nation; you may even end up exporting after satisfying your own local needs.

What is DN Meyer’s staying power?

Survival instinct. We should be doing better than we are doing though, but let’s hope for the best.

But the question you asked me is why the contribution of the manufacturing sector is so minimal?

There was this industrial policy that the President launched early this year, around February. The automotive industry policy: very well intentioned. But you know that writing business plans, writing policies, visioning is not a prob-

lem for Nigeria, the problem with us is consistency, sticking to what we are saying and making our intentions to see the light of day.

Good intentions, good plans, poor implementation. That has been our bane. The manufacturing industry in Nigeria should be feeding the whole of West and Central Africa.

We have the population base. The market is good and can attract manufacturers to this place because you know that in addition to the 170 million people in the country, you have about that same number in the West Coast to which you can sell your goods. But our cost base has got to be right; our infrastructure has got to be solid and dependable. That is why I cannot put my hand on my chest that in the next four, five years the manufacturing industry will be contributing more than four per cent when as at today Nigeria is still generating and celebrating 4, 000 Megawatts of power, which is hardly sufficient for an industrial city in a place like Hong Kong.

Your company set a target to achieve N2.5 billion turnover by 2016. Given the challenges you mentioned, is it still on course?

I can put my hand on my chest and say yes. We are not going to pretend those challenges won’t be there. N2.5 billion turnover by 2016 is not an undoable target. If we don’t do it in 2015 I will be surprised. But the critical issue here is government has got to make the operating environment secure.

You know I have not touched the area of security at all. If you know how many of our depots are closed down in the North East of Nigeria you will marvel. Our market has been decimated because those are no go areas. Even the assets we have in those areas we cannot access them. Products that have expired we could not recall because you can’t get near them. We are not alone, but that’s part of the problem affecting manufacturing.

That’s why government is got to really work on this issue of security so that there will be free movement and free enterprise.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

29

MONEYLINK

Liquidity boost pushes interbank rate to 11.9%

T

HE inter-bank rate rose slightly by 37 basis points to 11.9 per cent at the weekend, Currencies

Analyst at Ecobank Nigeria, Olakunle Ezun has said.

In a report obtained by The Nation, he said the rate rise was driven by increased inter-bank funding requirement. He however said inter-bank market funding to cover T-Bills and Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) bond transactions.

According to him, overnight and one-month Nigeria Interbank Offered

Stories by Collins Nweze

Rate (NIBOR) were at 11.93 per cent and 12.81 per cent respectively while three-month NIBOR rose to 13.8 per cent, though less activities are done on the tenor.

He said the inter-bank secured lending (Open Buy Back) rose to 11.6 per cent to underscore current market liquidity status.

Ezun said CBN Governor, Gowin Emefiele’s forward guidance to a low interest rate environment showed a clear departure from the his

EMP facilitates bills payment via ATM, PoS

T

HE Emerging Markets Payments (EMP) and Madfoo3atCom for Electronic Payments (MFEP) have launched Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment System. The product, the firms said, would allow customers to receive and pay bills electronically from their computers, Automated Teller Machines, kiosks and Point of Sale terminals.

The firms also recently won a tender to build, operate and administrate the Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment System for Jordan, under the auspices of the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ). The service is being launched under the name of eFawateerCom. The statement said that eFawateerCom was officially launched following a successful pilot phase that involved three banks, two mobile operators and the Customs Department.

Executive Manager of the Payment Systems and Domestic Banking Op-

erations Department at the CBJ, Maha Bahou, said the collaboration between EMP and MFEP would bring a worldclass electronic bill payment system.

“We at the Central Bank believe that this system will become a great example to other countries that also wish to accelerate electronic payments in their economies,” said Ms Bahou.

Executive Chairman of EMP Paul Edwards said: “EMP serves over 135 banks and 30,000 merchants across the Middle East and Africa.

“Our vision is to provide worldclass payments solutions across this fast growing region. We are very proud to partner with MFEP and the CBJ to deliver a leading edge presentment and payment system. I believe it will have a profound effect on Jordanian businesses and citizens by increasing efficiency and reducing the cost of making a payment, in terms of time as well as money. Jordan has the clear potential to become a leader in electronic payments in the region.”

predecessor’s era of a significantly tight policy stance.

The analyst explained that assuming no significant change to key indicators, the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) will likely be held at 12 per cent through September 2014 before any cuts are made due to reasonably strong liquidity growth, fiscal expansion prior to the February 2015 elections.

He said that given market liquidity, and the inter-bank funding requirement, rate might trade around 11 per cent this week. On the foreign exchange market, the naira remained

steady against the dollar in the Interbank but has lost 1.8 per cent of its value since this year. He said inter-bank stability was driven by dollar inflows from CBN’s foreign exchange at Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS), in addition to dollar supplies from oil companies.

The naira closed last week at N163.10 to dollar while there are high expectations that the rebased national accounts, in addition to stable foreign exchange reserves and CBN’s tight monetary stance, would help support the currency.

FirstBank builds Sustainability Centre in LBS

By Alvin Afadama

evant applied research in areas of interest.

He said the focus of the workshop is to teach participants how to run their companies in a better way.

He noted that the platform was to promote best practice, learning and sharing sustainability in Nigeria and beyond.

According to him, the programme will also serve as a knowledge dissemination avenue and offer sustainability modules in Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and Executive Programmes and organizations of conferences for the exchange of ideas and knowledge.

The bank director said the centre will also serve as a capacity building center for staff of the bank and other financial institutions who are signatories to the Nigeria Sustainable Banking Principles (NSBP), FirstBank customers and other stakeholders.

•FirstBank CEO Bisi Onasanya

F

IRST BANK of Nigeria Limited has established its Sustainability Centre at the Lagos Business School of the PanAtlantic University.

FirstBank Director, Chris Ogbuchei who teaches strategy and corporate governance in the institution said during a three-day workshop organized by the lender that the centre was established to act as specialised training hub that focuses on knowledge creation through rel-

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year

35m 35m

11.039 12.23

19-05-2014 18-05-2016

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 400m 400m 400m 400m 400m 400m

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33

NIDF

OBB Rate

Price Loss 2754.67

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day

Amount 30m 46.7m

Rate % 10.96 9.62

Date 28-04-2012 “

CONOIL OANDO ETERNA JAPAULOIL MRS CAP AIICO TRANSCORP CAVERTON ETI

O/PRICE 62.23 27.56 4.17 0.52 59.44 40.00 0.84 4.67 6.02 15.32

C/PRICE 68.60 30.37 4.58 0.56 64.00 42.00 0.88 4.89 6.29 15.99

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

(S/N)

GAINERS AS AT 6-3-14

SYMBOL

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10%

CHANGE 10.24 10.20 9.83 7.69 7.67 5.00 4.76 4.71 4.49 4.37

DISCOUNT WINDOWx Feb. ’11

July ’11

July ’12

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00%

SYMBOL

O/PRICE 5.21 6.37 1.47 1.99 0.75 1.05 0.56 1.70 29.70 1.09

C/PRICE 4.95 6.06 1.40 1.90 0.72 1.01 0.54 1.65 28.83 1.65

CHANGE -4.99 -4.87 -4.76 -4.52 -4.00 -3.81 -3.57 -2.94 -2.93 -2.75

Amount Sold ($) 399.9m 399.9m 399.9m

Exchange Rate (N) 155.75 155.8 155.7

Date 2-5-14 2-3-14 1-29-14

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX

NSE

6-2-14

28-10-11

% Change

CAP Index

N13.07tr 40,766.16

N6.617tr 20,903.16

-1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH BGL NUBIAN FUND BGL SAPPHIRE FUND CANARY GROWTH FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CORAL INCOME FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND FBN HERITAGET FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND FIDELITY NIGFUND INTERCONTINENTAL INTEGRITY FUND KAKAWA GUARANTEED INCOME FUND

Offer Price Bid Price 167.15 165.82 9.17 9.08 1.11 1.11 1.19 1.19 0.69 0.69 1.39 1.33 1,666.72 1,666.27 1,098.63 1,097.86 118.89 118.05 1,087.30 1,087.00 1.67 1.62 1.05 1.03

LEGACY FUND NIGERIA INTER DEBIT FUND PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND STANBIC IBTC ETHICAL FUND • UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

LOSERS AS AT 6-3-14

CWG BOCGAS COSTAIN CUTIX WAPIC RTBRISCOE UTC MAYBAKER GUARANTY CONTINSURE

C

ITIBANK has marked its ninth annual Global Community Day. In a statement, the bank said 725 volunteers in Nigeria joined colleagues in 93 countries to celebrate the event. It said more than 70,000 volunteers in 479 cities spanning 93 countries around the world engaged in service activities to benefit their local communities.

The bank said volunteers demonstrated the company’s commitment to supporting and improving communities by leading in more than 1,200 service projects focused on local needs including urban revitalisation, financial literacy and education, housing, health and human services, environmental conservation and disaster relief.

In Lagos, volunteers served the students and teachers of Lagos State Model College, Badore by refurbishing the school’s library. This involved painting the building, providing books, donating chairs and air conditioning. Citi employees, family and friends also engaged in gardening as they beautified the school grounds with flowers and cleared out the school’s field.

Managing Director, Citibank Nigeria Limited, Omar Hafeez and Chief Operating Officer, Akin Dawodu delivered lectures on Financial Literacy and Personal Leadership. Citibank Nigeria Limited also facilitated a quiz session in partnership with Spelling Bee Nigeria. The occasion culminated in a football match between Citibank staff and the teachers of Lagos State Model College, Badore.

DATA BANK

FGN BONDS Tenor

Citibank marks global community day

143.11

142.62

0.78 1,961.72 14.30 1.15

0.76 1,951.40 13.95 1.12

1.3472 1.3587 1.0193 1.1798

1.3363 1.3587 1.0012 1.1798

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96%

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank

Previous 04 July, 2012

Current 07, Aug, 2012

8.5000

8.5000

Movement

30

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 20-06-14

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 20-06-14

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

31

EQUITIES

L

Banking, consumer goods stocks depress equities

OSSES in the banking and consumer goods sectors overshadowed strong gain in the oil and gas sector and dragged the Nigerian equities down by 0.93 per cent. With bears and the bull interchanging daily, the overall market situation was pressured by losses in the highly capitalised banking and consumer goods sectors.

The benchmark index for the Nigerian stock market, the All Share Index (ASI), closed the week at 41,129.27 as against its week’s opening index of 41,517.10 points. This implied a loss of some N127 billion as aggregate market value of all quoted equities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) dwindled from N13.709 trillion to close the week at N13.581 trillion.

While there were more losers to gainers, the market situation was largely coloured by the downtrends in the banking and consumer goods

Stories by Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

sectors. The NSE Banking Index recorded the highest loss of 4.96 per cent. The NSE Consumer Goods Index followed with a drop of 2.20 per cent. The losses in the two sectors impacted on the NSE 30 Index, which dropped by 1.69 per cent. The NSE 30 Index tracks prices of the 30 most capitalised stocks, dominated by several banking and consumer goods stocks.

The oil and gas sector continued to play contrarian stocks, further consolidating its position as the bestperforming sector so far this year.

The NSE Oil and Gas Index recorded a week-on-week gain of 14.95 per cent. The NSE Insurance Index indicated a weekly return of 1.68 per cent while the NSE Industrial Goods Index showed a gain of 0.20 per cent.

Year-to-date analysis showed most sectors underperforming the benchmark index as cautious investors con-

tinued to rebalance portfolios. While the ASI indicated a year-to-date return of -0.48 per cent, investors in banking, insurance and consumer goods have lost greater values.

NSE’s indices indicated average year-to-date loss of 4.77 per cent, 8.15 per cent and 4.0 per cent in the banking, consumer goods and insurance sectors respectively. This also reflected on the NSE 30 Index, which has lost 1.95 per cent so far this year.

On the upside, investors in oil and gas stocks have earned more than 48.5 per cent return so far this year while others in the industrial goods sector have earned a modest return of 1.16 per cent.

Oando was the toast of the market last week as the integrated energy company rallied on the back of government’s approval of its $1.65 billion acquisition of ConocoPhillips’ Nigerian business.

Oando’s share price rose by 51.85 per cent last week to close at N30.37. MRS

Oil and Gas followed with a gain of 33.33 per cent to close at N64.

Caverton gained 26.31 per cent to close at N6.29. Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp) rose by 13.99 per cent to N4.89 while Japaul Oil and Maritime Services recorded a gain of 12 per cent to close at 56 kobo.

Altogether, 36 stocks closed the week on the upside while 45 stocks suffered depreciation. A total of 119 stocks closed flat.

Total turnover last week stood at 1.53 billion shares worth N20.08 billion in 26,820 deals as against a total of 2.73 billion shares valued at N22.17 billion traded in 26,074 deals in the previous week.

The financial services sector remained the most active with 973.57 million shares valued at N7.99 billion in 12,764 deals; representing 63.7 per cent of aggregate turnover.

The conglomerates sector placed a distant second with a turnover of

194.78 million shares worth N1.05 billion in 2,394 deals. Oil and gas sector ranked third with 170.16 million shares worth N3.89 billion in 4,351 deals.

On stock by stock basis, the trio of Transcorp, Wapic Insurance Plc and Oando Plc were the most active, accounting for 445.75 million shares worth N3.79 billion in 5,126 deals.

This represented 29.2 per cent of aggregate turnover.

Trading in non-equity stocks remained on the low beat. A total of 226,863 units of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at N5.09 million were traded in 26 deals last week compared with a total of 466,975 units valued at N9.45 million traded in 18 deals in previous week. Also, 100 units of FGN bonds valued at N123, 560 were traded last week in a deal compared with a total of 2,900 units valued at N3. 58 million traded in two deals in the previous week.

35‐Day Pricing Trend at NSE 42000 P o i n t s

41000 40000 39000 38000 37000 36000 Fri Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Mon Tues Wed Fri Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Timeline: May 2‐June 20, 2014. Source: The Nation. Index: All Share Index (ASI)

L

Lotus Capital to float Exchange Traded Fund

OTUS Capital Limited, the fund manager of Lotus Capital Halal Investment Fund, has received provisional approval to float an Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) that will be based on a basket of select quoted stocks that meet the Islamic ethical standards.

Regulatory filing at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) indicated that Lotus Capital plans to float Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund on the back of the NSE Lotus Islamic Index, an index for some select stocks that comply with Islamic Shari’ah.

The NSE Lotus Islamic Index is a collaboration between the NSE and Lotus Capital. The first index created to track the performance of Shari’ah compliant equities on the floor of the NSE, the NSE Lotus Islamic Index opens today with a year-to-date return of -4.36 per cent, worse than average equity return of -0.48 per cent.

Lotus Capital will be offering 100 million units of the Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund at the price of 1/200th of the NSE Lotus Islamic Index on the day preceding the subscription, according to the regulatory filing. The NSE has already approved the Lotus ETF. Lotus Capital recently indicated it was considering floating new mutual funds as it urged investors in its premier fund to have longterm outlook of between five to 10 years. In an investment update, Lotus Capital said the new funds would be tailored to meet the specific needs of different segments of investors.

It noted that the new funds would provide opportunities for investors whose profiles could not fit into the long-term nature of the Halal Fund and further diversify the investors’ base of the company.

According to the company, investors in Halal Fund, which was

launched in 2008, should have minimum waiting period of five to 10 years as the value of the investments could fluctuate within a short-term framework.

The Halal Fund, currently at 78 kobo, has failed to make any returns to investors. The fund was offered at N1 per unit.

ETF is a security that tracks the performance of a specified security or other assets including stocks, basket of assets, indices, commodity prices, foreign currency rates, and derivatives among others. ETF is distinguished by some defining factors including fixed capital or where the company has variable capital, then the amount of the paid up share capital of the company shall at all times be equal to the net asset value of the company and its shares shall have no par value.

An ETF combines the valuation feature of a mutual fund or unit investmet trust, which can be bought or sold at the end of each trading day for its net asset value, with the tradability feature of a closed-end fund, which trades throughout the trading day at prices that may be more or less than its net asset value.

The most important type of exchange-trade products, ETF may be attractive as investment because of its low cost, tax efficiency, and stock-like features. By owning an ETF, the holder get the diversification of an index fund as well as the ability to sell short, buy on margin and purchase as little as one share.

Meanwhile, ETF does not sell individual shares directly to investors as only authorised dealers and in-

vestors are allowed to buy the usually large blocks of shares known as “creation units”.

There are many types of ETF. Index-based ETF, like index fund, tracks specified market index. Leveraged or inverse ETF seeks to achieve a daily return that is a multiple or an inverse multiple of the daily return of a securities index.

An important characteristic of this type of ETF is that it seeks to achieve its stated objectives on a daily basis, and its performance over longer periods of time can differ significantly from the multiple or inverse multiple of the index performance over those longer periods of time.

Active-ETF derives its name from its management strategy which entails day-by-day active trading and publication of portfolio hold-

ings on a daily basis.

The NSE recently listed the Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund tracks NSE 30 Index, the valuebased index that mirrors the pricing trends of the 30 most capitalised stocks on the NSE. The NSE had in late 2011 listed its first ETF, a gold-based ETF known as NewGold. NewGold originated from ABSA Capital and was then already listed on the JSE Stock Exchange of South Africa.

Ernst & Young, the third largest multinational professional services firm in the world, has reported that the global ETF industry had 5,042 ETFs, with 10,053 listings, assets of US$2.3 trillion, from 215 providers on 58 exchanges as at October 2013.

It also predicted annual growth of 15 per cent to 30 per cent globally over the next five years.

Emerging stocks decline on concerns over economic growth

E

MERGING-market stocks posted their first weekly drop in June last week on concern higher oil prices spurred

by Iraqi violence will curb economic growth.

The MSCI Emerging Markets Index slipped by 0.5 per cent on Friday to 1,044.70, taking the week’s loss to 0.4 per cent. Poland’s zloty sank amid speculation that leaked conversations between a government minister and the central bank chief may trigger early elections.

South Korea’s Kospi index tumbled as automakers declined.

A gauge of commodities led by oil and gold reached a 10-month high after the United States (US) said it will send military advisers to Iraq as violence escalates in the OPEC producer. Brent crude posted its second week of gains as the advance of Sunni fighters from a breakaway al-Qaeda group raised

the specter of sectarian civil war in the nation.

“Worries about Iraq have had an impact” on assets, John Lomax, an emerging-market strategist at HSBC Holdings Plc, said by phone from London. “In Russia we’ve had two forces at work this week, one has been the oil price, and the other has been the headline news flow on Ukraine.”

Bloomberg reported that the Micex fell 0.6 per cent in Moscow, pushing its weekly decline to one per cent. The UX Index lost 0.9 per cent in Kiev, the most since June 17. OAO Mechel (MTLR), Russia’s second-most indebted company, extended losses, falling 0.4 per cent as concern mounted that a rescue plan for the raw-material producer will dilute shareholders and shift control to the government.

The emerging-markets gauge has risen 4.2 per cent this year and

trades at 10.9 times projected 12month earnings, data compiled by Bloomberg show. The MSCI World Index has gained 5.2 percent in the period and is valued at 15.2 times.

An index tracking developing-nation currencies slipped for the first time in three days.

The Ibovespa fell one per cent in Sao Paulo. Brazilian state-run companies including oil producer Petroleo Brasileiro SA tumbled after President Dilma Rousseff held her lead in an election poll. The zloty weakened 0.5 per cent against the euro.

Turkey’s Borsa Istanbul 100 Index slipped by 0.8 per cent, led by Turkiye Garanti Bankasi AS. Iraqi bonds posted a second weekly decline, with the yield up 33 basis points at 7.26 per cent. In announcing that as many as 300 special operations personnel may work with Iraqi forces to blunt the insurgency that threatens to fracture the coun-

try, US President Barack Obama stressed the limits of the US commitment. He placed the onus on Iraqi leaders to resolve the crisis.

All 10 industry groups in the developing-nation gauge fell, led by technology and consumer-discretionary companies. The premium investors demand to own developing-nation debt over US Treasuries fell two basis points to 263, according to JPMorgan indexes.

South Korea’s Kospi index dropped 1.2 per cent, the most since April 25, as foreign investors sold shares while higher oil prices dragged down automakers.

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI) of mainland companies listed in Hong Kong gained 0.4 per cent. China’s Shanghai Composite Index (SHCOMP) rose 0.1 per cent as technology and property stocks rebounded after losses triggered by concern the resumption of new share sales will divert funds.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

32

ISSUES The National Pension Commission recently granted the Nigeria Police Force Approval-inPrinciple to operate a Pension Fund Administrator(PFA) company, the NPF Pensions Limited.

The company would manage thepension of over 330,000 officers and men. OMOBOLA TOLUKUSIMO writesthat despite fears being expressed by some stakeholders, the policesee the move as a shot in the arm and a win-win situation for all the stakeholders.

•Police officers.

When police manage their pension W HEN the National P e n s i o n Commission (PenCom), early this year, decided to incorporate a limited liability company, Nigeria PoliceForce (NPF) Pensions Limited, to operate as a Pension FundAdministrator (PFA) exclusively for the Nigeria Police to address thepeculiar concerns of its personnel, it probably never envisaged thekind of controversy and mixed reaction it would generate.

According toPenCom, the NPF Pensions Limited was granted

Approval-in-Principle fora license to operate as a PFA following an application by theauthorities of the Nigeria Police Force.

The Acting Director-General of PenCom, Mrs. ChineloAnohuAmazu,explained that after a rigorous and thorough review oftheapplication, the NPF Pensions Limited was found to have satisfied allthe normal stringent Approvalin-Principle conditions without anyconcessions hence, the Commission granted the Approval-in-Principlefor a license to operate as a PFA. She was however, quick to pointout that the Federal Government never granted

any approval to theNigeria Police to pull out from the pensions Scheme.

She said thepersonnel of the Nigeria Police Force are still under the Scheme byvirtue of Section 1 of the Pension Reform Act 2004.

But the license granted to the police to establish the NPF PFAapparently did not go down well with some pension operators, analysts,and other industry stakeholders. Some of them argue that taking awaythe funds in the custody of the existing privately owned 20 PFAs inthe country • Continued on page 33

•IG Abubakar.

‘

Considering the security situation of the country, the Federal Government should not take any decision that woulddemoralise the men and women of the armed forces, as doing so would negatively impact the performance of their duties

’

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

33

ISSUES

When police manage their pension

• Continued from page 32

under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) of the PensionReform Act 2004 to the NPF Pensions Limited does not only violate theprovision of the Pensions Reform Act (PRA) 2004, but will also spelldoom for the future of over 300, 000 officers and men of the NPF. To drive home their point, operators opposed to the arrangement had, in response to PenCom directive on the transfer of the Police pension fund, requested that for an orderly transfer, as stipulated in the Pension Reform Act and guidelines issued by the Commission, the Police should be restricted to enrolling new employees for now until the transfer window is open. At that point, officers and men can choose to move or compensation be given by the Police PFA to existing PFAs in the form of asset purchase, as in the case of operator buy out.

The operators also insist that the transfer be made in an equitable manner that would neither favour the Police PFA, nor harm existing Retirement Savings Account (RSA) funds. "We must also ensure that transfers of assets, cash and near cash form, to a single player, within a short period of time, does not cause systemic risk for the market", some of the operators said.

Prior to the establishment of the Police PFA, the pensions of officersand men of the Police Force along with the Nigeria Army, Navy andState Security Agency (SSS) were managed by the existing 20 PFAs inthe country.

The police fund had grown to over N305 billion out of theover N4 trillion pension fund.

But for security reasons, the army andSSS pulled out from the Scheme in 2010.

Following the enactment of the Pension Reform (Amendment) Act 2011, which exempted the personnel of the Military and State Security Services from the Scheme, the Nigeria Police and other agencies agitated for exemption from the Scheme.

The Federal Government, after careful consideration of the submissionmade by the Nigeria Police, decided that the Police personnel shouldremain under the Scheme and that the NPF should seek administrativesolutions to the grievances of their personnel within the framework ofthe Scheme.

This was perhaps, why Mrs. Anohu-Amazu clarified that the Federal Government never granted any approval to the Nigeria Police topull out from the Scheme.

However, it is doubtful if the industry operators are swayed by PenCom'sclarification. For instance, an analyst, who spoke oncondition of anonymity, insists that taking away the pensions from thePFAs jeopardises the future of officers and men of the NPF. Besides,the move, he argued, is against the provision of the PRA. His words: "We have heard and seen how pension funds outside the management ofthe PFAs but belonging to the police have been embezzled. Thoseembezzled funds are gone and nothing is being done to recover them.

Now, the funds under the management of the PFAs are being targeted inthe form of setting up a new NPF PFA to manage the funds."

He further argued that this will amount to entrusting the future ofNigeria police men and woman into the hands of few individuals. "It isnot only risky but it will also dampen the moral of officers and menof the NPF," he added. Another analyst noted that "Under section11(1&2) of the PRA 2004, which deals with retirement savings accountand remittance of contributions among others, individuals are allowedto choose their PFA. But with the new proposal, all police men andwomen would be compelled to keep their savings with the proposed NPFPFA. This is not only risky but is also illegal."

According to the analysts, considering the security situation of thecountry, the Federal Government should not take any decision thatwould demoralise the men and women of the armed forces, as doing sowould negatively impact the performance of their duties.

Interestingly, the Police appear to know what it wants. As far as thePolice is concerned, there is no basis for the fears beings expressedby some stakeholders.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba,said fears that granting the Police PFA an Approval-In-Principle for alicense to

‘

The Nigeria Police have never been involved in pension fund mismanagement or embezzlement.

Rather, they have been the victims who have suffered severely because some federal civil servants entrusted with their pension funds had stolen their money. However, blaming the victims for woes they did not inflict on themselves, is at best an unkind cut and an injustice of the worst kind

manage the pension contributions of Police personnel willconstitute a major threat to the over N4 trillion pension assets, inview of the safety and professional management of the fund, areunwarranted and misplaced.

Mba explained: "PenCom had earlier said that there were no basesfor such doubts and fears in view of the fact that the management andcustody of pension assets are respectively undertaken by separatelicensed operators, namely the PFAs and Pension Fund Custodians (PFCs)under its strict supervision. PenCom made it distinctly clear that first, only the administration of RSAs of Police personnel is beingtransferred to NPF Pensions Limited and not cash since the money willremain in the custody of licensed PFCs. Second, that it has designedan operational framework guiding the reassignment of PersonalIdentification Numbers (PINs) and transfer of records of all NigeriaPolice Contributors to the NPF Pensions Limited in eighteen monthsperiod".

He said that in spite of the fact that the NPF Pensions Limited wasestablished by the NPF, it is nonetheless, a limited liability companyindependently managed by experienced professionals who have beencertified as 'fit and proper persons' by the Commission.

"Besides, theNigeria Police have never been involved in pension fund mismanagementor embezzlement. Rather, they have been the victims who have sufferedseverely because some federal civil servants entrusted with theirpension funds had stolen their money.

However, blaming the victims forwoes they did not inflict on themselves, is at best an unkind cut andan injustice of the worst kind," he added.

’

Mr. Mba stated that one of the reasons the Police Force opted to haveits PFA is to right the wrongs of the past and prevent a repeat ofbecoming perpetual victims in the country.

"Our history of excellentmanagement of corporate entities is incontestable.

Companies such asNPF Microfinance Bank Plc, NPF Mortgage Bank Plc, NPF HMO and NPF Multipurpose Cooperatives Limited, which have been operatingprofitably over the years under the relevant regulatory agencies, areproudly owned by the Police. The NPF Microfinance PLC is quoted on theNigerian Stock Exchange and is the undisputed and widely acknowledgedbest Microfinance Bank in the Country," he enthused.

For Mba, the benefits of the new arrangement are glaring. Describingthe setting up of the NPF Pensions Limited as "worthy of celebration,"he said its operation offers an average policeman a sense offulfillment as issues relating to his job and career would be ablyaddressed to suit his peculiar needs. "Firstly, it will help toaddress the issue of multiple registrations peculiar with existingPFAs. Secondly, it will ensure uniformity in contribution and accurateremittance of pension retirement benefits to all retirees under thescheme," he noted.

Mba is not done. He said in all Police Commands, there will bepension desks manned by officers, which will be integratedelectronically with the NPF Pensions Limited to enable easier andfaster transactions between Police officers and their PFA. This, hesaid, would no doubt facilitate prompt payment of retirement benefitswith little bureaucratic processes. "It will afford commensuratereturns on investments arising from operational profits which NPFPensions

•Policemen at work.

‘

As a matter of fact, the setting up of NPF Pensions Limited is a win-win situation for all the relevant stakeholders including the Federal Government, PenCom, NPF Pensions Limited and other PFAs, Police personnel and the general public

’

•PenCom Acting DG, Chinelo Anohu-Amazu.

•Chairman, Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria, Misban Yola .

Limited can make and this will be ploughed back to improvePolice welfare," he explained.

He also disclosed that NPF Pensions Limited will provide anotheropening for job opportunities for Nigerians, thereby helping to tacklethe problem of unemployment and other social ills, including crimesoften associated with lack of decent jobs. Besides, the arrangementwill make it easier to identify police officers who have RetirementSavings Accounts (RSAs) such that payouts would be made to the truebeneficiaries only and thus help to eliminate fraud.

Also, there is a measure of assurance with regards to the security offunds, which are now in the custody of a licensed Pension FundCustodian (PFC). "As a matter of fact, the setting up of NPF PensionsLimited is a win-win situation for all the relevant stakeholdersincluding the Federal Government, PenCom, NPF Pensions Limited andother PFAs, Police personnel and the general public," he said.

Mbastressed that the NPF Pensions is a trailblazing innovation and unprecedented welfare measures adopted by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar.

He added that it is cautiously designed to make the lives of the officers and men of the Force better.

Now, more than ever before, the officers and men can proudly and patriotically serve their country knowing that indeed, after service, there is Life, he said.

Prior to the Pension Reform Act 2004, the public sector operated Defined Benefit (DB) Scheme that was largely unfunded or underfunded. It was marred by weak, inefficient and less transparent administration that is unsustainable due to accumulated pension debt.

The private Sector was characterized by low coverage and compliance leaving most workers with no and or inadequate retirement benefit arrangement The objective is to ensure that every worker receives his benefits as and when due.

It is also expected to empower the worker by assisting them to save in order to cater for their livelihood during old age, stem the growth of outstanding pension liability, establish uniform rules, regulations and standards for administration of pension matters and establish strong regulatory & supervisory framework.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

34

THE NATION

BUSINESS INSURANCE

NIPEX approves energy deals for Guinea

T

HE strategic re-engineering initiatives launched by Guinea Insurance Plc have begun to yield dividends, as the company has been certified to undertake large energy businesses, the Managing Director, Guinea Insurance Plc, Polycarp Didam, has said.

He said this is coming just as the underwriting firm was readmitted to the African Insurance Organisation (AIO).

He said the firm was given a clean bill of health to handle large accounts following the successful conclusion of the prequalification audit recently conducted by the Nigerian Petroleum Exchange (NIPEX).

According to him, the NIPEX certificate affirms Guinea as a viable player in the industry and attests to its capacity to take on mega oil and gas businesses in Nigeria.

He also said the firm’s membership was reinstated at the regional body’s (AIO) 41st Conference and General Assembly in Kigali, • From left: Chairman of the event, Segun Osunkeye; past President of CIIN Fatai Lawal; Temowo and his wife at the event.

CIIN chief challenges risk managers on insecurity

• Unveils agenda

N

IGERIA is witnessing the worst cases of insecurity and the abuse of human integrity, hence the need for risk managers to support the Federal Government in finding solutions to these problems, the newly installed President/Chairman of Council of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Bola Temowo, has said.

Temowo, who stated this at his investiture as the 46th President of the Institute in Lagos, said the industry is immensely challenged by the emerging risk factors, most of which are alien to the Nigerian culture and existence.

He this is the most crucial time for risk managers to re-examine their expertise and pool their knowledge together in providing new insurance packages for the benefit of the vulnerable population.

He said it is also time to re-examine the industry operators’ individual and collective Corporate Social Responsibility to their immediate communities, that are affected by adverse environmental hazards.

He said they must step up their campaign for an all-inclusive insurance education, which should include support for public education initiatives, aimed at keeping the citizenry abreast of preventive measures against fire, flooding, automobile and domestic accidents, as well as unhealthy lifestyles.

Temowo said it is his desire to see to the growth and development of the Institute, rather than the desire to actualise an ambition to lead, or to be visible, that made him to offer himself for the position.

“It is against this backdrop that the theme of my Presidency is, ‘Promoting the legacy of continuity,’ saying the theme is borne out of the belief that there is a sense of responsibility in identifying with, and reinforcing the programmes and policies, which engender greater strength and vitality for our institute.

Stories by OmobolaTolu-Kusimo

“It is also borne out of the need to establish a rolling plan, which will guarantee that ongoing positive projects and policies are upheld by successive leadership even in addition to new projects and plans.

“Let me acknowledge the fact that the doctrine of continuity has been snowballing in the last few years, culminating in our decision to begin a campaign to institutionalise it today” He noted some of the past agenda that had continued to feature in his predecessors’ goals, such as the institute’s Victoria Island building project, College of Insurance; promoting the relevance of insurance in national consciousness; developing the platforms for insurance education and establishment of greater industry bonding.

He said his presidency will focus on resuscitating the development of the Institute’s building in Victoria Island; Commencement of academic activities at the college of insurance and financial management; establishment of an E-Library; strengthening the study and teaching of insurance in secondary schools and tertiary institutions in Nigeria, provision of adequately trained manpower at the institute secretariat for improved service delivery. These projects will be part of my promoting the benefits of continuity as the most expedient course to chart in order to reposition the institute for greater relevance, he added.

CIIN’s immediate past president, Fatai Lawal, had at the institute’s 2014 international education conference with the theme ‘Redimensioning the insurance industry contributions to the national economy,’ which ushered in Temowo, stressed the need for insurance practitioners to be equipped.

He said the choice of the theme is a clarion call for insurance practitioners to re-tool their skills, knowledge, and expertise to engender greater relevance in the new scheme of things. He also noted that the

institute’s commitment to providing ample opportunities for continuous professional education and continuously engage insurance managers in the constructive revaluation of the contributions to the nation’s economy in the everdynamic business environment was very important.

According to him, the contributions of the industry to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) must remain their collective concern. It is clearly illogical for the sector to remain an insignificant contributor to an economy that is now tagged the largest in Africa following the rebasing of the country’s GDP. Therefore, the ongoing process of transformation in the agricultural, power, transport and financial services sectors, represent the most critical phase of nationhood and beckons on all segments of the economy including the insurance industry to be more responsive.

A

T

Rwanda.

He said: “The readmission will avail Guinea Insurance the privilege to subscribe to the African oil & gas and aviation pools and also enable the company to place part of its energy and aviation acceptances/risks businesses with the mega pools in Africa.

“We have finally received our certificate from NIPEX to bid on large ticket energy deals, with this approval; we are now set to participate in energy related deals in Nigeria, which is a very serious achievement for our company.”

The Team Lead, Energy and Special Risks, Evwaire Godwin, said the company was set to fully explore opportunities in the sector. He said that frantic efforts are underway to revitalise and position the brand on a higher pedestal that would generate positive results and propel confidence and equitable service delivery to enable the company take its rightful place in the industry.

NAIC gets govt’s nod to sell insurance through e-wallet

HE Federal Government has granted the Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), to start implementing the provision of insurance through the Agric e-wallet system.

NAIC’s Managing Director, Bode Opadokun, who made this known in Lagos over the weekend, said the e-wallet system would enable the Corporation to achieve the global objective of the 2014 food production year. He said they will deploy strategies to achieve a food production year in Nigeria as declared by African Union leaders for 2014.

Opadokun said the e-wallet system will principally ensure insurance is provided for the risk that has been identified in agriculture for the small scale farmers adding that the corporation has begun to achieve this. He stressed that the system is one of the ways to drive the issue of provision of insurance for the micro or small scale farmers.

He said: “We have been working in conjunction with Federal Ministry of Agriculture. The e-wallet system will allow us to sell insurance through another alternative distri-

bution network.

“We all remember the flood incident that happened in 2012 in Nigeria, which affected over 139,000 farmers. We want to ensure that this does not happen again in our history. What we have been able to get the Federal Government to do through this agricultural programme, is to give us the concession and approval for us to proceed with the process of implementing the provision of insurance.

“This means that farmers buying fertiliser will tag along the insurance provision for them, which is about the value of about N20, 000.

This will be able to take care of at least one acre of land for each of the farmers. We believe that with the database where we have been able to register about 10 million farmers, we will be able to use that in selling in insurance to each of them.

“We want insurance to be such that it will cut across small, medium and large scale farmers to guard against what happened during the last flood incident in Nigeria where only the medium and large scale farmers were able to benefit.

AIICO begins sale of micro insurance

AIICO Insurance Plc has embarked on extensive awareness creation to sell insurance products to market men and women and partner with them to allay their sufferings when the need arise.

The company’s Head, Micro Insurance Unit, Wole Owolabi who spoke at the awareness creation, programme tagged ‘market storm’ which held at the Owode Onirin Spare Parts Market in Lagos, said they were introducing policies that would touch the basic needs of the micro traders.

He said part of the policy is the corporate savings in insurance that takes a minimum of one year and maximum of two years to mature. He explained to the traders that the policy allows them to end the policy in case they can no longer afford the premium and still collect surrender value.

He said: “If you are saving with us on the policy and you feel that you cannot pay up this premium again, you are going to collect surrender value.

Sometimes people ask for interest but instead of that, we can now say that, why don’t you take loan with little

• Launches multiple payment channels

By Damilola Akinshola

interest, so that you can still continue to do your savings and still go on with your business. We are not a micro-finance bank but we just want to empower people at the low level.

“We target market like this because they have associations hence it’s a corporate society. We also believe that in as much as we know that the amount we will get from here is a piece meal, we are passing on the headcount. By the time we established ourselves here and the members begin to enjoy the services, they will preach the gospel, that there is a lot to benefit from insurance.

“We have been to several markets like Ojuwoye, Idumota, Ladipo and Ketu market. After this market, we are going to move to other markets.”

Owolabi assured that the firm will ensure payment of claims in less than 48 hours In another development, the life insurer and major general business un-

derwriter launched its multiple payment channels for payment and renewal of Insurance policies.

The introduction of this milestone attests to its quest of delivering variety, convenience and ease of access to all its customers wherever they may be.

Speaking on the additional channels, Managing Director of the company, Edwin Igbiti, said this is expected to automatically ensure customer preferences and meet expectations.

He was of the view that as insurance becomes an increasingly important aspect of our lives, customers are more conscious about flexible and convenient payment options as they transact.

The channels include: POS, GTBank branches, Web E-Portal, Quickteller, Third party Scratch card, Direct Debit, Bank Order and Cashier Points. He encouraged the company’s customers to embrace these channels for a promise of a memorable user as well as phenomenal customer service experience.

35

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

BUSINESS MOTORING

The introduction of Macan marks Porsche’s pioneering move into a new segment, following in the footsteps of the brand‘s most successful model in the luxury SUV range, the Cayenne, reports TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO.

Porsche unveils new Macan

•Macan S

T

HE name Macan comes from the Indonesian word for tiger, a spirit the car truly embodies. Boasting pure Porsche power and assertiveness, the Macan is also a nimble yet tenacious off-roader. The latest stage of evolution of the all-wheel drive – known as Porsche Traction Management – has produced one of the world’s most powerful drive systems.

It is dubbed the world’s first sports car in the compact SUV segment, the Macan, was unveiled at Porsche Centre Lagos, last Friday.

The unveiling event was held under the theme: “Life, intensified”, a phrase which exemplifies what Macan represents.

Poised to set new standards in driving dynamics and enjoyment, both on and off the road, the new Macan boasts of the typical sporty handling characteristics that have become synonymous with the Porsche brand. Many of the design and performance elements have been inspired by the brand’s sports cars, including the iconic 911 and the revolutionary 918 Spyder, making it clear that the compact SUV heralds the first of its kind.

Featuring exceptional acceleration, vast engine power, extreme agility and optimum steering precision, the Macan is set to rewrite the rulebook on outstanding sporting comfort and everyday usability. The sporty DNA of the Macan, as with all Porsche vehicles, is immediately recognisable in the design. The compact SUV is unrivalled in its flat and broad profile on the road. The wrap-around bonnet and gently sloping roof line accentuate the overall impression of sporty elegance and powerful dynamics. Two derivatives are available at Porsche Centre Lagos for order: Macan S and Macan Turbo.

The Macan S is equipped with a 3.0-litre V6 biturbo engine, delivering 340 hp and also features an active all-wheel drive with an electronically controlled, map-controlled multi-plate clutch. This all-wheel drive is fitted on all Macan models. From the outset, the Macan boasts the recently developed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK), which transfers power as required and almost free of interruption in tractive force. This enables the vehicle to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds,

•Interior of the car

when equipped with the optional Sport Chrono package, and reaches a top speed of 254 km/h.

As the top derivative, the Macan Turbo is set to be the most powerful petrol-powered vehicle in the compact SUV segment.

The 3.6-litre V6 biturbo engine, which is being used in a Porsche model for the very first time, achieves an unrivalled 400 hp and catapults the vehicle from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.6 seconds (with Sport Chrono package), reaching a top speed of 266 km/h.

Managing Director of Porsche Middle East and Africa, Christer Ekberg, said: “With first deliveries of the all-new Macan, Porsche launches a world first and enter a new segment. I have no doubt that this car will be another success for Porsche, with the long-term commitment and intensive ef-

forts of our local Porsche Centre in Lagos.”

Brand Manager of Porsche Centre Lagos, Anurag Shah, said: “As you would expect, we have had a great deal of interest in the all-new Macan.

Last year, the Cayenne, our luxury SUV, proved our most popular model range and we are excited to expand our SUV offering, reaching a new group of customers. The sporty dynamics of the Macan inject an added dose of fun which I believe is set to redefine the SUV market.”

A glance at the performance specifications reveal that the Macan has been designed with agility in mind. Further unmistakable hallmarks of the vehicle include its proportions, design and the mixed tyres with different dimensions at the front and rear axle, enhancing the look and functionality. The driver and passenger seats also boast the low position typical of sports cars.

The range of equipment fitted on the Macan as standard is extensive and includes the all-wheel drive, PDK, multifunction sport steering wheel with shift paddles, high-performance audio system and an electrically operated tailgate.

The Macan features the air suspension system as the only vehicle in its segment and it comes as standard.

While the basic retail prices of the new Macan S model in Nigeria is N19 million, the Macan Turbo goes for N26 million.

Regional Operations Manager, Porsche Middle East and Africa, Adrian Wayne believed that the Macan stand good chance to tap into the Nigerian automobile market.

According to him, there was 56 per cent growth of sales in last year compare to 2012.

Wayne said their target customers are new set of people with high taste.

36

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

MOTORING

Jaguar invests £200m in plant for Discovery Sport

T

wo hundred and fifty new jobs have been created by the UK’s largest automotive employer as the Land Rover Discovery Sport is today confirmed as the latest model to be produced at Jaguar Land Rover’s Halewood plant.

The additional jobs announced to support Jaguar Land Rover’s newest model will see the Halewood workforce reach 4,750 – more than treble the number employed there in 2010.

Jaguar Land Rover, which has ambitious plans for sustainable growth and profitability, was named Responsible Business of the Year 2013, by Business in the Community (BITC).

Commenting on the announcement, Jaguar Land Rover Chief Executive Officer Dr Ralf Speth said the Land Rover Discovery Sport is

Stories by Tajudeen Adebanjo

the next in a line of exciting new products to come from Jaguar Land Rover.

The Halewood plant, which is already home to the company’s fastest selling model of all time - the Range Rover Evoque, has benefited from a £200 million investment to support the introduction of the first member of the all-new Land Rover Discovery family. This takes the total amount invested in Halewood over the last four years to almost £500 million.

The new Land Rover Discovery Sport, which will go on sale in 2015, will be the most versatile and capable vehicle in the compact SUV segment. It is the first member of an all-new family of Discovery vehicles, inspired by the Discovery

Vision Concept which was spectacularly showcased at the New York International Auto Show.

Jaguar Land Rover Halewood Operations Director, Richard Else, said the arrival of the new Land Rover Discovery Sport to Halewood has been a further boost to the region.

“In many ways, Halewood has embodied the transformation of Jaguar Land Rover. We have seen our work force treble and production quadruple in just four years.

Today we are operating three shifts, 24-hours a day to meet global demand and I am confident that the team will rise to the challenge and deliver a flawless launch of this exciting new model,” Else said.

The arrival of this exciting new vehicle at Halewood has doubled investment in the plant since 2010. In addition to a £45 million state-of-

•From left: Renault Africa Operations Manager Mr Toufik Lassoued; Ms Galbrun; Mr. Francis Ogboro and Fernandes at the event.

Renault inaugurates new dealership

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EGENDARY European automaker, Renault, has announced fresh intention to key into the government agenda with the aim of overhauling Nigeria to a globally recognised manufacturing hub from an oil dependent economy.

The French automaker gave this hint at the inauguration of the first Renault full-fledged facility (Sales, Service and Spares) with its new Partner “Dana Cars and Services Limited,” following the re-launch of the Renault brand under its global slogan - ‘Drive the Change’ at an international press conference in Lagos.

Renault said this new partnership is committed to a strong representation in Nigeria, a key market that is expected to deliver significant growth and contribution to Renault’s global strategy, while boosting its share of the African market.

Renault’s core market is Europe, where it is renowned for its role in motor sport and formula 1.

Renault Vice President Ms. Christel Galbrun who gave this hint at the press meet, said African automotive market continues to promise sustainable prospects for growth in the coming years with Nigeria charting the course in emerging African markets.

“Renault’s vision in Nigeria is to be people-centric and innovative, offering sustainable automobile facility as well as quality and affordable - easy to maintain cars with improved quality of life for every customer, while keying into the Federal Government agenda,” Ms Galbrun said.

Also adding that the partnership with Dana Cars and Services would help Renault achieve these objectives and subsequently raise the profile of the brand in Nigeria, Renault Vice President said “Our plan is to immediately increase our market share through new model introduction, brand development and retail network expansion.”

Among some of Renault alluring

models in Nigeria are Latitude executive sedan, Fluence, Duster, Koleos, Sandero-Stepway and Logan.

Vice President Operations, Dana Cars and Services Limited Joseph Fernandes, described the inauguration of Renault – ‘Drive the Change’ as the beginning of a purposeful relationship and a commitment towards providing world-class automotive experience to customers in Nigeria.

He said Dana Cars and Services seeks to replicate Renault’s ambitious accomplishments and even surpass it, using time tested integrated sales and marketing approach to position Renault among leading marquees in Nigerian automobile market.

Fernandes explained that the maxim: ‘Renault - Drive the Change’ is an ingenuous branding that meets the demands of customers in emerging markets like Nigeria and would attract new clientele to Renault styling and all-terrain capability.

the-art Aida servo press line installed in March, Jaguar Land Rover has installed 260 new automated robots, industry leading laser welding facilities and a number of state of the art equipment monitoring and reporting systems to support an unrelenting focus on quality.

Halewood became home to Jag-

uar Land Rover’s top selling model, the Range Rover Evoque in 2011.

Within two years, the plant had produced more than 200,000 vehicles, a record volume for a single vehicle line at any Jaguar Land Rover facility. Today the Range Rover Evoque continues to attract new customers to the Land Rover brand.

Kewalram targets more market share for Izuzu

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ONCEPT Autocentre Limited, a subsidiary of the Kewalram Chanrai Group, has opened a new showroom/service centre in Lagos.

Kewalram Chanrai Executive Director Mr Raju Sawlani, said the new facility was a confirmation that the company’s relationship with GM and its Izuzu customers would be enduring.

Kewalram Deputy Managing Director Mr Victor Eburajolo, said the firm decided to enter into a partnership with the GM on Izuzu because of mutual trust that existed.

Eburajolo recalled that Izuzu used to be a major auto brand in the country, occupying a reputable position because of its strength, durability and performance.

He boasted that Izuzu brand under the Koncept Autocentre would have exclusive showrooms and after-sale service outlets different from the other brand being handled by the company.

He gave a hint about the future plans of the company for the brand in Nigeria, saying, “We are starting with the dealership of Izuzu but we are not just going to stop there; ex-

pect new development from us soon.”

President and Managing Director of General Motors, Africa, Mr Mario Spangenberg, described the showroom as amazing and dignifying.

Spangenberg believed that the auto marketing firm would do well to place the Izuzu vehicles among the leading brands in all its chosen segments in Nigeria.

“The Kewalram Group as represented by Koncept Autocentre is representing the Izuzu brand well in Nigeria. This showroom is dignifying. I’ve no doubt that the company will do well in pushing the brand to the top of the sales chart.”

Spangenberg recalled that he was in Nigeria in February to negotiate the franchise with the Kewalram Chanrai Group on behalf of the GM and was amazed by the speed of development, noting, “In Nigeria, when they say it can be done; it can really be done. Now, it is happening.”

Executive Vice President and Director, Izuzu Sales Department, Mr Takanobu Furuta, described Nigeria as an important market for its products because of its population and the size of its economy.

Fed Govt - Innoson synergy on skill acquisition (2) IT is however expected that government will create the enabling environment for the private sector to thrive. Such policies as patronising locally-made vehicles by states and Federal Government will no doubt help to improve the earning capacity of our indigenous companies, and the resultant effect is increased capacity and expansion, which direct corollary is the ability of the beneficiary companies like INNOSON to employ more Nigerians.

As at today, apart from the civil service, other key sectors of the economy that have supported the Federal Government’s drive for job creation are the auto manufacturing sector, cement industry, hospitality, telecommunications, housing sector, power sector among others.

If government should therefore lend the needed support to these sectors of the economy, as well as steel, textile, coal industry and agriculture, Nigeria will no doubt be on the right track to realising the much touted vision 20:20-20 as one of the most developed economies in the world.

By Chukwudi Enekwechi

Developed economies like USA, Europe and Asia did not happen by accident, rather through a deliberate action plan by them to tap into the available human and material resources of their various societies. For example, the US government at critical moments intervenes with various incentives including monetary grants to help revitalise their industries like Ford and GM motors in order to keep them strong, thereby saving millions of jobs for Americans.

Nigerian government ought to periodically adopt the same approach in dealing with conglomerates like INNOSON and DANGOTE who are presently in the lead as companies with passion to assist the Federal Government reduce unemployment, increase productivity and launch Nigeria as one of the world greatest economies by the year 2020.

•Enekwechi is an Abuja-based journalist

SAFE DRIVING

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Road safety regulators and operators

ITHOUT any iota of doubt, the rate of road crashes, fatalities is still disturbingly very high in Nigeria.

Our dear country ranked second to the last in a recent global ranking of 193 countries. There is hardly a day that newspapers in Nigeria don’t report one road accident or the other with several lives lost and properties wasted.

It is, however, more disturbing that governments (Federal, State and Local) and their agencies are not doing enough yet to stem this dangerous tide.

In this article, I want to point out

a very critical issue which the federal and state governments must objectively address as a matter of urgency.

Globally, in countries where there is low rate of accidents and fatalities, governments and their agencies focus solely on the role of regulation and enforcement but never play the role of operators.

In Nigeria, however, there are several governments and government agencies playing the dual role of regulators and operators simultaneously, and this development is daily worsening the traffic safety situation in the country.

What do we expect to see if the

referee in a game is also a player in the same game?

What do we expect to see if the Central Bank of Nigeria also performs the functions of commercial banks with branches established nationwide to compete with the commercial banks?

What do we expect to see if the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) also establishes pharmaceutical or food business?

Here in Nigeria, the Federal Road Safety Commission, established to Regulate Driving Schools and Enforce road traffic laws is actively involved

in the training of the drivers of organisations in Nigeria thereby playing the role of a regulator (referee) and an operator (player) thus making their trainees compromise and grow wings on the roads with no fear of arrest or prosecution (a serous cause of aggressive driving and accidents).

The Drivers Institute and Vehicle Inspection Departments of some state governments also engage in the business of training various categories of drivers thereby playing the role of a regulator and operator simultaneously.

•To be continued

Jide Owatunmise Registrar / Chief Executive, Professional Driving and Safety Academy

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

37

THE NATION

BUSINESS JOBS

•Work going on at the site of the ship/dockyard in Okerenkoko, Delta State.

PHOTO: OLUWAKEMI DAUDA

The building of the N58.7 shipyard/dockyard by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in Delta State holds a lot of job promise.

Many are already flocking to the site in search of jobs, reports OLUWAKEMI DAUDA.

A shipyard and its many jobs

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HE N58.7 billion shipyard/dockyard being built in Okerenkoko in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) holds a lot of job prospect.

Shipyards and dockyards are where ships are built and repaired. But dockyards are associated more with maintenance and basing than shipbuilding.

The shipyard/dockyard will open up jobs in construction, engineering, and administration.

Those to be employed included engineers, foremen, computer-aided draftsmen, skilled craftsmen such as welders, riggers, electricians, machinists, carpenters, naval architects and engineers and offer them opportunities for growth and advancement in their jobs.

Others include machine operators,

aluminum ship fitters, fiber tech electricians, general labour/material handlers, Insulators, marine electricians, outside machinists, manager, hydraulic technicians, marine supervisors, quality assurance Inspectors, safety assistant, sheet metals, structural welders, carbon steel welders, crane technician, fire watch coordinators, fabricators, secretary/admin assistants, brush and roll painters, hydraulic technicians, painters, pipe fitters, and pipe welders, riggers and ship fitters.

The site of the shipyard will also contain many specialised cranes, dry-docks, slipways, dust-free warehouses, painting facilities and extremely large areas for fabrication of the ships where many would be engaged.

The facility will also provide world-class shipbuilding and repair, drill rig construction and conversion, offshore fabrication, industrial manufacturing, supply chain management and quality and technical services that will provide employment for many.

The facility will require many people that will build, repair and refit vessels and fabricated quality modules for many years.

The shipyard, it was learnt, will also serve a wide range of companies and institutions around the country and beyond including navy, coast guard, oil and gas, petrochemical, power generation, pulp and paper, transportation, mining and related heavy industries where so many people will work.

NIMASA said it has perfected plans to allocate the N58.7 billion for the project, which it said would further promote the sector and boost employment.

NIMASA said it set aside N40.2 billion for the construction of the structures, ancillary buildings, electro-mechanical work facilities, purchase of equipment, in order to provide jobs for the people. This aspect of the project, it said, has been awarded to Nairda Limited.

NIMASA’s Director-General, Mr Patrick Akpobolokemi, said N18.5 billion would be

used for the financing of civil construction works and infrastructure where many hand would be needed to do the job.

The project is to be handled by Mangrovetech Construction Engineering Nigeria Limited.

Akpobolokemi said the shipyard/dockyard is being built alongside the Nigerian Maritime University at Okerenkoko in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State to teach the students practical and theoretical aspect, of their job.

The shipyard, he said, will provide jobs for the teeming unemployed youth and used in training cadets from the university, especially those who would major in Naval Architecture and Naval Engineering, he added.

This initiative of the Federal Ministry of •Continued on page 38

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

38

JJOBS OBS

A shipyard and its many jobs •Continued from page 37

Transport and NIMASA, he said, would generate direct and indirect jobs and substantially support the government’s job creation drive.

NIMASA’s move, it was gathered, is in line with the provisions of the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act of 2003 (Cabotage Act), which states that a Cabotage vessel must be built, owned, registered and crewed by Nigerians.

The Act states: “A vessel other than a vessel wholly owned and manned by a Nigerian citizen, built and registered in Nigeria shall not engage in the domestic coastal carriage of cargo and passengers within the coastal, territorial, and inland waters, island or any point within the waters of the exclusive economic zone of Nigeria.”

Findings revealed that work has already commenced at the site as contractor and some workers have moved in to sandfill the area, after which the major construction and engineering works will begin. The aforementioned workers will work there for the next three years the construction work is anticipated to last.

When the project is fully completed and put into operation, other professionals, such as engineers and specialists in marine vessels and floating vessels for oil production in deepwater fields will take over. Specialists in fabrication and underwater and drydock welding will also be needed.

President Goodluck Jonathan had said at the inauguration that the shipyard is aimed at creating employment and diversifying the nation’s revenue base.

“At the inception of this administration and in recognition of the potentials of the sector, we had convened a Presidential retreat to consider the potentials of the sector and to situate the sector in the overall macro economic development framework. A number of projects were considered as priority interventions and significantly, capacity building ranked high. These projects, therefore, fall in appropriately with the outcome of that retreat.

“The proposed NIMASA shipyard/dockyard is a welcome intervention effort aimed at creating employment, diversifying our revenue base and encouraging the manufacturing sector.

“The shipbuilding industry is usually con-

•President Jonathan

•Senator Umar

• Akpobolokemi

sidered key to a country’s maritime development. This stems from the fact that it leads to increased port and shipping activities, employment generation, skills acquisition, maritime defence capability and a host of others.

“Government is convinced that given the imperatives of the Cabotage regime, which requires Cabotage Vessels to be built in Nigeria, the current emphasis should be on the building and repair of these categories of vessels leading to increase in capacity over time to build more complex vessels.

“Given our numerical strength, we must be able to develop potentials in this sector so that we can create a strategic reserve of knowledge and experience from, which the country

can always draw either for commercial interests or military imperatives,” the President said.

Akpobolokemi, however, said the shipyard’s attention to health, safety and the environment would be huge with so many people that will be employed to achieve zero lost time incidents per year.

“The shipyard/the dockyard will continuously re-evaluate its activities and measure its performance against established high-performance goals based on the number of people that are going to work there.

“As a regulatory agency, we will also ensure that all employees are educated on their environmental responsibilities and teach them

methods to reduce risk and eliminate potential environmental problem. You can imagine the magnitude of jobs that would be created through this effort,” Akpobolokemi said.

The NIMASA boss told The Nation that the shipyard being constructed by the agency is intended to activate a successful coastal trade regime that will give life to a robust indigenous shipping industry capable of employing thousands of Nigerians.

He said that one of the set goals of the agency under his management was to aid the establishment of a robust Cabotage trade controlled by indigenous ship owners. It is for this reason that the agency had to construct the shipyard to take care of ships that will operate in coastal trade as first phase and ocean-going vessels as second phase, he added.

The Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, said the reason for choosing Okerenkoko as site for the shipyard was based on the natural endowments of the area such as proximity to shipping routes, the volume of shipping activities and the high hydrocarbon reserves in the area.

The project, he said, was also a fulfillment of President Jonathan’s desire to spread development to the nooks and crannies of the country. He assured that the shipyard would be handed over to competent private sector shipyard managers in the world to generate employment and boost trade.

‘At the inception of this administration and in recognition of the potentials of the sector, we had convened a Presidential retreat to consider the potentials of the sector and to situate the sector in the overall macro economic development framework.

A number of projects were considered as priority interventions and significantly, capacity building ranked high. These projects, therefore, fall in appropriately with the outcome of that retreat.

The proposed NIMASA shipyard/dockyard is a welcome intervention effort aimed at creating employment, diversifying our revenue base and encouraging the manufacturing sector’

CAREER MANAGEMENT

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N this page we shall be looking at issues that will enable you to make a better and successful attempt at job search in 2014.

It is a promise.

The No. 1: Law of effective job search: Nobody owes you a job. If you desire a good job, you need to get up and go after the job you desire.

Invest your time, energy and money (even the little you have- you have a mobile telephone handset, don’t you?). Let me add further, most job seekers expect the job search to be easy, simple and quick; and when things are not going that way, they give up, often too soon.

The moral here is that though you may be unemployed, you still have a job to do: to get yourself a job. You will need to put in all you have and be focused. To get a good job takes imagination, initiative and focus. It means that you must be committed to implementing the skills you will acquire reading this column, attending seminars, reading relevant books. You know what you want, and must be ready to work for it. Are you?

No. 2: Job-hunting success is directly proportional to the amount of intelligent job-hunting effort. The more you try, the more likely you will find the job you want, and

Nobody owes you

By Olu Oyeniran

quickly too. Even if you are a career/job changer, you need to schedule and make time out consistently to pursue your job search.

No. 3: Successful job-hunting requires a willingness to change tactics. If something is not working, move to another strategy. But do you have a job search strategy? These apply to everybody in the job market.

In your efforts to get a job, you will probably encounter some barriers and hurdles. Common barriers include:

ers are generally internal doubts and fear, resistance to change and our perception.

Perceptions, may be stronger than reality- it influcuces our altitude and actions towards a given object or situation, whether it is right or wrong.

• I don’t have connection

The first point in your job search is to assess your job search skills.

Review the strategies and techniques listed below and rate your self (1 – poor; 5 = ok; 10 = excellent): • Analysing my skills, interest and qualities • Honestly looking at barriers • Identifying specific job target • Writing effective job applications • Performing at interview • Writing effective Resume/C.V • Networking skills • Selection Test skills • Evaluating job offers.

• My skills are obsolete etc.

Think again, are these real barriers or excuses? It is often easy to blame external factors for failure to get what you want. The real barri-

To look good, you need an average score above 75 per cent! If you did not do well enough, then do all you can to acquire job search skills: read books, attend relevant semi-

• I am not experienced/too experienced • I am too young/old • The economy is bad and so is unemployment • My course is not marketable

nars, get help- from friends, family members, mentors, career and job search counselors, professional Resume/C.V writers etc.

You need to acquire skills in the following areas: skill analysis, job search strategies formulation, career and job goal setting, identifying career achievement, writing winning Resume/C.V and application letter, conducting informational interview, job interview and follow up, job aptitude test, etc.

I am sure the question floating in your mind is “where are the jobs?

You are already on your way to uncovering the job market. The next step is to analyse the job and business environment.

There are opportunities in Education/Training, Agriculture, Accounting/Banking/Finance, Insurance, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Service, Government, Civil-society/Social/Professional organizations, oil/gas, Media/publishing sectors of the economy.

All you need to do is to develop special interest in specific job market/segment that holds promise and potential of a good job for you.

(We will discuss a more thorough method of choosing your career in future).

Now, get organised for job search.

The starting point is skill analysis.

Skills are the fundamental basis of job search. Employers are looking for certain skills, and the best jobs are those ones where your skills match the needs of the employer.

There are three types of skills job specific, self-management and transferable skills. You also need to put together an arsenal of accomplishments.

This is for those with fairly long working history, highlighting their career achievements. You need to understand your strength(s), weakness(es), interests, aptitude and potentials. What would you like to do with your life, all your life? Using the inputs from the above, you will determine and write your career/job objective statement.

It is a statement that describes or states what career or job (or a range of closely related occupations) you desire. A job/career objective statement must highlight what skills you have to offer the employer as well.

See you next Monday.

NOBODY II •OyeniranOWES is LeadYOU Consultant, EkiniConsult & Associates. He can be reached on Jobsearchhow.com.ng Tel 08083843230 (SMS Only).

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

39

AFRICAN BUSINESS Canadian Minister visits B/Faso

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IMF okays $47.1m for M Madagascar

HE Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved emergency financial assistance under the Rapid Credit Facility (RCF) in the equivalent of SDR 30.55 million (about US$47.1 million) for Madagascar to enable the authorities meet their urgent balance of payment needs.

The IMF financial assistance is in support of a set of economic and structural policies and measures the authorities plan to implement to restore macroeconomic stability, provide a favorable environment in support of inclusive growth and poverty reduction, and to strengthen the capacity of the Malagasy government.

The Executive Board’s approval of the RCF disbursement will also enable the authorities to engage in discussions with development partners’ regarding further assistance. The Board’s approval enables the immediate disbursement of the full amount, which is equivalent to 25 per cent of Madagascar’s quota in the IMF. After several years of reasonably strong economic growth, output contracted in 2009 and remained weak over several years, given a high level of political and economic uncertainty that impacted investment decisions. Over

this period, Madagascar also experienced dwindling financial support from development partners and enduring fiscal deficits that became progressively more difficult to finance. Supported by large mining projects that are reaching commercial production, recovering rice production, and a less uncertain political environment, growth is projected to increase to three per cent in the year.

The RCF provides immediate financial assistance with limited conditionality to low-income countries with an urgent balance of payments need. In this context, the economic policies of a member receiving RCF financing are expected to address the underlying balance of payments difficulties and support policy objectives including macroeconomic stability and poverty reduction. Financing under the RCF carries zero interest (until end 2014), has a grace period of 5.5 years, and a final maturity of 10 years. The Fund reviews the level of interest rates for all concessional facilities every two years.

Following the Executive Board discussion on Madagascar, Mr. Min Zhu, Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair, said: “Madagascar’s re-engagement with the Fund marks the end of a difficult period of economic disruption in which economic activity slowed, investment stagnated and so-

cial and governance indicators weakened. Last year’s elections, and subsequent widespread recognition of the new government by the international community, are helping to set the stage for a revival of the economy, but large balance of payments and fiscal gaps need to be filled in order not to jeopardize the economic recovery and to begin to address social needs.

“With support under the Fund’s Rapid Credit Facility, the government intends to implement macroeconomic policies and structural reforms to correct macroeconomic imbalances, shore up growth and begin tackling high rates of poverty.

Key challenges for fiscal policy in the year include easing disorderly spending compression, increasing outlays on infrastructure and essential government services, and developing a multi-year strategy to clear domestic budgetary arrears. Steps to boost fiscal revenues through improved tax and customs revenue administration and a broadened tax base, phased elimination of general fuel subsidies, and elimination of low-priority expenditures are key to creating room for more productive infrastructure and better targeted social spending. Exchange rate flexibility will be an important element in safeguarding and facilitating a steady rebuilding of foreign exchange reserves.

INISTER of International Trade Canada has concluded his first visit to Burkina Faso, where he set a new course for increased engagement between Canada and the sub-Saharan African nation by deepening commercial ties.

During his two-day visit, Minister Fast launched an office of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum and announced the launch of negotiations toward a tax information exchange agreement (TIEA) with Burkina Faso. He also held productive discussions with Burkina Faso’s Prime Minister Luc Adolphe Tiao and Salif Kaboré, Minister of Mines and Energy.

The visit follows closely last week’s announcement that the two countries have concluded negotiations on a foreign investment promotion and protection agreement (FIPA). Prime Minister Tiao, Minister Kaboré and Patiendé Arthur Kafando, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Handicrafts, were in Canada last week to attend the Conference of Montreal.

During his visit, Minister Fast also announced the Support to Women Rice Parboilers Project, a $6.04-million initiative to promote the inte-

I

gration of Burkinan women entrepreneurs into the local market by improving rice quality and professionalising women’s rice parboiler associations.

Minister Fast also congratulated Windiga Energy, a Canadian independent power producer, on a $50million contract win to build a solar power plant in Zina, Burkina Faso.

This project will also include a community development segment for rural electrification of a number of villages in the area.

In its 2013 Global Markets Action Plan, Canada designated Burkina Faso as an emerging market offering specific opportunities for Canadian companies. Canada is the largest investor in Burkina Faso.

Two-way merchandise trade between Canada and Burkina Faso stood at $51.1 million in 2013. Canada’s key merchandise exports were machinery, iron and steel products, electrical machinery and equipment, and motor vehicles and parts. Canadian merchandise imports from Burkina Faso consisted mainly of fruit, precious metals (gold) and stones, fats and oils, and oil seeds. In March 2013, Canada concluded an air transport agreement with Burkina Faso to allow for codeshared services.

‘Identity fraud rising in S/Africa’

DENTITY fraud jumped 16 per cent in South Africa last year after 3,873 cases were reported compared with 3,327 the previous year, the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS) said. .SAFPS warned that identity fraud was on the rise in the country and urged people to closely monitor their credit profiles because their particulars could be used by other people to source credit.

The report noted that the trend has continued this year, with a total of 1,370 cases of identity fraud reported

between January and April.

SAFPS expressed fear that the number of cases could exceed the 4,000 mark by the end of the year.

It is estimated that identity theft costs the economy about R1 billion (about US$94 million) each year.

SAFPS said many South Africans rely strongly on credit and it was easy for one to fall victim to the fast spreading fraud.

The National Credit Regulator estimated in December last year that there were about 20.6 million creditactive consumers in South Africa.

Fuel subsidies cost Ghana $85m

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HANA has spent around $85 million in extra payment since it reintroduced fuel subsidies in April this year, the head of the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD) told reporters.Ghana’s government abandoned fuel subsidies early last year in a bid to reduce the budget deficit and restore macro-economic stability.

The chamber’s Chief Executive, Senyo Hosi, also said Ghana’s reserves of oil

•From left; Account Manager Luftansa Airlines Port Harcourt Mr Chigozie Nnah, Managing Director Surelink Travels Port Harcourt Mrs Chinyere Stanley and General Manager Luftansa Airlines Port Harcourt Mr Chuks Okobi handing over a ticket to the best supporting agent to the airline in 2013.

‘Growth expected in Africa’s hospitality sector’

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ESPITE South Africa’s economy facing headwinds, the hospitality sector is poised for further growth in the next five years in the wake of a number of inbound travellers into the African continent, according to a report issued by PwC.com PwC Leader of Hospitality and Gaming, Nikki Forster, said: “Although South Africa’s economy has weakened, growth in international travel and tourism and rising room rates have bolstered the hospitality sector.”

PwC’s fourth edition of the ‘Hospitality Outlook: 2014-2018 projects that by the year 2018 the overall occupancy rate across all sectors in South Africa will increase, rising to an estimated 58.4per cent. Total room revenue is expected to reach R28.7 billion in 2018, a 10.7per cent compound annual increase from 2013.

“Occupancy rates are expected to increase for hotels over the next five years, overtaking guest houses, bush lodges and guest farms to again become the leading category,” says Forster. Occupancy rates for hotels are projected to increase from 58.9per cent in 2013 to 71.1per cent in 2018.

The report features information about hotel accommodation in Nigeria, Mauritius and Kenya. Accommodation sectors in South Africa consist of hotels, guest houses and guest farms, game lodges, caravan sites, camping sites and other overnight accommodation. For the first time the report includes a detailed analysis of the cruise industry in South Africa.

“One of the most significant developments in 2013 in the South African hospitality industry was the rise in average room rates, which increased 8.4per cent, well above the 5.9per cent rate of inflation,” says Forster.

Despite the recent economic uncertainty, the total number of foreign overnight visitors to South Africa rose 3.9per cent in 2013, down from the 10.2per cent increase in 2012, but still reflecting continued growth in foreign travel to South Africa. Foreign travel to South Africa was boosted in early 2013 by the African Cup of Nations football tournament and in December following the death of the late President Nelson Mandela, which led to an increase in the number of visitors to Robben Island where he spent many years in jail. “The continued depreciation of the Rand is also credited with contributing to the growth in foreign tourism by making South Africa

a less expensive country to visit,” adds Forster. South Africans are also tightening their belts when it comes to luxury holidays abroad and turning to local travel as an alternative. The total number of travellers in South Africa is projected to reach 17.6 million.

In 2013 overall spending on rooms in South Africa in all categories rose one per cent to R17.3 billion, reflecting an increase in stay unit nights and an 8.4per cent rise in the average room rate. The pick-up in hotel occupancy rates has stimulated new activity in the industry, with a number of major hotel chains in the process of upgrading facilities, renovating their properties or making plans to open new hotels. The report estimates that by 2018 there will be about 63 600 hotel rooms available up from 60 900 in 2013.

Elsewhere, Nigeria’s economy is booming, buoyed in part by regional and international investment. Hotel room revenue rose 59per cent between 2009 and 2013. Conversely hotel room revenue in Mauritius decreased by 8.7per cent in 2013 but is projected to grow at 4.6 per cent compounded annually to 2018. Kenya’s hotel market declined during the past two years, largely due to terrorist concerns.

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for domestic consumption normally stand at around four weeks but have fallen to just one week because banks are refusing to extend credit to importers due to outstanding government payments.

The world’s second largest cocoa producer announced in June 2007 the discovery of major offshore oil reserves, encouraging expectations of a major economic boost.

LG delights customers with products

G Electronics has said it is going to leverage its relevant products such as television sets and smartphones to delight its numerous soccer fans at this year’s mundial in Brazil.

In a statement, the electronic giant said over four billion fans will tune on TV and share their love of the game with each other, LG Electronics uniquely human- centric approach and variety of consumer focused products makes it a key champion for fans all over the world seeking the joy of watching the game together. One of the most distinctive aspects of world football’s showpiece event is without doubt the unique atmosphere created by the millions of travelling and domestic fans which make for a carnival atmosphere both inside and outside of the grounds. In fact in recent years, media have even reported on tournaments taking on “audio trademarks” ¯ sounds reflective of the host country’s cultures and personality. ‘Take the ‘vuvuzela’ horn sound of last tournament in South Africa – it caused many to describe the sounds as ubiquitous and filled the rooms in homes, bars and public places with the feeling of being at a unique event,” the statement read, adding that the LG NB3530A has its own separate subwoofer and it does not require a physical connection to the sound bar.

It explains that it communicates wirelessly which is convenient as the user don’t have to go through any complicated pairing process to get the two

• TV components working with each other.

This means that the user can freely mount the sound bar to the wall without worrying about where to place the subwoofer. In fact, the sound bar looks great on the wall especially if the TV is mounted to the wall as well.

It added that the built-in bluetooth which can be paired with usual Bluetooth-enabled devices like smartphones, tablets, portable media players and laptops is another unique feature of the device. All of these devices are capable of playing music and many of the streaming apps compatible with these devices have Bluetooth streaming support as well.

The sound sync feature enable users beam sound from an LG TV to the sound bar wirelessly. Also, LG CM9940 known as X-Boom pro is innovatively fitted with state-of-theart console for sizzling DJ skills. It is specifically designed for music lovers who are passionate about becoming DJs in their homes.LG XBOOM Pro has unique and blazing features which enable users enjoy music with ideal blowout mood.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

40

TAXATION

Self-assessment practice Education Tax (EDT)

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HE Education Tax Decree No. 7 which was initially declared in 1993 was amended by Education Tax (Amendment) Decree No. 40 of 1998. As stated in the Act, two per cent tax rate should be charged on the profit of all companies registered or resident in Nigeria.

EDT should be paid at the point of payment for the Company Income Tax (CIT) or Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) as the case may be.

As part of the annual Companies Income Tax selfassessment returns, taxable persons should also compute and submit their Education Tax liabilities and make payment at the designated bank.

Stamp Duties (STD)

The items and persons subject to stamp duties are instruments (written documents) relating to matters executed between a company and an individual, group or body of individuals. Instruments which may be subject to stamp duties include financial instruments/transactions, company memorandums and articles of association, statements of share capital ownership, bonds, conveyances on sale, depositions, lease agreements, mortgage bonds, debentures, etc.

Stamp duties on eligible instruments can be paid through designated banks Companies and persons issuing or dealing with all chargeable instruments shall submit such instruments to the Stamp Duties Office for stamping.

The Commissioner of Stamp Duties shall then assess the instruments submitted in line with the provisions of the Stamp Duties Act and specify the duties payable. The duties are then paid to FIRS at the designated bank

Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT)

Persons subject to the Petroleum Profits Tax: • Companies engaged in petroleum exploration and production operations in Nigeria (up-stream operations) • A person resident in Nigeria employed in the management of the petroleum operations carried on by a non-resident company • The liquidator, receiver, or agent of liquidator or receiver of any company carrying on petroleum operations in Nigeria.

Companies carrying on petroleum operations in Nigeria make offshore payments to JP Morgan Chase Bank, the bank then advises the Central Bank of Nigeria to enable the bank credit FIRS accordingly.

Every company engaged in petroleum operations prepares and submits annual returns as specified by the Petroleum Profits Tax Act within five months of the end of each assessment year. Payment is in two segments beginning with filing of estimated annual return not later than ending of February of each year.

Payment for the tax due is then made in twelve monthly instalments beginning from March of each year. Where the actual tax liability arising from the annual tax returns exceeds the cumulative estimated tax, a 13th month instalment is payable and where the contrary is the case, a refund is due.

Withholding Tax (WHT)

Withholding Tax (WHT) is not a distinct tax type and, therefore, has no legislation of its own. It is only a mechanism for the collection of other taxes.

Consequently, its application is provided for in the enabling law of other tax types i.e. Section 81 of Company Income Tax Act, Section 54 of Petroleum Profit Tax Act, Section 73 of Personal Income Tax Act and Section 13 of Value Added Tax Act. Persons subject to the various tax types may be subject to Withholding Tax deductions for the purpose of offsetting their tax liabilities. WHT deductions are regarded as advance payments (or payments on account) of the relevant tax liability that will arise from the tax returns of the period concerned.

Where the person benefiting from the payment and the income are taxable, Withholding Tax (WHT) is paid (deducted) at the point of making payment. It is withheld by the payee and the net amount is then paid to the beneficiary through the designated bank(s).

The amount deducted at the point of payment is remitted directly to FIRS through a designated bank in a prescribed format in the name of the person subject to the deduction.

Capital Gains Tax (CGT)

All companies incorporated in Nigeria which earns any capital gains or gains on the disposal of all forms of assets. All forms of property (whether situated in Nigeria or not) that are liable to capital gains tax include: • Options, debts and incorporeal property generally; • Any currency other than Nigerian currency; and • Any form of property created by the person

disposing of it, or otherwise coming to be owned without being created Capital Gains Tax is paid at the designated at which the company making the chargeable capital gain pays its Companies Income Tax. In line with the provisions of the Capital Gains Tax Act and the self-assessment regulations in operation, a company shall compute the gains on the disposal of all forms of assets in each year of assessment and submit same together with its Companies Income Tax returns. The returns shall also be accompanied by evidence of the payment of the full amount or first instalment of the tax due. Payment is made to the designated bank.

Value Added Tax (VAT)

Persons subject to the Value Added Tax: Any individual, corporation sole, group, body corporate or organization that consumes buys, procures or imports taxable goods or services is liable to pay the tax. How to pay the Value Added Tax • During direct sales or open market transactions, the buyer or consumer shall pay the tax to the seller together with the cost of the goods or services bought.

The seller then nets off the VAT paid at the time of purchase of the stocks sold from the VAT collected on the stocks sold and credit the balance to FIRS. • Where the goods or services were supplied to a government Ministry, Department or Agency (MDA) or a company engaged in oil operations, the VAT payable by the MDA or oil company is deducted or withheld at source (at the point of payment). It is then credited directly to FIRS on behalf of the supplier • VAT payments are made monthly not later than 21days of every subsequent month. Tax payers prepare and submit monthly VAT returns accompanied by evidence of payment of the tax due at designated banks VAT remittances may be made at any designated bank; an e-ticket is immediately issued as evidence of payment. This e-ticket may be presented at the ITO and an e-receipt will be issued the taxpayer.

Company Income Tax (CIT)

Persons subject to the Companies Income Tax: • All companies incorporated in Nigeria with the exception of companies engaged in petroleum operations.

• All non-resident (foreign) companies that earn or derive income from Nigeria.

• All organisations limited by guarantee (institutions of public character or charitable organisations) engaged in profit making activities other than the promotion of their primary objects.

• The liquidator, receiver, or agent of liquidator or receiver of any taxable company or organisation.

Companies incorporated in Nigeria and organisations limited by guarantee pay Companies Income Tax through any of the designated banks.

Once payment has been captured by the bank collecting system, an e-ticket is issued is issued the company, this e-ticket is proof of payment and when presented at the Integrated Tax Office with jurisdiction an e-receipt will be issued.

Non-resident companies make payment through remittance of tax deducted at source to the designated banks.

‘In line with the provisions of the Capital Gains Tax Act and the self-assessment regulations in operation, a company shall compute the gains on the disposal of all forms of assets in each year of assessment and submit same together with its Companies Income Tax returns. The returns shall also be accompanied by evidence of the payment of the full amount or first instalment of the tax due. Payment is made to the designated bank’

• Acting Executive Chairman, FIRS, Alhaji Kabir Mohammed Mashi

Resident companies and organisations prepare and submit annual self-assessment tax returns as specified by FIRS accompanied by the evidence of the payment of the full amount or first instalment of the tax due. Payment is made to designated bank.

Non-resident companies are subject to Withholding Tax (WHT) deductions on the income they earn from Nigeria. This becomes their tax upon filing returns

Personal Income Tax (PIT)

Personal Income Tax Act 2011 (PITA) requires: • Persons subject to the Personal Income Tax Individuals resident in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja • Families, communities, trustees and estates resident in the Federal Capital Territory • Persons employed in the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force and Nigeria Police other than in civilian capacity.

• A person resident outside Nigeria who derives income or profit from Nigeria • Officers of the Nigerian foreign service.

• Persons employed in the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force and Nigeria Police, other than in civilian capacity, pay income tax at the designated banks • Individuals and enterprises in FCT pay at the designated banks obtain an e-ticket and may request an e-receipt at the Individual and Enterprise Tax Office, Abuja.

• Organisations, companies and MDAs pay at designated banks, obtain their e-tickets and may request for the e-receipts at the Large Tax Office (LTO) Abuja.

Persons on paid employment pay their personal income tax through the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system. Under the system, employers deduct the prescribed tax from workers’ salaries and pay directly to the FIRS through the designated banks on behalf of the employees on a monthly.

Any individual, corporation sole, group, body corporate or organisation Self-employed individuals and enterprises prepare and submit annual selfassessment tax returns as specified by FIRS accompanied with evidence of payment of the full amount or first instalment of the tax due. All payments are made at the designated banks.

National Information Technology Development Fund (NITDF) Levy

National Information Technology Development Agency Act, 2007 states that persons subject to the NITDF Levy companies and enterprises with an annual turnover of N100million and above operating as: • GSM Service Providers or telecommunications companies; • Cyber companies and internet providers; • Pensions managers and pension related companies; • Banks and other financial institutions; • Insurance companies.

The levy is paid through the designated bank at which the chargeable companies pay their Companies Income Tax. As part of its Companies Income Tax returns, a company shall compute one per cent of the profit before tax of each year of assessment. The tax due shall then be paid to FIRS through the designated bank.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

41

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

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What should China buy with its $3.9tr reserves?

HINA’S foreign exchange reserves rose to $3.948 trillion at the end of the first quarter.

The figure in 1978 was $167 million, and in November 1996 it surpassed $100 billion for the first time. The change has been amazing.

There have been many thoughts about how we in China can make use of the forex reserve, ranging from buying assets abroad to using it as leverage in diplomatic talks.

What needs emphasising is that the reserve is not a free buffet. It corresponds to the central bank’s debt in yuan and costs dearly to maintain.

In a traditional sense, the forex reserve is meant to serve as a buffer in times of emergency and is to be used for repayment of external debt.

The basic requirement for its investment is guaranteeing the safety of the principal rather than pursuing high yields. This is true for even the part of forex reserve in excess of the amount required for ensuring its traditional purposes are met.

Also, it is important to know that 40per cent of the forex reserve came through operations under the capital account. In other words, about $1.6 trillion of the reserve, be it hot money or foreign direct investment, flew into China because the investors were betting on the country’s positive outlook.

If these investors want to take their investments out of the country,

the government can take measures to slow the exit of capital, but there is no legal way to stop it. Granted, the odds are extremely low that all foreign investments would leave the country, especially if China sticks to the path of reform and opening up.

The other 60per cent of the reserve, which resulted from operations under the current account, correspond to the debt owed to companies and individuals who sold their forex holdings to banks. The reason they did not hold the money in foreign currencies is that investing in yuan is currently more profitable. Also, there is a lack of channels for private investors to invest overseas. That is why China’s forex investments are primarily conducted by the forex administrator.

These are the reasons the government cannot simply dish out the forex reserve to whoever wants a piece of it.

How can the central bank manage the forex reserve? It can learn lessons from foreign countries.

There is enough diversified data about how sovereign funds operate around the world. The essence is to introduce a corporate structure, improve management and bring in a professional investment team with incentives that encourage competition.

Also, the evaluation of investment returns needs to be done over the long term. Transparency is needed

and so is a mechanism for public supervision. Temasek Holdings, Singapore’s sovereign-wealth fund, is a successful example. It went through many twists and turns when it was young, but has been able to achieve a lot by adhering to market-oriented practices. Recent figures show that its return on equity over the past 39 years was 16 per cent a year.

The central bank’s State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) was established in 1979. The employees of its forex management department are the same people that work for the central bank’s forex businesses center. Both establishments are responsible for the management of the forex reserve.

They are governed the way a government-affiliated institution is, which allows for more flexibility in management compared with a government agency. Foreign nationals occupy some executive positions, and a lot of effort has been made to allocate the investments of forex reserve according to market demands. This is progress that should be recognized.

But there are limits as well. A government-affiliated institution is not a real company. It can never establish an efficient corporate governance structure as a real company, and its incentive mechanism will never be as effective.

•From left; Senior Manager Afrexi BankMr Obi Emekekwe; Chief Executive Officer, African Aviation Services Limited, Mr Nick Fadugba,Ethiopian President, Dr Mulatu Teshome and Vice President Corporate Strategy Ethiopian Airlines, Mr Henok Teferra at the just concluded Air Finance summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

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Greek Central Bank chief questions ECB lending programme

REECE’s incoming Central Bank Governor, Yannis Stournaras, questioned the effectiveness of the European Central Bank’s new long-term lending program in helping boost the fragile economies of Europe’s crisis-ridden south.

In his first speech since he was named to the top job at the Bank of Greece, Mr. Stournaras said that the ECB’s longerterm refinancing operation—announced earlier this month—might have only limited impact on the weaker economies in the euro zone, where banks suffered from a lack of adequate assets they could parlay for ECB loans.

“A potential lack of collateral could limit the usefulness of this measure for the periphery,” Mr. Stournaras said at a conference. “It would be beneficial if attention were to be paid to this issue.”

Earlier this month Mr. Stournaras, who served as Greece’s finance minister for the past two years, was named to succeed departing Gov. George

Provopoulos, whose six-year term officially ends Friday. As head of the Bank of Greece, Mr. Stournaras will also sit on the ECB’s governing council.

The European Central Bank’s vice president, Vítor Constâncio, said earlier Thursday that the bank is prepared to join other large central banks by engaging in large-scale purchases of assets if needed to fight the threat of a prolonged period of excessively low inflation.

“The ECB stands ready to deploy additional unconventional instruments, should the likelihood of this scenario [of protracted low inflation] increase. The policy response would involve a broad-based asset-purchase program,” Mr. Constâncio said in prepared remarks to the conference.

His comments echoed those of other

ECB officials in recent days signaling that the central bank was prepared to do more if needed even after taking extraordinary easing steps two weeks ago.

The ECB unveiled a number of stimulus measures on June 5 including a negative rate on bank deposits parked at the ECB—a first for such a large central bank—targeted loans to banks at fouryear maturities and a stepping-up of preparations to purchase asset-backed securities. The steps came days after a report showed annual inflation in the euro zone fell to 0.5% in May, far below the ECB’s mandate of just below 2 per cent .

“The main challenge monetary policy faces in the euro area today is to avert the risk of a prolonged period of excessively low inflation,” Mr. Constâncio said.

Ministers say EU fiscal rules flexible

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HE European Union fiscal rules can accommodate efforts to stimulate economic growth, so there is no need to change them, EU finance ministers and policymakers said.

The ministers laid out their positions as they gathered for their monthly meeting, addressing a subject Italy had brought to the fore when it said earlier this year it wanted EU policies to better support growth.

“The existing rules provide enough flexibility,” German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said on entering the meeting. “We don’t need to change the rules, we have to stick to them,” he said. “Solid financing and structural reforms are two necessary conditions for sustainable growth.”

The fiscal rules, called the Stability and Growth Pact, limit government deficits to 3 percent of gross domestic product and public debt to 60 percent of GDP. The pact also spells out how governments have to put their finances in order if they exceed the limits and when they can be granted leeway.

Italy takes over the rotating sixmonth presidency of the European Union in July and will set its agenda during that time. It had said earlier it wanted to take a closer look at the pact, starting a discussion on whether the rules should be changed.

But euro zone officials appeared to

agree unanimously on Thursday that no change was necessary.

EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn said the rules had “a significant degree of smart flexibility built in.” Other finance ministers backed that view.

“Spain is in favour of not continually changing the rules,” Spanish Economy Minister Luis de Guindos told reporters. “It is fundamental that there are stable, predictable and sensible rules and I think that right now, that’s what we have.”

The existing rules allow for slower budget consolidation if a country makes public investments or undertakes structural reforms. But many policy-makers worry that granting more time for deficit cuts may not bring about the desired effects.

Their concerns were sparked by France, which in exchange for reform promises was given two extra years, until the end of 2015, to bring its budget deficit below the EU limit of 3 percent of GDP. The reforms did not occur and France will struggle to meet even the extended deadline.

EU policy-makers are therefore thinking of reversing the order: first a country implements reforms, then the EU grants it more time on deficit reduction.

French Finance Minister Michel Sapin told reporters the country was not pleading for a change of the rules or more time to meet the targets.

Juncker EU victory likely

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UXEMBOURG’s former prime minister, Jean-Claude Juncker, looks increasingly unstoppable in his bid to head the European Union’s executive arm, despite a vocal campaign by British Prime Minister David Cameron to derail his candidacy.

Numerous officials and diplomats in Brussels–some of whom a few weeks ago thought Mr. Juncker would fail in his efforts to become president of the European Commission–now say they can’t see what will stop him. “There is no support for Cameron,” said an EU official familiar with the discussions among European capitals.

Such a decision would have farreaching effects across Europe. The commission is important because it has the sole power to initiate European legislation: its leader, who serves a fiveyear term, thus has a big influence on policy in the 28-nation bloc.

The decision would reshape, perhaps permanently, the relative powers of the EU political institutions–because Mr. Juncker has emerged from a process promoted by the European Parliament to enhance its power. And it would deliver a serious political blow to Mr. Cameron and perhaps the cause of the EU inside the U.K. The final decision may come as soon as the summit of EU leaders in Belgium next week. The timing will

depend on whether Herman Van Rompuy, who presides over meetings as president of the European Council, decides a unanimous decision could be reached by further delays.

If he decides not, he may have to put it to a vote. Mr. Juncker may then become the first commission president not elected unanimously: Mr. Cameron would likely vote against and even if Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban followed suit, their combined weights wouldn’t be enough to block the nomination. (Mr. Juncker would also need approval by a majority in the European Parliament.)

If Mr. Juncker is anointed, it would be a serious defeat for Mr. Cameron in Europe, where he will have burned much political goodwill to no avail, and at home, where it would add fuel to the arguments of anti-EU activists in his own party and outside. For them, the U.K.’s inability to block the nomination of an arch-federalist EU insider epitomises the country’s helplessness in the face of the Brussels machine.

British officials insist their continuing opposition to Mr. Juncker isn’t personal but a matter of principle. They say EU leaders–not a parliament remote from the bloc’s 500 million people–should decide who leads the commission as they have until now.

Data point to strengthening economy

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HE number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits fell last week and factory activity in the mid-Atlantic region accelerated in June, more evidence the economy was strengthening after a disastrous first quarter.

“The economy has improved markedly in recent months,” said Jim Baird, chief investment officer at Plante Moran Financial Advisors in Kalamazoo, Michigan. “Signs point to continued growth in the coming quarters, and further improvement in labor market conditions.”

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits slipped 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 312,000 for the week ended June 14, the Labor Department said on Thursday.

The four-week moving average for new claims, considered a better measure of underlying labor market conditions as it irons out weekto-week volatility, fell 3,750 to 311,750, not far from a seven-year low touched in May.

Separately, the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank said its business activity index jumped to 17.8 this month, the highest level since September, from 15.4 in May. Any reading above zero indicates expansion in the region’s manufacturing.

Gains were driven by a surge in new orders, as well as an increase in factory employment and working hours. There were also improvements in delivery times, shipments, and unfilled orders, which rebounded strongly from May’s slump.

Another report showed a gauge of future growth rose for a fourth straight month in May. The reports joined data on employment and the manufacturing and services sectors in painting an upbeat picture of the economy after a contraction in the first quarter.

The government said last month the economy shrank at a 1.0 percent annual pace, but economists say more recent data have suggested the contraction was even deeper.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

42 USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS ON ANY EMERGENCY

Council endorsed the useful phone numbers submitted by the Security agencies for easy access in case of any emergency on the metropolitan Roads. The public may easily contact Kano State Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA) for breakdown of vehicle(s), traffic congestion, accidents, and illegal/wrong parking on – 08091626747. Similarly, the State Police Command could be contacted on – 08032419754, and 08123821575. In addition, the State Fire Service can also be contacted on – 07051246833, and 08191778888.

154TH KANO STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING PREPARED BY COUNCIL AFFAIRS DIRECTORATE, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT HOUSE, KANO.

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oday Wednesday 18th June, 2014 (20th Sha’aban, 1435 AH) the Kano State Executive Council held its one hundred and fifty fourth (154th) sitting under the Chairmanship of Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE. This was a day to the fifth (5th) Retreat conducted for the Kano State Top Government Functionaries scheduled for Kaduna (19th – 22nd June, 2014) which is the first (1st) of the two (2) earmarked for the year 2014.

Notwithstanding, forty eight (48) memoranda were submitted for deliberation by Council from twelve (12) MDAs of which twenty eight (28) were approved for execution with an expenditure of One Billion, Fifty Nine Million, Five Hundred and Forty Five Thousand, One Hundred and Thirty One Naira, Twenty Three Kobo (N1,059,545,131.23) covering twenty three (23) projects while the remaining five (5) were on policy issues.

However, as usual Council reviewed the deliberations and approvals of the previous meeting, the 153rd before tabling the 48 memoranda submitted for the 154th meeting. At the 153rd sitting, ten (10) MDAs submitted thirty-four (34) memoranda for deliberations by Council of which seventeen (17) were approved for execution with an expenditure of Three Hundred and Sixty Five Million, Two Hundred and Nine Thousand, One Hundred and Eighty Two Naira Only (N365,209,182.00) covering thirteen (13) projects.

The remaining four (4) memoranda were either informative or on policy issues.

With this review over, Council faced the business of the day, viz; 1. OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT This Office submitted twenty three (23) memoranda for deliberations of which Council approved fourteen (14) for execution. Thus: a) Request for Funds to Enable the Provision of Fifty Six (56) Essential Items Required for the Training of Batch Four (4) in Respect of 600 New Intakes of Security trainees at Karaye NYSC Camp Annexed to the State Corporate Security Institute:The cited request was submitted from the State Corporate Security Institute but was endorsed and presented to Council for consideration by the Secretary to the State Government.

Essentially, Council was reminded of its approval granted for the immediate enrollment of 600 Security Guards for training at Karaye NYSC Camp. The State Corporate Security Institute complied with the directive issued and presented details of the fifty six (56) items required such as uniforms, boots and socks, belts, track suits, stationery, instruction manuals, etc. for the endeavor at the aggregate sum of N21,451,540.00, which was requested for release.

Council considered the request/project to be in agreement with the empowerment policy of the present administration and approved the requestto enable the State Corporate Security Institute undertake the training of Security Guards at Karaye NYSC Camp. b) Request for Funds from Zakkah and Hubsi Commission to Enable the Conduct of Empowerment Training Progammes to 500 Women Refugees from the Central Africa Republic:The Secretary to the State Government endorsed the cited request for consideration by Council on behalf of the State Zakkah and Hubsi Commission.

Current pitiable situation of the 500 affected/displaced women was emphasized as Council was requested to approve the release of the sum of N5,400,000.00 to enable the State Zakkah and Hubsi Commission conduct empowerment training progammes for their benefit.

Details of the requirements were trimmed down to three items as follows: i. Procurement of training materials = N200,000.00. ii. Training allowances = N200,000.00. iii. Empowerment assistance = N10,000.00 x 500 = N5,000,000.00 TOTAL = N5,400,000.00.

Council noted, considered and approved the release of the recommended sum of N5,400,000.00 from the funds available in the revenue collected by the Zakkah and Hubsi Commission. d) Presentation of Progress Report from the Taskforce Committee on Private and Voluntary Schools in Kano State (June, 2013 to April, 2014):The cited Progress Report was endorsed by the Secretary to the State Government and presented to Council for information on behalf of the Taskforce Committee on Private and Voluntary Schools in the State. The Taskforce was established to sanitize, monitor and organize the operation of private and voluntary schools in the State and at the same time collect dues on behalf of the State Government. Since its establishment the Taskforce has improved revenue generation and systematized the operation of the private and voluntary schools in the State.

The Report submitted can be summarized into nine (9) precise items, which culminated to the following six (6) notations forwarded to Council for consideration: i. That a Stakeholders meeting was held with a view to sensitizing the operators of voluntary and private schools in Kano State. ii. That the Taskforce Committee intervened to ensure the successful conduct of 2014 WAEC Examinations in the State. iii. That the crisis within the National Association of Proprietors

of Private Schools (NAPPS) was resolved by the Taskforce Committee on Private and Voluntary Schools. iv.

That the Taskforce Committee mediated on thorny issues between parents of some students and their respective schools. v.

That the Taskforce Committee on Private and Voluntary Schools registered about 2000 Private/Voluntary Schools that operate in Kano State (June, 2013 – April, 2014). vi.

That the Taskforce Committee on Private/Voluntary Schools in Kano State realized a revenue of N120,536,619.00 within the period under review (June, 2013 to April, 2014).

Council acknowledged the presentation and commended the performance of the Taskforce Committee on Private and Voluntary Schools. e) Re – Presentation of Request for Funds to Enable the Undertaking of a Trip to Georgia Mason University, Virginia, USA by the Vice Chancellor and Two (2) other Northwest University, Kano Council Members:The cited request was earlier submitted to Council for consideration. The Secretary to the State Government endorsed the contents here and presented to Council for consideration as a follow up.

Essentially, emphasis put on the need for the trip was to discuss areas of academic collaboration between the two (2) Universities.

The sum of N9,165,045.00 was requested for release to enable the Vice Chancellor and two Council Members of the University to undertake the trip. The request was considered as relevant and Council approved the release of the sum of N9,165,045.00 to the Northwest University, Kano for the stated purpose. f) Request for Funds to Enable the Payment of Allowances in Respect of the Interim Race Course Management Committee:The contents of this memorandum respectfully reminded Council that, an Interim Committee was enacted to implement the White Paper on operations at the Kano Race Course. The Secretary to the State Government endorsed the following financial commitments for the month of May, 2014 in respect of allowances to the Committee to the tune of N1,154,000.00 which was requested for release by Council to settle sitting allowance for May, 2014 (N170,000.00), DTA for meeting in Abuja (N524,000.00) and operational funds (N460,000.00). Council noted, considered and approved as requested. g) Presentation of Request for Funds to Enable the Payment of Authentication Process in Respect of Certificates of Fifty Two (52) Kano State Indigenous Students Sponsored for Studies at Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST):The cited case involve a segment of the Kano State indigenous students sponsored for Post Graduate Studies at Institutions abroad under the 501 Post Graduate Scheme. The students documents were submitted for authentication at the Embassy of Nigeria in Amman, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jordan and the Ministry of Education, Jordan after the authentication exercise at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja. The documents of the 52 students were authenticated at the sum of $6,240.00 (at the rate of $120 each). Congruence of the request with the empowerment policy of the present administration prompted Council to approve the release of the sumfor the stated purpose. h) Request for Funds to Enable the Provision of Financial Assistance to Ahmad Ibrahim Kunya to Proceed to Russia in Order to Replace the Original Copy of his Misplaced First Degree Certificate:The Secretary to the State Government presented the cited request on behalf of Ahmad Ibrahim Kunya introduced as a student under the 501 Scheme currently studying at SRM University, India for a Masters Degree in Chemical Engineering.

Reportedly, Ahmad attended and successfully graduated with excellent results in Chemical Engineering from Kazan State University of Chemical Technology Russia. Nevertheless, the original copy of his first degree certificate got misplaced during the processing/verification of visa for his vocation. Proofs were presented to Council for consideration as endorsed by the Kano State Scholarship Board and the Ministry of Higher Education.

Meanwhile, Council was notified that, the SRM University India issued an ultimatum to Ahmad Ibrahim Kunya to present the original version of his first degree certificate latest by August, 2014 or else face withdrawal from his second degree programme under the 501 Scheme.

As such, Council was requested to approve the release of the sum of N2,150,000.00 as financial assistance to enable Ahmad Ibrahim Kunya to travel to Russia for replacement of the original copy of his first degree certification for presentation at SRM University India so as to continue with his second degree programme under the 501 Scheme. Details on the eight (8) items to be covered in the expenditure were presented to Council for consideration totaled to the tune of N2,150,000.00. Council noted, considered and approved as requested. i) Presentation of Request for Funds to Support the Bereaved Family of Late Bello Abubakar Wudil:The contents of this memorandum concertedly notified Council of the death of Elder Statesman Bello Abubakar Wudil after a protracted illness. The Secretary to the State Government forwarded the following two (2) prayers to Council for consideration. i.

Council to consider and approve the release of the sum of N1,000,000.00 as the Kano State Government support to the bereaved family of late Bello Abubakar Wudil.

Rabi’u Musa Kwankawaso ii.

Grant permission to forward the names of children sired by the deceased for sponsorship of their education by the Kano State Scholarship Board.

Council commiserates with the bereaved family of late Bello Abubakar Wudil and approved the execution of the two (2) prayers forwarded in this memorandum. j) Presentation of Report from the Committee on the Prevention of Vandalization of Government Owned Electrical and Water Installations in Kano State:The cited report was submitted on behalf of the stated Committee by the Hon. Commissioner for Special Duties, which was endorsed and presented to Council for consideration by the Secretary to the State Government.

In a nutshell, the Committee visited six (6) locations/companies inspected and confiscated suspiciously displayed water equipment for sale. Details on the six (6) locations/companies/ items/quantities visited and confiscated on the 27th March, 2014 and 10th April, 2014 respectively were presented to Council for consideration and directive for action to be taken.

Further, Council was requested to direct the Kano State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources to provide a truck to the Committee to enable the conveyance of the confiscated items for safe keeping pending prosecution of the cases. Council acknowledged the presentation and directed as requested. k) Presentation of Request for Funds to Enable the Upward Review of Monthly Allowance from $500.00 to $750.00 for the Kano State indigenous students Sponsored for Commercial Pilot Studies at Mid – East Aviation Academy Jordan:Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE visited the Aviation students in Amman, Jordan in November, 2013. He personally ascertained the inflationary trend in that Country and directed for an upward review of the monthly allowances given to the students.

In positive response, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Jordan recommended the upward review from $500.00 to $750.00 to cover for accommodation, transportation and feeding.

Council acknowledged the presentation and favorably approved the upward review of the monthly allowances of the piloting students in Jordan from $500.00 to $750.00 with effect from June, 2014 monthly. l) Request for Funds to Enable the Reimbursement of Expenditure Incurred in Transporting Outstanding Fertilizer Allocated to Kano State from Kaduna for the year 2011:The Committee on the Distribution of Fertilizer travelled to Kaduna as directed in order to collect and convey the 2011 outstanding quantity of assorted fertilizer allocated to Kano State. The assignment was carried out successfully as a result of which the Senior Special Assistant on Food Security (SSAFS) submitted the cited request, which was endorsed by the Secretary to the State Government and presented to Council for consideration.

The expenditure already incurred covered six (6) items to the tune of N1,130,000.00 which was requested for release by Council as reimbursement. Council approved the release of the sum of N1,130,000.00 to the Committee on Distribution of Fertilizer as reimbursement for the stated incurred expenditure. m) Request for Funds to Enable the Reimbursement of Expenditure Incurred by the Office of the Head of Civil Service in Participating at the 2014 Joint Annual Performance Workshop:The Secretary to the State Government intimated Council, through the contents of this memorandum that, the DFID – SPARC recommended the implementation of a reform programme. Essentially, the workshop was designed to evaluate the reform act. This covered four (4) implementation work streams so as to take stock of accomplishments, challenges and determination of the way forward towards the successful implementation of the reform programme.

The Ministry of Planning and Budget represented Kano State at the Workshop as endorsed and recommended by the Office of the State Head of Civil Service. Details of the financial commitments to the tune of N579,000.00 which was expended were presented to Council for consideration. Council approved as requested based on the significance of the workshop.

2. MINISTRY OF WORKS, HOUSING AND TRANSPORT The three (3) memoranda submitted for deliberations by Council from the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport were approved for execution. Thus: a) Request for Funds to Enable the Construction of Jaba to Rimin Kebe Road:The cited request was presented to Council for consideration based on a directive from Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE in response to many complaints/pleadings from the teeming population in the Rimin Kebe area of Nassarawa Local Government Council Area for the construction of the road.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014 In fact, the Hon. Commissioners for Science and Technology, Works, Housing and Transport and the Hon. Member Kano State House of Assembly representing Ungogo Constituency visited the site as directed to identify the problem and proffer appropriate solution(s).

Professionals/Engineers from the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport assessed the problem at the site along with the scope of works required to solve it estimated to cost the sum of N380,860,730.00, which was requested for release.

The details presented to Council for consideration were accepted as appropriate. The project will be funded under the State/ Local Governments Joint Project Account on 40%:60% ratio basis. b) Request for Funds to Enable the Provision of Erosion Control at Jaba – Gayawa Road:The cited request was submitted to Council for consideration on the identified site covering a distance of 4.4 Kilometers that cut across Nassarawa and Ungogo Local Government Council Areas. Serious environmental degradation in the area was caused by the incidence of serious gully erosion resulting from storm water run – off disturbance due to lack of effective drainage facility .

Details on the problem were presented to Council for consideration along with the scope of works required estimated to the tune of N235,534,801.88 which was requested for release

by Council to enable the provision of solution to the erosion problem at the site. Council noted, considered and approved the execution of the project on 40%:60% ratio basis between the State Government and the two (2) (Nassarawa and Ungogo) Local Government Council Areas under State/Local Governments Joint Project Account. c) Presentation of Request for Funds to Enable the Procurement and Installation of Five (5) Solar – Powered Streetlights and Six (6) Freezers at Yan – Kifi, Kwanar Bagauda:The Hon. Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport reminded Council, through the contents of this memorandum that, his Ministry was directed to look into the cited issue and present findings. The site was visited by the Mechanical/ Electrical Department of the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport, which analyzed the situation and submitted an in – house estimate for the project at Contractual arrangement to the tune of N5,775,000.00which was requested for release. The request was considered as appropriate and Council approved the request.

3. OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR/HON. COMMISSIONER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS Two (2) of the three (3) memoranda submitted for deliberations

by Council from this Office were approved for execution as follows: a) Presentation of Report from the Committee on Rationalization of Courses Offered by Tertiary Institutions Owned by the Kano State Government:The Deputy Governor/Hon. Commissioner for Local Governments tacitly reminded Council, through the contents of this memorandum that, a Committee was enacted to rationalize the courses offered by Tertiary Institutions of Learning owned by the Kano State Government. This was to address the problem of the proliferation of unemployable courses.

The Committee did its job judiciously and insists that, there is the need for the State owned Tertiary Institutions to shift emphasis from programmes not tailored to provide impetus to the developmental needs of the State. Attention should be centered on the current realities of the employment market and youth empowerment through Technical and Vocational Education in Agriculture, Health, Hand Craft, etc.

The Committee forwarded the following four (4) recommendations to Council for consideration. Viz: i. That the new Colleges of Arts and Sciences to be established need to emphasize the offering of Science related programmes. ii. That all Kano owned Tertiary Institutions should introduce/ offer Entrepreneurial studies so as to prepare students for self reliance. iii. That Guidance and Counseling Units at all levels of education be rejuvenated/re – introduced so as to guide students for marketable programmes and rational decision making generally. iv. That the policy of providing education at all levels undertaken by the present administration in Kano State be developed along the lines of developing productive education excluding non marketable/self reliance programmes.

Council appreciatively acknowledged the presentation and approved as follows: • All Kano State Government owned Tertiary Institutions to promote quality in the delivery of the services they offer/ performance of their students.

• Admission into the Kano State owned Tertiary Institutions should be based on quota system across the 44 Local Government Council Areas of Kano State. b) Request for Funds to Enable the Payment of Transport Allowance to 330 (2013 Batch “B” ) NYSC Members:The State Coordinator NYSC submitted the cited request which was endorsed by the Deputy Governor/Hon. Commissioner for Local Governments and presented to Council for consideration.

Council was alerted that, the 2013 Batch “B” NYSC Members successfully completed eleven (11) months National Youths Service designated for the year 2013 and are due to vacate their Stations in the month of June, 2014.

As such, Council was requested to approve the release of the aggregate sum of N10,890,000.00 for disbursement as transport allowance to the 330 NYSC Members that served for eleven (11) months of their Primary Assignment under the Kano State Senior Secondary Schools Management Board and are due to vacate their respective Stations for home. Each NYSC Member was entitled to N3,000.00 in each of the eleven (11) months they served totaling: • N3,000.00 x 11 months x 330 (NYSC Members) = N10,890,000.00.

Congruence of the request with the empowerment policy of the present administration prompted Council to approve as requested.

4. MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION Two (2) of the four (4) memoranda submitted for deliberations

by Council from the Ministry of Higher Education were approved for execution as follows: a) Request for Funds to Enable the Payment of 2013/2014

43 Registration Fees for 388 Kano State Indigenous Students Sponsored for Various Degree Programmes at the Katsina State University, Katsina:The cited request was submitted from the Katsina State University, Katsina but was endorsed by the Hon. Commissioner for Higher Education and presented to Council for consideration. The memorandum requested the release of the aggregate sum of N46,792,000.00 as School Fees in respect of the 388 Students admitted to study at the Katsina State University. In the same vein, the contents of the memorandum requested the release of the aggregate sum of N23,280,000.00 as students allowances for six (6) months through the Scholarship Board at the rate of N10,000.00 x 388 x 6 = N23,280,000.00 and the provision of 388 Computers at the sum of N46,560,000.00. Council noted, considered and approved the requests. b) Request for Funds to Enable the Construction of a 30 – Rooms Students’ Hostel Complex at the Katsina State University, Katsina:The Hon. Commissioner for Higher Education reminded Council of its directive to prepare a comprehensive memorandum on the issue cited and present for consideration. The assignment was carried out and due process was followed in the selection of a reputable Contractor for the execution of the project at the in – house estimate of the sum of N30,722,927.00 which was requested for release by Council for stated purpose. Council approved as requested based on the details presented as the project is congruent with the resolve of the present administration to support education in all ramifications.

5. MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES Only one (1) of the two (2) memoranda submitted for deliberations

by Council from this Ministry was approved for execution. Thus: Request for Funds (On Loan) to Enable Kano Rural Agricultural Development Authority (KNARDA) Procure 487 Units of Lifan CG 125 Motorcycles for use by Field Extension Personnel:The contents of this memorandum adequately substantiated to Council that flexibility and ease of movement through rugged terrain characterize the services delivered by the Agricultural Field Extension Personnel at KNARDA. This prompted the submission of the cited request from the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Specifically, the aggregate sum of N44,804,000.00 was requested to be released on loan to KNARDA to enable the purchase of 487 Units of Lifan CG 125 motorcycles to be distributed to 487 of its field extension personnel at the rate of N92,000.00 each payable in twenty four (24) monthly installments of N3,834.00.

Council considered the request as relevant and approved the release of the sum of N44,804,000.00 for the stated purpose.

6. MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES Both memoranda submitted for deliberations by Council from the Ministry of Water Resources were approved for execution as follows: a) Request for Funds to Enable the Provision of Erosion Control at the Third (3rd) Water Works, Challawa Complex:The Hon. Commissioner for Water Resources tacitly reminded Council of its deliberation on the cited issue on 10th June, 2014.

The Ministry of Water Resources was directed to re – submit the memorandum for consideration along with the name of an identified reputable contractor for the project.

Cognizant of the competence of WRECA on such construction works, the Agency was presented to Council as the identified reputable contractor for the project at the estimated cost of N33,085,550.00 which was requested for release. Council approved the request. b) Request for Funds to Enable the Procurement and Installation of Two (2) Perkins Model 650KVA Electricity Generators at Gezawa – Joda Regional Water Scheme Station:The resolve of the present administration in Kano State to provide potable water to the citizenry instigated the submission of the cited request for consideration by Council. Council was informed, through the contents of this memorandum that, bigger pumps and additional tube – wells were provided at the Gezawa – Joda Regional Water Scheme Station. This improved the production of larger volumes of potable water for supply to catchment areas of demand from the station.

However, the electric power/energy required for the station to function more effectively instigated submission of the cited request.

A reputable contractor was identified for the supply and installation of the two (2) Perkins Model 650 KVA electricity generators at the Gezawa – Joda Regional Water Scheme Station.

The contractor agreed to execute the project at the sum of N48,780,360.00 which was requested for release. Council considered the request as appropriate and granted its approval.

7. MINISTRY OF STATE AFFAIRS Two (2) of the three (3) memoranda submitted for deliberations

by Council from the Ministry of State Affairs were approved for execution. Thus: • Both memoranda approved for execution were on compensation for structures affected by the execution of one developmental project or the other.

As such, the Honorable Commissioner for State Affairs submitted the two (2) memoranda on request for the release of funds to enable the payment of compensation in his capacity as the Chairman, Kano State Compensation Committee. a) Funds Requested to Enable the Payment of Compensation for Six (6) Structures Considered too Close to the Karkasara Darmanawa Dual Carriage Way/Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital:Kano Urban Planning Development Authority (KNUPDA) presented a submission on the cited issue via a letter referenced No. KNUPDA/BP/207/15 dated 6th December, 2013. The Ministry of Land and Physical Planning assessed the value of the six (6) structures, which were verified by the State Committee on Compensation to the aggregate sum of N13,609,120.00 which was requested for release by Council to enable the payment for the stated compensation.

Council considered and approved as requested. b) Funds Requested to Enable Payment of Compensation for Eleven (11) Omitted Structures Affected by the Construction of Yan’ Tsaki to Darmanawa to Na’ibawa to Yan’ Katako Road:Kano Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA) presented a submission on the cited issue via a letter referenced No. KNUPDA/ENG/586/27 dated 19th August, 2010. The Ministry of Land and Physical Planning assessed the compensation value of the eleven (11) structures which were verified by the State Committee on Compensation to the aggregate sum of N7,802,030.00 which was requested for release by Council to enable payment for the stated compensation. Council considered and approved as requested.

8.

MINISTRY OF COMMERCE, INDUSTRY, COOPERATIVES AND TOURISM The only memorandum submitted for deliberation by Council from this Ministry was approved for execution. Thus: Presentation of Situation Report on Challawa Abattoir (Nigeria Meat and Associated Products Limited (NIMAP)):The Hon. Commissioner for Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Tourism submitted the cited presentation in response to an Executive Instruction to him. Council was reminded that NIMAP is a modern meat processing company established with the capacity to slaughter and process 960 sheep/goats, 800 cows and 40 camels per day. It was equipped with facilities to process animal by-products such as blood, bones, condemned meat, hooves and horns in commercial quantities. Its sewage system was designed to convert animal waste into manure for farmers. It has spacious cold rooms capable of storing 2,000 carcasses at a time.

However, since the establishment of the company in the 80s, the company was not able to function at 100% capacity due to lack of competent and experienced management coupled with the lack of cooperation from the butchers and some religious leaders for the use of modern technology in the slaughtering process.

The contents of the memorandum informed Council that the Company requires serious attention from the State Government so as to save the huge investment made to provide a modern slaughter facility suitable to process meat hygienically and provide employment opportunities. The Company needs reactivation along with the empowerment lines earmarked upon by the present administration in Kano State under the leadership of the second incumbency of Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE. Council acknowledged the presentation and decided to attract serious investor(s) interested in the running of the Company since the present company on site seems to be incapable.

9. MINISTRY OF EDUCATION Council deliberated upon and approved the execution of the contents of the only memorandum submitted from the Ministry of Education. Thus: Request for Funds to Enable the Conversion of Kano Agricultural Supply Company (KASCO) Training School, Rurum into a Boys’ Boarding Secondary School:This request was presented to Council for consideration in line with the policy of the present administration in Kano State to convert all unused/under used public owned buildings/facilities to viable Schools.

The stated KASCO Training School was identified by experts from the Ministry of Education and recommended for the conversion into a viable Agricultural Studies based boys boarding secondary school. The transformation was estimated at the sum of N71,977,457.23 which was requested for release

by Council. Council approved the request.

UPDATE ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE 154TH EXCO SITTING 1. ALL PEOPLES’ CONGRESS (APC) NATIONAL CONVENTION Council acknowledged the successful conduct of APC National Convention and equally appreciated the election of Alhaji Bala Muhammad Gwagwarwa (former Commissioner for Science and Technology of the State) as the National Treasurer of the Party.

2. PRESENTATION OF AWARD TO GOVERNOR ENGR. RABI’U MUSA KWANKWASO, FNSE Council acknowledged the presentation of an Honorary Doctorate Degree Award to Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE by Shadar University, India on his commendable performance towards the development of Education in the State.

3. REPORT OF DISCOVERY OF ILLEGAL DRUG – WAREHOUSE In its effort to dislodge the activities of fake, expired, unwholesome and substandard items in the State, Government discovered an illegal drugs warehouse along Maganda Road.

Similarly, within the same premises a Small Scale Manufacturer of baking powder was found and the condition under which the company was operating violates the hygienic requirements which necessitated the closure of the company.

In a nutshell, Kano State Consumer Protection Council was set up in order to bring sanity in the production of goods and services and ensure that consumer rights are protected in the State.

4. INTERACTIVE SESSION AMONG CONTRACTORS, OTHER STAKEHOLDERS AND GOVERNOR ENGR. RABI’U MUSA KWANKWASO, FNSE On Tuesday17thJune, 2014 Governor Engr. Rabi’u MusaKwankwaso, FNSE met with all major contractors/ stakeholders handling different projects in the State. The meeting reviewed the progress so far made and challenges being faced and proposed ways forward.

The Governor admonished all the contractors to work hard and ensure timely completion of the projects, and also warned that Kano State Government will not tolerate any delay in the completion of the Projects.

5. ENTRY OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS MALAM MUHAMMAD SUNUSI II THE NEW EMIR OF KANO TO HIS PALACE Council acknowledged the entry of His Royal Highness Malam Muhammad Sunusi II the new Emir to his Palace. He was cheered and received by mammoth crowd of supporters as the fourteenth (14th) Fulani Emir in the State.

SIGNED: HON. COMMISSIONER, INFORMATION, INTERNAL AFFAIRS, YOUTH, SPORTS & CULTURE, KANO STATE

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

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Pathways to sustainable education in Nigeria

sustainability of education in Nigeria.

The office of the Vice Chancellor In Nigeria, the statutes or establishment Acts of all Universities provide for the Principal Officers and bodies of the University including the office of Vice Chancellor. For the University of Lagos, this provision is to be found in Section 3(1)(c) of the University of Lagos Act. The functions of the Vice Chancellor are stated in Section 9 of the University Act which read as follows:

Text of a keynote address delivered by Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, at the 29th Conference of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors held at the Afe Babalola University (ABUAD).

I

feel a great honour and privilege, as the Founder of this University to address this large gathering of eminent Vice Chancellors. As it is agreed world over that education and particularly Universities hold the key to the economic, political and social development, the opportunity to address a gathering such as this is one that I welcome wholeheartedly. This Committee whose laudable objectives I have always identified with, aside from providing a platform for the cross-fertilization and exchange of ideas on how to reposition Nigerian Universities to attain global recognition and excellence also provides an intellectual space to exchange and discuss issues common to all Nigerian Universities. Such issues include university autonomy, funding, strike, indiscipline, sound administrative practices, maintenance of academic standards, staff recruitment, students’ affairs, etc. This Conference is another excellent opportunity for all Vice Chancellors in Nigerian Universities to come together, reflect, take stock, explore and learn new strategies for furthering the development of sound University education system in Nigeria.

My joy also stems from the fact that of the over 129 accredited Universities in Nigeria, ABUAD, which is just four years old has been chosen to host the 29th Conference of Vice Chancellors. I consider this as an acknowledgement and appreciation of the vision behind the establishment of this non-profit University and the uncommon success recorded thus far in the actualization of that vision.

ABUAD has been recognized as the fastest growing private University in Africa, a pace setter in University reformatory education by many stakeholders and lately by UNESCO as “a shinning beacon of excellence and one of the best universities in the world and earlier by NUC as the benchmark, model and reference point”. ABUAD has won numerous awards within and outside Nigeria including the “2012 Socrates Best Enterprise Award” of the Europe Business Assembly in Oxford.

Theme of the conference The theme of this Conference is “Pathways to Sustainable Education in Nigeria”. I consider this to be most appropriate at this time in Nigeria. It is easily discernible from the theme that this body has identified a need to address means of sustaining education and academic development in Nigeria. This is quite understandable as no right thinking Nigerian would deny the fact that there is urgent need for a revolution in our education system that would bring about sustainability in education having regard to the ever growing number of unemployable and unemployed graduates, the poor quality of teachers, cases of fake certificates, the rising list of illegal institutions, strikes and the unprofessional attitude of some teachers to education etc.

Indeed, it is right that Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities are concerned with discussing the subject - “Pathways to Sustainable Education in Nigeria”. If Vice Chancellors are not concerned, who else should?

Ours is a country in which Government is blamed, rightly in many cases, for many of the ills which continue to negatively affect education in Nigeria. Afterall both Federal and State Universities are involved virtually in all aspects of University administration including staff recruitment, matters of discipline, curriculum development, budget planning and implementation. Financial expenditure are either decided by government or

regulated to such an extent that Universities have little or no autonomy in matters which ordinarily should be within their exclusive prerogative to decide.

In spite of the unwholesome situation, I have always believed that a pro-active Vice Chancellor, a creative and committed Pro-Chancellor and a dedicated Governing Council can find means of ameliorating the seemingly insurmountable difficulties afflicting our public universities.

Ladies and gentlemen, it was the uncommon commitment to the cause of quality education demonstrated and practised by the Governing Council of University of Lagos, the dynamic and understanding ViceChancellor, Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe and my determination as the ProChancellor to reform education that brought about the uncommon award of university, Best Vice Chancellor and Best Pro Chancellor by the NUC in a year.

Today, I intend to share with you from my practical experience my views on pathways to sustainable education in Nigeria.

What is the meaning of sustainable education The phrase ‘sustainable education’ was coined by Stephen Sterling in 2001 to provoke debate on education itself and not necessarily the effect of education on other aspects of human existence and development. In his own words, his aim was to provoke a little cognitive dissonance and the question: ‘what does that mean?’. I wanted people to move from ‘how do we educate for sustainable development’ towards deeper attention to education itself: its paradigms, policies, purposes and practices (these are linked of course) and its adequacy for the age we find ourselves in.

He went on to define sustainable education as: a change of educational culture, one which develops and embodies the theory and practice of sustainability in a way which is critically aware. It is therefore a transformative paradigm which values, sustains and realises human potential in relation to the need to attain and sustain social, economic and ecological well being, recognising that they must be part of the same dynamic Accordingly, the phrase is designed to stimulate change in the way educational policies are formulated.

The aim is to make education address several environmental and developmental issues which for several years have been identified by the international community but without any meaningful progress in addressing them. Sustainable education is said to imply four descriptors namely educational policy and practice which are: • Sustaining: it helps sustain people, communities and ecosystems; • Tenable: it is ethically defensible, working with integrity, justice, respect and inclusiveness; • Healthy: it is itself a viable system, embodying and nurturing healthy relationships and emergence at different system levels; • Durable: it works well enough in practice to be able to keep doing it.

In a nutshell, sustainable education requires that vigour and life be returned into the educational system and that education should not be regarded merely as a manufacturing process which is guided by automation. Education must address real issues affecting human lives. Another writer, Mary Cathrine Bateson, stated that: Our machines, our value systems, our educational systems will all have to be in-

•Aare Babalola

formed by (the) switch, from the machine age when we tried to design schools to be like factories, to an ecological age, when we want to design schools, families and social institutions in terms of maintaining the quality of life, not just for our species, but for the whole planet In relation to Nigeria, the approach to education and anything having to do with education appears to be a cosmetic adherence to a checklist. If a school has a required number of laboratories, a certain number of teachers, a certain classification of infrastructure, all is well. However, as stated above, education requires much more. In the words of the World Commission on Environment and Development, education must meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Education must build cultural practices, identity and values and play a big role in setting directions and building common commitment.

Therefore, education must as a matter of necessity be tailored towards addressing many problems which are today preventing the country from achieving its huge potentials such as the Boko Haram insurgency, strikes and riots, religion, insecurity, poverty and unemployment. Education must itself be capable of addressing all these problems and more. If religion has polarized certain sections of Nigerian society, the concept of sustainable education requires that an examination be undertaken to determine how education can bring about a change. If we complain of unemployment, the concept requires that an examination of our educational policies be examined to determine if our graduates, by the education they receive in our institutions, are tailored to be entrepreneurs or job seekers.

Why Nigerian university education is not sustainable As I will discuss in the course of this address, several factors such as inadequate funding, government involvement in the running and management of universities, strikes, corruption, indiscipline, etc currently contribute to the poor state of education in Nigeria. More importantly, these factors make education in Nigeria to be unsustainable. The media has recently been awash with news that students of certain universities across the country are preparing to protest the decision of university authority to increase tuition fees in their institutions. This is despite the fact as I will also show that the government alone cannot fund education and that other means of funding including tuition need to be explored to shore up the revenue base of public and private universities. In the long run, this Committee of Vice Chancellors has a huge role to play in ensuring the

‘A change of educational culture, one which develops and embodies the theory and practice of sustainability in a way which is critically aware’

Functions of the Vice-Chancellor (a) The Vice-Chancellor shall, in relation to the University, take precedence before all other members of the University except the Chancellor and, subject to section 6 of this Act; except the Pro-Chancellor and any other person for the time being acting as chairman of the Council. (b) Subject to sections 7 and 8 of this Act and the provisions of this Act relating to the Visitor, the Vice-Chancellor shall to the exclusion of any other person or authority have the general function, in addition to any other functions conferred on him by this Act or otherwise, of directing the activities of the University, and shall be the Chief Executive and Academic Officer of the University and Ex-Officio Chairman of the Senate.

The provisions of older Universities’ legislations are similar. A careful reading of the relevant sections of all the Universities legislations in Nigeria shows that the functions of a ViceChancellor primarily are: • To take precedence before all members of the university, except the Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor • To have the general function of directing the activities of the University • To be the Chief Executive and Academic Officer of the University • To be Ex-Officio Chairman of the Senate The Vice Chancellor is therefore expected to know something about all aspects of the University. Literally, he must be a supper man. Vice Chancellorship is a demanding role that is highly visible internally and externally. He is expected to provide leadership academically, administratively and socially to all the officers of the University. He is to lead development activities including fund raising and the reinforcement of the University reputation and scope. He is to achieve the University’s objective in a timely, inclusive and purposeful way. He should exercise leadership to secure a sustainable financial base sufficient to allow the delivery of the University’s mission, aims and objectives.

In view of all the foregoing demands, a Vice Chancellor should have strong academic credibility, intellectual curiosity, sympathy for the values and culture of the University including the students and their concerns. A Vice Chancellor should not confuse public office with sources of making personal wealth. Indeed a corrupt Vice Chancellor does not make a good leader.

A Vice Chancellor who is aware of these enormous functions and responsibilities ought to derive enough joy and satisfaction from the exalted position as Vice Chancellor and should be so proud of the power and responsibility bequeathed to him by virtue of his position as a Vice Chancellor so much so that he should be able to consider his status higher than other positions not only in the university campus, but also in the immediate community and the country at large and should derive so much satisfaction from the job to enable him shun other political appointments. As a successful legal practitioner, I coveted and considered my status in my profession higher than that of any political office holder so much so that I confidently and proudly refused offers of appointment as Federal Minister four times. Unfortunately, as would be shown later, the manner of appointment of Vice Chancellors reduces them to mere civil servants which ipso facto reduces the pride associated with the high position and makes them feel inferior and consequently ineffective in performance.

It was Lord Lugard in 1926 who said, … The African of this race type loves the display of power but fails to realize his

responsibility...

What ails the Nigerian Vice Chancellor from achieving the laudable objectives inherent in the powers and functions stated herein and which are the causes of poor quality in our education system is the next item.

Government involvement in the appointment of vice chancellors of public universities and the adverse effect on university autonomy and sustainability of education In appointing a Vice Chancellor, the Governing Council of the University is required to recommend three candidates of the members of the university which in its own wisdom appoints one of the nominated persons without giving reasons. In exercising this exclusive and dominant power, the Visitor who does not have to give reason for rejecting the Council’s number one candidate some of the time appoints the second or third candidate on the list or appoints somebody outside the list.

Both in fact and in Law, the Government is the Appointor of a Vice Chancellor. This constitutes a serious dent on the coveted and conventional autonomy of the Universities.

There is an adage which says “he who pays the piper dictates the tune”. It is therefore no wonder that many Vice Chancellors do not enjoy the independence of mind required to carry out their functions. Consequently, Vice Chancellors take orders from above.

There are cases where Vice Chancellors receive letters from the top ordering them “to admit” unqualified students or “appoint” unqualified teachers. When I was the Pro-Chancellor of University of Lagos, my Vice Chancellor, Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe brought to me letters from Abuja directing that some unqualified students be admitted. I took the letters from him and replied that admission to University of Lagos was strictly on merit and not otherwise as long as I remained the Pro Chancellor of Lagos University. Only a Pro-Chancellor who did not beg for the job could do that.

Governing Councils Another area of concern is the constitution and powers of Governing Council. A University Council is the governing and executive body of the university and it regulates all the affairs of the university either by way of policy making or by executing the statutory powers given to it under the Act. Unlike the Board of companies, corporate governance cannot go on in a university in the absence of the Council.

There is statutory limit to what the Vice Chancellor can do alone. He cannot for instance appoint or promote or discipline principal and senior officers of the University singlehandedly, nor dish out contracts above amount fixed by law. Governing Councils, much like Chancellors and Pro-Chancellors, owe their existence to the provisions of the various Acts of the Universities. A perusal of these Acts will reveal that the following functions are common to University Governing Councils:• The Council of the University is responsible for the administration and management of the affairs of the university, including ensuring an effective system of internal control and is required to present consolidated audited financial statements each financial year.

• The Council is responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the university and to enable it to ensure that the financial statements are prepared in accordance with the university’s statutes; • Ensure that there are appropriate financial and management controls in place to safeguard public funds and funds from other sources; • Safeguard the assets of the university and to prevent and detect fraud; and • Secure the economical, efficient and effective management of the university’s resources and expenditure.

•Continued on page 45

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

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Pathways to sustainable education in Nigeria

erates so much revenue” are some of the numerous questions which daily attract debate across all strata of Nigerian society. In addressing pertinent issue of how much a government ought to contribute to education, UNESCO recommended 26% of its budgetary allocation.

The following shows the low budgetary allocation to education over the years by successive Nigerian Governments:

Text of a keynote address delivered by Aare Afe Babalola SAN, CON at the 29th Conference of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors held at Afe Babalola University (ABUAD).

•Continued from page 44

Appointment of members of Council Having served as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Lagos, I find it rather convenient to use that University as a reference point. Article l(i)(a)-(i) of the University of Lagos Act makes provisions for a 23-member Council of the University. These members include the Pro-Chancellor, the Vice Chancellor, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, 12 persons representing a variety of interests, four persons appointed by the Senate from among members of that body, one person each appointed by congregation and convocation from among the respective members of those bodies, the Directors-General of the Federal Ministries of Finance and Education, or, in their absence, any members of their Ministries as the Ministers may designate.

The most interesting aspect of the composition of the Governing Council relates to the appointment of the 12 persons who are supposed to represent a variety of interests.

However, what most governments at the State and Federal levels do is to appoint people based on political considerations. There have been reported cases of Council Members requesting either contracts or even cash for members of their constituencies in the belief that they were appointed to serve the interests of the said constituencies and not the institution itself.

However, to allow Councils to function, members must be assured of the certainty of their tenure. This entails the immediate composition of Council as and when required.

The situation in which Government will fail or refuse to constitute the Governing Councils of Universities for several months is not one that augurs well for proper administration and accountability. Government must also do away with the habit of arbitrary dissolution of Councils before the expiration of their tenures. Each Council has a tenure guaranteed by law. However, it is now fashionable for a new Government to dissolve Councils the moment it takes power so as to be able to appoint its own cronies or political loyalists into the Councils as a means of reward for their support in the electoral process. Aside from the fact that this development is retrogressive and does not portray Nigerian Universities in good light, it also discourages well-meaning Nigerians from accepting to serve on University Governing Councils.

Who after all will be willing to accept such an appointment when he is likely, before the expiration of his tenure to face the indignity of having the dissolution of Council of which he is a member announced on the media without any prior notice and without even the simplest appreciation or acknowledgement of services rendered by him.

To bring about a lasting solution to the problem, I suggest that the process of appointment into Governing Councils be made an exclusive affair of Universities. A system should be put in place in which members of Council will be elected by the University community. This will ensure the ability of the Governing Councils to formulate growth policies and strategies for the University without undue governmental influence. This is the practice in the United Kingdom.

The 1997, UNESCO recommendation concerning the status of higher education teaching personnel contains an elaborate elucidation of the university autonomy. It defines autonomy in the following words “Autonomy is that degree of selfgovernance necessary for effective decision making by institution of higher education regarding the academic work, standard, management and related activities consistent with systems of public accountability especially in respect of funding provided by the state and respect for academic freedom and human right.

Again, autonomy is the institutional form of academic freedom; a necessary precondition to guarantee the proper fulfillment of the functions entrusted to higher education teaching personnel and institutions.” It places an obligation on countries to protect higher institutions from threats to their autonomy coming from any source.

In America and Europe, Universities enjoy almost complete autonomy in (i) academic freedom, independence and freedom to select staff, students, chairs of Governing Councils including Visitors and ProChancellors who were elected by staff, students and other stake-holders. (ii) Procedural Self-Governance which means independence and freedom of Universities to formulate and design their own strategies and to freely implement them, and (iii) Funding. The Government gives grants which the Universities are free to use according to their priorities University autonomy involves complete authority of individual universities to determine their needs and provide their funding, illuminate and empower their governing councils, determine the academic programmes and recruitment policies as well as general administrations. The only role reserved for government is for government to regulate in the area of accreditation of courses to ensure standards in the system.

The unsustainability of university education – founding and funding of public universities in Nigeria The first university in Nigeria was University College, Ibadan. It was established in 1948 and was mentored by University of London which had its root in the 13th Century system of education. The classical British university was a feudal institution grounded on a model of an autonomous, collegial and selfgoverning system.

As the former UK Prime Minster, Benjamin Disraeli, once famously remarked “A University should be a place of light, of liberty, and of learning”. The classical UK University was controlled solely through a democratic system operated and run by tenured Professors and scholars. It was a compact system of organization in which leadership and responsibility were decentralized on the basis of expertise in scholarship. The classical university also was funded on a very restrictive base through private endowments, or benefaction by the wealthy and by the missionary with whom the university was closely allied in its origins.

This model of University governance began to fade globally after the Second World War. After the Second World War, there was rapid growth in the so-called welfare state idea. The welfare states recognized

Year

•Babalola

the benefits of public investment in the conduct of advanced learning, research, technology development, foreign policy and war. Governments began to recognise the relationships between a country’s welfare strategies and its abilities to produce technology through research. There was therefore geometric rise in the level of relationships between governments and the universities. The result was the evolution of Universities and learning centers funded directly by governments. Incidentally, Ibadan University College which was the first university in Nigeria was established during this time when the doctrine of welfarism was gaining ground hence Ibadan University was funded wholly by the government. Ever since, public universities have been founded and funded fully by the government. Since that time, the average Nigerian was and is still made to believe that University education is the business of the government who must fund public universities.

Unfortunately, many state governments in their bid to gain cheap popularity make promises, even at electioneering campaigns, to establish universities in their rural villages knowing fully well that there are no facilities or fund. As the provision of fund rose, governmental influence in key decisions on admissions, access, enrolment, faculty composition, tenure and the election of principal officers increase.

With military leadership in Nigeria came the added impetus for military authorities to curtail student demands and protests, checkmate University Staff Unions and influence key decisions such as Governing Council constitutions, university quotas, policies and structure. Due to the periods between 1966 to 1979 and 1983 to 1999 when Nigeria was under Military rule, Nigerian University systems became increasingly less autonomous, less collegial, and highly dependent on government for funding and for decision making. Government involvement increased with controls over the constitution and membership of Governing Councils, direct control over the appointment of key Administrative Officers of Universities; and financial controls. Simply put, Government became a key stakeholder and decision maker in Nigeria’s University systems. These relics of military rule are unfortunately still present today. In reality therefore, education has suffered and is still suffering immeasurable damage and had become less and less sustainable.

The fact that education costs money can hardly be denied. Quality Education requires quality infrastructure, excellent and well remunerated teachers, adequate curriculum development and planning amongst others. Most Nigerians demand the best quality education, even though they are also aware that quality education is most expensive.

The pertinent question which most people never address is how much individual should pay for education and the extent to which government must subsidize if not totally funded.

Questions such as “How much does it cost to educate a child? “Why does government not spend more to fund education?”, “Why must students pay tuition when government gen-

1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Percentage Allocated 6.46% 5.45% 4.62% 4.60% 7.20% 14.86% 11.50% 10.81% 11.53% 9.61% 11.13% 8.70% 7.00% 7.90% 4.70% 4.54% 5.30% 8.7% 8.19%

In 2012, Nigeria ranked 20th in a survey conducted by the World Bank of the budgetary allocation in twenty (20) countries. The full table is as follows: S/N Country% Budget Allo to Edu Position 1.

Ghana 31.0 1st 2.

Cote d’Ivoire 30.0 2nd 3.

Uganda 27.0 3rd 4.

Morocco 26.4 4th 5.

South Africa 25.8 5th 6.

Swaziland 24.6 6th 7.

Mexico 24.3 7th 8.

Kenya 23.0 8th 9.

United Arab Emirates 22.5 9th 10.

Bostwana 19.0 10th 11.

Iran 17.7 11th 12.

USA 17.1 12th 13.

Tunisia 17.0 13th 14.

Lesotho 17.0 14th 15.

Burkina Faso 16.8 15th 16.

Norway 16.2 16th 17.

Columbia 15.6 17th 18.

Nicaragua 15.0 18th 19.

India 12.7 19th 20.

Nigeria 8.4 20th

Please note that out of the 20 countries listed above, 12 including Nigeria are African Countries. Thus, if the survey had been limited to the 12 African countries alone, Nigeria would still have been rated lowest.

Note also that with the exception of Norway, USA, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), all other countries on the survey including Nigeria can adequately be classified as belonging to the developing world. So, yet again if the survey had been confined to countries in the developing world, Nigeria would have ranked last.

In order for us to better appreciate the inadequacy of funds allocated to tertiary education, I refer to an adage which says that “nothing is big or small otherwise by comparison” hence I urge you to compare the actual budgetary allocation expenditure of California State University in USA with the budgetary expenditure (not budgetary allocation) for all the 150 public universities in Nigeria.

California State University budgetary expenditure in 2012 was $7,130,137,243 which translates to N1,212,123,331,310. The Federal Government of Nigeria’s budget proposal for 50 Federal Universities and UBE (Universal Basic Education) is N495,456,130,065 which translates to 40.88% of one university, the California State University.

I admit that the government must attend to other pressing needs, but we must also admit that the amount budgeted for education is tragically inadequate.

Every Vice Chancellor must therefore identify ways of increasing the funding of his institution. Avenues such as Tuition fees, Endowment funds, loans, donations, scholarships, investment, and more importantly, contributions of the Alumni etc should be explored. The importance

of Alumni Association contribution cannot be over-emphasised, for instance the contribution of 2,964 alumni of Harvard University amounted to $622 billion. Each of our Vice-chancellors in this country is an Alumnus of one University or the other in Nigeria. Unfortunately in Nigeria, the Alumni Association has failed woefully to make any serious impact. It was such a pitiable state of affairs that I met when I took over as the ProChancellor of University of Lagos.

Today, the Alumni Association of University of Lagos has made substantial contribution to the sustainability of education in the university.

I have on many occasions addressed the need for tuition in particular. I am an unrepentant advocate of payment of tuition fees in university. However, a University may decide to charge discriminatory fees based on the financial situation of each student. By way if analogy, there is no reason why children from well to do homes including Vice Chancellor should not be made to pay tuition commensurate to the cost of the education they are receiving while students from poor homes pay subsidized fees.

However the ability of a Vice Chancellor to substantially increase the level of funding available to his university will account for nothing if the University is hamstringed by stringent regulation by the government with regards to how it can utilize or disburse its funds. A good example is the case of Lagos State University and Obafemi Awolowo University where students are protesting the hike in hostel fees. At the moment, expenditure by Universities is still highly regulated. Such is the level of regulation that the Universities themselves have little or no say in the projects which government occasionally decides through the Education Trust Fund to execute in Universities. It is therefore common to see buses donated to Universities and bearing the inscription of the ETF when the funds spent in the acquisition of the buses could have addressed more pressing needs such Laboratory equipment.

Stakeholders world over agree that financial freedom is one of the most important aspects of university autonomy. Why should Nigeria be different? This lack of financial autonomy accounts for the inability of many Universities in Nigeria to compete with their foreign counterparts in recruiting the most qualified Professors and teachers, some of whom are Nigerians, but are now scattered in foreign destinations. To stem the tide of this brain drain, Universities must have the budget, freedom and financial independence to be able to recruit the best at all times. For example, at Afe Babalola University being a private university, we continuously scout for the best talents and recruit them.

This is because we do not have to seek any governmental approval before doing so. It is this independence that has allowed a young University like ours to have recorded many landmark successes within the last five years.

Without financial independence, a University’s wings to fly are clipped and it is left to crawl, or at best walk.

Sources of funding for university other than government grant Many well meaning Nigerians have suggested other means of funding education in public universities. They have suggested tuition fees, scholarships, loans, donations, endowment, examination fees etc.

I have in the course of my address referred to tuition fees as a source of funding university education. In a paper titled “Higher Education Funding; International Comparison, by Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), it was stated that tuition fees are becoming international rule. Eight of the 13 OECD countries analysed in the paper charged tuition fees of some sort.

In Canada and US, tuition fee is on the rise. In Japan, with effect from 2000, state universities were given freedom to set their own tuition fee level.

•To be continued

50

•van Persie

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

51

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

52

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

With ekpoita :funtreatsvilla@yahoo.com / 08077706130

ACROSS

DOWN

1.Create (4) 4.Fence (4) 8. Metric Unit of Measure (3) 10. Contest (3) 11. Pig’s pen (3) 12. Poem (3) 13. Range of Vision (4) 14. Lode of Ore (4) 16. Throw (4) 19. Circle (3) 22. Aposite (4) 24. Toilet (3) 25. Era (3) 26. Try (4) 27. Cease (4)

1.Conceal (4) 2.Skill (3) 3.Vital (3) 5.Confess (4) 6. Cover (3) 7. Look Slyly (4) 9. Unvarying (7) 13. Examine Thoroughly (3) 15. Seasoning (4) 17. Ejected Saliva from Mouth (4) 18. Unit of Movement (4) 20.Eggs (3) 21.Lettuce (3) 23. Gone by (3)

COUNTRY MAZE

The words below are just names of countries converted. you are required to decipher the countries by writing each country beside its appropriate word.An example is given to spur you on.

DARK MEN

-

DENMARK

GREAT NINA OX MICE LAID THAN

POETRY

it was the first day of the session and a new direct entry student, Mensah, a Ghanaian, joined the class in one of Nigeria’s universities.

The Lecturer said, “let’s begin by reviewing some Nigerian history.” The Lecturer asked who said, “I shall return to die in the land of my fathers?” She saw a sea of blank faces, except for Mensah, who had his hand up. Mensah replied: “King Jaja of Opobo, 1875” “very good!” said lecturer.

Your beautiful eyes,

MOON RACE

Shine like gold,

NEE GALS

A wonderous treasure,

The Lecturer snapped at the class; “class, you should be ashamed. Mensah, who is new to our Country, knows more about our history than you do.” The Lecturer heard a loud whisper: “Ghana must go” “who said that?” she demanded, Mensah put his hand up, “Buhari 1984.”

I smile real bright,

Now, with almost mob hyseria, someone said; “You little shit. If you say anything else, I’ll kill you.” Mensah frantically yelled at the top of his voice; “Chris Uba to Ngige, 2004!”

The Lecturer fainted, and as the class gathered around her on the floor, someone said; “Oh shit, we’re in Big trouble now!” Mensah whispered; “Chimaroke Nnamani, Ayodele Fayose and Lucky Igbinedon 2007” Someone angrily said; “Dont answer him, he is a fool” Mensah smiled replied; “Obansanjo to IBB, 2011” Now the Lecturer manage to get up and asks Mensah; pls, who’re you? Show your self.. Mensah jumped, yelled and said; Jonathan to BOKO HARAM 2012.d teacher fainted.

Pep Talk

SWAN BOAT

We’re all alone in this place,

That’s untold.

Now furious, another student yelled; “Oh yeah! Eat this!”

Mensah jumped out of his chair waving his hand and shouting to the Lecturer, “Indian mistress giving an apple to Abacha, 1998”

ALSO VEIN

Through the sunrise I see your face,

Then she asked again, who said, “The land use act will feed the nation?” Again, no response except from Mensah: “Obasanjo, 1976.”

At that point, a student at the back scornfully said; “Hmmm, you think you are smart?” The Lecturer glared and asked; “All right! Now, who said that?” Again, Mensah said, “Babangida to Abiola, 1992.”

PAIN TASK

SUNRISE LOVE

WORDWHEEL Form as many words as you can with the letters in the wheel below, using the letter in the hub for each word. Avoid proper nouns and 2-leter words. Hidden is a 10-letter word meaning ‘Running’.Words above fifty formed score “Excellent”.

You tell me you love me,

You’re the best thing that’s happened to me,

N S

- BRYTNI MOSLEY

C

PETALS

Freighted with hope, Crimsoned with joy, We scatter the leaves of our opening rose; Their widening scope, Their distant employ, We never shall know. And the stream as it flows Sweeps them away, Each one is gone Ever beyond into infinite ways.

We alone stay While years hurry on, The flower fared forth, though its fragrance still stays.

- Amy Lowell

P

E

G

Life is a stream On which we strew Petal by petal the flower of our heart; The end lost in dream, They float past our view, We only watch their glad, early start.

MIRAGE

A

M

R I

BRAIN TEASER:

Two siblings were fighting when their mother went to stop them. She used yesterday’s newspaper and made them stand on it until they made up. How did she get them to stand on the newspaper so that the siblings couldn’t touch each other?

******

What do the following words have in common?

FAST,THROUGH,DOWN,AWAY,WATER,NECK .

ANSWER

Each may be preceded by BREAK to give a new word.

The All-Knowing Student

******

She slipped the newspaper under a door and closed the door. She made them stand on the two ends

HUMOUR HUMOUR

RUT KEY

Without inspiration the best powers of the mind remain dormant. There is a fuel in us which needs to be ignited with sparks. – Johann Gottfried Von Herder

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

53

With ekpoita :funtreatsvilla@yahoo.com / 08077706130

COUNTRY CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1.German City (6) 3.South American Country (4) 5. Top European City (6) 8. Republic, formerly of Denmark (7) 10. Country, SE of Europe (7) 13. World Power, abbrv.(3) 14. W/A Country (6) 15. Sovereign Entity (5) 16. First Capital of Nigeria (7) 17. Eastern Nigerian City (3)

A

HUMOUR sHoWBlITzz Fleetwood Mac announces concert tour

Rock band Fleetwood Mac kicked off its 34-city United States concert tour April 4 in Columbus, Ohio, Live Nation has announced.

Tickets go on sale Dec. 14.

The “Fleetwood Mac Live arena tour included stops in Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees last took their show on the road in 2009 with the sold-out “Unleashed” concert tour, Live Nation said.

The new tour also marked the 35th anniversary of the release of their classic “Rumours” album, which has sold more than 40 million copies.

“Having started Fleetwood Mac with John McVie in 1967, it has always been so gratifying that despite the various incarnations, the band has survived.

Throughout the years, though, the one thing that has remained constant is our fans. I am looking forward to getting back behind the kit, reconnecting with the fans and sharing the stage with my fellow band members,” Mick Fleetwood said in a statement .

“After spending four days at Lindsey’s house working on music and one really fun day doing a crazy photo session, I am quite excited about next year. Everything seems to be falling into place looks like the year of Fleetwood Mac,” Stevie Nicks said

Pep Talk

People & Culture VIETNAMESE PEOPLE

The culture and people of Vietnam are very hard to describe unless you have actually experienced them.

As I am not Vietnamese, and although I am interested in Vietnam, have never been there, I had to keep these reports on the people and culture to the facts I found in numerous references. If you wish to get a more personal view of culture and life in Vietnam, please go to our Viewpoints section.

The people of Vietnam have a unique and fascinating culture that has been shaped by thousands of years of history. Their culture has been influenced by many other civilizations: the ancient peoples that once inhabited the land, the Chinese, the French, and most recently, the Americans and Russians. From all these outside influences, and centuries of war, oppression, and hardship, they have formed, and maintained their culture. The people of Vietnam are hard working and feel strong ties to their families. They are well versed in the arts, and have made several contributions to the world of literature. Aside from their painful history, the Vietnamese people have a culture and many customs, all their own.

DOWN 1.Western Nigerian City (5) 2.Where Julius Caesar Reigned (4) 4.Nigerian State (3) 5.Nigeria’s Commercial Capital (5) 6. Central American Country (9) 7. Fmr. US Colony (6) 9. Coca Growing Country (8) 10. Fmr. Unit of USSR (6) 11. Spanish City (6) 12. French W/A Territory (5)

HUMOUR pastor and a church sister were Being

Intimate under a tree,not knowing,a smoker was up on the tree hiding & smoking. After the act,the sister asked the pastor, did u use condom?

Pastor: no!!!! why?

Girl: supposing i get pregnant who will take care of the baby?

The pastor replied,“let’s leave it to the one above. Suddenly the smoker jumped down and shouted, U DEY CRAZE? LEAVE WETIN 4 WHO? NA ME bleep AM? An American, an English man, and a Nigerian were on a ship. Suddenly the Devil appeared and said, “Drop anything in the sea, if I find it I will eat u, If I can’t, I will be your slave!” The American dropped a pin, the Devil found it and ate him. The English man dropped a coin, the Devil found it and ate him too. The Nigerian opened a bottle of water, poured it in the sea and said, “Na today be today, go find am!”. *A Nigerian man fainted outside Mr. Biggs (an eatery). Soon a crowd gathered around him and someone suggested, “Give him some water, it will help.” Hearing this, the man opened one eye and said, “Commot from here, if na water I wan drink, I for go faint for water board…” (Translation: “Get lost! If I needed water, I would faint in front of a water facility) *A man sits on the balcony having drinks with his wife, and he says, “I love you!” She asks, “Is that you or the beer talking?” He replies, “It’s me… talking to the beer.” *A husband comes home from Church, greets his wife, lifts her up and carries her around the house.

The wife is so surprised and excited! She asked with smiles, “Did the Pastor preach on being romantic?” Out of breath the husband replies, “No, he said we must carry our cross.”

A man brought his elderly father on visit to Lagos from the village for the first time. After dinner, the son asked the father: Son: “Father, should I bring you Coca-Cola?”

Father: (not knowing what Coca-Cola means), “You can bring the Kola now, but as for the Coca, you can keep it till later.”

Without inspiration the best powers of the mind remain dormant. There is a fuel in us which needs to be ignited with sparks. – Johann Gottfried Von Herder

54

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

CITYBEATS

‘Why I won’t leave my ‘bad’ man’

By Basirat Braimah

A 37-year-old man, Samuel Adelabu, has urged the Customary Court, Alagbado, a Lagos suburb, to dissolve his 11-yearold union with her woman for alleged adultery and harassment.

However, Laide, the mother of his two children, said she would not leave him despite the fact that they were not legally married.

Samuel told the court: “I was away when my brother called to inform me that he saw a man in our apartment. When I returned, my wife did not allow me in. I left for my father’s house. We have been apart for over a year now. I don’t want her anymore, but I want my children.”

However, Laide told the court: “Since my husband left the house, I have been responsible for our children’s upkeep. I lost my job because my in-laws told my employer that I was adulterous. When it comes to money, my husband can trade his children.

“He said I was adulterous, but he had never seen me with another man. I did not know that my husband was dating our landlord’s daughter who was addressing him as “daddy.”

“Recently, I heard she was getting married to him. Samuel is a betrayer. I once harassed him publicly, but despite all his atrocities, I don’t want the end of our marriage. He is my first love and I still love him.”

The matter was adjourned till July 3.

Lawmaker hailed for good representation

By Tokunbo Ogunsami

T

HE Senior Special Assistant to Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola on Religion (Christian), Dr. Sam Ogedengbe, has hailed the lawmaker representing Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituency 1, Mr. Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, for good representation.

He spoke at the weekend in Oshodi, Lagos at a mid-term report on account of progressive stewardship tagged: “From Promise To Action”.

Ogedengbe, who is also the National President of the All Christian Leaders/Ministers Forum (ACLMF), said the body organised the event to enable the legislator give account of his stewardship to his constituents.

Said he: “Akinderu-Fatai has performed, as attested to by his constituents. As the 2015 general elections approach, more of this programme will be organised.”

The lawmaker said he sank boreholes, embarked on health projects, power projects, education projects and human capital development projects.

He said he also embarked on poverty alleviation through skill acquisition projects, widow and widower empowerment programmes and elderly support programmes.

Akinderu-Fatai said he assisted youths to get employment in the federal and state civil service, embarked on street lighting, drainage and social development.

He said he also sponsored bills to improve the lives of the constituents.

At the event, the legislator empowered the widows, the aged and the less privileged.

A

Court arraigns athlete for traffic offence

51-year-old Olympian, Mr Oladimeji Olalekan Abiodun, has been arraigned at the Special Offences Magistrate Court, Ikeja by the Lagos State Transport Management Agency (LASTMA).

Abiodun was arraigned on a five-count charge of assault, traffic obstruction, dangerous driving and breach of public peace.

The agency alleged that the accused person, who is a quality control manager with a company in the state, willfully obstructed other vehicles’ movement with his white truck marked APP 891 XH. Abiodun allegedly committed the offence about 6am on June 17 at the Demuren Junction, Ketu, by parking on the carriage way.

When he was accosted by LASTMA officials, he said that he was waiting for his colleagues.

He allegedly added that as a tax payer, he has the right to park wherever he chooses in the state.

By Jude Isiguzo

He allegedly resisted arrest and got furious when Olabode Fonghon, a police man attached to the agency, wanted to take the photographs of the vehicle and spot of incident.

Abiodun allegedly slapped him repeatedly before going further to punch a LASTMA official, Hassan Habeeb, injuring his right eye.

Abiodun also allegedly mobilised hoodlums numbering over 50 to attack the officials.

A military officer whom he invited to the spot was said to have cautioned him before taking the car’s key from him and handed it over to the police.

Abiodun, however, pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties.

Magistrate Jadesola Adeyemi said one of the sureties must be a property owner in the state, in ad-

‘While taking them to the office, the bus driver suddenly veered into an inner street where he mobilised other drivers to unleash mayhem on the officer’ dition to being a community leader with evidence of tax payment for four years, among others.

She added that the sureties must also swear to an affidavit and that all documents and addresses must be properly verified by the court

before the “offender” is released on bail.

In a related development, Magistrate Balogun of the Ikorodu Magistrate Court 3 has remanded 36 year old commercial bus driver Sunday Nwafor and his conductor Igwe Chibese (35) at the kirikiri prisons for assaulting a LASTMA, official, Adeshina Moshood, at Ikorodu.

Adeshina explained that around 1pm on Monday, a bus marked XV 405 GGE was arrested in the Agric area of Ikorodu for picking and dropping of passengers on the carriage, thereby causing traffic gridlock along the axis.

While taking them to the office, the bus driver suddenly veered into an inner street where he mobilised other drivers to unleash mayhem on the officer, who was rescued by other officials and residents of the area.

The case was adjourned till July 16 for further hearing.

Free health screening at motor parks

M

EDICAL workers at the General Hospital, Gbagada in Lagos, last week examined traders, drivers and commuters at the new Ojota Motor Park to ascertain their physical fitness.

The free exercise attracted no fewer than 500 people, who were examined on blood pressure, sugar level, malaria and hypertension.

The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Dauda Adekunle, said the exercise would complement the efforts of the state government in its drive at ensuring a healthy society.

He explained that the campaign against illnesses at motor parks and market places was imperative because most people within such places hardly go for medical checks.

Adekunle said: “When people are ill, they find it difficult to visit the hospital. They often embark on self-medication or unorthodox methods, which is why we want to catch them at their business places,” he said, adding that patients with complicated cases would be referred to the Gbagada hospital for proper medication.

The Chairman of the hospital’s Governing Board, Dr. Tokunbo Oluwole, said the exercise would equally offer medical advice to the patients on how to stay healthy, adding: “This is our sec-

• The new Oba AbdulFatai Oyeyinka Aremu Aromire International Market, which was commissioned recently by the chairman, Ifelodun Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Lagos State, Hon Shuaib Fatai Ajidagba.

•The hospital’s workers during the exercise

By Musa Odoshimokhe

ond outing on providing free medical attention to the people.

Almost two years ago, we did one at Ikosi-Iseri at a market place.

People work all the time without bothering about their health. All they think about is their business while forgetting about their health; this is improper.

“In that circumstance, people collapse and die, but this is pre-

ventable. Sudden death will be prevented if people take time to look at their health profiles. We are focusing on malaria. So, we have come with lots of drugs. We are also taking care of hypertension.”

Another member of the board, Mr. Tunde Temionu said the exercise would make positive impact on the grassroots people.

He said: “There is no doubt that

it will make tremendous impact on the people because awareness would be created. These are people who don’t have the time maybe because of the hustling and bustling of the Lagos life.”

“It is a part of the responsibility of the governing board to assist the government because it cannot touch everywhere all alone. We must assist in our won little efforts and capacity,” he said.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

55

Agency, operators tackle pollution in Lagos

A

S part of their commitment to reducing harmful emissions in the state, industries and manufacturing companies operating in Lagos State must put in place an Environmental Management System (EMS) that are in line with the state’s policy, regulations and global standards.

The General Manager of the state’s environmental protection agency (LASEPA), Mr. Adebola Shabi gave this directive at Ikorodu, last Friday. It was at an EMS seminar held by the agency for all stakeholders in the iron and steel sector in the state.

Worried that the flora, fauna and aquatic animals are at the risk of heavy metal contamination as a result of industrial activities, especially by operators in the sector, Shabi said the time had come for all stakeholders to reduce the pollution in the interest of the future generations.

“All our activities must promote a safe environmental health and lead to the preservation of the environment. This is the only way that man can continue to ensure that he leaves something behind for the unborn generations to inherit,” he said.

The LASEPA chief said that although zero pollution may be difficult to achieve, operators must ensure that they manage the pollution generated from all their activities to ensure the preservation of the earth.

•Shabi, (third right), in a group photograph with some of the operators

By Adeyinka Aderibigbe

According to him, out of all human activities that heavily pollute the environment, the iron and steel sector constitutes over 35 per cent, a factor he said, prompted the agency to make the operators major stakeholders at the seminar.

He urged all stakeholders to put in place a system that would lead to a reduction in emission pollution as the state would not hesitate to heavily fine any defaulter.

Shabi, who noted that EMS ultimately optimises operational growth as it promotes environmental sustainability throughout the lifetime of the business, said

EMS is an operational policy framework that must be signed by the firm’s managing director and publicly displayed at strategic places in its premises for all stakeholders to see, read and internalise.

“The EMS being expected by the state is one that must encompass all aspects of your operations from the collection of your raw materials to your production line up till the finished product leaves your premises. It must address the main focus of the business and address the promotion of wellbeing of members of the immediate community and every worker in the company must be carried along,” he said.

Civil Defence equips private guards

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N a bid to ensure the safety of lives and property in Lagos State by combating security challenges in the country, the Private Guard Companies (PGC) department of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Command, has held a training session.

The training with the themed, “The Imperative of Training for Efficient Security Service Delivery,” which held at Delesego Hall, Ogba, Ikeja, was well attended by security officers of private guards’ companies and other security experts across the state.

The Commandant of NSCDC, Lagos State Command, Ikemefuna Donatus, who was represented by the Head, Private Guards Department of PGC, Daniel Apeh, said the security challenges the nation is facing need proactive measures in handling them.

He advised people to be conscious of what is happening around them and endeavour to alert any security agencies around them for immediate action. Ikemefuna noted that information gathering, if channelled to appropriate quarters, would go a long way in combating crime and insecurity, adding that security operatives need information and collaboration from the public to carry out their statutory functions.

“If there is enough synergy between the security agencies, information will flow freely across

By Uyoatta Eshiet

to ensure efficient security service. This will equally be achievable by training and re-training of private guards’ personnel,” he added.

The workshop featured lectures on drills and code of conduct for private guards, office etiquette, courtesy in work places, public relations and customer satisfaction among others.

Club gets new exco

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SOCIAL club, Esan Akugbe, has celebrated its 10 th Anniversary, where it held a successful election that resulted in the emergence of Mr. George Ogbeifun, Mr. Ambrose Aigbomian, Mr. Emmanuel Ojeabulu, Mr. Otis Ehiemuan, Mr. Henry Airenekhuemen as President, Vice President, General Secretary, Treasurer and Financial Secretary respectively.

The club with the motto: Ahoemoegbe (love one another) holds its meetings at 17, Oladeide Street, Mafoluku Oshodi (2nd Sunday of every month) was established to foster love among Esan people in Lagos, especially men.

Membership of the club, Ogbeifun said, is open to all Esan men in Lagos State. “It is imperative to note that the Esan tribe controls five local government areas in Edo State which makes the Esan land a formidable tribe in the politics of Edo State,” he said.

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He said that though the state welcomes investors, it would no longer watch foreigners come into the country and the state to destroy the environment at the expense of the health and well-being of the people.

“You cannot come to Nigeria, maximize profit and destroy our environment without doing something about it. If you kill all today, who will buy your goods tomorrow? We will no longer take this in Lagos,” he said.

Shabi said the agency would not hesitate to invoke the Polluter Pays provisions of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) Act 21 on any defaulter who flouts the directive to put in

place an abatement process that will mitigate the dangerous emissions that come from iron and steel activities in the state.

The Director, Ikorodu area office of the agency, Mr Martin Olukoya, said LASEPA had been monitoring manufacturing concerns around the Ikorodu industrial cluster to ensure that all surface water and the environment are not polluted.

He noted that the EMS is to further boost their operations and safeguard their environment on a sustainable basis.

The Personnel Manager of Topsteel Ltd., Mr Dapo Falade, pleaded for an extension of deadline for the enforcement of the policy.

Cleric advises Nigerians on security issues

HE minister-in-charge of St John’s Anglican Church, Iju Ishaga, Lagos, Venerable Tope Adewunmi, yesterday urged Nigerians to be proactive in dealing with the persistent insecurity in the country.

He said it is obvious that the insurgency is politically motivated by some desperate politicians.

Speaking during a three-day International Capacity Building and Strategies Workshop organised by Global Mission Chaplaincy Corps in Lagos, Adewunmi said: “Every citizen must be proactive because it seems we had been inactive in the past in the sense that people are not conscious that the name of this

By Jeremiah Oke

country is at stake in whatever we do. We also handle some security lapses with levity instead of being proactive.

“These people calling themselves Boko Haram, which translated to be education is not righteous, while the Quran says education is righteous, is confusing. They are not doing what they preach and everybody should know by now that it is politically motivated.”

He urged Nigerians to turn to God for assistance, adding that all efforts by human to rescue Nigeria had failed.

“We have seen different military actions and even the ongoing Con-

fab. I do not see it achieving much.

But God cannot fail us,” Adewunmi explained.

He berated President Goodluck Jonathan for his “weak” approach towards fighting the menace of the sect, saying that the president has the power but has refused to use it appropriately.

According to him, “If it was during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime, the insurgency could not have gone this far.

Jonathan has the power as the president and Commander-inChief, but he was not doing much”.

He said the workshop was all about how to reach people and improve their well being.

•L-R: Alaige of Orile-Agege, Lagos State, Oba Ambali Hakeem Agbedeyi; Olu of Agege, Oba Kamila Oyedeji Isiba; Chairman, Agege Local Government Area, Abdulkareem Jubreel and the initiator, Youth Independent Coalition (YIC), Adebola Omodele, at the YIC graduation ceremony and presentation of Business kits\prizes to first set of the beneficiaries of YIC empowerment in Lagos.

PHOTO: ADEJO DAVID.

56

NEWS My election is victory for democracy, says Fayose Continued from page 4

by the government when I assume office. I hereby urge all my supporters to stop singing songs of defeat and derision.

We have seen only the victory of democracy. This election is not about Fayemi or about Fayose. It is about the people.

Politics destroys a country.

Love binds all”, he said.

The governor-elect denied that the state is poor, Fayose said: “I was governor for three and a half years. I paid all outstanding arrears. If I could save N10.4 billion between 2003 and 2006 during my first term. I paid workers on 21st of every month and will return to that now. N10.4 billion in the coffers of the state when I left

office. That amount can pass for N30 billion today.”

He said: “Four years is a very short time in the life of an administration. There will be no winner, no loser. I commend the spirit of Governor Fayemi. He has called me earlier and I will see him tomorrow to enable the world see we are one. I salute his courage and thank him for accepting me for his readiness to allow peace and love to pervade the state.

“For me, I am a grassroots man. Because of the way I operate with the people, they call me grassroots man. I will continue with that trend. I am prepared for the job; my past speaks for me. You dont need to be a professor to know a road is

bad or that somebody will need to go to school or eat. My performance this time will earn me necessary leadership status in Nigeria. If you do good to people, they will love you.

“I will reduce school fees and allow parents pay fees instalmentally. If you know me, I don’t impose my will. These people know me very well. If you want to pay instalmentally, I will allow it. They know me and that is why they have voted for me. They know I will come to the university and ensure all I promise is done.

“However, the fact is even if it is N5000 they may not be able to pay. We will enhance the capacity of parents to pay for their wards by domiciling the

economy of the state. The last two administrations gave some of these projects to outsiders.

How will you give a contract for chairs to contractors outside if and when you can get competent hands here.”

“It is not about the fee but about empowering the parents.

Don’t let us deceive ourselves.

In a state where you don’t have electricity, how can industries grow. Hotels run 24 hours on generators. Not until you have improved electricity, you cannot industrialise anywhere. I want to empower these people and make them strong. Governors after me can build upon that. At least 40 per cent of all contracts will be awarded to local contractors,” Fayose said.

Fayemi: Ekiti people have spoken

Continued from page 4

ple, we have raised the bar of excellence in governance. In all, we gave our best, for conscience and for posterity.

“Indeed a new sociology of the Ekiti people may have evolved. However, the task of understanding how the outcome of this election has defined us as a people will be that of scholars. For us as an

administration and a cadre of political leaders in Ekiti State, we have fought a good fight, we have kept faith.

“To members of our party, our campaign team and indeed all Ekiti people who defied the siege on our state to cast their votes for our party, I salute your exemplary courage and doggedness in the face of harassment. Thank you for staying the course.

The incidences of brazen ha-

rassment, intimidation and allied infractions on fundamental human rights, which many of you suffered in the hands of agents of the state, would be documented and communicated to the appropriate authorities, for the records.”

Bamidele also described the outcome of the election as a true reflection of democracy, saying he accepted the results in good faith as a mature politician.

He praised INEC and all security agencies involved in the process for their unbaised stance and for allowing Ekiti people to freely make their choice.

Bamidele was grateful to the electorate, especially those from Iyin-Ekiti, his hometown, for staying by him through his campaign rallies and the election, which assisted him to victory over other political parties in the town.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

More Abia suspects linked to Boko Haram as kingpin is relocated Continued from page 4

him. But luck ran against him when DSS officer, who had been on his trail, succeeded in identifying him. He knew the game was up and he revealed his real name.

“We have to relocate him because we have been receiving enquiries on the real identity of the arrested kingpin. It is quite disturbing that some people wanted to know the exact kingpin.

“So, his arrest has generated more than a mere passing interest from some bigwigs. They were consistently asking which particular one had been picked?

Who is the person? Do you have his photograph?

“We are suspecting that some of those raising concerns might have other sinister motives too.”

On the extent of the investigation, another source said: “Contrary to the public outcry on the suspects, there was more to their movement.

None of them had up to N1, 000 as at the time of their arrest. You will then wonder what manner of business they were going to do.”

There were other suspects who claimed that they were going to look for jobs in Port Harcourt and they don’t know the

NSIA posts N1.2b first quarter profit, says MD Continued from page 1

that although it is impossible to predict what the future outcome might be, given the volatility of the economic environment, he expressed confidence that “the NSIA is on the path to deliver a more robust performance by the end of 2014”, all things being equal.

Orji said given the level of performance by the agency in the last three months from April, there could be a repeat performance of the March ending figures.

Nonetheless, he would prefer that the accounts go through audit scrutiny before they are finally released, adding that a N2.7billion projected profit for June ending will not be

off the mark.

Said Orji: “We are on track to deliver similar or higher numbers as seen in Q1. We will be in a better position to release the specifics,” in the course of July. He said the proceeds are coming from about 50 per cent of NSIA’s investment of its total investment fund.

Orji said the agency has split its Fund into three broad categories Stabilisation Fund, Future Generation Funds and Infrastructure Fund. Of the fund, 20 per cent is allocated to Stabilisation. The other two are allocated 40 per cent apiece.

He said due to low interest rates and other contending market forces, the Stabilisation Fund is not

structured to yield much returns. Nevertheless, it has made modest returns of about 0.55 per cent, Orji said, adding: “We have decided to tweak the strategy of this fund as we adjust to the near zerointerest rate environment in developed markets and the uncertainty of rising rates.

As such, we have reallocated the growth portion of this portfolio to managers with the expertise and latitude to navigate such contrasting environment.”

The NSIA chief said the agency has deployed its infrastructure quotient of the Fund to play in the realisation of the Second Niger Bridge, and would soon get involved in the

Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

He listed the Nigeria Mortgage Refinancing Company , the power sector and health as other areas on the NSIA list.

On insinuations that the Second Niger Bridged is mired in politics, Orji said nothing could be farther from the truth.

Work on the bridge is progressing as planned, Orji said, adding that nothing has delayed the pace of construction in any way. He said the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report had been done and compensation paid to those whose land and properties were affected.

He pointed out that the 1.2kilimetre six-lane bridge and the additional piled

bridge stretching a distance of 12kilometers that the Fund is financing would be ready in four years, as planned.

Dr. Orji’s view the Future Generations Funds is the NSIA’s toast as most of the returns are derived from it.

He said the investment in this segment are factored into hedge funds, Long-Only Equity Managers, Emerging Markets, Private Equity and into Developed Markets.

He said the Funds’ timing for allocating capital to emerging markets had been excellent, “as we practically picked the bottom of these markets resulting in strong performance for the asset class”.

Orji said one of the funds had returned yields in excess of seven per cent.

city.

Following the discovery of 86 of the suspects’ link with Boko Haram, more military and SSS officers from intelligence units were yesterday deployed in Abia.

The team is expected to interrogate some of these suspects who have been coming up with fresh information.

The 86 suspects have been isolated for intense grilling.

The additional team is expected to speed up the investigation.

“We can only talk of releasing any of the suspects after these new interrogators have completed their assignment”, another source said.

The 486 suspects were arrested last Sunday morning by officers and men of the 144 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Aro Ngwa and Imo Gate along Enugu, Port Harcourt Expressway.

Their arrest has attracted protects from the Hausa Community in Rivers State, some prominent Northerners and the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF).

But Governor Theodore Orji urged Northern groups to allow security agencies do their work.

He said: “The position of Abia State Government is that security agencies should be allowed to thoroughly investigate the matter.”

Boko Haram kills 40 in Borno Continued from page 4

menced around 7a.m. on Sunday, lasted over five hours before the military intervened.

Some residents of Chibok made frantic telephone calls to the military authorities but unfortunately, they (military) only started bombing the surrounding after over 40 of our people had been killed.

“The bodies of our people are still littered all around the villages. Our fear is that many innocent villagers may be hit by the bombings by the military,” Joshua said.

Chairman, Sector 5 of the vigilante group, Abba Aji Khalil, said: “our members in Chibok and neighbouring local government areas are already in hot pursuit of the suspected terrorists.”

Borno Police Commissioner Lawal Tanko and spokesman DSP Gideon Jubrincould not confirm the killings.

Also a suicide bomber hit a military post with his bomb laden car near a secondary school in Gwoza yesterday, killing three security operatives suspected to be soldiers while three others were wounded.

The suicide bomber, it was learnt, came through Wala and Warabe villages and hit the military post with deafening noise that rocked the neighbourhood, before people started to scamper for safety.

“We were woken up this morning with a bomb blast on the road near the school. Some of us started to run for safety, while others fled to the hill tops of Gwoza. I cannot tell say the exact casualties, but three soldiers were killed, while others took to their heels.

“There were no civilian casualties, as some people were still asleep when the suicide bomber detonated the explosives that killed him and the three,” a source told our correspondent on the telephone.

The source said the casualty figure could have been higher, as people were prevented from plying the road by the military for safety since last month.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

57

FOREIGN NEWS

Western Iraq towns fall to militants

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UNNI militants have seized another town in Iraq’s western Anbar province - the fourth in two days.

Fighters of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isis) captured Rutba, 90 miles (150km) east of Jordan’s border, officials said.

They earlier seized a border crossing to Syria and two towns in western Iraq as they advance towards Baghdad.

The insurgents intend to capture the whole of the predominantly Sunni Anbar province, a spokesman told the BBC. Iraq’s government said on Sunday it had killed 40 militants in an air strike on the militantheld northern town of Tikrit, although witnesses said civilians died when a petrol station was hit.

US Secretary of State John Kerry, speaking in Cairo, said Isis’ “ideology of violence and repression is a threat not only to Iraq but to the entire region”.

Calling it a “critical moment”, he urged Iraq’s leaders “to rise

above sectarian motivations and form a government that is united in its determination to meet the needs and speak to the demands of all of their people”.

Earlier, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned the prospect of US intervention in Iraq, saying Washington’s main intention was to keep Iraq within its own sphere of power.

Dismissing talk of sectarianism, he said: “The main dispute in Iraq is between those who want Iraq to join the US camp and those who seek an independent Iraq.”

Rutba is strategically placed on the main road between Baghdad and Jordan.

It is the fourth town in what is Iraq’s largest province to fall in two days to the Sunni rebel alliance, which Isis spearheads.

On Saturday the militants said they had taken the towns of Rawa and Anah, along the Euphrates river.And Iraqi officials admitted Isis fighters had also seized a border crossing near the

town of Qaim, killing 30 troops after a day-long battle.

According to the rebels, army garrisons, including at the area’s command centre, abandoned their bases and weapons, and fled.

An Iraqi military spokesman described the withdrawal from Rawa, Anah and Qaim as a “tactical move... for the purpose of redeployment”.

The capture of the frontier crossing could help Isis transport weapons and other equipment to different battlefields, analysts say.

The rebels are confident that towns they do not already control along the Euphrates valley will fall without much of a fight, with the help of sympathetic local tribes, says the BBC’s Jim Muir in Irbil.

Since January, they have held parts of the provincial capital Ramadi, and all of nearby Falluja, half an hour’s drive from Baghdad.

A spokesman for the Military Councils, one of the main Sun-

ni groups fighting alongside Isis, told the BBC the rebels’ strategic goal was the capital itself.

In the meantime they are clearly trying to take the string of towns along the Euphrates between Falluja and the western border, says our correspondent.

There is deep pessimism in Baghdad about the government’s war against Isis, which appears better trained, equipped and more experienced than the army, diplomats and politicians have told the BBC. The Sunni extremists attacked the city of Mosul in early June and have since seized swathes of territory across Iraq.

The Iraqi government has urged the US, Europe and the UN to take immediate action to help deal with the crisis - including targeted air strikes.

But Isis has established secure safe havens, including some in neighbouring Syria, which will be difficult to target, experts say.

And experts warn that using air strikes now would endanger civilians.

Poroshenko warns of ‘detailed Plan B’ if Ukraine ceasefire fails

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F his current proposal for a truce, which came into force on Friday, fails to bring results, Ukraine’s newly elected president Petro Poroshenko warns he has an alternative “detailed plan” of regaining control over south-eastern Ukraine.

“Peaceful scenario – it is our plan A,” Poroshenko said in a statement on his website. “But those who expect to use the peace talks only to gain time to regroup, should know that we have a detailed plan B. I am not going to talk about it now, because I believe that our peace plan will work.”

The ceasefire in eastern Ukraine took effect on June 20 and will last until June 27, the day Kiev plans to sign the EU Association agreement.

However, “the military will be given the right to return fire if Ukrainian army units or peaceful civilians are attacked,” Poroshenko said in his decree.

Since then, the tensions have

slightly eased in some areas, but the Ukrainian army is still using artillery and the air force in sporadic clashes with antiKiev militias.

Poroshenko claims the ceasefire is designed to enable local self-defence militias to lay down their arms and flee the country, or be destroyed. He also, while drafting the plan with Kiev-appointed governors of the defiant regions, rejected any possibility of negotiations with representatives of anti-Kiev forces.

While welcoming Kiev’s ceasefire efforts, the Russian president said the current peace plan on the table “should not take the form of an ultimatum to militia groups,” according to the Kremlin statement. It’s not enough to just put hostilities on pause, but vital to immediately start “constructive negotiations” to reach a viable compromise between the parties to the conflict.

Bulgarian floods death toll rises to 14

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OURTEEN people have fallen victim to the flash floods in Bulgaria around the Black Sea resort of Varna, including children, according to officials, as quoted by AFP. Up to a thousand tourists from Romania have been left stranded, said the Romanian government. Romanian tourism minister Florin Jianu travelled to the scene on Saturday to help with the organization of humanitarian aid. The violent storm that hit Bulgaria on Thursday was preceded by several days of heavy rains.

Brazil’s Rousseff launches re-election bid, leads in polls

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•Flamingoes bill in their enclosure at the zoo in Prague, Czech Republic.

PHOTO: AFP

U.S. will stand with Egypt’s people, says Kerry

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ASHINGTON will “stand with the Egyptian people in their fight for the future they want”, US Secretary of State John Kerry has pledged.

He was speaking after talks in the capital Cairo with Egypt’s newly elected President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi.

Mr Kerry also stressed the importance of the right to free speech and the rule of law.

The US has unfrozen $575m (£338m) in military aid to Egypt, state department officials said.

Mr Sisi, the 59-year-old exarmy chief, won elections in May, promising to tackle “terrorism” and bring security.

The retired field marshal overthrew President Mohammed Morsi last July amid mass protests against his rule.

He has since been pursuing a crackdown on Mr Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood, which urged a boycott of the 26-28 May elections. Liberal and secular activists also shunned the poll in protest at the curtailing of civil rights.

Mr Kerry arrived in Cairo on Sunday on an unannounced visit, the most senior US official there since the election.

At a news conference after talks with Mr Sisi, he said he had “candid” discussions with

the Egyptian leader on broad range of issues.

He stressed that “Egyptian society is stronger” when all citizens had a say.

“For Egypt, this is a moment of high stakes and also a big opportunity,” Mr Kerry said, acknowledging that a number of promises by Egyptian leaders “are yet to be fulfilled”.

Before the talks with Mr Sisi began, Mr Kerry said that

Washington was “ very interested in working closely with President Sisi and his cabinet and Egypt in order to help make this transition as rapidly and smoothly as possible.”

Egypt remains a strategic ally for Washington, and Mr Kerry’s visit so soon after Mr Sisi’s inauguration shows the US is still keen to engage actively and early on with the new president in the hope it

will make a difference, reports the BBC’s Kim Ghattas, who is travelling with Mr Kerry.

But our correspondent says that the last time Mr Kerry was in Cairo in November his advice was ignored.

Washington fears that the winner-takes-all attitude to politics in the region, from Egypt to Iraq is feeding instability, she adds.

Pakistan army offensive: 350,000 displaced

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OME 350,000 people have been displaced since the start of an army offensive against militants in Pakistan’s North Waziristan a week ago, officials say.

Long lines of buses and lorries are reported waiting in intense heat for security clearance to enter the nearest town of Bannu.

There are fears the refugees could spread polio, as many of the displaced children have not been vaccinated.

The offensive began after a deadly attack on Karachi airport.

The attack was claimed by an Uzbek militant group and the Pakistani Taliban.

Tens of thousands of children are among those who are currently on the move in the tribal region.

“The civilians have no idea where they are going,” reports Shazeb Jillani from Bannu Many of them have never been vaccinated for highly-infectious diseases - like polio because of a Taliban-imposed ban.

Local officials say they are doing everything they can to deal with the unfolding humanitarian crisis.

A camp for the displaced people has been set up near Bannu.

But most families have refused to go there, saying the place lacks basic necessities like water, food and sanitation, the BBC’s Shahzeb Jillani in Islamabad reports.

Several refugees told the BBC they felt angry at the military for bombing their homes. Many more admitted they had no faith that the Pa-

kistani government could help them.

The army said at least 200 militants, many of them Uzbeks, had been killed since it began air strikes on militant targets in Shawal and other areas of North Waziristan last Sunday.

There is no independent media access to the area and no way of confirming the casualty figures.

Tanks and troops are also being sent in for a full-scale operation to target Taliban and foreign militant networks based near the Afghan border, the military says.

North Waziristan has a population of almost seven million. Officials say approximately 80% of the population is still living in the area as the military strikes escalate.

RAZILIAN President Dilma Rousseff on Saturday launched her reelection bid after her leftist Workers Party (PT) approved her candidacy in a voice vote.

Former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, still a popular public figure in Brazil, has personally supported the current leader.

“It is time to move forward, it is time to make more changes,” Rousseff told her party in an address.

The 66-year-old Rousseff is leading in opinion polls ahead of the October presidential election with 39 percent, which is

10 percent ahead of her closest rival, according to a survey by CNI Ibope.

This is despite the mass antigovernment protests, which have recently focused on the controversy around Brazil holding the FIFA World Cup. Opponents believe that the World Cup’s staggering $11 billion bill should have been spent on improving the public’s welfare, and have called for it to be boycotted and disrupted. “The World Cup is scoring goals against the pessimists, those who said it would not take place,” Rousseff responded to her critics yesterday.

Israeli teen ‘killed by Syria firing’ in Golan Heights

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15-YEAR-OLD boy has been killed in the occupied Golan Heights by firing from Syria, Israel says.

Officials say he was with his father in a truck which took a “direct hit”.

The father and another contract worker are reported to have been injured. They were was carrying out maintenance work on the border fence, It is unclear whether Syrian rebels or government forces were behind the incident, but Israel responded with tank shelling into Syria.

The exchange took place in the Tel Hazeka area, near the Quneitra crossing, the Israeli defence ministry said.

It is the first time an Israeli has been killed by firing from Syria in the Golan Heights since the Syrian conflict began in 2011.

Israeli military spokesman, Lt Col Peter Lerner, told AP news agency the firing from Syria was “clearly intentional” but it was unclear whether it was the result of mortar fire, a roadside bomb or shelling.

The Golan Heights, a rocky plateau in south-western Syria, was seized by Israel from Syria in the closing stages of the 1967 Middle East War. The two countries remain technically in a state of war, and UN observers are deployed to monitor a 70km-long (44-mile) demilitarised zone.

Firing linked to the Syrian conflict occasionally reaches the Israeli side of the border fence - some unintentional, some said to be deliberate.

In March, Israel conducted air strikes against several Syrian military targets after a bombing that injured four of its soldiers in the Golan Heights.

Israel had accused the Syrian army of “aiding and abetting” the attack on a patrol near the ceasefire line.

Syria said one of its soldiers was killed in the Israeli military response.

Some of Israeli’s recent air strikes are believed to have prevented the transfer of stockpiles of rockets from the Syrian government to Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia Islamist movement that supports President Bashar al-Assad.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

58

FOREIGN MUSINGS

The Problem with Libya

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IBYA has been hit by instability since the overthrow of long-serving ruler Col Muammar Gaddafi in October 2011. Militias rule large swathes of territory, with successive governments struggling to exercise control.

No-one - that is the problem. There are lots of different armed groups - up to 1,700 - with many different goals. But money and power is a common denominator.

During the uprising, anyone with a gun could command respect and some do not want that to change. Instead, they seem more determined than ever to gain more territory and impose their will.

They are also ideologically divided - some of them are Islamists, others are secessionists and yet others are liberals. Furthermore, the militias are split along ethnic and regional lines, making it a combustible mix. Some fear Libya could descend into civil war.

They were united in their hatred for Col Gaddafi - but nothing more. There was no single group in charge of the rebellion. Militias were based in different cities, fighting their own battles.

Several felt they had paid a particularly high price during the conflict and should be rewarded. And after more than four decades of authoritarian rule, they had little understanding of democracy. So, they were unable to forge compromises and build a new state based on the rule of law. As a result, Libya has had five governments since the 2011 revolution.

Very little. The US had pledged to help the new government recover weapons - especially anti-aircraft missiles that had gone missing when Col Gaddafi’s government crumbled.

But Libya remains what some security analysts describe as an arms bazaar. It is awash with weapons which have also ended up in the hands of other armed groups in the region.

There is no top-level mediation effort either by Western powers or regional bodies like the Arab League and African Union The West and Arab League appear to be more concerned about the instability in Syria and

Egypt. As for the the AU, it has little influence in Libya - it opposed the Nato-backed offensive to oust Col Gaddafi, and is viewed with deep suspicion by Libya’s authorities.

Yet African countries are most concerned about the conflict, fearing it could worsen instability in countries such as Mali and Niger.

Weapons from Col Gaddafi’s looted arsenals are also said to have been smuggled to the Sinai, Gaza and even Syria.

Yes. There have been a spate of attacks on diplomats in 2012 and 2013. They include the killing of US Ambassador Christopher Stevens in Benghazi, where the uprising against Col Gaddafi began, and the kidnapping of the Jordanian ambassador Fawwaz Eitan, who was released in exchange for a jihadist. There were also attacks on the Italian consulate in Benghazi, as well as the French and the Russian embassies in Tripoli.

The US appears to be carrying out covert operations in Libya to neutralise the threat. It responded to Mr Stevens’ death by capturing alQaeda suspect Anas al-Liby in Tripoli in October 2013.

Militias have also seized oil terminals, operated by Western firms. It has led to a huge fall in production, but has not had a major impact on the global oil market.

Ansar al-Sharia is said to be the most dangerous Islamist armed group in Libya. It was blamed for Mr Stevens’ killing, and is said to have forged links with other Islamists groups.

Some analysts say Ansar al-Sharia have men who fought in Syria, though there has been no independent confirmation of this.

Colonel Khalifa Haftar also has a powerful militia. He was behind the 16 May air attack on a military air base in Benghazi and the assault two days later on the parliamentary building in Tripoli. He says his objective is to defeat Ansar al-Sharia, though government officials accuse him of being a renegade simply driven by a thirst for power.

Gen. Haftar helped Col Gaddafi seize power

in 1969, and played a key role DAYO FAKUADE, Foreign Editor in Libya’s military incursion sms 08134230367 into Chad in the 1980s. He later fell out with Col Gaddafi, and fled to the US. He resurfaced in Libya during the uprising against Col daborgu@gmail.com tional army but there is little evidence of that Gaddafi’s rule, and built a militia that drew in happening. other ex-Gaddafi loyalists. To many Libyans, Culled from BBCAfrica he remains a shadowy figure who has caused much instability. His main PUBLIC NOTICE AMEH base is in Benghazi, but he has I formerly known and addressed as shown his influence stretches MISS GRACE ONYOCHE AMEH. to Tripoli. Last week he called Now wish to be known and on Libya’s judiciary to set up a addressed as MRS GRACE ONYOCHE OGWIJI. All former crisis cabinet saying that the documents remain valid. NYSC and government has failed the peoGeneral public should please take ple. The move was rejected by note. government accusing the genPUBLIC NOTICE eral’s call as an ‘attempted coup’’ AUCTION! AUCTION!! AUCTION!!!

Many of them live in fear and have to move to safe placFrom the table of Authority of Coker Aguda L.C.D.A, es when fighting breaks out. there will be public auction sales of Unserviceable They feel their dreams have been shattered - like many in vehicles on the 30th of June and 1st of July 2014 at neighbouring Egypt and Tuthe council premises by 10:00am prompt. Inspection nisia after their own popular time 10:00am to 2:00pm Monday to Friday. uprisings.

But the situation in Libya is Auctioneer Akinyemi G.A, far more anarchic - that is be25, New Ipaja Road, cause the army disintegrated Iyana Ipaja, after Col Gaddafi’s fall, unlike Lagos. in Egypt. Moreover, Libya has TEL: 08037117093 never had well-established political groups - like Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood and Tunisia’s Ennahda - to champion the interests of their constituents.

So, the government is at the mercy of the militias. In fact, it pays many of the militiamen, hoping they will switch loyalties and help build a new na-

SPACE FOR SALE

FOREIGN NEWS

Pope Francis ‘excommunicates’ Italian mafia

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ALLING the practices of Italian ‘Ndrangheta crime group the “adoration of evil,” Pope Francis said the Mafiosi “are excommunicated” from God and the Catholic Church, in his address to tens of thousands of people in Calabria, southern Italy.

“Those who in their lives follow this path of evil, as Mafiosi do, are not in communion with God. They are excommunicated,” Pope Francis said as cited by Reuters.

“This evil must be fought against, it must be pushed aside. We must say no to it,” Francis said, promising that the Vatican would apply all efforts to combat such activity.

Francis condemned Ndrangheta as the “adoration of evil

and contempt of the common good.”

“Repent! There is no time to avoid ending up in hell, which is what awaits you if you do not change course,” the Pope stated after holding a vigil as he visited Castrovillari prison in Calabria, a region infested by organized crime, Il Sole 24 Ore reports.

Ndrangheta activity is centered in Calabria. The group became the most powerful syndicate of Italy in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Although tied to the Sicilian Mafia, ‘Ndrangheta operates independently from the Sicilians. It is believed that drug trafficking, extortion and money-laundering activities of the organization equate to least 3 percent of Italy’s GDP, with a revenue of 53 billion

Euros annually.

“If it were not part of Italy, Calabria would be a failed state. The ‘Ndrangheta organized crime syndicate controls vast portions of its territory and economy, and accounts for at least three percent of Italy’s GDP (probably much more) through drug trafficking, extortion and usury,” Patrick Truhn, US Consul General in Naples said previously in a confidential report, revealed by WikiLeaks.

International links of the organisation particularly with Latin American countries helped the ‘Ndrangheta dominate global cocaine trade.

Nicola Gratteri, a prosecutor tracing the organization’s international reach, told the Guardian that some 80 percent

Putin ‘supports’ Ukraine peace plan

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USSIAN President Vladimir Putin has said he supports a peace plan tabled by Ukraine - as long as it includes “practical action” to start Kiev talks. must negotiate and make He said compromises with pro-Russian rebels for the plan to be “viable and realistic”.

Mr Putin also said a week-long truce - declared

by President Petro Poroshenko - must not be used as an “ultimatum”.

Clashes have continued in eastern Ukraine, with rebel attacks injuring six border guards.

The separatist fighters have dismissed the truce, accusing the Ukrainian army of violating their own ceasefire.

Meanwhile, the US has imposed sanctions including asset freezes - against seven pro-Russian leaders in Ukraine.

Western leaders have threatened additional sanctions against Russia, which they accuse of stoking tension in Ukraine. Moscow denies the claim.

A statement issued by the Kremlin on Saturday evening said that the Russian leader supported Mr Poroshenko’s ceasefire, “as well as his stated intentions to take a number of concrete steps to achieve a peaceful settlement”.

According to the statement, Mr Putin also insisted that the plan would only work if it led to “meaningful negotiations and political compromise between the opposing sides in eastern Ukraine”.

Ukrainian forces have struggled to regain control of buildings and territory that have been seized by the armed separatists in eastern regions bordering Russia.

On Friday night, the separatists attacked three Ukrainian border posts in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, Kiev said.

The rebels shelled the posts with rocket and mortar fire, injuring six border guards. The gunmen also attacked Ukrainian forces outside the Kramatorsk airfield, in the Donetsk region.

Ukrainian forces returned fire, and all the attacks were repelled, Kiev said. However, Ukraine’s border guard service said its personnel at the Izvaryne post, Luhansk region, were forced to retreat into Russian territory.

A number of casualties were reported among the separatists.

Mr Poroshenko on Friday declared the ceasefire to give rebels time to disarm. It became effective from 22:00 local time (19:00 GMT).

Global Focus

of cocaine in Europe is smuggled by Calabrian mobsters.

“Altogether in the world, I would say it has maybe 10,000 members,” he added.

“The ‘Ndrangheta,” Enzo Macri from National Antimafia Directorate says, represents the “globalisation” of Italian organised crime. “The Colombians prefer to deal with the Calabrians,” says Macri.

“They are much more reliable.

They don’t talk. And they pay on time.”

This attack on one of Italy’s most dangerous crime syndicates is Pope Francis’ latest effort in his crusade to fight corruption. The pontiff is also trying to reform the Vatican Bank after two years ago reports emerged implicating the secret banking institution of laundering Sicilian mafia bosses’ riches.

Following the disclosure, Pope Francis’ predecessor Benedict appointed a five-person papal commission to investigate the activities of the bank, just before his resignation. Last year, the Vatican Bank, known as the Institute for Religious Works, for the first time released its annual financial report to the public with an aim to create more financial transparency. Francis later reshuffled the commission while the ongoing probe resulted in closure of several hundreds of accounts and vetting thousands more.

The roots of Italian organized crime date back to the 1500s. Presently, there are five main known mafia-style organizations in Italy – the Cosa Nostra of Sicily, ‘Ndrangheta of Calabria, Camorra of Naples, as well as relatively new Stidda and Sacra Corona Unita of Puglia.

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2014 FIFA WORLD CUP...2014 FIFA WORLD CUP...2014 FIFA WORLD CUP...2014 FIFA WORLD CUP...2014 FIFA WORLD CUP...

KESHI: I'm happy Eagles broke 16years jinx Jonathan pops champagne for Eagles N IGERIAN President Goodluck Jonathan stayed up late, like millions of other Nigerians, to cheer and later celebrate by popping champagne as the Super Eagles beat Bosnia 1-0 in their second group game in Brazil.

With Nigeria several hours ahead of Brazil, Jonathan was up in the early hours of Sunday to watch the game with his aides at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja and popped champagne after the country’s first win at the World Cup since 1998.

The President has promised to reward the Eagles handsomely if they do well in Brazil.

During his tenure, Nigeria won a third Africa Cup of Nations last year and the Golden Eaglets won a record fourth FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Moses hopes to be fit for Argentina

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NJURED Victor Moses has said he hopes to be fit for Nigeria’s last group game against Argentina after he missed the 1-0 win over Bosnia in the early hours of Sunday “after a small niggle”.

On account of his injury, Volyn of Ukraine winger Babatunde Michael started the game against Bosnia in his place.

Moses also praised those who played against Bosnia for a job well done.

"Great win for us, the lads were brilliant and the fans were amazing. I hope to be fit for the Argentina game after a small niggle #Nigeria," Moses tweeted.

Nigeria tackle Argentina on Wednesday in their final Group F match in Porto Alegre.

Nigeria will advance to the Round of 16 should they avoid defeat.

Super Eagles chief coach Stephen Keshi responded to questions in a postmatch conference in Cuiaba on Saturday night.Sportinglife's Sports Editor Ade Ojeikere witnessed the session and reports all that transpired there.

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OACH, it was a nice day for African football. Ghana drew 2-2 against Germany and Nigeria beat Bosnia 10. I guess you are happy.

Yes I'm happy. It is good advertisement for African football, especially for West Africa. The two countries are from that region. Everyone in West Africa is happy. I am also very happy.

What did you like best in your team?

I like the character of the players. They stuck together and defended stoutly when they should.

They showed incredible fighting spirit and played better than we did against Iran. I must commend my players the way they played. I like what I saw.

The temperature was tough. Even where I was, I felt the inclement weather.

I found it difficult to breathe because of the humid conditions. You can imagine how the players must have felt.

Was there any time you felt that the Super Eagles will crash out the competition at the group stage?

No. Never. How could I have thought that the Eagles will crash out during the group stage? It happened in South Africa.

Nobody gave us a chance.

People thought that the draw we secured against Iran was the worst result.

Look at how Iran played against Argentina. It took the brilliance of Lionel Messi before Argentina could conquer Iran.

AHEAD ARGENTINA TIE

YOBO, ONAZI SCREAM

We're not scared of Messi F

F

ENERBAHCE defender Joseph Yobo has stressed that Nigeria will not focus on stopping Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi when they square off with Argentina on Wednesday afternoon.

The Super Eagles skipper has pointed out that there

are 10 other players that will be on parade at the Estádio José Pinheiro Borba (BeiraRio).

“Messi is a legend.

Unbelievable. But it is not just Messi. The whole team is good. But we know he can produce what he did against Iran, which was a difficult game,” Yobo said.

Lazio midfielder Eddy Onazi added : “Messi is a normal human being. He is a football player. We have to create our strategy.”

No matter the outcome of the game with Argentina, Nigeria will advance to the last 16 of the World Cup if Iran fails to beat Bosnia on Wednesday.

ORMER Arsenal star Martin Keown has praised Super Eagles and Chelsea defender Kenneth Omeruo after an impressive performance in Nigeria’s win over Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Omeruo hardly put a foot wrong as he marked the dangerous Edin Dzeko and Miralem Pjanic, and Keown believes Omeruo might have done enough to force

The Iran that played against Nigeria was quite different from their approach to the Argentines. Two different styles of play. I never nursed any form of early exit, provided the players want to play. I know the collection of players that I have here.

Is there any special preparation for the next game against Argentina?

Not at all. Even if there is, you don't expect me to divulge them here. We will concentrate on the areas where we didn't play well and make the desired corrections. Let us allow the boys savour this moment and return to training to take it from there.

Your team wasted scoring chances, especially those where we got to the byline and couldn't convert the openings created ?

Such misses happen in football. I like what the players did. We played 11 men fighting for the ball.

We fought when we lost possession of the ball and we attacked together when we regained possession of the ball. I won't disclose what we did wrong. It is for my players and I to discuss.

What informed your decision to field Babatunde Michael in this kind of game?

You are asking me that?

Were you surprised? Really?

I have 23 capable players who must be prepared to fight for this country. I didn't bring them here to eat food or for sight-seeing.

Everyone should be ready to play depending on my match tactics.

Playing against Argentina will be very tough. It would decide which of the teams would top the group. What are your plans for that game?

Will the game against Argentina make your newspaper sell better back home in Nigeria? Well, we are here to try and win games for Nigeria, invariably to make Nigerians at home very happy. Let us get to Thursday, you will see what I will do.

Why did you drop Victor Moses?

It is my decision and I'm glad he respected it. If Victor Moses doesn't play, some other person will. All I ask from you and indeed all Nigerians is to pray for us.

Pray for the players and support them.

How have you been able to instill discipline in the team?

It is because I'm the boss.

Besides, they are all professionals. I must say that what gladdens my heart most is that we broke the jinx of not winning a World Cup game since 1998 in France. That we broke the 16 years jinx is worthy of celebration.

Reporting from Brazil ADE OJEIKERE

Keown heaps praises on Omeruo his way into Jose Mourinho’s plans at Chelsea next season.

“He’s a young man, and he’s doing bread and butter defending. He knows what he’s good at, he’s strong, you just couldn’t move him out of there,” Keown told BBC’s Match of the Day. “He’s been at Chelsea now for two years, been out on loan most of the time, but he might come back in after

this sort of performance, because that’s what Mourinho wants, he wants someone who knows what he’s good at.

“He’s not frightened to go after people, he’s quick and he’s strong, once he bolts onto someone they don’t get past him. ”For such a young man,he was ordering his teammates around,which is very good to see.”

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

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We played like a team -Omeruo

NIGERIA, BOSNIA FALLOUT

We're robbed

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ENNETH Omeruo has pointed to team effort as the reason Bosnia could not find a way past the Super Eagles defence.

The Super Eagles beat the Europeans 1-0on Saturday courtesy of Osaze Odemwingie’s goal to all but guarantee their progress to the next round.

“It was a good game and I thank the effort of the team. The team did great and as a defensive line, we covered each other well,” Omeruo told KickOffNigeria.com.

He singled out captain Joseph Yobo for helping

- Dzeko

• Man City star says ref should be sent home

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OSNIAHERZEGOVINA were sent packing from the World Cup on Saturday, and striker Edin Dzeko laid the blame for their first round exit on the "shameful" referee in charge

of the 1-0 loss to Nigeria in Cuiaba.

The Group F fixture was played out in staminasapping tropical conditions but Dzeko's blood was boiling not from the clammy 30 degree temperature, but

because of his first half goal disallowed for offside.

Replays showed that New Zealand referee Peter O'Leary and his line judge had got this decision wrong,with the Manchester City star clearly onside.

Before boarding the team bus at the Arena Pantanal a disconsolate Dzeko, who hit the woodwork in stoppage time, vented his spleen against what he perceived as the massive injustice O'Leary had inflicted on the Balkan side.

Not only for the contentious ruling on his "goal", but also for what the Bosnians felt was a foul by Nigeria's Emmanuel Emenike on their captain Emir Spahic before his assist to Odemwingie for the decisive strike.

Asked what had happened Dzeko said: "The referee happened.

"We are going home, we are sad because of that but the referee should go home too, because he changed the result, he changed the game, and that's why we lost.

"We tried to come back after the goal where there was obviously a foul on our captain and before when I scored a goal it was not offside.

"We fought until the end, but we were not lucky.In the first game we did everything, and Argentina beat us, but today we should have won this game.

"Nigeria played good as well, but the referee was shameful for this competition.¨ Sejad Salihovic echoed Dzeko's take on the gamechanging ruling, the Hoffenheim captain saying:"What can you do?

"He (Dzeko) was one metre onside. I have no clue what the linesman was seeing.If we were leading 1-0,they (Nigeria) would have had to chase us.¨ Dzeko's fellow striker Vedad Ibiševic said elimination "hurt a lot".

"We wanted to get through the group stage," the Stuttgart striker added.

Bosnia coach Safet Susic was more circumspect in his reaction to secondary school biology teacher O´Leary´s performance and this second successive loss in Brazil after their opening 2-1 defeat to Argentina.

him cope with the task of shutting down Edin Dzeko.

“The skipper was brilliant and we just thank God for the victory,” Omeruo said.

“Dzeko is a smart player.You have to stay switched on the whole game because one moment you think he’s not focused and before you know it, he makes a run for it.

“But the coverage was wonderful.Yobo’s experience helped. When I was not able to get there on time, he was there to take him and I think that was actually what did it for us.”

We're hopeful of second round ticket - Osaze

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IGERIA had the returning Peter Odemwingie to thank for delivering them their first World Cup win since 1998 and lifting them to the verge of the knockout stages.

The Stoke City forward struck in the first half to hand Nigeria a 1-0 win over Bosnia in Cuiaba on Saturday to leave them on four points and in pole position to take the Group F runners-up spot behind already qualified Argentina.

"I feel very happy to be back, playing for my fatherland, it's always a pleasure and an honour," the man-of-the-match said after the game in Cuiaba's Arena Pantanal.

"I couldn't have dreamt of a better comeback. I didn't expect to come back and score the winner.

"The coach had faith, and being back with my friends makes me happy."

Bergovic had sensed Odemwingie was going to prove a handful, telling a Stoke newspaper The Sentinel before the World Cup: "Peter will pose a great threat for sure, so we will need to be aware of him during the game."

Odemwingie said while

his goal was important to him what was more pleasing was the way the team as a unit performed in tricky tropical conditions.

"I'm on a high from that," he smiled.

Odemwingie, is also hopeful that the 1-0 win over Bosnia Herzegovina will inspire the Eagles to go further in the tournament.

"It's been 16 years for a victory for our fans and and our country, so we are very excited," said Odemwingie "We had to work hard for this, they are a very quality team, with a good midfield, they got Edin Dzeko, it was difficult to get the three points but we are happy to bounce back after what our people thought was a poor performance in the first game.

"Victories affect teams in very positive ways, so we are looking upwards, hopefully the three points will get us through to the second round and after that, anything can happen.

"We can be inspired, like we were in the African Cup of Nations, we'll keep working hard and do our best."

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

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NEWS (SHOWBIZ) At last, Dan Foster dumps Inspiration FM

World film bodies canvass freedom for jailed Iranian documentarian

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N what appears to be a recurrent oppression of film activists in Iran, world film organisations like Cannes International Film Festival, France and other international bodies are calling on the government of the country to free Mahnaz Mohammadi, a documentarian, who stands accused of colluding against the state with the BBC and American news networks.

Mohammadi, a prominent women’s right activist, was taken to Tehran’s infamous Evin prison earlier this month, to begin serving a five-year jail term.

Although Mohammadi denied all charges against her, she was found guilty of assembly and collusion against national security and propaganda against the state.

Mohammadi is best known for her short documentary Woman without Shadows (2003), which depicts the hardships of homeless women in a troubled state-run shelter and Travelogue (2006) shot on a train between Iran and Turkey, where she asked passengers why they were fleeing their country.

Since the release of Travelogue, Iranian authorities have denied Mohammadi permission to leave Iran.

with the BBC and none of my films has ever been broadcast on this network,” she told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran (ICHRI) earlier in the month. “I have also been charged with having relations with alJazeera English, German and American media, Radio France International and Voice of America.

“My interrogator wanted me to confess to receiving money from BBC Persian in return for working against the Islamic Republic of Iran, but because I had never done this and had no ties

to the BBC at all, I didn’t confess. The gentlemen had prepared a scenario, which I had to act out.

“My interrogator was unable to find any evidence against me. In the end, he referred to my documentary film, Travelogue, which had received an award from (the Iranian) Truth Film Festival in 2006 and used it against me as evidence,” Mohammadi narrated.

This is not the first time that an Iranian filmmaker will be jailed for a similar issue, as director Jafar Panahi had perhaps suffered worse fate.

After several years of conflict with the Iranian government over the content of his films, Panahi was arrested in March 2010 along with his wife, daughter and 15 friends and later charged with propaganda against the Iranian government.

Despite support from filmmakers, film organisations and human rights organisations from around the world, in December 2010, Panahi was sentenced to a six-year jail sentence and a 20-year ban on directing any movies, writing screenplays, giving any form of interview with Iranian or foreign media or from leaving the country except for medical treatment or going to Hajj pilgrimage.

won last year by contestants,” said Ekanem.

According to him, “the show is about the emotions, excitement, fun and the unbreakable bond that 10 families will showcase, when they challenge themselves by learning and performing various dance styles in the famous Maltina Dance All academy.”

Since 2007 when a ‘Youth Corper’ sold the initiative to Nigerian Breweries Plc (NBL), the show as evolved as one of the entertainment events, which NBL, has sustained through its Maltina brand.

This position was buttressed by Mr. Adewole Adedeji, Senior Brand Manager, Maltina, who stated that “eight years is a long time for a show to still be

relevant and we’re very glad that Maltina, through MDA, continues to bring the brand experience of sharing happiness and fun to the consumer.”

Organisers say the show will be preceded by regional auditions which will kick off in Port Harcourt at the Atrium Event Center on July 18th through July 19th. The Port Harcourt auditions will be followed by the Lagos leg, billed to take place at the National Theatre from July 24th to 26th, while the Abuja audition holds at the Nicon Luxury Hotel on August 1st and 2nd.

The show kicks off on TV from September 7. And interested Nigerians are expected to register online at www.maltinadanceall.tv or at the audition venues.

•Mohammadi

By Victor Akande

In 2010, she was invited to attend the Cannes Film Festival for the premiere of Reza Serkanian’s Wedding Ephemerals, in which she starred. She was unable to attend.

Various international film organizations, including the French Film Directors’ Guild, have launched a global petition, demanding her freedom. Those in support of the move, and who wish to sign are enjoined to send an email with their full name to hrosiaux@la-srf.fr.

“I have never worked

Maltina family dance show returns • Prize now N10 million, SUV

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IEWERSHIP on the family belt hour on television may increase again, as Maltina Dance All, a family group reality dance competition returns with another edition, which organisers say will rebound with eclectic dance styles.

Last year, the Briggs family, a group of five from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, won the coveted prize of N6 million cash prize, and a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), beating finalists such as the Eweriebe and Ebute families which came second and third place respectively.

Announcing this year’s edition of the show at the weekend, organisers had arranged a dramatic prelude to what should be expected, with 10 dancers, who suddenly appeared at the atrium of Silverbird Galleria, Lagos, arresting the attention of movie buffs and shoppers in the popular mall.

Tagged Rhythm of Happiness Dance (ROHD), the show which enters its 8th edition this year is expected to create new dance styles, in line with the ROHD theme.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Kufre Ekanem,

•Contestants at the audition

Corporate Affairs Adviser, NB plc said the unveiling dance performance was a tip of the iceberg. “As we all know, it is the foremost experiential and sponsorship platform of the Maltina brand, renowned for promoting togetherness with friends and loved ones. The TV show, which made its debut in 2007, has remained Nigeria’s first and only family dance TV show featuring families from various regions across the country.”

Interestingly, the prize money has increased for this year, as the winning family will go home with N10 million, while first and second runners up get N3 million and N1 million respectively.

“This is a considerable increase from the N6 million, N1 million and N500, 000

•Foster

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FTER a prolong rumour of exit, it is now clear that popular radio presenter, Dan Foster, has finally resigned his appointment with Inspiration FM, and has joined City 105.1 FM. Already, Foster has begun a 6am to 10am programme at is new place called Breakfast In The City.

Reports say the American tongue-styled On Air Personality (OAP), left his former radio station officially last month, with a promise to consult for the company when need be, while also continuing with the ‘Praise Jam’ Sunday show.

Another account however

indicated the celebrity broadcaster has severed all official relationship with the company.

Obviously elated, the presenter is already calling on fans to follow him on his new platform, saying it doesn’t matter where he is airing from.

Foster made debut in Nigeria on Cool FM, from where he moved to Inspiration FM. Earlier in the year, the USborn OAP disclosed to Nigerian Entertainment Today (NET) that he was considering quitting his job at Inspiration FM. Many are of the opinion that the reason it took the presenter so long to quit his former place was due to his attachment to the ‘Praise Jam’ show, which he thought he could continue running by the side. “It’s more like a ministry for me. It’s touched so many lives, I want to continue it there, even if that’s the only thing I get to do. I started the show back at Cool FM and did it for free. I was only paid to work on weekdays there.” He had said.

Half of a Yellow Sun wins big at ZIFF

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IG-budget Nigerian film, Half of a Yellow Sun, last Saturday, won the Golden Dhow; the highest award at the Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF), which took place in Tanzania, at the weekend.

The movie had enjoyed an African premiere the previous, at the open-air amphitheatre, in Zanzibar’s Old Fort, a 400-year-old edifice.

“It was the first time the ticket-buying public had been able to see the movie anywhere, including Nigeria, within the shores of the continent it was made in.

The screening was packed, not an empty seat in the house, and the audience was totally, completely, absolutely with it from the first frame to the last, from the opening credits to the last notes of Ben Onono and Paul Thomson’s sublime score,” Biyi Bandele, the director of the film claimed in a statement.

Described as the largest cultural event in East Africa, ZIFF is an annual celebration of the arts and cultures of the African Continent, India, Pakistan, the Gulf States, Iran and the Indian Ocean islands, known as Dhow Countries.

Jahman Anikulapo, former editor of Sunday Guardian, who was part of the Artwatch Africa Trainers’ Workshop, at the festival, described the experience as “ a most resourceful and result-oriented workshop that is destined to change career orientation of the participants and; consequently , lives and careers of many people in the 16 African countries where the participants were drawn from.”

Half of a Yellow Sun, an adaptation of Chimamanda Adichie’s book of the same

By Ovwe Medeme

title, is yet to receive certification in Nigeria. The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), has instructed Bandele to expunge some portions in the movie, which they considered sensitive to the security situation of the country.

In a release signed by Acting Head, Corporate Affairs, Caesar O. Kagho, the agency reiterated the need for the filmmaker to expunge those scenes, perceived to be capable of inciting ethnic crisis.

Reacting to the last instruction from Censors Board, distributors of the movie, FilmOne Distribution, have said that despite the cost associated with editing, re-mastering and re-printing, it will, in conjunction with the film producers, carry out this edit requirements by the NFVCB in order to get an official classification from the Board.

•Bandele

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Yobo: we have avoided walking tight rope

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KIPPER Joseph Yobo has said Nigeria were desperate to beat Bosnia so as not to walk a tight rope at the World Cup in Brazil.

The Super Eagles pipped Bosnia 1-0 early Sunday morning in Cuiaba to get their Brazil 2014 campaign back on course after a disappointing goalless draw with Iran.

The African champions are now second in Group F with four points from two matches and now only need to avoid defeat on Wednesday against Argentina to reach the knockout rounds of the World Cup for only the third time.

“We knew that if we did not win, we will put our-

COMMONWEALTH GAMES

Okagbare, others to represent Nigeria

F

selves in a very difficult position,” said Yobo, who is featuring in his third World Cup and is just a match shy of his 100th international cap.

“We stepped it up and we knew that victory was the most important thing for us.

“It was a difficult fight against a very good team.

We worked real hard for the points. We knew it would be so, but we got our goal in the first half and we defended very well, our concentration was very good. That was it.

“We knew we are better than what we showed in the first game against Iran, who again showed they are no push overs with what they showed against Argentina.”

•Yobo

Osaze seeks AFCON inspiration for W/Cup glory

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OAL hero Osaze Odemwingie has said he hopes Nigeria could break new grounds at the World Cup in

•Osaze

Brazil if they could muster the same momentum they enjoyed on their way to a third Africa Cup of Nations triumph last year.

Osaze’s 29th minute goal past his Stoke City teammate Asmir Begovic proved to be the match winner for Nigeria against BosniaHerzegovina earlier on Sunday in Cuiaba to get Nigeria back on track at Brazil 2014.

“It was important to win, we are looking forward now, we want to be in the second round. We hope we could be inspired like we were at the Africa Cup of Nations,” said

a delighted Osaze, who incidentally was sensational axed by coach Stephen Keshi from the tournament in South Africa leading to his long absence from the squad.

We are very excited; we worked hard for this victory.

We have bounced back after what some felt was a poor performance against Iran.”

The Stoke City star, who was picked by the organisers as the man of the match against Bosnia, admitted the heat in Cuiaba affected the African champions but they soldered on to win.

“It was a difficult weather

to play in, but we dug deep to earn the three points,” he said.

The 32-year-old striker ran to a side of the pitch and celebrated his goal with a 'Help carry baby' demonstration.

He revealed the goal celebration was his recently born son and the new daughter of his best friend in the Super Eagles, Austin Ejide.

"You know I had a son before the World Cup, so the celebration of my goal was for my son and my best pal in the Eagles, Ejide, who also has a daughter now," Osaze said.

I’m enjoying my World Cup experience, says Ameobi

N

IGERIAN striker Shola Ameobi has spoken of the joy of being part of Nigeria’s World Cup campaign, with the Super Eagles having won their first match at the competition in 16 years.

The former Newcastle United striker came on as a second half substitute in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat of BosniaHerzegovina in Cuiaba. He was brought on to help protect the lead in his second appearance at the competition.

While England has been eliminated from the tournament, the former English U21 player is on the verge of sealing a second round ticket with the African champions.

“This is a dream for me, every second I spend with these guys, with this team is a blessing,” Ameobi told Goal.

“I’m just trying to appreciate every minute and enjoy it because it is supposed to be an enjoyable experience.

“That is why we play this game. We’re at the top of our game and you just have to grab all the opportunity, take all of them but enjoy most of all.”

Coming on for their first game against Iran, the 32-yearold looked like the team’s best striker in a side that struggled to break down Team Melli.

However, against Bosnia they looked better put together and played like a team in control of things.

“Obviously, after the first game we were disappointed

that we didn’t really attack as we wanted to, with the aggression and the style we know we can play with,” he said.

But against Bosnia, “We showed that we are ready to fight to stay in this tournament. You need the spirit, you need the commitment and I thought we showed that in truckloads.”

For many periods in the game against the eastern Eu-

ropeans, one felt the Super Eagles take their feet off the throttle when they could have counter-attacked to score more goals.

“In the bigger scheme of things, you want to protect what you have and it’s sometimes very difficult when you’re trying to hold the lead,” he said.

“You know that they are pressing because they have got a lot of talent. Automati-

•Shola

L

cally you go on the defensive.

“There were times where I thought that we could have maybe broken, we threatened them but all in all, we thank God that we were able to hold out and get a great victory for Nigeria.”

Nigeria take on Argentina in their final group game in Porto Alegre needing at least a draw to finish second behind the Albiceleste.

The talking point has been about facing the super stars of the side like Lionel Mess, Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain and Angel di Maria but Ameobi says their approach would not be different.

“We have our philosophy and we know how the coach wants us to play,” he said.

“We’re going to come up against good teams in this tournament but the most important thing is for us to focus on what we have to do.

“You can talk all day about all the stars in this tournament but if you don’t look after your own house, you’re going to come up short.”

ASTEST woman in Nigeria, Blessing Okagbare is set to represent Nigeria at the Gaslow 2014 Commonwealth Games scheduled from 23rd of July till 3rd of August 2014in Glasgow, Scotland. Also, former United States Athlete Mark Jelks , Mozavous Arkezes Edwards are also part of the team to lead Nigeria. The list below shows the athletes to represent Nigeria at the games.

COMMONWEALTH TEAM 100mts/200mts/4x100mts Women 1. Blessing Okagbare 2. Gloria Asumnu 3. Dominique Duncan 4. Justina Sule 5. Mariam Bassey 6. Christy Udo 100mts 1. Mark Jelks 2. Mozavous Arkezes Edwards 3. Ogho Egwero 4. Seye Ogunlewe 5. Obinna Metu 6. Peter Emelize 400mts/4x400mts (Probation) men 1. Isah Salihu 2. Noah Akwu 3. Orukpe Erayokan 4. Abiola Onakoya 800mts Women (probabtion) 1. Abiye David 800mts men (Probation) 1. Sean Obinwa 400mts/4x400mts 1. P.Okon 2. F,Abugan 3. O.Omotosho 4. R.George 5. A.Benjamin 6. Funke Oladoye 100mts H 1. Nicole Denby 2. Ugonna Ndu 110mts H 1. Tyrone Atkins 2. Al-Ameen 3. Martins Ogheriaki

By Stella Bamawo

400mts H Women 1. Amaka Ogoemunam 400mts H Men 1. Christian Morton 2. Rilwan Alowonle Long Jump Women 1. Blessing Okagbare 2. Ese Brume Long Jump 1. Samson Idiata 2. Sule Hammed 1500mts Men 1. Soudi Hamajan Triple Jump Men 1. Tosin Oke 2. Olumide Olamigoke Shot Put/Discus women 1. Nwaneka Okwelogu Discus Women 1. Chinwe Okoro Shot Put/Discus 1. Stephen Mozia Hammer Women (Probation) 1. Queen Obisesan Javelin Men 1. Kenechukwu Ejeofor

Keown praises ’Super’ Omeruo

F

ORMER Arsenal star Martin Keown has praised Super Eagles and Chelsea defender Kenneth Omeruo after a starring performance in Nigeria’s win over Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Omeruo hardly put a foot wrong as he marked the dangerous Edin Dzeko and Miralem Pjanic, and Keown believes Omeruo might have done enough to force his way into Jose Mourinho’s plans at Chelsea next season.

“He’s a young man, and he’s doing bread and butter defending. He knows what he’s good at, he’s strong, you

just couldn’t move him out of there,” Keown told BBC’s Match of the Day. “He’s been at Chelsea now for two years, been out on loan most of the time, but he might come back in after this sort of performance, because that’s what Mourinho wants, he wants someone who knows what he’s good at.

“He’s not frightened to go after people, he’s quick and he’s strong, once he bolts onto someone they don’t get past him. ”For such a young man, he was ordering his team-mates around, which is very good to see.”

No Liverpool move for Moses

IVERPOOL is unlikely to make a permanent move for Nigeria international Victor Moses following his loan spell at Anfield last season, according to Sky Sports.

Winger Moses, 23, played a second fiddle to Raheem Sterling during his one-year loan

spell from Chelsea and the deal is unlikely to be made permanent.

The former Wigan Athletic star had an unsuccessful time at Anfield but English Premier League sides Everton, Swansea City and Crystal Palace have been linked with a summer move for the skilful

player.

Moses made 19 appearances for the Reds last season, scoring once, on his debut against Swansea City.

He can play in a variety of positions, but in the first-team games he has taken part in so far, the Super Eagles star has mostly played as a winger.

•Omeruo

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

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SPORT EXTRA

Imoke, Unicem Rovers hail Eagles •Maigari ‘is history-maker’

C

ROSS River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, says he has been enjoying the performance of the Super Eagles and believes that the team has the potential to go all the way. Imoke, whose government hosted all the team’s qualifying games was also in Brazil prior to the start of the championship.

“This team has the potential of making Nigeria one of the biggest football super powers in the world and I also believe that the NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari and his board are on the verge of also becoming the best football administrators that the country ever produced”, he was quoted as saying by

Sports Commissioner, Hon Patrick Ugbe.

Also newly appointed Chairman of Unicem Rovers FC of Calabar, Maurice Inok, says the entire team and its officials are backing the team to lift the World Cup adding that the club has a bunch of youthful players that he will invite the national team technical crew to come and pick from for the future.

“We are behind the NFF, Keshi and his entire crew and I can promise that when he returns to a garland of celebration we won’t be behind because the team has raised the bar of football in Africa and the world”, Inok said in a statement from Calabar.

Police shine in Brazil

•Peter Odemwingie of Nigeria (L) celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammate Emmanuel Emenike during the 2014 FIFA World Cup

Eagles’ best yet to come, say Keshi, Osaze

S

UPER Eagles’ coach, Stephen Keshi and striker, Peter Osaze Odemwingie have reviewed the 1-0 win over BosniaHezergovina played on Saturday and came away with the submission that the team was yet to play to its full potentials at the Mundial.

Osaze said at the postmatch media parley that the team has what it takes to reach the very final if all of the players play to full potential. “I saw a Brazilian on the street who told he foresaw Nigeria playing the final against Brazil and I said

E

to myself why not, going by the level of our players and the fact that they are yet to peak”.

The Stoke City forward who scored Nigeria’s only goal in the encounter said the goal also served as a compensation for his missing out of last year’s Nations Cup in South Africa.

“But mark my words we have a very resilient defence, a creative midfield and an attack force that can trouble any defence in the world if we play to our potentials we can go all the way”, he declared.

Keshi on his part, said he

will not relent at ensuring that he gets the team in the right mood for the championship but said the players are just gradually coming up. “The annoying thing is that they get criticized unnecessarily back home. When that comes from the man on the street you can understand but when people who should know like exfootballers criticize the team, I don’t enjoy it at all but the players have showed that they are good enough for the World Cup but they are yet to play to full potential”.

Winger Ejike Uzoenyi, who played his first World Cup

game against Bosnia, said he was excited at his debut. “It was like a dream but I thank God, the NFF and the coaches for making me realize the dream of playing at the world’s biggest stage in football. I am a fulfilled man”.

NFF Vice President, Chief Mike Okeke Umeh, said the win over Bosnia has made him younger as he was under pressure throughout the encounter. Umeh who along with some House of Representatives members have been staying with the national team said he was overwhelmed with joy by the victory of the Super Eagles.

ITTF Lagos World Tour serves off

GYPT’S Omar Assar and Luxembourg’s Ni Xialian are top seeded players as the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Lagos World Tour tagged Nigeria Open serves off on Monday June 23 at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos, Nigeria.

Speaking at the pretournament briefing, the President, International Table Tennis Federation, Adam Sharara was particularly thrilled by the organization of the Lagos World Tour while commending the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) for their giant strides in the last one year.

In the seeding list, Egypt’s Assar is rated number one in the men’s single, while Luxembourg’s 51 year-old Xialian is rated number in the women’s event.

Other seeded players are Egypt’s El-Sayed Lashin, Nigeria’s Segun Toriola and Aruna Quadri in the men’s event, while the only Nigerian seeded in the women event is Edem Offiong.

In the U-21 boys’ event, Singapore’s Yin Jing Yuan is number one, while Nigeria’s Ojo Onaolapo is rated number two, while Egypt’s Dina Meshref and Nadeen El-Dawlatly are top seeds.

“I am impressed with what

•Egypt, Luxembourg ranked top NTTF has been able to do in the last one year. The game is returning back to Nigeria and most importantly the quality of organization that they had put in place has really shown that Nigeria is capable of staging this tournament. We were surprised with what they did during the Lagos Classics and this was what motivated us to decided to give them the hosting right for this tour,” Sharara said.

The ITTF helmsman, who was represented by former Deputy President, George Segun, however charged the participant to enjoy the beautiful city of Lagos with its warm hospitality.

Also, African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) President, Khaled El-Salhy expressed his satisfaction with the effort made so far by NTTF, while admitting that this was what prompted the continental body

to give the hosting right of the Africa Top 16 Cup to Nigeria.

For the President, NTTF, Wahid Oshodi, all is set for the kick off of the tournament as everything have been put in place to ensure smooth organization.

For the duo of Funke Oshonaike and Segun Toriola, taking part in the tournament would surely inspire the upcoming players to aim high.

T

HE Nigeria Police Force has been one of the strong ambassadors here in Brazil representing the country in various categories of the competition and they have been turning out in flying colours.

Apart from national team Chief Security Officer, ACP Abubakar Baba, there are eight other top officers here and carrying out various World Cup tasks and they could be seen in the different centres of the championship.

Led by the Officer in charge of Sports in the Nigeria Police, Commissioner of Police, Sani Mohammed, the

team includes another CP Abimbola Marcaulay, SP Gabriel Alobo DSP Femi Okunowo, Inspector Kikelomo Ajayi, herself a former skipper of the Women National team, the Super Falcons and Inspector Wakili Isah Shall.

They have been everywhere and helping to ensure that the flag of Nigerian is flown in the security circle very high, even preventing a former top sports administrators from Nigeria from being arrested over branding in the stadium. Nigeria is really going places in Brazil.

Danagogo hails Eagles

S

PORTS Minister and Chairman, National Sports Commission, NSC, Dr. Tammy Danagogo has congratulated the Super Eagles on their "superlative performance" and well deserved victory over hard fighting Bosnia Herzegovina at the ongoing World Cup in Brazil.

The Minister particularly commended the players "for displaying the Nigerian spirit and emerging victorious" at the end of the energy sapping encounter which saw the team holding on to the first half goal scored by Osaze Odemwingie Noting that Saturday's

victory was Eagles' first World Cup match victory since the France '98 World Cup 3-2 victory over Spain, Dr. Danagogo said, "I pray they advance in the competition."

The Eagles are second in the group with four points from the two matches played and they take on leaders, Argentina on Wednesday needing at least a draw to confirm qualification for the second round.

Meanwhile, the Minister also thanked Nigerians for their prayers and support for the team, adding, "I urge them to continue supporting the team as they make progress in the competition.

Osaze eyes starting shirt against Agentina

S

UPER Eagles‘ striker and goal scorer against Bosnia at the on-going FIFA World Cup Peter Odemwingie believes he has won the heart of the national team manager; Stephen keshi after the team’s victory on Saturday night and hopes to make the starting line up in the Last group match against Argentina.

Odemwingie, who was used only as a substitute in the opening 0-0 draw with Iran, is hoping his impressive efforts will help him retain his place for an eagerly-anticipated clash with Lionel Messi and company in Porto Alegre on Wednesday.

The 32-year-old’s lone strike who earned the Super Eagles 10 victory over Group F rivals Bosnia and put the elated national team within a point of

• Upbeat on Eagles victory reaching the knockout stage is eyeing a starting place in the Eagles last game against Argentina.

"I earned myself a starting position and it was important to work hard to keep it, especially before a big game like Argentina, which is a dream for every player to play in," he told FIFA.com Should the Bosnians, the only team in the group which now have no chance of qualification, avoid defeat by Iran in Salvador, Nigeria would be through regardless of what they do after winning a game at the finals for the first time since 1998.

Odemwingie said: "I'm so

happy for the country, our fans, and the team. It was maybe one of the hardest three points in my career, though."

Expressing his expectation for the last group stage encounter with Lionel Messi, Odemwingie said Eagles will not disappoint the fans by putting in their mental best and technical delivery. “Against Argentina, we won’t take any special precautions, we will rely on our attacking instinct and physical strength, and all the same anything can happen” he said.

WORLD CUP RESULTS Belgium 1 - 0 Russia South Korea 2 - 4 Algeria

•Danagogo

TODAY IN THE NATION

MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL 9 NO 2886

‘The arrest of a wanted Boko Haram suspect in their midst cannot help their case, so also the fact that most of them had no idea of their destination and their mission there. Why were there no leaders with them who could EMEKA OMEIHE vouch for their innocence?...’

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

T

YRANNY often begins in a cloak. We don’t see it. It is like the hen that enters into a strange home. One step in, one step out. It wants to know one of two things. Is the corn lurking carelessly on the floor of the kitchen begging for the ravishing? Or if it (the hen) walks in, it will be the target of ravishment.

If no one looks and it sneaks noiselessly to the spot of corns, its ravenous beaks will pick its way, one corn after another, to a happy ending. Once it has succeeded, it leaves only to return. The owners are not vigilant. So they will lose the plenty from their toil to the insidious avarice of the skulking bird.

That is how tyrannies have happened, whether in our history or histories of other lands. It rarely announces its devilry.

Rather, it flatters the secret hopes of the people by brandishing its conciliating virtues.

So when it starts to do wrong, we see it at first as a mistake, a mirage or misunderstood. When it has dug in, we know, but it is often too late. It has recruited its votaries and foot soldiers and intellectual salesmen.

It erects its guards of reason and unleashes its bullets of emotions. The rest of the society either moans, or joins in to flog itself either into line or into emotional deadness and acceptance.

So, I thought over a few things that have happened in the past few weeks. First, closer home, the jackboot fell on newspapers. The first day it happened, the media practitioners complained, but thought it was an act of emotional overreach. It was nothing really official, and in a democracy such an anomaly could not be attempted. Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, being a democrat, who rode to power on the back of the press, could not smother them. But the process persisted, and the newspapers, the major ones except the one they called their beloved, were waylaid by soldiers. It became so persistent that editorial after editorial fulminated.

At last, the presidential mouthpiece, Chief Doyin Okupe, came out and said, yes, the government knew about it, and we had to live with it as a necessity. Okupe, whose ungainly voice with warped logic has become a staple of Jonathan’s presidency, did not feel any shame at such a reckless outpouring in the name of security. He knew

RIPPLES NIGERIA HAS NO BUSINESS IMPORTING RICE-Cleric

SAM OMATSEYE

IN TOUCH

intouchnation@gmail.com 08054501081(sms only) Twitter: @samomatseye

The new alliance

‘

The question for us to ponder is whether we have an army with a state or a state with an army? An army with a state is one where the soldiers are in charge but could act as though they run a civil society. A state without an army refers to a system where civilians are in charge with soldiers as tools •Amaechi

he lied to the world that President Jonathan did not know about it. So if the president did not know about it, was he a presidential spokesperson without the president? Is he saying, as Shakespeare noted in Hamlet, that the presidency has vacated the president? The throne has left the king? He could not actually say he was doing the job of a presidential spokesman. A presidential spokesman speaks for the president, so how could he say he was speaking for the presidency and yet the president did not know about what he was speaking about? It is like a lip without a mouth, a mouth without a head. He was not fooling anybody. It means the president does not get daily security reports, does not dialogue with or instruct his spokesperson. If that is the case, the president and spokesperson must be the weirdest duo in any democracy or government.

’

The logic had no rhythm. They thought Boko Haram was going to convey subversive materials in Hilux vans and so newspapers used Hilux vans. So, stop newspapers from circulating. If they suspected Hilux vans, all they should have done was search and let the vehicle go. It did not call for impounding the vans.

The other instance was the announcement of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the emir of Kano. Some APC chieftains visited the place after his election, and there was an order that the plane carrying the governors to Abuja be barred from flying. Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and a few other governors had to drive that night to Abuja.

Not done, the palace on orders from the Inspector-General of Police was surrounded by the police. The new emir was compelled to operate in a geographic anomaly: in the State House. They profaned the house of

HARDBALL

T

•••and do we have any business IMPORTING FUEL?

AKE a casual look at the Lagos traffic — or at traffic in any Nigerian bustling city or town for that matter — and you might just glimpse the metaphor for the country: disorganised people, directionless leaders.

Watch that danfo or taxi cab that darted out of its legit lane and heads against traffic, honking and blaring all of the way. Then with equal drama and flourish, it veers back into the legit lane, after gaining some 100 or 200 metres.

Normally you’d expect the traffic police or any agent of the law to apprehend him. Besides, you’d expect drivers on the legit lane would at least block the cheat, if only to teach the morals that cheating does not pay. What, however, do you find?

The danfo driver makes a triumphal entry, with people in the right lane sheepishly giving way. Even while zooming on the wrong lane, the traffic warden, if any, happily cuts a deal and waves the rascal on to more future mischief. The public looks on helplessly — and everyone chokes happily ever after!

But that is even the literal picture. The symbolic picture is more telling.

Traffic as metaphor For starters, with due respect to the decent infinitesimal number among this wild breed, danfo drivers behave — and proudly — as the worst crust in society. They know it. The society too knows as it rewards them with scorn. Yet, they reserve the right to boss the very best on the road, with dire risk of vehicular or even bodily damage to their betters.

That is a sound metaphor for Nigeria’s governance. As a rule, only the very worst are good enough for high office: the cretin, the megalomaniac, the conceited. Yet, the society suffers them gladly, so much so that there is hardly any sense of wrong or right. The leaders throw down anything; and the people just lap it up with obsequious love.

As the danfo driver recklessly dashes to and fro in the traffic, daring his betters by all standards to do their worst, so do temporary oc-

the people with armed men.

The third incident happened last Thursday. Two governors, Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and Governor Amaechi, were not allowed to attend the rally. The Edo State governor had arrived the airport. The security persons said there were orders to stop him from travelling. He said he did not want to cause a scene, so he returned. Governor Amaechi had arrived in Akure, but he was barred from travelling by road through Ondo State to Ekiti. So both were barred from going through town. Yet, a minister in Jonathan’s cabinet, Musiliu Obanikoro, was granted free passage, while Governor Amaechi and his entourage looked on. In fact, Governor Amaechi said the soldiers pointed guns at him and even threatened to shoot him. This is a grave allegation.

But we are increasingly turning into a country without emotion. No outrage has been expressed over this. But this is tyranny, and we are looking impotently while the nation goes to hell in a train.

We are experiencing what we have never seen before in our history, and that is cooperation between the civil authority and the military. Governor Amaechi calls it diarchy. We had this debate in the 1970’s in this country, which men like the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe espoused. They sought a more delicate, rarified system of democratic friction with rules of engagement. But what we have is not diarchy, it is the use of the military by the civilians, or vice versa.

More brutally, the civilians are subtle about their involvement. They know that the armed forces can read their body language, and so they have given them full latitude to perform on their behalf. If the soldiers overreach, they don’t stop them. So the soldiers also do theirs and wait for the Doyin Okupes to endorse them.

That is tyranny, Jonathan style. In the Germany of the 19th century, it was argued that they had an army with a state. The question for us to ponder is whether we have an army with a state or a state with an army? An army with a state is one where the soldiers are in charge but could act as though they run a civil society. A state without an army refers to a system where civilians are in charge with soldiers as tools.

In a society where soldiers have been part of our lives for over a generation, we find it difficult to distinguish between the civilian politician with martial virtue or a soldier with civilian bona fides.

So, we have the modern day version of indirect rule. Jonathan is taking full advantage, and capsizing our democratic virtues.

The civilians are in power but they allow the police and soldiers to take charge on their behalf.

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above cupiers of office dare the people, their supposed masters, to go jump into a lake. The popular word is impunity. Sure, a carry-over from the military era, but the civil-rule-era version is germinating fast and taking firm roots, despite the pretence at democracy.

As for the traffic warden schmoozing with traffic criminals, so has the order of the Nigerian state made its peace, for a huge and hefty bribe, with the few but loud felons, leaving the generality of the people numb and helpless.

Worst still, the skewed morality appears to have weaned the people of their supposed outrage and condemned them to subversive thoughts of “joining them” if you can’t “beat them”. Of course, a value-neuter society is doomed; just as a value-neuter state faces eventual decay and extinction.

The buzz words: a failing and failed state.

How about this for a ruthless clincher?

Abuja is Nigeria’s glittering federal capital.

But A-bu-ja, given a certain tonal bent in Yoruba, simply means (illicit) short-cut.

That is what traffic in Nigeria is all about — and that is the overweening symbol of contemporary Nigeria as it stumbles along.

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