The Nation June 23, 2015

Newspaper of the Year

•16 million Nigerians displaced last year, says Fed Govt P6 •Buhari orders removal of military checkpoints P4 •Eight killed in Borno as girl suicide bombers strike P4 •Alleged N25.7b theft: Court frees Atuche, two others P6 •Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 10, NO. 3254 TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

Kashamu misled court, says AGF NEWS

Page 58

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•INSIDE: EQUITIES RECORD MODEST RECOVERY AMID BARGAIN-HUNTING P54

APC backs Lawan, Akume, Gbajabiamila for top posts Why Ekweremadu should go, by Unity Forum From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

A

LL Progressives Congress (APC) leaders are backing Ahmed Lawan, Femi Gbajabiamila, George Akume and five others as principal officers of the National Assembly, The Nation learnt last night.

The party has adopted the lists submitted to it by The Unity Forum (Senate) and The Loyalists (House of Representatives) to heal the wounds and reconcile all after the June 9 controversial elections.

This has put pressure on Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

It was learnt that more than 12 members of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) supported the candidates recommended by The Unity Forum and The Loyalists.

Those recommended by the party as principal officers in the Senate are Lawan(Majority Leader); Prof. Sola Adeyeye( Chief Whip); Sen. George Akume( Deputy Majority Leader); and Sen. Abu Ibrahim(Deputy Chief Whip).

The list for the House of Representatives has Gbajabiamila( House Leader); Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa( Deputy House Leader); M. T. Monguno(Chief Whip) and Hon. Pally Iriase (Deputy Chief Whip).

A source said: "Most members of the NWC and leaders of the APC are fully in support of the lists from the Unity Forum and The Loyalists. We need to heal wounds and move forward.

"It will only be fair and just if the aggrieved legislators are allowed to choose among themselves the principal officers.”

The leaderships of the two groups generated lists which they sent to the APC National Continued on page 61

THE APC LISTS SENATE •Ahmed Lawan (Majority Leader) •Sola Adeyeye (Chief Whip) •George Akume (Dep. Leader) •Abu Ibrahim (Dep. Chief Whip) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

•Gbajabiamila (House Leader) •Alhassan Ado Doguwa (Dep. Leader) •M. T. Monguno (Chief Whip) •Hon. Pally Iriase (Dep. Chief Whip)

•PUTTING HIS HAND TO THE PL OUGH: President Buhari …yesterday.

PLOUGH:

PHOTO: STATE HOUSE

Buhari: treasury virtually empty N

IGERIA is broke. The treasury is virtually empty, President Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday – his first at the Aso Villa since his assumption of power on May 29.

Besides huge foreign debts, there are unpaid workers’ salaries. This, to Buhari, is a “disgrace”.

Buhari was speaking at a meeting with State House correspondents at the Villa.

He said: “I hope we are starting and this culture developed, of 100 days, is bringing so much pressure, with treasury virtually empty, with debts in millions of dollars, with state workers and even federal workers not paid their salaries.

It is such a disgrace for Nigeria. I

‘

I hope we are starting and this culture ... of 100 days is bringing so much pressure, with treasury virtually empty, with debts in millions of dollars, with state workers and even federal workers not paid their salaries. It is such a disgrace for Nigeria. I think Nigeria should be in a position to even pay its workers From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

think Nigeria should be in a position to pay its workers. This bad management that we find ourselves in, we really need your help to protect us from people before

’

they match on us.”

The chairman of Buhari’s Transition Committee, Alhaji Ahmed Joda, said in an interview published

by Sunday Trust that former President Goodluck Jonathan’s admin-

istration left a debt of N7 trillion.

“We were told at the beginning of the exercise that the government was in deficit of at least N1.3 trillion and by the end people were talking of about N7 trillion; everything is in a mess and these things have to be fixed,” Joda was quoted as saying.

Vice President Yemi Osinbanjo said before the inauguration of the government that it would inherit a debt of $63 billion.

But former Finance Minister and Coordinating Minster for the Economy Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said the Jonathan administration had a debt of $21.8 billion.

She said the $63.7 billion OsinContinued on page 4

•PROPERTY P16 •TRANSPORTATION P18 •SPORTS P23 •POLITICS P45 •ENERGY P51 •FOREIGN P60

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Page 8

NEWS Page 9

•‘They were employed through back door’

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VOL. 10, NO. 3254 TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

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APC backs Lawan, Akume, Gbajabiamila for top posts Why Ekweremadu should go, by Unity Forum From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

A

LL Progressives Congress (APC) leaders are backing Ahmed Lawan, Femi Gbajabiamila, George Akume and five others as principal officers of the National Assembly, The Nation learnt last night.

The party has adopted the lists submitted to it by The Unity Forum (Senate) and The Loyalists (House of Representatives) to heal the wounds and reconcile all after the June 9 controversial elections.

This has put pressure on Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

It was learnt that more than 12 members of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) supported the candidates recommended by The Unity Forum and The Loyalists.

Those recommended by the party as principal officers in the Senate are Lawan(Majority Leader); Prof. Sola Adeyeye( Chief Whip); Sen. George Akume( Deputy Majority Leader); and Sen. Abu Ibrahim(Deputy Chief Whip).

The list for the House of Representatives has Gbajabiamila( House Leader); Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa( Deputy House Leader); M. T. Monguno(Chief Whip) and Hon. Pally Iriase (Deputy Chief Whip).

A source said: "Most members of the NWC and leaders of the APC are fully in support of the lists from the Unity Forum and The Loyalists. We need to heal wounds and move forward.

"It will only be fair and just if the aggrieved legislators are allowed to choose among themselves the principal officers.”

The leaderships of the two groups generated lists which they sent to the APC National Continued on page 61

THE APC LISTS SENATE •Ahmed Lawan (Majority Leader) •Sola Adeyeye (Chief Whip) •George Akume (Dep. Leader) •Abu Ibrahim (Dep. Chief Whip) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

•Gbajabiamila (House Leader) •Alhassan Ado Doguwa (Dep. Leader) •M. T. Monguno (Chief Whip) •Hon. Pally Iriase (Dep. Chief Whip)

•PUTTING HIS HAND TO THE PL OUGH: President Buhari …yesterday.

PLOUGH:

PHOTO: STATE HOUSE

Buhari: treasury virtually empty N

IGERIA is broke. The treasury is virtually empty, President Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday – his first at the Aso Villa since his assumption of power on May 29.

Besides huge foreign debts, there are unpaid workers’ salaries. This, to Buhari, is a “disgrace”.

Buhari was speaking at a meeting with State House correspondents at the Villa.

He said: “I hope we are starting and this culture developed, of 100 days, is bringing so much pressure, with treasury virtually empty, with debts in millions of dollars, with state workers and even federal workers not paid their salaries.

It is such a disgrace for Nigeria. I

‘

I hope we are starting and this culture ... of 100 days is bringing so much pressure, with treasury virtually empty, with debts in millions of dollars, with state workers and even federal workers not paid their salaries. It is such a disgrace for Nigeria. I think Nigeria should be in a position to even pay its workers From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

think Nigeria should be in a position to pay its workers. This bad management that we find ourselves in, we really need your help to protect us from people before

’

they match on us.”

The chairman of Buhari’s Transition Committee, Alhaji Ahmed Joda, said in an interview published

by Sunday Trust that former President Goodluck Jonathan’s admin-

istration left a debt of N7 trillion.

“We were told at the beginning of the exercise that the government was in deficit of at least N1.3 trillion and by the end people were talking of about N7 trillion; everything is in a mess and these things have to be fixed,” Joda was quoted as saying.

Vice President Yemi Osinbanjo said before the inauguration of the government that it would inherit a debt of $63 billion.

But former Finance Minister and Coordinating Minster for the Economy Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said the Jonathan administration had a debt of $21.8 billion.

She said the $63.7 billion OsinContinued on page 4

•WE SPENT N242B TO SERVICE EX-GOVERNOR SYLVA’S DEBT, SAYS DICKSON P9

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

2

NEWS

Petroleum I

•From left: Former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi; Secretary to Lagos State Government (SSG) Tunji Bello; Snr. Pastor, Trinity House, Ituah Ighodalo and Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Nonny Ugboma at the opening of a three-day International Conference on Disabilities on Victoria Island, Lagos...yesterday.

Given the far-reaching reforms it will bring to the lifeblood of the economy the petroleum industry - the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is arguably the most talked-about legislation in the country.

Yet, the bill could not leave the legislative oven since December 2008. But, the Eighth National Assembly has promised to give it another shot. Assistant Editors ONYEDI OJIABOR and VICTOR OLUWASEGUN chronicle why the Sixth and Eighth Assembly could not see the bill through.

A

•From right: Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Muhtar Usman; Chief Implementation Planning & Support, (Safety Section), International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Mr. Michiel Vreedenburgh; Medical Director, Airport Port Health & Medical Services, Dr. Morenike Alex-Okoh and Leader, Inter-Country Support Team for Eastern & Southern Africa, World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Harry Opata at a collaborative arrangement for the prevention/ management of public health in civil aviation at NCAA Annex, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE.

•Managing Director/Chief Executive, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim (left) with Hon. Justice Binta Murtala Nyako at a one-day sensitisation seminar on Deposit Insurance System organised by the Corporation for Federal and State High Court judges in Abuja.

•From left: Project Engineer, Ministry of Water Resources, Dahiru Abdulkareem; Task Team Leader, World Bank, Hassan Kilda; National MIS Consultant with the World Bank-Assisted Project, Mr. Micheal Ale and Institutional Development Expert on World Bank-Assisted Project, Hossan Danjan at a national workshop on Monitoring and Evaluation Protocols for Data Collection organised by the European Union in Jos, Plateau State.

FTER tossing it forth and back for eight years without getting it through the legislative process, the National Assembly is to revisit the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). Many wonder what a complacent Senate and a grandstanding House of Representatives did to the PIB between 2008 and 2015 For what could best be described as parochial and selfish interests, the Sixth and Seventh National Assembly failed to see the Bill through, even after scaling the second reading in both chambers of the National Assembly.

The bi-cameral legislative house attempted to fly with a wing, when on June 4, a day before the Seventh Assembly wrapped up its session, the Green Chamber passed the PIB. Without the Red Chamber’s concurrence, the passage of the PIB by members of the House of Representatives was of no effect, null and void.

Senate President Bukola Saraki has hinted of plans to reintroduce the PIB for fresh consideration. Saraki was part of the Seventh National Assembly that passed a flurry of bills on June 3 and curiously, the PIB was missing on the list of 46 bills that were passed in a jiffy.

In his valedictory speech, Saraki’s predecessor, Senator David Mark, who presided over the Sixth and Seventh Assembly, lamented the nonpassage of the PIB. He admitted that the upper chamber could not meet all the targets that it set for itself. “….as much as we tried, we did not meet all the targets we set for ourselves. For instance, we were not able to pass the PIB and our constitutional amendment is stalled,” Mark said in the farewell message.

The PIB began its journey to the National Assembly in 2008 when the late President Umaru Yar’Aduait forwarded it as an Executive Bill for consideration.

It has been designed by its promoters as a regulatory framework to improve the petroleum industry with the introduction of transparency and accountability.

With transparency and accountability provisions, the presidency believed the country’s oil sector environment will be sanitised and play its role as the lifeblood of the economy.

But, the PIB has been in limbo for eight years with the original 2008 Presidency submission (HB 159), another submission in 2010 by the Federal Inter-Agency Team, and what had been dubbed, “the weakened 2011 Senate version” of the bill (SB 236).

Stormy beginning Geopolitical and ethnic divide,

bickering and suspicion, have been the bill’s undoing. Senators and House of Representatives members from the southern part of the country wanted the bill passed expeditiously but, majority of their northern colleagues viewed the document as offensive and one aimed at appropriating more funds to oil-bearing communities.

Some northern lawmakers opposed to the PIB did not only ask what benefits were in it for their constituents. They believed the bill was initiated for the sole benefit of oil-producing states, which they believed, were having more than a fair share of the national cake.

Analysts have described the PIB as the only way to fully maximise the benefits accruable in the oil and gas sector.

Going by the contents of the PIB as proposed by the presidency in December 2008 and represented on July 18, 2012, a conducive environment would have been created for petroleum operations and it would have enhanced exploration and exploitation of petroleum resources for the benefit of Nigerians.

Ahead of today’s resumption of the National Assembly, Saraki has assured that the Eighth Assembly will accord the PIB priority.

The ambitious oil and gas sector bill Those familiar with the oil and gas sector believe the PIB is an ambitious attempt to comprehensively reform the petroleum sector. The larger-thanlife image of the bill has stimulated extensive public discourse for and against.

The reason for the sweeping interest in the bill is simple – it is panacea to nation’s myriads of woes in the oil sector. Some see the PIB as a one-pillfixes-all kind of legislation that will take the nation to a financial Eldorado, smoothen all the rough edges, assuage the oil producing communities and provide a level playing field for stakeholders in the sector.

For a country that derives over 90 per cent of its earnings mainly from oil proceeds, the huge interest triggered by the PIB is quite understandable.

It is a combination of 16 local petroleum laws rolled into a single bill and designed to provide a transparent administration by substantially removing confidentiality, which in turn, breeds corruption in the system.

Some argue that the PIB will provide good governance in the oil and gas sector, streamline and strengthen petroleum administration, simplify the collection of government revenue, provide higher revenue from deep offshore oil production, encourage small field development and increase

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

3

NEWS

Industry Bill: So near, yet so far

•Saraki

activity through modern acreage management.

Besides, the bill will provide a new role for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) by changing it from a seemingly government department to a self-financing and a profit-oriented corporate entity. It will also create Incorporated Joint Ventures (IJV) to mitigate the shortage of funds and provide support for the National Oil Company (NOC) to finance new projects, especially new oil and gas field development in shallow and deep water.

The PIB also has a provision that only projects with a comprehensive Nigeria Content Plan (NCP) will be approved for implementation.

The implication of the NCP is that investors, amongst other factors, must not only hire Nigerians, they must also train and educate them.

“An investor must follow procurement guidelines to ensure local companies are factored in, and verify regularly the Nigerian Content Plan as well as be fully involved in Research and Development,” analysts said.

Unnecessary delay Despite its importance to the nation’s financial health, the Sixth and Seventh National Assembly could not pass the PIB into law.

Stakeholders put the blame on the doorstep of the Seventh National Assembly, where buck-passing was the order of the day.

While the Seventh Senate merely sniffed at it and allowed the document to gather dusts on the shelf after its joint committee on Petroleum (Up and Down Stream) submitted its report on the bill, the Seventh House of Representatives went a step further to raise a 23-member ad-hoc Committee on the bill under the chairmanship of the then Chief Whip, Mohammed Isiaka Bawa.

After a two-year hiatus, the report resurfaced in the twilight of the House session and its members passed it in a controversial circumstance. Some said the action, on the eve of the expiration of their tenure, was just to fulfill all righteousness.

Not long after it was read on the floor of the Senate, allegations of bribery hit the upper chamber. Some Senators were taken on an all-expenses-paid trip to Ghana by the International Oil Companies (IOCs).

A lot of things allegedly happened in Ghana. There was an allegation that the trip was organised to induce the senators to either jettison the PIB, or to considerably water down its contents.

The ‘Distinguished’ senators preferred the latter, which apparently gave rise to the weakened version of

•Dogara

•Tambuwal

•Mark

•The late Yar’Adua

‘

We (Representatives) don’t give credence to rumours. The PIB is a very sensitive legislation. A number of issues have come up with political and zonal connotations, there are no unseen hands stalling the presentation of the PIB report.

WHAT PIB WILL DO

• • • •

Create a conducive business environment for petroleum operations.

Enhance exploration and exploitation of petroleum resources for the benefit of Nigerians.

Optimise domestic gas supplies, particularly for power generation and industrial development.

Establish a progressive fiscal framework that encourages further investment in the petroleum industry while optimising

the PIB being allegedly smuggled into the National Assembly. The senators denied the allegation. They said the Ghana trip was in the best interestof the country. But the bill never saw the light of the day before they served out their term on June 5.

There was also another allegation that federal lawmakers were demanding for gratification to pass the PIB from the NNPC and its parent petroleum ministry.

Leo Ogor, the former House of Representatives Deputy Majority Leader denied the allegation.

He said: “I’m not aware that anybody is asking anybody for a dime.

You don’t need anybody to give you a dime to do your job.

“Our oath of allegiance is to the Constitution of Nigeria, vis-à-vis the fact that we are lawmakers. So, if somebody is going to be asking for money before doing his own job, then that is an aberration. I doubt it sincerely. I hope it’s not some kind of cheap blackmail.”

On October 16, 2014, the then spokesman of the 7th House, Zakari Mohammed countered the PIB cashfor-passage allegation. He debunked claims that “unseen hands” were dishing out money to make the presentation of the PIB report impossible.

His words: “We (Representatives) don’t give credence to rumours. The PIB is a very sensitive legislation. A number of issues have come up with

• • • •

‘

revenues accruing to the government.

Deregulate and liberalise the downstream sector Create efficient and effective regulatory agencies.

Promote transparency and openness in the administration of the petroleum resources.

Promote the development of Nigerian Content in the petroleum industry.

Establish commercially-oriented and profitdriven oil and gas entities.

political and zonal connotations, there are no unseen hands stalling the presentation of the PIB report.

“The PIB is ready and it is just a matter of presentation. The PIB will change the workings of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and also generate employment.”

Mohammed’s insistence that the report of the ad-hoc committee was ready for presentation notwithstanding, it took the House more than seven months to revisit the bill for debate.

After waiting endlessly, former Speaker Aminu Tambuwal had at plenary, gave the Bawa-led committee a 21-day ultimatum to complete work on the piece of legislation and submit its report. The ultimatum failed to make the committee submit its work.

Agitated Nigerians wonder why it took the House ad-hoc panel so long to put up a report after conducting regional public hearings held in all the geo-political zones across the country and another technical committee raised by Tambuwal.

The passage of the bill by the two chambers was further hampered by contentious clauses in the bill, which divided the lawmakers along geopolitical and ethnic lines.

Most of them felt clauses were not beneficial to their zones. Heated debates on the floor of the two chambers, more often than not, forced long

adjournments.

For instance, southern and northern lawmakers were at variance over what percentage of national funds should go to certain projects in their areas.

The 10 per cent Petroleum Host Community Fund provision was so contentious that lawmakers from the north dubbed it creation of another Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The contentious Clause 127(1) of the document states that: “Each Up stream Petroleum Company shall remit on monthly basis 10 per cent of their net profit to the host community while Clause 126(1) states that the fund is to be “utilised for the development of the economic and social infrastructure of the communities within the petroleum producing communities.”

Northern members of the National Assembly opposed the two provisions and sought for their deletion.

For them, the provision of infrastructure in the oil-bearing communities was already provided for in the NDDC Act.

Nigerians as unwilling casualties For as long as the delay in the passage of the PIB drags on, Nigerians are continually stripped of benefits that would have accrued to them through a more vibrant petroleum

sector.

Stakeholders like oil-bearing communities, local investors and the Federal Government are all missing out due to the non-passage of the bill.

The PIB Local Infrastructural Development and Maintenance Guidelines mandates oil and gas companies to, of a necessity, consult with host communities in the development infrastructure.

Besides, oil and gas companies are also directed to ensure the provision of skill acquisition and training programmes and educational support for their hosts.

The purpose is to give the communities a sense of belonging and not excluded from employment opportunities in the oil and gas sector as they would have acquired the technological-know-how to function maximally in the operational segment of the companies domiciled in their communities.

Fifth columnists Who benefits most from the nonpassage of the PIB? Who is afraid of the passage of PIB? Why are the IOCs and some multi-national companies against the bill?

To the IOCs, the fear of the provision of a new tax regime in the PIB is the beginning of wisdom.

The IOCs feel that the new regime will force them to pay extra both to the host communities and the Federal Government. They feel that will raise their production cost. The IOCs are also opposed to some aspects of the Local Content provisions.

Expectations from the Eighth Assembly The assurance by Senator Saraki when he hosted a coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on June 15, that the new Assembly will treat the PIB with dispatch, has given a glimmer of hope.

During the visit to the Senate President and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara, the CSOs underscored the need for Saraki and Dogara to ensure the passage of the PIB. Both leaders of the chambers gave their commitments. But, only time will tell how far such commitments will go. One fact that is indisputable is that the country is losing huge revenues to the non-passage of the PIB. The illicit and unwholesome practices in the oil and gas sector of the country’s economy can beciome a thing of the past only if and when the loopholes in the oil and gas sector are blocked. The PIB - if passed - remains the only pill to heal the oil and gas sector.

4

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

NEWS Senate principal officers to emerge this week

Buhari: treasury empty

A

Continued from page 1

bajo alluded to included loans taken by governments since 1960.

On his appointment of Femi Adesina, Buhari said: “It is not by accident that I got the best of you to be the special adviser, one of the 15 aides I had to get clearance from the Senate to appoint. He is one of the best presidents of the Guild of Editors that I can have as special adviser. I brought one of the best of you so that he can consistently defend me against you.

“Whether my job is a difficult one or easy is up to him, but I’m here to thank you in advance for what good and ill you are going to do to me.

“I have to quickly come and see you and welcome you to this place. I hope what happened of recent between the former president and one of you will not happen between me and you.”

Spotting a white Babanriga and white cap to match, President Buhari resumed duties for the first time in his office inside the Presidential Villa.

•Vice President Yemi Osinbajo going through files after assuming office at the Presidential Villa in Abuja…yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Since May 29, Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo have used the Defence House, Abuja as their offices to allow renovation at the Villa.

It was not immediately clear excatly when Buhari came into the expansive office as the trekable distance between his official residence and office is

not within journalists’ view.

Besides, the list of visitors to the seat of power was unknown as reporters were not allowed to enter the President’s Office.

But photographers and television cameramen had a field day, clicking away before some of the meetings started.

Osinbajo, who arrived at the Vice President’s wing of the Presidential Villa around 9.07 a.m, after spending a few minutes in his office, walked up to Buhari’s office.

He acknowledged greetings from workers who trooped out from their offices to catch a Continued on page 61

Eight killed in Maiduguri explosions

P

N

•The blast scene...yesterday

From Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

should play a major role in the selection of the remaining principal officers of the Senate or it should be the responsibility of the party caucus in the upper chamber “has been substantially settled at a meeting in Abuja today (yesterday),” according to a source.

He noted that “it is obvious that the handlers of the APC do not want further crack in the party; they are searching for lasting peace in the party in the interest of the party and the country at large.”

It was learnt that Senator James Manager (Delta South) Senator Joshua Dariye (Plateau Central) and Senator Joshua Lidani (Gombe South), may have been tipped to lead the PDP in the Senate.

Former Senate President David Mark was said to have turned down the slot of Minority Leader.

After the conclusion of the appointment of principal officers, President Muhammadu Buhari is likely to submit the list of his ministerial nominees to the senate this week for consideration and approval.

President orders removal of military check points RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the immediate removal of military check points across the country.

Police are now to take charge of the internal security.

The decision was taken at the meeting the president had with military chiefs at the State House yesterday.

It was the first major meeting the president had on his first day at work at the Presidential Villa, which he moved into on Sunday, 23 days after he was sworn into office.

He operated from the Defence House which he used as the president-elect.

Ministry of Defence Permanent Secretary Alhaji Ismail Aliyu, spoke to reporters after about five hours defence briefing.

He said the Boko Haram insurgency will soon be over.

From Duku Joel, Maiduguri

O fewer than eight people died in two explosions in Maiduguri yesterday, eyewitnesses said.

The explosions which were targeted at the densely populated Baga Fish Market in the Borno State capital, however did not occur in the heart of the market.

A source told our correspondent on telephone that the first explosion went off at about 3.30pm near the office of the Borno State Fish Sellers Association at the entrance to the market when the Asr prayer was in progress. The other explosion occurred near BEWAC company on Baga road.

They were believed to have been carried out by female suicide bombers.

An eye witnesse, Mallam Hassan Ibrahim, whose shop is near the blast scene said he counted seven bodies at the spot. Many people were injured.

He said: “When people were praying the suicide bomber detonated the IEDs near the office of the Fish Sellers.

“We rushed to the scene because my shop is near the area. I counted seven bodies.

Many others were shouting in pains.

Two ambulance cars came to evacuate the victims to the hospital. I cannot tell you exactly which hospital they were taken to. It was a terrible sight to behold,” Ibrahim said.

There were however conflicting reports as to whether it was a suicide bomb attack or otherwise.

Tanimu Saliu, a members of civilian JTF, said the bomb was planted and not a suicide bombing as claimed. He

FTER a two week recess, the Senate will resume today to select its principal officers.

The positions are Senate Leader, Deputy Senate Leader, Chief Whip, Deputy Chief Whip and Minority Leader.

The majority All Progressives Congress (APC) will produce the Senate Leader, Deputy Senate Leader, Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which is the minority party, will produce the Minority Leader, Deputy Minority Leader, Minority Whip and Deputy Minority Whip.

It was learnt that the APC caucus and PDP caucus in the Senate met separately for hours in Abuja yesterday to finalise agreement on those to occupy the positions.

The controversial emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki (Kwara Central) and Senator Ike Ekweremadu (Enugu West) as Senate President and Deputy Senate President is a big lesson to the caucuses.

Our correspondent learnt that the disagreement over whether the APC leadership

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

According to him, the Lake Chad Basin Commission nations have fashioned a new strategy to tackle insecurity.

He said: “The President has instructed the Chief of Defence Staff to get the Chief of Army Staff and Inspector General of Police to remove all the military men along the road across the country.

“The Nigerian Armed Forces are very ready, we have briefed him. One most interesting thing about it is that we are going out much happier because he has shown to us that he is still a soldier, he has updated and enriched our strategic plans.

“Second item that was discussed is the movement of the command centre to the NorthEast. We have briefed him (president) on how far we have reached on that and Continued on page 61

PDP governors stategise ahead of meeting with Buhari

G

•Some of the victims being assisted at the hospital...yesterday said: “Another IEDs exploded at BEWAC where it killed the suicide bomber alone.”

A source who does not want his name mentioned told our correspondent on telephone that the blast

killed a senior member of his church with his son who were at Baga Market to buy foodstuff for the family.

OVERNORS elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) met last night to fine tune strategy ahead of today's enlarged meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari over the prevailing cash crunch.

The meeting, which started shortly after 9 pm was still on as at the time of filing this report at 10.55 pm.

Although details of the meeting remained sketchy, sources close to the governors said they were seeking to harmonise their positions with their counterparts in the All Progressives Congress (APC).

At the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) last Wednesday, the governors resolved to demand payment for the various federal projects executed by the various states but the Federal Government was yet to pay.

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

Addressing reporters after the NGF meeting, Chairman of the Forum, Governor Abdulaziz Yari, said the state governments needed the money to enable them pay the backlog of salaries owed workers in their various states.

Yari said some of the states were being owed between N10 billion and N50 billion, adding that there would be no reason for the states to seek bailout from the Federal Government if they debts were paid.

This is coming in the backdrop of President Buhari's announcement on Monday that the last PDP administration left an empty treasury.

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NEWS

Huge wardrobe allowance for National Assembly members unnecessary, says Bakare S AVE Nigeria Group (SNG) founder Pastor Tunde Bakare has described as unnecessary the huge wardrobe allowance for National Assembly members.

He also called on Nigerians to give President Muhammadu Buhari time to assess what he met on ground to be able to make sound decisions to take the nation forward.

Pastor Bakare spoke with our correspondent on Sunday shortly before declaring the annual convention of the Glory Christian Centre, Lagos with the theme One thousand times more opened.

He said: “I believe they were wearing clothes before they came in. Were they naked before they got there?

Didn’t they have clothes in their wardrobes?

By Sunday Oguntola

“Where are the likes of Papa Ajasin, former Governor of Ondo state, who declared his asset and said the number of clothes he took to the State House was the same number he came out with?

“Will our lawmakers be on a fashion parade? All those things should be cut off.

“We have states that cannot pay salaries and they want to live fat at the expense of the masses. I believe that time will sort everything out.”

He confirmed he actually slumped while delivering a lecture during the Capital Investors dinner at the Eko Hotel and Suites on May 18, attributing the incident to

“dehydration that produced exhaustion.”

The outspoken preacher said: “Yes, it’s true for about three minutes I slumped but within a few minutes I walked into my car. And they carried out all examinations here and even in England and they found nothing other than dehydration that produced exhaustion. I am on two litres of water per day with adequate rest.

“I had been living on tea.

In 24 hours, they gave me seven drips. After that, I have been maintaining constant consumption of water.

“Any person in public glare should not lie about his health. That happened within three minutes and I thank God I bounced back. I made it because I still have

an assignment.”

The senior pastor of Latter Rain Assembly Ogba, Lagos urged Nigerians to give Buhari chance.

He said: “I think it is good to give the new government time to settle down and time to assess what they have inherited from the Jonathan’s government so that they can sit down and begin to put the Nigerian house in order.

And it’s good to give them time.”

On why key appointments into the new administration were taking time, he said: “That will take its time. Remember the president told the nation that he did not get the handover note until May 28.

“So, his transition committee didn’t have anything to

work with. Just a few days back, it handed over the report in 8,000 pages reduced to about 800 pages.

“It is when you have studied what was handed over to you that you begin to think of who to put where to help you.

“And I can assure you behind the scene, that a lot is going on in the engine room.”

He said the new faces of the current administration might start emerging before the end of June.

Affirming that Buhari will deliver on his promise to change the nation, the former Vice Presidential candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), added: “You have heard that we will have a

Court okays suit on access to political office holders’ pay

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EDERAL High Court in Abuja has okayed a suit on access to details of the salaries of political office holders.

The court faulted the report submitted to the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) by the Office of the Minister of Finance on the implementation and compliance with the Freedom of Information (FoI) requests.

Justice Abdulkadir Abdulkafarati, in a judgment yesterday, declared that “the purported report on implementation of the Freedom of Information Act for 2013 prepared and submitted to the Attorney General of the Federation does not satisfy the requirements of Section 29 (1) of the FOI Act.” Section 29 (1) provides that “on or before February 1 of each year, each public institution shall submit to the Attorney-General of the Federation a report which shall cover the preceding fiscal year.

The judgment was on a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/327/ 2014 filed by a group, the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), with the Minister of Finance as the respondent.

Justice Abdulkafarati also granted an order of mandamus compelling the Finance Minister to make available to the CSJ access to the reviewed Annual Implementation FOI Report for 2013 as submitted to the attorney general within

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja seven days.

The judge equally granted an order of mandamus compelling the Finance Minister “to prepare and submit to the AGF a 2013 Annual Implementation Report that is in line with Section 29 (1) of the Freedom of Information Act. Justice Abdulkafarati re-

jected the minister’s argument that the applicant lacked the locus standi to institute the action. He upheld the applicant’s argument that it had made out a case for the grant of its requests.

“The applicant has fulfilled all the requirements under the law. In the final analysis, I hold that the applicant having fulfilled all the require-

ments under the FOI Act for the prayers sought, the applicant’s reliefs are hereby granted,” the judge held.

The judge also granted leave to the CSJ to apply for an order of mandamus compelling the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to grant to the CSJ access to the details of salaries and

emoluments of political office holders as contained in parts A and B of the First Schedule of the RMAFC Act. Justice Abdulkafarati gave the order in a ruling on a separate suit by CSJ marked: FCH/ABJ/CS/357/2015, with RMAFC as the sole respondent.

Hearing in the case has been fixed for June 30.

•Parmanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Dr Jemila Shu'ara; Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Hajia Hadiza Kangiwa and representative of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Nigeria, Angele Dikongue-Atangana, at the commemoration of World Refugees Day in Abuja ... yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Nigerians in Zambia to Buhari: probe ambassador

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IGERIA’S Ambassador to Zambia, Mrs Umaru Sifawu Momoh, has come under attack from Nigerians living in the Southern Afican country.

The Nigerians, under the aegis of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), Zambia chapter, accused her of financial recklessness and abuse of office.

The group, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Mr Alaba Adetayo and Secretary, Mr Joseph Ibekwe, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to probe the ambassador who they described as a ‘national embarrassment to the country.

They expressed readiness to provide facts and figures if an investigation panel was

•Envoy: I’m innocent of allegations From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

set up by the President.

But, Mrs Momoh denied the allegations, claiming that it was pure blackmail.

She said: “I believe the group is being used by some elements to destroy my image. You know when you are a politician, some will want to find excuses to remove you from office and put someone there.

“The same Mr Adetayo, who is claiming to be the chairman of NIDO has been asked to resign by the Nigerian community in Zambia because he has been in this position for a long time. I can give you some numbers of Nigerians here to confirm.”

NIDO’s statement reads: “It is on record that she collected fifty thousand dollars from the accountant without accounting for it. She sank a bore hole with the sum of One hundred and eight thousand kwacha which is equivalent to $1650, something that cannot be more than $1500.

“She collected money to buy new tires but ended up claiming she bought second hands, which she did not even buy but came up with prices that were far more higher than the new ones.

This we consider as not being part of her duty. She claimed to have bought a car, while in reality she over inflated the price of one car

to buy two, the other she did sell. She uses incompetent contractors who do shoddy jobs with exorbitant cost because she never cares about a good job.”

The group also alleged that Mrs. Momoh used government money to fly more than 18 musicians to Nigeria for her daughter’s wedding.

But Mrs. Momoh said: “I am on salary and my daughter can marry anywhere anytime.

“How will I collect money from the accountant without making use of it judiciously? We have accountant and auditors at the commission to testify to these facts. The records are there. I did not sink any borehole and all these alle-

gations are new. I can only approve capital projects. I do not carry out capital projects on my own.”

NIDO accused her of banning its members from meeting at the embassy’s premises.

NIDO said: “She grudgingly paid after several weeks and then threatened to ban us from having our meetings at the Chancery Hall of the embassy; we made it known to her that it is not possible, that we have been there for more than twenty years. She later wrote to Abuja on the flimsy excuse that we were fighting.”

Mrs Momoh said she only stopped their meetings at the embassy due to security reasons.

•Pastor Bakare

lean, as against an over bloated government. All these things will take time.

You don’t do these things in a hurry.”

Asked if he will accept the offer of a ministerial appointment, the fiery preacher simply said: “I will cross that river when I get to the bridge.”

Harvard honours Kuku

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ORMER Special Adviser on Niger Delta and Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme Kingsley Kuku, is to be inducted as a member of Harvard University’s distinguished International Economic Alliance (IEA) tomorrow.

IEA is a non-partisan, independent non-profit organisation dedicated to furthering global trade, development, investment and advancing business relations among nations.

The induction ceremony will take place at the university in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the United States.

Kuku is expected to make a presentation to cover the topic “Global Peace Initiatives” before IEA members, university faculty members, private sector leaders and civil society groups.

A letter jointly signed by the former United States Ambassador to seven countries and Under-Secretary of State, Thomas R. Pickering, and the IEA Founding Director, Van McCormick, stated: “The format for the formal address will be a presentation on global peace initiatives and your personal experience working on such initiatives as a senior presidential advisor and as the former head of Nigeria’s federal government amnesty program.

“IEA will also present you with an official letter of induction into the International Economic Alliance membership consisting of distinguished members.”

•Kuku

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

6

NEWS Atilade cautions APC on National Assembly leadership crisis

By Adeola Ogunlade

C

HRISTIAN Association of Nigeria’s (Southwest) Chairman Archbishop Magnus Atilade yesterday cautioned the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership to be careful in managing the National Assembly post-inauguration crisis to prevent disunity.

Atilade spoke in Lagos at a news conference organised by Coalition of Christian Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Christian Welfare Initiative.

He said: “The crisis is not good for APC, Nigeria and our reputation in the eyes of the world. It seems as if we can’t organise ourselves and take care of our business. It should be properly managed.”

The cleric added that efforts should be made to reconcile the factions in the National Assembly and forge a unified position.

Atilade noted that although individuals contest for elective positions, but the party on the platform of which they were elected often times receive criticisms for the wrong done.

He urged politicians to respect and work with the party to achieve the desired change.

Atilade called for training for elected representatives on good governance and virtues to facilitate better performance

‘Ekweremadu’s emergence bad for democracy’

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ROGRESSIVES Solidarity Forum (PSF), a pressure group within the All Progressives Congress (APC), has faulted the claim that Senator Ike Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President would strengthen democracy.

Speaking in Lagos during the inauguration of the acting executive of the Lagos chapter of the group, its Director of Media and Publicity, Hajia Rekiya Sanni, said the group was against Ekweremadu’s emergence.

“Bringing Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President in the upper chamber cannot strengthen democracy in the legislative arm. This is like bringing back the same Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that has destroyed the country in the last 16 years.

“Nigerians took a courageous step to sweep out the PDP by voting them out, only for a ‘cabal of a click’ to bring them back through a back door. This would not be acceptable in any civilised democratic setting.

“This is not the change that

A

Nigerians voted for; the change Nigerians voted for is a complete departure from the old ways of doing things,” Hajia Sanni said.

Having Saraki and Ekweremadu as Senate President and Deputy Senate President, according to her, would amount to returning to status quo.

She advised the APC to convene a leadership meeting to discuss and give directions to Nigerians to deliver election promises. “The APC should not give excuses to Nigerians for non-performance of the mandate given to them as a result of not been able to pass the executive bills.”

The Grand Patron of PSF, Dr. Ibrahim Emokpaire described the election of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as a blessing to Nigeria, saying it is a combination of “brains and brawn; vision and purpose; the political will and intellectual capacity to surmount the myriads of challenges facing our country today.”

16m Nigerians displaced last A year, says Fed Govt BOUT 16 million people, many of them children, were displaced last year, Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs Permanent Secretary Dr. Jamila Shu’ara said yesterday.

Dr. Shu’ara, who gave the figure at an event marking this year’s World Refugee Day in Abuja, said it might triple this year, if urgent steps were not taken to stop insurgency.

With about 47,000 persons displaced daily, she said: “The issue of refugees and displaced persons has become a major concern globally because of the negative effects on humanity.”

Dr. Shu’ara said her office was collaborating with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other stakeholders to provide succour for

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

Speaking on the theme of this year’s celebration: “Ordinary people living through extraordinary times”, she said it was appropriate for the country to encourage the younger generations to respect other people’s opinion and embrace peace and dialogue.

The Federal Commissioner for Refugees in the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and IDPs, Hadiza Kangiwa Sani, said because of the security challenge in the Northeast, hundreds of Nigerians now prefer to seek

asylum in neighbouring countries.

“We all have a moral obligation and responsibility to lend a helping hand to people, who want to flee as a result of conflict.

“The government is firmly committed to these principles while also seeking lasting and durable solutions to the challenge “Domestically, we are committed to offering protection to genuine refugees and to also strengthen our international commitments and humanitarian traditions.

“The Federal Government appreciates the support and assistance of all United Nations

(UN) agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), civil society organisations (CSOs) and other development partners towards their prompts intervention, protection and assistance for persons of concern in Nigeria,” she said.

UNHCR Country Representative Mrs. Angele Dikongue Atangana said the agency is reinforcing its activities in support of IDPs in the Northeast through protection training, registration, profiling and conducting intention surveys forthe return of IDPS. She said the UNHCR would soon engage in psychosocial support for liberated IDPs.

NSCDC to deploy aircraft, drones for pipeline surveillance

•Abolurin

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IGERIA Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) is set to deploy about 500 drones and aircraft for “proper surveillance” of oil installations, its Commandant-General, Dr. Ade Abolurin, has said.

He spoke yesterday in Abuja at a meeting with senior offic-

ers of the Corps as part of efforts to strengthen its operational strategy.

Abolurin said the move was in line with the Buhari administration’s resolve to tackle oil theft headlong to boost economic revenue.

The NSCDC boss, who decried the spate of pipeline vandalism and oil theft, said the corps was working round the clock to stem the tide.

He said the corps was exploring ways to monitor and protect the pipelines, especially the use of technology and sophisticated gadgets to track down vandals.

“I can assure you that we are already exploring new approaches which will include

the massive deployment of technology as opposed to the outdated conventional approach you are use to,’’ he said.

Abolurin said some drones had already been deployed for test-run in Bayelsa State.

Officers of the corps anti-vandalism unit, according to him, had also undergone refresher training in line with international best practice to deal with the menace.

He said sabout 250 vandals had been directly arrested so far by the corps. Another 100 were arrested by other security agencies and handed over to NSCDC for prosecution. Thirty-five were convicted.

Abolurin said the corps had also stepped up its pro-

tection of other critical infrastructure such as power installation, telecommunication masts and equipment to ensure better service delivery.

The commandant-general called on the media, host communities and other stakeholders to cooperate with the NSCDC and other security agencies to tackle the challenge of oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

He said the recent promotion in the corps was transparent, adding that it followed due process.

NSCDC, he said, would continue to do its best to ensure the security of lives and property in line with its mandate.

‘97 per cent of Nigerians prone to malaria attack’

NON-governmental organisation, Malaria Action Programme for States (MAPS), has claimed that 97 per cent of Nigerians are prone to malaria attack.

A consultant with MAPS, Mr. Umar Garba, made this known in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, during a meeting with stakeholders on the importance of using treated mosquito nets.

He said four million of the 4.3 million people in Zamfara were at risk of contacting the disease.

Garba explained that 30 per cent of the state’s population was admitted to hospitals with malaria, which, he said, was on the rise among children and expectant mothers.

The programme consultant added that child and maternal mortality rate in the state was about 30 per cent and 11 per cent.

The malaria scourge, he added, resulted in the reduction of yearly Gross Domestic Programme (GDP) by one per cent.

MAPS, he said, was working in Zamfara to distribute 2.6 million treated mosquito nets, as part of efforts to stop malaria.

•From left: Managing Director-designate, Chams Plc Femi Williams; Primate, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion Rev. Nicholas Okoh; his wife Nkasiobi; Chams director Prof. Oladapo Afolabi, and Archbishop of Province of Lagos Rev. Prof. Adebayo Akinde, when the company delegation visited the primate in Lagos...yesterday.

Alleged N25.7 billion theft: Court frees Atuche, two others

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LAGOS High Court sitting in Ikeja yesterday struck out a N25.7 billion charge brought against a former Managing Director of the defunct Bank PHB, Francis Atuche, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC charged Atuche, his wife, Elizabeth, and the bank’s former Chief Financial Officer, Ugo Anyanwu, to court for allegedly stealing the money belonging to the bank.

Delivering judgment in the matter yesterday, the trial judge, Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo, discharged Atuche, Elizabeth and Anyanwu for lack of jurisdiction.

Justice Lawal-Akapo said the prosecution’s case lacked merit.

“I find no merit in the prosecution’s application, it is hereby dismissed.

The defendants’ application dated

By Adebisi Onanuga

November 27, 2013 succeeds and I hereby make the following orders: “The criminal charge in this suit is hereby struck out and the accused persons namely; Francis Atuche, Elizabeth Atuche and Ugo Anyawu are discharged. The complainant’s notice of plenary objection dated December 3, 2013, is hereby dismissed.”

Counsels to the defendants, Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN) and Sylvia Ogwemoh (SAN), had in separate applications, asked the court to quash the charge, citing the Court of Appeal judgment of November 21, 2013.

Idigbe and Ogwemoh had argued that the appellate court in the judgment struck out the similar theft charge preferred against a former Managing Director of Finbank Plc, Mr. Okey Nwosu and others for lack

of jurisdiction.ý Idigbe argued that Atuche’s application is challenging the jurisdiction of court, adding that if the court grant EFCC application, it would amount assuming jurisdiction on the matter.

He explained that the faith of his clients should not be tied to the Okey Nwosu’s judgment appeal at the Supreme Court and urged the court to dismiss the application.

Ogwemor, who is the counsel to the third defendant, Anyanwu, also made similar submission on behalf of his client.

The EFCC, in another application filed by its counsel, Deacon Dele Adesina (SAN) on March 2, 2015, asked the court to adjourn ruling on the application indefinitely, pending the outcome of the EFCC’s appeal against the judgment at the Supreme

Court.

The two defence counsels objected to the application filed by the EFCC. Justice Lawal-Akapo, in his ruling, upheld the submissions of the defence counsels and held that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the suit since they border on capital market issues.

“The allegation of purchase of shares and stocks is contained in 15 of the 27-count charge brought against the accused persons. The case falls squarely within the precinct of the decision of the Court of Appeal in Okey Nwosu as well as Erastus Akingbola’s case.

“The decision of the Court of Appeal becomes the extant law on the subject to the effect that any allegation of purchase of shares and stocks

in any manner or coloration falls within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court.

“The Federal High Court as opposed to the State High Court has jurisdiction pursuant to Section 211(d)(h) of the 1999 Constitution as amended,” Justice Lawal-Akapo said.

The court also held that it is bound by the decisions of a higher court.

He said: “However learned a lower court may consider itself to be, the lower court is bound by the decision of the higher court and this is based on the doctrine of stare decisis in the Nigerian legal system.

“Consequently, this court is bound by the decision of the Court of Appeal in the Federal Republic of Nigeria v Okey Nwosu and the Federal Republic of Nigeria v Erastus Akingbola.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

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NEWS

APC denies N4b ‘fraud’ allegation against Fayemi

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has denied the allegation that former Governor Kayode Fayemi diverted N4 billion state funds.

It described the allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as laughable and an attempt to divert attention from alleged reports that Fayose took N720 million as salary and allowances for his unfinished first term.

The PDP had, on Sunday, alleged that Fayemi diverted over N4 billion raised from workers’ deductions “for sharing from time to time in the APC secretariat in the four years that his administration lasted”.

The umbrella party claimed that the ‘deal’ was exposed during the workers’ verification exercise, claiming that it obtained the information from those ‘involved’.

The APC said the PDP alle-

•Party challenges Fayose to provide evidence or shut up From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

gation was an afterthought and wondered why it took the ruling party eight months to come out with its story.

It noted that Fayemi had challenged Fayose to probe him, if he (Fayose) had any evidence against him (Fayemi).

The party said Fayose and PDP’s resort to the “old practice of falsehood and blackmail” to divert Ekiti people’s attention from proven cases of sharp practices in governance won’t succeed.

The APC challenged the governor to explain the N720 million salary bazaar and N650 million deducted monthly into the purse of an “election contractor”.

In a statement yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, the party said the

latest allegation from the ruling party came because it (APC) had put the Fayose-led government on the spot on the governor’s temerity to award himself N720 million from his unfinished first term.

He challenged Fayose to provide evidence by approaching anti-graft agencies or shut up and stop insulting the sensibilities of Ekiti people with banal and unsubstantiated allegations.

Olatubosun said: “It is laughable that as much as N4billion was diverted and or embezzled by the Fayemi administration and Fayose is just knowing eight months after assumption of office, pretending that a kangaroo verification exercise had revealed this. This is better told to the marines!

“Fayemi had earlier offered his administration for

Former FUTA VC kidnapped in Akure

probe when Fayose started a similar campaign of calumny to cover up his tracks in financial mismanagement but the governor had no courage for such exercise because there was nothing to probe.

“Fayose is at it again in his usual funny game to divert Ekiti people’s attention from his sharp practices in governance. This is an afterthought that exposes his ignorance and confusion. If Fayose is sure of his facts, he should not waste time in taking his case to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“There is no deduction anywhere. It is not possible.

Even during the two years that federal allocations dwindled to N500 million, Fayemi was still paying salaries with governor-elect wrote to banks to stop it. So how was

any deduction and diversion possible under that situation?

“The biometric system was so transparent such that it did not allow ghost workers but since the PDP is now saying its government had detected 1,000 ghost workers, we are interested in unmasking the ghosts and we demand that the names of these ghosts be published,” he added.

The APC spokesman said the governor and his party should approach the EFCC with their claim, including the list of workers used to siphon funds.

He said Fayemi would be willing to defend his financial transactions.

The APC spokesman urged the governor to show his development blueprint and achievements eight months in the saddle instead of engaging in lies, mindless private comfort and encouraging indolence and crimes among youths.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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FORMER Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Prof.

Albert Adeoye Ilemobade, has been kidnapped.

The septuagenarian was reportedly abducted yesterday with his guard at his residence at Ijapo in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

A source said a maid discovered that the former VC was not in the house.

The abductors, who went with his car, abandoned it on Ijare Road, in Ifedore Local Government Area.

Family members, friends and acquaintances have besieged Ilemobade’s residence.

His abductors are yet to contact the family. Police spokesman Wole Ogodo said security operatives have begun investigation. Prof. Ilemobade was Vice-Chancellor between 1987 and 1995.

100 inmates graduate From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

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NE hundred inmates of Agodi Prisons Ibadan have been trained in Information Communication Technology (ICT) and other skills.

The inmates were trained in collaboration with Yommyfad Limited in partnership with Annabelle Iremide Foundation.

The initiative, according to the Chief Executive of Yommyfad Limited, Yomi Fadare, was launched in 2013 to allow the prisoners learn good skills.

Fadare said: “Operation empower the Inmates” would soon be extended to other prisons, where inmates would be trained in computer appreciation, computer engineering, tailoring, bead making and shoe making.”

Ayotunde Fatokun, founder of Annabelle Iremide Foundation, said with the support of individuals, they are keeping the vision alive.

“Prison inmates are abandoned and the least considered set of people in the society.

“However, life doesn’t end when you go to prison. You can still make the best out of life after incarceration.”

•Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun with the Head of Programmes, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Christian Widman, after the government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the organisation at the Governor's Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta...yesterday.

Passenger dies in taxi From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

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PASSENGER died yesterday in a taxi at Kemta-Idi Aba, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

It was gathered that Michael Hogan took a taxi to Abeokuta from Odeda in Odeda Local Government Area.

The driver discovered that his passenger was unresponsive when he did not alight at Iyana Mortuary Junction, Idi -Aba. He raised the alarm that attracted fellow drivers and passersby.

The driver initially fled but he was encouraged to take the remains to the Kemta-Idi Aba Divisional Police Headquarters, Kemta.

At the station, police arrested him and laboured to contain the crowd that besieged the station.

Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the driver discovered at 7:45am that his passenger, Michael Hogan, had died in his car at Iyana Mortuary area and went to the police station to report it.

Adejobi said the family of the deceased has been contacted, adding that upon inquiry, they claimed Hogan had been ill for a long time.

According to the police spokesman, the family said Hogan left home for Abeokuta to collect herbal remedies.

He said the police would soon release the body to the family after investigations are concluded.

‘Mimiko can’t be PDP forum chair’ From Damisi Ojo, Akure

T Tribunal strikes out Sunmonu’s application

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HE Oyo State Election Petitions Tribunal yesterday struck out the motion seeking to dismiss the petition filed by the candidate of Accord in Oyo Central Senatorial District, Chief Bisi Ilaka.

Ilaka is challenging the victory of Senator Monsurat Sunmonu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the March 28 National Assembly election.

The motion for the dismissal was filed by Sunmonu’s lead counsel, Tola Oshuobi, on the grounds that the petition did not comply with the Electoral Act on the method and the timing for initiating pre-conference.

Lawyers representing both parties argued the application last Wednesday after which the tribunal reserved ruling till yesterday.

The Chairman of the threeman Tribunal, Justice J.G. Abundaga, held that although the petitioner’s reply was filed out of the time stipulated by the Electoral Act, the irregularities noted should not be the basis to strike out the petition.

The petition was filed on

•Pre-hearing starts today From Bisi Oladele and Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

May 26 in alleged contravention of the 14 days stipulated by the Act. “We need to go into the substance of the petition.

The irregularity noted by the respondent should not defeat the substantive case.

We have to ensure a ruling that will be fair to both sides without bias.

“These are issues border-

ing on technicalities which can be resolved at the prehearing proper,” Justice Abundaga said.

A counsel to the petitioner, Olawale Omoloye, explained that the ruling was to ensure that technicalities did not rob the petitioner of fair hearing because throwing out the petition would have robbed him of the opportunity to prove his claims. By the ruling, he not-

ed that the petition would be heard on merit.

Oshuobi said: “By law, it is incompetent and as such the rule says where no application form for pre-hearing is filed, the petition should be dismissed.

“I have filed another preliminary objection, challenging the competence of the petition which would be decided today at the prehearing.”

The tribunal adjourned pre-hearing till today.

Land grabbers attack Ogun community

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HERE was pandemonium at Banku Village in Warewa, Ifo Local Government of Ogun State at the weekend, when some unidentified persons invaded the community and chased residents out of their houses.

Landowners said the hoodlums, who they referred to as land grabbers, bounced on them and robbed them of their money and other valuables.

“Many landlords who were lucky fled while many who could not were battered and

robbed of their phones and money,” they said.

A landlord, who pleaded for anonymity, said he was still at home when the hoodlums besieged the area.

“Immediately I sighted them, I hid in a nearby building, until I saw some police men in a bus.

“I came out thinking that the police have been alerted and they have come to our rescue.

“I managed to approach the bus only to discover that they accompanied the land grabbers to the site. They pursued

me until I fell. There, they bounced on me, took N80,000 from my pocket and dispossessed me of two mobile phones. I was injured in the hand.”

He added that the police station in Ibafo was contacted and three persons arrested and moved to Eleweran Police command in Abeokuta.

Police spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi said he needed to get some facts on the case. “I will still react when I get to Abeokuta,” he said.

He did not do so as at press time.

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has described the emergence of Governor Olusegun Mimiko as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum Chairman as a mark of failure.

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Adesanya, the APC described Mimiko’s emergence as the end of the road for the PDP. Adesanya said: “Choosing an underperformed, corrupt, and undemocratic governor to lead such a sensitive and important group shows that the PDP is lacking in men and women of integrity.

“The APC recognises the role of a viable, proactive and constructive opposition in a democracy, but the present PDP formation and the leftovers cannot provide the needed opposition our country’s democracy requires at this crucial time.

“Was Mr. Mimiko given the chairmanship because of his illusionary achievements in Ondo State -failure to conduct local government election for almost seven years; mismanagement and failure to account for the state funds and allocations; the moribund of almost all the institutions and parastatals under his leadership; and the running of the state like an emperor? This is the end of the road for the party (PDP).”

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

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NEWS ‘Nigeria fourth most dangerous country to live in’

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IGERIA is listed among the top five most dangerous places to live, according to new figures from the UK monitoring group, Action on Armed Violence (AOAV).

Iraq is on top of the infamous list followed by Syria, Gaza, Nigeria and Pakistan.

Nigeria made the list due to the activities of Boko Haram, which, however, has been confined to Borno and Yobe states.

AOAV’s report documented the number of civilians killed or injured by explosive devices, the number of incidents in which civilians were harmed, the types of weapons used and if they were caused by government or militia groups.

Iraq has seen a renewed surge in violence since the rise of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL).

Countries or regions which have endured sustained conflict, such as Syria and Gaza, also made the list of 10 “most dangerous” released as part of a wider AOAV report yesterday.

Afghanistan, Ukraine, Yemen, Lebanon and India also feature on the list.

Seven of the top 10 are in the Middle East. Ukraine, Nigeria and India are the only countries situated elsewhere.

‘Explosive violence’ was responsible for over 80 per cent of civilian deaths in Syria during 2014.

It experienced 43 per cent of all aerial bombing worldwide that year.

The civil war, which has stretched into its fifth year, has taken the lives of more than 220,000 Syrians according to the most recent figures, with unofficial sources claiming the figure may be as high as 315,000.

AOAV Senior Weapons Researcher Robert Perkins said the figures show there is “always a market for the trade in explosive weapons, always someone who wants to sell them, and always someone who wants to buy them.”

AOAV researcher Jane Hunter, who worked on the report, told RT that halting the use of explosive weapons was the “single most important step that governments could take to protect civilians from the horrors of war.

APC, PDP bicker over Osun finances From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has linked the delay in payment of salaries and pension to mismanagement of the national economy by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government.

The party blamed the Goodluck Jonathan administration for wasting national resources in its “desperate bid to return to power”.

At the party secretariat in Osogbo, the state capital, the Chairman, Gboyega Famodun, said since the drop in the oil revenue and various wastages of the PDP, the federal allocation accruing to the state has drastically reduced.

Famodun said the highest statutory allocation to Osun State was N5.5 billion in February 2013 but has now dropped to N466 million in April.

He said: “As at the time the APC came on board in November 2010, workers’ emolument was N1.4 billion but today it is N3.6 billion, following the increase in minimum wage in 2012.

“And the truth is that Osun is not the only state affected by delay in workers’ salaries. About 23 states have similar problems. Before this crisis, workers were paid before the 25th of every month.”

But the PDP spokesperson, Prince Diran Odeyemi, in a statement, said: “It is shameful that APC is concocting lies to cover profligacy, gross financial mismanagement, ineptitude, corrupt and inflated contract award processes.”

•Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode greeting the Chief Judge, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade, after a meeting at the Lagos House, Ikeja. With them are Deputy Governor Dr Idiat Adebule (left) and members of the judiciary.

Oyo police parade inter-state ‘robbers’

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HE police in Oyo State have arrested three inter-state robbery suspects, who allegedly stole a Toyota Highlander Sports Utility Vehicle in Sagamu, Ogun State.

Parading the suspects yesterday, Commissioner of Police Muhammed Katsina said the suspects were nabbed by the Ambush Squad at Iwo Road Roundabout in Ibadan about 6pm.

Katsina said: “Three inter-state robbery suspects who had earlier snatched a vehicle from a woman at gunpoint in Sagamu, Ogun State, were arrested yesterday by the Ambush Squad.

“They were taking the stolen vehicle to Ikirun, Osun State.”

Katsina who was represented by the command’s spokesman,

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

Adekunle Ajisebutu, gave the names of the suspects as Azeez Omotosho (25), a native of Agbeye, Odo Otin in Osun State, who is resident in Sagamu; Fatai Ademola (27), a native of Ikirun and resident in GRA Sagamu as well as Jimoh Quadri (25), a native of Ede in Osun State and lives in Egbedore, Awo in Osun State.

Items recovered included one cutto-size single barrel gun, one kitchen knife, five cartridges, two phones and some charms.

Quadri, who introduced himself as a farmer in Ede, said he was invited by his friends to Sagamu on Saturday for the operation they carried out on Sunday evening.

He confessed that they trailed the

woman to her house at Agura in Sagamu and snatched the vehicle as it was moving into the compound.

His words: “At 8p.m on Sunday, the leader of the gang came to convey us to the place.

“We got to the place at 9p.m. At the time we got there, the woman was just being driven in. As the driver opened the gate, our motorcycle went in as well. We asked her to come down and one of us pointed a gun at the driver.

“He surrendered. The woman carried a baby and my colleagues wanted to beat her but I stopped them from doing so. The woman said she was just returning from Lagos where she had gone to carry her grandchild.

“We entered the car and drove the woman and the driver away from

Osinbajo: prepare for permanent change

APC, NASS crises, dangerous for Buhari’s govt, says Shehu Sani

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SENATOR warned yesterday that the rumbling within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) poses a threat to the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central) said the APC had found itself in a tight corner in the National Assembly crisis.

To Sani, who spoke with reporters in Kaduna, the APC is witnessing a post- revolutionary crisis.

“It is true that our party is facing a serious post-election crisis in terms of the challenge of uniting all APC senators. Mistakes were made but, naturally, all revolutions are always faced with post-revolutionary crises.

“And we are now facing our own post-revolutionary crisis and by the grace of God, we are going to overcome it.

“Those from PDP who thought that the division that exists within the ranks of the senators of the APC is an opportunity for them to re-establish themselves in power are making a very big mistake. We have a very big problem among ourselves but it is going to be addressed.

“I have to commend the effort of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in trying to reconcile both the Unity Forum led by Senator Lawan and the Like Minds led by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

Such kind of reconciliation is needed for the party to make progress.

“Divisions within the senators, if

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

not addressed, pose a serious threat to the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and his capacity to deliver. President Buhari needs APC senators to be united and in one voice and to also work collectively and in harmony with policies and programmes of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.”

Sani debunked the insinuation that moves were on to impeach Senator Ike Ekweremadu, describing the situation that led to emergence of Ekweremadu as the Deputy Senate President as “unfortunate”.

On the economy, Sani said: Change in Nigeria can only be of value if it makes meaning to the lives of the common people. Those common people who suffered for years, killed and used their thumbs to install us into power.

“We have been elected by the people on the promise of change and we will, by the grace of God, live up to that expectation.

“We are conscious of the high level of expectation on the side of the people as far as their aspiration and needs are concerned. We will do everything possible, despite the realities and challenges we are going to face to address these very issues.

“I will use this opportunity as a senator to identify with the need for all people in the position of power, whether Executive, Legislative or the Judicial arm of the state to make sacrifices towards reviving our own

the house. We dropped them at Ogere on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

“That was my first time in Sagamu and that was the first time I participated in a robbery.”

Another suspect said Ademola, the gang’s leader, whom he described as a cultist, drove the SUV from Sagamu to Ijebu Ode and handed over it to him.

He was instructed to take the vehicle to Ikirun where a dealer was waiting for it, adding: “I and Jimoh Quadri were with the car at Ijebu Ode till about 4a.m. Then, I called Azeez Omotosho, whom I know as a driver, to come and help me drive the vehicle to Ikirun. But we were arrested at Iwo Road Roundabout this morning.”

V •Sani

economy. I understand the outcry over our allowances, wages and salaries.

“Let me be very clear to you that I’m yet to receive even N1. And I’m yet to get alert from anybody and my own views on this remain proposition.

“I identify with all Nigerians who believe, or suggested that public office holders should make sacrifices so that the sacrifice could restore the economy.

“So I’m fully in support of these sacrifices that need to be made by lawmakers, particularly senators and members of the House of Representatives, governors and state legislatures.

“But I will also make it clear that impoverishing the legislature will not be the magic wand that will restore our economy back. All Nigerians must, in every respect ,monitor budget and become vigilant and be an agent in the fight against corruption and then we can stop waste and improve the economy.”

ICE-PRESIDENT Yemi Osinbajo yesterday told Nigerians to be patient with the Federal Government as it works toward bringing the desired permanent change.

He spoke with State House correspondents on his first day in office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

“Nigerians must show understanding on what the government needs to do for the general good of the society, he said.

He said change is not an easy task as he urged leaders to set examples for all citizens to follow in order to achieve the desired permanent change.

Osinbajo said: “Change is not going to be an easy process. So, there will be a great deal of patience required and understanding of what we need to do.

“And we are going to try to bring about permanent change it also means that people are also going to change, that the people will also change.

“But, I understand clearly that it is the leadership that must set the example and we are prepared to do that and we will do that.”

He said the nation needed straightforward leaders such as President Muhammadu Buhari, as he expressed the government’s readiness to fulfill its campaign promises.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

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NEWS Edo not owing workers, says Revenue chief From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

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HE Executive Chairman of the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS), Chief Oseni Elamah, has said the Adams Oshiomhole administration is not owing workers.

Elamah spoke in Benin, the state capital, at a seminar/sensitisation workshop on the operations of the state’s Land Use Charge Law. The revenue service chief said most states, excluding Edo, were owing workers.

He attributed the government’s feat to its capacity to plan and reorganise the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to meet workers’ salaries.

Elamah noted that despite the current accelerated development across the state, as evident in the modern Central Hospital, 2nd East Circular Road, underground drainages, among others, the government was still able to pay workers.

On the Land Use Charge Law, the EIRS chief said the agency understudied Lagos State for an effective tax system.

The idea, he said, was not only putting in place what obtained in Lagos but also to improve on it to guarantee an inclusive tax administration.

Elamah said the government set up a Tax Assessment Review Committee (TARC) to peruse tax-related matters with the aim of ensuring a participatory administration.

Floods take over Court of Appeal in Benin From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

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ERSISTENT rains in the last three days have flooded the premises of the Edo State Appeal Court in Benin.

The floods have been worsened by the abandoned Benin/Auchi federal road project by the former government.

Several buildings around the court premises have also been flooded.

No solution seems to be in sight as the rains continue and the court authorities appear helpless.

The floods have affected the sittings of the Election Petitions Tribunal, which occupies a part of the court room.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) described the condition of the court room as unsuitable for human beings.

Judges, lawyers and politicians involved in cases at the tribunal have decried the condition of the court premises, including its tattered roof.

A rainstorm in Benin last Saturday removed the roofing sheets and ceilings of the court.

Also, the tribunal, led by Justice A. R. Ozoemena, yesterday upheld the election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Orhionmwon/Uhunwode in the March 28 National Assembly poll, Patrick Aisowieren.

The tribunal struck out the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) candidate, Larry Ogieva, for lack of merit.

•Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike addressing Rivers civil servants in Port Harcourt...yesterday.

MEND threatens attacks over National Assembly’s jumbo pay

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HE Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has threatened to resume hostility over the jumbo salary and allowances of lawmakers in the National Assembly.

In an online statement yesterday by its spokesperson Jomo Gbomo, the movement deplored the brazing disregard for the feelings of the change-seeking masses by the “very selfish” members of the eighth National Assembly.

The statement said:

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

“These wicked individuals appropriate to themselves huge and absurd salary/allowances at the expense of millions of hapless Nigerians who have not been paid their salaries, pensions and other benefits they deserve.

“The Niger Delta region, where the bulk of revenue that sustains the nation comes from, continues to suffer neglect, environmental degradation and lack, made worse by the very cor-

rupt and visionless past government of Goodluck Jonathan and his cronies, some of who still shamelessly parade themselves on national television and other media platforms as ‘Niger Delta activists’.

“Nigerians refuse to tolerate this ostentatious lifestyle of our lawmakers, whose main objective, it seems, is to enrich themselves and carelessly spend scarce resources. The Niger Delta people refuse to pamper and cater for the

needs of these thieving Assembly rogues to their detriment.

“If the lawmakers refuse to make the necessary adjustments needed to accompany the needs of the masses and the Niger Delta region, it may lead to the resumption of hostilities.”

MEND urged Nigerians to hold the current National Assembly members responsible, if the movement resumed hostility.

It added: “Enough is enough.”

Why RivPoly rector, 344 lecturers were sacked, by Wike R

IVERS State Governor Nyesom Wike has given reasons for sacking the Rector of the state-owned polytechnic (RivPoly) at Bori, Mr Obianko Elechi, and 344 lecturers.

The governor alleged that their employment did not follow due process and was done to “create problems for us”.

He said he met the rector and discussed the employment of the workers with him – whether or not it followed due process - before he took the action.

Wike spoke at the weekend in Port Harcourt, the state capital, following the misgivings that trailed the mass sack.

The governor said from the rector’s answers, it was obvious the school got approval to employ the lecturers in 2012.

From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

According to him, the process started in October/November 2013 and continued till the time he was declared winner of this year’s governorship election.

Wike said that was when the lecturers got their employment letters.

The governor said although he would have liked every Rivers indigene to be employed, why they were engaged when there was no money to pay them still baffled him.

He said: “I only said ‘stop the process until when we are ready’.”

The lecturers, the governor insisted, had not started work with the school, as far as he was concerned.

Wike said when he was Minister of State for Education, he ensured that the Federal Government disbursed N500 million intervention fund to the school.

But the governor said shortly after the money was paid to the school, the rector allegedly denied receiving it, because “the government in power caused him to do that”.

“So, he is now a politician.

Let him go and play politics,” Wike said.

The governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Opunabo Inko-Tariah, an-

nounced the lecturers’ sack.

Inko-Tariah said: “Their employment did not follow due process. It was done in a hurry and fraught with irregularities.

“Until the irregularities are cleared, they remain sacked.

The rector of Rivers State Polytechnic at Bori was asked to proceed on compulsory leave because of official misconduct.

He is being investigated. The rector must be on compulsory leave, pending the outcome of the investigations.”

The polytechnic’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Innocent Ogbonna said the lecturers had been asked not to resume work.

He said the rector started his terminal leave two weeks ago on the instruction of the government.

We spent N242b to service Sylva’s debt, He said: “Of the N440 bilfrom the party’s state leader says Dickson lion his government received and former Governor Timipre

•Dickson

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AYELSA State Governor Seriake Dickson yesterday told the All Progressives Congress (APC) that his administration spent N242 billion to service the N332 billion debt it inherited

Sylva.

Dickson was reacting to a criticism by APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, that Dickson had nothing to show for the N440 billion he received from the Federation Account in the last three years.

Odigie-Oyegun spoke through the party’s National Vice-Chairman, South-South, Mr. Hilliard Etaho, when he received defectors to APC in Yenagoa, the state capital.

He urged the people to vote out Dickson.

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

But the governor said that his government was able to reduce Sylva’s debt to N90 billion, initiated and executed several projects.

In a statement in Yenagoa by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the governor said his administration achieved the feat through prudent management and commitment to good governance ethos.

as allocation from the Federation Account, about N242 billion was used to pay that debt, even as it embarked on an unprecedented level of infrastructural development and socioeconomic welfare schemes.

“This is why the Bayelsa State government considers as uncharitable, the statement attributed to APC National Chairman, Chief OdigieOyegun, that the (Dickson) government has nothing to show for that allocation from the centre.”

PHOTO: NAN

Abductors of VC haven’t contacted family Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

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BDUCTORS of the Vice-Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education at Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Prof. Rosemund Green Osahogulu, have not contacted the family, it was learnt yesterday.

The vice chancellor was abducted last Thursday when she was returning from her office.

Police spokesman Ahmed K. Mohammed, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), confirmed the development yesterday in a text message in Port Harcourt.

Asked about the latest information on vice chancellor’s abduction, Mohammed said: “The matter is still under investigation.”

A source close to the victim told our reporter on phone that nothing had been heard on her predicament.

The source said: “Nothing yet. There has been no contact; nothing yet.”

The abduction has generated reactions from the university community and eminent residents, including the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the last election, Dakuku Peterside.

The people condemned the kidnappers, urging them to release her unhurt.

A statement by the university’s Registrar, Ikem Adiele, condemned her abduction.

It urged security agencies to rescue her from her captors.

The statement said: “The Vice-Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Prof Rosemund Dienye Green-Osahogulu, has been abducted.

“She was abducted on Okocha Road on June 18 on her way from work at 6.45pm “The university’s management has been trying to reach out to security agencies and well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on her abductors to release her unhurt and unconditionally.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

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NEWS

RAMADAN KAREEM

Ramadan 6, 1436AH

Cleric to Muslims: make Quran your companion

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HE Chief Imam of Apo Legislator’s Quarters’ Jumat Mosque, Abuja, Sheikh Muhammed Khalid yesterday urged Muslims to get close to Allah and pray for the country.

Khalid said Muslims should see the holy month as an opportunity to increase their charity giving, spiritual purification and pray for the nation.

He urged them to use the month for sober reflection, saying that it was a month

that all the Muslims all over the world were expected to right wrongs.

He also advised Nigerians to engage in more spiritual activities, ask for forgiveness of sins and strive to attain righteousness and piety.

The imam enjoined Muslims to make the Holy Quran their companion.

He called on Muslims to always do the right thing, not only in the month of Ramadan, but in all other months, to make the society a peaceful place.

Those are limits set by ALLAH. Those who obey ALLAH and His Apostle will be admitted to gardens with rivers flowing beneath, to abide therein (forever) and that will be the supreme achievement.

Qu’ran 3 vs 13 Sponsored by ALHAJI KHAMIS TUNDE BADMUS Asiwaju Musulumi of the Yorubaland

RAMADAN GUIDE WITH FEMI ABBAS e-mail: femabbas@yahoo.com Tel: 08122697498

Origin of Tafsir

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ROM the beginning of Ramadan, every year, Muslims congregate in various Mosques or Learning Centres where Tafsir (exposition of the Qur’an) is rendered by learned scholars. This is in accordance with the Prophetic tradition which encourages better understanding of the Qur’an.

Linguistically, Tafsir means exposition. But technically, it means the comprehensive analysis of the Qur’an linguistically, logically and semantically. In other words, Tafsir is the exposition of the contents of the Qur’an, as usually done comprehensively by Muslim scholars especially during the month of Ramadan throughout the Muslim world.

Because of the coded language of the Qur’anic revelation, it became necessary for the verses of that sacred book to be decoded for the purpose of thorough understanding of the Muslim Ummah when the Prophet was alive. And this was thoroughly done by Prophet Muhammad (SAW) to the great delight of his companions.

From the explanation above, it therefore becomes clear that the revelations of the Qur’an were the immediate cause of intellectual research in Islam. For instance, Arabic the original language of the Qur’an had no grammar prior to the revelations of the divine message. The grammar of that language evolved only from the contents of the Qur’an.

With time, the challenge which the Qur’an threw to humanity in all spheres of life led to serious competition among scholars. Thus, each time a revelation came, the Companions of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) were always eager to know why and how of every what. And this led to their very close association with the Prophet who paved the way towards that intellectual research.

Although the formal study of Tafsir as an independent discipline did not begin until many years after the demise of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), he (the Prophet) nevertheless started its process. He did not only give the exoteric and esoteric meanings of revealed verses of the Qur’an, he also explained their application to the daily life of man as well as the implications of same.

It was the prophet who decoded most of the coded areas of the Qur’an for proper understanding of the ordinary Muslims. Through his utterances and actions which were later to be known as Hadith and Sunnah, the contents of the Qur’an became more and more understandable to the Muslims even as further research continues today.

Thus, after the prophet’s demise, Hadith and Sunnah together became an independent subject of research paving man’s way to higher firmaments in civilization. And this has helped, in no small measure, in expanding the scope of Tafsir.

It is from this that, all new discoveries and new frontiers in knowledge became adapted to the study of Tafsir until Tafsir itself became an estuary through which every stream of knowledge was passed to mankind. But what problems does Tafsir face? Read on tomorrow.

•KEEPING FIT FOR RAMADAN: Participants undergoing screening during a free eye examination and blood pressure test organised by the Nasrul-Lahi-l-Fatih Society of Nigeria (NASFAT) National Women Affairs Committee at the Lagos State Secretariat Mosque, Alausa, Ikeja... at the weekend

Zakat Foundation to feed 35, 000 Muslims •Budgets N16m A FAITH-based NonGovernmental Organisation, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation (ZSF) has spoken of plan to feed no fewer than 35,000 Muslims across the Southwest under its Iftar Saim (meals for breaking fast) project.

Its Executive Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Imam Abdullahi Shuaib said N16 million has been budgeted for the project.

Imam Shuaib said some of the Iftar Saim programmes include Public lectures/ Seminars, distribution of food items, beverages,

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

groundnut oils, sugar and milks among others to individuals, orphanage homes, physically challenged people and prison yards.

He said the objective of the Iftar Saim was to create an enabling environment for indigent Muslims to actively participate in Ramadan Fast and give them a sense of belonging.

Imam Shuaib added that the programme also aimed at providing a window of

opportunity for wealthy to earn Allah’s blessings by assisting the less-privileged.

This, he said, will make them maximise the rewards of the Holy month.

“It is planned to facilitate genuine love and true spirit of brotherhood in Islam among Muslims of all walks of life and to foster unity through the instrumentality of Ramadan fast cum Iftar Saim,” he said.

The Iftar Saim programme, the foundation boss said, will extend to Federal Cap-

•Shuaib

ital Territory, Edo, Delta, Kwara and Niger states.

Imam Shuiab thanked patrons and people who donated to the project, appealing to philanthropists and individuals to assist the needy during and after the month of Ramadan.

Speaker calls for rededication

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ENUE House of Assembly Speaker Terkimbi Ikyange, has called on Muslims to rededicate themselves to the virtues of Ramadan - love, peace and tolerance.

Ikyange enjoined them to live together in peace with people of different faiths.

The speaker said the Holy

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HE lawmaker representing Ibadan North East/ South East Federal constituency, Hon Adedapo Lam-Adesina has enjoined Muslims to remember the nation in prayers especially the people in areas bedevilled with insurgency and terrorism in

month offered a wonderful opportunity for the adherents of the religion to be closer to God. He said the period would regenerate their souls, urging them to shun acts capable of tarnishing the name of the Islam.

Ikyange said this year’s

Ramadan had come at a very critical time that a new government was about to settle down in the face of economic and security challenges.

He appealed to Muslims to offer special prayers for Governor Samuel Ortom’s administration to enable it surmount the teething prob-

lems militating against its quick take-off.

The speaker said the promise of change by the new government could only be realised if Benue people rededicate themselves to God. Ikyange promised to enact good laws to aid the much needed change.

Lam-Adesina advocates unity From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

the last five years.

Lam-Adesina urged them to support the proactive steps taken by the federal government to return peace to the region so that normal economic activities can be

restored within the shortest period of time.

“We should also endeavour to pray for our leaders for God’s direction, remembering President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

“As for me, Ramadan should be a month of refreshment, reflection and spiritual upliftment where we commune with our creator,” he said.

He urged Muslims to assist the less privileged and tolerate other religious groups.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

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BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

ARSO records less than 10% intra-African trade From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

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FRICAN Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) yesterday said less than 10 per cent of intra-African trade and less than three per cent of global trade volume in the African continent was recorded.

Its President, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, spoke at the opening ceremony of the ongoing ARSO Chief Executive Officers Forum in Abuja, stated that 22 countries are attending the programme.

He said: “Africa’s intra and inter trades could only be improved upon through standardisation programmes being championed by the organisation.

Through this, the continent would be able to feed itself, reduce poverty and diseases among the people.

“The 9th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) conference of Ministers of Trade held in December 2014 in Ethiopia recommended that all AU member-states that are currently not members of ARSO should endeavour to attain membership by year 2017.

“The mobilisation of all NSBs (National Standardisation Bodies) into the membership of ARSO would drive the standardisation programmes necessary for the strengthening of the competitiveness of Made-inAfrica products as well as engender regional and/or continental fusion into an economic block.

“The Abuja forum is also a response to the African leaders 2012 Ethiopia meeting under the theme: ‘Boosting Intra-African Trade (BIAT)’, which agreed to establish a continental free trade area by 2017, as a strategy to boost trade within the continent by at least between 25-30 per cent.

“The continent has not been exception of the increasing movement towards globalisation, the economic trends and patterns that are experiencing dynamic shifts, since intra-African and inter-African trade has evolved greatly over time.”

Odumodu added that trade has had a significant impact on the political, economic and socio-cultural development of African markets, reduction of production costs, improved productivity and reduction of poverty.

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- MD/CEO, Mayok Engineering Works Limited, Chief Abayomi Awodipe

NPDC workers go on strike A T

Farmers push for maize importation ban

T least 115,000 bar rels of crude oil per day, estimated at $6.9 million, may have been shut-in as Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) workers, an arm of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), begin an indefinite strike.

The action is aimed at stalling the planned transfer of operatorship of oil blocks divested by Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited to private sector investors that bought the assets.

The strike is coming barely a month the same workers called off their over week strike because the operatorship of one of the Shell divested assets located in oil mining lease (OML) 42, was transferred to the private sector joint venture partner of NPDC – Neconde Energy Limited.

The workers are striking to halt further transfer of

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

operatorship of about five more divested blocks by the Federal Government. It was also learnt that the workers are actually asking for salary increase in disguise.

The Nation gathered that the workers under the aegis of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) NPDC chapter simply referred to as NUPENGASSAN, had a meeting yesterday and decided to start the indefinite strike immediately after the meeting.

A source told The Nation that after their meeting yesterday, the striking workers locked the offices of the management and those of the private sector entrepreneurs that bought Shell’s divested oil blocks, asked all the consultants and visitors

in the company to vacate the premises.

The source said: “NUPENGASSAN union met this morning and decided to go on an indefinite strike starting from today (yesterday). The unions asked all consultant, contract staff and visitors to vacate the company’s premises leaving only the staff in their offices. The staff will remain in their offices but they will not be working. The locked offices of all the management staff including those of their Joint Venture partners. This category of staff could not gain entrance into their offices.”

The source lamented the frequent strike noting that it disrupts production, works against output optimisation and results in revenue decline. This is economic sabotage and destabilisation of the new administration. It is just unfair because the new government needs money.

What the Unions are really seeking is a pay rise but they are using the operatorship issue as blackmail to cover their inefficiencies in delivering production and revenue, the source added.

The private sector investors that bought Shell assets and are in Joint Venture with NPDC have decried the attitude of the striking workers because production is shutin and they are losing money. Besides, the JV partners said because NPDC operates the oil blocks, the assets are hugely under-produced resulting in substantial loss or revenue.

The indigenous private sector JV partners of NPDC are Neconde Energy Limited oil mining lease (OML 42), Elcrest Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (OML 40), Shoreline Natural Resources Limited (OML 30), ND Western Limited (OML 34) and First Hydrocarbon Nigeria FHN/ Afren (OML 26).

•From Left: Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr Joseph Odumodu; Deputy Managing Director, Standards and Quality Agency of Cameroon, Chantal Andely and Secretatary-General, African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO), Dr Hermogene Nsenggimana, at the opening of ARSO President’s Forum in Abuja ... yesterday.

Consumer rights violation: MultiChoice pledges ULTICHOICE Ni “We are in total support of to cooperate with CPC geria, promoters of any inquiry that will lead to

DStv, have promised to cooperate with the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), which recently announced its intention to probe alleged consumer rights violations by the pay-TV company.

MultiChoice was responding to media reports on yesterday that a notice of commencement

‘We must explore the off-grid system.

Power generated mustn’t go to Osogbo before it gets distributed. We lose 37% of generated power anytime we do this. Why don’t we remove Egbin and Afam power plants from the national grid and let them serve Lagos or Southwest and Southeast respectively? If this is done, there will be great improvement’

of investigation into a range of alleged customer rights violations had been served on it by the CPC. In a statement yesterday, the pay-TV provider said it recognises the role of the CPC as the body established to ensure the respect of consumer rights, adding that it welcomes its in-

tervention and is willing to cooperate fully with the CPC when it begins its investigation.

Its Public Relations Manager, Caroline Oghuma said: “We welcome any inquiry into our operations and we assure the CPC of our full cooperation at every step of the inquiry.

improvement in our services to our subscribers and we hope that the outcome will deliver improved services to Nigerians.

“As a company that puts premium on our relationship with subscribers, we will embrace any intervention that will lead to a better customer experience.”

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

HE National President, Maize Association of Nigeria (MAAN), Pastor Tunji Adenola, has urged the Federal Government to ban the importation of maize into the country in order to support its local production.

He said local farmers can produce maize that will satisfy the needs of the country and also serve as raw materials for industries, if properly supported by the government.

In a statement issued after the association’s annual general meeting (AGM), in Abuja yesterday, he said farmers are willing to produce more maize if the government can ban the importation of maize into the country thereby creating a market for them to sell their products.

He said: “One of the greatest problem that needs to be overcome is that importation of maize must be stopped if not, we will be using our foreign exchange which is scarce now to satisfy other countries when we know that Nigeria can provide all the seeds needed in the country.

“The farmers are willing to produce because the market will be there, we will be able to meet the national requirements.

“We are going to engage the government and stress the need there is need to close our borders to these porous leakages of maize into the country.

“What the government needs to do is to guarantee us the market that they will allow us to sell our products.

What is important is that what the farmer produces is able to sell it.”

He also urged the government to make credit facilities available to their members which will go a long way to ensure that they meet up with the quantity of maize needed in the country.

“If the government policy on credit facilities is kept alive, then the support of finance will be a big advantage for farmers to produce. Not total, just give us a little and I can assure you that we won’t need to import maize into Nigeria again,” he added.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

BUSINESS NEWS

Akwa Ibom to get additional 20Mw

P

OWER supply in Akwa Ibom State is set to in crease by 20 megawatts (Mw). This is sequel to the agreement signed by the state government with power firms in the state.

Already, there has been tremendous improvement in electricity supply in the state in the last two weeks. Most parts of the state, including Uyo, the state capital, records up to 15 hours steady power supply daily in the last two weeks.

The increase in the distributed power to residents in the state is said to be as a result of a direct intervention by the Governor Udom Emmanuel’s administration.

“Already, agreements have been reached for additional 20 Mw of electricity into the state supply system to further boost the stability of power supply,” the Governor’s Spokesman, Mr Ekerette Udoh, said during a media briefing.

The spokesman, who interacted with reporters in his office, said Governor Emmanuel is leaving no stone unturned in addressing the basic needs of the people as he had promised during his electioneering campaigns.

He said: “Governor Emmanuel met with the man-

From Uyoatta Eshiet, Uyo

agement of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company on issues bothering on regular power supply to our state and as you can see, there has been a relative stability and improved supply of electricity in the state in recent times.”

Udoh said the plans of the government is to ensure that the people enjoy 24-hour distribution of electricity in all parts of the state. He added that the street lights in all major roads in the state capital are back- up and running to provide an investor–friendly environment.

Governor Emmanuel is passionate about industrialisation and to achieve this, the enabling environment must be created to attract the right investments to the state, he said.

The governor’s spokesman stated that barriers to effective supply of gas to the state power plant have been addressed, adding that, “the improved power supply has not come to the state by happenstance, but through a concerted move by Governor Emmanuel to enhance the quality of life of the people while providing the enabling environment to attract the right investments to the state.”

•From right: Regional Director, Southeast/Southsouth, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr. Okey Ezeala; one of the FCMB Millionaire Promo winners, Mr. Uchenna Emmanuel; Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Obinna Nnoli and South-east/South-south Zonal Co-ordinator of National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Mr. Michael Eke, at the Regional draw at Onitsha in Anambra State.

Fed Govt advised on economic diversification, food security

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HE Federal Govern ment has been urged to focus attention to the agric sector and diversify the economy to address the country’s challenges, especially in the area of food security.

The Vice Chancellor, Covenant University (CU), Ota, Ogun State, Prof Charles Ayo, who spoke yesterday at the inauguration of West African Virus Epidemiology (WAVE) for Root and Tuber Crops Project at the university in Ota, said cassava and other tuber crops are the mainstay of Africa

By Wale Adepoju

and as such should be preserved.

The inauguration of WAVE, he said, came at the right time because the slogan of the new government was change.

The vice-chancellor said Nigeria and others African countries depended on foreign aids for solving their problems.

Ayo said if the virus challenging cassava could be effectively tackled before getting to Nigeria and other West African countries, it

would ensure that staple food supply is intact.

The WAVE Coordinator for Covenant University, Dr. Angela Eni, said there was need to ensure a clear understanding of virus threat of roots and tuber crops to increase productivity.

Eni said poor understanding of roots and tuber problems have hindered farmers from achieving their goals.

“Equipping farmers with accurate information is vital to achieving food security,” she said.

Eni said cassava brown streak is not yet in Nigeria,

adding that WAVE is trying to ensure that it does not get into the country by engaging in advocacy and other preventive measures.

“The virus is presently in Democratic Republic of Congo but we do not want it in Nigeria,” she said.

Policy makers and stakeholders, she said, should be part of the project to enhance cassava production in Nigeria and Africa.

She said about $3 million has been earmarked for the WAVE programme by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

DPR alerts marketers of impostors’ activities

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HE Department of Pe troleum Resources (DPR) yesterday warned filling station owners and marketers against falling victims of fake DPR officials.

Its spokesman, Mr. Mohammed Saidu, gave the warning in Abuja, adding that there was a desperate attempt by fraudsters to smear the angency’s image According to him, some fraudulent persons have cashed in on the fuel scarcity situation to defraud some unsuspecting marketers, thereby causing overpricing of fuel in some areas.

He said: “The outcome of this scarcity has caused us a lot where people now parade themselves and go to filing stations extorting money from marketers in the name of DPR.” He said the fraudsters were going around filling stations telling marketers that they could sell at any amount they wanted as long as they ‘settle them’ (fake officials).

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

“That is why we are still having this problem of over pricing in some suburbs of the Federal Capital Territory,” he said.

The spokesperson urged marketers to be wary of fraudsters that claimed to be DPR officials who go to filling stations to extort money He, however, maintained that DPR officers on assignment always go with official vehicle clearly marked ‘DPR‘.

According to him, all marketers are supposed to know this because “we don’t allow our officials to go to filing stations with their personal vehicles.

“No DPR officer will go out on an official assignment without hanging his or her identity card and once you are not with your identity card, you are not representing DPR,” he said.

He said the fraudster did not even stop at that but also created a parallel website with that of the DPR, claim-

ing that DPR was recruiting for ExxonMobil.

He said they went to the extent of collecting money from unsuspecting Nigerians.

“They created an account where such monies are paid to and we have a lot of unsuspecting Nigerians who came with tellers claiming to come and get their money back.

“There were a lot fake appointment letters from Chevron, Mobil and so on.

“We want to warn Nigerians that before they deal with DPR, make sure you are dealing with right official by identifying himself,” he said.

He said DPR had written to all the multinationals and also issued a counter claim and part of it is to also to sensitise Nigerians on how to deal with those criminals.

“Meanwhile, we are working closely with relevant security agencies to track and bring to book all those behind these nefarious activities,” he added.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

THE NATION

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

BUSINESS PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com 08062722507

property@thenationonlineng.net muyiwalucas2002@yahoo.com

•The National Assembly complex...Inset: President Muhammadu Buhari

Housing is one of the three basic necessities of life. Over the years, successive governments have paid lip service to affordable housing for all. It is estimated that over 17million deficit exists in the housing sector. Experts say the gap can be bridged if President Muhammadu Buhari prevails on the National Assembly to repeal the obnoxious Land Use Act and other artificial barriers, reports MUYIWA LUCAS.

Land Use Act, others inhibiting ‘housing for all’

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HE rising cost of building, land titling and other associated re quirements for housing development have been identified by various stakeholders as reasons for the huge housing deficit in the country. If these can be effectively tackled, it is believed that improvement will come to the sector, plagued by 17 million deficit.

To this end, a leading player in the built environment, and Vice President, International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI), Africa Chapter, Chief Kola Akomolede, has urged the Federal Government to look into the numerous problems in housing, if the President Muhammadu Buhari administration hopes to achieve shelter for Nigerians.

To do this, Akomolede said, the president must confront the high cost of acquiring land, building materials and finance.

The first step to achieve this, he explained, is to launch the War Against High Cost of Land (WAHCOL). This is by proposing a bill to first repeal the Land Use Act from the constitution and make it amenable to necessary amendments, warning that without this, the common man will continue to have little or no access to land.

Indeed, the Land Use Act is also a disservice to the Federal Government because even if it wants to provide houses for the masses, it has to beg the states to give it land and if any state refuses, there is nothing it can do about it.

Besides, he noted, the problem of Governors’ Consent, which had been an albatross against the transfer and perfection of title to land, should be addressed, because easy access to land is the first step towards enshrining affordable housing for the masses.

The high cost of building materials has also remained a huge problem for building construction. At the present price of major building materials, experts contend that there is no way af-

fordable housing can be provided. Cement, which is a major component in building construction sells for about N2, 000 per 50kg bag.They argue that the government must look for ways to bring down the cost of cement and all other building materials.

To achieve this, Akomolede suggests that grants or very low interest rate loan could be given to cement manufacturers to expand their production capacities. He also said the removal of import duties on cement manufacturing equipment as was done for telecoms equipment and removal of excise duties on cement manufactured in the country would salvage the situation.

He said as an interim measure, the government should allow the importation of cement at duty free for the next two years to crash the price, after which it should be stopped as soon as the local manufacturers of the commodity have completed their expansion projects. The same measure should be applied to all other building materials in the country.

The role of finance in building construction cannot be overemphasised.

Therefore, there is a reason to explore cheaper means of financing housing projects. To experts, tackling this menace to achieve effective housing delivery should be on two fronts. Firstly, government, must find a way to make finance available at affordable rates of interest as it is obtained in developed countries to both property developers and individuals who want mortgage to buy own a home.

In most developed economies, interest rates on mortgage is between three and five per cent, compared to between 18 and 24 per cent in the country. Sadly, by the time property developers add this to their cost of building houses, the houses cannot be affordable to the common man, thereby making it difficult for potential house buyers to meet the monthly or yearly repayment even on a long time basis.

“For example, the monthly interest alone for a loan of N5million at 18 per cent per year is N75,000. This does not include capital repayment. How many people can afford this in a country where the minimum wage is N18,000 per month? Yet, you can hardly get a house that will cost less than N5million” Akomolede said.

Importantly, stakeholders and experts in the building and finance agreed that there is an urgent need for government to set in motion the necessary machinery to re-examine the National Housing Fund (NHF). The NHF is believed to be a veritable vehicle for collection of money for mortgage but it has not been harnessed fully. To make the NHF work efficiently, it is advisable that experts in building, finance and law must be assembled to re-examine the law and remove areas of conflict in it and recommend how it can be implemented for the benefit of all.

“If government is asking workers to contribute two and a half per cent of their monthly income to the NHF, why can’t government itself (at the federal, state and local levels) show

good example by contributing two and a half per cent of its revenue to the fund?

“It can then compel all companies to contribute two and a half per cent of their annual profits before tax to the fund. In this way the fund will grow from year to year and will provide sufficient fund for the mortgage institutions for on-lending to both property developers and individuals who want mortgage to build or buy a house,” the FIABCI Vice president argued.

However, government has not failed to make it clear that investment in housing is primarily the responsibility of the private sector. Government said the private sector should drive the process, while it only provides the enabling environment.

However, Akomolede disagrees, insisting that the Federal Government must accept housing as its social responsibility, especially to the middle and low income cadre. He averred that government must make budgetary allocations to the sector the way it does for education, health, agriculture, works, aviation, sports, and others. He insisted that housing is as important as all the sectors to which government makes huge allocations every year.

He said the private sector should be encouraged to provide housing for the public but regrets that experience over the years has shown that the private sector cannot provide housing for the low and middle income, which are the largest group in the society. This, he reckons, is because the private sector is

‘If the government is asking workers to contribute two and a half per cent of their monthly income to the NHF, why can’t government itself (at the federal, state and local levels) show good example by contributing two and a half per cent of its revenue to the fund? It can then compel all companies to contribute two and a half per cent of their annual profits before tax to the fund. In this way the fund will grow from year to year and will provide sufficient fund for the mortgage institutions for on-lending to both property developers and individuals who want mortgage to build or buy a house’

in business to make profit and provision of housing for the low income is not a profitable venture. This, he said, makes it unattractive for the private investors to venture into. He argued that government cannot afford to leave housing for the common man entirely in the hands of the private sector as such an action will be laying the foundation for a housing crisis.

Akomolede warned the government against heeding the advice of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) that housing should be left to the private sector, while the government concentrate only on creating the enabling environment for them to supply the housing needs by the society, because this has always been their position, which regrettably, has brought about the huge deficit in the country.

He said: “There has always been this argument that houses built by government are always more expensive because of the corruption usually associated with the award of contracts for the houses. The question we should ask is: Does this affect housing alone?

Is there no corruption in the award of contracts for roads, schools, hospitals, airports, and others? If the answer is no, then should government also stop the construction of roads, schools, hospitals and airports and leave them for the private sectors only?”

Akomolede added that the belief that houses built by governments are more expensive cannot be substantiated, because private developer houses are much more expensive given that they will factor in, the cost of finance and their profits, making the houses to be priced in several millions and not affordable to the masses.

Therefore, he said, governments cannot leave affordable housing for the low and middle income to the private sector only, because doing so would mean the government is abdicating its responsibility of providing decent accommodation for its citizens.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

Experts seek alternative construction solution F OR the country to achieve a speedy progress in the quest to solving its estimated 17 million housing deficit, there is a need to consider alternative sources and techniques in building construction. One of the techniques being propagated is dry construction.

The technology, also known as pre-fabricated construction, involves the use of factory-built building parts which are later assembled on-site to build houses, offices, and other apartments. The building parts are usually manufactured off-site in advance, in standard sections that can be easily transported and assembled on-site.

It was, therefore, instructive when, last week, roofing and building solutions provider, Nigerite Limited, launched into the local building and construction market the Kalsi building solution.

Stakeholders in the built environment reckon that the introduction of the Kalsi product is a major technological accomplishment for Nigeria. This is because, it simply puts Nigeria in a comfortable position as a reckoning force in the committee of developed and developing countries in the world by promoting a product that is at the peak of innovative building trend in America, Europe and some part of Asia.

According to Nigerite’s Managing Director, Mr. Frank Le Bris, his firmowes it a duty to the industry and the country in general to cham-

By Muyiwa Lucas

pion economic and technological innovations that obtains in the developed world and bring same to Nigeria.

Le Bris explained that while the introduction of the Kalsi building solution technology has cost the company huge amount of money in terms of investment in new factory lines and equipment as well as additional personnel, yet he sees it as “just one of the few things we can do to contribute to the economic and technological upgrade of Nigeria.”

Furthermore, he explained, with dry construction gaining the ground globally, the Kalsi dry construction system now comes in handy as one of the fasted means of bridging the housing deficit gap in the country since it takes few weeks to construct from start to finish.

Other benefits of using the kalsi building solution, Le Bris listed to include reducing cost of construction significantly over the use of brick and mortar system in the long run; it is all encompassing as it offers products cutting across all parts of a building except the roofing; it ensures cleaner environment at construction sites; it is easy to move and construct; absolutely safe in its applications and use.

Le Bris, however, noted thatthe Kalsi building solution is not a re-

placement for the wet construction system, but rather an alternative to it as it provides quicker, effective and cheaper means of renovation.

An estate developer, Mr. Adeyeye Ogunnusi, corroborated the costsaving advantage of the Kalsi building solution. He explained that having used the solution in some of his building projects before the formal introduction, he was able to save up to 40 per cent on cost of construction.

Marketing Manager, Nigerite, Mr. Abayomi Lawal, said with the introduction of the Kalsi, Nigerians and prospective home owners were guaranteed quality and affordable products for their dry construction building systems.

He expressed optimism about the quality and standard of all products on Nigerite’s stable, noting that the new dry construction solutions would showcase another system to the built professionals and contractors as a worthwhile alternative to the conventional method of building with bricks, blocks and concrete.

This method can also be used to complement structures built with the conventional system where there is need for renovations and face-lifts.

Developer, Northern Foreshore Estate, Yemi Idowu, contends that it was time the country moved from building houses to manufacturing houses, adding that the dry construction technology is a ready avenue to achieving this.

‘Fed Govt needs N69tr for housing’

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OR the Federal Govern ment to tackle the housing deficit in the country, about 820,000 housing units worth about N69 trillion will be required yearly, the Managing Director of Home Lottery Limited, Mr. Kelvin Otung, has said.

He spoke at his firm’s presentation to a winner of a threebedroom house in its home lottery scheme.

He explained that the motivation for the lottery was borne out of the fact that Nigeria has a huge housing need.

Otung explained that though the firm was not assuring on having the capacity to resolve the housing deficit through the home lottery, his company plans to contribute about 1, 000 housing units yearly, and build a very good bridge between the government and the people by bringing housing closer to the people, especially people who cannot own a house with ease.

Furthermore, he explained that the idea behind the lottery is to offer Nigerians the opportunity to own a home through a credible, sustainable and logically transparent lottery scheme His conviction of achieving this feat may have been buoyed

‘Boost access to water, sanitation’

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•From left: President, Africa Union of Architects, Tokunbo Omisore; Le Bris; Chairman, Nigerite Ltd., Prince Rafiu Adekunle Adele and Regional Director Africa, Etex, Marc Vanoverbeke, during the launch of Kalsi Building Board Solutions in Lagos.

HE Head of Governance, WaterAid Nigeria, Tolani Busari, has called on governments at all levels to put policies in place that will enable all Nigerians access Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).

She said in Abuja that it was necessary to close the inequality gap between the rich and the poor to enable Nigerians access water and sanitation.

She stressed the need for Nigeria to put policies in place for implementing the incoming Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which would become effective from September.

“Nigeria was yet to address the problem of poor sanitation; the new government needs to put policies in place to address this challenge.

“Inequality gaps to accessing water and sanitation is wide, this is because the difference between the rich and the poor is also very wide.

“It is, however, necessary for all stakeholders to address this

Govt urges Nigerians to plant trees

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HE Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Envi ronment, Mrs Nana Mede, has urged Nigerians to imbibe the culture of tree planting, to ensure soil protection and food security.

He made the call in Bwari, Abuja while addressing participants in the tree planting campaign organised by the ministry to commemorate the World Desertification Day (WDD).

The day is celebrated on June 17, every year.

The theme for this year’s celebration is “Attainment of food security for all through sustainable systems” with the slogan ``No such thing as free lunch, invest in healthy soils’’.

She said since Nigeria was a party to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, it was imperative for the people to plant trees and establish orchards, to avoid land degradation.

She, therefore, enjoined the par-

ticipants to adopt tree planting as a habit, while assuring them of the ministry’s commitment to ensure soil protection for food security and sustainable environment.

“Desertification stares us in the face; about 33 per cent of our land mass is affected by degradation; we are left with 57 per cent for sustainable living and development.

“About 20, 000 women suffer annually from respiratory diseases as a result of smoke they inhale from cooking with fire wood.

“There is a need for us to take urgent steps to arrest this situation and the way forward is by tree planting.

“We must adopt the habit of planting trees in our homes, farms, schools and places of work, to ensure the soil is enriched and protected for food security and sustainable environmental governance.

“If we must cut down a tree, then

By Alvin Afadama

by the participation level in the first draw in the first week of the firm’s outing.

According to Otung, in the first draw which produced the first winner, 2,000 people played in the lottery- an impressive figure considering that it just started operating.

Subsequently, draws for homes are to hold weekly, and ultimately, multiple draws daily, until the 1, 000 housing units are achieved.

The winner of the home,from Delta State, Mr. Elue Gabriel Mokogwu, said it was his first time to play a lottery because he had always considered lottery as a fraud.

“On May 30, 2015, I bought two lottery tickets at N250 each of Home lottery Limited.

When I got a call that I had won, I couldn’t believe it because I had never played any kind of lotto before now; I am so happy,” he explained.

The house may likely serve as a good source of income for the Asaba-based businessman since he has no plan of relocating to Lagos. However, he said he was yet to decide what to do with the house.

we plant five trees as replacement.

“As a way forward, the ministry will continue to provide the enabling environment for people to play their respective roles to ensure our that our environment continues to fulfil development objectives.”

She said the establishment of plantation in Bwari was to showcase the seriousness the ministry attached to restoring communities and regions affected by land degradation.

She further assured that the ministry would partner the Bwari community to sustain the tree planting campaign to combat land degradation.

The Supervisory Councillor for Environment, Bwari Area Council, Mrs Fidelia Onyechalom, said bush burning by farmers was affecting tree planting as well as a major cause of land degradation in Bwari.

Onyechalom, however, com-

mended the ministry for choosing Bwari as a venue to mark this year’s WDD, adding that it would promote the much needed awareness on the importance of tree planting.

She expressed delight that the council was chosen to host the programme.

“We were faced with the problem of planting more trees because of the lack of orientation on the part of farmers who often practice bush burning to cultivate their farms.

“We promise to take good care of the trees that will be planted today, to ensure they survive and that everyone benefit from them to mitigate harsh weather.”

The high point of the event was tree planting by stakeholders, including military and para-military agencies and staff of the council.

The WDD was declared by the UN General Assembly in December 1994, to create awareness and exchange information on ways to combat land degradation

issue, to enable all Nigerians live productive lives,” he said.

Busari said it was worthy to note that no fewer than 100 million people lack access to basic sanitation, adding that 16 million of them also lack access to water.

She explained that this was the cause of nearly 100,000 children under five deaths, from preventable causes, such as diarrhoea, cholera among others.

She expressed concerns over how government was handling sanitation, arguing that the nation’s poor handling of sanitation issues is not just restricted to hygiene.

“Without a private toilet, women and girls are vulnerable to violence, intimidation and indignity.

“Women and girls living in Nigeria without toilet facilities spend about 3.1 billion hours each year finding a place to go to toilet in the open.

“Sanitation has always been the most neglected and off-track of the MDGs, with little funding, resources or political will to address the crisis.”

The head of governance said little progress has been recorded towards the agreed target of allocating 0.5 per cent of GDP to sanitation.

She said all stakeholders must begin to see access to sanitation and water as fundamental human rights, saying that it was possible for everyone to own a toilet and a means of hygiene.

Busari said it was also for all stakeholders to address the underlying causes of inequality, adding that this would go a long way to make Nigeria an inclusive society.

She also urged community members to take ownership of their hygiene, saying sanitation starts with the individual before reflecting in the society.

On WaterAid’s activities, Busari said the group was working with the government to scale up access to water, sanitation and hygiene in all parts of the country.

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

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THE NATION

BUSINESS TRANSPORTATION

E-mail: ynotaderibigbe@gmail.com

•From left: Team Leader, Road Sector Development Team, World Bank Safe Corridor Project Ishaq Mohammed; Oyeyemi; President, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Najeem Yatsin and President, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Alhaji Musa Isiwelle, at the forum in Abuja.

How to stop petrol tanker explosions, by FRSC chief

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TAKEHOLDERS in haulage business have agreed to make the roads safe for users.

They have endorsed the use of a speed limiter on tankers and trailers as being advocated by the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC). The speed limiter’s enforcement begins on September 1.

The stakeholders, comprising vehicle owners, drivers, oil marketers, policy makers and experts spoke at a summit in Abuja.

With the theme: Tankers and trailers haulage operations for national development.

The forum organised by the FRSC, frowned at the petrol tanker explosions, which killed over 80 persons and destroyed properties

Stories by Adeyinka Aderibigbe

worth millions naira.

Participants said more attention should be paid to the vehicles and their drivers.

FRSC Corps Marshal Boboye Oyeyemi said the agency would not fold its hands and watch while the roads are being turned into a slaughter slab by “reckless drivers”. The agency, he said, organised the summit to brainstorm with the operators and other stakeholders on how to promote safe-driving and boost attitudinal change in drivers, especially those in flammable products hualage.

At the summit also attended by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Nigeria Ports Plc,

cement manufacturing firms, flour millers, tank farms, and major fleet operators, Oyeyemi urged fleet operators and owners to intensify the training/retraining of tanker and trailer drivers.

He suggested that a loading authorisation or safe-to-load permit policy be introduced at the tank farms.

Oyeyemi said FRSC may recommend the decentralisation of the tank farms and the closure of all illegal ones, adding that, it has become pertinent to have a national policy on the best time of movement for trailers and tankers. There is also need for a mandatory rest period for drivers to be determined by the length of distance covered to avoid stress and fatigue.

Noting that many of the vehicles are driven by immature drivers, Oyeyemi said the Corps would further tighten access to haulage vehicle’s driver’s licence, to ensure that only mature persons are given.

He said, henceforth, the Corps would ensure that only trailers and tankers that meet minimum safety standards are allowed to load inflammable products, adding that only those with permissible axle load will carry other cargoes. All the vehicles, the Corps Marshal added, must henceforth fix the retro-reflective tapes to enhance visibility, especially at night.

Praising the Corps for the summit, an expert Mr Patrick Adenusi said the age of the vehicles must

also be factored in as cause of accidents. According to him, over 70 percent of trailers and tankers on the roads are more than 30 years old.

Adenusi, Executive Director of Safety Without Borders, who described the summit as timely, called for a welfare package for trailer and tanker drivers.

Adenusi called for creation of modern vehicle testing agencies, specialised driving schools and the reduction in conflicts between law enforcement agents and drivers through the retraining and modernisation of enforcement officers.

The Corps, he said, must make parking along the highways (road shoulders) illegal, and all deviant drivers prosecuted.

Ply prohibited routes, go to jail, Okada riders told

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HE Lagos State Government has ordered commercial motorcycle operators popularly known as okada riders to stay off all the 475 restricted roads, including highways and bridges.

It said defaulters risk a threeyear imprisonment or community service.

The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Transportation, Mr Oluseyi Coker, who gave the warning at a briefing at Alausa, Ikeja, said the Lagos Road Traffic Law (Schedule 11), which restricts the operations of motorcycles and Regulation 16 Subsections 4, 5 and 6 of the Law are still in force.

According to him, Section 3 Sub-section 1 of the Law stipulates: “No person shall ride, drive or propel a cart, wheel barrow, motorcycle or tricycle on any of the routes specified in Schedule 11 of the Law.” Coker, who lamented the resurgence of motorcycle operators on the restricted roads, especially in Ikeja, Isolo, Apapa, Agege,

Epe, Ijede, Shomolu/Bariga, Ifako Ijaiye/Ojokoro, Ikorodu, Mushin, Ketu, Ojota, Lagos Island, Ojodu and Badagry, added that the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode would not fold its arms and allow lawlessness, indiscipline, disobedience to law and order, loss of lives and property of innocent citizens of the state to continue unabated.

Coker appealed to the leaders of the transport unions and motorcycle associations to ensure that their members adhere to the transport laws.

He said: “Motorcycle operators plying the approved routes should wear standard crash helmet whenever they are riding their motorcycles, should not carry more than one passenger, children or pregnant women, should not ride against traffic or in a direction prohibited by law, should not ride on the kerb, median or road setbacks and should obey all traffic laws and regulations including the traffic signal lights.”

Coker said when enforcement begins, operators who fail to comply with the law either prison or forfeited his vehicle to the state.

Coker warned motorcycle operators who drive against traffic, especially on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway and Ikorodu road, among others, to desist to save

lives of their passengers and other road users.

According to him, many lives have been lost through this dangerous act.

He urged Lagosians who use motorcycles to avoid them on the restricted routes, bridges and highways and wear a standard protective helmet whenever they

ride on motorcycles.

According to him, Section 3 Sub-section 6 of the Road Traffic Law stipulates that “where a rider is convicted of an offence under subsections (1), (3) and (4) of Section 3, the passenger shall also be liable to the same penalty, provided the passenger is not a child”.

Ogun inducts 34 traffic mayors

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HE Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) has identified more community involvement in traffic management as one of the panacea for checking road accidents.

TRACE’s Corps Commandant Commander Seni Ogunyemi, stated this while decorating 40 newly inducted TRACE mayors in Ogijo in Sagamu Local Government Area of the state.

He said the inauguration of the mayors was overdue, considering the high level of traffic bottlenecks and accidents within the area.

He said: “The inauguration of these TRACE mayors is long overdue, and it has been our plan to do that because of the incessant traffic bottleneck that our people usually experience within this axis.

It is however my belief that with the inauguration of these mayors, this will reduce drastically. We hope that these new mayors would be able to ensure the stoppage of the usual weekly accidents recorded on this route.’’

He urged the new mayors to be alive to their responsibilities, adding that they are expected to abide to the rules of the command,

and shun vices.

Earlier, the immediate past Commissioner for Housing Mr. Daniel Adejobi, advised the new mayors to see their appointments as a call to duty and service to humanity, urging them to discharge their duties with all their might.

Responding on behalf of the newly TRACE mayors, Alhaji Sule Onasipe Jamiu, praised the state government for giving them the opportunity to serve in their communities, promising that they would discharge their duties to the best of their knowledge.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

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COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

Between DSS and soldiers •Strike Force should be manned by state security personnel in a democratic setting

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T is curious that the 253 officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) transferred to the Presidential Villa on June 8 were rejected by the villa’s authorities. The impression given then was that President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo were yet to move into the villa because the place was undergoing renovation; so, no one was sure of what exactly the security arrangement would be like under the new dispensation.

But a clearer picture emerged more than a week later, when it was reported that soldiers are now to take over the responsibility of the Strike Force in the villa, hitherto performed by operatives of the DSS. The force is a special security outfit saddled with the responsibility of protecting the president and the seat of power. Its operatives are usually specially trained in counter-assault and other techniques

‘The president, rather than sideline the DSS, has a duty of correcting whatever anomalies may be inherent in the organisation. All the security agencies are long overdue for reforms to put them along the path of professionalism. The army has its place and roles in the polity but there is no gainsaying that heavy presence of soldiers in Aso Rock would be out of sync with democratic setting’

aimed at enhancing their performance.

Indeed, a lieutenant who would lead 21 other military personnel had reportedly been transferred to the Strike Force, with an instruction to take over from the DSS officials. What further lends credence to the speculation that soldiers from the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps might be taking over the DSS’ role in the villa is the machinery put in place to change the new Presidential Villa’s Administrative Officer, who was deployed by the DSS about two weeks ago. He has been reportedly replaced with a military officer.

One point that strikes one immediately is the confusion in the postings of the DSS officials and their rejection by the villa authorities, which shows a palpable lack of synergy among the country’s security agencies. Why for instance would the villa reject the DSS officials after they had been duly posted to the place? Did the security services not get in touch with the villa before sending signals to its officials to move in there only to have them turned back?

If the speculation (that anyone is yet to controvert) that the president prefers the military for the Strike Force is true, then it is apparent that President Buhari believes that the DSS officials had been too compromised to do their job creditably. In a nutshell, he has lost confidence in the organisation due to the way and manner many of its personnel performed their job in the immediate past. If this is the case, he probably has a point. The DSS became an extension of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a willing tool of subversion in the last elections. Per-

haps the highpoint of their perfidy was the admission by the organisation, against any sense of decency, that some of its men wore hoods in the course of their duty during the August 9, 2014 governorship election in Osun State.

But even the military is not without blemish in the elections, whether in Ekiti and then Osun, last year. The role of some of its men and officers under the President Goodluck Jonathan administration also leaves much to be desired. We were regaled with tales of how cabinet ministers gave orders to military generals to rig election for the PDP. In short, virtually all arms of the security agencies became compromised during the elections.

Therefore, it would appear the president is more comfortable with the military because that was his primary constituency.

Unfortunately, we do not think he has much choice in the matter concerning which arm of the security agencies should be in charge of security in the Presidential Villa, especially in a democratic setting. If he could live with the military, he should be able to live with the DSS as the organisation with the responsibility of protecting the seat of power in our present circumstances.

So, the president, rather than sideline the DSS, has a duty of correcting whatever anomalies may be inherent in the organisation. All the security agencies are long overdue for reforms to put them along the path of professionalism. The army has its place and roles in the polity but there is no gainsaying that heavy presence of soldiers in Aso Rock would be out of sync with democratic setting.

Displacement and despair •More must be done to ameliorate the plight of Nigeria’s refugees

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HE recent announcement by the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) that it is struggling to cater for some 200,000 Nigerian refugees in Niger, Chad and Cameroon is a sobering reminder that the after-effects of Boko Haram’s terror campaign are yet to be fully dealt with.

The refugees’ already-bleak situation has been worsened by the WFP’s funding shortages which make it unable to fully meet its commitments to feed, educate and provide medical care for them.

Apparently, less than 50 per cent of required funds are available, with some U.S. $ 41.6 million still needed for the rest of 2015. The onset of the rainy season will further complicate matters, as does the fact that additional numbers of refugees are still stranded at Nigeria’s borders and yet to reach any camp.

Nothing sums up the tragedy of the Boko Haram insurgency like the plight of these refugees and the estimated 1.538 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) within Nigeria itself. Made up mainly of women and children, these are citizens who have lost virtually everything to a crisis they had no hand in creating. Most arrive at refugee camps having endured the trauma of dispossession and violence, traversing vast distances on foot and battered by hunger and disease.

Unlike their more fortunate compatriots elsewhere in Nigeria who face the challenges of relatively untroubled lives, refugees and IDPs are compelled to grapple with the fundamental question of survival. In the camps, they constantly worry

about their prospects: re-starting livelihoods, obtaining medical care, education for their children, and most of all, returning to their homes. The global refugee crisis, which has seen the numbers of displaced people reach the record figure of 59.5 million, only underlines the dire urgency of their situation.

The Federal Government cannot allow its citizens to continue to suffer in this manner. The basic guarantee of security of life and property was betrayed by the previous administration; that failure should not be compounded by the inability to properly provide for refugees and IDPs. In ameliorating the poor living conditions of Nigerian refugees and IDPs, more needs to be done to increase the capacity of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). The agency does not appear to be adequately structured to cope with challenges of this sort, especially given the huge numbers involved.

Only recently, authorities of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) criticised the agency for what was alleged to be its indifference to injured Boko Haram victims being treated in the hospital.

NEMA apparently restricts much of its operations to the supply of relief materials to IDP camps; even this appears to be insufficient, and a host of charities and other non-governmental organisations have had to take up the slack.

Tragedies like the refugee/IDP crisis are stark reminders of the vital necessity of avoiding the tensions and hatreds which

trigger the conflicts that lead to the mass displacement of citizens. It is unfortunately becoming far too easy for self-seeking individuals to inflame passions with reckless statements, confident in the knowledge that they will not be held to account.

Much of this is attributable to the general decline in the standards of political practice, as witnessed in the spate of personal attacks and hate speech which characterised the just-concluded general elections. The rise of ethnic militia, replete with egotistical individuals purporting to speak for whole ethnic nationalities, has aggravated the problem.

It would be a tragedy if Nigeria focuses on the military campaign to the detriment of those who have been displaced by the conflict. No true victory can be claimed while refugees and internally displaced persons continue to suffer.

‘The Federal Government cannot allow its citizens to continue to suffer in this manner.

The basic guarantee of security of life and property was betrayed by the previous administration; that failure should not be compounded by the inability to properly provide for refugees and IDPs’

Awaiting Buhari’s cabinet

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IR: Nigerians have anxiously been waiting for President Muhammadu Buhari to unfold his cabinet expected to drive the change mantra of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). While some believe that the President is too slow in taking this critical decision, not a few feel that such a crucial assignment should not be done in a hurry in view of the perceived bad shape of things in the country.

Perhaps, because of the delay in rolling out the ministerial list, the media have been awash with various names and personalities being speculated as the preferred candidates for the cabinet positions. Certainly, the APC as a party would have a considerable influence on who becomes what, as I am sure that the President should also have an idea of a number of Nigerians that he would like to work with in bringing about the transformational change that the country truly deserves now.

That is the more reason why the President should ensure that he is not stampeded into choosing the wrong persons and imposed candidates that could constitute clog in the wheel of progress of the new administration. He should not allow sentiments and parochial interests to trap him into appointing mostly candidates of political grabbers that have been feeding fat on the nation and would rather prefer to maintain the status quo ante than bringing radical change into the polity.

The way to go is to ensure that only qualified men and women of proven integrity, track records and patriotic zeal make the ministerial list irrespective of whether they are technocrats or politicians. He should search thoroughly beyond the political party platforms in order to get the best materials that would help him drive the country towards the path of posterity.

The precarious situation in the nation may not be restored overnight but taking the right step in the right direction by putting the square peg in the square hole, would go a long way in rekindling hope that things would definitely be fine. To achieve effectiveness in the fight against corruption and impunity, President Buhari should get the team that would make it possible for his administration to carry out an extensive restructuring and overhauling of the country’s anti-graft agencies by strengthening them for optimal performance. Most of these agencies, as they are currently constituted, are unable to carry out their duties as expected. Various problems ranging from poor funding, lack of administrative autonomy, deliberate legal encumbrances and lack of political will to punish offenders remain their lot. These challenges should be addressed by the new government.

As we look forward to Buhari’s cabinet list, I would like to appeal to members of the Senate not to fail in carrying out their constitutional duties in the screening of the ministerial nominees. It is common knowledge that since 1999, Senate confirmation hearings have been more of mere formality. At such sessions, our senators have been found to ask pedestrian and not-too-serious questions such as asking for the names of capital cities of states! Some candidates are simply asked to ‘take a bow’ and that it all. This is not how it should be. It is more worrisome to know that nominees’ names are sent for screening without attaching any portfolio to them. How then do they assess the candidates correctly?

As President Buhari takes this crucial decision, he should always remember that the buck stops at his table. As the chief executive, he takes the glory as well as the blame for whatever happens to the nation under his care. His success or otherwise would depend largely on those he appoints as his ministers, special advisers and others. He should never be found wanting in this regard.

• Adewale Kupoluyi Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

20

CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: The heated debate raging over unpaid workers’ salaries in 23 out of the 36 states of the federation, in addition to the unjustifiable jumbo pay package for lawmakers, rubbishes the claim that democracy as a system of government here in Nigeria is ‘ for the people’.

Nothing could be farther than the truth. The reward and payment structure in our dysfunctional polity is obscenely skewed in favour of public office holders.

In our questionable rental state, political office is the ‘be all and the end all’ to economic sustenance. It is indeed, a Sesame key to open doors to wanton wealth. Little wonder, our politicians literally ‘kill’ themselves to get elected or selected into plum positions of authority. And the high cost of accessing political offices is partly responsible for the current sorry pass.

This sad and saddening scenario triggers some burning questions: What happened to the trillions of naira disbursed from the federation account to the affected states over the past four years? What about their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR)?

What huge capital projects did they embark on that caused the sudden cash squeeze? What magic wand did the other 13 states employ to keep their workers from the pangs of hun-

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The national shame of unpaid salaries ger? It is curious that within the same period salaries were unpaid, the debt profile of a good number of the states owing their workers rose to the roof, isn’t it? And also the lifestyles of not a few of such governors were all but austere.

We, concerned Nigerians, seek credible answers to these troubling questions in line with the accountability and transparency mantra of the Buhari-led administration. No meaningful change could be achieved, if the pilots of our ship of state continue to steer our affairs into stormy economic waters.

Much as one would support the call for bail-out as loans by the Federal Government, to put a smile on the face of the helpless workers, if this trend is not probed and halted, it would rear its ugly head again. Good enough, this syndrome of unpaid salaries cuts across political party lines. No state governor would therefore cry foul alleging any form of

political witch-hunt.

Ordinarily, public office workers serve as catalysts for enabling government policies and programmes see the light of day. They carry out significant day-to- day functions with their sweat and tears that oil the machinery of economic growth and sustenance. Without them, there may be no billions of tax payers’ money to plunder and pillage all to satisfy the epicurean tastes of the ‘ogas at the top’. It is a collective insult on Nigeria’s psyche and soul that workers should be treated as slaves in a country that preaches but hardly practices an egalitarian society.

The questions remain. In which other democratic state do we have governors going cap-in-hand every month end to receive so called allocations from the central government?

Does it happen in the United States from which we copied our presidential system? Of course, not. But the unitary system persists because it is

a carry-over system from the long years of military rule.

That explains why some of us who brand ourselves as public affairs analysts insist that we go back to fiscal federalism. If the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo-led government of the old Western Region could fund free education, durable roads, the first television station on the continent and a robust agricultural development with cocoa revenue, how come our crop of state governors are finding it Herculean to pay their workers from crude oil sales? That is food for thought.

As the Holy Bible admonishes, ‘every labourer is deserving of his wage’ and ‘wisdom lies in prudence. Also as former President, Umar Yar’Ardua enthused, politics must be seen as selfless service. This master-slave relationship must stop.

• Ayo Oyoze Baje, Lagos

Open letter to the president IR: I will be surprised if the avalanche of economic advice you have received since you were declared winner of the March 28 presidential election did not centre on job creation. This is one area I believe you must avoid the pitfalls of your predecessors. States and federal government in the past simply created avenues for people to earn salaries and wages instead of actually creating jobs. If not why would state governments not be able to pay their workers for more than three months now?

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For your government to achieve success, it should concentrate on agriculture. Before the oil boom of 1970, Nigeria was an exporter of agricultural produce. In fact, in 1960, agriculture constituted about 80 percent of Nigeria’s GDP. This is an area where we have a comparative cost advantage. It is needful, therefore, for your government to build on the gains of the past administration to ensure that agriculture becomes once again, viable in this nation. With an expansive landmass covering over 923km square, an es-

timated arable land of about 68million hectares; abundance of natural forest and rangeland; varieties of livestock and wildlife; an agricultural friendly climate, coastal, marine resources; expansive rivers and lake; large regional and international market; Nigeria can provide adequate and viable jobs for its teeming youth. Government should give incentive to graduates who have interest in farming. Your government could also establish federal government farms in all local government of the federation where graduates

could easily be employed Agro-allied industries should be created to absorb our teeming high school leavers. Besides these, your administration should discourage the practice of sharing available job spaces to legislators, ministers and governors. Equal opportunities should be given to all job seekers to vie for available job spaces. This would encourage competition and merit, and discourage abuse of public offices.

• Ohimai Daniel, Lagos

APC’s deluge of migrants IR: Some years ago, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) claimed to be the largest and biggest political party in Africa. This self-acclaimed mega party was spreading its tentacles to all geopolitical regions with a loud noise.

As the reigning party, all the members were prince and princess, eating fat undisturbed. Under its watch, impunity and abuse of power and office were the order of the day.

Members could not be nailed even when they soiled their hands and tampered with the nation’s wealth as all the institutions were established and constituted by them.

While the kings, prince and princess were swimming in the ocean of corruption and sheltered themselves under the umbrella, the rest of us were exposed to sun and rain and were struggling to eke out a living.

They even claimed that they will rule for as many years as possible before any party could take over. They failed to appreciate that no condition is permanent.

Today, change is here. However, my big worry is that the big names who fed fat in the mega party are gradually finding their ways into where things are happening now – the APC. The same individuals who contributed in one way or the other to the collapse of the mighty PDP are now trooping to APC and are being received with warm embrace.

They should be kept in close watch lest the old corrupt the new wine.

They are nothing but sheep in a wolves garments.

Let the fathers of the All Progressive Congress (APC) watch the activities of the migrants before the thorns outgrow the crops. The expectations of Nigerians from this administration are huge. If by oversight the migrants are not checked, they will spell doom for the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

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• Eddy Johnson, Lagos.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

21

COMMENTS

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join this undistinguished OOD day, Your Excellency. group, barely tolerated by a I’m sorry, I have to dispense longsuffering people? Or you with long protocols in opening really want to make a differgreetings. But Mr. President, it is not ence, as the Nigerian leader for lack of respect. It is rather due to that finally made the long the urgency of the situation. awaited change?

Besides, it is only the unthinking, in From your exertions during today’s Nigeria, that would not respect electioneering, you would apyou. In the midst of seeming paralysis, you appear the near-sole moral pallapear to want to make a Olakunle dium, by whose name anyone can difference. If so, then you lordbeek1@gmail.com, 08054504169 (Sms only, please) Abimbola swear. That is no mean feat, in the mass should, post-haste, jettison turpitude of contemporary Nigeria. how they did things. If they Moral authority helps when in the had acted right, you probably, midst of teeming amoral at 72, would be enjoying sweet Lilliputians. That comes handy to keep retirement and not worrying everyone in check. But it hardly guaryourself about Nigeria’s eter4th Republic is hitting its 17th year, the longest democratic antees you a great presidency. nal problems. But now that you are out there, it would be season in Nigeria’s history. But that is about all the high So, allow me to ask: do you want to be a great president? If double jeopardy indeed, should you fail — God forbid! point. you want to, please take your mind from the distracting That is why, Your Excellency, you should seize the The 2007 election, the transitional one from Obasanjo’s presidrama swirling around you, especially from the National moment. Many are already saying you are slow. I don’t buy dency to the late Umaru Yar’Adua’s, was even more soulAssembly front. Instead, x-ray your presidential predecesthat tale. It is nothing but the Nigerian penchant for speed, lessly rigged than 2003’s. So, the cumulative crisis of illegitisors, all fortunately members of the National Council of State even if it is brainless, rash and ultimately countermacy, a combination of phoney elections and soulless gover(NCS). productive. Still, I just hope your so-called “slowness” is menance, would produce Goodluck Jonathan, under whom the I mean no disrespect, Your Excellency. Neither do I intend thodical — the hallmark of wisdom, which abhors rashness.

Nigerian state, from cumulative decay, was collapsing fast. any malice towards any of the ex-leaders, now proud NCS The mention of wisdom brings to mind the unsavoury But again, as it was in 1983, it is now your hard luck to clear members. But if you must achieve change, the electoral mandrama playing out at the National Assembly, since the seemthe debris: the collapsed economy that has led most states to tra that romped you into power, against all establishment ing rupture in your ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), fail in their salary commitments; and even a more collapsed odds, you must make a clean break from how they ran affairs since the election of the Senate president and House Speaker. value system, with the Leviathan, Corruption, in your own in their time. Otherwise, Mr. President, you would end up Ostensibly to stanch the crisis, you have been swarmed by words, set to “kill us, if we don’t kill it first”. like them: personages barely tolerated by their people but all sorts: former leaders desperately seeking relevance, proIndeed, it is your pledge of David, to slay Corruption the nevertheless propped up by the establishment. fessional sympathisers, eternal do-gooders and even mischief Goliath, that rekindled the masses’ hope; and romped you Take former President Olusegun Obasanjo, incidentally the makers. Phew, the din of the market must be ear-shattering! into power on March 28. closest of the lot, to your power trajectory. Mr. President, Still, after all the din, you have a government to run, a The other former helmsmen contributed their respective only you and Chief Obasanjo have the distinction of ruling government that promised change; and a people impatiently quotas to Nigeria’s woes. Gen. Yakubu Gowon belonged to Nigeria, both as military heads of state and elected waiting for that difference. Failure is, therefore, not an opthe military age of innocence. Though he was a gentleman of presidents. Indeed, the Murtala-Obasanjo government, you tion. gentlemen, his youthful mistakes continue to plague the counwill recall, was the one you traced your power DNA to, at That is why, Mr. President, you must maintain a clear try. your first coming on 31 December 1983. But inasmuch as head. No matter what happens, you must not surrender your Gen. Ibrahim Babangida’s power waywardness cost NigeGen. Obasanjo promised change, he delivered little of that. presidency to anyone. You should also not allow anyone to ria dear. Apart from the mass corruption his tenure enProof? Gen. Obasanjo attained distinction as the first Africome between you and your vice president. throned, his unprecedented annulment of a free election alcan military strongman to hand over to an elected president Despite the excitement in the Senate and House of Repremost torpedoed the country. as promised. But what all that achieved was the collapse of sentatives, a united presidency, with the president seeing to Chief Ernest Shonekan is dear to his family and the Shehu Shagari Presidency after only four years and three politics; and the vice president bossing policy and getting his relations. But in Nigeria’s power matrix, he continues to months, logging at its exit an egregiously rigged 1983 genhands real dirty with bolts and nuts, may well be the key to symbolise provocative subversion, of both the democratic eral elections. You took over back then to, in your own very your success. principle and of fairness and equity, by accepting to head the words, “clear the Augean stable” Please, please Mr. President, don’t let anyone give you the so-called Interim National Government (ING) — which a court President Obasanjo’s second coming hardly fared better, business-as-usual fable that the veepee is only a spare declared illegal — to wilfully subvert Abiola’s presidential though after his two-term, eight-year presidency, the present tyre. Everyone on your ticket must add value — and your mandate. is nothing but solid gold. So, mine it!

Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar would probably bear on his ‘A united presidency, with the presi- conscience, to his grave, Chief Moshood Abiola’s sudden death veepee If you succeed, Mr. President, you would have imprinted dent seeing to politics; and the vice in detention. But he saved the military from further humili- yourself in the hearts of Nigerians. Not only that: you would have ennobled NCS as a true Areopagus: a heroic chamber of by, post-haste, leading them back to the barracks; and president bossing policy and getting ation genuine Nigerian heroes, not a barely tolerated group of handing power to an elected presidency in 1999. establishment drafts. his hands real dirty with bolts and As a unit then, this is an undistinguished group of leaders, May God gift you the wisdom and temperament to act right, even if, as individuals, they may be distinguished Nigerians. nuts, holds the key to your success’ Mr. President.

So, Mr. President: do you, at the end of your tenure, want to

A

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epublican ipples

SIDE ushering the chariot of change and its riders and with it the promise of new possibilities, the Fourth Republic should consider itself in great debt to Providence that the PDP’s quest to retain power at the centre was aborted on March 28. Imagine, we are not even a month into the new season; yet yesterday’s carefully orchestrated overstatements, lies and other prognostications about the economy are already coming apart – not incrementally as one might expect – but at the speed of light. Before now, we thought that things were bad enough – so bad that our tearful “reformer of the unreformable”, her imperial majesty, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, would deign to lament about “a deliberate attempt to sabotage the economy and bring it to a halt”. That was after she pronounced the whining debtorgovernors fiscally irresponsible –never mind that her Finance Ministry had reportedly borrowed N473 billion in the course of four months to meet recurrent expenditure, including salaries and overheads for the workers in the federal bureaucracy.

Merely from the look of things, the true picture of the actual shape of the economy has only begun to emerge.

However, if we go by the findings by the Ahmed Joda-led transition committee, it is worse than previously imagined.

Sure, Nigerians cannot now rightly claim ignorance of the industrial scale theft said to bleed the nation’s entire oil output by some 20 percent. After all, that was supposed to be the price for Jonathan’s absentee government and its indifferent, free-wheeling ways. What is new is the revelation that the spendthrift administration known to have earned more than previous administrations combined, actually left a N7 trillion hole – as against its claim of N1.3 trillion – in the treasury.

Of course, we know the other factors gnawing away at the polity; two-thirds of the nation’s federating units already several months in arrears in their recurrent bills with majority having not the foggiest idea of how to get out the mess; there is also the shale revolution that has not only berthed in the current glut but has since eventuated in producer nations like Nigeria scampering to find new markets at the cost of marked discounts. By the way, could anyone have foreseen the 10 million barrels of Nigerian crude said to be stranded in foreign seas looking to find buyers three years ago? That of course is the new reality that we must live with.

To say that things could hardly be worse is merely understating the obvious.

Suddenly it’s like the nation is back to 1982/3. Then and now, oil was the trigger with corruption merely supplying the catalyst. As it was then, the economy was in deep crisis with civil servants owed arrears of salaries. President Shehu Shagari and his National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in their

To President Buhari

Policy Sanya Oni sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk 08051101841

The wage crisis famed moon-slide had defied gravity by returning itself to power. For an answer to the grave crisis, the administration sought refuge in a hastily conceived Economic Stabilisation Act otherwise called austerity measures. The measures came in doses of massive cutbacks in public spending, rationalisation of the bureaucracy, rationing of essential commodities – measures that would seem ordinarily just fine except that they fell short in the areas that really matter – which is production to take care of the nation’s needs. As it would turn out, the economy simply plunged further and further into crisis until the military finally terminated the nightmares of the citizens in the hand of that clueless regime.

The nation is luckier this time around. Like the old man Joda said, I shudder to imagine what would have happened had the PDP returned to power under the current circumstances. Imagine the utterly corrupt and unimaginative PDP federal government asking ordinary citizens to make further sacrifices after putting their future in jeopardy? That would be akin to a declaration of war.

That is where the Buhari administration comes in. But then, as we are sooner going to be finding out, Providence can sometimes be a tough caller. Agreed, the new administration offers more than mere prospects of new beginnings; a golden opportunity for a national conversation about the missed opportunities and hence the prospect that a different path could be charted to the future. That is as far as it goes.

Nothing is guaranteed. So, as they say, the future is what we make of it!

Aside not having the luxury of time, the Buhari administration would certainly be tasked in multiple fronts in the coming days. Most obvious is what to do with the issue of the bankrupt states. Somehow, everyone seems to imagine that a bailout therapy would do some magic. Here, the ar-

gument goes that the Federal Government, as lender of last resort, can always get the Central Bank of Nigeria to use the traditional tool – ways and means – to fix the problem in the short term. So what happens in the medium to long term?

Put the affected states on the life support until things get better? And how far can we go in the use of the ways and means instrument which is basically about printing new notes without going the way of Zimbabwe where you require a glistening one hundred trillion dollar bill to pay for a lunch pack for two?

I certainly do not envy the administration.

The other issue is what to do with the fuel subsidy which currently saps the nation of a sizeable chunk of its vital juice.

Again, given the state of the nation’s finances, I do not think that the options are open-ended. As it stands, it is one demon that the administration would have to confront headlong as soon as possible. We have certainly gone past the debate on whether or not to let go of the subsidy. It is as wasteful as it is unsustainable. The same goes for the refineries said to have been primed to resume production in the coming weeks; the news of their imminent restoration should merely come with the prospect of enhanced value at sale. It is time to let go of all of them.

What about stripping the Leviathan – the Federal Government – of a part of its 54 percent share from the federation account? I agree that it might be necessary at some point; however, if you ask me, I would say it is merely facet of the sharing mentality that has produced the club of leeches called states. The same about the need to revamp states tax infrastructure. Surely, these are ordinary governance issues which require no emergency to either contemplate or undertake.

But then, the much we know is that Nigeria has never been under anything but an emergency.

‘We have certainly gone past the debate on whether or not to let go of the subsidy. It is as wasteful as it is unsustainable. The same goes for the refineries said to have been primed to resume production in the coming weeks; the news of their imminent restoration should merely come with the prospect of enhanced value at sale. It is time to let go of all of them’

22

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

COMMENTS

D

EMOCRACY is held to be the most advanced and judicious form of governance developed by man. It gives people a say in how their affairs are ordered and to choose those to superintendent over their affairs. Therein lies its beauty.

But it is also a system that accommodates the ugly, the malcontent and even those working to subvert its tenets. The flaws in the system have become worryingly visible, essentially because of the character of politicians and their do-or-die notion of politics. Many practitioners of the art in our clime see political enterprise solely within the prism of capturing power and deploying the most Machiavellian methods and tactics to realise their ambition. The endpoint of this conception of politics is largely prebendal: crude acquisition of power for primitive accumulation in furtherance of a selfish, hedonistic lifestyle as opposed to working in the service of the people.

This mindset undoubtedly undergirds the unfolding political macabre dance in Bayelsa State by a fractious elite formation masquerading as the new conscience of the people but which, in fact, is united by the pursuit of greed. Their kind is all too familiar and their motive clear: acquire political power by means more foul than fair and then set upon the public treasury with reckless abandon.

As late Professor Claude Ake noted, the problem with development in Africa is not so much that development has failed but that it was never really on the agenda of the rulers in the first place. It is the politics of prebendalism as popularly analysed by Professor Richard Joseph. What seems to matter to this set of politicians is never the germane question of the utility of political power in relation to the interest of the people.

The undiscerning would hardly equate the foregoing mindset with the recent advertorial published in The Nation by the self-styled Bayelsa Peoples Consultative Assembly. There is a pretended public spiritedness as the motivation but it was so

Bayelsa: What manner of assembly?

By Daniel Iworiso-Markson much high falutin nonsense.

The publication, among other things, raised posers on alleged high-handedness by the state government in running its affairs, claimed that successive governments in the state had not met the expectations of the people in terms of development and wondered “whether or not the strategic interest of our dear state can still be served through the PDP which has become the opposition party at the federal level and in many states of the country”.

Accordingly, the purported assembly declared in the 4th of its 5-point resolutions: “As a result of this state of affairs in governance and in the PDP, the Bayelsa Peoples Consultative Assembly resolves to align ourselves with the APC to effect a new direction in the governance of the state”.

Now, are they leaving the PDP because it lost election at the centre and thus lost the privilege to enjoy unmerited favour? And are they now seeking power elsewhere perhaps to continue to enjoy privileges attached to power which they are in danger of losing or are they out to serve the people? What is their objective in politics?

To be sure, everyone is entitled to exercise their freedom of association and to change political parties as they deem expedient.

What they are not entitled to do unchallenged is to clothe their selfish motivation with the robe of principled conviction and high-minded politics.

A cursory look at the names on the attendance list as published and then discerning their hidden promoters indicate that they

‘Without question, the incumbent Restoration Government has in the last three years made its presence felt in major areas of development: from free, compulsory and qualitative education to health, landmark infrastructure and economic empowerment. And for the first time, there is an articulated, overarching vision of development rooted in good governance’

I

F there were any doubts about the capacity of the new Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara, his actions in his first few days in office have shown that he is a man with a clear sense of direction and focus.

While he would have been expected to be basking in the euphoria of victory and relishing the defeat of his opponents in the election that produced him as Speaker, he has chosen instead to reconcile all parties as part of his belief that “there is no victor and no vanquished in the House leadership election.”

In his recent meetings with state caucuses, the Speaker has consistently stated that he is not willing to pay back any group or lawmakers that did not support his bid for the exalted office. Instead, he insists that all heads must come together to ensure that the 8th Assembly does not fail in its responsibility to the citizens of Nigeria.

Not a man of many words, it is pertinent to note that in his selection process for chairmen of adhoc committees, Hon Sani Zoro, a staunch supporter of Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, his major contender for the speakership, was selected to run one of the most important and key committees that is charged with the huge responsibility of projecting the House‘s image: the Media and Public Affairs Committee.

Zoro hails from Jigawa State where no legislator supported the bid of Dogara for the leadership of the Green Chamber. This exemplifies his resolve to work for the progress of the entire House of Representatives and the nation as a whole without recourse to groups, party or zonal affiliations but as a collective unit to achieve the legislative agenda of the 8th Assembly which is ultimately aimed at improving the well-being of the ordinary Nigerian.

To achieve this and knowing that the more hands on deck, the easier the job, the Speaker had further appealed to Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, who he noted had fought a good fight and who has served the House and the nation with distinction, to join him so together they will heal the wounds and divisions of the

were all until recently members of the PDP, who at one point or the other, also occupied important positions in government both at the state and federal levels. Now with President Goodluck Jonathan no longer in power, they have suddenly found everything wrong with the PDP and with the state government whose largesse they had hitherto enjoyed.

What is in fact playing out is an offshoot of the governor’s long-running battle with this class of politicians on the proper utilisation of state resources. Are these resources to be used to serve the people or are they to be cornered to serve the greed of a few? The selfish conception of the purpose of politics and power is what retarded development in the state since the era of the late statesman, Chief Milford Okilo.

Now, however Bayelsans can never exchange the present peace and tranquility in the state as well as the unprecedented level of development for the chaos and unmitigated rent culture of the past.

To the unsuspecting public, the so-called consultative assembly sounded public-spirited but it is all a charade: the driving force of the members is to return the state to the status quo ante where the resources were shared among a few greedy lot at the expense of state development and the welfare of the people. These are the same set of people who, since 1999, have benefitted in state and federal appointments which came with huge influence and privileges. But what did they do with such power and influence? What has been their vision and achievements in the economic development of the state and empowerment of Bayelsans? These people have no record of distinction in personal enterprise, they never set up or run any business neither are they noted for empowering the people beyond meagre handouts. Their business was profiteering in politics, pure and simple. Their modus operandi, which is repeated ad nauseum, is to gang up against the government of the day to press for unreasonable demands and when such is resisted, they resort to threats, blackmail and promote instability. These same people have promoted a culture of impunity in governance over time resulting in wanton looting .

All they want is free access to money which

will enable them to live big at the expense of quality education for the people, at the expense of good medicare, infrastructure and employment generation. Academic to them are visions of economic diversification to change Bayelsa State from being a civil service state to a productive economy that can create good jobs and ensure long term, solid development.

These are the dividing lines between the new found voices in the Consultative Assembly and the Restoration Government headed by Governor Seriake Dickson in Bayelsa State.

Without question, the incumbent Restoration Government has in the last three years made its presence felt in major areas of development: from free, compulsory and qualitative education to health, landmark infrastructure and economic empowerment. And for the first time, there is an articulated, overarching vision of development rooted in good governance. Resetting the apparatus of government has led to greater efficiency and the remarkable progress so far is well known to all, except the power mongers.

The creed of transparency and accountability has paid off, leading to blockage of leakages and is the reason the inherited huge wage bill of N6 billion came down to N4 billion monthly and why the state government is among those that can still pay salaries regularly till date in spite of the suffocating economic situation in the country.

The issue in the state is not the orchestrated discontent we see in the media but the fact that the era of special interests is gone for good. The profiteers from the misery of our people, like all vested interests who benefit from such ungodly enterprise are not happy.

Thus joining the opposition by anybody is not the issue. What is their motivation? Although it is now much harder for them to prevail, no matter how they try in a free and fair election, judging by what is on the ground in the state, Bayelsans and the general public should ask those in the so-called assembly about their antecedents and what roles they have played in development of the state since they had all along been part and parcel of the past governments they are now discrediting? In which case, they are guilty as well. So, how can they represent any part of the future of Bayelsa State?

These are yesterday’s men seeking yet again to confiscate Bayelsa’s future. This time, our people will not allow them.

• Iworiso-Markson, is Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Bayelsa State Governor

Dogara: Building bridges

By Turaki Adamu Hassan contest and work to deliver good legislation and good government to our people.

I recall in his inaugural speech wherein he stated: “Elections are over. The onerous task of governance begins. I plead with all the supporters of both camps in this election to quickly bury the hatchet and forge a united front to tackle the myriads of problems facing the nation”.

Getting down to legislative business barely two weeks after his election, he has shown the direction that the House will take in the next four years with the proposed 8th Assembly Legislative Agenda. This is in line with his position that as a parliament, they can only justify the confidence of Nigerians by keeping faith with their duties of law making, representation and oversight of the executive arm of government.

But this is not without his recognition of the fact that in their responsibility for checking and balancing the executive, good governance can only be effected when all arms of government are working in harmony and partnership to bring about the changes voted for by Nigerians on March 28.

Highlights of the legislative proposals include enhancing the independence and autonomy of the House of Representatives while maintaining a robust and cooperative relationship with the executive; overhauling the budgetary processes of the National Assembly; improved oversight coordination and processes; strengthening the committees of the House of Representatives; transparency and accountability on the issue of salaries, allowances and running cost of the legislature and improving communications with the general public.

Others include conducting legislative needs assessment; review of the Standing Orders of

the House; introduction of a robust Code of Conduct for members; Strengthening the committees of the House of Representatives; improving physical structures and equipment used in the House; priority legislation, other legislative measures and conclusion of outstanding bills from the 7th House of Representatives.

Introducing the agenda, Dogara further stated, “The 8th House of Representatives will concentrate on legislation that will bring the changes required and voted for by Nigerians.

Legislative measures that will tackle the issue of endemic unemployment crises; insecurity of lives and property; poverty alleviation; health and education; endemic corruption; electricity and energy crises; general infrastructure decay etc. We shall work closely and speedily to pass legislation that will tackle these matters.”

His proposal to introduce sectoral debates on various aspects of the Nigerian economy is also a right step in the right direction. This proposal envisages that the House will designate specific legislative sitting days or weeks in its calendar specifically for discussion on various problems facing the nation.

Such identified themes, sectors, areas or problems include - unemployment, health, education and social services; power/energy sector, oil and gas, science and technology; commerce and industry; transportation; telecommunications; agriculture; mining; manufacturing; diversification of the economy, finance, corruption, security matters, infrastructure etc.

These debates, according to the Honourable Speaker, will lead to crafting of new laws or amendment to existing ones or indeed make recommendations on how to better manage the economy. In the coming days, nay weeks, the hallowed Green chamber will subject the draft agenda to scrutiny by all members.

Undoubtedbly, with his resolve to build bridges, mend fences and extend olive branch to all members alike, there is no doubt that like his elder brother and predecessor Rt. Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal did, Dogara, has taken the path of consolidating on the gains and achievements of the 7th House. Like the Biblical John the Baptist who prepared the way for the Lord, Tambuwal had prepared the way for Dogara to consolidate on.

Interestingly, the new Speaker is already armed with a well laid out plan of action which is an indicative of the fact that the 8th Assembly under his leadership will demonstrate to the world that Nigeria‘s legislature is living up to the dreams and aspirations of our founding fathers by leaving a legacy of an accountable, autonomous, focused, progressive and united House capable of playing its role as the stabilizing force in our polity as the House of the Nigerian people.

Let it be told from here that the House under Dogara, will continue to remain the repository of the democratic hopes and ambitions of the Nigerian people.

• Hassan is Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to the Speaker.

‘Undoubtedbly, with his resolve to build bridges, mend fences and extend olive branch to all members alike, there is no doubt that like his elder brother and predecessor Rt. Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal did, Dogara, has taken the path of consolidating on the gains and achievements of the 7th House’

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

25 To make Nigerian lawyers really relevant in the competitive global ’market, there is the need for Nigerian Universities to ensure that undergraduate students, especially in Law, undergo entrepreneurial training to endow them with skill and competences that can empower them to be self-employed and sharpen their capacity to have legitimate sources/streams of income

’

E-mail:- law@thenationonlineng.net

See page 27

A report that senators will draw N8.64billion as wardrobe allowance sparked a huge row last week. The tension was doused following a clarification that they would get N506,600 each as dressing allowance. Does such profligacy fly in the face of dwindling resources and some states, inability to pay salaries? No, say some lawyers who are demanding a downward review of public officials’ salaries and elimination of some allowances to save cost. They also want the laws on remuneration of public officials reviewed to reflect present realities, writes JOSEPH JIBUEZE.

• National Assembly chamber

Breaking the bank for lawmakers L

AWMAKERS enjoy the best of two worlds. They do not work full time, yet the country breaks the bank for them. Last week, a report that senators would earn N8.64billion as wardrobe allowance sparked a huge uproar. In the face of cash crunch, with some states unable to pay salaries, many considered it insensitive and a rip-off.

But, Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMFAC) Chairman Mr. Elias Mbam during a courtesy visit to Senate President Bukola Saraki, said each senator would earn N506, 600 as dressing allowance.

“It is 25 per cent of the basic salary for senators and if you apply that, every senator will receive N506, 600 per annum.

House of Representatives members receive less but I don’t have the figure,” he said.

What do senators earn?

INSIDE:

Based on the 2007 RMFAC approved remuneration for National Assembly members, the lawmakers’ allowances include accommodation (Senator N4m, Rep N3.97m), vehicle loan (Senator N8m, Rep N6.948m), furniture (Senator N6m, Rep N5.956m) and severance gratuity (Senator N6m, Rep N5.956m), which are due once in four years.

Other allowances, which are payable every year, are car maintenance (Senator N1.52m, Rep N595,563), constituency (Senator N5m, Rep N1.687m), domestic staff (Senator N1.5m, Rep N1.488m), personal assistant (Senator N506,600; Rep N496,303), entertainment (Senator N202,640, Rep N198,521),

Wanted: More women in politics -Page 28

• Lawyers: how to reduce cost of governance

recess (Senator N202,640; Rep N198,521), utilities (Senator N607,920; Rep N397,042), newspaper/periodicals (Senator N303,960; Rep N297,781), house maintenance (Senator N101,320; Rep N99,260) and wardrobe.

Nigerian lawmakers are said to receive salaries which rank the highest in the world, according to a report by The Economist magazine. The report revealed that with a basic salary of $189,500 per annum (about N30.6m), they were the highest paid lawmakers in the world.

According to the report, the basic salary (which excludes allowances) of a Nigerian lawmaker is 116 times the country’s GDP per person of $1,600. The $189,500 earned annually by each Nigerian legislator is estimated to be 52 per cent higher than what Kenya legislators, who are the second highest paid lawmakers, earned.

‘When we remove all the extravagant allowances and reduce the remuneration attached to political office, we would make it unattractive and then we would begin to attract the kind of good people with a genuine desire to serve that would move this country forward. We would also have drastically reduced the cost of governance’

Lawyers seek harmonisation of business laws -Page 38

The figures put salaries of Senators and House of Representatives members way beyond those received by fellow parliamentarians in the 29 countries whose data was analysed by the magazine. In terms of volume of cash earnings, the Nigerian legislators beat their counterparts in Britain who take $105,400 yearly, as well as those in the United States ($174,000), France ($85,900), South Africa ($104,000), Kenya ($74,500), Saudi Arabia ($64,000) and Brazil ($157,600).

Other yearly salary details published by The Economist two years ago are those of lawmakers in Ghana ($46,500), Indonesia ($65,800), Thailand ($43,800), India ($11,200), Italy ($182,000), Bangladesh ($4,000), Israel ($114,800), Hong Kong ($130,700), Japan ($149,700), Singapore ($154,000), Canada ($154,000), New Zealand ($112,500), Germany ($119,500), Ireland ($120,400), Pakistan ($3,500), Malaysia ($25,300), Sweden ($99,300), Sri Lanka ($5,100), Spain ($43,900) and Norway ($138,000).

Constitutional lawyer Prof Itse Sagay (SAN) said the lawmakers’ earning was based on what he called “the locust mentality”.

“What is particularly disturbing is that the National Assembly is completely impervious to public outrage,” he said.

According to Sagay, in spite of dismal standard of living and poverty, coupled with low income per capita, past lawmakers awarded themselves the highest salaries and allowances in •Continued on page 26

Politics solely for material gain -Page 39

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

26

LAW COVER CONT’D

How to reduce cost of governance, by lawyers •Continued from page 25

the world.

He recalled that in 2009, a senator earned N240million in salaries and allowances, while a member of the House of Representatives earned N203.7million. Converted to dollars at then existing rates, a senator earned $1.7million while his counterpart in America earned $174,000.

“President Obama, president of the richest country in the world, earns $400,000 per annum.

The British Prime Minister earns 190,000 pounds.

A senator in Nigeria, one of the poorest countries in the world, earned $1.7million per annum. It is absurd. It is, as someone called it, a feeding frenzy,” Sagay said.

Secrecy of actual earnings The exact amount lawmakers earn in Nigeria is still shrouded in secrecy. Hundreds of billions voted into the National Assembly are allegedly never broken down, which should have shown at least a summary of the legislators’ exact earnings. It has also been alleged that senators allocate money to themselves way above RMAFC stipulations.

Co-founder of Newswatch magazine, Mr Ray Ekpu, who was a member of the last National Conference, criticised the National Assembly for acting above the law on their remuneration.

He said: “You cannot have a National Assembly that operates above the law. Right now, that is what happens. I give a few examples – we spoke to the former Head of RMFAC that is supposed to decide the salaries of public servants and he said that the National Assembly ignored the prescription of the commission and decided on paying itself what it wanted to pay.

“That is a shame because that is an assembly that is supposed to make laws and it cannot be above the law as prescribed by the country. That is the problem. So if they do that, it is a disservice to Nigeria. And you know one of the media agencies as a way of tasting the vitality of the Freedom of Information Act has sent a letter to the National Assembly asking them to inform them on the salaries and allowances of the legislators. They have not complied with that.”

• Sagay

• Oguntade

Reducing cost of governance Analysts say corruption-induced wastage would not be easily stopped because its protagonists or beneficiaries are known to always put up some resistance. However, it will require a focused and determined political will on the part of the government of the day. It will involve curtailing the excesses of a powerful privileged class which has suddenly supplanted the yearnings and aspirations of teeming Nigerians with its bloated appetite for opulent and ostentatious lifestyles.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr George Oguntade, believes what the lawmakers earn do not reflect present realities.

“Quite frankly, I find it difficult to comprehend the basis upon which the RMFAC has allocated so much money to lawmakers by way of allowances and remuneration, especially given the realities on ground today.

“Laws are never static and should be continually reviewed to reflect the realities in which society finds itself. This is the essence of the Nigerian Law Review Commission. The RMAFC clearly needs to be reviewed and amended though I foresee obstacles in the path of this given that the amenders are major beneficiaries of the law as it currently stands. I believe Nigerians should agitate for an immediate review and put pressure on the National Assembly to give priority to this,” he said.

Reducing the cost of governance will mean cutting down on some of the allowances, such as the one for clothing, Oguntade said.

His words: “Many of these lawmakers are already affluent in their own right given where they are coming from and can certainly do without funds that can be utilised in developing the country. We must not continue to delude ourselves by paying jumbo allowances to lawmakers when we can ill afford to.”

It is also significant that richer countries pay their lawmakers far lesser. Said Oguntade: “Even countries that have the financial capability to do so do not pay much to their lawmakers. It amounts to fiscal irresponsibility and I believe the lawmakers ought to be in the vanguard of calling for the urgent review of the RMAFC. Senegal recently demonstrated fiscal responsibility when it recently voted to abolish its Senate and by so doing, save the sum of US$15million annually and divert same to infrastructural development.”

The senior advocate believes lawmakers should not be paid salaries or constituency allowances, the purpose of which is never verified.

“I also believe that lawmakers should only be

of the federal budget. Why will NNPC withdraw from source unilaterally the amount determined by it as forming the recurrent expenditure and remitting paltry sum to the Federation Account?

We need to look at such laws that impinge and impede progress.

“When you spend 72.3 percent of your budget on recurrent expenditure, leaving 27. 7 percent for debt servicing and capital expenditure, certainly, there is no way you can improve on the welfare if the people. The cost of governance in Nigeria is humongous,” he said.

The United States, the most powerful and richest country in the world, is said to have a comparatively slimmer and more cost effective bureaucracy than Nigeria. It has less than 20 federal ministries and secretaries of state (equivalent to Nigeria’s ministers). The British cabinet is smaller than that of Nigeria, which has a minimum of 37 due to Federal Character.

Observers say President Buhari’s objective of economic transformation will be made a lot easier if he can find a way of reducing the huge economic and financial burden of running this country.

Chairman, Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Mr Alex Muoka believes public service should be about service to humanity and not an avenue for self-enrichment.

“I feel that representative or elective government positions should be seen as more of a call to serve than anything else. Therefore, people who vie for such offices should expect a severe drop in their income rather than the opposite.

“The remuneration attached to such offices should be very basic and almost meagre. It is the prestige that the office carries and the clout and network that should be the payoff. Our situation is the opposite, thus some people go into government to make more money than they could ever have hoped to make from employment or business.

“When we remove all the extravagant allowances and reduce the remuneration attached to political office, we would make it unattractive and then we would begin to attract the kind of good people with a genuine desire to serve that would move this country forward. We would also have drastically reduced the cost of governance,” Muoka said

‘Expunge some allowances’ • Muoka

entitled to sitting allowances as opposed to a yearly salary. As it is, they spend more time on recess than on real legislative duties and still get paid for the entire year. The country is short changed by this incongruous position and it certainly calls for a review.

“Also, the retinue of aides of lawmakers needs to be reduced drastically. Lawmakers are only able to afford this because they get paid all kinds of allowances, including so-called ‘constituency allowances’. It is incredible that no audit is ever conducted to ascertain the projects to which the so- called ‘constituency allowances’ have been applied to.

“Given the dwindling economy, it is imperative that the lawmakers follow the recent example of the President by agreeing to a substantial reduction in the annual funds allocated to them alone,” Oguntade said.

Reducing recurrent expenditure To save cost, experts say there is need to substantially cut down on the high recurrent expenditure which had become the norm in federal budgets. Development, they said, would remain a mirage if recurrent expenditure continued to surpass capital budgetary allocations.

Observers say implementing the 2012 Stephen Orosanye-led Presidential Committee on Rehabilitation and Restructuring of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies report would help save cost. The committee recommended efficient down-sizing or consolidation of several ministries, department and agencies in order to check wasteful duplicity of government functions and overhead costs.

There have also been calls for a unicameral legislature which will be run on a part-time basis where the legislature will be constituted by Nigerians who are already gainfully employed in other vocations other than politics.

A former senator, Smart Adeyemi: “We should run a unicameral system and one chamber, so that we can provide water, good roads, electricity and life for people rather than catering for a large number of people who are honourable members or distinguished senators.

“The process of running government should not be more costly than what the system will

• Ofuokwu

give to the people. Is it not madness for a governor to appoint 70 special assistants? It is fraud!”

There is also the need to cut down on number of aides and political appointees. President and Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) Mrs. Debola Osibogun advised the government to cut down on the retinue of aides attached to heads of ministries, department and agencies.

“The most important issue which the new federal government must address is the high cost of governance. If you look at the number of special advisers and personal assistants, you will notice that they have rendered the bureaucrats who are in the ministries almost redundant and they get paid. They should allow them to do their jobs and reduce the number of people they bring when they get appointed,” she said.

The government has also been urged to focus on increasing its internally generated revenue (IGR) by harnessing other non-oil sectors.

Analysts say Section 22 (1) and (2) of the 2007 Fiscal Responsibility Act has created some loopholes that mean little is remitted to the government treasury. The Nigerian National Petroleum Coorporation (NNPC) and its subsidiaries were discovered to have internally generated as high as N6.20trillion between 2009 and 2011, but made zero remittance, simply because they declared zero operating surpluses.

It has also been suggested that a law should be enacted that will mandate government to henceforth use IGR for recurrent expenses while externally generated revenues only spent on capital projects.

It is believed that should this law be enforced, a revenue inward-looking government should hardly waste any time in sealing off the leakages created in Section 22 (1) of Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007 by making sure that all its IGR are paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund Account, where no agency of government should have any drawing right to the account.

A lawyer and a delegate to the National Conference, Chief Bisi Adegbuyi, said the law which allows parastatals to withdraw from the source, the recurrent expenditure content of their budget before remitting whatever remains to the Federation Account, must be reviewed.

“That is the biggest drain pipe and the huge component of the recurrent expenditure content

A Constitutional lawyer, Mr Ike Ofuokwu, called for the abolition of most of the allowances paid lawmakers.

“It is ludicrous, obscene and a violent rape on the Nigerian economy for members of the National Assembly to earn wardrobe allowance where over 65 per cent of the workforce they represent are not paid their salaries for several months now.

“The RMAFC has on its own part over the years become a white elephant project on the Nigerian nation. They should be scrapped and tried in a court of competent jurisdiction for irresponsible fiscal policies that are not in conformity with economic realities and for a deliberate and calculated attempt to bankrupt this nation. I strongly suggest that we should return to the wages and salaries commission.

“I advise members of the National Assembly to speak in one voice and condemn this act of economic terrorism on the Nigerian state or else it will be seen as an act of parliamentary gang-up against the Nigerian workers.

“During campaigns and even after the inauguration, we saw them all adorning flowing lace agbada and designer suits. Of what benefit other than parliamentary stealing is the wardrobe allowance? Some of them are already on salary and pensions for life. Their states are already bleeding as a result of their misadventure in the politics of their states.

“We can now see why our legislators are the highest paid in the world. This is one of the few instances you will find them speak in one voice without a dissenting vote and without party affiliation.

“To reduce the cost of governance, most of the allowances paid members of the National Assembly should be expunged. The job should be made part time and less attractive. By so doing, it will attract brilliant, selfless and financially independent men and women of character and morals,” Ofuokwu said.

However, Mbam said that RMFAC would soon review downward lawmakers’ allowances, taking into consideration state of the economy, rate of inflation, capacity to pay, and the reality of the day.

“The commission is currently reviewing the 2008 Remuneration Act and hopefully we expect it will be ready by the end of the third quarter and once we are ready, we will make it public and of course, present it to the National Assembly,” he said.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

27

LAW & SOCIETY A lawyer, Tunde Olofintila, identifies other employment opportunities for lawyers outside the courtroom

Don tasks stakeholders on credible electoral system

Boosting employment opportunities for lawyers

W

HEN lawyers gather, be it in the hallowed bowels of the court and tribunal halls where they slug it out to resolve the mystery of legal cases or at workshops, seminars or learned conferences where they dig deep into the foundation, practice and interpretation of Law, the attitude, colour and character of their gathering are always the same: some serious business.

The recently concluded 48th Conference of the Nigerian Association of Law Teachers (NALT) was no exemption to this norm and time-tested practice.

It was serious business right from the opening ceremonies when the frontline legal icon and Founder of AfeBabalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) and the Hon. Justice IbrahimTanko Muhammad of the Supreme Court addressed the Law Teachers and wittingly or unwittingly set the agenda for this year’s Conference. As it were, majority of what the duo said at the opening ceremonies later formed the pith of the deliberations of the Conferees and the meat of their communique.

In tandem with the theme for the Conference “Mainstreaming Interdisciplinary Approach to Legal Education: Imperatives for the Development of Nigeria”, Babalola, a man who roars where angels tremble to whisper,frontally tackled such contentious issues as the place and import of Law Teachers as experts and specialists in Law, funding of quality Education, admission into Colleges/Faculties of Law, the running of the Law School, Interdisciplinary Approach to Legal Education and appointment of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) as well as Extension of Funds to Non-Profit Private Universities. Such weighty issues could not have escaped the powerful rays of his searchlight.

For example, Babalola would not fathom why it is difficult for Nigeria to step up the current allocation of about 7% of its national budget to fund education to meet the UNESCO recommendation of at least 25% of the national budget of every country should be dedicated to education, the fact that it has to grapple with other matters such as health care delivery, security and infrastructural development as well as funding of education notwithstanding.

He would not be taken in on why the annual budget of $7,130,137,243 which translates to N1,212,123,331,310 for North California State University in 2012 could be more than the Federal Government of Nigeria’s budget of N495,456,130,065 for 50 Federal Universities and UBE (Universal Basic Education) which translates to 40.88% of the budget allocation of American University within the same time frame.

As for the Hon. Justice Muhammad who stood in for the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the Hon. Justice Mahmoud Muhammad, he counselled all lawyers, Judges, Law teachers and indeed all stakeholders in the legal profession to play significant roles in sanitizing the legal profession by identifying and flushing out all the bad eggs in order to restore the dignity

and honour that had been the hallmark of the noble profession in yester years.

According to Muhammad, the legal profession has been facing a lot of challenges from within and from without as a result of “bad eggs amongst (some) practising lawyers, (some Judges) and even from Academics” and therefore implored the Law teachers, whom he described as “a collection of great minds who have the onerous responsibility of moulding the character and minds of students, for positive contributions to the political development of this country”.

After four days of rigorous and painstaking sessions and copious drinking from the fountain of experience and knowledge of some erudite Judicial Officers of note, seasoned Legal Practitioners and Legal Academics from all over the world, the Law Teachers, through the communique at the end of their 48th Conference, returned a unanimous verdict that a lot still needs to be done to make the wheel of justice run faster and smoother in the overall interest of the administration of justice in Nigeria.

Determined to insulate Law graduates from the ever expanding unemployment market, the Association advocated for an immediate expansion and reformation of the curriculum of legal education in Nigeria to accommodate new areas of market economics and developmental studies such as Agriculture, Medical Science, Physiology, Nursing, Sociology, Psychology and Marketing among others, reasoning that such immediate expansion and reformation of the curriculum will guarantee rapid development of the different spheres of the society and make law graduates employable in different fields of human endeavor.

In addition to the above, they advocated that a new curriculum with respect to cyber-law should be developed for Nigerian Universities in keeping with the practice in other jurisdictions, such as the United States and the United Kingdom to enable Nigerian trained lawyers handle the increasing legal challenges thrown up by the fast growing cyber technology.

Considering the importance of Information and Communication Technology in the 21st Century and the concomitant phenomenon of rapid globalisation, it is imperative for Nigeria to facilitate the development of information and knowledge-based economy through the instrumentality of law. Consequently, Information Technology law should be carried out as a law course to be taught in the penultimate law of the basic law programme in all Faculties/Colleges of Law in Nigerian Universities.

To make Nigerian lawyers really relevant in the competitive global market, there is the need for Nigerian Universities to ensure that undergraduate students, especially in Law, undergo entrepreneurial training to endow them with skill and competences that can empower them to be selfemployed and sharpen their capacity to have legitimate sources/ streams of income. Legal education in Nigeria must strive to achieve synergy between the law graduate and the society in such a way that our universities will not just be turning out job seekers who become stranded when there is no vacancy in both the

T • Olofintila

public and private sectors.

In addition to the above, there is an urgent need to re-evaluate and re-engineer the Nigerian postgraduate education in Law in terms of designing more suitable research methodologies with a view to accommodating new frontiers of knowledge, Information and Communication Technology as well as entrepreneurial studies. This would in turn ensure response to current realities, global competitiveness and relevance.

With multi-disciplinary training, lawyers can be gainfully engaged in Advocacy, as Solicitors or in Educational and Research Institutes where the likes of Prof.

Ben Nwabueze, Prof. ItseSagay, Prof. G. A. Olawoyin, Prof. I.O Agbede and Prof. P.A. Oluyede as well as Prof. Ayo Ajomo among many others have made indelible marks.

Other areas Lawyers can be active players are Commerce, as Realtors, Government Agencies like National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (AFDAC), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as well as Governance and Politics where lawyers like Mahatma Gandhi, Winston Churchill, Oliver Tambo, Nelson Mandela, Margaret Thatcher, Abraham Lincoln, Barack Obama and Obafemi Awolowo have shaped the course of history and governance in the contemporary world.

Besides, many lawyers could be appointed as Special Advisers, Research Assistants in addition to working as Arbitrators, Concilliators and Mediators, in the Ministry of Justice, both at the Federal and State Civil Service, the International Civil Service, Field and Protection Officers in Conflict and Post Conflict areas, the Industries, Legislative Houses and of course, the Judiciary, where they could rise to become Magistrates and Judges.

NALT emphasised that conscious efforts should be made to adopt the comparative and global perspectives to legal education in Nigeria both at the Law Faculties and at the Law School against the current trend which focuses mainly on domestic/municipal laws which cannot guarantee the production of legal practitioners who can respond effectively to the growing challenges of globalization, adding that curricula of legal education in the Universities and the Law School should be restructured to incorporate comparative and global legal studies for the benefit of Nigerian lawyers who desire to play at the global level.

The law teachers would like the criteria for the appointment of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), particularly as they apply to the Academic Category, to be reviewed to accommodate more academics who meet the minimum requirements for appointment into the silk in tandem with the practice in England where every qualified applicant gets appointed as Queen’s Counsel (QC), the British equivalent of SAN.

HE Director-General of the Electoral Institute, Prof. Abubakar Momoh, has called on stakeholders in the electoral process to join hands with the INEC to evolve a credible electoral system for the country.

Prof. Momoh made the call at the Special Democracy Week Interactive Seminar and presentation of the book, Cases and Materials on Election Petitions and appeals (post 2010). He lauded the INEC for the progress made in the 2015 general elections which resulted in far less number of election petitions than what we had in the country in the past years, let us rethink our our electoral process and engagements.

By John Austine Unachukwu Legal Editor

He said: “ I commend the INEC chairman, Prof.

Attahiru Jega for the successful conduct of the elections, but as you know, INEC alone cannot do it. INEC has laid the foundation, it is left for the stakeholders including the media to build thereupon, it is the responsibility of every Nigerian to collaborate with the commission to ensure that we consolidate on the gains made so far, we are not perfect yet and we have to aspire to perfection” Prof.

Momoh said.

In his welcome address, the author of the book, Prof.

Yemi Akinseye-George thanked participants for making it to the occasion, he circulated a notice from the National Judicial Council (NJC), which frowned at the presentation of books in honour of serving Judges and Justices in the country.

Prof. Akinseye-George informed his guests that it was in response to this circular that he cancelled the presentation previously scheduled in honour of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa (JCA).

“Our electoral system has began to improve, we cannot leave politics for politicians alone. We are making progress though slowly”

•From left: Akinseye-George, Momoh and Acting Chief Judge FCT, Justice Ishaq Bello.

Nwaiwu for burial August 8

T

HE Nwaiwu family of Umuokoroala Okpuala, Umuegwu Okpuala, Egwukwu Autonomous Community, Umuahia North Local Governmemt Area, Abia State has formally announced the death of their son, father and husband, Dr. Amaechi Nwaiwu (SAN).

A statement signed by the deceased’s younger brother, Mr. Nnochiri Nwaiwu announced the death of Nwaiwu (SAN) on Sunday, June 14, 2015 having taken ill at a Church service where he was billed to deliver sermon on the occasion of the Fathers day celebration of the Methodist Church, Owerri.

“We have the consent of the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Niveria, His Eminence, Dr. Samuel Chukwuemeka Kanu Uche, to announce that the remains of Dr. Nwaiwu (SAN) will be laid to rest on Saturday, August 8, 2015.

There will be a service of songs in his Owerri residence on Thursday, August 6, and a valedictory Court session for him at the Hon. Justice Paul Onumajulu square, Imo State Judiciary, Owerri on August 7, by 10. Am. The late Nwaiwu is survived by an elderly mother, wife, children, brothers and a sister.

Meanwhile, lawyers have

•The late Nwaiwu

continued to mourn the demise of the consummate Bar man and a distinguished member of the legal profession.

In a statement, former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL) Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama (SAN) said: “ On behalf of my family and the entire staff of J-K Gadzama LLP, I commiserate with the Nwaiwu family on the sudden death of their beloved father and husband, Dr. Amaechi Nwaiwu, (SAN),who died on Sunday, June14, 2015.

“I am still very shocked beyond words and yet to come to terms with the fact that my

dear learned brother Silk is really no more. He was a very close friend, a dependable associate and a reliable colleague. Amaechi was also a devout Christian who lived an exemplary life worthy of emulation.

“He was a lawyer per excellence, indefatigable, easy going, dedicated and always committed. As a legal practitioner, his grit, wit, craft, sagacity, intellectual aplomb and intrepid proclivity to details distinguished him. His sudden demise has no doubt left a vacuum that can never be filled. He will forever be in our hearts. We Love you Amaechi but God loves you more and he knows the best.

“It is our fervent prayer that the Almighty God will grant us all, especially the immediate family, the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss. We have lost a rare gem. We will surely miss you my dear brother” In his reaction, Chief Chukwuma Ekomaru (SAN) said:” His death is the most shocking experience I have had in life. I was the last person he had official engagements with and we ate together. He was a brother to me and we were very close. Indeed, we have lost a shining light in the legal profession and in Nigeria”.

LEGAL DIARY

EBF elects new officers Saturday

T

HE Eastern Bar Forum (EBF) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) will on Saturday at the Bar Onitsha elect new officers to run the affairs of the Forum for the next two years.

Thewnew officers will take over from the Mr. Ogbonna Igwenyi led Executives of the Forum.

A statement from the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Mr Gerald Ezeh, states that the following candidates have been cleared to contest for the following offices: Messers Ekong E. O. Effiom, Ogbeche O.S. Richard and Essien Essien have been cleared for the office of Chairman; Barth Aniche N. Okoye-Aniche and Chukwu Arthur have been cleared to contest for the office of the Vice-Chairman, while Aguigwo Basil O. and Anosike E. Emeka have been cleared to contest for the office of Secretary and Mr. Onah Cyprain I. was cleared for the office of Treasurer.

The EBF Electoral Committee was set up at the general meeting of the Forum held on March 7, 2015 at Finotel Hotel, Awka, Anambra State

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

28

NATIONAL BAR The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, Lagos State Branch last week held its 2015 Law Week with stakeholders using the forum to advocate the participation of more women in governance, reports ADEBISI ONANUGA

Wanted: More women in politics W

OMEN lawyers, their male counterparts, activists and other stakeholders in the justice sector gathered in Lagos last week to review the positions of women in decision-making positions and suggest ways on how they can realise their potentials in contributing to national development.

The occasion was at the 2015 Law Week lecture of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, Lagos State Branch held at the Louis Mbanefo Rotunda Hall of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Kofo Abayomi, Victora Island. The main lecture of the Law Week with the theme: “Women in Power and Decision Making”, was held under the chairmanship of the former National Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dele Adesina.

Former Chairman, NBA Ikeja Branch, Monday Onyekachi Ubani, who delivered the lead paper, extolled prominent women leaders such as Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, Magaret Ekpo and Hajia Gambo Sawaba in Nigeria of recent past. He also noted that women of the modern Nigeria who found themselves in position of power and decision making, particularly in their professional callings, have always proved their capabilities and performed exceedingly well.

Ubani listed some of those in that category to include Prof. Grace Alele Williams, Prof. Adenike Grange, late Prof. Dora Akunyili, Dr. Ndi Okereke Onyiuke, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwezili, Folorunsho Alakija, Hajia Bola Shagaya among others. He remarked that their steady advancement in contributing to the socio-economic development of the country has impacted tremendously on the national polity.

He said successive governments responded positively to their achievements in many ways particularly through establishment of Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and its parastatal, National Council of Women’s Society (NCWS).

“The role of these women have no doubt lifted the pedigree and profile of Nigerian women as hard working, disciplined, thorough, creative, enterprising and productive. Their enormous contribution to national development is gradually engineering reevaluation of the role and capabilities of women in public capacities in positive light”, he noted.

He lamented however that despite the tremendous achievements of women, there still exist disparities between men and women in terms of access to socio-economic opportunities including participation in politics, noting that this makes it extremely difficult for them to fully realise their potentials. He regretted that despite that women constitute the greater number of registered voters in any election ever held in Nigeria, they are yet to experience full representative

•Vice President FIDA, Joy Ezeigbo and Martins

• From left: Magistrate Olagbegi- Adelabu, Adesina, Women Arise President, Okei-Odumakin and Ubani PHOTOS: NIYI ADENIRAN

positions. He emphasised that the role women play during the electioneering campaign and voting processes demands that they take pre-eminent positions in governance, considering their contributions and sacrifices to the success of various political parties in every election.

Ubani emphasised the need to reserve certain quotas for women in appointment into political and decision making positions, including political parties, which he noted is fast gaining recognition and acceptance around the world. He said that much advancement has been made in this respect in Europe and Western countries and in African countries like South Africa, Rwanda, Liberia.

He remarked that with the crisis of leadership that have bedeviled Nigerian society since independence and against the backdrop of the outstanding performance of women in public capacities, there seem to be a growing consensus that women could fill lead-

ership gap in providing the much desired good governance in Nigeria.

“To consolidate on the current gains, women leadership organisations, government and relevant stakeholders should continue to advocate for the revision of legislations to favour the protection of women from abuse, empower them economically and politically especially through the strengthening of affirmative action and allocation of quotas for women in politics and decision making positions”, he advised.

Adesina, who chaired the lecture also lamented the relegation of women to the back door when it comes to political power and position of authority. Whereas, women, according to him, have shown that they can make a difference in the society and take the front seat in positions of authority and decision making processes, Adesina argued that women are entitled to power and authority as much as men

noting “quite often, decisions made by women enjoy better painstakingness and greater maturity. Women in position of power and authority can be more calculating, systematic and strategic” stressing that it would be wrong to measure the potentials of women simply by their sex.

To support his views, Adesina listed women who have occupied positions of authority in the legal profession to include former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloma Mariam Muktar, the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, Justice Atinuke Ige, Chief Folake Solanke (SAN), Chief Priscilla Kuye (SAN), Chief Hairat Balogun among others. He described them as “ living legends of the legal profession, of high integrity. Enviable nobility and mentors to both men and women”.

He urged women to rise up and assert their position in all areas of endeavour and that the talk about women lib-

eration must be matched with works of liberation stressing “ the law has recognised the equality of all persons.

Any culture or tradition that is contrary to the stipulation of the law is illegal, null and void”.

Activist and President of Women Arise for Change Initiative, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin remarked that women have always been marginalised by men in the control of public life, noting that one role out of 50 roles given to women to play is seen as a priviledge, Okei-Odumakin also lamented that even when women gained opportunities to contest elections, they are repressed through votes by men. She pointed out that over time, women had demonstrated greater capacity for delievery than men in positions of authority and decision making. She, however, identified factors militating against women in occupying position of power to include financial power, the need to conquer fear, lack of support from fellow women among others.

“Women must support their fellow women to achieve because if we don’t believe in ourselves, men can never believe in us”, she advised, urging them to use their numerical strength to vote out men so that they can put themselves in positions of authority and decision making.

In a goodwill message to the association, Partner, Jackson, Etti and Edu Law Firm, Uwa Ohiku also identified some internal barriers militating against women and preventing them from making achievements. Ohiku noted that body language of women most time tend to present them as weak and timid persons and not articulate and vocal on issues. She urged women to shed the toga of timidity and speak out on issues where and when necessary instead of leaving it all to the men.

Earlier in her welcome address, the chairperson of FIDA in the state, Eliana Martins had explained that the theme was chosen to explore the obstacles and opportunities for women participation in all spheres of public and private life; address the challenges of legal reforms in eliminating all kinds of discrimination against women and project programmes that would encourage women’s access to decision making and participation in leadership among others.

Noting that the occasion coincided with the Day of the African Child, Martins said FIDA joined the celebration of the day with the rest of the world, adding that the association was mindful of the several challenges affecting the total well-being and development of the child. She explained that this was why FIDA planned a schools outreach as part of the activities of the Law Week to engage several children and young adults on the theme, “Emerging Issues on the Protection, Respect, Promotion and Realisation of Children’s Rights”.

Falana threatens legal action over Sexual Offences Bill

By Adebisi Onanuga

• Falana

L

AGOS lawyer, Femi Falana(SAN) has said that one of the 46 bills hurriedly passed into law by the last Senate cannot stand the test of time as it contained obnoxious provisions and discriminates against victims.

While the new bill criminalised the

defilement of children under 11 years, Falana noted that the minimum age of 18 years in the original Bill was in line with the provisions of the Child’s Rights Act, 2003 and the Child’s Rights Convention of the United Nations which has been ratified by Nigeria.

In a letter to nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka dated June 14, 2015, Falana and wife,Funmi accused the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Legal Matters for illegally removing the age of 18 years and replacing it with 11 years in the new bill.

The erudite lawyer and his wife Funmi, who is the founder of Women Empowerment and Legal Aid (WELA) claimed to have confirmed that the bill has not been forwarded to President Mohammadu Buhari for his assent as it has not been passed by the House of

Representatives.

They have however threatened legal action if the bill is eventually passed into law with its obnoxious provisions.

“We shall not hesitate to pray the Federal High Court to strike it down in view of Article 18(3) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (Cap A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 which has imposed a duty on the Government of Nigeria to “ensure the elimination of every discrimination against women and ensure the protection of the rights of the woman and the child, as stipulated in international declarations and conventions”, as declared in the letter written to Prof. Wole Soyinka.

The Falanas thanked Prof. Soyinka

for drawing the nation’s attention to the odious provision of the Sexual Offences Bill in their letter.

They stated in their letter to the nobel laureate the defunct the Senate of the 7th National Assembly, during its valedictory session, did not pay any attention to then provisions of the bill which was among the 46 bills hurriedly passed before their exit.

They recalled that Senator Chris Anyanwu who sponsored the Sexual Offences Bill had justified the urgent need to pass it to save our girls and women from sexual exploitation and molestation.

“When the Bill was unanimously passed for a second reading by the Senate on November 21, 2013, it sought to prescribe a penalty of life imprisonment for the offence of defilement of children less than 18 years of age.

“It also provided for compulsory documentation, supervision of sexual offenders and medical treatment for rape victims while it strengthened the weak protection offered victims and witnesses in trials for sexual offences.

“The minimum age of 18 years in the original Bill was in line with the provisions of the Child’s Rights Act, 2003 and the Child’s Rights Convention of the United Nations which has been ratified by Nigeria.

“The Bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Legal Matters for further legislative work. It was that Committee that illegally removed the age of 18 years and replaced it with 11 years. The inserted clause is inconsistent with section 29(4)(a) of the Nigerian Constitution which provides that “full age” means the age of 18 years and above.

THE N

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON NORTHERN STATES

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

PAGE 29

INSIDE Requiem for hospitality icon

PAGE 30

Red carpet for Taraba Speaker

•Soldiers on parade during the medal presentation in Damaturu

PHOTO: DUKU JOEL

Medals for gallant fighters For their bravery and success in tackling insurgency, officers and men of the army have got a pat on the back, plus medals of honour, DUKU JOEL reports

I

T may well be a brand-new world for the armed forces. In the first month of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, the morale of the forces has been boosted with an official recognition of officers and men who fought insurgents, even managing to grab back lost territories.

It was a big day for the honoured.

That was why they all came smartly dressed. The atmosphere was congenial. The guns bonded smartly with their bodies, stretching from the length of their arms down to their knees with only the magazines popping out just slightly at the waist. No bullet was fired. No sound heard.

It was not a time for chasing the enemies but a time for rewarding officers and men of the Nigerian Army for their gallantry in fighting the Boko Haram terrorists in Yobe State.

Over 2,000 soldiers, serving and dead who fought the Boko Haram insurgents in the state got a medal of honour for service to fatherland.

The two-hour occasion kicked off at 10:00 a.m. when the guest of honour and the Governor of Yobe State, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam arrived at the beautiful Hockey Playground of the August 27 Stadium.

He was received by the General Officer Commanding 3rd Division, Maj-Gen. Fatai Alli, Commander of 27 Task Force Brigade, Colonel Usman Yusuf who were

on the ground to boost the morale of the troops as they received the medals of honour.

For many civilians that attended the event, very few could envisage the importance of the occasion until the citation of the medals was read out by the Master of Ceremonies (MC) who doubles as the spokesman of the 27 Task Force Brigade, Capt.

Eli Lazarus.

He said: “As a result of the successes achieved by the Brigade and in recognition of the enormous sacrifices of the officers and men in furtherance of the Nigerian Army tradition on operations, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minnimah graciously approved the award of medals and honours to deserving personnel. These medals are: the Operation Zaman Lafiya Medals and the Purple Heart.

To underscore the importance of the medals and also inform the audience on what they stood for, the Master of Ceremonies took time to read out the citation of the two medals, paying attention to every minute detail of the items of recognition.

Operation Zaman Lafiya Medal Explaining the significance of “Operation Zaman Lafiya Medal, he said: “It is an additional medal to existing ones in the Nigerian Army. The medal is awarded to deserving personnel who have spent a minimum

‘Despite the challenges posed by unconventional and asymmetric warfare, our gallant, dedicated, disciplined and loyal members of the armed forces did not lose courage at critical moments…

They refused to give up and faced each difficulty with confidence…Officers and men of the armed forces killed in the line of duty did not die in vain. They lost their lives in the service of our great nation and their patriotic acts will remain evergreen in our memories’ of six months in the ongoing operation in the Northeast against the Boko Haram terrorists.

“The operation Zaman Lafiya Medal has seven stripes of four different colours namely; red, white, green, white, yellow ochre, white and red distributed vertically. “The red colour signifies the blood being shed in the operation. The white signifies peace while the yellow ochre (sandy brown) represents the terrain of the operation. The green white green stands for the national flag. The map of Nigeria also depicts the Northeast theatre while the Coat of Arms at the back signifies joint operations.”

Nigerian Army Purple Heart Medal

PAGE 31

Goodbye to Eagle Square

PAGE 33

A time to say thank you

Throwing light on the second medal, he said: “The Purple Heart medal is awarded to any member of the Nigerian Armed Forces who, while serving within the theatre of operations, is wounded or killed.

Specific example of such services include any action against an enemy of Nigeria; any action with an opposing Armed Forces of a foreign country in which the Nigerian Armed Forces are engaged.

•Continued on page 30

PAGE 36

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

THE NORTH REPORT

Medals for gallant fighters

•Continued from page 29 “The Purple Heart differs from all other medal in that, an individual is not recommended for the award; rather a soldier or an officer is entitled to it upon meeting specific criteria.

“However, not more than one award will be made for more than one wound or injury received at the same instance. Enemy-related injuries which justified the award of Purple Heart includes injuries caused by enemy bullet, shrapnel or other projectile created by enemy action; injury caused by enemy placed landmines or traps, among others.

“It is also awarded posthumously to those killed in any operation. It is the most recognised symbol of combat injury and the sacrifice of personal safety.

“The ribbon has the Nigerian Army colours between two stripes of purple. The medal is the shape of the heart (from which actions are initiated). Both sides are coloured purple (the deep love of

a soldier for his country and humanity). The front side has four (4) drops of blood (the supreme sacrifice of a soldier) and Nigerian Army Purple Heart inscribed in a gold letters on the side.

“The edge of the medal is golden (excellent sacrifice). The drops of blood increase in size downward to indicate the increasing degree of soldiers’ sacrifices for the benefit of humanity,” he said.

Due to the size of the soldiers to be decorated with the medals and in an attempt to manage time effectively, some were selected for ceremonial presentation by the guest of honor, Governor Gaidam and Maj. Gen. Alli.

Some of the wounded soldiers were seen walking with crutches to receive their medals, while the dead ones were also posthumously honoured.

After the presentation of the medals, there was an address by Governor Gaidam during which he com-

mended the troops for their gallantry and exemplary display of heroism despite the asymmetric war waged by the insurgents in the state and the region.

Governor Gaidam noted that the Boko Haram insurgency is directed at gaining control over territory. In trying to achieve that, he said, Boko Haram terrorists employed various diabolical means, including armed attacks, suicide bombings, selective killings, threat text messages, intimidations, extortions, wanton destruction of lives, property and public installations, among others to achieve their objectives.

He said: “Despite the challenges posed by unconventional and asymmetric warfare, our gallant, dedicated, disciplined and loyal members of the armed forces did not lose courage at critical moments…They refused to give up and faced each difficulty with confidence.”

The governor added that to assist

the military in ensuring peace in the state, his administration has continued to render various forms of support, including logistics, payment of allowances, footing medical bills of officers and men injured in battle as well as rendering support to members of the families of armed forces who died in the line of duty.

“We pursue these policies as a token of appreciation and gratitude of the government and people of Yobe State for the exemplary heroism they display in the insurgency campaign.”

According to the governor, officers and men of the armed forces killed in the line of duty ‘did not die in vain’, adding that “they lost their lives in the service of our great nation and their patriotic acts will remain evergreen in our memories”, he said.

The parade was attended to by the General Officer Commanding 3 Division Jos, Maj. Gen. Alli, Commander of 27 Task Force Brigade,

Col. Yusuf, the Field Commanding Officer Operation, Colonel Dahiru Bako, the Yobe State Commissioner of Police, Danladi Markus, the Director, State Security Services (SSS), other law enforcement agencies and officials of Yobe State Government.

Though most of the soldiers refused to speak to the press to express their feelings, investigation revealed that medaling is a cherished tradition in the army.

A retired soldier explained that soldiers proudly hang their medals at every opportunity available to them.

“Soldiers value these medals so much. Don’t you see that they always put them on their shoulders at every opportunity they are in a ceremonial dress?

The more medals you hang, the more respect you command in such gatherings,” he said.

E

VERYONE loved Hill Station. It offered guests and sightseers much to savour: a solid architectural piece located on a rocky hill in an enticingly wooded part of Jos, the Plateau State capital. It was a meeting point for politicians and government functionaries, and a second home to tourists, many of whom foreigners who relished the temperate weather of the scenic city.

Not anymore. Hill Station is in the past now, its tangible assets carted off to be auctioned in the hopes that they would help to offset retirees’ salary arrears and other benefits. What about the staff who held on till the hotel last breath? Well, the best they can do is to probably hope for the best.

Located in the mountainous part of the city, the hotel once summed up the city’s tourist potential, its beauty and the people’s hospitality. Those days are over. The once glamorous and architectural masterpiece that was the pride of all has become part of history. Blame mismanagement and neglect by its owners, Plateau, Benue and Nasarawa states, which once made up the old Benue Plateau State. Unable to show commitment towards sustaining the fortunes of the hotel, the three states allowed Hill Station to go into oblivion.

Members of staff of the hotel were owed huge sums of money in salary arrears and other allowances. Its assets have been confiscated and probably sold off by retirees of the hotel at the instance of the National Industrial Arbitration Court where the retirees took their case to.

Everybody in the state knew that the hotel had been experiencing serious managerial and financial challenges for over a decade, a situation lodgers and members of staff attributed to poor management and governments’ indebtedness which runs into several millions of naira. It is also alleged that the management of the hotel has been insensitive to the welfare of staff, even as they accused the management of corruption.

General Manager of the hotel, Mrs. Mildred Best attributed the mess which the hotel is thrown into as emanating from the prolonged crises in the state which the hotel management has had to grapple with in recent years.

She claimed that the communal

•Part of the hotel

Requiem for hospitality icon Finally, Hill Station Hotel, Jos, once the pride of its owners, Plateau, Benue and Nasarawa states, has collapsed under the weight of woeful management, debts and neglect. YUSUFU AMINU IDEGU reports crises which have affected the tourist potential of the state made it impossible for guests to lodge in the hotel. She also identified stiff competition from better-managed private hotels that sprang up almost every day has also affected the fortunes of the hotel. For 15 years or more, the hotel has experienced several problems that have made it impossible to cater for the welfare of its staff and pensioners.

The hotel owed its staff for several years, and was once picketed several times by organised Labour; many of members of staff resigned due to the inability of the hotel to pay their emolument. Some mem-

‘It is alleged that the Plateau State Government alone may have owed the hotel over N100m. If it had paid its dues accordingly, the hotel would have been able to offset its bills. Now this has become a huge disaster and a slap on the governments that own the hotel. I can’t imagine that three governors will jointly own a hotel and the hotel is under-funded; this is shameful’ bers of staff stayed back, hoping the situation would improve as the management kept promising.

Things got worse. Those who left

because they could not bear the situation were not paid their entitlements. The existing staff union keeps picketing the hotel and those

who had retired believed that they had no option than to drag the management to court.

One of the members of staff of the hotel, Abel Madugu claimed that the hotel owes them salaries for 20 months while those who retired since 2006 have also not received their benefits. The retirees claimed the hotel owes them between N2 million and N7 million; depending on how long each retiree served the company.

In 2011, the retirees dragged the hotel to court and obtained judgment against the management.

Continued on page 31

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

31

THE NORTH REPORT

Red carpet for Taraba Speaker N

ATURE has been kind to the people of Mambilla Plateau in Taraba State.

Not only are they blessed with a unique environment that is fertile for farming and grazing; they also have a temperate weather that makes the area one of the greatest tourist destinations in Africa.

There is another reason for the people to be happy. One of their own, Abel Peter Diah, is now Speaker of the state House of Assembly.

That was why rolled out the drums to celebrate in Jalingo, the state capital, in the vast residence of Ambassador Emmanuel Njiwah, a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), who is their elder statesman.

Njiwah’s residence took on a variety of colours as the celebration went on. People came in their glowing faces, hugging one another. Drums of different cultural dances provided nerve-calming rhythms. The overwhelming crowd was thrilled with native songs and dexterous dance steps.

Apart from this, there was much to eat and drink. There was also a variety of traditionally brewed drinks.

Soon, the place was filled to its capacity, not only with Mambilla people but with well-wishers from other ethnic groups.

The biggest guest was Senator Bashir Marafa of the Fulani extraction from the same Sardauna Local Government Area. Marafa, a former Deputy Speaker and Adviser on Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, had just been inaugurated as Senator representing Taraba Central zone.

From a retreat, he drove straight to Jalingo to witness the celebration.

Addressing his people, the chief celebrator (the Speaker) said: “Let us change our mindset about governance. For the people of Sardauna, let us join hands together and develop Sardauna Local Government Area.

“Everyone talks about Mambilla Plateau, even in the Presidency. We are happy that Darius Ishaku is governor today.

I thank you for re-electing me, a

From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

situation that culminated in my becoming the Speaker.

“I know, as a leader, there is sacrifice to be made for everything.

We shall do our best, I assure you.

We must definitely get the answer on why our youths are not there; if you are employable, we shall give you job; if you are of schooling age, we shall send you to school.

“The best is for us to be our brothers’ keepers and live as one indivisible family, focused on uniting to move forward. With peace and good governance, we shall enjoy the dividends of democracy.

“Anybody using religion as a camouflage to cause mischief should not be tolerated. Love your neighbour the way you love yourself. And your neighbour is not defined as to whether he or she is a Christian or Muslim; he could even be a perceived enemy, but you are to love everybody.

“The governor should not have any reason to move security to Sardauna Local Government Area, which involves a lot of money. It is better we use the security funds and develop Mambilla Plateau so that the governor will also succeed.

“As for me, I will not disappoint you; I will give you the best representation,” he said.

Diah, representing Mbamga State Constituency, is the longest serving lawmaker in the Taraba State House of Assembly, having been elected four times. He has been chairman of several House committees and was once Deputy Speaker.

His emergence as Speaker of the Eighth Assembly was largely on merit, given his experience in the House. His election as the Speaker was a unanimous decision by the 24-member House. He was nominated by the member representing Lau State Constituency, Joseph Albasu Kunini, and seconded by the member representing Takum I State Constituency, Hosea Ibi. Presiding over legislative sittings is a huge but revered responsibility. This means, as Speaker of Taraba State, Diah is the number three citizen of the state.

That is why, soon after taking his oath of office in the hallowed chamber, the Speaker promised to run a

•Performers at the event

‘There is sacrifice to be made for everything. We shall do our best. We must definitely get the answer on why our youths are not there; if you are employable, we shall give you job; if you are of schooling age, we shall send you to school…The best is for us to be our brothers’ keepers and live as one indivisible family. With peace and good governance, we shall enjoy the dividends of democracy’

•Diah transparent, accountable and resultoriented administration, by encouraging and welcoming constructive criticisms.

“I am aware of the huge responsibilities and challenges ahead of

us,” he noted.

He pleaded with the people of Taraba to be patient with the state legislature, promising that it was a period of reconciliation, reconstruction and rehabilitation, which will aim at attracting to the state the needed benefits of democracy.

Diah noted that every member of the House was eminently qualified to lead the Assembly; hence, he was grateful to his colleagues for seeing him worthy of the position of Speakership of the House.

To him, he has come on board at

a “trying time when Taraba people deserve servants and not masters.” The House would operate collectively as one family, irrespective of our different political parties,” he said.

He promised to work in harmony with the state’s executive and judiciary arms for better governance.

He said: “We need each other; we must co-operate for the sake of developing Taraba State.”

Requiem for hospitality icon •Continued from page 32

•Some of the hotel properties being moved out

Without waiting for the execution of the judgment, some other retirees headed for the National Industrial Court and, in December last year, the court gave another judgment against the management of the hotel.

In the judgment, the two courts ordered the immediate payment of the benefits of the workers, failure of which its property are to be auctioned to the public to raise funds for the payment of the retirees. The total sum the company owes its retirees amounted to about N100 million.

The company failed to honour the judgment of the two courts and did not appeal any of them. This forced the retirees to return to court to seek an order for the execution of the judgment and the Industrial Court did not hesitate in granting the order.

Subsequent to the order of execution, the retirees came to the hotel

in company of their counsel and the police to enforce the order.

With the help of a truck, the court evacuated every property belonging to the hotel they could lay their hands on.

However, when the court and the retirees came to execute the order, a mild drama ensued as the General Manager put up a weak resistance against the execution of the court order.

First, she refused to receive the order of the court from the court Bailiff as she directed the staff to lock up the hotel and go home so as to prevent the court from having access to any part of the hotel. She fled the premises as soon as she gave that directive.

Though members of staff succeeded in locking up the hotel rooms, they did not succeed in locking the bar and the conference hall.

So, the evacuation of the propContinued on page 32

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

32

THE NORTH REPORT

Requiem for hospitality icon Continued from page 31 erty began from the reception, the bar and the conference hall.

Realising that her first option did not work, the General Manager came back and ordered the security men to lock the gates to prevent any vehicle from coming in or going out.

In reaction, the team went for police re-enforcement and when that was done, the General Manager discovered that the game was up and began to appeal for amicable resolution. But that apparently came too late as the truck conveying the properties had made several trips. By the end of the exercise, everything the hotel owned was evacuated, including beds in all the rooms.

Counsel to the retirees, Linus Shingshak said if all the movable properties are not enough to settle the N100 million debt owed the retirees, some buildings belonging to the hotel may also be put up for sale to recover the entire money to pay off the retirees.

Some of the retirees who came to witness the enforcement of the court order could not hide their feelings over the way and manner the company they served with the whole of their heart has treated them.

Abdulahi Mukhtar said: “I served the company for 20 years before I retired voluntarily. I deserved my retirement benefits, but since 2011 when I retired, the hotel has refused to settle the N4.1 million it owes me.”

Another retiree, Okoh Godwin Obotu said: “I retired in 2010 after putting in 21 years in the service of the hotel. I have not been paid my claims till date. I am among those who went to court.”

Among the retiree is a 75-yearold man, John Davou, who said he served the hotel for 37 years and retired in 2010. He said he and his family have been ravaged by poverty while he has N5.7 million to claim from his former employer.

He said: “I’m suffering. I’m no longer employable and my entitlement that should sustain me has not been paid to me in the past six years. I have been begging to feed and pay my rent.”

The General Manager, who was visibly angry with the action of the court, expressed surprise at the development, saying: “I am surprised at this development; I know the company is indebted to the retirees. They took us to

T

HE new guideline on operational drug distribution (NGDG) by the Federal Government will eliminate hawking of drugs by non-pharmacists, President, Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIPN), Gbenga Falabi has said.

The new guideline was launched by the immediate past Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu.

Falabi revealed this to reporters in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, during the first anniversary of the state’s chapter of the association.

The theme of the anniversary

•A freezer being moved out

‘I served the company for 20 years before I retired voluntarily. I deserved my retirement benefits, but since 2011 when I retired, the hotel has refused to settle the N4.1 million it owes me’

•A retiree of the hotel

•Another retiree of the hotel

court and I pleaded for payment by installments of the amount involved. I have even paid the first installment of N500, 000 a month.

But all of a sudden, the court gave this order. I never expected this.”

On why the company failed to offset its liability to its former workers, the General Manager said: “The hotel has not been doing well because the crises in the state took their toll on the hotel. Up till now, business is yet to pick up in the

hotel. I have been appealing for patience but they refused to listen to my appeal.”

People around the hotel were in shock while watching helplessly the forcible evacuation of belongings of the hotel. It was a scene hard to imagine.

While some of them argued that the hotel has just become a victim of mismanagement, others believed that the state governments that coowned the hotel had brought about

its misfortune.

Joshua Bala, one of those who witnessed the evacuation exercise said: “Our governments are bad managers. This hotel was expected to be modernized in accordance to current trend in the hospitality industry. But they refused to fund this hotel and they also refused to privatise it. Now, the hotel is gone.

“It is alleged that the Plateau State Government alone may have owed the hotel over N100 million. If it had paid its dues accordingly, the hotel would have been able to offset its bills. Now this has become a huge disaster and a slap on the governments that own the hotel. I can’t imagine that three governors will jointly own a hotel and the hotel is under-funded; this is shameful.”

Hill Station Hotel Limited was incorporated in 1954 and began business before Nigeria’s independence

in 1960. It used to be one of the leading hotels in the Northern region.

It was initially managed by the Colonial Masters but was later handed over to the Northern Nigeria Development Company (NNDC).

As a limited liability company, the NNDC controlled 54 per cent of its shares. The remaining 45 per cent was shared among Plateau, Nasarawa and Benue state governments as co-owners.

However, the investors could not manage the hotel profitably.

At the same time the three states could not lease it out to private individuals to maximise profit.

With the prolonged conflict in Jos, the hotel lost patronage. It could also not compete with new emerging hospitality businesses in the city of Jos.

‘New guideline ’ll stop drug hawking’ From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

was “Sanitising Chaotic Drug Distribution System in Nigeria.”

He said: “The major challenge is to let average Nigerians know that all drugs are poison, including vitamins, because somebody can die from an overdose of vitamin. Drugs are not commodities. That done, the next thing on the line is for us to agree to sanitise the chaotic distribution system that we have, so that drugs would not be bought on

the street, but should be bought and be used as prescribed and dispensed by the pharmacists.

“The Federal Government has developed a new drug distribution guideline launched by the former Minister of Health. The guideline was supposed to kick off effectively next month. We are not sure yet how it will start; what we are saying is that if every Nigerian will embrace the change which we know initially it can be difficult but necessary, it can be done.”

He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint competent administrator as the next minister for health.

The pharmacist said, “the position of a minister is not something that should be reserved for any profession. A minister is an administrator and I believe that the best administrator that could best serve the interest of the nation should be considered. This has little or nothing to do with that professional background.

Prof Eyitayo Lambo was a health ad-

ministrator he performed excellently well as a minister. When Julius Adelusi was the minister for health he performed creditably well.”

Earlier, the state chair of NAIPN, Durowoju Ayodeji said though Nigeria has the highest population in Africa, drug consumption is dangerously low.

He said this unsavory situation informed federal government’s renewed commitment to ensure safe consumption of drugs.

Website: http://www.thenationonlineng.com

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

Page 33

•The Eagle will be replaced by a rail terminal

Soon, the popular Eagle Square will be converted to a rail terminal. GRACE OBIKE reports

Goodbye to Eagle Square I

T may abide for a while, but the popular Eagle Square in the heart of the nation’s capital will eventually give way to a rail terminal.

Like other cities in the world, Abuja boasts its own high-profile square, where presidents are inaugurated and some of the biggest events are held. The square has hosted thousands of uniformed personnel, hundreds of horses and perhaps an uncountable number of the high and mighty.

It was at the Eagle Square that President Muhammadu Buhari was inaugurated a little under a month ago. It has served as an important landmark in the city But in the thinking of the powers-that-be, the square should give way to a rail terminal, in keeping with the plan to transform the city into one of the most beautiful capitals in the world.

Most countries of the world have their squares located in the centre of their cities which attract lots of tourists. Examples are the Tiananmen Square located in the

centre of Beijing, Trafalgar Square which is a tourist attraction in central London and lots more. The Eagle Square may not boast such popularity or attractions as these other venues and is not always available for everyone to strut on, nor does it draw tourists; in fact, when nothing special is happening, it is little more than an open space with chairs. Still, it has earned its exalted place in event destinations.

Soon, however, the great Abuja landmark and ceremonial space will give way to a rail terminal that will serve the Secretariat and the Central area environs, according to the Director Transportation, FCT, Mr. Alex Ezumah, an engineer.

“Eagle Square was built to be dismantled,” he said. “If you look at it, the structures where done somewhere, brought in there and assembled and when we are ready, we will dismantle it and take it elsewhere.

“The dismantling of this precious square is not going to be embarked upon because authorities of the FCT do not like it or know of its value

‘The dismantling of this precious square is not going to be embarked upon because authorities of the FCT do not like it or know of its value as the occasional ceremonial square. It will have to go because the square is presently sitting on the Lot 2 of the Abuja rail corridor and the avoidance of the square will certainly distort the Abuja master plan’ as the occasional ceremonial square, no. It will have to go because the square is presently sitting on the Lot 2 of the Abuja rail corridor and the avoidance of the square will certainly distort the Abuja mas-

ter plan.”

Speaking further, he said, “Eagle Square, I am sure you know, is on a temporary location, according to the Abuja master plan, the Eagle Square is not supposed to be where

Medical screening for Hajj pilgrims

I

NTENDING pilgrims from the Federal Capital territory have been informed that they will undergo a compulsory medical screening arranged by the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board to qualify them to travel to Saudi Arabia.

Director of the Board, Malam Bashir Muhammad stated this while monitoring the second phase of the Education and Ori-

From Gbenga Omokhunu

entation exercise for 2015 intending Pilgrims at the permanent Hajj transit camp over the weekend.

In a press statement sent by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Commission, Muhammad Aliyu, Malam Bashir warned the pilgrims to present themselves to the screening organised by the board and

participate in all activities arranged for the success of the exercise.

And warned that failure to participate in any of the activities by the intending pilgrim may risk the chances of performing hajj through the board this year.

The statement also disclosed that the director had disclosed that the board had fixed 28th to 30th of Julyfor the medical screening which is to be conducted at the permanent hajj camp.

It also stated that, “Mallam Bashir said that the third phase of the education and orientation exercise for the pilgrims would be conducted on 25th and 26th July at the usual venue.

“The fourth and final education and orientation exercise for intending pilgrims this year which involve practical and examination is scheduled to take place on 1st and •Continued on page 34

it is situated right now, rather that place is part of the Abuja rail corridor and it is a terminal for the Secretariat and Central area environment; actually it is the lot 2 of the Abuja rail network that will terminate in that area.

“Although the dismantling of the square may not happen soon due to the fact the administration is yet to complete all the processes required for the lot rail network, resident will have to bear in mind that the day will come when the square will have to give way or for residents who might be wishing for an act of providence, that might spare the square or still are of the believe that the President of someone else high up the ladder will have to sign up on the dismantling before it happens.

Ezumah clarified, “FCTA and FCDA (Federal Capital Development Authority) have been charged statutorily to develop Abuja, we do not need any other approval to carry out development in Abuja but what handicaps we may have would be funding or political issues but not that we need anybody to approve or allow us do our job, whatever our money can fund or get a loan to do, to make Abuja move forward and make life better for the masses, the FCTA will do. ”The corridors for the Abuja rail network has been preserved and protected for more than 30 years, there is no doubt there are few encroachments here and there and that can be explained, encroachment in the sense that if you are not going to •Continued on page 34

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

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ABUJA REVIEW

Goodbye to Eagle Square

‘The first segment we are doing has a target completion date of Dec. 2015 even though we are running a little bit behind schedule but in the last two years things has been more steady especially after Nigeria and the FCT secured the China Nexim bank loan to fund it’

•Continued from page 33 use a land for 20 years, you deplore it for other things but not permanent structures and when the need to use it comes, it is removed. I can tell you, if we have 300kms of rail network, 250kms is free of any encumbrance.

“He further explained that the rail network which is divided into six different lots will be completed at different time frames with the first segment, which will be the lots 1A and 3, to be completed by this Dec.2015 and this will hopefully ease the suffering of Abuja residents.

In explaining the Abuja rail network system, he said, “The Abuja rail network which comprises approximately 300kms is segmented into six lots that is 1,2,3,4,5 and 6, we have the ongoing lots 1 and 3 which is been done by Chinese company.

“It will start from somewhere in the Central area where we have the NNPC mega station and go through Wuye, where they are cutting the road, through the national park, through Ring road 1, get to Idu where you have the major depot and facilities, big terminal and depot and an exchange station. From Idu it will continue to Kubwa and also

T

HE Abuja’s original inhabitants of Garki community, have called on the incoming Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to the upgrade the Garki chiefdom.

They said, “The community is old enough to be controlled by a higher chief.”

One of the leaders of the community, Rev. Danjuma Tanko, spoke on behalf of the natives to reporters, saying that the existence of Garki village goes as far back as 120BC, before the white missionary and industrialisation of Nigeria.

He added that there is the need to grant the traditional institution in the FCT, the rights benefits on their thrones, so that they can contribute

•The rail terminal will displace the Square from Idu, another leg will go to the airport all totalling about 45.245kms that is the first phase of the Abuja rail network being handled by CCECC Nig. Limited.”Then there is the lot 2,4,5 and 6. Where lot 2 is the rail network that starts from Gudu, go through Garki 2, through the Police officers mess behind FCDA, beside Akwa Ibom house and then where you have the Bullet building and then get to the Eagle square and the continue from their through Maitama, beside the Nicon Hilton and then get to Katampe and go to Gwagwa to join the leg going to Kubwa at Gwagwa where we

have a transfer station.

“Then the lot 4,5 and 6. Lot 5 is the stretch that will go from Kubwa to Bwari and terminate their and maybe with a detour to Suleja, this one is a proposal, it was not in the original network but the idea is being tinkered with, lot 4 is the southern part of the transit way, the part that will go towards Abaji, Karshi and maybe to Gudi in Niger State to join the national rail and then lot 6 is the lot that will start from the Airport wherethe first segment terminates, through Kuje to Gwagwalada and from there it will join the line coming from Minna, the national line, In a nutshell this

is the entire segment of the Abuja rail network.”Lots 1 and 3, we have done the visibility study, conceptual design and final design but construction is still ongoing in lots 1A and 3 by the Chinese company, lots 1B we are thinking of making an addendum to theongoing 1 and 3, so we can say that lots 1 and 3 is ongoing and committed, then lot 2, we are trying to do under Public Private Partnership (PPP), a company Merses IRMG has signed an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the FCT administration to further the work done because lots 1,2 and 3 had their visibility study before now, a Cana-

dian company Merses CPCS of Trascorm did a visibility study and conceptual design of lot 1,2 and 3, then it was from this visibility study that the Chinese took up 1 and 3 to do the final design and final feasibility and then continue with the development but lot 2 stopped at that level now you have to do the final design and final feasibility for you to develop any lot.

“The first segment we are doing has a target completion date of Dec. 2015 even though we are running a little bit behind schedule but in the last two years things has been more steady especially after Nigeria and the FCT secured the China Nexim bank loan to fund it.”

Indigenes seek upgrade of chiefdom From Gbenga Omokhunu

immensely in areas of promoting peace and other governmental affairs.

He lamented that what the people of Garki has been experiencing from past administrations, without appreciating the sacrifice that have been made by the people of Abuja, saying that no government has shown sympathy to the people for their land that were forcefully taken away from them.

“I must say that it is painful that

‘It is obvious that we have been denied equal participation in governance and polity. We have not been given any executive appointment; we have been denied quota system, no political elective positions as in states, not even equivalent or alternatives, considering the larger population increase’ after indigenes of Abuja have made sacrifices of giving their ancestral land for the development of the FCT, the past governments have not

even see reasons to make us benefit from the government.

“We are appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to revisit the case of the FCT, also for him toreaddress the rating of traditional institutions, in which he should use his good offices to upgrade the Chief of Garki, as a sign of consid-

ering the sacrifice we have made for the purpose of uniting Nigeria.

“It is obvious that we have been denied equal participation in governance and polity. We have not been given any executive appointment; we have been denied quota system, no political elective positions as in states, not even equivalent or alternatives, considering the larger population increase.

“The most shameful thing happening outside out community is where you find some traditional rulers who are supposed to be fighting for our course, running after government-appointed officers, just for their personal gains, instead of concentrating in their traditional responsibilities. It is wrong for a traditional ruler to do such,” he said.

Medical screening for Hajj pilgrims •Continued from page 33

•Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello (left), Secretary to the State Government, Shehu Danyaya and officials during the inspection of oil and aromatic Seeds at the State Ministry Science and Technology in Minna

August 2 at the hajj camp, while distribution of literature materials and uniform would be conducted immediately after the payment of the balance of hajj fare as soon as the federal government releases the final hajj fare for this year.

“He urged the intending pilgrims to take the programmes with all seriousness they deserve in order to get the value for their money. He therefore warned all intending pilgrims who are yet to submit their international passport to the board, to, as a matter of urgency, do so to enable the Board process their travel documents or risk the chance of performing the hajj.

“The education and orientation exercises were aimed at educating the FCT intending pilgrims on all aspects of the operation ranging from hajj rites, Transportation system for the operation, morale and manners during Hajj exercise, as well as Saudi rules and regulations in addition to new policies introduced for this year’s Hajj by the Saudi authorities and National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

“The exercise also enables the intending pilgrims get conversant with the prohibited items for the journey and penalties. Various stakeholders on Hajj affairs are expected to present lectures on their role in the operation.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

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ABUJA REVIEW

‘I hate to be called a beggar’ H

E takes the maxim very seriously. In every disability, Ibrahim Yahaya sees ability.

This saying is what has kept the 34year-old man, who is living with disability, going.

Yahaya hates to be seen as being physically impaired though he can’t walk or stand on his legs. To move around, Yahaya uses a flat wood which has small tyres to move around and by so doing, he prevents his clothes from dirt as he does not need to crawl like most people with similar condition.

His upper body appears OK but his waist down to his legs is smaller, making it difficult for him to do anything other than seat.

Disability is usually the consequence of an impairment that may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental, or some combination of these.

It is problematic to get the data of those living with disability but despite the difficulty in getting the accurate number of those living with disability, the World Health Organisation in 2012 estimated a world population of 6.5billion people and of these, nearly 650 million people, or 10%, were estimated

From Faith Yahaya, Abuja

to be moderately or severely disabled.

Also an earlier report by the United Nations in 2003 showed that Nigeria has roughly 12 million citizens who are disabled. This disabled population includes people with functional limitations such as physical, intellectual, or sensory impairment, medical condition, or mental illness.

There is no denying the fact that so many people who are living with disabilities either had it from birth or during their lifetime.

Some causes of disabilities as indicated in 2004 by CLEEN Foundation includes birth defect and health issues, oil pipeline explosions and road accidents. The report added that disabled individuals include former soldiers, industrial workers, and victims of inter-ethnic and religious conflicts.

Unlike those who encountered one form of challenge that resulted in their disability, Yahaya who spoke with our reporter claimed that he just woke up one morning and discovered that he could no longer stand on his legs.

In spite of the disability Yahaya is living with, he has decided not to resort to begging which is the common practice in this part of the world.

He instead decided to also give back to the society.

The little way to give back in his own way is by keeping the pedestrian bridge, located in NNPC Junction of Kubwa, Abuja clean.

This act of his has drawn the attention of many goodhearted persons to him, this was witnessed by our reporter who spent some time with him while he was doing his job on the bridge.

While our reporter was on the bridge with him, not less than 18 passersby stopped to ask about his welfare as well as give him some money and in response to the kind gesture, Yahaya communicates with them in diverse languages and as they give him something, he is quick to appreciate and say some lines of prayer.

In Abuja, it is common to see staff of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board sweeping the major streets in Abuja but very rare for them to be seen sweeping pedestrian bridges.

The neglect of the bridges according to Yahaya is also part of what led

•Yahaya at work him to take it upon himself to sweep.

Mostly, traders take over many bridges in Abuja during the day and night, thereby making the place

FCTA cautions task team on violence

T

HE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Permanent Secretary, Mr. John Chukwu, an engineer, has cautioned the FCT Special Task Team on City Cleaning and Management to avoid any situation that will lead to violence in dealing with environmental defaulters in the city.

He also urged them to re-dedicate themselves to the onerous task of making Abuja cleaner than before.

Chukwu insisted that members of the team should follow the rules of engagement as applicable to the task team.

He stated this in Abuja at an emergency meeting with the members of the task team led by its chairman, FCT Police Commissioner, Mr Wilson Inalegwu.

This was disclosed in a press statement by Deputy Director/Chief Press Secretary Muhammad Sule.

He stated, “The FCT Permanent Secretary, Engr. John Chukwu has charged the FCT Special Task Team on City Cleaning and Management

‘The Abuja city, more than ever, requires effective services and orderliness so that people can go about their lawful businesses in a very safe environment’ From Grace Obike, Abuja

to re-dedicate itself to the onerous task of making Abuja cleaner than before. “ Engr. Chukwu however, urged the members to exercise caution in dealing with environmental defaulters in the city by following due process and avoid any situation that

will lead to violence.

“The Abuja city, more than ever, requires effective services and orderliness so that people can go about their lawful businesses in a very safe environment,” he stressed.

“Engr. Chukwu reiterated that members should follow rules of

engagement as applicable to the Task Team. ”Furthermore, the Permanent Secretary called for “self-assessment on how efficient we are delivering these services”; emphasizing, “the system must work in line with the vision of the Abuja founding fathers”. ”He warned, “all eyes are on us, so we must continue to do more than we were doing before” and insisted that commercial motorcyclists (Okada), street hawkers and beggars must be put-off the streets of the Federal Capital City, while KEKENAPEP restricted to designated areas.

“Responding, the FCT Police Commissioner/Chairman of the Task Team, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu assured the Permanent Secretary of full support in the sustenance of the performance of the Task Team and in the management of the city and further announced that 51 fuel hawkers arrested by the Task Team are presently being prosecuted at the FCT Mobile Court.”

messy at the end of each day and for the sake of users of the bridge, Yahaya has made it a daily routine to sweep the staircases and the main walkway of the bridge.

Just like normal workers, Yahaya who resides in Zuba, some kilometers away from Kubwa Pedestrian bridge makes it a point of duty to resume sweeping daily.

On what made him engage in this exercise, he said he just thought of how he could also give back to the society instead of joining those who are handicapped to beg.

He said: “It is normal in the north to see those with little forms of disability seating or standing in strategic locations begging but I hate it. I see myself just as every other persons and if others are not begging, I don’t see the reason why I should be begging.”

Speaking about himself, he said: “I was not born like this and it is not accident. I used to walk before but I just woke up one morning and discovered that I can no longer stand with my legs. Whatever happens, I believe God knows best and I will still thank God. “I am from Katsina State, Daura Local government. I willingly decided to start sweeping the bridge, nobody compelled me to. It is just my own little way of contributing to •Continued on page 36

• Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Boboye Oyeyemi (left) Deputy Commissioner of Police, Department of Administrative, Zone 7 Abuja, Ede Ayuba and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Trans- •Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Suleiman Yusuf Lasun (right) shakes hands with Chairman, Welfare Committee, Hon. Nasiru Baballe Ila at the port Lagos, Oluseyi Coker at a summit to address the safety of haulage operators in Abuja inauguration of the committee in National Assembly, Abuja PHOTOS: ABAYOMI FAYESE

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

36

ABUJA REVIEW

M

ANY women and youths had to stand for hours at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja penultimate Saturday night. Every space surrounding the oversubscribed tables and seats in the hall was taken up by those who could not sit. Still, there was a spillover of guests outside.

The event was the appreciation dinner in honour of All Progressives Congress (APC) women and youths across the country who defied the rain and sunshine to cast their votes on March 28.

It was an event for President Muhammadu Buhari to say thank you to them for the role they played in his victory at the polls.

Even though President Buhari was away in South Africa for the 25th African Union (AU) Summit, his wife, Hajiya Aisha Buhari hosted the women and youths to a lavish dinner attended by wives of state governors on the APC platform.

For easy movement, most of the women and youths were conveyed to the venue in their hundreds in large capacity buses owned by the Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company (AUMTCO), an agency under the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

While the groups from the various states wore the same attire, ‘Aso Ebi’ many others appeared in their best attires.

But the criteria for accessing the security gates and entrances at the Villa were the special invitation cards printed for the event.

The hall walls, tables and chairs were decorated in blue and white colours while the chairs and tables were marked for the delegates according to each state of the federation.

Unlike the scarce sitting and standing spaces, there were enough variety of foods and drinks to satisfy the guests.

There were also plenty souvenirs to go round.

Aisha Buhari said: “Here we are today celebrating the victory of our great party, celebrating the peaceful handover of power from one democratically elected President to another.

“When we started our campaign, we knew that it was not going to be easy for us but with the team work, it is a success story now.

“I want to thank all Nigerian women and youths for the crucial roles you played towards the success of the last election. I am very much aware of your steadfastness during the electioneering campaigns up till the elections proper.

“I wish to acknowledge your efforts which contributed significantly to our success story. An occasion like this will naturally offer

A time to say thank you us an atmosphere to interact and reflect on how to play more supportive roles to our government at all levels for the benefit of our people.

“Remember we were voted by the people and so we are going to work for the people and government is of the people.

“In line with the philosophy of my husband, President Muhammadu Buhari, this administration is an open one and it is for all Nigerians as he said he belongs to every Nigerian and also belongs to nobody.

“I simply cannot thank you enough for the love, contributions and sacrifices during this journey. Many have lost their lives and many found themselves in difficult situations, particularly victims of insurgency.

“It is with heavy heart that I recall their sufferings during this period.

Yet, many of them were determined to cast their votes in anticipation of a change in their lives.” She added The National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not fail at the event to charge the new administration to go beyond saying thank you to the numerous women and youths who made the victory possible.

Tinubu, who was represented by Senator Babafemi Ojudu, in his remark titled ‘The change is about them,’ said that every woman and youth in the rural and other parts of Nigeria must not be forgotten.

The Nigerians, the new govern-

From the Villa

By Augustine Ehikioya ment must not forget, he said, include that woman in the creek of Niger Delta who paddles her canoe night and day in search of her livelihood; the woman in Kotonkarfi who fry Kose to provide for her children; that woman in the deep forest of Igbo land who rides her bicycle with her hoe on her shoulder to cultivate cassava to send her children to school; that woman in Ado Ekiti, who toils hours in the market selling Gari to train her children; the Gwari woman who with her pot nestled on her shoulder walks kilometers daily in search of water; the mothers of missing Chibok girls who continue to live with the agony of the loss of their daughters; and the millions of ordinary Nigerian women who defied the elements and queued for hours

to cast their votes for APC. “This change is about them , it is for them, for their children and their future. We must therefore do everything possible not to disappoint them. This change must not be aborted. You must defend it so that together we can say we have fulfilled our covenant with our people.” He added No doubt, the lives of all Nigerians will definitely be affected if the lives of women and youth are touched.

Renewed onslaught against Boko Haram The third week of President Muhammadu Buhari in office has continued to expand the interna-

tional campaigns against the deadly Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

He took the case, last week Sunday, to the 25th Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) in South Africa.

Sensing that the noose is closing in on it, the sect appears to be carrying out fresh desperate attacks.

Apart from attacks in Northern parts of Nigeria last week, Boko Haram struck at unusual terrains.

It carried out twin suicide bombings in the Republic of Chad last week Monday, killing about 34 persons and injuring more than 100 victims.

There was also an attack by the sect in Niger Republic last Wednesday night, killing about 30 civilians.

Chad and Niger have been in the forefront of collaboration efforts with Nigeria to eliminate the sect from the sub region.

In response to the attack, Chad’s military had claimed that it carried out series of air strikes against Boko Haram bases in Nigeria, causing heavy human and material damage to six of the sect’s bases.

But Defence Headquarters in Nigeria countered that there was no Chadian military airstrike in Nigeria.

‘I hate to be called a beggar’ •Continued from page 35 the society. I come here every day in the morning, as early as 6:30 to 7:30, I resume here from Zuba just to come and keep this place clean One would expect him to go back home to his wife and one year old baby, Aisha after his daily sweeping routine but he does not because he also enrolled in tailoring school and after which he goes to his brothers shop to learn how to repair phones and other electronic devices.

“I hate idleness and that is why I am learning tailoring, I want to be a designer and I need the designing machine to do that. I started learning in Zuba but he traveled and instead of stopping, I decided to join my brother who repairs handsets, radio and other electronic gadgets to learn pending when my boss in the tailoring shop will return.

“I don’t want to stay idle and I don’t want to beg like others. I don’t even like associating with the beggars but while I sweep, I have had encounters with so many people, some people will just say, my friend, take N10 to buy pure water and that is how I survive but I don’t leave my house with the intention to beg.

Unlike most people whose desires is to become rich, travel all over the world, own many houses, numerous cars and other things, Yahaya’s utmost desire in life is to own an embroidery machine.

“I am married to a wife and I have a child named Aisha, she is just a year old. My dream is to have my own Tinko embroidery machine. It is a designing machine and it is about N75,000. I hope to be able to own one someday.

•Member, House of Representatives, Saheed Akinade-Fijabi (right), Deputy Speaker, Hon. Yusuf Suleiman Lasun and president of Osun indigenes in the National Assembly, Ajibade Oluremi Gbadebo during a courtesy call on the Deputy Speaker.

37

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

LAW & SOCIETY A Lagos-based lawyer, Nkeonyeasua Emeifeogwu, analyses the updated CBN Whistleblowing Guidelines for banks and financial houses, saying it is a step in the right direction.

Will new whistle blowing guidelines for banks work?

•Continued from last week

The CBN Guidelines on whistleblowing

T

HE CBN guidelines on whistleblowing is laudable for a number of reasons.

One, it makes it mandatory for every bank and other financial institution within its supervisory purview to have a whistleblowing policy which must be accessible to every stakeholder within that institution.

Two, banks and other financial institutions are expected to forward copies of their whistleblowing guidelines to the CBN. They are also expected to render quarterly reports on their compliance with the provisions of the whistleblowing guidelines along with their corporate governance compliance status returns.

Three, external auditors are to report annually to the CBN the extent of compliance with the provisions of the CBN Guidelines.

The CBN Guidelines also states that where a whistleblower has been subjected to any detriment in contravention of the above, such a person may present a complaint to the CBN. This is without prejudice to the right of the whistleblower to take appropriate legal action.

Furthermore, they shall make quarterly returns to the CBN and NDIC on all whistle-blowing reports and corporate governance related breaches.

Also, they must include a whistleblowing compliance status report in their audited financial statements.

Critique of Guidelines Although the CBN Guidelines has a commendable objective that no whistleblower should be subjected to any “detriment” by virtue of making a disclosure, the reality is that most whistleblowers certainly face some form of det-

riment.

The guidelines tried to assuage any form of detriment to an employee by providing that where a whistleblower has been subjected to any detriment, a complaint can be presented to the CBN without prejudicing the right of the complainant/whistleblower to institute legal action.

Furthermore, any employee who has suffered any detriment by virtue of making a disclosure is entitled to compensation and/or reinstatement.

However, there are still some pertinent issues negating against whistleblowing policies.

For instance, some companies’ whistleblowing policy provide that a whistleblower may take his concerns to external persons – an external auditor, his lawyer or a regulatory organisation.

However, the downside of what would otherwise have been a great policy is that the disclosure of any confidential information by a whistleblower to external persons constitutes a grave disciplinary offence which can result in dismissal or other disciplinary action.

The only exception is when the company considers the disclosure justified or concludes that no confidential information was disclosed.

In analysing the above paragraph, it appears that most disclosures by a whistleblower may fall under the confidential information category.

What happens if the company fails to effectively deal with this situation?

The whistleblower cannot breach confidential information and is silently estopped from taking the concerns outside the company.

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“US SEC”) in its bid to tackle this confidentiality issue penalized an engineering firm, KRB that compelled its employees to sign restrictive confidentiality agreements preventing potential whistle-blowers from reporting corporate fraud.

Additionally, the issue of whether to offer fi-

money collected.

The Internal Revenue Services also awards monetary compensation to people who blow the whistle on individuals who fail to pay taxes.

Whistleblowers can be awarded up to 30 per cent of the additional tax, penalty and amounts collected if the information is used.

However, the case is different in the United Kingdom where the financial regulators, Financial Conduct Authority and the Bank of England Prudential Regulation Authority do not believe that monetary awards provide any incentive to whistleblowers.

According to the Financial Incentives for Whistleblowers report produced by both regulators, they proposed that whistleblowers should be better protected and advocated for a better culture rather than financial reward.

In developing a comprehensive whistleblowing policy, there is need for the CBN and other regulators to conduct research into the benefits of financial incentives in motivating whistleblowers.

It may not be practicable if adopted in Nigeria, but this is certainly an issue that needs to be addressed by the regulators either now or in the immediate future due to the importance of corporate governance to the financial sector.

• Emeifeogwu

nancial incentives to employees who blow the whistle on corporate fraud is another interesting debate.

In the USA, the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act provides monetary awards to whistle-blowers.

Infact, there is an established office known as the Office of the Whistleblower which was established to administer the SEC’s whistleblower program.

The US SEC is authorised by the US Congress to provide monetary compensations to individuals who come forward with high-quality information that leads to enforcement action in which over $1,000,000 in sanctions is ordered.

The range of awards is between 10% - 30% of

Conclusion The CBN must be commended for its initiative in updating the Whistleblowing Guidelines.

This is a step in the right direction and should be emulated by other regulators. Laws are dynamic and should continuously be updated.

However, the CBN must look into the issue of breach of confidentiality by a whistleblower and the applicability of a whistleblowers fund in Nigeria.

• Emeifeogwu is a graduate of Harvard University, USA.She can be reached at nemeifeogwu@gmail.com

Make quality legislations, Ortom tells lawmakers

By John Austin Unachukwu

•Gov. Ortom

B

ENUE State Governor Samuel Ortom has charged the National Assembly to enact quality legisla-

tion that would enhance good governance in the country.

He gave the charge when the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Yakubu Dogara paid him a courtesy call at the Benue State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.

Governor Ortom listed critical areas of immediate concern as corruption, power supply and security stressing that if legislation is targeted at these areas and enforced the nation would make a quantum leap forward.

He appealed to the Speaker to put the intrigues that led to his emergence behind him and

build bridges between the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and its members.

Governor Ortom described Rt. Hon Iorwase Hembe, member representing Vandeikya/ Konshisha federal constituency who led the delegation to see him as a worthy ambassador of the state who had the vision to identify and invest in the leadership qualities of the Speaker.

The Governor described Rt. Hon Dogara as a humble man and urged him to sustain the virtue in his relationship with members.

Earlier the Speaker had appealed to the Governor to invest in building people as that was the most lasting legacy that a leader could leave behind.

He expressed appreciation to Ortom for his support and that of the members of the House from the state which he said contributed to his emergence as Speaker and urged the Governor to put landmark development projects on ground in line with the APC manifesto so that friends and well wishers could come to Benue State to celebrate with him.

Rt. Hon Dogara urged leaders of the party to put the eschew the current bickering and hit the ground running in the provision of democracy dividends to the electorate who voted for change.

On the other hand, the Benue State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a group of Chinese companies under the auspices of CGC Alliance for industrial and commercial revitalization of the state.

Areas of focus include coal power plant, potable water and irrigation, renovation of agri-

culture service centers, construction of Makurdi-Guma road, and reticulation of water in Makurdi, Otukpo and KatsinaAla. Others are airport and industrial park construction, sugar cane plantation and refineries.

Governor Samuel Ortom signed on behalf of the state government in his office in the Benue Peoples House while Managing Director of the Group, Tony Ye signed on behalf of the companies.

Governor Ortom expressed confidence in the ability of the group to deliver as it had successfully constructed the Otobi and Katsina-Ala water works.

He said although the state owed CGC large amounts of money on the two projects he appealed for understanding while assuring that his administration would do its best to

honour contractual agreements.

Managing Director of the group, Mr Ye stated that various companies have teamed up under the alliance in order to handle all infrastructural projects in the state if given the opportunity and expressed appreciation to the Ortom administration for inviting them to partner in the development of the state.

In another development, Governor Ortom has appealed to the Bill Gates Foundation to consider the whole value chain in its approach to promote the cultivation of cassava and rice in the state.

He made the appeal when he received a delegation from Synergos Institute led by Adewale Adewale Ajabi on behalf of the foundation.

The Governor who expressed the willingness of the state to partner with viable investors

and create the enabling environment of investments to thrive pointed out that unless attention was given to the whole value chain the cassava produced would be wasted at the end of the day.

Mr. Ajabi had disclosed that the foundation was willing to collaborate with the state government to assist in cassava and rice processing.

He said the objective was to assist farmer to get value for their produce and to boost the economy of the state.

Governor Ortom also received a delegation from the Mutual Union of Tiv in America, MUTA, who were in the state for a health fair.

He assured Mr Doo Gar and Mrs Tivzenda who visited that although things were difficult the state would give assistance to the team.

•From left: Deputy Controller of Prison (DCP) Morakinyo Osinowo, chairman, Prison decongestion Committee, Justice Olutoyin Ipaye, Chief Judge of Lagos State Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade and Deputy Controller of Prison, Kirikiri Medium Security Prison Lagos, DCP Kayode Odeyemi at the Chief Judge, Lagos state visit to Kirikiri Medium Security Prison in Lagos.

PHOTO: ADEJO DAVID

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

38

LAW & SOCIETY Lawyers seek harmonisation of business laws

L

AWERS have urged the government to harmonise extant laws on business and investments for sustained economic growth.

Rising from the three-day annual conference of the Nigerian Bar Association’s (NBA) Section on Business Law’s (SBL), the lawyers who converged on Eko Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, noted that sustaining meaningful development would be difficult unless the government put in place enabling policies to attract high quality investments.

Speakers at the event which drew legal practitioners as well as industralists from within and outside the country, blamed the various regulatory bodies and institutions for Nigeria’s economic woes.

To them, a country where regulators are inconsistent, heavy handed, unfair and under capacitated cannot attract high quality internal or foreign investment or sustain meaningful growth.

In his welcome address, Ighodalo said the theme Regulators as catalysts for economic growth was chosen to emphasise the critical role of regulation in attracting good investments.

He said: “We suggest that working with the National Assembly, the executive arm of government should review and harmonise all of our investment and business laws. Government should start with the NIPC Act and the Immigration Act. “Thereafter, there should be systematic review of all other investment laws to support the development of an appropriate enabling environment which will create a strong and stable platform for effective diversification of our economy.”

“The dynamics of the international economic order make it imperative that we, as a country, extensively di-

By Precious Igbonwelundu

versify our economy. The effective diversification of our economy can only be achieved in an appropriate environment.

“We strongly believe that even handed, fair, growth-focused, and well capacitated regulators are critical success factors for the creation of an enabling economic environment.

“The executive must capacitate, support and assure appropriate funding for our regulators. Square pegs must be put in square holes. Our market operators and practitioners must be honest, responsible, hardworking, supportive and alert.

“We must pay careful attention to what is going on at the National Assembly. Our judges must do their work in such a way that our people, the international business community and all stakeholders trust our dispute resolution processes.

“Working well together, we must all strive to assure a composite regulatory environment geared towards supporting our transformation into a first world economy.”

According to Ighodalo, a country where regulators are inconsistent, heavy handed, unfair, and under capacitated cannot attract high quality internal or foreign investment or sustain meaningful growth.

“The Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC) recently released a draft National Code of Corporate Governance. Also known as the Draft Code, the National Code of Corporate Governance seeks to regulate corporate governance in the private and public sectors.

“The draft code conflicts with some existing regulations such as the Companies and Allied Matters Act

•From left: Mrs. Mfon Usoro, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode and SBL chair Mr. Asue Ighdalo at the event

(CAMA), which is the primary legislation for companies in Nigeria.

“It clearly conflicts with the codes of corporate governance issued by other regulators such as the codes issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), NAICOM and the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

“Upon a careful read of the FRC draft code, it is clear that scant attention was paid to harmonising this code with existing codes and complying with the provisions of our companies’ law.

“That up to five different regulators have the mandate to issue regulations on broadly the same subject is itself, a cause for concern as such overlap sets the system up for failure.

“Such overlap requires deeper collaboration among regulators and the failure to collaborate inevitably leads

to the sort of regulation which creates confusion and inconsistency,” said Ighodalo.

In his keynote address, Spio-Garbrah emphasised the need for a close government and private sector working relationship to drive the desired change.

He said it will require the incoming executive to work very hard, in close partnership with the private sector, legal, legislative, regulatory and judicial systems, in order to create the conducive environment that would improve the ease of doing business in Nigeria.

While stressing the need for Nigeria to priortise its power sector in order to drive other sectors of the economy and attract meaningful growth, the Spio-Garbrah advised the reform of the human capital as well as review of existing laws to allow for

•Dr. Kukah (middle) with the awardees at the event.

Kukah urges lawyers to fight injustice

T

HE Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Revd Dr. Matthew Hassan Kukah has urged lawyers to fight injustice. He spoke at the Dinner and Award night organised by the National Association of Catholic Lawyers (NACL), Lagos Archdiocese.

Speaking on Faith, law, justice and human rights, Dr. Kukah charged the lawyers to rise for human rights by fighting injustice in the country. He said: “ If the Supreme Court does not develop certain reflexes to handle certain cases, we may have wonderful letters in the constitution but they will never have life in them.” You cannot be a catholic priest without being concerned about the social question” He commended the lawyers for their contributions to the development of the Church and the Nige-

By John Austin Unachukwu

rian State and urged other professionals to emulate the lawyers by coming together to deploy their professional skills for the development of the country.

In his welcome address, the President of the National Association of Catholic Lawyer s, Lagos Archdiocese Mr. Chukwuma Ezeala said: “ We all need to rejig our approach to issues, that whenever we are saddled with responsibilities we should ask ourselves what the expectations of the people are, what are the resources to do the needful, whether the resources available will be adequate for the job and what are the stumbling blocks ahead. Mr. Ezeala stated that: “When we answer these questions correctly, then we have commenced our journey.

The special guest of honour, the Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos, Most Rev. Dr, Alfred dewale Martins commended the lawyers for their contributions to development of the Archdiocese and the country. He encouraged them to maintain the tempo.

The President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Mr. Augustine Alegeh (SAN) commended the lawyers for their contributions to the development of the Church and the country. He assured that the NBA will always stand for the truth and the poor no matter whose Ox is gored.

Former President of NBA Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) called for the revival of the vibrancy of the Catholic Secretariat like the days of Rev. Father George Ehusani and Dr. Hassan Kukah as secretaries in the

Secretariat.He assured that the lawyers are always there and are willing to deploy their human resources for national development.

The lawyers used the occasion to honour some of their own who hve made tremendeous and valuable contributions to the development of law and the legal profession. They include: Justice Centus Chima Nweze of the Supreme Court, NBA Presdent, Alegeh (SAN), Mr. Emeka Ngige ( SAN), Mrs. Anthonia Titilola Akinlawon (SAN). Holy family Catholic Church, FESTAC Tow received the corporate award this year because of the consistency of its members in meeting attendance, regular holding of legal clinic in the Parish, regular visits to less privileged homes and consistency in holding its elections every two years since its existence.

free trade.

Giving practical examples with Ghana’s economic growth, the Minister said there was need for liberalisation/deregulation.

At the event were the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN); former Interim President, Ernest Shonekan; Ghana’s Trade Minister, Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, and the Chief executive officer (CEO), Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) Mawuena Trebarh; NBA President, Augustine Alegeh (SAN) Chairman, NBA-SBL, Asue Ighodalo and Court of Appeal Judge, Justice Amina Augie.

Others include Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Bello Mahmud; CEO Nigerian Shippers Council, Hassan Bello; former CEO, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Ifueko Okauru; Dele Adesina (SAN) and Femi Falana (SAN).

Justice Ngwuta chairs birthday book presentation

S

UPREME Court Justice Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta, will on July 4, at Sir Louis Mbanefo Bar Centre, in Onistsha, Anambra State chair the presentation of Legal works comprising of selected rulings, judgements and reviews of the Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Peter N C. Umeadi as part of the activities marking the 60th birthday programme of the Anambra State Chief Judge.

The Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie M. Obiano will be the special guest of honour. HRM Obidiegwu Onyesoh, Eze Nri Enwelana 11, will be the royal father of the day while the Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Princess Chinwe Claire Nwaebili will be the guest of honour.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

39

LEGAL OPINION

Court to rule on Lagos property July 10

J

USTICE Olabisi Ogungbesan of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja will on July 10, rule on an applica tion seeking to stay a writ of execution obtained by a judgment-debtor, Jagal Nigeria Limited over a property located at Plot B, Ikosi Road, Oregun Industrial Estate, Ikeja.

A Lagos-based company, Johnson Products Nigeria Limited had filed an application praying the court to set aside the writ of execution obtained by the judgment-debtor.

The new date for the ruling in the application was announced to parties in the suit by the registrar of the court at the resumed sitting of the court on the matter last week. The court registrar had earlier held a brief meeting with the parties during which the new date for the ruling was mutually agreed.

Johnson Products Nigeria Limited had approached the court, praying it to restore them to status quo ante as at April 29, 2015, pending the hearing and determination of its application for relisting in the Court of Appeal.

Joined as second defendant in the suit is Chief Samuel Agboola Akintan, who is said to have earlier leased the property to Wire Manufacturing (Nigeria) Limited for 20 years, having had a Deed of Conveyance dated 1971.

During the last sitting of the court, the applicant through its counsel, Gabriel Olawoyin (SAN) had told the court that the order of the Court of Appeal upon which the writ of execution was predicated was obtained by deceit.

He contended that the defendant misled the court on the matter.

He argued that as at the time the defendants rushed to obtain the writ of execution, they already had applications seeking for re-listing of their appeal before the Court of Appeal.

The defendants, according to him, were duly served with copies of the application and that they duly acknowledged receipt of the documents.

“We have three applications, including brief of argument, pending before

By Adebisi Onanuga

the Court of Appeal and they filed a counter to every application, which means they have been served”.

Olawoyin had also told the court that his client had eight grounds for bringing its application for stay of the writ of execution before the court and that all the averments in the supporting affidavit of its various processes listed the events in the Court of Appeal that led to the higher court’s order.

He had pleaded with the court that since the averments were not controverted by the defendants in any way, they should be taken as the true positions of things.

But the defendant’s counsel, Qudus Mumuney had opposed the application on the grounds that the prayers of the applicants had no basis in law.

Mumuni contended that the issue before the court was not only the proceedings of February 5, 2015 when the Court of Appeal struck out the appeal of the appellant but the entire proceeding which dated back to 2009.

He described the application filed by the applicants as an invitation to review the order of the Court of Appeal, adding that it would amount to calamity of the jurisprudence when a lower court would sit to review the order of a superior court.

Mumuni, however, maintained that the court has no jurisdiction to entertain the application and that the court should throw out the application which he described as abuse of court process.

But Olawoyin had insisted on the jurisdiction of the court not only to grant the prayers of the applicants but also to stay the writ of execution obtained in respect of the disputed property.

Olawoyin also contended that the issue before the court was the writ of execution for which they are praying the court to set aside pending the determination of their application for

re-listing of their appeal against the judgment of Justice Ayotunde Phillips, now a retired Chief Judge of Lagos State, which in 2008 granted possession of the disputed property located in Oregun Industrial Estate, Ikeja to Jagal Nigeria Limited.

Johnson Products had dragged Jagal Nigeria Limited before Justice Ayotunde Phillips of a Lagos State High Court over the ownership of the disputed property.

The firm had averred that the Memorandum of Agreement executed by the two parties on April 17, 1980 “effectively transferred Jagal’s interest in the property” to it upon the payment of N1, 340, 000 and that Jagal issued a receipt No.1351 dated June 2, 1982, which stated that the payment is for the assignment of the property in question.

Johnson Products had further averred that Jagal acknowledged its (Johnson Products) ownership of the property in a letter addressed to Ault and Wilborg (Nig) Limited.

But Justice Phillips, in her judgment delivered on July 11, 2008 in the suit delineated ID/1466/98 held that the Memorandum of Agreement transferred no interest in the property to Johnson Products and affirmed Jagal as the owner of the property.

Not satisfied with the decision of the court, Johnson Products Limited, appealed against the judgment on July 16, 2008 and claimed to have filed its Brief of Argument as at December 8, 2010.

However, the matter assumed a new dimension in February 2015 when the matter slated for hearing

by Appeal Court, was struck out for want of diligent prosecution.

Johnson Products re-approached the appellate court, asking the matter to be relisted but while the process was ongoing, the defendant (Jagal Nigeria Limited) obtained a Writ of Possession of the court to effect the judgment of Justice Philips against Johnson Product which also affected some interpleaders.

• From left: Former Nigerian Association of Law Teachers (NALT) President, Ass. Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, Lecturer in ABUAD’s College of Law, Mr Ife Bamidele and Prof. Festus Ebiri at the 48th Conference of the Nigerian Association of Law Teachers (NALT)

LEGAL DIARY

The LearnedFriends holds first Digital - Legal conference

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LANS by Nigeria’s fastest growing Legal professional network, the Learnedfriends.com to host her maiden edition of the ELegal Conference 2015 has been concluded.

The conference is scheduled to hold at 10 a.m. on July 9, at the Arbitration Center, Lagos High Court, Igbosere.

The theme for the conference is: Tomorrow’s Legal and the primary objective is to provide thought leadership for the Legal industry on ICT solutions. Key players in the ICT and

Legal industry from around the world will enlighten delegates on the latest enabling tools and software developed for today’s Law Practice.

Expert speakers include Mark Slade, British CEO Ringier Digital Marketing; Senibo Bara-Hart Legal Adviser, Samsung - West Africa and Azubuike Ezenwoke, Dean-Student Affairs, Covenant University. Barrister Alex Mouka, chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)

Lagos branch will inaugurate the conference as the keynote speaker.

Those expected to participate in the E-Legal conference include Policy and legal professionals, paralegal professionals and ICT professionals.

TheLearnedFriends.com is an online news aggregator and social media platform focused on showcasing technological innovations in the legal sector. Her mission is to generate commercial value for Law people by leveraging on Information and Communications Technology

LAW AND PUBLIC POWER

with gabriel AMALU email:gabrielamalu1@yahoo.com For comments: 08033054939 (sms only)

Politics solely for material gain T

HE Nigerian political landscape has continuously manifested a dangerous pandemic. That is the intractable struggle for power sorely for material gain. Among the present contenders for power the constitutional admonition in section 14(2)(b) “that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government” is of lesser import. Instead the majority of the power-mongers are ensconced in an unconscionable struggle for power at all cost, even at the detriment of the very survival of the nation itself. This political disease is akin to the dreadful Ebola virus, which is highly contagious and with infinite capacity to annihilate.

Unfortunately instead of isolating those already infected by the disease, we have reminiscent of the Liberian Ebola virus export to Nigeria, Mr. Amos Sawyer, carelessly allowed the intermingling of the contagious and the innocent, thereby expanding the carriers of that deadly affliction. The result is that as the 2015 elections approach, our country may already be experiencing her death pangs, unless a miracle happens. What with the multiple symptoms of this dreadful disease, with corruption as the most manifest. Another is the polarization of armed insurgency; while the most recent is the demoralization and demystification of our national army. Now, unless a miracle happens to stem the pandemic, the next manifestation may be total anarchy.

As I said, the root symptom of this political disease is corruption. Unlike other successful democracies, ours have become not significantly different from a conundrum of organized robbery. From local council administrators to governors, to the presidency, there is total lack of accountability, which democracy espouses. Tragically, whether in the public or private sector, there is no substantial difference. And like the Ebola virus which spreads without warning; despite the pretences and fraudulent claims of the political actors, the recent West African School Certificate examination has shown manifestly that our educational foundation is a travesty of the false claims of huge investment in that sector.

So, while those in authority set up a special purpose vehicle, called State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to improve our education; for many of those entrusted to deliver the dividends, it is actually a conduit to steal the nation blind. So, instead of the fund intervening to gift our nation qualitative and sound primary and secoundry education, those entrusted with the intervention funds, cynically use it to better their personal lives. Thus the recent WAEC results show that just a little above 30% of the candidates have been successful in their exams, meaning that we are merely training those who will be permanently incapacitated to take to the different professions, and will as an alternative take to all manner of economic shenanigans to ‘succeed in life’.

Of course the effect of corruption is also at the root of the failed national infrastructure that we perennially lament about. So whether it is the bad roads that wreck our lives and our cars; the supply of darkness in exchange for electricity bills by companies protected by institutional authority; the dreadful public hospitals, that see health providers engaging in a relay of strike actions, like those contending for medals or the fake but yet regulated products that you unsuspectingly buy for huge costs at your own detriment, the simple cause is corruption. Most probably for every kobo of our loss, one public official or a private citizen has seized a reward, in one form or another. And in several of those cases, the institutional authority set up to protect the citizens, despite the private accumulation of bribes in lieu of service, also deep their hands again into the state funds as salaries and emoluments.

Corruption is also at the root of the latest manifestation of our endangered polity, that is, the despondency of our army in the face of armed insurgency by members of the Boko Haram. If truly as the protesting wives of the army officers and men recently claimed, their spouses are not supplied with efficient fighting ammunitions and machineries, and yet they are ordered to the war front, to defend our country, the reason can only be a result of corrupt tendencies within our defence establishment. Indeed, the Boko Haram insurgency, like her predecessors in the country, is a product of politics sorely for material gain. As has been claimed without substantive contradiction; those who started the armed groups that eventually metamorphosed into the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents, where merely desperate to keep power as the means to personal aggrandizement.

The road to our political redemption can only come from our political actors making a determined effort to practice democracy as other democratic nations across the world do. To attempt as we are currently doing to pretend to be practicing democracy, while we ignominiously ignore the universal tenets of democracy, is only an invitation of ruin into our lives. For the sake of clarity for our practitioners who are either hard of hearing or are completely ignorant of what they signed up to, democracy can only thrive in an atmosphere of accountability. That is the defining content, when we define democracy as government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Luckily for us, the demands of democracy are not rocket science. Even our constitution, with all its challenges, contains the basic requirements of an accountable society. Indeed between chapters 2 and 4 of the 1999 constitution as amended, the basic requirements of a republic “based on the principles of democracy and social justice” is clearly provided. What has been lacking is the political will to enforce the provisions of the laws. Unfortunately instead of our political actors struggling to have the opportunity to outdo one another to promote such a society, we are entrusted with a class, who see politics only as a means to criminal aggrandizement. *This articles was first published last September 2

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

NATIONAL BAR Two weeks before his exit, former President Goodluck Jonathan signed the Administration of Criminal Justice bill into law. In this piece, Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN) examines the law’s key provisions.

Innovative provisions of Administration ofCriminalJusticeAct 2015 • Continued from last week

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ECEIVE evidence by video link. (b) permit the witness to be screened or masked. (c) receive written deposition of expert evidence. (d) any other measure that the court considers appropriate in the circumstance.

The Act also stipulates that anyone who contravenes the provisions of section 232 shall be sentenced to a minimum term of one year imprisonment.

Electronic Record of proceedings Section 364 provides the legislative backing for court proceedings to be recorded electronically. It states that in certain exceptional circumstances, where the evidence of a technical, professional or expert witness would not ordinarily be contentious as to require cross-examination, the court may grant leave for the evidence to be taken in writing or by electronic recording device.

Similarly, section 362 states that where it appears to the court that a person who is seriously ill or hurt may not recover, but is able and willing to give material evidence relating to an offence and it is not practicable to take the evidence the during trial, the Judge or Magistrate shall take in writing the statement on oath or affirmation of the person. The Judge or Magistrate shall preserve the statement and file it for record.

Compensation to victims of crime Victims of crimes are often neglected and left without any form of compensation even when the offender has been found guilty and sentenced.

The ACJA has addressed this ugly trend by broadening the powers of the court to award costs, compensation and damages in deserving cases, especially to victims of crime. The Act adopted and improved on the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Act and the Criminal Procedure Code.

By the provisions of Section 319 of the ACJA, court may within the proceedings or when passing judgment, order the convict to pay compensation to any person injured by the offence, irrespective of any other fine or other punishment that may be imposed or that is imposed on the defendant, where substantial compensation is in the opinion of the court recoverable by civil suit. The court may order the defendant to pay a sum of money to defray expenses incurred in the prosecution. The court may also order the convict to pay compensation to an innocent purchaser of any property in respect of which the offence has been committed who has been compelled to give it up. The court may also order the convicted person to pay some money in defraying expenses incurred in medical treatment of any person injured by the convict in connection with the offence.

Non-Custodial sentences

The ACJAin Sections 453, 460 and 468 attempted to address the problem of excessive use of imprisonment as a disposal method by introducing some alternatives to imprisonment. These include the introduction of suspended sentence, community service, parole and probation. It also provides that the court, in exercising its power shall have regard to the need to: (a) reduce congestion in prisons; (b) rehabilitate prisoners by making them to

•CJN Justice Mahmud Mohammed

• Prof. Akinseye-George

undertake productive work; and (c) prevent convicts who commit simple offences from mixing with hardened criminals.

By virtue of 467 courts may sentence and order a convict to serve the sentence at a Rehabilitation and Correctional Centre established by the Federal Government in lieu of imprisonment. The court in making an order of confinement at a Rehabilitation and Correctional Centre shall have regard to the age of the convict; the fact that the convict is a first offender; and any other relevant circumstances necessitating an order of confinement at a Rehabilitation and Correctional Centre.

The section further provides that the court may make an order directing that a child standing

criminal trial be remanded at a Rehabilitation and Correctional Centre.

Service of court processes by courier companies This is another innovative provision in the ACJA which states that service of court processes may be effected by registered reputable courier companies, recognised and authorised by the Chief Judge. This is to ensure that service of court processes is handled by professionals for efficient delivery of service.

Establishment of monitoring committee Section 469 of the ACJAestablished a body to be known as the Administration of Criminal Justice

Monitoring Committee. Its membership is made up of the major stakeholders of the criminal justice system. By the provision of Section 470, the Committee is to ensure that: (a) criminal matters are speedily dealt with; (b) congestion of criminal cases in courts is drastically reduced; (c) congestion in prisons is reduced to the barest minimum; (d) persons awaiting trial are, as far as possible, not detained in prison custody; (e) the relationship between the organs charged with the responsibility for all aspects of the administration of justice is cordial and there exists maximum co-operation amongst the organs in the administration of justice in Nigeria; (f) collate, analyse and publish information in relation to the administration of criminal justice sector in Nigeria; and (g) submit report quarterly to the Chief Justice of Nigeria to keep the Chief Justice abreast of developments towards improved criminal justice delivery and for necessary action; (h) carry out such other activities as are necessary for the effective and efficient administration of criminal justice.

Conclusion

One of the major improvements brought about generally by the reforms is that conscious effort was made to strengthen the rights of the defendant and reduce delays in the criminal process. Though most of these rights had existed before now, the ACJA 2015 has added emphasis to them and has also ironed out a lot or grey areas that had been long overdue for change. With the passage of this Act, the Criminal Procedure Act (CPA), Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) and the Administration of Justice Commission Act stand repealed.

Text of a keynote address presented by Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), President Joseph Daudu (SAN) at the 10th Chief B.O. Benson (SAN) yearly lecture by the NBA Ikorodu Branch.

• Continued from last week

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HESE people are the ones that give democracy a bad name.

It is suggested to the administration that there is an urgent need for the setting up of a ‘ Uniform Law Commission ’which will, in turn, set up or establish the ‘National Conference of Commissioners for Uniform State Laws’ This is so as to establish legislative balance between the Centre and the States and also inter-govemental harmony. The existence of this agency will frustrate any efforts to abuse the law making process whether in relation to constitutional amendment or in respect of ordinary Bills.

The first steps of the new administration Although winners emerged and we congratulated them, the former President too must be commended for his statesmanlike conduct of conceding the election to General Muhammadu Buhari. There remain very serious issues arising from the elections which must not be swept under the carpet and abandoned there until the next general elections. These issues which I propose to highlight hereunder are issues that if care is not taken are usually capable of diminishing the legitimacy of government that emerges from such an exercise. More over if not dealt with comprehensively, these problems will resurrect with grave consequences in future. The problems include but are not limited to: •The problems associated with voter registration.

•The problems associated with voter accreditation and the use of the card reader.

• The amendment of the Electoral Act 2010 to deal with all the issues detected and highlighted by stakeholders since the introduction or usage of the extant legislation.

• The need for electoral reforms.

How democracy can survive, by Alegeh Some commentators have advocated that INEC, government of the day and other stakeholders be given credit for this most imperfect election. That all and sundry be commended on account of the fact that election was conducted, no matter how bad. They hinge their argument on the fact that it is unfair to judge us along western standards of democracy and that we have, in any event, tried. To such persons it must be said that democracy, truth, honesty and decency are universal virtues recommended by the Almighty for man. They differentiate us from wild animals and it is necessary to say here that our report sheet for this elections which is ‘average ‘ is the direct consequence of how low and corrupt we have become. Since poverty is not a defence for theft. The new administration must take power with the result that it will genuinely take steps to eradicate such ills; this will restore confidence into the machinery of governance and renew the social compact (contract) between the state and the people. Right now, outgoing government or the incoming one must take steps to ensure not only that there is no repeat of the kind of things we witnessed in this election but that a democratic culture based on truth and honesty is introduced into Nigeria. If we do not do so, then, the Promised Land will continue to be an illusion and despite our wealth, we will continue to live in squalor and want. God, the Almighty cannot be deceived as man can.

Matters arising for the new government It is normally said that we should thank the good Lord for small mercies; the survival of Nigeria is a cause to continue to be thankful to

God the Almighty. It is a big mercy.

For this the in-coming administration must not squander the good will of Nigerians for there is not much left.

There are important areas of priority for which a lot of good can come out of, we shall endeavour to explore some of these areas.

Law, order and security

This is the greatest priority facing the new administration, virtually, law and order have all but broken down, even those who are meant to protect the people from the harassment of criminals have criminalised their own official acts, police check points even though outlawed still rear its head at odd hours and they have now been converted to illegal toll gates. Apart from the disgrace and odium such behaviour brings to the country, countless criminals have slipped through the net because due process has not been followed by the decision makers. The following solution may be apt: •Reorganisation of the Nigeria Police Force.

• Enactment of a uniform criminal code.

• Resurrecting the fight against corruption by empowering organisations like the EFCC and ICPC. • Tackling corruption among public officers.

• Tackling corruption in the private section.

• Ensuring that the Rule of Law prevails and that the message to criminals is that when caught, they will be tried by a court of competent jurisdiction, convicted and sent to jail or acquitted and freed. Judicial powers to the Police where unlawful killings in the name of extra-judicial justice have become the order of the day must be

discouraged and eradicated.

• Control of civil disturbances.

• Combating terrorism.

• Maintenance of law and order.

Economic reforms

The appropriate starting point is to ensure that there is a comprehensive review of the existing economic policy. It cannot be business as usual.

Government must note that despite billions of dollars spent on iron and steel and power, we are still unable to produce steel in any form or provide power (electricity) to Nigerians beyond 2500 or so Kilo watts when what is minimally required is in excess of 10, 000 kilowatts. Billions are spent on importation of items that we can produce if we had electricity to produce them.

The absence of an engaged workforce is responsible for the high level of poverty in Nigeria which in turn leads to rampancy in the crime rate. The new administration must, as a matter of priority, revive all moribund industries by creating a real fund, not a political fund that will be effectively supervised for industrialisation of key sectors of the economy. As a starting point, all textile industries must be re-organised and revitalised, there should be a ban on almost all food products that are imported, let local industries produce replacements.

The President stands in a unique position to change the face of Nigeria and imprint himself in the history of Nigeria. To facilitate this, we expect that the administration will: •Genuinely revive the rail industry and make it the moving force for the Nigerian transportation sector.

•Make the roads safer and assessable to all Nigerians.

•Ensure that the reforms in Telecommunications continue.

•Continue with banking reforms.

• Continue with the reforms in the aviation sector.

• Encourage local participation in the industrialisation process.

Education Nigerians expect that emphasis is placed on qualitative education; the lack of quality education is responsible for most of the ills in the society. The low quality is having a debilitating effect on the ability of the country to progress. There is an urgent need for the administration to articulate a revised National Education Policy for the accelerated advancement in education at all levels.

Rule of law/justice

No modern society can survive without the rule of law; this administration must ensure that all are equal before the law. The independence of the judiciary must also be preserved and all justice sector reforms embarked upon by the former administration must be steadfastly continued and implemented. Justice must reach the grassroots.

Conclusion

Nigerians await with hope the inauguration of another administration, her people are full of expectations, whatever happens, let us preserve the peace, encourage order, breed dedicated Nigerians, discourage crime and hold our elected officials to account particularly to the terms of their oaths of office. Let anyone entrusted with responsibility and the nation’s wealth not only account for what he is entrusted with but be supervised so that a record of his stewardship can be kept.

Above all let all entrusted with power fear God Almighty.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

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HEALTH THE NATION

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

Firstbank Microfinance Bank and Optimal Healthcare Limited are bringing healthcare delivery to people’s doorsteps at Alagbado, a Lagos suburb for N200. OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA reports

Community gets health insurance scheme

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ITH N200 per month, residents of Alagbado, a Lagos suburb, can now enjoy health insurance , courtesy of Firstbank Microfinance Bank and Optimal Healthcare Limited.

The Community Health Insurance Scheme (CHIS) will cover outpatients, family health service, such as obstetrics, child welfare services, health education classes, diet nutrition demonstration and weight loss/monitoring classes; preventive health and breast/ cervical cancer screenings.

A large crowd of motorcycle riders, welders, tailors, housewives, members of the Community Development Association (CDA), Council of Baale led by the Chairman, Chief Najim Ajolojuota and Chief Taofik Oje and representatives of schools attended the initiative’s launch in Alagbado.

FBN MFB Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer Mrs Pauline Nsa said her bank won’t watch people fall ill, and approach for money to take care of themselves. But rather, it will assist people to access quality healthcare, so that they can come and do business with the bank.

According to her, a principal beneficiary is expected to open an account with the FBN MFB from which a monthly deduction (capitation) of N00 per head monthly shall be deducted and the enrollee shall enjoy a wide range of primary healthcare services at the Optimal Medicare Centre, located within this Alagbado community for the next 12 months.

“Normally, the payment of an NHIS approved capitation of N750 per enrollee per month may be too high for the typical family of father, mother and kids; and that is why there is low uptake so far. To help individuals and families cross the hurdle of payment of the capitation of N750, we are introducing a subsidy of N550/head/month.”

She said her organisation shall provide the

•From left: Chief Oje; Mrs Nsa; Dr Olaleye; representative of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Mr Sesan Gbadamosi and Chief Ajolojuota at the event.

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

subsidy by a combination of donors and sponsors brought together by a common need and desire for them to fulfill their corporate social responsibility to the community, “we are pleased that FBN MFB is a major provider of the subsidy for this scheme, we are simply after well being, so healthy people can do business with us”, said Mrs Nsa. Optimal Healthcare Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Dr Femi Olaleye said his outfit was ready to provide access to

emergency medical care with no need for huge deposit; free medical checks; access to free malaria treatments and special gifts for deliveries. It is also good to know that there will be access to credit and microfinance loans for small business investments, and even to pay for hospital bills for treatments, for diseases not covered by the health insurance scheme.

Dr Olaleye said his hospital believes the success of any inclusive healthcare model is dependent on meeting the funding gap, re-

How to stop pneumonia, by expert

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HILDREN under five and those above 75 can easily catch pneumonia, a chest and respiratoty physician has said.

Dr Cyril Chukwu of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) said the disease is common in the children and the elderly.

According to him, pneumonia is caused by germs, which grow in the lungs.

The disease, he said, may also be caused by germs, such as virus, bacteria and fungi.

He said bacterial pneumonia is the commonest and the most important of all causes of the disease.

Chukwu said pneumonia is common as a result of dirty environment and poor ventilation in homes.

He continued: “In Lagos, there is almost no space. There are buildings everywhere, which make ventilation impossible.”

By Faruk Hamzat

He advised the people to live in ventilated environment to avoid being infected with pneumonia.

“For example, there are many people with different health issues, at a bus stop. So, people must be cautious about those around them,” he said.

He said people often erroneously take pneumonia to be tuberculosis (TB) because they have similar symptoms.

Chest pain, chronic cough and sneezing as well as running nose are some of the symptoms of the disease, he added.

He urged the Federal Government to enlighten Nigerians on cleanliness, adding: “The importance of living in well ventilated houses and offices should be articulated.”

Chukwu said it is not everybody with cough, chest pain or sneezes that have pneumonia.

Diagnosis, he said, should be left to the doctor who has the necessary qualifications to handle the disease.

“So, it is the work of a doctor to if a patient is suffering from pneumonia or tuberculosis. The cough of pneumonia, TB or cancer patient can only be differentiated by a doctor,” Chukwu said.

He called for more awareness on the disease, adding that many people still do not know anything about it.

“We need our people to live in well ventilated houses. If they are aware that a wellventilated environment is important to good health status, they would do something about it.

•Fistula surgeon/Fistula Desk Officer, Kwara State Ministry of Health (KwsMoH), Dr Steve Arigidi explaining some points to staff of Kwara State Specialist Sobi Hospital, Ilorin, when the County Project Manager, Fistula Care Plus (FC+), Dr Habib Sadauki (second from right) paid the hospital to a visit. Others from left are Director, Nursing services Mr Babatunde Abdulraheem; Matron in Charge, Mrs Adedoyin Otepola; Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dr Musa Sanni; and Principal Nursing officer, Mrs Iyabo Apalando.

PHOTO: OYEYEMI GBENGA- MUSTAPHA

quired to cater for the members of the society, who may not be able to pay significantly reduced tariffs and capitations that maybe asked them to pay, “In our case here at Alagbado, it is just N200 per head per month”, said Dr Olaleye.

The Board of Trustees (BOT) are Segun Ojoade a Manager FBN MFB, Chinwe Onwuzwalo, Pastor Ifedayo Olusola as chairman, Pastor Godwin Oluwabori and Muideen Onipede.

Tips to ease cold Stay home and get plenty of rest.

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N the first day of flu symptoms, follow the rules of flu etiquette. Call your work or school and tell them you’re not coming in for a few days because you’re sick — and very contagious! Then, take advantage of these days of flu and let your body have much-needed rest. Pull out your favorite movies, curl up on the couch, and spend the time watching DVDs while your body battles the virus.

• Drink plenty of fluids.

Increase fluids such as water, fruit juices, sports drinks, and broth-based soups (like chicken noodle soup). Fluids help keep your respiratory system hydrated and liquefy thick mucus that can build up to cause infection in the bronchial tubes.

• Treat aches and fever so you feel comfortable.

Got fever? Fever is a flu symptom and occurs when your body temperature rises to fight off infection (in this case, the flu virus).

Treat fever and aches with over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen. Ask your doctor which is right for you.

Aspirin should never be given to children and adults younger than 19 years old with symptoms of flu or cold because it is associated with a condition known as Reye’s syndrome, a very serious illness that can damage the brain and liver.

• Use cough suppressants and expectorants to treat the cough.

Over-the-counter cough remedies are available to suppress cough. There are also overthe-counter expectorants that liquefy thick mucus so it can be coughed up. There is some disagreement among doctors about how well these cough medicines work.

•Use steam inhalations.

You can fill the bathroom sink with steaming water.

Source: www.webmd.com

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

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HEALTH HEALTH TALK with How to achieve complete health: Illnesses and their prevention 9

D • From left: National Coordinator, People Living with HIV Mr Edward Ogenyi; Chief Communication Officer NACA, Toyin Aderibigbe and Country Director Dr Bilali Camara UNAIDS at a sensitisation on Media and People living with HIV on 90-90-90 Target in Lagos.

Experts: hypertension cases rising

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YPERTENSION, a killer disease, is rising, says a pharmaceutical company, Sanofi Nigeria. The company said Nigeria has the highest hypertension case in Africa because of its population.

Its General Manager (GM), Abderrahmane Chakibi said the firm has produced a drug for better management of the condition, adding that hypertensives would get better if they use it.

He said: “Hypertension is a burden in Nigeria and Sanofi is committed to strengthen the hope of hypertensive patients.”

The company’s Medical and Regulatory Director, Dr Inoussa Fifen, described hypertension as a ‘silent killer’, which has led to the untimely death of many.

He said most of the hypertensive patients die due to lack of awareness on what steps to take to curtail it.

Fifen urged everybody to go for hypertension screening to know their health status.

The company, he said, is committed to leading the way in integrated hypertension care, adding: “Sanofi worked tirelessly on a research case to effectively curb this silent killer.

“We want to make sure everybody is able to afford our drugs on the field.”

Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof Wale Oke pointed out that hypertension appears to be unstoppable, stressing: “We must prevent hypertensive patients from dying. We are fighting the damage caused by this condition.”

President, Nigerian Cardiac Society (NCS), Dr Amam Mbakwem said more than 80 per cent of hypertensive patients have additional co-morbidities, adding: “Thorough investigation must be done while treating hypertensive patients.”

Mbakwem, who spoke on the management of hypertension beyond blood pressure control, said a diabetic patient whose blood pressure (BP) is 140/90, may have higher risk than a patient with a BP of 180/ 100 without any co-morbidity.

“Individualise treatment based on the information you gather. Two patients of 130/ 80 are not the same,” she said.

The United Kingdom (UK), she said, has 50 per cent hypertension control while United States (US) has 55 per cent control.

“We think we have controlled hypertension, yet people have stroke, heart failure and kidney failure. BP vulnerability also needs to be controlled,” he said.

The cardiologist urged doctors to commence treatment from the first day patients report to the hospital.

By Wale Adepoju and Faruk Hamzat

“Treatment should start immediately, not specifically with drugs.

Doctors should advise their patients to change their lifestyle, eating habits and exercise regularly.

Doctors, she said, should be considerate in the way they approach patients.

“The change in prevalence is already being seen in Nigeria. We need to make the patients feel like stakeholders”, she said.

She advised patients to buy and use their medications because nonadherence is expensive.

Head, Renal unit, Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof.

Adewale Akinsola, represented by Dr. Ademola Aderibigbe, said hypertension prevalence is higher in urban areas compared to rural areas.

He enjoined doctors to be detailed while evaluating patients with high blood pressure (HBP).

“The problem is we do not know if we are treating hypertension. Besides, causes of hypertension are secondary.”

Combination of therapy, he said, is very helpful in managing hypertension especially when the therapies complement each other, adding: “Combination therapy is more effective, particularly in the high risk of hypertensives.”

People, he said, should check their BP constantly so as to know the best time to visit a doctor.

“Those who have BP are not mostly those who break stones or drill holes,” he added.

Aderibigbe advised people to be wary of their salt consumption, saying “it triggers high BP. Moreover, there is almost a direct line between salt intake and BP. “Six grammes of salt a day is okay for the kidney” he said.

According to the Medical Officer, Igando-Ikotun Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Dr Sunday Orebiyi, people in this age category hardly screen for hypertension, which is a precursor to stroke and other diseases. Orebiyi spoke during a free hypertension screening organised by Tyonex Healthcare Limited in Igando. It was tagged Health Awareness Programme for You (HAPY).

Dr Orebiyi said such intervention

was necessary as it helps to fill the gaps for those who do not have access to healthcare due to distance, heavy schedule and lack of personnel, among others.

The public health physician said most 40 years and above have poor health attitude, adding that bringing the screening closer to them would ensure they know their health status and address any problem that might arise.

Orebiyi said hypertension is related to stroke among other conditions.

“It is hypertension that triggers diabetes while the later causes high blood cholesterol,” he said.

He charged them to avoid red meat, adding that scaly fish would do them a lot of good. “If they are going to eat meat at all then it should be lean meat, which is almost white.

They should also avoid congealed vegetable oil,” Orebiyi added.

Managing Director, Tyonex, Mr Emmanuel Agba said many adults shied away from knowing their health status. This, he said, should not be for a stitch in time saves nine.

Agba, represented by National Sales Manager of the company, Ifenyiwa Maduka, said: “The screening is part of the company’s corporate social responsibilities (CSR) to add value to life. We intend to extend the programme to 25 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and LCDAs in Lagos State and 15 LGA in other geo-political zones in the country.”

He said the screening is a yearly programme, adding that drugs are distributed free to beneficiaries.

“The screening is for hypertension and high blood sugar but we intend to screen for other problems too in the future,” Agba said.

Odofin/ Babaloja of Igando Market, Chief Nasiru Gbadamosi praised the company for bringing healthcare closer to the grassroots.

He said: “Some people do not know they are sick. It is when they carry out this kind of screening that they discover their health is waning. “ Screening, he said, should be done regularly, adding: “I have screened and I want others to do theirs too.”

He said the exercise should not be a one-off thing, stressing that other organizations should come in to complement what the government is doing.

‘Some people do not know they are sick. It is when they carry out this kind of screening that they discover their health is waning’

O not delay in seeking medical help even for the faintest symptom or sign lest it develops into bigger problem.

Accidents, Negligence, Suicides, Self-Harms, Assaults and Murders Poor health and death may occur due to the action of other persons around us or be due to the effect of decisions of economic and political leaderships at home or in public places. Personal vigilance is crucial in these cases. Death and assault on others or any harm on us or another person may be by our own fault or due to ongoing mental health issues or anger in us. Imagine if we are careless in driving our car or looking after our health or that of our children. Imagine if other drivers on the roads are less careful or they simply disobey the law.

Simple offensive words may cause mental health problem or even assaults on us or against others.

Prevention: Take due care always: at home and when you are away from home. Simply, be very careful. Be watchful against careless individuals. There is no alternative to good personal vigilance, obeying the laws, be kind to our own and to others around us as well , treating existing diseases in us: This may be mental or physical illness We owe it to our self to ventilate or resolve our life frustrations in a reasonable way. These simple

Dr Joel Akande Infertility Specialist and Consultant 08188343865 managementlease@yahoo.com

measures can go a long way in helping our health.

Absence of Spiritual Health Has it not been said that “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God?” Clinicians call this combination of spiritual needs with scientific healing methods: holistic medicine (meaning treating the whole person). You need religion to be sane and healthy in an insane world. There are clear and well proven advantages of these combinations. You need to have meanings to this complex world; Absence of which can lead to confusion and self-denials.

Dr Joel Akande is an Infertility Specialist and Consultant at THE HOSPITAL in Lagos. Inquiries and questions about this article can be sent to managementlease@yahoo.com or directed to The Editor of The Nation

How to manage angina

A

NGINA is a pain or discomfort felt in your chest, which is usually caused by coronary heart disease.

Some people feel the pain in their arm, neck, stomach or jaw.

Angina often feels like a heaviness or tightness in your chest, and this may spread to your arms, neck, jaw, back or stomach as well. Some people describe a feeling of severe tightness, while others say it's more of a dull ache. Some people experience shortness of breath too.

If you think your angina has got worse, feels different than it has before, has become more frequent, or has changed in any other way, you should speak to your doctor immediately.

What causes angina?

Angina is usually caused by coronary heart disease. When the arteries that supply your heart muscle with blood and oxygen become narrowed, the blood supply to your heart muscle is restricted. This can cause the symptoms of angina.

Angina symptoms are often brought on by physical activity, an emotional upset, cold weather or after a meal. The episodes usually subside after a few minutes.

Other causes of angina There are two other causes of angina. Variant angina (also known as Coronary artery spasm or Prinzmetal's angina) happens when a coronary artery supplying blood and oxygen to your heart goes into spasm.

Cardiac syndrome X (also known as microvascular angina) usually occurs when you're exerting yourself, for example when you're physically active, or have had an emotional upset. With cardiac syndrome X, your coronary arteries will appear normal when they're investigated, and there will be no evidence of the atheroma (fatty build-up in your arteries) that usually causes angina.

Can I prevent angina?

Unfortunately you can't reverse coronary heart disease, which causes angina, but you can help delay your arteries narrowing. To do this it's important to: •stop smoking •control high blood pressure •reduce your cholesterol level •be physically active •achieve and maintain a healthy weight •control your blood glucose if you have diabetes •eat a healthy, balanced diet and only drink moderate amounts of alcohol.

How is angina diagnosed and treated?

Your doctor may be able to tell whether you have angina from the symptoms that you describe. Alternatively, they may want to carry out a health check or send you for some tests such as an ECG, coronary angiogram or heart scan.

There is medication available that may help control your symptoms.

Your doctor might also suggest you take medication to reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Some people need treatments such as a coronary angioplasty or heart bypass surgery to help treat their coronary heart disease and angina.

Source: www.bhf.org.uk

45

TUESDAY JUNE 23, 2015

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

For 16 years, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ruled in Niger State. But, the party lost its grip on the state in the last governorship election. JIDE ORINTUNSIN takes a look at the fate of the party.

Will PDP go under in Niger?

W

ITH the advent of democratic rule in 1999, the people of Niger State stuck to the mainstream politics.

So, it was with ease that the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) swept all the elected offices in the state.

Like a colossus, the party dominated the political space for 16 years. Attempts by Peoples’ Redemption Party (PRP) in 2003, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in 2007 and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in 2011 to displace the PDP failed.

The opposition only won few seats in the House of Assembly. Except for Chanchaga Federal Constituency that has been controlled by the opposition since 2003 and Bosso/ Paikoro, Kontagora/Wushishi/Mashegu and Borgu/Agwara Federal Constituencies that also succumbed to the pressure in 2011, the PDP-controlled six of the 10 federal constituencies for 16 years. The party also dominated the upper chamber of the National Assembly during the same period.

But, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Tsunami at the recent general elections terminated the 16 years of uninterrupted reign of the PDP. The larger-than-life status of the party was reduced to the rubble.

The PDP-led administration of former Governor Mu’azu Babagida Aliyu apparently lost its bearing, prior to the general elections. Aliyu’s government failed to build on the solid structure bequeathed to it by the Abdulkadir Kure Administration. Aliyu inherited three senators, nine House of Representatives members and an overwhelming control of the state assembly. But, his eightyear rule plundered the goodwill. During the period, the state was hijacked by a cabal.

The result was that the party not only lost the governorship to the APC, but it also lost almost all the seats in the House of Assembly; it managed to retain only two seats.

Observers say the PDP has itself to blame for its poor performance at the polls. Aliyu’s imposition of a governorship candidate on the party and his selfish senatorial ambition, they say, was the albatross that paved the way for the humiliating defeat.

This development led to mass defection of members to the APC. Former Deputy Governor Ahmed Musa Ibeto, and over 300 elected and appointed officers of Aliyu’s administration dumped the PDP for APC before the election, thus signalling the gradual demise of the party.

Analysts say the performance of the party at the last election was an indication of peoples rejection of the party in the state.

Ibrahim Rogo, a Kontagora based political analyst said the electorate over the years

•Babangida Aliyu

•Uche Secondus

have shown their dissatisfaction for the party and its candidates. He said: “The steady progress of the opposition in successive elections in the state was a build up to the political misfortune of the PDP. The last election demystified the larger-than-life posture of the PDP and it was a statement that the party may be going into extinction in the state.

“The people are tired of the bogus programmes of the PDP that are not socially relevant to the people, especially in the last eight years. The fate of the party in the state will be determined at the next local govern-

ment election.”

For James Ndakogi, it will be too early to bid the PDP farewell from the state. He argued that the victory of the APC should not be seen as a death sentence for the PDP. His words: “The performance of the PDP at the last election should not be taken as its death sentence. The party may not be enjoying the level of acceptance and support it had in the last 16 years, but this development does not mean that the party is about to fizzle out.”

Deputy Chairman of PDP in the state, Mr. Tanko Beji, was emphatic that the party will

The people are tired of the bogus programmes of the PDP that are not socially relevant to the people, especially in the last eight years. The fate of the party in the state will be determined at the next local government election

Shettima appoints SSG, advisers, others

B

ORNO State Governor Kashim Shettima has announced the appointment of Alhaji Usman Shuwa Jidda as the Secretary to the Government (SSG).

Yakubu Bukar and Alhaji Modu Musa retained their positions as the Head of Service (HOS) and the Chief of Staff (CoS) respectively.

The appointment was contained in a press statement signed by the Permanent Secretary (Administration and General Services), Dr. Maryam Bukar Ibrahim.

According to the statement, Alhaji Isa Umar Gusau has also been re-appointed as Special Adviser on Communications and Strategy to Shettima.

Others who also retained their posts are: Alhaji Usman Kumo, as Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media (Radio), and Miss Kwapchi

Legislator promises to develop Ekiti Central Constituency

H

From Duku JOEL, Maiduguri

Bata Dibal as Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media (television); Yusuf Usman Shettima and Abba Bashir Talbari, SSAs (Social Media); Baba Zannah Abdulkarim, SSA (Special Projects); Mustapha Mohammed Kukawa and Christopher Godwin Akaba, SSAs (Special Duties).

The new SSG is 57 years old. He studied law at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria. He had been at various times Registrar of Borno College of Legal and Islamic Studies (BOCOLIS).

He had taught at the University of Maiduguri. He was also a Director of Administration at Borno State Agricultural Development Programme (BOSADP). He is the

bounce back in 2019. He refused to accept the verdict that the party is dead.

Beji, a legal practitioner, who co-chaired the party’s post-election assessment committee in Niger State, along with Senator Nuhu Aliyu, said the defeat of the party was a wake-up call and an opportunity for it to look at the avoidable mistakes that were committed with a view to correcting them.

The PDP chieftain was optimistic that the party will bounce back. He said: “We are strategising; we are looking at the mistakes made. Very soon, we will make public our plans to revamp the party and reposition it for the task ahead. We are sure the future of our great party is bright, because the last election was a Buhari election and people are now wiser and their eyes clearer.

“We are optimistic that PDP will bounce back in Niger State and in the country in general.”

Going by the political antecedents and culture of being with the party at the centre, the fate of the PDP in Niger State looks bleak.

•Shettima former Executive Chairman of Borno State Teaching Service Board.

While congratulating the appointees, Shettima urged them to continue to contribute their quota in the discharge of their duties towards development of Borno State.

OUSE of Representatives, member representing Ekiti Central Constituency II, comprising Ijero, Ekiti West and Efon Local Government Areas of Ekiti State, Hon. Olamide Oni has said that human and infrastructural development of the constituency will be his priority.

He made this remark at a reception organised in his honour at Lapour Hotel, Abuja by his Committee of Friends.

Oni, a lawyer, said: “We have to build our democracy on strong human capital in order to sustain all other achievements. Hence our youths and women should be equipped to become chief agents and stakeholders in our developmental strive.”

He said the era of government of the elite has terminated, after 16

•Oni years of unbroken democracy, adding that what is now in place is “a government of the people by the people and for the people, which requires that the people must be well equipped to shoulder the responsibility for their actions and become partners in progress.”

46

THE NATION TUESDAY JUNE 23, 2015

Our father was one of the founding father of the ‘Nigerian nation. He spoke about justice, freedom and oneness. He emphasized that in his book ’

POLITICS

The late Alhaji Adegoke Adelabu, fondly called Penkelemsi by his numerous admirers, died 57 years ago. The Chairman of the Adelabu Posthumous Birthday Committee, Oloye Lekan Alabi, speaks on the plans to honour the late politician.

‘Adelabu has not been immortalised’

W

HAT plan does your committee have to celebrate the late Adelabu posthumously?

Let me say that had Adelabu Adegoke not died on March 25, 1958, he would be 100 years old on September 3, 1915. He died at the age of 43. The family of Adegoke Adelabu deemed it fit and proper to organise a posthumous centenary birthday for the nationalist. So, we set up a committee known as the Adegoke Adelabu Post-humous Centenary Birthday Committee. The committee is made up of the members of the Adegoke family, his loyalists and followers. But, we cannot all be here to address the press because we will overcrowd the premises. They have delegated some of us to brief The Nation on our plan for the posthumous centenary birthday. I am the chairman of the planning committee; Mr. Yinka Adelabu is the secretary of the planning committee. The programme is fixed for September, but we deemed it fit to plan early. When you plan early there will be good results to show for it. We have decided start by visiting The Nation, to intimate it with our programmes. We believe that with the nationalist posture of the newspaper, our plans and programmes will be well circulated. The name of your paper has said it all.

The paper is all about the people, government and country. Its philosophy stands in agreement with the philosophy of Adelabu. The paper is a better platform for us to reach out to the world.

What legacy do you think the man left behind, which is propelling his followers?

The man Adelabu, the prodigy, genius, nationalist is man of the people. He is also qualified to be a sage.

When you go through his philosophy, you will see that he was thinking about a larger community. He thought about the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 1956, even before it was formed. He wanted something good for the African communities, starting from River Senegal. These are graphically stated in his book. He talked about environmental degradation, urban and regional planning.

Of course, these are reflected in some of his quotes.

His thought and ideas were shortlived when he died in road accident at Odo Remo area of the former Western Region, the present day Ogun State. He attended St. David’s CMS, Kudeti, Ibadan (1925-1929) for his primary education. He proceeded to Government College, Ibadan (1931-1935) and Higher College, Yaba 1936.

Please take note that he had double promotions in primary school.

He equally had double promotions at the college. His academic record are still verifiable and yet to be beaten. You need to read the testimonial of his principal the white man, Mr. V.C. Powel.

With the double promotions he had, it meant he would be competing with his former seniors at the next examination. He beat them to a distant second. The college he attended, Higher College, Yaba was the highest institution in Nigeria then. The University College, Ibadan, which today is the University of Ibadan, has not been founded.

Then, people used to travel abroad in search of the golden fleece and used the opportunity to get higher education. It was the method used

by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe to go to America, Chief Obafemi Awolowo to go to the United Kingdom. In his own case, the United African Company (UAC) gave him scholarship for coming first in the entrance examination to Higher College. But, UAC did not allow him to finish the course because they were afraid that he would be snatched by some other companies. So, he was appointed the first African manager of the company at the age 21.

Which other areas did he excel?

He was a merchant, journalist and a prolific writer. He wrote the African in Ebullition in 1952. The foreword of the book was written by his political leader Azikiwe. The book contains his timeless thoughts for the growth of Nigeria and the progress of human happiness. He delivered many constructive parliamentary speeches. His political landmarks included being the first Chairman of the Ibadan District Council in 1954.

The former Ibadan District Council comprised 11 local governments. He was the first National Vice Chairman of the National Council of Nigerian and the Cameroon (NCNC). He was

•From left: Mrs. Adekunle Eguaoje, Chief Alabi, Mr Nurudeen Adelabu and Mr Yinka Adelabu, members of the Adegoke Adelabu Posthumous Centenary Birthday Planning Committee during their visit to The Nation.

He was committed to a country where the son of the coal miner in Enugu, the son of the herdsman in Katsina, son of the cocoa farmer in Ile-Ife would be able to compete for the same office on merit.

Now, we have a change based on popular demand, hoping to see Nigeria return to that order of merit the first Minister of Social Service and Mineral Resources. He was a leader of the NCNC Western delegation to the 1957 London Constitutional Conference. He was the Leader of the Opposition in the Western House of Assembly. That was the man Adelabu. It is not how long you live, but the impact you made in the lives of the people.

Does the family have plans to immortalise him?

The family has mandated the committee to set up Adegoke Adelabu Foundation. In establishing the foundation, it will be anchored on Adelabu thoughts, ideas and particularly his passion for a united Nigeria. He was committed to a country where things would be secured on merit, not on the basis of who you know. He was committed to a country where the son of the coal miner in Enugu, the son of the herdsman in Katsina, son of the cocoa farmer in Ile-Ife would be able to compete for the same office on merit. Now, we have a change based on popular demand, hoping

to see Nigeria return to that order of merit. We hope that President Muhammadu Buhari’s presidency will fulfill his manifesto and promises. He will meet the aspiration of the people who are yearning for change. The Adelabu Foundation will continue to propagate the ideas of the nationalist, so as to engender scholarship for brilliant and particularly indigent students. He was a Muslim and went on pilgrimage.

There will be both Muslim and Christian prayers for him. There will be a novelty match, so we will approach his Alma Mata, Government College, to give us 11 student footballers who will engage old politicians. We will field people like Maitama Sule and others to make the team. It is also to reach out to the youth and let them see and know something about the man Adelabu. This is because Nigeria does not recognize its past heroes.

Our father was one of the founding father of the Nigerian nation. He spoke about justice, freedom and oneness. He emphasized that in his

book. Many people talk about unity with lip service, they are not ready to make the necessary sacrifices for the attainment of that unity. He talked about parties and ideology.

He said Nigeria was too small for his vision, he wanted a union stretching from the Gambia to Congo in panoramic beauty and unparallel grandeur. The book he wrote is a vehicle of our foundation.

If he had not written the book, maybe we, will not be talking of any foundation today. The book contains his living thoughts, thoughts that can be used in organising seminars, conferences and the rest.

Whatever we get from there would be used for social welfarism and for human progress.

How do you want government to immortalise him?

We will not like to give an insight to that, so as not to preempt what will happen in September. What we are asking for is ideas that will symbolise the commitment of Adelabu.

Why have the children shunned politics?

The children have not distanced themselves from politics. In 1964-65, the late Azikiwe invited one of the children to contest, but because of the Western regional crisis, not much could be achieved. But, in recent times not that the children are have never shown interest in politics, but we want to establish the foundation first, so as to have a platform. Our main concern is to defend his ideas first.

House debates legislative agenda S

PEAKER of the House of Representatives Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has said that the House will commence debate on the 8th Assembly Legislative Agenda this week.

A statement issued by his spokesman, Hassan Turaki, said the Speaker made this known when he received the draft 8th Assembly Legislative Agenda from the Committee of Members and Experts he commissioned few days ago.

“We will debate the legislative agenda and adopt the final version,” he said.

Dogara informed the panel that the 8th House under his leadership “will do everything possible to implement the legislative agenda even if it means setting up a substantive committee. This will define the character of the 8th Assembly.”

The Speaker also lamented a situ-

•Reps vow to block revenue leakages ation whereby revenue generating agencies of the Federal government hide under laws establishing them to withhold monies they generate.

He said even though some laws have allowed the Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) to retain certain percentage of the revenue they generate, there is the need to review those laws in order to plug the leakages because most of them do under declare their earnings.

Dogara further advocated for prudent management of the nation’s foreign reserve in such a manner that interest accrued are declared by the foreign fund managers which may be running into hundreds of millions of dollars.

Another key area that came up for discussion was the issue of donor funding with some committee members disclosing that between 10 to 17 percent of some ministries’ budgets are funded through foreign

‘

Dogara informed the panel that the 8th House under his leadership will do everything possible to implement the legislative agenda even if it means setting up a substantive committee

’

aids.

Some members of the committee also lamented that in most cases, the funds are neither reflected in the annual Appropriation Bill, nor are they declared by the affected ministries and departments.

The draft legislative agenda is proposing for the introduction of sectorial debate, the conduct of legislative needs assessment of the House of Representatives by experts and restructuring of the House standing committees among others.

Dogara inaugurated the 22-man committee under the chairmanship of C. J. Osman. Hon. C.I.D Maduabum, Aisha Dukku, Abdulsamad Dasuki, Shehu Garba Sarkin Noma, Zakari Mohammed, O.K. Chinda, Toby Okechukwu, Princess Adedoyin, Ahmed Yerima and Ibrahim Baba were members.

•Dogara Others include Hon Adeyinka Ajayi, Ahman Pategi, Adetunji Ajabge, Clement Nwankwo, Mansur Jarkasa, Mrs. Omotayo Brimmo, Enoch Jarumi, Mrs. Cordelia Akunwafor, Professor J. O. Amupitan SAN, and Oscar Okoro.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

47

THE NATION

BUSINESS MARITIME

e-mail: maritime@thenationonlineng.net

Bad roads threaten $5b ports investments

O

VER $5 billion investments at the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos are being threatened by bad roads, The Nation has learnt.

The roads need urgent attention to reduce revenue losses at the ports.

Terminal operators, Customs officials, port users, truck drivers, Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) management, residents and other stakeholders, who spoke with The Nation, said they were sad over the state of the roads. They urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly leaders to visit the ports.

A senior official of one of the terminals, said: “Your paper reported last week that terminal operators

• Buhari, N/Assembly urged to visit Lagos ports Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda MaritimeCorrespondent

owe the Nigerian Ports Authority several billions of naira but you have forgotten that our own investments which are over $5 billion is in danger because of the perennial gridlock on Apapa roads.

“Part of the agreement we had with the Federal Government before the ports were concessioned to us was that the government would fix the infrastructure and we shall invest in port by bringing in modern equipment which we have done but the government is yet to its own part and that is affecting our business and

out returns to the government.

“As sensitive and people’s oriented government, there is need for President Buhari and the leadership of the National Assembly to visit the port before this government will celebrate its 100 days in office to access the situation and end cargo divert to ports of neighbouring countries because of the gridlock on the road,” he said.

He said many operators have abandoned Apapa, Mile 2 and Ijora road, going to the ports via water.

“But that has increased the vehicular traffic on the Third Mainland Bridge because we would first drive to CMS before taking boats to Apapa.

“The implication of that to the Federal and state governments, and bridge is high because if many people decide to abandon the Apapa roads and start to do what we are doing, the bridge will suffer and the cost of re-fixing it would be huge for the government by the time it starts shaking from foundation because of huge traffic passing through it every day,” the official said.

Investigation revealed that from Second Rainbow Bus Stop to Tin Can Island Port second gate and from Ijora Bridge to Apapa Port, the gridlock has become endemic because the pot holes on the roads have increased because of the rains.

During the visit to the Tin Can Island Port last Friday, NPA’s General Manager, Western Ports, Chief Michael Ajayi, terminal operators, truck drivers and other users lamented the deplorable condition of the access roads to the two ports, urging the Federal Government to fix the roads.

Assuring them of the government’s commitment to fixing the roads, Ajayi said the state of the road was affecting cargo dwell time

and Customs revenue.

The former image maker of NPA also said ships’ waiting and turnaround time and cargo dwelling time have been negatively affected because of the deplorable roads.

“I am sure the administration will fix the road. By the time that is done, your groanings and the hardship you are facing on these roads would be over. This is a new government and we have to wait for it to settle down.

At the moment, we are handicapped because the roads fall within the purview of the Federal Ministry of Works but I am sure that the problem would be addressed by the new government.

Officers, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said Customs may not meet its revenue target this year because of the roads.

“Even the revenue target from the two ports, I doubt if we would be able to meet it because of the roads,” he added.

The officer said the situation has also affected berthing ships, making it difficult for importers to take delivery of their goods on time.

He said the problem was the biggest challenge facing government agencies, adding that with the rainy season, the situation has degenerated.

Jumbo pay for dockworkers

T •From left: NPA’s Tin-Can Island Port Manager, Mr Babatunde Longe leading his boss, General Manager Western Port, Chief Ajayi, to inspect the failed section of the road in front of the port at Tin-Can Island... last week.

PHOTO: OLUWAKEMI DAUDA

Customs spends over N30b on training, equipment • ANLCA, others praise Service on anti-smuggling war

T

HE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has spent over N30 billion on infrastructure, equipment and personnel training for enhanced performance, it has been learnt.

A senior official of the Federal Ministry of Finance, who pleaded not to be named, told The Nation that Customs spent the money to stop smugglers from destroying the economy.

The official also said the Customs, last year, made 7,519 seizures valued at N8.78 billion. About 246 persons were arrested out of which 26 were convicted.

Customs, he said, fought smuggling more intensely in 2014 than 2013.

Investigation by The Nation showed that Customs officers have strengthened their presence at checkpoints, border stations, water ways and swampy areas where vehicles cannot access in a determined bid to stop smugglers.

The official urged the Buhari administration to support Customs to bring the smugglers down.

Customs, a source said, has acquired over 700 patrol vehicles, 6,000 A-K 47 assault rifles, patrol-boats, ocean-going vessels, two helicopters and aircraft for aerial surveillance of the nation’s borders and waters ways to put the smugglers under check.

“The A-K 47 rifles were purchased

by Customs to equip its officers and men for the war against smugglers and to stem nefarious importers of small arms.

“The drop in seizures from smugglers since the beginning of the year is as a result of the enhanced vigour with which the anti-smuggling campaign has been carried out by Customs officials.

“In Ogun State for instance, in the first four months of the year, the command recorded 361 seizures with Duty Paid Value (DPV) N319,967,32,

as against 485 seizures with DPV of N508,942,136 made same period last year, which indicates a sharp drop of smuggling in the region.

“During the period, the command generated N2,356,937,173.89 as against the N1,985,420,606.16 collected same period in 2014, with a difference of N371,516,567.73.

The official said it was wrong for anyone to import goods without paying duty.

“Customs is faced with the enormous task of not only generating revenue to the Federal Government, but fighting crime-related activities, such as smuggling and importation of unwholesome products, through the nation’s porous borders into the country.

“Most of our landed borders are hives of activities as the Customs commands have had to wage war against unauthorised importation and smuggling of products including rice, textile materials, vehicles, foot wares and other exportation of other goods that are prohibited from export,” the official said.

Customs’ National Public Relations Officer (PRO) Mr Wale Adeniyi said: “We are investing in massively on infrastructure. We have acquired patrol boats, ocean going vessels; we have got over 500 patrol vehicle to fight smugglers.

“We also engage in capacity building for our officers and men, we have change the face of our training, mostly training that has to do with arm smuggling. We are partnering with army and have regular training with them.

“We are also exploring the relationship we have with other Customs administrations, increased our border patrol based on the agreement we have with them. We are also training other agencies of the government. We have our aircraft that is doing air surveillance, we have to re-strategies to dismantle internal check points.

Adeniyi added that the Service was training officials of other agencies of the government to boost their operation.

Another official of the service, who does not want his name in print, said: “Before, when our officers and men confront these smugglers, they jump into water and our officers also jump into the water in an attempt to catch them and eventually got killed. The number of our officers that have died in the hands of smugglers is huge and that is why many of us are happy over the man power development in the service.

“Smuggling is a worldwide phenomenon, even the most powerful countries of the world are still fighting smuggling up till today and they have not succeeded in eliminating cankerworm.

“The best any Customs service or administration can do is to minimise it to the barest minimum,” the officer said.

Meanwhile, the President, Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Prince Olayiwola Shittu has praised the Customs Service for reducing smuggling.

He spoke at a stakeholders’ forum in Lagos. Shittu said there was a significant drop in smuggling.

“Smugglers are ingenious people.

America is still fighting smuggling.

Officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service have suffered many casualties in the hands of smugglers because they have superior fire power.

“As the Army is trying to reduce the impact of the Boko Haram in the north, smugglers are the Boko Haram Customs has to face all over the country. Therefore, they need the total support of the current administration to carry out their core function of trade facilitation, revenue generation and to combat smuggling,” Shittu said.

HE Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) has increased the salaries and welfare package of dockworkers to boost their productivity.

The agreement for the increase, it was gathered, was signed last weekend, by STOAN and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN).

STOAN Chairman Princess Vicky Haastrup said the reviewed package would cover two years; from June 1, last year to May 31, next year. She added that all arrears under the new package would be paid this week.

Haastrup, who expressed satisfaction with the reform in the industry, said terminal operators would continue to make 10 per cent contribution of their emolument for each dockworker in their employment towards the dockwork-ers’ retirement fund while each dockworker would contribute eight per cent in line with the Pension Commission Act. The review of the dockworkers wages, the Princess said, was in tandem with the promise by the concessionaires to improve the conditions of the workers.

“When we took over operation of the terminal at the onset of the port concession programme in 2006, we promised to not only modernise the port but to also improve the working conditions of port workers and I am happy to report that we have continued to deliver excellent results in both directions,” Haastrup said.

She noted that the increase was the highpoint of negotiation be-

tween STOAN and representatives of MWUN under a collective bargaining agreement.

Under the agreement, the dockworkers will enjoy a wage increase ranging from five per cent to as much as 10 per cent depending on the type of cargo handled.

“Another good news for the dockworkers is the payment of attendant arrears which took effect from the end of the lifespan of the previous agreement which was 1st of June 2014. This translates to one year arrears of agreed percentage which the terminal operators will pay by 15th June 2015,” Haastrup said.

She said workers enjoy better working condition than before.

Praising the leadership of MWUN for exhibiting maturity and patriotism during the negotiations, she called on dockworkers to reciprocate the terminal operators’ good gesture being committed to their jobs and by shunning acts that could be inimical to the smooth running of the ports.

Haastrup said despite the challenging environment, the terminal operators would continue to invest and modernise the seaports to achieve the Federal Government’s objectives for port reforms.

She reaffirmed her earlier call for an urgent solution to the perennial Apapa gridlock, adding that it is adversely affecting port operation and the economy.

The chairman also called for the reduction of the number of agencies at the ports as well as the streamlining of clearing processes to reduce cargo dwell time.

NIMASA DG bags Ph.D

N

IGERIAN Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General Dr Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi has been awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Strategic Marketing Initiatives and Business Performance of Nigeria Maritime Sub-Sector by the University of Port Harcourt.

The NIMASA boss was among the 38 conferred with the doctorate during the university’s 30th convocation.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Akpobolokemi thanked the uni-

versity for providing a conducive environment for him to complete his research.

He said the academic certificate was part of his quest to strengthen his capacity to provide service to the maritime sector.

Akpobolokemi explained further that his area of specialisation provided him valuable opportunities as his research documented the best practices in strategic Marketing Performance Management (MPM) based on the survey results of various firms and institutions in the maritime sector locally and internationally.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

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THE NATION

BUSINESS AVIATION

Nigeria to submit action plan to ICAO N

IGERIA is to submit its corrective action plan in aviation to the sector’s global regulator, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

The submission, a source said, is a fallout of the regulator’s Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) billed for November.

This has become imperative, following observations made in the technical audit by the regulator in Nigeria two weeks ago.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), it was learnt, is working hard to achieve a success-

Stories by Kelvin Osa Okunbor

ful audit of safety oversight in the country.

The preparedness of NCAA is coming on the heels of Nigeria's impressive performance at the just-concluded audit.

Nigeria scored over 90 per cent in ICAO’s security audit.

The 90 per cent verdict by the regulator’s team is evidence that Nigeria performed well in the nine days audit conducted on aviation’s security system by the global regulatory body.

The Team Leader of the audit team, Steven Neu, said the team

was impressed with the National Security Programme as there were very minimal items to be closed.

Neu said: ''Nigeria surpassed our expectations. We reviewed the 2008 audit before we commenced this exercise but we discovered there have been massive improvements in the security systems at the airports. ''To Nigeria's credit, all the minimal open items were closed immediately. The audit was focused on the eight critical elements.''

Nigeria is one of the first countries to go through the USAP Continuous Monitoring Assessment (CMA) Audit.

Neu praised security agencies at

the airports - the aviation security, Nigeria Police Airport Command, Directorate of State Security (DSS), Port Health Services, Air Force, Nigerian Drug Law enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Quarantine services.

The team’s findings and recommendations will be conveyed to the regulatory authority.

After 60 days, ICAO will forward the USAP CMA report to Nigeria, he added.

In 30 days, Nigeria will submit its comments on the report.

In another 30 days, the country will submit to ICAO its Corrective Action Plan (CAP), it was

learnt.

The Director-General, NCAA, Capt. Muhtar Usman, thanked the ICAO auditors for “a good job”.

He expressed joy that Nigeria's performance was higher than the preceding audit in 2008. Usman assured ICAO that Nigeria will not rest on her oars but will continue to ensure that our air transport operation is secure and safe.

He said: "While the USAP takes cognisance of states' security at the airports, the ultimate goal of USOAP is promoting global aviation safety through regular audits of safety oversight systems in all ICAO member states."

Govt assures of early completion of Kano airport terminal

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HE Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Aviation, Mrs. Binta Bello, has promised that the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), which is building a new terminal at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, will complete the project on schedule.

Speaking during an inspection of projects at the aiport, Mrs Bello said despite the slow pace of work on the terminal and others, they would be completed on time.

She said: “The project manager at MAKIA has assured me that he will hand over the job in March next year.

They will finish it; they have all the materials. If they, who are doing the work, say they will deliver by March, you have no cause to doubt them.

“The only place where we had challenges was Lagos. They had the initial challenge of site. And when they overcame the challenge, they mobilised to site and work is in progress; at other sites, there have been no problems.”

China’s Exim Bank is funding the construction of the aiport terminals in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja and Kano at $500 million.

Meanwhile, indigenous contractors handling the projects at the Lagos, Kano, and Port Harcourt airports have stopped work due to lack of funds.

Among the project sites the permanent secretary and her entourage visited, only a handful of artisans were seen idling away while their bosses were not in.

Patmoz Nigeria Limited, which is building the Kano airport’s fire station, stopped work, saying it had exhausted its mobilisation fee.

It was gathered that the contractor received payment for the work in October, last year.

Similarly, Jameck West Africa, which constructs the general aviation terminal, said the project which is about 60 per cent completed, had been suspended due to non-availability of funds.

Mrs Bello assured that the contractors would be mobilised to sites when funds are available.

“As soon as we are able to mobilise funds, we will call them back to sites. They said they have not been paid; we will look at it and once funds are available, we will pay them,” she said.

Last week, the Ministry of Aviation said inadequate funds were stalling modelling at the international wings of the Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt airports.

The projects include the Lagos Airport Power Contract, Protocol Lounge and landscaping , Construction of departure and arrival halls at Port Harcourt Airport and

others.

The projects are part of the remodelling contracts awarded by the last administration.

The contractor: Messrs Mantrac Nigeria Limited handling the Lagos Airport Power Project has vowed not to return to site until the government reimburses it for the work done so far.

At the power house of the Lagos Airport issues on gaps in funding arose, following complaints by the contractor: Messrs Mantrac Nigeria Limited, which suspended work on the airport Power Project Contract,” because it was being owed huge sums.

An official of the company said due to paucity of funds, some generating plants were not working at the Lagos airport.

The firm insisted that until the funds it channelled into the contract is repaid, it would not return to site.

At the new protocol lounge near the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) at the Lagos airport, where about 80 per cent of the work had been done, Mrs Bello was told that the contractor was also being owed leading to the suspension of work.

The officials of the contracting form dos not disclose the cost of the contract and how much the firm is owed.

Besides, the permanent secretary was informed that the contractor had suspended work until further payment was made contract for the landscaping of the surrounding was yet to be awarded.

At Port Harcourt International Airport , the contractor handling the construction of the departure and arrival halls of the airport, Messrs Inter Bau Construction Ltd said work on phase 1 (departure) was between 80-90 per cent completion while work on phase 2 (arrival) “is almost nil.”

Chairman of the company, Sir Nath Okechukwu, said in an interview that the second phase of the project was awarded at the cost of N1.7 billion, adding that the last time he received payment for the work was in 2013.

“In phase 1, we have done about 80-90 per cent and phase 2 is almost nil. In phase 1, our money got exhausted; we don’t have money, we have to suspend work. In phase 2, the total sum then was N1.7 billion, but it has gone up though we don’t know how much we are coming up with,’’ he said.

“We hope very soon they will make some payments so that we may go back to work. The owner of the project has just finished inspection.

When she gets back to Abuja then we will know what she is coming up with,” he said.

He assured that “if money is made

•From left: Director, Research, Planning & Documentation, Federal Ministry of Aviation, Idris Ibrahim; Mrs Bello; Director of Procurement, Dr. A. B. Erinle; and General Manager, Electrical, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Salisu Daura, during the inspection in Kano.

Travel agents fret over Lufthansa’s planned agent portal will re-introduce unUFTHANSA’s planned sursurcharge professional conduct and inefficharge of 16 euro on a ticket

L

passed through the General Distribution Systems (GDS) from September is generating furore among travel agents.

The National President, National Association of Nigeria Travel Agents (NANTA), Alhaji Aminu Agoha, in a statement, said Lufthansa’s new charge would drive his colleagues out of business.

He urged regulatory bodies to sanitise the industry and ensure that fares offered in Nigeria are at par with those in other countries and that airlines made to conform to global best practice.

Luthansa declined comments on the matter.

NANTA also decried what it described as sharp practices by some foreign airlines.

Furthermore, the agents said the palliatives, which Lufthansa is offering travel agencies worldwide, do not add value to the business. “ We were informed that the increase was a business decision to help the group recover payments which they make to the GDS’s for their services. To compensate their agents worldwide, they have developed a Travel Agency Portal which if used to make reservations, would compute fares less 16 euro.

“Specifically for the Nigerian market, they promised to start charging walk-in customers service charges of $50 and $100 for economy and business class tickets so that travel agency fares would be cheaper than theirs,” the statement read in part.

This move, however, according to

NANTA, may be a gimmick which will affect the travel agents adversely as they discovered that the travel agent portal Lufthansa introduced, is programmed to operate on a cash and carry basis, meaning that agents will have to make immediate payment for each ticket. It added that the portal is not synchronised with the IATA Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP). “ In the first instance, introducing service charges on tickets they sell directly to the few walk-in customers to their city offices will only minimally affect travel agent’s sales. Also, upon further investigations, we discovered that the Travel Agent portal, which they propose to introduce, is programmed to operate on a ‘cash and carry’ basis. “ What this means is that for each ticket booked on that portal, the travel agent will have to make immediate payment by cash as the portal is not synced with IATA’s Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP).

“We are alarmed that such a proposal, which could potentially take us back to the pre-BSP era of cash sales, is being proposed to us as a palliative. In an era when the Nigerian economy is going cashless, Lufthansa is introducing a product that would be purely on ‘cash and carry’ basis, many years after the introduction of BSP in Nigeria.

“Also, Lufthansa’s plan to sign on non-IATA accredited travel agents onto the so called travel

ciency – elements we have fought long and hard to eliminate from our market. Lufthansa’s planned surcharge of 16 euro will increase the cost of Lufthansa tickets in Nigeria,” the group said.

It lamented that another airline operating in the country which has its own travel agent booking portal, in addition to the GDS is not introducing extra charges for bookings done via the GDS. We therefore view this planned charges by Lufthansa as another ploy to engage in Capital flight.

It said although this surcharge will be borne directly by our passengers, we are of the view that it is our duty, as travel agents, to protect our loyal passengers and the Nigerian public by informing them of the unnecessary extra charges which they will incur each time they chose to fly Lufthansa.

“We call on all travel agents in Nigeria to ensure that their passengers are aware of this charge and advise them of cheaper alternatives.

“We hope that this measure will drastically reduce the sale of Lufthansa tickets in Nigeria and make them understand the importance of considering the uniqueness of each market in which they operate and not subject the Nigerian market to a ‘global decision’. It is only in Nigeria that airline fares are regularly increased without any corresponding increase in the quality of the services they offer on the Nigerian route.”

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TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS ENERGY

E-mail:- energy@thenationonlineng.net

The Special Adviser (Technical) to former Minister of State for Power, Mr. Darius Dickson Ishaku, and Managing Director/CEO of Mayok Engineering Works Limited, Chief Abayomi Awodipe, charts a roadmap on how President Muhammadu Buhari can solve the power problem.

EMEKA UGWUANYI reports.

‘How Buhari can improve power supply’

S

OLVING the power sector problems is not rocket science, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Mayok Engineering Works Limited, Chief Abayomi Awodipe, has said.

Awodipe is not new to the sector.

He has handled challenging jobs in the sector in several parts of the world while working with world’s leading power equipment and facilities manufacturer, General Electric (GE) of United States.

Awodipe, who has completed a blueprint on fixing the power sector that would be sent to President Muhammadu Buhari, listed steps the government could take to tackle Nigeria’s power supply issues.

He said Buhari should set up a committee of experts, about 20 per cent of whom should be politicians and others power in generation, transmission and distribution, stating that the President should ask them to set a goal in the sector and that they sholud be alotted a time frame within which to fix the ills of the power sector. ‘’They should state what they will do in six months, one year and two years to stop this power problem.

That committee must not be political and may not even be visible, but they will be doing a lot of work.

The terms of reference must centre on how to improve power, and ensure uninterruptible power in Nigeria,’’ he said.

He said the committee’s programme must be such that will deliver 5,000 megawatts (MW) within the next six months to Nigerians.

The committee must also look at the distribution system, which he described as rickety.

He said there are technical issues in each of the departments – generation, transmission and distribution, adding that all the technical issues must be resolved toward achieving this output. The only way Nigerians can be happy is to see above 5,000MW and if possible 10,000MW. They must ask for an-

other 5000MW in two years and in the next 10 years, get 10,000MW. Nigeria has 46 power plants and the machines are already there, why can’t these machines work?’’

Awodipe advised the Federal Government to compel all the generation stations to operate efficiently and produce 80 per cent of their installed capacities, and that anything short of that, the management of such companies should be queried.

He recommended that the government should create a code of conduct for contractors handling power projects. According to him, many contractors have come to the sector and left without doing the job not just in the power sector but in the entire economy. For instance, how many contractors are handling NIPP projects, how many have finished? he asked.

“I was the chairman of the committee of abandoned power equipment at the ports. My committee recovered about 400 containers of power equipment. For eight months I was busy running to and fro the ports and delivering the NIPP transformers and materials with the army, so they can finish these projects. How many contractors went to the ports? They only tell you the Customs didn’t allow them. The small transformers you see installed all over the place are of the abandoned equipment. If there was an effective code of conduct, such actions wouldn’t happen,” Awodipe said.

He advised the government to adopt regional grid system as against the national grid system.

He said the national grid system is wasteful and uneconomic because every power generated is sent to the transmission centre where it is allocated to various parts of the country and in the process of transmission to places far away from the centre at Osogbo, a lot of power is lost.

The losses are worsened by the weak and unstable transmission network. Therefore, with regional grid

system, power generated would not travel long distances before utilisation. ‘’How many of them have been punished for not performing?

When the month ends, they get their salaries. Now that the power sector has been privatised, I have reservation because privatisation means results. But, are we getting results? If we are not getting results, who will be blamed? All these are the questions the government must ask,’’ he said.

On revenue loss, I must tell you that Nigeria loses a lot of money.

America generates 750,000MW every day, South Africa about 70,000MW, and Nigeria hit a peak of 4000MW and has been dropping ever since, what does that mean?

For every 1MW we fail to generate, we lose N1 billion per day. If you have 1MW, multiply it with N8 per kilowatt/hour, you see how much money you will get.

On the calls for review of the privatised generation and distribution assets, Awodipe said the privatisation was okay, but unfortunately, privatisation means results and Nigerians are not seeing the results almost two years into the privatisation.

He said: “The privatisation was good, but the only thing is that we jumped it. What could have been done first was to commercialise them (the power assets) and privatisation will follow later. By commercialisation, I mean the government would have been able to know how feasible and financially viable those assets it wants to sell are. We didn’t look at the viability of each plant or distribution company we sold. Ughelli that has 900MW capacity was only generating 200MW when it was sold. The government didn’t bring the machines or the sta-

tions to the viability point of 60-80 per cent. In that sense, the buyers have now seen that what were sold to them are not profitable and they are having problems in generating fund to keep what they bought running.

“They have a legitimate reason but they should have known that before they bought them, so it is nobody’s business. What I advise the new government is to call a roundtable with the buyers, let them have their own independent studies on where the assets were before they bought them, what they have done in two years and the way forward. Let the new government do that quickly and invite those that bought it, tell them we know where we were when we sold it, we know what you have done and this is where we want you to be. Can you meet it or not? If you cannot meet it, we can find somebody who can do it. It is as simple as that. That is my advice. It un-businesslike and might cause a lot of disenfranchisement or even breakdown of the power sector completely if the privatisation is reversed, but it needs a lot of dialogue and review with those that understand the sector. ‘’ “No buyer has added one single thing since they bought it. No station has increased by one megawatt since they bought it and no distribution company has installed anything. Even in my street, we conducted a study and discovered we need a transformer but had to buy it by ourselves because the utility firm refused to bring it. There is actually a lacuna but I advice it is not reversed.

On Ajaokuta Steel Company, Awodipe advised that the government shouldn’t start something it wouldn’t finish.

“Secondly, we change contractors

•Awodipe

unduly because of political interests.

Our iron and steel technology is a Russian technology. I believe the solution to that Ajaokuta is to bring the original manufacturers. There is nothing you can do when you change the contractor handling a project. You don’t hold a new contractor responsible for output issues and this is political. The politicians have to take responsibility for failed technology and industries that we have. That industry will not see the light of the day until we bring the original manufacturers to come and help us to complete it and also unleash on them our Nigerian engineers. We have brilliant Nigerian engineers all over the world and we have failed to tap that. Who knows that I was in GE until I came to Nigeria? I was all over the world – in South America, Saudi Arabia, Europe, among others. Who knew when I came to Nigeria in 1976, that there was a Nigerian who was commissioning turbines all over the world? We have Nigerians that can help solve the problem of the power sector but the government has to encourage those who have gone out to get the technology by involving them in the scheme of things,” he added.

Renewable Energy Society seeks shift in power generation

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HE Renewable and Alternative Energy Society of Nigeria (RAESON) has called on the Federal Government to move away from dependence on one source of power generation if it wants to increase power in the country.

The association said that power is the foundation for sound economic growth of any country that wants its citizens to have quality standard of living.

Speaking at its 5th annual conference at Gregory University, Uturu (GUU), Abia State, the President of RAESON, Prof. Chidi Akujor, said his members were ready to partner with the government to solve the energy problem of the country and move the economy forward.

Akujor said his association believes that a solution to the electric power challenges will require the inclusion of renewable energy in the nation’s energy mix.

He said: “We agree that Nigeria has a lot of energy, like oil, gas and solar radiation, among others more than some countries yet we lack electric power, which we need

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

to change.”

The RAESON boss said that there was need for alternative energies in ameliorating the country’s energy challenges and reduce the over-dependence on oil and gas as the main source of power.

Akujor lamented constant erratic and inadequate power supply, stressing that it has affected the setting-up and maintenance of critical strands of national infrastructure. He said there are 60 per cent of Nigerians who do not have access to electricity and most of them do not make use of alternative energy, such as solar, wind or biomass.

In his address, the Chancellor Gregory University, Dr Gregory Ibeh, said the reason for RAESON to be the new face of energy in the country is that the Society will go a long way in putting the country on the part of success.

Ibeh said there was need for alternative energy in the country because there are numerous resources to produce alternative energy, stressing that

•A power plant

such resources could be tapped with less expenses for the benefit of all.

He said: “The world is talking about alternative energy for its people and economic development, so Nigeria cannot be left behind. There are wind storms everywhere in the country.

There is need for the engineers in the country to come together to harvest wind for energy generation for the improvement of the economy.”

Ibeh said the reason for the failure of the power sector under the government of President Goodluck Jonathan

was because gas pipelines were vandalised by vandals and oil thieves.

He noted that alternative energy is the best thing that would happen to the society, stressing that they are environment-friendly unlike fossil fuels.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

52

ENERGY

Sokoto Cement to build $600m plant T

HE Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN), Sokoto, is to build an additional power plant to make it selfsufficient in power supply to enhance its production capacity. The plant will cost about $600 million.

The company generates 12 megawatts (MW) of electricity but has gone into partnership with a Chinese company, CBMI to build a new plant to increase its generation to 16MW, the Head, Public Communications, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Alex E. Okoh, has said.

Okoh said the Principal Manager, Corporate Affairs, CCNN, Alhaji Sada Suleiman, stated this while explaining the company’s activities and plans when the postprivatisation monitoring team of the Bureau of Public Enterprises led by Mr. Ibrahim Babagana visited the plant.

He said earlier, CCNN’s plant does not generate sufficient power to take the full load when running the plant on full capacity utilisation. He said CBMI of China has started the construction of a new production line which has a production capacity of one million tons of clinker per year, and that the line should be commissioned by the end of next year to increase the company’s capacity by about 200 per cent.

The BPE team was also told that

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

the company is being operated by the core investor with total staff strength of 383 of which only two are expatriates.

The Cement Company of Northern Nigeria’s prime market area covers six states of the Northwest zone, including Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, and Kaduna. The company is leading supplier within its geographical market area.

The firm was founded by the late Premier of the Northern Region, Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello. It was incorporated in 1962 and commenced production in 1967 with an initial installed capacity of 100,000 tons per annum at the Kalambaina plant.

The need to meet the increasing demand for cement necessitated an expansion of the plant with the commissioning of a second line with an installed capacity of 500,000 tons per year in 1985, by the then Head of State, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari. Thereafter, in 1986, the first line was shut due to its uneconomic mode of operation, thus leaving the plant with a rated output of 500,000 tons per annum.

Under the privatisation and commercialisation programme of the Babangida Administration in 1992, the Federal Government disinvested about 20 per cent of its

holding in the company and sold it to the Nigerians. But under the civilian administration of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the Company was earmarked as one of the companies to be fully privatised. In 2000 therefore, public bidding for the company was concluded and Scancem International ANS of Norway, a member of Heidelberg Cement Group was appointed as core investor and technical partner of the Company. Following a strategic re-orientation, Heidelberg Cement Group divested its CCNN shares in 2008. A Nigerian company Damnaz Cement Company Limited later became CCNN’s new core investor and assumed full responsibility as with its technical/administrative experts.

In 2010, Messrs BUA International Limited acquired Damnaz Cement Company Limited and became indirectly the majority shareholder in CCNN and its technical partner. The ownership structure has core investors owning 50.7 per cent of the company; State Governments over the years reduced their shareholding from 36.8 per cent to 7.6 per cent; while other private shareholders retain 41.7 per cent.

The BPE team expressed satisfaction with the success story of the privatisation and the company is doing to remain competitive.

Seven Energy’s gas forum for SMEs SEVEN Energy International Limited will host an interactive forum for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Calabar, Cross River State on Wednesday to create awareness on the use of compressed natural gas (CNG).

The Managing Director, Accugas Limited, an arm of Seven Energy, Steve Tierney, said the forum with the theme “Gas to power your business,” is intended to develop and drive the company’s support to small and medium businesses, which is an important part of the Nigerian economy.

He said understanding how switching to CNG is an alternative to other fuels, and how it will have substantial impact on their competitiveness, will be part of what the forum will unveil.

He said Seven Energy through its subsidiary, Accugas, has built infrastructure and reputation for reliable supply of high quality gas to sustain business operations for many large industrial customers. ‘’We want to bring this value and reliability to the bedrock of the economy, which is the SMEs,’’ he added.

The company said the event would attract SMEs from Cross River State and its environs. those attending will learn about the competitive advantage natural gas has over diesel, including environmental benefits and lower energy cost per unit.

Seven Energy has continued to champion an industrial gas revolution through the development and production of natural gas, and, critically, its commercialisation through investment in processing and distribution infrastructure, where it has invested over $1 billion in the southeast region of the Niger Delta in the last five years, Tierney added.

“With significant capacity built into its distribution infrastructure, the company is capable of providing a long-term supply of gas to additional off-takers for power generation and local industries. ‘’Seven Energy has a list of gas offtakers, such as United Cement Company of Nigeria in Calabar, Notore Chemical Industries Limited, and some National Integrated Power Plants, such as the Calabar and Alaoji NIPPs, as well as Ibom Power Station,” he added.

Sahara’s So Aviation bags ISO certifications SO Aviation Fuel Limited, a member of the Sahara Group, has been awarded the ISO 14001:2004 and OHSAS 18001:2007 certifications after being audited and found to meet the requirements for the certifications based on industry best practices.

The Sahara Group said So Aviation, with its core business in the supply of aviation fuel, is the first Nigerian company in the sector to achieve this feat, which certifies the company to ensure sustainable health safety standards for domestic, regional and international airline operators.

The Managing Director, So Aviation, Mr. Alistair Morrison said the company was delighted with the certifications, having been a recipient of several other awards that reinforce So Aviation’s commitment to being a foremost provider of the highest quality aviation fuel.

Morrison said So Aviation, which has the ISO 9001:2008 certification that endorses its quality management systems, continues to present its operations and processes for ongoing audits to ensure total quality assurance. He also said the achievement was driven by the dedication and expertise of So Aviation’s workforce.

“At So Aviation, just like every

member of the Sahara Group, we are driven by the vision to continuously surpass our clients’ service delivery expectations by applying the best known standards in all our operations. So Aviation’s unwavering commitment to service excellence has made us the benchmark for customer experience, earning us these important certifications as well as the patronage of leading domestic and international airlines.

This is yet another huge achievement for us and we are happy to dedicate it to our existing and prospective customers,” Morrison said.

So Aviation has received reports from International Air Transport Association (IATA) and IATA Fuel Quality Pool (IFQP), thereby becoming their strategic partners for over five years.

“In fact, IATA has acknowledged that So Aviation’s quality standards are comparable with the best into plane fueling companies in the world. Our company’s operations are regularly inspected and audited by the IATA Fuel Quality Pool (IFQP), International and local airlines and International Oil Companies to ensure that these standards are being maintained in accordance with global best practice,” he added.

Schneider Electric marks 10th anniversary

S •From left: President, Nigerian Academy of Engineering, Rafiu Salau; Chief Onu and Vice President, Nigerian Academy of Engineering, Mrs Joanna Maduka, during the dinner in Lagos.

Indigenous engineers can fix power problem, says Onu

N

IGERIAN engineers have the capacity to solve the power problem, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, has said.

Onu, an engineer, spoke at the Academy Technology Dinner held in his honour by the Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAE) during its yearly lecture, life achievement awards and induction of new fellows in Lagos.

He urged members of the academy and other engineers to contribute to the development of the power sector, adding that there is no way the power problem can be solved without engineers.

He said emphasis on technology would, among other things, fasttrack the development process that would create jobs. Technology would facilitate the rebuild-

‘As we embark on massive infrastructural renewal programmes, your contributions and commitments will become invaluable assets that will leave behind enduring legacies that would stand the test of time’

By Ambrose Nnaji

ing of the economy and also enhance efficiency in public institutions.

Onu said the power sector is very important to the development of any nation, adding that economic and industrial development of the country cannot be achieved without fixing the power sector.

On the event’s theme The Nigeria power sector reform: progress, status, issues and outlook, Onu said the administration was committed to building the sector.

“As a body made up of highly

skilled professionals, you would avail the administration the benefit of your expertise in order to strengthen standards and ensure that as we embark on massive infrastructural renewal programmes, your contributions and commitments will become invaluable assets that will leave behind enduring legacies that would stand the test of time,” he said.

He noted that the country cannot develop at the pace it should if Nigerians do not emphasise technology, adding that engineering professionals have an important role to ensure this is achieved.

CHNEIDER Electric celebrated its 10 years of operations in Nigeria in Lagos.

The forum was also used to appreciate its long-serving members of staff that were described as the reason behind the success story of the company's decade long operation in Nigeria.

Speaking at the special recognition and awards for employees, the Country President, Schneider Electric Nigeria, Mr. Walid Sheta, said the company will be indebted to their staff who ensured that the company's objectives were met and surpassed.

"Today, we not only celebrate 10 successful years of operation in Nigeria, we also would like to show immense gratitude to all our staff and publicly extol the hard work of key staff members, whose efforts undoubtedly accounted for the steady growth of the organisation and brought it to where it is today," he said.

Sheta also said Schneider Electric has remained a partner in the power reforms, adding that it would continue to liaise with key stakeholders toachieve its objectives.

"We are part of those improving IT and electrical distribution and energy efficiency around the world, and we will continue being major players in the industry, but we know also that a key factor that has helped us and will continue to help us achieve this, is our

team of dedicated and committed staff.

This is why we are celebrating them today. With them, we know that the next 10 years will even be better," he added.

He said the past decade has seen Schneider Electric's operation in Nigeria, driven towards the actualisation of the Federal Government's effort of national development through the Energy and IT sectors.

He listed some milestone projects like its collaboration with MainOne on the finalisation of the first of its kind Tier 3 datacenter in West Africa, stemming the counterfeiting of its products, its participation in the "Light Up Rural Nigeria project" with the Federal Government, and launch of APC

by Schneider Electric experience centre, another first of a kind in Africa to mention a few.

As part of its focus for the year and beyond, Schneider Electric plans to address emerging markets.

Sheta added: "With over 170 million inhabitants and 10 cities among the 30 biggest cities in Africa, there is a growing need to address the building and construction gaps. The key word for Schneider Electric is geographical coverage, being available to serve not only big infrastructure projects but also the small and medium scale building sector. We are going to address these diffused markets.''

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

53

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

54

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 22-06-15

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 22-06-15

Nigerian equities record modest recovery amidst bargain-hunting

A

FTER four consecutive declines last week, Nigerian equities opened this week with a tinge of rally as investors sought to take positions in several equities, which had suffered significant depreciation in recent weeks.

Benchmark indices at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) indicated average dayon-day gain of 0.38 per cent, equivalent to about N43 billion. Aggregate market capitalization of all quoted equities rose from its opening value of N11.353 trillion to N11.396 trillion. The All Share Index, the composite index that tracks prices of all quoted equities, appreciated by 0.38 per cent to close at 33,384.59 points as against its opening index of 33,257.90 points.

The stock market had recorded week-on-week average decline of 1.08 per cent last week, after share prices dropped consecutively from Tuesday to Friday. The modest uptrend yesterday moderated the negative overhang of the sustained depreciation with average year-to-date return now at -3.67 per cent.

The uptrend was driven by

By Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

widespread bargain-hunting, especially within some highly capitalised stocks including Nigerian Breweries, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Dangote Cement, Access Bank, Union Bank of Nigeria and Lafarge Africa among others.

Nigerian Breweries, Nigeria’s second most capitalised stock, led 26 other stocks on the gainers’ list with a gain of N2.55 to close at N150.57 per share. Presco rose by N1.60 to close at N33.60. Lafarge Africa rose by N1 to close at N100. International Breweries added 92 kobo to close at N19.44.

Dangote Cement, the market’s most capitalised stock, and Unilever Nigeria, which is currently running a tender offer, added 50 kobo each to close at N175.50 and N45.50 respectively. Stanbic IBTC Holdings appreciated by 40 kobo to close at N28. Cement Company of Northern Nigeria rose by 32 kobo to N12. Union Bank of Nigeria gathered 26 kobo to close at N9.91 per share while Diamond Bank chalked up 23 kobo to close at N4.44 per share.

Total Turnover stood at 278.11 million shares valued at N3.83 billion in 3,771 deals.

Financial services, driven by banking stocks, remained the most active with a turnover of 191.05 million shares valued at N2.42 billion in 1,952 deals. Zenith Bank was the most active stock with a turnover of 97.64 million shares valued at N1.9 billion in 308 deals.

On the other hand, Mobil Oil Nigeria led 21-stock losers’ list with a drop of N2.99 to close at N146.01. Okomu Oil Palm followed with a loss of N1.57 to close at N29.98.

Seven-Up Bottling Company dropped by 90 kobo to close at N177.20. Guinness Nigeria declined by 85 kobo to close at N164.15. Cadbury Nigeria slipped by 57 kobo to close at N37. Flour Mills of Nigeria lost 50 kobo to close at N34.20.

Nascon Industries Plc dropped by 38 kobo to close at N8.12. Red Star Express declined by 25 kobo to close at N4.75. Forte Oil dropped by 23 kobo to close at N179.75 while FBN Holdings lost 20 kobo to close at N8.21 per share.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 22-06-15

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

55

MONEYLINK AfDB group makes case for shareholders

Stakeholders seek reforms in financial services sector E CONOMIC and financial experts have said ongoing reforms in the financial services sector would help to reposition the industry and prepare it to drive economic growth. The experts spoke in Lagos at a forum organised by Lekki Gardens Estate Investment.

The Chief Executive Officer, Lead Capital Plc, Abimbola Olashore, said new reforms in the banking sector would guarantee fair banking practices and better regulatory supervision.

Hesaid the move would help to unlock the financing gap in various sectors of the economy including the 17 million housing deficit in the real estate market.

Speaking during the paper presentation on ‘Unlocking the opportunities in the Nigerian residential real estate market: The investor’s perspective’, Olashore said, “Africa’s growth presents investment opportunities in key sectors given the sheer size of the market and the continent’s po-

tate sector through the banker’s perspective, investor’s perspective, infrastructural banker’s perspective, pension manager’s perspective and fund manager’s perspective.

The Managing Director, FSDH Merchant Bank, Mr. Rilwan BeloOsagie, who spoke from the banker’s perspective, noted that the demand for housing in the country was large and, as such, the real estate business was growing very fast.

He said, “The key issue in financing real estate is achieving bankability, and dealing with weak value chains which ranges from property registration and taxes, infrastructure, high interest rate, access to longterm finances.

“Unless we get more mortgages in Nigeria, developing the residential real estate among other real estate segments will be difficult.”

For Olashore, with the level of housing at only two dwelling units per thousand people compared to a rate of 8-10 dwelling units per thousand

Stories by Collins Nweze

tential.

“By 2030, more than 50 per cent of Africans will be living in cities. The key drivers in Africa real estate are political stability, macro-economic reforms, rapid urbanisation and growing middle class.”

He said the sector had challenges with issues that border on land registrations, access to finance, lack of infrastructure, importation of rawmaterials, and affordability.

According to the Lead Capital boss, the opportunities inherent in the real estate sector hinges on the increasing population growth in which more than 80 per cent of Nigerians live in settlements.

The investment forum had in attendance various captains of the industry who spoke on how opportunities could be unlocked in the real es-

T

•CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele

people as recommended by the United Nations, the rate of housing demand will continue to exceed supply. This, he said, presented ample opportunities for growth and development.

Heritage Bank commits N400 billion to project financing

H

ERITAGE Bank has invested over $2 billion (N400 billion) in equity and project financing market since its inception in the financial service sector.

The lender said the amount was arranged through debt facilities as lead, sole financier, or financial adviser.

According to the lender, the field of engagement has been diversified, covering economic sectors such as Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, entertainment and arts, education, oil and gas, aviation and haulage as well as the public sector.

For instance, the bank said it had

across the country; the project finance facility for the PIPP LVI GENCO to set up a 6.5MW captive power generating plant; and a 25km distribution network to power public utilities in Lekki, Victoria Island and Ikoyi. “We have financed similar and bigger projects in Port Harcourt and Abuja in deals worth several billions of naira in the last twelve months,” it added.

The Executive Director, Manila Banking, Heritage Bank, Mr. Niyi Adeseun, was quoted as saying, “For us at Heritage Bank, our core business philosophy as a timeless wealth partner to our customers is captured in our mission to create,

facilitated over $100m in funding for a variety of transactions in the film and entertainment industry from 2013 to date.

The statement said, “The innovative multi-billion naira MSME Investment Protection Fund, which is a non-collateralised funding option with embedded insurance to address the default risk inherent in the SME finance scheme, remains a strong differentiating indicator of our bank’s approach to the SME funding in the country.”

It gave some of projects as the Forte Oil Plc’s acquisition of 100 brand new Mercedes Benz product delivery trucks for haulage, logistics and product transportation

transfer and preserve wealth.

“Our support effort through project financing in the various sectors of the economy is one of the platforms that underscore our resolve and readiness to make a mark in the financial sector as a major pivot of socio-economic transformation of our country.”

He also said in the oil and gas industry, “our interventions span the downstream sector areas of product importation, supply, engineering and many more while we are also gradually getting really involved in the upstream. We have financed a few of such projects in Port Harcourt and we have a couple of them also in Abuja.”

HE Director of the African Legal Support Facility, African Development Bank (AfDB), Stephen Karangizi has called on international investors to secure business transactions that will be fair and balanced for company shareholders and stakeholders in government.

He also said a major contributor to the exorbitant cost and protracted nature of many African energy projects in Africa is inefficiency at the negotiating table caused by the fact that investors and government are not consistently speaking the same language or the lack of quality advice during negotiations of transactions.

He was speaking at the Ministerial session hosted by the ALSF recently held in Dubai. “Today there are financing opportunities available for infrastructure projects both public and private. What we need are high-quality strategic projects that are structured and aligned to meet the commitments of African countries and investor expectations,”Karangizi said.

Present were Mamadou Frankalay Keita, Minister of Energy and Water, Mali; Charles Mathias Zulu, Deputy Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development, Zambia, Kwabena Donkor, Minister of Power, Ghana; James Musoni, Minister of Infrastructure in Rwanda; Simon D’Ujanga, Minister of State for Energy, Uganda; and Henry Macauley, Minister of Energy, Sierra Leone.

Many other African countries were represented by senior government officials and heads of utility and regulatory authorities.

During the session, the Ministers shared their countries successes and challenges in the energy sector.

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS 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 HERITAGE FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND FIDELITY NIG FUND • UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

126.04 9.17 1.12 1.19 0.63 1.39 1,744.73 1,104.77 112.34 121.16 1.67 1.2539 1.3581 0.7923 1.1661

125.82 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.62 1.33 1,744.73 1,104.00 111.75 120.30 1.62 1.2471 1.3581 0.7793 1.1661

O/PRICE

DIAMONDBNK 4.21 PRESCO 32.00 INTBREW 18.52 AIICO 0.92 TRANSEXPR 1.22 DANGFLOUR 3.87 CCNN 11.69 UBN 9.65 AFRIPRUD 2.74 NB 148.02` STANBIC 27.60 ACCESS 6.10

C/PRICE

CHANGE

4.44 33.60 19.44 0.96 1.27 3.99 12.00 9.91 2.79 150.57 28.00 6.18

0.23 1.60 0.92 0.04 0.05 0.12 0.32 0.26 0.05 2.55 0.40 0.08

LOSERS AS AT 22-06-15

SYMBOL REDSTAREX OKOMUOIL VONO RTBRISCOE NASCON CILEASING ETERNA NFM FCMB SKYLBANK FBNH

O/PRICE 5.00 31.55 1.45 0.84 8.50 0.56 2.60 0.76 3.08 2.50 8.41

C/PRICE 4.75 20.08 1.38 0.80 8.12 0.54 2.53 0.74 3.00 2.44 8.21

Inflation:April

8.5%

Monetary Policy Rate

13.0%

Foreign Reserves

CHANGE -0.25 -1.57 0.07 0.04 0.38 0.02 0.07 -0.02 -0.08 -0.06 -0.20

FOREX RATES (NairaVs Dollar) May 28, 2015 Interbank ($/N)

199.00

$1

Black Market ($/N)

215.00

$1

$28.2b

London Inter-bank Offered Rates (LIBOR) Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

$67.91

Money Supply (M2)

GAINERS AS AT 22-06-15

SYMBOL

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

N16.42 trillion.

Credit to private Sector (CPS) Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

N17.2 trillion 16.5%

Tenor 1 Month 2 Months 3 Months 6 Months 12 Months

May 27

May 28

Rate)%

Rate (%)

0.1735 0.2147 0.2615 0.3841 0.6709

0.1715 0.2108 0.2626 0.3857 0.6744

Nigerian Stock Market Indices

Tenor

12-02-15 Rate (%) Rate (%) 13-02-15

Overnight (O/N)

14.683

76.583

1M

15.033

15.977

3M

15.809

17.177

6M

16.493

17.908

Transaction

Amount

Amount

Dates 03/02/2015 3/12/2014 1/12/2014

Offered in ($) 500m 400m 350m

Sold in ($) 499.93m 399.97m 349.96m

Statistics All Share Index Mkt Cap (NGN’bn) Deals Volume (mn) Value (NGN’mn)

34,649.3 11.8 3,385 564,28 6,087.80

5 May 29,383.93 9,804.36 3,714 377,75 6,568.66

GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Tenor

Feb. 13, 2015

Rates

T-bills - 91

12.44

T-bills - 182

13.85

T-bills - 364

13.92

Bond - 3yrs

15.92

Bond - 5yrs

17.22

Bond - 7yrs

16.59

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

56

CITYBEATS Police, OPC ‘torture’ residents over land

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

•Three injured, houses destroyed in Ajah OME residents of Alabeko Estate in Ajah, Lagos have accused the police of conniving with the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) to invade their property.

They alleged that the police and OPC injured three persons and destroyed properties worth millions of naira in the estate last Saturday.

The injured included the estate’s former General Secretary, Rotimi Ojo; Olaseni Obafemi and Alfa Isiaka Kelani, who were either stabbed or hit with shovels.

The OPC men allegedly came with bottles and guns, while policemen from MOPOL 23 wielded horse whips and teargas.

Relieving the incident, the residents’ association chairman, Uba Offorbuike said: “We have not known peace in this estate since a land speculator (name withheld) resorted to brigandage to grab a larger chunk of land from our estate.

“We met with the Omonile from whom we bought our land; they told us that they did not sell any land to the speculator. After the meeting with the land owners, we were within the estate when the OPC men attacked us with cutlasses, broken bottles and other offensive weapons.

“I was shocked when the police who are supposed to play a neutral role joined them to attack us by spraying tear gas on us. As law-abiding citizens, we are disappointed in the Nigerian Police because they have failed to defend the defenceless and armless people.

“They have constantly harassed residents despite petitions sent to the Commissioner of Police, and the (Assistant Inspector General of Police) AIG Zone 2, for protection against the attacks from the OPC and riot policemen from MOPOL 23.”

A resident, Solomon Sunday, said trouble started about three weeks ago after the speculator started laying claims to lands belonging to about five different families.

He said the speculator, who acquired land from the Owoje family, “suddenly surfaced with a survey

S

•Ojo on a sick bed...yesterday

By Precious Igbonwelundu

plan dated August 20, 2014 indicating that he owns 40.87 hectares.”

Sunday alleged that with the survey plan, the speculator encroached on the land with existing structures, and was still extending his grip on other’s properties, forcing them to flee their homes.

“The man just came from nowhere and brought a survey plan which was done last year. He started laying claim to non-existent 40.87 hectares of land. He owns a land but not in our estate.

He bought his land from the Owoje family, whereas the land he is now laying claims to belongs to the Akapo, Adejobi, Ogunlana and two other families.

When he started making trouble three weeks ago, the residents went to the Omonile who said they never sold their land to him.

“He was invited for a meeting with the Omonile on several occasions but he refused to come. And so, on Saturday, the residents and the Omonile had a meeting on how to stop him from the illegal encroachment on their properties.

It was after the meeting, around

‘

... the police that are supposed to enforce the law not only supervised the unlawful attack, but also complemented the thugs. They sprayed teargas on us. My wife was severely tear-gassed and even slapped by the policemen

’

12.30pm that the OPC men with about eight policemen from MOPOL 23, Obalende, started attacking us.

“These policemen have been staying inside a wooden structure (church) which he built on his land.

Before we knew it, the OPC men started chasing people away. They were flogging even women. They were shooting sporadically and breaking bottles which they used

Man, 35, in court for alleged wine theft

A

35-YEAR-OLD man, Joshua Effiong, yesterday appeared in the Tinubu Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing 25 cartons of Moet wine worth N2.9million.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the accused was alleged to have stolen the wine from one Adu Elizabeth, a trader, who resides at Close 4, Victoria Garden City, Lagos.

Effiong is standing trial with a 40year-old trader, Mojisola Bamgbade of 28, Shipeolu Street, Somolu, who allegedly received the items from the first accused, having known they were stolen.

Between the two of them, they are

facing a four-count charge of conspiracy to commit felony, obtaining goods under false pretence, stealing and receiving stolen goods. The duo pleaded not guilty.

However, the prosecutor, Inspector Ignatius Okeke, told the court that Effiong, with others at large, committed the offence on April 28, at about 9.am.

He said that the complainant, Adu, had come to the police station to report on the said date that she had supplied 25 cartons wine valued at N2,925,000 to Effiong on credit.

According to the prosecutor, the complainant said that the accused absconded immediately the

items were supplied.

He said that Effiong was later arrested and the stolen items were traced to Bamgbade.

Okeke said the offences contravened Sections 312, 326 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The Magistrate, Mr L.A. Owolabi ordered Effiong to be remanded in prison, saying he had jumped bail in a different case before the court, hence he could not grant him same again.

He, however, granted the co-accused bail in the sum of N400,000 and two sureties in like sum. The magistrate adjourned the case till June 30.

Barber arraigned for ‘stealing’ bag

T

HE police yesterday arraigned a 26-year-old barber, Nwazuosa Elite, in a Badagry

Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State for stealing a travelling bag.

The accused resides at 3, Ajara Dokoh Street, Badagry.

The prosecutor, Inspector Innocent Uko, told the court that the accused committed the offence on June 13 at about 2.30 p.m. at 105, Amosu Igboro Street, Alasia-Ijanikin, Badagry.

Uko said that the accused stole the bag containing N10,000 cash, a Nokia cell phone valued at N15,000 and a wristwatch, valued at N2,000 from the complainant, Mr Olayinka Olagbayi.

He added: “The complainant was walking to a bus stop in order to board a bus when the accused came from behind and snatched the bag from him. The complainant went after him and was able to catch him with the help of passersby.’’

The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 278 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

However, the accused pleaded not guilty to the offence and the Chief Magistrate, Mr Abiodun Etti, granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 and a surety in like sum.

The chief magistrate said the surety must provide evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government and adjourned further hearing in the case till August 31.

to stab many people. It was in that process that Rotimi Ojo was severely stabbed on his right hand while they used shovel to hit his head,” he said.

Offorbuike added: “He was rushed to Doren Specialist Hospital in Ajiwe, Ajah and is still on admission there. About N400,000 has been spent already on his emergency surgery and drugs because the doctor said his tendon and ligaments were damaged. What is even more painful is the fact that the police that are supposed to enforce the law not only supervised the unlawful attack, but also complemented the thugs. They sprayed teargas on us. My wife was severely tear-gassed and even slapped by the policemen.”

“They also used horse whips to brutalise us. Even the Omoniles who are old men were not spared. Most of them wore police T-shirts and so we could not see their names,” said Sunday.

Not done with the attacks on the residents, they invade Kelani’s eight-room bungalow, destroying the window glasses.

“Even Kelani’s wife, a visually impaired woman, was given several slaps for questioning their action. They beat and chased people

into the bush, as they continued with the demolition of people’s homes and fence, with the police supporting them.”

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for Ogombo, Omolabi Oviebo visited the area following a complaint and warned the policemen to stop harassing the residents.

Kelani was said to have fled his home before the attack for fear of being killed.

His fear, it was learnt, stemmed from allegations that the thugs have pencilled him and two others. Abiodun Abbe and Wale Adebayo-down for assassination.

OPC National Coordinator, Otunba Gani Adams said no member of his association would “descend as low as joining such a fight over people’s land.”

“It is worrisome that in most cases, people mistake Omonile (land agents) for OPC. Certainly, OPC could not have been involved,” he said.

Police spokesman, Ken Nwosu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said investigations were on, adding: “The command is poised to ensure that residents of Alabeko and its environs enjoy police protection like other residents of the state.”

Artistes intensify anti-piracy war

M

USICIANS and actors under the umbrella of Film and Video Producers Association of Nigeria (FVPMAN) have taken their war against piracy to the streets.

The group held a peace walk in Lagos against piracy last Saturday.

The walk began at Planet One Hotel at Maryland through Opebi Link Bridge and ended at the Lagos Television (LTV) in Ikeja.

Many actors, actresses, musicians and dancers frowned at piracy, which according to them, has deprived them of the fruits of their labour.

Some organisations and corporate bodies also came together to support the group. One of the groups, Oceanic Health Management Limited (OHML), a health care insurance company; screened participants for hypertension, diabetes and eye problem.

Head, Medical Operations, Dr. Emegha Emohare said his company is supporting the anti-piracy war because artistes are being denied their due.

Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) President Pretty Okafor said his organisation

By Oluoma Omeihe

is committed to fighting piracy, adding: “We don’t get value for our money. We put in so much time, energy and money just to get little or no profit in return.”

Nigeria Inter–Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) Managing Director Adebisi Shonubi said: “This marks the beginning of change for the media industry. This walk is to sensitise people that piracy is real and that they should not encourage the entertainers. Piracy kills artists and so it should be discouraged.”

Nollywood star Emeka Ike, who is also the President of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), said the industry needs to fight this rot. “The time is up for piracy,” he added.

A representative of the National Association of Nigerian Deejays (NAND), DJ Mix, said: “I beg Nigerians to condemn piracy and say no to it.”

A member of Marketers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr Emeka Samuel Aduah said: “We are here to tell the world about piracy and tell them that it is real and we all must kick against it.”

57

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

Couple clubs bus conductor to death

NYSC DG: corps member’s killing painful

N

ATIONAL Youth Service Corps (NYSC) DirectorGeneral (DG) Brig-Gen Johnson Olawunmi yesterday described as painful the killing of a female corps member, Yetunde Shukurat, in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

He spoke with reporters at the closing ceremony of the orientation course for

By Medinat Kanabe

the 2015 batch of Lagos Corps members at the NYSC Camp in Iyana-Ipaja.

Olawunmi said the Corps places premium on Corps members’ security.

He said: “Corps members need to get themselves integrated in the host communities where they are serving. They can do this by learning the language of the

community in which they are serving; learning the people’s culture and putting in efforts in terms of community service. They must know the community and let the community know them; that for us is the first step to ensure adequate security for Corps members.”

The DG said the Kwara State security agencies have arrested some people and

charged them to court for the Corps member’s death.

“We will continue to do as much as we can to ensure the security of lives and properties of these Corps members,” he said.

Olawunmi urged Corps members to be change agents and imbibe good value, “Very soon, you will be called to drive the change,” he said.

Lagos ‘ll enforce traffic laws, says Ambode •Governor praises Ikoyi Club on multi-storey car park

L

AGOS State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has restated his administration’s commitment to ensuring total compliance with traffic laws by motorists and other road users.

The laws, he explained, were enacted to ensure easy movement.

The governor, represented by his deputy, Dr Idiat Adebule, spoke at thecommissioning of a multi-storey car park complex at Ikoyi Club 1938 in Lagos yesterday.

When there is strict com-

By Olatunde Odebiyi

pliance with relevant laws, especially the laws on traffic management, the economic prosperity and infrastructural development, the governor said.

Commissioning the multi-storey car park, Ambode praised Ikoyi Club 1938 for its construction, describing it as a laudable project that would ease traffic in the area.

He enjoined other social and corporate organisations to emulate the club.

The club’s Chairman, Major-Gen Mufutau Balogun

(rtd) said the park’s construction was in fulfilment of a 13-year dream, noting it would make its members and visitors more comfortable.

He said the usual traffic snarl around the club and environs would now be reduced, adding that the park can accommodate about 295 cars on four floors and nine parking areas.

He said it is fitted with modern features including Closed Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV), elevators, a restaurant and a lounge for drivers, among other amenities.

A

According to the prosecutor, Corporal John Iberedem, the accused committed the offences on May 14 at his apartment in IjoraBadia.

Iberedem said the accused unlawfully assaulted Peace by beating her with a plank.

“Gaius was badly injured by the accused and was

taken to the hospital for treatment. The accused claimed that the complainant was very rude to him,’’ he said.

Iberedem said the offences contravened Sections 54 and 171 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

A

N Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s court has ordered that a couple, Aliu Ismaila and Tolu Mayowa, be remanded in prison custody for allegedly clubbing a bus conductor, Daniel Owusu, to death.

Ismaila, a driver, and Mayowa, trader, were alleged to have hit Daniel, who was a bus conductor, on the head with a plank and he died.

It was learnt that Ismaila and Tolu boarded Daniel’s Oshodi-bound vehicle from Ile-Epo in Abule Egba and refused to pay.

The incident happened on May 7.

The defendants, who live at 8, Sunday Omotosho Street, Pleasure, Abule Egba, are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and murder. Their plea was not taken The offence, according to the prosecutor, Inspector Asu Feddy, is punishable under Sections 221 and 231 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011. He filed an application that the defendant be remanded in prison pending legal advice from office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

Magistrate E.O. Ogunkanmi adjourned the matter till July 21.

‘Let professionals direct government policies’

A

•Ambode

Man docked for ‘beating woman to a pulp’ 32-year-old man, Emeka Obiora, who allegedly beat his neighbour, Peace Gaius, to a pulp, yesterday appeared before an Apapa Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

Obiora, a resident of IjoraBadia area of Lagos, is standing trial on a two-count charge assault and breach of peace.

By Rukayat Jimoh

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Section 171 stipulates three years imprisonment for assault occasioning harm.

The Senior Magistrate, Mr G.L. Hotepo, granted the accused bail in the sum of N20, 000 with one surety in like sum.

The case was adjourned till July 10 for mention.

FORMER Chairman of Ikeja Local Government Wale Odunlami, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that his administration’s policies are initiated, directed and monitored by professionals.

Odunlami made the observation while speaking to reporters at a stakeholders’ meeting to advocate tax compliance, recently in Ikeja,.

Odunlami, who is a also Past Chairman of Ikeja District Society of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAN) and former Council Member of Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), stressed:

“Professionals should be the bedrock of the policies of this government and the major push factor for its success.”

He added: “It is our hope that our present crop of leaders will not toe the negative path of past governments, which had maintained the culture of putting square pegs in round holes.

“Political appointments this time around, should be made based on capability of delivery and more importantly, should mirror the yearnings of the people.

This will go a long way to give confidence to the people with regards to the ‘change’ factor in the system, which the people voted for.“

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

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NEWS

Alleged contempt: Kashamu misled court, say AGF, NDLEA

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HE Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to dismiss contempt proceedings initiated against them by Senator Buruji Kashamu, who they are seeking to extradite to the United States to face drug dealing charges.

Through his lawyer, AJibola Oluyede, Kashamu had filed a Motion on Notice for committal of the AGF and NDLEA Chairman Ahmed Giade to prison.

The applicant prayed the court to hold that the respondents are in criminal contempt by their alleged willful violation of a court judgment dated

By Joseph Jibueze

January 6.

He prayed the court to declare that the invasion of his home by NDLEA officials at the instance of the AGF, as well as the extradition proceedings which they commenced, constitute criminal contempt.

But counsel to the AGF, Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN), told Justice Ibrahim Buba yesterday that Kashamu’s application was an abuse of court process because similar prayers had earlier been moved and decided by another judge of the court, Justice Okon Abang on June 8.

“In his ruling, Abang granted the same reliefs being sought in the instant application. The same committal proceedings was

filed before Abang – word for word – and he has dealt with it finally,” Ngige said, adding that Oluyede hid that fact before Justice Buba.

NDLEA’s lawyer Mr Joseph Sunday said there was nothing illegal about the agency’s actions to warrant being held in contempt. “There is nothing illegal about the actions of the second respondent,” he said.

He had earlier argued that Justice Abang never made any order restraining the agency from extraditing Kashamu.

“Your lordship was misled into thinking there are orders against extradition. What they asked before Abang is order against abduction, kidnap,” he said.

Besides, he said Justice

Abang’s judgment of last year was on a suit by a group, the Concerned Citizens of Ogun State, adding that it had nothing to do with extradition.

“So, the applicant (Kashamu) misled this court by lifting some of the orders made in that case, which were restricted to that particular petition. Justice Abang never made any order restraining the extradition process.

“Kashamu does not want to submit to the enquiry on whether or not he should be extradited. The United States has made a request for his extradition.

Should NDLEA fold its arms?

How will that portray us to the international community? This application is a desperate attempt to put the security agen-

•From right: Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s wife Bola with daughter of the deceased, Dr. Quincy Sumbo Ayodele and her husband, John Ayodele, at the funeral ceremony of Quincy's father, Chief Amos Babalola Sodimu in Abeokuta, Ogun State...at the weekend.

Ikpeazu cuts personal salary, travelling expenses

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BIA State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has cut his salary and travelling allowances by 50 per cent.

Speaking in Umuahia at the swearing in of the Head of Service (HOS), Dr. Vivian Uma, Ikpeazu said his administration was concerned about workers’ plight.

He said he was touched by his administration’s inability to pay salaries, stressing that it is difficult for him to receive salary when workers

From Ugochukwu UgojiEke, Umuahia

were owed salary arrears.

The governor promised to ensure that worker’s salaries and allowances are systematically cleared.

Ikpeazu called on government appointees to follow his example because according to him, there was need to cut the cost of governance for effective operation.

He congratulated the HOS, describing her appointment as

a milestone and urged her to prioritise workers’ welfare.

Responding, Dr. Uma promised to bring a positive transformation to the civil service. She assured the people that discipline and sound ethical conduct would be enthroned for greater service delivery.

The state government has reiterated that only two agencies were authorised to collect levies and dues on its behalf.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the gover-

nor, Godwin Adindu, said the Abia State Passengers Integrated Manifest and Safety Scheme (ASPIMSS) and the Physical Planning Industrial Development Fund (PPIDF) were the only agencies mandated to act for government.

The statement reads: “The public is mandated to pay their levies to these two agencies. Any other group, individuals or agents, who have continued to defy government’s order, are warned to desist from their illegal acts.”

Enugu to partner FRSC to boost IGR

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NUGU State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has said his administration will partner the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to boost the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

The governor spoke yesterday when a delegation of the FRSC, led by its Corps Marshal and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Boboye

From Chris Oji, Enugu

Oyeyemi visited him.

The governor said the commission’s request for more work stations was a welcome development that would increase the state’s revenue.

Governor Ugwuanyi thanked the commission for its cooperation and partnership, urging it to continue

with programmes and policies that would assist his administration to realise its electoral promises on employment generation and investment promotion.

He hailed the commission for its proposed plan to decongest the popular 9th Mile Corner before the festive season.

Oyeyemi said they were at

the Government House to felicitate with Ugwuanyi and request more partnership for increased capacity building and work stations in order to boost the state’s IGR. He said Enugu has contributed its quota towards the commission’s progress, adding that it had designed a short term measure to avert the problems encountered at the 9th Mile Corner.

Police deny depositing 53 bodies in morgue

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HE Enugu State Police Command has denied reports that it dumped 53 bodies in the mortuary of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku Ozalla, Enugu State.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) last Friday alleged that 53 bodies, marked with red ink, were dumped by the police in the morgue.

The commission said the bodies were discovered

From Chris Oji, Enugu

during investigations into the alleged extra-judicial killing of Chukwuma Ihezie by personnel of the command’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

According to NHRC, the bodies were discovered in the same mortuary where Ihezie’s body was deposited.

The commission has asked the chief judge to conduct a coroner’s inquest into the cause of Ihezie’s death and to

investigate the circumstances leading to the alleged dumping of the bodies.

The NHRC said the investigations would determine whether the killings were extra-judicial, noting that ‘extra-judicial execution is a violation of right to life contrary to section 33 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended); Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Po-

litical Rights’.

Reacting to the development, the Enugu State Police Command denied any involvement in the alleged dumping of the bodies.

Command’s spokesman, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu said the mortuary’s records would state the identity of persons who deposited the bodies, as well as the cause of death.

Amaraizu said it was improper to suggest that the police was guilty of extrajudicial killings.

cies in bad light,” he said.

However, Oluyede contended that it was not true that there was an extradition request for Kashamu from the United States. “That claim is false and that is to put it mildly,” he said.

He said if there was any such request, it would be addressed to the AGF, who would then apply to a court for extradition proceedings.

“There is nothing like that addressed to the AGF,” he said, adding that NDLEA would have had no business with any such extradition request if indeed it was made, as only the AGF would be the prosecutor.

But Sunday argued that based on Section 8 of the Extradition Act, any other person beside the AGF can make an application for a provisional warrant of arrest where there is an extradition request.

“We urge your Lordship to dismiss this application for being an abuse court process,” he said.

Earlier, Justice Buba dismissed Ngige’s application for stay of proceedings. The senior advocate had prayed the court to suspend further hearing of the case until his appeal against a ruling by Justice Buba barring Kashamu’s extradition is determined.

The judge held that he would not be “bamboozled” into granting the application when the appeal had not been “en-

tered”, adding that the contempt proceedings was sui generis (of its own kind; unique) and therefore he was dutybound to determine it without being distracted.

Justice Buba also refused to set aside his order, and dismissed Ngige’s application for an adjournment to enable him file a further affidavit to prove that the contempt proceedings was wrongly initiated.

Oluyede, in the application, said the court on January 6, last year in suit FHC/L/ CS / 49/ 2010, restrained security agencies from arresting Kashamu in respect of allegations contained in a petition dated December 18, 2009.

Oluyede claimed that the alleged contemnors willfully and deliberately violated the judgment and court order under the pretense of responding to a request for Kashamu’s extradition made by the US government regarding allegations of the applicant’s complicity in narcotic offences committed in the US in 1994, a matter which Kashamu said had been decided by a British Court in 2003.

He accused Giade of plotting to preempt the judicial process by deploying about 50 fully armed NDLEA officials, pursuant to the verbal instruction of the AGF, to invade Kashamu’s home around 4am on May 23.

Justice Buba adjourned ruling till today.

Umahi sacks council chairmen, represents appropriation bill From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

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BONYI State Governor Dave Umahi has sacked the 13 Caretaker Committee chairmen and 64 Development Centre coordinators appointed by former governor Martin Elechi.

The Governor, who announced their sack while re-presenting the 2015 appropriation bill at the House of Assembly said all appointments made in the local government areas, would cease to exist by end of June.

The House of Assembly had before now, invited the chairmen and coordinators to account for funds received in the last few months.

On the re-presentation of the 2015 appropriation bill, Umahi said his administration decided to re-present the budget following the current economic realities which the former budget did not capture.

The budget, which dropped to N75.8 billion from N80 billion represents 11 per cent drop with the recurrent expenditure standing at N37.7 billion while capital expenditure stands at N38.8 billion.

Governor Obiano also said his administration would reduce the number of ministries, parastatals and boards to cut the cost of governance.

Vehicle owner gets ultimatum

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HE Lagos State Police Command has warned the owner of a scrap light green colour Mistsibishi Pajero Jeep with registration number CF 502 LSR parked at Owode Onirin Division in Ajegunle Ikorodu, to remove it within 14 days of this publication or lose it to members of the public.

‘Solution Hour’ at FFARIM

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REEDOM Foundation Apostolic Revival International Ministry will begin a two day special programme on June 25. The programme tagged ‘Solution Hour’ begins by 8am.

Another special programme, tagged ‘Weep No More’ will hold on June 26 at 10am.

Both programmes will hold at the church headquarters at 30, Ajisebiaramecca Street, opposite low cost housing estate, Sabo, Ikorodu.

The evening session starts by 9pm at 32, Olayiwola Street, New Oko-Oba, Abule-Egba, and it is tagged ‘Night of Prophesy’.

Enebong for burial

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HE remains of Mr. Abasi-Abasi Enebong, who died on May 19, will be laid to rest at Atan Cemetery Yaba on Friday, June 26. He was 64.

There will be Service of Songs on June 25 at the Mission Street Playground, Satellite Town by 5pm and funeral service will hold at St. John’s Anglican Church, Satellite Town, by 10am.

Enebong is survived by a 94-year old mother, brothers, sisters, wife, children, in-laws and relations.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

59

NEWS

Adoke’s cousin, 45 others arrested for alleged kidnap

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SPECIAL team despatched by the Inspector-General of Police to curb kidnap and other crimes in Kogi State yesterday arrested Ahmed, a cousin of former Minister of Justice and AttorneyGeneral of the Federation Mohammed Adoke.

The 72-year-old man was nabbed for his alleged role in kidnapping.

But he protested that he was a victim of petition.

Ahmed said the police, before his arrest, searched his home but found nothing incriminating, adding that they later alleged that some of the displayed items were recovered from his place.

Police spokesman Emmanuel Ojukwu, addressing reporters at the Kogi State Command Headquarters in Lokoja, said the

Man, 29, arraigned for defiling minor

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29-year-old man, Mr. Mudassiru Abdullahi, yesterday appeared before a Senior Magistrate’s Court in Katsina State for allegedly defiling an 11-year-old girl.

Abdullahi, who lives at Borindawa village in Malumfashi Local Government, was arraigned before Magistrate Nafisa Bagiwa on a one-count charge of rape.

Police First Information Report (FIR) said the accused committed the offence on June 2 about 7:30pm.

It said the victim’s brother, Mr. Murtala Musa, reported the matter at the Mulumfashi Police Station on June 3 about noon.

The FIR said Musa told the police that the accused lured his younger sister into his room and defiled her.

It stated that the complainant said the victim was taken to Malumfashi General Hospital where she was examined and treated.

The FIR said the offence contravened Section 283 of the Penal Code.

Magistrate Bagiwa, however, did not take the plea of the accused. She ordered that the case file be forwarded to the Ministry of Justice for advice.

The magistrate remanded the accused in prison custody and adjourned the case till July 20.

From James Azania, Lokoja

300 Police Mobile Force drawn from across the nation and complemented by the Kogi Command, have recorded good results since their arrival on May 27.

He said 45 suspects have been arrested by the police in the last three weeks, adding that arms and ammunition, including an AK47 rifle with number BA 360834 snatched from Corporal Apogu Dzakwa have been recovered.

“We are still on course.

We are not yet finished, as

the kidnapped judge of the High Court is still in captivity.”

Ojukwu urged the residents to give the police information, which would help them in arresting criminals.

He said: “The N5million bounty promised by Governor Idris Wada for any information that will assist the task force in its assignment is still up for grabs.

“I am pleased to inform you that barely three weeks into the operation, which has been prosecuted with vigour, dedication, professionalism and pas-

sion, results have been recorded.

“On June 13 about 2am, operatives of the special squad acting on a tip-off arrested Isa Sunday Omouya, aka Cat or Sunday Moscow, aged 36, of Ihima in Okehi Local Government.

“A search of his premises and surrounding led to the recovery of one AK47 rifle with 13 rounds of ammunition, one barrel gun with two rounds of cartridges and three ATM cards.

“Further investigation showed that the recovered AK47 rifle with number BA 360834 was snatched from

Afonja descendants reject Saraki as Senate president

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HE Afonja Descendants Union in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, has rejected Senator Bukola Saraki’s emergence as Senate president.

Addressing reporters in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, yesterday, the group’s leader, Alhaji Abdulkareem Olola Kasum, described Saraki’s purported election as “a sham, an affront to balancing of political equation, a misnomer and an unacceptable clandestine move in collusion with the Peo-

From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo

ples Democratic Party (PDP) senators to scuttle the Buhari administration.”

He said: “It is a universal practice that in every war situation, even in a democratic political war, cessation of hostilities is always followed by a period of jostling for the spoils of war among the victorious allies. This is the time when principal war mongers employ available means at their

disposal to secure substantive shares of the gains of the war.

“It is time to share party executive and legislative offices among the victorious zonal political leaders without disrupting the principle of balance of power ethnically, religiously and culturally.”

Kasum, a stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State, said rather than maintain, apply and respect the principle of party supremacy,

T

some senators, out of greed, self-centredness and desperation for power, conspired with frustrated PDP senators to organise a kangaroo election, resulting in the emergence of Saraki as the Senate president.

The leader of the Afonja Descendants Union noted that they opposed the emergence of Saraki as the Senate president, saying they supported APC leadership’s position on the Senate president.

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

KWARA State government will soon streamline its ministries and appointments to reduce the cost of governance, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has said.

The governor, who spoke yesterday in Ilorin at the inauguration of 42 buses for Harmony Transport Services Ltd, urged the people to be ready for hard work and sacrifice, “to enable us realise the Kwara of our dream.”

He advised them to use the present economic situation as an opportunity to diversify the economy and eliminate wastage.

Ahmed said: “In doing so, we will better fund our development by reforming the revenue generation and collection process. This will reduce our reliance on federally-allocated revenue.

“Be advised that the era of impunity and careless usage of government property is over. These new buses and the old ones in the fleet should be deployed efficiently and professionally to ensure their optimal use.

Ganduje to settle herdsmen in forest From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

•Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (middle), receiving a gift from the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah, at the Government House... yesterday. On the left is Deputy Governor Ahmed Aliyu.

UNICEF supports Borno Internally Displaced Persons HE United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said it assisted internally-displaced persons (IDPs) at Dolari camp in Maiduguri, Borno State, with basic needs between April and May. This is contained in a report by the Fund, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja.

The Country Representative of UNICEF, Ms Jean Gough, in the report recognised that Dolari camp had a population as high as 15,000 persons and suffered lack of health facilities, basic education and malnutrition.

“The nutrition status of children and women is poor,” said the report.

Cpl Apogu Dzakwa, who was shot dead on May 18 about 11:30am on Ayere/ Ajowa Road in Ijumu Local Government.

“The deceased was on escort duty with an expatriate, Karunadasa Dorawaka, an engineer, of Boroni Prono Construction Company Ltd, who was kidnapped by armed hoodlums.”

The Head of the Special Anti-Crime Task Force, Police Commissioner Chris Ezike, said investigation was on, adding that those found culpable would be arrested and prosecuted.

Ahmed to reduce ministries, aides

It added that five per cent of the children under five suffered acute malnutrition and 15 per cent from moderate malnutrition.

“Food assistance in the camp is unreliable and of poor nutritional quality.

There are few people in the camp to provide nutritional

services,” it said.

The report noted that malnutrition was an emergency that needed to be tackled to ensure that children born in the camp were fed well.

It said nutrition to children, especially those under five, was very important, adding that healthy feeding could

engender development of the cognitive memory of the child.

UNICEF conducted a joint WASH assessment to identify needs and gaps in response to Dolari camp, and it found that each person in the camp was only entitled to eight litres of water per day.

Ex-Kogi MILAD dead

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HE former Military Administrator of Kogi State, Col. Bzigu Afakirya (rtd), is dead.

He died yesterday at an Abuja hospital after a brief illness. He was 66.

The late Afakirya, who was Military Administrator from August 1996 to August 1998, was born at Lassa in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

Governor Idris Wada has commiserated

From James Azania, Lokoja

with the immediate family of the ex- MILAD, describing his death as a loss to the country.

In a condolence message signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Mr. Jacob Edi, the governor extolled the virtues of the late administrator, noting that during his service in the state, he left indelible legacies, including two housing estates and water schemes that are still in use.

KANO State government is exploring the possibility of providing improved security, grazing land and dams at Falgore forest, to create a permanent settlement for Fulani herdsmen.

Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who spoke at a meeting with the project coordinator and other stakeholders of the animal insemination programme said the objective was to prevent the Fulani from nomadic activities, which often resulted in security problems, clashes, cattle rustling, among others.

Lying in northern guinea savanna ecological belt, the forest, which is in the southern part of the state, is protected by ecosystem, covering an area of about 1000 square kilometers. It is traversed by River Kano.

On the animal insemination programme, the governor said it was designed to train the herdsmen to improve reproductive efficiency in cattle, in tandem with international best practices.

‘Bauchi ‘ll give farmers fertilisers’

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AUCHI State Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar has reiterated his determination to give farmers fertilisers.

He spoke at Yashi in Alkaleri Local Government at the presentation of farm inputs by the lawmaker representing Duguri/Gwana State Constituency, Ibrahim Bala Hassan.

The governor said: “Despite the huge debt inherited and an empty treasury, I can assure you that although we are unable to give you the required assistance, we will soon give fertilisers to farmers.”

Abubakar, the guest of honour, said: “Government is looking into the ways of recovering illegal govern-

From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

ment property carted away by the officials of the last administration.”

He said April salary had been paid civil servants “and that of May will soon be paid.”

Responding to a request for the building of Duguri to Burga and Pali to Lariski rural roads, the governor said: “Opening up such roads will increase the socio-economic activities of the people and generate revenue for the state’s development”.

The Duguri District Head, Alhaji Ibrahim Yusuf Baba, said his domain lacked potable water and good roads to transport farm produce.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

FOREIGN NEWS

Germany frees al-Jazeera reporter

Gaza: ‘War crimes by both sides’ - UN reports

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ERMAN prosecutors have confirmed that a reporter from the al-Jazeera network detained after an extradition request from Egypt has been freed.

Ahmed Mansour, who works for the network’s Arabic-language service, was held on Saturday as he tried to board a flight from Berlin to Qatar.

A court in Egypt’s capital Cairo sentenced him to 15 years in prison in absentia last year on torture charges.

Al-Jazeera says the accusations against Mr Mansour are absurd and false.

One of his lawyers, Patrick Teubner, has said that there are no further legal matters pending against his client in Germany.

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OTH Israel and Palestinian militants may have committed war crimes during the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict, UN investigators have said.

In a long-awaited report, the UN team said there was evidence of “serious violations” by both sides.

Israel dismissed the investigation as “politically motivated and morally flawed”, while Hamas said it wrongly equated “the victim and executioner”.

The conflict lasted for 50 days between July and August, and ended in a truce.

On the Palestinian side, 2,251 people, of whom 1,462 were civilians, were killed, the report said. On the Israeli side, 67 soldiers were killed along with six civilians, it noted.

Israel says it launched the offensive on Gaza to put an end to rocket fire and remove the threat of attacks by militants tunnelling under the border.

The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) investigation was mired in controversy from early on.

The head of the inquiry, William Schabas, quit part-way through amid Israeli allegations of bias, acknowledging he had previously done work for the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO).

Israel had refused to co-operate with the investigation, which it said had drawn its conclusions in advance.

In their 183-page report the commissioners highlight the impact on civilians on both sides.

They criticise Israel for not revising its practice of air strikes as casualties mounted, question the type of weapons it used and the quality of warnings it gave to Palestinians to evacuate their neighbourhoods.

China: Activists demand end to killing of dogs for food

• Mansour

“I think that was absolutely the right decision,’’ he told the AP news agency. “There was no other alternative.”

Earlier, the German government had said that it could veto an extradition decision from the court.

Ahmed Mansour has denied the accusations against him Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer told a news conference that Germany has repeatedly questioned the rule of law in Egypt.

Mr Mansour, along with two Muslim Brotherhood members and an Islamic preacher, is accused of taking part in the torture of a lawyer in Cairo’s Tahrir Square in 2011, during protests against then President Hosni Mubarak.

Video footage of the incident

shows the lawyer being kicked but does not show Mr Mansour, according to AP. The journalist later interviewed the preacher about the incident, the news agency says.

Demonstrators had been gathering outside the prison in which Mr Mansour was being held on Sunday A German interior ministry spokesman has said that there had been a request by the international police body Interpol for the arrest of Mr Mansour.

But, according to al-Jazeera, Interpol had previously rejected the Egyptian-issued arrest warrant because it did not meet its rules.

The detention of Mr Mansour is the latest in a series of legal disputes between Egypt and alJazeera.

Dozens of migrants escape Mexico kidnapping

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OZENS of Central American migrants say they have managed to escape from a gang that abducted them in southern Mexico.

They migrants told police they had been held for hours by armed men who stopped their bus, but later fought back and broke free from their captors.

Kidnappings are common in Mexico with gangs often abducting migrants and forcing them to join

their ranks.

Tens of thousands of migrants travel through Mexico on their way to the US every year.

Many are forcibly recruited into gangs. Others are held until their families pay for their release.

The migrants said armed men posing as members of the security forces boarded their bus near the town of Ocotlan, in the southern state of Oaxaca on Saturday.

The migrants say they were taken

to a car pound where their captors stole their belongings and attacked at least one woman.

According to the migrants, after about six hours they overpowered the gang members, delivering kicks and punches.

Many then fled into the surrounding hills. Some came across a police patrol, which they attacked, reportedly thinking they were part of the gang that had kidnapped them.

At least 37 migrants were arrested by police and handed over to local migration authorities.

It is not clear how many people were held by the gang, but some local media put the number as high as 100.

Police said they were from Central America and had been trying to reach the US. So far, none of the armed men who held the migrants captive have been caught.

We are not cured of racism, says Obama

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RESIDENT Barack Obama used the n-word during an interview released yesterday to make a point that there’s still plenty of room for America to combat racism.

“Racism, we are not cured of it.

And it’s not just a matter of it not being polite to say nigger in public,” Obama said in an interview for the podcast “WTF with Marc

Maron.”

“That’s not the measure of whether racism still exists or not.

It’s not just a matter of overt discrimination. Societies don’t, overnight, completely erase everything that happened 200 to 300 years prior.”

The jarring comment comes as the nation is engaged in a debate over the role of race after a white

supremacist killed nine AfricanAmericans last week in a historically black church in Charleston.

They also reflect a growing willingness for Obama to discuss race during the final years of his presidency.

President Obama speaks with comedian Marc Maron, host of the podcast “WTF with Marc Maron.”

Obama said there has been

progress on race relations over the decades, citing his own experience as a young man who was born to a white mother and an African father.

But he added that “the legacy of slavery, Jim Crow, discrimination” exists in institutions and casts “a long shadow and that’s still part of our DNA that’s passed on.”

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OSS Ning has been running a dog meat restaurant in this southern Chinese city since 1981 and she says business is thriving.

Her customers can feast on crispy dog or dog hot pot, as well as lamb, duck and other meats.

Dog is particularly popular in the region during the sweltering heat of summer and each June locals and visitors gather for a dog meat eating festival, which this year takes place Monday.

"Crispy dogs smell good and taste delicious," she says, declining to give her full name.

Her customers seem happy too: "Dog meat is a delicacy. It's nourishing," says one man who gave his name as Huang.

But the festival, which sees some 10,000 dogs served up as meals, has become a battlefront in China's nascent animal rights movement.

Activists say many of the animals are stolen household pets that are then transported thousands of miles crammed into wire cages and denied food and water.

Many arrive at their destination malnourished and diseased, before being slaughtered and served up to customers, they say.

Of China's estimated 130 million dogs, at least 27 million are urban pets, according to research group Euromonitor.

This year, dozens of activists and their pet dogs have descended on Yulin. Some plan to hand in a petition to the local authorities demanding an end to the killing of dogs for food.

Others attempted to rescue the animals from the slaughter house. Hao Wei, an animal rights activist who'd traveled hundreds of miles from Xian in northwestern China, said he'd saved five dogs and two cats.

• People practice yoga in New York's Times Square while celebrating the summer solstice

PHOTO: AFP

Taliban attack on Afghan parliament in Kabul ends

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co-ordinated Taliban attack on the Afghan parliament in Kabul has ended with all six gunmen killed, the interior ministry says.

Attackers detonated a huge car bomb outside the gates, stormed the compound, then entered a building next to the chamber.

Police evacuated the premises, while trying to fight the gunmen off.

The Taliban say they carried out the attack to coincide with a vote to endorse a new defence minister.

The spokesman for the interior ministry, Sediq Seddiqi, said the

gunmen had attempted to storm the parliament building itself after the gates were breached by the suicide bomb.

They were fought off and entered a building under construction next to parliament. MPs were showered with broken glass, and the chamber filled with smoke as the fighting went on. It took nearly an hour before all the firing stopped.

At least 18 people are reported to have been wounded. Mr Seddiqi said no MP had been injured.

Pictures on social media showed parliament full of smoke and people running for cover.

One MP took photos of the attack from inside parliament The parliamentary chamber could be seen full of smoke MPs were escorted out of the building The gun battle ended after about one hour Television was broadcasting live from the parliament building when the attackers struck. MPs were seen fleeing the building.

The Taliban were extracting maximum propaganda advantage by doing it on the day that parliament was meeting to consider the appointment of new Defence Minister Massoom Stanekzai, our cor-

respondent says.

Local media reported another explosion in the Dahmazang area of Kabul city.

The Taliban have launched complex attacks on government buildings in the capital in the past.

They have made substantial gains recently in Helmand in the southwest, and have been advancing across the north of the country, capturing two districts of the Kunduz province in recent days.

Militant violence has increased across the country since the departure of most US and Nato forces last year.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

NEWS APC backs Lawan, Akume, Gbajabiamila for top posts Continued from page 1

Chairman, who is expected to send them to the Senate President.

Asked if the lists are binding on Saraki and Dogara, the source said: "They have no discretion in the matter; they must abide by it if they are really loyal party members.

"It is the responsibility of the party to recommend these principal officers. In 2011, we were told that the President of the 7th Senate, Chief David Mark was not going to work with Akume as minority leader but the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria insisted on Akume."

None of the officers of the party was willing to speak with the press last night.

For the first time after the crisis of confidence erupted among APC Senators Saraki and Lawan met at Oyegun's residence to explore the possibility of reconciliation.

A top source, who spoke in confidence, said after Oyegun sued for reconciliation, Saraki and Lawan were asked to retire into a room for “frank talks.”

The source said: “We were all happy that Saraki and Lawan agreed to hold a tête-à-tête for the first time and we waited with bated breath for what they will agree upon.

“Two issues were at stake: whether the party should recommend nominees for principal offices in the Senate or zonal caucuses should nominate candidates.

"Neither of them spoke on the outcome of their talks. But we learnt they have gone back for

consultations with their groups."

A national officer said: "The party's decision must be respected. The party cannot sacrifice loyal members for those who conspired with PDP. "Look at the House, is it proper to do away with the wish of 174 APC members? Absolutely no."

The Unity Forum has tabled six reasons why the election of the Deputy President of the Senate Ike Ekweremadu is dangerous for the APC-led Federal Government.

The June 21st letter reads: "It is with utmost humility and a deep sense of responsibility that we write to appraise you of the dire implications of the emergence of the PDP Senator, Ike Ekweremadu as Deputy President of the Senate at this critical time when our party should have been properly positioned in the Senate to enable the smooth take-off of this administration.

"While doing so, we reckon the great expectation the Nigerian people have had on us as agents of change and our party manifesto as a facilitator of

this breakthrough.

"Although the tradition in the Nigerian Senate concedes much power to the Senate President, it is indeed the Deputy Senate President that directly interacts and controls the day to day activities of the Senate. " Some of the functions of the office include: •Regularly presiding over the plenary session of Senate especially during those times the Senate President may be away attending to other functions.

This could afford him and his party the opportunity to frustrate the good intentions of our government.

•The Deputy Senate President is chairman of Constitution Review Committee, which conducts the exercise of carrying out fundamental changes in our Supreme Law. This position may give him and his party, the PDP the opportunity to frustrate necessary and vital constitutional amendments in the course of this administration.

•By legislative convention, the Deputy Senate President collects and supervises the fi-

nal budget documents in the preparation of the Appropriation Bill. This is the most important piece of legislation in the realization of our party's manifesto which must not be left in the hands of the opposition party.

•The Deputy Senate President is statutorily the chairman of the Governing Council of the National Institute of Leguslative Studies (NILS). This institution is charged with the responsibility of building capacity for our legislators and their supporting staff.

•The Deputy Senate President also represents the Nigerian Legislature at the ECOWAS Parliament as Speaker. It is certainly a misnomer for a government to be represented at the international level by someone outside our party.

•And many other functions that might be assigned him by the President of the Senate.

"With the above functions of the Deputy Senate President, we feel extremely concerned about implications of a PDP Senator occupying this exalted position at this time when Nigerians have voted for change."

Military checkpoints gone Continued from page 4

he has given us some additional assignment, but very soon the centre will be on.

“I also want to assure Nigerians that with what we have come out with from this meeting, we are very enthusiastic that the issue of Boko Haram will soon be over. He has given us hope that we will see peace and security in the near future .

On what will be done differently, he said: “Now we have come as a united front, we have Chad, Cameroon, Benin and Niger. We have all strategised and we are coming out with one type of strategy that we are going to address the Boko Haram with, unlike before.

He said that the issue of change of service chiefs did not come up.

On the absence of the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of Security Service (DSS) and others from the meeting, he said: “This is not a national security meeting. This is a briefing meet-

Nigeria’s treasury virtually empty, says Buhari Continued from page 4

glimpse of him. He was all smiles.

The workrs, who reported early to work, were apparently glad that Buhari and Osinbajo had eventually resumed at the Villa after operating for three weeks at the Defence House, Abuja.

At Buhari’s office, the two

leaders met with some of the top presidential aides.

Among those Buhari met with were Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Ismaila Aliyu, who led security chiefs to brief the President on the security situation in the country.

He also met with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and

later the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefuele.

After the meetings in his office, reporters met Buhari around 5.30 p.m when he came to the Press Centre to meet with accredited State House correspondents.

He was in the company of State Chief of Protocol Lawal Abdullahi Kazaure, Spe-

cial Adviser on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina and Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

Buhari spent 25 minutes with the State House correspondents, shaking hands with them and posing for photographs with the over 80 journalists in the hall.

ing by the Ministry of Defence on the operationalisation of the Multi-National Joint Task Force and the relocation of the command control centre to the Northeast.

So, it is something restricted to the ministry of Defence.”

Buhari orders removal of soldiers from non-essential check points A statement on the meeting by the president’s media office said: “Buhari reaffirmed his administration’s total commitment to ending the Boko Haram insurgency in the shortest possible time.

“He welcomed the progress report he was given on the implementation of his order that the Military Command Control Centre be relocated to Maiduguri.

“President Buhari who, in keeping with the declared priorities of his government, made the meeting with defence and security chiefs the top item on his schedule on his first day at work in the Presidential Villa.

“He also expressed satisfaction at the progress made so far in the implementation of the decision of the Lake Chad Basin Commission to fasttrack the deployment of the Multinational Joint Task Force based in Ndjamena.

“The defence and security chiefs who met with the President and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for over three and half hours and also briefed them on the refurbishment of existing military platforms and the acquisition of new weapons for the Armed Forces.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

62

SHOWBIZ

Maltina's "Complete Happiness" brings A.Y Live to Abuja

T

O mark Father's Day, some Abuja residents,last Sunday, relaxed in an atmosphere of 'complete happiness' at the Abuja edition of 2015 A.Y Live comedy concert series.

The Abuja edition featured popular comedians like Akpororo, I Go Dye, A.Y, Helen Paul, Ushbebe, Elenu, Ajebo, Fred Bright, Pencil and others, in addition to musical performances from some of Nigeria's biggest music names including M.I Abaga, Phyno and others.

The 2015 A.Y Live series, which aligns it success with Maltina's 'Complete Happiness' campaign brought music and comedy from the country's top performers to Lagos and Abuja. Following the successful hosting of the show, all is now set for the Port-Harcourt edition which comes up later in the year.

According to Maltina Senior Brand Manager, WoleAdedeji, the A.Y Live show has endeared itself to friends and families.

By Joe Agbro Jr.

"Communal moments which occur in the aftermath of a funny joke or during a wonderful musical or stage performance are the little things that bring families together and solidify friendships and relationships," said Adedeji.

"Naturally, being a brand that is all about happiness, laughter, love and sharing, the experience of Nigeria's most successful comedy concert series is one that resonates with us. It is an experience that we want to share with our consumers, who in turn will share it with their loved ones. This is why our partnership with A.Y Live has such great synergy. We aim to achieve the same thing - to make people happy."

Comedian and organiser of the show, Ayo Makun (A.Y), quipped that Nigeria could use some of the happiness Lagos experienced at the Easter Special and Father's Day edition.

• Comedians A.Y and Elenu on stage at the event.... Inset: The audience having a good time

"This is a good time to bring friends and family together to share a bunch of laughs and lovely moments with some of the country's finest comedy and musical talents," he said.

"Lagos has experienced this happiness and the feedback was great.

People in Abuja wanted to know why the show didn't come to their city first, so it was great to be able to come here and put on a show for them. I looked out and saw happy people enjoying the evening with loved ones. At the end of the day, that is what this is all about."

‘How StarTimes facilitated digital migration’

DJ Spinall becomes Smirnoff brand ambassador for Nigeria

W

ITH the expiration of the June 17 deadline set by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for digital migration by all it member countries, Tanzania, one of the few ountries in Africa that met the deadline, has said StarTimes played a very important role in its success story.

Many African countries, including Nigeria, were unprepared and missed the deadline.

Laura Oloyede, MD/CEO, Laura & Lloyd Communications who spoke at the 5th African Digital TV Development Seminar in Beijing, China, said Tanzania beat other African countries to it.

Oloyede attributed this success to the countries partnership with StarTimes.

According to Oloyede, Tanzania started the process of analogue to Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) in 2006 when it amended its broadcasting laws to accommodate digital broadcasting. “This was after the announcement by the International Telecommunication Union which found many African countries unprepared to undertake the required task of migration. The country however started the Analogue Switch Over on 31st December 2012 and completed 30th April, 2015 when all analogue television transmitters were switched off,” she revealed.

Narrating the successful transition process in Beijing at the Seminar

S • L-R: Kay Dammholz, DFL Sports Enterprises GmbH; Laura Oloyede, MD/CEO, Laura & Lloyd Communications; Pang XinXing, President, StarTimes Group at the 5th African Digital TV Development Seminar in Beijing, China.

By Joe Agbro Jr.

organised by StarTimes, Tanzania’s Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Dr. Fenella Mukangara, said; “We merged with StarTimes so it was very possible to have a company which was dedicated specifically to the purpose and funding obtained through StarTimes and they managed to sort everything out; otherwise it was not a very easy task.

“Our government, through the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) allowed introduction of DTH to complement the DTT services. With that, Tanzania now has 100% digital signal coverage using DTT and DTH.

I’m glad to inform this meeting that, Tanzania has managed to have smooth and successful migration from analogue to digital television ahead of the set ITU deadline of 17th June, 2015,” Mukangarasaid.

Reiterating its commitment to Nigeria, StarTimes President, Mr Pang XinXing, said that Nigeria can leverage on the support that StarTimes provides for Africa. He added that, StarTimes is aimed at ensuring that every household in Nigeria can enjoy digital TV. “We are so delighted and proud to be the partner of choice for BUNDESLIGA and look forward to support their continued growth in the region,” he said.

MIRNOFF, the iconic premium spirit brand from the stable of Diageo Nigeria Plc has announced DJ Spinall as its brand ambassador.

The signing of the ace DJ took place at Guinness Nigeria Headquarters in Lagos as part of activities to further entrench the brand among its esteemed consumers.

Smirnoff, renowned as the world’s number one party brand recently launched a new variant labeled Smirnoff Guarana at a thrilling Double Side party that took place at the Auto-Max Car care shop in Oregun, Lagos.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ms. Liz Ashdown, the Head-Marketing, Spirits and RTD, Guinness Nigeria Plc, explained the rationale behind the choice of DJ Spinall as its brand ambassador in Nigeria.

“Smirnoff is recognised worldwide as the world premium vodka drink and also the world’s most renowned party brand where high energy parties are occasioned,” Ashdown said.

“The party experience gets more exciting when you have the right kind of music. DJ Spinall has demonstrated over time that he understands the essence of excitement as far as parties and gatherings are concerned.”

The official unveiling of DJ Spinall as the Smirnoff Brand Ambassador later took place at the Industry Nite

By Dupe Ayinla-Olasunkanmi

held at Spice Route where “The CAP” himself was behind the wheels of steel. Performances from frontline artistes - Mr. Incredible M.I, Wande Coal, Burna Boy and Iyanya - added glam to the event as the guests were left asking for more.

Smirnoff and DJ Spinallwill tour various Nigerian cities, unleashing the best of grooves available at its #doubleside parties from July through December 2015.

• DJ Spinall

Road to MAMA Club Tour hits Lagos

Artistes grace Aquila Records re-launch

W

By Ovwe Medeme

W

ITH the Nigerian music scene fast gaining more stride, a new addition, Aquila Records, has been added to the list of record labels in its kitty. The re-launch of the label, which took place at Oriental Hotel on Friday, June 12, witnessed the presence of bigwigs in the Nigerian entertainment industry.

Introducing the new look label, CEO of the outfit, Shina Peller described it as the youngest of the Aquila Group family.

“After the existence of Club Quilox, we decided to invest more in the entertainment industry, especially to give the opportunity to young and talented Nigerians to showcase their talents. Of course I believe that we can actually make a difference and make an impact. As it is, we are unveiling this record label today, but it is not something that we can actually do on our own to make the change that we require for the Nigerian music industry,” he said.

According to Peller, Aquila Records label has set up a platform where any talented Nigerian can come forward and “we can be able to examine what the person has got and see how we can position the person for the industry. I believe that it is an exciting time for the industry as I have made up my mind to actually invest into it and I believe that we can actually make a change.”

Present at the launch of the label were its recording artistes, Cue Peller and Base One. Its lead artiste, Tillaman was unavoidably absent.

Following the launch of the label, guests were treated to a night of music and dancing at Club Quilox. Among guests who graced the occasion were Skuki, Skales, Jay JayOkocha, Wizkid and a host of others.

A.Y Live show which began in 2007, has grown to become one of Africa's biggest comedy events and has partnered with Maltina, which was launched in Nigeria 39 years ago, to pursue its "Complete Happiness" campaign.

• Peller

ITH less than a month to the 2015 MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA), an all-star line-up of MAMA nominated artistes will headline MTV Base's latest Road to MAMA party, in Lagos.

The off-the-hook club night and celebration of Africa's musical finest, will take place on Friday 3 July at The Marquee, Federal Palace Hotel, 6-8 Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island.

The pan-African party tour across the continent in the build-up to the MAMA awards in July, kicked off in Durban before heading onto Lagos.

MAMA Nominees on the line-up include Olamide (Song of the Year and Best Hip Hop), YemiAlade (Best Female and Song of the Year), Phyno (Best Hip Hop), Lil Kesh (Song of the Year), and Iyanya (Best

Collaboration). Also, Tanzanian artiste Diamond Platnuzm will be showing off the moves that earned him three nominations (Best Male, Best Live and Best Collaboration).

DJ Neptune, DJ Xclusive and DJ Caise are scheduled to hold down the wheels of steel

• Olamide

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

63

TODAY IN THE NATION

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.10

NO. 3254

‘We have certainly gone past the debate on whether or not to let go of the subsidy.

It is as wasteful as it is unsustainable’

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

W

E have come a long way from that day in 1973, give or take a year, when Tai Solarin, the pre-eminent iconoclast and contrarian of his day, dialed up the Dodan Barracks switch board, introduced himself and asked a senior official how much the Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, was earning by way of salary.

A full minute of silence that seemed more like an hour greeted the inquiry.

That was not a good sign.

Then, in a voice rendered all the more menacing because its owner was obviously straining to contain his rage, the fellow at the other end asked if Solarin could repeat the question.

A person of lesser specific gravity would have taken fright and hung up. If the caller was the less tenacious type, he would have apologised profusely for calling the wrong number. For it was clear that the person making such an inquiry had come dangerously close to crossing the thin line that separated legitimate inquiry from seditious libel, and could therefore expect to be visited with the consequences that would naturally flow from such temerity.

But Solarin, being Solarin, repeated the question. From his home in Ikenne, Solarin told his interlocutor, he had been able to gather data on the salaries of various government leaders worldwide from their countries’ embassies in Lagos by telephone. The comparative study, he said, would be incomplete without the Nigerian data. And so, could the official kindly tell him General Yakubu Gowon’s official salary?

“You want to know the salary of the Head of State?” the official asked in stunned disbelief.

Solarin confirmed that that was indeed his mission, making matters worse by repeating the offence when the official had clearly given him an opening to back off.

“And how is that your business?” the official pursued, still reeling from the caller’s contumacy.

“As a citizen, I have . . .”

“Cit’zen my foot,” the official cut in. “This is how you people get yourselves into trouble. Just imagine, wanting to know the salary of the Head of State. Tell me, has the Head of State ever asked to know your salary?”

“No, but . . .

“Why then do you want to know the Head of State’s salary?”

Whereupon, before Solarin could answer the question, the official warned severely that Solarin would have only himself to blame if he persisted in that line of inquiry.

If the official earnings of the principal officers of state were classified secrets, inquiries about their private holdings belonged in the realm of the forbidden. A full 35 years would pass between Solarin’s audacious quest and a public declaration by a Nigerian head of state not only of his financial worth, but of his wife’s, too.

RIPPLES

WEALTHY CLERICS SHOULD BE TAXED, says cleric

In fact, I recommend 50% TAX on INCOME

OLATUNJI DARE

AT HOME ABROAD olatunji.dare@thenationonlineng.net

The tortuous road to public disclosure

•President Buhari

•The late Yar’Adua

By openly declaring his assets and liabilities, Malam Umaru Yar’Adua struck a blow for probity in public life. He made that move, we are told, against the strenuous objections of the Code of Conduct Bureau, and, one suspects, also against dire warnings of the party bigwigs and freeloaders and the denizens of officialdom who have turned public service into an oxymoron.

It is not the case, of course, that all was quiet on the probity front between Solarin and Yar’Adua.

On the contrary, as a repudiation of the excesses of 13 years of military rule, and an indication that Nigeria was headed for a new order, the Constitution that ushered in the Second Republic in 1979 established a Code of Conduct Bureau.

The intent was that the Bureau would demand, receive, hold and make available for the inspection of bona fide inquirers documents detailing the assets of public officers, thus helping to close the gap between official earnings and private accumulation and keep public officers on the straight and narrow path.

But the institution was soon perverted.

Not many officials cared to comply. Where submitted, assets declarations were shrouded in bureaucratic secrecy. Instead of limit-

ing the Bureau’s remit to elected officials as framers of the Constitution probably intended, it was stretched to include civil servants from GL 10 upwards. Thus, the Bureau’s capacity to process and store data was overstretched, and its watchdog function vitiated.

The whole exercise was turned into a joke.

Middling civil servants who had virtually no assets to declare but were compelled to do so on pain of facing some bureaucratic sanction declared their wives, parents, siblings, husbands, grandparents, cousins, nephews, nieces and even their household pets as assets.

Meanwhile the elected officials and political appointees the scheme was designed to rein in gorged themselves on the very resources they were supposed to hold in trust for the public.

Of the officials who cared to comment on this travesty, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, then Chief of General Staff in the Babangida regime, came closest in my view to providing a plausible explanation. There would be no end to the importunities of friends and relations if they knew how much a public officer was worth. Some wicked supplicants might even send witches after public officers they deem tight-fisted He might have added that some desperate elements might even have been able to conjure a public officer’s life savings out of the bank vaults by mere incantation.

Clearly, it was not just the skinflints that had to be troubled by the danger of making their assets public. Every public officer had cause to worry about calculating friends and relations, to say nothing of adversaries.

But they had a choice. They could decline to hold public office. They could faithfully proclaim their assets and extend their munificence to their relations and friends and hope thereby to earn their goodwill and their blessings. Or they could hog it all and risk an everlasting curse.

Today, we have some idea of what elected officials are paid officially, right up to allow-

HARDBALL

I

ROKO versus Osoko — that is the latest inanity in the plate of the South West Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ayo Fayose, the excitable Ekiti governor, seems to have issues with Segun Mimiko, the opportunistic Ondo governor, over Mimiko’s election as chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum, which a newspaper promptly reported as “a fresh crisis ...” in South West PDP. Hardball is not quite sure, what it was: reporters’ penchant for combat to spice the news? The customary hyperbole to achieve news raciness? Or just a question of cliché in news reportage?

Whichever, a Fayose/Mimiko clash is certainly no crisis; and even if it were, it is certainly a crisis on nothing but inanity — and how can excitement on inanity be “crisis”?

But make no mistake. Hardball would not be bothered however Osoko and Iroko clobber each other.

The one is an ever excitable vacuum, eternally in search of the empty noise to distract the polity; his own unique way of seeking relevance by playing the nuisance.

The other is an ever meticulous power schemer, the ultimate Machiavelli; and poster boy of power for power’s sake.

Both, in Hardball’s humble opinion, are bad for the polity.

Iroko vs Osoko Still, for the sake of public good, it is necessary to put the records straight. Fayose claims Mimiko’s emergence didn’t follow due process. How? Because, he claims — and indeed, that claim is true — Mimiko just defected to PDP, from Labour Party (LP) last year.

And so what? Didn’t Mimiko earlier in 2007 defect from PDP to LP, after earlier betraying his old Alliance for Democracy (AD), simply because he didn’t get the party’s 2003 gubernatorial ticket? Of course, the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) has reportedly promised to look into Fayose’s grouse. Well, let them! A chronic Post-Power Withdrawal Syndrome (PPWS), laced with idleness, is a terrible combo. Better be busy with Fayose’s inanity than engage in costly national political mischief!

Still, the PDP NWC had better take itself seriously by not taking Fayose’s seriously. The Osoko’s diagnosis is simple: an infantile megalomania that assumes that, after staging an Ekiti political comeback, every power and principality, in PDP and beyond, must bow at his grubby feet!

The same infantile megalomania, that made

SANYA ONI

ances for their wardrobe, for clearing their throats before they talk, for belching.and even for farting, for sitting, for standing and for every posture in between, for dozing off and for staying awake during meetings, for doing their work and for not doing it. We know the special compensation the “hardship allowance” they receive for the unspeakably hazardous job of law-making.

That is no small improvement. But we still do not know what they are worth, although service in the public realm constitutes the sum total of their careers for the most part.

Musa Yar’Adua has broken the mould. If we discount the cash and material donations to his presidential race such as it was, he is even far less affluent than the assets declaration seems to suggest. All the nitpicking that has trailed the declaration is unwarranted. He deserves praise for this act of transparency.

But despite some gestures from Kogi and a belated one from Zamfara, his example is unlikely to prove contagious. In fact, I will not be surprised if the National Assembly were to commence impeachment proceedings against him one of these days because he made a public declaration of his assets and his wife’s, despite strong advice to the contrary. Abuja, as he knows and as we know, moves in mysterious ways.

One particular item on Yar’Adua’s assets declaration points distressingly to the unconscionable appropriations that a good many Nigerians have carried out in the name of public service. It is an undeveloped parcel of land in Abuja, worth N50 million. It was in the same Abuja that Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, most recently secretary to the Federal Government, was invited to buy his official residence for a cool N360 million. Persuaded that the offer was a mere formality and that the house was not meant for people of his means, he turned it down.

And yet, in the same Abuja, members of the National Assembly auctioned to themselves, at a reported N11 million apiece, magnificent mansions meant to serve as official quarters for legislators. And in the same Abuja, the Senate has as its presiding officer a fellow who acquired one of the auctioned mansions but now lives, without twinge of conscience, in a presidential suite at public expense in a five-star hotel because he has no “official accommodation.”

Unless Yar’Adua moves quickly to void this odious auction and other acts of expropriation carried out in the name of privatisation and monetisation, his assets declaration will amount to little more than a hollow ritual.

First published in this newspaper on July 10, 2007, under the title “The long road to probity,” this comment is being republished, slightly revised, because of its contemporary resonance.

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above Osoko declare himself South West PDP leader, over and above former President Olusegun Obasanjo (no Hardball role model!), thus precipitating the old man’s untimely retirement from politics and peculiar self-promotion as “statesman”.

The same infantile megalomania that made Fayose throw all decorum to the winds, in his morbid death wish for President Muhammadu Buhari, passing as electioneering adverts in Fayose’s troubled soul.

Now that the Ekiti APC legislators and their potent threat of impeachment have been vanquished, it is the same infantile megalomania that spurs Osoko, like a wild horse, to challenge the Iroko’s chairmanship. With nothing to offer, this dubious campaign is as good a nuisance bit as any other!

But here lies the bitter truth — the Yoruba bit about being fun to cheer a lunatic display, even if no one is happy his offspring is the looney pulling the stunt.

The long and short of Fayose’s suspect campaign is that he considers himself, as selfnamed “South West PDP leader”, more qualified to clinch Mimiko’s diadem.

But even after subversive cheer of Fayose’s daily display of how not to be a governor, it must hurt the Osoko that even his PDP peers cannot tolerate his gubernatorial rascality outside Ekiti borders!

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